News Story not available This story has been published on: 2023-10-31. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Chinese premier calls for strengthening confidence, expectations for future Xinhua) 08:34, September 11, 2023 Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses the third session of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei) NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The world is undergoing a difficult period of complex and volatile development, and as the difficulties intensify, there is an increasing need to strengthen confidence and enhance expectations for the future, take a long-term view and actively respond to difficulties and challenges, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. Throughout the history of human civilization, in good times and bad, the yearning for a better future has always been the beacon that leads mankind forward, Li said at the third session of the 18th Group of 20 (G20) Summit. Li said that the issue of this stage of the meeting is "One Future." "Only by doing a good job in the present can we have a good future," Li said. The G20 members should play an exemplary role, start with specific matters and strive to do well in the present, Li said. Noting that the most urgent issue at present is development, Li pointed out that the G20 members should place the issue of development at the center of macro-policy coordination. Li stressed the need to establish more practical cooperation mechanisms, take concrete actions, and support developing countries in better addressing development challenges such as poverty reduction, fundraising, climate change, food and energy security. He also stressed the need to practice true multilateralism, build global development partnerships, and create a safe and stable international environment for common development. Leaders at the meeting said that the G20 should demonstrate responsibility, promote international cooperation, foster inclusive, sustainable and people-centered development, and ensure that the application of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence enhances human well-being. The summit adopted G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. On Sunday morning, Li and other leaders at the meeting offered floral tributes to the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and other leaders at the 18th G20 Summit offer floral tributes to the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday attended a reception event of the India-Saudi Investment Forum which was organised coinciding with the State visit of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman to India. "A new momentum to the India-Saudi Arabia economic partnership!," the MoS wrote on X. "Pleasure to attend a Reception of India-Saudi Investment Forum organized coinciding with State visit of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," he said. During the vent, he also met with several Saudi Ministers and hailed the participation of leading business persons from India and Saudi Arabia there. "Saudi Ministers Khalid bin Al-Falih, Minister of Investment; Majid bin Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce; Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of IT; Bandar Alkhorayef, Minister of Industrial & Mineral Resources joined. Good to see the wide participation of leading business persons from India, and Saudi Arabia," he posted on X. Notably, Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman Al Saud arrived at Delhi Airport on Friday to attend the G20 Summit that took place on September 9-10. India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties. The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947 was followed by high-level visits from both sides. Moreover, Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth-largest trading partner. More than 18 per cent of Indias crude oil imports are sourced from Saudi Arabia. Whereas, the year 2021-22 commemorates 75 years of Indias independence as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This celebration also coincides with 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Saudi Arabia. After the BRICS Summit concluded, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated leaders and people ofSaudi Arabia, along with other five nations over their full membership of BRICS and said India has always supported the expansion of the organisation. India,USA,UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and theEuropean Unionhave signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish theIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The corridor will encourage and provide impetus to economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as per sources. TheIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will consist of two separate corridors, the East corridor connectingIndiato West Asia/Middle East and the Northern corridor connecting West Asia/Middle East to Europe. It will include a rail line, which upon completion, will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement the existing multi-modal transport routes enhancing transhipment of goods and services between South East Asia throughIndia to West Asia/Middle East Europe. Connectivity with countries of the region remains a key priority forIndiaand is deeply rooted inIndian civilizational history.Indiahas always stood to invest, cooperate and build connectivity as part of "One Earth, One Family, One Future". It is also important to ensure that connectivity initiatives are consultative, transparent and participatory with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Principles of financial responsibility and economic viability must be followed to avoid the creation of unsustainable debt burdens to recipients and conforming to ecological and environmental standards. The objective of development cooperation is that it would stand out as a symbol of an alternate approach, cementIndia's relationship with key actors in the region and beyond, and provide the industry and business with new opportunities to plug into international trade and logistics corridors. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday extended his condolences to Foreign Minister Bourita and the people of Morocco over the loss of life and destruction caused by Fridays earthquake Expressing grief and "deep sadness" to the Moroccan minister over call, he discussed how the United States can best support the quake-hit country in times of need. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Secretary Blinken expressed his deep sadness and extended his condolences to Foreign Minister Bourita and the people of Morocco over the loss of life and destruction caused by Fridays earthquake," the US States Department official spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "The Secretary and Foreign Minister Bourita discussed how the United States can best support the Government of Moroccos leadership of the humanitarian response to this tragedy," the statement read. The Secretary and Foreign Minister promised to keep in touch as the response efforts continue in Morocco. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake destroyed entire communities in the Atlas Mountains' slopes 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest ofMarrakesh, a popular tourist destination, Al Jazeera reported. A magnitude 4.5 aftershock struck the same area on Sunday. According to official numbers revised late on Sunday, the largest earthquake to ever hit the country of North Africa resulted in at least 2,122 fatalities and more than 2,400 injuries, many of them critically, prompting the first foreign rescuers to fly in to assist. The earthquake took place at 03:41:01 (UTC+05:30) at a depth of 18.5 km. Its caused pulses to travel from Sidi Ifni in the south to Rabat in the north and beyond. The epicentre was noted at 72 kilometres west of Marrakesh, a major economic centre. Both survivors and the bodies of the deceased were sought by civilian rescuers and Moroccan military personnel. Earlier on Saturday,Prime Minister Narendra Modiexpressed grief over the loss of lives in the quake. Taking to X,PM Modisaid, Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed grief over the loss of lives and devastation caused by the Morocco earthquake. "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible earthquake in Morocco last night. The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends," Sunak said in a post on X on Saturday. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], September 11 (ANI/WAM): The Dubai Press Club (DPC), organiser of the Arab Media Forum (AMF), today announced DP World as the Strategic Partner of the 21st edition of the event. Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the Forum will be held from 26th-27th September at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. AMF 2023 is set to bring together political figures, writers, thought leaders and decision-makers, renowned media personalities, and senior executives of leading Arab and international media organisations. Commenting on the partnership, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World and the Chairman of the Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, said, The Arab Media Forum has evolved significantly in size and scale since its inaugural edition in 2001, to become a strategic platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange. In many ways, it mirrors our own trajectory of growth, as we transcend boundaries and open channels of limitless possibility through our smart logistics solutions. We are pleased to partner with the Dubai Press Club once again for this initiative and familiarise international audiences with Dubais emergence as one of the worlds best cities for trade and innovation. We also look forward to sharing insights on our contributions to the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 and discussing some key challenges and opportunities for the logistics industry over the next decade, Bin Sulayem added. Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of DPC, expressed her appreciation to DP World, one of the UAEs leading companies, for its ongoing support of the Arab Media Forum and its significant contributions to the event's success. She commended the enduring partnership between DPC and DP World, emphasising the national company's crucial role in enhancing Dubai's position as a prominent global trade and logistics hub. Guided by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai continues to chart its path towards the future, with the media sector playing a pivotal role as a key partner in this journey. The growing recognition among national companies of the sector's significance is forging new avenues for the development of Arab media, propelling it to adapt and thrive amid the dynamic transformations in the media landscape, she added. The partnership between DP World and the Dubai Press Club underscores the shared commitment of both entities to ensuring the success of the Forum. This forum annually draws over 3,000 global participants. AMF 2023 will explore opportunities and address challenges across the media industry spectrum. The largest gathering of Arab media stakeholders is set to take a deep look at new trends, Artificial Intelligence in media, and global developments that are shaping the future of the industry in the region. (ANI/WAM) Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday arrived in Bengaluru and met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha. Mark Rutte, who arrived in India on Friday to attend the G20 summit, is also holding an informal meeting with ministers of the Karnataka government. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. He also attended the G20 Summit hosted under India's Presidency from September 9-10. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance their bilateral partnership. They further discussed ways to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, and others. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement said, "The two leaders discussed ways to deepen their bilateral partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, semiconductors, cyber and digital technology, among others." Rutte also congratulated PM Modi on the success of the G20 Summit and India's G20 Presidency. He also congratulated India on the success of the Chandrayaan mission and conveyed his best wishes for the Aditya mission to the Moon, according to MEA. Thediscussions between PM Modi and Mark Rutte covered regional and global issues of mutual interest. On Sunday, PM Modisaid that the scope of cooperation for businesses with the Netherlands is immense. Taking to his official social media platform 'X', PM Modi stated, "Excellent meeting with @MinPres Mark Rutte. We talked about ways to enhance friendship between our nations. The scope of cooperation for our businesses is immense. We also look forward to strong ties in clean energy, semiconductors, digital technology and more." Meanwhile, Mark Rutte thanked PM Modi for his leadership during the G20 Summit. In a post shared on X, Rutte stated, "Many thanks to Prime Minister @narendramodi for his leadership during this important G20 Summit. Today we also met to discuss the strong relations between India and the Netherlands, and our shared wish to further broaden and deepen our ties." Rutte stated that a major topic of discussion under India's G20 Presidency was digitalisation and the growing role of artificial intelligence. He also laid a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat. In a post shared on X, Rutte stated, "Looking back on a successful #G20India. A major topic under discussion today was digitalisation, and especially the growing role of artificial intelligence. Its crucial that we join together at international level to adopt rules on this, so that this technology can be used safely and inclusively in our societies. A working session that I took part in was devoted to ensuring that this process runs smoothly. This morning I also had the honour to lay a wreath at Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatma Gandhi, together with all attending leaders." On Friday, Netherlands PM Mark Rutte arrived in India to attend the G20 summit. He was received by Union Minister of State, General VK Singh (Retd.) at the airport. A group of dancers also presented a classical dance to welcome the Dutch PM. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], September 11 (ANI/TPS): An Israel-based United Hatzalah advance team arrived in quake-stricken Morocco and on Sunday began preparing for a wider operation in the coming days. The Israel-based emergency responders arrived in the country on Saturday night, following Fridays devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake centered in the High Atlas mountain range, about 72 kilometers (44 miles) southwest of Marrakesh. State-run broadcaster 2M reported on Sunday that at least 2,122 people were killed and 2,421 injured by the temblor. The World Health Organization said that more than 300,000 people in the area were affected. Our initial team on the ground aims to create a situation assessment, connect with local resources and government agencies, as well as meet with community leaders to gauge what assistance is needed, said Dov Maisel, vice president of operations for United Hatzalah. In addition to meeting and coordinating with Moroccan government officials and community leaders, a number of United Hatzalah volunteers happened to be on vacation in the North African country or on a pilgrimage to the tomb of a 19th century rabbi in Essaouira on Moroccos Atlantic coast, Hatzalah said. The responders left Marrakesh on Sunday for the mountain villages in the region of Tizi Ouaddou that have yet to be reached by rescue teams. Hatzalah saidthey found devastation, but also a lot of resilient and strong people. United Hatzalah President and Founder Eli Beer said that the organization was assisting as quickly as possible both with emergency response and humanitarian aid as the organization has done at previous disaster sites around the world. Meanwhile, the State of Israel has offered to send search and rescue personnel and humanitarian aidto its Abraham Accords ally but has yet to receive a response from Moroccan officials. There is a long list of countries that offered aid as Israel did, but they are still waiting for an answer. The authorities there are making their calculations and will reach out as soon as they see fit, David Saranga, director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry Digital Diplomacy Bureau and a member of the Israeli delegation to Morocco, told Army Radio on Monday morning. On Sunday night, Jerusalems landmark Chords Bridge was lit with the colors of the Moroccan flag in a display of solidarity. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, sends its condolences and prayers to the families of those affected bythe earthquake, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, read a statement by the municipality. Morocco is a true friend of the State of Israel, the Jewish people and the city of Jerusalem. We will assist as much as is necessary in whatever way we can to the Moroccan people and their government. Israel and Morocco normalized relations in December 2020 as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords. In July, Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, which has paved the way for Morocco to upgrade its liaison office in Tel Aviv to an embassy. An estimated one million Israelis are either from Morocco or are of Moroccan descent. Approximately 3,000 Jews currently live in the North African country. More than 200,000 Israelis visited Morocco in 2022, as coronavirus travel restrictions came to an end. (ANI/TPS) A Frontier Constabulary (FC) official was was killed and eight others, including two civilians, were injured in a blast in Pakistan's Peshawar, Pakistan-based Dawn reported. The blast took place near Prime Hospital Complex on Warsak Road, Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan confirmed that a vehicle of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa FCs Mohmand Rifles regiment was targeted in the attack at around 10:30 am (local time). The vehicle was heading from Machni to Peshawar when the blast took place, he said. Mohammad Arshad Khan said that one Frontier Constabulary (FC) official was killed and six FC officials and two people were also injured, Dawn reported. Khan said that the blast was conducted using an improvised explosion device (IED). He further said that an investigation was being carried out and that a report by the Bomb Disposal Unit would further clarify the nature of the blast. Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Syed Ashfar Anwar visited the incident site, where possible evidence was collected, according to Dawn. He further said that strict checking has been started at all entry and exit routes to the city. He emphasised that the Pakistan government would not let anti-state elements succeed in their nefarious designs." Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Caretaker KP Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan condemned the incident. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, Dawn reported. He ordered hospital authorities to provide the injured people with the best possible medical assistance. He further said, Such incidents will not demoralise the security forces. The entire nation is standing with the security forces. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Sharif also condemned the cowardly attack. On Saturday, a soldier was killed in an exchange of fire with terrorists in the North Waziristan area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday, Pakistan-based Dawn reported citing the military wing. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in the press release said that the exchange of fire took place in the Mir Ali area. In the statement, ISPR said that Lance Naik Jamshed Khan was killed during his exchange of fire. It further said that the area was being sanitised to eliminate any terrorists found in the region.ISPR said, "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve." (ANI) A team that arrived in Nepal's Lalitpur a month ago from India's Kolkata are working continuously to make idols of Hindu gods and goddesses with the onset of festive season in Nepal. The team arrived in Lalitpur a month ago along with a lorry laden with soil from the Ganges and is making idols of deities which are in high demand in the Himalayan Nation. Talking to ANI, one of the artists, Dipak Haldar said, We came here (Lalitpur) from Kolkata. We are making the idols from the soil of Ganges and we are offering all kinds of idols as per the need of the customers. We are capable of making the idols regardless of the number. Idols of the deities are ready to be transported. Idols of Durga, Ganesh Laxmi, Kali, Saraswati, Durga, Ram-Sita, Radha-Krishna and others are available here. Leasing a plot of land for a few months, the team of Haldar these days is busy making the idols of Bishwokarma Baba as the day to worship the metallurgies is just a week away. The team is speeding up work to make and sell about 160 idols of gods and goddesses as the festive season is approaching. Bishwokarma is also the official builder of all godpaces. As per Hindu mythologies Vishwakarma, the designer of all the flying chariots of the gods and goddesses also designed and made weapons for them. In Mahabharata, the worlds biggest epic, he is described as the lord of the arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of gods, most eminent of artisans, the fashioner of all ornaments and a great and immortal god. There is a tradition of celebrating Bishwokarma pooja on the ninth day of the Dashain festival, Navami in Nepal. As well, some celebrate Bishwokarma pooja on Dipawali too. It is a worship and tribute to all those who invented the technology. It is a salutation to all who worked in the field of physics for the betterment of people. Lord Biswakarma has four hands, wears a crown, wears lots of gold jewellery, and holds a water pot, a book, a noose and craftsman tools in his hands. Bishwokarma pooja is regarded as a resolution time for workers and craftsmen to increase productivity and gain divine inspiration for creating novel products. The celebration generally is done within the factory premises or shop floor, office or workshops. All the machinery is worshipped along with the worship of Bishwokarma. People worship their vehicles along with machinery. Red and white cloth and holy treads are offered to machinery and vehicles. Picture of Bishwokarma is taken out in procession in many parts of Nepal after the pooja is over. People installed pictures of lord Bishwokarma at the corners of Crossroads and put statues and idols of him on corners of the streets. Puja is also associated with the custom of flying kites. This occasion in a way also marks the start of the festive season that lasts till Dipawali. Soon after the observance of Bishwokarma Pooja on the 18th of August, 2023, the Ganesh Chaturthi- the birthday of the Hindu god with the head of an elephant- Lord Ganesh is a few days away. Devotees have placed their order for idols of elephant-headed Hindu gods in advance as it is made only on the basis of orders. Right after the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh the Himalayan Nation will indulge in the fortnight festival of Dashain when the goddess Durga is worshipped seeking blessings and good fortunes. Artists go briskly to prepare idols of Durga idols which come in sets of about one dozen gods taking up to a week to ready a set. The team of Haldar has sleeved up to supply the Nepali market with the Bengali style Idols this festive season. The team which has come to Nepal for a very brief time- till Diwali which is about two months ahead has brought all required materials from Calcutta. India and Nepal have a close relationship; both countries have shared religion of Hinduism which dragged us up to here. Nepal generally worship gods in the form of statues rather than made with soil so we thought of bringing on the Indian culture of making idols of gods using soil, Raja Hazra, another artist and member of the team from Calcutta, India told ANI. (ANI) Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who is in Karnataka's Bengaluru, on Monday said that he thinks it was good that India was able to break a declaration. Responding to a question on whether he was happy with the paragraphs on Ukraine in the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration, the Netherlands PM said, "I think it was good that India was able to broker a declaration by the 20, by all the members." Talking about the declaration, Rutte said that it was a "compromise" and that will be always the case as all came together. "It was a compromise clearly. That is always the case when you come together as multilateral teams like the G20...I was happy with the fact that there were some key elements in the declaration which were very important and obviously, if I would have written it myself, it would have been different..." he added. Earlier today, Rutte met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha. Mark Rutte, who arrived in India on Friday to attend the G20 summit, is also holding an informal meeting with ministers of the Karnataka government. After their meeting, Shivakumar, in a post on X, said, "Held a round table conference with the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte along with a delegation of Dutch investors at the Vidhana Souda today. We spoke about exploring opportunities for investment in Karnataka towards promoting a mutually enriching partnership with Karnataka." Meanwhile, in New Delhi, on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. He also attended the G20 Summit hosted under India's Presidency from September 9-10. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to enhance their bilateral partnership. They further discussed ways to deepen cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, and others. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement said, "The two leaders discussed ways to deepen their bilateral partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, semiconductors, cyber and digital technology, among others." Rutte also congratulated PM Modi on the success of the G20 Summit and India's G20 Presidency. He also congratulated India on the success of the Chandrayaan mission and conveyed his best wishes for the Aditya mission to the Moon, according to MEA. The discussions between PM Modi and Mark Rutte covered regional and global issues of mutual interest. (ANI) President Droupadi Murmu and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Monday met at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NSA Ajit Doval, Union Ministers and other delegates from Saudi Arabia were also present at the gathering which wasaddressed by President Murmu and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. President Murmu said: "I have faith that your (Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud) meeting with PM Modi on strategic partnership and your participation in G20 summit have strengthened the ties between two countries further..." The President further said: "While discussing with you (Saudi Crown Prince) today, I am happy to note that over the years our bilateral partnership has expanded significantly in all areas ranging from politics, defence, security, trade and investment, energy, culture and people-to-people ties." "Saudi Arabia has accepted a large number of immigrants from India and given them an opportunity to flourish," she said. Meanwhile, the Saudi Crown Prince extended his gratitude to India for the warm welcome and hospitality during his visit to India. "We the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia value the historical relationship between the two countries, and we look forward to deepening cooperation in all areas," he said. The Saudi Crown Prince on Saturday arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and PM Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and others were present in the meeting. Prior to his meeting with PM Modi, theSaudi Arabian Crown Prince received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan PM Modi andPresident Droupadi Murmuwelcomed theSaudi Arabian Crown Prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Saudi Crown Prince then inspected a combined defence services Guard of Honour. In a brief statement, Mohammed bin Salman congratulatedIndiafor a successful G20 presidency. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Well doneIndia, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say toIndiawell done, and we will work to create a future for both countries." Meanwhile, India and Saudi Arabia have signed as many as eight agreements during the Saudi Crown Prince's India visit, said Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. Addressing a press briefing on the State visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Secretary (CPV and OIA)Ausaf Sayeedsaid, I am happy to share with you that during this visit as many as eight agreements have been signed. The agreements signed are in the field of energy, in the field of digitalization and electronic manufacturing, and cooperation betweenIndias Central Vigilance Commission and Saudi Anti-corruption. There was an agreement between the two investment entities,Indiaand Saudi counterparts Exim banks, Small and Medium Enterprises Banks and an agreement on desalination. An agreement was also signed on renewable energy. One is the field of energy which was signed by the Saudi Minister of Energy and our Minister of New and Renewable Energy, said Sayeed. Then there was an agreement between the agreement in the field of digitalisation and electronic manufacturing between the IT ministries of both sides, he said. Another agreement was between Central Vigilance Commission ofIndiaand its counterpart the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority. And the fourth agreement was between the National Archives. Then there was an agreement between the two investment entities, that is InvestIndiaon theIndian side and the Ministry of Investment on Saudi side, said Sayeed. There was another agreement between the two EXIM banks and there was also another agreement between the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank banks of two sides, that is SIDBI and the SME Bank ofSaudi Arabia, the Secretary said, adding, And the last one was in the field of Desalination. Over two dozen Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Saudi Arabia companies, ranging from Information Technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources, among other sectors. (ANI) Saudi Arabia Minister of Investment Khalid Al Falih on Monday said every sector in Saudi Arabia and India is attractive for investment. I think every sector in Saudi Arabia and India is attractive for investment. ..........Saudi Arabia has the most ambitious integrated vision in the world and beyond our great market which is today underserved......we have a plan and the intent for Saudi Arabia to be the platform to serve the Middle East, Africa, western Asia... he said. Speaking on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, he said the economic corridor linking India through the Middle East and primarily Saudi and UAE as also Oman and other nations all the way to Europe is going to be equivalent to the Silk Route and spice road combined for this millennium. He further said that from the Saudi side, there is great appetite to not only invest in oil and gas in India in petrochemicals but also in green energy, new energy and technology and telecommunications and manufacturing and defence, food culture movies. Meanwhile, India and Saudi Arabia have recognized that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is one of the biggest plurilateral agreements connecting several countries. Secretary of Consular, Passport and Visa Division (CPV) and OverseasIndian Affairs (OIA)Ausaf Sayeedon Monday saidIndia,Saudi Arabia"recognised this as one of the major outcomes of the G20. It is one of the biggest such plurilateral agreements connecting several countries... He said that the corridor is actually connecting our like-minded partner countries in different geographic zones which is extremely important...It is something which we are all looking forward to. It would need close coordination and work with all the partner countries in that." The CPV & OIA Secretary made the remarks during a special briefing on the State Visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister ofSaudi ArabiaPrince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud toIndia. India, USA, UAE,Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish theIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor The corridor will encourage and provide impetus to economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as per sources. TheIndia-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will consist of two separate corridors, the East corridor connectingIndiato West Asia/Middle East and the Northern corridor connecting West Asia/Middle East to Europe. It will include a rail line, which upon completion, will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement the existing multi-modal transport routes enhancing transhipment of goods and services between South East Asia throughIndiato West Asia/Middle East Europe. Connectivity with countries of the region remains a key priority forIndiaand is deeply rooted inIndian civilizational history.Indiahas always stood to invest, cooperate and build connectivity as part of "One Earth, One Family, One Future". Currently, Saudi Crown PrinceMohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is in Delhi on a three-day visit. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and others were present in the meeting. (ANI) Nearly half the House Democratic Caucus is calling on President Biden to put executive muscle into measures to help immigrants and asylum-seekers get work papers. In a letter signed by 103 lawmakers, the Democrats laid out three legal avenues to allow asylum-seekers and certain undocumented immigrants to work legally, and for some undocumented immigrants to apply for permanent residency. The House members joined calls by some Democratic senators and an array of labor, religious and civil rights organizations that have been pressing for the administration to adopt a more proactive approach on work authorization. The lawmakers also underscored their support for expansion of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but kept their specific policy suggestions to a set of targeted regulations. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We write to urge the administration to use all the tools available to provide stability to undocumented individuals and recently arrived asylum seekers, seeking to work lawfully, support their families, and contribute to the economy, they wrote in the letter, first reported by Politico. While this letter does not focus on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), many of these individuals come from countries that warrant a designation or redesignation of TPS, and we support those on-going efforts. The first focus is on work permits for asylum-seekers. Many asylum-seekers legal inability to work has contributed to escalating tensions between the Biden administration and Democratic mayors, particularly New Yorks Eric Adams (D). Allowing earlier access to work permits would decrease the pressure on states, cities, localities, and other community groups and provide asylum seekers with the opportunity to live more independent lives, find legal representation, and increase economic growth, wrote the lawmakers. Administration officials have also expressed frustration that a number of asylum-seekers are in fact eligible to work, but have not received the proper legal guidance to apply for work permits. But the lawmakers pointed out that many prospective asylum-seekers havent even been able to register their asylum applications due to backlogs, preventing them from taking the next step to apply for work papers. As a result, through no fault of their own, they remain ineligible to work, making them unable to provide for their families and contribute to the economy. Many asylum seekers want to work and give back to their new communities, they wrote. By law, asylum-seekers cant get work papers until their application has been pending for 180 days, but regulations dont allow them to apply for their work permits until 150 days after that application. The lawmakers proposed shortening that regulatory 150 day period to give asylum-seekers a better chance at getting their papers as soon as they hit the 180 day mark. They also called on the administration to extend its use of parole since foreign nationals who receive immigration parole are not subject to the 180 day waiting period. Two other proposals that have been gaining steam in the immigrant advocacy world made it into the letter. The lawmakers asked for a review of the provisional waiver program, targeted at foreign nationals who are eligible for a visa or green card but have spent more than 180 days in the United States illegally. Often, undocumented immigrants who marry U.S. citizens are at once eligible to get papers and unable to apply because their record of unlawful presence bars them from changing their immigration status. Until recently, the provisional waiver has been a very successful and pro-family-unity policy designed to streamline the family-based immigrant visa process for eligible individuals who are part of American families, wrote the lawmakers. However, backlogs for the provisional waivers have grown at an alarming rate in recent years. According to the lawmakers, the waiting period to get a provisional waiver is now 43.1 months on average, up from 4.5 months in fiscal 2018. Considering the circumstances, we strongly urge you to take immediate steps to address the backlog that go beyond future promises of increased operational capacity. Applicants and their families need meaningful immigration relief now, they wrote, suggesting that parole could also help ease the provisional waiver backlog. Finally, the lawmakers called on the administration to streamline a program that allows longtime-resident undocumented immigrants to apply to stop deportation proceedings. The cancellation of removal program is available to undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for more than 10 years, have a limited or nonexistent criminal record and whose departure would significantly impact their family in the country. But the program is only available to longtime residents who have been placed in removal proceedings. Paradoxically, an individual who is more likely to be granted cancellation of removal and adjustment of status is less likely to access this relief because they will not be a priority for removal, wrote the lawmakers. Though any undocumented immigrant who fills the requirements could, in theory, make themselves eligible for cancellation of removal by contacting immigration authorities, immigration lawyers regularly post dire warnings against attempting to do so. But the lawmakers called on the administration to make that process less risky for law-abiding longtime residents. Through rulemaking, the administration can address this issue by instituting a coordinated process that allows individuals to affirmatively request a review of their cases to make preliminary determinations about their eligibility for this relief, they wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Eleven people were injured after a walkway leading to a Maine lighthouse collapsed during an annual event celebrating the state's historic beacons. A portion of the wooden walkway at the Doubling Point Lighthouse in Arrowsic, Maine, collapsed on Saturday afternoon as people gathered for Maine Open Lighthouse Day where more than a dozen state lighthouses are open for a day to thousands of visitors each year. Bath Fire Department Deputy Chief Chris Cummings said the collapse of the ramp occurred at low tide which caused 11 people to fall about six to 10 feet onto a muddy marsh. Five people were transported to local hospitals and six were evaluated at the scene. "There were no life-threatening injuries from this incident," Cummings told USA TODAY. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Several public safety departments responded to the incident and helped people get off the marsh on land, Cummings added. Wisconsin pier collapse: Pier collapses at University of Wisconsin terrace, sending dozens into lake, video shows Karen McLean, a member of the Friends of Doubling Point Light, told the Associated Press that the non-profit group plans to repair the lighthouse but there is no timeframe to do that yet. The group posted a notice on its website on Sunday stating the lighthouse was "closed to visitors until further notice." Doubling Point Light is a lighthouse on the Kennebec River in Arrowsic, a small Midcoast Maine town of about 450 people. The lighthouse is about 40 miles northeast from Portland, Maine, the most populous city in the state. The lighthouse was established in 1899 and is an active aid for navigation for the U.S. Coast Guard. It is one of more than a dozen Maine lighthouses that people can visit once a year during Maine Open Lighthouse Day. According to the American Lighthouse Foundation, the popular annual event attracts between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors each year. The event is sponsored by the foundation along with the Coast Guard and Maine Office of Tourism. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maine Open Lighthouse Day walkway collapse: 11 injured after event A 13-year-old was killed Sunday and two of his friends are facing charges, the Sumter Police Department said. Akeem Pugh is the teen who was fatally shot, police said Monday in a news release. At about noon Sunday, officers responded to a call about a shooting outside of a Flamingo Road home, according to the release. At the scene, officers found the injured teen next to a car parked at the home, police said. The officers provided medical aid until Pugh was taken to an area hospital, where he later died, according to the release. A 12-year-old who was with Pugh was charged with involuntary manslaughter and a 17-year-old was charged with accessory before the fact, police said. Their names are not being made public because of their ages. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Both juveniles are being held at a South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice facility, police said. Information about what led to the shooting was not available, but police said they are continuing to investigate Pughs death An autopsy has been scheduled for this week, according to the release. Two men have been arrested after they allegedly forged documents and enrolled as new students at Crowley High School, according to a letter sent Sept. 8 to parents. The two men, identified by Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV as 20-year-old Triston Moses and 19-year-old Kierre Trenton, were arrested by school district police and face charges of tampering with government records. Crowley ISD Superintendent Michael McFarland said in the letter that the school district took immediate and decisive action as soon as we became aware of this situation. Moses and Trenton were removed from the campus and the district is working with law enforcement in the investigation, according to McFarland. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A school district spokesperson did not respond to a request from the Star-Telegram for information on why the two men are believed to have enrolled using falsified documents. The district has enrollment processes in place to make sure documents are authentic and the information included on them is accurate, McFarland wrote in the letter. Two men have been charged with attempted murder in connection with a Saturday night incident where two cars were shot at, leaving four people wounded, Rock Hill police said. Police say the victims had been misidentified and wrongly targeted from a past altercation. One victim, a 25-year-old man, remained in critical condition at a hospital after being shot in the head, according to Lt. Michael Chavis of the Rock Hill Police Department. Three other victims, men ages 19, 19, and 24, suffered non-life threatening gunshot injuries, Chavis said. Police have not identified the victims. The shooting happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday near Brunswick Drive and Fairway Circle in southern Rock Hill, according to a statement from the police department. The car with the victim who was shot in the head was found nearby off Saluda Road, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The accused gunmen were not in the cars, however seven people were in the two cars at the time of the gunfire, Chavis said. Three people were not hit by the shots, Chavis said. Suspects arrested, weapons seized The two suspects arrested are Jayrin Hemphill, 20, and and Jakai Johnson, 20, both of Rock Hill, according to the police statement and booking information released by the police department. Hemphill and Johnson each are charged with seven counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, police said. Weapons believed to have been used in the shooting were recovered by police, Chavis said. Suspects misidentified victims The investigation by detectives showed the shots were fired from Brunswick Drive, according to Chavis. It was found the victims were at a gathering down the street and were leaving in vehicles traveling on Brunswick Drive, the police statement said. Hemphill and Johnson were not at the gathering but watched and misidentified the victims as individuals from a past altercation.... What happens now? Hemphill and Johnson, were denied bond and remain in jail. Under South Carolina law, a conviction for each count of attempted murder carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. A 21-year-old woman got on a riverboat in Tennessee, but when the boat returned to dock, she wasnt on it, according to Memphis police. A city watch has been issued for Tamia Taylor, who hasnt been seen since the evening of Sept. 9, the Memphis Police Department said in a news release. Her mother told officials her daughter was planning on taking a riverboat cruise with friends at 10:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Police received a call about a missing person and responded to the bank of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis in the early morning of Sept. 10. Her mother initially told police she didnt think her daughter made it onto the boat because a friend told her she didnt. An update from police, however, said she boarded the boat, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When the riverboat docked, the friends could not locate Tamia, police said in the release. The riverboat company, Memphis Riverboats Inc., released a statement Sept. 11 regarding the case. We can confirm from video footage circling around that she was last seen on the boat as the boat was pulling into the Harbor, where we dock our boats, the company said in the statement. We have no reason to believe she could have gone overboard and we will be respecting MPD as they conduct their investigation. We hope she is found safe and returns home. A search is underway for the woman. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Memphis Police Department. 3-year-old vanishes from apartment before being found at bottom of pond, SC cops say Mom blames lifeguards in sons drowning at water park, TX suit says. Now shes charged Missing teen stabbed to death 40 years ago, Tennessee cops say. He was just identified Man hides 35-year-old womans body after she turns up dead in his home, MO cops say More than two decades after Sept. 11, 2001, educators who watched the terror attacks unfold live on TV see slow changes in how the tragic day is honored in classrooms. Teachers are forced to walk a fine line, facing the emotions from a day that no one in their generation will forget while educating kids who see the deadliest foreign attack on U.S. soil as a distant historical event. It was actually my first year teaching, and we had only been in school a couple of weeks when it happened, so I was very brand new still, said Shannon Seneczko, who was teaching fifth grade in a suburb of Chicago. And so that kind of really hits me. That was one of my very first teaching experiences, dealing with my own emotions that day and then being there for the kids too. Seneczko recalled the nervousness of students who had parents in the city on the day of the attack, as no one knew where could be targeted next. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Some were even closer to the site of the terror strikes. John DeFazio, a teacher from a private Catholic school, was just 24 miles from where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. DeFazio remembers some parents coming to pick up their children, although he was not aware of how close Flight 93 crashed to their building until the school day was over. In the days following, he recalls it being a little surprising how things went on as usual in the region. He says tributes in the following years became a kind of routine. There were probably some times in the next few years where they had the Flight 93 remembrance ceremonies some of us would stop class and put it on the television. The students, actually, a few years later, could see the remembrance and the families that were gathered in Somerset County, DeFazio said. And just last week, the school bused students out to the official Flight 93 memorial in remembrance of that day. However, further away from the crash sites, the emphasis on that day and the emotions associated with it may not be lingering as strong for students or teachers. For a while after 9/11, our school did a moment of silence at the beginning of the day during morning announcements. But you know, kind of like anything else over time not going to say that the memories fade away, but that we are farther and farther away from them, said Jamie VanDever, who taught sixth grade during the attack and is now an eighth grade teacher in Kansas. And as we went on, kids understood less and less about what was going on. I teach an English class, and for the first few years after 9/11, we would do some writing assignments and some reading assignments toward remembrance of 9/11. I think weve gotten far enough away from it now where those are becoming smaller and smaller, she added, although it has not completely faded away yet. For those far removed from the East Coast, VanDever says, there are fewer personal connections to the terrorist attacks. Being where we are out in the Midwest, its just very, very unlikely that any person here, at our school anyway, would have known or even known of someone who was directly affected by 9/11, she said. So were removed from that aspect of it and so, therefore, I feel like while those emotions exist for us older teachers who will remember it vividly, it doesnt necessarily have that visceral, personal aspect of actually knowing someone who might have been lost on that day. While it can be increasingly difficult to get students to understand the pain of 9/11 at all, especially far away from New York and Washington, many teachers try to relay individual stories and their own experiences to let their students understand how sweeping and close the tragedy was. I bring in the idea of my own personal experience, and I think because I have the rapport with most of my students, and what I have in that relationship when I talk about it I think I get their full attention, said Mark Scheurer, a U.S. history teacher in Michigan. One story he always tells students is how he flew a few days after 9/11, and the way a person of Middle Eastern descent was treated on that flight, with passengers seeming uncomfortable with the persons presence. I think I really get them then, and I tried to put it from a perspective where were so quick to judge people based on looks and that type of thing, he said. Scheurer said he is not surprised by the drift in attitude among students, comparing it to his own recollection of teachers discussing the John F. Kennedy assassination. Actually, I understand it probably more now, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Three men pleaded guilty to violent carjackings and kidnappings that occurred in Memphis and Germantown last year. Adrian Pegues, 19, Malik Malone, 18, and Alan Key, 20, entered their plea in federal court, Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced Monday. Two arrested in Saddle Creek kidnapping attempt The crimes they allegedly committed are listed below: July 25, 2022 Investigators determined that Pegues and Key committed a carjacking in Memphis. Pegues was reportedly armed during the incident. December 20, 2022 Pegues and Malone reportedly kidnapped and carjacked two people and forced them to withdraw money from ATMs at gunpoint. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The first victim was kidnapped from her driveway in East Memphis, reports state. They made her drive to an ATM in Arlington and take money out of her account. They then forced her to follow another vehicle into an apartment complex in Cordova, where they kidnapped and carjacked a second woman at gunpoint. Records show that Pegues and Malone split up and tried to force both victims to withdraw more money from ATMs. Eventually, they made the victims drop them off in Memphis. Attempted Saddle Creek kidnapping suspect had prior rape charges, accused in other federal crimes December 30, 2022 All three men allegedly tried to kidnap a person at the Saddle Creek Shopping Center in Germantown. According to reports, they parked next to the victims vehicle and waited until she exited a store to approach her car. When she opened her door, Pegues and Malone bumped her with their car door. They reportedly ordered her to get in the vehicle and tried to get in as well. The victim struggled with the suspects. An armed citizen saw what was happening and intervened, causing the three men to flee the scene. Men attempt to kidnap woman in Germantown Malik Malone pleaded guilty to all of his charges and is expected to be sentenced on October 20. Adrian Pegues pleaded guilty to 11 of the 12 charges against him. He is expected to be sentenced on December 18. Alan Key pleaded guilty to all charges against him. He is also expected to be sentenced on December 18. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A 3-year-old vanished from an apartment complex before being found at the bottom of a retention pond, South Carolina officials said. The toddler was pulled from the water with no signs of life and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Dorchester County Sheriffs Office and news reports. The child was identified as John Tyheem Williams, the Dorchester County Coroners Office told WCSC and WCIV. Deputies said they responded to a report of a missing toddler at about noon on Friday, Sept. 8. The child was last seen at an apartment complex in the Ladson area, roughly 20 miles northwest of Charleston. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A deputy reported that someone found an iPod in a retention pond that might have belonged to the 3-year-old. Then, the sheriffs office started working with other agencies to search the water for the missing child, according to an incident report. At about 1 p.m., a diver found the child approximately 15-20 feet from the bank in about 10-12 feet of water. The toddlers body was taken to the coroners office, where an autopsy was scheduled, according to deputies and news outlets. Deputies in a Sept. 8 email said they were investigating the childs drowning death along with the coroners office and the S.C. Law Enforcement Division. The Dorchester County Coroners Office didnt immediately share the childs identity with McClatchy News on Sept. 11. Drowning At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children. Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment. Dont hesitate to get out of the water if something doesnt feel right, the group said on its website. Whether its that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. Its always a good thing to trust your instincts. 17-year-old and his uncle drown in Alabama pond after jumping in to save dog, cops say 2-year-old drowned in pool while left alone for hours, SC cops say. Woman is charged Powerful ULA Atlas V rocket launched national security spy satellite mission after scrub, hurricane delay The most powerful verison of United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket leapt off its Cape Canaveral pad Sunday morning, for a national security mission for the U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office. The 196-foot rocket took to the skies at 8:47 a.m. EDT on Sunday with the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 payloads destined for geosynchronous orbit. The flight came after teams were forced to stand down last month to roll the rocket back to ULA's vertical integration facility for protection from Hurricane Idalia. Read the full story here. SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Friday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station SpaceX wrapped up the work week late Friday night by launching a Falcon 9 rocket with more Starlink internet satellites. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After lifting off at 11:12 p.m. EDT Friday, the 260-foot rocket skirted along the state's Atlantic coast on a southeast trajectory before stage separation and an eventual booster landing aboard a drone ship stationed at sea. Read the full story here. FAA investigation of SpaceX's Starship explosion in Texas wraps up but the rocket remains grounded After the explosive end to the first launch attempt of a fully integrated Starship Super Heavy rocket from Texas in April, SpaceX was ready to give it another shot but the Federal Aviation Administration continues to throw cold water on the company's launch fever. In a statement issued Friday, the FAA said it has wrapped up a technical investigation into April's test launch, which decimated a launch pad and resulted in the uncontrollable cartwheel and eventual explosion of the nearly 400-foot rocket littering debris across the Gulf of Mexico. But even with the investigation now closed and root causes identified, the FAA won't grant permission for another Starship launch attempt yet. Read the full story here. 'Asteroid Autumn': NASA's Psyche mission to orbit and study rare metallic asteroid Researchers hope to determine whether Psyche is the partial core of a planetesimal, a small object created during the formation of the solar system. The Psyche spacecraft is set to kick off its interplanetary journey when it launches next month from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy triple-core rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 10:38 a.m. EDT, Thursday, Oct. 5. Read the full story here. The Department of Defense scrubbed a hypersonic missile weapons test Wednesday at the Cape The Department of Defense scrubbed a planned test launch of a hypersonic missile from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station planned for Wednesday. "On Sept. 6, the Department planned to conduct a flight test at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, to inform our hypersonic technology development. As a result of pre-flight checks, the test did not occur," The Office of the Secretary of Defense told FLORIDA TODAY in a statement. "The Department was able to successfully collect data on the performance of the ground hardware and software that will inform the continued progress toward fielding offensive hypersonic weapons. Delivering hypersonic weapons remains a top priority for the Department. Read the full story here. Upcoming launches: September 14: SpaceX Starlink 6-16 Company / Agency: Internal SpaceX mission Rocket: SpaceX Falcon 9 Location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Window: 8:30 p.m. to 1:02 a.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 15 Trajectory: Southeast Weather: TBD Landing: Drone ship Live coverage: Starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space About: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the company's latest batch of Starlink internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Contact Jamie Groh at JGroh@floridatoday.com and follow her on X at @AlteredJamie. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week (Sept. 12) During a ceremony commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks at the State House on Monday, four Berlin residents were awarded the Madeline Amy Sweeney Award for Civilian Bravery for their heroic rescue efforts following an explosion in the Worcester County town earlier this year that claimed one persons life, injured another, and destroyed a familys home. The Sweeney Award, which is issued annually, honors civilians who demonstrate exceptional bravery without regard for personal safety to save the life of another in imminent danger. Brian and Dylan Clemmer, Bobby Wheeler, and Jonathan Goals were named the 2023 recipients of the award for the roles they played in rescuing a woman, Jill Christensen, who was crying out for help after a gas explosion leveled a home in Berlin during the early morning hours of April 14. In the aftermath of the explosion, knowing that two women lived in the collapsed home engulfed in flames, the Clemmers, Wheeler, and Goals searched the scene alongside Berline police for signs of life, successfully rescuing a woman who was trapped in the rubble, officials said. Berlin Fire Chief Michael McQuillen and Berlin Police Chief Eric Schartner nominated the four good Samaritans for the award after they helped carry the woman over live power lines to safety moments before a second explosion engulfed the site and claimed the life of a 79-year-old woman. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For Jill to look at me and say you were the first person I saw that night and I knew I was going to be safe. It makes you feel better and makes you realize what you did was really, really good, said Dylan Clemmer. Prior to the initial explosion, neighborhood residents reported smelling propane and a fuel company responded to the scene and moved a leaking gas cylinder to a new location about 20 feet away from the home. However, the container continued to leak gas, causing it to travel through the fieldstone foundation and basement walkout into the basement of the home. The blast demolished the two-story structure and damaged three neighboring homes, as well as two vehicles. Personnel from 10 communities responded to the scene, ultimately leading to a Worcester District Attorneys Office investigation. To say it was a chaotic scene is an understatement. It was horrific to have that building coming down, Berlin Fire Chief Michael McQuillen said. They truly were heroes that day and saving one occupant. Unfortunately, we could not get to the second occupant that morning but we have at least one positive outcome from this. The Department of Fire Services Code Compliance & Enforcement Unit later found no evidence that the explosion was suspicious in nature. Known as Amy, Sweeney was an American Airlines flight attendant for 14 years. She lived in Acton with her husband and their two small children. On Sept. 11, 2001, she was killed aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first aircraft hijacked by terrorists and flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In the flights final minutes, Sweeney contacted the airlines ground services crew to convey critical information about the hijackers and their actions on the plane that morning. Its for her heroism and all victims of 9/11 that this award was created. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A 55-year-old tourist died during a challenging hike into the Grand Canyon in Arizona, park rangers said. Bystanders rushed to save Ranjith Varma at about 1:55 p.m. Sept. 9 on the North Kaibab Trail, the National Park Service said in a Sept. 11 news release. Varma was visiting the park from Manassas, Virginia, when they set out to hike the South Rim to the North Rim in one day, park officials said. They became unresponsive, according to the release. Other hikers performed CPR on Varma until rangers reached them by helicopter, officials said. Rangers tried to resuscitate Varma, but they died on the trail, officials said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The North Kaibab Trail is the most difficult inner canyon trails in the park, officials said. Rangers advise against hiking this trail in one day. They also recommend starting the hike before dawn in the summer months or after 3 p.m. Parts of the trail can reach temperatures as high as 120 degrees, including in the shade, officials said. The inner canyon shouldnt be hiked in the summer between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because of hot temperatures. How to be prepared while hiking If youre planning to hike, the National Park Service says there are 10 essentials you should take: Navigation: Pack a map, compass and a GPS system. Make sure you study your route beforehand and understand how to use the tools. Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat can help protect your skin and eyes from UV rays. Insulation: A jacket, hat, gloves, raincoat and thermal underwear can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions. Illumination: A flashlight, lantern and headlamp can create light if you get stuck in the dark and dont forget to pack extra batteries. First-aid supplies: Its a good idea to have a first-aid kit on hand while hiking. Check the expiration date on items before you pack them. Fire: Matches and a lighter can help start fire to act as an emergency signal in times of need. Repair kit and tools: Duct tape, a knife, screwdriver and scissors can be helpful if items break during your hike or you need assistance. Nutrition: You should pack an extra days worth of food in case something goes wrong. Park officials recommend having salty and easy to digest snacks. Hydration: You should drink water often and before you feel thirsty if youre hiking in hot weather. Keeping your body hydrated is of utmost importance, park officials said. Emergency shelter: Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn. 13-year-old boy plunges 100 feet over edge of Grand Canyons North Rim and survives iPhone alert saves woman and dog after theyre swept 200 feet down canyon, rescuers say Experienced rafter dies after falling into river in Colorado canyon, cops say A federal appeals court on Friday upheld key parts of a preliminary injunction against federal interference with content moderation on social media platforms. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit unanimously agreed that the White House, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the FBI had "coerced" or "significantly encouraged" the platforms, "in violation of the First Amendment," to suppress speech that federal officials viewed as dangerously inaccurate or misleading. But the 5th Circuit also said the injunction that U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued in July was excessively broad and covered too many agencies. During the last few years, the 5th Circuit notes in a per curiam opinion joined by Judges Edith Brown Clement, Jennifer Walker Elrod, and Don Willett, "a group of federal officials has been in regular contact with nearly every major American social-media company about the spread of 'misinformation' on their platforms. In their concern, those officialshailing from the White House, the CDC, the FBI, and a few other agenciesurged the platforms to remove disfavored content and accounts from their sites." In response, the appeals court says, "the platforms seemingly complied. They gave the officials access to an expedited reporting system, downgraded or removed flagged posts, and deplatformed users. The platforms also changed their internal policies to capture more flagged content and sent steady reports on their moderation activities to the officials. That went on through the COVID-19 pandemic [and] the 2022 congressional election, and continues to this day." The plaintiffs in this case, Missouri v. Biden, include five social media users, along with the states of Missouri and Louisiana. They argued that the Biden administration's public and private pressure on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube amounted to government-directed censorship. The 5th Circuit essentially agreed, endorsing much of Doughty's analysis. According to the appeals court, the administration's persistent demands that Facebook et al. do more to control "misinformation"which were coupled with implicit threats of punishment through heavier regulation, antitrust action, and increased civil liability for user-posted contentcrossed the line between permissible government speech and impermissible intrusion on private decisions. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The 5th Circuit's opinion emphasizes both the tone and the volume of the government's requests. Although the administration claimed it was doing nothing more than urging the platforms to enforce their own rules, its "asks" frequently went further than that. Publicly, President Joe Biden accused the platforms of "killing people" by failing to suppress speech that discouraged vaccination against COVID-19. Murthy likewise said that failure was "costing people their lives." White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declared that social media companies "have a responsibility related to the health and safety of all Americans to stop amplifying untrustworthy content, disinformation, and misinformation, especially related to COVID-19, vaccinations, and elections." If they failed to meet that responsibility, Murthy said, "legal and regulatory measures" might be necessary. Psaki floated the possibility of new privacy regulations and threatened social media companies with "a robust anti-trust program." White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said the platforms "should be held accountable," which she suggested could include reducing their legal protection against civil claims based on users' posts. Privately, administration officials pressed Facebook et al. to delete or downgrade specific posts and banish specific speakers, to take action against content even when it did not violate the platforms' rules, and to expand those rules so that any speech federal officials viewed as dangerous to public health could be deemed a violation. Their "requests" were sometimes phrased as demands. As the 5th Circuit notes, Clarke Humphrey, digital director for the COVID-19 Response Team, told Twitter to remove an anti-vaccine post by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "ASAP" and "instructed it to 'keep an eye out for tweets that fall in this samegenre' so that they could be removed, too." On another occasion, Deputy Assistant to the President Rob Flaherty, director of digital strategy at the White House, told Twitter to delete a parody account tied to one of Biden's grandchildren "immediately," saying he could not "stress [enough] the degree to which this needs to be resolved immediately." Flaherty emphasized that he was acting on the president's behalf, that his concerns were "shared at the highest (and I mean highest) levels of the [White House]." White House officials invoked previous perceived failures at content moderation, which they said had been disastrous. "When Facebook did not take a prominent pundit's 'popular post[]' down," the 5th Circuit notes, senior White House COVID-19 adviser Andrew Slavitt "asked 'what good is' the reporting system, and signed off with 'last time we did this dance, it ended in an insurrection.'" In another exchange, Flaherty "demand[ed] 'assurances' that [Facebook] was taking action" and "likened the platform's alleged inaction to the 2020 election, which it 'helped increase skepticism in,'" adding that "an insurrectionwas plotted, in large part, on your platform.'" When social media companies failed to do what the administration wanted, White House officials reacted angrily. Flaherty noted that a flagged Facebook post was "still up," asking, "How does something like that happen?" Facebook was "hiding the ball," Flaherty complained. "Are you guys fucking serious?" he said in another email to Facebook. "I want an answer on what happened here and I want it today." Because Facebook was "not trying to solve the problem," Slavitt said, the White House was "considering our options on what to do about it." Flaherty, the 5th Circuit notes, "demanded more details and data on Facebook's internal policies at least twelve times," asking "what was being done to curtail 'dubious' or 'sensational' content, what 'interventions' were being taken, what 'measurable impact' the platforms' moderation policies had, 'how much content [was] being demoted,' and what 'misinformation' was not being downgraded." He "lamented that flagging did not 'historically meanthat [a post] was removed.'" Flaherty told Facebook he had "been askingpretty directly, over a series of conversationswhat actions" the platform had "been taking to mitigate" vaccine hesitancy and to stop its "shell game." He said the White House was "gravely concerned" that Facebook was "one of the top drivers of vaccine hesitancy." By and large, especially after Biden and Murthy accused social media companies of killing people, the platforms did what the White House wanted. They were eager to appease the president, repeatedly asking how they could work together to address his concerns. In this context, the 5th Circuit says, it is likely that the pressure campaign amounted to "coercion" and that the White House unconstitutionally shaped moderation decisions. The appeals court reached a similar conclusion regarding the FBI, whose officials "regularly met with the platforms," alerting them to "misinformation trends in the lead-up to federal elections." They warned social media companies about "Russian troll farms" and "hack and dump" operations by "state-sponsored actors," a category that some national security experts claimed included accurate information from Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop. The platforms "apparently changed their moderation policies in response to the FBI's debriefs," the 5th Circuit says. "For example, some platforms changed their 'terms of service' to be able to tackle content that was tied to hacking operations." The FBI's efforts "were not limited to purely foreign threats," the appeals court notes. "The officials also targeted domestically sourced 'disinformation' like posts that stated incorrect poll hours or mail-in voting procedures." Platforms removed FBI-flagged posts about 50 percent of the time. Especially given its authority as the leading federal law enforcement agency, the 5th Circuit says, the FBI probably "coerced the platforms into moderating content" and "encouraged them to do so by effecting changes to their moderation policies""both in violation of the First Amendment." By contrast, the 5th Circuit found that the CDC's conduct was "not plainly coercive," especially since it had no direct authority over social media companies. But the court concluded that the intimate collaboration between the CDC and the platforms, which practically begged the agency to tell them which content qualified as "misinformation," amounted to "significant encouragement" of censorship. "The platforms came to heavily rely on the CDC," the 5th Circuit says. "They adopted rule changes meant to implement the CDC's guidance." In many cases, social media companies made moderation decisions "based entirely on the CDC's say-so." In one email, for example, a Facebook official said "there are several claims that we will be able to remove as soon as the CDC debunks them" but "until then, we are unable to remove them." The 5th Circuit agreed that the White House, Murthy's office, the FBI, and the CDC were appropriate targets of Doughty's injunction. But it found that Doughty had erred by including the State Department, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "Generally speaking, the NIAID did not have regular contact with the platforms or flag content," the appeals court says. And although the State Department "communicated directly with the platforms," its officials "did not flag content, suggest policy changes, or reciprocally receive data during those meetings." CISA "did flag content," the 5th Circuit says, and its communications "apparently led to content being removed or demoted by the recipient platforms." But "its conduct falls on the 'attempts to convince,' not 'attempts to coerce,' side of the line," the court says, because "there is not sufficient evidence that CISA made threats of adverse consequencesexplicit or implicitto the platforms for refusing to act on the content it flagged." Nor is there "any indication CISA had power over the platforms in any capacity, or that [its] requests were threatening in tone or manner." As for "significant encouragement," the court says, CISA's efforts, judging from the existing record, did "not equate to meaningful control," since "there is no plain evidence that content was actually moderated per CISA's requests or that any such moderation was done subject to non-independent standards." The 5th Circuit also concluded that the terms of Doughty's injunction, which included "ten prohibitions," were too sweeping and vague, potentially encompassing permissible government speech. The court winnowed down the prohibitions to this order: Defendants, and their employees and agents, shall take no actions, formal or informal, directly or indirectly, to coerce or significantly encourage social-media companies to remove, delete, suppress, or reduce, including through altering their algorithms, posted social-media content containing protected free speech. That includes, but is not limited to, compelling the platforms to act, such as by intimating that some form of punishment will follow a failure to comply with any request, or supervising, directing, or otherwise meaningfully controlling the social-media companies' decision-making processes. Notwithstanding the 5th Circuit's modification of Doughty's injunction, the court's decision amounts to a sharp rebuke of the Biden administration's heavy-handed attempts to suppress online "misinformation." It is also a rebuke of commentators who either minimized or ignored the threat that the government's badgering and threats posed to freedom of speech. The post The 5th Circuit Agrees That Federal Officials Unconstitutionally 'Coerced' or 'Encouraged' Online Censorship appeared first on Reason.com. It has been 22 years since the attacks of September 11th, but so many of the stories that emerged in the days that followed are still fresh in the minds of the 60 Minutes correspondents and producers who reported them. 60 Minutes reported at length on the far-reaching aftermath of the homeland attacks, both on the Sunday broadcast and on 60 Minutes II, a weekday edition that ended in 2005. Below are some of the most memorable stories that aired on our broadcasts in the weeks and months after the attacks. An American Town Originally aired September 16, 2001 When 60 Minutes aired on the Sunday after the attacks, people all over the country were still trying to make sense of what had happened five days earlier. The devastation had extended well beyond ground zero; it splintered into hundreds of small towns in the suburbs of New York City, where families were still waiting for word on their missing loved ones. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement One of those towns was Summit, New Jersey, a small town where about one in seven adults worked in financial services in Manhattan. As 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley reported that first Sunday, the World Trade Center was only 35 minutes away from Summit by rail, and in the parking lot outside the town's train station, cars were still sitting unclaimed by the commuters who had left them there that Tuesday. Summit resident Debbie Rancke was among the waiting. Her husband, Todd, worked as a bond salesman at Sandler O'Neill on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center's south tower, and Debbie did not know what had happened to him. But unlike the cars in the parking lot, she did not sit idle. She and Todd's sisters spent days searching for Todd, canvassing New York City until they were exhausted. The morning after the disaster, there was no one list of all the dead, injured and missing, so Debbie and her sisters-in-law started going to hospitals. The injured were taken to 130 hospitals in the New York area. But Todd Rancke did not appear to be among them. The group found the master list with names of all the injured, but they did not see "Rancke" recorded. The next day, the women went to New York City's armory, where a list of the dead was coming together. Todd's name was not on that list, either. "Just help me find him," Debbie implored Ed Bradley. "He's my whole life." In a follow-up report a year later, Bradley reported that 33 residents of Summit had died on September 11th, nearly as many as the town had lost in the Vietnam War. Todd Rancke was one of them. Searchers had found his remains in April 2002, and along with them, his wallet, remarkably intact. Inside, photographs of his children were still covered in dust. Survivors Originally aired October 7, 2001 Out of almost 500 stories 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft reported for the broadcast, he has said the one that emotionally impacted him most was his October 2001 report about New York financial firm Sandler O'Neill. Headquartered on the 104th floor of the South Tower, Sandler O'Neill lost 66 of its 171 employees in the World Trade Center attacks. But just days later, the firm was determined to keep goingwhile also providing logistical, emotional, and financial support to the families of the staff who died. 60 Minutes documented as then-44-year-old managing partner Jimmy Dunne began to resurrect the company from a temporary office in midtown Manhattan, space that had been donated by Bank of America. Sandler O'Neill had lost its entire communications system, nearly every piece of paper, and more than one third of its people. As they tried to reassure clients that their company was still very much in business, employees were also trying to collect DNA samples to identify their deceased coworkers. They worked through their grief. On spreadsheets normally used to report sales and earnings, a long list of funerals, wakes and memorial services was pinned up at the front of the office. But despite so much loss, they were able to make it back to Wall Street, in part thanks to programmers and software specialists who worked for Dunne's college roommate. The group drove all night from Chicago to pitch in and get most of the firm's computer system up and running before the markets reopened six days after the attacks. "They were intent on destroying this country," the firm's founding partner Tom O'Neill told Steve Kroft. "I don't think we appreciated the depth of their hatred. But I think for every percentage that we might have underestimated them, I think they very much underestimated us." In January 2020, Sandler O'Neill merged with Piper Jaffray Companies to become Piper Sandler Companies. The Children of September Originally aired October 17, 2001 Five weeks after the 9/11 attacks, Scott Pelley sought to know what life was like for the youngest of those left behind. He interviewed children who lost a parent on September 11th and asked how things had changed since that Tuesday morning, the day their mom or dad went to work and never returned home. What Nicole Spinelli remembered from that morning was her father kissing her goodbye. Her father, Frank, worked as a foreign exchange broker at the World Trade Center. He always gave a parting kiss to Nicole, then 18, and her siblings before he left, even if she protested how early the affection came. "But he told me one time, you know, 'Nikki, I kiss you and your brother and sister goodbye in the morning to, you know, let you know that if anything ever happened to me at work, that you would always know that I loved you,'" Spinelli recalled. Mike Shaw was 16 years old when he lost his father, Jeff, an electrician at the World Trade Center. Five weeks after the attacks, Shaw was still calling his father's cellphone nightly to leave him a voicemail. He told his dad what he did at school, what he had for dinner, how much he missed him. It became a ritual that allowed him to feel as though he were still having a daily conversation with his dad. Tyler and Kelsie Williams said goodbye to their dad, US Army Major Dwayne Williams, during a service at Arlington National Cemetery. Dwayne had started a new job at the Pentagon three months before the building was struck in the attack. After their father died, the siblings began writing about him. "I let mom lean on me because now I stand in your shoes," wrote Tyler, then 17 years old. "I don't know how you did it, but you got us through. Now when you look down at me, there's an image of you." Band of Brothers Originally aired November 21, 2001 For decades, a small band of New York City's bravest have routinely traded their firefighting hats and gear in favor of bagpipes and kilts. These full-time firefighters are part-time musicians, performing at many department occasions the happy and the sad, the weddings, the parades, and every once in a while, the funerals. Then came September 11, 2001. In the weeks that followed the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, "every once in a while" became every day and, on some days, every few hours. By that Thanksgiving, the band had played at about 300 memorial events. A November 2001 60 Minutes II report told the story of the band playing at the seemingly endless number of funerals and memorial services to honor their fallen brothers. At the time, the 70 members of the New York City Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums had become full-time musicians, honoring more colleagues in a matter of weeks than most had in their entire careers. "A lot of people, they lose a family member, or they lose a friend, maybe it might have been a young person, an old person, a grandfather or something like that. It's usually one person, one at a time, you know," said Tim Grant, the band's leader. "Everybody here knows 20, 30 people. When do you ever in your life lose that many people in one day that you know?" The Emerald Society continues to play. In March, in place of the St. Patrick's Day parade, which was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the band performed virtually to honor first responders and essential workers. The Miracle of the Pentagon Originally aired November 28, 2001 Even though 125 people were killed in the Pentagon on September 11th, there was something miraculous and somewhat fortunate about that day. Although the commandeered Boeing 757 obliterated the first and part of the second floor, the third, fourth and fifth floors remained, suspended in midair for 35 minutes. Hundreds of people had the chance to escape. That is because, in a remarkable stroke of luck, the terrorists had hit the only section of the Pentagon designed to resist a terrorist attack. As Scott Pelley reported for 60 Minutes II in November 2001, a billion-dollar project to renovate the Pentagon had been underway since 1993. The first section was five days away from being finished when the terrorists hit it on September 11th. "We had made several modifications to the building as part of that renovation that we think helped save people's lives," said Lee Evey, who was managing the Pentagon renovation at the time. The Army Corps of Engineers had helped design the building's new protection. The engineers studied past attacks, including the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Lebanon, Oklahoma City in 1995, the US embassies in East Africa and the Khobar Towers barracks in Saudi Arabia. "At Oklahoma City, the bulk of the casualties were caused by the collapsing structure, so one of the things we studied was how to put redundant capability in a structure to prevent it from collapsing if it was attacked," explained Lt. Gen. Robert Flowers, who commanded the Corps of Engineers. The Pentagon Renovation Program that began in the 1990s was completed in full in June 2011. Under Ground Zero Originally aired October 31, 2001 Seven weeks after September 11th, smoke still wafted up from the rubble at ground zero. Firefighters were still working to extinguish the subterranean fires at the site, and those working to clean up suspected it would be many more months before the space would be fully cleared. Complicating the cleanup was the fact that debris from the falling towers had crashed through the roof at Six World Trade Center, plunging through the basements six stories underground. At the end of October 2001, 60 Minutes II took viewers on a rare tour of the site under ground zero. It is an area that, prior to September 11th had been something of an underground city, consisting of a shopping mall, rail tunnels, and parking garages. After the terrorist attacks, it became a space where the effort to rebuild, both physically and psychologically, faced extraordinary challenges. 60 Minutes cameras filmed the descent underground, as mangled cars hung suspended on hunks of concrete, their tires burned away and their hubcaps melted into puddles of aluminum. As they went further into the darkness below the earth, where the ground was slick with oil and gas from the abandoned cars, the crew was warned the floor could collapse at any time. As the cleanup team found, removing the debris underground was an engineering challenge. When the World Trade Center was built, so too was an enormous retaining wall below ground that was designed to prevent water from the Hudson River from flooding the six-story basement. But beyond the logistics, the cleanup at ground zero was also mentally challenging because, just as it was a graveyard for automobiles, it was also the final resting place for hundreds of people. "In order for me to work here every day, I think I have to segue away from the sacred ground considerations and move towards a construction site," said Ken Holden, then the commissioner of New York's Department of Design and Construction and the city's point man in the cleanup effort. "But I think you can't work here without being cognizant of the fact that there are people, there's suffering here, there's dead bodies here, and there's a need to treat this ground in a manner different than you would in any other construction site." Frozen in Time Originally aired May 1, 2002 In May 2002, 60 Minutes II returned to ground zero. This time, the cleanup and recovery were almost complete. In the days after September 11th, the World Trade Center site was 1,500,000 tons of wreckage heaped in a pile, with almost 3,000 of people still inside. After almost eight months of nonstop work, digging each day and night, every holiday and weekend, the gaping hole at ground zero covered 16 acres and cut 70 feet deep. With each shovelful, the debris was searched for human remains. It then sailed on barges across the Hudson to a landfill on Staten Island, where the ruins were separated, sorted, and searched again. At the time of 60 Minutes' 2002 report, 135 victims had been identified at the landfill who were not found at the World Trade Center site. In total, only a little more than 1,000 victims were ultimately identified from the rubble. Officer Dan Henry, a Port Authority policeman, was among those helping to recover human remains. He was moved to keep searching for one person in particularhis brother, fireman Joseph Henry. Dan knew that, if Joseph were never found, ground zero would be his final resting place, along with hundreds of other people. "I think there should be a nice-sized park with lots of beautiful trees and flowers and benches," Dan said when asked what he thought New York City should do with the site. "And I think a big wall, big memorial wall with each victim's name on it because you don't have a cemetery to go to. This is going to be the place where we go on his birthday or Christmas, you know, and say hello." This article was originally published in September 2021. 9/11: The FDNY | 60 Minutes Colorado animal shelter tackling surging pet surrenders with new tactic Western officials take on 9th Circuit ruling on homeless A 60-year-old man died after he was hit by a street sweeper, police in Georgia say. It happened at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at a construction site in Vidalia, according to the citys police department. Investigators said a construction street sweeper was going in reverse when it ran over a site inspector walking behind the vehicle, Georgia State Patrol said in a crash report. After impact, Vehicle 1 continued traveling ... in reverse for a short distance, troopers wrote in the report. The pedestrian was entrapped under the vehicle and required extrication. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Authorities identified him as Nealie Miller of Mount Vernon. He was an employee with Atlanta-based Long Engineering Inc., police said. The street sweeper operator told troopers he looked over his shoulder to see where he was going, but said the sun was in his eyes. McClatchy News reached out to Long Engineering for comment Sept. 11 and was awaiting a response. Chief James Jermon and the Vidalia Police Department would like to send our most heartfelt sympathy to those family, friends and fellow co-workers of Mr. Miller, police said in a statement. Authorities didnt release additional information. Vidalia is about 170 miles southeast of Atlanta. 87-year-old grandma hit, killed getting out of car after church, California family says Mom locks 6-year-old son out of car, then hes killed trying to get in, CA cops say Mom fights off man trying to steal her car with 7-year-old daughter inside, feds say A man was walking home Saturday night near Liberty Green Park in East Liberty when he says a group of kids attacked him. There are still big splotches of blood on the sidewalk. For the kids to just pounce on him, said Robert Morton. No. I just dont understand these kids. Robert Morton lives near the park. Its shocking, but then again it aint shocking because anything may happen as far as this park is concerned, Morton said. We had a real bad shooting here when the park first opened. Shot bullet holes in my place. From over there, there was like a hundred and something shots. Frederick Baker also lives nearby and saw the crime tape near this intersection Saturday night. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I just seen the police chasing the kids away, Frederick said. Police say officers responded to a 911 call on the 6200 block of Kalida Drive, in the East Liberty neighborhood, for a 63-year-old man who was assaulted Saturday night. When first responders arrived, the man had a serious injury to his nose and his face and body were covered in blood. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but he was later upgraded to stable condition. He told police he was jumped by several juveniles while on his way home. I would rather see fights then shootings, any day, Baker said. Because at least you can dust your pants off and go home. But it was very sad for that 60-year-old man to have to go through that. Baker has a unique perspective on the violence, he survived a shooting in June. He was shot in the arm while working security at the Galaxy Lounge in Homewood. I saved a couple of peoples lives, Baker said. There was a gun shooting going on, and I ended up getting hit, protecting. Baker described the violence in Pittsburgh as out of control. Its not getting any better, Baker said. Its getting worse. For us to come together and realize that, especially in the black communities, is where its really happening at, and we need to get it together. We need to get it together. Witnesses of the assault provided the name and description of a potential primary suspect. He was detained and questioned by police then later released to the custody of his mother. Detectives are reviewing all available videos of the assault and working to determine everyone involved. Police say witnesses described one of the main juveniles who allegedly attacked this man. They questioned him and then released him to his mother. Police are still interviewing people and looking for any video that might have captured what happened here and who is responsible. Its a nice park, Baker said. But look what happened. Its just the children. I feel there should be some discipline at home. At this time, no charges have been filed. If you live by the gun, you die by the gun, Baker said. If you choose that lifestyle, thats whats going to happen. But you can get away from that. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Ric Flair visiting local Giant Eagles on Wednesday Woman arrested for allegedly stabbing coworker in Lawrenceville Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante flees search area, changes look and asks acquaintences for help Sewickley woman, volunteers deliver meals to first responders on 9/11 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts 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. Thousands celebrated at the 77th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival Sunday in East Los Angeles, the longest running and largest Mexican heritage parade in the country. The mile and a half parade started at 10 a.m. at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Mednik avenues, traveled north on Cesar Chavez before turning east on Gage Avenue. Parade participants then turned south on 1st Street, returning to the Grand Festival on 1st and Mednik. Live music and dancing, along with many other displays, were held throughout the parades route. Parade participants at the 77th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in East L.A. on Sept. 10, 2023. (KTLA) Parade participants at the 77th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in East L.A. on Sept. 10, 2023. (KTLA) Parade participants at the 77th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in East L.A. on Sept. 10, 2023. (KTLA) Parade participants at the 77th annual Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival in East L.A. on Sept. 10, 2023. (KTLA) Several city leaders were in attendance, including Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I was born here in East Los Angeles, so for me its a homecoming, Luna said. I feel right at home with all the people here. Seventy-seven years as part of the history of this parade, this is a very proud community. Its where my parents were from. Its where my entire family is from. Im a red-blooded American, but when you hear the Mexican National Anthem, theres a connection there because thats where my familys from as well. Actor Mark Consuelos was this years Grand Marshal. Celebrating the Mexican culture, Mexican independence, thats a big part of the fabric of Los Angeles. L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who also attended the days events, noted that Los Angeles has the largest population of Mexicans in the United States outside of Mexico City. As a daughter of Mexican immigrants, Im here celebrating with my grandmother and its just an immense source of pride for us to be able to recognize our rich cultural traditions and history in our city, she said. KTLA Photojournalist Phil Ige reports. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Twenty-two years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists flew planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 tried to wrest control back from hijackers before the plane crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Area fire department chiefs and staff; city, county and state leadership; and the public all were welcomed Monday at the Boone County Courthouse war memorials by the U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation to participate in a service recognizing the lives lost from the attacks and its aftermath, including the global war on terror. The service started at 7:47 a.m. with the ringing of a bell by Columbia Fire Department staff member Will Lyons. He also would ring the bell again at 8:03 a.m., 8:37 a.m. and at the end of service to recognize when each of the four planes crashed. While the USTF usually honors those in the military who have served in battle, it was first responders on 9/11 who were serving on a different kind of battlefield, said Walt Domanski, chief of staff and public affairs officer. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "It was in the skyscrapers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.," he said, also recognizing the canine units that helped at Ground Zero. Much like with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, no one can forget where they were when they learned about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, said Susan Haines, USTF director and CEO. "Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve," she said, quoting former President George W. Bush . "I believe this is still true today." Remarks also were provided by Justin Aldred with the Boone County Commission, Betsy Peters with the Columbia City Council and state Rep. Adrian Plank with the Missouri House of Representatives. Plank expressed to the first responders that he is committed to supporting them in any way possible in the legislature. Fire chiefs share memories One person who saw Ground Zero first hand in New York 22 years ago was Chuck Leake, Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief and training bureau director. He was and still is a member of Missouri Task Force 1. 9/11 was the task force's first ever federal deployment. "We trained since 1995 with Missouri Task Force 1 for a possible mission. Trained about potentials we could be deployed for. Never once did I think we'd be going to New York City," he said. "I am proud of all 62 Missouri Task Force 1 members that answered the call. Every day when we went to work, there were thousands of people there thanking us for coming from Missouri." Chuck Leake, Boone County Fire Protection District assitant chief, was part of Missouri Task Force 1 when it was deployed to New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. He gave remarks Monday at memorial service for the lives lost in the attacks 22 years ago. He called the passengers on United 93 the truest of heroes. For Task Force 1, other first responders and the U.S. military, it is their job to offer aid and respond to threats. The passengers of United 93 stood up and said "no" to the terrorists, he said. "They weren't Army Rangers, they weren't Marines, they weren't Navy SEALs. They were people just like you all that stepped up and said 'let's roll,' " Leake said. "The American people will always step up. When something happens to your brothers and sisters, you will step up." Columbia Fire Chief Clayton Farr Jr. still was a department fire marshal in 2001 and it was a typical day like any other. An attack like the one on 9/11 still was considered unimaginable, he said. "Those events that morning changed the way we do our jobs, changed the way we view danger and it changed the way we train, think and operate. What has not changed is our dedication to serving our community and the world," Farr said. Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins helped Task Force 1 prepare to deploy and was with the convoy transporting then-Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster. "We talked about what was happening and how our country will step up. That was evident by the remarks of President Bush," he said. Southern Boone County Fire Chief James Bullard agreed with Farr and his assessment that the attacks changed everything a fire department and first responders will do. Deputy Chief Colin Wright was a senior in high school at Hickman 22 years ago and a Boone County Fire District intern. He also aided Task Force 1 ahead of its deployment. Boone County Fire Assistant Chief Chuck Leake, from left, Jefferson City Fire Chief Matt Schofield, Columbia Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Jenkins and Southern Boone County Deputy Chief Colin Wright all were part of or aided Missouri Task Force 1 when it was deployed to New York on Sept. 11, 2001. They were recognized Monday for their work by U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation Executive Director Susan Haines, right. "Students, especially those going into their senior year, it changed a lot of things. If you were going to join the military, you were going to war. If you were going to go into emergency services, you knew that death was a possibility," Wright said. Jefferson City Fire Chief Matt Schofield was just two years into his career there and it was his day off on Sept. 11, 2001. Despite being off, he was up in Columbia at the Boone County Fire District since he also was a Task Force 1 member at the time. "When the second plane hit, we thought, 'OK, this is different. This is real.' ... I felt fortunate and blessed that I was able to represent all of you," he said, choking back tears. More: How Boone County first responders remember 9/11 deployment to Ground Zero State Fire Marshal of Missouri Tim Bean was the West Plains fire chief in 2001. He was preparing for the day when he got a call from a staff member encouraging Bean to get to the station. "We were strategizing in our minds where we were going and what we would be doing in the days that followed," he said. "History was laid out there that day. ... We felt vulnerable at the time (but) we have rebuilt. It is good to have days like today, where we can sit here, reflect and never forget the people that sacrificed their lives that day." Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia fire chiefs recall 9/11, Ground Zero response at memorial Opinion. After the first jet plane hit the World Trade Centers north tower at 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, television commentators thought the horrible incident was an aeronautical accident. Then 18 minutes later, another plane struck the south tower on live television. Suddenly, the realization came that America was under attack by terrorists. Editor's Note: This opinion was first published by Native News Online on September 11, 2021. As the fateful day unfolded, millions of Americans were glued to their television sets after a plane hit the Pentagon like a bomb and the heroic feat of Americans diverting a commercial airliner on its way reportedly to Washington D.C. into a farmers field in Pennsylvania. For American Indians, 9/11 proved again we are indeed dual citizens. On Sept. 11, 2001, there were several meetings involving American Indian tribal leaders scheduled in and around Washington, D.C. While they were there as tribal leaders, they were also there as U.S. citizens. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Navajo-Hopi Observer on Sept. 11, 2001 ran a statement by Speaker of the Navajo Nation Council Edward T. Begay informing Navajo Nation citizens that President Kelsey A. Begaye, several Council Delegates and staff are in Washington, D.C., and were scheduled to attend an important policy meeting today." "Everyone in the Navajo delegation is safe and the Window Rock offices are in contact with them. We are making plans to transport the Navajo Nation delegation back to Window Rock, Ariz., as soon as all flight restrictions are lifted." The connection Indian Country had to the World Trade Center began before the tragic events of 9/11. In fact, hundreds of Mohawk ironworkers helped to build the twin towers during the late 1960s and into the 1970s. After the towers fell on 9/11, many of their descendants lent their hands to clean up the wreckage at what became known as ground zero. The Mohawk story was documented in an exhibition at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. After 9/11, Native Americans enlisted in the U.S. military at a higher percentage than their non-Native counterparts. Photojournalist Steven Clevenger (Osage) spent three years chronicling the involvement of Native Americans during the Iraq War. His project resulted in America's First Warriors: Native Americans and Iraq. Fascinated by the modern Native American warrior culture, he writes about the definition of warrior has been basically the same since pre-Columbian times: A warrior is the protector of his people. History records almost 3,000 were killed during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The story of death did not end with the damage perpetrated by the terrorists on 9/11. In a report released earlier this month, the Watson Institute International & Public Affairs at Brown University reports the post-9/11 wars a staggering 929,000 human lives have been lost with a price tag of over $8 trillion to American taxpayers. As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11 today, it is interesting to note only three in four Americans were alive 20 years ago. Almost 29 percent of Americans are younger than 20-years-old. For those who were alive on 9/11, we came to realize our homelands are vulnerable to attack from foreign terrorists with ideological differences that do not match the precepts of this nation. But we also have had to observe our vulnerabilities in todays society20 years laterwith the threat of internal discord, such as the Jan. 6 insurrection and those who are willing to put their fellow Americans at risk because they refuse to get vaccinated against the deadliest pandemic in over a century. In the ashes of 9/11, we put aside our differences political, cultural, racial, economic and came together as one country. As we remember the darkest day of the 21st century, we must do the same and attempt to work together to make our homelands a safer and more secure nation. Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net NEW YORK (PIX11) Monday marks 22 years since thousands of people were killed in the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center in New York City. Nearly 3,000 people died when 19 al-Qaida members hijacked four commercial airline planes, sending two of the planes into the Twin Towers and one into the Pentagon. The fourth crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania, never reaching the terrorists intended target. Tribute in Light 2023: How the Manhattan skyline will mark 22 years In the two decades since the deadliest attack on U.S. soil, first responders who heroically spent time looking for people at ground zero, as well as those who spent months cleaning up the rubble, have dealt with serious and deadly health ailments, including cancer. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Family members of 9/11 victims gathered Monday morning in Lower Manhattan to read aloud their names and honor a vow to never forget. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The twin towers of the World Trade Center after the hijacked airliners crashed into them on Sept. 11, 2001. The suspected terrorist attack has caused the collapsed of both towers. (Henny Ray Abrams/AFP via Getty Images) The 9/11 terrorist attacks not only killed 3,000 innocent people in New York and Washington, D.C., but also shattered the post-Cold War peace Americans had become accustomed to during the 1990s. Suddenly the U.S was plunged into a worldwide fight against terrorism. There were new security procedures at airports and office buildings. And, of course, new wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Sept. 11 was one of those history-making events that we will always be grappling with. Below, some of the books, movies and podcasts that have done the most to bring clarity to the tragedy. Read more via the New York Daily News: Biden to be a no-show at 9/11 ceremony in NYC amid feud with Adams over migrants WHAT TO READ The lower Manhattan skyline on 9/11. (Robert Giroux/Getty Images) 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This book by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn is arguably the best record of the attacks themselves. The title refers to the span of time between American Airlines 11 hitting the South Tower at 8:46 AM and 10:28 AM, when the North Tower collapsed. Dwyer and Flynn recreate the scene in incredible detail as thousands of people in the World Trade Center complex tried to make sense of the mornings events. Some rushed down to street level. Others called loved ones to assure them that they were OK. The authors unflinchingly place the reader in the minds and hearts of the people who actually confronted our worst fears, James B. Stewart wrote in his New York Times review of the book. I suspect that you, like me, will read this book in a single suspenseful sitting, even though we know the ending. Read more via Yahoo News: Remembering to remember the World Trade Center The Falling Man - Iconic Image from 9/11 pic.twitter.com/qOzMmI7wtp Anthea (@Anthea06274890) September 10, 2021 The Falling Man In his 2003 story for Esquire, Tom Junod tried to answer one of the enduring mysteries of the attacks: Who is depicted in the famous Falling Man photograph, which shows a figure plunging with almost haunting serenity from the top of the north tower of the World Trade Center. The story is less about the answer than about the tragic plight of the people who, faced with infernal conditions inside the burning towers, jumped to their deaths. They jumped to escape the smoke and the fire; they jumped when the ceilings fell and the floors collapsed; they jumped just to breathe once more before they died, Junod writes. Read more on Yahoo News: Photographer behind 9/11 "Falling Man" retraces steps, recalls "unknown soldier" Just blocks from the World Trade Center, a man who has just escaped from the falling debris of the burning towers enjoys a cigarette and a bottle of water, thankful to be alive. (Getty) The Real Heroes Are Dead This powerful New Yorker story memorializes Rick Rescorla, a fascinating figure who died on 9/11 in the midst of trying to save people from the South Tower. As one of Rescorlas friends from military service in Vietnam says, There are certain men born in this world, and theyre supposed to die setting an example for the rest of the weak bastards were surrounded with. Beautifully written, this is a story filled with adventure, romance and, yes, loss. Read more on Yahoo News: The babies born on 9/11 are about to turn 20 Visitors at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, on Monday. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) What Bobby McIlvaine Left Behind Jennifer Senior won a Pulitzer Prize for her 2021 article in the Atlantic about a 26-year-old Merrill Lynch employee who was attending an event at the Windows of the World restaurant atop the north tower when the building was struck by American Airlines 11. Senior had known Bobby, who roomed with her brother at Princeton. The boy was incandescent. When he smiled it looked for all the world like hed swallowed the moon, Senior writes. The story is less about the attack itself but about the monumental grief that followed. Read more via Associated Press: The U.S. marks 22 years since 9/11 with tributes and tears, from Ground Zero to Alaska WHAT TO WATCH 9/11 Jules and Gedeon Naudet filmed the attacks from the perspective of a lower Manhattan firefighting company. (CBS News) French documentarians Jules and Gedeon Naudet were in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001, to shoot a documentary about a TriBeCa firehouse. That was not, however, the movie they wound up making. Instead, the Naudets got unprecedented access to the New York Fire Departments heroic response, which saw companies from across the city flock to the World Trade Centers. The documentary shows scenes of confusion, destruction and valor. Working in unimaginable conditions, New Yorks Bravest ascended high into the towers to rescue as many civilians as they could. In all, 343 members of the NYFD would die on 9/11. But, as Jim Dwyer would later write in the New York Times, Thanks in large part to the Naudet film, the world witnessed the valor of emergency responders on 9/11. Read more via The Hill: Names of 43 firefighters added to World Trade Center Memorial Wall ahead of 9/11 anniversary Zero Dark Thirty Locals ride past the demolished compound of Osama bin Laden, in Abbottabad, Pakistan, Sept. 11, 2021. (Akhtar Soomro/Reuters) On the evening of May 1, 2011, President Obama announced that 9/11 mastermind and al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden had been killed during an audacious raid inside Pakistan by members of the American military. It was a moment of closure many thought they would never see. Kathryn Bigelows 2012 film, Zero Dark Thirty, starring Jessica Chastain as an intelligence analyst, dramatizes the search for Bin Laden, which took more than a decade, spanned continents and culminated in an audacious Navy SEALS assault on his walled compound. Though some criticized the film as propaganda, it unflinchingly shows the cruelty of the Bush administrations enhanced interrogation techniques, also known as torture. As for the raid that took out the terrorist leader, Bigelow recreates it with heart-pounding skill. Read more on Yahoo News: Zero Dark Thirty presents an unflinching look at the mission to find bin Laden, via Movie Talk WHAT TO LISTEN TO 9/12" A New York City police officer at the Sept. 11 museum prior to the ceremony marking the 22nd anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) In the years after the terrorist attacks, 9/12 became shorthand for life in a new world: a world of airport pat-downs, color-coded warnings and foreign wars. 9/12, a popular podcast from Pineapple Street Studios, is about how people tried to make sense of the attacks. One episode is about the Onion, the satirical magazine wrestling with questions about humor in times of crisis; another is about a leader in Brooklyns Muslim community, which came under intense scrutiny after the attacks. Read more on Yahoo News: 9/11: The 25 most powerful photos The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday that it would add American Sign Language (ASL) services to the governments 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as part of efforts to expand behavioral health care services for underserved groups. Those seeking to be connected with a 988 Lifeline counselor who is trained in ASL will now be prompted to click on the ASL Now button on 988lifeline.org and follow the instructions. Direct dialing to 988 from a videophone a device used by deaf and blind people that transmits video as well as audio will be available in the coming weeks, according to the department. ASL callers can currently call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) from their videophone to access ASL services. Individuals across America who use ASL as their primary language can now readily access the support they need during a mental health crisis, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an agency news release. This is a testament to our ongoing commitment to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to mental health support. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The addition of ASL services comes as part of attempts by the departments Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to improve the accessibility and reach of mental health resources. In July, one year after the Biden-Harris administration launched the suicide and mental health crisis lifeline, Spanish text and chat services were added. That same month, SAMHSA announced that specialized services for LGBTQ youth and young adults would also be introduced. Were talking about mental health in a way that we have not historically talked about, Monica Johnson, director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating office at SAMHSA, said at a news conference after the new ASL services were announced, according to a CNN report. Demand for mental health services has increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Psychological Associations 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey found that demand for anxiety and depression treatment remained high for the third consecutive year. Meanwhile, according to the Commonwealth Fund, as of March 2023, 160 million Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages, with more than 8,000 professionals needed to meet the requests for services. President Biden has vowed to address the nations growing mental health crisis by investing almost $1 billion into the lifeline, previously called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Data released by the HHS revealed that since the three-digit lifeline began operating in July 2022, almost 5 million calls, texts and online messages from those seeking support for suicide, mental health crises and substance abuse had been received across a national network of more than 200 state and local call centers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] Thousands of people from diverse groups gathered for Nevadas second annual Communities United Multicultural Festival over the weekend. Key details: More than 160 organizations representing AAPI, Black, Latino, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ communities led the festival, which took place at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater on Saturday. The event featured live performances, food, cultural products and resources for voter registration and immigration assistance. Why this matters: The festival united attendees from various backgrounds to celebrate diversity, spread information on voting and citizenship and address the national rise in hate crimes. It reportedly follows a Stop Asian Hate rally for Las Vegas resident Amadeo Quindara, 75, who was viciously assaulted by his neighbor in May. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement What organizers are saying: Gloria T. Caoile, co-founder of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, described people of color, immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals as integral threads in the fabric of Nevadas communities, according to KSNV. More from NextShark: Ex-president of Japanese inn that rarely changed communal bathwater found dead Grace Vergara-Mactal, executive director of Service Employees International Union 1107, said the various communities should not be divided by their differences, but instead be united by them to build strength, as per 8 News Now. Mathilda Guerrero, government relations director at Native Voters Alliance Nevada, emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections at the event. Its a celebration but its also a call to action, she said, as per the Las Vegas Review-Journal. More from NextShark: Man Steps in to Help Stop Robbery of Asian Woman at ATM in NYC Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Explicit photos, videos of South Asian women traded in Reddit forum, report reveals Gallery: Asian celebrities represent in style at the 2023 Golden Globes A group of activists staged a sit-in in Speaker Kevin McCarthys (R-Calif.) personal office over funding for HIV and AIDS programs Monday, ending with several demonstrators being arrested by Capitol Police. The demonstration, organized by the groups Housing Works and Health GAP, centered on domestic funding for HIV and AIDS programs as well as reauthorization of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, a global program. PEPFAR authorization expires on Sept. 30 and has gotten tied into abortion politics as some Republicans worry that funds from the program have indirectly supported abortions, a charge Biden administration officials have dismissed, The Washington Post reported. PEPFAR has saved millions of lives. It is criminal for some members of Congress to treat it as a political football, Charles King, CEO of Housing Works, said in a statement. AIDS isnt over until its over for everyone. PEPFAR has been essential to helping people in developing countries flatten the curve of HIV transmission. The United States has committed to the international goal of ending AIDS by 2030, and we cannot do that if PEPFAR is threatened. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Organizers said that seven demonstrators were arrested after about 10 to 15 minutes of being in the office, and that those arrested included King and Health GAP Executive Director Asia Russell. Capitol Police said that the seven people were arrested on charges of unlawful entry after they refused to cease demonstrating. The two groups are calling for a clean five-year reauthorization of PEPFAR, and say that House Republicans have proposed $767 million in cuts to domestic HIV programs. House Republicans are playing political games with the lives of countless adults, children, and newborns with HIV and most affected by HIV across the globe and here in the U.S., Russell said in a statement. Extremists in the House have sunk to a new low. Never in the twenty-year history of PEPFAR have lawmakers pulled such outrageous stunts. We demand a 5-year reauthorization of PEPFAR in its current form, and full funding for HIV treatment and prevention programs in the U.S. McCarthys personal office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the incident. Updated at 2:17 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An adult and a child were killed Sunday afternoon when another driver ran a stop sign and crashed into them, Kansas City police said. A crash was reported at about 4:12 p.m. near East 17th Street and Bennington Avenue, according to an initial report from the Kansas City Police Department. The driver of a black Mazda CX-5 was headed southbound on Bennington Avenue at a very high rate of speed, according to the police report. As the driver came up to the intersection of East 17th Street, they ran the stop sign and crashed into a black Toyota Camry that was heading eastbound on East 17th Street. This embedded content is not available in your region. The driver of the Toyota and a child under the age of 18 who was in the back seat died at the scene, police said. Both were wearing seat belts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The driver of the Mazda was initially hospitalized with critical injuries, but later was said to be in stable condition, authorities said. Police said they are investigating the surviving driver in the crash, including for suspected impairment. These are the 62nd and 63rd victims of fatal crashes this year in Kansas City, according to police data. By this time in 2022, 62 people had been killed in crashes in Kansas City. No other information was immediately available. Correction: The initial version of this story misstated the date of the crash. The crash occurred on Sunday. After a 20-year dry spell, Meridian may soon gain new low-income apartments. Developers and City Council members broke ground on Meridians newest low-income housing development Friday on West Ustick Road near the intersection of North Linder Road, ushering in a hope that the 46-unit complex could act as a bulwark against ballooning housing prices and stagnant salaries. The Housing Co. is leading development of the complex at 1160 W. Ustick Road and is working in partnership with the city of Meridian, Red Stone Equity Partners, Banner Bank and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. The Housing Co., an independent nonprofit that shares board members with the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, is a development and property management company that builds, owns and operates affordable housing developments across the state. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to Nate Wheeler, development manager at The Housing Co., Meridians median income has nearly doubled from $39,500 to $77,000 since Meridians last affordable housing development was built 20 years ago. But the median house price has almost quadrupled in that time. We need affordable housing, Wheeler said. The $15.6 million complex, known as the Wood Rose Apartments, would provide apartments for those making between 30% and 60% of the area median income which is significantly lower than many other affordable housing developments in Ada County. For a two-person household in 2023, 30% of the median income in Meridian is $21,390, while 60% is $42,780. Rents at these incomes would be limited to $601 and $1,203 per month respectively. The Department of Housing and Urban Development determines these numbers annually and updates them every spring, so there may be an increase by the time the apartments open. Brad Hoaglun, Meridian City Council president, said that when he married his wife 43 years ago, they were able to move to a duplex near downtown Meridian with one full-time and one part-time income. That is no longer a reality for people to come to Meridian and say This is where I want to start, Hoaglun said. A project like this is something that fulfills that need. Hoaglun mentioned that there are misnomers about those with low incomes. Many have jobs with incomes that just cant keep up with increasing costs, some are young people who are just starting out, and some are retirees whose incomes come from retirement savings and Social Security, he said. This project is exactly what we need to see more of today: a haven for tenants who come from all walks of life, said Irene Choi, senior vice president of acquisitions at Red Stone Equity Partners. Red Stone is a New York real estate investment firm that specializes in low-income housing. The company has worked on five projects in Idaho, according to Choi. The proposed complex would have eight buildings and a community and fitness center, playground and barbecue area. Taking a chance It was not easy to make the development pencil out, said Erin Anderson, the director of The Housing Co. When I found the listing for this piece of land in 2021, I was honestly at that time feeling very discouraged in my career, Anderson said. Id spent over a year tirelessly looking for opportunities to purchase land, in several communities in Idaho, with zero luck. With incredibly high prices and a hot market, Anderson said it was challenging to find people who wanted to work with the complexities and long timeline of an affordable housing development. The idea nearly sputtered out multiple times. When The Housing Co. found the 166,253 square-foot property at 1160 W. Ustick Road half a mile west of Settlers Park and about half a mile south of Sawtooth Middle School, Anderson decided to take a chance on it despite it being the most expensive piece of land the nonprofit had ever purchased. I actually live in this community, Anderson said. My children talk about their friends having to move out of town, because they cant afford to live here anymore. My employees talk about not being able to live in Meridian. I knew that even though it was an expensive piece of land, it would be worth it. How and when to apply The development will likely take 15 to 20 months before the partners cut the ribbon and open the complex. But The Housing Co. will start filling units before then. It wont start building a waiting list for about another year, Anderson said. Then, the process for snagging one of the units will be to call The Housing Co. or visit its website. There will be an application form to complete. Interested tenants will have to prove their incomes through pay stubs or W-2 forms. Applicants will go through standard background checks, including a credit check and landlord verification. What it takes to make affordable housing profitable One of the most difficult aspects of building affordable housing, Anderson said, is making it profitable. With rent capped lower than market rate, it can be difficult to attract investors with the slim returns. Like many affordable housing developments, funding had to come from a number of sources for The Housing Co. to reach the $15.6 million cost to build the complex. The biggest boost came from Red Stone Equity Partners, which was able to take advantage of federal tax credits that promote low-income housing. Over half of the funding for the project came in tax credit equity totaling $8.8 million with Red Stone. The Wood Rose Apartments also received a $3.6 million loan from Banner Bank, $400,000 from the city of Meridian and $528,000 from The Housing Co. itself. The Housing Co. was also awarded a $1.5 million loan from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and a deferral of developer fees totaling $752,000. Big downtown Boise apartment & YMCA development is threatened. What just happened More housing for the chronically homeless is proposed in Boise. What we know See the most expensive Boise mansion for sale now and the most expensive ever sold These apartments are coming to site of popular former Boise shop. And theyre affordable The news has been full of stories lately about artificial intelligence and the fascinating, sometimes scary things it could lead to in the future. But AI, it seems, also could help Wichita land some coveted restaurant chains. On Monday, fondue chain The Melting Pot announced that it had targeted Wichita as one of the markets where it wants to open a restaurant, preferably no later than 2025. In fact, the chain wants to open 15 restaurants nationwide by 2025 and is hoping to find franchisees to open two in Kansas, with one being in Wichita. So how did the restaurant chain, which specializes in special occasion Swiss-style fondue meals, pinpoint Wichita? Collin Benyo, the franchises Tampa-based franchise growth strategist, said that the chain uses an AI program called SiteZeus, which helps it determine which markets would best support its concept. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The program utilizes algorithms that look at things like population density, traffic patterns, market segmentation and interest level, and it can even map what 12 months of sales would likely look like in any given market. The program ranked Wichita high, Benyo said. In fact, Wichita is the chains No. 1 target in Kansas, and the program even helped it determine that two specific areas in Wichita Old Town and southwest Wichita were where a Melting Pot would likely perform best. Based on what weve seen, Wichita ranked very high on the scale of locations and cities we need to focus on, Benyo said. The Melting Pot offers a dining experience that includes cheese fondue and chocolate fondue. The Melting Pot, a Florida-based chain that has 94 restaurants across the country, has been in business since 1975. It offers a dining experience where customers share cheese fondue a pot of melted cheese served with items like bread and veggies for dipping or chocolate dessert fondue. Diners also can cook meats and seafood items at their tables in fondue pots. The chain has restaurants in Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Tulsa but none yet in Kansas. Actually getting a Melting Pot in Wichita, though, will require that the right franchisee expresses interest. If he could find the right person, Benyo said, hed love to get a restaurant in Wichita open sooner than 2025. The Melting Pot is the second chain to express interest in the Wichita market in the past several weeks. In late August, Shipley Do-Nuts out of Houston also announced that it hoped to find a franchisee in Wichita. Anyone interested in discussing franchising The Melting Pot in Wichita should either visit the own a restaurant tab on the chains website or call Benyo at 813-425-6209. The Aiken County Coroner's Office is investigating the death of a 3-year-old girl in Jackson, South Carolina. At about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Aiken County EMS was called to a home on the 100 block of Ellen Drive in Jackson for an unresponsive child, according to a news release from the coroner's office. EMS transported the child, identified as Riley Scott, to Childrens Hospital of Georgia where she was pronounced dead, according to the release. An autopsy will be performed Tuesday morning in Newberry, South Carolina, to determine the cause and manner of death. The coroner's office and Aiken County Sheriff's Office are continuing with the investigation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Arrests in Washington County: Four Augustans charged with bringing contraband into Georgia prison This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Deputies investigating death of 3-year-old in Aiken County Ukrainian forces shot down 12 Shahed kamikaze drones and one drone of an unknown type overnight, the Air Force reported on Sept. 11. In the early hours of Sept. 11, Russia launched 12 Shahed drones from the southeast in the direction of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, the report said. According to the report, a total of 13 drones were downed over Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts, the Air Force said. The Air Force also reported that Kh-31P anti-radar missiles and Kh-59 guided cruise missiles were launched from Russian Su-34/Su-35 aircraft against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. While no casualties have been reported as a result of the missile attacks, the Air Force did not specify whether any of those missiles were shot down or hit their targets. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Russian forces launched drones and missiles against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Kryvyi Rih on the morning of Sept. 11, local officials reported. According to Governor Serhii Lysak, 11 Shaheds have been shot down over the oblast. The governor also said that the missile attack caused a fire in the area of Kryvyi Rih, but it was quickly extinguished. Previously on Sept. 8, Russian forces launched another missile strike against the city of Kryvyi Rih, hitting a police station and killing a police officer. At least 74 people, including nine law enforcement officers, were injured. Read also: Foreign volunteers car struck by Russian artillery in Chasiv Yar: 2 killed, 2 wounded Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. During WWII, a 22-year-old airman from California sank in a plane crash off the coast of Malta. Eighty years later, divers located the wreckage and recovered his remains. Air Force Sgt. Irving Newman of Los Angeles was assigned to a bomber squadron in 1943, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) said in an Aug. 31 news release. Newman and his nine crew members on a B-24 Liberator plane participated in bombing the Reggio di Calabria harbor in Sicily, Italy, on May 6, officials said. While heading to the target, their plane began experiencing engine trouble forcing the pilots to make a course correction away from the main bomber group, directly into enemy anti-aircraft fire, DPAA said in the release. During an emergency landing the plane caught fire and crashed into the water near Benghajsa Point, Malta. According to Underwater Malta, the wheels of the aircraft were lowered when it hit the surface, flipping the plane upside down, and after floating for a few minutes, the tail section sank first and the nose last. Divers near the B-24 Liberator wreck during excavations in 2018 to 2019. The plane crash injured at least five crew members, DPAA said. Nine crew members were rescued, but Newman was not. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Newman was considered missing in action and his remains were thought to be non-recoverable, officials said, until divers and archaeologists found the wreckage of the plane off the coast of Malta. The wreckage was located about a mile off the coast of Marsaxlokk, Malta, in 2015, Underwater Malta, a marine archaeology project, said. The WWII plane came to rest about 180 feet underwater on a sandy seabed. Photos show the wreckage. Underwater archaeologists from the University of Malta worked to excavate the wreck in 2018 and 2019, lead archaeologist Timmy Gambin told McClatchy News. Divers recovered material evidence, life support equipment, and suspected human remains from this crash site, DPAA said. DPAA identified the remains as Newmans. Divers work on the B-24 Liberator wreck during excavations in 2018 to 2019. The entire time we were working, the whole team wanted to go the extra mile to bring this boy home, Gambin told the Times of Malta. I cannot overemphasize what it meant to every single one of them. Gambin described his teams work as a huge honor, he told McClatchy News. We can make a small contribution to bring closure for families who lost their loved ones in past conflicts, he said. The time and place of Newmans burial have not been determined, DPAA said. No photo of Newman was provided. Marsaxlokk is on the southeastern coast of Malta, a Mediterranean island country south of Italy. He ran out of gas on a California road trip 27 years ago and hasnt been seen since Wife waits in car for 79-year-old husband to scout for hunting spot. He never returned Baby girl found dead in woods on Christmas Eve in 1984. Mom now charged, officials say FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court building is seen in Washington By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Alabama officials on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily halt a lower court's ruling that rejected a Republican-crafted electoral map for diminishing the clout of Black voters, escalating a legal dispute with potentially broad implications for the 2024 congressional elections. The state's request concerned Tuesday's decision by three federal judges in Birmingham who found that the map approved by the Republican-led state legislature to set the boundaries of Alabama's seven U.S. House districts was unlawfully biased against Black voters and must be redrawn. That map was devised after the Supreme Court in June blocked a previous version, also for weakening the voting power of Black Alabamians. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement With Republicans holding a slim 222-212 majority in the U.S. House, court battles like this one may be pivotal in the 2024 fight for control of the chamber, as President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats seek to regain control of the chamber. Black people make up 27% of Alabama's population but are in the majority in only one of the seven House districts as drawn by the state legislature in both the maps it has approved. Electoral districts are redrawn each decade to reflect population changes as measured by a national census, last taken in 2020. In most states, such redistricting is done by the party in power, which can lead to map manipulation for partisan gain. Voting rights litigation that could result in new maps of congressional districts is playing out in several states. The Supreme Court in its 5-4 June ruling ordered state lawmakers to add a second House district with a Black majority - or close to it - in order to comply with the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting. Black voters tend to favor Democratic candidates. Following that ruling, the legislature adopted a plan that increased the portion of Black voters in a second House district from around 30% to 40%, still well below a majority. The three-judge panel on Tuesday ruled that the new map failed to remedy the Voting Rights Act violation present in the first map and directed a special master - an independent party appointed by a court - to draw a new, third version of the map ahead of next year's congressional elections. The latest Republican-drawn map drew swift objections from Black voters and civil rights activists. They said the plan failed to remedy the Voting Rights Act violation identified by the Supreme Court, and that it raised concerns under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment guarantee of equal protection under the law. The Alabama map concentrated large numbers of Black voters into one district and spread others to districts in numbers too small to make up a majority. The Supreme Court's June ruling was authored by conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and joined in full by the court's three liberals, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the judgment in a separate opinion. Conservative litigants had succeeded in persuading the Supreme Court to limit the Voting Rights Act's scope in some important previous rulings. The Supreme Court's 2013 ruling in another Alabama case struck down a key part that determined which states with histories of racial discrimination needed federal approval to change voting laws. In a 2021 ruling endorsing Republican-backed Arizona voting restrictions, the justices made it harder to prove violations under a provision of the Voting Rights Act aimed at countering racially biased voting measures. (Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Sandra Maler and Stephen Coates) Most Ukrainians believe that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is directly responsible for corruption in the government and military administrations. Source: Research based on the results of a survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Charitable Foundation jointly with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in July 2023 Details: Sociologists state that as of the beginning of July 2023, 78% of respondents believed that the president of Ukraine bears direct responsibility for corruption in the government and military administrations. Only 18% of respondents disagreed with this statement. It is noted that older Ukrainians are more demanding of the head of state than young people. Among the respondents aged 18-29, 70% agree with the thesis that the head of state is responsible for corruption. This number is bigger among people aged 60+ 81%. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There are no other significant differences by personal financial situation or region of residence. For reference: The survey, conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Charitable Foundation jointly with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, was carried out by the face-to-face method from July 3 to 17, 2023, in all oblasts of Ukraine, except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts. In Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv oblasts, the survey was conducted in the Ukraine-controlled territories in which hostilities are not taking place. The survey includes 2,011 respondents over 18. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! The totem pole stood more than 10 feet tall and weighed more than two tons, and as it rolled into Haw River on the back of a flatbed Monday, a crowd of 30 placed their hands on its painted wood, praying for the sacred waterway it came to protect. For more than two hours, Native American and environmental activists joined on the Haws banks in Alamance County, singing and drumming to celebrate the river they call seriously threatened by the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline. We are praying for the welfare of this body of water, said Crystal Cavalier, Indigenous advocate who is a citizen of the Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation. We are praying that the pipeline doesnt come through. We are here to pray for everyone who doesnt know there is harm coming to them. Native and environmental activists place their hands on the totem pole during an interfaith prayer in Haw River aimed at opposing the proposed MVP pipeline. The MVP natural gas extension would run more than 70 miles south of Virginia into Alamance County, and both Native and environmental groups have long feared the impact on waterways it would cross. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A longer 303-mile route through Virginia has been mired in legal challenges and its fate remains uncertain, though the U.S. Supreme Court recently reversed a lower court ruling that placed a stay on construction while it considers litigation from the Wilderness Society. Water wants to be appreciated Cavaliers group 7 Directions of Service has long opposed the MVP extension, pointing to the potential for damaged water quality and species loss in exchange for unnecessary natural gas supply and minimal job gains. Mondays interfaith totem pole prayer aimed to highlight those concerns in Haw River and connect them to the history of pipelines crossing native land. Were connected to this water, said Jewell James, a master carver from the Lummi Nation in Washington. Without it, we will die. Its guaranteed. Water wants to be appreciated. It is our duty to appreciate the water of the Earth. Cavalier joined the Lummi on a totem pole journey two years ago. This one made a special trip into North Carolina on its way to Washington, D.C., where the goal is to win freedom for Native activist Leonard Peltier. Indigenous rights groups are seeking clemency for Peltier, who has been imprisoned 48 years for aiding and abetting the death of two FBI agents during a shootout at South Dakotas Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 a crime he has always denied. Activists with the Saponi and Lummi tribes join environmental activists for a water blessing ceremony at the Haw River. As he led the Four Directions blessing, celebrating humans ties to all things in nature, carver Doug James stood before a collection of banners showing Peltiers face and reading Stop MVP. When you walk through these woods, every part of it teaches you, he said. Its taken some negativeness off of you. Its an honor to come and mix our tracks with the ancestors of this land. These pole journeys are special. Its what the creator is doing. It brings us back together. Along the Haws banks, the Cone Fabrics smokestack rose from a mill converted into luxury apartments. The activists stood there in prayer, some wading in ankle-deep. Each took a small pinch of tobacco, and James instructed them to assign a prayer to each leaf as they scattered them over the water. Were fortunate to know that were 78% water, like Mother Earth, he said. The water sees you. The water feels you. By YP Rajesh and Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The Group of 20 major economies reached a hard-fought compromise over the war in Ukraine and papered over other key differences in a summit declaration at the weekend, presenting few concrete achievements in its core remit of responses to global financial issues. Diplomats and analysts said the surprise consensus in the summit statement on the Russia-Ukraine conflict avoided a split in the group, and the inclusion of the African Union as a new member represented a victory for host India and for developing economies, but the rest was disappointing. "The G20 has been at its best as a multilateral forum when it can forge consensus - not just on language, but on action - to deal with serious global issues, such as global financial crises," said Michael Froman, president of the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Looking ahead, the focus should be on that, not on the statement per se," said Froman, a former U.S. trade representative who has also worked as Washingtons G20 and G8 negotiator. The summit declaration avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but highlighted the human suffering the conflict had caused and called on all states not to use force to grab territory. Few had expected the G20 to reach a consensus on the document, let alone on the first afternoon of the two-day summit, as the group had failed to agree on a single communique at the 20 or so ministerial meetings this year due to the hardened stance on the war. A failure to agree on a summit declaration would have signalled that the G20 was split, perhaps irrevocably, between the West on one side and China and Russia on the other, analysts said. And with Beijing pushing to reshuffle the world order by expanding groupings such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, G20 could have ended up becoming irrelevant, they said. DIFFICULT SUMMIT G20 was set up as a platform of finance ministers and central bank governors in 1999 to counter the effects of the Asian financial crisis and the meeting was expanded to include leaders after the global financial crisis in 2008. Its primary role of coordinating responses to economic issues - including global taxation and helping low-income nations manage their debt burden under the Common Framework in recent years - has been diluted because the need to seek a consensus has led to weak agreements, some analysts said. This year, resolving differences on the Ukraine war and other issues took up a lengthy 25 days of negotiations, including in the week leading up to the summit, Svetlana Lukash, the Russian G20 sherpa, or government negotiator, was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Interfax. "This was one of the most difficult G20 summits in thealmost twenty-year history of the forum," Lukash said. The G20 process requires consensus on all decisions which means it will pursue the lowest common denominator, said Patryk Kugiel, a senior analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw. Therefore, we do not have any concrete and substantial decisions, commitments, pledges from G20 on any of the pressing global challenges, from climate change to debt, Kugiel added. It makes the forum ineffective, even useless. At the New Delhi gathering, the leaders agreed to pursue tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 and accepted the need to phase-down unabated coal power. However, they set no timetable and said the use of coal had to be wound down in line with national circumstances. Coal, which is being phased out of the power system in many industrialised nations, is still a vital fuel in many developing economies and may remain so for decades to come. The meeting also agreed to address debt vulnerabilities of poor countries and strengthen and reform multilateral development banks, but without setting any concrete goals. There was also no progress on getting Russia to return to the Black Sea initiative although the declaration called for the safe flow of grain, food and fertiliser from both Ukraine and Russia. FEAR OF DIVISION, DISAPPOINTMENT For most major G20 members though, the summit declaration appeared to be a major gain since it reached a consensus on acceptable language to refer to the war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who represented Russia at the summit in place of the absent President Vladimir Putin, said India's presidency, "probably for the first time during the entire G20 existence, has truly consolidated G20 participants from the Global South". Diplomats have said negotiators from India, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa drove the consensus in the summit document. The U.S., Germany and Britain all lauded the declaration. There was no official word from China but its state-run news agency Xinhua, without referring to the declaration, said in a commentary on Saturday that G20 could still be made to work. China's presence was muted at the meeting with President Xi Jinping staying away and Beijing represented by Premier Li Qiang, who took his post in March this year. A French official who was present at the summit said G20 actually remains a club that's capable of forging consensus between north and south and east and west. Despite the lack of concrete progress, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, India's chief G20 coordinator, said the meeting did take the group forward. The concerns of the developing world are so great that if you failed ... they would have to face much greater issues of division and, I would say, even disappointment, he told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Michel Rose and Aftab Ahmed; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) TechCrunch The Chevy Equinox EV, an all-electric compact SUV that General Motors has aimed squarely at the mass market, will arrive in dealerships in 2024 with a battery range and sticker price that could propel its EV sales and even compete with Tesla. The Chevy Equinox EV base model will be priced at $34,995 higher than the targeted $30,000 and will come with a 319-mile range that beat out the company's original estimates. The base price model includes the destination fee. Truck Fire Hydrogen and electric truck maker Nikola Motor is running into some serious issues with its battery-powered trucks. As Reuters reports, a pre-production version of one of the company's semi truck caught fire near Nikola's headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona last week, the second incident involving the company's trucks within a matter of days. That means there have been a total of four fires involving the company's Class 8 Tre Battery Electric Vehicle (BEVs) trucks to date. The first fire occurred back in June, when a truck caught fire at the company's headquarters due to a coolant leak. Then a second truck burst into flames due to a malfunction in August, triggering a recall of all the company's trucks at the time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In other words, adding two more fires to the tally following the recall isn't exactly confidence-inducing. And investors aren't impressed, with shares of the already-troubled carmaker dropping more than 50 percent over the past month alone. Rolling Start The company's already had a turbulent couple of years, to put it lightly. Back in 2020, former CEO Trevor Milton had a public spat with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over the viability of hydrogen fuel cell-powered semi trucks, with Musk mocking him and calling the idea "staggeringly dumb." Then later that year, Nikola got caught rolling a hydrogen-powered prototype truck down a hill in a promotional video, indicating the truck wasn't able to move on its own accord. The stunt led to several fraud charges, with Milton stepping down weeks later. In October 2022, a federal court found him guilty of three of four counts of fraud. Semi-Retired Despite the major headwind, Nikola started producing its Tre electric semi trucks in 2021 under new leadership. By August 2022, the company had managed to deliver 48 vehicles to dealers. So what about its hydrogen-powered trucks? Interestingly, the fuel cell variant was not affected by the August recall. Last month, the company announced it had 202 orders for the fuel cell variant, indicating there is at least some appetite for a much faster-recharging truck that has an advertised range of up to 500 miles. But where the latest four electric truck fires leave the company in 2023 remains to be seen. By all indications, the last three years have been a serious wake-up call for the once-hyped hydrogen truck startup. At below $1 a share today, the company has wiped out a tremendous amount of value. Just over three years ago, its market valuation ballooned to $31 billion, sending it soaring past car giants Ford and Fiat Chrysler but now its market capitalization is languishing under a billion dollars. More on Nikola: Nikola's Fake Hydrogen Truck Was Actually Plugged In During Demo, According to Lawsuit A planned roundabout at Honore Avenue and Old Farm Road is intended to facilitate the flow of traffic at the heavily traveled intersection through Mote Ranch. The stop-and-go there is primarily on Honore Avenue as one side of Old Farm Road goes into a Mote neighborhood and the other goes to a Mote Ranch recreation center. Construction should begin in late fall of 2023 and be completed by late fall of 2024, according to a Manatee County press release. The Honore-Old Farm Road roundabout is one of 23 planned for Manatee County. Also planned at the intersection are pedestrian ramps, crosswalks with rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pavement resurfacing of all approach lanes, lighting and the reapplication of pavement markings. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Honore Avenue and Old Farm Road are classified as thoroughfare roads within the countys comprehensive plan. Under the existing conditions, the intersection of Honore Avenue and Old Farm Road is controlled by stop signs for all the approaches. During the peak periods, the intersection does not operate efficiently as the traffic entering the intersection has to stop before proceeding, the county project webpage says. A planned roundabout at Honore Avenue and Old Farm Road, shown 9/7/2023, is intended to facilitate the flow of traffic at the heavily traveled intersection through Mote Ranch. There has been a steady growth of traffic in the area and the growth is expected to continue with additional residential developments in the area. Traffic engineers typically cite improvements in safety, increasing traffic capacity by improving traffic flow for vehicles and pedestrians and traffic calming as reasons for converting traditional intersections into roundabouts. To learn more about the planned roundabout, the county has scheduled an information meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 7461 Prospect Road, Sarasota. Although the mailing address is Sarasota, the church is in southern Manatee County. A planned roundabout at Honore Avenue and Old Farm Road, shown 9/7/2023, is intended to facilitate the flow of traffic at the heavily traveled intersection through Mote Ranch. Guests can view design boards and plans. Project staff also will be on hand to answer questions and provide other project-related information. There will be no formal presentation. Guests may arrive any time between 6 and 8 p.m. Mote Ranch is named after William Mote, who developed Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. For more information about the planned roundabout, visit the project webpage. Just weeks after a Tennessee zoo said it welcomed a rare spotless giraffe, another one has been photographed in the wild this time in Namibia, Africa. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation announced in a news release Monday the spotless Angolan giraffe was seen on a private game reserve and it is the first one ever recorded in the wild in Africa. Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee, made headlines last month when it announced a phenomenal giraffe without any markings was born. That giraffe, eventually named Kipepee, which means "unique" in Swahili, is believed to be the only solid-colored reticulated without spots. Giraffe Conservation Foundation says a spotless giraffe was photographed in the wild in Namibia. / Credit: Giraffe Conservation Foundation Reticulated giraffes are a species commonly found in northern and northeastern Kenya as well as parts of Somalia and Ethiopia, according to the foundation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Angolan giraffes, like the one seen in Namibia, live in the desert areas of that country, the foundation says. The spotless giraffe was seen at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge in central Namibia and photographed with its parent. About 16,000 reticulated giraffes exist in the wild and in 2018 were listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Their population has decreased by about 50% over the last three decades. About 10,173 mature Angolan giraffes exist, according to a IUCN study published in 2020. Their population, however, has increased over the last three decades and the IUCN says this species has the "least concern." Brights Zoo in Tennessee says it welcomed a rare spotless giraffe in July. After asking public to vote, the baby as named Kipekee, which means Still, the foundation says giraffes have gone extinct in at least seven African countries and there are only 117,000 left on the continent. That means there is one giraffe for every four elephants in Africa. There are four giraffe species with different spot patterns and the spotlessness seen in the baby Angolan is likely caused by genetic mutations or a recessive genotype that creates their typical patterns, said to Dr. Julian Fennessy, cofounder and director of conservation at the foundation. "Maybe we do not always need to have explanations for everything. Why don't we simply marvel, about the wonders of nature," Stephanie Fennessy, the foundation's director and cofounder, said in the news release. "Giraffe are in trouble and if we don't act now, our grandchildren might not be able to see any giraffe in the wild when they grow up. That is what really worries me!" Before Kipekee and the spotless giraffe in Namibia, there had only been one other recording of a spotless giraffe. A giraffe named Toshiko, was born at Ueno Zoo in 1972, according to archival photos. DeSantis: Founding Fathers would "probably" put age limits on elected officials if they could Hunter Biden at center of GOP's planned impeachment inquiry into President Biden Apple unveils iPhone 15, features USB-C charging and periscope lens Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens former chief medical adviser and one of the countrys top infectious disease experts, on Sunday said theres no doubt the U.S. is experiencing a rise in the spread of COVID-19, but predicted the country is unlikely to be overwhelmed by the virus this coming winter. In an interview with ABCs This Week, Fauci said while he is monitoring the uptick in cases, he is so far not overly worried. Theres no doubt that that is going on, he said of rising COVID-19 cases. And since were now at the end of the summer, it is likely that that will increase as we get into the fall and the winter. So, we need to be prepared for it. Amid a rise in COVID-19 infections, Dr. Anthony Fauci tells @JonKarl that health officials are tracking the numbers but aren't "predicting that this is going to be a tsunami of hospitalizations and deaths the way we saw a year or more ago. https://t.co/GtneDpB4a0pic.twitter.com/LavnlLgfSp This Week (@ThisWeekABC) September 10, 2023 Fauci added that given most Americans have COVID-19 antibodies, both through vaccinations and disease-induced immunity, the chances of this being an overwhelming rush of cases and hospitalizations is probably low. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I think none of us in the public health field are predicting that this is going to be a tsunami of hospitalizations and deaths the way we saw a year or more ago, Fauci said. He also predicted that federal mask mandates are unlikely to return. I can see that if we get a significant uptick in cases, that you may see the recommendation that masks be used under circumstances, in indoor crowded settings, he said. Meanwhile, COVID-19 boosters are set to be approved as early as this week, according to The New York Times. Moderna and Pfizer have confirmed their updated vaccines are effective against the latest BA.2.86 omicron subvariant, as well as Eris, also known as EG.5, which currently makes up the majority of cases in the U.S., according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fauci said he believes the most vulnerable, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, should have the booster but others should also be offered the option. From my own personal standpoint, yes, I would say that, make it available for everyone but certainly recommended for the high-risk people, he said. The CDC reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations grew by almost 16% the week ending Aug. 26, while deaths due to coronavirus increased by 10.5% in the week ending Sept. 2. Fauci stepped down from the Biden administration and his role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases last year. He has since joined Georgetown Universitys School of Medicine as a distinguished professor. Related... BOSTON National wine retailers are hailing an appeals court ruling labeling as discriminatory Rhode Islands ban on bottles being shipped from out-of-state straight to buyers doors. A 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel made up of Rhode Island judges ruled Thursday that Rhode Island law facially discriminates against out-of-state retailers by limiting retail licenses exclusively to state residents or in-state businesses and by requiring that such licensees maintain a physical presence within the state. In doing so, the court sent the case back to U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. for further examination of whether the state can prove that the law discriminating against out-of-state wine sellers is necessary to protect the health and safety of Rhode Islanders. What was the original ruling? The ruling vacated and upheld in part a 2022 decision by McConnell that struck down a Constitutional challenge to the law brought by two wine enthusiasts. McConnell found that the states wine sales framework was grounded in its pursuit of public health and safety and therefore did not violate the dormant Commerce Clause. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The National Association of Wine Retailers president, David Parker, praised the ruling as opening a path he believes will lead to wine consumers being able to obtain the wines they want legally. [The] First Circuit Court of Appeals made the important determination that the states simple assertions that its three-tier system and its requirement that retailers must have an in-state presence automatically uphold the health and safety of its residents are faulty. The Court properly understood and stated that concrete evidence for these assertions must be presented by the state," Parker said in a statement. We are confident that the important principles of non-discrimination in state alcohol laws as laid out in the Supreme Courts Granholm v Heald and Tennessee Wine v Thomas decisions will eventually lead to consumers finally being able to access all the wines they want from retailers across the country, rather than the limited selection currently provided by in-state wholesalers, Parker said. Parker noted that it was the third appellate ruling to require the constitutionality of states discriminatory wine shipping laws to be determined based on evidence, not just assertions or speculation. Wine enthusiasts launch Constitutional challenge In 2019, Kambis Anvar, of East Greenwich, and Michelle Drum, a Newport resident, sued Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and Department of Business Regulation Interim Director Elizabeth Tanner in federal court, alleging that state laws and regulations discriminated against out-of-state wine retailers. Like many states, Rhode Island controls the distribution of alcohol through a three-tier system, that protects local liquor stores and distributors from national retailers and e-commerce. Under the system, the state issues specific licenses for the manufacture, wholesale or retail of alcohol, thus distinguishing between each tier of the supply chain. Each licensee is required both to maintain a physical premises within the state, with wine and other spirits first funneled to retailers through in-state wholesalers who alone can receive shipments from outside the state. The only exception is that consumers may buy alcohol from an in-state or out-of-state manufacturer and have it shipped directly to their home, but only if the purchase is made in-person. Drum and Anvar argued through the Indiana law firm, Epstein Cohen Seif & Porter, that the law restricted them from buying choice wines for "no legitimate reason other than protectionism." The Rhode Island Responsible Beverage Alcohol Coalition, a nonprofit group of alcohol wholesalers, weighed in in opposition to the consumers lawsuit. They argued that the state was validly exercising its police powers in enforcing the laws. The consumers lawsuit is part of an effort backed by national retailers to strike down state laws preventing direct sales across the country. New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi and Kentucky faced similar suits. Georgetown students help: Man convicted of RI murder said he was innocent. These college students may help free him. Appeals court ruling The 1st Circuit, in the opinion written by Senior 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Bruce M. Selya, emphasized that the dormant Commerce Clause requires that a state law that discriminates against interstate goods or non-resident interests can be upheld only if it 'advances a legitimate local purpose that cannot be adequately served by reasonable nondiscriminatory alternatives.'" The short of it is that a discriminatory aspect of a state's version of the three-tier system cannot be given a judicial seal of approval premised either on the virtues of three-tier systems generally or on the basis of a theoretical benefit to public health and safety associated with the challenged regulation, Selya said. Such a requirement if it is to be sanctioned must be supported by 'concrete evidence' demonstrating that its predominant effect advances the goals of the Twenty-first Amendment and not merely the protection of in-state business interests, the ruling continued. The appeals panel sent the case back to McConnell to determine whether the consumers assertions that states that allow out-of-state retail deliveries of alcohol do not experience a corresponding erosion in public health and safety outweigh the states arguments to the contrary. Selya was joined in hearing arguments earlier this summer by fellow Rhode Islanders Senior 1st Circuit Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson and 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Lara Montecalvo, constituting a full Ocean State panel. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Retailers hail appeals court ruling on home delivery of out-of-state wine Tammy Roethle, regional director with Brotoloc North Fox Valley Region, struggles to answer relatively easy questions and multi-task during a mental status exam as part of Crisis Intervention Partner training July 26 at Catalpa Health in Appleton. During the training, participants listen to simulated auditory hallucinations that help them understand the challenges faced by people with serious persistent mentall illness and develop empathy. Conducting the exam is Appleton Police officer Danielle Burke. APPLETON Twenty years ago, Appleton became the first police department in Wisconsin to implement a new approach to policing incidents involving mental illness. It was 2003. John Wallschlaeger, then a newly sworn-in Appleton Police Department officer, had read about a new model of policing called Crisis Intervention Teams that was finding success in other parts of the country. He brought it up to the police chief, who gave him the green light to attend a training in Ohio along with members of the Fox Valley branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. By the following year, Appleton started the state's first Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, program. Officers who receive CIT training learn how to address people in the community facing mental health crises in a way that prioritizes de-escalation and diversion from the legal system. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Under the state law, law enforcement has the authority to detain someone, and hospitalize them, and take away their civil rights so that they can receive mental health assistance. But if you have that huge responsibility, wheres the training?" Wallschlaeger said. "CIT was the answer to that." Two decades since its start in Wisconsin, CIT has been a key part of improving police responses to mental health crises. Law enforcement and mental health professionals say that the program can continue to grow and help more people through further education, destigmatizing mental illness and building upon existing resources for people in crisis RELATED STORY: Wisconsin's treatment courts prioritize rehabilitative needs and reduce recidivism Fatal shooting prompted creation of CIT Also known as the "Memphis Model," CIT was created in 1988 in Memphis, Tennessee, after police killed Joseph Robinson, a 27-year-old man armed with a knife. Police responded to the scene after Robinson's mother called police, fearful that her son would kill himself. Instead, two officers shot and killed Robinson. The incident prompted calls from community members to find ways to better address mental illness and policing. It's a series of events that has been seen across the United States and the world. According to a 2015 study by the Treatment Advocacy Center, at least 25% of all fatal police encounters result in the death of someone with a severe mental illness. That percentage is a conservative estimate, because most police departments, including Appleton, don't track the role of mental illness in police encounters. Research from places with official government data including Las Vegas, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom shows the percentage might be closer to 50%, the study said. Other factors, like race, also complicate this data, as national studies and surveys show people of color are more likely to not receive treatment for mental illness and experience police misconduct. Because CIT is a relatively new program in much of the country and there are not widespread data collections, studies have not been able to measure the impact of the program on a large scale. But anecdotal evidence attests to its life-saving benefits. In 2019, Grand Chute police officer James Shepherd responded to a domestic disturbance call for a 19-year-old girl who was breaking items in her house. Shepherd was aware from previous police contact that the teen had a severe mental illness. When he arrived at her home, he opened the door and she lunged at him with a knife. The knife struck his chest, but was deflected by his body armor, Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson said. "I mean, that is certainly a situation that would justify the use of deadly force to defend oneself. But in this instance, because the officer knew the young lady, had dealt with her previously, was aware of her mental health conditions, and was trained in the de-escalation techniques that are part of the CIT training, he immediately chose to disengage from her and begin backing away," Peterson said. Shepherd then retreated from the house to the garage, and spoke with the teen for about 30 minutes, using crisis negotiation tactics to try to get her to drop the knife and exit the house, Peterson said. Eventually, the Outagamie County emergency response team arrived and took the teen into custody. "It was dramatically different than a very, I'll say, traditional type of approach to a situation like that," Peterson said. Diverting people from the criminal justice system CIT aims to not only help save lives, but also reduce criminalization of mental illness, Wallschlaeger said. Wallschlaeger, who first became a police officer in 1994, worked in Hartland and Oshkosh before transferring to the Appleton Police Department in 2002, where he worked until his retirement in 2015. Early in his time as a police officer, Wallschlaeger noticed many police calls were for the same people, often struggling with homelessness, mental illness or substance abuse for minor incidents like trespassing or loitering. The traditional police approach of making arrests or issuing tickets in these situations was like a "revolving door," he said; no matter how many calls to law enforcement were made, the same issues kept happening with the same people. "That was one thing I learned in my career as I was young, as an officer. We weren't fixing anything. We were just making that door spin," Wallschlaeger said. It's an issue with policing that has grown in recent decades. Since widespread closings of mental health institutions across the United States in the mid-1970s, the primary group of people regularly interacting with those with serious mental illnesses has shifted from health care providers to police officers. The problem with this, Wallschlaeger said, is most police officers are not trained in addressing mental health needs, and traditional policing methods often only add problems to a situation. As a result, the country's criminal justice system has become flooded with people charged with crimes primarily for actions that stemmed from mental illness. According to a 2020 NAMI study, about two in every five people incarcerated in jails and prisons in the United States have a history of mental illness. A report by the Treatment Advocacy Center states that in 2014, 383,000 people with severe mental illnesses were in jails and prisons in the United States a population 10 times greater than those in state hospitals. "If you call your doctor's office, and they're closed, what's the common message that you hear on the phone? ... 'Call the police, go to the emergency room,'" Wallschlaeger said. "That system of care was defective, because it was directing people to the criminal justice system, which is not the best place to go. Because the criminal justice system is not very forgiving." Diverting mentally ill people away from the criminal justice system has benefits for everyone; treatment options in jails and prisons are limited, and housing people in jails and prisons for more than a couple months is more expensive than the cost of a stay at a hospital for inpatient treatment, studies show. Retired Appleton Police Officer John Wallschlaeger on Friday, August 25, 2023, in Appleton, Wis. Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin A quickly expanding program Since its start in Appleton in 2004, CIT has spread to police departments and sheriff's offices in close to half the counties in Wisconsin. Since 2014, more than 3,350 officers in Wisconsin have received CIT training, and in the past year, more than 600 Wisconsin officers from 188 departments across 45 counties were trained, NAMI Wisconsin Program Director Emilie Smiley said. NAMI Greater Milwaukee adapted a shortened version of CIT training for hospital staff around 2004. In 2007, Wallschlaeger and NAMI Fox Valley took that training concept and began offering it to community members and workers at all types of groups and agencies, like hospitals, jails, group homes and churches. They named it Crisis Intervention Partner training, or CIP. While CIT certification requires a five-day, 40-hour course, CIP certification takes just two days. CIP grew rapidly. One of the first CIP trainings in 2007 involved people from Kenosha, Waushara, Waupaca, Manitowoc, Calumet, and Sheboygan counties, Wallschlaeger said. Since then, NAMI Wisconsin has developed and continued bringing CIP training statewide. Representatives from the organization delivered a presentation on the training to leaders in other states at the annual CIT International Conference, held Aug. 14-16 in Detroit, Wallschlaeger said. In Appleton, around half of the police department staff are trained in CIT, CIP or both. Of those in the patrol division, about 75% are CIT certified, Appleton Police Lt. Meghan Cash said. De-escalation tactics taught in CIT have made their way into regular law enforcement training as well, particularly in the last four or five years, Peterson said. CIT is intended to be a voluntary program for police officers. When officers "self-select" to get certified in CIT, they tend to be better suited for the program than officers who were certified merely as a mandatory part of training, Wallshlaeger said. This may be partly because officers who choose to undergo CIT training often have a loved one with mental illness. Additionally, officers fresh out of the police academy may not be able to relate to the concept of a person facing a mental health crisis until they've encountered it firsthand, Wallshlaeger said. CIT International has published a position statement about the importance of CIT being voluntary, which Wallshlaeger, who was on the CIT International board from 2017 through 2022, helped write. "While CIT International fully supports all officers receiving robust generalist training in mental health awareness and de-escalation, mandated CIT training blurs the specialist component of the CIT model and has not worked well in some cities that have adopted this approach," the statement reads. In 2014, a Milwaukee police officer killed Dontre Hamilton, a man with schizophrenia who was sleeping in a park. The officer had unlawfully patted him down and in the ensuing scuffle shot him 14 times. The Milwaukee Police Department began requiring all officers to get trained in CIT, a three-year-long and $1.2 million undertaking. Results found it may have further damaged relationships between law enforcement and the community by giving a specialist title to officers not sufficiently dedicated. "Sometimes the city or or law enforcement administrators will simply do it for insurance purposes, for liability purposes. They think that that's the save-all and it's not," Wallshlaeger said. RELATED: In Milwaukee, $1.2 million police mental health training plan misses the mark RELATED: Many area police departments undergo Crisis Intervention Team training. True success comes through a collaborative approach, experts say More than police work The primary element of CIT and CIP is not merely training, but the creation of a collaborative network between law enforcement and mental health partners in the community. At a CIP training in late July, a class of 36 people gathered in a conference room at Catalpa Health in Appleton. Much of the training focused on developing empathy and gaining a better understanding of the struggles and experiences of people with mental illness. For one activity, the "Hearing Voices Simulation," trainees each took an MP3 player and set of earbuds and were tasked with completing different activities while listening to a recording that simulated auditory hallucinations a person with schizophrenia might hear. Activities included acting as a candidate in a simulated job interview, completing word searches and math problems under a time limit and following instructions to fold origami. When members of law enforcement go through CIT training, the auditory hallucination simulation portion involves more tasks related to policing, said Josh Hopkins, behavioral health investigator at the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office. CIT trainees are tasked with recalling license plate numbers and writing police reports, all while listening to the auditory hallucinations, which include repeated words and phrases, vulgar language and negative self-talk. Hannah Meyer, a registered nurse at Ascension NE Wisconsin-St. Elizabeth Campus, left, and Quincey Davidson, a crisis advocate at Pillars, participate in Crisis Intervention Partner training at Catalpa Health on July 26 in Appleton. During the training, participants listen to simulated auditory hallucinations that help them understand the challenges faced by people with serious persistent mentall illness and develop empathy. Hopkins said the purpose of the simulation is to help people get a better understanding of the added challenges people who experience auditory hallucinations have in their day-to-day lives. Other parts of the July training similarly gave participants glimpses into others' struggles. During one presentation, a video showed a depiction of what an overload of sensory input might look and sound like to an autistic person. Another presentation focused on adverse childhood experiences and was delivered by a father and his adult daughter. She was adopted as a child from Poland, and experienced run-ins with law enforcement growing up due to behavioral issues that stemmed from abuse she suffered in her youth. A main focus of the training was breaking the stigma around mental illness. Being hospitalized or receiving treatment for a psychotic episode or clinical depression should be thought of no differently than receiving treatment for a broken bone, trainers said. NAMI Fox Valley spearheads the CIT and CIP trainings in the Fox Valley area. While the organization serves Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca and northern Winnebago counties, the trainings are open to others outside the area, said Megan Zimmerman, program outreach coordinator for NAMI Fox Valley. Currently, NAMI Fox Valley holds one CIT training and two CIP trainings a year. How CIT works A person calling police can specifically ask for a CIT officer. When a CIT officer makes contact with someone experiencing a mental health crisis, they are taught to engage with a "nonviolent posture" and "use de-escalation techniques to allow that person to vent" before determining what their immediate needs are, Wallschlaeger said. The officer then reaches out to community organizations which among others can include NAMI Fox Valley; Catalpa, which offers psychiatric services for youth 18 and younger; SOAR, which has programming for people with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries; and Brotoloc North, which has group homes for people with a variety of needs located in the Fox Valley to see if they have they are familiar with that individual from previous contact. Often times, they are, Wallschlaeger said. Then, we might take them to a crisis center or someplace not the police department, and maybe not the emergency department, because neither one of those is going to be productive," Wallschlaeger said. Outagamie County has an eight-bed crisis center, Eastwood Crisis Facility, that can house people in crisis for less than 28 days. In Brown County, there is an 18-bed facility, while Winnebago County has a 16-bed crisis center. The crisis facilities are intended to help with stabilization, sometimes until someone can get inpatient care, or until they are stable enough to go home and continue outpatient therapy. In Outagamie County, some calls have an added support. During his time working in behavioral health for the sheriff's office, Hopkins has implemented the Safety Alert Flag Enrollment, or SAFE, Program. It allows community members with mental illness to voluntarily provide information about what they are like in a crisis state, giving first responders more context about what approach might be most helpful if they are called to respond to an incident. "After the voluntary enrollment, I have an interview with them to try to gather information about their access to weapons, safety concerns that they have for themselves or others, description of behaviors and triggers, what their crisis looks like kind of, actions that first responders should avoid, actions that first responders can do to help, and family or friends that we can reach out to to get some additional information on," Hopkins said. Once that information is put into the system, officers have access to it before they get to the scene. All law enforcement agencies in the county can refer people for the program, Hopkins said; 75 people are currently enrolled in it. RELATED: Treatment limited for jail inmates struggling with mental health, but they have access to a therapist, telehealth Limitations include barriers to CIT training at all law enforcement agencies A major barrier to implementing CIT at smaller law enforcement agencies is that getting an officer certified requires they aren't available for a week of work. For some police departments, that simply isn't possible. Zimmerman said many small departments opt instead for sending officers to the two-day CIP training, so they can at least receive some certification. Law enforcement agencies looking to get officers trained can apply for grants, which are allocated statewide by NAMI Wisconsin. In 2014, the Wisconsin Legislature created a statute to support CIT and CIP that gives $250,000 every two years to expand and unify CIT and CIP programs across the state. In 2021, this amount was increased to $1 million. But these grants can only help with the cost, not the staffing shortage, Zimmerman said. Hopkins said that while CIT is widespread across central and southern parts of Wisconsin, the program is rarer in many of the more rural northern communities. There is also no required follow-up training or recertification. Even though CIT tactics have changed over the years, an officer who was CIT certified a decade ago is still certified today. The statewide NAMI organization is working on piloting a follow-up CIT training in Wisconsin, which will start to roll out for trials in the next month or so, Zimmerman and Hopkins said. It will involve self-paced online learning, to be completed preferably three to five years after initial CIT certification. "Mental health conditions are constantly changing, so our approach to addressing those mental health conditions should also constantly be changing," Hopkins said. Studies on CIT have tried to measure the program's effectiveness. A 2019 report from the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law said studies have found that there is a lack of quantifiable data showing if CIT-trained officers use less force or are less likely to injure civilians or be injured themselves during interactions compared to non-CIT-trained officers. This may be partly due to a lack of large-scale studies on the topic, as well as underreporting of officer-involved shootings, the report said. However, studies have found evidence that CIT has resulted in diverting people away from jail as well as improving attitudes among police officers, according to the report. While CIT is one of the most widely implemented police programs for addressing mental health in the United States, there are other models that help prevent mentally ill people from getting deeply embedded in the criminal justice system or killed by police. These include co-responder teams, where a mental health worker responds to calls related to mental health crises alongside police officers, and mobile crisis units, where only mental health experts respond to a scene without law enforcement. In Wisconsin, many law enforcement agencies use a combination of crisis response methods, Smiley said. Some departments, like Appleton, have CIT-trained officers as part of a co-responder team. The Appleton Police Department implemented a co-responder model in January 2022, when it hired a clinical therapist. The therapist, Sarah Peterson, is available from 3 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday to help community members who may be going through crisis during a police response. Prior to the addition of the department therapist, however, police officers would sometimes have staff from Outagamie County Crisis respond to calls like welfare checks, Wallschlaeger said. NAMI Wisconsin hosted its first Co-Responder Summit in June, which was attended by 12 teams from around the state, Smiley said. It led to the creation of NAMI Wisconsin Co-Responder Committee, which aims to track co-response efforts around the state. "The ultimate response would be a mental health response without law enforcement," Wallschlaeger said. "So that if somebody was in crisis, they could go to a 24/7 crisis facility without having law enforcement involved. That would be the ideal thing. Because when you talk about being overwhelmed by the crisis, having the cops there ... maybe to transport them in a police car, that doesnt make it better." However, Wallschlaeger said he recognizes crisis situations can sometimes pose dangers and require law enforcement officers who are trained in safety and de-escalation tactics. Increasing beds at mental health facilities, which can have long waitlists, could also improve access to treatment for people experiencing mental health crises. In Wisconsin, for a person to get hospitalized for mental health treatment, they must self-volunteer treatment and there must be a bed available or, if there are no available beds, or a person is not willing to receive treatment during a crisis, a Chapter 51 commitment is required to get a person the help they need, Winnebago Mental Health Institute Deputy Director Maria Coonen explained at the July 25 CIP training session. But under Wisconsin statues, a Chapter 51 commitment requires that a person has a treatable mental illness and is currently exhibiting suicidal or homicidal behavior. When that criteria isn't met, a person in crisis might not be able to receive immediate treatment. While there is no one perfect response, law enforcement entities continue to work to find ways to improve interactions with community members experiencing crises. "I don't think that we'll ever be to a point where we can relax and say that we've done enough to address mental health," Hopkins said. "I think it's something that's going to continue to evolve in the future, and it's something that we need to continually be addressing and working through to continue to break that stigma, because it's not going to go away on its own." Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. Thanks to our subscribers for making this coverage possible. Your support helps local journalism. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Crisis Intervention Team goal: better response to mental health crises Armenian and U.S. forces on Sept. 11 started joint military exercises, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. The drills, which will continue until Sept. 20, come amid deteriorating relations between Armenia and Russia. The exercises, named Eagle Partner 2023, will involve 85 U.S. soldiers and 175 Armenian soldiers. The aim is to prepare Armenian forces to take part in international peacekeeping missions, the Armenian Defense Ministry said. U.S. Command spokesperson Colonel Martin O'Donnell said that Eagle Partner 2023 is "a vital opportunity for our soldiers from our two nations to build new relationships at the tactical level and to increase interoperability for peacekeeping operations." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The cooperation with U.S. troops is significant because Armenia still has economic, military, and political ties with Russia. It hosts a Russian military base in the town of Gyumri. Moscow reacted negatively to the exercises. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he does not expect "anything good" to come out of the drills. On Sept. 8, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador due to the recent "unfriendly steps" taken by Armenia, referring in part to these military exercises with the U.S. On Sept. 1, the Armenian government also sent the Rome Statute, the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to the parliament for ratification. The move irritated Russia because the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Russia has called Armenia's intention to ratify the statute "unacceptable" and warned about "extremely negative consequences." Meanwhile, Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov has threatened that the Kremlin could launch an invasion of Armenia and Georgia. Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia's prime minister, has also accused Russia of failing to protect Armenia from Azeri troops. Read also: This Week in Ukraine Ep. 24 Will Ukraine hold elections during war? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LOS ANGELES (AP) Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apologized Saturday for character letters the celebrity couple wrote on behalf of fellow That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson before he was sentenced for rape this week. A judge in Los Angeles on Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. In a video posted on Instagram, Kutcher and Kunis said they were sorry for the pain they may have caused with the letters, which were made public Friday. Kutcher said the letters that asked for leniency were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that and were sorry if that has taken place. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kutcher said Mastersons family approached them after the actor was convicted in the rapes in May and asked them to write character letters describing the person that we knew for 25 years. The letters were posted online by The Hollywood Reporter and other digital publications. Masterson starred with Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace in That 70s Show from 1998 until 2006. Danny Masterson appears at the CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. on June 7, 2017. (Photo by Wade Payne/Invision/AP, File) He had reunited with Kutcher on the 2016 Netflix comedy The Ranch, but was written off the show when the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was revealed the following year. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women, and pleas for fairness from defense attorneys. Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people with decency, equality, and generosity, he wrote in his letter dated July 27, 2023. Kunis in her letter to Olmedo called Masterson an outstanding role model and friend and an exceptional older brother figure. Both rapes took place in Mastersons Hollywood-area home in 2003 when he was at the height of his fame on the Fox network sitcom That 70s Show. The victims testified that Masterson drugged them before violently raping them. Kunis said in the apology video that their letters did not mean to undermine the testimony of victims. Our heart goes out to every single person whos ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Members of Gen Z often argue that millennial style is cringey and not fashionable. So I asked New York Fashion Week attendees about millennial wardrobe staples. They shared the fashion trends they'd get rid of, and the ones they actually like. One of the biggest debates between generations right now is whether millennial fashion is classic or cringey so I took the question to New York Fashion Week. A model walks the runway at PatBo's New York Fashion Week show on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider Unfortunately, for those born between 1981 and 1996, members of Gen Z have decided that skinny jeans are outdated, side-part hairstyles look odd, and "going-out tops" are things of the past much to the disagreement of many millennials. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement So when I attended New York Fashion Week on Saturday, I figured it was the perfect time to ask fashionable people from both generations about their thoughts. Their answers were mixed, to say the least. Actor and style blogger Temi Otedola knew immediately which millennial fashion trend she'd get rid of. Temi Otedola attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "Skinny jeans," she replied instantly while shaking her head. The denim style has faded from popularity in recent years, with straight-leg jeans being the most popular style among women in 2021, according to the market-research company NPD Group. Gen Z then collectively declared the death of skinny jeans around May 2023, leading men on TikTok to show off the straight-leg trousers and baggy pants they adopted in their place. Still, many millennials have stood by their tight-fitting pants. TV personality Blake Newby said millennials need to be careful about what they're wearing under their outfits. Blake Newby attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "Improper undergarments are something that drives me nuts. We struggle with it," she told Insider. "We must prioritize wearing the right undergarments for our looks." But as a millennial herself, there's also one trend Newby stands by: wedges. "This is going to be very controversial, but I think we should defend wedges the right wedge done the right way," she said. And Newby might be onto something. One stylist who previously spoke with Insider about this summer's footwear styles said wedges with unique details like straps and open backs could be "the hottest shoe trend for 2023." Fashion and beauty creator Hana Martin said she's a millennial-fashion defender. Hana Martin attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "I'm a Gen Z, but I really love millennial style," Martin said. "I actually think I'm in with it." One trend she loves in particular is the the old-money aesthetic, which makes use of neutral-colored garments, classic prints (think houndstooth and stripes), and timeless fabrics like linen to evoke the image of being wealthy and having a chic lifestyle. "The classy, elegant style is really in at the moment for Gen Z, and millennials are the OG of that. I love that trend," she said. As Martin noted, Gen Z influencers like Sofia Richie Grainge have catapulted the style in recent months. Millennials, however, were the first generation to look at icons like Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Princess Diana as old-school inspiration. "Gossip Girl," for example, featured characters dressed in old-money fashion, and modern royals like Kate Middleton have embraced the style. Influencer Amy Lefevre said there are two millennial styles that need to go. Amy Lefevre attends the PatBo runway show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "I'm really tired of the overly cropped tops, even cropped T-shirts," she said. "And skinny jeans need to go. They never should have existed in the first place." Dawn, a drag queen from Brooklyn, also had opinions on millennial pants. Dawn attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "The worst is the high, high-waisted jeans. A nice mid-rise is really OK," she said with a laugh. Still, there is one denim style that Dawn says millennials have mastered. "Are overalls millennial? I think so. I love an overall," she said. Model Carmen Lee said she feels millennials are often more fashionable than Gen Z. Carmen Solomons attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "The thing about millennials is that everything we have come up with is still in fashion to this day," she said. "Gen Z is trying to implement all our fashion trends." Specifically, Gen Z has been reviving millennial-created trends that the older generation hates. So far, they've brought back ballet flats, low-rise pants, and the Fendi Baguette all former style staples of millennials. "There hasn't been anything I've learned from Gen Z that I'm like, 'Oh, that's timeless.' No honey," she added. Stylist Odera Nkem-Mmekam gives millennials some credit but thinks they need to reconsider at least two trends. Odera Nkem-Mmekam attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider "Do you remember the color-blocking thing that happened? I was just thinking about that today. It was awful like really, really bad," she said. "But millennials did indie sleaze, and that was cute, honestly." Indie sleaze is an aesthetic that mixes grunge pieces with more hipster-esque ones. It was most popular in the mid-2000s and early 2010s. Model Alioune Fall says many millennials make the mistake of trying to wear Gen Z trends rather than what they like. Alioune Fall attends the Cucculelli Shaheen show during New York Fashion Week on September 9, 2023. Amanda Krause/Insider Noting that it's an "unpopular opinion," Fall said he's not a fan of millennials leaning into the "skateboarding style" and Y2K trends that Gen Z love. Instead, he wishes millennials focused on more chic styles. "I think it's time to come back to classic looks, suits, tailoring, and wearing what fits your body not just trends," he said. Read the original article on Insider FILE PHOTO: The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the NYSE in New York, United States By Maggie Fick LONDON (Reuters) -AstraZeneca appeared to play down speculation about the future of its CEO after its shares fell more than 4% on Monday following a British tabloid report that Pascal Soriot was considering leaving the drugmaker as soon as next year. The company initially declined to comment on the Mail on Sunday report, but later issued a statement saying: "We do not comment on market rumours. We have regulatory obligations and were there any truth in a rumour that could significantly impact our share price we would make an announcement." AstraZeneca shares closed down 3.2% after earlier touching their lowest since July 19. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Three analysts and one AstraZeneca shareholder told Reuters they attributed the move to the Mail on Sunday report that said Soriot had privately told friends and advisers he may leave the company as soon as next year. Reuters could not independently verify the information. Two of the analysts and the shareholder also said an article published on Monday in the Times newspaper could have affected the shares, though it appeared to contradict the Mail on Sunday report. The Times' article focused on the retirement of Mene Pangalos, the long-time biopharmaceuticals head of research at AstraZeneca, which was announced in July. In it, Pangalos was quoted as saying: "Pascal has got a lot of years ahead of him and he works as hard and as intensely as he did when I first met him in 2012." (Reporting by Maggie Fick and Samuel Indyk; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Mark Potter) Frank Rubio didn't set out to break a record, but today aboard the International Space Station (ISS), he will do just that. Rubio, a NASA astronaut and member of the space station's 69th expedition crew, will become the American who has flown the longest space mission in U.S. history. At 1:39 p.m. EDT (1739 GMT) on Monday (Sept. 11), he will surpass the 355 days, 3 hours and 45 minutes logged by NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei in 2022. Further, since he is not scheduled to land until Sept. 27, Rubio will soon become the first American, and one of only seven people, to spend a year or more in space, ultimately returning to Earth after 371 days in Earth orbit. Related: The most extreme human spaceflight records "It's an honor to be able to be considered one of the people that's going to have spent a year in space," said Rubio in a recent interview with ABC's Good Morning America. "And for sure this record will soon be broken again." "I think this [duration] is really significant, in the sense that it teaches us that the human body can endure, it can adapt and as we prepare to push back to the moon and then from there, onward onto hopefully Mars and further on into the solar system I think it's really important that we learn just how the human body learns to adapt, and how we can optimize that process so that we can improve our performance as we explore further and further out from Earth," he said. three people in dark shirts float aboard the international space station. Rubio launched on this flight, his first, on Sept. 21, 2022. Riding aboard Russia's Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft, Rubio and his crewmates Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitry Petelin were then slated to return to Earth after about six months on the space station. Then on Dec. 14, as Prokopyev and Petelin were preparing for a spacewalk, Russian flight controllers received telemetry showing that the exterior coolant system for the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft was losing pressure. Cameras on the station confirmed that the Soyuz was leaking its ammonia coolant into space. Deemed no longer safe to return a crew to Earth, a "rescue" Soyuz, MS-23, was launched on Feb. 23 and Prokopyev, Petelin and Rubio's stay on the station was extended another six months. Rather than serve on just the Expedition 67 and 68 crews, the three also became part of Expedition 69. (Their departure on Soyuz MS-23 will mark the beginning of Expedition 70). "Frank thought when he flew to space, he would be here for six months. And partway through his mission, he found out that it was extended to a year," said NASA astronaut Warren "Woody" Hoburg, during an on-orbit press conference preceding his return to Earth after six months on Sept. 3. "His leadership up here has been incredible. He's been amazing to work with and Frank is just making a huge sacrifice being away from his family for so long." headshots of five people in blue flight suits. RELATED STORIES: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The International Space Station: Facts, history and tracking Soyuz spacecraft: Backbone of Russian space program Russia's replacement Soyuz spacecraft arrives at space station Like Rubio, Vande Hei also did not know he would be spending nearly a year in space when he launched to the space station. Rather than an incapacitated spacecraft, though, Vande Hei's extended stay was to accommodate a Russian movie crew's visit to the station and to protect against a crew rotation schedule that could leave the complex without an American on board. Vande Hei's 355 days surpassed Scott Kelly's mission that spanned 2015 to 2016. Kelly's 340 days was planned from the start as a means of gathering physiological data about the effects of a longer duration spaceflight on the human body. Rubio's Soyuz MS-23 crewmates, Prokopyev and Petelin, are the sixth and seventh Russians to spend a year in space and the first two to do so on the International Space Station. Soviet-era cosmonauts Sergey Avdeev, Musa Manarov, Vladimir Titov and Valery Polyakov each logged more than 365 days on the former space station Mir. (Polyakov, who died in 2022, still holds the record for the longest single space mission at 437 days.) A former flight surgeon, Rubio said he expects his return home to be a challenge. "After about six months in space, most people have a little bit of a hard time with their vestibular system and their equilibrium. So after 12 months that can be a challenge," he said. "It might take a couple of days before I'm somewhat normal, but the reality is it's going to take anywhere from two to six months of really intense rehab to get back to my normal, and that's just part of the process." Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2023 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved. Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Astronaut Frank Rubio has now been in low-Earth orbit for more than 355 days, breaking the record for the longest space mission by a US astronaut. Rubio who has been on the International Space Station since September 2022 bested the previous record, held by retired NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei, at 1:40 p.m. ET on Monday, according to a spokesperson for the space agency. Whats more, Rubio is on track to reach another significant milestone in a few weeks time. A Russian Soyuz capsule is not expected to return him and his two fellow crewmates cosmonauts Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin to Earth before September 27. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement That means Rubio will have spent at least 371 days in orbit once he completes his mission. He is on the cusp of becoming the first American to spend more than one calendar year in microgravity. Yet Rubios mission was not originally designed to break records. When Rubio left for the space station aboard a Russian Soyuz capsule on September 21, 2022, he and his crewmates believed they were carrying out a six-month mission. But the spacecraft that carried Rubio and his two Russian colleagues sprang a coolant leak in December. Officials at Roscosmos, Russias space agency, later deemed the spacecraft unsafe to carry the crew back home. Instead, the Soyuz MS-22 capsule returned to Earth without a crew on March 28. And Roscosmos launched a replacement spacecraft, MS-23, that docked with the space station on February 25. Rubios return date was pushed back to September as Russia prepared the next Soyuz vehicle, which will launch with a new crew of two cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut as early as Friday. To commemorate Rubios feat, he recorded a conversation with Vande Hei on September 5, which aired on NASAs media channel on Tuesday. My family has been kind of the cornerstone thats inspired me to hopefully keep somewhat of a good attitude while Ive been up here, Rubio told Vande Hei. The resilience that my wife and kids showed they they faced a lot of challenges this past year, and just thrived throughout the whole entire process Im incredibly grateful for them and for that. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also commemorated Rubios record-setting milestone in a social media post on Monday. Rubios journey in space embodies the essence of exploration, the statement reads. As he breaks records as the longest serving @NASA US astronaut in space, he also paves the way for future generations of astronauts, the statement reads. Your dedication is truly out of this world, Frank! Rubio is shown during a spacewalk tethered to the International Space Station's starboard truss structure on November 15, 2022. - NASA In the record books If all goes to plan, and Rubio departs on September 27, his 371-day stay will not be a world record for the longest space mission. The late Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov, who logged 437 continuous days in orbit aboard Russias Mir space station between January 1994 and March 1995, holds that title. Vande Hei had set a new US record for the most consecutive days in space in 2022 after NASA and Roscosmos decided to extend his stay because Russia had sent a crew of two people to the space station to film a movie. Vande Heis return was delayed to allow for the additional traffic to the orbiting laboratory, though he said at the time that he had known his mission might be extended before he arrived. Before Vande Hei, US astronaut Scott Kelly held the title for longest spaceflight by an American with his 340-day mission. That tour of duty was a planned extended mission, designed by NASA to study the long-term effects of spaceflight on the human body. A Russian cosmonaut also holds the current record for the most cumulative days in space. Gennadi Padalka earned that title, besting another cosmonaut in 2015, by notching a total of 879 days over the course of five separate spaceflights. The US record for the most accrued days in space is held by Peggy Whitson with a total of 675 days in orbit. Whitson, who retired from the NASA astronaut corps in 2018, has added to the record as recently as 2023. She now serves as a private astronaut for Axiom Space, which so far has hosted two commercial trips to the space station that have allowed paying customers to experience a trip to the orbiting laboratory alongside a veteran professional astronaut. Getting to space Rubio traveled to the space station on a Russian spacecraft as part of crew-swapping agreement between NASA and Roscosmos that was hashed out in the summer of 2022. NASA officials assigned Rubio to ride aboard the Soyuz MS-22, while Roscosmos put cosmonaut Anna Kikina on a SpaceX Crew Dragon mission that took flight in October 2022 and returned home March 11. Despite geopolitical tensions between the United States and Russia as the war in Ukraine escalated, NASA has repeatedly said its partnership with Roscosmos is vital to continuing the space stations operations and the valuable scientific research carried out on board. At the time the ride-sharing agreement was announced, NASA said in a statement that inking such a deal with Russia was crucial to ensure continued safe operations of the space station. If either the Russian Soyuz spacecraft or the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule were to run into issues and be taken out of service, a seat-swap agreement would ensure that both US astronauts and Russian cosmonauts would still have access to the space station. Roscosmos did not need to rely on a SpaceX capsule to replace the damaged Soyuz MS-22 crew ship, however, because the MS-23 spacecraft was prepared to fly and the coolant leak on the MS-22 vehicle did not necessarily point to possible issues with other Soyuz vehicles, officials noted. Joel Montalbano, NASAs International Space Station program manager, said during a news conference in July that Roscosmos had investigated the issue and found it was likely an external force that caused the leak, indicating a piece of orbital debris probably hit the spacecraft. A NASA team has also looked at it independent of the Russian team and we also cannot find anything based on the information weve been given by our Russian colleagues of anything other than some type of external force or debris or something else like that, Montalbano said. During his stay in space, Rubio has seen several crews of astronauts rotate through via SpaceX vehicles. Apart from the Axiom-2 crew that visited in May, the SpaceX Crew-5 and Crew-6 astronauts have come and gone since Rubios arrival. And the Crew-7 group which includes astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the European Space Agency arrived at the station in August. Ive been in space with 25 other people, and by the time [the next Soyuz flight gets] here, itll be 28 which is pretty phenomenal, Rubio told Vande Hei. And every one of them have just been great crewmates, very special people and they hold special places now because Ive been able to share this experience with them. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com I ate the best sandwich of my life at one of Ina Garten's favorite spots in the Hamptons. It was $24 but worth every penny. Me and my sandwich. Gabbi Shaw/Insider I visited one of Ina Garten's favorite spots in the Hamptons, New York, over the summer. While there, I bought the best sandwich I've ever eaten in my life and I'm not exaggerating. Even though it was $24 for a simple mozzarella-and-tomato sandwich, I'd go back and get it again. On a recent excursion to Long Island neighborhoods Montauk and the Hamptons some of the most exclusive and high-end areas in the US I visited Round Swamp Farm in East Hampton. I decided to stop at the farm stand and country market after Ina Garten the queen of the Hamptons wrote on her blog in 2021 that it was one of her favorite spots. While prices were high, Round Swamp Farm's products were wide-ranging and delicious I was surprised by how expensive some things were, like a $71 steak or a pound of lobster salad for $83.99, but I loved the ambiance of the store, its large selection of fresh produce and prepared foods, and its emphasis on its family roots. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When I asked Round Swamp Farm about its high prices, a representative for the farm said they "believe that the prices of our products fairly represent the high quality and variety of the fresh food and produce we offer" and are "necessary" to support staff and their families who live in one of the most expensive areas in the country. Among its high-priced items was a $24 tomato-and-mozzarella sandwich. But after buying and tasting it, I can attest that every bite was incredible and it was worth the relatively large price-tag. At first, I thought the sandwich was misplaced in a different section The farm sandwich. Gabbi Shaw/Insider I came across the sandwich when I was browsing the aisles. It stood out because it wasn't shelved with the other prepared foods it was right by the kitchen, as if it had been freshly made just for me. Despite its hefty price tag, I was craving tomatoes after seeing the huge ones that Round Swamp Farm grows. As almost all of Round Swamp Farms' products are, the sandwich was labeled with its ingredients: bread, tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, arugula, mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar, basil, Parmesan cheese, lemon, olive oil, and fresh herbs and spices. While I knew its ingredients were grown on the farm or baked fresh, I still wasn't prepared for the deliciousness. It had the juiciest tomatoes I've ever eaten, bread that wasn't too hard to bite like a baguette or ciabatta, and the perfect amount of herb mayo. It was the best sandwich of my life. A better view of my sandwich. Gabbi Shaw/Insider The bread and tomatoes were the real standouts of the sandwich Round Swamp's bread was melt-in-your-mouth soft, and seasoned with some of the herbs and spices mentioned in the ingredients. I also couldn't get enough of the red and orange tomatoes, which were some of the tastiest and juiciest tomatoes I've ever had. The mozzarella was the perfect texture: not too soggy, but not firm. Even though its ingredients might sound simple, I know I could never recreate it on my own. So while it's not feasible for me to spend $24 on a sandwich every day or to drive the 100 miles to East Hampton from New York City, where I live I know that I've found a go-to spot with a go-to sandwich the next time I head out east. The Barefoot Contessa has done it again. Read the original article on Insider Atlanta residents say theyve collected more than 116,000 signatures on a petition to put a controversial police training facility up for a vote. Those signatures are far more than the approximately 70,000 needed to force a referendum. But on Monday, city officials said they might dismiss the petition. The Atlanta Public Safety Training Center is an 85-acre, $90 million police training facility planned for construction in an Atlanta forest. The proposal, called Cop City by critics, has drawn fierce opposition for its projected cost, environmental footprint, and impact on policing in the city. Police and prosecutors have taken an aggressive stance of their own, arresting protesters en masse and charging more than 60 activists with racketeering last week. Some of the defendants in the RICO case are accused of conspiracy on the basis of them handing out fliers, running a bail fund, or (in one case) acting as a legal observer at a protest. On Monday, another plan to block the facility also hit a legal roadblock. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Local law allows Atlanta residents to put decisions up for a referendum, with signatures from 15 percent of all registered voters in the last municipal election. For opponents of Cop City, that meant gathering signatures from more than 70,000 Atlantans on a petition. Stop Cop City Activists Hit With RICO Charges By Same Grand Jury That Indicted Trump Even the process of launching a petition was contentious, with attorneys for Atlanta and Georgia arguing against the campaign, describing it to a judge as futile, and invalid. Atlanta officials also argued that residents of DeKalb County should not be allowed to participate in the petition. (Most of Atlanta is located in Fulton County, while DeKalb makes up approximately 10 percent of the city.) DeKalb County residents successfully sued for inclusion on the petition this summer, noting that the facility would be built in their county. That lawsuit extended the deadline for signature collection until September 23. Atlanta officials appealed the extension and received a preliminary stay from a judge this month. The judges ruling, while not final, returned the deadline to its original date of August 21. Those clashing deadlines became clear on Monday when activists gathered at Atlanta City Hall to deliver what they said were more than 116,000 signaturesfar more than required to put Cop Citys construction on the ballot in November. Shortly after the rally on City Hall steps, attorneys for the city released a memo slamming activists decision not to comply with the August 21 statutory deadline for submitting their petition. The memo said the city is not obligated to accept the petition. The city is awaiting further instruction from the courts, its lawyers wrote in the memo. The Vote To Stop Cop City Coalition, which is coordinating the petition process, panned the decision as un-democratic. This is yet another disgraceful push by the city to stonewall democracy, showing that Mayor [Andre] Dickens and the City of Atlanta fear the power of their constituents, the organization said in a statement. The City was notified on Thursday of our intention to submit, yet was too cowardly to release any response, or even respond to our email, until after we arrivedeven their press conference is virtual to ensure the people cannot attend. Shame on the City for playing games with the sweat, hard work, and demands of 116,000 of their constituents. The coalition has previously tried submitting signatures, including before the Aug. 21 deadline, only to meet other legal obstacles. On Aug. 20, activists called off plans to submit approximately 100,000 signatures, after Atlanta officials announced that they would examine the petition with signature-verification tools. Civil rights groups criticized the verification process as unscientific, and claimed it risked disenfranchising legitimate voters. 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. Nearly five years after voters passed a constitutional amendment about victims rights, Attorney General Ashley Moodys office Monday urged the Florida Supreme Court to use the measure to make it harder for Death Row inmates to get stays of execution. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Moodys office cited the amendment, known as Marsys Law, in a document arguing that the Supreme Court should reject a request by inmate Michael Duane Zack for a stay of his scheduled Oct. 3 execution. If the Supreme Court agrees with Marsys Law argument, it would heighten a standard used in determining whether to grant stays after death warrants have been signed, according to the document. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Marsys Law amendments to the Florida Constitution require Floridas courts to modify the stay-of-execution standard to account for the victims rights to be free from unreasonable delay and prompt finality, Moodys office argued. But Maria DeLiberato, executive director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, called the states approach a stretch and pointed to already-existing procedural rules in appeals. Trying to use Marsys Law to truncate litigation at the execution stage is too far of a reach. The specific procedures outlined in the rules of criminal procedure contemplate this exact process, DeLiberato, an attorney, said. Zacks attorneys on Sunday filed a motion for a stay of execution and a broader appeal that focused heavily on arguments that Zack should be shielded from execution because of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. His attorneys contend that putting him to death would violate a constitutional ban on executing people with intellectual disabilities. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 17 signed a death warrant for Zack in the 1996 murder of a woman in Escambia County. The warrant came after state and federal courts turned down a series of appeals over nearly two decades, including appeals dealing with whether he was intellectually disabled. Escambia County Circuit Judge Linda Nobles on Aug. 31 denied a request for a stay of execution and rejected other arguments. Nobles wrote that Zacks argument about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is procedurally barred, in part because courts in the past have rejected intellectual disability claims by Zack. In Mondays document, Moodys office contended that a stay should be denied under a current legal standard. But it also argued that the Supreme Court should go further and toughen the standard because of Marsys Law. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Marsys Law, passed in 2018, includes a wide range of issues about victims rights, but the arguments by Moodys office focus on part of the amendment that says victims have a right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay, and to a prompt and final conclusion of the case and any related post-judgment proceedings. Moodys office said the Supreme Court should set a new standard that would apply after death warrants are signed. Under such a standard, an inmate seeking a stay would be required to show that arguments aimed at blocking the execution could not have been made earlier. This (Marsys Law) right should be protected by a threshold analysis of whether the defendants claim could have been brought before a death warrant was signed. If the claim could have been brought earlier, then a stay should be automatically denied, the response said. The victims constitutional rights to prompt finality and freedom from unreasonable delay demands no less. Also, Moodys office urged justices to announce this rule now and ensure capital defendants and their counsel across Florida are aware they cannot wait until a warrant is signed to employ extraordinary efforts and expect a stay. But DeLiberato said the appeals process includes safeguards related to stays. Its the last opportunity for any claims to be raised to make sure that Florida is executing the most-aggravated and least-mitigated, quote-unquote, the worst of the worst, she said. A jury in September 1997 convicted Zack of first-degree murder in the murder of Ravonne Smith. Zack also is serving a life sentence for murdering another woman in Okaloosa County shortly before Smith was killed. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A third-party arbitration panel outlined details of a new contract between the city and the union that represents Austin firefighters, which comes with a pay raise as firefighters have voiced concerns that their wages have not kept up with the city's cost of living. The contract will run for the next two fiscal years and will include a base wage increase of 4% for each year, including 2023. The pay increases for fiscal year 2023, which ends Sept. 30, and fiscal year 2024 will be added to the first payroll of fiscal year 2024, according to a release sent by the city. The contract will kick in immediately and does not require any authorization by the City Council or the union. More: Amid union contract negotiations, Austin firefighters struggle to make ends meet ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement City negotiators and members of the Austin Firefighters Association, the union that represents firefighters in the city, have been working on reaching a new contract for nearly a year and a half. Both parties had hoped to achieve a deal through collective bargaining, but those hopes were dashed nearly a month ago when union President Bob Nicks said he would not recommend a contract to his members. He told the American-Statesman previously that he made the choice not because it was a bad deal, but because he didn't want to influence the union members' votes. Pay increases were at the crux of contract negotiations between the city and firefighters. Although on paper Austin firefighters appear to have a good base salary, they lose nearly 19% of each check to their pension, which brings their wages down significantly and prompts many to work an excessive amount of overtime or other jobs, according to Nicks. The city has claimed that Austin firefighters are some of the best-paid in the state, per a study comparing their wages to those of firefighters in other large Texas cities. However, the union countered with findings that show they are not even the best-paid in Travis County. How did firefighters, city respond to the outcome? Nicks told the Statesman that he thinks the arbitrators made the best decision they could given the circumstances, but that this contract does not do enough to fix morale issues among firefighters. The city had promised in 2017 to keep firefighters' pay 5% above that of other Texas cities and to "strive" to keep their base pay near the cost of living in Austin, according to a presentation Nicks gave to the city's Public Safety Commission last month. The new contract does not include those promises, Nicks said, and the firefighters lost purchasing power since their last contrast in 2017 as their wage increases were outpaced by their household spending. "It does stop the (financial) bleeding but does not make us whole," he said. "In any other economic period, it would be a good contract, but firefighters lost more than 14% purchasing power in the last contract and still have not been able to regain that. And it has had a significant impact on the firefighters and our families." Interim Assistant City Manager Bruce Mills said in a statement to the Statesman that the contract was reached via an arbitration panel at the association's request. "Trying to now go back in time is not productive and we look forward to working with the Association to move forward with implementation of the awarded contract," Mills said. What else is in the union contract? In addition to the pay increases, the contract includes a one-time payment to firefighters and stipends for the department's wildfire battalion, arson division, dispatch divisions and assistant fire chiefs. Under the contract, the Austin Fire Department will also stop random and post-accident drug testing of firefighters, in addition to eliminating punishment for firefighters who test positive for cannabis as long as they have a prescription and aren't under the influence on the job. More: Amid high vacancies, EMS medics could get a pay raise as part of agreement with city Juneteenth will now be a paid holiday for firefighters, and they will see a reduction by one hour in their workweek, taking them from 53 to 52 hours each week. Nicks said this reduction is a "shining light" and that the language also opens up the possibility for them to get further reductions. The union is hoping to move to a 50.4-hour workweek eventually. Mills said in a news release sent Friday that the city is happy with the contract from the arbitration panel. "We believe we have arrived at a good result for both the Austin Firefighters Association and the City," Mills said in the statement. "That said, and regardless of our belief that the arbitration panel delivered us a fair decision, going forward, our hope and continued goal is that we will be able to mutually achieve the next labor contract with the Firefighters Association through the collective bargaining process. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Arbitrators outline new contract terms with Austin firefighters, city Russian troops struck the villages of Bilozerka and Sadove in Kherson Oblast on Sept. 11, wounding three residents, regional authorities reported. In Bilozerka, a 53-year-old man suffered a mine-explosive injury, and another civilian aged 48 was hospitalized, according to the regional administration. The attack caused a fire in a house and shattered windows in a local educational institution, said the Kherson Oblast Military Administration. Bilozerka lies on the Kyiv-controlled west bank of the Dnipro River, around 10 kilometers west of Kherson, the regional capital. A 50-year-old man sustained injuries when Russian forces hit Sadove, about 30 kilometers to the east, head of the Kherson City Military Administration Roman Mrochko reported on Telegram. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Earlier the same day, Russian forces launched a strike against a medical facility in Kherson Oblasts Stanislav, injuring a medic and a patient, according to the regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin. Read also: Report: Ukraines healthcare system suffered over 1,000 attacks over full-scale war Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the Dnipro Rivers west bank in November 2022. Russian forces were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. U.S. auto workers are poised to launch what could be a never-before-seen simultaneous strike against the Big Three. The United Auto Workers unions contracts with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis owner of the historic Chrysler brands are set to expire at midnight Friday morning, and both sides remain far apart on several key issues. The unions president, Shawn Fain , has said repeatedly that workers are prepared to strike any company where they havent secured a satisfactory deal. The prospect of walking out at the three companies at the same time marks a departure from past negotiating strategy for the UAW, which has 150,000 members employed under the trio of contracts. It also raises both the political and economic stakes of a showdown in a major manufacturing sector that is now shifting toward electric vehicles. Given the limited time left and the militant tone of the unions leadership, many observers believe a work stoppage of some kind looks increasingly likely. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The gap is too far and the amount of territory they have to cover is simply too vast for them to have a chance of reaching an agreement by Sept. 14, unless there is some major breakthrough, said Marick Masters, a business professor at Wayne State University in Detroit. What such a strike might look like remains to be seen. The gap is too far and the amount of territory they have to cover is simply too vast.Marick Masters, Wayne State University For decades, the UAW took a target company approach to bargaining with the Big Three: The union would choose one company in general, the one that seemed most profitable and amenable to its demands and try to bargain the best deal possible. Then, having set a standard for the industry, they could model the other two contracts off of that one. What you had was pattern bargaining, explained Nelson Lichtenstein , a labor historian at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who wrote a biography of longtime UAW President Walter Reuther. The settlement at one company would then pretty much automatically go to the other two. Fain, a reformer candidate who was elected to the unions top position earlier this year, has ditched the target company approach, at least formally. He has insisted that the union will bargain with any willing company until the deadline, and that strikes remain on the table for any company without a settled contract. (In a symbol of his more confrontational approach, Fain also dispensed with the ceremonial handshake with auto executives that used to kick off talks.) UAW President Shawn Fain speaking to members last month. The labor leader has spoken about the Big Three negotiations in terms of class struggle. UAW President Shawn Fain speaking to members last month. The labor leader has spoken about the Big Three negotiations in terms of class struggle. The union leader has said again and again that Sept. 14 is a deadline, not a reference point. Lichtenstein said there are logical reasons for this shift in strategy. The UAWs footprint in the U.S. auto sector has shrunk with the growth of foreign-owned transplants like Toyota, Nissan and Honda, as well as Texas-based Tesla, which is not unionized. Lichtenstein said the industrys evolution has changed the calculus for pattern bargaining. Pattern bargaining has eroded, and not just within the Big Three, he said. We now have a huge nonunion [auto] sector and furthermore, its not certain today that if you did strike one company that that pattern would go to the others. The unions less predictable approach could keep the companies off balance. It also helps the union frame the negotiations as a bigger industrywide fight at a critical time: Auto companies are enjoying juicy profits, and moving toward the production of electric vehicles that may or may not be built with well-paid union labor. The union is now making its most public case for a just transition throughout the sector. More broadly, Fain has cast the contract fight as a class struggle between workers who have lost ground and executives with soaring pay packages. The unions opening demands may seem audacious raises totaling 46% over four years, the return of cost-of-living increases, elimination of tiered compensation, the restoration of defined-benefit pension plans for all but as Bloomberg recently noted, auto workers real wages have dropped 30% over the last two decades. Fain said Friday on Facebook Live that it has become harder and harder for working people to see a future for ourselves in this economy. Auto workers have been on the front lines of that, he said, with an overflowing wastebasket behind him labeled Big Three Proposals. For the past several decades, weve been relentlessly under attack. Our plants have been closed. Families torn apart. Our standard of living has dropped like a rock. A concurrent strike at all three companies something that has never occurred before, according to the UAWs archivist would also turn the work stoppage into a major political story. The idea of a strike against all of them seems more efficacious, Lichtenstein said. The idea of a strike against all of them seems more efficacious.Nelson Lichtenstein, University of California, Santa Barbara Coordinating multiple strikes at different companies is a much heavier lift than, say, striking only at General Motors, as the union did for six weeks in 2019. A large simultaneous strike would also deplete the unions strike fund quicker. Workers would rely on the $825 million fund to support them through a work stoppage with $500-per-week payments, well below what a typical UAW member earns in a production or assembly plant. Im not certain how much resolve there is in the union to endure a long strike, Masters said. Most of these workers have probably not been through a significant strike if they go to all three. Given the costs and risks of all three workforces striking entirely at once, the union could adopt a strategy of smaller, targeted work stoppages that disrupt production but still keep many workers employed. Lichtenstein likened that approach to the UAWs successful tool-and-die strikes of 1939, which hit only certain facilities but had major downstream effects for General Motors. With all options on the table, the union has been trying to mobilize workers at plants around the country through practice pickets and online town halls. Todd Dunn, the president of UAW Local 862, said his union spent the recent weeks preparing its members at Fords Louisville assembly plant and Kentucky truck plant for the possibility of a strike. Dunn said that being prepared across the board is whats key right now. In my 28 years, this is the most dialed-in weve been, he said. Two beavers swim in Napa Creek, in Napa, in July. (Godofredo A. Vasquez / Associated Press) Bill Leikam was reviewing footage from a wildlife camera he placed along a Palo Alto creekbed recently when something unfamiliar scampered across the screen. I have enough experience with the wildlife out there to be able to identify every one of them just by their movement this one had me baffled," said Leikam, president and co-founder of the Urban Wildlife Research Project. Id never seen a critter out there moving like this little guy did. Leikam, who is better known as The Fox Guy, watched the clip over and over. Eventually, he recognized the mysterious creature as a critically important species that has long been missing from his beloved Baylands a mammal that California wildlife officials have hailed as a "climate hero." "I just stopped and said to myself, Is that a baby beaver? Leikam said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The kit sighting in Matadero Creek has been confirmed by local wildlife experts and even a historical ecologist. It marks the first time in decades if not more than a century that a beaver colony has taken up residence in this region south of the San Francisco Bay. For state wildlife officials and "beaver believers," the camera trap images are cause for celebration. After being hunted and harassed for hundreds of years, the North American beaver is poised to make a comeback in the Golden State, and its resurgence could help fight certain effects of climate change. While there have been other recent reports of beaver activity across the Bay Area, Leikam said this is the first concrete evidence. More importantly, it suggests a successful re-population of the area. Last fall, Leikam spotted a pair of beavers along Matadero Creek and hoped they would settle in and create a beaver pup. "Its unique that theyre establishing," said Emily Fairfax, a longtime California beaver researcher who now works as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. "This is a stamp of approval to have a beaver move in. Since the mid- to late 1800s, when California beavers were pushed nearly to extinction by the fur trade, the semi-aquatic rodents have made small inroads into the Bay Area and other regions a process complicated by the lining of tributaries with concrete, making them inhospitable for the flat-tailed animal. Read more: California says the beaver can be superhero in fighting climate change It's one thing if you find a dispersing beaver somewhere, it's a totally different ballgame when you find that you have an established, reproducing population," said Valerie Cook, manager of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's newly established Beaver Restoration Program. It really reflects that shift in perception and people starting to recognize that these are not a nuisance species." For decades, developers, municipalities and farmers focused on beavers as a problem that required mitigation or removal. Now, the species known as Castor canadensis is seen as offering myriad benefits: It can help to mitigate drought and wildfires through natural water management; it is considered a keystone species for its ability to foster biodiversity; and it can restore habitat through its ecosystem engineering. "They can create wetlands in basically any ecosystem," said Fairfax, who described beavers as a free workforce that California has yet to take full advantage of. The fires are catastrophic and the droughts are widespread and unrelenting it feels like we have to exhaust all options." While experts have known the advantages of beavers for decades a 1950 Outdoor California magazine highlighted a short-lived effort to move beavers via parachute to improve water supplies it's only in the last year that state officials have formed a new beaver restoration program. California is paving a pathway forward for beavers to have a much better future in this state and to actually be part of dealing with things like droughts and floods and wildfires," Fairfax said. A beaver pup spotted in the Palo Alto area for the first time in decades. (Bill Leikam / Urban Wildlife Research Project) Cook, of the state's beaver restoration program, said their mission is two-fold: helping translocate beavers to regions where there are few to no beavers, and promoting human-beaver coexistence. She acknowledged that beavers can still cause conflicts with landowners, but there are ways to mitigate those issues. Instead of eradication, people need to focus on the species' positive contributions, she said. Beavers are experts at conserving and retaining water, helping minimize dry stream beds during drought and improving summer baseflows all of which better support a variety of wildlife. "River otters come back, mink come back, all manner of birds come back," said Rick Lanman, president of the Institute for Historical Ecology. Lanman, the historical ecologist who helped determine the last time beavers were in Palo Alto waterways, called the ponds created by beaver dams "a giant cafeteria for baby trout and salmon." Beaver ponds are also hugely beneficial during wildfires, because they act as a physical barrier to spreading flames, and they reduce the flammability of nearby plants by increasing their water content. They also provide wildlife a refuge from approaching fire and supply firefighters with water in remote places, Lanman said. "That's wildfire refugia that's more fuel moisture, more green; that's less severe burning or a bit of a fire buffer," Cook said. Read more: Op-Ed: Want to fight climate change and drought at the same time? Bring back beavers There are no population estimates for California beavers, but Fairfax said the numbers statewide are "relatively tiny." "Everywhere could use more," she said. Other western states, such as Colorado and Utah, have supported beavers more aggressively in the last few years, and Fairfax said she is hopeful California can begin to catch up. For Leikam, who has been monitoring this area of Palo Alto Baylands for more than a decade, the new beaver offspring is the latest sign of an improving ecosystem. "I'm optimistic about wildlife," said Leikam, who has spent years tracking gray foxes. While he has yet to see evidence that this new beaver family is building a dam he suspects they are living in deep burrows within the creek's bank he's hopeful he might see one in the future, which would support a host of new animals. This new beaver family is really important if they survive and reproduce," said Lanman, who hopes they expand their range in the Bay Area. "It's just remarkable." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he is emotionally ready for a long war and believes that now is a "bad moment" for negotiations with Russia. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with The Economist Quote: "I have to be ready, my team has to be ready for the long war, and emotionally I am ready". Details: Zelenskyy told The Economist that "some partners may take Ukraine's recent difficulties on the battlefield as a reason to force it to negotiate with Russia", but said that "this is a bad moment, since Putin sees the same." He noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to exhaust Ukraine, but Russia itself is fragile. "[Putin] does not understand that in the long war, he will lose. Because it does not matter that 60% or 70% [of Russians] support him. No, his economy will lose," Zelenskyy said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At the same time, President Zelenskyy is well aware of the risks to his country if the West begins to withdraw its economic support. With some of his Western allies, including the US, holding elections next year, Zelenskyy knows that maintaining support will be difficult, especially in the absence of significant progress on the frontline, the article says. Zelenskyy also stressed that if Putin hopes that Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election in 2024 will bring him victory, he is mistaken, because Trump would "never" support Putin. "That isnt what strong Americans do," Zelenskyy said. He also expects Joe Biden to continue his support for Ukraine if he is re-elected. "Do they want Afghanistan, part two?" the Ukrainian president asked. Zelenskyy noted that victory in the war will not come "tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," but this is not "some kind of fantastical dream". The Ukrainian president also categorically rejects the idea of a compromise with Putin. The war will continue "as long as Russia remains on Ukrainian territory," he says. Zelenskyy is convinced that a negotiated agreement will not be permanent. Those who decide to talk to the man in the Kremlin are "tricking themselves," he says, "like the Western leaders who signed an agreement with Adolf Hitler in Munich in 1938 only to watch him invade Czechoslovakia". The curtailment of aid to Ukraine by its allies will only prolong the war, Zelenskyy believes. And it will create risks for the West in its own backyard. In his view, it is impossible to predict how the millions of Ukrainian refugees in European countries would react to their country being abandoned. Ukrainians have generally "behaved well" and are "very grateful" to those who have taken them in. But it would not be a "good story" for Europe if it "were to drive these people into a corner". Meanwhile, The Economist writes, a prolonged war of attrition would mean "a fork in the road" for Ukraine, which could lose even more people, both on the front line and to exile. According to Zelenskyy, this would require a "totally militarised economy". The government will have to put that prospect before its citizens, the president said, without specifying how. According to Zelenskyy, a new social contract cannot be a decision by just one person. "Almost 19 months into the war, the president says he is morally ready for change", The Economist notes. But he will discuss this idea with his people only if the weakness in the eyes of his Western supporters becomes a "trend". When asked if that moment has come, Zelenskyy replied: "No, not yet, thank God." Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Rep. Barbara Lee , one of the Democrats running for Sen. Dianne Feinstein 's seat next year, is blasting California Gov. Gavin Newsom after the governor said he would only make an "interim" appointment to Feinstein's seat, selecting someone who is not running for the seat in 2024. Newsom has said he would appoint a Black woman to fill the role, and he says he still intends to do so. Speaking to NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Newsom said he would abide by his pledge to appoint a Black woman to Feinstein's post if it comes to that, while saying he hopes he never has to make that decision. "But you're gonna abide by it would be essentially a caretaker, an African-American woman?" NBC's Chuck Todd asked. "Uh, we hope we never have to make this decision, but I abide by what I've said very publicly and on a consistent basis, yes," Newsom responded. Lee, the only Black woman running for Feinstein's seat, issued a statement that she is "troubled by the governor's remarks." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election," Lee said. "There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. ... If the governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table." Newsom told "Meet the Press" he wouldn't fill Feinstein's seat with any of the California Democrats running for it. "It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off," Newsom said. "The primary is a just matter of months away. I don't want to tip the balance of that." Other well-known Democrats running for Feinstein's seat include Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. Porter was the first to announce her bid, before Feinstein even announced she wouldn't run for reelection. But Newsom, who appointed Sen. Alex Padilla to his post when Kamala Harris was elected vice president, hopes he doesn't have to appoint a replacement for Feinstein. "No, I don't want to make another appointment, and I don't think the people of California want me to make another appointment," Newsom said. As he has in the past, Newsom said he leaves Feinstein's decision about her future her to her. Newsom, Feinstein's former intern, said he is the "most subjective human being in the world" on the topic of Feinstein and her future. Newsom said it "wasn't that long ago" that Feinstein would call him and read him the "riot act" to him on things like environmental issues. But the California governor called her staff "still extraordinarily active" and said "yes," her staff can adequately serve his constituents. Feinstein's health has prompted some concern in the Senate, particularly this year. After a two-and-a-half-month absence from the Senate this spring, Feinstein appeared to not know she had been gone. "I haven't been gone," she said after she returned in May, according to the Los Angeles Times and Slate. When asked whether she meant she had been working from home, Feinstein said, "No, I've been here. I've been voting." In July, an apparently confused Feinstein began launching into her remarks during a vote on an $823 billion military budget, and had to be prompted by colleagues multiple times to simply vote "aye." Dog found 3 weeks after escaping at Atlanta airport Fighter pilots recall 9/11 attacks and mission to take down flight 93 American explorer rescued from cave in Turkey North Carolina legislators are considering a new law that would allow some hospitals to offer psychedelic drug therapy to patients with post traumatic stress disorder. One organization in Charlotte is already doing what it can to offer this therapy short of providing the substances and supervising those consuming MDMA or pscilocybin. Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a chemical that can induce hallucinogenic experiences. MDMA, sometimes referred to as ecstasy, is a stimulant and hallucinogen. Both substances have shown promise in scientific studies as a breakthrough treatment for PTSD and depression, according to researchers writing for the World Journal of Psychiatry. In North Carolina, the Breakthrough Therapies Research/Advisory Act would allocate $5 million in funding to two medical or academic organizations in the state to test the impact of MDMA and psilocybin on treating mental health conditions. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The bill was first introduced in April by Reps. Wayne Sasser, Allen Chesser, and John Autry. Sasser, a Republican, represents Montgomery and Stanly counties. Chesser, a Republican, represents Nash County. Autry is a Mecklenburg Democrat. Sasser is the only pharmacist in the state legislature and he became an advocate for psilocybin after learning that it can help veterans with PTSD. Its just an opportunity for us to look after the people that weve put in harms way, Sasser told The Charlotte Observer. We owe those people an opportunity to put all this behind them. It is unlikely the bill will pass this session, Sasser said. Without a doubt, itll be something well put more focus on in the short session and try to get the word out better, Sasser said. States with psychedelic drug therapy Colorado and Oregon are the only two states that have legalized the use of psilocybin in therapy. Approximately 15 other states have introduced legislation that would fund research into the substances, mostly for medical purposes, and at least six others have decriminalized or reduced penalties for possession of the drugs, according to legislation tracker Psychedelic Alpha. While Sassers advocacy for the bill has a strong focus on veterans, Cohoba a nonprofit in Charlotte advocating for the legal availability of the treatment hopes it will help marginalized communities, including immigrants and survivors of sexual assault. Daniel De La Cruz, clinical social worker and co-founder of Cohoba, smiles as he listens to attendees speak during a discussion on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at the VAPA Center. The organization provides talk therapy before and after psychedelic experiences and offers massage therapy. Trained social workers provide harm reduction information to those interested in psychedelics. Laura Camilo Apgar and Daniel De La Cruz, clinical social workers and co-founders of Cohoba, say the communities they work with could benefit from the therapy. But because the drugs are illegal, they may not be able to access the care safely. Ive spun the block in the psychedelic field and I think theres a lot of really great things and I think theres some potentially quite dangerous things that could happen too, Camilo Apgar said. So not being able to have oversight, knowing that it is just just kind of happening in the wild, I would like to be able to have more clarity and more transparency. But when somethings criminalized, thats very hard to do. MDMA and psilocybin side effects While fatal overdoses on MDMA and psilocybin are rare, if ingested improperly or in excess the substances can still be dangerous. An MDMA overdose can result in abnormal heart rate, body temperature dysregulation, hyperthermia (overheating), and seizures, according to American Addiction Centers. Psilocybin overdose is very rare but if a large amount is consumed someone can experience symptoms like agitation, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, paranoia, psychosis, seizures, and coma, according to the Harm Reduction Center. In June, the Food and Drug Administration issued its first ever guidance on how to conduct clinical trials for psychedelic drugs. Along with this guidance, officials with the FDA said psychedelics show initial promise as potential treatments for mood, anxiety and substance use disorders. This decision by the FDA differs drastically from guidance provided by the Drug Enforcement Agency which emphasizes psilocybin is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. It has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, according to the DEA. Sasser says those who oppose research into the therapies often dont understand what it will mean for their community. He said there is a misconception among some North Carolina constituents and legislators that the passage of the bill will mean drugs will be legalized and brought into their community. Its just a treatment, and its a very specific treatment, and its handled very professionally, its FDA approved. And theres no reason that were not doing this, Sasser said. Psychedelics can provide valuable therapy and treatment to those struggling with their mental health and criminalizing the drugs does more harm than good, advocates such as Camilo Apgar and De La Cruz say. What is Cohoba? Neither Camilo Apgar nor De La Cruz imagined they would work with psychedelics until they had personal encounters with the substances that changed their lives. Camilo Apgar was in her 20s and planned to become a journalist when she had her first experience with psilocybin. She said she was struggling with her mental health and was doing well in school but was depressed and miserable. Laura Camilo Apgar, clinical social worker and co-founder of Cohoba, leads the discussion during a discussion on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at the VAPA Center. I knew something was wrong, I didnt really know what and looking back, that very small dose of psilocybin mushrooms, it just did something to me and my sense of self and my understanding of self, Camilo Apgar said. I had not touched that kind of possibility since childhood. The experience was so impactful for Camilo Apgar that she decided to study the use of psychedelics in therapy, specifically how the substances could help immigrant populations and underrepresented communities. De La Cruz had a similar experience, and his first exposure to psychedelics was a dose of LSD a hallucinogen when he was 27-years-old and studying social work. At the time, he was going through a traumatic divorce, navigating split-custody of his child, and became depressed. At one point, he lost 40 pounds and his cousin offered him the drug. I had a really transformative experience on LSD, De La Cruz said. I had a psychedelic octopus, in my minds eye, introduce the concept of loving myself, which I had never really thought of. De La Cruz, like Camilo Apgar, began studying psychedelic therapy as a result of his experience. When the two met in 2015, they were determined to develop a community organization that could offer the therapy. De La Cruz and Camilo Apgar are both Dominican-American and believe that psychedelic therapy could strongly help members of Charlottes immigrant community who may be struggling with trauma. We know that these medicines, a lot of times, are extracted from Black and Brown communities. And so we wanted to make sure that we offer services to people from people that look like them, De La Cruz said. The name Cohoba originates from the Taino word for a psychedelic snuff ceremony. The Tainos were the native peoples of the Caribbean, De La Cruz said. He said they wanted to make the name a nod to their ancestry. Cohoba became a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2019 and is located in the basement of the Visual and Performing Arts Center in uptown Charlotte. Providers with the organization cannot currently supervise anyone under the influence of psychedelics and cannot provide them or point anyone in the direction of where to obtain the drugs, but they hope that in the future, if there is a change to state law they can provide this support. In the meantime, Cohobas providers are taking courses to become certified to offer ketamine therapy, which can have similar but shorter-lasting effects as psychedelics. Camilo Apgar said the group hopes to offer the therapy at the beginning of next year and would be able to directly provide and supervise use of the substance. Cohoba meets on the last Wednesday of each month from 6-8 p.m. The group will not have a meeting in September but will instead host its second annual CohobaFest to raise funds and awareness for the therapy. The Sept. 23 event will be held at GreenLife Family Farms in Concord and will feature vendors, speakers, art and food trucks from 12 to 10 p.m. A Memphis man has been sitting in prison for almost two decades for a high profile robbery and kidnapping he did not commit, his attorneys argued in Shelby County Criminal Court Wednesday and Thursday. Now he could be exonerated. In court, attorneys pointed to a number of problems with the case that they say led to a conviction from two eyewitnesses that they assert were faulty and a shaky informant. They also cited legal and ethical violations from the Memphis Police Department, the prosecutor and the convicted mans original defense attorney. Artis Whitehead, 60, was sentenced to 249 years in prison after being convicted on five counts of especially aggravated kidnapping, two counts of especially aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated robbery and one count of attempted aggravated robbery in 2004. The conviction stemmed from a May 2002 incident where a man tied up five employees of B.B. Kings Blues Club on Beale Street at gunpoint, trying to get one of them to open the restaurants safe that was located in the basement. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The first man to be held at gunpoint tried to wrestle the gun from the robber, but the gun fired and he was tied up. Later, after four more people went to the basement and were tied up, that same man got free and grabbed for the gun again, which was then fired and a bullet grazed the mans head. Jason Gichner, deputy director and senior legal counsel of the Tennessee Innocence Project, and Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, listen as Jessica Van Dyke, the lead counsel and executive director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, present evidence in the argument that Whitehead was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. None of the employees could open the safe, and the robber eventually left the restaurant. He did not steal any money or thing of value from B.B. Kings, the filing from Whiteheads current attorneys from the Tennessee Innocence Project said in a postconviction filing. The robber did, however, steal about $520 in cash, three rings and a watch from the people held captive in the basement. When MPD officers arrived at the scene, witnesses said the man who robbed them was between 54 tall and had a slim build, weighing between 135 and 150 pounds. The man wore a hat and sunglasses and was in his 30s or 40s. In communications, MPD said the suspected robber was 56 to 58, thin build, dark complexion, mustache, 35 to 40 years of age. The case, however, went cold for months after being on the front page of The Commercial Appeal the following day. There was no footage of the mans face, as when he walked into B.B. Kings he carried a box that shielded it from security cameras. Whiteheads attorneys said in court Thursday that police did not document any leads for the next eight months. It was not until Jan. 24, 2003, at 3:04 p.m. that police had a lead when a man called CrimeStoppers and named Artis Whitehead as the man who committed the robbery at B.B. Kings. Jason Gichner, deputy director and senior legal counsel of the Tennessee Innocence Project, speaks with Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, as Whitehead points to evidence being presented in court at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The Innocence Project attorneys are arguing that Whitehead was wrongfully convicted of the crime. But Jessica Van Dyke, the executive director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, said the tipster was not a standard citizen who called CrimeStoppers, but a convicted felon who was facing additional prison time and looking to have it trimmed down. Van Dyke also said the man was a confidential informant for MPD. That tipster was identified in court during the initial trial, and in court Wednesday and Thursday, as Greg Jones, who is currently in federal prison serving time for robberies he was convicted of. An informant masked behind a CrimeStoppers tip While investigating Whiteheads case, the Tennessee Innocence Project reached out to Jones in prison to ask about the tip. Several weeks before [Whitehead] was arrested, a call was placed to CrimeStoppers implicating him as being responsible for that crime, Jones wrote in a letter that the Innocence Project entered into evidence. That call was made from [MPD] Sgt. J.R. Howells mobile device, right there inside of the robbery squad open office." The Tennessee Innocence Project attorneys said in court Wednesday that this statement was verified by MPDs own records, which they said show Howell was investigating Whitehead earlier that day. Arthur Riley, an original witness of the robbery at B.B. Kings in 2002, takes the stand as a witness called by the Tennessee Innocence Project in their argument that Artis Whitehead, who was been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. At the time Jones made the call, according to MPD records obtained by the Tennessee Innocence Project, he was on trial for a robbery and was frequently visiting MPD to report people for crimes in an attempt to have time cut from his impending prison sentence. CrimeStoppers tips are anonymous, and there is no way to subpoena testimony from people who call the tip line. Confidential informants, however, can be called to testify so a defendant can question the validity of their accusations. Jones provided MPD with other names as well, prominently a robbery and homicide at Union Planters Bank, which MPD officers investigated and found to be false. Detective Bart Ragland, at Jones sentencing, testified he was untruthful when naming people in other crimes and that he inculpated innocent people, Van Dyke said Wednesday. But Van Dyke said that same level of scrutiny was not given to the information about the B.B. Kings robbery, and Ragland, one of the MPD detectives that worked with Howell at the time, testified that Jones was instrumental in arresting Whitehead. There were no other leads prior to [Jones] involvement, Ragland said. Jason Gichner, deputy director and senior legal counsel of the Tennessee Innocence Project, listens as Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, speaks with Jessica Van Dyke, the lead counsel and executive director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, in court at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The Innocence Project attorneys are arguing that Whitehead was wrongfully convicted of the crime. Jones ultimately did not get a reduced sentence for providing officers with Whiteheads name. CrimeStoppers tips are anonymous, and there is no way to subpoena testimony from people who call the tip line. Confidential informants, however, can be called to testify so a defendant can question the validity of their accusations. 'That is a clear deception' Former police officer Jack Ryan, who is also an expert in law enforcement practices across the nation, testified Thursday that hiding an informant constitutes a Brady violation meaning the prosecution did not hand over evidence that could have been beneficial to the defendant. He also said, in a report he wrote based on the Whitehead case files, that hiding an informant was deceptive. Hiding the informant behind the CrimeStoppers tip, that goes beyond incompetence. That is a clear deception in my mind, Ryan said. Ryan added that the identity of people who call CrimeStoppers is often not known by police. But police knew Jones to be the person who gave Whiteheads name, and so did the lead prosecutor on the case at the time, former Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich, according to Van Dyke. Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald listens as the Tennessee Innocence Project shows the basement layout of B.B. Kings in their argument that Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Van Dyke argued that Weirich, knowing about Jones being the informant, was bound by law to give that to the defense as evidence. There are also Brady violations from the district attorneys office, Van Dyke said in closing Thursday. I want to encourage the court to really carefully look at the language that was used by Ms. Weirich when she made this disclosure, that [Jones] was in the robbery office on another unrelated matter. She mentioned Union Panter, so she has some knowledge of what Mr. Jones has been up to, but she never goes any further than to say hes a CrimeStopper here. You would hope that an ADA whos about to convict someone and put them away for 249 years would ask more questions. I dont know what happened. I only know what was put on the record, and it was not a full, accurate disclosure of what Greg Jones did. Conflict of interest opens door to potential exoneration Not only did prosecutors and police know Jones identity, Van Dyke said Whiteheads initial defense attorney, Howard Wagerman, had information about the informant too and that the knowledge presented a conflict of interest. Wagerman, at the time, worked in the same law office as the attorney who was representing Jones in federal court. That attorney, Scott Hall, was attempting to have Jones sentence lowered for providing the tip in the B.B. Kings robbery, and sat in during much of the Whitehead trial, according to court transcripts the Tennessee Innocence Project entered into evidence. But that only came out in court because the federal prosecutor working Jones case had visited 201 Poplar to get an order entered on something unrelated, according to Weirich at the time, and asked about the Whitehead case. Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Robert Gowen, deputy chief of the justice review unit, and Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Kindle E. Nance speak with each other in court as the Tennessee Innocence Project makes the argument that Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the 2002 robbery of B.B. Kings, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. [The federal prosecutor], in fact, made the comment she said, If I knew this trial was going on, I would have called you all or come over here, Weirich told the court in 2003, according to court transcripts. I think maybe when she saw Scott Hall sitting here, shes the one that thought, Well, thats funny to me because he represents Gregory Jones in federal court, and heres Mr. Wagerman and his partners representing someone that he But the end of that sentence was cut off in the Tennessee Innocence Projects court filing. The conversation, according to Van Dyke, happened when the jury was not in the courtroom. Neither was Whitehead, he said in court Thursday. Whats interesting when you step back and look at whats been presented is that without the conflict of interest between Howard Wagerman and Scott Hall, we wouldnt know what we know today, Van Dyke said. That was the only time Jones name was mentioned during the case, and ethics experts testified Wednesday that the two working in the same law office made it ethically impossible for Wagerman to thoroughly investigate Whiteheads case. 'Imperative in this particular case' Former Nashville Criminal Court Judge Mark Fishburn said Wednesday that Wagerman did not appear to adequately investigate Whiteheads case. In fact, in [Wagermans] letter after the trial, he said he still didnt know who this guy was, Fishburn said. And he made no inquiry with Detective Howell or, to my knowledge, made no independent investigation pretrial to find out how Mr. Whiteheads name ever came up. Judge Mark Fishburn offers expert opinion on legal representation and effective assistance as an expert called by the Tennessee Innocence Project in their argument that Artis Whitehead, who was been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Fishburn said that, as a defense attorney, it would be crucial to find out Jones role because the defense is ethically required to do its due diligence. He did, however, call the situation a catch-22, saying that investigating Jones would have created problems for Hall and not investigating him created problems for Wagerman. [Attacking Jones credibility] was imperative in this particular case, Fishburn said Wednesday. It would be critical for the jury to understand the behaviors in this case, detectives and how they tried to cover up Mr. Jones identity by making him a CrimeStopper tip rather than what he really was. I dont even think he was a confidential informant. Id say it was a guy in federal court who absolutely was just trying to get the best daily good to save his own time. The solution, both Fishburn and ethics expert Lucian Pera agreed in court Wednesday, would have been to inform Whitehead of the conflict and have a new attorney assigned to his case. Neither of those things happened in the initial trial. But that conflict was not the only one that occurred during Whiteheads case. In the appeals process, his new defense team contracted an attorney to write the appeal. That attorney, at the same time he was writing the brief for Whiteheads team, was representing Jones in his appeal. That conflict, Pera said, was different from the one that occurred in the trial. But it existed even though the attorney, Michael Robbins, was not representing Whitehead during his appeal. His conflict is that he represents Mr. Jones and he is deep into the representation, Pera told the court Wednesday. He is, I think, also involved in trying to get some kind of credit for Mr. Jones CrimeStoppers tip. Yet, at the same time, hes drafting appellate briefs on a direct appeal for Mr. Whitehead. Lucian Pera offers expert opinion on ethics and professional responsibility for attorneys as an expert called by the Tennessee Innocence Project in their argument that Artis Whitehead, who was been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Robbins reached out to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, which is the ethical governing body for lawyers, to consider if representing Jones and writing the brief for Whitehead was a conflict of interest. Pera said that does not absolve the conflict. The advice [the board] gives, just like the advice any of us give as lawyers, is only as good as the information [the board] gets, Pera said, later adding that he does not see any scenario in which a fully informed person at the board, hearing the facts about Mr. Robbins, wouldnt have flagged this as a serious problem. I just dont think thats possible. Whiteheads appellate brief did not raise questions about Jones or the conflict of interest in the initial trial. The appeal also did not try to point to prosecutorial misconduct or any flaws in the MPD investigation. The eyewitness testimony problem Attorneys with the Tennessee Innocence Project spent much of Thursdays hearing talking about the difficulty in having concrete eyewitness testimony, along with pointing out discrepancies between the description witnesses gave the day of the robbery and Whiteheads stature. During the initial investigation, witnesses told police the robber was between 54 and 510 and MPD detectives narrowed that height range to between 56 and 58. Witnesses also described the robber as being slim and weighing between 135 and 150 pounds. Whitehead is 60 and, at the time of his arrest, weighed between 245 and 250 pounds. That weight, he said in testimony Thursday, was from muscle mass since he would be in the gym four or five days out of the week. Whitehead said he now weighs about 230 pounds. More: 'Get out of our silos.' Memphis, Shelby Co., state officials meet for crime summit Only two of the six witnesses of the robbery positively identified Whitehead during his initial trial, though both said there was a change in the robbers appearance from the day of the robbery to the day of the trial, referencing Whiteheads large stature. One witness said Whitehead was larger than the robber and that the robber had hair around the back of his ears. Whitehead had a shaved head at the time. Another witness, whose initial witness statement was missing at the time of trial and not entered into evidence, also said Whitehead was beefier than the robber. Both witnesses identified Whitehead as the person who robbed B.B. Kings in trial and in a lineup. The other four witnesses did not identify Whitehead in either circumstance, with one at trial saying the robber was average sized and that Whitehead doesnt seem to be an average guy. One witness who was 60 tall, said he did not see the robbers face, but said he was taller than the robber. Another witness, Mark Hearn, was asked during the original if Whitehead looked like he could have been the robber at the B.B. Kings that day. It dont look like it to me, the Hearn responded. Mark Hearn, an original witness of the robbery at B.B. Kings in 2002, tries to remember what the robber looked like as he takes the stand as a witness called by the Tennessee Innocence Project in their argument that Artis Whitehead, who was been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery, was wrongfully convicted at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Hearn also testified Wednesday. Witnesses for the defense in that initial trial testified that Whitehead had always been that size, saying that he did not bulk up in the months since the robbery occurred. One noted that he was actually smaller since his arrest because he was working out less frequently. The most interesting thing in the entire argument was the states position at this trial, Van Dyke said Wednesday. Ive never heard the state argue this at a criminal trial before, but their position was: Height and weight doesnt matter. In a case that was solely about eyewitness identification, I dont know how this won the day for them. Witnesses were called in to identify Whitehead in a lineup nearly eight months after the robbery took place. Experts in eyewitness testimony said at the Thursday hearing that memory drops precipitously hours after an event like this takes place, especially when the victims are under intense amounts of stress. Theres some research showing that a lot of jurors believe that stress burns something into your memory, which is, in fact, the opposite is the case, said Margaret Bull Kovera, a professor and researcher at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. We know that the presence of a weapon, whether seen or implied, can cause witnesses to focus on the weapon as opposed to the face. So, it draws attention away from the face and you need attention to be able to form a memory about a face. Those factors combined with the fact that the victims did not see the robbers face for much time, the length of time between the event and lineup, and that the robber was wearing a hat and sunglasses made Koveras confidence in the accuracy of the eyewitnesses picking Whitehead out of the lineup accurately sit at a low level. Artis Whitehead, who has been in jail since 2003 on charges related to the robbery of B.B. Kings in 2002, hugs Jessica Van Dyke, the lead counsel and executive director of the Tennessee Innocence Project, as he walks into the courtroom at Shelby County Criminal Court on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The Innocence Project attorneys are arguing that Whitehead was wrongfully convicted of the crime. What happens next? Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Fitzgerald will provide a written ruling, which she said she hopes to have done rather quickly. The Shelby County District Attorneys Office requested she issue a written ruling, with time for the DAs office to respond to the evidence presented at trial. Should Fitzgerald rule in favor of Whitehead and the Tennessee Innocence Project, the case would essentially go back to square one, and the decision as to whether or not to re-try the case would fall to the DAs office. If Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy declines to re-try the case, Whitehead would be a free man for the first time in over 20 years. The case would be cleared from his record, and it would be as if he was arrested but never charged. In essence, that decision by the DAs office would declare Whitehead legally innocent of the robbery at B.B. Kings something he has said for over two decades. Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis man may be exonerated decades after B.B. King's robbery conviction BOSTON A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old New Bedford girl at the Hyatt Regency Boston Hotel in 2021. Nalijah Andrade, of New Bedford, had gone to the hotel with three other underage girls to meet with four men who had rented two hotel rooms in which to party on the night of Feb. 4, 2021, according to the lawsuit filed Aug. 29 in Suffolk Superior Court. The lawsuit states the men paid for an Uber to bring the underage girls from New Bedford to Boston. Three of the men, who were between the ages of 19 and 21, had brought alcohol and drugs into the hotel. They provided some false or incomplete identification to the hotel when checking in, according to the lawsuit. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A fourth man arrived a short time later with a loaded 9 mm pistol, according to reports. He gave a false name when he signed-in to the hotel, the lawsuit states. The men consumed alcohol, smoked marijuana and played with the gun for several hours prior to the arrival of the four underage girl at 11 p.m., the lawsuit states. A weapon discharged, killing New Bedford teen Once in the rooms, the fourth man continued to handle the weapon which discharged and shot Andrade in the head killing her, the lawsuit states. Messiah Leggett, who was 21 at the time of the shooting, of Mattapan, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and gun charges and is awaiting trial. Gun charges were also filed against one of the other men. The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said evidence indicated that the individuals were taking selfies with the gun. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Leggett was allegedly handling the gun in a playful manner when Andrade swatted at his hand, causing him to accidentally discharge a single round of ammunition. The bullet struck the victim in the head, killing her, according to the DA's Office. The lawsuit against Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt Regency Boston seeks "damages for wrongful death due to the negligence and gross negligence" of the defendants. Attorney Steven P. Sabra is representing Andrades mother, Diva Duarte, as the personal representative of the estate and on her own behalf. Sabra stated the two defendants in the criminal matters are not the only ones to be held accountable for this tragedy. The hotel and its lax security and check-in policies and procedures also were major contributing factors and must be held accountable. The Hyatt Regency Boston Hotel had already been cited by the Boston Police after a licensed premises inspection for two other incidents, an armed robbery and prostitution on the premises, and a hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 23, 2021, he said. Sabra also indicated that the Boston Police report regarding the inspection included the fact that within the six months prior to the killing of Andrade, the Boston Police Department had responded to more than 150 calls for services with over 70 police reports being generated. What stands out is that this occurred during the height of the pandemic when the hotels business, like all hospitality providers, was suffering, and, in my opinion, created a desperate situation to rent rooms to try to make a profit, Sabra said. That desperation to cut costs and rent rooms, he claims, allowed the hotel to loosen its security and check-in protocols so as not to lose any further business. He added, the Hyatt hotel had a duty to guests, visitors, and employees to provide reasonable security for the hotel, and to hire, properly train and to supervise qualified individuals to act as security guards. In this case, Sabra said, the hotel only had a veneer of security. Three men used false names and identification The check-in procedure was lacking in that three of the men provided false names and identification. Alcohol was brought into the hotel with three of the four men being under the legal age of 21. He said there is no indication that periodic patrols of the hallways were undertaken which would have alerted the hotel to the marijuana smoke coming from the hotel rooms they rented. When the Uber driver dropped off the four girls at the hotel just after 11 p.m., there were no security guards who inquired whether they were staying at the hotel, asked for any identification or even approached them under these suspicious circumstances, Sabra stated. He said that Andrade's mother has been devastated by the untimely death of her daughter, who was a high school student in New Bedford and held down a part-time job while she went to school. She also had a talent for doing hair and makeup for other girls for big events, such as proms, according to her mother. Hyatt representatives did not respond to a request for comment. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford girl's fatal shooting spurs lawsuit against Boston hotel Median home sale prices in Whatcom County increased in August, while Washington state remains the third-most expensive state in which to buy a home. Whatcom housing market Whatcom Countys median home sale price has fluctuated throughout 2023. The median home sale price reached an extreme high of $682,000 on Jan. 2, the highest price so far this year, according to Redfin Metro Area Data. Redfin, a residential real estate brokerage, uses home listings to generate metro area data. In August, Whatcoms median home sale price fluctuated, rising to $624,000 on August 14, then dropping to $586,475 on August 28. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In July, Whatcoms median home sale price was $524,250, the lowest price since February and $62,225 less than Augusts latest median price. Jason Lee, a local broker with Windermere Real Estate in Bellingham said Whatcom Countys median sale price was $542,000 in August, an 1.3% increase compared with July and a 5.7% decrease compared with August of 2022, Lee wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald. Mortgage rates have now spent a full year in the 6-7% range. This rate environment has created headwinds for buyers and sellers, however it does feel like some reticent acceptance has occurred. The hope remains that rates will drop below 6% by the start of summer 2024, Lee wrote in the email. Whatcom County home prices were down 2% in July 2023 compared to 2022, according to Redfins Whatcom County Housing Market Trends. As Whatcom Countys median home sale price is $586,475, Klickitat County had the highest median home sale price of $950,000, and Columbia County had the lowest of $146,000. Bellinghams housing market In Bellingham, Zillow home values decreased throughout early 2023, until beginning to increase in May. The median Zillow home value in Bellingham was $671,371 across the month of July, up from $668,069 in June. Zillow is a real estate company that collects data on real estate, apartments and home values. In August, Bellinghams median sale price was $643,000 according to Lee of Windermere Real Estate, a 2,4% decrease compared with July and a 5.4% decrease compared with August of last year, Lee wrote. Washington state housing market Across Washington state, home prices have increased by 12.56% between December 2022 and June 2023, as June reached a median home value price of $621,000, according to Redfin. Washington is the fourth-most expensive state in which to purchase a home, according to July 2023 data, following California with a median home value price of $798,600, Hawaii at $712,600 and Massachusetts at $640,300. Bells rang and a moment of silence was held Monday at ground zero in New York to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Ceremonies are taking place Monday across the nation at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and other locations to pay tribute to the lives lost in the deadliest attack on U.S. soil. The attacks killed 2,977 people when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and a field in Pennsylvania where a third plane went down after passengers fought the hijackers. Americans, first responders, military members and political leaders gathered at the site of all three attacks Monday morning. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In New York, a commemoration service is being held at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, which is at the site that once held the World Trade Center, where the victims relatives read the names of the dead at the podium. Vice President Harris is expected to attend the ground zero ceremony. In Arlington, Va., Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial, where first lady Jill Biden was expected to lay a wreath in honor of those killed in the attacks. In Pennsylvania, the bells tolled as the name of each victim of the Flight 93 attack was read out at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, operated by the National Park Service. Harriss husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend. President Biden will commemorate 9/11 at a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, where he will meet members of the military and their families. The rural county will hold two anniversary commemorations a morning service for first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all of the victims, according to The Associated Press. Other communities paid tribute with ceremonies including tolling bells, moments of silence, candlelight vigils and more. In Columbus, Ind., a 911 dispatch tribute recognized the lives lost in a message to fire and EMS radios in the city, which also held a public memorial ceremony. New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees to attend services. Last year, we called on the federal government and state government to declare 9/11 as a holiday, but unfortunately that did not happen. So, Monmouth County is declaring September 11th, 2023 as a County holiday, Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone said in a statement. Ceremonies related to the 9/11 attack were held in some places last week, including at the New York City Fire Departments World Trade Center Memorial Wall, where 43 names of firefighters who died from 9/11-related illnesses were added to the wall. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Six times the shiny silver bell was rung, once for each moment lives were lost in droves that morning when four hijacked planes were crashed and two New York City towers went from touching the sky to choking the ground in seconds. In between moments of silence at the site where so many died, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, aunts, uncles and grandchildren read the long list of names of those who perished that day, Sept. 11, 2001. The dead were waiters, firefighters, accountants, police officers, lawyers, soldiers and investment bankers. Some of their names were mispronounced. All of them were loved. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Their names were etched in reflecting pools in the spaces where the Twin Towers once stood. They were also etched in the hearts of the nervous relatives reading aloud the names and reliving that horrible day. For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening, said Edward Edelman as he arrived at Ground Zero to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley. You find a way to go forward. But that day is always happening for you. Reading the names of those lost is the biggest honor of my life, said Gabrielle Gabrielli, who lost her uncle and godfather, Richard Gabrielle. We have to keep the memory of everybody who died alive. This is their legacy, she said. This is the final resting place. Its sacred. Among those on the sacred ground were Vice President Kamala Harris, Mayor Adams, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Gov. Hochul. President Biden, fresh from a summit in Vietnam, marked the occasion in Alaska, the first time a U.S. president commemorated the attack in a western state. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Obama followed one of those observances by recognizing the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland. First lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where workers unfurled a giant American flag over the side of the building Monday morning. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, was expected at a ceremony at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Germany has proposed that it host a dedicated NATO headquarters to take responsibility for coordinating the alliance's naval forces in the Baltic Sea region, German press agency dpa reported on Sept. 10. German Navy Chief Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack said that a headquarters designated for this purpose was already managing the NATO Northern Coasts naval exercise, which began on Sept. 9 in the Baltic Sea. "There is now a letter from the inspector general to the NATO deputy supreme allied commander Europe, in which we clearly state that we can offer the possibility of establishing a regional headquarters for the Baltic Sea," Kaack said. Read also: NATO to host inaugural Baltic Sea exercises to send clear signal to Putins Russia ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the NATO has strengthened its forces on its eastern flank. The Baltic Sea is the main delivery channel for goods, energy, and telecommunications for several NATO members. Read also: NATO must clearly define 'red lines' for Putin in Europe Kurt Volker German navy chief argues it is now necessary to move from peacetime conditions to the management of larger naval formations in the Baltic Sea. German naval specialists stationed in the German port city of Rostock in the western Baltic Sea region are able to handle this task, Kaack said. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine With no real Democratic challenger to worry about, President Joe Biden seems poised to skate through the primaries and emerge as his party's nominee for President. While his hopes for a second term may seem bright at this point, there are worrying signs on the horizon that may call into question his hopes to serve as a two-term president. Chief among them is the certainty that the Republicans and their media outlets will go all-in to raise doubts about Biden's age. The prospect that Kamala Harris might become president will lead the Republicans to draw lessons from the Republican playbook and orchestrate a relentless assault on Biden's character and behavior. We need only remember the constant drumbeat against Hillary Clinton in 2016 where "Benghazi" became a central, and oft repeated issue for the Republicans in their effort to undermine the reputation of Clinton. That one word was designed to call into question Clinton's judgment and character. And while there may have been very little "there, there", the constant repetition of that one word led many voters to come to believe that there must be something there, at least something to worry about. "What about her emails?" We need your help to stay independent ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism The oft repeated question Republicans raised focused attention on another potential weakness, reminding voters that there were questions about Clinton's character. The relentless assaults on Clinton namely, the drip, drip of the daily assaults wore Clinton down, forced her to focus on answering questions of character and judgment, and distracted her from the key issues of the campaign. When the Republicans were able to refocus the attention on the negatives, room was created for voter doubt, and for the charismatic Trump to make bold promises, offer simplistic solutions, and more importantly, draw attention away from Trump's own multiple character faults. It worked. The 2016 election was not about competence but which party could do the most damage to the rival's reputation. What will Biden face? In a word: "Huntergate." Every day, especially when the Republicans in the House begin to hold hearings aimed at Hunter Biden, the Republican assault machine will drag the president's son through the mud and try to link Biden to possible corrupt practices. The lie, oft repeated, becomes for many, the truth. All this will raise questions about Biden and is designed to drive up his negatives. "Assuming that Trump will be the Republican nominee, the best strategy for the Democrats might be to nominate someone with no obvious disqualifiers." Would Biden be prepared to daily defend his family and himself from the pounding that will certainly come? Would it even matter? This all leaves the very real possibility that Biden might conclude that it is not worth seeing his family dragged through the mud every day of the campaign. In the long run, being a successful one-term president just might be enough for the 80 year old Biden. And the judgment of history is likely to place him above many of the recent presidents, so why take the risk? So if Biden pulls out, who are the likely prospects to take the nomination? Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. At the outset, Vice President Kamala Harris would be a likely frontrunner, but she has negatives within the party and might not have the gravitas to win the nomination. The already announced Democratic rivals, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Marianne Williamson, pose no threat and would fade if the field is filled with more viable alternatives. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren would have a strong liberal following, but they are older and yesterday's model. What about the Democratic governors? Gavin Newsome of California would be a formidable candidate, but he is both too slick, and from "California" (a dirty word in many states). Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan? A very real possibility. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, J. B. Pritzner of Illinois, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Jared Polis of Colorado also all have a strong plus side. And several Democratic Senators (e.g. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Michael Bennett of Colorado, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island) might also have a realistic shot at the nomination in an open process. Perhaps the most attractive alternative for the Democrats is Pete Buttigieg, the current Transportation Secretary and a darling of the Democratic Party, but he too has negatives that pose a potential election problem. A Democratic dream ticket in the mold of Joe Biden would be Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky for president (age: 45), and Gina Riamondo, former governor of Rhode Island and current commerce secretary (age: 52) as vice president. Both are pragmatic, centrist Democrats who have demonstrated the ability to mobilize moderates and independents. Assuming that Trump will be the Republican nominee, the best strategy for the Democrats might be to nominate someone with no obvious disqualifiers. The blander the better. Given enough rope, Trump will hang himself. And so, the Democrats, if they can give Trump little to attack, could win handily. The key for the Democrats is not to spread the word of the good news about the state of the economy, or the peace and prosperity we are now enjoying, but to not give the Republicans a target for their scandal machine. The most acceptable candidate in the general election is the "not Trump" candidate who is not vulnerable to the attack machine. At this point, this is all speculation, but when will speculation give way to strategy, and will President Biden read the political tea leaves telling him to step back? Read more about how the race for 2024 is shaping up WASHINGTON President Joe Biden s re-election campaign is expanding its fundraising strategy to try to boost contributions in the coming weeks and over the longer term, as officials acknowledge that small-dollar donations have been slower to materialize, according to three campaign officials and two other people familiar with the matter. The new phase coincides with campaign officials privately downplaying expectations for how much the re-election effort will raise during the current fundraising quarter, which ends Sept. 30, according to the sources. To increase fundraising numbers in the run-up to the deadline, the campaign plans to roll out fresh incentives and messaging that officials hope will energize donors, including a stronger focus on the notion that former President Donald Trump and his allies are a threat to democracy, the campaign officials and other people familiar with the strategy said. They said Biden will have an aggressive fundraising schedule this month. And theres an effort to recruit 1,000 new fundraisers by January who will focus on soliciting contributions in the $250-to-$1,000 range, the sources said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Chris Korge, the chairman of the Biden Victory Fund, hinted at the effort in a recent phone call with Democratic Party donors that was heard by NBC News. We need as a group to go out there and start getting [fund]raisers, Korge said. Weve done very well in the last 2 to three years with big donations, he added. But now were getting into crunch time, and were going to need an army of [fund]raisers. Bidens re-election effort is grappling with a lack of enthusiasm among Democrats. The campaigns public disclosure in July showed his campaign raised $19 million part of the $72 million that was raised between his campaign, the DNC and the Biden Victory Fund. About $5.4 million came from donors who gave the legal maximum allowed, so they cant give any more in 2024. Trumps 2024 campaign has been fueled by small-dollar donations online, having raised millions from supporters who are still eligible to contribute more particularly around each of his four criminal indictments. Biden's campaign dismissed the idea that fundraising was lagging. We are seeing strong enthusiasm from across the Biden-Harris coalition and continue to meet our fundraising goals, campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz said in a statement. Any reporting otherwise is false. We look forward to sharing our numbers by the filing deadline. Trumps campaign said it raised $7.1 million in two days after his mug shot was taken when he was booked at a Georgia jail. Bidens campaign is contending with a lack of urgency among rank-and-file Democrats who typically make contributions far below the legal limit, campaign officials and other people familiar with the matter said. Biden isnt campaigning regularly, and he doesnt yet have an official opponent, with voting in the Republican primaries still months away. One source familiar with Democratic fundraising across the party said small-dollar, grassroots donations are up broadly, but at the moment that enthusiasm hasnt benefitted the Biden campaign as much as down-ballot and local candidates. A source familiar with the campaigns fundraising strategy said small-dollar donations have increased over the last month. Any increase appears to coincide with growing public focus on Trumps legal troubles. Biden officials said they expect donations to flood in if, as they presume, Trump captures the GOP nomination next year. Everyone remembers what the last six months of 2020 were like when it comes to fundraising as Biden campaigned against Trump, said a person close to the campaign, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss fundraising strategy. And its just not going to be like that for the next eight months or so. And then it will click into high gear in the summer and fall of next year. In the meantime, the Biden campaign plans to focus its message on warnings about Trump which campaign officials hope will energize the partys grassroots and spur more donations. Were looking at the democracy being torn apart, little by little, inch by inch, and the only thing that is holding this country together, the only thing, is Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Minyon Moore, the chairwoman of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, told fundraisers on the private phone call this month. Some campaign officials see an opportunity for an influx of contributions when Trumps legal trials begin. The spectacle, they said, could motivate supporters who have yet to closely tune into the campaign. Biden is expected to talk more about threats to democracy in the coming weeks, officials said. He made that theme one of the core tenets of his 2020 campaign and his presidency. His 2024 campaign video announcement opened with scenes from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. But Biden has avoided commenting on Trumps legal troubles, including a federal indictment charging him with trying to overturn the 2020 election, an approach that carries some risk. A longtime Democratic fundraiser said that when Trump was running for re-election in 2020, soliciting campaign funds was the easiest sell I ever had." I would have people tell me, Ill do X amount. And then Trump would open his mouth and Id get a call saying, Im going to double that, the fundraiser said. A Biden campaign official who softened expectations for the coming fundraising disclosure said Republican candidates may have also had a slow summer. The Biden campaign will try to galvanize rank-and-file Democrats with new merchandise and ways for contributors to engage with the president, two sources said. Recently the Biden campaign began a fundraising contest to win dinner with Biden and former President Barack Obama. You really have to do everything you possibly can to command the attention of grassroots donors, the person close to the campaign said. You do it with contests. You do it with merchandise. Youll see additional kinds of things to try to engage the [donor] list. The campaign intends to use the second Republican primary debate on Sept. 27 to raise money, one of the officials said. Later this week, Democratic officials are hosting an event for fundraisers in Chicago, the host city for the Democratic nominating convention next August. Biden administration and campaign officials will be in attendance. On the phone call with fundraisers last month, Korge said the campaigns finance committee has 400 fundraisers. Fundraisers who join over the next four months as part of the campaigns new recruitment effort will be tasked with holding small-donor events, rather than the expensive ones Biden and Harris headline, campaign officials and people familiar with the strategy said. Theres a recognition that the team needs to be out there doing many more events, and not just with the principals, a campaign official said, referring to Biden and Harris. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Your slice of the headlines in Ukraine. Daily. Monday, September 11, 2023. Biden close to decision to supply Ukraine with ATACMS missiles FT U.S. President Joe Biden is close to making a decision on whether to provide Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles, UK newspaper the Financial Times reported on Sept. 10, citing its sources. NATO begins large-scale exercises in the Baltic Sea, practices to repulse Russian aggression NATO member states have started extensive exercises along the northern coast of the Baltic Sea, rehearsing maneuvers the defensive alliance would carry out in the event of a Russian attack, Estonian news website ERR reported on Sept. 9. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ukrainian troops push 1.5 km beyond Robotyne on southern front as counter-offensive grinds on Ukrainian troops advanced by over 1 kilometer on the Tavria axis in the south, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on Sept. 10. Ukrainian intelligence says drone strikes aim to topple production at Russian military companies, one after another The purpose of Ukraines current drone strikes on Russia is to weaken the enemy's combat potential, Vadym Skibitsky, a representative of Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate or HUR said on Ukrainian national television on Sept. 9. Body of British volunteer killed while fighting in Ukraine was found in water, hands bound reports The body of 31-year-old British volunteer Jordan Chadwick, who had been fighting with the International Legion in Ukraine, was discovered in a body of water with his hands bound behind his back, UK media have reported for the first time. Ukraines Foreign Ministry slams Russias sham elections in temporarily occupied territories The Russian Federation has announced plans to hold what they call elections from Sept. 8 to 10, 2023, for local occupation administrations in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson oblasts of Ukraine, as well as in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Special travel regime in Uman for Rosh Hashanah celebrations Ukraines Uman in Cherkasy Oblast, being a major Jewish pilgrimage site, will introduce a special travel regime from September 11 to 21, when Hasidic pilgrims are expected to visit the city to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, city mayor Iryna Pletnova said in a Facebook post on Sept. 8. NABU freezes Kolomoiskys assets The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have frozen the assets of Ukrainian businessman Ihor Kolomoisky for 48 hours, NABU said in a message on its website on Sept. 8. Erdogan lobbies G20 to compromise on Russian sanctions in bid to revive Ukraine grain corridor Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to convince G20 leaders at the New Delhi summit to meet some of Russias demands to restore the grain deal, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 9. North Korea ready to sign arms deal with Russia FT North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is ready to conclude an arms deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK newspaper the Financial Times reported on Sept. 8, citing expert assessments. Ukraine's military intelligence chief says counter-offensive will press on in face of worsening weather Ukraine's counter-offensive against the Russian invasion forces will continue even after the onset of cold and wet weather, and even if it becomes more difficult to fight, the head of Ukraines Defense Intelligence or HUR Kyrylo Budanov has said. Japanese FM initiates historic talks in Kyiv, paving way for bilateral security agreement with Ukraine Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, on an official visit to Kyiv, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal to sign a bilateral security guarantee agreement for Ukraine. Regions with most vacancies, and most in-demand employees in August 2023 Nearly two-thirds of job vacancies in Ukraine are concentrated in five oblasts: Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Odesa, and Kharkiv, data sourced from the OpenDataBot open data platform shows. Ukrainians gather in Kyiv to honor prominent Ukrainian religious scholar, Ihor Kozlovskyi, dead at 69 A memorial ceremony was held to honor the life and contributions of the distinguished Ukrainian religious scholar, Ihor Kozlovskyi, at the St. Michaels Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on Sept. 9. Ukraine to receive $2.3 billion in additional aid from South Korea South Korea will provide Ukraine with financial aid totalling $2.3 billion for its recovery efforts, President Yoon Sok Yeol announced at the G20 summit in India on Sept. 10, as reported by the Japanese news agency Yonhap. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine U.S. President Joe Biden is close to making a decision on whether to provide Ukraine with ATACMS long-range missiles, UK newspaper the Financial Times reported on Sept. 10, citing itssources. "A choice may very well be coming quickly," said a senior Biden administration official, the FT report read. Read also: Kuleba and Blinken further discuss ATACMS missiles The newspaper noted that the U.S. president has faced pressure from both sides of the political spectrum in the U.S. Congress to approve the transfer of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. The FT also noted that the delivery of ATACMS missiles fits into the scheme of U.S. military support for Ukraine. However, Washington did not give Kyiv everything it wanted, but made decisions based on its own assessment of military needs at the time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Earlier, U.S. television news channel ABC News reported, citing its own sources, that the United States is likely to add long-range ATACMS missiles to the upcoming military aid package for Ukraine. Read also: Who is delaying transfer of F-16s and ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, and why expert interview President Biden confirmed on July 12 that he was considering providing Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles. The White House said he was discussing the possibility with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to U.S. newspaper the Washington Post, Washington is not providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ATACMS because of its small stockpile. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said on Aug. 25 that Biden had not yet given a definitive answer on whether to supply Ukraine with ATACMS missiles. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while in Kyiv on Sept. 6, announced the allocation of more than $1 billion to help Ukraine. Read also: Biden and Zelenskyy discuss ATACMS missiles for Ukraine The United States also officially announced a new military aid package for Ukraine. In particular, Washington will provide depleted uranium tank munitions. The new $175 million military aid package includes additional air defense equipment; artillery ammunition; anti-tank weapons and other equipment. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine President Joe Biden commemorated the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with US servicemembers in Alaska, calling for national unity. I join you on this solemn day to renew our sacred vow, never forget, Mr Biden said. The president spoke at Elmendorf-Richardson Air Force Base in Anchorage, where commended servicemembers for their bravery in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hundreds of thousands of brave Americans deployed to Afghanistan to make sure the United States would not be attacked again, who served in Iraq, like many of you probably did, in war zones, he said. He noted how recently, the US Intelligence Community said that the threat from al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan reached an all-time low. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The resolve of the American people has proved we never bow, we never bend, we never yield, he said. Mr Biden also noted how he ordered the end of US military operations in Afghanistan, which led to the Afghan government falling to the Taliban. Our longest war is over, but the current commitment preventing another attack on the United States in our people and our allies will never never rest, he said. Mr Biden recalled standing at Ground Zero in Manhattan after terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, killing almost 3,000 people in 2001. I remember standing there the next day and looking at the building. I felt like I was looking through the gates of hell, it looked so devastating he said. Mr Biden was at the time a senator from Delaware who was the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The president also called for national unity amid a rising tide of political extremism. It's more important than ever that we come together around the principle of American democracy, regardless of our political backgrounds, he said. We must not succumb to the poisonous politics of difference and division must never allow ourselves to be pulled apart, by petty manufactured grievances. Mr Biden visited the military base after attending the G20 summit in New Delhi and visiting Vietnam. Some in conservative media, including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox News, criticised Mr Biden for not visiting New York City, the Pentagon or Shanksville, Pennsylvania the sites of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. But Vice President Kamala Harris joined elected officials in New York City to commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the presidents stead while First Lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Similarly, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visited Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the site of the Flight 93 crash of a plane meant for Washington, DC the same day as the attacks in New York and the Pentagon. Mr Biden hailed the generosity of Alaskans during the terrorist attacks in his speech, as well as across the country. Alaskan communities opened their doors to stranded passengers, he said. American flags sold out in every store, were placed in front of seemingly every home. We know that on this day every American's heart was wounded. Yet, every big city, small town, suburb or rural town, tribal community, American hands went up, ready to help where they could. During his time as a senator, Mr Biden supported the war in Afghanistan, though as vice president he came to express reservations. As president, he sought to end US military involvement in Afghanistan but received widespread criticism and tumbling approval ratings as many Americans and allies struggled to escape amid the collapse of the Afghan government. Toward the end of his speech, Mr Biden called for the nation to not forget the day and aftermath of the attacks. Let us remember who we are as a nation, he said. We never forget. We're never afraid. We endure, we overcome. We are the United States of America. And there is nothing, literally, historically, nothing has been beyond our capacity when we set our mind to it together. President Joe Biden is expected to make a final decision soon on sending long-range missiles to Ukraine for the first time, a major step recommended by the State and Defense departments after months of Ukrainian requests, people familiar with the discussions told CNN. Discussions about sending the long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, also known as ATACMS, picked up substantially in recent weeks, the sources said. No final decision to send the missiles has been made, officials said. But theres a much greater possibility of it happening now than before, one official familiar with the discussions said. Much greater. I just dont know when. US officials had been reticent to send the long-range surface-to-surface guided missiles amid fears about escalating the conflict as they could potentially be fired into Russia itself. That concern has largely abated, however, since Ukraine has shown it is not using other US-provided weapons to attack territory inside Russia, officials said. Ukraine has carried out strikes inside Russia, but those have been conducted using homegrown drones and weaponry, allowing Kyiv to stand by its commitment not to use American weapons inside Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Currently, the maximum range of US weapons committed to Ukraine is around 93 miles with the ground-launched small diameter bomb. The ATACMS, which have a range of around 186 miles, would allow the Ukrainian military to strike targets twice as far away even further than the UK-provided long-range Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles. ATACMS missiles are fired from HIMARS rocket launchers, the same type of vehicle that launches the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles that Ukraine already employs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNNs Fareed Zakaria last week that he planned to speak with Biden again on the matter and that Ukraine hoped to receive ATACMS in autumn. Zelensky met with the top US diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for several hours in Kyiv last week. It is not clear how many of them the US would ultimately provide but State Department and Pentagon officials think sending the missiles could help Ukraine make gains in its ongoing counteroffensive, which has been slow to make decisive progress. More recently, defense officials were wary of providing a system that the US does not have a ton of in its own fixed stockpile. How many the US has in its arsenal is classified, but providing hundreds of the missiles, which Ukraine has asked for, could undercut US military readiness, some Pentagon officials argued. Lockheed Martin, which produces the ATACMS, is currently manufacturing around 500 per year to fulfill current US Army contracts, a Lockheed spokesperson told CNN. Many of those systems have already been allocated to US allies other than Ukraine, however. Ukrainian forces have also demonstrated that they are using the UK-made Storm Shadows responsibly and effectively, British officials have said. Storm Shadows have allowed Ukraine to strike Russian ammunition depots and repair facilities, among other targets, in faraway Crimea. France announced in July it was sending its own version of the Storm Shadows, known as SCALPs. Ukrainian officials have in recent days stepped up their lobbying campaign for the ATACMS, arguing that the systems will be necessary to successfully repel the Russians from Ukrainian territory. When we talk about long-range missiles for Ukraine, it is not just a whim, but a real need, the head of Zelenskys office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram on Monday. The effectiveness of the army on the battlefield, as well as the lives of the military and our progress depend on it. The transfer of the ATACMS would mark just the latest instance of the US reversing itself on providing a system after months of pressure. The Biden administration also resisted sending multiple-launch rocket systems, Patriot air defense systems, Abrams tanks, and cluster munitions all of which were ultimately provided to Ukraine after extensive lobbying by Ukrainian officials. Biden and top Pentagon officials also said earlier this year that the Ukrainians did not need F-16 fighter jets but relented in May and announced that the US would support an F-16 training coalition for Ukraine. US officials have argued that the administration simply holds back on sending certain weapons and equipment until they assess that the systems are necessary for Ukraines battlefield objectives. But critics say the repeated delays in providing sophisticated weapons have only led to a more drawn-out war and given Russia more time to mine all our lands and build several lines of defense, Zelensky said in July. Im tired of hearing about escalation, Republican Sen. James Risch of Idaho told the Aspen Security Forum in July. I want Putin to wake up in the morning worried about what hes going to do thats going to cause us to escalate instead of us wringing our hands and saying, Oh, we cant do that. Look, everything I said they should have done at the beginning, theyve done now. God bless [Biden]. I wish he had done it a year ago. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US President Joe Biden explained the absence of a direct condemnation of Russian aggression against Ukraine in the G20 declaration adopted over the weekend. Source: Biden at a press conference in Vietnam on 10 September reported by European Pravda Details: Biden was answering the question of why Russia was not named as an aggressor in the final declaration of the G20 countries and whether this issue was problematic in relations with the Global South. Quote: "Its not a wedge issue of the Global South." He said that "its a wedge issue with Russia, which was present, and with China, which had the representation." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "And so and, by the way, I am a my my team, my staff still meets with President Xis people and his Cabinet," Biden added. He also said that at the meeting in India, the G20 leaders discussed Russia's brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. "And there was sufficient agreement in the room on the need for a just for a just and lasting peace that upholds the principles of the U.N. Charter and respects sovereignty and territorial integrity," Biden said. Background: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken defended the G20 leaders' declaration on Russia's war against Ukraine, which Kyiv expressed disappointment with. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry criticised Saturday's G20 communique, describing the document as having "nothing to be proud of" in terms of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! US President Joe Biden has said the participants in the G20 summit in India shared a common vision of a just peace in Ukraine. Source: White Houses press service Quote: "Weve also discussed Russias brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. And there was sufficient agreement in the room on the need for a just for a just and lasting peace that upholds the principles of the U.N. Charter and respects sovereignty and territorial integrity." Background: The Financial Times, citing an unnamed senior official, reported that US President Joe Biden is close to making a decision to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden at the G20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 9. (Evelyn Hockstein, Pool/AP) Over the weekend, President Biden traveled to New Delhi for a summit of the worlds 20 biggest economies, or the G20. The talks largely focused on the Global South, which China has been courting with its hugely ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. In fact, it was the need to brush back Beijing that seemed to dominate Bidens own agenda. Read more on Yahoo News: Modi seeks to cement India's global standing with G20 summit, via AFP China concerns dominate Modi and Biden pay their respects at the Rajghat, a Mahatma Gandhi memorial. (Kenny Holston, Pool/AP) Chinese President Xi Jingping did not attend the New Delhi meeting, but he was clearly on Bidens mind. It would be nice to have him here, Biden said. He has fostered close ties with Indian leader Narendra Modi, whom he hosted for an official state visit in late June. The worlds most populous country, and fifth biggest economy, is seen as a key ally even as Modi continues to also enjoy close relations with Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Biden would rather India distance itself from Russia, but he sees Modi as a valuable ally when it comes to China. The Biden administration views China as the top geopolitical threat to the United States and is watching carefully as Beijing struggles to contain a burgeoning economic crisis. I think China has a difficult economic problem right now for a whole range of reasons that relate to the international growth and lack thereof and the policies that China has followed, Biden said at a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, which he visited after the G20 summit. The Biden administration has engaged in a number of partnerships with countries in East Asia and the Pacific Rim in an effort to box in China and dissuade its leaders from invading Taiwan or taking other aggressive steps to expand its reach. At the G20 summit, he argued that the United States was a more reliable partner than China for developing nations in South America, Asia and Africa. At the same time, Biden reassured his listeners, as he has many times before, that the United States has no interest in a direct confrontation with Beijing. I don't want to contain China, he said in Vietnam. I just want to make sure that we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away, everybody knows what it's all about. Read more on Yahoo News: Chinas premier urges Biden to see his nation as an opportunity, via Bloomberg Divided on Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Aug. 24. (Marco Longari/Pool via Reuters) Russia is a member of the G20, but President Vladimir Putin did not attend. Nevertheless, he probably would have been pleased with the wording of the joint statement that followed the meeting. We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability, it said, without blaming Russia directly for the war that it caused. Western Europe may be entirely behind Ukraine, in part because Russia is a direct threat. But thats not the case elsewhere, including in both India and Vietnam (the latter is not a G20 member). Putin has used Russian energy and grain as a means to keep the Global South from joining the pro-Ukraine alliance and has been successful so far. There were different views and assessments of the situation, the G20 communique tersely but tellingly said. Read more on Yahoo News: Countries of the global south helped avoid Ukraine overshadowing G20 agenda - Lavrov, via Reuters Climate change emerges as another point of disagreement People who had to evacuate the flooded banks of Yamuna River take shelter on an under-construction overpass in New Delhi. (Altaf Qadri/AP) The divisions that exist when it comes to the war in Ukraine are also apparent in regard to climate change. The United States and many Western European nations are aggressively trying to phase out or at least reduce the use of fossil fuels. We resolve to pursue environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth, the G20 communique said. The nations agreed to triple the amount of renewable energy they produce by 2030 but made no mention of reducing their reliance on carbon-burning fuels at the same time. China is now the worlds most prolific coal-burning nation. Read more on Yahoo News: UN report says the world is way off track to curb global warming, but offers ways to fix that, via AP President Biden on Monday marked a new airline deal and other business investments as well as growing U.S.-Vietnamese relations while in Hanoi. Biden met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam and the two welcomed a new $7.8 billion deal inked between Boeing and Vietnam Airlines that is expected to support more than 30,000 U.S. jobs. Biden said to the prime minister that he was looking forward to working with you personally ahead of the meeting. Vietnam Airlines will buy 50 737 Max jets from Boeing, Reuters reported. Biden then visited a roundtable of business leaders and tech CEOs in Vietnam. The president spoke to the group about a new stage in Vietnam and U.S. relations marked by investment and innovation, citing efforts to strengthen supply chains with investments in the semiconductor industry. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement My message today is quite simple. Lets keep it up. Biden said. We need to help drive our collaboration and continue partnerships. This is only the beginning, he added. Its about creating a free and open Indo-Pacific for all of us. Later in the day, Biden and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong had an official meeting and attended a state luncheon at the presidential palace in Hanoi. They discussed Vietnams aspirations to become an upper income country by 2045, according to a readout from the White House on the meeting. Biden witnessed an exchange of wartime artifacts with the chairman of the Vietnamese national assembly, Vuong Dinh Hue, during the state luncheon. U.S veterans Matt Keenan and Chuck Searcy returned a diary that was recovered by U.S. forces on the battlefield in 1967 to its author, Nguyen Van Thien, who served in 2nd Company, 56th Air Defense Battalion, 69th Artillery Regiment, also known as the Bien Hoa Artillery Regiment. Then, a senior lieutenant general presented Secretary of State Antony Blinken with identification cards of U.S. service members still missing in action in Vietnam. Blinken gave the general a Harvard University research report under contract by the Defense Department about 576 fallen Vietnamese soldiers. Biden at the luncheon said it was a day that may have seemed impossible not that long ago and that it was a reminder of the hard work we all did to get here. Heres to all of us making hope and history rhyme, the president said. Biden then visited a memorial for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was a prisoner in Hanoi during the war. The memorial is a stone structure surrounded by greenery and had a red, white, and blue wreath of flowers in front of it. Biden walked up to it and touched the wreath, bowing his head, and then dropped what appeared to be a coin and saluted. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden on Monday visited a memorial for the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in Vietnam, marking the long friendship between the two. Biden walked up to the memorial, a stone structure surrounded by greenery, and touched a wreath of red, white, and blue flowers in front of it, bowing his head. I miss him. He was a good friend, Biden said. The president then dropped what looked like a coin and saluted. McCain was a prisoner of war in Hanoi during the Vietnam War for five and a half years, from 1967 to 1973. He was captured from Truc Bach Lake after being shot down over Hanoi and transported to the prison, nicknamed Hanoi Hilton. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It was important to me, Biden said Monday about visiting the memorial. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the presidents climate czar, John Kerry , were near the president during his visit. Biden also shook the hand of the U.S. Marine and U.S. Navy officers standing on either side of the memorial. Biden and McCain, who died in 2018 after battling glioblastoma, served in the Senate together for three decades. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. As part of Pride Month this past June, President Joe Biden vowed to appoint abook ban coordinator in addition to a slew of other actions aimed at protecting LGBTQ students. LGBTQ Americans, especially children: Youre loved, youre heard and this administration has your back, I mean it, Biden said during a press conference. We are not relenting one single second to make sure that theyre protected. Nearly three months later, however, theres been no outward movement in filling the role. As students started returning to classrooms and libraries, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was recently asked for an update on the post. She said she didnt have one and referred reporters to the Education Department. A spokesperson for the Education Department would not answer questions about when it planned to fill the coordinator role described by Biden. Instead, the spokesperson said a senior official working in the department would help enforce federal civil rights laws as it provides school districts with information on resources and trainings" in the coming weeks. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bidens attempts to counter conservative efforts to restrict access to certain books primarily those dealing with sexuality and race is one of the higher profile counterpunches hes thrown in the culture wars. Its been called government overreach by opponents, with Fox News commentators mocking the idea of a book ban coordinator shortly after it was announced and others describing the role of regulating published works that discuss sexual identity as a porn enforcer. But Biden has made fighting these book restrictions part of his campaigns opening reelection theme a component of a broader message suggesting that Republicans are determined to roll back rights and limit freedoms. Educators themselves are looking for guidance. In Bucks County, Pa., a county Biden won in 2020 but represented by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), local officials have succeeded in banning books from school libraries. The countys restrictions, officially known as library policy 109.2, target books that contain types of sexualized content or implied depictions of sexual acts. Katherine Semisch, co-founder for Advocates for Inclusive Education, has fought to oppose restrictions in Bucks County, but feels the lack of clarity leaves teachers vulnerable. You go to school and you do your best, then somebody calls your principal, and the next thing you know you are in deep hot water for something that you did in innocence and only with the best intentions toward the kids at heart, Semisch told West Wing Playbook. Like who wants that job? Aside from providing educators with more clarity on how to navigate the restrictions, a book ban coordinator or whatever title the administration picks could demonstrate that the administration cares about the issue as much as they profess to. The Education Department has worked with some school districts to resolve cases brought forth by parents who believe book restrictions are creating hostile environments for students. The departments Office of Civil Rights recently required a Georgia school district to commit to supporting students after community members expressed concerns that restrictions were excluding diverse authors, including those with LGBTQ backgrounds. "We've created a censorship snowball, and that's why it's important there be careful guidance to encourage districts to think very hard about what they're censoring and how they're doing it," said Robert Kim, executive director at the Education Law Center. Some of Bidens allies have forcefully criticized book restriction efforts including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who said in an MSNBC interview that they were equivalent to castrating children. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also mentioned the issue during a debate last year against Republican challenger Tudor Dixon: Do you really think books are more dangerous than guns? she said. Despite the tough talk from Democrats, Semisch, a retired English teacher, believes that local leaders should be the primary decision makers about public education even as they operate within the confines of federal guidance. I think that a national conversation about what is appropriate for our students could help shed some light on some of the motives behind all of it, she said. Like this content? Consider signing up for POLITICOs West Wing Playbook newsletter. US President Joe Biden said China's economic problems could keep Beijing from invading Taiwan. Biden said Chinese President Xi Jinping has his "hands full" with China's economic issues. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has been stepping up military drills around the island. China's probably too busy with its economic crisis to bother about invading Taiwan, US President Joe Biden said on Sunday. China's "difficult economic problem" currently is unlikely to cause the country to invade Taiwan, Biden said at a press conference during his state visit to Hanoi in Vietnam, according to a recording on the White House's YouTube channel. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has been stepping up military drills around this island in recent months, prompting fears about an invasion. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I don't think it's going to cause China to invade Taiwan, matter of fact the opposite, probably doesn't have the same capacity as it had before," said Biden in response to a question on whether Beijing could be more aggressive toward Taiwan due to China's economic issues. Biden cited the country's real-estate crisis and a record-high youth unemployment rate as economic problems Chinese President Xi Jinping is handling right now which is why the two leaders have not met in 10 months, he said. "He has his hands full right now," said Biden, referring to Xi. "One of the major economic tenets of his plan isn't working at all right now," Biden added, without specifying what he was referring to. "I'm not happy for that, but it's not working." However, Biden did meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang Xi's number two at the G20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend. Biden's Sunday comments came amid heightened tensions between the US and China over the last few years over a range of issues, including strategic competition in the tech space, geopolitics, and trade. In recent weeks, China has ordered its central government officials not to use Apple's iPhone and phones from other foreign brands at work. Beijing's directive mirrors similar restrictions in the US, such as a New York City ban on TikTok on government-owned devices. The US has also placed restrictions on Chinese tech companies in recent years, such as banning ZTE from buying components from US companies in 2018 and blocking Huawei from accessing parts of Google's Android mobile operating system in 2019. In October 2022, the US stepped up measures to cut China from chips made with American technology. Despite the tensions, Biden said Sunday that he wasn't isolating China. "I don't want to contain China, I just want to make sure that we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away, everybody knows what it's all about," he said. China's foreign ministry said at a scheduled press conference on Monday that the Taiwan issue is "China's internal affair," according to an official transcript. "Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves," said Mao Ning, a spokesperson at China's foreign ministry. "It shall be decided by the Chinese and brooks no foreign interference." The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK -- President Joe Biden is expected to visit New York next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, visiting as the mayor remains miffed and the governor grumpy over the White Houses handling of the asylum seeker crisis. In the city, Biden is set to attend at least two fund-raisers: an event at a Broadway theater on Monday and a pricey shindig with New York lawyers on Wednesday, according to notices for the events. Tickets for the Monday event, branded Broadway for Biden, are set at $250 to $750 and tickets for the Wednesday fund-raiser, Lawyers for Biden start at $3,300. Deadline previously reported on Bidens expected visit to the Theater District. The exact locations of the fund-raisers were not clear. And it was unclear if Mayor Adams or Gov. Hochul would attend either. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Spokesmen for Adams and Hochul said they did not yet know if the mayor or governor would attend events with Biden, but that they were aware of planning. Adams and Hochul, two moderate Democrats, have blamed Biden for the citys migrant crisis, declaring he has not given New York adequate support as the city buckles under the strain of caring for about 60,000 asylum seekers. The president, who was headed to Alaska on Monday during the citys 9/11 ceremonies, has seemed to keep the migrant crisis at arms length, addressing it sparingly in public. He did not meet with Hochul two weeks ago when she visited the White House to appeal for more migrant aid. The meeting, which came three days after Bidens Homeland Security Department criticized New York Citys handling of the crisis in a two-page letter, produced vital commitments from the White House, according to Hochuls office. But the governor has said the federal response continues to fall short, and she has demanded that Washington expedite approval of work permits for asylum seekers. This crisis originated with the federal government, and it must be resolved through the federal government, Hochul said in a speech last month. Hochul, who is expected to serve as campaign surrogate for Bidens reelection bid in 2024, has still taken a gentler tone on the White House than Adams, who declared in the spring that Biden had failed New York City; the mayor was dropped from the surrogate squad soon. At the outset of his mayoralty, Adams tied himself closely to the president, calling himself the Biden of Brooklyn. After Adams election victory but before his ascension to mayor Biden invited the then-Brooklyn borough president to the White House in July 2021 to discuss public safety. And in his first month as mayor, Adams received a pep talk from Biden after delivering a major speech detailing his plans to halt growing gun violence, according to the White House. But the relationship seems to have frayed due to Adams frustration over more than 100,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in the city since spring 2022. Many of the migrants fled political and economic upheaval in Venezuela and have been unable to quickly secure work papers in the city. Adams and Hochul, whose administrations have engaged in several rounds of sniping and recriminations over the crisis, have remained chummy in public appearances and maintained they are aligned on myriad issues. But Biden, whose poll numbers are plummeting in New York State, has largely receded from view locally. Last month, Adams told CNN he had not spoken with Biden in 2023. Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant, said that it is likely Biden will try to dodge Adams next week, but that it might be inevitable that they wind up together at some point. Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic political consultant, Adams will want the photo, Sheinkopf said. Biden probably wont. HANOI, Vietnam (AP) President Joe Biden on Monday wrapped up a five-day diplomatic sprint through Vietnam and India that put a spotlight on imperfect partners that he believes will be crucial for global stability in the years to come. The whirlwind visit demonstrated that as Russias war on Ukraine plods on with no end in sight, Biden appears to have become more willing to look past differences with complicated allies that he badly needs to keep close for the sake of stability in the Indo-Pacific, Middle East and beyond. Biden closed out his Asia trip in Hanoi on Monday by spotlighting new business deals and partnerships with Vietnam after celebrating the Communist governments elevation of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement My message today is quite simple: Lets keep it up, Biden said of his desire to keep strengthening the nations' partnership during a meeting with CEOs. We need to develop and drive our collaboration. We need to forge new partnerships. He denied the steps were meant to counter Chinas increasing efforts for influence in the region. The presidents pragmatic approach was also on display over the weekend at the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi in his friendly interactions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, two leaders who have not shied from saying to no to Biden and have paid little regard when hes raised concerns about their human rights records. In Hanoi, Biden showcased the new elevated U.S. diplomatic status with Vietnam even as the country is reported to be nearing a weapons deal with Russia that would contravene U.S. prohibitions on countries doing business with Russian military and intelligence agencies. That could put Biden in the awkward position of having to decide whether or not to sanction a nation that he's put great effort into courting. It is important to acknowledge Vietnam has had a decades-long relationship with Russia and a decades-long military relationship with Russia, said Jon Finer, Biden's principal deputy national security adviser. But our strong sense is that there is an increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietnamese with that relationship. Major business announcements during Bidens first-ever visit to Vietnam included Boeings $7.5 billion deal with Vietnam Airlines to buy about 50 aircraft and Arizona-based Amkor Technologys plans for a $1.6 billion factory in Bac Ninh Province. Biden insisted his visit to Vietnam was about burnishing stronger ties with Hanoi and sought to push back against the notion that his travels were connected to Washington's tensions with Beijing. The U.S.-China relationship has been strained by the U.S. shooting down a Chinese spy balloon that traversed the continental U.S., Taiwan, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other issues. I dont want to contain China, Biden said during a Hanoi news conference after he met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, for the formal announcement of the elevation of the U.S.-Vietnam relationship. Were not trying to hurt China. Yet his administration has put a premium on strengthening relations in the Indo-Pacific in the face of growing concerns about Chinas military and economic assertiveness. Bidens effort to delicately put aside differences over the Russian invasion was on display over the weekend in New Delhi. At the G20 summit, Biden warmly greeted Saudi Arabian Crown Prince bin Salman, less than a year after warning the Saudis that they would pay consequences for padding Moscows coffers by engineering a cut in oil production that spiked the price of crude. The hearty handshake between Biden and the crown prince -- which was joined by an ebullient Indian Prime Minister Modi -- stood in stark contrast to the awkward fist bump that Biden and bin Salman shared last summer during a visit to the kingdom by Biden as the global economy grappled with rising oil prices and historic inflation. That fist bump outraged many activists and others who were already upset at Bidens decision to meet with a Saudi leader widely criticized for human rights violations and the murder of U.S.-based writer Jamal Khashoggi. Biden had refused to speak to Prince Mohammed at the start of his administration. As a presidential candidate in 2020, he said he wanted to make the Saudis pay the price, and make them in fact the pariah that they are. The differences over oil production between the Saudis and the U.S. remain unresolved. Saudi Arabia and Russia announced last week that they had agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of this year, trimming 1.3 million barrels of crude out of the global market and boosting energy prices. But the White House has stopped pressing the issue, at least in public. Instead, the administration has put more focus on working with the Saudis to end their years-long war with Yemen. The administration has also begun laying the groundwork for a potential normalization of relations between rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia, a dramatic accomplishment if Biden can pull it off. At the G20, Biden thanked the crown prince for joining an ambitious plan to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe. The corridor would help boost trade, deliver energy resources and improve digital connectivity. In addition to India and Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel and the European Union have signed on. The White House said the project is not seen as a precursor to a potential normalization deal but characterized Israels inclusion as significant. Saudi Arabia obviously contributed substantially, Finer said. Biden also had praise for India's Modi, this years G20 host, for running a successful summit even as the Modi government dismissed the Biden administrations lobbying for Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be invited. Zelenskyy has used such high-profile gatherings to argue for continued economic and military support for his country. India is one of the most prominent U.S. allies that has largely stayed on the sidelines of the war, and has even dramatically increased its purchases of Russian oil. Ultimately, it is not our decision, Finer said of the decision not to invite Zelenskyy to the G20. Modi, too, has been criticized for his human rights record. Biden, in his press conference, volunteered that he had raised with Modi the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role that civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country. Before departing Vietnam on Monday afternoon, Biden paid his respects at a memorial honoring his late friend and colleague Sen. John McCain, who endured a lengthy imprisonment in Hanoi during the Vietnam War. The stone memorial is located near where McCain's Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down in 1967 by the North Vietnamese. Both sides exchanged documents Monday on unaccounted-for U.S. service members and Vietnamese soldiers. Biden left one of his commemorative coins at the memorial. At a state luncheon hosted by Vo Van Thuong, Biden praised McCain and John Kerry another Vietnam War veteran and now the president's climate envoy for playing critical roles in the two nations 50-year arc of progress. Where there was darkness, you all found light, Biden said. ___ AP writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Standing in the shadow of China's spiraling economy, President Biden had a clear and concise message for anyone wondering whether his frenetic trip through Southeast Asia this weekend was aimed at sending a message to Beijing: "I don't want to contain China," Biden told reporters in Vietnam, as he celebrated the recent upgrade in official relations between that country and the United States. "I think we think too much in terms of Cold War terms," Biden stressed," adding that while he hoped for China's continued economic success, "I want to see them succeed by the rules." Measured words of encouragement notwithstanding, Biden's time in Vietnam and his preceding few days at a G-20 conference in Delhi, India was a "hedge against China" according to Reuters, and a "signal" for Beijing, per The Economist, coming amidst a broader American debate over how best to respond to China's increasing willingness to flex its geopolitical clout. What the commentators said America's newly strengthened relationship with Vietnam allows both countries to put the formerly bellicose "ghosts of the past behind them," allowing them to focus on a "shared worry over China's mounting ambitions in the region," The New York Times reported. While neither Biden nor Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong directly invoked China in their official public remarks, it was "an important subtext for the move as Mr. Biden works to establish a network of partnerships in the region to counter aggressive action by Beijing." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The upgraded relationship between the United States and Vietnam, officially a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," suggests Hanoi "fears Beijing's aggression in the South China Sea" according to Politico, which also described Vietnam as "grateful for its economic windfall" from the ongoing trade jockeying between the U.S. and China. Hanoi is "navigating frosty relations" between the two superpowers while working to become a "low-cost manufacturing hub," agreed Reuters, noting that "top Chinese officials, possibly including President Xi Jinping," are scheduled to visit Vietnam in the coming weeks. While China may loom large in Biden's mind during his trip to Hanoi, "the U.S. and its allies are trying to appeal to the global south to build a worldwide consensus against Russia" the Financial Times reported. Russia is currently "in talks for a new $8 billion credit facility to buy heavy weaponry" from its communist ally, according to Reuters. Still, assigning the United States its top-level diplomatic status is an "unusual and significant step for Vietnam and it is a sign of how strong Hanoi's desire is to counterbalance ties with China," Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford told FT. The "greatest win" for the Biden administration, meanwhile, is that this new status "puts it more firmly in Beijing's backyard," the BBC reported, quoting National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's assertion that Vietnam will play "a leading role [...] in our growing network of partnerships in the Indo-Pacific." That network includes new military bases in the Philippines, and Washington having "remarkably, [...] managed to broker a trilateral agreement with rival East Asian allies, Japan and South Korea." The achievements have "taken the Chinese by surprise," Pacific Forum senior director Dr John Hemmings told the BBC. What next? Even before Biden stepped foot in Hanoi, China had criticized his trip, with a government spokesperson urging the U.S. to "abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game mindset." Vietnamese officials, however, have "gauged that China will do little more than harrumph" The Economist reported, noting "how valuable Vietnam is to China" as a major export market. Meanwhile, the upgraded relationship with Vietnam is poised to energize the semiconductor industry and supply chain, which has "emerged as a key source of tension in U.S.-China relations" according to CNN. And while "the rest of Asia underwhelms, Vietnam will still be one of the fastest growing economies" Still, Americans hoping that Vietnam can be wholly "reeled into its camp" are engaged in "wishful thinking" according to The Economist. Vietnam was never fully up for grabs as an ally. Rather, it likely plans to "balance adroitly between" the U.S. and China, as the two superpowers continue to circle one another for global influence. You may also like Homepage China's Tibet achieves overall carbon neutrality Xinhua) 08:42, September 11, 2023 This photo taken on March 1, 2023 shows black-necked cranes in Lhunzhub County of Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Shen Hongbing) LHASA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has achieved overall carbon neutrality, said Yan Jinhai, head of the regional government, during a forum opened Sunday on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem. The Namjagbarwa forum on the building of a national ecological civilization highland in Tibet kicked off Sunday in the region's Nyingchi City. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yan said Tibet is able to make greater contributions to China's dual carbon targets. Currently, the carbon sink of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem amounts to 162 million tonnes per year, accounting for 8 to 16 percent of China's total ecosystem carbon sink, according to the experts attending the forum. Based on data, combined with the findings of China's second scientific research survey on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the annual carbon sink of Tibet's ecosystem in recent years reached around 47.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, with its annual carbon emission totaling about 11.5 million tonnes, indicating that the region has actually been in a state of carbon neutrality, the experts explained. A villager patrols in the forest in Gaiba Village of Gongbo'Gyamda County in Nyingchi City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) More than 120 government officials, experts and scholars including famous academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are at the two-day forum. "The ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau absorbs a net 100 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, which is far more than the anthropogenic emissions of the plateau region. It is clear that the plateau has achieved carbon neutrality," said Piao Shilong, a CAS academician. Meanwhile, other experts and scholars will deliver reports on the assessment of the carbon budget of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem, aiming to reveal the function and change characteristics of the plateau's carbon sink under the influence of climate warming and humidification. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an area of around 2.58 million square km, spans six provincial-level regions in western China, including Qinghai and Tibet. During the forum, Yao Tandong, a CAS academician and the team leader of the second comprehensive scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, unveiled some important research results of the expedition. Scientific research members from Tibet University collect aquatic life samples near the mountaineering base camp in the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, May 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Sun Fei) Getting warmer, more humid, and greener with more dark matters is the major trend of climate change on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over the years and in the future, said Yao. This year marks the sixth anniversary of the launch of the second comprehensive scientific expedition on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A law on ecological protection of the plateau, also known as "the roof of the world," came into effect on Sept. 1. Based on the new law and other relevant official documents, the expedition team will further carry out their international cooperation project on the scientific research of the Third Pole Environment (TPE) to deepen global cooperation on climate change, according to Yao. The Third Pole covers the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and surrounding areas, storing abundant snow and glaciers. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Californias front-line soldiers in the fight against climate change, drought, wildfire and exposure to toxic chemicals are the 4,000-some scientists who work at state agencies. But now, after working without a contract for three years, the union representing these workers has overwhelmingly voted to strike. Meanwhile, more than 25,000 correctional officers in California have reached an agreement with the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom for a new contract with pay raises, a one-time contribution to a retirement shelter fund and a $10,000 bonus for employees in higher-cost communities such as Folsom. A state offer rejected by scientists last year amounted to an additional $8,260 a year based on the states three-year calculation (total costs divided by full-time equivalent employees). The contract for the correctional officers was 66% richer, with $13,248 more state costs annually per officer. Opinion ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The California Legislature, which must approve all new state employee contracts, is sure to approve the one for the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. With the legislative session ending next Thursday, time is running out to reach a timely deal with the California Association of Professional Scientists. So what happens if the relevant agencies and governing bodies no longer had scientists on staff who were willing to show up for work? Environmental protections throughout California would grind to a halt. And apparently thats a risk that the administration is all too willing to take. We now, from my perspective, have one of the most horrific situations in all of state service, said Jacqueline Tkac, the bargaining committee chair for the professional scientists. Her peers are enraged by the situation that they have been in. Especially with this administration, Tkac said. The union that got the richer contract package happens to be mostly men and gave Newsom $1.75 million to fend off a failed recall attempt in 2021 as an example of its heavyweight status. The union without a contract the same one offered an inferior deal is mostly women, and a minor player in campaign contributions. Pure coincidences? Tkac, an environmental scientist with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, has no quarrel with the correctional officers. Her unions beef is with how the state no longer considers her profession to be on equal compensation footing as engineers. A generation ago, the two occupations had similar pay in state government. But a board decision in 1979 had split them into separate bargaining units. Their pay began to drift apart in subsequent contracts. Numerous administrations could have prevented this, but did not. By Tkacs calculations, the average environmental scientist now makes $87,000 a year while the average state engineer makes $121,000. At the bargaining table, Tkac said, the state has argued that it doesnt compare like pay for like work if the work happens in different bargaining units. If so, we dont have one state government that can treat all its employees equitably and fairly. We have 21 state governments based on 21 different bargaining units. Meanwhile, the pay gap between rank-and-file scientists and their managers also grew. A typical pay difference between the staff scientist and the boss used to be in the range of 15%, Tkac said. Now, its closer to 60%. We dont see this anywhere else in state service, she said. Granted, a new contract for a few years cannot necessarily eliminate all pay disparities that grew over decades. But the gap would have closed a lot more if the administration would simply offer the same financial bump to the scientists that they gave to the correctional officers. Something unsavory is going on here. Then there is the issue of overtime, where the disparities grow wider. There were 128 correctional officers who made more than $200,000 each in 2022, based on a review of officer compensation. No rank-and-file state scientist made $200,000, although six managers did. Some initially tight state finances during the COVID crisis prompted the Legislature to freeze scientists pay in 2020, delaying a 5% increase per that contract. The employees got that raise and an additional 2% in 2021. Meanwhile, the pay has not increased as negotiations have gone on. And on. Last month, the rank-and-file scientists voted on whether to authorize a strike. More than 93% voted yes. Scientists dont have exactly the same reputation as Longshoremen or Teamsters for walking the streets with picket signs, and Tkac said she doesnt want to strike. But the clock is ticking. Right now we are still at the bargaining table (to secure) a deal that appropriately values our members, she said. We will continue doing that until circumstances warrant declaring a strike. We are taking things day by day. Given how the California government holds 21 different negotiations to craft contracts to pay its state employees, some disparities are bound to happen. But it invites special treatment for units that are favored by the Legislature and governor for one reason or another. No legislature or governor can claim to care much about combating climate change when they make the scientists charged with preserving our natural resources such perennial losers in the negotiations game. It would be a shame if it required a strike by scientists of all people, and an ensuing national embarrassment for Newsom, who just needs to restore a little economic justice within Californias bargaining units. Its not near the rows of seafood restaurants that line the beaches of South Mississippi, but theres almost always a line at the door of this Biloxi institution. Located in the Woolmarket area, Tarantos Crawfish has lots of tables, friendly service and a no-frills menu that serves up some of the most popular seafood on the Coast. And now, the restaurant has earned national recognition: the seafood po-boys at Tarantos were named the best sandwiches in Mississippi by Food and Wine magazine. Tarantos Crawfish makes some of the better seafood po-boys in existence, but thats just for starters when available, snap up a pound of peel-and-eat royal red shrimp for $16, reporter David Landsel said in his review. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sun Heralds expert foodie Scott Watkins recently visited Tarantos after getting dozens of suggestions from Coast residents to eat there. He tried the crawfish po-boy. Not usually a po-boy person, Watkins decided to try one anyway after reading through hundreds of positive reviews. He wound up ordering a fried crawfish po-boy and cup of seafood gumbo. The bread was soft and the delicate taste of crawfish fought through its fried encasement, he said, adding that his world changed when he dipped his seafood sammy into his seafood gumbo. Galaxies collided. The very fabric of reality shifted. My vision cleared. I saw heaven and it was in that po-boy, he wrote. How the best sandwiches in the U.S. were found The Food and Wine reporter searched the U.S. for the best sandwich in every state a staple in America that became even more popular as folks looked for to-go options during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landsels methodology examined American classics and the beloved sandwiches that were brought to the U.S. by immigrants, much like the Sicilian muffuletta at Central Grocery in New Orleans. He also had strict rules of including no hot dogs, tacos, burgers or burritos in the list. Pass Christian restaurant gets honorable mention Another Coast restaurant caught Landsels eye. Pirates Cove, one of the most popular po-boy shops in the Deep South, received an honorable mention in the Food and Wine list. Im not a po-boy person. This iconic Mississippi Coast restaurant just changed my mind. The line at Pirates Cove in Pass Christian is often made up of people from the other side of the state line, wholl swear by the house roast beefwell second the recommendation, he wrote. Pirates Cove is also beloved by Pass native Robin Roberts, who married her longtime partner, Amber Laign, over the weekend. Comedian Tig Notaro was also said to have food from Pirates Cove at her Coast wedding. Undeterred by Cook County Democrats decision to back appointed incumbent Justice Joy Cunningham in next years primary for a full term on the Illinois Supreme Court, some Latino leaders are forging ahead with an effort to elect a member of their community to the states highest bench. County Democratic Party leaders voted overwhelmingly last month to endorse Cunningham, who is Black, in the race over Appellate Judge Jesse Reyes, whom party leaders passed over in slating four years ago in favor of another appointed incumbent, Justice P. Scott Neville Jr., who also is Black. Supporters of both Cunningham, who was an appellate judge before being elevated to the Supreme Court last year, and Reyes, an appellate judge since 2012, are on the streets now collecting the 4,262 petition signatures needed to get their candidates names on the March 19 primary ballot. Winners of Democratic primaries for state Supreme Court seats in Cook County traditionally go on to win the general election. The brewing battle over one of Cook Countys three seats on the Supreme Court, where Democrats hold a 5-2 majority over Republicans, comes as the countys Latino population is on the rise and the Black population is declining. It also is yet another example of long-simmering tensions between two key blocs within the Democratic coalition divisions that historically have been stoked by white politicians to keep either group from gaining too much power or influence. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This Black and brown tension is always a little bit under the surface, bubbling under the surface, said Delmarie Cobb, a veteran political strategist who once served as a spokeswoman for the City Councils Black Caucus. In recent years, the dynamic played out openly in City Hall during debates over new ward maps, with fights over the number of Black and Latino-majority wards, and behind closed doors at the Illinois Capitol, where Democrats argued over how to address massive cost overruns in a state health insurance program for immigrants who are in the country without legal permission. Its not that Black and Latino officials dislike one another, Cobb said, its just that the pie was divvied up, theres a sliver of it for Black(s) and Latinos, and so theyre fighting over whats left. The push to elevate Reyes comes at a time of demographic change, both in Cook County and on the high court. From 2010 to 2020, the countys Latino population grew by 11%, while the Black population declined by 6%. That shift was significant enough to make Latinos the countys second-largest demographic group, comprising 26% of the countys roughly 5.3 million residents, while fewer than 23% were Black, according to census data. When Neville was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018 to replace the retiring Charles Freeman, who in 1990 became the courts first Black justice, all six other members were white. But the courts racial makeup shifted substantially last year with appointments to replace two retiring justices. By tradition in Illinois, the outgoing Supreme Court justice selects their replacement, who then still must be approved by the full court. First, Lisa Holder White, a Republican from Decatur, was tapped in May 2022 to fill a downstate seat vacated by longtime Justice Rita Garman, making her the first Black woman to serve on the state Supreme Court. Months later, retiring Justice Anne Burke selected Cunningham as her replacement. Reyes, who in 2020 finished second in the seven-person primary for the seat ultimately won by Neville, who had been endorsed by the party the previous year, said he made it known that he was interested in being appointed to replace Burke, though he didnt make a formal request in writing. So some Reyes supporters argue that when ward and township committeemen last month voted to back Cunningham for a full 10-year term, it marked the third time in four years that party insiders passed on an opportunity to ensure Latino representation on the Supreme Court. From our perspective, that is not the kind of equity that a progressive state like Illinois should stand behind, let alone a state and a city thats going to welcome next year the Democratic National Convention, said Martin Montes, a partner at law firm Barnes & Thornburg and a member of the Illinois Latino Agenda, a group that advocates for representation at all levels of government. Montes said he doesnt see the potential primary matchup between Reyes and Cunningham as a Black versus brown situation or race. Were beyond that, he said. I would hope that not only as a country but as a state that we see the strong economic benefits that the Latino community has provided to Illinois (and) the strong part of the fabric of this state that Latinos have provided. However, Montes said, when you look at a court that is issuing rulings that impact all of its citizens, but yet you dont have someone that looks like almost a quarter of the population, then thats a miss. Thats a miss on those individuals in leadership. While being on the partys official slate may not carry as much weight as it did in the heyday of Democratic machine politics, it can still make all the difference in judicial races, where voters tend to be less familiar with the candidates, even those who sit on the states highest court, said Cobb, the veteran strategist. The stakes are particularly high in Supreme Court races because candidates run in open contests just once. After winning a seat, a justice goes up for a retention vote once a decade. Only one Illinois Supreme Court justice Thomas Kilbride in 2020 has failed to win retention since the system was put in place in 1964. Having the county partys backing comes with resources, from financial contributions and inclusion on party mailers to boots on the ground at election time. It also means that many party loyalists who backed a candidate who failed to be slated will shift their support to the endorsed candidate. Such is the case with state Sen. Robert Martwick, the Democratic committeeman for the 38th Ward who also chairs the party committee in charge of slating candidates for the Supreme Court. During slating, Martwick, who is white, cast his Northwest Side wards share of the weighted vote for Reyes. But he now supports Cunningham as the partys chosen candidate. Cunningham will continue to be a good judge, said Martwick, who added that slating is a good process that reflects the views of Democrats across an extremely diverse county. Although election season is just underway, Cunningham already enjoys a significant fundraising advantage over Reyes. She ended the previous quarter on June 30 with nearly $300,000 in her campaign fund and has since reported raising an additional $117,000 in contributions of $1,000 or more, state campaign finance records show. Reyes, meanwhile, entered July with a little more than $2,400 on hand and has reported raising another $48,400. Despite the seemingly long odds, Reyes, whose father immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico City, said he remains committed to seeking a seat on the high court. Let the people decide who should sit on the Illinois Supreme Court, he said. Thats always been my view. Ever since I became a judge, Ive always felt that the courtrooms belong to the people, and so the people should decide who sits in those courtrooms. Reyes worked in the city corporation counsels office in the 1980s under Harold Washington Chicagos first Black mayor, who also had strong support in the Latino community and at Chicago Public Schools before becoming an associate judge in Cook County in 1997. He was later elected as a circuit judge and in 2012 to the First District Appellate Court, making him the first Latino justice elected to an Illinois appeals court. Having grown up in Pilsen and worked his way through college at the University of Illinois at Chicago and law school at John Marshall, Reyes said hes tried to bring that lived experience to the bench. Having diversity on the bench ensures multiple perspectives are considered both in decision-making and the judicial policy setting, which is what the Supreme Court does a considerable amount of. Thats one of their responsibilities and duties, Reyes said. And I think that a voice should be lent to that effort and that endeavor, and that voice right now is not there. Cunningham said she also values diversity on the bench, pointing to a group of circuit and appellate judges shes appointed since joining the Supreme Court that includes a Black woman, a white woman, an openly gay white man, a Latino man and an Indian American woman. But while Cunningham said she can empathize in a very narrow way with concerns over the lack of Latino representation on the states highest court, the ultimate criteria for who serves on our Supreme Court cannot be ethnicity or race, that or gender. Once you start down that path, its a slippery slope, said Cunningham, whose mother was from Panama and whose father was from the Cayman Islands. Cunningham, who was an appellate judge from 2006 until her elevation to the Supreme Court last year, previously was an associate judge in Cook County and an attorney in private practice, including a stint as general counsel for Northwestern Memorial Healthcare in the early 2000s. She began her legal career in the Illinois attorney generals office. In 2012, she ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for the state Supreme Court seat currently held by Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis. Ethnicity has to go hand in hand with excellence, Cunningham said. And if you have to choose one or the other, you have to choose excellence in my view. Chicago Tribunes A.D. Quig contributed. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Reyes was the first Latino justice on an Illinois appeals court. He was the first elected to the appellate court but other Latino judges previously had been appointed. dpetrella@chicagotribune.com Last month, a Mississippi boy was approached by a swarm of police officers after relieving himself in a parking lot. Now, his mother lawyered up to file a federal lawsuit alleging her sons civil rights were violated. On August 10, LaTonya Eason said she went to an appointment with a law office to seek legal advice for getting her children in school. She let her 10-year-old son, Quantanvious, wait in the car for her. All of a sudden, a Senatobia officer came walking in the building claiming he saw Easons son outside urinating beside her vehicle. As any Black mother would, she said she went outside and fussed him out. She said her son explained he saw a sign on the building that said no public bathrooms and resorted to relieving himself on the property when he just couldnt hold it in any longer. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Eason said the arresting officer said he had to take action. He was like, Yeah, I got to arrest him. He cant do that. He made my son get out of the car, told my baby to put his hands behind his back and they took him to the patrol car. Senatobia is located in northern Mississippi, less than 30 miles south of the Tennessee state line. Though Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler asserted Quantavious wasnt handcuffed in the incident, attorney Carlos Moore said in a press conference he was held in a cell for nearly an hour awaiting Youth Court Referral paperwork before being released back to his mother. Mississippi law says indecent exposure is a misdemeanor worthy of a $500 fine or less than 6 months imprisonment - for adults. Chief Chandler said the Youth Court Act allows officers to file a referral against children 10 years old if they commit an act otherwise illegal if they were an adult. He did admit that it was an error in judgement for the boy to be taken down to the station in a patrol car when his mother was present. Following an internal investigation, one officer involved in the arrest left the department, per CNNs report. However, Ms. Eason wants an apology and accountability from the rest of the officers. Termination aint good enough. You dont let him just resign after he placed my son in the backseat of a car. You put my child in a cage like he was a dog or something, Eason said. My child didnt deserve that. Moore said in a press conference they will file a federal lawsuit alleging Fourth and Fourteenth amendment violations. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Black Restaurant Week is underway in Kansas City, with over 20 Black-owned businesses participating. This is the fourth year of the annual restaurant week in Kansas City. Local favorites like Gates Bar-B-Q, Ruby Jeans Juicery, Soiree Steak & Oyster House and more are participating. KC jazz vocalist selected to represent US at G20 Summit Black Restaurant Week started in Houston in 2016 as a way to support Black chefs, many of whom wanted to share their African and Caribbean cuisine with others. Its working. Black Restaurant Week has spread throughout the country, and here in Kansas City, Black-owned restaurants are seeing a surge in sales. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In the beginning, it was kind of like, Hey, what is this? type-of-situation, and Ive seen it every single year grow, grow, grow, grow, said Isaac Collins, Yogurtini owner. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android And now Black entrepreneurs who are not a part of it are chomping at the bit to be a part of it now, so its really cool. Black Restaurant Week runs through Sept. 24. You can find a full list of the participating Kansas City area restaurants here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Boeing is trying to get employees back to the office with happy hours and alpaca visits, the WSJ reports. CEO David Calhoun has taken over 400 private jet trips from his homes and is rarely seen in the office. While Boeing recently opened a small office five minutes away from the CFO's home. Boeing's CEO is enjoying private-jet commutes while just 30% of the company's job postings allow for remote working, The Wall Street Journal reported. Since the aircraft manufacturer moved its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Virginia last May, managers have tried to encourage a return-to-office by deploying happy hours, guest speakers, and even visits from alpacas while the CEO and CFO are rarely spotted, staff told the Journal. David Calhoun took over as Boeing CEO shortly before the pandemic, when like most office workers, he started working from home. Over the last three years, Boeings fleet of private jets have made around 400 trips to or from airports near his homes, one on the waterfront by New Hampshire's Lake Sunapee and the other in a gated South Carolina resort community, per the WSJ. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement And Brian West, the chief financial officer, also hasn't relocated to the company's headquarters but Boeing has recently opened a small office five minutes away from his home in Connecticut, the Journal reported. Some employees have been making fun of Calhoun's apparent absence since Jim Cramer called him out on CNBC in 2021, amid production problems with the 787 Dreamliner. "What's he doing? Is he like at Lake Sunapee or something in New Hampshire?" Cramer said. The Journal reports that several Boeing employees then began displaying "Lake Sunapee" signs in their offices, and others had souvenir mugs like one that read: "Love Lake Life." "We have been transforming our leadership culture to encourage our management team to engage more frequently with employees, customers and other stakeholders," a Boeing spokesperson said in a statement shared with Insider. "It's why we moved senior leaders out of our Chicago office and closer to their teams three years ago, and why we continue to empower them to spend less time at corporate headquarters and more time with employees and stakeholders. "As with many companies, we have introduced more flexibility across multiple levels to enable people to work in ways that are most productive and supportive of our global business, and we're pleased that this approach has allowed us to attract top talent across disciplines as we continue to execute our recovery plans." Read the original article on Business Insider If youve ever driven into Bonney Lake on State Route 410, youve probably noticed the bronze statue of a little boy lifting his arms to a flock of flying birds, and the signs welcoming you to the city. Now, its gone, taken by thieves who could never understand what it means to the community. Under the cover of darkness, sometime between August 24th and 25th, Bonney Lake Police say somebody made their way through the brush behind the signs, climbed a 10-foot-tall pedestal of stones, cut the bolts off the statue by nationally acclaimed artist Larry Anderson and hauled it away. Andersons creation, called The Ascent has been a fixture at that site since 1994. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The artist, who moved to Bonney Lake in the early 1990s, died in 2018. His artistic talents and eyesight were taken away by the ravages of Parkinsons disease. His widow, Sharilyn Anderson was stunned when she learned his significant creation in their hometown was gone. It was unbelievable to me she said. I couldnt imagine someone would do such a thing. I didnt understand it. The Ascent has become part of the culture of Bonney Lake. Its even printed on some of the citys official stationery. Looking back: Creating The Ascent Sharilyn Anderson was with her husband when he was offered the commission to create the statue, and shared why he chose the image of the little boy, raising his arms to touch a flock of flying birds. He wanted something welcoming. He wanted something that symbolized the city and the possibilities of living here, she recalled. He wanted to emphasize enthusiasm, play for children, and really the interaction between nature and people. But more than anything, He wanted something that would lift people up so when they came into the city, they felt a sense of joy and wonder; that this was a good place to raise a family, she said. The Ascent also has a deep personal connection to Sharilyn Anderson. Her husband used their son Caplan as the model for the boy. He was in middle school at the time, and Sharilyn said Larry and Caplan spent many hours over many days getting the pose just right. My husband had him hanging from the rafters with chains and all kinds of things, so that he could get him in that position, on one foot, lifting up, Sharilyn said. And when The Ascent was completed, Sharilyn played a significant role in how it was placed upon that tall pillar of stones. When Larry installed it, we couldnt figure out just how to position it, what direction the boy should be, she laughed. And so, he had me climb up there with a ladder with a rake upside down, to simulate the birds. I stood up there on one leg, with that crazy rake and he went up and down the freeway, looking at it. First, I turned one way and then the other, and he tried to figure out how it would best be (positioned). And thats where it stood, for 29 years. Sharilyn says it must have taken a lot of work to wrestle it off that pillar. First of all, it was hard to get to. Its not an easy thing to run off with. That was a bafflement to me, that someone would even attempt to do such a thing. Many in Bonney Lake share the familys disbelief City Council member Tom Watson was friends with Larry Anderson. He has lived there since 1995. He (Larry) had so much of a caring heart for Bonney Lake. Watson said, The statue that he did with his son and the birds meant so much to the Bonney Lake community. And then all of a sudden I found out it was gone. Its like were missing a part of Bonney Lake, somehow. The Bonney Lake Police Department has opened an investigation into the theft and are asking people who may have information about it to come forward. But Sharilyn doesnt hold out much hope, even though others believe it will be returned. Ive had such an outpouring of love, she said. (It has) been very healing, and folks are saying they want the thieves to bring it back. But, in my heart of hearts, I dont believe they will. I dont believe its a prank. Watson is more blunt about it, after finding what the thieves left behind. We found part of a battery from whatever they used to cut it down with and cut into pieces and melt it, he said. Watson said that whatever happened, the thieves hauled away much more than the weight of the bronze and other metals. The value is nothing, compared to what it means to us in Bonney Lake. Sharilyn says it feels as if shes lost a piece of her husband. Larry had Parkinsons disease, and I couldnt protect him from the ravages of that disease, she sobbed. I just felt bereft I couldnt protect his artwork. Its not known how the city will move forward if the statue is not found. But Watson says he and other council members have started a discussion. The citys arts commission will most likely come up with a plan to replace it. And, since the city has grown significantly since The Ascent was installed, its likely a greater part of the community will be invited to decide what to do next. In a news release, police are asking anyone with information about the statue to call the Bonney Lake Tip Line at (253) 447-3231, or email Detective@cobl.us. This story was originally posted on the My Northwest website. DNA identification of a dismembered body found in a bag on the California shoreline lead to the arrest of the slain womans boyfriend, police reported. The body of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, 27, of Pleasanton, was found July 20 near the Bay Farm Island Bridge, the Alameda Police Department said in a Sept. 7 news release. A hiker spotted a bag containing her remains along an oceanside trail and notified authorities, KNTV reported. An autopsy showed her cause of death was homicide, police said. Her hands, feet and head had been removed, KTVU reported. They have not been found. Her remains were wrapped in plastic and duct tape, according to the news outlet. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement DNA testing revealed her identity Aug. 30, Alameda police said. After further investigation, police and U.S. Marshals arrested Joseph C. Roberts, 42, of Pleasanton in the case on Sept. 6, officials said in the release. He has been charged with murder, the Alameda Sun reported. Authorities said his DNA was found on the duct tape used to secure Buckners remains, KTVU reported. Charging documents say Buckner and Roberts had a romantic relationship. Buckner, a Howard University graduate, was two months from earning her law degree at Golden Gate University School of Law, her family told KTVU. They described the San Ramon native as an outgoing energetic child of God. An investigation continues. Police ask that anyone with information call 510-337-8402. Alameda is just south of Oakland. He ran out of gas on a California road trip 27 years ago and hasnt been seen since 87-year-old grandma hit, killed getting out of car after church, California family says Naked intruder walks into room with three sleeping kids, California police say The so-called "patriotic education" of children in Russia, based on a mixture of chauvinism and militarism, can lead to rather predictable results. For example, in the village of Krasny Desant in Rostov Oblast, 15-year-old Grigory B. attempted to stage a massacre at his home school, local outlet SVTV News reported on Sept. 11. svtv_news/X The teenager came to school wearing a Guy Fawkes mask (a character from V for Vendetta based on the identity of one of the key participants in the Gunpowder Plot against King James I in 1605). svtv_news/X The wearing of the mask led to a conflict with the janitor. A relative of one of the students intervened, after which the student took out a kitchen knife he had brought with him. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Russian university students to study Russias glorious future and decadent West Three adults were injured in the ensuing fight the relative, the janitor, and a teacher. After a while, security forces arrived and subdued the attacker. svtv_news/X During his arrest, the young man shouted that he was being attacked by "Ukrainians" and "Poles" which Kremlin propaganda has been frightening Russian citizens with for years through all media. Read also: Russia preparing for mass mobilization of students, warns Ukrainian intelligence As it turned out, the teenager was a member of the pro-Putin youth movement Yunarmiya, which is the Russian equivalent of the Hitler Youth,and is engaged in brainwashing Russian schoolchildren with various fakes about the "terrible" countries of the West and the "greatness" of Russia. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Brazil's former President Bolsonaro attends an event of the Partido Liberal Mulher, in Sao Paulo By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro will be admitted to a Sao Paulo hospital on Monday to undergo two surgical procedures related to a 2018 stabbing, he told Reuters late on Sunday. Bolsonaro said he will undergo procedures to correct a hiatus hernia and a deviated septum. A third operation to correct his intestine, that was also expected this month, has been rescheduled by doctors. "The third one is for October or November," Bolsonaro told Reuters. The surgeries will take place at the Vila Nova Star hospital in Sao Paulo where Bolsonaro underwent preparatory examinations last month. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The ex-president's operations will be on Tuesday. He will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday if no complications arise. Since 2018 Bolsonaro has had at least six operations, some directly linked to when he was stabbed in the abdomen while campaigning for the presidency in September 2018. Bolsonaro has meanwhile been facing multiple criminal probes that could result in prison sentences. On Saturday, Brazil's Supreme Court authorized a cooperation deal between one of his former aides and the country's Federal Police. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by Steven Grattan and David Holmes) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has backtracked on a promise that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin would not face arrest if he attends the 2024 meeting of the G20 group of nations in Rio de Janeiro, now saying that it is the Brazilian courts that will decide on the matter. The Brazilian president, commonly known simply as Lula, sparked controversy when he said on Sept. 10 in an interview with Indian news website Firstpost that Putin would be able to visit Brazil despite there being an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest. The Russian dictator is a suspect in a case of mass child abduction from Ukraine to Russia a case that falls under one of the Genocide Conventions definitions of genocide. Read also: G20 agrees on compromise declaration on Ukraine without condemning Russia for its aggression ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "What I can tell you is that, if Im Brazils president, and if he comes to Brazil, theres no reason hell be arrested, Lula had told Firstpost during the G20 meeting in Delhi, India. A day later Lula had backtracked, however, saying it was a matter for the Brazilian courts to decide. "If Putin decides to attend (the G20 summit), (the matter of his arrest) should be decided by the judiciary, not my government," the Brazilian leader told journalists, U.S. television news channel CNN reported. Read also: Russian foreign minister to attend G20 summit instead of Putin report Lulas initial statement provoked swift condemnation from Ukraine. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Presidents Office, reacted with searing sarcasm on the social medium formerly known as Twitter on Sept. 10. After all, why ratify the Rome Statute if you're not going to enforce it? Podolyak wrote. Why build a country's reputation only to have it shattered for the sake of... inviting Putin in 2024, who regularly claims to be deliberately committing crimes against Ukrainians? Why have rules at all if you're going to break them for the sake of scandalous populism? Brazilian President Lula as the author of the new neo/realpolitik break everything you can. Or long live chaos for the sake of Russian murderers! Read also: Norway may host next Ukraine Peace Formula summit Zelenskyy Putin did not attend the G20 summit in Delhi. During a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Putin said that Russia would instead be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The International Criminal Court on March 17 issued an arrest warrant for Putin on suspicion that he has committed war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. Putin now faces arrest in 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute the founding document of the ICC. The statute makes it mandatory for signatories to execute ICC arrest warrants if suspects are located on their territories. Brazil is a signatory of the Rome Statute. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Burberry has launched a project designed to mix British luxury with everyday life and itll all start with their take on the most important meal of the day. The heritage fashion house has announced a new initiative, Burberry Streets, which will see the brand take a more prominent place within a selection of cities. Through experiences, installations and events across cities such as London, Seoul and Shanghai, Burberry will showcase signature elements of the brand, such as the seasonal check pattern in knight blue, rose print, and the newly redefined Equestrian Knight Design. In London, the Burberry Streets takeover will begin with the brand having a major presence in Normans Cafe, a restaurant in Archway that serves all-day breakfast food, as well as sandwiches. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As part of London Fashion Week, which runs from 15 to 19 September, a travelling Normans food truck will make appearances on The Strand and Duke of York Square. The food establishment shared news of the collaboration with a post on social media on Monday (11 September). Alongside an image of a meal of two fried eggs and chunky chips, on a plate branded with the Burberry logo in blue, the straightforward caption reads: 2 eggs & chips. @burberry will be taking over Normans cafe for London fashion week, Wednesday to Sunday. In response, fans of both the brand and the restaurant voiced their approval for the impending linkup. Name a more iconic duo Ill wait! reads one supportive comment, while another Instagram user deemed it the Great British pairing. Outside of the collaboration with Normans Cafe, Burberry Streets will incorporate symbols of the house in multiple locations across the capital. Flags featuring the new rose print will fly above Bond Street and Piccadillys screens will be lit up with videos from the Winter 2023 campaign. The Equestrian Knight will take to the streets in the form of chalk stencils on paths and in parks, while black cabs will be wrapped in Daniel Lees English rose print. Burberry x Normans Cafe (Burberry) Burberry Streets will land in Seoul and Shanghai in October. Lees first collection for the brand, Winter 2023, is available now. In a statement, Rod Manley, the Chief Marketing Officer of Burberry, shared the companys anticipation for the designers work to reach buyers. We are so excited to see Daniels first collection arriving in-store and online, he said. With our redesigned website, new brand signifiers across product and branding and the launch of our global Burberry Streets initiative here in our home market, we're looking forward to sharing the new Burberry world with our clients. President Biden speaks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Biden, fresh off a four-day trip to Asia, marked the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on Monday by honoring service members and first responders in Alaska. "We'll never forget that when faced with evil, when an enemy sought to tear us apart, we endured," Biden told a crowd of more than 1,000 people at a cavernous hangar on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. This year marks the 22nd anniversary of the day that Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked two commercial flights and crashed the planes into the World Trade Center's twin towers in lower Manhattan. A third plane barreled into the Pentagon, and passengers overtook hijackers on a fourth plane before it crash-landed into an open field in Shanksville, Pa. The 11th Airborne Division band boomed as Air Force One touched down Monday afternoon. Inside the hangar, rows of troops some of whom were not yet born when the planes crashed into the twin towers listened as Biden, standing in front of an oversized American flag and next to a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, emphasized the base's importance to U.S. national security. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "We know that on this day 22 years ago, [planes] from this base were scrambled on high alert to escort planes through the airspace," Biden said, linking the facility to the terrorist attacks that happened 3,000 miles away. "Alaskan communities opened their doors to stranded passengers." Biden and his predecessors have typically marked the anniversary of the terrorist attacks at one of the three sites where nearly 3,000 people died in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. But the president's trip to India for the Group of 20 summit and Vietnam meant he would reach U.S. soil only in time for a West Coast stop. Instead, several Biden administration officials fanned out across Sept. 11 memorial sites to mark the anniversary. Vice President Kamala Harris attended the ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield also attended the New York commemoration, as did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, and former New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III hosted an observance ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia, where First Lady Jill Biden placed a wreath. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attended the memorial in Pennsylvania. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough also attended a National Day of Service event at the department's Baltimore National Cemetery in Maryland. The president sought to connect his visit abroad to the mournful occasion, telling the troops he had been especially thinking about Sept. 11 victims during his trip to Asia. "These trips are a central part of how we're going to ensure the United States is flanked by the broadest array of allies and partners who will stand with us," he said. "To build a world that is safer for all of our children something that today, of all days, is a reminder is not a given." Biden praised members of the military and first responders deployed in the days after the terrorist attacks and those who continue to serve, calling them the "soul of the nation." He used the occasion to call for national unity, urging Americans to put aside their political differences. "It's more important than ever that we come together around the principle of American democracy, regardless of our political backgrounds," he said. "American democracy does not depend on some of us, but on all of us. American democracy depends on habits of the heart." The president concluded his remarks by recalling his relationship with the late Sen. John McCain, whom he honored earlier Monday at his final stop in Vietnam, the Arizona senator's memorial in Hanoi. Standing next to Truc Bach Lake, Biden had paid respects to his longtime friend, dropping a challenge coin at his memorial site and saluting a Marine and a Navy officer who stood on each side. "One thing I always admired about John was how he put duty to country first," Biden told the troops in Alaska as he finished his remarks. McCain was a reminder to "never lose that sense of national unity," the president said. "Let that be the common cause of our time." McCain, who died of brain cancer in 2018, was a Navy lieutenant commander who was shot down during the Vietnam War in 1967. He spent five years as a prisoner of war at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton" prison. "I miss him," Biden told reporters in Hanoi as U.S. climate envoy and former secretary of State John Kerry, who served in the Vietnam War, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stood nearby. "He was a good friend." Sign up for Essential California for the L.A. Times biggest news, features and recommendations in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Anthony Stevens, a British Conservative Party member of the Wellingborough council, is facing charges of distributing material to stir up hatred for several tweets he posted. Stevens retweeted a video critical of police for arresting street preacher Oluwole Ilisanmi, who was accused of being Islamophobic. Ilisanmi was later awarded 2,500 ($3,143) for wrongful arrest. Stevens was also questioned by police for tweeting his support of King Lawal, a fellow conservative council member who was suspended by the party after he responded to images of Pride parades by tweeting, "When did pride become a thing to celebrate. Because of pride, Satan fell as an archangel. Pride is not a virtue but a sin. Those who have pride should repent of their sins and return to Jesus Christ. He can save you." The post Brickbat: Careful What You Tweet appeared first on Reason.com. Danielle Wood, will advises Canberra on economic, social and environmental issues as head of the Productivity Commission - Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg Australians should be forced to pay inheritance tax for the first time in 40 years, the incoming adviser to the Canberra government has suggested. In a speech to the Economic Society of Australia earlier this month, respected economist at think tank the Grattan Institute and incoming head of the Productivity Commission, Danielle Wood, said an inheritance tax on estates between one to two million Australian dollars (around 500,000 to 1m) should be considered to ease the tax burden on workers. The Productivity Commission, which Ms Wood will head from November, is a prominent body that advises the government on economic, social and environmental issues. In her speech, Ms Wood said the federal government needed to seriously grapple with the possibility of taxing large inheritances, although she admitted it would be political dynamite. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement She did not state what the rate of tax should be on these estates if the death duty was brought back 40 years after it was scrapped. Given the median house price in Australias largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney, is above $1m AUD, this would drag many families into the death duty net. It would also likely impact British expats, who make up the largest expat group in the country. Ms Wood told a local news outlet on Monday: We know that there is a growing pot of wealth, sitting in the hands of older Australians that will be passed on in coming decades. You would set some kind of threshold for the size of inheritances and only tax above that amount. Its not [the] super rich, but you dont want to be doing this by capturing the smaller inheritances of $50,000 AUD. And, you know, a world in which we are relying so much on taxes on people working I think it makes sense to look at other ways to supplement that tax base. Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser abolished federal estate taxes in 1979. By 1982, every state had scrapped the death duties. Although it changed every few decades, when it was abolished the average rate at which estates were taxed was around 30pc. But, with other duties also charged on estates and assets after death, the total inheritance tax bill for Australians could have been as high as 50pc. Since it was scrapped, Australian assets can be passed down through generations tax free, but may incur capital gains tax at the marginal income tax rate of the recipient if sold at a later date, with any gain calculated from the date the asset was acquired. Although the government has all but ruled out reintroducing the death duty, British expats living in Australia could be forced to pay inheritance tax if Ms Woods suggestion is taken seriously by a future regime. According to Australian government statistics, Britons make up the largest expat community in Australia with more than 1.2 million people. It comes as the Telegraph, along with some 50 MPs, is calling on the Government to abolish Inheritance tax in the UK. A tax originally designed for the wealthiest, it is affecting more families because house prices have grown but the tax-free allowances have been frozen since 2009. Elsewhere In her speech, Ms Wood also called for retirees to pay a 15pc tax on their pension income and for a reduction in tax breaks on investment profits. She said: At a minimum we should not be subsidising inheritances via some of the existing rules that allow the accumulated value of super tax breaks to be inherited by the next generation, as well as the exclusion of virtually all the value of the family home from the age pension asset test. Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked about Ms Woods views on tax when he announced her appointment to the Productivity Commission on September 6. He said: I have the highest possible respect and regard for Danielle Wood, and I take the views that she puts forward very, very seriously, and thats why I think this is a terrific appointment. I havent agreed with everything that shes said in the past, I wouldnt anticipate I agree with absolutely everything she says in the future. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. William Jimeno was working as a police officer with the Port Authority in New York on Sept. 11, 2001 and was at the World Trade Center when the South Tower collapsed. He was trapped under the rubble for 13 hours and along with Sgt. John McLoughlin was one of the few survivors found at Ground Zero. The story became the basis for Oliver Stones 2006 movie World Trade Center. Jimeno was honored Monday morning at the The California 9-11 Memorial in Clovis, in a ceremony remembering the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks. He was presented with an American flag during the memorial and slated to share his story as the keynote at at event Monday night at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Auditorium. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As a survivor, Jimeno said during the mornings ceremony, it gives me hopes to be here with you today. On that day, the worst day in U.S. history, I saw the best in humanity. I saw the best in Americans. Former Pelco CEO David McDonald founded the Clovis event soon after the 2001 attacks, flying first responders from New York City for a respite in California and eventually inviting many of them back to commemorate the memorial. It is considered one of the largest 9/11 commemorations outside of New York and was just one of several that took place in the central San Joaquin Valley on Monday. Retired Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Detective and World Trade Center attack survivor and guest speaker William Jimeno, left, carries an American flag presented to him Monday morning, Sept. 11, 2023 in Clovis. The Tulare County Sheriffs Office and Fire Department held a ceremony at the Sheriffs Office Headquarters in Visalia. There was a moment of silence, the presentation of colors and the ringing of a bell, in tribute to the 343 New York City firefighters who died. Fresno City College hosted a similar ceremony on its campus at the Veterans Peace Memorial. It included a wreath laying, the ringing of a bell and a keynote address from Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Gallegos, fire chief with the 144th Fighter Wing of the California Air National Guard. Several Clovis Unified schools commemorated the day with campus events. Clovis West High School offered coffee and donuts to all first responders with a thank you drive-thru. Students also placed flags around campus to count the number of people who died during the attacks. Buchanan High Schools ceremony honored eight soldiers, each former students, who died while serving in conflicts after the events of Sept. 11. Clovis Elementary partnered with the Clovis Veterans Memorial District to replace the American flags in each classroom with a new flag during a ceremony Monday morning. Retired Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Detective, World Trade Center attack survivor and guest speaker William Jimeno, center, hands out Port Authority patches as he is greeted by well-wishers following the annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 in Clovis. The ceremonial fire bell is seen as fire, police and military staff file past at the California 9/11 Memorial Monday morning, Sept. 11, 2023 in Clovis. Sunlight cuts through tall stone replicas of the Twin Towers highlighting a bronze sculture of two firemen, seen following the annual Memorial Ceremony at the California 9/11 Memorial Monday morning, Sept. 11, 2023 in Clovis. Thousands gathered for the annual Memorial Ceremony at the California 9/11 Memorial Monday morning, Sept. 11, 2023 in Clovis. SAN DIEGO (KSWB) A California bill to change the language on ballots for state referendums in order to make it clear what voters are deciding with their choice was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 421, which was introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, originally sought to make major changes to the states referendum process, which is used to overturn laws passed by legislators. Among the changes it proposed included requirements for those out collecting signatures for these measures to register and receive training with the Secretary of State, and to disclose if they are volunteers or paid. It would also implement a three-year ban if someone violates the law. Bill to counteract book banning passes California Assembly and Senate ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement However, most of the original provisions were scrapped by legislators as it was amended. The version of the bill that was signed into law Friday focused on one change: changing the options for referendums from yes and no to keep the law and overturn the law. The new language is expected to take effect next year, just in time for the 2024 ballot. It will not impact language for local referendum measures, according to state officials. Puzzling language used for state referendums have been a long-standing issue for voters. Under current law, voters are required to vote yes to oppose repealing the law. On the other hand, a no vote means that they support the referendum. Confusion over the counterintuitive choices were particularly evident with the 2008 ballot referendum Proposition 8, which proposed a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. Voting no on the measure meant voting yes on gay marriage, while voting yes meant disallowing gay marriage. Both supporters and opponents of the referendum expressed concern at the time that those who supported their side would vote the wrong way. Proposition 8 ultimately passed with 52% of the vote, outlawing gay marriage until the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that legalized it nationwide. More recent referendums like the 2018 referendums on a gas tax and local rent control Proposition 6 and 10 drew similar irritation. AB 421 cuts through the confusion by replacing yes and no with a simple keep the law and overturn the law, helping voters better understand the ballot and make informed decisions, the League of Women Voters of California wrote in support of the bill. There are already two referendums that have qualified for the 2024 ballot. The first is a measure introduced by the fast food industry that would overturn the law that created a state council overseeing wages and other workplace standards. The second measure, sponsored by the oil and gas industry, is looking to overturn a ban on new wells within a 3,200 feet of homes, schools, parks and healthcare facilities among other places. California lawmakers approve new taxes on guns & ammo The bill received strong bipartisan support for the proposed changes to help clarify referendum language, according to a June poll conducted by UC Berkley. More than eight in 10 voters expressed support for the changes, including 84% of Democrats, 81% of Republicans and 75% of voters without a party preference. Now is the time to re-empower everyday voters choosing to participate in our democracy, Bryan wrote of his AB 214. Today, the participatory democracy system is being subverted and weaponized against the collective decision making authority of everyday Californians. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to sign into law a bill barring public school districts from banning books and curriculum related to gender and racial diversity. Assembly Bill 1078 passed in the state Senate last week, largely along party lines, and now heads to Newsoms desk. The bill had passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly in May at around the same time the issue came to a head with the Temecula Valley Unified School Districts vote to reject elementary school curriculum that mentioned Harvey Milk, Californias first openly gay elected official. My question is, why even mention a pedophile? School Board President Joseph Komrosky said at the time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Newsom publicly blasted the Boards vote and threatened to fine the district $1.5 million. Board members eventually relented and voted to adopt the curriculum. AB 1078, sponsored by Assemblyman Corey Jackson (D-Moreno) would financially penalize school boards that enact bans on books and education material related to Black, Latino, Asian, Native American and LGBTQ topics, provided they are part of an approved school curriculum. Were taking a firm stand against book banning in Californias schools, ensuring that our students have access to a broad range of educational materials that accurately represent the rich cultural and racial diversity of our society, Jackson said. The Harvey Milk debate in Temecula has played out in many other forms and in many other school districts statewide and nationwide. Conservative school boards and parents argue that curricula ranging from LGBTQ topics to Critical race theory are either not age-appropriate for younger students, radical or, in some cases, anti-American. Were not having the conversation at the core of the issue, which is age-appropriate materials, Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) told The Sacramento Bee. Critics of the bill also argue decisions about local curriculum should be made at the local level. Newsom signaled his support for AB 1078 after it passed in the state Senate last Thursday. California is the true freedom state: a place where families not political fanatics have the freedom to decide whats right for them, Newsom said. All students deserve the freedom to read and learn about the truth, the world, and themselves. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! ELON MUSK SUES CALIFORNIA OVER CONTENT MODERATION LAW Even as X (the increasingly toxic social media platform formerly known as Twitter) is hemorrhaging users, billionaire owner Elon Musk is suing California to block a law that would require the company to hand over its content moderation policy to the state. Attorneys for Musk, who has allowed Nazis and white supremacists to flourish on his site, who has promoted antisemitic hashtag campaigns and allowed misinformation to proliferate, argue in the complaint that AB 587 which passed in 2022 with overwhelmingly bipartisan support violates the First Amendment. They contend that it compels the company to engage in speech against its will, interferes with the platforms editorial judgment, and has both the purpose and likely effect of pressuring companies such as X Corp. to remove, demonetize or deprioritize constitutionally-protected speech that the state deems undesirable or harmful. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A spokesperson for the California Attorney Generals Office, which is tasked with defending the law, said Friday that it had not yet been served with the complaint, but that when it is received we will review it and respond in court. AB 587s author, Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, said in a statement that the bill is a pure transparency measure that forces tech companies to be upfront with how, or if, they are moderating their content. If Twitter has nothing to hide, then they should have no objection to this bill, Gabriel said. Adam Kovacevich, a former Google executive and founder of the center-left, tech industry-funded Chamber of Progress, called the bill a bad idea that would be a boon to scammers and conspiracists. Even if you dont like anything about Elon Musks leadership of X, its clear that requiring tech platforms to publish a detailed blueprint of how to work around content moderators will have negative consequences for users online, he said. Letting platforms set their own editorial standards also leaves consumers with more choices about what kind of platforms they spend time on. VOTING EXPERTS URGE ASSEMBLY TO PASS BILL BLOCKING ELECTION HAND COUNTS The group Verified Voting is calling on Assembly lawmakers to pass a bill to block county governments from throwing out voting machines in favor of hand counts on election night, as the Shasta County Board of Supervisors did earlier this year. AB 969 prohibits election officials from performing a manual count in a semifinal official canvas. The bill is currently in the Assembly, where it awaits a vote. In a letter to legislative leaders on both sides, Verified Votings Mark Linderman wrote that the push for hand counts isnt in the interest of accuracy, but is an expensive solution to an invented problem: the myth of rampant error and fraud in machine counts. That claim has been spread, with no supporting evidence, by some conservatives in the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election. PREP BILL A POISON PILL? San Francisco Democratic Sen. Scott Wieners office on Friday announced that the lawmaker is pulling SB 339 from consideration, in response to the Assembly Appropriations Committee inserting a poison pill amendment into the bill. SB 339 was intended to improve access to PrEP and PEP, a pair of powerful HIV-prevention medications, by making them available over the counter. So whats this poison pill? The amendment would have allowed insurance companies to impose prior authorization for people trying to access PrEP and PEP, essentially forcing people to get insurance company permission before the drugs would be covered. Wieners office said that over the legislative recess, the senator will determine if there is a way to delete these harmful amendments, and if not the bill will likely be abandoned. Its heartbreaking to see a straightforward, critically important HIV prevention bill stall this way, Wiener said in a statement Thousands of Californians contract HIV each year, and we need common sense measures like SB 339 to improve access to PrEP. QUOTE OF THE DAY The policy that began this wildfire, originating in Chino Valley, has been halted by the San Bernardino Superior Court after California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed suit arguing that it infringes on several state protections safeguarding the civil and constitutional rights of students. It is our hope this action gives pause to those who would seek to enforce similar forced outing policies. - Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang, in a statement responding to school boards in Rocklin and Orange voting to enact policies that out transgender students to their parents. Best of The Bee: Kaiser Permanente agreed to a $49 million settlement this month after state and local law enforcement found the health care giant disposed of confidential patient information, hazardous waste and medical waste including blood and body parts in regular trash streams, via Ariane Lange . Sen. Lena Gonzalez , D-Long Beach, said its time that California increase the amount of mandated sick time, and she has introduced Senate Bill 616 to get it done. Initially, the measure would have mandated at least seven days of sick pay, but Gonzalez amended the bill last week to say at least five days, via Cathie Anderson . After some contentious debate, a California bill that would prohibit school boards from banning books, instructional materials or curricula that are deemed inclusive and diverse cleared its final major legislative hurdle Thursday, when the State Senate passed it, 30-9, via Andrew Sheeler and Lindsey Holden . California lawmakers will send a state excise tax on guns and ammunition to Gov. Gavin Newsom after years of failed attempts by Democratic legislators, via Lindsey Holden . After nearly four hours of often impassioned testimony, the Rocklin Unified School District Board of Trustees voted 4-1 early Thursday morning to require teachers and staff to alert a students parents if they request to use different pronouns, go by a different name, or otherwise indicate that they are reconsidering their gender identity, via Jenavieve Hatch. Fast food corporations and labor unions in California have struck a deal on worker regulations, defusing a yearslong power struggle and looming ballot fight. The compromise would preserve until 2029 a workforce regulator state lawmakers created last year with the power to set wages and labor standards for the half million Californians working for major brands like McDonalds. Wages would rise to $20 by 2024, but local governments would be prohibited from boosting them higher. Franchise corporations would not be held liable for workforce violations at individual restaurants under the new agreement, a major sticking point in negotiations. The council would also be prohibited from considering predictable scheduling, paid leave or vacation all perennial goals for organized labor. All of those changes are contingent on the withdrawing a referendum challenging the law. Language reflecting those changes was published on Monday after negotiations went down to the wire with Gov. Gavin Newsoms office acting as a mediator as the end of the legislative session approached. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement AB 1228 clears the path for fast food workers to start making much-needed improvements to the policies that affect their own workplaces and their lives, SEIU California President David Huerta said in a statement. It will give voice and structural power to more than half a million fast-food workers in our state; it will also ensure that franchisees have a seat at the table along with workers, advocates, franchisors, and the State. We urge the legislature to pass AB 1228 and take this huge step toward tackling poverty and inequality. International Franchise Association President & CEO Matt Haller said in a statement that the pact "protects the franchise business model" while forestalling "more significant and potentially existential threats, costs, and regulatory burdens targeting local restaurants in California. The truce caps years of political maneuvering in California as unions push to realize a long-deferred dream of organizing fast food workers. A decade after the franchise-focused Fight for 15 and a Union movement launched in New York, labor succeeded in boosting wages in California and other states but failed to win collective bargaining rights. A breakthrough came in Sacramento last year, when SEIU California pushed through a bill creating an industry regulator effectively achieving a form of sectoral bargaining, a type of industry-wide organizing that is more common in Europe. What followed was a dizzying game of cat and mouse. Fast food corporations swiftly qualified a referendum, blocking the law until the 2024 election. SEIU responded by pushing a new bill that would impose joint liability on franchise chains a provision that had been stripped out of last years law in a failed attempt at mollifying industry opposition. The union also quietly secured funding in the state budget for a defunct wage regulator that could have ordered pay increases. The industry, meanwhile, has spent millions of dollars to derail the liability bill while dropping $50 million into its referendum effort, previewing a bruising campaign fight. The liability bill has been parked in committee since the summer as negotiations unfolded. Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena) said the impending ballot fight and the followup bill created the conditions for a compromise as talks intensified starting in August. I think that having that positioned to be on the ballot for a vote at the end of next year, and then having joint liability in a bill that was moving the Legislature, became a motivation for all parties to sit down and have an honest conversation, Holden said in an interview. Newsom helped clear the way to a deal on Friday by signing legislation allowing proponents to pull referendums from the ballot an SEIU-backed bill to clamp down on what the union called industry abuses of the referendum process. A devastating earthquake struck Morocco on Friday, leaving more than 2,000 dead and over 2,000 injured. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck the province of Al Haouz in the High Atlas Mountains, around 75 km or 50 miles southwest of the city of Marrakech. It is the strongest earthquake to hit the country in the last 123 years, according to the United States Geological Survey. Teams from Britain, Qatar, and Spain are also on the ground assisting in rescue efforts. U.K. Ambassador to Morocco Simon Martin posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that 60 search and rescue experts and four search dogs sent from the U.K. had arrived. A small team of disaster experts from the U.S. also arrived in Morocco on Sunday to assess the situation, Reuters reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The initial earthquake was followed by an aftershock on Sunday of a 3.9 magnitude, as support teams continued to pull survivors from the rubble. The UN estimates that 300,000 people have been affected by the quake. Many buildings throughout the area collapsed, leaving residents sleeping on the street. Rural villages with buildings constructed from mud brick were particularly vulnerable to the quake and sustained high amounts of damage. "The challenges are vast. The search and rescue effort is the focus at this point and trying to get heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority," said IFRC director Caroline Holt. "Our partner on the ground the Moroccan Red Crescent is really working to provide First Aid and keep people safe from harm as the aftershocks continue. In addition to ramped up rescue efforts, the Moroccan government's emergency response will focus on supplying clean drinking water, food kits, tents and blankets to disaster victims, according to a statement released on Saturday. The government announced three days of national mourning. MORE: 'Chaotic nightmare': Gold Star families seek answers two years after the US left Afghanistan How to Help The International Medical Corps is coordinating a emergency medical teams in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to respond to the situation on the ground. It is collecting donations via its website to go towards the effort. The International Federation of Red Cross has released 1 million Swiss francs from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to aid the operations of the national Moroccan Red Crescent Society. The British Red Cross has also sent out an appeal for donations. The UN has also announced that it is in communication with the Moroccan government and stands ready to assist in relief efforts. UNICEF is requesting donations to go towards its emergency support for children and their families. Doctors Without Borders announced the mobilization of an emergency team in Morocco and is accepting donations on its website. The non-profit organization GlobalGiving has opened a fund dedicated to providing "food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter" to victims of the quake. Donations will also go towards long-term economic relief and recovery projects. International nonprofit CARE has mobilized an emergency response effort focused on assisting women and girls, youth, and disadvantaged groups. Their fund is accepting donations online. The crowdfunding website GoFundMe has also released a list of verified fundraisers to help individuals and families impacted by the disaster. Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. You can reach her by email at cmayesosterman@usatoday.com. Follow her on X at @CybeleMO. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Morocco earthquake: Here's how to help, donate After studying immigration issues for 16 weeks, a dozen students from Queens University of Charlotte visited the border in El Paso for five days in early May. It was a first-hand view how people are empowered by faith and how important it is in their journey to the United States. Volunteers in El Paso and Charlotte said faith keeps families together as they walk, often barefoot, through miles of jungle. Faith provides comfort to immigrants who witness death, violence and trauma. Sometimes, it can be strong enough to guide congregations to sponsor families in cities like Charlotte. Queens students were there on May 11, the Thursday when Title 42 COVID restrictions ended. Earlier that week, we cleaned floors, sleeping mats and bathrooms; prepared and distributed meals; organized and distributed clothing; and played with children at the Sacred Heart Church in a shelter converted from a gymnasium. We had prepared for the experience in a class taught jointly by the university chaplain and a professor of political science. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When a dozen college students play with little kids, the unspoken language is joy. We played duck duck goose (pato pato ganso in Spanish), and for 30 minutes, it felt like elementary school recess for all of us. In the shelter we met Jorvin, an immigrant in his late 20s from Venezuela. He left his country eight years ago and spent time in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador before crossing the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama. Run by gangs and cartels, the gap is considered the most dangerous part of the journey. He told us that he was kidnapped by a gang in Mexico. In a series of random, life-and-death encounters, at one point he was held at gunpoint but released because that gang didnt feel threatened by Venezuelans. Spoken in Spanish, but translated Jorvin said, I clung a lot to God at every moment that despite the fact that I was so hungry, so needy, in so much danger, he always guarded my life. . He started in a group of nine people. Four made it to El Paso. I had the opportunity and I thank God for having arrived because not everyone arrives, not everyone achieves it. Volunteers are the heroes We met at least two dozen volunteers from the Red Cross, the Sacred Heart Shelter, Jesuit Refugee Services, Mujer Obrera, Abara House, and others. These organizations provide shelter, clothing, toiletries, bus tickets, English language instruction, personal technology, counseling and other services and resources. Volunteers are the heroes we never read about. Even though the organizations are not connected, it is striking to see how seamlessly their work flows together. The City of El Paso estimates that 2,000 migrants arrive daily in the region. After going through U.S. Customs and Border Patrol processes, 50% or more are released to local non-governmental organizations and shelters, usually managed by non-profit and faith organizations. These organizations are funded by private donations and government grants, with volunteers doing most of the work. While in El Paso, we saw the community gather outside of Sacred Heart Church to protest for human rights. They were joined together not by blood or by nationality, but by experience. Its been a very tough struggle, a Venezuelan protester told us. We crossed seven countries to get here, besides a jungle. I lived in the jungle for three days because it was summer. Its very hard, you know, its a jungle and many people pass through, children, adults, seniors. We learned that the border crisis is not just in the city of El Paso, but in communities like Charlotte. Diego Torres, an organizer for the Latin American Coalition, reports that his organization has served 963 newcomers, or 320 families, since January 2023. Nuns Are Like Machines As domestic programs director for Jesuit Refugee Services in El Paso, Maria Sajquim de Torres is a clinical psychologist and program manager. She started working in an El Paso womens center in 2000. When I was working there, I worked with nuns, Sajquim de Torres said. So I learned from them. The work that religious women do is incredible. Theyre like a machine behind many things. The nuns worked countless hours daily and provided religious and mental health counseling to undocumented families. So I learned about them not only how devoted they are, for their work, but also about their spirituality, she said. I am a Catholic, I have these beliefs, this tradition, these practices, but I think that the work goes beyond it. Basically, if youre talking about God, and the presence of God in your life, it goes beyond church or any religion. The Conversion of a Former Border Agent Michael DeBruhl is director of the Sacred Heart Church Shelter in El Paso. Hes a retired border patrol agent who has focused on immigration issues for more than three decades. When COVID hit, I stopped working, he said. And then after that, I was really taken aback and could not abide by the kind of policies that were being put out at that time regarding how we treat immigrants, the way that we make them, all villains, etc. I think there were there were a lot of untruths that were being put out to the general public. And so I really didnt know what to do. So I just started volunteering, DeBruhl said. What has been really incredible to me is that we are completely self-funded at this point, DeBruhl added. When he started working at the shelter, he regularly worried about how long their financial resources could keep the place open a month or two at best. The generosity of people, foundations and groups has been the real surprise, he said. Theyve recently received donations for $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000, as well as storage space for supplies. The shelter uses the money for building maintenance, toiletries, personnel, counseling, refugee assistance, and citizenship classes. Through the charity of others, weve been doing pretty well, actually, DeBruhl said. Families Provide Hope to Overcome Oppression Hilda Villegas works for Mujer Obrera Working Woman in Spanish a Mexican cafe and gallery in El Paso that also sells traditional clothing in support of the community. Villegas said the faith and values of extended Mexican families keep her in El Paso. They also provide hope, resources and community to help those passing through to survive and thrive. Mujer Obreras mission is to offer a creative space for women to express the dignity of their Mexican heritage. If you dont have faith, or you dont have anything to look towards your oppression overwhelms you, Villegas said. And so a lot of the familys resistance comes from having that. The Immigration System is Broken When I returned to Charlotte later in the summer, I learned about a Honduran family who came through El Paso 14 months ago. Their home had been demolished in a hurricane, and the mother and one infant child had been kidnapped by a gang and held for ransom. They escaped, and the family immediately made plans to leave the country. They spent a year at the border waiting to enter the United States legally, as asylum seekers. In Charlotte, a former youth minister at Park Road Baptist Church heard about the family from Maria Sajquim de Torres one of the volunteers we met in El Paso. The congregation made the decision to sponsor them. When the family arrived in June 2022, current associate pastor Dan McClintock said the mother, father and three children got off the plane with everything they owned in one duffel bag. The church located housing, provided transportation, identified medical, dental, and legal support and helped with other resources. The congregation had little previous experience sponsoring a family. McClintock said they learned that the legal system for asylum seekers is complex, involving work permits, drivers licenses, and extensive government documentation. They realized that beyond the congregation, the Charlotte community has been extremely supportive. They learned about the limitations of public transportation, personal technology necessities, digital literacy, and learning English as a second language. It has really shown me that immigration is not just broken at the border, McClintock said. Thats what everybody talks about. But immigration is broken, the whole system is broken. McClintock suggests that other congregations should meet and talk with families who have experienced traumatic circumstances. For the Honduran family, the journey from their country has already taken three years. If people were able to understand really the difficult circumstances that these folks go through, McClintock said, they would be more sympathetic, empathetic and compassionate. Maggie Dineen is a junior at Queens University of Charlotte. She and 11 other students studied immigration and then visited El Paso in a program supported by the universitys Belk Chapel. Her journalistic and documentary work was supported by the Rogers Summer Institute. A 3-minute video of the experience of Queens University of Charlotte students at the border in El Paso, with subtitles in English and Spanish, is available on the Youtube channel of the universitys James L. Knight School of Communication. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, begins on the evening of September 15. Chef Mark Strausman of Mark's Off Madison shared High Holiday cooking advice and mistakes to avoid. The key to a perfect brisket is cooking it "slow and low," and club soda makes fluffy matzah balls. Chef Mark Strausman spent over two decades as the executive chef at Freds inside Barneys New York before opening his own restaurant, Mark's Off Madison, in 2020. Serving a mix of Italian dishes and Jewish deli classics, Mark's Off Madison offers catering for Jewish holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, the new year celebration that kicks off the Jewish High Holiday season. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 15. Strausman spoke with Insider to share his High Holiday cooking tips and common pitfalls to avoid. 'Poor planning gives you poor results' As an award-winning chef, Strausman knows the importance of staying organized and planning ahead. When it comes to crafting your Rosh Hashanah menu, it's important to know not only what you're going to cook, but when. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Poor planning gives you poor results," Strausman said. "It's really about planning the meal, knowing when you're going to cook it, knowing how you're going to reheat it, things like that. That is just as important as flavor and adding salt to the food. It's really making sure that your meal is planned out so you can enjoy it as well." Traditional foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Hollis Johnson/Insider When hosting a meal, don't get stuck working in the kitchen If you're hosting guests for a festive meal over the holiday, you want to have time to enjoy their company. Strausman says the best way to free yourself up while cooking for a crowd is to make dishes ahead of time and include some items that you can serve at room temperature. "Don't cook everything to order," he said. "We make things that we can reheat so we're not slaving away at the stove and dripping while people are sitting in the dining room. Make things ahead of time." Matzah-ball soup. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for NYCWFF Avoid dense, sinking matzah balls by using club soda instead of water Matzah balls are best served airy and light. To achieve this texture, Strausman uses a secret ingredient: club soda. "It adds a little fluffiness and a little air, plus there's salt in the club soda," he said. Cook brisket properly 'slow and low' Brisket, a cut of meat often served on Jewish holidays, can become tough unless it's cooked slowly enough to break down the connective tissue. "I think one of the biggest mistakes is cooking the brisket at too high a temperature, and then also not long enough," Strausman said. "The fork has got to go through the brisket like a hot knife through butter." Strausman advises cooking brisket "slow and low" with the oven set at 325 degrees until the meat is fork tender. If the recipe says otherwise, he says it's best to ignore the instructions and keep testing the brisket yourself until it feels ready. "Don't listen to the recipe," he said. "The person who wrote the recipe doesn't have the same oven you do." Read the original article on Insider Another metro Atlanta school district will soon begin looking for a new leader. Cherokee County Superintendent Brian Hightower is retiring at the end of the school year. Hes the third-longest tenured superintendent in metro Atlanta. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Hightower served in this position for the past eight years. Atlanta Public Schools is also searching for a new superintendent. DeKalb County just hired a new one over the summer. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: BEIJING (Reuters) - The Red Cross Society of China will give the Moroccan Red Crescent $200,000 for emergency humanitarian assistance, Chinese state media reported on Monday, after a deadly earthquake struck the North African country late on Friday. The Chinese Red Cross said the donation will be used to help Morocco carry out rescue and disaster relief work, according to the China Daily. Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, saying in his message he was shocked to learn of the intense earthquake causing heavy casualties and property losses, state media reported. Chinese medical workers in Morocco have been actively helping victims, including during aftershocks, state broadcaster CGTN reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The central Moroccan town of Ben Guerir is the closest a medical team from China can get to the epicentre of the earthquake, the report said. Video in Chinese state media showed a Chinese doctor holding a baby delivered right after the 6.8 earthquake hit the region, killing more than 2,100. (Reporting by Bernard Orr; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) FILE PHOTO: River Thames view with the Houses of Parliament behind By Elizabeth Piper and Kylie MacLellan LONDON (Reuters) - A researcher in Britain's parliament denied he was a Chinese spy on Monday, saying he was 'completely innocent' of media allegations of working for Beijing and had only ever tried to educate others about China. London's Metropolitan Police said on Sunday two men had been arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act. The Sunday Times reported one of them was a parliamentary researcher, and on Monday the Times published a picture of a man it said was him. Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer told parliament: "The news of the arrest of a researcher here in parliament on suspicion of spying for China is a serious breach of security conducted by the Beijing security services." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Lawyers for the man released a statement on his behalf without identifying him, denying the accusations. "I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a 'Chinese spy'. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place," the man said in the statement. "However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party." The two suspects have been released on police bail until early October, the police said. The second man has not commented publicly. Following typical practice in Britain, police have not identified the suspects, who have not yet been charged. The arrests are yet another blow to relations between Britain and China that ministers had hoped to revive after being strained by tensions over security, investment and human rights. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters he had raised "his very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy", at a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday. But he faced further demands from lawmakers to toughen his stance on China. The Chinese embassy in the UK said the allegations were made up. "The so-called claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and malicious slander," the embassy said on its website. WARNINGS HAD BEEN MADE Britain had been hoping to improve ties with China, with Foreign Minister James Cleverly visiting Beijing last month to make the first tentative steps to repair relations. But Britain's security services have long warned politicians about the threat posed to parliament. Last year, MI5 Director General Ken McCallum warned politicians that the Chinese authorities were playing "the long game" in cultivating contacts. He said they were "seeking to co-opt and influence not just prominent parliamentarians from across the political landscape, but people much earlier in their careers in public life, gradually building a debt of obligation". But so far, government ministers suggested there would be no change in London's approach, which Sunak sees as engaging with China while being able to raise points of disagreement. "They do represent an epoch-defining challenge to the UK, (but) we do not think it is right to reduce the approach to just one word," Sunak's spokesperson told reporters when asked whether China should be seen as a threat to Britain. "We need to take the opportunity to engage with China, not to just shout from the sidelines." Labour's Starmer said the government should set a clear policy on China. "The very big question now ... is was this raised when these arrests took place back in March or has it only been raised now that it's come into the public domain?" he told reporters. (Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout and Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Christina Fincher, Peter Graff and Alison Williams) House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party holds a meeting on the wargames simulation "Taiwan Tabletop Exercise (TTX)," on Capitol Hill in Washington By Michael Martina WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's economic slowdown could increase the risk of Beijing taking military action toward Taiwan, the Republican chair of a U.S. congressional committee on China said on Monday, drawing a contrast with Democratic President Joe Biden, who said it made it less likely. Biden on Sunday called China's economic troubles a "crisis," and said on a trip to Asia that he did not think it would cause China to invade Taiwan, noting instead that he felt Beijing probably did not have the "same capacity" it previously did. "I don't know if that's true," Mike Gallagher, chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' select committee on competition with China, told a Council on Foreign Relations event in New York. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I just think it's equally as plausible that, as China confronts serious economic and demographic issues, Xi Jinping could get more risk accepting, and could get less predictable and do something very stupid," Gallagher said, referring to the Chinese president. The congressman added that this alternate scenario was not meant as a criticism of the Biden administration. China's military in recent years has stepped up activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns has said Xi has instructed his country's armed forces to be ready to invade by 2027, though that does not mean he would order it. Gallagher said he was visiting New York partly to work with financial industry experts to assess the risk to the global financial system if China were to invade or blockade Taiwan. A source close to the committee said senior executives from major investment banks, current and former executives from the pharmaceutical and critical minerals and mining industries, as well as retired four-star military officers would participate in a war game later on Tuesday. "I think our best chance at deterrence is robust and smart investment in hard power," said Gallagher, who has repeatedly called for the U.S. to ramp up arms provisions to the island, and to ban U.S. capital flows into Chinese-military linked companies. Fears of an economic slowdown have gripped China, and Xi skipped the G20 summit this past weekend. U.S. officials have said Beijing has the resources to deal with its economy short-term but must face longer-term structural economic issues such as demographics and high debt. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Josie Kao) A recent iPhone ban among Chinese state companies has office workers worried they may be next. Some fretted on social media that their firms might start banning iPhones to align with the mandate. While a blanket ban is not announced, some say their bosses already want them to stop using iPhones. A growing ban on iPhones among Chinese state enterprises has office workers worried their employers might start jumping on an anti-Apple bandwagon. While the central government has not officially announced such a ban, several state agencies and companies are ordering staff to stop bringing Apple devices to their offices, Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal reported. Several employees told Bloomberg that China intends to roll out these restrictions to more state enterprises and government-associated organizations. The outlet did not name these people. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As news of the ban spread on Chinese social media last week, some office workers began fretting that their bosses might want them to stop using their iPhones too amid online speculation without evidence that the US can spy on Chinese people through Apple devices. Many aired their woes on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, which reveals if the poster is an iPhone user. "Workplaces are not allowing Apple, so I bought a Redmi to dodge trouble," wrote one Weibo user on Friday. "Funny. Employers won't allow the use of iPhones anymore. The phone I bought in 2018 still doesn't lag at all. It's just the battery that's not durable. Changing to a new one is such a waste," another iPhone user posted on Thursday. "Offices don't let you use Apple anymore. I hate this," wrote another user on Friday. Others reported that their companies have already told them to get another phone, though it's not clear how many of these people work in state or private firms. "My husband's workplace doesn't let him use Apple anymore out of fear of leaks. He's required to get a local device," wrote one person, lamenting that she couldn't find a Huawei Mate 60 Pro. Another iPhone user said they'd queued to reserve a brand-new iPhone for work over the weekend. "And today I went to the office and heard that the company doesn't let us use Apple phones anymore," they wrote on Monday. "I'm stretched thin even more because my income is not high," wrote blogger Sister Ka, who said she could no longer use her iPhone at work. She also asked for recommendations for a second phone. Meanwhile, Guangdong-based blog Digital Tech Boom admonished people complaining about the bans. "Confidential personnel usually have to have some sort of phone requirement. If you don't like it, you can change your job," the page wrote. "Lots of companies don't care what phone you use." The true extent of the chilling effect of the rumored anti-iPhone mandate is still unclear. China had more than 56 million employees in 2021 across 150,000 state-owned firms, including energy companies, banks, and construction conglomerates, per CGTN. But even among government bodies, individual agencies, and local authorities in China tend to interpret and enforce new guidelines to vastly varying degrees. Nikkei reported that at least one state-related firm has started telling employees to stop using AirPods and Apple Watches at work, too. Apple has recently been dominating the smartphone market in China, with iPhones making up a quarter of all mobile devices sold in the country in the last quarter of 2022, per Hong Kong research firm Counterpoint. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping dominated Chinas news agenda despite his absence from the Group of 20 summit in India, with Li Qiangs attendance in his place receiving scant coverage by official media. Most Read from Bloomberg Although Xi didnt make a public appearance or engage in any official meetings over the weekend, state media gave his earlier trip to northeastern Heilongjiang province wall-to-wall coverage. Reports highlighted the Chinese leaders inspection of a military facility, while newspapers gave letters Xi sent to world leaders and others prominent play. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Sunday, Xi monopolized the first two pages of the Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys mouthpiece. In contrast, Li, the first Chinese premier to attend a G-20 summit, was relegated to page four for a speech he delivered and meetings on the sidelines with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen , the president of the European Commission. The first 20 minutes of a half-hour evening news program on state TV were devoted to Xi, whereas Li got less than four for his dealings at the leaders summit. Xis decision to skip the G-20 gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a chance to boost his nations influence. India founded a biofuel alliance with the US and Brazil, while the US signed an agreement with India, Middle Eastern countries and the European Union to link them via a network of railways and sea routes. Li also held just four bilateral meetings, with Meloni, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, von der Leyen and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, according to statements from Chinas Foreign Ministry. US President Joe Biden said during a trip to Vietnam on Sunday that he also met with Li at the G-20. In contrast, Xi met 11 heads of state at the G-20 summit in Bali last year. Symbolizing the low profile Li kept at the summit, he was left out in a video clip that Modi posted on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that showed heads of states arriving for the opening of the event. The few meetings that Li held didnt yield any wins for China. Meloni told him that Italy plans to withdraw from Xis signature Belt and Road Initiative while still looking to maintain friendly relations with Beijing, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named. At a press conference, Meloni said she spoke to Li about the BRI but a decision had yet to be made. Sunak told Li he was concerned about interference from Beijing, hours after it emerged that two men had been arrested in the UK for allegedly spying for China. Scant coverage While Lis arrival in New Delhi was streamed on the official summit feed and reposted by some users on social media platform Weibo, the Chinese embassy in India simply posted a photo of an airplane to announce Lis landing. The summit itself didnt get much play in Chinese official media. State broadcaster CCTV had a one-liner on the summit opening. The addition of the African Union to the bloc was given some airtime, although the joint communique adopted a day earlier was only picked up by state television on Sunday afternoon, after the summits close. Hours before the gathering began, a think tank linked to Chinas Ministry of State Security published a strongly worded criticism of India, accusing the G-20 host of pushing its own agenda and causing disagreements. Xi has also hogged the news limelight with letters and messages. On Saturday, he sent a congratulation letter to North Koreas Kim Jong Un on the 75th anniversary of the countrys founding. He also wrote to some teachers ahead of the annual celebration for the profession on Sunday, as well as to a forum on China-Central Asia cooperation. The president extended condolences to the Moroccan king for the deadly earthquake in the North African nation, as well as to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is at the G-20 summit for floods that ravaged the country. --With assistance from Lucille Liu. (Updates with more details of Lis trip to India.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. [Source] A woman in China was recently arrested for running an alleged wage scam with her husband wherein she took up 16 simultaneous jobs to earn a salary without ever lifting a finger. Justice strikes: The woman, who was identified by the pseudonym Guan Yue, was arrested during a job interview in Hangzhou province, according to a local report published on Aug. 30. Together with her husband, Chen Qiang, who is accused of serving as a lookout for other opportunities, the couple reportedly amassed a fortune big enough to buy a villa in Baoshan, Shanghai, in just three years. How she pulled it off: Local reports alleged that Guan would apply to a job at a company, take photos of her interview and later send those to her current workplace chat, pretending she was meeting with clients. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More from NextShark: South Korean online game Lost Ark shatters record on Steam with half a million concurrent players To keep things in order, she would reportedly keep track of all the important details of her jobs on paper, such as her joined date, her position in that company and her salary card numbers from different companies. Splitting the gig: Using the same scamming tactics, Guan and Chen would sometimes sell their gig to other cohorts whenever they were overwhelmed by the number of jobs they had for a fee and a commission. At one point in the three-year operation, Guan reportedly held 16 simultaneous jobs. Shining a spotlight: A similar case was reported earlier this year after Liu Jian, the head of an internet technology company, brought wage scams to the attention of the police in January. Liu told authorities he hired eight people who boasted an impressive resume and extensive experience working for large companies in October 2022. More from NextShark: LA director of photography under fire for alleged abuse, harassment The core team leader reportedly earned a 20,000 yuan (approximately $2,740) monthly salary, while the others only received about half of that as monthly pay. Unveiling the scam: Liu decided to terminate the hires after they failed to deliver positive results three months into their job. One of the employees accidentally sent a photo as proof of resignation from a different company after the termination, purportedly showing that the employee had been working two simultaneous jobs. Making arrest: Pudong police in Hangzhou reportedly arrested 53 people, including the employee Liu reported to the authorities, on March 8. The total amount of financial damage the scammers caused was around 50 million yuan (approximately $6.8 million). More from NextShark: Waitress Who Kicked Out Racist CEO for Attacking Asian Family Sets an Example Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Psychiatrist who said Trump spread 'shared psychosis' to his followers fails to win back Yale gig People who live in west Charlotte are a step closer to finally having a grocery store in their area. The Charlotte City Council approved $1.5 million Monday night to build the Three Sisters Market near the intersection of Clanton Road and West Boulevard. Neighbors in the area say its long overdue. Right in our own neighborhood we have children and elderly starving, resident Vanessa Atkinson said. ALSO READ: Uptown Farmers Market paints bike lanes to encourage healthy eating >> Channel 9s Anthony Kustura delves into the impact the market is expected to have on the area, in the video at the top of this story. VIDEO: Uptown Farmers Market paints bike lanes to encourage healthy eating Windows are boarded up at the Phi Gamma Delta chapter at the University of Iowa, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. A trial for two former Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members accused of sexual assault will be held outside of Johnson County, a judge ruled. Johnson County District Court judge Kevin McKeever moved the impending trail to Tama County, referencing actual prejudice created by media coverage and other online discourse over the alleged crimes committed in 2020. A civil lawsuit filed in 2021 seeks damages against two men as well as the University of Iowa fraternity they belonged to, for allegedly committing sexual assault at a party. McKeever mentioned anti-Phi Gamma Delta protests in August 2021, which caused widespread property damage, the judge said. Court filings reference a Reddit post showing a pair of overturned cars and smashed windows at a separate, private home. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The trial was set to begin in July but was pushed to November 2024. Plaintiff Makena Solberg filed a motion to reconsider moving the trial on Sept. 1. No additional filings have been made by the judge in response to Solbergs lawyers motion as of Thursday afternoon. Lawsuit claims fraternity brothers "planned" assault According to the allegations, the plaintiff was sexually assaulted by two then-members of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, known as "Iowa Fiji," in early September 2020. The alleged assault was filmed or photographed, shared with members of the fraternity and "became widely circulated," according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages from Carson Steffen and Jacob Meloan, who allegedly committed the assault. Two entities related to the fraternity are also named in the lawsuit: Mu Deuteron and the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation. The suit alleges Solberg became unexpectedly ill at a Fiji party and asked Steffen for help, who offered the guest water and invited the person to his bedroom. Steffen and Jacob Meloan then sexually assaulted the plaintiff, the lawsuit alleges. The men "planned and conspired to lure (the person) into one of their bedrooms" at the fraternity house, isolated from a friend, the lawsuit says, and (committed the sexual assault) while (the person) was intoxicated, physically impaired and could not give consent." The alleged assault was also photographed or filmed and the contents were distributed within the fraternitys GroupMe, the initial court petition and other court documents allege. Though local law enforcement executed a search warrant on the Phi Gamma Delta house and interviewed multiple people said to be involved in the alleged assault, no arrests had been made before the 2021-2022 academic year. An online petition demanded Phi Gamma Delta to cease operations, garnering more than 200,000 signatures and widespread protests at the Pentacrest and the fraternity house. The civil suit against Meloan, Steffen, the fraternity writ large and other related parties was filed two months later. Meloan seeks libel relief in Linn County suit Meloans attorneys filed a suit in neighboring Linn County last week, accusing more than 20 people of libel and slander for statements made in posts online and verbally. Some of the claims, filed Aug. 31, include statements from a group of people that injured the reputation of the plaintiff, subjected him to ridicule and public contempt, and affected his education and employment, among other injuries. According to the complaint, Meloan was forced to leave the University of Iowa, referencing the petition, protests and online chatter. The lawsuit requests a court-ordered injunction for 24 defendants against future libel and slander as well as financial relief for lost wages, reputational damage and emotional distress. More: Legal battle looms: Lawsuit says Iowa fails to provide required mental health care for kids Solberg files suit against third UI student Solberg has also filed a second lawsuit against Broc Hawkins, a Fiji fraternity member who allegedly received photos and video of the alleged assault. The civil suit, filed in September 2022 claims that Hawkins likely disseminated the aforementioned video or photographs to members of the public without the consent of Plaintiff. The distribution allowed Solberg's friends to view the videos and later inform her. The additional lawsuit also claims the content was malicious and intentional, Hawkins acted with wanton disregard for Solberg's rights and safety and caused significant, potentially life-long distress, so long as those alleged photos and videos are out in the world." A jury trial in the case against Hawkins is set for Jan. 23, 2024, at the Johnson County Courthouse. Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Fiji sexuall assault trial moved to as judge "prejudice" from media, protests LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The Clark County Board of Commissioners is looking to appoint 15 positions to the new regional Opioid Task Force. According to a release, the board was tasked with creating and maintaining a task force after the passage of AB132 in the 2023 legislative session. The task force will review data relating to opioid overdose deaths and near deaths. It will then use that information to help identify gaps in community services relating to opioids and opioid overdose fatalities. We all know the opioid pandemic is hurting thousands of families across Clark County but I am hopeful this task force will not only look at prevention methods but also promote long-term recovery solutions, County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The fifteen appointments needed for the Clark County Opioid Task Force include eight internal or agency-specific appointments and seven appointments from a broader field of work. The appointments are listed below: A member who represents a social services agency in Clark County A member who represents the Clark County School District A member who represents the Department of Family Services of Clark County A member who represents the Department of Juvenile Justice Services of Clark County A member who represents the Southern Nevada Health District The Clark County coroner or his or her designee A member who represents law enforcement selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department A member with experience in the field of public health epidemiology selected from a list of nominees submitted by the Southern Nevada Health District A member with experience in the field of primary health care; A member with experience in the field of behavioral health A member with experience in the field of mental health A member with experience in the field of addiction medicine A member who represents a provider of emergency medical services in Clark County A member who represents public health educators or community health workers who represent or serve persons with limited English proficiency A member who represents a substance use disorder prevention coalition in Clark County The task force is a one-year term lasting until Dec. 31, 2024. At the end of the term, the task force will summarize their work with a report, providing any legislative recommendations. Meetings will be held a minimum of once each quarter and will start in Jan. 2024. Anyone who is interested in applying should visit the Clark County Opioid Task Force website. The deadline is apply is Oct. 11 at 5:30 p.m. PST. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The Go Bags Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers received this year are not to keep children safe. They are to treat gunshot wounds. I am an elementary school teacher in CMS and a military veteran, and I feel it is so wrong that I need a supply bag to treat gunshot wounds in children. School should be a safe place. A home away from home. It should not be a battlefield where tourniquets are needed to keep a child alive. Dont get me wrong. The equipment and training weve received is top-notch. The scary part is that it is needed. Mass shootings have become an epidemic in the United States; there have been over 400 this year alone. I wonder not if, but when, my students and I will be next. My classroom is in a permanent mobile unit. Bullets would pass right through the walls. Melissa Jackson Field trauma care has been upgraded since my last CMS training last year, and upgraded since I was in the military. Last year at this time, we were advised to stick a menstrual pad over a bullet wound in the chest. This year, our Go Bags contain an adhesive patch made for this purpose. We had great video training that showed us how to apply the airtight patch to both the entrance and exit wound of the chest. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement My Go-Bag also has these awesome granules to pour into a severe wound to keep a person from bleeding to death. This medical advancement didnt even exist when I was in the military 30 years ago. I dont know whats more amazing the medical advancement or the fact that I need trauma supplies in a school setting. Im a mother too. Im using frank, real and accurate language because I know what is at stake: the lives of your children and my children. I look at the sweet faces of the children I teach every day and I cannot fully imagine how the teenage shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut used a military-style AR-15 rifle in 2012 to massacre 20 kindergartners and six adults. On May 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas an 18-year-old shooter killed 19 fourth grade students and two teachers at Robb Elementary, and injured 17 others. I have so many personal connections to devastating mass shootings in the U.S. My oldest child is working her first job in Colorado, 27 minutes from Columbine High School where 12 students and one teacher were killed in 1999 in what was then the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. My youngest child is a freshman at Virginia Tech, where 32 students and faculty were killed in a 2007 mass shooting. One victim was a holocaust survivor. And, I lived my Navy life in Virginia Beach, where a shooter killed 12 people in 2019 at a municipal center. I drove past that building every day on my way to work. Just a few months ago, a 4-year-old student at my current school witnessed a shooting at a local Cracker Barrel. A man was carrying a firearm that accidentally discharged inside the restaurant. My student and her family ran for their lives and were traumatized. I grew up in a gun-owning family and once had my own concealed carry permit. I also grew up with values that include concern for others in my community. I am deeply concerned about the lives of the children I serve as a teacher. Please vote. Vote for politicians who value the lives of your children and grandchildren over guns, because right now, a teen can easily purchase deadly firearms and shoot up my classroom. Melissa Jackson lives in Charlotte. Coco Gauff Shines In Pink Pantsuit To Celebrate First Grand Slam Title:This Barbie Is The US Open Champion | Frey/TPN Coco Gauff, 19, won her first Grand Slam title after defeating Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka in the final of the U.S. Open on Saturday. She is the youngest American to win the title since Serena Williams in 1999. Its still crazy, she told NBC. Even last night, I was telling myself, Youre a Grand Slam champion, and it doesnt feel real at all. Gauff fell to the ground in disbelief after her win. I feel like it hit all at once because I didnt want to tell myself it was match point on the match points, I didnt want to start shaking. So when it happened and like, finally it was over, my previous matches (have) taken me like six, seven match points to win, and that was on the first one, so I was a little bit shocked, and I couldnt breathe either, Gauff told the news outlet. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I would think in the past it would be more relief than joy, but I think with all the growth and maturity Ive done, its definitely more joy than relief. Gauff took to TikTok to share the win with her followers. She filmed herself from the court, trophy in hand, bobbing her head and smiling to All I Do Is Win by DJ Khaled. This embedded content is not available in your region. She posted another video from outside Arthur Ash Stadium on the social media platform. Gauff lipsynched the lyrics to Nicki Minaj and Ice Spices viral hit Barbie World while holding her trophy. This barbie is the us open champion, she captioned the post. She posted two other clips with Empire State of Mind by JAY-Z and Alicia Keys as a sound. Again, she showed the trophy to the camera as photographers captured the scene. This embedded content is not available in your region. Gauff also posted a montage of scenes after her win, including a clip in which President Joe Biden congratulates her on being the Grand Slam winner. Gauff shared she immediately called her family after her win. She told NBC her father wore a shirt with the word Imagine as he watched her play the final. He just said he bought it at the beginning of the tournament. He said that he had an image that I was going to go make it to the final, and he was going to wear that shirt if I did, Gauff said. And I think just imagine, just imagine that your dreams can come true, and you just have to keep working for it. Gauffs mother said her daughters success can be attributed to her talent, dedication and self-discipline. Coco is a very dedicated, self-disciplined person. She was very gifted as a child. She always strived to do her best. It comes from within her, Candi Gauff told NBC. The U.S. Department of Education said Monday that the agency's discrimination investigation into New College of Florida stemmed from a complaint filed Aug. 24 that the school's website was not accessible for people with disabilities not a separate complaint of alleged discrimination and the creation of a hostile environment by school leaders filed two days earlier. The agency, which had not responded to earlier requests for comment, clarified the distinction in a phone interview Monday. In a letter to New College Interim President Richard Corcoran last week, the DOE had said it plans to investigate New College on whether it "excluded qualified persons with disabilities from participation in, denied them the benefits of, or otherwise subjected them to discrimination in its programs, activities, aids, benefits, or services." The federal agency said it also plans to investigate whether New College failed to ensure that its communications with individuals with disabilities were as effective as its communications with others. On Aug. 22, a separate complaint was filed to the DOE that alleged an ongoing trend of discrimination against "protected groups" such as LGBTQ students, and the creation of a hostile environment toward those students. The complaint pointed to actions taken by the college's board and administration, singling out conservative anti-diversity policy activist and trustee Christopher Rufo, appointed in January by Gov. Ron DeSantis , for fostering a hostile environment. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The DOE spokesperson would not confirm the status of the latter complaint, though emails obtained by the Herald-Tribune suggest that the department had received it. The spokesperson said the timing of the agency letter to Corcoran informing the college of the disability discrimination investigation, which came the day the Herald-Tribune published a report on the filing of the LGBTQ+ discrimination complaint, was coincidental. Rufo reacted online to the DOE letter Friday, linking it to the Aug. 22 LGBTQ+ civil rights complaint. "The fight for New College of Florida has taken another turn," he wrote on his substack. "Earlier today the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into the Sarasota-based university, where I serve as a trustee, for alleged 'discrimination on the basis of disability.' "The investigation stems from a complaint filed by unnamed 'students, faculty and staff' alleging, in part, that the college's trustees and administrators violated civil rights law by removing 'gender neutral' signage from bathrooms, defunding the DEI and gender studies programs, and 'misgendering' the former DEI director, who uses 'ze/zir' psuedo-pronouns." Responding Monday to a request late Friday for comment on the DOE investigation, a college spokesman Nathan March issued a statement saying the Aug. 22 complaint was only sent to media outlets and not to the college. He said it detailed false claims only meant to grab headlines. It also stressed that the DOE was only investigating the college on the basis of disability discrimination. "It is important to note that the only claim that is being looked into is the disability compliance claim, of which we are confident the DOE will also find to be without merit," March said. No additional details on the Aug. 24 complaint regarding the disability compliance issues with the college's website were available. Rufo, who was named several times in Aug. 22 complaint for allegedly creating a hostile environment for students, had commented on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday that "Its time to abolish the Department of Education. Its time to abolish the Department of Education. Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 8, 2023 On his substack, he wrote that President Joe Biden was weaponizing the DOE against conservatives. This is a brazen attempt to subvert the democratic governance of New College and entrench left-wing ideological programs under the guise of civil rights law," he wrote, later adding, "We are ready for the fight. When Governor DeSantis appointed the new board of trustees, he told us: 'If the media isnt attacking you, youre not doing your job.' The same could be said of the Biden Administration. A screenshot of a Twitter post from Christopher Rufo. Rufo was named in a complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education where it accused the trustee of creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students at New College of Florida. New College has been undergoing a conservative transformation since January, when DeSantis appointed a new majority to its Board of Trustees tasked with shaping the small liberal arts school into the "Hillsdale College of the South." in reference to the private, conservative Christian liberal arts school in Michigan. The trustees swiftly dissolved the college's diversity department, abolished the gender studies program, fired an LGBTQ librarian and denied tenure to five faculty members set to receive it. As the changes have been implemented, more than a third of faculty have left New College causing course cancellations and staffing vacancies for the fall semester. The college also faces an ongoing housing crisis because of the record number of incoming students. Hundreds of students are living in hotel rooms due to mold in dorms and the preferential assignment of new student-athletes to the remaining available housing. The actions sought from the DOE in response to the Aug. 24 complaint are not clear and a copy of the complaint was not immediately available. The agency said a formal federal Freedom of Information Act request was required. The Aug. 22 complaint asks that New College be required to implement mandatory training for staff, administration, and the Board of Trustees on supporting LGBTQ and minority students. The complaint also asks that federal departments order the college's leadership to rescind discriminatory policies and directives, and provide safe and equivalent housing for students who wish to live on campus. Follow Herald-Tribune Education Reporter Steven Walker on Twitter at @swalker_7. He can be reached at sbwalker@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New College: federal investigation will find complaint "without merit" Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill and her co-author are beginning to address serious allegations of jury tampering leveled recently by criminal defense attorneys representing convicted murderer Richard "Alex" Murdaugh. Hill, a first-term elected official who oversaw day-to-day courtroom operations during Murdaugh's internationally publicized, six-week double murder trial and who read the guilty verdicts on March 2, has been accused in court filings and during a public press conference of having improper communications with jurors, which may have helped remove some sympathetic jurors and sway others. On Thursday, Hill maintained her innocence and denied all allegations to The Hampton County Guardian, but declined to comment further on the matter. However, her co-author Neil Gordon has been vocal. After appearing on Court TV and a couple of podcasts, Gordon sent a statement to The Guardian which he says represents his opinions alone, and does not speak for Hill. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Following the highly publicized trial, Hill teamed up with Gordon to write a book about her experiences as Clerk of Court during this historic murder case, and her experiences with the Murdaugh family. Murdaugh's attorneys cited pages from that book as evidence supporting their claims against her, but Gordon disputes those claims. Murdaugh jury tampering allegations: SLED investigating, familiar attorneys involved Becky Hill yells down to the attorney general Alan Wilson as he thanks her during a press conference after Alex Murdaugh was found guilty on all four counts at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on Thursday, March 2, 2023. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier/Pool "Overall, I would ask anyone following these alleged 'jury tampering' allegations to please reserve judgement until all the facts come out and all interviews are conducted by the proper, objective law enforcement authorities," stated Gordon. "Please remember in our society people are innocent until proven guilty. That basic tenet of our judicial system was there for Alex Murdaugh during his double-murder trial and should be in place for Becky Hill for accusations of jury tampering." Hill put in "extensive work" for months as a court official preparing for the trial, Gordon's statement points out, and her "professionalism was highlighted in the courtroom after the trial by key members of the legal community" and there are "no known official complaints or reprimands of Ms. Hill for her extensive work on the trial." Gordon's statement addressed several allegations: In addressing Murdaugh's attorney's claims that Hill pressured jurors "The word pressure was used multiple times in the affidavits and in the news conference by Alex Murdaughs defense attorney. I have spent a lot of time with Becky Hill for six months and have found her to be a very-soft spoken person. Ive never observed her raising her voice, let alone 'pressuring' anyone to do anything. Ive received hundreds of unsolicited comments from visitors and media who were at the trial or who came back to do a tour at the Colleton County Courthouse. They describe her as the quintessential Southern woman of hospitality and grace. In addressing allegations that Hill influenced a guilty verdict in order to obtain a "book deal," "On Sept 5 at the defense teams news conference to request a hearing, Mr. Hartpoolian suggested Beckys motive to allegedly tamper with the jury was to help secure a guilty verdict to obtain a 'book deal.' While several authors arranged advances and book deals from national publishing houses, Becky and I did not approach even one. We decided to self-publish the book at great expense to our families." Gordon added that he and Hill did not even meet to discuss or plan the book until after the trial, and after doing so Hill reached out to a media attorney and the S.C. Ethics Commission before writing the book. Hill is being represented by Justin Bamberg, a Bamberg, S.C. attorney who also represents several of Murdaugh's alleged financial crime victims, and Will Lewis, a former assistant U.S. District Attorney known for prosecuting high-profile white-collar cases. The S.C. Attorney General's Office has ten days to respond to this motion, and no hearing date has been set. What is the basis of Alex Murdaugh's jury tampering allegations? On Sunday, a spokesperson for Murdaugh announced that his attorneys, Richard Harpootlian and Jim Griffin, would be hosting a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 2:30 p.m. on the south side of the South Carolina State House grounds, near the Court of Appeals, to discuss a newly filed motion for a new trial based on new "discovered evidence," but did not release details of that motion. On Tuesday morning, Harpootlian and Griffin revealed their hand, and their new legal cards are shocking. Alex Murdaugh's attorneys Phillip Barber, from left, Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin speak at a news conference after filing an appeal of Murdaugh's double murder conviction on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. The attorneys say the elected clerk of court influenced jurors by telling them not to be fooled by the defense's evidence during the trial and had private conversations with the jury foreperson. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins) ORG XMIT: RPJC102 "Today, we filed a petition based on newly discovered evidence with the SC Court of Appeals to stay Alex Murdaughs appeal while a hearing is held on a motion for a new trial," said Murdaugh's attorneys in a joint statement attached to the legal filings. "Concurrently, we have sent a request to the South Carolina U.S. Attorney to open a federal investigation into the violation of Alex Murdaughs civil rights. "The serious allegations in the petition filed today speak for themselves but we believe they explain a number of peculiarities in the six-week trial. We request that SLED stand down on initiating any investigation of these allegations since they are heavily invested in maintaining Alexs conviction. We suggest that they wait for the Court of Appeals to rule and receive direction from the trial court, if the Court of Appeals remands the case for an evidentiary hearing. We also would request that those in the media and the public respect the privacy of those included in this filing. Authors Becky Hill, at left, and Neil Gordon hard at work at a studio in Augusta, GA. Murdaugh was convicted of two counts of murder in the 2021 deaths of his wife and son during a six-week trial in Walterboro, S.C., that concluded on March 3, 2023, with Judge Clifton Newman sentencing him to two life sentences. Within days, his attorneys had filed a notice of appeal of that verdict and sentence. In the motion for a stay of that appeal and a new trial filed with the S.C. Court of Appeals Tuesday, Murdaugh's legal team make several serious allegations against a public official embedded into the heart of that trial Colleton County Clerk of Court Hill, who read the verdict and later published a tell-all book about the historic murder case. What is Colleton County Clerk Becky Hill accused of? In their 65-page motion with attachments, Harpootlian and Griffin make the following allegations of jury tampering against Hill, alleging Hill: Asked jurors not to believe Murdaugh's testimony or any evidence presented by his defense; Pressured them into reaching a quick guilty verdict, tell them that their deliberations "shouldn't take them too long;" Misrepresented information to Judge Newman in a campaign to have a juror believed to be favorable to the defense removed from the jury; Told jurors not to be "misled" by Murdaugh's evidence or "fooled" by his testimony; Had frequent private conversations with the jury foreperson, including a private chat with her during the jury's field trip to Moselle, the scene of the crime; Asked jurors for their opinions about Murdaugh's guilt or innocence; Invented a story about a Facebook post on the "Walterboro Word of Mouth" group to remove a juror who might not vote guilty; Prior to Murdaugh's own testimony on the stand, instructed the jury to watch him closely, to look at his actions, and to look at his movements, which at least one juror understood to mean that Murdaugh was guilty; Told a juror that "the Murdaughs" had "got to" her ex-husband; Denied jurors a smoke break until they reached a verdict; Told the jurors they would be famous and handed out reporters's business cards to them after the verdict; Pressured a group of jurors to do an interview with a network news show after the verdict, but before the sentencing; Traveled with the jurors to New York City to appear on "The Today Show." Michael Gunn, principle at Forge Consulting, gives the witness oath by Rebecca Hill in the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro on day 13 of Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post and Courier/Pool The motion indicates that Murdaugh's team has interviewed several jurors and obtained affidavits with statements supporting their claims. The motion also claims that Hill "did these things to secure for herself a book deal and media appearances that would not happen in the event of a mistrial," and that "Ms. Hill betrayed her oath of office for money and fame." Attached to the motion were affidavits from jurors, the ex-husband of a juror, copies of Facebook posts and pages of Hill's book, "Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders." Also submitted along with the motion is a letter to United States Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs asking for an "urgent federal investigation" into Hill's conduct during the trial, and asking the Federal Bureau of Investigation, not the S.C. Law Enforcement Division, to investigate these allegations. On Thursday, Sept. 7, SLED announced it was investigating the allegations. Hampton County Guardian Editor Michael DeWitt, the Greenville News and USA TODAY Network will continue to follow the ongoing criminal and civil cases surrounding the Murdaugh crime saga. Follow DeWitt on Twitter at @mmdewittjr and support his local and national journalism with a digital subscription. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Clerk Becky Hill denies jury tampering charges, co-author speaks out Then-Rep. Mark Meadows , who went on to become former President Trump's chief of staff and co-defendant, speaking to reporters. (Associated Press) Fridays ruling denying former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows effort to move his case to federal court has significant implications for him and his co-defendants in the Georgia racketeering prosecution, not least Donald Trump. Meadows high-stakes gamble in taking the stand to support his motion didnt pan out. That likely dooms his chances of claiming immunity from state prosecution under the U.S. Constitutions Supremacy Clause, which Ive argued was what drove him to take the risk of testifying. Now Meadows returns to state court to face serious charges. And if he ever contemplated cooperating with either Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis or federal special counsel Jack Smith, those prospects also have taken a nose dive. Read more: Litman: Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows seems to think he can avoid prosecution. Here's how ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Meadows probably burned his bridges with Willis when he gave what the prosecution saw as false testimony by asserting that he had played no role in coordinating false electors in Georgia, words he had to eat on cross-examination. Prosecutors are loath to make deals with perjurers, and Willis likely doesnt need Meadows testimony to make her case anyway. And even if the window remains open for Meadows to cooperate with the federal prosecution, it would be of little use to him without protection from the Fulton County charges. Meadows immediately appealed U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruling, but given the judge's analysis, his prospects in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals are iffy at best. While the appeal might delay his reckoning, he has steeply diminished odds of avoiding conviction in Fulton County and a substantial term in a Georgia prison. Read more: Litman: Some of Trump's co-defendants could go to trial this fall. Will he have to join them? The core of Jones methodical, fact-driven ruling is that Meadows undertook the conduct at the heart of the state's charges on behalf of the Trump reelection campaign with the ultimate goal of affecting Georgias election. That demolishes Meadows argument that his conduct fell under his duties as a federal official and therefore must be tried in federal court. The executive branchs powers obviously do not extend to any sort of oversight of state elections. Jones decision has other important implications. Chief among them, it dramatically reduces the odds of success for the other defendants seeking to transfer the case to federal court, which offers a more favorable jury pool and other advantages. Meadows argument that he was acting within the normal duties of a chief of staff was the best of the bunch seeking removal. The three charged phony electors argument for removal is just silly. They say they were federal officials by virtue of being chosen as electors. Willis team pithily punctured that argument by pointing out that they were pretend electors. Former Assistant Atty. Gen. Jeffrey Clark, who is charged with falsely asserting to Georgia officials that the election results were tainted by fraud, faces the same problem as Meadows without the benefit of having been a top Trump aide: Oversight of state elections was not part of his job description as a midlevel Justice Department bureaucrat. Even less did his official duties encompass using lies to try to keep Georgias electoral votes from going to Joe Biden. That brings us to the former president himself. Under the analysis in Jones opinion, Trumps argument for removal to federal court is dead on arrival. The conduct he was charged for is light-years away from any reasonable formulation of a presidents duties. Indeed, other courts have already held that Trumps actions fell outside the outer perimeter of those duties. While the removal claims are for these reasons unlikely to succeed, they will still play a role in the formidable task of carving up the crowd of 19 defendants for trial purposes. Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is presiding over the Fulton County trials, recently noted the troubling prospect that the 11th Circuit Court could reverse a removal determination after a defendants state trial is already underway. The only way to guard against that is to avoid scheduling the state trials of defendants seeking removal until after their appeals have run their course. Depending on how long that takes, it might require three separate trials: one for the defendants who invoked their speedy-trial rights, one for the group seeking removal to federal court and one for the remainder. And the number of trials could grow larger still if, for example, another defendant makes a later motion for a speedy trial. The prospect of three or more months-long trials of different defendant groups, each repeating the same evidence, is daunting and beyond ponderous. Meadows, who brought the removal motion the day after he was charged, appealed Jones ruling within hours. Why such haste? The best explanation, it seems to me, is that hes doing everything he can to avoid being tried with Trump, who can be expected to draw out his removal motion as long as he can. A trial with Trump would be the worst possible look for Meadows, who would come off as a cynical enabler of the former presidents treachery. But Meadows hopes of separating himself from his former boss look dim. Having been forced into two or three separate trials, McAfee will probably be reluctant to subdivide them even further. Just weeks ago, Meadows seemed to have been the most clever and successful of all the former presidents men and women. He had dodged a federal contempt prosecution for his refusal to cooperate with the House Jan. 6 committee and cooperated enough with the special counsel to keep himself out of Trumps federal election interference indictment, all while keeping his head down and his profile low. Thats all done now, as very likely are his hopes of escaping incarceration. Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast. @harrylitman If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Common Trust, offering an employee ownership buyout option for small business owners, raised $2.6 million in seed funding. Crossbeam Venture Partners led the round with participation from Schmidt Futures and a group of additional unnamed investors. Zoe Schlag and Derek Razo founded the company in 2022 after working in the shared ownership space at Schmidt Futures and Purpose Foundation, respectively. Common Trust works with business owners to design, finance and execute an employee ownership buyout so that owners or investors can access liquidity by exiting to employees. Three in five small businesses will seek to sell their business over the next decade, and the current market of buyers, including private equity and private buyers working with a broker. For example, Teamshares has made a business out of acquiring companies that dont have succession plans. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement However, those types of buyers will only be able to buy a small amount of those businesses, according to Schlag. In addition, the sale may not be in the best interest of the employees or the companys established culture. Employee ownership is the most scalable approach to serve this market, preserving generational businesses and quality jobs in cities and towns across America, and can be achieved at a fraction of the cost that brokers are charging, typically 10% of the transaction, Schlag said in an email interview. By using employee ownership trusts, our approach allows businesses to become employee owned up front and stay independent, as opposed to being rolled up into a holding company for 20 years before eventually becoming employee owned. Schlag explained that employee ownership isnt a new concept in the United States, but exists in other forms, including stock options. However, some other forms have failed to scale due to high regulatory complexity and come at a cost that most small businesses either do not want to, or cannot, take on, she added. To facilitate its buyouts, Common Trust uses a unique legal vehicle called a perpetual purpose trust that is customized for an employee ownership buyout, called an employee ownership trust. This enables small businesses to exit while also remaining independent. In the past year since its founding, Common Trust has worked with dozens of business owners, management teams and investors. One customer, family-owned auto shop Clegg Auto, used the company to finance its buyout. In the first year since the transition to employee ownership, Clegg Auto doubled profits, recorded its highest customer service ratings in company history and shared record profit-sharing with employees, Schlag said. If you have a juicy tip or lead about happenings in the venture world, you can reach Christine Hall at chall.techcrunch@gmail.com or Signal at 832-862-1051. Anonymity requests will be respected. An event was held on Sunday to raise money for the Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship Fund. Sluganski was shot and killed in the line of duty in February. RELATED COVERAGE >>> 1 police officer killed, another injured in McKeesport shooting The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation hosted the event. Were really honored to establish this scholarship as a way of remembering Sean and making sure that his sacrifice is remembered forever more, president of the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation, Erik Arroyo said. Guests were asked to donate and an auction was held to help raise money for the scholarship. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The money will be given to a Baldwin High School senior. The community is hoping to keep the momentum going. Its wonderful. I mean it truly is, Sarah Griener, Sluganskis sister said, Its such a special event for us. Its held in North Baldwin where were from and to see this many people come out and support Sean and want to honor his name... Arroyo said he hopes the scholarship will act as a symbol of support for law enforcement. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Vehicle stolen by escaped Pennsylvania killer found abandoned in northern Chester County Chiller Theater returning 60 years after original show aired on Channel 11 Pee-wee Herman actor Paul Reubens official cause of death revealed over month after his death VIDEO: 11 Cares collects instruments with Violins of Hope at WPXI studio DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Complaints about drug use and sales at a low income apartment complex in central Kennewick led to nine arrests. The Tri-City Metro Drug Task force investigated the continuing complaints about drug use and sales around West Clearwater Avenue and Union Street, leading to a search warrant at the Nueva Vista Apartments. Nueva Vista is a 32-unit project of the Kennewick Housing Authority built in 2015 to serve extremely low-income families. The housing authority supported the task forces investigation. Lona Hammer, executive director, said she couldnt comment on the specific investigation for privacy reasons. But the authority is committed to safety and encourages tenants to report suspicious activity. The authority reports suspected criminal behavior to local and federal law enforcement, she told the Herald. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Evicting criminal tenants can be a lengthy process, she said. Renters are protected by Washingtons robust Landlord Tenant Act protections, which require lengthy documentation. Officers arrested nine adults either in or near 386 N. Union St., Apt. 140, and seized methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and fentanyl power, according to the task force. The drug task force arrested: Christopher Meyer , 39, of Kennewick, delivery of a controlled substance Cody Camden, 34, of Kennewick, delivery of a controlled substance Christopher Cook, 30, of Kennewick, delivery of a controlled substance Juanita Rocha, 21, of Kennewick, possession of a controlled substance Malcolm Slack, 26, of Kennewick, possession of a controlled substance Edgar Soloranzo-Vazquez, 30, of Kennewick, arrest warrants Evangelina Chavarin, 21, of Pasco, warrants Avery J. Brooks, 23, of Kennewick, warrants Avery D. Brooks, 42, of Kennewick, warrants Benton County jail records on Monday show Avery D. Brooks, Avery J. Brooks, Camden, Cook, Meyer and Slack were in custody on Sept. 11 while Rocha was not. No information was available about the booking or custody status of Soloranzo-Vazquez or Chavarin. The investigation was a cooperative effort of the Kennewick, Richland, Pasco and West Richland police departments, the Benton County sheriffs and prosecutor offices, Tri-Cities DEA, Nueva Vista Apartments and the Housing Authority of Kennewick. The Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force consists of all local law enforcement as well as prosecutors to combat narcotics trafficking, illegal gun transactions and criminal gang activity in the region. Hundreds of residents in a California condominium were without hot water and cooking appliances for weeks due to a gas leak, KCAL News reported. Natural gas, or methane gas, has become an incredibly contentious issue in recent years. While Tennessee and Ohio have passed laws declaring it a clean or green source of energy, its actually incredibly harmful to human health and is a major factor in Earths rising temperature. For these reasons, Los Angeles and the state of New York have begun banning gas in new buildings. This leaves buyers with healthier, more affordable, and more eco-friendly electric options, including solar panels. Now, La Veta Monterey condominium residents have discovered a new reason to make the switch: reliability. According to KCAL News, the entire 210-unit condominium had its gas cut off on June 2, and it still hadnt been restored by June 20. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We call the management company, Huntington West, resident Lee Gebran told KCAL News. We call them, they hang up on me because theres lots of people calling them. I said you need to put us in a hotel where we can take a shower [They said] absolutely not. KCAL News reported that there was no word of when the gas would be repaired. According to the supplier, SoCalGas, the leak was somewhere on La Veta Montereys end, and therefore it was the property owners responsibility to fix it. While KCAL News said it found evidence of some repair attempts, a plumber confirmed that there were still leaks in the condominiums rusty, corroded pipes. At a homeowners meeting for the community on June 19, residents said they didnt receive any answers and felt like they were getting the runaround, KCAL News claimed. They did find that repairs might cost as much as $1 million. While electricity can also be cut off due to problems with the lines, a home with its own clean energy, such as solar panels or wind power, is much more independent. These homes can supply their own power during an outage. Some homes even generate enough electricity to sell some back to the power company. La Veta Monterey residents, on the other hand, were stuck waiting for repairs, with no say in how the situation would be handled. Just surviving, resident Diana Rasmussen told KCAL News. We feel like were camping in our home. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. An American flag stretched across the well deck of the USS New York, beams from the morning sun illuminating the star-spangled banner. Today, on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we vow once again to never forget, Senior Chief Petty Officer Jason Rodriguez said. The crew of the USS New York gathered Monday aboard the amphibious transport dock as it sat pier-side at Naval Station Norfolk. They joined the nation in commemorating the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and reflected, like the Alan Jackson song, on where they were when the world stopped turning 22 years ago. Rodriguez was a high school junior, attending class about one mile from the World Trade Center at 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001. He gathered with his peers outside after the first plane struck. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There it was. The giant building which I often overlooked and, quite frankly, took for granted as a native New Yorker now stood before me with a huge hole engulfed in flames and smoke, paper and debris falling from the sky, Rodriguez said. While the crowd talked among themselves about what could have happened, Rodriguez said an unsettling silence took hold of the city block as the roar of a jet engine reached their ears. The time was 9:03 a.m. The screams of panic quickly made me realize this was not a movie, Rodriguez said. This was happening. The students were ushered back into school while chaos unfolded outside. Rodriguez and fellow classmates rushed to the sixth floor of the building where they could see the twin towers. He watched in horror as a victim jumped from the north tower. That was the first time in my life I witnessed anybody die in front of me. Even though it was so far away, it felt so close, Rodriguez said. Due to the proximity to ground zero, Rodriguez did not attend school for 10 days following the terrorist attacks. In the summer of 2002, his parents moved to the Dominican Republic. They gave Rodriguez the option of going with them or staying in New York with a relative at his request, so he could finish his senior year of high school. I chose the latter, which put me on a path to joining the Navy one month later and be here in front of you all today, Rodriguez. The USS New York is a tribute to the 2,977 lives lost. Murals painted across the walls remind sailors and Marines of that tragic day. Never forget, reads placards, murals and small stickers decorating the walls throughout the ship. The ship was made with 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the ruins of the World Trade Center. The strength of the crew, the motto reads, was forged through sacrifice. Chaplain Camea Baksh, who serves aboard the USS New York, was a junior sailor in 2001. I was first confused. Then, I was angry. And then, I was ready, Baksh said. We are here with purpose. We are here to serve. We are here to protect. And we are here to never, ever give up. Baksh led the crew in prayer during Mondays ceremony. It is true there exists no greater love than this: the one who lays down his life for his friends, his family, his nation, Baksh prayed. Capt. Tony Tricarico, who retired from the fire department of New Yorks Squad 252, was invited to speak Monday to the crew of the USS New York. He was a first responder on Sept. 11, 2001. He said while New York is moving forward, the nation must stand ready. Terrorism is there. It will always be there and you never know when its going to rear its ugly head again. Stay vigilant, stay strong. We must stand united, Tricarico said. The crew of the New York, he said, are among the sheepdogs of the world, who take an oath to preserve humanity, no matter the sacrifice. Soldiers, sailors, Marines we are the protectors and the rescuers of the most unfortunate in the worst time of their lives, Tricarico said. As sheepdogs, everybody here is willing to lay down their life for complete strangers. The USS New York is currently in a maintenance cycle. It is scheduled to deploy from Naval Station Norfolk in 2024. Capt. Benjamin Oakes, commanding officer of the USS New York, took the helm in 2022. He was serving aboard the USS Ford, an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, in 2001. He said his most vivid memories of 9/11 are images of first responders running toward ground zero. These first responders, without hesitation, ran into the storm to answer the call and execute their duties some of them never to be seen alive again, many only to be identified by their DNA, Oakes said. That same DNA, he said, is in the crew of the USS New York. As we look ahead to our upcoming workups, to getting the ship ready to deploy next year, we need to be ready, Oakes said. Just like those first responders on 9/11, we will be trained to run towards the fight to answer the call whatever that may be. Its in our DNA, and America and freedom across the globe depends on it, he said. Be ready, New York. Never forget. Caitlyn Burchett, caitlyn.burchett@virginiamedia.com WASHINGTON The House returns Tuesday to big spending fights and a looming deadline to prevent a government shutdown. The Senate has already returned from its recess, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y., has praised his colleagues from both sides of the aisle for working together on spending compromises without much heartburn. The lower chamber is a different story: Most of what is expected to be a fierce fight over government spending will take place in the House. While government funding technically expires on Sept. 30, the House has just 11 working days to pass a short-term funding extension called a continuing resolution to buy lawmakers more time to hash out the details of a spending package. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A group of ultra-right lawmakers from the House Freedom Caucus has drawn hard lines even before the House comes back into session, openly threatening to leverage a shutdown if a continuing resolution does not include deep spending cuts or other demands, such as more security on the southern border. Heres what to know about the showdown and how it could affect you. U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters outside the Speakers Balcony at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. Hard-right lawmakers threaten shutdown for deep spending cuts The demands of House Freedom Caucus members have next to no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate. Schumer warned lawmakers last week that negotiations should be held in good faith and with bipartisanship in mind. I implore, I beg my House Republican colleagues to follow the Senates lead, to recognize that time is short, and the only way to avoid a shutdown is through bipartisanship in both the House and Senate, Schumer said at a weekly news conference. While the House is gearing up for what could be a drawn-out fight, the Senate already has teed up three out of the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government for a vote this week. But in the House, hard-right lawmakers, which includes conservatives not part of the Freedom Caucus, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are making heavy asks of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. In exchange for the requests, they'll hypothetically help avert a shutdown. Greene said at a town hall that she would not vote to fund the government if the House does not hold a vote on an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, a prospect that some moderate Republicans have balked at. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., downplayed the effects of a shutdown in a post on X, formerly Twitter, last week: If a temporary shutdown is more concerning to you than our $2 trillion deficit and $33 trillion national debt, I'd politely suggest you're part of the problem. Related: Congress returns after Labor Day. With it, Americans' fears of a government shutdown crisis May 30, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), center, and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), right, before the start of a House Freedom Caucus press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 opposing the current debt ceiling agreement negotiated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden. How a government shutdown could affect you Every government shutdown plays out slightly differently, but generally, various government functions slow down in a shutdown. The Office of Management and Budget updates plans for a shutdown on a rolling basis developed by each federal agency. The OMB decides what functions are essential and must continue, even in a shutdown. Federal employees considered essential continue to work without pay. After the shutdown ends, those employees receive retroactive pay for the length of the shutdown. Other federal employees, however, are furloughed until Congress passes a spending package. Essential services include employees such as air traffic controllers and border patrol, as well as services such as Social Security and Medicare benefits. But even some of those services could be affected by a shutdown. During the 2018-2019 government shutdown, some TSA agents and air traffic controllers did not work because of financial limitations, causing flight delays and terminal closures. When it comes to nonessential services, some national parks could have to close down or offer limited resources for the length of the shutdown. Some food safety inspections considered nonessential also could be delayed. The U.S. Capitol Building on December 22, 2022 in Washington, DC. The Senate voted to pass a $1.7 trillion spending package to fund the government through 2023, which now goes to the House chamber to be voted on to avert a government shutdown. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775918419 ORIG FILE ID: 1451555262 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Government shutdown 2023: Congress has 11 days for spending fights Intoxicants for decades have driven traffic to the New York-Connecticut border. During my teenage years in Connecticut, we'd drive west in the early 1970s on Route 44 to Millerton in Dutchess County to buy cases of Budweiser and jugs of Boone's Farm. At the time, the New York drinking age was 18 while Connecticut's remained at 21. Until 2012, Connecticut residents in need of a bottle of bourbon or a six-pack on Sunday would cross the state line to New York because Connecticuts Blue Laws prohibited alcohol sales on the Christian Sabbath. Now the situation has flipped following the opening of adult-use recreational cannabis shops in Fairfield County in January 2023. It came as New Yorks rollout of recreational weed remains snarled in the state court system and pending approval of statewide regulations. But Connecticut this year has quietly built its adult recreational market using a model rejected by New York. A customers leaves The Botanist, a cannabis dispensary just a mile from the New York line on Mill Plain Road in Danbury, CT Sept. 6, 2023. Among those New Yorkers stopping at The Botanist dispensary in Danbury, just a mile from the Putnam County line in Southeast, is Andrew Kaye, chief commercial officer of Sweet Leaf Madison Capital, which provides funding for marijuana start-ups. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He said Connecticut has avoided the pitfalls suffered by New York. Connecticut has been so quiet, with typical Yankee modesty, in a low-key but reasonably effective way, said Kaye, a Hartsdale native who is looking forward to his 50th Woodlands High School reunion in November. In New York, you still need to call your friend, Bud, who shows up at your door with an illegal delivery. The Botanist has drawn a slew of New York customers, said Bryan Murray, the executive vice-president of government relations and communications at Acreage Holdings, the publicly traded company that owns the dispensary and many more in eight states across the U.S. "There are a lot of people who come from New York to Danbury to enjoy safe, regulated cannabis," Murray said. "There have been fits and starts from New York's Office of Cannabis Management and a lack of leadership from Gov. Hochul. New York isn't getting the tax revenue that it wants to reinvest in the communities most harmed by prohibition." The Hochul administration blames the corporate cannabis industry for the delays. New York States efforts to create the most equitable adult-use cannabis market in the nation are being delayed by litigation backed by large cannabis corporations seeking to increase their profits," said Aaron Ghitelman, spokesman for the state Office of Cannabis Management. "Despite their efforts, we have already provided licenses to 23 dispensaries in the state and in addition, Cannabis Growers Showcases across the state have a combined estimated 1250+ selling days remaining this year. We will continue working to ensure that small, local businesses are able to compete and thrive." Connecticut has combined a social equity program thats less strict than New Yorks while also allowing the states medical marijuana retail outlets to add recreational adult-use weed to its menu. To qualify for a social-equity license in Connecticut, applicants were not required to have a conviction on their record as they do in New York. In Connecticut those applicants needed to live in areas with historically high crime and poverty rates, said Kaitlyn Krasselt, a spokeswoman at the state Department of Consumer Protection. Connecticut municipalities have the right to ban dispensaries from their municipalities. The border towns of Ridgefield and Greenwich on the Westchester border have barred them from opening, while Danbury opted to embrace weed dispensaries on its border with the town of Southeast in Putnam County. New York board to vote on long-awaited marijuana regulations New Yorkers will learn more on Tuesday about the timetable for adult-use dispensaries for all applicants, including medical marijuana dispensaries, when the New York Cannabis Control Board votes on its long-awaited regulations, said Trivette Knowles, a spokesman for the state Office of Cannabis Management. Andrew Kaye, chief commercial officer at Sweet Leaf Madison Capital, said Connecticut's adult-use marijuana market has grown while New York's slow roll-out continues. New York chose to focus solely on social equity for adult-use dispensaries, but did it without a robust market, said Kaye. New York has done a decent job on cultivation and processing, but the state still have 300,000 pounds of unsold cannabis from 2022. A chunk of the sales tax revenues that New York policymakers hoped would flow to the states coffers from the sale of adult-use weed now flows to the Nutmeg state and other border states with adult-use dispensaries. New Yorkers looking for regulated, tested cannabis have the options of traveling to the neighboring states of Connecticut, New Jersey, Vermont, and Massachusetts or finding one of the nine dispensaries located in New York City. There's also the hundreds of New York City shops that sell weed without state authorization, part of the untaxed black market that still operates. You can see the allure for New Yorkers to The Botanist, a hybrid medical-adult use cannabis outlet in a former bank building a mile from the Putnam County line in Danbury. Its located in a standalone building east of the shopping center with Trader Joes on Mill Plain Road, just off Exit 2 on Interstate 84. On a Saturday afternoon in late August, 11 of 27 cars in the parking lot had New York license plates. Other nearby Connecticut adult-use dispensaries are attracting New Yorkers as well. On Wednesday, one New Yorker arrived in a chauffeured limosine at the Curaleaf dispensary on East Main Street in Stamford, located in a shopping plaza between Dollar General and Bubbakoos Burritos. It's a 12-minute drive east from the state line in Port Chester. That same afternoon, New Yorkers stopped by the Fine Fettle Dispensary, on the edge of a commercial area further north in Stamford, with 3 of 11 cars having New York license plates. The Connecticut marijuana legalization edge A look back over the short history of marijuana legalization shows how Connecticut by some metrics has kept ahead of New York. Connecticut opened its first medical marijuana dispensary in 2014, two years before New Yorks medical dispensaries opened for business. Connecticuts first adult-use dispensary opened on January 10 of this year, which was nine days before New Yorks first adult-use outlet opened. Customers enter Curaleaf, a cannabis dispensary on East Main Street in Stamford, CT Sept. 6, 2023. Today, Connecticut has 18 adult-use dispensaries with a population of 3.6 million residents. New York has 29 adult-use dispensaries in a state with 20 million residents, with 9 adult-use outlets in New York City and none in the Lower Hudson Valley. Among the 18 adult-use dispensaries in Connecticut, four qualified through the states social-equity program while 14 piggy-backed on existed medical marijuana outlets, such as the one off I-84 in Danbury. The companies that operate New York's medical marijuana market, including several large publically traded companies that operate in several states, say that keeping them from the adult-use market has encouraged the blossoming of the illicit market in New York City, with estimates of at least 1,000 shops selling unregulated weed. A recent study by the Coalition for Access to Regulated & Safe Cannabis reported that New York expects to receive up to $56 million in tax revenues from cannabis sales during the first year of legal adult-use sales. That pales in relation to other states' tax receipts during the first-year rollout of their adult-use market. California, for example, brought in $1 billion in sales taxes while Illinois and Washington state both received more than $500 million. At least New York plans to generate more than Montana, which received $42 million in tax revenue in its first year, the report stated. A customer enters Fine Fettle Dispensary, a cannabis dispensary on Research Drive in Stamford, CT on Sept. 6, 2023, when 3 of 11 cars in the parking lot had NY license plates. Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns. David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New York pot lovers find regulated adult-use weed at shops near border Hydroxychloroquine pills are arranged Las Vegas. The drug is one of several that has been promoted as a treatment for COVID-19 despite a lack of evidence that it helps people with the disease. (John Locher / Associated Press) Tucked into a state Senate bill revising aspects of the Medical Board of California is a brief but unambiguous clause undoing a controversial law that was intended to curb dissemination of misinformation or disinformation related to COVID-19. If the bill passes as expected this week, it will put an end to the saga of Assembly Bill 2098, a well-intentioned, poorly worded and ultimately doomed effort to curb the most flagrant cases of COVID-related falsehoods by people wielding medical licenses. We are happy that the Legislature is attempting to address the defects in last years legislation, said Chessie Thacher, a senior attorney with the ACLU of Northern California, which filed amicus briefs in four separate lawsuits related to AB 2098. As we argued in court, that bill was dangerously overbroad and confusing. AB 2098 applied to conversations between patients and their doctors about the patients care. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When someone blatantly provides misinformation, totally inaccurate information especially with intention that harms patients, then-Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a pediatrician and co-author of the measure, said in October. That takes away the patients ability to make appropriate decisions. Read more: Doctors fear California law aimed at COVID-19 misinformation could do more harm than good The bill was written with extreme examples of irresponsible rhetoric in mind, Pan said at the time , such as that of Dr. Simone Gold , the Beverly Hills physician who founded the anti-vaccine group Americas Frontline Doctors and promoted debunked COVID-19 treatments. (Golds medical license was suspended last year after she pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It has since been restored .) But the final text did not apply to any fringe claims aired in public forums such as social media or the Capitol steps. Such provisions would probably not survive a 1st Amendment challenge in court, a legislative analysis of the bill found. It was endorsed by the California Medical Assn., which represents nearly 50,000 physicians throughout the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed some unease about the bills wording in his September 2022 signing statement , writing that he was concerned about the chilling effect of legislating doctor-patient conversations. However, he was satisfied the law was narrowly tailored to apply only to those egregious instances in which a licensee is acting with malicious intent or clearly deviating from the required standard of care. Read more: Law aimed at doctors who spread COVID-19 misinformation is put on hold by judge Other readers pointed out that the text of the measure contained no clear definition of such egregious instances, and contained passages immune to clear interpretation. In granting a preliminary injunction in January in two related cases that challenged the laws constitutionality, Judge William Shubb of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California ruled that the laws unclear phrasing and structure could have a chilling effect. The final text defined misinformation as false information that is contradicted by contemporary scientific consensus contrary to the standard of care. Put simply, this provision is grammatically incoherent, Shubb wrote. It is impossible to parse the sentence and understand the relationship between the two clauses. The bills vague wording gave critics from all corners room to stretch it to fit their purposes. Misinformation purveyor and Democratic presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. seized on AB 2098, bringing suit against the bill and hailing Shubbs ruling as a Huge win ... in this battle for freedom. Read more: California lawmakers pass reforms to doctor discipline cases, giving patients a voice Even staunch opponents of medical misinformation found the bill a flawed weapon in the fight against falsehoods. California law already bars doctors from lying to their patients or dispensing shoddy medical advice that fails to meet the standard of care for all diseases, including COVID-19, they noted. We do not need an extra bill in this state to regulate medical practice, said Dr. Monica Gandhi , an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco and director of the UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research, or CFAR . I think it is prudent to repeal this bill. Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), one of the bills original authors, also seemed unbothered by AB 2098s looming disappearance from state code. Fortunately, with this update, the Medical Board of California will continue to maintain the authority to hold medical licensees accountable for deviating from the standard of care and misinforming their patients about COVID-19 treatments, Low said in a statement. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) warned of a devil's deal between Moscow and Pyongyang as North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia on Monday, a potential exchange that U.S. officials have warned would escalate tensions with the West. He's desperate for more equipment, he's desperate for more support, Coons said on MSNBC Monday morning, referring to Putins war efforts. North Korea has a very large arsenal of artillery, of materiel. So, they may well make a devil's deal. That could include the Kremlin agreeing to provide more advanced technology to help Pyongyang build a nuclear-armed submarine or successfully launch intercontinental ballistic missiles, both which Kim is eager to do, the senator said. In return, Moscow could receive access to significant stockpiles of artillery shells, though they probably wouldnt be the highest quality, Coons said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters earlier this month that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had attempted to "convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition" to Moscow during a recent trip to North Korea. Last week, a U.S. official told the Associated Press the North Korean leader was expected to travel to Russia by the end of September. On Monday, the Kremlin announced that he would be arriving in the coming days. To Coons, a close Biden administration ally, the U.S. intelligence leak of the trip underscores that the White House is trying to deter them,or at least raise the cost of the meeting by making it public, he said. If Pyongyang ends up sending weapons to Moscow for its war efforts, it is not going to reflect well on North Korea and they will pay a price for this in the international community, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters last week. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A makeshift memorial for environmental activist Manuel Teran, who was deadly assaulted by law enforcement during a raid to clear the construction site of a police training facility that activists have nicknamed "Cop City" near Atlanta, Georgia on February 6, 2023. Credit - CHENEY ORRAFP/Getty Images The drama surrounding Atlanta's planned police training facility is about to escalate. On Monday, protesters against so-called "Cop City" plan to submit about 108,000 signatures to try to force a ballot initiative that could prevent the training facility from being built. The Atlanta City Council approved millions of dollars in taxpayer funds for the project in June after hours of heated public criticism. It's the latest salvo in the roughly two year long battle that has included violent protests, the police killing of a climate activist, numerous arrests, and sweeping domestic terrorism and racketeering charges against protesters that have alarmed civil rights advocates. The city argues the facility will be important to properly train police and replace worn out facilities. Protesters claim it will empower police violence, in part through creating a mock city to practice urban warfare tactics, and take issue with its 85-acres of construction in an urban forest. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The signatures being submitted to city hall on Monday will force a ballot initiative to vote on the fate of the facility if there are enough valid ones. (The city requires just above 58,000.) We have more than 100,000 signatures. You have more people in the electorate involved in this than voted for the mayor but the city council doesnt want to let people decide, says DaMareo Cooper, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, a national organization supporting the Stop Cop City movement. More From TIME The city had made it more difficult for the signature collection to succeed by outlining a signature match process that would require checking every signature to match what officials have on file. In an effort to ensure that adequate resources are dedicated to this project, the City of Atlanta has developed a step-by-step process to conduct the audit of the documents, of which the signature verification process may be a critical element, said Interim Municipal Clerk Vanessa Waldon in an August 21 statement. The government argues this is necessary to ensure accuracy but protesters say the policy is rooted in voter suppression and strategically throwing out votes. The Atlanta mayors office did not respond to a request for comment. Ongoing lawsuits could also complicate the ballot initiative process. We are in a moment of tremendous ambiguity because of litigation, says Fred Smith, a law professor at Emory University. A lawsuit filed in federal court on July 6 challenged a provision requiring those collecting signatures to be an Atlanta resident. A federal judge ruled that was unconstitutional on July 27and in doing so he extended the deadline for collecting signatures by 60 days. The protesters continued to collect signatures at that point. On Sept. 1, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a staytemporarily freezing the federal court decision. You have individuals collecting signatures that a federal court order said they were able to collect, and you have an 11th Circuit opinion that says the injunction is no longer in effect. At some point, a federal court and maybe the 11th Circuit is going to have to figure out what to do with the signatures collected after that point in time. What are our courts going to do with these signatures, given the mismatch between the federal district court order that's no longer in effect and the original state law? Smith says. Its unclear whether the stay could endanger the entire petition or apply to votes that came in once the extension period kicked in. We just dont know, Smith says. In the ballot initiative that anti-Cop City advocates are hoping for, voters would be able to cast votes directly on whether the facility should move forward. But the city has also argued in federal court that the entire ballot initiative process should be scrapped. They're willing to throw out the entire process in the city of Atlanta's charter that permits these kinds of initiatives, says Tiffany Roberts, policy director at Southern Center for Human Rights, which has helped connect protesters with legal representation. They're willing to throw out the entire democratic effort simply because they want to ensure that voters cannot have their say at the ballot box about Cop City. Read More: Georgia Is Using a Domestic Terrorism Law Expanded After Dylann Roof Against Cop City Protesters Regardless of whether the signatures are verified or the ballot initiative proceeds, some anti-Cop City organizers are now facing a different challenge. On Sept. 5, Georgias Republican Attorney General Chris Carr indicted 61 people on racketeering charges following a state investigation into Cop City protests. He accused the defendants of being militant anarchists supporting a violent movement. The 61 defendants together have conspired to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center by conducting, coordinating and organizing acts of violence, intimidation and property destruction, Carr said during a news conference. Attorney Matt Bass, who represents four of the defendants accused of racketeering, says the use of RICO charges in this way makes protesters criminally liable for the bad acts of a few. Imagine if you went to a protest and some jerk decided to commit a crime. Under the AG's reading of the law, you are a racketeer merely for being there. Bass says. That's plainly unfair. Using the law in this way is unconstitutional and has a significant chilling effect on everyone's rights to protest. If enough signatures are verified in the ballot initiative effort, citizens will be able to voice their opinions on the project by exercising a different right: theyll be able to render a judgment on Cop City with a vote. Write to Sanya Mansoor at sanya.mansoor@time.com. Police burst into a womans home in response to a reported shooting and hostage situation but it was made up, Texas police said. A man called police on Sept. 5, saying several people, including children, had been shot by a landlord at a Pleasanton home, according to a local police news release. He added that a woman and child were being held at gunpoint. Local officers and state troopers rushed to help and arrived at the Fourth Street home within minutes, according to the release. After formulating a rescue plan, officers burst into the residence. But police said they found nobody inside had been harmed. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Detectives determined that a 31-year-old Pleasanton man had made a fake report in order to induce an emergency response to his ex-girlfriends residence, the release said. The man, who was at the scene when police arrived, was arrested. He was transported to a county jail and has been charged with false report swatting, police said. Swatting is the act of making prank emergency calls in order to send police usually SWAT teams to specific locations, according to the FBI. It can have serious consequences for unassuming victims, some of whom have suffered heart attacks, according to the agency. Pleasanton is about 40 miles south of San Antonio. Boyfriend accused of dismembering body found in bag on shoreline, California cops say Dad, 9-year-old son killed when jet ski hits barge on Tennessee lake, officials say 60-year-old dies in crash while street racing against 26-year-old, Illinois cops say The Council of Europe issued a statement on Sept. 10 denouncing the sham "elections" that Russia held in the occupied parts of Ukraine. "We strongly condemn the illegitimate sham 'elections' that took place on September 8-10 2023 in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation," read the statement. The statement was signed by the President of the Council's Committee of Ministers and Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox, and Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric. "Held in flagrant violation of international law, they constitute a further illustration of the denial by the Russian Federation of the values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law upheld by the Council of Europe," the statement said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Council noted that the sham vote was only the latest in a series of illegal and harmful steps that Moscow has taken since it was expelled from the organization. Moscow withdrew from the Council last year after the international body decided to terminate Russia's membership due to its full-scale war against Ukraine. Read also: Russia holds sham elections in occupied Ukrainian territory As the authors of the declaration stressed, the sham elections should be considered null and void under international law. Russia held illegal elections in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts after it announced their "annexation" following a sham referendum in September 2022. The vote was accompanied by violent incidents, such as a partisan attack against Russian soldiers protecting the polling stations or the destruction of the headquarters of Russia's governing party United Russia. Western leaders and Kyiv have denounced the vote held on Ukraine's territory as a violation of international law. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented that Ottawa will not recognize the sham elections nor Vladimir Putin's attempt to "redraw the map as he pleases." Read also: Official: United Russia HQ destroyed in Zaporizhzhia Oblast amid sham elections Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The legal battle over U.S. Rep. Scott Perrys cell phone records took a turn this week when an appeals court reversed a lower court ruling that granted the special prosecutor in the Jan. 6 case access to most of his records. The ruling, considered a partial victory for the central Pennsylvania Republican congressman, sends the case back to the lower court to determine which records investigators can review. U.S. Rep Scott Perry, R-York County, has sued the Justice Department to prevent investigators from examining his cell phone records related to the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The FBI seized Perry's phone last August. The U.S. District Court in D.C. previously ordered Perry to turn over more than 2,000 records from his cell phone, seized under a search warrant executed by the FBI last year. The Circuit Court of Appeals in D.C. this week appears to have blocked that order and has ordered the lower court to apply the correct standard to determine which of Perrys texts can be reviewed, CNN reported. The appeals court ruling was sealed, but it is described on the courts docket. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Its not exactly clear what it means, though CNN did report that it was a disappointment to investigators looking into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the actions by President Donald Trump and his allies to attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Investigators with Special Prosecutor Jack Smiths office sought Perrys text messages. Perry is believed to have played a key role in Trumps efforts to reverse the election results. Previously: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry says FBI agents seized his cellphone The decision may impact the lawsuit brought by the York Daily Record and other media organizations including The York Dispatch and PennLive to obtain the FBI search warrant's contents once its contents are disclosed. Grayson Clary, staff attorney for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which is representing the media outlets, said that the ruling, which appears to take a narrower view of what investigators can access is still sealed, but that once it is unsealed, any disclosures there will further undercut the Justice Departments insistence on total secrecy in the suit seeking documents related to the seizure of Perrys phone. More on the lawsuit: U.S. Rep. Scott Perry sues DOJ after it seized his cell phone Perrys legal battle with the Justice Department began shortly after the FBI seized his phone last August. He sued the department for the return of his phone and to prevent investigators from reviewing his texts and other communications. Perrys office did not respond to an email seeking comment. He had previously asserted that the seizure was politically motivated. Columnist/reporter Mike Argento has been a York Daily Record staffer since 1982. Reach him at mike@ydr.com. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Court limits access to U.S. Rep. Scott Perry's cell phone records A nurse prepares a syringe of a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC's vaccine advisors will soon decide whether to recommend the latest COVID-19 boosters only for frail, older, sick and immunocompromised people or to offer it to everyone over 6 months of age. (Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press) A small percentage of Americans got the most recent COVID-19 booster shot, and even fewer probably realize the federal government is preparing to recommend yet another shot as early as Tuesday. Until a week or two ago, Dr. William Schaffner read that indifference as a sign the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should advocate vaccinating only those most at risk from the virus. But then Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, changed his mind. Members of the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices won him over to the argument that the vaccine be recommended for all Americans above 6 months of age, he said in an interview. The committee, which sets U.S. vaccination policy and helps determine insurance coverage for vaccines, will vote on the question Tuesday after it weighs the benefits of updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved booster shots from the two companies on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read more: FDA approves updated COVID vaccines to rev up protection this fall Not all vaccine experts see it quite as Schaffner, a nonvoting liaison representative to the ACIP, does. I dont plan to get it myself, said Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Hes had two boosters and got COVID-19 last year. Another vaccine might increase his protection against mild infection for a few months, but like most Americans immune systems, his is already familiar enough with the virus to protect him from serious disease, Offit believes. Some of Schaffners scientific colleagues argue the government should be recommending the shot only for frail, older, sick and immunocompromised people. Over 95% of the U.S. population has some immunity to COVID-19 through vaccination, infection or both, and the risks of serious illness for healthy younger people are not great. Schaffner doesnt disagree. But lots of not-necessarily-vulnerable Americans do want the shot for themselves and their children, and, without a CDC recommendation, insurance companies wouldnt have to pay for the vaccine. Read more: The Path From Pandemic: How COVID-19 will change American life Its pretty awful that Pfizer and Moderna, the two main COVID-19 vaccine producers, have decided to charge up to $130 a shot, compared with $30 last year for the booster, which was produced under government contract, said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt and a member of an ACIP working group on COVID-19. (Pfizer spokesperson Amy Rose said the price was consistent with the value delivered and reflected higher expenses to provide the shots commercially.) But a partial recommendation could leave the very groups who suffered most during the pandemic minorities and other disadvantaged groups unable to get vaccinated if they want but cant afford to. The last thing we need are financial barriers that would enhance disparities, Schaffner said. A 1993 law requires the federal government to pay for childhood vaccines recommended by the ACIP, and more recent legislation requires coverage of adult vaccines within 15 days of an ACIP recommendation. Pfizer and Moderna continue to make billions of dollars in sales of COVID-19 vaccines, although they are producing fewer doses. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel told investors in August that the company expected its global COVID-19 vaccine sales to be $6 billion to $8 billion this year, depending on uptake in the U.S. Pfizer expects about $14 billion this year. Within a few years, both companies expect to be producing combination vaccines protecting against influenza, COVID-19 and possibly respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. About 170 million flu vaccines were distributed last flu season in the U.S., so a combination product could lock in a large market for COVID-19 vaccines as well. Read more: Column: Moderna and Pfizer are jacking up the price of COVID vaccines. The government should stop them Despite broad recommendations for the updated COVID-19 booster shot released last fall, only 17% of the U.S. population got it, including about 43% of those over 65. How many will get the vaccine this season is uncertain, as is the benefit of the shot. A preliminary study of the new Moderna vaccine showed that it increased antibodies to various coronavirus strains, though it wasn't clear how much protection it would offer, nor for how long. Christopher Ridley, a Moderna spokesperson, said the updated vaccine was well matched to current viral strains. But John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, said the new vaccine is unlikely to be a game changer." For healthier adults and children, its a boost in protection for a few months, Moore said. Who exactly will benefit most is impossible to predict because the U.S. is not a cookie-cutter population. Its people have by now been exposed to a bewildering combination of vaccines, boosters and different strains of the virus. Fearmongering has distorted the threat of the virus, Moore said. He is skeptical of the significance of the recent uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations, and criticized social media posters who have raised fears about new viral strains that dont seem to pose any fundamental challenge to the new vaccines. Editorial FOMO drove summer surge worries, Moore said, using an acronym for fear of missing out. Despite worrying comments and tweets by physicians such as Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, about a new coronavirus variant called BA.2.86, it turned out to be a real nothingburger, Moore said. Read more: Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A. Even Dr. Ashish Jha, who coordinated the Biden administrations COVID-19 response before returning to his post as dean of the Brown University School of Public Health this year, agrees there is some ambiguity in the issue. While he recommends that 20-year-olds get the booster, a reasonable person could disagree. Unfortunately, such discussions in the current environment are clouded by nonsense and bad information that causes confusion and hurts people, he said in a recent podcast interview. Whether truly needed or not, the vaccines, proponents say, are safe enough that even the small benefit of taking them will outweigh the risks. The major, though rare, serious side effect of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines myocarditis, which particularly affected men in their teens and 20s appears mainly to have occurred during the first two-shot series. Paradoxically, those who most need protection from COVID-19 are often likely to have weakened immune systems that fail to generate the hoped-for response to vaccination. Read more: The more pandemic precautions fall away, the more COVID risk is concentrated on this one group So the vaccine is arguably most relevant for healthy people who come in frequent contact with vulnerable individuals. With that in mind, England has announced the new booster would be offered only to people who are 65 or older, in nursing homes, or immunologically vulnerable or who work or live with members of those groups. Any efforts to promote the new boosters should focus squarely on those at high risk, said Dr. Norman Hearst, a family physician in San Francisco. While recommending the vaccine for older patients, he said he wouldnt advise a booster for young males because of the rare risk of myocarditis and the negligible benefit. The question is all the other people in between. In a commentary last November, Dr. Shira Doron and Dr. Monica Gandhi said vaccination campaigns should be radically honest about the limited value of vaccines for long-term protection against infection. Such a campaign might advocate vaccinating children because even though it wont protect durably, it might prevent the rare case of severe disease, the infectious disease doctors wrote. This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. New Covid boosters from Pfizer and Moderna designed to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and are expected to be made available later this week. Health officials say that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now sign off on it amid rising cases of Covid across the US. The FDA said in a statement on Monday that anyone over the age of five is eligible to receive a single dose of the updated vaccine if it is at least two months since their last dose of any Covid vaccine. Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, said Dr Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agencys rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated. The drugmakers were asked by the FDA in June to develop this years boosters to tackle the XBB.1.5 subvariant, which was dominant at the time. Although the CDC say that strain only accounted for 3 per cent of new Covid cases during the week ending September 2, other strains are closely related to it. A CDC advisory committee is set to meet on Tuesday to vote on recommendations for who should get the booster. People can start to get the boosters after CDC Director Dr Mandy Cohen signs off on the recommendations. The updated boosters are each approved for those aged 12 and older and authorised for emergency use for children between ages six months and 11 years. For those aged six months to four years who have previously been vaccinated, the FDA says they are eligible to receive one or two booster doses. For unvaccinated individuals of this age, the FDA says they are eligible for three doses. The federal government, for the first time since Covid shots became available, will not cover their cost, but most people with public and private health insurance should be able to get the $100 booster in-network at no out-of-pocket cost. The 30 million Americans who do not have health insurance should be able to get the shot for free at community health centres and the White House says that anyone without insurance will be able to receive the shot for free until the end of next year. While Covid numbers have been increasing in the US, experts are quick to point out that they are still lower than a year ago. Covid-related hospital admissions rose to more than 17,000 for the week ending 26 August, while the total for the same tie in 2022 was almost 37,000, according to the CDC. Meanwhile, there were 658 Covid deaths, compared to nearly 3,000 in the same period last year. A driver left a scene of destruction after crashing into a home at a high speed in Lakeland, Florida, about a half-hour northeast of Tampa. According to a police report from the Polk County Sheriffs Office, a deputy responded to the call at North Crystal Lake Drive around 2:10 a.m. Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing a red SUV traveling toward their street at 100 mph when the driver failed to navigate a curve and smashed into the home. They said the car then backed away from the crash, and took off. A Florida man was arrested Saturday morning after leaving a hole in a Lakeland home with his car, according to Polk County deputies/WFLA News Channel 8 screenshot The 22-year-old driver was quickly pulled over and arrested. Deputies say the local man admitted to smashing his car into the side of the house, leaving a gaping hole. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In pictures taken by TV station WFLA-Channel 8, you can see the extent of the damage at least one entire room is decimated, both the front and back walls gone, as if a hurricane blew through. He was charged with leaving the scene of a crash. The suspect willfully failed to immediately stop at the scene of the crash or as close to the crash as possible and failed to remain until he had given identifying information any police officer investigating the crash, says the arrest affidavit. A Southwest Florida man was arrested Thursday night after a case of lawn rage, authorities say. According to the charging document, a deputy from the Lee County Sheriffs Office responded to a disturbance call at a Fort Myers home around 9 p.m. A deputy observed a 62-year-old homeowner pacing in his driveway, appearing visibly irate and cursing. These mother [bleep] better not ruin my [bleeping] grass! screamed the man, the police report said. They will see what happens. READ MORE: Florida man arrested after crashing into house at high speed The deputy then made contact with two people across the street who had triggered the suspects ire. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Those workers said they had been contracted to lay fiber optic cables in the area and were attempting to leave for the night when the suspect aggressively approached their truck with a gun. READ MORE: Tenant shoots landlord, Florida cops say The deputy then went back to the suspect, attempting to calm him down, but he continued his cuss-laden rant. I will shoot those mother [bleepers]. Thats how I will handle it, the suspect said, according to the report. After obtaining a search warrant, the deputy searched the house. Inside the garage, in plain view on a shelf, was a gun that matched the victims description. The black and silver Smith & Wesson 9 Tactical pistol was loaded with a magazine that contained nine rounds of 9mm ammunition. Based on the nature of the reported offense, the homeowner was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. He was released on $5,000 bond. Acourt date has been set for Oct. 9. Donald Trump is escalating his threats of fascist violence. During a recent interview, Trump told Glenn Beck that he is going to put President Joe Biden and his other "enemies" in prison if he takes back control of the White House. Last Sunday, Trump announced on his Truth Social disinformation platform that he is going to treat Biden and the other Democrats and his "enemies" like they do in a "banana republic." In so-called banana republics, enemies of the regime are put in prison, tortured and murdered. Trump means what he says. It is true that Donald Trump is a pathological liar. But he has been remarkably honest and transparent in his desires and plans to become America's first dictator and unleash a reign of revenge and tyranny. The coup attempt on Jan. 6 was just a trial run for a much larger and successful attempt to end multiracial pluralistic democracy here in America. In an attempt to make sense of what comes next with Trump's escalating threats of fascist violence and bloodshed, the country's ongoing democracy crisis, and why the news media continues to ignore and normalize the clear and present dangers, I recently asked a range of experts for their thoughts and insights. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity. Dr. Lance Dodes is a retired assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a training and supervising analyst emeritus at the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute. Trump's latest threats to place opponents in jail, including President Biden, fit with the limitless nature of psychopaths. Lacking a conscience or morality to limit his sadism, and believing in his worth above all others, leads Trump to think he has the right to destroy anyone who does not submit to him. Without the innate capacity for empathy toward others and a sense of right and wrong, Trump is an extreme outlier in human psychology. His success is possible by his ability to convince large numbers of people, with the help of his party and some in the media, that he is not what he is. "We should pay very close attention whenever we see these kinds of rhetorical tricks." How can people be conned in such large numbers? Starting in childhood, we all wish for omnipotent heroes, the magical stars of childhood stories and myths who will avenge our grievances and protect us from harm. While most grow beyond this, there is still a piece of that wish inside as seen in the popularity of action-hero movies and other heroic figure fiction. There are clearly enough vulnerable people for whom the wish for a self-styled strong man leader is powerful enough to overcome rational evidence against it. This may be due to naivete based on denial of the sadism in others, rage at personal unfairness that overwhelms normal concerns for others, or simply enough dishonesty and immorality to go along with a malignant leader. They are easy prey for the Big Lie as practiced by tyrants like Trump. We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism Another group of followers surely know that Trump is a con man and wouldn't dream of leaving their children in his care but support him because they think that it is in their personal interest to do so, for economic and political reasons. They lack knowledge of the history and techniques of populist tyrants and the inevitable loss of freedom and democracy from them. That is the sad history of people democratically electing such despots; they don't realize the level of malignant psychology behind the populist face. Such people cannot succeed without allies, however, and the psychology of Trump's supporters in Congress and elsewhere in public life is doubtless somewhat different. They may not individually be as psychologically ill as Trump, but they lack the moral fortitude to risk their personal political fortunes by opposing him. Said another way, they would also support a less psychopathic leader if that were in their personal interest. Their psychology is more in the nature of failed conscience than overall lack of humanity. After Hitler, there were still Nazis in Germany. And after Stalin, there were many longing for his return in Russia. We can expect that there will be Trump supporters even if he is finally imprisoned for his crimes. Whether this country will survive as a democracy will depend on whether we can learn from the experience. We do not now routinely teach and emphasize the danger to democracy from populist psychopaths. We do not make a point of teaching young people about the Big Lie. But we will need to do that to make sure that our citizens are less naive and more prepared in the future. Norm Ornstein is an emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and contributing editor for the Atlantic. He is also co-author of the bestselling book "One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported." That Donald Trump, a lifelong narcissistic sociopath and psychopath, a grifter and serial liar, would threaten judges, prosecutors and all his political opponents with violence and retribution, is no surprise. Sadly, neither is the reality that most mainstream media shrug about this and normalize catastrophic abnormal behavior, minimizing the clear and present danger this madman represents to all of us. Over the past several years, the regularity of this kind of behavior has resulted in what Pat Moynihan called "defining deviancy down." At least most of the judges involved here are unfazed, as are Jack Smith, Fani Willis and the others bringing Trump and his mob to justice. But the open incitement to violence, amplified and enabled by too many in the media and social media, including, of course, Twitter/X, will have consequences. If it triggers others to violence, we know who is to blame. We are going through a very perilous time in this country, but at least justice is apparently on the way for the worse miscreants although not yet including the many members of Congress who were co-conspirators. Jennifer Mercieca, professor of communication at Texas A&M, and author of "Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump." Since he first ran for office in 2015, Donald Trump has always used threats of force and intimidation (ad baculum) in his campaign rhetoric. A typical president would use threats of force as a part of international relations, specifically war rhetoric. But Trump uses war rhetoric to run for office, he uses war rhetoric against his own nation. Trump isn't a presidential candidate, he's a fascist. The goal of fascism is to turn politics into warfare, to create the "war of all against all" so that the frightened public will allow the "strong hand" of the fascist to control the government. Related "Democracy needs its gatekeepers": The Republican Party is too corrupt to care about the country We got here because fascists are very good at normalizing fascist ways of thinking and acting. They use fear appeals, outrage, us versus them polarization, and accusations of hypocrisy to turn their political opposition into "hate-objects." They then blame the hate objects for everything that's going wrong or ever went wrong or could ever go wrong in the future. That combination of rhetorical strategies is strategically useful for fascists because it activates people's innate fight or flight responses and makes them pay attention to the fascist's rhetoricit also makes it harder to think critically about the fascist's rhetoric. A fascist like Trump knows how to play the media so that they help him to normalize fascism. We should pay very close attention whenever we see these kinds of rhetorical tricks. They are a signan advanced warningthat fascism is on the rise. Political candidates who believe in democracy and the rule of law do not use these fascist strategies. Gregg Barak is an emeritus professor of criminology and criminal justice at Eastern Michigan University and author of "Violence and Nonviolence: Pathways to Understanding" and "Criminology on Trump." Donald Trump's vindictive and anti-human rhetoric is as old as he is and first came into full public view in 1989 over his calling for the reinstitution of the death penalty in New York for the Central Park Five who were wrongfully convicted for an alleged group rape committed instead by a lone serial sexual offender. Trump used a similar type of rhetoric when he first ran for the presidency in 2016 and again in 2020. Now in his final days as a free person and as the envisioned walls of prison are starting to close in on Trump, and as his efforts to escape criminal justice by regaining the power of the Oval Office look less likely by the day he is increasingly becoming more desperate to lose the criminal labels and orange jumpsuits that are inevitably coming for him. Hence, the escalating pace of his violent and revengeful rhetoric against his enemies, real or imagined, including most importantly those prosecutors and judges who are doing everything within their power not to weaponize the wheels of justice against him. At best Trump is having limited, if any, success in intimidating some witnesses and tainting juries. Ultimately, however, this rhetoric will be more to his legal detriment than to his political benefit. At the same time, the fact that the news media is no longer preoccupied with Trump's violent rhetoric- even giving him less air time in this areahas to do with the normalization and routinization of this type of vulgar speech by Trump and a few others like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., but not I would point out by most Republicans as well as the other GOP wannabe candidates for the Republican nomination. In other words, Trump's rhetoric is simply no longer as newsworthy as it once was compared to the daily news here, there, and everywhere about his latest losing efforts in civil and criminal courtrooms. Lastly, the ineffectiveness of Trump's bombastic and revengeful rhetoric has been repeatedly demonstrated with each new indictment where his stormtroopers are no longer answering his calls for violence nor for that matter are they anywhere to be seen. I would argue further that they are not going to return anytime soon and that also includes after Trump loses the popular vote for the third straight time in 2024. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. If we are assuming that Trump is the 2024 GOP nominee and that he will continue to lose legal motions after legal motions and lawsuits after lawsuits in civil and criminal courtrooms alike whether before or after the 2024 election then Trump's rhetoric of retaliation and revenge will continue to escalate and fall flat up until the very day of the presidential election. This is also coupled with the fact that Trump, if he even bothers to talk about policy or anything of a substantive matter besides his bogus victimization and martyrdom, he will still have nothing of value to say about any of the domestic or international issues in play that will gain any traction with anyone other than the die-hard Trumpers who do not know up from down or left from right. Despite the present polls showing Biden and Trump in a dead heat, I see Trump losing the popular vote by a record-setting 15 million votes. I also see the Republican Party imploding in this presidential election cycle. If Trump was to win the presidency for a second time to my chagrin and should I be wrong about these two predictions, then I see the end of American democracy as we have known it. In either scenario, however, I do not see the recurrence of mass violence the likes of which we saw on January 6. Thanks primarily to the Justice Department's enforcement of the criminal law against these alt-right neofascists and insurrectionists alike. Thirteen presidential centers wrote a joint letter and shared it with the nation calling on the American people to protect democracy but, unfortunately, they did not identify the source of the problem as Donald Trump and the Republican Party nor did they address the former president's 2024 campaign promises to dismantle the federal government on behalf of an aspiring dictator who has already failed once and has been criminally indicted in both federal and state courts for trying to criminally overturn the 2020 election. Worse yet, as New York Times columnist Charles Blow has written in Dignified Silence Doesn't Work Against Trump that not only are Trump's Republican rivals not attacking him, but neither are the Democrats or President Biden. "This reluctance to take on Trump has allowed him and his surrogates to develop a narrative of victimhood and justified vengeance while allowing the image of timidity and weakness to harden around his opponents like plaster." What these folks who care about the threat to American Democracy need to do is follow the lead of prosecutors Jack Smith and Fani Willis who have called out the hate speech and acts of violence linked to the depreciating and denigrating language of Trump and Trumpism. They also need to punish the violent behavior linked to this negative speech, which has already demonstrated its effectiveness in cooling out the collective violence with respect to Trump's four indictments. Miles Taylor previously served as chief of staff at the US Department of Homeland Security in the Trump administration, where he published the widely read "Anonymous" essay in an attempt to warn the public about the extreme dangers that the now-former president represented to American society. His new book is "Blowback: A Warning to Save Democracy from the Next Trump". A mob mentality has overtaken our politics, especially on the right. If we thought our republic was immune to it, we were wrong. And if we continue to abide it, we won't have a republic much longer. Now is one of the fleeting final moments for Republicans to turn against Donald Trump. There won't be many turning points left. A crass and petulant man's rage has sparked a conflagration of anti-democratic sentiment, and if it isn't repulsed by the party writ large, it will burn our system down. This isn't alarmism. It's realism. Put more simply, when an ex-president calls for jailing opponents again and again, incites violence again and again, and proposes detonating American institutions again and again, it's time to wake the hell up. Read more about Trump's troubles A man charged in connection with the brutal, ice-blooded murder and rape of a woman in 1979 in Bostons Back Bay has been ordered held without bail. John Michael Irmer, 68, of Portland, Oregon, was arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court on charges of murder and aggravated rape in the Oct. 30, 1979, death of 24-year-old Susan Marcia Rose, according to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office. Law enforcement officials say Irmer walked into the Portland FBI field office last month and confessed to killing Rose with a hammer. On that night, Irmer said he met a red-haired woman, Rose, at a skating rink and walked her into 285 Beacon Street, which was being renovated. He allegedly said that shortly after entering the building, he grabbed a hammer and struck Rose in the head, killing her, before fleeing to New York the following day. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A man was previously tried and found not guilty of Roses murder in June 1981. FBI agents in Portland and members of the Boston Police Homicide Unit were able to verify that Rose was found murdered at 285 Beacon Street on October 30, 1979, from multiple blunt injuries of the head with fractures of the skull and lacerations of the brain. DNA samples from Irmer also proved to be a match with DNA samples preserved from the murder scene, according to police. This was a brutal, ice-blooded murder made worse by the fact that a person was charged and triedand fortunately, found not guiltywhile the real murderer remained silent until now, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. Nearly 44 years after losing her at such a young age, the family and friends of Susan Marcia Rose will finally have some answers. Rose had moved to Boston from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and was living on Dartmouth Street at the time of her death. Irmer is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on Oct. 17. 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 A father and his 9-year-old son were killed in a weekend boating accident, police in Tennessee say. Authorities were called at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, about a crash between a personal watercraft and a barge on Cheatham Lake, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Investigators learned Steven White, 36, was on board the watercraft with his son, who was not named, when they hit a barge being pushed by a tow boat. Officials didnt specify the vessel, but WKRN and The Tennessean report it was a jet ski. This embedded content is not available in your region. After the crash, the tow boat operator sounded the alarm and deckhands put a boat into the water to help White and his son, officials said in a news release. They found White unresponsive and without a pulse soon after. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He was rushed to the Cheatham Dam campground where first responders pronounced him dead, the release said. The search for Whites son continued overnight and into the morning as officials scoured the area. Both were wearing life vests at the time of the crash, officials said. Search crews recovered the missing boys body at about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, according to the release. Additional information wasnt released. Cheatham County is about 30 miles northwest of downtown Nashville. 2-year-old wanders from family and drowns in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri cops say Beloved sheriff who was always smiling dies in on-duty crash, Georgia reports say Pilot dies after plane crashes into field, trapping him in wreckage, SC officials say A top military court delivered a unanimous decision to uphold the death penalty conviction of ex-Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people and wounded dozens of others at then-Fort Hood, Texas. On Nov. 5, 2009, Hasan walked into a readiness processing center and opened fire with a semi-automatic handgun. Thirteen people, including a pregnant soldier, died in the barrage. At his court-martial, Hasan admitted to the shooting, and he was sentenced to death. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces rejected Hasans motion to reverse his death sentence after not finding enough merits to his arguments to grant his motion. After carefully considering his raised issues and the record, we conclude that Appellant is not entitled to any relief. We therefore affirm the judgment of the lower court, the courts opinion read. The court then went on to reject each of his arguments. Attorneys for Hasan could not be reached for comment. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces decision does not finalize a pending execution, and Hasans case is far from over. Ten years have passed since Hasan pleaded guilty at his court martial in 2013 to the killings. But Eugene Fidell, a visiting lecturer at Yale Law School, said it takes time for a capital case to make its way through the courts due to the meticulous nature of the U.S. legal system, even the military justice system. In a capital case, you leave no stone unturned, he said. I think its hard because this was an unanimous decision, so you dont have the benefit of a dissenting opinion, which would obviously be helpful. Its the kind of thing you hope for if you have a serious case. Fidell said Hasan still has a number of legal options to get his death penalty conviction overturned. If Hasan believes the judges made a mistake or overlooked an issue, he can ask for a reconsideration. Those, he said, are rarely granted. Hasan could then appeal to the Supreme Court if that is rejected. The case also presents an issue for President Joe Biden, who campaigned as an anti-death penalty candidate. Unlike a civilian courts ruling, the president must personally, affirmatively sign off on a military execution. Hasan is one of four former service members on military death row at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. President George W. Bush signed off on the execution of ex-soldier Ronald Gray, but an execution of the serial rapist and murderer is unlikely in the near future due to the case becoming a legal roller coaster. Others who previously sat on military death row had their death sentences reduced by President Barack Obama during his final days in office. The U.S. government has not executed a member of the armed forces since 1961, when Army Pvt. John Bennett was executed for rape and murder, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. In 1983, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled in U.S. v Matthews that military death penalty sentences were unconstitutional. Then-President Ronald Reagan reinstated the practice after outlining detailed standards for military death penalty sentences. Jonathan Lehrfeld contributed reporting to this article. Ukrainian forces have retaken 4.8 square kilometers of land from Russian troops on the southern front over the past week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Sept. 11. As Ukraine continues its advance towards Melitopol, operations to the south of Robotyne and the west of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast have been successful, Maliar added. Maliar's statement was consistent with the latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, which said that Ukrainian forces had made gains east of Novoprokopivka, which is a few kilometers to the south of Robotyne. Maliar said that Ukrainian forces have now retaken 256.5 square kilometers of land in the south in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and a part of Donetsk Oblast. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The area is the focus of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on Sept. 10 that although the operation is going slower than expected, Ukraine is still "progressing at a very steady pace through the Russian front lines." However, Ukraine likely has about 30 to 45 days for the counteroffensive before the weather worsens on the ground, according to Milley. Read also: As counteroffensive presses forward in southeast, every meter costs a life Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MUNCIE, Ind. Delaware County Council is now searching for ways to afford the same level of government it funded in 2023, let alone accept the bigger 2024 budgets initially offered up by county department heads during budget hearings this past week. County revenue has not kept up with the spending, and according to figures from County Auditor Ed Carroll, the 2024 budget requests arrived from department heads at $6.7 million more than projected county revenue, causing council to call on department heads to dramatically trim their budget requests. The council will continue discussing the budget Thursday, Sept. 14, as the possibility of raising taxes has also become part of the conversation. Sheriff Tony Skinner and Nancy Marvin, office manager for the Sheriff's Department, go over figures during the budget hearing for the Delaware County Jail Thursday. County office holders were required to go back into submitted budgets and find cuts that can be made because of a projected revenue shortfall for county government. Revenue for the county general fund was up $700,000 through June compared to the first half of last year, said Tonya Dunsmore, settlement clerk with the Delaware County Auditor's office. The estimated fall tax collection is also up $451,000 this year. But Dunsmore said July through December expenditures were up about $2 million compared with the final six months of last year. The estimated Dec 31 year ending balance is expected be $1.3 million less that last year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Dunsmore said that County spending is rising this year. County council made $404,000 additional appropriations in 2022. So far this year, council has more than doubled additional appropriations, approving $817,519 in appropriations during the first eight months. And Dunsmore said that more than $600,000 of the appropriations this year are continuing appropriations, meaning they were for ongoing expenditures rather than one time expenditures. Jessica Piper, president of the county council, said officials were looking at 2023 as a baseline with many departments returning unspent 2023 to pitch it into the 2024 budget year. Sheriff Tony Skinner said that if the council is compelled to eliminate pay raises for his employees in 2024, he will not take a $12,000 raise mandated by the state. Delaware County Council members Jim Mochal (right) and Dan Flanagan, go over budget figures Thursday as the council look for places to cut the 2024 budget. "He was the only one who came forward, like a man" said Ryan Webb, at large County Council member. At this point, a relative few county employees are now in line for a raise for 2024. Webb estimated that about 90 to 95 percent of county employees will be without a raise in 2024. The week of budget hearings ended about 1 p.m. Friday, Piper said the council still had about $1.7 million to cut from the 2024 budget offered by department heads. The auditor's office estimated the county budget should be about $34.9 million. which was less that the $35.5 adopted budget last year. Webb said his own figures still showed the council still had more than $3 million to cut. Meanwhile, some people are getting a raise. The county's judges aren't bothering with any budgeting give and take this year. The five judges together issued a court order demanding the county council raise the salary of its court administrator to $80,000. Two years ago the position paid $55,000. Last year the administrator position was raised to $69,000 after the five judges then each pitched in part of their annual stipends from the county to make the raise possible. This year the judges presented an order which said the current court administrator, Emily Anderson, has the experience and qualifications to earn $80,000 annually in comparison with salaries for similar positions at similar sized counties in Indiana. The order also noted that her duties required her to work in excess of 40 hours a week. More: Prosecutor: 'Public safety emergency' looming due to funding at his office Judge Thomas Cannon Jr. discussed the matter at council this week. The court order stated the county should be able to pay the increased salary due to increased property tax assessments in 2023 and with an additional Local income tax or LIT that the Indiana General Assembly passed this year. Senate Bill 417 allows counties to impose a tax increase through LIT to provide for court staff expenses. Piper said she thought the deadline to make a decision on such tax increase was August to have it implemented the following year. But she also discussed with Carroll the possibly a deadline might be in October for implementing a LIT tax increase Jan. 1. Carrol said he wasn't sure yet if that was the deadline. Webb spoke up and said he was opposed to any tax increase, regardless of the deadline. "I'm not voting to raise any tax .. LIT Tax, wheel tax, income tax," Webb said. "I'm not doing it. Especially not to increase salaries." Anderson, who was speaking at the podium along with Judge Cannon about the budget for the courts, asked Webb how could make that work. "How do you run a government without taxes," she asked. "How are we suppose to run our government. Because you can't keep bringing people in, Ryan, at these wages and expect people to work for that. I'm Sorry, I disagree with that totally." Piper said another part of the problem was recently adopted property tax relief by the state is has hurt revenue for counties. "We're in a pickle because of the ramifications of these adjustments," she said. Most county employees discovered they were not going to be in line for a pay increase in 2024. Now they are finding out that one employee for one employee, said Delaware County Clerk Rick Spangler about the court administrator salary. More: New law requires county and city to stream, record and archive public meetings He said the judicial branch was telling the fiscal body to raise taxes and that was not their job. "People talk about the swamp in Washington." Spangler said. "We've got a swamp growing right here." The county clerk said most elected officials found cuts when asked but the council is still short of what it needs to make the budget work. David Penticuff is a reporter for The Star Press. He can be reached at dpenticuff@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: As spending rises, proposed '24 county budget falls millions short Welcome to The Press Room, a weekly roundup of the major stories and happenings in Delaware politics. This weeks edition focuses on abortion in Delaware, NAACPs reaction to a recent fatal officer-involved shooting and the candidates running for the General Assembly. As always, send story tips, feedback, ideas or gossip to me at mnewman@delawareonline.com. In a post-Roe America, Delaware sees significant increase in legal abortions Delaware likely saw the highest jump in legal abortions among East Coast states in the first half of 2023 compared with the same time period in 2020, according to a new analysis. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, published research that found abortions will likely increase across the country at a time when more states are restricting and banning abortions. Delaware, where abortion is protected by state law, saw an increase of 86% from January to June 2023 compared with that same time period in 2020, according to the data. It was the sixth-highest increase in the country, with New Mexico seeing the highest change with 220%. Many of the states with the highest percentage border areas where abortion is severely restricted or totally banned, the data shows. Estimated number of abortions provided by the formal health care system, January-June, 2023 The First State significantly outpaced its neighboring states, which all saw varying increases under 30%. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, Delaware was one of the few states that had abortion access codified as state law. Lawmakers have also recently passed legislation to add further protections. Because of this, Delaware was expected to see a rise in people crossing state lines in order to terminate a pregnancy. But access is still limited: Planned Parenthood, the predominant abortion provider in Delaware, has three clinics in the state. Dozens of people gather adjacent to the J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in Wilmington to protest the potential Supreme Court ruling that would likely make abortion illegal in large parts of the United States Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Federal data previously showed that in 2019, nearly 1 in 7 women who received an abortion in Delaware lived out of state. They mostly came from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Delaware had at the time the second-highest percentage in 2019 of nonresidents receiving abortions among all East Coast states that publicly report this information. NAACP calls on Delaware to release video of fatal officer-involved shooting The Delaware NAACP put further pressure on the state last week to release any available video of a recent fatal officer-involved shooting of Tremaine Jackson. Black people, NAACP officials said, are not safe in Delaware. "What I say to people when they come to Delaware," NAACP Delaware State Conference of Branches President Richard Smith said. "If you're Black, watch yourself in the state of Delaware because the police will kill you." Richard Smith, President of the Delaware NAACP, speaks at a press conference on Wednesday September 6, 2023 calling for transparency following the fatal police shooting of Tremaine Jackson outside the Lowe's near New Castle last week. The familys lawyers are calling on the state to recuse itself from the investigation and, with the NAACPs support, to have an outside agency conduct the investigation. A state police spokesperson asked for the public to be patient as the investigation into the shooting is still ongoing. "We ask for the publics patience as that investigation proceeds and anticipate details being shared with the public at the conclusion of the investigation, the spokesperson said. Read my colleague Esteban Parras reporting on Jacksons death. Who (so far) is running for the Legislature in 2024? With the state primary officially less than a year away, a handful of hopefuls have announced their candidacy for the General Assembly. Democrats are expected to hold their majority in both chambers. The real question is by how much. The party was successful in flipping two Republican-held seats in Sussex County in 2022. So far, the most notable race will be in Representative District 21, which includes Pike Creek. Its the district of House Minority Leader Mike Ramone, who has represented the area for more than a decade. DELAWARE POLITICS: Delaware Democrats eye a 'generational shift' in 2024 in wake of Tom Carper's retirement He now has two Democratic challengers. Michael Smith, a former legislative aide and substitute teacher, and Frank Burns, a climate activist and biotech entrepreneur. Burns lost to Ramone in 2022 by a margin of just 41 votes. Monica Beard, who works for Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence, is attempting to flip a seat in the neighboring 22nd District of Pike Creek Valley, represented by Republican Rep. Mike Smith. He has easily won reelection in recent years. Branden Fletcher Dominguez is seeking to be the youngest and first Afro-Latino elected into the General Assembly. He is running for a Wilmington House seat, currently occupied by Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker. The representative is running for lieutenant governor. And Marty Rendon, commissioner of the Delaware Human and Civil Rights Commission, is looking to win the seat held by longtime former House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, who will retire at the end of this term. He announced in June that he was stepping down as speaker. Its unclear if Schwartzkopf will endorse anyone for his seat, which represents the Delaware beaches. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware reports big jump in legal abortions in 2023. What we know Rebound in domestic travel lifts Chinas three largest state-owned air carriers to profit for first time in three years; Big Three still show losses for first three quarters; analysts see loss resuming in fourth quarter as travel slows at year end Oct 31, 2023 05:39 AM Delta Air Lines is out of the dog house after it finally found a passengers Chihuahua that the airline lost nearly a month ago. Paula Rodriguez, who lives in the Dominican Republic, had her 6-year-old dog, Maia, taken from her during a layover in Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson Airport due to a visa issue, according to CNN. As Rodriguez embarked on a flight back home the next day, she was informed that Maia had gone missing. The operations team at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport found the dog Saturday, hiding near the North Cargo facilities, the airport said on X, formerly Twitter, Sunday morning. Airport officials noted in their post that Maia was tired but in apparent good health when she was found and was sent to a vet for evaluation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We are thankful for the teamwork that has led to our customers dogs recovery, a spokesperson for Delta told The Washington Post via email. Delta is working to reunite the dog with our customer as soon as possible. Rodriguez, 25, told the Post that she left Santo Domingo with her rescue pup in tow to visit friends in California on Aug. 18. She was supposed to have just a brief layover in Atlanta, but border control staff at the airport told her that her tourist visa didnt meet necessary requirements to continue her travel. She was told shed have to spend the night at a detention facility, but without Maia who is also her emotional support pet and get back on a plane to return home on the next flight the following day. They called a Delta agent who [then] took Maia from me, said Rodriguez. Rodriguez told CNN in a previous interviewthat she told the Delta agent she was concerned about being separated from Maia, because her dog had been in a lot of distress during the first part of their flight and had puked with distress and had diarrhea, when they arrived in Atlanta. In response to her concerns, Rodriguez was told not to worry and that Maia would be taken to a facility with staff trained for that. It wasnt my wish, but I understood, said Rodriguez. There was nothing I could do, and I trusted him. Rodriguez told the outlet she was supposed to be reunited with Maia the next day at their gate before their flight back to the Dominican Republic. But when she was ready to board her flight, she was told by Delta gate agents that Maia had gone missing. She was also told she was not allowed to stay in the United States for over 24 hours and was forced to leave to the Dominican Republic without Maia. Everyone who knows me knows what she means to me, Rodriguez told CNN of her beloved pet. I dont go anywhere without her. Shes so well behaved that I take her to restaurants, literally everywhere. Shes my partner in everything. According to Rodriguezs social media posts, her separation from Maia caused her a lot of anguish. In an updated Facebook post on Aug. 23, Rodriguez says she did not receive any information whatsoever on Maias whereabouts from Delta for two days, in which they finally informed her that they had lost Maia. Rodriguez told the Post the airline told her that Maia never made it to their pet facility. Apparently, the distressed dog escaped from the kennel in the middle of an active runway while she was being transported. Airline workers chased after her, but Maia couldnt be caught. Delta Airlines offered Rodriguez $1,800, according to CBS News correspondent David Begnaud. Rodriguezs attorney called Deltas offer an insult. A Delta spokesperson later told Insider that the $1,800 sum is not an offer of compensation. Delta people have shown empathy through many actions, gestures and communications with our customer. That continues, the representative said. As this matter is being handled by attorneys representing the customer and Delta, we will point out that what our customer is sharing is one portion of an initial conversation between attorneys and not reflective of an offer of compensation. Rodriguez told CNN that because of her visa issues, she wasnt allowed to fly back to Atlanta to search for Maia. So on Aug. 24, Rodriguezs mom flew to Atlanta on her daughters behalf and brought some of Rodriguezs clothes to plant her scent around the airport. While there, her mother also got a better idea as to why it was so difficult to find Maia. She said her mother told her the airport spans more than 4,000 acres. My mom told me its scary dimensions, said Rodriguez. Its definitely a possibility that shes hiding in the airport, but she could be in a lot of places. The Post notes that although they couldnt connect with Rodriguez for further comment, she did post a celebratory update on her Instagram story Sunday in which she said she was over the moon to find Maia. Related... Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile said Sunday that Democrats should be concerned ahead of the 2024 election in the wake of recent polling showing worries over President Bidens age. Im not sleeping at night thinking all is well, OK? Brazile said Sunday on ABCs This Week. I have nieces and nephews who say, Well why should I vote for this guy? Hes a little old. I say, Your papa was old too, and look what he did to help you. So I think the Democrats have to continue to make the case. Democrats should be concerned. Brazile argued Democrats need to run as if they are 10 points behind, not even, so that the enthusiasm can be lifted up. She went on to tout the Biden administrations record of accomplishment related to economic growth and investment in the American people. Braziles comments follow a series of polls showing growing concern over Bidens age. At 80, Biden is the oldest ever U.S. president. If reelected in 2024, he would be 86 at the end of his second term. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A CNN poll released last week showed that 56 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of Americans are seriously concerned for Bidens current level of physical and mental competence, while around 60 percent of Democrats expressed concern about his ability to win the 2024 election if he clinches the partys nomination. With regards to his ability to serve a full second term, 62 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Americans overall said they are seriously concerned, the poll found. When asked about these poll numbers, Brazile said Bidens age is going to be an X factor in his reelection, but she also pointed to his experience. Democrats also need to understand that Joe Biden has the experience to lead and he has the commitment to serve the American people, Brazile said. So why might be an X factor; there are other factors that will also come into consideration when we go to the polls some 420 days from now. A Wall Street Journal poll published last week also found 73 percent of American respondents and roughly two-thirds of Democrats said the phrase too old for president captures Biden at least somewhat well. The president has said it is fair for voters to discuss his age but that they should judge him on his ability to perform the job. In an interview last week, Vice President Harris said she is prepared to be president if necessary, but she brushed off concerns over Bidens age. Yes I am, if necessary. But Joe Biden is going to be fine, Harris said in an interview with CBS Newss Margaret Brennan. The vice president stressed that she works with Biden every day and lauded the administrations work under his leadership. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrats are seizing their advantage over a Republican Party that returns to Capitol Hill this week bitterly divided over the issue of Joe Bidens impeachment among others. As lawmakers resumed business this week, the entirety of Washington is eyeing a looming government funding deadline at the end of September that threatens to throw Congress back into a chaotic fight over spending levels and other goals of the far right contingent that has held Speaker Kevin McCarthys caucus hostage since January. Its largely a given that conservatives will seek concessions from leadership in exchange for their votes to avert a government shutdown. The only alternative for Mr McCarthy would be to ice out his own party and pass a clean funding bill that would win Democratic support something that would cost him with his own party down the line. One of those concessions may very well end up being the beginning of an official impeachment inquiry into the activities of Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Republicans have sought conclusive evidence linking the president to his sons business activities for months, but so far have only found a handful of suggestive messages which raise important questions (many of which the president has dodged), but do not prove that Mr Biden was involved or benefited in any way from his sons dealings. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement And now, the Democratic co-chair of the House Oversight Committee is out with a new letter arguing that the investigation led by Republicans on his committee has actually proven that the GOPs case, led by chairman James Comer, is full of holes. In the lengthy document released on Monday morning, Mr Raskin notes the failure of Republicans to obtain testimony from any witnesses actually alleging the occurrence of wrongdoing by the president, including from supposed GOP star witness Devon Archer. A former friend of the younger Biden, Mr Archer testified to the committee that Hunter Biden obviously sought to profit off of his last name and presumed family connections, but denied any knowledge of the president actually being involved or having awareness of that fact. The letter also addressed the inability of the GOP to prove that any money connected to Hunter Bidens business dealings ever found its way to his father. Rather than owning up to the fact that the evidence in his top priority investigation has established no wrongdoing by President Biden, Chairman Comer has resorted to misrepresenting and distorting this huge body of evidence to make baseless and sensationalistic claims, Mr Raskins letter reads. Chairman Comer has repeatedly, and without evidence, asserted the falsehood that President Biden has inappropriately received foreign money. Mr Comers contradictory statements are well-documented on the issue of Mr Biden. The GOP Oversight chairman has claimed that Mr Biden has taken millions and millions of dollars from bad people and bad countries around the world, though he has never proved this and instead only shown previously-uncovered descriptions of Biden family members having business overseas with no proof, again, of the presidents involvement. At a press conference on 10 May, however, Mr Comer assured viewers that it was not a coincidence that so many Biden family members had overseas dealings, and claimed that his committee was looking for evidence to prove the presidents involvement. He noted (correctly) that the committee had already proven that Mr Biden was not being accurate when he claimed on a debate stage in 2020 that his son had not taken money from any Chinese business interests, given the USs tense relationship with Beijing, but all the evidence so far has failed to make the important final last link between Mr Biden and his son. Asked if he has evidence directly linking Joe Biden to alleged malfeasance, Comer indicates he does not pic.twitter.com/AsatNEiMJd Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 10, 2023 Mr Raskins statement left virtually no statement from Mr Comer unturned, and is likely to contribute to serious tensions between the chair and ranking member. Mr Comer was frequently accused of telling lies by his Democratic colleague in the letter, while Mr Raskin derided his party as running the most reckless and least productive [Congress] in decades. House Republicans constantly insist that they are investigating President Biden, and not his adult son. In that case, we can form an obvious judgment on their investigation: it has been a complete and total bustan epic flop in the history of congressional investigations, he added. Mr Comers office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The chair has claimed that his committees efforts up to this point warrant the launching of a formal impeachment inquiry, arguing that the circumstantial evidence supposedly connecting the president to the case is strong enough to move forward. Other Republicans, like Ken Buck of the Freedom Caucus, have disagreed and put the GOP in a very awkward spot as the issue comes up as a bargaining chip ahead of the looming government shutdown. Speaking on MSNBC, Mr Buck said that the "time for impeachment is the time when theres evidence linking President Biden to a high crime or misdemeanor." "That doesnt exist right now," the Freedom Caucus chair added. Some Republicans, like Matt Gaetz, have suggested forcing Mr McCarthy to hold a vote on the issue of an impeachment inquiry, while Democrats have dared them to go ahead with it, confident that the party doesnt have the votes to even get the matter underway. Polls show that the issue of impeachment currently registers much lower support among Americans than did the first trial of Donald Trump in the Senate in 2020. The issue has become a trouble spot for Republicans in swing districts, who run the risk of turning off independents and handing Democrats back the House majority next year by catering solely to the far right. Mr Gaetz, an ardent defender of the plan, has explained that he hopes to use the issue to politically hamstring Mr Biden ahead of 2024, even given near-certainty that the presidents impeachment will fail. If we had the Senate as the stage and the platform for James Comer to put on his evidence and advance this impeachment, it will not result in a conviction, he has said. But the true verdict can still be rendered by the American people. Revision Skincare Intellishade TruPhysical sunscreen, Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen, La Roche-Posay Anthelios oil control sunscreen. Revision Skincare Intellishade TruPhysical sunscreen, Cerave Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen, La Roche-Posay Anthelios oil control sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital component of any skin care routine and should be prioritized even by those with minimalist beauty regimens. Not only does SPF help to prevent skin cancer, but its also the most effective anti-aging product there is since sun damage can lead to discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles and dry, dull skin. Finding the right sunscreen for your skins needs can be a bit tricky, though, especially when formulations and sunscreen technology are constantly improving. Not only that, but given the fact that many sunscreens are now made with skin-loving active ingredients, its a good idea to tailor them to your aging skins ever-evolving needs. Whats great for someone in their 20s is not necessarily ideal for those of us mid-life and beyond. Dr. Corey L. Hartman, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama, explained that as we age, we naturally lose elasticity and moisture in the skin, which often leads to dryness and itching. Older people also tend to have sensitive skin and may be more prone to eczema or reactions to fragrances or other active ingredients. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King added that signs of sun damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, laxity and thinning of the skin and discoloration may become more prominent with age. As if that werent enough, she also noted that some women experience acne during perimenopause. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Both our experts agreed that everyone especially those with mature skin should apply sunscreen daily. Hartman pointed out that while it isnt always necessary to use a different SPF than younger people, there are plenty of good reasons to do so. Many brands offer sunscreens with a variety of benefits beyond sun protection, from added moisture to boosting collagen production for plumper and more even-toned skin, he said. ...Many sunscreens today also offer blue light protection, which is a bonus if you sit in front of a computer screen all day. King recommended finding a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher with hydrating, nourishing ingredients that support the skins natural moisture barrier. She also noted that the addition of antioxidant properties is helpful for protecting the skin from free radical damage. For even more added benefits, Hartman said to look for moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid, niacinamide to help even skin tone and texture, peptides to boost collagen production and even DNA repair enzymes that can repair sun damage from past exposure. Much has been said about the differences between mineral and chemical sunscreen, and while both of our experts tend to recommend mineral formulas for their patients, King emphasized that people should use the sunscreen that they like enough to actually use! UV radiation is a proven carcinogen, while possible concerns about sunscreen ingredients are more hypothetical. When it comes to individuals with specific skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, Hartman recommended using a fragrance-free mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Those with sensitive skin should also use a fragrance-free SPF, but may find that they can tolerate both mineral and chemical options. I recommend doing a patch test on the skin, Hartman stated. Rub a small amount of sunscreen on the underside of your wrist and see how the skin reacts after 24 hours. If you have no reaction, you should be good to go. Below, weve rounded up the best sunscreens for older folks according to our expert recommendations and included a few beloved editors picks as well. Pick up the ones that best fit your needs and budget and enjoy the many benefits of a great sunscreen, from the aesthetic to lasting skin health. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted. La Roche-Posay Anthelios gel-cream SPF 50+ sunscreen Walmart La Roche-Posay Anthelios gel-cream SPF 50+ sunscreen Board-certified dermatologist Corey L. Hartman personally uses this sunscreen. He says it "applies easily and doesn't leave the skin feeling extra shiny or sticky. It also doesn't leave a white cast on my skin." It absorbs quickly and has soothing antioxidant ingredients. $24.99 at Walmart SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 mineral sunscreen Dermstore SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50 mineral sunscreen You can't go wrong with SkinCeuticals products they're all about skin health and radiance. This tinted mineral sunscreen is an editors' pick that not only provides broad spectrum protection, but it gives skin a radiant, even glow without leaving a white cast or oily residue. It's lightweight and water-resistant, making it perfect for a day at the beach. $42 at Dermstore Isdin Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+ sunscreen Amazon Isdin Eryfotona Actinica SPF 50+ sunscreen Hartman is also a fan of this cult-fave brand. "It is one of my go-to recommendations for all skin types," he said. "Its a lightweight emulsion that delivers moisture and mineral zinc oxide for a chemical-free, physical sunscreen that eliminates the possibility of allergy. Its a thin emulsion that has zinc oxide and DNA repair enzymes. It goes on smoothly and doesnt leave a white film." $60 at Amazon Revision Skincare Intellishade Truphysical tinted moisturizer SPF 45 Amazon Revision Skincare Intellishade Truphysical tinted moisturizer SPF 45 This under-the-radar brand is beloved by dermatologists, and this sunscreen was recommended by New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick. She pointed out that as an all-in-one sunscreen and moisturizer, it's great for daily use, but also contains some antioxidant benefits to help protect skin from daily stressors. $84 at Amazon Dr. Loretta Universal Glow SPF 40 sunscreen Dermstore Dr. Loretta Universal Glow SPF 40 sunscreen A personal favorite of mine, this Dr. Loretta sunscreen is ideal for anyone who wants a mineral sunscreen but with a lightweight, silky smooth finish you typically only get from chemical SPFs. Zinc, antioxidants and botanical extracts provide protection from sun damage while also helping to improve the look of fine lines, dark spots and other signs of aging, leaving skin soft, smooth and nourished. I've found that it layers beautifully with other skin care products as well as makeup, doesn't pill and gives skin the perfect amount of glow without feeling oily. This editors' pick is loaded up with dermatologist-recommended ingredients that will leave skin looking and feeling its best. $60 at Dermstore Face Reality daily SPF 30 lotion Face Reality Face Reality daily SPF 30 lotion When it comes to chemical sunscreens, dermatologist Dr. Hadley King recommends this daily sunscreen. "I like that the formulation contains vitamin E and green tea extract, which provide antioxidant properties to help protect the skin from damage from free radicals," she said. "And the formulation includes moisturizing ingredients such as kukui nut oil, sunflower seed oil, macadamia nut seed oil, dimethicone and glycerin. And allantoin helps to soothe the skin. The finish is sheer, which makes it easy to use for all skin types." $32 at Face Reality EltaMD UV Clear broad spectrum SPF 46 sunscreen Dermstore EltaMD UV Clear broad spectrum SPF 46 sunscreen This editor's pick sunscreen is technically a mineral and chemical sunscreen because it is formulated with both zinc and octinoxate. It also has skin care-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin E. It's great for acne-prone and sensitive skin. $41 at Dermstore La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-light SPF 50 mineral sunscreen Dermstore La Roche-Posay Anthelios ultra-light SPF 50 mineral sunscreen According to Garshick, "This ultralight sunscreen fluid is mineral-based, containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, but also offers a fast-absorbing, lightweight texture. It is easy to apply and also offers antioxidant protection." $36.99 at Dermstore Face Reality ultimate protection SPF 28 sunscreen Face Reality Face Reality ultimate protection SPF 28 sunscreen Another King favorite, this sunscreen "includes humectants like glycerin to hydrate the skin, emollients like triglycerides, sunflower seed oil and squalane to support the skin barrier and occlusives like simethicone to help lock in moisture. The formulation also contains vitamin E, aloe, honeysuckle flower extract and allantoin for additional anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and soothing properties," she said. $33 at Face Reality CeraVe 100% mineral sunscreen SPF 50 Amazon CeraVe 100% mineral sunscreen SPF 50 Garshick noted that "[t]his hydrating formulation contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide broad-spectrum coverage. In addition, it contains hyaluronic acid to help provide moisture, ceramides to help support the skins natural barrier as well as niacinamide which can soothe the skin. This mineral sunscreen is fragrance- and paraben-free making it a good option even for those with dry or sensitive skin." $12.59 at Amazon Paula's Choice Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 sunscreen Sephora Paula's Choice Super-Light Daily Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 sunscreen Made with pure zinc oxide, botanicals and antioxidants like bisabolol, willow bark and resveratrol, this sheer sunscreen can help to blur the appearance of pores and reduce shine, evening out skin tone and helping calm redness or irritation. This editor's pick is perfect for someone who prefers a silky matte finish and wants to tackle a few anti-aging issues at the same time. $37 at Sephora Related... This article was originally published in Virginia Mercury. Virginia students 2022-23 pass rates on the states Standards of Learning tests were relatively unchanged compared to the past school years rates and remain below pre-pandemic levels, data released by the Department of Education Thursday show. The results show significant and persistent learning loss in reading and math for Virginia students in grades 3-8, the department said in a statement. More than half of 3rd-8th graders either failed or are at risk of failing their reading SOL exam, and nearly two-thirds of 3rd-8th graders either failed, or are at risk of failing, their math SOL exam. At a press conference in Richmond Thursday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin directed local school districts to begin setting up high-intensity tutoring programs by Oct. 16 and urged them to find creative approaches to address learning loss in reading and math by connecting with retired teachers and college students and tapping into tutoring resources. No paywall. No pop-up ads. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Keep The 74 free with a donation during our Fall campaign. In a moment where we are talking about our students future, were asking a lot of our teachers and so I want to say thank you ahead of time, Youngkin said. Were asking an extraordinary amount out of our administrators, were asking an extraordinary amount out of all of those that support all of the functionality in schools. The Standards of Learning tests are used in Virginia to measure student learning and achievement in mathematics, reading, science, writing, and history and social science. Testing was suspended during 2020-21, when many schools around the state had stopped in-person instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Related Ohio Spending Millions on Online Math Program For Pandemic Recovery Following the pandemic, Virginia students showed sharp declines in their performance on the SOLs. While pass rates have improved in many subjects over the past three years, Thursdays data show they are still lagging pre-pandemic achievement. In 2022-23, roughly 69% of Virginia students passed the mathematics test compared to 82% before the pandemic. On reading tests, 73% of students overall passed compared to 78% before the pandemic. Writing rates continued to fall, dropping by 4% for a second straight year. Chronic absenteeism also continues to be a problem, the Youngkin administration said. Last school year, the number of chronically absent students doubled compared to 2018-19 numbers, according to the Department of Education. VDOE calculates that students in grades 3 through 8 who missed 18 days of school last year scored 18% lower than students with regular attendance on reading tests and 25% lower on math tests. It is very important for us all to talk about how students need to come to school, said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. During COVID, it was okay to keep students home they learned on a laptop [and] they learned at home. We sent the message that it was okay to be at home and now theyre trained to learn from home. We have to change that mindset and we have to change that culture as a community and expect our children to come to school. Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said students have fallen off track and they are struggling. Theyre struggling developmentally, theyre struggling emotionally and theyre struggling academically, she continued. It is challenging for them to catch up and master content and skills that theyve never had the chance to learn. And it is now harder than ever for them to build upon an academic foundation, which theyve never had a chance to develop. The Youngkin administration has consistently blamed learning losses in Virginia on extended school closures by divisions during the COVID-19 pandemic and decisions by prior Boards of Education to lower cut scores on student assessments and change the states standards of school accreditation, moves many Democrats and prior board members have defended. Like many other states, Virginia is also facing teacher shortages: Last school year, the states teacher vacancy rate grew by 0.8% to 3.9%, with the most significant vacancy rates in the Tidewater and Eastern Shore region, at 6.2%, followed by the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula at 4.7%. Those shortages have led the state to lean heavily on provisionally licensed educators and partner with a for-profit online teacher credentialing company in an effort to fast-track teachers into the classroom. Funding has also been an issue. A recent study by the states legislative watchdog concluded that Virginia allocates far less than needed to fund its school divisions, which receive less funding per student than divisions in other states. Both the General Assembly and the administration have proposed a range of solutions to address learning losses. Amendments to the two-year budget the legislature passed Wednesday include raises for teachers and an additional $418 million in flexible direct aid to schools for uses such as addressing learning loss. Youngkin still must sign the budget for the amendments to take effect, but the VDOE has recommended that divisions allocate 70% of the flexible funding they receive to high-dose tutoring. Youngkin this spring launched a new learning recovery grant program to cover extra educational expenses for students and a web tool to provide comprehensive data on student learning for parents and teachers. This Thursday, his administration unveiled a new plan called ALL IN VA intended to help losses by focusing on attendance, literacy and tutoring. The plan includes addressing attendance issues by creating a task force made up of experts and community members to develop recommendations for school divisions, accelerating the expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act through grade 8 and investing in a statewide tutoring initiative for students. There are a number of teachers out there that are not in classrooms today that have a license to teach in our commonwealth, and while thats not required of this tutoring program, those people are sitting on the bench, said Board of Education President Grace Creasy. We would certainly encourage them and embrace them in helping our communities to get back to where we need to be for the kids of the commonwealth. School accreditation ratings will be released by the Department of Education next month. An accredited school is one that meets the states educational standards. Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter. A former teen beauty queen whose career was upended when she appeared in online pornography says she was sex trafficked and raped at the behest of a notorious porn producer. Kristy Althaus, a runner-up in the 2012 Miss Teen Colorado USA pageant, made the horrifying allegations in a new federal lawsuit against a complex web of related companies, including Aylo, formerly known as MindGeek (the parent company of PornHub), and Ethical Capital Partners, a private equity firm that recently acquired Aylo. She claims that she was conned into filming nonconsensual sex scenes by Michael Pratt, owner of now-shuttered company Girls Do Porn, who is awaiting extradition from Spain on charges of sex trafficking. Althaus says she was raped, drugged, physically abused and blackmailed by Pratt and his associates. When the videos were released online with her name attached they went viral on PornHub, and Althaus says she was stripped of her pageant titles, harassed by students at her college, and recognized by strangers on the street until she suffered severe distress and anxiety. She lost jobs when employers discovered shed appeared in porn and struggled to maintain healthy relationships, she says. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement She even changed her name, but though the video is a decade old, the harassment hasnt stopped, she claims in the suit. Unidentified men continue to approach Plaintiffs home at all hours of the day and night, her suit reads, As recently as May-June 2023, Plaintiff was assaulted at her home by a self-described PornHub subscriber who confronted her about the recent removal of the subject videos from Defendants websites. FBI Althaus is suing the adult video distributor Pornhub, as well as its Montreal-based parent company MindGeek, claiming that Girls Do Porn was entirely sustained by MindGeeks vast online network. She says she reported her rape and sex trafficking to MindGeek but they chose to ignore it favor of generating millions of dollars from the content. In 2020, Girls Do Porn was ordered to pay $12.8 million in damages, after a class-action lawsuit by 22 women who accused the company of coercing and defrauding them. The FBI charged Pratt and three associates with federal sex trafficking offenses in October 2022. Pratt fled the U.S. and was arrested in Spain two months later. In a statement to The Daily Beast, Aylo declined to comment on the litigation, but said they looked forward to the facts being fully and fairly aired in court. The safety of our community is our number one priority, so we are proud to have instituted Trust and Safety policies that surpass those of any other major user-generated platform on the internet, Aylo said in a statement. Our compliance program has helped us set the standard for the tech industry, and we are committed to remaining at the forefront of this important area. PornHub and Ethical Capital Partners did not respond to a request for comment. Its not clear if Pratt has a current attorney. The Amateur XXX Site Accused of Conning Young Women Into Porn Raised in Colorado, Althaus spent her teens modeling for companies like Kohls and Champion, and in 2012 she was the first runner-up in the Miss Teen Colorado USA pageant. After graduating high school in 2013, Althaus, then 18, began to pursue a career in modeling. She came across a Craigslist ad offering a paid modeling opportunity, and the poster offered to fly her to San Diego for a shoot, according to her suit Little did Althaus know that she was one of hundreds of women about to be lured into the GirlsDoPorn empire, a California-based adult subscription service formed in 2006. The company specialized in producing X-rated videos of young women between 18 and 22, promising viewers the clips were the one and only time [the girls] do porn. Pratts company would post ads for models on Craigslist, fly young women out to San Diego and then coerce them into appearing in pornographic films that they promised would be sold only on DVD to private collectors and small video stores outside the United States, according to a separate class-action suit. They were also promised anonymity, but the videos were sold and distributed across the internet, ending up on some of the worlds biggest porn sites, often with their real names attached, the class-action suit said. Girls Do Porn was particularly interested in Althaus because of her beauty pageant background, her suit alleges. It was only after Pratt and associate Andre Garcia picked her up from the airport that she discovered they wanted her to do an adult shoot, she says. When she refused, the suit claims, Pratt and Garcia plied her with booze and pills to soften her reluctance. Althaus remembers being promised the video would only be on DVD and only available in Australia, the suit says. Pratt and Garcia took Althaus to a hotel room filled with camera equipment, took her phone away, forced her to perform sexual acts on film while intoxicated, she alleges The nine-hour shoot included a protracted filming of Althaus being raped by Garcia, the suit says. The men refused to stop even when Althaus started bleeding and gave her more alcohol and Xanax, the suit alleges. Althaus account echoes many of those given by the Jane Does who filed suit in 2019. They described abusive behavior at shoots that left the women injured and bruised. Others described being paid less than they had been promised. The Fugitive Porn Producer Accused of Sexually Exploiting 22 Women After she started college in August 2013, Pratt allegedly began pressuring her to make more videos, threatening to release the footage they already had. Texts included in the suit contain threats against Althaus and her family and friends: You better be here by noon shoot 2tomorrow or your graveyard. Althaus says she agreed to another shoot and that Pratt and Garcia once again gave her alcohol, marijuana and Xanax and spiked her drink with oxycodone. Pratt was so enraged by her pleas to stop that he broke a hotel lamp and flashed a gun when she fled to the bathroom, the suit alleges. When the shoot was over, Pratt allegedly drove Althaus to his house, forced her to perform oral sex on him in the car, stuck his gun into her mouth, and repeatedly assaulted her. An attorney for Garcia did not respond to a request for comment. He is serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of sex trafficking in November 2020. According to the suit, in January 2014, Althaus was sitting in a class at college when she got a text message from an unknown number. Told you bitch, it read. A friend texted shortly after to tell Althaus the videos of her were live on Twitter, PornHub and other porn websites, she says. Girls Do Porn and MindGeek pursued an aggressive marketing strategy to promote additional videos of Althaus, her suit claims, She says she contacted MindGeek multiple times to tell them the clips were being distributed with her consent. MindGeek threatened Althaus with legal action if she continued trying to get them removed, according to the suit When the Department of Justice seized and shut down Girls Do Porn in 2019, MindGeek removed videos of Althaus, but it was temporary. Since then, MindGeek has reposted videos of Althaus made by Girls Do Porn, her suit alleges. It is not the first suit that has taken aim at MindGeek over its conduct with Girls Do Porn. In December 2020, 40 women sued MindGeek alleging the business had knowingly profited from its relationship with Pratts company, demanding $80 million in damages. MindGeek has received ill-gotten gains by selling, marketing and exploiting videos featuring the Plaintiffs likenesses, their suit alleged. The case was settled out of court and the terms kept confidential, according to Vice. Following the settlement, MindGeek released a statement saying it had no tolerance for illegal content on their platforms, and had implemented a comprehensive, industry-leading trust and safety policy to identify and eradicate any illegal material. In March MindGeek was acquired by private equity firm Ethical Capital Partners and had its name changed to Aylo. ECP said in a press release at the time that it was investing in MindGeek as the internet leader in fighting illegal online content. Althaus suit accuses Aylo and ECP of aiding and abetting sex trafficking, profiting from sex trafficking and advertising a victim of sex trafficking. These unlawful videos generated millions of dollars in revenue for GirlsDoPorn and MindGeek at the expense of countless young womens lives, Althaus suit claims. 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 internal watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security found the agency has a limited ability to track migrants once they are released inside the United States, noting that during a 17-month period 177,000 address records for new arrivals were either blank or contained nonexistent or nonresidential locations. More than 1 million migrants were released inside the U.S. pending their immigration hearings from March 2021 to August 2022, according to a new report from the DHS Office of Inspector General. Of those migrants records, more than 54,000 were blank, while the rest were either invalid or not legitimate residential locations. Migrants exit a bus after being released from federal immigration custody in El Paso, Texas, on May 16, 2023. (Jordan Vonderhaar / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) Some of the locations that were used more than 50 times during a six-month period included a restaurant in Maryland, a bus station in Georgia, a car dealership in New Jersey and a church in Illinois. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Without a real address, DHS had no way to track the whereabouts of migrants or to send them notifications about their pending asylum claims and court dates. If they dont file an asylum claim with immigration courts within a year of arrival, they could miss the opportunity to seek legal residency and work authorization. The inspector generals report said valid addresses are needed for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to locate and deport migrants who are illegally in the country. ICE must be able to locate migrants to enforce immigration laws, including to arrest or remove individuals who are considered potential threats to national security, the report said. The notable percentage of missing, invalid for delivery or duplicate addresses on file means DHS may not be able to locate migrants following their release into the United States. U.S. Border Patrol and ICE personnel told the inspector generals office that migrants commonly share addresses and may reuse addresses based on extended family all going to the same location or based on information from potential smugglers. Previous administrations of both parties have released migrants with pending immigration court dates into the U.S. because of overcrowding in immigration detention facilities and policies limiting the detention of children. To further reduce crowding in Border Patrol processing centers, the Biden administration began to release migrants in March 2021 without court dates, but with a notice to report to an ICE office within 60 days. The inspector generals investigation found that more than 25,000 of almost 100,000 migrants released with only a notice to report to ICE were missing addresses in their files. The inspector general found in a previous report that 29% of migrants released with a notice to report to ICE did not report to the agency within the 60-day period required by the terms of their release. NBC News previously reported on the number of migrants released into the U.S. without court dates, which totaled more than 600,000 as of February. In 2022, DHS began to place migrants released without court dates in a program known as Alternatives to Detention, which allows ICE to monitor their whereabouts through an ankle monitor or mobile app. In May, when numbers at the border were expected to surge with the ending of the Covid restrictions known as Title 42, the administration considered allowing border agents to release migrants into the U.S. without a court date or the ability to track them. But a federal judge in Florida issued a ruling just before that policy went into effect blocking it. In response to the inspector generals report and recommendations, DHS said it had no need to implement a program to validate addresses on migrant intake forms. The burden is on the noncitizen to provide a valid address, the report said in summarizing DHS response. In a statement to NBC News, a DHS spokesperson said, Our immigration system is broken and outdated and Congress needs to fix it. Even under those outdated laws, the Department has improved how noncitizens are processed and vetted. Individuals seeking to come to the United States are screened by DHS and our intelligence and counterterror partners to prevent anyone who poses a threat from entering the country." The IG ignores legal and operational constraints that make it impossible for the Department to implement its recommendations. The report also excludes several recent DHS improvements to how we track and update noncitizen addresses across agencies. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (FOX40.COM) Marysville native Leon Lampkin Jr. was convicted of being an accessory to a double murder in 1998 and sentenced to two life terms in prison, but on Sept. 29 that judgment may be thrown out pending results of an evidentiary hearing in Yuba County. He should have never been convicted in the first place, Lampkins sister Bertha Felix told FOX40.com. In 1999, a Yuba County jury convicted Lampkin of the first-degree murders of brothers Alejandro and Leoncio Jimenez, attempted robbery and possession of a short-barrel shotgun, according to casetext.com. The jury determined that Lampkin was an accessory to murder but not the person who fired the fatal gunshots. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Official records show that during Lampkins hearing, the trial court instructed the jury on felony murder, citing that the law did not require that a defendant was the actual killer or acted with intent to kill. Under California law at the time, a person could be convicted of first-degree murder if it happened while a defendant was engaged in or an accomplice in the commission or attempted commission of robbery. They deserve life in prison: Daughters of man murdered in 1998 double homicide speak out for the first time However, in 2018, former governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1437 (SB 1437), which changed the states murder law by limiting who can be prosecuted for murder and felony murder. According to SB 1437, a person who was an accessory to murder could not be convicted in the first degree. The law was also applied retroactively to those already convicted, including Lampkin. Prior to SB 1437, Lampkin attempted to appeal his sentencing twice but was denied, according to records. After almost 25 years of incarceration, Lampkin will get another chance to plead his case before a judge. Californians approved Prop 57 to allow some inmates to reduce their sentences. Did they mean sex offenders too? Im not happy with how the courts first handled the case, but I have to focus on whats happening now, Felix said. He served 25 years. He did his time. Hes been locked up almost his entire life. Based on the laws we have now he should be out. If he were to get convicted for the same thing today he would not get 25 years. Felix emphasized that Lampkin was convicted of being involved in the robbery, but not firing a weapon. The person convicted of firing the gun that killed the Jimenez brothers is Marysville native Michael Owens. Court records show that on the night of the murders, Owens was found by law enforcement near the scene of the crime with gunshot wounds from a shoot-out that occurred during the robbery. Police respond to second Labor Day shooting near Arden-Arcade They (Owens and Lampkin) went to the residence to commit a robbery. A gunfight erupted during the attempted robbery, Yuba County District Attorney Clinton Curry told FOX40.com. Leoncio or Alejandro managed to hit Owens three times prior to dying from their injuries. Curry said the former defendants knew what they were getting into. DNA led to the identification and arrest of suspected Sacramento serial rapist Lampkin and Owens both armed themselves with firearms and snuck up to the home of known drug dealers, Curry said. Committing an armed home-invasion robbery at night upon known drug dealers is about as dangerous a crime as you can commit. Lampkin and Owens committed the crime with complete indifference to whether the targets of the robbery lived or died. Lampkin was not located at the crime scene. However, court records say his DNA was found and used to connect him to the crime. Owens was sentenced to three life terms without the possibility of parole. We do intend to call Owens as a witness in Lampkins case to try to help fill in some of the details of exactly how Lampkin participated in the robbery and murders, Clinton said. This is information that wasnt available to us during the trial. Felix expressed dissatisfaction in the district attorney calling on Owens. I hate that theyre trying to pin them (Owens and Lampkin) against each other, Felix said. This isnt a retrial. This is a resentencing based on new laws, but the DA keeps trying to find loopholes to not release my brother. Felix said she knew Owens and his family and that she keeps Owens in her prayers. She said she would never want to paint Owens in a bad light and thinks that they both have served enough time. Laws at the time were made to keep minorities, Blacks and Latinos in prison for longer. They often werent given fair trials, Felix said. Im not one to always talk about race. I have more conservative views but lets be honest, Yuba County back then was very discriminatory. I went to school there with KKK members. This new law fixes that, Felix said. The district attorney is strongly opposed to the release of Lampkin. Curry said the new law is beneficial in some cases, but in Lampkins, it isnt. At this point, we have zero belief that Lampkin would be safe if released back into the community, Curry said. When Lampkin committed the robbery in this case in 1998, it was known that he had committed another armed robbery and that he was a suspect in a 1994 murder committed in Sacramento. We know he was an extremely dangerous individual. We are not aware of any efforts Lampkin has made to rehabilitate himself. Felix disagreed. The crime happened when he was in his youth. He was 22 then and now hes near 50, Felix said. I know the statistics of people who reoffend but those are mostly people who dont have support. Leon has an established family who is willing to hire him as an employee and provide him with a place to live. Im willing to take responsibility and risk my career for him. We have the resources to help integrate him back into society. Lampkin served part of his time in Northern California before being transferred to a facility six hours away- making it difficult for his family to visit, according to Felix. She added that if her brother is released he will not be anywhere near Yuba County. An evidentiary for resentencing hearing was scheduled at 9 a.m. on Sept. 8 at Yuba County Superior Court, 215 5th Str., Marysville, however, it was continued to Sept. 29. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. More than two months after New Jersey's budget was signed into law, the Legislature released details on special request items pork spending made by state lawmakers. Legislators sponsored and funded nearly 500 line items that vary significantly, from the New Jersey State Police to all manner of community projects. State Senate President Nick Scutari ensured that his district saw plenty of funding for improvements. He sponsored a resolution giving $25 million to Union County Vocational-Technical Schools, $11 million for upgrades at Warinanco Park in Union County and another $13.75 million to the county for development, capital and operating expenses. The New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin was in on the action, too. Coughlin sponsored a resolution to appropriate $2 million for a Metropark platform capital project. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz secured $30 million for Newark to expand access to health care through a program administered by Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, in partnership with University Hospital. How the NJ budget funds pork projects All of these appropriations are the norm in New Jersey. As part of the annual effort to craft a new state budget, legislators like to add items that benefit their specific communities as well as larger projects that tend to grab attention as the process heats up in June this year the oft-discussed StayNJ rebate program, for example. Theres typically little in the way of public input or even discussion, though it falls to taxpayers to foot the bill for these projects. Because Democrats control both the Assembly and the state Senate, its no surprise that the majority of the 494 resolutions added were sponsored by Democrats. A few Republican-backed items did manage to make the final cut, though, including $250,000 for environmental infrastructure upgrades in Pemberton and $200,000 for Hammonton Lake Park improvements in Hammonton, both sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Torrissi Jr. and Assemblyman Brandon Umba, as well as $250,000 for transportation improvements in Egg Harbor Township and $250,000 for the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, both of which were sponsored by state Sen. Vincent Polistina. State lawmakers typically ignore their own rules, which require resolutions that add new spending for these pet projects to be published 14 days before the state Senate begins deliberating its final spending bill. The 2023 list of special request items was also released in August, six weeks after the summer recess started, when attention was no longer on Trenton. Scutari said in a statement that lawmakers are making use of state and federal resources to support specific programs and services that will improve the quality of life for New Jerseyans without added expense for local government." We are managing state finances responsibly with a surplus of more than $8 billion, another full pension payment and a debt reduction program that will produce long term savings for the taxpayers, Scutari said. We will continue to be fiscally responsible at the same time we work to make life more affordable for our residents and make strategic investments to expand economic growth. The Senate president did not comment on why it took two months for the resolutions to be released. Special request items: As a final NJ budget looms, where is the pork? Does the NJ public have any opportunity for input? Scutari and Coughlin said on the night Gov. Phil Murphy signed the budget into law that the resolutions would be released in the same time frame that weve always released them. Scutari also said in the days leading up to the budget vote that the resolutions were under active consideration and he hoped they would be available by July. Peter Chen of New Jersey Policy Perspective said that as with every other bill, the public has a right to know who sponsored each resolution and what it's for before the Legislature votes on it. There should be bills, things we should have, like wheres the [Office of Legislative Services] estimate? It's nowhere. There's no fiscal note, Chen said. You have to do your own homework. You look at the budget resolution, and then you look at the budget language provisions, and then you line it up to where it was different from the governor's budget or from some earlier version, and then you can figure out this resolution correlates with this language change. But oftentimes, that's what you have to do on your own. It's not as though the text is included in some of them, or any explanation for what the money is going toward. Chen went on to say that his concern isnt with the specific projects or whether they are good but the opportunity for the public to provide any kind of scrutiny for the budgeting process, because the lack of transparency and information erodes the faith in government overall and contributes to a view of government is wasteful. But the lack of public input isnt the only transparency issue during the process, Republicans say. Republican Budget Officer Sen. Declan OScanlon and Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco allege that the explanatory information on the resolutions sponsored by their members, as well as the sponsoring members themselves, have been modified. Theyre not the budget resolutions that our members actually submitted; rather they are versions of our members' resolutions that were prepared by someone else, Bucco said. Who we don't know, because we weren't consulted on it. So the resolutions are now being crafted by somebody that don't necessarily reflect a complete resolution. Bucco noted that some Republicans who advocated for items and appeared as sponsors of resolutions now no longer appear as the sponsors of these resolutions and that the explanations were removed so it appears as if this was a whitewash and sanitation process to cover up what's been a horrible process to begin with. OScanlon echoed that and said the information was unquestionably, purposefully withheld by Democrats and that it doesn't adhere to the spirit of transparency in government. The arrogance is astounding and the public should give a damn, because it's their money, much of which is being squandered or manipulated and handed to people with no accountability, he said. The rules of the Legislature, adopted by both chambers at the beginning of each two-year session, note that the sponsor or sponsors of a budget resolution shall set forth in detail therein each revenue, line-item or language provision proposed to be added, deleted or changed and append thereto a statement explaining the proposed changes and the reasons therefor. The Senate Majority Office did not respond to requests for comment on possible changes to the resolutions. What statewide programs benefit? These resolutions dont just cover the district-specific desires of legislators, though. There are statewide programs that benefit as well. Money was set aside to address housing issues and lead remediation efforts as well as for health care and school services. But the majority of the 494 late additions that helped balloon Murphys $53.1 billion proposed budget to its $54.3 billion final form were new items from all over the state. Three community centers made the cut: $5 million for the Monte Irvin Park Community Center in Essex County, $3 million for a community center in Pennsauken and $330,000 for capital improvements at the community center in Highland Park. There is $250,000 headed to Nimbus Dance Works in Jersey City and $100,000 going to Cheer Dynamics in Hoboken. Another $1.5 million is going to Livingston for field improvements at the Oakner Complex, and $2.5 million is headed to Monroe Township for capital improvements at police headquarters. Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ pork spending: How did lawmakers pick pet project for 2024? Disney fans say they waited up to five hours in line on Sunday to meet Figment, a purple dragon. The character is extremely popular, and it was his first meet-and-greet hosted at Epcot in years. Created for Disney in the '80s, Figment is best known for hosting the ride Journey Into Imagination. Would you wait hours in line at Disney World to meet a cartoon character? Thousands of Disney fans did just that on Sunday when the Orlando, Florida, theme park hosted meet-and-greets with Figment a beloved purple dragon from the Epcot ride Journey Into Imagination With Figment for the first time in years. Fans began to queue immediately after Epcot's gates opened at 9 a.m., according to videos shared by those in attendance, and the line quickly extended past the Imagination Pavilion where the meet-and-greet was being held. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Some used umbrellas and handheld fans to deal with the hot sun while waiting in line, and many were dressed in their best purple-and-orange Figment-themed attire. This embedded content is not available in your region. Amanda Batts, a 34-year-old podcaster, was one of those dedicated fans who waited to meet the character. She told Insider that she arrived at Epcot around noon with her husband and two children on Sunday and found a huge line for the meet-and-greet with an estimated wait time between three and four hours. But later around 2:15 p.m., Batts decided to brave the line while her husband and kids walked around the World Showcase. "They closed the line at around 2:45 p.m. since it would take that long to cycle through the guests, and Figment was done with meet-and-greets for the day at 5 p.m.," Batts said. "Thankfully, my husband and our girls were able to jump in line with me at the end of my two-and-a-half-hour wait." Amanda Batts and her children with Figment at Epcot on Sunday. Amanda Batts As for why Batts and her family were willing to wait in line, she said they love Journey Into Imagination With Figment and consider the character to be an "Epcot icon." And in her opinion, the wait was entirely worth it especially because the character "very intentionally spent quality time with each guest." "There were so many lifelong Figment fans in line, and it was so heartwarming to see adults turn into children before our eyes," she said. "So many sweet moments were had and Figment made it really special for everyone." Specifically, she said, he waved goodbye to fans and personally escorted them out of the meet-and-greet when they were finished, and the character interacted with her toddler who was curious to know if he always wears his orange sweater. "If you were wondering, he wears it when he's going to fly in case he gets cold," Batts said. "Overall, it was a lovely experience, and being there on day one was filled with pure Disney magic." Amanda Batts and her children with Figment at Epcot on Sunday. Amanda Batts On TikTok and Instagram, other Disney fans said they waited three to five hours in line to take photos with Figment. They also shared that the character doesn't sign autographs, though Disney employees hand out cards with his pre-printed signature. This embedded content is not available in your region. Figment has been a staple of Disney World since 1983 when his namesake ride opened The all-ages attraction was originally called Journey Into Imagination, later renamed as Journey Into Your Imagination, and eventually became Journey Into Imagination With Figment. The slow-moving ride brings parkgoers through "sensory labs" with Figment as your guide to learn about "how the five senses capture the imagination," according to the Disney World website. You're taken through upside-down rooms, guided through sensory experiences, and shown videos of the purple dragon interacting with Dr. Nigel Channing, played by Eric Idle. And that's not to mention Figment's theme song "One Little Spark," which is played throughout the ride. The ride vehicles inside Journey Into Imagination With Figment in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider Disney World previously hosted Figment meet-and-greets over the years but phased them out around 2008. It wasn't until Saturday that the theme-park announced they would immediately return daily for an indefinite period of time. The decision was likely the result of Figment's growing popularity in recent years. In January 2022, countless Disney World fans waited over six hours in line to buy a $25 popcorn bucket shaped like the character. At the time, it was one of the few merchandise items depicting Figment. Since that chaotic day, however, Figment items have become available throughout Epcot and on the ShopDisney website. Read the original article on Insider Sen. Dianne Feinstein's family squabble over the extreme wealth left behind by her late husband, Richard Blum, was on full display in a San Francisco courtroom for the first time Monday, before a judge ordered private mediation that will drag the case into next year. As was already clear from multiple court petitions filed in recent months, the dispute is over millions of dollars in assets and several valuable properties, including a multimillion-dollar beach house north of San Francisco and a mansion in the city worth more than $20 million. Blum died in February 2022. Katherine Feinstein , the senator's daughter from a previous marriage who has power of attorney for her 90-year-old mother in legal matters, has argued her mother is owed millions in disbursements from Blum's estate and needs the money now to cover medical bills. Blum's trustees have said his estate is incredibly complex and tied up in investments, and they need more time to evaluate his assets, tax liabilities and debts before making substantial disbursements. The hearing provided no answers as to how those assets will ultimately be disbursed, but made one thing clear: The various parties California's senior Democratic senator, her daughter, the trustees overseeing Blum's estate and Blum's three daughters from a previous marriage do not see eye to eye and continue to communicate poorly behind closed doors, even over the most basic issues. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Neither the senator nor the trustees appeared in court. Katherine Feinstein appeared via a video link, as did an attorney for the Blum sisters. Retired San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Roger Picquet, who was specially assigned to hear the case after San Francisco judges recused themselves in the matter, began the hearing by asking the parties if mediation was agreeable to everyone or if he would be "twisting people's arms" by ordering it. Usually when such cases can't be privately mediated and a judge has to step in, none of the parties leave happy, Picquet said. Read more: Dianne Feinstein's frailty, fight for family millions color her final Senate chapter Steven P. Braccini, an attorney for Blum's trustees, said he agreed the case "cries out for private mediation," but that Katherine Feinstein a former San Francisco judge "doesn't agree." John Hartog, an attorney for the Feinsteins, immediately pushed back, saying Braccini was "mistaken," and that his clients were "more than happy" to proceed with mediation. But, he said, the Feinsteins also wanted a few other things in the interim. Hartog asked Picquet to order the trustees to sell the couple's Stinson Beach house which the senator and Blum's estate each own 50% stakes in and put the proceeds in an escrow account so that interest could be earned while mediation proceeds. He also asked Picquet to order the trustees to provide a full accounting of their work to process the estate to date, so that the proposed mediation could be more productive. The requests echoed arguments from Katherine Feinstein on behalf of her mother in the underlying petitions, where she said her mother has been left in the dark in trust matters and wants to sell the Stinson Beach property because she no longer uses it and does not want to continue paying for upkeep. Hartog said the trustees have a fiduciary duty to make "unproductive property productive," and that requires selling the Stinson Beach home. Not doing so, Hartog said, has tax implications that are detrimental to the senator. "It is undisputed that the property costs money to maintain," Hartog said. Braccini responded by arguing that Katherine Feinstein had produced no evidence to date for why selling the Stinson Beach home was the appropriate move to make financially, so her arguments fall flat. He said the trustees were still trying to determine Blum's estate tax liability and debts. He said assessing the Stinson Beach home had also been made difficult because Katherine Feinstein or someone on her behalf had "locked [the trustees] out" of the home something Hartog denied. Braccini said Katherine Feinstein had used the argument that her independently wealthy mother needs disbursements from Blum's estate to pay for medical bills as a "pretext" for demanding disbursements, and that there "is no evidence of what the senator wants" on the record. Feinstein's health has been a major political issue in recent months, with critics suggesting she is too frail to do her job. She was hospitalized earlier this year with shingles and also suffered from encephalitis, a swelling of the brain which caused her to miss dozens of votes. She continues to need care and has repeatedly appeared confused in public, but is now back in Washington and expected to continue helping Democrats confirm liberal judges put forward by President Biden as a voting member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee. Read more: As staff shield Feinstein from the press, a picture really is worth a thousand words The litigation over her husband's assets has splashed Feinstein's private affairs into the open during the final chapter in a long, otherwise polished political career. She has served in the Senate since 1992, and was previously mayor of San Francisco. Feinstein's office has declined to make her available to speak on the litigation, calling it a private matter. Picquet posed several questions during Monday's hearing, including whether it was reasonable for Feinstein to expect some sort of disbursement even if it wasn't from the sale of the Stinson Beach home given that it has been more than a year since her husband's death. To that, Adam Pines, an attorney for the Blum sisters, said the Stinson Beach property is "unique," and that there were other ways to make disbursements to the senator without selling off the home. For instance, Pines said, Feinstein currently owns about 83% of her primary residence in San Francisco a three-story mansion on the Lyon Street Steps, right next to the Presidio, that has been assessed at more than $21 million while Blum's estate owns the remaining stake. The Blum estate's minority share of the Lyon Street home is worth more than its 50% share in the Stinson Beach house, Pines said, and what is owed in disbursements to the senator could perhaps be paid out as an additional percentage ownership in the Lyon Street home rather than through a selling off of the Stinson Beach home. Pines' argument suggested the Blum sisters have an interest in holding on to the Stinson Beach home. After hearing from all sides, Picquet declined to order the sale of the home but ordered private mediation and ordered the trustees to provide to the Feinsteins at least a partial accounting of the estate and their work to date to settle it. "Some accounting of some credibility needs to be provided," Picquet said. In consultation with the parties, Picquet also set a schedule requiring the mediation be concluded by Dec. 11, unless an extension is requested, and a second court hearing on Jan. 22. That schedule will apply to all three of the separate petitions filed in the matter, he said. Attorneys for the trustees and the Feinsteins declined to comment after the hearing. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Oklahoma County district attorney is seeking to dismiss the case against a man who served 48 years in prison for a murder he has maintained he did not commit. Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behenna requested Monday that the case against Glynn Simmons, 70, be dismissed, according to a news release from the DA's office. Simmons was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Carolyn Sue Rogers after a 1974 Edmond liquor store robbery. In April of this year, the DA requested the court vacate Simmons judgment and sentence after a review of the case revealed that a significant police report on a suspect lineup had not been turned over to his defense attorney for trial, a potential violation of the Brady Rule. "One of the things that I stand by very strongly is a defendant's right to a fair trial, where he has all the evidence to defend himself," Behenna said during a news conference in April. "That didn't happen here." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In July, Judge Amy Palumbo held a status hearing where she ruled that the judgment and sentence from Simmons murder conviction would be vacated "in the interest of justice," and the case was set for a new trial on Oct. 23. Simmons was 22 years old when he was convicted of the murder. He spent 48 years in prison before being freed on an own recognizance bond. Simmons has another status hearing scheduled for Sept. 20. Simmons legal team, including lawyers Joe Norwood and John Coyle, could pursue further action on Simmons behalf, including a declaration of actual innocence, a pardon from the governor, or redress for the decades he was behind bars. Were looking at ways to get him remuneration, of course, for all of the time hes been wrongfully imprisoned, and hopefully we can find an avenue that makes that viable, Coyle told The Oklahoman. Coyle also said, as of Monday, the state has not yet offered a declaration of innocence for Simmons, but that his legal team are working toward it, now that the main goal of seeing him free has been achieved. Im almost at a loss for words today because of the value of this man and his freedom, his continued freedom now after all of this time, Coyle said Monday. Coyle said he was overjoyed to hear of Behennas request for dismissal, adding that Simmons had been very gracious in the past year he had been representing him. Simmons has long claimed he was in Louisiana at the time of the deadly robbery. There never really was any real evidence, Coyle told The Oklahoman. Just being a Black kid in the wrong place at the wrong time. Oklahomas changed a lot since (the 1970s), but in many ways its the same. DA cites lack of physical evidence, victim availability in dismissal reasoning In determining whether to pursue the case against Simmons again, Behenna said "the state would not be able to meet its burden at trial and prove beyond a reasonable doubt" that Simmons was responsible for the murder, a spokeswoman wrote. The reasons cited in the news release include: There is no longer any physical evidence. The detectives who originally investigated the case are either unavailable or dead. One of the victims who originally survived is now dead. Although she was certain of her identification, the other surviving victim is unavailable. Simmons' attorneys allege that an alternate suspect was identified in one of the lineups. Simmons A customer, Belinda Sue Brown, has continued to say she identified the correct man. She was shot in the head during the robbery, but she survived and recovered. "This is not a case where there is new evidence of factual innocence," Behenna said in April. "There's not new DNA evidence. There's not a witness that has recanted their testimony." Brook Arbeitman, director of communications for Behennas office, said the DAs request for dismissal did not equate to an exoneration, but conceded that the state would have serious difficulty proving the case against Simmons. A lot of the previous testimony from people who are deceased we could admit their testimony, but none of it asks about this lineup, and so their testimony doesnt provide any clarification from back then so it doesnt help us prove the case, Arbeitman said. Don Roberts also was convicted of Rogers murder. At the time, both men received the death penalty, but their sentences were modified to life in prison after a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court decision. Roberts was released on parole in 2008. Behenna took office in January. She stepped down as executive director of the Innocence Project in Oklahoma last year to campaign. Advocates: Step in the right direction, but still a long road ahead Advocates of Simmons' innocence believe Behenna's request to dismiss the charges is a step in the right direction, but acknowledge that a long road lies ahead in clearing his name and reintegrating into society. I was in prison for 48 years, 5 months and 13 days, and they let me out with nothing I have absolutely nothing, Simmons told The Oklahoman. I might as well be in prison if I aint got the money to sustain myself. Simmons started a GoFundMe campaign, citing needs with food, clothing, shelter, transportation and medical assistance, as he now has cancer. Supporters of Simmons, including the anti-capital punishment group Death Penalty Action, have widely shared it. Since the fundraiser was started in early August, it has raised more than $13,000. In a statement Monday afternoon, Abraham Bonowitz, co-founder of Death Penalty Action, applauded the DAs announcement, saying that Simmons long nightmare was finally over. Its cases like this that should give us all pause about continuing executions in Oklahoma, Bonowitz said. After nearly five decades of wrongful incarceration, including several years facing execution, this man has nothing, so were inviting the public to help give him a running start while he waits for his formal exoneration and whatever compensation might eventually come from the state. Glynn Simmons walks into court on April 18 at the Oklahoma County Courthouse. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma DA seeks to dismiss case against Glynn Simmons Credit - Getty Images Nearly 18 years ago, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl on a Friday night in late December. She was our first child, and we marveled at her big blue eyes, her shock of black hair, and her tiny, delicate features. We named her Penny, after her grandmother. Two hours after she was born, a nurse called my husband out of the room. She escorted him to a dimly lit supply closet, where he stood among extraneous equipment and a pediatrician who refused to look him in the eye. Im sorry, the doctor said. Your baby has the features of Down syndrome. My husband returned to our room alone, his eyes brimming, carrying the responsibility of telling me this information that neither of us had the experience or knowledge to begin to understand. Pennys diagnosis came a long time ago, but the discomfort, limited information, and truncated imagination for our family back then is similar to what many women experience prenatally today. A recent study in the Journal of Disability and Health looked at the role of bias in prenatal screening experiences and found that, according to the parents of children with Down syndrome surveyed, obstetricians frequently framed the diagnosis as a bad thing and failed to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the fetus condition. This information matters because it lays the groundwork for informed choices and for envisioning what could lie ahead. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read More: Where Are All the Children's Books Featuring Kids With Down Syndrome? When we were in the hospital with Penny as a newborn, we received data about Down syndrome that listed medical concerns: celiac disease, childhood leukemia, hearing loss, vision loss, heart defects. It wasnt until later that we learned life expectancy for children with Down syndrome has doubled in our lifetime, or that the vast majority of adults with Down syndrome report happy and fulfilling lives. We needed a vision formed by real families with real struggles and celebrations in their lives. Instead we got a list of potential problems. Nearly two decades later, its clear that stereotypes and biases persist even among the providers who should be most equipped to talk about the condition. In the study, researchers asked parents whether their doctors used the words Im sorry or presented the diagnosis as something negative. They also identified times when physicians offered erroneous or discriminatory assumptions about people with Down syndrome, like talking about them as burdens on society. More than 61% of parents surveyed reported these types of implicit or explicit bias. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant people should receive an array of options (termination, adoption, and continuing the pregnancy) with a prenatal diagnosis. They also should be offered accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information about Down syndrome. And yet the study found that while the majority of doctors offered the options, far fewer provided the comprehensive information, despite the existence of resources that help convey the social reality of disability and give vulnerable women important information in the face of what is often an intense and relatively urgent decision. Read More: Why You Should Think Before Telling Mothers 'They're Only Little Once' When Penny was a toddler, we participated in a program through a medical school in New Jersey to help train physicians to better understand disability. Students were required to see patients with disabilities not only in a medical setting, but also in the context of their family life. Once, we hosted two young doctors for dinner, and one of them admitted that earlier in the day he had told his fellow students that having Down syndrome was the worst thing that could happen to a family. By the end of our time together, he said he would love to have a family like ours, Down syndrome and all. Even a short glimpse of a child in the social context of her home rather than solely through the pages of a medical textbook changed what he could imagine. When doctors have an imagination for a social and family life that could involve happiness, connection, and health for people with Down syndrome, alongside an awareness of some of the challenges and complications that can arise, they can better offer both information and care. In addition to training programs, resources like the Lettercase pamphlet give physicians words, images, and data they need to talk about Down syndrome. Lettercase was developed in consultation with advocacy groups and families as well as various medical associations. It has been recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics for its accurate and balanced presentation of medical and social information about children and adults with various genetic conditions. People who live with Down syndrome do face hardship and suffering. They also live lives of beauty, purpose, and love. Parents who receive prenatal diagnoses deserve the chance to imagine a whole range of possibilities for their families and make decisions based on accurate and comprehensive information. Read More: Is Pink Still a 'Girl Color'? An Exploration Over the course of Pennys life, we have accumulated a lot of information about Down syndrome. But Penny has also given us a new understanding of life with an intellectual disability. Today, she is a senior at our local high school, where she is taking a Great Books class with neurotypical peers and a math class with other kids with disabilities. She has a job in a local cafe. She has no interest in ever learning to drive a car. She loves Taylor Swift and the Yankees. Penny challenges me to pay more attention to people instead of tasks, to laugh instead of curse when I make a mistake, and to value mutuality more than self-sufficiency. She has different capacities when it comes to learning, but she has no limits on her capacity to love, or to live a full life. Instead of a shameful reality that requires an apology, we have gained an expanded understanding of our shared humanity and diverse ways of being in the world. Contact us at letters@time.com. This is a photo of Lahaina, Maui after the fires. This article was originally published in Civil Beat. The Hawaii Department of Education says the number of students listed as missing or killed in the Lahaina fire is so small that releasing it would violate their privacy. This comes as the department announced it has been unable to make contact with nearly 500 families in its system more than a month after the disaster that killed at least 115 people and displaced thousands. Education officials have faced a groundswell of anger following the Aug. 8 fire that razed entire blocks. At a meeting on Maui last month, many families from Lahaina expressed concerns over plans to relocate students and the timing for reopening school campuses. No paywall. No pop-up ads. Keep The 74 free with a donation during our Fall campaign. At a Board of Education meeting Thursday in Honolulu, parents lined up to call for more transparency about efforts to find children who have not yet re-enrolled in school. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the department knows the whereabouts and education plans of most of the some 3,000 students who had been enrolled in Lahaina before the fire. He said 907 of them have enrolled in the states distance learning program and 782 have enrolled in other public schools. Nearly 345 students are now enrolled in charter schools, private schools or have withdrawn, he said. We are actively reaching out to contact families for the remainder of students who have not yet enrolled in an option, knowing that some may have moved out of state or have paused their childs education for the time being, he said. Trying To Reach Families After the meeting, DOE spokeswoman Nanea Kalani said the department has not heard back from 463 families that it has tried to call. There are 32 families that still have not been called as the department works its way down its list of phone numbers, she said. She also explained why the department has not released a number of those believed to have died or who remain missing. For students, we cant release their identities or numbers right now because the n-size is so small. The n-size is too small, if we said it wed be in effect identifying them, she said. N-size is a term used to describe a small subset of students. Kalani pointed out that Maui County has a list with the names of people who are unaccounted for. The Maui Police Department is the lead on making those identifications, she said, and then their privacy rests with their parents to disclose whether they were students. Many attendees at the meeting called on the DOE to release more information and expressed concern about the well-being of children and families that have not been contacted. Theres a lot of anxiety because the students arent being identified as safe or deceased, said Susan Pcola-Davis. What I dont understand is why. Why havent all the calls been made? One child, 7-year-old Tony Takafua, has so far been included on the official list of the deceased released by the Maui Police Department. On Thursday, the death toll remained at 115 with 60 individuals identified. Five of those individuals families have not yet been notified. Fourteen-year-old Keyiro Fuentes was identified as a victim by his family, though he has not been officially identified by police. Loved ones have said he was an incoming junior at Lahainaluna High School. Tony Takafua, 7, is the only child so far included on the Maui Police Departments official list of fire victims. (Screenshot/Facebook) When asked by members of the board why the process of contacting all the families has taken so long, Deputy Superintendent Heidi Armstrong described a chaotic situation in the immediate aftermath of the fires. Cellphone service and internet connections were down in Lahaina and surrounding areas. But she said Department of Education staff started taking action from the first week. Reopening Plans Staff members and school principals went to Red Cross shelters to try to identify families and students, she said. When shelters began closing and displaced people moved into hotels, school officials continued their searches there. Department employees are trying to call every family that hasnt been contacted in person, but sometimes calls arent answered or returned, and in some cases voicemail boxes are full or nonexistent, making it impossible to leave a message, she said. King Kamehameha III Elementary School was destroyed and the three other public schools in town, Princess Nahienaena, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High, are closed. Keyiro Fuentes, 14, has been identified by his family as a fire victim and student at Lahainaluna High School. (Screenshot/GoFundMe) Lahainaluna High students will go to school temporarily at Kulanihakoi High in Kihei beginning Sept. 14, according to the department. Students have access to free school bus transportation from West Maui. Hayashi said he hopes to reopen the three Lahaina schools that werent destroyed as soon as safely possible and is aiming for sometime after fall break, which takes place Oct. 9-13. The department is working with contractors to conduct soil sampling around the school and evaluate the water quality, and the Department of Health has installed air quality sensors at the three campuses, he said. Professional services will also clean the schools and school officials will revise evacuation plans before schools reopen, he said. Hayashi said the department had facilitated a 24/7 mental health hotline through the Hawaii Medical Service Association and made therapists available in schools and at community centers in Lahaina and Wailuku. The King Kamehameha III school was destroyed in the fire. (David Croxford/Civil Beat) Sites around West Maui, including churches and hotels, are being considered to serve as temporary classroom sites, and the state has plans to open in-person distance learning hubs for certain students, including those with special education needs and those in the Hawaiian language immersion program. Those hubs would also provide meals and mental health services, he said. Enoka-Shayne Bingo told department officials during the meeting that community members want to be more involved in the recovery process. Let the village of all of these islands help, he said. Let us through this red tape, because we are all suffering with Lahaina. This article first appeared on Civil Beat. Bartenders and servers always have to ask for your ID when you order alcohol because its the law, right? Well, not entirely. The California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control states alcohol licensees should ask for I.D. from anyone who appears youthful, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and bruised egos. Devin Blankenship, a spokesperson from the department, said the only reference in California law regarding an ID check is California Business & Professions Code 25660. When licensees ask to see someones ID to verify their age, this law only states that a consumer should provide bona fide identification. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There is no specific California law that directly mandates the checking of identification when purchasing alcohol, Blankenship said. Can you use your passport to buy wine, beer and liquor? Licensees have the legal right to refuse service to anyone who cannot show proof of their age, according to the California Alcohol Beverage Control website, because people do not have a legal right to buy alcohol. In order to prevent illegal alcohol sales to minors, businesses and their staff should know what to look for when checking an ID. A bona fide identificaition card should contain the following characteristics, according to the departments website: Issued by a government agency Name of the person Date of birth Photograph Physical description Not expired Examples of bona fide identification include: California Real ID Drivers license U.S. Military identification U.S. and foreign passports with photograph It is all up to the licensees to set policies regarding selling to people 21 and over, Blankenship said. Licensees have the right to set any parameters of ID checking as they are not required to sell alcohol to anyone except on their terms. How do businesses choose when to ask for ID? While the ABCs website states businesses should ID those who appear youthful, Blankenship said licensees are the ones who officially decide when to ID in order to protect their alcohol license. California Business & Professions Code 25658 states any person or business who sells or gives an alcoholic beverage to a minor can be guilty of a misdemeanor and receive a fine of $250. Businesses can also have their licenses suspended or revoked for selling to minors or allowing them to consume alcohol on their property, according to the ABCs website. Mike Smith, a bartender from Bonn Lair at 3651 J St. in Sacramento, said the restaurants policy is to ID anyone they doubt is old enough to drink. If they look under 30, I usually ask for their drivers license or some identification, Smith said in a phone interview. To ensure that the identification is valid, Smith said he checks to make sure it follows all of the characteristics of a bona fide identification. If [the ID] looks shady, I might ask them to verify their address, Smith said. If the customer cannot verify their own information on the ID, Smith said he does not serve them alcohol. Roberto Ruiz, a salesperson from Bevmo at 1700 J St. in Sacramento, said the store policy used to require employees to ID everyone who wanted to purchase alcohol regardless of their age. That policy just ended, Ruiz said in a phone interview. Now, we have to ID anybody that looks under the age of 50. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Not all states allow DWI checkpoints, a place where an officer catches those driving impaired at a certain location. During those checkpoints, which are set up to curb intoxicated driving, a police officer stationed at a roadblock may pull you over, check for signs of intoxication and test your sobriety. They may set them up during holidays like Christmas, New Years Eve and the Fourth of July, when drivers are more likely to be drunk. Law enforcement usually warns the public before setting them up. Texas is one of 13 states that does not permit DWI checkpoints, declaring them unconstitutional and unlawful. Thats due to a ruling stating that the measure violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures made without probable cause, according to the Shapiro Law Firm in Plano. Texas courts have also held that DWI checkpoints Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution of Texas, stating that every person has the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures, per Fort Worth DWI defense lawyer Andrew Deegan. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Texas position is contrary to that of the Supreme Court, which has been adopted by 37 states where the checkpoints are legal. In the 1990 case Michigan State Department of Police vs Sitz, the Supreme Court held that DWI checkpoints are reasonable seizures because their purpose is to promote public safety. State v. Wagner In 1991, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled in State v. Wagner that sobriety checkpoints violated a Texans Fourth Amendment rights and were therefore unconstitutional. In its opinion, the court states that: Texas has no administrative scheme providing authority for the police to engage in the collection of evidence at sobriety checkpoints. DWI checkpoints can occur only if the Texas Legislature establishes guidelines to do so, according to the Law Offices of Richard C. McConathy located throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Holt v. State Regina H. Holt vs the State of Texas is a landmark case that determined in 1994 why DWI checkpoints are considered to be illegal. The Arlington Police Department had set up a checkpoint where Holt was arrested for drunk driving, and Holt filed a motion to exclude the checkpoint evidence because it violated the Fourth Amendment and Article 1 of the State Constitution. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals sided with Holt, declaring the checkpoints unconstitutional and unlawful. Because a governing body in Texas has not authorized a statewide procedure for DWI roadblocks, such roadblocks are unreasonable and unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution unless and until a politically accountable governing body sees fit to enact constitutional guidelines regarding such roadblocks, the opinion stated. Probable Cause Exception Texas courts can however admit DWI checkpoint evidence in particular circumstances, according to Deegan, so law enforcement may still set them up. Checkpoint evidence can be admissible in court if the prosecution proves that the police officer pulled the driver over while having a probable cause, Deegan says. They additionally must prove that the checkpoint was conducted in the right manner. If you are pulled over at a DWI checkpoint remember to remain calm and respectful to the officer. DWI checkpoints are technically legal in Texas, however refusing to cooperate with law enforcement may result in an arrest or other actions taken against you, writes Peveto Law, a Plano criminal defense attorney. Be prepared with your license, registration and proof of insurance when asked. You can also request to speak with a lawyer before agreeing to any roadside tests. Although Texans shouldnt face sobriety checkpoints, law enforcement officers still assess whether travelers are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Intoxication is shown if a breath test shows a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater, and consequences include fines and jail time. Gwinnett County fire officials responded to a house fire over the weekend and saved a dog and a turtle from the flames. Just before 11 a.m. on Sunday, firefighters responded to multiple reports of a house on fire on Brand South Trail in Lawrenceville. When crews arrived, they found heavy fire coming from a two-story home. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] During the process of controlling the fire, search teams found both a dog and a turtle still inside the home. Officials said they were able to save the dog thanks to recent donations of pet oxygen masks to the department. It took about an hour to bring the fire under control. It caused heavy damage to the home, according to the department. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The two people in the home were able to safely evacuate before firefighters arrived. TRENDING STORIES: No one was injured. The American Red Cross will provide temporary assistance for the displaced adults. An investigator said the fire originated on the screened-in porch, but the cause remains undetermined. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The Justice Department is dropping its criminal case against Bijan Rafiekian, a former business partner to Michael Flynn who was accused of illegally lobbying in the U.S. on behalf of the Turkish government. Rafiekian was convicted in July 2019 of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government and other serious charges, but months later, a federal judge overturned that conviction and ordered a new trial. That decision led to more years of litigation including in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, where a recent decision called the approval of a new trial in the case an abuse of discretion. After carefully considering the Fourth Circuits recent decision in this case and the principles of federal prosecution, the United States believes it is not in the public interest to pursue the case against defendant Bijan Rafiekian further, Justice Department prosecutors wrote in a Monday court filing asking for the charges Rafiekian faced to be dismissed with prejudice. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Rafiekian, who was also an adviser on President Trumps transition team, was accused of working with a Turkish national to conspire to influence U.S. politicians and public opinion against Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish cleric living in the U.S. whom Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said orchestrated a failed 2016 coup. Prosecutors argued at the time that Rafiekian and the Turkish national planned to use Flynn Intel Group to ruin Gulens public image in the U.S. and increase pressure for his extradition. Flynn, former President Trumps onetime national security adviser, wasnt charged in the plot but admitted to making false statements in Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filings as part of a cooperation deal with special counsel Robert Mueller. He was expected to testify during Rafiekians trial but pulled out after talks with the government broke down. Mark MacDougall, Rafiekians attorney, said in a statement that the case should never have been indicted. Mr. Rafiekian has been the target of baseless federal prosecution for the past five years, only because he made the poor decision to be in business with Michael Flynn, MacDougall said. Along with his family and his lawyers, Bijan is particularly grateful to the Court for its unwavering commitment to equity and for ensuring that justice would be done. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON - Donald Trump and other Republicans paid tribute Monday to the heroes of 9/11, while some opponents recalled one of things Trump said on 9/11 - a claim that the destruction of the World Trade Center left one of his buildings as the tallest in the area. "God bless the memory of all of those who perished in the 9/11 attacks," Trump said in a video he posted on his Truth Social account. "We will never ever forget." Other social media users posted video of comment Trump made to a New York television station on Sept. 11, 2001. The then-businessman discussed the reaction of his employees at a nearby building once known as the tallest in the area. "When they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second tallest, and now it's the tallest," Trump said. A 9/11 commemoration in New York City Re-posting that video on the X social media site, the organization Republicans against Trump said: "Never forget that Donald Trump's initial reaction to 9/11 was to boast that after the towers fell he suddenly owned the tallest building in downtown Manhattan." What 2024 candidates said about 9/11 President Joe Biden and the 2024 Republican presidential candidates who want to replace him in the White House also paid tribute on the 22nd anniversary of the airplane strikes on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the crash of another hijacked airplane in a Pennsylvania field. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Among the GOP candidates on social media: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis: "Twenty-two years ago, nineteen terrorists took 2,977 innocent lives in the deadliest attack against America in our history. We will never forget." Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley: "22 years ago, the soul of America was shaken in a way we had never felt before ... Today, we have a new generation of young Americans who did not live through the horrors of 9/11. Its our job to remind them that real evil exists in this world." Former Vice President Mike Pence: "As long as this Nation endures, Americans will forever be inspired by the faithful, courageous actions of the heroes from 9/11/01, and we will never forget or fail to honor their memory." Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: "22 years ago today was one of the darkest days in our nation's history. We can honor those we lost with our love and our deeds. The day before, I was named U.S. Attorney for NJ. My wife and brother were within blocks of Ground Zero. This day is personal to me on many levels." Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy: "I was in U.S. history class in 11th grade on 9/11. We didnt just learn history, we watched it unfold as we watched the aftermath of the catastrophe. I remember to this day watching the heroism of the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who ran not from Ground Zero, but toward it, to help their fellow Americans in need." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Trump and 2024 rivals said about 9/11 and what Trump said in 2001 Photo: The Canadian Press A child reacts after inspecting the damage caused by the earthquake, in her town of Amizmiz, near Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mosa'ab Elshamy In the nearly two days since a deadly earthquake killed more than 2,000 people in Morocco, Montreal's Cafe Amistad has become a gathering place for people seeking answers, or at least support. As news of the deadly quake trickled in on Friday, Chorfi Zouhir kept his shop open late into the night, as customers stayed glued to news channels and tried frantically to call home. "Everything was upside down," he said in an interview Sunday. "We were looking for information at any price." Zouhir said many people spent the early hours trying to get through on the phone to relatives, desperate to know if they were OK. He said initially, the death toll was reported to be in the dozens, then the hundreds. By the time he woke up Saturday morning, "it was multiplying," he said. His own family in Casablanca are safe, but he's shocked by the tragedy that struck his country. He said he's also been deeply touched by how many people of all backgrounds have stopped by his cafe to ask their Moroccan neighbours if their families are safe. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences to the people of Morocco in a social media post, and said Canada is ready to help however it can. "My heart breaks for the people of Morocco, following yesterdays devastating earthquake," he wrote Saturday on X, formerly Twitter. "To those who lost loved ones: Canadians are sending you our deepest condolences." At least one mosque in Montreal said it was collecting donations to send to Morocco, while multiple people on a Facebook page dedicated to Moroccan Montrealers posted online, asking how they could help. There are roughly 100,000 Canadians of Moroccan decent, according to the latest census. About 81,000 Moroccan Canadians live in Quebec, and nearly half of that population is in Montreal. More than 2,000 people died and more than 2,000 were confirmed injured after Morocco was shaken by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit late Friday about 70 kilometers south of Marrakech. On Sunday, the streets of the historic city were filled with police and army vehicles, according to a Newfoundland man who was attending a UNESCO conference in Marrakech when the quake hit. John Norman, the mayor of Bonavista, N.L., said he was getting ready for bed on Friday when the room began to shake. While it started slowly, he said the large jolts began within seconds. "The ceiling began to move, and dust began to come down," he said in an interview. "The ceiling light fixtures in the bathroom fell out of the ceiling and I said, 'we're leaving.'" Norman said he was lucky that neither he nor other Canadian delegation members were hurt, and that their hotel is well-built and sustained only minor damage. However, he said it's painful to hear the stories from hotel staff whose families have lost homes, and to see priceless historic sites damaged or destroyed. He's also aware that his own story could have ended in a different way. Originally, he was scheduled to conclude the conference with a field mission to the Atlas Mountains near the epicentre of the tragedy and to stay in a hotel that is now "no more," he said. "We're all very lucky and we all realize it," he said. He said the money for that expedition has been donated to earthquake relief, and that a donation centre has been set up outside the hotel where he's staying. Conference attendees and others staying in the less-damaged areas have also donated blood as well as bottled water, he said. Global Affairs Canada said Saturday that it was not aware of any Canadian citizens injured or killed in the earthquake, and did not provide an update Sunday morning. If Donald Trump believed Kari Lake actually won the race for Arizona governor, why would he tell Blake Masters not to enter the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, saying he would lose to Lake? And if Lake actually believed shed won the governors race, why wouldnt she tell Trump to encourage Masters to enter the race because, after all, shed soon be governor? You know the answer. Trump knows Lake lost. Wait, won't Lake be governor soon? And Lake knows she lost. And Trump knows that Lake knows that he knows and so on. On Sept. 21 Lake will get to make the last of her many last-ditched claims of election fraud to a Maricopa County judge. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If she thought that case had any merit, she would not have told The New York Times through an aide, I am strongly considering getting in the (Senate) race and will be making my final decision in the coming weeks. Another view: Trump may be clearing the field for Lake She would have said something like, Ill be governor soon, so I would encourage Mr. Masters to enter the Senate race. And I would encourage Mr. Trump to back him. Lake needs this to continue her grift But, she didnt say that. And Trump didnt encourage Masters to enter the race, but did just the opposite. Essentially, Lake and Trump admitted without admitting that Lake lost the election. They wont officially acknowledge her loss because Lake is still busy grifting from gullible MAGA minions willing to empty their piggy banks to support Lakes election fraud fantasy. Thats about to come to an end. Lake and Trump seem to know it. But if they stretch out the delusion for a few more weeks itll be just in time for Lake to start grifting from the same gullible MAGAs for her Senate campaign. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kari Lake and Trump admit (without admitting) that she lost Dr Susan Gilby: To have that life and future taken away in such a brutal, sadistic way is beyond comprehension - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian Joining the Countess of Chester should have been a kind of homecoming for Dr Susan Gilby. She gave birth to the youngest of her three children at the hospital, and spent part of her training there. But within days of becoming its medical director and deputy chief executive in 2018, she was filled with dread. I remember sitting on my own in that office and I thought, What have I done? Gilby had just discovered a trove of papers about the neonatal unit which, to her mind, showed that the hospital had bungled its response to a series of unexplained deaths and collapses of babies in its care. As is now known, these disastrous outcomes were the work of Lucy Letby, a neonatal nurse who worked at the Countess of Chester, in Cheshire. Last month, she was convicted of murdering seven children and attempting to murder six others, making her one of Britains worst serial killers. The police are currently reviewing the records of 4,000 babies, as part of an ongoing investigation into other infants she may have harmed. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement However, at the time that Gilby accepted her post at the hospital, Letby had yet to be arrested and senior figures at the trust seemed to believe she was the victim of a campaign against her. Even after Letbys arrest just a few weeks before Gilby assumed her new role she says she was shocked to find a very fixed view that the police have got this wrong. Camera footage issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the arrest of Lucy Letby - Cheshire Constabulary/PA I couldnt actually identify anybody whose concern was that murders had taken place in the neonatal unit, Gilby, 60, recalls. There was a belief that there would be no charges and that the focus of our energies should be on what were we going to do about these paediatricians. During Letbys trial, the jury heard how a group of consultants in the neonatal unit had repeatedly raised the alarm about the nurse, but that their concerns were dismissed. According to reports, they were allegedly forced to write a letter of apology to the killer nurse, and at least one consultant had to sit with her and apologise in person. Some managers apparent reluctance to entertain the idea that Letby was a killer continued for years, even after she was charged in 2020. Gilby who by that point was chief executive of the trust telephoned her predecessor Tony Chambers to let him know as a courtesy. He had presided over the hospital throughout the period of the nurses known killing spree, and she assumed he would be horrified. He was horrified, but not in the way that I expected. he expressed concern about Lucy, she says. He said, Im just worried about a wrongful conviction. After Letby was found guilty, Chambers said the trial and police investigation showed the complex nature of the issues raised. The crimes that have been committed are appalling and I am deeply saddened by what has come to light. Chambers response, and those of other NHS managers, will be examined in the statutory inquiry, announced earlier this month. While Gilby says she is not judge and jury, she believes the biggest omission of the trust was not having an open mind to thinking the unthinkable. There was data and there was evidence to be asking all the right questions. And those questions from the evidence that Ive seen were not asked, she says. Dr Susan Gilby believes the trust failed to have an open mind to thinking the unthinkable - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Gilby, by her own account, took a different approach and set about trying to understand the facts shortly after her arrival at the trust. Her initial meeting with one of the paediatricians, Stephen Brearey, lasted three hours. Within 10 minutes it was very clear that what he was describing were not expected collapses or deaths and nothing that they had done so far had certainly explained it. Gilby had the advantage of being able to draw on her own clinical experience in critical care. Before entering the ranks of NHS management, she was a consultant anaesthetist and intensive care specialist at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and knew that the clinical scenarios Brearey described were extremely unusual. However, she says the thing that really brought it home to her were the papers she found, while still deputy chief executive, in the office that had belonged to Ian Harvey, the former medical director. In the bottom of a drawer, I found a box file which contained many documents related to the neonatal unit, to the grievance process, to board meetings I was quite horrified by what I was reading. According to Gilby, the board had been told that two important reviews had been carried out into the problems on the unit. One was by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), and allegedly found no evidence of deliberate harm. The other undertaken on the recommendation of the RCPCH was supposed to be an in-depth, external review of each of the unexplained deaths. In the box file, she was shocked to discover that the RCPCH review was simply a service review. The terms of reference clearly did not include looking at the circumstances of these babies deaths and collapses, she says. There was also a very perfunctory review of the neonatal deaths. While Gilby is critical of the managers who were at the Countess of Cheshire during Letbys killing spree, she concedes that Letby was highly manipulative - Cheshire Constabulary via Reuters When Gilby presented her findings, she says, Chambers allegedly told her, Youve got this wrong. He left soon afterwards. The response of the trust chairman at the time, Sir Duncan Nichol, was very different, she says. He was very open to listening to my reasoning and immediately arranged for me to brief the rest of the non-executive directors, who were aghast. Gilby feels the same. These were complex pregnancies: in many cases multiple pregnancies or babies being born very prematurely. To have gone through so much and then to have that life and future taken away in such a brutal, sadistic way is beyond comprehension. While Gilby is critical of the managers who were at the Countess of Cheshire during Letbys killing spree, she is not entirely damning of them especially of those that spent time with the nurse. We need to remember that Letby is the serial killer here. She was highly manipulative. And for those executives and managers who had direct contact with her, Im in no doubt that she succeeded in manipulating them. But having worked in intensive care, she says, you never forget those children [that die]. I could name them, from 1993. Ive seen their parents reactions and to imagine that happening over and over again it makes you want to weep. Sitting in the sunny living room of her large country house just outside Northwich, this is one of the few moments in the interview when she struggles to find the words. Gilby didnt set out to be a doctor, initially completing a degree in music before switching paths to medicine. During her training, she found she loved the variety of intensive care, and supporting families through a very difficult period in their lives. After the birth of her third child, she moved to her local hospital in Leighton as a consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care. But soon after she arrived, she says, it was really obvious to me that there were issues with professional standards. She was asked to lead reforms to its sepsis protocol and eventually became its associate medical director for medicine and emergency care. Gilby does not mince her words. Perhaps this is because she is now in a very different position. Last year, she was suspended from the trust following a breakdown in her relationship with its current chairman, who joined long after Letby was charged. Gilby resigned shortly afterwards and is now suing the trust for constructive dismissal. She is not able to comment on the employment case, due to be heard in December 2024. But in court papers she alleges that she was bullied, harassed and undermined. The Countess of Chester has said it denies all allegations that Gilby has raised in her complaint. However, she is evidently willing to talk about the Letby scandal, and she says she felt huge relief when she learned of the verdict. By a strange set of coincidences, the day Letby was sentenced happened to be the day that Gilby buried her father. He had been a governor at Letbys old school Aylestone School in Hereford while the killer nurse was a pupil. Gilby also attended the school, albeit decades earlier. She says that on the day of the funeral, she kept receiving news alerts about the parents of Letbys victims, who were giving their impact statements. She had been unsure about whether she had it in her to deliver her fathers eulogy, but says: If the parents of those babies have got the courage to stand up and do that, I can stand up and talk about a life well-lived. Gilby has never crossed paths with Letby. Nor has she spoken to the families of her victims after she was instructed not to by the police. There was one exception: a father with another child who was a patient at the hospital, and who asked to meet with Gilby. A lot of his anger was focused on the public statements that had been made on behalf of the trust, she says. He felt this was further harm to his family because those statements didnt ring true. Those statements will no doubt be examined by the inquiry but they have likely already been pored over behind closed doors. In 2020, Dr Gilby and Sir Duncan commissioned a review from the independent consultancy, Facere Melius, which was, she says, intended for publication at the end of Letbys trial. The document remains unpublished, and Gilby appears sceptical about the reasons for the delay. Its hard for me to understand why that report isnt ready, given that I was taken through a late draft of it in October 2022, she says. Dr Susan Gilby is hopeful of a change in attitude towards whistleblowers that will ultimately protect patients - Lorne Campbell/Guzelian The report will need to undergo due diligence and independent legal processes. Jane Tomkinson, the trusts acting chief executive, said yesterday that it welcomes the inquiry and is assisting the ongoing police investigation. Due to ongoing legal considerations, it would not be appropriate for the trust to make any further comment at this time, she added. Harvey did not respond to requests for comment. Gilby refuses to divulge the contents of the draft Facere Melius report she saw, explaining that it belongs to the trust. But she believes it will make for grim reading. We wanted to know, Was there a possibility that these crimes could have been identified and stopped sooner than they were? And I fear that that is the case and that the evidence in the report will confirm that. It will be no comfort for the families of the babies that Letby killed or harmed. Reflecting on events at the Countess of Chester, Gilby is hopeful that they can usher in a change in attitude towards whistleblowers that will ultimately protect patients. The way the clinicians were made to feel in the face of what they were dealing with on the unit is unforgivable They were traumatised, Gilby says. Really these doctors were not whistleblowers. They were appropriately escalating clinical concerns through the hierarchybut their specialist expertise was not listened to. Until that shift in culture takes place, she adds, another Lucy Letby could go undetected. Inevitably there will be another clinically qualified killer. And initially, I would imagine it would be difficult for them to be spottedIt is a horrible thing to say, but I do feel that its possible it could happen somewhere else. She adds: There are some [NHS trusts] where that culture of managing doctors rather than listening to them is pervasive. No amount of regulation of managers is going to address that issue[Until] people are not just listened to but are applauded for raising concerns even when it turns out that their concerns are unfounded then this sort of thing could happen again. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. FILE - The Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater prison is seen, Dec. 15, 2020, in Bayport, Minn. Minnesota state officials have ordered additional tests on drinking water at the prison after concerns about the water's quality and other issues were raised when dozens of inmates refused to return to their cells during a heat wave on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) State officials have ordered additional tests on drinking water at a Minnesota prison after concerns about the water's quality and other issues were raised when dozens of inmates refused to return to their cells during a heat wave earlier this month. The additional and more comprehensive water testing" has been ordered at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater to assure staff and incarcerated individuals that the water is safe for drinking, the Department of Corrections said in a statement released over the weekend. On Sept. 3, about 100 inmates in one housing unit refused to return to their cells in what one former inmate there called an act of self-preservation amid dangerously high temperatures in the region. Advocates said the inmate action was an impromptu response to unsafe conditions, including what they said was brown-colored drinking water, excessive heat, lack of air conditioning and limited access to showers and ice during on and off lockdowns over the past two months. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Department of Corrections said at the time that claims about a lack of clean water in the facility are patently false. In the statement released Saturday, the department said it is having bottled water brought in for staff and inmates while the agency awaits the testing results. The prison is located in Bayport, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Minneapolis, which was under an afternoon heat advisory for temperatures that approached 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) on Sept. 3. Intense heat waves across the country have led to amplified concern for prison populations, especially those in poorly ventilated or air-conditioned facilities. Early Saturday morning, a driver crashed into the Daybreak Center on 605 S Patterson Blvd, according to the Ohio Department of Public Safety Traffic Crash Report. >>ORIGINAL REPORT: Car crashes into Daytons Daybreak Center Saturday A 58-year-old man from Dayton lost control of his 2002 blue Honda Civic while driving north on Patterson Blvd., leading him to crash into the center before 4:49 a.m. The driver was not injured but his vehicle sustained damage, according to the report. The vehicle collided with the centers front lobby, resulting in extensive damage to the entrance. The Dayton Police Department does not know if the driver was distracted during the incident. Additionally, they do not know if the driver had a condition that caused the incident, according to the report. The driver was not given an alcohol or drug test on scene. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will be absent from the Senate in the coming days after testing positive for COVID-19, she announced Sunday. After experiencing mild symptoms, I tested positive for COVID-19 today, Duckworth said in a statement. I will continue working for the people of Illinois in isolation and follow medical guidance on when to return to the Senate chamber. The Illinois Democrat is the latest senator to test positive for COVID-19, with Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) each doing so in recent weeks. The U.S. overall has experienced an uptick in cases. Duckworth had also tested positive for the virus in December. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The news means that Senate Democrats will be down a vote on the floor this week as the upper chamber is set to kick off consideration of the first batch of spending bills and continue work on nominations. The Senate is expected to move on three bipartisan spending bills in the coming weeks: Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- Rodrigo Duterte , the former Philippine leader who pivoted the countrys foreign policy closer to China during his term, is being encouraged by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to come out of retirement and return to politics, according to Dutertes aide. Most Read from Bloomberg Duterte recently met with Arroyo and other former government officials while on a trip to Manila for a medical check up, according to a media statement on Monday from Senator Bong Go, who continues to serve as Dutertes aide. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During the gathering, Arroyo was trying to convince Duterte to be active in politics again, Go said in the local language. The next midterm elections for local and congressional posts will be held in 2025. The 78-year-old Duterte became a private citizen after his term ended last year, but made headlines in July when he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Xi expressed hope that Duterte will continue to foster cooperation between the two countries, according to a Chinese government readout after the meeting. Dutertes visit came as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s government bolstered defense ties with the US and stepped up protests against Beijings actions in the South China Sea. During his six years as president, Duterte warmed ties with China and oversaw a deadly war on drugs. Arroyo, for her part, has been active as a lawmaker, but she recently lost a key post in the House of Representatives, which is headed by Marcoss cousin. Arroyo has been frequently seen with Dutertes daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte , who quit the political party where Arroyo belonged shortly after the latter lost the key post, citing political powerplay. The former president, who was acquitted by the top court for plunder while Duterte was in office, was also recently photographed with former Vice President Leni Robredo, Marcoss rival at the last presidential elections. --With assistance from Clarissa Batino. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Divya Rajagopal TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian actor Elliot Page hopes that his role in the new film "Close to You" moves people and cracks open the hearts and minds of viewers as it did for him. The film, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on Sunday, explores the story of Page's character Sam, who returns home after gender transition for a family reunion, dreading the awkward questions and comments that he is likely to encounter. The film, which in part parallels Page's life, is co-written by Page and Dominic Savage who also directed the film. Page, who received an Oscar nomination for his role in "Juno" (2007), was assigned as female at birth and came out as transgender in 2020. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The 37-year-old actor said that he was so nervous making a movie heavily reliant on improvisation, but Savage created a safe space for the entire cast to explore their characters. "It allowed us to feel free, limitless and dive into the material, and it worked," he said. "So much of this movie is about connections, what it means to be human, and what it means to feel seen. And I imagine those themes resonate with most people," Page told Reuters. Actress Hillary Baack who plays Katherine a high school friend of the character Sam said that it was 'challenging' in the best way and it felt free and satisfying to fall into the story deeply. "It was a privilege to get to go into those moments for such a long time," Baack said. (Reporting by Divya Rajagopal; editing by Diane Craft) In this December 2020 file photo, SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award in Berlin. | Hannibal Hanschke, Associated Press Early reviews of a new biography of Tesla/SpaceX CEO Elon Musk by former Time Magazine Editor Walter Isaacson , due out Tuesday, reveal a book that provides rare insight on the mercurial business titan and worlds richest man but reportedly leaves the question of whether Musk is ultimately a force for good or evil to the reader. Musk parlayed his success in early internet companies, first through an effort called Zip2 in the mid 90s that helped brick-and-mortar businesses create an online presence which led to a digital banking startup (and the first use of the X moniker) which eventually morphed into what would become PayPal. After a brief stint as CEO of PayPal, a role from which he was booted, Musk would walk with some $165 million after eBay bought the digital payment processor for $1.5 billion back in 2002. That was also the year Musk launched SpaceX with the ultimate goal of colonizing Mars. While Musk was not involved in the founding of the Tesla Motors company, he became part of the startup via a multimillion-dollar investment in 2004. He would become CEO of the company in 2008 and through a series of follow-on investments, eventually accrued a controlling interest in the electric vehicle innovator. Related ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Musk became the principal owner of social media platform Twitter in 2022 following completion of an on-again, off-again deal that was on the verge of entering into a legal battle before it closed in October 2022 in an agreement valued at $44 billion. And, along the way, Musk also founded or co-founded a few other innovation startups including SolarCity in 2006, Starlink in 2014, The Boring Co. in 2016 and NeuraLink in 2016. For the new book, Elon Musk, Isaacson spent two years shadowing the entrepreneur and was able to glean insight from his direct observation of Musk in action in both his private and public worlds. Some takeaways highlighted in early reviews of Elon Musk include: The Wall Street Journal notes Isaacson delves into Musks difficult childhood, growing up in South Africa, and the troubled relationship hes had with his father. Isaacson also touches on Musks chaotic and messy personal life, including a path that led to his fathering 10 children with three women including the musician known as Grimes and Shivon Zilis, an executive at Musks brain implant company, Neuralink. In a moment The New York Times describes as one of the books biggest scoops, Isaacson wrote an account of Musk secretly directing engineers at his Starlink satellite internet company to turn off Ukraines internet coverage to prevent the countrys military from launching a drone attack on Russian forces in Crimea. According to the Times, Isaacson has since posted on X (formerly Twitter) that contrary to what he writes in the book, Musk didnt shut down coverage but denied a request to extend the networks range. CNBC highlighted a 2022 meeting in Austin, Texas, when Musk and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates rallied, at Gates request, to discuss climate change and philanthropy. According to Isaacsons book, Musk questioned Gates on philanthropic efforts and claimed only 20 cents of every dollar actually made an impact. He also told Gates that he could do more for climate change by investing in Tesla rather than his other efforts. In an interview with New York Magazine, Isaacson said that ever since he started the book, hes heard complaints from friends and colleagues that Musks jokes and conspiracy mongering are in fact malignant. And that, based on his comments and social media postings, Musk might actually be a homophobe or an antisemite. But Isaacson told New York Magazine he is guessing there are more people who havent made up their minds about Musk and are simply fascinated by him and want to understand more. Elon Musk and Bill Gates have had a number of apparent feuds over the years. Susan Walsh/AP; Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times Elon Musk and Bill Gates don't seem to agree on climate change, the pandemic, or space travel. They've made public jabs at each other for years in interviews and on social media. Gates said Musk "was super mean to me" after he took issue with the Microsoft founder shorting Tesla stock. Bill Gates and Elon Musk haven't always exactly seen eye-to-eye. While the Microsoft billionaire and the Tesla titan have never appeared to have a particularly cozy relationship, things have heated up over the past few years as the two have openly sparred about topics as varied as electric vehicles and the pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The two moguls are among the world's wealthiest people, with Musk at No. 1 and Gates at No. 5, according to Bloomberg data as of early September. While their public spats may not always be serious, they do appear to fundamentally disagree on how to fight disease; how to address climate change; on whether cryptocurrency is legitimate; and on the importance of space travel. In fact, new details from Walter Isaacson's forthcoming biography on Musk suggest that their relationship behind closed doors may've been more tense than we would've thought. Here's where the friction between Gates and Musk began and everything that's happened since. Things first became tense between Bill Gates and Elon Musk in 2020. Gates' and Musk's tense relationship began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Pascal Le Segretain, Sean Gallup / Getty Images At the time, they were both involved in fighting the coronavirus Gates pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to fight the virus, while Musk was working to source and produce ventilators. Musk had also teamed up with the German biotech firm CureVac (in which Gates is an investor) to make a device to aid in vaccine production. But Musk was also frequently downplaying the severity of the virus and strongly criticizing stay-at-home orders. Musk once spread misinformation about the COVID-19 virus. PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images He'd promoted the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment, falsely said that children are immune to the virus, and suggested that coronavirus-deaths data are "misleading." Gates took issue with Musk's behavior regarding the virus. Gates called Musk's views on COVID-19 "outrageous." Ramin Talaie / Getty "Elon's positioning is to maintain a high level of outrageous comments ... I hope that he doesn't confuse areas he's not involved in too much," Gates said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" in 2020. The comments struck a nerve with Musk, who taunted Gates on Twitter. In response to Gates, Musk made fun of the Microsoft founder with a series of tweets. Win McNamee/Getty Images Musk jokingly posted multiple tweets about Gates, writing "Billy G is not my lover" and "The rumor that Bill Gates & I are lovers is completely untrue." In fact, Musk defended his role in the coronavirus relief efforts. Musk pushed back against Gate's criticisms on his COVID views in a podcast. Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images "Gates said something about me not knowing what I was doing," Musk told The New York Times during a podcast interview in September 2020. "It's like, 'Hey, knucklehead, we actually make the vaccine machines for CureVac, that company you're invested in.'" But another major source of tension between Gates and Musk appears to be climate change specifically, how big of an impact Tesla has in reducing emissions and helping the planet. The 2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S, an electric car similar to the one Gates purchased. Tim Levin/Insider During a 2020 interview with the YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Gates said that while Tesla had helped to drive innovation and adoption of electric vehicles, he'd purchased different electric car, a Porsche Taycan. Gates' comments didn't seem to have bothered Musk. Musk and Gates have had a contentious relationship over the years. Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images At the time, Musk tweeted that his conversations with Gates had always been "underwhelming." Musk also took issue with a blog post Gates wrote that questioned whether it was practical to make vehicles like 18-wheelers fully electric. Musk has said Gates has "no clue" what the Tesla founder is doing to combat climate change. Gus Ruelas/Reuters Though Gates didn't mention Tesla in the blog post, the company has developed a semi, and when a Twitter user asked Musk about his opinion of Gates' comments, Musk replied, "he has no clue." Gates has issued Musk a few rare compliments over the years. The Microsoft founder has occasionally praised Musk for his contributions to fighting climate change. Susan Walsh/AP; Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times During a podcast interview in 2021, Gates said that what Musk has accomplished with Tesla is "one of the greatest contributions to climate change anyone's ever made" and said that "underestimating Elon is not a good idea." But Gates has also touted his own climate contributions over Musk's. Bill Gates at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2021. Jeff J Mitchell/Pool/Getty Images "I give a lot more to climate change than Elon or anyone else," Gates said during a June 2022 interview with French YouTuber Hugo Decrypte. "I give a lot of philanthropic dollars, I back companies you know, electric cars are about 16% of emissions, so we also need to solve that other 84%." Musk had a one-word response to the interview on Twitter. In response to the Gates interview, Musk responded with a tweet. Andrew Kelly/Reuters "Sigh," he tweeted. While space exploration specifically, colonizing Mars is a main focus of Musk's, Gates isn't impressed. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the unveiling of the SpaceX Dragon V2 spacecraft in 2014. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images During an interview on a New York Times podcast in early 2021, Gates said that while he may be missing something about space travel and Musk's SpaceX, he's "not a Mars person ... I don't think rockets are the solution." He added that he'd rather spend his money on vaccines here on Earth than on space travel. Gates has also taken issue with the mania surrounding cryptocurrencies, which Musk has helped fuel online. Gates has been vocal about the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies. Jason Lee/Reuters The Microsoft billionaire noted how much energy bitcoin uses, making it not very environmentally friendly, and warned investors not to dump money into bitcoin like Tesla has. "My general thought would be that if you have less money than Elon, you should probably watch out," he said. Though Musk recently said he's "moving on" from making fun of Gates, he's done his fair share of mocking the Microsoft founder over the years. Musk has continued to mock Gates despite saying he has moved on. REUTERS/Steve Nesius In April of 2022, he once tweeted an anti-vaccine political cartoon about Gates. That same month, he mocked Gates' weight online. Musk has also publicly taken issue with Gates over what he says is Gates' multimillion-dollar short position against Tesla. Musk has criticized Gates over his short position against Tesla. Maja Hitij/Getty Images Tesla short-sellers have been a frequent target of Musk's over the years, to the point where he's argued that the practice should be illegal. In a leaked text-message exchange between the two billionaires, which Musk said is legitimate, Gates seems to confirm that he's betting against Tesla. "Sorry, but I cannot take your philanthropy on climate change seriously when you have a massive short position against Tesla, the company doing the most to solve climate change," Musk replied. Whole Mars Catalog (@WholeMarsBlog) April 22, 2022 Gates said he'd but says he'd still like to work on a climate-focused philanthropic opportunity together. After the text exchange, Gates told Walter Isaacson, the author of the forthcoming biography of Musk, that he apologized to Musk. Gates told Isaacson that Musk was "super mean to him" after he lowered Tesla's short position. Taylor Hill/Getty Images "Once he heard I'd shorted the stock, he was super mean to me, but he's super mean to so many people, so you can't take it too personally," Gates told Isaacson. During a 2022 interview with YouTuber Hugo Decrypte, Gates seemed to imply that the issue is Musk's, not his. When asked whether they're friends, Gates replied, "I like him. I think he does great work. I don't know him very well." Read the original article on Business Insider Camping, photography, livestreaming become new trends in pastoral areas Xinhua) 08:44, September 11, 2023 URUMQI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Kazak ethnic group of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that once led a nomadic life in the pastoral areas of Suoerbasitao has now discovered newfound fortune through modern pursuits like camping, photography and livestreaming. Muxtar, a herder from Suoerbasitao, located about 100 km from the regional capital Urumqi, has been welcoming guests since 2017, offering accommodation to visitors in his two cabins and three yurts, alongside serving traditional Kazak dishes like barbecue and milk tea. "July is the busiest month. We receive 20 groups of guests a day and have a team of 11 people, including our relatives, dedicated to serving our visitors," Muxtar said. During the summer vacation, Muxtar received assistance from his 13-year-old nephew, Bahbalkan Timurhali. The young boy, who currently resides in nearby Changji City, said that he feels rejuvenated every time he is in Suoerbasitao. "I really like living in the yurt in the pasture." The pastoral landscape of the region also houses intriguing tales of people like Ahli, a herder with a passion for photography. Five years ago, he formed a photography team comprising 70 people, all of whom are herders. They have taken over 10,000 photos of cattle, sheep, and people with their mobile phones, documenting the nomadic life. Tan Chengjun, a supervisor of the photography team and a member of the Photojournalist Society of China said: "For herders and me, photography means happiness!" "Life in the pastoral areas can sometimes be monotonous, but guiding herders to capture the beauty of their surroundings with mobile phones can enhance their spiritual experiences," said Tan. Reminiscing about an online photography competition, he said herders were so enthusiastic that they went to the extent of requesting friends and acquaintances to vote for their entries. Nurxashi Habil, a 47-year-old herder, not only enjoys photography but also shares videos on the internet, with most of her videos capturing the everyday life of the picturesque pastoral landscape. She has over 100,000 followers on the video-sharing app Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. From late April to mid-October, it is the peak season for Nurxashi Habil to welcome guests on the lush grasslands. During this period, she is also quite busy posting new social media content. Nurxashi Habil's online presence has a magnetic pull on tourists, drawing them to her yurts. She shared an example, saying, "A woman came here to experience nomadic life after watching my livestream." Nurxashi Habil operates 13 yurts for guest accommodations and employs up to five herders to assist with her business. She compensates them with a daily wage of 100 yuan (about 13.9 U.S. dollars) each. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Photo: . Pacifico Pizzeria is temporarily closed after a car crashed through the downtown Vancouver restaurant's front window. Three people were injured including a pedestrian who had to be taken to hospital when a car veered off Smithe Street Saturday night. The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. on Smithe Street near Burrard Street according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). Police state the car struck the cyclist first, before crashing into the front of Pacifico Pizzeria. "The driver had his foot on the gas which caused the vehicle to accelerate into a business where a pedestrian coming out of the restaurtant was also struck," states Const. Tania Visintin in an email to V.I.A. The driver and the cyclist escaped the situation with minor injuries, she adds, while the pedestrian leaving the restaraunt was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. On Instagram Pacifico says they'll need to be shut down for a period to repair the restaurant as the car went through the front window of the pizzeria. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the injured gentleman," states the restaurant's management. "Pacifico is closed now for repairs and will reopen as quickly as possible." Downtown Pacifico pizza crash pic.twitter.com/u27nt4PHbS Rituparna Roy (@Ritupar55343830) September 10, 2023 FILE - Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition, March 9, 2020, in Washington. Musks refusal to allow Ukraine to use Starlink internet services to launch a surprise attack on Russian forces in Crimea last September has raised questions for the Pentagon. The Air Force's top civilian leader, Frank Kendall, says the military may need to be more explicit in future defense contracts that services or products it purchases could be used in war. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AP) SpaceX founder Elon Musks refusal to allow Ukraine to use Starlink internet services to launch a surprise attack on Russian forces in Crimea last September has raised questions as to whether the U.S. military needs to be more explicit in future contracts that services or products it purchases could be used in war, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday. Excerpts of a new biography of Musk published by The Washington Post last week revealed that the Ukrainians in September 2022 had asked for the Starlink support to attack Russian naval vessels based at the Crimean port of Sevastopol. Musk had refused due to concerns that Russia would launch a nuclear attack in response. Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and claims it as its territory. Musk was not on a military contract when he refused the Crimea request; he'd been providing terminals to Ukraine for free in response to Russia's February 2022 invasion. However, in the months since, the U.S. military has funded and officially contracted with Starlink for continued support. The Pentagon has not disclosed the terms or cost of that contract, citing operational security. But the Pentagon is reliant on SpaceX for far more than the Ukraine response, and the uncertainty that Musk or any other commercial vendor could refuse to provide services in a future conflict has led space systems military planners to reconsider what needs to be explicitly laid out in future agreements, Kendall said during a roundtable with reporters at the Air Force Association convention at National Harbor, Maryland, on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If were going to rely upon commercial architectures or commercial systems for operational use, then we have to have some assurances that theyre going to be available, Kendall said. We have to have that. Otherwise they are a convenience and maybe an economy in peacetime, but theyre not something we can rely upon in wartime. SpaceX also has the contract to help the Air Forces Air Mobility Command develop a rocket ship that would quickly move military cargo into a conflict zone or disaster zone, which could alleviate the militarys reliance on slower aircraft or ships. While not specifying SpaceX, Gen. Mike Minihan, head of Air Mobility Command, said, American industry has to be clear-eyed on the full spectrum of what it could be used for. As U.S. military investment in space has increased in recent years, concerns have revolved around how to indemnify commercial vendors from liability in case something goes wrong in a launch and whether the U.S. military has an obligation to defend those firms' assets, such as their satellites or ground stations, if they are providing military support in a conflict. Until Musks refusal in Ukraine, there had not been a focus on whether there needed to be language saying a firm providing military support in war had to agree that that support could be used in combat. We acquire technology, we acquire services, required platforms to serve the Air Force mission, or in this case, the Department of the Air Force, said Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics. So that is an expectation, that it is going to be used for Air Force purposes, which will include, when necessary, to be used to support combat operations. Embracer's days of buying nearly every game developer and publisher it possibly can seem to be over, with the company now looking to reduce expenses. It recently closed Saints Row studio Volition as part of a restructuring plan that includes layoffs and game cancellations. Embracer may now be set to sell one of its more valuable assets. The company is considering several options for what to do with Borderlands creator Gearbox , according to Reuters . Some third parties are said to have shown interest in snapping up the developer and publisher, which Embracer bought in February 2021 in a deal that was worth up to $1.4 billion. Embracer is reportedly exploring a sale with the help of Goldman Sachs and Aream, while marketing materials are being made available to potential suitors. Embracer said in June that it was making sweeping changes in order to reduce its debt by around $605 million to less than approximately $903 million by the end of its financial year. The Swedish company said at the time that a proposed investment worth over $2 billion over six years ultimately fell apart. It was later reported that the Saudi government-funded Savvy Games Group was the partner Embracer tentatively had a deal with. With a Sept. 18 deadline looming, the criminal justice system in the Rockford region and across Illinois is racing to prepare for the end of cash bail. Illinois is the first state to legislate the elimination of cash bail as part of the Pretrial Fairness Act, upending a fundamental process of criminal courts and replacing it with something entirely new. The change means no more bond court. Instead, in Winnebago County there will be a courtroom reserved full time mornings and afternoons for initial court appearances and pretrial detention hearings. Similar measures are being made in Boone County where courts are adding a Monday morning court call for anyone arrested and held over the weekend. There are other court calls being reserved for people cited with a "notice to appear," something that will become more common as more offenses aren't considered detainable. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Winnebago County Court Administrator Tom Jakeway said the result is that criminal courts and law enforcement are being forced to change how they operate. "Come Sept. 18 we are still flying a plane, but the cockpit controls and preflight checklists are all different," Jakeway said. "The pilot and flight crew have new procedures to follow." More: Constitutional! Illinois Supreme Court's SAFE-T Act ruling ends cash bail for state Big change coming Money bonds will no longer be used to make sure defendants return to court for trial and hearings, a practice criminal justice reform advocates argued penalized anyone who couldn't afford bail. Instead, only those defendants arrested for detainable offenses including Class 3 felonies and above can be held in jail until trial. Those accused of violent crimes, sex assaults, gun crimes and domestic battery among others are also considered detainable in jail before a trial. But to deny a defendant pretrial release, prosecutors must within 48 hours of their arrest show by clear and convincing evidence a defendant is a flight risk or a danger to specific people or the community. Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley said the new law will take plenty of adjustment both in terms of staffing and approach. In some cases, police will be asked to serve warrants, but instead of making an arrest they will issue a notice to appear in court. In other cases, they will have discretion on whether to issue a citation or make an arrest. "That's a big change for law enforcement," Hanley said. 'That's frustrating' There are also what Hanley said are frustrating aspects to the law. Hanley said judges should have been given wider discretion over pretrial release. "DUI is a non-detainable offense unless you pick up a second DUI while on pretrial release," Hanley said. "Thats frustrating to me. As we have been doing bond court, I am like 'how the heck can we not argue this person is a danger to the community?' This person has two or three prior DUIs. That to me is a hole in the law in that they have removed the judges discretion to detain someone pretrial in certain circumstances." If a defendant is charged with injuring or killing someone while driving under the influence, they can be detained, Hanley said, but only if shown to be a danger to the community or a flight risk. 'Going to be a learning curve' Although the new law will place a strain on his office because it will require more personnel, Winnebago County Public Defender Nick Zimmerman said he supports the changes. "Right now, a person who could be the most violent person on Earth is charged with a crime and bond is set at $100,000, they can post that $10,000 and be released because they have money," Zimmerman said. "On the flip side, you can have someone who is not violent, but poor and is charged with something relatively minor, but doesn't have 100 bucks to get out. So they sit in custody even though they aren't violent. They are just poor." It will mean plenty of changes for public defenders, Zimmerman said. Public defenders usually meet their clients for the first time when they show up in bond court. But the new rules means preparing an argument on why clients are not a flight risk or public safety danger. Public defenders assigned to pretrial courts are going to spend much of their mornings meeting with those who were arrested the night before to get ready for a 1:30 p.m. first appearance and detention hearing. "We hope the plan we have figured out will work and if it doesnt, we will make adjustments as we go," Zimmerman said. "It's going to be a learning curve." More: Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act on hold, but 'court watching' in full effect Safety paramount Boone County State's Attorney Tricia Smith said it's unclear how the new law will impact public safety. But she said the new system will upset work schedules and strain already short-handed staffs. "Our main concern is public safety and the safety of victims," Smith said. "This is a new approach, and only time will tell whether we are able to maintain that safety." Some prosecutors may have to rotate working Sundays or get a very early morning start to prepare for Monday morning detention hearings, Smith said. "We are getting communications from the jail early in the morning 4:30 or 5 o'clock in the morning. They are sending out emails so we can prepare for what the day is going to look like depending on what happened during the overnight hours," Smith said. "Because it's all new, we are going to see how it works for a few months and then make decisions." Jeff Kolkey can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey. This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: End of cash bail means changes to Rockford area court system Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Russia not to be "marginalised" in negotiations on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. Source: a statement by Erdogan, quoted by AFP and reported by European Pravda Details: "No process that marginalises Russia on the Black Sea Grain Initiative will be viable," Erdogan told journalists after the G20 summit in New Delhi. He announced an upcoming meeting on the issue between representatives of Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations, without specifying the exact date and venue. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the UN and Turkiye, collapsed after Russia unilaterally withdrew from it in July. Since then, Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine's port infrastructure. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Erdogan in Sochi in Russia last week. The Turkish president hoped to renew the deal but failed. Media report that Erdogan called on G20 leaders to meet some of Russia's demands to restore the Black Sea Grain Initiative at the G20 summit this weekend. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said that easing part of the sanctions regime against Russia in exchange for the resumption of the grain deal would be a victory for Russian food blackmail. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! (NewsNation) A dog that was lost at the Atlanta airport has been found after three weeks and airport officials are preparing to reunite the dog with her owner. Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the worlds busiest airport, was recovered on September 9. ATLs Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon, the airport said on Twitter. Maia, a six-year-old Chihuahua mix, was traveling with her owner Paula Camila Rodriguez, who is from the Dominican Republic. Man survives 5 days trapped in California ravine after crash ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When Rodriguezs flight arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, she was refused entry due to problems with her visa. Maia was supposed to be boarded overnight in the Delta pet facility before the pair flew back to the Dominican Republic. Delta said Maia broke out of her carrier on an active runway and escaped. Forced to board a flight home without her dog, Rodriguez told CNN she suffered a panic attack during the trip to Punta Cana. Everyone who knows me knows what she means to me, Rodriguez said. I dont go anywhere without her. Shes so well behaved that I take her to restaurants, literally everywhere. Shes my partner in everything. Over the past three weeks, airport employees and local officials searched for Maia, even using night-vision goggles to try to find her. Lost pet recovery specialist Robin Allgood found Maia after a tip from a FedEx worker who had seen the dog. Delta said Maia will be on her way to be united with Rodriguez soon. We are thankful for the teamwork that has led to our customers dogs recovery. Delta teams engaged our colleagues throughout the Hartsfield-Jackson airport community when searches first began and as we followed every lead presented since then. Delta is working to reunite the dog with our customer as soon as possible. Delta spokesperson It wasnt immediately known what Maia was eating and drinking after she went missing Aug. 18, but the spokesperson said a veterinarian found her healthy and able to travel. Delta said it would facilitate Rodriguez wishes when it comes to how she wants to be reunited with Maia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The European Union has condemned the holding of sham "elections" by the Kremlin in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea and the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraines Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson oblasts. A statement issued by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on Sept. 11 stated the unions position on the sham elections. "We strongly reject this further futile attempt by Russia to legitimize or normalize its illegal military control and attempted annexation of parts of Ukrainian territories, as condemned in the UNGA Resolution adopted on Oct. 12, 2022," the statement reads. Read also: Ukraines Foreign Ministry slams Russias sham elections in temporarily occupied territories ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The document notes that such actions constitute another violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and of Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Borrell noted that the European Union does not and will not recognize either the holding of the "elections" or their results, and that Russia's political leadership and the people involved in organizing them will be held accountable. The EU representative pointed out that the illegal "elections" took place in the context of the forced issuing of Russian passports, deportations, massive and systematic human rights violations, as well as intimidation and increased repression of the Ukrainian people by Russia and illegitimately appointed authorities in the occupied territories. The European Union praised the courage of the people of Ukraine who opposed the sham vote and continue to resist the Russian occupation. Read also: Russia brings observers to monitor sham elections in occupied territories of Ukraine Borrell added that Russia must immediately, fully and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The Defense Ministry's National Resistance Center reported on Aug. 31 that Russians began holding so-called "elections" to pseudo-local councils and "legislative bodies" in the occupied territories. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that anyone who supports Russia's sham elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including so-called "international observers," could face sanctions and visa restrictions. Advisor to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko said that in occupied Mariupol, the Russians had been looking for people to participate in the sham elections on the beaches. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The family of Johan Floderus, pictured here, said over the weekend that he has been held in "unacceptable" conditions in Iran. Photo courtesy #FreeJohanFloderus Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The European Commissioner of Home Affairs broke her silence on Monday about Iran holding a European Union official from Sweden for more than a year. Ylva Johansson , who is also from Sweden, said authorities are making every effort to get Iranian authorities to free Johan Floderus from an Iranian prison where he has been held for 512 days. Sweden and the EU had negotiated in private with Iran until last week. "I'm very sad. I'm very worried," Johansson said. "And this has been with me for such a long time now." Floderus turned 33 while in captivity Sunday as his family issued a statement saying he has been held in "unacceptable" conditions that violate the United Nations Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners including a cell that is lit for 24 hours. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "His need for adequate food rations outside walks, medical checkups and much more are not respected," the family added. "His exposure to fresh air and sunlight is restricted to only three and a half hours per week. In blatant disregard of international guidelines, he has spent more than 300 days in solitary confinement." European Union Home Secretary Ylas Johansson said Monday she was "very worried" about Johan Floderus. Photo courtesy of European Commission/UPI The family added it took five months before Iran offered a consular meeting to Floderus and that he had also been denied communication with the Swedish embassy "except for a very few number of consular visits" and has only been allowed to make "one short phone call per month" beginning in February. "He had to go on hunger strike to be allowed to make several of these calls which have to be in English and monitored. They could be forcibly ended if subjects are 'wrong.' One video call has been granted," they said. Flowers had worked for the European External Action Service when he was detained in Tehran on April 17, 2022. He was preparing to leave the country while on a private tourist trip with several Swedish friends before being taken into custody. Floderus rose through the ranks in the European Union's civil service agency to become a member of the diplomatic corps. His family said Floderus had traveled to Iran on official bloc business for humanitarian projects. Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, said last week they were doing everyone in their power to negotiate Floderus's freedom. Europe is in a decisive historical phase, as its security order is being reshaped by Russias invasion of Ukraine. Whatever will be at the end of these tectonic shifts, it must be secured militarily. And if Moscows war of aggression has shown one thing, it is that a functioning defense industry is central to this. A truly geostrategic defense industrial sector is needed that must meet three challenges in the next decade: Ukraine must be integrated into the West, including its defense-industrial ecosystem. Europeans have recognized that industrial capacity to produce and supply military goods is an essential part of deterrence and defense. At the same time, technology is evolving, which means European contractors must be able to produce for quality and quantity at the same time. A relationship with the United States must be forged that ensures a functioning defense while allowing both sides to protect their industrial interests. Such an arrangement should give Europeans room to maneuver to shape their own industrial and technological base. By all accounts, this should be a historical moment for the European Union. Its policy and legal instruments as well as negotiating power are needed now. But the blocs defense schemes like PESCO and the European Defence Fund have yet to make a real difference in producing capabilities. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At the same time, there simply wont be a better EU defense governance architecture in the foreseeable future. The European Commission seems to realize its limitations in shaping a sector that has been traditionally linked to national interests, where member states individual investment strategies have much greater influence on the sectors overall health than directions from Brussels. NATO is unlikely to be of much help. The Western military alliance does not control and understand the defense industry and technology beyond the receiving end. Its newfound interest in defense companies or innovation schemes like DIANA do not change this. For the EU to be able to storm-proof its defense industries for future crises, it needs a new operational program. At its center should be the further development of geopolitical and geoeconomic considerations of the commission and the most important member states. The bloc must find a new balance between economy and security: EU-bound policies are based on the economic liberal assumption that there is a market for everything. This ideology has been true for defense only to a very limited extent political influence is created here as there are few demanders (governments) and a dwindling number of suppliers (defense contractors). The desired consolidation of suppliers has shown its undesired effects even before the war, with the unhealthy dynamics of local monopolies threatening an even greater dependence on global suppliers. But local security of supply, at the risk of inefficient slack, has its own value in times of war and in the context of competition with China. A healthy pool of defense contractors means that economic vagaries cannot pose a risk to functioning deterrence. As for the role of non-EU countries, especially the United States, in this equation, there is no use in ranting: American companies will have a stronger presence in the European market, in part because Europes political fragmentation has made itself so weak. Likewise, other countries and their industries are already and should be an integral part of our arms sector, including Britain and Turkey. Moreover, in the reorganization of Europes security, it is not only the EU member states that are important. The Balkans and Moldova show that political vulnerabilities never go unused in the calculus of Russian meddling. Even if these states are unimportant in terms of the arms industry, their integration is an important building block of the security policy firewall against Moscow and perhaps also Beijing. It makes the future ecosystem more heterogeneous and at the same time more political, which brings diplomatic conflicts that must be carefully managed. Ultimately, EU decision-makers need a new vision for reconciling the themes of economy and security on the one side and opening themselves up for expansion and decentralization in the field of armaments production on the other. Without the right narrative, reform will get lost in bureaucratic minutiae. A pan-European lighthouse defense project with strong political backing, to which nations contribute modules in accordance with their own industrial benefits, would do wonders in creating such a narrative. Christian Molling leads the Center for Security and Defense at the German Council on Foreign Relations think tank. FILE - Convicted BTK killer Dennis Rader listens during a court proceeding, Oct. 12, 2005, in El Dorado, Kan. On Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, authorities in Oklahoma and Missouri said they are investigating whether the BTK serial killer was responsible for other homicides, with their search leading them to dig on Tuesday, Aug. 22, near his former Kansas property. (Travis Heying/The Wichita Eagle via AP, Pool, File) PAWNEE, Okla. (AP) There isn't enough evidence to charge the BTK serial killer in the 1976 disappearance of a 16-year-old girl, an Oklahoma prosecutor said Monday despite statements from law enforcement officials calling Dennis Rader a prime suspect. District Attorney Mike Fisher said at a news conference that he's not at a point where he could file charges against Rader in the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, a cheerleader from the northern Oklahoma city of Pawhuska who was last seen at a laundromat. But Fisher asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to open a formal investigation into Kinney's disappearance because of the public interest in the revived cold case, and he will file charges if he learns of evidence that would warrant it, he said. Osage County sheriff's officials, including Undersheriff Gary Upton, have recently called Rader a prime suspect in Kinney's disappearance and the death of 22-year-old Shawna Beth Garber, whose body was discovered in December 1990 in McDonald County, Missouri. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Rader, now 78, killed from 1974 to 1991, giving himself the nickname BTK for bind, torture and kill. He played a cat and mouse game with investigators and reporters for decades before he was caught in 2005. He ultimately confessed to 10 killings in the Wichita, Kansas, area, about 90 miles (144.84 kilometers) north of Pawhuska. He is imprisoned for 10 consecutive life terms. Rob Ridenour, Raders attorney, said he had no comment Monday. A bank was installing new alarms across the street from the laundromat where Kinney was last seen, Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden has said. Rader was a regional installer for security system company ADT at the time, but Virden wasnt able to confirm that Rader installed the bank's systems. Virden told KAKE-TV he decided to investigate when he learned that Rader had included the phrase bad laundry day in his writings. Fisher said he sat in on interviews that Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma investigators conducted with Rader about 90 days ago, but the sheriff has not shared any physical evidence with the DAs office. He called the information he has received so far rumors because theyve not been substantiated yet. And he said he hadn't seen anything "that at this point arises to the level of even reasonable suspicion. But Fisher said he had seen things that gave him pause and concern" about the sheriff's department, including the way they handled a dig for evidence at Rader's former property in Park City, Kansas, last month. And he called his relationship with the sheriff broken. Im not trying to create a conflict with the sheriff of Osage County, he said. But, there are certain ways to investigate a case, and Im concerned that those proper investigative techniques have not been used. Thats why I asked the OSBI to assist. Virden defended his handling of the investigation in an interview published Sunday in the Tulsa World. He also said Rader denied when he spoke to him in prison in January that he had killed anyone but his 10 victims in Kansas, but volunteered that one of his favorite unfulfilled fantasies had been to kidnap a girl from a laundromat. The prosecutor said he was also concerned for Kinneys parents, with whom he met for about two hours on Friday. He said they are both in their 80s, and the renewed speculation has taken a physical toll on them. Cynthia went missing 47 years ago. Theyve got no answers, Fisher said. We have reason to believe that it may have been a homicide. We cant say that with any absolute certainty, but weve seen nothing to suggest otherwise as theres been no contact with Cynthia Dawn since 1976, since her disappearance. Suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton 's top deputy for criminal justice testified Monday that he repeatedly tried to dissuade the three-term Republican from pursuing a criminal investigation against a federal magistrate and others on behalf of his friend and campaign donor Nate Paul . Mark Penley, who is among the whistleblowers at the heart of Paxton's impeachment trial, said the complaints that Paul was pressuring the attorney general to investigate were based on "absolute craziness." "I thought, 'Why is the attorney general involved in this? Penley testified. This is not a state matter, as far as I can tell. Penley was the first witness as the trial in the Texas Senate opened its second week Monday, and he offered detailed accounts of meetings with Paul and his attorney in which unsubstantiated allegations were made that federal authorities were, in effect, setting up Paul for prosecution. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More: Who are the key players in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial? Paxton has insisted that he committed no impeachable offenses, and his lawyers have aggressively pushed back against the witnesses called by the legal team put together by the Texas House managers, who in late May began the effort to remove the attorney general from office. In his cross-examination of Penley, Paxton's lawyer Mitch Little sought to show that the attorney general's actions in August and September 2020 on Paul's behalf were not illegal. Penley, however, testified that he and other top deputies working in the attorney general's office at the time had grown increasingly concerned about Paxton's relationship with Paul and his eagerness to take on federal authorities on his friend's behalf. Watch live: Texas AG Ken Paxton impeachment trial continues Much of Penley's testimony echoed that of David Maxwell, Paxton's former chief of law enforcement and a former Texas Ranger. Both said they examined Paul's claims and dismissed them as "insane" and "ludicrous." The efforts by Paxton to investigate the magistrate who had signed off on a search warrant for Paul's home and businesses and others involved in preparing the document are at the heart of the 16 impeachment counts against the attorney general. Penley said he warned Paxton that it might appear that he was being "bribed or blackmailed" by Paul because of Paxton's interest in pursuing such an investigation. Mark Penley, who was the deputy attorney general for criminal justice under Ken Paxton for one year, is questioned by Rusty Hardin, an attorney for the House managers, during Paxtons impeachment trial Monday in the Senate chamber at the Capitol. Under questioning by Rusty Hardin, one of the private lawyers hired by House managers, Penley described a meeting involving himself, Paxton, Paul and Paul's attorney called to inform them that the attorney general's office had no basis to pursue any investigation of federal authorities. Penley said that even though Paxton had signaled support for sending such a message, he defended Paul's intention once the meeting was under way. Penley said Paul attempted to take charge of the meeting, even though it was held in the attorney general's office complex on the grounds of the Capitol. Mr. Paul acted like we didnt understand who the real boss was, Penley said. It wasnt the attorney general; it was him. Little, one of Paxton's attorneys, asked why he did not call the Justice Department or FBI to follow up on Paul's allegation that the search warrant affidavit had been somehow doctored after it had been signed by a federal judge, Penley said any such outreach would probably backfire and reflect poorly on Paxton. "A phone call about this seemed to be high risk to the functioning of the office of the attorney general, when we needed to work with federal authorities or appear in federal court, which our attorneys did all the time," he responded. Mark Penley testified that he and other top deputies working in the attorney general's office had grown increasingly concerned about Ken Paxton's eagerness to take on federal authorities on Nate Paul's behalf. Penley is one of four former top Paxton aides who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Paxton after reporting what they believed to be illegal actions by Paxton on Paul's behalf. Paxton responded by calling the whistleblowers "rogue employees" and firing them. Little noted that Penley did not bring concerns that Paxton might be compromised with Paul until after he became fearful that he would be fired for "slow-walking" his examination of Paul's allegations. At several points when Little suggested Penley had jumped to erroneous conclusions about Paxton's actions, the witness responded, "I disagree with that." Penley is the fifth witness called by the House managers and the fifth one who had been hired by Paxton for his post. Amid suggestions both during the trial and in media and social media accounts that the impeachment is the handiwork of Republicans aligned with Democrats, Hardin sought to burnish Penley's conservative credentials. The first questions concerned Penley's Christian faith, which the witness said guides his daily action. From there, he talked about Penley's politics. A graduate of the Air Force Academy who served as an officer in that military branch and the son of a one-time aide to the late Republican former U.S. Sen. John Tower of Texas, Penley was asked if he had ever voted for a Democrat. He said he could not recall ever doing so. Mark Penley, being questioned by Rusty Hardin, is one of four former top Ken Paxton aides who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Paxton after reporting what they believed to be illegal actions by him on Nate Paul's behalf. Paxton responded by calling the whistleblowers "rogue employees" and firing them. Whistleblowers, fraud and Nate Paul: A timeline of Texas AG Ken Paxton's impeachment trial Referring to notes Penley kept, Little noted several references to Paxton telling him that he was only seeking the "truth" in the allegations made by Paul. The attorney asked the witness if he believed the attorney general was being honest. "At the time I did," he responded. In other testimony Monday, Katherine "Missy" Minter Cary, Paxton's former chief of staff, broached the topic of Paxton's affair with Laura Olson and its effect on the inner workings of the attorney general's office. "The travel detail (that accompanies Paxton) was calling about the hours they were working, the places they were being required to go, and they were concerned about the general's behavior," Cary testified. Morale in the office around that time in 2018 had been getting worse, Cary testified, saying that one employee quit, refusing to say why. "I think the affair was one of the concerns that was not state business," Cary testified. As it became clearer that Paxton was having an affair, Cary approached him to talk about the situation and the ethical obligations of his office. She also told him he needed to tell his wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton , R-McKinney. More: In Ken Paxton's impeachment trial, the defense and prosecution are scoring wins Outside of the personal ramifications, Cary expressed her fears that the affair could leave Paxton vulnerable to other possible threats, she testified. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who as the Senate's presiding officer acts as a judge in the court of impeachment, served notice earlier Monday that each side had used up more than half of its allotted time for questioning witnesses. Patrick said that testimony would probably be wrapped up by Thursday. Closing arguments would then follow. Once final arguments are completed, Patrick said, senators will move to the deliberation stage and there will be no off days at that stage. To remove Patrick from office, at least 21 of the 30 voting senators would have to vote to convict on one or more of the 16 articles of impeachment. If Paxton is convicted and removed from office, senators will take a second vote to determine whether he would be barred from ever holding elective office in Texas again. Staff writer Hogan Gore contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Ex-Paxton aide: Nate Paul's call for investigation 'absolute craziness' Photo: The Canadian Press Monique begin is shown in a handout photo. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is mourning the loss of Monique Begin, a former cabinet minister and academic who died Friday at the age of 87. Trudeau says Begin's was a trailblazer for Canadian women, whose election to Parliament in 1972 made her one of the first of three women from Quebec to serve in the House of Commons.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO Mournful tributes are pouring in after the death of Monique Begin, a former cabinet minister and academic who died Friday at the age of 87. In a statement Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Begin a "trailblazer for Canadian women." Her election to Parliament in 1972 made her one of the first of three women from Quebec to serve in the House of Commons, he said. Begin was "an influential voice for women in Canada," Trudeau said, adding that "she helped promote equal opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian society." The prime minister praised Begin for making her mark on the country by introducing the Canada Health Act and a child tax credit before leaving politics and returning to academia after more than a decade in public life. Begin was born in Italy in 1936, and her family moved to Montreal when she was young, according to a news release Saturday from the Comite Hommage a Monique Begin. After obtaining several degrees in Montreal and Paris, she signed the founding charter of the Federation des femmes du Quebec, a feminist organization supporting women in the francophone province. She was appointed secretary general of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Status of Women in Canada in 1967, the release said. Begin was voted into federal office in 1972, representing the Quebec district of Saint-Michel for the Liberals. Four years later, she became a cabinet minister under former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, the news release said. She served as minister of national revenue and minister of national health and welfare, before leaving politics in 1984 and returning to academia. Former federal NDP leader Ed Broadbent said in a statement posted online that Begin was much-loved and leaves an important legacy. He noted that she served on the first board of the Broadbent Institute, a progressive think tank he founded in 2011. "Canada has lost an exceptional woman," Broadbent said. "Monique Begin was a leader in the cause of gender equality, a leader in bringing universal health care to Canada and in general a leader in almost all aspects of concerns about inequality." The University of Ottawa, where Begin landed after leaving politics, said she played a significant role in shaping the institution where she served as chair of women's studies and was later named dean of the school's faculty of health sciences. "In both Canadian public life and academia, she was a giant: a passionate parliamentarian, a provocative scholar and a fearless advocate," the university said in a statement on its website. "She was a dear friend and inspiration to many of us at the University of Ottawa, an institution that she fought to strengthen, and which benefited greatly from her drive and talent." The Comite Hommage a Monique Begin said she passed away peacefully at her home in Ottawa, surrounded by her family. There will be a public ceremony honouring her life at Tabaret Hall at the University of Ottawa on Nov. 2, and her ashes will be laid later that day at Montreal's Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, the organization said. By Michael Erman (Reuters) -The U.S. drug regulator authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech as well as from Moderna this week as the country prepares to start an autumn vaccination campaign. A third vaccine from Novavax remains under review. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the shots for those aged 12 and above, and authorized them for emergency use in children aged 6 months through 11 years. Advisers to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted on Tuesday to recommend the use of the vaccines widely. CDC Director Mandy Cohen said last month she expects the shots to be given annually, but not all doctors agree everyone needs them each year. How is this year's vaccine different from last year? ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Pfizer with BioNTech, Moderna and Novavax all have created new versions of their COVID-19 vaccines. Unlike last year's booster shot that included the original strain of the virus and the then-dominant Omicron variant, this year's shot targets only XBB.1.5, the predominant variant through most of 2023. The companies have said their retooled vaccines have been shown in early testing to work against newer Omicron subvariants now circulating, including the highly mutated BA.2.86. Should seniors, the immunocompromised and pregnant people get the shot this year? There is broad consensus among doctors that these groups should receive at least an annual COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the virus because of their elevated risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death. For instance, the British government's vaccine committee said only adults 65 and older and some of these other categories will be offered the shot as they are the most likely to benefit. Should younger, healthy adults get the new vaccine? Many doctors believe the vaccine should be recommended annually for everyone, much like influenza vaccines. Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases specialist and a liaison to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said a simple and straight-forward recommendation is likely best. "If you're six months of age or older, you should get a flu vaccine. Sounds good to me for COVID also," Schaffner said. Dr. David Boulware, a University of Minnesota infectious diseases specialist, said he would recommend that healthy adults get the shots. According to research he has published, people who have received booster shots have symptoms that are less severe and shorter-lasting if they get sick. Dr. Paul Offit, a University of Pennsylvania infectious disease expert and a member of the FDA's vaccine advisory panel, said he believes the shots should be recommended annually only for high-risk groups. Studies have not shown the booster shots protect against disease in lower-risk populations, Offit said. Should people suffering with long COVID get the shot? There is some data that suggests that vaccination after infection may contribute to a reduction in long COVID symptoms. Regardless, doctors have said that a second episode of COVID-19 could rekindle prior long COVID or worsen ongoing symptoms, and vaccination could help protect against that. Should children receive a COVID-19 vaccine this year? Opinions vary on the need for the shots in children. University of Minnesota epidemiologist Michael Osterholm said children made up a larger percentage of deaths and hospitalizations among those currently with COVID. Although hospitalizations in general are fairly low, over the past month people ages 17 and under have accounted for around 5-6% of COVID-19 hospitalizations, compared with around 4% on average over the previous two years, according to CDC data. "If parents want to vaccinate their kids, they should be allowed to," Osterholm said. Boulware said he believes giving children boosters is unnecessary unless there is an immunocompromised person in the household. The American Academy of Pediatrics said it would make its recommendations after the CDC's advisory committee meets. (Reporting by Michael Erman, Additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Maggie Fick in London; Editing by Caroline Humer and Will Dunham) At least eight people in central Illinois were injured Sunday in an explosion at a processing plant, officials said. The explosion happened at an Archer Daniels Midland Company plant in Decatur just after 7 p.m., a spokesperson for the company said. Its unclear what led to the blast. The extent of the injuries was unknown, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Kline told CNN in a phone call. A fire at the facility was under control early Monday and a crew was on standby to help with any remaining hotspots, fire officials said. The blast happened at the east plant within the companys processing complex, the ADM spokesperson said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement ADM immediately contacted the Decatur Fire Department, which remains on the scene. Several employees were injured and transported to the local hospital for treatment, the spokesperson said. Our thoughts are with our colleagues. We do not have a confirmed cause at this time. The location in Decatur, which is about 40 miles east of Springfield, is the companys North American headquarters, according to its website. More than 4,000 employees work at the location. ADM has been a member of the Decatur, Illinois, community since 1939, when we began construction on what was then the worlds largest solvent extraction plant, the companys website says. Today, Decatur is home to ADMs North American Headquarters and is the single largest location and employee base across ADMs global footprint. More than 4,000 colleagues work here in Decatur every day to unlock the power of nature to enrich the quality of life for billions around the world. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Russian occupying forces attacked Kryvyi Rih on the morning of 11 September, and explosions were heard in the city. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of Kryvyi Rih Defence Council Details: Vilkul reported that explosions had rung out in the city. Vilkul urged residents not to film or post anything on the Internet. An air-raid warning is in effect in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Background: A missile destroyed the police administrative building and offices in Kryvyi Rih on the morning of 8 September. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that about nine law enforcement officers had been injured. One police officer was killed and 74 people were injured as a result of the attack. Preliminary reports from the Ukrainian Air Force suggest that the Russian army attacked the city of Kryvyi Rih with an Iskander cruise missile. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Two weeks after a jury found that Ammon Bundy and his associate defamed St. Lukes Health System, Bundy posted a social media video that used highly edited police body camera footage to falsely accuse a St. Lukes doctor of lying to the jury. The 14-minute video posted to YouTube shows Dr. Rachel Thomas, a former St. Lukes lead emergency room physician, saying in police body camera footage that an infant at the center of a child protection case was healthy and totally stable. Bundy in the video suggests that the evidence contradicts Thomas court testimony, in which she told jurors the child was malnourished and could have died without medical attention. St. Lukes witnesses and attorneys lied to the jury many, many times, Bundy said in the video. What Bundy doesnt say in the YouTube video is that Thomas conversations with police and the emergency medical service (EMS) report he references both centered on whether the child was healthy enough to be transported, not whether the 10-month-old was healthy overall. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Last year, St. Lukes sued Bundy and his associate Diego Rodriguez, after the right-wing activists lied about the health system online and led protests at hospitals where Rodriguezs grandchild was being treated for malnutrition. St. Lukes won the case by default because Bundy and Rodriguez failed to appear in court, and a jury awarded the health system $52 million in damages. Among the materially false and malicious defamatory statements Bundy and Rodriguez made was that the infant was perfectly healthy when taken by Idahos child protective services, according to Ada County District Judge Nancy Baskins record of the defamation case. Bundy currently is facing trial for contempt of court charges after allegedly violating a court order that barred him from witness harassment and intimidation. Bundys recent video uses the same edited police footage that Rodriguez, the infants grandfather, used in a previous video, which Thomas refuted in court. I had already determined the severity of the infants condition, Thomas told the court in a sworn declaration commenting on Rodriguezs January video. Rodriguez is selling a lie, that the infant was healthy, based on wrongly edited video of me. Edited footage skirted references to diagnosis Thomas was an emergency room physician at a St. Lukes hospital in Meridian, where Rodriguezs grandchild was admitted following a child welfare check on March 12, 2022, according to a transcript of Thomas court testimony. The infant had experienced vomiting and weight loss in recent weeks, and the childs parents neglected hospital discharge instructions following a three-day stint as well as multiple check-up appointments, according to Baskins record of events. The missed appointments sparked intervention by Idahos child protective services. After an ambulance brought the child to St. Lukes, Thomas examined the infant as a crowd of protesters gathered in the hospitals ambulance bay. She diagnosed the 10-month-old with severe malnutrition and dehydration that could lead to death if not immediately addressed, according Baskins record. Thomas then decided the infant should be transferred to St. Lukes Childrens Hospital in Boise for a higher level of care, she told the court. She also told a Meridian police officer that she wanted to create separation between the child and the mob outside the Meridian hospital, according to body camera footage. Thomas had conversations with fellow hospital personnel and law enforcement officers about how the infant should be transferred to the Boise hospital, according to the footage. I state that the infant is medically stable and totally stable for transport, meaning that the infant will not likely have a cardiac event or other catastrophic health incident while being transported from Meridian to St. Lukes Boise, Thomas said in her court declaration. I was not providing and it would not be appropriate to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the childs health to the law enforcement officer. Bundy and Rodriguezs edited versions of the footage dont include Thomas references to the infants diagnosis. Immediately after saying the infant was totally stable for transport, Thomas said the child was diagnosed with failure to thrive, when a childs weight is significantly below standards. Thomas also went on to tell the officer that the infant had lost three-quarters of a pound since the childs last check-up. That portion of the footage was not included in Bundys or Rodriguezs videos. Baby was healthy for transport, doctor said Thomas in her court testimony also addressed the EMS report, which quotes her as saying the infant was a healthy baby with no interventions. Thomas said thats not the language she used and her statement was taken out of context. With our EMS crews and for us as well, were required to document that we dont assume there will be any loss of life during a transport, Thomas told the court. My statement to EMS was, the child was previously healthy with no medical conditions other than the malnutrition and failure to thrive we were addressing. No interventions referred to the fact that the infant didnt need medication during a 15-minute transport to Boise, Thomas said. Bundy could not be reached to comment. Thomas, after facing online attacks from Bundy and his supporters, told the court that she planned to take a break from medicine and move her family to New Zealand. I have constant fear to be in my own home, she said. Claim: Before joining politics, former U.S. President Donald Trump supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic primaries. Rating: Rating: True Context: Radio transcripts show Trump supported Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee for president, while supporting Rudy Giuliani as the Republican nominee. He said he had hosted fundraisers for Clinton. In a blog post, he said Clinton would make a great president or vice president. He did not, however, specify whether he would have endorsed Clinton for president had she won the Democratic nomination. Before Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton faced off in the 2016 presidential election, they appeared to be on the same side. Old interview transcripts and blog posts reveal that Trump supported Clinton as the Democratic nominee for president back in 2008. You know who else endorsed Hillary Clinton? 2008 Donald Trump: "She'd make a good president" https://t.co/fprFRrKaLz pic.twitter.com/91D2dJzX8n New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) July 29, 2016 Trump's positive comments about Clinton date back many decades. He praised her candidacy for president in the lead-up to the 2008 election, though he also supported Rudy Giuliani for the Republican ticket. According to a 2008 Politico report, Trump also donated to Clinton's campaign during that year's primaries. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In 2007, he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Clinton was "very talented and "terrific." "I know her very well. She's very talented. And she has a husband that I also like very much. I think she's going to get the nomination rather easily," he incorrectly predicted back then. However, he did not reveal who he would support if he had to choose between Clinton and Giuliani: "They're both terrific people, and I hope they both get the nomination. And then it's going to be a very interesting race. And I always go with one person. I will make a decision." He also shared these views in an October 2007 radio interview on Howard Stern's show. He called Clinton a good friend, said he was pushing for her nomination for the Democratic ticket, and that he had hosted fundraisers for her in the past. However, he declined to state whether he would vote for Giuliani or Clinton. In response to a question from Stern about whether he had hosted fundraisers for Clinton, he said, "I did, yes, I'd like her to win on the Democratic side, Rudy to win on the Republican side. And then I have to make a decision. But they're both great people. I think they're both gonna win and it's gonna be interesting to see what happens." The Wall Street Journal in 2016 uncovered transcripts of Trump's political analysis on syndicated radio feature "Trumped!" which aired between 2004 and 2008. He said in one clip from early 2008, "at least one member of [Obama's] team said Clinton would make a good vice president. Well, I know her, and she'd make a good president or a good vice president." In a January 2008 interview with Fox News' Neil Cavuto, Trump said in response to a question about whether he gave money to her Senate campaign: "Well, I support Hillary. I think she's fantastic. I supported Rudy. I think Romney is doing a very good job. I mean, there's every one of them, they are very []" But he again declined to share who he would vote for in the presidency. Buzzfeed news uncovered an old blog post written by Trump in March 2008 for the now-defunct Trump University. The post is archived here. Trump wrote (emphasis, ours): Hillary Clinton said she'd consider naming Barack Obama as her vice-president when she gets the nomination, but she's nowhere near a shoo-in. For his part, Obama said he's just focused on winning the nomination, although at least one member of his team said Clinton would make a good vice-president. (I know Hillary and I think she'd make a great president or vice-president.) It's interesting to see what the candidates are doing. They're playing the same kind of power games that you see in any kind of business environment. Trump ended up endorsing Republican candidate John McCain in 2008, according to an interview with Larry King. In another interview with Wolf Blitzer, he declined to state if he would have endorsed Clinton if she had won the Democratic nomination. He said: Blitzer: If Hillary Clinton had been the Democratic nominee, as opposed to Barack Obama, would you have endorsed her or John McCain? Trump: Well, I would rather not say, because I don't have to worry about that. But Hillary's a great friend of mine. Her husband is a great friend of mine. They're fantastic people. I mean, they're -- you know, the thing, they get a bad knock. She's a very nice woman. People think, tough, tough. And I guess she's tough, but she's a very nice woman. And he's a very nice guy. We know all about the smarts and how smart they are, and all, but they are good people. While Trump indeed supported Clinton's nomination for the Democratic ticket, and repeatedly said he thought she would be a good president, he also declined to state who his final vote would go to. However, the nominations went to Obama and McCain and he endorsed McCain, not revealing whether he would have endorsed Clinton if she won the Democratic nomination. We thus rate this claim as True. Sources: Allen, Mike. "Trump Endorses McCain on Larry King." POLITICO, 17 Sept. 2008, https://www.politico.com/story/2008/09/trump-endorses-mccain-on-larry-king-013558. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Golshan, Tara. "Donald Trump Has Supported Hillary Clinton for Longer than He's Opposed Her." Vox, 16 Aug. 2016, https://www.vox.com/2016/8/16/12452806/trump-praise-hillary-clinton-history. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Kaczynski, Andrew. "Donald Trump Once Blogged That Hillary Clinton Would Make A Great President." BuzzFeed News, 29 Dec. 2015, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/donald-trump-once-blogged-that-hillary-clinton-would-make-a. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Kaczynski, Andrew. "Trump In 2008 Interview: 'I Support Hillary, I Think She's Fantastic.'" BuzzFeed News, 15 Aug. 2016, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/trump-in-2008-interview-i-support-hillary-i-think-shes-fanta. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Kaczynski, Andrew. "Why Did Trump Endorse McCain? He Wanted Clinton As Obama's VP In 2008." BuzzFeed News, 9 July 2015, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/why-did-trump-endorse-mccain-he-wanted-clinton-as-obamas-vp. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. McDermott, Nathan and Andrew Kaczynski. "In 2007 Radio Hit, Trump Said He Wanted Friend Hillary To Be The Democratic Nominee." BuzzFeed News, 12 Aug. 2016, https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/in-2007-radio-hit-trump-said-he-wanted-friend-hillary-to-be. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Rothfeld, Michael, and Mark Maremont. "Donald Trump Said Hillary Clinton Would 'Make a Good President' in 2008." Wall Street Journal, 12 July 2016. www.wsj.com, http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-said-hillary-clinton-would-make-a-good-president-in-2008-1468281714. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. Scott, Eugene. "Donald Trump in 2008: Hillary Clinton Would 'make a Good President' | CNN Politics." CNN, 12 July 2016, https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/12/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-good-president/index.html. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. "The Race for Vice-President." The Trump Blog. 17 Feb. 2010, https://web.archive.org/web/20100217214811/http://www.trumpuniversity.com/blog/post/2008/03/the-race-for-vicepresident.cfm. Accessed 11 Sept. 2023. By Guy Faulconbridge, Josh Smith MOSCOW/SEOUL (Reuters) -What should the world be looking for when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Russia in coming days? The Kremlin said on Monday that Putin had invited Kim to Russia for what will be the North Korean's second known visit to Russia and his first trip abroad since the COVID pandemic. * Who is accompanying Kim Jong Un and who will he meet in Russia? If he travels with a full military delegation that could give an indication of the nature of the talks. Also of interest is who he meets besides Putin, such as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu who visited North Korea in July. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The United States has expressed concern over what it calls advancing arms negotiations between the two countries, with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan urging Kim "not to supply weapons to Russia that will end up killing Ukrainians". The United States has accused North Korea of providing arms to Russia, but it is unclear whether any deliveries have been made. Both Russia and North Korea have denied those claims, but promised to deepen defence cooperation. * What can Putin gain from talks? Analysts say North Korea has huge supplies of artillery shells, rockets and small arms ammunition that could help Russia replenish the vast stocks it has expended in more than 18 months of war in Ukraine, though their quality and the country's ability to mass produce more is unclear. Workers may also be something Russia is interested in amid record low unemployment. Before United Nations Security Council resolutions banned them in 2019, Russia was estimated to host nearly 20,000 North Koreans, according to a report by the Association of Asian Studies. In return, Russia could offer grain, oil and military technology as Kim looks to develop capabilities such as nuclear-powered submarines and military reconnaissance satellites. North Korea's latest Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile - its first ICBM to use solid rocket fuel - has reignited debate over possible Russian links to the nuclear-armed state's dramatic missile development. * What does North Korea say on nuclear weapons? For the past several years, the U.N. Security Council has been divided over how to deal with North Korea. Russia and China have said more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased. Whatever else comes from the meeting, the summit itself is a sign of support for each country as they face off against international sanctions and pressure. Putin said after holding his first face-to-face talks with Kim in 2019 that proposed U.S. security guarantees would probably not be enough to persuade Pyongyang to shut its nuclear programme. Back in 2019, Putin described Kim as "quite open" and as "thoughtful" and "interesting". * What roles do China and the U.S. play? Communist North Korea was formed in the early days of the Cold War with the backing of the Soviet Union. North Korea later battled the South and its U.S. and United Nations allies to a stalemate in the 1950-1953 Korean War with extensive aid from China and the Soviet Union. North Korea was heavily reliant on Soviet aid for decades, and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s contributed to a deadly famine in the North. Pyongyang's leaders have often tried to use Beijing and Moscow to balance each other. Kim initially had a relatively cool relationship with Russia and China, which both joined the United States in imposing strict sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear tests. * What else to know about past summits attended by Kim and Putin? Both Putin and Kim know how to catch global headlines. Back in 2019, the two leaders attended a gala dinner where they toasted each other and watched traditional musical numbers and dancing performed by Russian artists. The numbers included the Russian classic song "Black Eyes" and a Korean song called "the Great Commander". The two men also exchanged gifts. Kim gave Putin a traditional Korean sword, while the Russian leader gave Kim a sabre and a tea service suitable for use on his armoured train. Kim's rare foreign trips have occasionally offered more candid moments than what leaks from the tightly controlled state media in the North. During his 2019 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, Kim spoke to foreign journalists for the first time, during a photo opportunity. That summit, for which he spent days travelling by train through China, also revealed more interactions between Kim and his sister, Kim Yo Jong. TV footage captured the North Korean leader taking a cigarette break at a railway station in the southern Chinese city of Nanning, with Yo Jong approaching him holding a crystal ashtray in two hands. At a 2018 inter-Korean summit, 12 male bodyguards in dark suits made international headlines after they surrounded Kims Mercedes-Benz vehicle and jogged alongside. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Josh Smith in Seoul; Editing by Alex Richardson) In this 2020 photo, warm weather draws crowds to the oceanfront in Virginia Beach. A woman believed to be sleeping on top of a lifeguard stand in Virginia was killed when it toppled over and crushed her, police said Monday. Police responded to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront around 3:30 a.m. Saturday after getting a call that a lifeguard stand had fallen on the woman. The woman, identified as 28-year-old Chelsea Moles, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Virginia Beach police. Police determined that Moles appeared to have been sleeping on top of the stand when someone else tied a hammock to it, causing it to topple over and fall on top of Moles. Investigators rules Moles' death as accidental. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Timeline of prisoner escpae: Everything that's happened since Danelo Cavalcante fled Pennsylvania prison 24 days later: Maia, the dog who escaped the world's busiest airport, found hiding Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lifeguard stand falls, kills 28-year-old woman in Virginia Beach Wed be obsessed with a Drag Race UK: All Stars! Choriza May; Divina De Campo; Tia Kofi BBC/World of Wonder The flagship US version of RuPauls Drag Race just wrapped its eighth season by crowning Jimbo, a queen originally from Canadas Drag Race, as the winner. In a franchise that already has UK vs the World and Canada vs the World moving right ahead, as well as a full Drag Race Espana: All Stars in the works, we think itd only be fair to give Drag Race UK a full All Stars treatment as well. Four seasons later, theres a big list of queens that fans would love to see competing again. As we start to learn more about the newly-announced cast of Drag Race UK season five, its time to remember the queens from seasons one through four that could absolutely come back for a standalone All Stars in the UK. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Scroll through to check out our fan-casting of an All Stars season for RuPauls Drag Race UK, which is available for streaming on WOW Presents Plus. Divina De Campo Divina De Campo BBC/World of Wonder Divina De Campo was the original runner-up of Drag Race UK season one. In the competition, Divina won a design challenge, the girl groups challenge, and the makeover challenge. Overall, this queen absolutely deserves another shot on All Stars. Cheryl Hole Cheryl Hole BBC/World of Wonder Fans fell absolutely in love with Cheryl Hole in the first season of Drag Race UK. Despite not winning any challenges, Cheryl was a true fan-favorite and even got to compete on Drag Race UK vs the World. Unfortunately, though, her time on that season was cut too short... so wed love to see her compete again on a full All Stars season. Tia Kofi Tia Kofi BBC/World of Wonder Speaking of fan-favorites, Tia Kofi is one of the most popular queens to have come out of the Drag Race UK franchise. She didnt win a challenge during her time in season two, but she was a truly captivating contestant that the judges and the fans kept rooting for all season long. Imagine the All Stars glow-up that we could get from Tia Kofi! Bimini Bimini BBC/World of Wonder Bimini won a whopping four maxi challenges throughout season two of Drag Race UK. Her victories included the girl groups challenge, the Snatch Game, the stand-up challenge, and the acting challenge. Going into an All Stars competition, Bimini would be an immediate frontrunner. Tayce Tayce BBC/World of Wonder Tayce was one of the winners of the girl groups challenge of Drag Race UK season two. Despite falling in the bottom for several weeks, this queen amazed us with her lip syncing skills and gave us unforgettable performances week after week. With a few post-Drag Race years under her belt, we can only imagine what Tayce could pull off if she returned to compete on the show. Kitty Scott-Claus Kitty Scott-Claus BBC/World of Wonder The entire fandom fell in love with Kitty Scott-Claus in the third season of Drag Race UK. On the show, Kitty won the ball and the acting challenge, proving herself to be a worthy contender at the grand finale. Competing on an All Stars level, Kitty would be a fierce queen to go up against. Choriza May Choriza May BBC/World of Wonder After winning the girl groups challenge, Choriza May was sent home in the first double sashay in Drag Race UK herstory. Many fans still argue that her Snatch Game performance wasnt bad enough to land her in the bottom, nor that her lip sync warranted a double sashay. With so much fan-favoritism on her side, Choriza would be a great choice for a UK edition of All Stars. Ella Vaday Ella Vaday BBC/World of Wonder Ella Vaday won four maxi challenges on Drag Race UK season three: the girl groups challenge, the Snatch Game, the acting challenge, and the roast challenge. Her track record alone should guarantee that Ella would be invited back for All Stars, but she also has a lot of fans on her side rooting for her to do great. Black Peppa Black Peppa BBC/World of Wonder After kick-starting season four of Drag Race UK by winning the runway maxi challenge, Black Peppa unfortunately lost her groove and fell in the bottom multiple times. Nonetheless, this is a fierce queen who absolutely should get another chance to snatch the crown in an All Stars season. Cheddar Gorgeous Cheddar Gorgeous BBC/World of Wonder We couldnt possibly fan-cast an All Stars edition of Drag Race UK without including Cheddar Gorgeous, who finished as the runner-up of season four. By the end of the competition, both Danny Beard and Cheddar had won four maxi challenges each, making this the tightest grand finale in herstory. Given that she wasnt crowned, its only fair to bring Cheddar back for another chance. A last-minute legislative deal could lead to a $20 minimum wage for Californias fast food workers in the coming year and end an upcoming ballot fight between the industry and labor unions. Service Employees International Union announced the accord Monday, which includes amendments to AB 1228, the latest bill aimed at improving fast food industry conditions. The changes include raising the statewide minimum wage for fast-food workers next April and is contingent on withdrawal of the referendum against AB 257 last years bill that created a fast food council to oversee pay and other workplace issues. Fast food companies, spending millions of dollars, had been set to try to take down that law through a ballot measure voters would have considered in 2024. The industry must withdraw the referendum by Jan 1, 2024, per the agreement. This agreement is in the best interest of workers, local franchise restaurant owners, and brands and protects the franchise business model that has provided opportunities for thousands of Californians to become small business owners, said Matt Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In return, the joint liability portion of AB 1228 will be removed. It would have held companies and their franchisees jointly liable for accusations of harassment, wage theft or other forms of mistreatment. Franchisees and those in opposition believed the increased liability would have given corporations more control and possibly lead to the eventual elimination of franchising. The bill had stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and would have faced an uphill battle to pass. The amendments to AB 1228 put aside valid concerns about the franchisor-franchisee relationship in favor of bringing stakeholders from across the industry together with workers to solve common problems and build a better future, said Joseph Bryant, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union, in a statement. The hike in minimum wage is applicable to workers at fast food chains with more than 60 locations nationwide and prohibits localities from further increasing wages regionally for workers. The deal also creates a new nine-member fast food council, similar to the one formed under AB 257. It will consist of two representatives of the fast-food restaurant industry, two franchisees or restaurant owners, two fast food employees, two advocates for employees and one neutral member of the public, who will serve as chair. Council members will be charged with advancing fast food minimum standards until Jan. 1, 2029, when the agreement expires. Until then, it has the authority to increase hourly minimum wages annually by either 3.5% or the change in the Consumer Price Index each year. The council will hold its first meeting by March 15. AB 1228 wont be eligible for a vote until Thursday because the last-minute amendments must be in print and available to the public at least three days before lawmakers can pass it. If the Legislature passes the measure, then it will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom who has not stated a public position on the bill. But Mondays deal was only possible because of Newsoms actions last Friday. He signed AB 421, legislation that allows proponents to pull a referendum from the ballot 131 days before the election. Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, author of AB 257 and AB 1228, said the governors office was very much a part of the conversation in getting a deal done with the fast food industry. Once it started to get to a place where it looked like there was a deal that could be struck, I think the governors folks got involved and helped with amendments to tie it all together, Holden said. The Bee Capitol Bureaus Lindsey Holden contributed to this story. Recently, weve received a couple of messages from readers extolling the promise of the supposedly centrist group No Labels. In theory, this is a group looking for solutions in the neglected middle of the ideological spectrum by bringing together Republicans and Democrats who can see beyond their own partisan interests. The crackpot left and the crackpot right that demand 100% of their agenda and demonize the other side for not agreeing with it are ripping this country apart, as one commenter wrote on KansasCity.com. Here in the middle of the map, No Labels purported common sense agenda may well have particular appeal. If Joe Biden and Donald Trump are once again the presidential nominees of their parties, the group says, and if (some? many? how many?) Americans arent happy about that, well then it will sponsor a unity ticket offering us a third choice. But polling, history and the same common sense that No Labels advertises tell us that such a ticket would likely return Trump to office. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Maybe thats why one of the biggest known donors to this dark money group is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas patron Harlan Crow, the Dallas billionaire who collects Hitlers table linens and other Nazi niceties. And its definitely why our message to anyone tempted by the vision of comity that No Labels is selling is the same as that of the former No Labels enthusiast Rep. Mark Pocan, a Wisconsin Democrat. In a recent op-ed in the Capitol Hill news outlet The Hill, Pocan wrote this: When I first came to Congress, I was enamored with the alleged ideal behind No Labels and their mission to take partisanship out of politics. A world where people can work together on ideas that help the American people despite ideological differences. Boy was I wrong. Their nonpartisan agenda is and always has been dishonest. My first disagreement with No Labels came when I realized they were only looking out for mega donor special interests, advocating for lowering taxes on the rich and powerful, and weakening regulations for big business, making it easier for them to exploit workers or the environment. Rick Wilson, the longtime Republican strategist and co-founder of the Never Trumper Lincoln Project, has been talking about what he thinks No Labels is really about for some time now. No Labels founders Nancy Jacobson and Mark Penn have one goal: to punish the Democratic Party that rejected and ejected them, he has written. Their profitable psychodrama revenge fantasy against Joe Biden and the Clintons is a lie from top to bottom, and their 2024 plan is designed to divide the anti-Trump vote and ensure Trump returns to the Oval Office. We dont know what fantasies have fueled their effort, but Wilson is right that a Trump victory would be the result of a centrist third-party ticket. Ask Ralph Nader voters in 2000 and Jill Stein voters in 2016 if theyre happy with the way their purity set the world on fire and put our democracy at serious risk. Potential No Labels presidential nominee Joe Manchin, the Democratic West Virginia senator, sees all pushback to the group as the work of those who profit from partisanship. As someone who has made millions from the coal industry and blocked Bidens climate plan last year, he would know something about that. The politics in Washington is a better business model if they can keep you divided, Manchin has said. Were trying to say: Hey boys, get off your high horse on the right and the left and come back together and lets do our job. If the job here is electing someone who consistently and openly admires dictators, who has called for the termination of the U.S. Constitution, and who according to his own team was willing to use force to stay in power, then yeah. But if its preserving the republic, say no to No Labels. Photo: The Canadian Press Protesters oppose water discharge from Fukushima nuclear plant. The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said Monday that it has safely completed the first release of treated radioactive water from the plant into the sea and will inspect and clean the facility before starting the second round in a few weeks. The Fukushima Daiichi plant began discharging the treated and diluted wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 24. The water has accumulated since the plant was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, and the start of its release is a milestone in the plant's decommissioning. The discharge, which is expected to continue for decades until the decommissioning is finished, has been strongly opposed by fishing groups and by neighboring countries. China has banned all imports of Japanese seafood in response, hurting producers and exporters and prompting the Japanese government to compile an emergency relief fund. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, at summits last week of Southeast Asian countries and the Group of 20 nations, stressed the safety and transparency of the release to win international support and sought the immediate lifting of China's ban. During the 17-day first release, the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, said it discharged 7,800 tons of treated water from 10 tanks. About 1.34 million tons of radioactive wastewater is stored in about 1,000 tanks at the plant. Plant workers will rinse the pipeline and other equipment and inspect the system over the next few weeks before starting the release of the second round of 7,800 tons stored in 10 other tanks, TEPCO spokesperson Teruaki Kobashi told reporters Monday. All sampling data from seawater and fish since the start of the release have been way below set safety limits, officials said. TEPCO and the government say the wastewater is treated to reduce radioactive materials to safe levels, and then is diluted with seawater to make it much safer than international standards. The radioactive wastewater has accumulated since three of the plant's reactors were damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. It continues to grow because cooling water used on the damaged reactors leaks into the reactor basements, where it mixes with groundwater. TEPCO plans to release 31,200 tons of treated water through March 2024, and officials say the pace will pick up later. The government and TEPCO say the discharge is unavoidable because the tanks will reach their capacity of 1.37 million tons next year and space at the plant is needed for its decommissioning. Violent crime is spiraling out of control in Fayetteville. Homicides and other violent acts are causing our community irreparable harm, and we must find a way to stop the insanity. We should have pushed the panic button, but politics always gets in the way. Those who believe police alone can solve this problem may be well-intentioned but are sincerely wrong. Policing has never been the sole solution for varying levels of community safety. More: Pitts: Fayetteville Police propose teen curfew to curb violence. But they don't work. More: Rob Taber: Fayetteville teens need safe places and jobs, not a delinquency ordinance ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The wealthiest neighborhoods in Fayetteville do not experience the intense police surveillance and enforcement imposed on poor areas. Yet, violence among the upscale neighborhoods remains reliably lower than that of their poor peers across town. What can we conclude from this observation? Are the good areas in Fayetteville safe from violence because the police have already finished their work in those neighborhoods, or are there other factors that have nothing to do with guns and badges responsible for the lower rates of violence? More importantly, can those factors be replicated in low-income neighborhoods to prevent and reduce crime without over-policing the poor? Troy Williams Young people, especially young males, account for a disproportionate amount of community violence. In Fayetteville, those young males are primarily African American. So, the short answer is to target young Black males. When arrests are up, crime is down, right? Of course, the easiest and quickest answers are rarely the best answers. Poor neighborhoods generally contain poor people. To survive, people require money and basic needs. With that in mind, its understandable they will likely turn to crime to obtain these needs if they feel its necessary. More: Will Fayetteville enact a curfew on minors? Here's what the Council says More: Troy Williams: Fathers play huge role in successfully raising Black boys in America Targeting Black males has a long history of oppression and stereotyping. Most African American men are not criminals or dangerous. There are models of reducing violence without police. Violence reduction interventions other than policing have been successful in some other places. They can be expanded and replicated in Fayetteville. Our community leaders must be able to identify vital, theoretically informed strategies with proven track records that work and know how to implement them. What precisely do we do to reduce violence without police? The John Jay College of Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation Center has a review of research evidence I hope to introduce to our community. There are also sources of other information; see CrimeSolutions.gov, a site hosted for the U.S. Department of Justice. In the meantime, we need to galvanize our efforts and join forces to save our community. WIDU radio 99.7 FM, a heritage gospel information/inspiration station located off Murchison Road in the heart of the African American community, started a daily program series called Crisis in the City last week. Fayetteville Police Department personnel stand in a field near where a man was found with fatal gunshot wounds on Bonanza Drive on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. The identity of the victim, Ernest Bullock, 24, was released by police Tuesday. Their approach is faith, facts and forward progress in addressing the violence in our community. The commitment is to discuss the problem of violence with subject matter experts, faith leaders and interested stakeholders and end each broadcast with a prayer for our community by local clergy members. Other communities have overcome violent crime, and Im confident Fayetteville will succeed. Troy Williams is a member of The Fayetteville Observer Community Advisory Board. He is a legal analyst and criminal defense investigator. He can be reached at talk2troywilliams@yahoo.com. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville violence needs solutions beyond just police: Williams The FDA on Monday cleared two updated mRNA Covid-19 shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, paving the way for an early fall rollout. It will be the first updated shots offered to the public in a year and since the public health emergency ended in May. The new shots target the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron, following the FDA's June recommendation. Both companies said their shots generate substantial antibodies against the XBB subvariants of the virus, as well as the newer EG.5 and FL.1.5.1 subvariants, which now make up more than 30 percent of cases in the U.S. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna said their updated shots provide additional neutralizing antibodies against BA.2.86, a variant the World Health Organization is monitoring because the variant's high number of mutations could mean it can evade existing immunity. The variant was first detected in Denmark in July and in the U.S. in August. The FDA approved shots from Pfizer-BioNTech for those 12 years and older as a single shot rather than the two-dose regimen approved previously. It also approved Moderna's shot for those 18 and older as a single dose, when it had previously consisted of two doses. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The agency also updated authorizations for shots from both Moderna and Pfizer so that a child 5 years old and older can receive either shot in a single dose, as long as it has been two months since their previous shot. Children 6 months through 4 years old who have been previously vaccinated can receive one or two doses of an updated vaccine, depending on their last shot, and those who have never been vaccinated can receive three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, or two doses of the Moderna shot. "Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agencys rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated. Novavax asked the FDA to authorize its updated shot earlier this summer, but has not yet received a decision from the FDA. The company said it has received shipments of the vaccine in the U.S. that are ready to go. If it receives authorization, it will be the only non-mRNA vaccine option available. What's next: The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet on Tuesday to discuss endorsing and deciding who should receive the updated shots. The panel will also hear from all three vaccine manufacturers, as well as updates on current Covid spread and data on vaccine effectiveness. Once the agency's director, Mandy Cohen, signs off on ACIP's recommendations for the two shots just approved, they have a clear path to reach the public. Makers of all the shots have said they're prepared to deliver shots in the coming weeks. CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story misstated which companies received FDA approval for updated mRNA Covid-19 shots. The agency is still reviewing the Novavax's application for approval. Investors are spooked over Beijing banning government officials from using iPhones at work. But Wedbush's Dan Ives says the fears are ' way overdone' as the ban could only impact 1% of iPhone sales in China. Apple supports 5 million jobs in China. Its major supplier Foxconn is China's largest private employer. Fears about Apple's prospects in China following Beijing's ban on iPhone use for government officials may be overblown, according to two analysts. Investors have been worried about the recent development Apple shares lost about $200 million in value after the Wall Street Journal reported China ordered its central government officials not to use Apple's iPhone and phones from other foreign brands at work. However, Dan Ives, a prominent Wedbush analyst, said the fears are "way overdone," as the ban is likely to impact about 500,000 units of iPhone that's 1.1% of 45 million units of the smartphone that are expected to be sold in China in the next year, he wrote in a note on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Another analyst also thinks concerns about Beijing's ban on the iPhone in government workplaces are overblown. "The headline is a negative for Apple, but it is not clear how much of an impact this will have as party officials have likely avoided using American products in the workplace for long before the official ban was enacted," Amit Daryanani, an analyst at Evercore ISI, wrote in a Thursday note, per MarketWatch. There's also another reason why Beijing is unlikely to widen an iPhone ban in the country. Apple has 1 million employees in China and supports around another 4 million jobs through its manufacturing and tech ecosystems, per the company's Chinese website. Daryanani said it's unlikely for Beijing to enforce more restrictions, "unless Apple begins moving supply chains out of China at a rate that makes China uncomfortable." The ban comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing, which are mired in a tech war. China's ban on foreign phone brands in government agencies echoes similar restrictions in the US such as a New York City ban on TikTok on government-owned devices. Apple shares closed 0.35% higher at $178.18 apiece on Friday. They've lost 6% since Wednesday after the news of China's iPhone ban broke. Overall, the stock is up 37% higher this year. Apple and Evercore did not immediately respond to requests from Insider for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider A three-judge panel Monday denied Alabamas request to pause the decision that struck down their new congressional map last week. Alabama submitted a new map after the Supreme Court blocked the previous map in June for likely violating the Voting Rights Act. A trio of federal judges ruled last week that the new map fell short of complying with the Supreme Courts directive, meaning that a court-appointed official may instead draw the redistricting lines for the 2024 cycle. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshalls office said that it planned to appeal the case back to the Supreme Court. The state filed the motion to stay the federal courts recent ruling Monday so that it could appeal its case before the new map would be redrawn by a court official. The judges wrote that Marshall was likely to lose on appeal in its order later Monday denying the motion. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Secretary has lost three times already, and one of those losses occurred on appeal, the judges wrote. We have twice enjoined a plan that includes only one majority-Black or Black-opportunity district on the grounds that it likely dilutes the votes of Black Alabamians in violation of Section Two of the Voting Rights Act. The initial map had included one majority-Black district out of seven total districts, even though more than a quarter of the state population is Black. The judges also argued that a stay order is not in the public interest of Alabama. The Plaintiffs like all Alabamians already have endured one congressional election in this census cycle that the Secretary administered under an unlawful map. We see no reason to allow that to happen again, the judges wrote. The judges noted that Alabama also admitted to falling short of what the Supreme Court was asking for. We repeat that we are deeply troubled that the State enacted a map that the Secretary readily admits does not provide the remedy we said federal law requires, they wrote. And we are disturbed by the evidence that the State delayed remedial proceedings but did not even nurture the ambition to provide that required remedy. Under these circumstances, we cannot understand why it would be a reasonable exercise of our discretion to order a stay pending the Secretarys second appeal, they added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The federal government says it seized nearly $1.8 million in cash at the home of Biloxi councilman Robert L. Deming III and is planning to go to court to keep the funds. In court filings, the federal government outlines the cash and other items up for forfeiture as a result of a January search of Demings home in Biloxi and at his CBD and kratom stores, dubbed The Candy Shop LLC. Deming owns six stores across Mississippi and North Carolina. The government argues the cash and others are subject to forfeiture because they are derived from an alleged drug trafficking network involved in money laundering and racketeering through the businesses. Racketeering is a federal crime, typically categorized as a white-collar scheme involving an illegal enterprise set up to commit fraud, money laundering and other crimes, such as narcotics trafficking. Robert L. Deming III, city council representative for Ward 4, appears at a Biloxi City Council meeting in Biloxi on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Demings home and several of his the Candy and Kratom Shop businesses were raided by the DEA on Jan. 26, 2023. So far, Deming has not been arrested or detained, though documents obtained by the Sun Herald say the case remains under criminal investigation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a recent filing, the government asked to temporarily stall further action in the civil litigation pending the resolution of the criminal investigation. Cash, cash and more cash As a result of a nearly two-year investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration agents descended on The Candy Shop LLC stores in Mississippi and North Carolina in January. The items seized in the Mississippi stores were: $575,746.00 in cash DEA agents seized at Demings home in the upscale Taylor Oaks subdivision in Biloxi $1,230,559.27 in cash also seized during a Jan. 26 search of Demings home $4,040.00 in cash DEA agents seized from a vehicle registered to Deming at his Biloxi home $73,328.24 in cash DEA agents seized from The Candy Shop LLC in Ocean Springs. Property at 946 Caroline Drive in Biloxi in the name of Robert L. Deming III All funds held in Legend Trading, Inc., a cryptocurrency account in the name of Robert Deming All funds in a Wells Fargo account in the name of Robert L. Deming All funds in a Wells Fargo account in the name of Robert L. Deming All funds in a Wells Fargo Account in the name of Robert Deming Attorneys at Law LLC. All funds in a Woodforest National Bank Account in the name of DK Marine LLC. One of the Candy Shop kratom stores owned by Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The shop was raided by the DEA due to an ongoing investigation. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and other law enforcement officers search two cars as a part of raids conducted on the home of Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Agents would not say specifically what they were looking for or what they found, but agents also conducted raids on several locations of The Candy Shop & Kratom, a kratom store chain owned by Deming. At the Candy Shop stores in North Carolina, agents seized bulk cash and other items, as listed below: 6,000 units of synthetic cannabis falsely labeled as CBD 500 doses of substances suspected to contain synthetic cannabis 1,000 units of homemade edibles suspected of having cannabis About $2 million in cash Simultaneous raids of CBD stores in MS & NC DEA agents raided Demings six Candy Shop and kratom stores across Mississippi and in North Carolina on Jan. 26. The year-and-a-half-long investigation was sparked by complaints illness of some customers taking products sold there. Deming has three stores on the Mississippi Coast in Biloxi, Gulfport and Ocean Springs three stories in Hattiesburg and two other stores in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The stores raided on the Mississippi Coast are on Pass Road in Biloxi and on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and other law enforcement officers search two cars as a part of raids conducted on the home of Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Agents would not say specifically what they were looking for or what they found, but agents also conducted raids on several locations of The Candy Shop & Kratom, a kratom store chain owned by Deming. Chris Bell, special agent in charge for the DEA in Gulfport, told the Sun Herald early on that there had been several complaints about people getting sick after consuming products from the Candy Shop stores. Hattiesburg police said the January search and seizure at The Candy Shop stores there centered around synthetic cannabinoids, featured as oils or edibles, that were having additional substances added to them, which ultimately made some consumers suffer from health problems. In addition to CBD, the stores sell kratom, a supplement marketed as a pain reliever or to help people focus. Kratom has also been linked to drug overdoses and is illegal to obtain in several states, including Alabama. We had complaints at the businesses in and around the Gulf Coast of products that were sold and having ill effects on people consuming them, Bell said in January. Some of the concerns were with who the products were being sold to, their ages and the effects on people who basically were ending up in hospitals over this, Bell said. Some of those complaints, Bell said, came from parents of children who were underage. Who is Robert Deming? Deming, a graduate of Biloxi High School, is currently in his third term as Ward 4 councilman. He was first elected in 2013, then reelected in 2017 and again in 2021. Deming is also a Mississippi Coast lawyer specializing in bankruptcy, breach of contract, estate, trusts and probate, personal injury litigation and workers compensation law. According to his LinkedIn profile, Deming owns the full-service consulting firm Denham Law Firm and DEMING Enterprises LLC. Deming received his undergraduate degree from University of Southern Mississippi and his juris doctorate from University of Mississippi School of Law. Howard Avenue, once a vibrant part of downtown Biloxi, has struggled to attract business and visitors over the decades. Councilman Robert Deming III believes 2-way traffic will help bring people to the area and envisions restaurants, bars and other entertainment venues in the future. If Kourtney Kardashians Instagram post last week marked the first time youd ever seen the term fetal surgery, youre not alone. Procedures in which a doctor operates on an unborn fetus arent as recent a development as you might imagine, but theyre not particularly common, either. Speculations arose that something had happened to Kardashian and the baby she is carrying when her husband Travis Barker, drummer for the band Blink 182, abruptly flew home from the groups European tour to attend to an urgent family matter, leading to the postponement of several scheduled shows in Scotland and Ireland. Four days later, Kardashian posted a black and white photograph of Barkers hand holding hers on a hospital bed, an IV tube emerging from her taped wrist. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I will be forever grateful to my incredible doctors for saving our babys life, Kardashian wrote. I wasnt prepared for the fear of rushing into urgent fetal surgery. I dont think anyone who hasnt been through a similar situation can begin to understand. What is fetal surgery? Fetal surgery is a term used to talk about any procedure performed on fetuses prior to delivery, Dr. Saul Snowise, fetal interventionist and the medical director of the Midwest Fetal Care Center, a collaboration between Allina Health and Childrens Minnesota, told HuffPost. Some procedures are performed to prevent fetal loss, Snowise explained, while others are meant to improve the long-term outcome for the newborn. An example of a lifesaving procedure is a fetal transfusion, in which donor blood is transfused into an umbilical vein. Fetal anemia, which has various causes, can be treated this way. Fetal transfusions, performed since the 1960s, are the earliest type of fetal surgery. The field rapidly evolved in the 80s-90s and there are now well-established fetal surgery programs across North America, Europe and Asia, Snowise said. A procedure to correct a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida, would be an example of a procedure aimed at improving the long-term outcome for the baby. These procedures have become more common over the past decade, following the 2011 publication of a study in the New England Journal of Medicine showing a benefit to doing these repairs prenatally, as fetal surgery, rather than waiting to perform surgery on the baby after it is born. What conditions can be treated? Dr. Raphael Sun, co-director of the fetal surgery program at Oregon Health & Science University, says that two of the most common conditions he treats with fetal surgery are twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is a rare condition that occurs only in identical twins. When the twins are monochorionic and diamniotic (meaning they share one placenta but each have their own amniotic sac), they may have unequal sharing of blood between the two fetuses, Snowise said. This can threaten the entire pregnancy. Surgeons like Snowise and Sun are able to use laser surgery to effectively create two functioning placentas from one, so that each twin has its own reliable source of blood. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is not generally diagnosed or treated before 16 weeks of pregnancy. Other instances where a fetus might need surgery include an accumulation of fluid in the chest or abdomen, which doctors are able to drain using a needle or sometimes by placing a shunt, which is essentially a small tube that can divert and change fluid from one cavity to the other, Sun explained. Some conditions need to be treated right away in order to save the babys life, while other surgeries, such as those for spina bifida, are generally planned weeks in advance. Spina bifida or other neural tube defects arent generally treated before 24 weeks, Sun said. (At 24 weeks, it is possible for a baby to survive in a hospital NICU.) Fetal procedures range from minimally invasive needling procedures to complex maternal procedures requiring large incisions in the uterus, Snowise said. A procedure to drain fluid from the fetus lungs would be minimally invasive, involving the insertion of a needle. Slightly more invasive procedures include the placement of shunts or a fetal transfusion. These procedures are done just with needles or small maternal incisions and are guided by ultrasound, Snowise explained. The kind of laser surgery to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome is generally performed using fetoscopy, or placing an operative scope into the uterine cavity, Snowise said. Procedures to correct neural tube defects or to remove tumors are the most invasive. In these cases, a large maternal abdominal incision is made, the uterus is opened to expose the fetus, the tumor is removed or the lesion is repaired, and then the uterus is closed and the pregnancy continued, he said. Sun noted that in recent years, some surgeons are doing a more minimally invasive surgery to repair neural tube defects such as spina bifida, involving 2, 3 or 4 small incisions rather than one large one. What are the risks? Some of the risks from fetal surgery are the same as with any surgical procedure, such as bleeding and infection. With minimally invasive procedures these are rare, Snowise said. The risks of more complex procedures can include blood clots or fluid collecting in the lungs of the mother. The major risk affecting both mother and fetus are the risks of preterm labor and preterm delivery, Snowise said. The earlier a baby is born, the greater the risk of it not surviving or having other complications. Which specialists perform fetal surgery? Some fetal surgeons initially train as maternal fetal medicine specialists, or high-risk obstetricians. Others train first in pediatric surgery. Many large U.S. cities have a fetal surgery center affiliated with their local childrens hospital, but these kinds of procedures are much less available in rural areas. Some patients have to travel long distances to reach a hospital where they can be treated. Both surgeons emphasized that fetal surgery is a team effort. At the Midwest Fetal Care Center, Snowise said, our team consists of maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, neonatologists, clinical nurse coordinators, geneticists, and other specialty staff, all of whom have extra training in managing complex fetal cases. Sun concurred: Its special, and I think its really complex, and it takes an entire team to be able to execute this. Its really gratifying, he continued. Fetal surgery offers some mothers and fetuses a chance that would not have been otherwise available. Related... It was a story that went viral earlier this year a coastal Georgia Lowes employee lost her job after she was attacked trying to stop a group of thieves from stealing merchandise from the store. Now, the third and final suspect involved in that attack has been arrested. Takyah Shalone Berry, 22, was booked into the Effingham County Detention Center and charged with robbery, battery, exploitation or inflicting pain to an elder person and wearing a mask, hood or device to conceal identity. The incident happened in July. Donna Hansbrough, 68, worked at the Lowes home improvement store in Rincon. Police said three people came into the store and loaded up their shopping cart with about $2,100 worth of merchandise. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement RELATED STORIES: Thats when one of the thieves hit Hansbrough in the face three times, leaving her with a black eye, police said. Police said despite the attack, Hansbrough was fired for violating the stores policy when it comes to shoplifting. Days later, Lowes senior management spoke to Hansbrough and reinstated her job and Hansbrough accepted their offer. Up till now, only two of the three suspects had been arrested. Police confirmed to WJCL-TV, that the final suspect, Berry, was taken into custody on Thursday with the help of Savannah police. Berrys charges include two felonies and two misdemeanors. She is currently being held without bond. RELATED NEWS: The children apparently travelled to the UK with Urfan Sharif and his partner Beinash Batool, pictured Five children who travelled from the UK to Pakistan with the father of Sara Sharif have all been found by police at her grandfathers house. Muhammad Sharif, Saras grandfather, said the children had been hiding inside his home but did not say how long they had been there. Saras father, Urfan Sharif, his partner, Beinash Batool, and brother Faisal Malik, who are all wanted by police in the UK following the girls death last month, were not present when the raid was carried out on Monday. A heavy contingent of police including women constables raided the house and Muhammads general store at Kadi-Janjeel village in north-eastern city of Jhelum in Pakistan. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Police took Urfans three sons and two daughters in custody, a relative of Sharif, who identified himself as Imran Ahmad told The Telegraph. Children were recovered They (police) also broke CCTV cameras and seized the DVR, Ahmad said. Police confirmed to The Telegraph that the children were recovered from the house but they were returned to their grandfather on Monday night. Sources said that the trio are believed to be hiding in neighbouring Pakistan administered Kashmir where multiple locations were raided today to nab them. Police have been exerting immense pressure on the relatives of Sharif by raiding their properties and detaining them for questioning to get the clues of their whereabouts. Muhammad accused Pakistani police officers of destroying CCTV cameras and damaging the gates at his home. He had previously issued repeated denials of being in contact with his fugitive son and having knowledge of the familys whereabouts. Sara was found dead at her home in Woking after officers were called from Pakistan by her father, Urfan Sharif, at about 2.50am on Aug 10, Surrey Police have previously said. Sara Sharif was found dead at home in Surrey on August 10 A post-mortem examination found she had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period of time. Last week, Saras father and stepmother accused the media of making up lies about them as they spoke publicly for the first time about her death. Speaking in a video released by Sky News, Urfan and Batool said they were willing to co-operate with authorities and fight our case in court, but did not specifically state a return to the UK. Urfan and Batool said they were willing to co-operate with authorities and fight our case in court, but did not specifically state a return to the UK. In the footage, the husband and wife, sat side-by-side on a sofa as she read out a prepared statement. Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Saras death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on, Batool said. She said she was worried for the familys safety and accused the media of issuing incorrect information and making up lies. Running out of food Imran [one of Urfans brothers] did not give a statement that Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. This was spread through a Pakistani media outlet. Batool claimed the family were now running out of food and unable to venture outside. All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety. The kids are unable to attend school as theyre afraid to leave the house. No one is leaving the house. The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety. In her final remarks, Batool indicated the family was ready to speak to police in the UK. Lastly, we are willing to cooperate with the UK authorities and fight our case in court, she added. The BBC reported that Batool stated the family were forced into hiding over fears Pakistani police will torture and kill them. In response, Mehmood Bajwa, a police chief in Jhelum, said allegations of harassment and torture of Urfans family members were false. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. The U.S. Air Force secretary on Monday said the service is launching a new effort to revamp how it organizes, trains, equips and carries out missions to deter or defeat China. Over the next few months, the Department of the Air Forces senior leadership will lead this review to find ways to make itself and the Space Force operate better in an era of great power competition, Frank Kendall said in his keynote address at the Air and Space Forces Associations Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Kendall added that he wants the department to start implementing changes by January 2024 and move rapidly that year. The five teams working on this effort will focus on how the department is organized, both in its headquarters and the field; how the force is equipped; recruitment, training and retention of personnel; readiness; and how the department supports operational air and space missions, including mobilization and demobilization as well as providing installations for service members. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kendall said the Air Force has no choice but to change to counter the threat from China, which is successfully modernizing its air and naval forces, and has a rocket force capable of targeting crucial U.S. assets such as aircraft carriers, airfields and logistics hubs. China has been re-optimizing its forces for great power competition and to prevail against the U.S. in the Western Pacific for over 20 years, Kendall said. We must do the same. The Air Force in recent years has transformed in several ways, including standing up a new command, control, communications and battle management effort overseen by its own program executive officer, as well as creating multi-capable airmen able to do more than one job on deployment. But more must be done, Kendall noted. Kendall also urged Congress to swiftly pass a budget so the department doesnt have to operate under a continuing resolution, and decried the hold Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has on hundreds of general officer nominations. Kendall also pointed to the Pentagons so-called quickstart proposal to Congress which would allow the military to begin work on some of its most vital new programs before a budget is passed as an example of a reform that would allow the department to operate more efficiently and prevent us from losing ground unnecessarily. This summer, just days after Farmers Insurance bailed on Floridas risky property insurance market, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a bit of advice to his states residents: knock on wood and hope that the state is spared from a major hurricane this season. It hasnt panned out that way. Hurricane Idalia tore through Floridas Big Bend late last month as a Category 3 storm, bringing with it maximum sustained wind speeds of 125 mph and record-breaking storm surges for some parts of the state. In the days since, Hurricane Lee has taken shape in the Atlantic, though current forecasts show that it doesnt pose a direct threat to Florida. With nearly three months left in the official 2023 hurricane season, the storms have shined a spotlight on Floridas property insurance crisis at a critical moment for DeSantis, who has put his record in the governors mansion at the center of his 2024 presidential bid and touted the so-called Florida Blueprint on the campaign trail. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While the governor received praise from many Republicans for his swift and decisive response to Idalia, the looming uncertainty in the states homeowners insurance market could open him up to criticism. Former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the GOPs 2024 presidential nod, has already taunted DeSantis for months over Floridas property insurance woes. Last week, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, Trump re-upped that line of attack, saying that DeSantis gave up the store when it came to his approach to the insurance industry. The states property insurance crisis has also drawn the attention of Fox & Friends, a normally friendly program for DeSantis. In an Aug. 30 segment recorded as Idalia made landfall, one of the shows co-hosts Brian Kilmeade said that insurance in Florida is through the roof. DeSantis campaign did not respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment on the criticism hes received over the property insurance crisis. Florida tops the list for the most expensive homeowners insurance in the country. According to the industry-backed Insurance Information Institute, Floridians are paying an average of $6,000 a year in 2023 a 42% increase over 2022. By comparison, the average home insurance premium in the U.S. sits at $1,700, which is up just 11% from last year. The rate hikes in Florida over the past few years have been particularly steep, rising by 128% since 2020, the Insurance Information Institutes data shows. While climate-related risks, like hurricanes, factor into those increases, Mark Friedlander, a spokesperson for the institute, said that the biggest drivers of rising premiums are litigation and claim fraud. We analyzed the Florida market very closely and determined that the factors that have generated the Florida property insurance crisis were man-made factors, Friedlander said. Florida had many years of legal system abuse and insurance claim fraud. That claim that legal abuse and fraud are the primary drivers behind skyrocketing premiums has drawn pushback. Critics argue that other factors, like bad business practices and climate risks, have contributed to the crisis. Floridas property insurance market troubles long predate DeSantis governorship. Still, homeowners insurance premiums have more-than doubled in the four-and-a-half years that hes been in office, adding to growing financial pressures in a state that has seen its cost-of-living skyrocket in recent years. Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, DeSantis predecessor in the governors mansion, called Floridas property insurance crisis devastating for homeowners and renters, and said theres clearly more than has to be done by state officials to tame the rising premiums. Its way too expensive to insure homes in Florida right now, Scott said on CNN last week. And so we gotta work with insurance companies, we gotta recruit them to come back to the state, we gotta get more competition and we gotta solve the problem so they can drive their rates down. Until its completely solved, you know theres more to do, he added. We still have companies leaving, we have less competition. DeSantis has already signed several bills aimed at reducing the costly litigation and fraud issues. State lawmakers have also sought to reduce the number of policies held by Citizens, the state-backed insurer of last resort that a rapidly growing number of Florida homeowners have had to turn to in recent years. Friedlander said that the legislation signed by DeSantis included necessary stepping stones to stabilize Floridas tumultuous insurance market. Since those reforms were put in place, Friedlander said, five new insurance companies have been approved to do business in Florida. Still, he added, the market isnt stable yet, and were not making any predictions about when itll be stable. Theres still a lot going on in the market, a lot of turmoil, a lot of litigation passing through the system, Friedlander said. DeSantis said during a hurricane briefing last week that he wanted the Florida Legislature to go further in last years special sessions reforming the property insurance market than it did. When asked a day later what reforms he wanted to see, however, DeSantis declined to provide details, saying that he was focused on responding to Hurricane Idalia and that it wasnt an appropriate time to have policy discussions. Right now, were focusing on the response, protecting people and then getting what we need to go there, he said. This is about execution right now. We obviously can have different policy debates when the time is appropriate. Others argue that the efforts to rein in insurance lawsuits only tackle part of the problem. Florida Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani argued in a recent op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel that the governor and state lawmakers have ignored deeper problems in the market, while focusing their attention on insurance industry-friendly policies and culture war issues. This is a governor who has made it crystal clear that he would much rather spend his time trying to divide Floridians with fake culture wars rather than trying to solve the real cost-of-living challenges that impact all of us, Eskamani wrote. Democratic former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who launched a bid for Scotts Senate seat last month, demanded that DeSantis and legislative leaders call another special session to address the property insurance crisis. Property insurance costs are a crisis, Mucarsel-Powell said. Im calling on leaders in Tallahassee to convene an immediate special session to pass common-sense legislation to lower costs for Florida families and small businesses. We need action, not tomorrow, but right now, to save Floridians who are struggling with massive rate increases. Photo: The Canadian Press A diver with non-profit Reef Renewal USA cleans and maintains a coral nursery in the Florida Keys. Marine heat waves haven't had a lasting effect on fish populations along Canadas Atlantic and Pacific coasts, says a study showing there is still a chance to act on climate change. The study published Aug. 30 in the journal Nature looked at data from 1993 to 2019, which included 248 marine heat waves described as prolonged periods of warm ocean temperatures. "The expectation is that whenever there are heat waves, the fish stocks will be affected, and that the bigger the heat waves, the bigger the impacts. But what we find is that the impact is not consistent," William Cheung, professor at the University of British Columbia's Institute for Oceans and Fisheries, and co-author of the study, said in a recent interview. "What it suggested is that the relationship between heat waves and fish stocks can be more complicated." The study looked at 82,322 samples of heat wave data from long-term scientific surveys of marine ecosystems in North America and Europe spanning the subtropics to the Arctic. The authors defined a marine heat wave as a period of five days or more with extreme higher-than-average temperatures. The data included notable marine heat waves, such as "the Blob," which blanketed the Northeast Pacific from 2014-2016, and the 2012 one in the Northwest Atlantic. While "the Blob" caused a 22-per-cent loss of fish in the Gulf of Alaska, the 2012 marine heat wave led to a 70-per-cent gain in the number of fish in the Northwest Atlantic. The authors said steep declines in fish populations "occasionally occurred after marine heat waves, (but) these were the exception, not the rule ... Marine heat waves have not driven biomass change or community turnover in fish communities that support many of the worlds largest and most productive fisheries." Cheung said while the study measured heat waves through temperature changes, there are other factors that affect fish, such as food availability, oxygen levels and salinity of the oceans. "It may be that the relationship between temperature and those other changes in ocean conditions are more complex," he said. But the study warns that as marine heat waves get longer and more intense, fisheries may eventually be affected because marine life is more vulnerable to warming than is terrestrial life. Marine organisms tend to live close to the temperature limits of what their bodies can sustain, while oceans, compared with land, have fewer "thermal refugia" areas with cooler temperatures than the surrounding ecosystem. "As a future that is more than 1.5?C warmer looks increasingly likely, it is more critical than ever to develop a deeper understanding of what drives ecological responses to extreme climate events," the study said. Marine heat waves have also been linked to widespread coral bleaching and die-offs of kelp forests and reef fish in shallow coastal seas, Cheung said. As well, he said, scientists have observed fish migrating to cooler parts of the ocean as temperatures have risen. "But the thing is that not all species will have the same ability to shift their distribution; some species may be limited by geography," he said. "There are also other environmental conditions that may prevent fish from moving to even further, deeper waters." Cheung pointed to sockeye salmon a species of fish important to First Nations and historically found in the coastal regions of British Columbia which seem to be changing habitat in search of cooler waters. This shift in species habitat will be felt by people who rely on the salmon, he said, as well as on other organisms that feed on those animals. Scientists are carefully studying the rare flash of good news about the lack of major impact caused by marine heat waves. But Cheung said marine life may be limited in its capacity to absorb a constant pummeling of high temperatures. "It really highlights the urgency to do climate actions now," he said. "If we don't take any actions now, with continuous climate change, we know it will increase the intensity and frequency of marine heat waves and it is going to lead to a bigger, scary impact." As the summer travel season fades into memory, Floridians are wasting no time in solidifying their holiday travel plans. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< A recent AAA survey reveals that a significant majority of Floridians, 61%, of residents are already preparing for a holiday vacation, with 57% citing earlier bookings this year in response to elevated travel costs. Furthermore, a substantial 68% of holiday travelers anticipate taking at least one flight during the festive season. Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA The Auto Club Group, advises, Whether you plan to book a flight, cruise or visit a theme park, its best to get ahead of the holiday rush and finalize your plans now. This will help ensure you get the itinerary you want at a competitive price. While its possible that those who wait until the last minute could catch a lower rate, their preferred options may already be gone. Thanksgiving Travel More than half of Florida travelers (55%) are planning a Thanksgiving trip with at least one overnight stay. The survey indicates that 40% of these travelers will secure their Thanksgiving travel arrangements in September, with 61% finalizing plans by the end of the month. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For those contemplating flights during Thanksgiving week, its worth noting that the busiest travel days are expected to be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Travelers may benefit from booking flights on Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving and Saturday after the holiday to avoid the peak airport crowds. Christmas Travel In contrast, the survey suggests a more staggered approach to Christmas travel planning among Floridians. Only 12% have confirmed their Christmas travel plans so far. Approximately 21% plan to book in September, while 28% will do so in October, and 26% in November. For Christmas travelers, its essential to anticipate that the busiest airport days are likely to be Friday and Saturday before the holiday, as Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] AAAs Advice for Booking a Flight AAA recommends booking early for the best combination of availability and price, especially for nonstop flights. Booking direct morning flights can reduce the risk of delays or cancellations, and travelers should consider traveling a day or two ahead of their planned departure. When dealing with connecting flights, its wise to allow a couple of hours between flights to account for potential delays. Flight Concerns According to the survey, 33% of holiday travelers express concerns about flight delays and cancellations, making them less inclined to fly this year. AAA suggests considering travel insurance, which can provide financial compensation in case of flight disruptions due to covered reasons, such as severe winter weather. Gifting Experiences and YOLO Travel AAA travel advisors have noticed a growing trend of gifting travel experiences rather than traditional presents. This shift highlights a heightened anticipation for the holiday season, with families already planning memorable trips. In a surprising twist, the pandemic has inspired many to embrace the You Only Live Once (YOLO) mindset, leading them to tackle their bucket lists sooner rather than later. The desire for adventure and uncertainty about future health have prompted travelers to embark on international journeys with newfound enthusiasm.*Europe, Cruises, and Theme Parks European travel, especially Christmas market tours, is expected to be immensely popular this holiday season, with itineraries selling out in advance. River cruises, Caribbean cruises, and theme park visits are also anticipated to be favorite choices among holiday travelers, particularly families with children on winter break. AAA plans to release its Thanksgiving Travel Forecast in early November, providing further insights into holiday travel trends. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A runaway wheel slammed into a womans windshield on an Indiana highway, causing a fatal accident, police said. The rear wheel broke free from a pickup truck traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 in Marion County on Sept. 11, according to a state police news release. It then bounced over the dividing wall and smashed into the windshield of a westbound car, police said. The car, a sedan, swerved off the road and plunged into a steep ditch, police said. It then crashed through a fence and came to a stop on its side near a house. Troopers arrived at the scene and found the vehicle severely damaged with a female driver unresponsive inside, according to the release. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Paramedics rendered medical aid to the driver, but she was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. She has not been identified. Photos released by police show the crumpled car embedded with tree branches. Photo of the wrecked car Troopers later located the pickup truck that lost its wheel. It had been towing a trailer. The incident remains under investigation, police said. A representative for the Indiana State Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Marion County encompasses Indianapolis. Driver crashes into ambulance, then is helped by paramedics inside, CA officials say Teen used move he learned in video game to fatally stab uncle in neck, Florida cops say 16-year-old shoots school security guard in head during football game brawl, NY cops say Microsoft announced a new Xbox Mastercard today. Cardmembers can earn points on purchases to redeem on games in the Microsoft Store. The card will launch exclusively for Xbox Insider Program members in the US on September 21, but it will open to all US-based Xbox users next year. The fruit of a partnership between Microsoft and Barclays, the card (unsurprisingly) encourages you to buy Xbox content. The Mastercard will give users one reward point for each dollar spent on everyday purchases. But the incentive grows to five points per dollar spent at the Microsoft Store. In addition, purchases made at some streaming (including Netflix and Disney+) and dining (including Grubhub and DoorDash) services will earn three points per dollar. Reward points are each worth a penny to be redeemed on Xbox games and add-ons, so if you pay $1,000 for standard purchases using the card, youll earn the equivalent of $10 in points for new games. Five Xbox Mastercard credit cards lined up in a centered horizontal row against a white background. The card will be available in the five iconic designs seen above, and you can optionally personalize it with your Xbox Gamertag. The company says it will work with contactless payments and digital wallets, and users will get free access to their FICO credit score. The Xbox Mastercards terms and conditions say its APR can be 20.99%, 26.99% or 31.99%, depending on the results of a credit pull. Microsoft has a few extra perks for signing up and using the card. It says youll receive a bonus of 5,000 card points (a $50 value) after your first purchase with the card. Members will also receive three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate after using the Mastercard for the first time and you can transfer it to a friend if youre already a subscriber. Police said former Cincinnati Bengal Adam "Pacman" Jones threatened to cause serious physical harm as he was arrested Monday at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, according to court records. Police said in a citation Jones said, "Wait, I'm going get you and that (is) not a threat it's a promise." Jones, 39, was booked into the Boone County Detention Center around 7:30 Monday morning. He is facing charges of alcohol intoxication, disorderly conduct and terroristic threatening, Captain Kevin Klute of the Boone County Jail said in an email. The Airport Police Department is listed as the arresting agency. Why was Adam 'Pacman' Jones arrested at CVG? Airport police were called at 6 a.m. to assist the flight crew on an outbound flight about an unruly passenger. The passenger was arrested prior to takeoff and taken to Boone County Detention Center, according to Mindy Kershner, spokesperson for the airport. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kershner confirmed that the passenger was Jones. The Enquirer has requested the arrest report from the airport and the police department. 'Pacman' Jones calls charges 'bulls---' after release from Boone County Detention Center According to jail records, Jones was released around 11 a.m. Monday after paying bond. In a video outside the jail captured by WKRC-TV, Jones called the charges "bulls---". In the video, Jones said he spoke to a flight attendant about dysfunctional charging plugs at the two seats he bought for the flight. He said he asked to move seats, and that's when he was told they would have to turn the plane around. "Let's report the facts," he said in the video. "You say I'm drunk? I'm not (expletive) drunk." "I'm going to stand for what I stand for which is respect, honesty, and I'm walking my walk," he said. "If I'm wrong I'm going to tell you I'm wrong." What charges has Jones faced in Greater Cincinnati? Jones has faced multiple charges in the Greater Cincinnati region in the past decade. In 2021, Jones pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault charges after punching and kicking a security guard at Clutch OTR, causing the guard to lose consciousness. Jones pleaded guilty in 2019 to charges involving an incident at Rising Star Casino in Indiana, where he reportedly threatened to kill an Indiana Gaming Commission officer and struck or grabbed another public safety official. In 2017, Jones was fined in court for obstructing public business after being arrested in a Downtown hotel following a verbal argument with police. Jones was cornerback for the Bengals for eight seasons from 2010 to 2017. The Enquirer will update this story as more information becomes available. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Former Bengal Adam 'Pacman' Jones reacts after arrest at CVG airport A Fort Liberty soldier remained in Moore County custody Friday on $3 million bail following his arrest last week at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on child sex crime allegations. Maj. Vincent Theodore Ramos, 39, of Southern Pines was arrested at the airport after reentering the country following a work trip in Germany, Moore County Sheriff Ronnie Fields announced Aug. 30. RDU police and federal air marshals assisted in the arrest, the sheriff said. A Fort Liberty soldier was arrested when reentering the country Aug. 30, 2023, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. According to court records, Ramos is facing one count of statutory rape of a child younger than 15, six counts of statutory sex offense with a child younger than 15 and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Fields announcement states that the Moore County Sheriffs Office received a report on Aug. 2 of a statutory rape that occurred between January and April in Southern Pines. Ramos, a logistics officer assigned to the 44th Military History Detachment, has been in the Army since December 2008 and arrived at Fort Liberty on June 15. a spokesman for the U.S. Army Forces Command said. The U.S. Army is assisting civilian law enforcement with their ongoing investigation into these allegations, said Paul Boyce, a FORSCOM spokesman. Court records state that Ramos is being represented by the Southern Pines-based Law Office of Richard J. Costanza. Representatives of the firm declined to comment on the case Friday afternoon. In an Aug. 31 letter to Moore County District Attorney Mike Hardin, Costanza requested to review of all files in Ramos case to include alleged victim statements and witness statements, according to court records. Ramos is set to appear in court Sept. 13, court records show. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fort Liberty soldier arrested at RDU for Moore County child sex charges Inside the La Gran Plaza shopping mall in south Fort Worth, past the animatronic dinosaurs, Western clothing shops and kiosks selling everything from watches to barking stuffed animals, is La Gran Biblioteca, a Fort Worth public library branch. The location opened in February 2022 as a replacement for the Seminary South branch just north of the mall. That location, at 501 E. Bolt St., was renovated to house a portion of the citys history and genealogical archives. The switch was part the library systems strategy to increase its vitality by moving services outside traditional brick and mortar locations. La Gran Biblioteca is the first Fort Worth library built in a retail setting. It has an open floor plan with books, DVDs and video games lining the walls. Most of the materials are childrens books with roughly a third of those in Spanish. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Tables and chairs are easily movable to transform the space for programs like civics classes, English classes, and bilingual story time. The increased foot traffic from the mall has increased participation in those programs, according to the library. But some residents say the new location doesnt meet the communitys needs and are calling on the city of Fort Worth to build a new branch. Its not a library, said Joe Guerrero, a longtime Worth Heights resident and president of the neighborhood association. There arent enough books, theres not enough space, and it doesnt provide a safe and quiet location for children to do research and homework after school, he said. La Gran Biblioteca is roughly 40% of the size of the old Seminary South library. Guerrero and others have also been critical of the city for not doing enough to communicate with the Worth Heights neighborhood before shifting the Seminary South library to La Gran Plaza. Guerrero called the move a slap in the face to the predominantly Hispanic south Fort Worth community. What is a library? The Fort Worth public library is more than just a place to read books, said library spokesperson Theresa Davis in an email to the Star-Telegram. We provide all residents with a welcoming community gathering space that provides access to programs, services, and materials that support life-long learning, self-discovery, shared experiences, and personal growth, she said. Davis acknowledged the perception of libraries being quiet academic places with a librarian ready to shush the first noisy patron, however, she noted Fort Worths public libraries can be much more lively places. On any given day you could have residents checking out books, or conducting meetings while another patron uses a 3D printer; all during a story time with 40 participants while other patrons work at computer stations or puzzles, she said. Its fine to have events, but there should be a space where you can read, write and study, said Vicki Bargas, another longtime Worth Heights resident and vice president of the neighborhood association. The old Seminary South library was a valuable community resource that was taken away, Bargas told the City Council at the Aug. 15 public comment meeting. That is what we want back, she said at the meeting. What could they get? Most of the new city libraries being built are outside Loop 820. The Vivian J. Lincoln library at 8829 McCart Ave. opened in July to better serve people in the rapidly growing areas around the Chisholm Trail Parkway. Voters also approved spending $12.2 million on a new library in far north Fort Worth on Avondale-Haslet Road, and the city is proposing setting aside funds in 2024 budget for a location near White Settlement Road and West Loop 820 Bargas and others are calling on the city for similar treatment for a new location in their neighborhood. La Gran Biblioteca just doesnt cut it. Its a joke. Its a farce, she told the City Council. Fort Worth city council member Jeanette Martinez, whose district includes Worth Heights, supports efforts to build a new standalone library. She helped broker a meeting between the Worth Heights community and the citys library staff in September. South side needs a safe accessible library where children and adults can go to read books, use computers, have access to WiFi and participate in educational programs, Martinez said in a text. There are no plans to set aside money in the 2024 budget for a new Worth Heights library. The next bond election where it could get funding is in 2026. Four Augustans were arrested in Washington County, Georgia, on Sept. 3 and charged with smuggling illegal items into a prison. The Washington County Sheriff's Office released a statement Wednesday saying four people were found on the premises of the Washington State Prison and identified as "suspicious." An investigation revealed the individuals were "acting in concert together" in an effort to smuggle illegal items into the prison facility, according to the statement. Shabria Hilton, 19; Damichael Bigham, 21; Naquonn Hickson, 19; and, Deonta Daniels, 17, all from Augusta, are charged with trading with inmates; items prohibited for possession by inmates; crossing of guard lines with weapons, intoxicants or drugs without consent of warden or superintendent; and, criminal trespass. Mother indicted: Hephzibah mother indicted, charged in 2-year-old son's drowning This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Four Augustans arrested in Washington County Consequences of the Russian night attack by UAVs on Kyiv on September 10 Four individuals were injured in Kyiv Oblast as a result of a Russian nighttime attack carried out by Shahed drones on Sept. 10, according to Ruslan Kravchenko, Chief of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, who reported this on his Facebook page. As of 2.30 p.m., Kravchenko confirmed that four individuals had sustained injuries. One person was hospitalized due to cranial-brain and limb injuries, while the other three suffered minor wounds. Read also: One person injured, fires in several districts of Kyiv after air defenses thwart Russian drone attack He also noted a growing number of damaged structures. In one district within the region, more than 100 private houses were affected by an explosive shockwave, along with 30 apartments in seven multi-story buildings. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kravchenko added that blast shockwaves had caused damage to a school, a kindergarten, the village council, a hospital, an educational-rehabilitation center, a bus station, two stores, and a warehouse. Efforts are now underway to mitigate the consequences of the attack. Read also: During the night of Sept. 10 Russian forces launched a kamikaze drone attack using Iranian-designed Shahed drones on the capital city and Kyiv Oblast. Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses successfully downed 26 out of 33 drones. Authorities in Kyiv reported that debris fell in the Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, and Podilskyi districts of the capital. In Kyiv Oblast, civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, and village councils, sustained significant damage. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A Fresno City Council member whose district includes the citys downtown core accused the Fresno County Board of Supervisors of becoming an accessory to drug dealers after a decision last week to allow a once-a-week needle-exchange program to operate in county-owned space in downtown Fresno. Councilmember Miguel Arias was joined at a press conference Monday morning by council colleague Garry Bredefeld and Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer to denounce the county boards Sept. 5 vote to approve a zero-dollar lease for the San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange to use space inside the countys Department of Public Health from noon to 4 p.m. each Saturday. The health department office is at 1221 Fulton St., between Fresno and Merced streets. To say that Im frustrated is not accurate, Arias said. Im actually pretty pissed off and angry about the boards 3-2 vote. While the issue was published on the Board of Supervisors agenda late in the week before the Sept. 5 vote, the city leaders said they were unaware of the issue until after the supervisors action. But, they added, it should be the countys responsibility to let stakeholders on Fulton Street and downtown know in advance what was being considered. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Not only did (the county) not reach out to the residents and businesses and the Downtown Partnership, they didnt reach out to the city of Fresno, Dyer said. They made this decision in a vacuum, and I hope they have the sense to overturn it. The needle exchange is part of a weekly medical clinic that currently operates from an aging recreational vehicle on a cul de sac of Hedges Avenue, north of Roeding Park. The head of the clinic, Dr. Marc Lasher, said the program typically receives between 16,000 and 20,000 used needles from drug users each Saturday afternoon during the two hours that the program now operates. It also offers pipes as an alternative to injecting drugs. The lease is for a two-year pilot program. Bredefeld stressed his opposition based on the idea that a needle exchange program fosters increased drug abuse. I know what it takes for drug addicts to stop using drugs, said Bredefeld, who spent more than 35 years as a clinical psychologist. It takes accountability, commitment to sobriety and living a drug-free life. It involves intensive drug treatment and programming the exact opposite of what the board has offered with the free needle exchange and pipe program, he added. With that program, there is no accountability, just facilitation of drug usage. The taxpayer, unbeknownst to them, is funding the ongoing drug usage of addicts, criminals and the homeless, Bredefeld said. Its complete insanity and misuse of taxpayer money. Arias similarly objected to the program based on the potential effects on drug users. Instead of providing resident with shelters and treatment programs, the Board of Supervisors has become the drug dealers assistant by providing free needles and crack pipes that will kill them slowly, he said. Instead of providing treatment options for drug addition or mental health, the county board would rather implement San Francisco- and Los Angeles-style programs that only lead to a lot of empty souls and zombies walking in our downtown corridor. Arias and Dyer also addressed their concerns about how relocating the program downtown would affect efforts by the city to revitalize Fresnos core. This corridor was designed for us to have public festivals, Arias said. They didnt consider the location or stakeholders who will be impacted by it. Instead, they just chose to impose it in a city thats been investing tens of millions of dollars on improvements to downtown. Users of injection drugs exchange hundreds of used hypodermic needles for new ones through the San Joaquin Valley Free Medical Clinic and Needle Exchange in this Fresno Bee file photo. Dyer, who spent decades with the Fresno Police Department, including serving as police chief before retiring and then being elected mayor, said he was stuck by needles numerous times over his career searching suspects. I certainly understand the importance of clean needles in our community, he said. But he decried the supervisors decision to locate the needle exchange program in the heart of our downtown area. Its wrong because they did not consider the impact this would have on our businesses and the impact it might have on investors that we are trying to lure into downtown for the purpose of building housing and retail and restaurants, Dyer added. The mayor also noted that the city has won commitments this year from the state of California for almost $300 million for downtown revitalization. Is this the image that we want for downtown Fresno hundreds of addicts lined up on Fulton (Street)? Dyer asked. Do we want hundreds of these individuals lined up on a Saturday on Fulton (Street) while were in the midst of a festival? Is this the image we want for people who are thinking about relocating downtown to live? Arias said he knew of one potential business operator that pulled out of relocating in a vacant restaurant space across the street from the health department offices after the boards action. Arias described the yes votes by Supervisors Brian Pacheco, Sal Quintero and Buddy Mendes as short-sighted and a big middle finger to everyone who has spent years revitalizing downtown. Fresno County officials responded with a press release and press conference Monday afternoon countering some of the claims of city leaders, including assertions that the county was helping to pay for the needle exchange program. Though the program has been operating for years in the city near Roeding Park, the county has not provided funds to underwrite the program, county administrators said. David Luchini, director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health, said there would be no issue of people waiting outside along Fulton Street on Saturday afternoons. All persons served will be able to wait inside the building, instead of waiting in lines outdoors, Luchini said. It also adds dignity for people coming in to these programs, get them out of the severe weather in to a climate-controlled environment. The county said security will be on hand once the program relocates to ensure a secure and safe environment both inside and outside the building. Luchini and Joe Prado, the countys assistant health director, added that offering an indoor site rather than operating out on the street is necessary to help build trust among clients. This program is about building trust, Luchini said. To get people to participate in drug treatment programs, you have to build trust. Part of that trust-buiding, he added, is the ability to offer wrap-around social services in employment, housing, food assistance and general relieve, and mental and behavioral health programs. Prado said one goal is to bring them in under a controlled environment and have more time to talk to them, to see what issues are really happening. If theyre able to come into our building and have a conversation about drug treatment, about CalWORKS (employment assistance), about all these other things, we want to be able to support them, Prado added. Prado said the health department will be convening a meeting with nearby businesses later this month after hearing from some about how the program will operate, and discuss how to address any concerns. Paul Nerland, the county administrative officer, said a briefing report from the health department to the Board of Supervisors was issued as a public document on Aug. 14, several weeks before the Sept. 5 vote. Prior to Mondays press conference by Bredefeld, Dyer and Arias, the county received no direct communication from the city expressing any concerns, Nerland said. Nerland added that since the boards Sept. 5 vote, the health department is working on implementation, including outreach to businesses and welcomes any dialogue with the city of Fresno. As for sharing such information prior to the boards vote, however, Nerland allowed, we can always say we can do better on that front. A Hostess sign is shown on a closed retail outlet store in Garland, Texas, Jan. 11, 2012. Hostess, the maker of snack classics like Twinkies and HoHos, is being sold to J.M. Smucker in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $5.6 billion. Smucker, which makes everything from coffee to peanut butter and jelly, will pay $34.25 per share in cash and stock, and it will also pick up approximately $900 million in net debt. (LM Otero/AP) Hostess, the maker of snack classics like Twinkies and HoHos, is being sold to J.M. Smucker in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $5.6 billion. Smucker, which makes everything from coffee to peanut butter and jelly, will pay $34.25 per share in cash and stock, and it will also pick up approximately $900 million in net debt. Advertisement Hostess Brands Inc. shareholders will receive $30 in cash and 0.03002 shares of The J.M. Smucker Co. stock for each share of stock that they own. We believe this is the right partnership to accelerate growth and create meaningful value for consumers, customers and shareholders. Our companies share highly complementary go-to market strategies, and we are very similar in our core business principles and operations, Hostess President and CEO Andy Callahan said in a prepared statement Monday. Advertisement Twinkies went big when Hostess put them on shelves in 1930, and it followed up with a string of sweet concoctions like DingDongs, Zingers and Sno Balls. Twinkies were made in Schiller Park until the plant closed in 2014. Hostess maintains a bakery in Chicagos Galewood neighborhood. [ Twinkies: Their history in Chicago and the U.S. ] In an interview with The Associated Press this year, Callahan talked about how Hostess Brands managed some of the most well-known brands in America, and also how balance was needed as Americans tastes changed. The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow in this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The Lenexa, Kansas, company said that it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees werent unionized. By 2012, the company with roots dating back to 1925, began selling off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Wonder was sold to Flowers Foods. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drakes Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels. The rest, including Twinkies and other Hostess cakes, was acquired by Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo, for $410 million. Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, buys troubled brands and tries to turn them around before selling them. Its done so with fast-food chains Carls Jr. and Hardees. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co. Hostess reemerged in 2013 with a far less costly operating structure than its predecessor company and was no longer unionized. Morgan Stanleys Pam Kaufman said that Hostess offered attractive revenue growth through its U.S. sweet snacks business and opportunities for international expansion. She anticipates merger and acquisition activity ramping up in the packaged food sector due to slowing revenue growth and strong balance sheets. Advertisement The boards of The J.M. Smucker Co. and Hostess have both approved the deal, which is expected to close in Smuckers fiscal third quarter. Smuckers stock dropped 7%, while shares of Hostess surged 19%. A friends gift turned into a lottery prize for a Virginia mom and now, she wants to help her son. Deborah Williams said she plans to put her six-figure winnings toward her sons college tuition. Williams won the prize as her son was getting ready to leave for college. To mark the milestone, her friend gave her a ticket for the 50X the Money scratch-off game, the Virginia Lottery wrote in a Sept. 8 news release. We scratched it, Williams, an Afton resident, told lottery officials. We looked at it many, many times. It turns out, the ticket scored Williams a $200,000 prize. Officials in their news release didnt say how much money she kept after taxes. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Her lucky ticket was sold for $20 at Blue Ridge Grocery in Nellysford, roughly 100 miles northwest of Richmond. Its not the first time a gift has given someone a big reason to celebrate. In North Carolina, a 71-year-old man sat in silence after he received a jackpot-winning ticket for his birthday, McClatchy News reported in December. Clerk prints wrong ticket for Virginia lottery player. Mistake pays off in a big way Man cleaning out truck stumbles upon lottery tickets. One held a huge surprise A Fruitland man has been sentenced to more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal charge of attempted sexual abuse earlier this year. Derek Lorin Blackhorse, 34, a member of the Navajo Nation, faces a sentence of eight years and one month for the offense, which took place on May 28, 2021. According to court documents, an intoxicated Blackhorse tried to engage in sexual intercourse with the victim while she was sleeping in her bed in her home. Blackhorse pleaded guilty to the charge on April 27. He must register as a sex offender after completing his sentence and will subject to 20 years of supervised release, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico. The case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI. It is being prosecuted as part of Operation Safe Childhood, a 2006 nationwide initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at combatting child sexual exploitation and abuse. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Derek Lorin Blackhorse pleaded guilty to charge on April 27 A group of plaintiffs and supporters, demanding revokation of TEPCO's treated water discharge plan, head to the Fukushima District Court to file a lawsuit, in Fukushima, northeastern Japan, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. Fishermen and residents of Fukushima and five other prefectures along Japans northeastern coast filed a lawsuit Friday demanding a halt to the ongoing release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. The banner reads "Lawsuit to halt the release of ALPS treated radioactive wastewater."(Kyodo News via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) TOKYO (AP) The operator of the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant said Monday that it has safely completed the first release of treated radioactive water from the plant into the sea and will inspect and clean the facility before starting the second round in a few weeks. The Fukushima Daiichi plant began discharging the treated and diluted wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on Aug. 24. The water has accumulated since the plant was damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011, and the start of its release is a milestone in the plant's decommissioning. The discharge, which is expected to continue for decades until the decommissioning is finished, has been strongly opposed by fishing groups and by neighboring countries. China has banned all imports of Japanese seafood in response, hurting producers and exporters and prompting the Japanese government to compile an emergency relief fund. Groups in South Korea have also fiercely protested, demanding Japan stop the release. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, at summits last week of Southeast Asian countries and the Group of 20 nations, stressed the safety and transparency of the release to win international support and sought the immediate lifting of China's ban. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During the 17-day first release, the plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, said it discharged 7,800 tons of treated water from 10 tanks. About 1.34 million tons of radioactive wastewater is stored in about 1,000 tanks at the plant. Plant workers will rinse the pipeline and other equipment and inspect the system over the next few weeks before starting the release of the second round of 7,800 tons stored in 10 other tanks, TEPCO spokesperson Teruaki Kobashi told reporters Monday. All sampling data from seawater and fish since the start of the release have been way below set safety limits, officials said. The International Atomic Energy Agency has been cooperating with Japan and reviewed the safety of the project. It concluded that the release, if carried out precisely as planned, would have a negligible impact on the environment, marine life and human health. On Monday, a team of South Korean experts from the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety, under an agreement between South Korea and the U.N. nuclear agency, visited an IAEA office set up at the Fukushima plant to monitor the release and share information, the IAEA said in a statement. The South Korean team has been in Japan for the last two weeks and met with IAEA officials offsite. TEPCO and the government say the wastewater is treated to reduce radioactive materials to safe levels, and then is diluted with seawater to make it much safer than international standards. The radioactive wastewater has accumulated since three of the plant's reactors were damaged by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. It continues to grow because cooling water used on the damaged reactors leaks into the reactor basements, where it mixes with groundwater. TEPCO plans to release 31,200 tons of treated water through March 2024, and officials say the pace will pick up later. The government and TEPCO say the discharge is unavoidable because the tanks will reach their capacity of 1.37 million tons next year and space at the plant is needed for its decommissioning. A Kansas City physical therapy office is under fire after a Black former employee alleged she was fired after reporting to the owner that her supervisor accidentally sent her a racist email. The woman, Tiffany Griffin, took to social media to share what happened to her and claims she was demonized by the owner of ETC Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine, with the owner once saying he would investigate her claim. Popular TikToker AuntKaren0, right, and Tiffany Griffin, left, discuss email Griffin claimed she received. (Photo: TikTok/AuntKaren0) Popular TikToker AuntKaren0 championed her cause, noting that the woman got the email on Friday, and by Tuesday of the next week, she was fired. She then posted a copy of the email on her page and has actively worked to get Griffins story out to the masses. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement WATCH THE VIDEOS HERE. Dude, Next time you guys hire DARK MEAT make sure she is not DUMB and NOT A BRAID QUEEN!!!!! the email began. This morning was a disaster, it continued.SO GLAD shes not going to be with me all the time, DO NOT LIKE BEING HOT. By the looks of the schedule Jim will not need her after we all take out PTO. Hope she is not out here when FALL COMES it gets dark out pretty early, DONT want her to run into any trouble. Related: He Had a Propensity to Utilize Excessive Force: Army Sergeant Says He Was Handcuffed, Stunned and Choked By Mississippi Cop Who Later Shot an 11-Year-Old Boy According to Griffin, she told the owner about the email. He allegedly sent her back a text message expressing his commitment to getting to the bottom of the accusation. I am going to go over there and pull the videos to show her (Michelle) sitting there at 10:45 sending this email and take the appropriate actions, we dont tolerate discrimination of any kind to anyone, no matter what. I wont do that until Friday 31st. Is there anything you want to add to this at this time? the owner allegedly texted Griffin. On a call obtained by AuntKaren0, the owner said he investigated the claim and discovered through his forensic evidence that Griffin was the person who actually sent the email to herself. The owner further stated his company could prove that Griffin had a draft of the correspondence in her company email, according to the video. He added that the incident would make it hard for him to hire people of color in the future and that Griffin was conniving and only brought up the allegations to get money from his company, according to the video. Griffin denies these allegations and believes this is an attempt to cover up the supervisors actions. Social media users immediately called for action once they learned about the story. Others mocked the companys tagline, which says, We help people of all ages and backgrounds live happy, healthy & active lives. The person underlined the words all and backgrounds to emphasize the irony in the story. Griffin has not said she has taken legal action or publicly shared what her next steps are. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) is insisting on social media that he will follow through on threats to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Gaetz has been engaging with news personalities and Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) over the past few days, insisting hes serious about his threats. Gaetz initially responded to criticism from Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade, who said the congressman was speaking into the wind over threatening to oust McCarthy if a vote to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is not held. Gaetz responded to the video clip of Kilmeade on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday to push back on the hosts comments. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Swalwell then posted on X that hed never seen a colleague make more empty threats than Gaetz. Ive never seen a colleague make more empty threats day in/day out than this guy. Gaetz folded like a cheap card table to make McCarthy speaker and will never I repeat never make a motion to remove McCarthy. I do not work with serious people, Swalwell wrote. Gaetz later reposted Swalwells comments Sunday with the caption, Bookmark this tweet, insisting he was ready to move against McCarthy. He also asked Swalwell how many Democrat votes he could deliver if he makes a motion to remove McCarthy. Are all Democrats so willing, @ericswalwell? Will my NorCal twitter troll have the courage and efficacy to become my dem whip?? If Ill work with @aoc to ban congressional stock trading Ill absolutely work with @ericswalwell to rid the House of ineffective leadership, Gaetz posted on X. How many votes can you deliver against a Motion to Table a Motion to Vacate, eric? Asking for (many) friends! he added. Gaetz said last week he wants to pursue an impeachment inquiry into Biden over issues related to his familys foreign business dealings when he was vice president and will not let McCarthy stand in his way. That means forcing votes on impeachment. And if Speaker McCarthy stands in our way, he may not have the job long, Gaetz told conservative radio host Todd Starnes. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gas prices continue to go down in Florida. In the Miami area, for instance, average prices have dipped more than 7 cents a gallon over the past week, according to GasBuddys survey of 1,690 stations. Across Florida, gas prices have dropped 24 cents since mid-August and are on a three-week downward streak, according to AAA. Gas prices on a trend. Gas prices in South Florida Miami-Dade: The average price: $3.60 a gallon Monday, 7.6 cents a gallon lower than last week, according to GasBuddy. Cheapest gas in the Miami area was $3.15 and the most expensive $4.59 Fort Lauderdale: $3.64, according to AAA. West Palm Beach/Boca Raton: $3.78, according to AAA Florida price at the pump Average: The average price for a gallon of gas in Florida on Monday, according to AAA, was $3.60. Gas prices around Florida Monday prices, according to AAA: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bradenton/Sarasota: $3.59 Naples: $3.75 Orlando: $3.55 Panama City: $3.49 Pensacola: $3.42 Tampa/St. Pete: $3.57 U.S. price at the pump Average: The average price for a gallon of gas across the country on Monday, according to AAA, was 3.83. What the experts are saying Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy: With most of the nation switching back to cheaper winter gasoline on Saturday, we should see more price decreases for most the nation in the weeks ahead, barring further refinery disruptions and hurricane season. Fall tends to bring falling gas prices, and Im hoping this year wont be any different. Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA: Winter gasoline has moved into the market, enabling gas prices to move lower. Unfortunately, the downward trend may end soon. Futures prices have strengthened in the fuel market, which should reapply upward pressure on prices at the pump. How to find cheap gas near you Theres an app to help: The GasBuddy app was built to show motorists prices around them and a fuel tracker can update users on stations that have or dont have fuel based on supply changes. Interactive map: Use the interactive Florida map below, with data from AAA, to see the average gas price by county. Just hover over an area and the price pops up. Keep in mind that there may be a lag in the data. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) described 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis as functionally authoritarian in a new interview with NBCs Chuck Todd that broadcast on Sunday. But when Newsom was pressed on who he believes is the biggest threat to American democracy right now, the governor said it was Trump because of his desire for revenge. I worry about the fetishness for autocracy that were seeing not just from Trump, but around the world, and notably across this country, Newsom told Todd. Ive made the point about DeSantis that I think hes functionally authoritarian. Im worried more, in many respects, about Trumpism, which transcends well beyond his term and time in tenure, he added. WATCH: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) tells @chucktodd that he thinks Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is functionally authoritarian, but hes more worried about former President Trump.@GavinNewsom: I think the vengeance in Donald Trumps heart right now is more of a threat. pic.twitter.com/FDw4QjKPlS Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 10, 2023 Todd asked Newsom which of the 2024 Republican rivals posed a greater threat to democracy. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Newsom said he was concerned about democracy fundamentally. Todd asked again. I think the vengeance in Donald Trumps heart right now is more of a threat, he responded. Trump in March told supporters that if he won back the White House, he would come for their detractors. I am your retribution, he said. Elsewhere in the interview, Newsom brushed aside rumors that he could replace President Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election. Biden is going to run, he said. I think theres been so much wallowing in the last few months, and handwringing in this respect. But were gearing up for the campaign. Were looking forward to it. Related... An American television company has visited a secret command centre from where the military, led by Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, is monitoring the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Defence Forces. Source: CBSNews report Details: The journalist meets with Milley at 06:45. The general is about to speak with Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "I talk to him every week, sometimes twice a week, three times a week," says Milley. Later, the journalist is taken deep into the dungeons of the Pentagon, where maps of the fighting in the east and south of Ukraine are shown on screens. screenshot ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Milley admits that the war in Ukraine is warfare unlike anything he has ever seen. Quote: "I've been in a lot of firefights. I've been blown up several times in vehicles mines and IEDs and RPGs. But never to this degree of intensity." Details: Regarding the Ukrainian offensive that Milley helped to plan, the general notes that he is encountering stiffer-than-expected Russian resistance. "But that's the difference between war on paper and real war. So, this is real people getting really killed and real vehicles are really blowing up, so people tend to slow down in situations like that. But it's very deliberate, and they're making progress every day," adds the military. The general says that Ukraine determines the choice of targets and the decision to launch strikes. American partners provide Kyiv with the intelligence information they receive. Milley admits that the Ukrainians still have a lot of territory to liberate, and they still have a seasonal deterioration in weather conditions ahead of them. So, the Defence Forces of Ukraine are facing a tough fight. The journalist asks: "If they're taking so many casualties, how much more slow and deliberate progress can they stand?" "Your question is, how long will the political will of the Ukrainian people withstand this level of carnage? And the same applies to Russia, by the way. That's an unknown answer," says Milley. Quote: "So, neither side at this point in time have achieved their political objectives through military means," Milley said, "and the war will continue until one side or the other has achieved those means, or both sides have determined it's time to go to a negotiating table [because] they can't achieve their objectives through military means." Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! The state awarded nearly $8.4 million in infrastructure grants to five local government applicants Friday, the first round of awards through a rural workforce housing initiative Gov. Brian Kemp announced during his State of State address last January. The grants ultimately will support more than 500 units of single-family and multi-family housing. On the back of three straight record-breaking years for economic development, we are taking action to ensure hardworking Georgians are able to live in the same communities where they work, Kemp said. These grants are the first step in meeting the needs of communities experiencing incredible growth as we continue to see new opportunities come to all corners of the state. The largest of the grants - $2.4 million - will go to the city of Colquitt to provide water and sewer service to a new subdivision that will include 49 single-family homes as well as a nearby multi-family housing development with 44 units. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The consolidated government of Columbus and the Douglas Coffee County Industrial Authority will receive $2.3 million each. The Columbus grant will go toward water, sewer, drainage, and street improvements to enable the completion of a development that will add 24 new single-family homes. The Coffee County grant will be used for water, sewer, drainage and street improvements to allow the construction of 65 homes in a new subdivision near several large employers. The city of Albany will receive $925,513 to facilitate the creation of a subdivision with 29 single-family homes on six acres within the city limits. The Stephens County Development Authority was awarded a grant of $478,400 for a sanitary sewer lift station needed to accommodate the construction of 318 housing units in a new development near a regional industrial park that is set to expand. The General Assembly allocated $35.7 million in the fiscal 2023 midyear budget to launch the initiative. Kellogg Co. said Monday its board of directors had approved the companys plan to split in two: WK Kellogg Co., a cereals company, and Kellanova, a snacks company to be headquartered in Chicago. Kellogg said it expects the split to become effective Oct. 2. Advertisement The company first announced spinoff plans in June 2022, when it said it would split into three companies. In February, Kellogg CEO Steve Cahillane said in an earnings call the company was reversing course on plans for one of the three planned companies, saying it would keep its plant-based foods business, MorningStar Farms. Kellanovas corporate headquarters in Chicago will be located at 412 N. Wells St., where Kellogg already has offices. The snacks company will also maintain a presence in Battle Creek, Michigan, where Kellogg is headquartered and where the cereals business will remain. Last year, Cahillane told the Tribune Kellanova employees would not be required to relocate to Chicago. Advertisement After more than a year of comprehensive planning and execution, we are more confident than ever that the separation will produce two stronger companies and create substantial value for shareowners, Cahillane said in a statement Monday. Kellogg reported net sales of more than $15.3 billion last year, the majority of which came from its portfolio that will form Kellanova, including brands such as Pringles and Rice Krispies Treats. Cahillane will serve as chief executive of Kellanova. Gary Pilnick will serve as the cereal companys chief executive. Annalena Baerbock, Federal Foreign Minister for Germany, has condemned Russia's abduction of Ukrainian children while on her visit to Kyiv. Source: Baerbock at a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba , European Pravda reports Details: Baerbock said she is still touched by conversations with children in the centre for children brought back from the Russian Federation. The diplomat admitted that she was simply aghast that the children had been taken to a foreign country and brainwashed to be set against their homeland just like that. Baerbock added that the fate of these children once again shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not have a moral compass, and he violates the rules of the international community and human coexistence on a daily basis. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "So I urge those who still cannot clearly say who the perpetrator is: Look at these crimes and these children! Bringing them back is the first step towards peace. This must be done immediately," Baerbock emphasised. Earlier, it was reported that the US Department of State called on the Russian Federation to cease the deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories and to return the ones they already deported. In March, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin, suspecting him of illegal deportation of thousands of children from Ukraine. Issuing such warrants means that Putin can be arrested if he goes to any member state of the International Criminal Court. In July, Ukraine's Prosecutor General confirmed that the US plans to send evidence of Russian war crimes to The Hague. He said this decision represents a "historic step" towards establishing comprehensive accountability for Russia's international crimes. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is visiting Ukraine for the fourth time since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Source: German media ZDF; European Pravda Baerbock arrived in Kyiv on Monday morning on a visit that was kept secret for security reasons. Coming one week before the UN General Assembly in New York, the visit is seen as a gesture of solidarity. The German Foreign Minister arrived in Kyiv by train from Poland at night, and was met and greeted by German Ambassador Martin Jager in the Ukrainian capital. Upon arrival, Baerbock promised Ukraine further support on its way to the European Union but also insisted on further reform efforts, such as the fight against corruption. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Minister said that Ukraine "is protecting the freedom of all of us" and can rely on Germany's strong support on Ukraine's path to the European Union. In January, Baerbock became the first member of the German cabinet to visit eastern Ukraine after the outbreak of the full-scale war. She visited Kharkiv in particular. Before that, she was in Kyiv twice, in mid-May and mid-September 2022. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! A museum based in Germany is poised to return human skulls swiped from a former African colony during colonial times to the countries of origin and found a link to living descendants, according to reports. The Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin announced the discovery last week, on Sept. 5, The Guardian reported. During their investigation which started in 2017 researchers found a connection between the DNA from the remains and relatives in Tanzania. The Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, Germany, has been looking into the origin of skulls seized from an African colony. (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) More than 1,000 skulls were originally recovered from an area dubbed German East Africa. The outlet reported that the former colony comprises Rwanda, present-day Burundi, Tanzanias mainland, and parts of Mozambique. More specifically, the remains were reportedly part of a more extensive collection of skulls that the museum obtained in 2011 from Berlins Charite, one of Europes major university hospitals. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Related: New York Metropolitan Museum of Art Acquires Historic Portrait of Black Enslaved Teen Painted Out of Composition That Featured Three White Children The museum said that it worked with researchers from Rwanda on this project. According to The Guardian, intelligence gathered from eight skulls will aid in the search for the descendants. The clear objective of provenance research on these human remains is to return them to the countries of origin, Hermann Parzinger, president of the museum, said in January. We are prepared to return these remains immediately, and we are now waiting for signals from the countries of origin. The skulls, according to The Guardian, are believed to have been stolen from burial sites, caves and cemeteries and transported to Germany under the guise of research during the colonial era. Per the Associated Press, the remains also stemmed from, in part, execution sites. The repatriation of human remains from people who were murdered and abducted during Germanys colonial period cannot undo the crimes committed, said Jeannine Kantara, cofounder of Initiative Black People in Germany, per DW. However, they are an important step towards the historical reappraisal, acceptance of responsibility and reparations by todays Federal Republic of Germany. The country has taken steps to acknowledge the horrors of the colonial era. As CNN reported in 2021, former German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas agreed to pay $1.3 billion for the crimes against the Hereo and Namaqua groups during the German colonial rule. Our goal was and is to find a common path to genuine reconciliation in memory of the victims, Maas said in a statement at the time, the outlet reported. This includes naming the events of the German colonial period in what is now Namibia, and in particular, the atrocities in the period from 1904 to 1908, without sparing or glossing over them. We will now also officially call these events what they were from todays perspective: a genocide. The decision was met with backlash from descendants who felt like they were not included in remedy discussions and they are still arguing for a say in the deal years later. Read the full story on Atlanta Black Star. STUTTGART, Germany The German government has ordered 40 overhauled Marder infantry fighting vehicles for Ukraine, its manufacturer Rheinmetall announced Sept. 11. The new order placed last month with a value in the high double-digit million-euro amount doubles the total number of Marders to be sent to Ukraine, according to Rheinmetalls news release. Germany previously commissioned two batches of 40 total refurbished vehicles beginning in 2022. The Schutzenpanzer Marder 1 has been in service with the German Army since the 1970s, and has undergone a series of combat upgrades in the decades since. Rheinmetall said the vehicles for Ukraine are overhauled Marder 1A3 systems formerly owned by the German military, and that the company began retrofitting the vehicles in spring 2022. The company can deliver up to 10 infantry fighting vehicles per month, and the first 20 Marders were shipped to Ukraine in March. The second order of 20 Marders was placed in June, and those vehicles are currently being overhauled and delivered. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Rheinmetall is pressing ahead with work to overhaul these older vehicles and ensure that the latest lot of Marder IFVs can be delivered as per contract starting in 2023, the company said. In January 2023, the United States and Germany announced they would both begin sending infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, with the former providing Bradleys built by BAE Systems, and the latter sending Marders. Ukraine is currently fighting off a Russian invasion. Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has arrived in Kyiv for her fourth visit since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the German Foreign Ministry announced on Sept. 11. Upon her arrival, the minister promised continued support for Ukraine on its path to EU membership but also insisted on further reforms, namely regarding corruption, Die Welt reported. While noting successes in Ukraine's judiciary reforms and media legislation, Baerbock said that "there is still a way to go when it comes to implementing the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption." The EU must also work to ensure that it is properly positioned to accept "new chairs at the table," she added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "In the midst of a hail of bombs, in the face of Russia's tanks, Ukraine set out toward the European Union (membership) with confidence and determination," Baerbock said upon her arrival to Ukraine's capital. "Ukraine is also defending our freedom with enormous courage and determination. Just as Ukraine places itself before us, it too can rely on us. On the fact that we understand the enlargement of the EU as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russia's war." Ukraine officially applied for EU membership in February 2022 and was granted candidate status in June last year. To start the membership negotiation process, Kyiv needs to implement seven reforms outlined by the European Commission, including tackling corruption and the implementation of the anti-oligarch law. Olha Stefanishyna, the deputy prime minister for European integration, said in a Sept. 5 interview with the Voice of America that Ukraine will be ready for European Union membership in two years. Read also: Constitutional Court reform: Will Ukraine implement key condition for EU membership? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The German government has instructed the Rheinmetall company to supply 40 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, referring to the company's press release Details: The government order was placed in August 2023, and is worth several tens of millions of euros. Quote: "Rheinmetall is pressing ahead with work to overhaul these older vehicles and ensure that the latest lot of Marder IFVs can be delivered as per contract starting in 2023." More details: This order will bring the total number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles that Rheinmetall will supply to Ukraine to 80. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: In March 2023, the company handed over the first 20 armoured vehicles for Ukraine, ordered by the federal government. In addition, 20 additional infantry fighting vehicles from Rheinmetall were commissioned in June 2023. They were recently delivered to Ukraine. The armoured vehicles in question are overhauled Marder 1A3s that Rheinmetall previously received from the Bundeswehr. Back in the spring of 2022, the company, at its own expense, began repairing armoured vehicles for immediate combat readiness. As noted by Rheinmetall, work on the Marder is currently underway at the Unterlu and Kassel facilities. Up to ten armoured vehicles could be delivered in a month. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Dixie Demuth, the owner of "Dixie's Elbow Room," circa 1963, about the time she opened her bar. Dixie Demuth was feisty. She stood about 5-foot-2 probably less by the time she died three years ago at the age of 102 and she was always spoiling for a good fight. When she was a teenager at a one-room schoolhouse in Samuels, Kentucky, she had a run-in with her teacher who expelled her from the school. The family lore doesn't say what the to-do was over all they know is how it ended. Her daughter, Dinah Tichy, has a picture of the teacher, standing next to his glistening new Model A Ford. The note Dixie Demuth scrawled on the back tells the story of how she got her revenge by breaking out all the car's windows. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Served him right," is the way Dixie summed it up. "That's when everything connected with me," said Bill Samuels Jr., the chairman emeritus of Maker's Mark Distillery and the third cousin, once removed, of Dixie Demuth, the trouble-making young woman who grew up to own a bar in Louisville and fought to strike down a silly, sexist law that had been on the books in Kentucky for some 200 years. She's being installed in the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Monday for her trail-blazing effort to strike down a law that up until 1972 prohibited women from tending bars or even being served wine or spirits sitting at a bar. Until Dixie Demuth came along, women had to be seated at a table to order an old fashioned, a Tom Collins or a cabernet. Demuth didn't have an easy life. At least not in her younger years. Dixie Demuth, the owner of "Dixie's Elbow Room," at her 100th birthday celebration in 2017. After the incident at the school in Samuels, her mother packed her off to Nazareth Academy, a boarding school run by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, near Bardstown. They had their ways to whip incorrigible young girls into shape. From talking to her family, you get the idea that the nuns failed with Dixie Demuth. "She was a wild child," Tichy said. In her youth, the family was pretty wealthy for a while. Dixie's father ran a country store and had logging interests, and they lived in a home that was called "The Samuels' Mansion." But the Great Depression hit hard. Dixie's father died, Tichy said. The family lost everything. Dixie's mother picked up and moved the family, including young Dixie to Louisville. That's where the jobs were. Eventually, Dixie went to work as a cocktail waitress at Riney's South Seas Bar, a famous local haunt on Muhammad Ali Boulevard (then called Walnut Street) where famed New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin hung out when he came to town for the Derby. "I knew four locations in Louisville," he once said. "The bar at the Seelbach, the bar at the Kentucky (Hotel), Riney's South Seas Bar and the backstretch at Churchill Downs. Who knows? Dixie Demuth may have served him drinks. Over the years, she was married and remarried and remarried and remarried, Tichy said. "She was, like super attractive," said Samuels. He joked that she "must have been married a dozen times. ... I can imagine there wasnt any husband who was going to boss her around too long." Anyway, Tichy said that sometime in the early 1960s Dixie Demuth got the chance to buy her own bar on Fifth Street, right across from the old Kentucky Hotel, just around the corner from Riney's. Dixie's Elbow Room was a classy joint. Tichy said she got married and moved away not too long after her mom opened the bar and she didn't spend all that much time there, but she loved the piano bar, which was in the second floor mezzanine. "I've got the bill from Hubbuch's, who she hired to redecorate the piano bar," she said. Samuels, who by then had graduated from law school and was working for Maker's Mark, said he was only in the bar a couple of times. "I was advised not to go because I was working for the company at the time and dad (Maker's Mark founder William Samuels Sr.) had ideas where I should go or shouldnt go." Classified ads for anything from bartenders to go-go dancers said the bar served an "executive" clientele, but Samuels said it was really the go-to spot for soldiers at Fort Knox who came to the big city for a good time. "We don't talk about what went on upstairs," Samuels said. Why not? "Well, her daughters are still alive," he said. Tichy said the old law limiting what women could and couldn't do in bars, which dated back to the late 1700s or the early 1800s, always stuck in her mom's craw. Because women couldn't bartend, she said, it meant that they earned about half as much as men. The law, of course, was suspended when alcohol sales were banned during prohibition. It was brought back four years after prohibition ended. The Courier-Journal's editorial page mocked the law when it passed in 1938. "Probably the silliest provision of the new law is that which prohibits women from being served at bars at any time," the paper wrote. "Women are also 'discriminated against' by the provision which forbids their mixing drinks, or otherwise serving behind bars. They may still serve as waitresses, ushers and cashiers in liquor establishments. This also verges on the ridiculous. If the idea is to remove girls from dangerous proximity to those who drink, why not take them out of saloon jobs altogether." By the late 1960s, Samuels said the law had made Kentucky a laughingstock since most other states that had similar laws had long since repealed them. Alcoholic Beverage Control officers rarely cited bar owners in Louisville for violating that provision, he said. But the law still remained on the books. So in late 1968, a 5-foot-2-inch firebrand named Dixie Demuth decided to poke the bear. Samuels said she placed a newspaper ad that promised women bartenders. "Now, the ABC has to do something because she's flaunting the law," Samuels said. In November, ABC officials raided the joint and charged Dixie with allowing a woman to tend bar and serving a mixed drink to a woman (Dixie's other daughter) who was sitting at the bar. Dixie fought it. In 1970, a Franklin Circuit judge sided with her, but Shirley Palmer-Ball, the state ABC Commissioner, appealed it to the Kentucky Court of Appeals, then the highest court in the state. Palmer-Ball said he really didn't object to women bartenders but objected to women sitting at the bar. "It could open the door for prostitutes to sit at the bar," he said. Two years later, the appeals court ruled in her favor but she was long gone, having moved to Omaha with Tichy's next stepfather. "She never did anything too exciting in life after that," Tichy said, but she always wanted people to know what she had done. "She wrote her own obituary," Tichy said. "The thing she wanted mentioned in her obit is she fought that law and won." Samuels said the thing he regrets most is that his third cousin once removed isn't around for her induction to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. "She would have had so much fun at this ceremony." Joseph Gerth can be reached at 502-582-4702 or by email at jgerth@courierjournal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Bar owner Dixie Demuth headed to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Ginni Thomas laid the groundwork for a nonprofit two months before the 2010 Citizens United ruling, Politico reported. The nonprofit was started with the help of Leonard Leo and funding from Harlan Crow . The nonprofit became the start of a "billion-dollar" network that moved money to conservative legal causes. Leonard Leo, a conservative activist, and Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas , banded together to create a nonprofit organization that would take advantage of the new rules on political spending put forth by the Citizens United ruling. A lawyer for Thomas filed paperwork to begin the process of establishing the nonprofit two months before the 2010 ruling that allowed corporations to funnel money into nonprofits as long as they were independent of political candidates, Politico reported. Thomas eventually founded the organization, which they called Liberty Central, with a $500,000 donation from Harlan Crow, a close friend of the Thomases whose lavish gifts for them have come under scrutiny . Leo, a bulwark for rightwing causes whose sprawling network has boosted conservative legal causes for over a decade and who is currently under federal investigation, was listed as a director of the organization. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Ginni really wanted to build an organization and be a movement leader," an unnamed person familiar with the two told Politico. "Leonard [Leo] was going to be the conduit of that." The organization was described as the beginning of a "billion-dollar force that has helped remake the judiciary and overturn longstanding legal precedents on abortion, affirmative action, and many other issues," Politico reported. After Thomas' role with Liberty Central became public, it sparked outrage because of her husband's seat on the Supreme Court, Politico reported. Thomas eventually started a for-profit consulting business, Liberty Consulting, to offer consulting services for conservative activist groups. Meanwhile, Leo revived a tax-exempt charitable group, which supplied some funds to Thomas. The group, the Judicial Education Project, became a frequent supplier of amicus briefs to the Supreme Court. Among the other details Politico uncovered, which included discrepancies in IRS filings from Judicial Education Project, Laura Soloman, a Pennsylvania tax attorney, told Politico that it is unclear if Thomas was executing tasks to justify the payments from the charitable organization. "The real question then is, 'What is Ginni Thomas qualified to do, what did they pay her to do, and was it fair market value?'" Soloman told Politico. Representatives for Thomas and Leo did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider On the hike down from Kearsarge Pass a nearly 11,800-foot gateway to the High Sierra trekkers are greeted by a series of glittering lakes, including Bullfrog Lake, above. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 7:00 p.m. Sept. 11, 2023: A previous version of this story stated the the High Sierra runs north from Lake Tahoe to the Golden Trout Wilderness. It runs south from Lake Tahoe. Have you ever heard of the cowboy straddle? my partner, Emanuel, asked. Without waiting for a reply, he hoisted himself onto a log suspended above a rushing stream and began using branches on either side as if clutching the horns of a steer to leapfrog across. It marked one of many stream crossings wed make over our recent four-day backpacking trip through the soaring peaks of the High Sierra. Water gushed, swished or sat stoically silent. Sometimes it was frozen. Snow patches clung to craggy rock faces a rare sight in the last gasps of summer. After an arduous scramble up to 60 Lakes Col, Emanuel Rohss plots the best way to hike down the other side. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times) The effect was, at times, hazardous. While on a vague trail through Gardiner Basin, a rarely explored area, we encountered sheets of snow that descended into an icy lake, curled up at the ends like a demonic slide. I slipped microspikes over my trail runners and focused on taking one careful step at a time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Wet socks notwithstanding, glory abounded. Above 10,000 feet, we were closer to sky and all its colorful whims. Alpine lakes glittered at every turn, while haunting moonscapes greeted us beyond the treeline. Record snowfall pummeled the mountainous region rising from eastern California last winter and spring, creating perilous conditions into July. The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab saw nearly 63 feet of snow by mid-March. Statewide, the snowpack reached 232% of average for April 1. Passage was long impractical for the average recreator. But much of the snowpack has finally melted, making popular trails including portions of the Pacific Crest and John Muir more accessible than theyve likely been all year. Recently surging watercourses have mellowed to tenable levels. Fears of catastrophic flooding of the Owens Valley below have evaporated. And all the snowmelt has brilliantly greened whats often a dry, brown tinder box by this time of year. Extreme fire conditions prompted closures in the area just two years ago. Instead of oppressive smoke, visitors this year were treated to abundant wildflowers. The author and her partner take a quick selfie stop on the third day of their backpacking trip in the High Sierra. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times) With the fierce winter delaying backpacking season, September might be the best time to hike among the lofty peaks. Its at least likely to be the driest time. It's probably the perfect month this year and maybe into the first half of October, said Doug Robinson, a legendary Sierra climber, skier and guide. Hes already recommended it to several friends, including one planning to start the John Muir Trail at the end of the month. Its important to note that even in the best conditions, hiking in the High Sierra is not easy. Planning and outdoors experience is essential. Backpacking in the early days of fall particularly after months of wild weather presents unique challenges. Heres what to know if you want to make the journey. What makes the High Sierra so special About three hours north of Los Angeles, up scenic Highway 395, Mt. Whitney the highest peak in the contiguous U.S. looms 14,505 feet above the quaint town of Lone Pine. Its impressive from Down There, but distance gives it a two-dimensional quality. Heading into the mountains opens up an expansive, mysterious world of sparkling lakes and imposing granite cliffs. Read more: 7 SoCal hikes that will help you train for the Holy Grail that is Mt. Whitney Trekking through dramatic elevation shifts means equally dramatic shifts in scenery. Lower down, we walked through lush valleys surrounded by jagged mountainscapes. Breathtaking 60 Lakes Basin could rival Disneys take on the Swiss Alps. At Gardiner Pass, we descended from a fragrant pine forest into steep rock piles smeared with snow. The High Sierra straightforwardly named for its lofty elevation runs south from Lake Tahoe to the Golden Trout Wilderness, south of Sequoia National Park. It encompasses parts of Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks and several U.S. Forest Service areas, including the Inyo National Forest along the east side. Rugged souls like Ansel Adams, Norman Clyde and John Muir swooned over the expansive range. A dense fog rolls over picturesque Charlotte Lake after a day of clear blue skies. (Emanuel Rohss) It's only the finest mountain range in the world, said Robinson, who describes himself as a Sierra chauvinist. The landforms are just beautiful, and they invite you to hike over them, he said. Despite this years unusual weather, the region is beloved for its generally fantastic weather. "Bluebird skies day after day after day, as Andrew Skurka, a professional backpacker and guide, described it. During a three-week trip over the summer, he didn't set up his shelter once. The weather forecast for the next few months Warmth, like ease, is a relative concept in the High Sierra. Meteorological fall began Sept. 1 and temperatures will continue to trend down. Even warm, sunny days can give way to frigid nights, which are growing longer. The temperature decreases as elevation increases. By the last week of September, expect overnight temperatures at or below freezing. Thats already the case in higher elevations. Daytime temperatures in the 60s in Yosemite's high country can slip into the 30s at night. By October, those average high and lows drop about 10 degrees. Snow fell in early September above 13,000 feet and more storms are around the corner. While it might sound brisk to the average Angeleno, many adventure seekers see it as prime hiking weather. Physical exertion say, trekking 10 miles up steep terrain with a heavy backpack can make a chilly day feel fiery. It's a really nice kind of break between some of the heat that we get in the summer and before the snow flies, said Scott Gediman, spokesperson for Yosemite National Park. Still, its critical to have the right clothing. Gediman said its ideal to bring layers for a variety of conditions. The author is resting and enduring swarms of mosquitoes at a campsite. (Emanuel Rohss) Forecasts for towns near the mountains, like Bishop and Lone Pine, wont provide insight into whats happening above 10,000 feet. Skurka recommends using Weather.gov, which allows users to get more specific forecasts by clicking on a point on a map. Besides air temperature, its key to look at precipitation, wind and other factors. Outdoors wonks often think in terms of weather windows," or streaks in the forecast that look most advantageous for the adventure theyre cooking up. An El Nino climate pattern arrived in June, but its predicted impact depends on location. Typically, a moderate or strong El Nino signals wetter-than-normal weather in Southern California, and the Southlands San Bernardino Mountains could see more rain. Central and Northern California is more of a toss up in terms of precipitation, said Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist and manager at the Central Sierra Snow Lab. Temperature forecasts are clearer: Warm is going to be the trend that we're looking at, he said. How to get permits Backpacking in the High Sierra requires a permit. Day hiking typically doesnt, except when visiting Mt. Whitney. Check out Recreation.gov to see whats available and book your trip. During quota season, which coincides with peak recreation months, the number of people starting at a given trail each day is capped. Permits for iconic hikes, such as the JMT and High Sierra Trail, are competitive and sell out rapidly. Mt. Whitney is one of the hardest to snag. Many other trailheads are also difficult to secure, but there are lower-demand areas that can be booked with less advance planning. Nabbing permits is a wilderness skill all in its own. Different areas have different permit processes in place, so do your research. A simple hack is to identify your trip dates and then check Recreation.gov frequently. Some permits are released throughout the year and others periodically free up as people cancel trips. Permits with entry points on the east side of the range can be picked up in person from the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine. My Sierra-loving partner, Emanuel Rohss, recommends that people who are new to exploring the area take the opportunity to discuss their plans with rangers, who can provide information about conditions and restrictions. What to bring on your trip A complete gear list is beyond the scope of this abridged guide. What you decide to bring will depend on the length of your trip, experience and level and tolerance for carrying weight. However, I asked a few Sierra sages if they had any recommendations in light of the lingering traces of winter mayhem. Given the return to relatively normal conditions, Skurka said a typical kit should suffice with the addition of microspikes. The traction devices are fitted over shoes and can be used to traverse moderate snow. He also recommends bringing two pairs of hiking socks. With so much water flowing in the mountains, wet feet are hard to avoid. If one pair gets wet, he taps the other. This tree near Charlotte Lake made a great makeshift coat and gear hanger. (Lila Seidman / Los Angeles Times) Robinsons tip was also foot-related: Hikers should consider bringing a stout pair of waterproof boots and gaiters. Into October its been known to snow two feet. Watch your back; keep considering your exit from the Sierra, he said. From the JMT that can mean up 3,000 feet over a pass. You can probably make it out in tenny-runners without getting frostbite, but not without some misery the epic factor. Stouter shoes can also help prevent spraining an ankle, he said. Also, do not underestimate the bugs. Many people, myself included, who ventured into the Sierra backcountry in recent weeks were met with a blood-sucking scourge: mosquitoes. Sometimes nightmarish swarms of them. The record snowfall followed by a delayed melt pushed back the typical mosquito boom. On our third day, camped near a waterfall, I spat the winged vermin out of my mouth while trying to eat oatmeal. They bit right through my sun hoodie and were unphased by Citronella spray. There are ways to avoid similar pain: Bug spray containing DEET Head nets Permethrin-treated clothing Thankfully, as temperatures cool off, mosquitoes will too. Above all, it's important to be flexible All the planning in the world and heaps of top-of-the-line gear cant guarantee things will go according to plan. A sign of experience is knowing your limits and knowing when to turn around. Your itinerary is not set in stone, Robinson stressed. You're in the wilderness and your safety depends on making good judgments and sticking to them. Its helpful to have a Plan B waiting in the wings in case of inclement weather or another unexpected bummer, Skurka said. When Fernando Garcia encountered a bridge along the John Muir Trail last month that was being demolished after sustaining severe snow damage, he considered taking an alternate route. But the 54-year-old Los Angeles resident began having trouble with his phone, which he used to find water. At that point, he made the decision to pull out and make a plan to return the following year. It hasnt dimmed his sense of triumph. A view of the sublime 60 Lakes Basin. True to its name, this is just one of many lakes in the area. (Lila Seidman) Hiking the famed trail that runs between the Yosemite Valley and Mt. Whitney became Garcias beacon of hope in 2020 when he was going into surgery for a brain tumor. He began telling hospital workers he needed to make it through so he could fulfill the dream. Last year, Garcia took a celebratory lap of 138 miles on the route. In August, he came back to clock more miles. It's definitely emotionally overwhelming at times, in a good sense, he said. The gratitude that I felt being out there ... I probably looked like a crazy person smiling as I was going along. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Club owner Bruce Finkelman is seen at his venue The Salt Shed on North Elston Avenue in Chicago on Aug. 31, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) The indicator Bruce Finkelman took as the sign he should change his life came in literal form in the guise of a For Rent notice he spotted in the window of a modest building on the northeast corner of Western Avenue and Walton Street in a then-gritty Ukrainian Village neighborhood. Tellingly, the placard sat underneath a Pabst Beer sign. It was the early 90s, and Finkelman found himself driving around the city at a very late hour and attempting to figure a way out of his suit-and-tie job as manager at a Hyatt hotel. His decision to bet on himself, leverage all his savings (a total of $923) and lease the hole-in-the-wall space that became the first Empty Bottle would help transform the citys music scene. Advertisement More than three decades after opening the dive known for inexpensive tickets, bargain drinks and anything-goes performances, Finkelman is managing partner for 16 on Center. Operated with fellow managing partner Craig Golden, his hospitality group encompasses restaurants, bars and music venues, including the Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall and Salt Shed. People walk past the exterior of Empty Bottle on Western Avenue in Chicago in 2013. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Few people are more intertwined with what area fans hear and see than the Oak Park resident, whose career impetus stemmed from nontraditional experiences in college and the fact he felt like he never fit in with conventional society. Advertisement In person, Finkelman mirrors many of the Empty Bottles appealing traits. Hes unpretentious, determined, curious, casual, spontaneous. He thinks on his feet, flashes sly grins, talks at a smart clip and seems concerned about his employees well-being. Hes quick to credit his team and deflect attention from himself. He gives off the impression that the corporate world would kill his soul and that, subconsciously, he always knew it. While attending the University of Missouri, Finkelman accepted an invitation in 1997 to a Violent Femmes show at the Blue Note in Colombia, Missouri. Despite having someone vomit on his shoes during the concert, he fell in love with the atmosphere and people. He never looked back. Once he graduated and returned to Chicago, Finkelman frequented local clubs such as Cubby Bear and the now-defunct Lounge Ax and Avalon to gain better insight into what he had to do to create something for others out there looking for a place to belong. Finkelman soon discovered many other misfits and outsiders shared his outlook. He proved instrumental in providing a dependable space for several local movements, including a mid-90s indie rock groundswell that witnessed the likes of Liz Phair, Tortoise and Veruca Salt attract national attention and an underground improv jazz scene spearheaded by MacArthur Award-winning composer-saxophonist Ken Vandermark and writer-curator John Corbett. Ken Vandermark and his Avant-garde band perform at the Empty Bottle in Chicago in 2000. (John Bartley/Chicago Tribune ) Those developments emerged out of scenes rooted in cooperation and community. Finkelman sees many of the same elements taking root in the aftermath of the pandemic. He believes like-minded individuals started playing together out of boredom and desire to do something during shutdowns that left many with free time on their hands. The amount of new groups popping up, and what it means for Chicago, amazes him to the extent he calls it a baby boom. With every new crop of bands comes a re-territorializing, a regeneration of the scene, he says. Its always been cyclical. A few years ago, I looked at the support slots for the headliners and many of the same bands played them. Now, you see new bands and dont even recognize their names. Theyre infusing new energy and ideas into the scene and city. Finkelman cites CB Radio Gorgeous, Cel Ray, Spread Joy and Edging among his favorite up-and-comers and Meat Wave, Ganser and Patter as examples of more established area staples he admires. Admittedly, Finkelmans present role and responsibilities differ from the days when he ran a single club. He no longer has the luxury of staying in one place for hours on end and keeping tabs on every young band that passes through. Similarly, he remains cognizant that his music tastes may not be as relevant for new generations. Out of necessity and choice, Finkelman has evolved into an overseer who passes expertise on to leaders on his team. In addition to allowing others an opportunity to execute their vision, the approach safeguards against repetition and staleness. Advertisement Concertgoers watch Japanese Breakfast perform at the Salt Shed in West Town on July 9, 2023. (Lou Foglia/for the Chicago Tribune) We will undoubtedly see different versions of new scenes and music, Finkelman says. Whats exciting is you dont necessarily know that it is happening until its already happened. Since difficulties brought it closer, the live scene now has new degrees of inclusivity and empathy. Finkelman also credits the spirit of collaboration as essential to preserving the health of the music scene, which faces increasing headwinds. What occurred before the pandemic and whats occurring now is totally different, Finkelman observes. There are these new notions of going into work and whats normal. People are still getting used to operating in a world of going back into clubs and enjoying music as a group again. People wear masks as they listen to the band Bnny perform at the Empty Bottle on Sept. 2, 2021, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) Though live music continues to dodge the dramatic attendance drop-offs and widespread institutional woes plaguing live theater, it must navigate a growing problem rising expenses shared by everyone in the arts even in a locale that boasts cheaper costs of living than some big cities. The costs of doing business are getting prohibitive, laments Finkelman. Five years ago it wasnt much of an issue. Now it comes down to how much money just one employee needs in order to buy groceries and pay rent. Its a trickle-down effect. Local concertgoers have yet to shy away from events due to increasing costs associated with permits, fees, overhead and more. Finkelman credits their sense of understanding and Midwestern sensibilities, as well as the desire to be a part of what happens around them. He wishes city officials demonstrated a similar awareness and compassion. Advertisement Chicago still does not receive the level of administrative support or promotional outreach afforded music hot spots such as Nashville, Tennessee, and Austin, Texas. More than 50 area music, comedy and multidisciplinary performing arts venues are members of CIVL (Chicago Independent Venue League) and use the platform to communicate, advocate and support common needs. But a collective network isnt the same as government backing. We have one of the best music scenes in the country, states Finkelman. People forget how good we have it here. The idea that our city (officials) are not aware of how much cultural and economic impact we have is ridiculous. We need support, and for them to be our partners to continue to grow the live music community. Finkelman proposes an easy first step directed at the mayor who gave an energetic speech championing both the city and live music at Lollapalooza. Brandon Johnson, give us a call! Lets sit down and talk about how to keep this amazing Chicago music scene moving forward. We want an open dialogue with the people in office to work together. Bob Gendron is a freelance critic. A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to cover the funeral expenses for the family of a man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Henry County. On September 2 at around 7 a.m., Robert Stalter left home with his dog for their routine morning stroll. An unknown driver struck Stalter in his wheelchair. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police say Stalter was left to suffer from injuries that would become fatal. According to the GoFundMe page, the driver drove over several mailboxes before striking Stalter and his dog. Stalters family learned that something was wrong when the dog returned to the house on a broken leash and without Stalter. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The organizer of the GoFundMe campaign had this to say about Stalter: Rob was loved by so many. Everyone in the neighborhood knew him, spoke with him, laughed with him. He loved fishing, Nascar, and spending time with his family. He loved his dog, and making people laugh. He will be remembered and missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him. He did not deserve what happened to him. He didnt deserve to live his last moments in pain and fear. He deserved happiness, peace and the warm embrace of the ones he loved most. As of Sunday, more than $2,200 of the $2,500 goal had been raised. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: 'He was a good friend': Biden visits the John McCain memorial in Hanoi, Vietnam WASHINGTON Before departing from Hanoi, Vietnam, President Joe Biden paid his respects at the John Sidney McCain III Memorial, honoring the former Arizona Republican senator who died in 2018 after a battle with brain cancer. I miss him. He was a good friend, Biden said Monday at the memorial, which rests near Truc Bach Lake, where McCains aircraft was shot down during the Vietnam War in 1967. McCain was arrested and held captive for more than five years at the prison known as the Hanoi Hilton. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry , who served in Vietnam, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood near Biden as he touched a wreath of red white and blue flowers that rested in front of the memorial and bowed his head, according to a pool report. The president also shook the hands of the Marine and Navy officer standing on each side of the memorial and left one of his command coins there, the White House said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "It was important to me" to visit the memorial, Biden said. US President Joe Biden visits the John Sidney McCain III Memorial in Hanoi on September 11, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Biden and McCain met in the 1970s, when Biden was a senator and McCain was a Navy Senate liaison. Biden traveled widely as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and would pick McCain to accompany him. He also sought McCains advice before his discussions with foreign leaders. Ted Kaufman, a former Delaware senator who is close to Biden, told USA TODAY that while Biden and McCain didn't agree on a number of policy issues, they "didn't personalize it." "They really liked each other," Kaufman said. Contributing: Nicole Gaudiano, The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'I miss him': Biden pays respects at John McCain memorial in Vietnam The Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Sunday condemned Sen. Tommy Tubervilles ongoing hold on hundreds of military promotions, calling it a paralyzing move that amounts to a national security problem. The idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months I understand maybe promotions, but nominations? is paralyzing the Department of Defense, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union. I think that is a national security problem and a national security issue. Tuberville, R-Ala., who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months over his objection to a Defense Department policy that provides paid time off and reimburses travel costs for service members and dependents seeking abortions. The Defense Departments policy on abortion has drawn heated debate among congressional lawmakers and has become a major part of negotiations on the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual must-pass defense policy bill. The GOP-led House passed its version of the legislation after it added an amendment that would force the Pentagon to rescind the policy. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Democratic-led Senate, however, passed its own version of the NDAA in July after it bypassed floor votes on amendments related to abortion access and transgender health care in the military. McCaul said Sunday that he wishes Tuberville would reconsider the hold on military promotions, adding that the abortion issue is being worked out in the NDAA. But to hold up the top brass from being promoted and lower brass I think is paralyzing our Department of Defense, he said. Reached for comment, Steven Stafford, a spokesperson for Tuberville, said McCauls remarks are inaccurate. No one can stop [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer from holding votes on these nominations. He just doesnt want to, Stafford said in a statement. Its also inaccurate because acting officials are in all of these roles. In some cases these acting officials are the nominees for permanent roles. No jobs are open or going undone right now. Some of McCauls Republican colleagues are trying to deflect criticism over Tubervilles military blockade by blaming Schumer, D-N.Y. They argue that Schumer should schedule individual votes for the hundreds of military promotions Tuberville is holding up. President Joe Biden has sharply criticized Tuberville for continuing his hold on hundreds of military promotions as he announced plans for more military nominations. What Senator Tuberville is doing is not only wrong it is dangerous, Biden said in a statement in July. In this moment of rapidly evolving security environments and intense competition, he is risking our ability to ensure that the United States Armed Forces remain the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And his Republican colleagues in the Senate know it, Biden added. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also decried Tubervilles hold at a relinquishment ceremony for the chief of naval operations, Adm. Mike Gilday, at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, last month. Because of this blanket hold, starting today, for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, three of our military services are operating without Senate-confirmed leaders, Austin said at the event. This is unprecedented, it is unnecessary, and it is unsafe, he added. This sweeping hold is undermining Americas military readiness. Its hindering our ability to retain our very best officers. And its upending the lives of far too many American military families. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) didnt hold back when asked Sunday about conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and her relentless push to impeach President Joe Biden. MSNBCs Jen Psaki noted a shift in tone from Greene, who over the weekend posted on X (formerly Twitter) that there shouldnt be a rush impeachment vote. But Buck a staunch conservative and a member of the hard-line Freedom Caucus pointed out that Greene filed to impeach Biden one day after he was sworn in to office. The idea that that she is now the expert on impeachment or that she is someone who should set the timing on impeachment is absurd, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Impeachment, he added, should come if and when there is evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors. That doesnt exist right now, he said. Buck said multiple committees are investigating Hunter Biden , but there is not a strong connection at this point to the president and urged lawmakers to focus on issues that are important. Greene, a close ally of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), has in the past called for a national divorce splitting red states from blue. Shes also shared wild and unhinged conspiracy theories, and last year spoke at a white nationalist event. But shes also had a testy relationship with at least some of her fellow Republicans, and over the summer was given the boot from the Freedom Caucus. She has consistently attacked other members of the Freedom Caucus in an irresponsible way, and as a result of that she was kicked out of the Freedom Caucus, Buck told NBC News at the time, adding that she should not be a member. Last week, Greene slammed Buck for failing to object to the 2020 election, for defending the treatment of those jailed as a result of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and for his refusal to back impeachment. Buck fired back on The George Brauchler Show. When I was teaching law school, I learned and taught certain constitutional principles. When Marjorie Taylor Greene was teaching CrossFit, she learned a whole different set of values evidently, he said. The Constitution says Congress shall count the votes. It doesnt say Congress may overturn an election result, he added. It doesnt say Congress can do whatever the heck it wants with this election. Shall count the votes. Thats what the Constitution says. In her CrossFit class maybe they didnt cover that. See more of his conversation with Psaki below: Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for a special session of the Oklahoma Legislature to cut state income tax Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Monday he is calling a special session of the Oklahoma Legislature to discuss tax cuts, budget transparency and a special "trigger law" apparently intended to ensure that if courts rule Native Americans do not have to pay state income taxes "then no Oklahoman will have to pay the tax." The governor said the special session would begin Oct. 3 to act only on his three proposals. Stitt recently has intensified his criticism of the 2020 McGirt decision in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the six Native American reservations in eastern Oklahoma had never been disestablished. The ruling specifically involved criminal jurisdiction over Native Americans on those reservations, but lawsuits were subsequently filed in federal court by Native citizens arguing the state does not have the right to tax their income. More: Amid legal uncertainty, Oklahoma's governor ramps up rhetoric against tribal governments ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I will not let eastern Oklahoma become a reservation," Stitt declared earlier this month. A closer look at the three proposals planned for the Oklahoma special session Stitt said he wants the Legislature to approve "a tax cut that puts Oklahoma on the path to zero income taxes." He said "this will keep us in line with surrounding Republican-led states." Currently, nine states do not levy a state income tax, including neighboring Texas. The others are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming. Among several transparency proposals, he called for a requirement that no general appropriations bill or spending limit be acted upon without first being made publicly available in its final form for at least three legislative days. More: A ballot question may be the only way to ease Oklahoma's strict abortion law, but is a movement underway? His "trigger" request called for automatically eliminating "any tax assessed by the state or its political subdivisions if that same tax is found by a state or federal court to be inapplicable to any individual by virtue of their race, heritage or political classification." Leaders of the Republican majority in the Legislature, Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, were not immediately available for comment. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, and Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, also were not immediately available. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt calls special session for October Gov. Gavin Newsom made an ill-advised pledge two years ago when he vowed to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein with a Black woman should Feinstein resign before her term ends. That promise came back to haunt him Sunday in a national television interview. In a taped exchange with NBCs Chuck Todd in the downtown Sacramento governors mansion, the conversation turned to Feinstein, who is not running for re-election in 2024, prompting a three-way race among Democrats to replace her. Todd asked the obvious question: Would Newsom appoint a replacement if necessary? Opinion If we have to do it, well do it, Newsom said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement By your pledge? asked Todd. Yeah, said Newsom. Interim appointment. I do not want to get involved in the primary. You would not appoint anybody who has filed? asked Todd. That would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away, the governor said. Todd got the memo. Youre going to abide, it would be essentially a caretaker and an African American. We hope we never have to make this decision, but I abide by what I have said very publicly on a consistent basis, Newsom said. Yes. Rep. Barbara Lee is one of the three candidates running to replace Feinstein. Lee, who is African American, represents the 12th Congressional District in the East Bay. Shortly after Newsoms interview aired, Lee released the following statement: I am troubled by the Governors remarks. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election. There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed and needed for more than a few months. Governor Newsom knows this, which is why he made the pledge in the first place. If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table. Newsom clearly thought he was on the side of one of the Democratic Partys bedrock constituencies when he announced during a March 2021 interview that a subsequent Senate appointee would be a Black woman. I have multiple names in mind, he said at the time. But that was 2021. Feinstein did not step down. Her cognitive decline has reached the point that she has given her 66-year-old daughter the power of attorney to handle her personal affairs. That only raises more troubling questions about her ability to handle Californias business as our senior senator. If Newsom had multiple names in mind back in 2021, its hard to imagine that the list did not include Lee, a Washington veteran of 25 years. Lee, a Democrat from Oakland, is trailing in the most recent polls behind two fellow members of Congress, Adam Schiff of Burbank and Katie Porter of Irvine. The governor made it clear on national television Sunday that he would not appoint Lee if given the opportunity. To vow to appoint a Black woman to the U.S. Senate for only a matter of months makes the Newsom pledge the hollowest of gestures. This promise was perilous from the start, for the U.S. Senate is one of a very few workplaces in America where a hire can intentionally be made based on religion, or sexual orientation, or race or gender. Making this same pledge in other workplaces would expose a boss to claims of discrimination under both state and federal laws to prevent discrimination and promote equal opportunity. Political appointments, however, are made under a different set of rules that are purely political. Newsom must have thought he was advancing justice and opportunity when he made the Feinstein replacement pledge back in 2021. Now it has completely backfired. The self-inflicted optics are horrible, the prospect of a privileged white guy appointing a Black woman to sit in the U.S. Senate for a handful of months. Newsoms next pledge should be to never make another. Vyacheslav Gladkov , governor of the Belgorod Oblast, said on his official Telegram channel that Russia's air defense systems destroyed two drones over the region in the early hours of Sept. 11. Drone debris fell on a road in the Yakovlevsky district, but there were no injuries. On Aug. 23, Belgorod Oblast was targeted by drones, killing three civilians. It followed another drone strike earlier that night which targeted central Moscow. Gladkov had attributed the attack on his region, which is located near Ukraine's border, to Kyiv. He said that Ukrainian forces had launched a drone to deliver an explosive device while people were on the streets. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ukraine typically refrains from commenting on attacks that occur within Russian territory. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Top US general says Ukraine has 30-45 days for the offensive before weather worsens Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In the fall of 2019, an unusual partnership was forged between Broadway in Chicago, the citys top presenter of touring theater, and TimeLine Theatre, a mid-sized nonprofit that specializes in plays inspired by history. Olso, J.T. Rogers drama about the Clinton-era peace talks between the state of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, had won the Tony Award for best play in 2017. Instead of the national tour that might have followed such an accolade, Chicago audiences experienced an entirely new production staged by TimeLine and presented by Broadway in Chicago at its Magnificent Mile venue, the Broadway Playhouse. Four years later, the two companies are teaming up again for the Chicago premiere of the 2022 Tony Award winner for best play, The Lehman Trilogy. Written by Italian playwright Stefano Massini and adapted by Ben Power, this epic drama spans more than 160 years, beginning with the immigration of three Jewish brothers from Bavaria in the 1840s and following the meteoric rise and catastrophic collapse of the firm they founded, Lehman Brothers, in 2008. Along the way, it has a lot to say about capitalism, the immigrant experience and the American Dream. Advertisement After the play premiered in France and Italy, Powers English adaptation opened in 2018 at Londons National Theatre under the direction of Sam Mendes. That production made its North American debut at New Yorks Park Avenue Armory in 2019 and played several previews on Broadway in March 2020, just before pandemic shutdowns. It later returned to both London and Broadway after theaters reopened. TimeLine associate artistic director Nick Bowling, who also directed Oslo, co-directs the Chicago premiere of The Lehman Trilogy with Vanessa Stalling. The cast includes three veteran Chicago actors: Mitchell Fain, known for his eight-year run in David Sedaris The Santaland Diaries at Theater Wit; TimeLine company member Anish Jethmalani, who received a Jeff Award nomination for Oslo, and longtime Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Joey Slotnick. Each actor plays one of the original brothers who founded the company and up to 20 other roles, including subsequent generations of Lehmans and supporting characters. Advertisement Despite its global implications, The Lehman Trilogy is very much the story of one family and its experience of coming to America in search of a better life. The production employs two dramaturgs Carol Ann Tan and DeRon Williams and consultant Pamela Nadell, who directs the Jewish Studies program at American University. In an interview, the cast members noted how much they have learned about Jewish immigration during the mid-19th century, a much different period than the better-known era when newcomers passed through Ellis Island in the early 20th century. We learned so much about the conditions and how, already, the oppression of the Jewish people in Germany was present and why a Jewish person like Henry Lehman would leave everything he knows and his family to come to a place where he knows no one, all by himself, to try to do better, said Fain, who plays the first brother to make the journey. And then its interesting to watch, as it happens with so many immigrant families, the way in which the religious part of things, as opposed to the cultural part of things, perhaps gets more Americanized as generations go on. I also think at the heart of the show is this fundamental question about the cost of capitalism, added Jethmalani, and what is it that youre letting go in terms of your own personal identity to achieve that goal. I think that every person who either came to this country or was brought up in this country will recognize a piece of that in some way, shape or form how we look at materialism, how we look at the things that we buy, how we look at where we work and theres a cost to all of that. According to the cast and directors, TimeLine will offer a distinctly American perspective on this story. This is very much a homegrown Chicago effort, said Jethmalani. For folks who have seen the production in London or New York, theyre going to be coming to something new. Simon Russell Beale, Ben Miles and Adam Godley in an earlier production of "The Lehman Trilogy" on Broadway. The play was still in previews when the pandemic shut theaters. (Stephanie Berger) Some critics have accused the plays script and Mendes staging of glossing over the Lehman Brothers past ties to the slave trade, which the company publicly disclosed in 2003. TimeLines team feels a particular responsibility to grapple with this legacy not only the history of slavery in antebellum Alabama, where the Lehmans first set up shop, but also its lasting impact on capitalism in the United States. As Americans, we have to take that on, said Bowling. A great part of the success of American capitalism is due to slavery, frankly, to the work thats on the back of enslaved folks, and that happened over hundreds of years. While the outside productions are aware of that and its in the play, we felt like that has to be centered in the conversation about the play. Although the script hasnt changed, the directors noted that TimeLine is well-equipped to add context to this story. In each of its productions, the theater draws connections between history and current social and political issues through lobby displays, program notes and dramaturgy. Part of coming to an experience at a TimeLine show is that youre able to access a lot more information that the theater is able to curate and provide, said Stalling. Fain addressed another criticism that was leveled at the British production the idea that the play reinforces antisemitic tropes. This is a flawed interpretation, he said: Theres something I find problematic about not acknowledging that this play is only about this one family. Advertisement Mayer (Joey Slotnick), Henry (Mitchell Fain), and Emanuel Lehman (Anish Jethmalani) in "The Lehman Trilogy" in a TimeLine Theatre Company production at the Broadway Playhouse. (Joe Mazza/HANDOUT) Unfortunately, in discourse, Jews and banking and money get wrapped all into each other, but it is incredibly important to remember that while the Lehman brothers were making all these choices, so were the Rockefellers and the Carnegies, Fain said. So, while this is a play about this family, this idea of capitalism and how it can corrupt how it at one point was seen as something positive and then became the American religion isnt just about Jewish people. Its about America. Stalling hopes that telling this sweeping saga about capitalism through the intimate lens of one family will help viewers to reflect on their own lives. Theres something about a chance to be able to look back 100-and-some years to choices that were made that are impacting us right now, she said, that makes us potentially wonder about how the choices were making right now are going to impact a generation hundreds of years from now. You come to the theater to be moved, said Slotnick. Hopefully this will bring people back to the theater to see an incredible story told with just some furniture and some actors and some lights and some music on stage, where everyone is sharing that experience together. The more we can do that and share that and come to this place to learn and be moved and grow, then the better. The Lehman Trilogy plays Sep. 19 to Oct. 29 at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.; tickets $30-$90 at broadwayinchicago.com Emily McClanathan is a freelance critic. Scammers pretending to be federal officials used addresses in Kentucky to help swindle hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims, a federal grand jury has charged. The grand jury indicted Satishkumar Rameshchandra Patel on one charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, punishable by up to 20 years in prison if hes convicted. Patel was arrested in northern Illinois. Court documents available online dont make clear where he lives. The indictment charges that Patel and others defrauded victims across the U.S. by posing as officials from agencies such as the FBI, the Social Security Administration or the IRS. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement People involved in the scheme used various stories, such as that money had been put into a persons account by mistake and needed to be refunded, or that the victim faced an arrest warrant because his or her Social Security number had been used in a drug crime, according to the indictment. The scammers allegedly had victims send money or prepaid debit cards by way of parcel services such as FedEx. The indictment cited three examples. In one, someone in the conspiracy called an older woman in Texas in August 2021 and said she had been overpaid for a refund by $48,000. The woman was told to return the money to certain person at an address in Pulaski County that was a Dollar General store, the indictment said. Telephone records confirm co-conspirators in India used the same number to call the woman and to track the package she sent, according to the indictment. In another case, a scammer allegedly called a separate woman in Texas and told her that her identity had been stolen and the information was used to bring drugs into the country. Based on instructions from the caller, the woman withdrew $12,000 and sent it to a person at an address in London, according to the indictment. Again, phone records show the number someone in India used to call the woman was the same number used to call a FedEx store in London and track delivery of the package she sent, the indictment said. The third example cited in the indictment involved an older woman in California. Someone induced her to send a total of $380,000 in several payments by telling her she faced arrest because her Social Security number had been associated with a crime, according to the indictment. Patel allegedly picked up a package from the woman delivered to a Martin Smith at the address of an apartment building in Itasca, Illinois, where Patel didnt live. The package contained $50,000, the indictment said. The indictment alleges that on numerous other occasions, Patel picked up packages with money from victims delivered to other names and addresses where he didnt live. Parts of the indictment against Patel are blacked out, which indicates at least one other person has been charged but may not yet be in custody. Patel is being held in the Laurel County Correctional Center pending an initial court appearance scheduled for Monday in Lexington. Agencies including the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Department of Justice have resources on how to recognize scams and protect older people. In this Sept. 11, 2001, file photo, United Airlines Flight 175 collides into the south tower of the World Trade Center in New York as smoke billows from the north tower from the first airliner strike. | Chao Soi Cheong, Associated Press At 8:46 a.m. in New York City, Flight 11 from Boston, originally bound for Los Angeles, slammed into the World Trade Centers north tower. All onboard the Sept. 11, 2001, flight were instantly killed and World Trade Center employees were trapped above the 91st floor. Across America from east to west we awakened to the terrorist attack in every way possible. Sometime after 6 a.m. in Northern California, I was up and headed to the car to drive my eldest daughter to a Latter-day Saint seminary class. Our first notice of a changed world came through the car radio; a plane hit the tower. We just didnt know how much it would change as both towers eventually came down. As a newspaperman, I quickly returned home and raced into the office to help produce a special edition of this evolving tragedy. But this isnt a column about my remembrances of 9/11, more than two decades after the event. This is about a phone call with my 11-year-old grandson the eldest son of that daughter I was with en route to seminary. Grandpa, can we set up a time so I can interview you about 9/11? ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There are official documents and timelines. You can read the 9/11 Commission report with its headings that include, The Foundation of the New Terrorism, and Responses to Al Qaedas Initial Assaults. But there is perhaps a greater responsibility to pass on the stories of 9/11 to each generation: What it meant at the time. Why we put flags and ribbons on our car antennas. What patriotism meant in the moment. What we felt about threat and war and our personal safety. There are stories from those directly impacted, the families who lost loved ones and share their stories of pain and suffering, but also compassion and kindness. But all of us of a certain age could see the changes that occurred from pre-attack to post-attack, the same way I as a child interviewed my own mother and grandmother about their remembrances of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Related Where were you when the 9/11 attack happened? came the first question from Jackson. I shared the same story of being with his mother, then a young teenager, listening on the radio. We were far away from the actual attack sites. We wondered if she should still go to seminary and school. But it was still early. In a later call, I asked Jacksons mother what she remembers from that morning. It colored my adulthood, she said. It was a hugely impactful day when our nation was attacked. It was one of those times when war felt close to me ... something on our own soil. ... So I looked to my parents and teachers to learn how I was supposed to be feeling about that. So now Jackson is trying to understand what he should feel about it. Next questions: How did you physically and emotionally react to it? Did you know anyone who lost their life? How did Sept. 11 affect your patriotism or your overall view of the United States? Why do you think the terrorists chose to attack the World Trade Center? Doug Wilks, executive editor of the Deseret News, and his grandson Jackson share a selfie during an event in Salt Lake City, Utah. | Doug Wilks, Deseret News Each question brought a short discussion. We talked about the desire to fly the flag, even from our car, and the unity the country felt. We discussed the symbols of America, in this case what the twin towers represented to the world, and why the terrorists would believe that attacking the towers and the Pentagon would be hitting at the heart of America, if not the heartland. The conversation turned from school assignment to two family members talking to each other. He asked, Do you think this type of attack could happen again? What do you say to a sixth grader, full of joy and yet to be beaten down by the vicissitudes of life? I want him to go through school happy and with love for the possibility of what lies ahead. I responded, something could happen again, but we try to prepare in a way to make it much less likely. And to prepare ourselves to know how to keep our values intact, while helping others who may be struggling. His mother, Sydney, in that separate conversation with me, talked about her desire to arm her children with appropriate knowledge and perspective to meet the challenges ahead. I think knowledge is power. I really do believe that, she said. Helping children have an understanding helps them lose some of the fear. She then brought up what she thinks about. In the same way there are school shootings today, we try to address it, we talk about ways to protect themselves. That means going through the unlikelihood that it will happen, but also helping children understand safety measures at school. She discussed reinforcing the values the family has, knowing that that will provide them strength, comfort and support. Establishing and maintaining ones values, together with preparation, help us endure the storm. Jackson and I each gained some clarity about that through this school assignment. Final question: Grandpa, why do you think it takes an attack (I think he said tragedy) to bring people together? I said I wish it didnt. But when there is common purpose, a common goal, we can work together to find solutions to difficult problems. And we can think of others at those times more than ourselves. I wish it could be like that without a tragedy, he said. I do too, Jack. I do too. Doug Wilks is executive editor of the Deseret News. (Bloomberg) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday to seek EU support after last weeks floods that left at least 15 dead and destroyed farmland and villages. Most Read from Bloomberg Im sure Europe will financially support our country, Mitsotakis said Sunday evening from Larisa, one of the cities affected by the storm Daniel in central Greece. Europe spends a lot for the regions green transition but not much to address the imminent impact of climate change, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The storm affected some 72,000 hectares (278 square miles), destroying agricultural land, roads and bridges, and flooding whole villages. The Thessalia region was the most badly hit area with livestock drowned and entire crops of cotton, corn, tomatoes and apples destroyed. The main highway between Athens and Thessaloniki, the countrys second-largest city, remains closed and power hasnt been restored in several areas. Authorities are moving fast to collect, bury or burn thousands of dead animals to prevent the spread of disease. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. An Indianola, Mississippi, police officer has been accused of violating the rights of two Mississippi citizens: one an active-duty Army staff sergeant and an 11-year-old boy whom the cop allegedly shot. Two federal lawsuits have been filed against Greg Capers, alleging excessive use of force in both incidents. Aderrien Murry, 11, was shot by an officer responding to a domestic disturbance at his home in Indianola, Mississippi (Photo: YouTube screenshot/CNN/Murry family) Sgt. Kelvin Franklin claims that Officer Capers stunned him with a Taser, choked and pointed a gun at him while he was handcuffed on Dec. 30, 2022. Franklin says that day, he was traveling with his then-fiancees cousin from Camp Shelby to her residence in Indianola. Once they arrived in Indianola, there was some misunderstanding when Franklin got out of his car to get a parking decal that led his fiancee to call 911, his complaint says. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Franklin saw the driveway was blocked, according to the attorney, so he approached the cousin about moving it, but the fiancee thought they were arguing. Franklin says that he tried to resolve the situation with the cousin, but that too was misinterpreted by his fiancee, whom he has since split with. According to Franklins attorneys, by the time Capers and other officers arrived, Franklin attempted to explain that he was there to collect his belongings before returning to Camp Shelby. He also disclosed he had a firearm, which an unnamed officer confiscated. This is when Capers drew his firearm, then his Taser, and struck Franklin multiple times before choking him, the lawsuit complaint states. A three-minute video shows that Franklins arms were at his side when he was tased. CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO. The complaint also says that Franklin requested medical attention due to pain and having a single kidney but was taken to Sunflower County Jail without treatment. Franklin has since been deployed to Kuwait in May 2023. He says he is now concerned that the trauma he has experienced from the incident will interfere with his work and put his 16-year career in the military in jeopardy. Months after Franklins incident and around the same time he was sent to the Middle East, the same officer shot the preteen, Aderrien Murry. For the incident involving the minor, Capers has been suspended from the Indianola Police Department. Capers lawyer says he did not mean to do it, according to the Mississippi Free Press. Now, both parties are represented by Carlos Moore in their pursuit of justice against an officer accused of abusing his power. In both instances, I believe both results would have been a lot safer if Greg Capers didnt arrive at either scene, Moore said to Mississippi Today. Mr. Franklins case preceded Mr. Murrys case, and so the City of Indianola had noticed that Greg Capers was an ever-present threat and danger to the citizens of Indianola, said Moore. They knew he had a propensity to utilize excessive force. They did not punish him for what he did to Kelvin Franklin, and an 11-year-old was shot by Greg Capers several months subsequent to that. Aderriens mother has filed a $5 million federal lawsuit on her sons behalf, alleging that Capers, who was called for assistance in a domestic situation, instead subjected her child to violence when he shot him. Franklin filed his complaint on Aug. 28, seeking $500,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, interest, and a jury trial. The lawsuit also names the city of Indianola, Police Chief Ronald Sampson, and five unnamed officers. It asserts that Capers actions stem from the city and police chiefs policies and their failure to supervise and train officers on how to respond in high-crisis situations. Cleveland, Mississippi, attorney Michael Carr, who is already representing Capers in the case regarding the middle schooler, declined to address Franklins case, saying he is unsure if his client has been served the paperwork. Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe shared his insights on the power of a Colorado lawsuit seeking to remove former President Donald Trump from the 2024 ballot. Six Colorado voters filed the lawsuit last week with the help of watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. It argues that Trump is disqualified from appearing on the states ballots in the presidential election under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The provision states that anyone who engaged in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to defend it is prohibited from holding office. Tribe told MSNBCs Ari Velshi on Sunday the lawsuit is the strongest challenge yet, in part because the plaintiffs clearly have standing under Colorado law and ironclad research backing up their complaint. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Tribe explained that Colorado is a special place because unlike many other states, Colorado has a specific statute which allows registered voters to take the secretary of state to court and demand that the secretary of state exclude anyone who doesnt meet all of the qualifications, even at the primary stage. Tribe believes the case will end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Conversations about Trumps eligibility have gained traction after two conservative constitutional law scholars published arguments about the 14th Amendment last month. After studying the topic at length, they determined Trump was barred from holding office. Questions remained as to how the issue would be enforced, who would apply it and whether Trump was simply ineligible to hold office, or ineligible to run for it. According to Tribe and other law experts, the provision is self-executing, and Trumps disqualification just is as it would be had he already served two terms, or if he were under the age of 35. If a two-term president tried to join the ballot, the secretary of state would conclude in a hearing that the person was not allowed under the Constitution, Tribe said. This is, of course. more controversial because its not as mechanical, he said of the 14th Amendment. And thats why it would have to be an elaborate hearing. You couldnt just say, Oh, hes obviously an insurrectionist. End of case. Clearly, were going to have to explore, in this trial, the meaning of insurrection, what it means to be engaged in it, to give it aid and comfort. I think its pretty obvious to most people, that if Trump doesnt qualify, nobody would, he added. Trump has called the disqualification effort election interference, earning a rebuke from Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D), who is named alongside Trump in the suit. Donald Trump incited an insurrection, and there are big constitutional questions around that provision as to whether he is disqualified from the Colorado ballot, Griswold told MSNBC on Saturday. So, well see this litigation through, and ultimately I think its important for a court to weigh in to provide guidance. Similar efforts are developing in other states. The nonprofit group, Free Speech for People, has written to secretaries of state in multiple states, including Florida, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin, urging them to exclude Trump from ballots. Separate from those legal efforts, Trump has been indicted four times on a total of 91 felonies. Two of the cases concern his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. A conviction would not necessarily prevent him from taking office. Related... [Source] A 29-year-old man was arrested after allegedly carrying out a series of anti-Asian attacks in the Slabtown district of Portland, Oregon. What happened: On the evening of Sept. 4, Zion M. Cochran allegedly shouted I hate Asians! at a group of Asian people who entered the Mama Bird restaurant before throwing patio chairs, dishes and glasses at the windows of the business, reported Oregon Live. A few moments later, Cochran then spotted two young Asian women and allegedly shouted, Dont you walk away from me! before violently shoving one of them. At that point, Sean Milligan, a bystander, along with a Mama Bird employee tackled Cochran to the ground near Northwest 21st Avenue and Raleigh Street until police arrived. The attacker was sedated by paramedics and brought to a local hospital for evaluation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There were so many bystanders, some with their phones out, Milligan told Oregon Live. Someone needed to take action before somebody seriously got hurt. It was kind of a split-second decision. More from NextShark: Pink Floyd's Roger Waters says 'Taiwan is part of China,' dismisses abuse of Uyghurs as 'nonsense' in interview Arrest and charges: According to witnesses, Cochran appeared to be either high on drugs or in a mental crisis. Police reportedly cited Cochran on four counts of felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief for causing property damage, including while jumping on a moving car and smashing the windshield of a parked car that same evening. However, police did not cite him for hate-related charges or crimes of assault or harassment. According to Police spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen, officers were not successful in trying to locate Cochrans targets to get firsthand accounts from them. Police are asking anyone with information to email Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Matthew Jacobsen. Portlands hate crimes: The incident is among the series of recent attacks against people of Asian descent and other targeted communities in Portland. Hate crimes and incidents reported to the state's Bias Response Hotline have nearly tripled in the past three years. More from NextShark: 'Afghanistans Bruce Lee recalls hardship after Taliban retook power I think safety in the city is a real issue, Milligan said. Its scary for a lot of people but specifically people of color that are being targeted. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Watch: Asian American student defends his stance against affirmative action in interview Michelle Yeoh fulfills her promise to bring Oscar trophy home to her mother in Malaysia August 24, 2023, will always hold a spot in Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labats mind. It was the day he watched jail employees process former President Donald Trump after he and 18 others were indicted on charges that they conspired to overturn the 2020 election here in Georgia. Labat spoke to CNN on Friday, saying it was eerily quiet as Trump came in to have his mugshot done and fingerprints taken. He came out, he was very stoic, Labat said. We took his mugshot, took his fingerprints as we would anybody else. And ultimately, we arranged for his bond paperwork to be brought to the motorcade so that we could get him in and off the premises as quickly as possible. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Labat said watching Trump get processed was emotional. RELATED STORIES: For me, on a personal level, it was heartbreaking to see someone of that stature and who represents our country in that fashion, having to go through this but again, Labat said. Labat said he personally oversaw the processing so he could stop any fake news that would pop up on social media and other websites. I wanted to make sure that when these fake accusations came out about the facility and the portion that he was in, I actually was there and witnessed the portions that he actually walked through very briskly, Labat said. The sheriff said all the planning and coordination to get Trump in and out of the jail paid off and he couldnt be prouder of his staff. Im very proud of the women and men of the Fulton County Sheriffs Office, as well as the many local and state partners that really jumped in to help. It was a very well-thought-out plan, Labat said. RELATED NEWS: Evangeline Balintona, left, and Elsie Rosales pose on the balcony of a hotel room in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP) LAHAINA, Hawaii Ambulance and fire truck sirens wailed outside as Elsie Rosales stripped linens from king-sized mattresses at a beachfront resort in Lahaina. She tried to focus on the work, but was beset by dread: Had a wildfire taken the home she scrimped to buy on a housekeepers wages? Advertisement It had. And now Rosales, like many other Filipino housekeepers used to cleaning hotels, is living in one with her family, a poignant example of how the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century has afflicted Mauis heavily Filipino population. All our hard work burned, Rosales told The Associated Press in an interview conducted in Ilocano, her native language. There is nothing left. Advertisement The disaster has prompted fears about what will become of Lahainas community and character as it rebuilds. Many are concerned residents like Rosales wont be able to afford to live in Lahaina after the community is rebuilt, and that affluent outsiders seeking a home in the oceanfront town will price them out. Will Filipinos, Native Hawaiians and others who have been the backbone of the tourism industry for so long be able to remain here? Will they want to? Filipinos began arriving in Hawaii more than a century ago to labor on sugarcane and pineapple plantations. As their descendants and successive generations of immigrants have settled, they have become deeply ingrained in the communitys culture. Today, they account for the second-largest ethnic group on Maui, with nearly 48,000 island residents tracing their roots to the Philippines, 5,000 of them in Lahaina, which was about 40% of the towns population before the fire. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates about one-fourth of Hawaiis 1.4 million people are of Filipino descent. Many of them work in hotels, health care and food service. Filipinos account for about 70% of the members of UNITE HERE Local 5, the union representing workers in those industries, union President Gemma Weinstein said. She is Filipino and a former Honolulu hotel housekeeper. If it wasnt for the Filipinos having two or three jobs, a lot of the businesses here, including the hotels, would have a hard time operating, said Rick Nava, a community advocate and Filipino immigrant who lost his own home in the fire. A month after the Aug. 8 disaster killed at least 115 people, nearly 6,000 people were staying at two dozen hotels serving as temporary shelters around Maui. Advertisement A number are hotel housekeepers like Rosales, 61, who is staying in a two-bedroom suite with her two sisters, her son, his wife and three grandchildren at the Sands of Kahana resort. Rosales 72-year-old sister, Evangeline Balintona, works there as a housekeeper. In the sisters suite, there is an artificial plant in the corner of the living room, between a window overlooking the ocean and the flat-screen TV, that Balintona has dusted countless times. When she makes the bed, she does it the way she always has done for work, with layers of sheets and a comforter tucked neat and tight under a heavy mattress. I know every corner of this room, Balintona said. She is thinking about returning to Ilocos Norte, the familys hometown in the Philippines. She hopes her son there has saved enough from the monthly remittances she sent over the years to support her if she returns with nothing. Tourists have been told to avoid Lahaina for now, and many hotels are housing federal aid workers. Balintona and others worry about the futures of their jobs. Rosales, who said she did not know anyone who died in the fire, immigrated to Hawaii in 1999. After years of renting and saving for a down payment, she bought a five-bedroom home on Lahainas Aulike Street in 2014 for $490,000. Her mother and siblings owned homes nearby. Those also are gone now. Advertisement She continues to work at another resort a few miles from where the sisters are staying. On her days off, she sorts out insurance paperwork, including trying to itemize belongings lost in the fire. Rosales recalled the night of the fire when she and her co-workers almost all from the Philippines were forced to remain in the hotel because roads were blocked. She didnt learn the fate of her home until the next morning, when her youngest son called. Mom, no more house, he told her. No, anak ko! she shrieked, using an Ilocano term meaning my child. Around her, other housekeepers sobbed as they received similar calls. The Rev. Efren Tomas, pastor of Christ the King Church in Kahului, worries about the mental health of survivors. He has been counseling groups of Filipinos staying in hotels, even celebrating Mass in a hotel reception room. Advertisement For Filipinos, its very hard for them to go into one-on-one counseling, he said. They want to gather in a group. I think they get strength from each other. Many longtime Lahaina residents, including Native Hawaiians, told the AP they worry that whatever is built from the ashes of Lahaina wont include Filipinos and other ethnic groups who made it the working class community it was. The new Lahaina should be the old Lahaina, said Alicia Kalepa, who lives in a Hawaiian homestead where most of the houses survived the fire. Mixed culture. Gilbert Keith-Agaran, a state senator from Maui who is stepping down to focus on litigation work involving the fires, said he wont be surprised if many Filipinos leave for places such as Las Vegas, an affordable destination for Hawaii residents who no longer can afford to live here. I think its hard to take the Filipinos out of the fabric of our community, said Keith-Agaran, whose father came from Ilocos Norte in 1946 for plantation work. We intermarried a lot with others who are here. Melen Magbual Agcolicol was 13 when she arrived on Maui from the Philippines more than four decades ago with her family. Since then, she has become a community advocate and is president of Binhi at Ani, Seed and Harvest, which operates Mauis only Filipino community center. Advertisement Her group unveiled a fund called Tulong for Lahaina, or Help for Lahaina. The idea is to provide grants to Filipinos who lost homes, shops or loved ones. The starting over is so difficult. How are you going to start over? Number one, you dont have a job, she said. Number two, your sanity. Your sanity is not normal until you think that you can accept what happened to you. Rosales three sons dont want her to sell her property, but she is finding it difficult to think about the future. She cant sleep or eat, cant stop crying. Residents have not been allowed to return to the burned areas. Rosales wants to go back. She wants to comb through the rubble of her American dream, hoping to find a piece of her jewelry collection, a gold bracelet or a watch, luxuries she would never have been able to afford in the Philippines. Even if its black, she said, I want to take it as a remembrance. She touched the delicate gold hoops dangling from her ears. She put them on the morning she left her house to go to work. Heidi Klum is prepping for the debut of her own creation her 2023 Halloween costume. From a flesh-eating alien to Fiona and a sparkly firework, the 50-year-old supermodel not only stunts on high-fashion runways but on the red carpet for the spookiest night of the year. Its safe to say Klums love for dressing up isnt just haute couture. Shes a costume enthusiast as well, and the mother of three is already preparing to assume her character for this years Halloween celebration. The Americas Got Talent judge spoke to the MailOnline last week while taping for the show, where Klum hinted at her outlandish costume plans currently in the works. Its going to be extra. Its going to be really extra. I have had sleepless nights over it, you know me, she confessed. I have to admit, I love it. And then my gut, I feel like its going to be good. Last year, the German businesswoman shocked spectators by dressing in an all-too-realistic worm get-up, which took two years to make. Only the fashion moguls eyes peered through the thick and slimy coating of the cylinder costume. Speaking to the MailOnline, Klum admitted her team conveyed the same concerns over her desired look for this year as they did with her 2022 worm attire. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement They were like, A worm, really? Klum recalled in conversation with the outlet. They kind of wanted me to think of a plan B and a plan C, but Im not like that. For me, it is plan A. If you are thinking of all different other things, then its not going to be a success or its not going to be that major, she continued. Everyone around is always like: Think of something different. This is crazy. And the worm is crazy. Though Klums been known to incorporate her husband and children in the storyline for her 31 October looks, she revealed her 2023 appearance will be a solo act. She admitted: I never know if it will be good until the day, and I dont want to let my Halloween fans down. There are so many creative people around the world and I dont want to let them down. The TV host has known her costume would only involve herself since 1 November last year, as thats when she typically starts planning for the following years holiday. When I wake up tomorrow, I start thinking of the next [costume], Klum told People at her 2022 party. Klums bubbly textured invertebrate costume followed her intricate Zombie look and 2020 toilet paper mummy. The producer gravitates toward heavy makeup and facial reconfiguration for accuracy in every character. Shes rarely recognisable on the day, except for her eyes piercing through the thick mask made to look animated for every character. However, the style enthusiast took a break to seemingly celebrate herself in 2016, when she dressed as a Victorias Secret angel. Not only did Klum wear a renowned runway look from the intimates brand, but she convinced a squad of other women to mimic her look and reconstruct their facial features to look like her. In 2013, Klum decided to hit the fast-forward function on time and dressed like an old lady. The immaculate prosthetics, which included a wrinkled collarbone and varicose veins lining her neck, crafted a look so realistic that youd think she was many years past her age - and not the then 40 years old that she was. The powerful earthquake that struck Morocco Friday night has killed more than 2,900 people, injured many more, and affected hundreds of thousands in sections of the country that suffered severe damage. It was the strongest quake to hit the country in over a century. Frantic rescue efforts to find survivors continue, and widespread destruction could be seen from Marrakech to the High Atlas Mountains. In mountain villages, roads have been blocked by rockslides, making it nearly impossible to reach those still trapped. The need for aid is immense and urgent. "When you donate to local organizations, you're helping in more than one way. You're helping to create jobs locally & strengthen local capacity, too," Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for Public Health at KFF, wrote on social media. Gounder was in Morocco when the earthquake hit. Spanish and Moroccan rescuers search the rubble for earhquake survivors in Talat N'Yacoub village of al-Haouz province in Morocco on Sept. 11, 2023. / Credit: FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images If you want to donate to help those affected by the earthquake, here are some ways to do so: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement High Atlas Foundation The High Atlas Foundation, a Morocco-based U.S. nonprofit, is providing food, water and shelter to families in the High Atlas Mountains displaced by the earthquake. The foundation is also committed to long-term restoration and rebuilding. "With years of experience transporting and distributing trees and essential supplies to these remote villages, we are uniquely equipped to procure, transport, and distribute supplies for disaster relief," the organization says. You can help the foundation reach its fundraising goal by donating here. Banque Alimentaire Banque Alimentaire (or "Food Bank" in English) was founded in 2002. The organization collects food from various donors, which it distributes to people in need via more than 200 associations across Morocco. The group says it has "distinguished itself in emergency situations and natural disasters" before, including the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake in northern Morocco, which affected thousands of people. You can donate to the organization here. International Medical Corps The International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian organization, is working with the World Health Organization to send medical units and supplies to Morocco. The organization, which has a roster of international health care specialists on call, notes that medical facilities in Morocco have been "extensively damaged" by the quake. You can donate to the IMC here. World Central Kitchen The World Central Kitchen, a global organization founded by chef Jose Andres that provides meals on the front lines of humanitarian disasters, is using helicopters and off-road vehicles to get food to communities affected by the earthquake. "We are providing sandwiches, fruit, and water to offer immediate support and our team in Spain is on its way with multiple food trucks and kitchen equipment to begin cooking fresh meals as soon as possible," the organization wrote. You can donate to World Central Kitchen here. CARE CARE Morocco, which launched in 2008, focuses on youth and disadvantaged groups in rural areas of the country. In the aftermath of the earthquake, CARE Morocco says its emergency response "prioritizes women and girls, the elderly, families with young children, and those unable to access other emergency services." You can donate to its Earthquake Emergency Fund here. IFRC and Moroccan Red Crescent The International Federation of the Red Cross is working with the Moroccan Red Crescent on the ground to assist in rescue operations. They are also providing first aid and psychosocial support to the injured. "The challenges are vast. The search and rescue effort is the focus at this point and trying to get heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority," Caroline Holt, IFRC crises director, said in a statement. You can donate to the IFRC here. Rescuers carry an earthquake victim out of the rubble in Talat N'Yacoub village of al-Haouz province in Morocco on Sept. 11, 2023. / Credit: FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images DeSantis: Founding Fathers would "probably" put age limits on elected officials if they could Apple unveils iPhone 15, features USB-C charging and periscope lens Aaron Rodgers out for season with torn Achilles, just 4 snaps into Jets tenure The powerful earthquake that struck Morocco late Friday, killing and injuring thousands, caused widespread damage in the popular tourist city of Marrakech and surrounding villages. The United Nations estimates 300,000 people in the region were affected, with many sleeping outside amid concerns over aftershocks. Now, international aid groups are raising money to help those in need as the desperate search continues for survivors of Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades. Here's how to help: A woman reacts by the rubble of destroyed buildings in Imi N'Tala, Morocco. (Fadel Senna / AFP - Getty Images) Aid to areas hit the hardest The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is coordinating with the Moroccan Red Crescent, a nongovernmental organization, to support search and rescue operations and provide "first aid, psychosocial support and helping transport the injured to hospitals." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The federation said it has disbursed more than $1.1 million from its disaster response emergency fund. Rescuers have had trouble accessing many of the isolated communities because of the debris blocking roads. They have also been digging in the blistering heat with their hands to find survivors. "The challenges are vast," Caroline Holt, director of disaster, climate and crises for the federation, said in a statement. "The search and rescue effort is the focus at this point and trying to get heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority." In the wake of the catastrophe, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the intergovernmental organization stands ready to assist Morocco. UNICEF said its donations are prioritized to help displaced children and families. Food, medical and shelter assistance The World Central Kitchen, a nongovernmental organization founded by celebrity chef and philanthropist Jose Andres, said it was on the ground in Marrakech within hours of the quake to deliver food. "We are providing sandwiches, fruit, and water to offer immediate support and our team in Spain is on its way with multiple food trucks and kitchen equipment to begin cooking fresh meals as soon as possible," according to its website. The Food Bank of Morocco, a nonprofit association formed in 2002 and based in Casablanca, is also seeking donations. Aid is distributed to displaced people in Ouirgane, Morocco (Carl Court / Getty Images) Doctors Without Borders, the nongovernmental organization that provides humanitarian medical care in disaster zones, said it has teams going to Morocco to assess how it can best help. "Earthquake survivors often require medical care such as surgery or dialysis, which can be a challenge when local health systems are affected by a disaster," Avril Benoit, executive director of Doctors Without Borders-USA, said in a statement. Islamic Relief, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization that provides aid, said its staff is in Morocco working in tandem with local humanitarian organizations. "Food, shelter, and health care are expected to be the most urgent needs," it said. Verify your donation Before giving, prospective donors should make sure their contribution is going to a verified charitable organization. CharityWatch and Charity Navigator allow for donors to look into U.S.-based groups and learn how much of their finances are going toward charitable purposes over salaries and administrative costs. There are similar sites such as the United Kingdom's Charity Register and Ireland's Charities Regulator to vet international groups. Meanwhile, those who suspect a U.S. organization may be misrepresenting its activities can report it to the Justice Department's National Center for Disaster Fraud. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Hennepin County Chief Judge Todd Barnette is Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey 's nominee to serve as the city's next community safety commissioner, the mayor announced Monday. Barnette, who was elected chief judge of Hennepin County District Court in 2020, previously served as an assistant chief judge and district court judge and spent more than a decade as an attorney in the Office of the Hennepin County Public Defender. He was the first person of color to be named chief judge in Hennepin County. Frey hailed Barnette as a "rare talent" with a grasp of managing large operations, deep experience in the justice system, and ties to the community. If confirmed by the City Council, Barnette will oversee a large swath of the city's bureaucracy and become the public face of police and community safety reform. Barnette expressed both humility and optimism about the opportunity to spearhead a longed-for transformation in public safety in the epicenter of the reckoning over policing and race relations. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I don't think that I would have taken it without really looking at: 'Can we be successful?'" Barnette told the Star Tribune. "For so long we've just talked and talked and talked around issues, and ever since George Floyd's murder, I think we've seen a different way in which citizens are demanding change." Barnette must still be confirmed by the City Council, which is expected to hold at least one public hearing before voting. If selected, Barnette will fill the role vacated earlier this month by Cedric Alexander, who stepped down after serving just over a year as the city's first community safety commissioner. Since Sept. 1, the role has been filled on an interim basis by Lee Sheehy, a veteran public servant who was not a candidate for the permanent position. When asked whether he would commit to serving longer than a year, Barnette responded, "for sure," and Frey said he chose Barnette with the intent he would stay for longer. The official appointment would be for a four-year term. The Office of Community Safety and the commissioner position were created last year as part of a move to change public safety in the aftermath of Floyd's murder. The commissioner, with a staff of eight or so, answers directly to the mayor and oversees the city's five emergency departments: Police, Fire, Emergency Management, 911 and Neighborhood Safety (formerly known as the Office of Violence Prevention). Chief judge Taking over a sprawling governmental organization at a pivotal moment isn't new to Barnette, who ascended to become the county's chief judge in the midst of the pandemic and the aftermath of Floyd's murder by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Barnette coordinated the trials of Chauvin and other officers charged in connection with Floyd's murder, a task that included balancing demands over security, international media coverage, and the community's demands for transparency. The court system includes as many as 63 judges and more than 500 employees. Life experience A native of Washington, D.C., Barnette, 57, said he grew up "in the middle of the crack cocaine epidemic," and addiction gripped his own father. His first memories of Minnesota are visiting his father, who was imprisoned in Sandstone. He said he considers it relevant experience "just knowing, from an early age, about the criminal justice system and its impact on families." He settled in Minnesota after graduating from the University of Minnesota Law School. In 2007, he took over Hennepin County's drug court, a tenure that resulted in longtime relationships with people who had entered his life as offenders but remain today as friends. One was K.G. Wilson, a longtime Minneapolis peace activist who retired from activism in 2021 after his 10-year-old granddaughter, Aniya Allen, was killed by gunfire. Years beforeWilson says he can't remember when it wasWilson graduated from Barnette's drug court, an event memorialized in a photograph Wilson brought with him to City Hall Monday, where he watched, through tears, as Frey introduced Barnette. "The other people didn't give me a chance, but he did," Wilson said afterward, explaining that, in drug court, Barnette told Wilson he believed he was capable of moreand convinced Wilson he was. "I'll forever be thankful to him. He's a gift to Minnesota." What's his plan? Barnette didn't offer specifics Monday about how he plans to tackle particular challenges. For example, when asked about the police department's staffing levels, which have plummeted to historic lows, Barnette smiled and said "right there," pointing over his shoulder to Chief Brian O'Hara, who was assembled with other department heads. He added that he understood the nationwide challenge of staffing and recruitment shortfalls across the criminal justice system but especially in police departments. But he later emphasized, "I'm not the fire chief or the police chief," and that he saw the commissioner's job as coordinating between departments and with outside agencies more than prescribing specific tactics. But, if confirmed, he said, he would have a basic task at hand. "My plan is to build a culture of trust. There's no quick fix." A Hephzibah mother arrested in October 2022 after her 2-year-old son drowned was recently indicted and charged with murder in the second degree. Domonique Murray was originally charged with cruelty to children in the second degree. On Sept. 5, a grand jury indicted Murray for murder in the second degree and cruelty to children in the second degree, according to court records. Both charges are felonies. Murray, along with two of her children, visited a friend's home on Oct. 16, 2022 "to hang out," according to previous reporting. At about 3 p.m., Murray's 2-year-old son, Justus Hyman, exited the rear door of the living room, which led to the back patio and pool area. About 30 minutes later, the toddler fell into the shallow end of the pool and was not discovered for another 20 minutes. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Murray pulled her son out of the pool and began chest compressions, according to previous reporting. First responders arrived on scene and Justus was transported to Augusta University Medical Center via ambulance. Justus suffered a brain hemorrhage and was pronounced dead the next day, according to Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen. Initial report: Mother arrested, charged after 2-year-old son dies the day after nearly drowning This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Hephzibah mother charged with two felonies after toddler's death A man was seriously injured by an explosion that rocked an Ohio backyard, police said. The man, a 43-year-old Tiffin resident, was preparing a fire in a backyard pit before the blast went off on Sept. 9, according to a news release from local police. He was using a can full of high octane racing fuel to light the fire, police said. The explosion went off while the man poured the fluid on a pile of wood and held a lit cigarette between his lips, police said. Police and firefighters responded to the scene around 4 a.m. and found the man lying on the ground near the fire pit. The man, who has not been named, was taken to a local hospital. Later, given the severity of the injuries, he was airlifted about 95 miles northeast to a hospital in Cleveland, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The incident is believed to be accidental, but an investigation into the matter is ongoing, police said. A representative for the Tiffin Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Sept. 11. Gasoline should never be used to start a fire, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Gasoline and its fumes are extremely flammable, the agency said in a post on Twitter, now rebranded as X. When pouring gas on wood the area around the wood is filled with fumes. A match or lighter can ignite the fumes and even explode. 60-year-old killed when street sweeper backs up and runs into him, Georgia cops say Men accused of bank jugging while out on bail crash during police chase, Texas cops say Boyfriend accused of dismembering body found in bag on shoreline, California cops say One high school student was killed and another was injured after their car collided with a school bus, according to Kansas officials. The two teens were in a Chevrolet Malibu, driving west on K-254, when they collided with a northbound bus crossing the same highway, Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey said in a news release. Deputies and other first responders were called to the crash at about 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Responding deputies found the Malibu with heavy front end damage from the crash, authorities said. It is believed the school bus driver failed to yield the right of way before the fatal collision, the sheriff said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The driver of the Malibu was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. The passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and later died at the hospital, according to the sheriffs office. Circle Public Schools Superintendent Don Potter identified the passenger as Halie Friesen, a junior at Circle High School. He did not provide the name or grade level of the student who was injured. We are deeply saddened over this loss and our thoughts and condolences go out to the family members and friends of both students, he said in a letter to families. There were 14 children on the school bus at the time of the crash, the sheriffs office said, and none reported any injuries. An investigation into the crash is ongoing. Circle High School, in Towanda, is about 25 miles northeast of Wichita. Editors note: An earlier version incorrectly spelled Halie Friesens name. 12-year-old fatally hit after dog chases him into road before school, Florida cops say Students escape bus after engine catches fire on the way to school, California cops say Driver dies in crash with school bus carrying volleyball players, MN officials say Anglers discovered the body of a 28-year-old missing hiker who shared a photo atop a Colorado mountain before disappearing, officials said. Ian OBriens body was discovered by two fishermen Sept. 2 at the West Mancos River in the Echo Basin area, Montezuma County Sheriffs Office said in a Sept. 8 Facebook post. OBrien was camping with his girlfriend June 24 when he set out to hike Hesperus Peak near Durango, Montezuma County Sheriff Steven Nowlin told The Durango Herald. Once he reached the summit, he took a photo, shared it to social media and never returned to his campsite, Nowlin told The Arizona Republic. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Friends, family members and rescuers searched for OBrien in the wilderness for two weeks but never found him, according to his obituary. Then the two anglers found his body in a remote part of the San Juan National Forest months later, deputies said. A coroner ruled his cause and manner of death as accidental drowning, deputies said. While this is not the outcome any of us wanted, we are at peace that we have found him and it gives us closure, his parents, Tom and Laura OBrien, said in a statement to the sheriffs office. Ian OBrien was described as an outdoorsman who loved to go fishing, hiking, camping, rock climbing, backpacking and rafting, according to his obituary. He grew up exploring the Catskill Mountains in New York before moving to Arizona to attend Prescott College. He then lived in Colorado for the past six years, The Durango Herald reported. We are so very proud of the full and vibrant life that Ian led and all that he overcame, his obituary said. Durango is in southwestern Colorado. Hikers find womans body near Utah waterfall, sheriff says. Now shes been identified Hiker spends night stranded in canyon after climbing down unknown ladder, CA rescuers say Friend climbs cliff to get help for injured man then gets lost, Idaho rescuers say A south Charlotte homeowner says a company shortchanged her after she paid thousands for a new driveway. Carol Baujan says she paid Concrete Driveway Company of Greenville, South Carolina, more than $10,000 to build her driveway. The plans called for certain measurements, but she says the driveway is shallower and narrower than those plans called for. Her driveway was supposed to be 4-5 inches deep, but she and Action 9s Jason Stoogenke measured it and its only 2.5 inches deep in some spots. MORE ACTION 9: Homeowners ask county to investigate builders work The paperwork says the driveway should have been 15.5 inches wide at the base, where it meets the street, but its only 144 across. Its more than a foot short, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Naturally, Baujan complained to the business. She says it sent two people back to her house over the months, but nothing came of it. I said, I want to tear it up and replace it or I want my money back. And he said Neither of those is going to happen, she said. You are not putting anything on the table. Ive given you two options and you havent given me an option. As of Monday morning, the Better Business Bureau gave the company an F rating and counted 90 complaints in the last three years (36 in the last year). Stoogenke tried to get in touch with the company multiple times in different ways since July, including again on Monday, but it didnt respond in time for this report. MORE ACTION 9: Family says pool builder dug hole, did little else Anytime you hire someone to do your driveway: - Do all the usual homework: ask for references, get more than one quote, and search the name of the owners, not just the companies, in case they changed their business names to get away from bad reviews. - Ask if the contractor uses any subs. - Dont pay for the whole thing up front (usually no more than a third). VIDEO: Action 9 helps Gastonia man who claims Duke Energy damaged driveway Derek Lantry collects water samples from a sink fixture at Walter L. Newberry Math and Science Academy in Chicago on Jan. 13, 2023, to test for lead. Some Chicago-area residents will be able to test the water quality in their homes as part of a Northwestern study that will begin providing free test kits later this year. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Some Chicago-area residents will be able to test the water quality in their homes as part of a Northwestern study that will begin providing free test kits later this year. Awarded a $3 million federal grant, researchers plan to phase in testing over several years in 350 households, where residents will be able to begin testing immediately for lead. In subsequent years, they will also be able to test for other contaminants such as PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Advertisement The end goal is to empower people with knowledge: the knowledge of whether or not lead is in their water, said Sara Young, who is leading the project with her husband, Julius Lucks, in a statement from Northwestern. These tests do this by offering the same certainty and simplicity found in at-home COVID-19 and pregnancy tests. Technology company StemLoop designed this water test kit to function like an at-home COVID-19 test. (Khalid Alam) Researchers are partnering with community groups to determine who will get the test kits. They said they plan to begin with those with the greatest need, likely low-income households, although recipients have not yet been officially determined. Advertisement Information is power, and these tests make invisible issues visible, said Young, an associate professor of anthropology and global health. We hope that families and organizations can use the tests in their daily activities to understand where the problems are in Chicago, and that policymakers can take action based on the information they generate. [ A decade into the work, Chicago is finally taking out toxic lead pipes when it replaces water mains ] Blacks in Green, a West Woodlawn environmental organization, is partnering with the Northwestern researchers to distribute test kits. Although the specifics of Blacks in Greens role has yet to be determined, Jeremiah Muhammad, director of water justice for the organization, said he hopes to be involved with data collection and do more than just distribute test kits. The university is providing resources, Muhammad said, but members of Blacks in Green can provide valuable contributions because of their close relationship with residents. When you look at community organizations, we may have the people who have the expertise, but we dont always have the capacity as were working on other projects, Muhammad said. We provide an aspect to data collection that Northwestern may not have, if they knew the community like we know the community. Vanessa Bly, a co-founder of community organization Bridges//Puentes, said the group will also help distribute test kits in Southeast Side neighborhoods, though when that process will begin is unclear. Some people dont even understand what lead in their water means or what it could mean or if it potentially has already affected them, Bly said. Were excited to get started putting tests that arent too much labor into peoples hands. Were just trying to stir up some good trouble. There are approximately 400,000 lead service lines in Chicago. The lead pipes, which bring water into single-family homes and two-flats, were required by law in Chicago until the end of 1986, decades after most other cities banned their use. Contractor Diego Rodriguez works to uncover a lead pipe and waste line in the 3100 block of Chicago's South Ridgeway Avenue on April 10, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Four years ago then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot promised to begin addressing lead service lines, a problem her predecessors did not acknowledge. By the end of March, fewer than 900 had been replaced. Advertisement According to Lucks, a professor of chemical and biological engineering, Chicago residents need to know and understand the quality of the water in their homes. Typically people are faced with daily decisions where they get their water from a local source of questionable quality, or they can walk a couple miles, go to a source of better quality. But that takes a ton of work, time, effort, all that stuff, Lucks said. So theyll go to the questionable one first. The Northwestern researchers partnered with StemLoop, a startup that sells biosensor technology services, to provide the test kits. Founder and CEO Khalid Alam, a biochemist with a doctorate from the University of Missouri, has collaborated with Lucks throughout his career. The kits are similar in appearance to at-home COVID tests, according to Alam. The technology is capable of detecting lead in 5 parts per billion in drinking water, the Food and Drug Administrations limit for bottled water. Alam said he aims to get the tests to below 2 parts per billion to detect even smaller traces of lead. It takes less than half an hour to use, its equipment free, its a qualitative test, Alam said. If were actually going to solve lead in drinking water, especially here in Chicago, lab testing isnt able to scale to collect the amount of data that we need to inform our decision making. Advertisement A 2018 Chicago Tribune analysis found that lead in tap water is a danger throughout Illinois. In a 2021 report, the newspaper found more than 8 of every 10 Illinoisans live in a community where the toxic metal was detected in at least one home during the previous six years. Ingesting even small amounts of lead has been linked to heart disease, kidney failure and negativel effects on childrens developing brains. In 2018, researchers estimated each year more than 400,000 people die in the United States due to lead exposure. As the project continues, Lucks and Young plan to identify additional measures to deal with more complex contaminants such as PFAS, known as forever chemicals. [ Forever chemicals: Theyre in your drinking water and likely your food. Read the Tribune investigation ] Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Testing during the past three years has revealed nearly a million Illinoisans get their drinking water from municipal wells contaminated with toxic forever chemicals at levels exceeding state health guidelines. Nearly every American has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and scientists are finding that tiny concentrations of some forever chemicals can trigger certain health problems. Recent studies estimate that up to half of the drinking water in the United States is contaminated with PFAS, but the concentrations are so low that inexpensive detection is challenging, said William Dichtel, a professor of chemistry and member of the research team, in the Northwestern statement. Advertisement Dichtels lab is still developing the PFAS test. The study also goes beyond the scientific aspect of testing water quality. Young first proposed the idea of enabling residents to test water quality as a way to involve the community. The researchers hope the sociological element of the study will help galvanize residents and officials to take action to reduce water contamination. Chicago has the most lead pipes in the U.S., Lucks said. The city is trying to replace these things but its slow going. What were trying to do is provide people with actionable information. Maille is a freelance reporter. This story first appeared on the website of NBC News partner Sky News. TALAT N'YAKOUB, Morocco The large rotary blades of a military helicopter fire up, lifting emergency supplies towards villages otherwise cut off from the world. Theyre also shuttling the injured and dead away from the epicenter. An enormous cloud of dust engulfs dozens of survivors and emergency teams who have descended on the town of Talat Nyakoub, at the epicenter of the earthquake to dig for the living and recover the dead. There is hope that loved ones didnt die when the quake hit the Atlas Mountains here in Morocco, but the smell of dead bodies is at times overpowering and the grim faces of rescue workers speak volumes. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people gather at a newly-formed road created when the street below disintegrated. Beneath them, groups of rescue workers operating in teams of between six and 12 dig their way through the rubble. There is little chatter, the sounds of drills and pickaxes fill the air. The occasional sound of somebody wailing punctuates the near silence. A sad indicator that another body has been found. This is a desperate race to save lives but as each hour passes here, hope fades. Rescuers in Talat Nyakoub have been digging through the rubble in the grim, fading hope of finding survivors. (Sky News) Rescue workers say finding survivors is difficult, not only because of the heat, but because of the amount of time that has passed since the earthquake struck and the severity of that impact. Whole streets have been destroyed in what survivors say was more like an enormous explosion rather than the shaking of an earthquake. They described how the ground and buildings blew upwards from the earth before collapsing. Multistory buildings are now pancaked. Air Said Mohamed says he rescued more than a dozen people before rescue workers got here. Sometimes you find someone alive, sometimes not, they have already died, he said. But there is hope, I rescued three people here and 10 in the other village above. In the blistering heat, rescuers dig through the rubble looking for survivors, but in all honesty, theyre expecting to find the dead. While we filmed, we saw many dead but we saw no survivors. When a body is found, it is extracted from the rubble, wrapped in a blanket and placed on an orange stretcher. Recovery teams then take the body to a dusty car park that has become the main gathering point for the relief effort. Theyre usually followed by the family, almost all in tears. She was only visiting her family here Heba was a student living in Marrakech. Her family survived, she did not. Her mother and father cried and hugged, while their relatives tried to support them. They were inconsolable. You see this scene time and again at the epicenter. Mourners in the town gather as more bodies are pulled out. (Sky News) I met Fatima standing on the ridge watching relief efforts. She has lost 10 members of her family already and told me others are still missing. The rescue workers are doing a really good job but look at everything they have to dig through concrete, sand rocks its very difficult, she said. She has given up hope of anyone still being alive. Within seconds everything fell down, some people managed to run out of their houses, others didnt make it, she said. Although most of the rescue work is done by hand, the teams occasionally use drills powered by generators to break through the exposed floors and ceilings of the buildings its hard to differentiate between the two. Youssef Id Mesouad was here when the body of his mother was removed from the family home. Hes returned with his uncle and cousins to wait for the relief teams to find the body of his father. He stands with them on top of the house, now a pile of rubble, gesturing and explaining the layout of the house. Id Mesouad knows there is no hope left for his father. He told me his mothers body was found near the ceiling of the house, not underneath it.. Throughout the day the bodies of the newly recovered were laid in a row in the car park. Their families sitting beside them, waiting to take them away. Id Mesouad knows his father will be one of them, hes just waiting for him to be found This story first appeared on NBC News' partner Sky News. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com When a Virginia womans husband saw their favorite numbers come up in a lottery drawing, he told his wife, I hope you played the lottery. Her answer was yes. .Linda Childress won $105,000 in an Aug. 13 drawing from a Cash 5 with EZ Match game, Virginia Lottery officials said in a Sept. 8 news release. Childress of Petersburg, Virginia, told officials she likes those numbers because they correspond with various family birthdays and anniversaries. Her winning numbers that day were 5-7-8-23-27, according to the release. The couple often uses those exact numbers when playing the lottery, she told officials, so when her husband saw them come up in the drawing, he was hopeful. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I couldnt believe it was true! Childress said. It feels like a dream! Childress told lottery officials she plans to use the prize money to buy a new vehicle. Cash 5 with EZ Match features a rolling jackpot, starting at a minimum of $100,000, according to the Virginia Lottery site. The odds of matching all five numbers to win the jackpot are 1 in 749,398. Proceeds from the Virginia lottery go toward K-12 education, officials say. Petersburg is about 25 miles south of Richmond. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Man wins huge lottery jackpot, buys a watermelon and flowers for his wife in Colorado Friends gift turns into lottery prize for Virginia mom. Now, shes helping her son Lottery ticket didnt fit in birthday card so she kept it for herself and won big Woman wins lottery using numbers honoring her dead husband. A gift from heaven A hot chip challenge might have become deadly for 14-year-old Harris Wolobah in Massachusetts this month. According to his family, the boy felt sick and died mere hours after eating a potato chip made with two of the hottest peppers on record. A final determination into his cause of death has not been released yet, however. As first reported by the Boston Globe, Wolobah ate a brand of Paqui chip known as the One Chip Challengea chip dusted with the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper peppersearly on September 1. Soon after, he visited the nurses office complaining of stomach pain. He was sent home where his condition rapidly worsened. He fell unconscious and stopped breathing. He was then taken to the hospital but to no avail. Wolobahs family believes that the chip contributed to his death. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Without admitting fault in the boys death, the company has pulled the chip from the shelves for the time being. On its website for the One Chip Challenge, there is now a paragraph stating that the company has seen an increase in teens and other people paying no heed to the products warnings. Some research has suggested that the peppers commonly found in these chips, including the Carolina Reaper, can cause serious cardiovascular complications in teens. But for now, its still not clear if and how the chip might have killed Wolobah. An autopsy of the boy is expected to be completed within 12 weeks. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. A House Freedom Caucus member said there's no evidence linking Biden to a high crime. Appearing on MSNBC on Sunday, Rep. Ken Buck also railed against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene . He said the idea that she's "the expert on impeachment" is "absurd." A far-right House Freedom Caucus member said on Sunday that any evidence linking President Joe Biden to any high crime or misdemeanor "doesn't exist right now" as some Republicans push to impeach him. Appearing on MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," Republican Rep. Ken Buck was asked about the constant push from political bomb-thrower Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to impeach the president. Buck noted the "time for impeachment is the time when there's evidence linking President Biden to a high crime or misdemeanor." "That doesn't exist right now," he said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Buck said that Greene previously attempted to impeach Biden "before he was sworn into office more than two and a half years ago." "The idea that she is now the expert on impeachment or that she is someone who should set the timing on impeachment is absurd," Buck said. Greene has been pushing for an impeachment inquiry to begin for weeks, and on Monday, she said she wants the GOP to launch it as soon as this week. Over the last 2 and a half years, Greene has filed articles of impeachment against Biden on six separate occasions over a conspiracy regarding him and Ukrainian officials, his handling of border security, the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, and more. None of the attempts has ever been brought up for a formal vote on the House floor, other than to refer it to a committee. In response to Buck's comments, Greene said it seemed like the Freedom Caucus member was pining for a job from the Democratic president. "When is Ken Buck going to announce he's a Democrat? The amount of shilling for Joe Biden is astounding," she wrote on her government-verified Twitter account. The publicized back-and-forth between Buck and Greene comes several months after the Freedom Caucus booted Greene from their ranks days after she called fellow caucus member Rep. Lauren Boebert a "bitch" on the House floor. Read the original article on Business Insider The House returns to session after the long August recess this week with government funding and a potential impeachment inquiry top of mind two matters that are expected to dominate the lower chamber throughout September. On government funding, leaders are aiming to pass a continuing resolution to keep the governments lights on beyond Sept. 30, but the particulars of a stopgap bill remain unknown. Congress has roughly three weeks to come to a consensus before the end-of-the-month shutdown deadline. As lawmakers mull a continuing resolution, both chambers this week will move ahead with the formal appropriations process. The House is slated to take up a bill to fund the Department of Defense, and the Senate is scheduled to consider a minibus that contains three appropriations bills. Aside from government funding, conversations in the House this week will also be focused on a potential impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Conservatives are pushing for an inquiry, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has suggested that a vote could take place this fall, but some moderates are voicing concerns with going down that path. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement And in the Senate, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is hosting a forum on artificial intelligence that will feature Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, X owner Elon Musk and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, among others. Congress looks toward continuing resolution as shutdown deadline approaches A main focus on Capitol Hill this week will be crafting a continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown and keep the government open past Sept. 30. Leaders of both parties and chambers have said Congress will have to pass a short-term stopgap bill before the end of the month, but the specifics of such a measure remain in question as conservatives in the House lay out demands on spending levels and policy provisions for the stopgap. The House Freedom Caucus last month said it will not support a continuing resolution unless it addresses the situation at the southern border, weaponization at the Department of Justice and woke policies at the Pentagon. The Republican Study Committee, which includes 175 members, said it wanted to make sure a continuing resolution included high priority conservative policies and funded the government at levels in line with the Limit, Save, Grow Act spending cuts and policy reform legislation House Republicans passed over the summer amid the debt limit showdown. And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has said she will not vote to fund the government unless the House begins an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Questions are also looming about the length of a continuing resolution. McCarthy has said he does not want a stopgap bill that pushes up against the holidays but has not yet indicated how long the measure would keep the government funded for. Asked last month about the length of a continuing resolution, McCarthy told Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures in an interview I want to make sure were able to set this where its not by a holiday, that its just enough time that, if we can do more of our work now, that we could be in conference with the Senate. And there is the question of whether or not the continuing resolution will include any funding from the $40 billion supplemental the White House unveiled last month. The supplemental includes disaster funding and $24 billion to support Ukraine a provision that is a point of controversy in the House GOP conference as some Republicans look to cut off aid to Kyiv. Senate leaders from both parties want to pass the full supplemental this month, but McCarthy is reportedly looking at potentially breaking it up. Punchbowl News and Bloomberg reported last week that McCarthy is considering attaching the disaster funding to a continuing resolution, then pairing the Ukraine money with border policies in a separate package. It remains unclear, however, if hard-line conservatives will accept that game plan. Schumer, for his part, is urging bipartisanship as Congress works to keep the lights on in Washington beyond Sept. 30. When the House gavels back into session next week, time will be short for both parties in both chambers to unite around a plan to keep the government open beyond Sept. 30. Theres only one way, one way, that this will happen: through bipartisanship. Neither party can afford to go at it alone if we want to avoid a shutdown, Schumer said on the Senate floor last week. House, Senate to consider appropriations bills The House and Senate are slated to consider appropriations bills this week as both chambers continue the formal appropriations process with the goal of passing all 12 measures by the end of the year. Both chambers, however, marked their legislation up at different levels, setting the scene for a House vs. Senate clash later in the year. The Senate marked up its legislation at spending levels in line with the debt limit deal President Biden and McCarthy struck earlier in the year, but the House amid pressure from the right flank went ahead with levels far lower. In the House, lawmakers are scheduled to consider a measure to fund the Department of Defense. If passed, it will be the second appropriations bill the House has cleared. The chamber approved one measure before breaking for recess, but GOP leadership had to punt a vote on another bill amid internal disagreements over spending levels and a provision pertaining to an abortion pill. Some conservatives, however, have signaled that they will not support any appropriations bills unless they review the total spending across all 12 measures a request they have been making for months. On the other side of the Capitol, senators this week will begin consideration of a minibus that includes legislation to fund Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Schumer said he plans to hold the first vote on the package early this week. Full consideration of the minibus, however, is expected to take at least two weeks of floor time. The clock is ticking for the formal appropriations process: If lawmakers do not pass all 12 bills by Jan. 1, a 1 percent cut will be enacted across the board. House returns amid pressure to open impeachment inquiry Attention this week will be focused on McCarthy and his comments on a potential impeachment inquiry into Biden. Over August recess, McCarthy told Fox Business the House could move forward with impeachment inquiry when we come back into session which is this week. In a subsequent interview, he said an impeachment inquiry would be a natural step forward. But a handful of moderates have expressed hesitation about opening an impeachment inquiry, sparking questions about whether or not the House will go down that path. House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), for his part, recently said that the votes are there to launch an inquiry. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who considers herself a centrist, spoke about the difficult spot a vote on an impeachment inquiry could put moderates in. An impeachment inquiry does put at risk certain seats in certain states, especially where they are swing districts, Mace told Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures in an interview. We are making our members who are in those districts walk the plank if we force them down an impeachment vote, which is why I have been saying, no matter what the evidence shows, show all of it. Conservatives, on the other hand, have been pushing for the House to go down the path of an impeachment inquiry and some appear to be getting antsy. Last week, for example, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) floated the idea of forcing votes on impeachment. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) forced a vote on a resolution to impeach Biden in June, but the House voted to refer the measure to a pair of committees which avoided a vote on impeaching the president. Adding to the pressure, Gaetz said that if McCarthy stands in our way on impeachment, he may not have the job long. Senate to hold AI forum featuring top executives Schumer on Wednesday will hold his first Insight Forum about artificial intelligence, a gathering he dubbed one of the most important conversations of the year. The forum comes as lawmakers look into regulation of artificial intelligence, particularly after OpenAIs ChatGPT tool became increasingly popular. Confirmed guests of Wednesdays forum include Zuckerberg, Musk, Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Schumer last week said the gathering will provide a much-needed conversation about artificial intelligence. It will be a meeting unlike any other that we have seen in the Senate in a very long time, perhaps ever: a coming together of top voices in business, civil rights, defense, research, labor, the arts, all together, in one room, having a much-needed conversation about how Congress can tackle AI, Schumer said on the Senate floor last week. Both parties recognize that AI is something we cant ignore, but we need a lot of help understanding the best way forward, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] A group of lawmakers introduced on Friday a resolution that both recognizes the tragedy of the Sept. 11 attacks and calls out the hate, racism and xenophobia that has since plagued members of the Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Sikh communities. Background: The Sept. 11 attacks, more commonly referred to as 9/11, were four coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by the Islamist al-Qaeda group against the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The incident resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths. Discrimination against Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Sikh communities intensified after the attacks, with nearly 1,000 hate incidents reported in the following month. The governments subsequent overreaching policing, surveillance and criminalization policies also reportedly resulted in wrongful interrogation, coercion, detention, deportation, arrest and incarceration. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Key details: Sponsors of the resolution include U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal , Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Judy Chu, Andre Carson, Shri Thanedar and Henry Calvin Hank Johnson. It presents several recommendations including: More from NextShark: Trump takes swipe at Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin with Chinese-sounding name The creation of an interagency task force to review and dismantle government policies that profile and unfairly target Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Sikh communities Congressional and civil rights hearings to explore the task forces findings and recommendations The allocation of resources to community-based organizations to support hate crime prevention and victims needs, including mental health and language support Alternatives to law enforcement and transformative justice programs that are culturally and linguistically accessible to vulnerable members of the communities A study on the impact of hate, government targeting, political rhetoric and profiling on physical and mental health What the lawmakers are saying: The resolutions sponsors acknowledged the struggles of the Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Sikh communities while remembering the horrors of 9/11. Congresswoman Jayapal remembered the names of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan and Adel Karas, who were all murdered in the aftermath of the attacks. "On September 11th, 2001, we lost thousands of lives to the worst terrorist attack to ever happen on American soil. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the attack and more than 4,500 others have died since from related illnesses this day irrevocably changed our country and its impact is still felt. As we mark this tragic day, we must also reflect on the lasting damages faced by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the aftermath. The murders of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan, and Adel Karas in the days following the attack were shocking displays of hatred. Xenophobia and racism have no place in this country, and today we recognize the shared trauma that these communities faced as they experienced stigma, discrimination, and losses of liberty." More from NextShark: China amends gender law to tell women to obey family values Meanwhile, Congresswoman Omar said the mass surveillance, indefinite detention and other violations of civil liberties against the communities by those in power betrayed our democratic ideals. The resolution, she said, is a critical first step to acknowledging these past harms and beginning to heal. More from NextShark: California man arrested for dismembering his mothers body and disposing of her in dumpster Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Taiwan-Born Lawyer Receives Hate Mail for Defending Man Accused of Attacking 75-Year-Old Woman in SF An earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring thousands more. The 6.8 magnitude quake struck the High Atlas mountainous region, devastating remote villages and historic buildings in Marrakech the city closest to the quakes epicenter. It is the deadliest earthquake Morocco has experienced in over 60 years. As of Monday morning, rescue workers continued to race against time to search for those trapped underneath collapsed buildings. Survivors in the isolated villages joined in the rescue efforts, digging alongside bulldozers in the hopes of finding their relatives or neighbors alive. The situation has been made worse by landslides that devoured roads leading to major towns and cities, cutting off all vital support to those who have survived. Read more on Yahoo News: Moroccan earthquake survivors left to fend for themselves in the Atlas Mountains, via CNN A woman comforts a child outside a destroyed house following an earthquake in Tafeghaghte, in the Al Haouz region of Morocco, on Sunday. (Nathan Laine/Bloomberg) President Biden announced on Saturday that a small team of disaster experts would arrive in Morocco the next day to assess the situation. We are working expeditiously to ensure American citizens in Morocco are safe, and stand ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Moroccan people, Biden said in a statement. The United States stands by Morocco and my friend King Mohammed VI at this difficult moment. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to the World Health Organization, more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster the 15th-most-fatal earthquake of the 21st century. Heres how you can help A cat walks along damaged buildings in Amizmiz, Sunday. (Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. IFRC teams were among the first on the ground in Morocco following the devastating earthquake. Teams across Morocco are providing first aid, transport to hospitals and psychosocial support. The IFRC has already given 1 million Swiss Francs ($1.1 million) to the Moroccan Red Crescent to aid activity on the ground. We expect this initial release of money to make a difference on the ground, Dr. Hossam Elsharkawi, regional director of Middle East and North Africa for the IFRC, said in a statement. It will be used to buy essential supplies locally in Morocco. Heres how to donate to IFRC. Doctors Without Borders. Although not stationed in Morocco, Doctors Without Borders immediately made contact with local authorities following the earthquake to deliver support, including emergency medical teams and aid. Restoring health services and providing essential supplies can also be a priority at this stage, the organization said in a statement on Friday. Our response will depend on the needs that are assessed on site. Heres how to donate to Doctors Without Borders. International Medical Corps. The International Medical Corps, along with its partners, has deployed an emergency medical team to help with urgent relief on the ground. Heres how to donate to International Medical Corps. Islamic Relief USA. Emergency staff from the organization has been assessing the needs of the survivors from Fridays earthquake and will provide the necessary food, shelter and healthcare to those who need it the most. Heres how to donate to Islamic Relief USA. UNICEF. A statement released by UNICEF said it was allowing the Moroccan government to handle all search and rescue efforts but that it was ready to support the government to meet the urgent needs of families. UNICEF is also focused on the long term and will help the affected people in the coming weeks and months providing shelter, safe drinking water and food, as well as medical help. Heres how to donate to UNICEF. HUR showed footage of a unique operation to return one of the platforms of Ukraine has regained control of oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea in the Black Sea, the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate or HUR said in a post on the Telegram messenger app on Sept. 11. The HUR posted a video explaining how Ukrainian special forces soldiers conducted a unique covert operation to win back control of the drilling platforms, which Russia occupied in 2014. Read also: Ukraines MoD chief explains significance of Boyko towers for Russia Ukrainian special forces regained control of the Petro Hodovalets and Ukraina drilling platforms, along with the Tavrida and Syvash drilling platforms, the HUR reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Russia was using the rigs for military purposes: During the full-scale invasion, the Russian military used the Boyko towers as the rigs are collectively known, as helicopter landing sites and for the placement of radar stations. They were also used to monitor the situation across the entire Black Sea. Read also: Battle for the Black Seas Boyko Towers "We could not use a large landing boat," the soldiers said in the video. Despite the (high) waves, we approached this very tower on a rubber boat We used technical means. We flew around with a drone: we inspected the territory, the layout of the platforms themselves, and the possible directions where (mortar shells) could be fired. During one of the phases of the operation, there was a battle between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter jet. As a result, the enemy aircraft was hit and was forced to retreat. The Ukrainian units also managed to capture "trophies": a stockpile of helicopter munitions such as NAR (unguided aircraft missiles), as well as a Neva radar, which can track the movement of ships in the Black Sea. Russia seized the Boyko towers during the annexation of Crimea in 2014. In 2022, Ukraine struck several of the Russian-controlled platforms. At the end of August 2023, UK intelligence reported that Russia and Ukraine were fighting for control of the Boyko's towers in the Black Sea. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Hurricane Lee is not the Category 5 hurricane it once was over the open Atlantic, but AccuWeather meteorologists warn it will still unleash significant impacts in eastern New England and Atlantic Canada by this weekend. On Wednesday morning, Lee was a major Category 3 hurricane strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with sustained winds of 115 mph. It was spinning less than 460 miles to the south-southwest of Bermuda. Lee spent some time as a Category 2 hurricane Sunday following a rapid intensification to a Category 5 hurricane with 165 mph sustained winds Friday while over the west-central Atlantic, making it the strongest storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Lee was just an 80-mph Category 1 hurricane Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Only six hurricanes have experienced this level of rapid strengthening, and Lee is in the company of Hurricane Wilma from 2005, Eta from 2020 and Maria from 2017, according to Colorado State Meteorologist Philip Klotzbach. By the time Lee makes landfall in North America, it will have traveled close to 3,000 miles since birth last week over the central Atlantic. Fluctuations in strength with Lee will occur due to changes in the hurricane's eye, upwelling of cool water beneath the storm and disruptive breezes known as wind shear, AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Lee was moving around the western edge of high pressure over the central Atlantic and will be affected by strong winds at the level where jets fly, known as the jet stream, later this week. Near and east of where Lee rolls ashore, a significant storm surge will occur along with the strongest winds and risk of property damage. The rocky coastline and routine extreme tides in Maine and Canada may minimize storm surge flooding. However, if Lee tracks farther west, where the coastline's slope is more gradual, it could bring significant storm surge flooding. Near, north and west of where Lee rolls inland, heavy rain will develop, causing a high risk of flooding of streams and rivers where several inches or more pour down. AccuWeather meteorologists sounded the all-clear for landfall by Lee from Florida to North Carolina late last week. On Tuesday, forecasters expanded that all-clear to include areas as far to the north as the Delaware Bay region. However, these same areas will experience frequent and strong rip currents that could be life-threatening. Rough surf will lead to beach erosion in the zone. Coastal flooding at times of high tide is likely along portions of North Carolina's Outer Banks and southeastern Virginia this week, with a peak possible Friday. Farther north, along the swath from New Jersey to Long Island, New York, there is a non-zero chance of Lee wandering in, but the chances will increase exponentially farther to the north in New England and Nova Scotia. These same areas will experience building offshore swells, coastal wave action, beach erosion, and rip currents from midweek to this weekend. The severity of conditions from eastern New England to Nova Scotia and the island of Newfoundland in terms of wind, rain, and coastal problems will depend on the exact track and strength of Lee late this week and this weekend. Lee is expected to be a 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in the United States and Canada. As Lee moves over cooler waters of the North Atlantic late this week and this weekend, prior to landfall, it will lose some wind intensity, Rayno said. However, as this happens the storm's rain and winds will tend to spread out and could be expanded more so and potentially enhanced by the jet stream. At this time, AccuWeather meteorologists expect a high risk to lives and property from damaging winds and flooding on much of Nova Scotia, Down East Maine and southwestern New Brunswick from Saturday to Sunday. However, some risk from direct impacts from Hurricane Lee extends as far to the west as Rhode Island and includes all of eastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire, and central and coastal Maine. The stretch of coastline along Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, may end up with a moderate risk of impacts, mainly from coastal flooding. Any westward shift in Lee's track would increase the risk of landfall in New England and the risks of significant impacts farther to the west. Forecasters urge deep sea fishing and cargo interests as well as all small craft and large cruise ship operations to monitor Hurricane Lee forecasts through this weekend. Large and dangerous swells of 20-30 feet are possible ahead of the center of the storm, and swells of 10-20 feet will radiate outward from the center days in advance. As Hurricane Lee passes 100 miles or more to the west of Bermuda from Friday to Saturday, impacts on the islands will be Less than 1 on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes. Tropical-storm-force sustained winds are likely along with some heavy rain and dangerous surf. But, with a high level of construction codes on Bermuda, most of the problems will stem from disruptions to travel and daily activities. Meanwhile, AccuWeather meteorologists continue to watch Margot over the central Atlantic, which strengthened from a tropical storm to a hurricane on Monday afternoon. The storm may spend its entire life at sea with little or no impact to land. Another area that AccuWeather forecasters are tracking is a tropical disturbance, called a tropical wave, that has a high chance of becoming a tropical storm this weekend into next week over the central Atlantic. Experts are concerned that this storm could strengthen quickly and follow on the heels of Lee, threatening the U.S. before the end of the month. If the system becomes a tropical storm, the next name on the list for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is Nigel. "The very same steering influencers [impacting Lee] may impact the system during the second half of September," Rayno said. "It could take a relatively similar path to Lee over the Atlantic." Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Hurricane Lee slows ahead of northward turn as US East Coast remains an area of concern Hurricane Lee has slowed down slightly ahead of its expected turn northward as it moves away from land, the latest forecast shows. The storm, which intensified to a Category 3 storm again as it whirls across the open Atlantic Ocean, is expected to go through additional strengthening within the coming days. Lee exploded to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours last week before slowing down and reorganizing over the weekend. Just behind Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which is predicted to reach hurricane status by Monday afternoon. Hurricane Lee is moving well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to advisories from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Lees historic intensification from an 80 mph Category 1 to a Category 5 with 160 mph winds last week makes it one the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon expected to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis. Key Points Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Tropical Storm Margot predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday How Lee shattered rapid intensification standards Heres how quickly the storm picked up speed Hurricane Lee could see storm-force winds extend 300 miles from its core 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to grow in size after its spins northward this week, the precise extent of which will determine severity of its impact on the northeastern United States, New England, Bermuda and Canada. On Monday evening, Lee was categorised as a Category 3 hurricane and was situated north of the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico in the Atlantic, hitting maximum wind speeds of 115 mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). The NHC says it will then likely weaken, expand in size and speed up in the wake of its anticipated northward turn along the East Coast. A bigger storm, even if weaker, has the potential to impact a much larger area, possibly including the Eastern Seaboard, even without actually making landfall in North America. Even as the peak winds come down, the wind field of Lee is going to continue to grow in size, NHC director Michael Brennan said in a Monday storm briefing, according to CNN. We could see the tropical storm-force winds expand by 50 to 60 to 70 per cent. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 28: Lee Remains a Large and Powerful Hurricane. Hazardous Surf and Rip Current Conditions Expected At Beaches Across the Western Atlantic All Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 12, 2023 As of yesterday, hurricane-force winds extended 75 miles from Lees centre, up from 45 miles a day earlier. Tropical storm-force winds extended 185 miles from its core. Those same winds could extend over 300 miles from Lees centre later this week, Mr Brennan said. Theres still a lot of uncertainty as to the exact track of how close it will get to the coast of New England and Atlantic Canada over the next several days, he added. But certainly the chance for significant impacts with a growing storm. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters 12:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Watch: Footage from inside the NOAAs flight into Hurricane Lee 11:00 , Joe Sommerlad The NOAA sent a hurricane hunter aircraft into Hurricane Lee on Sunday night to gather data on the now Category 3 storm churning in the Atlantic. The agency filmed a portion of the flight, which shows the researchers being jostled back and forth by the storms sustained 120mph winds. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane until midweek, when forecasters believe it will begin to weaken. Watch the flight below: #HurricaneLee will produce some monster waves (50ft+ near the core). Swells start to arrive Tues-Wed along the SE Coast and work north. Surfers will prob love it, but careful folks. Big time rip current risk! New moon means slightly elevated tides/ coastal flooding/ erosion too. pic.twitter.com/NrPCOLsysT Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) September 8, 2023 Hurricane Lee generates 15 foot waves 10:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reportedly has generated 15 foot waves as it moves north of the Caribbean and into the waters off the US east coast, according to the Associated Press. High surf and dangerous rip currents have already begun for some southeastern US states as the Category 3 hurricane continues on its trajectory further north. Dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Lee begin to affect southeast US 09:00 , Graig Graziosi Forecasters have warned for days that Hurricane Lee could produce dangerous rip currents on the US east coast, and those predicitions have come to pass. The National Hurricane Centre reported Monday morning that dangerous rip currents which can drag swimmers out to sea have begun in the southeastern US. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to affect portions of the southeastern U.S. coast, and these conditions are forecast to spread northward along much of the U.S. East Coast during the next couple of days, the centre warned. Swimmers in southeastern US states should consult their local weather information providers before heading out for a swim over the next few days. 2023 sets the record for number of billion-dollar climate disasters 08:00 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA has identified 23 seperate climate and weather disasters in 2023 that caused at least a billion dollars in damages, according to the agency. Those events include Hurricane Idalia, which struck Floridas western shoreline near Big Bend in late August, the devastating wildfire on Maui that killed more than 100 people, and a number of lesser reported but still highly damaging weather and climate disasters. Severe storms, tornadoes, and hail blasted the Plains states in the spring, while California saw record breaking floods between January and March. There have been 23 confirmed weather and climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1bn. These disasters consisted of 18 severe storm events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone, one winter storm and one wildfire event, the NOAA reports. For this year-to-date period, the first eight months of 2023 rank highest for disaster count, ahead of 2020 with 16 disasters. The total cost of these events exceeds $57.6bn, and they have resulted in 253 direct and indirect fatalities. An NOAA map detailing the 23 climate and weather disasters that caused at least $1bn in damages in 2023 (NOAA) Path of Hurricane Margot 07:00 , Stuti Mishra Margot which has strengthened into a hurricane now, is expected to continue to remain in open waters. Heres the path the storm is following: Tropical Storm Margots forecasted path as it picks up speed in the Atlantic (National Hurricane Centre) Margot strengthens into a hurricane 06:24 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot intensified into a hurricane on Monday night with further strengthening forecast during the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The hurricane was located about 1,265 miles (2,035km) northwest of the Cape Verde Islands, packing maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120kph), the Miami-based forecaster said.Margot became a Category 1 storm Monday afternoon and was expected to continue to intensify to become the fifth hurricane of the season. It was forecast to remain over open waters. Tropical storm Margot becomes a hurricane (NOAA) Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown 04:59 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week 04:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season 03:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? 02:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers 01:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:00 , Graig Graziosi Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi Lee went through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, returning to Category 4 strength after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm would intensify on Monday morning, though it failed to reach a Category 5 storm by Monday evening. Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Hurricane Margot becomes fifth hurricane of the 20223 season Monday 11 September 2023 22:50 , Graig Graziosi The National Weather Service announced that Tropical Storm Margot had been upgraded to a full fledged hurricane on Monday afternoon. Hurricane Margot is the fifth hurricane of the season, and formed not only during the peak of the season but in the immediate wake of Hurricane Lee, which is still churning through the Atlantic off the southeastern coast of the US. Newly formed Hurricane #Margot becomes the fifth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Season. https://t.co/0bcEmBeFdb pic.twitter.com/Fc1hphwzr4 National Weather Service (@NWS) September 11, 2023 New Englanders need to be careful as Hurricane Lee heads for the US east coast Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi John Cangialosi, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said that New Englanders need to be careful if they have any seafaring adventures planned in the coming days. Hurricane Lee may move close to the US northeast coast, bringing with it high waves, dangerous rip currents, and strong winds. Mr Cangialosi told Boston.com that mariners should keep up-to-date with their local weather services before setting out to sea, especially later in the week as the hurricane moves further north. If youre going to go offshore, you need to be careful, Mr Cangialosi said. You need to go now or wait for this to go by. Despite the warnings, researchers have noted that its unclear exactly what effect Hurricane Lee will have on northeastern states by the time it reaches the area. The storm is still gaining strength, but will likely weaken as it hits colder northern waters. Despite its weakening, the storm may still produce high winds within hundreds of miles of its centre. Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 21:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. New England watching Hurricane Lee as flooding, rain soak region Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , Graig Graziosi New Englanders are watching the current course of Hurricane Lee, as some spaghetti models predict the storm may be on a collision course for the region. Though Hurricane Lee will likely arrive as a weaker storm by the time it reaches the northeast, it will land just on the heels of a wet weekend. Flooding has been reported in Rhode Island and more is forecasted for the region today while Maine experienced heavy rains late Sunday. If the storm does turn into New England and the Canadian east coast, it will at very least bring with it high winds, dangerous rip currents, significant surf, and likely more rain for the region. #HurricaneLee will produce some monster waves (50ft+ near the core). Swells start to arrive Tues-Wed along the SE Coast and work north. Surfers will prob love it, but careful folks. Big time rip current risk! New moon means slightly elevated tides/ coastal flooding/ erosion too. pic.twitter.com/NrPCOLsysT Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) September 8, 2023 Watch: Footage from inside the NOAAs flight into Hurricane Lee Monday 11 September 2023 19:31 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA sent a hurricane hunter aircraft into Hurricane Lee on Sunday night to gather data on the now Category 3 storm churning in the Atlantic. The agency filmed a portion of the flight, which shows the researchers being jostled back and forth by the storms sustained 120mph winds. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane until midweek, when forecasters believe it will begin to weaken. Watch the flight below: OVER THE ATLANTIC - An inside look at late night storm flying! Last night NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" flew a mission into Hurricane #Lee. Visit https://t.co/3phpgKMZaS for the latest forecast and advisories. Video Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Rannenberg, NOAA Corps #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/feGd7k0UOs NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee generates 15 foot waves Monday 11 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reportedly has generated 15 foot waves as it moves north of the Caribbean and into the waters off the US east coast, according to the Associated Press. High surf and dangerous rip currents have already begun for some southeastern US states as the Category 3 hurricane continues on its trajectory further north. Dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Lee begin to affect southeast US Monday 11 September 2023 18:30 , Graig Graziosi Forecasters have warned for days that Hurricane Lee could produce dangerous rip currents on the US east coast, and those predicitions have come to pass. The National Hurricane Centre reported Monday morning that dangerous rip currents which can drag swimmers out to sea have begun in the southeastern US. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to affect portions of the southeastern U.S. coast, and these conditions are forecast to spread northward along much of the U.S. East Coast during the next couple of days, the centre warned. Swimmers in southeastern US states should consult their local weather information providers before heading out for a swim over the next few days. 2023 sets the record for number of billion-dollar climate disasters Monday 11 September 2023 18:00 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA has identified 23 seperate climate and weather disasters in 2023 that caused at least a billion dollars in damages, according to the agency. Those events include Hurricane Idalia, which struck Floridas western shoreline near Big Bend in late August, the devastating wildfire on Maui that killed more than 100 people, and a number of lesser reported but still highly damaging weather and climate disasters. Severe storms, tornadoes, and hail blasted the Plains states in the spring, while California saw record breaking floods between January and March. There have been 23 confirmed weather and climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1bn. These disasters consisted of 18 severe storm events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone, one winter storm and one wildfire event, the NOAA reports. For this year-to-date period, the first eight months of 2023 rank highest for disaster count, ahead of 2020 with 16 disasters. The total cost of these events exceeds $57.6bn, and they have resulted in 253 direct and indirect fatalities. An NOAA map detailing the 23 climate and weather disasters that caused at least $1bn in damages in 2023 (NOAA) Monday 11 September 2023 17:34 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee is expected to gain strength for the next two days before gradually weakening as the the week wears on, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm is expected to pass near Bermuda on its way north. The centre said the hurricanes impact on the US east coast and Atlantic Canada is still unknown. Some spaghetti models of show Hurricane Lee skirting close to the coast, others place it further out in the Atlantic. Some strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 75 miles (120 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km), the National Hurricane Centre said in an 11am EST update. Tropical Storm Margot expected to become a hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Monday 11 September 2023 17:11 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre expects Tropical Storm Margot to strengthen into a hurricane sometime tonight, making it the second storm in as many weeks to spin up in the Atlantic basin. At 900 AM GMT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Margot was located near latitude 25.3 North, longitude 40.0 West. Margot is moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days, the National Hurricane Centre said in an advisory. Forecasters are expecting it to gain strength over the next 48 hours. The storms winds are currently peaking around 65mph (104km/h). READ MORE: Tropical Storm Margot expected to become hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown Monday 11 September 2023 16:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week Monday 11 September 2023 15:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Hurricane Lee: Latest National Hurricane Centre report says storm should begin to swing north by midweek Monday 11 September 2023 14:45 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee continued churning in the Atlantic on Monday after reaching its peak as a Category 5 storm on Thursday. The National Hurricane Centre reports that Hurricane Lee is producing maximum sustained winds of 120mph (195km/h) a Category 3 hurricane and is on a northwesterly trajectory moving at 7mph (11km/h). The centre believes Hurricane Lee will continue taking a "slow" path toward the west-northwest over the next few days before turning gradually north by the middle of the week. The storm is expected to pass well north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It is currently approximately 340 miles (545km) north of the Northern Leeward Islands and approximately 650 miles (1045km) south-southeast of Bermuda. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? Monday 11 September 2023 13:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers Monday 11 September 2023 12:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Monday 11 September 2023 11:00 , Stuti Mishra Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 10:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 09:00 , Stuti Mishra Lee is going through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, nearing Category 4 strength now after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. National Hurricane Center has said the storm could intensify further on Monday morning, which means it could once again become a Category 5 storm.Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Path of Hurricane Lee: Will it make landfall? Monday 11 September 2023 08:04 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is projected to stay in open waters, according to the National Hurricane Center but its impact is being felt in the Caribbean with rainfall and large swells and the same could be experienced in the US East Coast. Lee is expected to take a turn to the north by Wednesday. However, its path after that remained unclear. Here is the projected path of the hurricane: Hurricane Lee, 10 September (NOAA) Hurricane Lee 'growing larger' as US east coast braces for large swells Monday 11 September 2023 07:15 , Stuti Mishra The centre of Hurricane Lee is growing in size, the National Hurricane Center has said in its latest advisory, after the storm once again intensified to Category 3 from Category 2 on Sunday night. Lee has hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) from the centre and tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometres). The NHC also said that dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the US East Coast starting on Sunday night and Monday morning, but that the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear. "It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic." the centre said. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 23: Lee Growing Larger But Maximum Sustained Winds Have Not Yet Increased. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Spread Through the Western Atlantic During the Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee unleashes heavy swell on northern Caribbean as it restrengthens over open waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:32 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee barrelled over open waters late night just northeast of the Caribbean, unleashing heavy swell on several islands as it regained some strength and expanded in size. Lee has again intensified to a Category 3 storm after reducing to Category 2 earlier on Saturday, but it is not forecast to make landfall and it is staying over open waters. However, its bands brought heavy rains and hazardous beach conditions. The impacted regions include the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Late Sunday, it was centred about 310miles (500kilometres) north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120mph (195kph) and it was moving northwest at 8mph (13kph). We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear, said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Forecasters predoct another rapid intensification cycle for Lee Monday 11 September 2023 04:00 , Alex Woodward Lee made history last week after it rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 within 24 hours. The hurricane could enter another period of rapid intensification this week after slowing down over the weekend. In the last 12 hours, NHC has recorded a 15 knot increase for #HurricaneLee, confirming that #Lee is steadily re-intensifying. The next 36 hours are looking like medium-low shear so I wouldnt be surprised if we get near a rapid intensification cycle between today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/OYPoaxFCux Kieran Bhatia (@BhatiaKieran) September 10, 2023 East Coast likely to avoid Lee landfall, but hazardous beach conditions are incoming Monday 11 September 2023 02:00 , Alex Woodward It appears that Hurricane Lee will likely avoid making any landfall in the US, but life-threatening rip currents and dangerous beaches conditions along the East Coast are expected over the next couple of days. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along much of the US East Coast later today and worsen through this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beach erosion and some coastal flooding is also possible, the center reported. The Category 3 storm is predicted to continue gaining strength as it moves north this week. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Atlantic will see two simultaneous hurricanes this week, forecasters predict Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength on 11 September. Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Tropical Storm Margot is growing stronger and better organized and predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday Sunday 10 September 2023 22:30 , Alex Woodward Just behind Hurricane Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which has grown stronger and better organized over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Margot is expected to continue moving north in the next few days and potentially intensify into a hurricane on Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the storms center, according to the advisory. A forecast model from the National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Margot will intensify into a hurricane on 11 September. (NOAA) Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Sunday 10 September 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward As predicted, Hurricane Lee has intensified into a Category 3 storm after slowing down overnight and into Sunday. Lee is expected to take a slow west-northwestward track in the coming days, passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or two, according to a Sunday afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm has returned to Category 3 strength and additional strengthening is forcast within the next day or so, the NHC is reporting. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and it remains unclear whether the storm will reach the northeastern US coast and Canada or continue spinning into the Atlantic on that western track. It still remains too early to tell, according to forecasters. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Watch: Atlantic storm activity at the peak of hurricane season Sunday 10 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Take a look at the Atlantic activity with Hurricane Lee, Tropical Storm Margot and two disturbances behind them with a chance of developing into storms in the coming days The storms and storms-to-be are taking shape during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. There's no shortage of activity in the Atlantic Basin! Along with named storms Hurricane #Lee and Tropical Storm #Margot, the #NHC is monitoring a pair of disturbances in the Main Development Region that each have a 30% chance of development over the next 7 days. pic.twitter.com/rZpRxTeOmW RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) September 10, 2023 Hurricane Lee is a Category 2 storm, but its still unclear where its headed Sunday 10 September 2023 19:55 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was downgraded to a Category 2 on Sunday, slowing down as it rears northwest along the eastern seaboard. Its expected to strengthen in the coming days, but Lee is not projected to strike land, and there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, for now. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda late next week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf conditions are expected along parts of the East Coast and around the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. But the storm, roughly 270 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, is expected to steer away from Caribbean islands as it makes its northern turn. Why Hurricane Lee has shattered rapid intensification standards Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the one of the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. September 10 is peak hurricane season, as more Atlantic storms are brewing Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Alex Woodward Today is the peak date for the Atlantic hurricane season, and it couldnt come at a more-active time, with Hurricane Lee likely gaining strength as Tropical Storm Margot and two brewing storms pop up behind it. September 10 is basically when you still have low vertical wind shear, plenty of moisture and increasing sea surface temperatures, Colorado State meteorologist Philip Klotzbach told AccuWeather. The increasing vertical wind shear tends to dominate over the continued warming sea surface temperatures as you move later in September. On the heels of #Lee and Margot is #invest97L and its larger relative near Africa. These two should blend in time. Given its the heart of the hurricane season and the entire basin is ripe, this new system may follow a similar path that Lee has traveled thus far. By NEXT pic.twitter.com/O4SitQiZ5x Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 10, 2023 While the climate crisis and warming waters have indicated that hurricane seasons are trending longer than the official six-month window typically observed, that peak date is likely to remain. While Atlantic sea surface temperatures typically continue to warm until late September/early October, vertical wind shear starts to increase relatively quickly in late September, knocking down storm activity, Mr Klotzbach added. A composite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning towards the Caribbean after intensifying into a major storm on 8 September. (via REUTERS) Latest Lee update: Storm to pass well north of Leeward Islands, Virgin Island and Puerto Rico Sunday 10 September 2023 16:32 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to spin outwards as it approaches the eastern seaboard, and the storm is moving well north of the northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the coming days, according to an 11am ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Still, it remains too early to tell what impacts, if any, will be felt along the US East Coast and Canada, especially as the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably as it moves over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the advisory. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 110 mph with higher gusts, and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. Dangerous waves are expected along the East Coast throughout the weekend, with potentially life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf hitting northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 11AM AST Sep 10: #Lee is passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands. Hazardous beach conditions are forecast to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Stay up to date with the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/FSB4BYvbIQ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Latest Lee update: Storm is slowing down and likely regaining strength as it steers north Sunday 10 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward After it was downgraded from a Category 3 storm, Hurricane Lee is predicted to regain strength as it travels along warm Atlantic waters in the coming days. Lee is slowing down as it moves well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine its course and whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center on 10 September. But life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 5 AM AST - Sept 10: #Lee slowing down...Deteriorating seas and beach conditions expected this week for PR/USVI. |#Lee esta desacelerando...Se esperan condiciones maritimas y costeras deterioradas esta semana para PR/USVI.#PRwx #USVIwx pic.twitter.com/WFwxiTULEG NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 10, 2023 Will Lee and Margot collide in the Atlantic? Sunday 10 September 2023 11:00 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that it could mingle or alter Hurricane Lees path, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another any time soon in the Atlantic Ocean. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Sunday 10 September 2023 09:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon likely to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis and warming waters. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Hurricane Lee is pictured by NOAA satellite in the Atlantic Ocean on 8 September. (AP) Why Lee is blowing meteorologists minds before it even makes landfall Sunday 10 September 2023 07:00 , Alex Woodward The first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season didnt stay that way very long, but Hurricane Lees rapid intensification from a Category 1 into a Category 5 within 24 hours from Thursday into Friday is likely a record-breaking event in modern meteorological history. The storm then degraded into a Cat 4 then a Cat 3, though it is likely to gather strength as it moves northeast. Cat 5 storms already are rare, but inreasingly more common, relative to the history books. According to University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy, roughly 4 per cent of named storms in the Atlantic basin have reached that threshold since the early 1920s. Category 5 hurricanes are rare... these are tropical cyclones with 157mph+ sustained winds in the eyewall. Meteorological perfection. What percentage of Atlantic named storms is known to have reached Cat 5 intensity? 1923-2023: 3.8% 1973-2023: 3.5% 1993-2023: 3.6% 2013-2023: 4.5% Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) September 8, 2023 Lees intensification from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds has likely made it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Not only that, for the first time on record, Cat 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. This is one of the most impressive rapid intensification episodes I've ever seen in the Atlantic. Hurricane #Lee went from having no eye this morning to possibly Cat 5 intensity this evening. Absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/49NmtkIJO2 Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 8, 2023 FEMA stocks up food and water for potential Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands response Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Alex Woodward The USS Federal Emergency Management Agency has roughly 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Lee rears eastward as a powerful Category 3 storm that could gain strength over the weekend. The storm is not yet predicted to make landfall, if it does at all, but emergency responders and national weather agencies are keeping a close watch. Roughly 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water are prepared to support the US Virgin Islands, FEMA also announced on Friday. No conflict of interests exists between China, Europe -- Chinese premier Xinhua) 09:38, September 11, 2023 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Lying at the opposite ends of Eurasia, there is no geopolitical conflict between China and Europe, let alone a fundamental conflict of interests, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. China is ready to work with Europe to promote the sound and steady development of the bilateral relationship, Li said when meeting with European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit. As China and Europe are two major forces, markets and civilizations in the world, China-Europe relations bear on global stability and prosperity of the Eurasian continent, Li said. He added that China hopes to see a prosperous and stable Europe, and is ready to work with the European side to stay committed to their partnership, further strengthen dialogue and exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and properly handle sensitive issues, to promote the sustained, healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations and inject stability and positive energy into this turbulent world. Li pointed out that both sides should strengthen strategic guidance. As this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, the Chinese premier said he looks forward to co-chairing the new round of China-EU summit with Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. China's development is an opportunity, not a risk, for Europe, and both sides should continue to open up and cooperate for mutual benefit, the premier said. No matter now or in the future, Li pledged that China is and will remain a trustworthy friend and partner of Europe. China stands ready to work with Europe to enhance dialogue and negotiation, discuss establishing relevant mechanisms to promote the reliability and stability of China-Europe economic and trade relations, he said, welcoming more European businesses to invest and operate in China. Michel, for his part, said that the EU is willing to be a sincere, credible and constructive friend and partner of China. A prosperous China is good for the EU and the wider world, and the EU has no intention to contain China's development, Michel said. The EU adheres to the one-China principle and stands ready to work with China to host a successful EU-China summit, deepen dialogue and cooperation in various fields, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change, public health, security and stability. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A military school student salutes in Yalta, Crimea, on Feb. 24, 2023, in front of a plaque in memoriam to Russian soldier Alexander Dolzhanov, who died during the war in Ukraine. (AP) The special military operation in Ukraine unified Russian society. An absolute majority of Russians support the special military operation. In September, this war propaganda trope will become a part of the official school curriculum in Russia. It will be among many other lies about the war in Ukraine that will be included in the new history textbook for high schools. The assertion that the invasion has popular support in Russia has been repeated in equal parts by President Vladimir Putin, Russian propaganda, Ukrainian politicians, many of Russias apologists and pro-Ukrainian Western political leaders. It is wrong. Russia as a nation doesnt support the war in Ukraine, and to understand that, you just have to listen to its own pro-war propaganda. Advertisement By closing all independent publications in Russia, the Kremlin established almost total control over Russias media with a couple of exceptions; most notably, social media apps YouTube and Telegram still provide Russians access to uncensored information. Telegram channels today are used by anti-war and pro-war writers and reporters. Unlike tightly controlled television talk shows on Telegram, you can actually find out what people especially those who support the war think. I have been monitoring more than 200 pro-war channels (known as Z-channels) since the first days of invasion, and the most common recurring theme among them is: The Russian nation doesnt support the war enough; Russians dont want to fight, and they are not interested in victory. Advertisement How is support defined? Do people publicly say that they support Putins decision to denazify Ukraine? Yes. But words can be empty. If instead we define support as volunteering to fight or supporting the invasion with donations, the picture radically changes. Total exhaustion of the troops on the front lines is the most critical issue that the Russian army faces right now. Russian forces mobilized in the first wave last year have been fighting for more than nine months in very hard conditions with constant supply problems. Telegram users in many channels note that army rules forbid soldiers from going on leave or even returning home after their contract runs out. Users have described that as slavery and vow to never enlist again once they get a chance to leave. There are not enough volunteers to rotate soldiers out of active combat, and even the obscene amount of money that the Russian state has promised to contract soldiers does not attract enough people. [ Matt Dimmick: Ukraines counteroffensive is working. With continued support, its forces will defeat Russia ] Telegram users describe contract soldiers who arrive on the front lines as people with poor health who wouldnt have previously passed government requirements, as well as untrained and largely unmotivated. The only way to keep the army in any type of fighting form is for the Kremlin to announce forced mobilization. Thats according to the pro-war writers who criticize the unwillingness of Russians to fight. One of the more popular Z-channel writers, Alexander Khodakovsky, in his most recent post mused on whether or not commanders should start executing deserters as this might be the only way to win the war. Almost two years into the war, the Russian army is still plagued by a lack of clothes, medicine, water and basic equipment, as well as camouflage nets, all-terrain vehicles and unmanned drones. Pretty much everything soldiers need to survive and fight other than heavy weaponry is still either bought by the soldiers themselves or supplied by volunteers who run hundreds of fundraising campaigns across Russia. Every channel that I monitor either runs its own fundraising or helps someone else, and the constant complaint is that there is not enough money. People are tired, and every day, they raise less and less. Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Russias music, book and film industries by and large didnt support the invasion. Some people left. Most stay silent and continue to write books and music or produce films that have nothing to do with the war. This is a popular grievance among Z-channel writers: They lament a lack of support for the war from modern Russian culture. But what truly infuriates the pro-war crowd is the indifference that Russia as a nation has shown toward the war. They keep talking about it. In Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Kazan and Vladivostok in every major Russian city life goes on as if soldiers are not dying on the front lines. People dance and go to bars, people go on holidays to Turkey as if the country doesnt supply lethal weapons to Ukraine. Russian tourists still go on holidays to NATO countries as if nothing happened. The universal feeling about the war in Russia is not support it is indifference. An incident on July 17 dramatically illustrates Russians indifference; it provoked a highly heated reaction from Telegram users. During a training exercise, a Russian military jet suffered mechanical difficulties and went down. The pilot ejected over the Azov Sea and was fighting for his life in clear view of nearby beachgoers. No one came to his rescue. People were filming him, drinking beer and eating ice cream, according to videos recorded on the beach that day, but no one made any effort to save the drowning man. Advertisement The morality of staying indifferent at a time when the army of your country perpetrates war crimes in your name on a daily basis is a topic for a different discussion. But no matter how you look at it, Russia as a nation of people does not support the war; it goes to incredible lengths to ignore it. And indifference is not support. Ivan Philippov is a writer and former journalist. He is a creative executive at AR Content film company. Like many anti-war Russians, he left Moscow in March 2022. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The First Alert Weather Team is continuing to track Hurricane Lee. As of the 11 a.m. Monday advisory, Lee was a Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph, and is moving west-northwest at 7 mph. Storm Track 2 That still makes Lee a major hurricane, which is a Category 3 or higher. Lee became a Category 5 hurricane late Thursday night, but was back down to a Category 4 on Friday morning. Lees forecast track has not changed much and is still projected to stay clear of Florida and the Caribbean islands. DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Action News Jax First Alert Weather Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh said that an easterly swell, rough seas, and surf will impact our local beaches for much of this week with a high rip current risk. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Buresh said the forecast models are in remarkably good agreement, showing a powerful hurricane not reaching Jacksonvilles latitude until Thursday through early Friday, while 1,500+ miles to the east. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Buresh said in Talking the Tropics with Mike that there continues to be a threat for impacts from Lee for New England by late this week into the weekend as well as Nova Scotia & Newfoundland. The First Alert Weather Team is also tracking Hurricane Margot. Buresh said it should stay far out to sea over the east and then central Atlantic. Storm Track 2 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. Hurricane Lee continued to move northwest over the Atlantic Ocean with sustained winds near 115 miles per hour Wednesday morning as it heads toward the coasts of Maine and eastern Canada, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Lee, which has remained a Category 3 major hurricane, is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm by Sunday before the storms center reaches the coast of Maine, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, the hurricane center said. The National Hurricane Center projected Wednesday that New Hampshire and other parts of New England could be looking at tropical-storm force winds, 39 mph or greater, as early as Friday night. Hurricane Lee could affect New England with tropical storm-force winds. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents will affect parts of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda and most of the U.S. East Coast this week, according to the hurricane center. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Hurricane Lee: With Hurricane Lee on the move, Cape Cod harbormasters advise mariners to prepare, in case Latest updates from USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee's projected path to bring big surf, dangerous currents to US East Coast As forecasters continue to monitor Lee, those at the National Hurricane Center as well as at AccuWeather agree it's a storm New Englanders should keep an eye on. The NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management has not issued any warnings regarding Hurricane Lee, saying its proximity to New England remains uncertain. "While building waves and hazardous surf are expected, it is too early to determine if there will be any other significant impacts to western Maine and New Hampshire," said the emergency management body. Meanwhile, the state is expected to experience moderate rains with pockets of heavy rain and thunderstorms. Hurricane Lee projected path This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm, but does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts. The center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Hurricane Lee spaghetti models Model plot illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts. Contributing: USA TODAY staff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee tracker: New Hampshire encouraged to watch path, models Category 3 Hurricane Lee, with sustained winds near 115 miles per hour, remains a large and powerful hurricane that projects to be heading towards the coasts of Maine and eastern Canada, said the National Hurricane Center Wednesday. Lee, which has remained a Category 3 major hurricane, is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm by Sunday before the storms center reaches the coast of Maine, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, the hurricane center said. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents will affect parts of the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Bermuda and most of the U.S. East Coast this week, according to the hurricane center. A National Hurricane Center graphic shows Rhode Island, eastern Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut potentially getting tropical-storm force winds, 39 mph or greater, as early as Friday night. Hurricane Lee could affect New England with tropical storm-force winds. AccuWeather predicts Lee is most likely to make landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada, this weekend but could be pulled west toward New England or pushed east toward Newfoundland and Labrador. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Hurricane Lee: With Lee on the move, Cape Cod harbormasters advise mariners to prepare, in case Latest updates from USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee's projected path to bring big surf, dangerous currents to US East Coast As forecasters continue to monitor Lee, those at the National Hurricane Center as well as at AccuWeather, agree it's a storm New Englanders should keep an eye on. The National Weather Service warned of high rip current risk on Rhode Island and Massachusetts beaches Wednesday. Look back: NOAA predicts a busy hurricane season. Take a look back at 7 big New England storms Hurricane Lee projected path This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm but does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts. The center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Hurricane Lee spaghetti models Model plot illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee tracker, model: Rhode Island urged to watch path updates It doesn't look like the Weather Channel's Jim Cantore will be making a stop in Florida for Hurricane Lee, and there's some question whether the storm will hit the East Coast of the U.S. at all. But hurricanes have effects far beyond the forecast cone, and Lee has strengthened back into a major hurricane. What will this mean for Florida's coast this week? Expect rough surf, highly dangerous rip currents and larger breaking waves, at least, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Where is Hurricane Lee going? Is Hurricane Lee going to hit Florida? Virtually all the spaghetti models show Lee turning sharply northward, away from the U.S. and potentially threatening a direct hit on Canada or Nova Scotia. But the East Coast can expect to feel an impact, forecasters said. What category is Hurricane Lee? As of 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 11, Lee had strengthened back to a large Category 3 with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Sept. 8, Lee rose briefly to Category 5 with winds of 165 mph, making it the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic so far during the 2023 season. Lee strengthened to a Category 5 within 25 hours of being an 80 mph Category 1 storm, and that sort of rapid intensification is extremely rare. The hurricane quickly dropped back to Category 4 that Friday morning and continued to weaken over the weekend before strengthening again. It's too soon to tell just what Lee will do and how much impact it might have in Florida since Lee is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the hurricane center said. NHC forecasters expect Lee to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane again Monday and maintain that strength through late Wednesday, Sept. 13. What is Hurricane Lee's path and trajectory? Lee is moving toward the northwest near 7 mph. A slow west-northwestward motion is expected during the next couple of days, followed by a gradual turn toward the north by midweek. On the forecast track Lee is expected to pass well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico during the next day or two. Hurricane Lee tracker: Follow path of Category 3 storm as it moves north in Atlantic Ocean Will Hurricane Lee affect the Florida coast? As #Lee continue to slow down, deal with shear, dry air and internal structural issues guidance continues to fine tune how it will or wont impact the east coast of North America later this week. Without question waves and dangerous surf remain the number one threat to the east pic.twitter.com/VCMJaYiQ7s Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 10, 2023 "Seas and surf will build to dangerous levels along the central and northern coast of Florida and expand northward through the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts this week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said. Expect dangerous conditions at Atlantic beaches this week, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne. The building surf will lead to frequent and strong rip currents, pounding waves, beach erosion and even coastal flooding at times of high tide. The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook from Flagler Beach to the southern Brevard barrier islands, warning of "a high risk of numerous life-threatening rip currents Monday at all Atlantic beaches in Central Florida. "Entering the ocean is strongly discouraged," the NWS said in its release. "Remember to heed all warnings fromthe beach patrol." How big will waves from Hurricane Lee get in Florida? 9/9 | While Hurricane Lee is forecast to remain east of Florida, our coastline will feel its effects by next week as surf heights build and the risk of rip currents becomes high. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/vlG32sFdWZ NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 9, 2023 Increasing swells from Hurricane Lee, distant though it is, are expected to result in larger breaking waves of 5 to 7 feet by Wednesday evening through at least Friday or Saturday, the NWS said. Is Hurricane Lee causing dangerous rip currents? 9/11 | A HIGH risk of life-threatening rip currents exists today at all Central Florida Atlantic beaches. This is due to the swells from Hurricane Lee, which will be with us for the next several days. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/3E16eQUonQ NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 11, 2023 Dangerous rip currents powerful channels of water that can pull even the strongest swimmers away from the beach into deeper water are expected along the entire coast of Florida down to the southern Brevard county line through late Tuesday night. Farther south there's a moderate risk of rip currents through Monday evening. Pay attention to forecasts and any warning flags on the beach (red flags mean dangerous rip current activity is expected, double red flags mean the water is closed to the public), and ask a lifeguard about conditions before you go in the water. You can check conditions before you go at weather.gov/beach/florida. If you get caught in a rip current: Don't panic or thrash about. Don't fight the current. You may be able to get out of the current by swimming with it parallel to the shore (or just floating or treading water) until it fades or circulates back to shore, and then you can swim to the beach. You also can try swimming with the current toward breaking waves, where you may be able to swim for shore. If you can't reach the shore or you're being pulled farther out to sea, or you're getting tired, draw attention to yourself by waving or shouting for help. Is it safe to go boating amid Hurricane Lee? Boaters on Florida's central east coast can expect to see lightning storms, showers and wind gusts up to 35 knots Monday, and small craft operation will become hazardous in the open Atlantic waters and near inlets as seas build by the middle of this week. USA TODAY NETWORK Florida audience team member Cheryl McCloud contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Lee track, path for Florida: How high will the waves get? As a lifelong surfer, Josh Wagner always appreciated the swells from distant hurricanes off Floridas coast that can bring in clean, beautiful, rolling waves. As a beachfront homeowner on the states Atlantic coast who might have lost his home south of Daytona Beach without hopping on a tractor in the middle of the night during Hurricane Nicole last fall he now fears the erosion and destruction a hurricane can bring. Hurricane Lee could be the worst of both, Wagner told USA TODAY. Its waves are forecast to be choppy, lousy for surfing, and come with a high risk of rip currents. Any big, rough waves could rip away the little bit of sand that returned to the beaches near Ponce Inlet since Nicole. Similar fears will ripple northward along the entire Atlantic coast this week. Lee is forecast to move northward parallel to shore a few hundred miles to the east, bringing huge waves and hazardous surf from Florida to Maine. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As of Monday evening, the hurricane maintained its "major" Category 3 status, with sustained winds of 115 mph. and its hurricane-force winds widened considerably, now up to 75 miles from the center. Though the significant winds are likely to stay offshore for most of the U.S. coast, rip currents and dangerous surf are expected, according to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service offices along the coast. Bigger waves and rip currents already have begun to reach East Coast beaches, the weather service said Monday, and that's only expected to increase. "Its going to produce a tremendous amount of energy in the ocean in the form of traditional ocean waves," Jamie Rhome, the hurricane center's deputy director, told USA TODAY. When that energy strikes the coast, it produces this huge rip current risk. Hurricane Lee re-strengthened Monday in the Atltanic. Where is Hurricane Lee right now? At 11 p.m. Monday, Lee remained a major hurricane, with 115-mph winds. The storm was about 580 miles south of Bermuda and 410 miles north-northwest of the northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 7 mph. A Saildrone one of several deployed in the ocean along Lee's path 40 miles south-southeast of Lee's center reported a sustained wind speed of 77 mph and a gust of 105 mph, the hurricane center said Monday at 11 p.m. A buoy between Lee and San Salvador Island in the Bahamas reported significant wave heights of 17.7 feet. Lee is forecast to strengthen to 120 mph winds overnight Monday, then begin weakening as it's buffeted by wind shear later in the week and encounters areas of colder water left by hurricanes Idalia and Franklin. Hurricane Lee is forecast to turn north this week and pass west of Bermuda as it brings huge waves, rip currents and erosion to East Coast beaches. Forecasters say it's still too early to determine the extent of the potential impacts in New England. What is the hurricane's path? Will Lee hit the Northeast or Canada? It's too soon to know how Lee might affect the northeastern U.S. and Canada's Atlantic coast, the hurricane center said Monday, especially because the hurricane is expected to slow considerably. Hurricane Lee is forecast to make a gradual turn to the north by Wednesday and pass between the U.S. mid-Atlantic and Bermuda on Friday. Lee could bring strong winds, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. In Maine and along the coast of New England, the National Weather Service said Monday that the "track, intensity, and impacts (if any) from Lee remain uncertain." The hurricane center's track forecast cone calls for the center of Lee to be offshore somewhere between the coast of New England and southeast of Nova Scotia on Saturday night. As of 11 p.m., much of eastern New England was in the "cone of uncertainty" in the hurricane center's forecast map for Lee. This includes a portion of the Boston metro area, along with Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. "Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents" continue to hit the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas and will affect most of the U.S. East Coast this week as Lee grows and moves northward. What's the rip current concern? Rip currents are particularly worrisome for weather officials because 2023 has already been a deadly year: At least 75 deaths are thought to be attributed to rip currents and hazardous surf conditions, the third-highest year since record-keeping started in 2002. A report published by the American Meteorological Society in August concluded the percentage of direct fatalities attributed to tropical-cyclone-related rip currents has doubled. The authors found: Direct fatalities during tropical cyclone landfalls rose from 6% from 1963-2012 to 15% from 2013-2022. Fatalities often occur one or two at a time from distant storms hundreds of miles offshore. Florida, North Carolina and New Jersey experienced the highest number of tropical-cyclone-related surf and rip current deaths. The reason rip currents are so deadly is because all the other hazards in a hurricane have a visual cue, Rhome said. Even if you dont believe the forecasters, youll believe your own eyes. "The air surrounding a hurricane sinks, and that sinking air creates cloud-free conditions and warm days, he said. Thats near-perfect beach weather. People flock to the beach and theres no visual clue that anything is wrong. Theres nothing to see that may tell you you need to be cautious." Wagner said rip currents seem to be more prevalent in the soft sand offshore since the hurricanes. He advises people enter the water near lifeguards. "People think this beautiful beach is safe, and its not," Wagner said. "People dont respect Mother Nature. Youre in the ocean, youre not in a pool." What's the forecast for Lee along the coast? Swells from Hurricane Lee already are arriving between Florida and North Carolina. Melbourne, Florida: "Surf will become increasingly rough as larger breaking waves arrive later this week." Wilmington, North Carolina: Surf heights could reach 5 feet by Monday afternoon and will "continue increasing the next several days." Outer Banks, North Carolina: Seas will be "a very dangerous 10-15 feet during the day Friday," gradually subsiding through the weekend. There is a potential for "significant beach erosion, ocean overwash and coastal flooding." Sep 11, 11 AM EDT | Major Hurricane Lee peak seas near the center are ~48 ft! Large swells associated with Lee will move through the Caribbean Passages & into the Caribbean waters between the Leeward Islands & the Mona Passage today through Thu. pic.twitter.com/8dlnSu9QvR NHC_TAFB (@NHC_TAFB) September 11, 2023 What to do if youre caught in a rip current: "These rip currents grab and your first primal reaction to that is to swim back to shore. Thats hard-wired to your brain, Rhome said. Unfortunately the rip current is harder than people can swim. Most people can swim and swim and swim and can't overpower the rip current. "Your only option is to swim parallel to the shore and try to get out of it, he said. The other option is to relax and float until you're out of the current. Whats next? Its not just this storm that worries Wagner. Its the other storm the hurricane center is watching off the west coast of Africa, which already has surf forecasts calling for 20-foot swells in about two weeks. If we get hit by another storm, weve got no defense, said Wagner, an attorney and former county councilman. Communities along the beach between Daytona Beach and Ponce Inlet were hit hard by Hurricane Ian and then by Hurricane Nicole. Wagners family lost their backyard and a sea wall, which they've since been able to replace. Because the sand loss revealed his property had a coquina rock revetment, he was able to get a state permit to add rock to the wall. They have not been able to replace the 11-foot elevation of sand and dune behind their home they lost during the two hurricanes. Others along the stretch of beach haven't been able to replace sea walls or add rock and some lost homes. Up until November I used to look at storms and get excited for people like me that experienced this for the first time ever, it really changes you. His entire beachfront community is at risk if they get a slow-moving storm or a couple of storms, he said. "This storm could be really, really catastrophic." Whatever storm hits, we're going to be punched "like Mike Tyson fighting Evander Holyfield," he said. Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee's path uncertain in Northeast; rip currents a concern When the furious winds and rain of Hurricane Laura devastated Louisiana three years ago, Javier drifted towards the disaster, cleaning homes and chopping down trees that the Category 4 storm toppled and tore apart. I heard that there was a disaster and that there was work. And where there is work, you go, Javier told the Miami Herald. The storm kicked off an unexpected round of work for Javier, an undocumented Honduran immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in 2016 and who did not want his last name used because of his immigration status. He has since helped clean up after other fierce Louisiana hurricanes, including Delta and Ida. When theres no hurricane clean-up to do, he works in construction. But through word of mouth, clients refer him to others who call for help when catastrophes strike. Last fall, someone reached out to him when Category 4 Hurricane Ian killed at least 149 people and destroyed swaths of southwest Florida. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Along with other disaster workers, he grabbed a suitcase, the truck, the tools and came to Florida. Javier spent two months knocking down damaged structures, tidying homes turned upside down, and repairing rain leaks and holes in the Florida Gulf. In the early stages of the recovery, the area was full of immigrants who were trudging through the floods, fallen trees, power cables and homes to start clearing the destruction, he said. But this hurricane season, he doesnt plan on coming to Florida, even after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in the Big Bend area, killing at least three people, demolishing homes and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. The reason: a state law that came into effect July 1 and enacts a series of immigration-related restrictions. It requires hospitals that take Medicaid to ask about immigration status on intake forms, mandates employers with 25 or more workers to use the federal E-Verify platform to check if new hires can work in the US, and makes it a felony to drive an undocumented person into Florida, among other measures. Most of us want to travel. But we fear that for going and working, for doing something honest they want to detain us like delinquents. Nobody wants to leave or risk themselves, he said. Resilience Force, a labor-organizing group that advocates for disaster workers, said it surveyed most of its membership of about 2,000 workers, composed of mostly undocumented immigrants and some natural-born citizens, through virtual chats, one-on-one conversations, and in-person meetings. The organization found that more than half of its members dont want to come to Florida still recovering from Ian and Idalia and facing the looming threat of hurricane season because they fear the new state immigration law Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in May. Rebuilding after a hurricane is not the work of a week. It can take months. It can take years. Floridians need these workers, said Saket Soni, the groups executive director and co-founder. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security agencies that handle border security and deportations, have a policy of not conducting enforcement actions near or in a place where disaster or emergency response and relief is being provided such as evacuation routes, where shelter or emergency supplies, food, or water are being distributed, or registration for disaster-related assistance or family reunification is underway. DHS reiterated its stance the day before Idalia. But workers and their advocates said they feared deportation if they came to Florida as well as extra scrutiny, harassment,and arrest because of the new state law. Soni recalled that during the Hurricane Ian emergency, disaster workers would begin their days in parking lots with prayers for each other, homeowner, and Floridas governor. They knew they needed a good leader for the recovery. Instead of doing that, he proposed this bill. And thats what made a difference. DeSantis anti-immigrant legislation suddenly posed an extraordinary threat to every immigrant working on the rebuilding. As soon as it passed, there was a massive exodus, Soni said.. A newer workforce The responder and recovery workforce has to scale up during crises such as hurricanes and floods because disasters exceed the local capacity to deal with the incident, said Tim Frazier, the faculty director of Georgetown Universitys Emergency and Disaster Management Program. But one of the main obstacles in emergency management is having enough people to respond to a disaster, and nonprofits and volunteers, along with local community resources, have often made up for the shortages, he said. As a result of climate change, these disaster cycles are year round, not seasonal, and our gap in human capital is becoming more difficult to manage and difficult to overcome, Frazier said. A disaster response workforce has been emerging since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, said Soni, a longtime labor organizer, and immigrant workers have become part of the manpower that comes to do initial repairs, such as picking up debris and installing temporary roofing. Although they travel from disaster to disaster, many end up staying in affected communities long-term to work on reconstruction. We call it the resilience workforce. This is a largely immigrant workforce that builds homes and schools and cities. And theyve built up a huge amount of expertise and commitment and sense of vocation as theyve traveled from hurricane to flood to fire, helping families come home and helping families rebuild, said Soni. The disaster workers often face dangerous conditions because of the nature of their work, and are vulnerable to labor exploitation. Santos, a 60-year-old Honduran man who came to the U.S. the year after Hurricane Mitch, described many employers as unscrupulous and dont offer disaster workers safety gear. He told the Herald that his brother fell off a roof while installing a temporary blue tarp. If he had been provided with the harness and all that, maybe the fall wouldnt have been so hard, said Santos, who asked that his last name not be used because of fear and his immigration status. Sergio Chavez, an associate sociology professor at Rice University in Houston, has conducted more than 700 surveys and 100 follow-up interviews with migrant disaster workers in the U.S. and Mexico. Chavez said there are several factors undocumented immigrants who travel for work consider when evaluating where to head to next, such as housing costs, community ties, work opportunities, and climate. The new state law is one more variable in a complicated equation that people have to take into account when considering coming to Florida and other states that have policies that make it harder for undocumented people to live and work there. Chavez told the Herald that if workers have multiple job opportunities, Florida may no longer be the destination they opt for which could harm state residents and businesses affected by after storms, floods and other disasters. They are more cautious about that, no doubt about it. Maybe some will not go. But when you really dont have any work, you are going to those states and risk the chance of getting arrested, deported, if you need the work, he said. Chavez also said that undocumented workers could change their mind over time and opt to come as the enforcement of the law plays out and perceptions and moods change depending on what they witness themselves or hear from colleagues, family and friends. Behavior is not constant, and people are always strategizing how they make money so they could feed, house, and clothes themselves and their family members, whether they are in this country or outside this country, he said. Hurricane Katrina was the first storm Santos ever worked after moving to the United States. He tore down a school kitchen that was brimming with rotting meat, vegetables and fruit. I wanted to cry when I saw the big mess in New Orleans. I had never even lived in New Orleans. But to see that great destruction really left an impression on me, he said. He stayed in Louisiana afterwards, and worked in reconstruction, painting and carpentry. Hes worked the aftermath of hurricanes Rita, Laura, Delta, and Ida in Louisiana, Hurricane Harvey in Texas, and the historic 2016 floods in Baton Rouge. This hurricane season, hes still considering coming to Florida to help with clean up efforts. But right now the risk feels too great for him and many of his colleagues if authorities dont give disaster workers confidence that they will not be targeted, he said. We have the will and the desire to go do the work, and well go if we have a guarantee that our rights will be respected regardless of the status of each person, he said. But with these laws? People dont even want to know about it. [Source] Indian Americans at a protest rally in Sacramento on Saturday called on California Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the state's anti-caste discrimination bill. Opposers of the bill: The protesters asserted that the Senate Bill 403 (SB403), which was recently passed by the State Assembly, is discriminatory and unfairly targets Indians. They argued that the bill could lead to discrimination against Hindus in particular and amount to racial profiling. We ask Governor Newsom to Veto SB403 so history remembers that you said no to discrimination against Indian Americans and said no to racially profiling our community! Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation said during the rally over the weekend, according to NDTV. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Hindu American Foundation is reportedly considering legal action to protect the rights of Hindu Californians. More from NextShark: 21-year-old South Korean golfer Tom Kim matches Tiger Woods with historic feat last achieved in 1996 More from NextShark: Victims of Japan's wartime forced labor denounce Seoul's compensation deal About the bill: The bill aims to add caste as a protected category to the state Unruh Civil Rights Act and fair housing and employment laws. If signed into law, California would be the first jurisdiction outside India to ban caste-based discrimination. The bill was introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab (D-CA), the first Muslim and Afghan American woman elected to the state legislature on March 22. It was overwhelmingly passed by the California Senate with a vote of 34-1. Indias caste discrimination: Indias caste system, which was outlawed in 1949, has continued to impact and influence society. More from NextShark: Singaporean restaurant justifies controversial $7 noisy child surcharge The caste system divides Hindus into four main categories: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and the Shudras. Outside of those four were the achhoots or the Dalits, formerly known as the "untouchables." This has created rigid hierarchical groups based on karma (work) and dharma (duty), placing individuals into a system of social stratification where they are expected to follow the traditions and lifestyles of their social group. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Mark Wahlberg Blasted Over Past Racism When He Assaulted Black and Asian People I had an interior designer critique my New York City sublet, and she'd make mostly minor tweaks. The neutral color palette in the bedroom could be broken by some bright hues and decor. The living room's bookshelves and TV can be rearranged to appear more pleasing to the eye. Since moving to New York City from England, I've been subletting apartments in various neighborhoods while I find a place I want to settle in permanently. I most recently rented a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. After seeing some photos and viewing the sublet via FaceTime, I fell in love with its eclectic artwork, soft furnishings, and huge bookshelves. However, I was intrigued to see how the decor fares in an interior designer's eyes, so I sought the advice of Bronxville-based interior designer Stafford Meyer of Stafford Meyer Interiors and Porte + Hall. Her clean, easy-breezy style spoke to me straight away, and I was excited to see what she liked and which things she would change about the apartment. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Since I already liked the style of this apartment so much, I hoped her tips would help give me extra ideas as I headed to my next rental. Meyer said the eat-in kitchen would benefit from some soft furnishings. The dark kitchen table and chairs looked a little drab. Emma Kershaw The apartment has a spacious eat-in kitchen that comes in handy for mealtimes or hosting friends. I also used the kitchen as my work area. Meyer suggested adding a bold peel-and-stick wallpaper to the white walls to inject a little character and fun into the space. "An eat-in kitchen is a luxury in New York City," Meyer told Insider. "This space could really feel like a special room with the right finishes. Peel-and-stick wallpaper is also a semipermanent way to give a smaller space an entirely different perspective." She recommended switching out the dark table for something with a lighter finish and adding soft furnishings, like an area rug and seat cushions, to give the space a softer feel. White or gray could help liven up the kitchen. Ideally, the cabinets could be painted white to lighten the area. Emma Kershaw Ideally, Meyer said that she'd paint the kitchen cabinets white to give them new life. But since some landlords wouldn't be OK with painting over cabinets, she also recommended laying down a white or light-gray runner to break up brown cabinetry and cork floor tiles. Rearranging the bookshelves could hide the vertical rails. The vertical rails of the bookshelf may be a bit of an eyesore for some. Emma Kershaw The apartment's living room was by far my favorite space. I loved its personality-filled artwork and the bookshelves, which my landlord told me were a passion project during the COVID-19 lockdown. Meyer was also a huge fan of the bookshelves but she suggested some tweaks to make it look a little neater. "I love a wall of books but the support rails showing does diminish the look," she said. "If budget allowed, I'd replace it with floating shelves." For now, she'd minimize the appearance of the rails by strategically stacking books, art, and other decor, like vases, in front of them. The positioning of the TV and shelves could also be played with. The placement of the TV and shelves could be maximized. Emma Kershaw Meyer said she'd also move the shelf above the TV down to frame the device and further hide the vertical rails. She also recommended lowering the height of the TV so it could lay flush against the wall and give off a more streamlined look. If the budget allowed for it, she'd also replace the device with a TV that displays a piece of artwork on its screen when turned off, like the Samsung Frame TV. She advised switching out the long curtains for some shorter ones. The curtains pool on the floor. Emma Kershaw Meyer wasn't a fan of the white floor-length curtains, and I agreed. Not only were they heavy and hard to maneuver at times, but their light color meant they showed dirt from the wooden floor. "Unless you have a very large room, I would stay away from puddling any curtains on the floor it takes up quite a bit of space and looks disordered at times," she said. A larger mirror would open up the foyer area. The mirror in the foyer right now is a little too small. Emma Kershaw I noticed that the ground-floor apartment didn't have a lot of light in certain parts of the home, especially the foyer. I relied on the windows from the kitchen and living room to bring some light into the space, but it wasn't enough, especially on a gloomier day. The designer recommended incorporating a larger wall mirror to combat the darkness and add style and sophistication. According to the expert, mirrors are great for helping brighten and open up a smaller space. She also suggested replacing the existing shelf with a stone or marble slab to elevate the overall look. Meyer loved the monochromatic bathroom. The black-and-white bathroom looked chic. Emma Kershaw I thought the bathroom was lovely and will definitely be taking inspiration from it for my own apartment someday. Meyer was also fond of the space and suggested a few additions to make the black-and-white room even lovelier. The items in the bathroom could use some minor tweaks. All-white towels and a basket for toilet paper could elevate the shelves. Emma Kershaw Meyer would swap the plain-white shower curtain with a white cotton one with a black border and monogram in the middle for an "instant bespoke" vibe. She also suggested buying all-white towels and adding a basket to hold the rolls of toilet paper. The neutral color palette let the bedroom down. The bedroom could use more pops of color. Emma Kershaw Though the bedroom may seem like a good place for a calm and serene neutral color palette, Meyer said that this can sometimes feel a little drab. She suggested incorporating bright, bold accents such as throw pillows and a new area rug to bring more color into the bedroom. She'd also replace the bed skirt with a thicker, heavier flat panel that stays smooth and swap the current bedding set for a 100% cotton white duvet cover and sheets. Overall, Meyer's suggestions were easy tweaks that can elevate the space. The apartment already has character but it can still be improved. Emma Kershaw Most of Meyer's advice was small, simple fixes to show off the apartment and help it reach its potential. I'm certainly going to be implementing some of her advice, like adding pops of color and brightening up spaces with mirrors, when I get my own place. I'll keep her suggestions in mind as I continue to sublet by decluttering busy workspaces and adding my own decor to make the space feel like my own without taking away from the vision of my landlord. Read the original article on Insider Interstate 80 will be closed in both directions in Dallas County for a short period on Wednesday. The closure will be west of the weigh station, between the Van Meter and Waukee/Booneville exits 113 and 117, respectively, beginning around 10 p.m. Both the eastbound and westbound on-ramps also will be closed. Crews will be completing utility work over the interstate, according to a news release from the Iowa Department of Transportation. The closure will take up to 20 minutes. Police will provide traffic control with a rolling roadblock to assist drivers through the work zone, the news release said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Iowa drivers can call 511 to access the latest traveler information, or visit the website, 511ia.org. Biong M. Biong is a reporting intern for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at bbiong@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Interstate 80 set to close Wednesday between Waukee, Van Meter exits A spotted lanternfly was found in Fishersville on Labor Day. The insect has been found in Virginia since 2014, but is just now making its way into Augusta County. The invasive spotted lanternfly has been spotted in Fishersville. Neighbors on Barrenridge Road saw the notorious bug, which resembles a red-eyed moth wearing leopard-skin tights on its wings, on Labor Day. According to Randy Smith, who was one of the neighbors who spotted the spotted insect, they killed it, following protocol from state authorities. It's thought to be the first sighting of the destructive insect in the Fishersville/Staunton area. The spotted lanternfly is a "potentially very serious pest of grapes, peaches, hops, and a variety of other crops," according to the Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech, which notes that the bug was first sighted in Frederick County in 2018. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement That's bad news for farmers. The spotted lanternfly nymph starts as a black bug with white polka-dots and eight legs. As it grows during the nymph stage, the black turns to a bright red. Adult spotted lanternflies look very different, now sporting a striped body with two sets of wings - one will be tan in color with black spots, and one will be red with black spots and other designs. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website says the spotted lanternfly "feeds on a wide range of fruit, ornamental and woody trees, with tree-of-heaven being one of the preferred hosts. Spotted lanternflies are invasive and can be spread long distances by people who move infested material or items containing egg masses." What should you do if you see one? VDACS has a simple answer: "Kill any Spotted Lanternfly you find!" a treatment message page warns. "Stomp, squash, squish, squeeze, slap, spray, scrape, smash, or otherwise destroy" all "SLF" you see, it goes on. "If you are outside the City of Winchester, and Frederick, Clarke and Warren Counties," the message continues, "take a picture or collect a sample of SLF after you have killed them and contact your local Extension Agent." This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Invasive spotted lanternfly is spotted in Fishersville. The Iowa Flood Center is expanding its network of hydrostations, like the one deployed in Guthrie County, after receiving $1 million in Congressional funding. The University of Iowas Iowa Flood Center will use $1 million awarded through Congresss Community Project Funding to expand its ability to monitor flooding and droughts and manage watersheds. Announced Tuesday in a news release, the funding will go toward the addition of 30 new hydrostations to its network, which includes counties in eastern and western Iowa, bringing the total number of stations to 50. The stations draw data, which is made available online, by measuring rainfall, soil moisture and temperature conditions, and groundwater levels in shallow wells. More: Leistikow's DVR Monday: Cade McNamara's potential and Iowa football's well-schooled defense Hydrostations, alongside additional stream sensors, will be placed along the Lower Cedar River and Maquoketa River watersheds to monitor conditions in real time. The flood center will use the data to develop hydrologic systems and visualizations for the watersheds to aid in water resource management and conservation programs. Additionally, data from the network will aid in preliminary discussions about creating an Iowa Drought Information System. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The flood center hopes to eventually have a network spanning all 99 counties, according to the news release. This funding will help ensure Iowa remains a national leader in flood prediction, said Larry Weber, professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-founder of the Iowa Flood Center, in the release. Were grateful for our partnerships at the local, state, and federal levels that supported this project and made it possible. Information gathered through the network will be used by the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology, of which the University of Iowa and flood center are partners, for water-related research, monitoring, mapping and more. The flood center plans to deploy the eastern Iowa hydrostation network starting in spring 2024, and will work on securing funding to expand the network to the western side of the state. U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks led efforts to bring the funding to the flood center, according to the release. The Iowa Flood Center, founded in 2008 after record-breaking flooding ravaged eastern Iowa, is the only academic research center focused solely on flooding in the U.S. The Iowa Flood Center is at the forefront of flood mitigation and prevention initiatives in Iowa. This funding will bolster the Flood Centers research and modernization efforts and strengthen their ability to provide real-time information to support local emergency operations in flood disaster situations, Hinson said in the release. Find this story at Iowa Capital Dispatch, which is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions:kobradovich@iowacapitaldispatch.com. This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: $1 million grant expands University of Iowa flood research By Amanda Ferguson BELFAST (Reuters) - Confidence is waning among politicians in Northern Ireland about whether it will be possible to end a political stalemate and restore the region's powersharing government, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on a visit to Belfast on Monday. The devolved regional government was a centrepiece of Northern Ireland's 1998 Good Friday peace agreement, which largely ended three decades of violence between Irish nationalist militants seeking a united Ireland, pro-British "loyalist" paramilitaries and the British military. Around 3,600 people were killed during the conflict. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) collapsed the devolved executive more than 18 months ago in protest at Britain's first post-Brexit agreement with the EU, saying it undermined Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. It also rejected a fresh deal struck in February to end many of the new trade checks. London pledged to introduce laws to placate the DUP, but has yet to table any proposals after months of talks. "If it is advancing at all, it is advancing at a snail's pace," Varadkar told reporters. "I know from talking to all five major parties here, confidence is starting to wane as to whether it is going to be possible to get the assembly and executive back up and running. I'm worried about that and I'm certainly not giving up." DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said in early August that he hoped to receive a "definitive" response from the British government on its concerns over the trade rules within weeks. Britain's Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris, who met Varakdar in Belfast on Monday, said the talks with the DUP were ongoing and "inching forward", but that he could not put a timeline on any conclusion. Varadkar reiterated that London and Dublin would need to look at alternative ways of running Northern Ireland that adhere to the terms of the 1998 peace deal if the devolved institutions cannot be restored soon. Heaton-Harris said talk of a Plan B was unhelpful. "I think devolution can be restored," he said. Varadkar and Heaton-Harris were speaking at the launch of a 1.1 billion euro ($1.18 billion) joint EU, UK and Ireland funding programme for projects that support peace in Northern Ireland. ($1 = 0.9321 euros) (Writing by Padraic Halpin) Like many of us, iRobot has a long-standing love-hate relationship with the mop. The first Scooba system became widely available in 2010. Ultimately, however, mopping up and filling a tank with dirty water proved inefficient, and the line was eventually phased out. The new line was ultimately Braava, which arrived as part of its 2012 acquisition of Evolution Robotics. That system favors a cleaning pad, which ultimately proved less potentially disastrous than a tank system. Despite what the Standells might tell you, citizens of iRobots hometown do not, in fact, love that dirty water. One of the companys longstanding holy grails is the combination system. Convenience is paramount, combining mopping and vacuuming into a single system. Roughly this time last year, the company announced the Roomba Combo j7+. The system uses a clever mechanical arm to move the pad out of the way, so you dont accidentally mop the carpet. iRobot expanded the line a couple of weeks back with an improved j7+, along with the Roomba Combo i5+, which lowers the price point $250, down to $549. Today the firm is announcing yet another SKU. The Roomba j9+ is quite steep, at $899 for the Roomba and $1,399 for Roomba and dock. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Roomba Combo j9+ robot vacuum and mop reigns supreme in its class, designed to tackle dirt, pet fur and debris with unmatched precision, the company writes. Its 4-Stage Cleaning System and unique Dual Rubber Brushes provide 100% more powerful suction and pressurized scrubbing action. And unlike competing 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mops that barely lift their mop pads, if at all, iRobots D.R.I. (Dry Rug Intelligence) means customers can trust that their Roomba Combo j9+ will keep even high-pile rugs clean and dry. Image Credits: iRobot That last bit is a direct dig at companies like Roborock and Ecovac, which have carved out their own niches undercutting iRobots premium pricing. Ultimately, however, CEO Colin Angle says the software is the thing. I believe the long-term winner in the robot industry is going to be the company with the best software, he said in an interview with TechCrunch. iRobot continues to raise the bar. In 2021, we went all-in and said iRobot will refund your money if it ever hits poop, which no one has done since. We continue to honor that. Earlier this year, we started automatically labeling rooms. Both the j7+ and j9+ are getting iRobot OS 7.0. The centerpiece is something the company calls Dirt Detective. Angle says, We maintain a map of your home thats resilient to disruptions. Because were the only robot that actually looks to see if were picking up dirt as we clean, we can judge how quickly a room gets dirty. We also know how long its been since you last cleaned a particular room, because we have that historical perspective. Dirt Detective creates plans and prioritizes rooms based on need. Also on the list is SmartScrub, which really gets in there for a deep clean as needed, with double the scrubbing, per iRobot. The j9+ goes up for presale starting in Europe today. Canada and the U.S. follow suit tomorrow. Republicans are pressing ahead with their Hunter Biden investigations. An Internal Revenue Service employee alleged to have knowledge of the federal probe into President Biden's son testified to the House Ways and Means Committee behind closed doors on Friday, and a second employee is set to testify privately on Tuesday, two sources familiar with the matter told The Times. The sources were not authorized to speak to the press about the sensitive inquiry. House Republicans have been probing Hunter Biden's business dealings since taking control of the House last year. Their investigations were invigorated after two IRS agents claimed the Justice Department had mishandled the investigations of the president's son. The Republican-controlled committee subpoenaed the two employees Darrell J. Waldon and Michael T. Batdorf in August after an IRS whistleblower alleged they had knowledge that could aid the GOP's investigation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Waldon sat for a transcribed interview before the Ways and Means Committee on Friday. Batdorf is expected to sit on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Eastern. The pair were named by IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, who claimed they had direct knowledge of an October 2022 meeting in which the prosecutor in charge of the probe U.S. Atty. David Weiss indicated he did not have full authority to decide whether to charge Hunter Biden with a crime. Republicans have suggested that the alleged Weiss comment is evidence that the Biden White House, or political appointees in the Justice Department, interfered in the investigation. But Weiss, who was appointed by former President Trump and is based in Delaware, said in a June letter to the House Judiciary Committee that Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland had granted him ultimate authority of the Hunter Biden investigation. Weiss has never been denied the authority to bring charges in any jurisdiction, he wrote. A federal grand jury began investigating Hunter Biden's taxes and business relations as early as 2018. In August, Garland named Weiss a special prosecutor after a plea deal over tax and gun charges collapsed. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows an airfield in southern Lebanon that Israel alleges is an Iranian-built Hezbollah base on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Israel accused Iran on Monday, Sept. 11 of building an airport in southern Lebanon to be used as a launchpad for attacks against Israelis across the border, signaling a possible escalation in tensions between the regional foes. (Planet Labs PBC via AP) JERUSALEM (AP) Israel accused Iran on Monday of building an airport in southern Lebanon to be used as a launchpad for attacks against Israelis across the border, signaling a possible escalation in tensions between the regional foes. Speaking at a high-profile security conference hosted by Reichman University near Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed Iran has been building a runway that slices through forested mountains just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Israel's northern border. Gallant displayed satellite photographs that he said showed the site, where the Iranian national flag and the flag of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group could be seen. Gallant alleged that Iran is planning to act against the citizens of Israel," using the runway as a base. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for Hezbollah declined to comment on Israeli accusations. The defense minister did not specify when the satellite photos were taken. The location he gave was near the hilly Lebanese city of Jezzin, across the border from the Israeli town of Metulla. Hezbollah earlier this year invited journalists to watch a military exercise in a nearby town in southern Lebanon. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC obtained by The Associated Press from July 28 showed work on a 1.2 kilometer (3,937-foot) runway with hangars constructed on a tarmac just east of the runway. Satellite images from January showed the runway largely unpaved. Israel has said in recent years that it shot down Hezbollah or Iranian-linked drones launched from Lebanon and Syria. Israel and Hezbollah, the Shiite group that controls much of southern Lebanon, fought a war in 2006. The border has remained tense but largely quiet since then, with both sides wary of another major confrontation. But tensions have mounted. Hezbollah is committed, like its patron Iran, to Israels destruction and its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, regularly threatens Israel. In an unusually bold attack earlier this year, a man who Israeli officials said was likely linked to Hezbollah infiltrated into Israel from Lebanon and detonated a bomb that severely wounded an Israeli citizen. The group also allowed Palestinian militant factions to operate in its strongholds and fire rocket barrages toward Israel this past spring. Israel has complained about further provocations by Hezbollah, including over tents it says the group pitched on the Israeli side of the Blue Line a demarcation set by the United Nations for the purpose of confirming the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon when it ended an occupation in 2000. In his speech, Gallant did not describe exactly how Hezbollah would launch attacks from the runway or use the airport for terrorist purposes. He said that, in the event of a conflict, Israel would be prepared to strike Hezbollah with deadly force to ensure Hezbollah and Lebanon pay a heavy price. Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, and Gallant outlined what he said were a list of Iranian activities along Israel's various fronts, including support for militant groups in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank. At the same conference, the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency on Sunday accused Iran of plotting deadly attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. David Barnea said Israel is prepared to strike perpetrators in the heart of Tehran. Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system and in support of the Supreme Court ahead of a pivotal appeals hearing beginning Tuesday, in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's judicial overhaul plan has plunged the country into nine months of unrest and exposed bitter divisions within Israeli society. On Tuesday, the countrys gaze shifted from the streets to the courtroom, where Supreme Court judges began to deliberate over the very laws meant to curtail their power. Israels High Court is hearing the first of three flashpoint cases in the coming weeks, all dealing with the legality of the overhaul. Netanyahu unveiled the plan early this year, saying the country's unelected judges hold too much power over parliament. He is backed by an alliance of ultranationalist and religious parties, each motivated by different grievances against the legal system. Opponents say the plan will push the country toward authoritarian rule by concentrating power in the hands of Netanyahu and his parliamentary allies. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The court's rulings could set the stage for a constitutional crisis, casting doubt on who holds ultimate legal authority in the country parliament or the courts. HOW DID WE GET HERE? The plan has triggered mass protests, shaken the economy, sparked mass refusals by military reservists and drawn concern from the country's top ally, the United States. But Netanyahu's government has barreled forward. It passed the first major law in July, barring the Supreme Court from striking down decisions by parliament it deems unreasonable. Judges have used this legal standard in the past to prevent government decisions viewed as unsound or corrupt. Earlier this year, the court blocked the appointment of a politician with past convictions of bribery and tax offenses as finance minister. Netanyahu's allies say parliament should have the final say over appointments. A second case will look at a law passed early this year that makes it harder for the country's attorney general to declare a prime minister unfit and remove him from office. The new law allows this only in cases of mental or physical incapacitation. Critics say the law was passed to protect Netanyahu while he is on trial for corruption charges. The third case involves Justice Minister Yariv Levin 's refusal to convene the committee that chooses the country's judges. Critics accuse Levin, a key architect of the overhaul, of holding up the committee until he can appoint judges sympathetic to the overhaul. WHY DO THESE CASES MATTER? Tuesday's case is a contest between fundamentally different interpretations of democracy. Netanyahu and his coalition say that as the peoples elected representatives, they have a democratic mandate to govern without being hobbled by the court. A court that sets the laws for itself and decides for itself which laws it operates under is not a court, Simcha Rothman, another key architect of the overhaul, told the Army Radio station Monday. Opponents say with Israel's weak system of checks and balances, the court must retain the power to review and override some government decisions. They say that if the court loses the reasonability standard, Netanyahu's government could appoint convicted cronies to Cabinet posts, roll back rights for women and minorities, and annex the occupied West Bank. This government has already expressed a desire to fire officials like the attorney general and replace them with yes-men that will do whatever the government wants. And the reasonability bill presumably takes away our power to challenge that, said Noa Sattath, executive director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, a group challenging the law. On Sept. 19, the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments challenging the legality of Levins refusal to convene the judicial appointments committee. The final case, on the attorney general's powers to declare a prime minister incapacitated, is set for Sept. 28. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES? The laws on reasonability and removing the prime minister from office are what are known as Basic Laws" major pieces of legislation that serve as a sort of informal constitution, which Israel does not have. While parliament can easily amend Basic Laws with a bare majority, the court itself has never struck down that type of legislation and doing so would thrust Israel into uncharted territory. Rulings are likely months way, but much is at stake. If the court strikes down the new laws, senior officials, including Levin, have hinted they won't respect the ruling. That would plunge Israel into a constitutional crisis, where citizens and the country's security forces are left to decide which set of orders to follow the parliaments or the courts. If, on the other hand, the court sides with the government, protesters have vowed to amp up civil disobedience. They say future measures could include strikes, walkouts, and tax evasion. Given the controversy surrounding the case, its possible that the court will find a way to soften its decision by limiting the implementation of the law without striking it down. It is also possible that a compromise between the coalition and the opposition will be reached, said Amichai Cohen, a constitutional law professor at Ono College and a senior fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute. The court has never before faced such an extreme threat, he said. Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and advanced on Sept. 10, the Institute for the Study of War said in their latest assessment. Geolocated footage posted on Sept. 10 shows that Ukrainian forces have made gains east of Novoprokopivka located 18 kilometers southeast of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Tavria grouping spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun also said on Sept. 10. that Ukrainian forces continue to advance near Robotyne (12 kilometers south of Orikhiv) and have liberated 1.5 square kilometers of territory in this direction. Russian sources continued limited counterattacks in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and reportedly regained some lost positions, according to the ISW. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked near Robotyne. Ilya Yevlash, spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, reported that Ukrainian forces also achieved unspecified success near Klishchiivka, some seven kilometers southwest of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on Sept. 10 that Ukraine likely has about 30 to 45 days for the counteroffensive before the weather worsens on the ground. The summer counteroffensive, which has seen Ukraine liberate more than a dozen villages in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts, is going slower than expected, Milley said, but he added that Ukraine is still "progressing at a very steady pace through the Russian front lines." Read also: Ukraine war latest: Top US general says Ukraine has 30-45 days for the offensive before weather worsens Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. In his quest to uncover evidence of corruption by President Joe Biden , House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has only managed to undermine his key allegations against the president, according to the committees top Democrat. Chairman Comers investigation has conclusively disproven the Republican allegations against President Biden, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said Monday in a statement accompanying a report summarizing the committees work so far this year. Its a scathing document that portrays the Republican investigation as a transparent effort to create a false equivalence between Biden and former President Donald Trump , who faces four criminal trials for conduct during and after his presidency. The main corruption allegations against Biden are that he participated in his sons business deals with foreign nationals and that as vice president he twisted U.S. foreign policy to benefit a Ukrainian gas company that employed his son as board member. House Republicans have said they may launch an impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden based on the Oversight Committees material. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mounting evidence reveals that then-Vice President Joe Biden was the brand that his family sold around the world to enrich the Bidens, a spokesperson for Comer said Monday. Then-Vice President Biden spoke over 20 times by speakerphone with Hunter Biden s foreign business associates, dined with corrupt oligarchs who funneled millions to Hunter Biden, had coffee with one of his sons associates in Beijing, and may have engaged in a bribery scheme. Earlier this year, Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) uncovered an FBI file indicating that a trusted source spoke to a Ukrainian oligarch who claimed to have bribed Joe and Hunter Biden. The source said the claim was characteristic of braggadocio among post-Soviet businessmen; Raskin has said FBI officials told him they assessed the material and found it not credible enough for a full investigation. (The bureau has declined to publicize its assessment.) Devon Archer, a former business partner of Hunter Bidens, gave Republicans their best material. He told the committee that Hunter Biden used his name and connections in Washington as a brand that could be valuable to potential clients. And Archer said Hunter Biden would occasionally put his dad on speaker phone when they were in the company of business associates. As a result, Comer and other Republicans claim the elder Biden routinely lied whenever he said he had no involvement in his sons work. But according to the transcript, Archer said the conversations he witnessed werent about business and that he never saw Joe Biden help his sons business or Hunter Biden use his father to influence policy. Archer also said he had no knowledge of the Bidens receiving bribes from Ukrainian oligarchs, and that he was not aware of any effort by Hunter Biden to use his dad to get a Ukrainian prosecutor fired. The latter claim that the Bidens corrupted U.S. policy toward Ukraine has been repeatedly debunked, including in sworn testimony by State Department officials. Those officials and ethics experts did say, however, that Hunter Bidens foreign dealmaking created the appearance of a conflict of interest when his father was vice president. Trumps efforts to force Ukraine into announcing a sham investigation of the Bidens led to his first impeachment in 2019. Raskin said Republicans were pursuing the Ukrainian corruption allegation out of humiliating subservience to Trump. The voluminous evidence they have gathered, including thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports and hours of testimony from witnesses, overwhelmingly demonstrates no wrongdoing by President Biden and further debunks Republicans conspiracy theories, Raskin said. [Source] Japan's iconic Mount Fuji has temporarily closed its trails to visitors for the rest of the year as authorities grapple with an onslaught of tourists defiling the revered mountain. Too many tourists: Local officials have lamented how the 12,388-foot UNESCO World Heritage site has faced escalating environmental challenges from a surge in visitors since the post-pandemic tourism boom. The fifth base station, known as "Gogome," located halfway up the mountain, bears the brunt, receiving 90% of visitors. A mix of buses, taxis, and electric vehicles clog the Fuji Subaru Line, the main access route from Tokyo. Threat of reckless hikers: The popularity of "bullet climbing," where hikers ascend and descend within a day, has led to an increase in rescue requests, with non-Japanese tourists accounting for a significant share. Cleanup efforts, despite the dedication of janitors, businesses and volunteers, continue to struggle with soiled bathrooms and litter along the paths. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Radical measures: Governor Kotaro Nagasaki of Yamanashi prefecture, elected in 2019 with a mandate to manage overcrowding, has proposed radical measures, including a ban on passenger buses and cars, replacing the Fuji-Subaru access road with a light-rail train service. The proposal includes a significant roundtrip fare hike to 10,000 yen ($68), aimed at attracting a more discerning demographic. More from NextShark: 26 million Shanghai residents placed on two-stage lockdown amid COVID-19 surge A call to change: The overcrowding crisis has prompted serious concerns among preservationists and officials. Yasuyoshi Okada, president of ICOMOS Japan, stressed the urgency of addressing overtourism to protect Mount Fuji's sacredness and maintain its UNESCO status. Masatake Izumi, an official from Yamanashi prefecture, highlighted littering and rising CO2 emissions as its most pressing problems. "Fuji faces a real crisis," Izumi told reporters on Saturday before the trails were temporarily shut down. "It's uncontrollable and we fear that Mt Fuji will soon become so unattractive, nobody would want to climb it." More from NextShark: San Francisco Boba Guys accused by workers of illegally recording audio of employees and customers Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! UPDATED: NYC Man Who Lost Teeth, Suffered Brain Hemorrhage After 'Beating' was Actually Injured After Drinking 2 Elderly Asian Women Punched in the Head in Separate Attacks on NYC Subway Just days before one of Miamis oldest Black churches was scheduled to lose three of its buildings in a foreclosure auction, a Miami agency bought the buildings so the church can hold services and run its Sunday School while it pays back more than $2 million it owes from a loan signed off by its former pastor. St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Overtown, which has roots dating to 1906, owed over $2.7 million to its lender, Taylor Made Lending, after its former pastor, Bishop James D. Adams, took out a $1.6 million balloon mortgage in the churchs name in 2018. Three church properties were pledged as collateral for the loan, but the historic sanctuary at 1328 NW Third Ave. was not affected. Church leaders say they knew nothing about the mortgage at the time, which grew to $2.7 million due to unpaid real estate taxes and interest on the loan. On Friday, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Vivianne Del Rio canceled the foreclosure sale for St. John, which was set for Monday, after the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency agreed to buy all three buildings facing foreclosure. The proceeds of the sale paid back the loan in full. Church has five years to buy back the buildings The Community Redevelopment Agency gave the church five years to buy back the buildings, Marva Wiley, an attorney for St John, said Monday. In the meantime, St. John will lease the buildings and parking lots for $1 a year from the CRA, allowing them to conduct church services and Sunday School as usual. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On July 27, the Community Redevelopment Agency allocated $3.9 million to purchase the three St. John buildings. The item was approved by the CRA board members, including Miami City Commission Chairwoman Christine King, who has been vocal about saving historic churches such as St. John. Helping to save St. John was paramount and it is my goal to assist other historic institutions in District 5 as well, said King, who represents the district, in a statement. The agency felt it was its responsibility to save the church, which has been a vital part of the Overtown community for decades, said James D. McQueen, executive director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA. Our job here is to try to revitalize the community, McQueen said Tuesday. We wouldnt be living up to our obligation as a community if we didnt try to find a way to help. When it comes to buying back the property, the agency expects St. John to pay a minimum of $3.9 million the price it sold for. McQueen said the goal was not to give the church more money, but to help them regain ownership of property that was once theirs. Though the CRA, a taxpayer-funded agency, doesnt usually buy church buildings, McQueen said the agency does whats best for Overtown. We are charged with addressing slum and blight in a community that was long ignored by the very same county and city tax dollars, McQueen said. You have to understand this community was torn up because of governments decisions to run I-95 north and west, cutting the community in half. READ MORE: One of Miamis oldest Black churches faces financial cliff due to loans by ex-pastor Ex-pastors loans The church was in financial peril largely due to Adams, who signed his name to two mortgages totaling nearly $2.5 million. The mortgages put the churchs properties, including the fellowship hall, which houses the Sunday School classrooms and where services are held while the church undergoes renovations, at risk. The properties also include two buildings that the church rents out to tenants and a restaurant and the churchs parking lots. A stained glass window inside St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, 1328 NW Third Ave, Miami. Adams, 62, was elected senior pastor in 2010, and was fired by the church in 2021, after the church found out about the mortgages. Bishop James Adams, the former pastor at St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church in Miami. The church fired him in 2021 after it said he took out two loans totaling nearly $2.5 million that he secured with church property. The church said it did not know about the loans at the time they were taken out. Much of the borrowed money went to buying a $1.3 million downtown riverfront condo that Adams lawyer says was meant to be his parsonage, or church house. Adams, who has answered the Heralds questions only through his attorney, Robert Harris, moved into the condo shortly after he signed for an $845,000 mortgage in the churchs name in 2017. The church sold the condo and paid off the $845,000 mortgage and back condo fees, but, until Friday, was still on the hook for the $1.6 million Adams took out in the churchs name in 2018, plus the accrued taxes and interest. The cathedral, marked by an Art Deco facade and two-story stained glass windows, was built in 1940 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The church was designed by the first major Black architecture firm in the United States, McKissack & McKissack and has hosted the National Baptist Convention four times. Many of the churchs outreach services, including the clothing drive, a food pantry that distributes food to the Overtown community and daycare, operate out of the buildings affected by the foreclosure suit. An early photo of St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church parishioners is displayed inside the churchs fellowship hall on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Miamis historic Overtown neighborhood. The church, which is undergoing renovations, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This report was created with philanthropic support from Christian, Muslim and Jewish funders in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all work. A Barnstable judge has ordered home confinement for a 14-year-old boy accused of attempted murder and holding a Black teenage boy underwater while calling him racial slurs back in July. John Sheeran, 14, was released to home confinement to live with his father in Chatham following his arraignment on Monday. Conditions of his release included wearing a GPS monitoring device, continue reporting to juvenile probation, and being confined to his fathers home in Chatham except for medical and legal appointments. Prosecutors tried to get the judge to keep Sheeran in jail, arguing that hes a danger to the community, after Boston 25 learned Monday that Sheeran went on to attack another child of a different race that same night after the alleged incident involving the Black teen. Despite the prosecutors concerns over Sheerans violence towards others, the judge ruled he can be released as long as he follows the conditions for his release. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Racially-motivated: Teen facing attempted murder charge tried to drown Black juvenile, DA says Sheeran is charged with attempted murder and a civil rights violation, after prosecutors said he tried to drown a Black child on July 19 at Goose Pond in Chatham. NEW: John Sheeran, 14, will be released from jail after he was charged with attempted murder for trying to drown a black child in Chatham. Judge says hell be on home confinement with GPS monitor. Prosecutors say he shouted racial slurs at victim while pulling him under water pic.twitter.com/Nk3iqKboyy Litsa Pappas (@LitsaPappas) September 11, 2023 Prosecutors said the victim thought he was meeting up with friends at the pond that day. Shortly after getting there, the victim told police Sheeran started throwing rocks at him and calling him racial slurs. The victim told police that Sheeran continued to throw stones and threatened to beat me up. The victim couldnt swim so he wore a life jacket in the water, but the victim told police Sheeran tried to pull him under water multiple times, to the point where he couldnt breathe. Sheeran held on to my life jacket and pulled me under water and back up about 4-5 times... while doing it water got into my mouth and nose and I could not breathe, the victim told police. The victim says Sheeran started calling him George Floyd while kicking him and pushing him under water. The victim told police he was shouting over and over again that he couldnt breathe. He said thats when the suspect and another teen starting laughing and called me George Floyd. The victim said Sheeran and another kid came toward him again trying to pull him back under water, and he called out for help. Eventually, bystanders were able to come help rescue the victim from the water. Prosecutors also say later that night, Sheeran punched an Asian child in the face. Mr. Sheeran cant be out in the community because whether its 3 oclock in the afternoon at a pond with his friends where he should be able to behave or 8:15 at night when he runs into another child, he punches that kid, hes a violent child, weve heard no mitigating factors, this violence is unfortunately targeted towards children of other races, children that dont look like him, Assistant District Attorney Eileen Moriarty said in court. Sheeran had just moved to Florida with his mother this summer while his parents are going through a divorce, prosecutors said. 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 Jury selection begins Monday for the trial of a man accused of raping and killing his niece in 2018. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Johnathan Quiles is accused of killing his 16-year-old niece Iyana Sawyer and her unborn child in December 2018. Sawyer was last seen on Dec. 19, 2018, traveling to her uncles job at a salvage yard on North Main Street after leaving school. Her body was never found, but police believe she was shot dead and he body dumped at Otis Road Landfill. Action News Jax told you in June that the judge would decide if past crimes committed by Quiles could be heard at trial. The judge granted the states request Aug. 11, meaning Quiles past deeds can be mentioned to prove a motive in court. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read: Judge to decide if past crimes of man accused of killing niece can be heard at trial The state also filed a motion asking the judge to apply Floridas new death penalty law to the case. The new law allows a jury to recommend death with an 8-4 vote rather than be unanimous. Quiles defense filed counter motions arguing that implementing the new law would be unconstitutional since the alleged murder took place in 2019 while the death penalty law still required a unanimous jury. The judge has yet to rule on the death penalty motions, as he said he needed to better research the new law before making a decision. Jury selection begins at 10 a.m. at Duval County Courthouse. Action News Jax will be in the courtroom and will provide updates as we get them. Read: Remembering 9/11: Nation marks 22 anniversary of the attacks on America [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. For most people, a call at 3 a.m. would be upsetting. For Renee Green, the early morning call from her son Kahlil Guinn was something she looked forward to every day. Hed call after working nights in Westport as the general manager of Offkey Karaoke Lounge & Suites and Throwback KC retro dance club. Each call was his 15-minute opportunity to check in on his mother and make sure she was doing well. Now, the mother of three wishes for nothing more than to get just one more call from her middle child. He was always caring, positive and gave encouragement, says Green. He had a way of motivating the people he talked with. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Guinn, a father of six, died by suicide on Sept. 4. He was 46. Green says she had no idea her son, a Marine Corps veteran, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression until she discovered his Veterans Affairs medical records after his death. Guinn was the type of person who did not want to burden people with his issues while being a pillar of support, she said. It is very, very hard for us, says his mother. He didnt show us what he was going through inside, and he always kept a smile on to help other people get over their milestones. He was always caring, positive and gave encouragement, Renee Green says of her son Kahlil Guinn. After Guinns 12 years in the Marines, he stayed active in the Kansas City veteran community, participating in fund drives for various causes. Among them: mental health. Green hopes that others suffering in similar circumstances will reach out for help instead of trying to work through their troubles alone. I want people to know to love yourself and take care of yourself. I wish he was able to speak more freely of his lack of peace, she says. Green feels comforted by the many messages and stories she has received about her son. Many friends, his classmates from Shawnee Misson West High School and business acquaintances posted heartfelt messages about his death. You did your best. You gave the world what you had to offer. A voice to many, a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on. My heart hurts for him and his family My brother I hope you found peace. I was lucky enough to know this amazing human, Kahlil Guinn. He was a brother and protector to everyone that met him. I promise to keep making you proud Kahlil. I love you and miss you tremendously! Kahlil Guinn, right, with siblings Rashanda Green and Tony Garcia. Green and her family now have the task of keeping the memory of Guinn alive for his children, who she says were the center of his life. The family plans to have a celebration of life with military honors at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 at Offkey Karaoke Lounge. So many of the Westport businesses who knew him through his work have reached out to share what an important part of the area he was, Green says. She says she finds peace in a message he recorded for his family before his death: I am proud of you, I love you. Love yourself and you will continue to make me proud. He is survived by his mother, Renee Green; siblings, Tony Garcia and Rashanda Green; children Jordan Guinn, Reagan Guinn, Jayda Hankins, Dasha Valentinovna, Azaria Brewster, Elias Chilcote. He is also remembered by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and friends. If you or someone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 988. Other remembrances John Houston, retired worker for General Motors, died Aug. 23. He was 84. John Houston John Houston, retired worker for General Motors Co., died Aug. 23. He was 84. Houston was born on Jan. 28, 1939, in Louin, Mississippi, to Dunk and Bernice Houston, the youngest of his parents six children. His family moved to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1948, and he graduated from Sumner High School in 1959. As the son of a reverend, Houston grew up in church and carried his faith into his later years as a member of Abundant Life Church. Houston worked for General Motors for over 33 years in various positions. While walking to work, he met Beverly Ivory and the two married in 1969. They had five children and the couple were married for 49 years. Houston loved the outdoors and enjoyed activities such as fishing, hunting and cooking his freshly caught game for his family. His family says his boat and gun collections were his most beloved possessions. He took many trips with his children and grandchildren, teaching the next generation to appreciate nature. He is survived by his children, Virgie Houston, Kim Houston Frye, John Houston Jr., Jason Houston and Jermaine Houston. He is also remembered by a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Brad Boldridge, marketing and development researcher, died Aug. 31. He was 46. Brad Boldridge Brad Boldridge, marketing and development researcher, died Aug. 31. He was 46. Boldridge was born Oct. 2, 1976, in Atchison, Kansas, to Marvin and Marjorie Boldridge. He was the couples youngest child. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1995 and in 2008 he received a degree in business management from Friends University. Boldridge was married in 1999 to Althera, and the couple spent the next 23 years together and had three daughters. He will be remembered as a caring husband and father who spent hours of quality time with his family. Boldridge spent his career as a marketing and development researcher for companies such as Neilsen, Hills Pet Nutrition and Farmland Foods. He is survived by his wife, Althera Boldridge; daughters Alexandria, Gabrielle and Kerrington Boldridge; mother Marjorie Boldridge; brothers Mark Boldridge and Steven Boldridge. He is also remembered by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Vice President Kamala Harris answered CBSs Margaret Brennan with silence after the Face the Nation host questioned her about former President Donald Trumps possible return to the White House. (You can check out the exchange below.) Are you taking the threat of a second Trump presidency seriously enough? Brennan asked Harris before a roughly two-second pause. I dont understand the question, Harris replied. Brennan went on to describe Harris as dismissive of Republican criticism aimed at her and President Joe Biden before pointing to Trumps performance in national polls. A number of polls released in the past month found either a thinlead for one of the candidates or a tie race between Trump and Biden. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When you look at current polling, the front-runner for a Republican nomination is the former president, the 45th president, Brennan said to Harris. We will win reelection, Harris responded. Do you feel , said Brennan before Harris cut in. We will win, we will win reelection. There is too much at stake and the American people know it, Harris said. The tense exchange between the two followed Brennan touching on Republicanstakingaim at Harris as they linger on concerns that Biden, who would turn 86 at the end of his term, wouldnt be able to finish his second term. Brennan later noted Democrats concerned with Bidens age as well and cited a recent Wall Street Journal poll that found two-thirds of Democrats describing Biden as too old to run for president. Are you prepared to be commander in chief? Brennan asked. Yes I am, if necessary. But Joe Biden is going to be fine, Harris replied. H/T Mediaite Related... First Out Elected Official in U.S. Kathy Kozachenko to be Honored with Statue Kathy Kozachenko, the first out politician elected to public office in the U.S., will be honored with a statue on the 50th anniversary of her historic election. The city of Ann Arbor, Mich., will honor Kozachenko, who successfully ran for a seat on the city council at the age of only 21 in 1974. While two members of the same city council, Jerry DeGrieck and Nancy Wechsler, came out during the term preceding her election, Kozachenko was the first person to win an election campaigning as openly gay. With the backdrop of an unpopular war in Vietnam and President Richard Nixons Watergate scandal back at home, Kozachenko ran on a platform centering on corruption reform and social revolution as a member of the Human Rights Party, a socialist party that gained success at the ballot box following the ratification of the Twenty-sixth Amendment in 1971 which lowered the national voting age to 18. (@) Kozachenko served only one term in office from 1974 to 1976, but before retiring from politics and later focusing on building a family with her partner and their son. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement People have asked why I'm not still in politics, she told BTL in 2021. I was really never in politics. I was a part of a social justice movement and running for office and elections was one part of how we wanted to share our ideas and make change. Im still very much a social justice activist even though Im not someone who is into party politics per se. Ann Arbor city council member and Mayor pro-tem Travis Radina said in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter, that the council is raising $100,000 for the statue. Kathys election helped pave the way for thousands of openly LGBTQ elected officials in the decades that followed her election, including my own and those of at least 1,185 LGBTQ+ out elected officials currently serving in the United States today, Radina wrote. (@) The statue is due to be dedicated next year. In the first week of suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton s impeachment trial, his lawyers and House prosecutors each scored points against each other, and now they're heading into the back stretch looking to punctuate their cases. The trial resumes at 9 a.m. Monday in the Texas Senate chamber, where, to this point, public turnout has been sparse for the state's first impeachment trial of a statewide officeholder in more than 100 years. Based on the time remaining to present evidence for each side, it is possible the case could be turned over to the senator-jurors to deliberate by the end of the week. The question before the 30 lawmakers 18 Republicans and 12 Democrats is whether Paxton abused his position as the states top lawyer in 2020 to provide favorable legal services to a campaign donor, Nate Paul. When the trial recessed Friday afternoon, the senators had just heard from David Maxwell, the former law enforcement director under Paxton in the attorney generals office. An imposing figure at 6-feet, 6-inches, Maxwell testified that he cautioned Paxton against getting involved with Paul, an Austin real estate tycoon who had complained to Paxton that federal authorities had illegally searched his home the year before. Maxwell, a former Texas Ranger, said he found Paul's complaint meritless and that he had shared that opinion with Paxton. Rather than heed his advice and close the matter, Maxwell said, Paxton hired an outside lawyer to investigate Pauls complaint. If he didnt get away from this individual and stop doing what he was doing, he was going to get himself indicted, Maxwell said he warned Paxton. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More: Who is the 'unsung hero' of Ken Paxton's impeachment trial? Here are takeaways from Day 4. David Maxwell, former director of law enforcement at the attorney general's office, testified Friday at Ken Paxton's impeachment trial that he had warned Paxton, If he didnt get away from this individual and stop doing what he was doing, he was going to get himself indicted. In August, the American-Statesman reported that federal prosecutors in San Antonio convened a grand jury to review evidence of Paxton's association with Paul. Two months earlier, in June, Paul was arrested and indicted on eight counts of mortgage fraud in connection to the search that he alleged to Maxwell was unlawful. Austin defense lawyer Rick Cofer, who is not involved in the impeachment trial, said Maxwell's testimony was particularly convincing because unlike other witnesses whose testimony the jurors might view as having a political bent, Maxwell "is not a creature of politics." "He had a cogent reason for every decision he made," Cofer told the Statesman in a live trial debriefing Friday evening. "His direction to the attorney general came from the perspective of a career law enforcement official." Maxwell is among four former senior aides to Paxton whom House prosecutors called to testify. Between them, they said they once held Paxton in high regard but grew concerned over his constant involvement in legal matters involving Paul, at the expense of larger issues facing the state. The four aides are among eight whistleblowers in the attorney general's office who quit or were fired after they made a complaint against Paxton to the FBI in September 2020. The effectiveness of their testimony was mixed. While Paxtons lawyers struggled to break the dispassionate Maxwell, another whistleblower withered. One of the memorable moments of the trial's first week came Thursday with Paxton lawyer Mitch Little grilling Ryan Vassar, the attorney general's former deputy for legal counsel, about the FBI complaint. Boxed into a corner, Vassar conceded that the complaint lacked evidence, a response that Paxton supporters online cited as evidence of a sham trial. The next day, Vassar returned to the stand to address his testimony. Given a night to think on it, he testified that what he meant by no evidence is that the whistleblowers did not bring physical documents with them to the FBI meeting. The cleanup went further when House prosecutor Rusty Hardin, in questioning Vassar, noted that Vassar's experience and observations constitute evidence. More: Who are the key players in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial? From a political perspective, the stakes couldnt be higher for Paxton. If Paxton prevails, hell return to work and fight for conservative causes like border security and abortion restrictions. The trial comes 10 months after 4 million Texans in November voted to reelect him to a third term. If Paxton loses, hell be removed as attorney general. That's a high bar, requiring support from two-thirds of eligible senators, or 21 of 30 members. Another senator, Paxton's wife, Sen. Angela Paxton , R-McKinney, does not get to vote under the rules the Senate approved for the proceeding. If Ken Paxton is removed, the senators could take it a step further with a second vote on whether to permanently bar him from running again for attorney general or holding any public office in Texas. Early test goes against Paxton Hoping to prevail without a trial, a defense motion to dismiss the case via summary judgment failed Tuesday by a 24-6 vote. All other defense motions to dismiss some or all of the impeachment articles came up short, with only one of them getting enough votes 10 to clear the two-thirds barrier. Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, sits with his lawyers Tony Buzbee, left, and Dan Cogdell at the beginning of Paxtons impeachment trial Tuesday. Yet, Paxton scored some wins throughout the week. Among the 16 articles against him, one accuses the attorney general of instructing his lawyers to draft a pandemic-era legal opinion against foreclosure sales, days before Paul's properties were scheduled for auction. Paxtons lawyers argued that the opinion sought to provide relief to homeowners facing financial distress, and that Paxton's position was so understandable that it was later adopted by the federal government. Specific to Pauls properties, they said the foreclosure sale did not go through, and not because of the attorney general's office's opinion, but because Paul stopped it by declaring bankruptcy. Another article is fatally flawed, Paxtons lawyers argued, because it misidentifies the job title assigned to an outside lawyer Paxton enlisted to look into Pauls complaint. House prosecutors have not addressed this discrepancy. In a broader defense against the charges, Paxton's legal team, led by Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee, argued that Paxton is the victim of a mutiny by the whistleblowers who, they allege, conspired with outside forces including members of Gov. Greg Abbotts office. That theory has yet to be fleshed out with witness testimony. Meanwhile, House prosecutors will continue to lay out their case, likely with testimony from some or all of the remaining four whistleblowers. They need not get a conviction on all 16 impeachment counts. One is enough to remove Paxton from office. Ken Paxton defense attorney Tony Buzbee listens to the testimony of whistleblower Ryan Vassar on the fourth day of Paxtons impeachment trial. On the prosecutors' witness list is a former Paxton confidant named Drew Wicker, who they hope will provide testimony that shows Paxton arranged for Paul to receive a confidential law enforcement file that identified people and entities involved in the federal investigation into him. Wicker is also central to a bribery charge on a Paxton home remodel. A transcript of an interview with House investigators shows Wicker overheard a conversation in Paxton's home in which a contractor said he needed Paul's approval before proceeding with a countertop upgrade. During opening statements, Buzbee teased to financial records he says leave no doubt that the Paxtons paid for the remodel. More: Paxton used fake Uber name 'Dave P' for secret meetings with mistress, new filings allege Both sides began the trial with 24 hours to question witnesses. Heading into the weekend, House prosecutors had 13 to 14 hours remaining, and for Paxtons side the remaining time was similar. Paxton has not appeared in the Senate chamber since Tuesday morning when the trial began and he was required to be there to enter a plea to all counts. Based on a pretrial ruling from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who is presiding over the trial similarly to a judge, House prosecutors cannot compel Paxton to testify, and his lawyers say they will not call him to testify. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ken Paxton impeachment: Second week of trial resumes in Texas Senate A man has been charged with vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol for his alleged role in a fatal car crash, according to Corbin police. The single-vehicle wreck happened Sept. 3 on 5th Street Road in Corbin. Police said Zachary Mathis was killed while James Barnes was injured. Barnes appeared to be under the influence at the scene, according to police. A detective investigated the wreck, which ultimately led to an arrest warrant being issued for Barnes. The warrant was served Friday by the Laurel County Sheriffs Office. WKYT, the Herald-Leaders reporting partner, reported that Barnes was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital for his injuries. This is a developing story and may be updated. Kentucky Woman And Her 2 Daughters Build Engines For General Motors: Ive Built The Most Engines In The Whole Shop | Bloomberg via Getty Images A mother and her two daughters are changing the narrative of a womans role in the car industry as they build a legacy as engine builders. According to ABC News, Angie Carothers, a General Motors head subline employee, decided to begin her career at the Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky despite her fathers advice to choose another route. She sometimes builds Camaro and boat engines among others. During the duration of Carothers career, shes been a trailblazer and leader, showing that women have a place in a car factory or any job deemed to be one for a man. I was the first female in the PBC to get the first perfect ten engines in a row. In 2020 and 2021, Ive built the most engines in the whole shop. All the women, all the men, out of everybody. Even the best builder, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At General Motors Performance Build Center, there are less than 15% of women. Once my mom and my sister got here I was like, If they can do it, I know I can do it!'daughter Latrice, an assembler building Cadillac Escalade T1 engines, said in the interview. Corothers daughters, who work at the same plant, are happy to follow in their moms footsteps and continue to shift the perspective of what women are capable of. We actually work with several men. And to be able to do the same thing that they do, and do it better, it makes me feel good, Latrice explained. I thought factory work was a mans job until I seen that my mom did it. She came in here and she actually set the standard for me and my sister, she added. The reward for them after completing an engine is the nameplate each product is tagged with, which includes the builders name to recognize their hard work. I take pride to put my name on it, because I know I built it from start to finish, Latrice said. For somebody to actually get a Charisse Walters engine, they reach out to me like, Oh, is it true youre really a female? Did you really build it?' Charisse said. On top of being inspirational trendsetters, the relationship between the triad has enhanced their bonds with each other since they work at the same plate. Their dynamic shifted due to them taking their lunch breaks together every day and seeing each other on the clock. Being able to work together every day we were already bonded but it helps us hold that bond, Charisse told ABC News. SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon visit Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russias presidency office announced on Monday. Putin and Kim are expected to discuss North Korean supplies to assist Russia in its ongoing assault on Ukraine. The visit comes as South Korea a U.S. ally that is still officially at war with its northern cousin is drawing closer to Washington. North Koreas state news agency KCNA also reportedly confirmed the visit. The Russian presidencys office did not disclose the exact date of Kims one-on-one with Putin, but Associated Press journalists near Russias border with North Korea said they saw a train similar to the one used by Kim in previous trips abroad moving back and forth between a bridge connecting the two countries. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Last week, The New York Times reported the two leaders were planning on holding talks, likely in Vladivostok this month, as Moscow is in need of weapons for its war in Ukraine and North Korea is looking for advanced satellite technology and food. This will be Kims first international trip since 2019 when he visited Vladivostok to meet with the Russian president after nuclear talks between the U.S. and North Korea broke down. The Biden administration has already sounded the alarm over Kims upcoming Russia visit. Vice President Kamala Harris warned a partnership between Putin and Kim would be a huge mistake. I also believe very strongly that for both Russia and North Korea, this will further isolate them, Harris told CBSs Face the Nation in an interview broadcast Sunday. National security adviser Jake Sullivan last week said Pyongyang would pay a price for this in the international community if it chose to supply weapons to Russia for use in the battlefield in Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu recently visited North Korea to convince Kim to sell the country artillery ammunition. Another group of Russian officials made a trip to Pyongyang to follow up those talks, the White House said. Related... North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has left Pyongyang in his armoured train to meet with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Western intelligence agencies expect the two to discuss North Korea supplying weapons and ammunition to support Russias war machine in Ukraine. Moscow is expending thousands of artillery shells a day during its invasion and is struggling to keep up with the demand. Tough sanctions imposed by Kyivs Western allies have forced Mr Putin to turn towards the few nations openly supporting the 18-month invasion. The Krelim said that the visit in the coming daya will include a formal lunch. "It will be a full-scale visit. A formal lunch is also planned," the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said. South Korean media, citing government sources, said that the train had left the North Korean capital on Sunday evening and that the summit would likely be held on Tuesday or Wednesday in Vladivostok which is just 80 miles from the Russia-North Korea border. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The extreme weight of the bulletproof train, with its signature olive green colour, will make for a relatively slow journey. It is expected to cover the 683 miles to Vladivostok in about 20 hours, travelling at a speed of about 37 miles per hour, with a long stopover at the border to switch wheels that fit Russian railway tracks. It will be the first foreign visit by Mr Kim in more than four years, with the nations borders sealed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Kims last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Mr Putin. The Pentagon said that Mr Kim was on his way. "We do expect some type of meeting [and] based on the information we've been provided, KJU is travelling to Russia," Pentagon spokesman, Brigadier General Pat Ryder, said. The Russian president is due to speak this week at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok. The day of Mr Putins speech is not yet clear. Locals in Vladivostok reported a higher police presence than usual on the streets. Both countries show their teeth to the whole world and can stand for themselves. So there is something in common, said resident Fyodor, who did not give her surname. Another resident, Svetlana said: He [Kim Jong-un] is such a cryptic person, so I dont even know if he will come or not. But I think he must come we have some changes going on, so it must be interesting for him what happens in Russia. The Kremlin said last week that Moscow intends to deepen its mutually respectful relations with Pyongyang, one of its close Cold War allies and also one of a small handful of countries to back Russias proclaimed annexation of parts of Ukraine in 2022. The United States has said it would be a huge mistake for North Korea to supply Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine and warned Pyongyang would pay a price. North Korea has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. In exchange, they speculate, Mr Kim could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines and military reconnaissance satellites. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kim's growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the United States, South Korea, and Japan. However, some analysts say a potential meeting between Kim and Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. Russia, which has always closely guarded its most important weapons technologies, even from key allies such as China, could be unwilling to make major technology transfers with North Korea for what is likely to be limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the countries, they say Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, visited the North Korean capital in July, alongside officials from China, Pyongyangs largest trading partner. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Mr Shoigu had tried to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia during the visit. Mr Putin and Mr Kim are said to have exchanged letters in the wake of Mr Shoigus visit, where the defence minister was shown weapons by the North Korean leader including the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile. According to analysts from NK News, a specialist site focusing on North Korea, the display also included two new drone designs, including one resembling the primary offensive strike drone used by the US Air Force. Mr Kirby said the letters between Mr Kim and Mr Putin were more at the surface level, but the North Korean leader is known for sending effusive letters to other world leaders he considers allies or at least useful. In June, Mr Kim sent a message to Mr Putin marking Russias national day, where he said he would hold hands with the Russian leader and that the nation had the full support of North Koreas people. Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report A luxury armored train believed to be carrying Kim Jong Un appeared to depart Pyongyang Monday for Vladivostok, Russia, where the reclusive North Korean leader may rendezvous with President Vladimir Putin . South Korean state media reported that the train Kim uses, bulletproof but notoriously slow possibly because of its weight, left North Korea. The Kremlin confirmed in a statement that Kim would visit Russia "in the coming days." The White House has said it was expecting a meeting between the two leaders this month as Moscow looks to its ally from the Soviet era to help it rearm for its war in Ukraine. The meeting could take place as early as Tuesday. It would be Kim's first overseas trip in more than four years. Is Putin getting desperate in Ukraine? Outreach to Kim Jong Un puts spotlight on weapons shortages North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un leaves a train carriage after arriving at the border station of Khasan, Primorsky Krai region, Russia, on April 24, 2019. The White House said last week that arms negotiations between North Korea and Russia were "advancing." It also warned that Kim's regime would "pay a price" if it strikes an arms deal with Putin's government. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The encounter between Kim and Putin could take place on the sidelines of the annual Eastern Economic Forum. It runs in the far eastern Russian port city through Wednesday, according to its website. South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported that Kim's train has up to 20 bulletproof carriages and has a top speed of about 37 mph. It is painted drab green and is rarely photographed. The train was used by Kim's father and grandfather, both of whom were leaders of North Korea. The isolated Asian country could help resupply Moscow with artillery shells and rockets. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank, describes North Korea's munitions industry as "highly developed." In return, North Korea could seek access to some of Russia's high-tech weapons systems. North Korea continues to test and develop long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. The U.S. and North Korea have held nuclear nonproliferation talks on and off stretching back to the 1980s. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin meeting expected in 'coming days' King Charles has sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jongun congratulating him on the anniversary of the countrys founding, according to a report. As the people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future, read the message, according to a report by Reuters which cited North Koreas state-run news agency KCNA. Queen Elizabeth II sent a message with very similar wording to North Korea in 2021. At the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that it was standard practice for national days across the world and has been done before. As in previous years, HM The Queen has sent a message to the people of the DPRK on the occasion of their National Day, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson had said at the time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to the Rodong Simnun, a North Korean state newspaper, Mr Kim received messages marking the 75th anniversary from a number of heads of state, with countries and territories listed including Singapore, Nepal, Bahrain and Mozambique. The newspaper said Mr Kim also received congratulations from Carl a a Gustaf, the king of Sweden, which said: On the occasion of the Anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) I wish to convey to Your Excellency my best wishes for the future and for the welfare of the people of the [DPRK]. North Korea invited Chinese delegates and Russian artists to a midnight paramilitary parade in Pyongyang to mark the countrys founding anniversary on Saturday. China has sent a delegation led by vice premier Liu Guozhong to the celebrations, while Russia sent a military song and dance group. South Korean media speculated that the lack of Russian government officials at the festivities in Pyongyang could be related to preparations for a summit between Mr Kim and Russian president Vladimir Putin, which Washington expects within the month. According to some US reports, it could happen as early as this week. Mr Putin is expected to attend an international forum that began on Sunday and runs until Wednesday in the eastern city of Vladivostok, which was also the site of his first summit with Mr Kim in 2019 and is now seen as a possible venue for their meeting. South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing last Thursday that North Korea and Russia could also be arranging an unexpected surprise route for Mr Kims visit to avoid potential venues reported by the media. North Korea has so far not confirmed any plans for Mr Kim to visit Russia. KCNA said Mr Kim received letters from Mr Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the anniversary, where both leaders said that their countries strengthening ties with North Korea would contribute to the regions peace and stability. Saturdays parade showcased paramilitary organisations and public security forces protecting Pyongyang, rather than the military units that handle his nuclear-capable weapons systems, which have been the focus of other parades this year. Photos showed Mr Kim smiling and talking with his young daughter, believed to be named Ju Ae, as they watched the parade from leather chairs set up at Mr Kims balcony in Kim Il Sung Square named after his state-founding grandfather. Additional reporting by agencies KKR is doubling down on its bet in Reliance Retail, valuing Indias largest retail chain at $100 billion in a fresh $250 million investment. The deal follows the Qatar Investment Authority investing $1 billion in Mukesh Ambani 's retail empire just last month. The New York-headquartered private equity firm KKR invested about $755 million in Reliance Retail in 2020, when the Indian firm was valued at about $62 billion. Reliance Retail, part of conglomerate Reliance Industries, operates 18,500 stores and digital commerce platforms in India, selling everything from electronics to fashion and pharma. The investment comes at a time when Reliance Retail is expanding into new categories, including low-cost fast-fashion, and is also considering a public listing. The company, which also recently partnered with Shein to help the Chinese e-commerce firm reenter India, has purchased and integrated a number of other businesses. Reliance Retail has also made a push into e-commerce in recent years, including maintaining a tie-up with Metas WhatsApp to sell grocery through the instant messaging app. Though Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon India currently lead the local e-commerce market, analysts believe that Reliance will eventually outpace both firms. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Throughout our investment period in Reliance Retail, we have been impressed by the companys vision and extensive work to empower retailers across India through digitalization, as well as by its resilience and performance in spite of the pandemic and other disruptions," said Joe Bae, co-chief executive of KKR, in a statement. AllianceBernstein estimated in a note earlier this year that Reliances robust retail network, sweeping mobile network and digital ecosystem and a home field advantage in a notoriously challenging regulatory landscape will help the Indian conglomerate beat online rivals. The medium-term investment case for RIL is driven by: (1) strong cash flows and ability to invest in growth businesses and (2) potential value-unlocking in the medium term: We believe the operating earnings downgrade cycle for RIL is likely behind us, with energy driving FY24 and consumer pick-up likely in FY25. Jio+Retail capex should fall sharply from FY25 even as earnings pick up. Beyond earnings, we believe potential value-unlocking via stake sales/IPO/listings could be a material stock price driver over the next 2-3 years, wrote JPMorgan analysts in a note last month. Reliance Industries, which owns the majority of Reliance Retail Ventures and is the largest company by market cap in India, has aggressively expanded into a wide range of sectors, including telecom and on-demand video streaming, in the past decade as it diversifies from its reliance on oil. Isha, the daughter of Mukesh Ambani, leads the retail business. "We highly value our deepening partnership with KKR, and their latest investment in RRVL after their previous investment further reinforces their strong belief in RRVLs vision and capabilities," she said in a statement. "We look forward to continued engagement with KKR and to benefit from their global platform, industry knowledge and operational expertise, in our journey towards driving transformation of the Indian retail sector." KKR is also a backer of Jio Platforms, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Isha's brother Akash oversees Jio Platforms. Mukesh Ambani's children were elevated to the Reliance's board last month as their father pledged to mentor them over the next five years to take charge of the company. What we know about the Morocco earthquake The Morocco earthquake killed thousands of people and devastated parts of Marrakech and communities south of the major city. The powerful quake sent people throughout the country rushing into the streets as buildings crumbled, creating an immense need for aid. Morocco earthquake death toll At least 2,900 people died from the earthquake, Morocco's Interior Ministry said Tuesday. Over 5,500 were injured. A woman is helped as she reacts to the death of relatives in an earthquake in the mountain village of Tafeghaghte, southwest of Marrakech, on Sept. 10, 2023. / Credit: Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images How strong was the earthquake in Morocco? The earthquake was a magnitude 6.8, which is rare for western Morocco, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Twenty minutes after the main earthquake, a magnitude 4.9 aftershock hit the region. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In 1960, between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck western Morocco's coastal region. No earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger have been recorded within 300 miles of Friday's quake, according to the agency, which has records for the area dating back to 1900. In the northern part of the country, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck in 2016. In 2004, a magnitude 6.4 quake hit the region. Morocco earthquake map Map shows the area affected by a major earthquake centered near Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept. 8, 2023. / Credit: CBS News Morocco is located in northwestern Africa with coastlines along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Across the Strait of Gibraltar to the north are Spain and the British colony of Gibraltar. To Morocco's east is the country of Algeria. Damage from the earthquake stretched from the city of Marrakech south to villages in the Atlas Mountains, where the epicenter of the quake was located. Where was the earthquake in Morocco? The earthquake struck near the town of Oukaimedene in the Atlas Mountains, a rural area about 50 miles southwest of Marrakech, according to the USGS. The quake had a depth of about 16 miles, which the agency considers to be relatively shallow. Shaking was reported throughout the country as well as in Algeria, Portugal and Spain. When did the Morocco earthquake happen? The earthquake struck at 11:11 p.m. local time on Friday, according to the USGS. The country is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, so the quake hit at 6:11 p.m. EDT. The quake struck at a time when most families and children would have been home in bed, the U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, noted. A man carries a child as he walks past destroyed houses after an earthquake in the mountain village of Tafeghaghte, southwest of Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept. 9, 2023. / Credit: FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images What caused the Morocco earthquake? According to the USGS, the earthquake was the result of oblique reverse faulting. As Jesus Galindo-Zaldivar, a professor of geodynamics at Universidad de Granada, told The Conversation, the phenomenon happens when tectonic plates collide, causing stress to build on a fault line as the Earth's crust thickens. When rocks abruptly shift to release the stress, it can cause an earthquake. How to help Donations can be made to the following organizations to help victims of the earthquake in Morocco: Banque Alimentaire (Food Bank)CAREDirect ReliefHigh Atlas FoundationInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesInternational Medical CorpsWorld Central Kitchen DeSantis: Founding Fathers would "probably" put age limits on elected officials if they could Apple unveils iPhone 15, features USB-C charging and periscope lens Aaron Rodgers out for season with torn Achilles, just 4 snaps into Jets tenure MOSCOW (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin , the Kremlin said on Monday. Earlier, South Korean media, citing unnamed government sources, reported that Kim appeared to have left aboard a special train bound for Russia and a summit with Putin. "At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Jong Un, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days," the Kremlin said. Putin arrived on Monday in the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The United States has expressed concern that North Korea will provide weapons to Russia. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to "expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts". Kim's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones) The Kremlin has officially announced the upcoming visit of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Source: press service of the Russian President Details: It is noted that Kim Jong-Un will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days at Putin 's invitation. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the RIA Novosti news agency that negotiations of delegations and, if necessary, a face-to-face meeting with Putin are planned for the visit of Kim Jong-Un to Russia. For reference: This trip will be Kim's first visit abroad in four years. His last trip abroad in 2019 was also for a summit with Putin. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: On 4 September, The New York Times reported, citing sources, that Kim Jong Un is planning to visit Russia this month to meet with Putin and discuss the possibility of supplying Russia with more weapons for the war against Ukraine. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Putin is currently on a visit there. Several media outlets reported on 11 September that Kim Jong Un and Putin might have a meeting on Tuesday. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! MOSCOW (Reuters) - If Russian President Vladimir Putin decides to run in the 2024 presidential election, no one will be able to compete with him, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, Russia's RBC business news service reported. "The president has not yet announced that he will nominate his candidacy," Peskov was quoted as saying by RBC. "But if we assume that the president stands as a candidate, then it is obvious that there can be no real competition for the president at this current stage." Peskov added that Putin "enjoys the absolute support of the population". ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The former KGB agent has dominated Russia, as president or prime minister, for more than two decades, priding himself on bringing stability to the vast nation after the chaos that engulfed it following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. However, his decision on Feb. 24, 2022, to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine has triggered by far the biggest challenge of his rule and ushered in the gravest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. The war in Ukraine has not gone to plan and in June Putin faced a mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who later died in a plane crash. The West has slapped the toughest ever sanctions on Russia's $2.1 trillion economy, forcing Moscow to accelerate its pivot towards China. Chinese President Xi Jinping told Putin in March that he was convinced Russians would support the Kremlin chief in next year's presidential election. Opinion polls show Putin remains by far the most popular politician in Russia, where most people rely on state media for their news. In August, his approval rating stood at 80%, higher than before the Ukraine war, according to the Levada-Centre. The polls also show that around 70% of the population support the Russian military in Ukraine, though opposition politicians and some Western diplomats say such polls cannot be trusted. (Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Gareth Jones) Lawsuits filed by Kristin Smarts parents against the family of the man convicted of killing her are headed toward settlement, attorneys said Monday. A jury convicted Paul Flores of Smarts murder in October 27 years after the Cal Poly student vanished following an off-campus party. A separate jury acquitted his father, Ruben Flores, of helping his son conceal the crime. During that 27-year period, five lawsuits were filed between the Smart family and the Flores family. A stay, or, pause of legal proceedings, was put on the lawsuits pending the criminal investigation and court proceedings in 2017. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Rita Federman ruled Monday that the stay can remain in place since all lawyers involved in the cases agreed they are near a resolution. James Murphy, the Smarts lawyer, told Federman that there had been some developments in the case and offers have been made to resolve the 2002 wrongful death case against Paul Flores and 2021 wrongful death case against Ruben Flores since Paul Flores conviction. He and Harold Mesick, Ruben Flores attorney, both agreed they plan to have the cases resolved and settled within 60 days. Mesick was also appearing on behalf of Susan Flores lawyer, Jeffry Radding. Flores is currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Timeline of Kristin Smart lawsuits Stan and Denise Smart, Kristins parents, first filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Paul Flores in 2002, court documents show. They alleged Flores murdered their daughter and hid her remains, causing severe emotional distress. The allegation of murder was later proven in criminal court in October. Then, in April 2005, Dennis Mahon sued Susan Flores and her boyfriend, Mike McConville, for emotional distress after he suffered severe emotional distress in jail for two days after violating a restraining order. Mahons website, Dig Up The Yard, houses his theory that Smarts body is or was buried in Susan Flores Arroyo Grande home. McConville filed a restraining order against Mahon as he was investigating leads in the Smart case earlier that year. In the lawsuit, Mahon alleges McConville showed up to an Arroyo Grande City Council meeting knowing Mahon would be there in order to have Mahon arrested for violating the restraining order. McConville and Susan Flores then counter-sued Mahon for harassment and stalking in October 2005, alleging Mahons investigative efforts caused emotional distress to McConville and the Flores family. McConville alleges Mahon was acting as an employee of Stan and Denise Smart, and added the two to the counter-suit for negligent hiring, stalking and emotional distress. The Smarts insurance company, California Casualty Insurance Company, then sued Stan and Denise Smart, Susan Flores and McConville, asking the judge to define the companys rights, duties and obligations are under its policy as liability insurance. Smarts parents then filed a second wrongful death lawsuit against Ruben Flores in April 2021 for emotional distress. They allege Flores moved their daughters body in Feb. 2020 following an FBI search the theory Paul Flores was convicted on, but Ruben Flores was acquitted on. Lawyers involved in the Mahon, McConville and insurance cases said the way they move forward will depend on how the two wrongful death suits resolve. The next hearing in the cases is scheduled for Dec. 13. Settlements in the two wrongful death lawsuits are expected at that time. Nearly 30 Texas grocery stores will be sold if a Kroger and Albertsons merger is approved. The grocery giants announced plans in October for Kroger to acquire Albertsons for $24.6 billion. The proposal was initially met with some public opposition and is still pending approval from federal regulators. The combined company could generate $209 billion in annual revenue. With a total of 5,000 stores, a Kroger-Albertsons merger would position the chain competitively against the countrys largest grocers, Walmart, Amazon and Costco. Kroger and Albertsons each operate a family of other grocery banners, including Tom Thumb, Ralphs, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, King Soopers, Safeway and Vons. Kroger said Friday the merger should be finalized by early 2024. If and when the deal goes through, New Hampshire-based C&S Wholesale Grocers would purchase 413 grocery stores, including 26 locations in Texas, for $1.9 billion. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We understand the plan will impact Texas but does not include the sale of any Dallas Kroger stores at this time, Kroger spokesperson John Votava said. Because we are still in the regulatory process, we are not able to share the specific locations included in the agreement. None of the 26 Texas stores sold to C&S would be of the Kroger brand, Votava said. Founded more than 100 years ago, C&S is a grocery supplier to more than 7,500 independent supermarkets and chain stores, according to its website. The wholesaler has more than 100,000 products. C&S agreed to honor all collective bargaining agreements, securing the future of good-paying union jobs and protecting associates industry-leading health care and pension benefits as well as bargained-for wages, Votava said. Krogers agreement with C&S also includes the sale of five private-label brands, eight distribution centers and two offices across Washington D.C. and 17 states, the company said. Store brand names to be sold include QFC, Marianos and Carrs. Private-label product brands to be sold include Debi Lilly Design, Primo Taglio, Open Nature, ReadyMeals and Waterfront Bistro. Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of Kroger, said C&S is positioned to successfully operate these brands. Following the announcement of our proposed merger with Albertsons Cos., we embarked on a robust and thoughtful process to identify a well-capitalized buyer who will operate as a fierce competitor and ensure divested stores and their associates will continue serving their communities in the ways they do today, McMullen said in a release. C&S achieves all these objectives. Ohio-based Kroger has 218 stores in Texas, clustered in the Metroplex and the Houston metro. Kroger employs more than 30,000 workers in the state. Idaho-based Albertsons has 43 stores in Texas, as well as 65 Tom Thumbs. Ukraine is making progress in talks on receiving long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Sept. 11. The comments came as part of a Foreign Ministry press release following Kuleba's meeting with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock , during her visit to Kyiv. The in-depth discussions with the German foreign minister have led to a better understanding of "the process of making a final decision by the German government," on the missile deliveries, Kuleba said. "Based on the results of the negotiations, I can say that the option of providing these missiles remains open, and the decision-making process within Germany is moving forward," he added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers, meaning Ukraine could use them to strike deep into Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea. Ukraine submitted a request for Germanys air-launched cruise missiles earlier in May, with some German officials voicing support for the transfer. However, media reports emerged that the German government is concerned that the long-range missiles will be used in strikes on Russian territory. Kuleba emphasized in August that Taurus missiles would be "used solely inside our borders." "The longer the missile range, the shorter the war," he argued. During their meeting in Kyiv, Kuleba and Baerbock also discussed Ukrainian grain exports, the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia, and Germany's support to Ukraine on the path towards becoming a member of the European Union. Kuleba thanked Baerbock for the military aid Germany has provided to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, in particular for sending tanks and air defense systems. Baerbock arrived in Ukraine's capital on Sept. 11. for her fourth visit since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Read also: Rheinmetall to refit, deliver 40 Marder armored vehicles to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Corporations have agreed to pull a referendum off next year's ballot that sought to reverse California's landmark fast-food wage law under a peace accord with labor unions. In this August 2022 photo, fast-food workers and their supporters march past the Capitol in Sacramento during the fight to pass the original law. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Fast-food companies agreed over the weekend to pull a California referendum off next years ballot that sought to reverse a landmark worker protection law, forgoing a costly political fight with labor unions over employee pay. The deal between labor and fast-food companies will result in an increase in the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour in April and form a new council of representatives for workers and companies to consider pay bumps in the future, according to sources involved in the negotiations. Negotiated with the help of Gov. Gavin Newsom 's top advisors, the agreement represents a rare compromise that allows business groups and labor to avoid a ballot fight over repealing a law boosting fast-food wages that could have topped $100 million in campaign spending. "It is a powerful, amazing day," said Tia Orr, executive director of Service Employees International Union California. "The new bill really clears a path for workers to have their victory back." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sean Kennedy, the National Restaurant Assn.'s executive vice president of public affairs, said the agreement "protects local restaurant owners from significant threats that would have made it difficult to continue to operate in California. It provides a more predictable and stable future for restaurants, workers and consumers." Read more: Newsom signs landmark law for fast-food workers The saga over Assembly Bill 257, also known as the Fast Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act, started last year when the SEIU muscled the proposal through the state Legislature with the help of its Democratic allies. Restaurant owners opposed the legislation, arguing they couldn't bear the increased costs without raising prices for their customers. Newsom's signature on the bill opened a political chess match in Sacramento that has quietly played out all year, involving maneuvers in the state budget, several pieces of legislation and a new law changing how Californians vote on ballot referendums. The fast-food law originally created a statewide 10-member fast-food council and regional councils composed of labor and employer representatives to set minimum wage, hour and working condition standards in California, which unions touted as a national success model. Under the law, pay could have increased up to $22 an hour in 2024 for employees of chains with more than 100 restaurants. Fast-food companies quickly launched a campaign to qualify a referendum on the ballot to reverse the law, a tactic business interests have adopted to pause and halt progressive laws from taking effect in California. Unions cried foul, arguing that wealthy corporations were abusing the referendum system to subvert the will of a Democratic supermajority in Sacramento and deceive voters into reversing laws intended to raise up some of the state's lowest-income workers. Armed with anecdotes of signature gatherers inaccurately representing the intent of the campaign to qualify the referendum on the ballot, they introduced a bill to make it easier for voters to understand the petitions they sign. The bill, AB 421, which Newsom signed Friday, changes "yes" and "no" voting options on referendums to "keep the law" or "overturn the law," ensuring that voters aren't confused about how to cast their ballots. AB 421 also provides a way for campaigns to pull their referendum off the ballot after it qualifies. Read more: Unions and environmentalists push for California referendum reform Through the state budget approved over the summer, Democrats also revived a separate council, called the Industrial Welfare Commission, with more authority to raise wages without limits and to enact workplace conditions for fast food and other California industries. The commission, which was defunded years earlier, served as an insurance policy if the fast-food industry's referendum on AB 257 succeeded and the original fast-food council was nullified. Under a separate bill, AB 1228, unions applied even more pressure on corporations by trying to make fast-food franchisors legally liable for labor violations committed by franchisees. Orr said the unions knew they needed to be strategic after wealthy corporations tried to reverse the fast-food wage law. "That's what it takes," Orr said. "It takes multilevel, multipronged steps in order for us to beat back the level of corporate interest and resources that are going into halting workers' progress." The strategy ultimately brought representatives of the fast-food industry and labor unions to the negotiating table this summer. In the deal struck over the weekend, each side offered concessions to avoid the ballot referendum fight. This agreement is in the best interest of workers, local franchise restaurant owners, and brands and protects the franchise business model that has provided opportunities for thousands of Californians to become small business owners," said a statement from Matt Haller, president of the International Franchise Assn. "It provides meaningful wage increases for workers, while at the same time eliminates more significant and potentially existential threats, costs, and regulatory burdens targeting local restaurants in California. Fast-food companies pledged to remove their referendum to repeal AB 257 from the November 2024 ballot. In return, lawmakers and the governor agreed to rework AB 257 and defund the revival of the Industrial Welfare Commission, which was set to convene in January. Unions agreed to halt their efforts to hold corporations liable for labor violations committed by their franchisees under AB 1228. Unions won a wage increase next year to $20 per hour for California workers employed by any fast-food chain that has more than 60 locations across the country, up from the state's minimum wage of $15.50 for all workers. The deal also allows the new council to advance annual wage increases of either 3.5% or an amount based on average changes to the consumer price index each year, whichever is lower, that could apply to fast-food workers statewide or in specific regions. Statewide, the minimum wage increase to $20 an hour is estimated to affect more than 500,000 workers. As part of the peace agreement between the two sides that expires in 2029, localities will not be able to further increase wages regionally for fast-food workers. A new nine-member Fast Food Council, similar to the one created under AB 257, will be established and consist of two representatives of the fast-food restaurant industry, two franchisees or restaurant owners, two restaurant employees, two advocates for fast-food restaurant employees and one member of the public who is not affiliated with either side and will serve as chair. The council will have two additional non-voting members from the Department of Industrial Relations and the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. The council, which will hold its first meeting by March 15, will be charged with advancing fast-food restaurant minimum standards on wages, working hours, and working conditions in coordination with state agencies. Many of the changes were made public Monday under sweeping amendments to AB 1228 and SB 105. The bill will become void if fast-food companies do not withdraw the referendum on AB 257 by Jan. 1. David Huerta, president of SEIU California and SEIU United Services Workers West, urged lawmakers to pass the legislation. Never underestimate the power of courageous workers, standing together to improve their workplaces and lift up their families," Huerta said. AB 1228 clears the path for fast-food workers to start making much-needed improvements to the policies that affect their own workplaces and their lives." Read more: Corporations turn to ballot to combat California's progressive agenda, raising alarms The deal allows Democrats and their allies in Sacramento to focus their resources on defeating a ballot initiative co-sponsored by the California Business Roundtable that seeks to make it more difficult to raise taxes in California. For any new or increased taxes approved by a two-thirds vote of the state Legislature, the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act would also require voters to sign off with a majority vote in a statewide election. Passing any local taxes would require support from two-thirds of voters. The measure expands the definition of taxes to include other fees. If approved by voters, the initiative would ultimately lower annual state and local revenues, which concerns Democrats. The measure also includes some provisions that could be a boon to real estate developers. Democrats are pushing a separate bill in the Legislature, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13, to thwart the business initiative by requiring two-thirds voter approval for the measure instead of a simple majority. Newsom and environmentalists are gearing up for another fight over setbacks around new oil and gas wells. SB 1137, which passed last year, prohibited new or modified oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, parks and other buildings open to the public. Similar to the fast-food law, oil companies qualified a referendum on the November 2024 ballot that asks voters to reject the law. Supporters of the original law raised concerns about the way in which the signatures were gathered on the referendum, prompting environmentalists to team up with labor to pass AB 421 to rein in corporations. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Clearwater police officers racially profiled a Black man they wrongfully arrested in a burglary case, two lawsuits filed in federal court in Tampa say. Clearwater officers arrested Jacques LaPread on June 20, 2019 on burglary and credit card fraud charges. Five months later, after concluding its own investigation, the Pinellas-Pasco State Attorneys Office decided not to pursue charges out of concerns about the identification of the suspect. We were very uncomfortable with the identification of this individual that had been arrested, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett told the Tampa Bay Times recently. Clearwater Police spokesperson Rob Shaw would not answer questions about whether someone else was arrested in the case, citing active litigation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For LaPread, the arrest put his life on hold he was in the process of applying for a promotion at his cybersecurity job, but the arrest made him ineligible at the time, according to the lawsuits. Im pretty much starting from scratch again, all because of this, LaPread said in a phone interview with the Times. Three officers Michael Buis, Kyle Bingham and Henry Giles were given reprimands as a result of an internal investigation by the police department, according to Shaw. Bingham and Giles still work for the agency. Buis has since left the department, but his departure was not a result of the disciplinary case, Shaw said. It is unclear if Buis still works in law enforcement. Attempts to reach the three officers at phone numbers listed in public records were unsuccessful. The police agency does not comment on pending litigation, Shaw said. LaPread filed a lawsuit in March against then-Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter in his capacity in that role after attempts to resolve the matter outside of court were unsuccessful, his attorneys said. The lawsuit was initially filed in Pinellas-Pasco circuit civil court, but was transferred to federal court in April. LaPread also filed a lawsuit in June against the Clearwater Police Department and the three officers in Floridas Middle District federal court. According to the lawsuits, Clearwater police began their investigation on June 20, 2019 after a woman reported that someone had burglarized her Jeep, stealing a wristlet that contained credit cards, gift cards, her military ID and drivers license. One of the credit cards was used at the Speedway Gas Station at 1625 McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater to buy cigarettes, the lawsuit says. A stolen credit card was also used to buy more than $200 in goods from the Walgreens at 1701 McMullen Booth Road in Safety Harbor. That same day, LaPread went to the same Speedway, where he withdrew $20 from an ATM and used it to make a purchase, the lawsuit states. While there, he held the door open for Clearwater police officers who were investigating, the lawsuit says. One of the officers thought LaPread looked suspicious, the lawsuit says, and wrote down LaPreads license plate number. Officers ran his license plate and arrested him later that evening, the lawsuit says. There were several differences between LaPread and the suspect, another Black man seen on Speedway surveillance footage, the lawsuit alleges. The suspect had a beard and sideburns and was wearing long gray pants and a white long-sleeved shirt, the lawsuit says. LaPread was wearing a white T-shirt and blue cargo pants, the lawsuit said, and LaPread told the Times he did not have a beard. His booking photo at the jail shows him with a goatee, but no other facial hair. After his arrest, LaPread had to pay $500 to recover his car, which was seized by police, he said. Officers also searched his car, strewing confidential papers from his job throughout the vehicle, he said. Defendants would not have harassed, detained, arrested, used force on, and searched Plaintiff if he were white, the lawsuit against the officers states. Both lawsuits are currently pending in federal court. The city has filed a motion to dismiss the first lawsuit against Slaughter, arguing that it is a shotgun pleading that fails to state a claim and that the chief has sovereign immunity. The motion points to technical errors in the lawsuit, arguing, for example, that the sheriff is the chief law enforcement official in Pinellas County, not Slaughter, and that the lawsuit was incorrect for referring to him as such. Getting the wording right for all of that because each case is different can sometimes take some time, said Lisha Bowen, one of LaPreads attorneys. So the response to a lawsuit against a governmental agency, whether it be state or federal, is always a motion to dismiss. For his part, LaPread said he wants to hold the police agency accountable and make sure a similar situation doesnt happen to anyone else. Someone has to stand up, and I have to stand up for myself first, he said. LEES SUMMIT, Mo. The city of Lees Summit has filed a lawsuit against Jackson County, accusing the county of breaking state law in its property assessments. For too long the county and its officials have offered one excuse after another for their failure to correctly assess real property, Lees Summit Mayor Bill Baird said in a statement. People are over or underpaying. The county still wont get it right, and Lees Summit just cant wait any longer. Evergy rate hike could cost KC-area schools millions of dollars Jackson County has come under criticism this year after residents saw their property values skyrocket and then had difficulty filing appeals. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to the assessors office, the average increase this year was 30%, but some owners said their assessments skyrocketed by more than 100%. The Missouri State Auditors Office is also investigating multiple complaints about the countys assessments process. Last month, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said his offices whistleblower hotline has received complaints about significantly higher property assessments, not being able to get through the phone line, and software company Tyler Technology making decisions it might not be qualified to make. Prairie Village petitions wont be on next ballot, election official says But Assessment Director Gail McCann Beatty has previously stated that her departments role is to place market value on properties, according to state statute, and any property owner that disagrees with that value can appeal. McCann Beatty is also named in Lees Summits lawsuit against Jackson County, along with County Executive Frank White. Lees Summit leaders said the county increased property assessments beyond the allowable percentage, failed to notify property owners of increases, failed to perform required property inspections and failed to correctly and timely account for new construction. The citys lawsuit cites state law, saying an assessor must physically inspect a residential property before increasing the assessed value by more than 15%. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android A drive-by inspection is not sufficient for a physical inspection, state law says. Property owners also have to be notified in writing before a physical inspection, state law says. Lees Summit said its asking the court to ensure that Jackson County property assessments are done in compliance with state law. FOX4 has reached out to Jackson County for comment on the lawsuit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. (KRON) Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) said she is troubled by remarks Gov. Gavin Newsom made about appointing an interim replacement for Sen. Dianne Feinstein . Feinstein, 90, is not running for reelection. Lee, along with Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), is one of three leading candidates to fill the veteran senators seat. Newsom has previously stated that if Feinstein were to resign, he would appoint a Black woman to the seat. In an appearance on Meet the Press this weekend, Newsom reiterated that position. However, when pressed by the shows host, Newsom said he would not appoint any of the people currently running for the seat, which would preclude Lee from being appointed. I dont want to get involved in the primary, said Newsom in remarks cited by Politico, adding it would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While Newsom stopped short of saying outright that he would appoint a caretaker to the seat, he declined to push back when host Chuck Todd said the appointee would be essentially a caretaker. I am troubled by the Governors remarks, Rep. Lee said in a tweet. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic party to victory election after election. There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate, Lee went on to say. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table, Lee added in a subsequent tweet. The last Black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate was Vice President Kamala Harris. Newsom appointed Californias junior senator Alex Padilla to her seat. I dont want to make another appointment, Newsom said, and I dont think the people of California want me to make another appointment. According to a Berkeley IGS poll released last week, Lee is trailing Schiff and Porter among likely voters in the Democratic primary. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A left-leaning watchdog group railed against House Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), calling his investigation into President Biden and his familys foreign business deals a complete and total failure. The past eight months have been a complete and total failure, with Comer wasting all of his committees time on a series of political stunts that have failed to uncover a shred of evidence of wrongdoing against President Biden, Kyle Herrig, the executive director of the Congressional Integrity Project, wrote in a statement Monday. Herrigs statement accompanied the publishing of a report titled James Comers 8 Months of Abject Failure, which includes a breakdown of events surrounding Comers investigation and allegations that Comer lied or hyped up certain details surrounding witness testimony. Its important to recognize that the only thing Comer has proved so far is that he is not capable of conducting legitimate oversight and should not be trusted to lead this important committee, Herrig said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In recent months, Comer, alongside several GOP leaders, has led a widespread investigation into the Biden familys foreign business dealings, particularly those connected to Bidens son, Hunter Biden , during his time on the board of a Ukrainian energy company while his father was vice president. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has signaled in recent weeks that the investigations, including those of Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), could rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry. Last week, Comer said he believes there are enough votes in the House to open an impeachment inquiry into Biden, predicting the vote will be held in the middle of this month. Comer said he thinks the emails he secured from the National Archies and Records Administration (NARA) from Bidens time as vice president will convince a final few Republicans to support opening an impeachment inquiry. Part of Comers investigation included testimony from Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden, who testified in July to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability in a closed-door meeting, which lawmakers said included assertions that Hunter Biden sold the illusion of access to his father and that Hunter Biden sometimes put his father on speakerphone to talk to his business associates. Archer said he was not aware of President Biden committing any wrongdoing, but Republicans insist that is not the case and that the Biden family received payments and gifts. Meanwhile, the report from the Congressional Integrity Project alleges Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) failed to produce evidence of bribery connected to Biden while misrepresenting whistleblowers. In a statement to The Hill, an Oversight and Accountability Committee spokesman said the dark money leftist groups are trying to distract from the evidence against the Biden family, while the committee has uncovered overwhelming evidence. Dark money leftist groups are attempting to distract from the bank records, suspicious activity reports, wire transfers from foreign adversaries, emails, texts and a transcribed interview with Biden family associated Devon Archer that all show Joe Biden allowed his family to sell him as the brand to corrupt foreign oligarchs around the world, the spokesman said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WELLS, Maine The wave came along and knocked John Alaimo off his feet. Then a second one broke and tossed him around some more. Alaimo, of Kennebunk, had only been standing in a few inches of water when the force of the Atlantic crashed into him, but the undertow was strong enough that he needed the help of his daughters boyfriend and a Good Samaritan from Vermont to get him on dry land. Most of him, that is. Part of him was missing. His leg. Deep breaths. This is not a story about a shark. Alaimo has a prosthetic left leg, and it got disconnected from him when those two waves paid him a surprise visit during his trip to Wells Beach on Sunday, Sept. 3. Shirley Spaulding, right, was instrumental in helping John Alaimo, left, recover a key part of the prosthetic leg he lost at Wells Beach on Sept. 3, 2023. Both are seen here at the beach on Sept. 6, 2023. Alaimo and his wife, Donna, brought Spaulding the flowers. (Credit: Shawn P. Sullivan) Alaimo knew he had a problem even before he was helped out of the water. As he tried to regain himself in the water, his right leg hit the release valve on his prosthetic leg and sent it drifting away, ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I knew something was wrong, Alaimo said. I knew instantly I was in trouble. Fortunately, someone found the leg in the water a few moments later. But again, only most of it. Part of it was missing. A prosthetic leg has three components, according to Alaimo: the limb itself, complete with foot and toes; a silicone sleeve; and a liner. The liner, a crucial, expensive part, was gone. The Little Mermaid of Maine: Meet the woman behind the tail at Wells Beach Good Samaritans answer the call to help Kennebunk man Enter Shirley Spaulding. She was relaxing on the beach that day, enjoying the sun, and witnessed the tumble Alaimo took and his return to shore. When she heard about the missing liner, she went over to Alaimo and his family and asked him for his name and number. She told him that she lived nearby and visited the beach every day. She said she could call him if his liner turned up. Later, Spaulding posted a message on a Wells-related page on Facebook. She asked social media users to be on the lookout for the missing liner. Now enter Ron Sheehan. The Boston-area man was in Maine for the Labor Day weekend and took both of his dogs for a walk along Wells Beach. They went out early because Sheehan wanted to beat the southbound traffic expected to clog the highway later that day as visitors left the state and returned home. During their walk, Sheehan and his dogs stumbled upon something stuck in the sand. Sheehan, who had seen Spauldings post online, knew exactly what it was. Ive worked in construction with guys who have had prosthetic legs, he said during an interview. The liner for Kennebunk resident John Alaimo's prosthetic leg dries in the sun after it went missing and was found on Wells Beach on Labor Day. Sheehan pulled the liner out of the sand and later commented underneath Spauldings post that he had found it. She got in touch with him, and he brought it to her. Spaulding stuck the liner on a post at her home and let it dry in the sun. She reached out to Alaimo, who drove to her home on Atlantic Avenue and retrieved the liner. Im a very fortunate person, Alaimo later said. This could have been a lot worse. Sheehan also said Alaimo was lucky. It was really buried, he said of the liner. If high tide had come along, it would have been gone. And expensive to replace. Alaimo said a liner costs around $200. The whole prosthetic limb itself has a much higher price tag. Alaimo said his first prosthetic leg cost about $20,000, and he personally paid $4,500 for it after his insurance came through. When he needed to purchase a new prosthetic leg, his insurance and Medicare covered the expense, and he was spared having to pay an amount out of pocket. Those waves had tackled Alaimo in the water behind the Atlantic Oceanfront Hotel on Atlantic Avenue, the long road that stretches from the main attractions at the beach, including shops and Forbes restaurant, and leads to the parking lot where you can leave your car when you go to the jetty. Sheehan found the liner much farther down the beach, near Public Way 6, off Atlantic Avenue. I walked over, and it was there, Sheehan said. I was so excited for the guy. Like Alaimo, Sheehan directed the credit toward Spaulding. I liked her post, he said. It interested me because it was a positive one. 'No real controversy here': Lawyer pushes back in Moody Beach public access dispute Kennebunk man thanks 'wonderful people in this world' Spaulding said the whole situation makes her think of a plaque she has at her cottage. It reads, If a friend doesnt have a smile, give him one of yours. Ive always tried to help people as a teacher, a colleague, a mentor, and a friend, Spaulding said. It takes little effort to be kind. Alaimo said he lost the lower half of his left leg due to complications related to diabetes, a disease with which he was diagnosed more than two decades ago when he was 39. He can even tell you the day it happened: Feb. 5, 2021. It changes your life forever, he said. Kennebunk resident John Alaimo's prosthetic leg became detached from him following a wave-toppling tumble in the water at Wells Beach on Sept. 3, 2023. Alaimo said his prosthetic leg had become detached once before while in a pool. That incident resulted in nothing more than a good laugh, he said. The mishap at Wells Beach on Sept. 3, however, was a whole different matter. I was in such turmoil and panic, he said. Alaimo expressed gratitude to all who helped him in recent days, from the guardian angels who pulled him from the water to Sheehan and his dogs. There are wonderful people in this world, Alaimo said. Starting with Shirley. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wells beachgoers help man recover prosthetic limb lost in the ocean On September 10th, 2001, I volunteered to serve in the Air Force. I was 18, a freshman college student in New York City. The next day the world changed. I am a post 9/11 veteran, a member of a generation of veterans who joined or reenlisted in an all-volunteer military after America was attacked. We are a generation bookended by the fall of the towers on one hand and a retreat from Afghanistan on the othera generation whose chapter in history came to a close with no closure; no homecoming parades, no celebrations, no protestsno grand reconciliation between a returning military and its civilian society. It was just over. More than two decades after September 11th, the legacy of the post 9/11 veteran generation is unresolved. Unlike many other veterans generations, post 9/11 veterans do not share a single war, defined and united by a common experience. Instead, it is a generation in an identity crisisan identity crisis which, if left unsettled, could threaten the professional all-volunteer military, lead to civil-military disorder, and even ignite domestic unrest. Already, dominant post 9/11 veteran archetypesthe vigilant hero, the violence-loving soldier, even the wounded warriorcreate an image of the veteran as different, recognizably separate, uniformed even in their new civilian statusultimately alienated from civilian society. But the truth is that the post 9/11 veteran is not separate from society, nor are their differences so contradictory that their legacy is doomed. This is because at its core, the post 9/11 veteran shares something important. They are bound together by a willingness to serve and sacrifice, a calling that translates to a legacy of leadership in service in the civilian communities to which these veterans return. More From TIME This legacy comes from the decisions this generation made to willingly sacrifice as part of an all-volunteer force, knowing that their choice would likely send them to combat. We signed up to do this because we believed, as a part of an all-volunteer force in a nation whose homeland had been attacked, that our service mattered. It was something bigger than ourselves. It wasnt just a calling to a profession of arms, it was a calling to a profession of arms to defend an ideal about democracy and Americas place as a champion of what could be good in the world. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Our generations end may have been an ignominious retreat from Afghanistan, but it doesnt have to define the impact of the post 9/11 veteran generations service. And this is because our legacy is not solely what we did in the military, but instead how we let those experiences shape the society to which we return. We are drawn from our society and we return to it, believers in something bigger than ourselves, to make that society better because ofnot despite ofour experience serving our country. I believe this because I see it. Despite the narrative of veterans as different, many of us already sit next to you, our veteran status often invisible to the eye. We are in PTA meetings, classrooms, cubicles, community townhalls, and legislative houses. We fight fires, lead police forces, build affordable housing, and combat sexual trafficking. We serve in governmentas mayors, local and federal representatives, cabinet directors, and even governors. We shape our local economies, running businesses, holding patents, leading venture-funds and start-ups. Thats not to say that our generation was not wounded, that two decades of combat service didnt disproportionately affect too small a proportion of American society, or that the America this veteran generation returns to is not more complicated, more troubled, perhaps less democratic, than the one we went to fight for starting on September 11th, 2001. Maybe this is what is so complicated about the post 9/11 legacy, that it is tied with what we believe America could be. And this idea of Americawhich seemed crystal clear in the aftermath of 9/11is increasingly thorny, making the veteran legacy in some ways too painful to discuss. We cant avoid this discussion. We cant paint over two decades of service with half-measuresveteran discounts, early boarding on planes, a thank you for your servicewhich seem both not enough and a needling reminder of the gaping schism between the post 9/11 veteran and society. But likewise, veterans need to change some of our own narrative, focus on what makes us similar, instead of what makes us different. We cant hope to build a positive legacy if the internal conversation between veterans is dominated by a competition about whose service was enougha fight for who the true post 9/11 veteran is. I am a post 9/11 veteran. I am not the post 9/11 veteran. Ilike those who gave so much more than mevolunteered because I believed our generation had a call to serve, that we were defined by a moment that we did not control but that we could control the legacy it had for our future. I thought that legacy was about our service abroad, whether we defeated terrorism or brought democracy, or even made the world somewhat safer. And, honestly, that legacywhether we were successful doing any of thatis unclear. But what I didnt realize when I signed up was the legacy that my service could have on the homeland I signed up to defend, how my generation could make our towns, our schools, or communities better in some small way. There we still have a chance and I believe that this will be the true legacy of the post-9/11 veteran. Contact us at letters@time.com. The Leon County School Board will be paid damages from a class action lawsuit against an e-cigarette manufacturer, alleging the company used unfair marketing practices to hook kids on vaping products. LCS will get $87,321 from Juul Laboratory Inc., and its parent company, Altria Group. After covering legal fees, the district will pocket $59,000 and have full discretion of appropriations of the funds. "Juuls and e-cigarettes are so highly addictive for teenagers, and it affects the brain development," School Board member Rosanne Wood told the Tallahassee Democrat. "Some of the things tobacco campaigns are using are very effective, so I'm hoping that with this extra bit of money, we'll be able to really focus on hopefully youth led campaigns to educate our young people about the dangers of addiction." Eric Romano of West Palm Beach-based Romano Law Group invited the Leon County School Board to join the suit in October 2020, saying school districts will face extra costs to battle what local officials have called a "vaping epidemic." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At the time, 14 other school districts in Florida had joined the lawsuit. "We do recognize that this is an issue across the United States, and I think everybody knows nicotine is highly addictive," said CoCo McClelland, the district's wellness coordinator. "Education and prevention are going to be key with getting this under control across the board." The most recent School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting for Leon County listed 269 tobacco and vaping-related instances during the 2021-2022 school year. Of those, 176 were reported at high schools, 66 were reported at middle schools and 12 were reported at elementary schools. Last year, Juul agreed to pay nearly $440 million to 34 states and territories to settle an investigation into the company's vaping products. FILE - In this Tuesday, April 10, 2018, file photo, a high school principal displays vaping devices that were confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at the school in Massachusetts. The Food and Drug Administration is planning on requiring strict limits on the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes, including age verification controls for online sales, in an effort to curtail their use among children and teenagers. FDA officials tell The Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Nov. 8, the actions are expected to be announced as early as the following week. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) Plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged Juul marketed its e-cigarettes to underage teens with launch parties, giveaways and ads and social media posts using youthful models, according to a statement from Connecticut's Attorney General William Tong. Initially promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking, vaping short for vaporizing consists of inhaling nicotine and flavorings as a heated mist. Often, vaporizers are sold as Juul products, the highest-selling brand of e-cigarettes in the U.S., though other companies sell similar-looking vaporizers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "It is for sure, a 100% health issue that is very concerning to all of us because the information that's being provided is showing, obviously this is not a good choice as it relates to health," said Jimmy Williams, the district's chief of safety and security. Back Story: Leon County Schools joins more than 1,000 other school districts in lawsuit against Juul More: Vaping bill that raises legal age in Florida from 18 to 21 headed to governor Alaijah Brown is with the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County Schools gets $59,000 in vaping settlement SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Its lunchtime at the Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District and a colony of sabethes cyaneus also known as the paddle-legged beauty for its feathery appendages and iridescent coloring find their way to Ella Branham. Theyre not very aggressive and theyre kind of picky eaters, said Branham, a technician, as she exhaled into a glass tank to attract the insects to the carbon dioxide in her breath. So Ill be feeding them with my arm. Branham had volunteered to let the South American mosquitoes feed on her blood so they can produce eggs and maintain the colony for education and research at the lab in the Salt Lake City district. Its one of the many mosquito control districts around the United States that seek to hold in check one of the worlds deadliest animals one well-positioned to thrive as climate change fosters a warmer and wetter environment. Mosquitoes can carry viruses including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. They are especially threatening to public health in Asia and Africa but are also closely monitored in the United States. Local agencies reported more than 1,100 cases of West Nile virus in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Most humans who contract West Nile show no symptoms. But for some, it can cause vomiting, fever and in rare cases seizures or meningitis. Over roughly the last 25 years, nearly 3,000 deaths and more than 25,000 hospitalizations linked to West Nile were reported throughout the United States most of them in August. West Nile deaths have been reported this year in states including Texas and Colorado, and mosquitoes are thought to be the source of locally acquired malaria infections of people in Maryland, Florida and Texas. Ary Faraji, an entomologist and the executive director of the Salt Lake City mosquito abatement district, said monitoring shows the mosquito season starting earlier and lasting longer as the climate has warmed. The district used to historically shut down each year in mid-September, but that has gotten later and later. Last year, district workers were still setting and checking traps until Thanksgiving. And this year where an abnormally snowy winter and a very rainy spring left more water across the landscape for mosquitoes to breed in his staff estimated that there were five times as many mosquitos in May compared to the average year. Thats where the health threat comes in. While both males and females feed on sugar or nectar throughout their lives, females require blood meals to nourish and develop their eggs. They are the true vixens, Faraji said. Some can be so beautiful and yet some can be so deadly. Farajis staff made up of scientists and college and doctoral students traps, sorts and tests mosquitos for viruses using drones, boats and ATVs. Their work takes into account how trends ranging from weather patterns to population growth will affect disease transmission. The more people you put in a closer vicinity of where the mosquitos are, the higher chance of pathogen transmission, he said, noting the challenges of the wetland areas surrounding Utahs Great Salt Lake. Though dangerous, mosquitoes are also critical to ecosystems throughout the world, with various species serving as pollinators or food sources to fish, birds and frogs. We try to maintain a balance and suppress them to the point that theyre not negatively affecting communities, Faraji said. Taking them away would definitely negatively impact our ecosystem overall. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. To the editor: As a former paramedic and firefighter, I applaud the California Senate for passing AB 28. As survivors, families, communities and taxpayers, we all pay the enormous costs associated with gun violence, whether we own a firearm or not. The gun industry continues to reap historic profits while its products fuel a costly public health epidemic. Instead of letting firearm-related profits solely benefit the gun industry, this bill would impose a modest 11% excise tax on gun sellers and manufacturers to fund programs remediating and mitigating the harms firearms too often cause in our communities. Having worked on the frontlines of this epidemic, I know what it looks like when bullets ravage a body and the pain survivors feel in the wake of this violence. I never will be able to unsee these things, but I can see Gov. Newsom signing this bill and in doing so, saving lives. Michelle Petersen, Alamo .. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement To the editor: Recently, the California Legislature passed a measure to tax firearms and ammunition. It will be bitterly opposed and do little to reduce gun violence. Requiring gun owners to insure their guns against injuries to others caused by their use would be more effective. The gun owner would face a large fine if his uninsured weapon caused injury to another. There could also be a modest fine for the open carrying of an uninsured firearm. This proposal would cause owners to secure their weapons more assuredly, or consider seriously insuring their weapons, and it would provide a fund to partially compensate those injured by firearms. The insurance companies would salivate to expand with this new area of business. John Neill, San Diego .. To the editor: As a UC Davis student and Glendale native, Im thrilled that Assembly Bill 28 passed in the state Senate. This summer, I saw the exceptional work that violence intervention programs do firsthand when I worked with Urban Peace Institute to spotlight their work to high school student activists. From de-escalation on city streets to rehabilitative programs like yoga, which our students loved trying, these programs that would receive funding from AB 28 make our city safer and save lives. Its been so rewarding volunteering with other students to pass this bill, including spending hours in a committee hearing to testify in support last April. I cant wait for Gov. Newsom to sign it so that no more students have to accept gun violence as a daily fact of life. Roan Thibault, Montrose This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gwendolyn Harrison The trustees of Springfield's Lincoln Library declined to provide an endorsement for director appointee Gwendolyn Harrison prior to Tuesday's city council committee of the whole meeting. The decision could slow down an eventual vote on Harrison's appointment to the position. Harrison had been recommended by Mayor Misty Buscher as the new director at the Sept. 5 City Council meeting, but while the board liked her qualifications such as having a master's degree in library science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign they still didn't know enough to make a recommendation in either direction, per a letter sent to all 10 city council members Wednesday and released to the media Friday. "It may well be that the Mayor is correct in her conclusion that Ms. Harrison was the most qualified applicant," the letter said. "However, the Board did not have the information to reach that conclusion." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More: Gwendolyn Harrison named Lincoln Library director pending city council approval The board mainly works in an advisory capacity, with the city council and the mayor responsible for major decision-making at the library. But the board claimed that city code required Buscher to consult them in the process to hire a new executive director to replace Summer Beck-Griffith, who was fired days into Buscher's tenure as mayor. The board did interview Harrison and found her resume to be suitable for the job, with interim director Kathryn Harris' recommendation also being valued by the board. "Our Interim Executive Director, Ms. Harris, believes that Ms. Harrison would be a successful Executive Director," the board wrote in the letter. "Ms. Harris opinion on this matter carries substantial weight with the Board." However, the board also said they weren't able to interview any other candidates, with the board not knowing of the names of the three other applicants outside of Harrison. One of them also had a master's in library sciences, a key sticking point for Buscher in finding a new director. However, the board said that this person's qualifications were deemed to be inadequate when compared to that of Harrison, who currently serves as library program specialist at the Illinois State Library in Springfield. As a result, no consultation was made before Buscher sought the city council's approval for Harrison's appointment. "The Mayors office had deemed the qualifications of these applicants to be less than the qualifications of Ms. Harrison, and had decided to seek this Councils approval of Ms. Harrison without further consultation with the Board," the board said. City officials declined to comment. Buscher said at the Sept. 5 council meeting that if Harrison was confirmed at the Sept. 19 council meeting, she could start work as early as Oct. 2. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Lincoln Library trustees decline to endorse Harrison as new director The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has called illegal the sham elections held by Russia on 8-10 September in the occupied territories of Ukraine and promised a response to the persons involved. Source: European Pravda with reference to Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis in the statement of the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Details: It noted that this illegal step is another desperate attempt by the Kremlin to legitimise control over the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, to create an illusion of legitimacy, continuing to grossly violate international law and the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, complementing the long list of crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. Quote: "The international community will never recognize the results of these fake elections. Furthermore, those who contribute to their organisation must be given a strong and clear response," Landsbergis said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The statement also reiterated Lithuanias consistent support for the struggle of the Ukrainian people for freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and demanded the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its forces from the internationally recognised territory of Ukraine. Earlier, the European Union announced its non-recognition of Russia's sham "elections" in the occupied territories of Ukraine and stressed that the Russian leadership will be held accountable for the effects of these illegal actions. The Council of Europe previously stated that the sham "elections" recently held by Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine are invalid under international law. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington would never recognise the results of these "sham elections". UK Defence Intelligence states that Putin's United Russia party faction seeks to consolidate Kremlin influence in the occupied territories of Ukraine by holding sham elections there. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! This transcript from Episode 2 of "City on Fire" contains language that some may find offensive. It also includes language describing a sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Patricia Ferrin woke up in a gazebo to smoke one June morning. The sun was covered by a thick haze when she peered into the sky from The Vineyard, a homeless encampment in Rochester. The wildfire smoke in Eastern Canada is another effect of the planet's climate crisis. As the earth heats more every year, the fuel for wildfire driHaes out. More cropland turns to dust and air patterns are intensified. It's a new reality. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: It was so smoky that it could have killed everybody. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Ferrin was born with a congenital heart defect that has subdivided her heart into three chambers. The condition is life-threatening, especially in warm weather. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: I've had the heart issues since the day I was born. It is a birth defect. The doctors gave me 28 days (to live) after I was born. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Ferrin is from Arkansas, one of the warmest states in the country based on average temperature. She left the state with her husband in early 2023, but months later, Ferrin is homeless, unable to find housing on her fixed income. She lives at The Vineyard, a homeless encampment on Rochester's west side run by sister Marcia Allen. Patricia Ferrin at the Vineyard. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: We thought that we were going to get help with family and we didn't do it because it was his family that was supposed to help us, but they never did. I've been here at The Vineyard for about three, almost three months now. We live out there in the gazebo. We are trying to find a place for ourselves because there's no cheap places around here, and only one thing that we are trying to find roommates, but the roommates have upstairs and I don't like stairs. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Is that because of your heart condition? Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: Yeah. I try to avoid going upstairs. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: How does extreme heat affect your heart condition? Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: ... It is hard for me to breathe. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: This is "City on Fire," the USA TODAY Network podcast on the effect rising temperatures have on public safety. I'm Rob Bell, a reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. This is Episode 2: Wildfires. Wildfires can get out of control just like the lives of those who are unhoused in Rochester, New York. This vulnerable group can't always escape the heat or the dangers of it. The thought of climate change heating the planet frightens 29-year-old Patricia Ferrin. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: I'm very afraid of that. You get the hotness and then having a heart attack, it really, really sucks when you have a lot of problems with you going on. Out there in the world is so tough for a person like me to go through. We got to find shade. We got to find our places to put our heads, and it's very hard and it's very difficult to sleep on the streets. I have fear of everything. Where am I going to get my next meal? When is the next time I'm going to get a shower? Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: You know not listed, I think, in cause of death for homeless folks so much is stress, both physical stress and psychological stress. It's really stressful being homeless, not knowing where you're going to sleep. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: You just heard the voice of Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University. In 2017, Murray studied the life expectancy of homeless people in and out of the Rochester shelter House of Mercy Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: It actually goes back to about 1977 because that's when I started working at Unity Kitchen in Syracuse, and I went to a lot of funerals. They weren't of folks who were dying in their 80s or their 70s. They were lucky if they reached their 60s or their 50s. A while after I moved to Rochester in 1986, I met Sister Grace and went over to the House of Mercy and at the old House of Mercy on Hudson, her office was covered with obituaries and mostly those pamphlets that you get from funeral homes or at funerals of people, and I started to think, wow, this is a source of data. Men died at an age of around 55 and women died at around 42. The average life expectancy of a woman in Monroe County is like 81 years old, so I mean a homeless woman it was barely half. I mean, for homeless men, it was over 20 years younger that they were dying than the average person in Monroe County, but women it just really struck me. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Dr. Murray didn't factor heat into his study on life expectancy, but a 2022 National Library of Medicine study found that the risk of heat-related illness may be higher for people experiencing homelessness due to a lack of access to cool places and water and the complex interactions between mental illness, medications and substance abuse. The Vineyard, a homeless encampment in Rochester, NY run by Sister Marsha Allen. Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: From the beginnings in the 1970s of my working with folks who were homeless, it's that it's just not a matter of not having a roof over your head. It's a matter of not having as many years on this planet that it really is sort of just kind of a death sentence. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: When I visited Patricia Ferrin at The Vineyard, she sat next to John Lee, 66, who's dealt with many bouts of homelessness. He's been at The Vineyard for six months. John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: I was living at the Elks Hotel. Before that I was locked up. Before that, I was living in an apartment on Lake Ave. I've been unhoused a few times over the last 20 or 30 years. Substance abuse issues. Law trouble. Weed, crack, powder cocaine. I have arthritis, had bone cancer, had a few heart conditions, titanium rods in my thigh. I have plates and screws in my lower leg, rods in my right wrist. Bullet in my back. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: The bullet in John's back is from his military service. Here's Dr. Harry Murray. Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: I can't tell you how many folks I've known who are homeless, who are veterans. When I started working with folks who were homeless in the late 1970s, an awful lot, maybe a third of the folks were homeless Vietnam vets. John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: Two tours of Vietnam, Bosnia, Afghanistan. My 10-year callback Desert Storm, the first one. Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: That they never were able to get back into, quote, normal life, because often because of the things that they've done or the things that they've seen, that war creates a moral injury that you just can't go to a psychiatrist and all of a sudden it's fixed. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: It was a steamy day when I interviewed Patricia and John. You could hear the air conditioners hum inside the tiny structure adjacent to The Vineyard. You could see the sweat on John's forehead. John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: On days like today, I used to use street drugs to take away the pain. When I used to live in the subway tunnels back in the 80s and 90s underneath the library downtown, these kids from Brockport came out there with paint guns and were shooting everybody in the tunnel just because they knew they were homeless and the cops weren't going to pay them no attention. A lot of unhoused people, they panhandle and stuff like that and people would spit on them, throw pop bottles at them, all kinds of stuff. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Do you see that happen more during the summer? John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: Yeah, because more people are out. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: So are you more fearful during those summer months? John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: I'm not because I fight back. I was a black belt by 10 years old. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Have you ever found yourself in a position where you had to protect yourself or somebody else? John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: Absolutely. Several times. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Can you speak about one of those times? John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: No, not without going to prison. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: John is well over six feet in person. He's a huge man that anyone would think twice about attacking. Patricia Ferrin calls John her bodyguard. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: I adopted him as my father. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Nice. John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: Those people out here think I'm Superman. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Patricia and John are good friends. They even have the same birthday. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: While nobody messes with Big John, Patricia knows the hazards of being a woman living outdoors. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: A lot of people like to pick up women that are homeless, thinking that I am a prostitute, a sex worker. John Lee, unhoused in Rochester: I see a lot of women targeted, and it's a lot of guys, just because they see a homeless lady press up on 'em. ... And if they don't watch what they're doing, they might get pulled in the alley in a parking lot behind the building. I've seen it, stopped it a few times. Dr. Harry Murray, professor of sociology at Nazareth University: Some of the women who died (from) House of Mercy, it was a violent death. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Rochester's Joseph Avenue is a hotspot for those at the crossroads of homelessness and substance abuse. While walking with outreach worker Gary Harding from the nonprofit Recovery All Ways, I ran into a woman shooting heroin in the middle of a grassy field. The summer months increase her chances of being sexually assaulted. On the streets, she's known as TeeTee. Gary Harding from Recovery All Ways. TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: Somebody running up on me, rape me when I'm sleeping. I'm sleeping here by myself. Somebody's just coming and dry humping me or something up, waking me up. Somebody with a d--- inside of me or anything. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Is that something that happens? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: It happened. It happened. Yeah. It happened to me three times already. My stuff came up. I had a n---- dry humping me when I woke up, no names, but it was a couple of days ago. I slept. I said I was cold. I put the cover over me. All I felt was a weiner poking me, humping me, and I'm waking up like, what the f--- are you doing on top of me? Get the f--- off me. That's scary. TeeTee's friend: Nice weather means more people are coming out. Motherf---ers do not know how to act when you go to parties, they start shooting out and you know what I'm saying, shooting at each other and s--- like that. Dumb s---. Or robbing people when it's nice out. Everything happens when it's nice out, everyone mad. It really is. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Suddenly in the middle of our conversation, a man approaches the women asking questions about his recently overdosed family. He believes one of the women has something to do with (what happened) and angrily vows to find out the whole story. TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: That was a threat. They don't know who killed their son. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Was he out here too? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: I never met him. I only saw him in the window, so I don't know him at all. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: But do you know if he overdosed or not? Is that how he died? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: They said that he overdosed. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: I asked TeeTee what keeps her on the streets. She said, it's the substance abuse. I then asked her who exposed her to the drugs? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: My boyfriend, my ex. At first I went to rehab. I cleaned myself up. But he kept on bagging up in front of me, selling in front of me. So I stole three bricks from him and that made me go in. That made me lose him, lose my kids, lose my house, and my income, everything. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: What made you try it the first time? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: Curiosity. ... It makes me feel alive again. I'm not stressing as much as when I do it, because when I'm down, when I'm not high, I stress. I cry about me not being high, you know what I'm saying? Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Which stresses you out the most when you're not high? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: It's my kids. Kids. My kids. I want my kids back. I want my house back. I want to be able to be me again. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Kids are what keep Justin from spiraling out of control. Justin, lives in Rochester: If I didn't have those two, this is not the Justin that would be sitting here. There would probably be a plate glass between us. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Justin represents a different sector of the unhoused community. People who live in their cars. For safety reasons, he only wants to be identified by his first name. Justin, lives in Rochester: It's a recent endeavor. So normal upbringing, college, work, wife, kids ... addiction. I was an alcoholic. Now that was a symptom of my undiagnosed mental illnesses. I'm autistic. I have bipolar, schizophrenia, dyslexia, mental illness, loss of wife and kids, job, stuff. So I was in an apartment and some things happened, so I lost that. If I don't have a place to go and be, it drains you. So you have to be driving. So you have to have the AC on because you're dying of heat. The heat is not great. There's no breeze and there's mosquitoes and s---. So you can't just leave the windows open and there's weather and stuff. So I got a net from a friend and cut it and taped it to the windows so I could open the windows. So you either get bit by mosquitoes or sweat. It sucks. I sweat it out. It is what it is, and I've been through some pretty rough times. Protection is important. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: What would you say is the worst part? Justin, lives in Rochester: The lack of being able to know where I'm going to park tonight or if I'm going to be safe. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Safety is Justin's number one priority. One night he was in a dangerous situation looking for a secure parking spot. Justin, lives in Rochester: I found a place to park. A homeless gentleman told me I could safely park in an area, gave me the tricks on how to get past the thing. So I'm like, okay, cool, maybe this is safe, maybe not whatever, because I have a vehicle. The person tried to manipulate the situation and get me to bring him somewhere when he got going at me in the car, which is not a place you want to do that. You don't want to come at me in my vehicle. I know where all the things are. So I pulled over. I was able to get him the f--- out. But it doesn't always work out that well for people. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Homelessness rates have risen nationally by 6% yearly since 2017, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The cost of housing and food are the main factors for the incline. And as homelessness rises, the earth's temperatures rise with it. Here's Patricia Ferrin. Patricia Ferrin, unhoused in Rochester: I hope that a lot of homeless people can get the courage up to enough to do what I'm doing talking about it. What I go through every day is challenging because I have two devices in me now. I do have a little bit of depression. I found the way to get rid of the depression, I'm coloring the Bible. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: When I first met TeeTee on Joseph Avenue, she had a coloring book. She asked Gary Harding if he could bring crayons or colored pencils next time he stopped by with water, snacks and Narcan. TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: But I'm thinking about, I want to go to rehab. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: What stops you? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: What's stopping me? Nobody's there for me when I go there. That's what's stopping me. The support. Support, yeah. I know I'm supposed to have support from my mom. I know I got the support physically, mentally, from my kids, but I want that real support from my mom. Her coming to visit me. Sometimes her answering the phone when I call. I want that support. I went to Clifton Springs last week. I woke up in the ICU. All I remember is leaving. They told me I was too high to get into the facility. All I remember is walking out the facility and waking up in the ICU, had burn marks on the bottom of my feet, black and blue marks. I got raped. I asked a white man for a drink walking down the street. He put (something) in my drink. I don't remember nothing else. I was in the hospital ICU for three days. ... I was beaten. Oh my God, I was raped trying to go to rehab. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: The longer Tee Tee stays on the streets, the more she's exposed to drugs laced with fentanyl, a narcotic use to treat severe pain that could cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses or combined with other substances. When drugs like heroin and crack are taken with fentanyl, the effect can mask heat, stroke symptoms and reduce awareness so people may not realize they're overheating. It's a quick way to overdose during the hot summer. TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: Yesterday, I smoked and then just dozed off. I'm like, oh yeah, that's fentanyl. I didn't go back. It scares me because ... I can die. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: Have you seen anybody overdose? TeeTee, unhoused in Rochester: Yeah. Twice. I even saw somebody dead. ... That was my homeboy. I was upstairs when he died. I didn't even know he died. Somebody came up there like, "I just dragged him outside." What the f---? And I ran outside. Rob Bell, Democrat and Chronicle reporter: First Street Foundation, a nonprofit research organization, predicts temperatures in Rochester will continue to rise for at least a century or more due to climate change This "City on Fire" podcast is part of the USA TODAY Network-Northeast's human-centered climate crisis project called Perilous Course directed by New York State Enterprise Editor William Ramsey. This podcast was produced by me, Rob Bell, a reporter for the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and USA TODAY Network-Northeast Regional Multimedia Director Sean Oates. Special thanks to Amy D'Amico, Patricia Ferrin, John Lee, Dr. Harry Murray, Gary Harden, TeeTee and Justin. The Democrat & Chronicle has been investigating the effects of a rapidly heating planet on people who live in our city. Follow along with "City on Fire" as we report the struggle with summer temperatures caused by climate crisis. This is part of the USA TODAY project Perilous Course. Contact D&C journalist Rob Bell at rlbell@gannett.com to be included in a story if you have been affected by climate crisis or heat or William Ramsey for general climate impact. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester unhoused face drugs, rape, violence in summer months Louisiana has until Friday to remove children from its notorious state penitentiary at Angola after a federal judge found they were being held in intolerable conditions that included prolonged solitary confinement, punishment with mace and handcuffs, and inadequate education and mental health care. The ruling brings to a climax a year-long battle between civil rights groups and the state of Louisiana, which has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Angola prison, named after the African country from which enslaved people were forcibly brought to work on the plantation where the penitentiary is located, has a reputation for penal brutality and violence. Up to 80 children almost all Black boys, some as young as 15 have been brought to Angola since October 2022 and housed in cells in which condemned death row prisoners used to await execution. The move followed turmoil in the states juvenile detention institutions, which have struggled with understaffing, riots and frequent breakouts. Related: Minnesota prison resolves dispute with 100 inmates refusing to return to cells ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Rights groups immediately denounced the transfer, saying Angola was entirely inappropriate as a site for captive children. Led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Fair Fight Initiative, they began legal proceedings that culminated in a seven-day hearing last month and Fridays federal court order. Antonio Travis of Families and Friends of Louisianas Incarcerated Children said he was relieved the judge had ordered the release of juveniles from Angola. This decision is long overdue, Travis said, and its shameful that it has taken a lawsuit and federal intervention to try to make the [state] do the right thing for our kids. In her ruling, US district judge Shelly Dick denounced the state for failing to meet the standards that it had set itself. Virtually every promise that was made was broken, she said, setting a 15 September deadline for the removal of the teenagers from Angola. Dick listed the violations that had been perpetrated on the children which she said amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. They included solitary confinement, known as cell restriction, which could last five or six days, or in one case 14 consecutive days. Officials had promised that the juveniles would only be placed in solitary confinement in the old death row cells overnight. Numerous scientific studies have found that being held in isolation can cause mental health problems, even for adults, in a matter of days. The teens have been held in an old building that regularly has failing air conditioning, leading to baking temperatures. Last month, Louisianas governor, John Bel Edwards, declared a state of emergency across the state over extreme heat. Dick found that children were frequently punished with the use of restraints and denial of family visits. One teen was maced in his cell, and when the judge visited Angola she saw juveniles eating meals or playing cards while handcuffed. Only one of three classrooms was in operation, forcing the juveniles to spend half of their school day learning alone inside their cells. Dick condemned the provision of mental health services as anemic. In July, in court documents, some of the detained juveniles described through their guardians the conditions in which they were being held. Daniel D, 16, wrote that he was held in solitary confinement and was frustrated and not feeling well the water in my cell is not drinkable. It is extremely hot and the fans dont always work. Charles C wrote in a declaration that my cell is incredibly small and I have no room to move. I worry about my mental health because Im forced to be in these cells. The guards here dont care about me or the kids here. They want me to act out but I wont. The lead counsel in the lawsuit challenging the incarceration of children at Angola, David Utter, said that the removal order was the result of the bravery of some of the children and their families in speaking out and standing up against this cruelty. He added: Now, it is time for Louisianas leaders to provide the appropriate care and support so all children can thrive and reach their full potential. We demand investment in our children, not punishment. State officials have vowed to lodge an emergency appeal against the removal decision. They argue that many of the juveniles have been involved in violence and pose a threat to themselves or others. The 16-year-old daughter of a top Lowes executive has died after crashing her Porsche into a tree near her family home in North Carolina, police said. Stella Grace Bright died on Saturday after her two-seater 2014 Porsche 911 supercar flew off the road in Mooresville, near Lake Norman, at 3.20am. The 16-year-old was allegedly speeding when the car hit a tree and a rock landscaping wall near her familys $2.6m mansion, killing her and injuring two other passengers. Stella was pronounced dead at the scene, while her two friends were rushed to a hospital with unknown injuries. Both Stella and her front seat passenger were wearing seat belts at the time, police said, while a third passenger was sitting in the back section of the car, which was not equipped for passengers and had no seat belts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Investigators have not disclosed how fast the 16-year-old was driving but said they believe speed was a factor in the crash. Stella is the daughter of Chris Bright, the vice president of market delivery and final mile at Lowes, according to his LinkedIn. It is unclear if the Porsche belonged to the teen or to her parents. Stellas twin sister, Olivia, paid tribute following her death: I dont know how Im going to live another day without you u meant the world to me and still do. You didnt deserve to go this soon you really didnt. I wont stop thinking about you and I know you want me to be happy so Im going to try to be happy just for you. Friends of the teen also paid tribute, describing her as a beautiful soul. The teens father, Chris Bright, is a top Lowes executive (Chris Bright via LinkedIn) There are absolutely no words to describe how much you were loved and how we are all going to miss you so so so much, friend, Nikki Degroot, posted on Instagram. I cant even begin to describe with words how grateful I am to have met you and to be apart of your life. You are so amazing and caring ad [sic] kind and talented and you had such a beautiful soul, another friend, Jocelyn Carroll, added. You always know how to put a smile on anyones face you were the bestest sister I never got to have and I miss you so much. Im so sorry I never got to say goodbye. Another friend, Ryleigh Ackermann, said the teen always knew how to make people smile in an awkward situation. Words cant even describe how much my heart aches for you and the others involved, she said in a post to social media. I wish we couldve had the rest of our high school experience together. I would do anything to get one more hug from you. You were a beautiful, smart, caring, bubbly girl. I know you will always be up there looking out for all of us... you were the sweetest soul and went too soon. A Porsche car retails for up to $120,000 and can reach speeds approaching 200 miles per hour. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said his country's judiciary would decide whether to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin in the event he attends the Group of 20 (G20) 2024 summit in Brazil, Reuters reported on Sept. 11. Lula earlier said that the Russian president would not be detained if he attended the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro next year. In March, the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest of Putin and Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova for organizing the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation. Brazil is a party to the ICC's Rome Statute and is therefore obliged to detain the Kremlin leader. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Putin has largely avoided traveling abroad since The Hague court called for his arrest. He did not attend the August summit of BRICS countries in South Africa in person, as the country is party to the ICC treaty. Putin has also decided to skip the last G20 summit that took place in New Delhi on Sept. 9-10, even though India is not a party to the ICC. In both instances, Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov instead. Bloomberg reported that the Kremlin's chief however plans to visit China to attend the Belt and Road Forum in October, as it is one of the few countries where he feels confident that the Russian security services can guarantee his safety. Read also: South African President: Putin not to attend BRICS summit According to Reuters, Lula also said that Brazil's accession to the Rome Statute should be reviewed. "I want to know why the U.S., India, and China didn't sign the ICC treaty and why our country signed it," Lula told reporters during the G20 summit in New Delhi. Unlike India or China, the U.S. signed the treaty but has never ratified it and later withdrew its signature. The Brazilian president has taken a neutral stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, acknowledging Kyiv's right to defend itself but refusing to join sanctions against Russia or send military aid to Ukraine. Instead, Lula has sought to mediate a diplomatic solution to the war, even criticizing Western support for Ukraine as a way of prolonging the hostilities. The president sparked outrage on April 6 after suggesting that Ukraine should be open to the idea of giving up Crimea in exchange for peace with Russia. Read also: After visit to China, Lula says US should stop encouraging war and start talking about peace Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A suspect shot himself in front of SWAT officers and family after more than 7 hours of negotiation with officers outside an east Charlotte pawn shop Monday evening, police said. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police from about 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. asked people to avoid the area near the intersection of Albemarle Road and East W.T. Harris Boulevard as its SWAT Unit negotiated with an armed, wanted suspect. The man, who police have not yet named, backed himself up to the buildings wall and refused to drop his weapon until about 5:30 p.m., according to a CMPD news release. SWAT officers then set off flash bangs, or stun grenades, to distract the man, but he quickly picked up his gun and shot himself, police said. His family was on scene helping police negotiate. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The man later died at the hospital, according to the news release. It is unclear what prompted the SWAT units response. East Charlotte traffic during Monday SWAT standoff Police first responded to the intersection at about 10 a.m. and began blocking off roads while looking for someone close to 10:10 a.m., according to emergency radio traffic obtained Monday by the Observer via Broadcastify. CMPDs BearCat a vehicle for SWAT and military use was blocking the entrance to a building with a pawn shop off W.T. Harris Boulevard, WSOC reported Monday morning. Officers were talking to the suspect wanted for multiple warrants, CMPD posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at about 4:15 p.m. Buses coming from six schools were rerouted around the area, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools operations specialist Tom Miner posted on X Monday afternoon, formerly known as Twitter. Police asked people to continue avoiding the area during their afternoon commutes. This is a developing story. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A Jacksonville family is mourning after discovering twins suffocated in a toy chest on Aug. 25. The mom, Sadie Myers, wrote in a Facebook post that her four-year-old twins, Aurora and Kellan Starr, went to play in the middle of the night and apparently fell asleep inside their toy chest. Myers said that at some point while the twins were asleep, one of them must have moved or kicked the lid closed. The old wooden cedar toy chest is airtight when shut, and soundproof, she said. Myers wrote that the twins slowly lost oxygen as their arms were wrapped around each other, snuggling. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After Myers and her husband Don Starr, and their two older boys woke up, they checked the twins room and immediately panicked. After searching the home and up the street, one of the boys found the twins in the toy chest. Mommy I found them! They are so silly just sleeping in the toy box, he had said. That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson gets 30 years to life in prison for rapes of 2 women Upon discovering them, Myers wrote that she knew immediately that something wasnt right. I also quickly realized it was already too late It makes no sense to me and never will, she added. I hope if you have a toy box like this that you destroy it immediately!!! According to NBC affiliate WTLV, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office responded to the incident and interviewed everyone in the home. Officials said the kids did not show any sign of trauma. They changed us all for the better and brought sooo much light and love into our lives, every second with those twins was full of laughter, silliness, dancing, silly questions and funny faces, games and jokes, happiness and LoVE!!!, Myers wrote. We will cherish those memories and ALWAYS celebrate the twins and we will carry their memory with us in all we do As of this report, no charges have been filed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A man was shot and killed in Phoenix by an unknown person after witnesses say he aimed a gun at a woman early Saturday morning. Phoenix officers responded to the area of Central Avenue and Illini Street to investigate a shooting death that happened at about 5 a.m. When officers got to the area, they found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was taken to the hospital by Phoenix Fire Department crews where he was pronounced dead by medical staff. Patrol officers had detained several individuals in the area which detectives were able to speak with, according to Phoenix police. Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over the investigation. Witnesses told detectives that the victim had pulled out a handgun and pointed it at a woman, according to police. This led to an unknown person shooting the victim, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The victim was identified by police as 43-year-old Bobby Thomas. Details leading up to the incident remained under investigation as evidence continues to be collected and analyzed. Phoenix Police Department asked anyone with information regarding this case to call 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO to provide an anonymous tip. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man aims gun at woman in Phoenix, unknown person fatally shoots him, police say An accused drug trafficker was busted in Pittsburgh and immediately released from jail. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man allegedly caught with enough fentanyl to kill 35% of Pennsylvanians released from jail Now, Yan Carlos Pichardo Cepeda is wanted from coast to coast for failing to show up for a court hearing. District Attorney Steve Zappala said it never should have come to this point. The DA has had enough of Xander Orensteins policies when it comes to letting accused criminals out on bond. This is not what we signed up for. This is not a judicial officer, or not what a judicial officer should do, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Most recently, Judge Orenstein, who is located in Lawrenceville, let Yan Calos Pichardo Cepeda out on bond, after the AGs office arrested him with nearly $2 million worth of fentanyl. The suspect never paid bond, and now didnt show up for a hearing Monday, prompting another judge to issue an arrest warrant. That should have been a no-brainer, just on that basis. This is not a political process. That is easy to do. That much fentanyl and how many people whose lives are adversely affected. Thats a no-brainer, the DA added. Plus, pre-trial services suggested that Cepeda not be released. Weve also learned that Cepeda has previous charges out of New York for sexual assault and grand larceny. Yet, Orenstein decided it was appropriate to let him back out on the streets. Theres a handful of judges [who] ran as activist judges, and their agenda is not following the law, their agenda is something else, DA Zappala said. When we asked District Judge Orenstein about the decision, we were told its against policy to comment on ongoing cases. Its not the first time weve covered a case where Judge Orensteins custody decision was questioned. In May, we reported the district judge let a man out of custody after he was accused of claiming to have a bomb in his luggage. His claims forced an American Airlines flight to be grounded at Pittsburgh International Airport. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Ric Flair visiting local Giant Eagles on Wednesday Woman arrested for allegedly stabbing coworker in Lawrenceville Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante flees search area, changes look and asks acquaintences for help Sewickley woman, volunteers deliver meals to first responders on 9/11 DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The worker said he found the GPS device on the underside of his vehicle while he was washing it - Alamy A businessman in Spain has been arrested for allegedly placing a tracking device on a car belonging to an employee who was on sick leave. The employee, who had been diagnosed as suffering from anxiety after a long-running work dispute with his boss, said he found the GPS device on the underside of his vehicle while he was washing it. I got underneath the car and saw that the plastic had been broken and there was this device attached, the unnamed worker told Spains Antena 3 news show. The Guardia Civil police force said they had arrested a businessman in the Seville area on suspicion of an invasion of privacy offence. He has not been named. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A video released by the police force showed officers escorting a middle-aged man from his office to a patrol car. Investigators found that the GPS device placed under the car was fitted with a SIM card in the name of a company hundreds of miles from Seville, in Zaragoza, with which the accused man had no relation. No one from the company in Zaragoza had noticed that the firm was being billed for a SIM card it was not using. It creates a lot of insecurity The arrested man is also accused of document fraud in relation to the SIM card contract and damage to property for allegedly placing the device under his employees car. A Seville court is now investigating the case and will decide whether to proceed with criminal charges against the businessman. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before and it creates a lot of insecurity, especially given the reason I was on medical leave. This only makes it worse and heightens anxiety, the employee said. The five-year professional relationship between the two men had apparently been fractious. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A Pennsylvania man who collected and preserved human remains pleaded guilty on Thursday to his role in an alleged wide-ranging scheme to traffic human body parts from Harvard Medical School. Jeremy Pauley, 41, is facing up to 15 years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property for knowingly buying and selling human remains that were stolen from the Harvard Medical School morgue, according to court documents. Jeremy Pauley. Jeremy Pauley. Pauley is among seven people who have been charged in connection to the alleged thefts from the Harvard morgue, which authorities said took place from 2018 to early 2023. A civil lawsuit involving donors families is also ongoing. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In an email to HuffPost, Johnathan White, Pauleys attorney, said his clients actions do not define him. We believe that people can make poor choices, but that does not define them, White said. Mr. Pauley has accepted responsibility for his poor choices, and he looks forward to the opportunity to provide the court with all mitigating circumstances at the appropriate time. Prosecutors said that Pauley had knowingly bought a variety of stolen remains and body parts including bones, skulls, skin, dissected faces, heads and internal organs, also referred to as wets, from Harvard and the University of Arkansas Medical School. Pauley then sold some of those stolen remains on Facebook to other collectors or those with a similar fascination for human remains. He also agreed in 2021 to tan human chest skin into leather for Katrina Maclean, a client who is also charged in connection to the alleged trafficking ring. In return for Pauleys tanning services, Maclean agreed to pay him in more human skin she bought from Cedric Lodge, the then-manager of the morgue at Harvard Medical School, who stole human body parts meant for research, and kept them at his home, prosecutors said. (Maclean and Lodge have pleaded not guilty, and their case is ongoing.) Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge, 55, shields his face with a printout of the indictment against him as he walked from the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse, following his arrest on charges related to an alleged scheme to steal and sell donated body parts. Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge, 55, shields his face with a printout of the indictment against him as he walked from the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse, following his arrest on charges related to an alleged scheme to steal and sell donated body parts. According to prosecutors, Pauley shipped the tanned human skin to Maclean in Massachusetts and a month later, she shipped human skin to Pauley. She then allegedly asked if it had arrived, saying, wanted to make sure it got to you and I dont expect agents at my door. In October 2021, Pauley sent $8,800 to Maclean through PayPal for payments for stolen human remains. Prosecutors said Pauley would later meet Candace Chapman Scott, who worked at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she transported, cremated and embalmed human remains. Scott has also pleaded not guilty to 12 charges against her. Scott initially messaged Pauley asking if he or anyone he knew was interested in purchasing a fully intact embalmed brain, according to court documents. Pauley responded that he was interested in buying the brain, as well as a heart, and agreed to pay $1,200 through PayPal. Over the course of months, Pauley would continue to pay Scott hundreds and thousands of dollars for more stolen body parts including more skin, brains and limbs, and another $300 for a stillborn baby boy Scott was assigned to cremate, prosecutors said. During that time, Pauley sold and traded body parts to others who have come under scrutiny from federal authorities, including James Nott. Nott was arrested in July on firearm charges, and after a search, federal agents said they discovered at least 40 skulls decorated his Kentucky home. No charges have been filed against Nott in connection with the human remains found in his possession. Pauley addressed the charges against him in a now-deleted post on Facebook, saying most states allow for the sale of human remains. He defended his collection and others who shared his hobby. Now I completely understand its not everyones cup of tea. I understand that some people dont show the respect others would like to see. But in my time I have met some of the most intelligent, wholesome, and respectful people you could meet, Pauley wrote. Lodge and three other defendants charged in connection with the alleged thefts are scheduled to go on trial in December. Related... FILE - An unstilted home which came off its blocks sits partially submerged in a canal, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., Friday, Sept. 1, 2023, two days after the passage of Hurricane Idalia. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DADE CITY, Fla. (AP) A fatal single-vehicle crash just hours before Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida has been declared the state's fourth death from the Category 3 storm, officials said Monday. A 40-year-old man driving in heavy rain went off the roadway and hit a tree near Dade City in the Tampa Bay area on Aug. 30, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Hurricane Idalia made landfall later that morning with 125 mph (201 kph) winds across the state in Floridas remote Big Bend region. Other Idalia-related deaths in Florida confirmed by the states 25 local district medical examiners are a man who died in a traffic crash near Gainesville hours before Idalia made landfall, a windsurfer who went missing that same day off Florida's Space Coast and an older adult who was struck by a falling tree after the storm passed while clearing debris with a tractor. A man in Valdosta, Georgia, also died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear another tree out of the road, according to the Lowndes County Sheriff Office. Two people were shot, one fatally, when a man was carrying food out of a 1-year-olds birthday party at a Florida Airbnb, the sheriffs office said. A family from Orlando rented the Davenport property to host a gathering of family and friends Sept. 9 for the birthday of a 1-year-old, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a Sept. 11 news conference. The family came to the property on the night of Sept. 8 and worked all through the morning the next day to set up for the gathering, Judd said. The party started later that day, at about 3 p.m. Hours into the party, one of the attendees, 27, started to receive multiple phone calls, the sheriff said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement An hour and a half later, Judd said he walked outside the home with two plates of food that deputies believe were intended for the occupants of a vehicle parked outside the home. The man gave the food to those inside the vehicle before a volley of gunshots rang out, knocking the man down with gunfire, Judd said. The man was able to get up and start heading back to the house, according to the sheriff. The people in the vehicle had started to drive off, but they backed the car up to the house when they saw him get up again, Judd said. One of the people in the vehicle then jumped out and started to shoot at the man again, according to the sheriff. A woman who was inside the home also was struck through the front door, Judd said. The woman, 26, had run to the door after hearing the first round of gunshots, Judd said. The person then jumped back into the vehicle, and it sped away as the woman opened the front door of the Airbnb, the sheriff said. Partygoers pulled the man into the home, and he had multiple gunshot wounds, according to the sheriff. The man died from his injuries, but the woman is expected to fully recover after being shot in the thigh, Judd said. The sheriff said there was nearby surveillance footage that showed the vehicle fleeing the house, but the suspects had not yet been captured or identified as of Sept. 11. At the entrance to the neighborhood, deputies found the two plates of food discarded on the side of the road, Judd said. A spokesperson for Airbnb told McClatchy News in an email the party was unauthorized by the Airbnb host, and the host had not consented to a party being held at their home. Our deepest condolences go out to all who were impacted by this senseless violence. We are investigating this incident, and have also reached out to the Polk County Sheriffs Office to offer our support with their investigation, the spokesperson said in the statement. Heartland Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone with information that may help identify and capture the shooters, according to the sheriffs office. Davenport is about 35 miles southwest of Orlando. 16-year-old shoots school security guard in head during football game brawl, NY cops say Cops burst into home after reported shooting, but ex-boyfriend made it up, Texas cops say Beachgoer thinks she hears gunshot and finds shes been struck by arrow, Hawaii cops say Man shot acquaintance in head as they watched soccer game together in DC, feds say A 24-year-old Weehawken man will spend 24 years in prison for the stabbing death of his girlfriend in June 2021. Joseph Palacios was sentenced to over two decades in state prison by state Superior Court Judge Vincent Militello after he pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter. Palacios stabbed Michelle Paola Castillo Siguencia, also 24, in the neck on June 19, 2021. Police discovered her unresponsive body in the bathroom of her Hudson Avenue apartment in Weehawken at 6 p.m., and she was pronounced dead at 6:48 p.m. Palacios fled after the stabbing, barricading himself in a family member's apartment in Union City and threatening to harm himself. Hudson County Regional SWAT entered the family member's apartment several hours later and arrested Palacios, and he was taken to the hospital with self-inflicted wounds. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement NJ news NJ breweries sending Gov. Murphy a message with 'Sign the Bill, Phil' IPA A medical examiner determined Siguencia was stabbed in the neck. Siguencia graduated from Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens and received a bachelor's degree from New Jersey City University in Jersey City, her obituary said. She worked as an administrative assistant for the Beazley Group in New York City and was enrolled in Hofstra University, studying to become an attorney. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Weehawken NJ man sentenced to prison for stabbing girlfriend NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A man accused of making threats that alluded to an active shooter targeting a Nashville elementary school has now been indicted on a federal charge. A federal grand jury for the Middle District of Tennessee returned an indictment charging 46-year-old Brian Jones with one count of interstate communication containing a threat to injure, according to court documents filed on Sept. 8. PREVIOUS: Mans tweets alluding to active shooting at Nashville elementary school lead to arrest The federal charge stems from an FBI investigation launched after Jones was arrested by the Metro Nashville Police Department on May 9. Officers received a call from a woman in Colorado who was concerned after noticing some apparent threats being made over social media. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In an arrest affidavit, police said the woman told them the person behind the account appeared to be fixated on a student and took numerous pictures of the elementary school student. She also saw a post in which the user reportedly made threats toward a teacher. The woman told police she did not know Jones but was concerned for the staff and school children, the affidavit said. Authorities opened his publicly available Twitter page, now known as X, and saw several videos and photos that they said were consistent with the womans report. Time stamps on the posts showed they were created around 2 p.m. on May 9, and many of them showed Paragon Mills Elementary School. The images were captioned with alleged threats like, Children no parents your going to die and Shooter says you cant stop this. Man claims gun accidentally went off after shooting, killing girlfriend during argument in North Nashville Another caption read, Your Lazy ness [sic] got these kids killed. The account also had videos that showed Jones driving by the school and saying, Bomb C4, according to police. One video allegedly depicted him tying string around an object he said was enough C4 to blow up a school. That same day, school staff reportedly noticed a man yelling at students during dismissal and reported it to Metro Nashville Public Schools security, according to the school district. The affidavit said police figured out Jones location after they spotted an envelope with his address on it while reviewing the videos. According to investigators, the address was near the elementary school on Paragon Mills Road. Some of the photos also appeared to have been taken from his residence. Upon further investigation, officers said they learned Jones has a history of mental health crises and making threats toward the elementary school. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee However, no firearms or explosive materials were found when Metro police searched his home. Jones was booked into jail that same day on local charges of making a threat of mass violence against a school and making a false report. As of Sept. 11, he remained behind bars on a mental health hold. Officials said additional security and police officers were stationed at the elementary school the morning the possible threats were reported. In an emailed statement, the school district thanked police for their quick work to investigate the situation and take the suspect into custody. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Gary Cecil Ferrell II, was jailed for 110 years for gunning down his ex-girlfriend and her grandmother in front of each other in a parking lot (WISHTV) An Indiana man was jailed for 110 years for gunning down his ex-girlfriend and her grandmother in front of each other in a parking lot. Gary Cecil Ferrell II, 28, will spend the rest of his life in a state correctional facility for the murders of 21-year-old Promise Mays and 62-year-old Pamela Sledd. Prosecutors say that the August 2021 killings were captured by security cameras at an automotive seating factory in Frankfort. Clinton Superior Court Judge Justin Hunter wrote in his sentencing order that the crime had been brutal and heinous and it was appalling that the victims had watched the other being shot. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement With respect to the murder he inflicted upon Pamela Sledd, defendant shot Ms Sledd after she had turned her back and was retreating from the scene of the offense she had witnessed against her granddaughter, he wrote in the document, reported WISH-TV. [Ferrell] acted out an entitlement to control and possess Promise Mays, whether in life or in death, even though she had demonstrated only kindness for the many people whom she encountered in her short and precious life. Both women were killed with a semiautomatic handgun as they had arrived for their work shift at the NHK factory. Police quickly identified Ferrell as the suspect and eventually caught him after he crashed his vehicle in a construction zone. Ferrell was sentenced to serve 45 to 65 years for each count of murder, running consecutively. He must serve at least 80 years before he is eligible for release. An intoxicated 37-year-old man was arrested after being accused of pinning his wife with a car and running over another woman trying to help her, Utah police told news outlets. Police responded after getting reports of a woman having been run over, cops told KTVX. When they arrived, they said they found a woman lying on the ground with severe head injuries, the outlet reported. The woman, who later had to receive surgery because of her injuries, heard the screams from another woman and came to help, police told KSL. The incident occurred after the man, Erwin Jay Riggs, and his wife got into a verbal argument and he left their apartment and damaged her car, punching the back tail light and letting air out of the tires, according to the affidavit obtained by KSL. Then police said he grabbed a kitchen knife and her car keys, so she couldnt leave, the outlet reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Riggs wife and her 16-year-old son went after him, then Riggs put the car in reverse and backed up with the driver door open, police told Gephardt Daily. The open door hit Riggs wife in the chest and pinned her against another vehicle, police told the outlet. Thats when a woman heard the pinned wifes screams and ran over to help, according to the affidavit obtained by Gephardt Daily. The woman put her hand on the cars door frame, and Riggs closed the door, dragging her 10 to 15 yards by her trapped hand, officers told KSL. Then Riggs drove over the womans head, police told KTVX. Riggs was found belligerent by cops after they used a dealership applied tracking device to locate him, officers told the outlet. Once he was taken into custody, he told police he was going to finish the job and next time this happens, you aint gonna find me, according to the affidavit obtained by KTVX. McClatchy News reached out to police for more information and the affidavit on Sept. 11 and was awaiting a response. Riggs was arrested on Sept. 9 on charges of aggravated assault, intoxication, assault, domestic violence in the presence of a child, among other charges, according to the Salt Lake Sheriffs Offices inmate roster. Murray is about 10 miles south of Salt Lake City. 60-year-old killed when street sweeper backs up and runs over him, Georgia cops say Three from same high school among 5 killed when car goes over wall, Georgia cops say Woman trying to stop burglary suspect hits him with car, cops say. Shes been arrested An Oregon man is facing a murder charge after he told the FBI he killed and raped a woman in Massachusetts 44 years ago, officials say. John Michael Irmer, 68, was extradited from Portland to Boston after he walked into an FBI office last month and said he killed a woman with red hair in 1979, the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office said in a Sept. 11 news release. He told investigators the pair met at a skating rink around Halloween before they walked to a Boston apartment building that was under renovation. He then killed the woman with a hammer he found nearby before raping her, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said Irmer told investigators he fled to New York the following day. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Investigators confirmed 24-year-old Susan Marcia Rose who had red hair was found dead Oct. 30, 1979, at the same address Irmer provided, prosecutors said. Rose, who had moved to Boston from Pennsylvania, died of multiple blunt injuries of the head, prosecutors said. Irmers DNA sample matched those found at the murder scene, prosecutors said. Another man was tried in Roses death in 1981 but found not guilty, according to prosecutors. Nearly 44 years after losing her at such a young age, the family and friends of Susan Marcia Rose will finally have some answers, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. This was a brutal, ice-blooded murder made worse by the fact that a person was charged and triedand fortunately, found not guiltywhile the real murderer remained silent until now. Irmer was arrested last week on counts of rape and murder, Boston police said in a Sept. 11 news release. At his arraignment Monday, Sept. 11, Irmer was charged with murder and aggravated rape, a spokesperson for the district attorneys office said in an email to McClatchy News. Irmer, who is being held without bail, pleaded not guilty, the spokesperson said. He is expected to appear in court Oct. 17, the spokesperson said. Bite marks on womans body help ID suspect in 1994 cold case, California officials say Man convicted in 1991 slaying of teen found shot outside foster home, MA officials say Teen a beautiful soul found dead in ravine decades ago. DNA leads to conviction Performance art pioneer Marina AbramoviA has reflected on testing the limits of her endurance to create stirring, conceptual pieces in a new interview. An icon of the art world, AbramoviA has spent the last 50 years exploring the realm of a concept she calls true reality, often exposing herself to bodily and psychological harm. In her piece Rythmn 0, for example, the Serbian artist stood alongside a collection of 72 objects, including a loaded gun, and invited audience members at a gallery in Naples to do whatever they wanted to her for six hours. In the third hour all her clothes were cut from her with razor blades, art critic Thomas McEvilley wrote. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In the fourth hour the same blades began to explore her skin. Her throat was slashed so someone could suck her blood, he added, reporting that Abramovic was so committed to the piece she would not have resisted rape or murder. In a new interview with Harpers Bazaar, AbramoviA, 76, said that while she was literally ready to die for my art at one point in her career, she will definitely not be doing that any more. Its the worst thing to be old and sick, she said, elsewhere, but to be old and healthy is incredible. She added that shes enjoying the stage of life shes at now, and doesnt want to rewind to her thirties and forties when I was suffering so much. I like being who I am now, because I have wisdom that I didnt have before, that you can only get with age. At this time of life, you have to be very careful not to make any bulls***, just to do things that really matter, AbramoviA told the magazine. AbramoviA has previously said she tests the limits of myself in order to transform myself as well as transforming the audiences energy. During an interview in 2010, she explained: I test the limits of myself in order to transform myself, but I also take the energy from the audience and transform it. It goes back to them in a different way. This is why people in the audience often cry or become angry or whatever. A powerful performance will transform everyone in the room. The same year, comedian, artist, and psychotherapist Lisa Levy announced she would be sitting naked on a toilet for two days as a direct response to one of AbramoviAs most famous pieces The Artist Is Present. For the entirety of the show, AbramoviA remained seated at a wooden table, as audience members queued up to take turns sitting in an empty chair opposite her, with many of them moved to tears. During Levys piece, titled The Artist Is Humbly Present in protest of bulls*** trendy art dialogue, visitors were invited to sit on a toilet seat placed opposite her. Elsewhere, AbramoviA spoke about how a routine knee operation earlier this year turned shocking and dramatic after she was left with severe complications. It was really shocking and dramatic like the universe was saying to me, OK, you want to see what real dying looks like? Here it is, she said, referring to her past conceptual and performance art pieces. She added that she feels like a superhero and like every day is a miracle. A Marine veteran in Massachusetts who admitted in 2022 to lying about aspects of his service faces federal charges for allegedly claiming he had a traumatic brain injury to get a Purple Heart and collecting more than $344,000 in unearned veteran disability benefits. Paul John PJ Herbert, 52, of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, sent the Marine Corps a fraudulent request for a Purple Heart through his congressman, according to an indictment filed Thursday by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. The congressman who represented Shelburne Falls at the time was Rep. Richard Neal, D-Massachusetts, whose office didnt respond by time of publication to a Marine Corps Times request for comment. Herbert allegedly said in the request for the Purple Heart a decoration given to service members wounded or killed in conflict that he had sustained the traumatic brain injury from a roadside explosion while deployed to northern Iraq. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In truth and in fact, as the defendant well knew, his statement was false, the indictment reads. He was indicted on one count of theft of government money and one count of making false statements. The alleged theft of benefits took place between January 2010 and March 2023, according to the indictment. The indictment provides few other details about what Herbert is alleged to have done. Marine vet admits to defrauding VA, threatening investigator Mr. Herberts alleged conduct is an affront to every veteran who has sacrificed to earn the honor of a Purple Heart and who is deserving of disability benefits, U.S. Joshua Levy for the District of Massachusetts said in a news release announcing the charges. Herbert served in the Marine Corps from December 1989 until January 1994, and attained the rank of corporal, according to Corps spokeswoman Yvonne Carlock. A landing support specialist, Herbert last served at 1st Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Force Service Support Group, at Camp Pendleton, California. There is no record of him deploying, according to Carlock. His list of awards wasnt available. There are indications Herbert may have transferred to another branch of service, but its unclear which, Carlock said. Chris Demars, an Army National Guard veteran who is the director of Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services, said Tuesday he met Herbert at a Memorial Day event a decade ago in Demars hometown of Gill, Massachusetts. Herbert, who was wearing a Bronze Star marked with a V for valor, told Demars he earned his medal while working with indigenous forces in Iraq. When Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans Services invited Herbert to speak at a Veterans Day event in 2019, the organization asked for his DD-214 discharge paperwork to help with writing an introductory bio, Demars told Marine Corps Times. The paperwork Herbert provided didnt mention a Bronze Star or a Combat Action Ribbon, both of which the Marine veteran wore on his dress uniform, according to Demars. When Demars and other local veteran leaders pointed out the discrepancy, Herbert provided a memorandum associated with his supposed Bronze Star. It looked like it was something from the Korean War or World War II, Demars said. I have two Bronze Stars. I know exactly what a Bronze Star writeup looks like, and it was fraudulent. After doing some more digging, the suspicious veterans contacted federal investigators. What really rankles Demars: The day they first met, Demars told Herbert about the event that earned him one of his Purple Hearts. After being wounded, Demars said, he remembered the sound of the helicopter as he was evacuated. Demars said he believes Herbert later passed off his story from the Army National Guard as his own. I do think about it, and can sometimes hear the propeller or helicopter noise, Herbert told The Daily Hampshire Gazette in 2017 of the day he was purportedly wounded. In August 2022, Herbert admitted publicly to lying about aspects of his military service, The Greenfield Recorder reported. I just needed to feel important, he told the Recorder at the time. I started feeling important and feeling good about myself and I didnt know a way to get out. I know I hurt a lot of people that trusted me and cared about me and everything else. The Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts jointly investigated the allegations against Herbert, according to the news release. Herbert was arrested Friday following his indictment the day before, according to the court docket. At an initial court hearing after his arrest, Herbert pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released. Among the conditions for his release are that he participate in a mental health treatment program and remain in Massachusetts or New Hampshire without governmental approval, according to court documents. Herberts attorney, Tracy Duncan, did not respond by time of publication to Marine Corps Times requests for comment. If convicted, Herbert could face up to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for the charge of theft of government money, and up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release for the charge of making a false statement, according to the prosecutions news release. Herbert could also be forced to pay up $250,000 or twice the total gain or loss from his alleged crimes, whichever is greater. Demars said he is grateful to the VA investigator for his work on the case and glad the allegations against Herbert have finally come to light. Its been tough trying to hold back all these years, he said. In February, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called for a national divorce between red and blue states. Now, shes taking her call for a schism even further by encouraging states to outright consider seceding from the union. On Monday, Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that if the Biden admin refuses to stop the invasion of cartel led human and drug trafficking into our country, states should consider seceding from the union. From Texas to New York City to every town in America, we are drowning from Bidens traitorous America last border policies, Greene added. Marjorie Taylor Greene suggests that states should consider seceding from the union. Marjorie continues to put America last. pic.twitter.com/nPmRoMnjSf Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) September 11, 2023 Months ago, Greene suggested that a national divorce, rather than, say, a democratic form of governance, was needed to remedy the disputes between Republican and Democratic states. From the sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats to the Democrats traitorous America Last policies, we are done, Greene said at the time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The most notable attempt at secession in U.S. history is, of course, that of the 11 southern Confederate states who split from the union in an attempt to stave the abolition of slavery in their territories. The Confederacy was handily defeated in the Civil War. Yet, some modern-day Republicans have begun to view secession as a favorable alternative to actually doing the job of representative governance. In March, Texas Republicans introduced a bill that would place a referendum for the states secession from the United States on the 2024 ballot. The measure would allow Texans to vote on whether or not the State should investigate the possibility of Texas independence, and present potential plans to the Legislature. In 2022, failed Ohio congressional candidate J.R. Majewski called for states where a majority of voters had supported Trump to split from the country. I didnt want to be a hype beast, Majewski said during a live stream, but Ive had it in my back pocket to say that every state that went red should secede from the United States. To me, secession is not out there. Its all about how you frame the dialogue though. You cant just, you know, obviously youre talking to me, different story, but the general population, you know, we have to break em in easy, Majewski added. While Majewski failed to make it into elected office, Greenes repeated calls for succession have not gone unnoticed by her colleagues in the House. I have a news flash Marjorie, Seceding didnt go so well for yall last time. You would know that if your side READ books instead of banning them. Section 3 says levying war against the U.S. is treason, tweeted Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.). Start working for the UNITED States of America or do us a favor and secede YOURSELF from Congress, Bowman added. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Mark Cuban , owner of the Dallas Mavericks, watches warmups before Game 6 of an NBA playoff series against the Utah Jazz on April 28, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Cuban sparred with presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy over education issues via social media. | Rick Bowmer, Associated Press Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate for 2024, wants to abolish the Department of Education but Dallas Mavericks owner and Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban does not think it's a good idea. The two entered into a debate on X, formerly known as Twitter, over the weekend about Ramaswamys ideas on education, including his support for school choice. It began when Ramaswamy, a businessman, said Saturday he that he will unveil his plans for dismantling the Education Department in his speech in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 13. Cuban responded less than an hour later. He said Ramaswamy wasnt focused on improving the federal agency with a results-driven plan that would improve education while lowering costs. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Instead, Cuban, who often gets into debates online, said he wants the U.S. to be a deadbeat country that doesnt pay its bills or fulfill its contractual obligations committed to by the 3 letter agencies you would close and instead spend that money on hiring ten thousand+ lawyers to handle the thousands of lawsuits that will end with billions in settlements? (Maybe start a Dept of Lawyers?) So you want us to be a deadbeat country that doesn't pay it's bills or fulfill it's contractual obligations committed to by the 3 letter agencies you would close and instead spend that money on hiring ten thousand+ lawyers to handle the thousands of lawsuits that will end with https://t.co/oMb3ChYpAy Mark Cuban (@mcuban) September 9, 2023 Unless of course you dont believe in any of this and you are just pandering like a politician? he added. In his response, Ramaswamy explained that he would take $80 billion, which the agency typically spends, and help parents send their children to the school of their choice by putting money in their pockets. Its quite sensible, actually, he said. Into the weeds: Do Ramaswamys numbers add up? That wasnt enough for Cuban, who has previously called Ramaswamy a Remix Trump. If Ramaswamy is willing to give money to parents, that would mean that roughly 50 million children would receive $800 per semester, or $1,600 annually, he said. Lets say parents are efficient buyers and schools go along with letting any child in. Do you think the best public schools will accept any child for $1,600? Possibly over-flowing their schools? Requiring more local and state tax money to expand? he said. Plus, Cuban speculated, can schools really make up the funding they lost with each student who has $1,600 to offer? And in the case that a school needs to be expanded, will childless taxpayers be happy footing the bill since the Education Department will no longer provide funding? And, Im guessing your biggest donors will have something to say about who goes to their kids school, Cuban said. Ramaswamy responded by saying he was his own largest donor, and that the U.S. education system gets most of its work done at the local level, so the federal funds will go to parents. Why does Ramaswamy want to abolish the Education Department? Cuban continued asking questions: If Im reading your plan right, you end the (Department of Education) and reassign those functions to other departments? He noted that Ramaswamys plan is to save $9 billion by closing the Education Department. What I dont understand is why you think it will be cheaper and more efficient in treasury over education, Cuban, the founder of Cost Plus Drugs, an online pharmacy that promises cheaper prescription drugs, said. Particularly given the added dollar and time risk of moving it from one bureaucracy and adding it to another? In a lengthy response, Ramaswamy gave his reasons. He said that the federal agency uses funding as a bargaining chip and forces local schools to adopt specific programs and inappropriate ideologies. Its also responsible for tilting the scales towards four-year degrees instead of vocational training over the last few decades with disastrous consequences for my generation (millennials), he said. Ramaswamy said that the problem with schools is that the ones spending the most money on students are the ones delivering the worst results. When a government agency outlives its initial purpose, bureaucrats eventually start finding new things to do that are unnecessary and often harmful: The U.S. Dept of Education is a classic example of that behavior which has become endemic to the federal government, he said. Ramaswamy plans to release his education policy on Wednesday. Experienced explorer Mark Dickey has emerged from a Turkish cave after a successful three-day rescue operation by teams from all over Europe to carry him out of one of the deepest caves in the world. Mr Dickey said that it was Amazing to be above ground again, as he was taken to a medical tent for examination before he could be transferred to hospital after his ordeal, reported CNN. And he thanked the rescue teams and Turkish government for bringing him to safety and said they had saved my life literally no questions asked. And he added: I was underground for far longer than ever expected with an unexpected medical issue. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement An international team of cave rescuers successfully brought Mr Dickey from 3,400 feet (1,036 metres) in the cave to safety at 12.37am on Tuesday local time, after a challenging operation that began on Saturday. Mark Dickey was removed from the last exit of the cave at 00:37 and taken to the UMKE tent. Thus, the cave rescue part of the operation has ended successfully. We congratulate all those who have contributed! Turkish rescuers stated on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. Turkish officials said that Mr Dickey would be taken by helicopter to a hospital in Mersin. He seems fine at first look, Recep Salci of Turkeys disaster and emergency management authority (AFAD) said on Tuesday, according to CNN. The 40-year-old American embarked on an expedition to map out one of the deepest cave systems in the world, in the Morca cave in Mersin provinces Taurus mountains on 2 September. The Morca cave system descends through various, very narrow, twists, turns and rappels making it a difficult exploration for any person in good health. The underground equivalent of the cave is like climbing Mount Everest. But the expedition was suddenly cut short after Mr Dickey fell ill with gastrointestinal bleeding and became trapped at a depth of 1,040 metres (3,400 feet). Video images from Turkish channel TRHaber show US caver Mark Dickey following his rescue (TRHaber) His condition worsened quickly, making him unable to move and requiring a doctor to go down into the cave to administer vials of blood to keep him stabilised. For days, rescuers were unsure if Mr Dickey would be strong enough to be rescued to the surface, but his condition began improving on Wednesday. Members of the CNSAS, Italian alpine and speleological rescuers carry a stretcher holding American researcher Mark Dickey during a rescue operation in the Morca cave, near Anamur (AP) Rescue teams from countries across Europe, including Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy and Poland, rushed to Mr Dickeys aid in the remote area in southern Turkey, with 158 of those rescuers being cave experts. And thus began the arduous rescue operation on Saturday 9 September, as Mr Dickey was slowly and carefully carried by stretcher through the dark, narrow underground passages. Mark Dickey, who fell ill during an international expedition exploring the Morca cave in the south of Turkey (Sourced) The base camp of international rescuers is seen near the Morca Cave (Umit Bektas/Reuters) Cave rescue teams from several European countries conducted a extraction effort to rescue Dickey (AP Graphic) Mr Dickeys fiancee and fellow caver Jessica Van Ord was with him when he fell ill and stayed with the 40-year-old until medics arrived and gave him IV fluid and blood. She eventually climbed out and stayed at a base camp near the mouth of the cave, while working with the 150-strong team of cavers who have travelled to Turkey to help bring Mr Dickey out by stretcher. The mouth of the Morca cave system in Turkey (REUTERS) Rescuers initially worked to stabilise Mr Dickeys condition before he could be moved. By Thursday, his bleeding had stopped and he was able to walk unassisted, according to Cave Rescue Bulgaria. The mission to extricate Mr Dickey began on Saturday afternoon. Rescue teams set up medical base camps at various depths throughout the caves where they could rest and recuperate. Rescue teams used explosives to blast open parts of the cave to safely extract him. Apart from small explosives, rock hammers were also being used by rescuers to make way for a stretcher to ensure Mr Dickeys safety during ascent. Mark Dickey is seen in Morca Cave, days before he fell ill (REUTERS) A medical team takes care of Dickey inside the cave (AP) Members of the CNSAS, Italian alpine and speleological rescuers, start to descent on ropes (AP) The cave path from the surface is a known route, Denes Akos Nagy, a doctor with the Hungarian Cave Rescue Service, told the Wall Street Journal. But the path isnt frequently travelled and is difficult to navigate, he added. If you imagine a skyscraper, that would be maybe 100 meters tall. They are 1,000 meters down there. Thats like 10 skyscrapers stacked on top of each other, Mr Nagy said. Its extremely far, far away. In ideal conditions, it takes a full 15 hours for an experienced caver to reach the surface, the Speleological Federation of Turkey said. But this was not the case with Mr Dickey. To tackle the issue, the team of international experts divided up the depths of the cave and assigned it to a specific team to figure out a solution for that specific area. Officials from the Speleogical Federation of Turkey announced they had reached 100m below ground on Monday evening local time. Mr Dickey was reported to be in stable condition at the time. An expert caver A New Jersey native and current resident of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, Mr Dickey is a highly-trained caver, cave rescuer himself and well-known in the international speleological (cave expert) community, according to the European Cave Rescue Association (ECRA). His resume of cave explorations and expert status is endless: secretary of the ECRA medical committee, lead instructor for Caving Academy, a US-based organisation that prepares other cavers for exploration and a national instructor for the National Cave Rescue Commission. He also volunteers with the New Jersey Initial Response Team, a nonprofit search-and-rescue team. Having participated in many cave explorations in karst areas around the world for many years, Mr Dickey is knowledgeable and skilled the kind of person youd want on complicated cave exploration like the Morca mission. Mr Dickey was on an expedition to map the 4,186-foot-deep cave system in southern Turkey for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association. Photos from a Facebook page that seemingly belongs to Mr Dickey show him happily preparing for the mission by inspecting all the necessary gear before embarking. But what Mr Dickey, and others, could not prepare for was the sudden emergency medical situation he found himself in during the journey. On 2 September, Mr Dickey fell ill with severe gastric pain that was escalating quickly. Though there was initial hope that Mr Dickey could exit the cave on his own, the pain turned into gastrointestinal bleeding and it was clear he needed medical attention quickly. The Speleological Federation of Turkey sent a medical team and six units of blood in the following days in the hopes of stabilising Mr Dickeys medical situation. On Thursday, Mr Dickey appeared in a video for the first time, obtained by The Associated Press, where he thanked Turkish authorities for responding quickly to his medical needs. As you can see, Im up. Im alert, Im talking, but Im not healed on the inside yet, he said. I dont quite know whats happened, but I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life, Mr Dickey said. I was very close to the edge. In this screen grab from video, American caver Mark Dickey, 40, talks to camera inside the Morca cave (AP) While crews have been working to rescue Mr Dickey from the cave, a fundraiser for the efforts surpassed the $60,000 mark. Many thanks to everyone who is contributing to Mark Dickeys rescue from Morca! The last cave rescue of this scale (Riesending, 2014) required 700 rescuers over the course of 2 weeks and cost approximately 960,000 Euros (about $1 million), the GoFundMe reads. This GoFundMe is currently set to $100,000 and this will only be a start for the expenses. The funding will be put to good use towards the travel, food, gear and supplies that the rescuers have needed. This is a complex and expensive operation and your contributions to this effort are making a good impact towards supporting those involved! Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff indicted in Georgia with Donald Trump , has filed notice he will appeal a judge's refusal to move his case from state to federal court, seeking an urgent ruling before any potential verdict in state court. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled Friday that Meadows hadn't met his burden to move the case and that the state has express constitutional authority to determine election procedures. Meadows filed a notice of appeal on Friday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and paid the fee Monday, according to court records posted Monday. But his lawyers haven't yet detailed the arguments they will make on appeal. Meadows asked for an expedited appeal and argued that Jones should freeze the implications of his decision leaving the case in state court until the appeal is resolved, to protect Meadows from receiving a state verdict before the appeals case is resolved. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Meadows' lawyers argued that if the state court reached a verdict before the appeals court eventually rules that case should have been moved to federal court, the case could become "a shuttlecock batted back and forth between state and federal court" and raise a "rat's nest" of issues about federalism. "The rights Meadows asserts 'would be effectively nullified' if the prosecution goes forward during this appeal," his lawyer, John Moran, argued in a filing. "For the State to proceed to trial and seek to impose a verdict, it would give rise to the very 'chilling effect' that federal law goes out of its way to protect against." Jones gave Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis until noon Tuesday to make her arguments about freezing the case. Then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows speaks with reporters at the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, in Washington. At least five of the 19 co-defendants in the case have asked to move their trials from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court. Trump has filed that he may make a similar request. Meadows and the others have argued they should be protected from state-level charges because they served in federal posts for the acts in the indictment. Jeffrey Clark was an assistant attorney general and three others were Republican presidential electors who met to support Trump despite President Joe Biden winning the state: Georgia Republican Chairman David Shafer, state Sen. Shawn Still and Cathy Latham. Meadows is charged with racketeering and with soliciting Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to violate his oath of office during a call Jan. 2, 2021, when Trump asked him to "find" enough votes to win the state. Jones said that to establish a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy, overt acts taken by the participants in the criminal enterprise can be used to illustrate participation in the conspiracy. The indictment mentions Meadows attending a White House meeting with Trump and Michigan lawmakers, sending messages to Pennsylvania lawmakers, requesting a memo regarding disrupting and delaying the joint session of Congress on Jan. 6, 2021, visiting a non-public audit of Georgia voting and arranging the Raffensperger call, Jones noted. "The Court would be ignoring the evidence Meadows himself submitted of his post-election related activities and the purpose of the federal officer removal statute," Jones wrote in his 49-page decision. "It would be legally and factually erroneous for the Court to do so." Meadows asked to move his case to federal court by arguing the actions he was charged for setting up calls, contacting state officials were part of his job as White House chief of staff. He also asked the charges should be dismissed in federal court for the same reason. But the prosecutor, Willis, argued Meadows was committing crimes as part of a wide-ranging conspiracy beyond his official duties to help Trump overturn the 2020 election. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Meadows appeals decision keeping Georgia case in state court A Martinsville family is questioning the Hendricks County Prosecutors Office decision not to charge a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Darin Lee Simpson at a gas station Saturday evening. Darin didn't have a weapon so I don't see how this could be self-defense, said the mans mother, Becky Dillow. Sebastian Adam Lestat Jones, 20, of Monrovia, was arrested in connection with the killing and booked at the Hendricks County Jail. Simpson, 33, and Jones both worked at the TA truck stop on State Route 39 in Clayton near Interstate 70, where the stabbing occurred. Detectives found a physical altercation occurred between the two men before Jones stabbed Simpson with a knife, according to the Hendricks County Sheriffs Office. Simpson was transported to an Indianapolis hospital, where he died. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Amberly Simpson, Darin Simpsons wife of almost six years, also worked at the truck stop and said the altercation between her husband and Jones was sparked by a verbal altercation she had with Jones girlfriend. "Darin was just protecting me when this happened, Amberly Simpson said. He was confronting him (Jones) just with his mouth and with his hands. Darin Lee Simpson, 33, was killed in a stabbing at a Hendricks County truck stop on Sept. 9, 2023. More on the Hendricks County stabbing: Martinsville man killed during fight among truck stop employees Two days after the killing, the Hendricks County Prosecutors Office announced charges would not be brought against Jones as the evidence indicated he acted in self-defense. Jones was released from custody. The Hendricks County Prosecutors Office extensively reviewed all witness statements, interviews, surveillance footage, evidence obtained from the scene and additional evidence collected after the incident, reads a news release. The prosecutors office did not return a request for additional information on the decision not to charge Jones before publication of this article. Darin Lee Simpson is pictured with his wife Amberly Simpson. Now Darin Simpsons family is trying to find a lawyer to challenge the prosecutors office decision. They are also running into difficulties paying for Darins funeral, as he did not have life insurance, and the killing leaves his three children without a father. Darin Simpson was a handful growing up and never finished high school, but he was trying to get his life situated before the killing, his mother said. "My son changed for better, Dillow said. He would work seven days a week at the truck stop when they let him. It made him feel like he was providing for his family." Darin Simpson worked as a dishwasher and cook at the truck stop for close to two years. With her husbands birthday at the end of the month, Amberly Simpson said she wont know what to do when the day comes, and they cant go to the movies together to celebrate. He did a lot for me and changed my life, Amberly Simpson said. Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hendricks County stabbing: Family questions self-defense ruling INGLEWOOD, Calif. April Valentine walked into the maternity ward at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California, on Jan. 9 and never walked out. She died the next day during labor. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined she died from a blood clot. But her family and her partner, Nigha Robertson, claim in a wrongful death lawsuit filed Aug. 29 in Los Angeles County Superior Court that negligence by the hospital and staff contributed to the death of the healthy 31-year-old woman. I wouldnt take my dog to that hospital, Robertson said in an interview. Her family also filed a complaint in February with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, alleging systemic and racist practices at the hospital. The complaint prompted board members to call for a state inspection, which the California Department of Public Health conducted earlier this year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a statement to NBC News, Centinela Hospital Medical Center denied the allegations contained in the lawsuit, saying it is dedicated to delivering compassionate, quality care to all patients. It also denied the allegation of systemic racism and said its health care team reflects the varied ethnic and racial makeup of the community. Nevertheless, citing a decreased demand for labor and delivery services, the hospital announced in August that it would close its maternity ward Oct. 25. Valentine takes steps to avoid becoming a statistic As Valentines excitement over her first pregnancy grew, she also was keenly aware of the risks associated with giving birth as a Black woman, Robertson said. Black women in the U.S. are nearly three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women, according to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It said implicit bias and differences in the quality of health care can play a role and found that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. were preventable. April Valentine. (@Justice4April / via Instagram) Given the statistics, Valentine worked with a birthing doula, a person trained to provide emotional, physical and educational support for an expectant mother or one who has recently given birth. Valentine also sought out a Black physician, Robertson said, and she hung a large whiteboard in her bedroom covered with affirmations and aspirations that she recited daily. Both Robertson and Valentines sister, Kesiah Cordova, were at the maternity ward when she went into labor, and Robertson said he was surprised by the conditions. It just felt like a prison, he said. It was cold. It was raining that day, so the windows was shaking. They had to put towels by the windows to stop the leaking. Robertson alleges in the lawsuit that Valentines obstetrician, Dr. Gwen Allen, did not arrive for hours, despite multiple requests to the nurses. They say, Well, we cant call the doctor, the doctor will cuss us out, Robertson said in an interview, referring to the nurses response. The allegation about the nurses not calling the doctor was included in the lawsuit, and Cordova said she witnessed the exchange. Allens attorney, Ludlow B. Creary II, said last month that Dr. Allen did not cause Ms. Valentines death, and federal privacy laws prevented her from commenting further. Her legs begin to swell during labor Valentine was feeling contractions, but the nurses were inattentive and refused to give her water, Robertson said. Valentines doula, Stanis Askew, was not allowed to be present during delivery, the lawsuit says, despite previous assurances from medical staff that Askew could be on site when delivery began. Instead, Askew texted with Valentine throughout her labor. The lawsuit also claims an epidural was poorly administered. It took [the medical staff] like 15 minutes to even put the epidural, and she stuck April like six different times, Robertson said in an interview. Valentines legs began to swell, according to Robertson. Soon after, the lawsuit says, Valentines condition worsened. She vomited and eventually stopped breathing. Her body just immediately locked up, and her eyes rolled to the back of the head, Robertson said. I ran in the hallway. And I was like, Help. Shes not breathing. Help, help, help. Shes not breathing. Help me. Robertson said he began administering CPR himself. Minutes later, doctors took over, according to the state health department inspection. Valentine did not survive. Her baby girl, Aniya Heavenly-April Robertson, was delivered in an emergency cesarean section, unresponsive but alive. In its review of Valentines case, the state health department found the hospital failed to prevent the deficiencies that caused or are likely to cause someone to get seriously hurt or die. The agency fined the hospital $75,000 earlier this year, citing a maternal death without naming the patient. Following a public information request, NBC News obtained state inspection documents for Centinela hospital from 2019 to 2022. The agency found that staff failed to notify families about major changes in patients conditions, rodent activity from a broken door that was later fixed, and a patient who died after receiving improper medical care. Centinela Hospital Medical Center. (NBC News) The documents indicate the hospital developed plans for corrective action, including offering staff counseling, conducting random cleanliness tests and suspending and later terminating an employee. Californias maternal death rate is among the lowest in the country, with 18.6 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2020. But from 2018 to 2020, the maternal death rate for Black women was more than three times higher than for white women. Family fights to prevent maternal deaths As Aniya reaches nine months old, family and friends say they are determined to not let Valentine's story be forgotten. They gathered outside the hospital in February to share memories and protest her death and started a #Justice4April page online. We were just really looking forward to going through motherhood together and, you know, like having play dates, said Cheyenne Neshay, one of Valentines friends. All of that was taken away from us. Robertson said he wants to make sure what happened to Valentine does not happen to anyone else. Aniya Heavenly-April Robertson. (NBC News) You got to think how many Aprils was out there before this and how many Aprils can be out there after this, he said. Im gonna fight for her and every other Black woman that ever had to do something like this. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Centinela Hospital Center in Inglewood, California, is closing down its maternity ward amid allegations that staff negligence contributed to the death of a young Black mother. In January, April Valentine, 31, entered the California hospital to give birth to her daughter only she never made it out. She died during her delivery from a blood clot, according to the coroners report. Last month, her family filed a lawsuit against the hospital, claiming that their negligence contributed to Valentines untimely death. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Valentines story is sadly far too common. In California, Black-birthing people die at over three times the rate of Asian, Hispanic/Latina, and white-birthing people from pregnancy-related causes. The rates are similar nationally and appear to be trending in the wrong direction. Valentine was reportedly well aware of the risks of giving birth in the United States as a Black woman. According to reporting from NBC News, she worked with a birthing doula and sought out a Black physician, both of which have been shown to improve birth outcomes for Black women. However, things still took a turn for the worse. According to her loved ones, Valentines pain was ignored, and her birthing doula was barred from entering the room to help her. The hospital was fined $75,000 after after the California Department of Public Health found that a string of deficient practices by staff resulted in the death of a pregnant patient. Although, the patient wasnt named, patient 1" appears to be April Valentine. The fact that the maternity ward is closing doesnt mean her family is giving up their fight for justice. The @Justice4april page has continued to post about her death, and family members and supporters have continued to speak publicly about her tragic loss. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Armed groups in Haiti were targeting Americans in Port-au-Prince before the U.S. State Department ordered the families of American diplomats and non-essential personnel to leave the country in July, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Monday. Mayorkas described the targeted threat against Americans there to justify why DHS continues to deport Haitian nationals back to the country, despite State Department warning against travel to Haiti. The threat to Americans in Haiti was quite targeted, Mayorkas said, asked by McClatchy at a small gathering of reporters why it was safe for Haitian nationals to return. The embassy there was a particular interest on the part of gangs there to control transit, means of transit, and that is quite distinct from an overall inability of individuals to be returned to Haiti, he added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A U.S. travel warning for Haiti issued on July 27 laid out the order for American personnel and their families, and said that U.S. officials remaining in the country could not use any kind of public transportation or taxis, leave the embassy compound without prior approval, travel anywhere between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. or drive at night. Then on Aug. 30 as neighborhoods near the U.S. embassy compounds in the Tabarre suburb of the Haitian capital came under increased gunfire from gangs, U.S. citizens were urged, once more, to depart Haiti as soon as possible. The next day, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement charter flight arrived in Port-au-Prince with 66 Haitian nationals who had been deported back to the country. The deportation immediately drew criticism from Haitian and immigration rights groups. In a statement, Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance in the U.S., called the move outrageous. This act puts lives in danger and is a clear human-rights violation, and if allowed to continue, it will go into the history books as a crime against humanity. We urgently call upon President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary Mayorkas, and the entire administration to cease all deportations to Haiti, she said. We also call on Congress to step up and demand that the administration stop all deportation flights to Haiti because it is a travesty, undermines international law, and unconscionably puts lives in immediate danger. After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell froze during a press conference this month, the Kentucky Republicans second such episode this summer, his office released a note from the Capitol physician intended to calm those worried about his ability to continue at his job. Dr. Brian Monahan told McConnell in the letter that there was no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinsons disease." Monahan suggested the episodes may be related to the Leaders concussion in March or to dehydration. The diagnosis has done little to quell concerns about McConell, who has insisted he will not resign before his term expires in 2026. Sen. Rand Paul, another Kentucky Republican who has practiced medicine as an eye doctor, told reporters last week he didnt think Monahan provided a valid medical diagnosis. Everybodys seen the clips, he said. Its not a valid medical diagnosis for people to say thats dehydration. Medical professionals put their reputation on the line when they publicly reveal diagnostic information about a patient. But it isnt unprecedented for a politicians doctor to paint an overly rosy picture of a patients health. Historically, numerous doctors have knowingly misled or even lied to the public when it came to their powerful patients. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement They disguise their lying, in a sense, by the word confidentiality, that the public is not entitled to know a patient's medical history, says Robert Dallek, a presidential historian who has suggested Congress pass a law requiring more transparency about presidents health. If I called up your doctor, they're not going to tell me what your health is. Former President Donald Trump misled the public more than once about his health. In 2015, as a presidential candidate, he released a letter from Dr. Harold Bornstein, his longtime personal doctor, that stated, "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. Later, the doctor claimed that Trump had dictated the letter to him. Questions about the validity of statements about Trumps health escalated in the fall of 2020, when he was hospitalized after he tested positive for COVID-19. That October, his physician at the time, Dr. Sean Conley , declined to provide many details about his patients health and suggested Trump was not experiencing serious respiratory problems. When asked if Trump had received supplemental oxygen, Conley dodged the question, saying he was not then on oxygen. Days later, he revealed Trump had previously received oxygen. I didnt want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction, and in doing so, you know, it came off that we were trying to hide something, which wasnt necessarily true, Conley said. Despite upbeat contemporaneous statements from Conley and other members of Trumps team, reports months later revealed that the presidents condition had actually been so bad that there was talk of putting him on a ventilator. Its not surprising that politicians would try to obscure health problems from the public, says Dallek. They want the public to believe that they are sturdy, reliable, coherent, and that they are going to serve the public in local, state, and national interests, and that their health in no way compromises them. Trumps doctors were not the first to conceal aspects of a presidents health. Perhaps the most famous case happened in 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson collapsed while touring the country by train. Wilson was rushed back to the White House, where the details of his health were kept secret. A week later, the president had a debilitating stroke. While Wilsons wife made statements on his behalf, his physician and friend, Dr. Cary T. Grayson, refused to sign a statement of disability and insisted that the presidents mind was clear and active. Grayson had been less than forthcoming about Wilsons condition before; records released nearly a century later revealed a secret nasal operation related to the presidents breathing and an urgent trip to the eye doctor that Grayson hoped the press would interpret as routine. The American public was similarly kept in the dark two decades later by Ross McIntire, who, with Graysons recommendation, became physician to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In Roosevelts third term, as his health appeared to be declining, McIntire said that he was in robust health. Even after the president was diagnosed with severe hypertension and congestive heart failure in March 1944, McIntire insisted to the press that Roosevelts health was excellent in all respects and that all the checks are well within normal limits. Weeks before the election that year, Roosevelt himself told reporters he was in pretty good health. He died less than six months later. Roosevelt, when he ran again in 1944, was really at death's door, Dallek says. The attitude was, that as long as the war was on, the public wasn't going to want to change presidents in the middle of the war, but he should have stepped down. Physicians exhibited a similar, if less persistent, lack of candor when President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981. The medical spokesperson for George Washington University Hospital, where Reagan was treated, initially downplayed how serious his condition was, denying early reporting about how close to the presidents heart the bullet had lodged. Weeks later, the doctor who operated on him said the bullet was found less than an inch from his heart.The spokesperson later admitted to providing "a little bit less than complete information, saying, "I tried to be as upbeat as possible without damaging my credibility. Concerns about a candidates health can become a dominant issue in an election. Its why President Joe Bidens age looms so largely in the minds of voters when asked about his plan to run for re-election. Perhaps most infamously, Senator Thomas Eagleton withdrew himself as Democrat George McGoverns running mate in 1972, after revelations of his past treatment for mental illness, including electroshock therapy, came to light. McGovern later said he regretted booting Eagleton off the ticket. Eagletons case continues to haunt politicians as they weigh how much to disclose to the public. As he campaigned for the 1992 Democratic nomination for president, former Senator Paul Tsongas said that his bid would not be affected by the non-Hodgkins lymphoma hed received a bone marrow transplant for years earlier. Asked directly, his doctors said hed been cancer-free since that 1986 procedure. To be without disease five years after transplant puts [Tsongas] in the statistical category that he is not going to relapse, his physician, Dr. Tak Takvorian, said. Tsongas doctors later revealed that he had indeed experienced a relapse in 1987. He lost the primary to Bill Clinton and a month after the November election was diagnosed with another type of lymphoma. He died in 1997. For McConnell, one of the most powerful elected officials in Washington, questions about his health are likely to continue to dog him. After his latest freezing episodes, one poll found that nearly 60% of Americans think his health and age severely limit his ability to do his job. Write to Mini Racker at mini.racker@time.com. Former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows on Monday raised concerns he could be convicted in the Georgia election interference case before a decision is made on whether he should be tried in federal court. A judge on Friday denied Meadowss attempt to move his charges out of state court, and he quickly filed an appeal. Even as Meadows continues his fight, the ruling enables the state court to meanwhile enter a conviction for him. So Meadows is now urging a federal judge to pause the effect of Fridays denial. At a minimum, the Court should stay the remand order to protect Meadows from a conviction pending appeal, his attorney wrote in court filings. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Absent a stay, the State will continue seeking to try Meadows 42 days from now on October 23, 2023. If the State gets its way, Meadows could be forced to go to trialand could be convicted and incarceratedbefore the standard timeline for a federal appeal would play out. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones, who will rule on the motion, ordered Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis (D) to respond in writing by noon Tuesday. If successful, Meadowss motion would still allow the state court to move toward trial as long as it doesnt enter a conviction for him. A stay of Remand Order will not prejudice the State, nor other defendants in state court, because it would not prevent other ongoing proceedings; it would only prevent the court from entering a verdict against Meadows, his attorney wrote in Mondays motion. And it will not prevent proceeding in state court if the State prevails on appeal, he continued. Whatever minimal burden the State faces from a stay pales in comparison to the burden on Meadows. Meadows previously asked the state court to pause all of his proceedings entirely until the issue is resolved. A ruling on that motion has not been issued. Meadows is accused of entering a months-long conspiracy to keep former President Trump in power following the 2020 election. He faces charges of racketeering and soliciting a public officer to violate their oath. Meadows pleaded not guilty. He is attempting to move his case to federal court by arguing he was acting within the scope of his job as White House chief of staff. Succeeding would provide Meadows a mechanism to assert constitutional immunity and get the charges dismissed. But the judge on Friday rejected Meadowss request, ruling most of the allegations against him in the indictment were political activities outside the scope of his job. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Through open source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 31,665 Russian soldiers who had been killed in the past 18 months of the full-scale war. The media organizations carry out a name-by-name count of the dead. Since the media's latest update in August, over 900 names have been added to the list of casualties. The journalists specify that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information they have verified so far comes from public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, news in regional media and reports by local authorities. The largest number of death notifications is sent to the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Rostov regions, as well as Bashkiria and Buryatia. Since the last update, the journalists also learned about the deaths of six Russian officers of Lieutenant Colonel rank and higher, bringing the total tally of high-ranking officers to 295. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mediazona also adds that at least 181 military pilots are known to have been killed. "The loss of pilots is particularly painful for the army," reads the report. "...It takes 78 years to train one first-class pilot, and costs about $3.4 million. The loss of each pilot also means the loss of expensive equipment." Read also: Ukraine war latest: Top US general says Ukraine has 30-45 days for the offensive before weather worsens Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. McClatchy newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. When you start looking for an assisted living community for yourself or a loved one, its easy to feel overwhelmed fast. This is especially true when youre looking for ways to pay for the monthly care costs. According to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, assisted living in the United States costs an average of $4,500 a month, which is a lot for many seniors trying to get by on a fixed income. Medicare and Medicaid help with medical costs for huge numbers of people. Nearly 64 million Americans are enrolled in at least one part of Medicare, another 83 million are at least eligible for Medicaid, and over 12 million seniors are enrolled in both. This article provides an overview of Medicare and Medicaid for older adults who may need help paying for assisted living. It gives an overview of both programs and describes how they work together to help seniors. There are also a lot of helpful tips about the exceptions you and your family could use to get help with assisted living, along with information about fee waivers and special programs that might be available in your state. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Speak to a Family Advisor Understanding Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid are easy to mix up sometimes. Both are government-sponsored health insurance programs for some Americans, but they typically serve different groups and provide somewhat different benefits. Maybe the biggest difference is in how theyre organized and what it means for you as a beneficiary. What is Medicare? Medicare is the federal health coverage program for seniors and certain other qualifying adults. The program is entirely funded by the federal government, and you can get your benefits in two forms: Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. These are just different ways to get your benefits, and both have the same eligibility standards and coverage rules. Original Medicare is broken down into three parts: Part A, B and D. Seniors are automatically enrolled in Part A on turning 65 with no monthly premium. This picks up most of the cost of hospital stays. Part B is the outpatient benefit that picks up much of the cost of medically necessary services outside the hospital. Part D is the prescription drug benefit for medicines you pick up from the pharmacy. Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, is a different kind of plan. Part C plans include 100% of the benefits as Parts A and B, except theyre rolled together in one plan. Depending on your chosen plan, your Part C could also include prescription coverage and dental and vision benefits. Who qualifies? You can get Medicare if you are: A U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident AND At least 65 years old OR An adult experiencing kidney failure or another qualifying condition What is Medicaid? Medicaid is the combined state-federal health insurance program for low-income and medically needy people. Every state has its own Medicaid program, which may have its own special rules for how it works. Medicaid is required to pay for medical services and equipment your doctor deems medically necessary. Who qualifies? You can enroll in Medicaid in most states if you are: A U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident AND Earning less than your states maximum income for benefits OR In dire medical need of basic health care and can show youre otherwise unable to pay Medicare Coverage for Assisted Living Medicare generally doesnt pay for the nonmedical services you get in assisted living. Youre not totally out of luck, however, since many services are included in most Medicare plans. Medicare Part A coverage Medicare Part A is the inpatient hospital benefit for qualifying seniors. This part of Medicare pays for the care you get in medical facilities you stay in for more than a few days. Facilities where your Part A benefits might apply include: Hospitals Nursing homes Hospice centers Home health care in your own residence Medicare Part B coverage Medicare Part B covers outpatient services and preventive care. Outpatient clinics, transportation to and from medical appointments and medical supplies are all covered by Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage plans Medicare Advantage offers several plans that have extra benefits in them. Some of these benefits bear directly on assisted living costs. Because myriad private companies issue Part C plans, you have to ask your plan rep for details about what your individual Medicare Advantage plan pays for. Medicaid Coverage for Assisted Living Medicaid pays up to 100% of the cost for medically necessary services, products and drugs. It doesnt directly pay for non-medical care services, such as those provided by caregivers. Some people may be able to obtain a waiver for assisted living. Requirements vary by state, but you might qualify for an assisted living waiver if you: Are enrolled in Medicaid Have a condition that would justify admission to a nursing home, but Be willing to accept placement in assisted living as a less-expensive alternative Combining Medicare and Medicaid for Assisted Living Costs More than 12 million Americans are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Dual-eligible seniors can lean on their Medicare benefits for most of their medical expenses, with Medicaid stepping in to handle remaining out-of-pocket costs. Medicare savings programs can also help to save up for care costs. Finally, you might qualify for a special needs plan (SNP) that limits coverage in most areas in exchange for heightened coverage in a particular field, such as renal care. Additional Resources and Support You dont have to manage the transition to assisted living on your own. Several resources in every state can help you get the care you need. State health insurance assistance programs (SHIPs): SHIPs provide unbiased, one-on-one advice that helps seniors understand their health care options and navigate Medicare. Eldercare Locator: The Eldercare Locator helps seniors by providing free information and impartial advice about senior care, including assisted living. Advice is also available about health insurance, abuse and neglect matters and transportation services in your area. Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs): ADRCs are private nonprofits that have a wealth of information, referrals and other resources to support seniors. Your local ADRC can probably help you with case manager services and expert advice about your senior living options. The Bottom Line Medicare and Medicaid can both be great resources for helping seniors get the health services they need. If you need assisted living, these may not be the best way to pay for your care. Learn more about Medicare before moving into an assisted living community, and be prepared for the costs and services you need. Speak to a Family Advisor Daniel Cobb began his career as a freelance writer over 10 years ago writing for websites such as TheSimpleDollar.com and Reviews.com. Since then, he has specialized in writing, editing, and managing the content team for Caring.com and other senior living websites. Over the last five years, hes developed a deep understanding of the senior living industry and has enjoyed creating exceptional content that reaches millions of visitors every month. He can be reached at editorial@caring.com. Russians have installed mobile phone towers to listen to Ukrainians' phone conversations in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol in Ukraines Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Mayor Ivan Fedorov announced on Telegram on Sept. 10. The Russian occupation authorities in Melitopol are closely monitoring "dissenting" locals. First, they deployed video cameras around the city, and then installed towers. Fedorov said. Read also: Occupiers increase security checks in Melitopol, according to city mayor Fedorov "They were unable to reconfigure the Ukrainian towers, so they set up their own. But with a (caveat): to eavesdrop on conversations," said Fedorov. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He noted that one Russian tower had recently been installed near the hospital campus, and another in the neighborhood opposite the 24th school. Read also: Russians convert sanatorium in Melitopol into field hospital, says Ukrainian General Staff At the same time, Fedorov recalled that during the year-and-a-half of occupation, the Russians have not taken care to provide stable communications and Internet access for the public. "Enemy towers are only for hostile purposes," the mayor said. /Telegram The Ukrainian militarys General Staff reported on Sept 9. that the Ukrainian Defense Forces were continuing their offensive on the Melitopol section of the front in the south of the country, inflicting significant losses in manpower and equipment on the Russian invasion forces, and forcing the enemy to withdraw from their positions. Read also: Ukraine making progress on its march to Melitopol At the same time, the Russian forces are redeploying the most combat-ready airborne military units to this sector and are trying to retake lost positions. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine An annual ceremony to remember those who died on September 11, 2001, was held in lower Manhattan on Monday, 22 years after the World Trade Center's Twin Towers collapsed in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries Monday at the site, where victims' relatives read the names of the dead. Ceremonies were also held at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. There were also memorial ceremonies being held elsewhere, including at firehouses and city halls. President Biden delivered remarks to service members, first responders and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way back from Vietnam to Washington. He is the first president to miss a ceremony at one of the three memorial sites on 9/11. "Let us honor September 11 by renewing our faith in one another," Mr. Biden said in Anchorage. "Let us remember who we are as a nation. We never forget. We're never afraid. We endure. We overcome." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement How many people died in the 9/11 attacks? Nearly 3,000 people were killed after four planes were hijacked by attackers from the Al Qaeda terrorist group. Two planes flew into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York. One plane was flown into the Pentagon. Another aircraft crashed into an open field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back the only plane that didn't reach its intended destination. Law enforcement officers ring a bell as names are read during a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the World Trade Center, in New York City on Sept. 11, 2023. / Credit: KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images The painstaking process of positively identifying the remains of those killed at the World Trade Center continues more than two decades after the attack. With advancements in DNA technology, remains of two victims were ID'd just last week. In addition to the toll that day, the World Trade Center attack exposed hundreds of thousands of people in lower Manhattan to toxic air and debris, and hundreds have since died from post-9/11 related illnesses. The exact number is unknown, but firefighter union leaders say 341 FDNY members have died of illnesses related to 9/11, CBS New York reports. What time did the 9/11 attacks happen? The first plane, American Airlines Flight 11, crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower at 8:46 a.m. ET, killing everyone aboard and trapping people in upper floors of the tower. At 9:03 a.m., the second plane, United Airlines Flight 175, hit the World Trade Center's South Tower. Both towers soon collapsed the South Tower just before 10 a.m., then the North Tower a half-hour later. American Airlines Flight 77 hit the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. Then at 10:03 a.m., United Flight 93 crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. People watch preparations for the What happened at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania? When American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the southwest corner of the Pentagon, 184 people were killed 64 who were on the plane and 125 people in the building. Sean Boger was one of the few people at the Pentagon who saw the plane coming in so low it took down a street light. "I just looked up and, you know, a plane was flying directly at us," he told CBS News in 2021. He said it was just 10 to 15 seconds before the plane hit the building. Boger was in the control tower for the Pentagon's helipad when he saw the plane, which he said sounded "like someone sawing medal" when it hit. "I just couldn't believe something that big could be flying that low and flying directly at us," he said. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visited the Shanksville site Monday. First responders stand at attention as the American flag is unfurled prior to an observance ceremony to honor the 184 people killed in the 9/11 attack at the Pentagon, at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial on Sept. 11, 2023. / Credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images Less than 30 minutes later, United Airlines Flight 93 the fourth plane downed in the terror attack crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. That plane had been hijacked and was heading to Washington, D.C., but never made it after passengers and crew took action. They were pushed to the back of the plane by hijackers, then took a vote and decided to try to regain control of the aircraft, according to the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial. A struggle ensued, and the plane eventually crashed in an open area. "Countless lives were spared thanks to their heroic actions, but all on board Flight 93 were lost," the memorial says. A relative of one of the victims pays her respects at the Wall of Names before a ceremony commemorating 22 years since the crash of Flight 93 during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, at the Flight 93 National Memorial, on Sept. 11, 2023 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. / Credit: Jeff Swensen/Getty Images The Associated Press contributed to this report. California suing oil companies for hiding climate change risks 5 Americans freed in Iranian prisoner swap Max Greenfield fights the fear of reading aloud with new children's book MEMPHIS, Tenn. An analysis of Google searches in Memphis in the last 30 days suggests which mayoral candidates may have the most buzz, at least when it comes to interest among those online. Google Trends indicates Paul Young is by far the most-searched name among leading candidates. Following Young in local Google searches are Floyd Bonner, Willie Herenton, Joe Brown and Van Turner, in that order. Google Trends only allows the comparison of five search terms at once, but indicated Michelle McKissack just below the leaders of the Google pack, with J.W. Gibson and Karen Camper behind her. When configured to show search results for candidates Young, Bonner, Turner, Herenton and McKissack, Google Trends shows 50% of the Google searches for that group were for Young, with other candidates ranking in the teens or single digits. Unlike polling data, Google search trends are an unscientific measurement of candidate strength. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A recent poll of likely voters by Emerson College and commissioned by WREG has its own findings, and shows the largest set of voters were still undecided. See the results here. A total of 17 candidates are in the running for the Memphis mayors job in the Oct. 5 election. See a full sample ballot here. Four candidates are participating in a WREG debate Tuesday at 7 p.m. Find more information here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Two men are accused of robbery and leading police on a car chase, all while out on bail, Texas cops say. The men, ages 25 and 26, were bank jugging robbing someone leaving a bank with money when police received a 911 call, the Rosenberg Police Department said in a Sept. 8 news release. A worker at a tattoo shop spotted a motor vehicle burglary in progress, and officers arrived at the scene just as the men were driving away, police said. Officers tried to pull the men over, but they kept going and police gave chase, the department said. For a short time the suspects did their best to get away, until they slammed into a concrete barrier, police said. The men got out of the car and tried, and failed, to escape on foot, officers said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Inside the car, police said they found $12,000 belonging to the jugging victim, along with other items. Both men were out on bail and wearing ankle monitors, police said. One of the men had bonded out on a charge of aggravated robbery, while the other was out on a charge of murder, according to the release. Officers arrested the men on charges of burglary of a motor vehicle and evading arrest in a motor vehicle, police said. Jugging is not a new crime, but it is becoming more common, and authorities are warning the public to pay attention to their surroundings after visiting a bank, McClatchy News reported. Typically, someone will wait near a bank, ATM, credit union or check-cashing facility and watch for anyone leaving with cash, McClatchy News reported. From there, the person follows the victim to their next destination and robs them. Officials say if you believe you are being followed, call 911 and drive to the nearest police station for help, McClatchy News reported. Rosenberg is roughly 35 miles southwest of downtown Houston. Ambushed business owner opens fire on masked men, killing them both, Texas cops say Woman helping friend leave abusive relationship is shot and killed, Texas cops say Teen girl fatally shot after 15-year-old sneaks into bedroom at night, OK officials say Couple kidnapped in front of their kids were targeted because of money: TX officials LAS VEGAS (KLAS) One man is dead and another was hospitalized after a gas station shooting in the east Las Vegas valley, according to Metro police. On Sunday around 12:20 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of a gas station in the 3200 block of South Fremont Street near Sahara Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a man in his 40s suffering from a gunshot wound outside of the gas station. Officers then discovered another victim in his 20s who had been shot east of the gas station in the parking lot of a dealership, police said. Metro police are investigating a homicide in the east Las Vegas valley. (KLAS) Both men were taken to a local hospital where the man in his 20s succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The man in his 40s sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and is still being treated at the hospital. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to police, the man in his 40s was parked outside of the gas station in a silver SUV when the victim and another man drove into the gas station in a blue sedan, parking about 4 spaces away from him. Shortly after the blue sedan parked, the man in his 40s got out of his SUV and began to shoot at the two men in the blue sedan. One of the two men began to shoot back at him and then fled eastbound to the dealership parking lot. The victim in his 20s fell in the dealership parking due to being shot and the other man, described as wearing a white shirt, continued to flee eastbound and is unaccounted for at this time, police said. The man in his 40s was taken into custody at the hospital. It is unknown what led up to the shooting or if all the men knew each other prior to the incident, according to Las Vegas police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. (Bloomberg) -- Mexicos armed forces are set to see an 81% increase under the Finance Ministrys proposed budget for 2024. Most Read from Bloomberg The largest increase will go to the Defense Ministry, with an allocation of 259.4 billion pesos ($15 billion) that more than doubles the 111.9 billion pesos that was approved for 2023 for the department. Next up is the Navy, with a 72% increase to its budget that takes it to 71.8 billion pesos ($4.2 billion), according to a draft submitted Friday and that is pending congressional approval. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The budget proposal is the latest indication of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors increasing reliance on armed forces to carry out large infrastructure works and also tasks that used to be run by civilians. The Defense Ministrys proposed budget includes work on the Maya Train and operating Lopez Obradors new state-owned airline, Mexicana. It also includes operating the Felipe Angeles airport near Mexico City. The Navy, now in charge of administering the countrys ports and customs, also operates Mexico Citys Benito Juarez airport. The National Guard, which is officially not part of the military but has been run by the Defense Ministry under this president, is set to receive 70.7 billion pesos ($4.1 billion), a 4.3% increase from the previous year. A large part of its budget has made its way to the Defense Ministry in past years. On Monday, Mexican dollar bonds led losses in emerging markets, with an analyst saying the draft budgets increased spending could in turn increase the risk premium in 2024. Read More: Mexico Plans Biggest Budget Gap in 36 Years as AMLO Ends Term The military is much more rigorous in delivering results than civilian organizations in general, said Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O on Monday. He estimated the military spends 70 pesos for every 100 that a private firm spends. The presidents main infrastructure projects are a driving force behind the governments plans to boost spending and widen the budget gap in 2024, consolidating his legacy before the next presidential election. Billed as the governments priority project for 2024, the Maya Train is set to receive 120 billion pesos in next years budget. Ramirez de la O said its final cost is set to reach about 500 billion pesos (about $29 billion) from an initial estimate of $7.2 billion. Part of the train is being built by the Defense Ministry. Read More: AMLOs Flagship Projects Drive Big Boost in Mexicos 2024 Budget --With assistance from Maya Averbuch. (Updates with bond move in fifth paragraph. An earlier version corrected the headline to reflect budget increase is of 81%) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. MEXICO BEACH Mayor Michele Miller is suing the City Council in an effort to gain information she believes is vital to her elected position. Miller, who was elected to the position earlier this year, has alleged that financial information about the city was intentionally withheld from her by former City Administrator Douglas Baber and current City Administrator Chris Hubbard under the direction of some council members, who are not named in the suit. According to Marie Mattox, a Tallahassee-based attorney representing Miller, the legal action was lodged to "compel compliance" with the Mexico Beach City Charter, which says the mayor is the city's chief elected administrative and fiscal official. The legal filing, technically called a petition for a writ of mandamus and injunctive relief, was filed Sept. 1 in circuit court. Mexico Beach Mayor Michele Miller is suing the City Council for allegedly withholding financial information she believes is vital to her position. "This is not an action where Mayor Miller is trying to get any personal money for herself," Mattox said. "This is to ensure that there is compliance with Florida law in order for her to have access to financial records. She is ultimately responsible for these financial records. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "They're barring her access to those files, (and) she can't perform her essential job functions and her duties as mayor unless they give her access to those records. ... She can't even get in there to tell how the money has been spent." Shortly after she was sworn in as mayor in April, Miller requested the city's current contracts. She said she received the contracts but was then denied access to the city's software to monitor its finances. "That's when the roadblocks came up," Miller said. She noted both requests were made to help her gather information for the position, as well as prepare for an annual city audit originally slated for May. She said the audit was postponed shortly after her requests. "When she asked for access to them, to go in and look at these records, she was told she didn't have the authority," Mattox said. "How can she perform her job duties ... if she can't even have access to the financial records?" New leadership: 'Very thankful': Mexico Beach City Council selects Chris Hubbard as new city administrator Hubbard, who took over as city administrator last month, declined to comment on the details of the pending litigation. "What I will say is that I believe the facts of the case, once they're known, will bear out that the allegations against the city are false," he said. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Mexico Beach Mayor Michele Miller sues City Council Democratic candidate for governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sits down for a meal at Barelas Coffee House on midterm elections day in Albuquerque By Andrew Hay (Reuters) - A New Mexico sheriff on Monday refused to enforce Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham 's ban on the right to carry firearms in the state's largest city and the surrounding county, saying it was unconstitutional and could spark political violence. In response to the recent shooting deaths of children, Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, on Friday imposed the 30-day suspension of the right to carry guns, either concealed or openly, in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County in a bid to curb shootings. The move enraged gun-rights proponents across the United States. At a rally on Sunday in downtown Albuquerque, protesters openly carried rifles and pistols. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said he did not want to endanger his deputies by making them enforce the ban. "This order will not do anything to curb gun violence other than punish law-abiding citizens who have a constitutional right to self defense," Allen said at a press briefing. Some Democrats, including U.S. Representative Ted Lieu of California, also voiced opposition to the order as a violation of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to bear firearms. Lujan Grisham last week declared gun violence a public health emergency after an 11-year-old boy was shot dead in Albuquerque, apparently in an act of road rage. Albuquerque has suffered record numbers of homicides two years running. The second-term governor said concealed and open carry of firearms were state laws she had jurisdiction over, giving her the right to issue a civil order to address a rise in gun violence across the state. Her order was immediately challenged in U.S. district court by a Colorado gun rights group. Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina said state police, rather than his officers, would be responsible for civil violations of the order which carry a fine of up to $5,000. New Mexico State Police has not issued any citations, spokesman Ray Wilson said. (Reporting by Andrew Hay; editing by Lincoln Feast.) At a historic downtown Detroit hotel and apartment building, Michigan abortion rights advocates celebrated as voters easily approved a measure to enshrine reproductive rights in the state constitution last November. "There are people all across this country who absolutely believe these rights to privacy and dignity and making your own healthcare decisions are fundamental," Julie Rowe, political director for the Michigan abortion rights amendment told Detroit's WXYZ. "They're watching because they want to know: How do we protect our own rights?" Ohio abortion rights advocates were watching. Michigan along with Kentucky, California, Kansas, Montana and Vermont offers a roadmap on how to protect access to abortion in a world where the U.S. Supreme Court has sent decisions about the procedure back to state lawmakers and judges. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "We studied what happened there (in Michigan)," said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, which backs the reproductive rights measure. "We also looked at what happened in Kansas and Kentucky." But Ohio abortion opponents say Michigan offers a cautionary tale of how far reproductive rights proponents will go if the state constitution lets them. Michigan abortion rights advocates are calling for insurance to cover abortion, fewer regulations on the procedure and the repeal of parental consent requirements for minors seeking abortions. "We are seeing in their own words what is happening in Michigan and what could happen here and what will happen here if this amendment passes," said Amy Natoce, a spokeswoman for Protect Women Ohio, which opposes the November abortion rights measure. What can Ohio learn from its northern neighbor about abortion policy? The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau breaks down the similarities and differences between Michigan's reproductive rights amendment and Ohio's ballot issue on Nov. 7. What is similar? The wording Michigan's constitutional amendment established a new individual right to reproductive freedom, including the right to make decisions about pregnancy, such as prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, contraception, sterilization, abortion, miscarriage management and infertility. Ohio's proposal is similar but not identical. Here's a breakdown: Like Michigan's proposal, Ohio's language focuses on an individual's right to make their own reproductive decisions. Neither proposal uses the word "woman." Both measures allow the state to prohibit most abortions after viability, typically 23 to 24 weeks into pregnancy. Abortions could be performed later in pregnancy to protect the patient's life or health. Ohio's measure doesn't mention "sterilization" as an expressly listed right. In Michigan, opponents latched onto that word as evidence that the measure would allow gender-affirming surgery for transgender minors without parental consent. Even without the word "sterilization," Ohio abortion opponents have made the same point. Michigan's measure allowed abortions later in pregnancy for a patient's mental health. Ohio's proposal does not mention mental health, but opponents of the measure say a judge could interpret the language that way. Timothy Garrity prays near volunteers Karen Thorn and Patty Wamsley as they gather signatures for Red Wine & Blue's petition for Ohio's Right To Reproductive Freedom With Protections For Health And Safety outside of Cool Beans in Medina. What is similar? The attack ads Abortion opponents in Michigan launched ads saying the amendment would eviscerate parental consent for both abortions and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender minors. Opponents in Ohio are following that same playbook, describing the November measure as too extreme for the state's voters. "The parental rights piece really stopped people in their tracks," said Genevieve Marnon, legislative director for Right to Life of Michigan, of their campaign. But ultimately, it didn't convince enough voters to vote against the Michigan measure. "It's a fear tactic," contended Nicole Wells Stallworth, who led Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan during the ballot campaign. "Voters knew and understood that and they showed that when they came to the polls." What is different? The timing Michigan passed its constitutional amendment a little over four months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, sending decisions about abortion back to the states. Michigan abortion rights proponents were collecting signatures for that measure when a draft of that Supreme Court decision was leaked to Politico. Outrage over the likely outcome led to momentum for the ballot effort, both sides of the campaign agreed. "That leak gave them the fuel that they needed," said Marnon, with Right to Life of Michigan. "Voters wanted to do something to protect their rights," Stallworth said. "That's really what worked in our favor." Ohio, on the other hand, will be voting on abortion access 16 months after the U.S. Supreme Court decision and more than a year after an Ohio judge put the state's ban on most abortions on hold. As a result, the threat of losing access to abortion appears less dire and less imminent. Abortion is currently legal in Ohio up until 21 weeks and six days. That could change based on what the Ohio Supreme Court decides, but any decision won't come until later this year. So Ohio reproductive rights advocates keep focusing on Republicans' abortion policies, which they call extreme and out of touch. "There's no poll that's ever been done in the state of Ohio that says Ohioans want abortions to be banned without exceptions and yet that is their agenda, and that's what we're fighting," Copeland said. "That is why this amendment is so important." What is different? The politics After being re-elected, Gov. Mike DeWine waves to supporters during an election night party for Republican candidates, Michigan voted on abortion access in November 2022 as Democrats took full control of state government for the first time since the 1980s. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won reelection while talking about the importance of abortion access in the state. "Gov. Whitmer was able to make abortion a central platform of her gubernatorial race," Marnon said. Meanwhile, in Ohio, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nan Whaley focused much of her campaign's attention on abortion access only to lose handily to the better-known incumbent, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine. Republicans control a veto-proof majority in the state Legislature, a majority on the Ohio Supreme Court and nearly all statewide elected offices. Whitmer was a vocal proponent of abortion access. DeWine has been a staunch opponent of it, recently headlining a fundraiser with Cleveland's Catholic bishop. Michigan voted during a heated election year; Ohio will vote during an odd year with no statewide races on the ballot. But voters, particularly younger and more progressive ones, will go to the polls for social issues, such as abortion access and marijuana legalization, said David Jackson, a professor of political science at Bowling Green State University. "Putting popular social issues on the ballot tends to draw people out to vote, and it tends to draw different people out to vote." Abortion has always been a clear dividing line between Republicans and Democrats, but Republican leaders might be further right than their voters, Jackson said. A recent USA TODAY Network/Suffolk University poll found 81% of Democrats, 32% of Republicans and 68% of independents would back Ohio's measure to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. "Somebody should be blowing the alarm over there and saying, 'Kansas? Did you see what happened in Kansas, a pretty rock-hard Republican place and they voted to protect reproductive rights?'" Jackson said. In Michigan, the abortion rights measure outperformed Whitmer by 2.7 percentage points, winning in counties that the Democratic governor did not. "That's really saying to the world that this is something that is beyond your partisan affiliation," Stallworth said. The Detroit Free Press contributed to this article. Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How does Ohio Issue 1 abortion measure compare to Michigan's? Two major pieces of military budget legislation are expected to be on the move this week, but whether either will help stave off fears of a looming government shutdown at the end of the month remains unclear. House Republican leaders have said they hope to debate the annual Defense Department appropriations bill on the chamber floor this week. Passing the $826 billion plan for fiscal 2024 before the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30) would prevent any budget lapse for department operations, but is seen as a long shot considering Senate Democrats opposition to some provisions in the measure. The timeline for voting on the bill is also uncertain. House Rules Committee members still need to sort through more than 330 amendments to the bill for floor consideration. Senate leaders have similarly unveiled plans to consider a series of appropriations bills starting this week, to include the military construction and Veterans Affairs budgets for fiscal 2024. Passing those in the next few weeks could also help jumpstart broader budget talks between the chambers, but is unlikely to come in time to solve the shutdown threat. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Lawmakers have until the end of the month to pass all of their funding bills for next year or a short-term budget extension measure. If not, the funding lapse will trigger a partial government shutdown which could furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers and delay paychecks for military members. Tuesday, Sept. 12 House Homeland Security 9:15 a.m. 9/11 Memorial Museum, N.Y. National Security Threats Committee members will hold a field hearing to discuss current and evolving national security threats. Senate Armed Services 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Gen. David Allvin to serve as Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Wednesday, Sept. 13 House Appropriations 9:30 a.m. Capitol H-143 VA Electronic Health Records Department officials will deliver an update on the latest progress and challenges with the new electronic health records modernization project. House Oversight 2 p.m. 2154 Rayburn Iran State Department officials will testify on current administration strategy towards Iran. Thursday, Sept. 14 Senate Armed Services 9:30 a.m. G-50 Dirksen Nominations The committee will consider the nomination of Adm. Lisa Franchetti to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. House Veterans' Affairs 10:30 a.m. 360 Cannon VA Electronic Health Records Department officials will deliver an update on the latest progress and challenges with the new electronic health records modernization project. After news broke that a Russian helicopter pilot defected to Ukraine, calls to a hotline set up for Russian soldiers wanting to surrender to Ukraine's military increased by 70% in one day, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on Sept. 11. Launched in September 2022 by Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence, the 24-hour hotline, which is called 'I Want to Live' in Russian, helps Russians to surrender themselves or their units to the Ukrainian military. Ukraine promises Russian military personnel that they will be held in compliance with the Geneva Conventions after surrender. Maksim Kuzminov, 28-year-old Russian helicopter pilot, landed his Mi-8 helicopter at an airfield in Ukraine to give himself up to the authorities, Ukrainian media reported on Aug. 23. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us He spoke at a press conference on the operation on Sept. 5 and explained that he defected because he "did not want to contribute" to the crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, which he believes is a "wonderful country." He said that he contacted the Ukrainian side on his own initiative, and was told he would receive security for himself and his family, payments, and new documents from Ukraine if he defected. Kuzminov said that his parents supported his plans to defect and have joined him in Ukraine. On Sept. 5, the HUR announced he would receive the hryvnia equivalent of $500,000 (approximately Hr 18.48 million) as a reward. Ukraine's parliament passed a law in April 2022 offering up to $1 million to Russian military personnel who manage to transfer equipment to Ukraine, depending on the type of equipment they hand over. Read also: Head-first into the future: Inside the race to win the drone war in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley on Sunday said Ukrainian troops are making steady progress in the counteroffensive against Russia but are running out of time to achieve key objectives. Theres still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days worth of fighting weather left, so the Ukrainians arent done, Milley told the BBC on Sunday. And then the rains will come in; it will become very muddy, and it will be very difficult to maneuver at that point and then you will get the deep winter. Americas highest-ranking military officer added it was way too early to say the counteroffensive has failed, noting they havent finished the fighting part of what theyre trying to accomplish. Some military analysts have told The Hill that Ukraine can power through the next few months regardless of weather, so long as weaponry, equipment and supplies keep coming. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The head of Ukraines military intelligence, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, told the BBC that Ukraine would continue its operation one way or another, and that forces would adjust to the wet and cold weather, rather than halt the offensive. Ukraine launched the counteroffensive in June and has so far struggled to make any significant gains in the eastern part of its country, where Russian troops are dug in behind minefields, trenches and anti-tank obstacles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country waited too long to launch the counteroffensive, indicating Kyivs Western allies kept it waiting with weapons deliveries. But Kyiv has managed to make more progress in the last few weeks, capturing a key town in the southeast and puncturing a main Russian defensive line last month. Milley on Sunday described the fighting as intense but said Ukraine was progressing at a very steady pace through the Russian front lines, echoing comments from other Western leaders who are making the case that Ukraine is slowly forging ahead. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week said Ukraine was making real progress. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said the counteroffensive operation was making gradual advances. Milley has had an extensive role overseeing the war and providing intelligence to Ukrainian troops, according to a CBS News program that aired this week. Milley said in the program that Ukraine was fighting for a large piece of ground across the eastern front, comparing it to the theater of war between the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War. Theyve got a very tough fight ahead of them, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 2023 "My Story of Chinese Hanzi" international competition releases list of finalists People's Daily Online) 09:43, September 11, 2023 The final round of the 2023 "My Story of Chinese Hanzi" international competition is set to kick off in Jincheng city, north China's Shanxi Province, on Sept. 14, 2023. The event is hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and organized by People's Daily Online. The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Embodying peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and shared benefits, the Silk Road spirit has become a cherished asset to humanity. Under the theme of "" (Homeland), this year's competition invites individuals from around the world to participate. They are encouraged to share stories of exchange and mutual learning, as well as understanding and affinity among civilizations, aiming to contribute to the shared vision of building a beautiful world. The competition comprises preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and finals. The first two stages were conducted online. The top 10 selected participants will advance to the final round. During the finals, each finalist will deliver a seven-minute speech on the theme of "" in Chinese. The judges will evaluate each speech and determine the winners based on the core message of their stories, expressiveness, Chinese language proficiency, and the potential of their stories to foster exchanges between diverse civilizations. List of finalists (Finalists are listed in alphabetical order by their countries.) 1. Yasser Mahamad Senoussi + Ousama Mahamad Senoussi Ahmad (Chad), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China 2. Moses Arthur Baidoo (Ghana), East China University of Technology 3. Lydia Nduta Njoroge (Kenya), Qufu Normal University 4. Senyord Chanmaly (Laos), Shanxi University 5. Oyungerel Gegee (Mongolia), Inner Mongolia University 6. Ojimmadu Raphael Ebube (Nigeria), Shanghai International Studies University 7. Kaleem Sajid (Pakistan) 8. Ratajczak Paulina Magdalena (Poland), Anshan Normal University 9. Siniakov Andrei (Russia), Yancheng Polytechnic College 10. Sejoud Isam Mahir Hassan (Sudan), Lanzhou University Awards Grand Award (presented to one contestant) First Prize (presented to two contestants) Second Prize (presented to three contestants) Third Prize (presented to four contestants) Additionally, there will be Special Awards specifically for the champions of the overseas competition zone. Each recipient will receive a certificate, a souvenir and a cash prize. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Jaxon Seeger displays photos of transgender women and LGBTQ+ individuals who have died by homicide, during a March 2023 vigil for Cashay Henderson, a transgender woman who was killed. The Milwaukee Police Department's decision not to immediately report the gender of crime victims in media releases in addition to not reporting victims' race is being praised by LGBTQ+ groups and criticized by those pushing for more transparency from law enforcement. Heather Hough, MPD chief of staff, said Thursday that the decision came after discussions the department had with members of the LGBTQ+ community. It was announced late Wednesday afternoon. Although such talks had been ongoing, they took on new urgency last year after three Black transgender women were killed in Milwaukee in a nine-month period. In all three cases, initial police media releases about those homicides and news reports that relied upon them misidentified the gender of the victims. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Members of the LGBTQ+ community have said such misgendering and deadnaming using a former name of transgender victims can be considered another form of violence. "It's a way to preserve the dignity and privacy of all victims," Hough said. "MPD wants to ensure the best service possible for our entire community." The department's standard operating procedure says it will be "responsive and proactive with the media, providing accurate information in a timely and professional manner." The policy recognizes the relationship is "essential" to keeping the public "well-informed" and to "minimize inaccurate reporting regarding police matters." Transparency advocates say better information is a better answer Advocates for open records and transparency are concerned that the policy is too broad and withholds basic information from the public. "At the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, we take great care to report stories about crime and public safety with context and sensitivity. To do this, we need to be able to identify trends and provide a full picture of what is happening in our community," editor Greg Borowski said. "This change makes that harder, though we remain committed to the task. "We share the goal of not misgendering transgender victims of crimes. But if there are concerns about bad information being released, the best remedy is to assure that only solid information is released not to put up new barriers that make it harder for the public to know what is happening in their neighborhoods and throughout the community." Hough said the policy only applies to information released "proactively" by the department in media releases and won't change information available through open records or crime statistics. Reporters and members of the public can file open records requests for more detailed information, but receiving the records can take weeks. If an investigation remains ongoing, police can decline to release reports. Timely information about a crime victim's gender has been used by journalists to identify trends and report them to the public, such as a spike in domestic violence homicides last year and a series of sexual assaults on a popular bike path. Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan state group that works to protect access to public meetings and records, said the new policy is "a terrible idea." Does the public really not have a right to know if minorities, for instance, are disproportionately victims of crime?" Lueders said. "Does it not have the right to know if people are being killed because of their gender? Lueders argued that race and gender are often relevant details in a persons homicide, especially in hate crime cases. Both Lueders and Tom Kamenick, president and founder of the Wisconsin Transparency Project, said they didnt know of any other law enforcement agencies in the state that pledged not to report the gender of crime victims. The police department should strive for accuracy, Kamenick said. If theyre struggling to get it right, the answer is to do a better job of making sure their information is accurate and correct, rather than just not putting their information out there in the first place, he said. Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office releases more information with fatalities Government agencies and journalists typically rely on public records to help identify someone. Transgender people face legal, financial and other barriers to changing their name or sex on their driver's license or other official records. Often, the information in public records doesn't reflect their identity. That presents a challenge when it comes to accurately and sensitively providing information about a crime. While Milwaukee Police Department media releases contain basic information about an incident, including victims' ages and the general location where the incident occurred, the department has left the task of publicly identifying those killed in homicides, car crashes and other incidents to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. That office uses fingerprints, DNA or dental records to confirm a person's identity. It does release demographic information to media, including the name, age and race of the person who died. Milwaukee police stopped reporting the race of crime victims in media releases years ago. The medical examiner's office also maintains a public database with the age, race and gender, but not the name, of those whose deaths it's investigating. The reports rely on government records and have misgendered individuals in the past. The medical examiner's office hasn't announced any changes to how it releases information to the public. More: Community calls on better enforcement of hate crimes against transgender people LGBTQ+ community organizations worked with MPD on the change Staff at Diverse and Resilient, a local LGBTQ nonprofit, worked with the Milwaukee Police Departments LGBTQ liasion to develop the policy. Not listing gender provides dignity and privacy to transgender crime victims and their families, said Justin Roby, Diverse and Resilient's director of finance and human resources. In the example of a homicide of a transgender person, the victims loved ones and close friends would already know about it, Roby said. Theres no need to divulge it to the public, he said. More: A second Black transgender woman has been murdered in Milwaukee. Her family believes it was a hate crime. Asked whether the policy would hinder efforts to collect data and bring awareness to the issue of homicides of transgender people, Roby said people are already aware. He also said data collection on transgender homicides is already flawed, and the issue is underreported, as transgender people are often not identified as such in law enforcement databases. If a transgender person is killed and police incorrectly report their gender to the media, it causes harm to the victims family and friends, Roby said. I have listened to countless trans sisters worry about how they will be identified upon their death. Thats harm, thats trauma, he said. They are worried that, after all of the work that theyve done to accept themselves at their death, theyd be disrespected." More: Homicide charges filed in death of Cashay Henderson Brad Schlaikowski, founder of Courage MKE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Milwaukee's LGBTQ+ youth, applauded MPD's decision, calling it an "absolute necessity" to prevent undue trauma. "What if they're not out yet to their friends and families? What if their families don't accept or know they're trans?" Schlaikowski said. "It's an intimate, delicate conversation to have." Withholding a victim's race or gender won't compromise police investigations or squelch residents' right to know information that's key to public safety, he said. "The police have a job to do. We have to let them do their job. We just dont know where this person is in their life's journey. We have to protect that," Schlaikowski said. "This person has already been hurt by crime. Why hurt them more?" More: 'Grieving hearts and crying eyes': Family calls for justice after Black transgender woman murdered in Milwaukee Ashley Luthern of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this story This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee police stop including victims' gender in media releases File logo A Mississippi man was arrested Sunday after deliberately hitting a pedestrian traveling on U.S. Highway 80 in Calhoun. Johnny Lagrone Franks, Jr. of Biloxi, Mississippi was charged with two counts of attempted second degree murder and two counts of reckless operation, and booked into OCC. According to authorities, Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Deputies responded to a traffic accident and disturbance on U.S. Highway 80 in Calhoun at approximately 9:36 a.m. Upon arriving on scene, deputies found a male victim suffering critical injuries from what appeared to be the result of being struck by a vehicle. Franks, Jr. was also observed at the scene of the crime. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The investigation unveiled that Frank allegedly struck the victim intentionally with his vehicle while the victim was walking in the grassy area along the shoulder of U.S. Highway 80, critically injuring him. Witnesses to the incident, traveling on U.S. Highway 80, stopped to aid the victim. After exiting their vehicle, Franks, Jr. allegedly attempted to hit those aiding the victim with his car, hitting their vehicle but not injuring anyone. Authorities administrated a drug test on Franks and additional charges are pending based on the results of the test. The injured victim is still in critical condition and is receiving treatment for his injuries. Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinson and on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1. Support local journalism by subscribing at https://cm.thenewsstar.com/specialoffer. This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Mississippi man arrested for allegedly striking pedestrian in Calhoun A Republican Party leader in St. Joseph, Mo., threatened to bar elected leaders from running for office as Republicans if they voted to reappoint a gay pastor as a library board member. The Kansas City NPR affiliate KCUR reports that Buchanan County Republican Central Committee chair Steven Greiert emailed St. Josephs mayor and council regarding Brian Kirks library board seat renewal on August 4. According to Greiert, if city council members vote to advance his reappointment, the Republican Party would not accept filing fees from them in the future if they run for other Republican positions. Kirks renomination has been controversial since conservative Grace Calvary Chapel members started criticizing him this summer for supporting LGBTQ+ rights. Senior pastor Josh Blevins had led the charge against the gay pastor. Kirk is the pastor of First Christian Church and a volunteer on the librarys board. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As part of Greierts proposal to Mayor John Josendale, he suggested he dismiss people who affirm LGBTQ+ rights and replace them with all new people, who would equally represent both sides of the issue on transgenderism and drag-queen shows and literature in the library. Although elected positions locally are nonpartisan, Greiert claimed the mayor and city council members ran on conservative values and with the support of Republicans, which they courted. You and the other City Council members can always run as Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, or pedestrians or anything else without our approval, Greiert announced. But you will need our endorsement before you can run as Republicans for anything anywhere. If you choose to renew the appointment of Pastor Kirk and the continuation of the left-leaning majority that has existed on that Board for a long time, then we will know whom to hold accountable and whom we can no longer trust to lead the city, he threatened. The hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community among conservatives in the area is clear from the documents KCUR acquired. Greiert sent an email on June 20 urging city council member Andy Trout not to approve Kirk to the library board. This transgender and homosexual propaganda is pure evil, Greiert claimed. It is designed to destroy the family, to undercut traditional American values and our way of life, and ultimately institute governmental control that will undermine our city, county, state, and nation. Trout replied affirmatively. I absolutely agree! Good news is that John pulled the nomination! he responded. Kirk has maintained that he is the victim of discrimination based on homophobia. He's found some solace in the support for him. Though it's a small community, it's a rather libertarian community where we respect differences, Kirk said. We sort of have a live and let live philosophy here. And although that's been tested over the last several months, I think it still holds true that we are a community that tries to be as welcoming as we can be. A number of community members are urging the city to extend nondiscrimination protections to all city board and commission volunteers. As far as the mayor was concerned, Kirks non-renomination to the library board was not discriminatory. Brian had done a good job on the library board when he was there. But again, when you look at boards, Josendale told the station, a lot of people are looking to see how things can be done differently. Kirks told KCUR earlier in the summer that he was told by Josendale that he wouldn't be reappointed to the board. Library director Mary Beth Revels was also at the meeting and corroborated the conversation and Kirk's version of events. Josendale allegedly said too many people had emailed about the renomination. He said, its just causing conflict in the city. And for my protection and my church's protection, he was gonna go ahead and take me off the board, Kirk told the outlet. He then proceeded to talk about, people are concerned about woke ideology spreading and too many Pride flags in our downtown. Revels said, The mayor at that point was just like, Im sorry. I respect you. I think you've done a great job. I just don't want this controversy. And I think that the best way to not hurt you, not hurt the library, not hurt the city, is to just stop right here. In an email to KCUR, Josendale said those accounts of the conversation were not true. However, the mayor wouldn't answer questions from the outlet about what parts were not true. The mayor ended up listing Kirk for renomination, but Kirk only received two recommendations out of nine. Kirk was not renominated for the board. Pictured above is Josh Blevins (L) and Brian Kirk. A Modesto-based company vying to take over a shuttered, bankrupt Central San Joaquin Valley hospital is accused of sending the hospitals chief executive a $150,000 check that the hospitals lawyers say was an attempt to improperly influence her decision-making. According to a statement by the hospital executive, Karen Paolinelli, chief executive of Madera Community Hospital, she received an unsolicited job offer and the check made out to her personally during the competitive bidding process to find a financial partner to take over hospital operations. Upon receiving the offer and check, she notified the hospitals board vice chair, and then sent a certified letter response returning the check and declining the offer, according to bankruptcy court records. American Advanced Management Inc. offered to retain Paolinelli in an active leadership capacity if they were to move forward as the hospital reopening partner, according to court filings, as well as providing her a $150,000 signing bonus. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The entire interaction made me feel very uncomfortable, said Paolinelli, in a court declaration submitted on Friday. Attorneys Riley C. Walter and Kurt F. Vote said in court filings on behalf of Madera Community Hospital that the unsolicited offer and the check were an obvious attempt to improperly influence the Debtors (Madera Community Hospital) decision-making as well as an attempt to improperly gain a competitive advantage during the bidding process. Karen Paolinelli Declaration by Melissa Montalvo on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. In an email statement sent to The Bee on Sunday, an official from American Advanced Management Inc. said that at the time of their offer they did not believe there were any other interested parties or competing offers to operate or sell the hospital and they wanted to secure her services as an executive going forward. When American Advanced Management presented Karen with an offer letter and signing bonus in May 2023, our focus was on reopening the facility as quickly as possible for the community, said Matthew Beehler, chief strategy officer for American Advanced Management Inc. Beehler said Paolinellis continued involvement was key to a fast, efficient hospital reopening. We had been in talks with Karen and the board for six months at that point and believed they were moving forward with us as their partner. With Karens experience and specific work to reopen the hospital, securing her commitment seemed to be the next logical step, he said in the emailed statement. As the CEO of Madera Community Hospital, Paolinelli is involved in finding new reopening partners for the hospital, along with the hospitals board of directors. The hospital has the exclusive right to submit a business reorganization plan such as a plan to reopen under a management service agreement with a partner to the court until Oct. 6. Paolinelli doesnt have the final say on the decision, however. Any proposed partner is subject to approval by a federal bankruptcy court, creditors, the California attorney general, as well as the state health department that has earmarked a $50 million loan for the hospital to reopen. Index of Exhibits in Opposition to Motion to Compel by Melissa Montalvo on Scribd This embedded content is not available in your region. Hospital seeks reopening partner Madera Community Hospital closed its doors in late December and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March, after a deal to sell the hospital fell through, leaving Madera Countys 160,000 residents without access to an acute care facility. The hospital announced in late July that it signed a letter of intent with Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit health system operating in California, Oregon and Hawaii, to reopen Madera Community Hospital. The letter said that Adventist Health would plan to enter a management services agreement with the hospital contingent upon the hospital securing state funding. In August, the state announced a $2 million bridge loan for the hospital, plus an additional $50 million contingent upon submission and approval of a comprehensive hospital turnaround plan from Adventist Health. Less than a week later, AAMI, a hospital management company that operates eight California hospitals as well as clinics and urgent care centers, made public during bankruptcy proceedings its interest in being considered as a reopening partner. AAMI, which is also a creditor with a claim in the bankruptcy proceedings, told a bankruptcy judge as well as The Bee that their proposal to take over hospital management should be considered because its a better deal for the community and creditors alike. Hamid Rafatjoo, a partner with Raines Feldman Littrell LLP and lawyer for AAMI, criticized the hospitals leadership for not seriously considering their offer and filed a motion for discovery to investigate why the hospital did not report AAMI as another possible reopening option to the court. Paolinelli said in a declaration to the court that they had signed a non-disclosure agreement with AAMI and other third parties and could not divulge AAMIs interest in the hospital. Rafatjoo also alleged during a bankruptcy hearing that Madera Community Hospital management chose to move forward with Adventist Health to preserve their jobs in the future. Paolinelli said that the accusation was completely false. This also is at odds with what Paolinelli said AAMI executives told her in an August meeting. AAMI leaders told Paolinelli that Adventist Health would not keep you once any transaction closed, according to a declaration Paolinelli submitted to the court. (Adventist Healths letter of intent doesnt specify details on hospital managements future employment.) Walter and Vote, the lawyers representing Madera Community hospital, said in court filings that American Advanced Management Inc.s recent actions and claims their proposal is better than that of Adventist Health are an attempt to harass Madera Community Hospital and interfere with its right to create and propose a reorganization plan. The hospital has the exclusive right until Oct. 6 to come up with a reorganization plan to keep the business alive and pay creditors over time. Hospitals future subject to bankruptcy court approval AAMI said their offer to take over Madera Community Hospital is still on the table. We will continue to pursue all avenues to get support from the debtor, creditors, and bankruptcy court for our offer, Beehler said. Our offer will pay the creditors, take financial responsibility for current and future operations, and begin opening the hospital as soon as the court approves, he said. A sign with a handwritten Closed sign stands outside Madera Community Hospitals ER on Monday, July 24, 2023. The hospital closed early this year. Walter, the lawyer representing Madera Community Hospital through the bankruptcy proceedings, said in an email statement to The Bee on Sunday that Madera Community Hospital is hard at work pursuing a management services agreement with Adventist Health. He also said that when the hospital brings forward a potential deal to the bankruptcy court, it will be very public and transparent so that dissatisfied parties can voice their opposition and be heard by the court. Approval of the management services agreement will be subject to objections if any party feels it is a bad decision, Walter said, but it will not be subject to bidding. MCH (Madera Community Hospital) is confident it can and will show that the decision to go with Adventist Health is best for the community, he said. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m. You have been involuntarily recalled for active duty. You are to report to the unit tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. My mother stops reading, collecting herself, as if putting herself back in some box. Later that day, I find her rummaging through her closet. She should be at work. I always get home from school before everyone else: Mom, my little brother, my stepfather. I am a teenager, 15, and have plans to do some teenager thing watch something Im not supposed to or have a girl over and I am more worried with that, her being home unexpectedly, than why my mother seems so upset and is gathering her clothes. The skin under her eyes is puffy. Davon Loeb and mom (Courtesy Davon Loeb) Im packing my bags and leaving tomorrow. You wont come to the base with me. Well say goodbye and she stops, hitting a wall, knowing that saying it is affirming it, say goodbye here, and Ill go to the base. Im not sure where theyre sending us yet, but itll be OK. Everything will be OK. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mom? Davon, I have to go to war. Her voice stops like a jam between gears. Weve been waiting for this day, in some ways, since America went to war after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Its 2003, and my mother has to go to war. She stops, and it seems shes choking on her words. Her bed is covered in her clothes, and a thin layer of sweat greases her face. Maybe she hasnt said it out loud yet, but she speaks as if confronting a fear that is now very real for the first time. "I have to go to war. In such a short sentence, she covers enormous ground leaving her family, deployment to another country, the dangers of war. But I signed up for this, maybe she thinks; she did, and has been in the military for over twenty years. My mother was Active Duty in the U.S. Army from 1980-1983, the U.S. Army National Guard from 1984-1987, the U.S. Army Reserves from 1987-1993, and she joined the U.S. Air Force in 1994, where she has been an officer since. Shes made a successful career in the military and is a captain. She works as a civilian nurse when not on McGuire Air Force base. She joined the military because, as she told me many times before, I was a poor Black girl who didnt have many options. Shed tell me about her brother, her sister, her uncles, her grandfather, her people, Black people, through World War II, the Vietnam War, and the eventually, the War in Afghanistan. Shed tell me how so many Black Americans enlisted in the military for an opportunity that this country, yet again, demanded of Black bodies, as if to say We will give you your rights if you will sacrifice for us, will fight for us, will die for us. After serving in the Army Reserves until 1992, my mother applied to nursing school and finished her degree in 1993. Becoming a nurse, both civilian and military, is what helped my family relocate from an apartment to a single-family home in suburbs. Education, as she always said, was most important. For all my life, my mother has been in the military, and I always remember her dressed in two ways: fatigues or scrubs. This is how I see her, returning from the base in her uniform, or from a twelve-hour shift at a hospital. The average deployment length is six to twelve months, and my mother has only been gone for 15-day training stints on various military bases: Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, Yokoto Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan. When she is gone for those two-week trainings, my stepfather, little brother, and I barely get by. We microwave Chef Boyardee. We order pizza, and not just on Fridays. We eat Chinese takeout leftovers through the weekend. We pile dirty clothes in heaps. We leave unopened mail on the kitchen table. But this is different; this is war, which started over two years ago, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. We finally say goodbye to her in the morning before school. She brings me close, fitting her face on my teenage chest, and it takes my breath away, completely, and I am breaking down, heavy sobs because I might not see her again. My little brother is waist-high, and she kneels to his height and gives him the same embrace as if shes cocooned him, as if shes bringing him back inside of her, as if she can hold him there, just a little longer, just to be her little baby again. When she lets him go, he cries, but differently than me, just runny nose and snot and Mommy-dont-leave-us, but he really doesnt understand and thinks shell be back home tomorrow. My stepfather is stone, and he waits without a word. They dont even hug each other. They just stand there as if theyre talked-out, as if the emotions of departure, of their marriage, has already been exhausted. Hes exhausted, and so is she. He carries her military-issued duffle and is carrying something else, something that looks like a man who is realizing hes now lost. She seems to stand at attention, her body taut, her skin tightened, muscle memory. Shes wearing her military fatigues, detailing her rank and position. I dont know much about this but know shes a high-ranking officer, a Black officer, a Black high-ranking woman officer in the United States Air Force, and Im proud to be her son. We wait by the phone a lot. My mother is deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Were grateful shes not in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Qatar, or wherever we think the war is. Germany is six hours ahead. Whenever the phone does ring, we sprint to the various phones, picking up the receivers eagerly, angrily frustrated shes still not home, frustrated that were falling apart without her, that Im barely passing my classes, my little brother is not socializing, and my stepfather is living every day on a pencil-thin edge. Our voices jumble, a mess of what-happenings that happened since last we talked. She is working when were home and is off when were asleep. She tries to call as much as she can, but were sad when she does and sad when she doesnt. On the day my mother comes home, its been almost ten months. We wait at McGuire Force Base with hundreds of families. Theres a news van too. There are countless signs, big posters: Welcome Home, We love you, Thank you for your service, Heroes. She finally makes it through the crowd. Shes wearing her official uniform, the Hap Arnold Wings, blue jacket and slacks, a blue hat, her rank insignia. Describing how proud we felt of her in that moment is almost impossible. We saw her, and we saw the American people celebrate, honor, and value my mother and her fellow soldiers sacrifices not putting her in a box as a Black American but as a solider, not a woman but a soldier, not a Black woman but a soldier. In that moment, cheering, crying, and loving with all the other families, we yelled, Mom, until she found us. Davon Loeb and mom (Courtesy Davon Loeb) When she returns home from war, in the days, weeks, and months later, my mother has changed. Its not just that she doesnt cook anymore, or pack our lunches, or fold our clothes, but she longs for an independence that she no longer has the kind she had when she was away. When my mother returns home from war, shes accepted into a masters program; shes going to be a nurse anesthetist, and shes busy with school. When my mother returns home from war, she is with us but not really with us. When my mother returns home from war, she decides she no longer wants to be the same mother that she was. Shes going to be so much more. As a kid, I didnt understand my mothers change. It seemed selfish. It seemed like she was giving her life a new start, and giving our life some kind of pass-over. But now, as an adult, I understand more deeply how my mother, and so many women, had to choose between their families and their careers. I understand that these women not only sacrificed their bodies, but sacrificed their dreams. Men, fathers, are not defined by how much they cook, how much they tend to the home and the children; men, fathers, are defined societally by their careers. As a parent now, I understand how much my mother and my stepfather sacrificed while she was deployed at war. They both gave themselves for us. Military families just do that, instinctually. They have to. This article was originally published on TODAY.com John Eastman has begun mounting his defense in his trial before the State Bar of California that will determine whether he will lose his law license. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) Intermittently since June, John Eastman has appeared in a downtown Los Angeles courtroom as lawyers for the California Bar build the case that he is unfit to practice law. Eastman, the former dean of Chapman University's law school and advisor to former President Trump, is accused of ethics violations for peddling false claims that fraud cost Trump the presidency. Eastman maintains that he had a good-faith basis to doubt the results of the 2020 election. The man Eastman called as his first witness last week, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, has asserted the election was stolen, though his own turmoil-racked inquiry turned up no proof that fraud tilted the election to Joe Biden. The witness, Michael Gableman , admitted he had no experience with election law when the Republican leader of the Wisconsin Assembly picked him in 2021 to lead a taxpayer-funded investigation into the election. Gableman has also admitted that he did not have any understanding of how elections work. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement His 14-month inquiry turned into a debacle, costing taxpayers more than $1 million and drawing bipartisan derision. The report he produced alleged illegalities in the Wisconsin election, though Bidens 21,000-vote victory in the state has withstood multiple court challenges, a recount and a nonpartisan audit. Read more: John Eastman's bar trial resumes, a week after he was indicted with Trump and others In his report and in his State Bar testimony, Gableman dwelled on grant money Wisconsin municipalities had received from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The money was intended to facilitate voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and much of it went to Wisconsins five biggest cities often referred to as the Zuckerberg 5 in Gablemans report in areas that lean Democratic. Gablemans report characterized it as a scheme to get Democrats elected and called it election bribery. However, the Center for Tech and Civic Life said it awarded grants to all election offices that applied, amounting to more than 200 across Wisconsin, large and small. And federal courts have repeatedly ruled that the grants did not break the law. Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, shown in 2022, testified last week on behalf of John Eastman at his California State Bar trial. (Kayla Wolf / Associated Press) Cross-examining Gableman last week in Eastmans trial, Duncan Carling, an attorney representing the California State Bar, asked Gableman if there had been any successful legal challenges to the CTCL grants. Not yet, Gableman replied. Was he aware of any court findings that the Center for Tech and Civic Life grants violated any Wisconsin law? Not yet, Gableman repeated. Did Gableman find proof that Wisconsin voting machines had been manipulated for purposes of fraud? If I had found it, I would have put it in my report, he said. Among his other claims, Gableman asserted that Wisconsin lacked safeguards to prevent noncitizens from voting. Did he find evidence that noncitizens had in fact voted, he was asked? Read more: Pence lawyer says Eastman's push to reject electors left him 'offended for my profession' It was impossible for us to conduct that investigation, Gableman said, claiming his inquiry had been curtailed by politics. In Wisconsin, controversy plagued Gablemans partisan election review from start to finish. Contributing to its costs: about $260,000 spent on court-ordered legal fees in connection with lawsuits brought by a liberal watchdog group. At one point, Gableman refused to answer questions in a Wisconsin circuit court, and the judge held him in contempt for flouting the states open records law. Gablemans manner in Eastman's State Bar trial drew more than one reprimand from Judge Yvette Roland. Once, she warned him to avoid a diatribe. Another time, she said, Dont interrupt me, and dont roll your eyes. If anyone knows how to comport himself in a courtroom, it should be you. Eastmans lawyer argued to have Gableman admitted as an expert on election law. Roland ruled that he had no such expertise. Eastmans livestreamed trial has been underway, off and on, all summer, and he will continue putting on his defense Tuesday. The threat of disbarment is not his only worry. Along with Trump and 17 others, Eastman faces criminal charges in Fulton County, Ga., for election-related schemes. Eastman has a GiveSendGo page, where he posts updates on his State Bar trial and blames hard core leftist activists for targeting him. The page says he has raised $525,250, with a goal of $750,000. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. More Americans are worried technology could make their jobs obsolete in the near future, compared to two years ago, according to a new survey. The Gallup poll found 22 percent of U.S. workers surveyed fear their jobs could become obsolete soon due to technology, which is up 7 points since 2021. Concerns among college graduates have jumped the most, from 8 percent to 20 percent in the past two years. Among those without a college degree, 24 percent said they are worried, virtually unchanged from the earlier polling, Gallup found. As a result, those with a college degree and without one now have roughly equal levels of concern. In the past, those without a college degree were much more likely to be concerned technology could render their jobs useless. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Pollsters noted the fear has increased in the new survey among younger workers and those making less than $100,000. Men and women reported similar levels of concern over their jobs. While workers are still concerned technology, like artificial intelligence, could take over their jobs, their top concern is losing their benefits, according to the poll. This concern was reported by 31 percent of respondents. Almost a quarter of those surveyed 24 percent said they worried about having their wages cut. Being replaced by technology was the third on the list of concerns, followed by 20 percent being concerned about layoffs and 19 percent worried their hours will be cut back. The least-reported concern among workers was being relocated overseas, the poll found. The poll was conducted Aug. 1-23 among 491 adults who are employed part time or full time, and its margin of error is 5 percentage points. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Carlisle Barracks Cemetery, that still holds the remains of at least 171 Native youth, in summer 2022. Last year, families from the fifth disinterment project left gifts for the children left behind on their headstones. (Photo: Jenna Kunze). Today, September 11, the U.S. Army will begin its sixth disinterment project to reunite the remains of five Indigenous children who died more than a century ago with their descendant relatives and communities. Those students include: Edward Upright, from the Spirit Lake Tribe in North Dakota; Amos LaFramboise, from the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota; Beau Neal, from the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming; Edward Spott from the Puyallup Tribe in Washington; and Launy Shorty from the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. The children are among nearly 200 who died in the governments care between 1880 and 1910 while attending the nations flagship Indian boarding school: the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1879, what was then the Carlisle Barracks became the site of the nations first Indian boarding school, which was operated by the Department of the Interior until 1918. During those 39 years, it forcibly assimilated 7,800 Native American children from more than 140 tribal nations through a mix of Western-style education and hard labor. Close to 200 children from 59 different tribes died there, of disease often made worse by poor living conditions and abuse, and were buried at the school. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Today, the United States Army War College has taken over the grounds of the former Indian Boarding School, including its cemetery that holds the remains of more than 190 Native children. Exhumations from the Carlisle Barracks Post Cemetery began in 2017, when Yufna Soldier Wolf of the Northern Arapaho Tribe won her 10-year battle to return three Arapaho children. They were reburied on the reservation in Ethete, Wyoming. Since 2017, the Army has since returned a total of 28 children in five disinterment projects. Each project was conducted for about a month during the summer. A team of professionals from the Army Corps of Engineers Center of Expertise for Curation arrives to carry out the process of exhuming and identifying each childs remains. This disinterment project is slated to take about ten days, according to a news release from the Army. This return marks the end of a 145-year waiting period for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe of South Dakota. In 1879, two Oyate boys, 13-year-old Edward Upright (Spirit Lake Nation) and 12-year- old Amos LaFromboise (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), left their homes in the Dakotas to head to school at Carlisle. They were each the son of a powerful tribal leaderAmos of Joseph LaFromboise, a founding father of his tribe, and Edward of Chief Waanatanin line to become hereditary chiefs of their respective tribes when they grew older. Instead, they never left the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania: They both died before they turned 16, and remain buried in the cemetery beside the former school grounds. Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate tribal historian Tamara St. John has researched her tribes ancestors buried at Carlisle for more than six years in preparation for bringing them home. Now, her tribe is slated to facilitate the return of both Oyate boys next week, after expecting the boys return last summer. I feel afraid of how much it's going to hurt, St. John told Native News Online last year, when the Office of Army Cemeteries originally told the tribe their children would be coming home. I feel afraid for my community and the relatives because it will bring out pain and hurt. After that, I feel excited and happy that things are moving and progressing. And then I feel proud, really proud of our families and our tribes and how we just connected and embraced each other in this and in this difficult thing. Stay tuned for on-the-ground coverage from Native News Online. About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York." Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com The number of Russian soldiers who want to surrender to Ukraine has increased by 70% after Ukrainian special services successfully conducted a special operation called Synytsia (Tit), during which Russian pilot Maksim Kuzminov drove a Russian Mi-8 helicopter to Ukraine. Source: Andrii Yusov, representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine on air with Radio Svoboda (Liberty) Quote from Yusov: "There is considerable progress on the hotline of I Want to Live and, separately, on other communication channels. After the successful operation Synytsia with the Mi-8 and the pilot, the number of Russian army servicemen considering such a scenario has increased. The number of appeals to the state project I Want to Live jumped by about 70 per cent daily." Details: Commenting on the information from Telegram channels that the person who will transfer a MiG fighter to Ukraine will be given US$2 million, Yusov said that "this information is more of a legend and a popular initiative," but "there will be a reward for a MIG." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For reference: I Want to Live is a government project of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence designed to help Russian servicemen safely surrender to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and thus survive. The project guarantees the detention of military personnel following the norms of the Geneva Conventions in case of surrender. Background: On 23 August a Mi-8 helicopter of the Russian Armed Forces ended up in Ukraine as a result of a long-term special operation of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The pilot remained in Ukraine, and his family was taken there in advance. Now, the pilot and his family are in Ukraine. The M-8 stayed in Ukraine, along with the fighter jets parts. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! In 2021, the year after racial justice protests began spreading across the country, the District of Columbia City Council voted to gradually phase out school resource officers by 2025. But this May, council members voted to repeal that plan after pushback from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said in a statement last year that school leaders overwhelmingly opposed removing school resource officers because of fights on campus and concerns about student well-being. Washington is one of several communities that have decided to reverse plans to remove school resource officers or increase their numbers as students return to classrooms this fall amid an increase in gunfire in schools. Law enforcement officials say their presence in schools has been complicated by staffing shortages and new restrictions, while experts say research shows there's little evidence it will increase school safety and may in fact harm students of color. D.C. Council member Robert White, who supports removing and replacing police officers in schools but voted to repeal the plan to phase them out, said violence in schools has not ended because of the presence of police in schools. Still, he noted, many educators are worried about violence in their communities, want their students to be safe and see officers as "the closest city personnel to achieve the goals that they are trying to meet." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I can be an ideologue and say 'No, I'm just going to oppose school resource officers, despite testimonies of teachers,'" White told USA TODAY. "But what that's going to end up with is permanent school resource officers. If we want to replace them, we have to create the new mechanism and get to there so teachers are comfortable." A student holds a sign during a protest outside the Poudre School District's Fort Collins headquarters calling for change in the school district amid the nation's conversation of race and social justice in the wake of George Floyd's death in Fort Collins, Colo. on Monday, June 8, 2020. Research: Is more school police the answer after Uvalde shooting? School resource officers return to campus Days after George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis in 2020, the city's school board unanimously voted to end the district's contract with the Minneapolis Police Department, prompting a wave of other districts across the country to follow suit. At least 50 districts went on to end school police programs or reduce the programs' budgets, Education Week reported last year. But by June 2022, at least eight districts in states including Virginia, California and New York had reversed course, Education Week found. This June, Denver joined that growing list when a split-decision school board vote reversed a 2020 policy prohibiting armed officers on school campuses, the Denver Post reported. The heated and emotional debate was connected to a shooting at a Denver high school earlier this year, according to Auon'tai Anderson, a school board member who voted against the reversal. Defund police in schools? How the movement got momentum after George Floyd's death Anderson said data showed the decision to remove officers had the intended effect of reducing the tickets and citations arrests, which disproportionately affect Black students. But he said there is no evidence to suggest the presence of a school officer could have prevented the shooting in March. "This conversation to return SROs was not based in science or the fact that they prevented anything but based in fear," Anderson said. "We believe this is the best preventable cure to stop mass shootings, which is just not true." Nearly half of parents said they fear for their childs safety at school, the highest percentage in nearly two decades, according to a 2022 Gallup poll. Although officers reduce some forms of violence, such as physical attacks and fights, they do not prevent gun-related incidents, according to a 2021 study from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank, and the University at Albany. "The best evidence that we have to date shows no deterrent effect of where gun violence happens in schools or where weapons are brought to schools. ... Similarly, when a shooting does happen in a school, those shootings, actually, on average have been more deadly in schools with police," said Ben Fisher, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor who recently reviewed dozens of studies on the effects of police in schools. This question gained national attention this year during the trial of a former school resource officer who did not confront the gunman during the deadly 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and the investigation into the failures of law enforcement when a shooter killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school last year in Uvalde, Texas. Former Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School School Resource Officer Scot Peterson is shown at the defense table during jury selection in his case at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, June 5, 2023. "There is this idea, especially in our country, that the police are going to be the ones to solve a variety of social problems. That includes school violence," Fisher said. New laws present challenges in Texas, Minnesota Lawmakers in some states have also passed and proposed legislation to increase police presence in schools. In Kentucky and Texas, new laws require all schools to have school resource officers. In Tennessee, where a shooter killed six people at a Nashville elementary school in March, a lawmaker recently proposed legislation to allow police to assign officers to work at schools, even if the school board doesn't have a policy or agreement with the department. Tributes at the entrance to the Covenant School on March 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn., after a former student at the school killed three students and three teachers. But as the demand for school resource officers appears to have increased, staffing has been a challenge, according to Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers. "We are in a huge law enforcement recruiting crisis across the country, not just for SROs but for law enforcement officers in general," Canady said. "So you know, while we certainly want to see more selected and specifically trained SROs in the school environment, finding them is now becoming problematic." The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department faced backlash last month for deciding to forego millions in new state funding for school resource officers because the agency cannot staff the area's 70 public elementary schools, reported The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Texas gave districts about $15,000 per campus in additional funding as part of a new law requiring school resource officers, which took effect Sept. 1. But Dan Turner, chief of Alief Independent School District Police Department, said that money "is basically not enough to do anything with when it comes to hiring a police officer." Turner said the school district, which is based in southwest Houston, has approved additional funding to cover the cost of hiring about 30 officers to cover all of the district's elementary schools. Li Wen Su, a spokesperson for the district, said the additional positions approved to meet the new requirements have an estimated cost of $2 million. Turner said actually finding officers to hire has been the biggest challenge. "We're in competition with all the districts in Texas," he said. The law allows exceptions, but it's unclear how many schools weren't able to meet the standard because districts are not required to report if they meet the states new requirements of having armed officers on every campus. The Associated Press reported at least half of 60 of Texas largest school districts were unable to meet the laws highest standard at the start of the school year. May 24, 2023: Visitors hug as they place flowers at a memorial in Uvalde, Texas. One year ago a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers inside a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Jeff Potts, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, said parents and school districts have become more receptive to having officers in schools because of "the threat of violence." But he said law enforcement agencies removed officers from dozens of schools before the start of the school year as a result of a new state law. The law prohibits officers from physically restraining students in certain ways, including face down in the "prone position," and allows them to use reasonable force to restrain a student "to prevent imminent bodily harm or death." Potts said the law has officers concerned that they or their department could face criminal or civil repercussions if they act too soon to prevent a conflict from escalating or that students could be harmed if they wait too long to intervene. Potts has asked the governor to intervene and provide a legislative solution. "Our hope is to get back to a place here very quickly through a special session that the SROs will go back, because I think they'll be welcomed with open arms," he said. "It's just right now we're in this kind of awkward period where the new law has really changed that." School resource officers can have 'unintended negative consequences' Aaron Kupchik, a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, said adding officers in schools probably will bring "unintended negative consequences." The RAND and University of Albany study also found school resource officers increase the use of student suspensions, expulsions, police referrals and arrests, punishments that disproportionally affect Black students, male students and students with disabilities. Kupchik said that while suspension or arrest may sometimes be necessary, these solutions are used too frequently, which causes harm to some students and school communities. Canady said school resource officers should be dealing with "disruptions that lead to criminal activity," not discipline problems that should be handled by the school. He said specific training related to implicit bias, working with children and adolescent mental health along with the relationships formed with students can help prevent negative interactions. "Most SROs refer to the student body as 'my kids,'" Canady said. "And at that point, it doesn't matter. Culture, ethnicity and nationality, those things are out the window once you begin to approach it in that way." Though the relationship building touted by many school resource officers sounds positive, Fisher, the University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, said these interactions aren't always beneficial to students. "I remember one officer talking about how he essentially builds relationships with certain students because they funnel him information about problems that are going on in school," he said. "So this isn't relationship building just for the sake of being a positive role model for students, but it's to help the officer solve crimes or catch the kids who are doing something that they've deemed inappropriate." Kupchik said there are steps educators can take to preserve the school social climate, which is important for keeping schools safe. "Act restoratively rather than suspending them or turning the behavior over to the police to do it. Things like that can be helpful," he said. "These are solutions that we have had for literally decades, and they get put on the shelf because of the allure of suspending children and arresting them." Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: More school districts are bringing back or adding police. Will it help? The death toll from a massive earthquake in Morocco surpassed 2,400 Monday morning as crews began to find people still trapped under the rubble. Citing a statement from Moroccos interior ministry, state news agency MAP reported the death toll currently sits at 2,497, while at least 2,476 other people were wounded. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Friday about 50 miles south of Marrakech, Morocco, having the most impact in the Al Houz province in the High Atlas Mountains, according to The Associated Press. The United Nations estimates 300,000 were impacted by the quake, which was the strongest to hit the country in 120 years. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Residents were forced out of their homes, which folded in on themselves, while steep roads were filled with rubble. MAP reported bulldozers and other equipment were used to clear routes. A plethora of civil and military services, public authorities and medical teams were deployed over the weekend to help those trapped under the rubble and find the remains of those deceased. MAP reported more than 1,000 doctors and around 1,5000 nurses from nearby hospitals were mobilized with ambulances to assist those injured. Aid teams from around the world have offered their support to Morocco, though some overseas officials expressed frustration they could not get involved without approval from Rabat. So far, Moroccan officials have accepted government-offered aid from four countries Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates, according to the AP. The quake damaged multiple historic structures in Marrakechs old city, the news service reported. President Biden offered his condolences to the people of Morocco over the weekend, noting his administration is working to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens in Morocco. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also offered his heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those affected by the earthquake. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The death toll is rising following a catastrophic earthquake in Morocco late at night on Friday 8 September. More than 2,000 people have been killed and injured after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck. The epicentre was about 70km (43 miles) southwest of Marrakech the fourth-biggest city in Morocco, and by far the most popular draw for international visitors. Thousands of British holidaymakers are in the area, with many thousands more booked to go there during September. This is the travel picture. How many British holidaymakers are in the vicinity? The Independent calculates from flight data that around 5,000-8,000 UK holidaymakers are in the Marrakech area. Many are staying in the ancient heart of the city, or in modern hotels on the outskirts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Trekking in the Atlas mountains is also popular, particularly in autumn when temperatures start to drop. Is Marrakech airport still open and operating? Yes, and a large number of UK flights have arrived and departed since the earthquake, including British Airways, easyJet and Tui from London Gatwick, easyJet from Luton, Ryanair from London Stansted and Tui from Birmingham and Manchester. On Saturday both British Airways and easyJet deployed larger aircraft on their flights to London in order to accommodate passengers who wanted to come home early. All other airports in Morocco are running normally. What are the options for British travellers who want to leave the area? At present there are no plans for an airlift. In the absence of confirmation to the contrary, the assumption will be that you travel home as planned. If I come home early, will I be able to claim on travel insurance? Not necessarily: the first line of action will be to contact your travel company and ask if you can leave early. They may well put arrangements in place. Travel insurance will be relevant only in the event of potential danger. I am booked to travel to the Marrakech area imminently. Can I cancel? Many thousands of people will be in this position: not wishing to put additional strain on a location enduring a humanitarian crisis; uncomfortable about going on holiday to a scene of such tragedy; or concerned about the possibility of aftershocks. At present there are no clear grounds to cancel without penalty; the Foreign Office stops well short of warning against travel to the region. The updated travel advice says: All Moroccan airports are open and flights to and from the UK are operating normally, with some airlines laying on additional seats for travellers wishing to return to the UK earlier than planned. Travellers wishing to change their flight plans should liaise direct with their tour operators or airline companies. If you are planning to travel to Morocco imminently we advise you check with your accommodation provider/tour operator to confirm arrangements before departure in case of disruption or damage resulting from the earthquake. Should you require consular assistance please call the British Embassy in Rabat on +212 537 63 33 33 and select the menu option for consular services, or call the Foreign Office on +44 207 008 5000. The US Embassy in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, is telling American citizens: Local hospitals and resources in the most affected areas may become strained. Hospitals in Marrakech and major cities are currently open but have limited capacity. Avoid affected areas and follow police instructions regarding road closures or traffic disruptions. Airports and local transportation are open and functioning. What are the airlines saying? These are the positions of the major airlines: British Airways is offering flexibility to passengers booked to Marrakech in the next two weeks. A BA spokesperson said: The welfare of our customers is our priority, and we have contacted our British Airways Holidays customers in Morocco to check that theyre safe. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely, and customers due to travel to or from Marrakech in the next two weeks can change their dates free of charge if they wish. EasyJets spokesperson said: EasyJets thoughts are with everyone affected by the earthquake in Morocco. If you are scheduled to travel to or from Morocco in the next few days, and wish to discuss your booking please contact our customer service team.. The number for easyJet customer services is 0330 551 5151. It is possible booked passengers will be offered flexibility allowing them to postpone or to change destinations. Ryanairs spokesperson said: There may be some potential delays and cancellations to/from Morocco today due to the earthquake. Affected passengers will be notified and passengers travelling to/from Morocco today should check their Ryanair app for flight updates before travelling to the airport. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers and offer our deepest sympathies to those affected. What do the holiday companies say? A spokesperson for Tui said: We are aware of and deeply saddened by the devastating earthquakes which took place about 70km southwest of Marrakech. Our thoughts are with the people in Morocco, the victims and their families. Our teams are currently working on the ground in resort, supporting customers where needed and in contact with local authorities and partners to continue to assess the situation. In addition, customers have access to the Tui contact centre and the 24/7 Tui app, where they can speak directly with a member of staff. We can confirm that there has been no change in the Foreign Office advice and the next planned TUI Airways flight is on Monday 11 September. Customers travelling on Tui holidays with other airlines on Sunday or Monday have or will be contacted by a member of the team to discuss their options. Jet2, the other big package holiday company, does not operate to Morocco. I dont believe I will be able to have a safe and enjoyable holiday. What are my rights? It is too early to establish the amount of damage and disruption to the area, and in particular tourist facilities. More seismic activity will continue, according to the US Geological Survey: Its likely that smaller aftershocks in the region ... will continue to be felt for weeks to come. In some cases, there may be strong aftershocks. Even so, with no Foreign Office warning against travel: if you choose not to travel before your holiday company makes a decision, you are likely to lose most or all of your money. What about travel elsewhere in Morocco? The main holiday locations, including Agadir and Essaouira, are believed to be unaffected. A Londoner currently travelling on Moroccos Atlantic coast said he felt the tremors very strongly during the earthquake. Alex Folkes is staying in Taghazout, north of Agadir about 80km (50 miles) from the epicentre of the earthquake. He told The Independent: Felt the tremors very strongly but no apparent damage or injury in the town. Place is back to normal (as far as I can tell) this morning. Obviously very different to Marrakech and Atlas villages. Condolences to all who have suffered. Is Morocco an earthquake-prone area? Not especially, but when they occur they tend to be deadly. The most devastating was in Agadir in 1960, when 12,000-15,000 people died. The town has now been rebuilt and is a popular resort. The Yellow River flows through nine cities and 25 counties in East China's Shandong province, spanning 628 kilometers before reaching the Bohai Sea. The river and the sea together nourish many dynamic cities such as Weifang, Yantai, Rizhao and Dongying in various aspects of culture, ecology and economy. I was as thrilled as other global reporters and social media influencers from Sept 8 to 10 when we were invited to a trip to experience the high-quality cultural and tourism resources in Shandong province. The three-day "Meeting the Sea along the Yellow River - Global Influencers Explore Shandong's Charm" event, organized by Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, enabled us to visit three wonderful places of Weifang, Dongying and Zibo. This fantastic trip started on Sept 8 in Weifang, a city rich in culture and urban vitality. Our delegation visited the River Harmony: 2023 Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition along the Yellow River Basin and the Grand Canal. We experienced dozens of intangible cultural items, including Weifang Kites, known for intricate designs and vibrant colors, peach shell carvings, where delicate patterns are etched on fragile peach pits, and wood engraving New Year paintings, a craftsmanship that combines traditional engraving and carpentry skills. Paul Rutikanga, a reporter from Rwanda, was awestruck by the exhibition. "I'm overjoyed to have the opportunity to witness the cultural legacies with my own eyes; it's incredible that the inheritors are confident in passing down history to future generations," he said. We also had the opportunity to set eyes on the coastal city of Dongying, which offers biological diversity and cultural charm. The Lyuju Opera show staged on Sept 9 for us featured unique makeup and delicate moves. The wetland along our way to where the Yellow River meets the sea reflects lush greenery and is a perfect sanctuary for migratory birds. Mohammed Al-Zouba, a Yemeni photographer, said he was amazed to learn that the number of the Oriental White Stork, once an endangered species, has doubled to over 6,000, and more and more migratory birds are choosing to stay in the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying. Marrakech, Morocco Hundreds of people stood in line for hours outside a blood bank in the central Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday, some even passing out from the heat, but all of them determined do whatever they can for their country as it reels from the devastating earthquake that struck Friday night. The United Nations estimated that some 300,000 people had been affected by the al-Houz quake a powerful 6.8 magnitude temblor that struck a region unaccustomed and ill-prepared for such a jolt. On Monday, the death toll rose to 2,862, with another 2,562 injured, according to Morocco's Ministry of Interior. Emergency workers evacuate an injured survivor of the September 8 earthquake from the village of Moulay Brahim, in al-Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains of central Morocco, Sept. 11, 2023. / Credit: PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Video continued to emerge over the weekend capturing both the extent of the devastation, and the frenzied moments right after the earthquake struck the North African nation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The frantic effort to find survivors was still underway, as others turned to mourning their loved ones. "We were having dinner," said Hamid Ben Henna. "I asked my son to bring a knife from the kitchen to cut the dessert, but he never did because as soon as he left the kitchen, the earthquake struck. He was buried in six feet of rubble." The worst of the destruction is in the scenic High Atlas Mountains, where dirt roads snake into snow-capped peaks. Many of those passes have been blocked by rockslides, making it impossible to reach those still trapped beneath the debris of their homes. Some could still be saved, but many more will need to be found and laid to rest. Mohamed Sebbagh, 66, stands in front of his destroyed house in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco, Sept. 10, 2023. / Credit: NACHO DOCE/REUTERS "We just couldn't ever imagine something like this happening here really, It's just been totally devastating," said Helen Gallagher who emigrated to make Morocco her home. "We're just in survival mode and trying to get help out to the people who most need it, and we'll process it afterwards." In cities like Marrakech, with its famed Casbah, medieval buildings that have stood for 1,000 years have been badly damaged. Some have fallen, and others could topple at any moment. The need for aid is immense and urgent. The U.S. Embassy in Morocco said it was aware of a small number of Americans who were hurt in the quake, but none who were killed. Dog found 3 weeks after escaping at Atlanta airport Fighter pilots recall 9/11 attacks and mission to take down flight 93 FDA approves new COVID boosters (Bloomberg) -- Morocco expects the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings due to take place in Marrakech next month to go ahead despite a major earthquake thats left about 2,500 people dead. Most Read from Bloomberg Moroccos strongest quake in 120 years struck the High Atlas mountains on Sept. 8, tearing across some of its poorest regions and shaking a city thats among its top tourist destinations. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the World Health Organization putting the number of people affected at some 300,000. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Moroccan officials overseeing preparations for the Oct. 9-15 meetings asked the IMF and World Bank on Saturday for the communication plans they will address to participating delegations in the aftermath of the disaster, a Moroccan government official said. The official declined to be named because they werent authorized to discuss the plans with media. Morocco will follow up on those communication plans at the end of a three-day period of national mourning declared on Saturday, the person said. In response to requests for comment, a spokesman for the World Bank pointed to a statement issued on Saturday that said the institutions sole focus at this stage is on the Moroccan people and the authorities who are dealing with this tragedy. An IMF spokeswoman referred Bloomberg to a joint statement from Sunday that offered to support Morocco in the best possible way. Read more: Moroccos Ascent Dealt Blow by Biggest Earthquake in a Century Moroccos Quake-Survivor Search Gets Foreign Help as Anger Brews The decision on whether to go forward with the event in Marrakech is likely the Moroccan governments to make. The nation has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure, including on a 45-hectare (450,000 square meter) venue built especially for the meetings in Bab Ighli, just outside the walls that encircle the ancient heart of the city. Though parts of the city wall collapsed, the Bab Ighli venue has not suffered any damage and work there has not stopped. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva toured the site in June wearing a construction hard hat and proudly announcing that 10,000 people were expected to attend. The first annual meetings by the multi-national lenders to be held on the African continent since 1973 were expected to provide a spending boost to Moroccos fourth-largest city. They were first scheduled for 2021, but faced two years of delays due to the Covid pandemic. The majority of hotels in the city are safe and able to host the delegations, the Moroccan official said. Many of the buildings in more modern districts of Marrakech have largely escaped serious damage. The IMF and World Bank have experience holding their annual meetings in the aftermath of disasters. In 2018, an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Indonesia killed more than 4,000 people less than two weeks before meetings were to be held on the resort island of Bali. The event went forward, with Christine Lagarde, who headed the IMF at the time, touring the disaster site. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany does not see any indications that Morocco's decision to leave Berlin's earthquake aid offerings on the table is political, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. "Diplomatic relations between Germany and Morocco are good," said the spokesperson, who added that the Moroccan side had thanked Germany for its offer of help. As Germany learned from deadly flooding in 2021 in the Ahr valley, aid coordination is important during major disasters to ensure rescue workers do not impede each other, said the spokesperson. "I'm sure that they (Morocco) have thought very carefully about which forces can be deployed where and how they can get there, what transport capacities are available, for example." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Germany is among several countries, notably France, that have said they stand ready to help if asked. Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Sunday thanked Spain, Qatar, the UK and United Arab Emirates for sending aid after the country's deadliest earthquake in over six decades, state TV reported. Morocco had assessed aid needs and considered the importance of coordinating relief efforts before accepting their help, it added. (Reporting by Miranda Murray and Ozan Ergenay, Editing by Rachel More) By Ahmed Eljechtimi, Miguel Pereira AMIZMIZ, Morocco (Reuters) -Rescuers digging through the rubble after Morocco's deadly earthquake warned on Monday that the traditional mud brick, stone and rough wood housing ubiquitous in the High Atlas mountains reduced the chances of finding survivors. "It's difficult to pull people out alive because most of the walls and ceilings turned to earthen rubble when they fell, burying whoever was inside without leaving air spaces," a military rescue worker, asking not to be named because of army rules against speaking to media, said at an army centre south of the historic city of Marrakech not far from the quake epicentre. Morocco's most powerful earthquake since at least 1900 has killed at least 2,681 people, state TV said in the latest update of the human toll on Monday, with thousands more injured and many still missing. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The traditional homes, sometimes hundreds of years old, sometimes built more recently, have long been a popular sight for tourists travelling to the mountain from Marrakech. They are often built by the families themselves to a traditional pattern, without any architect's help and with extensions added when they can. With no major earthquakes for a long time, few people would have thought to consider the risk of a tremor. But structures crumbled easily in mounds of debris when the quake struck late on Friday. "The level of destruction is ... absolute," Antonio Nogales, head of Spain's United Firefighters Without Borders NGO said, speaking from Amizmiz, south of Marrakech, which was hard hit by the earthquake. "The chances of survival are reduced" without the pockets of air that steel-and-concrete buildings can provide if they collapse, he said, while stressing that rescuers had not lost all hope. "We never give up, I'm sure that in the coming days there will be some rescues. We think that there may still be people in the collapsed structures, that there may have been pockets of air." Even concrete homes or buildings often lack anti-seismic design, experts said, leaving survivors and rescuers to sift through mounds of rubble where homes once stood. "When you just have the gravity load work, it's fine, but with the pressure of an earthquake they can crumble basically like mud and dirt," said Mo Ehsani, professor emeritus of civil engineering at the University of Arizona. Many survivors across the area have spent three nights outside, sometimes in tents, their homes destroyed or rendered unsafe. With much of the quake zone in remote areas, the full impact has yet to emerge. "The big government decision is really around making sure you use modern construction forms in any rebuilding. Rebuilding in this mud brick form is just going to create the next disaster in 20 or 30 years time," said Colin Taylor, emeritus professor of earthquake engineering at the University of Bristol. "In countries like Morocco, you've got this major problem of having a huge housing stock, which may date back hundreds of years, and repairing or strengthening that housing stock is difficult, technically, and also very expensive." (Additional reporting by Johnny Cotton in Brussels and Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo in Madrid; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Christina Fincher and Hugh Lawson) Sunday, Sept. 10 is Grandparents Day, and when it comes to nicknames that children develop for their grandparents, a new survey by Preply found that popularity varies widely by state. One grandchilds beloved Nana in Nevada may have been referred to as Bubbe if they lived in New Jersey, for instance. When it comes to the overall most popular nicknames, excluding just Grandma and Grandpa, the survey found that Nana and Papa dominate. The most popular nicknames for Grandma. (Preply) The most popular nicknames for Grandpa. (Preply) When it comes to affectionate terms for grandmothers, Nana was the most popular in 12 states, followed by a three-way tie for second by Grammy, Granny and Gran. Abuela, was tied with Grandmother and Mamaw for third place. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When it comes to grandfathers, Papa was tops in 13 states, followed by Granddad and Pop-pop. Californias most popular nicknames for grandparents are Abuelo and Abuela, Spanish for Grandfather and Grandmother respectively, which reflects the large Spanish-speaking population throughout the state. The abandoned plans to bring another Disney theme park to California The August survey of 1,500 Americans across all 50 states also found that a whopping 44% said their maternal grandmother was their favorite, followed by their paternal grandmother at 23%. Fifteen percent said it was their maternal grandfather, followed by 11% for their paternal grandfather and another 7% who chose other. The history of National Grandparents Day dates back to 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed legislation making the first Sunday after Labor Day a holiday to honor Nana and Papa (in some states, of course). Find more information about the surveys results and methodology here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. After moving to Dublin, Kayleigh Donahue fell in love with the laid-back work culture. Going back to the US has been a shock, and she thinks more time off makes her more productive. She told Insider's Aimee Pearcy why she started documenting her journey to inspire others to move. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kayleigh Donahue, a TikTok creator who moved to Ireland from the US and lived there for four years. It has been edited for length and clarity. I am originally from Rhode Island in the US, and I first moved to Dublin for a semester in autumn 2016 while I was in college studying psychology and theology. I'd chosen to go to Ireland because I went there on vacation with my family in 2015 and it left a good impression on me. The people there were so kind, and there was just a good vibe in the air. I loved my semester abroad so much that I decided to go back to do an internship during the summer of 2017, and returned when I finished college a year later. I stayed for four years, going on to work as a social worker and staying through the COVID-19 pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It was working full-time abroad that made me realize it's possible to not buy into the American idea of work as a constant hustle. Now, I'm sharing that message on TikTok end encouraging others to experience life abroad. Irish work culture made me more productive When I first started full-time work, I would stay at my desk through lunch because I felt that was what would be expected of me in the US, but this was totally different. My coworkers would ask, "What are you doing? You need to leave the office. That's so unhealthy." At first, I didn't understand what they meant. But I began to realize that taking time off whether it's paid vacation or daily coffee and lunch breaks is considered completely normal in Ireland. I was shocked by how laid back the working environment was compared to the US, and I fell in love with the lifestyle. I was also a better worker; even though I was taking more time off, I found that I was more productive because I got to reset. Dublin, Ireland. Shutterstock I started sharing my experience online to inspire others to step out of their comfort zone When I first heard about TikTok, I refused to download it because I thought it was ridiculous. But while I was alone during the pandemic, I decided to start making videos documenting my experience of living abroad. My story seemed to resonate, and many people told me that they think about moving abroad often but they're scared to do it. I also give people tips to encourage them to take the leap to move abroad if it's something they've been considering. For example, lots of people say that they are held back by the idea of being away from family and friends. But in my experience, it's not as hard as people think to make new friends once you move, especially if you live with roommates and are studying, although I also met people through apps that connect you to like-minded people looking to make friends in an area. Ultimately, the worst that can happen is you don't like it and you decide to go back home, which is the message I continue to share with my 95,000 followers. I moved back to the US to be with my family but it's been difficult to adjust to the intense work culture While I was in Ireland, one of my friends died and it sent me into a spiral of wanting to be near my family more. My grandparents were getting older and I was missing family gatherings, including my dad's wedding, which I had to watch over FaceTime. In August 2022, I decided to move back to the US. Working my first full-time job in Ireland was a blessing and a curse because I got so used to that kind of way of working. Coming back to work in the US has been a big adjustment. Back in Ireland, I had 29 paid vacation days per year. In the US, I've only had four paid days off in the past year. My boyfriend, who is Dutch, was able to get sponsored by his job to come with me. He has experienced a similar shock going from working in Europe to working in the US. He told me that he feels like Americans just do stuff to be busy and that they could get the same amount of work done in half the time. The US is my home, and I'm very close to my family. I wanted to move back to see if I could actually enjoy living here, but with the idea that it is temporary. In the future, I plan to move back to Europe with my boyfriend. If I didn't have that opportunity, I might have stayed in Dublin. Correction: September 12, 2023 An earlier version of this story included a photo caption that misidentified the Irish town of Cobh as Dublin. The photo was removed and replaced with one of Dublin. Read the original article on Insider MEMPHIS, Tenn. A woman was arrested after being accused of stabbing her boyfriend on Saturday in Cherokee. According to Memphis Police, around 10:20 p.m., officers responded to an aggravated assault/domestic violence call where the victim stated he got into an argument with his girlfriend, Susie Thomas, over money. Estranged husband accused of fatal Collierville shooting Police say Thomas became upset and started punching her boyfriend in the face several times. She then went to the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife. She stabbed him in both of his upper arms, according to reports. The victim was taken to Methodist University Hospital in non-critical condition. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Thomas is charged with aggravated assault and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday morning. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Download the WREG App today and stay up to date with breaking news and weather. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid South. This comes after Thomas was previously charged with aggravated assault on August 26 when she argued with her boyfriend. Thomas allegedly hit her boyfriend in the back of his neck and shoulder with a wood and metal lamp before hitting him with a broom handle across his face, back, and ribs. The victim received scratches, bumps, and bruises from the incident, reports state. But Thomas was released from jail on her own Recognizance in that case. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) A Murfreesboro woman faces financial exploitation and theft charges following an investigation by special agents assigned to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Medicaid Fraud Control Division. According to the TBI, special agents began investigating allegations surrounding paid caregiver Teresa Ann Smith, 61, in early May on information from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County During the investigation, agents learned Smith instructed an elderly, vulnerable man in her care to withdraw money from his bank account for her benefit and additionally used the victims debit card for unauthorized purchases. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Agents secured warrants last Wednesday charging Smith with one count each of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and theft. Agents subsequently arrested Smith and booked her into the Rutherford County Jail on a $35,000 bond. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. SpaceX founder Elon Musk does not agree that he betrayed U.S. national interests by denying the Ukrainian military access to Starlink satellite internet over Russia-occupied Crimea, Musk said in a Twitter post on Sept. 11. Read also: Kremlin propaganda blames Elon Musk for drone attack on Moscow I am a citizen of the United States and have only that passport; no matter what happens, I will fight for and die in America, he said. The United States Congress has not declared war on Russia. If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such. Citing an excerpt from a new biography of Musk by Walter Isaacson, CNN reported on Sept. 7 that in 2022 the businessman supposedly ordered his engineers to disable Starlink near the coast of occupied Crimea, disrupting a Ukrainian naval drone attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Starlink problems not related to Elon Musk, says Israeli military expert The book mentions that Ukrainian drones lost connection when approaching the bay, resulting in them washing ashore. According to Isaacson, Musks decision "was driven by a sharp fear that Russia would respond to Ukraine's attack on Crimea with nuclear weapons." Musk's concerns of a mini Pearl-Harbor, occurred after talks with high-ranking Russian officials. Read also: Musk denies shutting down Starlink over Crimea, says he denied request altogether In turn, Musk claims he never disabled Starlink access in the region, saying instead he denied Kyivs request to enable it in the first place. Its unclear why Ukraine would go through with the attack if the request was denied, as the owner of Twitter says it was. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Navaid Farooq was one of Elon Musk's first friends during his time at Queen's University, Canada. Farooq came to work for Musk at his first company, Zip2, but quit just six weeks into the job. Farooq told biographer Walter Isaacson that he soon "found himself in fights with Musk." Elon Musk's college dorm-mate quit his job at Musk's company after only six weeks of working there, a new biography about the tech mogul has revealed. In 1995, Musk was in the midst of getting his first company, Zip2, off the ground with his brother, Kimbal . Their idea was to put a directory of businesses online, combine it with map software and offer it as an online alternative to the yellow pages. Stories from the first intense months have become folklore for Musk enthusiasts, working around the clock, sleeping under his desk, eating teriyaki bowls at Jack In Box, and showering at the local YMCA. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Navaid Farooq, who was Musk's dorm-mate at college in Canada, came to help, but soon "found himself in fights with Musk." Farooq is described in Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk which is released this week as "his first real and lasting friend outside of his family." The two had been placed on the international floor of one of the dorms at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. They bonded over high-level strategy video games, a hobby Musk has kept up, and would spend hours playing "Civilisation." "We completely entered a zone for hours until we were exhausted," Farooq told Isaacson. But working under the notoriously intense Musk was too much for Farooq and he lasted just six weeks at Zip2 before quitting. "I knew that I could either be working with him or be his friend, but not both, and the latter seemed more enjoyable," he told Isaacson. Elon Musk has regularly worked with other close friends and family across his career, but this isn't the first relationship to run into trouble. Kimbal Musk, Elon's younger brother, co-founded Zip2 and invested in PayPal when it was formed. He has since trained as a chef and developed a career in food, but remains on the boards of Tesla and SpaceX. Elon Musk's brother, Kimbal. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Musk has also entered into ventures with his cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive, acquiring their company SolarCity through Tesla for $2.6 billion in 2016. A Tesla shareholder accused him of attempting to bail out his cousin's company which was $3 billion in debt when acquired, but in 2022 a judge ruled that Musk had not acted unlawfully. Peter Thiel, a billionaire Silicon Valley investor, has been a longtime collaborator of Musk, but their relationship has been rocky over the years. The two merged their companies to form PayPal in the early 2000s, but acrimoniously split after Thiel staged a coup and replaced Musk as CEO of the company while he was on his honeymoon. Thiel later refused to invest in Tesla, worsening their relationship, but did reluctantly support SpaceX, investing $20 million to help keep the company afloat after a third botched rocket launch in 2008. Read the original article on Business Insider People visit the booth of Chinese carmaker BYD during the 2023 International Motor Show, officially known as the IAA MOBILITY 2023, in Munich, Germany, Sept. 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Senior officials are calling for the Chinese automotive industry to achieve higher quality, greater competitiveness and better alignment with global trends by focusing on electrification, intelligence and carbon reduction to accomplish sustainable growth. Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology, said the industry should prioritize innovation-driven development by embracing new concepts and approaches while promoting research in key areas such as power batteries and intelligent driving systems to achieve high-level technological self-sufficiency. In a video presentation at the 2023 International Forum (TEDA) on Chinese Automotive Industry Development in Tianjin in early September, Wan said the country should also bolster its leadership in new energy vehicles by expediting the electrification, intelligence and digitalization infrastructure, and speed up research and industrialization of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to promote full electrification in public transportation and logistics. Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, told the forum vehicles have never played such a pivotal role as today, "serving as crucial platforms for the concentrated application of multiple technologies and cross-domain innovation integration". He said the ministry, the nation's top industry regulator, will support tech innovation, encourage collaboration between industry-leading companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, address tech gaps such as auto chips and electronic architectures, and accelerate R&D in areas like next-generation batteries and autonomous driving systems. As the auto industry is highly globalized with ongoing trends of electrification and intelligence, China will continue to promote open cooperation to expedite industry transformation, Xin said, adding: "We must uphold globalization by opposing trade protectionism, fostering innovation leadership and maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains through cooperation and resource flow." Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and chip shortages, China's auto industry has yielded positive results in recent years. From January to July of this year, more than 15.63 million vehicles were sold in the domestic market, a 7.9 percent year-on-year increase, about 31 percent of the global market share. NEVs are booming with 4.53 million units sold in the first seven months of this year, marking a 41.7 percent year-on-year increase. They now account for 29 percent of total new vehicle sales. The growth of intelligent connected vehicles is equally impressive. Over 15,000 kilometers of test roads are available for intelligent connected vehicles nationwide, with more than 70 million kilometers of testing completed. During the first half of this year, 42.4 percent of new passenger vehicles had driving assistance functions, according to MIIT data. Jia Ronge, director-general of the department of tax policy of the Ministry of Finance, highlighted the support provided by fiscal policies to the high-quality development of the NEV industry. The cumulative exemption from purchase tax exceeded 200 billion yuan ($27.24 billion) by the end of 2022. The figure is expected to surpass 115 billion yuan in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with other relevant departments, aims to fine-tune tax reduction and exemption policies, harnessing their role as stabilizers and accelerators, with the goal of promoting the industry's green and sustainable development, Jia said. According to Lu Xinming, deputy director-general of the department of climate change affairs at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, NEV development has yielded positive outcomes in combating climate change, including improved energy structure, reduced coal consumption and effective control of carbon dioxide emissions. It has resulted in a 26.2 percent decrease in energy consumption intensity and a 34.4 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emission intensity over the past decade. Lu said the ministry will leverage carbon markets for low-carbon enterprise transformation and advance green technology innovation by expediting emissions trading regulations, broadening trading parameters and addressing technology adoption through national projects and streamlined policies. Vehicle export has also become a highlight of China's auto industry. Lei Ping, deputy general-manager of FAW, said internationalization is vital for Chinese brands, which have made substantial progress in design, quality, supply chain management and service innovation, enhancing their overall competitiveness and readiness for global expansion. You Zheng, deputy general-manager of Dongfeng Motor, said China excels in the market size and consumer acceptance of NEV and has made significant strides in core technologies like electric powertrains and vehicle connectivity. According to customs statistics, China exported 2.78 million vehicles in the first seven months of this year, with the year-end total projected to reach 5 million units. A row has broken out about the naming of the alleged Chinese spy working as a parliamentary researcher amid fears for the safety of dissidents. Campaigners have warned that the arrest has caused fear and panic among the opponents of Chinas ruling Communist Party and called for authorities to name the suspect to reassure those who have sought sanctuary in Britain. The British national, who is in his late 20s, is known to have links to MPs who are vocal opponents of the Chinese regime and have worked closely with dissidents as well as having access to highly sensitive material. The researcher has worked with Alicia Kearns, the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, and Tom Tugendhat before he took up his post as Security Minister. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Conservative MPs had been considering naming the researcher during a debate in the House of Commons using parliamentary privilege but were warned off by the speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The researcher, who has lived and worked in China, released a statement on Monday stating that he is completely innocent and has spent his career trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. But campaigners have said that the seriousness of the accusations irrespective of whether they are found to be true or not mean that the researcher should be identified. A delicate balance Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, who said it is vitally important that he is named so those in contact with him are aware that he has been arrested on suspicion of espionage. Finn Lau, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong who has a 100,000 bounty placed on his head by Beijing, had met with the researcher and said that he now feels insecure. He said: Personally, I am quite concerned because I never got a single briefing before this news went into the public space and especially when I read that he has been arrested since March and, well, we are now in September. There is a delicate balance between public interest and privacy, so I will say in that case, because of the grave danger associated with that case, I think there should be much more information ... being released to the public. Chung Ching Kwong, the Hong Kong and security lead at Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: If you look at the closed circle that the accused person was connected to, they are very active on China and they are likely to be briefed by and have access to dissidents. I have worked with people who were very close to this person and know him well and they might be very nervous when they hear this news. We are not necessarily talking about very sensitive information, [but] information about who they are friends with or which area they live in can pose a serious threat. The political activist from Hong Kong said that the researcher should be named publicly to reassure the large dissident community in Britain. The Government is under pressure to reveal details of what was known about the case He is of course innocent until proven guilty, but transparency is very important, disclosing the name of the person would help reassure the dissident community who are among the most vulnerable, she said. The man was arrested at a family home in Edinburgh in March and a second suspect, believed to be an academic, was arrested at a property in Oxfordshire. The Government is now under pressure to reveal the details of what was known when about the arrest and why MPs who may have come into contact with the suspect were not told. Tim Loughton, a Conservative former minister who has been sanctioned by China, said he and colleagues are on the frontline of this threat before bemoaning a lack of briefings on the case, as he told MPs: I found out more about this character involved from my son, who just happened to be at university with him, than anything Ive been told formally. Sir Lindsay told MPs an extremely small number of people who needed to know were immediately briefed on a strictly confidential basis after the arrest, given the national security of this sensitive matter. It is understood that Ms Kearns was among those briefed. Sir Lindsay told MPs: At this stage I do not wish to say anything further about this issue and I would remind all members of the importance of not discussing security issues on the floor of the House. That is particularly important in this case, where commenting on the identities of those alleged to be involved, engaging in speculation about the case or discussing other details runs a serious risk of prejudicing any future prosecutions which the comments made in the media were unhelpful something for which Im sure no member will want to be responsible. We will not accept any interference The Prime Ministers official spokesman refused to say when the arrest was first learnt about or first raised with China but encouraged any parliamentarians who fear they may have been targeted in any way, shape or form to contact the police. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said that he had only heard about the case very recently and asked Rishi Sunak whether James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, raised it on a recent trip to Beijing. Responding to Labour, Rishi Sunak said: I am sure he will appreciate that as there is an ongoing investigation, as you have also said Mr Speaker, I am limited in what I can say specifically. But I have been emphatically clear in our engagement with China that we will not accept any interference in our democracy and parliamentary system. Recent court rulings have made news organisations wary about naming suspects before they are charged. The Supreme Court ruled last year in the case of an American citizen known only as ZXC that a person being investigated for a crime generally has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The ruling confirmed the decision of the High Court in the pop music veteran Sir Cliff Richards privacy case against the BBC about its coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. (Bloomberg) -- While polls show Joe Biden besieged by questions about his age at home, his trip Sunday to Vietnam yielded at least one person unconcerned by the US presidents age: Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Most Read from Bloomberg You have nary aged a day and I would say you look even better than before, Trong told Biden as the men met at Communist Party headquarters in Hanoi. Every feature of you, Mr. President, is very much complimentary of your image. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Biden, 80, laughed off the warm words from the 79-year-old Trong, who is Vietnams longest-serving leader since the war era. When he was re-appointed in 2021, Trong told reporters he hadnt sought another term but bowed to the partys desire that he continue serving. Im old and not in good health, he said at the time. Read More: Biden Sees Enormous Opportunity With Vietnam as China Looms Biden is the oldest president in US history, and polls show that his age is consistently his largest liability as he seeks reelection again next year. Some 73% of Americans surveyed in a CNN poll released earlier this week said they were seriously concerned the presidents age might negatively impact his competence, while 76% said they were worried he could be too old to serve out another full term. Biden would be 82 at the start of his second term in January 2025, while leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would be 78 years old. Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden in an interview airing Sunday with CBS News, saying he is going to be fine. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained a Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) agent who was preparing new Russian attacks on Kyivs thermoelectric power plants. He turned out to be a contractor for one of the military units of the National Guard of Ukraine. Source: SSU on Telegram Quote by SSU: "The suspect is a contractor of one of the military units of the National Guard who was remotely recruited by the Russian secret service in January this year. In order to involve the soldier in an unofficial cooperation, the FSB has engaged their member (the head of an undercover group). He turned out to be a former National Guard member who resigned from the service due to his health condition and left Ukraine for a European country. There he started working for FSB." Details: While outside Ukraines borders, the perpetrator gave instructions to his agent in Kyiv. Specifically, he asked him to collect the geolocations of thermoelectric power plants in Kyiv. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Russians were also interested in the technical condition of energy facilities and their protection level by the Defence Forces of Ukraine. The agent sent all the information to his handler via messenger in the form of photos with a description of the security system. For each fulfilled task, both people involved were paid from US$100 to US$1,000 by their handler at FSB. The sum depended on the complexity of the "work" done and the importance of the information obtained. Reportedly, the Russians were collecting this information to prepare for new missile attacks on Kyiv in the cold weather. The Russian agent was detained during a multi-stage special operation while he was performing a mission for the Russians. During the search at his place of residence in Kyiv, computer equipment and a mobile phone with proof of reconnaissance and sabotage activity in favour of Russia were found. Both suspects were served with a notice of suspicion under Art. 28.2 and 111.2 (treason committed under martial law by prior conspiracy by a group of people) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The detained agent is being held in custody; he is likely to be sentenced to life in prison. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Thirty-one NATO countries and Sweden are to conduct in 2024 the biggest NATO military exercises since the Cold War, UK newspaper the Financial Times reports, citing its sources in the defensive alliance. About 41,000 military personnel, between 500 to 700 air combat missions, more than 50 ships from all NATO member states and Sweden are expected to take part in the exercises, which will practice repelling Russian aggression against one of the alliances members. Read also: Berlin proposes NATO formalize Baltic naval cooperation with dedicated headquarters in Germany The exercises will be held in Germany, Poland and the Baltic states in February and March 2024. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The exercises will be fully modern in terms of technical capabilities, with the allied militaries using real geographic data to create more realistic scenarios. Read also: Ukraine, two NATO countries in joint production of 120mm mortar shells The NATO troops will also practice countering terrorist threats beyond the borders of the alliance's member states, the Financial Times writes. Meanwhile, NATO member states have started extensive exercises along the northern coast of the Baltic Sea, rehearsing maneuvers the defensive alliance would carry out in the event of a Russian attack, Estonian news website ERR reported on Sept. 9. NATO's Steadfast Pyramid 2023 and Steadfast Pinnacle planning exercises are to start in Riga, Latvia, Latvian news agency Delfi reported on Sept. 3. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine NATO sees no sign that Russia intends to attack any member state of the Alliance. Source: European Pravda; Mircea Geoana, Deputy Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, quoted by Agerpres Details: According to the NATO representative, there is no risk of Romania being drawn into a conflict with the Russian Federation, or the conflict spreading to Romania. "There are no indications that the Russian Federation has any intention of attacking a NATO member state, be it Romania or any other state. And that is a result of the power and strength of our alliance. We are the first element of deterrence," said Geoana. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At the same time, he said that the concern of Romanians was understandable, because living near the Danube border with Ukraine and hearing the noise of war causes anxiety and anguish. Geoana also announced his intention to visit areas of Tulcea County, located near Ukrainian ports, which are constantly attacked by Russian drones. Commenting on the discovery of drone debris on the territory of Romania, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO said that the Alliance is in direct contact with Bucharest, and he is convinced that in the future everything will be clarified and presented to the public in a transparent way. "So, first of all, it is not a deliberate attack. My message, as a Romanian, is to try and have confidence in the fact that NATO has all the measures taken to ensures the protection of its entire space, including Romania, now and in the future," Geoana concluded. Earlier, Romania summoned the head of the Russian diplomatic mission in Bucharest and reprimanded him for the use of drones launched by Russia to attack Ukrainian ports on the Danube. On Saturday, a wreckage of another drone similar to the ones used by Russia to attack Ukraine was found in the village of Plauru, Tulcea County; the country's president stated that it was an unacceptable violation of Romania's sovereign airspace. On 4 September, Ukraine reported that two Shahed attack drones had crashed in Romania during a Russian attack on Izmail and Reni. At first, the Romanian side categorically denied the incident. However, on 6 September, the Minister of Defence confirmed that fragments similar to drone wreckage had been found near the banks of the Danube on the Romanian side and submitted for examination. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! NATO will have no other war as long as Ukraine is fighting Russia, Oleksandr Danylyuk, former advisor to Ukraines defense minister and a correspondent member of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said in an interview with NV Radio on Sept. 7. NV: Your colleagues from RUSI, Nick Reynolds and Jack Watling, have recently released another analytical review of the interim results of the Ukrainian offensive. One of the conclusions is that the training that our fighters underwent at NATO facilities, to put it mildly, does not quite meet the challenges that our fighters faced in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, in the Tavria region. Do you agree with this assessment? Danylyuk: Lets be objective, there is a classic rule of 3:1: a threefold advantage is required to successfully attack defending troops. Obviously, we dont have a threefold advantage. And here were talking not only about the lack of this advantage in manpower, but also about the fact that a significant number of our units are not properly equipped. Obviously, when we talk about very good Western systems that are supplied to Ukraine by our partners, despite the quality of the systems themselves, the number of these systems doesnt match the scope of challenges that we face. Tentatively speaking, to provide all the brigades now (by the way, not only in the southern front but also in the eastern one as the situation is homogeneous), we would have to supply all the current brigades so that theyre really considered mechanized. This means that each brigade should have dozens of infantry fighting vehicles [IFVs] and dozens of tanks. To date, the total volume of those systems, which came to Ukraine from Western partners, is counted in dozens. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Zelenskyy holds meeting to discuss winter preparedness, army equipment supply, and Russian plans The amount of equipment that was provided to Ukraine allows equipping three or four brigades. This is a matter of fact. Moreover, this applies both to artillery, communications equipment, radio-electronic warfare, and everything necessary for the brigade, as a military body, to be able to perform its tasks. What is happening now is a continuation of the Ukrainian military miracle. Because when we have successes, even tactical ones, in eastern and southern Ukraine, these successes are not achieved due to the fact that we have a quantitative advantage in manpower or equipment, but due to the Ukrainian soldiers skills, the Ukrainian commanders skills, their dedication and, of course, their morale. At the same time, I think NATO is now learning a lot from us, realizing that were the source of this practical experience, and is changing its training programs. But I would like to emphasize once again that, in my opinion, the fundamental problem is not in the training programs themselves, because mostly its still individual training, but in the fact that the volumes of systems currently supplied dont match the scope of challenges. We must honestly say: since September 2022, Russia has chosen the path of a war of attrition and has actually taken it seriously. It has directed a significant part of internal resources both to the restoration of equipment inherited from the Soviet Union, and the construction of completely new systems from scratch, the production of ammunition, is actively looking for partners, in particular, the issue of North Korea is currently on the agenda. Although, in principle, Russias cooperation with North Korea in this field actually began in May 2022. Russia takes this war seriously. Realizing that NATOs philosophy today is still (I dont want to speak for all countries, but in general as an organization) such that Ukraine is only a recipient of aid, and not NATOs shield at all, the attitude of the governments of these countries (of many of them, not all), in my opinion, is not quite adequate to the situation. After all, NATO was established as a bloc that should ensure European security against the Russian threat. This is not a bloc that has some other states among its presumed opponents. This is almost the only war NATO could wage. NATO will have no other war as long as this war continues in Ukraine. What were talking about is that both Brussels and the national capitals must understand as soon as possible that the [UK-supplied] Challenger is a good tank, but when we receive from our Canadian partners several tanks (literally several) that cannot even complete a tank platoon, thats not serious. This doesnt mean were ungrateful. Were grateful for every penny, for every round. But for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to have the necessary capabilities to break the situation not at the expense of tactical skills, soldiers dedication, but still to win these battles at the expense of arithmetic, we need a completely different scale of supply. NV: You say that not all NATO partners are fully serious about this. A recent case is the Shahed drone that fell in Romania. At first, Romania completely denied the incident, now its beginning to admit it happened. Is that still not a threat level that would make them take the war more seriously? Danylyuk: The incident with the fall of a missile or a missile hitting the territory of Poland is also still unclear. The reaction was the same: first denial, then not everything is so clear, etc. Its obvious that NATOs stance today, perhaps some individual countries that have particularly powerful positions in the Alliance, is such that NATO should avoid direct confrontation with Russia as much as possible. Therefore, those potential casus belli should be ignored, suppressed. Russia is not really provoking NATO, if you look at what Russia has been doing since 2014: constant violations of NATOs maritime and air borders, challenges that Russia has constantly posed to NATO. So far, it has actually curtailed all these provocations precisely because it doesnt create these casus belli. Russia is not interested in opening any new theaters of war for itself. Read also: NATO in 2024 to conduct biggest military exercise since Cold War in Germany, Poland, Baltics What I said about the threat to European security is not about Russia planning to invade Poland, no. Were talking about the fact that Russia as a state entity is a permanent threat to NATO. And NATO was established to protect Europe precisely from the Russian threat. And today, when Russia is waging the full-scale war on the territory of Ukraine, winning this war is fundamentally important for NATO. Because, first of all, it will allow to finally form NATOs eastern border, where Ukraine should definitely enter, which, unlike other NATO countries, is not afraid to fight Russia. And the second point: Russia, having lost the war, will actually have a significantly lower appetite to continue its aggressive actions elsewhere. And since all the military capabilities available to NATO countries, at least those in Europe, are needed precisely to defend against Russia. To say that we cannot give Ukraine more as we wont have any left for ourselves is absurd. Because this is a war in which, by and large, NATO should be directly involved. This is the war for which NATO was established. And here its just a question that if we dont have NATO soldiers on the territory of Ukraine, its simply because NATO is so lucky. But saving resources and counting on the fact that they will be needed someday... No, they wont be needed. This war decides Europes future. The Americans can indeed say they also have commitments in other regions. In particular, I think the Pacific region is the most important, where they have commitments to Japan, South Korea, and maybe to Taiwan. Its a question of how far these commitments could be fulfilled in principle, but lets not put this into serious doubt. Read also: However, the United States has other tasks, but the United States has significantly more opportunities to support Ukraine than all other NATO countries put together. Therefore, I think the systems available in warehouses today, particularly those that have already been decommissioned by the U.S. Armed Forces, could definitely be used in terms of ensuring that Ukraine receives not dozens, but hundreds of systems. The second question is that the industrial base of NATO and the United States, which, as [former U.S. President Franklin] Roosevelt once said, should be the arsenal of democracy, is not fully resolved. Its still a story that there is some Ukraine, there is some Ukrainian war, and its necessary to help Ukraine. NV: Do you perhaps see signs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces imminent breakthrough to the Sea of Azov? With all available means? Danylyuk: I want to say that I dont remember any of our military leaders promising that we will reach the Sea of Azov as part of the ongoing offensive... A serious confrontation is underway... NV: There were talks about cutting the [Russian] land corridor [to Crimea]. Danylyuk: Who said that? NV: It seems there is such a consolidated opinion. Danylyuk: Opinions have formed. I dont remember that [Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief Valerii] Zaluzhnyi or other military leaders promised any categorically specific things. Yes, we launched the offensive, its ongoing and were having success. Its obvious that we can see a very interesting adaptation of the German school, because, in my opinion, tactical successes are actually being searched for, which can then be developed at the operational and strategic levels. So far, there are not many of these tactical successes, but they exist. Perhaps some of these successes will subsequently move to the level of operational successes. This is something we can count on. NV: In an interview with The Economist last December, Zaluzhnyi spoke about Melitopol, that were 84 kilometers from it and that it would be possible to control Crimea from there. And everyone took these words as a roadmap. Danylyuk: I can tell you that our roadmap is clear: Ukraines state borders. This is the roadmap. The problem is that we have many so-called checkpoints as part of entering these state borders, and Melitopol is certainly one of them. Tokmak, Enerhodar, and other directions To my mind, the question is different. Because, unfortunately, there is no understanding of one very important thing in the minds of Ukrainians and our Western partners, namely the liberation of Ukraines territory does not lead to victory in the war. Just as we need the Russian troops to collapse somewhere, so that we have an operational space in which we can carry out offensive actions and gain a foothold, we need the current regime to fall for the war to end. Read also: Ukraines fall offensive will be predominantly infantry-based, Budanov says OK, we now have a front line with a length (if we take active fighting) of 1,400 kilometers, including the border with Russia and partly with Belarus. What will change? Well control the territory, having the same fortified lines stretched along all these borders. We wont take offensive actions. Thats an advantage as we wont have to hold back [advancing their forces]. But this doesnt mean that the Russians will stop their aggression. This doesnt mean that missile strikes will stop and Russia will end the war. For example, the Iran-Iraq war, even though Iran completely liberated its entire territory in one and a half to two years, continued for almost seven years after that. NV: We need to get ready for long-term hostilities Danylyuk: No. I want to say that we must prepare ourselves for the fact that victory in this war directly depends on our ability to change the regime in Russia to one that wont wage it. Thats all. NV: This is a big open question, whether it is [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin, whether there are such possibilities there... Danylyuk: I didnt say Putin, I didnt mention Putins name. I dont think its Putin. I think this is consensual, and both the Russian government and all the people there, they overwhelmingly adhere to this position [of continuing the war]. Read also: Were talking about a change in the regime that has been ruling Russia [for a long time]. Yes, Putin is the leader of this regime, but this doesnt mean that he, as in the Soviet Union, cannot be replaced by someone else, by some [former director general of Russian space agency Roskosmos Dmitry] Rogozin. NV: It takes more than one year to change a regime. Danylyuk: For this, we must start this work. We must understand: if this is our ultimate goal, all our efforts, including military ones, must be subordinated to it. But to believe that the situation will disappear by itself (and there is such an opinion not only with our Western partners, but also with us), that well defeat these ones, and the others will understand that it doesnt make sense and will crawl away... They wont crawl away, and we must clearly understand. This war will continue as long as theyre in the Kremlin, and they have enough resources. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine STUTTGART, Germany NATO nations have agreed to a new action plan for bolstering the alliances industrial base, as governments scramble to restock their weapon arsenals while simultaneously sending military aid to Ukraine. Nestled in the recent Vilnius, Lithuania, summits communique as line item 36, the document describes the Defence Production Action Plan as a way to leverage NATOs role as a convener, standard-setter, requirement setter and aggregator, and delivery enabler to promote sustainable defense industrial capacity. The plan will initially focus on land munitions, the communique states, and serve to help understand the inner workings of the alliances vast defense industry, including small- and medium-size enterprises. Beginning last fall, one of the most immediate lessons identified from the war in Ukraine was the realization that NATO didnt have sufficient ammunition stocks for the nation, said Wendy Gilmour, NATO assistant secretary general for defense investment. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The firing rates were far beyond anything that had been anticipated, she said in an exclusive interview with Defense News last month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, receives applause from NATO members during the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 12, 2023. (Doug Mills/AFP via Getty Images) Last September, the alliances Conference of National Armaments Directors, or CNAD, held a special meeting to examine the needs for land warfare equipment and battle-decisive munitions, she said. The stakeholders agreed that a new type of industrial base or at least a different scope and organization for the post-Cold War industrial base was required. The procurement chiefs studied how the alliance could collectively work to increase production and determine the level of risk that might be acceptable while drawing from existing stockpiles. Between the CNAD meeting in September 2022 and the February 2023 NATO defense ministerial in Brussels, the armaments community was given a mandate to brainstorm how NATO could address bottlenecks, which is how the Defence Production Action Plan emerged, Gilmour explained. A public version of the document should be available in the fall, she noted. Activity buckets The new plan includes three main activity buckets, Gilmour said. The first bucket involves looking for efficiencies in the acquisition and delivery of defense equipment, as well as supporting and encouraging multinational procurements. The second bucket will examine how to more effectively match NATOs defense planning processes with the production capability of its members defense-industrial bases. Gilmour said the alliance will set up a planning board where leaders can discuss issues such as appropriate levels of supplies for a given requirement. The idea is to better manage supply chain risks both as an alliance and as individual member nations, depending on how badly certain defense goods are expected to be needed over time, she explained. The third bucket aims to address fundamental challenges inherent to defense industrial cooperation, Gilmour said. That includes reexamining the policies, procedures and contracting approaches related to intellectual property, and developing best practices so that a contractual mechanism wont somehow prevent two nations in a battlegroup with the same equipment from simply exchanging spare parts when deployed. It will also analyze policies surrounding mutual logistics assurances as well as examine export control regimes and sanctions from across member nations. We are all very aware these are sovereign decisions on the part of all alliance members, but the operational impact needs to be understood so that the decisions can be made consciously, Gilmour said. Wait and see The plan, as envisioned, is long overdue for the alliance, said Nicholas Nelson, a nonresident senior fellow for emerging technology at the Center for European Policy Analysis. But what has yet to emerge is a mechanism for how NATO will guide its members in harnessing their defense-industrial bases, he told Defense News. NATO itself is not going to be the purchaser of last resort for [these procurements]; its going to be the member states under NATOs direction, he added. So how do you incentivize them to engage better with the industry? Patriot air-defense systems of the German Bundeswehr armed forces are deployed at Vilnius Airport ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 2023. (Photo by Petras Malukas/AFP via Getty Images) Expediting contract awards will be the central challenge for the Defence Production Action Plan, said Rob Murray, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council think tank. Murray spent nearly a decade at NATO before leaving in September 2022. While working for the alliance, he served as its inaugural head of innovation. In a June article for the Atlantic Council, Murray laid out three options for NATO to help speed up government contracts, urging more adaptable sourcing strategies and better coordination among allies. Gold standards? Another priority area for the Defence Production Action Plan includes NATOs extensive standards portfolio. The goal is to identify whether the alliance needs to revisit some material standards, the bedrock of many Western weapons projects, to keep pace with technological change. Were never going to get every nation in NATO buying the same kit, nor would we necessarily want to, Gilmour said. There would be risks associated with that. But we do want all of the kits to be interoperable with one another and adhere to the same standards. Wendy Gilmour, NATO's sssistant secretary general for defense investment, gives a keynote speech at the SecD-Day conference in Helsinki, Finland, on Feb. 8, 2023. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) The current standards development process typically spans about 36 months, according to Murray, and often leads to broad compromises due to competing national interests, limiting interoperability and, ultimately, deterrence. He has advocated for NATOs new industrial plan to involve companies more directly in the standards development process, to shorten the time frame to establish new standards, and to adopt civil, open standards for new and emerging technologies. Getting it right Since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, NATOs rhetoric surrounding defense procurement has amped up, with the most senior political leaders now more frequently discussing ways to improve procurement practices and ensure capability deliveries, Gilmour said. There is absolutely an understanding on the part of our political leaders that this is not a portfolio that they can afford to do badly, that they have to get this right, she said. Before arriving at her current post in November, Gilmour spent more than three decades in Canadas foreign affairs and defense departments, and served as the countrys deputy national armaments director from 2011 to 2015. Artillery shells are inspected in the production shop at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on April 12, 2023, in Scranton, Pa. (Hannah Beier/Getty Images) Being in the armaments community, I can say that theres always been this sense of rhetoric is great, but show me the money, she said. Every country is now trying to ensure their defense equipment, their processes, their spare parts and supply chains are ready for whatever the eventuality may be. And that means everything is being done at once, she added. Decision-making processes and collective cooperative program processes are not necessarily geared to producing things quickly. Were taking a look right now internally to see how we can make that better. Time is of the essence for NATO to enact its new Defence Production Action Plan, Nelson noted. In two years, the momentum prompted by Russias war in Ukraine could dissipate as member nations pivot to other security priorities. Is NATO going to be responsive enough to real-world challenges which are underpinning why this action plan was needed? he wondered. NATO is preparing for a joint command and staff exercise in 2024, its largest one since the end of the Cold War, involving over 40,000 troops. Source: European Pravda, citing the FT Details: The exercise seeks to practise the Alliance's response to Russian aggression against one of its members. The Steadfast Defender exercise is reportedly part of NATO's operational transition from crisis response to combat operations, in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The manoeuvres are expected to begin next spring and will involve 500 to 700 aircraft, over 50 ships and around 41,000 troops. They will take place in Germany, Poland and the Baltic States. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Russian-led coalition is referred to as Occasus for the purposes of the exercise. Sweden, whose application for NATO membership has not yet been ratified by Turkiye and Hungary, will also participate in the exercise. The manoeuvres are part of a new training strategy that will see NATO conduct two major exercises yearly instead of one. The Alliance will also train to counter terrorist threats beyond its immediate borders. NATO officials say the exercise is also seen as a critical part of sending a message to Moscow that the Alliance is ready to fight. Background: It was reported earlier that NATO Allies were launching a major maritime exercise, North Coast, off the coasts of Latvia and Estonia. Christian Kaack, German Navy Commander-in-Chief, stated that these military exercises would be the first time they would practise responding to a potential Russian attack. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! The United States and the Russian Federation have been conducting talks regarding a swap of imprisoned Russian spies for foreigners detained by the Kremlin, and the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is also among the names mentioned, while Russia wants convicted killer Vadim Krasikov to be returned. Source: The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed Western officials Details: Western officials said Moscow has been raising the issue of swapping Krasikov since 2021, when the Russian killer was sentenced to life imprisonment in Germany for the murder of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili. US citizens Paul Whelan, convicted by Russia on espionage charges, and Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been in a Moscow pre-trial detention centre since March on the same charges, are also among the names mentioned in the swap. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A senior Western official involved in the exchange talks with Russia said Putin is only interested in swapping Krasikov. Quotes from WSJ: "Officials in several countries said a multilateral deal to swap Russian detainees in Western countries for Western citizens held in Russia, as well as imprisoned dissidents such as Alexei Navalny, was possible." Details: WSJ noted that US President Joe Biden said in July that he was serious about talking with the Kremlin regarding a swap of Russian prisoners to bring Gershkovich back home, but did not provide any details. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in April that Russia would consider the possibility of the swap only after the verdict in Gershkovichs case. Meanwhile, Berlin did not indicate whether it was considering the possibility of exchanging Krasikov. Such an exchange may reportedly face certain challenges in Germany, as government lawyers issued a legal opinion last year stating that a convicted murderer cannot be exchanged. Western officials say any talks involving Krasikov would be sensitive and unpredictable, given the gravity of his crime. A German court has ruled that Russia ordered Khangoshvili's murder, committed at noon in a park near the German chancellor's office. For reference: Russia sentenced Navalny to 19 years in a special regime penal colony. In 2021, Krasikov was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in Germany in August 2019. The Russian assassin chased his victim on a bicycle and murdered Khangoshvili at lunchtime near a crowded playground in a central Berlin city park. Krasikov first shot Khangoshvili in the back, then got off his bike and cold-bloodedly fired twice at the man's head in front of children and parents in the park. A German court found that the murder of Khangoshvili, a man who, as Moscow claims, led a terrorist attack in Russia in 2004, was a deliberately cruel message from Russia to its foes abroad, telling them that even if they seek asylum in the West, they will still be hunted down. Shortly before Krasikov's sentencing in 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly ordered Nikolai Patrushev, his chief security adviser, to explore the option of a prisoner exchange to free Krasikov. The WSJ notes that this underscores Krasikov's high value to Putin. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! A newly empowered state board will decide whether to approve 14 new charter schools that want to open in 2025, including one in Orange County and two in Mecklenburg County. The N.C. Charter Schools Review Board held its first official meeting Monday after state lawmakers passed a law that transferred the State Board of Educations power over charter school approvals and renewals to the panel. The review board is considering applications for new charter schools in 11 different counties that would open for the 2025-26 school year. Thats a major change for the review board, which had only made recommendations before when it was called the Charter Schools Advisory Board (CSAB). Our work is focused on ensuring high-quality charter schools in the state of North Carolina, Bruce Friend, chair of the review board, said at the start of the meeting. The bar was always high whenever we were CSAB. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Perhaps the bar is even a little higher now given that we are the final determiner of who would receive a charter and not receive a charter. State Board of Education fighting change There are more than 200 charter schools open across the state serving more than 130,000 students. They are exempt from some of the rules that traditional public schools must follow. The General Assembly made multiple changes to the laws governing charter schools, including saying that the impact on school districts couldnt be considered when reviewing new applications. The state board isnt giving up without a fight. Last week, the state board approved a policy that state and federal funding cant be given to new and renewed charters unless the state board gives approval. Im not going to make a decision based on whether its going to pass with the state board, Friend said of the new policy. The state board is made up of a majority of appointees of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The review board is made up of a majority of appointees of the Republican-controlled state legislature. Movement Foundation wants more charter schools Of the 14 applicants wanting a 2025 opening, three are in Guilford County and two are in Mecklenburg County. One application each was also received for Duplin, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Hoke, Iredell, Moore, New Hanover, Orange and Vance counties. The Movement School, a network of Title I public charter schools, is expanding across the country with 100 new schools planned for the next 10 years. Three of the proposed new schools would join a national network of charter schools in underserved areas funded by Charlotte-based Movement Mortgage. Movement, through its Movement Foundation, plans to open 100 charter schools across the nation, the Charlotte Observer previously reported. Movement started in Charlotte but will open a charter school in Wake County in 2024. Now Movement wants to open a new charter school in Greensboro, Wilmington and Charlottes University City neighborhood. The second new proposed charter school in Charlotte would be the Myrtis Simpson Walker Academy for Boys. It would become the latest single-gender charter school in the state. In October, the review board will reconsider applications for American Leadership Academy-Monroe in Union County and Heritage Collegiate Leadership Academy in Wake County. Both schools had been previously recommended by the then-advisory board before being rejected by the state board. Orange County charter school proposed On Monday, the review board heard the proposal from the leaders of Carolina Achieve to open in Orange County in 2025. If approved, it would expand in time to serve 576 elementary and middle school students. School leaders pointed to low test scores in Orange and Durham counties and how more than 7,500 students are on waiting lists to get into charter schools in Durham. There are 1,800 students on waiting lists for charter schools in Orange County. This school year there will be thousands of children in Durham and Orange counties that are going to graduate without the tool set necessary to succeed in our 21st century economy, said John Oxaal, the chair of Carolina Achieves board of directors. Its unacceptable. We believe weve put together a plan and a school, and we have the passion and expertise to make a dent in that. An undeveloped field and woods across from Lawrence Road Baptist Church on Lawrence Road near Hillsborough could be home to two new charter schools and multiple athletic fields and facilities if the Orange County commissioners approve a rezoning plan. Carolina Achieve had originally planned to locate on Lawrence Road near Hillsborough beside another new charter school: Western Triangle High. But the Orange County Board of Commissioners voted in June to deny a rezoning request for the property, The News & Observer previously reported. That opportunity for that piece of land is dead, Oxaal told the review board. Oxaal said the countys decision blindsided them so theyre now looking for another site. Review board members raised questions such as how Carolina Achieve would meet its goal of having a diverse student enrollment. The board voted to ask Carolina Achieve to return for a second round of interviews at a future meeting. Our new role as the approver is a high bar, Friend said. Im not inclined to put someone into ready to open after a 45-to-50 minute interview at one time. Warren County charter school rejected Also on Monday, the review board rejected Warren Young Explorers School, which wanted to open in Warren County in 2024. Warren Young Explorers would have a farm on campus and offer outdoor classes. School leaders were looking at using the former Norlina High School property. Review board members were skeptical of the schools ability to open on an accelerated timeline. Board members said they might have made a different decision if the school planned to open in 2025. I do applaud their efforts and their mission for the kids and for the community, said Hilda Parler, a review board member. But its a business. We always have to keep in mind that schools are businesses. Review board members complained that the state doesnt do enough to provide startup funding for new charter schools. Were squeezing out small community-based charters in favor of schools that are backed by CMOs (charter management organizations) or EMOs (education management organizations) not that those schools are fundamentally bad or anything like that, said review board member Alex Quigley. A slew of scandals involving the fraudulent substitution of beef and mutton with cheaper cuts of duck meat has put the spotlight on the scam, with fears the illegal practice could be happening on a wider scale across the food industry. Authorities in Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, recently levied a collective fine of 270,000 yuan ($36,700) on five food services contractors operating in a local college cafeteria, after analysis of food samples showed they had been passing off much cheaper duck meat as beef and mutton in their dishes since March. A further 16,374 yuan was also confiscated as "illegal revenue", according to a penalty notice issued by Hohhot's Yuquan district market regulator. "The practice constitutes food service fraud according to the Law on Consumer Protection," said the Sept 4 document, which was addressed to the Inner Mongolia University, a prestigious institution in the region. The market regulator received reports in June that four food stalls in one of the university's cafeterias, and a Muslim canteen were engaged in the fraudulent activities. The market watchdog collected samples from the food services contractors involved and confirmed the complaints, according to China National Radio. University authorities severed ties with the contractors in early July before the official investigation concluded, it reported. On Sunday, the college issued an apology to its faculty members and students, saying more oversight was needed. It also pledged to increase day-to-day monitoring of food quality and improve cafeteria services. In an interview with CNR, an unnamed university management official said: "The mistakes were made by several contract food stalls, but the blame was on the college." The official acknowledged that campus authorities had failed to properly supervise the contractors, and said they have taken over the operation of the food stalls from the contractors. The meat scandal in one of China's major pastoral areas has drawn widespread public anger, because beef and mutton are supposed to be cheaper and more readily available in the region than in other parts of the country. The campus scam is also the latest in a string of exposes involving food services fraudulently passing duck meat off as beef and mutton, which are roughly three times the price. Banu, a hotpot chain, on Thursday said that it will refund a total of more than 8.3 million yuan to customers who ordered mutton rolls at one of its restaurants in Beijing's Chaoyang district since mid-January. The costly compensation came after an internet influencer alleged recently that the mutton rolls sold in the Chaoyang restaurant contained duck meat, and urged the chain to conduct a third-party product analysis and publish the results. The chain complied and found the rolls involved were a mixture of mutton and duck meat. "Banu is willing to spare no expense to compensate customers," said a statement on the hotpot chain's WeChat account, which has been viewed more than 100,000 times and received more than 1,000 likes. In Hebei province, a restaurant that is part of the Zhangliang Spicy Hotpot chain was exposed by bloggers last month for selling "mutton" rolls, which instead contained pork and duck meat. The chain said the restaurant involved did not know the raw materials it purchased were substandard, and pledged to strengthen the management of its supply chain. Zhong Kai, an expert with the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, told a news website owned by China Central Television that duck meat resembles mutton in looks but is cheaper. However, duck meat carries no health risks and therefore is not banned. A search on an e-marketplace showed that duck meat rolls processed with sheep fat sell for around 15 yuan a kilogram, compared with pure mutton rolls costing up to 120 yuan a kilo. Some North Carolina hospitals are inflating the prices for health care services and failing to meet federal price transparency laws, according to a new report from Johns Hopkins. State health plan representatives, led by Republican treasurer Dale Folwell, contacted researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, one of the nations top public health schools, to initiate the investigation, which was published Monday. Researchers analyzed the prices of 16 services for 140 hospitals in North Carolina. Services included mammographies, colonoscopies and more. Heres a look at some of the top-line findings from this report: Inflated pricing Under current federal rules that started on January 1, 2021, hospitals must publicly post the price for all the services they offer and provide patients with an out-of-pocket cost estimator tool or payer-specific negotiated rates for at least 300 services. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The prices posted must include those negotiated with insurers, whether through commercial or government programs, and what they charge cash-paying customers. Medicare payment rates for services are set by the government, while commercial insurers negotiate prices with providers. Using data compiled under this federal rule by the Turquoise Health Database, the Johns Hopkins report found that North Carolina hospitals levy price markups of up to 1,120% on routine care and basic services. This markup is the difference between the most and least affordable group of hospital prices. North Carolina hospitals also inflated median commercial prices by more than 700% of Medicare rates for some common services, according to the report. For example, the median price of a complete blood test costs just over $58 with commercial insurance and $6.79 with Medicare Advantage, the report says. Some of the highest markups between commercial and Medicare rates were for radiological services such as computed tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, according to the report. The median commercial price for an MRI scan was $2522 while the median Medicare price was $368.76. The median cash price was $2,304.50. Hospitals also charged uninsured patients, or those paying cash, more than 150% of Medicare rates. Lack of transparency Noncompliance with federal price transparency rules in North Carolina was common, with an average disclosure rate of 51% for commercial negotiated rates and 42% for cash prices, according to the report. Only five hospitals disclosed commercially negotiated rates for all 16 services, and just one hospital disclosed cash prices for all 16 services, the report says. The federal transparency rules passed during the Trump administration and reinforced by the Biden administration allow the federal government to monitor hospitals noncompliance, issue warnings, impose penalties and more. To date, 14 hospitals across the nation have received monetary penalties, all in the millions of dollars. Despite this, many hospitals are not in compliance. A 2023 report by Patient Rights Advocate, a non-profit health advocacy organization, found that only 24.5% of 2,000 hospitals it reviewed across the nation were fully complying with the hospital transparency rule. Meanwhile, a KFF analysis found that transparency data shared by hospitals are messy, inconsistent and confusing, making it challenging, if not impossible, for patients or researchers to use them to compare prices across hospitals or payers. Policy issues Price disparities can be fixed with policy provisions, such as limiting hospital consolidation so that patients have more options, and certificate of need law reform, the report suggests. CON laws place limits on what hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities can be built across the state. This year, under the states Medicaid expansion deal signed into law in late March, top lawmakers in the House and Senate agreed to allow construction or expansion of certain facilities without a certificate of need from the state Department of Health and Human Services. The facilities would include those that provide inpatient treatment of behavioral health problems and chemical dependence, as previously reported by The News & Observer. Detractors of CON say it increases costs and artificially reduces the availability of health care, while those in favor, including hospitals, say it helps keep costs down by limiting expensive projects. In terms of transparency, the report suggests lawmakers require large providers to post price information, as stipulated in the De-Weaponization Act, which is stuck in the House, and is frequently pushed for by Folwell, who is running for governor in 2024. Folwell has consistently criticized hospitals and their practices, including recently for their medical debt collection practices. Scott Spivey of Tabor City, North Carolina, was shot and killed Saturday near S.C. 9 in Longs, according to the Horry County Coroners Office. (Facebook) A North Carolina man died Saturday after an exchange of gunfire between him and the driver of another vehicle, an Horry County Police incident report said. Scott Spivey, 33, of Tabor City, was killed during the shooting that happened about 5:50 p.m. The name of the person who fired the other shots was not released by Horry County officials, citing a section of South Carolina law that allows an exemption if it would interfere with a prospective law enforcement proceeding. No arrests have been made in the shooting. According to the police report, officers were dispatched to the intersection of Camp Swamp Road and S.C. 9 in the Longs area for shots fired. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A driver of a white Dodge TRX truck told police that the guy in the black truck jumped out and started shooting at us and I shot back. I think hes dead. The driver said he still had his pistol on him. The officer retrieved it out of his holster, the report said. The passenger of the white truck stated his firearm was on the passenger seat. The officer also retrieved that one. The drivers side front door in the Black Chevy pickup was open and the driver was hunched over the center console of the truck, with his right arm hanging over the console into the rear passenger area, the report said. He had no movement. A black handgun with the slide locked back was just under his hand, the report said. The Horry County Coroners Office said Sunday that the shooting appears to be an isolated incident but remains under investigation by the Horry County Police Department. The Cape Coral Fire Department, city of Cape Coral and Cape Coral Police Department honored the live lost during the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States on Monday. The ceremony included presentation of colors by the Cape Coral Fire and Police honor guards, a moment of silence, an invocation and remarks by Mayor John Gunter, Interim City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn, Police Chief Tony Sizemore and Fire Chief Ryan Lamb at the City Hall Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. Attendees then planted 2,977 American flags, each memorializing the dead, in the City Hall lawn, affirming that We Will Never Forget. Retired New York firefighter Rich Bailey, looks up the name of one of the victims of the September 11 attacks. I knew a lot of the guys up there, he said. The Cape Coral Fire Department, along with the Cape Coral Police Department and the City of Cape Coral hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.After a brief presentation, attendees staked 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirm that "We Will Never Forget."Ricardo Rolon/USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA I knew a lot of the guys up there, said retired New York firefighter Rich Bailey, as he looked up the name of one of the victims. City of Cape Coral employee Andreana Petersen places a flag in remembrance of a victim of the September 11 attacks. The Cape Coral Fire Department, along with the Cape Coral Police Department and the City of Cape Coral hosted a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony.After a brief presentation, attendees staked 2,977 American flags, each with a name of a victim of the attacks, in the front lawn of City Hall to honor their memory and reaffirm that "We Will Never Forget."Ricardo Rolon/USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA Nineteen Islamic extremists had hijacked four planes, flying two into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third hitting the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth crashing in a Pennsylvania field. It remains the worst attack on U.S. soil. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: 22 years after Sept. 11 attacks, Cape Coral honors 2,977 who die Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said Sunday that lawmaker health records should be mandatory disclosures amid recent health scares in Congress. I would be okay with that. I think if you want to be the president of the United States, or a senator, or a House member, then there is a responsibility over and above that of just offering yourself, Cassidy said on NBCs Meet the Press of requiring medical records to be disclosed. It has to be that you can show that you have clarity. Now, we could define what that means. He said that handing over health records should certainly be a House rule. He also said that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) handled his latest medical issue perfectly after he froze for the second time while taking questions from reporters last month. By the way, I think Mitch McConnells handled it perfectly. His doctor is releasing not just the tests but the results of the tests, he said. And with that, there is a transparency that allows people to move beyond a number into, What is actually the kind of science, if you will, the medical science, of how to evaluate?. And I think that should be the standard that folks are held to, and I think hes responded. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement McConnells office released a letter from Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitols attending physician, Tuesday that outlined the results of his exam following the incident. There is no evidence that you have a seizure disorder or that you experienced a stroke, TIA or movement disorder such as Parkinsons disease, Monahan said. When pressed by host Chuck Todd on whether that letter was full transparency, Cassidy said that receiving the results of medical tests is a good start. At some point, you have to say, Okay, wait a second. He said he had an EEG, an MRI, a this, a that, a that, a this, and theyre all normal. Thats pretty good. Now, you may decide that the doctor is lying. But at some point, you have to have faith in somebody, and I think somebody whos not out of politics, being honest, giving you the results of the tests is a good start, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Rankin County Sheriff's Office has been at the center of a series of violent incidents. In one case, the family of Pierre Woods is suing Rankin police for killing Woods in 2019. Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey is now fighting for immunity from that lawsuit. A Mississippi sheriff who oversees a department in which multiple deputies have been convicted of torturing and sexually assaulting Black men is fighting for qualified immunity in yet another case where his deputies are accused of using excessive force. A state judge denied Sheriff Bryan Bailey immunity in March after a lawsuit named him and a dozen other officers for the wrongful death of Pierre Woods, a mentally disabled Black man who police shot and killed in 2019 in Rankin County, Mississippi. "Qualified immunity" is a legal doctrine that excludes public officials from being sued based on actions that they take while in their official capacity. Critics say the doctrine was designed to shield police from liability. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bailey appealed the decision to Mississippi's Fifth Circuit Court, which caused the lower court last month to issue an indefinite stay in the case, pending the decision of the appeals court. The Rankin County Sheriff's Department, under Bailey's leadership, has been at the center of multiple acts of violence in recent years. A jury convicted five officers in August for torturing and sexually assaulting two Black men. Five people also died after interactions with Rankin County deputies during an eight-month span in 2021. Insider sued the sheriff's department to obtain records related to three of those deaths. Bailey is up for reelection in November and is running unopposed. The shooting of Pierre Woods in Rankin County, Mississippi Police responded to Pierre Woods's home in February 2019 after a call came in that he was firing a gun on the property where he was staying, the Associated Press reported at the time. After they arrived, police said Woods fired more shots. They said law enforcement attempted to negotiate with Woods for more than an hour before using tear gas to force him from the home, at which point they shot him multiple times, killing him. Dris Mitchell and Vanessa Barrett, two women who have children with Woods, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bailey and the other officers involved in 2021. Attorneys for Mitchell and Barrett said Woods was "physically disoriented and visually impaired" from tear gas when he ran to the front door of his house with his hands above his head, according to the lawsuit. The attorneys said Woods had a gun in his hand when he ran to the door but threw the gun to the ground as soon as he got outside. According to appeals court documents filed on August 14 by attorneys for Barrett and Mitchell, Bailey was "solely responsible" for supervising the Rankin County "Special Response Team" that day. Bailey said he heard Woods fire three gunshots inside the house. He then heard officers "return fire" while he was hiding behind a response team vehicle, the document states. According to the document, Bailey said he did not instruct the officers to start shooting, did not see the shooting, and "never fired a shot." The document says Bailey claims he told officers to "cease fire" as soon as he saw Woods lying on the ground. According to the filing, Mitchell and Barrett's attorneys say Bailey allowed the officers to shoot Woods even though he no longer posed a threat. "Bailey gave the defendant officers authority to shoot Woods, positioned himself where he could no longer see Woods, and allowed the officers to continue to shoot Woods after he fell to the ground and clearly was no longer a threat before he issued the command to "cease fire," the brief says. When Bailey was asked in a deposition about whether the sheriff's office trains its officers to stop shooting after a threat is over, he responded: "No, ma'am, I don't I don't guess we train them to stop shooting," Bailey said. "When the threat is over with is when they stop shooting." History of violence at the Rankin County Sheriff's Office The department overseen by Bailey has a disturbing history of violence. Five Rankin Sheriff's deputies pleaded guilty on August 3 to federal charges related to the attack on two Black men earlier in the year. That group called themselves the "goon squad" for their willingness to secretly use excessive force. Without a warrant, the team broke into the home of Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker in Braxton, Mississippi on January 24. The officers then beat and sexually assaulted the two men before one officer Hunter Elward eventually shot Jenkins in the mouth, according to court documents obtained by Insider. Two of the convicted "goon squad" officers, Elward and Christian Dedmon, were also present during Woods's shooting in 2019, according to the lawsuit. Insider also previously reported the deaths of Damien Cameron, Cory Jackson, and Trevor McKinley . Cameron, a Black man, died while in the custody of the sheriff's department in July 2021. Cameron's mother told Insider police beat and tased him and knelt on his back for 15 minutes while he complained he could not breathe. Jackson died in May 2021 after a sheriff's deputy arrested him while he was experiencing hallucinations and refused to take him to the hospital, his family told Insider. In August 2021, deputies shot McKinley, Cameron's high-school classmate, inside his grandparents' home. In December 2021, while responding to a call of a drug overdose, deputies also shot and killed Robert Rushton, who police said was armed with two knives. A fifth man, Adam Coker, died in the Rankin County Jail in September 2021. Read the original article on Insider Gov. Gavin Newsom s office Monday tried to contain the political brushfire ignited by his suggestion he would appoint a Black woman caretaker as an interim senator if the ailing Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., is unable to complete her term. A Newsom aide said theres no vacancy to discuss and none appears imminent. This is a hypothetical on top of a hypothetical. There is no vacancy for any U.S. Senate seat, nor does the Governor anticipate there will be one, said Anthony York, Newsoms senior adviser for communications and strategy. The potential Senate vacancy is another chapter in Newsoms fraught relationship with some Black Democratic activists. They were upset in 2021 when he appointed then-Secretary of State Alex Padilla to replace Kamala Harris, the Senates only Black woman. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Now, hes ruling out Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Oakland, for the job, since shes seeking a full term next year against Reps. Katie Porter, D-Orange County, and Adam Schiff , D-Los Angeles, and others. If Representative Barbara Lee is not Governor Newsoms choice, I believe it would be a huge political miscalculation for him. With Governor Newsoms potential national political ambitions, he will need to be seen as someone that can be trusted by an incredibly energized voting bloc, said Aimee Allison, president and founder of Oakland-based She The People, a political network of women of color The furor began Sunday when Newsom told NBCs Meet the Press that should Feinstein, 90, leave office before her term ends in January 2025 he would make an interim appointment rather than name someone already running in the Democratic primary scheduled for March 5. I dont want to get involved in the primary, Newsom said. Naming someone running in that race would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off. That primary is just a matter of months away. I dont want to tip the balance of that. So, asked moderator Chuck Todd, it would be essentially a caretakeran African American woman? Newsom replied, We hope we never have to make this decision, but I abide by what Ive said very publicly on a consistent basis. Yes. Newsom pledged in 2021 to name a Black woman to fill any Senate vacancy. But his suggestion that she be only a caretaker meaning she would fill the unexpired term only and not run for a full six years was met with bitter criticism Monday and over the weekend. Insulting to countless Black women Lee and others were instantly outraged. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election, she tweeted Sunday night. Allison was also troubled. Its now time for Governor Newsom to stand by that pledge but in no way should he have introduced the concept of a placeholder in the decision, she told The Bee Monday. She recalled that he put no such restrictions on his choice when he named Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., to replace Kamala Harris when she became vice president in 2021. He didnt risk insulting the Latino community that had called for representation by saying he couldnt commit to their representation long term. So why would the governor say so now when it relates to appointing a Black woman? Allison asked. Lee is highly regarded in the Black and liberal communities. Among her advisers are staffers who worked in Sen. Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns. Lee trailed Schiff and Porter with 7% in last months Berkeley-IGS poll. But about one-third of voters remain undecided, and Lee was the choice of one-fourth of voters who regard themselves as liberal. Newsom first made the pledge to name a Black woman during a March, 2021 interview with MSNBCs Joy Reid. Reid asked if he would name a Black woman should Feinstein leave office. I have multiple names in mind. We have multiple names in mind and the answer is yes, he said. Lee and Karen Bass, then a congresswoman and now the mayor of Los Angeles, seemed the logical choices. Prominent Black California Democratic women in office would probably be reluctant to give up their jobs for a temporary assignment. In addition to Bass and Lee, candidates could include Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles, Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, Secretary of State Shirley Weber and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. The Senate today has no Black women members, and there have been only two Black women senators in history, Harris, who served from 2017 to 2021, and Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Illinois, who served one term in the 1990s. If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table, Lee said. Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group Holding Ltd announced on Sunday night that Daniel Zhang will step down as chairman and CEO of its cloud business, a move that comes just two months after the company said he would leave his roles as chairman and CEO of Alibaba to focus on the cloud division. Zhang had previously been concurrently serving in three roles, heading the company and its cloud unit. As scheduled, Zhang handed over the role of Alibaba's chairman to Joseph Tsai on Sunday, while Wu Yongming took over the CEO role from Zhang. Meanwhile, Wu will also lead Alibaba's Cloud Intelligence Group as its chairman and CEO after Zhang's departure, the company said in a statement. Alibaba will invest $1 billion in a technology fund that Zhang will establish, it added. The latest change in Alibaba's executive leadership came after the company said in March that it would split its business into six main units, with each separate business having the flexibility to raise outside capital and seek its own IPO, the most significant organizational change to the company in its 24-year history. Alibaba also said in May that it had approved a full spin-off of its cloud intelligence unit, aiming for the division to become an independent publicly listed company within the next 12 months. House Republicans return to Washington this week, months into multiple investigations surrounding President Biden and his family and with the apparent intention of eventually opening an impeachment inquiry. Theyve fanned the flames but have yet to find a smoking gun that implicates the president of directly benefiting from his familys international business dealings or making policy decisions as vice president because of them. An August House Oversight Committee GOP staff memo argued that it does not need to demonstrate direct payments to Biden in order to show corruption, an indication that the probe aims to paint a wider picture of allegations. But as pressure for an inquiry ramps up, GOP investigators have their work cut out for them particularly as they try to sway skeptics within their party to support such a move. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The sprawling investigation has pingponged back and forth between two main interests: the Bidens foreign business dealings, particularly in Ukraine, and a Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden that whistleblowers allege was slow-walked by prosecutors. Oversight investigators aiming bigger House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who is leading the probe into the business dealings, has flaunted that his panel has obtained thousands of pages of financial records and bank documents, and he said in June that his panel has gotten 100 percent of what weve requested. But he is signaling that getting information will be bumpier going forward, saying on Newsmax on Thursday that his panel has just about picked all of the low-hanging fruit and that he expects more resistance to requests going forward. An impeachment inquiry, he argued, could help put more legal weight behind their requests. Comer also has yet to subpoena members of the Biden family a step he said he plans to take that step at some point. GOP committee aides told The Hill that the panel plans to continue shuffling through thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports it has obtained, seek more interviews with associates of the Bidens and press the administration for records from when Biden was vice president. They have put together a timeline of the business events and released memos calculating how many millions of foreign dollars flowed to Biden family members, their associates and companies associated with them. Democrats, though, argue that the mountain of information gathered shows the investigation is much weaker than Republicans argue. The voluminous evidence they have gathered, including thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports and hours of testimony from witnesses, overwhelmingly demonstrates no wrongdoing by President Biden and further debunks Republicans conspiracy theories, House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a statement. Rather than admit this unavoidable truth about their failed investigation, House Republicans have mischaracterized, cherrypicked, and concealed evidence and recycled long debunked conspiracy theories originally peddled by Rudy Giuliani and Trump, all in humiliating subservience to Donald Trumps petulant demand that they impeach President Biden. The White House has repeatedly said that the president had no involvement in his sons business dealings. After months of investigating, House Republicans have turned up zero evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden, so if Speaker McCarthy opens an impeachment inquiry simply to throw red meat to his most extreme far-right members, it will further prove this is nothing more than an evidence-free political stunt aimed at continuing to baselessly attack the President, a White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations told The Hill. Burisma and beyond Many of the allegations central to the investigation of what happened while Biden was vice president were first raised during former President Trumps first impeachment in 2019 and explored by GOP senators in 2020 though the House GOP investigators now have used the records, and power of the majority, to verify and bolster some of the details from that time. Investigators are far from proving the most salacious allegation that was also the basis of Trumps interest in Hunter Biden: that then-Vice President Biden accepted a $5 million bribe in exchange for helping oust Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin over an investigation into Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company where Hunter Biden was a board member. Biden, along with other world leaders at the time, was pushing to have Shokin removed over concerns he was failing to address corruption. Still, the GOP has fixated on claims pushed by Rudy Giuliani and memorialized in an FD-1023 form documenting an unverified tip made to the FBI alleging that Biden accepted a bribe. The FBI has not corroborated the tip. The revealing of the form by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Comer showed the confidential informant was relaying a conversation with Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky insinuating he paid both Bidens $5 million. Republicans point out that the confidential informant was paid by the FBI and is thought by both parties to be highly credible. But the informant also said that he could not speak to whether Zlochevskys claim was accurate, noting that exaggeration and bragging about paying off politicians was normal among Ukrainian businessmen. Democrats have pointed to another document assembled by Giulianis team that purports to show Zlochevsky denying those same allegations, and a letter from Lev Parnas who had investigated the claims for Giuliani calling the Biden family allegations false. In testimony to the committee, former Hunter Biden associate Devon Archer, also a member of the gas companys board, said it was his understanding that the company thought Shokins removal would actually be bad for Burisma. Republicans have heavily highlighted other portions of Archers testimony, particularly his recollection of numerous occasions when Hunter Biden put his father on speakerphone in front of foreign business associates, with the then-vice president greeting them. Biden also attended a dinner with his son, Archer and foreign business associates in 2014. Archer said the conversation was limited to pleasantries, but Republicans argue this refutes Bidens previous claims that he had never spoken to his son about his business. Republicans continue to pull on other threads, including asking the National Archives for more records and emails from Bidens time as vice president mentioning his son, Ukraine, business partners and more. In a recent request, Comer forecast that battles could ensue over production of those records based on which are personal records subject to release or not. A focus on Hunter or his prosecutor The bigger bombshell for Republicans has revolved around what they say was the mishandling of the prosecution of Hunter Biden. Testimony from two IRS agents who worked alongside the Justice Department and FBI investigators described prosecutors as hesitant to pursue the best evidence in the case and overly collaborative with Hunter Bidens attorneys or the Secret Service outfit assigned to him. While the two agents, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, stop short of alleging political motivations played a part, they said the result was a landscape that favored Hunter Biden. Some actions taken by the Justice Department since their appearance before Congress appeared to give some credence to their testimony. As Hunter Bidens plea deal fell apart, special counsel David Weiss suggested he may instead choose to pursue charges in Washington D.C. or California the two locations where the whistleblowers said they found stronger evidence of tax crimes. But another key line of the inquiry for the GOP that according to one whistleblower Weiss sought but was initially denied special counsel status has failed to gain much traction. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) zeroed in on testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland that Weiss was assured he would be granted special attorney status if he requested it, suggesting that if the law enforcement official misled Congress it could be grounds for impeachment. Garland and Weiss, however, have remained unified on that point, noting that the prosecutor never sought the status. But recent developments have in some ways overtaken the dispute. The evaporation of the plea deal in the case prompted Weiss to seek and be granted special counsel status as he previewed an intention to bring charges outside Delaware as soon as the end of the month. The GOP has since intensified its focus on Weisss overall handling of the case and his choice to initially offer a plea deal on two tax charges as well as a requirement to enter into a diversion program related to denying drug use when purchasing a gun. Republicans have dismissed it as a sweetheart deal. David Weiss and his compadres are going to be the primary driving force of Republican investigations going forward in the near future, a source familiar with leadership thinking told The Hill, while warning other events could shift the landscape. However, this all depends on whether the government shuts down or not, and if the government shuts down the investigations stop. Updated at 7:37 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Active Retirement Association picnic and general meeting PORTSMOUTH The Active Retirement Association will host a free picnic and meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, at 12:30 p.m. at Stratham Hill Park, 270 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham. A lunch of sandwiches, chips, cookies, and bottled water will be served. This free event is open to the public, adults only, rain or shine. Christmas stocking knitting class DOVER The Dover Library will host a Christmas stocking knitting class for intermediate knitters from 1 to 3 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. You must be comfortable casting on, knitting, purling, and working with two colors of yarn. You will need to bring size seven knitting needles, but all other supplies will be provided. Sign-up needed. Visit library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. Joseph C. A. Wingate: Strathams Link to 19th century China STRATHAM The Stratham Historical Society and Wiggin Memorial Library will jointly host Joseph C. A. Wingate: Strathams Link to 19th Century China on Monday, Sept. 11. The event at 7 p.m. is presented by Wingate's third great-nephew John Wingate Seavey. John Wingate Seavey Crafternoon at Dover Library DOVER Kids in grades 1 and up are invited to join the Dover Public Library in the Story Time Room at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, to make Shrinky Dink charms to hang on a backpack or key ring. Please pre-register for this event. Visit library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. 'Lunch and Learn' with first responders BERWICK, Maine Berwick for a Lifetime will host a Lunch and Learn program panel discussion with first responders at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Berwick Public Library. Lunch will be provided following the program. Registration is required. Please contact the Berwick Library at 207-698-5737 to sign up. 'Spirits of the Granite State' with Roxie Zwicker DOVER Follow the peaceful dirt roads of New Hampshire to long forgotten ghost stories of the past with Roxie Zwicker of New England Curiosities. Zwicker will present Spirits of the Granite State on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dover Library. The presentation is in-person, with the option to watch virtually from home. This program is free and open to the public. For more information or to sign up to attend virtually, visit the librarys website at library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. Roxie Zwicker Wastewater 101 at Portsmouth Library PORTSMOUTH Join the Department of Public Works Water, Wastewater, Stormwater experts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the library. They will provide an overview of basic wastewater treatment concepts and definitions, the citys current sewer and wastewater treatment systems, status of current regulations, system performance, current challenges, and upcoming projects. Bob Moore and Friends at Exeter Library EXETER Exeter Public Library will host local music group Bob Moore and Friends at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 14. The group will perform original folk and blues music and some original poetry with the help of friend Cynthia Chatis. This performance is free and open to the public. Exeter Public Library is at 4 Chestnut Street in Exeter. For more information, contact the library at 603-772-3101. The Great Regeneration: A conversation with author Dorn Cox DOVER When you talk about farming, the furthest thing from your mind is open-source technology. But what if this combination had the potential to change how we manage food production around the world and combat climate instability? Dover Public Library will host The Great Regeneration: A Conversation with Author Dorn Cox on Thursday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. in the Lecture Hall. This program is free and open to the public. For more information or to sign up to receive a link to the virtual program, visit the librarys website at library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. Family Place Workshop at Dover Library DOVER The Dover Library will host a five-week workshop series with specialists on child development, starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 15. For caregivers and children one to four years old. Topics include early literacy, child development, speech, hearing and language, nutrition, and music, play and health. Register once for the entire five-week series. Visit library.dover.nh.gov or call 603-516-6050. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH ghost stories, free picnic and more: Community events Sept. 11-17 After 17 months of construction at Niles North High School in Skokie and a $24.5 million investment from Niles North High School District 219 residents, a three-story building addition finally opened to students when school started last month. One of the driving factors for the 42,835-square-foot building addition was the need for more security at the school entrance, said Niles North Principal Jim Edwards. However, the school used the redesign to add classrooms and bolster its capacity to nurture mental wellness for students, which Edwards emphasized is a main focus for the school. Architects designed the addition to place counselors, social workers and psychologists near each other on the second floor of the addition, to allow them to collaborate, and created sizable rooms for restorative practices near the offices of the deans who oversee them. The addition also has a light-filled student commons on the third floor with nine learning studios along the side of it. Those learning spaces are in addition to the net gain of seven classrooms the addition provided, according to April Stallworth, District 219s Executive Director of Communications & Partnerships. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The addition also made possible a new mothers room, new meeting spaces, a technology-free wellness room and a renovated Professional Development Center. Students enter the building through a new, secure entrance in the addition where personnel watch them swipe in with their school IDs. Those who forget their IDs are able to swipe in through a code on their phones, Edwards explained. After passing through the entrance, students enter a first-floor commons area with contemporary seating and greenery that features a colorful, almost two-story mural titled Together We Rise. The additions first floor holds a new main office and deans offices adjacent to the rooms meant for conducting restorative practices for resolving conflicts or for students who might be facing disciplinary issues. Restorative practices, said Edwards, are based on teaching students the importance of empathy, communication, and creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. He said the rooms will hold spaces to build and repair relationships, resolve conflicts among students and promote community and accountability. Stressing the schools emphasis on mental wellness, he said, Our focus on student mental fitness is crucial for our students to be engaged learners who feel supported when difficulties arise, especially in a post-pandemic world. Feeling supported is also critical to instilling that sense of connection and belonging that we strive for with our students. From the restorative practices area, a stairway leads to a second floor area in the addition where offices for counselors, social workers, psychologists, and a college counselor are grouped together. Assistant Principal of Student Services Laura Bolech said the new layout allows for clearer communication among the staff members geared to aiding students social and emotional needs, including their academic needs. We used to be a hallway, said Bolech. Were a department now. The proximity, she said, will be helpful to the schools Pupil Service Team, consisting of deans, counselors, psychologists and social workers who meet weekly to watch for any indicators that a student might be struggling, such as absences and grades slipping. Once they note an issue, they can offer support. The third floor of the new building, called the Skyloft, hosts a huge, high-ceilinged commons area with natural light and conversational groupings of sofas, chairs and tables, which seniors can frequent during their lunch periods and study hall. The nine learning studios are off to the sides of the commons. Edwards said the large, loft-like space that features small group areas was meant to provide a college campus-like experience, and brought more of a sense belonging to the school and each other. Senior Curtis Lok, who was sitting with a small group of students near a window that allowed a view of the parking lot and greenery to the north, said The open space allows you to collaborate and focus on your work. He also noted the couches were comfy and the hall had good air conditioning. Next to Lok, senior Mei-Lin Siciniski said we have more space to work, so that we will be engaged. Sitting at the other end of the commons and working on their studies, seniors Anna Sharsher and Melissa Morales, both of Skokie, said they were enjoying the building addition. When I walked in and saw the first floor (at the beginning of school this year), I thought, this is so pretty, said Morales. Sharsher observed that the addition looks different than the rest of the school. Its so open and has lots of natural light, which is different from the rest of the school, which can be dark, she said. Its a comfortable place to work, and its easy to get work done up here. The claim: Actor James Woods warned the FBI about the Sept. 11 attacks a month ahead of time A Sept. 11 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows actor James Woods being interviewed by Bill OReilly on Fox News. James Woods warned the FBI about 9/11 a month before the attacks, reads the caption. A similar version on X, formerly Twitter, was reposted more than 2,000 times in one day. Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks Our rating: False The video leaves out Woods statement that he did not report the encounter to the FBI until after the attacks. In the same interview, Woods objects to the suggestion that the agency ignored a warning from him. 'I did not report this to the FBI before Sept. 11' The video shows a clip from Woods appearance on OReillys Fox News show on Feb. 15, 2002, in which he discussed a flight he took from Boston to Los Angeles in August 2001. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The actor described how he observed four suspicious-looking men and how the day after the Sept. 11 attacks he was visited by the FBI at his home to discuss those men. He said he believed the men were terrorists rehearsing the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Fact check: Altered image shows Atlantic headline about 9/11 conspiracy theorists But the two-minute Facebook video leaves out a key part of the interview: It wasnt until the day after the attacks that Woods notified the FBI about his concerns, according to the full interview posted to YouTube. As the attacks unfolded, Woods said the flight a month earlier was on his mind, and a friend visiting his home that evening also mentioned it. After thinking about it overnight, he said he contacted his local FBI office the next day. The agents visited his home on Sept. 13, he said, to discuss the Boston to Los Angeles flight. One thing I must clear up that has been sort of misreported in the press, Woods said during the interview. I did not report this to the FBI before Sept. 11. Right. Just to the FAA, OReilly interjected, referring to Woods' earlier statement that his initial suspicions about the four men, which he shared with a flight attendant, were reported to the Federal Aviation Administration. And it was only done, as I understand it, by the flight crew, Woods said. Woods then went on to defend the FBI from what he described as people who love to take pot shots at it. Theyll say, Oh, you told the FBI and they didn't do anything, Woods said. That's completely and utterly wrong. USA TODAY reached out to Woods and to the social media users who shared the post but did not immediately receive responses. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or e-newspaper here. Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Woods called FBI day after 9/11, not month before | Fact check Apollo, a puppy, who was tossed from a car window in Bryson City, North Carolina, at the PAWS Animal Shelter, who rescued him. A puppy that was tossed out of a car in front of an animal shelter in Bryson City, North Carolina was found after an extensive search that lasted almost a week. PAWS, an animal shelter that helps and shelters abandoned, abused, homeless and injured cats and dogs in Swain County, posted an update saying that the puppy, which they have named Apollo, was found on Tuesday. "Thank you to everyone thats been supporting us through all of this. We are so thankful we got him inside," said the shelter. However, the puppy is "malnourished and loaded down with fleas and parasites," said the shelter. He also has some small abrasions and two small fractures which is not surprising given the way he was "thrown violently from a vehicle." Apollo, a puppy who was tossed from a car window, outside an animal shelter in Bryson City, North Carolina. Man charged Last week, on Friday, PAWS posted surveillance images of the man tossing a puppy from the car window, requesting the public's help in trying to identify him. The man was identified soon after and was charged with animal cruelty and abandonment, Director of PAWS Beth Stroud told USA TODAY. He is due to appear in court later this month to address the charge. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I went to the magistrate myself after he was identified," Stroud said. "She's the one that wrote up a summons for the charges." Stroud said that she did know not the motives behind the man's actions and that she hasn't personally interacted with him. However, she wishes that the person had properly dropped the animal at the shelter instead of tossing it out the car window. "We're in a very poor county and unfortunately, there is no animal control [here]," explained Beth. "There's no animal ordinances, and our shelter is a privately owned. It was formed in the 80's by a wonderful woman, who knew that the county needed something to help stray animals." Stroud added that the shelter, the only one in the county, runs on mostly on donations and sales from a thrift store next to it. The director said they closely work with the sheriff's office to help dogs and cats that need help, despite limited capacity and resources. "We don't want any animals starving. We furnish dog food and cat food when people can't afford food for their animals. We won't be able to hold on to their animals, but we understand that it costs to keep an animal so we try to help them every way we can," said Stroud. She said they would have helped the man who threw the puppy if he had approached them. "Our shelter gate was open," said Stroud. "He chose not to even come through the gates. He had never called. It was never documented what he ever asked us for anyhow for this puppy." Stroud said that she and her staff were present on the premises but were busy with other animals, so they did not witness the act. "The way that he discarded this puppy is just wrong and against the law," said Stroud. Heartbreaking: Woman charged after abandoning old, visually impaired dog on Arizona roadside Animal cruelty: Pennsylvania dog owner faces cruelty charges; pet abandoned at airport up for adoption Missing puppy The shelter said the puppy ran away after it was tossed, prompting the shelter's staff to launch a search for it. Game and surveillance cameras were set up to search for the puppy and the shelter also left food outside to lure it, but that ended up attracting neighborhood cats and raccoons. Members of the community had also participated in helping to find the puppy. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Puppy tossed from car window found days later; NC man charged North Carolina public school students performed better on standardized tests this past spring compared to the year before, according to data reviewed Wednesday by the State Board of Education. But the pupils remain below proficiency rates recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. The scores show that 53.6% of students were proficient on state exams during the 2022-23 school year, compared to 51.2% in 2021-22 and 45.4% in 2020-21, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported. Fewer schools also got labeled as low-performing or received poor performance grades compared to the year before. Were seeing progress back toward our pre-COVID levels, said Tammy Howard, senior director of the Department of Public Instructions testing office. We may not be 100% back to where we were, but theres definite progress being seen here. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement PREVIOUS: CMS sees mixed bag of results in state performance results Schools nationwide are still trying to catch up after learning loss brought on as students received limited in-person instruction during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years because of the pandemic. In the 2018-19 school year, the student proficiency rate was 58.8%. Proficiency tests this past year improved across the board on subjects such as reading, math, science and English, WRAL-TV reported. Students and schools still have a way to go to catch up, but we have good reason to think that progress will continue, Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said in a news release. Along with the test scores came the annual state-mandated grades of A to F for public schools. The grades are based largely on the passing rates on exams by students, along with student growth rates on those tests. Twenty-seven percent of schools received A or B grades, compared to 23% in the prior year. And 35% of schools had D or F grades, compared to 42% for the year before. Truitt has tried to revise the performance grading system by seeking to add more non-testing measures. The changes would require General Assembly approval. Board Chairman Eric Davis said the grades have been wrongly used for too long to label some schools as being failures. ALSO READ: 3 NC colleges among Top 50 in US But the reality is that when parents look at our schools to determine where to send their children, what they see first and foremost are the school performance grades, Davis said. The improved proficiency scores come as state education officials have talked in recent months about how schools are rebounding from learning losses. A DPI report released in April showed students making academic gains in nearly every subject during the 2021-22 school year. And last month DPI presented data showing more K-3 students are on track on reading than a year ago. Truitt has given a lot of credit to new reading training instruction for the gains. In another calculation announced Wednesday, 804 schools -- or 32% statewide -- were identified as low-performing, compared to 34%, or 864 schools, during the prior year. The four-year high school graduation rate during the past year was 86.4%, which is essentially unchanged from recent previous years. (WATCH BELOW: CMS school experiences A/C outage during one of the hottest days of year) The news that North Korea has modified an ageing Russian diesel submarine to fire nuclear weapons has been met with some mirth amongst the underwater community. The boats hull form now resembles a childs drawing of a submarine, and it will handle like a pig, dived or surfaced according to my submariner friends. So is this just a PR stunt by the North Korean regime or a viable platform for carrying nuclear weapons? Lets start with the Romeo class diesel-electric submarine on which its based. Romeos were built in the Soviet Union between 1957 and 1961 and in China between 1962 and 1984. Even back then, the Romeos were considered noisy relatively easy to detect and track. The whole point of a submarine is that its enemies dont know where it is, so this is not a desirable characteristic. North Korea imported seven Chinese-built Romeos between 1973 and 1975 and built a further 13 domestically. There isnt any firm information on their operational state but not very seems to be the consensus. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Diesel-electric is a commonly used power train in submarines, much the same as you would find in U-boats or Allied subs of the World Wars. You get batteries and electric motors for running when fully submerged, and diesel engines which can drive the sub faster and recharge the batteries. Diesel-electric remains the most common propulsion type in the world due to its relative simplicity and low cost. Diesel-electric submarines have an Achilles heel, and its huge; more like an Achilles leg. Batteries cannot hold very much energy, so when fully submerged the submarine cannot move at all fast (except perhaps for a brief battery-draining sprint) and it has limited range. To recharge its batteries or travel at speed the boat has to start up its diesel engines. Not only does this make a racket in its own right, but because diesels require air to work, the sub has to either surface or come to periscope depth and put a dustbin-sized snort mast above the surface that can be detected by radar or even seen. So for the entire period of the recharge, often many hours, the submarines acoustic, visual and radar signatures are all increased. This vulnerability is what drove the worlds better-funded navies to develop and build nuclear submarines, which can go fast and far while fully submerged, staying down for months on end if need be. There are other options. If you want a submarine that doesnt cost billions of pounds per hull but with greater submerged endurance than a traditional diesel-electric, there are various so-called air independent types, which generally work by storing oxygen or oxidiser aboard the sub so as to run a conventional engine or fuel cells without air. The Germans are building one of these for the Israelis with a likely nuclear missile capability and the South Koreans are going down the same route. Such subs are nowhere near as capable as nuclear-propelled boats, but they arent as cripplingly limited as diesel-electrics: especially 1950s-vintage Soviet diesel-electrics. So we know that the Romeo class sub was not a powerful platform to begin with. The next issue is what the bolt-on housing aft of the fin is for. Imagery of the launch shows ten missile tubes; four large and six small. Expert analysts believe the large four could take the Pukguksong family of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and that the smaller ones could house a cruise missile variant such as the Hwasal-2. All are nuclear capable. But these are big missiles and the Romeo is a small submarine. The work that must have been done inside the boat to make it all fit is likely to make the shed welded to the casing look elegant. And as if that wasnt enough of a cut-and-shunt job, images also suggest that the boat lost its torpedo tubes as part of the conversion. It is also worth pausing to discuss how difficult it is to add new weapon systems to old ships. The notion of plug-and-play could not be further from the truth. To work effectively the new system has to be integrated into the ships existing sensors and equipment which is a challenge at the best of times but if youre talking about merging relatively modern microchip technology with Cold War valve-based equipment then its even harder. Assuming it all fits and everything is integrated as it should be, then the stability required from the platform to launch heavy ballistic missiles will be hard to achieve. A modern nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine such as the Royal Navys Vanguard Class can hover with a precision measured in inches youre not going to get that from this boat given its age, small size and ungainly shape. It might well have to fire from the surface which will give it weather limitations and increase its vulnerability. As one friend said to me, it has nuclear weapons it doesnt need to be accurate. Thats true, but it does need to be able to get the missiles away without toppling them during launch or wrecking itself. Then we come to the final problem: for a deterrent to work it has to be credible and for that it must be survivable in war. A well-run nuclear submarine is extremely survivable and this is the reason the UK housed its deterrent in submarines in the mid 60s and never looked back. Finding a proper nuclear missile boat is nigh on impossible its like a 17,000 ton hole in the ocean. Dont believe reports that periodically emerge saying that a new technology is about to render the oceans transparent and submarines therefore obsolete. One day that might happen, but it hasnt yet. By contrast, the North Koreans new boat will sound like its hosting a drummers convention. It is supposed to deliver Armageddon but will probably end up just sounding like it. Noisy submarines like this are an absolute joy to hunt. When I was captain of a specialist sub-hunting warship, we came across a few. One was a diesel submarine whose radar mast had been bent in bad weather and wouldnt retract properly and so made a banging noise so loud you could almost hear it on the upper deck. Another country had a nuclear submarine that emitted a distinct frequency on its starboard quarter we could hear from, well, I wont give ranges, but it was a lot. Good times. Conversely, there was a brilliant German U-boat that was like chasing a phantom and going up against any UK or US nuclear submarine means that you need a whole web of assets to be in play and all on their A-game if tactical advantage is to be achieved. Somewhere between the two extremes are the Russian nuclear submarines snooping around our undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic. Dont be fooled by the unimpressive performance of the Black Sea Fleet; the Russians Northern Fleet the Red Banner Northern Fleet, in the old days are competent and finding them isnt easy, but we manage it. The newly-modified North Korean boat will be easy to track by any serious anti-submarine operator in the region. South Korean 214 submarines will have no difficulty at all tracking and destroying it if needed. Likewise the Japanese Soryu class are excellent and their lithium-ion batteries give them much better dived endurance than most diesel-electrics. A US Navy Virginia class boat would scarcely need to make an effort. Submariners are a cautious bunch and generally shy away from saying that hunting other submarines is easy, but in this case, it really would be. Submarines, like all warships, only have three jobs to do: reassure allies, deter would-be adversaries and be ready to defeat them should that fail. Submarines are unique in that they achieve all three whilst remaining invisible. The fact that their enemies do not know where they are is their superpower take it away and they become vulnerable and immediately unable to deliver on any of the three tasks. Given how long this project has been in development construction images can be found from September 2016 and how fast North Korea has developed its land-based missiles in the meantime, it feels unlikely that this boat will form a serious part of the regimes nuclear deterrent. In this case, their land-based options remain a more survivable and cost-effective option. Nevertheless, no matter how wonky, it is still an emerging nuclear capability and should therefore be closely monitored. It will be interesting to see how this project progresses from here. Sea trials will last at least a year (assuming they go well) and be accompanied by various ejection tests where inert missiles are fired to prove the various launch systems. By then, every capable submarine operator in the region will have tracked this boat at close range and its capabilities and vulnerabilities will be intimately known. In the meantime, its ability to deliver Armageddon remains reassuringly remote. For now, the only risk this submarine poses is to the luckless sailors who have to go to sea aboard her. Tom Sharpe is a former Royal Navy officer. He commanded an anti-submarine frigate on operations in the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap, involving live contact with Russian ships and submarines, and has seen service in other contested waters Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to be on a train headed for Russia, possibly for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin , according to South Korean news reports. Kim left North Koreas capital of Pyongyang for Russia on Sunday night, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing unidentified South Korean government sources. The trip from Pyongyang to Russia was expected to take 20 hours or more, according to the Yonhap news agency. South Koreas presidential office, defense ministry and national intelligence service did not immediately confirm the reports. Kims departure comes after U.S. officials told multiple media outlets last week the North Korean leader may meet with Putin within the month. An official told The Associated Press the U.S. was not exactly sure where or when the meeting would take place, but the Russian port city of Vladivostok could be likely due to its relative proximity to North Korea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Putin and Kim are scheduled to attend the Eastern Economic Forum at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, which runs through Wednesday, though it is not immediately clear if this is where the two leaders would meet. U.S. officials said Russia is looking to buy ammunition from North Korea to refill reserves drained by its war in Ukraine. In exchange, North Korea would likely want food, energy shipments and transfers of sophisticated weapons technologies. Relations between Russia and North Korea have fluctuated for decades, though the two countries have drawn closer to one another since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The meeting would mark Kims first summit with a foreign leader since North Korea closed its borders in January 2020. The potential meeting fuels ongoing concerns about deepening cooperation between the two countries as U.S. officials have suspected North Korea is providing Russia with a variety of ammunition. The exchange between the two countries also sparks concern about an increasing threat from Kims nuclear weapons and missiles designed for targeting the U.S., South Korea and Japan. On Sunday, Vice President Harris called the possible meeting an act of desperation that will further isolate the countries. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will meet with President Vladimir Putin in Russia, officials confirmed Monday. Kim will visit Russia at the invitation of Putin in the coming days, according to a brief statement posted by the Kremlin. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the leaders would meet but did not specify when and where, The Associated Press reported. Kim left North Koreas capital for Russia on Sunday night, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing unidentified South Korean government sources. The trip from Pyongyang to Russia was expected to take 20 hours or more, according to the Yonhap news agency. U.S. officials told multiple media outlets last week the North Korean leader might meet with Putin within a month. U.S. officials were not exactly sure about the timing and location of the meeting, but they said the Russian port city of Vladivostok could be likely due to its relative proximity to North Korea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Both Putin and Kim are scheduled to attend the Eastern Economic Forum at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, which runs through Wednesday, though it is not immediately clear if their meeting will take place there. The meeting would mark Kims first summit with a foreign leader since North Korea closed its borders in January 2020. According to U.S. officials, Russia is seeking to buy ammunition from North Korea to refill reserves drained by its war in Ukraine. In exchange, North Korea would likely want food, energy shipments and transfers of sophisticated weapons technologies. The two countries relationship has altered over the decades, though they appear to draw closer to one another since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The meeting is likely to fuel ongoing concerns over deepening cooperation between the two countries as U.S. officials have suspected North Korea has provided Russia with a variety of ammunition in the past year. The summit between the two leaders also could spark concern over an increasing threat from Kims nuclear weapons and missiles designed for targeting the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Last week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned North Korea against supplying Russia with arms, saying Pyongyang will pay a price if it follows through on a potential deal. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. You are here: China Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech when inspecting the 78th Group Army, Sept. 8, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensively enhancing the troops' combat readiness during an inspection of a group army headquartered in the country's northeast. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when inspecting the 78th Group Army on Friday. Xi met with representatives of the group army and had photos taken with them. He praised the military and armed police forces for their prompt and brave participation in the disaster relief work when floods struck the country's northern and northeastern regions. Xi urged efforts to improve the level of combat preparedness, strengthen the training of key and difficult subjects, and build new combat capabilities. Xi also stressed the importance of strengthening Party building, maintaining a high level of integrity and unity of the armed forces, and ensuring the military stays stable and secure. Zhang Youxia and other senior military officers were present during the inspection. Kim Jong Un is making a rare visit to Russia this week for a meeting with Putin . US officials believe the two will discuss North Korea giving weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine. North Korea boast a fearsome artillery and ammo arsenal that would boost Russia's dwindling supply. As Russia burns through its ammo supply in Ukraine, it's desperately looking for support from its few allies. That includes North Korea, which boasts a formidable artillery supply that could give Moscow just what it needs for its ongoing war efforts. This week, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un is taking a trip to Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. It's Kim's first known international trip in more than four years, the last also being to Russia in 2019 for a summit with Putin regarding North Korea's nuclear program. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Their upcoming talks will likely focus on Russia's increasing need for ammunition for its ongoing war in Ukraine. Although Moscow could up its production to around 2 million shells annually soon, the number will still fall short of its war needs. It also pales in comparison to what Russia's been using up. Just last week, one Western official told the BBC that estimates suggested Russia fired between 10 million and 11 million rounds in Ukraine last year after its initial full-scale invasion. With a clear need for firepower and a dwindling group of allies to get it from, Russia is turning to North Korea. But while the move seems frantic, it's also calculated. North Korea makes headlines for its nuclear weapons program, but the dictatorship also has a threatening artillery presence that could give Russia the stopgap it needs to keep pounding away at Ukraine. Korean People's Army (KPA) artillery troops conduct a live firing exercise. KCNA/REUTERS Back in 2020, think tank Rand Corp assessed that North Korea maintains about 6,000 deadly artillery systems within range of major South Korean population centers, including Seoul. Rand made a chilling estimate: If these artillery systems were deployed, they could potentially kill more than 10,000 people in a hour. And that's just the systems within firing range of South Korea. The regime likely has plenty more in reserve and according to a 2021 report by the International Institute for Stratetic Studies, North Korea also keeps around 5,500 rocket artillery systems, 4,000 tanks, and 2,500 armored vehicles. One key takeaway from Rand's study included DPRK's "shelling could kill many thousands in just an hour, with little warning" and "it would be difficult for the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States, once the bombardment had begun, to halt it, or otherwise protect the ROK population, before it could do serious harm." "Therefore, it is in the interests of all actors concerned to deescalate as quickly as possible once a provocation cycle starts and avoid the conditions that could lead to a costly and bloody exchange of military firepower," the report added. It's a staggering scenario that speaks to North Korea's military might one that adds some weight to the pariah country's decades-long threat to turn its enemies into a "sea of fire." Rand's report also noted that it could be difficult for South Korea and the US to target North Korean artillery units hidden and sheltered from counterfire. But most experts assess that there would be a severe response from Seoul and Washington if North Korea followed through on its threats. Despite the DPRK's daunting conventional capabilities and increasingly threatening missile tests it's not quite clear if all of the nation's weapons work. Multiple experts have said some of Kim's stockpiles are aging and ineffective, while Ukrainian soldiers said North Korean-made rockets found in Ukraine are "unreliable and do crazy things sometimes." The DPRK has previously denied accusations that it has been providing weapons to the Russian military. North Korea leader Kim Jong Un observes artillery fire competition in North Korea. KCNA/REUTERS Russia's most recent effort to retrieve more aid from North Korea was back in late July, when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a state visit to the isolated nation during celebrations marking 70 years since the 1953 Korean War armistice. During the trip, Shoigu and Kim took a tour of North Korea's new weaponry, including its Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile. One White House official said Shoigu also went to Pyongyang "in a bid to convince North Korea to sell munitions to Russia to support Russia's war." "To that end, our information indicates that Russia is seeking to increase military cooperation with the DPRK, such as through DPRK sale of artillery munitions, again, to Russia," White House National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby said. With Putin and Kim's meeting looming, it appears there may be more movement on that assistance. But any successful military aid to Russia will come at a cost, assuming Russia has things potentially food and support in international bodies that North Korea needs in return. Read the original article on Business Insider By Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park SEOUL/MOSCOW (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russia's deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine. Kim would visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of Putin, the Kremlin said, while North Korean state news agency KCNA said the two would "meet and have a talk", without elaborating. U.S. officials have said the pair would discuss possible arms deals to aid Russia's war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with a much-needed economic and political lifeline. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North. It will be Kim's second summit with Putin, after the pair met in 2019. Despite denials by both Pyongyang and Moscow, the United States has said talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia, which has expended vast stocks of weapons in more than 18 months of war. The North Korean leader left aboard his train late on Sunday, a senior South Korean government official told Reuters. The special train would take Kim to North Korea's northeastern border with Russia and the summit could take place as early as Tuesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing intelligence concerns, and added that details could change depending on the situation there. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang immediately confirmed an exact schedule for the visit. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to "expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts". Kim's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. SECRECY AND SECURITY Japanese media reported security was being stepped up and refurbishment was taking place at the main train station in the Russian border city of Khasan, where Kim is expected to enter Russia. Kim does not travel abroad often and, when he does, it is often shrouded in secrecy and security. He travels by a special train with its signature olive green carriages that are said to be armoured and equipped with communications systems and a personal suite for Kim to work and confer with aides. A summit between Kim and Putin would likely focus on military cooperation and possibly a deal to supply arms, U.S. and South Korean officials and analysts have said. North Korea is believed to have a large stockpile of artillery ammunition that would be compatible with Russian weapons and could help supplement the supplies being rapidly used on the Ukrainian frontlines. The United States has said it would be a "huge mistake" for North Korea to supply Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine and warned Pyongyang would "pay a price". The deepening relationship between Kim and Putin signals a further global split over the war, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance. "North Korea's support will allow Putin to wage his war for longer, which is bad news for Europe," he said. "It is further proof that much of the world doesn't support Ukraine in the way the U.S. and Europe do, and some countries such as North Korea will openly support Russia without fear of any real consequences." In Vladivostok, there was a higher police presence than usual on the streets but no North Korean flags had been put up - unlike ahead of Kim's previous trip when the city was adorned with the red five pointed stars that grace the North's flag. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi, Ju-min Park, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin and Jack Kim in Seoul, Guy Falconbridge and Reuters staff in Vladivostok; Editing Himani Sarkar, Simon Cameron-Moore, Nick Macfie and Alex Richardson) The North Port City Commission gave preliminary approval to its 2023-24 fiscal year budget at a Sept. 7 special meeting. Final approval is scheduled for Sept. 21. NORTH PORT North Port city commissioners gave preliminary approval to a proposed $251.6 million budget for the next year despite the pleas of several residents, who wanted to see the commission roll back the property tax rate to provide some financial relief. Because of a 16.9% increase in property values, the current tax rate of 3.7667 mills or about $3.77 per $1,000 of taxable property value would generate about $4.3 million more than it currently does. That accounts for a little more than $31 million of the $74.8 million general fund budget, which also draws funds from other sources of revenue, including an increase of the Florida Power & Light utility tax from 6% to 10% and introduction of a payment in lieu of a utility tax of 5% for city water customers. The current rate, which has been in place for the past four years, represents a 12.12% increase compared with the rate of 3.3594 mills need to keep property tax revenue flat next year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement City Commissioner Phill Stokes called the increased property tax rate both a blessing and a curse, then added: The actual costs of providing those services to a single-family property owner actually exceeds the amount of taxes that a single property owner pays. Public safety alone takes a $43.7 million bite out of the general fund, well over the amount generated by property tax revenue. We are you: we live here, we feel the same pressures you do, Stokes said. City Commissioner Debbie McDowell objected to the 4% increase in the FPL tax and the 5% fee assessed to city water users. When the board met as the Road and Drainage District Governing Body, McDowell voted against a resolution to approve the districts non-ad valorem assessment methodology and the overall budget, because the final methodology for the charges was not yet available from Stantec, the citys consultant though it should be ready when the city has its final budget hearing on Sept. 21. The budgets for both the solid waste district and fire rescue district passed unanimously. Denelle Winnan broke down in tears while speaking to the board. "Our city cant keep up; you get so overwhelmed with the new parts of town that you dont give anything about anything for the ones of us who live in the older parts of town, Winnan said. She added that prior to Hurricane Ian making landfall last year, she and other neighbors who live between Pan American Boulevard and Biscayne Drive called with concerns about the nearby drainage ditches not being mowed. So, when the storm comes through and we get 26 inches of rain, it wasnt the drainage ditch that came into my backyard and flooded my house, it was the streets that dont have sewers and rely on both waterways to drain that couldnt drain, Winnan. So that water in my little neighborhood where we dont have elevation it came right up my front yard and right into the framing of my wood-framed house and we couldnt stop it." Winnan said she and her husband Richard sat in their bathtubs and watched their house flood then broke into tears as she talked about her insurance refusing to help because they didn't have flood insurance, because I dont live in a flood zone Ive lived here for 20 years I've never had an issue with flooding and I never had it. All Im asking is for you to look into it, Winnan added after she partially regained her composure. Figure it out, Im not disabled, Im not on a fixed income and we still cant afford to live here thank you very much for your time. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port commission keeps property tax rate flat but revenues rising At first, Debbie Tumbarellos wedding was the height of romance a Valentines Day whirlwind straight out of Sleepless in Seattle, she said. Tumbarello, who lives in Inverness, married her husband in Las Vegas on Feb. 14. She left Vegas with memories of a Beatles tribute show and a rooftop ceremony. However, she also left with COVID-19 and hasnt come back to full health since. The symptoms of the cold went away, but as the weeks progressed, I just started sleeping, Tumbarello said. On the weekends, Id be sleeping 14 to 16 hours a day My husband was freaking out. Hes like, this is just not you. After hearing about her brain fog, extreme fatigue and joint pain, an infectious disease specialist at NorthShore University Health System diagnosed Tumbarello with long COVID. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Now, Tumbarello has prequalified for a nationwide study aiming to learn more about long COVID and design treatment and prevention programs. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the study will test up to 11 combinations of treatments for long COVID. Organizers are not looking for a cure for COVID. They aim to learn why long COVID happens, both to stop future cases and to help those already experiencing debilitating symptoms. NIH is committed to a highly coordinated and scientifically rigorous approach to find treatments that will provide relief for the millions of people living with long COVID, said acting NIH director Lawrence Tabak. NorthShore-Edward-Elmhurst Health has become one of the studys four primary sites and NorthShore doctors are actively recruiting participants. NIH researchers picked primary sites based on proximity to communities heavily affected by long COVID. Access to relevant medical equipment, the expertise of nearby doctors and strong track records of diversity in local clinical trials also played a role. The first phase of the study, which included 24,000 patients, involved observing people with long COVID to see when and why symptoms develop. Phase two, now starting at NorthShore, includes three clinical trials targeting cognitive dysfunction, sleep issues and viral particles. Up to 40,000 people could participate in the study overall, some for up to four years. The entire initiative will receive $1.15 billion in congressional funding over four years, $811 million of which has already been allocated. Some patients will receive either extended doses of Paxlovid or a placebo in the Recover-Vital clinical trial, meant to eliminate the lingering presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral matter in the body. Paxlovid is already used to treat some short-term COVID cases, but this trial will test whether the drug could also keep the virus from causing long-term damage to organs and the immune system. The Recover-Neuro section of the trials will address brain fog, memory problems and other neurological symptoms of long COVID. Some participants will use online programs meant to boost cognitive and executive functioning. Others will undergo transcranial stimulation, where small electric currents are sent through the brain to improve blood flow. The third section of the trials, Recover-Sleep, will compare two different medications that could be used to stop excessive daytime sleepiness. Other proven interventions for problems falling or staying asleep will be tested in groups. A fourth section, Recover-Autonomic, will take place at other sites. The trial will test different combinations of medications to help symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system, controlling automatic processes in the body. The studys first patient, Evanston resident Jobi Cates, started in the Recover-Vital clinical trial last week. Cates, 52, contracted COVID for the first time in March 2023. What felt like a bad cold developed into a heavy feeling that reminded Cates of pneumonia. Within a month, her heart was racing constantly, an early sign of long COVID. Cates took an extended leave from her job as executive director at a criminal justice nonprofit. However, radical rest was only so effective against what was eventually diagnosed as long COVID. Cates was also diagnosed with POTS, an autonomic nervous system disease causing heart, hormone and blood flow issues. In the early months of long COVID, Cates didnt leave her apartment. She couldnt drive, prepare meals, sit upright at her computer or talk on the phone for more than 20 minutes. While heart medication has helped, her walks are limited to a block or two and her social contact is severely restricted. My life as I knew it before is over, Cates said. Hopefully I get some of it back someday. Long COVID can be difficult to identify, as symptoms vary widely, said Dr. Nirav Shah, the studys primary investigator at the Edward-Elmhurst Health sites. Many patients are essentially disabled by the time they are diagnosed, and remedies are sparse. Shah, an infectious disease specialist at NorthShore, hopes the Recover trials at Edward-Elmhurst Health will bring some long-awaited relief for Chicagoland patients. Our system is really excited, Shah said, especially the clinicians who have been taking care of long COVID patients. More recent strains of COVID seem to lead to long COVID less frequently, Shah said. Hispanic adults, as well as bisexual and transgender adults, tend to develop long COVID more frequently. Both Cates and Tumbarello were fully vaccinated before contracting COVID this year. Edward-Elmhurst Health includes eight acute-care hospitals across six counties. Shah leads a team of nine health care professionals from NorthShore who are organizing the study. Other NorthShore doctors are actively recruiting their own patients. Being recruited directly made a huge difference, Cates said. Trying to get into (a long COVID clinic or study) is a task that I dont necessarily have the energy for at this point, Cates said. I dont have the energy to do even 1/100th of what I used to do in a day. The team initially reached out to 2,000 potential long COVID patients in the Chicago area, Shah said. Between 50 and 75 people responded. I think a lot of people are really desperate for treatment options in a space where there hasnt been many, Shah said. Prequalifying for the study mostly involved speaking with the study team about her symptoms. Tumbarello said. For her, brain fog has been a particular issue. Some days, I just have trouble putting the words together, Tumbarello said. If you havent had COVID, theres no way to describe it. Tumbarello has been on medical leave from her job as an executive assistant since June. Her brain fog makes it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, she said, much less manage multimillion-dollar contracts. Cates, too, experiences debilitating brain fog. Her worst days, she said, remind her of when one of her parents was in the early stages of Alzheimers disease. When I do get fatigued and sometimes even when Im not, my brain gets very foggy and cloudy so I cant always think or talk the way I used to, Cates said. Residents who think they may have long COVID and are interested in participating in the study can reach out to Edward-Elmhurst Health after consulting with their doctor, Shah said. Cates and Tumbarello both encourage others to apply and to continue raising awareness for the trial. As much as Ive lost from this, Im still hopeful, Cates said. All around Chicago, there are good people who, once they find out about long COVID, do whatever they can to try to help. The clinical trial team can be reached at idresearch@northshore.org or 224-364-7971. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the attendees of a law enforcement interview described by District Attorney Mike Fisher. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) An Oklahoma district attorney said Monday there was insufficient information to pursue charges against the serial killer known as BTK in an Osage County cold case. Last month, Osage County authorities said Dennis Rader, the Kansas man convicted of being the BTK serial killer in Wichita, was a prime suspect in some unsolved missing persons cases, including that of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Last week, the Osage County, Oklahoma, undersheriff said they have at least four pretty strong connections to cold case investigations linked to Rader that they feel could go to trial. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Monday, District Attorney Mike Fisher said he was not at a point where he could press charges against Rader. Still searching: Parents of Cynthia Dawn Kinney speak out As of this date, the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader, he said in a press conference. Given the interest that this information has garnered, I have asked that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation open a formal investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney. Fisher said he will file charges if he learns of any evidence that warrants it. He said he sat in on a law enforcement interview about Rader about 90 days ago. He said Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma investigators took part while Fisher and his investigator listened. He said the Osage County Sheriff has not shared any physical evidence with the DAs office. The information that we have received to this point, there are Ill call them rumors because theyve not been substantiated yet rumors as to potential other evidence that I have been made aware of, Fisher said. None of that at this point arises to the level of even reasonable suspicion. Fisher said he has asked state investigators to open a formal investigation because he wants to make sure information is being gathered appropriately. NJ investigators solve 4-decade-old Baby Mary cold case, charging mother: officials There are certain ways that an investigation is handled, and the things that I have seen give me pause and concern, Fisher said. The sheriff and I believe undersheriff went to Mr. Raders house with a search warrant, and they actually did a dig there. While I appreciate their enthusiasm, its probably not appropriate that they be doing that. It would probably be better left to investigators. In the meantime, he said he was concerned for Kinneys parents. He met with them for about two hours on Friday. He said they are both in their 80s, and the recent speculation has taken a physical toll on them. Cynthia went missing 47 years ago. Theyve got no answers, Fisher said. We have reason to believe that it may have been a homicide. We cant say that with any absolute certainty, but weve seen nothing to suggest otherwise as theres been no contact with Cynthia Dawn since 1976, since her disappearance. He said the recent news coverage has her parents considering scenarios of what could have happened to her. They have both lost weight in the past few weeks as a result of the stress, he said, asking people to give them their privacy. Rader, 78, has been in the El Dorado Correctional Facility since his sentencing in 2005. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the attendees of a law enforcement interview described by District Attorney Mike Fisher. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) An Oklahoma district attorney said Monday there was insufficient information to pursue charges against the serial killer known as BTK in an Osage County cold case. Last month, Osage County authorities said Dennis Rader, the Kansas man convicted of being the BTK serial killer in Wichita, was a prime suspect in some unsolved missing persons cases, including that of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Last week, the Osage County, Oklahoma, undersheriff said they have at least four pretty strong connections to cold case investigations linked to Rader that they feel could go to trial. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Monday, District Attorney Mike Fisher said he was not at a point where he could press charges against Rader. Still searching: Parents of Cynthia Dawn Kinney speak out As of this date, the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader, he said in a press conference. Given the interest that this information has garnered, I have asked that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation open a formal investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney. Fisher said he will file charges if he learns of any evidence that warrants it. He said he sat in on a law enforcement interview about Rader about 90 days ago. He said Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma investigators took part while Fisher and his investigator listened. He said the Osage County Sheriff has not shared any physical evidence with the DAs office. The information that we have received to this point, there are Ill call them rumors because theyve not been substantiated yet rumors as to potential other evidence that I have been made aware of, Fisher said. None of that at this point arises to the level of even reasonable suspicion. Fisher said he has asked state investigators to open a formal investigation because he wants to make sure information is being gathered appropriately. NJ investigators solve 4-decade-old Baby Mary cold case, charging mother: officials There are certain ways that an investigation is handled, and the things that I have seen give me pause and concern, Fisher said. The sheriff and I believe undersheriff went to Mr. Raders house with a search warrant, and they actually did a dig there. While I appreciate their enthusiasm, its probably not appropriate that they be doing that. It would probably be better left to investigators. In the meantime, he said he was concerned for Kinneys parents. He met with them for about two hours on Friday. He said they are both in their 80s, and the recent speculation has taken a physical toll on them. Cynthia went missing 47 years ago. Theyve got no answers, Fisher said. We have reason to believe that it may have been a homicide. We cant say that with any absolute certainty, but weve seen nothing to suggest otherwise as theres been no contact with Cynthia Dawn since 1976, since her disappearance. He said the recent news coverage has her parents considering scenarios of what could have happened to her. They have both lost weight in the past few weeks as a result of the stress, he said, asking people to give them their privacy. Rader, 78, has been in the El Dorado Correctional Facility since his sentencing in 2005. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. FILE PHOTO: A Nvidia logo is seen on one of their products on display at their headquarters in Taipei By Max A. Cherney (Reuters) - Nvidia's supremacy in building computer chips for artificial intelligence has chilled venture funding for would-be rivals, investors said, with the number of U.S. deals this quarter falling 80% from a year ago. The Santa Clara, California company dominates the market for chips that work with massive amounts of language data. Generative AI models get incrementally smarter through exposure to more data, a process called training. As Nvidia has grown stronger in this area, the harder it has become for companies attempting to build competing chips. Seeing these startups as a riskier bet, venture financiers are newly unwilling to provide big cash infusions. Advancing a chip design to a working prototype can cost more than $500 million, so the pullback has quickly threatened the startups' prospects. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Nvidias continued dominance has put a really fine point on how hard it is to break into this market," said Greg Reichow, a partner at Eclipse Ventures. "This has resulted in a pullback in investment into these companies, or at least into many of them." U.S. chip startups have raised $881.4 million through the end of August, according to PitchBook data. That compares to $1.79 billion for the first three quarters of 2022. The number of deals has dropped from 23 to four through the end of August. Nvidia declined to comment. AI chip startup Mythic, which has raised about $160 million in total, ran out of cash last year and was nearly forced to halt operations, technology website The Register reported. But it managed to bring in a relatively modest $13 million investment several months later in March. Nvidia has "indirectly" contributed to overall AI chip fundraising woes, because investors want "Home run only type investments with a huge investment, huge return," Mythic CEO Dave Rick said. Difficult economic conditions have added to the downturn in the cyclical semiconductor industry, Rick said. A secretive startup called Rivos, which is working on chip designs for data servers has had trouble raising funding recently, said two sources familiar with the company's situation. A Rivos spokesperson said Nvidia's market dominance hasn't hindered its fundraising efforts and its hardware and software "continues to excite our investors." Rivos is embroiled in litigation with Apple, which has accused Rivos of stealing intellectual property, and this has compounded the fundraising challenge. DEMANDING INVESTORS Chip startups looking to raise cash are facing tougher demands from investors. They require companies to have a product that is within months of launch or already generating sales, sources said. About two years ago, new investments in chip startups were often $200 million or $300 million. That has fallen to about $100 million, according to PitchBook analyst Brendan Burke. At least two AI chip startups have overcome investor reluctance by trumpeting potential customers or their relationships with well-known executives. To raise $100 million in August, Tenstorrent boasted about CEO Jim Keller, a near legendary chip architect who has designed chips for Apple, Advanced Micro Devices and Tesla. D-Matrix, which has projected revenue of less than $10 million this year, raised $110 million last week, bolstered by financial backing from Microsoft and a commitment by the Windows maker to test d-Matrix's new AI chip after it launches next year. While these chip makers in Nvidia's shadow struggle, startups in AI software and related technologies do not face the same constraints. They brought in about $24 billion in funding this year through August, according to PitchBook data. Despite Nvidia's dominance in AI computing, the company does not have an unassailable lock on the sector. AMD plans to launch this year a chip that will compete with Nvidia's, and Intel leapfrogged development by gaining a rival product in an acquisition. Sources see these as having long-term potential to become alternatives to Nvidia's chip. There are also adjacent applications that could provide openings for competitors. For example, chips that perform data-intensive computing for prediction algorithms are an emerging niche. Nvidia does not dominate this area and it's ripe for investment. (Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco; editing by Kenneth Li, Cynthia Osterman and Christian Schmollinger) A Bonanno crime family soldier who whacked a witness in a murder case will get a hearing to determine whether one of his lawyers screwed up by telling him not to take a plea deal. Stephen Stevie Blue LoCurto, 62, argues that he thought he could only get 20 years maximum, not the life sentence hes currently serving, because one of his attorneys misunderstood whether a change to the federal racketeering law applied to his case. If I had known there was no chance of me getting less than life I would have taken the plea, Locurto wrote in a 2010 motion to vacate his sentence. Why would I take a 20 year plea when I had nothing to lose? All I could get is 20 years if I blew trial anyway. A judge ordered a hearing on the matter in 2016, but it was pushed back after years of procedural delays and a 2022 psychiatric exam that followed a series of bizarre claims that correction officers were trying to poison him and hiding in his walls, while a group of onlookers bet on when hed die while he was hospitalized. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While dying in the ICU unit at NYU-Langone, there was a man in the wall, behind my bed, cursing me, telling me to hurry up and die, pouring soda from bottle to bottle and playing his ring tone over and over, he wrote in a 2021 complaint to the Department of Justice. His hearing was initially supposed to happen in Brooklyn Federal Court this Thursday, but its been pushed back to a later date. LoCurto was convicted in Brooklyn Federal Court back in 2006 of racketeering and the 1986 murder of Bonanno associate Joseph Platia. The mob marked Platia for death because he was hanging out with his pal, fellow Bonanno associate Robert Capasio, on May 9, 1986, when members of the crime family lured Capasio from Manhattan to a Brooklyn apartment where they fatally shot him in the head. Rather than risk the killers identities getting out, LoCurtos mob higher-ups ordered him to rub out Platia. LoCurto shot Platia several times in the head as he sat in a car near W. 35th St. and 10th Ave. in Manhattan. Unluckily for LoCurto, a nearby cabbie flagged down police, who caught the mob killer with the murder weapon still warm in his pocket. LoCurto managed to beat the charges in Manhattan Supreme Court in 1987, but was convicted by a federal jury in 2006. In both trials, he took the stand in his own defense a rarity in Mafia cases, since mob members who are still loyal are typically not supposed to take the stand and risk giving the government information on the inner workings of their crime families. Hes been fighting the conviction ever since, including an appeal that failed in 2009. LoCurto raised the question of ineffective counsel in 2010, arguing that lawyer Laura Oppenheim, who was assisting his trial attorney with research, gave him bad advice about whether a 1988 amendment to the racketeering law would apply to his case. The amendment raises the maximum sentence from 20 years to life. She wrote in a 2010 affidavit that she told him, incorrectly, that applying the amendment to his case would violate the Constitution, because Platias murder happened in 1986. But LoCurtos trial lawyer, Harry Batchelder, had a different recollection of what happened one more favorable to the prosecution. In fact, I told Mr. LoCurto that this was not a viable argument and advised him that if convicted at trial, he would receive a life sentence, Batchelder wrote in a 2021 affidavit. I never advised Mr. LoCurto that he should go to trial because he had nothing to lose. LoCurto insisted on going to trial because he had beaten the state charges, and never would have accepted a plea deal, Batchelder wrote. Mr. LoCurto expressed that he was expecting a parade on Arthur Avenue after his anticipated acquittal, he wrote. Federal prosecutors also contend that the 20-year offer was never made as a formal plea deal. Oakdales newest restaurant has the citys history hanging on its walls, quite literally. Bistro 120, which opened in late July on North Yosemite Avenue, proudly displays the citys name on one of its back walls. The large block letters came from the old Oakdale Theatre, which closed in the 1960s, said husband-and-wife co-owners Matt and Kelly Budine. The longtime Oakdale couple wanted to reflect the citys history while giving residents a new, modern place to eat and gather. The result is Bistro 120, named for the highway running in front of its doors, an elevated casual restaurant they hope will appeal to tourists headed to the Sierra Nevada and locals fresh off the farm. Diners sit underneath the letters spelling Oakdale that were once part of the marquee for the former Oakdale Theatre. The new eatery, in the former Cafe Bliss space across from the House of Beef, has been completely remodeled and expanded. When the long-running cafe closed amid the pandemic in summer 2020, the Budines saw an opportunity. Matt Budine is co-founder and CEO of the successful Oakdale-based dairy nutrition and management company Progressive Dairy Solutions, which feeds 11% of the cows across the country. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kelly works at the company in administration but said they were looking for a business they could own together. Initially, they were silent partners on the project, but then with the scope of the changes, the pair took over the renovations and business as their own in the fall of 2020. New elevated casual restaurant Bistro 120 has opened in Oakdale, Calif. The Budines hired a restaurant consulting firm to help them capture their vision. The interior has been rebuilt, with a new kitchen, 16-foot ceilings and back expansion that nearly doubles the restaurants seating capacity. The Highway 120-facing facade and entrance have been redone, and a larger main entrance has been added, facing the back parking lot along Third Avenue. About a year into working on the remodel, the next-door hobby shop also became available. The couple snapped up the 2,000-square-foot space to transform into an accompanying event center. Once completed, that space is expected to hold around 80 people and be rented for private and business events. Currently awaiting plan and permit approvals, they hope to have the center done in December. The new main entrance to Bistro 120, a new elevated casual restaurant in downtown Oakdale, Calif. Sept. 5, 2023. While that phase of the project is in the works, the restaurant has made a grand entrance onto the Oakdale dining scene this summer and already has attracted repeat customers. That includes Oakdale resident Kim Leverett, who has eaten at Bistro 120 five times since it opened a little more than a month ago. The food is super good and the service is excellent, she said while lunching with a friend who was visiting the restaurant for the first time. The Farm Fresh Vegetable Salad on the lunch and dinner menu at Bistro 120 in Oakdale, Calif. The Budines said they wanted a high-quality, flavor-packed menu that featured a diverse selection of small plates, entree salads, sandwiches, burgers and dinner options. The restaurant uses only U.S. prime cuts and has a selection of upscale American Wagyu beef dishes as well. All the dressings, sauces and soups are made in house. The priciest item on the menu is the $68 surf-and-turf featuring a filet mignon and jumbo garlic prawns. The selection of half a dozen entree salads ranges from the all-vegetarian Farm Fresh ($17) to the seared ahi tuna salad ($22). Most burgers and sandwiches, including the popular Cowboy Capital Cheeseburger and Prime French Dip, run $16 to $21 and are served with fries. The Prime French Dip from the lunch and dinner menu of Bistro 120 in Oakdale, Calif. The restaurant also has a full bar with a selection of specialty craft cocktails, as well as about 30 varieties of wine. The Budines plan to add to the wine list, eventually increasing it to about 100 options. Matt Budine said that to him, elevated casual means an attention to detail in the food, with a welcoming atmosphere. Bistro 120 owners Matt and Kelly Budine inside their Oakdale, Calif. restaurant Sept. 5, 2023. We welcome everybody, no matter if you just came off the ranch or just got done working the cows or if you have a fun cocktail dress and a nice dress-up shirt. Come in and experience a great vibe here at Bistro 120, he said. The restaurant is also one of the few full-service, sit-down spots in the city thats open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Its extended hours, coupled with the planned event center, should help make the restaurant popular with area regulars, businesspeople and travelers from out of town. Sous chef Pedro Ayala cooks inside the newly constructed kitchen of Bistro 120 in Oakdale, Calif. Sept. 5, 2023. As you come in and experience the waitstaff here, its about consistency, about hospitality and making sure that the guest has a complete five-star experience from the moment they walk in the door to when they leave, Kelly Budine said. Bistro 120, at 152 N. Yosemite Ave. in Oakdale, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, call 209-845-6080 or visit bistro120.com. Diners sit in the expanded dining area of the new Bistro 120 restaurant in Oakdale, Calif. Sept. 5, 2023. Hong Kong has largely returned to normality after a rainstorm, and there shouldn't be a problem for people to return to work or go to school on Monday, Chan Kwok-ki, chief secretary for administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said on Sunday. Chan told a joint press conference that certain schools will continue to clean up after the torrential rain due to the surrounding environment or campus needs. Due to the impact of Typhoon Haikui, Hong Kong experienced widespread flooding, public transport disruption and mudslides from Thursday evening to Friday. The relevant departments of the HKSAR government did their utmost to handle the relief work to ensure that people's daily lives could be fully resumed as early as possible. John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, said on Sunday morning that all departments should maintain the best in dealing with the aftermath of the torrential rain as there are still roads and landslip control works to be addressed. Chan said the HKSAR government will pay close attention to the road surface conditions on Monday, and the Transport Department of the HKSAR government will activate the Emergency Transport Coordination Center to closely monitor the traffic situation and public transport services. He added that the emergency and aftermath work of various departments has not stopped. In terms of road transport, apart from the diversion, shortening or suspension of certain franchised bus routes, day routes have been restored, and railway services have largely resumed normal operation. A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Friday at the Marion Technical College (MTC) campus for a $5.57 million automotive, diesel and aviation technician training facility expected to be in operation before September 2025. (This is) all about hands-on training, said MTC Principal Gary Smallridge. The new building will located on the southeast section of the campus at 1014 SW Seventh Road. Once the 16,000-square-foot building is finished, "up to 100 dual-enrolled high school and adult students can become automotive general service technicians, automotive collision refinishing technicians, aviation powerplant/airframe mechanics, and diesel systems technicians," Marion County Public Schools said in a news release. "With Marion County quickly advancing its reputation as a logistics and distribution hub and home to the Ocala International Airport, MTCs expansion programs will help meet the expanding demand for these careers and keep graduates local to the Ocala/Marion County community." This embedded content is not available in your region. The new facility will include three classrooms, multiple work bays, storage, office area and restrooms. Funds will also provide startup technology, tools, equipment, and furniture for the facility, another MCPS media release states. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Smallridge stated in an email that programs run one to two years and graduates earn certificates and industry certifications in specialty areas. Smallridge said the new facility was phase one of developments at the school. Were very excited, said MTC Assistant Principal Kim Burt. Officials anticipate a working partnership between the new facility and local emergency vehicle manufacturer, E-ONE. A June 29 Marion County Public Schools press release stated MTC, part of the MCPS system, received a $5.57 million appropriation from the Florida Legislature after the funding was proposed by MCPS Superintendent Diane Gullett to state House of Representatives sponsor Rep. Stan McClain and Florida State Senate sponsor Sen. Keith Perry. Perry said at the groundbreaking that the facility was much needed and provides technicians to maintain equipment essential to the community. Perry gave an example of a technician who might earn $80,000 or up annually and be assured of a job after training at MTC. Perry, Marion County School Board Chair Allison Campbell and other board members, Ocala City Council President Jim Hilty Sr., Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn and representatives of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (CEP) including Senior Director of Partner Engagement Jess Schultz, were acknowledged at the groundbreaking ceremony. Richard Banner, general manager of Williams Diesel Service in northwest Ocala, was also excited to hear about a planned local training center for diesel technicians. Williams Diesel Service, in the area for over 30 years, services diesel vehicles from smart cars to F-450 diesel and beyond, according to the companys website, ocaladiesel.com. The local shop is one of 50 authorized Bosch Diesel Centers. Banner said in a phone interview that having a pool of trained, certified technicians available locally is absolutely needed and a big plus. Focus on family: School district has four special events planned this academic year Rickey Monroe, instructor with the MTC Commercial Drivers License program (Commercial Vehicle Driving) said the programs fleet of seven semitractor-trailers will be maintained at the new facility. MTC, part of the Marion County Public School system, was ranked No. 3 best community college in Florida by Niche.com. It offers programs in architecture and construction, business management and administration, hospitality and tourism, health science, human services, information technology, manufacturing, public safety and transportation. MTC boasts an 87% graduation rate and 80% job placement rate currently. This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Marion Technical College set to expand with new tech training building A military officer in the Ivano-Frankivsk region who beat a subordinate serviceman in April of this year was sentenced to 1.5 years of detention in the disciplinary battalion of military personnel, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) reported on Sept. 11. In mid-April, a video appeared on the Internet showing an officer cursing obscenely and physically injuring a serviceman. The State Bureau of Investigations began looking into the incident. The officer reportedly abused the soldier after the serviceman criticized the officer for using profanity. The indictment was sent in May and the court found the officer guilty of abuse of power by a military official under Martial law. The officer was sentenced to 1.5 years of detention in the disciplinary battalion for military personnel. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ivano-Frankivsk is located in western Ukraine and the city is the administrative center of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black Sea Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Officers and medics responded after a vehicle crashed into a power pole in Miami Township, early Monday morning. >>Head-on crash occurs in Mercer Co. after driver goes wrong-way on U.S. 33 Miami Township police officers and medics from the Miami Valley Fire District were dispatched just after 2 a.m. to the 5900 block of Munger Road after a vehicle crashed into a pole. Montgomery County Sheriffs deputies were also requested to the scene, dispatchers told News Center 7. We are working to learn what led to the crash, the type of vehicle involved, and if anyone was hurt. News Center 7 will continue to provide updates on this developing story. 22% of US workers say they worry technology will replace their jobs an increase from 2021, Gallup says. Workers with concerns tend to be young, college-educated, and make under $100k a year. The growing fear comes as AI tools like ChatGPT can now perform job tasks like writing and coding. Some American workers are becoming increasingly worried that technology may be coming for their jobs, a new poll suggests. In August, Gallup conducted 1,014 phone interviews with US workers over the age of 18 across different levels of employment to understand the concerns they have about their jobs. Out of the 1,014 workers interviewed, 22% of them say they worry technology will make their jobs obsolete a fear that went up seven percentage points from when the survey was conducted in 2021, Gallup's researchers found. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement And when considering just college-educated workers, the rise in worry is even sharper: from 8% who were worried in 2021 to a whopping 20% who are worried today, the poll says. The fact that more college-educated workers are worried about losing their jobs to technology may, in part, be thanks to the rise of powerful artificial intelligence tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT the conversational AI-chatbot that can perform job tasks like writing marketing copy and developing code. The rapid development of generative AI technology, the Gallup researchers say, "may be changing the stereotype of what computers can do in the workplace." "Amid such change, it's understandable that US workers, particularly those with college degrees, are more worried about what technology could mean for their careers," the Gallup researchers said in commentary accompanying the poll. But it's not just employees with bachelor's degrees who feel this way. Younger workers of all education levels between the ages of 18 to 34 were also found to be more concerned with losing their jobs to technology compared to older workers over the age of 35 within the poll's two-year time frame. The same goes for workers who earn less than $100,000 a year compared to those with an annual salary of $100,000 or more. Even though more workers may now "be looking over their shoulders" at AI and other technological developments, replacement by robots is not their main employment concern. The survey incicated 31% of respondents worry they could lose their benefits, like healthcare and paid vacation days, in the future, and 24% of respondents say they're scared about seeing a reduction in their wages, followed by layoffs and a cut in operating hours for businesses. Gallup's findings on worker attitudes toward technology come as experts and tech leaders alike have reignited a debate around whether AI can really replace employees ever since ChatGPT came out last November. While a Goldman Sachs study from March found that generative AI tools could affect 300 million full-time jobs worldwide, some experts previously told Insider that AI will simply help workers save time and be more productive. There are signs that AI may already be taking over some of the workforce. A recent report from Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, a career transitioning firm, found that almost 4,000 people who were laid off in May lost their jobs because of AI. Emily Hanley, a freelance copywriter, said that the number of assignments she usually gets may have dwindled because clients are turning to ChatGPT to do their writing for free. Matias S. Zavia, a writer and translator, said he was laid off from his job at Gizmodo en Espanol, the tech blog's Spanish site, after his former employer started using AI to translate the site's articles from English to Spanish. Suumit Shah, the CEO of the e-commerce platform Dukaan, even said he laid off 90% of his support staff in July because he replaced them with an AI chatbot, a move he claimed reduced his company's customer support costs by 85%. Researchers at Gallup didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment before publication. Read the original article on Business Insider On the eve of the final day of a four-day visit to India and Vietnam, President Biden emphasized one point: He is not trying to contain China. "It's not about containing China; it's about having a stable base a stable base in the Indo-Pacific," the president said as he answered question after question about U.S.-China relations at a news conference in Vietnam. "We think too too much in terms of Cold War terms," Biden added later. "It's not about that. It's about generating economic growth and stability in all parts of the world. And that's what we're trying to do." But Biden's message, delivered Sunday night in Vietnam's capital, only highlighted just how much the subject of China loomed over his trip to the region. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The president spent the weekend at the Group of 20 major economies' summit in New Delhi, then flew to Hanoi, where the U.S. and Vietnam on Monday formally elevated their bilateral relationship to the highest level. Biden insisted that he traveled to India and Vietnam, which both share a border with China, to strengthen America's alliances around the world. The difference between boosting relations with China's neighbors and building a bulwark against Chinese influence, however, was at times difficult to discern. Biden has pursued deals to strengthen ties with multiple nations in Beijing's neighborhood, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines and even the Pacific Islands. The administration has restricted exports of advanced technologies used for military and surveillance to China and issued an executive order to limit U.S. investment in China. At the G-20 summit, Biden unveiled deals to launch rail and shipping corridors that will compete with China's expansive global infrastructure investments. Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the G-20, and Biden did not meet with him during his swing through the region. The two leaders last met in person on the sidelines of the last G-20 summit in November 2022. Biden blamed the gap between meetings on the "economic difficulties" the Chinese leader is "dealing with." Xi is also sitting out this month's United Nations General Assembly, an annual event in New York City that attracts dozens of world leaders. Biden plans to deliver one of the opening day's speeches. The Chinese leader probably had several reasons for skipping the G-20. In addition to his domestic economic troubles, China's relations with India are at a hostile low point. Xi may have wanted to snub rival Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister who used the summit as a showcase for his country and himself. But by failing to show up, Xi also ceded the stage to Modi, who was seeking to position himself as the preeminent leader of the global south. "It is not surprising to see China stepping away from international engagement," said Andrew Wells-Dang, an expert on Southeast Asia at the U.S. Institute of Peace, a Washington think tank. "But it was a missed opportunity. You would think it would have been in their own interest to attend." Elevating the relationship with Vietnam was a calculation also made with China in the background. Vietnam has been sucked into several close confrontations with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea as Beijing ignoring international court rulings attempts to assert its control over most of the strategic body of water, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually. Despite fighting a war less than 50 years ago, the Vietnamese and the Americans are on very friendly terms, and Biden formulated the new "strategic partnership" agreement with relative ease. Vietnam wanted protection, while Biden must build and reinforce a coalition of countries in the Indo-Pacific. "The leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force," Biden said in a joint statement with Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong. The importance of uniting against China trumped concerns the U.S. has voiced about Vietnam's human rights record and the fact that the country is ruled by the Communist Party. "Today, we can trace a 50-year arc of progress in the relationship between our nations, from conflict to normalization, Biden said after a meeting Trong. "This is a new elevated status that will be a force for prosperity and security in one of the most consequential regions in the world." Sign up for Essential California for the L.A. Times biggest news, features and recommendations in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. [Source] A beauty pageant competitor from Houston, Texas, has claimed in a recent post that she was asked by the Ukrainian mafia to smuggle weapons for them. Globe-trotting girlfriend: Fan-Pei Koung, a 33-year-old OnlyFans model, initially gained attention for offering her racy pictures online to support Ukraine's war effort. She even made her subscription service free for Ukrainian fighters, dubbing herself a "globe-trotting girlfriend." She also used her Instagram account to collect donations, distribute water to soldiers and teach English to children. More from NextShark: Hong Kong man is photographed walking his 'pet' crabs Near the frontlines: Koung first visited Ukraine in November 2022, volunteering in women's shelters and orphanages in Lviv. She returned in February 2023, this time to Kyiv, where she aimed to provide emotional support to troops in their battle against Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Alleged mafia Involvement: On Sept. 4, she claimed in an Instagram post that the mafia (which she alleges controls the Ukrainian army) approached her with a request to smuggle arms but did not go into specific details. She also hinted at being pressured into silence by Ukrainian authorities. Koung, who indicated in a recent post that she is now in Hungary, later wrote how the mafia threatened her: More from NextShark: TikToker shows a Korean textbook that has the N-word in it "No matter how much they sharpened their knives, threatened to cut off my fingers, and tried to throw me out the window, I knew they were fascinated with me in ways they couldn't describe and wanted me to be their wife. I never worry about getting sex-trafficked because no one wants to share me. Every moment was a heart-racing bid for survival. The real negotiation was don't kill this creature who unwittingly has too much power over you." Taiwan next?: She also posted an Instagram message on Monday, expressing her desire to live in Taiwan to help the fight for "freedom and independence." "It's a little difficult for me to fly because I carry a 50lb luggage, guitar, and level 4 body armor with me everywhere, but I think visiting Taiwan could be really healing for me if I find the right people," she wrote. "I hope you also find the right people." Eleven people were arrested last week in connection with a major drug bust that led to the dismantling of a fentanyl trafficking operation in the Merrimack Valley, authorities announced Monday. The Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office, state police, local police departments, and federal agents executed search warrants at seven locations in Lawrence, Lynn, and Methuen on Thursday morning, arresting several suspected fentanyl traffickers and seizing more than 18 kilograms of fentanyl, two unlawfully-possessed semi-automatic pistols, and a portable hydraulic compartment used to hide narcotics, according to state officials. The raid, dubbed Operation Philly Special, was the result of an investigation that began in November 2022 after information provided to police in Salem, New Hampshire, indicated that an alleged Lawrence-based drug trafficking organization was supplying fentanyl throughout the Merrimack Valley, officials said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Traditional and electronic surveillance, data analysis, and court-authorized electronic intercepts of target cell phones helped investigators identify five locations of interest in Lawrence, as well as one each in Lynn and Methuen. At one target location in Lawrence, a female tried to rush a child with a backpack out of the residence as state police were making entry but investigators stopped the woman and child and located a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition inside the backpack, according to officials. The woman was arrested and charged with child endangerment. Entry at another location in Lawrence is said to have led to the discovery of an active fentanyl procession plant. The building was secured from the outside and a Clandestine Lab Enforcement Team wearing full-body PPE was called in to conduct testing and collect evidence. Officials confirmed that multiple samples of exposed substances tested positive for fentanyl. The fentanyl seized in the raid would have an estimated value of nearly $1 million, according to state police. The following individuals were arraigned on charges in Lawrence District Court: Rafael Saldana Dias, 26, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 36 grams (4 counts) Trafficking a Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Conspiracy (1 count) Bail set for $250,000 Yosmeiry Martinez Ramon, 21, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Conspiracy (1 count) Bail set for $2,500 Freddy Alexander Suazo Tejeda, 36, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Conspiracy (1 count) Bail set for $100,000 Rafelin Lugo Tejada, 32, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Conspiracy (1 count) Bail set for $100,000 Yahannys Anziani, 34, of Lawrence Unlawful Possession of Firearm (1 count) Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (1 count) Child Endangerment (1 count) Bail set for $2,500 Augusto Moscat, 39, of Lawrence Unlawful Possession of Firearm (1 count) Unlawful Possession of Ammunition (1 count) Child Endangerment (1 count) Bail set for $2,500 Henderson Martinez, 34, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 36 grams (1 count) Bail set for $100,000 Wilkin Antonio Perez, 26, of Lawrence Trafficking a Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Bail set for $10,000 Marcos Santos, 37, of Lawrence Conspiracy (1 count) Released on personal recognizance. The following individual was arraigned in Lynn District Court: Miguel Medrano, 55, of Lynn Trafficking of Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Bail set for $250,000 The following individual will be arraigned in Lynn District Court at a later date: Henderson Martin, 34, of Lawrence Trafficking of Class A substance, over 200 grams (1 count) Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Last week, I sat down and read the Supreme Courts ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, the landmark case that overturned many affirmative action policies at the nations elite universities. The case has generated significant outrage. The right was outraged that Harvard wants to use (and did use) race as a factor in its admissions decisions. The left is outraged that the court has now prohibited colleges from righting the wrongs of the past. And admissions officers are outraged that the justices have gotten all up in their business. I, too, felt a bubbling anger as I read the decision but for a different reason. It seems to me Harvards admissions policies just arent that important in the big picture. While all colleges must comply with the courts ruling, the main impact will fall on highly selective universities, both private and public, affecting perhaps tens of thousands of students, all of whom (no matter their race) are well-positioned to become productive citizens and workers regardless. No paywall. No pop-up ads. Keep The 74 free with a donation during our Fall campaign. Related After Harvard Ruling, Will Admissions Policies at Elite K-12 Schools Be Next? But another type of admissions policy surely does deserve our attention as Americans, one that affects tens of millions of kids every year. And the stakes are much higher, for these unexamined policies often determine whether a child will have a realistic chance at success and leave school with the basic skills necessary to enter community college or succeed at an entry-level job. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement What am I talking about? The selective admissions criteria of the top public elementary schools. You might think public schools are open to everyone. Unfortunately, theyre not. Ive spent the last five years looking at the admissions criteria and enrollment procedures for Americas top public elementary schools, and they operate under an archaic and discriminatory assignment system that sorts kids into schools based on government-drawn maps. Related Educational Redlining, Rezoning and the Bitter Politics of School Closures In theory, its supposed to ensure that kids get to attend the public school nearest their home. Thats often not the case, as powerful parents push for assignment to better public schools in wealthier parts of town. More importantly, the policy empowers public elementary schools under the cover of law to turn children away because of where they live. The most coveted public schools have zones that cover the more expensive parts of town: those with large single-family homes on large lots. Then, because of the attendance zone, everybody bids up the real estate even further, inflating home prices by as much as $300,000. The inequalities of access then become insurmountable. The vast majority of American families are priced out of these homes, and out of these coveted schools. In my old neighborhood in Los Angeles, living on one side of the street or the other can determine whether a child attends a public school with 75% reading proficiency or 16%. Of course, test scores arent everything, and I dont believe any parent should rely solely on them when judging a schools quality. But we should all be skeptical of someone who pays $300,000 so their kids can attend a specific public school and then turns around and argues the school isnt actually any better than the one down the street. (This is the argument that I heard from some of my old neighbors when I suggested that the elite public elementary school in the neighborhood, Mount Washington Elementary, should be opened up to some of the working-class Hispanic families who live just blocks away.) Related Report: In 24 States, Using False Address to Get Into a Better School is a Crime The great irony is that selectivity is built into Harvards mission and value proposition. For Harvard and other elite universities, it is a critical component of the educational experience that they offer not to mention a key selling point that less than 5% of applicants are offered a seat. But thats not how its supposed to work in the public schools. Being open to all is essential to their very nature. Many states have written it into their state constitutions. And Chief Justice Earl Warren, writing in the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, pledged that the public schools would have to be available to all on equal terms. Public schools betray their sacred mission when they implement selective, discriminatory enrollment policies that benefit the wealthy and powerful. Related Bradford: A Free Education System Bought and Sold on the Housing Market, as It Was Intended to Be Tragically, public schools selective admissions criteria have not generated the outrage or judicial scrutiny that they deserve, despite the harm theyve done to the nations children and the country. Its time to end geography-based school assignments and all the other ways public elementary schools cherry-pick their students. If youre grasping for hope, look to the community college system in California. Once upon a time, this system was based on strict geographic assignment. But enrollment started declining in the 1970s and 1980s (much as it recently has in the K-12 system), and the state had to consider major reforms. In 1987, the legislature finally ended the archaic geographic system with a law that created true open enrollment in the community colleges. Enrollment rebounded, and the community colleges are now regarded as one of the jewels of the state. The language of the law could serve as a model today: It is not in the best interests of the people of the State of California that attendance at a community college be restricted to a persons district of residence. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this article to provide for the unrestricted enrollment and attendance of students at community colleges, thereby providing each resident of the state an equal opportunity to attend the community college of his or her choice. Someday, perhaps, our political leaders will have the courage to pass similar laws providing for true open enrollment in K-12 schools. Editors note: Dennis Aftergut is a former federal prosecutor and currently counsel to Lawyers Defending American Democracy, a nonpartisan organization engaged in preserving the rule of law. The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN. For those attacking Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for casting her net too far and wide in her case against former President Donald Trump and 18 others for election interference, the news out of Georgia last week should provide reassurance that her case is carefully considered and targeted and that should put Trump on notice. Dennis Aftergut - Courtesy of Dennis Aftergut What we see in action in Georgia is a pretrial criminal justice system working as designed: In it, grand juries and the prosecutors who oversee them bring charges only when they believe prosecutors can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Other individuals under investigation are not indicted. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Friday, a Georgia court released the report of the Fulton County special grand jury whose duty was twofold: first, to investigate Trumps alleged interference and documented attempt to overturn the states 2020 election; second, to make recommendations for indictment. (It shouldnt be confused with the regular grand jury, whose duty it was to decide whether to indict those under criminal investigation.) The special grand jury completed its duties in December. After hearing from 75 witnesses, it recommended indicting 39 people, including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn and attorney Cleta Mitchell. The senators and the Trump allies have denied wrongdoing. Yet none of those people were charged last month. Indeed, the special grand jury report, when read against the indictment by Fulton Countys regular grand jury, tells us something vital about the protections against wrongful indictments that grand juries, working with careful prosecutors, help ensure. Participating citizens in grand juries may not always agree with each other. It is one of many healthy judicial system mechanisms we have to protect individuals under investigation who may not be provably guilty. In addition, the report sends a strong message about the checks and balances in place in such a politically sensitive trial. Using the extra layer of a special grand jury is often reserved for complex corruption cases. Doing so helps Georgia prosecutors by allowing them to hear two sets of ordinary citizens views. It also helps demonstrate to the public the care and extra review given to any charges ultimately filed. The ordinary citizens on the Georgia special grand jury demonstrated that important discernment, reflected in their critical thinking and disagreements about indicting those who were initially under scrutiny by investigators. Lets look at how seriously the special grand jurors took their responsibility. According to Fridays report, one dissented from recommending racketeering charges against Perdue and Loeffler because the then-senators statements, while pandering to their political base, do not give rise to their being guilty of a criminal conspiracy. And while the special grand jury recommended indicting the two, with Perdue and Loeffler getting 17 and 14 votes, respectively, months later, the regular grand jury did not indict them. As for Graham, the special grand jury voted 13-7, with one abstention, to recommend an indictment on charges related to overturning the 2020 election in battleground states such as Georgia. (Not every special juror was present for every vote.) Willis chose not to pursue the recommendation. There was no indictment of Trump allies Flynn, Epshteyn and Mitchell, even though 20 special grand jurors had recommended indicting them. In contrast, the regular grand jury did indict Trump, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows after 20 special grand jurors recommended their indictment. All 19 defendants in the Georgia election interference case have pleaded not guilty. There are multiple explanations for why some people may not have been indicted despite the special grand jurys recommendations. In the months between the grand jurys recommendation and the indictment, Willis continued to investigate. She had the ultimate charging authority. She may well have found additional evidence on those she indicted and some reason not to indict others. In addition, it is known that she entered into immunity agreements with several people. Before indicting someone, prosecutors must be highly confident they can convince a jury of an individuals guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Willis may simply have not presented to the regular grand jury some individuals she considered less than provably guilty. In making that decision, she may have taken into account the special grand jurors discussions and votes. But whatever the explanation, the regular grand jury process and prosecutors care serve as filters on the special grand jurys recommendations to help prevent wrongful indictments. Of course, my own experience comes as a federal prosecutor, and Georgia law is different. While we dont know why many of the individuals who were recommended for indictment were eventually not charged, in Grahams case, we do have some clues. There were, by reports, conflicting versions of what he said in his telephone calls to top Georgia officials after the 2020 election. And hes characterized his actions as part of his constitutionally protected role as a senator to investigate matters that might require national legislation. In a statement issued Friday, Graham said, It should never be a crime for a federal elected official, particularly the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, who will have to vote to certify a presidential election, to question and ensure the integrity of that election. Given his potential defenses, it appears that Willis decided that it would be difficult to make a successful case against him at a trial. That is how a prosecutor, working with a grand jury, pursues justice. As the US Supreme Court wrote in 1976, the grand jurys historic office has been to provide a shield against arbitrary or oppressive action, by insuring that serious criminal accusations will be brought only upon the considered judgment of a representative body of citizens acting under oath and under judicial instruction and guidance. The work of the Georgia special and regular grand juries in this important case reminds us of that important lesson. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Opportunity Village is hosting multiple hiring events as the organization searches for seasonal HallOVeen and The Magical Forest workers this fall. HallOVeen takes place on select evenings in October, and The Magical Forest will be open select evenings from Nov. 24 to Dec. 31. HallOVeen and The Magical Forest are Las Vegas holiday traditions celebrating the Halloween and winter holiday seasons with festive lights, food, rides, and activities for the whole family. HallOVeen returns to Opportunity Villages Magical Forest in October Seasonal workers are needed through the end of 2023 to help provide the magical experience to its community. Available positions include food service workers, general associates, and general laborers. Interested applicants are invited to the following three open hiring events in September and should come prepared to interview with hiring managers: ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sept. 14 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Opportunity Village Oakey Campus Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Opportunity Village Oakey Campus Sept. 26 from 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. at the Opportunity Village Oakey Campus Become a part of the magical team behind the forest and work with Opportunity Village during the organizations largest fundraising events to benefit adults with disabilities. To learn more about Opportunity Village, visit the organizations website. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The impact of climate change on flood risks is expected to be discussed at the 18th World Water Congress in Beijing this week, with Chinese experts hoping to share their experiences on dealing with recent deluges and learn from other countries. Held every three years since 1973, it's the first time that China has hosted the event. Speaking ahead of the congress, Li Yuanyuan, president of the International Water Resources Association, underscored emerging challenges as well as old ones for China and the world in water resources management, citing the recent devastating downpours and flooding in China in the Haihe River Basin. Impacted by Typhoon Doksuri and a cold front, the entire basin, which covers the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, was engulfed by rainfall from July 28 to Aug 1. The average daily precipitation in the basin reached 155.3 millimeters. Beijing, for instance, received 331 mm of rainwater in just 83 hours, which is about 60 percent of its annual average precipitation. "Extreme weather events in China have become more frequent and intense, with some areas experiencing rainfall exceeding historical records. Major floods that affect entire river basins also occasionally happen, resulting in significant risks and disasters," he said. To some extent, climate change has aggravated flood risks, stressed Li, who is also vice-president of the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, an affiliate of China's Ministry of Water Resources. "The congress offers a great opportunity for China to share its experiences and wisdom on water resources management while learning from countries across the world," said Li. As one of the world's largest congresses linking water policymakers, researchers and policy practitioners, the congress this year is themed "Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature". In China, where water resources are located and when it rains present a challenge, with precipitation mainly concentrated in summer, and northern China suffering water shortages, said Li. The country has encountered many challenges in water resources management since the 1980s, as its population grew, the economy expanded, and industrialization and urbanization accelerated, posing an increasing amount of pressure on the water environment, he noted. Against this backdrop, "water scarcity, water pollution and water ecosystem damage have gradually become severe challenges to China's sustainable socioeconomic development," he said. Despite the challenges, he said, China has made significant achievements in water resources governance since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's water management concept of "prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and giving full play to the roles of both government and market", Li said, "China has embarked on a fast track in reforming and developing its water resources management system." After approving 172 major projects for water conservation and water supply in 2014, the central authorities greenlighted another 150 major water resources management projects in 2020, and then also issued a guideline for shoring up the construction of a national water network. The guideline vows to establish a national, integrated "water network" for water resource management by 2035. Based on natural water bodies, the network will be a comprehensive system that combines water resources allocation, disaster mitigation, water ecology and environment conservation. Li said thanks to consistent efforts from the Chinese government a national water resources allocation system that features water diversion from the south to the north and mutual aid between the east and the west has come into being. To date, water resources management projects across the country have a combined capability to annually supply 899.8 billion cubic meters of water, and 88 percent of the rural population has access to concentrated water supply, he said. Almost 70 million hectares of farmland across the country can be irrigated effectively. "China has built the largest and most extensive water infrastructure system that benefits the largest population in the world. With only 6 percent of the world's freshwater resources, the country manages to guarantee a water supply for 18 percent of the world's population and contributes to over 18 percent of the world economic aggregate," Li said. The 18th World Water Congress offers an excellent opportunity for China to showcase these achievements, he said. Credit - Bettmann Archive We all know couples who, on the surface at least, seem incompatible. One person is an introvert, the other an extravert; one likes fine wine, the other never drinks; one is deeply religious, the other doesnt believe. Its those pairs who give rise to the idea that opposites attract. But that notion appears to be mistaken. According to a new study in the journal Nature Human Behavior, most partners tend to be profoundly similarsharing up to 89% of the traits the researchers analyzed, including not just religiosity, alcohol consumption and introversion or extraversion, but also political values, IQ, level of education, openness to new experiences, susceptibility to depression, age at which each partner became sexually active, and more. Positive correlations between both members of a couple are the rule, not the exception, says Matthew Keller, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and one of the papers authors. The degree of spousal similarity can be really high. The sample group the researchers surveyed was both wide and deep. First, they conducted a meta-analysis of 22 traits couples may or may not share which were studied in 199 published papers going back as far as 1903. Collectively, those papers contained information on 8.5 million people. Next, they turned to the UK Biobank, a British data bank that contains the genetic, health and behavioral information of over half a million U.K. residents who volunteered to contribute to the project. The researchers used information from nearly 80,000 of those volunteers, surveying them for 133 traits, such as substance use and level of education. (In this paper, all of the people studied were male-female pairs. The authors are currently at work on a new paper on same-sex couples that they hope to publish next year.) ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The metric the investigators used to crunch the numbers they got from the biobank and the meta-analysis uses what are known as 95% confidence intervals, a statistical tool that allows researchers to conclude with 95% certainty that a particular fact theyre seeking is true. The authors of the paper plotted their results on a scale that ran from 1.0 at the top, down to -0.5 at the bottom, with 1.0 representing perfect convergence (all of the people studied had a particular trait in common with their partner) and -0.5 representing perfect non-convergence (none of the couples did). Zero, which lies between the 1.0 and the -0.5 represents randomness, with no particular correlation one way or the other. Of all of the traits the researchers studied, so-called passive traitsones that are more demographic than personaltended to be the ones partners had most in common. Year of birth, for example, had a convergence score of 0.9. Where the partners met was not covered by the new paper, but would likely show convergence as well. If youre in a city, says Keller, youre more likely to select a partner from the same city. Other measured traits are more actively chosen by individuals. In an extremely partisan era, its little surprise that political values scored high, with couples having a 0.6 convergence on what their views on political and social issues are. Religiosity and educational level scored a 0.6, too. Sexualityspecifically, the age they first had sexhad a relatively high correlation of about 0.4. Bad habits, especially drinking to excess and smoking, also showed convergence, with over-drinking scoring 0.28 and smoking coming in at 0.5. Having a substance abuse disorder scored 0.43. In these cases, the unhealthy behavior may have a contagious quality to it, with one partner picking up a habit from the other. This convergence can be a very rapid process, says Keller. If a spouse smokes or drinks when youre around, youre exposed to it more and you may begin to mimic your partner. Read More: The Science Behind Happy Relationships Physical traits did not correlate quite as closely as behavioral ones do, but they were solidly above the zero line too. Height had a correlation of 0.25, with tall people tending to choose a tall mate and short people choosing a short mate. Something similar is true of weightwith a 0.23 convergence. Emotional and psychological conditions correlated as wellbut the numbers were relatively low. A predisposition to depression was about 0.2 and neuroticism was 0.1 The degree of spousal similarity is really high for things like social attitudes, educational attainment and substance use, says Keller. Its lowerbut still positivefor psychiatric traits and personality traits. Only three traitshearing difficulty, a tendency to worry, and chronotype (whether someone is a morning person or a night owl)had a negative value, falling just below the zero line and indicating a more-than-random non-convergence. In every other case, the convergence was either at or above zero. Such two-of-a-kind pairing, or assortative mating, can come at a cost, said Tanya Horwitz, a predoctoral trainee at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and lead author of the paper. If people sort themselves by height, for example, it can lead to a next generation of more people at the low and high end of the height spectrum and a gulf in the middle. Negative psychiatric and medical traits can be more easily passed on to children if both parents suffer from them. And when highly educatedoften wealthypeople cluster together, the socioeconomic divide can widen. Choosing a mate may be a very personal thing, but it can have a very big impact. Write to Jeffrey Kluger at jeffrey.kluger@time.com. Orlando Health is the latest hospital system in the region to start virtually monitoring at-risk inpatients. In the program, which began July 18, a trained patient safety attendant also called a sitter watches a patient in their room constantly through mobile cameras with video chat software. The technology allows the sitter to supervise patients at risk of falling or other injuries, speak to patients in order to provide safety reminders and alert a patients in-person clinical care team when they need to intervene. Its in use at four hospitals throughout the system. Our goal is to truly try and make Orlando Health the safest place for care and the easiest place to deliver it, said Kelly Edmondson, vice president of nursing and patient care. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The tech has the potential to tackle a serious problem. Up to 1 in 3 inpatients enter a state of delirium that can strip them of their ability to care for themselves and result in injuries, the most common being falls, according to Cleveland Clinic. Every year, 700,000 to 1 million patient falls occur, resulting in around 250,000 injuries and up to 11,000 deaths, according to a 2019 research review published in Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. Its standard practice for hospitals to hire in-person safety sitters to stay in at-risk patients rooms 24/7, and the hospital will continue to do this in situations where someone is at moderate or high risk of self-harm, Edmondson said. But in some cases, putting a stranger in a patients room agitates them further, Edmondson said. We are still able to able to accomplish the goal of ensuring their safety while still allowing them to have the protection of privacy and dignity, she said. Virtual sitters are trained to recognize when an in-person sitter may be necessary, Edmondson added. One of the hospitals implementing this tech, Orlando Regional Medical Center, saw a patient kill himself last spring. Edmondson said the decision to use this software was not motivated by that incident. That unfortunate situation really was not associated with our desire to move forward with this platform. Again, this platform is really for a patient that we know can be safe with reminders, and so were using this platform for, mostly, a confused patient population, Edmondson said. This technology was developed by Orlando-based software company Andor Health, and the program has been in the works for over a year. Its just one of many innovations that have come after demand for remote health care took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, and, like other new health technologies, virtual monitoring appears to be here to stay. Orlando Healths virtual sitter program will soon be joined by a virtual nursing program that is planned to launch in September, Edmondson said. Virtual nurses can go a step beyond sitters and provide patient care and answer medical questions. The hospital chain also began a program in February that takes virtual monitoring to another level by offering hospital care at home. AdventHealth Central Florida began using virtual sitters and nurses to help watch hospital inpatients over a year ago. Ccatherman@orlandosentinel.com; @CECatherman Twitter DA: Not enough evidence to charge serial killer BTK in Oklahoma cold case OSAGE COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) The Osage County Sheriffs Office in Oklahoma went to Park City, Kansas, in late August, searching on serial killer Dennis Raders property. The Osage County Sheriff told KFOR Rader gave the tip. Thats why they went to the location in the first place. We found personal type items and maybe some restraint type items in those locations, said Sheriff Eddie Virden, Osage County Sheriffs Office. Raders one of Americas most notorious serial killers who is still alive today behind bars. Hes also known as BTK, which stands for bind them, torture them, kill them. The Osage County Sheriffs Office said Park City Public Works moved some cement so authorities could dig on the BTK killers former property. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On August 23, law enforcement confirmed they recovered items of interest related to unsolved disappearances of people in Oklahoma. On Monday, District Attorney Mike Fisher says ..the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader. Fisher says there is a strained relationship between himself and the Osage County Sheriff. Fisher has asked the OSBI to open a formal investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney who has been missing for 47 years. While there have been prior investigations into Ms Kinneys disappearance, I feel it is incumbent upon me, as the District Attorney, to do everything possible to ascertain whether Dennis Rader or someone else was involved in her disappearance, Mike Fisher said. Toward that end, the OSBI will pursue all reasonable leads to identify those who may or may not have been involved in Ms. Kinneys disappearance. If evidence comes to light that is sufficient for the filing of charges, the District Attorneys Office in District 10 will file those charges as appropriate and as the law requires. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." 1957-2011 Who Was Osama bin Laden? Osama bin Laden was a terrorist intent on driving Western influence from the Muslim world. He joined the Afghan resistance when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. After the Soviet withdrawal, bin Laden formed the al Qaeda terrorist network that carried out global strikes against Western interests, culminating in the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On May 2, 2011, President Barack Obama announced 54-year-old bin Laden was killed in a terrorist compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Quick Facts FULL NAME: Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden BORN: March 10, 1957 DIED: May 2, 2011 BIRTHPLACE: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia SPOUSES: Najwa Ghanhem (1974-2001), Khadijah Sharif (1983-1995), Khairah Saber (1985-2011), Siham Sabar (1987-2011), and Amal Ahmed al-Sada (2000-2011) CHILDREN: 24 ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces Early Life Osama bin Laden was born Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden on March 10, 1957, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to construction billionaire Mohammed Awad bin Laden and Mohammeds 10th wife, Syrian-born Alia Ghanem. Bin Laden was the 17th of 52 children born to Mohammad but the only child from his fathers marriage to Alia Ghanem. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bin Ladens father started his professional life in the 1930s in relative poverty, working as a porter in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. During his time as a young laborer, Mohammed impressed the royal family with his work on their palaces, which he built at a much lower cost than any of his competitors could and with a much greater attention to detail. By the 1960s, he had managed to land several large government contracts to build extensions on the Mecca, Medina, and Al-Aqsa mosques. He became a highly influential figure in Jeddah; when the city fell on hard financial times, Mohammed used his wealth to pay all civil servants wages for the entire kingdom for a six-month period. As a result, Mohammed bin Laden became well respected in his community. As a father, he was very strict, insisting that all his children live under one roof and observe a rigid religious and moral code. He dealt with his children, especially his sons, as if they were adults and demanded they become confident and self-sufficient at an early age. Bin Laden, however, barely came to know his father before his parents divorced. After his family split, bin Ladens mother took him to live with her new husband, Muhammad al-Attas. The couple had four children together, and bin Laden spent most of his childhood living with his step-siblings and attending Al Thagher Model Schoolat the time the most prestigious high school in Jeddah. His biological father would go on to marry two more times, until his death in a charter plane crash in September 1967. Radical Education At the age of 14, bin Laden was recognized as an outstanding, if somewhat shy, student at Al Thagher. As a result, he received a personal invitation to join a small Islamic study group with the promise of earning extra credit. Bin Laden, along with the sons of several prominent Jeddah families, were told the group would memorize the entire Koran, a prestigious accomplishment, by the time they graduated from the institution. But the group soon lost its original focus, and during this time, bin Laden received the beginnings of an education in some of the principles of violent jihad. The teacher who educated the children, influenced in part by a sect of Islam called The Brotherhood, began instructing his pupils in the importance of instituting a pure Islamic law around the Arab world. Using parables with often-violent endings, their teacher explained that the most loyal observers of Islam would institute the holy wordeven if it meant supporting death and destruction. By the second year of their studies, bin Laden and his friends had openly adopted the attitude and styles of teen Islamic activists. They preached the importance of instituting a pure Islamic law at Al Thagher, grew untrimmed beards, and wore shorter pants and wrinkled shirts in imitation of the Prophets dress. Bin Laden graduated from Al Thager in 1976. He then headed to King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, where he obtained a degree in 1981. Sources share conflicting information about his area of study; he is believed to have studied either public administration or civil engineering, in an effort to join the family business. Wives and Children At the age of 18, bin Laden married his 14-year-old first cousin named Najwa Ghanem, who had been promised to him, and in 1976, the same year he graduated from Al Thager, his first child, a son named Abdullah, was born. Bin Laden and Najwa would have 10 more children before they separated shortly before the 9/11 attacks. Bin Laden married at least four more times. His second wife, Khadijah, bore him three more children before their 1995 divorce. He remained married to his final three wivesKhairah, Siham, and Amaluntil his death in 2011, and they bore him the final 10 of his 24 children. These final three wives remained with bin Laden when he went into hiding in 2001, and they, along with at least eight (and as many as 12) of his children, were with him during the deadly raid on the Abbottabad, Pakistan, hideout during which bin Laden was killed. Bin Ladens children are: Abdullah, Abdul Rhman, Saad, Omar, Osman, Muhammad, Fatima, Iman, Ladin Bakir, Rukhiya, Nour, Ali, Amer, Aisha, Hamza, Kadhija, Khalid, Miriam, Sumaiya, Safiyah, Aasia, Ibrahim, Zainab, and Hussain. At least two of bin Ladens sons were killed during U.S. military options. Saad died during a military drone attack in 2009, and in 2019, President Donald Trump announced that Hamza bin Laden had been killed during an anti-terrorist campaign, believed to have occurred between 2017 and early 2019. From Hero to Exile When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979, bin Laden joined the Afghan resistance, believing it was his duty as a Muslim to fight the occupation. He relocated to Peshawar, Afghanistan, and using aid from the United States under the CIA program Operation Cyclone, he began training a mujahideen, which is a group of Islamic jihadists. After the Soviets withdrew from the country in 1989, bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia as a hero, and the United States referred to him and his soldiers as Freedom Fighters. Yet, bin Laden was quickly disappointed with what he believed was a corrupt Saudi government, and his frustration with the U.S. occupation of Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf War led to a growing rift between bin Laden and his countrys leaders. Bin Laden spoke publicly against the Saudi governments reliance on American troops, believing their presence profaned sacred soil. After several attempts to silence bin Laden, the Saudis banished the former hero. He lived in exile in Sudan beginning in 1992. Formation of al Qaeda Getty Images By 1993, bin Laden had formed a secret network known as al Qaeda (Arabic for the Base), comprised of militant Muslims he had met while serving in Afghanistan. He recruited soldiers based on their ability to listen, their good manners, obedience, and their pledge to follow their superiors. Their goal was to take up the jihadist cause around the world, righting perceived wrongs under the accordance of pure Islamic law. Under bin Ladens leadership, the group funded and began organizing global attacks worldwide. By 1994, after continued advocacy of extremist jihad, the Saudi government forced bin Laden to relinquish his Saudi citizenship and confiscated his passport. His family also disowned him, cutting off his $7 million yearly stipend. Undeterred, bin Laden began executing his violent plans, with the goal of drawing the United States into war. His hope was that Muslims, unified by the battle, would create a single, true Islamic state. In 1996, to forward his goal, al Qaeda detonated truck bombs against U.S. occupied forces in Saudi Arabia. The next year, they claimed responsibility for killing tourists in Egypt, and in 1998, they bombed the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Tanzania, killing nearly 300 people in the process. Bin Ladens actions abroad didnt go unnoticed by the Sudanese government, and he was exiled from their country in 1996. Not able to return to Saudi Arabia, bin Laden took refuge in Afghanistan, where he received protection from the countrys ruling Taliban militia. While under the protection of the Taliban, bin Laden issued a series of fatwas, or religious statements, that declared a holy war against the United States. Among the accusations reared at America were the pillaging of natural resources in the Muslim world and assisting the enemies of Islam. While bin Laden likely used his own money to fund early training and operational costs for al Qaeda, the extent of his personal wealth at this time remains unknown. Some early estimates claimed he was worth more than $250 million, though that was likely vastly overstated. He had spent millions setting up businesses and operations in Sudan, only to have that government seize his assets when he was forced to leave the country in 1996. 9/11 Attacks Getty Images By 2001, bin Laden had attempted and often successfully executed attacks on several countries using the help of al Qaedatrained terrorists. On September 11, 2001, bin Laden delivered his most devastating blow to the United States. A small group of bin Ladens al Qaeda jihadists hijacked four commercial passenger planes in the United States, two of which collided into the World Trade Center towers. Another aircraft crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. A fourth plane was successfully retaken and crashed in Pennsylvania. The intended target of the final aircraft was believed to be the United States Capitol. In all, the attack killed nearly 3,000 civilians. Following the September 11 attacks on the United States, In response, the U.S. government under President George W. Bush helped lead what became known as the global war on terror, an international coalition designed to thwart future terrorist acts. In October 2001, a joint U.S.-British attack on Afghanistan was launched, aimed at capturing al Qaedas leader and overthrowing the Taliban. Taliban leadership collapsed by the end of 2001, as bin Laden went into hiding. For more than 10 years, he was hunted along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. In 2004, shortly before President Bushs reelection, bin Laden released a videotaped message publicly claiming responsibility for the attacks on 9/11 for the first time. The U.S. involvement in Afghanistan lasted for nearly two decades, including periods of fierce counterinsurgent fighting against the Taliban. The final American forces didnt leave Afghanistan until 2021. The U.S. would be similarly ensnared in the Iraq War, a conflict that began in 2003 based on later-discredited intelligence that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and had provided support for al Qaeda, including the 9/11 attacks. Death Getty Images Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011, in a terrorist compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. President Barack Obama announced the 57-year-olds death that day. For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaedas leader and symbol and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and our allies, Obama said in a late-night address to the nation on the night of bin Ladens death. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nations effort to defeat al Qaeda. He added that his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Bin Ladens death was the result of an eight-month plan the president enacted and CIA Director Leon Panetta led. Approximately two dozen members of a classified American special forces unitcalled Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or DevGru (formerly known as SEAL Team Six)raided bin Ladens hideout. Bin Laden was shot several times. The Navy unit took his body as evidence of his death. He was identified, in part, thanks to his significant height of more than 6-foot-4, and DNA tests revealed that the body was, in fact, his. Bin Laden Family and King Charles III In June 2022, months before he acceded to the British throne as Charles III, reports emerged that in 2013, the then-Prince of Wales foundation, The Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, had accepted a $1.21 million donation from Bakr and Shafiq bin Laden, two of Osama bin Ladens half-brothers. Charles denied charges that he had personally solicited the donation, insisting the decision to accept the donation was made by the charitys trustees. Neither bin Laden brother has any known connection to terrorist activities, and both had previously disowned Osama bin Laden (as had many others in the extended bin Laden family) beginning in the mid-1990s. Bin Laden in Media Osama bin Laden, the 9/11 attacks, and its aftermath have been the subject of numerous books and documentaries, as well as television series and films. The 2018 Hulu limited series The Looming Tower, based on Lawrence Wrights Pulitzer Prizewinning book of the same name, tracked the rise of Al Qaeda and the failures of U.S. intelligence services to prevent the September 11 attacks. Director Kathryn Bigelows Zero Dark Thirty (2013) depicted the decade-long hunt for bin Laden and starred Jessica Chastain as a fictional CIA analyst. The film received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Chastain. National Geographic Channels 2012 limited series SEAL Team Six: The Raid on Osama bin Laden chronicled the clandestine raid in Pakistan that led to bin Ladens death. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us! You Might Also Like Like many new restaurants in Miami that opened in 2020, Uptown 66 started life as a pop-up spot. And like many entrepreneurs, owner and chef Nuno Grullon wasnt sure the restaurant could succeed in the face of government shutdowns and COVID 19. Now, three years later, the small but popular outdoor Mexican cantina has a loyal following and was just crowned taco champion by Good Morning America . Last week, the show hosted a weeklong United States of Tacos competition to discover the best tacos in the country, with first-round competitions in Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Miami. After reaching out to Grullon to participate, a panel of judges voted Uptown 66s birria taco as the best of the bunch (guest judges included former Major League Baseball player and Hall of Famer CC Sabathia; actor Alex Moffat; fitness instructor and makeup artist Tunde Oyeneyin; actor and singer-songwriter Christian Chavez of RBD; and chef Chris Valdes). Grullon, who took home a grand prize of $20,000 courtesy of Taco Bell, beat out Caja Caliente chef and owner Mika Leon, who made her famous Cuban-style lechon taco for the Miami round of the competition. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It was nerve racking, Grullon admits. I didnt expect to be so nervous! But it was fun. Everyone was super nice and attentive, and the other competitors were great. We had a great time behind the scenes. This popular ramen bar in Miamis Little River area now has a secret sushi speakeasy Nuno Grullon of Uptown 66 Mexican restaurant holds the $20,000 check he won in the Good Morning America competition for best tacos in the United States. Grullon, who moved from the Bronx to Miami in the late 1990s, didnt begin his career as an expert in Mexican cuisine. After starting his working life as a dishwasher in New York, he worked his way up to line cook and gradually made his way to higher-end restaurants serving Mediterranean, French and Italian fare. When he opened Uptown 66, he learned the best ingredients for Mexican dishes, which chiles worked for which dishes and what flavors needed to come forward. I need to understand the culture behind the food, he says. Where does it originate? How did they prepare it? Grullons award-winning birria taco made with three different cuts of braised beef, queso mixto and consomme wasnt even on Uptown 66s original menu. Grullon started with four tacos when his restaurant first opened: barbacoa, carnitas, chicken and wild mushroom. But customers, inspired by viral recipes that flooded TikTok, had other ideas. People kept coming up and asking for birria tacos, Grullon says now. They were all over social media. I said, Im going to have to make one of those. Traditionally, Grullon says, birria tacos are made from goat meat. But he said his experience working in Miamis restaurant world steered him toward the less exotic beef. Uptown 66 owner and chef Nuno Grullon shows off the popular birria taco (left) that won the competition. Hes drawn to the difficulty of creating great Mexican dishes, he says (cooking birria, for example, takes 20 hours, the meat smoldering at a low temperature). The cuisine is very complex, he says. Its not as easy as putting a burger together. Nothing against a burger I love a great burger! But its easy. Get top quality beef, put it on the grill, put lettuce, onion and cheese on it, and boom! With birria, you have to make a marinade. It takes two hours. You have to make sure to get the seeds out of the chiles. Its very labor intensive. Thats what I love about it. It reminds me of French cuisine in that way. Grullon is considering Uptown 66s future, pondering franchises or openings in other cities. Hes planning to open a full-service American concept soon near 79th Street and Biscayne Boulevard. But for now, hes taking time to appreciate the Good Morning America honor. It was a big win for us, he says. The brand means a lot to our die-hard customers. Theyre very loyal, and they want to see us succeed. The guava margarita is a favorite of chef Nuno Grullons at his restaurant Uptown 66. Uptown 66 Where: 6600 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Hours: Noon-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; noon-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday Information: uptown66.miami or 305-960-7117 Uptown 66 Mexican restaurant in Miamis MiMo neighborhood. This New York favorite and three other restaurants are coming to Miami Worldcenter MEMPHIS, Tenn. One person was injured, and two people died in separate overnight shootings, Memphis Police say. According to reports, the first shooting happened around 2 a.m. in Frayser. It took place on at a gas station at North Watkins and Dellwood. The victim told police he was sleeping on the steps outside the convenience store when he was shot in the stomach. The 53-year-old victim never got a glimpse of the gunmen. MPD says he was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Around the same time, police responded to a shooting in South Memphis on South Parkway East and South Lauderdale. One man was taken to Regional One Hospital and later pronounced deceased. A second victim at South Parkway East and Carnegie went to the hospital by private vehicle. He was pronounced deceased. The suspects were seen in a silver Toyota Camry, according to MPD. While police are working to piece together who disrupted the peace across the city overnight, anyone with any information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. The Palm Bay Police Department said Monday afternoon that it arrested a couple in connection with a deadly shooting. On Tuesday, police said they had responded to a report of a missing 30-year-old person. Investigators said Nicholas Mitchells roommate advised them that Mitchell was last seen Aug. 30 and had physical ailments. All available resources were utilized to search the immediate area of the victims residence as well as The Compound, where information was gathered he may have last been known to be, Palm Bay police Lt. Mike Roberts said. When officers later conducted a computer search on the victims vehicle, it was learned it was seen in Alabama on Sept. 2. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Detectives said they later learned that on Sept. 4, Mitchells vehicle was involved in a high-speed chase in Alabama, where the vehicle had crashed. Read: Orlando man killed, Sanford woman hurt in shooting during birthday party at Airbnb, deputies say They said it was being driven by Robert Paul Lanning III, 28. Police said Lannings girlfriend, Rene Lemos, 41, arrived at the crash scene shortly thereafter and was arrested on charges relating to the pursuit in Alabama. Detectives said they interviewed Lanning and Lemos, who both said they met with the victim Aug. 30 at a Circle K convenience store in Palm Bay. Read: Hurricane Lee still on track to stay far away from Florida, rip currents a risk this week Police said the trio drove out to The Compound -- a vast, undeveloped area in Palm Bay -- in the victims vehicle and Lemos truck, and at some point, Mitchell was shot several times and Mitchells body was left along a road. Investigators said Lanning and Lemos later left the area in Lemos truck and the victims vehicle. Mitchells body was discovered Sept. 8 in a wooded area near Southwest Saint Andre and Warbler Avenue and taken to the Medical Examiners Office. Read: Woman spots man peering through the window of her apartment near UCF Lanning was arrested in Marshall County, Alabama, on charges of first-degree murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Lemos was arrested in Kennesaw, Georgia, and charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Lanning and Lemos are both awaiting extradition back to Florida. There is no evidence the victim was a target of a hate crime based on their gender identity, Roberts said. Based on the investigation, this is a tragic and isolated incident, and the suspects responsible for this heinous crime are in custody. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. The Ukrainian military will modernize its administrative infrastructure, generally reducing the amount of paperwork it produces, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said following a meeting with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on Sept. 11. In his evening address, the head of state said that the meeting was about transparency in providing for Ukrainian service members. The specific needs of our battle brigades they need to be met as quickly as possible, and for this, all accounting must be digitized, said Zelenskyy. Read also: Ukraine forms maritime drone brigade ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There has to be significantly less paperwork in the army, and there should not be a difference between what is reported here, in the center, and what the guys on the frontlines really need. The president also added that the Defense Ministry is currently rebooting its accounting system, assisted by the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Read also: 78% of Ukrainians hold Zelenskyy responsible for government corruption survey Zelenskyy also talked about the meeting with law enforcement officials and announced "new steps" on defending the interests of society from those who put the interests of their wallets higher than social norms and rules, suggesting a further push to root out corruption among Ukraines civilian and military officials. Read also: Umerov in phone call with US SecDef Austin After his recent appointment, Umerov said that the department intends to introduce an electronic military registry, launch a unified register of draftees, digitize the military medical commissions (MMCs), as well as conduct a department-wide audit. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine In suburban Atlanta, the DeKalb County Schools police chief stands accused of using excessive force on a Georgia teenager on a high school campus during regular school hours. The chief has been placed on leave as the district reviews the incident. Surveillance footage shows the moment Chief Bradley Gober comes up behind the 17-year-old student as the boy is walking down a school hallway alongside a major and brushing that officers hands away. Richard Stephens says he was shocked when he saw a video of the DeKalb Schools police chief body-slamming his son. (Photo: 11 Alive/YouTube screenshot) Gober wraps up the much-smaller student from behind, twists and lifts into the air before slamming him face down to the floor. The cops converge on the pair on the floor to handcuff the boy and take him into custody. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. According to the arrest warrant, the altercation happened on Aug. 31 around 2 p.m. while the student was on the Redan High School campus. It said the student pushed the officer while taking another female student in custody. Related: Because I Dont Want You In My Car: White Uber Driver Calls Black Woman the N-Word, Allegedly Tries to Hit Her with Vehicle Richard Stephens, the boys father, was shocked upon being shown the video of the violent takedown. He was especially upset because the schools administration did not contact him. I didnt know nothing about it. The school didnt say nothing about that. I didnt even know that he was arrested, said Stephens in an interview with WSB-TV. Despite the boy being a minor, the father said his sons friends told him that he was taken to DeKalb County Jail. His son spent the weekend behind bars, charged with obstruction of justice and damaging school property I spoke to him, and he said he dont know why they did it, the father said. I just gotta look into it. I need to see the Chief. I need to see somebody. While any recordings showing what happened leading up to the arrest have yet to come to light, unnamed witnesses told WSB that the chief had responded to a fight near the schools front office. Upon arrival, he told Stephens son not to get involved in the fight or he would be arrested. The young man was then sat inside a small room in the front office before leaving that office and the incident in the hallway taking place. Related: Lets Do Some Gangster Sh*t: White Florida Football Coach Goes on Vicious Tirade Against Young Black Player, Suspends Himself After Backlash The young mans father was outraged. I was in shock that it was an actual officer, an adult grabbing (my son) and actually slamming him to the ground, Stephens told 11Alive. (He hurt) his head, shoulder, the whole side like, hes fragile. What if you would have paralyzed him? He wants to meet with the districts superintendent and have charges pressed against both officers involved. Gober, with 16 years of experience in DeKalb County Schools Campus Security & Life Safety, assumed the role of department director in 2017. He currently holds the positions of detective in the Criminal Investigation Division and manager of Internal Affairs, and he is credited with founding the districts Emergency Response Team. The DeKalb County School District confirmed that the chief has since been placed on paid leave in light of the video. The officials also said they are aware of a recent video circulating in the media regarding an incident with the chief. In keeping with standard operating procedure, Chief Gober has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the statement said. This standard procedure ensures a comprehensive and impartial assessment of the incident. No additional information will be provided while the investigation is ongoing. The district also said it appreciated the community being cooperative and understanding as it probed into the matter. The MRI of a 30-year-old patient with Dystonia, treated by a high frequency deep brain stimulation by implantation of electrodes at the level of the internal palladium. The MRI scan does not belong to Johnson. BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images A development in neurotechnology has given a stroke survivor her voice back after nearly 20 years. The woman had a brain stem stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak at age 30. Her new implant uses AI to decode brain signals and convert them to computerized speech. Nearly two decades ago, then-30-year-old Ann Johnson had a brain stem stroke, and though she survived, she was left paralyzed and unable to speak with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. Johnson slowly regained the ability to breathe independently, move her neck, and wink, but after 18 years, her brain hasn't recovered its ability to move the muscles required for her to speak more than a few words. With the help of a new AI-driven brain implant, she has become the first patient to successfully use a groundbreaking neurotechnology that synthesizes speech and facial expressions from brain signals, the researchers behind the project claim. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a study published in Nature late last month, researchers at the University of California San Francisco and the University of California Berkeley detailed their findings after implanting a thin layer of 253 electrodes on Johnson's brain and customizing the technology to read her brain signals. The neurotechnology uses artificial intelligence to decode the woman's brain signals while she tries to speak. Though her muscles don't move, her brain sends a signal perceptible to the electrodes, which decode what she is trying to say, and then synthesizes speech and facial expressions using a computer-generated avatar. Johnson, who doesn't have cognitive or sensory impairment after the stroke, could previously communicate at roughly 14 words per minute using her old typing method involving a device that responds to small head movements, per a University of California San Francisco news article about the breakthrough. With her new implant, her digital avatar speaks almost 80. "Our goal is to restore a full, embodied way of communicating, which is the most natural way for us to talk with others," Dr. Edward Chang, chair of neurological surgery at the University of California San Francisco, said in the UCSF publication about the research. "These advancements bring us much closer to making this a real solution for patients." Chang did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. While the UCSF and UCB researchers claim Johnson's case is a scientific first for allowing people with locked-in syndrome to communicate using neurotechnology, two researchers from Austria's Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering claimed last year they had achieved a similar feat. Though their results working with a 34-year-old man to regain his ability to speak after being paralyzed were promising, the Austrian researchers previously had a paper on the subject retracted, and "several cases of scientific misconduct" were identified in a 2019 investigation conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which funded some of the work. Despite neurotechnology facing controversy and ethics concerns, developments in the public and private sectors have been identified by groups like the United Nations as among the fastest-growing fields with the possibility to improve human lives. As for Johnson, the benefits of being involved in the UCSF project are far more expansive than just offering her the opportunity to speak again after all these years. "When I was at the rehab hospital, the speech therapist didn't know what to do with me," Johnson said, per the UCSF publication. "Being a part of this study has given me a sense of purpose, I feel like I am contributing to society. It feels like I have a job again. It's amazing I have lived this long; this study has allowed me to really live while I'm still alive!" Read the original article on Business Insider Nearly 100 city officials, family members, police officers and spectators filled Park Ridge City Hall Thursday night for the swearing-in ceremony of Robert Kampwirth as the new police chief of Park Ridge. Kampwirths nomination received a unanimous approval vote from aldermen at the Sept. 5 City Council meeting. He had been serving as interim police chief since May, after Frank Kaminski retired as chief. At the swearing-in ceremony, City Manager Joe Gilmore said Kampwirth had a test drive as interim chief because he got to navigate the citys busy summertime season with its many festivals. [Kampwirth] understands the departments culture and has a vision to take policing to the next level, he said. Gilmore added that Kampwirths passion stuck out in the recruiting process. Hes the only person Ive offered a job to that answered with a bear hug, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mayor Marty Maloney said I think Bob might be the person who would say [hes] never worked a day in his life. Hes worked for a community he loves, and hes worked in a job that he loves. In a short speech after being sworn in by City Clerk Sal Raspanti, Kampwirth thanked his family, city officials and the Park Ridge Police Department for their support. He said, I stand in a place that I thought Id never be here. And mark my words, its because of everyone in this room. I really appreciate that. I couldnt be here without you guys. Kampwirth told Pioneer Press/Chicago Tribune a day after he was sworn in his priority is to reestablish himself in the department in his new role. Kampwirth said, I mean, Ive been here for 29 years. So everybody knows me. They know me really well. But I want to make sure that I establish myself as the new chief to say that, Hey, here I am. I am going to be looking at everything that we have from our organization from the top level now. Kampwirth said he wants the police department to play a role that will find solutions in the community, even when problems are not necessarily a police problem. For example, lets say the youth problems youth gatherings and things like that. You know, theyre not necessarily causing a crime, right? But that ends up we get calls for them around Starbucks, around Uptown area and everything else, he said. What I want to do is work with the community to find solutions. I want to collaborate with community groups, community partners, and parents, especially if youre talking about kids, schools, things like that, to work together, said Kampwirth. With the SAFE-T Act in place in Illinois and set to take effect Sept. 18, Kampwirth said he wants to stay on top of things professionally and to be transparent. The new chief said Park Ridge wont see huge changes in the way it conducts policing because body cameras and other transparency measures have already been in place in the city. Regarding cashless bail, he said, Were still working on our procedures and policies and how were going to get through that and do that. A parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China has said that he is completely innocent and had dedicated his career to exposing the threat posed by the ruling Communist Party. The British national, who was arrested in March and has been released on bail, said that he has been forced to respond to the accusations because of public speculation over his links to Beijing. The researcher, in his late 20s, has links to senior Conservative MPs who have access to highly sensitive or classified material, including Tom Tugendhat, now the security minister, and Alicia Kearns, the chairman of the foreign affairs select committee. After news of his arrest broke at the weekend there have been questions over the Governments approach to China and security at the Houses of Parliament, where he had undergone security vetting in order to obtain a pass. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a statement released through his lawyers, the privately educated researcher, who has not been officially named by police, said: I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a Chinese spy. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for. Lawyers used by Assange He is being represented by Birnberg Peirce, one of Britains leading human rights law firms whose clients have included Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder, and Shamima Begum, the east London schoolgirl who joined Islamic State. The researcher has previously lived and worked in China. He has been working with Parliamentarians for a number of years. He was arrested in Edinburgh on March 13, while a second man, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire, Scotland Yard said. Searches were also carried out at an east London property. Both were held on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. They were bailed until early October. In his role with MPs, the man may have had access to highly sensitive documents as well as private briefings from ministers, senior officials, and dissidents critical of the ruling Communist Party. Serious allegations Ms Kearns, who he is known to have links to, is likely to have had access to private documents but not classified material through her role as chairman of a backbench committee. She has refused to comment on the case owing to the ongoing police operation. Mr Tugendhat is said not to have had any contact with the researcher since before he became security minister in September last year. Making a statement in the Commons on the arrest, Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, said: These are serious allegations and it is right that they are being thoroughly investigated by the police and relevant agencies. We must not hamper their work or prejudice any future legal processes by what we say today. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: The investigation is being carried out by officers from the Mets Counter Terrorism Command, which has responsibility for investigations relating to allegations of Official Secrets Act and espionage-related offences. Enquiries continue. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. A Ryanair passenger fell down the aircraft steps while disembarking and broke her leg, per El Periodico. The budget airline has been ordered to pay her $33,000 in compensation. The judge's decision said the plane staircase "was especially narrow and steep." Ryanair has been ordered to pay a passenger $33,000 after she broke her leg in two places while deplaning, El Periodico reported Wednesday. The unnamed woman had flown with the Irish budget airline from Seville to Alicante in Spain to meet her newborn grandson back in February 2020, per El Periodico. But she fell while exiting the aircraft, rolling all the way down the staircase from the second step, before being taken to hospital for surgery having broken her tibia and fibula, according to the Spanish newspaper. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Local outlet Diario de Seville reported that the woman was holding the staircase handrail and carrying luggage when she suffered the "horrendous fall." Ryanair's fleet is almost entirely made up of Boeing 737s, and the airline uses integrated staircases that fold out from underneath the exits. That allows for the budget airline to save on airport fees for jet bridges or stair cars. But the judge at the Commercial Court of Seville said the Ryanair plane's staircase "was especially narrow and steep," per El Periodico. The woman, who was hospitalized for three days and had two surgeries, requested 31,230 euros ($33,595) in the lawsuit although she received slightly less than that because compensation for accommodation and pharmacy expenses was rejected, Europa Press reported. Her claim was based on the Montreal Convention which stipulates that airlines are liable for any passenger injuries onboard an aircraft, or while boarding or deplaning, unless they can prove the passenger was negligent. Ryanair did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider A dog who weeks ago escaped at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was recovered on Saturday, the airport said in a social media post. Maia was found by an operations team hiding near the airport's North Cargo facilities, the airport said. She's since been taken to a veterinarian for treatment. Maia's owner had been on a Delta flight when the dog vanished during a layover in Atlanta. The passenger, Paula Rodriguez, posted in a Facebook group called "Atlanta Area Lost and Found Pets" with a plea for help after she said she lost her dog on Aug. 18. "For 2 straight days I have not received any information whatsoever on her whereabouts, and just today I received info from Delta that she escaped her kennel on the airport ramp and that airport staff was looking for her," Rodriguez wrote on Aug. 21, sharing a photo of Maia. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Following Maia's disappearance, Robin Allgood, who works to find lost dogs, put up flyers around the airport, she told CBS News' David Begnaud . Allgood said she went to the airport Saturday after she got a call from someone who said they saw Maia. She said the pup was under a rack used to move big cargo containers around the airport. According to Allgood, after a wildlife biologist failed to get Maia with a net, people were standing around talking about how they could get the dog out from under the rack. "And I thought 'you know what? Y'all aren't getting her, I am.' So I just started scooting on my back under the rack and nobody even knew I was under there and I just reached and grabbed her and then somebody said 'Oh my gosh, she's got her,'" Allgood told Begnaud. They found Maia! Remember the dog I told yall about who escaped her kennel while being transported by Delta in Atlanta? She was found by an animal welfare volunteer who put up signs around the airport & got a call today: the dog was still at the airport! https://t.co/87xzwgDSRY David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2023 Allgood said she spoke with Rodriguez and assured her that Maia was in good shape. Rodriguez had not yet posted about Maia being found as of Sunday evening. Delta previously told CBS News that the specifics of how and why the dog went missing were still being investigated. Rodriguez, who said she was flying to San Francisco from the Dominican Republic with a layover in Atlanta, claimed her tourist visa wasn't approved by border officials and she had to spend the night at a detention center as she awaited the next flight back home. Maia was not allowed to stay with her at the detention center, Rodriguez said. A Delta representative later confirmed U.S. Customs and Border Patrol does not allow cabin pets those who traveled on the plane in a carrier under the seat at their detention facility. A Delta agent took the pet and Rodriguez said staff told her the dog would be waiting for her the next day at the gate. When the dog wasn't there, Rodriguez said the gate staff tried to locate Maia, but could not. In an email to CBS News, a Delta representative confirmed the dog had escaped her carrier "while teams were transporting the pet in the operations area outside of terminal buildings." Maia would have otherwise been returned to Rodriguez before her Customs and Border Protection-mandated flight, the spokesperson said. Caitlin O'Kane contributed reporting. River of red wine flows through village in Portugal Civilian shot at escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante, who officials say is now armed Sneak peek: The Night of the Idaho Student Murders Weve said this a million times, the Jacksonville shooting was a tragedy that reflected the hatred targeted toward innocent Black people. It was an act we will never forget. But we also shouldnt forget how much of a mistake it was for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to speak at the vigil, just a day after three Black victims were killed by a white mass shooter. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Although the governor wasnt incorrect, it was still a mistake to allow him to speak, considering he created an environment for the mass shooting to occur. Now, the pastor who hosted the vigil is acknowledging that he never shouldve let DeSantis speak. During an interview with News4Jax, Pastor John Allen Newman and Councilwoman JuCoby Pittman spoke about their mistake. Pastor Newman said, I mistakenly forgot he was to be acknowledged, would not speak. So the fluke was I called him to go out and speak. It was not some kind of grandiose scheme. That was actually a mistake I made by misreading the program. Councilwoman Pittman shared that she did not know that DeSantis was attending the vigil until an hour before the event was set to begin. She said all she has attempted to do is to defuse the situation, but has only been met with criticism and backlash, according to News4Jax. I understand why. As The Root previously explained, while DeSantis was not the man who pulled the trigger, he still has the blood of Jacsonvilles Black community on his hands. Hes the one who has increased racial division in Flordia through his policies and has made it a more difficult place for targeted groups such as Black people, the LGBTQ+ community, and Hispanic immigrants to live. Thanks to a bill he signed earlier this year, hes made it easier for anyone who can legally own a gun to carry one without a permit. You dont need a background check, you dont need to be trained. If you want a gun in Florida, it shouldnt be too hard to get it. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. DETROIT (AP) Dr. Starling Tolliver knew she wanted to become a doctor. Yet, as a Black girl growing up in Akron, Ohio, it was a dream that felt out of reach. She rarely saw doctors who looked like her. As a child, she experienced severe hair loss, and struggled to find a dermatologist who could help. Tolliver made a pact with two childhood best friends to become doctors who would care for Black and underserved communities like their own. Now 30, she is in her final year of dermatology residency at Wayne State University in Detroit. She plans to spend her career caring for the bodys largest organ, where differences in melanin give humans the skin colors underpinning the construct of race. In dermatology, only 3% of U.S. doctors are Black. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Despite her success, the girls' pact remains unfulfilled. While her friend Charmaine became a nurse, Maria, who wanted to become a pediatrician, was killed in their hometown at the age of 19. Her friend's death only strengthened her resolve. "Im going to continue to go on this path of medicine," Tolliver said. "Not only for myself, but for Maria, and to potentially help others in the future from similar backgrounds as mine know that they can do it as well. But more than two months after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, concerns have arisen that a path into medicine may become much harder for students of color. Heightening the alarm: the medical field's reckoning with longstanding health inequities. Black Americans represent 13% of the U.S. population, yet just 6% of U.S. physicians are Black. Increasing representation among doctors is one solution experts believe could help disrupt health inequities. The disparities stretch from birth to death, often beginning before Black babies take their first breath, a recent Associated Press series showed. Over and over, patients said their concerns were brushed aside or ignored, in part because of unchecked bias and racism within the medical system and a lack of representative care. A UCLA study found the percentage of Black doctors had increased just 4% from 1900 to 2018. But the affirmative action ruling dealt a serious blow to the medical field's goals of improving that figure, the American Medical Association said, by prohibiting medical schools from considering race among many factors in admissions. The ruling, the AMA said, will reverse gains made in the battle against health inequities. The consequences could affect Black health for generations to come, said Dr. Uche Blackstock, a New York emergency room physician and author of LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine. It's really about holding these larger organizations, institutions accountable and saying: Right now, were in a crisis a crisis of humanity, Blackstock said. With affirmative action off the table at predominantly white institutions, historically Black colleges and universities may see an increase in applications, said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. The college, which typically has 115 openings for new medical students, receives between 7,000 and 9,000 applications per year, a number Rice said she believes will increase in light of the Supreme Court ruling. HBCUs have long served as a direct pipeline of Black doctors. Experts say diversity is especially needed within specialty medicine. In dermatology, just 65 of the 796 applicants for residencies in 2020 were Black, data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows. Only 39 were Latino. For a field focusing on the skin, the unequal access among patients of color is stark: Patients of color are half as likely as white patients to see a dermatologist for the same conditions. The consequences can be devastating. The skin is a window to the rest of your health, said Dr. Ginette Okoye, professor and chair of dermatology at Howard University, who is a programming lead for the American Academy of Dermatologys Pathways program. If you have kidney disease, if you have cancer, sometimes those clues show up on the skin first. We are able to preemptively diagnose cancer sometimes just by the way a specific rash shows up on the skin," Okoye said. "Thats pretty impactful. Black men are more likely to die of melanoma, compared with men of other races, according to a study co-authored last month by dermatologist Dr. Ashley Wysong in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. They also are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when the condition is more difficult to treat. Melanoma is the most invasive and serious form of skin cancer. The reasons for the different cancer rates are unclear, and more research is needed to understand in particular how economic and social conditions impact the cancer rates, Wysong said. The study found survival rates in men with melanoma were highest among white men, 75%, while the survival rates were lowest among Black men at only 52%. As medical professionals, any time we see disparities in care or outcomes of any kind, we have to look at the systems in which we are delivering care and we have to look at ways that we are falling short, Wysong said. Without affirmative action as a tool, career programs focused on engaging people of color could grow in importance. For instance, the Pathways initiative engages students from Black, Latino and Indigenous communities from high school through medical school. The program starts with building interest in dermatology as a career and continues to scholarships, workshops and mentorship programs. The goal: Increase the number of underrepresented dermatology residents from about 100 in 2022 to 250 by 2027, and grow the share of dermatology faculty who are members of color by 2%. Tolliver credits her success in becoming a dermatologist in part to a scholarship she received through Ohio State Universitys Young Scholars Program, which helps talented, first-generation Ohio students with financial need. The scholarship helped pave the way for medical school, but her involvement in the Pathways residency program also was central. Azariah Providence, a 17-year-old rising high school senior who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands, participated in the high school Pathways program last month. She wants to become a dermatologist because of her own scalp psoriasis diagnosis, which is a skin disease causing a rash with itchy, scaly patches. Her condition hampered her self-esteem as a 9-year-old girl. The dermatologist she saw, one of very few on the island, prescribed medication causing Providences skin to burn and her hair to fall out. It was a difficult experience because as a little girl, your hair is very important to you, Providence recalled. "After going through that, I wanted to help little girls who have similar conditions that I have. I want to be that person for them that I didnt have when I was younger. Providence, who would be a first-generation medical student, said the program exposed her to college students and doctors of color, something she had never before seen. I think its important for more Black people to get into the field of dermatology for the simple reason that some conditions may appear differently on Black skin, Providence said. I want to enter the field so that people who look like me can have their skin understood and fully studied so that when they come to get diagnosed, its a correct diagnosis and they could get the correct treatment. Dermatology also is working to diversify its textbooks to help improve the spectrum of skin colors so doctors can be better equipped to diagnose and provide equitable care, said Dr. Adam Friedman, chair of dermatology at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. But targeted programs to diversify the pipeline of talent are crucial for the future of medicine, Friedman said. As Tolliver prepares to leave residency, she hopes to be one of the people pushing for better outcomes, especially for Black women. Our patients are looking for us, and that kind of pushed forward my love for this field," Tolliver said. And that really has been my goal ongoing from when I was a little girl: for Black women to see the beauty of themselves, within themselves. A Putnam County man is accused of bludgeoning his father to death on Sunday, New York State Police say. Police responded to a fatal domestic incident Sunday on River Road in the town of Patterson. James C. Cherry, 33, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Sunday. Police said Cherry is accused of killing his father, 56-year-old James C. Cherry Jr. The senior Cherry's death may represent at least the third domestic homicide in the region in the past five weeks. Police Car On Aug. 5 Dr. Krystal Cascetta, a Mount Sinai cancer doctor, fatally shot her infant daughter and then herself in their Somers home. August Velasco, 46, was charged with second-degree murder Aug. 29 after allegedly killing his 76-year-old father Jose Raul Velasco with a meat cleaver in their Scarsdale Road home in Yonkers. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Cherry was arraigned in Patterson Town Court and remanded without bail at the Putnam County Jail. Police say the investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back to LoHud for updates. Staff writer Jonathan Bandler contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Putnam County man accused of bludgeoning father to death Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton s former chief of staff testified Monday about confronting him about his extramarital affair posing risks to the state office. Another whisteblower also testified as Paxtons impeachment trial rolled into its second week. State senators could begin deliberations as early as Thursday on whether to remove Paxton from office, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Paxton could also be barred from running for future office. Mondays testimony began with a fifth whistleblower, Mark Penley, who was a deputy attorney general in Paxtons office. Among the allegations against Paxton is that he misused his office to help political donor Nate Paul with special legal attention while accepting home renovations and a job for a woman with whom he was having an affair. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Penley, like other whistleblowers who have testified so far, outlined concerns he had about Paxtons involvement with Paul, who is an Austin real estate developer. Penley was among seven officials who ultimately reported Paxton to the FBI, and among four who filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the office. I think we all knew this was an incredibly dangerous and unique but outrageous situation, Penley responded to a question of whether whistleblowers feared theyd be fired. We were the only ones who could stop it. We had to. The meeting with the FBI lasted nearly four hours, he said. That was four hours of eyewitness, personal knowledge from people directly involved with the attorney general, the events I described and the events the others were involved in, Penley said. Penley said his boss wanted him to look into claims made by Paul related to the execution of search warrants on his home and businesses in August 2019. Penley put Pauls claims this way: Paul and his attorney wanted the office to agree that an assistant United States attorney had illegally, at a felony level crime, altered search warrants after they were issued by a federal judge, and that two assistant United States attorneys, a federal judge and a whole bunch of state and federal agencies were in on a grand conspiracy to cover this up and target Nate Paul. Penley said he took steps to investigate the allegations with the hope that he could dissuade Paxton from believing the investigation had any merit. Paul and his attorney eventually stopped providing requested documentation. At one point, Paxton asked for a list of the desired documents. The attorney general said Paul and his lawyer didnt trust Penley. I thought he was misguided, Penley said of Paxton. I thought he was biased against law enforcement to his detriment. I thought he was too aligned with Nate Paul whether it be through friendship or as time went on... Penley said before he was cut off by the questioning attorney. In one of Penleys meetings with Paul, the developer acted as if he were in charge of the state office, he said. Mr. Paul acted like we didnt understand who the real boss was, Penley said. It wasnt the attorney general, it was him. Penley described discussing the matters with Paxton on multiple occasions. Penley said he warned his boss of potential criminal charges and media scandals. I told him that I was trying to be a loyal subordinate and a friend, and I still considered myself a friend even up to that very day, and I was trying to walk him back from what I thought was a dangerous line he was trying to cross. Mitch Little, one of Paxtons attorneys, pressed Penley during cross examination on whether he had evidence Paxton had been bribed by Paul. Penley said he had circumstantial evidence, Paxtons behavior and the campaign donation from Paul. Anything else? Little asked. His absolute refusal to listen to common sense and reasoned legal positions, Penley said. He wouldnt listen to anyone on the executive staff. Little asked Penley about notes he took, including writing that KP must be indicted by spring break. That was what you wanted, wasnt it? Little said. At that point yes, because I believed hed broken the law, Penley said. Former staff member recalls Paxtons affair Missy Minter Cary, a former chief of staff, gave the most in-depth account yet of Paxtons affair and its effect on office morale. She was the first witness who was not a whistleblower to testify in the impeachment trial. Cary recalled seeing Paxton with the woman in public. She raised concerns of possible ethical, political and legal risks in a meeting with Paxton, where he confirmed the affair. These things can open one up bribery, misuse of office, misuse of state time, things like that, Cary said. In a 2018 meeting, the attorney general and his wife, Sen. Angela Paxton , told staff about the affair. He apologized; his wife appeared sad and embarrassed, Cary said. The experience was uncomfortable and somber, she added. My heart broke for her, Cary said. Cary said she believed Paxton was done with that sort of behavior, but problems arose again in the summer of 2019. She was hearing from travel aids, security detail and Jeff Mateer, who was first assistant attorney general. Cary again met with Paxton, at his request, and learned the affair was continuing. Cary said he seemed frustrated with her and told her he still loved the woman. Cary said she repeated her ethical advice from 2018. I told General Paxton, quite bluntly, that it wasnt my business who he was sleeping with, but that when things boiled over into the office and into the state work, that itd become my business and that I was having concerns about how the time and effort of the travel aids, the security detail and myself was being spent. Cary also testified that she was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in 2021. Tony Buzbee, one of Paxtons lawyers, questioned why nothing has happened since then. Has there been an indictment of our attorney general? Buzbee said. Buzbee emphasized through his line of questioning that its not a crime to have an affair. Jury deliberations for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton s (R) impeachment trial could start late Thursday or Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who is presiding over the proceedings, said Monday. Members of the jury, you may have this in your hands late Thursday or Friday. We will not take a day off until a final resolution, Patrick said, running through an overview of the remaining time for either side to present their arguments. Whether you deliberate a short time, mid time, long time, well stay here through Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday until youve made a decision on every article that youre prepared to come invoke. So, from this moment forward, no off-days until the trial deliberations and the decision is given, Patrick said. Proceedings resumed Monday morning for the fifth day of the first impeachment trial in modern Texas history. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Paxton pleaded not guilty to corruption charges last week. The attorney general is accused of bribery and abuse of office, centering on allegations that he misused his office to protect Austin realtor Nate Paul. The trial could result in Paxtons removal from office. The first witness called Monday was former Deputy Attorney General Mark Penley, a Paxton whistleblower. Patrick said that if the trial goes as expected over the next few days, both sides may run out of time for more witnesses by Thursday morning. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A tired flamingo swept to Florida's waters by Hurricane Idalia has recovered and was released back into the wild over the weekend. Wild flamingos typically live and breed in the Caribbean, though they are regularly spotted visiting Florida in the Everglades or the Florida Keys. But Hurricane Idalia's Category 3 winds blew them more than 300 miles north to the Tampa Bay area and beyond (reportedly as far as Ohio). The bird, now lovingly known as Peaches, was found alone and rescued off of St. Pete Beach on Sept. 1, as Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported. Local officials assessing damage from Hurricane Idalia saw the bird far out in the ocean with water-logged wings that prevented it from flying. "We decided that we needed to try to save her, because the consensus was she would drown possibly," local city Madeira Beach Commissioner Anne-Marie Brooks told Fox 13. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement They used a towel to contain the bird and then scooped it up with a net. It was transported to the SPCA for a day before recovering at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores, according to Fox 13. The rescuers were not able to determine the sex of the bird. In a Facebook post, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary said that the flamingo was overall in good condition but "clearly exhausted." Videos and photos also posted show the bird in its "recess" time. After regaining strength, Peaches was ready to join other flamingos stranded by the storm. It was outfitted with a federal band, a resight band, and a satellite transmitter that will allow researchers to look at Peaches' movements for the next few years. "The bands and transmitter weigh about as much as a pen, and while may be a little annoying for the bird initially, it will not cause pain or distress to the bird," the sanctuary said in a post about Peaches' release. Upon being released Saturday morning, Peaches put on a show of bathing, shaking out its feathers, and the typical flamingo dance that kicked up sediments in the waters it was feeding in. About an hour later Peaches took flight, and rehabilitators are hopeful it will join another flamboyance which has been reported in the area. Hurricane Idalia blew flamingos off their course A flamboyance of flamingos feed and preen in Estero Bay Preserve State Park on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. The large pink birds are thought to come from the Yucatan Peninsula or Cuba and were swept up as Hurricane Idalia moved north. People have spotted them throughout Florida along with several other states. The photographer encountered challenging conditions to photograph the birds, including wading through ankle- to shin-deep water, thick shoe-sucking mud and a long hike. The photographer also stresses being prepared with water and understanding the terrain as it pertains to geography and direction to avoid getting stranded or lost. The photographer also stresses research on location of the birds because that can be fluid. After Idalia, flamingoes were spotted along Florida's Gulf Coast and even throughout Southeastern states. Despite being a mascot for the state's lottery, many debate if the bird ever lived in Florida year-round. Even when they do make an appearance, they are usually spotted in the Everglades or Florida Keys, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Experts believe that the birds were flying from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula to Cuba and were blown off course, a phenomenon known as a "fall out." After Hurricane Michael in 2018, one beloved bird "Pinky" stuck around after a fallout near Tallahassee, earning a local star status. Contributing: Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press; Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flamingo rescued, released off Florida beach after Hurricane Idalia China, ASEAN to continue see strengthened economic ties: Malaysian observer Xinhua) 09:46, September 11, 2023 This aerial photo taken on July 22, 2023 shows an automated container wharf of the Beibu Gulf Port in Qinzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Cao Yiming) In 2022, bilateral trade between ASEAN and China increased 11.2 percent year-on-year to 975.3 billion U.S. dollars, up significantly from 443.6 billion dollars a decade ago. KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will continue to see its ties with China strengthen with particular focus on economic matters, a Malaysian observer said. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations see the two sides move in lockstep to secure and improve their economic cooperation to face an uncertain global outlook, according to Azmi Hassan, a senior research fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research. China has proposed to accelerate ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations and strive to conclude negotiations in 2024, according to a list of China's cooperation initiatives for the ASEAN-related summits, which just concluded in Indonesia. "I think ASEAN and China have been trading smoothly. A few years ago, when RCEP was finalized, and all 10 ASEAN plus five other countries made RCEP materialize, it is part of the healthy relationship between China and ASEAN in terms of economic matters," he told Xinhua in an interview. A customer visits a night market stall selling Southeast Asian beverages in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Xingyu) In 2022, bilateral trade increased 11.2 percent year-on-year to 975.3 billion U.S. dollars, up significantly from 443.6 billion dollars a decade ago. By July this year, two-way investments topped 380 billion dollars, with an increasing number of Chinese-funded companies and jointly-developed innovation parks. During the 26th China-ASEAN Summit on Wednesday, a joint statement was issued on mutually beneficial cooperation between The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. A series of outcome documents were also adopted in such fields as science and technology, agriculture and e-commerce. Azmi also pointed to the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) as another successful cooperation where ASEAN nations are also participating, with China's openness drawing in ASEAN interest for its tourism, services, technology, innovation and digital economy. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Pennsylvania triplets Hannah, Hunter and Emma Sabatula all earned their Eagle Scout rank this year, the highest award possible in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Hannah and Emma are both members of Troop 193. Based in Morgantown, Troop 193 was the first female troop established in the Mountaineer Area Council after girls were allowed to join the BSA in 2019. Their brother Hunter is a member of Troop 608 in Uniontown, which is part of the Moreland-Fayette Council. Hannah Sabatula (L), Hunter Sabatula (M) and Emma Sabatula (R) are a set of triplets that all earned their Eagle Scout rank in 2023 (WBOY image) Its been really good honestly, Hannah Sabatula said. We were able to do everything, Its more than Girl Scouts, and you get to do more stuff and meet a lot of new people. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For Hannahs Eagle Scout project, she restored a playground at the elementary school she attended as a kid. The playset was rusting away and had the potential to harm the kids who played on it. Morgantown Church of Christ helping those in need Hannah Sabatula in front of the Menallen Elementary School playground, which she restored for her Eagle Scout project. (WBOY image) Pictures of the playground before it was restored. (WBOY image) Both Emma and Hunter did their projects at a nearby park called Dunlap Creek. Dunlap Creek is really more of a lake, with pavilions scattered nearby. Several of these pavilions had fallen into disrepair or had been vandalized with graffiti over the years, so the pair decided to make the pavilions suitable for public use once again. However, even though they did nearly identical projects, the circumstances around the two projects were very different. Emma said the biggest challenge for her project was the lack of electricity. The pavilion Hunter renovated for his project was blessed with an electrical outlet, but Emma wasnt so lucky. To get around this, she had to bring her own generator so she could use the equipment they needed to get the job done. After navigating obstacles to complete her project, Emma has some advice for aspiring Eagle Scouts. Make sure you plan it exactly right, Emma said. Figure out your plan and figure out what location you want. Is it a childhood memory? Is this something you very dearly love? I love coming down here, thats why I chose down here. Emma Sabatula in front of her renovated pavilion at Dunlap Creek. (WBOY image) Renovated pavilion at Dunlap Creek. (WBOY image) Hunter was the first of the trio to finish his project and earn the rank of Eagle Scout. When asked what motivated him to achieve the highest rank in Boy Scouts, he gave a similar answer that many other teenage boys have likely given over the years: My family made me do it, he said with a laugh. It was fun at the end. I had fun with all the people and everything, It was always good. Its just how everybody is, how fun it is, being with everybody you know and love. Its fun. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Pennsylvania State Police have arrested a suspect in connection to the shooting and attempted murder of a 48-year-old Allegany County, New York resident. Coudersport-based State Police identified the man as 59-year-old Robert M. Wildey of Gaines, Pennsylvania. Troopers said Wildey shot a Fillmore man at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday at an apartment on Germania Street in the Potter County borough of Galeton. According to police, Wildey shot the victim in the arm and then fled the scene. Authorities issued an alert to be on the lookout for Wildey. Wildey was taken into custody by Coudersport-based troopers on Monday, State Police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Galeton is located about 35 miles south of Wellsville. This embedded content is not available in your region. Crime: Bath man indicted for attempted murder, 43 total felonies after standoff with police Police did not release any information on the condition of the person shot. Troopers said Wildey and the victim were known to each other. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Wildey, accusing him of attempted homicide. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police in Coudersport at 814-274-8690. Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Pennsylvania troopers arrest suspect in shooting of Fillmore man A Pensacola man set to stand trial this week for allegedly trying to strangle his 86-year-old mother has instead agreed to strike a deal with state prosecutors. Christopher Asmar, 55, was set to have jury selection Monday morning for his trial on two counts of attempted felony murder and two counts of aggravated battery on a person 65 years old or older after he allegedly beat and choked his mother in November 2022. Before the attorneys could pick Asmar's jury, they announced to the court that an agreement had been reached and they would need to schedule a time to discuss it with the judge. Asmar will return to the courtroom Sept. 19 where Circuit Judge Linda Nobles will hear the attorneys' agreement and decide the fate of the 55-year-old. Asmar could potentially face up to life in prison, but his agreement with the State Attorney may lessen the sentence. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Asmar arrested: Pensacola man arrested for allegedly trying to smother 86-year-old mother with pillow What is Christopher Asmar accused of doing to his mother? Christopher Asmar appears before Circuit Judge Linda Nobles for a hearing on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Asmar is accused of attempted murder for beating and suffocating his mother. Pensacola police arrested Asmar Nov. 3, 2022, after his mother's caregivers claimed she saw Asmar beating the 86-year-old in the living room. Caregivers say that Asmar moved into his mother's house four months earlier, which is when they say they began discovering unexplained bruises on his mother. The bruises always appeared in the morning after the caregivers were not on the property. The caregivers told authorities they installed video cameras in the mother's living room where she sleeps "to make sure she was not falling out of bed, hurting herself unintentionally, and to find out how she was getting the bruises." After picking the camera up Tuesday morning, one of the caregivers returned at 7:30 p.m. and hid behind the house where she heard Asmar "yelling obscene things" at his mother, seeing him "strike (her) with the pillow." "(Caregiver) stated she could not watch any longer once she observed Asmar put the pillow over (the mother's) face and put his entire body weight on the pillow," the report states. "(She) stated it appeared as if Asmar was trying to suffocate (the mother)." Christopher Asmar appears before Circuit Judge Linda Nobles for a hearing on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Asmar is accused of attempted murder for beating and suffocating his mother. Pensacola police review the footage After PPD officers transported Asmar for questioning, they viewed the surveillance cameras the caregivers installed, witnessing Asmar allegedly striking the woman and screaming expletives. One video allegedly shows Asmar striking his mother in the face and body with a blanket multiple times while yelling "I'm done with your (expletive)." While allegedly striking her with the blanket, he also allegedly said, "You wake up too much longer, I'll suffocate you myself." "After striking her several times, Asmar is seen placing the pillow over (her) face and laying his weight on the pillow," the report states. The report also alleges there are "several more videos" that show Asmar "berating" her as she calls out for help. While PPD held Asmar at the station for questioning, officers showed him one video where he was allegedly beating his mother. After watching the video, he identified himself, telling authorities "the video took place because he got angry" with his mother due to her dementia. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Florida man Chris Asmar takes deal in attempted murder case The vehicle that crashed into a power pole in Miami Township, early Monday morning was stolen from a local dealership, Miami Township Communications Manager Jill Drury said. >>ORIGINAL REPORT: Officers, medics respond after vehicle crashes into power pole in Miami Twp. The vehicle had been left at the dealership for repairs. Just after 2 a.m., Miami Twp. police officers and medics were called to the 5900 block of Munger Road after a vehicle crashed into a pole. Someone passing by the crash called it in, Drury said. >>Pedestrian dies after being struck by vehicle fleeing traffic stop in Englewood, police say Crews searched the area with a K-9 and drone, but no one was found, Drury said. The power company said the pole that was affected held telephone lines, but it was heavily damaged. People recover a washing machine from their home that was damaged by the earthquake, in the town of Amizmiz, near Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept. 10. An aftershock rattled Moroccans on Sunday as they prayed for victims of the nations strongest earthquake in more than a century and toiled to rescue survivors while soldiers and workers brought water and supplies to desperate mountain villages in ruins. Credit - Mosa'ab ElshamyAP People in Marrakech and across Moroccos High Atlas Mountains slept in the streets for the third straight night after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake Sept. 8 tore down houses and killed more than 2,600 people. This death toll is expected to rise. We have nothing left, the house is completely gone, Hmed Elmouden, told CNN from a small village south of Marrakech that was completely destroyed. I have no idea what will happen next. The earthquakes epicenter was 45 miles southwest of Marrakech, the fourth-largest city in Morocco, with more than 300,000 people affected, according to the World Health Organisation. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While rescuers have started to reach some of the remote villages in the region, their efforts have reportedly been hindered as dirt roads are blocked by boulders and debris. Public criticism has been mounting in Morocco over the governments response to the earthquake. Ambulances have yet to reach many of the affected areas, and many people have had to transport themselves to Marrakech for treatment, according to the New York Times. While many countries, including France and the U.S., have offered aid, Morocco has so far only accepted help from four countries. Some international aid organizations have complained they are still waiting for permission from the authorities to get to work. There are people dying under the rubble, and we cannot do anything to save them, Arnaud Fraisse, founder of Rescuers Without Borders, told the Associated Press. His team is still waiting for a green light to enter Morocco. At this time, its very difficult because of the high temperatures and the way the buildings have collapsed. I dont think Ive seen a survivor being brought out yet, says David Andersen, a nurse with UK-Med, a British medical charity, from the village of Anougal in the Atlas Mountains. There are people who have survived but are trapped," he adds. For people looking to help, Andersen recommends donating money rather than food or blankets, as "the systems tend to get overwhelmed with that kind of thing. And not its not always as useful as people may believe it is." In the areas aid groups have yet to reach, communities have banded together, sharing homes and supplies. If your house is half damaged and you still have some furniture, some food, you share with people whose houses are fully destroyed, Ali Ouali Abdelgahni told the Washington Post in the small town of Amizmiz. Its a catastrophe, Salah Ancheu said to the AP from Amizmiz. We dont know what the future is. The aid remains insufficient. Anna Gordon contributed reporting A man looks on, next to women who were rescued, in the back of an ambulance, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco, Sept. 10. Nacho DoceReuters Hiba, 21, looks on as her two-year-old daughter Sei Eddine plays on the mattress in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Amizmiz on Sept. 10. Nacho DoceReuters Moroccan firemen work to remove the bodies of people who were crushed to death when a cafe collapsed during the earthquake in Amizmiz on Sept. 10. Ximena BorrazasSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images People receive food in the aftermath of the earthquake in Adassil on Sept. 11. Nacho DoceReuters A resident rests in a makeshift shelter on a Marrakech street next to a Gare Routiere in the aftermath of the earthquake on Sept. 10. Nacho DoceReuters Hasna, 44, kisses her son Mohamed Jad, 5, inside their damaged house in Moulay Brahim village, in the province of Al Haouz, on Sept. 9. Nacho DoceReuters People load aid to donkeys to transport to hardly accessible houses in Douar Tnirt village in the Atlas Mountains in the hard-hit Al Haouz province on Sept. 10. Sergey PonomarevThe New York Times/Redux The foot of a man stuck under rubble while a rescue operation for him is underway after an earthquake in Moulay Brahim village, near Marrakech, on Sept. 9. Mosa'ab ElshamyAP People play soccer next to a woman resting on the sidewalk in Marrakesh, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, Sept. 9. Hannah McKayReuters Contact us at letters@time.com. California police administered an overdose-reversing drug to a pit bull puppy in attempts to save it from a potential fentanyl overdose. On Friday, the Irvine police department announced that it administered a dose of Narcan to the puppy after it was exposed to fentanyl in a car and began to show signs of an overdose. Related: I couldnt just ignore them: one mans mission to save the worlds street dogs The dogs owners, Caleb Aaron Gibson, 29, of San Juan Capistrano, and Katherine Marylou Menke, 27, of Santa Ana, were arrested at a Walmart on suspicion of felony animal cruelty and possession of narcotics, police said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement ABC7 reports that officers brought along the eight-week-old puppy while taking Gibson and Menke to a police station. Their puppy inside the car was exposed to fentanyl and began to show signs of an overdose, police said. According to an Irvine police spokesperson, Kyle Oldoerp, who spoke to the Los Angeles Times, one of the arrestees said: Oh, I think my dog is overdosing. The pit bull puppy was believed to have gotten into its owners fentanyl stash. Photograph: AP She knew the symptoms because it was the second time the dog had overdosed, Oldoerp added. Officers gave the dog a dose of Narcan, and she immediately began to recover, police said in a statement. Video posted online by the police department showed officers administering Narcan to the puppy as it breathed rapidly. After administering the drug, an officer can be seen stroking the puppys ears as it lay on the ground. Maybe it was a baggie on the ground of the car; we really dont know, Oldoerp told the Los Angeles Times, adding: If theyre using drugs in their car, we can only speculate. Police quickly transported the dog to an emergency veterinarian for treatment. We are happy to report the dog is recovering fully, and our animal services unit will take possession of her, police said. Speaking about the charges against Gibson and Menke, Oldoerp said: We wanted to be sure we knew the outcome of the dog before we actually charged them. Describing canine fentanyl ingestion and overdose, the director of the University of Pennsylvanias School of Veterinary Medicines Working Dog Center, Cynthia Otto, has said that fentanyl, a drug that is used to lace heroin, can be absorbed across mucus membranes. When dogs are out there sniffing, if they get into a pile of powder, fentanyl can be absorbed across their mucous membranes in their nose, and they can face a life-threatening overdose. Otto says that people have to recognize the signs that their dog might have been exposed. At an early phase, the dogs respiration rate increases. They may start panting; they may start salivating. They may actually whine or become a little anxious. And then it progresses on as the dose increases to becoming very sedate. Their heart rate slows down, then their breathing slows down, and then eventually their breathing stops. In recent years, California has seen a spike in opioid-related overdose deaths. According to the California department of public health, there were nearly 6,000 opioid-related overdose deaths across the state in 2021. On a federal level, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone and primarily fentanyl reached 70,601 in 2021. Last December, the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that in 2022, it seized 50.6m fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills and more than 10,000lb of fentanyl powder enough fentanyl to kill every person in the US. In March, the Food and Drug Administration approved selling naloxone better known by its brand name, Narcan without a prescription. The nasal spray, which has been hailed as life-saving, has also been found to work effectively on dogs. This article was amended on 11 September 2023 to include quotes from the University of Pennsylvanias School of Veterinary Medicines Working Dog Centers director, Cynthia Otto, who describes canine fentanyl overdose ingestion and symptoms. A Delta passenger's missing dog was found at the Atlanta airport more than three weeks after the traveller accused the airline of losing her beloved pet. The chihuahua mix named Maia was found hiding near the airport's North Cargo facilities on Saturday, the airport said. The dog allegedly escaped into the airfield of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the airport authorities wrote on social media X. Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the worlds busiest airport, was recovered on September 9. ATLs Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon. pic.twitter.com/eNbM6us1BW Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) September 10, 2023 Maia was "tired but in apparent good health" and sent to a veterinarian for a check-up, the airport said, adding the dog is "expected to return home soon". ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The dog had been missing since mid-August when her owner, Paula Rodriguez, was forced to fly back home to the Dominican Republic after being denied entry to the US by the Border Control officials. After authorities cancelled her visa, Ms Rodriguez had to stay overnight in an airport detention centre where her dog was not allowed. They called a Delta agent, who took Maia from me, she previously told CNN. The next day when Ms Rodriguez was waiting for at the flight's gate, the dog was nowhere to be found. Ms Rodriguez said she was in tears as she told border officials that she wouldnt board without her dog, but was informed that the officials couldnt have her in the airport for more than 24 hours. She flew home without knowing the whereabouts of Maia. The Delta staff later informed that the dog had "broken out of her kennel" and was last seen on 18 August. Delta Air Lines in a statement previously said that they remain dedicated to finding the dog. "Delta teams have been working to locate and reunite this pet with the customer and we remain in touch with the customer to provide updates, a Delta representative added. Ms Rodriguez shared the news of her pets return on Sunday evening with a story on Instagram where she captioned the picture: MAIAAAAAAA IS COMING HOMEEEE!!! Paula Rodriguez to be reunited with her dog Maia (Screengrab/ @pcrod) Lots of salt water for us, she wrote in Spanish. Robin Allgood, an Atlanta resident who works to find lost dogs, had put up flyers around the airport for Maia. She said the dog was found under a rack used to move big cargo containers around the airport. Ms Allgood said a FedEx employee recognised the dog from the flyers and informed her about the discovery. She told CBS News that after a wildlife biologist failed to catch Maia with a net, she jumped into action. "So I just started scooting on my back under the rack and nobody even knew I was under there and I just reached and grabbed her and then somebody said 'Oh my gosh, she's got her'," Ms Allgood added. After back and forth between Ms Allgood and Delta, the airline said it would "facilitate" how the owner wants to be reunited with her dog. A Swiss International Airlines plane departed for Bilbao, Spain, without any bags on board. An airline spokesperson said a shortage of ground staff caused the bags to be left in Zurich. Passengers waited at a conveyor belt for two hours before being told their bags weren't on the plane. A Swiss International Air Lines plane arrived at its destination without a single checked bag on board. The plane arrived in Bilbao, Spain, on Saturday without any of the passengers' checked bags. The bags were left behind in Zurich, Kavin Ampalam, a spokesperson for Swiss, told Insider in an email. The incident was first reported by the news agency AFP. Passengers waited in vain for more than two hours at a conveyor belt for their suitcases, the Swiss-German newspaper Blick reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Due to a lack of ground staff with our responsible baggage handler, the baggage could not be loaded.," Ampalam told Insider. Ampalam said the flight departed without its 111 passengers' suitcases as the plane had to fly another set of passengers from Bilbao to Zurich Airport before the night flight ban at 11 p.m. Swiss was operating the flight on behalf of Edelweiss Air, Ampalam said. Ampalam said the flight crew waited for over an hour for the ground staff to load the bags onto the plane before deciding to fly to Bilbao without them. "We deeply understand the frustration and anger of the passengers, especially because many of them were traveling on vacation," Ampalam told Insider, adding that Swiss is "currently reviewing our processes to prevent such cases from happening again." Several passengers said the pilot in charge of the flight was apologetic over the delayed departure but never mentioned leaving their bags in Zurich, Blick reported. The passengers also told Blick it was staff from the Spanish airline Iberia who informed them that the plane arrived in Bilbao without their bags on board. One passenger, Carsten Redlich, told Blick his vacation was "ruined." Ampalam told Insider that all of the passengers' bags were flown to Bilbao on Monday evening. It's not the first time a plane has departed without its passengers' bags. In July, two Scoot flights flew from Athens, Greece, to Singapore without luggage because of the summer heat wave, which could affect the performance of the aircraft's engines. Read the original article on Insider A 21-year-old man was shot in the leg early Monday in the River North neighborhood, according to Chicago police. Police said the man was walking on the sidewalk in the 600 block of North State Street when someone in a silver Dodge pickup truck fired shots at about 2:47 a.m. The Chicago Fire Department transported the man to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, police said. The man was shot about a block from the recently opened Ballys Chicago casino, located at 600 N. Wabash Ave. in the Medinah Temple. The citys first casino opened Saturday, with gamblers set to try their luck seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. at the historic facility. Until a permanent casino is built, Medinah Temple will serve as a temporary location for up to three years. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Mary Datcher, a spokesperson for the casino, said they are confident that the shooting was unrelated to the venue. Providing the best in state-of-the-art surveillance, we hold the highest standards in providing security and monitoring the casinos perimeter, Datcher said in a statement. We will continue working closely with CPD and other law enforcement agencies. Police said no one was custody and they are investigating the shooting. rjohnson@chicagotribune.com MARLBORO TWP. A school bus carrying 19 Marlington High and Middle School students home overturned Monday afternoon into a ditch by Columbus Road NE, with some students and the driver suffering minor injuries, police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Marlboro Township Police Chief Ron Devies said no one was seriously hurt in the one-vehicle crash, which the patrol said took place around 2:37 p.m. He said the driver and some students experienced minor cuts and bruises. Ambulances took five students to Akron Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital in Canton and Aultman Hospital in Canton. The patrol is investigating the circumstances behind the crash. One of the ambulances took the bus driver to Mercy to be treated for her minor injuries. Police originally reported 22 students were on the bus. But the Marlington Local School District and the patrol later revised that number to 19 students. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Related: Driver hits Massillon City Schools bus, sends second vehicle into Lake Twp. home The patrol said it later cited the school bus driver, a 58-year-old Lake Township woman, for failure to control a motor vehicle, listed as a 2019 IC Corporation school bus. School officials' response Marlington Local School District Supt. Dan Swisher said he was awaiting the patrol's findings and would also conduct his own investigation for the district. He said school officials would meet Tuesday to discuss if the district should change any of its transportation policies. Swisher said it was too early to discuss possible disciplinary action against the driver. A Marlington Local school bus with 19 students overturned Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. Police said the students and the bus driver did not suffer any serious injuries. Swisher said the high school and middle school classes for the day ended at 2:35 p.m. He heard about the crash a few minutes later and rushed to the scene. The accident took place about a two-minute drive west from the Marlington High School and Marlington Middle School campuses on Moulin Avenue NE. The bus had been going west on Beeson Street. It made a left turn to go southwest onto Columbus Road NE where Beeson intersects Reeder Avenue NE. Devies said the driver, for reasons that are unclear, failed to negotiate the curve. The driver's speed is not yet known. The bus overturned off the right side of the road and rolled over onto its right side into a ditch. No other vehicles were involved. Swisher said when he arrived at the scene, students were exiting the bus through its emergency back door and no one was trapped inside. He said the students ranged in age from about 12 to 18. The accident did not spark a fire or explosion. The bus struck a stop sign and two construction signs. The bus was still on its right side as of 4 p.m., mostly off the right side of Columbus Road in a shallow, grassy ditch. Tow trucks from Marlboro Towing and Canton Towing later arrived to remove the vehicle. Thirteen students released to parents Swisher said other administrators from the high school and middle school also got to the crash site along with a school board member. They kept track of the five students taken by ambulance to a hospital and the 13 students who were released to their parents. The parents had gone to the site of the accident after their children called them. Some parents chose to take their child to a hospital or doctor for treatment. One student was transported home by another school bus, Swisher said. The superintendent said paramedics at the scene evaluated all of the students and the driver, who was the only school employee on the bus. He said the district made sure that all families of the 19 students were contacted. A Marlington Local school bus with 19 students overturned Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. Police said there were no serious injuries. Besides Marlboro Township police officers and Ohio Highway Patrol troopers, Stark County sheriff's deputies, including two serving Marlington as school resource officers, got to the crash site to assist as well as paramedics and firefighters from Marlboro Township Fire Department, Plain Township EMS, Hartville EMS, Nimishillen Township EMS and Emergency Medical Transport, the patrol said. Swisher said Monday evening that those treated at a hospital or by a doctor had been released. None were staying overnight at the hospital. The superintendent said the district would continue to follow up with the families on their children's conditions. "I'm glad all our students and staff are home with their families tonight," the superintendent said. Swisher added that the school district sent out a recorded robocall to inform all parents of the accident. The school district's bus, which was insured, sustained major damage. Swisher said it was too early to talk about how much of the damage was covered by insurance. Swisher said superintendents and school officials had contacted him offering the assistance of mental health counselors if they were needed. He said Marlington's transportation supervisor would drive the affected route for the time being starting Tuesday. The district has backup buses. A Marlington Local school bus carrying 19 students home overturned Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. The driver and some students received minor injuries, police said. The crash occurred on the same day that the new Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group met for the first time. Gov. Mike DeWine created the group following the death of 11-year-old Aiden Clark, a Northwestern Local School District student killed last month when another vehicle collided with his school bus in Clark County. The group is examining everything from risk factors in crashes to seat belts to driver licensing and training to school bus safety technology. According to a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 218 school-age children who died in school-transportation-related crashes nationwide between 2011 and 2020. Of those fatalities, 44 were occupants of school transportation vehicles, such as school buses. The rest were kids who were in other vehicles, walking or riding bicycles to school. In fiscal year 2020, nearly 14,000 Ohio school buses transported more than 767,000 students, according to a 2022 introduction on the Ohio Department of Education School Bus Purchase Program website. The buses ranged in age from model year 1984 to 2021, with nearly 41% of school buses in regular use being more than eight years old. Includes reporting by the Columbus Dispatch. Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @rwangREP Reach Benjamin at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers work the scene of a Marlington Local school bus accident Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. The driver and some students received minor injuries, police said. A Marlington Local school bus carrying 19 students home overturned Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. The driver and some students had minor injuries, police said. A Marlington Local school bus carrying 19 students home overturned Monday afternoon in Marlboro Township. The driver and some students received minor injuries, police said. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Marlington school bus with 19 students overturns Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden participate in the final presidential debate at Belmont University, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. | Chip Somodevilla, Associated Press Ask any political science professor and they will tell you, America has a two-party system and little can be done about it. But what if the nations two dominant political parties serve up presidential candidates disliked by a majority of the population? Democratic President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, a Republican, appear to be the most likely nominees of their respective parties in 2024. And both are underwater by 19 percentage points in their net favorability ratings, according to a Wall Street Journal poll conducted at the end of last month. The favorability ratings for Biden and Trump matched up exactly both candidates received total favorable ratings of 39%, with unfavorable ratings of 58%. The same poll showed 73% of voters think Biden is too old to run for President and 58% think Trump is corrupt. With these relatively widespread and negative perceptions of the parties standard-bearers, maybe its no surprise that an NBC News survey conducted in April found 70% of respondents did not think Biden should run for president and 60% thought the same of Trump. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Enter renewed talk of third-party alternatives. So far, the only prominent third-party candidate to enter the 2024 race is Cornel West, a progressive activist who previously taught philosophy at Harvard, Princeton and Yale, and who is seeking the Green Partys nomination. But a nonprofit group focused on promoting bipartisan legislation in Washington, D.C., No Labels, has discussed introducing a unity presidential ticket as an insurance policy to reset the country in the case of a Trump-Biden rematch. While the countrys history has not treated third-party bids kindly, the group claims public opinion is on their side. And according to a new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll, many Utahns seem open to the conversation. A majority of respondents, 53%, said they would potentially cast their ballot for someone without an R or a D by their name in 2024, with 16% saying they would definitely consider voting for a third-party candidate in the next presidential election and 37% saying maybe. But with nearly a quarter of respondents saying they would definitely not consider a third-party ticket, and a fifth saying probably not, for a total of 46%, the state is split down the middle on the issue. The poll was conducted Aug. 7-14 of 803 registered Utah voters by Dan Jones & Associates, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points. Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics, said while many people say they are willing to vote for a third party, they have historically toyed with the idea then dont follow through with it. Third party candidates have traditionally had a very hard time, he said. We saw our own experiment here in Utah with Evan McMullin in our Senate race last year, and while he came closer than a third party candidate has in the past, in the end, he was still not within 11 points of Sen. Mike Lee. Weve not seen it work well in the state of Utah. But you never know in politics, he said. But No Labels say they believe the presidential race this year presents a unique opportunity because of the low approval ratings of the two major candidates a sentiment echoed by Chris Karpowitz, co-director of the Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy at Brigham Young University. These results represent yet another data point confirming that many voters are not at all enthusiastic about the prospect of a Trump-Biden rematch in 2024, said Karpowitz. However, Karpowitz pointed out, there is a big difference between expressing openness to a hypothetical third-party choice at this early point in the campaign and actually voting for such a candidate in November of 2024. Factors that make voting for a third-party candidate something of a rarity even in spite of dissatisfaction with the status quo include concerns voters have with particular third-party nominees as well as the strong influence of partisan allegiances, according to Karpowitz. This partisan influence is borne out when the poll is broken down by political ideology. Only 31% of respondents who identified as very conservative were open to the idea of voting third-party next November, along with 41% of those who consider themselves very liberal. However, nearly three-quarters of self-described moderates, 74%, said they would consider voting for a third-party candidate in 2024, followed by roughly 60% of respondents who classified themselves as somewhat conservative or somewhat liberal. When sorted by age, the strongest support for the proposition appeared among those ages 25-40, with 66% of those respondents open to voting for a third-party. Those ages 41-56, on the other hand, had the highest percentage of definitely not at 42%. The poll found women more willing to consider a third-party vote than men, 61% to 49%. But results across religious, educational and income categories were relatively consistent. Utah showed a unique desire for a third way in 2016, Karpowitz said, when McMullin, this time as an independent presidential candidate, received more than 20% of the vote, with Hillary Clinton on the Democratic ticket and Trump on the Republican. But Trump walked away with an easy victory in the overwhelmingly red state. The unanswered question this time around, Karpowitz said, is whether Donald Trumps many legal troubles are enough to alter that outcome. Could a third-party candidate muster enough support to take a plurality of the vote? Right now, that possibility still seems rather remote. Contributing: Suzanne Bates ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Monday blamed accidents at work on excessive profit-seeking and the "idolatry of the market," in a fresh swipe at unbridled capitalism that has led some right-wing critics to paint him as a far-left radical. His remarks came two weeks after five railway maintenance workers were killed by a passing train in the northern Italian town of Brandizzo. The accident has been linked to a suspected breach of health and safety regulations. "Tragedies (in the workplace) begin when the focus is no longer on man, but on productivity, and man turns into a production machine," Francis said in a speech to the Italian association of people injured at work. He said he was still thinking about the five men killed in Brandizzo. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Francis likened the frequent reports of workplace tragedies to a "war bulletin". Such incidents happen when "work becomes dehumanised ... and turns into an exasperated race for profit," he said. The pope lashed out at "carewashing", by businesspeople and politicians who "instead of investing in safety (at work), prefer to wash their consciences with some charitable work," donating to the arts or sports. "Responsibility towards workers is a priority: life cannot be traded for any reason, especially if it is (the life of the) poor, precarious and fragile. We are human beings and not machines, unique people and not spare parts," he said. Soon after he was elected in 2013, Francis said he wanted to lead a "poor Church, for the poor" and has reiterated several times that worrying about the needy was not a form of communism, but a tenet of the Gospel. (Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Gavin Jones and Andrew Heavens) When last we checked in with Tina Ostrander in 2016, the Redbird Boutique owner was pregnant and explaining how she cried only twice during her pregnancy: Once was at a sappy movie, and the second was when she e-mailed customers to tell them she was closing her Cambridge Market store. After hitting send, she said, I bawled the whole entire way home. Now, shes quite happy if a tad frazzled to announce shes reopening the store this week as Main Street Co. at the Shops at Tallgrass near the northeast corner of 21st and Rock Road. Were coming back bigger and better, Ostrander said. Much has changed, including that she now has a 7 1/2-year-old son. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Another big change came a few years ago when Ostrander and her husband, Matt, purchased her parents shops, Main Street Co. and Kitchen Corner, in Newton. At first, Ostrander said she was OK with her parents decision to retire. Then she said, Whoa, whoa. Im not sure Im ready for that. The two stores, which are now combined at 607 N. Main St. in Newton, are in their 37th years of business. The Ostranders bought the businesses in January 2020, which was a crazy year to buy stores, she said. Ostrander said she lives in Wichita and always wanted to bring back her store. She wasnt necessarily looking, though, when she saw the former Frou Frou space at the Shops at Tallgrass. We just decided it was time. It was time to come back. She said the new store will be at least double if not triple the size of Redbird. This time around, weve got it all. She said Redbird didnt have kitchen and food items, such as gourmet products and bulk coffee, but Main Street Co. will along with all the Redbird favorites, such as clothing, accessories, purses, gifts, home decor and bath and body items. There also will be a childrens area and a man cave with all guys stuff, Ostrander said. Ostrander said her parents are coming out of retirement to help with the Newton store as she gets the Wichita one up and running. Ive got a crew that is amazing, she said. Were just one big family. The shop opens Thursday and will have a grand opening celebration through Saturday with free gifts, snacks and drinks. Craig Simon of Landmark Commercial Real Estate handled the deal. Ostrander said shed love to see her old Redbird customers as well as new ones, including women, men and children. As she said her stores tagline says, We literally have something for everyone. PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. No matter what a Kansas judge decides, three Prairie Village petitions to shake up City Hall wont be on the November ballot. The Johnson County Election Office said the petitions didnt meet the countys deadline to become ballot questions for the upcoming election. But theres still a chance they could go up for a vote in other elections. PV United, a group of Prairie Village residents against proposed zoning changes, collected signatures for three petitions: One petition called for a city ordinance to limit rezoning that would allow more than one family to live on a lot in a single-family residential zoning district. The second petition sought to abandon the citys current mayor-council form of government. The third petition called to adopt a mayor-manager-council form of government. It would reduce the power of the mayor by creating a city manager position and cut the number of city council members from 12 to six. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Johnson County Election Commissioner verified the petitions had enough valid signatures, but the city council asked a Kansas court to decide if the petitions comply with state law. We respect the petition process, but its important that it be done properly and it be done in compliance with Kansas law, Prairie Village City Attorney Joe Hatley said. And we actually we took the initiative to have a judge make that decision here rather than letting them sue us. A Johnson County judge initially ruled only one of the three petitions the one calling for a new form of government complied with state law. But later that day, the judge spoke with attorneys from for the city of Prairie Village and PV United. The city said, instead, the judge plans to take more time to consider her ruling and release a more in-depth decision. With the decision delayed, the Johnson County Election Office said Friday it is already one week past its ballot deadline. Due to logistics required to prepare ballots and the need to meet legally mandated deadlines, the election office is now past the point at which it can accept additional items for the November ballot, election officials said in a statement. The election office said the deadline is in place to make sure it can proof ballots, program and test voting machines, print advance ballots and more. Still, the Johnson County Election Office noted any valid Prairie Village petitions could go on the ballot for a future election. But its not clear when the judge plans to release her decision on the legality of the three petitions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. In a wide-ranging interview with theGrio, the 2024 White House hopeful says she thinks President Biden should debate his primary opponents and welcomes the campaign of Dr. Cornel West. The presidential campaign of Marianne Williamson , the New York Times bestselling author and spiritual leader, continues to make its pitch to Democratic primary voters. Williamson sat down with theGrio for a wide-ranging interview to discuss various happenings this 2024 election cycle, including scrutiny of President Joe Bidens age, former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump s four criminal indictments, and Green Party candidate Dr. Cornel West entering the race as a third-party candidate. Marianne Williamson announces her bid for the presidency at a campaign launch event at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2023. (Photo by Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) TheGrio also asked Williamsons thoughts on the racist fatal shootings of three Black Americans at a Dollar General in Jacksonville, Florida, and what can be done to end racially fueled hate in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Theyre killing Black people. Theyre shooting people at synagogues. This is serious stuff now, Williamson told theGrio. She continued, When you have a situation where poverty and economic injustice have such a toxic prevalence within American society, this not only keeps some people shackled by economic conditions, but it actually becomes a petri dish, out of which the kind of societal dysfunction such as Nazism, such as white supremacy, actually almost inevitably occur. Read the full Q&A of theGrios interview with the 2024 White House hopeful below. Editors Note: This interview was edited and condensed for editorial and clarity purposes. TheGrio: President Biden officially announced his reelection campaign in April, and polls have shown that many voters have grown disillusioned by the Biden-Harris administration. Theres also been a lot of fascination and scrutiny around the presidents age and whether or not he is fit for a second term. What do you make of this, and does that reluctance help your campaign? Marianne Williamson: Well, I wouldnt want to think of it in personal terms. I dont think there should be anything ageist or mean-spirited here. But at the same time, that is an increasing conversation, and I think its valid. Being president is the most stressful job in the world. We can see physically the toll it has taken on all those who have served, including [Biden]. And so for the American voter to ask, is this the best person, number one, to put up as our candidate in 2024, and also, is he the best person to take on that stressful job for the next four years? Thats certainly a valid, legitimate inquiry. U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris walk to the Rose Garden for an event on high speed internet access for low-income Americans, at the White House May 9, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) TheGrio: You are running to be on the Democratic ticket. But the Democratic National Committee and the Biden campaign are essentially one and the same. Can you talk about the challenges that your campaign might be experiencing breaking through that wall of the DNC? Williamson: The DNC and the Biden administration are not supposed to be one and the same. This is something new. And the fact that they are so overt about it is not good news. Political parties traditionally were meant to stand in the background. The power here is supposed to be in the hands of the electorate. The power is supposed to be in the hands of the people to determine who a nominee will be. Traditionally, the party stood in the back, and then once the nominee was chosen by the people, they stepped in. For the DNC to now say basically that there was an anointing, a coronation of some kind, we have our candidate for no other reason that they have chosen [him]that is undemocratic. The president does have two opponents. And one of the reasons there should be debates is because, particularly at a time like this, when the stakes are so incredibly high, voters should have the opportunity to hear what their options are. TheGrio: Do you think youll ever get to debate President Biden and the other Democratic presidential candidate? Williamson: People are not happy about whats going on. The majority of Democrats have said that they would like to see debates. There was more scuttlebutt online. That scuttlebutt is even breaking into mainstream media. If you are talking about a real doubt about whether or not Joe Biden is the best candidate, then the next conversation should be, lets have debates and see if the president wants to prove that he has what it takes to take on the Republican [nominee]. Let him show that he has what it takes to take on me and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in debates. Its simply undemocratic not to have them. And, of course, the DNC right now is sticking to its stance that there are simply not going to be debates. But theyre probably getting more pushback from the public than they expected. Marianne Williamson speaks as former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper looks on during the second night of the first Democratic presidential debate on June 27, 2019, in Miami. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) TheGrio: Former President Donald Trump has been indicted four times now and in four different jurisdictions. And yet polling shows that as far as the Republican base, he is very much still a frontrunner. Does it concern you that these indictments are not really harming his campaign? Williamson: Thats a question for Republicans to answer. But as a Democrat, what concerns me is the fact that given that he has been impeached twice, given all these multiple indictments, the fact that [President] Biden cannot really break 5, 10, 20 percentage points ahead of him, thats what Democrats need to be so concerned about. Dont we need to be considering someone who would be a much better candidate against Trump? And obviously, I feel that I am. TheGrio: Another challenge for President Biden is son Hunter Biden, who is likely to be indicted for charges that are unrelated to President Biden, at least according to evidence or lack thereof so far. But Republicans have been talking about opening up an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Are Republicans right to seek such an impeachment inquiry? Williamson: Hunter Biden is not his father. Just as there was a special counsel, Jack Smiththe special prosecutor for Trump, there is also a special prosecutor for Joe Biden [in his classified document case], and now theres a special prosecutor for Hunter Biden. It is important that we respect the separation between the judicial system and politics. This has to do with indictments that emanate from the prosecutor that are then agreed upon by a grand jury. Well see what happens, whether or not Joe Biden or Hunter Biden are indicted of any crime. Until then, this is not about us having an opinion about it. Thats why we have a judicial system. And I think we should all hope more than anything, regardless of what our politics are, regardless of what we think about it, any of these men we should hope for a fair and just due process within our legal system. That is what we should all be hoping for. TheGrio: Another person has entered the presidential race, and that is Dr. Cornel West, who is running as a third-party candidate for the Green Party. What do you make of Dr. Wests campaign and considering your own challenge of President Biden, do you welcome him entering the race? Philosopher Dr. Cornel West speaks onstage during the Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise panel discussion at the PBS portion of the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 29, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) Williamson: I welcome democracy. Ive known Cornel for years. I consider him an honored colleague. And on most issues, he and I are very, very much aligned. I think every person has to make these decisions inside ourselves; if youre going to run as a Democrat or are you going to run as a third party? I think he has very legitimate reasons for why hes running third. I think I have very legitimate reasons for why Im running within the Democratic Party. I dont think theres a right or wrong there. I just hope the people remember that even if you do support Cornel West in the general [election], you can still vote for me in the primary. TheGrio: I want to talk about the recent murders in Jacksonville, Florida. Three Black Americans were killed by a self-proclaimed white supremacist who was originally trying to enter an HBCU. What do you make of the current state of this country as it relates to race, the anti-Black hate crimes that we continue to see? What is your plan to address anti-Black hate in particular? Williamson: I think we should all feel devastated. This is extremely dangerous for our country. We had a mix of a malignant narcissist [Donald Trump] who was not above stoking the flame of those things for his own political purposes. That married in a very toxic brew to the advent of social media so that anybody now can have a platform. The reason we know that this man who did these murders in Jacksonville, the reason we know that he was an avowed white supremacist is because he had put it on the internet. Each and every one of us, I think, has a role to play. There are those who hate in this country, and they hate passionately, and they have become politicized. But I do believe that the vast majority of Americans are decent people who do not have such thoughts and feelings those ancient tropes of malevolence in their souls. The problem is that at a time when hate is so loud, love cannot afford to whisper. Conviction is a force multiplier. And if those who hate are going to be out there and theyre going to be demonstrating their hate, and theyre going to be standing on their hate, and God knows, picking up a gun to express their hate, those of us who love better be out there standing on our love, on justice, on brotherhood. Demonstrators participate in a march against white supremacy on Aug. 28, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Our conduit for effectuating our worldview is public policy, among other things. And when you have a situation where poverty and economic injustice have such a toxic prevalence within American society, this not only keeps some people shackled by economic conditions, but it actually becomes a petri dish, out of which the kind of societal dysfunction such as Nazism, such as white supremacy, actually almost inevitably occur. So I see it as a warning signal. I think none of us should kid ourselves. Its happening. Theyre killing Black people. Theyre shooting people at synagogues. This is serious stuff now. TheGrio: But in terms of policy, should there be maybe an anti-Black hate crime bill? Williamson: Of coursethere is hate crime legislation, obviously. Another thing that happens in a lot of these cases, such as with the murders in Jacksonville, we now know how much of this vile, extreme right-wing terrorism is going on the internet. And we know that there are factors within the FBI and so forth that are trying to monitor this. Its so overwhelming. So at this point, we need to get massive resources. But we also need in our schoolsat our dinner tables, we need to be teaching our children. Part of my agenda is, of course, reparations for slavery simply because I feel the United States has a debt to pay. And also on the issue of police reform. As president, I would bring [Senators] Cory Booker and Tim Scott into the Oval Office. I would say you can bring whoever you want, but were not leaving here until we have hashed out nonpartisan legislation on fundamental police reform. We need this. So even though legislative transactional issues like reparations will not of itself end white supremacy. I believe that it willfundamentally interrupt a pattern of a very toxic relationship between the races in this country that is based on the fact that a debt has not been paid. Gerren Keith Gaynor Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson talks campaign and anti-Black hate appeared first on TheGrio. Orlando commissioners Monday unanimously moved forward with a $1.77 billion spending plan that includes 68 more public safety employees and is about 15% larger than last year. The budget, which needs one more vote this month before it can be approved, calls for property owners to pay the same tax rate as the past decade $6.65 per $1,000 of taxable value. However, due to new construction and rising values, city coffers will be bolstered by $321.6 million, which is about a 14% increase year over year. Of the new hires, 53 are sworn police officers, nine are civilian police employees and six are civilian fire rescue workers, said Deputy Chief Financial Officer Michelle McCrimmon. Since initially seeing the plan in July, 12 more police officers were added to cover the southern portion of the city, including eight officers and four sergeants, McCrimmon said. In all, that means 20 more officers in the Lake Nona area. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Its the fastest growing part of the city, said City Commissioner Jim Gray, who represents the area on the City Council. We just needed more patrol officers. Some of it was due to slower response times just because its such a large geographical area. Mayor Buddy Dyer said that budgeting new officers allows the city not to move staffing from other parts of the city to cover Lake Nona. [Theres] a lot of growth and its a low-crime area so you have to judge when you really need to move officers, he said. Lake Nona, a neighborhood of roughly 20,000 residents to date, is projected to explode with new residents in the coming decades. One city report estimated it could add 70,000 more residents by 2045. Big-ticket items also include improvements to Orlandos stormwater and water reclamations systems, McCrimmon said. City residents also face a 5% higher water reclamation fee, and a 4% higher solid waste fee next year to help cover higher operating expenses. That accounts for a 17-cent increase per 1,000 gallons of water, or roughly $1.70 for the average single-family home, a city official said previously. The solid waste fee would be $21.68 per month, or an 83-cent monthly increase. The new fiscal year starts Oct. 1, and the budget is due for one more vote before then: at a public hearing scheduled for 5:01 p.m. Sept. 25. FILE - Bijan Kian, whose full name is Bijan Rafiekian, leaves the FBI Washington Field Office, Dec. 17, 2018, in Washington. On Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, federal prosecutors dropped charges against Kian, a onetime business partner of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who had been accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Turkish government. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) Federal prosecutors on Monday dropped charges against Bijan Kian , a onetime business partner of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn who had been accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Turkish government. Monday's decision ends a five-year legal saga for Kian, whose case received significant attention when he was charged in 2018 as a spinoff from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian election interference. Prosecutors alleged that Kian and Flynn, who were partners in an entity called the Flynn Intel Group, were acting at Turkeys behest when they undertook a project to discredit exiled Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen. Gulen has been sought for extradition from the U.S. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who blames Gulen for an attempted coup in that country. Flynn wrote a November 2016 op-ed piece, shortly before he was named to be then-President-elect Donald Trump's national security adviser, comparing Gulen to former Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Prosecutors said Turkey directed the effort and pointed to a series of irregular payments flowing back and forth between Kian and an alleged Turkish middleman, businessman Kamal Alptekin. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kian was initially convicted in a 2019 jury trial. But Judge Anthony Trenga, who heard the case, later tossed out the conviction and ordered a not guilty verdict, saying there was no substantial evidence that he agreed to operate at the Turkish government's direction or that Alptekin was an intermediary for Turkey. The government's case had been thrown into disarray at the outset of trial when it decided not to call Flynn, who was expected to be prosecutors' star witness. Flynn acknowledged in a separate case that he made false statements about work he performed that benefited Turkey; he had hoped at one point that cooperating with prosecutors in Kians case would help him receive a lighter sentence in his own case. But he later sought to rescind his guilty plea and stopped cooperating. The government appealed Trenga's decision, and the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to Trenga to reinstate the conviction. The appeals court left only a narrow path for Trenga to order a new trial if he could outline in detail why the evidence failed to support a conviction. Last year Trenga issued a 51-page ruling ordering that new trial. Among other factors, he cited evidence that an actual conspiracy involved Flynn and Alptekin, with Kian excluded from the arrangement. Prosecutors had initially seemed prepared to pursue a new trial, which was scheduled to begin in October. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia declined to comment on why prosecutors decided to drop the case. Mark MacDougall, one of the lawyers for Kian whose full last name is Rafiekian said in a written statement that his client is grateful that the judge set aside the jury's verdict. The Justice Department has finally conceded that this case should never have been indicted. Mr. Rafiekian has been the target of baseless federal prosecution for the past five years, only because he made the poor decision to be in business with Michael Flynn, MacDougall said. Flynn, who received a presidential pardon in 2020, became a chief promoter of Trump's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Justice Department has quietly abandoned one of the last prosecutions stemming from investigations into alleged foreign influence over Donald Trump s 2016 presidential campaign. In a court filing Monday, prosecutors indicated theyre giving up their long-running quest to convict Bijan Rafiekian, a California businessman and former business partner of Trump ally Michael Flynn , on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Turkey amid Trumps successful White House bid seven years ago. Its a bitter pill for prosecutors who convinced a jury in Alexandria, Va., to return two felony guilty verdicts against Rafiekian better known as Kian following a week-long trial in 2019 and only about four hours of deliberations. Rafiekian chose not to take the stand during the trial. However, U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Trenga who presided over the trial soon became convinced that the guilty verdicts were not justified by the evidence prosecutors presented. He set aside the verdicts two months later, prompting years of additional litigation that included two trips to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The notice the Justice Department submitted in federal court in Alexandria, Va., signaling an end to the case, was terse and offered little insight into the decision to throw in the towel. But it said the appellate courts stance played a role in prosecutors opting to give up. After carefully considering the Fourth Circuits recent decision in this case and the principles of federal prosecution, the United States believes it is not in the public interest to pursue the case against defendant Bijan Rafiekian further, prosecutors from Justices National Security Division and the U.S. attorneys office in Alexandria wrote. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment further. Rafiekians attorneys hailed the move, but lamented the years their client spent battling the case. The Justice Department has finally conceded that this case should never have been indicted, defense lawyer Mark MacDougall said in a statement Monday. Mr. Rafiekian has been the target of baseless federal prosecution for the past five years, only because he made the poor decision to be in business with Michael Flynn. Along with his family and his lawyers, Bijan is particularly grateful to the Court for its unwavering commitment to equity and for ensuring that justice would be done, MacDougall added. Back in 2021, the Richmond-based 4th Circuit sided with prosecutors and overturned Trengas ruling throwing out Rafiekians convictions, but left the door open for the judge, an appointee of President George W. Bush, to grant the defendant a new trial. Trenga did just that in March 2022, holding that the evidence introduced at trial allowed only the weakest inference that Rafiekian acted at Turkeys behest as he and Flynn carried out a plan to build the case for the U.S government to deport a Turkish cleric and dissident, Fethullah Gulen. When prosecutors returned to the 4th Circuit, the court issued a 2-1 decision in May of this year allowing Trengas new-trial ruling to stand. At a July hearing following that loss, prosecutors indicated they planned to proceed with a retrial, and Trenga had set that to begin Oct. 30. Rafiekian, who served as a Senate-confirmed member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation on a nomination from Bush, was an adviser to the Trump transition team in 2016 but also worked as Flynns partner in a consulting firm called Flynn Intel Group. Initial stages of the foreign-agent investigation into Flynn and Rafiekians work related to Turkey were handled by federal prosecutors in Alexandria, but the inquiry was later folded into special counsel Robert Muellers broader probe. That office eventually sent the case back to the Alexandria-based prosecutors for trial. Rafiekians saga also became an illustration of the often-haphazard application of justice during the Trump years. In 2017, Flynn cut a deal with Muellers team to plead guilty to a single, felony, false-statement charge and, through that, end his potential criminal exposure in a variety of matters including his firms $850,000 contract for the pro-Turkey work while he served as the top foreign policy adviser to candidate Trump. Flynn, who served as national security adviser for 24 days at the outset of the Trump administration before being fired, had been expected to be a key witness at Rafiekians trial. He had been expected to offer testimony that would incriminate his former partner in a scheme to avoid disclosing that the Flynn Intel Groups lobbying and public relations effort was actually directed and controlled by Turkish government officials. However, just weeks before the trial, an acrimonious row broke out between prosecutors and a new set of attorneys Flynn retained. That led to an abrupt decision by the government to drop Flynn as a witness and instead declare him a co-conspirator. The reversal came just after Flynn signed up a new, combative defense lawyer, Sidney Powell. Powell, who would later attain wide notoriety for her role in Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, insisted the former Defense Intelligence Agency chief and Army lieutenant general was the victim of prosecutorial misconduct and a set-up by the FBI. After a review, Attorney General Bill Barr moved to drop the prosecution of Flynn. Eventually, a judge agreed. But there was no similar move for Rafiekian, and the proceedings against him continued. As the then-president continued to fight his loss at the polls in November 2020, Flynn scored a broadly worded pardon from Trump that appeared to absolve him of all criminal liability related to the pro-Turkey project and other matters Mueller explored. However, there was no pardon for Rafiekian, who fought on in court until the government relented on Monday. In the new filing, prosecutors called for the case against Rafiekian to be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it could not be re-filed. The dismissal requires Trengas approval, but such motions are routinely granted. Technically, the foreign-agent case brought in 2018 will remain open even after the charges against Rafiekian are dropped. A Turkish native, Ekim Alptekin, was indicted alongside Rafiekian and accused of using a shell company to act as an intermediary for the Turkish government. On social media, Alptekin has maintained his innocence and painted the case as a form of persecution, but he has never come to the U.S. to face the charges. Several people were arrested after entering the office of Kevin McCarthy , the speaker of the House, during a protest for HIV/Aids funding on Monday. The US Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), a widely bipartisan program, has since been reauthorized three times, and Joe Biden earlier this year indicated that he would work with Congress to extend it a fourth. But the programs latest extension has been caught up in a partisan fight over abortion and is under threat amid Congresss negotiations over a government shutdown. Some Republicans are opposing Pepfars reauthorization, arguing that current restrictions do not sufficiently prevent the funds from being used to support abortions, according to an August report by the Federation of American Scientists. Any multi-year PEPFAR reauthorizing legislation must ensure that Bidens hijacking of PEPFAR to promote abortion be halted, wrote New Jersey Republican Representative Chris Smith, who chairs the House foreign affairs subcommittee, in a letter to colleagues in June. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement At McCarthys Washington DC office, Capitol police handcuffed six activists and escorted them away, according to Politico reporter Alice Ollstein, who shared videos from the scene at the Rayburn House office building, which is connected to the US Capitol. Demonstrators were seen sitting and chanting in McCarthys office, demanding the Republican leader reauthorize key provisions of Pepfar, which are set to expire at the end of the month unless an agreement is reached. The program was first established in 2003 by President George W Bush to prevent and treat HIV/Aids in developing countries worldwide, and it is overseen by the US Department of State. About 20 million people depend on the program globally, according to a White House statement in January. Smith was a co-sponsor of the 2018 bill extending Pepfar for five years but is now seeking to block its renewal after Biden in 2021 lifted Trump-era restrictions that barred Pepfar and other global programs receiving US funding from performing or promoting abortions. While Pepfar can continue operating without congressional reauthorization, advocates say a failure to do so would signal diminishing US support for HIV/Aids prevention. Pass Pepfar now, McCarthy, protesters chanted in the speakers office on Monday morning. The demonstrators were members of NYC-based HIV/Aids nonprofits Health Gap (Global Access Project) and Housing Works, according to social media posts by the two advocacy groups. The House returns to Capitol Hill from its summer recess on Tuesday as it races to reach a deal to keep federal agencies and programs afloat through December. The Senate returned last week. Rain showers, maybe an isolated thunderstorm, will be possible Monday as a cold front pushes through the Kansas City area, ushering in autumn-like temperatures, according to the National Weather Service. Early Monday morning, the front extended from the Kansas City International Airport east to around Kirksville, Missouri, and was expected to saunter south through the area during the day, the weather service said. Although a thunderstorm or two could develop, most of the storms were expected to trail the passing front, keeping any precipitation as mainly showers, the weather service said in its forecast discussion. Local Radar Image The showers are expected to be scattered to isolated. Areas that do see showers will likely receive only .10 to .25 of an inch of rain, the weather service said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The chance for rain is expected to continue into the afternoon before moving out of the area by the evening. The front will usher in much cooler temperatures which will be around 10 degrees below normal. Near 70-degree temperatures are expected in Kansas City on Monday. Normally, temperatures are 81 degrees this time of year in Kansas City. With the end of summer still more than a week away, the Kansas City area will get a taste of autumn as cooler than normal temperatures are expected to last through at least Friday, the weather service said. Quite lovely, is how the National Weather Service in Kansas City described this weeks weather in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Much cooler today with scattered showers. Any lingering showers should come to an end by later this evening, with the rest of the week looking quite lovely with afternoon highs in the 70s and overnight lows in the 50s and dry conditions prevailing. NWS Kansas City (@NWSKansasCity) September 11, 2023 The Kansas City area can expect generally tranquil weather with afternoon highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s for the rest of the week, the weather service said. Most of the week is expected to remain dry, with the next chance for rain coming on Saturday. Temperatures for the weekend will range from the mid-70s to near 80 degrees. MILAN An Israeli defense company has signed a contract with the British Defence Ministry for the third and final integration of the Trophy active protection system on Challenger 3 tanks, which are expected to enter service in the next few years. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced Sept. 4 it completed the second assessment phase of integrating Trophy on the main battle tanks. The three-week testing period took place late last year and included live fire, of which the Trophy system intercepted more than 90%, according to the news release. Over two dozen interceptions were conducted, confronting a wide range of threats, which were defined by the British customer, Niv Cohen, who leads Rafaels land maneuver division, told Defense News. The Trophy system is designed to protect combat vehicles against rockets and missiles by pinpointing the origin of hostile fire and then responding with a range of hard-kill mechanisms such as blasts, fragments, explosively formed projectiles and bullets to destroy the incoming target before it reaches the vehicle. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The 20 million ($25 million) contract will entail the early procurement of an undisclosed number of Trophy systems, countermeasures and test equipment necessary for the qualification and integration effort for the upcoming demonstration phase. This third and final phase is expected to begin in 2024 and will take place at both Rafaels own facilities in Israel and at test ranges in the U.K. Based on our experience in integrating Trophy on various platforms, the integration process can be completed in several months to a year, depending on the pace of tank production, Cohen said. This will align with the manufacturing schedule of the tanks. European joint venture Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land in the U.K. produces the Challenger 3, which is set to replace an estimated 148 Challenger 2 tanks. The new variant is expected to achieve initial operating capability in 2027 and full operating capability in 2030. The Trophy is under contract for the serial production of more than 2,000 units, according to Rafael. Cohen noted it is integrated with 17 types of vehicles, including Merkava tanks in service with the Israel Defense Forces, Abrams tanks used by the U.S. military and Leopard 2 tanks fielded by the German armed forces. In 2021, Rafael, General Dynamics European Land Systems and German business Krauss-Maffei Wegmann established the joint venture EuroTrophy, advertised as the European hub for the Trophy active protection system. Based in Germany, the group focuses on meeting the production needs of European customers. On Sept. 6, EuroTrophy announced it won a contract by KNDS a joint venture of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and French firm Nexter for Trophy to serve as the active protection system baseline for the Leopard 2 A8 tank configuration in Germany and Norway. According to a statement released by EuroTrophy, the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency commissioned KNDS in February for the delivery of 54 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, all of which would feature the Trophy system. Additionally, the German militarys equipment acquisition office signed a framework agreement in May with Krauss-Maffei Wegmann for the delivery of up to 123 Leopard 2 A8 variants. Nearly 10 months after 11-year-old Hailey Brooks was killed at the Raleigh Christmas Parade, organizers have begun planning this years event as the case against the driver who hit her drudges through the court system. On Aug. 18, the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association announced in a press release that applications have opened for participants in this years parade. This year, though, the parade is implementing additional requirements for those participating, according to the release. Landen Glass was 20 when he lost control of his modified pickup truck as it pulled a float in the Raleigh parade on Nov. 19, 2022. His truck struck Brooks, who was dancing with the CC & Company Dance Complex. She was transported to a hospital where she died. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This year, all drivers will be required to be at least 21 years old and possess a valid drivers license. A passenger over the age of 21 will also be required to ride with every driver. Drivers must provide proof that the vehicle they are driving has passed inspection and has proper safety equipment, including but not limited to properly functioning brakes, lights, horn, steering mechanism, windows and windshield wipers, directional signals, tires, mirrors and exhaust systems. Participants will be required to show a certificate of insurance. After Haileys death, her parents filed a wrongful death suit against the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, Shop Local Raleigh, Glass, CC & Co. Dance Company and D&L Floats. This years parade is scheduled for Nov. 18. Whats the status of the NC Parade Safety Bill? In April, the North Carolina House passed the Shine Like Hailey Parade Safety Bill. If adopted by the Senate, the bill would require parade organizers in cities of 35,000 or more residents to inspect vehicles within seven days of the parade and ensure each one is registered and insured. It would also require anyone driving in the parade to be at least 25 years old and have a valid drivers license, an increased age from the parades current requirements. The bill would allow municipalities of fewer than 35,000 to enact the same requirements but wouldnt require them to. The proposed legislation, however, does not require mechanics to inspect vehicles used in parades. Instead, inspections would be completed by the local police and fire department of the municipality hosting the parade. The bill has not been voted on in the Senate yet. What happened to the driver, Landen Glass? After the parade, Glass was initially charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, careless and reckless driving, improper equipment, unsafe movement and carrying a firearm in a parade. In April, Glasss charges were elevated from misdemeanor death by motor vehicle to felony involuntary manslaughter. Glass was not present at a court hearing on the case Monday morning. His lawyer, Roger Smith of Tharrington Smith, appeared before Judge Paul Ridgeway on Glasss behalf. Smith told The News & Observer that it is too early in the case to think about the potential for a plea deal. Glasss next court appearance is scheduled for early November. In a city of unremarkable boxes, the house at 606 Transylvania Ave. stands out as gloriously off-kilter, almost triangular with its roof slanted like a skateboard ramp as playful as its monster-movie address. It dates to 1954, when a string of rock-star architects from N.C. State University turned Raleigh into their modernist playground, creating houses that were both simple and wildly expressive, marked by open spaces and tall windows. This one sprang from the mind of George Matsumoto, the Wolfpack modernist who won a string of awards for his work and scored a five-page spread in Architectural Record. The N&O gave him a full-page profile a few years later, calling him a dreamer and yet a realist. So get a look quick. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The house is getting knocked down soon another Raleigh landmark deemed old and in the way. George Matsumotos modernist house on Transylvania Avenue as it appears in 2023, shortly before demolition. Orange construction fencing lines the street. Josh Shaffer A Raleigh couple paid $1.8 million for Matsumotos creation in March, and a few weeks ago, received their official demolition permit from City Hall. This drew predictable howling from the citys preservation-minded citizens, including more than 100 scorching Facebook posts likening this decision to desecration of a relic. Their vitriol poured out like battery acid because, on top of the modernist house, the plot of land in Raleighs Country Club Hills also contains the remains of the Bloomsbury Park pavilion a short-lived amusement park built in 1912, once boasting a roller coaster. Tearing this house down is sickening, wrote David Hill. Unfortunately, there are too many people who see no value in preserving designs of historic significance. All they want is an oversized McMansion. Once all the old houses have gone ... In the same vein, Julia K. Henderson asked, Why do people who want to live in a new building always insist on buying and destroying an old one to achieve their vision? Once all the old houses have gone, the charm of the area will have left with them. On Thursday, I called Mark B. Thompson Jr., the new owner of 606 Transylvania, to see if hed talk about what drove this decision, and whether the distress over Raleighs vanishing history holds any weight. For sure, theres more to this picture than a casual architecture fan can see from the street: the cost of renovation, the challenges of old-house living ... Sadly, well never know, because Thompson pretty much hung up on me. I dont really have any comment on that, he said. Have a nice day. The modernist house at 606 Transylvania Ave., designed by NC State Universitys George Matsumoto for and with his colleague Bill Weber, will soon be demolished. Raleigh Historic Commission Raleigh Historic Property rules Many people ask if 606 Transylvania had any historic status that might have fended off development, and the funny thing is, it did for a while until its owner asked the city to revoke it. In 2014, then-owner Joanna Johnson explained that she never understood the full consequences of being a Raleigh Historic Property when she applied. To wit, nobody told her about the restrictions on future buyers ability to knock down her house. Had she known, she said, she would never have signed. I am a single woman, 72 years old, who lives alone, she wrote at the time. My home is my self-insurance program for long-term needs. While I love the house and, after 32 years, continue to love living here, I am fully aware that I may need to make other arrangements in the future. For preservationists, her thinking has helped prop up a myth that historic houses dont sell. For a marquee house like this, it only enhances the probability that someone is going to come in who lives this house, wants to repair it and have it last another 50 years, said George Smart, CEO of the nonprofit US Modernist. The real tragedy here is that a modernist house, in excellent condition, by a recognized master of architecture, is going to be destroyed. George Matsumoto, the Yoda of NC States collection of modern architect Jedis in the 1950s. News & Observer file photo The Yoda of the group More on that recognized master thing. In 1948, NC State wanted to revamp its design school and brought in Henry Kamphoefner as dean, adding a luminary of the field who shone so brightly he got Frank Lloyd Wright to speak at the brand-new Reynolds Coliseum filling it with 6,000 people. Kamphoefners dream-team faculty included Matsumoto the Yoda of the group, said Smart and encouraged them to do side projects, especially residential houses around Raleigh. Soon, the city was filling up with slanted roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows. The pages of Architectural Record featured a Raleigh house almost every month, including 606 Transylvania, which merited a five-page spread in 1954. Many of those homes still remain, including Matsumotos own on Runnymede Road. Ten years have passed since Raleigh lost its last major modernist house, but a tear-down mood dominates Raleigh in 2023. Last person out the door, save the doorknob. The Matsumoto House on Runnymede Road in Raleigh was designed and built in 1954. The 1,752 square-foot home takes its cues from van der Rohes Farnsworth House in Plano, Ill. But where Farnsworth is a sparkling sonnet in glass and steel, Matsumotos house explores the opacity of wood, block and paneling. Juli Leonard/jleonard@newsobserver.com This image provided by Gianluca Masi shows the comet C/2023 P1 Nishimura and its tail seen from Manciano, Italy on Sept. 5, 2023. Comet Nishimura, which was only discovered last month, will be closest to earth on Tuesday, meaning it may be possible to view with the naked eye. | Gianluca Masi via Associated Press This week, an astronomical phenomenon that hasnt been visible since the 17th century and wont be seen again for another 400 years will pass through the night sky. Comet Nishimura, which was only discovered last month, will be closest to Earth on Tuesday, meaning it may be possible to view with the naked eye. The comet is on a 434-year orbit, so your chance to see this green comet for yourself will be within the next few days before it disappears for another four centuries. When will Comet Nishimura be visible? Comet Nishimura is already visible from Earth, but the best dates to see it will be Tuesday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 17. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The comet will reach the point in its orbit closest to Earth on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Sweeping within 78 million miles of Earth, the comet will be brighter as it gets closer to Earth. The comet will be at peak brightness on Sept. 17, Quanzhi Ye, an astronomer at the University of Maryland, told The Washington Post. The comet will be closest to the sun on that date. How to see Comet Nishimura The best way to view Comet Nishimura is with a telescope. However, as the comet swings closer to Earth, it may be bright enough to be visible with binoculars, or even with the naked eye. Related Dr. Paul Chodas, director of NASAs Center for Near Earth Object Studies, told CNN that if youre in the Northern Hemisphere, the best way to look for the comet is to find a clear view of the east-northeast horizon about half an hour before morning twilight. Photos of Comet Nishimura Photographers have already began to capture amazing photos of Comet Nishimura on its trajectory. Astrophotographer Sebastian Voltmer captured an image of the comet in the night sky over Germany. Photographer Nick Bull posted a photo on social media of Comet Nishimura passing over Stonehenge in England. Meanwhile, another photographer, Bray Falls, captured a stunning photo of the comet over Goblin Valley State Park in southern Utah. William Polk was calm but adamant: his client, Marty Dill, does not fit the description. At least the description thats been released. Hes shorter. Hes lighter. He does not have a bushy beard. He does not have bushy hair, the Henderson County attorney told Kentucky State Police officials on Aug. 31, 1995, mere hours before police would raid Dills home. His beard is very short. And his hair, Im told, is now very short. Polk like everyone else in the Tri-State that late summer was discussing the disappearance of Heather Teague: a 23-year-old Clay, Kentucky, woman who had been sunbathing on Newburgh Beach on Aug. 26 when an Indiana resident peering through a telescope across the Ohio River reportedly saw a heavily bearded man with wild hair and a gun emerge from the dunes and drag the former homecoming queen into the woods. Investigators quickly turned to Dill. He was a 30-year-old with a criminal record who had sported a mountain-man look in the past and owned a red Ford Bronco that matched the description of one seen at the beach that day. Police search for signs of missing 23-year-old Heather Teague at the home of Marty Dill in Poole, Ky., Sept. 1, 1995. Photo by Evansville Courier photographer Lara Cerri. With the help of the FBI, trained dogs and a probable cause affidavit, police planned to raid Dills trailer in Poole, Kentucky, search the Bronco, and comb the property for any sign of Teague. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But in previously unreleased, 28-year-old audio obtained by the Courier & Press, Polk asked them to reconsider their plans. Dill didnt just look different from the police sketch of the supposed perpetrator, Polk said. He was also a danger to himself. If KSP attempted to arrest him during a nighttime raid, Dill might commit suicide, the attorney told them. When confronted by his family about Teagues disappearance, Dill had allegedly booted everyone from the home, cut off contact, and holed up inside with a butcher knife and .22-caliber gun. Officials should go during the day, Polk said. He even offered to knock on Dills door and talk to him himself. And to show he was working in good faith, he told police where theyd find the Bronco shrouded in the woods, just behind the trailer. But in the recording, which the Courier & Press received from Heathers mother, Sarah who herself obtained KSPs case file through 2017 after a lawsuit officials said trudging out there in the daylight could put officers at risk. In the end, KSP forged ahead. And Polks fears turned out to be warranted. Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 1, state troopers surrounded the squat mobile home. By 3:15 a.m., Dill had been declared dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No sign of Teague was found on the property, and the case has languished in purgatory ever since. Kentucky State Police didnt respond to requests for comment for this story, and Polk died in 2018. The day of the raid, however, Henderson County Attorney Charles McCollom told the Evansville Courier that investigators had no choice but to go forward. They had no idea where Heather Teague was or whether she was dead or alive, he said. Time was working against them. An Ohio connection in the Teague case: 27 years after disappearance, police to send items in Heather Teague case for DNA testing The police's sketch in the Heather Teague case Time, of course, hasnt slowed down since. Aug. 26 marked 28 years since Heather Teague vanished. Since then, Sarah Teague has spent that grueling stretch searching wooded areas and even lifting the lids of oil tankers, desperate to find any trace of her daughter. Shes combed through the case file and filed hordes of public-records requests to obtain recordings. It took her more than two decades to finally hear the conversation described above. For her, it confirmed one of her main beliefs in the case: Dill doesnt match the description of the man police say abducted Heather. Allegedly using the description provided by the man peering through the telescope, investigators drew up two composite sketches four days after Heathers abduction. One showed a shirtless caveman-looking figure with tumbleweed hair and an unkempt beard. The other depicted a man in close-up, with cropped-but-untamed hair and a shorter beard. But Sarah Teague has long said the police based those drawings not off eyewitness accounts, but from Marty Dills drivers license photo which KSP disputes. Sure, Marty looked like that in the past, she said. But not by late summer of 1995. She found a picture of Dill when he was released from the Webster County jail about two months before the kidnapping. It shows him with a shaved head and a beard reduced to stubble. She's not saying Dill wasn't involved in Heathers disappearance. She just doesnt think hes the man allegedly seen stalking across the sand that day. I collected five statements from family and friends, a letter from (Dills) mother, three jail records and a picture of the day he got out of jail, she said. But thats not made any difference at all no matter how many detectives, lieutenants, sergeants (and) captains that Ive taken that sketch to. Theyve laughed at me. Now I hear it on one of their own audios they knew. DNA testing Not long ago, Sarah hoped a break in the case was imminent. In December, after 27 years, KSP sent three pieces of evidence to a lab in Florida for DNA testing: Heathers bathing suit bottom A blue towel Heather used the day of her disappearance Another towel found inside the Bronco KSP didnt respond to questions about the items. But in emails to Sarah Teague that were forwarded to the Courier & Press, Lt. Aaron Pryor said KSP is seeking additional funding for the lab to do further examinations. For victims family members, getting quick responses from police can be difficult. Thats the case not just with KSP, but police departments across the country, said Gil Alba a longtime member of the New York Police Department who went on to become a private detective. Hes worked with Sarah Teague since 2008, when he came to Western Kentucky to search the beach, conduct interviews and discuss the case with police. Police composite sketches show a man an eyewitness allegedly said abducted Kentucky woman Heather Teague on Aug. 26, 1995. (KSP) kind of ignored me, but I told them, I dont want anything from you guys. If I find anything, Ill give it to you, he told the Courier & Press on Tuesday. Theres no transparency from them since then. And its not only them its a lot of police departments. So Im trying to get transparency for a lot of these cases. He said Sarah was right to ask for DNA testing because of vast advancements in the technology since 1995. But it takes a while, he said, because they have a whole lot of stuff there. An illustration shows a police sketch of the supposed suspect in the Heather Teague case alongside Marty Dill's driver's license photo. Sarah Teague, Heather's mother, claimed Kentucky State Police created the sketch by looking at Dill's photo, and that Dill no longer looked like that on the day of Heather Teague's abduction. KSP has denied that. 'I want explanations' Heather has now been missing five more years than she wasnt. April 25 would have marked her 51st birthday. And for Sarah, every year hurts. She continues to ask KSP about the countless other unanswered questions in the case. Shes sent 19 documents of open records requests to Frankfort, and shes preparing a packet with a detailed timeline. I want explanations. I want to know, she said. But the only thing I really want is Heather back. And you know what? I deserve to know. I have worked day and night. This is what Ive done for 28 years, and I just want some things explained to me. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Here's what a previously unheard recording in Heather Teague case says Theres been a nearly 25% drop in blood donations since last month, threatening the health of patients who need blood in an emergency or are dependent on life-saving transfusions. The American Red Cross desperately needs Black donors as the nations blood supply has reached critically low levels. Since early August, there has been an almost 25% decline in blood donations, which may jeopardize the health of patients who require blood in an emergency or are dependent on life-saving blood transfusions due to severe illnesses such as cancer and sickle cell disease, according to a press release. Consecutive months of severe climate-related catastrophes, including Hurricane Idalia in the Southeast U.S. a few ago, have led to the cancellation of blood drives and a reduction in donations in the afflicted areas, further stressing the blood supply. Joel Ramos donates blood during a community blood drive held in June 2021 at Hoboken Rec Center in Hoboken, New Jersey. The American Red Cross has announced a national blood shortage due to an increase in natural disasters, among other things. Since early August, there has been an almost 25% decline in blood donations. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Currently, more blood is being distributed to hospitals than is being donated. The Red Cross relies on 12,500 blood donations daily from donors to satisfy the demands of the nations approximately 2,500 hospitals and transfusion facilities. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For so many patients living with urgent medical care needs, crises dont stop with natural disasters, said American Red Cross Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pampee Young. In fact, in some instances, the stress of a disaster can lead to a medical crisis for some individuals battling sickle cell disease. The organizations call for September blood donations coincides with National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Sickle cell disease is the most prevalent hereditary blood disease in the U.S., most commonly affecting individuals of African descent. One in three African Americans who donate blood is a match for patients who may require routine transfusions to avoid health issues, including organ and tissue damage, excruciating pain and strokes. The disease differs from the trait, which affects one in 13 babies of Black or African American descent. The need for blood is constant, Young said. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood an often-invisible emergency that the rest of the world doesnt see behind closed hospital doors. Now, that urgency has only heightened. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Red Cross calls for Black blood donors amid shortage, national disasters appeared first on TheGrio. The Red Sox and American Red Cross are partnering together to host a Day of Remembrance blood drive to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Hundreds of donors are expected to mark the anniversary by rolling up a sleeve. This annual event honors the lives lost in 2001 and since this blood drive began in 2002, more than 11,000 blood donations have been collected. Within hours of the first plane striking the World Trade Center, the Red Cross was there, said Holly Grant, Chief Executive Officer of the Red Cross of Massachusetts. By donating blood at this drive, you honor not just those who gave their lives, but those who spent weeks caring for the first responders and reuniting loved ones. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement September is also National Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross is reminding donors of the importance of having a readily available blood supply. Those who donate blood can take photos with the World Series trophies and view the new 521 Overlook, where the blood drive will take place. All those who participate will also receive a t-shirt. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made here. The blood drive will take place at Fenway park from 7 a.m. till 1 p.m. 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 Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies. He said those companies were suspected of "falsely promising" loan forgiveness to borrowers for fees. Should the investigations find wrongdoing, impacted borrowers could receive relief. Dozens of companies who tout student-debt relief are facing a crackdown. Last week, the office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced he had opened investigations into 52 student-debt relief companies "suspected of violating Minnesota law." The companies many of which are based in California offered their services to Minnesota borrowers and are suspected of "misrepresenting their fees and services and falsely promising student-loan forgiveness, which only the federal government can offer." "Minnesotans just want to be able to afford their lives, and the cost of student loans that too many borrowers have to take out is already too high," Ellison said in a statement. "The fact that fraudsters prey on borrowers by charging exorbitant fees and making promises they can't deliver on is offensive. We've held companies like this accountable before and we're doing it again." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A full list of the companies being investigated can be found here. The letters Ellison's office sent each of the 52 companies asked them to provide information within 10 days of receiving the letter including proof of their registration to do business in Minnesota, a description of all products relating to student loans, and the total amount of fees paid by each consumer for the debt-relief services. If the investigations uncover wrongdoing, borrowers who paid those companies could receive refunds. Ellison's previous enforcement actions over the student-loan industry have led to the shutdown of some of those companies, along with millions of dollars returned to borrowers. Minnesota's efforts are part of a broader federal effort to crack down on predatory behavior as borrowers transition back into repayment. The student-loan payment pause ended on September 1 when interest began accruing again on borrowers' balances, and the first bill is set to become due next month. President Joe Biden's Education Department has warned borrowers to be weary of misleading behavior, particularly because any assistance with repayment or debt relief that comes directly from the federal government is free. Most recently, the Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department announced last month that over 22,000 borrowers would receive $9 million in refunds after a company was found to be charging up to $800 in "illegal up-front fees" for debt-relief services. The FTC had previously halted the operations of two different debt-relief companies that scammed borrowers out of $8.8 million under the guise of debt relief. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently warned borrowers to keep an eye out for any potentially predatory behavior they notice from their federal servicer or outside companies and encouraged them to submit complaints to the agency regarding any suspected wrongdoing. "Unfortunately, the CFPB has found in the past that some student loan servicers have made it harder for borrowers to access lower payments and loan cancellation programs," the agency's September blog said. "Our complaint monitoring, enforcement and supervision efforts have uncovered red tape, errors, delays, and even illegal practices that left borrowers paying more than they should." Read the original article on Business Insider The ending of Robert Pattinsons 2010 drama Remember Me has resurfaced on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Monday (11 September) marks 22 years since two al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked and crashed two commercial planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. The devastating events are referenced (but not shown) in Remember Mes critically condemned, twist ending. The coming-of-age romantic drama follows Pattinsons Tyler as he embarks on a relationship with fellow New York University student Ally (played by Emilie de Ravin ). ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Viewers are led to believe that the events of the film are taking place in the present day; however, at the end of the film, the date is revealed to be 11 September 2001, the day of the infamous attacks. At this point, Pattinsons Tyler has gone to meet his father (played by Pierce Brosnan) in his high-rise New York office building. As the fateful date is revealed, the camera pans out to show that Pattinson is, in fact, standing in 1 World Trade Center. The films conclusion was shared on X/Twitter on Monday by Luis Paez-Pumar, who wrote: Happy 9/11 to whoever made the bonkers creative decision to end Remember Me (2010) this way. Happy 9/11 to whoever made the bonkers creative decision to end REMEMBER ME (2010) this way: pic.twitter.com/uW0FurFLUQ Luis Paez-Pumar (@lppny) September 11, 2023 I remember screaming at the screen when this happened. Nothing has ever been more unhinged, one person responded to the tweet, which has racked up more than 30,000 likes. Man Ive never opened a Wikipedia page faster, wrote another. Others defended the film, however. Isnt it the whole point? That this was so unexpected, people had lives, plans etc and then it just ended abruptly. The controversial ending faced immediate criticism from some reviewers upon its release. Elizabeth Weitzman of the New York Daily News wrote: Theres no shame in exploring tragedy through art. But exploiting it to make your very ordinary movie feel more important? Thats another story. Xan Brooks wrote for The Guardian that Pattinsons character was stitched into history in a most cheap and tawdry fashion. On this historic day, film fans have also remembered the contributions of Fargo star Steve Buscemi, who temporarily returned to his old job as a New York City firefighter to help rescue efforts. Smoke pours from the twin towers of the World Trade Center after they were hit by two hijacked airliners in a terrorist attack September 11, 2001 in New York City. (Photo by Robert Giroux/Getty Images) The month of August is filled with difficult memories for the volunteers, veterans, service members and Gold Star families who experienced massive upheaval during the devastating weeks of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. September 11 , the day that spawned almost 20 years of war in Afghanistan, follows too close on the heels of Aug. 30, the ignominious day of our final departure. For me, those anniversaries have become inextricably intertwined. They hit like a double sucker punch: the heinous end, and its tragic beginning. In late August, I was en route to Washington, D.C., for an event commemorating the 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans killed by an ISIS-K suicide bomber on August 26, 2021. My path took me through Shanksville, Pennsylvania. I had previously visited Ground Zero and the Pentagon Memorial, but never trod the hallowed ground where 40 Americans aboard Flight 93 subverted al-Qaeda terrorists plans for spectacular carnage by taking down their own plane over an abandoned field on 9/11. I arrived at the site intending to remember how our Afghanistan endeavor had started, but I could not decouple that distant past from a more recent one. I felt chills when the wind set off several of the 40 chimes inside the Tower of Voices, symbolically allowing Flight 93s victims to call out to us into perpetuity. I wondered what those men and women would say if they knew all our service members had given to ensure their sacrifice was not in vain. When I wandered the exterior of a museum that overlooks the crash site, I wanted to ask other visitors if they were also concerned about al-Qaedas continued presence in Afghanistan today. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When I walked along the walled path that leads past Flight 93s debris field and to a wall bearing the names of each victim, I noticed a hollow recess where visitors had left tokens in memory or gratitude. Inside were challenge coins, pieces of currency, police and firefighter badges, and a small bouquet of limp red, white and blue flowers. Then, there was the small item that took my breath away: a metal cuff bracelet. A bracelet worn in tribute to the fallen stands among the items visitors have left behind at the Flight 93 Memorial. The bracelet bears the names of Sgt. Zachary Daniel Tellier, Sgt. Tyler Austin Juden, and 1 st Sgt. Russell Ryan Bell, who died in Afghanistan during a nearly five year span between 2007 and 2012. Photo courtesy Beth Bailey. Too many veterans of the Global War on Terror wear these ubiquitous bands. Usually, they bear the name or names of fallen friends who lost their lives on the field of battle. I also wear one, in acknowledgment of every veteran who left something of themself in Afghanistan. I have never known a veteran to remove their bracelet. In nine years, I have removed my own on fewer than half a dozen occasions. Like mine, this bracelets black exterior had been scratched off from years of wear, but three names and a reference to a unit were still legible. The first inscription was for U.S. Army Sgt. Zachary Daniel Tellier , who died in eastern Afghanistans Paktia province on September 29, 2007. The second acknowledged U.S. Army Sgt. Tyler Austin Juden , who died in western Afghanistans Herat province on September 12, 2009. Last came the name of U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Russell Ryan Bell , who died in southern Afghanistans Kandahar province on August 2, 2012. Tellier, Juden and Bell served across Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. Presumably, the veteran who left the band did as well. This image made available to AFP on August 20, 2021 by Human Rights Activist Omar Haidari, shows a US Marine grabbing an infant over a fence of barbed wire during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on August 19, 2021. (Photo by -/Courtesy of Omar Haidiri/AFP via Getty Images) In the past few weeks, the bracelets wearer has not been far from my thoughts. My numerous interviews with veterans in the last two years have demonstrated the depth of struggles many faced post-withdrawal. Some feel their service was in vain, while others are exhausted by efforts to save the lives of the interpreters they could not bring to safety. Too many lost friends to suicide, or have attempted to take their own lives. I turned to social media to help identify the bracelets owner. Without any leads, I am left to form my own conclusions. Perhaps the bracelets wearer left their tribute in hopes that those who come to visit the heroes of Flight 93 will remember the lives that were lost to make the world safer than it was on 9/11. Maybe they hoped that someone would connect the events of 9/11 and present day. I am. I believe we all must. Beth Bailey ( @BWBailey85 ) is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the co-host of The Afghanistan Project, which takes a deep dive into the tragedy wrought in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Rays Golden Lion reopens this month after eight long years, bringing a new set of owners and a new menu to the iconic venues familiar commitment to live music. Owners Talon Yager and Andrew McVay plan to open the evening of Sept. 30 at 1353 George Washington Way in Richlands Uptown Shopping Center. The moment will cap a three-year effort to refresh the 12,000-square-foot Golden Lion without sacrificing the look and feel of the original. The duo secured liquor and business licenses and are waiting for final inspections and approval from the Benton Franklin Health District. Well be good to open, Yager promised. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The opening night lineup features The Savage Henrys, Big Time, The Van Dels and Pazzi Pazzi. Doors open at 7 p.m. The cover charge is $15 at the door and attendance is restricted to those 21 and over. Rays has booked musical acts through early November and began selling tickets this month. The neon Rays Golden Lion sign with its dancing lion is staying put. But secondary signs advertising Chinese food are coming down. Whats changed, what hasnt Like its predecessor, the new Rays Golden Lion is a restaurant by day and music venue/bar by night. The most noticeable change is the menu. The original served Chinese and Mogolian fare. The new Rays will serve what Yager describes as unpretentious gastropub food think sandwiches, Rubens and Cubans, burgers, Philly cheese steak and chicken waffles. There will be vegan items as well. The bar has eight taps and a line of signature cocktails inspired by dive bars theres a Golden Lion gin and cider and a Malibob Sunset, a nod to their booking agent. A minor change is coming to the front of the building, which faces George Washington Way. The neon Rays Golden Lion sign is staying put but secondary signs advertising Chinese food will come down. The changes extend to the back alley, where a fresh mural honors Rays past. A mural by Joey Armstrong of Thunderhand Tattoo celebrates the reopening of Rays Golden Lion at the Uptown Shopping Center in Richland. Joey Armstrong of Thunderhand Tattoo painted the vivid mural the entire length of Rays. Its part of the Uptowns campaign to create a walkable arts district in the alleys where businesses accept deliveries and stash their garbage bins. Armstrongs mural honors the memory of Ray Chin, who founded the restaurant, and Dustin Stecker, the music promoter who booked the bands that performed there. Stecker died in April but was eager to see the venue reopen. 50-plus years Wai Mon Raymond Chin opened Golden Lion 1963 and ran it with his wife and son until late 2015, when the business was evicted for unpaid rent. Chin died the following February after being struck by a car while walking across Van Giesen at Richlands Shelter Belt Trail. He was 83. A variety of sticker cover a metal support beam inside the renovated Rays Golden Lion in Richland. Yager and McVay say theyve heard from people who swear they were going to reopen Rays. In reality, only four prospective tenants toured the space. All found it too large to manage. Yager and McVay werent concerned about the size though they confess getting it back into shape has had its challenges. To begin, they wont use the entire building. Theyre reopening the front but leaving the former Mongolian grill spot in the back empty for the time being. They may add pool tables and other activities in the future, but to start, Rays Golden Lion is a restaurant and music venue. Musical home Friends since childhood, Yager and McVay played in bands that performed regularly at Rays Golden Lion, which attracted an astonishing list of performers in its heyday, including Tina Turner and Meatloaf. It was, they agreed, their musical home. Rays Golden Lion new owners Talon Yager, left, and Andrew McVay are set to open on Sept. 30 at 1353 George Washington Way in Richlands Uptown Shopping Center. The moment will cap a three-year effort to refresh the 12,000-square-foot Golden Lion without sacrificing the look and feel of the beloved original. Yager performed with groups such as The Drip into his late 20s and toured the U.S. after it secured a recording contract. McVay, who graduated from Pasco High, played with local bands into his 20s as well. Both began working in the hospitality industry. Yager, a fourth generation restaurateur, has owned Stick + Stone Pizza at Richlands Queensgate area since he bought it from the founder in late 2019. McVay works as a bartender and server and dreamed of running his own bar. His father owns a New Orleans-themed club in northern Louisiana. They began pursuing the idea of a business at the Uptown about three years ago. They always wanted the Rays space, but looked at the former Towne Crier, which was also vacant. Towne Crier is reopening under a different team as Daisy Ranch Saloon. So they focused on the Rays spot. They leased the space and split the roughly $700,000 it cost to clean and repair the space and modernize the kitchen with the landlord. The project is more repair than renovation, they stress. There were no structural alterations that would trigger costly code updates, like fire sprinklers. Handbills from music bands performances cover a wall inside the renovated Rays Golden Lion in Richland. The kitchen is upgraded as are the sound systems, lighting and bar. They estimate 70% of their music lineup with be metal, punk and rock and roll groups, catering to local interests. A hip hop act is scheduled for Oct. 14. If you go Rays Golden Lion family-friendly restaurant hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m., From 11 p.m.-2 p.m., it is 21-and-over bar and music venue. Follow Rays Golden Lion on Facebook at bit.ly/45X0aNY For booking information, use the email raysgoldenlionproductions@gmail.com Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. UNITED STATES - JUNE 23: Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., speaks during a Pro-Choice Caucus event in Cannon Buildings Speaker Nancy Pelosi Caucus Room marking one year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision on Friday, June 23, 2023. The Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs overturned the national right to abortion on June 24, 2022 UNITED STATES - JUNE 23: Rep. Barbara Lee , D-Calif., speaks during a Pro-Choice Caucus event in Cannon Buildings Speaker Nancy Pelosi Caucus Room marking one year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision on Friday, June 23, 2023. The Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs overturned the national right to abortion on June 24, 2022 Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) is calling out California Governor Gavin Newsom after he made some questionable comments on Meet The Press. On Sunday, Governor Newsom said that he would appoint a Black woman as a caretaker for Senator Diane Feinsteins seat if she were to resign. Newsom previously swore to appoint a Black woman to the seat but rejected calls to appoint Rep. Lee, who is currently running in the hotly-contested primary. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Lee went on to reiterate the need for Black women in the Senate. There are currently no Black women serving in the Senate. Since 1789, there have only been two Black woman Senators, who have served a total of 10 years, she wrote. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed and needed for more than a few months. Its possible that all of this could be a non-issue. Despite ongoing health concerns, Sen. Feinstein has so far rejected calls to resign. And political leaders in California like Newsom and Representative Nancy Pelosi have yet to call for her to step down. But, for Lee, the idea that a Black woman could be selected just to check a box is insulting. If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment, says Lee. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A 20-year-old man has been arrested for kidnapping after he showed up to his ex-girlfriends apartment with a gun to confront her about their break up, a police report shows. According to the police report, the victim texted 911, saying HELP ME PLEASE and HE HAS A GUN, as well as giving the description of her ex-boyfriend, Camron Walker. Report: Pott. County jail concealed info on the mysterious deaths of 7 inmates After police arrived at her apartment and detained Walker, they found the victim inside her bathroom, very distraught and shaken by the situation. The victim told officers she was a hairstylist working out of her home and she had recently received a scheduling from a female she did not know. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The supposed client texted her that day saying she had arrived at the complex for her appointment but could not find the womans apartment, so she asked the victim to step outside so she could see which apartment was the right one. When the woman opened her door, Walker was standing on the other side. It turns out Camron had posed as a female and booked an appointment for a hair style with [the victim] under a different profile, the report reads. Police investigating deadly NE Oklahoma City shooting Walker made his way inside and began ranting about her ending their relationship. The victim asked him to leave several times, but he refused. According to the report, when she told him she was going to leave, he stood in front of the door and pulled out a gun. He then threatened to shoot himself if she tried to leave. [The victim] was in fear for her life so she ran to the bathroom and hid in there until [police] arrived, the report states. Woman shot in leg during drive-by shooting in OKC Walker did not have a gun in his possession when officers arrived, but a gun was found behind the refrigerator with a full magazine and one in the chamber. Camron later admitted that this was his brothers gun, the report reads. The victim later told investigators she had left Stillwater to get away from Walker due to past abusive behaviors. Walker is in the Oklahoma County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond for kidnapping. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. There are 60 million Americans who reside in rural locations, and they tend to be older and in poorer health than their urban counterparts. They also face greater difficulty accessing health care. Telehealth has been viewed as a game-changer for this population. The convenience of seeing a doctor via video, proponents say, has the potential to enable rural residents to get more and better care, thereby reducing health disparities. A specialist whom it might take hours to drive to can now be presentto an extentin a patients living room. This can be particularly useful for patients who are managing chronic conditions. Many policymakers and medical organizations push for telehealth expansions on the idea that telehealth is a clear boon for health care access. But what if this digital revolution is actually undermining the very rural patients it appears to support? Our recent research suggests that this is a real risk. The issue is that patients may see any doctor who has a license to practice in their state. Urban providers can leverage their scale, reputation, and expertise to attract patients from rural areas. A patient in rural Idaho might choose to visit a doctor in Boise, rather than one at a nearer hospital. This competitive shift poses a serious threat to the financial viability and sustainability of rural hospitals and clinics, which are already facing multiple challenges. Across the United States, more than 200 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, and 11 have closed this year alone. According to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, nearly 30 percent of all rural U.S. hospitals are now at risk of closing due to financial pressures. To understand the impacts of telehealth expansion on the financial performance of rural health care providers, we conducted a study around the expansion of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a regulatory framework that makes it easier for health care providers to get licensed in multiple states. As of August 2023, 35 states and one territoryGuamhave joined the Compact. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When a host state joins the compact, it opens up patients options for health care providers considerably. That patient in rural Idaho might have the option to see doctors in New Haven, Connecticut, or Cleveland, Ohio. We wanted to understand how this expansion in telehealth affected business for both rural and urban hospitals. We did this by analyzing data spanning 2010 to 2018 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on health care provider revenues and patient flows, as well as private insurance claims data associated with more than 10 percent of the U.S. insured population. We found clear evidence that when a state joins the Compact, patients start using telehealth more. While a rural patient may choose to see a rural doctor over video, this isnt, on balance, what tends to happen. Our data indicates that more than 80 percent of rural patients telehealth claims involve urban providers. Rural patients substitute local, in-person visits with remote, virtual consultations supplied by urban providers. Then, those virtual consultations frequently lead to in-person follow-up visits at urban facilities. (In terms of the Compact, this might mean that a doctor in Nevada obtains an additional license to practice in Utah, and then draws patients in that state to their office in Las Vegas for in-person follow-ups.) As a result, urban providers see a significant increase in revenue at the expense of rural providers. Specifically, we estimate that urban hospitals and physicians gain an average of 2.6 percent and 1.9 percent in revenue and payments, respectively, after their state joins the Compact. Rural hospitals and providers lose an average of 4.6 percent and 5.6 percent in revenue and payments, respectively. Those percentages may seem small, but remember, many rural hospitals are already struggling. The added strain posed by telehealth could have dire consequences for many forms of rural health care access, including those for which telehealth is no substitute, like emergency medical care. A December 2020 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that rural hospital closures lead to marked decreases in rural patients access to care, driving large increases in patient travel times and travel costs. Moreover, rural hospitals play a vital role in supporting the local economy and social fabric of their communities. According to a report by the American Hospital Association, rural hospitals contributed $220 billion in economic activity in 2020 and supported 1 in every 12 rural jobs. Our findings thus raise important questions for policymakers. How can rural hospitals be integrated into a telehealth system without compromising their financial stability? How can urban providers ensure quality care while expanding their telehealth services? How can patients be informed about the impact of their choices regarding telehealth? One potential solution is to allow rural and urban hospitals to provide complementary services. For example, rural hospitals could handle in-person follow-up treatments after initial telehealth consultations are conducted by urban providers. This could reduce travel burdens for patients while maintaining some revenue for rural hospitals. Another possibility might be to create more incentives for urban providers to collaborate with rural providers within telehealth networks or affiliations, with a sustainable revenue-sharing model. This could enhance the quality and coordination of care for rural patients while sharing the benefits of telehealth among both types of providers. If you are a rural patient working with an urban provider, there are some steps that you might consider taking (with the caveat that your health care providers recommendations for the best management of your health should come first). Speak openly to your specialist about your preference to involve your local provider in your care plan. Many specialists are open to working with general practitioners in rural areas to help ensure continuity of care. Assuming your specialist agrees (and youve checked with your insurance on how costs may be affected), you might coordinate to have tests or imaging done at your local health care facility and shared digitally with your specialist. Consultations can be performed via telehealth services, while in-person physical exams and other routine aspects of care can be completed at your local clinic or hospital. But ultimately, a constructive dialogue is needed among policymakers, health care providers, insurers, and patient advocates on how best to leverage telehealth technologies in a way that supports both rural and urban health care in a sustainable manner. The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will deliver 40 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to Ukraine based on an order placed by the German government in August, the company announced on Sept. 11. This brings the total number of Marder vehicles to be supplied by Rheinmetall to Ukraine on Germany's commission to 80, with the first 20 shipped in March and another batch of 20 ordered in June, which are currently being overhauled and delivered. Further 20 Marders were provided from the German military's own stocks in March. "Rheinmetall is pressing ahead with work to overhaul these older vehicles and ensure that the latest lot of Marder IFVs can be delivered as per contract starting in 2023," the press release read. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The company is refitting Marder 1A3 systems formerly used by the German military, restoring them to full combat readiness "at its own expense." Rheinmetall promised that it could deliver up to 10 vehicles per month. Berlin presented its latest major military aid package for Ukraine during the NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Apart from the said 40 Marder IFVs that are to be refitted by Rheinmetall, it also included 24 Leopard 1A5 tanks, two Patriot launchers, 20,000 artillery rounds, and other support. Read also: Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrives in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kansas Highway Patrol troopers will be required to obtain written consent from some drivers if they want to continue an interaction after the initial cause of a traffic stop has concluded. The requirement will appear in an injunction federal Judge Kathryn Vratil will eventually issue against the agency following a July ruling in which she determined the agency had waged war on motorists and violated their Fourth Amendment rights through the use of the Kansas two-step. In the practice, troopers would take a couple of steps away from a stopped drivers car at the end of a traffic stop before returning to begin a voluntary interaction with the driver continuing to probe them and buy time for backup and drug sniffing dogs to arrive. Last month the Kansas Highway Patrol argued against an extensive injunction Vratil suggested in order to ensure future abuses did not occur. They argued that many of the requirements, including notifying drivers of their rights and ensuring supervisors work identical hours to those they supervise, were overly burdensome. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, representing drivers whose rights were violated, responded that the injunction was essential. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a response order last month Vratil rejected the Patrols argument that the injunction was unnecessary, but offered an alternative proposal in response to the patrols concerns. The new proposal still required documentation of traffic stops, that officers obtain consent for searches and training for troopers and supervisors. She asked the Kansas Highway Patrol and ACLU to come together and suggest changes to her proposal. In a Monday hearing, Vratil reviewed the proposal and remaining disputes. While the Highway Patrol, once again, objected to retrieving written consent from drivers for searches or continued interaction. In a filing last week the patrol had argued federal law did not require written consent for continuation of traffic stops and recommended a review of video recordings as an alternative. Vratil said reviewing video would be too burdensome. And while federal law doesnt require written consent she said the Highway Patrol stands in a different position following her ruling. Her proposed injunction also requires troopers to get permission from supervisors before initiating a search following a traffic stop. It will be several months before details of the injunction are finalized. Vratil is still considering several details. During Mondays hearing she asked the Highway Patrol and ACLU to submit briefs on whether the terms of the injunction should apply to the patrols practices statewide or just to interactions on Interstate 70. Im not inclined to order any changes with regards to policing any place other than I-70, Vratil said, noting that the interactions that led to the lawsuit all occurred on the same highway. In a written filing the Kansas Highway Patrol said they may apply the practices statewide as a practical matter but Stanley Parker, an assistant Kansas attorney general representing the agency, told Vratil Monday that he saw no reason to expand the injunction past her proposal. Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, said Monday that drivers should not be subjected to different practices based on where they are driving. Rescuers saved five people, including four teenagers, from being swept out to sea by a rip current off a San Francisco beach, California firefighters reported. The teens and one adult were rescued about 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Ocean Beach, the San Francisco Fire Department reported on Twitter, now rebranded as X. The five people had gone into the surf and were being pulled out by a rip current, the departments coastal rescue team said. One rescuer paddled out and saved two teenage girls who were struggling underwater, the agency said. Another first responder rescued two teenage brothers and an adult who also were being swept out by the rip current. None of those rescued required hospitalization, authorities said. What is a rip current? Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually. Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including: Check the local water conditions before getting in. Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions. Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present. Dont assume great weather means good swimming conditions. Third tourist has died in the waters off NCs Outer Banks in three days, officials say 2 children, 4 adults dragged out to sea by rip current in Oregon, rescuers say FDNY firefighter dies trying to save teen daughter from rip current, officials say Road rage took a deadly turn in Gwinnett County Sunday afternoon. Omar Cantillo Avila, 45, died. One of his passengers was hospitalized. Police arrested Luis Cruz, 18, charging him with felony murder and aggravated assault. Channel 2s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson was at the Durham Ridge subdivision near Harbins and Dickens Roads where the shooting happened around 12:00 p.m. Surveillance video captured the sound of rapid gunfire from Cruzs AK-style riflye. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] My mom passed it just a few seconds before. So, yeah, it could have been my mom, said Taryn Nix. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Nix stood in a crowd that watched police gather evidence for more than seven hours. Im sending prayers up because thats so messed up, said Nix. Avilas brother told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco that Avila was a father, originally from Colombia. He was driving his black SUV with two friends with him Sunday afternoon when police say he crossed paths with Cruz. Detectives said something sparked rage that escalated to gunfire. Johnson spoke to a family member of Aliva, who said Cruz had no remorse about the shooting. This is a 43-year-old man that you killed. He has a son. He has a family, the family member said. He has people in his country that he takes care of. Alivas family said Cruz has upset with his driving and started honking his horn, which escalated. They were flicking each other off, the family members said. So they had an encounter. Then the dude was waiting for them. Thats not somebody that should have a gun at all. TRENDING STORIES: People need to take a deep breath and calm down and not resort to firearms to settle what amounts to a very non-descript incident, said Capt. Scott Bennett. Capt. Bennett said evidence shows both men fired guns. Avila did not make it. One of his friends was hospitalized. He said Cruz ran after tossing a long gun next to Avilas SUV. Then, as detectives gathered evidence, Capt. Bennett said Cruzs uncle called. He said he had his nephew with him, his nephew was involved, and he wanted to turn himself in, said Capt. Bennett. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Its Cruzs fourth arrest since last year mostly on traffic and drug charges. Gwinnett County District Attorneys Office staff and Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents were on scene helping Lilburn Police Department process evidence. IN OTHER NEWS: Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Kenny Rosenberg throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Kenny Rosenberg gave up one run over five innings to earn his first career win as the Los Angeles Angels held on for a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Mike Moustakas and Randal Grichuk each drove in a run for the Angels, who took advantage of two balk calls on Guardians starter Tanner Bibee in the third. Cleveland lost three of four in the series and is 7 1/2 games behind first-place Minnesota in the AL Central. Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani missed his seventh straight game with an oblique strain. Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin was optimistic Ohtani will return Monday at Seattle. Weve taken a lot of gut punches (with injuries), Nevin said. We are where we are. Theyre playing hard and playing to win. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Kole Calhoun homered for the Guardians against his former team, and Bibee (10-4) allowed two hits over seven innings. The rookie from nearby Mission Viejo retired his last 14 batters and did not issue a walk. He struck out eight in his first appearance at Angel Stadium. Rosenberg (1-1) permitted six hits and one walk. Andrew Wantz, Ben Joyce, Jimmy Herget and Carlos Estevez each worked a scoreless inning in relief, with Estevez earning his 30th save. Its obviously nice to get the first one out of the way," Rosenberg said. And yeah, they do the traditional beer shower. A little extracurriculars not just beer. A couple of eggs, ice water, all good stuff. Its a fun celebration. I had just as much adrenaline in there as I did (on the field). Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the first when Grichuk doubled, went to third on a groundout by Brandon Drury and scored on Moustakas sacrifice fly. Calhoun got the run back in the second with his fourth home run in 29 games with the Guardians since he was acquired for cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Calhoun has hit 73 of his 177 career home runs at Angel Stadium. The Angels took a 2-1 lead in the third when Kyren Paris singled, went to second and then third on Bibee's two balks and scored on Grichuk's groundout. Bibee had multiple animated discussions with second base umpire Pat Hoberg, who made the balk calls. The right-hander also spoke with first base ump Brian ONora after the inning. Bibee declined to go into much detail about those conversations, saying only he was told he stopped twice while in his pitching motion. I think its just one of those things to turn the page and have a short memory, Bibee said. I think being able to do that, obviously, let me go deep (in the game). I think it gave me a little more anger to it and kind of put a little more on the ball. Bibee locked in from there, retiring 14 consecutive batters through the seventh. It was pretty unbelievable, he said about starting a game in Orange County. Ive been coming here my whole life to see games. I went to (Cal State Fullerton) like 10 minutes away. ... Even though its only 10 feet away from the stands to the field, its super different. But it was super cool to do in front of all my friends and family. TRAINER'S ROOM Guardians: RHPs Shane Bieber and Triston McKenzie are in line to begin minor league rehab assignments this week. Both pitchers are on the 60-day injured list with elbow issues. Angels: OF Mickey Moniak missed his fifth game in a row with a lower back injury that Nevin said is also affecting Moniak's oblique on the right side. ... Rookie 1B Nolan Schanuel missed his second consecutive game with shoulder soreness. ... Joyce (elbow) and SS Zach Neto (back) were activated from the injured list. UP NEXT The Guardians are set to send right-hander Gavin Williams (2-5, 3.34 ERA) to the mound Monday to begin a three-game series at San Francisco. Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (3-10, 4.82) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Seattle. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB Russia attempted a missile strike to sink a civilian vessel in Ukraines Black Sea port of Odesa on Aug. 24, UK PM Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons on Sept. 11, citing UK intelligence data. I can tell the House today that thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on 24 August, The Guardian quotes Sunak. Read also: RAF reconnaissance aircraft guarding Black Sea grain ships London The UK Foreign Office subsequently said the attack was foiled by Ukraines air defenses shooting down the incoming missiles, which were heading towards Odesa port. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately exploiting Odesa Oblasts geography as Russian drones crash in Romania The missiles, which included two Kalibr [cruise] missiles fired from a Black Sea fleet missile carrier, were successfully shot down by Ukraines forces on 24 August, the report said. Late in the evening on Aug. 24, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia attacked the port of Odesa with four air- and sea-launched missiles, all of which were successfully shot down. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The shortage of workers in Russia's non-defence industries has increased due to mobilisation and conscription, especially in the IT sector after the massive departure of specialists from the country. Source: European Pravda, referring to the UK Ministry of Defences review on 11 September Quote: "Russia's conscription continues to have negative effects on its industry workforce. The Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy found that Russia's industry shortage of workers reached a new high of 42% for July 2023, 7% higher from April 2023." Details: UK analysts have noted that the Russian military intends to recruit 420,000 contract soldiers by the end of 2023. On 3 September, Dmitry Medvedev , Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, said that 280,000 people had been recruited so far. These figures cannot be independently verified. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Unlike conscription in other industries, Russia has taken steps to retain its workforce in the IT sector. This likely highlights a particularly acute shortage in the sector after about 100,000 IT workers left Russia in 2022. This represents 10% of the IT sector's workforce. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on 4 September to up the conscription exemption age for IT specialists from 27 to 30. UK intelligence believes that this is evidence that mobilisation and conscription in Russia have exacerbated the labour shortage in non-defence sectors. It also points out that on the eve of the presidential elections in Russia scheduled for March 2024, the Russian authorities are likely to try to avoid further unpopular mobilisations. Background: Earlier, UK intelligence reported that Russia was recruiting migrants from Central Asia to fight in the war to cover its losses. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! A recent drone attack on a Russian airbase left several military aircraft damaged and destroyed. In response to strikes, Russia got hundreds of civilian volunteers to patrol the Kresty base. But the use of volunteers shows Moscow lacks enough trained security personnel, Western intel says. Looking for ways to defend an airbase where several military transport aircraft were damaged or destroyed in a drone attack last month, Russia is turning to civilian volunteers to patrol the area, likely because it lacks enough trained security personnel to do the job, according to Western intelligence. In late August, several drones struck the Kresty base, which is located in the northeastern Pskov region not far from Russia's border with Estonia but more than 400 miles from its border with Ukraine. The nighttime attack destroyed two Ilyushin Il-76s Soviet-era airlift planes that can move cargo and personnel and damaged two more. Kyiv's military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, revealed several days later that the drones were launched from within Russia's own territory, although it remains unclear if it was carried out by the Ukrainian military or Russian partisans. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Kresty attack proved to be one of the more significant on Russia's internationally recognized territory since its forces invaded Ukraine in late February 2022, and the attack came amid a string of assaults specifically targeting Russian airfields. These incidents have exposed serious shortcomings in Moscow's force protection and air-defense capabilities, prompting it to seek alternative solutions to mitigate the problem one of which is a newly constructed volunteer force. Britain's defense ministry wrote in a Sunday intelligence update that Pskov's governor recently organized volunteer security patrols to prevent additional drone attacks on the Kresty base. As many as 800 citizens have signed up to join the patrols, which will include groups of 50 individuals divided into municipalities to patrol airports, airbases, and other infrastructure. A satellite image shows the air base in Pskov, after what Kyiv confirmed to have been a Ukrainian drone attack, in Russia, August 31, 2023. Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS "The creation of these volunteer security patrols will likely act as a deterrence and provide a level of defence against quadcopter UAVs being operated from the immediate vicinity of the air base," Britain's defense ministry said. It's unclear if the patrols will be armed with any specific weapons or if they'll be acting purely in a surveillance role. "Historically it has proven difficult to destroy UAVs using small-arms fire, so Russian forces will still require air-defence systems, with a surveillance capability and both kinetic and electronic means of interception, to destroy attacking UAVs," Britain's defense ministry said, noting that "the use of volunteers highly likely indicates a shortage of trained security personnel within Russia" the same issue that has plagued Moscow's military throughout its war in Ukraine. The new measures to protect its bases underscore major deficiencies in Russia's domestic security and air-defense network. Moscow has prided itself for having layered and sophisticated defenses, and while these may be more capable when it comes to identifying bigger targets like missiles and aircraft, smaller drones have managed to find gaps in the network and overcome them. A plume of smoke is illuminated by a flash of light amid a drone attack in Pskov, Russia, in this still image obtained from social media video released August 30, 2023. TELEGRAM / MIKHAIL VEDERNIKOV/via REUTERS August alone saw over two dozen drone attacks on Russian territory. Britain's defense ministry said shortly after the Kresty incident that because these weapons have managed to reach their intended targets, it shows that Russia's air-defense network is likely having a hard time detecting and destroying the threats. In response, it said, Russia is likely "rethinking" its air-defense posture on its own territory and could be forced to consider adding more capabilities to defend its vulnerable bases. One remedy to these deficiencies has been the recent construction of towers with guns on top copying a World War II-era system. Another action Russia has taken to seemingly defend vulnerable aircraft from potential aerial threats is placing car tires on the fuselages and wings of bombers. It's an unusual form of protection, although it's not the first time Russia has built a makeshift defense to defend against strategic targets. Moscow purposefully sank ships near a key bridge in occupied Crimea to try and protect it from potential Ukrainian sea drone attacks. An Ilyushin Il-76 Strategic airlifter, several of which were damaged in the drone attack. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images As Ukraine continues to ramp up its drone attacks on Russian territory, Moscow has been working to expand its arsenal of drones. It recently begun producing its own version of the Iranian-made Shahed-136, which are explosive loitering munitions that the Kremlin has relied on for a year to terrorize Ukrainian cities and damage civilian infrastructure. As it increases the number of drones it possesses, Russia is expected to stage larger attacks on military and civilian targets across Ukraine in the near future, experts told Insider. This could pose a major headache for Ukraine's own air-defense network, although US officials have asserted that the Biden administration will continue to prioritize additional capabilities to help meet the threat. Other NATO partners have indicated the same. Indeed, last week alone the Pentagon announced two separate security assistance packages for Ukraine that include equipment to support and sustain Kyiv's air-defense capabilities. Read the original article on Business Insider The construction of military facilities by Russia in Petrozavodsk and Alakurtti, both near the Finnish border, were reported by the Finnish publication Yle on Sept. 10, with experts and the Minister of Defense affirming however that there is presently no threat to Helsinki. Read also: Finnish parliament drops Pepsi as fallout continues from its addition to international sponsors of war list National experts received satellite images of these two locations, revealing that the Russian command has erected large hangars for servicing and storing equipment in Alakurtti, which is situated approximately 50 kilometers from the Finnish border. Media sources further note that similar processes are taking place in the Russian city of Petrozavodsk. Ilkka Kemppinen / Yle However, Yle noted that military equipment continues to be transported from this garrison to the ar zone in Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The satellite images provide evidence that Russia has renewed its investments in constructing military bases near the Finnish border, marking a departure from the previous trend of reducing and downsizing its border garrisons over the past several years. Read also: Russian militant from neo-Nazi Rusych group, detained in Finland, asks for extradition to Russia Major Marco Eklund, a retired Finnish Armed Forces officer with expertise in Russia, emphasized that the ongoing construction work does not necessarily imply an augmentation of Russian troops along the Finnish border. The primary focus for the military unit in Petrozavodsk is probably the refurbishment and provisioning of equipment destined for the Ukrainian front. I presume that the hangar built there serves maintenance purposes and provides shelter during the autumn and winter cold for equipment, he explained. Dr. Ilmari Kayhko, a military science expert, shares a similar perspective and maintains that Russia has no apparent rationale for deploying forces along the Finnish border. During a telephone interview with Yle, he firmly stated, Equipment from there (Alakurtti and Petrozavodsk) is being sent to different locations, with Ukraine being the top priority. Read also: Media find abandoned villa of dictator's close friend in Finland The Finnish Minister of Defense, Antti Hakkanen, also addressed the situation regarding the construction of hangars by Russia near the Finnish border. He asserted that the alterations observed in satellite images do not constitute a threat to Finland. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto announced on Sept. 8 that the United States plans to establish a military base in Finland under the DCA agreement, which envisions enhanced and deepened military cooperation between Helsinki and Washington. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian forces shelled nine communities in Sumy Oblast on Sept. 10, firing over 120 rounds from various types of weapons, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on Telegram. According to the post, Russia shelled the Bilopillia, Khotin, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Nova Sloboda, Znob-Novhorodske, Krasnopillia, Shalyhyne and Yunakivka communities. Russian forces used mortars and unguided bombs to target the Khotin community, while the Krasnopillia and Znob-Novhorodske communities were attacked with explosives, artillery mortars. No casualties have been reported following the shelling. There was no information on the damage in the region at the time of the publication. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sumy Oblast is located on Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia. It has been the target of daily Russian shelling and attacks from across the border since parts of the oblast were liberated from Russian troops in early April 2022. Read also: Foreign volunteers car struck by Russian artillery in Chasiv Yar: 2 killed, 2 wounded Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia is hoping to draft 420,000 military personnel by the end of the year, according to UK Intelligence. But Russia has worsening labor workforce shortages back home, one Russian survey said. The UK MOD said Russia's conscription has "negative effects on its industry workforce". Russia's military intends to enlist 420,000 "contract personnel" by the end of 2023 despite having widespread issues in its domestic industrial workforce, according to UK intelligence. According to a survey by the nonprofit Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, quoted by the British Ministry of Defence in its daily intelligence update on Monday, labor shortages in Russia's industry sector hit a new high of 42% in July 2023. This was up 7% from April 2023, it said. In early September, Dmitry Medvedev , deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said 280,000 people had already been drafted, according to Reuters, which would suggest a further 140,000 are still needed by the end of the year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The UK MOD pointed out that Medvedev's figure cannot be independently verified. One sector facing acute shortages is the IT sector, which has seen about 100,000 IT professionals 10% of the sector leaving Russia in 2022, the UK MOD said. "This shows that mobilization and conscription within Russia has worsened non-defence workforce shortages," it said. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has spurred a massive brain drain in Russia, with recent estimates putting the number of young workers who left in 2022 at 1.3 million. According to a Russian central bank study, reported on by Russian daily Kommersant, worker availability in the first quarter of 2023 dropped to the lowest level since data collection began in 1998. Russians may have left Russia for several reasons, including evading military mobilization or fleeing Western sanctions that have caused economic turmoil within the country, per The Washington Post. Russia is now trying to retain some of its talent at home, in part by raising the exemption age for military recruitment for IT professionals from 27 to 30 in early September, the UK MOD update said. Russia mobilized 300,000 troops last year, and plans to mobilize hundreds of thousands more this year. However, the MOD also said that in the run-up to Russian presidential elections, scheduled for March 2024, authorities would likely "seek to avoid" further unpopular mobilizations. Read the original article on Business Insider Russias Central Election Commission said Monday the countrys ruling party has won the most votes in elections in occupied Ukrainian regions, elections that Kyiv and international observers dismiss as complete shams. The voting for Russian-installed legislatures in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions and on the Crimean Peninsula began last week and ended on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The election results come amid Russias attempts to maintain a tight hold on the regions the country illegally annexed last year but does not fully control. Voting for Russia-installed legislatures took place on the same weekend as other elections in Russia. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin was reelected, beating other Kremlin-backed parties with more than 76 percent of the vote, state media reported. Kyiv pushed back against the elections, with Ukraines parliament calling them a threat to Ukrainian lives in areas where Russia conducts active hostilities, according to the AP. Ukraines Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the elections, calling their results null and void. Western countries echoed this sentiment, claiming the elections violate international law. We strongly reject this further futile attempt by Russia to legitimize or normalize its illegal military control and attempted annexation of parts of Ukrainian territories, the European Commission said in a Monday statement. Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russias Central Election Commission, reportedly said the turnout, including Russia and the occupied Ukrainian regions, averaged 43.5 percent, marking the highest since 2017, the AP reported. Russian state news agency TASS reported turnout was even higher in the illegally annexed region of Kherson, with a turnout of 62.68 percent as of Sunday, according to Marina Zakharova, the chair of the regional election commission. Kherson is not under complete control from Russia and has remained the target of numerous Russian attacks in the past year. Along with other polling areas, it reported sabotage attempts at polling stations over the weekend. The AP reported a Russian-appointed official in Kherson said a live grenade was discovered near a polling station, while Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Russian-occupied parts of the Donetsk region, said polling staff was wounded and injured, without providing further details. Residents and Ukrainian activists alleged Russian poll workers made house calls with armed soldiers in some illegally annexed regions and detained those who refused to vote, pressuring them into writing explanatory statements that could be used for grounds in a criminal case. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has ordered the arrest in absentia of Borys Filatov , the Mayor of the city of Dnipro, for supposedly "inciting hatred". Source: Russian media outlet Mediazona, citing the court's press service Details: Filatov's name was also discovered in the Russian Interior Ministry's wanted list. Mediazona points out that Filatov is charged with incitement to hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity with the threat of violence (Article 282.2(a) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Meanwhile, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported in April 2023 that a case of incitement to genocide had been initiated against Filatov. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: On 14 January, during a massive missile attack, the Russians hit a high-rise building in Dnipro. The Russians launched the attack with a Kh-22 missile designed to destroy aircraft carrier groups at sea. A Russian missile hit a residential building on 14 January, killing 45 people, including 6 children. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Russian drones and missiles were reported to be heading toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's Kryvyi Rih, officials said on Sept. 11, as explosions were heard in the city. The Air Force reported on a group of strike drones heading toward the city at around 7:30 a.m. Shortly after, the head of the city's military administration Oleksandr Vilkul reported explosions in Kryvyi Rih. At around 8:40 a.m., Vilkul wrote on his Telegram channel that missiles were heading at a high speed in the direction of Kryvyi Rih. According to Governor Serhii Lysak, the authorities will provide official information once the air raid alert is over. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Russian forces launched a missile strike against Kryvyi Rih on Sept. 8, hitting a police station and killing a police officer. At least 74 people, including nine law enforcement officers, were injured. Read also: Russian missiles hit 3 Ukrainian cities, killing 1, injuring at least 64 Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Sergei Surovikin, a former Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) commander who was fired over his links to Wagner, has been appointed as head of the Coordinating Committee for Air Defence under the Council of Defence Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: According to military experts, little-known local Russian media reported on 10 September that the CIS Council of Defence Ministers had unanimously voted to appoint Surovikin as head of the air defence committee. From now on, Surovikin will allegedly be responsible for the supervision and functioning of the unified air defence system of the CIS member states. Military analysts noted that well-known and Kremlin-linked Russian media did not report on Surovikin's new appointment and did not mention him at all after Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed him from his post as VKS commander on 23 August. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: Surovikin took over the command of the Russian Aerospace Forces on 31 October 2017. From October 2022 to January 2023, he commanded the joint group of Russian troops in Ukraine, and from 11 January 2023, he served as deputy commander. During the Wagner PMC mutiny on 23-24 June 2023, Surovikin recorded a video message to the mercenaries, calling for them to return to their places of deployment. After that, he did not appear in the public eye. On 13 July, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources, that the Russian secret service had detained at least 12 high-ranking military officers, including General Sergei Surovikin, in connection with Yevgeny Prigozhins mutiny, and that 15 officers had been suspended or fired. On 22 August, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin dismissed General Sergei Surovikin as commander of Russias Aerospace Forces. Media reports say Surovikin was detained by Russian counterintelligence in connection with the mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was known to be linked to the general. On 5 September, it was reported that Sergei Surovikin had been released several days after the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash. On 6 September, a page containing information about General Sergei Surovikin, the former commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, disappeared from the Russian Defence Ministrys website. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Gennadiy Dubovoy, a so-called military correspondent, has been killed in a car accident in the occupied city of Donetsk. Source: Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti, quoting Vladislav Berdichevsky, a so-called lawmaker of the "Donetsk Peoples Republic" ("DPR") Quote: "Yes, he was hit by a car. He went to get flowers. His wife was due to arrive tomorrow, and he always met her with flowers. And when he was approaching the house, he was hit by a car." Details: The accident occurred at the intersection of Shevchenko Boulevard and Artem Street, and flowers were scattered at the scene of the man's death. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Dubovoy was the editor-in-chief of Voice of the People Voice of the Republic, a so-called "DPR" newspaper, and covered the activities of the unit of deceased militant Arsen "Motorola" Pavlov. He also took part in hostilities against Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! (Reuters) - Russia on Sunday wrapped up widely denounced regional and municipal elections, including in regions annexed from Ukraine, delivering strong support for President Vladimir Putin amidst criticism of vote rigging and Kyiv's push to reclaim its land. The Council of Europe, Europe's leading rights group, called the week-long vote a flagrant violation of international law, and Kyiv and its allies say it was an illegal attempt to tighten Moscow's grip over regions in Ukraine's south and east. The overwhelming vote across Russia and in the annexed regions for the dominance of Putin's United Russia party has delivered on the Kremlin's long-repeated domestic message that Putin is by far the strongest guarantor of stability. But in the regions voting, electoral competition was limited, as strong candidates, including some from Russia's main opposition Communist Party, were blocked from running by authorities. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of Golos, a voter rights' group designated a "foreign agent" by the Russian government, said instances of vote rigging in many parts of the country showed that "these are not real elections". Andreychuk said his organisation had received reports of opposition candidates being detained, having their cars vandalised, and, in one case, military draft papers being served to election observers. "They are doing some absolutely unthinkable things", he said. The Kremlin says opinion polls and numerous election wins show that Putin is by far the most popular politician in Russia and that elections are free and fair. MAJOR PARTIES LOYAL TO PUTIN All significant, legal political forces in Russia, including the patchwork of opposition parties that provide a semblance of competition at the polls, are broadly loyal to Putin and his 18-month-old war in Ukraine. Across the country, United Russia won every provincial governor's race it contested. Among the regional chiefs re-elected was powerful Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, a close Putin ally. With virtually no opposition, early results showed that Sobyanin took more than 75% of the vote in the Russian capital, considered among the most opposition-leaning parts of the country. Kremlin critics have said that elections in Moscow are easily rigged due to the capital's system of electronic voting, which they say is impossible to audit. Similar systems have been rolled out in many other Russian regions. Kremlin-backed candidates were also winning in four war-ravaged Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Moscow declared its territory last year in an annexation denounced by Kyiv and its allies as illegal. "It is ... totally unacceptable for Russia to conduct such 'elections' in these regions on the basis of such an illegal 'annexation'," Japan's foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said in statement over the weekend. All but a handful of Russia's allies recognise the regions as part of Ukraine. According to Russian officials, United Russia received large majorities in the regions, taking at least 70% of the vote in each. Detailed voting figures were not immediately released. The results mean that Moscow's handpicked governors in the territories, a mixture of veteran separatist bosses and small-time local pro-Russian politicians, win full terms in office. None of the four regions are fully controlled by the Russian army. Ukraine, which in June began a gruelling counteroffensive to liberate the lands, has been slowly regaining territory in the Zaporizhzhia region and has also claimed some advances in Donetsk around the city of Bakhmut. (Reporting by Felix Light in Tbilisi; Additional reporting and writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Leslie Adler) Russian forces launched a strike against a medical facility in Stanislav, Kherson Oblast on Sept. 11, injuring two women, a 33-year-old medic and a 63-year-old patient, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The strike also damaged the roof and the windows of the facility. According to a report by a coalition of Ukrainian and international institutions published in August, Ukraine's hospitals, medical workers, and healthcare infrastructure have suffered at least 1,014 attacks since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. As of July 14, 2023, some 148 medical workers were killed and 106 were wounded, based on the report. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Report: Ukraines healthcare system suffered over 1,000 attacks over full-scale war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces launched strikes against nine oblasts over the past day, killing one civilian and injuring three, local officials reported early on Sept. 11. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack against the city of Kryvyi Rih in the early hours of Sept. 11, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. Some 11 Shahed kamikaze drones were reportedly shot down over the oblast. Russian missiles started a fire in the area of Kryvyi Rih, however, no casualties were reported as a result of the attack. Russia also launched an artillery strike against the Nikopol district, damaging a building, two houses, and a gas pipeline. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement One person was injured in Siversk, Donetsk Oblast, according to the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration. Russian attacks further damaged three houses in Druzhba in the Toretsk community, three houses and an industrial facility in the Chasiv Yar community, and five houses in Zarichne in the Lyman community, the officials said. In Kherson Oblast, two people were injured in Russian strikes, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Russian forces targeted residential quarters in the oblast, a school, a building of the State Emergency Service, a critical infrastructure facility in Kherson, and a cell tower in the Beryslav district, the governor specified. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 65-year-old man was killed in a Russian rocket strike against Novopavlivka, Governor Yurii Malashko said. There were seven cases of civilian property damage reported across the oblast, he added. Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, and Sumy oblasts also came under attack but local officials reported no casualties. Read also: Foreign volunteers car struck by Russian artillery in Chasiv Yar: 2 killed, 2 wounded Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The town of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast was hit by Russian strikes twice on Sept. 11, Governor Serhiy Lysak said at around 3 p.m. local time. Three men aged 24, 47, and 56 years old were injured and are in hospital, the governor said. Lysak added that Russian forces used a Grad multiple-launch rocket system and heavy artillery to attack the city, heavily damaging shops, homes, and an educational institution. Nikopol is located on the Dnipro River between Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. The population is frequently attacked by Russian forces, as they occupy territory on the opposite side of the river and indiscriminately fire at civilian targets. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Russian drones, missiles launched toward Kryvyi Rih, explosions recorded Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Russian occupiers and the authorities of Russias Belgorod Oblast are claiming that Ukrainian drones were shot down in Kursk and Belgorod oblasts. Source: Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast; RIA Novosti, a Kremlin-aligned Russian news outlet Quote from Gladkov: "Our air defence system responded [to Ukrainian drones attack] in Valuiky district, and an aircraft-type UAV was shot down there. Operational services are clarifying information about the consequences there. As per the information available at the moment, there are no casualties or damage." Details: The Russian Ministry of Defence also claims that Russian air defence systems supposedly shot down a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of Kursk Oblast. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! A Ukrainian flag attached to helium balloons flew into occupied territory, Kyiv's military said. An official said Russian soldiers tried to shoot it down but revealed their firing positions. Ukraine was able to use this information to launch an attack on the soldiers, the official added. Russian soldiers accidentally revealed their positions after they tried to shoot down a Ukrainian flag suspended from balloons flying over occupied territory, a Ukrainian official said. The large flag, attached to dozens of helium balloons, was released from the Ukrainian-controlled town of Avdiyivka on Sunday by the military. The launch was to commemorate the 245th anniversary of the city's founding, Vitalii Barabash, the head of the Avdiivka city military administration, said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Barabash told national television the flag eventually flew over the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, where Russian soldiers attempted to shoot it down, The Kyiv Independent reported. "When the Ukrainian flag flew from Avdiyivka to Donetsk, the Russians tried to shoot it down with all the means at their disposal and revealed all their firing positions," he said, according to a translation by the Ukrainian nongovernmental organization Euromaidan Press. Barabash said Ukraine's 110th brigade then "worked effectively to attack the Russian soldiers." He didn't give specifics of the attack or how successful it was. Ukraine's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. "To be honest, it was probably the most successful flag launch ever," Barabash added, referring to launches from Avdiyivka to Donetsk. "For several hours, the Ukrainian flag was flying over occupied Donetsk. I had a lot of messages from people living in the occupied territory, who told me they are waiting for the liberation of Donetsk." Footage of the flag flying over various parts of the Russian-occupied city was published by the Telegram channel Typical Donetsk. The city of Donetsk has been occupied by Russia since 2014 when fighting in eastern Ukraine began. Barabash's comments come amid elections in other Moscow-occupied territories, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. The Kremlin is expected to claim a heavy victory in the elections, which have been dismissed as "fake elections" and a "sham" by Kyiv and the West, The Guardian reported. Read the original article on Business Insider Youll soon be able to enjoy champagne and Neapolitan thin crust pizza baked in an Italian brick oven without leaving the capital region. Pazza Notte Restaurant is slated to open its doors to midtown in late September, owner Tove Nord confirmed in an email to The Sacramento Bee. The official opening comes more than a year after the New York City Italian bistro and bar announced its West Coast spring 2023 expansion. Its kind of our fault, said the Sacramento native, who originally hoped to open the restaurant in March. The imported oven from Italy added months to the permitting process and the business wasnt approved to be part of the city of Sacramentos Al Fresco Dining Program until early June. Now, as Pazza Notte works toward its fall opening, Nord said the vision promised to Sacramento residents over a year ago remains the same. The doors to Pazza Notte Restaurant at 1801 L St., Sacramento, are covered on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. The New York City business first announced the expansion in July 2022 with an original opening date of spring 2023. What will Pazza Notte in Sacramento look like? The 2,891-square-foot space at 1801 L St. will feature a brick oven, happy hour and a DJ, according to a 2022 news release. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The star of the show will be the outdoor patio, which will seat 50 people. Nord said the space is slowly being transformed into a Jumanji jungle with a planter wall and imported handmade tiles for a classic Mediterranean cafe vibe. This patio is our baby, she wrote in an email to The Bee. We have visualized her for over a year and it is so gratifying to see it all coming together. Inside, customers will be greeted with a mosaic entrance. Black and white vintage photos will cover the walls and youll be able to watch the entire cooking process through the open kitchen. The mosaic entrance to Pazza Notte Restaurant at 1801 L St., Sacramento. The New York City Italian bistro and bar is slated to open its doors to midtown in late September, owner Tove Nord confirmed in an email to The Sacramento Bee. Pazza Notte is bringing its New York City motto under promise and over deliver to Sacramento. Prices are expected to be moderate for a fusion of Italian and American comfort food including pizza, pasta and housemade gelato. Pazza Notte celebrates all things Italian, the food, the hospitality, the warm and inviting culture, the New York-based restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. More than 3,000 miles away near Manhattans Central Park, prices range from a $10 side of truffle parmesan fries to a $31 plate of pasta with lobster, shrimp, crab, asparagus and tomatoes. The eight different types of thin crust pizzas range from $22 to $27 with goat cheese, barbecue chicken, truffle and smoked gouda. The drink menu is extensive, with choices of wines, martinis, beer and champagne. We want to become a place that people consider their own little spot, where they feel comfortable and easy and well taken care of, Tove wrote in an email to The Bee. Pazza Notte Restaurant opening in September in Sacramento This embedded content is not available in your region. Location: 1801 L St., Sacramento What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. A 29-year-old Sacramento County man was sentenced last week to 71 years to life in prison for human trafficking, the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office said. Dominick Roberson was arrested in 2022 on suspicion of pimping and pandering a woman he was dating, authorities said. At the time, Roberson expressed romantic interest in the victim, pursuing a relationship with her. As their relationship developed, however, he became threatening, verbally abusive and physically assaulted her, the District Attorneys Office said in a news release. He gave her directions regarding selling sex and put her out on the street in a well-known prostitution stroll area, the news release said. He required her to give him the money she made from prostitution and continued to exercise control over her, including through physical violence and threats to her and her family. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Roberson was arrested after a service provider noticed something was wrong with the victim during a medical visit and asked if she needed help, prosecutors said. Law enforcement officers were notified and took him into custody, finding a firearm in his car. Roberson had served a term in prison before and was on parole while trafficking this victim. Roberson has three prior convictions for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, the District Attorneys Office said. Roberson was convicted by a jury in July, and a Sacramento Superior Court judge handed down the sentence Friday. The jury also convicted Roberson of making criminal threats and felon in possession of a firearm. Most of us never stop to think how much we can save on homeowners insurance by switching providers, but one consumer advocate says Massachusetts homeowners can shave hundreds of dollars off their annual premiums by shopping around. One myth is that all companies pretty much charge the same prices and thats not true, said Kevin Brasler, Executive Editor with Boston Consumers Checkbook. The reality is most of us can save a lot of money by switching companies. Boston Consumers Checkbook researchers collected annual premiums for sample policyholders and found a family living in Danvers would pay: $1,003 a year with Progressive $1,194 with Andover $1,292 with Green Mountain $2,798 with Farmers $2,866 with Quincy Mutual $3,082 with Amica $3,298 with Hanover ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement These days it makes sense to every couple years shop around and make sure you cant save significantly by switching your coverage to a different company, Brasler said. A lot of homeowners think they cant switch because theyre locked in with their current company. Brasler said thats incorrect. You dont have to wait until your policy is about to expire to do your shopping, Brasler said. If you sign up with a different company and then cancel your old policy your old company by law has to refund you and the unused share of the premiums youve paid. When shopping for a new company, Brasler recommends choosing one with a high deductible. He said homeowners can save 10 to 15 percent by opting for a plan with a higher deductible. Also, Brasler said avoid buying too much coverage, limit the number of claims you make and consider buying home and auto policies from the same company. Westborough resident Mark Ragolia said he once convinced a friend to switch insurance companies are sticking with the same provider for forty years. When his friend finally switched, Ragolia said he saved more than $1,000 a year. Yeah, theres a lot of money to be saved, Ragolia said. Insurance companies will offer to new policy holders usually a really good rate to switch, as long as youre not switching every year. If youve demonstrated that you can stay somewhere five or ten years, they want you. 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 Ukraines SBU security service has served a notice of suspicion to former MP Serhiy Polishchuk for denying existence of Ukraine on the talk show of the notorious Russian propagandist Olga Skabeyeva , the SBUs Telegram channel reported on Sept. 11. If found guilty as charged, Polishchuk could face up to 15 years in prison. Read also: SBU detained Russian woman for adjusting strikes on Sumy residential area Polishchuk was a frequent guest on Skabeeva's 60 Minutes talk show during his regular visits to Moscow prior to the full-scale Russian invasion, where he openly supported the Kremlin's aggressive policies, denied the existence of Ukrainian statehood, and also spread hostile narratives about ideological confrontations among Ukrainians. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Russian FSB intelligence service financially rewarded him for these statements, making significant payments through third country financing to conceal the transaction, the SBU has claimed. Read also: SBU thwarts FSB operation, detaining ex-soldier recruited to target Kyiv utilities for Russias planned cold season attacks Based on the collected evidence, Polischuk was served a notice of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: p. 1 of Art. 111 (treason); p. 1 of Article 161 (violating the equality of citizens on the basis of race, nationality, region, religious beliefs, disability and other grounds). Since Polishchuk is abroad, comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice, the SBU added. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraines SBU security service detained an FSB agent in Kyiv who was gathering information for new Russian air attacks on critical infrastructure in the capital, the agencys press service reported on Telegram on Sept. 11. The former National Guard contract soldier now faces life imprisonment. The man in question was remotely recruited by the Russian intelligence service in January 2023. Read also: SBU catches FSB agent red-handed preparing missile attack on Ukrainian Railways In order to engage him in covert cooperation, the FSB used a resident (head of an agent group), SBUs message reads. The resident turned out to be a former member of the National Guard who had resigned from the service for health reasons and moved to a European country. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There, he started working for the FSB. The SBU said that while outside Ukraine, the resident gave instructions to his agent in Kyiv. In particular, he asked the agent to collect geolocations of thermal power plants in the Ukrainian capital. The aggressor was also interested in information about the technical condition of energy facilities and the level of their protection by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Read also: SBU apprehends suspected Russian FSB agent they say aided capture of Sievierodonetsk According to investigators, the Russian agent sent all the information received to the resident via a messenger app, in the form of photos with a description of the security system. For each completed task, both suspects received from their FSB handler from $100 to $1,000. The amount depended on the complexity of the "task" and the importance of the information obtained. Read also: Ukraine arrests Russian spy in Kirovohrad Oblast According to the available data, Russia needs intelligence to prepare for new air strikes on Kyiv during the cold season. SBU officers detained the Russian agent through a multi-stage special operation while he was carrying out his tasks. Searches at his Kyiv residence revealed computer equipment and a mobile phone with evidence of intelligence and subversive activities on behalf of the aggressor state. The SBU investigators have charged both suspects under Part 2 Article 28 and Part 2 Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (high treason committed under martial law by a group of persons by prior conspiracy). The detained FSB agent is in custody. https://t.me/SBUkr https://t.me/SBUkr Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine WASHINGTON In September 2021, Joe Biden became the first president in two decades to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks without U.S. troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, two wars started in the aftermath of that tragedy. But in ways big and small, the scars from that day are shaping Bidens presidency. "On this day, every Americans heart was wounded, Biden said at a ceremony in Alaska on Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the attacks and remember those whose lives were lost. Speaking to military members, first responders and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Biden pointed to the sense of national unity that sprung forth in the days immediately after the attacks and said its more important than ever that Americans come together around the principle of democracy. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Those terrorists could not touch what no force, no enemy, no day ever could and that is the soul of America, he said. But the post-9/11 unity faded amid questions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which dragged on for years. Today, Americans remain deeply distrustful of and dissatisfied with their government, a piece of the political landscape that gained traction in part because of the Iraq war and the false premises on which it was launched. President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003, promising to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. None were ever found. Nearly 7,000 U.S. troops were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two decades later, many Americans are skeptical that either war made the country safer. Distrust of the government has made it hard for Biden to govern effectively and threatens to spill over into next years election when he will ask voters to give him a second term. Biden is living in an America where I think there's less faith in government as a concept than at any time perhaps in American history, said Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Just 20% of Americans surveyed last year by Pew Research Center said they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing most of the time a sentiment that has changed little since Bushs second term in office. Bush was president on Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon just outside Washington, killing nearly 3,000 people. President Joe Biden bows his head during remarks to service members, first responds and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. From the archives: The day before an American tragedy: dispatches from Sept. 10, 2001 Bidens presidency continues to be shadowed by the fallout of his withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan two years ago. Biden originally announced that the pullout would be completed on Sept. 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the attacks that pulled the country into the war. He eventually pushed the withdrawal forward to Aug. 31 after objections from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who questioned how admitting defeat would honor the dead, according to The Last Politician, author Franklin Foers new book about the first two years of Bidens administration. On Aug. 26, 2021, in the chaotic final hours of the withdrawal, a terrorist attack initiated by a single suicide bomber at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 170 Afghans, infuriating Americans, angering U.S. allies and raising questions about how the Biden administration handled the pullout. Republicans and some Democrats in Congress faulted the administration for failing to anticipate Afghanistans collapse and failure to get American troops out more quickly. Gold Star families whose loved ones were killed are demanding transparency from the administration about what went wrong and why their loved ones died. Foers book recounts a tense moment that Biden spent with some of the fallen soldiers families at Dover Air Force Base just days after the attack. After the mournful ritual of a dignified transfer of the bodies, a sister of one of the soldiers screamed across the tarmac in Bidens direction: I hope you burn in hell. That was my brother. Of all the moments in August, this was the one that caused the president to second-guess himself, Foer wrote. It was the one time he kept reanalyzing his actions. Afghanistan withdrawal: Biden administration acknowledges flaws in pullout, says should have evacuated troops sooner The Biden administration acknowledged in its assessment of the war that it should have anticipated the fall of Afghanistan and moved troops out more swiftly. But it also blamed Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump , arguing he set the stage for the chaotic withdrawal by lowering troop levels in Afghanistan and negotiating with the Taliban without consulting allies or the Afghan government. The Biden administration earned the criticism for the manner in which it mismanaged the withdrawal, said Timothy Naftali , a presidential historian and faculty scholar at Columbia Universitys Institute of Global Politics. But, Naftali said, the Biden administration also was the victim of a climate of mistrust. In a sense, it's ironic, and I'm sure annoying to the administration, that they didn't get any credit for getting the United States out of an unpopular war. But that I think is due to the fact that we live in this particular moment of American political culture. 'Terrible feeling of betrayal': Guantanamo trial for 9/11 mastermind in disarray on 22nd anniversary Lingering skepticism of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of the reasons Biden has had trouble getting Congress to approve emergency funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia a conflict that doesnt even involve the deployment of U.S. troops. American support for Ukraine has been eroding at the same time Republican-led House has been under pressure to show support for Trump, who has been skeptical of U.S. support for Ukraine in the war. While Biden was rightfully criticized for his management of the Afghanistan withdrawal, Naftali said, I think the administration is getting a raw deal when it comes to the understanding of the management of the Ukraine situation. Biden showed tremendous leadership in forging an alliance with U.S. allies such as Germany, France and Britain and standing firm against Russias invasion of Ukraine, Naftali said. But the Republican-led House, which would have to approve Ukraine funding, is now dominated by supporters of Trump. For many of those members of the House, its all politics, Naftali said. They cant get out their minds the first impeachment (of Trump). And so for many of those members of the House, this is all about Donald Trump. Engle argues that without the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent wars, there would have been no Trump presidency and, for that matter, no President Biden. You had to have a combination of genuine disillusionment and anger with the system to fuel Trumps revolution within the Republican Party, he said. Without 9/11, you dont get the American misadventures in the Middle East. And, therefore, you dont get Trump. Bidens appeal to voters in the 2020 election was largely a reflection of Americans desire to return to normalcy after the turbulent Trump years, Engel said. Without a radical rupture and destruction of faith in American government, American society, you don't have any need 20 years later for a guy who says, I'm boring and normal and know how things actually were supposed to work. Contributing: Maureen Groppe Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS. Sept. 11 by the numbers: Facts from a tragic day in American history More: No troops left behind: Missing troops buried for decades in an Alaska glacier. Harsh weather makes recovery tough This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sept. 11: Scars of terrorist attacks shape Joe Biden's presidency An extremely large species of sea creature made an impressive and rare appearance off the coast of New Jersey, stunning photos show. A naturalist with the Cape May whale watching group captured a manta ray breaching out of the sea, according to an Aug. 22 post on Facebook. This is a rare sighting but we were lucky enough to witness the ray jumping out of the water multiple times! officials with the group said in the post. Manta rays are an extremely large species of stingray, with wingspans averaging at around 22 feet. Photos show the ray jumping out of the water and flopping onto its back into the sea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Belly up too! someone said in the comments. Amazing!! another person said. Others pointed out how striking the photos are. Oh what a lucky sight! someone said in the comments. Beautiful! Some said they didnt know manta rays lived off Cape May shores, the southernmost point of the state about 40 miles southwest of Atlantic City. Officials with the whale watching group said they see them with some frequency in Delaware Bay, which separates New Jersey and Delaware. Still, it was a truly unique and unforgettable sighting, officials said. Curious creature checks out Coast Guard boat off Louisiana, video shows. What was it? Rare creature leaves photographer speechless as it swims near Australian reef. See it Rare sea creature a 12-foot devil spotted off US East Coast for the first time The Armory at Seattle Center is hosting the 15th Annual Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival on Sunday to celebrate Hawaiian culture, arts, and history. The free family-oriented event gives people the opportunity to experience Hawaii while supporting relief efforts for those affected by the Maui wildfires. The event aims to create a home away from home by putting on performances, hosting local Hawaiian food vendors, and providing educational workshops for children. The goal of our One Seattle vision is to unite the various communities across the city, recognizing that our diversity makes us stronger, said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. The Live Aloha Cultural Festival gives Seattleites the chance to celebrate the rich culture of our neighbors across the Pacific and also provides a way to support relief efforts for the families and communities impacted by the devastating wildfires in Maui. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Festival organizers will be accepting donations from people who wish to support Maui Fire relief efforts. More information about the event is available at seattlecenter.com and seattlelivealohafestival.com. The festival began at 11 a.m. and will continue until 7 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. For the second consecutive year, enrollment at the University of Illinois Springfield has gone up, this time a 11% surge, school officials reported Monday. A total of 4,661 students were enrolled for the fall semester, up from 4,198 students last year. The campus saw increases this year in the number of freshman and transfer students. A top administrator is out as HSHS continues to deal with fallout from cyberattack Last year's 6.4% boost negated a five-year enrollment slide for UIS. The increases in the last two years parallel the arrival of Chancellor Janet Gooch at the Springfield campus. "I wish I could claim it was the chancellor magic, but it's not. It's the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," said Gooch. "It truly takes a team." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ten-day figures are the traditional benchmark for reporting enrollment among U.S. colleges and universities. Overall, the University of Illinois System enrollment was down 97 students from 94,861 a year ago to 94,746 this year. Campuses at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago make up the other schools in the system. Lincoln Land Community College and Illinois College in Jacksonville saw gains in enrollment numbers. LLCC reported an enrollment of 5,352 students this fall, a nearly 19% increase while IC, the second-oldest college in Illinois, jumped 10% to nearly 1,000 students. While officials at Blackburn College were still waiting on the 10-day count, preliminary enrollment at the Carlinville school is 389 students. At UIS, there were 259 new incoming freshmen students, about a 6% increase from 245 students in the fall 2022. The number of students transferring to UIS increased by nearly 3% with 448 students enrolled. The total number of undergraduate students fell slightly from 2,393 in fall 2022 to 2,342 students in fall 2023. There was again another increase in graduate students at UIS, going from 1,805 students to 2,319 students, or 28%. Last year, the leap in the class was by 25%. Online learning continues to grow at UIS with 1,901 online majors, up from 1,597 students, or a 19% increase from last year. The students take their course load fully online. The school reported that 80% of all UIS students take at least one course online. "We have a number of students who take a mix of online classes and on-ground classes so that they can accommodate their work schedule, their family life, whatever the case may be," Gooch said. "Those online courses really provide that extra level of flexibility for students who have so many other things going on in their lives." Illinois residents account for 68% of the students attending UIS this semester and 844 students live in residential facilities on campus. There were 1,005 international students enrolled at UIS, accounting for 22% of the student body. Black students make up about 11% of the total UIS population, followed by Hispanic students at 8% and Asian students at 4%. University of Illinois Springfield junior Demi Doehring of Springfield, left, and Emma Leahy, right, a sophomore at UIS, also of Springfield, study at the UIS Student Union on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Gooch said the university's participation in the Common Application process might have smoothed things over for students. "That application (the student fills out) can go to a number of universities, so it's very seamless," Gooch said. "(Before) you had to fill out a unique application for each university. This way you just upload all your information into the Common App and it is utilized by all institutions." The university also clarified articulation pathways for students transferring from community colleges, she added. "We try to make it as easy as possible for a student who wants to come to UIS to complete their degree after a two-year community college experience, let them know exactly what courses are going to transfer, what they're going to credit for and enable them to finish in two additional years so it doesn't cost them a whole lot more money and they're able to have the quickest path to a degree," she said. Gooch said the university is helping to build on the back-to-back years of increased enrollment, including looking at adding programs that could attract new audiences and developing certificates that could better prepare students once they enter the workforce. "There's still a lot of work to be done," she said, "but we are certainly on the right track." Contact Steven Spearie: (217) 622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: UIS officials say 4,661 students are enrolled at the Springfield school The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. [Photo/VCG] A common method employed by members of both houses of the U.S. Congress to influence decisions regarding China is sending joint resolutions to the executive branch. Since 2017, anti-China legislators from both chambers have employed various methods to suppress China, such as repeatedly introducing China-related bills, convening hearings, submitting joint resolutions and shaping media discourse. This trend of anti-China sentiment has become the norm for Congress' involvement in shaping U.S. decisions regarding China. Since the establishment of the 118th Congress, legislative activities related to China have surged. The formation of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, the introduction of the China Competition 2.0 bill and the imposition of sanctions on TikTok have significantly impacted U.S. policy toward China, having a highly detrimental effect on China-U.S. relations. The influence of Congress in shaping U.S. policy on China has notably strengthened. While the proportion of these bills enacted into law is not high, their impact on the bilateral relationship far surpasses any previous historical period. Congress' legislation on China swings fully negative to divert from domestic conflict In recent years, with the rise of China, internal contradictions such as political polarization and racial division have become more prominent in the United States. The sense of crisis among American policy elites regarding the "China threat" has significantly increased. After taking office, Donald Trump, in order to divert from domestic conflict, portrayed China as the "number one threat," initiating an unrestrained campaign to smear and suppress China. It is against this domestic political backdrop that different political parties have found their interests converging on issues related to China, raising the banner of anti-China sentiment and reaching a consensus on taking a tough stance against China. Furthermore, stimulated by factors such as domestic elections and the COVID-19 pandemic, public sentiment toward China in the U.S. has significantly deteriorated. The hostility toward China among voters has also led to a vicious cycle where both parties' lawmakers, in a bid to win over voters, choose more extreme rhetoric and actions against China. Trump's "America First" policy has had a significant impact on domestic politics and foreign policy in the United States, with China-related issues being included as important national security concerns. With the U.S. government labelling China as a "strategic competitor" and a "geopolitical test," there has been an increasing focus on China by the two main political parties in the United States. As Congress frequently introduces bills related to China, the amount of specialized legislation targeting the country continues to rise. In the past, there was little legislation specifically targeted at China in Congress, with most proposals either indirectly or partially addressing China-related issues. However, since 2017, Congress has shifted toward specifically targeted legislation, in addition to incorporating China-related clauses into comprehensive bills. The shift from resolutions to legislation indicates that Congress is seeking legal grounds on specific issues to justify its interference in China's internal affairs under the guise of "legitimacy" based on domestic laws. The content of these proposals has shifted toward comprehensive attacks and defamation against China, imposing sanctions and decoupling in various areas such as national security, the economy and technology. While the likelihood of bills ultimately becoming law may not be high, the introduction of these proposals fosters a political climate and public opinion that leans toward opposing China whenever possible within both houses of Congress. Shift toward dominating and shaping the China-related agenda Historically, the president of the United States has had significant discretion in foreign policy, while Congress has often chosen to actively cooperate or passively respond. However, since 2017, in the decision-making process regarding China, Congress has shifted from a role of compliance to one of leadership and shaping the policy agenda. One reason for this shift is that the increasing interdependence between nations blurs the boundaries between foreign policy and domestic politics. Issues related to China have become increasingly prominent in U.S. domestic politics. Additionally, since the Trump administration, China-related affairs have been elevated to a strategic level of national security, which has to some extent stimulated and actively promoted the setting of extreme and negative China-related agendas in Congress. Taking the Taiwan question as an example, members of Congress have introduced proposals, held hearings and visited Taiwan to manipulate related issues. In 2022, the infamous Nancy Pelosi stubbornly insisted on making a provocative visit to Taiwan, using the banner of "defending democracy" to satisfy personal interests. In response, President Joe Biden said that it was her own decision. However, shortly after Pelosi's visit, Biden officially signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 passed by both houses of Congress, aimed at shifting the global chip manufacturing supply chain from China to the United States. While one of the important agendas of Pelosi's visit was to persuade chip manufacturers like TSMC to actively cooperate with U.S. chip policies, the signing of this law revealed the true nature of the "double act" performance by Biden and Pelosi, demonstrating that the United States has never abandoned its strategic attempt to divide China. Legislators leverage China-related concerns to accrue political capital In the polarized and increasingly intense political landscape of the United States, China-related issues have become tools for both parties to advance their domestic agendas and create an illusion of bipartisan unity on the international stage. Both parties have reached a consensus on taking a tough stance against China, allowing unchecked escalation of anti-China politics. However, behind this show of bipartisanship, each party has its own political calculations and ambitions, using the China issue to seek partisan interests. For individual members of Congress in both houses, playing the "China card" has become an electoral weapon under the bipartisan consensus against China. It not only helps to win over key voters in the middle and lower classes, but also allows them to gain an advantage by attacking opponents for being weak on China. Based on analysis of China-related proposals in both houses of Congress, the six most active congressmen or senators on China-related issues are: Marco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Chris Smith, Robert Menendez, Michael McCaul and Mike Gallagher. Most are veteran anti-China lawmakers who hold important positions in key congressional committees such as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. They have developed a set of "expertise" on China and are using McCarthy-era tactics to hunt for "red elements" in China. Although not all members of Congress necessarily agree with their views, the anti-China political atmosphere in Congress, coupled with a lack of understanding and knowledge about China, has made other lawmakers the "silent majority." Meanwhile, in addition to the long-standing presence of several anti-China senior members of Congress, legislative activities related to China by junior members have become increasingly frequent. One of the main reasons for this is that less experienced lawmakers, driven by the need to attract attention and expand their influence, frequently engage in negative discussions on China-related issues as a way to boost their political careers. For example, Mike Gallagher, the youngest member of the new Congressional class when he entered in 2017, has participated as sponsor and co-sponsor of numerous bills related to Taiwan, military security, pandemic origins, technology and other areas involving China. He has become a representative of the new generation of "anti-China pioneers" in Congress. It is precisely due to his "outstanding" performance that he was appointed as chairman of the Select Committee on China by House speaker Kevin McCarthy in the 118th Congress. U.S. anti-globalization moves expose failure of responsibility as global leader In recent years, the United States has been implementing decoupling and sanctions globally, as well as provoking ideological competition, treating China as an "imaginary enemy" and recklessly inciting confrontation. This has led to further disorder and division in the world, posing a serious threat to global peace and stability. Against this backdrop, the influence of the U.S. Congress on decision-making toward China is more negative than at any time in history. These negative bills related to China convey biased value judgments and ideologies. Members of Congress continuously produce similar bills related to China, solidifying the misinterpretation of China within American society, tarnishing China's image and creating a vicious cycle. The bipartisan consensus on China is not an internal unity under the praised democratic system, but merely a strategy for each party to secure greater political interests in their respective constituencies. U.S. politicians are using the "China threat" to shift attention from domestic conflict. Still, this irresponsible approach not only fails to solve their domestic problems but also exacerbates social division, fuels racism, fosters anti-China and anti-Asian hate crimes, and triggers social unrest and instability in the United States. Shi Peipei is an associate researcher at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. A Secret Service agent who was just feet away from former President Kennedy when he was assassinated is raising new questions about the magic bullet theory. Paul Landis, who was one of the agents with Kennedy during that parade in Dallas, has come forward to tell his version of the assassination in an interview with The New York Times and in an upcoming book. After decades of trying to erase that day from his memory, he said that if his recollections are correct, the so-called magic bullet theory may be debunked. The magic bullet theory was put forward by the Warren Commission Report in the year after Kennedys assassination. That commission concluded one of the bullets fired at Kennedys limousine struck the president and hit Texas Gov. John B. Connally Jr. in multiple places. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Investigators came up with the single bullet theory in part due to finding the bullet on the stretcher of Connally at Parkland Memorial Hospital, The Times noted. But Landis, 88, told the newspaper this theory does not match what he saw on Nov. 22, 1963, and instead, he was the one to find the bullet. Instead of at the hospital, Landis said he picked up the bullet from the limousine seat where Kennedy was sitting. There was nobody there to secure the scene, and that was a big, big bother to me, Landis said. All the agents that were there were focused on the president. This was all going on so quickly. And I was just afraid that it was a piece of evidence, that I realized right away. Very important. And I didnt want it to disappear or get lost. So it was, Paul, youve got to make a decision, and I grabbed it, he added. Landis said he believes the bullet he found hit Kennedy in the back but not deeply, which resulted in the bullet coming out before the president was removed from the limo, The Times reported. He said this has made him wonder if there was a second shooter in addition to Lee Harvey Oswald. In the years since Kennedys assassination, the National Archives has released numerous troves of documents from that day as people have speculated whether Oswald acted alone. There has been no smoking gun in the documents since the assassination to significantly debunk what the commission found. Other experts and historians told The Times that Landiss account is not in line with other facts from that day. Even assuming that he is accurately describing what happened with the bullet, author Gerald Posner told The Times, it might mean nothing more than we now know that the bullet that came out of Governor Connally did so in the limousine, not on a stretcher in Parkland where it was found. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. On September 11, 2001 , two planes flew into the Twin Towers, 1 and 2 World Trade Center, in Lower Manhattan. Across the street, located at 7 World Trade Center, was the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service. The office was packed with Special Agents and Uniformed Division officers preparing for the United Nations General Assembly. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, they were among the first to respond and provide assistance at Ground Zero. Special Agent Armas carries a victim to an ambulance after the collapse of Tower One (USSS) When American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower at 8:46AM, first responders rushed into the building to rescue survivors. Among them was Marine and Secret Service Special Agent Tommy Armas . Wearing gym shorts and a t-shirt, he braved the dust and debris multiple times, climbing 40 stories to carry people out to ambulances on the street. When the South Tower collapsed, Armas became trapped in the lobby of the North Tower. Incredibly, he made it out. 7 World Trade was lost on 9/11 along with the armored limos there (USSS) "There was a fire truck that was unmanned," recalled retired Special Agent Tom Grupski, Deputy Special Agent in Charge or the New York Field Office on 9/11, "and four agents were actually fighting fires." Despite the general evacuation of the field office, the Secret Service duty desk remained manned. It wasn't until a direct order was given that the agents abandoned their posts at 7 World Trade. Bringing some order to the chaos, agents helped coordinate the move of people north to Chelsea Piers. There, they commandeered boats to evacuate victims from Lower Manhattan and across the Hudson. The Secret Service provided security during President Bush's visit to Ground Zero just three days after the attack (USSS) In the aftermath of 9/11 , the Secret Service faced the daunting task of providing protection to President George Bush during his visit to Ground Zero. On 9/14, the Secret Service organized the president's armored motorcade into Lower Manhattan. With smoke, debris, and flames still around, the area was a security nightmare that agents worked through to secure Bush's visit. Miller served in the Army before joining the Secret Service (USSS) Additionally, agents joined in the search for remains, including the search for one of their own. "You just wanted to have closure for Craig Miller's family and you wanted to have closure for all the thousands of other people that were there," recalled Physical Security Specialist Don McGee. "We wanted to do for him what we would want someone to do for us." Master Special Officer Craig Miller was one of the 72 law enforcement officers killed on 9/11. A Glynn County Superior Court Judge announced on Mon., Sept. 11, that Dillion Andrews, 29, Townsend, Ga., was sentenced to 4 years in prison, 16 years probation and ordered to pay over $178,000 in restitution. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Action News Jax reported on the guilty verdict reached by a jury in June. Andrews was found guilty of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] In the early morning hours of Sept. 26, 2020, Andrews and two of his friends were leaving the Red Carpet Lounge on F Street in Brunswick. Andrews, who was intoxicated when leaving the club, passed out in the front seat of a vehicle that was parked down the street. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Bouncers attempted to clear the streets so that dancers could safely leave. An argument began between one of Andrews friends and boncer Brandon Heath. Heath hit Davison and a fight started between them. At the same time, another altercation developed between Andrews other friends and another bouncer. Andrews awoke from inside the vehicle and grabbed a semi-auto handgun. He stepped out and fired a warning shot in the air. While this stopped the fights, Andrews fired what he called, another warning shot at the victim, whose girlfriend worked at the lounge that night. However, in his testimony at trial, Andrews admitted that he had not seen the victim fight anyone. He also said that the victim was unarmed and was several yards away, walking in his direction. READ: FLORIDA AMBER ALERT: 2-month-old boy, 1-year-old girl from Palm Beach County reported missing Andrews second shot from the handgun struck the victim in the leg. In what was called a fight or flight response, the victim charged at Andrews to protect himself. In the ensuing fight, the victim was shot again, in the chest, arm and other leg. The victim staggered away and collapsed to the ground. He was rushed to a hospital in Jacksonville where two surgeries resulted in part of one lung being removed. He also suffered nerve damage to his arm that ended his career as an electrician. Also wounded in the shooting was Andrews friend Davison. He was struck by bullets in both legs. Andrews also shot his own finger off during the incident. The District Attorneys Office recommended 15 years in prison. Andrews was also sentenced as a first-time offender. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A photo of people, covered in dust from the collapsed World Trade Center buildings, on September 11, 2001. Suzanne Plunkett/AP Today marks 22 years since a series of coordinated terrorist attacks took place on September 11, 2001. A total of 2,977 people were killed in New York City, Washington, DC, and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Those who survived had their lives transformed by the attacks. Here are some of their stories. Genelle Guzman-McMillan was the last person pulled alive from the rubble Genelle Guzman-McMillan was trapped for 27 hours before she was rescued. ABC 7 News Guzman-McMillan and her colleagues decided to take the staircase down after the first plane hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. When they reached the 13th floor, the tower collapsed on them. Guzman-McMillan, now 51, was the lone survivor among her colleagues and was miraculously rescued after spending 27 hours trapped under the rubble. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Source: startTV Brian Clark was one of only 18 people in the South Tower to escape from a floor above where the plane struck Brian Clark worked for the international brokerage firm Euro Brokers, which lost 61 employees on 9/11. BBC News During his descent from the 84th floor of 2 World Trade Center, where the office of his international brokerage firm was, Clark stopped to save the life of a man Stanley Praimnath who was trapped. Praimnath was pinned underneath some debris behind a wall that had stood firm, and Clark, who is 75, was able to hook his arms around Praimnath and lift him over. Source: PBS, Independent Tom Canavan dug upwards and crawled out of the rubble Canavan, who worked at the First Union brokerage firm, was buried alive when the first tower fell on 9/11. He was saved from death, he told Reuters, because a large cement wall fell over him which created a safe pocket in the pile of debris. He began crawling and digging upwards, out of the rubble, and eventually got to safety. In footage shared by National Geographic from September 11, 2001, Canavan describes his escape with remarkable calmness. Source: Reuters Captain Jay Jonas survived because he stopped to rescue a fallen woman Jay Jonas attends the 2008 Viennese Opera Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on January 25, 2008. Dan Herrick/Getty Images Captain Jay Jonas, and five of his firefighters from Ladder Company 6, were exiting a search and rescue mission in the North Tower shortly after the South Tower collapsed. While Jonas and the unit were on their way down the stairs, they spotted Josephine Harris a 59-year-old bookkeeper who had fallen and was unable to continue her descent. They stopped to help get her to safety. Shortly after, the North Tower collapsed around them, but Harris and the men were not crushed. "You cannot say that something that happened to you is a miracle," Jonas told The New York Times. "But we had the courage to do what we did, and you can say that if she was not there for us to save her, we probably would not have made it." Source: The New York Times Lauren Manning had burns over 80 percent of her body 9/11 survivor Lauren Manning delivers remarks on the second day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 26, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alex Wong/Getty Images Manning was arriving for work at the North Tower moments before the first jet crashed into it. As she entered the elevator that would take her to her office, she was met by a fireball. She was burned on over 80 percent of her body and spent almost two months in a medically induced coma. Manning made a recovery that surprised doctors. In 2013, then-President Barack Obama cited Manning as an example of American people who "bounce back." In July 2016, she gave a widely-acclaimed speech at the Democratic National Convention. Sources: Newsday, The New York Times, The Washington Post Brian Birdwell survived the attack on the Pentagon and later became a state senator Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell speaks in the senate chamber on February 28, 2017. Eric Gay/AP Photo Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell, 61, was a lieutenant colonel in the US and was working at the Pentagon when it was struck by the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001. He was left with severe burns over 60 percent of his body and was the lone survivor in the E ring at the crash site, Birdwell told KWTX. Birdwell was awarded a Purple Heart in 2004 and spent the 13 years after that running a non-profit organization to support critical burn survivors. In a June 2010 special election, Birdwell was elected to the Texas State Senate. He has been re-elected three times since. Sources: The Texas Senate, KWTX Sarah Rudder had her leg amputated and later competed in the Invictus Games Sarah Rudder, right, crosses the finish line at the 2016 Invictus Games in Kissimmee, Florida. John Raoux/AP Photo Rudder, who was in the US Marines, was at the Pentagon on September 11, awaiting her promotion ceremony. She was unscathed in the attack and was able to help others get to safety. She returned to the Pentagon two days later to assist in removing victims' remains and, during this effort, got her ankle trapped and crushed beneath a concrete barrier. After several reconstructive surgeries, her leg was eventually amputated in 2014. In 2016, Rudder competed in the international Invictus Games for wounded and injured servicemen and women. The 9/11 survivor won six medals. Source: Tampa Bay Times Will Jimeno was buried under 30 feet of rubble Will Jimeno describes his experience of the September 11, 2001 attacks during an interview in his home in Chester, New Jersey. Richard Drew/AP Photo After seeing the first plane crash into the North Tower, Jimeno a rookie officer with the Port Authority Police Department rushed to the World Trade Center with 20 other officers. Shortly after he arrived, the South Tower collapsed, and Jimeno was trapped under 30 feet of debris. He was one of two officers to be pulled out of the rubble alive but spent weeks in the ICU undergoing 13 surgeries. Source: CBSN New York John McLoughlin tried to send a radio message for Jimeno's pregnant wife Sgt. John McLoughlin was the last man pulled alive from the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. Todd Maisel/NY Daily News/Getty Images McLoughlin, a sergeant with the Port Authority police, was trapped with Jimeno under the rubble. He tried to use his radio to send a final message to the rookie officer's heavily pregnant wife, asking that she fulfill Jimeno's wish that they name their unborn child Olivia. McLoughlin survived being buried underground for 22 hours. After being placed in a medically induced coma for six weeks, he returned to Ground Zero four months later to witness the removal of "the final column" at Ground Zero. Source: CBS News Read the original article on Insider One night in November 1984, 17-year-old Lisa McVey Noland was riding her bike home from her job at a donut shop in Tampa, Florida. It was around two in the morning. She had been asked to work a double shift. The donut shop was a haven for Noland, a respite from a childhood she describes as marked by abuse, poverty, and periods of homelessness. Her boss, Gary, was protective of her. I think he knew what was going on at home, Noland recounts 39 years later in a phone interview with The Independent. I could do no wrong at the donut shop. He was like a father figure to me. On her ride home, Noland took the same route she took every night. It was a very dark stretch of road, with tall oak trees growing from each side of the street toward one another, like a tunnel. In the darkness, something caught her eye: a van-like vehicle stationed in the middle of a parking lot. As soon as I passed that van, I was snatched off my bicycle, Noland says. I thought it was three people. It was that quick. But it wasnt three people. A single person abducted Noland that night: a man named Bobby Joe Long, who would turn out to be responsible for a string of murders and rapes in the Tampa Bay area in the 1980s. At the time of her abduction, Noland had heard about the serial killings. But she could not have known that in a matter of days, she would escape from Long, help police identify and locate him, and play a key part in his arrest. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Nolands experience was adapted into a Lifetime movie, Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey, in 2018. It joined Hulus catalog in August of this year, where it has piqued the interest of viewers, bringing renewed prominence to Nolands story. On the phone, Noland is open and self-assured, with a strong sense of boundaries. She knows which parts of her story she is ready to share, and which ones she wont. Her recounting is direct and factual. Warning: This story includes discussions of suicide, rape, and murder. Before Long abducted her, Noland, who says she was sexually abused from a young age, had resolved to end her own life. But she says that all changed the moment Long held her at gunpoint while abducting her: The minute he put the gun on my head, I screamed, God, whatever you do, dont kill me. Its like something reversed. Something clicked, like, Whatever he does to me, Im okay, but now Im going to fight for my life. Long forced Noland into his vehicle, where he told her to undress, tied her ankles and wrists, and blindfolded her. Noland tried to gather as much information as she could about her abductor: whenever he took her blindfold off and put it back on, she tightened her jaw while he was tying it, so that the blindfold would be slightly loose once she relaxed her muscles. Inside the vehicle, Long forced Noland to perform oral sex on him. He then started the car. As Long drove away, Noland tried to keep track of which direction he was headed in. She felt the velocity of the car changing as they reached the interstate. She caught flashes of light through her blindfold. And underneath the blindfold, she managed to make out a word on the vehicles dashboard: Magnum. I dont know if its the make or model of the car. I dont know anything about cars, she says on the phone. But from that point on, I said whatever I see, smell, or touch, Ive got to remember it. Ive got to keep it in my memory bank, so that if I get out of this, I can go to the cops and give them everything Ive got in terms of evidence. Her instincts would prove right: Only a 1978 Dodge Magnum has the word Magnum on the dash, reads an FBI bulletin about the case published in 1987. When investigators looked up registrations for Dodge Magnums in the county, they found Long was registered as the owner of one such vehicle. Upon arriving at his destination, Long told Noland to put her clothes back on. It was clear to her by that point that her abductor was planning on raping and killing her. She was determined to leave evidence of her presence in Longs vehicle. Noland was on her period when Long abducted her; she removed her tampon and threw it in his car. Lisa McVey Noland speaks on a panel during the Investigation Discovery portion of the 2013 Summer Television Critics Association tour on 25 July 2013 in Beverly Hills, California (Frederick M Brown/Getty Images) Long took her inside a building, up a flight of stairs. She counted them in case she got a chance to escape and had to run down; there were 19. What followed was hours of torture during which Long raped Noland multiple times and beat her. When he found out she was menstruating, he became enraged, she says on the phone. Throughout the night, Long made a point not to let Noland see his face; when she wasnt blindfolded, she was to either turn away from him or close her eyes. Still, Noland was able to gather a few details about her abductor. At one point, she saw that he was white. When she convinced him to let her go to the bathroom, she touched every surface she could reach to leave fingerprints and spotted a pair of sneakers on the floora detail that became relevant during the polices search for the perpetrator. The next morning, Noland says she used reverse psychology to try to convince Long to let her live. I was like, Listen, you seem like a nice guy, after everything Ive been through, she says on the phone. We can be together. I could be your girlfriend. No one has to know how we met. Long, she says, told her he couldnt keep her. She says he asked her where she lived and said he would drop her off, after he went to the bank and to the gas station. While he stopped at the bank, Noland was able to see more of her abductor: he was wearing a white T-shirt. He was not overweight or stout, but you could tell he worked out. In one instance, Long made her touch his face. I saw him through my hands, she says on the phone. Pockmarked face, small mustache, kind of a strong jawline, short hair, very clean cut. At the gas station, Long told Noland that if she tried to escape, he would kill the gas attendant and Noland herself. After those two stops, he drove her to another location, walked her out of the car and to a tree, and told her to wait five minutes while he drove off. Noland removed her blindfold and went to check his licence plate number, but her abductor was already gone. The ordeal had lasted 26 hours. Noland returned home. My clothes were torn, she says. I was filthy. The police was contacted, and Noland was taken to the hospital for an examination, which left her feeling violated again. She says she went to the police station four times. First time, no one believed me. Second time, no one believed me. Eventually, an officer called Larry Pinkerton spoke to her and told her he believed her. For 12 days, Noland worked diligently with the police. She shared the information she had gathered about her abductor with detectives. According to the FBI bulletin, the same red fibers were found on Nolands clothes as had been found on the homicide victims, leading investigators to link Nolands case to the then-unsolved serial killings in the area. Noland was extensively interviewed, the FBI bulletin states. She told them her abductor had stopped to use an ATM around 3am. Around the same time investigators identified Long as the owner of a Dodge Magnum (matching Nolands description), they obtained bank records that showed Long had used the ATM near his apartment around 3am. Noland identified her abductor from a selection of photos. Long was placed under surveillance, then arrested. Fibers from his vehicle were matched to fibers found on previous murder victims, according to the FBI. Long confessed to his crimes against Noland and eventually confessed to multiple murders. Ten murders have been attributed to him, as well as multiple rapes. Long received 28 life sentences and the death penalty. Long was executed in 2019. When Noland first received a phone call informing her that a date had been set for his execution, she cried. First, because of the sympathy and empathy I have for the victims who didnt make it, she tells The Independent. And, second, due to the role she played in Longs arrest. My case broke the [Long] case wide open, she adds. And so, even after everything Long had inflicted on her, when she heard about his upcoming execution, Noland says she found herself thinking about how much influence shed had in his capture and, in turn, his ensuing death. Noland decided to attend Longs execution. She sat in the front row, along with Pinkerton and the detectives who had arrested Long. There, too, Noland criednot, she says, because she found closure. I had closure a long time ago, she says on the phone. I forgave him a long time ago for what he did to me. I was crying for the victims and the victims parents who wouldnt be there. Katie Douglas as Lisa McVey and Rossif Sutherland as Bobby Joe Long in Lifetimes Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey, now streaming on Hulu (Courtesy of Lifetime) Noland now works as a police officer. She has been a school resource deputy since 2013, working in schools in Hillsborough County. Noland appears in person at the end of the Lifetime movie based on her life, and spent four days on set during production. She met actor Katie Douglas, who portrays Noland in the film, and Rossif Sutherland, who plays Long. Over the years, Noland has been outspoken about her story, which she has shared in media interviews and as a speaker. In return, she has listened to other peoples stories and found those exchanges healing. Its very empowering for me to be able to speak with other women and say, Hey, this too shall pass. Youre going to be okay. Were going to get through this together. Ill hold your hand, she says. When you can sit there and empathize with another person whos been through something similar, it helps them heal. It helps them grow. It helps them realize it wasnt because of them. They got hurt. I had just as much right to be out and about riding my bicycle at two in the morning as I did at two in the afternoon. Knowing that people are still hearing her story for the first time, through the movie and other media, is a source of comfort and hope. Its inspirational, she says. Its powerful. Not just for the audience, but for me to carry on with my life. If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. Courtney Clark never considered herself a 9/11 survivor. Sure, she was a 22-year-old recent NYU grad blocks away from where the Twin Towers toppled over after planes plummeted into the iconic New York buildings. Sure, she was one of many Americans traumatized by the tragedy. But she had her life. Her marketing career. Her family. Her health. Or so she thought. Clark, 44, has been diagnosed with melanoma four times since that horrible, harrowing day and recently found out that she's one of about 30,000 people who can directly trace their cancers to 9/11 as part of the World Trade Center Health Program. By their standard, she is indeed a 9/11 survivor. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "It took almost 20 years to even realize that it was the cause of all of these other issues in my life," Clark, now of Austin, Texas, tells USA TODAY. Clark is a consultant, speaker and author focused on adaptability and resilience, not to mention an adoptive mother to a teenager; she can't carry biological children because of her health conditions. "You don't always get answers and you're not always in control, and yet, sometimes, the things that you're asking for you just have to go at it a different way," she adds. Courtney Clark never considered herself a Sept. 11 survivor. 'It just disappeared in a puff of smoke' When she arrived at work that day 22 years ago, it was empty. And work was never empty. She sat for about five minutes before a colleague and other folks came running in. They ushered her into another office across the hall because theirs didn't have a TV. "They were saying (on the news) a propeller plane had hit the World Trade Center," Clark says. "But the guy in the office was on the phone with his boss, who was stuck in traffic on Sixth Avenue. And she was telling him on the phone as we were there, she was telling him, 'an American Airlines plane, it flew, I saw it, it flew over me.'" She called her mom and stepdad, who were in Illinois, and told them she was fine; she was located 16, 18 blocks north. "My colleagues and I go back down on the street. And we're standing with what feels like the entirety of New York City. Everybody is just standing, looking south and watching this happen. What we didn't realize is in this time period, that's when the second plane had hit." She remembers one of her colleagues saying, "It feels like this is a movie set, when we're just waiting for someone to save us. And then after standing there for I don't know how long, all of a sudden, the second tower just evaporated from the sky, from where we were standing. It's like it just disappeared in a puff of smoke." Slowly, health issues kept appearing About four years later, she noticed she had a mole that was growing. Changing. A visit to the dermatologist confirmed her eagle-eyed skin monitoring: She was diagnosed with invasive malignant melanoma, Stage 1B-2A. They were able to remove it surgically, only for it to recur two years later and two more times after that. "Just over four years (after 9/11), I was diagnosed with invasive malignant melanoma, Stage 1B-2A," Clark says. "When it came back the second time, the oncologist said, 'it's not common for it to come back, like most people get melanoma one time, and then they don't get it again, and you're being so careful in the sun, but it's not unheard of.' And then it came back a third time. And then it came back a fourth time. And it's like, 'what is going on here?'" Her husband, Jamie, saw something on television about the World Trade Center Health Program. "He's texting me and he's like, 'what was the address of (your job)?' And I said, 'I don't know. I was right out of college. I don't know, that was so long ago.' And he said, 'Well, what was it within a mile and a half of the World Trade Center?'" She applied to the program, and had to list details like where she worked, lived, why she spent so much time in that area of New York. "Then I had to get all my doctors to send their information showing when I was diagnosed," she says. "So there's a latency period for every different disease, specifically, mostly cancer. If you were diagnosed with a cancer on Oct. 1 of 2001, that didn't have anything to do with 9/11. The latency period for melanoma was four years. I was diagnosed four years, two months and a week later. Turns out my body sure really likes to grow melanoma, as my oncologist says." Plus, there was her asthma, which also cropped up after 9/11. After providing the organization with her medical details, she found out it was traceable to that day. The organization certified her, and now she sees one of its doctors annually. Clark also gets scanned every six months at the hospital and in between a dermatologist sees her at home. She often says, "at some point in my life, there's going to be no skin left. They're going to have biopsied it all." They found a lump. Doctors said not to worry. These are the stories of men with breast cancer. Courtney Clark is now a consultant, speaker and author focused on adaptability and resilience. A different path to closure Clark still visits New York. But she won't ever visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. "I think that would be too much," she says, choking up as she speaks and pauses. "I've heard it's so lovely. I've heard it's just incredibly respectful and beautifully done. I don't know that that's something that I may ever feel ready to do." For her, closure arrived in a different way: telling her story. Sad: Jimmy Buffett's cause of death was Merkel cell skin cancer, which he battled for 4 years This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 9/11 survivor beat cancer four times since World Trade Center attacks LIBERTY, Mo. The Clay County, Missouri Sheriffs Office has convened a task force of investigators to look into the 2021 killing of an Independence, Missouri woman. The sheriffs office says Alesha Reade was last seen at the Fav Trip gas station at 10507 E. 23rd Street in Independence on Feb. 9, 2021. She was last known to be a passenger in a dark-colored Volkswagen Passat. Johnson County, Missouri, officials search for suspect in multiple car thefts The 45-year-old mother of eight was reported missing in Independence on Feb. 11, 2021. Later that day, her remains were located near Cameron and Easley roads in rural Clay County. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In March 2021, investigators had a ray of hope in the case. Someone left an anonymous note at the Clay County Courthouse with information about Reades case. Investigators found the person who wrote the note and questioned them, but no arrests were made. Driver killed following rollover crash in Miami County The sheriffs office said there is a $7,000 cash reward available for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for Reades killing. Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Flash Chinese Premier Li Qiang addresses the third session of the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, Sept. 10, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] The world is undergoing a difficult period of complex and volatile development, and as the difficulties intensify, there is an increasing need to strengthen confidence and enhance expectations for the future, take a long-term view and actively respond to difficulties and challenges, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. Throughout the history of human civilization, in good times and bad, the yearning for a better future has always been the beacon that leads mankind forward, Li said at the third session of the 18th Group of 20 (G20) Summit. Li said that the issue of this stage of the meeting is "One Future." "Only by doing a good job in the present can we have a good future," Li said. The G20 members should play an exemplary role, start with specific matters and strive to do well in the present, Li said. Noting that the most urgent issue at present is development, Li pointed out that the G20 members should place the issue of development at the center of macro-policy coordination. Li stressed the need to establish more practical cooperation mechanisms, take concrete actions, and support developing countries in better addressing development challenges such as poverty reduction, fundraising, climate change, food and energy security. He also stressed the need to practice true multilateralism, build global development partnerships, and create a safe and stable international environment for common development. Leaders at the meeting said that the G20 should demonstrate responsibility, promote international cooperation, foster inclusive, sustainable and people-centered development, and ensure that the application of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence enhances human well-being. The summit adopted G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. On Sunday morning, Li and other leaders at the meeting offered floral tributes to the Memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. An investigation is ongoing after an inmate at the York County jail was found unresponsive in a cell Sunday and later died at a hospital. York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said in a statement the State Law Enforcement Division has been called to do the investigation after the death of the female inmate. Sheriffs office policy is to request SLED, an outside agency, to investigate inmate deaths, Tolson said. The York County Coroners Office has not yet identified the person who died. A 43-year-old female York County Detention Center inmate has died after being taken to the hospital for a medical emergency. Just before 8:00 a.m. on September 10, 2023, detention officers discovered the inmate unresponsive in a cell. READ MORE https://t.co/gyx7G1z0Ew York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) September 10, 2023 The woman, 43, died Sunday afternoon. She had been found in a cell earlier that day. Detention officers provided medical assistance until EMS arrived, Tolson said. The woman had been in sheriffs office custody since Sept. 6, officials said in the statement. In South Carolina, each county sheriff is responsible for running the county jail, state law shows. The J.M. Smucker Company, more commonly known on jelly jars as Smuckers, announced the signing of an agreement Monday to acquire Hostess Brands, Inc., the creator of Twinkies, HoHos and other packaged treats. Smuckers, which makes everything from coffee to peanut butter and jelly, will pay $34.25 per share in cash and stock, and it will also pick up approximately $900 million in net debt. Hostess shareholders will receive $30 in cash and 0.03002 shares of The J.M. Smucker Co. stock for each share of stock that they own. The deal also includes Hostesss manufacturing facilities in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, and Arkadelphia, Arkansas (which is currently under construction), plus a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to Smuckers, about 3,000 employees will join the company in conjunction with the transaction. Smuckers is headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, and the company produces peanut butter, fruit spreads, dog and cat food products and other items. Mark Smucker , chair of the board, president and chief executive officer, said the deal allows the company to expand its product offerings. We are excited to announce the acquisition of Hostess Brands, which represents a compelling expansion of our family of brands and a unique opportunity to accelerate our focus on delighting consumers with convenient solutions across different meal and snacking occasions, Smucker said. Twinkies went big when Hostess put them on shelves in 1930, and it followed up with a string of such sweet concoctions as DingDongs, Zingers and Sno Balls. The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The Lenexa, Kansas, company said that it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees werent unionized. Whats the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke? By 2012, the company, which has roots dating back to 1925, began selling off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Wonder was sold to Flowers Foods. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drakes Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels. The rest, including Twinkies and other Hostess cakes, was acquired by Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo, for $410 million. Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, buys troubled brands and tries to turn them around before selling them. Its done so with fast-food chains Carls Jr. and Hardees. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co. Hostess reemerged in 2013 with a far less costly operating structure than its predecessor company and was no longer unionized. The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of the companys current fiscal year ending April 30, 2024. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both The J.M. Smucker Co. and Hostess Brands, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. ORRVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) The J.M. Smucker Company, more commonly known on jelly jars as Smuckers, announced the signing of an agreement Monday to acquire Hostess Brands, Inc., the creator of Twinkies, HoHos and other packaged treats. Smuckers, which makes everything from coffee to peanut butter and jelly, will pay $34.25 per share in cash and stock, and it will also pick up approximately $900 million in net debt. Hostess shareholders will receive $30 in cash and 0.03002 shares of The J.M. Smucker Co. stock for each share of stock that they own. The deal also includes Hostesss manufacturing facilities in Emporia, Kansas; Burlington, Ontario; Chicago; Columbus, Georgia; Indianapolis, and Arkadelphia, Arkansas (which is currently under construction), plus a distribution facility in Edgerton, Kansas. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to Smuckers, about 3,000 employees will join the company in conjunction with the transaction. Smuckers is headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, and the company produces peanut butter, fruit spreads, dog and cat food products and other items. Mark Smucker , chair of the board, president and chief executive officer, said the deal allows the company to expand its product offerings. We are excited to announce the acquisition of Hostess Brands, which represents a compelling expansion of our family of brands and a unique opportunity to accelerate our focus on delighting consumers with convenient solutions across different meal and snacking occasions, Smucker said. Twinkies went big when Hostess put them on shelves in 1930, and it followed up with a string of such sweet concoctions as DingDongs, Zingers and Sno Balls. The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The Lenexa, Kansas, company said that it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees werent unionized. Whats the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke? By 2012, the company, which has roots dating back to 1925, began selling off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Wonder was sold to Flowers Foods. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drakes Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels. The rest, including Twinkies and other Hostess cakes, was acquired by Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo, for $410 million. Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, buys troubled brands and tries to turn them around before selling them. Its done so with fast-food chains Carls Jr. and Hardees. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co. Hostess reemerged in 2013 with a far less costly operating structure than its predecessor company and was no longer unionized. The transaction is anticipated to close in the third quarter of the companys current fiscal year ending April 30, 2024. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both The J.M. Smucker Co. and Hostess Brands, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. A handful of Philipsburg-Osceola students clustered Monday in a messy circle on the floor of the Philipsburg YMCA, with paintbrushes and dripping acrylics at the ready as they made the beginning brushstrokes of what would soon become a rendering of the twin towers onto the canvas. The painting will commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks as part of the Honor Our Veterans mural for the American Legion Post 437 in Philipsburg. The mural will be designed and painted by Pamela Etters, the executive director of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, and will include 10 panels depicting major American wars, from the Revolutionary War up to the War on Terror. Lynn Herman, former state representative and Philipsburg native, helped organize and raise the funds needed for the nearly $13,000 project. The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau also awarded a $5,000 grant toward the mural, which will be installed outside the American Legion Post 437 building later this month. Students from the Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School history and art classes were given the opportunity to help paint the sections representing the twin towers and the 9/11 attacks on the anniversary of the day that none of the students were alive to see. Throughout Monday, students painted the first panel of two panels, supervised by Etters and art teachers Barry Raker and Autumn Anderson, who serve as advisors for the schools Illustrators Club. Junior Ella Wallace and several of her classmates described the honor and the impact of painting a commemorative mural on the 22nd anniversary of the attacks. We werent alive during 9/11 so it just feels good to have something to contribute, something to show that we care, Wallace said. Like its not dodging our generation, were still caring about this, which is still important. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Paige Mittelbrunn, a senior, saw the mural not only as a way to honor veterans but also to serve her community. Its an exciting opportunity to do art but to also be part of something in town like something we drive past every day, Mittelbrunn said. Using murals to help students connect with art and their communities is a key part of the work for Etters. Her foundation, Murals Talk, strives to use public murals to bridge the gap between communities and helps children and students of all ages to participate in creating public art. I like to work with kids because I want them to just learn about why murals are important, Etters said. Why the subject of the mural is important, why we picked it, whats the relevance to their community or in their community on a larger scale. Johna McCormick, commander of post 437, said the mural will help bring attention back to the original purpose of the American Legion. The American Legion is for veterans, their families and the community, McCormick said. That got lost in the bar scene over the decades and its a shame because this is what were about. So to see this is phenomenal. Were changing the face of the American Legion back to what it should be. I took my son Luke to photograph surfing dogs at the annual dog surfing competition in San Diego. The event is free and gathers people from all places ready to see dogs smile in the water. This year the event had special pups saved from the Maui fires. This past weekend, I learned that the more seriously you take some things, the funnier they get. On a golden Sunday morning in September, my son Luke and I find ourselves knee-deep in Pacific waves and whimsy in the heart of Del Mar's Dog Beach. A gathering of thousands of souls alight for one final carefree summer moment: dogs on surfboards. There, the crowd is breathless with laughter under a giant black soundstage. Because how can you not giggle with a smiling dog as it surfs? The event is free and great for everyone We photograph dogs of every size, a parade into the water in imaginative surf threads even one in a sequin-pink mermaid tail. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The event is free for families, which feels like the right price. A $20 parking donation is part of what gives Hellen Woodward Animal Shelter about one million dollars in event revenue, per their 2022 annual report. Courtesy of Luke Frost Back at the beach, a crowd gathers on the bluff that supports Highway 101. Abuzz with anticipation, thousands of spectators create noisy ripples of energy, applause, and whistles as surf-dog hilarity ensues. Here's the kicker. The pups actually smile. Surfside, parents aid pooches with a gentle shove into the barrel one by one. They slow-roll to the beach and hang 20. This year's event extends a lifeline to dogs impacted by the Maui fires, uniting them with new families at Hellen Woodward. The event has been going on for 18 years now "Did you get the shot?" I ask Luke, an aspiring veterinarian. "Multiple!" he grins back, confidence growing. The author's son watching the dogs surf Courtesy of Thomas Frost Bathed in the morning light and saltwater brine, my son cooks up harmless mischief, and his anticipation grows just as a large wave breaks on us. Wiped out, I'm left to ponder the universe's great dog mystery: Are dog smiles from attention, water, or wind-in-the-ears? If only they could talk. Fleetingly, dogs are celebrities, as each ride tells a tale of family and companionship. There is even a children's book called "Dozer Surfs" by the event's announcer in the judges' tower, Douglas Hokstad. The story follows Dozer the dog, who didn't know personal greatness was in him until he tried surfing and discovered it. Being open-minded and trying new things is the idea. And that's exactly what we did that day at the beach with my son. Eva Lagudi-Devereux, special events manager at Hellen Woodward Animal Shelter, has been running the event for the past couple of years. Along with Gigi Hokstad, SoCal Surf Dogs head trainer, they form an engine that makes it all go. "There's a reason this is one of our most popular events," said Lagudi-Devereux. "The absolute heart in this day is unmatched." "You can be blue or red, rich or poor here. It doesn't matter," reflected an onlooker named Pomme, "We're all human, and dogs share their joy." Sugar, first overall in the contest, with her owner. Courtesy of Luke Frost As the 2023 waves recede into autumn, we all treasure moments of youth and freedom. Rare as a dog on a wave, this event is a precious reminder that sometimes the universe gets it just right. Luke and I forge a thankful link to a chain of fathers and sons seeking beach adventure, getting wet, and trying new things. This time, it was photography. Read the original article on Insider SOUTH BRUNSWICK Taxpayers in the township can expect to see a7.2% increase in the municipal portion of their 2023 property tax bills. Fueled by $1.8 million in overspending in the 2022 budget, municipal taxes in 2023s $73.9 million budget will rise about $140 on the average home assessed at $194,000. That increase does not include any increases in the school district or county taxes. The township had to obtain approval from the state's Local Finance Board to exceed the 2% spending cap by $2.9 million. "The over expenditures were in the budget lines of insurance and garbage and trash," said Joseph Monzo, who retired as CFO in the township in 2019, but was brought back under contract through Phoenix Advisors effective June 1. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Monzo said he wasn't involved in the budget process last year, so he could not comment specifically on why the over expenditure occurred. From a simplistic standpoint, the over expenditure was due to the fact that that the township didn't budget sufficient money to cover expenses, he said. In addition, he said, $1.1 million was needed to properly budget in 2023 those line items that created the over expenditures in 2022. 'A focal point': South Brunswick Public Library getting $11 million transformation Property in South Brunswick is assessed at 37.7% of its true value, according to the Middlesex County Tax Board. Only six of Middlesex County's 25 municipalities have property assessments that are 90% or more of true value. Last year's overall property tax rate in South Brunswick was $5.01 per $100 of assessed value. The average property tax bill was $9,730. Property owners will see the municipal portion of their taxes increase 7.2 cents on every $100 of assessed value. The overall property tax rate has not yet been determined. The municipal budget was introduced at the July 25 Township Council meeting. The Township Council held a public hearing at its Aug. 22 meeting where a budget amendment was introduced and approved on first reading. The public hearing and adoption of the amendment is scheduled for Sept. 12. "The changes proposed in the amendment are minimal," Monzo said. The tax rate increase was slated to be 7.7 cents, but with the amendment it will be a 7.2 cent increase," he said. The overall amount to be raised by taxes for municipal purposes, if the amendment is approved, will be $43.6 million. Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: South Brunswick NJ taxes rising 7.2% SAN DIEGO Drivers through downtown San Diego are in luck. Caltrans reopened all lanes along southbound Interstate 5 Sunday after crews wrapped up the first part of a bridge repair project ahead of schedule. The closure, which was implemented for emergency repairs to the bridge deck over State Route 163, began at 9 p.m. Friday and was originally scheduled to run through 5 a.m. Monday. Driver, passenger killed in rollover crash on I-15 All southbound traffic was diverted onto eastbound Interstate 8 during the time. The closure was also anticipated to have a major impact on travelers headed to San Diego International Airport. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After making significant progress, however, Caltrans announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunday afternoon that motorists were allowed back onto the stretch of I-5. The weather this weekend was amazing. That allowed us to get ahead of the work, Caltrans spokesperson David Cortez said Sunday. The materials dried faster and that allows us to keep on going, so the weather was perfect for this type of work. Another closure is scheduled for northbound I-5 from Friday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 1 at 5 a.m. That closure will start at the State Route 15 connector. One lane will be available for limited local traffic. As with this weekend, the northbound closure is anticipated to cause delays in the downtown area and travelers are advised to plan ahead if you are driving in the area. Motorists are encouraged to avoid using I-5 by traveling on alternate routes like SR-163, I-805 and SR-15. Pedestrian, 70, hospitalized in felony hit-and-run: SDPD For real-time traffic information including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, motorists can visit Caltrans QuickMap. Drivers can also visit Caltrans on Twitter for up-to-date information. Caltrans says the closure is subject to change due to weather, traffic incidents or other construction considerations. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. The southern Plains are in for a wild weather ride this week, as a dramatic shift in weather patterns will break the heat dome that has had the region sweltering all summer. A cool breeze will roll in, giving people, livestock, air conditioning units and the stressed energy grid a well-deserved break. The first signs of change swept in Monday morning as clouds and rain danced across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. But that's just the beginning of the transition because conditions are going to stay on the cool side. In many cases across northern Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, this could be the coolest stretch of weather since May. The driver of this weather pattern change is a cold front, which is making a rare plunge across the southern Plains. Residents can say goodbye to scorching highs in the 90s and 100s, as places like Oklahoma City, and Dallas are set to enjoy afternoon highs in the 70s and lower 80s. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As the cool air rolled in, temperatures failed to surpass the 70-degree mark in Amarillo, Texas, and temperatures were no higher than the mid-60s in Dodge City, Kansas, on Monday. As residents have roasted under the relentless summer sun, drought conditions have only worsened, but there is hope on the horizon. This week's weather pattern will bring much-needed rain, although the region will need a lot more to return things to normal. A surge of atmospheric energy from the Four Corners region promises to deliver another wave of much-needed rainfall by Wednesday in portions of Texas and Oklahoma. And the good news keeps on coming, as Thursday looks like another day to keep the umbrella handy. "Areas of rain and gusty thunderstorms may try to break the heat by shaving off several degrees a bit farther to the southeast in Texas by the end of the week in the zone from Austin to San Antonio and Laredo, Texas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. But that's not all, as the lucky streak of wet weather could extend into the weekend, thanks to another potent cold front poised to sweep through the southern Plains between Friday and Sunday. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alertsare prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. I backpacked across Europe for two weeks and felt I brought too many items with me. I regret packing a maxi dress, extra camera gear, and so many pairs of socks. Packing lighter would have made my two-week journey less taxing on my body. The first time I traveled for two weeks with a backpack, it was the lightest I'd ever packed for the longest trip I'd ever taken. I had everything I needed, but I was surprised to find that I could have packed even lighter. Traveling with just a backpack works for me because I find I have less stuff to worry about losing or forgetting when getting from one location to the next, and it leaves my hands free when commuting. Plus, fitting everything in a backpack means I don't have to check luggage and pay the accompanying fee, or feel the anxiety of whether it will make it to my destination. Last October, I packed my backpack for my longest journey yet a two-week trip to Europe. I took a red-eye flight from NYC to Berlin and traveled by train from Germany to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For this adventure, I used a 32-liter backpack, the largest one I own, to hold everything I needed for two weeks. I packed my work computer, camera, and chargers; snacks, toiletries, and medications; one packing cube stuffed with clothing; and additional necessities like a raincoat, a tote, and a pair of shower slides. The author all packed up for her trip to Europe in 2022. Joey Hadden/Insider While I longed for more outfit variety, I was glad I packed so little. I didn't feel as weighed down by my backpack as I had on previous trips, so I had more energy throughout the day. But there were a few items I could have left behind to make my bag even lighter. A maxi dress wasn't worth packing For one thing, I could have done without the maxi dress. I brought it for days when I wanted to dress formally. But apart from different jackets over top, I found that my dress looked the same to me every time I wore it. And since it was so long, I thought it took up the same amount of space in my packing cube that a pair of shorts and a couple of extra shirts could have taken. Replacing the dress with a pair of nice shorts and some blouses would have given me nice outfits that were more versatile. I could have brought about half as many pairs of socks The author's 10 pairs of socks she brought to Europe. Joey Hadden/Insider I didn't need 10 pairs of socks either. I brought so many because I'd had trouble washing and drying my socks in just one night on previous trips, leaving me wishing I had packed more. But since I booked two nights in most of the cities I visited in Europe, I found I had plenty of time to dry my socks. I probably could have done with six pairs to leave more room in my bag for small souvenirs. I brought more camera gear than I needed Lenses and film the author brought to Europe. Joey Hadden/Insider I love taking pictures on digital and film cameras, but I could have lightened my gear load. For example, I brought way too much film for this trip. I packed eight rolls of film and only shot four of them due to some rainy days. Plus, I was surprised by how easy it seemed to buy film in Europe if I'd needed more, I could have stopped at one of the many film stores I passed in Vienna and Berlin. In Vienna, I even spotted a film vending machine on the street. Because I overestimated how many film pictures I'd take, next time, especially if I'm traveling to Europe, I'll bring half the film I think I'll use. I find that rolls of film feel bulky in my bag if I have too many, but my camera lenses feel even bulkier. I brought two lenses for my digital camera: a zoom lens and a lens with a fixed wide angle. Although I used both, I thought the majority of the shots I got could have been taken with my zoom lens, which has a pretty wide setting and can take close-ups. After my two-week trip, I was proud of myself for bringing just a backpack on the longest trip I'd ever taken. But in hindsight, leaving a few items behind would have made my bag lighter and easier to carry around. Next time, I'll leave the dress at home and cut down on socks, film, and camera lenses. Read the original article on Insider Flash The Chinese Embassy in Algeria donated on Sunday 44 electric and manual wheelchairs to the Salima Souakri Charity and Humanitarian Foundation to help people with disabilities. Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Li Jian delivered a speech at the donation ceremony held in the capital Algiers. "We hope these wheelchairs will better facilitate their life and work, and through today's charitable activity, we can contribute to the well-being of people with disabilities in Algeria, and we also hope to call on more organizations to pay attention to this group of people," said Li. Besides, the ambassador said the event is a powerful testimony to the friendship and cooperation between China and Algeria, voicing China's willingness to strengthen cooperation with Algeria in the field of people's livelihood, including charity. For her part, Salima Souakri, the foundation's president, expressed gratitude to the Chinese embassy on behalf of the families of people with disabilities who received the donation. She said the donation reflected the cooperation between the two countries and the deep friendship between the two peoples. A package of Paqui OneChipChallenge spicy tortilla chips is seen on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023, in Boston. Authorities are raising the alarm about a OneChipChallenge social media trend that encourages people to avoid seeking relief from eating and drinking for as long as possible after eating the chips, days after a Massachusetts teenager died hours after taking part in the challenge. The dare is popular on social media sites, with scores of people including children unwrapping the packaging, eating the chips and reacting to the heat. (AP Photo/Steve LeBlanc) NEW YORK (AP) A tortilla chip maker's decision to pull its extremely spicy product sold as a One Chip Challenge from store shelves following the death of a Massachusetts teen has renewed attention on the popularity and risks of similar dares marketed by brands and spread widely online. Spicy food challenges have been around for years. From local chile pepper eating contests to restaurant walls of fame for those who finished extra hot dishes, people around the world have been daring each other to eat especially fiery foods, with some experts pointing to the internal rush of competition and risk-taking. But extremely spicy products created and marketed solely for the challenges and possible internet fame is a more recent phenomenon, and teens are particularly exposed to them because of social media, associate professor of psychology at Florida International University Elisa Trucco says. There's a glamorization of these challenges on social media, Trucco said. You see a lot of likes or comments (indicating) social status or popularity from these challenges, but you dont see a lot of the negative consequences like the trips to the E.R. or other injuries. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Alexander DePaoli, an associate teaching professor of marketing at Northeastern University, added that people may put themselves through discomfort and share it online for a sense of in-group belonging," similar to offline challenges as a game of truth or dare. A YouTube series called Hot Ones, for example, rose to internet fame several years ago with videos of celebrities reactions to eating spicy wings. Meanwhile, restaurants nationwide continue to offer in-person challenges from Buffalo Wild Wings Blazin Challenge to the Hell Challenge of Wing King in Las Vegas. In both challenges, patrons over 18 can attempt to eat a certain amount of wings doused in extra hot sauce in limited time without drinking or eating other food. Chile pepper eating contests are also regularly hosted around the world. Last year, Gregory Foster ate 10 Carolina Reaper chillies, which Guinness World Records has named the hottest in the world, at a record time of 33.15 seconds in San Diego, California. In most cases, people will choose to participate in challenges that they are trained for or don't consider to be truly dangerous. But a line is crossed when someone gets hurt, DePaoli noted. While the autopsy results for 10th-grader Harris Wolobah are still pending, the teen's family allege that the One Chip Challenge is responsible for his Sept. 1 death. The product, manufactured by Paqui, instructs participants to eat an eponymously named chip and then see how long they can go without consuming other food and water. Sales of the chip seem largely driven by people posting videos on social media of them or their friends taking the challenge. They show people, including teens and children, eating the chips and then reacting to the heat. Some videos show people gagging, coughing and begging for water. Since Wolobah's death, Paqui has asked retailers to stop selling the product and some health experts have pointed to potential dangers of eating such spicy products under certain circumstances, particularly depending on the amount of capsaicin, a component that gives chile peppers their heat. But there are plenty of similar products that remain online and on store shelves, including Red Hot Reaper's One Chip Challenge, Blazing Foods' Death Nut Challenge and Tube of Terror Challenge as well as Wilder Toys' Hot Ones Truth or Dab sauce game. The Associated Press reached out to each company after Paqui pulled its own product, but did not receive a response. DePaoli said it's not unusual for companies to engage in viral marketing. It is unusual, however, to have something where the brand actually wants you to put something into your body," he said. Companies "dont want to be liable for that. Despite warnings or labels specifying adult-use only, the products can still get into the hands of young people who might not understand the risks, Trucco added. Theres a reason why these challenges are appealing," she said. "This type of marketing sells. [Source] Three festival attendees were hospitalized following a triple stabbing incident during Vancouver's Light Up Chinatown! festival on Sunday evening. Suspect arrested: According to the Vancouver Police Department, the violent episode transpired shortly before 6 p.m. right next to the festival's main stage situated at Columbia and Keefer Streets. The suspected assailant, a 60-year-old man who is a stranger to the victims, has since been arrested. As investigations continue, the motive behind the attack remains unknown. Injured victims: BC Emergency Health Services dispatched five ambulances to the scene, promptly transporting the three injured parties to the hospital. The victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition, as of this writing. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More from NextShark: 1 in 2 Asian Americans do not feel safe in the US, survey finds A message from the mayor: Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim released a statement Sunday night condemning the incident and expressing solidarity with the city's Chinese community. "Our city stands shoulder to shoulder with Light up Chinatown!, our Chinese community and all those who participated today. We will not allow this senseless act of violence to disrupt celebrations of all that makes our city great, and we will work each and every day to ensure Vancouver is a place where people can live, work and thrive in a safe environment." About the festival: The Light Up Chinatown! festival, which spanned two days, represents a celebration of the neighborhood's resilience and spirit. Organized by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, it seeks to revitalize the community. More from NextShark: 40% of AAPI LGBTQ youth considered suicide over the past year, report finds Carol Lee, the Foundation's Chair, expressed profound sadness over the weekend incident, highlighting the community's safety as a top priority. More from NextShark: 35-mile 'Run for Chinatown' organized to honor Christina Lees life, raise awareness of anti-Asian crimes Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Vietnamese Amateur Swimmers Complete Record-Breaking 124-Mile Swim US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said billionaire SpaceX founder and entrepreneur Elon Musk s Starlink satellite communication system is a "vital tool" for Ukraine. Source: Bloomberg Quote from Blinken: "What we would hope and expect is that the technology will remain fully available to the Ukrainians. Starlink has been a vital tool for the Ukrainians to be able to communicate with each other, and particularly for the military to communicate in their effort to defend all of Ukraines territory." Details: Blinken refused to make any comments on reports that Musk rejected Ukraine's request to activate a communications system in Russian-annexed Sevastopol, Crimea, last year to help attack Russian warships. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: CNN, which has gained access to an extract from Musks biography by American journalist and writer Walter Isaacson, reported that in 2022, Elon Musk secretly ordered that the Starlink satellite connection near the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea be shut down in order to disrupt an attack by Ukraine on the Russian naval fleet in Sevastopol. Elon Musk responded to this information regarding disruption and said he had not deactivated Starlink satellite communication for drones, but when Ukraine requested that the system be enabled, he refused. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! State election officers have a near-unified message about the possibility of challenges to Donald Trump s eligibility for the ballot in 2024: We want nothing to do with this. I dont think its the role of the secretary of state to make a judicial determination, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, told NBC News. My job is to create the process and the environment in the state of Missouri where candidates can run and the voters of the state of Missouri have the accessibility, the elections have security and credibility, so that the people of the state can make a decision. At issue is a rarely used provision of the U.S. Constitution Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which bars any person who took an oath to uphold the Constitution from holding public office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the nation. Some critics of the former president have said that Trump should be disqualified from appearing on the presidential ballot because of this provision. Secretaries of state in New Hampshire, Arizona, Michigan and Colorado have faced, or are preparing to face, legal challenges to Trumps eligibility as they prepare state ballots for the upcoming Republican presidential primaries. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement NBC News reached out to chief election officers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Most are choosing not to weigh in on whether the insurrection clause in the 14th Amendment applies here. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a Republican, wrote an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal decrying the challenges and potential challenges as merely the newest way of attempting to short-circuit the ballot box. Raffenspergers office was at the center of Trumps failed effort to overturn Georgias election results in 2020. A phone call between Trump and Raffensperger, during which the former president asked the secretary of state to find the number of votes he needed to overcome Joe Bidens lead in the state, was among the evidence cited by Georgia prosecutors ahead of Trumps indictment there. For a secretary of state to remove a candidate would only reinforce the grievances of those who see the system as rigged and corrupt. Denying voters the opportunity to choose is fundamentally un-American, Raffensperger wrote. Most other secretaries are declining to get into specifics, and some are also making it clear that their offices might not be the right venues for final decisions on the matter. At this time, were going to decline to comment on this matter, said Alicia D'Alessandro, a spokesperson for New Jerseys Democratic secretary of state, Tahesha Way. A spokesperson for the North Carolina State Board of Elections Patrick Gannon said the board generally does not comment on legal matters that may or may not come before it. And Rachel Soulek, elections director for South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican appointee, said the office is aware of the situation and has no further comment. Some are consulting legal experts for advice on the near-unprecedented issue that many assume will be decided by the courts. The process for challenging a candidates qualifications may only begin after the candidate files for office and is adjudicated by the court, not this Office, said Cecilia Heston, a public information officer for Nevada Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. Image: United Auto Workers Members March In Detroit Labor Day Parade (Bill Pugliano / Getty Images) Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, told NBC News Ali Velshi that the arguments for disqualification are quite strong but we also have to recognize we are in uncharted territory here. Courts have a critical role to play here, certainly the U.S. Supreme Court. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, another Democrat, has the issue before her most immediately. A group of Republican and unaffiliated voters in the state filed a lawsuit last week against her, seeking to challenge the listing of Respondent Donald J. Trump as a candidate on the 2024 Republican presidential primary election ballot and any future election ballot, citing the 14th Amendment. Griswold embraced the prospect of courts handling the issue. I look forward to the Colorado Courts substantive resolution of the issues, and am hopeful that this case will provide guidance to election officials on Trumps eligibility as a candidate for office, she said in a statement. Trump has started to weigh in on the challenges, calling them nonsense and election interference. This is like a banana republic, Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Dan Bongino last week. And what theyre doing is, its called election interference. ... Now the 14th Amendment is just a continuation of that. Its nonsense. Other election chiefs say state law restricts their ability to disqualify a candidate from the ballot, even if the candidates eligibility is in question. In Washington State, any effort to remove a candidate would have to begin with a petition from a voter. Washington state law provides that any registered voter can go to court to challenge a candidates placement on a ballot and ask a judge to remove a name on grounds of ineligibility, said Derrick Nunnally, a spokesperson for Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat. Bryan Mills, the chief of staff for Vermont Democratic Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, shared a similar sentiment. While we continue to investigate, we believe the clearest reading of Vermont Law is that the office of the Secretary of State does not have statutory authority to deny access to the ballot, except in cases where a candidate fails to submit the required number of valid signatures, he said. Other elections officers feel discussions regarding the 14th Amendment are premature. Debra OMalley, the communications director for Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, a Democrat, said that the office will not be making any determination this early, given the states final list of candidates will not be finalized until December. Irrespective of when and how they choose to tackle the 14th Amendment debate, several election chiefs said their offices have faced an influx of messages from constituents regarding the issue. In New Hampshire, the secretary of states office was flooded with hundreds of calls this month from Trump supporters seeking reassurance that the former president is going to be on the ballot next year, after conservative talk show host Charlie Kirk falsely told listeners the state is trying to sideline Trump. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, election officials said they have received numerous questions from citizens. In North Carolina, Gannon said the state election board has received a high volume of emails and several phone calls regarding the 14th Amendment over the past couple of weeks. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Recent educational history has recast summer from a time of respite between academic years to an evidence-based opportunity for learning and enrichment that can have cumulative academic and social-emotional benefits. But access to quality summer programming has been inconsistent across the country, particularly for students with the greatest needs. While some districts have robust summer offerings that include partnerships with local community organizations, others, like those in rural settings, have fewer resources and leaner offerings for students. New evidence, published with my colleagues from Westat, suggests states can play a much more robust role in facilitating equitable access to summer learning. Traditionally, states have limited their involvement administering and regulating the use of federal funding, with programming driven largely by local providers, including schools, districts and community-based organizations. As with so many things, this changed dramatically during the pandemic. No paywall. No pop-up ads. Keep The 74 free with a donation during our Fall campaign. In spring 2021, there was a national call to expand summer learning and enrichment programming, driven by COVID-related disruptions to education and anticipated losses in student growth. This call to action, fueled by over $120 billion in American Rescue Plan funding, positioned states to take on a more substantive role. They were not only required to pass the federal funds on to districts, but also to reserve 1% of them for summer learning programs. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Related Four Reasons to Be Hopeful from Latest Summer School Study We wondered: How did states throughout the nation, within a relatively short time frame, respond at this critical point in time? Through our analysis of rescue fund plans from the 50 states and Washington, D.C., and interviews with education officials from 37 states, we found that states defined a new role for themselves in supporting summer programming that went well beyond just channeling funds to districts. For example: Thirty states articulated their intentions or objectives for summer learning in 2021. These consistently related to expanding access to quality programming to more students, particularly those with the greatest needs and, traditionally, fewer opportunities. Sixteen states developed entirely new policies to shape how summer learning was designed, staffed and delivered. Many states set priorities for how summer programming was designed and evaluated. In 40 of 51 (78%) American Rescue Fund plans, states requested that districts include social-emotional elements in their programming. Twenty of 51 (41%) requested that districts focus on academics. In 36 of 51 (70%) plans, states required districts and community-based organizations to collect data and report on student participation in, and/or outcomes of, their summer programs. In eight states, legislatures took actions that may shape future summer learning opportunities, passing new policies related to how funding is awarded, what kinds of programs are eligible and the structure and/or content of summer programs. For example, North Carolina required every school district to offer 30 days, or 150 hours, of in-person instruction in summer 2021, prioritizing access to students deemed at risk of retention based on their 2020-21 academic performance; and Tennessees Learning Loss Remediation and Student Acceleration Act required districts to offer in-person learning loss remediation and student acceleration, including summer camps, and to prioritize registration for students with the greatest needs according to approved reading and math screening assessments. When called upon, states envisioned a role they could play in summer learning that included and extended beyond providing financing. For instance, many states engaged new partners, such as the YMCA, and set new priorities for program implementation and evaluation. And in some cases, they developed legislation that can solidify a foundation for ongoing statewide support for summer learning opportunities, even as federal pandemic relief funding is set to expire. To sustain this momentum, we recommend states consider four strategies to strengthen their role in summer learning: Define or refine a vision for summer programming that is both meaningful and feasible; Understand and use funding, partnering, implementation and evaluation policies as levers to shape how summer learning is enacted throughout the state; Start planning no later than January, and Develop a communications strategy to make sure districts and families understand the benefits of summer learning. The need for learning recovery is no longer a hypothesis. It is now a researched reality that will require long-term and sustained investment and commitment, with summer learning being an important and evidence-based factor. Related Summer School Priority: Help Students Rebound From Historically Bad Math Scores It took an unprecedented infusion of federal funding and a national call to action to catalyze an expanded state role in summer learning. Now, states are uniquely suited to help sustain the momentum of this strategy nationwide. States have the ability to fund summer programming, influence its design, prioritize underserved students and provide districts with evidence-based resources and guidance. Additionally, states can offer districts political cover as federal funding winds down and they face pressure to direct funding to competing priorities. Every young person should have access to high-quality, enriching summer learning experiences, and we now know that states are important players in bringing that vision to life. Five years after the Stonewall riots and three years before gay rights pioneer, Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Kathy Kozachenko made history in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kathy Kozachenko is the first openly gay person elected to public office in the United States. Nearly 50 years later, Ann Arbor City government is honoring the former City Council member by erecting a statue in her honor. The former University of Michigan student was elected to local office in 1974, campaigning under the now defunct Human Rights Party. She served for two years on Ann Arbors council before opting not to run for a second term and retreating from the public eye. Ann Arbor City Council Member Travis Radina called Kozachenko's election a historic accomplishment. "Someone had to be the first and she stepped forward and did that," said Radina. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While Kozachenko has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since leaving office, she acknowledged her accomplishment in her victory speech from 1974. The speech was discovered by Bloomberg in 2015. This is the first time in the history of the U.S. that someone has run openly as a gay person and been elected to public office, Kozachenko said, Gay liberation was not a major issue in the campaign both candidates in this ward said they supported gay rights, but 10 years ago, or even three years ago, lesbianism would have meant automatic defeat." She continued. "Many peoples attitudes about gayness are still far from healthy, but my campaign forced some people at least to re-examine their prejudices and stereotypes. Behind Pride Month: How the LGBTQ celebration came to be In memoriam: Navy christens ship USNS, named after gay rights activist Ann Arbor is a hub for LGBTQ history Prior to Kozachenko's election, Jerry DeGrieck and Nancy Wechsler two other students and members of the Human Rights Party won elections to city council in 1972. They made history by becoming the first gay and lesbian elected officials to come out while serving in public office in the U.S., Radina noted. "That support network, that community around Kathy is really what empowered her and helped her do this as well," Radina said. "It's important for her personally, when I've talked to her, for them to be part of that story." In 1972, the city of Ann Arbor celebrated its first officially designated "Gay Pride Week," one of the first in the US, according to the University of Michigan's LGBT Heritage Exhibit. The council also adopted an ordinance protecting individuals from discrimination based on sexual preference one of the first cities in Michigan to do so. Behind the making of the monument For months, Ann Arbor councilmembers have been discussing the idea of memorializing Kozachenko's accomplishment with a state historical marker. "I would travel to other cities and see statues or landmarks or plaques dedicated to these historic figures. And there was really nothing like that celebrating Kathy here in Ann Arbor," Radina said. Statues for Equality is partnering with the city of Ann Arbor to design and construct the monument. The organization's founders acknowledged that only a small percentage of historical statues throughout the country are of women. Their work focuses on creating statues honoring female historical figures. Michigan Live reported that the city of Ann Arbor plans to raise $100,000 to have Statues for Equality to erect the monument. The statue will placed at City Hall grounds near the buildings entrance, according to Radina. Its exact unveiling date is not yet known and could take up to a year to build. Radina said the City Council will host an unveiling ceremony as part of the City's bicentennial celebration in 2024. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Statue honors Kathy Kozachenko, US first openly gay elected official Theres a lot about the Vogue images featuring White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre that may stop a reader in their tracks. Theres the striking red suit shes wearing. The unwavering expression on her face. And the hair. Oh, that hair. It is full of body, the most perfect auburn-blonde shade to compliment her skin and frames her face in just the right way. If you are a woman, who like Jean-Pierre, wears natural hair, you most certainly will also notice that her natural curls are on full display in what many call The Fashion Bible. The importance of Jean-Pierres natural look being featured inVogue is not lost on the man behind her hairstyling for the shoot. Dior Sovoa has been styling the White House press secretary for almost years and says he is her go-to hairstylist whenever she visits New York. He was tapped for the Vogue feature, he says, likely because of his attention to both aesthetics and hair health. I think I am the only hairstylist who actually has taken the time out to take care of her hair as well as doing it. I think thats whats made me stand out, Sovoa told 21Ninety. Im going to take care of your hair before we do any type of styling. I want you to be 60, 70, 80 years old, hopefully you make it to 150 if you can and still be able to rock your natural tresses. Shes always calling me about hair care advice. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sovoa traveled to the White House, where the shoot took place, to style Jean-Pierres hair. The look was a half rod set that included some clip-ins that were colored and curled a few days before the cameras started clicking. I colored a couple of pieces beforehand before we came to set. I preset those, curled them. Her hair was kind of curled in sets the day before. All I had to do was fluff her hair out, put the other pieces in and literally tease it and give it, its own look. Sovoa said. On the day of the shoot, Sovoa says he wished he had more time to get the job done but overall hes thrilled with how Jean-Pierres hair turned out. He says for women like the White House press secretary, whose natural tresses are also color treated, hair maintenance in key. Treatments, treatments, treatments. Put a treatment in your hair once a week if not twice a week. I always say get a moisturizer that will penetrate deep into your follicles and get a hair steamer, Sovoa advised. When reflecting on the Vogue feature, the hairstylist, says its a full circle moment for him. Sovoa was born and raised in D.C. and watched his mother work as a hairstylist growing up. Not only am I living my dream but Im living her dream as well, Sovoa said. Its a dream that has included working with a variety of celebrities such as Patti Labelle, Mariah Carey and Whoopi Goldberg. And for Sovoa, Jean-Pierres appearance in Vogue is a message he feels Black women, especially younger ones, need to see. Thats something that every young girl needs to see. We dont need to see all rappers or actresses all the time, Sovoa explained. Sometimes we need to see a doctor, lawyer or the madame press secretary inside these magazines looking beautiful and showing their natural beauty. The post Stylist Shares Details of Karine Jean-Pierres Vogue Hair appeared first on 21Ninety. It took months of trekking across Central America to escape economic hardship in Venezuela and get to Miami for Karen Ugas, her husband and her five kids. They needed everything food, clothes, a place to live and most of all, a plan to figure out their next step in a new country and a lot of faith. Ugas says she and her family now are slowly getting their lives on track and finding community thanks to a local organization, Hermanos de la Calle (Brothers of the Street). The group helps Miamis unhoused population find places to live, including freshly-arrived migrants who may be seeking asylum. And the group depends on the help of religious institutions like the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miamis Allapattah neighborhood to tackle housing for homeless migrants. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Sunday, Ugas children were baptized along with several other kids of migrant families at Corpus Christi. The ceremony reflects broader efforts by Miamis faith-based communities that are often on the front lines of assisting the homeless. Finding community in church has helped the migrants at the ceremony find hope and a sense of belonging in a foreign place, many said. Thank God, I have received a lot of support from the organization, Ugas said after the baptism ceremony. If it werent for them I dont know what wed be doing. Hermanos, a part of the Homeless Trust provider network, has been helping people experiencing homelessness find permanent housing, access to healthcare and employment opportunities since 2015. We serve the migrants that have nowhere to go, said Hermanos executive director Malena Legarre. We think what we did today is great because we combined two things: You become part of a community and you become part of a community of love that Christianity can give you. Karen Ugas daughter gets baptized by Father Jose Menendez on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami. Many of the children baptized were migrants being welcomed into the church as part of an outreach effort by the Hermanos de la Calle, a organization that combats homelessness. While there are hundreds of thousands of migrants and exiles arriving in Miami every year (a 400 percent increase since October 2022), Hermanos de la Calle says they try to assist people who are at the highest-risk: Those without a family or a support system here. They arrive to Miami, and they dont know anything about Miami, said Narciso Munoz, founder and president of Hermanos de la Calle. Most of them dont even have a telephone here, nobody knows where they are, nobody knows that they have arrived. At the ceremony, which took place after Corpus Christis 11 a.m. Mass, families fawned over their newborns and toddlers as they were sprinkled with holy water by Father Jose Luis Menendez. As Menendez prayed over each child in Spanish, relatives took photos commemorating the sacrament, which in the Catholic faith represents the death of ones original sin and rebirth as a new member of the church. Throughout Sundays service, Menendez discussed the importance of having a Catholic community to rely on during difficult times. Hermanos has received federal funding from United Way Miami to help newly-arrived migrants find temporary housing and meet other basic needs like food, school supplies and vaccinations. Many of the migrants, from countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, Honduras, Colombia and Guatemala, are seeking asylum and have been granted temporary legal status until their immigration court date which for some isnt until 2026. We believe that giving this opportunity for them to be part of this community is going to be very fruitful at this moment of their lives, Legarre said. They have been suffering so much on their journey. Evelyn Diaz gaviria, right, kisses her son, Jeremiah Diaz, on the head after his baptism ceremony while his brother, Josiah Perez Diaz, awaits his turn on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami. Aside from the risk of homelessness, migrants who are waiting to obtain a temporary work permit face the risk of being coerced into dangerous situations like gangs or human trafficking once they arrive. Its not uncommon for a young migrant to be approached by someone pressuring them to engage in prostitution, Munoz said. Some of them get in a very desperate situation and maybe take risks that they shouldnt be taking, Munoz said. Its very important that these people have some type of protection. The migrants at the ceremony come with struggles that can rock anyones faith. Alba Garcia, 29, has a 9-month-old son who was born with a heart defect and is getting surgery next month. She was recently hit with an eviction notice. She wanted to have her son baptized in the Catholic church before his surgery. Hermanos has not only helped Garcia get her son baptized on Sunday, but theyre connecting her with new housing. Legarre says Hermanos is attempting to help migrants in a more holistic way. What they need is another type of support ... encouragement, hope, Legarre said. Some people suffered a lot on their way here and are suffering for different reasons here. To reach Hermanos de la Calle, call (786) 565 - 7827 or email info@hermanosdelacalle.org Maria Chirinos holds her son, Jhonder, 1, during mass before his baptism ceremony at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami. This report was created with philanthropic support from Christian, Muslim and Jewish funders in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald retains editorial control of all work. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the location of Corpus Christi Catholic Church was in the Wynwood neighborhood. It is in Allapattah. Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 23-year-old man on a Metro train late last week. The deadly encounter occurred on Sept. 7 around 5:20 p.m. Transit Services Division Officers were on the platform at the station when they were alerted to the stabbing, which happened on the Metro B (Red) Line train, according to an LAPD news release. Officers located the victim, identified as Jesse Rodriguez, who was suffering from a stab wound. They attempted to render aid until medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and took the 23-year-old to the hospital, where he later died of his injuries. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On Sept. 8, police released a photo of the suspect, now identified as 31-year-old Randy Nash. LAPD released an image of a man wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man riding a Metro train in downtown Los Angeles on Sept. 7, 2023. According to police, the suspect approached the victim on the train and without warning or provocation allegedly stabbed him in the upper torso and then fled the station on foot. Nash was arrested on Sept. 9 just after 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of West 85th Street, in the L.A. neighborhood of Vermont Knolls. He was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail, police said. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact LAPDs Central Bureau Homicide Detective Sharman or Detective Gonzales at 213-996-4142. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submit tips online at L.A. Crime Stoppers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Comicomment: U.S. bullying trade tactics lead nowhere but to failure Ecns.cn) 09:47, September 11, 2023 (ECNS) -- China's Ministry of Commerce issued a report on the World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance of the United States for the first time. The United States has not only selectively implemented WTO rulings, but has also blocked appointments of new Appellate Body members, which led to the "paralysis" of the Appellate Body, the report said. The United States has a long history of taking unilateral measures against other members under the guise of so-called "national security," "human rights" and "forced technology transfer," and has also coerced others into abiding by its diplomatic policies and illegitimate demands. In addition, the United States has implemented exclusive and discriminatory subsidy policies, and has disrupted other countries' industrial development through means like export control, the report added. It has instigated decoupling and fragmenting industrial and supply chains, tried to utilize unilateral tariff measures to force re-shoring of industrial chains, established U.S.-centered industrial and supply chains through massive subsidies, and promoted near-shoring and friend-shoring based on so-called "values." The United States has taken a series of unscrupulous actions, disrupting the international market order, severely impacting market confidence, and causing serious harm to the world economy. The US has become a saboteur of the multilateral trading system, a manipulator applying double standards in industrial policies, a disruptor of global industrial and supply chains and an expert of unilateralism and bullying. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Flash At least 150 people were killed and many others went missing after floods triggered by Mediterranean storm Daniel hit eastern Libya on Sunday, a local official said on Monday. Mohamed Masoud, head of the Information Office of the eastern-based House of Representatives, the parliament, told Xinhua that most of the victims were from the city of Derna, some 1,300 km east of the capital Tripoli. Local authorities have declared three days of mourning for the victims, Masoud said. After the Mediterranean storm made landfall in eastern Libya on Sunday, it has caused flooding and destroyed facilities along its path. Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah on Sunday instructed relevant authorities to remain on high alert and take measures to deal with the storm, vowing to "protect the people and ease the damage of the floods and rain". The Ministry of Social Affairs and the Libyan Red Crescent Society have started to offer urgent assistance to those affected by the disaster. Officials in Gaston County announced the arrest of a suspect reported to have kidnapped a juvenile from Georgia on Sunday. According to the Gaston County Sheriffs Office (GCSO), around 9:23 a.m. a deputy saw a vehicle being driven by 40-year-old Matthew Penny. Deputies say Penny has outstanding felony warrants for failing to appear in court, drug possession, and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the reported kidnapping. ALSO READ: Suspect arrested in connection with possible child abduction attempt in Belmont Law enforcement began the chase on I-85 South near Exit 13 and continued on the interstate into Cherokee County, S.C. where the South Carolina Highway Patrol took over. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Officials say that Penny exited I-85 at Exit 100 and then drove into a ditch near the exit before running away, he was captured nearby. According to GCSO, the missing juvenile was found unharmed and Penny was arrested in South Carolina. Gaston County will be charging Penny with felony flee/elude, driving with a revoked license, speeding, careless and reckless driving, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and possession of a stolen vehicle. (WATCH BELOW: Kidnapping suspect accused of shooting at officers, leading chase taken into custody) Two people have been charged with several counts of attempted murder after four men were shot Saturday night, according to the Rock Hill Police Department. Police believe it was a case of mistaken identities. Police said they responded to a call just after 11:30 p.m. about gunshots on Brunswick Drive near Fairway Circle. They saw a party wrapping up down the street at another house. ALSO READ: Homicide investigation underway in Shelby, police say Police found a burgundy Honda Accord on the side of the road in front of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The driver-side door of the car was open and a 25-year-old man who had been shot in the head was in the front passenger seat. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to police. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While at the hospital, police learned three more victims connected to the same shooting had also been admitted. Those victims -- two 19-year-olds and a 24-year-old -- had both been shot but were expected to recover. Police identified Jaryrin Hemphill and Jakai Johnson, both 20 years old, as the suspects in this case. Police said Hemphill and Johnson misidentified the victims, thinking they knew them from a past encounter. As the victims drove past them Saturday, Hemphill and Johnson began firing at the vehicles, resulting in the four being shot, investigators said. Channel 9s Dan Matics spoke to Johnsons father Monday. He didnt want to do an interview, but said his son acted in self-defense. ALSO READ: Mallard Creek student hurt in shooting, CMS says Hemphill and Johnson have each been charged with seven counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a crime of violence. Nekia lives on Brunswick Drive. She said after hearing the first set of gunshots Saturday, she went to her window and saw even more chaos unfold. I was like oh my God! they are shooting right in front of the house! she said. All of the people involved in the shooting are under 25 years old, which Nekia said is the worst part. I think its very sad because they have so much more to live for, she said. Theres so much more they could be getting involved in. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. VIDEO: Homicide investigation underway in Shelby, police say Clay County Sheriff Jeff Lyde exits the courtroom after his suspension hearing is postponed Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. About to go on trial for criminal charges Monday, temporarily suspended Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde has won a victory in another court arena. Jury selection begins Monday in the Montague County Courthouse for allegations Lyde held a couple in jail illegally and tampered with court documents in the process in July 2021. He faces four misdemeanor charges in connection with the allegations. This is one of many legal battlefields Lyde and his host of attorneys have been fighting in. They include a petition to remove him permanently from elected office in 97th District Court, other misdemeanor criminal charges associated with sexual harassment allegations and federal lawsuits filed by the couple and by former county employees. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Lyde's suspension is in effect until the lawsuit seeking to oust him from office has run its course. A jury trial to determine his fate regarding the petition is anticipated. Among all those warfronts, Lyde can count at least one decisive victory, courtesy of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. This development is perhaps not widely known outside of Clay County, but the suspended sheriff brought it to the attention of the Times Record News recently. Earlier this year, the New Orleans appeals court sided with Lyde and against a former Sheriff's Office employee who he fired, upholding a judgement from a Wichita Falls federal district court. A federal lawsuit was filed in April 2021 by Linda Byrd, a former dispatcher and supervisor, and two others, Gary Tatum, a county contract jailer, and Tyler Aylor, a detention officer. They were sacked after Lyde was elected in 2020. All three sued Clay County, claiming Lyde wrongfully fired them from the Sheriff's Office in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Frank Douthitt, a Clay County attorney and former district judge, steps out of the 97th District Courtroom in the Montague County Courthouse on Feb. 23, 2023, for a quick talk. Douthitt is one of the petitioners seeking to remove Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde from elected office. It is of note that Tatum and Aylor later settled with the county and exited the lawsuit. That left Byrd still seeking a jury trial and the award of lost benefits and wages, other monetary losses, attorneys' fees and more. After being elected Nov. 3, 2020, Lyde reviewed Sheriff's Office personnel and decided to replace may of his supervisors, including Byrd, according to the Fifth Circuit opinion issued earlier this year. Byrd and Tatum were dismissed from county employment in individual emails Lyde sent Nov. 16, 2020, informing them they were let go as of Nov. 30, 2020, when he was taking office, according to the Fifth Circuit opinion issued April 27. Clay County Sheriff Jeffrey Lyde gives a weekly update to residents Monday, Jan. 30, 2023, after a judge scuttled a temporary restraining order against him. Tatum and Byrd claimed they were fired in November 2020 while on leave under the FMLA, according to the lawsuit. Aylor applied for FMLA leave Jan. 4, 2021, and he was fired an hour after turning in his application. More: Change of venue agreed on for two criminal cases against suspended Sheriff Lyde Byrd received a dismissal email at 10:57 a.m. Nov. 16, 2020, but she contended she never saw it, according to the Fifth Circuit opinion. In any case, the same day she received the email, she asked the county about applying for FMLA leave. A county employee not in the Sheriffs Office granted her Nov. 25, 2020, official request for leave. Her leave ended in January 2021, and she was not reinstated. Byrd sued the county federal district court, contending the FMLA required the county to reinstate her and offer her employment after her leave ended. But the New Orleans appeals court found that since Byrd would not have continued working for the county in the absence of FMLA leave, she can't make any claims centered on the county not reinstating her. The appeals court's opinion was line with a July 12, 2022, order from U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor to grant Clay County's request for a summary judgment. More: Couple files federal lawsuit against suspended Sheriff Lyde, Clay County O'Connor found that Byrd's claims did not hold legal water. The judge wrote in his order that she was denied reinstatement not because of anything to do with the FMLA but solely because of "her incompatible managerial style according to Sheriff Lyde's standards." O'Connor's order effectively disposed of the lawsuit at the federal district court level. Then Byrd moved on to unsuccessfully appeal Connor's decision in New Orleans. Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Suspended Sheriff Lyde wins victory in lawsuit This story involves details of domestic violence. If you need assistance, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Before SWAT officers descended on his Hermitage home, Mark Capps battled mental health issues that led to a night of mixing medication and alcohol, threatening to kill himself and taking his wife and stepdaughter hostage. As officers approached the house Jan. 5 and attempted to serve an arrest warrant, Capps opened the door with a gun in hand, Nashville police said. Officer Kendall Coon fired four shots at the suspect, fatally wounding him. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk declined to file charges against the officers involved, telling Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agent James Scarbro in a letter that Coon's actions were reasonably necessary under facts and circumstances existing in the case. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Capps, a Grammy-award winning artist, worked for decades in the music industry with the likes of Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond and Donna Summer. But he was also battling some serious demons after the deaths of several family members. His parents died two years before that fateful January night. His brother Jeffrey had died two days before. The Davidson County District's Attorney has made the TBI's report on the case public. Here's what it says: A TBI employee was in the home that night From the beginning, Metro Nashville police said two women were inside the home the night Capps held them at gunpoint. When arrest warrants were issued for Capps, the victims listed included only his wife and her daughter, according to copies of those documents. The TBI report makes clear there was, in fact, a fourth person a boyfriend of Capps' stepdaughter. At the time of the shooting, he'd worked at TBI for six months. It's not immediately clear in what capacity he is employed with TBI, but statements in the agency's report indicate he is authorized to carry a firearm and Taser and his direct supervisors are special agents at the bureau. The man was interviewed by other TBI agents for the investigation, during which he indicated he went to sleep about 11 p.m. and was awakened shortly before 2 a.m. to the sounds of banging and voices downstairs. "He got dressed and put on his glasses and continued to listen. He did not immediately involve himself," a summary of his interview with agents said. The boyfriend waited in the bedroom while Capps' wife and stepdaughter attempted to calm him down and repeatedly asked him to put the guns away. While armed, Capps made increasingly threatening statements, indicating he was going to shoot everyone, including the dogs. He told his stepdaughter to get her boyfriend from their bedroom, saying he would start with the boyfriend because he would try to protect everyone else. "We'll make it a hostage situation," Capps said to the three, according to a transcript from video the stepdaughter took during the situation. They all sat in the living room while Capps continued to rant. The boyfriend made several attempts to talk Capps down, telling him he was a good man, and he eventually convinced Capps to put the guns away, according to the report. While Capps was out of the room, the boyfriend asked the women if they wanted him to call 911. They both said no, according to the report. Capps went to the bedroom shortly after 5 a.m. and asked the man not to report the incident at work. He "told him he wouldnt do that and made Capps believe he didnt have any power outside of work," the report notes. The boyfriend then "snuck out of the house around 6 a.m. and went to work," remaining in communication with his girlfriend. Once Capps fell asleep, around 8:15 a.m., the women gathered some things, the dogs and drove straight to the Metro Nashville Police Hermitage Precinct. The report does not indicate if the boyfriend reported the situation to colleagues or to police before the women got to the precinct. The shooting, from Nashville police officers' perspective While the report does not have exact transcripts of agents' interviews with the officers, the summaries do provide a succinct retelling of the events from their perspectives. Coon was the focus of the TBI investigation. He was the only officer who fired his duty rifle, but two other officers were on the front stoop with him when the shooting happened. Coon explained to investigators that because Capps had threatened harm to officers, the plan was to set up charges on the front and back doors, retreat, announce themselves, ask Capps to surrender and blow the doors off to gain entry, if necessary. They didn't have the opportunity to finish putting the charge on the front door before Capps opened it. Coon was acting as cover while officers Tim Brewer and Jason Rader set the charge. Coon thought he saw movement, perhaps behind the peephole of the door, according to the report. "Coon said he then looked at the crack of the door, while Officer Rader was kneeling to place the charge, which was about the time he saw the inside door begin to open," the report reads. "Coon said his natural response was to yell commands and he yelled show me your hands.'" Then, Coon said, he saw a gun. "The door came open and from that moment, Coon said he saw the handgun and it was pointed directly at him and the other two officers," the report reads. "Coon described the gun being about 5 or 6 feet away from officers and the suspect was pointing the gun from his waist area with the barrel toward officers." Rader, who was kneeling down, said, "it seemed like immediately when he touched the outer door, the interior door opened." The report adds, "Rader said as he looked up, he saw a revolver. Rader said he had made up his mind that he would have to shoot this guy because he was pointing a gun at officers, and before he did, Coon fired. The gun, Rader said, was pointed level with his head. "Rader further explained that in his mind, the best he could recall, was that the suspect kind of held the gun at a retention kind of position near his hip and close to his body," the report reads. "He said he believed the gun was already pointed in the direction of the officers as if the suspect knew officers were there at the door." Coon fired four times at Capps. Brewer recalled hearing Coon yell commands at Capps, but he wasn't sure why his colleague did it. Brewer said it was obvious to him that the suspect was pointing a gun, but he figured sometimes that is just the first thing that comes to mind, which is to yell because officers are used to commanding show me your hands," the report reads. Capps suffered from depressive episode There are numerous reported incidents in the file from the days leading up to the January shooting that show Capps' struggle with his mental health. In text messages to a friend before Christmas, Capps explained that he'd had an argument with his brother Jeffrey. The two often did not get along, according to statements in the TBI report. "I just had a [conversation] with my bro that ended with....9MM at my head," Capps wrote in one text message. He then sent a picture of himself holding a gun to his head, according to the TBI report. The friend told investigators, "she knew Capps was in a suicidal place and he had previously promised her that he was ok." However, Mark Capps' friends and family described a series of concerning and paranoid behavior that began once Jeffrey Capps died. Mark Capps said he suspected his wife was unhappy in their marriage, and he ranted about drug-dealers he thought were coming to do them harm, according to the report. He video chatted with one friend who described Capps as intoxicated and indicated he had loaded firearms ready to kill himself. "He eventually heard Capps appear to unload guns and although he didn't see the guns, he could hear him unloading what sounded like bullets dropping into a drawer," the report said. Capps also took several prescription medications, according to the report. On the night of the hostage situation, he began drinking after taking those medications. A search of Capps computer revealed several concerning internet searches. In the days leading up to the incident, he twice searched "Tennessee divorce laws." In back-to-back searches on Dec. 28, he looked up "fatal dose of Lortab" and "fatal dose of Xanax." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TBI releases Mark Capps Nashville shooting report: Here's what we know A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Crew-7 Dragon capsule lifts off from Launchpad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Saturday morning, August 26. Telestat signed a 14-launch agreement with SpaceX on Monday. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Satellite operator Telestat announced on Monday that it has signed a deal with SpaceX to carry 18 of its Lightspeed satellites into low Earth orbit starting in 2026. Telestat's satellite constellation, which will provide secured multi-Gbps data link connectivity for enterprise and government users, will be deployed by SpaceX over the course of 14 launches, a statement from the satellite company said. "SpaceX has been a trusted and effective launch provider to Telesat on our geostationary satellite programs and I am delighted that they will be supporting us with their highly reliable Falcon 9 rocket to deploy the Telesat Lightspeed constellation, the most ambitious program in Telesat's 54-year history," Telestat President and CEO Dan Goldberg said in a statement. The SpaceX-Telestat launch will happen at both of SpaceX's facilities in California and Florida. Telestat said it should be able to start providing its global Internet service in 2027. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "With growing demand for high-speed Internet around the world, SpaceX is proud to launch and deploy Telesat's Lightspeed constellation," said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell. "Building upon our successful launch partnership to date, we look forward to flying Telesat once again as they expand-connectivity capabilities for their customers across the globe." Last week SpaceX set a record of 62 orbital missions in one calendar year when it launched its Falcon 9 rocket into space with 21 Starlink satellites. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Youve seen the video of this years Burning Man. The large event drawing 80,000 people to the Nevada desert received soaking rains, stranding some cars in the mud. News 2 spoke with a couple who just returned home to Middle Tennessee to see what Burning Man 2023 was like for them. For husband and wife, Jenny Pruitt and Mark Cleveland, going to their first Burning Man was a bucket list dream come true, even after days of rain. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts It was three months worth of rain in one 24-hour period. We underestimated how much it rained, said Cleveland. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The rain turned the dry northwestern Nevada desert, known as Black Rock Desert, into a muddy, swampy mess. This is a lot like life. You look around in the mud and pick the matter out of place, said Pruitt in one of the videos she recorded at Burning Man. You just accepted the reality and there was very little that you could do about it. And that the best that you can do is just to be happy, said Pruitt. The Burning Man party is over. Now a massive cleanup begins The mud was so thick that some vehicles got stuck and roads were closed on the expansive piece of land known as the playa. Power connections and cables and boxes and things that were on the hard surface of the playa one minute and then were six inches under mud the next and still powering things, said Cleveland. At one point, I was certainly concerned walking around barefoot in the mud. But the two made the best of itliving two Burning Man principles: radical self-reliance and self-expression. They extended their visit a few days longer and even got married again. But this time, at Burning Man 2023, married themselves. Like all things, eventually, the rain cleared and the sun returned. We were seeing news reports about the devastation and the disaster, said Cleveland. Most of us in camp were just chuckling because it was nothing like a disaster. We are excited to be alive. Thats what Burning Man was, said Pruitt. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Another principle of Burning Man is to leave no trace. Everyone is expected to leave the desert as they found it. The couple said that might be a bit more challenging this year considering the mud created from the rain. But they hope to go back again. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A man and his 9-year-old son died after their jet ski collided with a barge on a lake in Cheatham County, Tennessee on Saturday night, officials said. A preliminary investigation revealed that 36-year-old Steven White died after his personal jet ski struck a barge being towed on Cheatham Lake around 7:30 p.m., according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. White's 9-year-old son was also on board with his dad. Cheatham Lake is located 36 miles northwest of Nashville. How the accident unfolded The accident took place as a barge was being pushed by a Hines Furlong tow boat near the Cheatham Dam Campground on Saturday evening. Officials first received a call around 7:45 p.m. that a jet ski had struck the barge. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A tow boat operator activated an alarm and deckhands launched a vessel into the water to help White and his son. White was taken to shore at the campground boat launch and was later pronounced dead, per TWRA. Both White and his sons were wearing lifejackets, officials said. Officials searched for the child through the night till 1 a.m., and a full-scale search involving multiple agencies resumed again at 8 a.m. Sunday. The boy's body was found Sunday evening. The Cheatham County Sheriff Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Coast Guard all participated in the rescue operation. TWRA investigators utilized a remote operated vehicle (ROV) to search under the barges and several cadaver dogs were used to identify search locations. This accident increases the total number of boating related fatalities in Tennessee for 2023 to 22, said TWRA. Contributing: Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY 3-year old: Boy dies after falling into Utah lake, being struck by propeller 'Tragic accident': 6-year-old girl dead after being struck by family's boat at lake This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Father, son dead in jet ski, barge crash on Tennessee's Cheatham Lake GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Tennessee woman who drowned after falling off her jet ski in South Carolina has been identified. Janice Willingham, 51, of Millington, Tennessee, died, the coroners office said. She fell off her jet ski and was unable to get back on. Willingham was wearing a life jacket, but drowned from the force of the waves pushing her under, according to the coroners office. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Some Tesla engineers "hated" the look of the Cybertruck, design chief Franz von Holzhausen told Walter Isaacson. Certain engineers secretly worked on a alternate version, Isaacson wrote in his new book on Elon Musk. The edgy Cybertruck is known for its hard lines and stainless steel body. Some Tesla engineers weren't fans of Elon Musk's plans for the Cybertruck, the automaker's design chief Franz von Holzhausen told Walter Isaacson, whose biography on Musk comes out this week. "A majority of the people in this studio hated it," von Holzhausen said of the futuristic design, according to the book. "They were like, 'You can't be serious.' They didn't want to have anything to do with it. It was just too weird." Some Tesla engineers even took to covertly designing another version of the electric pickup after they saw a mock-up of the futuristic truck on display at SpaceX's showroom in Los Angeles during the summer of 2019, Isaacson, who shadowed Musk for three years, wrote. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It's unclear what happened to the alternative version of the vehicle. Musk, von Holzhausen, and a spokesperson for Tesla did not respond to a request for comment ahead of publication. "Von Holzhausen, who is as gentle as Musk is brusque, spent time listening carefully to their concerns. 'If you don't have buy-in from the people around you, it's hard to get things done,' he says," Isaacson wrote. But Musk was "less patient," Isaacson reported, and did not want to hear concerns related to the Cybertruck. "I don't do focus groups," the Tesla CEO said, according to Isaacson. Rather than focus on adjusting the design, Musk told von Holzhausen that he wanted a driveable version of the vehicle that he could demo at a Tesla event in November, which von Holzhausen said "forced the team to come together, work twenty-four-seven," Isaacson wrote. After the Cybertruck was demoed at the November 2019 event, Musk took Grimes on a date to Nobu in the prototype, Isaacson reported. The biographer had previously told CNBC that Musk came up with the Cybertruck as an answer to traditional trucks, which he found "boring." Musk first unveiled the concept for the electric pickup truck about four years ago and the project has faced a series of delays over the past two years. Musk has said the carmaker plans to start delivering the Cybertruck within the year, but the company has yet to release pricing for the vehicle. The vehicle's unusual design including its stainless steel, smudge-prone exterior and massive windshield wiper has been a point of debate ahead of its release. Those who have pre-ordered the vehicle with a $100 deposit have been nitpicking the final version of the Cybertruck. Read the original article on Business Insider A Black Texas high school student has been suspended for more than a week because his loc hairstyle violated the districts dress code, his mother said. It could become a test of a new state law that bans discrimination based on hairstyles. Darryl George, a junior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, received multiple disciplinary action notes and was placed on in-school suspension for wearing his locs hairstyle in a ponytail, his mother, Darresha George, told CNN. She said Darryl was suspended the same week the states CROWN Act, a law prohibiting discrimination based on ones hair texture or protective hairstyle such as locs and braids, went into effect. The school and the Barbers Hill Independent School District did not respond to CNNs requests for comment. A district spokesperson told CNN affiliate KTRK that the hair length rule doesnt conflict with the CROWN Act. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The 17-year-olds mother said he is frustrated by the situation. Hes very anxious, very aggravated right now because he keeps getting punished for something thats irrelevant to his education, she said. George said her family has hired a lawyer and is considering legal action. School officials told George his loc hairstyle violated the Barbers Hill Independent School District dress and grooming code which states, Male students hair will not extend, at any time, below the eyebrows or below the ear lobes. The policy goes on to state, Male students hair must not extend below the top of a t-shirt collar or be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a t-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down. George was reprimanded by a school official for his locs and for wearing frayed jeans, which are also prohibited. His mother said the school told the 17-year-old he could change his clothes, but he would also have to cut his hair. When the teen did not cut his hair, he was put on in-school suspension. On September 8, George received an additional five days of punishment because he had hair below his eyebrows when let down, his mother said. He now faces being placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, also known as alternative school, if he doesnt cut his hair by the end of this week, she added. When George told school officials she believed their policies were in violation of the CROWN Act, she said officials told her the law does not apply to limitations on hair length. I want to see their policy change and stop being discriminatory against Black kids. I want to see my son out of ISS (in-school suspension). I dont want any other child thats coming behind my son to go through this again, she said. She said her son will not cut his locs and the family will continue to fight the schools policy. Allie Booker, an attorney representing the family, told CNN she believes the rules around male hairstyles single out Black students. Locs, a hairstyle in which hair strands are coiled, braided, twisted or palm-rolled to create a rope-like appearance, is a style that originated in Africa and has become a part of Black culture. Critics have said forcing children of color to cut their locs or discouraging them to wear their hair in a protective hairstyle like braids or locs is like taking away a sense of their cultural identity. It leads you to believe that OK, even when let down, long hair is not allowed even if its locd and its put up in a neat manner, she said. So basically, you have to cut your locs; you have to cut your braids. The Texas Legislative Black Caucus has condemned the suspension and called for the violations to be removed from Georges school record. The caucus also asked the school district to update its code to reflect compliance with the new state law. Without remedial action from you, this unacceptable situation will continue a dangerous precedent against students who may face undue disciplinary actions despite codified protections passed by state lawmakers, Texas state Rep. Ron Reynolds, the caucus chairman and an author of the states CROWN Act, wrote in a Friday letter to Barbers Hill Independent School District Superintendent Greg Poole and school principal Lance Murphy. This is not the first time the school district has faced legal action regarding its hair policy. In 2020, Sandy Arnold, her son, DeAndre and fellow Barbers Hill Independent School District parent Cindy Bradford sued the school district, claiming the districts grooming policies amounted to racial discrimination and violated the students First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Both students wore loc hairstyles and had been asked to cut them to comply the districts policy on hair length, CNN previously reported. DeAndre Arnold was also told if he didnt cut his locs, he would not be able to participate in his graduation ceremony. Instead of cutting his hair, Arnold transferred to another school district, CNN previously reported. At the time the districts Superintendent Greg Poole told CNN the policy was fully within the realms of the law. People want to call us racist, but were following the rules, the law of the land, he said. Later that year, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the district from enforcing its hair-length policy against Bradfords son. That case is ongoing, according to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, which represents the plaintiffs. In May, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the states CROWN Act. Arnold told CNN affiliate KTRK that the laws passage was the most validating feeling. After all this time to get what weve been fighting for, this made everything worth it because I know now they can never do anything like this to anybody else in the state of Texas, he said. Two dozen states have enacted versions of a CROWN Act, according to the Economic Policy Institute. California was the first to pass the measure in 2019. Legislation for a national CROWN Act has been unsuccessful. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A gay Chinese couple looks at a facility during a condominium tour in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. LGBTQ+ people from China who are frequently scorned and ostracized at home are coming to Thailand in droves. They're drawn by the freedom to be themselves. Bangkok is only a 5-hour flight from Beijing, and Thailand's tourism authorities actively promote its status as among the most open to LGBTQ+ people in the region.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) BANGKOK (AP) Xinyu Wen traveled to Thailand in June, planning a two-week vacation around Bangkok's Pride parade. Instead, the 28-year-old stayed a month and a half, as her experience at the parade gave rise to discussions and discoveries in the Thai capital's thriving LBGTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ people from China, frequently scorned and ostracized at home, are coming to Thailand in droves, drawn by the freedom to be themselves. When Wen walked along the parade on the streets in Bangkok, I felt like I was in a big party or a huge amusement park. We could forget all upsetting things and feel fun-filled, she said. Bangkok is only a 5-hour flight from Beijing, and Thailands tourism authorities actively promote its status as among the most open to LGBTQ+ people in the region. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Wen got interested in Thailand when her friend sent her a photo of rainbow-colored, Pride-themed ice cream being sold on the streets. I wanted to go to Thailand to take a look, she said. Wen describes herself as queer, which she says means that her partners can be any gender and she can be any gender. At home, Wen said she regularly gets judgmental stares on the street for wearing her hair short like a mans, and was once asked by her barber: What happened to your life? But at the Bangkok Pride parade in June, Wen noticed people confidently wore what they wanted. She was excited to be able to express herself publicly and finally drop her guard. More than that, she said she was also impressed by the protest element to the event, in which people carried signs written in traditional Chinese with slogans like China has no LGBTQ and Freedom is what we deserve. I felt a mixed feeling, touched but sad, she said. Ahead of her trip, she read up on the situation in Thailand, finding reports that showed there is still widespread discrimination, especially in the workplace. Thailand does not recognize same-sex unions or marriages, which also means they're barred from adopting children, and other legal processes that straight couples have access to. Wen arrived at the parade somewhat skeptical. But she ended up finding it empowering. Although I initially had a critical attitude toward the parade in Bangkok because discrimination against LGBTQ individuals hasn't disappeared, I still felt inspired because the neglected groups and the suppressed feelings matter here. Thailand Tourism Authority official Apichai Chatchalermkit said in an Aug. 9 article in The Nation newspaper that LGBTQ+ tourists are considered high-potential as they tend to spend more and travel more frequently than other visitors. "Using a photo of LGBTQ+ individuals in tourism advertisements is considered as offering a warm welcome without discrimination, he said. Thailand doesn't keep figures on LGBTQ+ tourists. But through mid-August, it has counted 2.2 million Chinese tourists out of an overall 16 million. Owen Zhu, a gay real estate agent in Bangkok who sells houses to Chinese clients, said many are also coming to stay. He estimated some 2/3 of his clients are LGBTQ+, many of whom buy apartments to live in part- or full-time. Among Chinese gay people, Thailand is called gays heaven, he said, noting that there are many chat groups where gay men from China coordinate trips to Thailand and share information about parties and tickets to events. Being gay is not illegal in China, though other Asian countries have strict laws around homosexuality such as Malaysia, which announced in August that anyone in possession of an LGBTQ+-themed watch could be jailed for 3 years. But LGBTQ+ people in China face other pressures to conform that can make the free expression of their identities difficult. As a lesbian in her conservative province in central China, Jade Yang was talked into marrying a gay man at her parents request so that both of them could keep up appearances. The 28-year-old, who works in the television industry, first visited Thailand four years ago and remembers being shocked to hear people talk casually about their same-sex partners. Yang disliked lying to her cousins and friends about the marriage and moved to Thailand in February, saying she wanted to distance herself from her hometown. Now, she said, she can date the women she likes and focus on her studies and career without worrying about how to act as a straight woman. I wasted a lot of time over the past three years, she said. After coming here, I feel the world is so big for me to explore. I have also learned I should not deny the way I am so easily, and love myself better. At the Silver Sand gay bar in Bangkok, owner Adisak Wongwaikankha said about 30% of his customers are LGBTQ+ people from China, and that number has been growing. He operates a bar on the ground floor and a drag show on the second floor. Most of our Chinese customers come with excitement and curiosity, he said. Another draw for tourists, inside and outside the LGBTQ+ community, is Thailands loose enforcement of prostitution laws and renowned nightclub shows. Eros Li first came to Thailand in February to check out the nightlife and the massage parlors, many of which offer sex services. The 42-year-old returned two months later, saying that, while there are some spas in China where similar sex services are on offer, they are less accessible and there is a risk of being arrested. "The LGBTQ community in Thailand is lively and open. I received many messages on gay dating apps every day, which made me happy," Li said. ___ Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific While returning to school is an exciting time for many, some students including those diagnosed with ADHD face unique challenges that make it more difficult to succeed in the classroom environment. Karina Kazaryan, a California-based licensed marriage and family therapist, explained that young people and adults with ADHD often have sensory processing difficulties as a result of inadequate dopamine activity in their brains. Because of this, folks with ADHD can become overwhelmed during tasks and routines that other people may complete without challenge. Working with adults with ADHD, I have realized that during their early life they were reputedly told that they [were] always doing something wrong, Kazaryan wrote over email. This constant negative feedback can impact the self-esteem of adolescents with ADHD, she explained, contributing to the development of anxiety and depression later in their lives. Of course, most parents and teachers would never want to consciously affect young peoples confidence in this way. So what should those with loved ones or students with ADHD keep in mind? My suggestions to teachers and parents are to identify at least one positive thing about the child once a day to help them feel good about themselves, said Kazaryan. Identify their sensory overload triggers, repeat the commands gently, have them repeat the commands themselves, [and] praise them for following through even if takes some time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sipan Nazaryan, an associate family and marriage therapist at the Avedian Counseling Center in Los Angeles, also noted the importance of communication with teachers. It can be helpful to communicate with your childs teachers about their ADHD and any accommodations they may need in the classroom, Nazaryan wrote over email. This way, parents can benefit from different perspectives of their child in different contexts, which will help children feel and be better supported. Certain tools can also help students with ADHD regulate sensory overload in the classroom and during coursework. Read on for some of our sources recommendations. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted. Squishy sensory fidget balls Amazon Squishy sensory fidget balls Associate family and marriage therapist Sipan Nazaryan and Niari Markarian, Nazaryan's colleague at the Avedian Counseling Center who is a therapist trainee with a master's degree in clinical psychology and is awaiting her licensing, both recommended stress balls to help students with ADHD cope with sensory overload. Stress balls "[allow] students to release their excess energy on the products rather than disrupting the classroom environment," Markarian wrote over email. These are not the stress balls of your childhood, however: These quality squishy fidget balls that we found on Amazon contain water balls for an extra satisfying sensory squeeze and are made with a thick rubber outer layer to ensure durability during squishing, stretching and squeezing. They come in a pack of 12, so you'll have enough to share with your kid's friends and classmates. $18.95 at Amazon (originally $26.96) Some textured sensory strips Amazon Some textured sensory strips Karina Kazaryan, a California-based licensed marriage and family therapist, suggested tactile fidget strips for helping soothe overwhelming emotions and sensory overload in kids with ADHD. (Reviewers also vouch that these are gamechangers for students who struggle with attention and focus in the classroom.) These strips that we found on Amazon provide a tactile outlet for anxiety, and their handy adhesive allows them to be used subtly you can just stick them on a phone case, notebook, laptop case, ID badge and more for easy access. They're available in 11 styles, including animal, space, and watercolor-inspired styles. $10.99 at Amazon Noise-canceling headphones Amazon Noise-canceling headphones Noise-canceling headphones "can help students with ADHD to focus better in the classroom by blocking out distracting noises as well as playing brown noise or white noise," Nazaryan wrote. This model we found on Amazon was designed specifically for kids. It promises to be durable enough to withstand a child's activities and is adjustable so they can find the best fit. Reviewers vouch for the quality of these headphones and note that they actually did help their child calm down. (You might want to check in with your child's teacher in advance of sending them to the classroom.) They are available in 10 colors; for high quality adult noise canceling headphones, we recommend this highly-rated version on Amazon. $15.99 at Amazon Squishy spiky rollers Amazon Squishy spiky rollers Kazaryan also recommended spiky rollers for kids with ADHD. These sensory spiky rollers, which we selected from Amazon, are a compact, discreet option for sensory regulation that kids can quietly fidget with in their pocket or underneath their desks. The spiky texture helps provides tactical stimulation without any kind of pain. They're free from BPA, phthalates and latex, and come in a pack of four. $9.90 at Amazon A physical planner Amazon A physical planner Utilizing a physical planner or to-do list can help children with ADHD form a clear, achievable plan of action for their assignments and goals, Markarian wrote. We like this planner that we found on Amazon for helping kids stay organized and on top of tasks. It also comes with a sticker sheet to help draw visual attention to due dates and tests. It's designed for middle and high schoolers, though advanced elementary schoolers could benefit from it, too. It's available in two sizes. I also love this dreamy weekly planner from Hmong-owned small business Unicorn Eclipse. I use it for myself and the sky aesthetic helps my tasks feel much less daunting; it'd be a great option for young people wanting to stay organized in a lighthearted style. $16.95+ at Amazon A pushpop fidget toy Amazon A pushpop fidget toy Pushpop fidget toys are also suitable for young people with ADHD, according to Kazaryan. This version that we found is designed with both kids and adults in mind; to use it, press on the toy's "bubbles." It will produce a slight "popping" sensation you can feel and hear. I use these myself sometimes to help stay focused or quell anxiety. These come individually, with 12 options ranging from the rainbow square and green octagon pictured here to a rainbow astronout and an ice cream style. They're also available in various multipacks. $6.85+ at Amazon (originally $8) Twist fidgets Amazon Twist fidgets In addition, Kazaryan recommended twist fidgets. Kids can twist, turn and squeeze these sensory toys to help with overstimulation and stress. This version we chose from Amazon was actually developed as an alternative for ever-popular but sometimes disruptive fidget spinners. They're available as a pack of six multicolored twists. $7.99 at Amazon (originally $12.99) A sparkly gel lap pad Walmart A sparkly gel lap pad Kazaryan suggested gel lap pads for helping soothe young folks with ADHD. This version we found at Walmart weighs 7 pounds; the slight weight is meant to provide the kind of deep pressure that can help people feel more calm and grounded, as well as help with attention span and concentration. The pad is made with a non-toxic, water-based blue gel with sensory sparkles. Kids can make use of the lap pad while sitting in the classroom or at home. $60.75 at Walmart A visual timer Amazon A visual timer Timers can help students with ADHD manage their time more effectively and stay on task, Nazaryan wrote. He noted that timers are especially helpful for the Pomodoro time management technique, which involves separating tasks into 25-minute intervals punctuated by short breaks. "This technique can be useful...[for] helping to maintain focus and avoid burnout," said Nazaryan. We like this Pomodoro timer that we found on Amazon and which I personally use for myself. It gives a helpful visual representation of time and is intuitively easy to use. It comes in 14 colors and requires two AA batteries that are not included. $18.99 at Amazon (originally $25.99) Related... The race for Columbia City Council has officially begun. Candidates interested in running for the council had to file to run by midday Friday, Sept. 8. Six candidates have filed to run for three open seats. Two of the three seats up for election on Nov. 7 will have contested races. At-large councilman Howard Duvall, who joined the council in 2015, isnt running to keep his seat, which guarantees at least one new face will join the council in January. The District 3 seat, held by Will Brennan, and the District 2 seat, held by Ed McDowell, also are up for election in November. In addition to Brennan and McDowell both running as incumbents, a former city councilman is seeking to reclaim his old seat. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Heres who is running. At-Large Three people have filed to run for the seat now held by Duvall: Jesse Bullard, vice president of business for Southern Way Catering; Tyler Bailey, a local attorney; and Christa Williams, owner of Uncle Willies Grocery Store. Bullard came to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina and has lived in Columbia ever since. His catering company, Southern Way Catering, offers fine dining catering for large and small events and has offices in Columbia and Greenville. As Columbia is seeing growth in jobs and investment, I will bring my experience and expertise to the City Council to continue that positive growth. In my line of work, customer service is key and problem solving is critical, Bullard said in a statement announcing his candidacy. I will bring that approach and experience to ensure people in all corners of Columbia have a voice at City Hall, to attack root causes of crime through outreach in our communities, and to make Columbia a great place to raise a family and grow a business. Bailey grew up in Columbia, left to attend Hampton University and then the Southern University Law Center and then returned to the city to practice law. He practices personal injury and civil rights law through his firm, the Bailey Law Firm. Bailey previously ran for an At-Large council seat in 2021 but lost in a runoff election to Aditi Bussells. Im running for Columbia City Council At-Large because this entire city is my community, and Im ready to step up to lead our city into its next chapter by serving as a bridge builder who unites us, so we can collectively help Columbia be the city you and I know she can be, Bailey said in a statement on his campaign website. Columbia has seen encouraging signs of economic growth and business investment. But far too many of our neighborhoods have been left behind, and communities are still being neglected. Williams attended Columbia College and still lives nearby her alma mater. She serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard and worked for the state Department of Corrections before opening Uncle Willies grocery store on north Main Street to provide more fresh food in the area. Williams ran for City Council District 1 in 2021 but was defeated by Tina Herbert. After running for Columbia City Council in 2021 and hearing the community concerns regarding access to healthy food, Christa Williams, took a chance when the odds were against her and opened a Mom and Pops Grocery Store in North Columbia, Williams campaign website reads. She worked diligently with the City of Columbia, Office of Business Opportunities, local farmers, and suppliers to fill a need in her community. District 3 Two people have filed to run for the District 3 council seat: Will Brennan, who currently holds the seat, and former councilman Moe Baddourah. The match-up between Brennan and Baddourah is a rematch when Brennan won his council seat in 2019, he ousted Baddourah, who was the sitting councilman at the time. Brennan won with 53.5% percent of the vote, compared to Baddourahs 22 percent. Brennan has lived in Columbia for most of his life, graduating from A.C. Moore Elementary, Hand Middle School and Dreher High School before attending North Carolina State University. Brennan is a real estate consultant who specializes in redeveloping historic properties. Hes worked on projects including the Curtiss-Wright Hangar,among other Columbia properties. Brennan is also chairman for the Central Midlands Council of Governments. This election is about our neighborhoods, our streets, our tax dollars as well as our future. I believe all citizens of the City of Columbia deserve to have an honest and efficient local government. And that is why I am running, Brennan said in a statement on his campaign website. Ill be continuing walking the neighborhoods meeting one-on-one with as many voters as possible. I look forward to sharing my ideas and learning about yours. Baddourah joined the Columbia City Council in 2012 and served through 2019, but he was suspended from office for more than a year in 2017 and 2018 after he was charged with second-degree criminal domestic violence. The charge was dropped after Baddourah completed a pretrial intervention and his suspension was lifted in late 2018. With an extensive background in local restaurants, Baddourah owns the Badd Boys Cafe at Middleburg Plaza in Columbia. Previously, he ran Moes Grapevine, an Italian restaurant on Rosewood Drive, until 2019. He also worked as a faculty member at the University of South Carolina. In 2021, Baddourah campaigned for mayor but lost that election to Daniel Rickenmann. He also unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2013 against Steve Benjamin. The State could not immediately acquire a campaign website or other materials for Baddourah. District 2 District 2 Councilman Ed McDowells seat is up for election this November, but the councilman wont face any challengers at the polls. McDowell is the only person who filed to run for the District 2 seat, which he was first elected to in 2016. McDowell has had a long career as both a pastor and administrator in the Methodist Church. Hes led congregations in Spartanburg, Charleston and Greer in addition to Columbia. McDowell served as pastor at Francis Burns United Methodist Church in Columbia for 14 years. The election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 7, with early voting beginning Oct. 23. To vote in the election, residents must be registered by Oct. 8 if theyre registering online, by fax or by email. If a resident wishes to register in person, they must do so by Oct. 6. SAN DIEGO Three design concepts for the brand-new Ocean Beach Pier were unveiled on Saturday, offering San Diegans a first glimpse into the future of the storied landmark after workshops for its renovation began months ago. The Ocean Beach Pier has served as the go-to fishing spot and lookout point for the San Diego coastline for over half a century. However, the piers age comes with damage and deterioration. By 2018, it was determined that the structure had reached the end of its service life. Instead of renovating the existing pier, city officials decided that building a potential replacement a project named the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal would be the best, most cost-effective option. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Over the last six months, San Diego officials have sought public input about what features the new pier should have, working with local architecture firms to translate the preliminary designs shown Saturday. Coastal Commission approves permit to extend closure of Point La Jolla year-round Each option presented Saturday can be found below, including renderings and a description of what the structure would feature. 1. The Squint Test The first option for the new Ocean Beach Pier is called The Squint Test. According to city officials, the structure would utilize the current piers layout, but would include some changes. The Squint Test would have a widened the boardwalk, an added fishing deck around a reconstructed cafe and an additional deck south of the new building. The design would also have updated restrooms, potential retail space and/or a community room. According to the city, the design is called The Squint Test because the concept explores placemaking and activation strategies that have been thoughtfully located to minimize their visibility and retain the historic and iconic silhouette of the pier as seen from land. A concept design of The Squint Test. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Squint Test. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Squint Test. (City of San Diego) 2. The Remora The second option for the renewed pier is nicknamed The Remora. City officials say its inspired by the symbiotic relationship between the Remora fish and the sharks that they attach themselves to. The original layout and design of the pier is highlighted with the design, according to San Diego, featuring additions that celebrate the unique coastal experiences and activities central to the Ocean Beach community. The Remora would feature a shaded surfer lounge area, an enhanced junior lifeguard jump platform, an expanded deck for outdoor dining at the reconstructed historic cafe, integrated fishing amenities and an expanded plaza with a small retail pavilion. A concept design of The Remora. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Remora. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Remora. (City of San Diego) 3. The Braid The final option for the new Ocean Beach pier is called The Braid a reference to its take on the concept of the long, linear pier. Instead of the single boardwalk, the design would rework the pier into a series of separate but interconnected pathways. Along the normal walking path, The Braid would include viewing experiences both above and below the piers elevation. It will also feature potential retail, dining and community spaces, lowered fishing areas, enhanced restrooms and a curvilinear layout to the arms on the west end to increase the piers length. This design would provide visitors with a unique and distinct ocean experience compared to other piers across Southern California, city officials say. A concept design of The Braid. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Braid. (City of San Diego) A concept design of The Braid. (City of San Diego) Affordable housing coming to Mission Valley along San Diego River trail San Diegans are encouraged to share their thoughts on the three options by participating in an online survey that will help shape the final design. The survey will be open until Oct. 9. We are excited to share some of the possibilities, Strategic Capital Projects assistant director Elif Cetin said in a release. This effort doesnt stop here. We need San Diegans to let us know what they like and dont like about these concepts, as their continued input will shape the final design concept that may end up becoming the next iconic structure in Ocean Beach. According to the city, the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project is currently in the preliminary engineering and planning phase. The project still needs to go through other phases, including California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act permitting, other regional agency permitting, design and construction. A detailed project schedule will be prepared after the preferred design concept is completed. About $8.4 million in state funding has been designated for the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project, officials said. The city will also pursue other state and federal grants. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. On a late August morning, 15 young students ranging in grades from third to fifth read the story of The Three Little Pigs aloud with their teacher, Lisa Fegley. Ill huff and Ill puff and Ill blow your house down, the students said in unison while sitting on a mix of chairs and exercise balls at Carrisa Plains Elementary School, a two-room schoolhouse in the California Valley in eastern San Luis Obispo County. After finishing the story, Fegley quickly walked over to another room, separated from the first by a wall and sliding glass door. She checked to make sure the 10 other students at the school, these ones attending kindergarten through second grade, were on track with their reading assignments. At this point Im just getting exhausted, Fegley told The Tribune later that day. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Until very recently, Fegley was the only credentialed teacher at Carrisa Plains Elementary. Atascadero Unified School District just hired a new teacher to help out at the rural school. She started on Monday. This is going to be huge for Carrisa Plains, which hasnt had two teachers in four years, district Superintendent Tom Butler said. Carrisa Plains Elementary School Principal Lindsay Lopez helps kindergarten students get started on a lesson. Lizbeth Camarillo Jimenez and Isabella Sisco work on computers. Teacher: Instructing 6 grades is too much for one person Fegley, whos in her 21st year as a teacher, has worked at Carissa Plains Elementary since August 2022 Shes often put in 80-hour work weeks educating more than two dozen students spanning six grade levels, sometimes staying up until the early morning hours grading, lesson planning, scrubbing playground equipment or planning family school events. Ive always wanted a challenge, Fegley said. But this is more than I can handle. I would like to not work quite so late. Under Fegleys leadership, students have received 10 minutes of instruction per subject reading, writing, math and science each day. Having a second teacher will double that instruction time, Fegley said. From the left playing soccer at Carrisa Plains Elementary School recess are Zoe Rendon (grade 5), Pablo Murillo (grade 4), Angel Rendon (grade 3) and Lilly Sisco (grade 5). Carrisa Plains teacher instrumental in schools success During her first year working at the school, Fegley drastically improved scores on state standardized tests, decreased absenteeism and boosted family involvement. Weve had rotating teachers for years, they were always good for sure, but gone the next year, said Debbie Twisselman, a support staff member at the elementary school. Fegley was hired with a three-year contract to stay at Carrisa Plains something school staff and district officials agree has provided improved stability for the students. Im able to build relationships (because) I remember these students from last year, Fegley said. I know their weaknesses and can work with them to help them improve. Atascadero Unified trustee Corrine Kuhnle praised Fegleys teaching prowess during a school board meeting on Aug. 15. You are so instrumental in the success of the school and you have taken our students, the staff, into your heart, said Kuhnle, whose comments were followed by a standing round of applause from audience members. And the test scores are just soaring. Its just amazing: The power of a good teacher. From the left playing soccer at Carrisa Plains Elementary School recess are Zoe Rendon (grade 5), Pablo Murillo (grade 4), Angel Rendon (grade 3) and Lilly Sisco (grade 5). Schoolhouse is centerpiece of rural community Carrisa Plains has always been a centerpiece of the community in the California Valley, drawing students from ranching and farming families in the area. Multiple generations of families including the Twisselmans, Kuhnles, Becks, Cavanaughs and Lewises have passed through its doors. First, students went to classes at the old Simmler School about three miles east of the current schoolhouse. The old school, as its lovingly called, has still been used for community gatherings. The so-called new school was built in 1954 and named Carrisa after an English-language mispronunciation of carrizo, which means reed in Spanish. The grain that seemed to thrive so well in the rich soil was fed to livestock which would then be driven to market, Greg Beck, a former student at Carrisa Plains Elementary, wrote in a history of the area written in 1959. Carrisa Plains Elementary School mascot is the Polecats. It is the smallest public elementary school in San Luis Obispo County, part of the Atascadero Unified School District. Changing California Valley means change for the small school Droughts have driven out ranchers from the valley since the mid- to late 1800s. The establishment of the 204,107-acre Carrizo Plain National Monument in 2001 and construction of massive solar farms in the 2010s have shrunk available acreage for livestock grazing and crop growing. That used to all be ranching, Twisselman said during recess time as she pointed across the street from Carissa Plains Elementary at empty grassland. Solar farms could be seen in the distance. The schools population has shrunk over the years, from about 50 students in the early 2000s to fewer than 30 in recent years. First-graders Oliver Hootman and Evan Jimenez Flores practice reading word by word at Carrisa Plains Elementary School. Part of that is because the school stopped serving middle school students in 2015, instead sending them to Atascadero Middle School. The same change was implemented at all the Atascadero districts elementary schools. Although while some ranching and farming families may have moved out of the California Valley area, others are moving in lured by the promise of inexpensive housing and more space. Carrisa Plains Elementary Schools student population grew from 11 at the beginning of last school year to 27 as of the start of September, Fegley said. There are far more students out here than the district realizes, she said. We just have to show them the education they can get here is excellent and theyll come. First-graders Oliver Hootman and Evan Jimenez Flores practice reading word by word at Carrisa Plains Elementary School. Iran intends to supply Russia with short- and long-range missiles in addition to Shahed attack drones, Mossad Director David Barnea believes, Israeli newspaper the Times of Israel reported on Sept. 10. Iran's previous attempts to supply Russia with missiles during the war were stopped, Barnea added, without specifying the details. "(But) I have a feeling that more deals will (have to) be foiled soon," he said. The Mossad chief expressed concern that in return, Russia would give the Iranians what they currently lack: "advanced weapons that will certainly endanger our peace and maybe even our existence here." Iran's assistance to Russia in the war against Ukraine What is known At the end of April, US. Newspaper the Wall Street Journal reported that over the past six months, Iran had delivered more than 300,000 artillery shells and about a million ammunition rounds to Russia via cargo ships. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to media reports, in exchange for weapons for a full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia is suppling Iran with cyber weapons, and Western weapons "captured on the battlefield," as well as helping it develop its missile program. In a joint investigation by the publication Protokol and the RZVRT YouTube channel, it was reported that Russia was producing Iranian kamikaze drones in the territory of the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan. Read also: Iran sold Russia ammunition worth over $1 million for Ukraine war media reports According to one of the journalists' sources, the contract with Iran could be worth up to RUR 115-130 billion rubles (up to $1.45 billion). Currently, components for the kamikaze drones are supplied from Iran and assembled in Alabuga. UK intelligence also reported that Russia may have switched from small shipments of Iranian UAVs by air to larger shipments by ship through the Caspian Sea. The Russians are also working on launching domestic production of Shahed drones with Iranian support, the intelligence service confirmed. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on June 9, that according to U.S. intelligence, Iran is providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant to ensure a steady supply of weapons for the war against Ukraine. News media reported on June 12, that a Chinese-made 2023 part was found in the downed Iranian kamikaze drone. The head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, Natalia Humeniuk, said on July 26, that the remains of Shahed drones found after the latest Russian attacks had markings in Cyrillic, indicating that they were Russian-made. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi urged Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Aug. 8 not to provide Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A committee reviewing proposals to take over the city-owned Nikki Beach property in South Beach gave high marks to Boucher Brothers on Monday, ranking the beach concession company first among three bidders for a 10-year deal and tied for first with restaurant company The Group among four bidders for a 30-year arrangement. Conspicuously absent from the process were representatives for Nikki Beach, the longtime restaurant and day club that is a popular party and relaxation spot at the citys southern edge. Miami Beach officials rejected a submission by attorneys for the clubs owners, Jack and Lucia Penrod, saying they failed to submit a bid through the citys online portal by a 3 p.m. deadline on Aug. 30. The club says there was a glitch in the citys system and has filed a challenge in Miami-Dade Circuit Court. A hearing has not yet been held. READ MORE: City rejects Nikki Beach bid to remain in South Beach due to missed proposal deadline ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The evaluation committees scores are not binding. They will now go to Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak, who will make a recommendation to the City Commission on a bidder and length of agreement for one of the most coveted slices of land in South Beach. Presentations on Monday from the four bidders Boucher Brothers, The Group US Management LLC, RH (formerly known as Restoration Hardware), and Tao Group Hospitality and One Ocean Hospitality LLC were closed to the public. Following the presentations, public deliberations were held by an evaluation committee consisting of four city officials and South of Fifth Neighborhood Association President Keith Marks. Among three 10-year proposals, Boucher Brothers ranked first, The Group US Management LLC ranked second, and Tao Group Hospitality and One Ocean Hospitality LLC ranked third. Out of four 30-year proposals, Boucher and The Group were tied for first, followed by Tao and then RH. The Group is a New York-based collection of restaurants that will soon be expanding to Miami Beach with the upcoming opening of Le Jardin Boucherie, in the South of Fifth neighborhood that is also home to Nikki Beach. Emil Stefkov, The Groups founder and president, also co-founded Casa Reia, a beach club in Lisbon. We are uniquely positioned to offer something special that doesnt exist in Miami Beach right now, Stefkov said in an interview Monday evening. A rendering shows a proposal by The Group for a beach club at the current site of Nikki Beach. Representatives for Boucher, Tao and RH could not immediately be reached for comment. Tao Group operates restaurants and nightclubs around the country. RH, a home furniture retailer that has expanded to hospitality, released details of its bid last week, proposing to redevelop Nikki Beach to include a beach club, a bathhouse and spa, three food and beverage venues, a design studio, a library and art galleries, according to The Real Deal. Most details of proposals arent being released In a statement after the rankings were released, Nikki Beach said it firmly believes it made the best proposal for the neighborhood and the citizens of Miami Beach, touting tens of millions of dollars in guaranteed rent payments and revenue and unmatched public benefits. The citys refusal to consider its bid is a grave violation of its duty to act in the best interest of its citizens who would benefit from the fair and competitive consideration of all bidders, the statement said. Most details of the bids were unclear Monday. Under state law, the city isnt required to release the proposals until 30 days after submission. The Miami Herald requested the proposals, but city officials said they will not be released until Sept. 24. The Boucher Brothers proposal includes a partnership with Major Food Group to feature a Sadelles restaurant on the site, according to discussions during the ranking process. Boucher Brothers rents out umbrellas and chairs to beachgoers. Current lease expires in 2026 The Nikki Beach owners lease agreement with the city of Miami Beach expires in May 2026. For months, they have argued the citys process is rigged in favor of Boucher Brothers, starting in April when the City Commission voted to pursue a non-binding term sheet with Boucher and paved the way for a possible no-bid deal. The move was met with public outcry and commissioners walked back their vote, directing staff to instead issue a request for proposals to operate a high-end beach establishment on the property and adjacent beach area. Nikki Beach has battled the city in court with limited success. A Miami-Dade Circuit judge dismissed a May lawsuit last month, calling their claims speculative and unripe. The club has since filed an amended complaint. The owners of day club Nikki Beach say they are victims of an unfair process to determine the future of the property after their lease with the city of Miami Beach expires. The club also filed a formal protest of the citys request for proposals, saying the process has been marred by inappropriate political influence and preferential treatment of prospective bidders. They pointed to several city officials accepting tickets in May valued at $3,000 apiece to attend Carbone Beach, an event produced by Boucher Brothers and hosted by Major Food Group gifts that may have violated state ethics rules. More recently, records released in discovery of the clubs lawsuit showed cozy ties between city officials and representatives of Boucher and Major Food Group, including coordination to secure tables at notoriously hard-to-book restaurant Carbone. This story has been updated to include comments and a rendering from The Group. A tractor used to help grow thousands of pounds of food for the homeless in Hickory was stolen from a local church. ALSO READ: Man accused of leading police on a chase in stolen tractor across Watauga County First United Methodist Church says the thieves broke into a shed to steal the John Deere tractor. It was used by the congregation to till more than one acre of land to grow free vegetables for people in the area including the Hickory Soup Kitchen. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact the Hickory Police Department. VIDEO: Construction tractors burned along SC Highway, law enforcement looking for arson suspect SSM Health officials in St. Louis County said that there werent enough patients going to the trauma center. North St. Louis County just lost its only trauma center and local advocates believe it will hurt the Black residents who relied on it. SSM Health, which oversees DePaul Hospital in north St. Louis County, ended its Level II trauma services this month. That means patients with serious urgent injuries will have to take longer ambulance rides to hospitals outside of the county. The hospital will still maintain an emergency room and Level I trauma care for stroke and heart attack patients, according to KMOV. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement You have a group of people who already dont have access to necessary healthcare. Without a trauma center, that same group will suffer more, LaDon Oaks, a local activist in the county told theGrio. Oaks said family members of his have been sent to the trauma center for gunshot wounds and other injuries. SSM Health, which oversees DePaul Hospital in north St. Louis County, ended its Level II trauma services this month. That means patients with serious injuries will have to take longer ambulance rides to hospitals outside of the county. (Getty Images) In a statement sent to theGrio, SSM Health officials said that there werent enough patients going to the trauma center, which led to the decision to scrap it. Trauma care is a highly specialized service and medical best practice demonstrates we must treat a minimum number of patients to maintain the level of experience, training and equipment a trauma program requires, the statement said. Yet, only a very small percentage of individuals treated in our emergency room each year require trauma services. There are now four trauma centers in the surrounding areas. The closest one is Mercy St. Louis, which is a 16-minute drive from DePaul Hospital. Advocates point out that the trauma center provided important emergency services for those on Medicaid. In St. Louis County, 29% of residents are on Medicaid, according to data from Washington University in St. Louis. The county is 25% Black, according to Census data. If you get one gunshot per day, thats one trauma victim that if you make a decision to transport that person, 30 minutes as opposed to 10 minutes, then you have made a life-or-death decision basically, John Bowman, the president of the St. Louis County NAACP told St. Louis NPR. Several national health studies point to how quick transportation to hospitals in urgent cases can save lives. A study in the National Library of Medicine concludes that Swift transport is beneficial for patients suffering neurotrauma and the haemodynamically unstable penetratingly injured patient. Neurotrauma is an injury that involves the nerves, brain and spine. Haemodynamic refers to injuries related to blood flow and circulation. Without the trauma center in north St. Louis County, patients in that area will have to travel farther to get the help they need. Im afraid of what this is going to look like over the next year, Oaks said. This is a mistake [by SSM Health]. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post A trauma center in St. Louis County is gone, leaving many Black people without nearby services appeared first on TheGrio. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Monday the Biden administration is confident a strike will be averted in the ongoing negotiations between the United Auto Workers union and three major American car makers. CNNs Poppy Harlow asked Adeyemo if President Biden still believed a strike would be averted, given the looming 11:59 p.m. Thursday deadline. He said that was still the administrations view. It is the belief of the Biden administration. The auto companies and the unions are working from a position of strength, Adeyemo said. When I was last in government during the financial crisis, they were in a very different position. Today, theyre talking about how they can distribute profits and earnings in order to make sure that their companies can continue to grow. And we look forward to them reaching a resolution, Adeyemo added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More than 140,000 auto workers have approved a strike if UAW does not agree to new contracts with automakers General Motors, Stellantis and Ford before their current contracts expire Thursday night. The union has cited the large profits in recent years, as well as CEO pay raises, in seeking a 46 percent across-the-board increase in pay over four years, a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay, restoration of traditional pensions for new hires, union representation of workers at battery plants, restoration of traditional pensions and elimination of wage tiers, The Associated Press reported. General Motors last week made its first wage-and-benefit offer to UAW union members but the offer fell short of the unions demands. The union also rejected a wage offer from Ford the previous week, taking objection with lump-sum payments as opposed to annual pay raises, the AP reported. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SAN DIEGO Comedian Trevor Noah has added a San Diego stop to his Off The Record world tour. Noah, who is best known as the host of The Daily Show for the last seven years, will be performing at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Apr. 11, 2024. Tickets for the San Diego show go on sale on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased through LiveNation. Noah, who replaced Jon Stewart as host of The Daily Show in 2015, stepped down from this position in Dec. 2022 to pursue other ventures, including comedy performances and writing his upcoming book Into the Uncut Grass. The Emmy Award-winners first book, Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood, became a New York Times bestseller after its release in 2019. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement You can find a full list of upcoming shows at the San Diego Civic Theatre here. Fellow comedian Matt Rife is scheduled to perform at the venue on Sept. 30. The San Diego Civic Theatre is located downtown at 1100 3rd Avenue. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. EVANSVILLE The teenager accused of shooting two brothers, one of them fatally, inside a Vanderburgh County farmhouse will go to trial in January, according to court records. Assuming the trial moves forward, jurors will have to decide whether Austin D. Ousley, 18, is guilty of having committed felony murder, attempted murder - and other charges - for his alleged role in the shooting death of Shawn Wildt and the wounding of Shawn's brother, Chad Wildt. Though investigators maintain that Ousley effectively confessed to the crime in social media messages sent after the shooting, Ousley has pleaded not guilty and, so far, has mounted an active defense. Whether Ousley would stand trial remained an open question in the initial weeks after the fatal incident, which occurred on Feb. 27 inside a white farmhouse owned by the Wildt family in the Ohio River bottoms south of Downtown Evansville. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Detectives with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office determined that Ousley shot and killed Shawn, 36, and wounded Chad, 42, during an altercation after he and a 17-year-old friend illegally entered the Wildt's farmhouse. Shawn was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed he had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. Chad was transported to Deaconess Hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent multiple surgeries over an 11-day period. Chad's wife, Holly, told the Courier & Press it took 16 units of donated blood to keep Chad alive. We mourn the loss (of Shawn), and this is the hardest thing our family has ever been through in our entire life, Holly said in March. We cant match this to anything weve ever been through and him and his brother, they were almost twins. Following the shooting, Ousley attempted to take his own life, police records state, and he suffered a severe head injury that required intensive treatment at an Indianapolis hospital. In early March, Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diana Moers said she was unsure when, or if, Ousley could be charged in connection with the shooting. But on March 15, Moers' office filed formal charges and a judge found probable cause to issue a warrant for Ousley's arrest. On March 23, Ousley was arraigned from his hospital bed in Indianapolis and was later transported to the Vanderburgh County jail to await trial. Since then, Ousley's defense has sparred with prosecutors over whether he should be offered bail and allowed to have his smartphone returned to his family. As of Thursday, jury selection in Ousley's case is scheduled to begin the morning of January 8, court records state. In addition to murder and attempted murder charges, prosecutors will ask jurors to convict Ousley of breaking and entering and using a firearm in the commission of a felony resulting in death. Ousley's own admissions could prove crucial at trial Prior to the shooting, the Wildt brothers installed two remote trail cameras at the farmhouse, which typically stood unoccupied in the 5100 block of Cypress Dale Road, after they suspected a spate of trespassing incidents, according to a sworn affidavit. On Feb. 27, the cameras allegedly captured Ousley and his friend - who officials have not publicly identified - entering the property. Ousley's arrest affidavit states that the footage shows Ousley wearing a handgun holster as he approached the home. The Wildts had been monitoring the remote cameras and, according to investigators, confronted the teens. Ousley is alleged to have shot the brothers during an ensuing altercation. About 10 minutes after the incident, Ousley's 17-year-old friend dialed 911 and told dispatchers he saw Ousley shoot two men and claimed Ousley had confessed, according to audio of the call reviewed by the Courier & Press. During the call, the juvenile said Ousley sent him a video taking responsibility for "everything." While investigators have not publicly commented on the existence of such a video, detectives have said Ousley confessed to the shooting on social media. "I just f*****g killed 2 guys," one Snapchat message Ousley is alleged to have sent states, according to his arrest affidavit. "I was trespassing." The affidavit goes on to claim Ousley sent another Snapchat message with a photograph of what appeared to be a handgun resting on his blood-stained jeans. The 17-year-old who was allegedly with Ousley inside the farmhouse pleaded guilty to trespassing charges in juvenile court, according to Vanderburgh County prosecutors. Decrypting Ousley's smartphone has proven difficult for investigators, court records show While detectives have publicly cited social media content as evidence against Ousley, it remains unclear if prosecutors have had full access to files and data stored on Ousley's smartphone. Weeks after Ousley's arrest, his defense attorney, Christian Lenn, requested that Ousley's phone be retrieved from police evidence and turned over to a family member. Deputy Prosecutor John M. Bober objected, and in a June filing wrote that investigators had been unable to decrypt the phone's hard drive to retrieve critical evidence, such as GPS location history. "The [Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office] current phone data retrieval/extraction software is state-of-the-art," Bober wrote. "However, to date [a detective] had not been successful in breaking into the first stage of encryption on the iPhone 13 Pro Max cellular phone." Bober went on to state the phone was being stored in a "data safe mode" which protects files from being altered or deleted. He argued that because Ousley's arrest affidavit cites specific instances of Ousley communicating via his phone, the device should be held until investigators could decrypt the contents of its hard drive. "The state also wants the GPS/Google location data from the phone to map [Ousley's] phone location during and immediately prior/after the course of incident events," Bober wrote. In September, Vanderburgh County Circuit Court Judge Robert Pigman ordered the sheriff's office to retrieve a smartphone from storage and return it to Ousley's family, though Pigman's order describes the phone in question as an "iPhone 11 space gray in color," which differs from prosecutors' description of Ousley's phone. The Courier & Press submitted questions to prosecutors and Ousley's defense attorney seeking clarification on which cellphone was returned and whether the iPhone 11 belonged to Ousley or someone else. Defense allowed to visit and document the crime scene; Ousley denied bail Ousley and Lenn, along with one designated assistant and a sheriff's office employee, were permitted to visit and document evidence at the farmhouse on June 2, according to an order drafted by Pigman. "Any video or images taken of the property will not be copied and/or disseminated with a non-party without the court's prior approval," Pigman wrote. "Nothing shall be dismantled, moved or removed." According to court records, Ousley unsuccessfully petitioned the court to offer him bail ahead of his trial. In an order, Pigman wrote that Ousley's arrest affidavit provided a preponderance of evidence that he committed the crime of murder, and therefore could be denied bail under Indiana law which allows judges to deny bail only in cases of homicide or treason. The case has garnered significant media attention, and in the weeks and months after Ousley's arrest multiple local news outlets petitioned Pigman to allow video and audio recording during Ousley's court appearances. To date, Pigman has denied such requests, though a meeting is scheduled to be held to discuss whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during Ousley's trial. Houston can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Trial date set for Evansville teen accused of double shooting (Bloomberg) -- A backup plane and spare parts are en route to India for Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , who is stranded along with his countrys delegation at the Group of 20 summit after the plane they arrived on broke down. Most Read from Bloomberg Trudeau will either fly home on the backup plane or wait for the original plane to be repaired, said a government official, speaking to Bloomberg on condition they werent named. The official declined to give details about what exactly needs replacing. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Canadian Armed Forces continue their best efforts to get the Canadian delegation home, said a statement from Trudeaus office. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid. The plane drama only adds to Trudeaus woes in his travels to India. His first trip in 2018 became a diplomatic disaster after it emerged that a man who had been convicted of attempting to assassinate an Indian politician on Canadian soil somehow ended up on Canadas guest list for an event. On this trip, even before the plane breakdown, Trudeau had been publicly criticized by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly allowing the anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, a reference to Sikh groups that advocate for an independent homeland known as Khalistan. Trudeaus national security adviser, meanwhile, has said that India is a major source of foreign meddling in Canadas affairs. The two prime ministers did not hold a formal bilateral meeting at the summit, but in a brief conversation on the sidelines, Trudeau said the pair discussed foreign interference and respect for the rule of law. Back home, Trudeaus travel delays also stirred debate about the crumbling nature of Canadas state infrastructure. The Airbus A310s that carry Trudeau and other top officials abroad date back to the 1980s and are badly showing their age. They are so old they require refueling stops for Trudeaus trips to Asia, often with stopovers in Alaska and Japan before reaching their final destination. Even so, the planes touched off a controversy in the early 1990s when the government of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney bought and retrofitted them. Mulroneys successor, Jean Chretien, famously derided one them as a flying Taj Mahal and refused to use it for official trips for fear of looking out of touch with ordinary Canadians. The government is in the midst of replacing its fleet of government transports with Airbus 330s, but they are still being retrofitted for use. Meanwhile, Trudeaus official residence is also in such terrible shape that he and his family have never lived there since he was elected in 2015. The house, at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa, was filled with asbestos, faulty wiring, drafty windows and also has substandard security measures. The home has deteriorated to such a state because successive prime ministers have refused to spend the public money needed to restore it. While a government agency has stripped out much of the problematic interior of the house, its an open question whether the residence will be restored and upgraded, at a cost that could top C$37 million ($27.2 million), or a new one is built instead. For now, Trudeau has been living in another government building on the grounds of Canadas governor general. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian delegation were forced to stay in India for another night Sunday after their plane experienced technical difficulties while trying to leave the Group of 20 (G20) summit, according to the prime ministers office. Upon our departure for the airport, we were made aware by the Canadian Armed Forces that CFC001 was experiencing technical issues, the prime ministers officer said in a statement shared with The Hill. These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made. Trudeau arrived in India on Friday, where several member states of the G20 gathered in New Delhi. Trudeau met with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, where Modi emphasized Indias concerns over anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, according to a statement from Indias Ministry of External Affairs. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well, the ministry said. The ministry said Modi maintained India-Canada relations have shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties. Modis criticism comes on the heels of Canadas announcement last week that a judge would lead a public inquiry into whether China, Russia, India and other countries interfered in Canadian federal elections in 2019 and 2021 that reelected Trudeau. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Donald Trump is asking the judge assigned to his federal prosecution for seeking to overturn the 2020 election results to step aside because of her past comments about his responsibility for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. In a motion filed Monday afternoon, Trumps attorneys said U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkans comments about Trump during sentencing hearings for two Capitol riot defendants indicated she had already concluded that Trump is responsible for crimes related to the violence that took place that day. Its a steep hurdle for Trump recusal motions in criminal cases are rarely successful and one that is directly rooted in the records of the cases Chutkan has presided over and judged. In both of them, the Jan. 6 defendants argued that they should receive lighter sentences because Trump bore responsibility for steering them to the Capitol. Chutkans comments that Trump now says require recusal stem from her assessment of those arguments. Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial and may believe that she can do so her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome, Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and John Lauro wrote in the bid to oust Chutkan, an appointee of former President Barack Obama. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Public statements of this sort create a perception of prejudgment incompatible with our justice system, Blanche and Lauro added. In a case this widely watched, of such monumental significance, the public must have the utmost confidence that the Court will administer justice neutrally and dispassionately. Judge Chutkans pre-case statements undermine that confidence and, therefore, require disqualification. Trump has publicly attacked Chutkan as biased for weeks, but his attorneys had yet to back up his complaints in court. Theyve also asked for her to consider it on an expedited basis before other aspects of the fast-moving case are decided. Supreme Court precedent says judges must recuse whenever their impartiality be reasonably questioned. However, those cases appear to bless judges remaining on cases where their opinions or analyses came from official proceedings in prior cases they handled. Trumps attorneys argue in their motion that its reasonable to conclude that Chutkans view of Trump was informed by sources beyond the official records and testimony in cases she oversaw. Its not the first time Trump has sought recusal in the four criminal cases he now faces. In May, his attorneys asked for a new judge in the state-court prosecution in New York related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. They accused Manhattan-based Judge Juan Merchan of having a preconceived bias against the former president. Merchan turned down the request last month. Trumps latest move to sideline a judge came in the criminal case that special counsel Jack Smith brought in August, charging the former president with four felony counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. The indictment also accused Trump of trying to exploit the violent Jan. 6 assault on Congress to continue his effort to cling to power. The new motion centers on Chutkans in-court comments about Jan. 6 defendants who have claimed their sentences should take into account the prominent figures, such as Trump, who promoted false notions that the 2016 election had been stolen. During the December 2021 sentencing of Robert Palmer for assaulting police during the riot, Chutkan addressed the question of whether the absence of any charges against those who promoted the election-fraud theory meant that those who were charged should be treated more leniently. She seemed to suggest the answer was they should not, but she seemed to suggest some agreement with Palmers lament. Mr. Palmer you have made a very good point, one that has been made before that the people who exhorted you and encouraged you and rallied you to go and take action and to fight have not been charged. That is not this courts position. I dont charge anybody. I dont negotiate plea offers. I dont make charging decisions. I sentence people who have pleaded guilty or have been convicted. The issue of who has or has not been charged is not before me. I dont have any influence on that. I have my opinions, but they are not relevant, Chutkan said before sentencing Palmer to more than five years in prison for throwing a fire extinguisher at police and battering them with a metal pole. At another sentencing last October, for a defendant named Christine Priola, Chutkan seemed to zero in on Trump, suggesting that those who rampaged at the Capitol were in his thrall. The people who mobbed that Capitol were there in fealty, in loyalty, to one man not to the Constitution, of which most of the people who come before me seem woefully ignorant; not to the ideals of this country; and not to the principles of democracy, Chutkan declared. Its a blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day. Priola, a school therapist from Ohio, got a 15-month sentence for spending about 10 minutes in the Capitol during the riot. Prosecutors said she also destroyed evidence after the event. Former President Trump has asked for Judge Tanya S. Chutkan to be disqualified from presiding over the federal criminal case related to his actions following the 2020 election. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) Lawyers for former President Trump on Monday demanded the recusal of the federal judge presiding over his 2020 election subversion case, saying her past comments about the Jan. 6 insurrection undermine public confidence in her neutrality. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is presiding over former President Trump's Jan. 6 trial. (Associated Press) It is unusual for a defendant to win a recusal motion, particularly after a trial date has been set. In a motion filed Monday, Trump's attorneys argued that U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan's past "negative" comments in other cases involving the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol "unavoidably taint" the case. "Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial and may believe that she can do so her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome," the filing states. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with four criminal counts related to engaging in conspiracies to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep him in power. Trump has pleaded not guilty. The trial is scheduled to begin March 4. The motion cites two statements Chutkan made from the bench while sentencing two previous Jan. 6 defendants that appear to reference Trump but do not name him. The motion describes the remarks as a "prejudgment" of Trump's guilt. In one, from the October 2022 case of Christine Priola of Ohio, Chutkan rebuked the defendant and other Jan. 6 rioters for offering "a blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day." Trump's lawyers also cited in their filing a comment Chutkan made at the December 2021 sentencing of Robert Palmer of Florida in which she said he "made a very good point" that the people who encouraged rioters to go to the Capitol had not been charged. According to the transcript, Chutkan also noted that it was not her role to decide who is charged. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former President Trump on Monday formally demanded the recusal of the federal judge overseeing his 2020 election subversion case in Washington, D.C. Trumps attorneys cited statements U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan made while sentencing two previous Jan. 6 defendants that appeared to reference Trump, arguing the comments create a perception that Chutkan prejudged Trumps guilt before he was charged. Judge Chutkan has, in connection with other cases, suggested that President Trump should be prosecuted and imprisoned, Trumps attorneys wrote in court filings. Such statements, made before this case began and without due process, are inherently disqualifying, they continued. Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial and may believe that she can do so her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Hill left a message with Chutkans chambers requesting comment on the former presidents recusal motion. Trump faces four criminal counts in the case stemming from his alleged efforts to remain in power following the 2020 election. Trump pleaded not guilty last month. Sign up for The Hills Defense & National Security newsletter It isnt the first time Trump has attacked the judges overseeing his criminal cases. He previously unsuccessfully sought the recusal of the judge overseeing his hush money criminal case in New York, and Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Chutkan and other judges on Truth Social. He and his team previously indicated they would seek Chutkans recusal in this case. Trumps motion Monday took aim at two statements Chutkan made while sentencing Jan. 6 defendants. In October 2022, Chutkan chided Ohio Jan. 6 defendant Christine Priola during her sentencing that she and other rioters offered blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day, according to a hearing transcript. Months earlier, Trumps lawyers said Chutkan suggested that Trump was responsible for the Capitol attack and should be prosecuted when sentencing Florida Jan. 6 rioter Robert Palmer to what was, at the time, the longest sentence handed down in connection with the riot. And it is true, Mr. Palmer you have made a very good point, one that has been made before that the people who exhorted you and encouraged you and rallied you to go and take action and to fight have not been charged, Chutkan said, according to the hearing transcript. She went on to note that it was not her role to decide who is charged. Trump has publicly criticized Chutkan before, claiming she obviously wants me behind bars, and is very biased and unfair. He has also speculated that there is no way he will receive a fair trial under the federal judge and previewed he would file the recusal motion. Chutkan was randomly assigned to Trumps case after he was indicted on four criminal charges. An Obama appointee, she has given out tough sentences to Jan. 6 defendants, either matching or exceeding the sentences for which prosecutors asked. Public statements of this sort create a perception of prejudgment incompatible with our justice system, Trumps attorneys wrote. In a case this widely watched, of such monumental significance, the public must have the utmost confidence that the Court will administer justice neutrally and dispassionately. Judge Chutkans pre-case statements undermine that confidence and, therefore, require disqualification. This story was updated at 5:15 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump faces four felony criminal cases in the coming months, and the indictments have thrust into the spotlight little-known names along with others that are familiar to the public. Special counsel Jack Smith has brought two federal cases against Trump. In the first, Trump is accused of improperly keeping classified records after leaving office; defying a subpoena ordering their return; and obstructing FBI efforts to prove he still possessed them. Two others are charged alongside Trump. In the other case brought by Smith, Trump and others are accused of trying to discount legitimate votes and subvert the 2020 presidential election results through three criminal conspiracies: one to obstruct the nations process of collecting, counting and certifying the results of the election; one to impede the Jan. 6, 2021, electoral college count and official certification of the results; and another to deny citizens' right to vote and to have their votes counted. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The former president is also charged in Fulton County, Ga., along with 18 others, in an indictment that alleges a broad conspiracy to try to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, including coordinated efforts to lie to state lawmakers, the courts and the public in an effort to remain in office. Trump is also scheduled to go to trial in the spring in New York City on charges related to an alleged hush money payment to a porn actor in the final days of the 2016 campaign. Here's a look at the key figures in the four criminal indictments: Potential co-conspirators in the federal 2020 election indictment Smith's federal indictment refers to six unnamed co-conspirators, some of whom have been potentially identified using details in the document, such as dates of and quotes. Rudolph W. Giuliani (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The former New York mayor helped lead Trumps legal challenges to the presidential election results, allegedly pursuing strategies that Trump campaign lawyers would not. Giuliani's lawyer, Robert Costello, told the New York Times that his client "appears to be co-conspirator No. 1 in the special counsel's indictment. The indictment includes quotes from a voicemail that Co-Conspirator 1 left for a United States Senator on Jan. 6, 2021, that match a message Giuliani intended for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama. The call was placed to a wrong number. In the Fulton County indictment, Giuliani is accused of leading Trumps efforts to compel lawmakers in closely contested states to ignore the will of voters and instead illegally appoint Trump loyalists to the electoral college. John Eastman (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The California attorney and former law school dean repeatedly pressed then-Vice President Mike Pence and Pence's staff to reject election results in some states where fake electors had voted for Trump. Eastman pushed Pence to postpone the scheduled Jan. 6 certification of the election until legislatures could meet and vote to change the results in those states in Trumps favor. The federal indictment states that Co-Conspirator 2 circulated a two-page memorandum with a plan for Pence to overturn the 2020 election while presiding over the electoral college certification on Jan. 6. The details match those of a memo that Eastman wrote and disseminated. Eastman is charged by name in the Fulton County indictment, accused of pressuring Pence and of pushing to have slates of fake electors cast votes for Trump in states where Biden won. Sidney Powell (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The Texas-based lawyer served alongside Giuliani as an attorney for Trump and publicly amplified election fraud claims. She brought or supported many of the more than five dozen lawsuits challenging the election results in the weeks that followed. Quotes attributed to Co-Conspirator 3 in the special counsel's indictment regarding a lawsuit in Georgia match those in a federal lawsuit that Powell filed against Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Powell is charged in the Fulton County indictment with playing a role in the Jan. 7, 2021, breach of Coffee County, Ga., election offices and the copying of the county's election management system. Jeffrey Clark (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) A former assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, Clark wanted the agency to investigate claims of fraud and issue a letter to key states stating that there was wrongdoing in their elections that their legislatures should examine. Trump nearly installed him as acting attorney general, but backed down when Justice Department leadership threatened to resign en masse if he did. The indictment identifies Co-Conspirator 4 as a Justice Department official. It quotes an email that a superior at the Justice Department sent rebutting the official's attempts to use the department to overturn the election. The quotes match those in an email that was sent to Clark, according to documents that the Justice Department released under the Freedom of Information Act. Clark is charged in the Fulton County indictment, and is accused of pushing for the Department of Justice to issue the letter to officials in Georgia and other states claiming wrongdoing in their elections. Kenneth Chesebro (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Chesebro, an attorney who worked with the Trump campaign, is believed to have come up with the idea of having pro-Trump electors send slates of votes to Congress to put the presidential election results in question. The special counsel's indictment alleges that the plan to use fake electors began in Wisconsin, with a memo from Co-Conspirator 5 that was sent on Dec. 13, 2020. The sender, recipient, date and content of the emailed memo match those of an email that Chesebro sent to Giuliani, according to a copy made public by the House Jan. 6 select committee. Chesebro is charged in the Fulton County indictment and is accused of devising the fake electors plan. Unnamed Co-Conspirator 6 The special counsel's indictment provides little identifying information about this person, who is referred to as a political consultant who helped implement a plan to submit fraudulent slates of presidential electors to obstruct the certification proceeding. Other key figures in the federal and Fulton County 2020 election indictments Mike Pence (Martin Bernetti / AFP/Getty Images) The former vice president refused to submit to pressure from Trump and others to use his position presiding over Congress on Jan. 6 to turn the results in Trumps favor either by rejecting votes from certain states or delaying the certification until legislatures could decide whether to overturn results in key states. Pence did not believe he had any authority to change or affect the election results, and considered his role to be ceremonial. Pence took notes on his conversations with Trump and others, and the indictment provides new details about the pressure he faced. Mark Meadows (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The former chief of staff was named repeatedly in the investigation conducted last year by the House Jan. 6 select committee. But he's referenced sparingly in the federal indictment on the 2020 election, leading to speculation that he may be cooperating with the special counsel. Meadows is charged in the Fulton County indictment, however, accused of organizing and participating in calls in which Trump pushed Georgia election officials to determine that he, not Biden, had won the state. Georgia co-defendants In addition to Trump, Giuliani, Eastman, Meadows, Cheseboro, Clark and Powell, 12 others were charged as co-defendants in the indictment on state charges handed down Aug. 14 by a Fulton County grand jury. Jenna Ellis (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) An attorney working for Trump's campaign, Ellis was a mainstay on conservative media in the days after the 2020 election, making several false statements that led to her censure by the Colorado Supreme Court. The indictment alleges that in November and December of 2020, Ellis met with legislators in at least two states that Biden won Arizona and Michigan where she is accused of laying out the Trump teams plan to unlawfully appoint false slates of electors. Ray Smith (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Smith, a Georgia attorney, helped the Trump campaign litigate its attempts to block the certification of Georgias final vote count. His efforts were unsuccessful. He faces 12 counts, including over alleged conspiracies to impersonate a public officer, to commit forgery in the first degree, to make false statements and writings, and to file false documents. Robert Cheeley (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Cheeley, also a lawyer in Georgia, is accused of promoting Trumps fraud claims. He is charged in the Fulton County indictment with seven criminal counts, including conspiring to impersonate a public officer, to commit first-degree forgery, to make false statements and writings, and to file false documents. Mike Roman (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Roman was national director of election day operations for Trumps 2020 campaign, and is alleged to have helped organize the seven slates of fake Trump electors. He faces five charges in the Fulton County indictment. David Shafer (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The former chairman of the Georgia GOP, Shafer helped coordinate efforts among the Trump campaign, national GOP players, low-level state and local activists and elected officials. He also participated in the meeting of Trump-supporting electors to fraudulently cast electoral votes for Trump. He is charged with five counts in Fulton County. Shawn Still (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) In 2020, Still served as one of Trumps phony electors after the then-president lost in Georgia. He is charged with five counts. Still was elected last year to represent suburbs north of Atlanta in Georgia's state Senate. Stephen Lee (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) A Chicago-area chaplain formerly in law enforcement, Lee is accused of traveling to the home of a Fulton County election worker to offer her protection after the election. The indictment alleges he intended to encourage her to falsely testify that she and her colleagues had engaged in fraudulent activity in the election. He is charged with four counts including attempting to influence a witness. Harrison Floyd (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) The executive director of Black Voices for Trump, Floyd was allegedly sent by Lee to attempt to coerce the Fulton County election worker to make false statements about election fraud. Floyd made multiple failed attempts to contact Ruby Freeman, a Fulton County election worker, by phone and text message. After he was unsuccessful, he allegedly asked Trevian Kutti, a co-defendant in the Georgia indictment, to try to contact her. Floyd is charged with three counts including influencing a witness. Trevian Kutti (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) A lobbyist and former publicist for Kanye West and R. Kelly, Kutti is accused of assisting Lee and Floyd in the alleged plot to pressure an election worker to admit to interfering with the election. She is charged with three counts including influencing a witness. Cathy Latham (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Latham, a former GOP chairwoman from Georgias Coffee County, is accused of spearheading the effort to grant Trumps team access to the county's election computer system. Latham is also accused of participating in the fake electors scheme. She is charged with 10 counts including impersonating a public officer and forgery. Scott Hall (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Hall, an Atlanta bail bondsman, was part of the team accused of coordinating with Latham to provide access to voting systems in Coffee County. He is charged with seven counts including attempting to file false documents. Misty Hampton (Fulton County Sheriff's Office via Associated Press) Hampton, a former Coffee County elections supervisor, is accused of aiding in the plan to give Trump's team access to county voting systems. She is charged with seven counts including attempting to file false documents. Trump's co-defendants in the federal classified documents case Waltine 'Walt' Nauta (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) Nauta, Trump's personal aide and valet, was charged alongside his boss in the federal indictment over the classified documents at the former president's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Nauta is indicted on charges including conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheming to conceal and making false statements and representations. According to the indictment, Nauta made multiple false statements, including saying he was not aware that boxes of documents had been taken to Trumps residence for review before 15 of them were sent to the National Archives, and denying that he knew where the boxes had been stored before they were found at Mar-a-Lago. Carlos De Oliveira (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos de Oliveira was named in a superseding indictment as a co-defendant in the classified records case. Alongside Trump and Nauta, he is charged with two counts of obstruction based on allegations that they attempted to delete surveillance video at Mar-a-Lago after receiving a subpoena ordering that the video be turned over to federal investigators. Key figures in the New York indictment against Trump Michael Cohen (Seth Wenig / Associated Press) Cohen, a former attorney for Trump, allegedly made a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels late in the 2016 campaign to prevent her from publicly saying that she'd had an affair with then-candidate Trump. The former president is accused of hiding reimbursement payments made to Cohen while in the White House by funneling the money through his business and recording it as payments for legal services. Cohen is not charged in the indictment. Stormy Daniels (Markus Schreiber / Associated Press) Daniels, who received the alleged hush money payment ahead of the 2016 presidential election, said she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006; the former president has denied it. After cooperating with New York prosecutors, she said she would be willing to take the stand to testify against Trump in the case. Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Former President Trump issued a scathing rebuke of Rupert Murdochs top American media properties in a string of social posts Sunday afternoon. In a phony and probably rigged Wall Street Journal poll, coming out of nowhere to softened the mental incompetence blow that is so obvious with Crooked Joe Biden , they ask about my age and mentality. Where did that come from?, Trump wrote on his Truth Social website. Now that the Globalists at Fox & the WSJ have failed to push their 3rd tier candidate to success, they do this. The former president took a jab at Fox specifically, calling out the network over a multi-million dollar settlement it paid Dominion Voting Systems in April stemming from Trumps false claims of fraud about the company aired on the network. The Wall Street Journal & Fox are damaged goods after their failed DeSanctimonious push & stupid $780,000,000 settlement. MORONS!!! Trump said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In final social media post late Sunday, Trump complained about Foxs coverage of his popularity within the GOP and with American voters more generally. The Wall Street Journal and FoxNews keep pushing the narrative, through Trey Gowdy and others, that BOTH Crooked Joe Biden and 45th President Donald J. Trump are unpopular within their own Party, he said. This happens to be true for Crooked Joe, where they wont even let RFK Jr. have his votes fairly counted (more RIGGING, and STEALING Elections!), but VERY untrue for TRUMP, where I have a 90% Approval Rating, and am crushing the second tier candidates by 50, 60, and even 70 Points. THATS POPULAR! The late evening social media diatribe is just the latest in what has been a months-long war the former president has waged against Murdoch, the Journal and Fox News specifically. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination for president, skipped the first GOP debate last month, partly due to what he says is a hostile relationship with Fox, the network that held the debate in Milwaukee. The former president has nonetheless made semi-regular appearances on the network, which features a number of pro-Trump commentators and pundits and is hosting the second GOP debate on its sister network, Fox Business. Trump has said he does not plan to attend the Sept. 27 debate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump threw another fit on his social media website on Sunday, this time challenging a host of rivals to a mental acuity test. Trump, who is refusing to debate any of his Republican presidential rivals but instead offered to debate Meghan Markle, is demanding that President Joe Biden, right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch and others take a test of his choosing, at a place of his choosing. It will be a tough one, the former president wrote on Truth Social. Nobody will come even close to me! Trump was triggered by a Wall Street Journal poll in which 49% said he was not mentally up for the job of president. (That number was 60% for Biden.) ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A few years ago I was the only one to agree to a mental acuity test, & ACED IT, Trump wrote in response to the poll, which he claimed was probably rigged. Trump hasnt taken a mental acuity test, or at least hasnt publicly revealed the results of such a test if he did. However, in 2020 he took the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, which is used to check for signs of cognitive impairments that could be an indication of dementia. Trump has often bragged of passing the assessment, and insisted that it was hard. But its not supposed to be. It is supposed to be easy for someone who has no cognitive impairment, Dr. Ziad Nasreddine, who invented the test, told MarketWatch in 2020. It asks the subject to complete tasks like identifying an elephant, or remembering and then repeating five words which, in Trumps case, were infamously Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV. Now, however, he seems to think passing the MoCA means he can challenge Biden, Murdoch, Murdochs sons, and the heads of The Wall Street Journal to the test of his choosing. Neither Biden nor Murdoch has responded to Trumps challenge, but the former presidents critics had plenty to say: Trump is bragging again about barely passing a dementia test doctors ordered for him 5 years ago pic.twitter.com/RIBIgHHFNa LeGate (@williamlegate) September 11, 2023 What a narcissistic idiot. Trump boasts about his mental acuity test, which was being able to remember the words person, woman, man, camera,TV. pic.twitter.com/t7dsxPcr8s Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 10, 2023 This senile old dotard is still bragging about acing a mental acuity test. As someone who was tested years ago due to depression, I can tell you this test is so simple, thats its very telling that one would be boastful about passing it. pic.twitter.com/t1UbwbWyUJ Marlene Robertson (@marlene4719) September 10, 2023 Person: Donald Trump Woman: Fani Willis Man: Witness #1 Camera: In the Fulton County Courtroom TV: Broadcasting the trial worldwide https://t.co/3F4XcUUEbb Leonard Krishtalka (@LKrishtalka) September 10, 2023 PLEASE, let's not forget that the test didn't actually examine his mental acuity. The test was given to monitor cognitive decline over time. In the Fox interview where he discussed it, Trump confessed the memory questions were the most difficult for him. https://t.co/gavlADJC9k Annie van Leur (@AnnevanLeur) September 10, 2023 The former Fox News host Tucker Carlson blasted Texas Gov Greg Abbott for not allowing the states National Guard shoot migrants at the US-Mexico border. How many Texans do you think are all on board with letting 7 million people cross into their state illegally? Carlson asked the audience at an event on Sunday in Utica, Michigan, according to Newsweek. What percentage? Zero. I dont care what your race or national origin nobody is for that. Has the governor of Texas done anything meaningful to stop it? No, Carlson added. The fired Fox News host suggested that Mr Abbott could succeed in securing the border in a week if he lined up the National Guard along the southern border. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He refuses to do that. He wont do it, Carlson said. And its not like no one suggested it. Ive suggested to him three times, including in private at a cocktail party in Dallas last year. What are you doing, man? Dont you have a National Guard? Why dont you seal the border? Carlson recalled that the Texas governor told him that idea was complicated. No, its not, Carlson said on Sunday. If someones trying to break into my house, its not complicated to repel the person. Do you have a firearm or dont you? Are you willing to defend your house and your children or arent you? The former anchor then called Mr Abbott a liar and accused him of betraying his count He said, Its not more complicated than that. Its more dishonest than that. Youre lying to me. You dont want to do it because your donors dont want you to do it. Its that simple. Greg Abbott. Liar. Liar. And worse than liar, betrayer of your own people. Thats what that is. He said he was polite at the cocktail party so he didnt express those thoughts aloud at the time, but thought them. Carlson continued, Its not just frustrating. Its a betrayal of the core promise of the country, which is the people rule. Thats a criminal act. Its unclear if Mr Abbott was indirectly responding to Carlsons criticism, but later on Sunday, the Texas governor posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about the National Guard and pointing fingers at another leader for the migrant influx at the border. The Texas National Guard continues to turn back illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border between points of entry. Bidens open border policies encourage these dangerous, illegal crossings. pic.twitter.com/Oq4bTmPzTF Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 10, 2023 The Texas National Guard continues to turn back illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border between points of entry, he wrote. Bidens open border policies encourage these dangerous, illegal crossings. Greg Abbott has tried numerous tactics to deter migrants from crossing the southern border. This summer, he ordered the installation of floating barriers made of razor-tipped buoys across the Rio Grande river. But that seemed to do little, as the migrant encounters in the Del Rio sector only decreased by about 100. Separately, in July, a trooper described in an email to his superior that border officers had been ordered to push small migrant children back into the Rio Grande as they attempted to cross into the US. This trooper also wrote about how officers were told not to provide water to asylum seekers despite the extreme heat. But at the time, spokespeople for both the Texas Military Department and the Department of Public Safety told The Independent that there was no directive against giving water to migrants or a directive to push migrants back into the water. The White House condemned the alleged practices, as White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called them abhorrent. She added, It is despicable. It is dangerous. And were talking about the bedrock values of who we are as a country. The Scoop X, Elon Musk s social media platform formerly known as Twitter, appears to be attempting to limit its users access to The New York Times. Since late July, engagement on X posts linking to the New York Times has dropped dramatically. The drop in shares and other engagement on tweets with Times links is abrupt, and is not reflected in links to similar news organizations including CNN, the Washington Post, and the BBC, according to NewsWhips data on 300,000 influential users of X. The drop in engagement in Times posts seems isolated to X: NewsWhip data showed that engagement with Times links shared on Facebook remained consistent relative to other outlets. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement There was a drop off in engagement for NYT compared to the other sites in late July/early August, NewsWhip spokesperson Benedict Nicholson told Semafor. Times employees had already taken note of the pattern, as high-profile attempts to share Times articles failed to travel on the platform. For instance, earlier this week, former President Barack Obama shared multiple New York Times articles on X about healthcare costs, which the service said reached fewer than 900,000 and 800,000 users respectively. The number was far lower than any other post shared by the former president since X began sharing that data publicly earlier this year for comparison, a Politico link shared by the president got nearly 13 million views. The shift hasnt gone unnoticed at the Times. Two newsroom higher-ups at the paper said that Times leadership was aware of the issue and was examining the root of the drop off. A spokesperson for the paper declined to comment. Maxs view Its unclear why Times engagement on Twitter has been throttled. X did not return a request for comment. But the move reflects a broad shift in platforms over the last five years, away from platforms attempting to portray themselves as neutral distribution channels to competing media outlets, and toward a splintering in which Facebook has largely gotten out of the news business, Twitter has shifted increasingly toward becoming a conservative media company, and Google and Apple are the remaining the platform giants interested in distributing other outlets news. X recently objected to a California law requiring the disclosure of content moderate, for instance, by citing first amendment protections for its editorial decisions. The dip in engagement is not a major audience problem for the Times. Like other major news orgs, the paper gets the vast majority of its traffic and readership from other sources (a lot of people still read the physical paper, as well discuss later in the newsletter). But it appears that the Times has been singled out for some reason on X. It wouldnt be the first time that the platform has focused on the Times since Musk took over. Twitter briefly suspended Times tech reporter Ryan Mac last year. Earlier this summer, X briefly imposed a several second delay on traffic from Twitter to links to the Times, Reuters and social media rivals including Facebook and Instagram. The move came after Musk criticized the papers coverage of events in his native South Africa, advising users on how to skirt the Times paywall. Several days later, he said that the Times was a declining, once-powerful, but fundamentally doomed to be regional & increasingly archaic legacy publication. At the time, a spokesperson for the paper said it had not received an explanation, but that it would be concerned by targeted pressure applied to any news organization for unclear reasons. The recent history of Musk needling the Times on Twitter and the fact that the papers engagement is unaffected on Facebook and other outlets makes other explanations harder to believe. Notable Musks social media network has tinkered with bans and disruptions to links. After blocking links to the newsletter platform Substack, quietly reversed the move following protests from Substack writers. Xs entry into the subscription business isnt going particularly well: Since rolling out a paid subscription service, the platform has garnered only 40,000 subscribers. The remains of two new victims killed in the 9/11 attacks were identified by New York City officials shortly before the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks. A man and a woman whose names are being withheld at the request of their families were identified using advanced DNA technology, officials announced Friday. The positive results came after more than two decades of previous testing and negative results as officials used next-generation sequencing technology, which is also used by the military to identify missing service members. As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement Friday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner [OCME] attest to the citys unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones. The man was identified using remains found in 2001, while the woman was identified using remains recovered from 2001, 2006 and 2013, according to the city. The two new identifications mark the first identifications since September 2021. Nearly 3,000 people were killed as hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pa., making it the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. New York City officials noted that about 40 percent of those killed 1,104 people remain unidentified to this day. More than 20 years after the disaster, these two new identifications continue to fulfill a solemn pledge that OCME made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones, said Jason Graham, the citys chief medical examiner. Faced with the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country, we stand undaunted in our mission to use the latest advances in science to serve this promise. U.S. officials were set to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the attack from all around the country Monday. President Biden is joining service members at a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, Vice President Harris is joining the ceremony in New York City and first lady Jill Biden is laying a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is also expected at a wreath-laying ceremony in Shanksville at the Flight 93 National Memorial. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) The remains of two new victims killed in the 9/11 attacks were identified by New York City officials shortly before the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attacks. A man and a woman whose names are being withheld at the request of their families were identified using advanced DNA technology, officials announced Friday. The positive results came after more than two decades of previous testing and negative results as officials used next-generation sequencing technology, which is also used by the military to identify missing service members. As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement Friday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner [OCME] attest to the citys unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones. Overland Park Fire Department honors those lost in 9/11 attacks The man was identified using remains found in 2001, while the woman was identified using remains recovered from 2001, 2006 and 2013, according to the city. The two new identifications mark the first identifications since September 2021. Nearly 3,000 people were killed as hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, making it the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. New York City officials noted that about 40 percent of those killed 1,104 people remain unidentified to this day. More than 20 years after the disaster, these two new identifications continue to fulfill a solemn pledge that OCME made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones, said Jason Graham, the citys chief medical examiner. Faced with the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country, we stand undaunted in our mission to use the latest advances in science to serve this promise. U.S. officials were set to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the attack from all around the country Monday. President Joe Biden is joining service members at a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, Vice President Kamala Harris is joining the ceremony in New York City, and first lady Jill Biden is laying a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is also expected at a wreath-laying ceremony in Shanksville at the Flight 93 National Memorial. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Emma Igual, director of Road to Relief, was killed Sunday in Ukraine in a Russian attack. Photo courtesy of Ukraine Foreign Ministry Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Two front-line foreign aid workers were killed over the weekend when the vehicle they were riding in came under Russian attack in eastern Ukraine. The Road to Relief humanitarian organization said in a statement the attack occurred at around 10 a.m. Sunday as its team of four was traveling from Slovyansk toward Bakhmut to assess civilians caught in crossfire in the town of Ivanivske in Russia-occupied Donetsk Oblast. Their vehicle was hit by Russian shelling that caused it to flip over and catch fire, it said. The organization confirmed that Canadian Anthony "Tonko" Ihnat was killed while the Spanish government confirmed that Road to Relief director Emma Igual also died in the attack. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Road to Relief said German Ruben Mawick and Swede Johan Mathias Thyr were "badly injured with shrapnel wounds and burns" but are in stable condition at separate hospitals far from the battlefield. Anthony "Tonko" Ihnat of Road to Relief was killed Sunday in eastern Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry Ukraine's Ministry of Defense also confirmed the deaths of the two aid workers. "Road2Relief's efforts are entirely focused on civilian projects: the evacuation of civilians in war zones, medical evacuation, humanitarian aid distribution to frontline communities and the provision of mobile clinics that assist local residents who are unable to leave their homes," it said in a statement. "They make every effort every day to mitigate the consequences of the systematic terror of civilians by the Russian occupiers. "A painful, irreparable loss. Emma and Anthony will forever be in our hearts." Following the announcement of their deaths, other aid organizations in Ukraine extended their condolences. UAnimials, which is working to save animals in Ukraine, said in a statement that it has at least twice before worked with Road to Relief and that Igual had helped them with the evacuation of a rescued goat named Snizhka that had been taken from the military in Donetsk region. "Her organization was not aimed at helping animals, but she believed that she had to save everyone," it said. Paracrew Humanitarian Aid, which aids those affected by natural disasters and war, said Ihnat was a former member and that it had received news of his "tragic death." "He has done great work for Paracrew/Mission Ukraine," it said on Facebook. "His compassion, empathy and strength will forever be an inspiration to all of us. And we will keep his memory alive by working on to help Ukraine in every possible way. Rest in peace, dear friend." The attack comes days after the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in an update that more than 100 security incidents have hampered aid operations in Ukraine this year, particularly in areas under control of the Russian military. It said that prior to the deaths of Ihnat and Igual there had been at least six aid workers killed and 16 injured in Ukraine so far this year, which is significantly higher than the four killed in all of 2022. It has been a solemn two weeks since the New Town community was shattered by a horrific racist mass shooting at a local Dollar General, claiming the lives of three innocent people. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Today, in a remarkable display of unity and resilience, neighbors gathered for a Community Healing Circle at a memorial located just one block from the site of the tragic incident. As the investigation into the shooting continues, the community is echoing its collective concerns and calls for enhanced security measures in the area, all in the fervent hope of preventing future tragedies. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Action News Jaxs Nick Gibson spoke with residents who are advocating for bolstered security in the surrounding neighborhoods. They firmly believe that an increased police presence can act as a deterrent, reducing the likelihood of such devastating incidents in the future. Ronreco Harris, a lifelong member of this close-knit community, expressed the lingering sadness that has gripped the neighborhood in the aftermath of the tragedy. Everybody is still kind of sad because it was people who were trying to do good. Like, it wasnt just regular people out here trying to cause trouble. That was just my biggest thing. I dont like when people trying to do good get hurt, Harris lamented. The victims of the senseless shooting, Angela Carr, AJ Lagueree, and Jerald Gallion, were recently laid to rest, leaving an indelible mark on the community. When asked about the communitys next steps, Harris stressed the immediate need for heightened security measures, stating, More security or something similar, that would probably be all. State Representative Angie Nixon, who was present at the event, emphasized the significance of community members sharing their emotions and trauma in the aftermath of this tragic incident. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] We had grief counselors, African drummers, and spoken word artists here to uplift and support our community, she noted. Addressing the future of the community, Nixon underscored that the path ahead lies in the hands of its residents. Its whatever they want it to be next. Thats why were initiating events like these. My husband and I walked through the area and invited them to join us. Some of them came and shared their thoughts. So our next step involves community meetings and advocating for a budget... a peoples budget. Nixon also confirmed that these Community Healing Circles will continue, providing a safe space for the community to come together and embark on their journey of healing. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Newly appointed U.K. Ambassador to Ukraine Martin Harris has officially started his duty, handing over copies of his credentials to the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis. This was reported by the British Embassy in Kyiv on X (formerly Twitter) on Sept. 11. The previous ambassador, Dame Melinda Simmons, completed her four-year term on Sept. 1. Before leaving, Simmons recorded a video address to Ukrainians, thanking her supporters. "Great Britain is with you all the way. Before victory and after it," she said. On his appointment, Harris said he's "delighted to be returning to Ukraine to lead our Embassy's vital work in supporting the Ukrainian government and people as they defend their country and our common values." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The U.K.'s relationship with Ukraine has never been stronger, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," the new ambassador added. Harris had worked in Ukraine in 2003-2008 as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General. In 2010-2014, he was the U.K. ambassador to Romania and spent the following three years as Deputy Head of Mission in Moscow. For the last five years, Harris served as Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Read also: UK Ambassador Simmons: People are waking up to understanding of Russia being colonial fascist-leaning country Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia plans to recruit 420,000 military contract personnel by the end of the year, likely exacerbating the country's labor shortage, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence report on Sept. 11. Citing the Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, the analysis pointed out that Russia's industry shortage of workers already reached a new record of 42% in July 2023, a 7% increase compared to April. The process does not affect all industries equally. The Russian I.T. industry has reportedly "taken steps to preserve the workforce," as it is already suffering acute shortages. The sector lost 10% of employees around 100,000 people who left Russia in 2022. The Kremlin has acknowledged the crucial role of the I.T. sector. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Sept. 4 to increase the military service exemption age for I.T. professionals from 27 to 30. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that Moscow will likely seek to avoid further unpopular mobilizations in the run-up to the presidential elections in 2024. The Russian military is continuing efforts to refill its ranks following high casualty rates during the invasion of Ukraine. Moscow launched mobilization in the fall of last year, targeting mainly migrant workers and citizens from more remote regions to avoid antagonizing wealthier segments of the population in major cities. Moscow also drafts military personnel from occupied parts of Ukraine. According to military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Cherniak, Russia has forcibly mobilized from 55,000 to 60,000 men in the occupied territories of Ukraine between the start of the full-scale invasion and July 2023. Read also: Military intelligence: More than 420,000 Russian soldiers deployed across occupied territories Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. After presenting his credentials to Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis , Martin Harris CMG OBE is now serving as the UKs new Ambassador to Ukraine, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a message on its website on Sept. 11. Perebyinis congratulated the ambassador on the start of his diplomatic mission in Ukraine, expressing hopes that his work would contribute to the further deepening of bilateral relations. Read also: Rationale behind territories in exchange for NATO membership proposal The parties discussed the full spectrum of cooperation between Ukraine and the UK, exchanging views on specific steps to deepen interaction in the context of Ukraine's course for NATO membership, as well as the implementation of international initiatives to support Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Erdogan lobbies G20 to compromise on Russian sanctions in bid to revive Ukraine grain corridor Special attention was paid to the issue of strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia and the functioning of the Black Sea "grain corridor" for ensuring global food security. On July 6, the UK government announced that Harris would become the new Ambassador to Ukraine, replacing Dame Melinda Simmons. Read also: US State Department vows to consult Ukraine about any future deal on Ukrainian security Harris had already worked in Kyiv from 2003 to 2008, holding the position of Deputy Ambassador and Consul General. Simmons had headed Londons diplomatic mission in Ukraine since 2019. She will continue her diplomatic service in another position. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister James Cleverly will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, where he will press for renewed dialogue on a two-state solution and commit to tackling threats to regional security, including from Iran. On the visit that begins on Monday, Cleverly will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. In a speech at an international security conference on Tuesday, Cleverly will discuss the security challenges facing Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as the importance of a two-state solution. He will accuse Iran of "enabling terrorism" through its support of the militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to a statement. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The UK and Israel work closely together to keep our people safe," Cleverly said ahead of his trip. He pledged "to renew our close security partnership, in the face of unacceptable threats from the Iranian regime". He will hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and attend a demonstration of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defence system. During a visit to the Palestinian territories, Cleverly will visit the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank to see Palestinian refugees. Violence in the West Bank has worsened over the past year with frequent Israeli raids and Palestinian street attacks. Prospects of reviving U.S.-brokered peace talks that aimed to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem remain low almost a decade after their collapse. The Palestinians have limited self-rule in the West Bank and remain split between a Western-backed administration and armed Hamas Islamists who reject coexistence with Israel. Many in Israel's current government reject Palestinian statehood. (Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Edmund Blair) ROME As the trinational Global Combat Air Program fighter program accelerates, partners Japan, Italy and the U.K. are planning to define the sensor hardware to go onboard the jet by mid-2025 and form a new industrial joint venture to divide up work share, a senior official has told Defense News. Worth up to 30% of the value of the planned sixth-generation fighter, the radar and other sensors are a key element of the aircraft, which the partners hope to have in service by 2035. With one eye on that deadline, the firms working on sensor technology Leonardo UK, Leonardo Italy, Italys ELT Group and Japans Mitsubishi Electric are now working toward a key target two years off. We are confident we can freeze the hardware and form the joint venture to allocate workshare by mid-2025, said Andrew Howard, Director Future Combat Air/GCAP UK at Leonardo UK. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Another aim for 2025 is to reach an understanding with the airframe community about how we will integrate our sensor solution into their airframe, he said. A further target is to agree with the fighters propulsion team Rolls Royce, Japans IHI and Italys Avio on how much energy the sensor suite will need, he said. What is already certain is that GCAPs sensor package will push the envelope. Multi-function sensing nodes that incorporate functions such as radar, electronic warfare and electro-optics, including infrared search and track (IRST), will work together thanks to a so-called Multi-Function Processor (MFP). On fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, sensors still work largely in a stovepipe capacity. They share information into a common hub but do not cross check or prioritize information, said Howard. On the GCAP, before data from the sensors is shared with the mission computer, which means the cockpit and the pilot, the Multi-Function Processor is rapidly processing that information and triangulating with any relevant sensor it is a glue between sensors, he added. With data from different sensors coming together at an incredibly high rate of processing, the GCAP will offer a situational battle space awareness far greater than anything achieved previously, he said. The overall system, dubbed ISANKE & ICS (Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications System), will include a radar touted as a step up from the ECRS Mk2 Leonardo UK has worked on for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Miniaturized radar receivers positioned closer to the radars arrays will ensure a much faster digitalization of the incoming signal, reducing data loss, planners say. Howard said the GCAP radar, known as the Multi-Function Radio Frequency System, is being designed with fewer constraints on size, weight and power required. The ECRS Mk2 was fitted into a preexisting radome space in the Typhoon and inevitably had one or two constraints, said. We didnt have the capacity to rethink size, shape, angles, mounting or weight. With GCAP we can think about the array in an unconstrained space. Between now and 2035, Howard said he has high hopes for the ongoing collaboration with the Italians the UKs veteran partner on the Tornado and Eurofighter programs as well as with the Japanese. Japanese engineers have traditionally placed a higher priority on reducing risk in projects, he said, but added, any skepticism about language and cultural barriers and engineering philosophy is not true. We are seeing profoundly successful collaboration around really complicated aspects of the radar. Once the hardware is defined in 2025, work will continue on the sensor software, said Howard. We will have ten years to design, develop and manufacture the solution and test it to deliver initial capability by 2035. Then there will be a pretty intense spiral where we unlock the full potential of the system between 2035 and 2040. That is the five-year period in which we reach into the inner depth of the capability so you wont see a steady state until around 2040. Even then, Howard said the flexibility of the system will allow further development. In traditional programs you talk about Final Operating Capability, but we dont think we will ever reach FOC and we are trying to get the three air forces to appreciate that language, he said. The Isanke solution will constantly change to meet the threat and while there will clearly be periodic baseline standards we work to, but I dont think there will be a moment when we say thats it, we have reached capacity. As such, Howard said he foresaw Japan and Italy possibly using their own test aircraft, similar to the 757 Leonardo UK is now using to flight-test sensors, to hone the use of their in-service sensors beyond the development phase. That would set the GCAP apart from the F-35, which is being operated by the UK, Japan and Italy. The F-35 is an aircraft you have limited control over in terms of data and the way it operates, said Howard. With GCAP, he added, air forces will have access to information to modify the aircraft, to load mission data and understand and interpret data without recourse to another nation, so you have genuine freedom of action, and the vast majority of that data will be unlocked by Isanke. For the three partners the access to the system will be total, he said, adding some limits would be in place for export customers. The export customer will get an incredibly different experience than they would on the F-35, although not the same as the partner nations that built the aircraft in the first place, he added. (Bloomberg) -- A former UK parliamentary researcher mentioned in reports about Chinese spying said he is innocent, even as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak s government faces pressure to take stronger action against Beijing. Most Read from Bloomberg Police confirmed on Saturday that two men were arrested under the Official Secrets Act in March. One, a man in his twenties, was identified by the Sunday Times newspaper as a researcher with links to members of Parliament. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a statement released by his law firm, Birnberg Peirce, the researcher, who has not been officially named by police, said he is innocent. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place, his lawyers cited their client, who they also did not name, as saying. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. The statement was previously reported by media including the Press Association. Sunak raised concerns about interference from Beijing with Chinas premier Li Qiang while at the meeting of the G-20 in India on Sunday. But the development has angered some members of the UKs ruling Conservative Party, who have long called for the government to go further in designating China a strategic threat to British interests. In an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said engaging with China makes the UK look weak and urged the government to wake up. China rejected accusations it was spying. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Monday at a regular press briefing in Beijing that the so-called China espionage activity in the UK is nonexistent. We urge the UK side to stop spreading false information and its anti-China political manipulation and malicious framing of China, she said. --With assistance from Lucille Liu. (Updates with statement.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A woman walks past the Houses of Parliament in London, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chastised China's premier for what he called unacceptable interference in British democracy after a newspaper reported that a researcher in Parliament was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) LONDON (AP) The British government on Monday resisted calls to label China a threat to the U.K. following the revelation that a researcher in Parliament was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing. China branded the allegation of espionage a malicious smear. The arrest has upset British government efforts to ease tensions with Beijing that have soared in recent years over accusations of economic subterfuge, human rights abuses and Beijings crackdown on civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong. U.K. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Britain should avoid calling China a foe or using language that could escalate tensions. China is a country that we do a lot of business with, Badenoch told Sky News. China is a country that is significant in terms of world economics. It sits on the U.N. Security Council. We certainly should not be describing China as a foe, but we can describe it as a challenge. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Britains governing Conservatives are divided on how tough a line to take and on how much access Chinese firms should have to the U.K. economy. The government has squeezed China investment out of key sectors such as Britain's nuclear power plants and its 5G mobile phone network. More hawkish Tories want to go farther and declare Beijing a threat, rather than a challenge, the word Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prefers. Under Britains new National Security Act, if China were officially labeled a threat, anyone working at the direction of Beijing or for a state-linked firm would have to register and disclose their activities or risk jail. Sunaks spokesman, Max Blain, said it was wrong to reduce the U.K.s approach to China just to one word. We need to take the opportunity to engage with China, not to just shout from the sidelines, Blain said. Conservative hawks renewed their calls for a tougher stance after the Metropolitan Police force confirmed over the weekend that a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s were arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act. Neither has been charged, and both were released on bail until October pending further inquiries. The Sunday Times reported that the younger man was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior Conservative Party lawmakers in a parliamentary group focused on China, and held a pass that allowed full access to the Parliament buildings. In the House of Commons, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said it was appalling news that a Chinese spy cell might be operating at the heart of British politics. Ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss, another China hawk, urged the government to recognize that China is the largest threat both to the world and to the United Kingdom for freedom and democracy. The arrested researcher, whom police have not publicly named, maintained in a statement released by his lawyers Monday that he is completely innocent." I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party," the researcher said in the statement. To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the so-called Chinese espionage activity in the U.K. is non-existent. We urge the British side to stop spreading false information and stop its anti-China political manipulation and malicious smear. Sunak chided Chinese Premier Li Qiang over the alleged espionage when the two met at a Group of 20 summit in India on Sunday. Sunak said hed expressed my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable. Sunak and Li met days after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Beijing, the highest-level trip by a British politician to China for five years. As the British government tries to strike a delicate diplomatic balance, U.K. spy services have sounded ever-louder warnings about Beijings covert activities. In November, the head of the MI5 domestic intelligence agency, Ken McCallum, said the activities of the Chinese Communist Party pose the most game-changing strategic challenge to the U.K. Foreign intelligence chief Richard Moore of MI6 said in July that China was his agencys single most important strategic focus. In January 2022, MI5 issued a rare public alert, saying a London-based lawyer was trying to covertly interfere in U.K. politics on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. The agency alleged attorney Christine Lee was acting in coordination with the Chinese ruling partys United Front Work Department, an organization known to exert Chinese influence abroad. Alex Younger, a former head of MI6, said the U.K.'s relationship with China is complicated. Weve got to find ways of engaging with it, and find ways of cooperating with it in important areas like climate change, and sometimes we have to be absolutely prepared to confront it when we believe that our security interests are threatened, Younger told the BBC. ___ Associated Press writers Sylvia Hui in London and Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed. The Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in Ukraines Black Sea port of Odesa on Aug. 24, the U.K. Foreign Office said, citing newly obtained intelligence. Ukraines air defenses shot down all Russian missiles heading towards the port, which included two Kalibr missiles launched from a Black Sea Fleet carrier, according to the report. The intelligence reportedly shows that Russias intended target was a Liberian-flagged ship docked in the port. Despite its failure, this is a clear demonstration of Russias continuing attempts to choke Ukraines economy and President Putins disregard for the lives of civilians and the interests of countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, London added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: UK planes guard Ukrainian grain ships in Black Sea Since the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative in mid-July, Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's agricultural infrastructure, ports, and grain stockpiles. According to the U.K. Foreign Office, the attacks have already destroyed 280,000 tonnes of grain more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African countries and enough to feed over one million people for a year. "Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is, U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world. The grain deal, brokered by Turkey and the U.N. in July 2022, previously allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products worldwide amid the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion. Read also: Kuleba: Russias demands for relaunching grain deal are blackmail Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine says its forces have captured gas and oil drilling platforms off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea, reclaiming a strategic surveillance site from Russian forces years after Moscow first seized them from Ukraine. Videos of the raid on the oil and gas platforms, known as Boyko Towers, circulated on the internet Monday. Ukraines Defense Intelligence agency shared images and documentary footage of Ukrainian soldiers hoisting flags up on the platforms. Ukrainian soldiers battled against at least one Russian fighter jet and damaged it, according to Ukraine, which released video footage of the operation. Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraines Minister of Internal Affairs, said Russia has used the oil and gas platforms for monitoring and surveillance since 2015, shortly after the illegal Russian annexation of Crimea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Gerashchenko said the return of the platforms to Ukrainian control were of great value to Kyiv. The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine deprived the Russians of many monitoring and intelligence capabilities by knocking them out of these towers, he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This step was crucial not only in Ukraines struggle for the Black Sea but also for more space for its coastal and air operations. Russian sources are disputing claims that Moscow lost Boyko Towers in the raid. Military blogger Rybar called the reporting from Ukraine another PR campaign that has no practical benefit, claiming in a Telegram post that Ukrainian forces had left the structures for fear of being destroyed by Russian aviation fire after a brief raid. The oil and gas platforms are named for Yuriy Boyko, a pro-Russian politician and former head of Ukraines Ministry of Energy. Boyko helped purchase the oil rigs in 2011, a case that drew scrutiny after reports showed it was a corrupt scheme involving inflating prices to siphon money from state coffers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Six Russian boats trying to regain lost Russian positions in Kherson Oblast have been destroyed, the Joint Coordination Press Centers head of the Ukraines Southern Defense Forces Nataliya Humeniuk told RFE/RL on Sept. 11. Humeniuk said the boats had been traveling between the Dnipro River islands along the Russian-occupied left bank of the river when they were destroyed. The Ukrainian Armed Forces are conducting very complex operations, being outnumbered by the Russians, she said. Read also: Ukraine confirms force landing across Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast "At this stage, we can say that the enemy continues to intensify its activities there, looking for ways to ensure a denser defense, especially from the Dnipro River direction, from the water itself, Humeniuk said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But a loss of six boats is a very convincing result for the past day. This is the end of their (Russian) attempt to gain a foothold in the positions from which they were previously expelled. Humeniuk also noted that the Ukrainian military is also continuing to destroy Russian personnel and military equipment. Read also: Sink the entire Black Sea Fleet at once Ukrainian Navy on how to protect Crimean Bridge "They (the Russians) are trying to shell the right bank and cause significant damage to the civilian population, both materially and physically. Unfortunately, there have been casualties in Kherson Oblast over the past day." The Russians have also become more active in the air. They are continue to attack the right bank of the oblast with guided bombs and are becoming more active in the Black Sea. In particular, the Russians are launching suicide drones near the area where this year's NATO Sea Breeze exercise is being held. Earlier, a Ukrainian Bayraktar TB2 drone destroyed a Russian boat off Kherson Oblasts Black Sea coast, killing six crew, Ukrainian military correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko reported on Sept. 3, citing OSINT analysts. Any other such Russian landing would meet a similar fate, Humeniuk said the same day. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraines air defenses repelled another Russian suicide drone and missile attack overnight on Sept. 11, shooting down around a dozen drones launched at the country from southwestern Russia, the Ukrainian Air Force has reported. A group of Shaheds (suicide dones ed) was sent towards Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhya from the direction of Yeysk (air base) in (Russias) Krasnodarskiy Krai region", Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on Ukrainian national television on Sept. 11. "About 12 kamikaze drones" were intercepted, but the total number may increase to 13-14 when additional information is received from Sumy Oblast, Ihnat said. Read also: Ukraine intercepts 23 out of 33 airborne targets in overnight Russian attack Ukraine Air Forces ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During the nighttime attack, Russia also launched anti-radar missiles from tactical aircraft, as well as guided missiles. Air raid alerts were issued in many regions of Ukraine overnight on Sept. 10-11. Read also: One dead, 54 injured including 9 police officers as search ends after devastating Russian blast in Kryvyi Rih In the morning of Sept. 11, a wave of incoming attack drones was reported and then explosions were heard in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. There was no overnight air raid alert in Kyiv on Sept. 11. The previous night Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with a wave of suicide drones. All were shot down, but falling debris injured one person in the capital and four people in the surrounding oblast. There was also damage in the city to cars, electric transport lines and apartment buildings due to falling debris from shot-down drones. Private housing in Kyiv Oblast was also damaged due to falling drone debris. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraines counter-offensive will be predominantly infantry-based in the fall, the head of Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate or HUR, Kyrylo Budanov , said at the Annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy, which was held in Kyiv on Sept. 8-9. "This is not Africa, we dont have a rainy season (in Ukraine), Budanov said in answer to a question about the Ukrainian offensive. He added that Ukrainian forces might have problems with wheeled vehicles. There are weather changes that have an impact, because it is more difficult to fight in the cold and mud. But let's look at the autumn of last year, when no one stopped fighting. Read also: Agreeing to peace with Putin is impossible, says Johnson in pointed speech at YES forum ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In any case, the effectiveness of all types of armored vehicles has decreased due to the large number of portable anti-tank systems and kamikaze drones, Budanov said. Therefore, our offensive is mainly conducted on foot. It was the same last autumn in Bakhmut; we used minimal armored vehicle support, he said. Ukrainian counteroffensive Latest Earlier, U.S. newspaper the New York Times reported that a new phase of Ukraine's counter-offensive has begun, with the main thrust coming from the southeast, where Ukrainian soldiers are gradually advancing through minefields while under attack by Russian aircraft. Read also: Ukraine's military intelligence chief says counter-offensive will press on in face of worsening weather U.S. newspaper the Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed U.S. official, earlier reported that Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, while commenting on criticism of the"slow pace" of the counter-offensive, told U.S. officials that Ukrainian forces were on the verge of a breakthrough. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed on Aug. 28 the liberation of the village of Robotyne village in Zaporizhzhya Oblast. Now the Ukrainian troops are moving further towards Novoprokopivka, Ocheretuvate, and have been successful near Verbove. In early September, the commander of theTavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had broken through the first line of Russian defense on the southern section of the front line. Ukrainian forces have liberated part of the village of Opytne south of the front-line town of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Sept. 11. This years Yalta European Strategy meeting was titled "The Future Is Being Decided in Ukraine." The event, was organized in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. NV Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Ukrainian government and the German company NOTUS energy have agreed to jointly build a wind power plant in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, capable of providing electricity to almost 1,000 households. All sides signed a memorandum of cooperation on the construction project on Sept. 11, according to Ukraine's Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. Chornobyl Exclusion Zone encompasses a 30-kilometer radius surrounding the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which lies around 130 kilometers north of Kyiv. Most of the exclusion zone has remained abandoned since the Chornobyl nuclear disaster occurred in 1986. Read also: Chornobyl nuclear disaster ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The project will bring investments and new jobs, contributing to Ukraine's energy independence, the development of green technologies, and the state's enrichment, the ministry wrote. "Even before the full-scale invasion, we had strategic plans to transform the Chornobyl zone into a recovery zone. The war hasn't changed them, but temporarily suspended," said Deputy Ecology Minister Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi. "The partnership with NOTUS energy is a positive example for international investors that the Exclusion Zone is an attractive and promising area for the development of renewable energy and other environmentally friendly technical solutions." The announcement came amid German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock's fourth visit to Kyiv since the beginning of Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. "One focus of Foreign Minister Baerbock's visit will therefore be on the measures being taken by Ukraine to ensure and protect (energy) supplies to the population, not least in the upcoming winter," Germany's Foreign Ministry wrote upon Baerbock's arrival. "In the midst of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the area affected by the nuclear accident almost forty years ago may thus become a symbol of clean, climate-friendly energy, providing Kyiv with green electricity," the ministry added about the future wind farm. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock signed a Ukrainian-German memorandum of intent on building a wind power plant in the Chornobyl exclusion zone during her visit to Ukraine, reported German Tagesschau on Sept. 11. "Green electricity from Chornobyl is the future version of the world," said Baerbock, who also co-chairs the Alliance 90/The Greens party, after the signing, adding that Ukraine should make broader use of renewable energy sources. Read also: Decision to transfer German Taurus missiles to Ukraine rests with Chancellor Scholz Kuleba Baerbock also visited a large power plant 50 kilometers from Kyiv, which has been repeatedly attacked by Russian missiles and drones. It was badly damaged over the winter, but has been fully restored. It is now surrounded by high anti-drone barriers. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Germany sends Ukraine tens of thousands of new shells for Gepard air defense systems Earlier it was reported that Ukraine is preparing for winter attacks by Russia on energy systems, and is relying on German Gepard air defense systems and large-caliber machine guns such as the U.S. M2 Browning to protect them from drones and cruise missiles. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukraine and Germany have signed a declaration of intent to build a wind farm around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Source: Ukrinform news agency, citing ARD German TV channel. Details: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited a power substation 50 kilometres from Kyiv on 11 September during her visit to Ukraine. Russian missiles and Iranian-made kamikaze drones hit the 2,000-megawatt power station several times. Parts of the facilities were severely damaged and later repaired. The substation is now fenced with nets to intercept low-flying drones. During her visit, Baerbock raised the topic of developing renewable energy in Ukraine. More specifically, she believes building a wind farm around the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant would be reasonable. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A declaration of intent was signed during the meeting at Ukraines Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The German Foreign Ministry noted that last winter saw over 1,500 attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, so the focus of the German Foreign Minister's visit to Kyiv is on measures to ensure and protect the power supply to the population, especially in winter. Germany was the largest contributor to Ukraine's Energy Support Fund at the end of 2022, with 130 million. Background: Ukrainian nuclear power plants (NPPs) have commissioned Westinghouse fuel produced jointly with Energoatom, Ukraine's national nuclear energy company, for the first time ever. Fuel for Ukrainian NPPs was previously only produced in Russia. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine will receive additional air defence systems. Source: Zelenskyy's evening address Quote: "We are preparing to strengthen the package of defense support from Germany. Air defense systems, artillery, equipment. What was agreed upon with Chancellor Scholz. What was discussed today with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Baerbock she was on a visit to Ukraine, I met with her today in Kyiv." "We are also making progress with our other partners, in particular, regarding air defense systems. Additional systems will be in Ukraine." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy did not specify from whom or what kind of air defence systems would be delivered. Background: On 5 September, the German government announced that a new batch of military aid had been delivered to Ukraine. The new package included, among other things, more than 10,000 shells of ammunition for Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, and Ukraine also received an armoured Beaver motorcycle carrier. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Defence Intelligence of Ukraine has said that Ukraine has regained control of gas and oil drilling platforms near occupied Crimea, known as the Boyko Towers. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) Details: The Boyko Towers are gas and oil drilling platforms off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea. Russia occupied the Boyko Towers in 2015, and it has been using them for military purposes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, specifically as helicopter landing sites and for the deployment of radar equipment. Quote from the Defence Intelligence: "A unique operation to establish control over the Boyko Towers has been carried out by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. In particular, the Petro Hodovalets and the Ukraine drilling platforms, as well as the Tavryda and the Syvash jack-up drilling rigs [self-elevating drilling units - ed.] were returned to Ukrainian control. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During the operation, special forces personnel managed to capture valuable trophies: a stockpile of helicopter munitions such as unguided aerial missiles, as well as the Neva radar system, which can track the movement of ships in the Black Sea. During one phase of the operation, a battle took place between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter jet. As a result of the battle, the Russian aircraft was hit and forced to retreat." Background: On 22 August, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that a Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft had "destroyed a US-made Willard Sea Force fast military boat with Ukrainian landing forces on board in the Black Sea, east of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island", but Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) called it a fake. The DIU reported that a Russian military aircraft and Ukrainian combat boats collided in the area of the Boyko Towers: a Russian missile fell into the water, while Ukrainian troops damaged the Russian warplane, forcing it to fly "towards the nearest airfield". UK Defence Intelligence later reported that Ukrainian and Russian forces were fighting for the Boyko Towers, strategically important oil and gas platforms in the Black Sea between Crimea and Odesa. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! An armoured train carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia, the countrys state news agency reported today. The agency RIA, citing one of its correspondents in Russias Far East where Mr Kim is expected, posted a video of the train with dark green and grey cars as it moved forward. The train carried the North Korean leader who rarely steps out of his country. Western intelligence agencies expect the two to discuss North Korea supplying weapons and ammunition to support Russias war machine in Ukraine. South Korean media, citing government sources, said that the train left the North Korean capital on Sunday evening and that the summit would likely be held on Tuesday or Wednesday in Vladivostok which is just 80 miles from the Russia-North Korea border. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Meanwhile, Ukraine has made gains on the frontline in the east and south, Kyiv has claimed as it seeks to put Russias forces on the run. Ukrainian troops near the frontline town of Avdiivka took advantage of Russian forces focusing on to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne to the south, the head of the local military administration said. Key Points Putins troops pushed back in thunderous assault operation in Donetsk Zelensky suggests Ukraine could be set for big breakthrough: 'They will run' Ukrainian military makes thunderous assault operation Ukraine says Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv 600 members of Putins forces killed in one day as party HQ destroyed British man who went to fight in Ukraine found dead In pictures: Kim Jong Un leaves for Russia 04:21 , Namita Singh North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves from a private train as he departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit Russia, 10 September 2023 (Reuters) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves from a private train as he departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit Russia, 10 September 2023 (Reuters) A view of the main train station in Vladivostok, Russia, early Tuesday, 12 September 2023. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is heading for Russia for a presumed meeting with president Vladimir Putin (AP) Why did Russia invade Ukraine? 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid. Read more: Heres why Putin really invaded Ukraine 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce NATO Deputy-General Secretary Mircea Geoana said on Monday there is no risk that Alliance member Romania will be dragged into a war following the recent discovery of drone fragments on its territory near the border with war-torn Ukraine. The most important thing is to re-confirm the fact that there is no indication of a deliberate action (by Russia) to strike Romanian territory and therefore NATO territory, Geoana told journalists during a visit to a school near Romanias capital, Bucharest. The NATO deputy chiefs comments come days after Romanian authorities have twice confirmed the discovery of drone fragments on the countrys soil amid sustained attacks by Russian forces on Ukraines Danube River ports across the river from NATO member Romania. Read more: 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says ICYMI: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce Ukraine only has around 45 days left before poor weather conditions hinder its counter-offensive against Russia, the head of the US military has said. Speaking to the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, General Mark Milley said it will become very difficult to manoeuvre once the rains come. That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago, he said. Read more: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce Complacency could be the enemy of success in Ukraine. It is 564 days since Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine shook to the core assumptions about our UK and European security. War in Europe is a brutal reminder that to be secure at home, we must be strong abroad and that our allies are the UKs great strategic strength. Defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. Despite deeply dug and heavily mined Russian defences, the Ukrainians are gradually getting the upper hand on the battlefield in the south, as well as diversifying the ways it is hitting the enemy from airfields at depth in Russia, to targets in Crimea, to Russian ships in the Black Sea. Some have criticised the slow pace of Ukraines counter-offensive. Yet its forces are making a similar rate of progress as British troops advancing into Normandy after the D-Day landings. Now is the time for Ukraines allies to double down on our support. Britains miliary backing of Zelensky has been dwarfed by our EU allies, writes shadow defence secretary John Healey. If we are serious about defeating Putin and defending Britain we must double down on our support: Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that | John Healey Ukraine special forces fight off Russian jet to retake strategic drilling rigs near Crimea, Kyiv says Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce Ukrainian special forces regained control of a number of oil and gas drilling platforms that Russia has used to help control the Black Sea in a unique operation, the countrys military intelligence (GUR) has said. During the operation, the GUR said, there was a clash between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian fighter jet, which was damaged and forced to retreat. It said the platforms, close to Crimea and known as the Boika Towers, had been occupied since 2015 by Moscow, which seized and annexed the peninsula in 2014. The UKs Ministry of Defence has previously said the platforms could be used to launch helicopters, position long-range missile systems and as a base for forward deployment. Chris Stevenson reports: Ukraine special forces fight off Russian jet to retake drilling rigs near Crimea Putin and Kim's meeting will be full-scale visit, Kremlin says Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , Eleanor Noyce North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin will be a full-scale visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Kim has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russias deepening isolation over its actions in Ukraine. There will be talks between the two delegations. And after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format, Peskov said. Video of his remarks were posted to social media by a Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin. According to Peskov, the main topic of the talks will be bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries. We will continue to strengthen our friendship, Peskov said. (AP) Berlin says missile supply to Kyiv won't automatically follow US supplies Monday 11 September 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that Berlin will not necessarily supply Kyiv with Taurus cruise missiles simply because the U.S. may decide to send ATACMS long-range missiles to the war-torn country. There is no automatism in this war, Pistorius told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to Cologne, adding that Germany was not yet in a position to decide on whether or not to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. Kyiv has been pushing Berlin to supply it with the missiles, which have a range of more than 500 km (311 miles) and are launched by fighter jets. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly made clear that Berlin will only act in concert with Washington on arms deliveries. Britain and France have provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow and Scalp cruise missiles, which are similar to the Taurus. However, the United States has so far refrained from sending its ATACMS to Ukraine despite Kyivs requests. At the weekend, ABC reported that the U.S. was likely to deliver ATACMS to Ukraine for the first time. Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, said on the Telegram messaging app that discussions on ATACMS were moving forward, but he gave no details. Zelensky told CNN in an interview that he planned to speak again to U.S. President Joe Biden about providing ATACMS to Ukraine, and that he hoped to receive them in the autumn. Cruise missiles are hard to detect with air defence radars as they fly at low altitudes. They are mainly used to hit high-value targets behind enemy lines such as command bunkers, ammunitions and fuel dumps, airfields and bridges. Russia has been using long-range missiles to destroy targets in Ukraine including civilian infrastructure, and Ukraine has no easy way to respond to such attacks. UK says Russia targeted civilian cargo ship in Black Sea port on 24 Aug Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce Britain on Monday accused Russia of targeting a civilian cargo ship at port in the Black Sea on 24 August in a previously unconfirmed missile attack it said was successfully thwarted by Ukrainian defences. Ukraine has been making efforts to allow vessels stranded in Odesa port since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to sail into open waters after the collapse of the UN-backed Black Sea grains corridor. The remarks, made in Britains parliament by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, are the first time an official has commented on a ship being targeted since those Ukrainian efforts began. Since Aug. 18, four cargo ships have sailed from Odesa. Thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on the 24th of August, Sunak said in an update to parliament on the G20 summit he attended in New Delhi. The missiles had targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in port and were successfully shot down, Britains foreign office said in a statement. The missiles included two Kalibr missiles fired from a Black Sea Fleet missile carrier, it added. Russias defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters request for a comment. Since Russia quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Both the United States and Britain had warned in July that Russia might expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement. In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world. US and UK holding UN screening of documentary on Russia's siege of Ukrainian city of Mariupol Monday 11 September 2023 19:07 , Sam Rkaina The United States and Britain are hosting a U.N. screening of the award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which follows a trio of journalists during Russias relentless siege of the Ukrainian port city in the early days of the war. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the Monday evening showing at U.N. headquarters is important because Russias invasion of Ukraine threatens what the U.N. stands for: an international order where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is fundamental. The screening comes at the start of the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly and a week before world leaders arrive for their annual meeting, where the more than 18-month war in Ukraine is expected to be in the spotlight especially with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to speak in person for the first time. The harrowing documentary, which was produced by the AP and the PBS series Frontline, is culled from 30 hours of footage AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov and his colleagues shot in Mariupol following Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine and its siege of the city. Desperate Putin attacked civilian cargo ship, Sunak reveals after G20 summit Monday 11 September 2023 18:10 , Sam Rkaina Sunak accuses Russia of targeting civilian cargo ship Monday 11 September 2023 17:40 , Sam Rkaina Rishi Sunak has accused the Russian military of targeting a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on 24 August. Thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on the 24th of August, Mr Sunak said in an update to parliament on the G20 summit he attended in New Delhi. Since Russia quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Both the United States and Britain had warned in July that Russia might expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea. (PA Wire) White House urges North Korea not to sell arms to Putin Monday 11 September 2023 16:50 , Sam Rkaina With North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly on a trip to Russia, the White House on Monday urged North Korea not to sell arms to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. As we have warned publicly, arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected to continue during Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia. We urge the DPRK to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia, said Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. Putun and Kim during a previous meeting in 2019 (AP) German minister says Ukraine's place is in EU, hears calls for arms during Kyiv visit Monday 11 September 2023 16:20 , Eleanor Noyce German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a visit to Kyiv on Monday that Ukraines place was in the European Union, but urged it do more to fight corruption. On her fourth visit to Ukraine since Russias invasion over 18 months ago, she said Germany would provide an additional 20 million euros ($21.44 million) in humanitarian aid, bringing the amount provided by Berlin to 380 million euros this year. At meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders, she also heard calls for Western partners to provide Kyiv with more weapons including long-range missiles to fight Russian forces. Ukraine is defending the freedom of us all with great courage and determination, Baerbock was quoted by her ministry as saying on arrival in the Ukrainian capital. Just as Ukraine is standing up for us, it can also rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russias war. And on our firm support for Ukraine on its path towards the European Union. Despite Russias invasion, Ukraine is trying to carry out reforms requested by the EU before it can join the 28-country bloc, a process that usually takes years. Reform results in the areas of judicial reform and media legislation are already impressive. But there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption, Baerbock said. She also warned that Russia would target Ukraines energy facilities in air strikes this autumn and winter. Russias perfidious goal is to starve the people again this winter and to let them freeze to death, she said. Ukraine claims to recapture Black Sea oil platforms seized during Crimea's annexation Monday 11 September 2023 16:06 , Eleanor Noyce The Ukrainian military said Monday that it recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms from Russia in the Black Sea and claimed gains in occupied areas near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine left in ruins after the wars longest and deadliest fighting. The recapture of the so-called Boyko Towers platforms provides an energy source and takes back an asset that Russia seized in 2015 and used to launch helicopters, Ukraines Ministry of Defense said. Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea, the Main Intelligence Directorate said. Read more: Ukraine claims to recapture Black Sea oil platforms seized during Crimea's annexation Lula rows back from comments that Brazil would not arrest Putin Monday 11 September 2023 15:50 , Eleanor Noyce President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rowed back on Monday from saying Brazil would ignore a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, while saying he would review Brazils membership in the International Criminal Court. On Saturday, while in India for a Group of 20 nations meeting, Lula told a local interviewer that there was no way Putin would be arrested if he attended next years summit, which is due to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which obliges members to comply with its arrest warrants. The court issued a warrant for Putins arrest in March, accusing him of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia has denied its forces have engaged in war crimes or forcibly taken Ukrainian children. Putin has yet to travel abroad since the ICC sought his arrest, notably missing a summit of the BRICS group in South Africa last month as well as this months G20 summit in India. He also skipped the G20 summit in Bali last year. If Putin decides to join (next years summit), it is the judiciarys power to decide (on a possible arrest) and not my government, Lula said at a press conference on Monday, rowing back from his earlier remarks. He would review why Brazil had signed up to the ICC treaty, he said: I want to know why the U.S, India and China didnt sign the ICC treaty and why our country signed it. Lulas earlier comments that Putin would not be arrested had drawn criticism in Brazil. Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo, said on social media site X that the comments were damaging and unnecessary. Rather than projecting himself as the elder statesman, Lula came across as inexperienced and ignorant, Stuenkel wrote. Lula has sought unsuccessfully to mediate peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and has said that U.S. President Joe Biden could have done more to prevent the conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine last year and claims to have annexed around a sixth of its territory. Ukraine says any peace agreement that would leave Russian troops on Ukrainian soil would reward Putin for his decision to invade. Moscow says there can be no peace unless Ukraine accepts its territorial claims. Sweden adds another SEK 700 mln to its 2024 defence spending Monday 11 September 2023 15:35 , Eleanor Noyce Sweden has again boosted its planned defence budget for 2024, taking the total planned increase for the year to 27 billion crowns ($2.44 billion) and exceeding the NATO threshold of 2% of GDP, the government said on Monday. The defence minister announced that Sweden would add 700 million to the defence in its upcoming autumn budget, lifting the overall defence spending to 119 billion crowns in 2024, almost double that of 2020. The spending is expected to be equivalent to 2.1% of Swedish GDP, he said. We are in the most serious security policy situation since the end of the Second World War, Minister of Defence Pal Jonson told a news conference. Sweden is scrambling to boost its defence following Russias invasion of Ukraine last year. Sweden was invited to join NATO in 2023 but is waiting for Turkey and Hungary to approve its application. Russia's largest untapped copper deposit starts concentrate production Monday 11 September 2023 15:20 , Eleanor Noyce Copper concentrate production started at Russias largest undeveloped copper deposit on Monday following a ceremony overseen by President Vladimir Putin via video link. The long-awaited Udokan project in Russias far east is coming on stream at a challenging time. The United States imposed sanctions on its operator - Udokan Copper LLC - in April as part of a wave of restrictions placed on Russia due to its activities in Ukraine. Copper prices also fell 14% in 2022 and are flat so far this year due to weaker than expected demand. The project, however, relies on its proximity to top metals consumer China and on demand there, as well as future demand from the global green energy transition. Go ahead, Putin said during the ceremony, broadcast by state TV. The processing plant at Udokan will produce sulphide copper concentrate with 40-45% metal content, the company said. It plans commercial sales this year, but has not disclosed potential buyers yet. Once the first stage of the metallurgical plant is launched in 2024, Udokan will be able to handle up to 15 million metric tons of ore per year, with annual production of up to 150,000 tons of copper in the form of copper cathode and concentrate. The deposit is the largest in Russia with an estimated 26.7 million tons of copper resources. It has been untapped since its discovery in 1949 because the technology didnt exist to exploit its unique and difficult-to-extract ore. In the 1970s, a student at the Moscow Mining Institute researched the idea of a clean nuclear blast to extract Udokans ore, but that remained on paper. Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov bought the right to develop Udokan for $500 million from the government just before the 2008 financial crisis. It took 10 years to solve the technical challenges of the project, create a new geological model and start construction. By 2028, Udokan plans to build the second stage of its mining and metallurgical complex, increasing annual capacity to 2428 million tons of ore and up to 450,000 tons of copper. North Korea's Kim en route to Russia for talks with Putin Monday 11 September 2023 15:05 , Eleanor Noyce North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russias deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine. Kim would visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of Putin, the Kremlin said, while North Korean state news agency KCNA said the two would meet and have a talk, without elaborating. U.S. officials have said the pair would discuss possible arms deals to aid Russias war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with a much-needed economic and political lifeline. Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North. It will be Kims second summit with Putin, after the pair met in 2019. Despite denials by both Pyongyang and Moscow, the United States has said talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia, which has expended vast stocks of weapons in more than 18 months of war. The North Korean leader left aboard his train late on Sunday, a senior South Korean government official told Reuters. The special train would take Kim to North Koreas northeastern border with Russia and the summit could take place as early as Tuesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing intelligence concerns, and added that details could change depending on the situation there. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang immediately confirmed an exact schedule for the visit. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts. Kims last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Koreas nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Red Cross cuts 2024 budget as donations fall Monday 11 September 2023 14:50 , Eleanor Noyce The International Committee of the Red Cross will cut its budget next year by about 13%, its director-general said on Monday, as major donors including the United States have reduced funding. Surging humanitarian needs amid a deepening set of crises around the world including wars in Ukraine and Sudan have strained aid budgets, forcing governments to rethink decisions about who to help and how. This reduced ICRC budget forecast which is the consequence of shrinking aid budgets globally is taking place at a time where global humanitarian needs have never been higher, Robert Mardini told journalists, saying he was concerned about he impact of the cuts. This trend comes at a significant human cost, he added. The humanitarian body is present in more than 90 countries and its activities range from providing basic humanitarian aid to visiting prisoners of war. The 2024 budget would be 2.1 billion CHF ($2.36 billion), resulting in 270 further job cuts in its Geneva headquarters, he said. The ICRCs website says it is funded by voluntary contributions from states party to the Geneva Conventions, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, supranational organisations such as the European Commission, and public and private donors. At the end of March, its governing board approved a plan to reduce 430 million CHF in global costs over 2023 and early 2024, having revised its overall budget down to 2.4 billion CHF. Asked about U.S. funding, Mardini said that the United States was the organisations biggest donor and had cut back its 2023 contributions versus the previous year, without giving details of the amounts. We need to rethink the humanitarian system, said Mardini. The whole system relies on a handful of countries and donors and I think this is by design a big problem and a big risk, he added. 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says Monday 11 September 2023 14:35 , Eleanor Noyce NATO Deputy-General Secretary Mircea Geoana said on Monday there is no risk that Alliance member Romania will be dragged into a war following the recent discovery of drone fragments on its territory near the border with war-torn Ukraine. The most important thing is to re-confirm the fact that there is no indication of a deliberate action (by Russia) to strike Romanian territory and therefore NATO territory, Geoana told journalists during a visit to a school near Romanias capital, Bucharest. The NATO deputy chiefs comments come days after Romanian authorities have twice confirmed the discovery of drone fragments on the countrys soil amid sustained attacks by Russian forces on Ukraines Danube River ports across the river from NATO member Romania. Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda report: 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that Monday 11 September 2023 14:15 , Eleanor Noyce Complacency could be the enemy of success in Ukraine. It is 564 days since Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine shook to the core assumptions about our UK and European security. War in Europe is a brutal reminder that to be secure at home, we must be strong abroad and that our allies are the UKs great strategic strength. Defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. Despite deeply-dug and heavily mined Russian defences, the Ukrainians are gradually getting the upper hand on the battlefield in the South, as well as diversifying the ways it is hitting the enemy from airfields at depth in Russia, to targets in Crimea, to Russian ships in the Black Sea. Some have criticised the slow pace of Ukraines counter-offensive. Yet its forces are making a similar rate of progress as British troops advancing into Normandy after the D-Day landings. Now is the time for Ukraines allies to double down on our support. Britains military backing of Zelensky has been dwarfed by our EU allies, writes shadow defence secretary John Healey. If we are serious about defeating Putin and defending Britain we must double down on our support: Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that | John Healey Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers and target Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Matt Mathers Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, while dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief group, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers and target Kyiv Ukraine says Russia may soon launch big mobilisation drive Monday 11 September 2023 13:47 , Eleanor Noyce Ukraines military said on Monday Russia could launch a big mobilisation campaign soon to try to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers from inside Russia and occupied Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff provided no evidence in a statement to support its assertion. Russian officials have said there are no current plans for a new wave of mobilisation and that Moscow is focused on recruiting professional soldiers. A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers catastrophic losses, the General Staff said in a battlefield roundup. The mobilisation campaign could target between 400,000 and 700,000 recruits, it said, citing different estimates. It said the number of Russians recruited in Moscow and St Petersburg would remain minimal, while Russians would be drawn heavily from the regions outside the two big Russian cities. The General Staff issued its statement days after a senior Ukrainian military spy official said there were 420,000 Russian servicemen currently inside Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine both treat their losses on the battlefield as a state secret. Last month, the New York Times cited unnamed U.S. officials who said nearly 500,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops had been killed or wounded in the war since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. ICYMI: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down Ukraine declaration Monday 11 September 2023 13:40 , Matt Mathers The G20 summit in India has ended without the usual family photo, as some members questioned the watered-down language used in the joint declaration issued by leaders in relation to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Most of the leaders departed from Delhi earlier in the day, having paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial on the banks of the Yamuna River. The absence of the customary group photograph intended to signify unity between the worlds largest economies exemplified the fact that deep divisions still remain over the Ukraine war. Shweta Sharma reports: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Germany to provide Ukraine additional 20 mln in aid - Baerbock in Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 13:23 , Eleanor Noyce Germany will provide an additional 20 million ($21.44 million) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday during a visit to Kyiv. The additional aid will bring Germanys total to 380 million euros this year, the minister said. Baerbock also warned that Russia would again target Ukraines energy facilities this autumn and winter: Russias perfidious goal is to starve the people again this winter and to let them freeze to death. Ukraine needs more air defences to protect ports - FM Monday 11 September 2023 13:20 , Matt Mathers Ukraines foreign minister said he discussed air defence supplies with his German counterpart in Kyiv on Monday and that Ukraine needed more systems to protect its ports from Russian air strikes to ensure grain could be exported. Dmytro Kuleba also urged Berlin to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine as soon as possible. "You will do it anyway, its just a matter of time, and I dont understand why we are wasting time," he said in response to a question at a news conference in Kyiv. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AFP or licensors) Russia says ban on Russians bringing cars, some goods into EU is racist Monday 11 September 2023 12:46 , Matt Mathers Russia said on Monday that a European Union ban on Russians bringing their cars and some personal goods into the bloc was racist, and one ally of president Vladimir Putin suggested that all diplomatic relations should be severed in response. In an explanatory note to its rules on sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war, the European Commission said Russians were temporarily barred from bringing some personal goods or vehicles into the 27-nation EU. The annex referred to in the advice also appears to ban the import of a host of items which could be dual use alongside more mundane items such as make-up, toothpaste, deodorants, toilet paper and mobile phones. "Its just racism," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said of the Commissions advice. "This is racism pure and simple." Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (TASS Host Photo Agency/AFP via G) Kremlin and North Korea confirm Kim Jong-Un visit Monday 11 September 2023 12:28 , Matt Mathers Russia and North Korea confirmed Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia. A brief statement on the Kremlins website said Kims visit is at the invitation of president Vladimir Putin and would take place "in the coming days." The visit also was reported by North Koreas official KCNA news agency, saying he would meet with Putin. Russia Expanding Arsenals (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Monday 11 September 2023 11:56 , Matt Mathers Ukraine soldiers search road of death for fallen Russians in hope of exchange Ukrainian soldiers have told the harrowing details of how they search for the bodies of dead Russian troops who they hope to exchange for their own fallen comrades. Wearing face masks, the Ukrainian soldiers poked sticks into the undergrowth along a deserted country lane, which they have named the road of death after a number of Russian soldiers were killed there when Ukrainian forces retook the southeastern village of Blahodatne at the start of their counteroffensive in June. Three months on, the frontline had shifted south and it was finally safe enough for the three-man team of Ukrainian soldiers to start their operation in this liberated part of Donetsk region. Were going to search, said Volodymyr, a 50-year-old marine, as artillery fire boomed in the distance. Search with our eyes. And using smell. File photo: A soldier of Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade looks on against the background of an APC near Bakhmut (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Russia pulling out of Black Sea grain deal risks many people going hungry Monday 11 September 2023 11:34 , Matt Mathers Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea grain initiative has put many more people at risk from hunger, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights has said, Volker Turk spoke at the opening of the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. A year and a half of horrific warfare has ravaged Ukraine, with a heart-wrenching toll on its people, and damage to vast areas of agricultural land, he said. The Russian Federations withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, and attacks on grain facilities in Odesa and elsewhere, have again forced prices sky-high in many developing countries taking the right to food far out of reach for many people." GUATEMALA-ONU (AP) Putin arrives in Vladivostock for Eastern Economic Forum - state TV Monday 11 September 2023 10:59 , Matt Mathers Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vladivostock for a meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, according to Russian state TV. Russia has hosted the forum since 2015 as it tries to drum up investment from the far east. China, Myanmar, Mongolia, India, Armenia and South Korea are among the countries that send delegates to the forum. This years event is taking place at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus. The Eastern Economic Forum is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, the investment opportunities it offers, and business conditions within advanced special economic zones, it website says. Far Eastern Federal University (REUTERS) Ukraine retakes offshore drilling platforms near Crimea - military intelligence Monday 11 September 2023 10:27 , Matt Mathers Ukraines military intelligence service said on Monday its forces had regained control of several offshore drilling platforms close to Crimea. It said on the Telegram messaging app that Kyivs forces had retaken the drilling platforms known as the Boiko Towers in a "unique operation". It said the platforms had been occupied since 2015 by Russia, which seized and annexed Crimea in 2014, and had been used by Moscow for military purposes since the start of Russias full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Up to judiciary if Putin should be arrested when visiting Brazil for G20 - Lula Monday 11 September 2023 10:01 , Matt Mathers Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said it is up to the countrys judiciary whether or not to arrest Vladimir Putin if he visits for the G20 summit next year. "If Putin decides to join, it is the judiciarys power to decide and not my government, Lula told reporters in New Delhi, where he was attending this years G20 summit. "I believe that Putin can go easily to Brazil," he said in an on-camera interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost. "What I can say to you is that if Im president of Brazil, and he comes to Brazil, theres no way he will be arrested." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Rosangela da Silva (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on way to Russia' Monday 11 September 2023 09:27 , Matt Mathers A North Korean train presumably carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia for a possible meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, South Korean media said Monday. Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. South Koreas National Intelligence Service didnt immediately confirm those details. US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. Russia Expanding Arsenals G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down Ukraine declaration Monday 11 September 2023 09:03 , Matt Mathers The G20 summit in India has ended without the usual family photo, as some members questioned the watered-down language used in the joint declaration issued by leaders in relation to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Most of the leaders departed from Delhi earlier in the day, having paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial on the banks of the Yamuna River. The absence of the customary group photograph intended to signify unity between the worlds largest economies exemplified the fact that deep divisions still remain over the Ukraine war. Shweta Sharma reports: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Zelensky pays tribute to aid workers killed in Donetsk Monday 11 September 2023 08:41 , Matt Mathers Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to aid workers after a Russian anti-tank missile struck a volunteer van in Donetsk yesterday. Canadian Anthony Ignat was killed in the incident and it is likely Emma Igual of Spain also died, the Ukraine president said. German citizen Mawick Ruben and Swedish citizen Johan Mathias, two other volunteers, were seriously injured and are being treated in hospitals in Dnipro. This Russian shelling once again confirms how close the war against Ukraine is to everyone in the world who truly values human life and who believes it is the common moral duty of humanity to stop terror and defeat evil, Zelensky said in a Telegram post. (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima) Ukraine's place is in the EU, says German foreign minister in Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 08:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that Ukraines place is in the European Union during a visit to the embattled countrys capital, Kyiv, on Monday morning. Ukraine can rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russias war, said Baerbock upon arrival, according to a statement. Ukraine already has candidate status, said Baerbock. And now we are preparing to take a decision on opening EU accession talks. On judicial reform and media legislation, Ukraines reform results are already impressive, she said. But there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption, added the foreign minister. The visit is Baerbocks fourth since the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022. Putin to recruit 420,000 by year end in blow to industrial workforce UK MoD Monday 11 September 2023 08:03 , Arpan Rai The Russian military intends to recruit 420,000 contract personnel by the end of 2023, Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today, warning of the negative effect this would have on its industrial workforce. On 3 September, Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dimitry Medvedev stated that so far 280,000 personnel had been recruited, the ministry said, adding that the numbers cannot be verified. Russias conscription continues to have negative effects on its industry workforce. The Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy found that Russias industry shortage of workers reached a new high of 42% for July 2023, 7% higher from April 2023, the MoD said. It added that in contrast to conscription efforts elsewhere, the IT sector Russia has taken steps to preserve the workforce. This likely highlights the particularly acute shortages in the sector after about 100,000 IT workers left Russia in 2022, it said. This equates to 10% of the IT sector workforce. On 4 September 2023, President Putin signed a decree to increase the exemption age of military recruitment for IT professionals from 27 to 30. This shows that mobilisation and conscription within Russia has worsened non-defence workforce shortages. In the run-up to the Russian presidential elections scheduled for March 2024, Russian authorities will likely seek to avoid further unpopular mobilisations, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update. Ukrainian military makes thunderous assault operation amid advances in Donetsk and south Monday 11 September 2023 07:21 , Arpan Rai Ukraines armed forces have made gains in different parts of eastern Donetsk region, the focal point of Russias continuing invasion of the country, and in the south, officials said yesterday. Ukrainian troops near the frontline town of Avdiivka took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city, the head of the local military administration said. In my opinion, this is very significant, Vitaliy Barabash told national television. To be frank, the enemy overlooked this southern direction a bit. He called the advance a thunderous assault operation and said fighting was underway in the settlement. Avdiivka, site of a major coking plant, has been under near-constant Russian attack for many months. The General Staff of Ukraines armed forces reported successes near Bakhmut. In its evening report, the General Staff reported partial success as a result of assault operations near Klishchiivka, a village on heights south of Bakhmut, seen as critical to recapturing the town. The report also described a measure of success near Robotyne a settlement it captured late last month as part of its drive southward through Russian-held areas to the Sea of Azov. US treasury secretary denies G20 watered down statement on Ukraine Monday 11 September 2023 06:56 , Arpan Rai The US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has denied the G20 toned down its stance on Ukraine in the Delhi Declaration released over the weekend, which did not mention Russian aggression in Ukraine directly. Calling the statement substantively very strong, Ms Yellen said: The US does not see this language as in any way weakening the G20s stance on Ukraine. Clearly it was hard to find language that would satisfy the US and other countries but we felt we wanted strong language, and substantively strong language, and this was substantively very strong, she told the Financial Times. Ukraine rejected the joint statement, saying the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Zelensky suggests Ukraine could be set for big breakthrough: 'They will run' Monday 11 September 2023 05:21 , Arpan Rai In an interview with The Economist published yesterday, Volodymyr Zelensky said steady progress was essential to maintaining Ukrainian morale. Keeping morale high is crucial. This is why even limited progress on the frontline is essential, Mr Zelensky told the publication. Now we have movement. Its important, the publication quoted him as saying. If we push them from the south, they will run, he said, hinting that a big breakthrough can still come before the onset of Ukraines infamously wet autumn weather makes battlefield movement more difficult. Ukraine has had some success in dismantling the first of Russias three main defensive lines in the Zaporizhzhia region after facing initial losses in the early stages of the counteroffensive. Mr Zelensky added that victory will not come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The Russian army is losing lots of people, Mr Zelensky said, adding that the invading country has had to redeploy its reserves to stop the Ukrainian advance. It means they lose, he said. Zelensky says troops advancing in south, movement in east Monday 11 September 2023 04:17 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops pressing a counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces have advanced on the southern front in the past week while there had also been movement near Bakhmut in the east. Over the past seven days we have made an advance in the Tavria (southern) sector, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address. There is movement in the Bakhmut sector. Yes, there is movement. He added that Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on other fronts in the east Avdiivka and Maryinka near the focus of Russias main attacks, and Lyman and Kupiansk, also subject to Russian attempts to advance further north. The war-time presidents latest comments confirm assessments by other officials of gains, however modest, in the east and south. Near Avdiivka, the head of the local military administration said Ukrainian troops took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city. Two drones downed near Russias Belgorod region Monday 11 September 2023 03:55 , Arpan Rai Russias air defence systems destroyed two drones over the Belgorod region in the early hours today, the Russian defence ministry said on its Telegram channel, claiming to have thwarted an attack by Ukraine. No immediate injuries have been reported after drone debris fell on a road in the Yakovlevsky district, according to Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. ICYMI: Foreign aid workers killed in Russian strikes Monday 11 September 2023 03:00 , Lydia Patrick A charity confirmed four of their workers were hit by Russian shells in the Bakhmut region whilst trying to get to civilians who were caught in a crossfire. Their vehicle came under Russian attack leading the van to catch on fire and flip, according to a Road to Relief spokesperson.German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick, Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr, Canadian volunteer Anthony Tonko Ihnat, and Spanish volunteer and Road to Relief Director Emma Igual were all in the vehicle.According to the charity, Ruben and Johan were badly injured with shrapnel wounds and burns but are now in a stable condition. Tragically, Tonko has been confirmed dead, whilst Emmas current status is still unknown as the organiation cannot trace her whereabouts. Zelensky urges the West to maintain support for Ukraine Monday 11 September 2023 02:00 , Lydia Patrick The Ukranian president says Europeans must prepare for a long war as Kyiv make modest progress three months into counter offensive. In an interview with The Economist, the leader expresses a seeming change in morale amongst Western leaders as Kyiv make modest gains. Zelensky urges the West to contine their solidarity with Ukraine (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER) In conversation with The Economist, he said: I have this intuition, reading, hearing and seeing their eyes [when they say] well be always with you. But I see that he or she is not here, not with us. The ex TV actor is aware of the importance of western economic support. Mr Zelensky added: If you are not with Ukraine, you are with Russia, and if you are not with Russia, you are with Ukraine. And if partners do not help us, it means they will help Russia to win. That is it. ICYMI: Russia carries out overnight drone attack on Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 01:00 , Lydia Patrick Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts ringing out across the Ukrainian capital and its region for almost two hours and drone debris falling on several of the citys central districts, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraines Land Forces said that the countrys air defence systems destroyed 25 out of 32 Russia-launched Iran-made Shahed drones, most of which targeted Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Reuters witnesses heard at least five blasts across Kyiv, and Ukrainian media footage showed a number of cars damaged. Drones came onto the capital in groups and from different directions, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyivs city military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Read the full story here Putins drones rained down on Kyiv (Reuters) Tributes pour in for the volunteers killed in Kyiv strike Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Lydia Patrick Two foreign aid workers were killed this morning as shells hit their van - causing it to catch fire and flip. Candian Anthony Tonko Ihnat was one of the volunteers who lost their life in the attack. Paracrew Humanitarian Aid, an organisation he had previously worked for shared their sadness on Facebook. They wrote: His compassion, empathy and strength will forever be an inspiration to all of us. And we will keep his memory alive by working on to help Ukraine in every possible way. Rest in peace dear friend. Director of NGO killed in Russian strike Sunday 10 September 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick A 34-year-old Spanish humanitarian worker has been named as one of the victims of a Russian attack in Kyiv this morning. Emma Igual was the director of Road to Relief, a Ukrainian-registered humanitarian NGO created in March 2022 with the purpose of helping Ukranian civillians. The charitys main aims are to evacuate civillians, provide humanitarian aid and mobile healthcare. According to the Huff Post she dedicated her life to help others and had previously carried out volunteer work in Kenya, Morocco. Greece and Myanmar. Zelensky says a big breakthrough could lie ahead in counter offensive as Kyiv make gains Sunday 10 September 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian troops had made advances on the southern front and made movements near Bakhmut in the east. Over the past seven days we have made an advance in the Tavria (southern) sector, Zelensky said in his nightly video address. Zelenskiys latest comments on the state of the three-month-old counter offensive appeared to confirm assessments by other officials of gains, however modest, in the east and south (EPA) There is movement in the Bakhmut sector. Yes, there is movement. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on other fronts in the east -- Avdiivka and Maryinka near the focus of Russias main attacks, and Lyman and Kupiansk, also subject to Russian attempts to advance further north. Near Avdiivka, the head of the local military administration said Ukrainian troops took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city. In my opinion, this is very significant, Vitaliy Barabash told national television. To be frank, the enemy overlooked this southern direction a bit. Zelensky and other officials have said the counter offensive requires time, dismissing criticism in the Western media that it is proceeding too slowly because of tactical errors. In an interview with The Economist published on Sunday, Zelensky said making steady progress was essential to maintaining morale. He suggested a big breakthrough could lie ahead. G20 summit doesnt end with family photo Sunday 10 September 2023 21:00 , Lydia Patrick The G20 summit did not end in the usual harmonious manner this Sunday as some members question the and omission of Russia and careful language used in the communique. Earlier drafts of the declaration reportedly featured stronger language when it comes to Russia, but a senior European Union official who was part of the negotiations told reporters here at the summit venue on Sunday that it would have spelled the end of the G20 as an organisation if they had not agreed to the watered-down version. The official said: Ukraine was the most contentious issue. Extremely different positions were on the table to find the consensus, but it was Indias presidency and we believe in consensus so we had to accept that. Read the full story here: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Russian general says Ukraine is a stepping stone to the rest of Europe Sunday 10 September 2023 20:00 , Lydia Patrick General Andrey Mordvichev spoke out in a TV interview with Russia state TV warning Ukraine is just the beginning to the rest of Eastern Europe. He also told the presente he expects the war to last a very long time. As reported in Newsweek, Mordvichev said: I think theres still plenty of time to spend. It is pointless to talk about a specified period. If we are talking about Eastern Europe, which we will have to, of course then it will be longer. The interviewer then asked if Ukraine was merely a stepping stone. He responded: Yes, absolutely. It is only the beginning. This war will last for a long time, because we still need to liberate Eastern Europe, says Russian general and war criminal Andrei Mordvichev. The interview was recorded at the end of July this year and Mordvichev assumed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive would slow down by pic.twitter.com/MB9m1YYcLV TheKremlinYap (@TheKremlinYap) September 9, 2023 US Secretary of State defends decision to accept G20 statement - despite criticism Sunday 10 September 2023 19:30 , Lydia Patrick Anthony Blinken defended the United States decision to agree with the summits declaration amid Ukrainian complaints the statment doesnt do enough to condemn Russia. During an interview on ABCs This Week he said:I was in the room when all the leaders spoke today with President Biden and it was very clear from everything that they said that not only do they want to see this war end, but they want to see it end on just and durable terms and it was also very clear that the consequences of Russias aggression are being felt throughout the G20 countries and throughout the developing world. I think its very important that the G20 spoke as one, Blinken added. Ukrainian foreign ministry Oleg Nikolnko hit out at the statement, saying the language used did not go far enough to condemn Russia. Blinken routinely pledges his support for Ukraine on social media. Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine's vital Danube ports, systematically destroying civilian infrastructure to prevent Ukrainian grain from feeding the world. This is Russia's playbook: strangle Ukrainian grain exports, weaponize food, and make hungry people pay the price. Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 8, 2023 Russia are becoming savvy to Ukranian military tactics, says head of military intelligence Sunday 10 September 2023 18:30 , Lydia Patrick Ukraines head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov spoke at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv last night. Ukranian and international policy makers gathered to dicuss the wars progression. As reported in The Guardian, Budanov said: In terms of creativity and flexibility, we still have an edge over them, they are rather outdated. But they are adapting, they are trying to change tactics, to alter the way they use forces, they miserably fail with their strategy, but their tactics do have some improvements. They switched to the mass use of drones, before the war they simply didnt understand the importance of them, now they are adapting and copying us a lot. Kyrylo Budanov ICYMI: British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Lydia Patrick A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. She said: Although we are extremely proud of his unwavering courage and resilience, his death has been devastating. Read the full story here British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound ICYMI: Ukraine says G20 summit declaration nothing to be proud of Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Lydia Patrick The Ukrainian foreign ministry hit out at G20s joint declaration for omitting the mention of Russia and put forward his own corrected version. The G20 member countrys reached an agreement on Saturday but there was a notable difference in language regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict in comparison with last years document. There were disagreements between European countries who were keen to use strong language to condemn Moscows invasion yet Russia and China wouldnt accept any mention of war. Nikolenko said: G20 adopted a final declaration. We are grateful to the partners who tried to include strong wording in the text. However, in terms of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, G20 has nothing to be proud of. This is how the main elements of the text could look to be closer to reality pic.twitter.com/qZqYluVKKS Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) September 9, 2023 Moscow hold local elections in occupied regions of Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 16:15 , Lydia Patrick Russian authorities have reported multiple attempts to sabotage voting in local elections taking place in occupied areas of Ukraine. Votes are taking place this weekend in 79 regions of Russia, with ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils, as well as in the four Ukrainian regions Moscow annexed illegally last year - the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces - and on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. Kyiv and the West have said balloting in the occupied areas of Ukraine is a violation of international law. Russian electoral officials on Sunday reported attempts to sabotage voting in the occupied regions, where guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv had previously killed pro-Moscow officials, blown up bridges and helped the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets. A drone strike in the early hours of Sunday destroyed one polling station in the Zaporizhzhia province, deputy chairman of Russias Central Election Commission Nikolai Bulaev told reporters. He said no staff were at the station at the time of the attack. A Russian-appointed official in the neighbouring Kherson region said that a live grenade was discovered on Saturday near a polling station there. Marina Zakharova said the grenade was hidden in bushes outside the station, and that voting had to be halted while emergency services disposed of it. Local residents and Ukrainian activists have alleged that Russian poll workers make house calls accompanied by armed soldiers in both provinces, detaining those who refuse to vote and pressuring them into writing explanatory statements that could be used as grounds for a criminal case. An elderly woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Moscow mayoral election in Moscow, Russia (Moscow News Agency) ICYMI: Russia turning to old ally North Korea to replenish ammunition Sunday 10 September 2023 15:42 , Lydia Patrick Russias supplies are depleting after a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine - and theyre turning to Kim Jong Un. It is believed the isolated Asian country has tens of millions artillery shells and rockets that could help the Russian army. United States officials expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions transfer with President Vladimir Putin. Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center said: We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong Un. Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, visited North Korea in July 2023, as the first Russian defence chief to visit the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Whilst the Kremlin have refused to comment about the nature of an arms deal, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed their close ties. He said: : North Korea is our neighbor, and we will further develop our relations without looking back at other countries opinion. Read the full story here: Russia is turning to old ally North Korea to resupply its arsenal for the war in Ukraine Russia says will return to grain deal once all conditions met Sunday 10 September 2023 15:02 , Tara Cobham Russia will return to the Black Sea grain deal the same day as Moscow's conditions for export of its own grain and fertilisers to the global markets are met, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters on Sunday. Russia quit the deal in July, a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced obstacles and that insufficient Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need. "When all the necessary actions for removing obstacles for our grain and fertiliser exports are implemented, the same day we will return to the collective implementation of the Ukrainian part of the 'Black Sea initiative'", Lavrov told a briefing after attending a two-day G20 summit in New Delhi. US army chief fears Kyiv has only 30 days left for offensive Sunday 10 September 2023 14:34 , Tara Cobham Kyiv could have as little as 30 days left for its counter-offensive against Moscow, fears the head of the US military. General Mark Milley said Ukraine only has around 30 to 45 days left before poor weather conditions hinder its offensive, telling the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg it will become very difficult to manoeuvre once the rains come. Luke O'Reilly reports: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief Recap: Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack Sunday 10 September 2023 13:30 , Tara Cobham Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet with one Ukrainian official saying that his country is paying the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians in areas where Russias invasion has left infrastructure devastated or jammed. An extract of a new biography of Musk, published by CNN on Thursday, said that the drones packed with explosives lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly during the thwarted assault last year, after Musk ordered his engineers to turn off the network. Musk is said to have feared that a strike on the ports of Russian-occupied Crimea would amount to a mini Pearl Harbor. Having apparently spoken to the Russian ambassador to the United States who is reported to have told him that an attack on Crimea would trigger a nuclear response Musk is then said to have ordered his engineers to turn off Starlink coverage within 100km of the Crimean coast. Chris Stevenson reports: Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukraine drone attack on Russian ships Russia claims it destroyed US-supplied Ukrainian speedboats Sunday 10 September 2023 13:00 , Tara Cobham Russias defense ministry said in the early hours of Sunday that Moscows forces earlier destroyed three US-supplied Ukrainian speedboats that had been travelling toward Crimea. The claim could not be independently verified. Too early to judge Ukraines summer offensive as failure, says US military head Sunday 10 September 2023 12:20 , Tara Cobham It is too early to say whether Ukraine's summer offensive has failed, the head of the US military has said. Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, General Mark Milley said: "That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago. It has gone slower than the planners anticipated. But that is a difference between what Clausewitz called war on paper and real war. "So these are real people in real vehicles that are fighting through real minefields, and there's real death and destruction, and there's real friction. "And there's still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days, worth of fighting weather left. "So the Ukrainians aren't done. This battle is not done. They haven't finished the fighting part of what they're trying to accomplish. So we'll see, it's too early to say how this is going to end. They at least have achieved partial success in what they set out to do, and that's important. And then the rains will come in. It'll become very muddy. "It'll be very difficult to manoeuvre at that point, and then you'll get the deep winter. And then at that point, we'll see where things go. But right now, it is way too early to say that this offensive has failed or not failed." In pictures: Russian drones rain down on Kyiv for hours overnight Sunday 10 September 2023 12:18 , Tara Cobham Russian drones rained down on Kyiv in an aerial attack that lasted two hours overnight (Reuters) An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike early on Sunday (REUTERS) Foreign aid workers killed in Russian missile attack in Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 10:56 , Tara Cobham Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian NGO. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Road to Relief said Canadian Anthony Ihnat died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously injured. The organisation added that it could not trace the whereabouts of the van's fourth passenger, Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization's director. Hours later, Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish media that authorities in Madrid had received "verbal confirmation" of the 32-year-old Igual's death. The volunteers were on their way to assess the needs of civilians on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Road to Relief said, in reference to the eastern town that saw the war's longest and bloodiest battle before falling to Moscow in May. Ukrainian forces have held on to Bakhmut's western suburbs and are pushing a counteroffensive in the area. Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization's director, reportedly died in the Russian missile attack (Saphryn Shikaze / Road to Relief) The four volunteers were from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas (Saphryn Shikaze / Road to Relief) Local elections take place across Russia but Ukraine not on agenda Sunday 10 September 2023 10:12 , Tara Cobham Local elections kicked off in Russia this weekend in 79 regions, with voters are casting their ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils. Russian authorities are also holding local elections in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed illegally last year the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Voting for federal and local legislators is also underway on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. Balloting in the occupied areas of Ukraine has been denounced by Kyiv and the West as a sham and a violation of international law. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanins seat is up for grabs, although he is running for re-election again and is unlikely to lose a race in which all contenders come from Kremlin-backed parties. Sobyanin was appointed mayor in 2010 and has since won mayoral elections twice: in 2013, despite now-imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny running against him, and 2018. Governors in 20 other Russian regions are also vying for office this year. Local elections take place across Russia, but Ukraine is 'not on the agenda' South Korea pledges additional $2 bln aid to Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 09:26 , Tara Cobham South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Sunday the country will provide an additional $2 billion in aid to Ukraine starting in 2025 over the longer term, in addition to the $300 million previously pledged for next year, Yonhap news reported. Yoon made the comment at a session of the G20 summit held in New Delhi, India, Yonhap said. Ukraine says Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv Sunday 10 September 2023 08:03 , Tara Cobham Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts ringing out across the Ukrainian capital and its region for almost two hours and drone debris falling on several of the city's central districts, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraine's Land Forces said that the country's air defence systems destroyed 25 out of 32 Russia-launched Iran-made Shahed drones, most of which targeted Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Reuters witnesses heard at least five blasts across Kyiv, and Ukrainian media footage showed a number of cars damaged. "Drones came onto the capital in groups and from different directions," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that one person was injured in the historic Podil neighbourhood and a fire broke out near one of the city's parks. Debris from downed drones fell on the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Podil districts, Klitschko and the city's military administration said. In the Shevchenkivskyi district, drone debris sparked a fire in an apartment, which was quickly extinguished. There were no immediate reports of injuries, Popko said on the Telegram messaging app. There was no immediate comment from Russia about the attacks. Moscow has been conducting near-nightly assaults on Ukraine's territory. A Russian attack killed 17 on Wednesday in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, according to Ukrainian officials. An explosion of a drone is seen in Kyiv during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Sunday (Reuters) Signs indicate Russia turning to isolated North Korea to replenish military supplies Sunday 10 September 2023 07:12 , Anuj Pant Russias military arsenal has been depleted enough for it to turn to isolated North Korea amid its now year-and-a-half-long invasion of Ukraine. The country is set to host a regional summit on Sunday that could see the participation of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un who, reports said, could reach the country by armoured train. The visit is significant as Russia faces depleted reserves due to its invasion. And estimates cited by The Associated Press have revealed that North Korea has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give a huge boost to the Russian army. US officials have said they expected Mr Kim to seal a deal to transfer munitions to Russia in the coming days, in a marked reversal from the 1950s during the Korean war, when it was the Soviet Union that supplied weaponry to the North. We know that Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong-un, Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. ICYMI: Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack on Putins naval fleet Sunday 10 September 2023 06:58 , Anuj Pant Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet with one Ukrainian official saying that his country is paying the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians in areas where Russias invasion has left infrastructure devastated or jammed. An extract of a new biography of Musk, published by CNN on Thursday, said that the drones packed with explosives lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly during the thwarted assault last year, after Musk ordered his engineers to turn off the network. Musk is said to have feared that a strike on the ports of Russian-occupied Crimea would amount to a mini Pearl Harbor. Having apparently spoken to the Russian ambassador to the United States who is reported to have told him that an attack on Crimea would trigger a nuclear response Musk is then said to have ordered his engineers to turn off Starlink coverage within 100km of the Crimean coast. Read more below. Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukraine drone attack on Russian ships Russia ships Su-30 fighter jets to Myanmar junta Sunday 10 September 2023 06:08 , Anuj Pant The Myanmar junta government has received its first shipment of Russian Su-30 fighter jets, the countrys trade minister told Russian state-run media. Russia and Myanmar had signed a contract last year for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, according to Russian state-run RIA. Two aircraft have already been delivered, Charlie Than, Myanmars trade minister, told the state-run news agency. The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a Russian economic summit in Vladivostok. He also said a number of bilateral agreements will be signed at the East Economic Forum, including on developing tourism between the two countries. Myanmar has seen the junta increase its grip on the country ever since it launched a military coup in 2021. The US has also warned Russia against backing Myanmars military rulers and said its supply of weapons to the country is fueling a conflict that has become a catastrophe for Myanmar. Just in: Ukraine says it downed 25 drones launched by Russia early on Sunday Sunday 10 September 2023 05:47 , Anuj Pant At least 25 of the 32 drones launched by Vladimir Putins forces early on Sunday have been drowned, Ukraines land forces said. The announcement comes as Kyiv was subjected to aerial attacks overnight, with witnesses hearing as many as five blasts, reported Reuters. The scale of the attack has not yet been ascertained. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration Sunday 10 September 2023 05:36 , Anuj Pant India has defied expectations to produce a New Delhi Declaration backed by all countries at this weekends G20 summit at the expense of any meaningful condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the good news shortly before 1600 local time [1000 GMT] on the first day of the G20 leaders summit in Delhi much to the surprise of many observers and analysts, who felt that the Ukraine issue would stand in the way of a consensus on any joint statement at all, much less an early one. Ukraine rejected the joint statement, saying the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine does feature in the full 37-page declaration released by the Indian foreign ministry on Saturday, which says leaders highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine without directly mentioning Russia. There were different views and assessments of the situation, it adds, in something of an understatement. Read more below. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration ICYMI: What are depleted uranium shells? Sunday 10 September 2023 05:30 , Anuj Pant The depleted uranium anti-tank rounds soon to be in Ukraines military stockpiles have kicked up a debate over its use in the continuing Russian invasion. Announced by the Pentagon in the latest military tranche on Wednesday, the controversial rounds have spread alarm among Vladimir Putins ministers who have warned against the escalation yet again. Britain has already promised armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine in March. Prime minister Rishi Sunak had backed drawing out the rounds from the UK militarys stockpiles ultimately to degrade and deter primarily Russian aggression. But what are these depleted uranium munitions? Read more below. Ukraine: What are depleted uranium shells and why are they controversial? Russia claims to have downed eight drones over Crimea Sunday 10 September 2023 05:15 , Anuj Pant Vladimir Putins defence ministry has claimed it destroyed eight drones over the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula in the early hours of Sunday even as overnight drone attacks were launched on capital Kyiv. The incident, reported by Reuters, could not be independently verified. Russia accused Ukraine of launching the drones. The Russian defence ministry has also not said if there were any casualties. Ukraines officials have not commented on the incident yet. Putin launches overnight aerial attacks on Kyiv Sunday 10 September 2023 04:48 , Anuj Pant Air attacks were launched on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts heard across the capital. Drone debris fell on its central districts and the scale of the attack has not been ascertained yet. Kyivs mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was injured in the Podil neighbourhood and a fire broke out near one of the citys parks. The debris from the downed drones fell on the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Podil districts, according to the citys military administration and Mr Klitschko. The debris also sparked a fire in the Shevchenkivskyi district, but this was immediately put out, according to officials. Reuters cited its witnesses as saying they heard at least five blasts. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Joe Middleton India has defied expectations to produce a New Delhi Declaration backed by all countries at this weekends G20 summit, at the expense of any meaningful condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the good news shortly before 1600 local time [1000 GMT] on the first day of the G20 leaders summit in Delhi much to the surprise of many observers and analysts, who felt that the Ukraine issue would stand in the way of a consensus on any joint statement at all, much less an early one. Ukraine does feature in the full 37-page declaration released by the Indian foreign ministry on Saturday, which says leaders highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine without directly mentioning Russia. There were different views and assessments of the situation, it adds, in something of an understatement. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Sunday 10 September 2023 02:00 , Joe Middleton A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack on Putins naval fleet Sunday 10 September 2023 01:09 , Lydia Patrick Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians. Elon Musk says his refusal to allow Kyiv to use his satellite network was an attempt to avoid complicity in an act of war (Getty Images) In posts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the billionaire denied accusations that he had turned off the Starlink network in the area, but said that he had not agreed to a request from Ukraine to activate it all the way to the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, which is currently (as it was at the time) occupied by Russia and home to its Black Sea fleet. The Starlink regions in question were not activated. SpaceX did not deactivate anything, Musk said. There was an emergency request from government authorities to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol, he added, the obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor. If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation. Read the full story here Popular messaging service says it will combat Russian fake news' Sunday 10 September 2023 00:09 , Lydia Patrick The founder of Japanese technnology enterprise Rakuten Group says messaging service Viber will block any attempt at Russian propaganda unlike other social media. Hiroshi Mikiani told Reuters: Unlike other social media, weve made it crystal clear were going to block all these fake news and propaganda of Russia. Viber is a popular messaging app acquired by the Rakuten Group in 2014 (Getty Images) Viber, which launched in 2010 and was acquired by Rakuten in 2014, has a 98% market penetration rate in Ukraine and is also popular in Russia. The billionaire entrepreneur has previously been vocal in his support for Ukraine and made a 1 billion yen ($6.77 million) donation to its government at the start of the invasion. Rakuten has announced plans to work with Ukraines largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, to provide Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) telecommunications technology that uses software to run network functions on the cloud, something Mikitani has touted as a technology of the future. Ukraines counteroffensive will withstand severe Winter conditions, says intelligence chief Saturday 9 September 2023 22:18 , Lydia Patrick Kyivs counteroffensive against Russian forces will continue to fight throughout harsh cold conditions, Kyivs intelligence chief said on Saturday. Kyrylo Budanov said: Combat actions will continue in one way or another. In the cold, wet and mud, it is more difficult to fight. Fighting will continue. The counteroffensive will continue. Kyrylo Budanov with a handkerchief shpwing an F-35 fighter (AP) The comments, made at a conference in Kyiv hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, inidicate Ukraine does not plan to halt its push when the weather worsens later this year. Vadym Skibytskyi, an official from Ukraines military spy agency, said earlier on Saturday that Russia currently had 420,000 servicemen inside Ukraine. The push in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, now centred around the villages of Robotyne and Verbove, is seen as a crucial part of an operation that seeks to split Russias occupying forces in half in the south, but remains far from that goal. Our counteroffensive is happening in several directions, Budanov said, acknowledging that progress had been slower than he had wanted and describing the situation as difficult. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed. Russia shoots down three drones in Crimea Saturday 9 September 2023 20:18 , Lydia Patrick Drone attacks on Russian-occupied territory and inside Russia itself have increased sharply across the summer, with Kyiv seeking to back-up its counteroffensive against Vladimir Putins forces on the ground in Ukraine by disrupting Moscow as much as it can. The latest such strike came on Saturday when Russian air defence shot down three enemy drones in northwestern Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of the peninsulas administration. Rishi Sunak said that G20 leaders have agreed to a very strong joint message about Russias invasion of Ukraine Saturday 9 September 2023 19:20 , Lydia Patrick The British prime minister expresses his support of a New Delhi declaration backed by all countries at the summit. Defying the odds, India was able to get all G20 members to agree that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissable in a 37-page declaration. Mr Sunak told broadcasters, as reported by Reuters: The news that weve just had, which Im happy to share, is that under Prime Minister Modi and Indias presidency, the G20 have agreed a joint communique with very strong language about Russias illegal war in Ukraine. Rishi Sunak spoke to the media during the event (PA) What youll see in the communique is strong language, highlighting the impact of the war on food prices and food security, calling on Russia to re-enter the Black Sea grain initiative to allow exports to leave that part of the world and help feed millions of the most vulnerable people as well as the communique recognising the principles of the UN Charter respecting territorial integrity. So I think that is a good and strong outcome. And as you can see from this summit, Russia is completely isolated. Zelensky meets with Japanese foreign minister who vows support for reconstruction of Ukraine Saturday 9 September 2023 17:00 , Rachel Flynn Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Saturday and agreed to begin discussions on security guarantees and cooperate on reconstructing Ukraines economy, the Japanese foreign ministry said. The security guarantee discussions come after the G7 group of countries, of which Japan is a member, said in July that its members would begin bilateral security guarantee talks with Ukraine. Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (L) shakes hands with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a joint press conference in Kyiv. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Hayashi also pledged support from both the public and private sectors in Japan to reconstruct Ukraines economy in the surprise visit to Ukraine, where he was accompanied by executives of Japanese firms, including Hiroshi Mikitani, founder and chief executive Rakuten Group, the ministry said. Japan is planning to host a meeting on the economic reconstruction of Ukraine early next year. In talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Hayashi was set to reiterate Japans firm support for Ukraine and the urgency of ending the Russian invasion with the help of the international community, the ministry said. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy in March. Romania finds new possible fragments of Russian drone on its territory Saturday 9 September 2023 16:30 , Rachel Flynn New fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military were found on Romanian soil, the defence ministry said on Saturday. Romanias president, President Klaus Iohannis, said this indicated an unacceptable breach of Romanias air space had occurred. In a statement, Iohannis said he had informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the pieces of drone - the second to crash in Romanian territory this week - and that Stoltenberg reiterated the alliances complete solidarity with Romania. The identification by Romanian authorities on Romanian territory near the border with Ukraine of new drone fragments ... indicates an unacceptable breach occurred of the air space of Romania, a NATO state, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area, Iohannis said. I firmly condemn this incident caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian Danube river ports. The attacks on Ukraines river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border, have increased security risks for NATO whose members have a mutual defence commitment. The U.S. State Department said earlier this week it would rotate additional U.S. F-16 fighter jets to bolster NATOs air policing mission in Romania. Ukraine says G20 summit declaration is nothing to be proud of Saturday 9 September 2023 15:45 , Rachel Flynn The Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Saturday the G20s joint declaration was nothing to be proud of and criticised it for not mentioning Russia. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section of the joint declaration, with several pieces of the text crossed out in red and corrected with wording which reflects Ukraines position that it is a victim of unprovoked Russian aggression. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section on his Facebook. (Oleg Nikolenko) It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side (in the G20 meeting) would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation, he wrote on Facebook. Heres what the main elements of the text could look like to be closer to reality, he added. Despite his disappointment with the overall G20 text, Nikolenko thanked Ukraines allies for doing their part to advance Ukraines position in the declaration. Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong formulations in the text, he said. G20 summit statement calls for peace but avoids condemning Russia for Ukraine war Saturday 9 September 2023 14:24 , Tara Cobham The Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the Leaders' Declaration had been adopted on the first day of the weekend summit. The consensus came as a surprise as the group is deeply divided over the war in Ukraine, with Western nations earlier pushing for strong condemnation of Russia in the Leaders' Declaration, while other countries demanded a focus on broader economic issues. There was no immediate reaction from most other members. "We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability," the declaration said. "We ... welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine. "The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible," the statement added. Russia sticks to demands on Black Sea grain deal Saturday 9 September 2023 11:27 , Tara Cobham Russia said on Saturday it was sticking to its conditions for a return to the Black Sea grain deal which it quit in July. In particular, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia needed its state agricultural bank - and not a subsidiary of the bank, as proposed by the United Nations - to be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system. "All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable," Peskov said. "Therefore Russia maintains its responsible, clear and consistent position, which has been repeatedly voiced by the president." The Black Sea deal was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 to enable Ukraine to export grain by sea despite the war and help ease a global food crisis. It was accompanied by an agreement to facilitate Russia's own exports of food and fertiliser, which Moscow says has not been fulfilled. Since quitting the grain deal, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores, prompting Kyiv and the West to accuse it of using food as a weapon. Moscow's uncompromising restatement of its position came five days after President Vladimir Putin met his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan and discussed the grain issue. Russia appears to have drawn encouragement from Erdogan's statement at that meeting that Ukraine should "soften its approaches" in talks over reviving the deal, and export more grain to Africa rather than Europe. Ukraine said it would not alter its stand and would not be hostage to "Russian blackmail". British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Saturday 9 September 2023 10:45 , Tara Cobham A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. Rachel Flynn reports: British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound 600 members of Putins forces killed in one day as party HQ destroyed Saturday 9 September 2023 10:32 , Tara Cobham Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost 600 of his troops in one day, according to Kyiv, while his conservative partys headquarters in Ukraine was destroyed on Friday. The general staff of Ukraines armed forces is estimating that 600 of Moscows personnel were killed on Friday, bringing the total lost since February 2022 to 268,140. Meanwhile, the headquarters of the United Russia political party in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Polohy was destroyed in an attack on the same day, according to the mayor of Melitopol, reported the Kyiv Independent. Ivan Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app that local residents described Russians as burned out of the headquarters amid the hellish pseudo-elections. Alluding to casualties, he said: Some went to the hospital, and some went straight to the morgue. IAEA deeply concerned by increased military activity around Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant Saturday 9 September 2023 09:26 , Tara Cobham Experts are deeply concerned by increased military activity in the region around Ukraines Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote on Friday of reports of numerous explosions over the past week, which could pose a potential threat to nuclear safety and security at the site. Over the three days from last Saturday, the IAEA team heard around two dozen explosions, followed by several more in recent days - although there was no damage to the Russian-occupied facility itself. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the situation at Europes largest nuclear power plant remains highly precarious. The reports I receive from our experts indicate that the explosions occurred some distance away from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, he said. Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region. Whatever happens in a conflict zone, wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening. British man who went to fight in Ukraine found dead Saturday 9 September 2023 07:19 , Vishwam Sankaran A 31-year-old British man who went to fight in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water. The man, recognised as Jordan Chadwick from Burnley in Lancashire, fought as part of the foreign legion in Ukraine, and was killed under unknown circumstances, BBC reported. An inquest into the possible cause of Mr Chadwicks death will reportedly be held in February. His passion to support freedom and ass KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Monday Russia could launch a big mobilisation campaign soon to try to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers from inside Russia and occupied Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff provided no evidence in a statement to support its assertion. Russian officials have said there are no current plans for a new wave of mobilisation and that Moscow is focused on recruiting professional soldiers. "A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers' catastrophic losses," the General Staff said in a battlefield roundup. The mobilisation campaign could target between 400,000 and 700,000 recruits, it said, citing different estimates. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It said the number of Russians recruited in Moscow and St Petersburg would remain "minimal", while Russians would be drawn heavily from the regions outside the two big Russian cities. The General Staff issued its statement days after a senior Ukrainian military spy official said there were 420,000 Russian servicemen currently inside Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine both treat their losses on the battlefield as a state secret. Last month, the New York Times cited unnamed U.S. officials who said nearly 500,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops had been killed or wounded in the war since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Editing by Timothy Heritage) While reports are still coming in, there are claims that Ukrainian forces have recaptured a cluster of highly important oil and gas drilling platforms in the northwestern Black Sea. According to the Ukrainian intelligence services, the so-called Boika Towers are now back under Ukrainian control, although, at this stage, this cannot be independently verified. According to Ukrainian state broadcaster Suspilne, citing the Ukrainian intelligence services, a special operation succeeded in retaking the Boika Towers. The platforms have been in Russian hands since 2015 soon after the annexation of Crimea and long before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1701159443394601415?s=20 However, since the full-scale invasion, the towers, which sit between Crimea and Snake Island , were put to use by Russia for military purposes, including as landing pads for helicopters and to station radio communications and surveillance equipment. The position of the platforms makes them ideal for monitoring maritime activity off western Ukraine. This has become even more important to Russia as it enacts a blockade on Ukrainian shipping and has to keep an eye out for approaching threats from Ukrainian shores in the form of frogmen in small boats and kamikaze drone boats. An image of one of the platforms from before their seizure by Russia in 2015. (Uncredited) The raid on the Boika Towers is said to have been carried out by the units of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. As well as recapturing the towers themselves, the operation is said to have yielded a stock of helicopter-launched rockets and an example of the Neva radar system used to track naval movements in the northwestern Black Sea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement An official video released by Ukrainian military intelligence shows Ukrainian special forces aboard small, high-speed rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), at least one of them armed with a pair of heavy machine guns, racing toward the platforms, which are then scaled. There is no obvious resistance, at least in the video, which also includes footage apparently taken by an aerial drone. One of the RHIBs that appears to have been used in the raid on the Boika Towers. Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine/via Twitter With its tiny navy, the apparent Ukrainian success in this operation is all the more remarkable. There are even accounts that Russia employed Su-30SM Flanker multirole fighters against the Ukrainian special forces boats, but still failed to stop them, with one of the Russian jets claimed as damaged. Again, these reports cannot be independently verified, but we will watch further developments concerning them with great interest. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1701163960538390802?s=20 More formally known as the Chornomorneftegaz drilling rigs, these are located about 43 miles south of Odesa and were purchased by Ukraine in 20112012, in what was a widely-derided deal. The rigs became known as the Boika Towers after the former Energy Minister Yuriy Boika. As we reported at the time , the platforms came under previous attack, in June of last year, with at least one being reported as damaged. Ukrainian sources said aircraft were responsible for the attack, while Russian media reported that the attack was carried out by long-range fires . Back then, Russian officials promised that the defenses for the platforms would be reinforced. Protection of important facilities in Crimea after an attack by Ukraine on the drilling rigs of Chornomorneftegaz will be strengthened, said Olga Kovitidi, the senator from occupied Crimea, according to the Telegram channel of Russian state media outlet TASS. Whatever the details of the reported capture of the platforms, there is no doubt that the waters around Crimea, and in the wider Black Sea, have become a critical crucible in the conflict, with an increasingly complex campaign being waged now not only involving special operators, warships, and aircraft, but also explosives-laden drones both in the air and at sea. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here . The Latest In a further sign of the deepening relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang that is being played out on the sidelines of the war in Ukraine, it was confirmed today that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the coming days. The announcement came in a joint statement from the Kremlin and North Korean state news and there are suggestions that Kim is already underway to Russia. Citing unidentified government sources in Seoul, reports in the South Korean media indicate that Kims armored train may have already departed Pyongyang. A train fitting this description is said to have crossed North Koreas north-eastern border today and is now likely headed to the port city of Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Putin is already in Vladivostok to take part in the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). https://twitter.com/AP/status/1701151964761866288?s=20 Reuters reports that there is currently a higher-than-usual police presence in Vladivostok but, as yet no sign of the North Korean flags that would confirm a state visit. King Jong Un has only visited Russia once before also spending time in Vladivostok back in 2019. News of the visit follows an earlier report from the White House suggesting that a secret deal under which artillery ammunition will be delivered from North Korea to Russia is actively advancing. The supply of much-needed ammunition for the Russian offensive in Ukraine appears to have been negotiated during a previous visit to North Korea by Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea last month to try to convince Pyongyang to sell artillery ammunition to Russia, Kirby said. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters late last month that Putin and Kim have exchanged letters, pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation. U.S. officials have previously accused North Korea of covertly providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells supplied to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Russian and North Korean officials have repeatedly denied such claims. https://twitter.com/USATODAY/status/1699381942515290115?s=20 At this stage, its unclear what topics Kim and Putin will discuss, although the artillery ammunition transfer will likely be at the top of the agenda, with the possibility that Moscow may also seek to secure other weapons and military support from what is fast becoming a closer military ally. Whether directly related or not, in Ukraine today, Andriy Yermak, head of the office of the Ukrainian presidency, took to social media channels with an impassioned call for stricter sanctions against Russia, to help prevent further arms deliveries. Yermak posted the following on Telegram: Our task is to make these zombies [Russian soldiers] fight with spears against modern weapons. The more [they] spend efforts on killing, the stronger the sanctions should be against the military industry, energy, and all sectors that provide the enemy with missiles and attack UAVs. Quantity is always destroyed by quality. Meanwhile, South Korea has said its stepping up its own support to Ukraine. Yesterday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that the country would provide an additional $2 billion in aid to Kyiv starting in 2025. Seoul had previously pledged $300 million to Ukraine for 2024. https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1700833572087628076?s=20 The drone war continues unabated over both Ukrainian and Russian territory. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, its air defense units shot down a single Ukrainian drone over the Kursk region of western Russia. This development was first reported by Russias state-run RIA Novosti news agency. https://twitter.com/8_2UCL/status/1701207052662583470?s=20 To the immediate south of the Kursk region, Belgorod oblast was apparently also targeted by Ukrainian drones. Here, the Russian Ministry of Defense claims it shot down two such drones in the early hours of Monday. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of the Belgorod region, said in a statement on Telegram that there were no injuries. https://twitter.com/UaNews_online/status/1701141438136824273?s=20 Meanwhile, Ukraines Dnipropetrovsk oblast came under Russian attack overnight, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak, on Telegram. There were no casualties in the region, Lysak said, although some residential buildings and gas pipes had been damaged. The enemy attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region with attack drones, guided missiles from tactical aircraft, and artillery, he added. The same source claimed that Ukrainian air defense units had shot down 11 Iranian-designed Shahed drones over the region. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1701178545131688122?s=20 In the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region yesterday, authorities claimed that local air defenses had shot down 25 out of 32 Shahed drones launched by Russia in the latest wave of drones directed against Kyiv and its environs. Reuters reports that witnesses heard at least five blasts across Kyiv yesterday, while videos on social media showed damage to cars in the capital. Drones came on to the capital in groups and from different directions, Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyivs city military administration, said on Telegram. https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1701232049808437570?s=20 Once again, there have been reports that the ongoing drone war has spilled over into neighboring countries, in this case, NATO member Romania. Local authorities report that fragments of a Russian drone were found on Romanian territory , after an apparent failed attack on a target in Ukraine. The Romanian Foreign Ministry has made a complaint to the head of Russias mission in Bucharest. Romanian government minister Iulian Fota described the incident as a violation of Romanias airspace the second of its kind in the space of just a week. https://twitter.com/ReutersWorld/status/1700909872882102508?s=20 On the ground, the Kherson oblast in southern Ukraine is seeing extensive fighting at present. The city of Kherson itself, as well as coastal areas of the region, have come under Russian artillery attack, according to Ukrainian state broadcaster Suspilne, citing Ukrainian officials. With Russian forces occupying a strategic position on the left bank of the Dnipro River, they are able to strike the city of Kherson and surrounding areas. Sandwiched between Ukrainian-held and Russian-occupied portions of the region, the city is regularly shaken by explosions and an air raid alert was declared there today. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1701252538069049472?s=20 Further to the east, in the Russian-occupied region of Donetsk, there are reports that Ukrainian forces have transferred considerable amounts of military equipment to the city of Avdiivka, in the center of the region, just north of the city of Donetsk itself. Yan Gagin, adviser to the acting head of the Russian-controlled Donetsk region, told the Russian state-run news agency TASS that A large amount of NATO equipment, heavy weapons, and a large number of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel have now been transferred there. The enemy is preparing attacks in the Donetsk direction. Gagin added that the intensity of fighting in this sector has already increased. While the location of the following video is unconfirmed, it provides a remarkably visceral example of the intensity of the combat in the counter-offensive. It records an improbable escape for one Ukrainian soldier from a projectile fired by a Russian BMP-3 series tracked infantry fighting vehicle. The unusual main gun of the BMP-3 is a 100mm caliber 2A70 , a low-pressure rifled cannon that can fire high-explosive fragmentation projectiles as well as anti-tank guided missiles. Whatever round was involved, it was certainly terrifyingly close. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1701001962836430980?s=20 Another unusual armored fighting vehicle involved in the conflict is the French-made AMX-10RC , a wheeled reconnaissance vehicle that is sometimes described as a wheeled gun or even a light tank, on account of its 105mm main gun. Regardless, the following video shows a Ukrainian-operated AMX-10RC in action, although the date and location are presently unknown. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1700974077094326313?s=20 Overall, there are again some differing accounts of Ukraines progress in the ongoing counteroffensive in the south and east of the country. Speaking to the BBC, Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the next hurdle for Ukraine may well be the changing weather . Americas highest-ranking military officer predicted there are probably about 30 to 45 days worth of fighting weather left before winter starts to set in and the terrain becomes much harder to deal with. Gen Milley said: That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago. It has gone slower than the planners anticipated. But that is a difference between what Clausewitz called war on paper and real war. So these are real people in real vehicles that are fighting through real minefields, and theres real death and destruction, and theres real friction. https://twitter.com/CBSSunday/status/1700899671781028015?s=20 Some more confident words were recently issued by Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines head of military intelligence. Speaking at the Yalta European Strategy Forum in Kyiv yesterday, Budanov notes that Ukrainian forces still have an advantage over their adversary, in terms of tactics: In terms of creativity and flexibility, we still have an edge over them, they are rather outdated. But they are adapting, they are trying to change tactics, to alter the way they use forces, they miserably fail with their strategy, but their tactics do have some improvements. In one example of Russian tactics backfiring badly, this video and accompanying radio conversations purport to show a unit of the Russian Armed Forces opening fire with artillery on their own positions, from back in July. https://twitter.com/GloOouD/status/1700829440282861587?s=20 Meanwhile, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland has said that she has been impressed by the advances made in the Ukrainian counteroffensive so far. Reflecting on the challenge of confronting Russias highly entrenched and well-protected defensive positions, Nuland said: We need to understand what Ukraine needs to clear these defenses, and we cannot do that until Ukraine confronts the defenses. https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1700957341955285470?s=20 What Ukraine may well need is more heavy weapons, something that the countrys newly appointed minister of defense, Rustem Umerov referred to in a speech over the weekend. We are grateful for all the support provided [but] we need more heavy weapons, Umerov said. https://twitter.com/MayadeenEnglish/status/1700875140257521929?s=20 With Umerovs comments on heavy weapons in mind, there was some good news for Ukraine today from Berlin. Germany is set to double the number of Marder tracked infantry fighting vehicles that it has committed to Ukraine after defense contractor Rheinmetall reached an agreement to deliver another 40 examples. https://twitter.com/RheinmetallAG/status/1701135494149554491?s=20 Rheinmetall is acting on behalf of the German government and although the precise value of the order has not been announced, the company says its worth a high double-digit million-euro amount. An official German Armed Forces video showing its Marder IFVs in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7QZoNy0Snc After overhauling these vehicles, which have already been removed from German service, the latest batch of Marders is planned for delivery starting before the end of the year. In March 2023, Rheinmetall shipped to Ukraine the first batch of 20 Marders ordered by the German government. A follow-on order for another 20 of the IFVs was placed in June 2023. These are currently being overhauled and delivered. All of the vehicles being sent are Marder 1A3 versions, Rheinmetall says. The company describes the Marder as among the most reliable weapons systems of its kind anywhere. Steadily modernized, the vehicle has undergone repeated combat upgrades in the course of its career. You can read more about the Marder in this previous War Zone feature . Prior to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Rheinmetall was reported to still have stocks of around 250 Marder 1A3 vehicles available for sale and upgrade. The development coincided with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbocks surprise visit to Kyiv this morning. Baerbock reiterated her support for Ukraine joining the European Union in the future and said that the country can rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russias war. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1701251568421552217?s=20 Now on to heavy weapons from the Russian side. Below is our best look so far at the new anti-drone measures incorporated in the latest modification of the T-80BV main battle tank, namely the Obr. 2023 version. As well as adding the Volnorez counter-drone electronic warfare system, the modification appears to be similar to the type of more sophisticated cope cages that were a prominent feature at the Army-2023 defense exhibition, held outside Moscow, earlier this summer, and which you can read more about here . https://twitter.com/AFVRec_/status/1700835230943269320?s=20 Almost every available surface of the turret is meanwhile fitted with explosive reactive armor (ERA) bricks. While the cope cage provides a physical barrier, ERA works by detonating, creating a counter-blast that can defend against attacks by armor-penetrating weapons, before the incoming weapon can penetrate the tank. You can read more about this development here . Suffice it to say, the detonation of any one of the ERA bricks could also result in the Volnorez system (as well as turret-mounted smoke grenade launchers) being put out of action. A Russian armor modification of another kind, now, with a video of a truly bizarre adaptation of the MT-LB tracked multi-purpose armored vehicle, in this case, armed with a pair of 25mm cannons, of a type usually installed on warships in a 2M-3 gun mount . Exhibiting serious stability issues as a result of the vibration, it remains very unclear to what degree this Frankenstein vehicle might actually be an effective weapon against targets beyond wide area suppressive fire. https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1700984170259116531?s=20 Tanks have, of course, been extensively employed by both sides in the conflict, but the number of tank-versus-tank encounters that have been seen in available videos has been fairly limited. This is a reflection of the kind of armored warfare being waged, with tanks frequently being used more for breakthrough operations in close support of infantry and even as mobile artillery against a range of other targets. In this next example, however, we get a good look at a German-made Leopard 2A6 main battle tank engaging a pair of Russian tanks, at what is said to be a range of around 1 mile or more. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1700548780305588413?s=20 To finish the latest update from Ukraine, another example of the kind of low-level flying that has become a trademark of the high-intensity air war, one in which tactical jets and helicopters frequently have to run the gauntlet of some fearsome ground-based air defense systems. In this case, a pair of rocket-armed Ukrainian Army Aviation Mi-24 Hind assault helicopters are seen popping flares during a low-level attack run, purportedly in the Zaporizhzhia oblast in southeast Ukraine. At several points in the video, the rotorcraft are so low that their infrared decoys barely have time to serve their purpose before they hit the ground. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1701043502983819641?s=20 Thats it for now. Well update this story when theres more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Americas top military commander is warning that Kyiv has limited time to pursue a stagnating military offensive as senior Ukrainian officials vow to push on, possibly putting Ukraine and its top backer, the U.S., at odds. The warning comes as tensions with Kyivs Western allies were on display this weekend as the Group of 20 summit wrapped up in India. In an interview with the BBC that aired Sunday, Gen. Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said colder and wetter weather conditions will make it much harder for Ukrainian forces to maneuver, and Kyiv could have as little as a month to turn things around in a significant way on the battlefield. There is still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days worth of fighting weather left, so the Ukrainians are not done, Milley said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He said that while the Ukrainians were showing very steady progress, it was still too early to assess if their counteroffensive had failed. Milleys comments came as Kyiv appeared to be determined to push on when the weather turns. Combat actions will continue in one way or another," Ukraines intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said Saturday, according to Reuters. "In the cold, wet and mud, it is more difficult to fight. Fighting will continue. The counteroffensive will continue." Kyiv launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territories in June, but aside from several small gains in the south, where Ukraine claimed last week to have broken though Russias first main defensive line, it has not significantly tipped the balance on the battlefield, which is heavily mined and fortified by the Russians. With fall and winter approaching, weather could become a major factor, even if the Western supply of military aid continues. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared to emphasize Ukraines gains on the battlefield in his late-night video address Sunday. Over the past seven days, we have advanced, Zelenskyy said, adding that there was movement in the south and east. Every week, our warriors continuously keep the initiative in the hands of Ukraine, Zelenskyy added. But whether holding the initiative will translate into new major gains that will keep the military aid flowing remains a big question. Ukraine summer counteroffensive (Libkos / AP) Kyiv hopes that last weeks penetration of the Russian first defense line in the south around the villages of Robotyne and Verbove will turn into a major breakthrough that will allow its troops to split Russian forces in the south and threaten Moscows valued land bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The Kremlin has already largely dismissed the Ukrainian counteroffensive as a failure. Ukraine has also voiced its disappointment with a joint declaration by the G20 leaders over the weekend that avoided directly condemning Russia for invading and instead cautioned states to refrain from threatening the territorial integrity and sovereignty of others and calling for a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine. G20 has nothing to be proud of, Oleg Nikolenko, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said in a post on Facebook, while thanking the allies who tried to include strong wording in the text. Nikolenko also attached a screenshot with an alternative version of the declaration that he said would look closer to reality and attribute blame directly to Russia. Obviously, the participation of the Ukrainian side would allow participants to better understand the situation, he added. The G20, which includes the U.S., Russia and China among its members but not Ukraine, has been deeply divided over President Vladimir Putins invasion, so a consensus over the joint declarations wording on the war on Ukraine came as a surprise, leading Russia to praise the summit and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to call it a clear success. Asked why the U.S. agreed to watered-down language in the declaration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that there was real clarity among the leaders in the room on Ukraine and that it was important that the G20 spoke as one. The fact that we have a statement coming out collectively of, again, affirming the importance of Ukraine, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that speaks loudly, Blinken said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Key developments on Sept. 11: Military intelligence: Ukraine regains control of drilling rigs in Black Sea Defense Ministry: Ukraine retakes nearly 5 square kilometers on southern front over past week UK Defense Ministry: Russia wants to recruit 420,000 contract soldiers in 2023 Rheinmetall to refit, deliver 40 Marder armored vehicles to Ukraine Military intelligence: Calls from Russia to surrender hotline rise by 70% after helicopter pilot defected. Ukraine has regained control of a set of oil drilling platforms located in the Black Sea, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) announced on Sept. 11. The rigs had been occupied by Russia since the 2014 illegal annexation of Crimea. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces turned the platforms into a military site, adding equipment like radar and helipads, according to HUR. The multi-phase operation involved a battle between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian SU-30 fighter jet, shown in a 13-minute video HUR released about the operation. The SU-30 jet was damaged and forced to retreat, HUR said, adding that Ukraine took helicopter ammunition and a Neva radar system from the site. Read also: Ukrainian troops regularly cross Dnipro River, probing Russian defenses in Kherson Oblast As a result of the operation, Ukraine regained control of the "Petro Hodovalets" and "Ukraine" drilling platforms, informally known to Ukrainians as the "Boyko Towers," as well as the "Tavryda" and "Syvash" mobile rigs, HUR said. The "Boyko Towers" got their name from the controversial politician Yuriy Boyko, who was involved in the purchase of the rigs in 2011 as Energy Minister under pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Ukrainian journalists investigated the purchase and reported that the tender process was corrupt, as intermediary companies had massively inflated the price, siphoning millions of dollars from the state budget. Read also: Military: Russias illegal Crimean bridge still unable to function normally Ukraine retakes nearly 5 square kilometers on southern front over past week Ukrainian forces have retaken 4.8 square kilometers of land from Russian troops on the southern front over the past week, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on Sept. 11. As Ukraine continues its advance towards Melitopol, operations to the south of Robotyne and the west of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast have been successful, Maliar added. Maliar's statement was consistent with the latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War, which said that Ukrainian forces had made gains east of Novoprokopivka, a few kilometers south of Robotyne. Maliar said that Ukrainian forces have now retaken 256.5 square kilometers of land in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts. The area is the focus of Ukraine's summer counteroffensive. Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said on Sept. 10 that although the operation is going slower than expected, Ukraine is still "progressing at a very steady pace through the Russian front lines." However, according to Milley, Ukraine likely has about 30 to 45 days for the counteroffensive before the weather worsens on the ground. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Top US general says Ukraine has 30-45 days for the offensive before weather worsens UK Defense Ministry: Russia wants to recruit 420,000 contract soldiers in 2023 Russia plans to recruit 420,000 military contract personnel by the end of the year, likely exacerbating the country's labor shortage, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its intelligence report on Sept. 11. Citing the Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, the analysis pointed out that Russia's industry shortage of workers already reached a new record of 42% in July 2023, a 7% increase compared to April. The process does not affect all industries equally. The Russian IT industry has reportedly "taken steps to preserve the workforce," as it already suffers acute shortages. The sector lost 10% of employees around 100,000 people who left Russia in 2022. The Kremlin has acknowledged the crucial role of the IT sector. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Sept. 4 to increase the military service exemption age for IT professionals from 27 to 30. The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that Moscow will likely seek to avoid further unpopular mobilizations in the run-up to the presidential elections in 2024. The Russian military is continuing efforts to refill its ranks following high casualty rates during the invasion of Ukraine. Moscow launched mobilization in the fall of last year, targeting mainly migrant workers and citizens from more remote regions to avoid antagonizing wealthier segments of the population in major cities. Moscow also drafts military personnel from occupied parts of Ukraine. According to Ukraine's military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Cherniak, Russia has forcibly mobilized from 55,000 to 60,000 men in the occupied territories of Ukraine between the start of the full-scale invasion and July 2023. Read also: As counteroffensive presses forward in southeast, every meter costs a life Rheinmetall to refit, deliver 40 Marder armored vehicles to Ukraine The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall will deliver 40 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) to Ukraine based on an order placed by the German government in August, the company announced on Sept. 11. This brings the total number of Marder vehicles to be supplied by Rheinmetall to Ukraine on Germany's commission to 80, with the first 20 shipped in March and another batch of 20 ordered in June, which are currently being overhauled and delivered. Further 20 Marders were provided from the German military's own stocks in March. "Rheinmetall is pressing ahead with work to overhaul these older vehicles and ensure that the latest lot of Marder IFVs can be delivered as per contract starting in 2023," the press release reads. The company is refitting Marder 1A3 systems formerly used by the German military, restoring them to full combat readiness "at its own expense." Rheinmetall promised that it could deliver up to 10 vehicles per month. Berlin presented its latest major military aid package for Ukraine during the NATO summit in Vilnius in July. Apart from the said 40 Marder IFVs that are to be refitted by Rheinmetall, it also included 24 Leopard 1A5 tanks, two Patriot launchers, 20,000 artillery rounds, and other support. Read also: New brigade bears heavy brunt of Russias onslaught in Kharkiv Oblast Meanwhile, Ukraine is making progress in talks on receiving long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Sept. 11. The comments came as part of a Foreign Ministry press release following Kuleba's meeting with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, during her visit to Kyiv. The in-depth discussions with the German foreign minister have led to a better understanding of "the process of making a final decision by the German government," on the missile deliveries, Kuleba said. "Based on the results of the negotiations, I can say that the option of providing these missiles remains open, and the decision-making process within Germany is moving forward," he added. Taurus missiles have a range of up to 500 kilometers, meaning Ukraine could use them to strike deep into Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea. Ukraine submitted a request for Germanys air-launched cruise missiles earlier in May, with some German officials voicing support for the transfer. However, media reports emerged that the German government is concerned that the long-range missiles will be used in strikes on Russian territory. Kuleba emphasized in August that Taurus missiles would be "used solely inside our borders." "The longer the missile range, the shorter the war," he argued. During their meeting in Kyiv, Kuleba and Baerbock also discussed Ukrainian grain exports, the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia, and Germany's support to Ukraine on the path towards becoming a member of the European Union. Kuleba thanked Baerbock for the military aid Germany provided to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion, particularly for sending tanks and air defense systems. Baerbock arrived in Ukraine's capital on Sept. 11 for her fourth visit since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Read also: Inching forward in Bakhmut counteroffensive, Ukraines hardened units look ahead to long, grim war Military intelligence: Calls from Russia to surrender hotline rise by 70% after helicopter pilot defected After news broke that a Russian helicopter pilot defected to Ukraine, calls to a hotline set up for Russian soldiers wanting to surrender to Ukraine's military increased by 70% in one day, Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR) spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on Sept. 11. Launched in September 2022 by the HUR, the 24-hour hotline, which is called "I Want to Live" in Russian, helps Russians to surrender themselves or their units to the Ukrainian military. Ukraine promises Russian military personnel that they will be held in compliance with the Geneva Conventions after surrender. Maksim Kuzminov, a 28-year-old Russian helicopter pilot, landed his Mi-8 helicopter at an airfield in Ukraine to give himself up to the authorities, Ukrainian media reported on Aug. 23. He spoke at a press conference on the operation on Sept. 5 and explained that he defected because he "did not want to contribute" to the crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, which he believes is a "wonderful country." He said that he contacted the Ukrainian side on his own initiative, and was told he would receive security for himself and his family, payments, and new documents from Ukraine if he defected. Kuzminov said that his parents supported his plans to defect and have joined him in Ukraine. On Sept. 5, the HUR announced he would receive the hryvnia equivalent of $500,000 (approximately Hr 18.48 million) as a reward. Ukraine's parliament passed a law in April 2022 offering up to $1 million to Russian military personnel who manage to transfer equipment to Ukraine, depending on the type of equipment they hand over. Read also: Media: Russian helicopter pilot surrenders to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines Armed Forces continue to carry out the offensive operation on the Melitopol front and assault actions on the Bakhmut front; 20 combat clashes were recorded during the day. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 18:00 on 11 September Details: Ukrainian Armed Forces are holding back the Russian army and repelling attacks near Novoselivske, Luhansk Oblast, on the Kupiansk front; in the Klishchiivka district of Donetsk Oblast on the Bakhmut front; near Keramik and Avdiivka of Donetsk Oblast on the Avdiivka front; in the area of Marinka on the Marinka front; and near Novodanylivka and Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on the Zaporizhzhia front. Quote: "In total, the enemy inflicted 10 missile and 46 air strikes and carried out 37 attacks from multiple-launch missile systems on the positions of our troops and settlements." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "During the day, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted seven strikes on the areas where enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated. Units of the Rocket Forces and Artillery struck five enemy artillery pieces. " Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Rustem Umerov, Ukraines new Minister of Defence, has held his first telephone conversation with US Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin . Source: European Pravda; US Department of Defense Details: In its communique, the Pentagon notes that Austin congratulated Umerov on his appointment and assured that the United States will continue to support Ukraine. Quote: "Secretary Austin provided an update on U.S. security assistance efforts and exchanged views with Minister Umerov on priorities to support Ukraines immediate battlefield needs and capability requirements over the long term," the American side stated. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In addition, the ministers discussed the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, known as the Ramstein format, which will be held at the airbase of the same name in Germany next week. The Ukrainian side has not yet provided details of the conversation. On 6 September, Ukraines Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) approved the appointment of Rustem Umierov, the former head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, as the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has discussed the provision of additional weapons, including the strengthening of air defence and the supply of long-range Taurus missiles, during a meeting in Kyiv with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock . Source: European Pravda with reference to a press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Details: During the meeting, Kuleba and Baerbock discussed the development of bilateral relations, the expansion of the coalition in support of the peace formula, new ways to export grain and the provision of additional weapons, including the strengthening of Ukraine's air defence and the supply of long-range Taurus missiles. Quote from Kuleba: "We discussed in detail the provision of German long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Today, we have a better understanding of the process of making the final decision by the German government. For its part, Ukraine is ready to do everything necessary to speed it up. Following the talks, I can say that the option to provide these missiles remains open, and the decision-making process within Germany is moving forward." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Details: Kuleba thanked Germany for its strong defence support. He particularly noted the effectiveness of German-made Gepard self-propelled anti-air systems. Kuleba stressed that the talks focused on further strengthening Ukraine's air defence ahead of the new winter season and possible attacks against the energy system by Russia. Quote from Kuleba: "We also discussed in detail the participation of Germany and German companies in the first Defence Industries Forum to be held in Ukraine in the near future. The German government and defence companies have shown high interest in this event and will take an active part in it." More details: Kuleba and Baerbock agreed to work together to bring back Ukrainian children abducted by the Russian occupiers. Background: It was reported earlier that the German government has not yet decided whether to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles. At the same time, Ukraine is confident that this decision will not take "a whole year". Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Dmytro Lubinets, Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, has reported during the Yalta European Strategy that a mechanism has been developed to bring back Ukrainian children deported from the occupied territories. Source: Lubinets on Telegram Details: The Human Rights Commissioner said the mechanism for recovering children has several key stages: Developing a mechanism for obtaining lists of children; Verifying and updating of data; Documenting the facts of crimes and identifying new circumstances; Psychological rehabilitation of children upon their return; Creating a special centre for rehabilitation; ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Opening humanitarian corridors. Background: In July, the Ukrainian Ombudsman's Office managed to bring two girls, 5 and 12, back from Russian occupation to the Ukrainian government-controlled territory. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! The Ukrainian company Cosmolot has reported the delivery of the first 15 Punisher attack drones to the Ukrainian military. The main feature of the new drones are the innovative technology used in them that is resistant to electronic warfare, allowing them to attack the enemy deep behind the front line. Cosmolot recently announced the creation of the largest air fleet of attack drones, which it has dubbed Cosmolot Airlines. The company spent UAH 100 million ($2.71 million) on the fleet from its own profits not through donations and fees. Read also: How Ukraine prepared maritime drones for its successful second attack on the Crimean Bridge ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The company says its focus on financing innovative weapons stems from strong support for the army, a belief in victory, a call for the development of domestic military production, and an investment in the future technological power of Ukraine. "Simplicity, accuracy, and precision are the three main characteristics of the Punisher (drone)," says Yarema, a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a Punisher crew member. But the most important thing is that the innovative system is resistant to electronic warfare. After all, enemy electronic warfare no longer allows us to work on targets like a year ago. Now, thanks to Punisher, we have an advantage over the enemy. Cosmolot Fifty Punisher attack drones for Cosmolot Airlines are equipped with a unique modification, the PUNISHER GEN III B COSMO complex, which enables them to: perform tasks in difficult conditions of active jamming of GPS and telemetry signals; increase the number of tasks one drone can accomplish due to its resistance to all available enemy electronic warfare systems, using new communication elements created by Ukrainian engineers specifically for the COSMO modification; effectively use swarm tactics carrying out a group attack on a target; effectively destroy enemy combat units, command posts, warehouses, and equipment bases far behind the front line. Cosmolot "Today, we are delivering the first batch of 15 Punisher reusable electronic warfare drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the Cosmolot Airlines initiative," said Maksym Subotin, a representative of the Punisher development team. Read also: In total, with the participation and funding of Cosmolot, we are producing a batch of 50 such modernized EW-resistant UAVs. These drones allow us to strike the enemy even in areas where enemy electronic warfare is active. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Nataliia Humeniuk, head of the press centre of the Operational Command Pivden (South), has said that the Armed Forces destroyed six Russian combat boats yesterday that tried to regain their lost positions from the water while manoeuvring among the islands along the occupied left bank of Kherson Oblast. Source: Humeniuk on air with Radio Svoboda (Liberty) Quote: "At this stage, we can say that the enemy continues to be active there. It is looking for ways to provide a denser defence. Including from the direction of the Dnipro River itself, from the water. But minus six boats is a very eloquent, convincing summary that we can now say for the past 24 hours. This is how they [Russian troops ed.] ended their attempt to gain a foothold in the positions they had previously been driven out of. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement We also continue to kill personnel. And destroy other equipment, such as machine guns and mortars." Details: Humeniuk said that Russian forces have also become more active in the air and continue to attack the right bank of Kherson Oblast with guided aerial bombs. UAVs are also being sent to the area where Sea Breeze exercises are taking place. Humeniuk emphasised that Russian forces on the left bank prevailed and were "very powerful". At the same time, the morning report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not mention the destroyed Russian boats. The official reports of the Russian Ministry of Defence also did not mention the destroyed boats. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Ukrainian forces have liberated part of the village of Opytne south of the front-line town of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on Sept. 11. "There was movement in the area of Opytne, and the Defense Forces occupied a part of the settlement," Malyar said. Read also: Ukraines counter-offensive is an active, dynamic, but very long process Malyar Opytne is located in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast. The village is bordered by Avdiyivka to the north and by the territory of Donetsk International Airport to the south. Donetsk International Airport was occupied by Russian forces early in 2015 after more than three months of fierce fighting, during which much of the airport was destroyed. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Six more Ukrainian pilots feared dead after two Mi-8 helicopters downed in Donetsk Oblast The Ukrainian Armed Forces also had partial success in the Novomayorske area of Donetsk Oblast during the week. Now the defenders are consolidating in those areas, Malyar said. On the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian troops had "some success" near Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka. They pushed the Russian units out and advanced. Ukrainian forces liberated another 2 square kilometers, and have now liberated a total of 49 square kilometers since the beginning of the offensive. Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops continue their offensive in the south of Ukraine. They have advanced another 1.5 kilometers on the Tavria section of the front, and are making progress in the area south of the liberated village of Robotyne, Ukraines military says. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian troops continued to advance south of Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and near Bakhmut on 10 September. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: Geolocation images released on 10 September show that Ukrainian troops have advanced east of the settlement of Novoprokopivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Oleksandr Shtupun, Spokesman for the Joint Press Centre of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, noted that Ukrainian troops are continuing to advance near the settlement of Robotyne and they have liberated 1.5 square kilometres of territory on this front. In addition, Illia Yevlash, Spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Ukrainian forces had made gains near Klishchiivka, Donetsk Oblast. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Moreover, Ukraines 2nd mechanised battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade also announced on 9 September that it had pushed Russian forces out from some unspecified area on the Bakhmut front. Russian troops also conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near Bakhmut on 10 September. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways for 10 September: Ukrainian forces continued to advance south of Robotyne in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and reportedly advanced near Bakhmut on 10 September. Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Head Kyrylo Budanov stated on 10 September that Ukrainian forces will continue counteroffensive operations into late 2023. Cold and wet weather will affect but not halt active combat, as it has done in the first 18 months of the war. Russian military personnel continue to detail persistent problems hindering Russian operations along the frontline in Ukraine. Russian forces conducted a series of Shahed-131/-136 drone strikes targeting Kyiv Oblast on the night of 9 to 10 September. Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizzhhia Oblast and reportedly regained some lost positions in some areas. Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) Spokesperson Major General Vadym Skibitskyi stated on 10 September that the Russian military has concentrated over 420,000 military personnel in occupied Ukraine, not including Rosgvardia (Russian national guard) and other military units and structures. Russian occupation officials held the final day of voting for Russian regional elections in occupied territories on 10 September, continuing efforts to coerce residents to vote and portray the elections as legitimate. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Corruption is considered to be the biggest obstacle for the development of business in Ukraine 47% of Ukrainians surveyed by sociologists have expressed this point of view. Source: results of the survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation jointly with the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology Meanwhile, 37% of responders said that the damage caused by the war was the biggest obstacle to business, 36% said it was inadequate systems of tax administration and control, and 36% blamed weak state support. "It is telling that the problems that directly depend on the quality of state governance take up three out of four top factors that impede the development of business, according to Ukrainians. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The next negative factors are the outflow of specialists and businesspeople abroad (29%), and outflow of employees abroad (28%)," the report reads. At the same time, corruption as an obstacle to business development was mentioned more in the east (55%) and a bit less in the west (43%) of the country. Likewise, the west (30%) of Ukraine is less critical of tax control than the east (43%). "The respondents of the eastern (40%) and southern (33%) oblasts mentioned the outflow of specialists and business owners abroad than those in the western (22%) and central oblasts (27%), with the latter two being less affected by combat actions. The situation is similar with outflow of workforce: this factor was mentioned more often in the east (37%) and south (31%) of Ukraine than in the west (25%) and in the centre (24%)," the results of the survey indicate. The authors of the survey also remark that Ukrainian society does not trust Ukrainian agents of post-war economic and infrastructural reconstruction of Ukraine. In July 2023, only 17.5% of the participants agreed with the opinion that Ukrainian state companies and banks can effectively and without corruption reconstruct the country. The level of trust afforded to private Ukrainian companies and banks is even lower 8%. "At the moment western companies and banks have the highest levels of trust (28%), although still not that high in general, on par with international financial organisations like the IMF and the World Bank (19%). Large non-Western companies and banks (China, UAE, Saudi Arabia) have the lowest level of trust of only 3%," it is stated in the report. The survey was conducted by a face-to-face method from 3 to 17 July 2023 in all regions of Ukraine besides occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson oblasts and Crimea. In Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts, the survey was conducted in Ukraine-controlled areas where there is no combat action. The survey includes 2,011 respondents over 18. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and recently-appointed Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov have held their first phone call, the U.S. Defense Department said on Sept. 11. Austin congratulated Umerov on his appointment and updated him on U.S. security assistance, the Defense Department reported. Umerov, the former head of the State Property Fund, replaced Oleksii Reznikov as a defense minister on Sept. 6. Reznikov resigned on Sept. 3 following to two major procurement corruption scandals in the Defense Ministry. Austin and Umerov exchanged views "on priorities to support Ukraines immediate battlefield needs and capability requirements over the long term," according to the U.S. Defense Department. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Umerov said that he briefed Austin on "the recent developments at the front line," and was grateful to the U.S. for its "support and contribution to Ukraine's victory". He added that he expressed his condolences to his U.S. counterpart on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The two also discussed the agenda for the last Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein NATO base in Germany, which will be held on Sept. 19. The last Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting was held in July. The format coordinates the efforts of the U.S. and its allies to provide military aid to Ukraine. On Sept. 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky assigned five key priorities to the new defense minister: strengthening the central role of the ministry in the defense sector, putting soldiers as the foremost value, expanding international partnerships, curbing corruption, and reforming the military to NATO standards. Read also: Who is Rustem Umerov, Ukraines soon-to-be defense minister? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had his first phone conversation with Ukraine's new Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, the Pentagon's press service and Umerov himself reported on Sept. 11. Austin congratulated Umerov on his new position, reaffirming Washingtons unwavering support for Ukraine. Read also: Ukraine needs air defense, armored vehicles and missiles, not planes Austin Secretary Austin also relayed updated information on U.S. efforts related to providing security aid. He also exchanged thoughts with Umerov on priorities concerning Ukraine's immediate battlefield needs, as well as those required for long-term planning. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Ukraines parliament dismissed Pishchanska as AMCU head, Reznikov and Umerov dismissed as well The ministers discussed the agenda for the next weeks Ramstein meeting a monthly gathering of defense ministers of Kyivs international allies. Read also: Western media on Reznikovs resignation and what to expect from his successor Umerov The Ukrainian minister informed his U.S. counterpart about recent developments on the frontlines. Both officials vowed to maintain close contact. The Ukrainian parliament appointed Umerov as the defense minister on Sept. 6, having dismissed Oleksii Reznikov from the position the day before. Reznikov served in the post since November 2022, while Umerov previously managed the State Property Fund. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine UN says 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been tortured by Russians Around 90% of Ukrainian prisoners of war have been subjected to torture, including sexual violence, while in Russian captivity, Voice of America (VoA) reported on Sept. 10, citing Alice Jill Edwards, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture. Torture perpetrated by Russian soldiers against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war has reached such a level that it is clearly a systematic, state-endorsed policy, Edwards said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sept. 9. This is not random, aberrant behavior, Edwards said. This is orchestrated as part of state policy to intimidate, instill fear, or punish to extract information and confessions. Read also: Ex-Olenivka prison camp warden charged for torturing POWs by SBU ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Former Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia described fellow prisoners dying in custody from beatings or being kept in poor conditions. Read also: Ukraine forming joint medical commissions to exchange POWs with Russia Edwards said she had reached out to Russian authorities at least seven times since receiving her mandate a year ago, drawing attention to the behavior of its troops and personnel in its detention facilities, but had received no response. Moscows refusal to address the issue, and the accumulating cases, amounted to tacit approval of the use of torture, Edwards said. Ukrainian prosecutors have opened 103,000 criminal cases related to torture by Russian soldiers. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine 9/11/2023 State College. We gather to remember. I was in New York City on 9/11/2001, playing a judge on Ed. We had just finished filming a courtroom scene when someone said that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. We had just been near there. It was near where the transport van had picked us up earlier that morning. The only news program broadcasting was a Spanish language station. The networks had their antennas on top of the WTC, and theyd been knocked out by the attack. We gathered around the tiny TV just in time to watch the second plane crash. Thats when we knew. It had not been an accident. Our world everyones world changed forever. Later both towers collapsed. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, including hundreds of firefighters and police. Within months our country was at war in Afghanistan, then Iraq. President Biden ended that war in Afghanistan last year. It was the longest war in our countrys history. We never resumed filming the show that day. Our high-powered lights were confiscated for use at ground zero. A few of us tried to go down to help in the recovery. Nonprofessionals werent permitted on the site. Some folks tried to call friends and family at the WTC. They could not get through. I called my wife. She had recently worked at the WTC as a TV broadcast engineer. But on that day she was teaching at Penn State. The production company got the cast and crew hotel rooms in New Jersey. Looking across the George Washington Bridge, New York City looked wounded. It was. We all were. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The next year I was awarded a Fulbright to teach in South Africa. People there couldnt understand how deeply the attack had affected Americans. I wrote a play, 9/11 A Day in the Life of a People, an hour drama based on the stories of 12 ordinary people who went through the 9/11 experience in NYC, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. We few resident Americans, Fulbrighters, academics and students performed the play. The first reading was sponsored by the U.S. Consulate for the diplomatic community in Capetown. When we returned to State College some of us performed the piece at PSUs Downtown Theatre Center. It was the first theatrical event held at the newly opened Center. An annual ritual evolved. Every year the play was performed on the anniversary of the attack. After the performance we invited members of the audience to share their own experiences of 9/11. Some of those stories were added to the text of the play. On the 10th anniversary, we were invited to perform it at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. This past Friday the Penn State College Republicans, under the leadership of Hunter Steach, director of special events, hosted a 9/11 Memorial Service on Old Main Lawn. Ten PSU alums perished on 9/11: Kermit Anderson, Patrick Dwyer, Michael Ferugio, Scott Hazelcorn, Howard Kane, David Kovalcin, Michele Nelson, Michael Perscherine, Jean Roger and David Suarez. Their names were read aloud while roses were presented in their honor. A flag for each victim 2,977 of them were displayed on the lawn. Guest speakers were Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson and State College Mayor Ezra Nanes. Penn State Board of Trustees members Brandon Short and Robert Fenza attended, as did the College Democrats head Baybars Charkas, and representatives of several veterans organizations. These days there is much that works to unravel the threads in the fabric of our political democracy. When we come together as a country and community to remember 9/11 we are reminded that we are one people still twined together in one destiny. The flags will remain on display until 5 p.m. Tuesday. Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He was the 2022 Lions Paw Awardee and Living Legend honoree of the National Black Theatre Festival. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College. Union workers representing more than half of the employees in University of Missouri Printing Services say university officials aren't being genuine in their reasons for phasing out the operation. "I don't think we're being told the truth about why they're shutting us down," said Cliff Scully, who works in Printing Services. They're asking officials to reverse the decision. The decision to phase out Printing Services over 12 months was reached in July, with declining revenues cited as the reason. The work of printing brochures, business cards and other departmental and university literature will be contracted to a private business when Printing Services ends. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When the decision was made public, a university spokesman said Printing Services had about two dozen employees. A union field representative this week said the operation has around 30 employees, 18 of them union workers. The decision to phase out Printing Services was correct, said Mun Choi, University of Missouri System president and MU chancellor. The decision was made after careful analysis, he said Thursday. "We must be able to transform our operations," Choi said. "I stand by the decision." Printing Services revenue declined by 50% over 10 years and there's increasing demand for information in digital form instead of print, officials said in July. They miss the point, said Scully, a prepress technician. "We're not supposed to make money," Scully said. "We're supposed to provide a service to the university." In an August email to the UM System Board of Curators, Scully wrote that fiscal year 2023 numbers were better than expected, ending the year with positive performance of $556,000. Expenses were $222,000 less than projected and revenue was $320,000 greater, he wrote. "Printing has declined everywhere over the years," Scully said. "We offer a lot of services they won't get from any other printer out there." Ryan Pickerell is a bulk mail processor in Printing Services, mailing postcards to high school students and alumni at a highly discounted rate. "I'm pretty upset," Pickerell said of the decision. "A lot of us are taking it personally." Pickerell has worked in a print shop since he was 14, when he started in his dad's shop on 8th Street, he said. The operation doesn't lose money and it's a university service, Pickerell said. "We have plenty of work," he said. "We're busy every day." Both Pickerell and Scully said they were deemed "essential" during the pandemic and required to come to work, but it appears they are no longer essential. Neither has much hope that officials will reverse the decision and they don't know what other university positions to which they could transfer. "This skillset won't transfer over to anything else," Pickerell said. "I've been in printing since the late '80s," Scully said. "It's all I've ever done." Their union, local 955 of Laborers International Union of North America, began contract negotiations with the university last week and this is one of the issues it is emphasizing. In a counteroffer, they are seeking a one-year reprieve in the closure to allow it to demonstrate improvement," Pickerell said. Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: MU union workers claim closing Printing Services is premature There is an old wives tale that suggests cockroaches would be the only creatures to survive nuclear winter. That will not be the case, however, if the U.S. Army has anything to say about indestructible innovation. For nearly two decades now, the service has crafted the shelf stable sandwich in flavors such as barbecue chicken, barbecue beef, nacho cheese, bacon cheddar, and Italian pocket. And while that last one sounds like something sewn into a silk robe worn by Robert De Niro, its actually more like a pepperoni and sausage hot pocket and is hopefully a little less crunchy than those pesky insects. The demand for these seemingly indestructible heroes for heroes, which are currently included in the First Strike Ration, arose out of a need for more on-the-go eats. And though a number of Meals-Ready-to-Eat menu items could be used to construct a sandwich, that would take time ... and some serious ratf***ing. Instead, the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Massachusetts invested in a dehydration process involving humectants, which eliminate the potential for the dreaded scourge of soggy bread. After the sandwiches are made, theyre then stored in foil tri-laminated pouches that absorb oxygen and prevent the food from breeding bacteria. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For those curious non-military folks and doomsday preppers, the good news is that these tasty morsels are available at places like Walmart and Bass Pro Shops, according to the Army. Whatever your background, these make the perfect snack for nuclear winter as long as you arent planning to live more than three years after the apocalypse. The shelf stable sandwich unfortunately does have a shelf life. FILE- The five turbines of America's first offshore wind farm, owned by the Danish company, Orsted, stand off the coast of Block Island, R.I., on Oct. 17, 2022. As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects that will transform coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment. And that has some people concerned, particularly those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods. (AP Photo/David Goldman) POINT PLEASANT BEACH,N.J. (AP) As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects, transforming coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment. And that worries some people, particularly those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods. We dont have the science to know what the impact will be, said Jim Hutchinson, managing editor of The Fisherman magazine in New Jersey. The attitude has been, Build it and well figure it out. The wind power industry disputes such claims, citing years of studies. So far, four offshore wind projects have been approved by the federal government for the U.S. East Coast, according to the American Clean Power Association. Vineyard Wind will place 62 turbines about 15 miles (24 kilometers) off Marthas Vineyard, generating enough electricity to power 400,000 homes. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement South Fork Wind will place 12 turbines in the waters off Long Island, New York, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Montauk Point, to power 70,000 homes. And Ocean Wind I, the first of two Orsted projects in New Jersey, will place 98 turbines about 15 miles off Atlantic City and Ocean City, generating power for 500,000 homes. Those projects are in addition to the planned Revolution Wind development, about 15 miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, with 65 turbines powering nearly 250,000 homes. Numerous others have been proposed, and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to review at least 16 offshore wind projects by 2025. All this is happening so fast, said Greg Cudnik, a recreational fisherman, bait and tackle shop owner and party boat captain from Ship Bottom, New Jersey. Science takes time. A joint study in March by two federal scientific agencies and the commercial fishing industry documents numerous impacts that offshore wind power projects could have on fish and marine mammals, including noise, vibration, electromagnetic fields and heat transfer that could alter the environment. Like numerous existing studies, the report pointed out the complexities of how the structures and cables might interact with marine life. For instance, turbines can attract some fish and repel others. The March study said large underwater platforms are rapidly colonized by smaller, bottom-dwelling marine life, including shellfish and crabs, which in turn attract larger predators like black sea bass. At the same time, cloudy water from turbine operations, noise, vibrations and electromagnetic fields could also make species leave an area. In most instances, report authors agreed that more studies are needed. Research in other countries also is also nuanced. Some European studies have shown that crabs and lobster are attracted to harder sea bottoms that support wind turbines. Others, including flatfish and whiting, were shown to leave those areas. Substantial research already exists. The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has posted a half-dozen or more studies on its web site every year since 2016; in several instances the studies called for further investigation and analysis. Phil Sgro, a spokesman for the American Clean Power Association, said the industry believes sufficient scientific studies exist to establish that offshore wind development can be done in a manner that is both economical and environmentally responsible. Opponents blame ocean floor preparation for causing or contributing to the deaths of 70 whales on the U.S. East Coast since December. But three federal agencies say there is no evidence the two are related. The U.S. fishing industry both commercial and recreational has numerous concerns about offshore wind impacting operations in places long available for fishing with minimal interference. They fear electromagnetic fields emitted from underwater power cables could deter or harm some marine life. They worry about being able to safely navigate around the turbines, and about being prohibited from productive fishing grounds on which they have relied for generations. They also worry that unforeseen consequences could reduce catches and trigger government limits on how much can be caught if fish stocks diminish. And while some companies have voluntarily agreed to compensate fishermen for any economic damage, there is no mandate requiring it. The federal government has endorsed but not required compensation to the fishing industry for negative effects from offshore wind. Eleven states are considering setting up a regional fund to administer such payments. On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released an environmental impact statement for the proposed Empire Wind project in New York, designed to power 700,000 homes. It determined that the project could have moderate to major impacts on commercial fisheries, and minor to moderate impacts for recreational fishing, although minor beneficial effects could also occur from the creation of an artificial reef that will attract some fish. ___ Follow Wayne Parry on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/WayneParryAC WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Washington expects U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the United States before year-end, whether at next week's U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) or after, the State Department said on Monday. "I'll let the Chinese Government speak to whether Wang Yi will or will not attend UNGA next week. But that said, whether it's UNGA or whether it is after UNGA sometime before the end of the year, it is still our expectation that Secretary Blinken will host Foreign Minister Wang Yi here in the United States," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that China is planning to dispatch Vice President Han Zheng to UNGA, instead of sending Wang Yi on a broader U.S. trip as previously signaled, citing people briefed on the matter. The annual gathering of world leaders comes after U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday expressed disappointment that Chinese President Xi Jinping was not attending an upcoming summit of G20 leaders in India, but added that he was going to "get to see him." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Biden did not elaborate but the next likely opportunity for Biden to hold talks with Xi, as the two countries seek to stabilize troubled relations, is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco in November. China's top security agency has hinted that any meeting between Xi and Biden in San Francisco later this year will depend on the United States "showing sufficient sincerity". "As the President has said, he hopes to meet with President Xi sometime later this fall. We believe there is no substitute for one-on-one conversations at the leader level, so we will continue to work towards the possibility of that," Miller said on Monday. Blinken traveled to Beijing in June, where he met with Wang's predecessor, Qin Gang, in the first visit by the top U.S. diplomat to China in five years. The U.S. State Department said then they held "candid, substantive, and constructive" talks, and Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions. Blinken subsequently met Wang on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Jakarta in Qin's absence. Three other senior U.S. officials have traveled to China for meetings after Blinken's visit, but Chinese officials have yet to travel to the United States for talks. Wang, 69, served as foreign minister from 2013-2022 as ties frayed with the United States to a point Beijing described as an all-time low. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Kanishka Singh and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Andrea Ricci) The U.S. has reportedly reached an agreement with Iran to unfreeze $6 billion of funds to Tehran for the release of five American prisoners, a deal Republicans have criticized as catering to a foreign adversary. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the agreement last week, issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to allow for the transfer of the $6 billion of Iranian funds frozen in South Korea to a bank in Qatar, according to the Associated Press. The Hill has reached out to the State Department for comment. A potential deal emerged last month when Iran moved four American prisoners out of an infamous prison in Tehran to house arrest. A fifth U.S. citizen was already at the location. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As part of the deal, Qatar is expected to mediate the use of the unfrozen funds, which are proceeds from Irans oil sales to South Korea that were frozen by the U.S. as relations have soured. U.S. officials have said they expect the funds to only be used for humanitarian purposes, but Republicans said the move would undoubtedly at least free up resources for Irans military spending. Top House Republicans have also accused the U.S. of negotiating with Iran to decrease its nuclear production as part of the deal, a point the Biden administration has denied. The administration has sought unsuccessfully to revive a nuclear pact with Iran for the past two years. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House is nearing approval for supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles armed with cluster bombs, Reuters reported on Sept. 11, citing unnamed U.S. officials. According to three agency sources, the United States, impressed by the effectiveness of the cluster munitions previously supplied to Ukrainian defenders, is considering the transfer of ATACMS ballistic missiles (range up to 300 kilometers) or GMLRS guided munitions (about 70 kilometers) loaded with cluster bombsor potentially both systems. Read also: Zelenskyy holds talks with Biden Should any of these systems be approved for transfer, they could be promptly delivered to Ukraine, the report said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read also: Biden to petition Congress for $25 billion in aid funding report Two sources stated that U.S. President Joe Bidens administration is keen to boost the Ukrainian military at a vital moment when the counteroffensive is finally looks promising on the battlefield. Read also: US mulls inclusion of ATACMS missiles in Ukraines upcoming aid package However, the decision has not been finalized and may be rescindedReuters reminds that the White House has been unable to approve the supply of ATACMS for several months, fearing that their delivery may be viewed as an "overly aggressive move against Russia." In recent days, several media outlets reported that the United States appears to be moving towards greenlighting the transfer of ATACMS to Ukrainesomething Kyiv has been requesting for nearly a year. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, said on Sunday 10 September that peace talks with Russia are not currently available because "it takes two to tango", but if Russian President Vladimir Putin shows interest, Ukrainians will join in. Source: ABCnews Quote from Blinken: "And thus far, we see no indication that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin has any interest in meaningful diplomacy. If he does, I think the Ukrainians will be the first to engage and we'll be right behind them. Everyone wants this war to end." Background: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 10 September he is emotionally ready for a long war and believes that now is a "bad moment" for negotiations with Russia. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Special-operations forces have been a centerpiece of US military operations for two decades. As the US focuses on competition with China, those forces will take on a new set of missions. US leaders should remember that special operators aren't suited for some tasks, one expert says. For two decades, US policymakers have relied on special-operations forces to tackle the hardest missions. And for a good reason: US special-operations units have a history of achieving outcomes on the battlefield out of proportion to their relatively small size and budget. But in an era of strategic competition with China, there are some missions with no special-ops "easy button," according to David Ucko, a professor and expert on irregular warfare. The limits of SOF An Afghan special-forces soldier and a US Special Forces soldier during a firefight with insurgents in Afghanistan's Ghazni province in February 2014. Pfc. David Devich/US Army In an article in the journal of the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, Ucko argues that as US special-operations forces shift from two decades of mostly low-intensity fighting against terrorist groups and insurgents, US leaders need to focus on using those forces for missions within their competencies. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ucko writes that strategic competition requires more than violence and preparation for combat at which commandos excel and that political warfare is also a key element, making four main arguments about how to get the most out of special-operations forces. First, the US special-operations community should consolidate its core strengths, particularly irregular warfare, which is "highly relevant" to strategic competition with China. Second, outside of tasks related to irregular warfare, restraint is warranted because of "inevitable limits on SOF's bandwidth, the trade-offs inherent to adding more to an already full plate, and the nature of the competition, which in most respects remains a non-military phenomenon." US Air Force Special Tactics operators tandem hoist into a CV-22B Osprey during an exercise near RAF Mildenhall on April 15, 2021. US Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Westin Warburton Third, other US agencies also need to take a role in irregular warfare, which Ucko says is "fundamentally about legitimacy, politics and blended lines of effort and so cannot be left to what is, after all, a military force no matter how special." Finally, US leaders should clarify what the country is competing over and why to avoid what Ucko describes as "opacity" about objectives that can lead to "a lack of focus and prioritisation." Irregular warfare is indeed highly relevant to the strategic competition with near-peer adversaries such as China and Russia. It allows the US military to shape the operational environment to its liking before any shots are fired. But irregular warfare includes more than military force and can take a whole-of-nation effort to maximize its effectiveness. "As SOF establishes its remit in boosting resilience and resistance, it must be careful not to veer into civilian realms where other agencies should lead," Ucko warns. Soldiers in the Psychological Operations Qualification Course at the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School in North Carolina in June 2021. US Army/K. Kassens Indeed, in strategic competition, the departments of State, Justice, and Treasury, and intelligence agencies can often be more effective in certain tasks than the military. Among the tasks that Ucko says have no "SOF easy button" are addressing local corruption that allows Chinese political infiltration, thwarting Russian efforts to undermine elections, or reviewing suspect foreign investments. In addition, Ucko argues that special operators are a valuable force that can't be saddled with missions just because they can do them. US military special-operations units already struggle to retain personnel, many of whom have been driven away by frequent deployments. Ucko also highlights the dual nature of a lot of special-operations mission sets, such as foreign internal defense and unconventional warfare. US Navy SEALs train with Philippine Navy special-operations and Australian army special-operations troops in Palawan in April 2022. US Marine Corps/Sgt. Mario A. Ramirez While foreign internal defense "traditionally meant aiding a friendly government against an insurgency," US special-operations forces now look at it as a way "to boost a country's 'resilience' against foreign-sponsored proxies, modes of disinformation or political infiltration," Ucko writes. In unconventional warfare, commandos usually sponsor an insurgency against an "illicit or occupying government," but they can also increase the resistance capabilities of countries under attack or at risk of invasion, like Ukraine or Taiwan. While those two missions are relevant to competition with Russia and China, they are also demanding and will require US special-operations forces to "rebalance" after 20 years of counterinsurgency and focus on a different set of skills, such as language ability and cultural awareness, which has implications for special-ops recruiting and training, Ucko writes. Different wars, different missions A US Army Green Beret with Philippine National Police and Coast Guard special-operations personnel in Palawan in May 2022. US Army/Sgt. 1st Class Jared N. Gehmann Special operators can be quite effective in large-scale conventional conflicts if they are employed according to their strengths, and they have proven that time and again. In North Africa in World War II, British SAS and Commonwealth Long Range Desert Group commandos harassed Axis troops, destroying more of their aircraft on the ground in raids than the Allied air forces could shoot down. SAS and LRDG reconnaissance also enabled the Allies' overall victory during that phase of the war. US Army Delta Force and British SAS troops earned praise for hunting Scud missiles in the desert during the Gulf war, helping prevent Iraq from expanding that conflict. More recently, Delta Force and US Army Rangers led the way into Afghanistan, and Delta Force, US Army Green Berets and Psychological Operations soldiers, and the British Special Boat Service teamed up with Kurdish fighters to tie down several Iraqi divisions and prevent them from responding to the US invasion of southern Iraq in 2003. While that history shows that special operators can shape the course of a large-scale conflict, US leaders should remember that there are still limits on what those troops can do in a major war. Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. He is working toward a master's degree in strategy and cybersecurity at Johns Hopkins' School of Advanced International Studies. Read the original article on Business Insider FILE - An explosion erupts from an apartment building after a Russian army tank fired on it in Mariupol, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. The United States and Britain have invited ambassadors, journalists and others to a U.N. screening of the award-winning documentary "20 Days in Mariupol" which follows a trio of Associated Press journalists during Russia's siege of the Ukrainian port city in the early days of the war. The Monday evening screening comes a week before world leaders arrive for their annual meeting at the U.N. General Assembly, where the 18-month war in Ukraine is expected to be in the spotlight. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) UNITED NATIONS (AP) More than a hundred ambassadors, journalists and representatives of a broad spectrum of society watched a U.N. screening Monday evening of the award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which follows a trio of Associated Press journalists during Russias relentless siege of the Ukrainian port city in the early days of the war. U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward, who co-hosted the screening, said the film is important because Russias invasion of Ukraine threatens what the U.N. stands for: an international order where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is fundamental. We want to reaffirm our commitment to U.N. values, and thats why weve chosen to show this very important documentary, she said in welcoming the the audience at U.N. headquarters in New York. The screening comes at the start of the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly and a week before world leaders arrive for their annual meeting, where the more than 18-month war in Ukraine is expected to be in the spotlight especially with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to speak in person for the first time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The harrowing documentary, which was produced by the AP and the PBS series Frontline, is culled from 30 hours of footage AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov and his colleagues shot in Mariupol following Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine and its siege of the city. It documents fighting in the streets, the crushing strain on Mariupols residents and medical teams, and attacks that killed pregnant women, children and others. The siege, which ended on May 20, 2022, with the surrender of a small group of outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian fighters at the Azovstal steel plant, left the city in ruins and an estimated 25,000 people dead, though the toll is likely higher. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the other co-host, said 20 Days in Mariupol documents the horrors of (Russian President Vladimir) Putins war of aggression. Were here tonight to bear witness, to bear witness to these horrors and to reaffirm our commitment to justice and peace, she said. We must continue to hold Russia to account for its atrocities. We must continue to support the Ukrainian people in their time of need. The APs reporting from Mariupol drew the Kremlins ire, with its U.N. ambassador, Vasily Nebenzia, falsely claiming during a Security Council meeting in the sieges early days that photos showing the aftermath of a missile strike on a maternity hospital were staged. I wish the entire Russian mission were here to watch this film, said Ukraines U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, who attended Monday's screening. Kyslytsya said he believes the documentary is so powerful and important that it will still be shown 50 years from now. AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace called the documentary a testament to the power and impact of eyewitness journalism, stressing that without it, the world would not have known the atrocities that took place. To have the film screened at the United Nations as the U.N. General Assembly gets underway underscores the importance of fact-based journalism on a global scale, she said. Its crucial that we safeguard both the ability of a free press to cover the worlds most important stories and the publics ability to view this type of fact-based reporting. 20 Days in Mariupol won the Sundance Global Audience Award for Best Documentary and several other prizes. Chernov was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service along with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, producer Vasilisa Stepanenko and Paris-based correspondent Lori Hinnant for their courageous reporting on Mariupol. Chernov delivered a video welcome from the field in Ukraine, wearing a helmet and telling the audience that he sometimes feels powerless as a journalist because he cant change things. I can only make sure that as many people as possible will see what I saw know about what happened in Mariupol and will never forget about it, he said. What was happening in Mariupol is happening right now to other Ukrainian cities, in this moment, and it unfortunately will be happening tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, until the war is stopped. Raney Aronson-Rath, editor-in-chief and executive producer of Frontline, called it deeply meaningful to have the opportunity to screen the documentary at the United Nations. She said the producers continue to share the film around the world to give audiences the opportunity to bear witness to the atrocities that Ukrainians have endured. ___ For more AP coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine Over two decades later, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a nation's vow to never forget has become an enduring legacy across generations and communities. The term "never forget" holds a different meaning to Derek Blackwell, 17, a senior at Lehi High School. The historic event predates Blackwell's generation, which has come to know the day and its events through second-hand memories and history books. "We get taught a lot about the tragedy and all of the terrible events that happened and one thing that I've learned is all of the good that came from it and all of the people afterward the rallying patriotism and support that everybody had for each other," Blackwell said. Each year, communities nationwide with varying backgrounds and ideologies come together to join in the Sept.11 National Day of Service and Remembrance for an official day of service. A reported 35 million Americans participate in offering some form of charitable service on the anniversary and official day of service, according to 9/11 nonprofit MyGoodDeed. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Lehi community held its annual 9/11 Day of Service with a wide variety of projects and partners on Saturday joining thousands throughout the state doing similar service projects. At least 3,000 volunteers gathered for the Lehi projects alone. Among those projects was a letter-writing campaign, hosted by Lehi High School's student council where Blackwell serves as the vice president of service. "The biggest impact that it has on me is I don't want it to take another tragic tragedy to get that sense of unity and that's why I'm so involved in service. We want to be able to have that sense of unity and have a sense of community without needing a tragedy to pull us together," he said. The stacks of letters continued to grow during the event with short thank you's, heartfelt notes filling the entire notecard or children's drawings in bright colors. Gravel is dumped for volunteers to spread out as Lehi residents team up to perform service at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday as part of the 9/11 Day of Service. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News "Dear First Responder, thank you for doing what you do! We almost lost our home to a wildfire in the Canyon Hills neighborhood a few years back. Lehi fire and police are literal heroes for us. Keep doing what you do. You are loved and appreciated," read one card signed by the Miners. "Thank you for all the health," another read, with a child's drawing of an ambulance below. Saturday's event began with an opening ceremony at the Hutching's Museum with former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert speaking along with Attorney General Sean Reyes. Adobe hosted the indoor service fair, where projects included the letter-writing campaign, stuffing bears for refugee children, stuffing backpacks, creating quilts for homeless youth in Salt Lake County, and making toy cars. One volunteer who had just completed a quilt held it tight to her chest for a moment after folding it. "I hope this keeps the young boy or woman who needs it on a cold night really warm," she said, before adding it to the growing stack. Josh Swenson works with his kids Rose and Oliver as they join other Lehi residents in service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday as part of the 9/11 Day of Service. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The wide variety of projects was meant to encompass service across different levels of communities. Other service events included outdoor beautification projects at several parks and trails in Lehi. "A lot of it we wanted to focus on people who need help in Utah and our local community to which, like the cars are going to, the quilts are going to. And then there's a few international groups, too, which has been really cool because we can get to see both sides of it. I've gotten emotional a few times today because it's just so cool to see everyone be happy to help and bring their whole family and their friends," said Abby Hughes, project coordinator at the Adobe event. Many other communities across the state are participating in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance. To find upcoming events near you, visit justserve.org or userve.utah.gov/911day. Adin Bitter joins with other Lehi residents as they team up to perform service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Gravel is dumped for volunteers to spread out as Lehi residents team up to perform service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News A box end wrench sits on a fence post as Lehi residents team up to perform service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Rose Swenson tightens the nuts on the fence as she and her family join other Lehi residents in service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Joe Vandegraaff helps give some instructions to other volunteers as Lehi residents team up to perform service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Volunteers work to install the rails of a fence as Lehi residents team up to perform service as they work to install fencing, gravel and other jobs at the new soccer fields and city park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. McClatchy newsrooms were not involved in the creation of this content. If youre a veteran looking for an assisted living community you can be comfortable in, you probably have a lot of things to think about before you make the switch. It isnt easy to navigate the VA system, though. Veterans in every state are missing out on benefits they may be eligible for, and collectively, billions of dollars worth of aid is going unclaimed. Assisted living is one of those benefits, and it might be one of the most under-utilized parts of the VA system. With assisted living costs averaging $4,500 a month nationwide, getting the VA benefits you deserve might be one of the most important things you can do for yourself or a qualifying veteran in your family. This article is meant to help veterans find and access the VA assisted living benefits theyre entitled to and give an overview of the veterans benefits you might be missing out on. It goes over what benefits are available, who qualifies for them and how to apply. Theres also helpful information about the application process and a link for more information about getting VA help paying for assisted living. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Speak to a Family Advisor Understanding VA Benefits for Assisted Living The United States has over 18 million veterans who are older adults, and many of them need some level of care services to thrive. Veterans benefits offered through the VA are meant to plug that gap with a broad spectrum of services and supports that include: Disability compensation Pensions Education and job training Health care Home loans Insurance Vocational rehabilitation Employment services Burial awards Long-term care assistance These benefits are meant to help veterans transition back into civilian life and express the nations gratitude for their honorable service. From the individual veterans point of view, any or all of these benefits can be critical in maintaining a high quality of life after separation from the service, especially when its time to find board and care in a residential care community. What is Assisted Living? Assisted living is a level of senior residential care that falls between independent senior living and nursing home care. Older adults who move into assisted living communities typically have help with activities of daily life from staff caregivers, who can provide a range of vital support services, such as: Chore assistance Daily check-ins Food prep Shopping assistance Personal care Grooming and dressing assistance Linen and laundry service Limited transportation Medication reminders Assisted living is not to be confused with memory care, which is for seniors with Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia, hospice care, which provides comfort care for people with end-stage illnesses or nursing home care, which provides close medical monitoring and rehab services for disabled and recovering seniors. Caregivers in assisted living communities might, for instance, remind seniors to take their medication, but they generally cant administer the medicine themselves. Why are VA Benefits Important for Assisted Living? Because assisted living occupies an in-between position in the move from living at home to rehab in an inpatient medical facility, it can be hard to find ways to pay for the care they offer. Health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid may pay for medical treatments and equipment, but assisted living isnt usually a covered benefit. Likewise, many seniors in assisted living communities have personal care needs that go beyond what their monthly payments can cover, which calls for financial help from the VA. Eligibility for VA Benefits VA benefits are available to all honorably discharged veterans of any branch of the U.S. military, their qualifying spouses and dependent family members. Specific programs, such as tuition assistance or discount home loans, may only be available to beneficiaries who go through the application process, but in principle, all veterans who completed a satisfactory term of service are equally eligible for all VA benefits. What are the Requirements for Assisted Living Benefits? The VAs Home and Community-Based Services are open to veterans who qualify for the standard range of VA benefits and who have a pressing need for in-home care from a professional caregiver. These services may be delivered in the veterans home or at a residential care facility, including an assisted living community. There is no minimum age requirement for caregiver benefits through the VA, but the beneficiary must have a medically verified need for services to be covered. How to Determine Eligibility for VA Benefits By far, the best way to determine your eligibility for VA benefits is to speak with a benefits counselor or VA case manager. These professionals can help you locate benefits you might not have known you qualify for, and they may even help you to apply for them. Types of VA Benefits for Assisted Living While no VA benefit simply pays the cost of room and care in an assisted living community, various services can take the edge off of your monthly costs of care. In-home caregivers assist with activities of daily living, while home health aides can provide more medically oriented services, such as wound care and changes of dressings. These caregivers can visit you even if youre currently living in an assisted living community. Pension with Aid and Attendance Your caregiver benefits fall under the broad category of Pension with Aid and Attendance benefits. This program provides financial support equal to your veterans pension, plus visiting caregiver assistance. State Veterans Homes State veterans homes began right after the Civil War to house veterans of the Union who had disabilities that needed continuing care. These homes are not managed by the VA, but they are inspected to make sure they meet the VAs standards of care. Services offered in state veterans homes include skilled nursing, domiciliary and adult day health care. Applying for VA Benefits There are several pathways to applying for VA benefits. The VA itself recommends working with an accredited representative to streamline the process. You may apply for your benefits anytime, including shortly before your separation from the service. Gathering the Required Documentation Start the process by gathering the documentation your benefits program requires. This is generally proof of eligibility and need. You will have to present your discharge paperwork, a completed application for the specific program you need and possibly proof of medical need. You may also have to provide proof of residence and/or income for some programs. What to Expect After Applying It takes time for your application to work all the way through the VA. Keep in touch with your accredited representative to monitor your progress and to find out right away if more documentation is needed. Eventually, your application will be approved, and youll be sent a letter confirming your participation in the program. Maximizing Your VA Benefits for Assisted Living Your accredited representative acts as a case manager and can explain your benefit amounts and limitations, if any. This rep can also help you locate any additional benefits you might be eligible for. If theres a long delay in your approval or youre denied benefits, you can contact a VA-accredited agent or attorney to help you work through your case. The Bottom Line VA benefits can be an enormous help for qualifying veterans and their spouses in searching for ways to pay for assisted living. Learn more about assisted living and other benefits you might be eligible to receive, and make the move into residential care as stress-free as possible. Speak to a Family Advisor Daniel Cobb began his career as a freelance writer over 10 years ago writing for websites such as TheSimpleDollar.com and Reviews.com. Since then, he has specialized in writing, editing, and managing the content team for Caring.com and other senior living websites. Over the last five years, hes developed a deep understanding of the senior living industry and has enjoyed creating exceptional content that reaches millions of visitors every month. He can be reached at editorial@caring.com. JUAREZ, Mexico (Border Report) News photographers like Lucio Soria have developed common-sense safety protocols to cover crime in a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Be aware of your surroundings. Do your job quickly and get out. Dont upset anyone at crime scenes where emotions are running high. And dont name names. It has always been dangerous, said Soria, a 28-year veteran of the Juarez police beat for various newspapers and news portals. Just remember you are a reporter, not a policeman. Often you want names or other information that gets you in trouble with the family, or maybe the victim is the relative of a drug trafficker. Its better to be calm, do your job and leave. Mexico in 2022 buried 15 working journalists who met a violent death presumably at the hands of criminals. This year, five active or recently retired newsmen have been killed, according to a detailed list published by El Universal. This undated file photo shoes police investigators following the discovery of a body in a barrel in Juarez, Mexico. (Courtesy Lucio Soria) Soria has been in the eye of the storm since the 1990s and documented crime during Juarezs most violent periods the mid- and late 2000s. Thats when the Sinaloa cartel came in, guns blazing, to take over the plaza from a Juarez cartel that never overcame the death of its leader, Amado Carrillo Fuentes, aka The Lord of the Skies. Amid the chaos, extortion and kidnapping grew rampant, according to think-tanks like The Wilson Center. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement UPDATE: Eight bodies pulled from clandestine landfill in Juarez Sorias photos show feet hanging out of 55-gallon metal drums, rows of four, five, six bodies laying on a single street, and police officers picking up trash bags stuffed with severed heads, arms and legs. Others he took from atop roofs, between a crowd of people or out in the middle of the desert. I always took the best photos, the best angles. First you show people where this is happening; you use a wide lens. Then you get the details, capture the deceased. Then the reactions of the moms, relatives and the cops trying to control the crowd, the photojournalist said. Residents, journalists got used to the horror Soria, 71, who started out as a lab technician at a photo studio when cameras still used film, acknowledged feeling odd at first when photographing young mens bodies while their relatives cried and screamed in horror in the background. But news about crime sells and employers demanded the most impactful shots from him, so he had to get used to the mayhem. Cartel reportedly drops 33 bombs from drones in Guerrero He wasnt the only one. Nowadays, its common even for street vendors to approach crime scenes in Juarez and peddle bottled water and chips to police officers and onlookers, he said. Homicides remain a daily occurrence. Juarez last year recorded around 1,200 homicides, with some 1,400 in 2021 and 1,600 in 2020, according to Municipal Police Chief Cesar Omar Munoz. In August, Juarez recorded 109 homicides, Chihuahua Attorney General Cesar Jauregui said. The photos that dont focus on bodies, though, are among the ones he remembers most. Theres one showing a couple holding up a distraught older woman who just saw her child dead on the street. Another shows a police officer taking a photo of a car with dozens of bullet holes on its windshield. No caption is necessary. This undated file photo shows a police officer collecting evidence following a shooting in Juarez, Mexico. (Courtesy Lucio Soria) Soria said he has photographed more than 3,000 homicide scenes in his career and refers to them as events. Six places in Mexico the State Department says you shouldnt visit One day I photographed 30 deaths. The events began at 7 a.m. It was four to five people at a time. It began with four people inside a very pretty car in front of a convenience store, he said. Then there were three more and then four at the Mexico 68 neighborhood. I had to go up on the roof because the bodies were in the backyard. Then we went to (another neighborhood) and there was another four inside a truck. There were more. It was a super violent day. Courtesy Lucio Soria Courtesy Lucio Soria Courtesy Lucio Soria Courtesy Lucio Soria Courtesy Lucio Soria Courtesy Lucio Soria And while the number of homicides in Juarez today are about 50% of what they were during the height of the Sinaloa-Juarez conflict, they seem to be more brutal now. Mexico extradites to US one of DEAs most wanted They chop up the bodies because they owed a lot of money or they killed (somebodys) relatives. To me, the (severed) trunks, limbs, even testicles are now normal, but what gets me is when (the forensic team) begins to put together the pieces on the ground, he said, adding that ends his detachment from the reality of the moment. Soria, who is taking a respite from photojournalism due to health problems, said his legacy includes his work and having mentored many young photojournalists over the years. I never had a problem with anyone. If someone needed help, I was always there for them, he said. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Soria said he sees no end in sight for the drug violence that took hold of the city since the mid-1990s. Not as long as theres a demand for the drugs in the U.S. and Mexico and people believe they can cash in on the illicit trade. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she speaks during an interview with The Associated Press on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. | Dita Alangkara, Associated Press When asked what week in a pregnancy access to abortion should be cut off by Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation, Vice President Kamala Harris would not give a specific answer. On Sunday, an interview with Harris was aired on Face the Nation where she discussed a variety of topics, including the upcoming 2024 presidential election and foreign policy. During the interview, Harris expressed support for upholding Roe v. Wade and said Congress has the power and ability to pass legislation to put those protections back in law. When Brennan asked Harris, what week of pregnancy should abortion access be cut off? Harris said, We need to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade. Brennan pressed further, asking, Do you need to be more precise? Harris responded, I am being precise. We need to put into law the protections of Roe v. Wade. And that is about going back to where we were before the Dobbs decision. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After Brennan asked Harris again for a specific point at which she believed abortion access should end, Harris said, The women of America should be trusted to make decisions about their life and their body based on what they know to be in their best interest. Its that simple. Brennan told Harris she was asking because Republicans believe not having a precise date in the law allows for abortion up until birth. Harris said this claim was ridiculous and a mischaracterization of the point. Others, like Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill, have made similar claims. Like Nessie and Bigfoot, the term late-term abortion is completely made up. Its anti-abortion propaganda with no basis in medicine, intended to confuse people, she said, per The Hill. Related Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, This claim that Democrats support abortion up until the moment of birth is entirely misleading, according to The Hill. Some have criticized Psakis and others claims due to legislation supported by congressional Democrats. Elected Democrats have consistently voted in favor of legislation that permits late-term abortions in certain circumstances, Alex Demas wrote for The Free Press. While most U.S. states have some restrictions on abortion, Alaska, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon and Vermont have no gestational limit on abortion, according to The New York Times. In 2022, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania were the lone Democrats to block a bill that stipulated, a health care provider has a statutory right under this act to provide abortion services, and may provide abortion services, and that providers patient has a corresponding right to receive such services, without specific limitations or requirements, according to Fox News. The other 46 Senate Democrats voted in favor of the bill. After voting against the bill, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse said, per Fox News, Tonight, the hard-left formally kicked the old slogan of safe, legal and rare to the curb and embraced extreme pro-abortion politics. This legislation will make Planned Parenthoods army of lobbyists happy, but its going to alienate a lot of Americans. Before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortions were prohibited in 33 states and only allowed in special circumstances in 13 others, per PBS. After the court ruling, abortion was then federally at the discretion of the mother during the first trimester, regulated but not outlawed by states during the second trimester, and regulated and potentially outlawed during the third trimester of pregnancy. In 2020, 615,911 abortions were reported, per a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report. Of those, 93.1% were reported to be at 13 weeks or less gestation, 5.8% between 14-20 weeks gestation, and 0.9% at 21 or more weeks. This means abortions at or past 21 weeks accounted for around 6,000 abortions in the U.S. in 2020. While a plurality of Americans support abortion access up until 14 weeks, most Americans do not believe abortion should be legal in all cases or illegal in all cases, according to the 2022 American Family Survey. Shop owners and locals say police are not helping to solve crime in Lyndhurst, Hampshire (Alamy) Vigilantes have been warned they are putting their safety at risk by attempting to tackle crime and plug gaps in local policing. Locals in the villages around the New Forest National Park have set up groups to tackle crime following what they claim is chronic underpolicing as hundreds of burglaries in the area remain unsolved. But former police officer Ruth Halkon, who is also a researcher for the Police Foundation independent think tank, told Yahoo News that despite police suffering a real-terms funding cut of 20% since 2010, the public should not take matters into their own hands. "Speaking as a former police office myself, obviously the police are the best people to investigate crimes - they've got the training and there a basic safety issue; you don't know whether the person you have apprehended for stealing antique vases could also be involved in a criminal gang, could have a weapon. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "So from a public safety angle it's not good at all. it's putting yourself and your community at risk and also if things aren't being reported, then the police don't know whether it's an issue." 'The pressure got to her' Residents are using groups on Facebook and WhatsApp to coordinate their efforts to catch criminals in the act and attempt to solve some of the thefts and burglaries themselves, with one shopowner commenting that pressure from a Facebook group prompted a thief to return goods to her store. "It was the pressure that got to her," antique shop owner Janine Stone told the Daily Mail. "Her friend saw the photo and told her that her image was all over social media, and said she should do the right thing." Apps like Nextdoor have made it easier for locals to communicate about crime. (PA) Halkon explained that instances of vigilantism had been fuelled by social media groups, where people can share and publicise instances of crime in their local area, as well as encourage others to be on the lookout for certain suspects. "It's being facilitated by the rise of local facebooks groups and things like the nextdoor app," she said. "People message and it can be basic stuff like 'the street light is out of order' or 'this guy approached our children in the park'... this has always happened but the internet has made it a lot easer to do." In New Forest villages Lyndhurst and Minstead, unsolved burglaries are rife and local shopkeepers and residents have described a feeling that the police have not been involved enough in solving crime - calling for more officers on the beat. "The actual fact of having someone on patrol does have an impact on public confidence if they think there's someone they know out on the streets who has their back, but it doesn't have that much of an impact on crime unless it's targeted - if you have particular hotspots where crime is likely to happen it does have an impact," Halkon said. While police numbers have increased, there has been a far smaller increase in officers on the beat. (Getty) Police in crisis According to the House of Commons Library, there were 17,303 police officers in England and Wales were assigned to neighbourhood policing teams last year. And while the number of officers in the force grew by 16% between 2018-2022, the number of officers in neighbourhood policing teams has grown just 5% during the same period. The village vigilantes' cause comes as the home secretary pledged to have police investigate every single theft, also shoring up the government's commitment to ensure police attend every burglary. "The police have made progress in preventing crime across the country with neighbourhood offences like burglary, robbery and vehicle theft down by 51% since 2010," Braverman said. Home Secretary Suella Braverman says all theft should be taken seriously. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) "Despite this success, since I became home secretary I've heard too many accounts from victims where police simply haven't acted on helpful leads because crimes such as phone and car thefts are seen as less important - that's unacceptable. It has damaged people's confidence in policing." "Criminals must have no place to hide. The police's commitment today is a huge step forward towards delivering the victim-focused, common-sense policing the public deserve." Read more Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has pardoned a man who was convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice in a confrontation over the sexual assault of his daughter in a school restroom an assault that the father wrongly blamed on the schools transgender-inclusive restroom policy. Scott Thomas Smiths daughter was assaulted in the spring of 2021 at a high school in Loudoun County in northern Virginia. He brought the matter up at a contentious school board meeting in June of that year, when the board was debating accommodations for trans students and taking public comments. Smith has claimed his daughters assault happened because of radical gender policies and that the student who attacked her was gender-fluid because he was wearing a skirt, The Washington Post reports. But while the attacker was indeed wearing a skirt, he was not gender-fluid, trans, or anything but cisgender, according to Loudoun County prosecutor Buti Biberaj. In 2021, she told The New York Times the student was not identifying as transgender and going into the girls bathroom under the guise of that. He did not have permission to use the girls restroom, she said. Plus Loudoun County schools did not have the inclusive restroom policy in place until August 2021, after Smiths daughter was assaulted and after the board meeting that resulted in the charges against him. The student was transferred to another school, where he was accused of a second assault. He was found criminally responsible in both cases, and he was placed on supervised probation in a residential treatment facility until he is 18. He also had to register as a sex offender in Virginia, and he will remain on the registry for life, the Post notes. His name has not appeared in published reports because he is a minor. The fact that he was transferred after the first assault raised concerns among county residents. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement During comments on the proposal to let trans students use the restrooms corresponding to their gender identity, some raised the specter of assaults occurring if the policy was adopted, although the idea of the trans restroom predator has been shown to be a myth. Smith clashed with some other attendees at the meeting, and one threatened to spread false and malicious information about his business, the pardon document states. As a result of the confrontations at the meeting, Smith was removed by police and charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. He was convicted on both charges and appealed. The obstruction of justice conviction was overturned on appeal, and a hearing on his appeal of the disorderly conduct charge was set for September 25, according to his attorneys. But now Youngkins pardon has rendered the matter moot. The pardon is absolute and represents Smiths factual innocence of disorderly conduct, says the document, dated Friday. Youngkin announced it Sunday on the Fox News Channel, and Smiths lawyers sent out a press release that day. We righted a wrong, Youngkin, a Republican, said on the Fox News Sunday program. He should have never been prosecuted here. This was a dad standing up for his daughter, the governor added. His daughter had been sexually assaulted in the bathroom of a school, and no one was doing anything about it. Buteraj, however, said the pardon was politically motivated. This is an unprecedented and inappropriate intervention into an active legal case, she told the Post. He chose to interfere in the legal process, and not for justice, but for political gain. Youngkin has often criticized LGBTQ-inclusive and otherwise progressive policies in schools. She said there is video footage of Smith threatening physical harm to a woman at the June 2021 meeting and of him tussling with and being restrained by sheriffs deputies. The pardon is a slap in the face for law enforcement and sends a message that [Youngkin] believes that the deputies lied about the facts of the case, that the magistrate wrongfully issued the arrest warrants, and the special prosecutor from Stafford, who is prosecuting the case, was engaging in wrongful prosecution, she said. A judge in Virginia removed Buteraj, a Democrat, from prosecuting the case in response to a request from Smiths attorneys, who claimed she was biased against him. The special prosecutor the judge appointed is a Republican. In the press release from his attorneys, Smith said he was prosecuted for exercising his constitutional rights and speaking up for his daughter. He said he has been called a domestic terrorist, which he is not. I will continue to fight for parents and their children who are affected by these misguided and dangerous school policies, he said, adding that he plans to take legal action against the Loudoun County schools. Youngkin and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares opened a grand jury investigation into the school systems handling of the assault cases, and the grand jury concluded that it bungled the matter, the Post reports. The systems superintendent, Scott Ziegler, resigned after the grand jurys findings were released. Pictured, from left: Glenn Youngkin and Scott Thomas Smith Really, none of this concerns you? CNNs Jake Tapper spoke for many of us when he asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken this direct and blistering question on yesterdays State of the Union. The two were discussing revelations in Walter Isaacsons new biography on Elon Musk , released tomorrow, that the billionaire sabotaged a Ukrainian attack on the Russian navy in Crimea by refusing to enable access to the Starlink satellite network on the peninsula a network Musk owns and a fact he himself has confirmed. After saying he cant speak to a specific episode, Blinken seemingly praised Musks willingness to even allow the Ukrainians access, saying Starlink has been a vital tool for particularly the [Ukrainian] military to communicate in their effort to defend all of Ukraines territory. This, of course, ignores the fact that Crimea is Ukrainian territory illegally annexed and occupied by Russia in 2014. I dont know that you cant speak to it, Tapper said bluntly. You wont speak to it. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If that sounds like an ungenerous rebuke from the CNN anchor, it isnt. Last month, in a lengthy investigative piece for The New Yorker, journalist Ronan Farrow reported that US government officials now treat [Musk] like a sort of unelected official because of the power he wields. Investing in areas where state investment has receded following decades of neoliberal privatization, such as in electric cars and, yes, Starlink, Musk has made himself and his companies indispensable to US national security and other policy priorities. I find it hard to believe that none of this concerns Blinken. It certainly concerns me, and it should concern every single American. It also concerns foreign governments and allies, including Ukraine, which The New York Times reported in July has raised concerns over Musks control of Starlink with Washington. At least nine countries including in Europe and the Middle East have also brought up Starlink with American officials over the past 18 months, with some questioning Mr. Musks power over the technology, The Times reported, quoting two US intelligence officials who were briefed on these discussions. Even more concerning, the piece noted that few nations will speak publicly about their concerns, for fear of alienating Musk. The main problem here is not that Elon Musk is an unpredictable oligarch whose whims are now dictating world affairs though that is certainly a problem but rather that we are in a position where a billionaire CEO needs to be treated with such deference to begin with. Not that long ago it went without saying that there should be no unelected officials in a democracy. We famously did away with them in 1776 when we told King George III to take a hike. Unelected and unaccountable, the Founding Fathers rightly understood that Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. The American people and for that matter, the Ukrainian people have ever consented to be governed by Elon Musk, yet it is clear that is precisely what is happening. Musks vast wealth and immense corporate holdings coupled with Western democracies apparent disinterest in research and development over the past several decades a responsibility abrogated to the private sector beginning with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher has put us in the position of needing to depend on the goodwill of corporate benefactors and (hopefully) benevolent billionaires. Musk is not Batman, though, and Ukraine is not Gotham City. He is a businessman, a capitalist whose primary motivation regardless of what he says is not to improve humanity or secure democracy, but to make money. After saying it could no longer afford to support Ukrainian war efforts, SpaceX, Musks company that owns and controls Starlink, has already made at least $3 million from the US government to provide access to Starlink in Ukraine. To you and me sounds like a lot, but it is pocket change to a billionaire like Musk. How much does Musk stand to lose if he runs further afoul of the Kremlin, though? It is hard to say. We know he has business dealings there though Tesla acquired much of is aluminium, beginning in 2020, from a Russian company. For his part, Musk has said according to Farrows report that he is uncomfortable with Starlink being used in war. This tracks with his tweet from September 7, explaining his refusal to turn on Starlink in Crimea. If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation, he wrote. It is worth noting that Russia has not escalated to nuclear war, though it often uses that as a threat to dissuade Western actors from acting in Ukraines interest. Writing today for The Atlantic, Anne Appelbaum reports that a similar attack to the one Musk allegedly feared would escalate the war ended up occurring a few weeks later. And then? she asks, rhetorically. Nuclear war did not follow. Despite Musks fears ... World War III did not erupt as a result of this successful attack on a Crimean port. Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, isnt buying it. By not allowing Ukrainian drones to destroy part of the Russian military (!) fleet via #Starlink interference, [Elon Musk] allowed this fleet to fire Kalibr missiles at Ukrainian cities. AS a result, civilians, children are being killed, he tweeted. This is the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego. Is this the price of abrogating such a responsibility to a profit-driven actor? Look at his desperate attempts to revive Twitter-cum-X, a platform he singlehandedly destroyed, so that it turns a profit. Or the fact that he claimed SpaceX could not afford to continue Starlink in Ukraine. This is a man for whom the bottom line matters. This is also a man who does not have access to the intelligence collected by US agencies nor the expertise of longtime diplomats and military strategists in the White House, at the State Department, or at the Pentagon. He does not have the geopolitical knowledge to know what is and is not a bluff on Moscows part. Nor, I might add, is it reasonable to expect him to. Elon Musk makes cars and rockets, not foreign policy. At least, in a sane world, that is how it would be. Considering this, it is hard to fault Musk for this decision. Whether he was afraid of escalating a war or afraid of diminishing his own profit margin, the choice was rational. The problem is that the choice should never have been his. The Deltona man who was found shot to death on a roadside in West Palm Beach on Sunday spent time in prison for burglary and grand theft and was on probation for an extensive history of traffic offenses at the time of his death, according to court records. The body of William Tempesta, 56, was found by a motorist in the 5500 block of North Jog Road in West Palm Beach Sunday morning, said city police spokesman Mike Jachles on Monday. Jachles said by midday Monday there were no new updates being released on the case. Body near New Smyrna Volusia Sheriff's Office investigating after body found west of New Smyrna Beach Body dumped away from murder scene A man driving along 45th Street and Jog Road saw the body and called 911, Jachles said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Officers found Tempesta's body close to the Ironhorse Subdivision near the Florida Turnpike, he said. Jachles said a preliminary investigation showed Tempesta died of an apparent gunshot wound. Investigators believe Tempesta was murdered elsewhere and his body dumped in the westernmost area of West Palm Beach, he said. Tempesta, who had not been dead long, was identified through fingerprints. Tempesta's cause and time of death is pending confirmation by an autopsy expected to be completed Monday by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiners Office, Jachles said. Probation in January Florida Department of Corrections records show Tempesta spent time in prison for burglary of a dwelling and grand theft in 2002. He was released from prison on May 9, 2004. Tempesta was placed on 2-1/2 years probation on Jan. 12 for driving with a permanently revoked license, court records show. The probation was given after at least six traffic offenses starting in 2016 when Tempesta was arrested for driving with a suspended license. He was also arrested multiple times in 2022 for traffic offenses, including driving with a license that was permanently revoked. He pleaded no contest to the charge. Anyone who knew or saw Tempesta, or noticed unusual activity or a vehicle stopped in the area of the discovery overnight Saturday or early morning Sunday is asked to call West Palm Beach police Detective Regina Wood at 561-822-1698. Tips can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477), or online at www.crimestopperspbc.com. Tips to Crime Stoppers that lead to an arrest can result in a cash reward of up to $3,000. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Deltona man found shot dead in West Palm Beach was ex-convict As Hurricane Lee churns in the Atlantic Ocean, residents and area officials continue to monitor to the storm, which is forecast to generate dangerous rip currents and the potential for beach erosion this week in Volusia and Flagler counties. Heres what you need to know about Hurricane Lee and its potential impact in Volusia, Flagler. Where is the storm headed? Lee regained major hurricane strength on Monday morning with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph but is forecast to stay well off the Florida coast. Even so, the storm is expected to produce dangerous surf and rip currents along most of the U.S. East Coast this week as it grows in size, according to the National Hurricane Center. Spaghetti models for Hurricane Lee 11 a.m. Sept. 11, 2023. According to forecasters, the major hurricane will take a curved path around a large area of high pressure sitting over the central Atlantic, which guided the powerful storm north of the northern islands of the Caribbean Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Expect Lee to move northeast of the Bahamas, west of Bermuda and east of the southeastern United States into the first half of this week, according to AccuWeather forecasters. How will the storm affect the Volusia, Flager coastline? Swells from distant Hurricane Lee will continue through much of this week, prolonging the high risk of rip currents, according to an advisory issued Monday by the National Weather Service in Melbourne. Surf will become increasingly rough as larger breaking waves arrive later this week. The advisory recommended that beachgoers swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float, the advisory stated. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. The rip current risks are expected to extend through the week at all of Floridas Atlantic beaches, including those in Volusia and Flagler counties, according to the NWS. Image Volusia Ocean Rescue uses to illustrate what a beachgoer caught in a rip current can do to try and escape. A high risk of rip currents will persist at our Atlantic beaches and increasing swells from distant Hurricane Lee will result in larger breaking waves of 5-7 feet by Wednesday evening through at least Friday or Saturday. At times of high tide, some beach erosion could begin to occur, the advisory stated. Small craft operation will become hazardous in the open Atlantic waters and near inlets as seas build by the middle of this week. We recommend visitors and residents not go into the water, said Melissa Watson, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne. In these large breaking waves, even the strongest swimmers can get caught in that and be at risk. How are Volusia, Flagler officials preparing? In Volusia County, Beach Safety Ocean Rescue is preparing to deploy all members of its full-time lifeguard staff to man towers as the effects of Lee start to hit the coast, said Andrew Ethridge, Beach Safety director. Waves pound the Flagler Pier on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Hurricane Idalia came ashore Wednesday morning in the Big Bend area of Florida. Effects from the storm in Flagler and Volusia counties were minimal. As surf continues to rise and rip currents continue to open up, obviously well be flying the red flag, Ethridge said. We urge beachgoers, if youre going in the water, to stay close to shore, where you can securely touch the bottom at all times. And, of course, swim near that open lifeguard tower. This weeks heightened rip current risk arrives as the majority of Beach Safetys part-time lifeguard staff, a roster of 150-200 high school and college students have returned to class, making it more challenging for the full-time staff of just over 50 lifeguards to staff towers, Ethridge said. After a relatively mild surf this past weekend that resulted in less than a dozen rescues, Ethridge expected the potential for dangerous surf to build perhaps as early as Tuesday. A surfer looks to challenge the surf in Ponce Inlet, as Hurricane Idalia's effects started to hit Volusia and Flagler counties on Aug. 30. Were starting to see a little rise in surf today, compared with the past couple of days, he said. We expect the surf to continue to rise through the week. The effects from the storm could be felt as early as tomorrow, then will continue to build as Lee makes that turn to the north. Meanwhile, other Volusia County officials also continue to monitor the storm, said Clayton Jackson, county spokesman. We anticipate that the effects of Hurricane Lee will be milder when compared to Hurricane Idalia, mainly owing to the favorable moon cycle and the absence of predicted strong winds, he said in an email statement. In preparation for the storm, we are taking precautionary measures such as securing beachside port-o-lets and considering relocating toll booths to higher ground. We will continue monitoring the storm's potential effects and make necessary adjustments as needed. In Flagler County, Emergency Management officials also are anticipating dangerous rip currents and the potential of beach erosion, said Jonathan Lord, Flagler County Emergency Management director. Right now, were just trying to get the messaging out that were expecting breakers of 5 to 7 feet starting Wednesday, which are pretty big, Lord said. Theres a risk of rip currents, so were encouraging people not to go into water and advising them of what to do if they get caught in one. Were making the community aware that we may see some beach erosion because of the large breakers. Unfortunately, we cant stop it. We just have to hope that the damage isnt as bad or is non-existent. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Lee's effects in Volusia, Flagler will start to be felt by Tuesday. Social media companies' techniques to keep users glued to their phones has resulted in a mental-health crisis for the nation's youth, according to a lawsuit filed by Volusia County Schools. The plaintiffs claim the companies that own Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have caused them to deploy resources to address students' needs. Volusia County Schools is one of at least 12 districts in Florida and 650 nationwide that are suing Meta, the parent of Facebook and Instagram, as well as other social media companies, alleging they have done harm to children's mental health and burdened educators. Social media companies' addictive algorithms have contributed to a decline in mental health, and districts are having to hire more people and create new policies and plans, as a result, the suit argues, and schools need to be compensated. "What we've heard from (Volusia) and districts across the country is in the past 10 years, they've been dealing with the impact of social media on their campuses," William Shinoff, one of the lawyers who represents Volusia County and other districts, said in a recent interview. "It's been a disruption to the learning environment." Tiktok, Snapchat, YouTube and the Meta platforms have hooked teens, leading to an increase in anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide, Shinoff said. How school districts are left to pick up the pieces Other personal injury cases brought by families and individuals are also being brought against the social media giants. Shinoff said his firm, Frantz Law Group of San Diego, is handling some of the school district filings in U.S. District Court of Northern California, near the Facebook and YouTube headquarters. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The largest harm is with children, but which public entity is responsible for helping with the children? It's schools, so we believe this is the most appropriate plaintiff," he said. Volusia County Schools officials, including the board chair, board attorney, superintendent and general counsel, would not comment on why Volusia joined the lawsuit. The school board voted unanimously to join the suit on March 28, upon the recommendation of Superintendent Carmen Balgobin. The Volusia lawsuit like others claims not just that social media companies are a public nuisance, but that they have been negligent on matters such as enforcing age requirements, while also violating the RICO Act. RICO or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations is the same law used by feds to bring down organized crime, and the means by which Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis is attempting to convict former President Donald Trump and 18 others, alleging they schemed to overturn the 2020 election. The lawsuit alleges the social media companies have engaged in racketeering and fraudulent business dealings by misleading the public on the mental-health dangers for youth users and withholding their own research on the matter, as well as claiming they don't market to children and teens while manipulating their sites to cause more excessive engagement. Although the complaint was filed in April, the defendants have not yet responded or made any motions to dismiss. Hooking users through brain rewards There are 15 defendants, each affiliated with the major platforms used by young people: Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Those sites have maximized the time users particularly minors spend on their platforms by purposely designing, refining and operating them to exploit the neurophysiology of the brains reward systems to ensure users come back frequently, and remain on the respective platforms for as much time as possible. The suit cites a Harvard University study showing social media exploits the same neural circuitry as gambling and recreational drugs to keep consumers using their products as much as possible. Nine in 10 children between the ages of 13 and 17 use social media, the suit states. And 38% of children ages 8 to 12 used social media in 2021. Moreover, minors brains are not fully developed, leaving them susceptible to being manipulated by the sites. The suit calls the defendants misconduct a substantial factor resulting in a youth mental health crisis, including increased anxiety, depression, thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation. In May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory on social media and youth mental health. "While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents," he wrote. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a steady and then accelerated increase in almost every category of risk for mental health disorders even before the pandemic, between 2011 and 2021, as YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat grew in popularity. Those sites algorithms make children more vulnerable to cyberbullying and criticism, the suit claims. Defendants design, advertising, marketing and operation of their social media platforms and products target minors, and that these platforms are intentionally and deliberately designed to exploit and cause minors to become addicted, which has caused harm (to the plaintiffs). A 29-year-old DeLand man was charged in 2020 with using this fake Snapchat profile to sexually batter a 13-year-old girl. Of the all social media defendants, just one responded to requests for comment. A Snapchat communications official provided a statement. "Snapchat was designed differently from other social media platforms because nothing is more important to us than the well-being of our community," the statement reads. The Snapchat app encourages communication between "real friends" by opening to a camera, rather than a feed that "encourages passive scrolling," the company states. Roy Balleste, professor of law and director of the Dolly & Homer Hand Law Library at Stetson University, called the school boards' suit "interesting" as comes from the nexus of technology and mental health. "This lawsuit may force legislators to take a closer look and perhaps modify federal laws to deal with the problem," said Balleste, whose expertise includes internet governance. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, in an appearance in DeLand on Aug. 9, told The News-Journal it's been "frustrating that Congress has failed to act in regulating social-media companies. "There's been a lot of bills proposed. We haven't gotten anything done yet," Scott said. "I'm hoping we can get something done in the next few months." Volusia's new restrictions on phone usage In Volusia County Schools, a new policy requires students in middle and high schools to turn off ringers and stow their phones away in bookbags or purses during instructional hours. The policy comes on the heels of the Legislature's unanimous passage of House Bill 379, co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, which also requires districts to instruct students on social, emotional, and physical effects of social media. Jessica McIntyre, coordinator of mental health services for Volusia County Schools, said the new policy has worked well thus far. "I know that the teachers, the staff they notice more students walking through the hallways with purpose. They are able to socialize, where they werent really doing that," McIntyre said. Jason Wheeler, a spokesman for Flagler County Schools, said that district has not filed suit against the social media firms and has no plans to do so. Other Florida school districts involved in lawsuits against social-media companies include Bay, Broward, Citrus, Lee, Liberty, Madison, Okeechobee, Orange, Pinellas, Sumter and Walton. Shinoff expects the list to grow. Bay County School Board Attorney Franklin Harrison has spoken with school boards around the state about the lawsuits. In May, he cited a saying to the Orange County School Board: If the product is free, then you are the product. "Our kids become the product of these companies and they sell it," Harrison said. "They make a lot of money." Cathleen Brennan, a spokesperson for Broward County Schools, said as a rule, district officials do not comment on pending litigation, but she provided information from the district's general counsel explaining why they filed the suit. The summary notes that incidences of depression and suicide are among the factors defining the mental health crisis Broward County youths face, while social media platforms amplify "harmful divisive material" to maximize ad revenue. "The dangerous effects of defendants conduct on Broward Countys youth and schools cannot be ignored," according to the Broward schools' attorneys. "These social media giants can and should take measures to stem the tide of the mental health crisis afflicting Americas social media-addicted youth." Social media companies have long sidestepped lawsuits by citing Section 230, part of the U.S. Code that was enacted as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The act was designed to kickstart the internet economy and largely provided companies like Facebook and Snapchat immunity for user-generated content. Getting school districts funding to provide mental health resources for their students is one part of what the plaintiffs are asking, Shinoff said. Resolution: Volusia County Schools, teachers union settle contract "Unfortunately for them now, that doesn't solve the problem. Money is a band-aid. We are also seeking to change the business practices and policies of these companies so we can stop what's going on, and make these platforms safer for children," he said. "At the end of the day, we know social media is not going away." After Franklin's presentation, the Orange County School Board voted to join with other districts in becoming plaintiffs. "I'm very excited about this litigation," Harrison said. "I think it is righteous. I think there's a lot of money being made and there's a lot of harm, and school boards are dealing with this every day. Hopefully we can get some accountability and maybe we can get some controls." Heat Days: When is it too hot for recess and PE? What the Volusia County Schools system says This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia district sues social-media giants Facebook, TikTok, YouTube WEST PALM BEACH Police are looking for the person who fatally shot a 56-year-old Volusia County man and then left his body lying along a road along the city's western limits. Officers found the remains of William Tempesta of Deltona at about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, West Palm Beach police spokesman Mike Jachles said. A driver saw the body lying on the 5900 block of Jog Road, between Florida's Turnpike and the entrance of the Ironhorse community. "It's kind of a rural area. It doesn't appear that the man was killed there. He was dumped," Jachles said Sunday evening. Palm Beach Gardens fires police officer: Report offers details on day man was held at gunpoint This embedded content is not available in your region. Police described Tempesta as 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, with salt-and-pepper hair and a beard. He was wearing blue jeans and a black-and-gray T-shirt and was carrying a set of car keys, Jachles said. He did not have identification with him and was identified through fingerprints. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Investigators determined that Tempesta had been shot, but did not say where on his body the bullets struck, or how many shots he sustained, Jachles said. "It does not appear he had been dead a long time," he said. West Palm Beach police on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, found the body of William Tempesta of Deltona lying along the side of Jog Road near the Ironhorse community along the city's western border. Federal charges follow migrant landing: Boat captain accused of human smuggling off Jupiter Inlet back in court Tempesta's family was notified Sunday afternoon about his death, and waived their right to privacy so that the public could help discover what happened to him, he said. "We are trying to determine whether he had any ties to South Florida," Jachles said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the West Palm Beach police at 561-822-1900, or call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County anonymously at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477). A cash reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Deltona man, 56, found shot dead in western West Palm Beach MADISON - Republicans who control the state Legislature took a step Monday toward firing Wisconsin's top election official, setting the stage for a court battle over who leads this battleground state's system of elections just months before voters begin casting ballots in the 2024 presidential contest. Members of the Senate Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection voted 3-1 by paper ballot against the reappointment of Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe a move Democrats refused to acknowledge as legal after the Democratic Attorney General and the Legislature's nonpartisan attorneys concluded earlier this month the Senate was taking up an appointment that was never made. The legal opinions were based on the Wisconsin Elections Commission failing to produce four votes to reappoint Wolfe at the end of her term in June, with Democratic members citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that said appointed officers like Wolfe may stay in their positions beyond the expiration of their term unless they are removed. Republican leaders of the state Senate have forced a vote on Wolfe's future anyway as they continue to feel pressure to act over discontent within the base of the GOP over the 2020 election and false claims leveled by former President Donald Trump , who is the frontrunner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The full state Senate could vote on firing Wolfe as early as Thursday. Wolfe is at the center of a partisan firestorm surrounding the state elections agency as Republican lawmakers continue to embrace Trump's false claims about Wisconsin's system of elections, blaming the nonpartisan state official for decisions made by the bipartisan panel of commissioners that gives Wolfe direction. Some guidance commissioners issued to clerks to help voters navigate the coronavirus pandemic has been used by Trump to question his 2020 election loss despite a lack of evidence to support his allegations. Wolfe oversees the commission's agency, which provides guidance to nearly 2,000 clerks in Wisconsin. That guidance is decided by six appointed commissioners, three from each major political party. Her job is to implement their decisions as rules governing how elections are administered. Committee chairman Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, said last week he was moving forward with a vote on Wolfe in order to uphold his "constitutional duty." Knodl and the committee's two other Republican members ultimately voted against Wolfe's confirmation on Monday. Sen. Dan Feyen, a Republican from Fond du Lac and the committee's vice chairman, voted against Wolfe's reappointment citing her absence from a recent public hearing held on the matter. Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, is shown during the state Senate session Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the Capitol in Madison, Wis. "She didnt show up for her public hearing amongst a host of other issues that were brought up during the public hearing on her appointment," Feyen's chief of staff Tim Lakin said in an email about the senator's reasons for voting against Wolfe. Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Cameron, also cited Wolfe's decision not to attend the hearing in his vote against her reappointment. "She was invited to appear before the committee to discuss her position as administrator. Unfortunately, she chose not to do so. Therefore, I chose not to recommend her for confirmation," Quinn said. Knodl and Wolfe declined to comment through spokesmen. The committee's vote to recommend firing Wolfe drew an immediate rebuke from Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. "Republicans are hell-bent on doing everything they can to interfere with our elections, including trying to abuse their power by improperly firing the states elections commissioner, who they last approved with unanimous, bipartisan support. Its wrong. And it has to stop," the Democratic governor said. Wisconsin State Senator Romaine Quinn, republican from Cameron, district 2, talks with other senators prior to the start of the senate session on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Madison. Seated behind him is senator Cory Tomczyk, republican from Mosinee, district 29. Wolfe represents a commission that has been under fire for three years because of false claims put forward by Trump to convince supporters he actually won an election he lost and because of policies commissioners approved during the 2020 presidential election to navigate hurdles presented by the coronavirus pandemic. The commission mailed absentee ballot applications to all voters, advised local officials on how to make ballot drop boxes secure and set new policies for voting in nursing homes. State law requires clerks to send poll workers to nursing homes, but the commission told the clerks to send residents absentee ballots because nursing homes weren't allowing visitors during the pandemic. The decision also ensured there was enough time for ballots to be returned and counted. Few Republicans criticized the commission's decisions when they made them but called out the agency after Joe Biden narrowly defeated Trump in the state. Recounts financed by Trump, state audits and court rulings have confirmed Biden's win. Since then, scrutiny of the commission has ballooned. Wolfe said in 2021 she had no plans to resign after Republicans who control the state Legislature called on her then to lose her job overseeing the state's elections agency. Wolfe said at the time lawmakers calling for her resignation were misrepresenting to the public her job and how policies are made at the commission, which require a bipartisan vote of at least four of the six commissioners. "I think in some ways that they think I'm an easy target. I'm not," Wolfe said at the time. Sen. Mark Spreitzer, a Democrat from Beloit, voted in support of Wolfe on Monday, and said her nomination is not properly before the Senate's elections committee, which is made up of three Republicans and two Democrats. "Senate Republicans are on a path that will waste taxpayer money and create unnecessary controversy around our elections while attacking qualified, hard-working election officials," Spreitzer said. "If, as I fear, my Republican colleagues do not join me (in supporting Wolfe), I will be submitting a minority report to make clear that the Senates decision to move this illegitimate process forward is not supported by the law and is not the path forward for elections in our state." Spreitzer's chief of staff Doug Hyant said the report would cover the legal opinions concluding Wolfe's reappointment was not legally before the Senate. "Since Senator Knodl chose to hold this executive session via paper ballot rather than holding an in-person executive session, committee members were denied the opportunity to discuss the legal memos indicating that this vote was not properly before the Senate and were not able to make any motion to that effect," Hyant said. Democratic state Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, did not vote. In a statement, Smith said he abstained because the appointment was not legally before the state Senate. No appointment has been made; accordingly, no vote should be taken,' he said in a statement. Democratic election commissioners and Republican lawmakers each deployed unexpected legal maneuvers earlier this summer in their fight over Wolfe's future, neither of which are certain to succeed in court, where the ordeal is all but certain to land. First, Democratic commissioners abstained from voting on a motion to reappoint Wolfe to her job in an effort to protect her from Republican senators who had signaled they would fire her if the reappointment was forwarded to them. With just three of six commissioners not voting, the motion to reappoint Wolfe failed without a majority. Democrats argued there was no need for a vote because of a recent state Supreme Court ruling that sided with Frederick Prehn, a former Natural Resources Board chairman who decided to stay in his position nearly two years after his term expired. The ruling's majority opinion said that the expiration of a term does not create a vacancy, meaning that holdovers in any position appointed by the governor can remain until a confirmation hearing is held by the state Senate. With commissioners failing to forward an appointment to the Senate, Democrats argued, Wolfe could remain in her job indefinitely. But a day later, Senate Republicans moved forward anyway. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu contended Tuesday's 3-0 commission vote that resulted in a failed motion to reappoint Wolfe was actually enough votes to reappoint Wolfe, even though state law says such votes require a majority of commissioners, or four votes. As a result, all Republican state senators voted to pass a resolution to take up Wolfe's reappointment. Wolfe ultimately did not appear at the public hearing held by the elections committee after Kaul said the recent Supreme Court ruling kept Wolfe in her job. The state Legislature's nonpartisan attorneys also recently concluded that to reappoint Wolfe, the commission needed to have put forward four votes to do so. Even if the Senate ultimately votes to fire Wolfe, Wolfe will likely stay in her position anyway as the matter is resolved in court. "This is going to wind up in a lawsuit which is unfortunate and unnecessary but I certainly think that's a likely path," Ann Jacobs, a Democratic member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said on Monday. "It has no effect. It's a nullity. It's theater. It is not reality," Jacobs said about Monday's vote. "The Senate going through this process is sort of sad and disappointing to watch but it doesn't change anything about the work of the commission, who the administrator is, or what needs to be done to start preparing for our 2024 election season, which begins in about three months." The Journal Sentinel surveyed the 33 members of the state Senate in June on whether they would support Wolfe's reappointment as Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator. Fourteen senators responded. Six Democratic members said they would support giving Wolfe a third term. Four Republicans also declined to comment. Jessie Opoien of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this story. Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Senate elections committee votes against keeping Meagan Wolfe New York Mayor Eric Adams, Vice President Kamala Harris, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul place their hands on their heart as the National Anthem is sung during the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2023 in New York City. New York Mayor Eric Adams , Vice President Kamala Harris, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul place their hands on their heart as the National Anthem is sung during the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2023 in New York City. On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris commemorated the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 by representing the administration at a ceremony located at ground zero. The event took place at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, with politicians like Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer attending as well. Read more ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In honor of the anniversary, first lady Jill Biden will laid a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia. In addition, second gentleman Doug Emhoff traveled to Pennsylvania for a memorial observance for Flight 93 where passengers thwarted a terrorist attempt to attack Washington. The 9/11 attacks were the most deadly assault on U.S. soil since the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Resurgence of McCarthyism: US lawmakers frequently propose anti-Communist and anti-China measures 09:57, September 11, 2023 By Wang Wei ( China.org.cn The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. [Photo/Xinhua] In the early days of the Cold War, the notorious "McCarthyism" emerged in the U.S. Joe McCarthy, a self-serving and opportunistic political figure, exploited human vulnerabilities, stoked anti-communist sentiments, and incited societal divisions. "McCarthy continuously stirred up chaos, causing significant harm to the relations between U.S. and other countries. Driven by ignorance and lack of communication, a pervasive unhealthy psychology emerged among the American public, leading to hatred and fear. McCarthyism only heightened this mindset." History tells us: "McCarthyism" is a morally reprehensible and ethically flawed political tactic. After this farce was exposed, McCarthy and his followers faced disdain from the public and their names were forever associated with historical disgrace. However, just two generations later, McCarthy's political witchcraft has made a comeback in American political circles. Today, advocates of McCarthyism on Capitol Hill have rekindled its flame, employing the manipulation of anti-China and anti-communist sentiments as tools to further their own political interests. Congressional fearmongering: Unfounded claims of China's ubiquitous threat In recent years, with the U.S. framing the entire China-U.S. relationship as a "great power competition," China's image has increasingly solidified as America's adversary, even an enemy. Despite sharp divisions on other issues, various factions within the U.S. have found unanimous consensus on the China issue, labeling China as a "comprehensive threat" and an "unprecedented challenge." This perception of threat has been magnified and ingrained within American society's subconscious. Even in the context of serious legislative activities, lawmakers from both chambers of the U.S. Congress do not hesitate to exaggerate the notion of the "Communist China threat." Some legislators accuse China of infiltrating the "U.S. higher education system." Others "charge" China with meddling in "U.S. judicial activities." There are also those who "express concern" over China's control of the "U.S. cyberspace." In their eyes, China's influence is pervasive, all-encompassing, and has either already infiltrated or is on the brink of infiltrating every corner of American society. Recent congressional record reveals rampant accusations by members of both the House and Senate: "COVID was not the CCP's only flagrant and unsparing attempt to infiltrate American sovereignty. Earlier this year, spy balloons floated along the United States and gathered intelligence from sensitive U.S. military sites." "Communist China has also undertaken aggressive actions designed to expand their influence both in the United States and abroad...They relentlessly and aggressively provoke Taiwan, an island that demonstrates to the world what a free, democratic, and capitalist China could look like...They threaten our allies in Asia and the South China Sea...The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative has spread the tentacles of the so-called People's Liberation Army throughout the world, particularly the developing world, and has ensnared dozens of developing countries in debt-trap diplomacy....The stakes are high, and the CCP's list of offenses against the norms of international order is long." "Without action now, we face incomplete removal of high-risk Chinese equipment from U.S. networks wasting the money that Congress has already passed. I have introduced the Defend Our Networks Act to remedy this problem. Protecting our national security is vital, and it is also vital that we ensure the government's response to protect our security does not put smaller companies out of business." These anti-China rhetoric reflects how political figures, driven by "political correctness," are fervently showcasing their hawkish stance towards China, which remind us of the rise of McCarthyism in the 1950s! Renowned historian Edward Carr once said, there was a time when people in English-speaking countries and those in the Soviet Union couldn't understand each other because they lacked basic knowledge and empathy about each other's perspectives. Today, those elegantly attired gentlemen on Capitol Hill are hardly exempt, as they articulate their perceptions of their designated opponents with a lack of fundamental understanding. Fear leads to precautionary reactions and also to excessive responses Political scientist Pan Chengxin has succinctly summarized the "Western narrative of China's rise." He said, "The discourse of 'China threat theory' not only prescribes containment but also enforces its execution. This is an exhibition of linguistic despotism, where people are dominated by labels and weapon-like rhetoric." The congressional record of May 4, 2023 (S1540) records the remarks of a female senator. "... securing our communications infrastructure, it is a national, it is a bipartisan, issue. The FCC commissioners, including Chairwoman Rosenworcel, have come out in strong support, demonstrating the importance of getting this done. Just a week ago, I had the opportunity to question Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo about this big problem that we have, and she agreed that we must address it immediately. Over the coming weeks, I expect that we will continue to gain more bipartisan momentum. And I will continue to push for the swift passage of the Defend Our Networks Act, even as standalone legislation." The aforementioned congressional record clearly shows that if lawmakers present certain legislative requirements as solutions to "national security threats," it can increase the chances of those bills getting approved, and sometimes speed up the process too. Under the influence of "groupthink," nobody dares challenge the so-called "political correctness." Therefore, the "China threat theory" is being used as a tool to rally political support. During the Eisenhower era, James William Fulbright made remarks criticizing U.S. foreign policy in the Senate. Senate majority leader Lyndon Johnson believed that division within Congress on this issue would give the world the impression of U.S. weakness. As a result, the Fulbright Resolution was passed by a joint session of both houses of Congress. After Johnson took office, his administration believed that the main threat was coming from those in the U.S. who were more inclined towards peace (doves). The FBI even closely monitored dovish senators to determine whether they were manipulated by Moscow spies. Thus, the FBI invested much of its energy into identifying and monitoring the so-called "Soviet spies." Today, we have again seen U.S. senators rally behind the FBI, the world's most rigorous surveillance agency. The congressional record of April 18, 2023 (S1150) had the following story. "We just, yesterday, in New York saw an example where Federal law enforcement arrested two individuals for running a secret, unauthorized Chinese police station right in the middle of Lower Manhattan. Do Republicans agree with President Trump that funding for Federal law enforcement who guard against terrorism and CCP encroachment should be cut or even eliminated?" Subsequently, the accused were released on bail and ultimately freed. This should have been an unremarkable case. However, the U.S. House of Representatives subsequently launched a baseless attack on the U.S. prosecution system. The congressional record of May 16, 2023 (H2358) covers the remarks of a member of the House. He said, "Just last month, ...the two alleged CCP spies only to be quickly granted bail and released from custody...It is with great dismay but complete confidence that I say that the weaponization of the United States' prosecutorial system is spinning further out of control, and it is time we take a stand." This congressman asserts with an undeniable tone that "the weaponization of the United States' prosecutorial system is spinning further out of control." His so-called "taking a stand" targets external "enemies" on one hand and involves other "like-minded people" on the other. How is this any different from McCarthy pointing the blade at the U.S. State Department during the Cold War era? Only by addressing root causes of 'China-phobia' can we prevent escalation of hatred Political scholar Dominique Mo si once said that two predominant factors steer political dynamics: fear and hope... there is an America united by fear and another America driven by hope. Currently, it seems that the "America united by fear" may be dominating everything. Consequently, "China-phobia" has transformed into the driving force behind the entire American system, influencing every aspect of its functioning. After the Cold War, the U. S. was once filled with hope, and optimism pervaded every corner of the nation. Hope inspired people to use the post-Cold War transformation to gain more control over their own destiny, resist domination and oppression, promote social justice, and seek a better life. Whether in domestic affairs or international affairs, the U.S. demonstrated a progressive spirit. However, over the past years, the U.S. has begun to reflect on the "post-Cold War complacency." For example, in the view of former U.S. President Donald Trump, several previous U.S. presidents' inadequate responses have led to the loss of American advantages in various key areas. The West is no longer the defining voice, which is the first time in two centuries. Globalization is no longer America's domain, and America has lost control over the world's future. And all of this is blamed on China. Trump "successfully" awakened the hidden racism within the American public. In American political discourse, China, which is non-Western, atheistic, and espouses communism, has an uncertain and unpredictable future, thus harboring risks. The U.S., positioning itself as a representative of Western civilization, cannot tolerate challenges to the international order it dominates from non-Western sources. Today's America is no longer dominated by liberalism. The peak of liberal internationalism has become a thing of the past. The "engagement policy" has become a political taboo that no one dares to mention. Instead, neo-conservatism has resurged, using the pretext of "great power competition" to practice "confronting China." However, this serves more to cater to the interests of the military-industrial complex than to benefit the general public. Eisenhower once revealed a secret to the American people. He said, "The political life of the United States, misunderstood by Americans, such as the competition and confrontation between the Democratic and Republican parties, or the disputes between Congress and the White House, is merely a performance. Behind the curtain, ambition, privilege, money, fanatical fantasies, and narrow group interests determine the order in which the nation actually addresses issues." Amidst the rising tensions of a potential new Cold War and the revival of McCarthyism today, everyday Americans should pause to contemplate the real consequences of confrontations masked as competition for themselves and their communities. Wang Wei is a researcher at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) There has been a 70% surge in number of Russians calling Ukraines surrender hotline after the successful execution of the Nightingale Mi-8 runaway special operation, Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate or HUR spokesman Andriy Yusov said in an interview with Radio Liberty (RL) on Sept. 11. "The I want to live hotline and other channels of communication are having a boost, Yusov said. For example, after the successful execution of Nightingale operation with the (defection of the) Mi-8 and its pilot, the number of Russian servicemen considering a similar scenario has increased. The I want to live state initiative has seen a surge of about 70% more calls per day. Read also: Russian pilot who changed lives of Chernihiv residents ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Of course there will be a reward for a MiG," Yusov said, commenting on an ad that has appeared in some Telegram channels promising a reward of $2 million if a Russian MiG fighter jet defects to Ukraine. The HUR's I want to live hotline is a state project that helps Russian servicemen who do not want to participate in Russian aggression to surrender safely to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The project guarantees that surrendering military personnel will be detained in accordance with the Geneva Conventions. Special operation Nightingale What is known: Ukraine conducted a six-month-long special operation to arrange for a Russian pilot to surrender his Mi-8 military helicopter, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with RFE/RL on Aug. 23. Read also: Ukraines Military Intelligence to premiere documentary on aerial resistance and Operation Nightingale Where and when to watch Operation Nightingale, as it was called, was a meticulously planned and expertly executed mission by Ukrainian military intelligence, Budanov said. The outcome was the defection of a Russian pilot to Ukrainian territory, along with an Mi-8AMTSh PKS RF helicopter laden with components for combat aircraft. We successfully established contact with the pilot, covertly relocated his entire family, and orchestrated circumstances for him to transport the aircraft with an unsuspecting crew. When they became aware of their location, they attempted to flee. Regrettably, they were neutralized said Budanov. The pilot and his family are now in Ukraine. The Mi-8 remained here, along with the parts for the fighter jets. The helicopter will join the Ukrainian fleet of attack helicopters. The Russian pilot will receive a $500,000 reward and new documents as part of a state program. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Im usually not one for trends, but there seems to be a new one in our area I think I can get on board with. Because who doesnt like cookies? Headquartered in St. Louis, Hot Box Cookies specializes in warm, all-natural ingredient cookies that are baked fresh daily. And one is close to opening in OFallon, right next door to Hi-Pointe Drive-In, another biz that originated in the Lou. The locations owner, Korian Harrington, said in a phone interview that hes excited to open the first Hot Box Cookies location in Illinois. Already familiar with the area hes a Belleville East grad Harrington did some research to determine the best location for his business venture. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement OFallon is a great area, he said, adding that being next door to Hi-Pointe is an amazing opportunity. Hot Box Cookies in OFallon, is located at 630 W. Highway 50, Suite 200. Harrington was also already familiar with Hot Box cookies from his time at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where the business started. He remembers that people usually had to drive across the river from here to enjoy places like Hot Box and Hi-Pointe. Its exciting as a business owner, he said, to bring a hip, young business that he enjoyed for years to the area. Construction on the OFallon shop is finishing up, said Harrington. The opening date has not been set, but look for the doors to open in the coming weeks. The new location will be the third cookie shop to open in the metro-east this year. A Crumbl Cookies location at 3760 Green Mount Crossing Drive in Shiloh opened in May. The Shiloh shop is owned by twin sisters Adrienne and Jacqueline Parrish and offers a weekly rotation of more than 275 cookie flavors. In July, Edwardsville welcomed an Alibi Cookie location at 200 S. Buchanan St. Also based in St. Louis, Alibi offers ice cream, cookie cakes, shakes and cookie sandwiches in addition to multiple cookie flavors. Cookies and more Hot Box Cookies offers a variety of awesome cookie flavors. Flavors listed on the website are: Chocolate Chip Vegan Chocolate Chip (Woohoo!) Gooey Butter Cake Cookies N Creme M&M Snickerdoodle Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Reeses Pieces Oatmeal Raisin Monster (gluten-free) Red Velvet Chocolate White Chocolate And a seasonal flavor: Kitchen Sink Cookie boxes are also available, in quantities of six, 12, 18, 25 and 36. And you can even have them gift wrapped with balloons, ribbon and a card. Cookies do really well as gifts, according to Harrington. So send a box to friends or family. Heck, send one to yourself. (I wont judge.) And the shop has more than just cookies. The menu also lists ice cream sandwiches and icing sandwiches (like an ice cream sandwich but with vanilla or chocolate buttercream icing) all made with cookie flavors of your choosing. Hand-scooped ice cream vanilla, chocolate and cookies & cream is available in pints, and you can get a 12-inch cookie cake too. Keep an eye on the business social media for other flavors, products, special deals and giveaways. I spied an Aug. 17 Facebook post announcing a limited edition White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie. Harrington said Hot Box Cookies also offers catering services for private and corporate events and home delivery. The delivered products have the same consistent quality as those at the store, he said. The website also offers online ordering for delivery and takeout, nationwide shipping, and fun merch. Hot Box Cookies soon opens in OFallon and will be the first location in Illinois. About Hot Box Cookies Hot Box Cookies opened its first location in Columbia, Missouri, in 2008. The business was founded by Corey Rimmel, who was a sophomore at the University of Missouri-Columbia at that time. Since then, six more shops in the St. Louis-area and one in Kansas have opened. Hot Box Cookies is located at 630 W. Highway 50, Suite 200, in OFallon. For more information about Hot Box Cookies, visit hotboxcookies.com or follow the OFallon location on Facebook and Instagram. (KTLA) An eight-week-old puppy is in good spirits after police in Irvine, California, had to give it an overdose-reversing drug for possible fentanyl exposure. Video showed the moment the pit bull puppy was rescued by police, who had already arrested the dogs owners for possession of narcotics found inside their vehicle that was parked outside a Walmart earlier this month. After transporting the suspects to the police station, the puppy began exhibiting signs of opioid overdose, police said. As the couple was being booked, it became obvious the puppy was in distress, Sgt. Karie Davies with Irvine Police told Nexstars KTLA. She was panting very rapidly, she was lethargic, her tongue was hanging out of her mouth, her eyes kept closing. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Thinking quickly, officers, who believe the pup may have ingested some loose fentanyl from inside the vehicle, administered Narcan to the dog. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an opioid overdose treatment that can rapidly reduce overdosing effects. It can be given as a nasal spray or it can be injected into the muscle, under the skin, or into the veins. Dramatic video shows the moment an eight-week-old puppy was saved from an overdose by officers during an arrest in Irvine. (Irvine Police Department) Dramatic video shows the moment an eight-week-old puppy was saved from an overdose by officers during an arrest in Irvine. (Irvine Police Department) Dramatic video shows the moment an eight-week-old puppy was saved from an overdose by officers during an arrest in Irvine. (Irvine Police Department) Veterinarians tell KTLA that using Narcan on animals is not a new procedure, with many vets successfully saving dogs lives with the overdose treatment. The Irvine officers, however, didnt know whether Narcan would be successful on the dog, but acted quickly and thankfully, made the right call. I wasnt aware of any prior cases of us using Narcan on an animal, said Sgt. Davies. So it was sort of improvised at the moment. Davies notes, however, that trainers at the police department were aware of the successful use of Narcan on dogs. Man survives 5 days trapped in California ravine after crash Ultimately, it was the right decision because the puppy was clearly in distress and the Narcan was able to turn her around pretty quickly, Davies said. One of the dogs owners told police it was the second time the dog had overdosed, according to an Irvine Police spokesperson who spoke with the Los Angeles Times. The pit bull puppy was treated and later released. Police said the dog appeared to be healthy and in good spirits. The dogs owners, only identified as a man and a woman, are facing several charges related to their arrest. Meanwhile, the puppy remains in the citys custody. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify who attended a meeting 90 days ago about new cases potentially involving convicted serial killer Dennis Rader. We regret the error. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) An Oklahoma district attorney says there is insufficient information to pursue charges against serial killer BTK of Kansas regarding an Osage County cold case. But after he spoke, the Osage County Sheriffs Office disagreed with some of his comments and said it would hold a news conference Tuesday afternoon to share updates on the case. District Attorney Mike Fisher covers Osage and Pawnee counties in Oklahoma. On Monday morning, he held a news conference at the Pawnee County Courthouse in Pawnee, Oklahoma: Last month, Osage County authorities said Dennis Rader, the man convicted of being the BTK serial killer in Wichita, is a prime suspect in some unsolved missing persons cases, including Cynthia Dawn Kinney from Pawhuska. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Still searching: Parents of Cynthia Dawn Kinney speak out Last week, the Osage County, Oklahoma, undersheriff said they have at least four pretty strong connections to cold case investigations linked to Rader that they feel could go to trial. On Monday, Fisher said he is not at a point where he can press charges against Rader. As of this date, the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader, he said. Given the interest that this information has garnered, I have asked that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation open a formal investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney. BTK a prime suspect in 1976 missing persons case Fisher said he will file charges if he learns of any evidence that warrants it. He said he sat in on a law enforcement interview about Rader about 90 days ago. He said Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma investigators participated while Fisher and his investigator listened. But he says the Osage County sheriff has not shared any physical evidence with the DAs office. I have reached out to the sheriff through the undersheriff and asked if we could communicate on this, and so far, they have been reluctant to do so, Fisher said. The information that we have received to this point, there are, Ill call them rumors because theyve not been substantiated yet, rumors as to potential other evidence that I have been made aware of, Fisher said. None of that at this point arises to the level of even reasonable suspicion. Fisher admits that he and Sheriff Eddie Virden do not have a good working relationship, but the DA says he has a good relationship with the OSBI. He said he has asked the OSBI to open a formal investigation because he wants to make sure information is being gathered appropriately. There are certain ways that an investigation is handled, and the things that I have seen give me pause and concern, Fisher said. The sheriff and I believe undersheriff went to Mr. Raders house with a search warrant, and they actually did a dig there. While I appreciate their enthusiasm, its probably not appropriate that they be doing that. It would probably be better left to investigators. He said he is not trying to cast aspersions on the sheriff. Im not trying to create a conflict with the sheriff of Osage County, he said. But, there are certain ways to investigate a case, and Im concerned that those proper investigative techniques have not been used. Thats why I asked the OSBI to assist. The DAs concerns Fisher pointed to concerns about things he has heard and read in the media about the Kinney case and any potential link to BTK. The bank across from the laundromat The sheriffs office has said that investigators suspect Rader was in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, at the time of Kinneys disappearance. They say he would have been installing security equipment at a bank across the street from the laundromat where she was last seen. A civilian hears, OK, he worked for ADT, for instance. That was something that came out there. He worked for ADT, Fisher said. So ADT has this security system for a bank across the street from a laundromat where Ms. Kinney disappeared. The problem is records with ADT dont go back that far, so they have no way of confirming that Dennis Rader ever came into Oklahoma to install an ADT system. So that evidence would never make its way into court. Pantyhose In April, Osage County law enforcement dug up the site where the Raders shed once stood and said they found pantyhose ligature they believe Rader used to tie up victims. It has not been tested yet, but Fisher believes OSBI will have it tested. Its a very difficult piece of pantyhose thats been buried in the ground for who knows how many years, Fisher said. Trying to get definitive DNA evidence off that is going to be very difficult. Search warrant He said if there is any evidence on the pantyhose, a proper search warrant helps determine if it is admissible in court. A reporter asked Fisher if a search warrant was necessary if the current owner of Raders old property gave permission for the property to be searched. I always ask law enforcement to do a search warrant, he said. Thats why I like to be involved early on in an investigation If that search is based upon consent only, then the burden is on the prosecution, the state, to prove that the consent was voluntary. If evidence is found on the pantyhose, and if the case proceeds, there would be an evidentiary hearing before the court. If the court found that the chain of custody did not exist or there was a break in the chain of custody, we would not be able to introduce the evidence, Fisher said. Journal entry about Bad Wash Day The Osage County Sheriffs Office also released a journal entry allegedly written by Rader, referring to PJ-Bad Wash Day. In part, Rader allegedly said he would watch a nearby laundromat for a possible victim. Fisher said his concern about that and what he has heard about the investigation is that it did not follow the usual investigative protocol. Investigations at the very basic level start out with, What do we have? and What evidence is there? and Where does that evidence lead us? Theres not a law enforcement officer in the country that wont tell you the best way to do an investigation is to follow the evidence. He said it does not appear the sheriff followed those steps. We had Sheriff Virden going to Kansas and interviewing Dennis Rader before he had ever seen any of his journals, Fisher said. Before he had gathered any evidence, he went, and he met with Dennis Rader in prison. The DA says that is not the way to handle the case. Yet that was the step that they took, Fisher said. Then they started working backwards, getting the search warrant, digging up Mr. Raders property, going through his journals, looking through that stuff, trying to find things. Plus, Fisher said the journal entries have been there during at least two previous investigations of the Kinney case. Letter referring to more victims The Osage County sheriff has previously said that Rader allegedly wrote to a friend claiming there were more victims and there was more evidence on his old property. Fisher said that as a prosecutor, he would have questions about the letter. Who is the friend? Why did they reach out to the sheriff? What specifically did the letter say? And what specifically was the conversation that took place with Dennis Rader? But Fisher said it would be naive to think that Rader has not committed more murders. It wouldnt surprise me at all if hes committed more murders, he said. But Ive still seen no evidence at all from any source that suggests hes been in Pawhuska. My preference would have been that Sheriff Virden had reached out to me early on and said, Hey, I got this letter, and I suspect that Dennis Rader may be involved, and Id like to go up and interview him, and would you like your investigator to go up with me?' Fisher said. I would have said, Absolutely. Lets do it. Lets see what weve got and then work from the very beginning together. Fisher said they would have brought in the OSBI at some point. Immunity from the death penalty Rader, 78, has been in the El Dorado Correctional Facility since his sentencing in 2005. He is serving 10 life sentences for 10 convictions of first-degree murder. His daughter, Kerri Rawson, has said that a federal prosecutor offered her father immunity if he confessed to any other murders that he may have committed. Fisher does not believe the Kinney case would rise to the federal level. But he said the sheriffs office asked him about offering immunity from the death penalty. I was contacted by the sheriffs office several months ago in the early stages of this investigation about whether I would be willing to allow the sheriffs office to offer immunity from the death penalty if Mr. Rader would confess to this crime, and I advised them that I would not, Fisher said. I said that not because Im trying to be difficult, but the courts are very suspect, as you can imagine, of any confession that results from that type of agreement. Another suspect? Fisher said he is concerned that someone else committed the crime against Kinney, and he said they have someone else they are considering. I asked the OSBI to not only look at Dennis Rader but to look at other possibilities, he said. Weve had, since this has all occurred, weve had a lead on somebody else. Thats in the very early stages, but there is a second possibility, Fisher said. If Mr. Rader is a first possibility, there is a second possibility that actually, in my mind, probably makes a little more sense. The things that I have heard pertaining to the second suspect, I believe, are more verifiable than perhaps the information we have that suggests Dennis Raders involvement, he said. He said the second potential suspect is dead. Fisher also said he does not think they will ever solve the Kinney case because of how many years it has been since she disappeared. I hope Im wrong, and I hope this new lead, that theres enough information, and we do have some stuff, Im hoping theres enough information that it may take the OSBI down a path that will clearly identify a suspect, he said, But I dont hold out a lot of hope. Concern for victims parents In the meantime, Fisher is concerned for Kinneys parents. He met with them for about two hours on Friday. He said they are both in their 80s, and the recent speculation has taken a physical toll on them. Cynthia went missing 47 years ago. Theyve got no answers, Fisher said. We have reason to believe that it may have been a homicide. We cant say that with any absolute certainty, but weve seen nothing to suggest otherwise as theres been no contact with Cynthia Dawn since 1976, since her disappearance. He said the recent news coverage has her parents considering progressively worse scenarios of what could have happened to her. They have both lost weight in the past few weeks. So, he is asking people to give them their privacy. Osage County Sheriffs Office responds After the district attorney held his news conference, the Osage County Sheriffs Office released a statement disagreeing with some of the things he said. Undersheriff Gary Upton said the sheriffs office has actively engaged with OSBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at various points during the course of the investigation. Contrary to the statements made by District Attorney Fisher, the OCSO has had two meetings with both agencies to share information and work collaboratively, Upton said in a statement. Despite this, there has been no further communication from the OSBI regarding the investigation. The OCSO remains committed to cooperating fully with the OSBI and other law enforcement agencies in pursuit of justice for Cynthia Kinney. Although Fisher said he has reached out to the sheriffs office about the case, Upton said Fish has not reached out. Therefore, his comments regarding the case are based on incomplete information and do not accurately represent the OCSOs efforts or the progress made, Upton said. District Attorney Fisher attempted to derail the investigation by contacting the prison where Dennis Rader (BTK) is held in an attempt to halt further interviews between Dennis Rader and our investigators. The sheriffs office said its primary focus is on finding the truth and bringing closure to families. Upton said the sheriffs office regrets any further distress that has been caused to the Kinneys. The sheriffs office said it remains committed to the case and will work diligently with OSBI, the KBI and federal authorities. Upton said the sheriffs office will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday to provide updates into the investigation. KSN News will be there and will livestream it on KSN.com. Osage County District Attorney news release re-investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney in 1976 Law enforcement nationwide understand that a criminal investigation is only complete when a suspect is identified based upon evidence, that can be used in a court of law, against that subject. Without such evidence, it would be unjust to arrest someone and then file charges against and convict that person. Information has been shared with the media during the last thirty days that suggest that Dennis Rader (aka the BTK killer) is a suspect in the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney in 1976. While that information may lead to speculation and rumors, our legal justice system cannot guess as to someones involvement in a crime, no matter the history of the person being accused. As of this date, the information that has been shared is insufficient to file criminal charges against Dennis Rader. Given the interest that this information has garnered, I have asked that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, open a formal investigation into the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney. While there have been prior investigations into Ms. Kinneys disappearance, I feel it is incumbent upon me, as the District Attorney, to do everything possible to ascertain whether Dennis Rader or someone else was involved in her disappearance. Toward that end, the OSBI will pursue all reasonable leads to identify those who may or may not have been involved in Ms. Kinneys disappearance. If evidence comes to light that is sufficient for the filing of charges, the District Attorneys Office in District 10 will file those charges as appropriate and as the law requires. As this investigation moves forward, I am asking that everyone respect the privacy of the Kinneys. These are wonderful, kind, broken hearted folks who have suffered enough. For forty-seven years they have had to live with not knowing what happened to their daughter. The latest speculation and rumors have only caused them pain, heartache, sleepless nights and emotional distress. Please give them their privacy. Should anyone have any leads or information pertaining to this matter, please contact the District Attorneys Office at (918) 287-1510. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. House Republicans have begun to make January 6 security camera footage publicly available. I signed up for a 3-hour appointment, where I watched the footage in an obscure conference room. I watched as lawmakers fled for safety and banded together while rioters besieged the Capitol. More than two-and-a-half years after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, House Republicans have begun to make security camera footage from the days surrounding the riot more widely available. There's been plenty of controversy and distortions of the events of that day in the meantime. When Democrats controlled the House, they resisted releasing the entirety of the footage, arguing that doing so would be compromising to the security of the US Capitol complex. Even so, certain clips have made their way into documentaries about that day and played a prominent role in the public hearings staged by the January 6 committee last year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When Republicans retook the chamber, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy granted then-Fox News host Tucker Carlson exclusive access to the footage resulting in the broadcast of a distorted narrative of the day's events that angered even fellow Republicans. But now, the Committee on House Administration has opened up access to the footage more broadly, allowing reporters, certain non-profit groups, January 6 defendants, and those who were injured during the riot to view the footage. I decided to take them up on it. Here's how it went, and what I saw. Showing up to view the footage As a reporter, I was able to sign up for a 3-hour time slot, and can theoretically continue to do so once per week. I emailed the committee staff last Monday, and was able to quickly set up an 11 am appointment just days later. On Friday, I met committee staff in the lobby of O'Neill House Office Building, a lesser-known part of the Capitol complex where the January 6 committee held depositions with witnesses. Roger Stone in front of the ONeill House Office Building, where the January 6 security camera footage can be viewed, in December 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The staff led me up to a conference room on the 4th floor, where three desktop computers each set up to allow for browsing the footage were lined up against a back wall. I was required to leave any electronics, including my cell phone, by the door in order to prevent me from recording or photographing any of the footage. A staff member from the committee was on hand the entire time to answer questions and monitor the terminals, where one other reporter was also viewing footage and taking notes. How the viewing works When I sat down at the terminal, a large map of the Capitol Complex filled the screen one fairly similar to the below map from the US Capitol Police, but in black and white. Scattered across the map were blue circles indicating the locations of a cluster of security cameras. Upon zooming in, each camera was marked by a small camera lens icon. Demonstration map of the US Capitol Complex. United States Capitol Police Once I'd identified a camera I wanted to look at, I could drag the lens icon into another window, where I was able to view any moment between January 5 and January 7, 2021. Some of the timelines accompanying each clip included orange markers, denoting moments that previous viewers including January 6 committee staff had sought to highlight. Through a drop-down menu, I could also view maps of the interior areas of the complex including each floor of the Capitol and the surrounding office buildings, as well as the pedestrian tunnels and subway tracks that connect them that were similarly overlaid with camera lens icons. Given that we've already seen so much footage of the rioters on the outside of the building, I chose to focus on the inside, looking particularly how lawmakers responded to the impending threat. The House Administration Committee is also allowing news outlets to request clips from specific cameras, and will make them publicly available via an online "reading room" sometime soon. What I saw on the House side I began by looking at the pedestrian tunnel that connects the Capitol to Cannon House Office Building an area that I frequently stake out during session days when I'm hoping to talk to certain House members. Focusing around the 2 pm hour when rioters halted Electoral College certification proceedings in the House I saw a steady stream of activity in the tunnel. Democratic Rep. Cori Bush and her chief of staff could be seen walking away from the Capitol at 2:07 pm, less than 15 minutes before the House went into recess. Bush later recounted in February 2021 that she "just felt the need" to walk out during the House proceedings, before the chamber was breached. Nine minutes later, I saw police forcibly leading a man possibly a rioter down the tunnel and away from the Capitol. I saw a throng of police officers heading into the Capitol at 2:33 pm, just as the situation outside the House chamber was beginning to deteriorate. Upstairs, I focused on a lone security camera in front of the House chamber. At 2:27 pm, a group of rioters began to assemble in the hallway leading into the chamber, where House members and reporters typically do television hits, and the rioters were initially met with what appeared to be just one police officer. The crowd continued to swell and gradually grew more visibly restive and agitated, and even as more officers arrived for backup, it clearly wasn't enough: at 2:36 pm, the rioters overwhelmed the cops and surged forward towards the door of the House chamber. I looked at cameras in the subway tunnel connecting the Capitol to Rayburn House Office Building, which appeared to be the tunnel that most House members used to evacuate. On another security camera in Longworth House Office Building, I watched lawmakers of both parties gathering near the secure location where they sheltered for the duration of the riot. I then skipped to later in the day, where I saw lawmakers begin to return to the chamber after 8 pm. In the Cannon Tunnel, I saw Rep. Steny Hoyer then the House Majority Leader leading a large procession of roughly 25 staffers back into the Capitol at 8:04 pm. Lawmakers began to trickle back in the minutes thereafter, where I saw then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a Republican, making his way towards the Capitol right next to Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat. What I saw on the Senate side On the Senate side, I focused on the security cameras outside the back of the chamber, where senators and then-Vice President Mike Pence were led away as the threat from rioters became clearer. Pence left the chamber down the East back stairway at 2:26 pm, roughly 4 minutes before everybody else was led down the West stairway on the other side. It was at this moment that the fear of that day came through, even on the silent footage that I was viewing. Officers on the West stairway had set up a barricade using some chairs and benches, and one officer in particular could be seen visibly swaying back and forth, pacing around, as the minutes elapsed. The Senate is generally known as the more collegial chamber, and it showed. As senators headed down the stairway in a single-file fashion, they seemed to be leaning on one another, physically, as they made their escape. Down in the basement below the Capitol, I watched as Republican Sen. John Boozman helped Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein make her way towards the senators' secure location in Hart Senate Office Building, with one arm held firmly against her back. Over in Hart, Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan could be seen locking arms as they made their way to safety. Other random sightings I jotted down in my notebook included: a reporter apparently interviewing Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, a go-to quote source for Capitol reporters, as the evacuation took place; Republican then-Sen. Jim Inhofe milling around in the tunnel towards Hart, on the phone and appearing confused, as officers seemingly encouraged him to keep moving; Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse seemingly being the last senator to make it out of the Capitol, minutes after everyone else. What I didn't or couldn't see Three hours isn't nearly enough time to look at all of the footage. There are also plenty of areas in the complex where no footage was available, apparently due to lack of camera coverage. That includes the area behind the House chamber where rioter Ashli Babbitt was shot by a Capitol Police officer, as well as the upper floors of most office buildings. Nonetheless, there's certainly more that one could look at, including the controversial tour group that Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk led the day before the riot, how cameras on Capitol grounds captured the advance of the crowd, and more of lawmakers returning to their chambers on the evening of the 6th. All in all, though, I found the experience to be eerie. I started covering Capitol Hill several months after the riot took place, and most of what I know about that day is based on news reports, documentaries, and the January 6 committee hearings. The unfiltered footage, however, was another stark reminder of the darkness of that day. I saw not just the lawmakers I cover, but also reporters that I work with, running for safety in the buildings where I now work. The COVID-19 pandemic was still raging at the time of the riot, and seeing everyone walking around in masks as well as several who pointedly did not brought back some of the peculiarities of that point in time. But I'm glad I did it, and overall, I'm glad that the footage is being distributed more broadly. If anything, it's a reminder of what that day was really like, and how those inside the Capitol actually experienced it. Read the original article on Business Insider As an adult, wearing tights in the winter can sometimes make you feel like youre playing dress-up or going to ballet class. But when styled correctly, tights can be the chicest part of your look. So how do you avoid the pitfalls thatll make you feel 5 years old again? We spoke with stylists who weighed in on the best ways to style tights this season. They recommend playing around with your tights texture, color and opacity, which can elevate your wardrobe. As temperatures grow colder, heres how stylists say hosiery can keep your legs warm while pulling your outfit together. Sheer With Socks Lena Mahfouf, aka Lena Situations, at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 3 in Paris. Lena Mahfouf, aka Lena Situations, at Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 3 in Paris. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A sheer tight can look sexy when skin peeks out from underneath your look. Think black tights with a line running down the back, or even colored tights that are less opaque. I like sheer tights because they cant be mistaken for leggings, said stylist Jules Wettreich, who recently dressed Riverdale actor Drew Ray Tanner. A thick sock on top with a cute kitten heel or sneaker is a fun way to style your tights casually. Celebrity stylist Samantha Brown also stacks with socks. You can play with layering socks over fishnet or lace tights, she recommended. On-air style correspondent Sydney Sadick describes her dream date-night outfit with sheer black tights as the standout piece. She suggests Wolford back seam black tights (with a line running down the back), paired with a black miniskirt, a black turtleneck bodysuit, a brightly colored jacket and short boots. Wearing tights on date night makes me feel fun and flirty, she said. Wear Tights With Boots, Not Heels Street style stars at 2022 Fashion Weeks around the world wore their tights with chunky boots. Street style stars at 2022 Fashion Weeks around the world wore their tights with chunky boots. Winter footwear makes any tights look seasonally appropriate. Think combat boots, ankle boots, over-the-knee boots, Mary Janes or loafers. Play with the juxtaposition of tights and something more masculine like a loafer, Brown said. Stylist Parker Blaine is a fan of pairing tights with platform loafers. Loafers, whether theyre heeled or flat, add such an edge to tights, she said. Her personal favorites are Steve Madden Lawrence Loafers and Stuart Weitzman Ultralift Loafers. The biggest mistake: tights with peep-toe heels. Im not a huge fan, Wettreich said. In my experience, it made my feet look awkward because the seam was showing. Instead, she suggests a pair of black high boots from Camper. Sadick disapproves of wearing tights with pumps. In the fall, it can be cute, but in the winter, it just doesnt work, she said. Its really key to wear your tights with boots. Sadick said she normally wears tights with heels to a religious service for a more classic look. Boots are her go-to for winter street style. Break Out Your Summer Clothes Guests at Paris and London Fashion Weeks in 2022 broke out their summery clothes over tights. Guests at Paris and London Fashion Weeks in 2022 broke out their summery clothes over tights. Winterize your summer staples by adding tights underneath. Tank tops, miniskirts and tees are all fair game. Tights can be worn with any length of skirt or dress and also look great with shorts in wintery fabrics like tweed and leather, Brown said. The stylist transitions her favorite leather shorts into winter by layering them with textured tights, a turtleneck or a cashmere sweater. Brown recommends selecting darker-colored pieces to be winter-appropriate. Transition your summer dresses in darker palettes through the winter by adding opaque or textured tights, boots, and layers like a blazer or leather jacket, she said. There are two reasons to wear tights: style and function. Wettreich wears tights to keep warm, but she also uses them as a base accessory for layering. Miniskirts and slip dresses are my favorite summer pieces to style with tights because they are thin enough to layer with a turtleneck or a sweater on top, she explained. Layering it with nude tights underneath if its super cold out is the ultimate hack. Skims Mid Support Tights in Clay are her go-to. Wettreich also suggests styling tights with a maxi dress. I think the maxi-dress-and-tights combination is alluring because its such a nonconventional way to style a long dress, she said. It isnt something you see very often, but it makes your outfit look more expensive. Stock Up On Darker Tights Black tights will go with just about everything. Black tights will go with just about everything. Black tights are chic and lengthening, and they pull any look together. White tights are fun if youre going for a ballet aesthetic, but black is my favorite, Wettreich said. Its a great way to flaunt your legs in the cold weather. She recommends a pair of classic, sheer black tights from Sheertex. Bright colors arent necessarily off-limits, but Sadick believes reds and blues should be reserved for sweaters. I know that a lot of women like colored tights, but theyre not for me, she said. Wearing bright colors in sweaters, pants and dresses will be more complementary. Whatever you decide, a rule of thumb is to coordinate your tights back to the palette of your outfit this will help keep it cohesive. The No-Nos Styling tights with a winter ensemble can be fun, but not everything goes. Wettreich said one mistake she sees people make is pairing jeans with pantyhose. Tights layered with jeans is criminal, she said. Texturally speaking, denim and tights clash too much its just one too many layers. Browns biggest concern when styling tights has to do with size. Be sure that your tights fit correctly, she said. You dont want them to go too sheer if theyre snug, or pool at the ankles if theyre too large. Blaine recommends avoiding sneakers with tights. I cant get behind that pairing. Theres just too much going on, she said. Worst case, opt for a black leather sneaker if youre in need of some comfort. Want to try Senior Shopping Writer Lourdes Uribes favorite tights? Below is a roundup from Sheertex read about why she loves them below. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. Sheertex Classic sheer rip-resist tights Sheertex Sheertex Classic sheer rip-resist tights These classic Sheertex tights are my go-tos. The sheer finish gives my legs a soft touch and the appearance of length something I desperately need. They look as good as they feel. Elegant, timeless and comfortable. $59 at Sheertex Sheertex backseam sheer rip-resist tights Sheertex Sheertex backseam sheer rip-resist tights When I want to add a flirty touch to an ensemble, I reach for the backseam tights. They have a vintage vibe that is at once sweet and alluring, and never itchy. $69 at Sheertex Sheertex classic semi opaque rip-resist tights Sheertex Sheertex classic semi opaque rip-resist tights When I want more coverage, the semi-opaque tights hit the spot. They show only a hint of skin tone, and are great for when I want to rock a more neutral, formal look. $69 at Sheertex Sheertex polka dot sheer rip-resist tights Sheertex Sheertex polka dot sheer rip-resist tights These kicky and eclectic sheer polka dot Sheertex tights are perfect for everything from date night to drinks with friends. They add an element of sexy fun that feels lighthearted and adds to the appeal of these swingy tights. $69 at Sheertex Related... Keeping up with an industry as fast-moving as AI is a tall order. So until an AI can do it for you, heres a handy roundup of recent stories in the world of machine learning, along with notable research and experiments we didnt cover on their own. This week in AI, d-Matrix, an AI chip startup, raised $110 million to commercialize what it's characterizing as a "first-of-its-kind" inference compute platform. D-Matrix claims that its tech enables inference -- that is, running AI models -- at a lower cost of ownership than GPU-based alternatives. "D-Matrix is the company that will make generative AI commercially viable," said Playground Global partner Sasha Ostojic, a d-Matrix backer. Whether d-Matrix delivers on that promise is an open question. But the enthusiasm for it and startups like it -- see NeuReality, Tenstorrent, etc. -- shows growing awareness among the tech industry players of the severity of the AI hardware shortage. As generative AI adoption accelerates, the suppliers of the chips that run these models, like Nvidia, are struggling to keep pace with demand. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Recently, Microsoft warned shareholders of potential Azure AI service disruptions if it can't get enough AI chips -- specifically GPUs -- for its data centers. Nvidia's best AI chips are reportedly sold out until 2024, thanks partly to sky-high demand from overseas tech giants including Baidu, ByteDance, Tencent and Alibaba. It's no wonder that Microsoft, Amazon and Meta, among others, are investing in developing in-house next-gen chips for AI inferencing. But for the companies without the resources to pursue that drastic course of action, hardware from startups like d-Matrix might be the next best thing. In the most optimistic scenario, d-Matrix and its kin will act as an equalizing force, leveling the playing field for startups in the generative AI -- and broader AI, for that matter -- space. A recent analysis by AI research firm SemiAnalysis reveals how the AI industry's reliance on GPUs is dividing the tech world into "GPU rich" and "GPU poor," the former group being populated by incumbents like Google OpenAI and the latter group comprising mostly European startups and government-backed supercomputers like France's Jules Verne. Inequity plagues the AI industry, from the annotators who label the data used to train generative AI models to the harmful biases that often emerge in those trained models. Hardware threatens to become another example. That's not to suggest all hopes are riding on startups like d-Matrix -- new AI techniques and architectures could help address the imbalance, too. But cheaper, commercially available AI inferencing chips promise to be an important piece of the puzzle. Here are some other AI stories of note from the past few days: More machine learnings A long exposure of drones passing through gates in a warehouse. Image Credits: UZH / Leonard Bauersfeld In first place, literally, we have this AI-driven high-speed drone, which managed to beat the human world champions at the sport, in which the pilots guide their drones at speeds of up to 100 km/h through a series of gates. An AI model was trained in a simulator, which "helped avoid destroying multiple drones in the early stages of learning," and performed all its calculations in real time, achieving the best lap by half a second. Humans still respond better to changing conditions like light and course switcheroos, but it may only be a matter of time before the AI catches up to them there, too. Machine learning models are advancing in other, unexpected modalities as well: Osmo, which aims to "give computers a sense of smell," published a paper in Science showing that scent can in fact reliably be quantified and mapped. "RGB is a three-dimensional map of all colors...We view our discovery of the Principal Odor Map (POM) as the olfactory version of RGB." The model successfully predicted the characteristics of scents it hadn't encountered before, bearing out POM's validity. The company's first market looks to be streamlining fragrance synthesis. This paper actually made the rounds as a preprint last year but now it's in Science, which means it actually counts. The Principal Odor Map, or as I call it, Smellspace. Image Credits: Osmo It would not be accurate to say that AI is also good at audition in this other study, but it is fitting that we have another sense in the mix. Biologists at Imperial College London recorded almost 36,000 hours of audio from more than 300 sites across Costa Rica so they could track wildlife there. It would have taken 20 years, or 20 grad students one year, to listen to it all, but machine learning models are great at pulling signal out of noise, so they analyzed it in two months. Turns out Costa Rican howlers don't like it where there's less than 80% tree cover, and are more sensitive to human presence than those in Mexico. Microsoft's AI for Good Research Lab has a couple projects along similar lines, which Juan Lavista Ferres gets into in this post. And here, in Spanish. Basically it's the same problem of too much data and not enough time or people to look at it. With specially trained models, however, they can work through hundreds of thousands of motion-triggered photos, satellite images and other data. By quantifying things like the extent and secondary effects of deforestation, projects like these provide solid empirical backing for conservation efforts and laws. No roundup is complete without some new medical application, and indeed at Yale they have found that ultrasounds of the heart can be analyzed by a machine learning model to detect severe aortic stenosis, a form of heart disease. Making a diagnosis like this faster and easier can save lives, and even when it's not 100% confident, it can tip a non-specialist care provider off that maybe a doctor should be consulted. Last we have a bit of analysis from reporters at ChinaTalk, who put Baidu's latest LLM, Ernie, through the wringer. It works primarily in Chinese, so it's all second hand, but the gist is as you might expect from the country's restrictive regulations around AI. "Spicy" topics like Taiwanese sovereignty are rejected, and it made "moral assertions and even policy proposals" that sometimes reflect the current regime, and at other times are a little odd. It loves Richard Nixon, for instance. But it does what some LLMs seem incapable of doing: just shutting up when it thinks it's entering dangerous territory. Would that we all had such admirable discretion. A whistleblower has highlighted troubling new information about irradiated wastewater evaporating into our atmosphere. Whats happening? An anonymous person has come forward with accusations that Holtec International, a company responsible for decommissioning the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts, has been intentionally evaporating contaminated water into the environment, according to The Enterprise. Why is this concerning? The whistleblower said the radiation from this practice is much more dangerous for those who are exposed to the evaporated form than if the waste had been dumped in liquid form, as was originally planned. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The radiation exposure to the general public would be many times greater than the radiation exposure had the tritium contaminated water been discharged to Cape Cod Bay, the whistleblower said. Tritium is a source of beta radiation that can increase risk of cancer if it is consumed in large enough quantities, according to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. What is being done about irradiated wastewater? Activists have been vocally critical of the evaporation tactic and are hoping to ensure that environmental regulators in Massachusetts do not continue to allow Holtec to release hazardous waste into the atmosphere. Holtecs previous plan was to release the water as a liquid more than 1 million gallons of it into the Cape Cod Bay, but regulators rejected the companys request, according to the Associated Press. This gives a hopeful precedent that regulators can step in to halt the practice to protect the environment. Additionally, U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts has issued a statement indicating that he is aware of the dangerous practice. Senator Markey remains committed to protecting public health, and holding Holtec accountable to a transparent process, a spokesperson for the senator said. Our office is reaching out to Holtec and relevant state and federal agencies to better understand the potential impacts of evaporation. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Aides for the White House and Biden campaign Monday pushed back against reported plans among advisers of Donald Trump to pursue a cut to the corporate tax rate if the former president wins back the White House in 2024. The Washington Post reported Monday that some of Trumps top economic advisers are eyeing a package of new tax cuts should he retake office, including plans to slash the corporate tax rate to as low as 15 percent. Jason Miller, a senior Trump adviser, told the Post in a statement that Trump had not committed to specific numbers as part of his economic agenda but that he will do whatever it takes to make our Country competitive again. Biden aides were quick to highlight the story and contrast the proposal with his own agenda. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Donald Trump is plotting to bring back the failed, trickle-down policies of his first term that lined the pockets of his ultra-wealthy friends and created incentives for corporations to ship American jobs overseas, Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Bidens reelection campaign, said in a statement. This is the story of the Trump economy blowing up the deficit to help out his wealthy friends at the expense of hardworking Americans and their families. Andrew Bates, a deputy press secretary for the Biden White House, said that while the administration does not weigh in on the 2024 campaign, the president believes tax policies are the ultimate window into who a leader is really fighting for. Through Bidenomics investments, President Biden is pushing every day to grow the American middle class, cut costs for families, and slash our deficits, Bates said in a statement. But another wave of deficit-increasing tax welfare for big corporations especially one directly tied to unprecedented price increases on American families would turn back the clock to the trickledown economics that hollowed out the American middle class and added trillions to the national debt. Bates blamed the 2017 tax law passed by congressional Republicans and signed by Trump for increasing the national deficit and failing to boost jobs or wages for working families. And unlike President Bidens policies that are revitalizing American manufacturing, it did next to nothing to help America win the manufacturing industries of the future, Bates added. Any corporate tax cut would require the approval of Congress. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act slashed the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and lowered individual tax rates as well. The individual tax cuts expire in 2025. Biden earlier this year proposed raising the corporate tax rate to 28 percent as part of a way to pay for his domestic agenda, though such a suggestion was dead on arrival with Congress, with even some Democrats wary of the idea. Biden has also pushed on the international level for a global minimum corporate tax of 15 percent, with aides arguing that its implementation would keep U.S. companies competitive even if lawmakers raise the U.S. corporate tax rate. Monday was the latest instance of Biden allies seizing on an economic idea put forward by Trump, who is the front-runner in the GOP presidential primary and on track for a potential rematch with Biden in the 2024 White House campaign. The White House last month swiped at a Trump proposal to impose a 10 percent tariff on foreign imports into the United States, warning it would lead to higher prices. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former President Donald Trump and former House Speaker Paul Ryan may have a lot of disagreements. But their presence at the signing of the Trump-backed 2017 tax law shows they all love one thing: cutting taxes for corporations. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, former President Donald Trump and former House Speaker Paul Ryan may have a lot of disagreements. But their presence at the signing of the Trump-backed 2017 tax law shows they all love one thing: cutting taxes for corporations. The White House is sharply criticizing plans crafted by top advisers for former President Donald Trump to deeply cut taxes for U.S. corporations, setting the stage for a traditional clash over economic policy during the 2024 presidential election. Some Trump advisers, according to plans discussed in a Washington Post report on Monday, would like to further push the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations Republicans passed during Trumps first term in office, potentially lowering the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%. Before the 2017 tax laws passage, the rate stood at 35%, and President Joe Biden has proposed increasing it to 28%. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Trump advisers are hoping to pay for the tax cuts with a massive 10% tariff on all imports to the United States, which would sharply increase prices for middle- and working-class Americans on a host of goods imported from around the world. It could also start a tit-for-tat global trade war. While Republicans, including Trump, continue to tout a supposed focus on working-class Americans, the signature domestic policy achievement of each of the last two Republican presidencies was a highly regressive tax cut focused on corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Trumps plan, which would likely face opposition from both congressional Democrats and Republicans, would mean the party continues to view tax cuts as its most important political goal. Another wave of deficit-increasing tax welfare for big corporations especially one directly tied to unprecedented price increases on American families would turn back the clock to the trickle down economics that hollowed out the American middle class and added trillions to the national debt, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said. The failed 2017 Trump tax giveway to rich special interests ballooned our deficits and didnt help working families with higher growth, more jobs or higher wages. And unlike President Bidens policies that are revitalizing American manufacturing, it did next to nothing to help America win the manufacturing industries of the future. The plans discussed by Trump advisers are not finalized and could change. Trump has not yet committed to specific tax cut numbers for his second term agenda, and his focus will be on how best to help American workers, Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller told the Post. Stay tuned. Among the proposals discussed in the Post report is using money raised by the tariff to send a dividend check to Americans, in theory decreasing the impact on lower-income workers. Democrats on Monday appeared eager to relitigate a traditional fight over economic policy. President Barack Obama won reelection in 2012 in no small part due to his successful attacks on then-GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romneys tax cut proposals, which were slanted towards the wealthiest Americans. Donald Trump is plotting to bring back the failed, trickle-down policies of his first term that lined the pockets of his ultra-wealthy friends and created incentives for corporations to ship American jobs overseas, Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said. This is the story of the Trump economy blowing up the deficit to help out his wealthy friends at the expense of hardworking Americans and their families. A corporate tax cut would be politically unpopular: 61% of Americans said they were bothered a lot by corporations not paying their fair share of taxes in a poll earlier this year from the Pew Research Center. Two-thirds of Americans in the survey said taxes on corporations should be increased, including 45% of Republicans. And no matter what Trump and his advisers cook up, passing his plans into law could prove difficult. Many congressional Republicans, especially in the Senate, are still loyal to the GOPs historical orthodox support for free trade. And its unclear if the business community, which lobbied heavily for the 2017 tax cut, would be as interested in a second round of slashes as opposed to consistency. My general view is that prioritizing corporate tax cuts right now should not be the focus of American tax policy, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), a Trump backer who has populist tendencies, told HuffPost on Monday. Both Trump and Biden have promised to upend at least part of the prevailing economic policy agenda of the last 40 years, one defined by free-trade and the belief upper-income tax cuts would trickle down to typical Americans. Bidens plan, which he has struggled to sell to the public, focuses on using government subsidies to revitalize American manufacturing while boosting the power of working-class Americans to negotiate for pay raises. Igor Bobic contributed reporting. Related... The White House thanked one of the most adversarial members of its press corps, Peter Doocy, after the Fox News correspondent acknowledged President Joe Biden was likely tired because hed been working all night. He has been basically working all through the night, the equivalent of an all-nighter, Eastern time, Doocy reported from Vietnam on Sunday, while awaiting a press conference from Biden, who landed in Hanoi after attending the G20 summit in New Delhi. So, hes probably pretty tired. Pretty jet-lagged. But, he continued, pausing and appearing momentarily distracted, he should take at least a handful of questions. Journalist Aaron Rupar shared a clip of the moment on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption: You can see the exact moment when Peter Doocy realizes he just demolished one of his own networks talking points. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It had been viewed more than a million times by Monday morning, including, apparently, by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who shared it and wrote: Thank you, Peter. Fox News persistently leans into the Sleepy Joe narrative, accusing the president of being too old and tired to do his job. Several hours after Doocys remark, Biden closed out his press conference in Hanoi by telling reporters, I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to go to bed, prompting a predictable response on Fox News. He was rambling, near incoherent at some points and then ended the press conference saying he wanted to go to sleep, host Dagen McDowell said after the presser. Doocy is known for his combative exchanges with Jean-Pierre in the White House briefing room and has on several occasions sparred with Biden himself. Related... President Joe Biden would veto a right-wing defense funding bill that's slated to be considered on the House floor this week, his administration said Monday. The White House declared it "strongly opposes" the Pentagon spending measure in a statement outlining its objections, dinging Republicans for loading the bill with conservative policy riders, including on abortions and transgender troops. "Including divisive policy provisions within an appropriations bill also dramatically increases the threat of a continuing resolution, which would further damage Americas national security," the administration argued. The administration further criticized House GOP appropriators for scaling back a Pentagon push for multi-year contracts to boost missile production, among other gripes. Background House Republicans included provisions in the bill to block funding for the Pentagon's policy of allowing troops to travel for abortions as well as surgery and hormone treatments for transgender military personnel. The defense bill also includes provisions to limit diversity and climate change-fighting programs at the Pentagon. Party-line bill The rightward tilt of the spending bill means Democrats won't support it, so Speaker Kevin McCarthy can only afford to lose a few GOP votes. That may mean adding even more conservative proposals to shore up support on his right flank. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If it passes, the bill is a nonstarter with Senate Democrats. Senate appropriators have advanced their own bipartisan Pentagon bill. Abortion The White House ripped a provision that blocks funding to implement Pentagon policies for reimbursing travel costs for troops to seek abortions. The administration argued the policy is critical for readiness and that it is "in full accordance with the law," countering GOP arguments that it contravenes a ban on taxpayer funding for abortions. Missiles The administration also slammed House appropriators for their revisions to the Pentagon's first-ever request for multi-year procurement authority for munitions. Appropriators granted the authority for five of seven missile systems sought by the administration, but rejected two others. Lawmakers also trimmed a large portion of the $1.9 billion Pentagon request to support bulk purchases, known as economic order quantities funding the White House argued is needed to generate savings and boost production. Other objections The Biden team said it opposes an ambitious House plan to significantly raise junior enlisted military personnel pay before an upcoming four-year military compensation review, fearing the unfunded cost it would incur. The White House rebuffed a move, touted by House Republicans, to cut just over $1 billion from the administration's budget for funding the Pentagon civilian workforce warning it could impact defense operations and harm civilian recruitment and retention. The administration also assailed provisions in the bill that block the Navy from retiring certain ships, which the Pentagon sought to do to save money. What's next The House Rules Committee meets Tuesday to review amendments, and floor debate on the legislation is expected to begin Wednesday. Sacramento: population 466,488? Dont worry, you havent traveled back in time to 2010 Sacramentos population has grown since then. And youre not the only one confused. Steve Chanecka, a Sacramento resident, asked The Bees service journalism team, which answers direct questions for our community: I see the population signs for the City of Sacramento from all directions and it is 466,000 thereabouts. Now, the city population is roughly 533,000. Why arent the signs updated? Not all signs are outdated the one on Tower Bridge, for example, is up-to-date. But its not the same story for all. The Sacramento County and city limit signs, which display the citys population and elevation, face eastbound traffic on Tower Bridge over the Sacramento River leaving West Sacramento earlier this month. Whats going on with the ones that arent right? Will they be updated to reflect the most recent U.S. Census, which was done three years ago? How outdated is the data on the current Sacramento population signs? The Sacramento population signs on the side of the highways as you enter the city that are outdated show that the population is 466,488. This data is from 2010, according to the city of Sacramento website. The population was 524,943 at the time the 2020 Census was conducted. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The most recent data collected in July 2022 shows that Sacramentos population now estimates about 528,000 residents. Gabby Miller, a city spokeswoman, and Dennis Keaton from Caltrans District 3, both said they were unsure who is responsible for updating which signs (some fall within the city; others are located on highways). This embedded content is not available in your region. Why havent the Sacramento signs been updated? Keaton said Caltrans District 3 typically updates the signs as needed. There (have) been more pressing matters like the wildfire damage in recent years in other counties within our district. Those signs have had priority, Keaton said. District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating state roadways in the counties of Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. In 2022, the Mosquito Fire burned through nearly 77,000 acres in both El Dorado and Placer counties from September to October. More urgent pending sign orders are scheduled ahead of the population updates, Keaton said. Keaton said the district has plans to update the the city of Sacramentos population signs once they have fixed the signs affected by fires. There already is an installation order to update all population signs for the city of Sacramento, Keaton said. Some final details are being worked on with the sign shop before the final completion. Though updating the population signs is on Caltrans to-do list, Keaton said it could be more than several weeks before work begins. Keaton said he was unsure why the Tower Bridge sign was updated, when others were not other than the sign was done from the scheduling. What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered United States and Ohio state flags to be flown at half-staff to recognize Patriot Day on Monday - the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Flags at all public buildings and grounds throughout the state of Ohio will remain at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on Monday in honor of those killed in the terrorist attacks in 2001. On Thursday, volunteers came to the Ohio Statehouse to help place 2,977 U.S. Flags on the Ohio Statehouse West Lawn honoring each of the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks. The National Veterans Memorial and Museum will have a remembrance ceremony from noon to 1 p.m. Monday to honor those who lost their lives, the first responders who rescued many and the veterans who served again on that day 22 years ago. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Admission to the Museum is free on Patriot Day and tickets can be reserved online. What time are flags displayed at half-staff? Customs call for flags to be shown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset unless the flag can be illuminated overnight. Holidays where the flag is half-staff around the country May 15: Peace Officers Memorial Day (half-staff all day) Last Monday in May: Memorial Day (half-staff until noon) First Sunday in October: Fallen Fighters Fallen Firefighters (half-staff all day) Dec. 7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (half-staff all day) What's the difference between half-mast and half-staff? According to The Sextant, the Naval History and Heritage Command's blog, half-mast refers to lowered flags on a ship, while half-staff is a pole in the ground. But the blog continues to say half-mast is used outside the U.S. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why flags are flying at half-staff, half-mast today Google and the federal government will face off in a trial next week that could reshape how the tech giant is structured and the future of antitrust enforcement against tech platforms. The trial is kicking off nearly three years after the Department of Justice (DOJ) and a coalition of states attorneys general filed the complaint. The suit alleges Google has an anticompetitive monopoly over the search market. It is the first major antitrust lawsuit against a major tech company since the U.S. sued Microsoft in the late-90s. The Google case is shaping up to be a critical test for a new generation of dominant tech platforms amid years of mounting bipartisan scrutiny. Its the biggest monopolization case the United States has seen in a generation, said Bill Baer, who served as assistant attorney general in charge of the DOJ antitrust division during the Obama administration. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Google alleges DOJ antitrust head has deep-seated bias Baer said the outcome of the Google trial will have significant implications for other dominant firms that rose to power over the past two decades. How do the rules of the road apply to these dominant firms? Even if they became dominant through legitimate behavior, are they staying dominant through misconduct that limits the opportunity of rivals to emerge and give consumers the benefit of a competitive marketplace? Baer said. Why the DOJ says Google is harming consumers The federal government alleges that Google is harming consumers by stifling innovation in online search tools and limiting choice. Google has maintained an illegal monopoly over online search through exclusive agreements that preinstall its search application on devices, the DOJ argued. This, the government alleges, allowed Google to become the dominant search engine over its rivals. Federal prosecutors are likely to argue that Google is not allowing a free market of rivals who could offer search choices with better technical perks such as the speed at which search results are presented and on policy choices, such as more stringent data privacy practices. Google is now the unchallenged gateway to the internet for billions of users worldwide. As a consequence, countless advertisers must pay a toll to Googles search advertising and general search text advertising monopolies; American consumers are forced to accept Googles policies, privacy practices, and use of personal data; and new companies with innovative business models cannot emerge from Googles long shadow, the DOJ said in an amended complaint in January 2021. For the sake of American consumers, advertisers, and all companies now reliant on the internet economy, the time has come to stop Googles anticompetitive conduct and restore competition, it continued. How the DOJ plans to face off with Google And as artificial intelligence (AI) technology ramps up, the DOJ may also argue that Google could leverage its market power into the new technology and further stifle innovation. Google denies allegations of anticompetitive behavior Google has pushed back strongly on the allegations of anticompetitive behavior. The company argues that its products and services are more popular because they are simply better, not because Google has tilted the playing field away from potential rivals. Were proud that browser makers opt to show Google Search based on the quality of our products, Kent Walker, Googles president of global affairs, said in a blog post Friday. Walkers post cited comments from Apple CEO Tim Cook from 2018, who called Googles search engine the best, while defending the deal making Google the default search option. Google will also argue that its contracts to be default search engines on browsers are not exclusive and do not limit competition. The company argues that users can easily set a new default search engine and its contracts do not limit access to other search options. In short, our success comes down to the quality of our products, not the quantity of our contracts, Walker said. Google plans to call some of its customers, including executives from tech giants like Apple, to testify about choosing their products and the agreements in question. Google will also share stories about the innovations the company has fostered, such as pivoting from desktop to mobile to make search more useful for the mobile world. Judge Amit Mehta has already narrowed the scope of claims that the government can focus on during the trial. In a decision unsealed last month, Mehta tossed out allegations that Google has weakened competition by harming rival companies, such as Yelp or Expedia, by boosting its own products in search results. Walker touted that decision as an example of how the governments case is deeply flawed. What are the next steps in the case? The DOJ and coalition of states are expected to take several weeks making their case against Google, after which the company will be allowed to present its defense. The trial is expected to last 10 weeks and will be split into two distinct phases: The first will be whether the government successfully made the case that Google is an illegal monopoly, and the second will cover potential remedies. Baer said the government could potentially propose breaking up Google or a prohibition on the types of agreements and payments the company can make to promote its search engine. How the DOJ plans to limit Googles influence could have serious implications for the broader tech sector, experts said. This is about opening up the ability to compete with Google on search, said Katie Van Dyke, senior legal counsel at the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), a nonprofit that supports stronger antitrust enforcement The AELP has strongly supported the federal governments case against Google and congressional proposals for broader antitrust reform. As the Google search case heads into trial, a separate DOJ case targeting the companys dominance in the ad tech market is underway. In addition to the Google cases, the government has been targeting the power of other tech giants. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is suing Meta, the parent company of Facebook, over its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. The FTC is also likely to sue Amazon later this month after a four-year investigation, Bloomberg reported. As the court cases move forward, supporters of antitrust reform are still trying to ramp up momentum for proposals they say would help improve competition in the tech industry. Efforts to pass key antitrust laws failed last Congress despite bipartisan support in the House and Senate and are less likely to move ahead in the House this year due to GOP leadership opposition. Charlotte Slaiman, vice president at Public Knowledge, said antitrust laws should be updated to address self-preferencing, app store regulation and the creation of a new digital regulator. These are all additional legislative solutions that are still going to be needed, even if the case is highly successful, Slaiman said. Updated at 2:18 p.m. ET For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mt. Fuji, Japan Japan's majestic 12,388-foot peak has stirred poets and painters, sent the devout on treacherous pilgrimages up its slopes, and continues to inspire awe and admiration. It is the namesake of companies from Fuji Film and Fujitsu to Fuji Xerox. Few mountains anywhere in the world enjoy the name recognition of Japan's cone-shaped, dormant volcano. A handout image provided by the Yamanashi prefecture administration shows Japan's iconic Mt. Fuji. / Credit: Handout/Yamanashi prefecture That iconic name value, unsurprisingly, has made Mt. Fuji a tourist magnet. Over the weekend, at the "5th Station" roughly half-way up the mountain and the point at which most vehicles must stop a line of tour buses disgorged scores of sightseers who wasted no time mugging for photos at the "Mt. Fuji" sign, bellying up for soft ice cream, dishes of curry with a volcano-shaped side of rice, and Fuji-themed t-shirts. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "It was a time of our lives that we wanted to travel. Japan seemed the obvious, and when in Japan, you need to see Mt. Fuji, I think," Eero Keronen, visiting from Australia with his wife Sarah, told CBS News. Tourists emerge from and wait for buses at Mt. Fuji's 5th station, in an image provided by the Yamanashi prefecture administration. / Credit: Handout/Yamanashi prefecture Adam Clouser, of Columbus, Ohio, was setting off from the 6th station. "I've wanted to travel to Japan my entire life, and Fuji is just kind of the cultural center, the cultural heart of Japan," the American tourist told CBS News His wife Lisa said the verdant surroundings felt familiar. "I am originally from Canada, in the Rocky Mountain region, and this has given me some feelings of home," she said. "It's a beautiful area." But within Japan, Mt. Fuji has been conjuring up some less flattering images of late hikers trampling and even building campfires on the fragile alpine landscape, scattering drink bottles, plastic bags and candy wrappers. Visitors ignore warnings about subzero temperatures and show up in shorts and sandals, leaving them to fall ill and even try to summon taxis for rescue. (Even horses can climb only part of the way up the mountain.) Tourists enjoy a sunset view from Mt. Fuji, in an image provided by the administration of Japan's Yamanashi prefecture. / Credit: Handout/Yamanashi prefecture "Mount Fuji," Yamanashi prefecture Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan last month, "is screaming!" Nagasaki was elected in 2019 on a mandate to ease overcrowding on the iconic mountain, while still boosting tourism revenue. He has proposed a ban on all passenger bus and car traffic, seeking to replace the nearly 20-mile Fuji-Subaru access road with a public-private light-rail train service. By charging a relatively steep 10,000 yen (about $68) roundtrip fare and limiting train runs, Yamanashi prefecture could ensure manageable numbers of hikers, Nagasaki said, while luring a more affluent demographic. The proposed ticket price is more than double the current bus fare from central Tokyo to the 5th station. In a presentation for reporters at the World Heritage Site visitor center, near the access road, Yamanashi representatives showed off plans to raze the current hodgepodge of 5th station shops and its concrete parking lot and replace it all with a greenery-covered, high-end hotel and railroad station. An artist's impression of a proposed high-end hotel and railroad station to replace the current The notion that something must be done about the hordes of tourists descending on Mt. Fuji seems to have found wide support in Japan. The right-leaning Sankei newspaper published a piece by alpinist Ken Noguchi lauding the leaders of both Yamanashi and neighboring Shizuoka, which shares jurisdiction over Mt. Fuji, for "clearly broaching the taboo" about regulating foot traffic on the peak. Last August, a writer for the liberal Asahi newspaper suggested sharply reducing crowds by requiring all summit-bound hikers to carry a permit and overnight at one of a handful of small huts along the trails a measure also meant to improve safety. But exactly how many tourists visit Fuji and how many is too many is up for debate, Thomas Jones, a professor of sustainability and tourism at Japan's Ritsumeikan University who has studied the mountain since 2008, told CBS News. "You would have to find consensus" for what constitutes carrying capacity, he said, "and at the moment there isn't really anything like that. So, there isn't really a kind of concerted effort to limit the number of visitors there." Yamanashi prefecture argues that visitor numbers are rebounding toward 2019 levels, when 5th Station visitors topped 5 million. That was more than double the 2.3 million who came in 2012, which was already excessive, the prefecture argues. Most visitors start and end their outing at the 5th Station; an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 continue on foot to the summit during the climbing season from July through early September. Jones said capping the number of hikers by charging fees is a common practice at comparable "standalone" mountains, such as Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysia, or Taiwan's Jade Mountain. One way of easing the human impact on Mt. Fuji that the local city of Fuji-Yoshida has been advocating, without much traction, is for hikers to start not at the 5th Station, but from the very foot of the mountain at the 1st station. That would see them retrace the path that pilgrims have walked for centuries. "You see a lot more biodiversity" if you make the longer trek, said Jones. "You also see some of the old shrines, which are quite well preserved. You also avoid a lot of the crowds." Pennsylvania authorities concerned escaped killer will try to steal another vehicle Everything we know about Putin and Kim Jong Un's planned meeting Survivors of Morocco earthquake building makeshift encampments, multiple factors slowing relief North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin , amid warnings from the U.S. that the two countries could strike an arms deal. Analysts believe that North Korea has tens of millions of compatible Soviet-era artillery shells and rockets that could be a huge boost for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. Though these weapons are based on older technology, the sheer number of them could make them useful to Moscow. Ammunition shortages have been an ongoing issue over the course of the war in Ukraine for both Moscow and Kyiv. In July, President Biden warned that Ukraine was running out of ammunition. For its part, Russia has previously turned to North Korea for weapons. In December, the White House told Reuters that North Korea also sold military weapons to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. However, both Russia and North Korea have denied that such a transaction took place. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It would be a win-win deal for both, as Putin is cornered over his exhausted weapons inventory while Kim faces pressure from the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation, Nam Sung-wook, a former director of the South Korean think tank Institute for National Security Strategy, told the Associated Press. Their needs are matched perfectly now. Officials identified in North Korean state media handouts appear to corroborate the military focus of Kim and Putin's upcoming meeting. Kim appears to have been joined in Russia by Jo Chun Ryong, an official in charge of munitions, who has recently toured North Korean factories producing artillery shells and missiles, South Korea's Unification Ministry said. Read More: Tracking All of North Koreas Missile Tests This Year So Far Kim also appears to have been joined by Pak Thae Song, chairman of North Koreas space science and technology committee, and Navy Adm. Kim Myong Sik, who is linked with the country's bid to acquire spy satellites and nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines. Kim's delegation also likely includes Foreign Minister Choe Sun Hui and Korean Peoples Army Marshals Ri Pyong Chol and Pak Jong Chon, the Associated Press reported. This [meeting] is a very significant development if it goes forward, Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, told CNN. Russia has the military technology that Kim wants for his illegal satellite launch and nuclear weapons delivery programs. Kim departed Pyongyang in a high security luxury armored train on Sunday afternoon. This is the first time Kim has left North Korea since the COVID-19 pandemic. His last time leaving the country was during the 2019 Koreas DMZ Summit organized by the United States under the Trump Administration. Analysts say that in addition to advanced weaponry for North Korea's nuclear-capable ballistic missile program, Kim is also seeking food, aid, and other raw materials that are scarce in the poverty-stricken nation. The country faces serious shortages of essential goods after the government sealed its borders three years ago amid the COVID-19 pandemic. North Korea and Russia have had strained relations in the past. In 2013, Russia supported two resolutions in the United Nations against North Korea for its nuclear tests. Experts say warming ties are a sign that an increasingly isolated Russia has been forced to turn to pariah states for military equipment. It says a lot that Russia is having to turn to a country like North Korea to seek to bolster its defense capacity in a war that it expected be over in a week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the Associated Press. In July, Russias defense minister Sergei Shogu visited Pyongyang as part of a Russian delegation to North Koreas parade on the 70th anniversary of the Korean armistice agreement, ended the fighting in Korea. While there, Shogu observed the Hwasong intercontinental ballistic missile along with other new drone designs. Contact us at letters@time.com. Long before he became a Supreme Court justice, Clarence Thomas told a story at a public gathering that still sounds shocking years later. At the time, Thomas was a relatively unknown conservative who had paid his way to attend a conference of Black conservatives just before Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1981. At the conference, Thomas told listeners that he opposed public assistance because it had caused his sister and her children to become dependent on welfare payments. She gets mad when the mailman is late with her welfare check, Thomas said in a remark that has since been widely quoted. That is how dependent she is. Whats worse is that now her kids feel entitled to the check, too. They have no motivation for doing better or getting out of that situation. In 1982, Thomas was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to be chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. - Diana Walker/The Chronicle Collection/Getty Images But a journalist tracked down Thomas sister and discovered that what he said about her was not quite true. She learned that while Thomas attended law school, his sister Emma Mae Martin worked two minimum-wage jobs before quitting to take care of an ailing elderly aunt. She did receive welfare checks, but their sums were paltry, and she later took another job as a hospital cook. And her children all either worked or were in school when the journalist spoke with her. One even served his country aboard a battleship during Operation Desert Storm. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Thomas story has taken on new meaning since ProPublica and other media outlets revealed hes been the beneficiary of another type of assistance: The lavish lifestyle the justice has enjoyed over the last three decades has been bankrolled in part by wealthy White benefactors. Thomas disclosed last month week that Republican Texas billionaire Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for him in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a separate vacation at Crows luxurious New York estate. Thomas also acknowledged he had inadvertently omitted other information in past financial disclosure reports, including a private real estate deal between Crow, Thomas, and Thomas family. Crow, who paid the private school tuition for a relative of Thomas he said he was raising as a son, also purchased the home of Thomas mother in a private real estate deal that allows her to live rent free. Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse displays a copy of a painting featuring Clarence Thomas alongside other conservative leaders during a hearing on Supreme Court ethics reform on May 2, 2023, in Washington. The painting was commissioned by billionaire Texas Republican real estate developer Harlan Crow, who, according to a ProPublica investigation, invited Thomas on many luxury vacations. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The disclosures about Thomas have set off a debate among judicial ethics experts. Critics say Crows largesse is part of a pattern of Thomas taking undisclosed gifts from fawning billionaires who benefit from his legal decisions. A lawyer for Thomas said there had been no willful ethics transgressions by the justice, and attributed the criticism to political blood sport. But the latest revelations about Thomas may also have another unintended effect: They should put the to rest the myth about why so many Black people have despised Thomas going back to his days in the Reagan administration, when he chaired the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The myth is that many Black people oppose Thomas because they cant handle his stern calls for self-reliance and his admonishments to stop looking for free stuff from White people or government programs. According to the conventional story, Black people dont like Thomas because he is a Republican and a conservativeand because, according to Thomas in a fiery 1998 speech, he refused to be an intellectual slave. Justice Clarence Thomas signs autographs in Memphis on July 29, 1998, after addressing the National Bar Association, an organization of Black lawyers. - John L. Focht/AP But many Black people dont despise Thomas because hes a conservative. They reject him because they say hes a hypocrite and a traitor who hurts his own people to help himself. Georgia State Senator Nikki Merritt is one of them. The Democrat says recent revelations about Thomas benefitting from wealthy White benefactors validated what she and others have been saying about the justice for years. She was one of several Black members of the Georgia Senate who opposed a bill last year to erect a statue in honor of Thomas. Merritt says that many Black people dont have a problem with conservatives or Republicans. The late Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice both served in Republican presidential administrations as Black conservatives. Both are well-respected in the Black community. But Thomas, she says, is something else. Merritt says he actively hurts his own people by consistently voting to weaken voting rights and helping to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision she says disproportionately hurts poor women of color. Justice Thomas likes to talk about the myth of pulling himself up by his bootstraps and being resilient, yet hes benefited from handouts from these White conservatives who have supported his privileged lifestyle, she says. That makes him a traitor and a hypocrite in my eyes. Sen. Nikki Merritt speaks at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta in February 2021. - Alyssa Pointer/AP Black hostility toward Thomas has had a long shelf life, and has spilled out into the public in different ways. The NAACP opposed his 1991 nomination to the Supreme Court. Anita Hills sexual harassment allegations against Thomas, which came during his confirmation hearings, irreparably damaged his reputation among many Black women. When the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in Washington in 2016, its organizers excluded any direct mention of Thomas in the exhibits. Various Black leaders have called Thomas an Uncle Tom, and the NAACPs current president recently called Thomas the worst thing affirmative action created. Its telling that Juan Williams, the journalist who was once one of Thomas most vocal defenders in the Black community, now says that Thomas must be sanctioned if the stories are true about how he allowed himself to become captive of a far-right legal coterie. Many conservatives have defended Thomas Others, though, see Thomas as an American hero, an embodiment of the idea that anyone can make it in America if they work hard enough. Armstrong Williams, a Black conservative, said that the recent criticism aimed at Thomas has degenerated into hysterical verbal pummeling. He said that other Supreme Court judges took subsidized trips in the past, but critics focus on Thomas because of his intellectual independence. Their real grievance against the justice is his courageous unwillingness to shill for the liberal establishment an insult they find especially offensive because Clarence Thomas is black and contradicts their gospel that all blacks think alike, Williams wrote in a recent column. One federal judge, a Republican appointee, defended Thomas against charges he was being influenced by wealthy, White donors. Judges are just like every other human being. We have a diverse group of friends, and those friends dont influence the way we do our job, Judge Amul Thapar, who sits on a Cincinnati-based appeals court, told CNN in an interview. The Supreme Courts press office did not respond to a request seeking comment from Thomas or the high court about the justices actions or his relationship to the Black community. Justice Clarence Thomas jokes with his clerks in his chambers at the Supreme Court building in Washington in 2016. - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters But Thomas has briefly addressed the issue, saying he followed the advice of others who told him he was not required to disclose the gifts. The justice noted that the guidelines for reporting personal hospitality were recently changed and added, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future. Thomas former law clerks also have defended him. Last month more than 100 of them published an open letter saying Thomas integrity is unimpeachable and describing him as an embodiment of the American dream as a descendent of enslaved people who worked his way up to the pinnacle of judicial power. They declared that Thomas story should be told in every American classroom, at every American kitchen table, in every anthology of American dreams realized. But critics within the Black community say Thomas doesnt practice what he preaches and theyve been saying this long before recent disclosures about the justices benefactors. Some point to his opposition to affirmative action, a set of policies designed to boost minority representation in education and the workplace. Thomas says affirmative action policies are divisive, unconstitutional and harmful to recipients. He recently voted with the high courts conservative majority to gut affirmative action in college admissions, overturning a long-standing precedent. But his critics say Thomas would not have made it on the high court without affirmative action. They say he was admitted to Yale Law School because of an affirmative action program and that he was nominated to the Supreme Court to replace Thurgood Marshall, the courts first Black justice, in part because of his race. Clarence Thomas as seen in a high school year book photo, circa 1959. Thomas was raised by his maternal grandparents as a devout Catholic. He went to the College of the Holy Cross and graduated with a degree in English literature. He then got a law degree from Yale Law School. - AP His entire judicial philosophy is at war with his own biography, Michael Fletcher, co-author of Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas,. told CNN in 2013. Hes arguably benefited from affirmative action every step of the way. Thomas has admitted that he was accepted at Yale Law School under an affirmative action policy. In his 2007 memoir, My Grandfathers Son, he wrote: As much as it stung to be told that Id done well in the seminary despite my race, it was far worse to feel that I was now at Yale because of it. Critics say Thomas is a recipient of White paternalism Thomas critics have long accused him of hypocrisy in another area: how he talks about self-reliance. The contours of Thomas early life are well-known. He was born in the segregated South and grew up in grinding poverty in rural Georgia. He was rescued by a stern but loving grandfather who taught him the virtues of self-reliance. Thomas flirted with Black nationalism in college, wearing a black beret and memorizing the speeches of Malcolm X, before graduating and gradually becoming a conservative and a Republican. Thomas himself has reinforced this narrative. He often invoked stories of rugged self-reliance in his earliest interviews and in his 2007 memoir, My Grandfathers Son. In 1987, Thomas said he was raised in an environment where you had an obligation to help other people, but it didnt come from the government. He criticized civil rights leaders who he said were teaching Black kids that getting ahead in America was hopeless because of pervasive racism. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas looks at the displays inside the Pin Point Heritage Museum. Thomas was born in Pin Point, a small, predominantly Black community near Savannah, Georgia. - Richard Burkhard/The Savannah Morning News/USA Today Network They should be telling these kids that freedom carries not only benefits, it carries responsibilities, Thomas said. You want to be free, you want to leave your parents house? Then youve got to earn your own living, youve got to pay your own mortgage, pay your own rent, buy your own car, and pay for your own food. But Thomas critics point to what they say are contradictions in his biography. After disclosures about the financial help Thomas received from White benefactors went public, his critics pounced. A headline from The Grio, a Black online magazine, read: Clarence Thomas gets gifts from a white billionaire but hates white paternalism. Another from The Nation, a self-described progressive magazine, read: Clarence Thomas Is What He Wrongly Accuses Black Folks of Being. Tori Otten, a writer with The New Republic, highlighted Thomas criticism of his sister from many years ago, saying his comments were particularly hypocritical, considering how often he has claimed to be against government aid and welfare. Otten added, But Thomas and his family have spent decades enjoying free travel, housing, and school that are only offered because he holds a powerful position in the government. Juan Williams, a Black journalist who says he and Thomas are friends, also criticized the justice. In a 2022 column before the disclosures about Thomas gifts, he mentioned Thomas wife, Virginia Ginni Thomas, and her support of former President Trumps attempt to reverse the 2020 presidential election results. She emailed lawmakers in Wisconsin and Arizona, asking them to fight back against fraud by helping overturn the vote. Clarence Thomas listens to his wife Virginia during a break in hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington on October 12, 1991. - John Duricka/AP Williams didnt use the word hypocrisy to describe Thomas. He says there are contradictions. As a young man he was a Black nationalist, able to recite Malcolm X speeches, Williams wrote. Now, at 74, he surrounds himself with far-right white conservatives and is married to a white woman who sought to help a man viewed by most Black people as a racist Trump overturn a legitimate election. What separates Thomas from other Black conservatives Williams, like other Black writers, notes that Thomas stands in the tradition of other Black nationalist leaders who preached self-reliance. Some of Thomas beliefs echo revered Black leaders such as Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. All preached some variation of self-help and not looking to White people for deliverance from racism. Even President Obama has delivered speeches that dont sound that different from Thomas. In a 2013 speech to graduates of Morehouse College, a predominantly Black mens college in Atlanta, Obama said that excuses are tools of the incompetent. Weve got no time for excuses not because the bitter legacies of slavery and segregation have vanished entirely; they have not. Not because racism and discrimination no longer exist; we know those are still out there, he said. Its just that in todays hyperconnected, hypercompetitive world, with millions of young people from China and India and Brazil many of whom started with a whole lot less than all of you did nobody is going to give you anything that you have not earned. Yet Williams pinpointed in a recent Atlantic magazine essay what separates Thomas from Black nationalist leaders who preached self-help. Thomas similarly argued that Black people could demonstrate their abilities only if white people got out of their way, and stopped pursuing programs such as affirmative action, Williams wrote. Journalist Juan Williams speaking in the Fox News Channel Studios on September 17, 2019, in New York City. - Steven Ferdman/Getty Images However, the big difference between Thomas and most Black nationalists is that he assures whites that they have no responsibility for the history of slavery and continued bias. Thomas has consistently ruled against civil rights programs that attempt to address the legacies of slavery and Jim Crow segregation on behalf of Black people. He called such programs racial tinkering. He also has drawn a moral equivalence between schools that created programs to encourage racial diversity and White schools in the Jim Crow era that banned students of color. Thomas has said that programs designed to make up for racism are demeaning and patronizing to Black people and unconstitutional, because the Constitution is colorblind. I do not believe that kneeling is a position of strength, Thomas reportedly said in a 1998 speech while talking about affirmative action. Nor do I believe that begging is an effective tactic. He once quoted the 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who responded to the question of what the American people should do with Black people by saying, Do nothing with us! If the negro cannot stand on his own legs, let him fall also. When he worked for the Reagan Administration, Thomas said all civil rights leaders do is bitch, bitch, bitch, moan and moan, whine and whine. Clarence Thomas, second from left, stands with President Reagan as the President addressed black appointees at the White House in 1984. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images But in 1998, Thomas showed a more vulnerable side in an address before the National Bar Association, a predominantly Black group. It pains me more deeply than any of you can imagine to be perceived by so many members of my race as doing them harm, he told the group. All the sacrifice, all the long hours of preparation were to help, not to hurt. Thomas speech was greeted with scattered boos and little applause, news reports said. The recent disclosures about Thomas bankrolled lifestyle have been greeted by some Black people in another wayby nodded heads and a string of I told you-sos. Merritt, the Georgia state senator, says calling Thomas a traitor and a hypocrite is fitting criticism because of the impact of his judicial decisions. He claims hes a Black man that cares about Black people and Black causes, but every action that he has taken has done nothing but harm Black people, she says. So maybe now the myth about why Black people oppose Thomas will finally die. For many Black people, the speech that Thomas gave about his sister was not an aberration but the start of a pattern: Thomas projects onto Black people what he refuses to see in himself. As one critic said: Thomas, not his sister, is the true welfare queen. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com My kids were home from Wake County public schools on a lovely Thursday recently here in Cary where winds never exceeded about 15-20 mph (i.e., a gusty spring day) and rainfall was under an inch. It was Aug. 31 and school was canceled the day after Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. Safety first is a useful heuristic, but when tropical weather systems are involved, local governments and school systems have increasingly been canceling school, without appreciating the serious costs of these decisions to families, especially those in more precarious situations. Durham Public Schools also closed Aug. 31, but Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools operated as usual. I teach Public Policy at North Carolina State University and the recent decision by some school systems to close seems representative of an increasingly common trend of policymakers both over-estimating the benefits of canceling school and failing to adequately consider the costs. This trend is unfolding as climate change is causing an increasing number of school closings. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The benefits of a weather-related cancellation are, of course, avoiding any significant danger to students from being at school or traveling to school during poor weather. But how much danger is there, really, in a forecast for 15-20 mph winds and an inch or two of rain? Students go to school all the time in forecasts like that. When theres not really much danger, theres not really much benefit to cancellation. Meanwhile, when policymakers overreact and close schools for an essentially safe forecast, they are likely not fully considering the full range of costs to the families in their districts. The costs financial and otherwise are very real for many families. Many parents have to scramble to find childcare. Some may even have to forego shifts at work and sacrifice needed income. Others may have no choice but to leave children home alone, which comes with another set of risks. Teachers may have to forego leave if they need to stay home with children who would otherwise be in school. To be clear, if this was really serving to keep kids safe from a dangerous situation, it would be worth it. But for the accurately predicted, very modest impact of a tropical system centered over a hundred miles away, the costs to many, many families far exceed the very marginal, if any, safety benefits. Students leave Carnage Middle School just after 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2020 in Raleigh after the Wake County school system closed schools two hours early due heavy rain and potential flooding. My teaching and research in public opinion helps explain why policymakers are likely substantially overestimating the danger when theres tropical weather systems involved. When humans think about problems, they are often susceptible to priming effects, whereby exposure to one type of information may disproportionately affect how they think about related information. In the case of severe weather, after hearing hurricane for days and calling to mind the images and experiences that go along with it, this almost surely affects our weather-related decisions, even if the hurricane or tropical storm is hundreds of miles away. In 2020, using a national survey, I ran an experiment based on the Raleigh-area forecast for Hurricane Michael in 2018. In one version, survey respondents were asked about their likelihood to cancel schools in response to heavy rain and 25-35mph winds due to a strong low pressure system in the region (i.e., a tropical system in words that do not prime all the negative associations). Other respondents were informed the same weather would be caused by effects of Hurricane Michael in the region. Those who were in the hurricane condition were much more likely to want to close schools for the exact same weather forecast. In short, basic biases in human thinking likely cause policy makers to overestimate the impact of a safely distant hurricane or tropical system. Yes, school systems should strive to keep kids safe, but there are very real costs to families that seem to be undervalued relative to, ultimately, low risk weather events. Sure, its just one day but when school systems cancel school at every minor chance of problems, the days add up and real learning loss can happen something we are all more attuned to in the wake of the pandemic. Regular cancellation of schools for only minimal threat from the weather also erodes confidence in local government and local school systems, a confidence that has already been shaken for many by the pandemic. Of course, keep our kids safe, but North Carolina school policymakers need to more fully consider the costs of their weather-related decisions. Steven Greene is professor of Political Science in the School of Public and International Affairs at N.C. State University. ***Related 9/11 video above*** (NEXSTAR) The National 9/11 Museum & Memorial has a special fondness for sky blue. In recent years, the 9/11 Museum & Memorial has encouraged buildings across New York City to light up their rooftops or facades in remembrance of those who were killed during the attacks on Sept. 11. Specifically, the citys iconic buildings will be illuminated in a striking sky blue a color that holds special significance for the organization, and the city as a whole. The facades and spires of buildings near NYCs Times Square are lit up for the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2021. Dozens of buildings participate in the tribute each year. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Sky blue, or Memorial Blue, as its also called, symbolizes the citys (and the worlds) general perception of the sky in the morning just prior to the attacks. In fact, the cloudless skies above NYC on 9/11 had been described as what pilots and meteorologists call severe clear, meaning visibility conditions were seemingly infinite, according to the National 9/11 Museum & Memorial. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This year, dozens of iconic buildings, landmarks and institutions across the city will once again be partaking in the Tribute in Lights event, itself an extension of the longstanding (and perhaps more recognizable) Tribute in Light art installation in Lower Manhattan, which form two columns of white light shining up the heavens. Tribute in Lights is a unique, but simple gesture of collective remembrance that will illuminate the city on the evening of the anniversary, writes the museum. Participating buildings include the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, the Bank of America Tower, The Oculus, and many more throughout both the city and state. The color blue, too, is a prominent feature of one of the museums most visually arresting installations, titled Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning. Found inside museums Memorial Hall, the piece is comprised of 2,983 watercolor squares representing each of the lives lost on Sept. 11 and the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center showcasing different hues of blue to symbolize our memories of the sky on the morning of September 11, 2001. Our own perception of the color blue might not be the same as that of another person, the museum explains of the different hues in the piece, created by artist Spencer Finch. However, just like our perception of color, our memories share a common point of reference. Pope Francis prays in front of Spencer Finchs Trying to Remember the Color of the Sky on That September Morning at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on September 25, 2015. (Susan Watts/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) The Museum is also encouraging folks to Remember the Sky by sharing photos of the sky to social media on Sept. 11, to help ensure that younger generations never forget the significance of the date. Through creating a shared moment of active remembrance together, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum aims to help spur conversation on social media platforms and elsewhere that can serve as a bridge between memory and history for the tens of millions of young people who did not live through that day that changed our world forever, the museum has written of the campaign. Those wishing to learn more about the commemorations taking place on 9/11 can visit 911memorial.org for additional information. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. The Kansas Supreme Court is poised to consider whether a provision of Wichitas disorderly conduct ordinance unconstitutionally limits freedoms of speech and assembly protected under the First Amendment. On Tuesday, the court will hear an appeal brought by Gabrielle Griffie, the Project Justice ICT organizer who was sentenced to probation for her role in demonstrations demanding accountability after the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The city accused Griffie of planning the protest to engage in disorderly conduct, more specifically, engaging in noisy conduct tending to reasonably arouse alarm, anger or resentment in others. Griffie argued that the law in question infringes on a wide range of protected activities. That noisy conduct provision was used to support her conviction on two misdemeanor counts of unlawful assembly during the protest, which took place in parts of downtown and the Delano neighborhood. A split appeals court panel upheld Griffies conviction last year, sustaining the lower courts finding that protesters had no right to block lanes of traffic without a permit. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement A city spokesperson declined to comment on the case, citing the pending litigation. The ACLU of Kansas filed an amicus brief with the Kansas Supreme Court in July arguing that the disorderly conduct ordinance fails to meet the constitutional standard for regulating free speech in a public place, leaving it up to officers discretion when they choose to enforce it. The issues raised in this case are really significant because at its heart, it goes to whether law enforcement can criminalize protected conduct under the guise of labeling it quote unquote noisy, ACLU Legal Director Sharon Brett told The Eagle. The vagueness in the wording of the statute and the overbreadth of the application that results from that vagueness is fairly problematic because it can be used to justify law enforcement action against individuals for something as simple and as constitutionally protected as protest, she said. The city has asserted that the law is not unconstitutionally broad, emphasizing in court proceedings that it prosecuted Griffie for her disorderly conduct on the day of the protest, not for the content of her speech. Violators of the disorderly conduct ordinance are subject to a fine of up to $500 and a sentence of up to 30 days. The Wichita protests were part of the nationwide Black Lives Matter movement that mobilized around calls for an end to police brutality and the defunding of law enforcement agencies. During the demonstrations, Wichita protesters chanted Black Lives Matter, Defund the Police, and No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA. Griffie told The Eagle in 2021 that she believed her arrest and the arrest of other protesters by police were a blatant scare tactic to try to keep the organizers of Project Justice ICT from marching in the streets. Police contended at the time that people involved with Griffies organization refuse to demonstrate lawfully, in part because they did not seek a permit from the department before demonstrating. The exact language of Wichitas disorderly conduct ordinance matches that of a 2014 state statute. The appeals court found that the law is not overly broad because it includes the word reasonably when describing what conduct could elicit alarm, anger or resentment in others, and because the ordinance is only violated when the person knows or should know that this conduct is prohibited. If the Supreme Court overrules that decision, it doesnt necessarily mean the law will come off the books in Wichita or other jurisdictions that have adopted it. The court could, for instance, specify under what circumstances the law can and cannot be applied. The reach of any potential decision in this case to jurisdictions other than Wichita will depend entirely on the courts reasoning and the scope of that reasoning, Brett said. The case is set to come before the Supreme Court at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Illustration by Daniel Jurman for Yahoo News Whats happening Travelers looking for a place to stay in New York City may find they have far fewer options thanks to strict new rules that are designed to crack down on platforms like Airbnb and went into effect in the past week. As of last Tuesday, anyone seeking to offer up their home for fewer than 30 days will have to register with the city. Only homes that are also occupied by the owner while being rented and that limit guests to two at a time and allow visitors to access the entire residence will be approved. The new rules, which Airbnb called a de facto ban on their business, already appear to be having a dramatic effect. According to one estimate, the number of available Airbnbs in New York dropped from 22,000 in August to less than 7,000 by last week. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Short-term rentals which allow visitors to stay in part or all of a private home rather than a hotel have exploded over the past decade, driven by Airbnb and similar sites like Vrbo. Airbnb estimates that it currently has more than 7 million active listings worldwide and has brought in more than $180 billion to hosts since it was founded 15 years ago. All that popularity, though, has been accompanied by mounting complaints about rising prices , unexpected fees and bad behavior by hosts and guests alike. But the main reason New York and a long list of other cities in the U.S. and abroad , from Atlanta to Florence have targeted short-term rentals is the belief that they are making the housing crisis even worse. Why theres debate Advocates for tough restrictions on short-term rentals say most Airbnb listings are effectively homes that have been subtracted from the local housing market, which reduces the total supply and has helped push costs to historically unaffordable levels . While its hard to separate the effects of Airbnbs from all of the other forces affecting the housing market, some research does suggest that an increase in short-term rentals in an area correlates with higher housing costs. Airbnbs critics argue that strictly limiting short-term rentals will mean more homes are available to locals to rent or buy at more reasonable prices. But others say platforms like Airbnb are nothing more than a scapegoat for the real reason that housing costs are so extreme: the fact that the country simply hasnt built enough homes to meet its housing needs over the past several decades. They argue that short-term rentals represent a tiny share of the housing supply which includes more than 140 million housing units in the U.S. and even eliminating them entirely would barely put a dent in the housing shortage. A third group makes the case that some restrictions are warranted to prevent large companies or rich outside investors from buying up big chunks of the housing supply for short-term rentals. But they caution against overly aggressive rules that could force individual homeowners to lose out on much-needed income and discourage tourism that many local economies rely on. Whats next One of the biggest remaining questions about new rules in New York and elsewhere is how effectively theyll be enforced. Cities like Los Angeles and San Diego have struggled to rein in short-term rentals, either because of loopholes in the laws theyve passed or lack of resources to keep hosts in check. Perspectives Airbnbs make the housing crisis even more severe When you take units off the market and rent them to tourists, one consequence is that it leads to more people fighting over fewer units. And that leads to higher rents. Peter Dreier, Occidental College urban policy professor, to Los Angeles Times Short-term rentals have a tiny effect on housing supply Even a complete collapse of Airbnbs business would not fix Americas housing market. There are lots of things contributing to out-of-control housing prices in the U.S., and short-term rentals are only just one tiny part. Rani Molla, Vox The only thing that will actually solve the housing crisis is building more homes Part of the solution to housing scarcity involves figuring out how to deal with an array of newer real estate investment types. But another part of the solution and arguably the biggest part is also figuring out how to simply build more homes. Jim Dalrymple II, Deseret News Crack down on big-time investors, but leave regular people alone Leave alone the ordinary folk who try to make a few extra bucks when they go out of town for a few weeks a year. Go after those who create de facto illegal hotel rooms. Editorial, Daily News Dont ban Airbnbs, tax them Regulations are not the most efficient solution. Taxing short-term rentals at a higher rate and using the funds for public housing projects would be better than regulations, which are costly to enforce and full of loopholes. Caroline Freund, dean of the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, to San Diego Union-Tribune Beyond their effect on prices, short-term rentals have spoiled quality of life in many places The problem isnt that some homeowners are listing their property for rent; rather, entire neighborhoods are becoming unrecognizable because many of the homes are no longer owned by community members. Saul Anuzis, Tennessean Cities will also suffer if they make it impossible for travelers to find a place to stay Lawmakers must find a delicate balance between ensuring there are indeed enough places for lodging while also limiting the growth of short-term rental units in order to prevent them from inflating housing costs. Editorial, Boston Globe William Tell is back. One of the U.S. Air Forces most famous and storied air combat training events is being held September 11-15, 2023, at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia. The week-long event is returning after a 19-year hiatus and this new iteration is not your father's William Tell of yesteryear. Major changes to the competition reflect accelerating advances in air combat, but the spirit of the event will very much remain the same. Editor's Note: Welcome to the first of our three-part series on the rebirth of William Tell. We will be on the ground at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah this week getting a first-hand account of this unique and historic exercise as it unfolds. 2023's William Tell will feature nine teams that include some of the top fighter crews from across the USAF. They will pit their skills against one another and against Red Air aggressor aircraft in a series of scenarios. Unlike many other well-known exercises such as Red Flag or Sentry Savannah , William Tell is a true competition. This air combat training event is the closest the U.S. has to what was seen in the fictional movie Top Gun, in that crews really have to battle it out for top scores although these are U.S. Air Force crews, not Navy ones. There are a range of trophies that will be brought home to the units of the winning teams, and as the movie joked there are no prizes for second place! The crest/patch for William Tell 2023. USAF The teams competing will also include maintainers and weapons specialists who will face off in weapons loading competitions. Intelligence personnel and command and control specialists will also compete for prestigious awards. William Tell also features a number of other embedded events that are designed to encourage a culture of excellence among Americas top fighter squadrons. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Were bringing back William Tell after 19 years, and this year is actually the 69th anniversary of the very first William Tell exercise, Maj. Garrett Dodge Getschow, William Tell Exercise Director, told The War Zone. Since the last William Tell in 2004 [which was held to mark the 50th anniversary of the exercise] the climate and global landscape has changed massively. Back then the focus was on the Central Command region [in the Middle East], but now with the increase in the threat from near-peer adversaries, we want to refocus towards air-to-air supremacy and remind the nation that this is our focus and that we are the best of the best. F-22s from the 1st Fighter Wing, which is the host unit for William Tell 2023. Jamie Hunter The William Tell planning team hopes that the event will help to promote the exchange of tactics and better prepare USAF wings for future combat operations. Our unwavering commitment to air dominance remains steadfast, as we pursue and push the boundaries of innovation and excellence, Gen. Mark Kelly, the commander of Air Combat Command, said in a media release. As we participate in the long-awaited return of the William Tell competition, we reiterate our steadfast dedication to maintaining control of the skies in support of our Joint Force and multinational partners. Named after the legendary Swiss archer, the very first William Tell was held in 1954. However, it traces its roots back to the USAF Aerial Gunnery Competition, which was held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 1949. That very first competition was won by a team from the 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen, and it included the now Lt. Col. (Ret.) James Harvey III, who was part of the team that won the first Top Gun award. Harvey recently celebrated his 100th birthday and will be a guest of honor at this years event. The four winning "Tuskegee Airmen" with the original Top Gun trophy in 1949. USAF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8QOp2mxUGA\u0026t=1s William Tell has always been designed to embody the spirit and excellence of aerial combat. Right from the very first Aerial Gunnery Competition in 1949, precision and tactical excellence were the keys to victory. Indeed, Lt. Col. Harvey and his team became a shining example for fellow fighter pilots to aspire to. Mastering gun employment and using valid dogfighting tactics in fighters such as the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang were as important to lethality back then as an F-35 pilot leveraging the most out of an AIM-120 AMRAAM beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile is today. The inaugural William Tell in 1954 was held at the dawn of the jet age, at Yuma County Airport in Arizona, before it moved to Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida in 1958. It was designed to replicate real combat scenarios and earned the reputation as a pinnacle of air combat training and as an enduring means of fostering camaraderie. An F-106A Delta Dart of the New Jersey Air National Guard, firing an AIM-4 missile during William Tell '84. USAF The packed flightline during William Tell '82. USAF Pilots scramble to their F-4C Phantom II on alert during exercise William Tell '80. USAF USAF weapons loaders carry an AIM-9 Sidewinder to an F-4 Phantom II during William Tell 1986. USAF An F-106A Delta Dart at the William Tell 1984 weapons meet. USAF William Tell ran from 1954 to 1996 as a biennial competition until post-Cold War budget cuts forced its demise. Technological advances pushed aspects of the event to evolve over the years. Just the many types of ever-more complex fighters that took part over the four decades of its continuous exaction tell that story. By the time it matured in the missile age, it was notable for its live gunnery and missile shots, while maintainers fought for top position on the ground. At its height it also included participation by the Royal Canadian Air Force . Personnel from the 119th Fighter Wing North Dakota Air National Guard with winning trophies at William Tell 1970. USAF Maj. Robert Edlund of the 119th Fighter Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, with his "Top Gun" trophy at William Tell 1994. USAF Winning teams were revered throughout the USAF, with trophies being prominently displayed back home. The importance placed on William Tell by the USAF was manifested in rows of fighters, such as F-4 Phantom IIs and F-106 Delta Darts, on the flight line at Tyndall in the exercise's heyday. Units came from far and wide to participate, which helped to cement its reputation as one of the world's greatest air combat exercises. https://youtu.be/e10dAcnc4QA?si=RwegVPDRMRdr50cY https://youtu.be/GcABY_l-GiA?si=x0hL7l7HPToJASRC William Tell 2023 is a modern iteration of the exercise, reflecting the latest fourth and fifth generation fighter tactics and real-world threats. It is hosted by the 1st Fighter Wing and will draw upon the heritage of the competition in a plan to encourage fighter squadron culture with a series of air power briefings and recollections from significant guests. William Tell 2023 is about resurrecting our heritage, sending us your champions, and competing, Maj. Kyle Brown, from the William Tell organizational team, said in a media release. The nine teams at William Tell 2023 are drawn from three F-22 Raptor fighter wings, three Eagle wings (an F-15C team and two F-15E teams), and three F-35A wings. F-15 Eagle F-15C/D, 104th FW, Barnes ANGB, Massachusetts. F-15E, 4th FW, Seymour Johnson AFB. F-15E, 366th FW, Mountain Home AFB. F-22 Raptor F-22, 1st FW, JB Langley-Eustis. F-22, 3rd Wing, JB Elmendorf-Richardson. F-22, 154th FW, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam F-35 Lightning II F-35A, 388th FW, Hill AFB F-35A, 419th FW, Hill AFB F-35A, 158th FW, Burlington ANGB Back in the day, William Tell was held at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, and it was part of the Weapons System Evaluation Program [WSEP], so they were actually able to fire live missiles, explains Maj. Getschow. It would be amazing if we could do that again one day, but for this years event each team will be able to employ the gun at a banner that is towed by a Learjet." QF-100 Super Sabre target drones ready to launch during William Tell 88. USAF They would also judge the teams on maintenance and execute scramble launches to see how quick they got airborne, Maj. Getschow continues. At William Tell 2023 we are running the weapons-loading competition, and this tests combat lethality. We are trying to replicate as much as we can with what was done historically. Wing maintainers will also compete and be judged on every single mission launch. Of the nine teams, each MDS [Mission Design Series aircraft type] will compete against each other in the weapons load competitions. So, on Monday the F-22s will compete against each other in the weapons loading, the F-35s will follow on Tuesday, and the F-15s on Wednesday. The winners from each round will go forward to a final on Thursday across the three MDS to find the overall winner. A weapons loading competition will be undertaken by the nine teams at William Tell 2023. Jamie Hunter The weapons loading teams will need to balance speed and accuracy, drawing closely on their training to follow technical and safety procedures. A media release from the 4th Fighter Wing stated that at William Tell 2023, the F-15E load crews will hang four AMRAAM radar-guided air-to-air missiles and two Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles. At any time in the load, evaluators deduct points for technical or safety deviations. Each team has three people: a one-man who leads the effort; a two-man who prepares the racks and rails on the aircraft where the weapons will hang, and a three-man who drives the jammer, a small lift truck for carrying weapons, and loads the weapons on to the plane with the help of the one-man. Fighter types will go head-to-head to see who fights best within visual range. Jamie Hunter On the flying side, William Tell 2023 events include Within Visual Range (WVR) 1-v-1 Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM, aka dogfighting) between similar types (for example F-22 versus F-22) and 2-v-2 Air Combat Maneuvering. These will all be graded by the 28-strong evaluation team and will result in individual awards for the top team from each fighter type. Of the five-person aircrew team, theres a team captain who wont fly, theres two instructor pilots [IPs], a flight lead, and a wingman, explains Getschow. The F-15Es also have their Weapons Systems Operators. Each team also has a two-person intel team, and a three-person weapons load team. Theres additionally three-person command and control teams from Kadena, Tinker, and Elmendorf, who will conduct ground-based C2 [command and control] out of 117th Air Control Squadron at Hunter Army Air Field [Georgia], to control the fight. Monday is BFM day, and everyone will fly against their paired qualification, so the IPs will fly against each other, etc. Then from Tuesday to Thursday we have Fighter Integration in the morning, and ACM in the afternoon. Fighter Integration and teamwork is one of the main elements of William Tell 2023. Jamie Hunter Fighter Integration is seen as a key component of the modern William Tell, and it will involve the various fighter types working in teams in concert with ground-based command and control. The Fighter Integration component will see missions of 4+4+4-v-multiple aggressors, comprised of F-16Cs from the 64th Aggressor Squadron, T-38s from the 7th Fighter Training Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, plus the evaluation team flying Red Air tactics in F-15s, F-22s, and F-35s. The scoring plan for this element of William Tell is closely held, and the evaluation team wont release the scoring protocol until the final day of the exercise when the results are announced. However, its expected to be built around valid simulated missile shots and associated tactics, as well as winning or losing the mission itself. We really wanted to focus on the team aspect and working as a cohesive fighting force for this William Tell, said Getschow. The Fighter Integration element has a short mission planning window, and theyll only have a couple of hours to build their team, plan the tactics, and based on the threat understanding come up with a game plan. The top award for William Tell 2023 is the Gen. Richard I. Bong Fighter Integration Award, named after the World War II ace. In addition to the main Fighter Integration trophy, there will also be F-15, F-22, and F-35 top wing, top intel team, weapons loading, and best maintenance team trophies. William Tell is a great chance for our team to showcase their capabilities in a realistic and demanding air combat environment, said Col. Morgan Lohse, 4th Operations Group Commander, in a media release. Air Dominance is a team sport, from the maintainers who generate the jets, to the weapons loaders who ensure we have the right munitions, to the pilots and WSOs who fly the missions. It takes a capable team on the ground and in the air to secure the skies. The team from Hill AFB that has been selected for William Tell. USAF The pilots in the squadrons are pretty excited about it, commented Capt. Spencer Thompson, an F-35A pilot from the 34th Fighter Squadron and the 388th FW project officer for William Tell. What other event in the Air Force do you get to compete against other pilots in your same platform and get graded in things like a live-gun banner shoot over the ocean? The return of William Tell was aided by a group of retired senior F-15 Eagle pilots who championed its value to USAF leadership. Triple MiG-killer Col. (Ret.) Cesar Rico Rodriguez explained how he and his friends Terry SkinS Fornof and Steve Buick Olds used their Aviation Warriors initiative to help rekindle enthusiasm and ultimately realize the return of William Tell. Although I didnt personally attend a William Tell in my career, as young F-15 pilots we all learned so much from the briefings and debriefings. William Tell was a great opportunity to grow tactical strength at a squadron level, and it translated into the victories of Desert Storm and Kosovo . At 'Willy Tell' 2023 the teams will be challenged in a very different way to how we were challenged in Desert Storm but it provides a goal to train towards, with that same ethos and squadron culture. A Michigan Air National Guard F-4C engaaged in the weapons loading competition at William Tell 84. USAF If you look specifically at Desert Storm, the miss-fire ratio in shots that were seen in combat reflected what happened at Tyndall during WSEP . The teams that had the fewest misfires also did great on the maintenance competition. So theres a powerful connection between the maintainers preparing the jet for launch and the weapons loaders to properly load each weapon and the success of the pilot. It proves that its a full team effort, and thats what we want to capture in William Tell 2023. To remain relevant, and keep in-step with the latest Air Force doctrine and operational priorities, exercises have to evolve to meet current needs. For instance, Red Flag recently expanded out from its typical operating ground in the Nevada desert to longer-range missions over the Pacific. It reflected the kind of long-range over-water missions that the USAF could encounter in the event of a conflict with China. William Tell returns with a similar evolution, with Fighter Integration working as a honed, cohesive team being the top award and most relevant to the modern era. This kind of realistic, relevant, exercise helps to best prepare the USAF for what is expected to come over the horizon. Rico Rodriguez advocates for this approach. It didn't matter who the enemy was that showed up on January 16, 1991, we were gonna kick their ass, and it was thanks to all those exercises we flew back then, including William Tell! In our next installment from inside William Tell, we will be on the scene in Savannah to see the action firsthand as the teams battle it out for top recognition. Editor's note: Our sponsorship partner has no editorial involvement in this article. Contact the editor: Tyler@thedrive.com A metro Atlanta woman who police say stole less than $10 from a Fayetteville Chevron station ended up with four felony charges, according to The Fayetteville Citizen. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Mbeti Ndonga, 40, was arrested on Sept. 3 at the Chevron on S. Jeff David Drive. TRENDING STORIES: Ndonga was initially accused of a misdemeanor shoplifting charge that amounted to $9, the Citizen reported. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] When police tried to arrest her, Ndonga ended up hitting three officers several times and tried to get out of being handcuffed, according to the Citizen. Those crimes led to three counts of simple battery against an officer and one count of obstruction of an officer, all of which are felonies. DEERPARK, N.Y. Elizabeth Miller had some big news to share with her mom on Sept. 11, 2001. A 6-year-old at the time, she'd lost a tooth at her Catholic school in Port Jervis, about 90 miles north of New York City. She'd also heard that planes had hit the World Trade Center towers. It was only days later that Miller got another piece of news: her father Douglas C. Miller, 34, a firefighter and one of 11 members of Rescue 5 Company on Staten Island sent to the World Trade Center towers, was dead. Miller, now 28, doesnt know much else other than he entered the South Tower and never came out. He left behind his wife, Laurie, Miller, and her two younger sisters. Port Jervis Councilmember Elizabeth Miller with her late father Douglas Miller, a New York City firefighter who died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks after he entered the South Tower. I needed to know everything that I could about why 9/11 happened to put it into the context of my life, she said. Duffel bags and 'Ghostbusters' Miller remembers climbing into the black leather duffle bag their father took to Rescue 5s firehouse, about two hours away from his family. Hed pretend to walk out with her or her sisters still inside. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Then there were the family fire drills: Her father practiced lowering his daughters out of their second-story window or down the staircase. The railing still has rope marks from the practice sessions. They watched "Ghostbusters" squished together on a recliner. Terrorist attacks: Guantanamo trial for 9/11 mastermind in disarray on 22nd anniversary Before joining the FDNY, Miller said, her dad was an electrician and a volunteer firefighter, rising to chief in Millrift, Pennsylvania, where he met his wife. He had been a New York City firefighter for only six years before joining a rescue company, a prestigious role for someone early in their career. It was normal for her father to be gone for days at work. Miller hadnt thought much of the Sept. 11 attacks beyond what she told her mom that day after school. A few days later, Miller remembered eavesdropping when an early morning visitor told her mother that her father couldnt be found. Miller's mother sat her down with her sisters on the chest that contained all of the familys VHS tapes. Their father was in heaven, Millers mother told them. Firefighters work beneath the destroyed mullions, the vertical struts which once faced the soaring outer walls of the World Trade Center towers, in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. Her father's death, she said, really hit in the quiet times, after people left and werent at their door or bringing food. And even though her mother never asked, and even though her grandparents soon moved in, she took on the role of parent to her little sisters. 9/11 didnt take away my childhood, because I still had a childhood, she said. But I think it took some of my innocence and naivete away at a young age. Moving forward with 'bits and pieces' She started therapy in high school, but when she enrolled at Bloomsburg University, in Pennsylvania, she grappled with her fathers death by studying terrorism and the Middle East. She studied Osama bin Ladens radicalization before 9/11. She read his writings. She spoke with Peter Bergen, a CNN reporter who once interviewed bin Laden. She doesnt like to use the word closure, she said, but studying the origins of terrorism helped her cope with her father's death. It helps me move my life forward when I have as many bits and pieces of information as I can get, she said. In 2017, she graduated with dual degrees in history and Arabic, and a minor in Middle East studies. Bergen encouraged her to intern at his left-leaning Washington, D.C., think tank New America, where she focused that summer on international security and terrorism. Elizabeth Miller is seen the 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows memorial service in Port Jervis, N.Y. Millers father Douglas C Miller died on Sept. 11, 2001 at the Twin Towers. He was a fire fighter. She later earned a masters degree in Middle Eastern studies from the City University of New York. In one course on prison literature, she read about Mohamedou Ould Slahi, who was detained without being charged at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp in Cuba for 14 years, where he was tortured by U.S. officials. She felt guilty that her fathers death helped lead to U.S. policies and actions that caused more harm, including torturing men like Slahi and Islamophobia in the country. It just felt like all of the violence that came after 9/11 was in part for 9/11 family members, she said. It just didnt sit right with me. In 2018, she began corresponding with Slahi, years after his release, forming a bond over shared trauma from 9/11. The two still message over WhatsApp, she said. Trips to Guantanamo, seeking justice When she was in graduate school, she worked as a research coordinator at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan. She fact-checked information and wrote labels for exhibits, telling few about her family connection to the site. Sept. 11, 2001: Firefighters, passengers and the many others who died 22 years ago. While there, her mother texted her a photo of a letter from the Department of Defense inviting families to Guantanamo for pretrial hearings. She wanted to understand all sides of the case. In doing so, she learned about 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group founded by grieving families who oppose violence in the pursuit of justice. Miller opposes the death penalty and torture methods and found a community with similar views. The organization worked to bring together people who suffered from the attacks with others who suffered from wars and political conflict, said Terry Anne Greene, 64, a public health specialist in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who joined in 2004. "9/11 didnt take away my childhood, because I still had a childhood, said Port Jervis Councilmember Elizabeth Miller, whose father, Douglas C. Miller, a New York City firefighter, died on Sept. 11, 2001, when she was 6. But I think it took some of my innocence and naivety away at a young age. Greenes older brother, Donald Freeman Greene, an executive vice president for an aeronautics safety company, died aboard United Airlines Flight 93, when passengers took control of the flight from terrorists and crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. He was 52, leaving behind a wife and two children. I dont see any other logical way to proceed in the world, she said. We really cant afford war. Its not always clear all of the ways out of it, but definitely connecting people is what needs to happen. In September 2021, Miller sat in on hearings at Guantanamo for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a lead figure behind the 9/11 attacks. The next year, she became project director for Peaceful Tomorrows. She visited Guantanamo twice more, most recently in March 2022 with the U.S. Defense Department, to see the prosecutions side. She found the prosecution to be flawed: In a letter, the Pentagon wrote to survivors and families of people killed in the attacks, the federal government said a pretrial deal "may never be finalized" with five men, including Mohammed, held at the military prison. Port Jervis, N.Y. Councilmember Elizabeth Miller with her late father, Douglas C. Miller, a New York City firefighter who died during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks after he entered the South Tower. Differing politics, gathering to mourn In 2021, Miller ran for Port Jervis City Council in her hometown of 8,775 people and won. She hoped to give back to the city that helped her family after the attacks took her father. A Democrat, shes now running for mayor. On Monday, she planned to paint an upstairs bedroom in the afternoon. She has sometimes spent 9/11 with her mother doing chores, all the while her phone alerting her with more text messages than she gets on her birthday. They had talked about about going to TJ Maxx. But this year, she started the day by attending a ceremony in the parking lot of Deerpark Town Hall just outside of Port Jervis. The ceremony was in a more conservative, rural slice of New York. A few homes sported flags supporting former President Donald Trump. Near town hall, a telephone pole was marked with a sign: We Will Never Forget. A memorial tree planted to honor victims of Sept. 11, 2001 is seen at the Families for Peaceful Tomorrows memorial service in Port Jervis, NY. We must continue to remember and honor those who lost their lives on that fateful day, Town Supervisor Gary Spears, a Republican, told a few dozen people gathered at the ceremony. It is also up to us to teach these things to the current generation of children who did not experience that day the true spirit of America that showed the world how great we can be when we are united. As a local high school choir sang for the ceremony, Miller stood to the side, wearing a windbreaker, jeans and sneakers with gold stars, near a memorial made with a beam recovered from the wreckage. Next to town hall, elementary school students placed golden ribbons on a cherry tree, planted as the town's memorial for the attacks. One ribbon carried the name of Millers father. Eduardo Cuevas covers health and breaking news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at EMCuevas1@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Her father died in 9/11 attacks. Why she doesnt like the word closure OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KFOR) Oklahoma City police said a woman was shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting off Brookside Drive, near West Wilshire Blvd, Sunday afternoon. Officers said the shooting happened shortly after a man and a woman got into an argument following a custody exchange of the couples children. Police were called to a home off Brookside Drive around 1:20 p.m. Sunday. When police arrived, they said they found a woman with a gunshot wound to the leg. According to officers at the scene, shortly after the couple got into a fight the man drove off with the kids and fired at the home as he was leaving. Thats when the woman was hit. The names of the man and woman have not been released. Officers are still investigating. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A woman sleeping overnight at the beach was killed when a lifeguard tower fell over on top of her, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department. It happened around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at a stretch of beach lined with hotels and resorts, police said in a news release. Virginia Beach is about 105 miles southeast of Richmond. A citizen called about a life guard stand that had fallen onto the victim, Chelsea Moles, police said. Moles was pronounced deceased at the scene. An investigation revealed the 28-year-old was sleeping on top of the stand near 21st Street in the minutes prior to her death. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Another individual tied a hammock to the stand causing the stand to topple over crushing on top of Moles, police said. The identity of the person who witnessed the tower fall was not revealed. Moles death has been ruled an accident, police said. She may have been sleeping at the beach because she does not have a fixed address, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Details of the towers size were not released, but single-person lifeguard stations can weigh 280 pounds and stand about 7 feet tall, eLifeguard.com reports. Flying beach umbrella impales tourist, sending her to Alabama hospital, town reports Tourists are getting trapped on remote Shark Island off NCs Outer Banks, park warns SOS strobe light leads rescuers to divers who vanished in Atlantic off North Carolina Matilde Gonzalez vanished in 2019 and hasnt been seen since, Georgia police say. Four years later, three people have been arrested in connection with her disappearance, and two are charged with malice murder, according to the Cobb County Police Department. Gonzalez was 42 when she was reported missing, according to a Sept. 11 news release from the department. She was a resident of Powder Springs, Georgia, in Cobb County, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System says she was last seen after a physical altercation that occurred in Cobb County on Oct. 11, 2019. She is also known as Matilde Gonzalez Hernandez. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Her disappearance became a cold case without many breakthroughs, until Sept. 8, when investigators say they executed a search warrant on a Powder Springs home belonging to the three suspects. They arrested three people and booked them in Cobb County Jail, according to inmate records. Police said Alejandra Castro, 41, is charged with malice murder, concealing a death and cruelty to children. Samantha Vasquez, 20, who court records show is the womans daughter, is charged with malice murder. Abel Castro, 45, is charged with concealing a death and cruelty to children, the release says. Divorce settlements name Vasquez as one of three children Alejandra Castro shares with an ex-husband. The two Castros are married, court records show. Gonzalez still has not been found, police say, despite the breakthroughs. It is unclear if or how the three people may have known her. The Paulding County Sheriffs Office received the initial report of her disappearance, according to the release. Foul play was suspected from the outset, that ultimately led the case being assigned to the Cobb County Police Cold Case Unit for continued investigation, according to the release. A spokesperson for the Cobb County Police Department told McClatchy News a person can face a cruelty to children charge if a crime occurs in front of a child. No attorney information is listed for any of the three suspects in Cobb County Jail records. 3-year-old vanishes from apartment before being found at bottom of pond, SC cops say Missing teen stabbed to death 40 years ago, Tennessee cops say. He was just identified 21-year-old got on riverboat with friends, then vanished, Tennessee cops say Hiker disappears after taking photo atop Colorado mountain, cops say. Body just found Years after her husband died, a Missouri woman said she bought a lottery ticket with special numbers that honored him. The numbers are all related to him, she told Missouri Lottery officials. Then, during the evening Show Me Cash drawing Aug. 16, the woman matched all five numbers drawn, according to a Sept. 8 news release. This meant she won the jackpot prize worth $199,000. I think Im still in shock, she said while claiming her winnings. It was like a gift from heaven. Her winning ticket was sold at a Kum & Go convenience store in Springfield, officials said. Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website. Lottery ticket didnt fit in birthday card so she kept it for herself and won big Set of lucky numbers lands nurse a big lottery win in Maryland for the second time Lottery player buys her favorite ticket in South Carolina wins life-changing prize [Source] Lunar New Year is now an official public school holiday in New York state. Key details: Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation to make the declaration on Saturday. Hochul said the holiday is not just a day off from school but also an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions. This year, the governor attended Lunar New Year celebrations in Manhattans Chinatown. More from NextShark: Chloe Zhao joins as executive producer on Helen Zia-approved TV project about Vincent Chin Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said the holiday will give New Yorks thousands of Asian students the ability to gather together and celebrate with family and friends without having to sacrifice their education. He also expressed hopes that it will encourage tolerance and acceptance amid hate and violence against Asian communities. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In another statement, Rep. Grace Meng recalled how people laughed when she led the bill to make Lunar New Year a school holiday in New York City when she was in the State Assembly in 2009. Now, she is pushing to turn it into a federal holiday in Congress. There were so many naysayers who told me that it would never happen. Now, look at how far we have come, Meng said. More from NextShark: Andrew Yangs Presidential Campaign Had a Toxic Bro Culture That Drove Women to Therapy, Report Says The big picture: The new public school holiday demonstrates New Yorks commitment to supporting AAPI communities. In May, the state approved a record $30 million fund to provide critical services, including crisis intervention and community-based programs to stop anti-Asian attacks. More from NextShark: 'Extremely absurd': China responds after Biden calls Xi Jinping a dictator Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Washington Man Fatally Stabs 11-Year-Old Brother in Public FILE - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter after announcing his resignation, Aug. 10, 2021, in New York. A commission created by New York's governor and Legislature in 2022 as an independent ethics authority violates the state constitution because it is beyond the governor's control, a state judge said Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, in a ruling in favor of Cuomo, the state's former governor. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A commission created last year to enforce ethics rules for New York state's employees and elected officials violates the state's constitution because it is too independent, a state judge ruled Monday in a decision that could gut the body's power to combat corruption and influence-peddling. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo , who has been fighting an attempt by the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government to force him to forfeit $5 million he got for writing a book about his administrations efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission was formed by the Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul to replace a previous ethics body that had been criticized for not being independent enough. The lawmakers said they wanted to increase public trust in government after Cuomos 2021 resignation in a sexual harassment scandal. The Commission investigates potential ethics and lobbying violations by state officials, employees, lobbyists and their clients. Commission findings involving state lawmakers are referred to the Legislative Ethics Commission for enforcement. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But in his decision, New York Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle said the commission's very independence makes it a problem under the state constitution. Specifically, the judge said enforcement of ethics laws is a power that belongs to the executive branch. The commission makes that impossible, he said, because the governor can't control its members, force them to explain their actions, or remove them for neglecting their duties. Our Constitution, which so carefully allocates power among the three branches, will not permit those powers to be transferred to (an) independent commission amounting to an unsanctioned fourth branch of government, Marcelle wrote. The judge said it would require an amendment to the state constitution to give that sort of power to an independent body. State officials immediately said they were looking at appealing the trial-level judge's decision. Taking office in the midst of scandal and a crisis in State government, Governor Hochul worked with the Legislature to craft a new, truly independent ethics body that could begin to restore New Yorkers faith in their public officials, Hochul spokesman Avi Small said. Todays decision undermines the independent ethics commission created by Governor Hochul and we will work with the Commission to support an appeal. The commission issued a statement saying it would continue to promote compliance with the states ethics and lobbying laws while the case works its way through the courts. Commission officials said they are reviewing all options, including legislation. The Commission intends to move forward, deliberately and with zeal, to fulfill its mission to restore New Yorkers faith in government, even as it pursues relief from todays ruling through the appellate and legislative processes, read the joint statement from commission chair Frederick Davie and executive director Sanford Berland. Cuomo has battled both the commission and its predecessor, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, over his book earnings. State officials have claimed Cuomo hadnt kept a promise not to use any state resources on the book. Cuomo has denied those allegations. Cuomo filed his current lawsuit in April, arguing the commission lacked the constitutional authority to prosecute him. As weve said all along, this was nothing more than an attack by those who abused their government positions unethically and as the judge ruled today unconstitutionally for political purpose," Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in a prepared statement. Cuomo resigned in August 2021 after the attorney general released the results of an investigation that concluded the then-governor had sexually harassed at least 11 women. Cuomo has denied the allegations. "Every time someone charged with upholding the law looks at the facts, we prevail, Azzopardi added. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visits the Onondaga Nation on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the first time a sitting governor has come to the nation's land in a half-century. (Photo/Darren McGee- Office of Governor) Opinion. Leaders of the Onondaga Nation, near Syracuse, New York, were excited about New York Governor Kathy Hochul s visit late last month. It was the first visit to the Onondaga Nation by a governor of the Empire State in more than 50 years. The enthusiasm of tribal leaders stemmed from the fact the governor initiated the visit to their homelands to discuss health care and education. We extend our gratitude in hosting Hochul, an occurrence that marks the first visit by a Governor of New York to our Longhouse in no less than five decades. Anticipating collaboration with both her and State officials, our focus rests on securing the educational and healthcare support that our treaties guarantee for our community members, Onondaga Nation Tadodaho (Chief) Sid Hill, who was joined by representatives from the Council of Chiefs and Clan Mothers, said. Hochul called the visit a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the Onondaga Nation and the State of New York. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This meeting follows the momentous event of returning over 1,000 acres of land to the Onondaga Nation, Hochul said. During our constructive and profound conversations, we delved into the distinct challenges that the Onondaga Nation faces, The meeting marks a significant shift in the relationship between New York tribal leaders and Hochul, who became governor when former Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned on August 23, 2021, over several sexual harassment allegations. Up until her visit to the Onondaga Nation, Hochul has had a horrible record working with New York Tribes. I hope its the beginning of some meaningful dialogue with the governor who has been at odds with a number of tribes here in the state, Lance Gumbs, ambassador for the Shinnecock Indian Nation on Long Island and vice president of the northeast region for the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), said. Perhaps the most significant rift between the New York tribes and the governor came whe, as the clock ticked down on 2022, she vetoed a bill called the Protection of Unmarked Graves Act that would have protected unmarked burials of Native American ancestors from unintentional excavation. The law, which passed the state legislature unanimously in June 2022, would have implemented several measures to protect unmarked graves, including requiring construction be stopped on private property if human remains were encountered; creating a Native American burial-site review committee; and allowing tribes and individuals to seek injunctions against violators. Hochul vetoed the bill because it failed to balance the rights of property owners with the interests of the families of lineal descendants and other groups, she wrote in her veto memo. According to proponents of the bill who negotiated with Hochuls legal counsel daily for roughly a week leading up to her veto, Hochuls staff added an amended clause to the bill that negated its intent. We were working up until the day that she vetoed it, Tela Troge, a member of the Shinnecock Nation and the Shinnecock Graves Protection Warrior Society, told Native News Online in January 2023. We were going through the hypothetical situation: what if the development of either a residential or commercial project unearthed a mass burial site of 250 individuals what would the process be? New York tribes were angered by Hochuls veto. At its first official meeting of 2023, the Seneca Nation Council unanimously approved a resolution condemning New York Governor Kathy Hochuls veto. And then, after five months of continued negotiations between the Assembly, the Senate, and representatives from five tribal nations of New YorkShinnecock Nation, Seneca Nation, Oneida Nation, Unkechaug Nation, and St. Regis Mohawka grave protection new bill was inserted into the state budget. Hochul signed it without objection. For decades, New York tribes have fought the state on a variety of fronts, including cigarette taxes and Indian gaming compacts. Currently, the Seneca Nation is involved in negotiations with the State of New York for a renewal of a state gaming compact. The current 20-year agreement expires this December. So far, the talks have not gone well. Frankly, for New Yorks negotiators to propose such outrageous terms, especially this far into the negotiation process, is absurd and an insult to the Seneca Nation, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong said in a YouTube video posted August 11. At that time, Hochul had recused herself from any involvement in talks between the state and the tribe due to a conflict of interest stemming from her husband being employed as an executive in a gaming company that competes with Seneca Gaming. Since then, Hoculs husband has left his position, and the governor has sent signals she may involve herself in the gaming negotiations with the Seneca Nations gaming agreement. Hochuls visit to the Onondaga is a step forward in the right direction. She needs to continue on this pathway of working to improve relationships with all New York tribes. Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net [Source] Legendary Japanese musician YOSHIKI will be immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. Making history: YOSHIKI, whose full name is Yoshiki Hayashi, will be the first Japanese artist to be acknowledged at the iconic theater during an imprint ceremony on Thursday. The 57-year-old artist described this as Hollywoods rarest honor in a recent X post. Joining the club: Just over 300 people have been immortalized in cement since the TCL Chinese Theatre started holding imprint ceremonies in 1927. Celebrities who have previously been honored include Keanu Reeves, Mariah Carey, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jackie Chan. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More from NextShark: 'Every day feels like a dream': 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' cast say their farewells after final episode Other details: The imprint ceremony, which is open to the public and free to attend, will feature KISS member Gene Simmons and Squid Game actor Lee Byung-hun. YOSHIKI: Under the Sky, a documentary directed by and starring YOSHIKI, will make its Hollywood premiere at the theater after the imprint ceremony. The documentary notably features several artists, including Nicole Scherzinger, The Chainsmokers, St. Vincent, Sarah Brightman, the Scorpions and Lindsey Stirling. About YOSHIKI: The Japanese musician has sold over 30 million albums and singles and is best known as the leader and a co-founder of the rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars. The multitalented composer has also released several solo classical studio albums over the years. More from NextShark: Itzy steps into new summer comeback with Sneakers He has performed at famous venues and festivals, including Madison Square Garden, Coachella and Carnegie Hall. Other accomplishments include composing the first-ever theme song for the Golden Globe Awards, contributing to soundtracks for well-known TV shows and films like Attack on Titan and Saw IV and composing a concerto for former Japanese Emperor Akihito. More from NextShark: Jackson Wang and Milli play Mind Games with live debut of new song in Thailand Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) on Sunday issued a pardon for Scott Smith, a Loudoun County father who was convicted of disorderly conduct following a heated confrontation at a public school board meeting, which he attended as a concerned parent after his daughter was sexually assaulted in the school bathroom. Upon careful deliberation and review of the circumstances of the matter, I have decided it is just and appropriate to grant this absolute pardon that reflects Scott Thomas Smiths factual innocence of disorderly conduct, for which he was convicted on Aug. 17, 2021, the pardon read. Smith was convicted of obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct in June 2021 after police intervened at a heated school board meeting. He had pleaded not guilty. The obstruction of justice conviction was dismissed on appeal, and the disorderly conduct conviction was reportedly set to go to trial later this month. I want to thank Governor Youngkin for his declaration that I am innocent, and for his absolute and unconditional pardon, Smith said in a statement Sunday. While I was extremely confident in my lawyers abilities to defend me in court, I am grateful that the Governor recognizes that our justice system has been both weaponized and politicized to the point where my ability to receive a fair trial was in jeopardy. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The case attracted national attention in the height of the pandemic, as a push for parents rights gained momentum and public school board meetings became a breeding ground for heated controversy. Evolving school policies on gender identity and bathrooms also played a significant role in stirring up consternation among parents. Smith has maintained that he attended the school board meeting with no intention of speaking and did not in fact speak but was confronted by a community member who threatened to spread false and malicious information about Mr. Smiths business with the intent to damage his reputation, the pardon read. The pardon also claimed Smith has been publicly and falsely accused of domestic terrorism and hate crimes for attempting to advocate for his daughter, a victim of violent sexual assault. The student who assaulted Smiths daughter was convicted in 2021. The Loudoun County school board faced significant backlash for its handling of the assault claim, after an email surfaced in 2021 revealing that Superintendent Scott Ziegler was aware of the assault claim a month before he denied having any knowledge of the claim. Youngkin mentioned this Loudoun County case many times as he was campaigning for governor, repeatedly calling for an investigation into the school boards handling of the assault allegations. Loudoun County Commonwealths Attorney Buta Biberaj, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement sent to The Hill that This political stunt by Governor Youngkin is an unprecedented and inappropriate intervention into an active legal case. He chose to interfere in the legal process but not for justice but for political gain. Biberaj added, The justice system does not work when a Governor becomes the judge and jury. Updated at 9:30 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In an interview with CNN published on Sept. 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that cases of corruption in Ukraine don't involve financial or military aid sent by Kyiv's partners. When asked if he thinks he can stop the corruption that persists in Ukraine and put a system in place that will stop further corruption, Zelensky said that the war has created more sensitivity about the fight for justice, as Ukrainians are "currently fighting for these values." He also said that he has "no other way" than to try to make the changes necessary to put an end to corruption. "Here, I don't have alternatives, and I don't want them. We don't want to have any compromises with corrupted people, even thoughts about it," the president told CNN's Fareed Zakaria. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement According to a recent poll published by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, 78% of surveyed Ukrainians believe that the president bears direct responsibility for corruption in the government and regional administrations. Only 18% of respondents disagreed with this statement. In the interview, Zelensky rejected suggestions by some world leaders that Ukraine should compromise with Russia and even give up some of its territories to end the war. He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't seek compromises but aims to continue the war against Ukraine and "divide Europe." According to Ukraine's president, Putin's position is demonstrated by the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin , the founder of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group, who was reportedly killed in a plane crash two months after the group's failed mutiny. Zelensky told CNN that when Putin had realized that a big part of Russian society supported Prigozhin, "he killed him. But before he killed, he gave him promises, the territory of Belarus (to station mercenary troops), new locations, the Africa issues, and businesses, a lot of different things." "When you want to have a compromise or a dialogue with somebody, you cannot do it with a liar," Zelensky explained. Read also: Prigozhins death latest in a series of unsolved murders in Putins Russia. Whats next? The Ukrainian president also spoke about long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, which Kyiv has requested for months. Zelensky said he would continue negotiations with U.S. President Joe Biden on the supply of ATACMS, hoping to reach a favorable decision as early as this fall. "His (Biden's) opinion and support are very important to me. I think he can turn this page of the war. He already did it once with HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems." "It is very important for us not to pause this counteroffensive. That is why I really need them (ATACMS)." Read also: Editorial: Arming Ukraine wont escalate war. Reluctance to do so will Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday his country waited too long to launch its counteroffensive against Russia, indicating that Kyivs Western allies kept it waiting with weapons deliveries. When asked by CNNs Fareed Zakaria how the long-awaited counteroffensive was going, Zelensky said the country remains focused on the end result, which is regaining their territory from Russia. He said that Russia had time to plant mines and dig in its defenses as Kyiv waited for Western weapons. We look, we waited too long. Its true. No, Im thankful to partners, to the United States, EU, other partners, he said. Im thankful very much to President Biden and to Congress, but we have to understand: We waited too long, they put mines. Then when we been ready from the point of view of our partners because the decision to give us, for example, Bradley [Fighting Vehicles] and other kind of weapons, the decision, it doesnt mean the result. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Zelensky noted that Ukraine does not get the weapons promised to it immediately after they are announced by allies. He then reiterated that winning the war is the only way Ukraine can recover its land, saying that a failure would allow Russia to attack other countries. We pay the highest price, its true, and I dont want to repeat this for everybody to know this war, but they can not only know people in the West have to feel it and you can choose. Feel it when your families are under attacks? You really want it? You really want to try it? I will not I cant recommend it. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine last week, and he said the nation was making real progress in its pushback against Russia. Ukrainian forces have taken back more than 50 percent of the territory seized by Russian forces since February of 2022, he said. In the ongoing counteroffensive, progress has accelerated in the past few weeks. Blinken also announced another $1 billion in American aid during his visit. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hopes to persuade his US counterpart, Joe Biden , to approve the decision to supply the Ukrainian army with long-range ATACMS systems in autumn 2023. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with CNN, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "I hope, and I will speak with President Biden. For me is very important his thoughts and his support. I think he can change this page and this war. Once he did it with the HIMARS [multiple rocket launcher ed.]" Details: The Ukrainian president noted that these were not his first talks with Biden on this topic. "We are moving. I hope we will get it [the ATACMS missiles] in autumn. For us, its very important not to do the pause in this counteroffensive. And I need it very much," he added. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Background: The Financial Times recently reported that President Biden is close to making a decision on transferring long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. Kyiv has long been asking the US for ATACMS missiles, allowing Ukraine to strike deeper into the Russian rear. Earlier, the US media learned that a decision on ATACMS missiles for Ukraine may be made shortly, and they may be included in one of the next aid packages. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! TOKYO, Sep 11 ( News On Japan ) - Over the last several years, "Toyoko Kids" have been gathering in greater numbers in the backstreets of Kabukicho, Tokyo's red light district, with the latest alarming trend being to "overdose", or to knock themselves senseless on various drug concoctions. "Toyoko Square", which is located next to the Shinjuku Toho Building, has become a popular gathering place for teenagers known as "Toyoko Kids". The area has witnessed not only a spike in crime, but also life-threatening situations. The kids are taking excessive quantities of over-the-counter drugs. Teenagers lying listlessly in the square. People passing by don't offer help, and there is no sign of concern. They are in a state of collapse due to "overdose", a problem currently prevalent in "Toyoko". Symptoms vary depending on the drug, but it involves risky behavior such as slowing down brain function and losing cognitive activity, which can be life-threatening. The government is urging the use of consultation services through social media and other platforms, noting that there tends to be an increase in unstable children before and after summer vacation. G20 nations to create Working Group on the empowerment of women New Delhi, Mon, 11 Sep 2023 NI Wire G20, under the Indian Presidency, has been inspired by the vision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, of an Amritkaal where Nari Shakti (the power of women) is celebrated in all spheres of the economy and society. Building on this vision, India's G20 Presidency has shifted the focus for the first time from women's development to women-led development. In a historic achievement for gender equality, women empowerment and women-led development, the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration 2023 has incorporated the Chair's Statement which was adopted at the G20 Ministerial Conference for Women Empowerment in Gandhinagar on 2nd - 4th August 2023. The G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration 2023 focuses on Enhancing Economic and Social Empowerment', Bridging the Gender Digital Divide', Driving Gender Inclusive Climate Action' and Securing Women's Food Security, Nutrition and Well-Being'. Most importantly, the Leaders of the G20 agreed to the creation of a Working Group on the empowerment of women to support the G20 Women's Ministerial which will convene its first meeting during the Brazilian G20 Presidency. This commitment by G20 Leaders is truly a reflection of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India's consistent support for gender parity and gender equity which has helped G20 countries reach this milestone. India's collective and unwavering dedication to championing 'Gender Equality and Empowering All Women and Girls' has now secured a firm place within the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration 2023. This would not have been possible without the active involvement and support of G20 leaders, delegates, speakers and representatives from G20 countries and guest countries viz. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, United Kingdom, USA, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Spain, Oman and UAE, through the course of the Indian Presidency, across the W20 engagement group, EMPOWER initiative and Ministerial Conference on Women Empowerment (MCWE). The Ministry of Women & Child Development extends its congratulations to all members of Women 20 and G20 EMPOWER for the successful outcomes under their respective engagements which were duly reflected in their communiques and which in turn, have found place in the 'G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration 2023'. With its focus on women-led development, India's G20 Presidency became a torchbearer for progress for women empowerment worldwide, with six in-person international conferences and 86 virtual international meetings focusing on issues of gender equality. These include G20 EMPOWER and W20 meetings chaired by Dr. Sangita Reddy (Joint Managing Director- Apollo Hospitals Group) and Dr. Sandhya Purecha (Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee) respectively. MWCD expresses appreciation for the efforts of State Governments, Central Ministries, NIFT, Knowledge Partners especially UN Women, FICCI, CII and others who partnered with the Ministry on the theme of Women led Development and in the organization of the various international events and exhibitions. Local artisans, craftspersons, women in unconventional areas and women entrepreneurs who showcased their products, skills and services through exhibitions at in-person international conferences and panel discussions gave much of their valuable time and efforts, for which the Ministry of Women and Child Development expresses sincere appreciation. Under the leadership and desire of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make G20 a People's Presidency, Jan Bhagidari or Citizen's engagement became a hallmark of India's G20 Presidency. MWCD applauds the enthusiastic engagement of over 300,000 citizens, who were engaged through Janbhagidari events ranging from walkathons to flash mobs. The events showcased WomenLed Development and women community leaders, artisans, Self Help Groups, SMEs, corporates, and business entities from various states played an active part to make India's G20 Presidency a truly people's event. Source: PIB NAMI Southwest Iowa will host its fundraising event, the Uncork the Stigma Gala, on Friday, Sept. 15. Dedicated to promoting mental health awareness in our community, the event will take place at the picturesque Bodega Victoriana Winery, 60397 Kidd Road, in Glenwood. The Uncork the Stigma Gala aims to destigmatize mental health issues and raise vital funds to support NAMI Southwest Iowa's mission of providing advocacy, education and support to individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. Through this event, NAMI strives to build a more inclusive and compassionate community that understands the importance of mental wellness. Highlights of the event include: Spoken word performance: Trac Schact will present her captivating and thought-provoking spoken word performance. Charcuterie boards by Grape + Gouda: Guests will savor a delightful assortment of delectable cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fruits and accompaniments, with delicious mini desserts creating a perfect pairing for the evening. Silent auction: The silent auction featuring regional items and experiences. Proceeds will stay in Southwest Iowa, supporting NAMI Southwest Iowa programs. Music and dancing: Throughout the event music will feature a mix of genres to cater to various tastes. After the spoken word artist and silent auction, guests can hit the dance floor and celebrate the night away. Specialty sangria bar: A hosted sangria bar will be available and guests can indulge in a fruity and flavorful sangria throughout the event. Cash bar: Guests may select Bodega Victoriana wine, non-alcoholic beverages, a mocktail and NAMI Southwest Iowas signature cocktail. "We're excited about our inaugural Uncork the Stigma' Gala," Chris Adcock, Development Director of NAMI Southwest Iowa, said in a news release. "Months of planning are about to pay off and we can't wait to see our friends and neighbors there, ready to have a blast and make a difference in our community." The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. and dress is business casual. Tickets are available online at namisouthwestiowa.com. Hello from SOLAS! Welcome to todays edition of cats, cats, kittens! This week, we focus on three felines who are no longer kittens but still young. Kittens are adorable, but not everyone is cut out for their shenanigans and energy. Since a housecat can live up to 20 years or so, a 1-year old cat is still young but no longer a kitten. These three 1-year old beauties are now available for adoption. Meet Gizmo. She is a little tortoiseshell cat with lovely long hair. Shes sporting a lion cut in the photograph because her fur was matted and she had to be groomed. Gizmo is fully grown at 1-year-old but she weighs only 6 pounds. She is a petite kitty who loves kids and gets along well with other cats and dogs! She loves being brushed and will hug anyone who holds her. The lucky person who adopts Gizmo will have an adoring and beautiful fur-ever friend. Tara is Gizmos sister. She looks like she could be a part Nebelung or Russian Blue, with plush gray fur that is delightfully silky and long. Tara is a real cuddle bug who loves being with people. Shes good with kids, cats and dogs, too. Tara weighs about 8 pounds, so shes slightly larger than her sister but shes just as beautiful and friendly. Tara is silky and sociable. Finally, theres Uma. She is a dainty tabby cat who wants nothing more than to sit on your lap or cuddle in bed where she will not move all night long. Uma gets along well with her sisters, Gizmo and Tara, but will not tolerate other cats. If she is not adopted with a sister, Uma needs to be the only cat in the house. Uma loves to linger in bed. All three of these young beauties were abandoned in an apartment. Their humans moved out and just left them behind. In spite of how they were treated, they are exceptionally loving. All SOLAS pets are fully vetted, vaccinated, microchipped and spayed/neutered. You can contact SOLAS about adopting or donating at info@solaspetadoption.org or call 402-577-0213. Donations to SOLAS can be made through our Amazon wish list at tinyurl.com/solaslist, via PayPal at paypal.me/solaspetadoption or via Chewy at tinyurl.com/solaslistchewy. The Nebraska Broadband Office is moving to the next phase of efforts to ensure access to reliable broadband for all Nebraskans. As part of this effort, there will be ongoing public engagements across the state, including a series of nine public meetings and an open comment period from Monday Following the unprecedented earthquake that shook Morocco last Friday Sept.8, the Kingdoms authorities, under the directives of King Mohammed VI, adopted an efficient approach and exemplary coordination in responding to the disaster and to the relief offers proposed b scores of sisterly and friendly countries Actually, as the extent of the damage caused by the tremor was unveiled, several brotherly and friendly countries expressed their solidarity and pooled their resources to support the Kingdom in these times of tragedy, extending a helping hand with the motto: solidarity and humanity. During a working session held on Saturday, September 9, to assess the situation King Mohammed VI voiced the sincere thanks of the kingdom of Morocco to all brotherly and friendly countries that expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people on this situation, and many of which expressed their readiness to provide aid in these special circumstances. In these moments of deep distress, where nature has demonstrated its devastating force, Morocco wasted no time in responding to the tragedy, implementing a strategy in line with international standards to manage this unprecedented crisis. The crucial initial steps were rapidly put in place, enabling effective coordination among the various stakeholders on the ground. Responding promptly to these critical moments, Moroccan authorities initiated a series of measures calibrated according to the ongoing situation and specific needs on the ground to ensure controlled crisis management. This proactive strategy led to a responsive and efficient response, emphasizing rigorous organization and harmonious coordination of relief efforts. In the face of the unique geographical challenges posed by the disaster-stricken area, Moroccan authorities first carried out preliminary road clearance operations to ensure the successful delivery of aid. The key objective was to ensure that any international assistance that would come into play would be well-organized and articulated to prevent confusion. The best assistance is certainly not massive but rather useful, effective, and well-coordinated. In this context, Morocco integrated offers of assistance from Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. This assistance was exclusively focused on search and rescue operations for victims through specialized and autonomous teams. These units, dispatched as reinforcements, closely cooperate with local teams, pooling their efforts to address any specific needs. The Interior Ministry said in a statement released Sunday that Morocco is responding to relief offers made by friendly countries, based on field needs that were identified after careful assessment abiding by international standards. Given that any lack or poor coordination can backfire in such critical circumstances, the ministry explained that search and rescue teams from Spain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the UK were invited to help with relief efforts. The foreign groups arrived at the scene Sunday and started their deployment in coordination with Moroccan counterparts. As the intervention operations progress, the assessment of possible needs may evolve into other phases that could involve seeking support for specific requirements. The global outpouring of solidarity towards Morocco is a token of the respect and consideration the Kingdom enjoys on the international stage, largely due to the humanitarian and solidarity principles advocated by King Mohammed VI. In this moment of deep sorrow, the world stands alongside the Kingdom, once again proving that fraternity and humanity prevail in times of crisis. According to the latest updates, the massive quake claimed 2,497 lives, in addition to 2,476 injured. More than 560 members of a rebel group linked to the Islamic State (IS) have been killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since December 2021 in operations conducted by Ugandas military, Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni has said, as local authorities in DRC have reported scores of dead and injured following an attack on a village in a border region adjacent to Uganda. The IS-affiliated rebel group known as the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is based in the jungles of the DRC, has been launching attacks in both DRC and Uganda. With the permission of the DRC government, Ugandas military has carried out operations against the ADF to destroy their camps and capture or eliminate their fighters. Since the start of the Operation Shuja, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces, or UPDF, has successfully killed 567 ADF fighters, captured 50 more and seized lots of lethal equipment, President Museveni said recently. The Ugandan leader also stressed that the ADF is in a desperate situation, and their only option now is to surrender. Although ADF is primarily active in eastern DRC, the IS-linked armed group has also been responsible for several devastating attacks in neighboring Uganda, including suicide bombings outside a major police station and near the parliament building in 2021 and a school massacre in June of this year, killing dozens of people. Musevenis statement comes as a village in the DRCs Ituri province was attacked by armed men on Thursday (7 September) killing at least 18 people and injuring 12. The DRCs easternmost province is plagued by a myriad of armed groups and violence that has forced millions of people to flee their homes. Africas continuing poor investments in agricultural production, including use of modern technology, are hurting the continents ambitions to feed itself, combined with a rising population that does held the situation, African top brains in food security recently gathering in Dar es Salaam were told. Leaders and experts attending the Africa Green Revolution Forum in Tanzanias commercial capital have been told that the low-level investment in agriculture is fueling continual food shortage in Africa, in what could indicate that lack of political will, rather than weather patterns or conflicts are directly at fault. The Forum is the premier platform for advancing the agriculture and food systems agenda on the continent. The participants, including Tanzanias President Samia Suluhu, Senegals President Macky Sall and Kenyas President William Ruto, have been consistent in calling for huge investments in agriculture to ward off food insecurity caused by the prolonged droughts. This comes after a recent food market report attributed the rising food insecurity in the East African region to a combination of factors, including erratic food supply in the region, high prices due to shortfalls, high demand in importing countries and poor policies. The East African Cross-Border Trade Bulletin, released July 2023, by The Market Analysis Sub-group of the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group, says the 2022 drought raised prices of grains as demand reduced supply. According to the report, for example, the share of maize in East Africas cross-border trade declined from 48% to 31% between Q1 and Q2 of 2023 as supplies tightened amid below-average production. It also notes that wars and violence in Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia have added to the hunger problem. This is unprecedented. It has never been recorded that so many countries in Africa are experiencing hunger, Mahboub Maalim, a special advisor from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, said. A recent study has called on East African countries to show more cooperation in addressing food security challenges that could likely get worse if unforeseen external crises continue to pop up and disrupt supply chains across the world. An updated count of the casualties of the earthquake that shook some central Moroccan provinces and prefectures on September 8 has put the number of dead at 2,681 and the number of injured at 2,501 up to 07.00 p.m. this Monday, the Ministry of the Interior said in a statement. By province, the tremor resulted in 1,604 fatalities in Al Haouz, 976 in Taroudant, and one death in Essaouira, according to the ministry. Among the deceased, 2,854 have been buried. The tremor killed 1,604 people in the province of Al Haouz; 976 in the province of Taroudant, and one in Essaouira, the ministry said, adding that 2,854 of the deaceased had been buried. No new deaths have been reported in the provinces and prefectures of Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Agadir Ida Outanane, Casablanca, Youssoufia and Tinghir, the statement said. Public authorities are continuing their efforts to rescue, evacuate and help the injured, and are mobilizing all necessary resources to respond to the repercussions of this painful tragedy. Several Arab, African, and world leaders have sent to King Mohammed VI messages of condolences and solidarity following the deadly earthquake that hit the Kingdom on Friday, killing over 2,680 people and injuring over 2,500, according to latest updated death toll. In a message addressed to the Monarch, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia expressed his deep condolences and sincere feelings of compassion, praying to the Almighty to surround the quake victims with His Holy mercy and to grant patience to their loved ones, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Echoing his father, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman offered condolences and voiced sympathy with the bereaved families and solidarity with the Moroccan King, people, and government. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said his country stands with the Moroccan people in this difficult time, praying the Almighty to preserve Morocco from any misfortune. King Abdellah II of Jordan voiced his countrys support for Morocco following the devastating earthquake. He extended, on his behalf and on that of the Jordanian people and government his sincere condolences to King Mohammed VI for the loss of lives in the Fridays quake, the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir. Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, extended his sincere condolences to the Moroccan Monarch and people, imploring the Almighty to preserve the Kingdom and its people from all misfortune. King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also sent the Moroccan Sovereign a message of condolences, expressing sympathy with the families of the quakes victims, saying Bahrain stands with the brotherly Moroccan people during these difficult times. Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq also offered his condolences, imploring God to surround the victims with His Holy Mercy and to grant patience to their loved ones. For his part, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his sincere condolences to King Mohammed VI and to the Moroccan people, voicing his countrys solidarity with the Kingdom which is observing three-days of national mourning. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed sympathy with Morocco and said he was ready to provide any form of assistance to deal with the repercussions of the devastating earthquake. Mauritanian President Mohamed Cheikh El Ghazouani also expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco, King, government and people. Senegals President Macky Sall also voiced deep grief and solidarity with Morocco, wishing a quick recovery for the injured. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to King Mohammed, saying In the face of this adversity, Nigeria will continue to stand in solidarity with Morocco as they recover, rebuild and come out stronger than ever from this unfortunate event. For his part, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered his condolences to the Moroccan Sovereign, and voiced his countrys solidarity with the Moroccan people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sympathy of the Israeli government and people with Morocco at this painful time, and his deep condolences to the families of the victims, affirming that his country stands with Moroccan friends at this difficult time. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said he was profoundly saddened to learn of the earthquake that hit Morocco today (Friday) which claimed many lives. The UN Chief also expressed solidarity with the Moroccan King, government, and people at this difficult time, noting that the United Nations stands ready to support relief efforts. Pope Francis expressed on Sunday his profound solidarity with Moroccos King and people following the 7-magnitude earthquake and offered prayers and solidarity for the victims of Moroccos deadliest earthquake in more than six decades. I pray for the injured, for those who have lost their lives, so many of them, and for their relatives, he said, speaking to crowds in St Peters Square after delivering his Angelus message. He also thanked rescue workers for their efforts to help the victims of the quake, adding We stand with the people of Morocco. The AU Chairman and President of the Comoros, Azali Assoumani, voiced his solidarity with the Kingdom and offered his heartfelt condolences following the violent earthquake that rocked the country. Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed great sorrow and condolences to the people of Morocco following this earthquake with tragic consequences. The secretary-general of the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hissein Brahim Taha, prayed for mercy on the victims and a speedy recovery for the injured. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the quake as heartbreaking, adding: We stand ready to support the immediate health needs, a sentiment echoed by UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said the response to the devastating quake could take years, while UNESCO, the UN heritage organization, said it would help Morocco draw up an inventory of damage to national heritage sites and a repair strategy. In a joint statement issued Sunday on the sidelines of G20 Summit held in India, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Chair of the African Union, President of France, WB Chief Ajay Banga, IMF Managing Director Ms. Kristalina Georgieva and Head of EC Ms. Ursula von der Leyen have expressed full solidarity with Moroccan King and people following the deadly quake. They said we offer our condolences to the families of the victims and express our willingness to support Morocco in the best possible way. We have been and continue to be committed partners of Morocco, supporting the authorities as they have built an inclusive and resilient economy with strong institutions, said the signatories of the joint statement. With all our international partners, we stand by Morocco to provide all the necessary support for any urgent short term financial needs and for the reconstruction efforts, added the statement. A 47-year-old Omaha doctor has been identified as the bicyclist who died Sunday after being struck by a motor vehicle just north of Valley. Dr. Matthew Latacha was pronounced dead at the scene near 252nd Street and Rainwood Road, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. Investigators determined that Latacha and the motor vehicle were both southbound on 252nd Street. The vehicle struck the bicycle from behind and then entered the west ditch. Deputies and members of the Valley Fire Department attempted life-saving measures on the cyclist. The crash remains under investigation. Latacha was an cardiologist and electrophysiologist with Methodist Physicians Clinic and has been part of the Methodist Health System medical staff since 2009. Methodist officials said in a statement that members of the health system are "deeply saddened" by Latacha's tragic death, describing him as a talented and compassionate physician. He held multiple leadership roles and championed many new procedures for the health system. "He was well respected, admired and loved by patients, colleagues and staff," Methodist officials said in their statement. "We know that he has touched the lives of literally thousands of patients through his clinical and surgical practices. Our prayers go out to his wife, Kim, and their children." World-Herald reporter Julie Anderson contributed to this report. Photo: @aplusk/Instagram Earlier this year, Danny Masterson was found guilty of drugging and raping two women in 2003. Multiple other women have made similar, credible accusations against the former That 70s Show star. When these women came forward in 2017, Mastersons allies at the Church of Scientology allegedly made their lives hell, stalking them, harassing them online, and in one case, poisoning their dogs. Mastersons victims therefore found some catharsis last week when a judge sentenced the convicted rapist to 30 years in prison. After two decades of impunity, the serial sex criminal would not only face consequences but exceptionally tough ones. Before Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down her sentence, she had received letters making the case for leniency from several of Mastersons celebrity friends, including his former castmates Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. When these letters became public last Friday, many of Kunis and Kutchers former fans grew apoplectic. In my view, there are sound reasons for the widespread outrage at Kunis and Kutcher, but also, a misguided one. In both their pleas for leniency, and a subsequent pseudo-apology for causing pain to Mastersons victims, Kunis and Kutcher pointedly decline to affirm their friends culpability in sexual violence. Rather, in places, they seem to tacitly vouch for his innocence. Kunis wrote that Masterson demonstrates grace and empathy in every situation, while Kutcher asserts that the convicted rapist always treated people with decency, equality, and generosity. Of course, it cannot possibly be true that a man who drugs and rapes women demonstrates grace in every situation, nor that he always treats people with decency. In their apology video, meanwhile, Kunis and Kutcher legalistically avoided affirming Mastersons guilt. The couple said that they did not mean to question the legitimacy of the judicial system or the validity of the jurys ruling, but avoided saying that they do not question the truth of the victims allegations. This refusal to endorse the veracity of the proven allegations against Masterson was surely intentional. Kunis and Kutcher have been working with their friends legal team, which intends to appeal his conviction. Thus, one could reasonably interpret Kutcher and Kunis as implying that someone like their friend could not have done what his victims have alleged. This is an ignorant and offensive sentiment. An adult in 2023 should understand that rapists do not betray their capacity for sexual violence in every interaction or relationship. It is entirely possible for a man to be both a good friend and a vicious sexual predator. Securing a conviction in a rape case is not easy. If a jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that your friend was guilty of sexual violence, then you should give that more weight than, say, his advocacy for 9/11 first responders when assessing his culpability. And if you think of yourself as advocate for victims of sexual violence as Kutcher and Kunis both do then you should affirm the veracity of proven rape charges when publicly commenting on a high-profile case. So there were plenty of sound reasons for outrage at Kutcher and Kunis. But I think there was also an unsound one. Although some social-media users objected to the specific content of Kutchers and Kuniss leniency letters, others took exception to the very act of opposing harsh sentencing for a convicted rapist. And yet there is no inherent contradiction between concern for the victims of sexual violence and opposition to exceptionally long prison sentences for rapists. Today, the United States incarcerates a much higher percentage of its residents than any of its European peers. Americas exceptionally high homicide rate explains part of this discrepancy. The rest is largely attributable to our nations draconian sentencing practices. According to an analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice, between 1980 and 2000 the average imposed sentence for homicide in the U.S. was more than twice as long as in the Netherlands or Sweden. The average imposed sentence for rape was five times longer in the U.S. than it was in either of those European countries. Graphic: Council on Criminal Justice When one looks at actual time served, rather than initial sentence length, these disparities narrow a bit but still persist. It is possible for a person to simultaneously believe that rape is a heinous and underprosecuted crime and that America should not impose much longer prison sentences on violent offenders than social-democratic nations do. To reject the latter view is to support the United States having an exceptionally large prison population, as more than half of 1,047,000 people in American state prisons were convicted of violent offenses. Incarcerating a criminal can serve three purposes: to deter others from committing similar offenses, to incapacitate a lawbreaker who is liable to reoffend until they are rehabilitated, and to enact retribution on behalf of those harmed by the lawbreaker. In my view, this third purpose is illegitimate. I believe that there is an ethical imperative to minimize unnecessary suffering. Imposing the suffering of imprisonment on offenders is justifiable to the extent that it reduces the sum total of human pain by discouraging others from committing harmful acts or preventing an unrehabilitated convict from reoffending. But long sentences are neither necessary for nor particularly effective at deterrence. The criminological literature indicates that increasing sentence length does not reduce crime. What matters for deterrence is the certainty of apprehension, not the severity of punishment. This makes intuitive sense. Before an individual commits a crime, they are liable to consider their likelihood of escaping all consequences. It is not unusual for a burglar to look around for witnesses or nearby police before proceeding with a break-in. By contrast, it would be unusual for such a person to Google their states criminal statutes to see whether their prospective course of action is punishable by ten years or 20 and then reason, Well, since it will only cost me a decade of my life instead of two, Im going to go ahead with this. Therefore, if we are concerned with deterring rape, our focus should be on increasing the certainty of apprehension by ending the outrageous epidemic of untested rape kits, investing more resources into the investigation of sexual violence, and increasing support for victims so as to enable everyone who wishes to come forward to do so. The other legitimate function of a long prison sentence is incapacitation. Even if keeping rapists in prison for exceptionally lengthy periods does not deter others from committing similar offenses, it does render the incarcerated individuals incapable of menacing the public for a long period of time. Yet a large body of research indicates that the vast majority of offenders age out of crime. Arrest rates for homicide and drug offenses peak at 19, while those for forcible rape peak at 18. Judging by arrest records, the typical criminal career ends after five to ten years. Once a persons prefrontal cortex fully develops, they accrue more familial responsibilities, and/or they shed their youthful energy, they tend to start abiding by the law. Long sentences are neither necessary nor sufficient for rehabilitating offenders. Sweden has some of the most lenient sentencing practices in the world. As of 2000, the average person convicted of homicide in Sweden served a little more than four years in prison, while the average person convicted of rape served a single year. And yet Sweden has a much lower recidivism rate than the United States. Only about 34 percent of those released from a Swedish prison reoffend within two years of reentry; in the United States, nearly half of freed convicts reoffend within that time frame. This likely reflects the grotesque nature of incarceration in the U.S. American prisons are routinely overheated and infested by vermin. The food is often unhealthy and insufficient and sometimes dangerous. Most critically, the institutions routinely fail to protect their occupants from assault, rape, and murder. Each year, as many as 80,000 U.S. inmates are raped. Meanwhile, many prisons offer no education programs for the incarcerated, despite their demonstrable efficacy in reducing recidivism. Denied resources for self-improvement and subjected to the constant threat of bodily harm, many incarcerated people grow less capable of productively contributing to society as a result of their imprisonment. For these reasons, it is entirely possible to make Americans safer from the threat of sexual violence and bring U.S. sentencing practices into line with European norms. If we investigated rape more aggressively, we would deter more offenders. And if we improved conditions in U.S. prisons, we would rehabilitate them more effectively over shorter time frames. Many believe that the measure of our societys concern for victims of sexual violence is the severity of their victimizers punishment. But if we do not want America to imprison an exceptionally high share of its population, then we need to reject this sentiment and find other ways to demonstrate our collective investment in the welfare of survivors. I do not think that it was inherently wrong for Kunis and Kutcher to encourage a judge to put Masterson in prison for less than 30 years. It is reasonable to oppose such lengthy prison sentences on principle; Anders Brevik, who murdered 77 people, most of them children, was sentenced to only 21 years imprisonment, as Norway has decided that this should be the maximum sentence for any crime. Further, defendants are entitled to make an appeal for leniency. And if you are friends with a defendant and believe that they are capable of rehabilitation within a short time frame, it is legitimate for you to share that view with a judge. The specific way that Kunis and Kutcher went about that task warranted criticism. But the act of writing a leniency letter does not. So long as we equate opposition to long prison sentences with indifference to the suffering of victims, we will live in an exceptionally incarcerated nation. With suicide being one of the leading causes of death for teens, Apostle Carolyn Morton will host a Opelika event to spread awareness during National Suicide Prevention Month. The Samford Community Outreach Group will host the Firearms and Suicide Prevention event at Christian Care Ministries on Sept. 23. There will be free food, music and a peace march and rally from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This stuff is serious. We know gun violence is the number one (thing) taking our children every day. The next thing is suicide, youth suicide, said Morton, the CEO of Samford Community Outreach Group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists suicide in the top three leading causes of death among adolescents ages 15 to 19, behind accidents or unintentional injuries and homicides. Morton said as an activist the topic of suicide is one of the things that has been placed on her heart. Shes had family members affected by suicide and knows several in the community who have been affected as well. While suicide is a subject many people dont talk about, Morton said its something that needs to be discussed so people can recognize the signs and know how to help. At the Sept. 23 event, Morton said they will be discussing suicide prevention and remembering those whove lost their lives. The event will also have a moment to remember community members whove been affected by gun violence, including Mortons father. Morton said its important to discuss gun violence as well because suicides accounted for more than half of U.S. gun deaths in 2021, according to Pew Research Center. A study from Prevent Firearm Suicide said firearms are used in half of all suicide deaths. When you see your youth or teens or young adults, once they start withdrawing, thats one of the symptoms, Morton said. Take the time out to listen to them. Tell your loved ones you love them and you care for them. If you need to talk, make the time. Be available. Morton said other signs include not eating, not wanting to be around others, self-harm, mood swings and behavior problems. She said kids who are bullied often have thoughts of suicide. She encourages parents to make an appointment with a counselor or doctor if they notice these signs. She asks parents to speak love to their children and let them know they arent alone. Morton said her goal is to help save the lives of the youth in the community. Because Mortons father, Otis Gray Sr., was born in September, shes also using this event as a time to honor and remember him. Tray was shot and killed at the age of 36 in 1980. Morton was 15 at the time. Morton remembers being with her mother when she got the phone call. She said her mother dropped the phone, screaming. Mortons father was at a grocery store in Opelika that he was doing work for, and he went inside to collect his check. We were told when we got over there my dad had picked out a few items and he put it on the counter, Morton said. So there was some other people behind him, and the man told him you see other folks behind you. You holding up the line. Her father stood his ground and told the man behind the counter that he just wanted to make a purchase and collect his check. Morton said the man cursed at her father and told him to leave, but her father didnt move. According to the newspaper, the man had his gun and said he reached out and shot my dad in the head, Morton said. This tragedy is what led Morton to become an activist with a desire to speak out against gun violence and other issues in the community. After her father died, Morton wanted to start something that would honor her father and remember his mark on history. It wasnt until 2015 that she organized the first community stop the violence event in her fathers honor. J. August Richards and his partner Josh Gbor invited their friends and family to celebrate August's 50th birthday and then had a surprise wedding at the party. They met two years ago and got engaged in February 2023. Josh and his twin brother Jason are in a band and they also have a fashion line. Richards is best known for his roles on Angel, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Conviction, and Unzipped.WE GOT MARRIED, Y'ALL!!! For my 50th birthday, I wanted to celebrate the places that historically make me who I am: Africa, the Caribbean, Panama, and the United States. The theme was carnival as if all those places had a single, epic event. We played Reggeaton, Afrobeats, and Gogo. We served shrimp 'n grits, oxtails, and vegan jambalaya. In the middle of the party, we announced that we were getting married and surprised our guests with a wedding. It was the most magical night of our lives...On the exact same night in Nigeria, 67 people were arrested for attending what police say was a gay wedding . It was a reminder that some of the places that made us who we are, don't always celebrate ALL that we are... Therefore we want to dedicate our ceremony to the people of the African Diaspora and all around the world living in countries where it is illegal or unsafe to be LGBTQ... While I am grateful to be living in a country where I am able to publicly and legally marry my soulmate, we still have so much work to do to ensure the rights and safety of the entire community and our allies. We are grateful to the activists who came before us and praying for the safe release of the 67 human beings arrested in Nigeria. We thank you deeply for the love and well wishes...* note: according to CNN, 200 people were arrested at the Nigerian wedding but ~only 67 of them are being prosecuted Of course the question ONTD has: who was at the wedding? Non-Buffyverse celebrities who attended the wedding:Don Cheadle, Dayna Lynne North, Colman Domingo, James Lesure, Sarah Wayne Callies, Henry Simmons, Cornelius Smith Jr., and Austin WintoryWho from the Buffyverse was at the wedding?Alyson Hannigan, Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, and Joss WhedonWhedon's presence was especially surprising because back in 2021, J. August Richards publicly supported Charisma Carpenter after she came forward with allegations about Joss's behavior towards her on Angel (she had already spoken publicly about the situation before, but her 2021 statement got a lot more publicity because it was made in support of Ray Fisher's allegations against Whedon).Other Buffyverse responses (in case you need a refresher on who supported Charisma and who stayed silent)Buffy alumni who posted public support but whose tweets are no longer available:Marti Noxon (it looks like she deleted her Twitter account):I would like to validate what the women of Buffy are saying and support them in telling their story. They deserve to be heard. I understand where @AllCharisma, Amber, Michelle and all the women who have spoken out are coming from.David Boreanaz (his tweets are now protected and I don't follow him):I am here for you to listen and support you. Proud of your strength.Jose Molina (Firefly):"Casually cruel" is a perfect way of describing Joss. He thought being mean was funny. Making female writers cry during a notes session was especially hysterical. He actually liked to boast about the time he made one writer cry twice in one meeting. 2023 Safety+ Symposium Emphasizes Education The Sept. 17-20 safety event has scheduled more than 50 workshops across four days. The 2023 Safety+ Symposium, slated for Sept. 17 to Sept. 20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla., is set to host an array of educational workshops for its attendees. With more than 50 workshops on the docket, participants across various industries can tap into tailored professional education that should enhance their workplace safety knowledge: On Sept. 17, the symposium will kick off with eight specialized workshops. Topics will include Confined Space, LOTO, DiSC Leadership Training, and Industrial Hygiene, among the workshops that day. The momentum continues on Sept. 18, showcasing workshops such as Recordkeeping Roulette, Are Contractors the Weakest Link? Worksite Analysis, and Exploring New Territory: Subtle Barriers to Near-Miss Reporting as part of a larger line-up of 14 sessions. Sept. 19 broadens the horizon with offerings including Beyond the Buzzword, Dog Bite Prevention Bulli Ray, Document! Document! Document! and Using Safe + Sound Campaign to Supercharge Worker Engagement, among many others in the days roster of 29 workshops. Concluding on Sept. 20, attendees can engage with sessions like Artificial Intelligence in Anti-Collision and Pedestrian Safety, Delivering Powerful Safety Feedback, Operational Readiness, and Safety & Trust: Whats the Secret Sauce? among the final days 13 workshops. A key education note for attendees: Safety+ participants can earn CEUs from recognized boards, including the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management, and the International Board for Certification of Safety Managers. VPPPAs 2023 Safety Plus Symposium Is Coming to Orlando This Month The organizations annual event takes place from Sept. 17-20. Safety professionals from every industry are gearing up for the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants Association (VPPPA)s annual Safety+ Symposium. Slated for Sept. 17-20, 2023, the event will be hosted at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida. And it promises to deliver a wide range of fun and informative events for companies of every size. For over three decades, the VPPPA Safety+ Symposium has carved out a distinct space in the realm of occupational safety and health. The symposium is recognized for being the only national educational event specifically tailored to help voluntary protection programs (VPP) worksites build a greater focus on achieving and maintaining safety and health excellence. Attendees can look forward to more than 50 educational workshops as well as roundtable discussions and other opportunities to learn valuable insights from safety professionals, industry leaders and federal agencies alike. Safety+ Symposium guests will also gain a better understanding of the regulatory trends that might affect their business now and in the future. The event offers more than just educational opportunities, however. It also brings together safety professionals across multiple sectors through interactive workshops and evening receptions. The symposium has long emphasized the role of networking and fostering collaborative relationships. So the VPPPAs 2023 Safety+ Symposium is designed with peer-to-peer networking in mind. Formed in 1985, the VPPPAs mission is to help worksites achieve continuous improvement toward their occupational safety and health goals, according to the organizations website. The VPPPA currently extends to more than 2,200 member sites. Tyndale Company Partners with Arc Flash Survivor to Enhance Worker Safety Master Electrician Jason Brozen is the companys new lead corporate safety and technical trainer. Master Electrician Jason Brozenwho suffered a severe arc flash injury 14 years into his careerhas joined Tyndale Company, a Pipersville, Pennsylvania-based supplier of arc-rated and flame-resistant clothing. Brozens injury resulted from working energized without the proper PPE while installing a breaker at a hotel. The incident left Brozen with severe burn injuries, costing him months of therapy and time off from work as well as an estimated $1.2 million. Now hes taking on a new role as lead corporate safety and technical trainer at Tyndale to prevent similar accidents. We are thrilled to have Jason onboard and excited about the life-saving impact we can make together, Tyndales Vice President of Technical and Corporate Strategy Scott Margolin said in a statement. Jasons expert technical knowledge and powerful experience as a burn survivor lend him a unique ability to reach the workers we protect. Brozen echoed this sentiment, explaining how Tyndales mission aligned with his own. In his role, Brozen will focus on NFPA 70E and NFPA 70B electrical safety training, with a particular emphasis on the role of PPE. Together, he and the company have the opportunity to save a lot of lives, Brozen said in a statement. Tyndale reportedly provides PPE to more than 400,000 workers across the United States and has expanded into Canada. The U.S. shale patch is looking to do more with less as it seeks capital and operational efficiency to prove to shareholders that it has turned the page from growth at all costs to measured growth accompanied by higher returns to investors. The oil and gas firms operating from the Permian to Marcellus shale plays are drilling increasingly deeper lateral wells as drilling rigs are fewer, but wells are longer. The total number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose by 1 last week, according to data from Baker Hughes published on Friday. The total rig count rebounded to 632. But so far this year, Baker Hughes has estimated a loss of 147 active drilling rigs. Last week's count was 443 fewer rigs than the rig count at the beginning of 2019 prior to the pandemic. The number of oil rigs rose by 1 to 513, down by 108 so far in 2023. The number of gas rigs fell by 1 to 113, a loss of 43 active gas rigs from the start of the year. Miscellaneous rigs rose by 1. Despite the loss of active drilling rigs, shale firms are producing more oil and gas and have even exceeded some skeptical projections from earlier this year. Efficiency in operations and capital expenditure is now king in the shale patch, and companies are trying to prove this by having longer wells drilled. The records in longer well drilling are being set by gas producers more than their primarily oil-focused peers. Natural gas producer Range Resources, for example, said on its Q2 earnings call in July that it continued to improve efficiencies and set new program records during the second quarter. The average drilled lateral length during the second quarter was around 12,400 feet, or a 5% increase compared to the average last year, CEO Dennis Degner said. Related: Rig Count Sees Small Gain As WTI Holds At $87 "As part of Q2, the team also added four wells with lateral length exceeding 20,600 feet. These represent the longest laterals drilled in the program's history with the longest misery just under 22,000 feet," Degner told analysts on the call. Efficiencies led to an average daily lateral footage drilled exceeding 4,700 feet per day in Q2, representing a 42% jump from last year's average. "This was driven by rig equipment changes that could benefit future development programs," Degner said. Commenting on the increasingly longer wells, the executive told The Wall Street Journal, "There is still some additional length to reach." The laterals of the horizontal wells in the U.S. have jumped in the decade since 2010, when the shale industry was in its infancy. In the Permian, for example, the average well horizontal length more than doubled in 12 yearsit increased to more than 10,000 feet in the first nine months of 2022, compared with less than 4,000 feet in 2010, the EIA said last year, commenting on record new well productivity in the most prolific U.S. shale basin. Aiming to reward shareholders, U.S. oil and gas firms spent more of their revenues on dividends and share buybacks than on exploration and production in new wells in 2022 for the first time ever, a study by E&Y showed last month. With fewer rigs, the shale patchespecially gas producers in Pennsylvaniaare looking to drill the longest laterals to boost growth without too much new drilling. It looks like they have been successful so farthe U.S. oil and gas firms are set to deliver stronger-than-anticipated production gains this year. ADVERTISEMENT Large companies, including Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, and Pioneer Natural Resources, reported record Q2 production in the Permian or raised full-year 2023 guidance, or both. Yet, the longest lateral is not the answer to sustained production growth for U.S. shale in the medium to long te r m. At some point, the longer wells will not lead to better productivity and financial gains, analysts warn. "We have probably reached the maximum we can do on a per-well basis," Alexandre Ramos-Peon, head of shale research at Rystad Energy, told The Journal. "Then it's just a matter of being a volume game or waiting for the next technology breakthrough." By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Pakistani border guards and Afghan Taliban fighters exchanged fire on September 6, the latest flare-up along the disputed border. Both sides accused each other of starting the firefight. In response, Islamabad has closed a key crossing, leaving hundreds of trucks and thousands of people on both sides of the border stranded. On the same day as the border clashes erupted, the Pakistani military said four soldiers had been killed in clashes with militants in the northwestern Chitral district, which borders eastern Afghanistan. The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) extremist group, which is believed to be based in Afghanistan, said in a September 6 statement that a large number of its fighters had entered Chitral. In response, Islamabad called on the Afghan Taliban to rein in the TTP, which has close organizational and ideological ties with the Afghan militant group. Why It's Important: The border clashes have highlighted the deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, longtime allies that have fallen out over the Afghan militant groups alleged support to the TTP. The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 has bolstered the TTP, which has intensified its attacks against Pakistani security forces. Peace talks held last year between Pakistan and the TTP, which were mediated by the Afghan Taliban, failed to end the violence. The location of the TTPs latest attack in Pakistan is also significant. Chitral, located in the remote north of Pakistan, has been a relatively stable area that has not witnessed major militant activity. The TTPs attacks there suggest the militants could be trying to open a new front in their war against Islamabad. What's Next: More border clashes and closures are expected as relations between Pakistan and the Taliban continue to deteriorate. The Afghan Taliban is unlikely to crack down or expel the TTP. If the TTP continues its attacks inside Pakistan, Islamabad could resort to military action inside Afghanistan. Such a scenario would likely escalate tensions even further. What To Keep An Eye On The UN's World Food Program (WFP) said a massive funding shortage has forced it to cut emergency assistance to 2 million Afghans. The WFP says it will only be able to provide food aid to 3 million people -- out of a population of around 40 million -- starting in October. Amid already worrying levels of hunger and malnutrition, we are obliged to choose between the hungry and the starving, leaving millions of families scrambling for their next meal," Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFP's country director and representative in Afghanistan, said in a statement on September 5. The WFP is seeking an additional $1 billion over the next six months to provide 21 million Afghans with lifesaving aid. The UN body estimates that more than 3 million Afghans are on the brink of starvation. Why It's Important: Cuts in emergency aid are likely to further worsen the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the worst in the world. It is also likely to add to fears of a widespread famine in the country. In June, the UN revised its annual aid budget for Afghanistan from $4.6 billion to $3.2 billion this year, citing reduced funding from international donors. ADVERTISEMENT The cash-strapped Taliban government, which is unrecognized and under international sanctions, appears unable to fill the gap. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. By Abubakar Siddique via RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Uzbekistan is supporting Chinas vision for Taiwans future. The government news outlet Dunyo on September 4 published a brief Uzbek Foreign Ministry statement that endorses Beijings One China policy and expresses hope for a speedy reduction of tension. China was Uzbekistans top foreign investor during the first half of 2023 in terms of the volume of foreign investment and loans disbursed, according to the Uzbek State Agency for Statistics. Chinas share of foreign investment stood at 20.5 percent of the overall total of $4.9 billion-worth of foreign investment that flowed into Uzbekistan during the period. Russia accounted for an 18.8 percent share, while Turkey was Uzbekistans third leading source of foreign investment, with a 6.2 percent share. Beijing has opened two new freight rail routes to Uzbekistan as part of an effort to expand Europe-bound export route options. One of the new routes, launched on August 29, connects Zhangjiakou, an industrial hub in HebeiProvince about 100 miles northeast of Beijing, with Tashkent, via the Khorgos land port in Chinas westernmost XinjiangProvince. The other route, inaugurated on August 30, connects Tashkent and Liuzhou, a southern city and auto manufacturing center. "The successful launch of the Liuzhou-Tashkent train marks an increase in the number of routes from Guangxi to Europe and Central Asia to six," according to a report published by the People's Daily. Kazakhstan Kazakhstans Minister of Science and Higher Education, Sayasat Nurbek, has revealed that about 250 bilateral agreements are currently operating between educational institutions in China and Kazakhstan. Now, about 3,500 Kazakhstanis study at PRC universities, and over 1,000 Chinese receive education at Kazakhstani universities," Nurbek told attendees at a conference in Astana on August 31. He also announced that a Luban Workshop will open at East Kazakhstan TechnicalUniversity. Under the program, Chinese experts will provide vocational training on the assembly of electric vehicles. China operates dozens of Luban workshops around the world, most of them affiliated with local educational institutions. The soft-power initiative provides training for workers who can then find jobs in Chinese-sponsored investment projects. Lin Wu, the Chinese Communist Party boss of Shandong Province, one of Chinas main economic hubs, led a 100-strong Chinese business delegation on an early September visit to Kazakhstan, the Kazakh government press service reported. During the trip, Lin met a variety of officials including Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and Almaty Mayor Yerbolat Dossayev; discussions focused on investment opportunities. Kazakhstans Ministry of Agriculture announced that the visit yielded an agreement under which the Central Asian nation will supply China with 200,000 tons of grain. An additional agreement covered cooperation between the Kazakh AgrotechnicalResearch University and the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences on joint research and development initiatives. The Agricultural Ministry also said trade turnover in agricultural products during the first half of 2023 amounted to over $578 million, a significant jump over the same period in 2022, but still lagging behind 2021 totals. Kazakhstan and China are deepening cooperation on a venture to mine tungsten, an element used in a variety of items from light bulbs to armor-piercing shells. According to Kazakh Invest, a Chinese firm, Jiaxin International Resources Investment Ltd, will be a partner in the project, which will require upwards of $450 million in investment. The venture will have a mining capacity of 3.3 million tons of ore per year and is projected to employ upwards of 1,000 workers. The deal was facilitated via the involvement of the China Overseas Development Association. By Eurasianet.org ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Despite strict U.S. sanctions implemented by former President Donald Trump in January 2019 that cut Venezuela off from global energy and capital markets, the countrys economy has returned to growth. This, along with Maduro effectively sidelining Venezuelas political opposition, including U.S. designated interim president Juan Guaido fleeing the country, indicates Washingtons attempts to spark the regime have failed. Strict U.S. sanctions, which cut the OPEC member off from global energy and capital markets, combined with over a decade of endemic corruption, malfeasance and mismanagement, caused Venezuelas economic backbone, its oil industry, to collapse. That triggered the worst economic and humanitarian crisis of modern times to ever occur outside of war. It is estimated that over seven million Venezuelans have fled the near-failed state since the catastrophe started unfolding in 2014 as Venezuelas economic backbone, its oil industry, imploded. Endemic corruption and malfeasance, along with a chronic lack of skilled labor and parts for facility refits, drove Venezuelas oil production lower. The economic fallout from declining petroleum output was magnified by the 2014 oil price collapse, which saw Brent plummet to under $27 per barrel by early 2016, As PDVSAs finances rapidly deteriorated, petroleum production plummeted due to a lack of crucial facility maintenance, creating a vicious cycle of declining oil output and income that sharply impacted the petrostates economy and finances. That confluence of events substantially weakened the Venezuelan state as well as Caracas finances, nearly bankrupting the autocratic Maduro regime while causing the humanitarian and economic crisis to spiral out of control. As the state unraveled and criminal bands as well as Colombian guerillas filled the power vacuum left by Caracas in many remote regions, the humanitarian catastrophe intensified, with more than seven million Venezuelans fleeing their country since 2015. It is nearby countries in South America, notably Colombia, which have borne the brunt of this refugee crisis. As the disaster in Venezuela deepened, especially after President Donald Trump ratcheted up sanctions in 2019 and oil prices plummeted during the 2020 pandemic, calls for Washington to ease restrictions against Venezuela intensified. For some time, it has been clear that Washingtons strategy for containing Venezuela and initiating regime change has failed, with the Venezuelan people bearing the brunt of the fallout from U.S. sanctions. President Nicolas Maduro has effectively sidelined Venezuelas political opposition and shored up his position as the leader of the OPEC member. He achieved this by removing U.S.-backed interim president Juan Guaido from his seat in Venezuelas National Assembly and as the bodys speaker during the December 2020 election. In the wake of that event, the European Unions 27 member states withdrew their recognition of Guaido as Venezuelas interim president in early 2021. Guaidos status within Venezuelas opposition has waned sharply since the end of 2020. By October 2022, Venezuelas opposition announced they were unwilling to back Guaidos interim government, and in December 2022, the opposition legislature voted to terminate Guaidos interim government, thereby formally ending his leadership. During April 2023, after Guaido had been ejected from Colombia, which ceased recognizing his claim to Venezuelas presidency, the politician fled for the U.S. due to fears for his safety. This left Washington without a representative in Venezuelas fractured opposition, impeding the effectiveness of U.S. policy, including attempts to restore democracy and oust Maduro. Those events, in conjunction with signs that Venezuelas economic meltdown has bottomed, with the economy returning to growth during 2021, seeing gross domestic product (GDP) expanding by 0.5%, illustrate that U.S. sanctions have failed. Indeed, in a surprising development, Venezuelas economy grew by an impressive 8% during 2022, which was the third-best performance in South America, and the IMF is predicting GDP will expand by 5% for 2023, the second-highest forecast on the continent. These numbers further underscore how U.S. sanctions have failed to contain the threat posed by Venezuela and remove the autocratic Maduro regime from power. The primary reason for Venezuelas improving economic outlook is Caracas success in finding alternate sources of capital and rebuilding the countrys economically vital oil industry, which by 2020 was at the point of complete collapse. OPEC data from secondary sources shows Venezuela lifted an average of 772,000 barrels per day during July 2023, an impressive 40% increase over the 553,000 barrels per day produced for 2021. That substantial increase in petroleum output could not have been achieved without the assistance of Iran, the worlds eighth-largest oil producer. Teheran is providing Caracas with considerable material support, including the funding, parts and technicians required to rebuild key petroleum infrastructure. Earlier this year, Teheran-controlled National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) committed to revamping the 955,000-barrel-per-day Paraguana refining complex, which is the largest such facility in Venezuela and one of the biggest globally. This comes on the back of NIORDC embarking on a $116 million refit of the 147,000 barrel-per-day Palito refinery, Venezuelas smallest such facility, in May 2022. In February 2023, it was announced that PDVSA had committed to ordering two Aframax tankers from Iran Marine Industrial Company, known as SADRA, for a total cost of $67.5 million. That will expand the fleet of tankers at Caracas disposal, which are used to clandestinely transport Venezuelan crude oil to foreign buyers. Teheran is also providing considerable support to Caracas to bolster oilfield operations and production. The key is the provision of a stable supply of condensate, which is needed to make Venezuelas extra-heavy oil flow so that it can be shipped to foreign buyers, which is the main reason behind PDVSAs ability to boost petroleum output since 2021. Teheran and Caracas recently signed an agreement where the worlds eighth-largest oil producer committed to not only rebuilding Venezuelas refineries but also developing oil fields, many of which operate intermittently because of ramshackle machinery. Those undertakings will support further production growth for Venezuela while strengthening Irans presence in Latin America. Teherans presence in Venezuela is bolstering Irans influence across Latin America, allowing the pariah state to challenge traditional U.S. regional hegemony. This not only poses a threat to Washington that is too close for comfort but is ratcheting up geopolitical instability in a volatile region, particularly with Teheran using its proxy Hezbollah to interfere in Latin American politics. The terrorist group has been connected to bombings, assassinations, cocaine trafficking and attempts to influence governments in South America. Caracas, as part of its alliance with Teheran, has allowed Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, to establish training camps in Venezuela, increasing the risk of the militants launching an attack on U.S. soil. The considerable suffering of everyday Venezuelans, along with strict U.S. sanctions failing to trigger regime change and Irans burgeoning subversive influence in South America, makes it a crucial time for Washington to change policy toward Venezuela. Since 2021, the Biden administration has made it clear to the Maduro regime that sanctions relief is available if there are clear moves to restore free elections and democracy in Venezuela. The White House has already tinkered with existing sanctions, granting energy supermajor Chevron a license to recommence lifting oil and allowing Italis Eni as well as Spains Repsol to receive oil exports from Venezuela in exchange for reducing outstanding debt. Earlier this year, members of Venezuelas opposition called for Biden to relax crippling sanctions, as has the UN Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and human rights. This occurred because U.S. sanctions have simply failed to trigger regime change or even contain the Maduro regime; instead, they simply have had a devastating impact on everyday Venezuelans who are bearing the brunt of the suffering caused. U.S. officials are drafting a proposal to ease sanctions against Venezuela, but only on the condition the Maduro regime makes genuine efforts to restore democracy. A White House source stated in an August 2023 Reuters article, Should Venezuela take concrete actions toward restoring democracy, leading to free and fair elections, we are prepared to provide corresponding sanctions relief. ADVERTISEMENT The White House is committed to allowing Venezuela to boost oil exports if sanctions are eased. The extra revenue that will be generated, combined with a growing inflow of foreign energy investment, will allow PDVSA to undertake critical maintenance and refits of heavily corroded energy industry infrastructure. In that event, it is speculated Venezuela can boost oil production to as much as one million barrels per day, but that will only occur if Maduro takes genuine measures to allow free elections and restore democracy, which is highly unlikely to occur anytime soon. Venezuelas president will not step down and expose himself, members of his family and the government to arrest by U.S. authorities or, worse, attacks from illegal armed groups and retaliation by victims of his regime. By Matthew Smith for OIlprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BMW has announced plans for a major multi-million-pound investment this morning in its electric Mini plant in Oxford, securing the long-term future of Mini production in the UK. The German carmaker will transform its existing factory through a 600m investment, creating 4,000 high-quality jobs in the process, after the government agreed to spend 75m in subsidies. The new plant will produce two new next-generation electric car designs, the Mini Cooper and the Mini Aceman, with a third model being made in Germany. It marks a major U-turn for BMW, who in October last year confirmed that production of its electric Minis would shift to China, in what was seen as a major blow to the British automotive sector. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch hailed the news ahead of the announcement, which takes total investment into the UK automotive sector to 6bn over the last two years. Rishi Sunak said BMWs investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build cars of the future. By backing our car manufacturing industry, we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country. Kemi Badenoch said todays announcement by BMW, coming a week after electric vehicle production started at Stellantiss site at Ellesmere Port, clearly shows that the governments plan for the automotive sector is working. BMWs investment comes amid wider concerns in the UK automotive industry over the strength of the countries electric vehicle production, with fierce international competition from the US and China. A slew of carmakers have warned that the UK must improve its domestic supply chain, particularly of vital batteries, or risk losing out as the world races to switch to greener vehicles and a 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles comes into force. In July, Jaguar owner Tata Group confirmed it had chosen Somerset over Spain for the location of a giant 4bn gigafactory, in what was widely hailed as transformative for the sector and its bid to stay in the global EV race. Last week, Stellantis, who own Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, had started the production of EV vehicles at its Ellesmere Port site, following a 100m investment. The carmaker had previously warned in May that the plant was under threat from post-Brexit tariffs on British exports to the European Union (EU), which are set to come into force. Mike Hawes, the chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said that BMWs landmark announcement was yet another vote of confidence in UK automotive manufacturing. ADVERTISEMENT Not only does it secure the long-term future of the home of one of the worlds most iconic brands, it also demonstrates once again our capabilities in electric vehicle production, he added. BMWs Oxford factory currently employs over 3,400 people and is the second-largest car plant in the UK. In 2022, it produced over 50 percent of all fully-electric vehicles manufactured in the UK. Stefanie Wurst, head of the MINI brand, said, MINI has always been aware of its history Oxford is and remains the heart of the brand. I am delighted that the two new, fully electric MINI models the MINI Cooper and MINI Aceman are also being produced in Oxford, thereby confirming our path to a fully electric future. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The volumes of feedgas into the major U.S. LNG export facility Freeport LNG plummeted this weekend, at a time when the global gas market could tighten ahead of the winter with a strike at Australian LNG plants and maintenance in Norway. Feedgas flows to Freeport LNG plunged from 1,640 million cubic feet per day (mcf/day) on Friday, to 702.9 mcf/day on Saturday and further to 284.3 mcf/day on Sunday, according to data from LSEG cited by Reuters. On Monday, feedgas flows to the second-largest U.S. LNG exporting plant, averaged around 622 mcf/d, per the data. According to Leo Kabouche, LNG market analyst at consultancy Energy Aspects, the decline in feedgas over the weekend suggests that at least two Freeport LNG units, or trains, were not taking any gas. Global demand for U.S. LNG has jumped since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Russian halt of pipeline gas deliveries to most of Europe. Ahead of this winter, prices havent jumped too much thanks to high levels of gas in storage in Europe. But over the past weeks, the benchmark European gas prices were volatile amid strike threats in Australia. While European buyers rarely import Australian LNG due to the long trip, Asia could see some of its Australian supply drop, intensifying competition with Europe for volumes from elsewhere. On Monday, the front-month futures at the TTF hub, the benchmark for Europes gas trading, were up by 6.8% at $39.60 (36.85 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh) as of 1:32 p.m., amid continued supply concerns. Workers at Chevrons LNG facilities Gorgon and Wheatstone began a strike on Friday after talks with the projects operator fell through. No deal is expected to be reached, Chevron Australia said on Monday, while workers at the local trade unions prepare for full-scale strikes. In addition, outages in Norway now Europes top gas supplier due to regular maintenance also pushed gas prices higher on Monday. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: South Korean battery major LG has complained about the discipline of its workers at a battery plant in Europe that the company says is interfering with plans to boost production speed and quality. The ownership of workers in Poland, a European country, is not as high as that of Korean employees at factories, Youngjoon Shin, LGs chief technology officer, said at the Korea Investment Week conference, as quoted by Bloomberg. They are not good at handling something that we didnt give instructions for. We think plants should be run by programs, not by humans, Shin also said. Bloomberg reports that the Polish factory of LG is the largest battery factory in Europe, with the capacity to produce 1.2 million EV batteries every year, or 70 GWh. LG plans to increase this to 100 GWh by 2025. Currently, there are 7,000 people working at the facility with LG planning to hire another 1,000 by 2026. Batteries are the most important component for electric vehicles: they represent the biggest portion of an EVs mass but also of its price, which has sparked a race to make better, lighter, and cheaper batteries. It is a considerable conundrum, especially for Europe, which has no local supply of the metals used in the production of batteries and, until recently, had no battery production capacity at home, either. The LG factory has changed the latter, but the former remains a challenge. China is the undisputed leader in global battery raw materials, if not in sourcing, in processing. This means that all EV revolution hopefuls must pin their hopes of uninterrupted supply from China. Meanwhile, the U.S. has argued in favor of what the White House calls friend-shoring: building entirely new supply chains with friendly jurisdictions to secure the supply of EV-critical materials. That supply chain building will take years, however, and transition-eager governments have no time to wait, with EV sales getting effectively mandated in the EU, Britain, and California via ICE car bans set to come into effect by 2035. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Libyas National Oil Corporation declared a state of emergency for its four oil ports amid a Mediterranean storm that swept through Greece last week and is now heading to northern Africa. The Ras Lanuf, Zueitina, Brega, and Es Sider will remain closed until at least tomorrow, a NOC official said, as quoted by bne IntelliNews. In Greece, the storm caused heavy flooding and 11 deaths. In anticipation of Daniel, NOC has advised all companies to restrict movement between oil fields and be ready to evacuate employees if necessary, bne IntelliNews also reported. The storm update comes as Libyas oil production reached 1.207 million barrels daily, per the National Oil Corporation. NOC published the update on Facebook, also reporting that in August, total oil production stood at 36.5 million barrels. The storm disruption comes a month after fighting erupted between two political and military factions, this time in the capital, Tripoli. Since the end of August 2022, Libya had been pumping close to or even above 1.2 million bpd, the level last seen before the port blockades that began in the spring of 2022 crippled Libyan oil output in the spring and most of the summer of 2022. Lately, the violence has subsided, enough for international oil companies to consider a return to the North African country. BP and Italys Eni were the first to lift the force majeure on their Libyan operations last month. Algerias Sonatrach also returned to Libya. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, Libya is planning to have its first oil and gas tender in 17 years to further boost its hydrocarbon production. The tender will be held in 2024 and should help Libya move closer to its target of 2 million bpd in daily oil output by 2026. According to the African Energy Chamber, Libyas maximum production capacity is 1.8 million bpd by 2024 but Tripoli insists it can boost this to 3 million bpd in two to three years. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabias oil giant Aramco has relaunched a tender for $1.8 billion worth of contracts for the expansion of the Zuluf offshore oilfield, having canceled deals previously awarded to U.S. firm McDermott, Upstream reported on Monday, quoting several sources with knowledge of the plans. Last month, Saudi Aramco called off three engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) contracts awarded to McDermott earlier, Upstream and other news outlets reported. The formal cancellation of Zuluf contracts is a setback for international contracting giants including McDermott, which have been eyeing the multiple development projects, one unnamed source told Upstream in August. After kicking out McDermott, according to sources last month, Aramco will be looking for other companies that can step in. Italys Saipem is one option and Abu Dhabis National Petroleum Construction Co. may be another candidate. The reason for the cancelation is reportedly McDermotts inability to present bank guarantees that Aramco requires from winning bidders. A month later, the Saudi oil giant has now launched a new bid process for the three contracts at Zuluf, sources told Upstream. The scope of the contracts for the oilfield will require much subsea work in the form of subsea cables and pipelines, while the EPCI contracts are expected to include multiple production deck modules, slipover platforms, and well auxiliary platforms, according to Upstreams sources. Saudi Arabia, the worlds top crude oil exporter, is expanding several major oilfields, aiming to raise its oil production capacity to 13 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 from 12 million bpd now. ADVERTISEMENT Aramco is expanding the Marjan, Berri, and Zuluf oilfields. The expansion of the Marjan field is seen adding 300,000 bpd to its production capacity. The expansion of the Berri field should boost its capacity by another 250,000 bpd. Zulufs expansion is set to add a processing facility with a capacity of 600,000 bpd. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: South Sudans plans to assume control of oil fields from foreign companies, whose contracts expire in 2027, cannot feasibly be realized due to lack of financing and capabilities, Bloomberg has cited the newly independent countrys national planning body as saying during a national economic conference. The original plan was for South Sudans state-owned Nile Petroleum Corp. to take over foreign oil operations when contracts expired. Private operators in South Sudans oil industry include Chinas giant CNPC and Malaysias Petronas. Also on the top of the conference agenda was a plan to create an alternative pipeline that would allow land-locked South Sudan a second outlet for getting its oil to market, bypassing Sudan, which is mired in civil war. While Sudans raging war has not yet affected South Sudans oil exports, fears are rising that as the conflict continues to intensify, oil will be at risk. On Sunday, a drone attack on an open market in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, killed dozens of people as the countrys military and a rival paramilitary group fight for control. Over the weekend, South Sudans president, Salva KIir, told a conference that the war in Sudan, ongoing since April, is wreaking havoc on the regions economies through a massive influx of refugees. There are also mounting fears that South Sudan itself could slide back into civil war amid growing anger over the use of the countrys oil revenues. Recovering from civil war itself, which only ended in 2018 with a shaky power-sharing agreement, South Sudans economy has not been stabilized. As noted by the Crisis Group, during the war, President Kiir mortgaged future oil exports for advance loans from a small group of commodity traders and commercial banks, piling up debt while hiding the countrys finances ever further from sight. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The UK needs Chinas batteries to develop a domestic EV manufacturing industry and will not impose restrictions on imports of such products, the UKs Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch told Bloomberg on Monday. Badenoch was commenting on the news the UK government shared today that BMW is set to announce a multi-million-pound investment in its Oxford MINI plant to make electric Minis. Last week, another major auto manufacturer, Stellantis, announced the start of EV production after a $125 million (100 million) investment to make the site in Ellesmere Port in the UK its first globally dedicated solely to producing EVs. Asked if the UK is too dependent on China for EV batteries, Badenoch told Bloomberg, At the moment, China is leading on this technology, so we wouldnt be able to get to where we want to get to on net zero by completely stopping or banning Chinese products. You cant exclude Chinese-made products from the battery ecosystem, the business and trade secretary said. China continues to dominate the market for critical minerals for batteries, although the U.S., the UK, and the EU have started to look to diversify the supply chain. Bank UBS expects China to end up controlling nearly one-third of the global lithium supply by 2025. Mines controlled by Beijing, not only in China but also in Africa, will see their total lithium output jump more than threefold in just three yearsfrom 194,000 tons in 2022 to 705,000 tons by 2025, UBS said in a note earlier this year, carried by Bloomberg. This surge in supply would raise the Chinese share of global lithium supply to 32% in 2025, up from 24% in 2022, the bank said. A report from Darton Commodities, quoted by the Financial Times, expects that Chinas cobalt share is set to hit 50% of global cobalt output in the next two years. Chinas CMOC Group is currently the second biggest producer of cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country providing 75% of global supply now. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ukraine said on Monday its forces had retaken oil and gas platforms offshore Crimea which Russia had occupied in 2015. The so-called Boyka Towers are oil and gas drilling platforms off the coast of Crimea in the Black Sea, and Ukraine has regained control over them, the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said in a post on social media accompanied by a YouTube video. The platforms for oil and gas drilling were occupied by Russia in 2015, after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The platforms were recaptured from Russia in what Ukraine described as a unique operation. For Ukraine, regaining control of the Boiko Towers was of strategic importance and, as a result, Russia lost the ability to use them for military purposes, the Ukrainian military intelligence said in the video, as carried by Reuters. Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea, Ukraine says. According to the Ukrainian forces, During one phase of the operation, a battle took place between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter jet. The Russian aircraft was hit and forced to retreat, Ukraine added. In recent weeks, Crimea and the Black Sea have become an increasingly important theater of battles in the war triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. At the end of last month, the UK Ministry of Defence reported that Ukraine and Russia had been fighting over strategic oil and gas platforms in the Black Sea. The platforms are operated by the Chernomorneftegaz, an oil and gas company that was seized by pro-Russian authorities in Crimea in 2014. ADVERTISEMENT Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has struck several Russian-controlled platforms. Both Russia and Ukraine have also periodically occupied them with troops, the UK said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via Metal Miner Tata Steel is in talks with the UK government to acquire 500 million ($630 million) in funding. The steelmaking multinational confirmed the funds would help the Port Talbot plant replace its operating blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces. The news comes as the Tata Steel share price recently reached a high for the year. Given the financially constrained position of our UK business, any significant change is only possible with government investment and support, Tata Steel stated on September 3. As also seen in other steelmaking countries in Europe where governments are actively supporting companies in de-carbonization initiatives. One official at Port Talbot told MetalMiner that the financing talks are taking place at the highest levels. This means the collaboration is between Tata Group itself and the Prime Ministers office. Thats lasted for a few years, the official added, though he declined to indicate when talks would conclude. Tata Steel Share Price Could Change Thanks to the Offer Port Talbot is in Wales, about 75 kilometers west of the capital city of Cardiff. Tata also plans to invest about 700 million ($875 million) of its own funds into the facility. Earlier in 2023, the UK government proposed 300 million ($375 million) in aid to the plant, plus assistance in covering energy costs. However, reports at the time noted that Tata rejected that offer. The Port Talbot official also declined to indicate with what the plant would replace its two operating blast furnaces. There was also no discussion of potential capacities, the number of electric arc furnaces, or if it would add value-added equipment, such as thin slab casters. Some Experts Feel the UK is Playing Politics Port Talbots two blast furnaces can produce about 4.8 million metric tons of pig iron per year. Meanwhile, its two basic oxygen furnaces can pour 5 million metric tons of crude steel per year. The Tata official said the company then casts this into slab and then rolls into hot and cold rolled coil. Projected crude steel production for 2023 at the site is 3.2-3.4 million metric tons. The source noted that this is just below the 3 million metric tons seen in the previous year. The Tata Steel share price recently reached 131.75 Indian Rupees on September 5, a high for the year. If the talks produce a successful result, its possible this figure could go much higher. However, one industry watcher expressed skepticism about funding from the UK government. Thats big money for the government and for the taxpayers, that source told MetalMiner. An upcoming general election in the United Kingdom, due to take place no later than January 28, 2025, could be behind the funding issue. They wont want to see thousands of people turfed out of work, the source said of the Conservative Party, which has a majority in the House of Commons. When asked about the talks, the source added, I think that they will drag it out as long possible, at least until the elections. The industry watcher also noted the high costs for steelmaking in the United Kingdom, along with doubts regarding the plants location as compared with China. If you are not strategically located, you better have a very good commercial team, the source warned. One metric ton of crude steel costs $600-700 to produce in the United Kingdom against $400-500 in China. ADVERTISEMENT By Christopher Rivituso More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: More than two decades after terrorists struck America on Sept. 11, 2001, the shadow of the smoking Twin Towers is getting smaller. For years, people flocked to somber Patriot Day ceremonies on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to honor the memory of the 2,977 who died in the attacks in New York, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, and to support the thousands of service members fighting the Global War on Terror. Twenty-two years later, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have ended, messily, and the sense of unity that followed the attack on America has long since frayed. Youths and young adults are too young to remember 9/11. There are fewer Patriot Day commemorations and fewer people who feel the need to attend them. But some people in the Omaha metro are working to make sure the sacrifices of those who died on 9/11, or in the wars that followed, are not forgotten. Bill ODonnell of Bellevue said he felt a strong compulsion after 9/11 to preserve the memory of those who were lost. So the retired Air Force lieutenant colonel came up with an idea for a memorial. When we arent actively involved in an armed conflict, the tide of patriotism and loyalty tend to ebb, said ODonnell, who served with the Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air Force Base during the Cold War. Any vet will tell you, they hate the thought that nobody remembers them. Nobody wants to be forgotten. His idea featured a scaled-down replica of the Pentagon the scene of one terror attack with a 93 in the center, signifying the passengers who gave their lives fighting back against the hijackers of United Flight 93 to stop another attack in Washington. The memorial was flanked by two flagpoles, representing the twin towers of the World Trade Center that burned and collapsed after hijackers flew planes into them. Contributions poured in from the Bellevue community, and he easily raised the $17,000 cost of constructing the monument in the citys Haworth Park. (Later, it was moved across the street to American Heroes Park.) More than 2,000 people attended the first Patriot Day commemoration at the memorial in September 2002. People remained until midnight a memory that makes ODonnell tear up. The ceremony now backed by the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue has remained an annual event. This year it will begin at 6 p.m. Monday and will feature the Air Force Junior ROTC from Bellevue West and East High Schools, Bellevue police officers and firefighters, members of the Nebraska and Iowa National Guard, and airmen from the 55th Wing. The centerpiece will be a roll call of 147 service members from Nebraska and Iowa who died in the post-9/11 wars. ODonnell said crowds have gotten smaller over the years. I would love to see a couple of thousand people out again, he said. But as long as I draw a breath, as long as my wife draws a breath, we will be out there, remembering the names of those who fell. I just watched my brother get murdered For Lynn Castrianno of Omaha, remembering those who died on 9/11 is personal. That morning, she watched the World Trade Center towers burn on television. She frantically tried to call her brother, Leonard, 30, a securities trader who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of the North Tower, about 10 floors above where American Flight 11 struck. He never had a chance. The inferno below him cut off all escape for those on the uppermost floors. Lynn Castriannos knees buckled as she watched the North Tower collapse. I remember saying, Oh my God, I just watched my brother get murdered, she recalled a week ago. I was devastated. Castrianno channeled her grief into the creation of a memorial to Leonard and the others who died on 9/11. Beginning in 2004, with the help of friends, she attached the names, ages and locations of each of those who died to small individual flags. Then they placed them together in the ground, a field of flags flying in their honor. The location changed in the early years, but eventually the event settled in Omahas Memorial Park. Now the Rotary Club of Omaha coordinates the event. On Sept. 2, about 100 volunteers including Castrianno turned out to place the flags. They will remain in place until Wednesday. Im thrilled that it still goes on, 19 years later, she said. I want this to continue, even if Im not here. FBI remembers its fallen Castrianno will tell her story, and her brothers story, at a small, private ceremony Monday morning at the Omaha field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Eugene Kowel, the special agent in charge, said the 9/11 attack was a pivot point in the FBIs history. The investigation occupied the agency for years, and it forced the FBI to boost its cooperation with other intelligence agencies. Mondays service will commemorate 23 FBI employees who died as a result of the attacks. Their names will be read, and a bagpiper will play in their honor. Kowel will tell his own 9/11 story. He was a local prosecutor in Manhattan and rushed to the World Trade Center after the first plane hit. He witnessed the second plane slam into the South Tower. I feel like its really important to keep this day in the public consciousness, he said. It no longer gets the attention. We hope other people hear about (the FBI service), and remember. Its so painful to look at those faces In Omaha, or maybe anywhere, almost no one has done as much as Bill and Evonne Williams to remember those who have fallen since 9/11. Through their nonprofit, Patriotic Productions, they created a set of memorial posters commemorating the service members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan and have circulated them around the country. They also sent 3,500 veterans, from World War II to the present, on memorable flights of honor from Nebraska to visit patriotic sites in Washington, D.C. The veterans were feted with a banquet before they left, and throngs of well-wishers greeted them on their return. Bill Williams said their national Remembering Our Fallen tribute was in Wattage Township, New Jersey, over the weekend directly across the Hudson River from New York City, where the memory of 9/11 remains raw. He thinks the chaotic American exit from Afghanistan two years ago has made people want to forget. People have just turned the page, Williams said. But it is hard to turn away from men and women on the memorial wall, smiling and clowning in carefree moments with with friends and family before their lives were cut short. Its so painful to look at those faces, he said. We want them to be remembered, not forgotten. Remembering 9/11 in photos A lieutenant with the Omaha Police Department said Monday that officials believe a man killed by police over the weekend pointed a gun at officers hoping they would respond with deadly force. Matthew X. Johnson, 27, was shot and killed by Omaha police officers after a brief standoff near 101st and Pacific Streets shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday. Lt. Kara Platt, who is part of the departments officer-involved investigations unit, said Johnson pointed a loaded handgun at himself, a bystander and at officers before he was shot. Three officers fired their weapons at Johnson, Platt said. They have been placed on paid administrative leave under department policy and will be publicly identified after they are interviewed. According to Platt, dispatchers received multiple 911 calls beginning shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday about Johnson, who was sitting in his parked car and appeared to be irate. His car was parked the wrong way in a lane on Pacific Street. When officers arrived, Johnson was still inside his car. He exited the vehicle with a handgun to his head as officers spoke to him through their cruisers PA system. Platt said Johnson made verbal threats toward the officers during the interaction. In an earlier 911 call, according to Platt, a witness told dispatchers that Johnson was looking for an officer to shoot. For most of the interaction, Johnson had the gun to his head. But after about five minutes, he pointed the gun at a nearby occupied car and then quickly pointed it in the direction of responding officers, Platt said. At that point, the three officers opened fire. Platt said she and the department believe that Johnson was attempting to die by suicide by cop, a term used by police officers to describe incidents in which an individual acts in a way that forces officers to use deadly force against them. The entire interaction lasted less than six minutes, according to Lt. Neal Bonacci, a police spokesman. Johnson was transported to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, where he was pronounced dead. No bystanders or officers were injured. Platt did not know how many shots were fired or how many times Johnson was shot. She was also unaware if Johnsons gun was obtained legally. State court records show that Johnson had a relatively minor criminal history and no felony convictions in Nebraska. Bonacci said more information about the shooting will be made available after the officers are interviewed, which must happen within 72 hours of the incident. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of September 2023 A Texas man accused of stabbing a 61-year-old Omaha woman to death in her home in 2021 has pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree murder. Daniel Dejaynes-Beaman, now 20, entered a plea of no contest last week to charges of second-degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony. He was initially charged with first-degree murder alongside the weapons charge in connection with the gruesome murder of Jolene Harshbarger on Halloween morning in 2021. The case was set to go to trial in October. Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said in an interview that prosecutors will be asking for a considerable sentence given the brutal nature of the crime. According to court documents and previous in-court testimony from detectives, Dejaynes-Beaman, then 18, and his father had arrived in Omaha just weeks before the killing. They were staying with family members who lived in the same South Omaha neighborhood as Harshbarger. Though its unclear exactly when Dejaynes-Beaman and Harshbarger first met, both were at a garage sale held by Dejaynes-Beamans cousin on Oct. 29. A witness at the garage sale later told police that he saw Dejaynes-Beaman grab Harshbargers butt, and that she seemed to be upset by the incident. Harshbarger repeatedly told her ex-boyfriend, who she remained close with, and her live-in adult son that the teens advances made her uncomfortable and afraid. Dejaynes-Beaman reportedly showed up at Harshbargers door on Oct. 29 to return a jacket and to ask Harshbarger to have sex with him. She declined. Security footage showed Dejaynes-Beaman leave his cousins home at about 7:45 p.m. on Oct. 30 and head towards Harshbargers house. When he returned hours later, he was covered in blood. Harshbarger was found by her son early on Halloween morning, nearly naked and stabbed to death in her bed. Blood covered the mattress, walls and even splattered the ceiling and an adjacent bathroom. She had been stabbed 12 times in the head, neck, arms and upper back. Multiple stab wounds pierced the occipital bone at the base of Harshbargers skull, reaching the lower portion of her brain. At least one stab wound went all the way through Harshbargers hand, which prosecutors say shows that she attempted to defend herself. During initial court appearances, prosecutors said that Harshbargers autopsy showed signs of violent sexual penetration, or rape. But Dejaynes-Beaman was never charged with sexual assault. The Omaha police gang units and SWAT team arrived on Halloween night at the home where Dejaynes-Beaman was staying to execute a search warrant. It took nearly two hours, multiple flash bangs and broken windows for Dejaynes-Beaman to surrender. Once taken into custody, Dejaynes-Beaman initially denied any involvement with Harshbarger. But he later told police during an interrogation that he went to Harshbargers home where they had consensual, normal sex on the couch. Dejaynes-Beaman said that he snapped and killed Harshbarger after she told him that he wasnt a good sexual partner. Dejaynes-Beaman is set to be sentenced in November. He faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life on the murder charge, and a minimum of one year and a maximum of 50 on the weapons count. The Nebraska State Fair had its best year for attendance since before the coronavirus pandemic. The fair announced that 311,900 people attended the 11-day event in Grand Island, 8.5% more than last year. It also was the first time the fair broke the 300,000 mark since 2018. State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr said she was pleased with the numbers, especially considering unseasonable heat over Labor Day weekend. We had plenty of heat, as well as some rain and lightning, but we had some really pleasant weather days, too," Parr said in a press release. "A little bit of everything. Despite the hot closing weekend, attendance was really solid. Photos: Nebraska State Fair 2023 opening day An 18-year-old Fremont man who allegedly fled the scene of a fatal crash has been arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence of alcohol. Doltyn Garule was arrested in connection with a one-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday about 5 a.m. in the area of 400 South Ridge Road just south of Fremont, according to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. A passenger in the vehicle, Ryan Littrell, 18, of Fremont died at a Fremont hospital. Investigators determined that Garule was driving a Hyundai SUV when he lost control and crashed into a wooden fence. Garule left the scene of the crash, but he was later located by deputies and booked into the Dodge County Jail. Garule also was arrested on suspicion of being a minor in possession of alcohol, failure to stop and render aid, willful reckless driving, tampering with evidence and obstruction. The Dodge County Sheriffs Office was assisted by Nebraska State Patrol, Fremont Fire Department, Fremont Rural Fire and Saunders County Sheriffs Office. SPRINGFIELD A LeRoy man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on theft and drug charges. Issac Jackson, 29, was indicted in October 2021 and pleaded guilty in November 2022 to theft of medical products and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. He was accused of stealing hydrocodone, alprazolam, and promethazine with codeine before selling it illegally, while employed as a pharmacy technician. At a sentencing hearing held Sept. 7 in Springfield, U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless found that Jackson was responsible for diverting over 28,000 hydrocodone pills from the medical chain of supply to the illicit drug market, the prosecutors said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrations diversion unit, which focuses on cases involving pharmaceutical substances being taken into the illegal drug market, investigated this case with the Illinois State Police South Central Drug Task Force, Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, Carlinville Police Department and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations pharmacy division. A booking photo was not immediately available. Photos: Crews respond after explosion at ADM East Plant 091023-dec-loc-adm_01.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_14.JPG 091123-dec-loc-admfire 091023-dec-loc-adm_02.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_03.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_04.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_05.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_06.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_07.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_08.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_09.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_10.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_11.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_12.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_13.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_15.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_16.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_17.JPG 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 Sept. 11, 1923: Every individual inhabitant of Illinois cities would be listed and classified as friendly or unfriendly to organized labor under a recommendation of Illinois Federation of Labor President John H. Walker, made at the federation's 41st annual convention in Decatur. Walker's plan provides for "ward, block and precinct committee organizations." 75 years ago Sept. 11, 1948: Bloomington residents who have been bemoaning ruptured lawns in the wake of construction crews who have been putting in the new sewer system will have some relief, it seems. The city will award to distressed property owners the best blue grass seed available probably in three-pound packages, or perhaps as much as needed to convert the torn-up areas of the lawn. 50 years ago Sept. 11, 1973: Total enrollment at Twin City public and parochial schools is down about 100 students from six-day figures quoted a year ago. Overall enrollment stood at 10,010 students after about a week of classes in most schools. This marks the fourth year enrollment has shown a decline in the Bloomington-Normal area figures since they peaked at 16,415 in the fall of 1969. 25 years ago Sept. 11, 1998: Construction of a Famous-Barr department store at Eastland Mall in Bloomington is set to kick off with a groundbreaking at 2 p.m. today at the mall. Famous-Barr, a division of St. Louis-based May Department Stores, is scheduled to open in fall of 1999. It will include 75,000 square feet on its first floor and 45,000 square feet on the second. 101 years ago: See vintage Pantagraph ads from 1922 Gerthart's Union Gas and Electric Co. Hoover Dr. J.A. Moore Dentists Moberly & Klenner W.P. Garretson W.H. Roland Pease's Candy Thor 32 Electric Washing Machine The Kaiser's Story of the War Ike Livingston & Sons Gossard Corsets Cat'n Fiddle 'Stolen Moments' Case Model X The Johnson Transfer & Fuel Co. The Pantagraph want ads Franklin Motor Car Co. 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court' Calumet Baking Powder Mayer Livingston & Co. Newsmarket 'The Emperor Jones' 'California Fig Syrup' 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 BLOOMINGTON A new generation is joining the ranks of firefighters, including those born after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. "They only know about 9/11 because of history class," said Bloomington firefighter and paramedic Matt Musson, who served as drill captain Monday for the Bloomington Fire Department honor guard on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. "On that day, we said: 'We'll never forget. Musson was joined by a formation of nearly 100 active and retired firefighters, fire engineers and paramedics at the Fire Fighters Service Memorial at Miller Park in Bloomington, to remember those called to respond to the assaults on American soil in 2001. The contingent included Bloomington and Normal fire department personnel and about 14 members of American Legion Posts 635 and 56 stationing honor and color guard units, marking the fifth formal 9/11 remembrance ceremony hosted by BFD. Bloomington Fire Chief Eric West, who announced Friday his plans to retire at the end of 2023, in speaking to the crowd noted the memorial site was established in honor of all firefighters in the United States. Like Musson, West said he can remember 9/11 like it was yesterday. He recounted those who perished including civilian and military losses and said the courage of 343 firefighters and 71 police officers who responded to "the biggest job ever" and paid the ultimate sacrifice will be remembered. "Today, this day of remembrance, our thoughts are turned to all of those who were lost that day," said the chief. "We remember them and pray for them and their families, and may we never forget them ... or what happened." Retired Bloomington firefighter Ken Sylvester said 9/11 is a significant day to all firefighters, including those who were on duty and those who had just gotten off duty that day. "We remember brothers that we watched going into the towers, doing their job, knowing that they were going into the building of a high-rise fire," he said, adding that they didn't know it was a terrorist attack. When the second plane hit the south tower of the World Trade Center, Sylvester said things turned chaotic, but "those guys continued to do their job" and stayed in the towers. Sylvester said the fire service is a nationwide brotherhood, which is exemplified by the group of BFD firefighters who traveled to New York City after the attacks to attend the funerals of fire crew members in support of their families. He also noted additional firefighters who died from rare cancers and diseases caused by toxic dust at Ground Zero. The Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York has counted 341 of those deaths since the attacks, the union said in social media post Monday. While also acknowledging that he did not serve in the military, Sylvester called on 9/11 to be remembered alongside D-Day and Pearl Harbor. 'A patriotic thing' Following firefighter remarks, a silver bell was rung in memory of the fallen, a tradition maintained at firefighter funerals. Roger Troxel played "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes with tenor drummer Mark Emse; both are retired Bloomington firefighters. Legion members followed with the sounding of taps and a rifle salute. Also present at the Monday services was Mike Scott, commander of the American Legion Post 635 in Normal, and Rick Ross, commander for American Legion Post 56 in Bloomington. In addition to the individual firefighters who fulfilled their duty on 9/11, what also stood out to Scott, he said, were the many who volunteered for military services in the aftermath of the attacks. "It's a patriotic thing. ... People, they don't realize what they feel about their country until something like that happens," he said. "That's a tragedy too." Around 30 people spectated the services, including Grant and Julie Stevenson. Grant, a 60-year-old Bloomington resident, said he wanted the fallen first responders to know they are not forgotten. Stevenson said he and Julie were neighbors with a firefighter, and he can remember feeling the shock and fear of what would happen next as the attacks unfolded. When asked what inspired him to attend, he responded: "Just proud to be an American." Photos: Scenes from 9/11 by Post-Dispatch reporter Joel Currier September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 September 11, 2001 DID YOU KNOW? There is only one person who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery who was also born on that property. James Parks was born into slavery on the estate owned by General Robert E. Lee, which became Arlington National Cemetery. Park was born into slavery in 1843 and was owned by Colonel George Washington Parke Custis. Custis was the son of Martha Washington and her first husband before she married George Washington, who eventually adopted Custis. Custis built Arlington House in the early 1800s, partly as a memorial to Washington, who died in 1799. Park was a slave at the Arlington House plantation through his late teens. The property was then owned by Custis daughter, Mary, and her husband, General Robert E. Lee. Custis died in 1857 and willed that all his slaves would be granted their freedom five years after his death. By the time five years had passed, the Civil War had started, but fulfilling the request of Custis, the slaves were freed. However, Park stayed on at Arlington House until near his death at age 86. Parks long knowledge of the Arlington House history helped enormously with the restoration of Arlington House. He also was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, even though he never served in the military. Park left behind a legacy so rich that the American Legion sponsored a marker at his gravesite. Q: I experienced a lot of situations while in the military and saw a lot of carnage, including injuries to myself and others and the results of our military activity against the enemy. I have never pursued service-connected disability for post traumatic stress disorder. Now, a decade after leaving the military, I am having difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression. I dont understand PTSD and am unsure if my issues are related to my service. A: Under the current VA rating system for PTSD, the government considers stressful events to be contributing factors if the events are a result of combat, personal trauma or other life-threatening situations. The veteran is evaluated partly on the symptoms the veteran is suffering as a result of traumatic events and include the following: exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual violation; intrusive symptoms such as distressing memories, nightmares and flashbacks; avoidance of people, places and situations that remind the sufferer of the traumatic events; negative mental states such as detachment, memory loss, distrust, hopelessness, self-blame, fear, anger, guilt, shame, loss of interest in activities, etc.; hyperarousal states, including irritability, angry outbursts, hypervigilance, problems concentrating, easy to startle, trouble sleeping and more. If you have symptoms like these, consult your VA primary care provider for guidance and referral for mental health care. If you do not have VA health care, apply now. Your claim for PTSD service-connected disability compensation will be facilitated if the VA health care has documented your symptoms during your visits for health care. Q: My father was in the Army during World War II and received several medals for his service. Through the years, and several physical moves, his honorable discharge certificate and his medals have been lost. I would like to create a family heirloom about his military service. Can I get replacements for these items? A: Yes! The National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis houses most military records and especially Army records. There are usually no costs for these records or the medals, awards and ribbons. Browse Standard Form 180 (SF 180) on your computer and the form will appear. The form requests information about the veterans military service that will assist the NPRC in identifying the correct file. The SF 180 also has boxes to check about what items the requester is seeking. If the veteran is still living, the request normally should be signed by the veteran. If deceased, the spouse, siblings, children and/or parents can request the documents. The Discharge or DD 214 will be located quickly, but the replacement medals must be confirmed by the NPRC and then sent from another location, which could take several months. Heads up: The NPRC is now under the National Archives and Records Administration. Many World War II records are now at the NARA facility. There may be charges for obtaining records located at the NARA facility, so requests for the older records should be made as soon as possible. QUOTE OF THE DAY These times seem fraught with attempts to pigeonhole individuals into groups or communities so that the larger numbers in the community can out shout and overwhelm those who wish to remain individuals. Our nation was built on rugged individualism. Whatever you are, be a good one Abraham Lincoln Photos: How a Florida nonprofit is helping veterans overcome PTSD Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has raised concerns over some findings in the ongoing parliamentary probe involving three senior Police officers; Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr George Alex Mensah, Superintendent Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Superintendent George Lysander Asare, accused of plotting to remove the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. The officers have made some shocking revelations about the Police administration. Among the revelations is COP Alex Mensah telling the Committee in Parliament how senior Police officers of the Service including himself have been lobbying for the position of the Inspector General. He recounted how he had since 2017 tried to get the opportunity but it has always slipped through his fingers. IGP Dr. George Dampare is accused by the officers of working against the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) to lose the 2024 election and also of nepotism and mistreatment of Police officers. Addressing the issue during Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Kwesi Pratt found the kind of lobbying in the Police force extremely worrying. "Telling someone that you should be appointed as IGP is not wrong. To say it is you who when you become IGP, Ghana will improve is not wrong, but to tell someone to make you an IGP so you can rig elections, there is a major problem with that. So, the issue is not lobbying; the issue is the intention behind the lobbying," he exclaimed. He also feared the NPP/NDC divisions in the Police Service may spell doom for the nation, so called for necessary action to be taken to end these divisions. 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 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mali's interim leader Assimi Goita have called for a political settlement in Niger, where President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted in July. In a phone call on Sunday, the two leaders said the Niger crisis should be resolved through political and diplomatic means, the Kremlin said in a statement. Mr Putin and Mr Goita also discussed bilateral relations, including talks on anti-terror operations, the statement said. The Russian leader had in August also emphasised the need for a peaceful solution in Niger. West Africa's regional bloc, Ecowas, has threatened military intervention to restore Mr Bazoum to power. The juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea have warned against military intervention in Niger. 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 Mathias Duayin and Albert Edor, two individuals arrested on charges of cable theft in Akosombo, have been found guilty and each sentenced to a prison term of seven years by the Odumase Krobo Circuit Court. The theft involved cables with a combined length of 2,600 metres. The estimated damage caused by the theft is valued at a staggering GHs 798,000.00, affecting thousands of customers in the region. Vodafone Ghana has been actively collaborating with law enforcement to resolve the case. Preba Greenstreet, Director of Legal and External Affairs at Vodafone Ghana, remarked, The arrest and subsequent conviction of the suspects underscore our commitment to ensuring the security of our infrastructure. She expressed her gratitude for the swift resolution of the matter, stating, We are grateful for the swift action of the Akosombo police and the Odumase Krobo Circuit Court. Cable theft is a pressing concern, and our collaboration with law enforcement agencies will continue to address and mitigate its repercussions. The theft of such cables disrupts telecommunication services, posing challenges for businesses and residents reliant on consistent connectivity. As Vodafone Ghana continues to expand its operations, with the recent introduction of 4G+, safeguarding assets remains a top priority. 4G+ is a major upgrade to Vodafone Ghanas existing 4G technology that will enable customers to experience an enhanced network speed and facilitate improved services. Proving its commitment to ensuring that as many Ghanaians as possible can tap into this enhanced speed, Vodafone is also rolling out a device financing scheme, where customers can purchase 4G+ capable phones from Vodafones retail outlets, paying for them in manageable instalments. These phones come bundled with 2.5GB of free data every month for 12 months. The swift sentencing of the cable thieves not only underscores the importance of safeguarding critical infrastructure but also highlights the commitment of both law enforcement and corporate entities like Vodafone Ghana in ensuring a secure and progressive digital future for all Ghanaians. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Briphildon Foundation, a registered Non-Governmental and humanitarian-based Organisation, has called on everyone to get involved, spread awareness, and take action to prevent and combat suicide. This was contained in statement signed and released by the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Briphildon Foundation, Bright Philip Donkor, on Sunday September 10, 2023, to commemorate the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), under the theme Creating hope through action. The statement emphasised the importance of combating the stigma associated with suicide and the need for proactive measures to prevent it. It, therefore, urged individuals, communities, and health authorities to join hands in raising awareness and providing support for those facing mental health challenges. We urge health authorities to provide an efficient health delivery system for mental health and make it more accessible to encourage people to seek the required help they need, portions of the statement read. The Briphildon Foundation stressed that suicide is not the only way out of lifes challenges and called upon everyone to recognise the value of each life. Through collective action, the Foundation believes it is possible to create a future where no one feels alone or without help when facing mental health issues. *Commitment* Bright Philip Donkor in the statement affirmed his organisations commitment to taking tangible steps towards attaining this goal through various initiatives and strategies like seminars, summits, and awareness campaigns to educate individuals about the signs of mental distress, depression, and suicidal tendencies. According to him, this would be made possible by collaborating with the right stakeholders to create a comprehensive network of support and enlightenment for individuals. Suicide is a complex and deeply distressing issue that can be attributed to a myriad of factors, including neglect, marginalisation, poverty, the experience of being underprivileged, among others. Therefore, these interconnected elements often create a perfect storm of despair, hopelessness, and emotional pain that can push individuals to contemplate or even act on suicidal thoughts, the statement said. The statement stressed the need to understand the role these factors play in suicidal issues since it is crucial for developing effective prevention and support strategies. For instance, the Foundation pointed out that a report by the WHO in 2021 indicated that about 700,000 people commit suicide every year globally. Although suicide is a global phenomenon that affects all countries, WHO estimates that 77 per cent of all suicide cases occurred in low and middle-income countries. Cases The statement, said, in Ghana, a report by the WHO in 2020 showed that there were 1,993 suicide cases annually on the average. It noted that apart from actual suicide, attempted suicide is also a canker, with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) estimating that 2,781 people attempted to commit suicide between 2018 and 2021. According to the statistics by Ghanas Mental Health Authority (MHA), in 2018 the number of people who attempted suicide was 797. This rose to 880 in 2019 and to 902 in 2021, while those who died by suicide went up from 69 in 2020 to 86 in 2021. There are many cases that are not reported because of stigma and fear of community backlash and legal repercussions, the statement added. The Foundation further acknowledged the positive step taken by the Parliament of Ghana in March 2023 when they successfully decriminalised suicide. It also entreated individuals who may be experiencing any mental health crisis to call the toll-free number of the Ghana Mental Health Authority (MHA), 0800678678, for psychosocial support. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Archbishop of Cape Coast Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Charles Angela Palmer-Buckle, has reiterated calls to Ghanaians to minimise expenditures on funerals, especially one-week observations, to reduce the huge burden on families to bid a loved one farewell. He suggested that parts of those expenditures could be channelled to taking care of dependents of the deceased or the destitute in society. "This problem of huge expenditure on funerals has been hammered on various platforms and all networks wherever l go, to urge Ghanaians to be measured in their huge spending on funerals, which is to the detriment of childrens education," he said. Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said this when he addressed the Centenary Anniversary celebration of the Agona Swedru Saint Anthony Catholic Church at Swedru in the Central Region. He said he totally agreed with the Swedruman Counncil of Chiefs Bye-laws to cut down the huge expenditure on one-week observations and final funeral rites in the area. The Councils bye-laws are meant to reduce the burden on families, after losing their loved ones, to organise big funerals to signify their love for the deceased. The Archbishop commended the Council for the move and urged members of the Catholic Church to abide by those rules and regulations. The Catholic Church had outlined a five-year programme aimed at taking evangelism to the door-step of the people to win more souls for Christ. Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, encouraged Christians to do away with acts that went against Christianity and live lives worthy of emulation. She congratulated the Saint Anthony Catholic Church for its 100 years of existence and urged the leaders to continue to support education and health, as well as help to fight bribery and corruption in the country. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Vincent Ekow Assafuah has expressed disappointment in former President John Mahama over some comments he made concerning the Judiciary. John Mahama, speaking at an NDC Lawyers' Conference accused President Akufo Addo of packing the judiciary with NPP-aligned judges. He said, Our lawyers, some of you must be prepared to go onto the bench, I know that some of you have very lucrative legal practices you will not want to leave and go onto the bench. But you can see what the current President has done; he appointed the largest number of judges onto the bench. More than 80 towards hundred and counting. Hes packed the court and we know that theyve packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office. So all manner of people who have been known to be partisan, to have been executives of their party who are in the legal profession have been leapfrogged onto the Superior courts and other places. Ekow Vincent speaking to this described the comment as "unfortunate and condemnable". "This is not befitting of a statesman. He should've left these comments for the serial callers and communicators. This should not be coming from a former President. Even I don't speak like that...there's a thin line between someone who is neutral and impartial" he stated on Peace FM's The Platform programme. Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Renowned private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said that he is tired of the two political parties that have ruled Ghana in the 4th Republic, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP). According to him, the NDC and the NPP have nothing new to offer Ghanaians because they are all full of corrupt individuals. Speaking during a panel discussion on TV3, on September 9, 2023, Martin Kpebu said that the only difference is that the NPP has proved to be more corrupt than the NDC because the level of corruption seen under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is way more than that of ex-President John Dramani Mahama. We are tired of the NDC and the NPP, they are the same. Expect it is proven that now, the NDC is less corrupt than the NPP. Because of the gargantuan corruption we are facing today. Mahama was also corrupt but Akufo-Addos own is on a grander skill. He (Akufo-Addo) is the mother serpent of corruption. So, we want to get something different from NDC and NPP, he said. The lawyer also rejected the assertions that former NPP flagbearer hopeful Alan Kyerematen should contest in the 2024 election as an independent candidate. He said that he wants the clergy in the country to join forces and choose a candidate who would challenge the NDC and NPP in the 2024 elections. I dont support Alan for an independent candidate. I have made it clear that the people, I support for an independent candidate are the churches. Let the churches come together, the Catholic Church, the Pentecostals, the Charismatic, the Chief Imam and his people, they should come together and give us a candidate to rival the NDC and the NPP." Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Summary of research findings, Nicholson, Samantha K., et al. 2023. Credit: Sarah Markes, WildCRU. New research published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, reveals alarming data about dwindling lion populations in Africa but gives new insight into conservation strategies. The research, led by Professor Amy Dickman of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford and Sam Nicholson of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, along with 32 additional co-authors from around the world, provides a framework for evaluating investments into saving lions across Africa. Professor Dickman said, "Lions are one of the most iconic species in the world, but are undergoing devastating declines. This comprehensive analysis is the first to look at both ecological and socio-political risk factors facing lions at scale. Conservation science is important to guide action, but this research highlights the invaluable role that politicians, economists, development experts and others must play if we are to safeguard lions and other biodiversity." The research findings clearly demonstrate that, even when they are the same size, lion populations may have significant differences in their vulnerability due to ecological and socio-political risk factors. "For instance," explains senior author Dr. Andrew Jacobson of Catawba College in North Carolina, U.S., "both Sudan and Benin have a single known lion population each, that have approximately the same number of lions. However, Benin's lone population is part of a much larger transfrontier conservation area shared with two other countries, and Benin is a relatively more stable and prosperous country than Sudan." "Sudan's lone population is also contiguous with a lion population in another country (Ethiopia in this case); however, the country is involved in a civil war with people fleeing in the millions. The war and instability undercuts the ability of park rangers or others to help ensure the continuation of Sudan's lions. This comparison demonstrates how when evaluating investments into protecting lions, both ecological and socio-political factors must be considered." The study first identified and mapped wild African lion populations, building on extensive lion monitoring which WildCRU projects have played a major role in for decades. The researchers then created two general categories of population fragility, being ecological and socio-political, and identified factors in these two categories that may influence the survival of wild lions. For example, a smaller lion population or higher densities of people and livestock were factors contributing to higher ecological fragility, while higher levels of corruption or lower GDP per capita would contribute to greater socio-political fragility. The socio-political and ecological factors were combined into a single overall fragility index, and each lion population was compared relative to all others. The fragility score does not suggest which lion populations deserve protection or funding. It does, however, highlight the varying ecological and anthropogenic pressures facing different populations and which populations may require relatively more resources (financial or other) to conserve. Summary of research findings, Nicholson, Samantha K., et al. 2023. Credit: Sarah Markes, WildCRU. The combination of these two indices provided some interesting comparisons. Professor Amy Dickman added, "Some populations may ultimately have similar fragility scores, but they are driven by different threats. Thus, while on the surface, the lone lion populations in Sudan and Benin may appear similar, they likely require different levels of investment and perhaps even different types of intervention for conservation to succeed." "Pouring money into conserving Sudan's lions may be relatively ineffective unless the socio-political factors such as the civil war are dealt with first. Thus, stakeholders, investors and conservation groups must be aware of these differences when approaching lion conservation and evaluating how much money, time or other investment may be needed to see success." Co-lead author Sam Nicholson of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, said, "This research is the first of its kind in bringing together both ecological and socio-political factors into a single index to evaluate potential conservation investments for African lions. This is critical because the challenges faced by lions have both ecological and socio-political roots." Indeed, lion conservation is needed more than ever. Less than half of the 62 known remaining free-ranging wild African lion populations house over 100 lions. African lions remain in only 25 countries and nearly half of these nations have fewer than 250 individuals. Eight countries now house only a single wild lion population. Although the total African population may be estimated at between 20,000 and 25,000 individuals, there is concern that these small, fragmented populations and countries with few individuals will disappear. Rapidly growing anthropogenic pressures on natural resources, particularly in Africa, suggest a challenging future for lions, and wildlife in general. With human-induced threats like habitat loss, prey depletion, and human-wildlife conflict, lions are increasingly being pushed to the brink. However, substantial efforts are being made to halt population loss and regain territory. Conservation efforts are having some success, such as expanding lion populations in Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, and Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. Notably, almost all of remaining African lion range is within countries that rank in the 25% poorest countries in the world. While lions have been eliminated from many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and the Middle East, the countries that eliminated their lions a century or more ago, are largely those with relatively less poverty today. This leaves the remaining African lions vulnerable to the pressures felt by many of the poorest countries and communities in the world. Previous estimates suggest more than US$1 billion may be needed annually to maintain the existing lion populations within protected areas, however the researchers estimate that the costs for protecting all the remaining African lions is closer to US$3 billion annually. This research underscores the moral responsibility of wealthier nations to contribute more significantly to lion conservation and helps to identify some of the factors which need to be considered to make that contribution more effective. More information: Samantha K. Nicholson et al, Socio-political and ecological fragility of threatened, free-ranging African lion populations, Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00959-3 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: New fossils of the cyanobacteria Langiella scourfieldii are helping scientists understand more about how microbial life colonised land. Credit: Strullu-Derrien, 2023 A species of bacteria that lived 407 million years ago would have flourished among early land plants. Detailed 3D reconstructions of fossils discovered in Scotland are helping scientists to understand more about how microbial life affected early terrestrial ecosystems. Cyanobacteria evolved early in our planet's history and played a significant role in shaping life as we know it. These tiny microorganisms have been well documented in marine rocks, but scientists are trying to understand more about how they first colonized land. Langiella scourfieldii is a species of cyanobacteria which is part of the Hapalosiphonaceae family and grew among early land plants more than 400 million years ago in the Early Devonian. A new study published in iScience reveals that L. scourfieldii is the oldest species of the Hapalosiphonaceae known to have colonized land. It would have thrived in soils, freshwater and hot springs, much like its living relatives do today. Dr. Christine Strullu-Derrien, a Scientific Associate at the Museum and lead author of the study says, "With the 3D reconstructions, we were able to see evidence of branching, which is a characteristic of Hapalosiphonacean cyanobacteria. This is exciting because it means that these are the earliest cyanobacteria of this type found on land." What are cyanobacteria? Cyanobacteria are an ancient group of microorganisms. Their fossils are among the earliest ever discovered, with the oldest widely accepted ones dating to around 2 billion years ago. Today, they are one of the largest and most important groups of bacteria. They live in and around aquatic environments virtually everywhere on Earth, including oceans, freshwater, damp soil, and even Antarctic rocks. Although small and typically unicellular, cyanobacteria often grow in colonies large enough to see with the naked eye and are known for their extensive blooms that turn the water's surface blue-green. These tiny organisms have played a significant role in shaping the evolution of life. They photosynthesize in a similar way to plants and are responsible for helping to create our oxygen-rich atmosphere. Around 2.4 billion years ago, masses of photosynthesizing cyanobacteria initiated the Great Oxygenation Event, when oxygen began to replace other gases like methane in the atmosphere. This led to what many scientists have described as Earth's first mass extinction as organisms that were adapted to anaerobic life began to die out. Cyanobacteria probably originated in freshwater environments, so scientists believe they started to colonize land early in their history. "Cyanobacteria in the Early Devonian played the same role that they do today," says Christine. "Some organisms use them for food, but they are also important for photosynthesis. We have learnt that they were already present when plants first began colonizing land and may have even competed with them for space." Modern 3D microscopes helped scientists to discover that new fossils and those discovered in 1959 were all one species, Langiella scourfieldii. Credit: Strullu-Derrien, 2023 How was Langiella scourfieldii discovered? L. scourfieldii was first discovered in 1959 alongside two other species from a rock fragment found in the Rhynie Chert fossil site in Aberdeenshire. The original descriptions were based on specimens in the Museum's collections, but more recently, similar specimens discovered in the collections of the Sorbonne University in Paris were found to be from the same species. "The three species of cyanobacteria described in 1959 were described from a small piece of rock that is very difficult to photograph and study," Christine says. "Fortunately, we found new samples from the Rhynie Chert containing cyanobacteria that we could study in more detail using the confocal microscope." One of the main characteristics of this type of bacteria is the presence of what is known as "true branching." This occurs when individual bacteria grow alongside each other in a line, with some lines breaking off in different directions to create a branching structure. While remains of cyanobacteria are relatively common in the Rhynie Chert, many do not display this true branching. By finding it in L. scourfieldii, researchers could confirm the bacteria's presence in this ecosystem. What did the Rhynie Chert look like in the Early Devonian? More than 400 million years ago, the landscape of Aberdeenshire would have looked considerably different from today. Much of Earth's landmass was located in the Southern Hemisphere. Scotland lay just south of the Equator and would have experienced a tropical to sub-tropical climate. The Rhynie Chert, meanwhile, would have been an area of sandy flatland with shallow pools of fresh to brackish water. Volcanic activity and hot springs in the area would mean that it likely resembled the modern Yellowstone Nation Park. That said, its biodiversity would have looked very different, as the Early Devonian was before forests and vertebrates started to become dominant on land. Instead, the focus of life would have been on moist rocks near pools of water. These would have been covered by microbial mats consisting of bacteria, algae and fungi. As the soil at the time was not deep, plants did not have complex root systems so instead grew on these microbial mats attached by small structures called rhizoids. At some point, silica released from hot springs settled around the organic material, rapidly preserving it in chert, which is a finely crystalline quartz. The exceptional preservation of these organisms makes the Rhynie Chert a globally important site for scientists. "The Rhynie Chert is an iconic site because it's 400 million years old, and much of the environment from this time has been preserved," says Christine. "It is the only site where you find traces of all the organisms together: the plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and algae. You can see the interactions between species that would have taken place." More information: Christine Strullu-Derrien et al, Hapalosiphonacean cyanobacteria (Nostocales) thrived amid emerging embryophytes in an early Devonian (407-million-year-old) landscape, iScience (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107338 Journal information: iScience This story is republished courtesy of Natural History Museum. Read the original story here. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Digitizing the igneous intrusion at Hyperittfossen (Svalbox DOM 2020-0006). The frozen waterfall is surrounded by igneous intrusions belonging to the Early-Cretaceous Diabasodden Suite. Even with the midnight sun, snow is present until June and data acquisition is supported by snowmobile. Credit: Peter Betlem The Svalbox Digital Model Database (DMDb) just made its formal debut into the scientific community in a new article published in the journal Geosphere. The Svalbard archipelago, located north of Norway halfway to the North Pole and well within the Arctic Circle, is a remote geological wonderland. Svalbox DMDb is a new regional database which currently collates 135 digital outcrop models (DOMs), making data from 114 km2 of this incredibly difficult-to-access area freely available to anyone with internet access. Digital outcrop models are georeferenced three-dimensional digital representations of geologic outcrops that have revolutionized the way twenty-first century geoscientists work. In the Svalbox DMDb, these models are integrated with other geoscientific data. 3D drone footage is also available. "It is like Google Street Viewminus the street part," explains first author Peter Betlem. While DOMs are routinely used in research, education, and industry, they are often only available in their stand-alone, fully processed form. What is unique about the Svalbox DMDb is that it is composed of data and metadata shared according to FAIR (i.e., findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) principles. Each database entry includes raw input and processed output data and has a DOI so that it is traceable and citable. The coastal cliffs of Kvalhovden in eastern Spitsbergen (Svalbox DOM 2019-0018) expose palaeolandslide blocks and related slope failure features that disturb a succession of paralic sediments, many of which visible in the digital twin. Credit: Peter Betlem While working in Svalbard, Betlem quickly realized that the amount of drone data collected in a single field campaign is enormous and only grows with every step of processing. Having a good digital infrastructure to archive the data was critical to his success. "These were the early days of DOMs, and there was a lot to figure out," recalls Betlem. It took many years and several iterations to get to the current form of the Svalbox DMDb. Today, the Svalbox DMDb provides a unique resource for all geoscientists working in the archipelago, as well as a great teaching aid. Its digital outcrop models complement traditional field work by extending the field season indefinitely and expanding scientists' reach to sites that are not accessible through traditional field work, as well as allowing them to better prepare for upcoming expeditions. "Not knowing what a field site looks like can really hold you back," clarifies Betlem, "especially in the Arctic, where the landscape changes rapidly as glaciers recede." These changes can now be preserved in time-lapse through the Svalbox DMDb, their geological potential thus safeguarded for generations to come. "In the months leading up to field season we get a couple of inquiries per week on the datasets: do you have more? Can we use them?" This has already led to collaborations and publications, two fundamental pillars of scientific research. The Svalbard archipelago offers an incredible variety of quality outcrops spanning a wide range of lithologies and tectono-magmatic styles. A personal favorite of Betlem's, detailed in the Geosphere paper, is the Festningen profile, Svalbard's only geotope. This outcrop spans 400 million years across a 7 km transect with vertical stratigraphy. "You literally walk back in time, starting in the Paleogene and crossing the Permian-Triassic boundary before reaching Carboniferous sequences," says Betlem. This Svalbox Behind the Scenes video documents drone- and boat-based data acquisition in two of Svalbard's fjordsVan Keulenfjorden and Van Mijenfjordenin summer 2021. The acquired data were used to reconstruct the Van Keulenfjorden Digital Model Transect, as described in the Geosphere paper. Credit: Geological Society of America Sometimes data acquisition is drone-based; sometimes it is handheld. Precisely constraining the GPS location of each individual image is fundamental to extracting key geological measurements such as strike and dip a posteriori. All images get oriented and merged through photogrammetry, the science of extracting 3D information from photographs. But it is getting to the outcrop to be digitized that is a real adventure. Any means of transportation is fair game, from boats to snowmobiles. The field season is restricted to about 100 days per year in late spring and summer, squished in between the long polar night that extends from October to February. Svalbox DMDb is constantly expanding with the addition of more DOMs. Betlem is currently gearing up for his next field season, and as he heads up to 80N with the Svalbox team they will collect additional drone footage of hot springs and other volcanic remnants. Visit https://www.svalbox.no/map to see it come to digital life. More information: Peter Betlem et al, Svalbox Digital Model Database: A geoscientific window into the High Arctic, Geosphere (2023). DOI: 10.1130/GES02606.1 Journal information: GeoSphere This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Bill Leikam was reviewing footage from a wildlife camera he placed along a Palo Alto creekbed recently when something unfamiliar scampered across the screen. "I have enough experience with the wildlife out there to be able to identify every one of them just by their movementthis one had me baffled," said Leikam, president and co-founder of the Urban Wildlife Research Project. "I'd never seen a critter out there moving like this little guy did." Leikam, who is better known as The Fox Guy, watched the clip over and over. Eventually, he recognized the mysterious creature as a critically important species that has long been missing from his beloved Baylandsa mammal that California wildlife officials have hailed as a "climate hero." "I just stopped and said to myself, 'Is that a baby beaver?'" Leikam said. The kit sighting in Matadero Creek has been confirmed by local wildlife experts and even a historical ecologist. It marks the first time in decadesif not more than a centurythat a beaver colony has taken up residence in this region south of the San Francisco Bay. For state wildlife officials and "beaver believers," the camera trap images are cause for celebration. After being hunted and harassed for hundreds of years, the North American beaver is poised to make a comeback in the Golden State, and its resurgence could help fight certain effects of climate change. While there have been other recent reports of beaver activity across the Bay Area, Leikam said this is the first concrete evidence. More importantly, it suggests a successful re-population of the area. Last fall, Leikam spotted a pair of beavers along Matadero Creek and hoped they would settle in and create a beaver pup. "It's unique that they're establishing," said Emily Fairfax, a longtime California beaver researcher who now works as an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. "This is a stamp of approval to have a beaver move in." Since the mid- to late 1800s, when California beavers were pushed nearly to extinction by the fur trade, the semi-aquatic rodents have made small inroads into the Bay Area and other regionsa process complicated by the lining of tributaries with concrete, making them inhospitable for the flat-tailed animal. "It's one thing if you find a dispersing beaver somewhere, it's a totally different ballgame when you find that you have an established, reproducing population," said Valerie Cook, manager of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's newly established Beaver Restoration Program. "It really reflects that shift in perception and people starting to recognize that these are not a nuisance species." For decades, developers, municipalities and farmers focused on beavers as a problem that required mitigation or removal. Now, the species known as Castor canadensis is seen as offering myriad benefits: It can help to mitigate drought and wildfires through natural water management; it is considered a keystone species for its ability to foster biodiversity; and it can restore habitat through its ecosystem engineering. "They can create wetlands in basically any ecosystem," said Fairfax, who described beavers as a free workforce that California has yet to take full advantage of. "The fires are catastrophic and the droughts are widespread and unrelentingit feels like we have to exhaust all options." While experts have known the advantages of beavers for decadesa 1950 Outdoor California magazine highlighted a short-lived effort to move beavers via parachute to improve water suppliesit's only in the last year that state officials have formed a new beaver restoration program. "California is paving a pathway forward for beavers to have a much better future in this state and to actually be part of dealing with things like droughts and floods and wildfires," Fairfax said. Cook, of the state's beaver restoration program, said their mission is two-fold: helping translocate beavers to regions where there are few to no beavers, and promoting human-beaver coexistence. She acknowledged that beavers can still cause conflicts with landowners, but there are ways to mitigate those issues. Instead of eradication, people need to focus on the species' positive contributions, she said. Beavers are experts at conserving and retaining water, helping minimize dry stream beds during drought and improving summer baseflowsall of which better support a variety of wildlife. "River otters come back, mink come back, all manner of birds come back," said Rick Lanman, president of the Institute for Historical Ecology. Lanman, the historical ecologist who helped determine the last time beavers were in Palo Alto waterways, called the ponds created by beaver dams "a giant cafeteria for baby trout and salmon." Beaver ponds are also hugely beneficial during wildfires, because they act as a physical barrier to spreading flames, and they reduce the flammability of nearby plants by increasing their water content. They also provide wildlife a refuge from approaching fire and supply firefighters with water in remote places, Lanman said. "That's wildfire refugiathat's more fuel moisture, more green; that's less severe burning or a bit of a fire buffer," Cook said. There are no population estimates for California beavers, but Fairfax said the numbers statewide are "relatively tiny." "Everywhere could use more," she said. Other western states, such as Colorado and Utah, have supported beavers more aggressively in the last few years, and Fairfax said she is hopeful California can begin to catch up. For Leikam, who has been monitoring this area of Palo Alto Baylands for more than a decade, the new beaver offspring is the latest sign of an improving ecosystem. "I'm optimistic about wildlife," said Leikam, who has spent years tracking gray foxes. While he has yet to see evidence that this new beaver family is building a damhe suspects they are living in deep burrows within the creek's bankhe's hopeful he might see one in the future, which would support a host of new animals. "This new beaver family is really important if they survive and reproduce," said Lanman, who hopes they expand their range in the Bay Area. "It's just remarkable." 2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: AI-generated image Canada has experienced an unprecedented wildfire season in 2023. People's experiences with any disaster event are influenced by social- and place-based vulnerabilities. For example, where you live affects your exposure to different hazards including wildfires and floods. Pre-existing social vulnerabilities contribute to some populations having disproportionate impacts from these events, in both the short and long term. Social vulnerability factors that have a demonstrated effect on people's experience with disasters include income, health, disability, age, race, and gender. These factors also intersect in ways that increase vulnerability for certain populations. Evidence suggests gender-based violence increases during disasters and in the years that follow. Further, the risk for women and LGBTQI populations is heightened when sheltering in place or evacuation from a community is required. Evidence of gender-based violence during and after disasters can be reflected in increased calls from women to police and domestic violence helplines. However, it is estimated that 78% of cases of sexual assault in Canada are not reported for a variety of reasons. It is important to recognize that social vulnerabilities are not inherent individual traits, rather vulnerability stems from historic inequities over time that impact access to resources and marginalize people. Government preparedness for and responses to disasters must consider and address how social vulnerabilities increase disaster risk and adverse outcomes for some populations. Gaps in emergency management planning My research examines how social vulnerabilities, gender and gender-based violence are addressed in government plans for responding to disasters and pandemics. In my research, I found that federal, provincial, territorial and local government emergency management plans in Canada acknowledge how social vulnerabilities contribute to the differential impacts of hazard events for households and communities. Importantly, the federal government recently published two reports examining how social vulnerability contributes to disaster risk: the National Risk Profile and the report on Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards in Canada. However, my research also found these reports and plans do not address how gender influences the direct and indirect impacts of disasters, including the increase in gender-based violence during and following disasters. While federal, provincial and territorial governments have made commitments to addressing gender inequities and the use of gender-based analysis tools such as GBA+, I found limited reference or commitment to the use of these tools. GBA+ tools examine how gender intersects with other identity factors, such as age, ethnicity and income to differentiate experiences of women, men and gender diverse populations. Public Safety Canada's Departmental Plan references GBA+ when addressing emergency management. However, the plans address social vulnerability more generally and no commitments are made to address gender specifically. The only identified government funded report addressing gender and disaster in the Canadian context was a 2008 report by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The federal and some but not all provincial and territorial governments took actions during the pandemic to address the increase in gender-based violence. However, there has been no concerted effort by Canadian governments to address the gendered impacts of disasters more generally. Gender-based violence and disasters There is an established body of research on gender-based violence during Australian bushfires. Researchers found domestic violence occurred in households where a woman had previously experienced violence, as well as in households were there had been stable non-violent relationships. Further, those experiencing violence noted an increase of the severity of the violence following the disasters. These same patterns were noted in the pandemic in Canada. The Australian research also found women's unemployment or homelessness during a disaster was exploited by men who return under the guise of offering assistance. In other instances, men's behavior during disaster was excused by counselors or police because of the stresses brought on by a disaster. The dismissal of violence in the context of a disaster harms women. Another concern is that supports like counseling centers, women's shelters and sexual assault centers can be disrupted during a disaster. In the recent evacuation of Yellowknife, all these services would likely have been impacted. Further, communication infrastructure is also impacted by disasters, which can limit the ability to call for help. The Canadian Women's Foundation recently supported the development of guidance to help these organizations prepare for service disruptions in the event of a disaster. A call to action We have a moral and ethical imperative to address the inequitable effects of disasters within society. Recommendations on how to address the gendered impacts of disasters, including gender-based violence, include The Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action, Guidelines for Integrating Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Action, the Red Cross Minimum Standard Commitments to Gender and Diversity in Emergency Programming and the UN's Minimum Standards for Prevention and Response to Gender-based Violence in Emergencies. Australia has made significant investments in addressing the gendered impacts of disasters. Their process offers an example of what is needed in Canada to advance gender and disaster practice. The mandate to address gender inequities in Canada is already in place, as are plans to address gender-based violence. There is an urgent imperative to bring the work addressing gender-based inequity and violence into emergency management practice. These efforts need to be led by all orders of government and integrated into their action plans for improving emergency management practices in Canada. Experts on the gendered impacts of disasters must become part of the emergency response effort. In addition to integrating gender analysis in planning activities, rapid gender analysis needs to be conducted at the outset of a disaster and throughout the recovery period. Further, emergency management organizations need to work closely with counseling centers, women's shelters and sexual assault services to ensure they have the capacity to respond to disasters. These organizations must be recognized as an essential service when disasters occur. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Sample pieces of glaze-coated tile (b) tea solutions before and after mixing with glazes (top) and degraded tea solutions with and without existence of glazes (bottom). Credit: Takashi Shirai from NITech, Japan Introduced as a medicinal drink around 2700 B.C., tea has grown to be the one of the most popular beverages worldwide. One of the key reasons for its popularity is its rich content of flavonoids and polyphenols, which contribute to the antioxidant property, flavor, and aroma of tea, offering various potential health benefits. These compounds are extracted from tea leaves during brewing and can be influenced by several factors, such as water temperature, brewing time, and the materials used in tea preparation vessels. Recently, researchers from Nagoya Institute of Technology (NITech) in Japan have revealed, for the first time, that the choice of glazing on ceramic tea sets used to prepare tea plays a key role in the retention of catechin flavonoids. In their study published online in the journal Scientific Reports, Associate Professor Takashi Shirai, along with Dr. Yunzi Xin, Mr. Sota Shido, and Dr. Kunihiko Kato from the Advanced Ceramics Research Center at NITech, examined the impact of four different typical Japanese commercial glazesOribe, Namako, Irabo, and Toumeion the content of catechins, the most abundant flavonoid found in green tea. While glaze coatings primarily consist of feldspar minerals, such as silicon, aluminum, sodium, and calcium oxides, they also contain distinct metal oxide species that impart a unique appearance and texture to the ceramic vessel. Oribe glaze predominantly contains copper (Cu) oxides and imparts a vibrant green color, while Namako glaze contains cobalt (Co) oxides for a dark blue appearance. Irabo glaze contains iron (Fe) oxides that impart orange tones, while Toumei glaze has a high titanium (Ti) content, providing a transparent finish. Glazes on tea sets significantly reduce the amount of catechins in tea by oxidizing them, altering the flavor, aroma, and health benefits of tea. Credit: Dr. Takashi Shirai from NITech, Japan To examine the effect of the glaze on tea catechins, the researchers brewed a green tea solution using ion-exchanged water at 80C for three minutes. The tea leaves were separated, and the supernatant (liquid lying above solid residue) was mixed with glaze powders coated on ceramic tiles. The glazetea mixture was then allowed to react for six hours, followed by the removal of the glaze powder through centrifugation and filtration. The researchers observed that the pristine tea solution had a clear bright yellow color, but after six hours of degradation, it turned into a yellowish-brown color. In contrast, the tea solutions degraded by different glazes exhibited darker black or brown colors. In other words, the extent of color change depended significantly on the type of glaze. Additionally, the researchers also observed a selective reduction in the amount of altered catechins in tea. The tea solutions mixed with Oribe, Namako, and Irabo glazes showed significantly lower concentrations of epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate, while the Toumei glaze selectively degraded epigallocatechin gallate. The reduction in catechin concentration and the resulting color change can be attributed to the oxidation process of catechins, which forms brownish thearubigins and reddish-orange theaflavin and its oxide pigments. "During the degradation process, Cu-, Co-, Fe-, and Ti-oxides in glaze powders can act as a Lewis acid catalyst and promote the oxidation of catechin molecules to ortho-quinones, followed by further reaction to form thearubigins and/or theaflavin and its oxides. Another oxidation route is through the polymerization of intermediate free radical catechins," explains Dr. Shirai. "And it is very interesting that thearubigins and theaflavins are the main components of fermented tea like black tea. In other words, green tea brewed by specific ceramic tea sets can be turned into black tea." In summary, this study highlights that the choice of glaze materials used in ceramic tea sets can significantly affect the concentration of beneficial compounds such as catechins in tea. "The specific function of glazes on the degradation of catechins not only provides principal information for the design and development of functional materials but can also impact daily tea drinking and long-term human health-related issues," concludes Dr. Shirai. More information: Yunzi Xin et al, Glazes induced degradation of tea catechins, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37480-8 Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: AI-generated image In 2017, the Chinese environmental NGO, Friends of Nature, sued the developer of a dam in Yunnan province in the country's south west. The NGO alleged that the project's environmental impact assessment had failed to fully capture how the dam would affect the surrounding rainforest, and particularly the endangered green peafowl that lives there. This weak assessment report was one reason why the project was granted consent and even highlighted as best practice by the local government. In 2020 a court in Yunnan ordered a halt to construction of the dam, but the discussion around the case did not end. This was not an isolated issue related to one local government's hasty approval of a project with a flawed environmental impact assessment. Instead, it revealed systemic challenges for China's ecological compensation system in which developers often get to assess their own environmental impacts. Nowhere in the world are these potential trade-offs between infrastructure and the environment more stark than in China, which features both a global biodiversity hotspot and huge and fast-developing economy. This all adds up. For instance, it is estimated that between 2010 and 2013 China poured more concrete than the U.S. did in the entire 20th century. Credit: AI-generated image Weak environmental impact assessments and the subsequent approval of harmful development projects are endemic to planning processes worldwide. However, the ecological compensation system in China is rather different to those elsewhere. In China, developers first assess the environmental impact of their new projects. They can then choose to redress these impacts by themselves or to pay upfront restoration fees to the government, who will use the money to do it for them. We recently published research exploring how this system works (and when it doesn't) and what other parts of the world could learn from it. Unreliable and often ineffective We reviewed 31 projects across different regions in China, including the Yunnan dam. We found that only seven of the relevant environmental impact assessments used quantitative metrics to measure their impact on biodiversity. This is perfectly legal, as these metrics are not compulsory. But the lack of standard measurements means any compensation programs can't be reliable. Nonetheless, developers are encouraged to design restoration and compensation schemes and include them in their environmental assessment reports submitted to the government. However, they are not required to restore habitats which are similar to the ones being lost. This means projects can replace valuable habitats with less valuable areasplanting roadside trees to make up for lost wetland forest, for example. Species and habitats could therefore be degraded or lost even though ecological compensation has been paid. When developers don't want to restore nature themselves, or their proposals are not significant enough to make up for the habitat loss they have caused, they are required to pay restoration fees to the government. Credit: AI-generated image Under China's environmental laws and regulations, local government collects these restoration fees from developers and spends them on creating new habitats or recovering degraded habitats elsewhere. For instance, forestry law requires restoration fees to be spent towards ensuring no net loss in the area covered by forest (albeit without consideration of forest type, so a native forest could be replaced with a non-native plantation). It might be better if China's public sector was fully in charge of ecological compensation, rather than letting developers design their own compensatory projects. But it's very hard to find information that would let us know. Out of 2,844 local governments across China, fewer than 1% have disclosed how much restoration money they have collected and spent and what they spent it on. We did manage to sample ten reports disclosed by local governments and found that they implement similar biodiversity-enhancement projects to developers. Individual species can fall through the net Due to the lack of proper metrics to capture biodiversity losses and inadequate information published, it is near-impossible to compare outcomes and to evaluate the effectiveness of ecological compensation projects. However, it is clear that there is a lack of regulatory safeguards for biodiversity on China's development sites. This is because the ecological compensation policy relates mostly to habitat area. It does not well account for a habitat's quality, its functional role within a wider ecosystem, its conservation value, the amount of species that live there and many other such attributes. The focus on habitat means individual threatened species (such as the green peafowl) can fall through the net. China's central government should consider passing a law that would mean biodiversity impact measurements would have to use a unified indicator framework, and, if possible, make it compulsory for all development activities. Equally, China may also need to improve compensation governance for data tracking and conservation effectiveness monitoring. Establishing a public national offset register would help. Other countries might learn from China. Paying upfront restoration fees could encourage developers elsewhere to avoid and minimize their environmental impacts at the early stages of their projects. Besides, the levying of fees from developers to be spent by local governments on projects to enhance both nature and people's well-being in a strategic way could be a useful model for ecological compensation elsewhere. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This thousand-year old pencil pine burned during the 2016 alpine bushfires in Tasmania. These trees are not used to fire. Credit: Rod Blakers/Wikimedia, CC BY-ND This century, Australia has suffered more frequent and more severe bushfires. The Black Summer fires of 201920 were the worst on record for the area burned and property loss. How much climate change has contributed to these increases is a hot topic. Bushfire risk is dialed up by four switches: fuel amount and condition, fire weather and ignition sources. Untangling these various influences is difficult, so the role played by the warming climate is heavily debated. Fire-weather measures fire risk on a daily basis, while a fire-climate regime measures fire risk over seasonal and longer time scales. Our research shows almost everywhere in Australia is now in a different fire climate than it was just 20 years ago, with falling relative humidity a key factor. Previous research has also identified these sudden jumps in fire danger. What caused fire climates to shift? Conventional scientific wisdom assumes the climate's response to increasing emissions is gradual and linear. When rapid change happens, it's often thought to be due to climate variability. But that's not what happened here. Most Australian fire climate regimes have already shifted Fire weather is calculated using the Forest Fire Danger Index, which takes into account vegetation dryness, windspeed, temperature and relative humidity. Obtaining reliable long-term records using these measures is difficult, so we used high quality seasonal and annual climate inputs to estimate the annual fire climate for different regions of Australia from 195758 to 202122. We tracked changes in this fire danger index over that 64-year period across all states and the Northern Territory. We also looked at distinct sub regions such as southwest Australia. What we found was startling. Rather than a linear increase, fire regimes tracked along a similar lineand then suddenly jumped. For most states and territories, that happened around the year 2000. There is no evidence for a long-term trend. Instead, the data shows a shift from one stable fire climate regime to another. The modeled days of severe fire danger for Victoria between 1957 and 2021 showing internal trends (dashed lines) separated by the regime shift in 1997. We're already seeing these changes play out. Whenever you see a news article about intense fires in areas not used to fire, that's likely to be due to a shift in fire climate. Think of the fires devastating Tasmania's alpine regions in 2016, killing off many old pencil and King Billy pines. When did these jumps happen? Here's when each region shifted from one fire regime to the next: You can see the shift in the number of days above "high fire danger." Orange numbers are the average number of days per year rated above high fire danger during the old fire regime (195758 to regime shift), the year the fire regime shifted. Red numbers are the average number of days from the start of the new regime to 202122. Author supplied, CC BY-ND When we showed this research to Greg Mullins, former Commissioner of Fire & Rescue New South Wales, he said it was "utterly consistent with what firefighters are experiencing worldwide: more frequent, intense, and damaging bushfires that sometimes are impossible to control." Is it really that bad? Yes. For instance, what would have been the one in ten bad fire season under the earlier regime (occurring once in ten years) became, on average, a one in two fire season in the second regime. That means the worst 10% of fire years were now happening every second year. When we looked at even worse fire yearsthe worst year in 20 fire seasonsthe shift was shocking. On average, we are now seeing these years twice every five years. Why did fire climates shift so abruptly? That's the big question. To find out, we analyzed all the available input variables for regime shifts and tested their influence on the results. We found wind speed was not a factor. Changes in rainfall had little effect. So what was it? We found the main driver was relative humidity in combination with higher daily temperatures during the fire season. Recently, we examined global humidity data and found large-scale downward shifts in humidity. In the Southern Hemisphere, that happened in 2002. In the Northern Hemisphere, it happened in 1999. Humidity reductions in each region of Australia were closely followed by shifts to higher fire season maximum temperatures, amplified by soils drying out. We also tested global average fire season length from 1979 to 2013 for regime shifts, finding a rapid expansion in 2002. That's the same year Australia's median fire danger jumped. The consequences of these shifts are profound. The unprecedented fires in Canada and Europe, the devastating fires in Hawaii and the increasing frequency of wildfires around the world have their roots in lower relative humidity, which leads to higher daytime temperatures. That, in turn, creates these dangerous new fire regimes. Why haven't we heard about these sudden shifts in fire climate? One reason is much of our modeling is built on the assumption the steady accumulation of heat trapped by greenhouse gases leads to linear changes elsewhere. But as this year's climate chaos suggests, this assumption may be unfounded. In our earlier research, we found zero of 32 climate models were able to reproduce the sudden shifts in relative humidity across the globe. What does this mean for this year's fire season? Many parts of New South Wales, Queensland, the western Northern Territory and northwest Victoria have already dried out, though large forests will keep some moisture after the years of rain. Grass fires are already raging in the Northern Territory. That suggests the greatest risks this summer will be in grassland, scrubland and suburbs on the fringe of cities. Widespread catastrophic forest fires are probably less likely. But the major fires will return if dry conditions persist. In fact, in the current climate, land can dry out much faster than it used to, leading to flash droughts which swing from very wet to very dry in a short period of time. Rememberthis current fire regime may not be permanent. As the climate warms further, it's entirely possible our fire regimes could warp into something even more dangerous. Ensuring our climate models are capable of predicting these changes is an urgent task. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Results of the qPCR assays measuring mtDNA and nuDNA concentrations in eDNA samples. (A) Locations sampled for Round Goby tissues and eDNA; (B) The concentration (copy number/L) of mtDNA (purple) in eDNA was much higher than the concentration of nuDNA (blue); (C) Log-transformed mtDNA and nuDNA concentrations are correlated with one another. The prediction (blue line) and 95% CI (shaded area) came from a linear model on the log-transformed DNA concentrations in each sample (C). Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307345120 Ecologists have demonstrated that the genetic material that species shed into their environments can reveal not only the presence of the species but also a broad range of information about the genetics of whole populations. The advancement in environmental DNA (eDNA) opens new possibilities for protecting endangered and vulnerable species and managing destructive invasive species. "This breakthrough is part of a continuous trajectory of learning more and more from eDNA, with this new study detecting the genetic variation within a species," said study co-author David Lodge, the Francis J. DiSalvo Director of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. "For the benefit of biodiversity conservation, we're getting closer and closer to what forensic scientists do every day at crime scenes." In the new study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers demonstrated that their methodology was successful in field sampling of invasive round goby fish throughout the Great Lakes and the New York Finger Lakes. The work builds on a pilot study in Cayuga Lake two years ago, when the researchers took tissue samples from round goby fish and eDNA samples of water the fish inhabited. They found that the two methods provided comparable genetic information. The first author of both studies is Kara Andres, Ph.D. '22, a former graduate student in Lodge's lab and now a postdoctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. She wrote the paper with co-authors Lodge, who is also a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Jose Andres, a Cornell Atkinson faculty fellow and a senior research associate who co-directs the Cornell Environmental DNA and Genomics Core Facility. In the cells of most animals, the nucleus contains two copies of the full genetic code, but each cell contains 100 to 1,000 copies of a smaller, stripped-down version of the genetic code in mitochondria. Most of the research on eDNA to date has focused on mitochondrial DNA, because it's likely much more abundant in environmental samples, Kara Andres said. While mitochondrial DNA does well for distinguishing between species, it provides far less information than nuclear DNA about variation within species. "The nuclear genome is much, much larger and it contains a lot more variation within species," Kara Andres said. "When I started my Ph.D., we didn't know of anyone who had even tried to look for variation within the nuclear genome in the context of eDNA samplingwe didn't even know if it was possible." In their Great Lakes study, which involved collecting water and tissue samples from round goby fish in 13 locations from Lake Michigan to Oneida Lake, the researchers found that their eDNA sampling methodology can be used to detect nuclear genetic variations, making it possible to analyze genetic diversity and variation within species. This information is useful for natural resource managers because it can help them trace the source of a new invasive population as well as prevent further invasion or minimize harm by determining how invasive species are moving and how to stop them. The breakthrough can also help scientists understand the demographics of imperiled species without requiring physical capture of animals that are already rare and vulnerable. Species experiencing population declines can suffer from a loss of genetic diversity, and eDNA may allow researchers to detect those declines earlier, Kara Andres said. "It is a major step in unlocking the full potential of genomics techniques when applied to aquatic eDNA samples," Jose Andres said. "In the near future, I anticipate that this technique will allow us to study the status and health of elusive species. I believe this holds profound implications, particularly in marine environments." More information: Kara J. Andres et al, Environmental DNA reveals the genetic diversity and population structure of an invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2023). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307345120 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Swimming bans are keeping tourists away, authorities say. After killing seven people in the past five years, sharks are enemy number one in France's Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia where the authorities have declared open season on the species in the hope of making beaches safe again. But environmentalists are on the side of the sharks, saying the local government's order to cull the animals has led to indiscriminate killing and harm to marine life. The population of New Caledonia, a French overseas territory about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) east of Australia, is divided between those who want the problem removed by force, and those urging caution. Nobody is sure what prompted the sharks to arrive in unusually high numbers in the bays around the capital Noumea, and to attack humans in 10 incidents registered since 2018. The local authorities have been running fishing campaigns targeting sharks since 2019, but after closing several beaches as a precaution this year, mayor Sonia Lagarde stepped up the fight. 'Not anti-shark' The authorities say the well-being of their country's tourism sector is at stake, just as visitors are returning after years of Covid-19 restrictions. "We're not anti-shark," said Romain Paireau, Noumea's secretary-general. "But we must reduce the risk." The local authorities say they are targeting tiger sharks and bulldog sharksconsidered to be among the most dangerous shark speciesbut Martine Cornaille, president of the association Ensemble pour la Planete (Together for the planet, EPLP) said that the collateral damage among even harmless shark types is unacceptable. Nobody is sure what prompted the sharks to arrive in unusually high numbers. "Culling as a response to attacks on humans is irresponsible in environmental terms," she said in a letter to the journal Nature. The city has promised to release any fish caught accidentally, but Cornaille told AFP she believed that collateral deaths of the campaign which has killed 250 tiger and bulldog sharks since 2019 amounted to "a massacre". 'To attack, to kill' Even some shark attack victims have urged the authorities to back off. "Often the first response of humans is to attack, to kill, to show that we are superior to everything around us," said Brigitte Do, who spent several months in an Australian hospital after a shark attack in January. "What we should do instead is try to figure out what is going on," she told a local television station last month. "Why was this or that shark present, why are there so many in the Noumea bays. There must be a scientific explanation," she said. New Caledonia's indigenous Kanak people are also opposed to the anti-shark campaigns because the species has a sacred status in their culture which sees sharks as an integral part of the eco system, said Kanak assembly president Yvon Kona. Environmentalists reject the New Caledonian authorities' shark cull. City officials are meanwhile planning to install a giant net in the sea to protect an area of some 10 hectares from shark incursions. This, they say, will allow the hunt for sharks outside the parameter to continue at a lower intensity. The EPLP association has filed legal complaints against the authorities, accusing them of hunting sharks without an official mandate, hunting in protected areas, and dropping tiger sharks and bulldog sharks from a list of protected species. But while environmentalists have won support among the population, they say the political authorities will not even grant them a meeting. "Despite our formal requests, there is a communication blackout," said Cornaille. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Greeces daily rainfall record was broken with 754 mm of rain in the village of Zagora more than double the UKs equivalent record. Credit: National Observatory of Athens/meteo.gr, CC BY-SA Recent images of the devastating flash floods caused by Storm Daniel in Greece hit close to home literally and figuratively. As a Greek who has completed a Ph.D. and worked for the past eight years on flash floods, the scenes unfolding across my homeland are painfully real: a stark reminder of the broader environmental challenges we face both on a local and a global scale. These unprecedented flash floods were triggered by rainfall from the arrival of Storm Daniel on Monday September 4 which also affected Turkey and Bulgaria. The following day, in the village of Zagora, a record-breaking 754mm of rain fell in just 18 hours, leaving parts of the region of Thessaly in crisis and unable to respond. To put this in perspective, London gets about 585mm of rain over the course of a year while Thessaly gets 495mm, meaning that on Tuesday, about 1.5 years' worth of rain fell in 18 hours. Imagine the most torrential rain you have ever experienced, perhaps a cloudburst lasting 20 minutes or so. Now imagine it raining that hard but without pause for an entire day. Flash flooding is short in duration but extremely intense, and typically happens within six hours of heavy rainfall. Unlike regular floods, which develop more slowly and can be predicted in advance, flash floods catch people off guard due to their rapid onset and are rarely recorded in the field. Catastrophic effects Across the three affected countries the floods have killed at least 18 people, with many others seeking refuge on their rooftops. There are ongoing power and water outages, infrastructure has been damaged, houses and even entire villages have been completely submerged. The authors friend saw this flooding in the village of Chorto. Credit: Irini Arabatzi I asked Andrew Barnes, an academic at the University of Bath with expertise in using AI to analyze extreme events why this event was so exceptional. He told me that throughout Tuesday, a strong low-pressure center formed across the south of Greece creating a large rotating weather system known as a cyclone. This cyclone carried large rain clouds from both the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. But it did not dissipate, and instead its low-pressure center moved southwest and settled just south of Italy, with its bands of rain clouds also moving south and covering most of mainland Greece. Trending across the region It is crucial to emphasize that flash floods are not confined to Greece alone. They are in fact part of a broader pattern of extreme weather that has become more intense and frequent across the Mediterranean region. Researchers who looked at 150 years of flood data in the Mediterranean found that most were flash floods, with their highest occurrence during the summer and autumn months. The region is particularly susceptible to these floods due to the combined effects of climate change and urbanization. The latter has increased urban development in flood-prone areas and increased impervious surfaces (like roads and pavements), preventing the natural absorption of water into the ground. Tips from a flash floods expert. Credit: Ioanna Stamataki The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's chapter on the Mediterranean region issued a warning that extreme rainfall events are going to occur more often and be even more intense, elevating the risk of flash floods. This warning, in combination with records of flash floods in 2023 in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, France and Greece, underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to address these climate-related challenges. Research is advancing Flash floods might be rare, but they are severe enough to be a matter of significant concern. Fortunately, research has advanced considerably in recent years. We're now better able to forecast when flash floods might happen, which areas might be susceptible, and to assess their impact in real-time. My colleagues and I are working on a project that combines historical documentary sources and modern hydraulic modeling. This way we can shed light on past floods and better understand the risks they pose, helping us design effective mitigation strategies for the future. Practically, in the case of a flash flood some basic but very important actions can be found on the poster below. A complete eradication of flooding is neither technically feasible nor economically affordable. Instead on a larger scale it is key to start identifying flash-flood prone areas especially in catchments with historical flash floods. We should then focus on advocating for climate action and resilience measures, which can be anything from "hard" defenses like new flood walls, through to policies and better public awareness of the risks. Only this will offer hope of a safer and more resilient future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Energizing Sino-US relations: A path of promise 10:02, September 11, 2023 By Edward Lehman ( China Daily In the dynamic world of international relations, fostering collaboration and nurturing partnerships is vital for a prosperous global future. This is especially true for the United States and China, the two largest economies in the world. As a US citizen who has lived and worked in Beijing for almost four decades, and is general counsel to AmChamUS, I have been fortunate to witness the evolution of this profoundly important relationship. The recent high-level discussions between US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese officials show the commitment of both nations to enhance cooperation and address global challenges with a positive outlook. Raimondo is the fourth high-level US official to visit China in recent months, as also the first US commerce secretary to do so in five years. The visit comes at a time when many commentators suggest that the China-US relationship is at a low point. However, such challenges are not at all surprising when one considers the rapidly changing economic, social and political nature of the world, and the magnitude of the relationship. As noted by the secretary: "It's a complicated relationship. There's no doubt about it. We are in a fierce competition with China at every level, and anyone who tells you differently is na ve." She added, "We have to manage this competition. Conflict is in no one's interest." Raimondo's visit to China, and direct talking points, underscore the United States' dedication to strengthening its relationship with China. These discussions at the highest level of government play a pivotal role in building trust and addressing pressing global challenges. During her conversations with Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier He Lifeng, Raimondo emphasized the significance of open communication and tackled a range of concerns affecting American businesses in China. The commerce secretary stated that: "This isn't about decoupling. This is about maintaining our very consequential trade relationship, which is good for America, good for China, and good for the world." The message is clear: the United States does not seek to sever economic ties with China but rather aims to ensure that the relationship is mutually beneficial and stable. Raimondo stated that: "No commerce secretary has been tougher than I on China." While we applaud the efforts of the administration to take a firm position, what is needed now more than ever is a common sense approach, and a way forward, which we believe can be accomplished by taking a practical approach to address issues one by one. We see the recent granting of air route rights by the US to China Airlines as exactly the type of common sense policy implementation which has win-win consequences for both sides. With regard to trade, among the most contentious trade policies between the two countries has been the imposition of tariffs on China-made products, a policy that is mostly a continuation of one pursued by the previous administration. In return, China has imposed its own tariffs on US imports. Evidence shows that tariffs have resulted in job losses, hurt the US agricultural market and lead to higher prices. According to David Weinstein, an economist at Columbia University, "The tariffs protect the least efficient firms and reduced their incentives to innovate while hurting the most successful US firms, reducing their ability to innovate." It seems the two countries can immediately achieve a breakthrough if they mutually agree to eliminate the tariffs. Beyond addressing economic concerns, Raimondo also highlighted the importance of cooperation on broader global issues like climate change, the opioid crisis, and artificial intelligence. The Chinese side, in turn, expressed its desire for reduced export controls on advanced technology and the retraction of certain executive orders. While national security remains a top priority for the United States, it is evident that both nations recognize the potential for collaboration on critical global challenges. Citing national security concerns, the Biden administration has imposed additional restrictions on export of high technology and investments in US tech companies. According to Raimondo: "We are not going to sell the most sophisticated American chips to China that they want for their military capacity. But I do want to be clear, we will also still continue to sell billions of dollars of chips a year to China, because the vast majority of chips that are made are not the leading edge, cutting edge that I'm talking about." In fact the Biden administration's policies with regard to high tech only affect a very small percentage of the entire US-China economic relationship. By far the majority of US-China trade does not impact national security. China strongly opposes US' restrictions on investments in China stating that it "violates the principles of market economy and fair competition". In the short term these restrictions may reduce issues related to national security. In the long run, these restrictions will likely encourage China to improve its domestic industries, while depriving US companies of export opportunities. This effect can be seen in the new Huawei phone, which has an octa-core HiSilicon 5nm chipset CPU known as Kirin 9000s. Raimondo said that selling certain chips to China will ultimately generate revenue for American businesses to invest in further research and development. It remains to be seen if this is the case. Chinese officials have welcomed Raimondo's visit as an opportunity to reduce tensions and address concerns. It is heartening to see both sides engaging in constructive dialogue and emphasizing the importance of rational and practical policies. While obstacles may exist, it is crucial to remain positive about the potential for collaboration and mutual benefit. As we move forward, the two countries should continue to make progress in areas that are easily achievable, like eliminating tariffs. Raimondo insisted that "no one is more realistic than I am about the challenges" with China. We hope that both sides can be realistic about the upside that can come from cooperation and achieving cooperation as much as possible. The author is Chairman of LehmanBush and General Counsel to AmCham. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Close up photo of S. invicta. Credit: Jesse Rorabaugh One of the most invasive species in the world is Solenopsis invicta, a red fire ant species with a painful sting. Native to South America, the ant has established itself across the globe. In an article published in the journal Current Biology on September 11, a group of ant experts confirm that the species has made its way to Sicilythe ant's first official sighting in Europe. The ants could soon spread all over the continent, the researchers warn, which could cause major environmental, health, and economic problems in Italy and beyond. "S. invicta is one of the worst invasive species. It can spread alarmingly quickly," says lead author Mattia Menchetti of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. "Finding this species in Italy was a big surprise, but we knew this day would come." Commonly known as the imported red fire ant, S. invicta's name comes from the ant's most infamous characteristicits stingswhich are painful and, occasionally, may cause anaphylactic shock. Although it originated in South America, S. invicta has spread quickly, flying into wind streams to travel farther on the local level. But humans have also helped it spread both through the maritime trade industry and by shipping plant products, enabling it to establish in Australia, China, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the United States in less than a century. Europe has evaded them for longer than expected, say the researchers. "There are a vast number of alien ant species currently establishing in Europe, and the absence of this species was kind of a relief," says Menchetti. "For decades, scientists have feared that it would arrive. We could not believe our eyes when we saw it." Map showing the locations of native and invasive populations of S. invicta worldwide. Credit: Institute of Evolutionary Biology After seeing photos taken in Sicily of what looked like S. invicta, the researchers took a trip to the region to confirm the ants' identity and collect samples. They found a total of 88 nests in a 4.7-hectare area next to a river, some of which housed many thousands of worker ants. After speaking with locals, the researchers learned that people in the Sicilian region had been getting stungand frequentlyfor several years. "The locals have been experiencing these painful things since at least 2019, so the ants have probably been there for a while," says Menchetti. "And the real extension of the invaded area is probably larger." The team suspects that this wasn't S. invicta's first point of arrival in Europe. Although they couldn't determine how exactly S. invicta got into Italy, after analyzing the DNA of the Sicilian queen ants and comparing it with the genomes of ants from all over the world, the researchers concluded that this particular population likely came from either the US or China. Next, the authors analyzed the local wind patterns in Sicily to see how the ants might spread now that they're in Europe. They also put together a comprehensive model to determine how suitable the rest of Europe and the Mediterranean area will be for the speciesand whether climate change will be a factor. According to the model, 7% of the European continent is suitable for S. invicta given current environmental conditions, and climate change will likely expedite their spread and population growth even further. They also found that urban areas are particularly at risk. In fact, 50% of Europe's cities are vulnerable to invasion. "This is especially concerning because many of the cities, including London, Amsterdam, and Rome, have large seaports, which could allow the ants to spread rapidly to more countries and continents," says senior author Roger Vila, who is also from the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. S. invicta nest in Sicily next to a river. Credit: Institute of Evolutionary Biology Given that the only place that has successfully eradicated the invaders is New Zealand, the researchers plan to base their interventions on what worked there and on efforts currently underway in China. To start, they'll systematically inspect local areas to see if the species has already reached them. Then, they'll begin a multi-year treatment plan to eradicate the nests and monitor the invaded sites carefully to make sure there aren't any resurgences. The authors stress the importance of getting the public involved as much as possible to help monitor the ants' spread. "Citizens can play a very important role in this," says Menchetti. "We hope that, with their help, we will be able to cover a wider area. This will help us track and spot all the possible areas invaded in the region." The team hopes to organize citizen science programs in which people would look for S. Invicta and take photos if they think they've found the ants. The specialists would then double-check to confirm that it's the right ant speciesan important step because many European ants make similar-looking nests. "There needs to be more awareness about this problem because the problem is already in Europe," says Menchetti. "We need coordinated action, and we need it now." By Alpha Abu The Supreme Court of Sierra Leone is expected to give ruling today Friday on whether the next General Elections slated for June should be conducted using the Proportional Representation system. The matter was taken to court by main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Parliamentarian, Abdul Kargbo and Councilor Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker as plaintiffs. Chief Justice Babatunde Edwards and the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) are the defendants in the case. Justice Edwards and four other judges-Nicholas Browne-Marke, Alusine Sesay, Mangeh Deen Tarawallie all of the Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal Judge Ansumana Ivan Sesay who was approved to join the panel, will decide the outcome of the litigation. The APC and some Civil Society Organisations have from the onset voiced their dissent over such a form of voting that was propounded by President Julius Maada Bio, giving the ECSL the directive for its introduction at this years polls. Opponents say the time was too short for the PR system and that the process used to introduce it was flawed. They say it best suits situations where there are challenges like conflicts or national emergencies that limit movements and accessibility. Some even said it will make political parties more powerful as they would have to determine which candidates they can send to represent them in Parliament based on the percentage of votes earned in the polls. Supporters of the system on the other hand argue that it is less expensive and would reduce the likelihood of electoral violence. The last time Sierra Leone conducted elections under the PR system was in 2002. Sierra Leoneans will vote on the 24th June. Copyright 2023 Politico Online (27/01/23) New York State Police responded to and now are investigating a motor vehicle accident in Queensbury on Thursday, Sept. 7 involving a vehicle being hit by a motorcyclist, police said. Around 6 p.m., police were called to the intersection of Main Street and Big Boom Road in the Town of Queensbury, just west of Northway Exit 18, for a report of a car verses motorcycle accident. The driver of the motorcycle sustained serious injuries and was transported to Glens Falls Hospital and later transferred to Albany Medical Center. Police said that a preliminary investigation determined that the driver of the motorcycle, Trevin J. Schwenk, 35, of Glens Falls, ran a red light, and hit another vehicle. Schwenk was ejected from the motorcycle and was transported to Glens Falls Hospital for treatment, according to police. The case remains open as investigation is ongoing. A meeting of the Washington County Local Development Corporation's Loan Review Committee will be held on Tuesday, September 12th at 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the LDC conference room located at 383 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828. An Atlantic City woman admitted Friday that she paid a teenager $5,000 to attempt to kill someone in 2019, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office said. Rashanah Camper, 29, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a child. Her plea agreement recommends an eight-year prison sentence, the Prosecutor's Office said Monday in a news release. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19. On April 24, 2019, Camper hired then 16-year-old Naim T. Madison to shoot the female victim, identified as D.M., near Atlantic and Tennessee avenues in Atlantic City. Camper provided Madison with the handgun used in the shooting and drove him around the city until they located the 25-year-old victim. Camper then pointed the victim out and told Madison to shoot. Madison exited the vehicle and shot D.M. multiple times in the upper torso. D.M. was taken to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, City Campus. She suffered a collapsed lung but survived, the Prosecutor's Office said. Madison was arrested in June 2019. He was waived up to adult court and has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. His plea agreement calls for a prison sentence of seven years, the Prosecutor's Office said. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 11. Camper was arrested in September 2019 in Philadelphia. She had another unrelated case for possessing and distributing drugs while she was out on pretrial release pending the outcome of the attempted murder case, the Prosecutor's Office said. She pleaded guilty in that case and will serve five years to run concurrent to the other charges. ATLANTIC CITY Two people are accused of robbing an out-of-state resident Friday. Kkyree Dunkerson and Mariah Gooden, both 30 and from Atlantic City, stole the wallet of a 38-year-old Bronx, New York, man, police said Monday in a news release. Officers responded to the robbery about 3:45 a.m. near Ohio and Pacific avenues. Police said the victim began talking with Gooden, who led him to Dunkerson. Dunkerson approached the man, acting as if he was carrying a gun in his waistband, and demanded he hand over his wallet. Both Gooden and Dunkerson fled before being found on Michigan Avenue. Police said they found knives on Dunkerson and Gooden when they were arrested. Gooden also was found in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Dunkerson and Gooden were each charged with robbery, theft, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Gooden was additionally charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. They were sent to the Atlantic County jail. A meeting on the dating app Grindr led to a robbery in which a Mays Landing man held his victim at gunpoint in a car while demanding money, court records show. Police and Atlantic City SWAT officers arrested Jaiden Figueroa last week at a home in the 4900 block of Cardiff Court. The 19-year-old was charged with robbery, kidnapping, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, criminal restraint, aggravated assault, theft and certain persons not to have weapons. He was sent to the Atlantic County jail. Figueroa met another man, identified Tuesday as a 39-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, on the LGBTQ mobile dating app and arranged a meeting Sept. 3, court documents show. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Figueroa took the 39-year-old down a dirt road off Cologne Avenue, where he demanded money through a Venmo transaction. Mays Landing man charged with armed robbery A Hamilton Township man was arrested Monday in the armed robbery of a Virginia man, police said. After the transaction failed, Figueroa, still armed, ordered the man to drive to a nearby PNC Bank, where he withdrew $800, the affidavit states. After acquiring the money, Figueroa demanded the man return to the dirt road, after which he ran from the car, the affidavit states. Police identified Figueroa through Venmo account information provided by the Virginia man, the affidavit states. During a search Sept. 4 of Figueroa's home, authorities seized a loaded .40 caliber handgun, large amounts of heroin and the stolen money. Figueroa was expected to appear before Judge Patrica Wild on Friday for a detention hearing, according to state court officials. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. ATLANTIC CITY The Atlantic City Housing Authority has not complied with an Aug. 18 Superior Court judges order to provide a detailed plan for safe, adequate, reliable heat, hot water and gas service to Stanley Holmes Village this winter, an attorney representing 87 tenants said in a brief filed Monday. ACHA has submitted a blatantly inadequate document a Plan that provides virtually no specifics as to either past or future repairs and which does not propose reasonable and firm timetables, Olga Pomar of South Jersey Legal Services wrote in the document. Pomar asked Judge John C. Porto to consider appointing a special master to oversee the Housing Authoritys inspection, maintenance, repair and renovations at Stanley Holmes Village to protect the health and safety of the residents. Housing Authority board President Stephanie Marshall did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, who represents the 3rd Ward where Stanley Holmes is located, said Monday he thinks a special master is a good idea. These are extraordinary circumstances. I think we need that, Shabazz said. He also will ask at the next board meeting that the board develop a policy to automatically refund rent to residents whose heat and hot water fail this winter. Its unfair and arbitrary to have people pay rent for basic services they are not getting, Shabazz said. Heat and hot water is basic; thats not a luxury. Atlantic City Housing Authority tells court it will empty, demolish one-third of Stanley Holmes Village An attorney for the Atlantic City Housing Authority has submitted court papers, overdue by many months, outlining plans to provide consistent heat and hot water to residents of Stanley Holmes Village and protect them from future gas leaks. The court has set a conference call on the matter for Sept. 29, Pomar said. Pomars brief comes after numerous gas leaks were discovered and are continuing to be discovered at the 420-unit public housing complex, and at a time of turbulence at the authority. Last week at a special meeting, the board voted 4-1 to fire Executive Director Matt Doherty, without cause but for convenience. No one gave a reason for terminating Dohertys employment, although the member voting against it asked the others to explain why they were taking such action. At a meeting Aug. 24, Doherty had said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development now considers the authority financially troubled because it did not submit a 2022 financial audit on time. Doherty said the deadline was missed because Jerry Volpe, an authority contractor with Governance and Fiscal Affairs LLC, had failed to go out to bid for an auditor. Doherty also provided an email showing Volpe had told him in May he was doing so. Volpe has been the authoritys purchasing agent for about a year on a contracted basis, and his firm has been paid more than $400,000 so far. Although the authority has hired professional staff who could do the job of qualified purchasing agent, the board has continued to use Volpe and refused to give staff the procurement power. Atlantic City Housing Authority takes step to fire new executive director Two weeks after the new Atlantic City Housing Authority executive director slammed the agency over its procurement practices over the past year, the authority board is now preparing to terminate his contract only months after Matthew Doherty began in the job. The authority also faces a lawsuit by a former interim executive director who alleges she was retaliated against after she questioned high legal bills and procurement irregularities. The court first ordered the authority to provide a plan for providing safe and reliable heat and hot water last December, and in August Porto found the authority had not met the terms of that order. He gave it until the end of the month to do so. On Sept. 1, Rich DeLucry, the attorney for the Housing Authority, submitted court papers outlining the authoritys plans, which Pomar called meager. The submitted plan said the authority has hired a contractor to test for and repair gas leaks. It also said the authority would use a contractor to keep ancient boilers working this winter, and would eventually replace the decades-old heat and hot water system with a new one. But it could not afford to do so for all 420 units, the authority said, and believed it must eventually move residents out of Village 3 which makes up about 30% of Stanley Holmes 420 units into other units or Section 8 housing in the private sector, and demolish the empty ones. But the plan gave no timetable for the relocation and demolition. The plan also said the authority would go out to bid within 60 days on replacing all crawl space gas lines not yet replaced after leaks were found, the bids would be received and reviewed in another 45 days, and the contract awarded within another 30 days, Pomar said. Atlantic City Housing Authority consultant exits New Brunswick job John Clarke, who has been an interim part-time executive director and consultant for the Atlantic City Housing Authority, has retired from his job leading New Brunswick's housing authority, he said Thursday. The Plan provides no anticipated timeline for completion of the work, Pomar wrote. To the extent that ACHA did provide any timelines, these timelines appear, based on the available information, inappropriate in light of the severe health and safety hazards faced by SHV residents. The plan did not explain why the authority needs 60 days to go out to bid on the gas line replacement, Pomar said, to issue a bid that should have been issued as soon as severe gas line deterioration was detected. In her brief, Pomar also asked the judge to remove demolition and relocation from the plan until the proposals have been fully vetted and resident input incorporated. The Stanley Holmes community accounts for about 420 of the Housing Authoritys nearly 1,600 units throughout the city. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited Shree Kshetra Bhimashankar temple in Pune district on the fourth Monday (today) in the month of Shravan and worshipped lord Shiva. On this occasion, Chief Minister Shinde prayed to Lord Shiva for the well-being of the farmers in the state, and he also prayed for satisfactory rains throughout the state so there would be no water scarcity in the state and everyone would prosper. He also said that after seeking the blessings of Lord Bhimashankar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, he got supernatural satisfaction. Also, after the puja, the Chief Minister was felicitated on behalf of the Bhimashankar Devasthan Trust. MP Shrikant Shinde, Collector Dr. Rajesh Deshmukh, Superintendent of Police Ankit Goyal, former MP Shivajirao Adharao Patil, former MLA Sharad Sonwane, etc were present. He said that the government had prepared a development plan of 148 crores for the development of the Bhimashankar pilgrimage site, out of which 68 crores have been spent on various facilities. Shinde said on this occasion that all the basic facilities will be provided through the government, which will not cause any inconvenience to lakhs of devotees coming here. Also, sanitation, drinking water, and bathroom facilities will be provided in the area. Apart from this, Shinde said while talking to the media that the administration has been instructed to arrange potable water in the tribal area. Satara district in Maharashtra has been engulfed in a wave of communal tension, resulting in violent clashes and the suspension of internet services as authorities seek to maintain peace and quell the unrest. The turmoil originated in Pusesavali village, located approximately 50 kilometres from the district headquarters and 160 kilometres from Pune. The catalyst for these troubling clashes appears to be a series of contentious social media posts, allegedly made by individuals from a specific community in the region. This simmering discontent escalated dramatically on Sunday night at around 9:30 PM, leading to one individual suffering severe injuries and several houses being set ablaze, further exacerbating an already volatile situation. A senior officer from the Satara district police department shed light on their preliminary investigation findings. He stated, "Initial probe suggests that social media posts by some youths from a particular community in the area have led to the clashes on Sunday night around 9.30 pm. One person has been seriously injured and multiple houses have been set on fire." In response to the escalating unrest, a substantial contingent of police forces has been deployed to the affected area. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have taken the precautionary step of suspending internet services in the region to prevent the spread of misinformation and the potential incitement of further violence. In an attempt to restore calm and promote responsible behavior, the Satara district administration issued a public appeal through their official social media channels. The joint message, signed by Satara District Collector Jitendra Dudi and Police Superintendent Samir Shaikh, urged the citizens of Satara district to exercise restraint and not fall prey to rumours or engage in any activity on social media that could exacerbate communal tensions and disrupt law and order. The statement emphasized, "On the backdrop of tensions in the Satara district, the district administration is appealing to the citizens of Satara district not to believe in any rumors. People should refrain from posting any content on social media that can potentially lead to communal discord and cause disturbance to law and order. We are appealing to the citizens to be alert and to inform the administration and police if they come to know of any untoward incident." In these challenging times, it is crucial for the community to unite, exercise patience, and rely on official channels for accurate information. The suspension of internet services serves as a preventive measure to curb the spread of misinformation and prevent any further escalation of violence in the region. Authorities are working diligently to restore peace and ensure the safety of all residents. Concern for Christians in China Despite continuous pressure and oppression from the Communist government, Christians in China refuse to compromise the gospel. Churches have been closed, pastors and church members have been arrested and online Bible sales have been prohibited. The problem is that Secretary Raimondo insists that, although we will never compromise in protecting our national security, still the U.S. will not seek to decouple with China nor seek to hold Chinas economy back. Unfortunately, she is more interested in catering to temporal issues than eternal issues. Nevertheless, Christians in China will continue to proclaim Jesus under intense scrutiny from local authorities, and they willingly pay the price for doing so. Chinese Vice Premier Li Qiang said, Only through dialogue can we understand each others concerns, find common ground and increase the possibility of cooperation, Therefore, our prayers will encourage and strengthen Christians in China, helping to meet their needs of living expenses and legal assistance that arise when they are persecuted for their faith. Gena Raimondo also said, The United States hopes to work with China on other areas, which allows for concern for the Christians in China. Please keep them in your prayers. Jerry Willis Moline Letter: Canada owns more U.S. farmland than China Today I received a notice from GOP fundraisers telling me to send money to stop China from buying up the United States. The headline: Communist China is buying up ALL of our American farmland at record speed, which means were nearing closer and closer to a Chinese takeover!... We mean it! Curious as I am, I decided some research was called for. The following numbers are based on a 2020 report, Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land Through December 31, 2020. Things one learns from that! Allow me to enlighten my fellow Republicans: The largest foreign owner in acres? Canada (9,357,563). The second largest? The Netherlands (4,448,077). Next is Italy (2,609,016), followed by Portugal (1,462,729). China, you ask. A measly 194,179 So, the GOP would do better to worry about our northern neighbors! Canada is 9,357,563 acres inside the United States! Talk about a quiet takeover! And remember: The numbers are dealing with the time that Trump was in office, and the GOP was in charge ... Just sayinFolks, look at the facts before you start shouting fire. Rudy Schellekens Muscatine Editors Note: The Department of Agriculture reported in 2021 the acres of U.S. land owned by Chinese investors at 383,934 acres. Search for truth or swallow media bias Vivek Ramaswamy apparently is a real threat as evidenced by the increasing number of negative articles (and one racist cartoon) in this paper. It seems the Quad-City Times considers him to be a valid threat to a Democrat victory. There are volumes of factually true articles about Hunter Biden, but you wont find them in this paper. Fifteen percent of Democrats now say they would have voted differently had they known the facts, before the elections, about the Biden crime family. The choice is ours; search for the truth or swallow the media bias. Fred Dodds Bettendorf TEHRAN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Monday strongly condemned an attack on the country's embassy in Paris, the Iranian Students' News Agency reported. In a weekly press conference held in Iran's capital Tehran, Kanaani said the attack by "anti-Iranian counterrevolutionary groups" on Saturday had caused minor damage to the consular section of the embassy building. Kanaani said that Iran has conveyed its protest to the French government in writing and via meetings, and French Ambassador to Iran Nicolas Roche told the Iranian side that the French government strongly condemned the attack and had opened an investigation to find and apprehend the assailants. France is required by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to guarantee the security of foreign diplomatic missions on its territory, Kanaani added. Iranian news network Press TV reported that the assailants burned tires on Saturday in front of the entrance leading to the consular section of the Iranian embassy, slightly damaging the door, adding that the fire was quickly put out by police and firefighters and the embassy is now operating normally. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has recognized Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport with a Blue Distinction Center+ designation in the area of maternity care. The designation places Genesis Medical Center East, Davenport among nationally designated facilities shown to deliver quality specialty care based on measures on patient safety and health outcomes. Genesis Medical Center, Davenport is honored to be included among the nations best providers of maternity care by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, said hospital president Jordan Voigt. I want to recognize the nurses, obstetrics providers, and anesthesiologists who deliver a personalized experience for parents and newborns at our Genesis BirthCenter while ensuring safe, quality care. We are proud to be part of these important family milestones. The Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care Program is designed to respond to the clinical challenges in maternity care. The goal is to provide a best-in-class maternity care designation that gives new and expectant parents access to higher quality and affordable maternity care, close to home. Overall, cost of care for vaginal and cesarean births at Blue Distinction Center+ facilities is 20% less than at non-Blue Distinction Centers+ facilities. Episiotomy rates were 49% less at Blue Distinction Centers+. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers for Maternity Care designation, a health care facility must have a maternal quality improvement program and conduct drills and simulations for adverse events. In addition, it must meet clinical outcome metrics at an even higher standard than the programs last cycle. Genesis Health System officially became part of MercyOne, a statewide Iowa health system, on March 1. Close Instructor Rosalinda Lopez teaches campers how to listen for a pulse with a stethoscope. Instructor Brandon Nickerson listens for the pulse on a camper at the vitals station. A camper measures his partner's vitals with an inflatable arm cuff while he listens for her pulse. Instructor Triston Dalaska supervises two campers performing CPR on the manikins. Instructor Triston Dalaska demonstrates how to perform CPR on an infant with a CPR infant manikin. Camper Alex Sedam holds the CPR infant manikin listening to her teacher's instructions next to her group. Camper Alex Sedam performs CPR on the infant manikin at her station. Instructor Jenn Bock (left) and Katie Kean demonstrate how to make a sling out of a t-shirt. Campers watch the instructors at the first-aid station demonstrate how to make a sling out of a t-shirt. Instructor Angela McGonegle (right) demonstrates how to use a controlled air purifying respirator (CAPR). Campers watch instructor Angela McGonegle explain what a controlled air purifying respirator does. Instructor Angela McGonegle (right) demonstrates how to put the CAPR on her head next to instructor Amy Nahnybida (left). Genesis GAIN Camp final day exhibition Instructor Rosalinda Lopez teaches campers how to listen for a pulse with a stethoscope. Instructor Brandon Nickerson listens for the pulse on a camper at the vitals station. A camper measures his partner's vitals with an inflatable arm cuff while he listens for her pulse. Instructor Triston Dalaska supervises two campers performing CPR on the manikins. Instructor Triston Dalaska demonstrates how to perform CPR on an infant with a CPR infant manikin. Camper Alex Sedam holds the CPR infant manikin listening to her teacher's instructions next to her group. Camper Alex Sedam performs CPR on the infant manikin at her station. Instructor Jenn Bock (left) and Katie Kean demonstrate how to make a sling out of a t-shirt. Campers watch the instructors at the first-aid station demonstrate how to make a sling out of a t-shirt. Instructor Angela McGonegle (right) demonstrates how to use a controlled air purifying respirator (CAPR). Campers watch instructor Angela McGonegle explain what a controlled air purifying respirator does. Instructor Angela McGonegle (right) demonstrates how to put the CAPR on her head next to instructor Amy Nahnybida (left). A Davenport man is accused of taking nude photos of a teenage girl with a camera he hid in her bedroom, police said. Nathaniel Wade Marchant, 41, is charged in Scott County District Court with two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Sean Johnson, on Sept. 5, a woman called police to her home after finding nude images of her 13-year-old daughter on Marchants cell phone. The woman was going through Marchants phone when she discovered the images of her daughter in various conditions of undress. According to the affidavits, Marchant hid the camera inside a USB charging station that was in the teens bedroom. The teen was not aware the camera was there. The images were on the device with two different dates in June, 2022. Marchant was arrested Thursday. During a first appearance on the charges Friday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Paul Aitken scheduled a preliminary hearing on the charges for Sept. 15. Marchant was being held Saturday night in the Scott County Jail on a $20,000 cash-only bond. The Rock Island-Milan school board will make waves on the high school's pool renovation Tuesday, holding a public forum to discuss the district's next superintendent on Wednesday. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the district's new Administrative Center (2000 7th Ave. in Rock Island), Tuesday's meeting will open with 2023 Charles O. Austin, Jr. Scholars Rock Island High School students with a 3.5 GPA or higher after six semesters and a public hearing on the district's 2023-24 budget. After voting on the budget, Rock Island-Milan CFO Jennifer Barton will present two options for Rock Island's swimming pool, including projected financial data. The school has been without an operable pool since fall, 2021, due to necessary mechanical and roof deck repairs, according to previous reporting. Boy and girls swim programs have been practicing at Augustana College, with a fully away meet schedule, each season since. While Tuesday's meeting agenda does not clarify which options Barton will present, Legat Architects proposed the following last December: Option No. 1: At $5.8 million, this would refurbish the entire pool area, including the locker room, basement and pool mechanicals. This would also include a diving well for two, 1-meter diving boards in between starting blocks. To increase the pool's depth by 3 feet, this option requires removing the existing floor. Option No. 2: Similar to the first option, this proposes building small diving well separate from the existing pool bumping the price to roughly $7.2 million. Two 1-meter diving boards and a 3-meter diving board could fit in this well, which could also serve as a warm-up space during events. Option No. 3: Estimated to land at $8.5 million, this proposes a full-length diving well with two, 1-meter diving boards at the pools east end, allowing for even more warm-up lane flexibility. Option No. 4: This proposes building an off-site, eight- or 10-lane extended pool and a diving well with movable bulkheads, allowing for diving at one end and swimming at the other. Other amenities include locker rooms, lobby space and second-floor spectator seating. Depending on the desired number of lanes, costs could range from $12.5 to $14 million. Also at the new administration center, a public forum will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday regarding its superintendent search. Here, the board and partnering firm School Exec Connect will gather community input on district strengths, challenges and characteristics the next superintendent should possess. Additionally, the district seeks public input via a brief online survey available until Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. This can be found on https://www.rimsd41.org/ by clicking the "Superintendent Search" tab on the home page. School Exec will use findings from the survey, open forums and several focus groups to develop a "New Superintendent Profile," slated to come before the board on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023. A longtime Sturgis motorcycle rally visitor and his business partners will be the new owners of The Knuckle Saloon and The Knuckle Brewing Company. Curtis Venable of Goldsboro, North Carolina who also owns a home in Deadwood and four business partners have purchased The Knuckle. Venable said Friday he hopes to close the sale on the property by Thanksgiving or early December. Ive been going to Sturgis for 21 years and always loved the rally, Venable said. Ive been riding motorcycles my entire life, and all the partners have ridden. Were pretty well versed in the biker industry. Ive been riding since I was a kid, and I have a lot of friends in the industry. I collect old motorcycles. I feel well fit in pretty good. Venable visits the Black Hills several times a year, especially for events such as the Sturgis motorcycle rally and Kool Deadwood Nites. His business partners in The Knuckle purchase are Kristie Pease, William Couch, Brandon Graham and Fitz Gaines, all of whom are in South Carolina. Venable and his partners collectively have backgrounds in bar and restaurant ownership, commercial real estate and commercial development, the trucking industry, and construction. Venables business expertise includes owning a restaurant, biker bars and construction, he said. Ive owned big biker bars before. (Buying The Knuckle) was a business decision. I think we can take whats here and grow on it and improve it and hopefully make it super cool with a lot of activity, Venable said. (We) plan on building on the success of The Knuckle and continuing (for it) to be a great place for years to come. Im looking forward to working with the staff and management to make this a smooth transition Were not trying to reinvent the wheel. Were going to take what they have here and finesse it, he said. Were going to try to retain as many or all employees as possible. We dont want to come in and ruffle feathers. Venable said plans are to keep The Knuckle Saloons hours of operation the same, though the hours and days The Knuckle Brewing Company is open are likely to change, especially during the off-season months. We want to keep the brewing company open as much as the local economy will allow, he said. Customers might notice small changes, such as where bands set up and some modifications to the menu. There could be a little bit of cosmetic changes but nothing stupid, Venable said. Were not going to go out and change the building or the name. The Knuckle will be The Knuckle. While the Sturgis motorcycle rally is a big part of the business, Venable wants to find more ways to keep The Knuckle thriving year-round, such as hosting other events there. Were going to really try to do some cool things and add to it, he said. Purchasing The Knuckle was an appealing opportunity for Venable, who is now trying to purchase more property in the Black Hills. The location is prime for business. You have the majority of business from out-of-towners and vacationers. You have people coming to Deadwood and the bike rally, and (myself and my business partners) being bikers and having bars and grills, it struck my eye as something we could build on, he said. Meanwhile, The Knuckles longtime owner Ken McNenny announced the sale Sept. 5 on The Knuckle Saloons Facebook page. After 23 years we are ready to move on to our new chapter, McNenny said on Facebook. We want to thank our community, our customers and our dedicated staff for allowing us to be a part of your lives, as you have been such a big part of ours! McNenny, a lifelong resident of Sturgis, is the original owner of The Knuckle, along with a team of local business partners. They started The Knuckle to be a part of the community and have a place for all of their friends and family to go to and have fun, McNenny said. The timing seemed right for the business partners to sell The Knuckle, he said. McNenny and his business partners are helping Venable transition over the coming weeks as Venable and his business team take ownership. McNenny will continue running Sturgis Brewing Company, which he owns. Owning The Knuckle has been the best experience of my whole life, McNenny said. Its been a fantastic journey. I wouldnt have done it any other way. Elizabeth Lizzie and Dylan Mattson launched a Kickstarter campaign Sept. 6 to give Spearfish its own independent bookstore that celebrates community and creativity. Henrys Books, named for the couples son, will be a diverse, inclusive bookstore and community hub, the couple said. The Mattsons Kickstarter campaign has a goal to raise $45,000 by Oct. 5 for start-up costs. The couple is looking for a brick-and-mortar location for the store. Go to kickstarter.com/projects/henrysbooks/henrys-books-a-crowd-funded-independent-bookstore to donate to the campaign. If the Kickstarter campaign is successful and the Mattsons can obtain a good location, Lizzie said they anticipate opening Henrys Books in November in time for the holiday season. If we reach our goal of $45,000, we will be fully funded and can open our doors fairly quickly. If we do not reach our goal, we receive nothing, Lizzie said. (The stores) distinctiveness lies in its crowd-funding approach. A Kickstarter campaign empowers the community to co-create this cherished space Sponsors can support shelves, tables, genres or even individual books, making their mark on this unique literary space. Henry's Books will be more than just a bookstore; it will be a cultural hub where diverse voices are celebrated, connections are forged, and a love for reading is nurtured, the Mattsons said in a press release. Community is our most foundational value at Henry's Books. Giving back to local organizations, creating a safe space for people to explore new ideas, and fostering a sense of creativity and belonging are foundational to everything we hope to achieve through this store. The Mattsons have created a variety of sponsorship options for Henrys Books. People can donate new books especially adult fiction or sponsor items for the future store such as a shelf, a genre, a plant, a table, inventory, technology, a counter and more. Go to facebook.com/henrysbooks for more details about sponsorship opportunities. Future patrons can sponsor their favorite books in their name for the lifetime of the store. Lizzie said plans are for the store to have a mix of books for all ages and tastes, including books for adults and children, a section highlighting local authors, and books focused on regional and local topics. We cant do this without the community, so the only way this happens is by the community and for the community, Lizzie said. We really want to see as many people sponsor as much of the store as possible for the sake of having community involvement in every element of the store. Our greatest hope for these sponsorship options is that you would choose something that is meaningful to you in one way or another. When Henrys Books opens, Lizzie said she and her husband want to have a mural or other creative piece that thanks every supporter of the Kickstarter campaign. No matter the amount given, we will name each and every supporter in a meaningful way that is proudly displayed in the store, she said. That is my biggest dream ... to see peoples names or the names of loved ones on all the sponsored options. Creating a bookstore that's inviting for everyone is a vital aspect of the Mattsons vision for Henrys Books. When it comes to diversity and inclusivity in our store, we want everybody of every background to feel comfortable hopping into our store to find something of interest to them they can go home excited to read, Lizzie said. We want everyone to feel welcome. Accessibility is really important to us. We want a space that is accessible to as many people as possible. I want everybody to feel like they get to come home to a good book just by walking in our store, she said. The most perfect fit Lizzie, from Wyoming, and Dylan, from Idaho, came to Spearfish initially to attend Black Hills State University and decided to stay. Theyve lived in Spearfish since 2014. We fell in love with Spearfish and could not imagine living anywhere else, Lizzie said. Dylan works in the medical field, and Lizzie owns an Instagram marketing agency, Wild Feather Co. LLC, that serves women in business. She also has worked in retail in downtown Spearfish. Their cherished hometown is missing one thing a bookstore. Its almost like the elephant in the room. Its so obvious were missing a bookstore, Lizzie said. I couldnt stop thinking about it. If I was ever to contribute any kind of storefront, this is absolutely the most perfect fit for us as a family. Aside from it being a regular bookstore, we have a lot of community events and programming we want to do. I think its going to be a nice, busy space, she said. The Mattsons hope to design a store with a center section that allows book display tables to double as seating for events and private parties. They envision Henrys Books will host author talks, book signings, community book swaps, classes and more. The way we feel nostalgic about Scholastic book fairs, I would love to do an adult version of that. I want to have a good variety of programming and story hour for the kids, Lizzie said. As avid readers, a bookstore is a dream business for Lizzie and Dylan. Lizzie is a fan of classic American Girl books and magazines, The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George, The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, and books by Emily Henry and Lucy Foley. Dylan is an avid fan of the Harry Potter books, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Sherlock Holmes series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Even Henry, who is not yet 2, has his favorites Ferdinand, The Little Engine That Could and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. For more information about Henrys Books and the Kickstarter campaign, contact the Mattsons at hellohenrysbooks@gmail.com, go to shophenrysbooks.com or follow Henrys Books at facebook.com/henrysbooks or henrysbookstore on Instagram. The first call that John Grinsell received as the sole agent for Northern Cheyenne Investigative Services in February 2022 was for an assault. He arrived at the scene with no radio, no gun and no backup. A Northern Cheyenne man who grew up in Busby, just within the boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, Grinsell was just a few hours into a job created after a contentious back-and-forth between the Eastern Montanan tribe and federal authorities. The role came out of a nearly universal demand from the Northern Cheyenne Tribe for adequate public safety. The tribe sued the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tasked with enforcing the law on Indian reservations nationwide, to wrest control over criminal investigations. Taking a proactive approach to investigating major crimes within the Northern Cheyenne Nation was just one of several grievances the tribe has leveled at the federal government over persistent failures to create a reliable, consistent police force and criminal justice system. The unanimous demand for better law enforcement has spurred the tribe to take the reigns as the rest of the country grapples with the role of police in public safety. Since that evening in February 2022, Grinsell has filed dozens of reports, all of them violent and major crimes on the reservation. Cases investigated by Grinsell have resulted in several convictions in U.S. District Court. Going into NCISs second year, Grinsell, who retired from the BIA, has welcomed a second investigator with the aim of passing on the agency he helped create to a new generation. I cant do this forever, said Grinsell, who as of the spring of 2023 was operating out of an office space in Lame Deer, the tribal headquarters for the Northern Cheyenne. The Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, spanning around 444,000 acres, is home to around 5,000 people. U.S. Highway 212 stretches from its western to eastern borders, and has a steady flow of local and national traffic. With 99% of the land tribally owned, many tribal members support themselves through farming and ranching. The federal and tribal governments, however, are the reservations largest employers. In the summer of 2020, while tribal members were bracing against the COVID-19 outbreak, others were burying their sons and daughters who died violently. Throughout that year, the deaths of Kymani Littlebird, Christy Woodenthigh and Cory Blackwolf spurred a demand from their families and friends for more transparency and resources from the federal government. Homicide remains a leading cause of death for Indigenous people in the United States for years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC published a report documenting American Indian and Alaska Natives homicides from 2003 to 2018. Of the 2,226 homicides included in the report, about half were killed in metropolitan areas. This uptick in violence coincided with a dwindling number of BIA officers assigned to patrol the reservation. Only a fraction of the 18 positions allotted by Congress have been filled over the past several years, the Gazette previously reported. In recent years, Grinsell said, there has been a high turnover rate among patrol officers and commanders assigned to the reservation, coupled with low recruitment numbers, keeping those positions unfilled. Along with the number of officers dipping to as low as four during that time, the closure of the dilapidated jail in Lame Deer has forced officers to ferry anyone arrested either to a facility in Hardin, about an hours drive west of Lame Deer, or arrange for them to be taken as far away as Wyoming or Oklahoma. Response times, according to Grinsell and statements made from Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council members during their sessions, have ranged from five minutes to five hours. Prior to 2020, deaths on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation were making headlines and prompting legislative changes. In 2013, the body of 21-year-old Hanna Harris was found near the Lame Deer rodeo grounds. While an official cause of death could not be determined, a couple from off the reservation, Eugenia Ann Rowland and Garrett Sidney Henderson Wadda, were sentenced for Harriss murder. In 2019, then Gov. Steve Bullock signed Hannas Act into law, which allowed the state Department of Justice to assist in missing persons cases on Indian reservations. Harris' birthday remains a statewide day of mourning and protest for the friends and families of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Montana. On May 5 of this year, Harris would have been 21. Among the agents assigned to investigate Harris murder in 2013 was a criminal investigator for the BIA Office of Justice Services on the Crow Indian Reservation, John Grinsell. After serving in the U.S. Army for three years, Grinsell joined the BIA in the early 1990s and remained with the bureau for around 25 years. During that time, he worked on patrol as an investigator specializing in drug trafficking. He was also the chief of police for several years on the Northern Cheyenne and Blackfeet Indian reservations. As a (BIA) patrolman, whats unique is that you have both tribal jurisdiction and federal jurisdiction, you respond to a variety of calls, Grinsell said. On the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, alcohol is illegal, and so a lot of them come from thatfrom the public intoxication to homicide. On the reservation, Grinsell said, an entire shift can pass without a call. What exacerbates the problem with a lack of patrol officers is the distance any one officer might have to cover in a jurisdiction spanning 444,000 acres. We have five outlying districts, the furthest one being 22 miles out, Grinsell said. So you get a call out there, and if youre the only one, that means your backup could also be as far as 22 miles away. Grinsell returned home to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a year of violence. It wasnt long after his return that he started lobbying for a role in law enforcement on the reservation. He joined other members of the Tribal Council in reaching out to the BIA, along with Montanas Congressional delegates, for more people and more funding. Tensions between the tribe and the BIA metastasized into two lawsuits, one of which is still ongoing. One lawsuit has the Northern Cheyenne Tribe demanding the BIA address their mounting public safety concerns. As recently as March 2022, according to reports included with the lawsuit, the BIA had only two patrol officers on duty during most shifts. In June of this year, a man was shot dead in Lame Deer. The Northern Cheyenne capital was placed on lockdown during the ensuing manhunt. A lot of these issues are due to a lack of training, Grinsell said. To be an officer here is a nightmare because theres hardly any training, and you cant make any arrests because theres no arrest space. The lawsuit alleged those officers who are on duty consistently show a lack of understanding of both tribal and federal law. Officers have also allegedly failed to properly investigate crimes, gather and store evidence, file police reports and some have even failed to appear for Tribal Court hearings. Cases that could have been charged and prosecuted as federal crimes, according to the lawsuit, have been squandered because of the BIA officers failure to investigate crimes or complete adequate police reports. The (NCIS) formed because of a lack of investigations on the part of the BIA and the way the BIA was treating the tribe, Grinsell said. The Christy Woodenthigh case played a big part in that criticism. Christy Rose Woodenthigh, a mother of three from Lame Deer, died of blunt force trauma after being struck by a vehicle in March 2020 on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The man accused of hitting her was acquitted of an involuntary manslaughter charge when BIA agents testified at a trial in federal court that they did not follow protocols when investigating the case. Thats why people here get frustrated, Grinsell said. Imagine if you were a victim, or the family or friend of a victim. While tribal leadership has ambitions to assume total control of police work on the reservation, Grinsell said their first step was launching its own investigations service. Negotiations with the BIA to enter into a 638 contract, he said, were contentious. The 638 contract refers to the Indian Self-Determination Act of the 1970s, also known as Public Law 93-638. By utilizing the authority of the act, Indigenous tribes and nations can assume the funding and control of any program or service given to them by the federal government. When the tribe submitted their funding request to the BIA for $1.2 million to establish NCIS, the BIA countered with $200,000. Grinsell and other tribal members had to take the bureau to federal court in a second lawsuit to squeeze out as much money as they could. The result was $500,000 to cover the salaries of two criminal investigators, an administrative assistant and equipment. The tribe really is not asking for cash, he said. The tribe is asking for some basic law enforcement. NCIS has settled into its role on the reservation and assisted in investigating several federal cases that ended with prison sentences. Grinsell said at any time he might have as many as 30 or more ongoing cases, which include child abuse to assault to domestic violence. In working with BIA patrol officers, Grinsell said those on shift have been a great help to him in his investigations, and he's been happy to help patrol officers on the reservation whenever they call him. Beyond his responsibilities as head of the NCIS, Grinsell said he wants to see the agency expand its partnerships, particularly in investigating cases of missing persons. A lot of our people end up going missing in Billings, and I want to curb that. No offense to the Billings Police Department, but theyre strapped. I think we could absolutely lend them a hand in missing persons cases eventually, he said. Over the past several months, and another round of negotiations with the BIA, the tribe is preparing to take another step toward managing its own law enforcement. Grinsell said seven local tribal members will take over dispatching services on the reservation. Once those positions are confirmed by a funding agreement, he said, the next step will be bringing on more NCIS criminal investigators. "We go forward, because this is our home," Grinsell said. MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Two new studies looked to explain an increased risk of respiratory infections like coughs and colds in babies and young children, finding city living to be among the culprits. Young children who grow up in towns and cities instead of the countryside suffer more respiratory infections, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of the European Respiratory Society, in Milan, Italy. Findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. A second study that was also presented at the event and published Sept. 11 in the journal Pediatric Pulmonology, found that attending day care, living in a damp home or residing near dense traffic increased young children's risk of chest infections. That study also noted that breastfeeding reduced the risk. In the first study, researchers included more than 660 children and their mothers. Participation began during pregnancy and continued until the children were 3 years old. By age 3, kids living in urban areas averaged 17 respiratory infections, such as coughs and colds, compared to 15 for kids in rural areas. That research also included detailed blood tests of the pregnant women and their newborns. Researchers analyzed the infants immune systems at 4 weeks of age and found differences between the urban and rural babies. There were also differences in blood samples from moms and babies related to living environments and number of respiratory infections. Our findings suggest that urban living is an independent risk factor for developing infections in early life when taking account of several related factors such as exposure to air pollution and starting day care, said Dr. Nicklas Brustad, a researcher and physician based at Gentofte Hospital and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Interestingly, changes in the blood of pregnant mothers and newborn babies, as well as changes in the newborn immune system, seem to partly explain this relationship," he said in a meeting news release. Brustad, who will present this study, said the results suggest that a child's living environment can affect their developing immune system before they are exposed to coughs and colds. We continue to investigate why some otherwise healthy children are more prone to infections than others and what the implications are for later health, Brustad said. We have several other studies planned that will look for risk factors and try to explain the underlying mechanisms using our large amount of data. The second study included data on more than 1,300 mothers and children in Scotland and England. When kids were 1 and 2 years of age, mothers completed detailed questionnaires about chest infections, symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, respiratory medication and exposure to potential environmental risk factors. An analysis of the questionnaires revealed that breastfeeding for longer than six months helped protect youngsters from infections. Attending day care increased the risk. Kids living in damp homes were twice as likely to need an inhaler to relieve respiratory symptoms and to need treatment with a steroid inhaler. Living in an area with dense traffic increased the risk of chest infections, the study found. Exposure to tobacco smoke increased the risk of coughing and wheezing. This research provides some important evidence about how we can help reduce chest infections in babies and toddlers, said Dr. Tom Ruffles, of Brighton and Sussex Medical School and University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust in England. The benefits of breastfeeding are well-established, and we should continue to support mothers who want to breastfeed their babies," he said in the release. "We should also be making every effort to reduce exposure to infections in day care, keep homes free of damp and mold, reduce tobacco smoking and cut air pollution. Ruffles' colleague, co-author Dr. Somnath Mukhopadhyay, said urgent action is needed to tackle the problems of mold and dampness in social housing. He advocates pushing laws to compel landlords to fix mold and dampness issues in their properties quickly. More information St. Louis Childrens Hospital has more on colds and upper respiratory infections. SOURCE: European Respiratory Society International Congress, news release, Sept. 11, 2023 The iconic flag flown over the rubble of the Twin Towers has a remarkable and unexpected journey that connects it to the past and reveals the resilience of the human spirit. Originally, a large American flag was raised over Ground Zero by a group of brave firefighters and first responders as a symbol of hope and unity in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The firemen later stated that they had taken the 4' by 6' flag from a nearby yacht. Shirley Dreifus later determined that the iconic flag had been taken from her yacht the Star of America, which had been docked near the WTC. However, amidst the chaos and devastation of the recovery efforts, and unbeknownst to officials, the original flag had mysteriously disappeared and had somehow been replaced by another flag. The switch was discovered because the flag now in possession did not have the distinctive black electrical tape used to bind the halyard (which could be seen in the original photo that was taken as it was raised by the firemen at ground zero). Despite extensive searches, the whereabouts of the original flag remained unknown for several years. In a surprising turn of events, an ordinary man in Everett, Washington, named Brian Browne, unknowingly became the owner of the long-lost flag. In 2006, Brian, a flag collector, purchased a tattered and soot-covered American flag at a garage sale for just $5. Little did he know that the flag he had acquired for its historical significance was, in fact, the iconic flag that once flew over the Twin Towers and belonged to Shirley Dreifus. It was not until 2014 that Brian learned about the flag's true identity. A chance encounter with a documentary filmmaker led to the discovery that the flag in his possession was the missing symbol of hope and resilience that had captured the hearts of millions worldwide. But, how did this flag end up clear across the country in Washington? Apparently, the flag had been stolen and then subsequently sold. After confirming its authenticity, Brian Browne and his family decided to do the right thing and return the flag to its rightful owner, Shirley Dreifus. In a heartfelt reunion, the iconic flag was returned to Shirley, where it rightfully belonged, carrying with it the memories of her beloved late husband and becoming a treasured heirloom for her family. Shirley Dreifus was deeply moved by the unexpected return of the flag and decided to entrust it to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. It has been preserved as a precious artifact honoring the memory of the victims and the courage of the first responders. The journey of the flag, from a private yacht and the ashes of Ground Zero to the hands of an ordinary citizen in Everett, Washington, and finally back to its rightful owner, Shirley Dreifus, before finding its place at the 9/11 Memorial Museum, embodies the enduring spirit of the American people. It serves as a poignant reminder of the strength that emerged from one of the darkest chapters in the nation's history. By the way, the iconic photo called Raising the Flag at Ground Zero is a photograph by Thomas Franklin of The Record newspaper of Bergen County, New Jersey, taken around 5 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2001. The photo was later used on the "Heroes 2001" stamp. A candidate in the running for Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction has left multiple school districts around the country under mysterious and contentious circumstances and was essentially forced out at a small rural district in Montana after what many say was a botched implementation of a program that allowed kids to learn at their own pace. Sharyl Allen was the deputy superintendent at Montana's Office of Public Instruction from 2020 until August of this year. She was Superintendent Elsie Arntzen's longest-lasting deputy, but she is no longer in that position. Her departure from the Office of Public Instruction was first reported last week by the Daily Montanan. Allen did not return an email requesting comment for this story. Allen has filed to run as a Republican for Superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction in 2024. Allen was the superintendent of the Conrad Public School district, an hour north of Great Falls, for three years. In the fall of 2017, she implemented a "personalized learning" program that allowed students to learn at their own pace without a set schedule and testing regimen for specific courses. By April of 2019, after less than two academic years of the program, Allen had submitted a letter of resignation to the school board after a group of concerned parents decided the program wasn't working. Allen's candidacy for the top public education job in Montana comes as distressing news to Phil Springer, a retired chemistry, physics and science teacher who taught in Conrad Public Schools for 25 years. He said the personalized learning program, and Allen's implementation of it, was a disaster for the district. "As a very experienced teacher, I'll tell you it was pretty much a consummate failure," Springer said. "It really did tear Conrad Schools down, just tore it down." When asked what he meant by that, Springer said he was talking about "discipline and kids' attitudes about scholastics." Springer said the program, implemented in the high school, allowed teenagers to decided on a daily basis how much they were going to study. "I remember what I was like in high school," Springer said. "So with this program, kids could skip class. It was a terrible situation. It was not good. Kids were falling behind." Springer said Allen implemented the model after visiting a school in Idaho and a school in Canada. "It's just a program that in an ideal situation it'd be a pretty cool thing, but it requires a lot more staff and a whole different setup," Springer said. "In my classes, I felt I wasn't getting near as deep in the material and near the amount of material taught as I had been (previously). Kids would not show up, and they'd really have to try at the end, so you would have a tremendous amount of stuff at the end." Semester tests fell by the wayside, Springer recalled. Students were allowed to take tests when they wanted, he said. Kids were allowed to be in study halls, but he remembers a few of his kids coming into his classroom to study because the study hall areas had become loud and distracting. Springer said the program relies more on aides helping the kids, but the district was understaffed. "If you don't make (the students) be in class you better have somebody supervising them," Springer said. "(Allen) sold it like it was college. But I sat my chemistry kids down and told them it was nothing like college. The demands were nothing like they were gonna see. I told them let me be in your pocket the first time you say, 'I'm not ready to take a test, I'll take it later.' Just let me be there. I wanna see it." Springer also said Allen's leadership skills were lacking. He said she would constantly tell him he was "being negative" when he questioned the personalized learning program. He also felt that she was unable to take constructive criticism. Several other current school district employees confirmed to the Missoulian that they felt the program, and Allen's rushed implementation of the program, were failures. However, those people declined to speak on the record because they're still employed by the district. Allen supporter speaks Former Conrad Public Schools board member Lisa Schmidt is a supporter of Allen. "She's really smart, visionary," Schmidt explained. "If she can find people to implement her vision, she's going to be really great for Montana students." Schmidt was on the board when Allen resigned. Schmidt said Allen's personalized learning program was only a failure because of how it was implemented, not because the program can't work. "Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, we didn't convince the community that this was really important, that our school district was not serving the needs of the community at the time," Schmidt said. "My high school journalism teacher told us that the first paragraph of the story should tell the reader why they should care. And we never told the community why they should care. We implemented it very quickly. Teachers were uncertain about how to implement individualized learning in the classroom, so there was a lot of confusion and people were uncomfortable. Those were the two mistakes that were made." Schmidt said that her goals when she joined the board were to get the district's finances in order and create more accountability for the staff. She said there was a "good old boy culture" in the district. "I was on the school board for not very long before we hired (Allen) and I was well aware of this culture," Schmidt said. "I think everybody in every job needs to have accountability. I'm not saying that I thought the teachers were doing a bad job. That's not what I mean at all. We just need to recognize people who are doing an outstanding job and reward them and help people who might be able to improve and help them improve. But you gotta be able to measure that first." Schmidt said she agrees with Allen's assessment that the personalized learning program can be successful because you can "meet students where they're at." But she agrees that many people in the community quickly soured on the program. "It became pretty darn contentious," Schmidt said. "There were five of us on the school board and four of us had kids who had teachers say something to the kids. They were criticizing us. Teachers were punishing our kids." Schmidt said she called a few teachers and told them to "lay off," but that she was talking only as a parent and not as a school board member. "I kind of turn into a Rottweiler when my kids are involved," Schmidt said. "But it got worse and worse. When our kids were being threatened, the school board members said, 'We're not going to continue this program.' It wasn't worth the cost to them. Sharyl quit because she was the target and she knew that this battle wasn't going to end. The community went after her as the target. They should have gone after the school board, but they didn't. Basically, she took the rap." Schmidt said she really believes in personalized learning as a philosophy. "It's a far more effective way to teach our kids," she said. Schmidt said she wouldn't necessarily characterize Allen as a "close friend" but she's still in contact with Allen. Multiple resignations Allen submitted her resignation in 2019. The Conrad school district and Allen executed a "negotiated agreement" at that time. The document, sent to the Missoulian by the school district after a records request, stated that Allen had a full year left on her contract but that the two parties both agreed to end it early. (Find the document attached to this story online at Missoulian.com). "Whereas, in light of the differing perspectives of some (in the) community and in order to pursue other career options that will be a better fit for Allen, the parties are mutually desirous of negotiating an early cessation of the employment contract." Mysteriously, only two people were allowed to respond to people calling the district for references for Allen. "Any and all employment referenced on Allen's employment with the District will be referred only to current board chair Craig Broesder or high school principal Danele Dyer," the agreement stated. "It is expressly agreed between the parties that Broesder and Dyer are the only individuals associated with the District with the authority to respond to employment-related inquiries in reference to Allen's employment with the District." Dyer sent the Missoulian only a short statement, saying the public school board meeting minutes "speak for themselves." The Missoulian was unable to reach Broesder. Allen's resignation from Conrad Public Schools was not the first time she abruptly left a school district before her contract ended. In 2007, Allen resigned as the superintendent of Mingus Union High School District in Cottonwood, Arizona. She had two years left on her three-year contract, according to a Journal AZ story at the time. I believe that I have consistently acted in a legal and ethical manner in discharging my duties as the superintendent of this district, Allen read from a prepared statement, according to the story. "When personal insinuations or attacks occur, it is usually done because the facts cannot be substantiated. Its an old, old trick." In the story, former Mingus Union High School District board member Jim Ledbetter responded to her statement. "Characterizing my request for information as old, old tricks, and characterizing my allegations as vicious attacks is false, Ledbetter is quoted as saying. "The board has presented information to its (legal) counsel and that counsel asked for more information. I believe the board has the power, and indeed the obligation, to look at these questions of hiring and spending practices. It is not an attempt to fracture the board. But rather, the boards legal and fiscal responsibility to do so." Ledbetter, currently an attorney in Arizona, did not respond to a request for comment. The newspaper also quoted one person who supported Allen. Allen then served as a superintendent of Jefferson High School District in Boulder, Montana, from July of 2007 until June of 2009. It's unclear why she left Boulder, but she then got a job as the superintendent of Grand Canyon School in Coconino County, Arizona. In 2013, the Grand Canyon School's governing board voted unanimously to immediately terminate Allen's contract. At the school board meeting when Allen's contract was terminated, the local newspaper, Williams News, reported that two Grand Canyon School parents had notified school board members of a statement of no confidence petition against Allen with more than 70 signatures. "The petition lists high turnover and low staff retention, poor student performance, poor communication, incomplete curriculum, lack of accountability for payroll and tax errors, poor management of facilities and resources and disregard for separation of church and state as key concerns among parents," the Williams News story said. The newspaper also quoted two people who supported Allen. In 2019, about a month before she submitted her resignation in Conrad, Allen testified in front of a Montana Legislature committee to tout her program. We had people calling for my resignation saying how dare I challenge their kids like this," she was quoted as saying by reporter Tim Pierce of the University of Montana Legislative News Service. Too many kids have their eyes rolled in the back of their heads because we keep teaching them the same stuff or saying, You all need this.' But what were really trying to say is, What is the student passion that drives our curriculum? We think thats what the future looks like. Phil Springer, the retired science teacher in Conrad, said Allen's method of implementing the new program doesn't bode well for how she'd perform as Montana's Superintendent of Public Instruction. "I would not call her a 'people person' by any means," he said. "It was getting to be pretty much an uproar around town to get rid of her. I sure as hell wouldn't go work for her. She'd be very hard to work for. She definitely could hold a grudge. She didn't forget things." Elsie Arntzen responds Several people in Conrad, including Springer, told the Missoulian that Montana Rep. Llew Jones, a Republican from Conrad, was instrumental in getting Allen a job with the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Jones did not return a request for comment on Monday. The Missoulian was able to reach Brian O'Leary, the communications director for the Montana Office of Public Instruction. He discussed the Missoulian's questions with Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen and passed along answers to the Missoulian's questions. When asked if Arntzen was aware of the failed implementation of the personalized learning program in Conrad prior to being hired, O'Leary said, "Superintendent Arntzen spoke with Representative Llew Jones about Ms. Allen prior to hiring her to implement the Transformational Learning and Advanced Opportunities initiatives at OPI in June 2019." When asked why Allen was hired for the deputy position, O'Leary said "Ms. Allen was hired as Deputy Superintendent in April 2020 because she successfully implemented and created guidance documents on Transformational Learning and Advanced Opportunities." The Missoulian asked Arntzen what her estimation was of Allen's job performance. O'Leary's response: "As Deputy Superintendent, Ms. Allen assisted Superintendent Arntzen on many projects and initiatives including: O'Leary said that the Office of Public Instruction does not support or endorse any political candidates. He noted that there are two candidates for state Superintendent who have served as deputies under Superintendent Arntzen. (The other is Susie Hedalen, a fellow Republican, who is the vice chair of the Montana Board of Public Education. The only other candidate to file so far is Montana Sen. Shannon O'Brien, a Democrat who was once dean of Missoula College.) The Missoulian asked Arntzen why Allen left the job as deputy superintendent. "Ms. Allens last day at OPI was Aug. 11, 2023," O'Leary said. "In her resignation letter, she mentioned family care and personal/professional pursuits. OPI can confirm that she is now serving as Superintendent of Harrison Public School." When the Missoulian called Harrison Public School, a small district in the town of Harrison located, between Butte and Bozeman, a secretary said Superintendent Allen was "with a student." A voicemail left for Allen, requesting comment, was not returned. A hunter was severely mauled by a grizzly bear Friday, prompting authorities to close a section of parkland south of Big Sky. The injured hunter was taken to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center. The Yellow Mule Trails, along with all access to Buck Ridge Trail, were closed until further notice as authorities seek the bear, which may have been shot. The hunter had been tracking a deer when the bear attacked, according to a Saturday news release from the Gallatin County Sheriffs Office. After the hunting party called 911 at 1:47 p.m., Madison County dispatch requested help from Gallatin County due to the incidents location near one of the Yellow Mules Trails. Teams from multiple agencies responded and took the patient to a Life Flight Helicopter waiting at a nearby helicopter pad. Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer would like to remind hunters that having a plan for contingencies along with being able to call for aid is crucial in the backcountry, reads the release. The incident prompted authorities with Custer Gallatin National Forest to implement an emergency area closure in the Buck Ridge/Yellow Mule area. The closure is necessary after an individual was attacked by a grizzly bear and shot at and likely wounded the bear, reads a Friday press release from the U.S. Forest Service. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Forest Service staff are investigating the incident and are trying to locate the bear. The closure includes the area from the forest boundary along Forest Service Road #2599, also called Buck Creek Ridge Road, to its terminus at the Buck Ridge Trailhead, according to the Forest Service release. The closure continues westerly along Buck Ridge Trail #10 to where it meets the Custer Gallatin/Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Boundary. It then follows the forest boundary northwesterly and northerly to section 16 and continues easterly along the forest boundary back to Buck Creek Ridge Road, also called Forest Service Road #2599. Those who responded to the request for aid included Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue teams; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks peace officers; U.S. Forest Service peace officers; Life Flight Network Helicopter; and Gallatin County Sheriffs deputies. The investigation is ongoing, according to Morgan E. Jacobsen, communication & education program manager for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 3. This is a developing story and more information will be released when available. Another incident of grizzly-human conflict was reported in the last week. A grizzly with a cub broke in to a home near West Yellowstone and took a container of dog food on Sept. 2, according to a press release from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Agency officials and peace officers captured the cub and fatally shot the adult bear later that day. The same adult bear killed a 48-year-old woman on July 22 and also mauled someone near Henrys Lake State Park in Idaho three years ago, according to the agency. Another incident occurred Aug. 30 along a creek on private land in the Tom Miner Basin, about 10 miles north of the western border of Yellowstone National Park. A pair of anglers got in the male grizzlys path in a surprise encounter, and the bear charged, according to authorities. One of the anglers shot and killed the bear, according to a Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks news release. Four days before that, two hunters scouting came within 15 feet of a mother grizzly with her cub in a dense section of the Flathead National Forest, according to an Aug. 28 news release from the same agency. The adult bear charged, and both hunters shot and killed it. One man was shot in the back of his shoulder as well, according to the release. Montana is bear country, reads a Friday statement from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 3. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year. This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they consume more food in preparation for hibernation. This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. Other grizzly-related news can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2p9h7bwj. For more information, resources and education events on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/bearaware. ISLAMABAD, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Forty-three people were injured in a road accident in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams said. The incident happened in Kohistan district where a passenger bus skidded off the road due to overspeeding, Sajid Ali Yousafzai, district emergency officer of state-run Rescue 1122 in the district told Xinhua. He said the bus was going to Islamabad from Pakistan's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region when it met the accident. The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital, where several were in critical condition. The injured included women and kids, and the seriously injured passengers were shifted to a hospital with better facilities in Abbottabad district, the rescue teams said. Kathmandu, Nepal, September 11, 2023: The government employees working at Tribhuwan International Airport, Sinamangal Customs Office have announced to launch strike stopping the customs from today. The governemnt employess announced the strike expressing their dissatisfaction over the ongoing investigation process in 60 kg gold smuggling case. The employees had forwarded various vive demands including mass transfer stating that the employees were arrested and terrorized in the gold smuggling case. In the initial phase the employees had on Sunday staged 'pain down' protest for three hours The agitating employees have announced that they will stop all operations related to export and import through the cargo check and pass from the branch of the Tribhuvan Airport Customs Office. Likewise, they have also announced that all the work of the cargo branch will be stopped from Tuesday if the demands were not fulfilled till the date. LONDON (Reuters) - British foreign minister James Cleverly will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, where he will press for renewed dialogue on a two-state solution and commit to tackling threats to regional security, including from Iran. On the visit that begins on Monday, Cleverly will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. In a speech at an international security conference on Tuesday, Cleverly will discuss the security challenges facing Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as the importance of a two-state solution. He will accuse Iran of "enabling terrorism" through its support of the militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to a statement. "The UK and Israel work closely together to keep our people safe," Cleverly said ahead of his trip. He pledged "to renew our close security partnership, in the face of unacceptable threats from the Iranian regime". He will hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and attend a demonstration of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defence system. During a visit to the Palestinian territories, Cleverly will visit the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank to see Palestinian refugees. Violence in the West Bank has worsened over the past year with frequent Israeli raids and Palestinian street attacks. Prospects of reviving U.S.-brokered peace talks that aimed to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem remain low almost a decade after their collapse. MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Could an algorithm take your job someday? Concerns about artificial intelligence, or AI, are plaguing U.S. workers, according to a new American Psychological Association poll. Some workers are uncomfortable with the way their employers are tracking them, while others worry that AI will make their jobs obsolete. Employers interested in investing in artificial intelligence systems must also invest in their employees, educating them about the role of AI and provide opportunities for feedback, said Arthur Evans Jr., chief executive officer of APA. The workplace is changing rapidly. Open and honest communication from employers can help relieve employees anxieties about the unknown and improve overall well-being, which is associated with higher organizational performance," Evans said in an association news release. The APA poll surveyed more than 2,500 employed adults in the second half of April. Nearly 2 in 5 workers polled said they were worried that AI might one day make some or all of their job duties obsolete. About 64% of those who said they were worried about AI also said they felt tense or stressed during the workday, compared to 38% of those who were not worried about AI. Workers with a high school education or less were significantly more likely than those with a four-year college degree to be worried that their jobs would become obsolete -- 44% to 34%. About 50% of Black workers, 46% of Hispanic workers, 44% of Asian workers and 34% of white workers expressed significant worry about this. About 51% of workers across different workplace settings said their employer uses technology to monitor them on the job. This included 49% of office workers, 49% of manual laborers and 55% of customer/client/patient services workers. Among those who were monitored on the job, morale was lower. About 46% of those who were monitored said they were uncomfortable with being tracked (vs. 23% of workers who did not report being monitored), 51% felt micromanaged (vs. 33%), and 39% felt emotional exhaustion at work (vs. 22%). Nearly 2 in 5 workers who were worried about AI said they believed they did not matter to their employer, the poll found. More employees who were monitored also reported feeling not valued at work compared to peers who were not monitored. Mattering at work is one of the Five Essentials to strengthen workplace well-being, according to the U.S. Surgeon Generals Framework for Mental Health and Well-Being in the Workplace. That framework says workers who feel appreciated often have an increased sense of value and meaning. They are also better able to manage stress. Those who don't feel valued are at risk for stress, irritability or signs often associated with workplace burnout. We know that people want to feel as if their work makes a difference in the lives of others, Evans noted. And employees who feel like their job duties can be replaced by artificial intelligence, or that their employer feels the need to constantly surveil their work, are less likely to feel as if the work they do matters. "It is up to employers to make sure that any new technologies they introduce into the workplace enhance rather than diminish that sense of meaning. Employers who pay attention to how technology affects their employees will perform better," Evans said. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on mental health in the workplace. SOURCE: American Psychological Association, news release, Sept. 7, 2023 HONOLULU Most of West Maui will officially reopen to travelers Oct. 8 under a new wildfire emergency proclamation signed Friday by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. Nonessential travel to much of the island's western coastline has been strongly discouraged since devastating wildfires killed at least 115 people in the historic town of Lahaina last month. State tourism officials initially urged travelers to stay away from Maui so residents and agencies could focus on emergency response efforts and supporting those displaced by the fires. In mid-August, officials began encouraging tourists to return to other parts of Maui. Family-owned Estes Express Lines, the largest private freight transportation company in North America, moved into its newer, larger Richmond terminal, setting up a more efficient delivery system in the area. The new facility at 6800 Route 1 in North Chesterfield spans 20 acres, including 41,000 square feet of dock space, which the company views as a game changer for its less-than-truckload shipping services. Its going to really help with our local Richmond capacity picking up and delivering for customers, said Will Hupp, district operations manager for Estes. Its also going to give us more capacity to service some of that north, south, southeastern freight as well. The terminal that opened in late August contains 98 doors compared to 74 at the former facility on 1200 Commerce Road in Richmond. The extra doors will allow drivers make deliveries to Richmond earlier in the day. The larger space will also cut down the number of shipment handlings, which can lessen the chances of damaging shipments. At the old terminal, we had to put a lot of stuff on the floor and work off the floor, Bryan Burmaster, terminal manager at the Richmond facility, said. Now, were going trailer to trailer, finishing up every morning between 9:30 and 10. Were going to be able to get (the customers) their freight sooner, and were going to be able to get to their pickups earlier. Estes transitioned to a new terminal at the same time it transitioned to new leadership. The team is now under the guidance of Webb Estes, the fourth-generation company president who took over from his father, Robey Rob W. Estes Jr., earlier this year. He hit the ground running, Hupp said of Webb Estes. Hes been ready for this position, so I feel like we didnt skip a beat. Its a challenging time, but the timing seems perfect to have a fresh set of eyes. Much of the companys challenges stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic as the labor market tightened and more people went from buying services to buying goods. It took us a little while to tool up to that, but we feel like were in a really great spot now, Hupp said. Weve made heavy investments in infrastructure such as terminals like this as well as other terminals around the country. Estes operates in all 50 states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Richmond terminal deploys around 40 city drivers and 20 line haul drivers, and welcomes another 30 hub drivers that come from other terminals around the country. The facility features a number of proprietary systems, including an e-dock inventory management system and a line haul dispatch app. Estes is also using technology from MyCarrier, an automated transportation management system, Samsara, a connected operations cloud and FreightSnap, which produces dimensioners that measure objects such as packages, pallets and boxes. The tools help Estes make quicker deliveries to its wide-ranging customer base. I would say weve probably been more retail-heavy than some of our competitors, but we still do a lot of industrial, Hupp said. We can handle just about everything, whether its a full truckload to some of your smaller shipments. The new property includes 4,900 square feet of office space, creating more comfortable working conditions for employees. Its just a cleaner environment, Burmaster said. Its an open space; with the old terminal we were right in the line. Now, its more of a family deal in the office. Estes has room on the new property to expand the dock even further, but for now, the company is content with its latest expansion that enlarges its footprint in Richmond. Were excited to continue to invest in the Richmond area, Hupp said. This is where we started, where we sharpened our teeth, so its great to reinvest on Route 1, and were looking forward to continuing to provide that high level of service to our customers here in the Greater Richmond area. Recognize this? 1950s photos from The Times-Dispatch archives Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Robinson and Newcombe Richmond in the 50s (236).jpg Richmond in the 50s (235).jpg Richmond in the 50s (233).jpg Richmond in the 50s (234).jpg Richmond in the 50s (231).jpg Richmond in the 50s (232).jpg Richmond in the 50s (229).jpg Richmond in the 50s (230).jpg 1954 Branch House 1956 Richmond Virginians Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in 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Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s Richmond in the 50s On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Goose, a 1-year-old rescue mix, was enjoying a bowl of blueberry ice cream with peanut butter topping at Salty Paws, the Richmond areas first doggie ice cream bar. This is our third visit in five days, Hailey Devol, one of Gooses owners, said. Shes our baby. We spoil her. Located in West Broad Village in Glen Allen, Salty Paws serves up lactose-free, dog-friendly ice cream in flavors such as bacon, cheddar cheese and peanut butter that can be served with a variety of toppings, including dehydrated chicken or beef. Salty Paws ice cream costs $4.99 to $6.99, with $1 per topping. The shop opened in early September. All the ice cream is formulated for dogs. Two flavors are made with goat milk. Theyre lower in sugar and easier on their tummy, owner Juliet Seymour said. Salty Paws also sells all kinds of doggie baked treats from doggie doughnuts and cookies to cupcakes and cake mixes. It offers rawhides, chews and natural bones stuffed with things such as cheese and bacon, as well as CBD calming treats for dogs. Salty Paws is a franchise based in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. This is the second Salty Paws location in Virginia; the other is located in Virginia Beach. Career-changing decision Before launching the Richmond-area location of Salty Paws, Seymour was a special education teacher in Chesterfield County. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to Virginia with her four kids and got her masters in special education. She worked five years in the field in Henrico County and one year in Chesterfield, but after five years, she was burned out. I felt like I was failing my students. I was so stressed out at work; I felt like I was failing my kids at home as well, Seymour said. Schools have become a much more dangerous place for teachers. Virginia continues to experience teacher shortages this year. Henrico County Public Schools started off the school year Aug. 21 with about 100 instructional vacancies. Last January, I decided I couldnt go back to teaching, Seymour said. My dad had passed away, and I was in a position where I could take a risk as a single mom. I literally started Googling franchises to see what was out there, and Salty Paws popped up. When she reached out with questions about franchising, Salty Paws founder Suzanne Tretowicz responded. Suzanne was here all weekend supporting me with the opening. I liked the fact that she was also a single mom and still involved. That made it a no-brainer, Seymour said. Tretowicz launched the business in 2018. Now, there are 12 Salty Paws franchises nationwide, with five more on the way. Ive been in the pet industry a long time. I spent a lot of time seeing dogs eating unhealthy alternatives on the street, Tretowicz said. We wanted to create an experience for them, to treat dogs like family and to treat them to ice cream and all the unique products we carry. People just love it. Ive heard that people plan their vacations around going to Salty Paws. They can come with their dog and hang out at night. Dog-friendly businesses On a recent Tuesday, Daisy Mae, a Richmond goldendoodle with over 9,500 followers on Instagram, also stopped by Salty Paws for a bowl of maple bacon ice cream with duck on top. This is our fourth time since it opened, owner Angela Starnes said. Even though she lives about 20 miles away near the Richmond International Airport in Henrico, she likes to plan special days and trips around Daisy Mae. I work from home in health care. I like to have one day a week where I take her out on my lunch break, Starnes said. Gooses owners, Devol and Alexis Williams, shared a similar sentiment. Even though they live at Rocketts Landing in downtown Richmond, they made the trip to West Broad Village in Glen Allen to visit Salty Paws. It was just one stop on one of their dog-friendly itineraries. Every day, we like to take her somewhere, Devol said. Sometimes, they take her to Paws to Swim, a dedicated dog pool in nearby Rockville, or the RedRidge Pet Market in Henrico. Pet ownership is on the rise since the pandemic. Roughly 12.6 million households acquired a new pet in 2020, according to the American Pet Products Association. Now, those pet owners want somewhere to go and something to do with their pets. We are becoming aware of more hotels, restaurants and attractions promoting their venues to pet owners, Tom Loftus, vice president of marketing with Richmond Region Tourism, said. We know that more and more travelers want to bring their dogs along on their visits to the Richmond region, and its a point of differentiation when choosing a destination, he said. Last year, Richmond Region Tourism created a pet-friendly Richmond campaign highlighting pet-friendly attractions, restaurants and hotels to encourage visitors to bring their dogs to the region. We feel the Richmond region is the ideal pet-friendly destination, Loftus said. Along with pet ownership comes pet spending. Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022, up 10.68% from 2021, according to the American Pet Products Association. A recent Forbes Advisor survey of more than 5,000 U.S. dog owners found that 41% of dog owners spend between $500 and $1,999 a year on their dogs and 8% spend more than $2,000. Pup-friendly menus In response to increased demand, more and more Richmond-area restaurants are adding pup-friendly menus to their offerings. Wood & Iron Gameday Restaurant & Bar recently added a patio pups menu that offers grilled chicken or shrimp with broccoli ($7.98), fresh strawberries and blueberries ($4.98) or a scoop of vanilla ice cream ($1.98), with $1 of each sale donated to Fetch-A-Cure. The Lilly Pad, a waterfront restaurant on Osbourne Turnpike, has been offering a dog menu for a while. Visitors can order a local Angus beef patty from Seven Hills Farm ($5), grilled chicken ($5) or a 6-inch, long-lasting bully stick ($5), each served in a special tin bowl for furry friends. Earlier this summer, Richmond was ranked the No. 5 best city for dog lovers by LawnStarter, a lawn care service provider. Richmond came in first for the number of dog events per 100,000 residents think of the pet-friendly Richmond SPCA Dog Jog. The study was also based on access to dog-friendly housing and businesses, suitability of dog walking and affordability of canine services. And now, Salty Paws is one more addition to the Richmond areas thriving pet-friendly business scene. Soon, the Richmond-area location will be launching the first Salty Paws ice cream truck in the country. Besides serving ice cream, the truck will offer items such as hamburgers, french fries and doggie craft beer, as well as a breakfast menu board. It also will be headed to pet-friendly events across town, such as Dachtoberfest at the Richmond Raceway, and can be booked for private parties. Weve seen so many dogs come through here on opening weekend. We had a couple hundred dogs over the weekend. They hop up on the counter, waiting for their ice cream, Seymour said. Its the best part of my job. Portions of Staples Mill and Waller roads in Henrico County were shut down Monday morning and afternoon after an incident that left the roadway and several vehicles covered in paint. Karina Bolster, a spokesperson for Henrico police, told The Richmond Times-Dispatch that officers responded to reports of a paint spill at about 10:44 a.m. Monday. She said a truck was hauling containers of water-soluble paint, which dumped onto the roadway and covered ... several vehicles. No injuries were reported, Bolster said. The driver of the truck has been charged with failure to secure a load. The trucking company Grub Hill Transport, based in Amelia did not immediately respond to multiple phone calls seeking comment. Henrico police said the road would be closed for several hours as they investigated the incident and crews worked to clean up the spill. From the archives: 65 photos of Richmond in the 1930s Naseem Roulack, a felon serving a 13-year stretch for a string of crimes, walked out of a Henrico County hospital and has not been seen since and that was a month ago. Roulack, 21, was taken to Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital in Henrico for medical treatment on Aug. 12. He was last seen casually walking on Franklin Street, wearing a gray T-shirt with black shorts and what appears to be either a white towel or sheet on his head, authorities said. That was the last known sighting of him. Officials, out of concern for tipping off Roulack, are declining to say where their search is located and whether they have made any progress in tracking him down. Officials with the Virginia Department of Corrections said that the Virginia State Police and the U.S. Marshals Service are part of the manhunt for Roulack, but declined to comment on where the search was focused. A representative for VSP confirmed that the agency was involved, but said police could not specify search parameters, so as not to tip off Roulack on where we are currently concentrating efforts to locate him. The Richmond office of the U.S. Marshals Service also confirmed their involvement in the case, but would not provide further comment and referred all questions to VADOC. It remains unclear whether officials believe Roulack, who has a violent criminal history, is still in the Richmond area, or even Virginia. He is currently at the top of VADOCs Most Wanted list. Roulacks disappearance has left some anxious and concerned. One man, who lives about a half mile from Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital and spoke on the condition of anonymity, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that Roulack attempted to break into his house on the morning he fled VADOC custody. The man said he saw Roulack outside his window, and then heard the escaped inmate try to open his storm door and the backdoor into his kitchen. Roulack ended up in his garage, the man said. I opened the back door and yelled, get out of my garage, he said, adding that Roulack put his hands up and left immediately after. He said police responded by telling him to stay out of his backyard and informing him that police dogs would search the property. The man described the encounter as alarming, and said he had not received any warning regarding Roulacks escape. I think hes long gone, he said. In a 911 call obtained by The Times-Dispatch, another person told Henrico emergency dispatchers that she thought Roulack had gone across her front yard. The caller, who lives less than a half mile from the hospital, said she found plastic ZipTie-like handcuffs on her lawn the morning of Roulacks escape. The woman confirmed to The Times-Dispatch that police had come by her house to collect the restraints. Roulack was serving his first year of a 13-year sentence for aggravated malicious wounding, grand larceny and felony hit and run, according to Virginia court records. He was transferred from Greensville Correctional Center in Jarratt to Bon Secours St. Marys Hospital sometime on or around Aug. 12 to receive medical treatment, VADOC officials said. In the early morning hours of Aug. 12, Roulack walked out of the hospital. He was last seen on Franklin Street in the Near West End later that same day, according to authorities. VADOC officials did not disclose the reason for Roulacks hospitalization. But Laura French of CBS6 Richmond previously reported that Roulack may have feigned symptoms of a drug overdose to be taken to the hospital, where escaping likely would have been easier. French also reported that sources close to the investigation said the correctional officers responsible for monitoring Roulack fell asleep on the job after working for more than 24 hours, but officials did not confirm that report. VADOC also would not confirm claims that Roulack faked a drug overdose and denied allegations that correctional officers had worked for more than 24 hours. In a statement to The Times-Dispatch, spokesperson Carla Miles said the VADOC will not comment as this situation is still under investigation (and) does not comment on employee matters. Roulack has facial tattoos to include Cut Throat on his right cheek, a tattoo on his left arm that says RIP ish and a tattoo on his right arm that says Faith is Seeing with Your Heart When All Your Eyes See is Darkness. 15 photos of the Richmond City Jail from The Times-Dispatch archives Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Richmond City Jail Four-term Roanoke Mayor David Bowers a Democrat for most of his years in office, including his most recent term that ended in 2016 announced that he feels more at home in the Republican Party. Switching now is the right thing to do, Bowers said in a written statement. I believe the Republican Party is a better choice for my wife, my family and our city. Bowers, 71, served 24 years as mayor or a city councilman. He won three of his terms as mayor as a Democrat and another as an independent. In recent years, he lost two comeback bids in which he ran as an independent. Reached by telephone Saturday, Bowers said that he could not rule out another run for office but also was not ready to declare his candidacy. Roanokes next council elections are more than a year away, he noted. Not a day goes by that someone doesnt stop me at the store, the Food Lion, the Kroger, on the street, and say, Would you please run for mayor again, Bowers said. My answer consistently has been dont count me in, but dont count me out. Bowers written statement highlighted ongoing interest in city politics, accusing the super-majority Democrats on City Council of being nationally oriented and pursuing a liberal ideology instead of serving the best interest of us homeowners, home renters, small and local business owners. City Council should be dealing with local issues like the murder rate, crime, homelessness and economic development in Evans Spring, Bowers said in the statement. Bowers statement said that his focus was, and still is: Good Jobs, Good Schools, Good Neighborhoods. Three council seats and the mayors job will be up for election next year. Democrats long have dominated Roanokes council, presently holding the mayors position and five of the six council seats, with the sixth occupied by an independent. The last Republican to serve on city council was Ralph Smith, who defeated Bowers in 2000 and was in office through 2004. Bowers said that it was Smith who sparked his thoughts about changing parties by introducing him in April to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican who has been discussed as a possible candidate for national office. In his written statement, Bowers said that he was impressed by the governors progressive and expansionist vision and referred to him as our young Gov. Youngkin. The meeting with the governor came about five months after Bowers most recent unsuccessful run for office. Last fall in an race for three council seats, Bowers independent campaign received 8% of the vote and finished seventh behind the three winning Democrats and three Republican candidates. Bowers received more votes than two other independents. In an Election Night text, Bowers wrote, Maybe my time has come and gone. On Saturday, Bowers said that perhaps his days of seeking votes were not finished after all. Sometimes we think we hear the call again what we think was public service. I mean that in a very sincere way, Bowers said. In his written statement, Bowers called the decision to change parties conscientious, thoughtful and prayerful. He cited reasons that ranged from disagreement with President Joe Biden to admiration for Youngkin to local Democrats who have not been personally friendly with my wife and me. Bowers said that he and his wife, Margarita, attended Republican events during the summer. The Republicans seem to prioritize God and country (patriotism) first, which are especially important to us, Bowers said. We have become very comfortable with these local folks and the political positions for which they stand. Bowers contrasted this with the Democratic Party, which he described as moving from President John Kennedys ideal of asking what one could do for the country to What can the government do for me! Bowers statement said that he had met Biden many times and that while Biden is one of the friendliest people Ive ever met, he was disappointed that the president did not do more to heal divisions. Bowers said that he thought the president neglected migrant and border issues. And, by the way, I would not vote for an 82-year-old for president, Bowers said. Speaking Saturday, Bowers said that he had no comment on Donald Trump and his campaign to run again against Biden, or on the ongoing criminal cases and other fallout from Trumps attempts to remain in office after the 2020 presidential election. I dont get into a lot of that national stuff. I just have such a scant influence in it. Im one vote. Ive always been very focused on local issues, Bowers said. In both his statement and on the phone Saturday, the former mayor said that he and his wife experienced unfriendliness from Democrats, with the exception of Mayor Sheman Lea whom Bowers said he will always honor as our mayor. Bowers said Democrats changed over the years and now demand strict adherence to liberal ideology and if youre not one of them, then they count you out! Bowers said that on Saturday morning, he attended a breakfast with Salem Republicans and received a nice welcome, something I have not been getting from the Democrats. First elected to Roanoke office in 1984, Bowers served two terms as a councilman, then two terms as mayor from 1992 to 2000. In 1998, while mayor, he ran unsuccessfully for the 6h Congressional District seat, losing to Republican Bob Goodlatte. In 2004, Bowers sought again to become the Democratic candidate for mayor but lost a primary race to Nelson Harris, who ended up winning the mayoral election. In 2006, Bowers ran for a council seat and lost. But in 2008, Bowers made another try for the mayors role, this time campaigning as an independent and defeating Harris. Bowers rejoined the Democratic Party and won another term as mayor, then decided in 2015 not to seek reelection. It was nine days after saying that it would be his last term that Bowers briefly became the center of national controversy. He spoke out against the local resettling of Syrian refugees and referred favorably to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The statement attracted widespread condemnation, including from both Democratic and Republican national party leaders. Other Roanoke council members criticized Bowers remarks as irrational and narcissistic. The outcry faded as Bowers apologized repeatedly for mentioning internment camps. Four years later, Bowers said that retirement did not agree with him and challenged Lea, who was running for a second term as mayor. As an independent, Bowers took 47% of the vote to Leas 52%. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Sunday that he has granted a full pardon to a Loudoun County man who was convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice stemming from a June 2021 confrontation at a county school board meeting, weeks after his daughter was sexually assaulted in a public school bathroom. The case was at the center of Youngkin's push for parents' rights that helped fuel his victory for governor in 2021. Parents' rights remains a key to his campaign to win full control of the state legislature in this fall's General Assembly elections. Youngkin said in an interview Sunday on Fox News that he spoke to the father, Scott Thomas Smith, on Friday, and advised him of the pardon. "We righted a wrong," Youngkin said. "He should never have been prosecuted here. This was a dad standing up for his daughter." The assailant, a student at Stone Bridge High School, sexually assaulted Smith's daughter in a campus bathroom in May 2021. The assailant was then transferred to the countys Broad Run High School, where he abducted and sexually assaulted another girl at school just five months later. The Washington Post reports that the assailant has been sent to a residential treatment facility, will be on probation until he is 18 and will remain on the state's sex offender registry for life. According to the pardon, the father, Smith, attended the June 2021 School Board meeting to observe the proceedings, but "a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Mr. Smith's business, with the intent to damage his reputation." Following a "verbal confrontation," Smith was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. He was convicted of the counts in Loudoun General District Court in August 2021. A judge threw out the obstruction of justice charge on appeal. The father faced a trial on his appeal of the disorderly conduct conviction. On his first day in office, Jan. 15, 2022, Youngkin authorized Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Loudouns schools after news broke that the same student committed both assaults. The Loudoun County School Board fired Superintendent Scott Ziegler in December 2022, following the release of a report from a special grand jury that said it believed Ziegler lied about the 2021 sexual assault of Smith's daughter. In a statement released Sunday, Smith said, "My family intends to pursue legal action in the federal courts to hold the Loudoun County public school system accountable for putting its own interests above the safety of both my daughter, the families and communities that it was supposed to serve, and I also intend to pursue other legal remedies in order to hold those elected county officials who pursued this malicious prosecution of me accountable for their malfeasance." 5 things to know about what's in Virginia's state budget NATURAL RESOURCES PAY RAISES TAX RELIEF Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (1st R, back) delivers his government policy statement to parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 11, 2023. Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, highlighting immediate measures to drive economy with a digital money handout and energy price cuts. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delivered his government policy statement to parliament on Monday, highlighting immediate measures to drive economy with a digital money handout and energy price cuts. The country's key drivers of growth, including tourism and spending, are experiencing a sluggish recovery, leading to the risk of an economic recession, Srettha told a joint sitting of the National Assembly, adding that stimulus measures are necessary to reinvigorate the economy. "The 10,000-baht (around 280 U.S. dollars) digital money distribution to all areas down to the grassroots level will kick-start the economy, creating jobs and economic activities, while the government will earn revenue," he said. This policy will lay a digital economic foundation for the Southeast Asian nation, prepare it for a new economic era, offer new opportunities to the public, open the door to new funding sources for businesses, and improve the efficiency and transparency of the economic system, he added. Noting additional pressing agendas, Srettha said the government will solve the debt problems, as household debt is now recorded at over 90 percent of the kingdom's gross domestic product (GDP). The prime minister said the government will also implement plans for reducing energy prices, including for gasoline, cooking gas, and electricity and seeking new energy sources. He also noted an immediate strategy focusing on tourism promotion by implementing visa fee exemptions for visitors from specified countries and fast-tracking visa applications for inbound travelers who attend international events. Under the Thai constitution, the Council of Ministers is required to deliver a policy statement to the bicameral parliament before officially taking office. Following Monday's policy address, ensuing debates among parliamentarians are due to last until Tuesday. Cancun passenger killed in targeted car shooting Cancun, Q.R. A hit on a Cancun car passenger left one dead and another hospitalized. Early Sunday, Cancun police responded to reports of a car being shot at in SM 96. According to the survivor, it was around 3:00 a.m. when men intercepted the car he was driving and opened fire then fled, leaving behind one dead identified as 33-year-old Limberth N, a hotel waiter from Yucatan and bar ticket seller, 21-year-old Jose Alejandro N from Venezuela, who was wounded. Both men worked at establishments in the Cancun Hotel Zone. In a hospital interview with the surviving man, police were told that a female bar client, her husband and two male friends asked him to drive them home in their vehicle since they had been drinking. While parking their car outside their house, a second vehicle arrived and intercepted the car. A lone person dressed as a clown got out and approached the passengers side window and began shooting. The front seat passenger, the husband of the woman who asked for the driving favor, was killed. During the targeted attack, one of the bullets hit Jose Alejandro N. Police collected nine shell casings from the scene. FAA carries out final review round for Mexicos return to Category 1 Mexico City, Mexico Last week, the AFAC and FAA held a final discussion meeting on the Category 1 recovery process for Mexico. According to the Ministry of Communications and Transportation (SICT), the goal was to carry out the last round of reviews on the countrys compliance with the minimum operational safety standards of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Agreement). The meeting took place in Mexico City. Both officials stated that the pending points of the audit carried out by the organization were duly resolved by the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC). The AFAC, a decentralized body of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), held the meeting for final discussions of the aviation safety audit on the recovery of Category 1. The meeting was headed by the Undersecretary of Transportation of the SICT, Rogelio Jimenez Pons, the General Director of the AFAC, General Miguel Enrique Vallin Osuna, the Manager of the FAAs International Technical Support Branch, Louis Alvarez, the Internal Deputy Executive Director of the Flight Standards Service, FAA Aviation Safety, Robert Ruiz, the FAA International Affairs lawyer, Cade Miller, as well as Norma Campos, FAA representative in Mexico. Authorities carry out final review safety audit for Mexicos return to Category 1. Photo: Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes September 6, 2023. At the end of the meeting, General Miguel Vallin and the representative of the FAA, Robert Ruiz, stated that the pending points of the audit carried out by said organization were duly resolved by the AFAC. The head of the AFAC expressed his satisfaction at reaching the final agreements of the audit. He thanked the presence and collaboration of the FAA on behalf of Secretary Jorge Nuno Lara and himself. Robert Ruiz stated that in the process there was always the support and collaboration of the entire AFAC team and the support of Secretary Nuno. He recognized the effort shared by both institutions to carry out the review of compliance with the Chicago Agreement on operational safety, applicable to civil aviation. Puerto Morelos creates Community Animal Welfare Inspector team Puerto Morelos, Q.R. The municipality of Puerto Morelos has certified seven people to detect animal abuse. The seven were certified by the government of Puerto Morelos who are accredited as Community Animal Welfare Inspectors after completing training for the management and procedures for the care of domestic and wild fauna in the municipality. Yukeini Sulbei Castaneda Cocom, Director of Quality Training, recognized the citizens for their willingness to contribute in tasks for the protection and care of animals and the members of the IFAW (Foundation for Animal Welfare), Erika Flores Reynoso, Veterinary Advisory Project Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Saul Rodriguez Torre, Disaster Response and Risk Reduction officer, for their support in the courses taught. The head of Animal Protection and Welfare of the municipality, Telma Dafne Garcia Pena, thanked the new inspectors for their time to train and be part of the project. Puerto Morelos is the first municipality where this program is being implemented. With our Community Inspectors, we will have eyes throughout the municipality to give correct attention to complaints and promote a new culture of protection for local fauna, she said. Efren Boylan Sanchez, head of Animal Protection of the Northern Zone of the Environmental Protection Attorneys Office of Quintana Roo, thanked the continuity of this pilot program which started while he was the head of Animal Welfare of the municipality. He said that he is proud that the program is going to be replicated in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. It is about providing timely follow-up to cases of animal cruelty and abuse in the state. The certificates were delivered to Nancy Heredia Zepeda, and Maria Guadalupe Gutierrez. Likewise, Lucila Guadalupe Leon Medina, Jesus Pascual Duran, Patricia Forcano Prats, Jorge Luis Magana Magana and Emanuel Garnica, who are now part of the Community Inspectors. Mountain Valley Pipeline is suing more than 40 people and two organizations that it says are unlawfully interfering with its efforts to complete a natural gas pipeline amid growing unrest. The company is asking a judge to issue an injunction that would prevent opponents from entering construction areas, where they have temporarily delayed work at least a dozen times since July 5. Filed last week in Montgomery County Circuit Court, the lawsuit also seeks to prohibit the organizing of such events and any soliciting or accepting of donations that might be used to fund them. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Named as defendants are Appalachians Against Pipelines, an organization that often promotes the protests on social media, and Rising Tide North America, which Mountain Valley says is raising money for the events. The lawsuit seeks more than $4 million in damages from the two groups and 41 individuals who have chained themselves to heavy equipment, walked onto restricted construction areas or taken other illegal steps against the highly controversial project. Defendants are individuals and organizations who are unwilling to accept the fact that the project has been approved, the lawsuit states. Rather than abide by the statutes and court rulings authorizing completion of the project, defendants are determined to stop work by unlawful means. A spokeswoman for Mountain Valley declined to comment on the pending litigation Monday. Alan Graf, an attorney who in the past has monitored pipeline protests as an observer with the National Lawyers Guild, said the company is trying to silence its critics with a heavy handed threat of legal action and financial losses. This is a SLAPP suit on steroids, Graf said, referring to what are called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. It is pure, outright intimidation, he said. They dont care about winning the case. They care about getting their lawyers and legal staff to try to intimidate the common people who are out there trying to do something right. A comment from Appalachians Against Pipelines, described by the lawsuit as a clandestine organization that encourages illegal resistance to the pipeline, was not available by 6 p.m. Efforts to reach Rising Tide North America which says on its website that it is an international, grassroots network of volunteers who confront the root causes of climate change were unsuccessful. For nearly two years, construction along Mountain Valleys 303-mile route which passes through the New River and Roanoke valleys was stalled by legal challenges. Then Congress passed a law declaring the project in the national interest. Among other things, the law allowed Mountain Valley to bypass lawsuits filed in a federal appeals court that had repeatedly struck down its government permits on environmental grounds. As bulldozers and construction crews returned to the mountains of Southwest Virginia, they were soon met with resistance. At first, protesters carrying banners and chanting slogans walked onto the pipelines right-of-way, briefly slowing work and then leaving before police arrived. As this protest shows, whatever the courts do, whatever congress does, the people will not let this pipeline be built! Appalachians Against Pipelines wrote in a July 12 post to its Facebook page. Later in the summer, protesters began to chain themselves to heavy equipment with lock boxes, causing longer delays as police worked for hours to extract them from the so-called sleeping dragons. Five people all from other states have been arrested. The lawsuit is against 16 named people and an additional 25 who are referred to as John Does. Mountain Valley said in the filing that it is working to identify those defendants and will add their names when it does. Although company spokeswoman Natalie Cox declined Monday to comment on the lawsuit, she has earlier condemned the actions of opponents who break the law to make their points. The illegal and dangerous behaviors exhibited by certain protesters trespassing on the project right-of-way in recent weeks has served only to create unnecessary safety risks for themselves, project crew members, first responders, and our community members, she wrote in an email. The way Graf sees it, the legal action is an attempt by a large corporation to finally squash non-violent public opposition that for years it has been unable to stop. It shows that the people still have power, he said. Appalachian Power Co. will purchase electricity generated by six solar farms as it makes a slow but steady shift to all-renewable energy by 2050. The State Corporation Commission last week approved Appalachians latest renewable energy plan, which details what the company is doing to comply with a 2020 state law that requires it to provide totally green energy to its Virginia customers. A renegotiated power purchase agreement with a seventh solar facility, and the acquisition of a wind farm in Ohio, are also part of the plan. Appalachians proposal is reasonable and prudent based on the record in this case, the SCC wrote in an order that came Thursday at the end of a six-month review process. For years, Appalachian has relied primarily on power plants that burn coal and natural gas to generate electricity for its 500,000-plus customers in Western Virginia. The Virginia Clean Economy Act, passed by the General Assembly three years ago to slow climate change, requires the company to stop using fossil fuels to serve its state customers by mid-century. Appalachian must submit an updated report each year, outlining its transition to renewables, to the SCC for approval. Were extremely pleased with this weeks ruling, and will continue to work with the Virginia SCC to meet our future obligations under the VCEA, Appalachian spokeswoman Teresa Hall wrote in an email Friday. Our objective is to provide safe, reliable and affordable service for our customers, and this plan meets that goal while adding more clean-energy resources to our energy mix, Hall wrote. Currently, the utility draws power from three solar farms in Virginia in Campbell, Henry, and Wythe counties and five wind farms in Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia. Under its latest plan, Appalachian will add another six solar farms to its fleet. Through agreements to purchase power from independently owned and operated facilities, it will acquire about 184 megawatts of electricity. Thats still a small slice of the utilitys total capacity of more than 6,000 megawatts. One of the solar farms is in Ohio. The rest are in the Virginia counties of Carroll, Franklin, Henry and Louisa. Two are in Henry County, which already has a solar farm that was the first to go online for Appalachian. The Franklin County facility, to be owned and operated by Energix, is not expected to become operational until August 2024. Energix scrapped its initial proposal for a Westlake site after opposition arose, and is currently pursuing a location on former farmland in the Wirtz area. Assuming those plans go through, the SCC found it would be economically prudent for Appalachian to enter into a contract with the company for 20 megawatts of electricity over 20 years. The commission also granted the companys request to purchase the Grover Hill wind farm in Ohio, which will produce up to 146 megawatts. It denied a request by Appalachian to recover costs for one of its existing wind farms in West Virginia, finding that an economic analysis did not show positive value for customers. Virginia currently has no land-based wind farms; one is proposed in Botetourt County but has encountered regulatory and legal delays. Although Appalachian is adding more renewable energy to its mix every year, it still has a long way to go before meeting the Clean Economy Acts mandate to provide all-green power to its Virginia customers by 2050. Coal and natural gas still account for about 80% of the utilitys power portfolio. WASHINGTON The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday, according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been named. The waiver is likely to draw criticism of President Joe Biden from Republicans and others that the deal will boost the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a growing threat to U.S. troops and Mideast allies. The waiver means that European, Middle Eastern and Asian banks will not run afoul of U.S. sanctions in converting the money frozen in South Korea and transferring it to Qatars central bank, where it will be held for Iran to use for the purchase of humanitarian goods. The transfer of the $6 billion was the critical element in the prisoner release deal, which saw four of the five American detainees transferred from Iranian jails into house arrest last month. The fifth detainee had already been under house arrest. Due to numerous U.S. sanctions on foreign banks that engage in transactions aimed at benefitting Iran, several European countries had balked at participating in the transfer. Blinkens waiver is aimed at easing their concerns about any risk of U.S. sanctions. People familiar with negotiations said they expect the detainees will be released as early as next week. The American prisoners include Siamak Namazi, who was detained in 2015 and was later sentenced to 10 years in prison on internationally criticized spying charges; Emad Sharghi, a venture capitalist sentenced to 10 years; and Morad Tahbaz, a British-American conservationist of Iranian descent who was arrested in 2018 and also received a 10-year sentence. The fourth and fifth prisoners were not identified. To facilitate their release, the United States has committed to release five Iranian nationals currently held in the United States and to permit the transfer of approximately $6 billion in restricted Iranian funds held in (South Korea) to restricted accounts in Qatar, where the funds will be available only for humanitarian trade, Blinken wrote. The sanctions waiver applies to banks and other financial institutions in South Korea, Germany, Ireland, Qatar and Switzerland. I determine that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive the imposition of sanctions ... with respect to foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction of Germany, Ireland, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland that are notified directly in writing by the U.S. government, to the extent necessary for such institutions to engage in transactions occurring on or after August 9, 2023, Blinken wrote. Sanctions waivers apply to transactions involving previously penalized entities such as the National Iranian Oil Company and Central Bank of Iran to transfer funds from accounts in the Republic of Korea to accounts in Switzerland and Germany and from accounts in Switzerland and Germany to accounts in Qatar, and to use the transferred funds for further humanitarian transactions in accordance with written guidance from the U.S. Government, he wrote. NAIROBI, Kenya The graves at the edge of the orphanage tell a story of despair. The rough planks in the cracked earth are painted with the names of children, most of whom died in the 1990s. That was before the HIV drugs arrived. Today, the orphanage in Kenya's capital is a happier, more hopeful place for children with HIV. But a political fight taking place in the United States is threatening the program that helps to keep them and millions of others around the world alive. The reason for the threat? Abortion. AIDS has killed more than 40 million people since the first recorded cases in 1981, tripling child mortality and carving decades off life expectancy in the hardest-hit areas of Africa, where the cost put treatment out of reach. Horrified, then-President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress two decades ago created what is described as the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, partners with nonprofit groups to provide HIV/AIDS medication to millions around the world. It strengthens health care systems, cares for children orphaned by AIDS and provides job training for people at risk. Now, a few Republican lawmakers are endangering the program, which officials say saved 25 million lives in 55 countries from Ukraine to Brazil to Indonesia. That includes the lives of 5.5 million infants born HIV-free. At the Catholic-run Nairobi orphanage, program manager Paul Mulongo has a message for Washington: "Let them know that the lives of these children we are taking care of are purely in their hands." Abortion has been a sensitive issue since PEPFAR's inception in 2003, but Republicans and Democrats were able to put aside partisan politics to support the program. "Most eras in countries are measured by loss of life in war and famine and pandemic," said Tom Hart, president of the ONE Campaign, a nonpartisan organization that worked with Bush, a Republican, to create the program. "This era has been measured in lives saved." The campaign published a letter from dozens of faith leaders to Congress calling PEPFAR "a story of medical miracles and mercy." But the bipartisan support is cracking as the program is set to expire at the end of this month. The trouble began in the spring, when the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative Washington think tank, accused the Biden administration of using PEPFAR "to promote its domestic radical social agenda overseas." The group pointed to new State Department language that called for PEPFAR to partner with organizations that advocate for "institutional reforms in law and policy regarding sexual, reproductive and economic rights of women." Conservatives argued that's code for trying to integrate abortion with HIV/AIDS prevention, a claim the administration denied. In language echoing the early, harsh years of the epidemic, Heritage called HIV/AIDS a "lifestyle disease" that should be suppressed by "education, moral suasion and legal sanctions." It recommended halving U.S. funding for PEPFAR, saying poor countries should bear more of the costs. Shortly after that, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a longtime supporter of PEPFAR who wrote the bill reauthorizing it in 2018, said he would not move forward with reauthorization this time unless it barred nongovernmental organizations that used any funding to provide or promote abortion services. The New Jersey Republican chairs the U.S. House Foreign Affairs subcommittee with jurisdiction over the program's funding. Smith, with support from prominent anti-abortion groups, wants to cut PEPFAR's usual five-year funding to one year if that ban is not included. He said that would allow lawmakers to annually revisit contracts with partners they believe may support or provide abortion services. The proposal also would include a measure that requires at least 10% of funds to be directed to NGOs like the Nairobi orphanage, which targets orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. "It's a false narrative that says that you can't do (the program) year by year as we try to protect the unborn child," Smith said. Supporters of the program say that under existing U.S. law, partners are already prohibited from using its funding for abortion services. The head of PEPFAR, John Nkengasong, told the AP he knew of no instance of the program's money going directly or indirectly to fund abortion services. He warned that any instability in the flow of U.S. funding for PEPFAR could have dangerous implications for global health. The key to controlling AIDS, he said, is the assurance that infected people have a pill to take each day. Without that, the virus could come back "and about 20 million lives might be lost in the coming years," he said. "The fragile gains that we've achieved will be lost." In Africa, many PEPFAR partners and recipients in largely conservative countries don't support abortion because of religious beliefs. "If PEPFAR goes, who is going to meet that cost?" asked Josephine Kaleebi, who leads an organization in Uganda that helped the program's first-ever recipient of HIV treatment medication. "We are proud to say that the first recipient is alive," she said. The group, Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, was founded by members of Uganda's Catholic Church, which is against abortion. In the reception area, portraits of priests line the walls. Reach Out helps anyone who walks in needing HIV drugs, Kaleebi said. About 6,000 people are served, many of them "the extremely most vulnerable" from one of the poorest areas of the capital, Kampala. Mark Dybul, who helped create and lead PEPFAR under Bush, warned that weakening PEPFAR would also hurt the diplomatic goodwill the U.S. created in developing regions. "It's no secret that we are in a geopolitical struggle for influence in Africa with Russia and China," he said. "And our biggest influence in many ways, visible and most impactful, is PEPFAR." In Kenya, Bernard Mwololo believes he is alive because of the drugs that PEPFAR provides. "Sometimes it's so crazy when you hear people saying that these HIV drugs should be bought by the local government," he said. "I am telling you, they can't manage it." The 36-year-old, now an HIV activist, has lived most of his life at the Nairobi orphanage after his parents died of AIDS. The number of children in sub-Saharan Africa newly orphaned by AIDS reached a peak of 1.6 million in 2004, the year that PEPFAR began its rollout of HIV drugs, researchers wrote in a defense of the program published by The Lancet medical journal last month. In 2021, the number of new orphans dropped to 382,000. Deaths of infants and young children from AIDS in the region dropped by 80%. Some are among the 1.4 million children and adults living with HIV in Kenya, according to UNAIDS. More than 1 million received free HIV drugs because of PEPFAR. Stopping PEPFAR, Mulongo said, would be like committing "global genocide." 25 must-read books that humanize the HIV/AIDS experience 25 must-read books that humanize the HIV/AIDS experience 'And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic' by Randy Shilts 'Facing It: A Novel of AIDS' by Paul Reed 'The Darker Proof: Stories from a Crisis' by Adam Mars-Jones and Edmund White 'Close to the Knives: A Memoir of Disintegration' by David Wojnarowicz 'AIDS and Its Metaphors' by Susan Sontag 'Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival' by Sean Strub 'Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993' by Sarah Schulman 'Push' by Sapphire 'Heaven's Coast: A Memoir' by Mark Doty 'Don't Call Us Dead' by Danez Smith 'The Body and Its Dangers and Other Stories' by Allen Barnett 'Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes' by Tony Kushner 'Unending Dialogue: Voices From an AIDS Poetry Workshop' by Rachel Hadas 'Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation' by Jim Downs 'Youngman: Selected Diaries of Lou Sullivan' by Lou Sullivan 'Borrowed Time: An AIDS Memoir' by Paul Monette 'My Government Means to Kill Me' by Rasheed Newson 'Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned' by Judd Winick 'Funeral Diva' by Pamela Sneed 'Ceremonies: Prose And Poetry' By Essex Hemphill 'This Wild Darkness: The Story of My Death' by Harold Brodkey 'Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father' by Alysia Abbott 'Nobody Ever Said AIDS: Poems and Stories from Southern Africa' edited by Nobantu Rasebotsa, Meg Samuelson, and Kylie Thomas 'Ground Zero' by Andrew Holleran Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Sunday that he has granted a full pardon to a Loudoun County man who was convicted of disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice stemming from a June 2021 confrontation at a county school board meeting, weeks after his daughter was sexually assaulted in a public school bathroom. The case was at the center of Youngkin's push for parents' rights that helped fuel his victory for governor in 2021. Parents' rights remains a key to his campaign to win full control of the state legislature in this fall's General Assembly elections. Youngkin said in an interview Sunday on Fox News that he spoke to the father, Scott Thomas Smith, on Friday, and advised him of the pardon. "We righted a wrong," Youngkin said. "He should never have been prosecuted here. This was a dad standing up for his daughter." The assailant, a student at Stone Bridge High School, sexually assaulted Smith's daughter in a campus bathroom in May 2021. The assailant was then transferred to the countys Broad Run High School, where he abducted and sexually assaulted another girl at school just five months later. The Washington Post reports that the assailant has been sent to a residential treatment facility, will be on probation until he is 18 and will remain on the state's sex offender registry for life. According to the pardon, the father, Smith, attended the June 2021 School Board meeting to observe the proceedings, but "a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Mr. Smith's business, with the intent to damage his reputation." Following a "verbal confrontation," Smith was charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of justice. He was convicted of the counts in Loudoun General District Court in August 2021. A judge threw out the obstruction of justice charge on appeal. The father faced a trial on his appeal of the disorderly conduct conviction. On his first day in office, Jan. 15, 2022, Youngkin authorized Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Loudouns schools after news broke that the same student committed both assaults. The Loudoun County School Board fired Superintendent Scott Ziegler in December 2022, following the release of a report from a special grand jury that said it believed Ziegler lied about the 2021 sexual assault of Smith's daughter. In a statement released Sunday, Smith said, "My family intends to pursue legal action in the federal courts to hold the Loudoun County public school system accountable for putting its own interests above the safety of both my daughter, the families and communities that it was supposed to serve, and I also intend to pursue other legal remedies in order to hold those elected county officials who pursued this malicious prosecution of me accountable for their malfeasance." You have permission to edit this collection. Edit Close NAIROBI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least ten Kenyan soldiers were killed in a roadside blast in Lamu county, which is located along the North Coast of Kenya, Sunday, officials confirmed Monday. The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) condemned the attack in the Buure area but did not confirm the number of casualties. A security official, however, said ten soldiers were killed and four others wounded after their vehicle which was on patrol ran over an improvised explosive device along Milimani Baure road. The official who declined to be named said ten of the personnel on board were killed on the spot and those who sustained injuries are in serious condition. "The condition of the injured soldiers is bad," the official said, noting that the explosion destroyed the vehicle. In a statement issued Monday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, the KDF condemned the incident, saying the criminals were determined to disrupt the movement of people and goods in the area and thus destroy socioeconomic stability in the area. "KDF calls on the residents to share information with security agencies on these criminal elements who lurk in their communities," the military said. Lamu County has been in the spotlight for some years now owing to increased scathing attacks by the militants that have left hordes of security officers and civilians dead. Security personnel believe there is an active al-Shabab cell in the area given the attack on the KDF came hours after another one left two construction workers with serious injuries on Sept. 9. Robin Roberts and Amber Laign are officially married. An intimate, magical wedding ceremony in our backyard followed by a joyous receptionohhhh the dancing!! Roberts wrote on Instagram on Sunday, next to a photo of herself and Laign holding hands in their wedding gowns. We are immensely grateful to all for making it a day and a night to remember. Honeymoon here we come!, Roberts added. The pair, whove been together since 2005, wed on Friday. Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos of Robin Roberts through the years The Good Morning America veteran anchor also shared footage of her siblings walking out to make a toast while dancing to Montell Jordans This Is How We Do It, a moment from the reception that Roberts described as one of many highlights. Roberts and Laign both wore custom Badgley Mischka wedding gowns and were married by Roberts childhood pastor, according to GMA on Sunday. In January, Roberts revealed that she planned to marry Laign this year during conversation with author and motivational speaker Gabby Bernstein. It was something we had talked about, but we had put it off. She became ill, Roberts told Bernstein. Laign and Roberts have both overcome serious health obstacles throughout the course of their relationship. Roberts shared that Laign was diagnosed with breast cancer in a video posted to her verified Twitter account in February 2022. She updated her followers in July of that year that Laign had completed a portion of her treatment. In 2007, Roberts announced that she was battling breast cancer. She also revealed in 2012 that she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome and underwent a lifesaving bone marrow transplant. With those health obstacles behind them, the newlyweds appear to have found the perfect time to celebrate their love. Many people go into marriage hoping for and looking for what Amber and I already know we have, and so ours is a celebration, Roberts said on GMA in August. Weve been living our happily ever after through all the ups and downs, so its a celebration. Photos: Robin Roberts through the years Robin Roberts, 1996 Robin Roberts, 2000 Robin Roberts, 2003 Robin Roberts, 2005 Robin Roberts, 2006 Robin Roberts, 2008 Robin Roberts, 2008 Robin Roberts, 2009 Robin Roberts, 2009 Robin Roberts, 2010 Robin Roberts, 2010 Robin Roberts, 2011 Robin Roberts, 2013 Robin Roberts, 2013 Robin Roberts, 2013 Robin Roberts, 2013 Robin Roberts, 2014 Robin Roberts, 2014 Robin Roberts, 2014 Robin Roberts, 2015 Robin Roberts, 2016 Robin Roberts, 2016 Robin Roberts, 2019 Robin Roberts, 2019 Robin Roberts, 2020 FLORENCE, S.C. For Thomas Schnibben and Taylor Barnes and a several other runners, Saturdays Run for Brighter Days was run between rain squalls. The remainder of the field finished in a deluge punctuated by thunder and lightning. It was for a good cause, though. Run for Brighter Days Thomas Schnibben runs through the parking lot at Lynches River County Park in Coward on his way to a first-place finish in the Run for Brighter Days. The Jonathan Foundation and its fight to reduce teen suicides benefited from the race, which has been run for the last couple of years on a course at Lynches River County Park. Schnibben and Barnes finished in under 19 minutes with Schnibben crossing the finish line at 17.36 and Barnes at 18:49, somewhat of a rarity in Pee Dee races to have the first female finisher be second across the line. Run for Brighter Days Parker Lilly flashes thumbs up as he finishes first in his division and sixth overall in the Run for Brighter Days at Lynches River County Par The two set a difficult pace to follow with the third-place runner, Christopher Tyree, across the line at 21:08. This is our biggest run yet; 205 registered last night, 72% turned out so far, said Lynn Bulloch, president and founder of the Jonathan Foundation. In all, 151 people turned out under threatening weather conditions and 117 people persevered to the finish. PHOTOS: Run for Brighter Days Saturdays race capped a productive year for the Jonathan Foundation, which completed three major projects, Bulloch said. The first was the George Project with a focus on health care, counseling, emergency departments and primary care offices and our ask there has been to implement standardized risk assessment questions do the two questions to make sure theyre good, Bulloch said of the patients. Eighty-three percent of suicides were seen in doctors offices or emergency departments 30 days prior. The second is the Robert Duffie campaign and it focuses on schools and our ask there to implement standardized risk assessment for students, Bulloch said. We have mental health counselors in schools now through legislative changes so behavioral health care is on site. The Jonathan Project is the third campaign and the focus there is on first responders and our ask there is to focus on first responders that they have the appropriate crisis training and have access to mental health during and afterward (incidents), Bulloch said. The foundation is also looking forward to a productive year in 2024. On May 16 the foundation will have its first annual Brighter Days Health Conference, Bulloch said. The guest speaker will be Dr. Daniel G. Amen, author of the book The End of Mental Illness, and he will appear virtually, she said. Heng Swee Keat (left), Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Singapore, and Justin Doebele (right), Editor and Vice President - Content, Forbes Asia, in a session at the Forbes Global CEO Conference 2023. (PHOTO: Forbes CEO Global Conference) SINGAPORE A Tharman Presidency is a "very, very positive sign" for Singapore, said Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Co-ordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat at the Forbes conference on Monday (11 September). In an "In Conversation" session at the ongoing Forbes Global CEO Conference, Heng was asked by moderator Justin Doebele, Forbes Asia's Editor and Vice President Content, if the recent Singapore President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam's landslide victory of over 70 per cent of the eligible votes, showed that Singaporeans are ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister. Now in its 21st year, the conference "convenes CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders to discuss key issues of global concern and to build new partnerships". This year's edition, themed "Sea Change" runs till Tuesday at the Shangri-La Singapore. Doebele asked, "Could we perhaps see this Presidential election as showing that Singapore is now ready, perhaps with the appropriate candidate, that there might be a Prime Minister (PM) who is a non-Chinese?" "I will see it as a very positive sign that the fact that he is an Indian did not stop people from electing the best person," said Heng. Heng had said some in Singapore "not ready" It was Heng, who in March 2019, said in a forum at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) that while younger Singaporeans were increasingly comfortable with the idea of having a minority-race PM, he believed that the older generation were still resistant and unable to accept the notion. The former Finance Minister was then next in line to succeed PM Lee Hsien Loong. Heng "stepped aside" in April 2021 and currently, DPM and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong is the PM-designate. At the forum, Assistant Professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, who is from NTU's School of Social Sciences, had pointed out that Tharman was a popular choice to take on the top job, based on his constituency's elections results. Tharman helmed the Jurong GRC since 2001. Story continues A survey conducted by market research consultancy Blackbox in 2016, which was commissioned by Yahoo News Singapore, also found that Tharman was the top choice among Singaporeans to succeed PM Lee, with 69 per cent of almost 900 respondents choosing him. According to The Straits Times, Heng said, "My own experience in walking the ground, in working with different people from all walks of life, is that the views if you go by age and by life experience would be very different. I will say that it is a very positive sign that the young people will be quite comfortable, precisely because our policy of regardless of race, language, religion has been an emphasis in our system for so long. So that is why our young people grow up in a very different way and therefore you are quite ready. I do think that at the right time, when enough people think that way, we would have, we may have, a minority who becomes the leader of the country." Singapore society maturing At the Forbes conversation, Heng added, "It is certainly a very, very positive sign. Will we ever have a non-Chinese as Prime Minister? I would say it will come one day. It will come one day because the Singapore society is growing, maturing... As to when that day will be, I can't tell. None of us can predict the future." Still, "I see that as a very important aspect of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's legacy... to build a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural society", Heng added. Heng's session also discussed in significant detail the late Lee Kuan Yew's legacies and lessons learnt. To a question on the China-US relationship and what Lee would have done or dealt with rising tensions, Heng said, "I'm not Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I don't think I have his amazing intellect." I will see it as a very positive sign that the fact that he (President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam) is an Indian did not stop people from electing the best person.Heng Swee Keat Heng then shared what happened at a Shangri-La Dialogue in 1999 in Singapore. "Some of you will recall that the American plane dropped a bomb in Belgrade and it hit the Chinese embassy. There was a huge issue... Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was in Singapore and the Chinese Foreign Minister was in Singapore, and both had asked to see him," Heng said. "Everybody was nervous. What will Mr Lee say to them, where it would create more fireworks and so on. I was present in both meetings. All I can say is that if the Chinese and Americans have shared notes about what Mr Lee said to them, they will realise that Mr Lee said exactly the same thing to both of them, but with a slightly different angle. Lee had asked both parties to focus and think about their respective long-term strategic interest. Money laundering in Singapore Doebele also brought up the recent S$1.8 billion money laundering case. "Singapore prides itself on being a hub for financial services. What are what are some of the takeaways and what are some of the lessons that have been learned, based on your great experience in the financial services industry?" he asked. Heng outlined the need to use finances to create a better life for people. "I think our ability to channel finances into productive uses to support the real economy, to create a better life for people, is critically important... But how we channel finance into productive purposes is critical." "I think it's important for us to keep the integrity in finance and keep its ability to function effectively. So, money laundering, counter-terrorism financing are areas for which we have been very, very vigilant from very early on. We want Singapore to be a financial centre that people can trust, that it is the centre for channeling capital to productive uses." Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Hurricane Lee has slowed down slightly ahead of its expected turn northward as it moves away from land, the latest forecast shows. The storm, which intensified to a Category 3 storm again as it whirls across the open Atlantic Ocean, is expected to go through additional strengthening within the coming days. Lee exploded to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours last week before slowing down and reorganizing over the weekend. Just behind Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which is predicted to reach hurricane status by Monday afternoon. Hurricane Lee is moving well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to advisories from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday. Life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Lees historic intensification from an 80 mph Category 1 to a Category 5 with 160 mph winds last week makes it one the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon expected to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis. Key Points Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Tropical Storm Margot predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday How Lee shattered rapid intensification standards Heres how quickly the storm picked up speed Path of Hurricane Margot 07:00 , Stuti Mishra Margot which has strengthened into a hurricane now, is expected to continue to remain in open waters. Heres the path the storm is following: Tropical Storm Margots forecasted path as it picks up speed in the Atlantic (National Hurricane Centre) Margot strengthens into a hurricane 06:24 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot intensified into a hurricane on Monday night with further strengthening forecast during the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. Story continues The hurricane was located about 1,265 miles (2,035km) northwest of the Cape Verde Islands, packing maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120kph), the Miami-based forecaster said.Margot became a Category 1 storm Monday afternoon and was expected to continue to intensify to become the fifth hurricane of the season. It was forecast to remain over open waters. Tropical storm Margot becomes a hurricane (NOAA) Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown 04:59 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week 04:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season 03:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? 02:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers 01:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:00 , Graig Graziosi Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi Lee went through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, returning to Category 4 strength after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm would intensify on Monday morning, though it failed to reach a Category 5 storm by Monday evening. Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Hurricane Margot becomes fifth hurricane of the 20223 season Monday 11 September 2023 22:50 , Graig Graziosi The National Weather Service announced that Tropical Storm Margot had been upgraded to a full fledged hurricane on Monday afternoon. Hurricane Margot is the fifth hurricane of the season, and formed not only during the peak of the season but in the immediate wake of Hurricane Lee, which is still churning through the Atlantic off the southeastern coast of the US. Newly formed Hurricane #Margot becomes the fifth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Season. https://t.co/0bcEmBeFdb pic.twitter.com/Fc1hphwzr4 National Weather Service (@NWS) September 11, 2023 New Englanders need to be careful as Hurricane Lee heads for the US east coast Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi John Cangialosi, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said that New Englanders need to be careful if they have any seafaring adventures planned in the coming days. Hurricane Lee may move close to the US northeast coast, bringing with it high waves, dangerous rip currents, and strong winds. Mr Cangialosi told Boston.com that mariners should keep up-to-date with their local weather services before setting out to sea, especially later in the week as the hurricane moves further north. If youre going to go offshore, you need to be careful, Mr Cangialosi said. You need to go now or wait for this to go by. Despite the warnings, researchers have noted that its unclear exactly what effect Hurricane Lee will have on northeastern states by the time it reaches the area. The storm is still gaining strength, but will likely weaken as it hits colder northern waters. Despite its weakening, the storm may still produce high winds within hundreds of miles of its centre. Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 21:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. New England watching Hurricane Lee as flooding, rain soak region Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , Graig Graziosi New Englanders are watching the current course of Hurricane Lee, as some spaghetti models predict the storm may be on a collision course for the region. Though Hurricane Lee will likely arrive as a weaker storm by the time it reaches the northeast, it will land just on the heels of a wet weekend. Flooding has been reported in Rhode Island and more is forecasted for the region today while Maine experienced heavy rains late Sunday. If the storm does turn into New England and the Canadian east coast, it will at very least bring with it high winds, dangerous rip currents, significant surf, and likely more rain for the region. #HurricaneLee will produce some monster waves (50ft+ near the core). Swells start to arrive Tues-Wed along the SE Coast and work north. Surfers will prob love it, but careful folks. Big time rip current risk! New moon means slightly elevated tides/ coastal flooding/ erosion too. pic.twitter.com/NrPCOLsysT Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) September 8, 2023 Watch: Footage from inside the NOAAs flight into Hurricane Lee Monday 11 September 2023 19:31 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA sent a hurricane hunter aircraft into Hurricane Lee on Sunday night to gather data on the now Category 3 storm churning in the Atlantic. The agency filmed a portion of the flight, which shows the researchers being jostled back and forth by the storms sustained 120mph winds. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane until midweek, when forecasters believe it will begin to weaken. Watch the flight below: OVER THE ATLANTIC - An inside look at late night storm flying! Last night NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" flew a mission into Hurricane #Lee. Visit https://t.co/3phpgKMZaS for the latest forecast and advisories. Video Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Rannenberg, NOAA Corps #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/feGd7k0UOs NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee generates 15 foot waves Monday 11 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reportedly has generated 15 foot waves as it moves north of the Caribbean and into the waters off the US east coast, according to the Associated Press. High surf and dangerous rip currents have already begun for some southeastern US states as the Category 3 hurricane continues on its trajectory further north. Dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Lee begin to affect southeast US Monday 11 September 2023 18:30 , Graig Graziosi Forecasters have warned for days that Hurricane Lee could produce dangerous rip currents on the US east coast, and those predicitions have come to pass. The National Hurricane Centre reported Monday morning that dangerous rip currents which can drag swimmers out to sea have begun in the southeastern US. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to affect portions of the southeastern U.S. coast, and these conditions are forecast to spread northward along much of the U.S. East Coast during the next couple of days, the centre warned. Swimmers in southeastern US states should consult their local weather information providers before heading out for a swim over the next few days. 2023 sets the record for number of billion-dollar climate disasters Monday 11 September 2023 18:00 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA has identified 23 seperate climate and weather disasters in 2023 that caused at least a billion dollars in damages, according to the agency. Those events include Hurricane Idalia, which struck Floridas western shoreline near Big Bend in late August, the devastating wildfire on Maui that killed more than 100 people, and a number of lesser reported but still highly damaging weather and climate disasters. Severe storms, tornadoes, and hail blasted the Plains states in the spring, while California saw record breaking floods between January and March. There have been 23 confirmed weather and climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1bn. These disasters consisted of 18 severe storm events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone, one winter storm and one wildfire event, the NOAA reports. For this year-to-date period, the first eight months of 2023 rank highest for disaster count, ahead of 2020 with 16 disasters. The total cost of these events exceeds $57.6bn, and they have resulted in 253 direct and indirect fatalities. An NOAA map detailing the 23 climate and weather disasters that caused at least $1bn in damages in 2023 (NOAA) Monday 11 September 2023 17:34 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee is expected to gain strength for the next two days before gradually weakening as the the week wears on, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm is expected to pass near Bermuda on its way north. The centre said the hurricanes impact on the US east coast and Atlantic Canada is still unknown. Some spaghetti models of show Hurricane Lee skirting close to the coast, others place it further out in the Atlantic. Some strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 75 miles (120 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km), the National Hurricane Centre said in an 11am EST update. Tropical Storm Margot expected to become a hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Monday 11 September 2023 17:11 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre expects Tropical Storm Margot to strengthen into a hurricane sometime tonight, making it the second storm in as many weeks to spin up in the Atlantic basin. At 900 AM GMT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Margot was located near latitude 25.3 North, longitude 40.0 West. Margot is moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days, the National Hurricane Centre said in an advisory. Forecasters are expecting it to gain strength over the next 48 hours. The storms winds are currently peaking around 65mph (104km/h). READ MORE: Tropical Storm Margot expected to become hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown Monday 11 September 2023 16:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week Monday 11 September 2023 15:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Hurricane Lee: Latest National Hurricane Centre report says storm should begin to swing north by midweek Monday 11 September 2023 14:45 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee continued churning in the Atlantic on Monday after reaching its peak as a Category 5 storm on Thursday. The National Hurricane Centre reports that Hurricane Lee is producing maximum sustained winds of 120mph (195km/h) a Category 3 hurricane and is on a northwesterly trajectory moving at 7mph (11km/h). The centre believes Hurricane Lee will continue taking a "slow" path toward the west-northwest over the next few days before turning gradually north by the middle of the week. The storm is expected to pass well north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It is currently approximately 340 miles (545km) north of the Northern Leeward Islands and approximately 650 miles (1045km) south-southeast of Bermuda. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? Monday 11 September 2023 13:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers Monday 11 September 2023 12:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Monday 11 September 2023 11:00 , Stuti Mishra Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 10:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 09:00 , Stuti Mishra Lee is going through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, nearing Category 4 strength now after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. National Hurricane Center has said the storm could intensify further on Monday morning, which means it could once again become a Category 5 storm.Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Path of Hurricane Lee: Will it make landfall? Monday 11 September 2023 08:04 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is projected to stay in open waters, according to the National Hurricane Center but its impact is being felt in the Caribbean with rainfall and large swells and the same could be experienced in the US East Coast. Lee is expected to take a turn to the north by Wednesday. However, its path after that remained unclear. Here is the projected path of the hurricane: Hurricane Lee, 10 September (NOAA) Hurricane Lee 'growing larger' as US east coast braces for large swells Monday 11 September 2023 07:15 , Stuti Mishra The centre of Hurricane Lee is growing in size, the National Hurricane Center has said in its latest advisory, after the storm once again intensified to Category 3 from Category 2 on Sunday night. Lee has hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) from the centre and tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometres). The NHC also said that dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the US East Coast starting on Sunday night and Monday morning, but that the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear. "It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic." the centre said. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 23: Lee Growing Larger But Maximum Sustained Winds Have Not Yet Increased. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Spread Through the Western Atlantic During the Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee unleashes heavy swell on northern Caribbean as it restrengthens over open waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:32 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee barrelled over open waters late night just northeast of the Caribbean, unleashing heavy swell on several islands as it regained some strength and expanded in size. Lee has again intensified to a Category 3 storm after reducing to Category 2 earlier on Saturday, but it is not forecast to make landfall and it is staying over open waters. However, its bands brought heavy rains and hazardous beach conditions. The impacted regions include the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Late Sunday, it was centred about 310miles (500kilometres) north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120mph (195kph) and it was moving northwest at 8mph (13kph). We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear, said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Forecasters predoct another rapid intensification cycle for Lee Monday 11 September 2023 04:00 , Alex Woodward Lee made history last week after it rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 within 24 hours. The hurricane could enter another period of rapid intensification this week after slowing down over the weekend. In the last 12 hours, NHC has recorded a 15 knot increase for #HurricaneLee, confirming that #Lee is steadily re-intensifying. The next 36 hours are looking like medium-low shear so I wouldnt be surprised if we get near a rapid intensification cycle between today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/OYPoaxFCux Kieran Bhatia (@BhatiaKieran) September 10, 2023 East Coast likely to avoid Lee landfall, but hazardous beach conditions are incoming Monday 11 September 2023 02:00 , Alex Woodward It appears that Hurricane Lee will likely avoid making any landfall in the US, but life-threatening rip currents and dangerous beaches conditions along the East Coast are expected over the next couple of days. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along much of the US East Coast later today and worsen through this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beach erosion and some coastal flooding is also possible, the center reported. The Category 3 storm is predicted to continue gaining strength as it moves north this week. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Atlantic will see two simultaneous hurricanes this week, forecasters predict Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength on 11 September. Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Tropical Storm Margot is growing stronger and better organized and predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday Sunday 10 September 2023 22:30 , Alex Woodward Just behind Hurricane Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which has grown stronger and better organized over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Margot is expected to continue moving north in the next few days and potentially intensify into a hurricane on Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the storms center, according to the advisory. A forecast model from the National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Margot will intensify into a hurricane on 11 September. (NOAA) Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Sunday 10 September 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward As predicted, Hurricane Lee has intensified into a Category 3 storm after slowing down overnight and into Sunday. Lee is expected to take a slow west-northwestward track in the coming days, passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or two, according to a Sunday afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm has returned to Category 3 strength and additional strengthening is forcast within the next day or so, the NHC is reporting. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and it remains unclear whether the storm will reach the northeastern US coast and Canada or continue spinning into the Atlantic on that western track. It still remains too early to tell, according to forecasters. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Watch: Atlantic storm activity at the peak of hurricane season Sunday 10 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Take a look at the Atlantic activity with Hurricane Lee, Tropical Storm Margot and two disturbances behind them with a chance of developing into storms in the coming days The storms and storms-to-be are taking shape during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. There's no shortage of activity in the Atlantic Basin! Along with named storms Hurricane #Lee and Tropical Storm #Margot, the #NHC is monitoring a pair of disturbances in the Main Development Region that each have a 30% chance of development over the next 7 days. pic.twitter.com/rZpRxTeOmW RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) September 10, 2023 Hurricane Lee is a Category 2 storm, but its still unclear where its headed Sunday 10 September 2023 19:55 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was downgraded to a Category 2 on Sunday, slowing down as it rears northwest along the eastern seaboard. Its expected to strengthen in the coming days, but Lee is not projected to strike land, and there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, for now. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda late next week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf conditions are expected along parts of the East Coast and around the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. But the storm, roughly 270 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, is expected to steer away from Caribbean islands as it makes its northern turn. Why Hurricane Lee has shattered rapid intensification standards Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the one of the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. September 10 is peak hurricane season, as more Atlantic storms are brewing Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Alex Woodward Today is the peak date for the Atlantic hurricane season, and it couldnt come at a more-active time, with Hurricane Lee likely gaining strength as Tropical Storm Margot and two brewing storms pop up behind it. September 10 is basically when you still have low vertical wind shear, plenty of moisture and increasing sea surface temperatures, Colorado State meteorologist Philip Klotzbach told AccuWeather. The increasing vertical wind shear tends to dominate over the continued warming sea surface temperatures as you move later in September. On the heels of #Lee and Margot is #invest97L and its larger relative near Africa. These two should blend in time. Given its the heart of the hurricane season and the entire basin is ripe, this new system may follow a similar path that Lee has traveled thus far. By NEXT pic.twitter.com/O4SitQiZ5x Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 10, 2023 While the climate crisis and warming waters have indicated that hurricane seasons are trending longer than the official six-month window typically observed, that peak date is likely to remain. While Atlantic sea surface temperatures typically continue to warm until late September/early October, vertical wind shear starts to increase relatively quickly in late September, knocking down storm activity, Mr Klotzbach added. A composite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning towards the Caribbean after intensifying into a major storm on 8 September. (via REUTERS) Latest Lee update: Storm to pass well north of Leeward Islands, Virgin Island and Puerto Rico Sunday 10 September 2023 16:32 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to spin outwards as it approaches the eastern seaboard, and the storm is moving well north of the northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the coming days, according to an 11am ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Still, it remains too early to tell what impacts, if any, will be felt along the US East Coast and Canada, especially as the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably as it moves over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the advisory. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 110 mph with higher gusts, and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. Dangerous waves are expected along the East Coast throughout the weekend, with potentially life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf hitting northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 11AM AST Sep 10: #Lee is passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands. Hazardous beach conditions are forecast to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Stay up to date with the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/FSB4BYvbIQ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Latest Lee update: Storm is slowing down and likely regaining strength as it steers north Sunday 10 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward After it was downgraded from a Category 3 storm, Hurricane Lee is predicted to regain strength as it travels along warm Atlantic waters in the coming days. Lee is slowing down as it moves well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine its course and whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center on 10 September. But life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 5 AM AST - Sept 10: #Lee slowing down...Deteriorating seas and beach conditions expected this week for PR/USVI. |#Lee esta desacelerando...Se esperan condiciones maritimas y costeras deterioradas esta semana para PR/USVI.#PRwx #USVIwx pic.twitter.com/WFwxiTULEG NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 10, 2023 Will Lee and Margot collide in the Atlantic? Sunday 10 September 2023 11:00 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that it could mingle or alter Hurricane Lees path, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another any time soon in the Atlantic Ocean. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Sunday 10 September 2023 09:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon likely to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis and warming waters. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Hurricane Lee is pictured by NOAA satellite in the Atlantic Ocean on 8 September. (AP) Why Lee is blowing meteorologists minds before it even makes landfall Sunday 10 September 2023 07:00 , Alex Woodward The first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season didnt stay that way very long, but Hurricane Lees rapid intensification from a Category 1 into a Category 5 within 24 hours from Thursday into Friday is likely a record-breaking event in modern meteorological history. The storm then degraded into a Cat 4 then a Cat 3, though it is likely to gather strength as it moves northeast. Cat 5 storms already are rare, but inreasingly more common, relative to the history books. According to University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy, roughly 4 per cent of named storms in the Atlantic basin have reached that threshold since the early 1920s. Category 5 hurricanes are rare... these are tropical cyclones with 157mph+ sustained winds in the eyewall. Meteorological perfection. What percentage of Atlantic named storms is known to have reached Cat 5 intensity? 1923-2023: 3.8% 1973-2023: 3.5% 1993-2023: 3.6% 2013-2023: 4.5% Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) September 8, 2023 Lees intensification from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds has likely made it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Not only that, for the first time on record, Cat 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. This is one of the most impressive rapid intensification episodes I've ever seen in the Atlantic. Hurricane #Lee went from having no eye this morning to possibly Cat 5 intensity this evening. Absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/49NmtkIJO2 Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 8, 2023 FEMA stocks up food and water for potential Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands response Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Alex Woodward The USS Federal Emergency Management Agency has roughly 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Lee rears eastward as a powerful Category 3 storm that could gain strength over the weekend. The storm is not yet predicted to make landfall, if it does at all, but emergency responders and national weather agencies are keeping a close watch. Roughly 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water are prepared to support the US Virgin Islands, FEMA also announced on Friday. A major wave producer' Sunday 10 September 2023 01:00 , Alex Woodward It still remains far too early to tell what Lee will look like for the East Coast as it creeps along a northeastern track, but forecasters predict high seas and rip currents up and down the Eastern Seaboard. What we are going to see from Lee and were very confident is its going to be a major wave producer, National Hurricane Center director Mike Brennan said in a Friday briefing. On Saturday, large swells battered the northeast Caribbean as Lee churned through open waters hundreds of miles off the northern Leeward Islands, the Associated Press reported. The highest waves recorded by the center were at about 45 and 50 feet, and the highest waves could even be double that, Mr Brennan said. So we could be looking at 80-, 90-foot waves associated with Lee, he added. A satellite image from NOAA shows Category 3 Hurricane Lee in the Atlanic Oean on 9 September. (NOAA/GOES/AFP via Getty Images) How close will Lee get to the US? Saturday 9 September 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward Exactly when or how Lee will travel northeast is still too early to tell. What happens next is up to a combination of atmospheric factors, including an area of high pressure in the Atlantic Ocean and a jet stream to its west. That area of high pressure is likely to play a major role in Lees track, and is expected to keep Lee on its current west-northwestward path over the weekend. That scenario would keep the storm rotating out to sea, or send it closer to Bermuda. The storm is still roughly one week from posing a potential threat to the East Coast of the US, if it poses any at all. Latest Lee advisory: Hurricane expected to pass north of Leeward Islands while generating dangerous waves over weekend Saturday 9 September 2023 22:10 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, still a Category 3 storm, is expected to pass pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico into early next week, according to an afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts, and gradual restrengthening is possible during the next couple of days, the center predicts. Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles and will spread westward to the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda through the weekend. Those swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the report. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along the US East Coast on Sunday and Monday and then worsen through the week. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 18: Lee to Pass Well North of the Leeward Islands During the Next Day Or So. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Develop Around the Western Atlantic Through Next Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Too soon to tell but too soon to rule out significant impacts, forecasters say Saturday 9 September 2023 22:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was significantly disrupted by wind shear within the 24 hours after it accelerated into a Category 5 hurricane, as it then degraded into a Category 4 then Category 3 into Saturday morning. Models are suggesting that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, which could allow Lee to gain more strength as it continues to track east, according to Levi Cowan with Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Regardless of Lees exact intensity, it will be a major hurricane tracking north of the Caribbean and then turning northward over the western Atlantic over the next week, he said. It remains too soon to rule out impacts from Lee as models predict it could track forwards Bermuda, Canada and the northeastern US, he added. Hurricane #Lee has been disrupted significantly by some mid-level wind shear in the past 24 hours, with max winds down to 115 mph after being as high as 160 mph at one point. Models suggest that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, probably allowing Lee to regain strength. pic.twitter.com/vOikNUrYQs Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 9, 2023 Lee shattered rapid intensification standards, a warning of future storms amid growing climate crisis Saturday 9 September 2023 21:02 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. Lee and Margot could mingle in the Atlantic Saturday 9 September 2023 18:57 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that Hurricane Lees path could be changed, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another in the Atlantic. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Watch Lee intensify from Category 1 to Category 5 storm Saturday 9 September 2023 18:04 , Alex Woodward Lee marked the first Category 5 hurricane of this years Atlantic season when it rapidly grew from a Category 1 within 24 hours this week. There have been seven other Cat 5 storms from the Atlantic since 2016, with one Michael making landfall in the US in 2018. Within thouse 24 hours, Hurricane Lee intensified from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds, likely making it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Lee has since diminished to a Cat 3 storm and is expected to maintain its strength over the weekend. #Lee's life story, Chapter 1: From African easterly wave to sudden extreme intensification into a Category 5 #hurricane (wait for it) pic.twitter.com/1EWakTRkBe Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) September 8, 2023 Lee maintaining strength but little change expected on Saturday Saturday 9 September 2023 16:25 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is maintaing strength as a recently downgraded Category 3 storm as it moves across the Atlanta Ocean with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with higher gusts, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Little change in strength is expected today, but gradual restrengthening is forecast to occur on Sunday and Monday, according to the advisory. 11AM AST Sep 9: @NOAA_HurrHunter & @53rdWRS find #Lee maintaining strength this morning. Hazardous beach conditions are expected around the western Atlantic through next week. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest information pic.twitter.com/xXiy8NY8Ux National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Lee is in rare company during an already-historic storm year Saturday 9 September 2023 15:35 , Alex Woodward For the first time on record, Category 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. Lee, which has since downgraded to a Category 3 as it tracks along open Atlantic Ocean, accelerated from Category 1 strength into a Category 5 this week. I think its reasonable to hypothesize that the abnormally warm ocean temperatures around the world made this more likely to happen, University of Miami, hurricane expert Brian McNoldy told The Washington Post. Gives everything a boost. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Way too soon to chart US impacts, if any, but Lee could strengthen as it moves across open ocean Saturday 9 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee ramped up to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours this week, but it has been downgraded to a Category 3 and will likely lose strength over the course of the day as it struggles with wind shear. The National Hurricane Center continues to stress it is still way too soon to know what impacts, if any, the storm could have along the East Coast of the US, and the storm could gain strength as it continues to move with sustained winds at 115 mph as of Saturday morning. Dangerous and life-threatening rip currents are affecting parts of the Leeward Islands, according to NHC. Those conditions are expected to impact parts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Saturday 9 September 2023 11:06 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 10:07 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 09:03 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 05:05 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 04:04 , Louise Boyle Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as forecasters warn too soon to know of US impact next week Saturday 9 September 2023 01:01 , Graeme Massie We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet, so we dont want anyone on the beaches. Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as too soon to know on US impacts next week Ocean warnings Saturday 9 September 2023 00:03 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 23:02 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? FEMA prepared for worst-case scenario in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Thursday evening. The same day, Joe Biden was briefed by the Federal Emergecy Management Agency about its preparations in the event the storms force caused disruptions in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. FEMA said it had prepared approximately 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water for Puerto Rico. Another 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water were made available for the US Virgin Islands. The agency also deployed rapid response teams to both of the US territories in the event the storm turned and threatened the islands. Thankfully, Hurricane Lee did not make landfall on any of the islands and is continuing north along the US east coast. No reason for east coast US residents to be fearful of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 21:40 , Graig Graziosi Jamie Rhome, the director of the National Hurricane Centre, said that right now there is no reason for east coast US residents to fear Hurricane Lees trajectory outside of rip current risks. Theres absolutely no indication in front of us that this is going to be a huge threat to Florida, other than its going to be a huge rip current risk, Mr Rhome told USA Today. Right now, save the rip current risk, which is extreme, theres no reason for people on the East Coast to be fearful. We need them to be informed and aware and check back for details but right now theres no reason other than rip currents for people to be fearful. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification, strengthening from a Category 2 to Category 4 storm in just six hours, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm became a Category 5 hurricane on Thursday night, but has since weakened to a Category 4. Tracking Hurricane Lees evolution Friday 8 September 2023 21:10 , Graig Graziosi Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic Ocean and under went rapid intensification into an extremely dangerous hurricane, eventually reaching Category 5 before it slowed to Category 4 on Friday morning. Tropical Storm Lee was announced by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 5pm (eastern time) on Tuesday. Its wind speeds picked up on Tuesday afternoon and was forecast to become a major hurricane. The depression is forecast to become a major hurricane by this weekend and could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands by that time, NHC reported at the time. READ MORE: Tropical Storm Lee expected to become extremely dangerous hurricane by weekend Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Friday 8 September 2023 20:50 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reached Category 5 on Friday, after rapidly strengthening as it stirred through the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center reported on Thursday. Hurricane Lee began to strengthen over the very warm waters of the Atlantic, growing from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday and by late Thursday night, it had grown to Category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 160mph. By Friday morning, forecasters said Lee could become a monster 180mph storm. The storm reached its peak Thursday night and became to be a vicious hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic before weakening to a Category 4 on Friday morning. READ MORE: Tracking Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 20:30 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee, currently barreling westwards through the Atlantic towards the Caribbean islands, rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Thursday night and it is feared the storm could soon work up to wind speeds of 180mph. It is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week, according to forecasters. After that, however, its path is less clear cut, with different models reaching different verdicts as to precisely how close it could pass along the US East Coast as it steers northwards, already inspiring some premature and slightly hysterical tabloid headlines. More credibly, CBS has warned that Hurricane Lees path might bring it to New York City and the Tri-State Area, reporting that initial forecasts suggested a landfall in the Mid-Atlantic region, and then riding up the coastline towards New York before drifting out to sea. READ MORE: Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? National Hurricane Centre warns of surf, rip currents in the Caribbean, US east coast Friday 8 September 2023 20:07 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre has warned that Hurricane Lee now a Category 4 storm after it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Thursday could produce high surf and life-threatening rip currents in the northeastern Caribbean on Friday and throughout the weekend. The centre also said that rough surf and hazardous ocean conditions were likely along much of the US east coast by Sunday evening. Hurricane Lee is continuing to churn in the Atlantic basin, with spaghetti models predicting a northern track, with a possible threat to New England and Canadas east coast. Hurricane Lee still very powerful despite weakening Friday 8 September 2023 19:30 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre said that Hurricane Lee is still a very powerful storm despite weakening from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm between Thursday night and Friday morning. Although Lees current intensity is lower than the overnight peak, the hurricane remains very powerful, the centre said. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a strong storm into early next week as it continues north through the Atlantic. It is still unclear what impact it might have on the US, but some spaghetti models show the storm on a course for New England and Canadas east coast. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year Friday 8 September 2023 19:10 , Louise Boyle Half the world was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, a new study has found. Over 3.8 billion people suffered extreme temperatures for more than a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, an analysis released on Thursday by the nonprofit Climate Central showed. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people, the study says. Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months, Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said. Stuti Mishra reports Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Hurricane hunter' pilot captures lightning show inside Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi A user on X/Twitter recorded video from the inside of Hurricane Lee, capturing a stunning lightning storm inside the churning storm. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification yesterday, strengthening from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm in just six hours. The storm reached Category 5 on Thursday night before weakening back to a Category 4 on Friday. Nice lighting show in the eye of #HurricaneLee this morning pic.twitter.com/F3Spj54syS FlyAnon (@FlynonymousWX) September 8, 2023 Ocean warnings Friday 8 September 2023 18:38 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 18:05 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 17:33 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Friday 8 September 2023 17:10 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Distant but deadly' Friday 8 September 2023 16:40 , Louise Boyle US forecasters had this warning for Americans on Friday as Category 5 Hurricane Lee roars through the Caribbean. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned and said that beach-goers should be aware of rip currents and powerful waves. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned on Friday (NOAA) Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 16:15 , Louise Boyle The US Air Force Reserves Hurricane Hunters shared dramatic footage from inside Hurricane Lee on Thursday night. The 403rd Wing Reserves posted on X, formerly Twitter, footage of the rotating thick clouds with lightning bursts. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 Hurricane Lee, they wrote. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 #hurricaneLee pic.twitter.com/I9Gmy4sHut Hurricane Hunters (@53rdWRS) September 8, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee make landfall? Friday 8 September 2023 15:43 , Louise Boyle The current forecasts show that Hurricane Lee is not expected to make landfall in the coming days - but that doesnt rule out life-threatening impacts. The storm is forecast to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week. However, it is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda, late next week, according to the National Weather Service. Watch: Hurricane Lee gathering strength in Caribbean waters Friday 8 September 2023 15:27 , Louise Boyle The Morocco earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 people was the strongest to hit the north African nation in several decades. The earthquake struck just after 11pm on Friday and has impacted the entire region, with tremors being felt thousands of miles away in Portugal and Algeria. The quakes epicentre is in the middle of the country and located at the High Atlas Mountains in the Ighil area, about 40 miles (70km) south of Marrakech. The Morocco earthquakes epicentre was said to be 18km below the Earth, as per the USGS. Moroccos own National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network, however, estimated it to be at 11km below the surface. The depth of an earthquake is said to be an important factor in severe its impact can be. A shallower depth means any given earthquake will be more dangerous. Shallow earthquakes, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), occur at a depth of 0-70km and most of the deaths from the current powerful tremor occurred at hard-to-reach mountainous areas of the country. An aftershock measuring 4.9 in magnitude followed the earthquake about 20 minutes later, said the USGS. Civil protection members search for survivors near rubble, following an earthquake, in Chichaoua, Morocco (Reuters) Moroccos interior ministry said the tremors struck at least six provinces: Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant. The tremors toppled several buildings across cities and sent people running from their homes late at night. Photos and videos showed scores of people on the streets at night, with many clutching their belongings, and some resting outside closed shops and huddled out in the open. In Marrakech, some houses collapsed and people worked hard by hand to remove debris while they waited for heavy equipment, said resident Id Waaziz Hassan. Photos also showed cars crushed under massive debris and covered in dust and rescuers attempting to lift the rubble through heavy equipment. A woman looks at the rubble of a building in the earthquake-damaged old city in Marrakech (AFP via Getty Images) Powerful tremors were felt as far as Morocco capital Rabat, about 350km north of the epicentre, and Imsouane, a coastal town about 180km west. Residents there fled their homes as well fearing a stronger aftershock, according to Reuters. Story continues The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor, said Hamid Afkar, a teacher at the Taroudant province. Some experts have said they feared more aftershocks in the aftermath of the powerful quake. Jonathan Stewart, a professor of civil and environmental engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN he expected the magnitude of these aftershocks to be in the high fives. He also feared the Friday earthquake was just a precursor to a more powerful one. Mr Stewart said the quake was 30 times weaker than the one that struck Turkey earlier this year. He, however, said the Morocco quake still released a tremendous amount of energy. The quake was felt as far off as Portugal and Algeria, with over 20 million people having felt shaking, earthquake geologist Wendy Bohon said on X. Residents take shelter outside at a square following an earthquake in Marrakech on 9 September (AFP via Getty Images) Earthquake geologists Judith Hubbard and Kyle Bradley wrote in a blog that the latest quake is also the largest in magnitude ever recorded in the country, with a previous similarly large quake in the region recorded in 1624 AD near Fez, in the northeast part of Morocco. They said the scientific models of plate tectonic movements in many parts of the world reflect the reality of their boundary zones "quite well", but that "this is not the case in Morocco". They said the boundary is highly complex with multiple zones of active deformation in Morocco. Professor Joanna Faure Walker, a geologist from the University College London, also noted that the death toll figures are likely to increase significantly, especially since the quake struck at night. When an earthquake occurs at night, people can be particularly vulnerable as getting out of their homes and navigating rubbles and debris in the dark adds to risk of injury and getting trapped. The early death toll figures are likely to increase significantly as early information is limited and rescue efforts are ongoing," Dr Walker said in a statement. "We have recently performed many groundbreaking neurosurgery operations, after which the patients are all in good condition," shared Wang Shiqiang, a Chinese doctor working in Papua New Guinea (PNG), with his colleagues back home. Wang is a member of the latest Chinese medical aid team sent to PNG. Since 2002, China has dispatched 12 medical aid teams comprising 120 professionals to this Pacific island nation. These dedicated doctors have made significant strides in advancing medical practices and have played a role in improving the local healthcare system. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Passengers aboard Singapore Airlines (SIA) Flight SQ833, destined for Singapore from Shanghai, experienced an unexpected ordeal on Wednesday when they were confined to the aircraft for nearly eight hours due to a technical issue. The flight, originally scheduled to depart from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 4:50 pm on Wednesday, encountered problems while still on the ground, causing significant delays. According to an SIA spokesman, the Airbus A380 faced technical difficulties while on the ground in Shanghai. In response to inquiries, the spokesperson explained, The aircraft returned to the bay, and engineers were brought on-site to try to rectify the issue. For safety reasons, the ground power had to be disabled while the checks were going on. Passengers on board were provided with meals and refreshments during this time, and ground staff were present to assist them. However, as the technical issues persisted, the airline eventually decided to cancel the flight. Passengers disembarked from the aircraft at 12:30 am, and arrangements were made for hotel accommodations. The spokesman further elaborated, All affected customers were rebooked on other flights (on Thursday) and have since departed Shanghai. The decision to keep passengers on board was initially made in the hope that the technical problems could be resolved swiftly. Regrettably, the issue persisted throughout the evening, ultimately leading to the flights cancellation. Singapore Airlines acknowledged the inconvenience faced by passengers and issued an apology, with a promise to review their procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. One of the passengers, Mr. Chee Yang, recounted the experience, stating that the plane had already begun gaining speed on the runway before it suddenly braked. The aircraft then made a U-turn and returned to the boarding area, where passengers were asked to wait for the engineers to diagnose the problem. Mr. Chee, a 32-year-old port operation executive, told Straits Times that passengers endured uncomfortable conditions without air conditioning, as the engine was turned off twice. Story continues The captain said there was a technical error and was waiting for the engineer to diagnose (the problem), he said. The captain asked us to wait for 30 minutes, and then one hour. The engine was turned off twice. Without air conditioning, everyone was so hot in there. It was lucky no one fainted. After disembarking the plane, passengers were provided with hotel accommodations for the night, although it was well past 3am by the time Mr. Chee and his wife reached their hotel. The airline subsequently rebooked affected passengers on the same flight for the following day, causing an unexpected extension of their travel plans and inconveniences. They rebooked us on the same flight on the next day, said Mr Chee, who added that he was informed of the new flight arrangements via an e-mail sent around 4am. We had to waste another one day of leave on this. Dominic Ziegler, The Economist Bureau Chief. (Screenshot: Economist Impact Events/Youtube) By Niluksi Koswanage (Bloomberg) Singapores government issued a warning to the bureau chief of The Economist for meddling in domestic politics. The Ministry of Communications and Information said bureau chief Dominic Ziegler last month endorsed a new local digital magazine called Jom, and asked Singaporeans to embrace an alternative vision to what was being offered by the government and local media. Zieglers action clearly crossed the line from reporting on Singapore to participating in Singapores domestic affairs, the ministry said in a statement. Such foreign interference in our domestic politics will not be tolerated. Singapore politics is reserved only for Singaporeans. The ministry said it has expressed our clear expectation to Ziegler that he refrain from repeating viewpoints that interfere with domestic politics. The Economist didnt immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Joms publisher posted on Facebook the full statement from Ziegler endorsing the magazine, saying the journalist was talking about patriotism. Singaporean Laws Singapore has laws dealing with foreign interference, which came into force in July last year. Officials said the legislation was meant to prevent entities or individuals from influencing politics in the Southeast Asian nation. The government had previously said it wouldnt apply the law against foreign individuals and publications commenting and reporting on Singaporean politics, though critics have said it gave the government sweeping powers to target dissent and promote self-censorship. Singapore has long defended the need for such laws, saying the city-state is vulnerable to fake news and hostile information campaigns given that it is a financial hub with a multiethnic, international population that enjoys widespread internet access. We continue to welcome foreign correspondents and media outlets to operate out of and report on Singapore, including The Economist, the ministry said. However, they must comply with our laws and must not interfere in our domestic politics. Story continues The government and the ruling Peoples Action Party havent shied away from using various laws against foreign and local publications and individuals for statements deemed as inaccurate or defamatory. Activists, including with Human Rights Watch, have argued that such actions stifle freedom of speech. Some of the countrys most senior ministers have sued or settled out of court on defamation cases with several foreign media organisations, including The New York Times and the Financial Times. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has also won defamation suits against bloggers in recent years. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. An armoured train carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrived in Russia, the countrys state news agency reported today. The agency RIA, citing one of its correspondents in Russias Far East where Mr Kim is expected, posted a video of the train with dark green and grey cars as it moved forward. The train carried the North Korean leader who rarely steps out of his country. Western intelligence agencies expect the two to discuss North Korea supplying weapons and ammunition to support Russias war machine in Ukraine. South Korean media, citing government sources, said that the train left the North Korean capital on Sunday evening and that the summit would likely be held on Tuesday or Wednesday in Vladivostok which is just 80 miles from the Russia-North Korea border. Meanwhile, Ukraine has made gains on the frontline in the east and south, Kyiv has claimed as it seeks to put Russias forces on the run. Ukrainian troops near the frontline town of Avdiivka took advantage of Russian forces focusing on to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne to the south, the head of the local military administration said. Key Points Putins troops pushed back in thunderous assault operation in Donetsk Zelensky suggests Ukraine could be set for big breakthrough: 'They will run' Ukrainian military makes thunderous assault operation Ukraine says Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv 600 members of Putins forces killed in one day as party HQ destroyed British man who went to fight in Ukraine found dead In pictures: Kim Jong Un leaves for Russia 04:21 , Namita Singh North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves from a private train as he departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit Russia, 10 September 2023 (Reuters) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves from a private train as he departs Pyongyang, North Korea, to visit Russia, 10 September 2023 (Reuters) A view of the main train station in Vladivostok, Russia, early Tuesday, 12 September 2023. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is heading for Russia for a presumed meeting with president Vladimir Putin (AP) Why did Russia invade Ukraine? 03:00 , Eleanor Noyce Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians. Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky. Story continues Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid. Read more: Heres why Putin really invaded Ukraine 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says 02:00 , Eleanor Noyce NATO Deputy-General Secretary Mircea Geoana said on Monday there is no risk that Alliance member Romania will be dragged into a war following the recent discovery of drone fragments on its territory near the border with war-torn Ukraine. The most important thing is to re-confirm the fact that there is no indication of a deliberate action (by Russia) to strike Romanian territory and therefore NATO territory, Geoana told journalists during a visit to a school near Romanias capital, Bucharest. The NATO deputy chiefs comments come days after Romanian authorities have twice confirmed the discovery of drone fragments on the countrys soil amid sustained attacks by Russian forces on Ukraines Danube River ports across the river from NATO member Romania. Read more: 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says ICYMI: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief 01:00 , Eleanor Noyce Ukraine only has around 45 days left before poor weather conditions hinder its counter-offensive against Russia, the head of the US military has said. Speaking to the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, General Mark Milley said it will become very difficult to manoeuvre once the rains come. That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago, he said. Read more: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:01 , Eleanor Noyce Complacency could be the enemy of success in Ukraine. It is 564 days since Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine shook to the core assumptions about our UK and European security. War in Europe is a brutal reminder that to be secure at home, we must be strong abroad and that our allies are the UKs great strategic strength. Defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. Despite deeply dug and heavily mined Russian defences, the Ukrainians are gradually getting the upper hand on the battlefield in the south, as well as diversifying the ways it is hitting the enemy from airfields at depth in Russia, to targets in Crimea, to Russian ships in the Black Sea. Some have criticised the slow pace of Ukraines counter-offensive. Yet its forces are making a similar rate of progress as British troops advancing into Normandy after the D-Day landings. Now is the time for Ukraines allies to double down on our support. Britains miliary backing of Zelensky has been dwarfed by our EU allies, writes shadow defence secretary John Healey. If we are serious about defeating Putin and defending Britain we must double down on our support: Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that | John Healey Ukraine special forces fight off Russian jet to retake strategic drilling rigs near Crimea, Kyiv says Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Eleanor Noyce Ukrainian special forces regained control of a number of oil and gas drilling platforms that Russia has used to help control the Black Sea in a unique operation, the countrys military intelligence (GUR) has said. During the operation, the GUR said, there was a clash between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian fighter jet, which was damaged and forced to retreat. It said the platforms, close to Crimea and known as the Boika Towers, had been occupied since 2015 by Moscow, which seized and annexed the peninsula in 2014. The UKs Ministry of Defence has previously said the platforms could be used to launch helicopters, position long-range missile systems and as a base for forward deployment. Chris Stevenson reports: Ukraine special forces fight off Russian jet to retake drilling rigs near Crimea Putin and Kim's meeting will be full-scale visit, Kremlin says Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , Eleanor Noyce North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin will be a full-scale visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Kim has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russias deepening isolation over its actions in Ukraine. There will be talks between the two delegations. And after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format, Peskov said. Video of his remarks were posted to social media by a Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin. According to Peskov, the main topic of the talks will be bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries. We will continue to strengthen our friendship, Peskov said. (AP) Berlin says missile supply to Kyiv won't automatically follow US supplies Monday 11 September 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday that Berlin will not necessarily supply Kyiv with Taurus cruise missiles simply because the U.S. may decide to send ATACMS long-range missiles to the war-torn country. There is no automatism in this war, Pistorius told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to Cologne, adding that Germany was not yet in a position to decide on whether or not to provide Ukraine with Taurus missiles. Kyiv has been pushing Berlin to supply it with the missiles, which have a range of more than 500 km (311 miles) and are launched by fighter jets. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly made clear that Berlin will only act in concert with Washington on arms deliveries. Britain and France have provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow and Scalp cruise missiles, which are similar to the Taurus. However, the United States has so far refrained from sending its ATACMS to Ukraine despite Kyivs requests. At the weekend, ABC reported that the U.S. was likely to deliver ATACMS to Ukraine for the first time. Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys chief of staff, said on the Telegram messaging app that discussions on ATACMS were moving forward, but he gave no details. Zelensky told CNN in an interview that he planned to speak again to U.S. President Joe Biden about providing ATACMS to Ukraine, and that he hoped to receive them in the autumn. Cruise missiles are hard to detect with air defence radars as they fly at low altitudes. They are mainly used to hit high-value targets behind enemy lines such as command bunkers, ammunitions and fuel dumps, airfields and bridges. Russia has been using long-range missiles to destroy targets in Ukraine including civilian infrastructure, and Ukraine has no easy way to respond to such attacks. UK says Russia targeted civilian cargo ship in Black Sea port on 24 Aug Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce Britain on Monday accused Russia of targeting a civilian cargo ship at port in the Black Sea on 24 August in a previously unconfirmed missile attack it said was successfully thwarted by Ukrainian defences. Ukraine has been making efforts to allow vessels stranded in Odesa port since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to sail into open waters after the collapse of the UN-backed Black Sea grains corridor. The remarks, made in Britains parliament by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, are the first time an official has commented on a ship being targeted since those Ukrainian efforts began. Since Aug. 18, four cargo ships have sailed from Odesa. Thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on the 24th of August, Sunak said in an update to parliament on the G20 summit he attended in New Delhi. The missiles had targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in port and were successfully shot down, Britains foreign office said in a statement. The missiles included two Kalibr missiles fired from a Black Sea Fleet missile carrier, it added. Russias defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters request for a comment. Since Russia quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Both the United States and Britain had warned in July that Russia might expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement. In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world. US and UK holding UN screening of documentary on Russia's siege of Ukrainian city of Mariupol Monday 11 September 2023 19:07 , Sam Rkaina The United States and Britain are hosting a U.N. screening of the award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which follows a trio of journalists during Russias relentless siege of the Ukrainian port city in the early days of the war. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the Monday evening showing at U.N. headquarters is important because Russias invasion of Ukraine threatens what the U.N. stands for: an international order where the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries is fundamental. The screening comes at the start of the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly and a week before world leaders arrive for their annual meeting, where the more than 18-month war in Ukraine is expected to be in the spotlight especially with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky scheduled to speak in person for the first time. The harrowing documentary, which was produced by the AP and the PBS series Frontline, is culled from 30 hours of footage AP journalist Mstyslav Chernov and his colleagues shot in Mariupol following Russias Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine and its siege of the city. Desperate Putin attacked civilian cargo ship, Sunak reveals after G20 summit Monday 11 September 2023 18:10 , Sam Rkaina Sunak accuses Russia of targeting civilian cargo ship Monday 11 September 2023 17:40 , Sam Rkaina Rishi Sunak has accused the Russian military of targeting a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on 24 August. Thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on the 24th of August, Mr Sunak said in an update to parliament on the G20 summit he attended in New Delhi. Since Russia quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Both the United States and Britain had warned in July that Russia might expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea. (PA Wire) White House urges North Korea not to sell arms to Putin Monday 11 September 2023 16:50 , Sam Rkaina With North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly on a trip to Russia, the White House on Monday urged North Korea not to sell arms to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. As we have warned publicly, arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected to continue during Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia. We urge the DPRK to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia, said Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council. Putun and Kim during a previous meeting in 2019 (AP) German minister says Ukraine's place is in EU, hears calls for arms during Kyiv visit Monday 11 September 2023 16:20 , Eleanor Noyce German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during a visit to Kyiv on Monday that Ukraines place was in the European Union, but urged it do more to fight corruption. On her fourth visit to Ukraine since Russias invasion over 18 months ago, she said Germany would provide an additional 20 million euros ($21.44 million) in humanitarian aid, bringing the amount provided by Berlin to 380 million euros this year. At meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian leaders, she also heard calls for Western partners to provide Kyiv with more weapons including long-range missiles to fight Russian forces. Ukraine is defending the freedom of us all with great courage and determination, Baerbock was quoted by her ministry as saying on arrival in the Ukrainian capital. Just as Ukraine is standing up for us, it can also rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russias war. And on our firm support for Ukraine on its path towards the European Union. Despite Russias invasion, Ukraine is trying to carry out reforms requested by the EU before it can join the 28-country bloc, a process that usually takes years. Reform results in the areas of judicial reform and media legislation are already impressive. But there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption, Baerbock said. She also warned that Russia would target Ukraines energy facilities in air strikes this autumn and winter. Russias perfidious goal is to starve the people again this winter and to let them freeze to death, she said. Ukraine claims to recapture Black Sea oil platforms seized during Crimea's annexation Monday 11 September 2023 16:06 , Eleanor Noyce The Ukrainian military said Monday that it recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms from Russia in the Black Sea and claimed gains in occupied areas near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine left in ruins after the wars longest and deadliest fighting. The recapture of the so-called Boyko Towers platforms provides an energy source and takes back an asset that Russia seized in 2015 and used to launch helicopters, Ukraines Ministry of Defense said. Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea, the Main Intelligence Directorate said. Read more: Ukraine claims to recapture Black Sea oil platforms seized during Crimea's annexation Lula rows back from comments that Brazil would not arrest Putin Monday 11 September 2023 15:50 , Eleanor Noyce President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rowed back on Monday from saying Brazil would ignore a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin, while saying he would review Brazils membership in the International Criminal Court. On Saturday, while in India for a Group of 20 nations meeting, Lula told a local interviewer that there was no way Putin would be arrested if he attended next years summit, which is due to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which obliges members to comply with its arrest warrants. The court issued a warrant for Putins arrest in March, accusing him of the war crime of deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia has denied its forces have engaged in war crimes or forcibly taken Ukrainian children. Putin has yet to travel abroad since the ICC sought his arrest, notably missing a summit of the BRICS group in South Africa last month as well as this months G20 summit in India. He also skipped the G20 summit in Bali last year. If Putin decides to join (next years summit), it is the judiciarys power to decide (on a possible arrest) and not my government, Lula said at a press conference on Monday, rowing back from his earlier remarks. He would review why Brazil had signed up to the ICC treaty, he said: I want to know why the U.S, India and China didnt sign the ICC treaty and why our country signed it. Lulas earlier comments that Putin would not be arrested had drawn criticism in Brazil. Oliver Stuenkel, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo, said on social media site X that the comments were damaging and unnecessary. Rather than projecting himself as the elder statesman, Lula came across as inexperienced and ignorant, Stuenkel wrote. Lula has sought unsuccessfully to mediate peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and has said that U.S. President Joe Biden could have done more to prevent the conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine last year and claims to have annexed around a sixth of its territory. Ukraine says any peace agreement that would leave Russian troops on Ukrainian soil would reward Putin for his decision to invade. Moscow says there can be no peace unless Ukraine accepts its territorial claims. Sweden adds another SEK 700 mln to its 2024 defence spending Monday 11 September 2023 15:35 , Eleanor Noyce Sweden has again boosted its planned defence budget for 2024, taking the total planned increase for the year to 27 billion crowns ($2.44 billion) and exceeding the NATO threshold of 2% of GDP, the government said on Monday. The defence minister announced that Sweden would add 700 million to the defence in its upcoming autumn budget, lifting the overall defence spending to 119 billion crowns in 2024, almost double that of 2020. The spending is expected to be equivalent to 2.1% of Swedish GDP, he said. We are in the most serious security policy situation since the end of the Second World War, Minister of Defence Pal Jonson told a news conference. Sweden is scrambling to boost its defence following Russias invasion of Ukraine last year. Sweden was invited to join NATO in 2023 but is waiting for Turkey and Hungary to approve its application. Russia's largest untapped copper deposit starts concentrate production Monday 11 September 2023 15:20 , Eleanor Noyce Copper concentrate production started at Russias largest undeveloped copper deposit on Monday following a ceremony overseen by President Vladimir Putin via video link. The long-awaited Udokan project in Russias far east is coming on stream at a challenging time. The United States imposed sanctions on its operator - Udokan Copper LLC - in April as part of a wave of restrictions placed on Russia due to its activities in Ukraine. Copper prices also fell 14% in 2022 and are flat so far this year due to weaker than expected demand. The project, however, relies on its proximity to top metals consumer China and on demand there, as well as future demand from the global green energy transition. Go ahead, Putin said during the ceremony, broadcast by state TV. The processing plant at Udokan will produce sulphide copper concentrate with 40-45% metal content, the company said. It plans commercial sales this year, but has not disclosed potential buyers yet. Once the first stage of the metallurgical plant is launched in 2024, Udokan will be able to handle up to 15 million metric tons of ore per year, with annual production of up to 150,000 tons of copper in the form of copper cathode and concentrate. The deposit is the largest in Russia with an estimated 26.7 million tons of copper resources. It has been untapped since its discovery in 1949 because the technology didnt exist to exploit its unique and difficult-to-extract ore. In the 1970s, a student at the Moscow Mining Institute researched the idea of a clean nuclear blast to extract Udokans ore, but that remained on paper. Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov bought the right to develop Udokan for $500 million from the government just before the 2008 financial crisis. It took 10 years to solve the technical challenges of the project, create a new geological model and start construction. By 2028, Udokan plans to build the second stage of its mining and metallurgical complex, increasing annual capacity to 2428 million tons of ore and up to 450,000 tons of copper. North Korea's Kim en route to Russia for talks with Putin Monday 11 September 2023 15:05 , Eleanor Noyce North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russias deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine. Kim would visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of Putin, the Kremlin said, while North Korean state news agency KCNA said the two would meet and have a talk, without elaborating. U.S. officials have said the pair would discuss possible arms deals to aid Russias war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with a much-needed economic and political lifeline. Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North. It will be Kims second summit with Putin, after the pair met in 2019. Despite denials by both Pyongyang and Moscow, the United States has said talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia, which has expended vast stocks of weapons in more than 18 months of war. The North Korean leader left aboard his train late on Sunday, a senior South Korean government official told Reuters. The special train would take Kim to North Koreas northeastern border with Russia and the summit could take place as early as Tuesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing intelligence concerns, and added that details could change depending on the situation there. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang immediately confirmed an exact schedule for the visit. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts. Kims last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Koreas nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Red Cross cuts 2024 budget as donations fall Monday 11 September 2023 14:50 , Eleanor Noyce The International Committee of the Red Cross will cut its budget next year by about 13%, its director-general said on Monday, as major donors including the United States have reduced funding. Surging humanitarian needs amid a deepening set of crises around the world including wars in Ukraine and Sudan have strained aid budgets, forcing governments to rethink decisions about who to help and how. This reduced ICRC budget forecast which is the consequence of shrinking aid budgets globally is taking place at a time where global humanitarian needs have never been higher, Robert Mardini told journalists, saying he was concerned about he impact of the cuts. This trend comes at a significant human cost, he added. The humanitarian body is present in more than 90 countries and its activities range from providing basic humanitarian aid to visiting prisoners of war. The 2024 budget would be 2.1 billion CHF ($2.36 billion), resulting in 270 further job cuts in its Geneva headquarters, he said. The ICRCs website says it is funded by voluntary contributions from states party to the Geneva Conventions, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, supranational organisations such as the European Commission, and public and private donors. At the end of March, its governing board approved a plan to reduce 430 million CHF in global costs over 2023 and early 2024, having revised its overall budget down to 2.4 billion CHF. Asked about U.S. funding, Mardini said that the United States was the organisations biggest donor and had cut back its 2023 contributions versus the previous year, without giving details of the amounts. We need to rethink the humanitarian system, said Mardini. The whole system relies on a handful of countries and donors and I think this is by design a big problem and a big risk, he added. 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says Monday 11 September 2023 14:35 , Eleanor Noyce NATO Deputy-General Secretary Mircea Geoana said on Monday there is no risk that Alliance member Romania will be dragged into a war following the recent discovery of drone fragments on its territory near the border with war-torn Ukraine. The most important thing is to re-confirm the fact that there is no indication of a deliberate action (by Russia) to strike Romanian territory and therefore NATO territory, Geoana told journalists during a visit to a school near Romanias capital, Bucharest. The NATO deputy chiefs comments come days after Romanian authorities have twice confirmed the discovery of drone fragments on the countrys soil amid sustained attacks by Russian forces on Ukraines Danube River ports across the river from NATO member Romania. Stephen McGrath and Vadim Ghirda report: 'No risk' that NATO member Romania will be dragged into war, senior alliance official says Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that Monday 11 September 2023 14:15 , Eleanor Noyce Complacency could be the enemy of success in Ukraine. It is 564 days since Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine shook to the core assumptions about our UK and European security. War in Europe is a brutal reminder that to be secure at home, we must be strong abroad and that our allies are the UKs great strategic strength. Defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. Despite deeply-dug and heavily mined Russian defences, the Ukrainians are gradually getting the upper hand on the battlefield in the South, as well as diversifying the ways it is hitting the enemy from airfields at depth in Russia, to targets in Crimea, to Russian ships in the Black Sea. Some have criticised the slow pace of Ukraines counter-offensive. Yet its forces are making a similar rate of progress as British troops advancing into Normandy after the D-Day landings. Now is the time for Ukraines allies to double down on our support. Britains military backing of Zelensky has been dwarfed by our EU allies, writes shadow defence secretary John Healey. If we are serious about defeating Putin and defending Britain we must double down on our support: Just 14 UK tanks for Ukraine? We must do better than that | John Healey Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers and target Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Matt Mathers Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, while dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief group, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Russian strikes on Ukraine kill 2 foreign aid workers and target Kyiv Ukraine says Russia may soon launch big mobilisation drive Monday 11 September 2023 13:47 , Eleanor Noyce Ukraines military said on Monday Russia could launch a big mobilisation campaign soon to try to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers from inside Russia and occupied Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff provided no evidence in a statement to support its assertion. Russian officials have said there are no current plans for a new wave of mobilisation and that Moscow is focused on recruiting professional soldiers. A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers catastrophic losses, the General Staff said in a battlefield roundup. The mobilisation campaign could target between 400,000 and 700,000 recruits, it said, citing different estimates. It said the number of Russians recruited in Moscow and St Petersburg would remain minimal, while Russians would be drawn heavily from the regions outside the two big Russian cities. The General Staff issued its statement days after a senior Ukrainian military spy official said there were 420,000 Russian servicemen currently inside Ukraine. Russia and Ukraine both treat their losses on the battlefield as a state secret. Last month, the New York Times cited unnamed U.S. officials who said nearly 500,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops had been killed or wounded in the war since Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022. ICYMI: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down Ukraine declaration Monday 11 September 2023 13:40 , Matt Mathers The G20 summit in India has ended without the usual family photo, as some members questioned the watered-down language used in the joint declaration issued by leaders in relation to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Most of the leaders departed from Delhi earlier in the day, having paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial on the banks of the Yamuna River. The absence of the customary group photograph intended to signify unity between the worlds largest economies exemplified the fact that deep divisions still remain over the Ukraine war. Shweta Sharma reports: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Germany to provide Ukraine additional 20 mln in aid - Baerbock in Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 13:23 , Eleanor Noyce Germany will provide an additional 20 million ($21.44 million) in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Monday during a visit to Kyiv. The additional aid will bring Germanys total to 380 million euros this year, the minister said. Baerbock also warned that Russia would again target Ukraines energy facilities this autumn and winter: Russias perfidious goal is to starve the people again this winter and to let them freeze to death. Ukraine needs more air defences to protect ports - FM Monday 11 September 2023 13:20 , Matt Mathers Ukraines foreign minister said he discussed air defence supplies with his German counterpart in Kyiv on Monday and that Ukraine needed more systems to protect its ports from Russian air strikes to ensure grain could be exported. Dmytro Kuleba also urged Berlin to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine as soon as possible. "You will do it anyway, its just a matter of time, and I dont understand why we are wasting time," he said in response to a question at a news conference in Kyiv. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (AFP or licensors) Russia says ban on Russians bringing cars, some goods into EU is racist Monday 11 September 2023 12:46 , Matt Mathers Russia said on Monday that a European Union ban on Russians bringing their cars and some personal goods into the bloc was racist, and one ally of president Vladimir Putin suggested that all diplomatic relations should be severed in response. In an explanatory note to its rules on sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war, the European Commission said Russians were temporarily barred from bringing some personal goods or vehicles into the 27-nation EU. The annex referred to in the advice also appears to ban the import of a host of items which could be dual use alongside more mundane items such as make-up, toothpaste, deodorants, toilet paper and mobile phones. "Its just racism," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said of the Commissions advice. "This is racism pure and simple." Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (TASS Host Photo Agency/AFP via G) Kremlin and North Korea confirm Kim Jong-Un visit Monday 11 September 2023 12:28 , Matt Mathers Russia and North Korea confirmed Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia. A brief statement on the Kremlins website said Kims visit is at the invitation of president Vladimir Putin and would take place "in the coming days." The visit also was reported by North Koreas official KCNA news agency, saying he would meet with Putin. Russia Expanding Arsenals (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Monday 11 September 2023 11:56 , Matt Mathers Ukraine soldiers search road of death for fallen Russians in hope of exchange Ukrainian soldiers have told the harrowing details of how they search for the bodies of dead Russian troops who they hope to exchange for their own fallen comrades. Wearing face masks, the Ukrainian soldiers poked sticks into the undergrowth along a deserted country lane, which they have named the road of death after a number of Russian soldiers were killed there when Ukrainian forces retook the southeastern village of Blahodatne at the start of their counteroffensive in June. Three months on, the frontline had shifted south and it was finally safe enough for the three-man team of Ukrainian soldiers to start their operation in this liberated part of Donetsk region. Were going to search, said Volodymyr, a 50-year-old marine, as artillery fire boomed in the distance. Search with our eyes. And using smell. File photo: A soldier of Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade looks on against the background of an APC near Bakhmut (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Russia pulling out of Black Sea grain deal risks many people going hungry Monday 11 September 2023 11:34 , Matt Mathers Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea grain initiative has put many more people at risk from hunger, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights has said, Volker Turk spoke at the opening of the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday. A year and a half of horrific warfare has ravaged Ukraine, with a heart-wrenching toll on its people, and damage to vast areas of agricultural land, he said. The Russian Federations withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, and attacks on grain facilities in Odesa and elsewhere, have again forced prices sky-high in many developing countries taking the right to food far out of reach for many people." GUATEMALA-ONU (AP) Putin arrives in Vladivostock for Eastern Economic Forum - state TV Monday 11 September 2023 10:59 , Matt Mathers Vladimir Putin has arrived in Vladivostock for a meeting of the Eastern Economic Forum, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said, according to Russian state TV. Russia has hosted the forum since 2015 as it tries to drum up investment from the far east. China, Myanmar, Mongolia, India, Armenia and South Korea are among the countries that send delegates to the forum. This years event is taking place at the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) campus. The Eastern Economic Forum is a key international platform for establishing and strengthening ties within the Russian and global investment communities, and for comprehensive expert evaluation of the economic potential of the Russian Far East, the investment opportunities it offers, and business conditions within advanced special economic zones, it website says. Far Eastern Federal University (REUTERS) Ukraine retakes offshore drilling platforms near Crimea - military intelligence Monday 11 September 2023 10:27 , Matt Mathers Ukraines military intelligence service said on Monday its forces had regained control of several offshore drilling platforms close to Crimea. It said on the Telegram messaging app that Kyivs forces had retaken the drilling platforms known as the Boiko Towers in a "unique operation". It said the platforms had been occupied since 2015 by Russia, which seized and annexed Crimea in 2014, and had been used by Moscow for military purposes since the start of Russias full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022. Up to judiciary if Putin should be arrested when visiting Brazil for G20 - Lula Monday 11 September 2023 10:01 , Matt Mathers Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said it is up to the countrys judiciary whether or not to arrest Vladimir Putin if he visits for the G20 summit next year. "If Putin decides to join, it is the judiciarys power to decide and not my government, Lula told reporters in New Delhi, where he was attending this years G20 summit. "I believe that Putin can go easily to Brazil," he said in an on-camera interview with Indian news outlet Firstpost. "What I can say to you is that if Im president of Brazil, and he comes to Brazil, theres no way he will be arrested." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and first lady Rosangela da Silva (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on way to Russia' Monday 11 September 2023 09:27 , Matt Mathers A North Korean train presumably carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia for a possible meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, South Korean media said Monday. Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. South Koreas National Intelligence Service didnt immediately confirm those details. US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. Russia Expanding Arsenals G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down Ukraine declaration Monday 11 September 2023 09:03 , Matt Mathers The G20 summit in India has ended without the usual family photo, as some members questioned the watered-down language used in the joint declaration issued by leaders in relation to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Most of the leaders departed from Delhi earlier in the day, having paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial on the banks of the Yamuna River. The absence of the customary group photograph intended to signify unity between the worlds largest economies exemplified the fact that deep divisions still remain over the Ukraine war. Shweta Sharma reports: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Zelensky pays tribute to aid workers killed in Donetsk Monday 11 September 2023 08:41 , Matt Mathers Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to aid workers after a Russian anti-tank missile struck a volunteer van in Donetsk yesterday. Canadian Anthony Ignat was killed in the incident and it is likely Emma Igual of Spain also died, the Ukraine president said. German citizen Mawick Ruben and Swedish citizen Johan Mathias, two other volunteers, were seriously injured and are being treated in hospitals in Dnipro. This Russian shelling once again confirms how close the war against Ukraine is to everyone in the world who truly values human life and who believes it is the common moral duty of humanity to stop terror and defeat evil, Zelensky said in a Telegram post. (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima) Ukraine's place is in the EU, says German foreign minister in Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 08:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stressed that Ukraines place is in the European Union during a visit to the embattled countrys capital, Kyiv, on Monday morning. Ukraine can rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russias war, said Baerbock upon arrival, according to a statement. Ukraine already has candidate status, said Baerbock. And now we are preparing to take a decision on opening EU accession talks. On judicial reform and media legislation, Ukraines reform results are already impressive, she said. But there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption, added the foreign minister. The visit is Baerbocks fourth since the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022. Putin to recruit 420,000 by year end in blow to industrial workforce UK MoD Monday 11 September 2023 08:03 , Arpan Rai The Russian military intends to recruit 420,000 contract personnel by the end of 2023, Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today, warning of the negative effect this would have on its industrial workforce. On 3 September, Russian Security Council deputy chairman Dimitry Medvedev stated that so far 280,000 personnel had been recruited, the ministry said, adding that the numbers cannot be verified. Russias conscription continues to have negative effects on its industry workforce. The Yegor Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy found that Russias industry shortage of workers reached a new high of 42% for July 2023, 7% higher from April 2023, the MoD said. It added that in contrast to conscription efforts elsewhere, the IT sector Russia has taken steps to preserve the workforce. This likely highlights the particularly acute shortages in the sector after about 100,000 IT workers left Russia in 2022, it said. This equates to 10% of the IT sector workforce. On 4 September 2023, President Putin signed a decree to increase the exemption age of military recruitment for IT professionals from 27 to 30. This shows that mobilisation and conscription within Russia has worsened non-defence workforce shortages. In the run-up to the Russian presidential elections scheduled for March 2024, Russian authorities will likely seek to avoid further unpopular mobilisations, the MoD said in its latest intelligence update. Ukrainian military makes thunderous assault operation amid advances in Donetsk and south Monday 11 September 2023 07:21 , Arpan Rai Ukraines armed forces have made gains in different parts of eastern Donetsk region, the focal point of Russias continuing invasion of the country, and in the south, officials said yesterday. Ukrainian troops near the frontline town of Avdiivka took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city, the head of the local military administration said. In my opinion, this is very significant, Vitaliy Barabash told national television. To be frank, the enemy overlooked this southern direction a bit. He called the advance a thunderous assault operation and said fighting was underway in the settlement. Avdiivka, site of a major coking plant, has been under near-constant Russian attack for many months. The General Staff of Ukraines armed forces reported successes near Bakhmut. In its evening report, the General Staff reported partial success as a result of assault operations near Klishchiivka, a village on heights south of Bakhmut, seen as critical to recapturing the town. The report also described a measure of success near Robotyne a settlement it captured late last month as part of its drive southward through Russian-held areas to the Sea of Azov. US treasury secretary denies G20 watered down statement on Ukraine Monday 11 September 2023 06:56 , Arpan Rai The US treasury secretary Janet Yellen has denied the G20 toned down its stance on Ukraine in the Delhi Declaration released over the weekend, which did not mention Russian aggression in Ukraine directly. Calling the statement substantively very strong, Ms Yellen said: The US does not see this language as in any way weakening the G20s stance on Ukraine. Clearly it was hard to find language that would satisfy the US and other countries but we felt we wanted strong language, and substantively strong language, and this was substantively very strong, she told the Financial Times. Ukraine rejected the joint statement, saying the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Zelensky suggests Ukraine could be set for big breakthrough: 'They will run' Monday 11 September 2023 05:21 , Arpan Rai In an interview with The Economist published yesterday, Volodymyr Zelensky said steady progress was essential to maintaining Ukrainian morale. Keeping morale high is crucial. This is why even limited progress on the frontline is essential, Mr Zelensky told the publication. Now we have movement. Its important, the publication quoted him as saying. If we push them from the south, they will run, he said, hinting that a big breakthrough can still come before the onset of Ukraines infamously wet autumn weather makes battlefield movement more difficult. Ukraine has had some success in dismantling the first of Russias three main defensive lines in the Zaporizhzhia region after facing initial losses in the early stages of the counteroffensive. Mr Zelensky added that victory will not come tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The Russian army is losing lots of people, Mr Zelensky said, adding that the invading country has had to redeploy its reserves to stop the Ukrainian advance. It means they lose, he said. Zelensky says troops advancing in south, movement in east Monday 11 September 2023 04:17 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops pressing a counteroffensive against Russian occupying forces have advanced on the southern front in the past week while there had also been movement near Bakhmut in the east. Over the past seven days we have made an advance in the Tavria (southern) sector, Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address. There is movement in the Bakhmut sector. Yes, there is movement. He added that Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on other fronts in the east Avdiivka and Maryinka near the focus of Russias main attacks, and Lyman and Kupiansk, also subject to Russian attempts to advance further north. The war-time presidents latest comments confirm assessments by other officials of gains, however modest, in the east and south. Near Avdiivka, the head of the local military administration said Ukrainian troops took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city. Two drones downed near Russias Belgorod region Monday 11 September 2023 03:55 , Arpan Rai Russias air defence systems destroyed two drones over the Belgorod region in the early hours today, the Russian defence ministry said on its Telegram channel, claiming to have thwarted an attack by Ukraine. No immediate injuries have been reported after drone debris fell on a road in the Yakovlevsky district, according to Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. ICYMI: Foreign aid workers killed in Russian strikes Monday 11 September 2023 03:00 , Lydia Patrick A charity confirmed four of their workers were hit by Russian shells in the Bakhmut region whilst trying to get to civilians who were caught in a crossfire. Their vehicle came under Russian attack leading the van to catch on fire and flip, according to a Road to Relief spokesperson.German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick, Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr, Canadian volunteer Anthony Tonko Ihnat, and Spanish volunteer and Road to Relief Director Emma Igual were all in the vehicle.According to the charity, Ruben and Johan were badly injured with shrapnel wounds and burns but are now in a stable condition. Tragically, Tonko has been confirmed dead, whilst Emmas current status is still unknown as the organiation cannot trace her whereabouts. Zelensky urges the West to maintain support for Ukraine Monday 11 September 2023 02:00 , Lydia Patrick The Ukranian president says Europeans must prepare for a long war as Kyiv make modest progress three months into counter offensive. In an interview with The Economist, the leader expresses a seeming change in morale amongst Western leaders as Kyiv make modest gains. Zelensky urges the West to contine their solidarity with Ukraine (UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER) In conversation with The Economist, he said: I have this intuition, reading, hearing and seeing their eyes [when they say] well be always with you. But I see that he or she is not here, not with us. The ex TV actor is aware of the importance of western economic support. Mr Zelensky added: If you are not with Ukraine, you are with Russia, and if you are not with Russia, you are with Ukraine. And if partners do not help us, it means they will help Russia to win. That is it. ICYMI: Russia carries out overnight drone attack on Kyiv Monday 11 September 2023 01:00 , Lydia Patrick Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts ringing out across the Ukrainian capital and its region for almost two hours and drone debris falling on several of the citys central districts, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraines Land Forces said that the countrys air defence systems destroyed 25 out of 32 Russia-launched Iran-made Shahed drones, most of which targeted Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Reuters witnesses heard at least five blasts across Kyiv, and Ukrainian media footage showed a number of cars damaged. Drones came onto the capital in groups and from different directions, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyivs city military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Read the full story here Putins drones rained down on Kyiv (Reuters) Tributes pour in for the volunteers killed in Kyiv strike Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Lydia Patrick Two foreign aid workers were killed this morning as shells hit their van - causing it to catch fire and flip. Candian Anthony Tonko Ihnat was one of the volunteers who lost their life in the attack. Paracrew Humanitarian Aid, an organisation he had previously worked for shared their sadness on Facebook. They wrote: His compassion, empathy and strength will forever be an inspiration to all of us. And we will keep his memory alive by working on to help Ukraine in every possible way. Rest in peace dear friend. Director of NGO killed in Russian strike Sunday 10 September 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick A 34-year-old Spanish humanitarian worker has been named as one of the victims of a Russian attack in Kyiv this morning. Emma Igual was the director of Road to Relief, a Ukrainian-registered humanitarian NGO created in March 2022 with the purpose of helping Ukranian civillians. The charitys main aims are to evacuate civillians, provide humanitarian aid and mobile healthcare. According to the Huff Post she dedicated her life to help others and had previously carried out volunteer work in Kenya, Morocco. Greece and Myanmar. Zelensky says a big breakthrough could lie ahead in counter offensive as Kyiv make gains Sunday 10 September 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukrainian troops had made advances on the southern front and made movements near Bakhmut in the east. Over the past seven days we have made an advance in the Tavria (southern) sector, Zelensky said in his nightly video address. Zelenskiys latest comments on the state of the three-month-old counter offensive appeared to confirm assessments by other officials of gains, however modest, in the east and south (EPA) There is movement in the Bakhmut sector. Yes, there is movement. Zelensky said Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on other fronts in the east -- Avdiivka and Maryinka near the focus of Russias main attacks, and Lyman and Kupiansk, also subject to Russian attempts to advance further north. Near Avdiivka, the head of the local military administration said Ukrainian troops took advantage of Russian forces focusing on one sector to advance and capture part of the village of Opytne south of the city. In my opinion, this is very significant, Vitaliy Barabash told national television. To be frank, the enemy overlooked this southern direction a bit. Zelensky and other officials have said the counter offensive requires time, dismissing criticism in the Western media that it is proceeding too slowly because of tactical errors. In an interview with The Economist published on Sunday, Zelensky said making steady progress was essential to maintaining morale. He suggested a big breakthrough could lie ahead. G20 summit doesnt end with family photo Sunday 10 September 2023 21:00 , Lydia Patrick The G20 summit did not end in the usual harmonious manner this Sunday as some members question the and omission of Russia and careful language used in the communique. Earlier drafts of the declaration reportedly featured stronger language when it comes to Russia, but a senior European Union official who was part of the negotiations told reporters here at the summit venue on Sunday that it would have spelled the end of the G20 as an organisation if they had not agreed to the watered-down version. The official said: Ukraine was the most contentious issue. Extremely different positions were on the table to find the consensus, but it was Indias presidency and we believe in consensus so we had to accept that. Read the full story here: G20 summit ends with no family photo and criticism of watered-down declaration Russian general says Ukraine is a stepping stone to the rest of Europe Sunday 10 September 2023 20:00 , Lydia Patrick General Andrey Mordvichev spoke out in a TV interview with Russia state TV warning Ukraine is just the beginning to the rest of Eastern Europe. He also told the presente he expects the war to last a very long time. As reported in Newsweek, Mordvichev said: I think theres still plenty of time to spend. It is pointless to talk about a specified period. If we are talking about Eastern Europe, which we will have to, of course then it will be longer. The interviewer then asked if Ukraine was merely a stepping stone. He responded: Yes, absolutely. It is only the beginning. This war will last for a long time, because we still need to liberate Eastern Europe, says Russian general and war criminal Andrei Mordvichev. The interview was recorded at the end of July this year and Mordvichev assumed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive would slow down by pic.twitter.com/MB9m1YYcLV TheKremlinYap (@TheKremlinYap) September 9, 2023 US Secretary of State defends decision to accept G20 statement - despite criticism Sunday 10 September 2023 19:30 , Lydia Patrick Anthony Blinken defended the United States decision to agree with the summits declaration amid Ukrainian complaints the statment doesnt do enough to condemn Russia. During an interview on ABCs This Week he said:I was in the room when all the leaders spoke today with President Biden and it was very clear from everything that they said that not only do they want to see this war end, but they want to see it end on just and durable terms and it was also very clear that the consequences of Russias aggression are being felt throughout the G20 countries and throughout the developing world. I think its very important that the G20 spoke as one, Blinken added. Ukrainian foreign ministry Oleg Nikolnko hit out at the statement, saying the language used did not go far enough to condemn Russia. Blinken routinely pledges his support for Ukraine on social media. Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine's vital Danube ports, systematically destroying civilian infrastructure to prevent Ukrainian grain from feeding the world. This is Russia's playbook: strangle Ukrainian grain exports, weaponize food, and make hungry people pay the price. Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 8, 2023 Russia are becoming savvy to Ukranian military tactics, says head of military intelligence Sunday 10 September 2023 18:30 , Lydia Patrick Ukraines head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov spoke at the Yalta European Strategy forum in Kyiv last night. Ukranian and international policy makers gathered to dicuss the wars progression. As reported in The Guardian, Budanov said: In terms of creativity and flexibility, we still have an edge over them, they are rather outdated. But they are adapting, they are trying to change tactics, to alter the way they use forces, they miserably fail with their strategy, but their tactics do have some improvements. They switched to the mass use of drones, before the war they simply didnt understand the importance of them, now they are adapting and copying us a lot. Kyrylo Budanov ICYMI: British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Lydia Patrick A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. She said: Although we are extremely proud of his unwavering courage and resilience, his death has been devastating. Read the full story here British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound ICYMI: Ukraine says G20 summit declaration nothing to be proud of Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Lydia Patrick The Ukrainian foreign ministry hit out at G20s joint declaration for omitting the mention of Russia and put forward his own corrected version. The G20 member countrys reached an agreement on Saturday but there was a notable difference in language regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict in comparison with last years document. There were disagreements between European countries who were keen to use strong language to condemn Moscows invasion yet Russia and China wouldnt accept any mention of war. Nikolenko said: G20 adopted a final declaration. We are grateful to the partners who tried to include strong wording in the text. However, in terms of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, G20 has nothing to be proud of. This is how the main elements of the text could look to be closer to reality pic.twitter.com/qZqYluVKKS Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) September 9, 2023 Moscow hold local elections in occupied regions of Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 16:15 , Lydia Patrick Russian authorities have reported multiple attempts to sabotage voting in local elections taking place in occupied areas of Ukraine. Votes are taking place this weekend in 79 regions of Russia, with ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils, as well as in the four Ukrainian regions Moscow annexed illegally last year - the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces - and on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. Kyiv and the West have said balloting in the occupied areas of Ukraine is a violation of international law. Russian electoral officials on Sunday reported attempts to sabotage voting in the occupied regions, where guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv had previously killed pro-Moscow officials, blown up bridges and helped the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets. A drone strike in the early hours of Sunday destroyed one polling station in the Zaporizhzhia province, deputy chairman of Russias Central Election Commission Nikolai Bulaev told reporters. He said no staff were at the station at the time of the attack. A Russian-appointed official in the neighbouring Kherson region said that a live grenade was discovered on Saturday near a polling station there. Marina Zakharova said the grenade was hidden in bushes outside the station, and that voting had to be halted while emergency services disposed of it. Local residents and Ukrainian activists have alleged that Russian poll workers make house calls accompanied by armed soldiers in both provinces, detaining those who refuse to vote and pressuring them into writing explanatory statements that could be used as grounds for a criminal case. An elderly woman casts her ballot at a polling station during the Moscow mayoral election in Moscow, Russia (Moscow News Agency) ICYMI: Russia turning to old ally North Korea to replenish ammunition Sunday 10 September 2023 15:42 , Lydia Patrick Russias supplies are depleting after a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine - and theyre turning to Kim Jong Un. It is believed the isolated Asian country has tens of millions artillery shells and rockets that could help the Russian army. United States officials expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions transfer with President Vladimir Putin. Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center said: We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong Un. Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, visited North Korea in July 2023, as the first Russian defence chief to visit the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Whilst the Kremlin have refused to comment about the nature of an arms deal, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed their close ties. He said: : North Korea is our neighbor, and we will further develop our relations without looking back at other countries opinion. Read the full story here: Russia is turning to old ally North Korea to resupply its arsenal for the war in Ukraine Russia says will return to grain deal once all conditions met Sunday 10 September 2023 15:02 , Tara Cobham Russia will return to the Black Sea grain deal the same day as Moscow's conditions for export of its own grain and fertilisers to the global markets are met, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters on Sunday. Russia quit the deal in July, a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, complaining that its own food and fertiliser exports faced obstacles and that insufficient Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need. "When all the necessary actions for removing obstacles for our grain and fertiliser exports are implemented, the same day we will return to the collective implementation of the Ukrainian part of the 'Black Sea initiative'", Lavrov told a briefing after attending a two-day G20 summit in New Delhi. US army chief fears Kyiv has only 30 days left for offensive Sunday 10 September 2023 14:34 , Tara Cobham Kyiv could have as little as 30 days left for its counter-offensive against Moscow, fears the head of the US military. General Mark Milley said Ukraine only has around 30 to 45 days left before poor weather conditions hinder its offensive, telling the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg it will become very difficult to manoeuvre once the rains come. Luke O'Reilly reports: Ukraine has around 45 days left before weather hinders offensive US army chief Recap: Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack Sunday 10 September 2023 13:30 , Tara Cobham Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet with one Ukrainian official saying that his country is paying the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians in areas where Russias invasion has left infrastructure devastated or jammed. An extract of a new biography of Musk, published by CNN on Thursday, said that the drones packed with explosives lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly during the thwarted assault last year, after Musk ordered his engineers to turn off the network. Musk is said to have feared that a strike on the ports of Russian-occupied Crimea would amount to a mini Pearl Harbor. Having apparently spoken to the Russian ambassador to the United States who is reported to have told him that an attack on Crimea would trigger a nuclear response Musk is then said to have ordered his engineers to turn off Starlink coverage within 100km of the Crimean coast. Chris Stevenson reports: Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukraine drone attack on Russian ships Russia claims it destroyed US-supplied Ukrainian speedboats Sunday 10 September 2023 13:00 , Tara Cobham Russias defense ministry said in the early hours of Sunday that Moscows forces earlier destroyed three US-supplied Ukrainian speedboats that had been travelling toward Crimea. The claim could not be independently verified. Too early to judge Ukraines summer offensive as failure, says US military head Sunday 10 September 2023 12:20 , Tara Cobham It is too early to say whether Ukraine's summer offensive has failed, the head of the US military has said. Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, General Mark Milley said: "That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago. It has gone slower than the planners anticipated. But that is a difference between what Clausewitz called war on paper and real war. "So these are real people in real vehicles that are fighting through real minefields, and there's real death and destruction, and there's real friction. "And there's still a reasonable amount of time, probably about 30 to 45 days, worth of fighting weather left. "So the Ukrainians aren't done. This battle is not done. They haven't finished the fighting part of what they're trying to accomplish. So we'll see, it's too early to say how this is going to end. They at least have achieved partial success in what they set out to do, and that's important. And then the rains will come in. It'll become very muddy. "It'll be very difficult to manoeuvre at that point, and then you'll get the deep winter. And then at that point, we'll see where things go. But right now, it is way too early to say that this offensive has failed or not failed." In pictures: Russian drones rain down on Kyiv for hours overnight Sunday 10 September 2023 12:18 , Tara Cobham Russian drones rained down on Kyiv in an aerial attack that lasted two hours overnight (Reuters) An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike early on Sunday (REUTERS) Foreign aid workers killed in Russian missile attack in Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 10:56 , Tara Cobham Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian NGO. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Road to Relief said Canadian Anthony Ihnat died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously injured. The organisation added that it could not trace the whereabouts of the van's fourth passenger, Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization's director. Hours later, Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish media that authorities in Madrid had received "verbal confirmation" of the 32-year-old Igual's death. The volunteers were on their way to assess the needs of civilians on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Road to Relief said, in reference to the eastern town that saw the war's longest and bloodiest battle before falling to Moscow in May. Ukrainian forces have held on to Bakhmut's western suburbs and are pushing a counteroffensive in the area. Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization's director, reportedly died in the Russian missile attack (Saphryn Shikaze / Road to Relief) The four volunteers were from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas (Saphryn Shikaze / Road to Relief) Local elections take place across Russia but Ukraine not on agenda Sunday 10 September 2023 10:12 , Tara Cobham Local elections kicked off in Russia this weekend in 79 regions, with voters are casting their ballots for governors, regional legislatures, city and municipal councils. Russian authorities are also holding local elections in the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow annexed illegally last year the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia provinces. Voting for federal and local legislators is also underway on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. Balloting in the occupied areas of Ukraine has been denounced by Kyiv and the West as a sham and a violation of international law. In Moscow, Mayor Sergei Sobyanins seat is up for grabs, although he is running for re-election again and is unlikely to lose a race in which all contenders come from Kremlin-backed parties. Sobyanin was appointed mayor in 2010 and has since won mayoral elections twice: in 2013, despite now-imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny running against him, and 2018. Governors in 20 other Russian regions are also vying for office this year. Local elections take place across Russia, but Ukraine is 'not on the agenda' South Korea pledges additional $2 bln aid to Ukraine Sunday 10 September 2023 09:26 , Tara Cobham South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Sunday the country will provide an additional $2 billion in aid to Ukraine starting in 2025 over the longer term, in addition to the $300 million previously pledged for next year, Yonhap news reported. Yoon made the comment at a session of the G20 summit held in New Delhi, India, Yonhap said. Ukraine says Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv Sunday 10 September 2023 08:03 , Tara Cobham Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts ringing out across the Ukrainian capital and its region for almost two hours and drone debris falling on several of the city's central districts, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraine's Land Forces said that the country's air defence systems destroyed 25 out of 32 Russia-launched Iran-made Shahed drones, most of which targeted Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Reuters witnesses heard at least five blasts across Kyiv, and Ukrainian media footage showed a number of cars damaged. "Drones came onto the capital in groups and from different directions," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, said on the Telegram messaging app. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that one person was injured in the historic Podil neighbourhood and a fire broke out near one of the city's parks. Debris from downed drones fell on the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Podil districts, Klitschko and the city's military administration said. In the Shevchenkivskyi district, drone debris sparked a fire in an apartment, which was quickly extinguished. There were no immediate reports of injuries, Popko said on the Telegram messaging app. There was no immediate comment from Russia about the attacks. Moscow has been conducting near-nightly assaults on Ukraine's territory. A Russian attack killed 17 on Wednesday in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, according to Ukrainian officials. An explosion of a drone is seen in Kyiv during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Sunday (Reuters) Signs indicate Russia turning to isolated North Korea to replenish military supplies Sunday 10 September 2023 07:12 , Anuj Pant Russias military arsenal has been depleted enough for it to turn to isolated North Korea amid its now year-and-a-half-long invasion of Ukraine. The country is set to host a regional summit on Sunday that could see the participation of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un who, reports said, could reach the country by armoured train. The visit is significant as Russia faces depleted reserves due to its invasion. And estimates cited by The Associated Press have revealed that North Korea has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give a huge boost to the Russian army. US officials have said they expected Mr Kim to seal a deal to transfer munitions to Russia in the coming days, in a marked reversal from the 1950s during the Korean war, when it was the Soviet Union that supplied weaponry to the North. We know that Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong-un, Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. ICYMI: Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack on Putins naval fleet Sunday 10 September 2023 06:58 , Anuj Pant Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet with one Ukrainian official saying that his country is paying the price of a cocktail of ignorance and big ego. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians in areas where Russias invasion has left infrastructure devastated or jammed. An extract of a new biography of Musk, published by CNN on Thursday, said that the drones packed with explosives lost connectivity and washed ashore harmlessly during the thwarted assault last year, after Musk ordered his engineers to turn off the network. Musk is said to have feared that a strike on the ports of Russian-occupied Crimea would amount to a mini Pearl Harbor. Having apparently spoken to the Russian ambassador to the United States who is reported to have told him that an attack on Crimea would trigger a nuclear response Musk is then said to have ordered his engineers to turn off Starlink coverage within 100km of the Crimean coast. Read more below. Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukraine drone attack on Russian ships Russia ships Su-30 fighter jets to Myanmar junta Sunday 10 September 2023 06:08 , Anuj Pant The Myanmar junta government has received its first shipment of Russian Su-30 fighter jets, the countrys trade minister told Russian state-run media. Russia and Myanmar had signed a contract last year for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, according to Russian state-run RIA. Two aircraft have already been delivered, Charlie Than, Myanmars trade minister, told the state-run news agency. The minister was speaking on the sidelines of a Russian economic summit in Vladivostok. He also said a number of bilateral agreements will be signed at the East Economic Forum, including on developing tourism between the two countries. Myanmar has seen the junta increase its grip on the country ever since it launched a military coup in 2021. The US has also warned Russia against backing Myanmars military rulers and said its supply of weapons to the country is fueling a conflict that has become a catastrophe for Myanmar. Just in: Ukraine says it downed 25 drones launched by Russia early on Sunday Sunday 10 September 2023 05:47 , Anuj Pant At least 25 of the 32 drones launched by Vladimir Putins forces early on Sunday have been drowned, Ukraines land forces said. The announcement comes as Kyiv was subjected to aerial attacks overnight, with witnesses hearing as many as five blasts, reported Reuters. The scale of the attack has not yet been ascertained. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration Sunday 10 September 2023 05:36 , Anuj Pant India has defied expectations to produce a New Delhi Declaration backed by all countries at this weekends G20 summit at the expense of any meaningful condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the good news shortly before 1600 local time [1000 GMT] on the first day of the G20 leaders summit in Delhi much to the surprise of many observers and analysts, who felt that the Ukraine issue would stand in the way of a consensus on any joint statement at all, much less an early one. Ukraine rejected the joint statement, saying the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine does feature in the full 37-page declaration released by the Indian foreign ministry on Saturday, which says leaders highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine without directly mentioning Russia. There were different views and assessments of the situation, it adds, in something of an understatement. Read more below. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration ICYMI: What are depleted uranium shells? Sunday 10 September 2023 05:30 , Anuj Pant The depleted uranium anti-tank rounds soon to be in Ukraines military stockpiles have kicked up a debate over its use in the continuing Russian invasion. Announced by the Pentagon in the latest military tranche on Wednesday, the controversial rounds have spread alarm among Vladimir Putins ministers who have warned against the escalation yet again. Britain has already promised armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine in March. Prime minister Rishi Sunak had backed drawing out the rounds from the UK militarys stockpiles ultimately to degrade and deter primarily Russian aggression. But what are these depleted uranium munitions? Read more below. Ukraine: What are depleted uranium shells and why are they controversial? Russia claims to have downed eight drones over Crimea Sunday 10 September 2023 05:15 , Anuj Pant Vladimir Putins defence ministry has claimed it destroyed eight drones over the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula in the early hours of Sunday even as overnight drone attacks were launched on capital Kyiv. The incident, reported by Reuters, could not be independently verified. Russia accused Ukraine of launching the drones. The Russian defence ministry has also not said if there were any casualties. Ukraines officials have not commented on the incident yet. Putin launches overnight aerial attacks on Kyiv Sunday 10 September 2023 04:48 , Anuj Pant Air attacks were launched on Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts heard across the capital. Drone debris fell on its central districts and the scale of the attack has not been ascertained yet. Kyivs mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was injured in the Podil neighbourhood and a fire broke out near one of the citys parks. The debris from the downed drones fell on the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Podil districts, according to the citys military administration and Mr Klitschko. The debris also sparked a fire in the Shevchenkivskyi district, but this was immediately put out, according to officials. Reuters cited its witnesses as saying they heard at least five blasts. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Joe Middleton India has defied expectations to produce a New Delhi Declaration backed by all countries at this weekends G20 summit, at the expense of any meaningful condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced the good news shortly before 1600 local time [1000 GMT] on the first day of the G20 leaders summit in Delhi much to the surprise of many observers and analysts, who felt that the Ukraine issue would stand in the way of a consensus on any joint statement at all, much less an early one. Ukraine does feature in the full 37-page declaration released by the Indian foreign ministry on Saturday, which says leaders highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine without directly mentioning Russia. There were different views and assessments of the situation, it adds, in something of an understatement. India avoids condemnation of Russia to produce united G20 declaration British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Sunday 10 September 2023 02:00 , Joe Middleton A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Elon Musk sparks fury by admitting he thwarted Ukrainian drone attack on Putins naval fleet Sunday 10 September 2023 01:09 , Lydia Patrick Elon Musk has admitted that his refusal to grant Ukraine permission to use his Starlink satellite network was an attempt to prevent a drone attack on a Russian naval fleet. The Starlink satellite internet service, which is run by the technology billionaires SpaceX company, has been a digital lifeline both for Ukraines military and for civilians. Elon Musk says his refusal to allow Kyiv to use his satellite network was an attempt to avoid complicity in an act of war (Getty Images) In posts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, the billionaire denied accusations that he had turned off the Starlink network in the area, but said that he had not agreed to a request from Ukraine to activate it all the way to the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, which is currently (as it was at the time) occupied by Russia and home to its Black Sea fleet. The Starlink regions in question were not activated. SpaceX did not deactivate anything, Musk said. There was an emergency request from government authorities to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol, he added, the obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor. If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation. Read the full story here Popular messaging service says it will combat Russian fake news' Sunday 10 September 2023 00:09 , Lydia Patrick The founder of Japanese technnology enterprise Rakuten Group says messaging service Viber will block any attempt at Russian propaganda unlike other social media. Hiroshi Mikiani told Reuters: Unlike other social media, weve made it crystal clear were going to block all these fake news and propaganda of Russia. Viber is a popular messaging app acquired by the Rakuten Group in 2014 (Getty Images) Viber, which launched in 2010 and was acquired by Rakuten in 2014, has a 98% market penetration rate in Ukraine and is also popular in Russia. The billionaire entrepreneur has previously been vocal in his support for Ukraine and made a 1 billion yen ($6.77 million) donation to its government at the start of the invasion. Rakuten has announced plans to work with Ukraines largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, to provide Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) telecommunications technology that uses software to run network functions on the cloud, something Mikitani has touted as a technology of the future. Ukraines counteroffensive will withstand severe Winter conditions, says intelligence chief Saturday 9 September 2023 22:18 , Lydia Patrick Kyivs counteroffensive against Russian forces will continue to fight throughout harsh cold conditions, Kyivs intelligence chief said on Saturday. Kyrylo Budanov said: Combat actions will continue in one way or another. In the cold, wet and mud, it is more difficult to fight. Fighting will continue. The counteroffensive will continue. Kyrylo Budanov with a handkerchief shpwing an F-35 fighter (AP) The comments, made at a conference in Kyiv hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, inidicate Ukraine does not plan to halt its push when the weather worsens later this year. Vadym Skibytskyi, an official from Ukraines military spy agency, said earlier on Saturday that Russia currently had 420,000 servicemen inside Ukraine. The push in the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, now centred around the villages of Robotyne and Verbove, is seen as a crucial part of an operation that seeks to split Russias occupying forces in half in the south, but remains far from that goal. Our counteroffensive is happening in several directions, Budanov said, acknowledging that progress had been slower than he had wanted and describing the situation as difficult. Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed. Russia shoots down three drones in Crimea Saturday 9 September 2023 20:18 , Lydia Patrick Drone attacks on Russian-occupied territory and inside Russia itself have increased sharply across the summer, with Kyiv seeking to back-up its counteroffensive against Vladimir Putins forces on the ground in Ukraine by disrupting Moscow as much as it can. The latest such strike came on Saturday when Russian air defence shot down three enemy drones in northwestern Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of the peninsulas administration. Rishi Sunak said that G20 leaders have agreed to a very strong joint message about Russias invasion of Ukraine Saturday 9 September 2023 19:20 , Lydia Patrick The British prime minister expresses his support of a New Delhi declaration backed by all countries at the summit. Defying the odds, India was able to get all G20 members to agree that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissable in a 37-page declaration. Mr Sunak told broadcasters, as reported by Reuters: The news that weve just had, which Im happy to share, is that under Prime Minister Modi and Indias presidency, the G20 have agreed a joint communique with very strong language about Russias illegal war in Ukraine. Rishi Sunak spoke to the media during the event (PA) What youll see in the communique is strong language, highlighting the impact of the war on food prices and food security, calling on Russia to re-enter the Black Sea grain initiative to allow exports to leave that part of the world and help feed millions of the most vulnerable people as well as the communique recognising the principles of the UN Charter respecting territorial integrity. So I think that is a good and strong outcome. And as you can see from this summit, Russia is completely isolated. Zelensky meets with Japanese foreign minister who vows support for reconstruction of Ukraine Saturday 9 September 2023 17:00 , Rachel Flynn Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Saturday and agreed to begin discussions on security guarantees and cooperate on reconstructing Ukraines economy, the Japanese foreign ministry said. The security guarantee discussions come after the G7 group of countries, of which Japan is a member, said in July that its members would begin bilateral security guarantee talks with Ukraine. Japans Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (L) shakes hands with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba during a joint press conference in Kyiv. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Hayashi also pledged support from both the public and private sectors in Japan to reconstruct Ukraines economy in the surprise visit to Ukraine, where he was accompanied by executives of Japanese firms, including Hiroshi Mikitani, founder and chief executive Rakuten Group, the ministry said. Japan is planning to host a meeting on the economic reconstruction of Ukraine early next year. In talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Hayashi was set to reiterate Japans firm support for Ukraine and the urgency of ending the Russian invasion with the help of the international community, the ministry said. Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a surprise visit to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy in March. Romania finds new possible fragments of Russian drone on its territory Saturday 9 September 2023 16:30 , Rachel Flynn New fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military were found on Romanian soil, the defence ministry said on Saturday. Romanias president, President Klaus Iohannis, said this indicated an unacceptable breach of Romanias air space had occurred. In a statement, Iohannis said he had informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the pieces of drone - the second to crash in Romanian territory this week - and that Stoltenberg reiterated the alliances complete solidarity with Romania. The identification by Romanian authorities on Romanian territory near the border with Ukraine of new drone fragments ... indicates an unacceptable breach occurred of the air space of Romania, a NATO state, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area, Iohannis said. I firmly condemn this incident caused by Russian attacks on Ukrainian Danube river ports. The attacks on Ukraines river ports, just hundreds of metres from the Romanian border, have increased security risks for NATO whose members have a mutual defence commitment. The U.S. State Department said earlier this week it would rotate additional U.S. F-16 fighter jets to bolster NATOs air policing mission in Romania. Ukraine says G20 summit declaration is nothing to be proud of Saturday 9 September 2023 15:45 , Rachel Flynn The Ukrainian foreign ministry said on Saturday the G20s joint declaration was nothing to be proud of and criticised it for not mentioning Russia. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section of the joint declaration, with several pieces of the text crossed out in red and corrected with wording which reflects Ukraines position that it is a victim of unprovoked Russian aggression. Foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko posted a screenshot of the relevant section on his Facebook. (Oleg Nikolenko) It is clear that the participation of the Ukrainian side (in the G20 meeting) would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation, he wrote on Facebook. Heres what the main elements of the text could look like to be closer to reality, he added. Despite his disappointment with the overall G20 text, Nikolenko thanked Ukraines allies for doing their part to advance Ukraines position in the declaration. Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong formulations in the text, he said. G20 summit statement calls for peace but avoids condemning Russia for Ukraine war Saturday 9 September 2023 14:24 , Tara Cobham The Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday that avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the Leaders' Declaration had been adopted on the first day of the weekend summit. The consensus came as a surprise as the group is deeply divided over the war in Ukraine, with Western nations earlier pushing for strong condemnation of Russia in the Leaders' Declaration, while other countries demanded a focus on broader economic issues. There was no immediate reaction from most other members. "We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability," the declaration said. "We ... welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine. "The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible," the statement added. Russia sticks to demands on Black Sea grain deal Saturday 9 September 2023 11:27 , Tara Cobham Russia said on Saturday it was sticking to its conditions for a return to the Black Sea grain deal which it quit in July. In particular, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia needed its state agricultural bank - and not a subsidiary of the bank, as proposed by the United Nations - to be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system. "All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable," Peskov said. "Therefore Russia maintains its responsible, clear and consistent position, which has been repeatedly voiced by the president." The Black Sea deal was brokered by Turkey and the United Nations in July 2022 to enable Ukraine to export grain by sea despite the war and help ease a global food crisis. It was accompanied by an agreement to facilitate Russia's own exports of food and fertiliser, which Moscow says has not been fulfilled. Since quitting the grain deal, Russia has repeatedly bombed Ukrainian ports and grain stores, prompting Kyiv and the West to accuse it of using food as a weapon. Moscow's uncompromising restatement of its position came five days after President Vladimir Putin met his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan and discussed the grain issue. Russia appears to have drawn encouragement from Erdogan's statement at that meeting that Ukraine should "soften its approaches" in talks over reviving the deal, and export more grain to Africa rather than Europe. Ukraine said it would not alter its stand and would not be hostage to "Russian blackmail". British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound Saturday 9 September 2023 10:45 , Tara Cobham A British man who fought in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water with his hands tied behind his back, his family have revealed. Jordan Chadwick, 31, who travelled to Ukraine in early October 2022, was fighting in the International Legion. His mother, Brenda Chadwick, told the BBC her family was devastated by her sons death. Mr Chadwick, known as Joe, was from Burnley in Lancashire. He served as a Scots Guard in the British Army from 2011 to 2015. Rachel Flynn reports: British man fighting in Ukraine found dead in water with his hands bound 600 members of Putins forces killed in one day as party HQ destroyed Saturday 9 September 2023 10:32 , Tara Cobham Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost 600 of his troops in one day, according to Kyiv, while his conservative partys headquarters in Ukraine was destroyed on Friday. The general staff of Ukraines armed forces is estimating that 600 of Moscows personnel were killed on Friday, bringing the total lost since February 2022 to 268,140. Meanwhile, the headquarters of the United Russia political party in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Polohy was destroyed in an attack on the same day, according to the mayor of Melitopol, reported the Kyiv Independent. Ivan Fedorov said on the Telegram messaging app that local residents described Russians as burned out of the headquarters amid the hellish pseudo-elections. Alluding to casualties, he said: Some went to the hospital, and some went straight to the morgue. IAEA deeply concerned by increased military activity around Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant Saturday 9 September 2023 09:26 , Tara Cobham Experts are deeply concerned by increased military activity in the region around Ukraines Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrote on Friday of reports of numerous explosions over the past week, which could pose a potential threat to nuclear safety and security at the site. Over the three days from last Saturday, the IAEA team heard around two dozen explosions, followed by several more in recent days - although there was no damage to the Russian-occupied facility itself. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the situation at Europes largest nuclear power plant remains highly precarious. The reports I receive from our experts indicate that the explosions occurred some distance away from the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, he said. Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned about the possible dangers facing the plant at this time of heightened military tension in the region. Whatever happens in a conflict zone, wherever it may be, everybody would stand to lose from a nuclear accident, and I urge that all necessary precautions must be taken to avoid it happening. British man who went to fight in Ukraine found dead Saturday 9 September 2023 07:19 , Vishwam Sankaran A 31-year-old British man who went to fight in Ukraine was found dead in a body of water. The man, recognised as Jordan Chadwick from Burnley in Lancashire, fought as part of the foreign legion in Ukraine, and was killed under unknown circumstances, BBC reported. An inquest into the possible cause of Mr Chadwicks death will reportedly be held in February. His passion to support freedom and assist others w The way to the three peaks of Bukhansan National Park, South Korea, are accessible via multiple paths. (Photo: Gettyimages) Seoul might be known for its culture, thriving street food and nightlife scene and beauty mecca, but if you move towards the rural area, you'll find mountainous areas, fresh air and pristine nature at your fingertips. With nature in such proximity to the city of Seoul, it's common for South Koreans to don their hiking attire and head to any of the popular hiking sites during the weekends to get a dose of nature, such as Jeju, Nami Island, Seoraksan and Bukhansan. Related: 9 best hotels in Seoul under S$160/night in Seoul, South Korea 9 best things to do in Jeju, South Korea How to cook Korean BBQ at home: Your ultimate guide I was in Seoul during the fringe period between summer and autumn this year. With a temperature that's cooling down from the relentless summer, and a pretty good weather forecast for two out of seven days I'm there, I decided to head into Bukhansan National Park to tackle one of its three granite peaks: Baegundae is the highest at 836.5m, Insubong at 810.5m and Mangnyeongdae at 799.5m. Bukhansan National Park receives around five million visitors annually and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Visited National Park per Unit Area. With multiple trails to customise your hike, you can experience forested areas, Buddhist temples, waterfalls, streams, and granite peaks in one go. While not entirely difficult, it's always safe to go prepared with proper gear and sustenance for a smoother journey. I went in with little research beyond how to get to the most popular trailhead, but I knew that I was dressed for hiking, decked out in a new pair of Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry, Coral Ridge Pants, and a comfy cotton tee from the same brand. Testing out Columbia's hiking pants and shoes L: Columbia Coral Ridge Pants. R: Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) As an avid hiker, I've worn out several pairs of shoes over the past few years, from The North Face to Merrell. My longest-lasting pair of hiking shoes, a Timberland, has just started flaking, so I was looking for a new pair of hiking shoes. It was suggested that I try out the Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry, a pair of hiking shoes that supposedly provide an impenetrable waterproof-breathable membrane and traction for rocky surfaces. Perfect timing since I was going to attempt the Baekundae Peak. Strangely enough, I've never owned a pair of hiking pants, as I've always relied on leggings (or multiple of them for colder hikes). So, with a "why not?", I also tried out the Columbia W Coral Ridge Pants, which come with UPF 50 sun protection and supposedly pull moisture from the body to accelerate evaporation. How did it fare? I put it to the test. The route to Baegundae Peak Easy walk from the start of the hike towards Baegundae Peak (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) Whichever trail you choose should start pleasantly enough, winding gently through streams and waterfalls. You'll encounter paved paths, rocky paths, unpaved sandy paths, wooden boards, steps cut into rocks and more as you go deeper into the park. A sturdy pair of shoes is imperative to keep you from slipping off the rocky paths of this hike. There are signs that should direct you to where you want to go, but don't make the mistake of not obtaining a physical map before heading into the hike. I had to do a two-kilometre hike back to where I came from in order to embark on the right path up to Baegundae Peak. L to R: Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry and Coral Ridge pants took me through rivers, up life faces and down rocky surfaces during a hike up Bukhansan in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) The final stretch up to the peak is grueling and the main test for the footwear you have on. Hikers need to use the installed steel cables to haul themselves up the sides of the cliff, with short-lived stairs between the climb. While less dangerous than a via ferrata, it's still a climb that requires you to maintain your balance on unsteady rocks. The trail involved lots of scrambling over rocks, stairs and unpaved paths with plenty of stones. (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) Five hours later, I reached the top of Baekundae Peak at around 5pm. View from Baegundae Peak (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) On a good day, you'll get an incredible 360-view of Seoul, making the climb absolutely worth the last mile of pain. How did Columbia's hiking gear fare on a rocky trail? The Columbia Hatana MAX Outdry was extremely comfortable and provided plenty of cloud-like support as I scrambled up and down rocks. Even from the first wear, I knew it provided my feet with the support it sought. While it's touted as non-slip, I slipped on a particularly difficult section while clamouring over slippery rocks. Generally though, it was a comfortable pair I'd definitely bring on future hikes. The real surprise was the Columbia W Coral Ridge Pants. Despite the 8-hour hike through Bukhansan National Park, and sweating buckets into my top, the pants stayed resolutely dry and airy. I remember marvelling about it to myself mid-climb, and also felt gratitude for the UV protection, especially when on the exposed surface of Baegundae Peak. L: Exposed surface of Baegundae Peak R: The view at the top when you can sit on an inclined surface to appreciate the view. (Photo: Stephanie Zheng) Would I recommend the shoes? It'll have to go with me on more trips first. But those lightweight and absolutely comfortable trekking pants? Put it in your cart right now! But first, try out the sizes in Columbia's main store in Jewel Singapore. Columbia's storefront is located at Jewel Singapore Changi Airport, 78 Airport Blvd, #02-241. Products mentioned were sponsored by Columbia, but opinions are my own. Shop on Columbia You can also shop Columbia on ASOS Check airfare here: Skyscanner | Trip.com | Expedia Book accommodations and activities here: Agoda | Booking.com | Klook | KKday | HotelsCombined | LuxuryEscapes Save big, get the all-inclusive pass & explore your destination in-depth: GoCity General info here: Tripadvisor Affordable data plans here And while you are at it, get your travel insurance with Alliance Assistance | Income | Prudential! Kevin Swanson, 35, of Sioux City, pleaded guilty in May in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to possession of child pornography. He was sentenced Monday to three years in prison and fined a total of $10,000. He'll also be on supervised release for five years after completing his prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has pleaded not guilty of having sexual contact with two female children more than three years ago. Matthew Tipton, 25, entered his written plea Friday in Woodbury County District Court to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse and one count of dissemination and exhibition of obscene material to minors. He remains in custody in the Woodbury County Jail on a $25,000 bond. According to court documents, Tipton had sexual contact with both girls, who were under age 12, at a Sioux City home between June 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2020. Tipton also is accused of having conversations about masturbation with one of the girls and showing her pornography on his phone. In an interview with police, Tipton admitted committing the acts, court documents said. HINTON, Iowa Authorities have released the identity of a Sioux City man who died after the stolen vehicle he was driving crashed into four other vehicles Saturday in Hinton. The driver of the stolen gold Nissan Sentra who suffered fatal injuries was 26-year-old Ryan S. Maier, according to a statement from the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. At around 1:36 p.m. Saturday, Plymouth County 9-1-1 dispatchers received multiple calls of a collision that had occurred at the intersection of Highway 75 and County Road C60 in Hinton. Witnesses said the Nissan, which had been reported stolen from Sioux City, was being driven "at a high rate of speed" through Hinton and sideswiped an SUV. The SUV, which was being driven by Baylie Andersen, of Jefferson, South Dakota, was stopped at a red light facing northbound. The sheriff's office said the Nissan then sideswiped a Chevrolet Malibu driven by Evan Wielenga, of Hull, Iowa, which was also stopped at the red light. The Nissan continued northbound and struck a GMC Yukon driven by Jeremy Ahlers, of Remsen, Iowa, and a GMC Sierra driven by Pat Hoebelheinrich, of Le Mars, Iowa. The Nissan came to rest in the middle of the intersection. Maier was taken to MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City, where he was pronounced dead, according to the sheriff's office. Jamie Ahlers, a passenger in the Yukon, was taken to Orange City Area Health System by Merrill Ambulance for treatment of minor injuries, while four children in the Yukon were treated for their injuries at the scene. SIOUX FALLS A Yankton, South Dakota, woman was placed on probation Monday for illegally obtaining fentanyl at a Chamberlain, South Dakota, hospital. Lisa Merrigan, 55, pleaded guilty in July in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls to one count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge. She was placed on two years' probation and must pay a $100 special assessment. A second count of obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge and two counts of tampering with consumer products were dismissed. Merrigan, who was a registered nurse at the time, removed fentanyl citrate, an opioid painkiller, for injection from two vials stored at the hospital and replaced it with another liquid on Aug. 23, 2021, and Sept. 7, 2021. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Council on Monday will hear appeals from both a contractor working to grade north side property and challengers who allege the grading will harm an aquifer. On Aug. 14, the citys engineering department issued a grading permit to Lieber Construction to grade property at 5515 28th St. and 5600 28th St. Four days later, the city told Lieber to stop the grading work, and issued formal stop-work orders on Aug. 21 and again on Aug. 24, according to the Sioux City Council agenda. The second stop-work order was issued after the first was not obeyed, according to city documents. The stop-work orders were the result of complaints from Rick and Russ Bertrand, acting in their capacity as trustees of the Robert L. Bertrand Revocable Trust which holds the deeds to a number of properties in the city that the work would create hazards to a nearby aquifer and artesian wells. They are likely impacting the water aquifer and thus the well systems that supply adjacent land owners and their livestock, the Bertrands wrote in an Aug. 24 letter to the city. The Bertrands appealed the citys issuance of the grading permit, while Lieber appealed the stop-work order. Both their appeals will be heard at the Council meeting Monday. It was not clear from the city documents what the plans are for the property; according to county property records, MidAmerican Energy holds the deed to 5515 28th St., and two years ago MidAmerican announced plans to build an office, research and technology park at that site. The city agreed to re-zone that property from agriculture land to business park land in the spring of 2021, at MidAmericans request, thus enabling them to develop the land. The parcel at 5600 28th St., however, is listed in county property records as a holding of an entity called Sundown-Moonup Development LLC, which has the same address in North Sioux City as Lieber Construction. The 5600 28th St. property is zoned for agriculture, according to county property records. In other business The Council on Monday will also be asked to approve a $1 million purchase agreement for downtown property at 308 Iowa St. and 1200 Fourth St. that would be used for an Innovation Center. According to the Council agenda, city staff has been working for several years with Iowas West Coast Initiative and Siouxland Public Media on the development of an Innovation Center, which will serve as a hub for entrepreneurial activity and provide entrepreneurs with access to services, resources, and programming to help commercialize emerging technologies and support business growth in the region. Earlier this year, plans were unveiled for an Innovation Center to be located at the deserted, 107-year-old brick building at 615 Douglas St., once known as the Wetmore Building, across the street from City Hall and the Woodbury County Courthouse. The elaborate plans for that building were apparently scrapped for reasons unknown. Plans for 308 Iowa St., which is also a three-story brick building (formerly the home of Office Systems Company) largely mirror what was planned for 615 Douglas St. The first floor will have a food hall and shared commercial kitchen/food labs for entrepreneurs interested in product development and food-based businesses, according to the Council agenda. The second floor will have a tech lab with equipment for startups to prototype ideas and entrepreneurs interested in software development, coding, robotics and automation. The third floor will have rentable office and co-working space. 308 Iowa St. and the adjacent parcel at 1200 Fourth St. are both currently owned by an entity called Self Storage on 3rd, LLC, which purchased the property last year for $700,000. Security personnel examine a damaged vehicle at the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. The blast targeted a vehicle of paramilitary troops Frontier Corps at a busy road in the provincial capital of Peshawar at about 11:00 a.m. local time, Muhammad Zain, a rescue worker with the state-owned Rescue 1122, told Xinhua. He said that they shifted the injured in five ambulances to a nearby hospital where five of them were in critical condition. Talking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, sources from the counter-terrorism department said that the nature of the blast was being determined, and according to the initial probe, an improvised explosive device was used to carry out the attack. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Police cordoned off the area for further investigation while the rescue work has been completed. Security personnel stand guard near the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Security personnel examine the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Security personnel examine the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Umar Qayyum/Xinhua) Security personnel examine a damaged vehicle at the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Umar Qayyum/Xinhua) Security personnel examine a damaged vehicle at the explosion site in northwest Pakistan's Peshawar on Sept. 11, 2023. Seven security members and four civilians were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, rescue teams and police said. (Photo by Umar Qayyum/Xinhua) Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Prudence, So I am 18 male, and Im in my final year of high school. For the past year, my twin brother and I (identical) have been taking showers together. For context our shower is really big, it was designed for people with disabilities and the shower head is long (not good for saving water). So were far enough apart that we have a good amount of personal space. It started when we were in a hurry to get ready for school one morning (I think I had a math test that day). He was in the shower, so I asked if I could get in and he agreed. We would pretty regularly be in a rush for school and one of us would have to wait for the other to get out of the shower so after this it kind of happened a lot and became a regular occurrence. Even when were not in a rush, if one of us needs to shower and the other one is already in there then its more convenient if you just get in. Honestly, its really nice to have a place where we can catch up and chat. He asked me whether showering together made me feel uncomfortable. I said that he didnt, he said it doesnt make him uncomfortable either. Of course, I love my twin brother but not in a romantic way. Neither of us have any romantic feelings or desires toward one another. I havent seen him hard and nor has he seen me hard. Honestly, its like showering next to a mirror. Our bodies look the same (and yes down there looks the same as well). Our parents know and they dont mind. Ive told two of my close friends about it and they said it was definitely unusual, but didnt think there was anything inherently wrong with it. I think I agree with them, but are they and I right? Is it wrong? I am fully aware that its unusual. Twin in New Jersey Dear Twin, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think youre fine. Your twin isnt bothered, youre not bothered, youre saving water, and youre getting time to chat. Bodies arent sexual unless youre feeling sexual. And all over the world, people enjoy spas, saunas, and nude beaches with loved ones. I like that you had a conversation about whether your new shared shower habit made either of you uncomfortable. Going out on a limb here, you two are 18 and perhaps are about to leave home and live separately. I wonder if part of whats behind this new habit is that youre anxious about that and seeking more closeness and intimacy with each other. Twins have a unique bond, and it will take some effort to maintain it if you go off to college separately and arent in the same household. Maybe think about some additional ways you can stay close, carve out time to spend together, and enjoy each other in this new phase of your livesoutside of the bathroom. Advertisement Get Even More Advice From the Dear Prudence Podcast Dear Prudence, I work in student affairs and recently my work bestie left to pursue another job. We had such a great relationship; however, I fear I ruined it. He told me, a couple of hours before it was announced to the rest of the department that he got a new job. I asked if our supervisor knew and what her reaction was, and our supervisor was thrilled. I went to our supervisor to celebrate him, and instead of a positive reaction, my supervisor called and told him he was not supposed to tell anyone in front of me. I apologized to him for what happened, and he accepted it but told me he told me not to talk about it with anyone. According to our supervisor, he had told another person before, and that person was going around telling everyone. During the last couple of weeks, hes been spacey to me, and he recently proposed to his girlfriend, whom I adore. I posted something about it, and she reposted it, but he didnt. He reposted everything else that people were saying. I am going to be honest, I was a little blindsided as well that he didnt tell me it was happening. This friend, we will call him Bill, has many friends he is close to, but they treat him like crap. Prudence, I am feeling very lost that I have lost a friend. I am also feeling that he will no longer trust me. What can I do to make amends with him? Missing My Friend Dear Missing My Friend, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt sound to me like you did anything wrong. It does sound to me like you might (and this is just a might!) have taken things one small step too far and been a tiny bit smotheringalmost acting as your friends representative or publicistin both of these situations. To tell a friend congrats on getting a new job is great. To run to the supervisor to celebrate without the friend present feels a bit heavy-handed. To congratulate someone on their engagement is very normal. To do your own post about someone elses engagement could come off as a smidge overwhelming. It sounds like others in your group did the same, so I cant say for sure, but think about that. Advertisement I also dont think youve lost a friend. Give him a little space to enjoy his engagement and the many, many messages hes receiving. See if things feel like theyre going back to normal after a few weeks. If not, ask him to get coffee to talk about his new job. If he declines, try again after two more weeks. If he declines again, say, Id love to catch up, just let me know when. I know your work situation has changed and its probably a really busy time for you. Hows wedding planning going? If he continues to be distant, thats your sign that he A) saw you as a work friend only or B) has made more room in his life for his fiance now that hes engaged and isnt going to prioritize you, or C) is, in fact, mad at you about something that, if he cares, he will eventually share. Advertisement How to Get Advice From Prudie Submit your questions anonymously here. (Questions may be edited for publication.) Join the live chat every Monday at noon (and submit your comments) here. Advertisement Dear Prudence, I have recently gotten more involved in our local LGBTQ+ community. When I was in college, I minored in womens and gender studies, but there wasnt a huge LGBTQ+ aspect to it due to the time period I was in college. Ever since then, Ive continued to be interested in all aspects of womens and gender studies. The research I have accessible to me, however, is limited since I am no longer in school. I try not to burden my friends with too many questions since this is their life and not just some experiment I want to read to get information. Over the weekend, I was talking to one of my cis-het friends who has been heavily involved in the LGBTQ+ community for years. I asked her something I have been wanting to ask trans people for a long time but havent due to not wanting to come across as someone who is just there to do research. My friend said she wasnt sure how trans people would take my question and that I should maybe wait until I become closer friends with someone to ask. To be clear, she didnt say she thought it would go over poorly, she just said she wasnt sure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been trying to come up with a way to bring up the question without sounding like Im trying to diminish their experience, but any variation of I hope this question doesnt come off as inappropriate, sounds exactly like something someone would say if they dont care about trans people or are trying to play devils advocate, which is 100 percent not what Im trying to do. Im just really interested in gender dynamics and identity. What are your thoughts? Are there any phrases I can say to make sure I come across as sounding genuinely open-minded and curious, rather than judgmental and critical? Gender Jacker Dear Gender Jacker, Advertisement This is one of the many situations in which the internet is incredibly useful! Throw out some search terms. Look for Reddit threads, personal essays, Twitter debates, TikToks. One of the best things about being online, in my experience, is that you can learn about other peoples experiences and satisfy your curiosity based on things that have already been shared, without bothering anyone. Be as nosy as you want! That said, Im sure some of the trans people you know would be delighted to share their perspectives with you. But youre being a good friend (and a non-annoying person) by waiting until you identify someone with whom you have a solid enough relationship to feel certain it will go over well before you start poking around for answers in person. Classic Prudie Last year, I lent my brother an expensive piece of photography equipment. After a few months, his wife sold it on eBay; I didnt find out about it until I asked for it back for a project. He apologized and said it was an accident (she thought the equipment was his). He offered to buy a replacement, but I said there was no need. Fast forward a year later, my brother asked me to borrow another piece of equipment, which I mailed to him at the beginning of the pandemic. President Bidens trip to Asia for the G20 summit fit well within a defining narrative of his presidency: a record of accomplishment, enrobed in bafflement at the man himself. The G20, a group of the worlds 20 largest economies whose leaders meet once a year to hug it out, convened in India late last week. (Absentees included Russian President Vladimir Putin, who wasnt sure how hed be received, and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, who has come to believe hes too cool for school.) The whole thing wasnt a winner. The leaders statement on the Russia-Ukraine war was limp, refusing to directly assign blame, and instead merely noting, All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition. The Biden administrations spin was that it was a win for any consensus statement to come out, given the relationships many of the G20 nations still maintain with Russia. The Ukrainians, however, were mad. Other than that, major diplomatic progress was achieved! The administration, along with other G20 leaders, announced the launch of an economic corridor connecting and integrating India with the Middle East and Europe. Though this was not said explicitly, its intended to counter Chinas growing sphere of influence through its sprawling, decadelong Belt and Road Initiative. Advertisement Advertisement After the G20, Biden stopped in Vietnam, where leaders announced another new strategic relationship to bring the countries closer together in, again, another effort to counter Chinas influence in the region. While all of this was happening overseas, however, the domestic political conversation was consumed with renewed chatter about Bidens age, following a couple of polls that showed, again, how much of a hang-up it is for voters of all parties. We dont know if Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was briefed on the age discussion in advance, but he really hammed it up for the press. Heres Trong during a meeting with the U.S. delegation, via interpreter, from the official White House transcript: Advertisement Advertisement And I still vividly recall how you looked like, Mr. President, when we met with each other in the U.S. the last time around. [Laughter.] But today and as I see you again, you have nary aged a day. And, I would say, you look even better than before. [Laughter.] Ill say that every feature of you, Mr. President, is very much complimentary of your image. I myself have gray hair as well, but I dont seem to be able to re-create the [inaudible]. [Laughter.] Advertisement Advertisement The AFP also reported Trong telling Biden, I think you look very young, handsome you have beautiful white hair. Now, isnt that just the sweetest thing? It is worth noting that Trong himself is no spring chicken, at 79 years old. Per Bloomberg, Trong didnt want to be reappointed in 2021, but the party insisted. Im old and not in good health, Trong said then. Its interesting to see a political culture in which the aging politicians dont vigorously dispute that time affects them. The Vietnamese Communist Party keeps it real. Advertisement At a press conference in Vietnam, meanwhile, Biden was set to take five questions. One question was about how there was no agreement among G20 participants about fossil fuels, and how concerned the president was about this lack of consensus. Related From Slate Why There Wont Be Any Mutiny Against Mitch McConnell Read More Here, again from the White House transcript, is a snippet of Bidens response, beginning in its 20th paragraph. And theres amymy brother loves havingtheres famous lines from movies that he always quotes. You know, itsand oneone of them istherestheres a movie about John Wayne. Hes an Indian scout. And theyre trying to get the ApI think it was the Apacheoneone of the great tribes of America back on the reservation. And hes standing with a Union soso hestheyre all on theirand theyre on their horses in their saddles. And theres three or four Indians in headdresses, and the Union soldiersand the Union soldiers are basically saying to the Indians, Come with me, well take care of you. Welleverything will be good. And the Indian scouthe Indian looks at John Wayne and points to the Union soldier and says, Hes a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. Well, theres a lot of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers out there aboutabout global warming, but not anymore. All of a sudden, theyre all realizing its a problem. And theres nothing like seeing the light. Forand lets see. Im just following my orders here. Staff, is there anybody I havent spoken to? Advertisement Advertisement All well note here is that the lying, dog-faced pony soldier reference is not new to Bidens repertoire. There was a librarys worth of internet literature about the phrase in 2020, when Biden asked a New Hampshire college student (also known as a voter) if shed ever been to a caucus. She said she had, and Biden responded, No you havent. Youre a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. At the end of Bidens five questions that he was scheduled to take, he said, But I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to go to bed. Its critical that his reelection team eliminate the phrase Im going to go to bed from his vocabulary, through whatever means necessary. Advertisement Of course, he didnt stop. He began responding to a shouted question about his meeting with President Xis No. 2, Li Qiang, saying they talked about making sure that the Third Worldtheexcuse meThird Worldthethethe Southern Hemisphere had access to change. (Maybe he was looking for Global South?) As he was midsentence, though, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut him off, saying over the loudspeakers, Thank you everybody, this ends the press conference. The music began to play, and Biden obeyed orders and grabbed his stuff to leave. These five-day trips around the world are no problem, Biden had told a reporter earlier in the week. And indeed, hed filled the quick trip with some true successes. But it was definitely time to go to bed. Last week, in a ruling on a defamation case in New York, a federal judge made a simple statement of fact: Donald Trump sexually assaulted E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s. Therefore, when he denied it, he was lying. The ruling marks a victory for Carroll in a second defamation lawsuit she filed against the former president. This one concerns a set of statements he made in 2019 accusing Carroll of being a liar and a money-grubbing left-wing operative who was not his type. Now, instead of jurors having to determine whether Trump did what Carroll said he did, the jury must only decide how much Trump owes Carroll in damages for defaming her by calling her a liar. In many ways, Judge Lewis Kaplans decision was a no-brainer: A jury already found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll in a separate trial held this spring. That case concerned both the sexual assault itself and a set of statements Trump made in 2022 in which he denied assaulting Carroll. Since the first jury found Trump liable for both assaulting Carroll in the 1990s and defaming her in 2022, Kaplan had little choice but to rule that Trumps nearly identical statements in 2019 defamed her as well. As Kaplan wrote in his ruling: Advertisement The truth or falsity of Mr. Trumps 2019 statements dependslike the truth or falsity of his 2022 statementon whether Ms. Carroll lied about Mr. Trump sexually assaulting her. The jurys finding that she did not therefore is binding in this case and precludes Mr. Trump from contesting the falsity of his 2019 statements. Advertisement Even so, it is remarkable to see the facts laid out this way in a dispassionate court ruling. No matter how intently Trump insists that he never did what Carroll said he did, the question of whether he sexually assaulted her is no longer up for debate. A jury found him liable. That verdict cannot be erased. Advertisement Trump had tried to have this lawsuit dismissed, arguing that the first jury found only that he had sexually abused Carroll, not raped her, as she alleged. In New York state law, rape involves the penetration of a penis into the vagina, while sexual abuse involves any touching of the sexual or other intimate parts of a person for the purpose of gratifying the sexual desire of either person. Advertisement But the specific quirks of the New York state penal code will not invalidate Carrolls claim. Kaplan ruled that the first jurys verdict can be said to find Trump liable for rape in terms of how the concept is understood by the general public. Advertisement Advertisement The ease with which Kaplan was able to move the case along drives home the significance of the jurys verdict in May. Carrolls allegation is no longer just an allegationit has been validated through the (outrageously imperfect) system we have established to punish wrongdoing, mitigate harm, and separate truth from lies. The court no longer has to treat it as a story equally as plausible as Trumps claim (which is that Carroll concocted an imaginary assault in search of a payday). A jury has already assessed their respective levels of credibility and, unsurprisingly, found Carroll to be the more trustworthy source. Advertisement The second trial will go forward in January, but Carroll will not be forced to prove her case in the same way she did in the spring trial. The second jury will be tasked only with settling on a dollar figure that matches the damage Trump caused. But as with the $5 million the first jury awarded Carroll, the money will be a drop in the bucket for Trumpand, to a certain extent, for Carroll, as it is not the primary evidence of her victory. The bigger win is on view this week in Kaplans ruling: Trumps history as a sexual abuser is no longer merely a set of allegations. As far as this court is concerned, it is a fact. The thing is: If aliens are real and have made contact, then nothing else matters. Everything we could possibly know about the world goes out the window. Their existence would instantly obliterate history, politicsall that once mattered would evaporate into the narcissism of small differences. At least, thats what they represent to believersa clean slate, a starting over, where all of human history is merely prelude, and things like race and class and creed become irrelevant. After the modern UFO age began with Kenneth Arnolds sighting of nine metallic craft flying near Mount Rainier in 1947, there were various individuals who asserted that they had made contact with extraterrestrials. One was George Adamski, whose 1953 book Flying Saucers Have Landed detailed a meeting in the California deserts with a man from Venus who had long, sandy-brown hair and a brown suit, and who telepathically communicated a concern about mankinds nuclear weapons. Other contactees quickly followed suit, many of them making the same claim that the Venutians wanted us to stop making nuclear weapons. For a secular atomic age, writers who met such extraterrestrials placed them in the same role as God: bearing an unimpeachable command that transcended politics and nation and had to be obeyed. Advertisement But it was Betty and Barney Hill, an interracial couple living in New Hampshire, whose strange experience on the night of Sept. 19, 1961, would become the first truly credible story of an alien encounter. Driving south on Route 3 through the White Mountains, they saw a light in the sky sometime after 10 p.m. They followed it for a while, stopping to get a better look. They continued driving, getting home around 5 a.m. They shouldntgiven the trips distancehave been home any later than 2:00, but neither could explain the lost time. Though at first reluctant to talk about what happened, Betty slowly began to tell people that they had seen an alien spaceship. Eventually, the Hills underwent hypnosis with the aid of psychiatrist Benjamin Simon, and would come to believe that at some point they had made contact, been taken aboard the alien ship, and had separately been probed and examined by their captors before being released. Advertisement Advertisement Nearly everything we knowor think we knowabout alien abductions begins with Betty and Barney Hill. They were the first people to claim that they had been abducted by aliens, the first people to describe aliens as not looking like science fictions men in jumpsuits (they were, the Hills reported, short, with gray skin), and the first to be widely believed. Advertisement Advertisement If the Hills story is true, then nothing about the two of them really mattersall that matters is that aliens are real. But if the story is not true, then the specifics of their livestheir respective backgrounds, their marriage as an interracial couple in the 1960s, their lives in a state that nominally embraced liberal values while remaining overwhelmingly white and suffused with racist attitudesare integral to understanding how they came to believe what they did. What led them to describe that night the way they did? Were they cranks? Was the experience a hysterical manifestation of stress? Were they being manipulated by unscrupulous actors eager to use the Hills to further their own beliefs? Advertisement Matthew Bowmans The Abduction of Betty and Barney Hill: Alien Encounters, Civil Rights, and the New Age in America offers the best and most comprehensive attempt yet to answer these and other questions. For Bowman, context is everything, and the Hills experience cannot be understood without understanding the era that they lived in, their personal and political beliefs, and how the reaction to their story changed and influenced them. His excellent and exhaustive book ultimately tells the story of how these two perhaps otherwise unremarkable people not only changed American history, but also came to reflect a larger change in American history: the end of a naive belief that the government and other institutions could be counted on, and the beginning of an era when our shared understanding of the objective facts of reality began to crumble. Slate receives a commission when you purchase items using the links on this page. Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather than a story of alien abduction, Bowman is more interested in telling the story of how, in an environment of growing cynicism about the state and the science that the state sponsored, an inexplicable encounter propelled Betty and Barney Hill toward suspicion of traditional sources of authority and a consequent exploration of more esoteric possibilities. (Bowman gives no real credence to the possibility an abduction could have occurred, but neither is he particularly invested in debunking UFO beliefhe accepts the unlikeliness of the story as a given, and moves quickly to attempting to understand what led to it and what resulted from it.) The Hills moved through various disciplines of authoritythe military, the church, psychiatric professionalsalways with the goal of finding an established, credible person who would not only take them seriously, but also give shape and meaning to what they had experienced. Their failure to find validation in these traditional institutions offers, in microcosm, a story of the failure of a specific narrative of American progress and success. Advertisement For Bowman, understanding the Hills begins with understanding them as a product of New Deal liberalism. Betty was raised by liberals in a nearly all-white New Hampshire; her mother was a union organizer, and after her first marriage ended, she went back to school to become a social worker. Barney grew up in a prosperous Black neighborhood in Philadelphia, and from an early age was steeped in the respectability politics of the era. By the time they met, both were firm believers in the idea that the country was on a forward trajectory, and that through work, reason, and sensible policy, a healthier, happy America was possible. Advertisement Advertisement An interracial marriage in 1960 was not unique, but it was by no means common, even among the liberal communities that Betty belonged to (miscegenation laws were still on the books in 30 states at the time). Their courtship and romance further testified to their belief that racial and social equality was possible. Together, they joined the Unitarian Universalist church, which attracted them with its teaching that human beings were essentially rational, and that any specific policy issue could be resolved through reasoned, informed debate. Advertisement Advertisement But beneath this hopeful exterior, minor fissures were already evident. On the trip that would bring them so much famelong before they got to Route 3Barney and Betty had split on the question of what was real and what wasnt. By September of 1960, they had been married over a year, but had never really taken a honeymoon together, so Barney somewhat impetuously asked for a few days off from his post office job and took Betty on a road trip to Montreal. The trip did not go well; Betty was frustrated by the language barrier, while Barneys anxiety was more acute. Possessed of an ominous feeling before leaving, he had packed a pistol, and now in a foreign country, saw threats everywhere: During hypnosis later, he would recall trying to calm himself down and reminding himself that not everyone is hostile. Betty, according to Barney, didnt pick up on any of this. Advertisement Advertisement Nowadays, its easy to see in Barneys attitude an awareness of the various microaggressions that made up his day-to-day life, even in the North (and in Canada), even among seemingly well-meaning whites. But white people of the 1960s didnt have that term, nor did many of them (including Barneys own wife, Betty) seem aware of that possibility. When they imagined racism, they thought of Jim Crow laws, of the Klan and violence; they did not seem to be thinking about whether respectable liberal whites in Montreal might act different toward Barney than Betty. Skeptical commentators have long theorized that Barneys sense of unease may have played into how he would come to describe their encounter on the journey home. Having described the aliens as having gray skin at one point, he would later state under hypnosis that one made him think of a red-headed Irishman. Pressed by Simon under hypnosis, Barney would explain: I think I know why. Because Irish are usually hostile to Negroes. Many commentators, including Simon, doubted the encounter had taken place, and believed that the story told under hypnosis was a filtered, oblique attempt to work through unconscious anxieties and racial tensions between the two of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Hills believed wholeheartedly that the experience was genuine. While Barney wanted to move on, afraid, perhaps, that as a Black man, such a story might damage his credibility and respectability, he eventually gave in, and the two contacted the Air Forcea move that, Bowman writes, was the beginning of series of disillusionments that would come to define the remainder of their lives. The story that Bowman unfolds is one of two people unable to make sense of events that they nonetheless believed to be real, turning from one institution to another, hoping not just for validation, but for an explanation for what had happened to them. The Air Forces Project Blue Book (the services task force for investigating all unexplained aerial phenomena) sent an officer to listen to their claims, one who ultimately dismissed their story as not being noteworthy. As noted in the report, the Hills did not possess any technical or scientific training, a fact which gave the officer license to disregard their report. Advertisement Undaunted, the Hills sought out other authorities that might appear both legitimate and respectable, while still affirming their memories. After the military rebuffed them, they turned to psychiatry. Sympathetic believers in the UFO community urged the Hills to try hypnosis, hoping that memories of those missing hours might be recovered this way. In a series of sessions conducted by psychiatrist Benjamin Simon, more details came out: the spaceship had landed, humanoid figures wearing uniforms emerged, then had taken Betty and Barney onto their ship, separating them and performing medical experiments on them. Advertisement Simon didnt put any more credence into this story than the Air Force had. As Bowman explains, because Betty and Barney would not concede that their lack of expertise meant that they were not capable of judging whether their memories were genuine, and because they would not bow to his authority in the matter, Simon came to believe that their conviction that they were really abducted pointed to a host of unaddressed psychological incapacities. Simon would at one point suggest that Barney had latent homosexual tendencies, and that the racial divide between the two of them was causing unaddressed tension that was manifesting itself in the story the Hills were now telling him. Advertisement Advertisement The one community offering them steadfast support, of course, was the UFO communityand yet, they remained wary of the true believers, afraid of being lumped in with cranks like George Adamski. If they were going to collaborate with the UFO community, they wanted people who, in Bettys words, were really professionally trained. But the professionals turned them away, prompting a crisis of faith in the Hills, particularly Betty, who had been raised to be far more optimistic than Barney. As skeptic after skeptic assailed the Hills story, it seemed catastrophic to them, not only because of their experience but because it implied that the nation was run not by its citizens but by a dominant and trained elite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Hills story, you can see how the generation raised during the New Deal, raised to believe that government was on their side and would protect them, were not entirely prepared for the radical changes of the postwar era. Though they had not unquestioningly accepted whatever authority set in their way, Bowman writes, they nonetheless believed that the state could be a force for benevolence, and that, fundamentally, they themselves, as competent citizens, would be its allies. The odyssey of Betty and Barney Hill was one of repeatedly turning to scientific and government authorities; expecting to find advocates, they instead were confronted with a stark truth: all those people were holding them at arms length. By insisting on their memories, they found themselves lumped in with Adamski and the fringe, exiled from serious culture. Advertisement Having lost faith in mainstream institutions, they turned, increasingly, to cranks. After Barneys sudden death of stroke in 1969, Betty became more and more involved with conspiracy theorists and New Age hucksters. In an autobiography written in the third person in 1980, Betty described herself as having long been involved not just in UFO research, but also related areas such as animal mutilations, mystery helicopters, big foot and other strange creatures, the Men in Black. This move, Bowman argues, was gradual but irrevocable: she moved towards a world darker and more dangerous than the sunny, harmonious society her Unitarianism had promised because it was one that she could understand, and in a sense, control. Advertisement Advertisement Conspiracy theories flourish when we lose a shared consensus of reality and events as they happen. When institutions cannot or will not make sense of individuals experiences, then even those individuals who believe in authority and crave legitimacy will eventually look elsewhere. The long, slow slide toward where we are nowwhen people on (and off) social media will dispute basic facts for political gainshad its start in the 1960s, with the JFK assassination and the moon landing, and with the Hills abduction, which trained a whole generation to believe that neither the government nor science could be trusted to admit what ordinary people saw with their own eyes. Advertisement At least, thats the common narrative, and one Bowman also advocates here. But, in a sense, things were already coming apart, and for much different reasons then what happened at Dealey Plaza and Tranquility Base. As Bowman traces the Hills lives after the incident, he recounts how Barney became the legal redress officer for Portsmouth, New Hampshires NAACP chapter. Seeking to test the strength of a 1961 antidiscrimination law that was largely being ignored, Barney sent Black men to various barbershops in Portsmouth to get haircuts; 4 of 9 places turned the men away. The NAACP first attempted to get the owners to comply voluntarily, but found no success, so they spurred Portsmouths city attorney to sue one proprietor, Charles Sprague of Clints Barber Shop. Sprague was unrepentant; he told the judge that he willfully violated the law because he did not deem it constitutional. Refusing to mount a defense, he was fined $50 for breaking the law. And while that was a victory for Barney, Bowman notes that there were ominous signs beneath the triumph. Sprague had simply rejected outright the premise of the Fair Practices Commission. He was not interested in reasonable debate. He did not share Barneys commitment to respectability. His punishment might be satisfying but his intransigence was worrying; it showed not only the persistence of racism but the fragility of Barneys trust that reform and law could resolve racism in America. Which is to say: The lack of consensus in the basic reality of America had always been there, but white Americans were perhaps slower to recognize it than others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality that our shared consensus is gonewas already gone, in the early 1960smay be one of the reasons why people still cling so tightly to the idea that alien contact is out there, that its already happened or is just around the corner. And it helps explain the bizarre legacy of the Hills story. Related From Slate Listen, Youre Gonna Want to Hear About This Nun Drama in Texas Read More In 1970, a year after Barneys death, the actor James Earl Jones contacted Betty after reading The Interrupted Journey, and with her permission, eventually adapted it into a film, The UFO Incident. Its a simple but eloquent piece of filmmaking, and while it follows the events of the book, Jones was clearly less interested in extraterrestrials then he was in using the Hills story to talk about race in America. (Largely to Bettys dismay: The original [script] had much more of the ufo in it, she complained to a friend. I was disappointed that so much was left out.) Advertisement The UFO Incident premiered on NBC on Oct. 20, 1975. Two weeks later, a white Texan named Travis Walton claimed that he, too, was abducted while clearing brush in Arizona. Walton was missing for five days. His story neatly paralleled the NBC film, and became a media sensation (the National Enquirer paid him $5,000 for an interview, after he passed a polygraph test). His story, which was adapted into the film Fire in the Sky, is generally now agreed on to have been a complete hoax. Advertisement Jones had taken an experience whose meaning was never fully clear and adapted it into a story about race in America. Walton, in turn, took Jones story and repurposed its bones into a story about alien life. In the absence of anything definitive, these remain the two ways weve learned to interpret stories of extraterrestrial encounters. For some, they are an occasion to understand ourselves. But others maintain that if we can just somehow remove all the context surrounding such events, and make them about nothing other than aliens, then perhaps all the thorny, difficult discussions about race and everything else will just disappearas if taken up into the sky, along with all our troubles. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. Adapted excerpt from Wikipedia @ 20: Stories of an Incomplete Revolution, edited by Joseph Reagle and Jackie Koerner 2020 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The web was a very different place for news in the United States between 2001 and 2006. The hanging chads from the 2000 presidential election, the spectacular calamity of 9/11, the unrepentant lies around Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the campy reality television featuring Donald Trump were all from this time. The burst of the dot-com bubble and corporate malfeasance of companies like Enron dampened entrepreneurial spirits, news publishers were optimistically sharing their stories online without paywalls, and blogging was heralded as the future of technology-mediated accountability and participatory democracy. You was Time magazines Person of the Year in 2006 because Web 2.0 platforms like YouTube, MySpace, and Second Life had become tools for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter. Advertisement Wikipedia was a part of this primordial soup, predating news-feed-mediated engagement, recommender-driven polarization, politicized content moderation, and geopolitical disinformation campaigns. From very early in its history, Wikipedia leveraged the supply and demand for information about breaking news and current events into strategies that continue to sustain this radical experiment in online peer production. I first encountered Wikipedia as an undergraduate student around 2004. My introduction to Wikipedia was likely a product of the socio-technical coupling between Google and Wikipedia during this era. Google helped Wikipedia because Googles ranking algorithms privileged Wikipedias highly interlinked articles, which brought an influx of users, some (tiny) fraction of whom became contributing editors like me. Wikipedia also helped Google because Wikipedia could reliably generate both general-interest and up-to-date content that satisfied its users information-seeking needs, which brought users back to Google rather than to its competitors. The aftermath of a natural disaster, the death of a celebrity, or a new pop culture sensation are all occasions for people to seek out background information to help them make sense of these events. Traditional journalistic offerings provide incremental updates about the immediate subject but often lack context or background: Why are there earthquakes in Indonesia? Who is Saddam Hussein? What is Eurovision? The availability and timeliness of Wikipedia content around topics of general interest would prove to be critical for its own sustainability in addition to complementing other platforms need to serve relevant and up-to-date content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikipedia also entered the popular awareness of undergraduates like me through the pitiless warnings from instructors and librarians about its lack of reliability as a citation. While these anxieties were largely reversed through empirical research and changes in professional culture, they also missed the forest for the trees: The value and authority of Wikipedia was not in any single articles quality but in its network of hyperlinked articles. More than synthesizing knowledge as a tertiary source like traditional encyclopedias, Wikipedias hyperlink network invited users to follow their interests, dive deeper into topics, introduce missing connections, and create new articles where none existed. Where the decentralized web created a fragmented user experience requiring directories (Yahoo) and search engines (Google) for navigation, Wikipedias hyperlinked articles foreshadowed an era of centralized web platforms that sustain user engagement with a consistent experience and bottomless content to consume and engage. Advertisement There are many ways to promote Wikipedia articles to its front page. Immediately to the right of From todays featured article is the In the news (or ITN) box, featuring articles that have been substantially updated to reflect recent or current events of wide interest. The presence of newslike content in an encyclopedia is uncanny. On the one hand, encyclopedias are supposed to be stable references of historical knowledge, rather than dynamic accounts of current events. On the other hand, there is a long history of encyclopedia editors grappling with how to incorporate new knowledge, and encyclopedia publishers competing to be the most up to date. Wikipedias choice to privilege content related to current events via the ITN is also shrewd: It simultaneously is a shortcut to content users may already be searching for, it showcases the dynamism and quality of Wikipedia articles, and it invites users to consume and contribute to content outside of their primary interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand how Wikipedias ITN template and its broader culture of breaking news collaborations came about, we have to return to the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Wikipedia was 10 months old at the time of the attacks, and while it already surpassed its elder sibling Nupedia in its number of articles, it was far from certain that the project would ever reach a sustainable level of activity. Although a comprehensive accounting of the editing activity in the immediate aftermath of the events has been lost to a server migration, snapshots from the Internet Archives Wayback Machine, along with listserv discussions, document the extent to which the Wikipedia community at the time went into overdrive in response to the attacks. Far from being an idiosyncratic case of online collaboration, the decisions made by editors at the time to use Wikipedias unique collaborative capacities to deeply cover the Sept. 11 attacks would fundamentally change the direction, scope, and culture of Wikipedia as a project to the present day. Advertisement A Wayback Machine snapshot of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack article from Oct. 31, 2011, captures the remarkable breadth and depth of topics that were authored and organized together about the attacks. There were timelines, documentation of closings and cancellations, lists of casualties, links to donating blood and money, articles on political and economic effects, and newly created articles about the buildings, cities, flights, and perpetrators as well as topics like terrorism, box-cutter knife, and collective trauma. Approximately 100 Sept. 11related articles were created in total (at a time when Wikipedia as a whole had only 13,000 articles), but Wikipedias content attracted links from other prominent web gateways like Yahoo that brought in an influx of desperately needed new users to the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikipedias unique anyone can edit model had the effect of entangling current events with the viability of the project. The list of casualties enumerating each of the nearly 3,000 victims (sorted by name and location and categorized by civilian or first responder) became a source of tension in the weeks following the attacks. Some editors argued this level of detailed coverage was unbecoming of the traditional encyclopedia Wikipedia was trying to emulate stylistically. Supporters referenced the rule that Wikipedia is not paper to justify a goal of writing biographies for thousands of victims, survivors, and leaders. As the trauma-induced altruism continued to fade, Wikipedia editors continued to raise concerns about the quality, notability, and importance of these memorialization efforts given the other demands of writing an encyclopedia. By September 2002, the community reached a consensus decision to move the Sept. 11related recollections and non-notable pages to a memorial wiki. The launch of the memorial wiki led to heated discussions about which Sept. 11related articles would get to stay on Wikipedia and which would be relegated to the memorial wiki. The memorial wiki ultimately failed to thrive: Its stagnant content and lack of editing activity led to accumulating vandalism, and it was effectively shuttered by September 2006. The creation, rejection, and disappearance of the Sept. 11 memorial wikis content remains an underappreciated cautionary tale about the presumed durability of peer-produced knowledge: This content only persists when it remains integrated with the larger common project rather than being relegated to a smaller and more specialized project. Wikipedias peer production model is not immune from rich get richer mechanisms. Advertisement Advertisement The Wikipedia communitys overreaction to the Sept. 11 attacks and the discussions about the memorial content led to reflexive rule-making about news that persists today. The What Wikipedia is not (WP:NOT) policy predates the attacks and enumerates that Wikipedia is not a dictionary, manual, directory, or a variety of other reference genres. In the midst of the debates in 2002 about what to do with the Sept. 11 memorial content, the WP:NOT policy was expanded to assert that Wikipedia is not a news report. The revised policy attempted to thread the needle between the channeling of collaborative energy following current events against diluting the mission of writing an encyclopedia. The policy emphasized that Wikipedia should not offer news reports on breaking stories but conceded creating encyclopedia articles on topics currently in the news is an excellent idea as long as current events articles are written in an encyclopedic style. This NOT NEWS policy has persisted to the present, and the policy now emphasizes that Wikipedia should not offer first-hand news reports on breaking stories and newsworthy events do not [automatically] qualify for inclusion breaking news should not be emphasized or treated differently from other information. Another change in identity that emerged as a result of the Sept. 11 memorial content was the addition of Memorials to the WP:NOT policy. The policy, revised in 2004, now emphasizes that Wikipedia is not the place to memorialize deceased friends, relatives, acquaintances, or others who do not meet such requirements. These normative guardrails remain in place today to channel the outpouring of pro-social collaborative energy and sense-making in the aftermath of traumatic events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Encyclopedists have always struggled with the limitations of synthesizing knowledge into paper documents because when the knowledge changes, so must the paper. Wikipedia was not the first encyclopedia to use the online medium to rapidly and inexpensively revise content in response to changes, but its unique anyone can edit model had the effect of entangling current events with the viability of the project. Wikipedia editors continue to invest enormous amounts of effort in covering breaking news and current events within the confines of these guardrails. Articles about the recently deceased, natural disasters, conflicts, and popular culture are sites of large and extremely dynamic collaborations involving dozens of editors making hundreds of revisions within hours. While Wikipedias MediaWiki software was not designed with this use case in mind, these high-tempo collaborations continue to serve crucial roles in sustaining the health of the broader project, close to 20 years after the early precedent of the Sept. 11 attacks: They bring in new users to the project, provide opportunities to disparate subcommunities to temporarily congregate, disseminate innovations and best practices into the rest of the community, and produce high-quality content hyperlinked to other relevant background. Wikipedia remains a product of a particular historical moment from the early 2000s, in terms of not only its adorably dated interface but also the absence of the advertising and engagement, news feeds and recommendation systems, and virality and polarization as central features that define so much of the user experience on other social platforms. Wikipedias resilience to the disinformation that plagued Facebook, YouTube, and Google in 2016 would suggest this archaic user experience provided an important defense against actors who weaponized these attention amplification mechanisms on other platforms to malicious ends. But this story overlooks other explanations for Wikipedias apparent resilience: Wikipedia users and editors attention is shared around common articles, instead of being distributed across personalized news feeds. Advertisement Advertisement Does Wikipedias success in covering breaking news and current events chart a path for other platforms to follow? Information seeking and sense-making about current events drive enormous flows of online collective attention, which explains why news feeds and trending topics are ubiquitous on social platforms. Whether and how Wikipedia can channel this demand for information likewise has been central to its ongoing identity, relevance, and sustainability. Wikipedia remains a valuable counterfactual for the potential of designing around information commons, human-in-the-loop decision-making, and strong editorial stances in the face of the Silicon Valley consensus emphasizing content personalization, automated moderation, and editorial indifference. The differences in how Wikipedia handles current event information may have insulated it from manipulation, but as platforms increasingly turn to Wikipedia for providing and moderating content, Wikipedias very real vulnerabilities risk becoming a target. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. When buying a gift for a writer, there are tons of great options. You can go the traditional route with a nice fountain pen or leather-bound notebook. Or, you could surprise them with something unique and unexpected. You just need to get into the writers head and think about what type of gift theyd most enjoy. We searched for highly rated, unique and creative gifts with writers in mind to help take the guesswork out of buying your next gift for a writer. These gifts are available on Amazon and Etsy and range from the tried-and-true to the quirky and fun. Check out our list below for the best gifts for writers in 2022: Best Gifts for Writers Type of Gift Pros Cons Notes & Recommendations Journals - Encourages regular writing. - Can be personal and intimate. - Some writers might have many already. - Preferences vary on journal type. Look for quality and possibly a unique design. Leather-bound or personalized journals can be especially appreciated. Writing Tools - Practical for daily use. - Enhances the writing experience. - Writers may have preferred tools already. - Can be seen as generic. Consider high-quality pens, typewriter-themed items, or vintage ink sets. Personalization can be a plus. Stationery - Useful for handwritten notes or drafts. - Adds a personal touch to communication. - Digital age reduces the use of stationery. - Some might find it old-fashioned. Opt for high-quality or uniquely designed stationery. Themes related to famous literature or quotes can be intriguing. Literature-themed Items - Appeals to a writer's love for classics and literature. - Unique and can be a conversation starter. - Personal taste in literature varies. - Can come off as cliche. Items like bookmarks, tote bags, or posters with literary quotes or depictions of beloved authors. Books - Provides inspiration and knowledge. - Appeals to a writer's inherent love for reading. - They may already own it. - Genre and author preference vary. Bestsellers, classic novels, or books on writing craft. Gift cards to bookstores can also be a good choice. Glassware - Useful for daily hydration or enjoying beverages. - Can be customized or themed. - Fragile. - Some might have many already. Consider literature-themed mugs, wine glasses with bookish quotes, or a writer's flask. Ensure sturdy packaging. Jewelry and Apparel - Fashionable way to express a love for writing. - Can be subtle or bold. - Size and style preferences can be tricky. - Can be personal. Jewelry like quill-themed necklaces, typewriter key earrings, or shirts with literary quotes. Ensure a return/exchange option. Games - Provides a fun break from writing. - Enhances creativity and stimulates the mind. - Not every writer is into games. - Space or preference might be an issue. Word-based board games, storytelling card games, or puzzles based on literary classics. Personalized Leather Journal Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Sell Your Business Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here Journals are a classic gift for writers make yours stand out with personalization. This leather journal comes in gray or brown and has several engraving options. Choose from several designs (or none), add their name and/or an inspirational quote, and make this a one-of-a-kind gift theyll love. Personalized Leather Journal Buy on Etsy Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad Small Business Deals Theyll never lose an idea in the shower again. Aqua Notes is a waterproof pad that has suction cups, making it able to stick to any smooth surface. Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad Buy on Amazon Custom Portrait as Cartoon Character A truly unique and unexpected gift! Cartoonify your writer friend with a custom portrait. Youll need to send some photos to the Etsy seller and the end result is a digital print. Custom Portrait as Cartoon Character Buy on Etsy Great Drinkers Shot Glasses For the writer who is also a shot-taker, consider this set of six shot glasses. Great Drinkers Shot Glasses Buy on Amazon Personalized Parker Jotter Pen Parker pens are among the best pens around. A personalized Parker pen is a wonderful gift theyll be sure to use. The pen comes in several color combinations and optional refills. Personalized Parker Jotter Pen Buy on Etsy Hemingway Pencil Cup This old-timey typewriter-themed pencil holder will keep all their writing tools together and look great on their desk. Hemingway Pencil Cup Buy on Amazon Shakespeare Insults Gift Poster This poster displays 100 of the Bards greatest insults organized into categories. Theyre sure to get a laugh out of phrases like Thou painted maypole! and You egg! and, lets face it, sometimes a writer needs a good laugh. Shakespeare Insults Gift Poster Buy on Amazon Creative Block This is a set of cards designed to help writers overcome writers block. It contains more than 100 curated breakthrough suggestions from artists, neuroscientists, and mindfulness and creativity experts to help them get into a creative space. Creative Block Buy on Etsy Old Book Pages 8 oz Glass Jar Soy Candle This handmade soy candle has notes of aged paper, wood, and leather to create the distinct and wonderful smell of old book pages. Anyone who loves writing knows that smell and would likely love to have it in their writing space. Old Book Pages 8 oz Glass Jar Soy Candle Buy on Amazon Mini Book Personalized Necklace A great gift for the writer inspired by the classics. You can choose from one of six classic books or send a photo of a book for customization. The latter option is perfect especially if the writer has their own book published. They could have a pendant of their own book! Mini Book Personalized Necklace Buy on Etsy The Writing Cheerleaders Motivational Writing Mug Give them some extra motivation to go with their favorite morning drink. This mug features inspirations and motivations with cute drawings. It comes in 11 or 15 fl. oz. The Writing Cheerleaders Motivational Writing Mug Buy on Etsy National Geographic Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary Looking at photographs can stimulate the mind and induce creativity, so a book of beautiful photographs would be a thoughtful and welcome gift. National Geographics renowned photography is on display in this hardcover book of photos of exquisite moments in time held still. National Geographic Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary Buy on Amazon Dixit Storytelling Board Game Inspiration can come from anywhere even a board game! Dixit is a game of guesswork, creativity, and storytelling for 3 to 8 players, so family and friends will enjoy this gift as well. Dixit Storytelling Board Game Buy on Amazon Book Light This lamp opens and closes just like a book, is USB powered, and is the perfect size for a desk or bedside table. The cover is environmentally friendly white maple and the pages are transparent Dupont Tyvek paper, which is durable and waterproof. Book Light Buy on Amazon The Writing Manifesto Print This print will inspire the veteran writer or the novice. It is printed on 10 mil slightly glossy paper and is available in 12 x 16 or 18 x 24 sizes. According to the seller, there is also a framing option available. The Writing Manifesto Print Buy on Etsy Unwrapping the Ideal Gift for Writers: Key Insights For writers, gifts that both inspire and assist their creative process are cherished. From those who pen soul-stirring poetry to those crafting cutting-edge journalism, the spectrum of writers is diverse. Heres a roadmap to guide you through the maze of buying gifts for the wordsmiths: Tool Efficiency: Writers, irrespective of their genre, appreciate gifts that streamline their writing endeavors. High-quality journals or notebooks for jotting down ideas. Ergonomic pens that glide smoothly for longer writing sessions. Digital tools like subscription-based writing software or voice recognition tools for hands-free writing. Their Specialty Matters: Each writer has a distinct voice and style. For novelists: Consider gifts like a plot development board or classic literature. For journalists: Think of a durable travel notebook or voice recorders for on-the-go interviews. Essayists might appreciate a collection of renowned essays to draw inspiration from. Budget-Friendly Choices: A meaningful gift doesnt necessarily equate to an expensive one. Search for deals or discounts on online platforms. Handcrafted items, like personalized bookmarks or hand-stitched journals, often come at an affordable price while holding sentimental value. Empathy in Selection: Channeling empathy is crucial in gift selection. Consider books on writing craft or memberships to writers workshops. Ambient sound machines or quality headphones can help writers focus and immerse themselves in their work. Perhaps a framed motivational quote or a poster of their favorite author to adorn their workspace. Inspiration Boosters: Writers often grapple with the infamous writers block. A collection of prompts or a deck of story idea cards can spark creativity. Consider gifting experiences, like a retreat or a workshop, to rejuvenate their writing spirits. In the realm of gifting, its essential to remember that the most impactful gifts for writers arent just objects, but catalysts for their creativity and expressions. By integrating utility with an understanding of their craft, your gift can become a cherished possession in their literary journey. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today. When the German economy struggles, Slovakia feels the pain. The German chemical concern Evonik is building a new plant in Slovenska Lupca. (Source: Courtesy of Evonik) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share There is a saying in Slovakia that when the German manufacturing sector sneezes, Slovakia gets a cold. But it is not just words that underline the close economic links between the two countries data shows that Germany is both Slovakias most important trading partner and its key source of foreign investment. This tie to Europes strongest economy is both a boon and a burden for Slovakia, though. In good times, the German economy gives Slovakia a lift, but in times of crisis, as we see today, it can badly affect our economy, Lukas Parizek, chairman of the Council of Slovak Exporters told The Slovak Spectator. And there is not much we can do about it at the moment. Related article Related article Which German companies operating in Slovakia are hidden champions? Read more Any actions which might help, including reform of education or territorial and sector-based diversification of Slovakias economy, are long-term in nature, he added. Close partner Following the fall of the Iron Curtain, the 1990s were a turbulent period across most of eastern Europe. But German corporations appreciated the relative political and social stability of first Czechoslovakia and later, after the two countries split, of Slovakia and were among the first major investors into the country, Vladimir Vano, chief economic analyst with the Globsec think-tank, told The Slovak Spectator. The famous story of the mushrooming automotive sector in Slovakia began with a German corporations modest gearbox assembly plant, and then grew quickly into the assembly of entire vehicles. The rest is history, he said. Budgetary expenditures grow significantly faster than revenues. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share The state budget deficit keeps deepening. The fiscal council, the Council for Budget Responsibility (RRZ), warns that public finances are in the high-risk zone, while achieving long-term sustainability would require a permanent increase in revenue or a reduction in expenditure in the billions of euros. At the end of August, the state budget deficit amounted to 3.7 billion. This was 2.2 billion or 145 percent more compared to the same period the previous year. The state budgets revenues amounted to 13.686 billion at the end of August, up 1.763 billion or 14.8 percent year-on-year. However, budget expenditures increased by a doubled pace year-on-year, by 29.6 percent or 3.976 billion to 17.416 billion. Related article Related article Parties lure voters with populist promises while Slovakia needs reforms, experts say Read more Calls for consolidation The long-term sustainability of public finances has significantly deteriorated since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Achieving long-term sustainability would require a permanent increase in revenue or a reduction in the expenditure of 7.6 billion, the Council for Budget Responsibility cited in its memo. The debt-to-GDP ratio was above the highest, the fifth sanction band of the debt brake in 2021 and 2022. Debt reached 61 percent of GDP at the end of 2021, based on data published by Eurostat in October 2022, and 57.8 percent of GDP at the end of 2022, based on provisional data from April 2023. Despite the high levels of government debt, which have been continuously above the highest debt brake sanction band since 2020, the sanctions are only formally met, with minimal impacts on reducing the general government debt. The debt brake alone, without spending limits, did not provide sufficient protection for the long-term health of public finances, said Jan Toth, head of the fiscal council. That is why the modernisation of the constitutional law, including the alignment of the debt brake sanctions with the recently adopted spending limits, is crucial and should not be delayed. The effective implementation of spending limits should also contribute to improving long-term sustainability. However, it should be added that in the coming years, the implementation of spending limits alone at the legally required level of deficit improvement will not be sufficient to stabilise the debt in the medium term, so the consolidation of public finances in the coming years should be more ambitious than the minimum required by the law, opines the fiscal council. Slovak economic growth endangered by external factors Slovakias GDP in the second quarter of 2023 increased by 1.5 percent year-on-year (in fixed prices, not seasonally adjusted). The volume of GDP in current prices increased by 11.3 percent in yearly terms, reaching 30.3 billion. Seasonally adjusted, the country's GDP grew by 0.4 percent quarter-on-quarter, based on data of the Statistics Office published on September 5. Economic growth was again mainly driven by automotive production, noted Lubomir Korsnak, UniCredit Bank analyst Lubomir Korsnak in his commentary on the economic growth. A look at GDP from the supply side confirms that the surprisingly strong GDP figures in Slovakia in the second quarter (when compared to the rest of the region and Europe) were mainly driven by Slovak automotive plants, he wrote in his memo. These benefited from an easing of bottlenecks and still unsatisfied domestic (European) demand that had accumulated in previous years - during the pandemic and the semiconductor crisis. However, he said that the prospects for the external environment into the second half of the year are increasingly worrying, mostly due to weak figures for the German economy, a key business partner of Slovakias industry for a long time. Another concern is the deteriorating mood in the Slovak and European economy, which has its roots in industry. Skepticism is increasingly spreading to the service sector as well. Korsnak expects only a moderate acceleration in GDP growth to 1.6 percent next year, he wrote in the memo. However, the outcome of the general election could have a significant impact on growth next year, as it will determine the extent and method employed for the necessary consolidation of public finances, noted Korsnak. Based on the spending limits, the government is supposed to permanently reduce the deficit by half a percent of the GDP or about 600 million per year. Fixing public finances is not a big issue for politicians ahead of the September elections. They admit that Slovakia has a high budget deficit and that it needs some consolidation, but they are less specific about what exactly they would do if they became part of the next government. They do not want to raise taxes on labour or cut social benefits and pensions. Only some allow more taxation on consumption or on banks and monopolies. Several parties say that they want to promote economic growth, which they believe would help with the consolidation of public finances. They talk of supporting the business sector and of transferring resources from the central level to the regions, the Dennik N wrote, based on its survey among political parties with prospects to be elected in parliament. With three weeks left, Slovakia is being re-acquainted with some unseemly tactics that have worked for politicians in the past. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. Migrants and LGBT+ references make the campaign rather as we expected. In this country, winning can really mean losing. Court cancels a fine for a man convicted of spying for Russia. If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk. Back to some tested and proven enemies It is going to be like Paris here soon, and you know at least ten people died there, or more, said a lady sitting across the aisle from me on the train last Tuesday to her fellow pensioner, apparently heading for a trip to Bratislava with their club, whose members filled the better part of the carriage. Her remark, accompanied by a deep sigh, was confusing enough at first to stir my attention, and it quickly became clear it was a somewhat mangled reference to the 2015 terrorist attacks. She was talking about migrants. Parties in Slovakia have three weeks left before voters head to polls to decide who will govern the country from this autumn. After the first days of school, parents are finding out that many schools have to resort to creative solutions to make up for a lack of teaching staff. Paediatric emergency rooms are understaffed, and some are being forced to close. The election sees Slovakia at a perilous crossroads in foreign policy. But the country spent much of last week talking mostly about migrants and LGBTI people. Campaigning about migrants again Migration is not an issue in Slovakia the way it is in some other European countries, partly because Slovakia is what experts call a transit country. In practice, that means that people who have crossed the Mediterranean (or Turkey) only pass through this country on their way to Germany or elsewhere in western Europe; few even consider the possibility of staying in Slovakia. Groups of people can now be spotted more often than in the past, making their way through mainly southern Slovakia. Migration experts say this is because the routes these people follow have shifted and now also lead through Slovakias territory. Migration Office director Jan Orlovsky admits it is unusual and can be worrying for locals when suddenly they see more strangers passing on foot through their villages and towns. This year, Slovak authorities recorded some 25,000 people crossing the border illegally, which is steeply up from the approximately 2,500 per year in the years prior to 2021. But when we say we have a migration crisis here, we make our neighbours laugh, including Hungary, which had 270,000 illegal border crossings last year. Austria had 108,000 asylum requests; we only had 504, Orlovsky told the Sme daily. A state of emergency has been declared in the Velky Krtis district, where the authorities have set up a makeshift centre to handle people who cross the border. There, the Foreigners Police checks on them and issues them with a document that allows them to move freely in Slovakia. They are usually gone within 48 hours, according to Orlovsky. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/germany-to-spend-over-64bln-on-major-defense-contracts-by-end-of-2023--1113264000.html Germany to Spend Over $64Bln on Major Defense Contracts by End of 2023 Germany to Spend Over $64Bln on Major Defense Contracts by End of 2023 Germany will allocate 60 billion euros from the Bundeswehr's special fund by the end of the year for major defense orders, including the purchase of F-35 fighter jets. 2023-09-10T23:56+0000 2023-09-10T23:56+0000 2023-09-10T23:56+0000 military germany german defense spending bundeswehr german bundeswehr f-35 olaf scholz /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/18/1112856658_0:171:3035:1878_1920x0_80_0_0_10efb046d586ce0da75687c5dc89dfc7.jpg Germany will allocate 60 billion euros ($64.3 billion) from the Bundeswehr's special fund by the end of the year for major defense orders, including the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, a newspaper reported on Sunday, citing Director-General of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support Annette Lehnigk-Emden.At the same time, Lehnigk-Emden noted that her agency, despite the desire for faster decision-making, still faces a number of obstacles, including the need to obtain parliamentary approval for any defense spending exceeding 25 million euros, the report stated. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced last year the establishment of a 100-billion-euro special fund to finance major defense projects such as the purchase of F-35 fighter jets. germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 germany, bundeswehr's special fund, german defense fund, us f-35 fighter jets, german military TEHRAN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that Azerbaijan's officials have sent a message to Tehran stressing that they do not seek to take any military action against Armenia. Kanaani made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Iran's capital Tehran, responding to a question about the recent rise in tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran is in constant contact with both sides and is concerned about the possibility of a conflict, Kanaani said. Kanaani emphasized that Iran is committed to the security of its borders and against any change in the region's geopolitical conditions and internationally recognized borders, calling for both Azerbaijan and Armenia to respect each other's territorial integrity and refrain from moves to escalate tensions. Kanaani's comments come amid rising tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh last week. Azerbaijan said on Saturday that Armenian forces had fired on its soldiers overnight and that Azerbaijan army units had responded by taking "retaliatory measures." Armenia denied the incident. The two countries have been at loggerheads over Nagorno-Karabakh since 1988. They fought a war over the region in the early 1990s, which ended with a ceasefire in 1994. A new round of armed conflict broke out along the contact line on Sept. 27, 2020, before Russia brokered a ceasefire on Nov. 9, 2020. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/united-russia-party-wins-local-elections-in-lpr-kherson-zaporozhye-regions-1113263594.html United Russia Party Wins Local Elections in LPR, Kherson, Zaporozhye Regions United Russia Party Wins Local Elections in LPR, Kherson, Zaporozhye Regions In the Kherson region, the party won 74.86% of the vote, an equivalent of 28 seats in the local legislative assembly. And as many as 74.63% of voters cast their ballots for United Russia in the LPR. 2023-09-10T22:38+0000 2023-09-10T22:38+0000 2023-09-10T22:38+0000 russia russia voting russian elections /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/0e/1099568697_0:333:909:844_1920x0_80_0_0_ce4b1c9645b1811d3ce39e590890ed69.jpg In the Kherson region, the party won 74.86% of the vote, an equivalent of 28 seats in the local legislative assembly, with the voter turnout at 65.36%, head of the regional election commission, Marina Zakharova, said. The commission received no election complaints, she added. As many as 74.63% of voters cast their ballots for United Russia in the LPR, according to the Russian Central Election Commission. The party received 83.01% of the vote in the local election in the Zaporozhye Region, the regional election commission's data shows. In the Donetsk People's Republic, United Russia received 78.04% of the vote, according to provisional results with nearly 90% of the ballots counted. Elections are being held in most regions of Russia from September 8-10. The voting is designed to elect top officials in 21 subjects of the country and members of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, for four vacant places in single-member constituencies. The Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, together with the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics, became Russian regions in September 2022 through a referendum. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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, russian elections, kherson, donetsk, lugansk, zaporozhye https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/death-toll-from-earthquake-in-morocco-reaches-over-2120-people-1113264926.html Death Toll From Morocco Earthquake Exceeds 2,120 Death Toll From Morocco Earthquake Exceeds 2,120 Previously, the death toll in Morocco had been reported to be 2,012, with a total of 2,059 others injured, according to Interior Ministry data. 2023-09-11T03:02+0000 2023-09-11T03:02+0000 2023-09-11T04:31+0000 africa morocco death toll earthquake /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/09/1113242000_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e8baa04269454a3552c06c0a9ad2cb3c.jpg At the same time, the Moroccan government agreed to accept assistance from the United Kingdom, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in search and rescue efforts, reports said. In addition, Morocco's government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas told reporters that the kingdoms authorities, following a cabinet meeting, decided to create a special fund to support earthquake victims. On Friday, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco 77 kilometers (48 miles) southwest of the city of Marrakesh. On Sunday, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the opening of an air corridor for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Morocco. The Qatar Red Crescent Society decided to send to Morocco tents, blankets, hygiene kits, food and medicine worth 1 million Qatari riyals ($274,600). africa morocco Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 morocco, earthquake, death toll, increased death toll, injuries, injured, tragedy, natural disaster, natural disaster victims https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/erdogan-putin-may-soon-hold-telephone-conversation-to-discuss-grain-deal-1113265644.html Erdogan, Putin May Soon Hold Telephone Conversation to Discuss Grain Deal Erdogan, Putin May Soon Hold Telephone Conversation to Discuss Grain Deal The source added that Erdogan may discuss with Putin the results of his negotiations on the grain deal with Western leaders at the G20 summit in India. 2023-09-11T03:50+0000 2023-09-11T03:50+0000 2023-09-11T03:50+0000 turkiye russia recep tayyip erdogan vladimir putin black sea grain deal g20 g20 summit /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/04/1113111917_0:136:3158:1912_1920x0_80_0_0_5507b805d30f76963cf8c6f974828da2.jpg Last Monday, Putin and Erdogan met in the Russian city of Sochi to discuss the situation around the grain deal and other issues. "Mr. President [Erdogan] intends to discuss with the respected Russian leader the results of his negotiations on the grain deal with Western leaders at the G20 summit in India to move the process forward. Therefore, it is not excluded that in the near future, the leaders [of Turkiye and Russia] will hold telephone negotiations. But there is no specific date yet," the source said. The source added that Erdogan's talks with Western leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit on the grain deal were constructive, but concrete action is needed to restart the Black Sea grain initiative. The source also noted that Ankara continues to work with the United Nations. turkiye russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 turkiye, russia, grain deal, g20 summit in india, president vladimir putin, president recep tayyip erdogan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/how-big-is-russias-grain-market-1113238580.html How Big is Russia's Grain Market? How Big is Russia's Grain Market? Russia's agricultural dominance, fueled by cutting-edge techniques and expansive fertile lands, positions it as a powerhouse in global grain trade. Boasting... 11.09.2023, Sputnik International 2023-09-11T13:46+0000 2023-09-11T13:46+0000 2023-09-11T13:46+0000 russia russian federation federal service for state registration, cadaster and cartography (rosreestr) sputnik arkady zlochevsky sergei levin saudi arabia moscow us department of agriculture (usda) eurasian economic union /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16118/29/161182924_0:153:3011:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_d5a55e415d62957b82b095ea64b33bfa.jpg Positioned at the forefront of global agricultural commerce, Russia commands a formidable presence thanks to its agricultural sector's abundant fertile acreage and advanced cultivation techniques. Its expansive geographical expanse, spanning from the western boundaries of Europe to the eastern edges of Asia, bestows the nation with a diverse climate suitable for cultivating a broad range of grain crops.A nation steeped in agricultural tradition, Russia has recently witnessed an astonishing upswing in its grain exports, fundamentally altering the landscape of the international grain market. This surge in export activity has not only solidified Russia's economic stature but has also substantially impacted global food security. Nations worldwide increasingly rely on Russia to fulfill their requirements for vital crops, cementing its pivotal role in the worldwide food supply chain.Under the watchful eye of Russian farmers, a flourishing assortment of wheat, barley, corn, and diverse cereals illustrates this nation's agricultural abundance. These bumper harvests stand as the linchpin of the nation's export-oriented economy. Bolstered by strategic outlays in modern agricultural technology and infrastructure, Russia dominates the world's leading grain exporters, armed with an impressive production capacity tailored to market demands.Sputnik unravels how Russia's grain export industry has transformed the nation's economic landscape and explains this industry's key trends.What is Russia's Agricultural Land Area?According to Russias Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography (Rosreestr) 2020 report, agricultural lands are recognized as lands outside the borders of settlements provided for the needs of agriculture or intended for these purposes. Lands of this category act as the primary means of production in agriculture, have a special legal regime and are subject to special protection aimed at preserving their area, preventing the development of negative processes, and increasing soil fertility.As of January 1, 2021, the area of agricultural land amounted to 941.38 million acres. In comparison with the previous year, the area of the category of agricultural land as part of the land fund of the Russian Federation decreased by 0.9 million hectares.Source: Rosreestr, 2020.How Big is the Russian Grain Market?As per an August 30, 2023 update from the Ministry of Agriculture, Russia's gross grain harvest has surpassed an impressive milestone, reaching over 105 million tons. Winter sowing operations are underway in 43 Russian regions, with a substantial 1.7 million hectares sown, and with plans to hit 20 million hectares.In a remarkable feat, Russia set a new record for its gross grain harvest in 2022, amassing a staggering 157.7 million tons, marking a 29.9 percent uptick compared to 2021. Notably, the wheat yield stood out, reaching an impressive 104.2 million tons, reflecting a remarkable 37 percent increase.Incorporating the yield from recently reunified regions, the Ministry of Agriculture in the Russian Federation envisaged the 2023 grain harvest to tally up to 123 million tons. Of these, 78 million tons are projected to be wheat, leading to an upward review of the initial forecast.Agricultural Minister Patrushev has highlighted the imperative to adopt a holistic approach in concluding the grain harvest within the most favorable agrotechnical window and closely monitoring winter sowing efforts. Equally crucial is the expeditious allocation of state support funds to agricultural practitioners. The national metric stands at an impressive 80 percent, surpassing last year's baseline on the same date.Outperforming the initial projections, Russia's grain export results for the 2022/2023 season in the international market have outshone expectations. Analysts at Rusagrotrans said the country had exported 61.3 million tons of grain. When accounting for legumes and flour (in terms of grain), the total rises to 64.5 million tons.Considering the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member nations, the forecast for wheat exports in August 2023 has been boosted from 5.14 million to an outstanding 5.36 million tons, marking a record-breaking figure. The volume of grain exports is projected to reach around 6.75 million tons, establishing a historic milestone in Russian exports. The previous peak of 6.15 million tons was achieved in March 2023, according to Rusagrotran's analysis.Industry experts point to an oversupply situation as the driver behind weakening domestic prices. Specifically, prices for fourth-class wheat with a 12.5 percent protein content at deep-water ports have declined, ranging between about $165.24 to $168.36 per ton, excluding VAT.Arkady Zlochevsky, who heads the Russian Grain Union, revealed that Russia has a strong chance of eclipsing last season's impressive grain export record of 60 million tons in the agricultural year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. An astounding 7.7 million tons of grain were exported in August, a benchmark praised by Zlochevsky as an absolute high point for monthly exports.Where Are Russia's Grain-Producing Regions?The strength of Russia's agricultural sector lies in its vast and manifold topography, traversing continents. Nonetheless, certain regions have emerged as indispensable sources of grain production, marked by their unique climate, soil compositions, and agricultural methods that ensure ample yields that sustain the nation and play a crucial role in global food security.Source: IAMOSouthern Federal District: This region, encompassing Krasnodar Krai and Rostov Oblast and others, is a powerhouse in Russia's grain production due to its temperate climate and fertile soil; it contributes significantly to the country's wheat, barley, and leguminous crop output.Source: Rosstat DataNorth Caucasian Federal District: Nestled in the southern reaches of Russia, this district is a rising star in grain production. The regions of Stavropol Krai and the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, etc., are notable for their contributions, further diversifying Russia's grain output.Source: Rosstat DataCentral Federal District: The core agricultural region belting Moscow, including Moscow Oblast and Vladimir Oblast, etc., has a rich history of grain production. Its strategic location, close to major transportation networks, positions it as a vital contributor to Russia's grain exports. This region's fertile plains have played a pivotal role in sustaining the nation.Source: Rosstat DataVolga Federal District: Stretching along the iconic Volga River, this district, including Tatarstan and Samara Oblast, and others, plays a pivotal role in Russia's grain production due to the vast plains and access to vital waterways that facilitate the cultivation of various grains, including wheat, barley, and oats. It is a testament to the harmonious interplay of geography and agriculture.Source: Rosstat DataSiberian Federal District: Despite its harsh climate, the vast expanse of Siberia has emerged as a player in grain cultivation. Regions like Omsk Oblast and Novosibirsk Oblast have embraced cold-hardy varieties, demonstrating that agriculture can flourish even in the most challenging environments.Source: Rosstat DataNorthwestern Federal District: Despite its cooler maritime climate, this region, including Leningrad Oblast and Pskov Oblast, adds its unique contribution to Russia's grain production.Source: Rosstat DataFar Eastern Federal District: Though less prominent in grain production compared to other regions, areas like Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai play their part in contributing to Russia's overall grain output. Even in the Far East, grain cultivation finds a place in the nation's agricultural tapestry.Source: Rosstat DataNote: Some regions and the Ural Federal District were not included due to lack of data.Source: StatistaWhat Country is the Biggest Exporter of Wheat?According to the International Agricultural Trade Report released by USDA last May, a decade has witnessed a substantial upswing in Russia's production of grains and oilseeds. This surge results from a two-pronged strategy: expanding cultivated areas for select crops and improving yields for others (excluding corn and sunflower seed) has positioned Russia as the worlds largest wheat exporter.Source: Agflow.comIn the current marketing year, the monthly volume of Russian wheat exports via sea routes has displayed a considerable variance, from 2.0 to 4.5 million tons, with an average of roughly 3.5 million tons. The main destinations for sea-borne vessels in this trade (between June 2022 and June 28, 2023) have encompassed: Source: StatistaSource: StatistaHow Russia's Fertilizer Production Plays a Role in Grain ProductionThe global fertilizer industry, valued at $250 billion, faced a notable disruption last year, underscoring the pivotal roles of Russia and Belarus as prominent exporters, accounting for nearly a quarter of all global crop nutrients. Russia's substantial grain production heavily relies on fertilizer, which provides vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, crucial for robust plant growth. A resilient domestic fertilizer production sector is imperative to adequately meet the agricultural sector's demands. Russia produces phosphate and potash fertilizers, which are essential for grain cultivation. Phosphate fertilizers offer phosphorus vital for root development and flowering, while potash fertilizers supply potassium crucial for various plant processes, including photosynthesis and water absorption. Consequently, the availability of these specific fertilizers directly impacts the quality and yield of grains.Despite Russia's agricultural products, including crucial fertilizer types, not being directly targeted by Western sanctions in light of the Ukrainian conflict, their exports have been hampered by a combination of ports disruptions, and sanctions on shipping, banking, and insurance.This market disruption led to a price surge last summer, prompting some to stockpile fertilizers if financially feasible. Although costs have decreased since then, they remain elevated compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. Availability of supplies is limited in less affluent regions, further exacerbated by sanctions on Belarus, a major potash producer. Additionally, China, a significant nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer producer, has imposed export restrictions to safeguard its domestic supply, with analysts not anticipating these measures to be lifted until at least mid-2023.The African Development Bank cautions that reduced fertilizer use could result in a significant 20% decline in food production. The World Food Program (WFP) further warns that a major food availability crisis as the fertilizer crunch, climate shocks and conflict upend food production. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to prioritizing efforts to "depoliticize" the global fertilizer supply. In a December article for the Times of India, he emphasized the need to prevent geopolitical tensions from escalating into humanitarian crises.The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization established a trade tracker the previous year, revealing a heavy reliance on Russia for over 30 percent of the three key fertilizer components in several net importing regions, including Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.Andrey Guryev, the Russian Association of Fertilizer Producers leader, during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in April 2023, said, We [Russia] overtook the United States and India in production, and today we are the largest producer of mineral fertilizers in the world after China. He further stated that Russia is on the verge of increasing output to 70 million tons in the next five years.An International Fertilizers Association data cited by media sources showed that at the beginning of 2022, Russian fertilizer exports constituted 15 percent of the worlds fertilizer exports, with China accounting for 13 percent and Canada 7 percent.What Are the Key Trends in Russia's Grain Exports?Import SubstitutionRussia's agriculture industry is strategically pivoting towards self-sufficiency, encompassing the production of grains, and other crops and the management of the resources crucial for their cultivation - seeds. At the heart of this endeavor is the nation's food security doctrine, which stipulates the target of having no less than 75% of seeds originating from domestic breeding programs by 2030. Russian agricultural experts have set an ambitious timeline to "substitute" sunflower and corn with homegrown alternatives by 202425.Agricultural machinery emerges as the second critical facet caught in the crosshairs of sanctions. The exit of American and European companies from the market creates fresh avenues for the growth of domestic agricultural machinery. Yet, experts lean towards a more cautious perspective. They suggest that farmers are poised to exercise prudence in this procurement aspect.Russia's Export Destinations Faces Global SouthThe Rusagrotrans assessment reveals a shift in the core importing countries of Russian wheat for the first half of this season, deviating from the trends observed between July and November 2021. Notably, there has been a considerable spike in exports to North African nations, including Algeria, Libya, and Sudan, as well as heightened demand from the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously, given the challenges faced in Argentina's harvest, the flow of Russian wheat to Brazil and Mexico has experienced substantial growth.Scaling Up Crop Storage InfrastructureOver the past five years, Russia has witnessed a notable leap in the existence of entities furnished with proprietary or leased warehousing and storage facilities. This includes a 25 percent rise for potatoes and vegetables, a 1.5-fold surge for grain, and an impressive fourfold upsurge for fruit crops. Additionally, 2022 bore witness to a flurry of statements surrounding the construction, acquisition, or modernization of grain conveyors by major industry players. Concurrently, farmers are deeply engaged in exploring innovative technologies for grain storage.State Support for the Russian Agricultural SectorThe Ministry of Agriculture has outlined its plans to uphold support initiatives for farmers in 2023. Nonetheless, reductions in subsidies for grain producers and loans extended to exporters are on the horizon. The allocated budget for three pivotal state programs within the agricultural sector is set at about $4.6 billion for 2023, reflecting a decrease from the 2022 figure of roughly $4.8 billion.Efforts are being taken to bolster the budget for state programs focusing on the comprehensive development of rural areas. Besides, emphasis is placed on optimizing the utilization of agricultural land and advancing land reclamation measures. The first program is poised to receive a considerable injection of almost $76.5 billion, elevating its total allocation to approximately $620 million. Likewise, the second program is set to benefit from an infusion to the tune of $13.2 billion, bringing its budget to about $397 million.In the "Where is the Margin 2023" summer conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Elena Fastova, discussed key challenges and prospects in the agro-industrial complex. She highlighted several significant developments to foster state support mechanisms:How Does Russia's Grain Exports Impact Global Food Security?As per a study, the global population and corresponding demand for food are poised for a notable escalation in the forthcoming decades. Projections indicate that the Earth's population is on track to reach nearly 10 billion by the year 2050. A substantial proportion of this demographic expansion, roughly 60 percent, is anticipated to be concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-Eastern Asia. These areas will be pivotal in rising exhaustive wheat consumption in the next six years.As outlined in the OECD/FAO 2020 analysis, a significant rise in net wheat imports is on the horizon for Africa and Asia in the decade spanning from 2020 to 2029. The expected swell stands at around 10 million tons for Africa, with a more substantial 14 million tons anticipated for Asia.Experts have stressed the central importance of Russia, the primary grain-exporting nation within the Black Sea region and globally, in the overarching landscape of international wheat trade. This prominence extends to its critical role in global food security, slated to expand in the years ahead. The rise in Russian grain production is contingent upon a two-pronged strategy: enhancing production efficiency and reclaiming formerly abandoned agricultural lands.The outlook for domestic grain consumption in Russia remains on an even keel. A conceivable surplus could be channeled towards international markets. Notably, the proximity of Asian nations to Russia, in contrast to other grain-exporting countries, substantially heightens the likelihood of these countries leaning towards Russian grain imports in the future. Consequently, the exponential growth of grain production in Russia emerges as a crucial endeavor to address the mounting demands of agriculture and maintain global food security. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230908/how-russian-grain-exports-changed-1113176614.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230905/russia-may-hit-national-grain-export-record-in-2023-2024-agricultural-year-1113137426.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/any-grain-route-initiatives-excluding-russias-participation-bound-to-fail---erdogan--1113254540.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230904/grain-deal-gas-hub--de-dollarization-what-signal-do-putin-erdogan-talks-send-to-west-1113117752.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230902/sanctions-clapback-russian-grain-exports-to-brazil-hit-historic-high-1113075263.html russia russian federation saudi arabia moscow china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.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 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg russia, agricultural commerce, agricultural sector, fertile acreage, cultivation techniques, diverse climate, grain crops, grain exports, global food security, arable land, fallow land, perennial planting, hayfields, pastures, forest area, forest land, lands under roads, developed land, land under water, other lands, gross grain harvest, wheat yield, export activity, export-oriented economy, modern agricultural technology, grain-producing regions, southern federal district, north caucasian federal district, central federal district, volga federal district, siberian federal district, northwestern federal district, far eastern federal district, import substitution, export destinations, crop storage infrastructure, state support, preferential lending, compensation subsidies, direct costs subsidies, global food security, net wheat imports, international wheat trade. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/how-us-could-turn-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor-into-destabilizing-tool-1113290474.html How US Could Turn India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Into Destabilizing Tool How US Could Turn India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Into Destabilizing Tool During the G20 summit India, Saudi Arabia, the United States, the European Union and some other countries agreed upon a new transport corridor in Eurasia. What's really behind the plan? 2023-09-11T18:35+0000 2023-09-11T18:35+0000 2023-09-11T18:35+0000 us analysis joe biden opinion washington saudi arabia g20 brics european union (eu) belt and road initiative /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113197210_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_ffd73483c8a777223dcf1e671eaff322.jpg US President Joe Biden announced on Saturday the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) a new rail and shipping route, which some Western observers qualified as an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative.Could US Really Spearhead India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor?Still, it's still unclear whether the project will actually be implemented, according to Zhu.Per Zhu, as the role of the Global South has increased over the past several years, the United States and Europe have come up with various cooperation initiatives including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the Global Gateway, and others. However, none of these projects have been implemented so far.Dmitry Evstafiev, political scientist and High School of Economics (HSE) University professor, appears to share Zhu's doubts.Over the past 40 years the US has had no experience of successful modernization projects, the Russian scientists stressed. Once the US participated in the modernization of South Korea, Japan and Europe, but it was a long time ago. Furthermore, in recent years, the United States has plunged into a period of deindustrialization, so it cannot be seen as a model by its allies, according to the scholar.Why Does US Need New Economic Corridor in Eurasia?As the US hegemony fades, Washington is trying to maintain its dominance through using contradictions between other players and pitting global powers against each other, according to the political scientist. He believes that Washington's primary goal is to throw sand in the gears of China's Belt and Road Initiative and Russo-Iranian International North-South Transport Corridor.Make no mistake: in the case of IMEC the Americans are interested in the process, not the outcome of the infrastructure project, he pointed out.In addition, the US is likely to use the project as a pretext to return to the Middle East and gain access to Saudi petrodollars, the political scientist continued.What Risks is US-Led Eurasian Corridor Facing?Per Evstafiev, it's too early to speak about the project's potential effectiveness, as it may never fly. There are three major risks in the path of the IMEC implementation.The second risk is India: even though the current Indian leadership views partnership with the US as "India's number one choice," it still does not want to miss the opportunity to take part in creating the systems within the BRICS framework. These systems are much more complex and much more interesting to New Delhi.The third risk is the power struggle inside Washington. The IMEC project is the brainchild of Team Biden and it's probable that there is no consensus with regard to this initiative among the US elite, according to the political scientist."Any large costs pertaining to this [infrastructure] project () will be examined under a microscope," Evstafiev noted, adding that US lawmakers are already ringing alarm bells about gargantuan spending on Washington's proxy war in Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220628/take-two-why-g7s-program-for-developing-countries-is-still-no-match-for-chinas-belt--road-1096727989.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/us-seeks-to-divide-indo-pacific-use-new-alliances-as-proxies-against-china-1113272705.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230903/enlargement-of-brics-to-contribute-to-fairer-global-governance---south-african-president-1113097675.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/pepe-escobar-russia-brics-sco-partners-need-to-work-on-unification-of-payment-systems-1113288986.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230908/biden-impeachment-vote-could-take-place-in-mid-september---us-lawmaker-1113195537.html washington saudi arabia russia china iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova india-middle east-europe economic corridor, imec, china's belt and road initiative, bri, joe biden, india, saudi arabia, infrastructure project, brics, brics expansion, international north south transport corridor, pivot to asia, us containing china, biden's indo-pacific strategy https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/myanmar-uses-yuan-to-pay-for-russian-oil-products--1113264736.html Myanmar Uses Yuan to Pay for Russian Oil Products Myanmar Uses Yuan to Pay for Russian Oil Products The minister added that the parties are preparing an agreement on the mutual conversion of national currencies. Last September, the prime minister told Sputnik the country was buying Russian petroleum products. 2023-09-11T02:30+0000 2023-09-11T02:30+0000 2023-09-11T05:46+0000 world eef myanmar russia petroleum petroleum yuan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/15/1111372242_0:168:3043:1880_1920x0_80_0_0_4cc1a774df4556e8d6e1bcd8363d8319.jpg "We are using yuan and not [paying] with rubles at this moment. But we are trying to make the kyat-ruble agreement [on the mutual conversion] [the agreement] is going [to be signed] very soon," Kan Zaw said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok. In addition, Kan Zaw expressed hope that Myanmar would conclude an agreement with Russia on tourism on the sidelines of the EEF. Last September, Prime Minister of Myanmar Min Aung Hlaing told Sputnik that the country had begun purchasing Russian petroleum products. Myanmar will begin accepting cards of the Russian Mir payment system in October, Kan Zaw said.The 8th EEF is taking place on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in the Russian city of Vladivostok from September 10-13. RIA Novosti is the official media partner of the forum. myanmar russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 myanmar, yuan, rubles, russian petroleum products, eastern economic forum, eef, russia, russian energy https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/nuland-lets-slip-us-supports-ukraine-targeting-russias-most-precious-assets-1113274419.html Nuland Lets Slip US 'Supports' Ukraine Targeting 'Russia's Most Precious Assets' Nuland Lets Slip US 'Supports' Ukraine Targeting 'Russia's Most Precious Assets' US Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland lets slip that the Biden administration supports Ukraines strikes targeting Russian territory. 2023-09-11T12:39+0000 2023-09-11T12:39+0000 2023-09-11T12:39+0000 world us victoria nuland joe biden ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) proxy war /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101664/22/1016642244_0:845:1500:1689_1920x0_80_0_0_853e37694c5435a9bcedb48f1265e25e.jpg US Acting Deputy Secretary of State and Russophobic hawk Victoria Nuland appears to have let slip that the Biden administration supports Ukraines strikes targeting Russian territory.In a video clip circulating on social media, Nuland, who just recently visited Ukraines capital, can be heard saying that one "axis" of Washingtons strategy in it proxy war with Moscow in Ukraine is to "put some of Russia's most precious assets at risk."This comes amid reports that Washington will be sending long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to the Kiev regime. However, earlier in September, a Pentagon official told Sputnik no decision had been made to supply Ukraine with ATACMS. According to US media, the Defense Department has warned that its own ATACMS arsenal is relatively small, and the missiles are already deployed to other areas, such as the Korean Peninsula, and therefore their transfer to Ukraine would jeopardize US combat readiness in other regions.In response to the clip on social media, users commented that Victoria Nuland appeared intent on unleashing a "nuclear war" - something that the career civil servant along with US President Joe Biden and senior White House and State Department officials have been repeatedly accused of.Netizens remarked that Washington has "never shown willingness to talk meaningfully with Moscow," and warned that Nuland's words showed that this was "no longer about Ukraine," but about "an undeclared hot war with Russia."Others on social media recalled Nuland's role in the 2014 coup in Ukraine, when the countrys democratically elected government collapsed, and a pro-Western regime was installed. Then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland is remembered for strolling the streets of Kiev with Geoffrey Pyatt, the then-US ambassador, handing out free cookies.Later, in February 2014, on the eve of the Euromaidan coup, in a telephone conversation she famously quipped, as per a leaked call, Yats is the guy! referring to Arseniy Yatsenyuk, a politician who got less than seven percent of the vote in the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election, but would be selected as the first prime minister of the post-coup government.Nuland has been one of the most avid proponents of Kiev massively hitting Russian military installations in Crimea, considering them to be legitimate targets, as per her remarks on February 16, 2023. Crimea became a Russian region after a referendum was held there in March 2014 following a coup in Ukraine. The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that Crimean residents democratically, in full compliance with international law and the UN Charter, voted for reunification with Russia. Furthermore, the United States considers it important to provide Kiev with the military "of the future," Nuland had said at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank. In response, Igor Girenko, press secretary of the Russian embassy in the US, said Nuland's comment that the United States supports Ukraine targeting Russian military installations in Crimea shows Washington's direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict. After both Washington and London agreed to supply the Zelensky regime with longer-range missiles, they claimed that Kiev had promised not to attack Russian soil with them. However, as Kievs counteroffensive falters, the risk of a desperation attack outside the Donbass is growing, pundits told Sputnik.Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu warned in June that Ukraine may attempt to use Western-supplied longer-range HIMARS ground-based rockets to strike Russian facilities in Crimea, underscoring that use of such weapons outside the zone of the special military operation would induce immediate Russian strikes on decision-making centers in Ukraine and would mean the full involvement of the United States and the United Kingdom in the conflict.Everyone understands what the Americans want from Russia... They want to get rid of a competitor, Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik at the G20 Summit. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230909/no-decision-made-pentagon-official-rejects-reports-alleging-atacms-may-be-headed-to-ukraine-1113219688.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230224/us-congressman-says-nuland--blinken-are-dangerous-fools-who-can-get-us-all-killed-1107759759.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/lavrov-at-g20-americans-want-to-strategically-defeat-russia-1113254737.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko us acting deputy secretary of state, victoria nuland, nato's proxy war against russia, ukraine conflict, ukraines strikes targeting russian territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/sanctions-or-robbery-eu-okays-confiscation-of-cars-and-phones-from-russian-travelers-1113284323.html Sanctions or Robbery? EU Okays Confiscation of Cars and Phones From Russian Travelers Sanctions or Robbery? EU Okays Confiscation of Cars and Phones From Russian Travelers The sanctions heaped on Moscow in the wake of the West's orchestrated proxy war in Ukraine have morphed into repression of the individual freedoms of innocent Russians traveling to the EU. 2023-09-11T14:12+0000 2023-09-11T14:12+0000 2023-09-11T14:12+0000 world russia moscow ukraine european commission nato european union (eu) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/03/1095961953_0:0:3133:1762_1920x0_80_0_0_620632a3e3f7ba87b9eb41fda1482ef7.jpg In another spate of sanctions, the European Union has targeted innocent Russians by nodding to the seizure of their personal belongings when they travel to the bloc, the European Commission disclosed recently.Items like cars, smartphones, and toiletries are prohibited for carriage by Russian travelers coming to the union.Among a slew of answers to the newly EU Commission-issued frequently asked questions concerning cars released on September 8, 2023, reads, "it is not relevant whether the goods are destined for the EU or not."These explanations surfaced due to several concerning trends involving German customs personnel and their seizure of private Russian cars upon entry into the country. This practice has been observed since at least July 2023.In response, Russia accused Berlin of "vehicle theft" and warned its citizens against traveling to Germany in their cars. The German authorities, on their part, justified their actions, citing a 2014 sanctions policy imposed on Russia, and thereafter reinforced after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in 2022.Friday's disclosure by the European Commission conveys a remarkable increase in sanctions, asserting that a broad array of personal possessions, not confined to cars, would face forfeitures if found to have originated from Russia.When asked whether Russian nationals can temporarily bring personal goods and vehicles into the EU, including when traveling as tourists, Brussels said "no," adding that anything listed in Annex XXI to the EU regulation on sanctions against Russia is banned.The Annex features an extensive catalog of over 180 classes of personal possessions, extending beyond private cars. Among the items listed are women's garments, smartphones, cameras, various phone models, footwear, a diverse range of bags, perfumes, and, intriguingly, essential personal hygiene products such as soap and toilet paper.This is not the first wave of absurd regulations targeting Russia, since the EU and NATO countries have been waging a sanction campaign against Moscow since 2014. Russia firmly maintains that the imposition of trade constraints and the confiscation of any Russian assets is illegal, verging on outright theft. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230908/most-austrians-believe-russia-sanctions-harm-eu-citizens---survey-1113215654.html russia moscow ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.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 Chimauchem Nwosu https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/01/1113046371_0:99:1536:1635_100x100_80_0_0_9c5c627283eca931c39fe4852bbb301c.jpg european union, sanctions, russia, personal belongings, seizure, travel, european commission, cars, smartphones, toiletries, vehicles, license plate, customs procedures, german customs, private russian cars, germany, theft, 2014 sanctions policy, nato, proxy war, ukraine, brussels, annex xxi, eu regulation, crimea, plebiscite, maidan coup, kiev, trade constraints, confiscation, russian assets. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/syria-reveals-staggering-cost-of-us-looting-and-sabotage-of-energy-sector-1113291685.html Syria Reveals Staggering Cost of US Looting and Sabotage of Energy Sector Syria Reveals Staggering Cost of US Looting and Sabotage of Energy Sector The United States presently occupies about a third of Syria, and has plundered billions of dollars worth of oil and food from the war-torn country in an attempt to suffocate Damascus into submission economically after the failure of the CIA dirty war to topple the Assad government. 2023-09-11T18:50+0000 2023-09-11T18:50+0000 2023-09-11T18:50+0000 economy syria bashar assad antonio guterres washington foreign ministry the united nations (un) cia damascus us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0b/1113291512_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_59a47cc517c45b9130f9fbefa978be56.jpg Syrias Foreign Ministry has decided to remind the United Nations of US crimes against the Syrian people, sending letters to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Security Council President Ferit Hoxha demanding action to put an end to Washington's illegal behavior.In a summary of the letter published by Syrian media, the Foreign Ministry reminded the UN that the US and its tools of terrorist organizations and militias continue to violate Syrian sovereignty and plunder the countrys wealth and strategic resources. Damascus demanded accountability, compensation, an end to the illegal presence of American forces, and the return of lands it occupies and the oil and gas fields of the Syrian state.The Foreign Ministry estimated the total cost of the "aggression, looting and sabotageby US forces and their terrorist tools to have now reached a staggering $115.2 billion. This figure, summarizing losses incurred between 2011 and mid-2023, includes $27.5 billion in direct losses suffered by the Syrian oil sector, broken down by:Additional, secondary losses in the amount of nearly $88 billion were caused by the decrease in production below the planned rates under normal working conditions, according to Damascus.As the Syrian Foreign Ministry presented its data to the UN, US looting of the countrys resources continued. On Sunday, local media reported that the US forced had smuggled some 95 oil tankers worth of crude out of the country into Iraq using two separate convoys.Americas oil and food smuggling activities in Syria have been made possible by the dozen US bases dotting the eastern third of the war-torn nation, with US forces first entering the country in 2016, on the pretext of the global war against Daesh (ISIS).* After Daesh was routed, US forces never left, with the Pentagon justifying their continued deployment by claiming that they are there to prevent the terrorists resurgence.Damascus and its allies have dismissed these arguments, but remained unable to expel US forces by force, due to the danger of triggering an overwhelming US military retaliation against Syria (and, in the case of Damascuss Russian and Iranian allies a wider regional or even global war).* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/us-plunder-of-syria-continues-as-convoys-smuggle-95-tankers-worth-of-crude-from-country-1113262603.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20191104/black-gold-who-controls-syrias-oil-and-how-much-is-it-all-worth-1077223459.html syria washington damascus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov united states, syria, looting, theft, robbery, oil, gas, energy, cost, price, toll, total https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/ukraine-attacks-novaya-kakhovka-city-left-without-power---local-administration-1113270308.html Ukraine Attacks Novaya Kakhovka, City Left Without Power - Local Administration Ukraine Attacks Novaya Kakhovka, City Left Without Power - Local Administration The Ukrainian armed forces attacked the city of Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region at night, there were no casualties, but the city was left without power, the Novaya Kakhovka urban district administration said on Monday. 2023-09-11T06:42+0000 2023-09-11T06:42+0000 2023-09-11T06:42+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine kiev russia power plant attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/06/1110952885_0:133:1269:847_1920x0_80_0_0_a2e67e5d412b5408b37661c4e04dcc78.jpg "Last night, Ukrainian militants launched a massive attack on Novaya Kakhovka. There is currently no power supply in the city. The electricity went out at night during the shelling," the administration wrote on Telegram, adding that there were no casualties. One of the shells fell on the territory of the city water utility, and another one on the of an ambulance station, the administration added.Early on June 6, Ukrainian troops launched a series of strikes on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, destroying its upper part. The destruction led to an uncontrollable release of water from the Kakhovka Reservoir and the flooding of some areas of the Kherson Region downstream of the Dnepr River. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the plant destruction a barbaric act by the Kiev regime and noted that it led to a large-scale environmental and humanitarian disaster. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the Kiev regime blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant as it weakened its positions in the Kherson direction, transferring troops from there to the offensive area. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230619/repair-of-kakhovka-hpp-to-start-once-ukrainian-forces-pushed-back---kherson-governor-1111267484.html ukraine kiev russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 ukraine attacks novaya kakhovka, kherson region, ukrainian armed forces China-Bangladesh enterprises development forum highlights cooperation Xinhua) 10:14, September 11, 2023 DHAKA, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- China has always been one of the boosters for Bangladesh's development, so the two sides should deepen their cooperation in various fields, Chinese and Bangladeshi politicians and businessmen said. The China-Bangladesh Enterprises High-quality Development Forum was held on Saturday at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Dhaka. Addressing the seminar, A.H.M. Jahangir, additional secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD), said he could feel from his working experience in China that the two countries' friendship is long-standing and the Chinese investment in Bangladesh is visible enough. Noting that the seminar was timely and necessary, Jahangir stressed, "We hope more Chinese investment in Bangladesh." Bangladesh is the first country in South Asia to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At present, there are more than 670 Chinese companies registered in Bangladesh, covering such fields as infrastructure, electric energy, textile and clothing, information and communication. Ke Changliang, president of the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh, said a total of 12 roads, 21 bridges and seven railway lines have been constructed by Chinese enterprises. Also, Chinese enterprises have invested in various energy fields such as coal, solar and wind power, making the energy mix increasingly diversified in the South Asian country. "Chinese companies have been working hard and making contributions to the rapid socio-economic development of Bangladesh," said Ke, adding that "looking into the future, we commit to strengthening ties with all parties in Bangladesh to advance the bilateral economic cooperation to a higher level. "Chinese companies have been instrumental in transforming our nation, contributing to various sectors of our economy," said Al Mamun Mridha, secretary general of the Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, adding that Bangladesh and China have a remarkable journey of high-quality development, innovation and collaboration under the BRI. "In the coming years, we aspire to further strengthen our ties, explore new avenues of cooperation, and continue to work towards mutual prosperity," said Mamun. "The BRI has been a beacon of hope, and together, we will continue to illuminate the path toward high-quality development and a brighter future for both our nations," he added. Faruque Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that as Bangladesh is on the way to achieving "Vision 2041," China and Bangladesh are progressing and developing together via methods including government-to-government cooperation. Song Yang, economic and commercial counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, said that on the journey of Bangladesh's modernization, the BRI best fits the "Vision 2041" (of achieving the high-income status for Bangladesh by 2041) and "Sonar Bangla" dream (of a prosperous Bangladesh free from poverty and hunger) and is most suitable for Bangladesh's reality. "With the guidance of the BRI, China-Bangladesh relations will surely reach a new level and open a new era of friendly cooperation," Song noted. The seminar is one of the events of the "The Belt and Road Initiative in Bangladesh Exhibition 2023," jointly organized by the Chinese embassy, Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) TRIPOLI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Monday expressed its willingness to support the Libyan authorities in battling floods that have hit eastern Libya. "The United Nations in Libya is closely following the emergency caused by severe weather conditions in the eastern region of the country. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and our thoughts for all people affected," UNSMIL said in a statement. The mission said it stood ready to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to complement national and local efforts to respond to the floods. After Mediterranean storm Daniel made landfall in eastern Libya on Sunday, it has caused flooding and destroyed facilities along its path. Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah on Sunday instructed relevant authorities to remain on high alert and take measures to deal with the storm, vowing to "protect the people and ease the damage of the floods and rain". https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/ukrainian-troops-suffer-heavy-losses-trying-to-attack-opytnoye-village-in-dpr-1113290268.html Ukrainian Troops Suffer Heavy Losses Trying to Attack Opytnoye Village in DPR Ukrainian Troops Suffer Heavy Losses Trying to Attack Opytnoye Village in DPR Ukrainian troops tried to advance with tanks and armored combat vehicles near Opytnoye village, but suffered serious losses, Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on his Telegram account. 2023-09-11T18:23+0000 2023-09-11T18:23+0000 2023-09-11T18:23+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine denis pushilin russia ukraine dpr ukrainian counteroffensive attempt donetsk nato us arms for ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/17/1094983543_0:320:3073:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_8010493200cb57296e7e493558802b80.jpg "We can see that the enemy has intensified its efforts near Opytnoye with tanks and armored combat vehicles, suffering serious losses, but the fighting goes on, the enemy is trying to improve its positions in that direction. There is an understanding of further steps for our units, there are no serious fears," he said in a video message.According to Pushilin, there are no significant changes in the Krasny Liman direction. The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched several small attacks in the direction of the Torskoye and Serebrianka, but Russian units repelled them all. The DPR leader added that there are no serious signs of fighting heating up in the area.He noted an "operational pause" in the Artemovsk (Bakhmut) direction, where Ukrainian troops have begun to regroup and replace their advance assault units. In the Andreyevka and Kurdyumovka directions the enemy failed to improve its position using artillery, added Pushilin.There are no notable changes in the Maryinka direction either, and the situation in the Ugledar direction remains under control, he concluded.The evident failure of the counteroffensive launched by the Kiev regime in early June has not stopped Ukrainian generals from sending more and more soldiers and NATO-supplied military equipment to the meat grinder. The forces of the Kiev regime did not have a single chance of success since the very beginning of the much-anticipated counteroffensive effort, according to Western military analysts.Nonetheless, Ukraine continues to waste its own people in pointless attempts to breach Russian defenses. Having lost enormous number of citizens which either fled the country or died protecting NATO interests, the authorities adopt new laws on mobilization in order to send students, the diseased, and elderly to the frontline. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230905/ukraine-fails-to-achieve-its-goals-in-three-months-of-counteroffensive--shoigu-1113129812.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230903/millions-of-ukrainians-dodging-draft-to-avoid-certain-death-fighting-for-nato-1113096124.html russia ukraine donetsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 special military operation, ukrainian crisis, failed counteroffensive, ukrainian counteroffensive, us weapons, nato equipment, nato-supplied military equipment, us arms for ukraine, foiled counteroffensive, counteroffensive attempt, thwarted counteroffensive, counteroffensive effort, nato arms for ukraine, nato support for ukraine, europe for ukraine, donetsk, donetsk people's republic, dpr https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/us-seeks-to-divide-indo-pacific-use-new-alliances-as-proxies-against-china-1113272705.html US Seeks to Divide Indo-Pacific, Use New Alliances as 'Proxies Against China' US Seeks to Divide Indo-Pacific, Use New Alliances as 'Proxies Against China' The US goal is not to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region, but rather "to divide it against China," Brian Berletic, an ex-US Marine and independent geopolitical researcher and writer, told Sputnik. 2023-09-11T12:10+0000 2023-09-11T12:10+0000 2023-09-11T12:10+0000 analysis us joe biden china vietnam xi jinping semiconductors indo-pacific /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0b/1113272904_0:157:3007:1848_1920x0_80_0_0_b2671cc5dcec6a322d3830555ac0f9aa.jpg Washingtons goal is not to maintain stability in the Pacific region, as it often proclaims, but rather "to divide it against China," Brian Berletic, an ex-US Marine and independent geopolitical researcher and writer, told Sputnik.The recent flurry of activity displayed by the United States with regard to Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and, recently, Vietnam, is all geared to drum up alliances that would serve the purpose of isolating and containing China, he added.US President Joe Biden arrived in Hanoi late Sunday after wrapping up his visit to New Delhi, India for the G20 summit. During a press conference, he touted a major upgrade to US-Vietnamese relations, saying that Washington and Hanoi had formally elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on Sunday. He also stated:The 46th POTUS also claimed that America had been using "an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability.""Having India cooperate much more with the United States, be closer to the United States, Vietnam being closer to the United States. Its not about containing China. It's about having a stable base in the Indo-Pacific, Biden said, adding that he wanted to "see China succeed economically, but I want see them succeed by the rules."US' 'Arbitrary Rules' PlaybookAs for the "international rules" cited by the US president, "they are not referring to international law, but rather arbitrary rules Washington itself is imposing on the world, often in contradiction to international law," the geopolitical researcher explained.According to Brian Berletic, President Biden's recent comments regarding his trip to Vietnam clearly demonstrate Washingtons wider foreign policy toward the region.While escalating trade and tech wars with Beijing, the US has been bolstering its presence in the Indo-Pacific region by forming alliances such as AUKUS, which groups it with Australia and the UK, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), which also incorporates Australia, India, and Japan. The recent trilateral summit with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, along with a slew of large military drills with Japan, Australia, and the Philippines in the South China Sea in recent days, all fit into Washington's Indo-Pacific playbook. Vietnam was next on the list of regional countries to "woo" so that it could serve America's geopolitical interests, pundits told Sputnik. Hanoi was offered financial support and technology-led initiatives to coax the ASEAN-member into agreeing to upgrade bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership." Previously, the US was listed at the bottom of Vietnams three-tiered hierarchy of partnerships comprehensive, strategic, and comprehensive strategic.Ultimately, bearing in mind all the recent moves made by Washington, it is very clear that the creation of various US-led "alliances" in the Pacific region "are aimed at isolating and containing China," Berletic underscored, adding:'Futile' Efforts to Isolate China Economically After US-Vietnam talks ended on the weekend, an explanatory document was released, indicating that the new "status" would include a new semiconductor supply chain partnership, along with a science and technology research agreement, boosted enhanced trade and investment ties in such areas as agriculture, loans, climate, human rights, health, rare earth minerals, and energy.The agreements come as the US has been spearheading an effort to block China's access to high-end semiconductor chips produced in the Netherlands, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Earlier in the month, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told media that Washington was "not going to sell the most sophisticated American chips to China that they want for their military capacity," adding that the US was "going to be as strict as can be and as hardline as possible denying China the most sophisticated chips."The expert reminded that China boasts a larger population and industrial base than the US and its allies, and recalled statements made by Chinese President Xi Jingpin, to the effect that China's economy is an ocean, not a pond," and "US efforts to dry China up economically can be compared to throwing a towel into the ocean and expecting it to soak up all of its water In other words, US efforts are 'ultimately futile.'" https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/i-dont-want-to-contain-china-biden-says-as-us-announces-strategic-pact-with-vietnam-1113260947.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230910/vietnam-has-no-interest-in-joining-us-orchestrated-anti-china-coalition-1113247393.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230905/china-reportedly-creates-40-bn-semiconductor-fund-to-blow-off-western-restrictions-1113136163.html china vietnam indo-pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko indo-pacific region, us alliances in pacific, contain china, us trade and tech war against china https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/us-trained--funded-911-terrorists-just-like-it-arms-ukraine-1113268866.html US Trained & Funded' 9/11 Terrorists Just Like it Arms Ukraine US Trained & Funded' 9/11 Terrorists Just Like it Arms Ukraine Washington helped train and arm the terrorists who carried out the 9/11 attacks on the US, said Peter Kuznick, professor of history at the American University. 2023-09-11T12:30+0000 2023-09-11T12:30+0000 2023-09-11T12:30+0000 us 9/11 attacks 9/11 analysis ukraine afghanistan peter kuznick osama bin laden zbigniew brzezinski /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0b/1113268678_0:96:2049:1248_1920x0_80_0_0_a23e29f518cb3fcd801889a10454e403.jpg As the United States remembers the victims of the deadly 9/11 terrorist attacks that shook the country 22 years ago, it is worth noting that Washington made a deliberate choice to "help create" the very extremists who masterminded them, Peter Kuznick, professor of history at the American University, told Sputnik.We knew exactly who these people were and what their organizations were like, said the co-author of the "Untold history of the United States."The US believed that the 9/11 attacks were planned by Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who at the time was in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban**, which had been in power since 1996. It is a well-documented fact that Washington funded Maktab al-Khidamat, the forerunner to Al Qaeda, which was founded, among others, by Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.Early in 1979, the US had already been working with Islamic extremists... In fact, according to Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security advisor to then-US President Jimmy Carter, on July 3, 1979, the 39th POTUS signed the first directive for secret aid to the rebels," said Peter Kuznick.The insurgents that the US began funding were opposed to the Soviet Union-backed modernist government in Afghanistan, that was supporting industrialization, and educating women, the professor of history emphasized. The US-backed Islamic extremists were mostly working in Pakistan, with the government of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, and would go into the schools, US allies, and not only threaten and kill teachers, they would actually skin people alive, he said, adding:A trove of declassified White House documents made public in 2019 showed that in 1980, then-President Carters CIA lavished close to $100 million on weapons shipped to the rebels in question, with the administration of Ronald Reagan eventually upping the ante to $700 million annually. According to the same declassified docs, shared by US media outlets in 2019, Brzezinski received a warning from an National Security Council staffer, Thomas Thornton, who said that the Afghan extremists they were arming were, a pretty ugly bunch. I shudder to think of the human rights problems we would face if they came to power. The CIA also set its sights on Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who would go on to receive more than $1 billion in armaments from the US over the next decade."So the US was providing aid and providing arms and providing training in these camps in Pakistan, and then they [the extremists] would be deployed to Afghanistan. So this became a magnet for the jihadis around the world who wanted to fight against the secular government in Afghanistan. Among those who went to Pakistan under these circumstances was Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the future leaders of Al Qaeda," recalled the historian. Ayman al-Zawahiri was subsequently killed by a US drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2022.The expert cited Cheryl Benard, wife of Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Afghanistan, as saying that America had made a "deliberate choice", at the time, to throw the worst crazies against the secular government in Afghanistan, irrespective of the collateral damage.In April 1992, rebel groups stormed the besieged capital of Kabul, overthrowing then-president Mohammad Najibullah, with civil war erupting and the Taliban succeeding in taking over. Osama bin Laden returned with Al Qaeda forces to Afghanistan in 1996, said Kuznick, adding:Following the 9/11 attacks, Al Qaeda, based in Afghanistan, controlled by the Taliban at that time, and led by Osama bin Laden, took responsibility. It called the brazen attacks a revenge for US support of Israel and meddling in the affairs of the Muslim countries. When Kabul refused to extradite bin Laden, the US and its allies invaded Afghanistan in November 2001, finding themselves then mired in a long insurgency against the Taliban. The US went on to capture or assassinate the key people deemed responsible for orchestrating the 9/11 attacks, as was the case with the murder of Bin Laden on May 2, 2011. The US war in Afghanistan lasted almost 20 years claimed the lives of over 65,000 Afghan security forces personnel, over 3,500 coalition troops, nearly 4,000 Western mercenaries, between 67,000 and 72,000 Taliban fighters, and over 38,000 civilians. After the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August of 2021, it triggered the collapse of the US-backed government led by President Ashraf Ghani, and accelerated the United States' troop pullout. On August 31, 2021, US forces completed their withdrawal from the country, ending the 20-year-long military presence there.Looking back at how the US was supporting the most extreme Islamist zealots in Afghanistan, and how it blew up in their face, one invariably draws parallels with the current Ukraine conflagration.With ample proof of neo-Nazism permeating the Kiev regime, and Ukrainian military, one wonders if the US is stepping onto the same rake, by funneling billions-worth of military support to fuel the NATO-led proxy war against Russia there. Last month, documents from the Danish Embassy in Kiev seen by Sputnik revealed that NATO military instructors had trained Ukrainian soldiers at a base of the nationalist Azov battalion*** (banned in Russia), despite the latter's exclusion from US military funding due to its radicalism. In August 2022, the Russian Supreme Court designated Azov as a terrorist organization. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said that Azov militants use prohibited means and methods of warfare and are complicit in the torture of civilians and the killing of children.Washington has vowed to support the Ukraine government, which openly features neo-Nazi battalions, and has assassinated Russian journalists, to the last Ukrainian. "US policy of lending arms and doing everything it can to prolong the fighting there [in Ukraine], is not a wise policy," and some of the repercussions might deliver blowback "similar to the US experience with the Afghan Mujahideen," Peter Kuznick concluded.*Al Qaeda is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.**Taliban is a terrorist organization under UN sanctions.***Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20210911/twin-beams-light-sky-above-new-york-city-in-memory-of-911-attack-victims-1088993932.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210910/hellfire-clouds-of-dust-and-blood-on-the-streets-aftermath-of-911-attack-in-new-york-1088913484.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230727/us-spends-more-money-in-ukraine-per-year-than-over-12-years-in-afghanistan-1112196706.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210831/video-allegedly-shows-bin-ladens-security-chief-returning-to-afghanistan-hours-before-us-troop-exit-1083757947.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20210910/bizarre-conspiracy-theories-that-have-haunted-911-attacks-for-two-decades-1088924962.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230906/boneface-backs-biden-are-us-neo-nazi-groups-engaged-in-war-crimes-a-cia-tool-1113152189.html ukraine afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko 9/11 attacks, commemoration events of 9/11 attacks, anniversary of the septembr 9, 2001 terror attacks in the united states, us war in afghanistan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/watch-rare-footage-of-russian-iskander-ballistic-missile-system-in-action-during-special-op-1113269527.html Watch: Rare Footage of Russian Iskander Ballistic Missile System In Action During Special Op Watch: Rare Footage of Russian Iskander Ballistic Missile System In Action During Special Op The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage showing an Iskander missile system driving off-road from a shelter to a launch position, the target being a well-camouflaged command post where, according to intelligence, top Ukrainian officers gather daily. 2023-09-11T07:50+0000 2023-09-11T07:50+0000 2023-09-11T07:50+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russian ministry of defense russia iskander ballistic missile ukraine video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/0b/1113270131_22:0:1658:920_1920x0_80_0_0_7b36467c4b25d7d8f7baa53e6f3acf42.png The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage showing an Iskander missile system off-roading from a shelter to a launch position, the target being a well-camouflaged command post where, according to intelligence, top Ukrainian officers gather daily.After completing the mission, the crew leaves the vehicle in the shelter under a special camouflage net saturated with a chemical compound that neutralizes radio waves, making the installation invisible to enemy reconnaissance. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 Rare footage of Russian Iskanders working against the Armed Forces of Ukraine Rare footage of Russian Iskanders working against the Armed Forces of Ukraine 2023-09-11T07:50+0000 true PT2M51S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian ministry of defense, ukrainian officers, iskander missile system, iskander ballistic missile system https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/western-russophobia-campaign-is-insane---daughter-of-chilean-political-prisoner-corvalan-1113286391.html Western Russophobia Campaign is Insane - Daughter of Chilean Political Prisoner Corvalan Western Russophobia Campaign is Insane - Daughter of Chilean Political Prisoner Corvalan 50 years ago on September 11, 1973, a military coup took place in Chile. Socialist President Salvador Allende was overthrown and a junta, led by General Augusto Pinochet, installed a brutal dictatorship. 2023-09-11T15:08+0000 2023-09-11T15:08+0000 2023-09-11T15:08+0000 world chile russia ussr augusto pinochet salvador allende military coup junta us hegemony /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106533/96/1065339639_0:181:2997:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_2bbcf5fe6a65ae850b78a6f51fdb8183.jpg On this occasion, Sputnik Mundo spoke with Viviana Corvalan, the daughter of legendary Chilean communist Luis Corvalan. Viviana addressed the events that took place half a century ago and her familys life as they were forced into exile to the USSR, as well as the current issues of international politics.Corvalan Family, Victims of Pinochet DictatorshipIn an interview with #SputnikMundo, Viviana Corvalan reveals that after Pinochet came to power, her family, like many other victims of the dictatorship, had to go through hell. Vivianas father, Luis Corvalan, then-general secretary of the Chilean Communist Party, was arrested and tortured. The same ordeal happened to his son, who died in exile at just 28 because of severe damage to his health."They completely ruined our lives. I suffered academically, politically or even in terms of friendships. Who would talk to you during the dictatorship? Our family was constantly being watched. In other words, whoever approached us was immediately claimed a communist," she said.The evil done to her family was so great that Corvalan admits: she still feels "terrible rage" and refuses to forgive those involved in the crimes committed during the dictatorship.Soviet Union Was Where I Felt HappiestIn 1976, Luis Corvalan was exchanged for Vladimir Bukovsky, a Soviet dissident, and received political asylum in the USSR as part of an agreement between Soviet and Chilean authorities under the mediation of the United States.Viviana Corvalan, 21 at the time, also came to Moscow with her younger sister. She says it was love at first sight with the country, which she already knew thanks to the gifts her father brought back from the USSR before the Chilean coup.When talking about the Russian capital and its residents, Corvalan emphasized their "greatness" and "elegance." She also added that Soviet society was "fantastic and wonderful," regarding its social achievements, which are still unattainable for many countries today."I could financially afford to pursue whatever studies I wanted; I had a place to live, I had access to free health care, I had love, colleagues and friends I keep in touch with to this day," says Corvalan, highlighting the stability of her life in the Soviet Union, in stark contrast with the anxiety she felt upon her return to Chile."The Soviet Union was where I felt the happiest. It is not only the USSR I miss, but also Russia," she said.Zelensky is being used as a puppet against RussiaAccording to Corvalan, the current global campaign of Russophobia is "insane." In this regard she regretted the attitude of the incumbent president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, who sides with Kiev when it comes to the Ukraine conflict.She also noted that the anti-Russian campaign in the West largely reminds her of Pinochet attacking the communists, which, according to her, is still relevant. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230718/ukraine-civilians-children-will-die-for-years-from-us-cluster-bombs---peace-activist-1111958202.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230817/russia-grows-richer-while-west-bleeds-trillions-amid-failed-sanctions--funding-ukraine-1112666650.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230906/bad-decision-all-around-ex-pentagon-officials-blast-us-move-to-send-ukraine-depleted-uranium-1113160766.html chile russia ussr Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 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 western arrogance, western hegemony, multipolar world order, new world order, multipolar world, polycentric world, us hegemony, multipolarity, anti-russian bias, anti-communism, anti-russian sentiment, military takeover, military coup, chile, chiliean, viviana corvalan, luis corvalan, augusto pinochet, chilean communist party, russophobia, pinochet https://sputnikglobe.com/20230911/whos-to-blame-for-ukraine-crisis-and-rising-global-nuclear-tensions-1113290665.html Who's to Blame for Ukraine Crisis and Rising Global Nuclear Tensions? Who's to Blame for Ukraine Crisis and Rising Global Nuclear Tensions? The escalation of the long-running Ukrainian crisis into a full-blown NATO proxy war against Russia has been accompanied by dramatic warnings about the risks of the conflict escalating into a global nuclear conflagration. Whos to blame? Is there a way out? A senior diplomat recently offered his perspective on Russias position. 2023-09-11T18:27+0000 2023-09-11T18:27+0000 2023-09-11T18:27+0000 analysis russia ukraine nato bulletin of the atomic scientists un security council (unsc) valery garbuzov sergey lavrov sergei kramarenko /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0c/12/1091632234_0:202:2925:1847_1920x0_80_0_0_83fc64a7a2b42d7cdbbc78e996e40420.jpg The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands on its world-famous 'Doomsday Clock' to 90 seconds to midnight earlier this year, citing mounting risks of a nuclear war being sparked by the crisis in Ukraine.From 2022 onward, Western officials, media, and think tanks have churned out statement after statement and article after article blaming Moscow for the escalation, with some going so far as to claim that Russia might preemptively use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, ignoring both the text of Russia's nuclear doctrine, and statements by top Russian officials, including President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov, on the unacceptability of such a scenario.I want to stress that our country is fully committed to the principle that a nuclear war would be unacceptable and proceeds from the premise that there can be no winners in such a war. Therefore, it must never be fought, Lavrov emphasized, urging the worlds nuclear powers to remain committed to these understandings and exercise maximum restraint.Whos Responsible for Nuclear Escalation?Responding to a recent article by Garbuzov on purported Russian "theses of state propaganda" on the causes for the Ukrainian crisis, Russian Ambassador Plenipotentiary Alexander Kramarenko pointed out that the academic's "manifesto of Americanism itself ironically consists entirely of propaganda cliches from Washington," and is stripped of even an attempt "to assign part of the responsibility for the current aggravation" onto the West.Focusing on the danger of nuclear escalation, a subject he is all too familiar with in his capacity as a senior diplomat, Kramarenko, who also serves as director of the Russian Foreign Ministry Diplomatic Academys Institute of Current International Problems, detailed the long list of steps undertaken by the US to undermine Moscow's trust.Moscow, Kramarenko recalled, was forced to take steps to preserve the balance of power which guarantees the maintenance of international peace and security through the creation of new hypersonic and autonomous underwater nuclear delivery systems, only after the US ignored Russias fundamental security interests and concerns.In the case of the latter, the United States and its Western allies stubbornly refuse to begin work on a verification protocol of the Bioweapons Convention, and the network of American biological laboratories around the world, including those identified in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, raises questions about US guarantees not to use such weapons, the diplomat added.Comprehensive Arms ControlThe senior Russian diplomat also asked what excuses Britain and France, which possess the worlds fourth and fifth-largest nuclear arsenal, respectively, have for not participating in global arms control efforts, despite their alliance with the US within NATO. Pointing to US violations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) through the stationing of nuclear weapons in six countries, including Germany, Kramarenko stressed that similar concerns apply to Australia amid its decision to acquire American nuclear submarine technology under the trilateral transcontinental Anglo-Saxon AUKUS military bloc, taking the world back to the period at the start of the Cold War.US Responsibility for Ukraine CrisisTurning to the Ukrainian crisis, which is now being cited as the main cause of the escalation of the nuclear danger, Kramarenko recalled that on the eve of its escalation in late 2021, it was Washington, not Moscow, that refused to entertain the idea of security guarantees "in the context of NATO's expansion and the approach of alliance infrastructure toward our borders."Throughout the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis from 2014 onward, Kramarenko recalled, Moscow supported maintaining a strategic dialogue with Washington, with the process ultimately failing to achieve any results in assuring Russias security. "The US, it turns out, is not capable of maintaining such a dialogue with China, either.""The trust between our countries was undermined a long time ago. Suffice it to mention the Wests aggression against Libya, when we failed to stop what appeared to be a humanitarian resolution in the UN Security Council. Then came the obstruction of the 2015 Minsk Agreements on resolving the civil conflict in Ukraine, also approved by the Security Council, which, as has subsequently been explicitly stated, were meant only to buy time for our neighbors rearmament in order to inflict a military or strategic defeat on Russia. What kind of trust can we talk about here?...And what is the purpose of such contacts, when everything happens in spite of them? It turns out that Washington is simply incapable of negotiating, and this is not only our view," the diplomat stressed.As for the Russian nuclear doctrine, the diplomat pointed out that it is much more clearly formulated than that of its American counterpart, which plays with ideas of strategic ambiguity (including about the willingness to launch preemptive nuclear strikes) and at the same time seeks to tightly control others, including even its own allies.Multipolarity and the Future of Global Arms Control"Should we lament the destruction of arms control by the Americans? A new process seems to be approaching, now grounded in the realities of a multipolar world, and will take shape after the completion of the present geopolitical turning point. It is already clear that this process will be multilateral, involving China at a minimum, which with time will catch up to the US and Russia in the number of warheads deployed on strategic missiles. American experts themselves admit that this will happen by 2030, when China will no longer be able to be "contained"," Kramarenko wrote.The senior Russian diplomat emphasized that the Ukrainian crisis appears to have been planned out by the US as a "blitzkrieg" to "deal with" Russia before pivoting to China "and thereby avoiding a 'war on two fronts'." The question, he stressed, is why the US felt the need to start such a confrontation in the first place, and on what sorts of analyses Washingtons decisions were based.Russia is not to blame for the present global crisis, whatever figures like Garbuzov and their sympathizers might say, Kramarenko stressed, and if anything, Moscows only real fault has been its "naivety" reliance "on the good will of the West," and "difficulty breaking with the illusion that we must be like them, and that they will accept us as their own.""After all, this would mean leaning in toward the so-called 'golden billion,' and taking part in the neocolonial robbery of the entire non-Western world, something the doesnt fit into Russias "history and mission in the world," the observer noted. Instead, Kramarenko now hopes, the Ukrainian crisis will finally free Russia from the West and its ideational and other forms of oppression." https://sputnikglobe.com/20221213/21-years-ago-today-us-rips-up-abm-treaty-with-russia-starting-slow-slide-toward-current-crisis-1105420298.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230819/us-seeks-license-to-encircle-russia-china-with-offensive-strategic-bio-labs-1112721451.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230131/minsk-agreements-were-a-ruse-that-gave-kiev-time-to-rearm-ukraines-ex-president-admits-1106856464.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220720/west-came-to-global-preeminence-through-robbery-of-other-peoples-has-no-model-of-the-future-putin-1097617120.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov ukraine, russia, nato, united states, nuclear tensions, tensions, relations, ties, cold war, strategic balance, expansion, nuclear weapons Woodbine Mohawk Park will host the RCMP Musical Ride on Tuesday, Sept. 19 and Thursday, Sept. 21. Both nights feature activities and dining experiences for the whole family in addition to live racing before and after the performance. The RCMP Musical Ride is a remarkable display of coordination between up to 32 horses and police officer riders performing intricate formations and drills set to music. Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the RCMP Musical Ride tours Canada collecting donations for local organizations at each stop. The ticket proceeds from Woodbine Mohawk Park will be donated to the Campbellville Community Association. Kids can look forward to a visit from magician Tyler Fergus, pony rides, face painting, princess and superhero character visits, and stations for colouring, slime and selfies. Tickets are on sale now online and at the Woodbine Mohawk Park gift shop and will be available at the door. Tickets are $10 and free for kids 12 and under. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. First race post time is set for 5:35 p.m. The RCMP Musical Ride performance will take place at 7 p.m. and there will be a Mountie meet & greet (with free trading cards available) at 7:30 p.m. Racing will follow. Mohawk Harvest Kitchen will have a special $50 per person three-course prix fixe menu. Reservations can be made by calling 647-394-8319. (With files from Woodbine) Those first couple of weeks were the darkest days I would say of our life. But through all of it I have come to realize how strong Ryan is. And he was 100 per cent the reason that we just kept going as a family almost like nothing had changed. In August 2021, Ryan Holliday was featured in Standardbred Canadas Heart of Harness Racing Calendar thanks to a photo submitted by Lori Martin (featured above). The caption that accompanied the 2020 photo was a quote from Kobe Bryant. "The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win." Less than a year later, no one could have realized how prophetic that quote would be for Ryan. What started off feeling like a sore muscle turned into something no one could have ever expected. Anyone who works in physical labour knows that aches and pains come with the job. When Ryan started having mild pain in his thigh at the beginning of 2022, he never imagined it would be cancer. After trying over-the-counter pain medication and stretching for a couple of weeks with no relief, the Mount Forest, Ont. area horseman booked an appointment with his family doctor in hopes of a solution. The doctor booked an X-ray for the next week, and Ryan received the results over the phone a couple of days after. On March 17, 2022, Ryans life changed forever, when he was told he had a tumor growing on his femur. The next few weeks were both a whirlwind and a standstill filled with medical appointments for bone scans, CAT scans and MRIs. Ryan travelled to Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto for a biopsy of the tumor to diagnose the cancer. The waiting and the unknowns were the worst part, as Ryan and his wife Caroline imagined the worst-case scenario. The months between March and June felt like a lifetime, just because you dont know whats going on, Ryan told Trot Insider. After six long weeks, the results of the biopsy came in, and he was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer known as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The cancer was growing in the bone marrow of his leg. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a known cancer but this situation was unique since this form of lymphoma is usually found in the lymph nodes. It was almost three months from the time we first found out there was a lesion at the top of his femur until we actually knew it was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. That's a long time, but at least once we knew it was a treatable one, said Caroline. After the diagnosis at Mount Sinai, Ryan was referred to Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. He had a PET scan in May which revealed cancer the whole length of his femur: from his knee to his hip. The next step in the treatment plan after the diagnosis and the scans was chemotherapy. Ryan viewed his battle with cancer with a harness racing mindset and believed this was a race he needed to win. In June, Ryan started chemotherapy treatments every three weeks for a total of six rounds. He started his first round at Grand River and finished the five other rounds at the Mount Forest hospital where his wife Caroline works as a nurse. The chemotherapy worked instantly and was very responsive: Right before chemo started, it was quite a bit of pain to walk and two days after my first treatment I said I probably felt 80 per cent better, said Ryan. The pain just went away so very, very quickly. Ryan kept a positive outlook through treatment by interacting with others at the hospital in similar situations along with the support of the hospital staff. The team at Grand River was great, the people in the hospital are fantastic. They check in with you all the time and theres great communication, said Ryan about the level of care he received. Conveniently, the hospital in Mount Forest was a five-minute drive from the Hollidays house. This made trips to and from chemotherapy much more bearable. Throughout his treatment, Ryan was very immunocompromised and had to be cautious when resuming normal activities. Although he felt better physically, his body was still recovering and he had to stay as healthy as possible to avoid getting sick. If theres one thing that both the pandemic and Ryans cancer diagnosis made clear for the Hollidays, its that there is no perfect time to do something that you either want to do or, in this case, must do. You realize with something like COVID that the things you maybe always thought you could do, all of the sudden you werent able to, noted Caroline. What have I been waiting for? So now, maybe everything isnt perfect, but if youve been wanting to do it, do it. At the time of his diagnosis, Ryan was racing a couple of horses at his farm. He sent them to other trainers so he could focus on his health during his treatment and kept the horses that he owned. Despite undergoing chemotherapy, Ryan showed up to the farm every day and cleaned stalls, helping out in any way he could. This created a sense of normalcy and routine in a seemingly uncontrollable situation. Ryan very much wanted to continue to do all of those things because that's what kept things normal. And that's I feel like what enabled him to get through it, said Caroline. Throughout the weeks of gruelling treatments, Ryan kept a positive attitude and viewed the process pragmatically, as a task that needed to be completed. Once you get to talk to the doctors about it and what the plan is going to be, it does ease your mind a bit, so I just looked at it like a job that needs to be done, he explained. Although he was still helping out at the barn as much as he could physically, he was still struggling emotionally. Cancer is as much a mental battle as a physical one. In this situation, I like to think Im a mentally sound and mentally tough person I guess, but it wears on you sometimes. That was probably harder than the physical to be honest because physically I got better rather quickly, but the mental part is still there and obviously some days are worse than others. Ryan and Caroline knew they had to tell their children about their fathers treatment in a considerate manner. They put a creative twist on Ryans diagnosis to explain the situation to their young children Max and Maya, four and six years old at the time of detection. Caroline, Max, Maya and Ryan Holliday Ryan created a balance between protecting and educating his children, by telling them he had poison in his leg and needed to go to the hospital for medicine. This was a clever explanation, as their son Max put his own spin on his fathers story by telling people he got bit by a poisonous snake. Both children were incredibly supportive of his journey and came to the hospital to cheer on their father when he rang the bell after his last round of chemo. Ryan and Carolines friends and family were quick to help in any way possible. Ryans father Dave, brother Ben and family friend Dennis Hannath were among those who helped with the horses when needed. We were so fortunate to have so many good friends and family that know all of those types of things, Ryan added appreciatively. We always had people offering to help. Ryans support system also included his group of close friends who were eager to hear about his treatment. His journey provided a sense of clarity about the people in his life, as Ryan explained, You really find out who your friends are in these situations. The timing of Ryans last round of chemotherapy was fitting, as he finished on Sept. 16, 2022, the day after World Lymphoma Awareness Day, recognized annually on Sept. 15. The treatment was successful, as the cancer remained contained to his leg and shrunk a significant amount. After a short break from chemotherapy, Ryan had 20 sessions of radiation at Grand River in December 2022. The final step is monitoring with a specialist, which is ongoing every three months. In terms of his health, Ryan has made a full recovery, physically Ive been feeling good for quite a while. He received an overwhelming amount of support for his recovery from other drivers and fans since his return. Looking back at the past year, Caroline believes Ryans diagnosis and how he handled it strengthened their family and helped them realize the important things in life. Through this whole year, we have definitely learned to just try to look at anything positive, because that's really what keeps you going. Ryan has stepped back from racing to focus on spending time with his family and growing his bin rental business. He still enjoys training his young horses and living what he calls the farm life. Ryan had a follow-up appointment with his doctors last week, and according to Caroline, "all is good." The Hollidays are celebrating Ryan being one year cancer-free in a special way this weekend, tackling the Tough Mudder challenge with some of Caroline's co-workers on Saturday, Sept. 16 the one-year anniversary of Ryan's last day of chemotherapy. If theres anything Caroline and Ryan want to share from Ryans story, its that early detection and self-advocating are key for treatment. You need to advocate for yourself and you need to listen to your body, stressed Caroline. If you know something is not right or something is different, go to the doctor, be proactive, You can get things early. Cancer is ruthless, and it happens to any of us. (A Trot Insider Exclusive by Katherine Fitzpatrick) With a heavy heart, Hickory Lane Farm announced that the great racehorse and stallion, McArdle, passed away peacefully at the farm this past Saturday, Sept. 9 at the age of 24. Born, raised and sold as a yearling by Perretti Farms, McArdle, the son of Falcon Seelster-Lilting Laughter, was owned by Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley, Sampson Street Stables (Louis Damiano) and TLP Stables (Thomas Pontone) during his racing career from 2001 through 2003. He was masterfully trained by Chris Ryder and driven at two, three and four by Luc Ouellette, David Miller, Mike LaChance, Brian Sears, Cat Manzi and Stephane Bouchard. As a racehorse, he earned a 1:49 mark at three and amassed $2,692,604 in earnings with while winning 28 races, the vast majority being stakes races. Following his racing career, McArdle was syndicated and began his stallion career in 2004 at Perretti Farms of New Jersey before moving two years later in 2006 to Pennsylvania to stand at Lindwood Farms. There he stood until 2013 at which time he arrived at his final destination, Ohio's Hickory Lane Farm while, for most of his stallion career, being shuttled to perform stallion duty in the Southern Hemisphere at Nevele R Farm in New Zealand. As a stallion in North America, McArdles results are as impressive in the breeding shed as they were during in his racing career. Known for siring fast and durable horses, he sired seven millionaires and winners of more than $86.7 including Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer and current Canadian sire McWicked p,7,1:46.2 ($5,103,271); world champion One More Laugh p,3,1:47.4 ($2,689,971); world champion Charlie May p,4,1:47.1 ($2,021,677); McCedes p,3,1:49.4 ($1,338,128); Nob Hill High p,6,1:50.1 ($1,113,043); McErlean p,4,1:49.1 ($1,039,646); Lispatty p,7,1:49.4 ($1,005,403) as well as Ohio filly champion, Queen Of The Pride p,4,1:50.2 ($802,129). "As a racehorse and stallion, McArdle will be fondly remembered for forever touching the lives of many in a positive way both emotionally and financially. Anyone who was lucky enough to be directly associated with him knew he was a very special animal and truly one of the greats in our sport. He will be dearly missed," said the farm in its release. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of McArdle. (With files from Hickory Lane Farm) LINCOLN A tradition started years ago at the Nebraska Department of Insurance (NDOI); each year, experts from the department travel across the state before the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace open enrollment in November. Roadshow is an honored tradition in our office to get out and help answer Nebraskans questions about insurance, NDOI Director Eric Dunning said in a press release. I want to make sure that people across the state know they have access to us and that we will be there to help answer questions. For the 2023 Roadshow, NDOI experts will be traveling to western Nebraska from Sept. 18 to Sept. 22. The Western tour includes Kearney, Gering, and Valentine. Between Sept. 26 to Sept. 27, the Roadshow will go to Columbus, Norfolk, and South Sioux City. Additionally, officials will have the honor of speaking to the Rotary Clubs in North Platte, Chadron and Wayne. The Insurance Roadshow Stops in the Panhandle will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Gering Public Library. The public is invited to attend. The NDOI will be offering one hour of general continuing education for insurance agents who sign in and stay for the talk Launching ceremony of the research results release conference of "Malaysia's Integrated Intelligent Impactless Power Plant (3iPP) Planning and Prospects" is held during the 2023 China-Malaysia Integrated Intelligent Impactless Power Plant (3iPP) Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's innovative power plant technology could facilitate Malaysia in the transition towards a more sustainable, reliable, and equitable energy landscape, a senior Malaysian official said on Monday. Chang Lih Kang, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia, told a forum focusing on smart zero-carbon power plants here that China's strides in the technological aspects of the renewable energy sector are "exemplary." The 2023 China-Malaysia Integrated Intelligent Impactless Power Plant (3iPP) Development Forum is organized by Shanghai Energy Technology Development Co., Ltd (SETD), a subsidiary of China's State Power Investment Corporation Ltd. (SPIC). SPIC's innovative approach to developing integrated smart zero-carbon power plants is something Malaysia can learn much from, especially given their leading role in renewable energy and clean energy sectors, said Chang. Chang pointed out that the timely research on "Malaysia's Integrated Intelligent Impactless Power Plant (3iPP) Planning and Prospects", released during the forum, can serve as a good reference which can assist Malaysia to become a net zero greenhouse gas emissions nation as early as 2050. The 3iPP aligns impeccably with the strategic goals of Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), said Chang, adding that it can serve as a flagship project under the NETR, showcasing how international cooperation can help the Southeast Asian country achieve its ambitious goals. "We anticipate that the 3iPP will find applications not just in Malaysia but set as a precedent for Southeast Asia," said Chang. Minister Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Embassy of China in Malaysia Sun Shuqiang and SETD Deputy General Manager Huang Dongsong, along with over 100 representatives from relevant Malaysian authorities, universities and private enterprises attended the half-day forum. A tiny creature vital to protecting water quality is losing ground, and federal officials are proposing to list it as threatened and designate some of its habitat, including portions of the New River, as critical to its survival. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on its declaration that the green floater mussel is at risk of endangerment and needs protection. The green floater is a small, greenish brown freshwater mussel native to Virginia and nine other states. Tim Lane serves as the Southwest Virginia Mussel Recovery Coordinator at Department of Wildlife Resources Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) near Marion. He explains the importance of mussels by describing them as the liver of the river. They filter bacteria, algae, sediment and other small particles from the river. In essence, they clean the water, interweaving their survival with that of other life, including humans. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concurs, saying in a news release, Freshwater mussels like the green floater are important indicators of healthy streams and rivers. At-risk mussel populations are a signal of problems that may also impact fish, wildlife and people. Conserving freshwater mussels and their habitats benefits local communities by protecting water quality for drinking, recreation and other fish and wildlife that all rely on clean, abundant water resources and healthy streams and rivers. While the species has strongholds in places, green floaters are rare in nearly 80% of the watersheds where they still survive. Today, no traces of the mussel species can be found in several states where it once thrived. The green floater isnt the only mussel in danger. More than 75% of the nations native freshwater mussel species are listed either as endangered or threatened, considered to be of special conservation concern, or presumed extinct. Damage to and loss of aquatic habitats from interacting stressors, including agricultural runoff, mining wastes, and development are some of the factors that put mussels at risk and have resulted in drastic population drops. At one time, the green floater thrived in the New River drainage of Montgomery, Wythe, and Pulaski counties, according to Lane. He remembers conversations with Dr. Dick Neves, a retired Virginia Tech professor, who shared that in the early 1980s he was able to find one [green floater] per minute as he snorkel searched the river. Unfortunately, Lane said, the species has slowly disappeared from the river, except for the most upstream portions near the North Carolina border (from the town of Fries upstream). Without a federal designation, Lane said, Not a great deal of work has been undertaken specifically for green floater restoration. The AWCCs work, he said, focused around providing juveniles for a study to test their ability to survive and grow in different locations. All individuals that have been grown out were transferred to North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to augment a population in that state. Lane celebrates the green floater, noting that it is unique. Its the only one of 300 freshwater mussels in North America that does not require a fish host to complete its life cycle, Lane explained. While other mussel species need a fish a bass, darter, perch or a specific minnow to carry their babies around the stream bottom, the green floater can release many thousands of juveniles per mother directly to the streams bottom. They can attach to fish fins for a ride away from mom, Lane said, but we have demonstrated in the lab that that is not necessary for them to survive. If the green floaters population could rebound, Lane said, the benefits of their ability to filter great volumes of water would be evident. Water quality could improve for users of the New River, including municipalities, boaters, fishermen, etc. Should the new designation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) be approved, Lane said, more federal money could be directed toward helping the species. As well, he added, It may also open opportunities for Virginia and North Carolina to work together to boost the New River population that overlaps our borders. Along with the ESA designation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate approximately 1,600 miles of river that are currently occupied by green floater as critical habitat in Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Critical habitat, according to the Service, helps focus conservation efforts where they are most needed, particularly for federal agencies, but does not affect land ownership, set aside lands, or establish a park or wildlife refuge. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted until Sept. 25. After reviewing those comments, the Service is expected to announce its decision within a year. Comments on the proposal may be submitted electronically or by hard copy. Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number or RIN for this rulemaking (FWS-R5-ES-2023-0012 or 1018-BF80). Then, click on the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule box to locate this document. Submit a comment by clicking on Comment. By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2023-0012, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 220413803. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov, which generally means that any personal information provided will also be posted. In 2023, the ESA is marking its 50th anniversary. The ESA is credited with saving 99% of listed species from extinction. Rajib Saha Vs Commissioner of Customs (CESTAT Kolkata) Introduction: The Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) Kolkata recently gave its verdict in the case of Rajib Saha Vs Commissioner of Customs. The crux of the case revolves around the legitimacy of demanding a differential duty on PPC cement that Rajib Saha imported from Bangladesh. The court has concluded that demanding differential duty without challenging the original assessment of the Bills of Entry is not sustainable. Background of the Case: Rajib Saha, the appellant, is an entrepreneur engaged in import and export through the land borders of Tripura. He had imported OPC/PPC Cement from Bangladesh during 2012 to 2014. The issue arose when the authorities alleged that Rajib Saha had evaded additional customs duty, amounting to Rs. 65,741, by undervaluing the MRP on the cement bags. The Allegation of Undervaluation: The Department of Customs issued a Show Cause Notice to Rajib Saha in 2014, alleging evasion of additional duty through undervaluation. They based their argument on the fact that the same type of cement from the same manufacturer had a higher MRP when imported through another port. Appeals and Counter Appeals: Initially, the adjudicating authority confirmed the demand of duty along with interest and a penalty. The appellant challenged this decision before the Commissioner (Appeals) Guwahati, only to face rejection. Eventually, the case reached CESTAT Kolkata. CESTATs Observations: CESTAT Kolkata gave multiple reasons for quashing the differential duty demand: 1. Difference in MRP is Natural: The MRP on the imported goods can naturally differ due to multiple factors, including the place of importation. Hence, different MRPs on bags imported through different ports are reasonable. 2. Absence of Evidence: No evidence suggested that goods imported through different ports were sold at the same price. Thus, allegations of undervaluation were unfounded. 3. Self-Assessment Not Challenged: The Bills of Entry were self-assessed and were not challenged by the department, making them final as per law. Reliance on Supreme Court Precedent: The appellant cited a Supreme Court decision which establishes that unless the original assessment is challenged, the department cannot demand differential duty. CESTAT found this precedent applicable in the case at hand. Conclusion: The CESTAT Kolkata order in the case of Rajib Saha Vs Commissioner of Customs serves as a pivotal decision regarding the legality of demanding differential duties without challenging the original assessment. The tribunal, leaning on previous Supreme Court verdicts, held that such demands are not sustainable, thereby quashing the differential duty demand on PPC Cement. This case serves as a significant precedent for similar cases in the future. FULL TEXT OF THE CESTAT KOLKATA ORDER The Appellant is engaged in import and export business through land borders in the state of Tripura. He imported OPC/PPC Cement in 50 Kg. PP woven bags, through Srimantpur L.C.S. from Bangladesh, during the period 17.03.2012 to 31.10.2014 . As the product was subject to levy of Additional duty of Customs (CVD) on MRP basis, the Appellant asked the exporter from Bangladesh to print the MRP on the bags. 2. The Appellant was issued Show Cause Notice dated 12.11.2014 alleging that he has evaded Additional duty of customs amounting to Rs.65,741/- by way of undervaluation in as much as cement from the same manufacturer in Bangladesh imported through Agartala L.C.S. was having a higher MRP of Rs. 305/- per bag of 50 Kg. 3. The Adjudicating Authority vide Order-in-Original dated 21.09.2015, confirmed the demand of duty along with interest and imposed penalty. However, the goods were not confiscated, as the same were not available for confiscation. 4. Aggrieved against the said Order-in-Original, the Appellant filed appeal before the Commissioner (Appeals) Guwahati, on the ground that the impugned Bills of Entry which were self-assessed were not challenged by the department and hence they became final. The Commissioner (Appeals) vide Order-in-Appeal dated 18.01.2016, upheld the Order-in-original and rejected the appeal filed by the Appellant. Aggrieved by the impugned Order, the Appellant has filed the present appeal. 5. In their submissions, the Appellant stated that different lots of the impugned goods were imported by different importers through different land ports though the goods were manufactured by the same manufacturer in Bangladesh. The MRP printed on the goods imported through other ports can be different, as the Place of importation itself was different and hence difference in MRP is quite natural. It is not a case that more than one MRP were printed on every bag. Only one MRP was printed on one lot which was independent of the other. MRP on the same item is decided in consideration of a number of factors besides landing cost and duty element. In the instant case goods being imported through different ports was the obvious reason for the difference in MRP. There is no evidence to suggest that the goods so imported through different ports under different MRP were sold at the same price. Thus, they contended that the authority has erred in observing different prices printed on different consignments as one and the same. In absence of any evidence that the goods were being sold at a higher price than MRP, allegation of undervaluation for the purpose of levy of CVD is unfounded and not tenable under law. 6. The Appellant contended that the impugned Bills of Entry duly self-assessed were not challenged by the department and hence became final. As held by the Honble Supreme Court in the case of ITC Ltd, unless the original Assessment by the assessing officer is challenged, the department cannot demand differential duty subsequently by issuing a demand Notice. 7. The Appellant cited the decision of the Honble Supreme Court in the case of I.T.C. Vs. Commissioner of Central Excise, New Delhi [2019(368) ELT 216 (SC) wherein it has been held that the department cannot demand differential duty without challenging the self assessment made by the importer. Accordingly they contended that the impugned order is not sustainable. 8. The Ld A.R reiterated the findings in the impugned order 9. The issue involved in the present appeals are undervaluation of cement imported from Bangladesh .The department alleged that the declared MRP of the cement imported by the Appellant was much less as compared to the MRP declared on the cement imported from the same manufacturer through other ports. We observe that different lots of the impugned goods were imported by different importers through different land ports though the goods were manufactured by the same manufacturer in Bangladesh. The Appellant stated that the MRP printed on the goods imported through other ports can be different as the Place of importation itself was different and hence difference in MRP is quite natural. We observe that MRP on the same item is decided in consideration of a number of factors besides landing cost and duty element. In the instant case the goods were imported through different ports. That itself is a valid reason for the difference in price. There is no evidence to suggest that the goods so imported through different ports under different MRP were being sold at same price. Hence, the price difference cannot be attributed to suppression of the value by the Appellant. Accordingly, we hold that the demand is not sustainable. 10. We observe that the self-assessment of the Bills of Entry by the importer was not challenged by the department. The Honble Supreme Court in the case of ITC Ltd, has held as under: 47. When we consider the overall effect of the provisions prior to amendment and post-amendment under Finance Act, 2011, we are of the opinion that the claim for refund cannot be entertained unless the order of assessment or self-assessment is modified in accordance with law by taking recourse to the appropriate proceedings and it would not be within the ken of Section 27 to set aside the order of self-assessment and reassess the duty for making refund; and in case any person is aggrieved by any order which would include self-assessment, he has to get the order modified under Section 128 or under other relevant provisions of the Act. 11. We observe that the ratio of the above said decision is squarely applicable in this case. We find that the impugned order passed demanding differential duty without challenging the original assessment of the Bills of entry is not sustainable. Hence, the demand is not sustainable on this count also. 12. In view of the above decision, we set aside the impugned order and allow both the appeals filed by the Appellant. (Operative part of the Order was pronounced in the open court.) Introduction The Government of India, through the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Department of Commerce, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, has issued Notification No. 31/2023-DGFT on September 11, 2023. This notification brings significant amendments to the export policy for food supplements containing botanicals. The changes impact exports to the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) and necessitate the issuance of official certificates for compliance. The key points of the notification are as follows: Amendment in Export Policy: The central government, in the exercise of its powers under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, as amended, and in accordance with the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, has made amendments to Schedule -2 of ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2018. Affected HS Codes: The amendment primarily affects two HS codes 1302 and 2106, related to food supplements containing botanicals and other food preparations, respectively. Revised Policy Conditions: Under the revised policy conditions, the export of food supplements containing botanicals to the EU and UK, originating in or consigned from India, and intended for human or animal consumption is allowed. Official Certificate Requirement: However, this export is subject to the issuance of an official certificate. This official certificate will be issued by the Export Inspection Council (EIC) or Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs), which are designated as the Competent Authority for issuance. The certificate will be based on the satisfactory analytical test report from EIC/EIC approved laboratories, following EU requirements. Additional Certificate Issuer: In addition to the EIC/EIA, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade permits SHEFEXIL (Shellac & Forest Products Export Promotion Council) to issue an official certificate. This authorization by SHEFEXIL is valid for a period of three months from the date of issuance of the notification. Compliance with EU Requirements: The official certificates issued by both EIC/EIA and SHEFEXIL are based on the satisfactory analytical test report from NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accredited laboratories for ETO (Ethylene Oxide) testing for Food Supplements containing Botanicals approved as per the EU requirements. Conclusion In conclusion, Notification No. 31/2023-DGFT, dated September 11, 2023, introduces significant amendments to the export policy for food supplements containing botanicals. These amendments focus on ensuring compliance with EU and UK regulations by requiring the issuance of official certificates from designated Competent Authorities, including EIC/EIA and SHEFEXIL. Its essential for exporters dealing with these products to adhere to these revised policy conditions to continue exports to the EU and UK markets. The changes come into effect immediately and aim to streamline the export process for these products while maintaining quality and safety standards. ***** Government of India Ministry of Commerce & Industry Department Of Commerce Directorate General of Foreign Trade Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi Notification No. 31 /2023-DGFT | Dated: 11 September,2023 New Delhi, Dated : Subject : Amendment in Export Policy of Food Supplements containing botanicals S.O. 3975(E). The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 read with section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023 hereby amends the schedule -2 of ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2018, as under :- S.No ITS HS codes Description Present Policy Policy conditions Revised Policy conditions 89A 1302 Vegetable saps and extracts; pectic substances, pectinates and pectates; agar-agar and other mucilages and thickeners, whether or not modified, derived from vegetable products. Free The export of Food Supplements containing botanicals to European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) originating in or consigned from India and intended for human or animal consumption, allowed subject to issuance of the official certificate issued by Export Inspection Council (EIC)/ Export Inspection Agencies (ElAs), the designated Competent Authority for issuance of official certificate. The official certificate will be issued based on the satisfactory analytical test report from EIC/EIC approved laboratories for the purpose as per the requirement laid down by EU. The export of Food Supplements containing botanicals to European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) originating in or consigned from India and intended for human or animal consumption, allowed subject to issuance of the official certificate issued by Export Inspection Council (EIC)/ Export Inspection Agencies (ElAs), the designated Competent Authority for issuance of official certificate. The official certificate will be issued based on the satisfactory analytical test report from EIC/EIC approved laboratories for the purpose as per the requirement laid down by EU. The export of Food Supplements containing botanicals to European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) originating in or consigned from India and intended for human or animal consumption, also allowed, subject to issuance of the official Certificate by the designated EPC, SHEFEXIL, as Competent Authority for a period of three months from the date of issuance of this Notification, based on the satisfactory Analytical Test Report from NABL accredited laboratories for ETO testing for Food Supplements containing Botanicals approved for the purpose as per the requirement laid down by EU. 93A (1) 2106 Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included. Free 2. Effect of This Notification: Export of Food Supplements containing botanicals under ITC HS code 1302 and 2106 intended for human or animal consumption to European Union and United Kingdom will require issuance of official certificate by EIC/EIA or SHEFIXIL. SHEFEXIL is allowed to issue an official certificate for a period of three months from the date of issuance of this Notification. (Santosh Kumar Sarangi) Director General of Foreign Trade Ex- Officio Additional Secretary, Government of India Email :dgft@nic.in (Issued from F. No. 01/91/180/027/AM22/EC/ 30745) Its been 22 years since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Flight 93 killed nearly 3,000 people and sent the United States careening toward war. People who are old enough to vote, buy alcohol and enter the workforce may not remember the world-altering event or even have been alive during it. But for those who were, the memory still rings clear. On Monday, the anniversary of the attacks, Portland Fire & Rescue honored those who died with a short ceremony at Fire Station 1 in downtown Portland. In Kelso, an annual remembrance event was held at the Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue headquarters. The event included speakers, a flag ceremony and ringing a bell to honor lives lost. In Kelso and Portland, Amazing Grace was played. Following the ceremony in Portland, a fireboat put on a water display on the Willamette River. Isaac McLennan, the head of the Portland firefighters union, recalled that the day of the attacks was a clear, sunny one not unlike Monday. He took listeners through moments from the day, such as when the planes struck each tower and when the towers collapsed. Firefighters from around the country traveled to New York City to help, including four from Portland: Wesley Loucks, Dwight Englert, Ed Hall and Neil Martin. Martin is still with the department. Portland Fire Chief Ryan Gillespie noted that many firefighters and survivors are still suffering from lingering health effects, such as cancer and respiratory issues. We have a heavy heart but also a deep sense of pride at the bravery and resilience of firefighters, he said. While the day marks a moment of courage and sacrifice for American firefighters, it also represented a shift in American politics. The attacks sent Islamophobia surging in the United States. They prompted the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and, two years later, Iraq. U.S. troops were in Afghanistan for 20 years, and some are still in Iraq. SpaceX's Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, must remain grounded while Elon Musk's company completes dozens of corrective actions to prevent a repeat of the spectacular explosion that marred its first orbital test flight, regulators said Friday. The 63 steps include "redesigns of vehicle hardware to prevent leaks and fires, redesign of the launch pad to increase its robustness," additional testing of safety systems and more, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement after completing a months-long review. SpaceX blew up the uncrewed rocket four minutes after it blasted off from the company's Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20. Starship experienced multiple engine failures and its first-stage booster did not separate from the spacecraft above it. The rocket disintegrated into a ball of fire that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, while a cloud of dust floated over a small town several miles (kilometers) away. Musk immediately congratulated his SpaceX team on an "exciting" test launch and declared it a success because the company would gain valuable insights into what went wrong. The FAA however quickly launched an investigation, while conservation groups announced they would sue the regulator for not doing enough to protect the environment given the proximity of a vital habitat for protected species. Though the probe has now been completed, "the closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of Starship launches at Boca Chica," said the agency. "SpaceX must implement all corrective actions that impact public safety and apply for and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses all safety, environmental and other applicable regulatory requirements prior to the next Starship launch" it added. A new Starship currently stands ready at the launchpad, according to publicity material posted by SpaceX on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a statement, the company reiterated its position that the first test "was a critical step in advancing the capabilities of the most powerful launch system ever developed" and "provided numerous lessons learned that are directly contributing to several upgrades being made" to the vehicle and ground structures. Starship, which stands 394 feet (120 meters) tall, produces 16.7 million pounds (74.3 Meganewtons) of thrust, more than double of the Saturn V rockets used to send Apollo astronauts to the Moon. SpaceX foresees it as a next-generation, fully reusable spaceship that will eventually carry both crew and cargo to Mars. NASA has contracted a version of Starship to function as a lander craft for its Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon by the middle of this decade. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) Calls for National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to lead the Department of Agriculture (DA) are a sound proposal, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said. Alam niya yon (He knows about it), he has heard it many times, he said in an interview with members of the press over the weekend. Diokno then cited Balisacans extensive stint in the agriculture sector. The finance secretary said the NEDA chief previously served as undersecretary in the DA. Si Arsi talaga undergrad niya is agriculture economics, Diokno said, referring to Balisacan. Based on NEDAs website, Balisacan was also the dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics and director-chief executive of the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to head the DA, more than a year after assuming the post. Under Marcos leadership, the sector has been marred by controversies, such as issues in onion, sugar, and rice. The following companies are subsidiares of Select Medical: ACC Capital, AbsoluteCVO, Actra Rehabilitation Associates, Advantage Rehabilitation Clinics, Alexandria Sports, Allevant Solutions, Ambulatory Care Solutions, Ambulatory Care Solutions of Arkansas LLC, Ambulatory Care Solutions of Ohio LLC, American Current Care, American Current Care of Arizona, American Current Care of Arkansas, American Current Care of California, American Current Care of Delaware, American Current Care of Hawaii, American Current Care of Illinois, American Current Care of Kansas, American Current Care of Massachusetts, American Current Care of Michigan, American Current Care of Missouri, American Current Care of Nebraska, American Current Care of New Jersey PA, American Current Care of North Carolina, American Current Care of Ohio, American Transitional Hospitals, Archer Rehabilitation, Argosy Health, BHSM ES, Benchmark Acquisition Corp., Benchmark Medical Management Company, Benchmark O&P Holdings, 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of Hawaii, OHR/Baystate, OHR/MMC, OHRH, OHRH ES, OMP Insurance Company, OSR Louisiana, OSR Property Ventures, Occspecialists Corp., Occupational Health + Rehabilitation LLC, Occupational Health Centers Of Kansas, Occupational Health Centers of Arkansas, Occupational Health Centers of California, Occupational Health Centers of Delaware, Occupational Health Centers of Georgia, Occupational Health Centers of Illinois, Occupational Health Centers of Louisiana, Occupational Health Centers of Michigan, Occupational Health Centers of Nebraska, Occupational Health Centers of New Jersey, Occupational Health Centers of New York, Occupational Health Centers of North Carolina, Occupational Health Centers of Ohio, Occupational Health Centers of The Southwest, OnSite OccMed, Orthopaedic Services of Paducah, PHS Physical Therapy, PR Acquisition Corporation, PSHR Physical Therapy, PTSMA, Pacific Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine, Penn State Hershey Rehabilitation, Philadelphia Occupational Health, 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Network, RCI (Michigan), RCI (WRS), RPN of NC, RUSHWINC Properties, Rebound Oklahoma, Regency Hospital Company, Regency Hospital Company of Macon, Regency Hospital Company of Meridian, Regency Hospital Company of South Atlanta, Regency Hospital Company of South Carolina, Regency Hospital of Atlanta, Regency Hospital of Columbus, Regency Hospital of Fort Worth, Regency Hospital of Fort Worth Holdings, Regency Hospital of Greenville, Regency Hospital of Jackson, Regency Hospital of Kansas City, Regency Hospital of Minneapolis, Regency Hospital of North Central Ohio, Regency Hospital of North Dallas Holdings, Regency Hospital of North Dallas II, Regency Hospital of Northwest Arkansas, Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana, Regency Hospital of Portland, Regency Hospital of Rhode Island, Regency Hospital of Rockford, Regency Hospital of Southern Mississippi, Regency Hospital of Toledo, Regency Hospitals, Regency Management Company, Rehab Associates, Rehab Associates of Jackson Hospital, Rehab Colorado, Rehab Missouri, Rehab Provider Network of Colorado, Rehab Provider Network of New Mexico, Rehab Provider Network of North Carolina, Rehab Provider Network of South Carolina, Rehab Provider Network of Texas, Rehab Provider Network of Virginia, Rehab Provider NetworkEast I, Rehab Provider NetworkEast II, Rehab Provider NetworkIndiana, Rehab Provider NetworkMichigan, Rehab Provider NetworkNew Jersey, Rehab Provider NetworkOhio, Rehab Provider NetworkPennsylvania, Rehab Xcel, RehabClinics, RehabClinics (PTA), RehabClinics (SPT), Rehabilitation Center of Washington, Rehabilitation Consultants, Rehabilitation Hospital of Vancouver, Rehabilitation Institute of Denton, Rehabilitation Institute of North Texas, S.T.A.R.T., SLMC Finance Corporation, SMR Banyan Tree, SSM Select Rehab St. Louis, Saco Bay Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Select Air II, Select Employment Services, Select Hospital Investors, Select LifeCare Western Michigan, Select Medical International (US), Select Medical International Limited, Select Medical Property Ventures, Select Medical Rehabilitation Clinics, Select Medical of Kentucky, Select Medical of Maryland, Select Medical of New York, Select NovaCareKOP, Select NovaCarePBG, Select NovaCarePIT, Select Physical Therapy Holdings, Select Physical Therapy Network Services, Select Physical Therapy Orthopedic Services, Select Physical Therapy Texas Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Albuquerque, Select Physical Therapy of Chicago, Select Physical Therapy of Colorado Springs Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Connecticut Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Denver, Select Physical Therapy of Illinois Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Kendall, Select Physical Therapy of Las Vegas Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Lorain Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Louisville, Select Physical Therapy of Ohio Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Portola Valley Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of Scottsdale Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of St. Louis Limited Partnership, Select Physical Therapy of West Denver Limited Partnership, Select Provider Networks, Select Rehabilitation HospitalHershey, Select Software Ventures, Select Specialty Hospitals, Select Specialty HospitalAkron, Select Specialty HospitalAnn Arbor, Select Specialty HospitalArizona, Select Specialty HospitalAugusta, Select Specialty HospitalBeech Grove, Select Specialty HospitalBelhaven, Select Specialty HospitalBroward, Select Specialty HospitalCentral Pennsylvania, Select Specialty HospitalCharleston, Select Specialty HospitalCincinnati, Select Specialty HospitalCleveland, Select Specialty HospitalColorado Springs, Select Specialty HospitalColumbus, Select Specialty HospitalDallas, Select Specialty HospitalDanville, Select Specialty HospitalDaytona Beach, Select Specialty HospitalDenver, Select Specialty HospitalDes Moines, Select Specialty HospitalDurham, Select Specialty HospitalErie, Select Specialty HospitalEvansville, Select Specialty HospitalFlint, Select Specialty HospitalFort Smith, Select Specialty HospitalFort Wayne, Select Specialty HospitalGainesville, Select Specialty HospitalGreensboro, Select Specialty HospitalGrosse Pointe, Select Specialty HospitalGulf Coast, Select Specialty HospitalHouston, Select Specialty HospitalJackson, Select Specialty HospitalJohnstown, Select Specialty HospitalKalamazoo, Select Specialty HospitalKansas City, Select Specialty HospitalKnoxville, Select Specialty HospitalLaurel Highlands, Select Specialty HospitalLexington, Select Specialty HospitalLincoln, Select Specialty HospitalLittle Rock, Select Specialty HospitalLongview, Select Specialty HospitalMacomb County, Select Specialty HospitalMadison, Select Specialty HospitalMcKeesport, Select Specialty HospitalMemphis, Select Specialty HospitalMilwaukee, Select Specialty HospitalNashville, Select Specialty HospitalNorth Atlanta, Select Specialty HospitalNorth Knoxville, Select Specialty HospitalNortheast New Jersey, Select Specialty HospitalNortheast Ohio, Select Specialty HospitalNorthern Indiana, Select Specialty HospitalNorthern Kentucky, Select Specialty HospitalNorthwest Detroit, Select Specialty HospitalOklahoma City, Select Specialty HospitalOmaha, Select Specialty HospitalOrlando, Select Specialty HospitalOshkosh, Select Specialty HospitalPalm Beach, Select Specialty HospitalPanama City, Select Specialty HospitalPensacola, Select Specialty HospitalPhoenix, Select Specialty HospitalPittsburgh/UPMC, Select Specialty HospitalQuad Cities, Select Specialty HospitalSaginaw, Select Specialty HospitalSan Antonio, Select Specialty HospitalSavannah, Select Specialty HospitalSioux Falls, Select Specialty HospitalSouth Dallas, Select Specialty HospitalSpringfield, Select Specialty HospitalTallahassee, Select Specialty HospitalTopeka, Select Specialty HospitalTriCities, Select Specialty HospitalTulsa, Select Specialty HospitalTulsa/Midtown, Select Specialty HospitalWestern Michigan, Select Specialty HospitalWichita, Select Specialty HospitalWilmington, Select Specialty HospitalWinston-Salem, Select Specialty HospitalYoungstown, Select Specialty HospitalZanesville, Select SpecialtyDownriver, Select Subsidiaries, Select Synergos, Select Transport, Select Unit Management, SelectMark, SemperCare, Special Care Hospital, Sports Orthopedic Rehabilitation Services, St. Marys Medical Park Pharmacy, Susquehanna Physical Therapy Associates, Swanson Orthotic and Prosthetic Center, TJ Corporation I, The Parks Physical Therapy and Work Hardening Center, The Rehab Center, The Rehab Group, The Rehab Group-Murfreesboro, TheraWorks, Theraphysics Partners of Colorado, Theraphysics Partners of Texas, Therapy Associates of Martinsville, Therapy Centers of South Carolina, Therapy Centers of The Southwest I, TriHealth Rehabilitation, Trumbull P.T. Corp., U.S. HealthWorks, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Alaska, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Arizona, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Florida, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Georgia, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Illinois, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Indiana, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Kansas City, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Kentucky, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Maine, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Minnesota, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of New Jersey, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of North Carolina, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Ohio, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Pennsylvania, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Tennessee, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Texas, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Washington, U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group of Wisconsin, U.S. HealthWorks Provider Network of Colorado, U.S. HealthWorks of Colorado, U.S. HealthWorks of Illinois, U.S. HealthWorks of Indiana, U.S. HealthWorks of Kansas City, U.S. HealthWorks of Minnesota, U.S. HealthWorks of New Jersey, U.S. HealthWorks of North Carolina, U.S. HealthWorks of Pennsylvania, U.S. HealthWorks of Tennessee, U.S. HealthWorks of Washington, U.S. HealthWorks of Wisconsin, U.S. Medgroup, U.S. Medgroup Of Kansas, U.S. Medgroup of Arkansas, U.S. Medgroup of Delaware, U.S. Medgroup of Illinois, U.S. Medgroup of Massachusetts, U.S. Medgroup of Michigan, U.S. Medgroup of New Jersey, U.S. Medgroup of North Carolina, U.S. Medgroup of Ohio, U.S. Regional Occupational Health II, U.S. Regional Occupational Health II of NJ, USHW of California, USHW of Texas, Valor Healthcare, Victoria Healthcare, WWLTACH, West Gables Rehabilitation Hospital, and Wisconsin Prosthetics & Orthotics. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Boston Scientific: 34 Biomedical Merger Corp., 9357-1867 Quebec Inc., Acurate Industria e Comercio Ltda., Advanced Bionics, Advanced Stent Technologies, American Medical Systems, American Medical Systems Europe B.V., Apama Medical, Apama Medical Inc., Asthmatx, Atritech, Augmenix, Augmenix Inc., Augmenix K.K., BSC International Medical Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BSC Medical Device Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BTG, BTG Australasia Pty Ltd, BTG Europe B.V., BTG IM Holdings Ltd., BTG International (Holdings) Limited, BTG International Asia Limited, BTG International Canada Inc., BTG International Germany GmbH, BTG International Healthcare Inc., BTG International Healthcare LLC, BTG International Healthcare Limited, BTG International Inc., BTG International Limited, BTG Limited, BTG Management Services Limited, BTG Medikal Limited Sirketi, Bard Electrophysiology, Barosense, Biocompatibles Inc., Biocompatibles International Limited, Biocompatibles UK Limited, Boston Scientific (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Boston Scientific (South Africa) Proprietary Limited, Boston Scientific (Thailand) Ltd., Boston Scientific (UK) Limited, Boston Scientific AG, Boston Scientific Argentina S.A., Boston Scientific Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Boston Scientific Benelux NV, Boston Scientific Canada Limited, Boston Scientific Ceska republika s.r.o., Boston Scientific Chile SpA, Boston Scientific Colombia Limitada, Boston Scientific Comercial de Costa Rica BSCR S.R.L., Boston Scientific Far East B.V., Boston Scientific Gesellschaft m.b.H., Boston Scientific Group plc, Boston Scientific Hellas S.A., Boston Scientific Hong Kong Limited, Boston Scientific Iberica S.A., Boston Scientific India Private Limited, Boston Scientific International B.V., Boston Scientific International Finance Limited, Boston Scientific International S.A., Boston Scientific Israel Ltd., Boston Scientific Japan K.K., Boston Scientific Korea Co. Ltd., Boston Scientific Lebanon SAL, Boston Scientific Limited, Boston Scientific Ltd., Boston Scientific Medical Device, Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, Boston Scientific Middle East FZ-LLC, Boston Scientific Middle East SAL, Boston Scientific Nederland B.V., Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Boston Scientific New Zealand Limited, Boston Scientific Nordic AB, Boston Scientific Peru S.A.C., Boston Scientific Philippines Inc., Boston Scientific Polska Sp. z o.o., Boston Scientific Portugal - Dispositivos Medicos Lda, Boston Scientific Pty Ltd, Boston Scientific Romania S.R.L., Boston Scientific S.A.S., Boston Scientific S.p.A., Boston Scientific Scimed, Boston Scientific Scimed Inc., Boston Scientific Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific TIP Gerecleri Limited Sirketi, Boston Scientific Technology & Engineering Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific Uruguay S.A., Boston Scientific Vietnam Company Limited, Boston Scientific de Costa Rica S.R.L., Boston Scientific de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Boston Scientific del Caribe Inc., Boston Scientific do Brasil Ltda., Bravo Bidco Limited, BridgePoint Medical, Cameron Health, Cardiac Pacemakers Inc., Cardiac Pathways Corp, Catheter Innovations, Claret Medical, Claret Medical Inc., Cosman Medical, Cosman Medical LLC, CryoCor, Cryterion Medical, Cryterion Medical Inc., Cryterion Medical Ireland Limited, EKOS LLC, EMcision, EMcision International Inc., EP Technologies, EP Technologies Inc., Electron Acquisition Corporation, EndoChoice, EndoChoice Holdings Inc., EndoChoice Inc., EndoChoice Innovation Center Ltd., EndoChoice Israel Ltd., Endotex, Enteric Medical Technologies, Galil Medical Inc., Galil Medical Ltd., Galil Medical UK Limited, Guidant, Guidant Delaware Holding Corporation, Guidant Europe NV, Guidant Puerto Rico B.V., Hong Kong Medtech Trading Limited, Intelect Medical, Millipede, Millipede Inc., NXT Merger Corp., Notebook Merger Sub Ltd., Novate Medical Limited, NxThera, NxThera Inc., PT Boston Scientific Indonesia, PneumRx GmbH, PneumRx LLC, PneumRx Liimited, Protherics Medicines Development B.V., Protherics Medicines Development Limited, Protherics UK Limited, Provensis Limited, RMI Acquisition Corp., Remon Medical Technologies, Rhythmia Medical, Robert S. Smith M.D. Inc., Roxwood Medical Inc., SNS Merger Corp, Sadra Medical, Sadra Medical Inc., Securus Medical Group, Securus Medical Group Inc., Special K Merger Corp., StarMedTec, Stream Enterprises LLC, Symetis, Symetis SA, Target Therapeutics, Target Therapeutics Inc., The LumenR Tissue Retractor System, Veniti, Veniti Inc., VertiFlex, Vertiflex Inc., Vessix Vascular, Xlumena, Zuma Investment Pty Ltd, iogyn, nVision Medical, and nVision Medical Corporation. Read More AutoNation, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Domestic, Import, and Premium Luxury. It offers a range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicles; and parts and services, such as automotive repair and maintenance, and wholesale parts and collision services. The company also provides automotive finance and insurance products comprising vehicle services and other protection products, as well as arranges finance for vehicle purchases through third-party finance sources. It owns and operates 343 new vehicle franchises from 247 stores located primarily in metropolitan markets in the Sunbelt region, as well as 55 AutoNation-branded collision centers, 13 AutoNation USA used vehicle stores, 4 AutoNation-branded automotive auction operations, and 3 parts distribution centers. AutoNation, Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage. The Specialty segment provides professional and executive Lines, marine, and surety and other, as well as specialty P&C, such as program business, specialty industrial and commercial property, excess and surplus lines, and specialty general liability coverage. The Personal Lines segment offers personal automobile and homeowner's coverages, as well as other personal coverages, such as personal umbrella, inland marine, fire, personal watercraft, personal cyber, and other miscellaneous coverages. The Other segment markets investment management services to institutions, pension funds, and other organizations. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. markets its products and services through independent agents and brokers. The company was formerly known as Allmerica Financial Corp. and changed its name to The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. in December 2005. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) --- The House appropriations committee on Monday approved the Office of the Ombudsman's proposed 5.05-billion budget for 2024. Throughout the hearing, the office repeatedly said it is "perfectly okay" with the allocation from the budget department. "For our budget, I'd like to inform the body that we are contented with what the Department of Budget and Management offered to us, although it is below what we have asked," Martires said The proposal is 1.67 billion less than the 6.7 billion that the office initially requested. Martires also said the agency will continue to cut on expenses for 2024. Some plans listed by the office include merging the fact-finding investigation group and preliminary investigation group and hiring more lawyers to open satellite offices in provinces. Ombudsman 'under attack' Before the budget presentation, Martires said the Ombudsman is currently "under attack from some sectors" due to their decision to dismiss some big officials that he did not name. "Hindi namin mapapangako na (We cannot promise that) we can satisfy everyone as, right now, the Ombudsman is under attack from some sectors, saying that we should not have removed from the service an honest person," Martires said. "Ang isa pong tao na matino, isang tao na honest, ay di nangangahulugan na hindi siya nag vi-violate ng batas. Hindi rin po nangangahulugan na ang isang taong gobyerno na maraming accomplishments ay hindi nag violate ng batas," he added. [Translation: A person who is proper, a person who is honest, does not mean that he did not violate the law. It also does not mean that a government person with many accomplishments did not violate the law.] Martires said the argument used against the office for removing officials is "dangerous" as it means all dismissed officials should be reinstated. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) pays an annual dividend of $5.20 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 5.94%. PM has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The company has been increasing its dividend for 16 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 100.97%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on EPS estimates, PM will have a dividend payout ratio of 79.03% in the coming year. This indicates that the company may not be able to sustain their current dividend. Read our dividend analysis for PM. Cheniere Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:LNG) pays an annual dividend of $1.58 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 0.95%. The company does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 4.65%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, LNG will have a dividend payout ratio of 15.44% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for LNG. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases. The company also provides the PASCAL and Cardioband transcatheter valve repair systems for minimally-invasive therapy. In addition, it offers surgical structural heart solutions, such as aortic surgical valve under the INSPIRIS name; KONECT RESILIA, a pre-assembled aortic tissue valved conduit for patients who require replacement of the valve, root, and ascending aorta; and HARPOON Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System for patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation. Further, the company provides critical care solutions, including advanced hemodynamic monitoring systems to measure a patient's heart function and fluid status in surgical and intensive care settings; and Acumen Hypotension Prediction Index software that alerts clinicians in advance of a patient developing dangerously low blood pressure. The company distributes its products through a direct sales force and independent distributors. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation was founded in 1958 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. was founded in 1869 by Marcus Goldman as an investment bank catering to institutions and businesses. Among the firm's first products are the revolutionary use of commercial paper for entrepreneurs which opened a new method of finance for business and industry. The original firm expanded to Goldman Sachs in 1882 with the inclusion of son-in-law Samuel Sachs and again in 1885 with a son and another son-in-law. The firm joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1896 expanding into trading of its own and in 1898 it was worth $1.6 million. The company began its work in the IPO market in 1906 with the initial public offering of Sears, Roebuck & Co., and then moved on to Ford and other prominent names of the time. The 1930s brings a change of leadership and a new direction for the firm. The company shifted toward a purer play on investment banking and embarks on a campaign of acquisition that lasted until the present day. The company doesnt go public itself until 1999 and from that point on it will change into a bank holding company that not only offers investment banking services but takes deposits too, and in 2016 the company added consumer banking to its list of services. Today, Goldman Sachs is a financial institution that provides a range of financial services for corporations, institutions, governments, and individuals globally. The company operates through four segments that include Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. According to US banking regulations, it is systemically important to the financial health of America. The company is headquartered in New York, New York, and operates 6 regional headquarters as well. Regional headquarters are located in financial hotspots such as London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangalore, and Warsaw. Among its many prominent CEOs are John Corzine and Hank Paulson who both went on to successful work in government. The company's Investment Banking segment provides a full range of financial advisory services as well as underwriting for the public markets. The financial advisory services include but are not limited to strategic advisory for mergers and acquisitions, divestiture, restructuring, and spin-offs. This segment is also engaged in middle-market lending and transaction banking. Underwriting services include IPOs, preferred stock, debt instruments, and bridge loans. Goldman Sachs Global Markets segment facilitates market transactions for institutions, banks, brokerages, corporations, and governments. Services include execution, derivatives, financing, clearing, settlement, and custody. The Asset Management segment manages client portfolios across the investment spectrum while the Consumer & Wealth Management segment provides advisory and banking services to consumers. The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California Inc., AHN Accountable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASC Operators-East Bay LLC, ASC Operators-San Francisco LLC, ASC Operators-San Luis Obispo LLC, ASC Operators-Santa Rosa LLC, ASC Operators-South Bay LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Cornerstone LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Florida LLC, AbleTo Behavioral Health Services P.C., AbleTo Inc., Accurate Rx Pharmacy Consulting LLC, Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A.S., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Center LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Allina Health Heart and Vascular Surgery Center LLC, Allina Health Surgery Center-Brooklyn Park LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Holdings Inc., AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Kentucky LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, American Physicians Inc., Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Angiografia e Hemodinamica Madre Theodora Ltda., Anne Arundel-SCA Holdings LLC, Anne Arundel-SCA Surgicenter LLC, Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arcadia JV Holdings LLC, Arcadia Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., ArchWell Health LLC, ArchWell Health MSO LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services Holding Co., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Alabama LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services of North Carolina P.C., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Oklahoma LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Arizona LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Nebraska LLC, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., Arlington Surgery Center LLC, Aspectus Inc., Associacao Lusiadas Knowledge Center Health Education and Research, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Aurora Hospitalist P.C., Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Aventura Medical Tower Surgery Center LLC, Avery Parent Holdings Inc., Aveta Inc., AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, BOSC Holdings LLC, BSC Holdings LLC, Ball Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Banmedica Colombia S.A.S., Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Barranca Surgery Center LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings II LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings LLC, Beaver Medical Group P.C., Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Beltway Surgery Centers L.L.C., Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Bergan Mercy Surgery Center LLC, Bergen-Passaic Cataract Laser and Surgery Center LLC, Bessler MD PLLC, Bind Benefits Inc., Bind LH Holdings Inc., Bind Re Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Bloomfield ASC LLC, Blue Ridge Day Surgery Center L.P., Blue Ridge GP LLC, Blue Ridge Properties LLC, Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center LTD., Bordeaux Barbados Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings III S.r.l., Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, CCEC Anesthesia Management LLC, CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos Ltda., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill Ambulatory Centers, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardinal Holding Company LLC, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Care Logistics LLC, CareMount Dental Member LLC, CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC, CareMount Health Solutions Employer LLC, CareMount Health Solutions LLC, CareMount Holding LLC, CareMount Medical Foundation Inc., CareMount Value Partners IPA LLC, Carr PLLC, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Castle Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran 2 Unlimited Company, Catamaran Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Cedar Park JV Partners LLC, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Center for Quality Improvement LLC, Center for Restorative Surgery at Maple Grove LLC, Center for Surgery of North Coast L.P., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, CentriHealth Corporation, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro de Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - 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Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - 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Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - 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Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc.. Read More A new phishing attack is leveraging Facebook Messenger to propagate messages with malicious attachments from a "swarm of fake and hijacked personal accounts" with the ultimate goal of taking over the targets' Business accounts. "Originating yet again from a Vietnamese-based group, this campaign uses a tiny compressed file attachment that packs a powerful Python-based stealer dropped in a multi-stage process full of simple yet effective obfuscation methods," Guardio Labs researcher Oleg Zaytsev said in an analysis published over the weekend. In these attacks, dubbed MrTonyScam, potential victims are sent messages that entice them into clicking on the RAR and ZIP archive attachments, leading to the deployment of a dropper that fetches the next-stage from a GitHub or GitLab repository. This payload is another archive file that contains a CMD file, which, in turn, harbors an obfuscated Python-based stealer to exfiltrate all cookies and login credentials from different web browsers to an actor-controlled Telegram or Discord API endpoint. A clever tactic adopted by the adversary involves deletes all cookies after stealing them, effectively logging victims out of their own accounts, at which point the scammers hijack their sessions using the stolen cookies to change their passwords and seize control of them. The threat actor's links to Vietnam comes from the presence of Vietnamese language references in the source code of the Python stealer and the inclusion of Coc Coc, a Chromium-based browser popular in the country. Despite the fact that triggering the infection requires user interaction to download a file, unzip, and execute the attachment, Guardio Labs found that the campaign has witnessed a high success rate where 1 out of 250 victims are estimated to have been infected over the last 30 days alone. A majority of the compromises have been reported in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Spain, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among others. "Facebook Accounts with reputation, seller rating, and high number of followers can be easily monetized on dark markets," Zaytsev said. "Those are used to reach a broad audience to spread advertisements as well as more scams." The disclosure comes days after WithSecure and Zscaler ThreatLabz detailed new Ducktail and Duckport campaigns that target Meta Business and Facebook accounts using malverposting tactics. "The Vietnamese-centric element of these threats and high degree of overlaps in terms of capabilities, infrastructure, and victimology suggests active working relationships between various threat actors, shared tooling and TTPs across these threat groups, or a fractured and service-oriented Vietnamese cybercriminal ecosystem (akin to ransomware-as-a-service model) centered around social media platforms such as Facebook," WithSecure noted. HASTINGS PC Service of Nebraska, owned by Brian Cox and Kisha Paczosa, has opened a new location in Hastings. They specialize in service for all makes and models of computers and related accessories. While focused on on-site service for other locally owned businesses, their new location allows for the expansion into retail and in-shop service work for individuals as well. Cox attended Hastings College, graduating in 1994 with computer science, business administration, and accounting degrees. After several years working as a technician, he started PC Service of Nebraska in 2000 as a home-based business in Grand Island. At the first of this year, Cox and Paczoza expanded into their new Hastings location. We take care of some large corporate networks, essentially functioning as their IT team, Cox said. We provide consulting as well as the actual products and work. He said they are not tied to any specific vendors. Well make sure to find our clients the best solutions for their unique situations, Cox said. We also accept walk-in repairs, upgrades, networking, virus removal, data transfer, trouble shooting, and more. From manufacturing to medical offices to finance, PC Service of Nebraska handles life cycle management, budgets, license compliance, HIPAA compliance, HITECH act, PCI compliance, Sarbanes-Oxley, ITAR, 2FA, training, server administration, multiple locations, VPNs, firewalls, endpoint protection, SQL database administration, and website/email management. The companys expertise in security precautions prevents users from engaging in harmful activities that can hinder or halt your operations. Data breaches can have unforeseen consequences which can lead to fines, lawsuits, and damaged reputation, Cox said. He said local security policies ensure sensitive information is only accessible securely by designated employees or agents. Too many organizations focus just on their Internet connection, Cox said. Even without the internet, security is still of top importance, he said. Certain information must be secured even from your own employees. Cox said PC Service of Nebraska also provides IT services to help companies find the best solutions for their needs and to help their business run smoother. He said PC Service of Nebraska supports all types of Windows, Microsoft Office, SQL Server, Exchange Server, PracticeWorks, Dentrix, PDS Cortex, Macola, JobBoss, Solidworks, TopSolid, Autocad, Mastercam, Spinfire, Oracle, SAP, MalwareBytes, Acronis, VMware, Quickbooks, Peachtree, and many more. If its out there, weve probably worked with it, he said. The most important aspect of PC Service of Nebraska is customer service. Whether you have an emergency or are stumped with any of your technology, were here to help, Cox said. We can assist you with technology issues related to hardware failures, viruses, security breaches, operating system problems, application conflicts, upgrades, updates, data integrity issues, and more. Located at 208 S Burlington Ave, #114, the store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. On-site service is not tied to the store hours. They can be reached 24/7 at 402-303-8763 or online at www.pcservicene.com /. The Murphysboro Apple Festival kicks off Wednesday for the 72nd version of the annual event. With everything from a carnival and arts and crafts fair to pie baking and eating contests, organizers say there is something for all interests at the festival. The Apple Festival has been going for 72 years and its a great event; it is the signature event for the community, Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens said. One of the drawing cards for the festival is its atmosphere, explained Shawn Stearns, who serves as president and general chairman of the Apple Festival. One of the most important things is that it is a family-friendly event with no alcohol, he said. Stearns said while attractions such as the carnival (which operates through Saturday) do require tickets, organizers work to offer much of the festival for free. He said planning for the festival goes on year-round and takes an army of volunteers. The thing I am most proud of is that we have about 150 volunteers that put this festival on and that is a testament to our town. We all do it for the love of our community and it has grown so much from a small festival to what it is today, he said. It doesnt happen without a lot of people in the background and the entire community embraces it. We continue to thrive year after year. One new aspect of the festival this year is a raffle Saturday evening to benefit the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Otherwise, Stearns said much of what people have come to expect at the annual festival will continue, including all of the apple-themed foods and souvenirs. Theres our Apple Bakery and well be packing it full with apple fritters, turnovers and everything apple that people can purchase, he said. Its incredible because we usually sell out before Saturday night, just like we do with our T-shirts at the Emporium right across the street. You got to jump on those early. With the long-range weather forecast looking favorable, Stearns said he expects large crowds, especially for Saturdays Grand Parade, which the mayor said is his favorite part of the annual festival. The Apple Festival Grand Parade is, in my opinion, the best parade of the year in Southern Illinois. Theres a reason why people put their chairs out for it week in advance. The Grand Parade is almost like a Norman Rockwell scene and you cant help but be captured by the energy of it, Stephens said. For a complete list of activities at the 72nd Murphysboro Apple Festival, visit www.murphysboroapplefestival.org. Photos: Murphysboro Apple Festival from years past With the first light of dawn peeking over the top of Saluki Stadium on Monday, hundreds of people paid tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by climbing the stadiums stairs 110 times, once for each floor of the World Trade Center towers. Air Force Lt. Col. Jessica Dwyer, commander of the Air Force ROTC unit at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said the event was a fitting way to commemorate victims, which included civilians, first responders and members of the military who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks. There were first responders and firefighters who were running toward the devastation while encouraging everybody else to escape it; they are who we are trying to honor today, she explained. Participants fanned out across the bleachers at the stadium, climbing up and down the stairs in each aisle of the seating areas. The goal was to make that roundtrip 110 times. Those making the climbs included Air Force and Army ROTC cadets, SIU student-athletes, military veterans, police officers and firefighters, some wearing complete turn-out gear including oxygen tanks adding as much as 100 lbs. to their load. Carbondale Township Firefighter John Needham was one of them. Ive been in the fire service for 20 years now and I want to do something in remembrance of the fallen firefighters of that day, Needham said. I was in eighth grade when this happened and that's kind of what drove me to pursue this career. Choking back emotion, Needham said he chose to wear his full turnout gear out of respect for the 343 firefighters who died during their response to the attacks. If Im going to do it, I might as well do it the way they did, he said. Dwyer said she was thrilled with the number of SIU students most of whom were not even alive in 2001 who turned out for the event. Its inspiring to see so many young people here who werent even alive to experience and understand the chaos and the unknown, the uncertainty, that was happening in this country 22 years ago, she said. I want them to understand how important it is and how grateful we all should be for the freedom that we have and those who are firefighters, first responders and service members who make sure that we preserve that freedom. Dwyer added that there was comradery and a spirit of unity among those taking part in what she hopes will become an annual event. This is something that can really bring the community together, which is really what happened on 9/12, Dwyer added. The day after 9/11 our nation just came together. We want to help us be united as a community, as a nation and a global society. Remembering 9/11 in photos KALISPELL, Mont. Inside the white-brick hallways of the Flathead County Detention Center, Jail Commander Jen Root walked up to a steel door with a small window and pointed inside. Shes been here almost a year, just laying on her bed, she said. Inside the cell, dimly lit by a single window, a woman was curled up under a fleece blanket, only her bright-pink fingernails sticking out. This woman was charged with burglary in September 2022, Root said. An evaluation after her arrest determined that mental illness prevented her from standing trial and that she required treatment at the Montana State Hospital, the state-run inpatient psychiatric hospital. Like many inmates deemed unfit for trial due to a mental health condition, she has been stuck on a waiting list for the Montana State Hospitals 54-bed forensic unit, which stabilizes inmates through medication and treatment so they are competent to stand trial. The woman in the Kalispell jail was No. 2 on the units waiting list of 70 people as of June 30. Meanwhile, the northwestern Montana jail where shes waiting isnt equipped to treat mental illness, and the jail staff cant force her to take medication. So, they just deteriorate within our facility, Root said of her and other inmates with mental health conditions. Before their legal case can proceed, people charged with crimes in Montana must understand the charges they face and participate in their own defense. But because of bottlenecks in services across the country, people in jail with serious mental illness are waiting months to receive the care needed to restore their competency to stand trial. The Montana State Hospital for years has struggled to keep up with the number of people who are criminally committed to the facility, but Root said the number of such people at the Flathead County jail has grown since the pandemic and as Montanas recent population boom has pushed up housing costs. This year, state lawmakers began to address the woes of the troubled state hospital, which lost its federal funding and accreditation in 2022 amid a rash of patient deaths, by creating a $300 million fund to improve behavioral health care in the state and passing bills to increase transparency. Now, state health officials are asking lawmakers to change criminal commitment laws so the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services has a say before a judge orders a patient committed to the Montana State Hospital or another state-run facility. That is something we would like to address with you, Chad Parker, an attorney for the health department, told the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee in July. That is something wed like to look at to try and change, to give the department some more control, to at least give us a place at the table. But Republican Rep. Jennifer Carlson, a member of the interim committee, said that there is nowhere else to send patients facing criminal charges for evaluation and treatment, and that the health department should focus on improving patient care instead of denying patients access. Parker said judges rarely order patients to be committed at community care facilities as an alternative to the state hospital system, though he acknowledged that community service options have dwindled, in part due to low Medicaid reimbursement rates. Lawmakers raised those rates by about 20% this year, but it will take time to determine whether that increase is enough to rebuild mental health services that have shuttered. In the meantime, patients are funneled to the state hospital as its the only option for many inmates who need mental health care. When there are no available patient beds or they are not available for some time, the department can be held in contempt or receive another sanction, Parker told the legislative committee. And we need to address that, as well. In an emailed statement, health department spokesperson Jon Ebelt said that state law doesnt require courts to consider wait times before committing inmates to the state hospital for mental health care. Neither Ebelt nor Parker pointed to specific community services or other mental health facilities that could treat inmates in the criminal justice system to become fit to stand criminal trial. Interim legislative committees study issues during the Montana Legislatures off years (it is in session only in odd-numbered years), and can draft bills for the next session, scheduled to start in January 2025. During their July meeting, lawmakers on the Children, Families, Health, and Human Services Interim Committee decided to explore what community mental health services are available but did not commit to drafting the legislation sought by the health department. The committee next meets on Sept. 12. In an interview with KFF Health News and Montana Public Radio, Kalispell District Court Judge Amy Eddy did not address the health departments proposal to give the state a say on involuntary commitments. But she noted that the state hospital is currently the only facility in the state that can take patients charged with crimes and involuntarily medicate them. Involuntarily medicating inmates found to be mentally unfit is often the only way to stabilize them so they can stand trial and then be transferred to community services to help them maintain the mental stability that the medications can provide, according to experts in Montanas judicial and mental health systems. Its not realistic to change the commitment laws and keep people out of Montana State Hospital unless other tools are developed, said National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montana executive director Matt Kuntz, who has worked in the past with lawmakers on changes to commitment laws. However, Republican Rep. Bob Keenan said Montanas commitment laws do need to be reexamined if the state is to rebuild its struggling behavioral health treatment system and reduce wait times for services in the state hospital. Keenan requested that another committee, the Law and Justice Interim Committee, also study the commitment laws. But Keenan did not request any specific changes, and that committee had not responded to his letter as of Aug. 30. Montana has strictness when it comes to forced medication in mental health situations, Keenan said. That is something that needs to be looked at. Montana guarantees the right to a court hearing before people can be forced to take medication. That could be a hurdle to expanding the types of mental health facilities that can involuntarily medicate patients, particularly among those that can hold patients for only a few days, said Keenan. The $300 million state lawmakers appropriated this year aims to fund both community-based mental health services and regional mental health facilities that could take on patients who need a lower level of care than whats offered at the state hospital. But it will take years for any of those initiatives to come to fruition. While additional mental health services are needed, the state also needs to work on improving care at the state hospital for the patients it does serve, said Eddy, the Kalispell judge. Eddy said once inmates make it to the state hospital for treatment, theyre typically there for two weeks, instead of the allotted 90 days, before being sent back to the county jails. That makes it difficult to truly stabilize them, she said. Many inmates refuse to take medication once they return to jail to await their legal proceedings, then they mentally deteriorate, according to Eddy and Root, the jail official. The jails also might be unaware of an inmates diagnosis or whether theyre on medication, Eddy said. That makes it very difficult, having gone through all this effort to restore this persons fitness, to then keep them fit to proceed in the criminal stuff, she said. Some inmates are left waiting once again in jail only to go back through the process to get treatment at the state hospital. Then sometimes theyve been here for so long, I think nobody knows what to do, and then they get released, said Root. With limited community mental health resources, those who are released typically end up back in jail, only to repeat the cycle. Probably my biggest frustration with our system is the mentally ill and having people in here that should not be criminally charged, Root said. Yes, theyre not safe to be out in the public, but being in jail is not the answer either. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) - The proposal to temporarily cut tariff rates on imported rice from 35% to 10% or even zero drew criticisms from lawmakers on Monday. Lower rates will not benefit farmers and would only worsen the problems of the country's rice industry, said Rep. Arlene Brosas, assistant House of Representatives' minority leader and Gabriela Women's Party. "Four years ago, the government promised that the RA 11203 or Rice Liberalization Law would improve farmers' productivity and food security. But now, with the current state of our rice industry, import dependency and the trade deficit worsened, while rice self-sufficiency and farm gate prices plummeted," Rep. Brosas in a statement. Brosas said that the proposal of the Department of Finance (DOF) was another nail in the coffin of the dwindling local rice industry. She said farmers are asking for production subsidies to lower the cost of rice, and bringing down the tariff rates would only benefit the big cartels. READ: DOF proposes zero tariff on rice imports to curb grain prices https://www.cnnphilippines.com/business/2023/9/11/dof-zero-tariff-rice-imports.html In another statement, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Secretary Diokno's reaction to the price ceiling on rice was not surprising anymore and it seemed like the administration was making it appear that the industry was in "emergency" and "rice calamity," so the tarrif adjustment can be implemented. Diokno earlier said the economic team was "surprised" and not consulted when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a price ceiling on rice. READ: Economic team surprised by rice price cap Diokno "The NFA's (National Food Authority) announcement of having less than two days of buffer stock, despite having the budget to buy more, along with actions like shutting down alleged hoarders, implementing rice price caps, and providing subsidies to retailers, all appear to have been strategically planned to generate chaos in the industry, dominate the news for an extended period, and get the public ready for more emergency measures," Hontiveros said. "Dahil kung pamumukhaing may "emergency" at "rice calamity," pinapayagan ng Rice Tariffication Law ang government-to-government deal. Sana mali ang akala ko but such G-to-G deals in the past have been the favored options for people who were seeking to make money out of the deals," she added. [Translation: Because if there appears to be an "emergency" and "rice calamity", the Rice Tariffication Law allows a government-to-government deal. I hope I'm wrong but such G-to-G deals in the past have been the favored options for people who were seeking to make money out of the deals.] For his part, Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda suggested in a statement on Monday that lowering the tariff on rice imports should be accompanied by "aggressive palay buying operations" by the National Food Authority (NFA) to ensure that it will not depress farmgate prices. "The long-term and sustainable solution is still to produce more rice domestically, in a way that is resilient to climate risks. Actually, the PBBM administration has achieved a 3% growth in palay harvest for 2023," Salcedo said. "We are poised for a bumper crop-year this year. We need to reduce our dependency on rice imports to protect us from rice trade volatility," he concluded. Hontiveros added that implementing zero-tariff rice importation at the start of the harvest period would be a disaster for local farmers. COLUMBIA The state of South Carolina began Workforce Development Month on Sept. 1. The month is being filled with job fairs, hiring events, workshops, training, rural outreach, conferences and symposiums, and many other activities. The observance reinforces the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforces (DEW) commitment to championing workforce initiatives and creating opportunities for South Carolinas workers and employers. The strength of South Carolina is its hardworking people and the skilled workforce we have developed through collaboration with our business community and targeted investments into training programs that meet their hiring needs, Gov. Henry McMaster said. During Workforce Development Month, we highlight the many opportunities available to our people and business community alike to help them and our state continue to prosper. McMaster will present the official proclamation to DEW Executive Director William H. Floyd III at the Workforce Symposium on Sept. 19. Hosted by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Symposium will explore some of the crucial challenges faced by South Carolina businesses, such as recruiting, training, and retaining a versatile workforce. The event will bring together professionals, business leaders, educators, and government officials to engage in meaningful conversations about the needs of the workforce and the measures to meet them. Visit the 2023 Workforce Symposium page to learn more about the event and register to attend. Registration is open until Sept. 15. Workforce Development Month acknowledges the essential connection between our dedicated workforce and South Carolinas thriving economy, DEW Executive Director Floyd said. It also showcases the many opportunities employers offer and the impressive work being done. I think the best thing about this month is how it highlights the daily collaboration, throughout South Carolina, of employers, educators, public agencies, non-profits, and community partners who are committed to enhancing and expanding our world-class workforce. Get TheTandD.com for $1 for 26 weeks Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com Get the first 26 weeks for just $1 at https://go.thetandd.com/nov5 Initiatives have been planned statewide and by local workforce areas that focus on supporting South Carolinians at every stage of their professional journey, from students exploring career opportunities to jobseekers looking for their next career move, to experienced workers seeking to upgrade existing skills. Want to learn more about Workforce Development Month activities and participate in events? Visit dew.sc.gov/wdm to find an interactive map that shows all of your local areas upcoming events, featured employers, a Workforce Development Month branding toolkit, and much more. Keep track of our agencys happenings throughout the month by visiting the News page and following DEWs Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube pages. What started as an idea to draw youth to a local church, grew into the churchs first back-to-school event. St. Luke Presbyterian Church USA, in Orangeburg hosted the Aug. 19 event which was spearheaded by church members Darlene Dunmore and Sharon J. Brunson. Dunmore is an educator at Howard Middle School and Brunson is a former educator and speech pathologist. Both are passionate about giving back to the community and the youth of this area. Voorhees Universitys Gear Up program was one of the event's biggest sponsors. Under the leadership of Tiffany Leaf, Gear Up Project Director and Danesha Vickers, Associate Director, a number of school supplies were secured and distributed to approximately 200 students in the area. Some of the recipients of school supplies were from various schools around the Orangeburg County area, including Howard Middle School which has students that participate in the Gear Up program. The event also featured two food trucks, 52 North Concessions and Catering as well as Mr. Seafood. Ray Williams, also known as Mr. Showtime, a local student and teen DJ supplied music. Also in attendance were the Orangeburg County Library which supplied students with library cards and books, the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Department, Mias Paint, Sip and More. Handouts from the South Carolina State University 1890 Research Program and Family Health Centers of Orangeburg were made available. The organizers would like to thank all who assisted and look forward to the community's continued support and participation in the future. The young ladies are already working on next year's event. The weekend closed with the churchs Homecoming celebration where Tonia Woodbury was the speaker. Woodbury is a native of the area and grew up in St. Luke. She currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina and is head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Latin and North America, bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon). Former Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Director Michael Mike Adams died Friday evening. He was 59. Orangeburg County Coroner Samuetta Marshall said Adams apparently died from a heart attack. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety family is saddened to hear of the passing of Chief Mike Adams. During the span of his 35-year career six of which he served as director of public safety Chief Adams was a dedicated professional, ODPS Director Charles Austin Sr. said. Chief Adams was a dedicated professional. He left a legacy of service in the field of public safety that had a major impact on ensuring that the ODPS provided the highest level of police and fire services for our city, Austin continued. We will surely miss him. We extend our sincere prayers and condolences to Ms. Delcie and the Adams family, he added. Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler said, On behalf of Orangeburg City Council, we extend our sincere condolences to the Adams family. Chief Mike Adams Mike Adams was named director of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety in 2015. Mike dedicated 35 years to serving the residents of Orangeburg and he will be remembered for his dedication to making Orangeburg safe for the residents living here, Butler added. We are saddened to hear of his passing and we will continue to pray for the Adams family in the coming days, he said. Former ODPS Director Wendell Davis, Adams predecessor, said, First, I must say how shocked and saddened I was to hear of the sudden passing of Chief Adams. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Delcie, and their children. Davis added, I recall upon my appointment as director (of ODPS) in 1993, we engaged in a major restructuring of the entire department from a traditional fire and police service. This process involved an assessment of the entire staff. I was immediately struck and impressed by Mikes commitment to the legacy of the department and his desire to be a key component of moving the department in a new direction, while at the same time honoring the rich history the department had developed over the years. ODPS Chief Mike Adams The City Of Orangeburg announced Department of Public Safety Chief Mike Adams' retirement on Wednesday. He was quickly promoted to lieutenant in charge of the Narcotics Unit and made a huge impact on the street-level drug problem in the city through partnerships with local, state and federal agencies. He was shortly thereafter promoted to captain in charge of the Investigation Unit, where again he was instrumental in helping move the department forward in meeting its vision, Davis said. Mike was probably viewed as having a really tough exterior but he had a huge soft spot for disadvantaged people in the community and particularly for small children victimized by crime. He shared his emotion with me on more than one occasion if anything bad happened to a child, Davis said. Upon his appointment as director, he had the desire to move the department forward and build upon the vision of providing the best public safety possible for the members of the Orangeburg community. Chief Adams leaves a great legacy behind in the City of Orangeburg. He will be sorely missed by the community he served for more than 30 years, Davis said. Former Orangeburg City Administrator John Yow said, Orangeburg has lost one of its loyal citizens who truly cared about the community a man who gave 35 years of his life to protecting the public. I was fortunate enough to work with Chief Adams and see him come through the ranks and work with him for 20 to 30 years, Yow said. He was the consummate professional who was extremely efficient in a technical sense, but most importantly, brought compassion to the job for the employees and people of the community, he said. He also had courage enough to make tough decisions and do the right thing even when he was pressed to do otherwise. I always respected him for that, Yow added. I lost a former co-worker, but I also lost a good friend with his passing, he said. Ive known Mike around 40 years and worked with him during the 18 years that I served as mayor and on council, former Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller said. I considered him to be a very, very close friend he and his wife, Delcie, Miller added. I am just in total shock about his passing, he said. Mike enjoyed fishing, scuba diving and hunting, Miller said. I talked to him last week about getting together and having dinner at my house, he added. Miller said Adams served as president of the Orangeburg Rotary Club during the clubs 100th anniversary. He exemplified Rotarys motto: service about self, Miller said. He noted Adams was a Paul Harris Fellow, a high honor given to generous Rotarians. He was very professional in his work. He was kind of a no-nonsense type of guy, Miller said. I lost a good friend and we lost a man who devoted his career to love and serve the community with honor and distinction, Miller said. Adams graduated from Holly Hill-Roberts High School. He next graduated from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and attended Southern Wesleyan University. He was also a graduate of the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy, the S.C. Leadership Institute, Leadership Orangeburg County and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Adams began his career in 1986 as a patrol officer in the City of Orangeburg. Three years later, he was promoted to the rank of detective in the Investigation Unit. In 1991, Davis transferred Adams to the Narcotics Unit, where he was promoted to the rank of detective sergeant two years later. In 1994, Davis promoted Adams to the rank of detective lieutenant. Five years later, Davis promoted Adams to the captain of detectives in the Investigation Unit. Adams worked in that capacity until 2012, when he became commander of the Uniform Patrol Division. In 2015, Adams was hired as ODPS director after Davis retired. Adams retired in September 2021. Adams is survived by his wife, Delcie, and their three children. At the 22nd anniversary of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, my thoughts have returned to that fateful day and what came before and after it. With the distance of time to better appreciate what surrounded those attacks, I have come to a better perspective. As happened with Pearl Harbor, almost everything changed for America, even if it has taken time to recognize the pivotal nature of the 9/11 attacks. Every Americans prism is different, but also similar in relation to those events. I would like to share my own experience and with it show the profound nature of the events. On Sept. 11, 2001, I was a U.S. Army Infantry officer stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, and I had been on active duty since the summer in 1990 when I had graduated from The Citadel. My wife Susan was an Army M.D., and we had three young children. September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacked On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, a coordinated terrorist attack saw two hijacked commercial airplanes crash into New York Citys Twin Towers, I had watched the constant growth of radical Islamic terrorism throughout my career to that point, starting with the first World Trade Center attempted attack in 1993, but continuing with more brazen attacks against our embassies in Africa and even U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. Within the military, our primary focus was on either peacekeeping operations, like that in the Balkans and places like Somalia. My three deployments up to that point had been to the Middle East, with two to the Persian Gulf area and a seven-month peacekeeping mission between Egypt and Israel in the Sinai. America was the clear world hegemon, and with the exception of nuclear parity with Russia, no military power was up to the point of being considered a peer military competitor. We had seen radical Islamic terrorism growing throughout the world, but America had not been hit beyond the failed attack on the World Trade Center in 1993. Sept. 11, therefore, was a complete shock to the system. We went from virtually no attacks on our homeland to around 3,000 Americans being killed in the four airline attacks of that day against our most iconic structures of economic and military power. I remember at Fort Benning standing there in uniform watching the TV as the second airliner hit the World Trade Center: All of us aghast and virtually frozen in disbelief. We initially assumed that the first airliner hitting the tower might have been an accident, but the second strike meant we were at war. I immediately knew what those of my parents generation felt when Pearl Harbor was attacked. The frustrating part was that unlike Pearl Harbor, we didnt have a clearly defined enemy, and that became the source of so many problems in the years to come. During World War II, we knew exactly who hit us, and we dedicated ourselves to defeating the Axis powers at all costs and finished that mission in under four years. That was not to be the case after 9/11. After 9/11, we determined the terrorist group al Qaeda (the base in Arabic) was the direct enemy who had planned the attacks. With the emotion of something worse than Pearl Harbor (an attack against a military target in a territory outside the continental United States), however, we didnt limit ourselves to going after al Qaeda or their Taliban hosts in Afghanistan. We decided to go after the form of attack with a War on Terrorism, and included countries with virtually no connection to al Qaeda as being part of an Axis of Evil or something similar. We also decided that as part of the decision of going to war, we would dismantle regimes which might possess weapons of mass destruction (WMD). We went even further hoping that we would spread democracy to also make ourselves safer. The invasion of Iraq, unlike Afghanistan with al Qaeda and Taliban hosts, was justified upon the more indirect threats we came up with after 9/11. Iraq was thought to possess WMD, and when that proved to be questionable, the justification shifted to the spreading of democracy in order to create security for the United States. In Afghanistan, we stayed beyond expelling al Qaeda and the Taliban and decided we had to rebuild Afghanistan into a democracy, again, for our security. I was part of that Afghanistan mission, and as an infantry major and then a lieutenant colonel, I advised the Afghans in their operations against insurgents attempting to overthrow the new Afghan government. I will never regret my service, and I believe we did make a positive difference despite the failed strategic decisions made in the summer of 2021 during that disastrous withdrawal. Prior to our leaving, the Afghan people experienced freedom and democracy. The problem was and is that this positive good was outweighed by negatives in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In other wars, with the potential exception of Vietnam, we fought against a nation state like Japan to defeat them in our direct self-interest. During the War on Terror, we justified going to war by the indirect alleged interest of creating a similar democracy free of threats like WMD. While we removed the al Qaeda threat that hit us on 9/11, we spent two decades at war for indirect justifications that proved a lousy return on investment of blood and treasure. Despite the mistakes made, nobody can downplay the patriotism and heroism of so many Americans after 9/11 who answered the call. In my case, I was already a professional soldier, but I saw so many who put their civilian dreams on hold to serve. If we can learn from the mistakes, we will grow as a nation and not repeat those mistakes. Perhaps in that way it will have been worth it, and the honoring of our service members is something that must continue as long as America exists. (TBTCO) - Nam 2023 la mot nam ay song gio oi voi trai phieu kho bac My. Tam iem chu y cua thi truong tai chinh toan cau se at vao tuan toi, luc 8:30 sang gio New York ngay 1/11 khi Bo Tai chinh My cong bo ke hoach phat hanh trai phieu trong nhung thang toi. Du lieu nay se cho biet kha nang cua thi truong trong viec hap thu nguon cung trai phieu ra sao. Cung ngay, FED cung cong bo quyet inh lai suat trong cuoc hop dien ra ngay 31/10 - 1/11. Newcastle Utd and Anthony Gordon by | 11/09/2023 With no footy to take my mind off Everton I dont count watching England but was glad to see Mykolenko had a good game I came across another fly-on-the-wall series on Amazon Prime about Newcastle Utd. About 30 minutes into the first episode, we get some of the background to Anthony Gordons transfer from Everton and Amanda Staveleys perspective. Eddie Howe had been tracking Gordon since he got the manager's position but there were other priorities, such as Guimares and Trippier, to buy. So, at the beginning of the January 2023 transfer window, Newcastles attention turned to Gordon as they saw him as another goalscorer which they were apparently short of. They had already paid a club record for Izak and, 5 days before the end of January, they sound out Everton (Kenwright, I assume) and are told he will cost them 60 million. This is too high so Staveley comes back with a lower offer as the clock ticks away. The ace up her sleeve is that she can pay 40 million up front with 5 million add-ons. Funnily, Newcastle Utd are worried about spending more because of financial fair play! Article continues below video content So, with a couple of days to go in the transfer window, Gordon signs and Everton pocket 40 million immediately! With no time to do anything and Dyche only just arrived, we cant spend any of it! So we all know where that money goes into the building fund for the new stadium at Branmley-Moore Dock, and we are one player short even if Gordon was not going play for us. There is no mention of any Everton names and it looks like Staveley is the key negotiator who takes Bill's pants down! So when the new stadium needs another cash injection, theres Iwobis money, Onana 50 million and Pickford 50 million in the summer and another set of seats can be bought for our new stadium! If only we didnt need seats as we are an all-standing stadium! Return to Talking Points index : Add your Comments Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () How to get rid of these ads and support TW ToffeeWeb Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The Philippine Embassy in Morocco said no Filipinos were seriously affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake that struck the North African country on Friday. Fortunately, there are no Filipino casualties. When the earthquake struck, Filipinos all over Morocco, I believe, went out of their houses and apartments to the streets to seek safety, Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja told CNN Philippines New Day on Monday. Baja said there are around 4,600 Filipinos in Morocco. More than 2,000 people died after the powerful earthquake struck on Friday night. It was the strongest in more than a century, with an epicenter not far from popular tourist and economic hub Marrakech. Baja said the Philippine embassy immediately contacted area coordinators to check on the situation of Filipinos across Morocco after the quake. The embassy will stand by here together with the migrant workers office in Rabat. Well certainly coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding any assistance that will be extended to the Filipinos, he said. For those in need of assistance, Baja said they can contact the embassy through its hotline and social media accounts. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Elon Musk and Grimes secretly welcomed third child Elon Musk and Grimes have secretly welcomed their third child into the world. The on/off couple were known to be parents to three-year-old son X A-12, and daughter Exa Dark Siderl, 19 months, but a new biography of the Tesla boss - who has fathered eight other children with two women - by journalist Walter Isaacson states they have also had another son, who is officially named Techno Mechanicus but goes by the name of Tau. The revelation is mentioned in an extensive review of the book, which is simply titled 'Elon Musk', by the New York Times newspaper. The outlet wrote: " Isaacson has ably conveyed that Musk doesn't truly like pushback. Some of his lieutenants insist that he will eventually listen to reason, but Isaacson sees firsthand Musk's habit of deriding as a saboteur or an idiot anyone who resists him. Read more here: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apologize for Danny Masterson letter Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologized for writing a letter of support for Danny Masterson. The 47-year-old actor was recently sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of two counts of forcible rape against two women, and his former 'That '70s Show' co-stars have now taken to social media to issue an apology for writing a letter of support. In a video posted on Instagram, Ashton said: "We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson." Mila, 40 - who has been married to Ashton since 2015 - then added: "We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future." Read more here: Paul Reubens' cause of death revealed Paul Reubens' primary cause of death was "acute myelogenous leukemia". The actor - who was best known for playing Pee-wee Herman - passed away in July, aged 70, and it's now been revealed that he was fighting two forms of cancer before his death. A copy of his death certificate - which has been obtained by The Blast - shows that the actor was battling blood cancer and metastatic lung cancer before he passed away. Reubens ultimately lost his life because of "acute hypoxic respiratory failure". The condition occurs when the respiratory system "cannot adequately provide oxygen to the body, leading to hypoxemia". The actor's death was announced by one his representatives. Read more here: *** Get more recent celeb news here: Drive through downtown Casper on a typical summer afternoon, and more likely than not, you will see nothing remarkable. You may notice that the traffic is mild and the sidewalks are tidy and mostly empty save for maybe a few shoppers and businesspeople wandering about. Visit during the evening, and you may have some angst finding street parking, especially if theres a concert going on. Life downtown is pretty ordinary, in other words. Which might surprise you if youve Googled Casper lately. A rash of recent attention from national (and some international) media, spurred by an Aug. 30 story published by Cowboy State Daily, depicted the city as under siege by a severe homelessness crisis. Center-stage in most of that coverage is Mayor Bruce Knell, who has spoken candidly about a growing number of problems the city believes are tied to homelessness including illegal camping, disorderly behavior and vandalism. To hit home just how bad things are getting, hes pointed to two rather extraordinary incidents said to involve homeless people in Casper: first, that squatters caused millions of dollars in damage to a local motel, and second, that city staff had to clean up 500 pounds of human feces from downtown. Those stories have captured headlines in a spate of right-wing news outlets, including Fox News, the Daily Mail, the New York Post and the Epoch Times. But much of the platforms coverage is exaggerated, missing context, or in some cases, flat-out wrong. Heres a fact-check of some of the most widely-circulated claims about homelessness in Casper. Did squatters cause millions of dollars in damage to a local motel? The property in question is the now-vacant Econo Lodge in North Casper, located near the intersection of I-25 and Poplar Street. Chuck Hawley, the Econo Lodges listing agent, said the building did have squatters but they didnt rack up seven figures worth of damage. The harm was largely cosmetic and would take no more than $30,000 to $50,000 to address, he said in a text to the Star-Tribune. Knell also commenting over text said he got the multimillion-dollar figure from a local building restoration company. The company said it would be 4 million just to clean up everything in the building and between $4 million and $5 million to make it habitable again, he wrote. Hawley said that bid was related to addressing recent flood damage to the property (which was not caused by trespassers), and expressed doubt that the estimates were that high. In any case, the totality of the damage was enough to prompt the city of Casper to condemn the building. We do not enter into a condemnation declaration lightly, said Carter Napier, Caspers city manager. It has to be a clear and present health and safety matter. The owners of the Econo Lodge have since taken measures to secure the property, he said. Did Casper remove 500 pounds of human feces from downtown? The city recently cleaned up almost 500 pounds of refuse from a homeless camp, Napier said, including an approximately 50-pound bag of feces. He said the camp was located under a bridge. The city doesnt ordinarily log how much garbage it removes from homeless camps, but kept track of those particular statistics to offer City Council a stark example of how much work goes into addressing illegal camping and squatting in Casper, Napier said. He said the citys probably cleaned up about 10 camps around that size in the past four years. And human waste, unfortunately, tends to be a part of that people without proper shelter dont have access to bathrooms, after all. Are there 200 homeless people roaming the streets? No. That figure has been tossed around in city meetings as a rough estimate for Caspers overall homeless population, including the number of people staying at the Wyoming Rescue Mission, the citys sole homeless shelter. (On Thursday, the Mission had a total of 118 guests, said Director of Development Cheryl Hackett.) To say there are 200 homeless people in the whole city is probably lowballing it, though. While there isnt one comprehensive definition for who counts as homeless, housing instability doesnt just include people living on the streets or in shelters, but can also refer to people taking refuge in hotels, cars or couch surfing with friends and relatives, according to the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. In partnership with community organizations, the city of Casper is trying to gather more comprehensive data on its homeless population, but thats still a work in progress. Are homeless people flocking to Casper from out of town? City officials, law enforcement and social service organizations in Casper report that more and more homeless people are coming to the community from other parts of the state, or even other parts of the country. (Those groups have started collecting data that seem to substantiate this theory, though its too early to say for sure how big of a trend this is.) Based on what we do know, the majority of homeless people in Casper probably arent out-of-towners. Hackett said that 60% to 65% of people who stay at the Wyoming Rescue Mission are from Natrona County. Why might people struggling with housing instability be coming to Casper? The city is one of Wyomings social service hubs. People can receive help here they cant get elsewhere in the state. Some local leaders are concerned this will put a strain on city resources, if it isnt already. The other problem is that there isnt a robust system to ensure people who come here for support can get back to the communities where they came from (assuming they only planned to stay in Casper temporarily). That might leave them at a greater risk for getting stranded in the city without a support system. A note on trends in homelessness and crime Over the last six months, homeless people have made up a growing percentage of Casper Municipal Courts caseload, according to data shared with the Star-Tribune. Homelessness data Month (2023); Cases; Defendant identified as homeless; Percent March; 1193; 44; 3.69% April; 846; 24; 2.84% May; 1169; 100; 8.55% June; 1215; 95; 7.82% July; 1084; 108; 9.96% August; 804; 100; 12.44% Public intoxication and failure to comply for payment of fines were the most common charges, Clerk of Municipal Court Leticia Drake said in an email to the Star-Tribune. Trespassing, shoplifting and open container charges were the next most common. Some are from repeat defendants, she noted. We dont know whats driving this trend. We dont know if cases will stay this high, either they may start to taper off again when winter approaches. These numbers also represent only a slice of Caspers homeless population, and shouldnt be taken as representative of the group overall. Another, national-level trend worth noting is that chronic homelessness seems to be on the rise. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) considers someone chronically homeless if theyve been homeless for at least a year, or at least four times on and off over the last three years, so long as the total amount of time exceeds 12 months. Chronically homeless people also have at least one disabling condition, which can include mental disorders and addiction. HUD reported that the number of chronically homeless people in the U.S. increased 16% between 2020 and 2022. Chronically homeless people often need a more robust safety net than their non-chronic counterparts, which can include permanent supportive housing, according to the federal agency. Nationally, there isnt a clear picture of the relationship between homelessness and crime. A lot depends on the type of homelessness in question, the type of crime and the characteristics of the person involved (if they have a long history of homelessness or mental health conditions, for example.) To offer just one example: a 2014 literature review published in Psychiatric Services, a peer-reviewed medical journal, found that homeless adults with severe mental illness were more likely to engage in criminal activity, have encounters with law enforcement (like arrests and convictions) and be victims of crimes compared to housed adults with severe mental illness. But again, that speaks to just one portion of the homeless population. What might be the takeaway here? The root causes and effects of homelessness are hazy and nuanced, even with context. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in Wyoming, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Star-Tribune app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. CHEYENNE Wyoming state legislators criticized an initiative to reduce property taxation for homeowners by 50%, arguing the bills passage would ultimately strip state funding for public schools. The proposed initiative, formally dubbed the Peoples Initiative to Limit Property Tax in Wyoming through a Homeowners Property Exemption, was conditionally certified by Secretary of State Chuck Gray at the end of last month. Spearheaded by Brent Bien, a former Wyoming governor candidate, alongside committee applicants Cheryl Aguiar and Richard Weber, the bill needs to gather 100 signatures of support from registered voters by the end of September. If successful, nearly 30,000 Wyoming voter signatures would be needed by Feb. 12 for the proposal to be added to the 2024 election ballot. Rep. Liz Storer, D-Jackson, criticized the proposed bill, saying the property tax reduction would cost the state millions of dollars that would go toward K-12 funding.The loss in state revenue was highly unlikely to be made up by the Wyoming Legislature. This initiative will help rich people the most at the expense of Wyomings kids and its communities, Storer wrote in an email to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. Theres a better way to provide meaningful tax relief to those who really need it. Storer was one of nine representatives who unanimously voted in January to pass House Bill 99, which outlined requirements for a property tax refund program. General restrictions outlined in the bill included residency in Wyoming of five years or more, ownership of the property for at least nine months and a specified gross household income. Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, described the 50% limit on the property tax initiative as fundamentally misguided. The passage of this bill would hurt local communities, he wrote in an email, by stripping available state revenue toward funding K-12 education, community colleges, volunteer fire departments, libraries and weed and pest control. I hope people dont sign a form just by someone simply saying sign here to lower your taxes, when they have no understanding of the actual consequences of this type of action, Zwonitzer wrote. There is no way any cognizant legislator would approve of an idea so disastrous to Wyomings children and our local governments. Wyoming has one of the five lowest tax burdens of any state in the nation, according to the Republican representative. Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, said the issue of property taxes wasnt even a statewide issue. (The property tax issue) was driven solely by five or six counties that have had double-digit property (tax) increases, Hicks said. A vast majority of our counties havent experienced anything above the national average or the statewide average as far as property tax increases. Hicks said the passage of this ballot measure would increase taxation in other areas to make up for public school funding, which is the biggest expense faced by the state. Bien began work on the initiative last December, he said, after he witnessed the results of the 2022 election. Unsatisfied with previous attempts by the Wyoming Legislature to reduce property taxes, he said he decided to take matters into his own hands. Ive always been an action guy. I see a problem, and I go after it, Bien said. The former candidate said concern over property taxes was a common theme among residents. Some of the people he met on the campaign trail became supporters of the property tax reduction initiative. Ballot initiatives are a form of peer democracy, Hicks said. People dont understand, obviously Mr. Bien doesnt understand, this property tax issue is not a statewide issue. WHEN the rice finishes, we make dumplings. Thats the reality for one family because they simply cannot afford to replenish food until the next pay cheque. Living pay cheque to pay cheque is a dilemma many households are facing in Trinidad and Tobago. KI is planning a huge homecoming for Carnival 2024. KI (Kris Persad) and his family band 3Veni have been noticeably absent from the fete circuit for the past five years. The Toronto, Canada-based former chutney soca monarch says he is longing for the one place where he is at home: the Carnival stage. 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. There will be more law enforcement boots on the ground as President Christine Kangaloo has c Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) --- A complaint filed against former government anti-insurgency task force officials Lorraine Badoy, Antonio Parlade Jr. and Hermogenes Esperon was dismissed for lack of a law on criminalizing red-tagging, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said on Monday. During the House hearing on the Office of the Ombudsman's proposed 2024 budget, Martires responded to Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel's inquiry on the status of red-tagging complaints against officials, including Parlade, Badoy, and Esperon. "Sa dami ng kaso na 'yon, hindi ko alam kung ano 'yung status. But if the honorable congressman is referring to those cases against Parlade, Badoy, Esperon with respect to the red-tagging, those cases were already dismissed sa kadahilanan po na wala naman pong batas na nagbabawal sa red-tagging," the Ombudsman said. "Walang 'red tagging' violation. Kung anti-graft ang ifa-file, para lang tayong nagpalusot," Martires added. [Translation: With the many cases, I don't know what the status is. But if the honorable congressman is referring to those cases against Parlade, Badoy, Esperon with respect to the red-tagging, those cases were already dismissed for the reason that there is no law prohibiting red-tagging There is no 'red tagging' violation. If we just file an anti-graft complaint, it's just like we're forcing it.] Manuel said bills to criminalize red-tagging have been pending in Congress, while the Ombudsman should be more "proactive" in responding to the complaints rather than waiting for the law. "Even in the absence of a law, individuals pursuing their advocacy in accordance with our laws should not be discriminated, subjected to 'red tagging' and harmed," he said. "May mga namatay na po dahil sa (People have died due to) 'red tagging.' The damage has been done. The government should not tolerate this and enable 'red tagging.' We should be proactive in this matter and serve justice," he added. The 2020 complaint against Parlade, Badoy, and Esperon asked the Ombudsman to hold the officials accountable for their "malicious abuse of authority and negligent performance of duties as public officials." As we sit in the comfort of our Caribbean homes and look on in horror at the merciless genoc The Molino 3 Wildfire burning north of Tucson since Thursday is now 48% contained, according to the latest update Sunday from the U.S. Forest Service. Incident Commander Jeff Fulgham reported significant progress in battling the blaze, which has consumed 485 acres of Coronado National Forest land. The cause of the wildfire remains under investigation. Forward progress of the fire has been successfully halted. As a result, authorities this weekend reopened traffic in both directions on Catalina Highway. While the wildfire is still not fully contained, authorities continue to urge caution in the affected area and encourage residents to stay informed through the Road Closure Hotline (520) 547-7510. Some of Wyatt Earp's personal belongings will be up for grabs during an auction later this month. Donley Auctions, an auction house based in Union, Illinois, will sell a saddle, vest and single-shot Moore pistol once owned by the historic Tombstone lawman as part of its upcoming Gun and Military Auction on Saturday, Sept. 23. Included in the lot of Earp's former belongings is a notarized 1929 letter signed by John H. Flood, Earp's unpaid secretary, who was given the items as compensation, according to the auction organizers. Earp's pistol and vest featured in the lot are both encased in glass and the saddle comes with a wood display stand, according to the auction house's website. Bids on the Wyatt Earp collection lot number 1010 can be placed live at Donley Auctions, online and by phone on Sept. 23. Photos of all items in the lot and more information on the bidding process can be found at donleyauctions.com. Re: the July 14 article Protecting the A-10 program protects AZ, all Americans. I understand the value the A-10 holds for protecting Americans and I agree that these planes should not be retired. I appreciate the DMAF A-10 as well as the B-52 and I am amazed with how smoothly and quietly these planes are flown over Tucson. I also believe that the horrendously loud F-35 should not be permitted to fly over Tucson. My father Major Melville Robinson Bastin worked for the U.S. Air Force. He was a hero, an extremely courageous fighter pilot. He loved to fly. According to his mother he said he felt closer to God when flying and always carried a Bible when he flew. He was a highly decorated pilot, awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Oak Leaf Clusters for displaying extraordinary heroism while engaged in action. There is a DFC society and it is a nonprofit war veterans organization, with the mission to honor, preserve, and teach the legacy of heroism or extraordinary achievement in aerial flight for which the DFC is awarded. There you can find lists of others who received the Distinguished Flying Cross. My fathers name will soon be added. My father was 34 when he died and I was an infant. I never knew him. I never heard his voice or held his hand. He gave his life for a country he loved. He lost his life during takeoff in an unexplainable Thunderflash plane crash in Utah. This happened after he courageously flew in World War II and the Korean War. He left a widowed wife and five children who had to carry on without their father. Several years prior to his death, he bought a lovely Spanish style home in Tucson, surrounded by beautiful open desert. It was on the DMAF flight path and I remember the tiered steps of the adobe wall that held brightly colored clay pots. A yard happily flowered with plumbago, irises, pomegranates, chinaberry, mulberry, and a Meyers lemon tree growing in a yard with clover, queens wreath and neatly trimmed hedges. My grandmother told me stories about how my dad would fly low over the house to let her know he was back in Tucson and as a signal to start cooking the roast. She also told me about an American politician, a Major General in the Air Force Reserve, Senator Goldwater, coming to the house for lunch. This white adobe home with a red clay tiled roof, interior archway, oak, and tile floors, was lovingly cared for by his parents, while he and his family were stationed in various states and overseas. It was the home his family returned to live in after his death. After years of change and redesign by my mother and veteran stepfather, this worn, adobe home was eventually sold to some random investor. It was sad to see the last part of my father go but I know his spirit will continue to walk the grounds. I always felt his spirit was near when a B-52 flew over me. I still wave at one when it flies over and wait for it to dip a wing to acknowledge my hello. Today, too many Americans, newcomers and investors, who are living in and out of America do not appreciate that America is a free country. They complain and demand changes be made in America to fit their personal desires. Even though they never enlisted nor fought for this country, nor did their families. Most people living in America never think about the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have courageously fought to keep Americas a free country. America cannot let un-Americans continue to undermine America from within by pitting Americans against Americans. United we stand, divided we fall. The true heroes of America are the righteous living, American veterans. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The district attorney for Osage County has asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to investigate the 1976 disappearance of a Pawhuska teenager, but he added Monday that he didnt consider BTK serial killer Dennis Rader a suspect in the case. I have asked the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to look into the sheriffs allegations that Dennis Rader is the prime suspect in Cynthia Dawn Kinneys disappearance in 1976, said Mike Fisher, district attorney for Osage and Pawnee counties. He told media during a press conference Monday that there wasnt enough evidence at this time to link Rader to the disappearance of Cynthia Kinney. Fisher said he would rather call Rader a person of interest than a suspect at this point. Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden has called Rader a suspect in Kinneys disappearance based on evidence he has gathered. The sheriff does have some information that he has gathered that would lead a reasonable person to ask further questions, but nothing thats been gathered so far is something that could be used in a court of law as actual evidence, Fisher said. The 16-year-old vanished June 23, 1976, after getting into a vehicle outside a Pawhuska laundry where she worked. Rader is serving 10 consecutive life-without-parole prison sentences after pleading guilty in 2005 to 10 murders in the Wichita, Kansas, area between 1974 and 1991. Fisher voiced concerns about the Osage County Sheriffs Office calling Rader a suspect in Kinneys disappearance. I have some concerns, as do the Kinneys, about whether we really have evidence to claim that Dennis Rader is a prime suspect, Fisher said. I know he has been called that by the Sheriffs Office, but I have some concerns about that. One of those concerns is talk that Rader, while working for the alarm company ADT, may have installed a security system for a bank that was across the street from the laundry when Kinney disappeared. There is simply no evidence that we can use in court to support that, Fisher said. In fact, ADT cant confirm that one way or another. Its a danger if at any time that type of evidence gets out there and speculation occurs because that type of information isnt evidence that can be used in a court of law to convict somebody. Fisher said his request may result in two parallel investigations by the OSBI and the Osage County Sheriffs Office, but he hopes that is not the case. Clearly, if the goal is to try to identify a suspect and collect evidence against that suspect, whether it is Mr. Rader or someone else, I would hope that the sheriff and OSBI can work together, and I think that would be very beneficial, Fisher said. Meanwhile, the Osage County Sheriffs Office responded later Monday with a press release of its own regarding its investigation into Kinneys disappearance and Fishers comments. In its release, the Osage County Sheriffs Office said it has actively engaged with the OSBI and with its equivalent in Kansas, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Contrary to the statements made by District Attorney Fisher, the OCSO has had two meetings with both agencies to share information and work collaboratively, the OCSO said in the release. Despite this, there has been no further communication from the OSBI regarding the investigation. The OCSO remains committed to cooperating fully with the OSBI and other law enforcement agencies in pursuit of justice for Cynthia Kinney. The Sheriffs Office noted in its release that Fisher hasnt reached out to the office to discuss the Kinney case. Therefore, his comments regarding the case are based on incomplete information and do not accurately represent the OCSOs efforts or the progress made, the release states. Fisher, meanwhile, said he has already shot down a request by the Sheriffs Office to consider giving Rader immunity from the death penalty if he agreed to confess to Kinneys murder. They asked me if I would be willing to offer immunity from the death penalty if Mr. Rader confessed to Cynthia Dawn Kinneys disappearance and death, and I said no, Fisher said. Its not good practice for prosecutors to engage in that type of bargaining and negotiations, so I told the sheriff that I wouldnt agree to it, Fisher said. The reason for that is courts are very suspect when something like that happens. Ive actually seen instances where judges have refused to accept those confessions when some is trying to plead to a case. Especially in a situation like this, he has already confessed to 10 murders and he is serving 10 consecutive life sentences, so if the death penalty is off the table, it would be real easy for him to confess to every murder he wanted to at that point. He is going to die in prison anyway. Fisher said one of the reasons he called the press conference was to highlight the stress this is putting on Kinneys parents. After about a two-hour conversation with them last Friday, I just felt they were really, really struggling with this, Fisher said. These newest allegations that have been raised by the sheriff against Mr. Rader as to the disappearance of their daughter was causing them an incredible amount of stress. Fisher said he was also concerned about information that was being released to the public. Information was getting out that I didnt think should be going out right now because I felt like it could interfere with the investigation and possible prosecution of the case, Fisher said. The OCSO said in its statement that it understands the pain and grief experienced by the families of the victims, including the Kinney family. Any actions or statements that may cause further distress to the victims families are deeply regrettable and contradict our commitment to compassion and professionalism, the OCSO statement says. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton 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 College Board kudos: On Wednesday, Sand Springs Public Schools announced its honorees through the College Boards National Recognition Program. To be considered for the award, students have to have at least a 3.5 GPA and have either excelled on the PSAT/NMSQT or earned a score of 3 or higher on at least two Advanced Placement exams. Additionally, students must be Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and/or attend school in a rural area or a small town to be considered. Gracey Massey and Miriam Wilbanks received the National Indigenous Award and Davien Peyketewa received the National African American Recognition Award. Looking for number crunchers: The Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance is accepting applications through Oct. 1 from secondary schools for Sonia Kovalevsky Day. Named for the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in math, the Nov. 3 event at Tulsa Community Colleges Northeast Campus features hands-on activities focused on various aspects of math and their real world applications. Applications for the girls-only event are available online at tulsastem.org/Sonia-kovalevsky-day. Award-winning faculty: Jenks Public Schools has announced their 2023 Vision of Excellence winners. In order to be considered, JPS employees are nominated by their peers or members of the public based on their commitment to leadership, teamwork, continuous improvement and customer service. Winners are selected by the districts foundation. This years honorees include Grace Alexander, Mary Ames, Allie Bacon, Emily Collins, Sally Cox, Kalin Dahl, Andrea Davis, Jennifer Elbon-Smith, Melanie Ellis, Kelly Fulkerson, Sandra Gruszeczka, Lisa Harper, Laura Hixson, Megan Knox, Leo Martinez, Torry Nunnelee, Sarah Onorato, Andrew Reyna, Amanda Taylor and Allison Wood. Stay home days: Monday is a distance learning day for Liberty Public Schools. Classes are not in session Friday at Tulsa Honor Academy. School board calendar: The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board is scheduled to meet Monday in Oklahoma City. In the Tulsa area, the boards of education for Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, Jenks, Kiefer, Liberty, Mounds, Owasso, Prue, Skiatook, Sperry, Tulsa, Union and Verdigris are all scheduled to meet Monday, as well. The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Anderson, Pretty Water and Sapulpa are scheduled to meet Tuesday. The board of education for Epic Charter Schools is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Oklahoma City. The board of education for Bixby Public Schools is scheduled to meet Thursday. The board of education for Inola Public Schools is scheduled to meet Friday. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The government's price cap and launch of more raids against rice hoarders have "significantly contributed to the subsequent drop in global rice prices," lawmakers said. Quezon 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga, who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, said Sunday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s decision to implement a price ceiling on the commodity was "a well-calculated move." He added that it "has helped stabilize the rice market despite global market uncertainties." Enverga also said Vietnam's rice prices also dropped last week as the Philippines canceled its orders amid possible losses from the price cap. This was echoed by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, saying that "the decline in global rice prices resulted from widespread cancellations of imported rice orders by rice traders and importers in response to the newly imposed price ceilings." Marcos ordered the price ceiling on rice after the government detected a surge in prices. It started on Sept. 5. READ: Gov't warns of stricter rice price cap implementation in coming days For Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the surge in rice prices was "artificial." "The cap ended the rice price spike. It is now clear that the soaring cost of the grain is artificial, driven by market speculation and rice traders driven by greed. Now, we have to manage our rice inventory better to avoid fueling the speculation here and in the global rice market," Salceda said. However, some senators did not approve of the price ceiling, saying the government must instead focus on stomping out rice cartels and hoarding. Rice retailers, meanwhile, called for immediate aid from the government. Last Friday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said it would start distributing cash assistance to small-scale rice retailers in Metro Manila. Gov't cracks down on hoarders, smugglers Moreover, Enverga said customs authorities' boosted fight against hoarders complemented the price cap. Late in August, the president directed the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intensify its crackdown on warehouses allegedly hoarding rice supply and are involved in illegal rice importation. Marcos said smugglers and hoarders were behind the higher prices. READ: Marcos orders Customs bureau to continue 'warehouse raids' to fight hoarding, illegal rice imports Before August ended, the BOC found four Bulacan warehouses with 519-million worth of imported rice. In a statement on Monday, the BOC said it further beefed up measures to counter smuggling through a meeting with the Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessments (SOCTA) Research Team of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission. Their dialogue touched on trade facilitation and border protection, it noted. The BOC said SOCTA identifies criminal markets and areas, as well as determines whether these are committed by organized groups or individuals. Kevin Canfield Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Kevin Canfield 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 Tulsa City Councilor and mayoral candidate Jayme Fowler shared the stage Sunday night with election denier Kash Patel and urged the audience not to let Tulsa be another San Francisco. Im going to talk about a few negatives some cities across the country that just arent, quite frankly, doing well, Fowler said at Tulsarusalem at Sheridan.Church, video from the event shows. What do these cities have in common? San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, New York. What do they have? They have liberal mayors! Remember that. Fowler, a Republican, said those cities are facing similar challenges epidemic levels of homelessness, failing schools, high taxes and rising crime and asked the audience to say a prayer for Tulsa. What do you say? We can do better, Fowler said. We need it. We need your help, and Im going to need your help. Fowler said his wife is a former Tulsa Public Schools teacher who has since gone on to work at a conservative school. She didnt have to (work). My wife could sit home and watch TV and not do a darn thing, and like me, she has a servants heart, Fowler said. She walked away from her job at Saint Francis (Health System) and was one of the only Republican teachers in the city of Tulsa, and just the incredible load that they put on her really just chased her off. Also speaking were State Superintendent Ryan Walters and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. The highlight of the nights mix of church revival and Donald Trump for president rally were the words of Trump himself, who answered the phone when Lara Trump called him on her cellphone from the stage. She is married to Donald Trumps son, Eric, and has served as an adviser to the president. I wish I could be with you, Trump said. You know, I won every (Oklahoma) district (in 2020), and were going to have a big victory coming up in 24. Trump said he doesnt believe there has ever been a more important election than the upcoming one in 2024. Weve got to make sure we have honest elections for a change, Trump said. Sundays event was hosted by Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a Trump supporter and election denier who ran an unsuccessful campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. James Lankford in the 2022 GOP primary. In remarks heavy with biblical references and reverence for the former president, Lahmeyer suggested there was a divine reason Trump was elected president in 2016, and he led the audience in prayer for a similar outcome in 2024. God, we ask that you would continue to give him divine strength, divine wisdom, divine discernment. And we lift up the entire Trump family, that as they get ready to enter into a new season, that Lord, we know that you go before them and no weapon formed against the Trump family will prosper, and every tongue that rises up against them, Lord, may you cast it down in the name of Jesus, Lahmeyer said. Patel, who served in several high-ranking intelligence and defense positions in the Trump administration, discussed his involvement with the social media site Truth Social, saying it plays an important role in providing a censorship-free platform for the public. And the most critical part of it all is, you guys have to remember: The two biggest actors in rigging the election against Donald Trump not once but twice, and they are probably working on a third time, is the FBI and DOJ rigged it with Facebook and Twitter, Patel said. And so we have to have censorship-free platforms like Truth Social and Rumble. Regalado, like Lara Trump, explained the challenges facing the country as not so much a political battle but a struggle between good and evil. Keep up the good fight. It does mean everything. You can call it political, call it what you want, Regalado said. For me, it is none of those things, right? It literally is a fight against corruption and evil. And I am not talking just at the national level. Im talking everywhere, and it is going to take people who have a true faith in God and in the country that he created to fight for it. Fowler said Monday that he had no idea in advance that Patel would be speaking at Sundays event and that he doesnt think the 2020 presidential election was rigged. I had no idea who he is and his political feelings, Fowler said, adding: In no way do I believe that the 2020 election was rigged. Fowler and two Democrats, Karen Keith and Monroe Nichols, have announced that they are running to succeed Mayor G.T. Bynum in 2024. Bynum, a Republican, has said he will not seek a third four-year term. Tulsas municipal elections are nonpartisan. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. NEW YORK From ground zero to small towns, Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with moments of silence, tearful words and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks 22 years ago. For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on. And you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you, Edward Edelman said as he arrived at New Yorks World Trade Center to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. We know that on this day, every Americans heart was wounded, he said. Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal community American hands went up, ready to help where they could. The Democrat became the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in the western U.S., and his visit is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. On that day, we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help, Eddie Ferguson, fire-rescue chief in Virginias Goochland County, said in an interview before the anniversary. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people, more than 100 miles from the Pentagon, has a Sept. 11 memorial and holds two anniversary commemorations: one focused on first responders and another honoring all the victims. At ground zero in New York, Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries at the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza. Instead of remarks from political figures, the event features victims families reading the names of the dead and delivering brief personal messages. Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked first responders and the military. One lauded the Navy SEALs who killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 War on Terror. Many shared reflections on missing loved ones. Though we never met, I am honored to carry your name and legacy with me, said Manuel Joao DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died. Jason Inoa, 20, found it nerve-wracking to tell the crowd about his grandfather, Jorge Velazquez. But Inoa did it for his grandmother, who has Alzheimers disease. The one thing she does remember is her husband, he said afterward. Warning of a rise in extremism and political violence, Biden told service members and their families that that every generation has to fight to preserve U.S. democracy. Thats why the terrorists targeted us in the first place our freedom, our openness, our institutions. They failed. But we must remain vigilant, he said. First lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where a giant American flag hung over the side of the building. Earlier, bells tolled, and musicians played taps at 9:37 a.m., the time when one of the hijacked jets hit the military headquarters. As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who deployed to Iraq in the war that followed the attack. But please know this: The men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, laid a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where another plane crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Earlier Monday at the memorial, a rabbi from Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue, where a gunman killed 11 worshippers in 2018, called for ensuring that younger people know about 9/11. With memory comes responsibility, the determination to share our stories with this next generation, so that through them, our loved ones continue to live, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told the gathering. The National Park Service-run memorial site is offering a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for classroom use. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access, organizers say. Many Americans did volunteer work on what Congress designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Others gathered for anniversary events at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere. In Iowa, a march set off at 9:11 a.m. Monday from the Des Moines suburb of Waukee to the state Capitol. In Columbus, Indiana, observances include a remembrance message sent to police, fire and EMS radios. Pepperdine Universitys campus in Malibu, California, displays one American flag for each victim, plus the flags of every other country that lost a citizen on 9/11. New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, this year made Sept. 11 a holiday for county employees so they could attend commemorations. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a Heroes Memorial includes steel from the World Trade Centers fallen twin towers and a plaque honoring Jessica Leigh Sachs, a 9/11 victim with relatives among the St. Louis suburbs 4,000 residents. Were just a little bitty community, Mayor Joe Maurath said, but its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free. Remembering 9/11 in photos Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel 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 Policy wonks say budgets reflect priorities. If so, Oklahoma gives a very low priority to enforcing its state ethics and campaign finance laws. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has six employees and a budget of about $820,000 a year, making it one of the smallest and least-funded state agencies. Its executive director is leaving at the end of the year and its online database will go dark during the middle of next years campaign season if something isnt done soon. All of this while the schemes to circumvent full disclosure grow ever more complex and the people behind them become more brazen. Were obviously in a very transformative time for the Ethics Commission, said Jarred Brejcha, a Tulsan who represents the 1st Congressional District on the panel. Brejcha said hes confident the commission can handle the flood of money, much of it untraceable, pouring into political contests at every level. Others, including the exiting executive and a former commissioner, are not nearly as convinced. We have the expertise in the subject area. Were aware of what these different entities are doing to put all of this money into these different races. Theyre really kind of playing chicken with the state of Oklahoma because they also know the commission doesnt have sufficient money to enforce (the law), said commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp. Citing a continuing lack of financial support, Kemp resigned last month, effective Dec. 31, after 10 years with the commission and seven as executive director. Charlie Laster, a former Democratic state senator from Shawnee who recently rotated off the Ethics Commission, said during his time the commissioners had to drop some cases for budget reasons. The Legislature really has no incentive to adequately fund the Ethics Commission, said Laster. I saw it when I was in the Legislature and when I was on the Ethics Commission. I dont think its going to change until the people step in with an initiative petition of some sort. Of the commissions $820,000 budget, $688,000 $20,000 less than a few years ago is appropriated. The rest of the budget comes from fines and fees, but even that is limited to no more than $150,000 a year. Anything over that goes into the states general fund. By comparison, Oklahoma spent as much to send 50 National Guard troops to patrol the Texas-Mexico border for a few weeks this summer as it does in any given year to police the money spent to influence state and local government, from local school boards to the governors office. Established by a vote of the people in 1990, the Ethics Commission is responsible for enforcing campaign finance and all other ethics laws and regulations, including those governing gifts to state employees and elected officials, and for monitoring the activities of lobbyists. The commission may pursue civil penalties, but not criminal charges, against violators. The five commissioners serve staggered five-year terms. Two registered Republicans, two registered independents and one registered Democrat comprise the current commission. Having observed the commission as a candidate, a lawmaker and a member, Laster said the commission is always on a tightwire. No lawmakers ever overtly intervened, he said, but The unspoken truth is that the Ethics Commission was always hesitant to do something that the legislative leaders objected to. Which may explain the relationship between the commission and the Legislature the past few years. In 2019, Kemp announced a new get-tough policy on unpaid fines and fees, and back it up with lawsuits against more than a dozen candidates, lobbyists and political action committees. That same year it reached a $31,000 settlement with former House Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell for improper use of campaign funds. More recently, the commission wrung a $62,750 settlement from the Republican Senatorial Committee, which was controlled by the Republican Senate leadership, and forced it to shut down over alleged contribution violations. Afterward, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma, described the violations as mainly clerical errors, and Treats caucus quickly organized a new replacement PAC. Earlier this year, a dark money group agreed to pay $45,000 for failing to properly report at least $150,000 and perhaps as much as $750,000 used to help oust several Republican House members in the 2018 GOP primaries. The targeted representatives were at odds with Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, but McCall is not known to have been involved in the campaign against them. Coincidentally or not, Kemps request this year for an additional $400,000 was ignored. Some think Kemps departure may loosen the purse strings a little, but that likely depends on who the commission hires. Another major issue is The Guardian system, the online database used since 2015 for state candidates to file reports and for the public to access them. Recently Kemp was notified the vendor hosting and maintaining the system will no longer do so after June 30. Brejcha, a recent addition to the commission, said he thinks that problem will be worked out, in large part because no one wants to revert to filing hard copies. Whether the Legislature will come up with enough money to not only make the transition but also to upgrade it so that local reports can also be filed electronically is one of the matters to be decided. As for enforcement, Brejcha said the commission has not always made the best use of its time and money. He wants to see more emphasis on education. We need to help people understand what our systems are and help them comply with the rules, he said. As it happens, Brejcha is one of the commissions two independents, but before entering private business his background was in Republican politics. He served as Mayor Dewey Bartletts chief of staff and ran the Republican Senatorial Committee the same PAC later closed by the Ethics Commission over what Treat termed clerical errors. I have every reason to believe well be effective going forward, Brejcha said. We need to cast a vision of what we can do going forward. Its going to be a different season in front of us, with potentially changes to how the reporting does occur because apparently the system is going to be different. Theres a lot we can do. Theres really no reason to throw our hands up in the air and say Theres no way to be effective. Its just going to require some working together. I believe we can get there. State Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, is not reassured. Blancett has tried to get tougher disclosure laws, especially for dark money, for several years. Citizens United, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that essentially opened the door for virtually unlimited independent campaign spending, is invariably cited as reason not to move forward. Weve got to do something, Blancett said. In my experience, if the powers that be dont want to put something in place, they dont want to for a reason. I dont care if youre Democrat or Republican, these are the things that cause the public including me to distrust government. Kemp said there is expertise to hold people accountable. What we dont have is the funding to actually do it, she said. Without that enforcement of the existing law, what is there to prevent somebody from taking those risks, taking those chances on influencing those campaigns, of not reporting certain activity, or doing the kind of fly-by-night activity where they dump money into an election and then leave. Where is the consequence against doing that when you know its unlikely youll be held accountable? <&rule> Andrea Eger Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Andrea Eger 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 State Superintendent Ryan Walters spoke at a Sunday evening event in Tulsa in support of former President Donald Trump and described his many controversial statements and actions since taking elected office in January as continuing that MAGA agenda. Walters introduced Lara Trump, Trumps daughter-in-law and adviser, at the Ignite, Live from Tulsarusalem, event, held Sunday night at Sheridan Church. The other keynote speaker was Kash Patel, a former White House Trump aide and 2020 election results denier. Absolutely unbelievable what President Trump and his family has done for this country, Walters said. You see how the left reacts to it. They will stop there is nothing beyond what they will do. They will target him using the judicial system. They will target him using any means necessary to stop that MAGA agenda, but let me tell you something they are not going to stop it. Absolutely not. What are we doing here in Oklahoma, folks? We are continuing that MAGA agenda. We are going to put parents in charge of their kids. Were not going to have pornography in schools. Were gonna have no pornography. Were gonna have PragerU in every school in Oklahoma. How about that? Walters was referring to an online catalog of right-wing videos, lesson plans, worksheets, and online books and magazines that he had linked on the Oklahoma State Department of Educations official social studies page last week in hopes that public school teachers and districts will begin using them. However, such curriculum decisions are a matter of local control decided by locally elected school boards under state law. PragerU is not a university or an accredited education entity but a foundation co-founded by conservative radio talk show host Dennis Prager that collects millions of dollars from conservative donors to produce cartoon videos meant to promote American values and serve as a free alternative to the dominant left-wing ideology in culture, media, and education. Introducing Walters was event host and Sheridan Church Lead Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, who has also insisted that the results of the 2020 presidential election were fraudulent. He made an unsuccessful challenge for incumbent James Lankfords U.S. Senate seat in 2022. There is something very wrong with the educational system in the state of Oklahoma and can I tell you we couldnt have asked for a better state superintendent than Ryan Walters, Lahmeyer said. On Sunday evening in Tulsa, Walters railed against the current U.S. president and even alluded to his own inquest to try to prove that Tulsa Public Schools is receiving money from the Chinese government to pay for professional development coursework by a foreign language teacher at a local high school. President Joe Biden wants to destroy this country. He wants to destroy our schools. He wants to destroy your family. And he wants to destroy our Christian faith. Lets be really clear that is his end goal. But let me tell you: Not here in Oklahoma. It is absolutely not going to happen, Walters said. We are going to be the tip of the spear to tell Joe Biden: This isnt communist China, OK? This isnt California. This is Oklahoma. This is where woke goes to die, folks. Walters ended his comments Sunday evening by speaking about the spiritual war for the souls of our kids that he is committed to carrying out. In June, Walters said he was considering a Christian faith leaders groups new recommendations for the promotion of Christianity and Western heritage in Oklahomas public school classrooms. To date, he has publicly endorsed only one recommendation that public schools observe one minute of silence every day and must also tell students that they can pray at the beginning of the one minute. The other two recommendations were that the Ten Commandments be posted in every classroom and that every Oklahoma history teacher be trained in the patriotic education curriculum of the controversial Hillsdale College, a private conservative Christian liberal arts college in Michigan. Were telling the teachers unions to take a hike. Parents are here, and teachers unions can go, and we are going to continue to protect your religious liberties. Let me tell you, Jackson Lahmeyer has been on the frontlines of this fight. They want to attack your faith. They want to turn your children against you. They want that fundamental tearing down of the country, Walters said. You can read it this is right out of the Marx playbook right here. Folks, were not gonna let it happen, and were gonna protect your religious liberty. Were gonna make sure that parents are in charge now. Let me tell you, we are absolutely under attack. This is spiritual war for the souls of our kids. That is what we are facing. Other local politicians who spoke at Sunday evenings event were Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado and Tulsa City Councilor and mayoral candidate Jayme Fowler. WARSAW, Poland In an unprecedented move, the Vatican on Sunday beatified a Polish family of nine a married couple and their small children who were executed by the Nazis during World War II for sheltering Jews. During a ceremonious Mass in the village of Markowa, in southeastern Poland, papal envoy Cardinal Marcello Semeraro read out the Latin formula of the beatification of the Ulma family signed last month by Pope Francis. In his homily, Semeraro noted that for their gesture of hospitality and care, of mercy, the Ulmas paid the highest price of martyrdom. A contemporary painting representing Jozef and a pregnant Wiktoria Ulma with their children was revealed near the altar. A procession brought relics taken from their grave to the altar. It was the first time that an entire family has been beatified. At the Vatican, speaking to the public from a window in St. Peters Square, Pope Francis said the Ulmas represented a ray of light in the darkness of the war and should be a model for everyone in "doing good and in the service of those in need. The pope then invited the crowd below to applaud the family, and he clapped his hands. Those gathered in Markowa watched Francis' address on giant screens placed by the altar. Last year, Francis pronounced the deeply Catholic Ulma family, including the child that Wiktoria Ulma was pregnant with, martyrs for the faith. The Ulmas were killed at home by German Nazi troops and by Nazi-controlled local police on March 24, 1944, together with the eight Jews they were hiding at their home, after they were apparently betrayed. Jozef Ulma, 44, was a farmer, Catholic activist and amateur photographer who documented family and village life. He lived with his 31-year-old wife Wiktoria; their daughters Stanislawa, 7; Barbara, 6; Maria, 18 months; and sons Wladyslaw, 5; Franciszek, 3; and Antoni, 2. With them were killed 70-year-old Saul Goldman with his sons Baruch, Mechel, Joachim and Mojzesz, along with Golda Grunfeld and her sister Lea Didner with her daughter Reszla, according to Polands state Institute of National Remembrance, IPN, which has meticulously documented the Ulmas story. Giving the orders was Lt. Eilert Dieken, head of the regional Nazi military police. After the war he served in the police in Germany. Only one of his subordinates, Josef Kokott, was convicted in Poland over the killings, dying in prison in 1980. The suspected betrayer was Wlodzimierz Les, a member of the Nazi-controlled local police. Poland's wartime resistance sentenced him to death and executed him in September 1944, according to IPN. The Catholic Church faced a dilemma in beatifying Wiktoria's unborn child and declaring it a martyr because, among other things, it had not been baptized, which is a requirement for beatification. The Vaticans Dicastery for the Causes of Saints issued a clarification saying the child was actually born during the horror of the killings and received baptism by blood of the martyred mother. The clarification was issued Sept. 5 by Cardinal Semeraro, who is the prefect of the Vatican's saint-making office. Polish President Andrzej Duda along with the ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as Polands chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, attended the celebration in Markowa, and thousands of pilgrims came from across Poland to take part. Poland's conservative ruling party has been stressing family values and also the heroism of Poles during the war and the beatification ceremony added to its intense political campaigning ahead of the Oct. 15 parliamentary elections in which the Law and Justice party wants to win an unprecedented third term. After the Mass, Duda, who is the ruling party's ally, thanked Francis for beatifying the Ulmas. He also stressed that the ceremony had a political dimension because it told the truth about the Nazi German occupation of Poland during the war. Poland's government is seeking reparations from Germany for wartime damages, but Berlin says the matter had been closed. The Ulma beatification poses several new theological concepts about the Catholic Churchs ideas of saints and martyrs that also have implications for the anti-abortion movement because of the baby in the mothers womb, said the Rev. Robert Gahl, a professor of ethics at the Catholic University of America and Romes Pontifical Holy Cross University. The Vatican stated that the child was born at the moment the mother was executed. In doing so, the Vatican also affirmed that the killers intended to kill the child out of hatred for the faith, a requirement for a martyrdom and beatification declaration, Gahl told The Associated Press. After beatification, a miracle attributed to the Ulmas' intercession would be necessary for their eventual canonization, as the churchs sainthood process is called. Israel's Yad Vashem Institute in 1995 recognized the Ulmas as Righteous Among Nations who gave their lives trying to save Jews during the Holocaust. In Poland, they are a symbol of the bravery of thousands of Poles who took the utmost risk while helping Jews. By the occupying Nazis' decree, any assistance to Jews was punished with summary execution. A Museum of Poles Saving Jews During World War II was opened in Markowa in 2016. Poland was the first country to be invaded by Nazi Germany, on Sept. 1, 1939. Around 6 million of its citizens were killed during the war, half of them Jews. The Vatican is investigating a miracle at a Connecticut church. Here's every Eucharistic miracle visualized. The Vatican is investigating a miracle at a Connecticut church. Here's every Eucharistic miracle visualized. No Eucharistic miracles have been declared in the US Eucharistic miracles peaked during the Late Middle Ages Most Eucharistic miracles involve blood, flesh, and indestructible hosts To prove modern miracles, religion meets science MOULAY BRAHIM, Morocco -- Survivors of Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades struggled to find food, water and shelter on Sunday as the search for the missing continued in remote villages and the death toll of more than 2,100 seemed likely to rise further. Many people were spending a third night in the open after the 6.8 magnitude quake hit late on Friday. Relief workers face the challenge of reaching the worst-affected villages in the High Atlas, a rugged mountain range where settlements are often remote and where many houses crumbled. The death toll climbed to 2,122 with 2,421 people injured, state TV reported. Morocco said it may accept relief offers from other countries and will work to coordinate them if needed, according to state TV. The damage done to Morocco's cultural heritage became more evident as local media reported the collapse of a historically important 12th century mosque. The quake also damaged parts of Marrakech old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Moulay Brahim, a village 40 km (25 miles) south of Marrakech, residents described how they dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands. On a hillside overlooking the village, residents buried a 45-year-old woman who had died along with her 18-year-old son, a woman sobbing loudly as the body was lowered into the grave. As he retrieved possessions from his damaged home, Hussein Adnaie said he believed people were still buried in the rubble nearby. "They didn't get the rescue they needed so they died. I rescued my children and I'm trying to get covers for them and anything to wear from the house," Adnaie said. Yassin Noumghar, 36, complained of shortages of water, food and power, saying he had received little government aid so far. "We lost everything, we lost the entire house," Noumghar said. "We want just for our government to help us." Later, sacks of food were unloaded from a truck which local official Mouhamad al-Hayyan said had been organised by the government and civil society organisations. Twenty-five bodies had been brought to the village's small clinic, according to staff. With many homes built of mud bricks and timber or cement and breeze blocks, structures crumbled easily. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people. In the badly hit village of Amizmiz, residents watched as rescuers used a mechanical digger on a collapsed house. "They are looking for a man and his son. One of them might still be alive," said Hassan Halouch, a retired builder. The team eventually recovered only bodies. The army, mobilised to help the rescue effort, set up a camp with tents for the homeless. With most shops damaged or closed, residents struggled to get food and supplies. "We're still waiting for tents. We haven't had anything yet," said Mohammed Nejjar, a labourer who was folding his blanket in a makeshift shelter constructed with bits of wood. "I had a little food offered by one man but that's all since the earthquake. You can't see a single shop open here and people are frightened to go inside in case the roof falls down." The quake's epicentre was 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city beloved by Moroccans and foreign tourists for its medieval mosques, palaces and seminaries richly adorned with vivid mosaic tiling amid a labyrinth of rose-hued alleyways. The government said on Sunday it has set up a fund for those affected by the earthquake. The government has also said it is reinforcing search-and-rescue teams, providing drinking water and distributing food, tents and blankets. The World Health Organization said more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster. A relative reacts as rescue workers recover one body from the rubble, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Ouirgane, Morocco, September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters Foreign aid Spain said 56 officers and four sniffer dogs have arrived in Morocco, while a second team of 30 people and four dogs was heading there. Britain said it was deploying 60 search-and-rescue specialists and four dogs on Sunday, as well as a four-person medical assessment team. Qatar also said its search-and-rescue team departed for Morocco. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his "sadness about the loss of life and devastation" caused by the quake. "We stand ready to provide any necessary assistance to the Moroccan people," Biden told a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. Families take shelter under a tent in Tafeghaghte, a remote village of the High Atlas mountains, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters A man walks on the rubble as people look on, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco, September 10. Photo: Reuters A U.S. official said a small team of disaster experts dispatched by the United States arrived in Morocco on Sunday to assess the situation. France said it stood ready to help and was awaiting a formal request from Morocco. Emergency crews place a body to a vehicle, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco, September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters Other countries offering assistance included Turkey, where earthquakes in February killed more than 50,000 people. By Sunday, the Turkish team had not yet departed. "The next two to three days will be critical for finding people trapped under the rubble," Caroline Holt, global director of operations for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), told Reuters. Holt said the international aid system has been waiting for an invitation from Morocco to assist, adding this was not necessarily unusual as the government assesses needs. Pope Francis offered prayers and solidarity for the victims. Morocco has declared three days of mourning and King Mohammed VI called for prayers for the dead to be held at mosques across the country. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The Office of the Solicitor General has challenged the acquittal of former Senator Leila de Lima in her second drug case before the Muntinlupa court. The OSG filed a petition for certiorari, not an appeal, with the Court of Appeals on 4 Sept 2023, on the ground of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court judge, De Limas lawyer Filibon Tacardon said in a text message. In a separate interview, Tacardon asserted that the Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot challenge an acquittal. "I heard this afternoon the Department of Justice panel of prosecutors appealed the decision rendered by Judge Alcantara doon sa penal case number 165," Tacardon said. "Ang immediate reaction namin is Senator Leila was already acquitted in that case and therefore DOJ cannot appeal a decision of acquittal," he added. [Translation: Our immediate reaction is Senator Leila was already acquitted in that case and therefore the DOJ cannot appeal a decision of acquittal.] The OSG is an independent and autonomous office attached to the DOJ. According to the OSG, the DOJ's authority, control, and supervision over the OSG are limited only to budgetary purposes. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra emphasized that the OSG filed a petition and not an appeal. "After extensive consultation with the DOJ and careful examination of the case records, the OSG filed a petition for certiorari, not an appeal, with the court of appeals on the ground of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court judge," Guevarra told CNN Philippines in a text message. Muntinlupa court Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara affirmed his decision to junk De Limas drug case, ruling that every acquittal becomes final immediately upon promulgation and cannot be recalled for correction or amendment. In absolving De Lima, the court explained the testimony of former Bureau of Corrections OIC Rafael Ragos is needed to prove conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading allegedly committed by the former senator. But Ragos retraction of his allegations created reasonable doubt to acquit De Lima and her former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan. Recantations are hardly given weight, the court said. However, theres a rare exception when theres no evidence sustaining a conviction other than the testimony of a witness who made contradictory statements. A vocal critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, de Lima has been in detention for six years over allegations that she benefitted from the illegal drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, with the drug money used to finance her senatorial campaign in 2016. With reports from CNN Philippines' correspondent Anjo Alimario and digital producer Syrah Vivien Inocencio. MERSIN, Turkey -- Rescuers raced on Sunday to rescue an American caver who had become trapped more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) underground in southern Turkey, moving him halfway to the surface. Mark Dickey, 40, was on an international exploration expedition in the Morca cave in Mersin province's Taurus mountains when he began suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding at a depth of 1,040 metres. More than 150 rescuers from Turkey and other countries have been working for days to rescue him from the country's third deepest cave. Rescuers work at the entrance of Morca Cave as they take part in a rescue operation to reach U.S. caver Mark Dickey who fell ill and became trapped some 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) underground, near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Turkey September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters "Our medical team is working really hard to try to keep Mark's condition as stable as possible. Since yesterday, we started lifting the stretcher and transporting him through the cave," Giuseppe Conti, European Cave Rescue Association technical commission chairperson, told reporters. "We have to do it very carefully because we cannot risk any conditions worsening (for) Mark. So we must pay attention metre after metre. Currently, the stretcher is about ... 500 metres from the surface." A rescuer stands at the entrance of Morca Cave as they take part in a rescue operation to reach U.S. caver Mark Dickey who fell ill and became trapped some 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) underground, near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Turkey. Photo: Reuters Dickey's fiancee, Jessica Van Ord, who was with him during the expedition, has been staying at the camp site and working with the rescue teams. "A medical doctor will accompany him the whole way. Right now, Italian doctors are accompanying him along the route. Mark's medical condition right now is very good," said Tulga Sener, medical coordinator for the cave rescue commission. Cenk Yildiz, Mersin provincial head of Turkey's AFAD disaster management authority, said Dickey would be brought out in two to three days "if they don't experience any problems". Rescuers descend to the entrance of Morca Cave as they take part in a rescue operation to reach U.S. caver Mark Dickey who fell ill and became trapped some 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) underground, near Anamur in Mersin province, southern Turkey September 10, 2023. Photo: Reuters U.S. President Joe Biden had a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Monday, as part of the formers ongoing state visit, and then the two sat in on the Vietnam-U.S. Innovation and Investment Summit. During the meeting at the Government Office, PM Chinh welcomed President Biden to the Southeast Asian nation as his state visit marks a new milestone in the Vietnam-U.S. relationship. After that, the two leaders attended the summit co-organized by Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Speaking at the summit, Minister Dung and Blinken said that Vietnam and the U.S. had elevated their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in the Southeast Asian country's international relations, for peace, cooperation, and sustainability, following talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and President Biden in Hanoi on Sunday. As such, it is high time for enterprises in the two nations to shore up their cooperation, mainly in innovation and tech-based activities, heard the summit. The two nations ministries and agencies will create favorable conditions for American and Vietnamese firms to do business to contribute to forming a sustainable value chain, and generating joint benefits. Vietnam is moving toward the development of a digital, green, circular, and knowledge-based economy, prioritizing hi-tech, semiconductor, innovation, renewable energy, research and development, modern commercial center, financial hub, and infrastructure projects. The United States boasts potential strengths in these fields. Vietnamese firms are keen on cooperation with U.S. companies active in the financial, tech, renewable energy, clean material manufacturing, aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity fields. On the other hand, U.S. enterprises show interest in partnering with Vietnamese businesses to implement semiconductor, 5G network, training, and innovation projects. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R, 2nd) and U.S. President Joe Biden (L, 2nd) attend the Vietnam-U.S. Innovation and Investment Summit in Hanoi, September 11, 2023. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre Addressing the summit, PM Chinh said that one of the highlights of the U.S. presidents visit is fostering Vietnams economy with a focus on technology and innovation. The Vietnamese premier and Biden reached a consensus on turning technology, innovation, and investment into new key pillars of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. Echoing Bidens view about seeing innovation as a key to unlocking the two nations future development, PM Chinh called on the enterprises of the two sides to invest in science, technology, and innovation, especially digitalization, semiconductor industry, renewable energy, and climate change response. Vietnam aims to become a developed nation with a high income per capita by 2045, said the prime minister. Therefore, the country has determined that science, technology, and innovation will be among the main drivers of its growth. The premier expects to keep receiving backing from the U.S. government and President Biden so that Vietnam can thrive sustainably. President Biden highly valued the achievements made by Vietnam over the past few years, affirming that a wider door is opening for the two nations to bolster multifaceted cooperation. The United States will support Vietnam to seize opportunities and promote its potential to make greater strides in the future. Apart from some big deals, a series of agreements between the two nations will be signed for cooperation in the semiconductor and training fields, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Nguyen Quoc Dung. President Bidens visit wraps up on Monday. President Joe Bidens convoy of vehicles travels on a road in Hanoi. Photo: Hong Quang / Tuoi Tre Hanoians take a look at the U.S. president's convoy of cars. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre The United States is one of Vietnams biggest trade partners and is the latters top purchaser with a value at over US$100 billion. Vietnam is the United States seventh-largest trade partner, and Hanoi is Washingtons biggest partner in Southeast Asia. Two-way trade grows an average 16 percent each year. The United States is Vietnams 11th-biggest foreign investor, getting involved in some 1,200 projects in the latter, with a total pledged capital of nearly $11.4 billion. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The newly upgraded comprehensive strategic partnership with the U.S. during the visit of President Joe Biden is expected to unlock Vietnams economic opportunities, boosting hopes for a positive prospect of the country's becoming a new 'Asian Tiger,' according to some experts. Vietnam and the U.S. announced the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development on Sunday, lifting their bilateral relations to a new level that puts the U.S. on the same footing as Russia or China. Regional experts argued that strengthening ties with the U.S. would pave the way for Vietnam to develop its economy, while fortifying Hanois stance in Washingtons friendshoring strategy, as said by Julien Chaisse, professor at the City University of Hong Kong. The optimism about Vietnam's economic development potential brings to mind a notable question in recent years: can Vietnam be a new 'Asian Tiger?' That is to say whether Vietnam is capable of repeating the success of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea -- the past 'Asian Tigers.' The prospect of Vietnam emerging as a new Asian Tiger is indeed a palpable reality. The nation has the potential to foster a high-tech economy through concerted efforts to nurture homegrown technological talent and foster innovation," Chaisse told Tuoi Tre News. The U.S., being a vanguard in the field of technology, will be indispensable in this endeavor. David Dapice, senior economist at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation from the John F. Kennedy School of Government under Harvard University, also talked to Tuoi Tre News over Vietnam's 'Asian Tiger' vision. When U.S. President Biden visits Vietnam, his top priorities are upgrading relations and strengthening Vietnam-U.S. cooperation in a number of areas including cybersecurity, education, green energy, and perhaps higher technology, according to Dapice. The comprehensive strategic partnership puts the U.S. on the same footing as Russia or China. In practice, it increases the confidence of both nations that they can cooperate on subjects of mutual interest and concern. Given that the U.S. is, by far, the biggest importer of Vietnam's exports, with a US$100 billion trade surplus for Vietnam, it makes sense to solidify cooperation. If Vietnam wants to improve cybersecurity, it may want a domestic cloud computing center and there might be cooperation on that front, including training of computer scientists. When it comes to economic growth potential, Vietnam has a better chance to become a new 'Asian Tiger' than others in ASEAN, but it needs to strengthen its private sector, mid- and high-level technical skills, while continuing reforms. The U.S. can help with education, high-tech investment, and joint projects on things like artificial intelligence. Loans for green finance would also be a boost. For the U.S., Vietnam is definitely in the 'friend' box and is well placed to replace a fraction of other regional countries exports, as the investments of Foxconn and Pegatron, both major Apple suppliers, suggest. Adding domestic value would insulate it against charges that it is just importing inputs and screwing them together. There are limits to how much rural labor can be transferred to factories, so some lower-value exports may migrate to Cambodia or Bangladesh like garments, shoes, and toys so that higher-value products with better skills and wages can grow. This will also insulate Vietnam against ever-more capable robots, which will compete with labor going forward. The steps needed within Vietnam would be taken at a company level in many cases. Private firms need to build up skills, scale, and reliability. The government can help, but longer-term investments will be needed. If a Vietnam-U.S. trade agreement is upgraded, that will increase confidence that the rules would not be suddenly changed, supporting both foreign and domestic long-term investment. There are problems in Vietnam-U.S. trade relations that need to be resolved. However, it is not Vietnam's fault that it is often the next best place after China to produce things. To the extent that Vietnam's exports grow more slowly in the future, adding value by producing parts now imported would support gross domestic product (GDP) growth more without increasing the bilateral deficit. Again, this will happen when private domestic firms are able to better connect with foreign direct investment (FDI) exporters. The impact of Biden's visit on U.S. corporations will be felt gradually. Big companies have plans which are adjusted from time to time, not immediately. There is also a likely period of slow growth in the U.S. due to tighter monetary policy. But having a friendly and secure nation with increasing capabilities will attract investment, and not only from the U.S.. David Dapice is a leading expert on the economic development of Southeast Asia and has worked extensively in Vietnam. In 2020, he was part of the committee members who participated in a panel of the public hearing on the USTRs Section 301 Investigation into Vietnams currency valuation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Leaders of Vietnam and the U.S. have issued a Joint Leaders Statement on elevating the Vietnam-U.S. ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of President Joseph Bidens state visit to Vietnam from September 10 to 11. The following is the full text of the statement. JOINT LEADERS STATEMENT: ELEVATING UNITED STATES-VIETNAM RELATIONS TO A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP On September 10, 2023, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr. met and held talks in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two Leaders hailed a historic new phase of bilateral cooperation and friendship by elevating their nations relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the purposes of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. The United States supports a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Vietnam. In the ten years since President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama formed the VietnamU.S. Comprehensive Partnership, the two countries have made remarkable strides in increasing mutual understanding, building mutual trust, and strengthening cooperation across all areas of the Comprehensive Partnership. Under this new framework, the Leaders underscored the fundamental principles guiding VietnamU.S. relations, including respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, and respect for each others political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Vietnam and the United States will continue to deepen cooperation in the following areas to ensure the interests of the people of both countries and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and in the world. POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS The two Leaders underscored the need to continue deepening political and diplomatic relations, and will promote regular exchanges of delegations and engagements at all levels to strengthen mutual understanding and build and enhance political trust. The Leaders supported improving the effectiveness of current dialogue mechanisms and intend to establish an annual dialogue between Vietnams Minister of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Secretary of State. The Leaders pledged to further promote relations between the two countries political parties and legislative bodies, including by encouraging dialogue and discussion between these bodies on priorities and each countrys practical experiences. The two Leaders will direct their government agencies to cooperate and effectively implement the cooperation programs as determined by both countries. Both countries affirm to maintain favorable conditions to complete the construction of their diplomatic and consular facilities, and ensure both sides can efficiently staff those facilities in accordance with international conventions to which both countries are parties, bilateral agreements between Vietnam and the United States, and the respective laws of Vietnam and the United States. ECONOMIC, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION The two Leaders reaffirmed the importance of economic, trade, and investment cooperation and innovation-driven inclusive economic growth as the core foundations and sources of momentum in the bilateral relationship. Both sides pledged to create favorable conditions and facilitate the further opening of markets for each others goods and services, support trade and economic policy, and regulatory measures to achieve this aim; and to address issues such as market access barriers via the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The United States applauds Vietnams progress in significant market-based economic reforms, and affirms its enthusiasm and commitment for a broad, strengthened, supportive, and constructive engagement with Vietnam in its transition to a market economy, and subsequently to market economy country status, under U.S. law. The United States noted Vietnam officially requested the review of its market economy status on September 8, 2023. The United States will review Vietnams request as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with U.S. law. The United States appreciates Vietnams ongoing efforts to further modernize and enhance the transparency of its monetary policy and exchange rate management framework, to promote macroeconomic stability, and to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system. The Leaders will continue strengthening a non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core. Both sides applauded the progress thus far and look forward to additional substantial progress in the near future under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will deliver concrete benefits to the economies, workers, families, and businesses of the two countries and the region. The Leaders acknowledged the importance of respect for internationally recognized labor rights based on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Furthermore, the Leaders intend to accelerate cooperation on strengthening intellectual property rights and aviation, including through negotiations to amend the U.S.-Vietnam Air Transport Agreement under Open Skies principles. The United States pledged further support for Vietnam in manufacturing, high quality digital and physical infrastructure development, just energy transition, sustainable and smart agriculture, and broader and sustained participation in regional and global supply chains, with a particular emphasis on Vietnams Mekong Delta region. To that end, the U.S. International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) intends to continue to finance private sector projects in Vietnams infrastructure, climate and energy efficiency, healthcare, and small business sectors, including climate-focused and women-owned enterprises. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND DIGITAL COOPERATION Vietnam and the United States decided to strengthen science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation, regarding this as a new breakthrough of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The United States affirmed its commitment to increasing support for Vietnam in the training and development of a high-tech workforce. Acknowledging Vietnams tremendous potential as a major player in the semiconductor industry, the two Leaders pledged to support the rapid development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem and to work together energetically to improve Vietnams position in the global semiconductor supply chain. Toward this end, the United States and Vietnam announced the launch of semiconductor workforce development initiatives supported by initial seed funding of $2 million from the U.S. government, in conjunction with future Vietnamese government and private sector support. Vietnam and the United States pledged to comprehensively cooperate in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The two Leaders applauded the promotion of secure and reliable digital infrastructure in Vietnam, affirming its potential to provide new opportunities for digital capability enhancement to Vietnamese innovators to expand the growth of Vietnams digital economy. These efforts will aim to include support for open and interoperable network architectures including through exploring the launch of an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN training lab) in Vietnam, secure 5G, and adoption of emerging technologies to provide new digital upskilling opportunities to Vietnamese innovators, subject to congressional notification. The Leaders underscored the importance of continued collaboration between leading academic institutions in the United States and Vietnam, including through joint research initiatives, training courses, fellowships, and exchange programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. EDUCATION AND TRAINING COOPERATION The United States announced concrete plans to assist Vietnam in training a high-quality workforce, contributing to the achievement of Vietnams future development goals. The United States welcomes the nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the United States and will encourage American educational institutions to accept a greater number of Vietnamese students. The two Leaders offered congratulations on the launch of Peace Corps operations in Vietnam and the 31st anniversary of the Fulbright Vietnam program. They applauded the work of Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV) and its growing role as a regional hub for public policy training, recognizing the vital importance of investing in human capital as a critical resource for future prosperity, security, stability, and development. The United States and Vietnam recognized that enduring prosperity can only be achieved if our people have ample opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and gain international experience and understanding. Accordingly, the United States and Vietnam will encourage the opening of the doors to their universities and laboratories in order to share best practices, scientific advances, and educational opportunities with each other, with a focus on supporting increasing numbers of Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and researchers participating in training and educational programs in the United States. Vietnam also welcomes the increasing number of U.S. students, scholars, and professors who are studying, researching, and teaching in Vietnamese higher-education institutions, and encourages U.S. universities to build partnerships with Vietnamese higher education institutions, to include opening campuses in Vietnam. CLIMATE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH COOPERATION The United States and Vietnam will coordinate: in the Mekong and Red River Deltas; multi-sector adaptation to climate change; pollution reduction, and voluntary technical assistance for modernized transmission infrastructure, renewable energy integration, climate market development, energy storage solutions, and the improvement of regulatory framework to enable a speedy and just energy transition. The Leaders recognized the importance of working together, and with experts outside of government, to advance low-emissions, climate-resilient agriculture, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, including through disaster preparedness efforts. The United States supports Vietnams efforts to increase clean energy production. President Biden applauded Vietnams climate commitments under its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), as well as Vietnams 2050 net zero greenhouse emissions target. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the U.S. contribution to mobilizing public and private financing for Vietnams JETP and cooperation with the international community to ensure its successful implementation while ensuring national energy sovereignty, security and affordability. The United States committed to assisting Vietnam with both finance and advanced climate technology to fulfill its international climate commitments. Vietnam welcomes projects funded by international financial institutions, including the World Bank, in the areas of climate change response, energy transition, green growth, and renewable energy infrastructure. The two sides commended 25 years of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) in Vietnam and welcomed the 2021 establishment of the U.S. CDCs Regional Office in Hanoi, as well as Vietnams commitment to develop a Vietnam National CDC. The Leaders acknowledge the contributions of U.S. Vietnam cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and affirm to expand health security collaboration by working together on pandemic prevention, detection, and response, and other global disease threats. The Leaders affirmed the importance of cooperation on addressing disease threats at the human-animal interface, maintaining progress on immunization coverage, and supporting public health functions, such as laboratory science and One Health workforce training. The United States affirmed its support for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention and control programs, including through assisting Vietnams critical medical facilities, such as Bach Mai and Cho Ray hospitals, with an aim to achieve fully sustainable epidemic control of HIV and put an end to the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030, in line with Vietnams global commitments and national plans. The United States supports Vietnams efforts to expand its domestic pharmaceutical sector as part of global health security cooperation; and in this regard, expresses willingness to strengthen cooperation to increase compatibility of regulatory frameworks so that Vietnam can play an active role in regional and international medical supply chains. ADDRESSING WAR LEGACIES The Leaders commended close cooperation between the two countries to overcome the consequences of war, regarding this as a priority in bilateral relations that contributes to the building of mutual trust and understanding. The United States and Vietnam affirmed a commitment to completion of dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airport, expanding unexploded ordnance removal efforts, expanding support for persons with disabilities, regardless of cause, assisting in capacity building for the Vietnam National Mine Action Center, including integrating Provincial and National efforts on mine action, and maintaining support for Vietnam in accounting for Vietnamese missing and fallen soldiers from the war, including further supporting its DNA analysis capability. President Biden extended the gratitude of the American people for Vietnams enduring support for the accounting of and seeking remains of American personnel missing in action. Vietnam affirmed to continue full cooperation in search of American missing personnel. CULTURE, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES, SPORTS, AND TOURISM The Leaders applauded the robust growth of people-to-people exchanges and will work together to promote two-way tourism, business cooperation, professional and academic exchanges, and study opportunities. Both sides intend to seek to increase cooperation between states in the United States and provinces in Vietnam in a substantive and effective manner, with concrete projects and programs; to strengthen ties among different communities, sectors, businesses, youth, and peoples organizations of the two countries via exchanges of delegations, joint conferences and cultural exchanges in arts, music, and sport; and to collaborate in organizing activities on the anniversaries of bilateral relations. The two Leaders appreciated the substantial contribution of the Vietnamese community in the United States to the development of bilateral relations. President Biden firmly recognized the Vietnamese-American community as among the most successful, dynamic, and innovative in the United States. DEFENSE AND SECURITY President Biden congratulated Vietnam on its important contributions to global peace and stability, including Vietnams participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as for providing search and rescue and disaster response capabilities to address natural disasters in the world. Both sides intend to continue utilizing the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the U.S. Department of Defense and Vietnams Ministry of Defense, as well as between other agencies and ministries, and to cooperate effectively in humanitarian and constructive efforts such as addressing war legacies, military medicine, United Nations peacekeeping operations, maritime law enforcement and maritime security capacity, and other areas of mutual interest, in line with existing agreements and understandings between Leaders of both countries and their agencies. Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and criminal justice agencies; decided to deepen ongoing cooperation on law enforcement and security intelligence; collaborate and exchange information and experiences to increase the effectiveness of maritime cooperation and efforts to counter transnational crimes, piracy, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals, cybercrime, and high-tech crime. The Leaders decided to establish a Law Enforcement and Security Dialogue track between relevant law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies. Both countries condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all of its forms and pledge to work together to counter terrorism and terrorist financing in accordance with the UN Charter and other relevant international agreements to which both are Parties. The Leaders welcome further cooperation in defense industry and defense trade in accordance with each sides conditions, through mutually agreed mechanisms. The United State is committed to continuing to assist Vietnam to develop its self-reliant defense capabilities in accordance with the needs of Vietnam and established mechanisms. PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The Leaders affirmed the importance of promoting and protecting human rights in accordance with each countrys constitution and international obligations. Both countries pledged continued support for the promotion and protection of human rights, including through frank and constructive dialogues such as the annual Vietnam - U.S. Human Rights Dialogue and Vietnam - U.S. Labor Dialogue, to strengthen mutual understandings and narrow differences. They encouraged further cooperation to ensure that everyone, including members of vulnerable groups, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, and including persons with disabilities, fully enjoy their human rights. The United States and Vietnam noted human rights, regional stability, global peace, and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing. Both sides recognized the contributions that social and religious organizations continue to make in such fields as education, health care, and social services in both countries. COORDINATION ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES Both nations intend to enhance coordination on regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest, contributing to the joint efforts to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and throughout the word. Both sides pledged to enhance coordination and collaboration in regional and international fora such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), as well as the broad range of ASEAN-related sectoral Ministerial meetings. The two sides supported the promotion of multilateralism, respect for international law, including the United Nations Charter, and the promotion of an open, inclusive regional architecture in which ASEAN plays a central role. Vietnam appreciates the United States strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the United States renewed commitment to ASEAN, as reflected in the newly established ASEAN-U.S Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 2022 ASEAN-U.S Special Summit in Washington, D.C. President Biden highly valued ASEANs achievements and reiterated the United States respect for ASEAN centrality. The Leaders also applauded Indonesias 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and welcomed Lao PDRs assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the United States role as the host of this years APEC forum. President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Vo Van Thuong to San Francisco for the APEC Economic Leaders Week in November. The Leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea [known in Vietnam as the East Vietnam Sea], respect for sovereignty, and for sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Leaders recognized the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and reaffirmed their support for ASEAN efforts to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, one that is in accordance with international law, including the1982 UNCLOS and does not prejudice the rights of any state under international law. The two Leaders underscored the critical importance of the Mekong sub-region in maintaining stability, peace, prosperity, cooperation, and sustainable development. Transboundary cooperation and sustainable development are crucial as the two countries jointly address new challenges and opportunities including food security and sustainable water management, supporting communities and their livelihoods, promoting economic connectivity, tackling non-traditional security issues, and working to provide opportunities for human resource development. Both sides welcomed the Mekong - U.S. Partnership and other Mekong-centered mechanisms such as the Mekong River Commission and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). The Leaders committed to working closely with other Mekong countries toward expanded collaboration within this framework, as well as in the Friends of the Mekong. The Leaders stressed the importance of the full implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus and echo ASEANs calls for the immediate cessation of violence and de-escalation among all concerned parties in Myanmar in order to create conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue. Both Leaders discussed other regional and international issues of mutual concern and underscored the importance of the peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, seeking to ensure peoples safety and the protection of infrastructure critical to their livings. The United States and Vietnam reaffirmed support for the establishment of a durable peace on and the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and urged all parties concerned to fully and strictly fulfill their international obligations and commitments, including under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. On Ukraine, the two leaders emphasized the need for establishing a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Since normalization of bilateral relations in 1995, the Vietnam-U.S. relationship has flourished vigorously and fruitfully, growing both in depth and substance. This new chapter will bring our partnership to new heights. Together, we will realize the aspirations of the people of our countries for a bright and dynamic future that contributes to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development across a crucial region and the world at large. Vietnam and the U.S. on Sunday officially upgraded ties to comprehensive strategic partnership, marking a successful visit of U.S. President Joe Biden to Vietnam and serving as a driving force for development cooperation within the region, especially the ASEAN bloc. Upgrading the relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership results from the development of multiple aspects of Vietnam-U.S. relations, after their establishing a comprehensive partnership 10 years ago. This milestone also represents the two countries' commitments and common desire to find new avenues of cooperation as the global economy enters a period of considerable change. Perfect timing President Biden's visit comes during a busy week for the administration with events in Indonesia and India. Upgrading relations with Vietnam has been prioritized by the White House because Biden's schedule will be very busy at year-end, especially with the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaching. Talking to Tuoi Tre News, most experts in the region said that this visit and the upgrade of relations show that Vietnam receives high appreciation from the U.S. side. Dr. Sascha-Dominik Dov Bachmann from Canberra Law School in Australia said that this is a trip of great significance, highlighting the importance of Vietnam in the overall Indo-Pacific strategy of the U.S., especially in the current period, when the two countries share many common interests and concerns. Reflecting on the current height of tensions in the region, an upgraded strategic partnership with Vietnam is only logical and in the interest of both parties, the regional policy researcher told Tuoi Tre News. When discussing timing, Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow and coordinator of the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, argued that in addition to coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership, the earlier the upgrade happens, the less risk there is amid the upcoming U.S. presidential election. On the one hand, during the election year, the U.S. government will be very busy, making it difficult for the U.S. to pay full attention to diplomatic relations in general and Vietnam-U.S. ties in particular," he said. On the other hand, we cannot rule out a possible change in the U.S. administration after the election, followed by adjustments to U.S. foreign policy and priorities." In addition, Dr. Hiep said that this is a period of world politics that still has many tension points, and it may become even more tense soon, thereby "causing a move to upgrade Vietnam-U.S. relations at this stage to become more sensitive than it is now." Motivation and inspiration for the region The economy is a pillar in Vietnam-U.S. relations and is also one of the main factors that form Vietnam's regional importance to U.S. strategy. Since the normalization of relations in 1995, bilateral trade has increased more than 300 times, from the initial US$450 million to $123 billion, according to 2022 data. Most observers are optimistic about the prospects for economic cooperation after Vietnam and the U.S. elevate their relationship. According to Professor Julien Chaisse, an influential researcher on globalization from the City University of Hong Kong, "elevating the U.S.-Vietnam partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership is a key move that adeptly positions Vietnam as a linchpin in the U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, both economically and strategically." For Vietnam, strengthening relations with the world's largest economy brings many opportunities for cooperation and growth. Currently, from both public arguments and statements from the U.S. side, one of the key areas of cooperation will be technology. According to Prof. Chaisse, the prospect of Vietnam emerging as an 'Asian Tiger' is indeed a palpable reality. "The nation has the potential to foster a high-tech economy through concerted efforts to nurture homegrown technological talent and foster innovation. The U.S., being a vanguard in the field of technology, will be indispensable in this endeavor," said Chaisse. Besides, Vietnam-U.S. cooperation can also serve as a driving force for the region, especially with ASEAN. It is an enhancement, and this enhancement will galvanize economic dynamism within the ASEAN community, fostering a climate of robust competition and mutual growth, Chaisse told Tuoi Tre News. Value of a new relationship The comprehensive strategic partnership demonstrates the trust and development commitments between Vietnam and the U.S., experts talked about the true value of this new relationship with Tuoi Tre News. As a longtime researcher of Vietnam and Southeast Asian politics, Dr. Zach Abuza, a professor at the National War College, Washington D.C., said upgrading relations will "make things easier within the ministries and government departments to engage with their U.S. counterparts; there is now top-level political cover." According to Abuza, the lifting "does not mean there is going to be a fundamental change in Vietnamese security for foreign policy," rather than just part of the country's "multilateral and independent foreign policy." In terms of economics, experts also warn that upgrading relations does not automatically promote growth and investment, but only creates more opportunities and motivation for cooperation. Stephen Olson, a senior research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation, assessed that the relation elevation was "largely symbolic since it is not accompanied by any concrete market access commitments or reductions in trade and investment restrictions." "It is nonetheless important as an indication of the strategic value the Biden administration places on Vietnam, and the critical role it believes Vietnam could play as the U.S. continues to de-risk its economic relationship," said Olson. The expert from the Hinrich Foundation also pointed out that few companies would base their business decisions on comments made by Secretary Yellen or even President Biden. "They will evaluate the commercial and economic realities on the ground and base their decisions on those factors," Olson added. "Having said that, I do think it is reasonable to expect Vietnam to play a more important role in U.S. supply chains and the friendshoring strategy, both as a result of a strong economic rationale in favor of Vietnam as well as a desire to diversify trade." Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The elevation of the Vietnam-U.S. bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership makes the U.S. the fifth country to see its relationship with the Southeast Asian country reach the highest level in the latters international relations, following China, Russia, India, and South Korea. Vietnam's Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden reached a consensus to lift the two countries relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the latters two-day state visit to Vietnam, which started on Sunday. Thus, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to comprehensive strategic partnership from comprehensive partnership, skipping the strategic partnership level. The strategic partnership is a model of cooperation of crucial importance and strategic and long-term nature between countries and between countries and international organizations. The model was popularized after the Cold War, taking place between 1947 and 1991, according to some researchers. Due to Vietnams policy of multi-lateralization and diversification of international relations, the strategic partnership is featured under the forms of strategic partnership, comprehensive strategic partnership, and strategic partnership in specific fields. As a case in point, Vietnam created the strategic partnership on response to climate change and water management with the Netherlands, the highest level in the countrys bilateral relations in this sector. Parties of a strategic partnership have a demand for enhancing cooperation, attach more importance to each others strategic benefits, and share interests to head toward strategic beliefs. Meanwhile, entities involved in a comprehensive strategic partnership determine to share long-term benefits, support each other and boost the intensive and comprehensive cooperation in all sectors of mutual benefits, from trade and investment to technology and energy. Vietnam establishes a comprehensive strategic partnership with countries which are of critical importance to its security, prosperity, and international position, according to Dr. Le Hong Diep from the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, a research center of socio-political, security, and economic trends and developments in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden during the formers visit to the U.S. in 2015, when Biden was U.S. Vice-President. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Earlier, Vietnam established a comprehensive strategic partnership with China in 2008, Russia in 2012, India in 2016, and South Korea in 2022. The Southeast Asian nation has entered into strategic partnerships with over 10 countries, specifically Japan and Spain in 2009; the UK in 2010; Germany in 2011; Italy, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and France in 2013, Malaysia and the Philippines in 2015, Australia in 2018, and New Zealand in 2020. Also, Vietnam currently has 10 comprehensive partners, including Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Denmark, Myanmar, Canada, Hungary, Brunei, and the Netherlands. U.S. President Biden arrived in Hanoi on Sunday afternoon for a state visit to Vietnam lasting until Monday at the invitation of Vietnamese Party leader Trong. The Vietnamese Party chief later presided over a welcome ceremony at the highest level for President Biden and the two officials attended a dialogue where they agreed to elevate the Vietnam-U.S. relations to comprehensive strategic partnership. This is the first time a U.S. president has paid a visit to the Southeast Asian country at the invitation of a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The trip takes place at a time when both sides celebrate the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive partnership. Vietnam and the U.S. established diplomatic relations in November 1995, and upgraded their relations to a comprehensive partnership in July 2013. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnam-U.S. relationship has thrived strongly and will further blossom in the future, especially after the two countries upgraded their comprehensive partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, following talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden in Hanoi on Sunday, said State President Vo Van Thuong. The relationship has never flourished as strongly as it does today, President Thuong told a reception for his U.S. counterpart Biden at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday afternoon. The Vietnamese state leader affirmed that the U.S. presidents visit, lasting from Sunday to Monday, was so meaningful and helped cement the Vietnam-U.S. partnership. The elevated relationship between Vietnam and the United States was the result of joint efforts to overcome challenges as well as ups and downs in the past, the Vietnamese president stressed. Given the close and longstanding ties, the two nations have made various impressive achievements in economic, trade, investment, and education fields, and the settlement of post-war consequences. The Vietnamese state president quoted Party General Secretary Trong as saying that the motto for the development of the Vietnam-U.S. relationship is leaving the past behind, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking toward the future. Meanwhile, President Biden underlined that the United States supports a strong, independent, resilient, and prosperous Vietnam. Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong (R) hosts U.S. President Joe Biden in Hanoi, September 11, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency I strongly believe that with long-lasting ties, mutual understanding, and respect, the Vietnam-U.S. comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development will get stronger and stronger in the future, President Thuong said. Chairman of Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden in Hanoi, September 11, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency On the same day, Chairman of Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue met with President Biden and appreciated his contribution to the elevation of the Vietnam-U.S. relations. Biden said that spending 36 years in the U.S. Senate, he always threw his support behind the upgrading of the Vietnam-U.S. ties and tried to normalize the relations after the two nations established an official relationship in 1995. President Biden said that he looks forward to seeing Chairman Hue in Washington D.C. as soon as possible. Chairman of Vietnams lawmaking National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (R) talks to U.S. President Joe Biden in Hanoi, September 11, 2023. Photo: Quochoi.vn Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! There has been an increase in the number of pinkeye infections in Ho Chi Minh City, with the health sector identifying enterovirus as the primary cause of the disease, which is different from the usual adenovirus confirmed as the pathogen in previous years. As per a report released by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, approximately 72,000 individuals have sought examinations for conjunctivitis since the beginning of the year, with around one-third being school-age children and the remainder being adults. Notably, there has been a recent uptick in infections compared to the earlier months of the year. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Trung Chinh, an ophthalmologist from the interdisciplinary department of Childrens Hospital 2 in District 1, has observed a surge in the number of children seeking treatment for pinkeye in recent days, with daily cases ranging from 70 to 80, nearly double from the earlier months when it averaged around 40-50 cases per day. Huynh Thi Bich Lieu, deputy head of the ophthalmology department at Le Van Thinh Hospital in Thu Duc City, said the hospital now treats approximately 240 patients with various eye conditions daily, with pinkeye cases comprising 170-180 of them, accounting for approximately 70-75 percent. In comparison to the period before August, the number of pinkeye patients examined at the hospital increased 1.5 times. In numerous instances, entire households experienced a rapid outbreak of pinkeye, with family members showing symptoms within just one day of contact with an infected person. During the course of diagnosing and treating individuals with pinkeye, Dr. Lieu observed that this outbreak has a swifter transmission rate compared to previous occurrences. For many patients, it only takes around two to three days from initial contact with an infected person to the incubation period and the onset of symptoms. Once conditions, such as itchiness, burning sensation, watery eyes, and slight eyelid swelling, manifest, it usually takes only one to two hours for the eyes to display nearly all the associated symptoms. The majority of patients typically recover within a span of seven to 14 days. An ophthalmologist based in Ho Chi Minh City attributed the recent rainy weather and elevated atmospheric humidity in the city to the proliferation of the pathogens responsible for pinkeye. In addition, a dusty environment, subpar hygiene practices, the use of contaminated water sources, and the sharing of household items are among the reasons behind the surge in pinkeye cases. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has reported that the primary factor responsible for pinkeye outbreaks in the city is enterovirus, constituting approximately 86 percent of the cases. According to public health specialists and ophthalmologists, the enterovirus implicated in the illness is considered to be of lesser concern compared to the prior adenovirus. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The one-hour rainfall during Sunday evening led to significant flooding on numerous roads in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Heavy rain started hitting the central coastal city at twilight on Sunday, slowing down traffic. The Hai Phong Quang Trung route near Da Nang Hospital and the intersection between Nguyen Van Linh and Ham Nghi Streets were flooded the most after the downpour. The two sites frequently face severe flooding during the rainy season. Serious inundation on these roads caused many motorcycles to break down and multiple commuters to fall. A section of Quang Trung Street is flooded by rainwater in Da Nang, central Vietnam, September 10, 2023. Photo: Tr. Trung / Tuoi Tre Nguyen Ha Binh, a resident living on Quang Trung Street, complained about the serious flooding, saying that the rain lasted for only one hour, but rainwater submerged the road. Meanwhile, the city has just entered the onset of the rainy season. Flooding will worsen during the peak of the rainy season if no flood control measures are taken promptly, Binh said. Many residents placed plastic sheets over several manhole covers to prevent the stench, leading to slow drainage and rapid inundation, Binh said. The Nguyen Van Linh Ham Nghi intersection was 30 centimeters submerged under rainwater. After the rain stopped, the flood quickly went down. The developments of convective clouds resulted in showers and scattered thunderstorms across Da Nang, with rainfall reaching over 50 millimeters, according to the weather center of the central region. Vehicles travel on an inundated street in Da Nang, central Vietnam, September 10, 2023. Photo: Nh. Huu / Tuoi Tre A flooded road slows down commuters in Da Nang, central Vietnam, September 11, 2023. Photo: Tr. Trung / Tuoi Tre A section of Ly Tu Trong Street in Da Nang, central Vietnam is submerged under rainwater, September 10, 2023. Photo: H. Le / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! South Korean police said they arrested a suspect who fled to Vietnam last month after committing a credit union heist in South Koreas central city of Daejeon. The man was put under emergency detention at a casino in Da Nang City, central Vietnam at 4:55 pm on Sunday, following coordination between South Korean police, Interpol, and Vietnamese authorities, Yonhap News Agency reported the same day. The arrest was made based on a tip-off from a South Korean residing in Da Nang. The man is suspected of robbing a branch of the National Credit Union Federation of Korea in Daejeon on August 18, when he rushed to the branch, discharging a fire extinguisher and threatening the staff with a pre-prepared weapon. After stealing 39 million won (US$29,280) in cash, the suspect escaped on a stolen motorcycle, local police said. It took the man only six minutes to complete the bold robbery, according to Seoul Broadcasting System. Police officers identified the suspect through CCTV footage and witness testimonies, and later confirmed he departed for Vietnam on a flight the same day using a fake passport and a forged COVID-19 test certificate. After the suspects escape, South Korean police closely coordinated with Interpol and Vietnamese authorities to apprehend him. The man's family and friends told police that he got into gambling debts, which drove him to commit the heist. He seems to have spent all the money he stole," Yonhap quoted a South Korean police official as saying. "We are discussing [with local authorities] the process to bring the suspect back to Korea to serve the investigation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 12)-Health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has stepped down as a special adviser of the Department of Health (DOH) amid questions about his qualifications. Leachon tendered his resignation on Monday, explaining that he made the careful consideration for himself, his family, and his future. In a lengthy post on social media, Leachon expounded on his decision to vacate the post he held for only a month. "It's tough working with a system when your ideas are not welcome and when powerful people attack you unprovoked," he wrote on Facebook "And you're alone defending yourself when there's nothing to explain. They call it power play or politics," he wrote on Facebook. Earlier this month, Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin, who previously served as DOH chief , questioned the public health expertise of Leachon. A House panel found out that Leachon does not have a masters nor doctorate degree in public health to be considered as expert. Garin also grilled Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on why the government is paying Leachon a P100,000 salary for his government post. Garin on Tuesday explained that she does not have anything against Leachon, but she asked him to stop the "drama." She added that she stands firm "in not allowing DOH to be used as a platform for non-experts." The lawmaker said statements and opinions of non-experts can deceive the public, "resulting in a lot of public health menace." She also sought accountability from Herbosa, although she clarified in a follow-up statement that this call particularly has to do with ensuring that the DOH follows the proper process of hiring consultants. "It is not meant to imply that I endorse or disapprove of any consultant's appointment," Garin wrote. "My comments were made with the aim of promoting a thorough review and scrutiny of the entire process to ensure the best interests of the public are served." DOH or Herbosa has yet to release a statement on the issue. Setting up a carbon credit market in Vietnam will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, toward meeting the target of net-zero emissions by 2050, and help improve income for businesses and people related to forest protection and development, a senior expert has said. A market will be piloted in 2025 and operate officially in 2028, contributing to forest development and conservation, while facilitating the country's fulfilling its international commitment to net-zero emissions, Dr. Tang The Cuong, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Department of Climate Change, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in a recent interview. Currently in the world, 58 countries are developing carbon markets, 27 others are collecting carbon taxes, and some others are applying both, Dr. Cuong said. To develop the carbon market in Vietnam, it is necessary to complete the legal basis for exchange of greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits, as well as a specific mechanism for carbon credit exchanging and offsetting. Carbon credits are tradable certificates that give holders the right to emit a certain amount of CO2 or another amount of greenhouse gas converted to CO2 equivalents. One carbon credit is equal to one ton of CO2 or one ton of CO2 equivalents. We also need to determine total emission quotas and allocate them to each potential industry, project, and business, while training qualified personnel capable of operating and controlling carbon markets, the expert said. At the same time, it is a must to build a trading floor for carbon credits and quotas along with relevant regulations so that the domestic carbon market can operate effectively and connect itself with regional and global carbon markets. The ministry will soon set up a carbon credit trading floor on a trial basis, Dr. Cuong stated. It has been closely coordinating with the Ministry of Finance and relevant government agencies in preparing a carbon market development project and formulating regulations on the management of carbon credits and the use of such credits to offset greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, a financial management mechanism for carbon market operations as well as rules on auctioning, transferring, borrowing, returning, and revoking greenhouse gas emission quotas will also be set up. Among the key immediate tasks are establishing a national registration system for carbon credits and effectively connecting the system with those around the world. Dr. Tang The Cuong, director of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Department of Climate Change. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre Organizations and individuals will register an account with the system and provide information relating to types and amounts of carbon credits they own, among other necessary information, to make them eligible to join the market, Dr. Cuong said. To achieve the committed target of net-zero emissions by 2050, as announced by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP 26) in the UK in 2021, the PM has allocated specific greenhouse emission reduction targets for sectors, including energy, transportation, agriculture, and waste management, among others. The premier also assigned the forestry sector tasks related to greenhouse gas absorption. The forestry sector has a very important role in achieving the goal of forest carbon absorption and balancing emissions, the official said. Dr. Cuong stressed that developing the carbon market in Vietnam will contribute to reducing emissions at low costs to businesses and society, promoting the development of low-emission technology, improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese companies, aiming to develop a low-carbon economy, and proactively responding to climate change. As Vietnams forests have the potential to generate many carbon credits, selling forest carbon credits will help increase income for businesses through proceeds from emission reduction results. Profits from the sale of credits will also help forest owners and farmers increase the productivity of planted forests, improve sustainable livelihoods, contribute to protecting existing forest areas, and improve forest coverage. If there is a carbon credit exchange market, it will bring more income to people working in forest protection and development, as Vietnam boasts enormous forest carbon storage potential, according to Nghi Son Protection Forest Management Board in north-central Thanh Hoa Province. In order to effectively develop a professional domestic carbon market, there needs to be a connection to the regional and world markets, Professor Nguyen Ngoc Lung, rector of the Research Institute for Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification, told Tuoi Tre. At the same time, state agencies need to build appropriate carbon market policies and sustainably develop existing forest areas, Pro. Lung said. As a sustainable forest management research unit, we always hope that Vietnam will have a carbon credit market as well as a carbon trading floor soon so that forest growers and keepers can have more support and remuneration, he added. Voluntary carbon credit exchange from Vietnam to the world has been carried out by businesses since the mid-2000s when they implemented programs and projects under the 'Clean Development Mechanism' (CDM). Vietnam has so far had more than 300 programs and projects developed under the CDM, 150 of which, with their 40.2 million credits granted, have carried out exchanges on the world carbon market. Vietnam is one of the four countries with the most CDM registered projects, after China, Brazil, and India, and ranks ninth out of 80 countries with CDM projects that obtain credits. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The opening ceremony of the 37th World Flower Council Summit took place at Da Lat University in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, on Sunday, welcoming 200 floral artisans and designers from 18 countries and territories in attendance. The event co-held by the World Flower Council and Da Lat University kicked off in the city and Vietnam for the first time, marking the 130th anniversary of the citys establishment. The summit was aimed at honoring the value of flowers and the flower industry, and turning flowers into a symbol of peace and culture. Efren Chatto, chairman of the World Flower Council, said that the event brought together floral artisans worldwide to show support for world peace through floral works, boost global friendship, and create a better world. The summit will give agricultural and tourism students a new vision to leverage the value of the flower industry during the process of building value chains in Da Lat City, said Dr. Le Minh Chien, president of Da Lat University. After the opening ceremony, flower designers from Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Macau, and Hong Kong performed their flower-arranging skills. Within the framework of the summit, 18 designers representing 18 countries and territories joined a demonstration called My Country Design, through which these artisans introduced their homelands distinctiveness and features. The summit featured a flower-arranging competition, which wraps up on Monday. A Japanese artisan is pictured arranging flowers. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre A Singaporean artisan reflects on her countrys distinctiveness through her work. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre A flower arrangement created by a Filipino flower designer. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre A flower arrangement created from bamboo and various flowers in Da Lat City, dubbed the city of flowers. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre The World Flower Council, a non-profit organization with members from over 40 nations and territories, specializes in boosting the growth of the global fresh flower field. Over the past 40 years since its establishment, the council has organized 36 flower-related events in many countries. The World Flower Council Summit has become one of the worlds most prestigious and long-standing floral events. The summit has drawn interest from flower experts, designers, artisans, and the public. A visitor poses for a photo in a flower display area during the 37th World Flower Council Summit in Da Lat City. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre A foreigner shows her curiosity about flowers and materials for flower arranging at the 37th World Flower Council Summit in Da Lat City. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Representatives of 27 international travel firms from 15 countries and those of the Ho Chi Minh City tourism authority paid a familiarization visit to Ben Tre Province, located in southern Vietnam, last weekend to experience tourism products there. These travel agents came from such countries as Russia, Poland, Austria, India, Romania, and Italy, the Vietnam News Agency reported. The trip, which was part of their visit to Vietnam to attend the 17th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC 2023), held between September 7 and 9, enabled the Mekong Delta province to promote its tourism and services to international travel businesses. The trip also offered a chance for these travel agencies to connect with local tourism service providers. The delegation experienced lots of activities during their two-day stay, including taking a boat tour; visiting coconut candy, mat weaving, and ornamental plant craft villages; and enjoying traditional music performances; among others. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism hosted a gala dinner to welcome the delegation as well as briefed them on a wide range of local travel products and services. Located in the downstream Mekong River and some 80 kilometers away from Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre has the advantage of its river network to develop eco- and waterway tourism, said Nguyen Thi Be Muoi, vice-chairwoman of the provincial Peoples Council. The province seeks to introduce its tourism products, services, and traditional culture to more visitors; facilitate tourism growth by making the best use of local resources; establish collaboration with international travel firms as well as media agencies to promote trade and investment; and expand its tourism market size. With the aim of achieving green and sustainable development, the province has made efforts to further upgrade its infrastructure system and develop its tourism brand associated with coconuts, a staple plant in this Mekong Delta locality. In January-August, Ben Tre welcomed over 1.4 million tourist arrivals, including nearly 249,000 international visitors, and booked an estimated VND1.789 trillion (US$74.7 million) in revenue. As for the recent four-day public holiday to celebrate Vietnams National Day (September 2), over 44,000 tourists visited Ben Tre, enabling it to earn upwards of VND48 billion ($2 million) in turnover. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 4 part true crime documentary Con Girl will screen on Seven from Sunday. Screening in double episodes over two weekends, this is produced by CJZ and explores the many lies and lives of Australian serial con woman Samantha Azzopardi. Azzopardi is accused of conning families and authorities in Australia, Ireland and Canada. In May 2021, she was sentenced to two years imprisonment. Samantha appeared to be the picture of innocence, pretty and unassuming. She was, by most accounts, a lovely girl, the kind of person anyone would trust and that would be a big mistake. With identities ranging from Russian gymnast Emily Sciberras whose entire family has been killed in a murder-suicide, to a distressed teenage girl with no name who was found on the streets of Dublin after escaping a human trafficking ring, and 14-year-old Aurora Hepburn has fled a cult, Samantha had more than 75 aliases and repeatedly deceived her victims and authorities around the globe. Con Girl spans three continents and is built around the exclusive eyewitness accounts of Samanthas victims, taking viewers on a gripping quest to find out who is the real Samantha and why did she do what she did. Double episode 8:45pm Sunday, 17 September on Seven. This week on Foreign Correspondent, Isabella Higgins travels to Barbados where many are calling on Britain to make amends for the sins of their ancestors. The name Barbados conjures up imagery of white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters but away from the perfect postcards this island is grappling with the legacy of a brutal and bloody history. Barbados was the first British slave society in the Caribbean. Its where the legal and economic model of chattel slavery was ruthlessly perfected over hundreds of years. Two years ago, the tiny nation cast off four centuries of British rule and became the worlds newest republic. But for many Barbadians, taking control of their future now means reckoning with the injustices of the past. This week on Foreign Correspondent reporter Isabella Higgins travels to Barbados where the demands for reparations are getting louder. This small island is calling on powerful institutions like the British royal family, as well as the living relatives of past slave owners to make amends for the sins of their ancestors. As Barbados forges its own way in the world and seeks justice for the historical atrocity of slavery, the question now is who should pay? 8pm Thursday on ABC. Former Home & Away child actor, Felix Dean, who played VJ Patterson from 2007 2014, pleaaded guilty on Monday to assault with intention to rob, three counts of common assault, and breaching a previous court order. Dean, who appeared via videolink in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court was sentenced to at least a year behind bars for assaulting three people and attempting to steal a car using a wine bottle as a weapon. News.com.au reports he was using drugs and heavily intoxicated when he approached a stranger for unclear reasons outside a restaurant in Newtown on April 31. An altercation then ensued. Less than a month later, Dean tried to steal a mans luxury car while wielding a wine bottle as a weapon. The violent incidents both occurred while Dean was serving a good behaviour bond for a previous matter of violence, the court was told. His lawyer told the court Dean didnt dispute the facts of the offences. He largely doesnt remember the events, given the drugs he was on at the time, being meth and alcohol, she said. The court heard the 26-year-old has been diagnosed with substance abuse disorder, depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. I want to apologise to the many people I have hurt and to my mother who has stood by me, Dean said in a statement to NCA NewsWire. He maintained his time on Home and Away had been a positive experience but admitted he continues to struggle with the fallout of fame. Dean (pictured right) featured as VJ Patterson, son of Vinnie (Ryan Kwanten) & Leah Patterson (Ada Nicodemou) from the age of 10, across 831 episodes from 2007 2014 before the role was assumed by another actor from 2014 2018. He made other appearances in Comedy Inc, All Saints and Jessica. ITV Studios Australia has today announced a number of changes to its senior creative and production teams. Beth Hart (pictured top left) has been promoted from Head of Content to Chief Content Officer and will oversee the creative process across formats including Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, Love Island, The Voice, My Kitchen Rules, Alone, The Chase, My Mum Your Dad, Inside Sydney Airport and This Is Your Life. She will continue to report to CEO & Managing Director David Mott. Alex Mavroidakis (pictured top right) is elevated from Supervising Executive Producer to Creative Director and will continue to work under Beth across the reality production slate, most notably Love Island Australia and Im A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! L to R top: Keely Sonntag, Sarah Roberts, L to R below: Evan Wilkes, Donna Foster. Following the departure of Ben Ulm as Head of Factual & Reality, Keely Sonntag has been appointed as Head of Unscripted. She was previously Executive Producer at Endemol Shine Australia where she worked across an impressive line-up of shows including Masterchef, Survivor, Love Triangle, Big Brother, Australias Next Top Model and Ambulance. Evan Wilkes is taking on the role of Unscripted Executive. He has held a number of senior roles at Beyond Productions, Eureka Productions and Seven Studios, as Executive Producer on Luxe Listings Sydney, Byron Baes, My Kitchen Rules and House Rules. Head of Production Donna Foster, who has been with the company for 15 years, has been promoted to Director of Production. Sarah Roberts, returns to ITV Studios from Endemol Shine Australia, appointed as Head of Production. David Mott, CEO & Managing Director, ITV Studios Australia said, Globally, ITV Studios continuously strives for creative excellence and the benchmark is set extraordinarily high as we work to attract the best talent in the industry. With these well-deserved elevations and key new hires, I have no doubt that our productions and our broadcasters will benefit from the incredible breadth of experience across the business, placing us in a formidable position for future growth. The Writers Guild of America is set to picket US talk show The Drew Barrymore Show which means Barrymore, audience members, crew and guests will be required to cross a picket line to attend. In a lengthy Instagram post, Barrymore announced that her daytime show will begin its fourth season soon, in accordance with the rules of the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Talk shows do not fall under the SAG-AFTRA strike, save for talent promoting their work, however The Drew Barrymore Show is a signatory to WGA. According to Barrymore, the show will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike. But WGA spokesperson Jason Gordon said, The Drew Barrymore Show is a WGA-covered struck television show. It has stayed off the air since the strike began on May 2nd, but has now (unfortunately) decided to return without its writers. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket any struck show that continues production during the duration of the strike. Writers will descend on the CBS Broadcast Center at 530 West 57th Street starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, which happens to be the first day audience members will be welcomed into Barrymores studio for tapings. A second day of picketing is planned for Sept. 12, Most daytime talk shows are allowed to continue because most do not employ writers who are a part of the union. Tamron Hall, Live with Kelly and Mark, and The View have all resumed production. But The Drew Barrymore Show and The Talk, which continues to play in rerun, do use WGA writers. The Drew Barrymore Show screens in Australia on FOX Arena. Source: Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair. Chinese embassy donates wheelchairs to Algerian charity organization Xinhua) 10:15, September 11, 2023 ALGIERS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Algeria donated on Sunday 44 electric and manual wheelchairs to the Salima Souakri Charity and Humanitarian Foundation to help people with disabilities. Chinese Ambassador to Algeria Li Jian delivered a speech at the donation ceremony held in the capital Algiers. "We hope these wheelchairs will better facilitate their life and work, and through today's charitable activity, we can contribute to the well-being of people with disabilities in Algeria, and we also hope to call on more organizations to pay attention to this group of people," said Li. Besides, the ambassador said the event is a powerful testimony to the friendship and cooperation between China and Algeria, voicing China's willingness to strengthen cooperation with Algeria in the field of people's livelihood, including charity. For her part, Salima Souakri, the foundation's president, expressed gratitude to the Chinese embassy on behalf of the families of people with disabilities who received the donation. She said the donation reflected the cooperation between the two countries and the deep friendship between the two peoples. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Hong Kong (CNN) Chinas legislature has proposed changes to a law that if approved would allow authorities to fine and detain people who wear clothes that hurt the nations feelings, sparking new concerns over freedom of expression in the country. The National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, which unveiled the proposal on its website earlier this month, is seeking to ban garments and symbols considered detrimental to the spirit of the Chinese nation phrasing often used to denote patriotism, or lack of. The wording of the draft amendment is reminiscent of language used by Beijing to rein in free speech at home or to hit back at perceived slights by foreign countries and businesses. It follows a series of clampdowns on personal style in recent years, including broadcast regulations aimed at banishing artists with effeminate styles from shows and an ongoing crackdown on tattoos. If passed, the revised law would make it illegal to wear or force others to wear offending items in public places though the draft document did not specify what type of garments might be outlawed. Transgressors could face detention of up to 15 days and fines of 5,000 yuan ($681). The draft amendment also targets speech, and would prohibit producing, disseminating, publicizing, and disseminating articles or remarks thought to damage Chinas spirit. The rules are proposed amendments to the countrys Public Security Administration Punishment Law, which came into force in 2006. The existing measures already give police the power to detain suspects for weeks over a wide range of crimes, from vandalism to public order offenses. Chinas rubber-stamp legislature said it will gather public feedback on the proposal throughout September. Online, some Chinese social media users expressed concern and called on others to oppose the draft. Several legal scholars have also questioned the implicit vagaries of the proposed amendment and the absence of specific guidelines. Who will confirm the spirit of the Chinese nation, and by what procedures? wrote constitutional studies professor Tong Zhiwei, from East China University of Political Science and Law in Shanghai, on Chinas Twitter-like platform Weibo. If (the Standing Committee) passes this article according to the current draft, it will inevitably lead to law enforcement and the judiciary arresting and convicting people based on their leaders will, which will cause endless harm, he warned. Criminal law professor Lao Dongyan, from Beijings Tsinghua University, meanwhile said the law could amount to an infringement of peoples rights. State power directly interferes in the field of individual citizens daily clothing, which is obviously an overreaching intervention, she wrote on Weibo. Lao also expressed concern that the amendment could fuel extreme nationalism and may intensify antagonism with some countries, putting (our country in) a passive position diplomatically. A brush with rising nationalism The proposed amendment comes at a time when clothing choices have become increasingly political in todays China, especially when it comes to Japanese clothing. The growing Hanfu movement, which sees people sporting the kind of traditional garments worn in China before the Qing dynasty, is widely seen as reflection of growing nationalism among the countrys youth. Meanwhile, traditional Japanese clothes, such as kimonos, have come under fire as nationalist sentiment against Japan surges. Last August, a Chinese anime fan said she was detained by police after she posed for photos wearing a kimono traditional Japanese dress in the eastern city of Suzhou. The woman, whose cosplay look was inspired by the Japanese manga series Summer Time Rendering, was later the subject of widespread debate on Chinese social media, with some users arguing that her outfit was unpatriotic. A similar 2019 incident, in which university security guards were filmed attacking a man wearing a kimono, also sparked heated online debate in China over the countrys easily stoked anti-Japanese sentiment. In the wake of this months draft amendment, one Weibo user questioned whether cosplayers or kimono-clad employees of Japanese restaurants might fall afoul of the proposed rules. The law should at least spell out the exact symbols that will be banned and what will be allowed, he wrote. Posting on Chinese messaging platform WeChat, another social media user asked whether suits, which he described as an embodiment of Western capitalism, would be permitted. Why dont we wear Chinese tunic suits or Hanfu? he asked. "This story was first published on CNN.com. "China considering ban on clothing that hurts feelings of nation" Sara Sharif's grandfather has told Sky News it was "his duty to protect" five children who have been recovered from his home by police searching for his son. The youngsters, aged between one and 13, are understood to have travelled from the UK to Pakistan with Sara's father Urfan Sharif, her stepmother Beinash Batool, and Mr Sharif's brother Faisal Shahzad Malik last month. Authorities want to question the trio over the death of 10-year-old Sara, whose body was found at her home in Woking, Surrey, on 10 August after her father called 999 from Pakistan. He had flown there from Britain a day earlier. Sara's grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, who lives in the city of Jhelum, said the five children had been with him since they came to Pakistan and "it was his duty to protect the children", adding: "I couldn't leave them alone." He insisted the children were "fine and happy with me". The youngsters were presented at a sessions court in Jhelum on Tuesday where the judge forwarded the case to an area magistrates court. Sara's grandfather has described the police raid on his home by around 15 officers, saying: "We were inside the house, they raided the doors and I don't know if they had a search warrant." He said the five children were in a room when "they took them away". Muhammad Sharif admitted he met Mr Sharif, 41, Ms Batool, 29, and Mr Malik, 28, "on the first day" after they travelled to Pakistan. "They told me they were scared and ran from the UK," he said, adding: "I told them the kids will stay with me, you go wherever you want to go." Police 'never asked about the kids' Mr Sharif also told Sky News the police "have never asked me about the kids, and where they are", claiming officers were "only interested in the parents, they weren't with me". And he said he had not spoken to the trio "for a long time". Story continues Since the five children were recovered by police and placed in custody at a local police station, they have now been handed back to their grandfather. They are at his home but officers will on Tuesday hand them over to the court. The search is still ongoing for the three adults, and officers say they are "hopeful" they can locate Mr Sharif and Ms Batool. Police believe the trio had been previously hiding at the address officers raided. UK officers launched a murder investigation after Sara was found dead. A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered "multiple and extensive" injuries. Surrey Police have said the welfare of the children was a "priority". In a video shared with Sky News last week, Ms Batool said the family is willing to cooperate with British authorities and "fight our case in court". Ms Batool denied media reports that Mr Sharif's brother Imran had claimed Sara fell down the stairs, saying that was spread through a Pakistani media outlet. "Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on," she added. Ms Batool also expressed concern for the family's safety, saying they had been forced into "hiding". "The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety," she added. In an interview with the Polish television programme "Uwaga!", Sara's mother, Olga Sharif, shared the distressing account of her visit to see her daughter's body in a mortuary. She said: "One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised. "Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like." Ms Sharif and her husband separated in 2015, and Sara, along with her older brother, lived with her until 2019, when a family court determined they should reside with their father. While she retained equal rights to visit her children, Ms Sharif said she found it increasingly challenging to maintain those rights as time went on. Sara's grandfather Muhammad Sharif previously told the BBC that the girl's father claimed her death was an "accident". Surrey Police are appealing for information to help get a better understanding of Sara's life. Council leader speaks about proposals to 'onshore' textile manufacturing (Image: Unsplash) Glasgow needs to remember the millions of women employed in the textile industry across the world as the council works to develop a sustainable industry closer to home. Council leader, Susan Aitken recently spoke to the mayor of Dhaka North at a UN conference about Scotlands proposals to onshore textile manufacturing and was reminded that this needed to be done in a way that was sustainable for his citizens. The issue was raised at a recent full council meeting by Green councillor Holly Bruce who wanted to know what work had been done on developing a sustainable fashion economy in Glasgow. Councillor Susan Aitken informed members that discussions had been ongoing with the UK fashion and textiles council and that technology was developing all the time. She said: I would say while there is a real imperative to onshore the procurement and manufacturing of textiles as much as possible, I think it is important to remember that textile manufacturing is absolutely crucial to the well-being and livelihood of families in parts of the world like Bangladesh. I was lucky to spend some time with the mayor of Dhaka North from Bangladesh just over the last couple of days at a UN event and this was a matter we were discussing. He certainly understands why countries like Scotland would like to onshore our textile manufacturing as much as possible but also wants us to do so in a way which is sustainable for his citizens and particularly for the many millions of women in countries like Bangladesh who do rely on manufacturing to feed and support their families. That is something we have to bear in mind as we approach our work in this area. President Joe Biden marked the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 with a minute of silence in Alaska military base. I join you on this solemn day to renew our vow: Never forget. We never forget, each of the precious lives stolen too soon, when evil attacked, the US president said. Around 3,000 people from over 90 nations, including 67 from the UK, were killed in the terrorist attack. Biden joined members of the US military and their families at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, while Kamala Harris attended a commemoration at ground zero in Manhattan. A ship passing wind turbines at RWE's Gwynt y Mor (Image: PA) Scotlands energy minister Gillian Martin will this week lead a trade delegation to Denmark, the Scottish Government has announced. Ms Martin will be in Copenhagen to tout the countrys renewable sector in meetings with the Danish Parliaments Climate, Energy and Supply Committee, the countrys energy agency and North Sea wind turbine manufacturer Esbjerg Port. Along with the minister, Scottish Renewables, Crown Estate Scotland, SSE and representatives of ports in Aberdeen and the Forth will also join the delegation. Ahead of leaving for Denmark, Ms Martin said: The North Sea offers great opportunities for collaboration in energy industries where Scotland and Denmark enjoy competitive advantages, such as wind, hydrogen and carbon storage. These technologies will be vital to reaching net zero. The Scottish Government is working with investors to develop projects which will enable large-scale energy production and export to Europe. The development of two green freeports in Scotland will offer more businesses the chance to establish Nordic trade. As our Programme for Government sets out, we will accelerate further economic growth in these areas, including seizing the enormous economic benefits which being a world-leader of the green energy revolution present. Our rich natural resources put Scotland and Denmark at the forefront of the just transition, a green revolution which will prioritise sustainable jobs and a wellbeing economy. By fostering close relationships and sharing knowledge, we can help our supply chains take full advantage of the huge renewable energy capacity of the North Sea. FILE - Sudan's General Abdel-Fattah Burhan answers questions during an interview, on Sept. 22, 2022, in New York. Sudans top miliary officer is traveling to Egypt on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in his first trip abroad since his country plunged into a largescale conflict earlier this year, Sudanese authorities said. (AP Photo/Aron Ranen, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) CAIRO (AP) Sudans military chief traveled to Eritrea on Monday for a meeting with President Isaias Afwerki, the general's latest international trip since fighting broke out between his army and a rival paramilitary force in mid-April, state media said. Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan has been looking for international support since tensions with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, burst into open fighting that has reduced Sudans capital, Khartoum, and its neighboring cities of Omdurman and Bahri, to urban battlefields. Sudan's state-run SUNA news agency said the talks between Burhan and Isaias would focus on bilateral relations and the conflict in Sudan. No further details were given. For years, relations between Eritrea and Sudan have been fraught. Sudan is host to some 126,000 Eritrean refugees, many of whom have fled political persecution in one of the world's most repressive countries, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Influential tribal groups in eastern Sudan that have long campaigned for a separate state including the Beja have been backed by Isaias' government. The visit is Burhan's fourth high profile diplomatic meeting in the past two weeks. Last week, he met with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha. The previous week, he met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi in the Egyptian coastal city of el-Alamein. Few details were made public about either trip. Fighting raged in Sudan. On Sunday, a drone attack in an open market in Khartoum killed at least 43 people. The Associated Press has been unbale to verify which force was behind the attack. In the western Darfur region the scene of a genocidal campaign in the early 2000s the conflict has morphed into ethnic violence, with the RSF and allied Arab militias attacking ethnic African groups, according to rights groups and the United Nations. On Monday, Beth Van Schaack. the U.S. ambassador-at-large for global criminal justice, condemned the violence that has rocked Darfur, including killings on the basis of ethnicity committed by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias. Schaak said the U.S. was bolstering the International Criminal Court's effort to locate fugitives, but she gave few details on how it was helping the court, in which the United States is not a member state. In July, the ICC's prosecutor, Karim Khan, said he was investigating alleged new war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. The conflict has killed more than 4,000 people, according to the United Nations. The real toll is likely much higher, doctors and activists say. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) Filipino-Indian billionaire Rajiv Chandiramani has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) panel of prosecutors to dismiss the falsification of public documents complaint filed by his brother. In his response to the complaint, Chandiramani said the allegations are baseless, contrived, and manufactured. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in endorsing the complaint to the DOJ, said Chandiramani falsified the signature of his late father involving deed of absolute sale and real estate mortgage of some properties amounting to P1 billion. Chandiramani said his brother, Amith, filed the same complaint against him and his mother in 2022. While these cases were at the initial stages, in order to obviate further litigation, for peace of mind and safety, and upon the persuasion of family members, Rajiv agreed to a compromise with Amith, his counter-affidavit stated. The agreement involved monetary settlement for the mutual withdrawal of complaints filed against each other. As part of the compromise deal, Chandiramani bound himself to pay Amith P150 million by way of support. The deal included a clause where Amith acknowledged the ownership of and Rajivs right over the properties. But in May 2023, he found out that his brother filed the same complaint with the NBI. Chandiramanis lawyers insisted that the compromise deal was partially carried out with Amith receiving P9 million in cash. [S]ince Amith has clearly benefited from the compromise agreement, he is considered under estoppel to question its validity and enforceability, Chandiramanis lawyers said. They noted that Amith executed an affidavit of desistance when he withdrew his first complaint, where he said that he realized that the case merely arose out of honest misapprehension and misappreciation of the facts. Chandiramani pointed out there are witnesses who signed the documents proving they were present at the signing of the sale of documents. All of these taken together gives credence to Rajivs contention that the sale and mortgage transactions were regular, done in good faith and for valuable consideration, he said. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden hailed closer ties with Vietnam on his first visit to the country, as the US seeks to make deeper inroads in the region by offering nations an alternative superpower to China. Most Read from Bloomberg I think we have an enormous opportunity, Biden told General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the leader of the countrys ruling Communist Party, at a meeting in Hanoi. Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at this very critical time. Im not saying that to be polite, Im saying that because I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Vietnam formally upgraded ties at Sundays meeting, shifting the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level and the one it uses for China and India. Beyond the legacy of the war, the partnership with the US is not without complications. Vietnam has relied heavily on Russia for military equipment, even as the US has sought to isolate Moscow over President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. During the visit, Vietnam Airlines JSC is expected to sign an initial agreement to buy about 50 Boeing Co. 737 Max jets in a deal valued at $10 billion, Bloomberg News reported. Any order would be seen as a breakthrough for Boeing as Vietnam Airlines is an all-Airbus single-aisle jet operator. Vietnam is a critical relationship for the US, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told reporters on Air Force One en route to Vietnam Sunday, noting that the upgraded status of ties is an important signal for the bureaucracy there. Security will be part of the relationship, he said, noting that the US believes Vietnam is increasingly uncomfortable with its ties to Russia. Story continues Semiconductors and rare-earth minerals will be on the agenda during Bidens visit, he added, as the US seeks to find alternative sources to China. The US president will meet with local and US business executives while in Vietnam. Vietnam was the eighth-largest trade partner for the US in 2022, according to the American Embassy in Vietnam, with $139 billion in turnover. US investment has boomed in Vietnams open-market economy over the last three decades. In July, Biden told campaign donors he received a call from Trong seeking a meeting at the G-20 summit. He wants to elevate us to a major partner along with Russia and China. What do you think thats about? Biden said. The point is the world is changing in a big way and we want to promote democracies, he added. Biden didnt explain how Vietnams one-party system fits that category, however. The US delegation arrived in Vietnam fresh from of the G-20 summit in India where Biden sought to take advantage of the absence of Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to showcase US ties with the Global South. On Saturday, he announced a major transport deal with India, the European Union and Middle Eastern nations, linking partners where China has sought to make inroads. Read More: Indias G-20 Win Shows US Learning How to Counter Chinas Rise The Biden administration has sought to prioritize relationships in the Indo-Pacific region, notably many of the countries with closest proximity to China. Washington and Beijing have had a series of tense moments over the last year, with Biden referring to President Xi as a dictator and the US shooting down an alleged Chinese spy balloon. --With assistance from Derek Wallbank. (Updates with shift in status of relationship, Boeing deal from third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Michael M. Santiago This morning, I woke up to the news that AI is now banning books . An Iowa school district, forced to comply with a new law that requires books in school libraries to be age appropriate (the law does not define this term) and devoid of description or visual descriptions of sex, is using ChatGPT to scan books, because the district is not funded well enough to afford the censors the law requires. Its a situation that reads like a bad parody of 1984though that book would probably be banned under the laws and reviews being implemented across the United States. The current censorship threat is well documented. All across our country, school districts and state legislatures are attempting to restrict which stories students have access to. Book banning, unsurprisingly, is wildly unpopular with people across the political spectrum. It polls poorly with self-identified conservatives, liberals, and independents. The drive to ban books comes mostly from select special-interest groups who are systematically targeting school-board elections and public-library boards to wield power. Iowa may be using cutting-edge technology to attempt to comply with these new draconian laws, but the rise of book bans is part of a larger project. The United States is an empire heading towards its third centurya stage when, historically, most empires have either calcified and failed, or figured out how to rigorously adapt and potentially thrive. Unfortunately, it seems like some wish us to remain in arrested development, to stay crouched in a place of fear and distrust of anything new, challenging, or different. And thats what is at stake, isnt it? True knowledge and learning, true change, is impossible without encountering the unfamiliar, the things that trouble us. Thats what I think of when I hear the old, hoary arguments that asking white children to learn about Black history will make them ashamed, that asking children to read about gender and difference will leave them confused. Shame, confusion, hurtthese are all part of the human experience and, importantly, part of an education. The learning comes with figuring out where those feelings come from, what they might mean, and why they do or do not reflect reality. You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read, James Baldwin famously wrote. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive. Story continues To suppress the books and ideas that trouble us is to suppress the questions children have about why the world works the way it does; why certain people have so much and others so little; why those in charge have abandoned the ideal to make the world a better place, and want all the authority and power of rulers, but do not wish to provide any benefits to those they would rule. These are the types of questions that have brought down empires or remade them in a better image. And the fear those who push book bans have of change is deep and real. But I wish to be clear. Book bans have always existed in this countrythey periodically reappear in public discourse. What makes this time different is that the current rush to ban books is part of a larger project to make the public institutions that have served as incubators for American innovation and imaginationour schools, our libraries, our recreational centers, our town meetingsinto places that are either so toxic or contentious that most people will avoid them (Some people lobbying to have books banned have resorted to harassing teachers, librarians, principals, parents, and school officials via social media ). There is a push to underfund public institutions to the point that they do not function, or privatize them so that only a select few can access them in any meaningful way. Those who ban books know that its in community, when there are spaces so trusted that a child or an adult feels comfortable asking about what they do not know, that resistance to authoritarianism and the nihilism of current political rhetoric lies. We can stay afraid and silent. Or we can say, I want to know more. Can you help me understand? In the following package, we asked authors of some of the most targeted books to share with us their thoughts on this rise in censorship. And we have a list of every book currently banned in the United States, provided by PEN America, with links to purchase nearly every one. Finally, we asked three writersJesmyn Ward, Edwidge Danticat, and Maggie Tokuda-Hallto reflect on what it means to write and create in this moment. Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images You Might Also Like The University of North Georgia (UNG) will host an exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry replica from Sept. 26-28 at the Convocation Center at the Dahlonega Campus. The exhibit is free and open to the public, and will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. all three days. Part of the UNG Permanent Art collection, the replica is the only full-size copy in the United States of the famous embroidery that visually captures the story of the Battle of Hastings, a military conflict that turned the tide of British and European history in 1066. It was during this conflict that the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, defeated an English army led by Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson. The replica will provide special opportunities for art history students to practice museum skills in art installation and art audience education. Students enrolled in ART 3500 Visual Literacy and Communication are training as docents who will lead visitors through the exhibit and guide them to enhance their understanding of the work. I am excited to be a docent because it gives me the experience of being able to explain the Bayeux tapestry to someone else based on my understanding and knowledge of it, student Estephanie Perez said. Along with 22 other docents, Perez, a junior from Cumming, Georgia pursuing a degree in art education, researched the tapestry and rehearsed her portion of the presentation. We are working in pairs and each partner will discuss about half of the story narrated in the replica, Perez said. Im focusing on the second part, when the battle takes place. The first part is shorter but has more narrated events. Donor Judge Edd Wheeler and the artist, Margaret ReVille, intended the replica for student learning and education. The textile is 224 feet long and took ReVille eleven months to paint in acrylic on cotton canvas in 1986-87. It was donated to UNG in 2014 after the College of Arts and Letters pledged to protect it from decay. Kyiv (CNN) Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin the Russian mercenary leader whose plane crashed weeks after he led a mutiny against Moscows military leadership shows what happens when people make deals with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. As Ukraines counteroffensive moves into a fourth month, with only modest gains to show so far, Zelensky told CNNs Fareed Zakaria he rejected suggestions it was time to negotiate peace with the Kremlin. When you want to have a compromise or a dialogue with somebody, you cannot do it with a liar, Volodymyr Zelensky said. He said when Putin understood that a big part of society supported Prigozhin, he killed him. But before he killed, he gave him promises, the territory of Belorussia (Belarus), gave him new locations, the Africa issues and businesses, a lot of different things. The Wagner leaders dramatic death, which followed a short-lived rebellion that threatened the authority of the Russian president, was a warning to be heeded, Zelensky suggested. While the United States and other key Ukrainian allies continue to supply weapons to Kyiv, and stress that conditions to pursue a just and durable peace are not yet in place, a handful of world leaders, such as Brazils Lula Da Silva, have put the onus on Ukraine to end the war. As evidence for his position, Zelensky cited other countries which have been attacked by Russian soldiers and continue to be partially occupied by them. Did you see any compromise from Putin on other issues? With Georgia? With Moldova? Zelensky asked rhetorically. Ukraine has made incremental gains in the south amid fierce fighting with Russian troops, accounts from the front lines suggest. Geolocated videos on Friday showed a wasteland of shell holes, abandoned trenches and wrecked military hardware in the area between Robotyne, Verbove and Novoprokopivka a triangle of villages that hold the key for Ukrainians to getting closer to Tokmak, an important hub for Russian defenses. The result we need, we have to get our land, said Zelensky. And its also not about the land, its about the people because the frozen war is not the peace. Putin he wants to take all our country, to destroy all our families, houses. Because if he understands why he destroy? He understands that Ukraine will never go back, go away from our land. Well never do it. Thats why he has to kill us, he added. He added that his children are in Ukraine and that they are very Ukrainian and he is happy they are there, before going on to suggest he looks at the future of Ukraine optimistically. Zelensky contrasted the youthful energy of his wife and children with his own aging: This generation will make Ukraine, I think, great because they they are very strong with all their positions, with all their values, with all you know, theyre very free. And Im so happy. Then I look, like I said, Im looking into the mirror. I see another person, older, he said. My wife Shes nice. Shes so strong. Shes day by day, she is stronger and nicer and younger. She has a lot of energy, he added. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Zelensky dismisses compromise with Putin, pointing to Prigozhins death" HA NOI Nestle (with a brand value up 8 per cent to US$22.4 billion) has once again earned the title of the worlds most valuable food brand, according to a new report from leading brand valuation consultancy, Brand Finance. Nestle's brand value has steadily increased this year due to strong sales growth across its extensive and varied brand portfolio. Nestle' also has the highest sustainability perceptions value at $1.35 billion. In Viet Nam, the company is implementing many initiatives to help reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain, contributing to the transformation of a sustainable, regenerative food system, improving people's livelihoods, and life quality of the community. As the world's leading food corporation, Nestle is working to promote the transition to a regenerative food system through co-operation with farmers, suppliers, retailers and customers. In Viet Nam, Nestle is supporting farmers, contributing to the transition to regenerative agriculture in coffee farming in the Central Highlands. Through the Nescafe Plan programme deployed in the Central Highlands provinces since 2011, Nestle and farmers have implemented many initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, preserving soil and biodiversity, reducing impact of climate change, promoting biodiversity and increasing income for farmers. Towards realising the Net Zero goal, Nestle strengthens co-operation with ministries, specialised units, business partners, and farmers to jointly implement initiatives to reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain, from input materials, production to post-consumer product packaging. As for input materials, green coffee beans in Viet Nam are currently purchased responsibly by Nestle through Nescafe Plan. This programme has helped farmers save 40 - 60 per cent of water used for irrigation in coffee farming, and reduce the amount of fertilisers/pesticides by 20 per cent. Since 2015, 100 per cent of Nestle Vietnam's factories have achieved the goal of "No solid waste landfilled in the environment". In 2022 alone, thanks to initiatives to reuse, recycle and circulate water, Nestle Vietnam factories saved more than 240,000cu.m of water in production. All coffee grounds are reused as biomass fuel for boilers in coffee production, helping reduce an average of more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and save VN54 billion in fuel costs each year. By the end of 2022, nearly 90 per cent of Nestle Vietnam's product packaging is designed to be recyclable and reusable. Thanks to its continuous efforts to bring nutritious products that are good for the health of users and build sustainable regenerative food systems in Viet Nam, Nestle was honoured as the most sustainable enterprise in the manufacturing sector for two consecutive years of 2021 and 2022. Every year, the leading brand valuation consulting company Brand Finance evaluates the 5,000 largest brands and publishes more than 100 reports, ranking brands across all fields and countries. The Top 100 strongest and most valuable Food brands in the world are included in the annual Brand Finance Food 100 ranking in 2023. VNS HCM CITY There is significant potential for cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia in trade and investment, as both countries strive to boost bilateral trade to US$20 billion and double two-way investments this year. Speaking at the Australia Investment Forum in HCM City last Friday, Vu Van Chung, deputy head of the Foreign Investment Agency, said Viet Nam would offer favourable conditions for Australian investors to invest in the country. With the commitment from both governments to foster economic cooperation, the future looks promising for bilateral ties, he said. Sarah Hooper, consul general of Australia in HCM City, said with Viet Nam being an important economic partner for Australia, both countries are aiming to double two-way investments and become each others leading trading partner. With an open economy, multiple free trade agreements (FTAs), and strong cultural links with Asia, we see tremendous potential to expand our trade and investment relationship, she said. There are real opportunities in Australia for Vietnamese investors who take the time to understand the market and invest their businesses, linking their supply chains in Viet Nam and international markets. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $16 billion last year, with Viet Nam being the 10th largest trade partner and Australia becoming Viet Nams seventh largest trade partner. As of March 2023, Australian investors have invested in 593 projects worth a total registered capital of $2 billion in Viet Nam, mostly in the processing industry, manufacturing, accommodation and catering services, agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors. Australian businesses have recently been investing in Viet Nams resources and energy sector, including renewable energy, electric vehicle batteries, and energy storage solutions. Meanwhile, Vietnamese enterprises have invested in 93 projects worth $586 million in Australia. The forum was organised by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and the Foreign Investment Agency as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Viet Nam-Australia bilateral diplomatic ties. VNS By Mai Huong HA NOI Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is set to reinforce its commitment to cooperation with Viet Nam across four critical areas, including high-quality infrastructure development, human resource development, healthcare advancements and climate change mitigation. In an exclusive interview with Viet Nam News, JICA's chief representative, Sugano Yuichi, underlined the significance of this year, marking the 50th anniversary of Japan-Viet Nam diplomatic relations, emphasising that the relationship between the two countries has never been stronger. "In the future, JICA will continue to contribute to Viet Nams sustainable development, both in terms of physical infrastructure and the development of human resources, thereby further strengthening the burgeoning bond between Viet Nam and Japan," Yuichi said. Over the past three decades, the Official Development Assistance (ODA) cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan has flourished, solidifying their enduring partnership. This collaboration has yielded remarkable results in various sectors, including economic cooperation, investments and the cultivation of human resources. As the steward of Japan's ODA initiatives, JICA has played a pivotal role in nurturing this enduring alliance. Throughout the 30-year journey of cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan, there have been over 100 ongoing projects spanning diverse domains, such as education, healthcare, transportation, energy and agriculture. Viet Nam stands among the top five countries benefiting from Japanese ODA. "Since the resumption of ODA to Viet Nam in 1992, Japan has contributed over three trillion yen (equivalent to approximately VN600 trillion) in cumulative ODA capital. Japan holds the distinction of being the most significant ODA donor among OECD member countries, underscoring its steadfast commitment to Viet Nam's development," Yuichi affirmed. Japanese ODA has had a profound impact on infrastructure development in Viet Nam, with projects like the National Highway 1, the North-South Expressway, and port constructions such as Lach Huyen and Cai Mep Thi Vai ports fortifying Viet Nam's economic foundation. The energy sector has also experienced substantial growth through Japanese ODA, with the construction of power plants bolstering the nation's energy infrastructure. Japan's support has significantly benefited healthcare in Viet Nam, with investments not only in core hospitals like Bach Mai Hospital but also in vaccine production. Collaborating with JICA has facilitated the production of 100 per cent of measles and rubella vaccines, contributing significantly to expanded vaccination plans. In the field of education, JICA's partnership with Can Tho University, spanning over half a century, is emblematic of their enduring relationship. Recent initiatives like the Viet Nam Japan University (VJU) project, which began in 2016, continue to produce high-quality human resources for Viet Nam while fostering international student exchanges. As the 50th anniversary of Japan-Viet Nam diplomatic relations approaches, the future of this dynamic partnership remains promising. Minister Pham Minh Chinh has articulated his aspirations for sustainable development and a green economy, setting the stage for upcoming ODA cooperation plans. Looking ahead, JICA will prioritise four key areas of cooperation. Firstly, there will be a focus on high-quality infrastructure projects, notably the HCM City urban railway and Noi Bai International Airport. Secondly, human resource development will continue to be a cornerstone of collaboration, with Can Tho University and VJU at the forefront. Thirdly, the health sector will receive attention, with JICA supporting the implementation of remote medical systems and digital transformation techniques at local medical facilities. Additionally, collaboration with Japanese private enterprises, NGOs, and universities will enhance rehabilitation techniques and medical care to address the challenge of an aging population in Viet Nam. Lastly, JICA will actively engage in climate change initiatives, utilising the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support afforestation activities and natural environment protection. This aligns with the Vietnamese Government's vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, marking a significant step towards addressing climate change challenges. "In the future, I hope that not only JICA but also related parties such as Japanese universities, local governments, private companies and non-governmental organisations will continue to participate in ODA projects to enhance people-to-people exchanges and further promote the growing relationship between the two countries," JICAs chief representative said. VNS HA NOI Vietjet and Carlyle Aviation Partners, the US-based leading aviation finance and asset management company, on Monday signed an aircraft finance agreement worth US$550 million during the official visit of the US President Joe Biden to Viet Nam. Carlyle Aviation Partners, a wholly own member of the Carlyle Group, will finance the 737 Max aircraft from the order of 200 aircraft between Vietjet and Boeing. This is a significant aircraft order and considered one of the largest commercial contracts and contributes greatly to the trade balance between the two countries to date. Carlyle Aviation Partners has been a long-term strategic partner of Vietjet, said Robert Korn, Co-Founder and President of Carlyle Aviation Partners. We are pleased to accompany and witness Vietjets significant growth over the last decade. The airline has offered passengers reasonable fares and convenient travel options; thus contributing positively to the aviation and tourism development; also fostering investment between Viet Nam and the international community. During the official visit of US President Joe Biden to Viet Nam, Vietjet and Boeing have agreed on the delivery timeline of the first batch of Vietjets 200 B737 Max order. This order, which is worth over $25 billion, will be implemented in five years with the first delivery of 12 aircraft scheduled for 2024. Accordingly, the first batch of 737 Max will be delivered to Thai Vietjet, the affiliate company founded by Vietjet. Thai Vietjet is currently one of the leading airlines in Thailand, featuring Vietjets brand and images and favoured by travellers in the region. Founded in 2002 with headquarter in Miami, Florida, US, Carlyle Aviation Partners is in the business of global aircraft finance and leasing, currently manages a fleet of 396 aircraft in 59 countries. VNS HCM CITY National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to purchase 50 Boeing 737 Max jets in a deal valued at around US$10 billion, local media reported. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the purchase was signed on Monday during President Joe Bidens visit to Viet Nam. The move is part of the carriers efforts to upgrade its fleet and replace more than 40 older A321 planes with state-of-the-art planes. Vietnam Airlines currently operates a fleet of more than 90 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. While the carrier had been considering an order for 50 Airbus A321neo jets, it ultimately chose the Boeing 737 Max series instead. The Boeing 737 Max series boasts a seating capacity of up to 230 passengers and has a flight range of over 3,000 kilometres, which is suitable for both domestic and regional routes. While the details of the deal are yet to be revealed, the agreement is expected to bring benefits to both Vietnam Airlines and Boeing. Vietnamese carriers, including Vietnam Airlines, have been struggling with challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, including travel restrictions and reduced demand for air travel. Though Boeing faced significant setbacks with the grounding of the 737 Max in 2019 following two tragic accidents, the aircraft was recertified in late 2020. VNS OSAKA, JAPAN Bac Ninh Province promoted its investment opportunities for Japanese investors at a seminar in Osaka, Japan on September 7. The conference was jointly organised by Bac Ninh Province, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka, the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan and the Japan-Vietnam Trade Association. The seminar was attended by a Bac Ninh delegation led by the Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Nguyen Quoc Chung, Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha, representatives of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japan-Vietnam Trade Association and nearly 100 Japanese businesses. Speaking at the event, Chung expressed his pleasure to visit and work in Japan on the occasion of Viet Nam and Japan organizing many activities to celebrate 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations. According to Chung, 26 years since the re-establishment of the province, Bac Ninh has become a modern industrial province with 24 industrial parks, including 16 industrial parks in operation. The province currently has economic relations with 39 countries and territories worldwide, attracting nearly 2,000 FDI investment projects and ranking seventh nationwide in attracting foreign investment. Notably, Bac Ninh is attracting investment for Japanese projects in the fields of electronic component manufacturing, precision mechanics and civil industry. Bac Ninh Province is welcoming Japanese investors in general and in Osaka in particular to research and invest in the province, said Chung. At the seminar, Japanese businesses exchanged many opinions, expressing their desire to learn more about the potential, advantages and investment incentives of Bac Ninh for foreign investors. They paid a lot of attention to issues relating to environmental treatment in production, green development and sustainable development in the province. Chung also affirmed that Bac Ninh has always prioritized investment attraction and is ready to create favourable conditions for Japanese investors to invest in industries, fields and areas where the province has outstanding competitive advantages. According to the Statistics Department of Bac Ninh, from the beginning of the year to July 20, the province attracted 182 newly registered FDI projects (an increase of 124 projects) while newly registered capital reached nearly US$769 million, an increase of more than $630 million. VNS Compiled by Thu Ha HA NOI After experiencing a rapid and strong growth cycle in the past decade, Viet Nams insurance industry is inevitably facing a correction and decline that requires insurers to focus on restructuring and improving service quality to meet the increasing demands of the market in the coming time. The insurance industry posted an annual growth rate of up to 20-30 per cent over the past ten years, but revenue fell in the first half of this year. According to the Vietnam Insurance Association, total insurance premium revenue from the entire insurance market in the first six months of 2023 was estimated at VN112.7 trillion, down 4.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. Of this amount, premium revenue from non-life insurance reached VN34.91 trillion, up 3.3 per cent, while life insurance revenue was VN77.8 trillion, down 7.9 per cent over the same period last year. Notably, the life insurance sector witnessed a sharp decline. The number of new contracts in the first six months of 2023 recorded a decrease of 31.3 per cent over the same period last year to just more than 1 million contracts, of which, investment-linked insurance products accounted for 61.2 per cent, down 34.4 per cent. Total new life insurance premium revenue in the first half of this year reached about VN15.5 trillion, down 38.2 per cent over the same period last year. Despite the decline in revenue, life insurance companies recorded a sharp increase in insurance payments of up to VN25.8 trillion in the first six months of this year, up 37.1 per cent over the same period last year. This was one of the main reasons why the business performance of many insurers was negative in the first half of this year. Bancassurance, which has been one of the main distribution channels of the insurance industry in recent years, also recorded a sharp decline, which caused a reduction in non-interest income for most banks in the first half of this year. For example, fee income from the insurance business and services of Military Bank, which is among the leaders in terms of revenue from the insurance business, reached only VN4.19 trillion, down more than 17 per cent over the same period last year, according to the bank's semi-annual financial statements. Techcombank also only recorded fees from insurance services of VN290 billion in H1 2023, down 53 per cent compared to the same period last year. This value for VIB and Sacombank was VN315 billion and VN459 billion, down 46 per cent and nearly 24 per cent, respectively. The decline of the insurance industry was attributed to many reasons, but shortcomings and inadequacies in service that culminated in a confidence crisis in the first quarter of 2023 was believed to be the main reason for the sharp decline of the industry in the first half of this year. Bancassurance came under severe criticism due to instances of fraud and coercion. Customers have particularly raised concerns about the confusion between high-interest savings accounts and life insurance. Borrowers have also complained about being forced to purchase life insurance along with their bank loans. In addition, the decline of the insurance industry in the first half of this year was also due to the economic slowdown. This is also a reason that may prolong the decline of the insurance industry into the second half of 2023, and even into next year. New faces After the recent crisis in confidence, a number of leading insurance companies, such as Prudential and Manulife, have decided to restructure and improve service quality. The insurers aim to bring a new breeze to the insurance business in the Vietnamese market. All new personnel will have experience in the insurance industry and understanding of the local market. According to Anantharaman Sridharan, new general director of FDW Vietnam, Viet Nam is a dynamic market in Asia. As a result, FDW will continue to bring simple, easy-to-understand products and services powered by digital technology to more Vietnamese people, thereby continuing to change the perception of local people about insurance products. Notably, FDW has continued to increase investment and raised the charter capital of FWD Vietnam to VN19.1 trillion, which affirms its commitment to long-term and sustainable development in the Vietnamese market. At Manulife, the company has also invested more than US$1 billion in the Vietnamese market. After the recent confidence crisis, Manulife has focused on restructuring and changing its business strategy in order to improve the quality of consulting services. A representative of Manulife said the company is currently focusing on implementing a transparent insurance strategy, which starts with all customers buying new products of the company to be fully consulted. The consultations will be recorded and videotaped, and products will be clearly explained to customers. This helps customers understand the product before deciding to sign any contracts. In addition, Manulife is also focusing on digitising insurance services and improving the quality of its customer service experience. Not only insurance companies, but also banks - the main partners of the insurance industry - have recently been prioritising restructuring distribution activities and improving consulting services. Techcombank has implemented a customer relationship management platform after launching iTCBlife, a demand analysis tool, in June last year. Techcombank has also set up an insurance hotline to deal with all customer queries. According to Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Techcombank's Retail Banking Division, 2023 is a year that Techcombank will invest the most in bancassurance. Techcombank has so far cooperated with a partner to re-establish the entire consulting process based on customer needs. Simultaneously, the bank is also focusing on digitising services to expand online channels for customers to fully access services. Although the insurance market is facing many difficulties, Techcombank expects its bancassurance segment will recover in the near future thanks to these measures, as surveys show insurance is a growing need of customers. This is an opportunity for the bank to increase non-interest income in 2023, Tuan said. Besides the restructuring efforts of the insurers, the insurance business is expected to improve transparency as shortcomings and inadequacies in the market will be addressed under the Law on Insurance Business 2022, which took effect earlier this year. Currently, the insurance industry is waiting for legal guidance to have a basis for implementation of the law. VNS Compiled by Hoang Ha HA NOI Viet Nam should have a mechanism to increase foreign investment capital (FDI) into the renewable energy industry, experts said. Viet Nam has great potential for renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind power, solar power and biomass power. With favourable natural conditions amid the global trend of greenifying the production process, the south of Viet Nam, including HCM City, has many advantages in renewable energy development, experts said. However, Viet Nam and HCM City have not yet broken through with development for renewable energy. They need to make policies and amend laws to attract new investors to the renewable energy sector, according to the experts. Nguyen Anh Son, director of the Legal Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, said in recent years, the State has issued policies to attract investors to develop renewable energy sources. Specifically, in 2020, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW on the orientation of Viet Nam's national energy development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The Government promulgated Resolution No 140/NQ-CP on its action plan, which assigns the Ministry of Industry and Trade to coordinate with other ministries and relevant agencies to study and develop the Law on Renewable Energy. These documents, along with many other relevant legal documents, are a good foundation for the expansion and completion of the legal framework related to the energy sector in general and renewable energy. With the rapid development of renewable energy, according to Son, the legal framework governing these projects should be completed quickly to facilitate enterprises in the deployment of projects and also limit their risks and losses incurred. For HCM City, Son also suggested the city's leaders to review the progress and problems when implementing renewable energy projects, thereby contributing to complete the policy framework on national renewable energy development. The completion of laws related to the energy industry will also contribute to effective control of the electricity trading market as well as power from renewable energy projects, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development. Viet Nam is recognised for its potential in renewable energy development, especially the production of solar photovoltaic (PV) batteries and electric two-wheelers, according to research conducted by the Asian Development Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, ClimateWorks Foundation and Sustainable Energy for All. Strengthening the region's renewable energy production capacity will help Southeast Asian countries, including Viet Nam, to create new jobs and meet the needs of energy growth while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In Southeast Asia, low-carbon mobility and clean power have the potential to contribute $90 billion to $100 billion in revenue by 2030, while 6 million renewable energy jobs are expected to be created by 2050. The Renewable Energy Production: New Opportunities for Southeast Asia Report pointed out that Viet Nam has a labour cost advantage in the solar PV manufacturing industry. According to a leading Cambodian manufacturer, wages in Cambodia are comparable to Viet Nam, but due to educational differences, more workers are required to produce the same output, leading to higher labor costs. Viet Nams land border with China is perceived as a significant benefit as delivery time for input materials can be reduced from weeks to days. For electric two-wheeler (E2W) manufacturing, Thailand and Viet Nam appear well-positioned to be exporters of E2Ws due to extensive free trade agreement coverage with key demand markets. Rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles is also driving demand in the battery sector in countries such as Viet Nam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Manufacturers in Viet Nam perform relatively better in the low-end product segment, mainly due to the use of cheaper parts and outdated technology (e.g., lead acid batteries). However, manufacturers in Viet Nam targeting the middle and premium segments price their products at or below cost. Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam each have well developed industrial and supplier parks that help to keep logistics and transportation costs low. ao Xuan uc, chairman of HCM City Industrial Zones Businesses Association (HBA), said that now, many foreign investors are interested in renewable energy development when investing in industrial zones in HCM City. Businesses save at least 30 per cent of electricity costs each month when they install solar power panels in factories. However, Viet Nam only allows solar power in homes and offices. One of the criteria of many foreign investors coming in industrial parks based HCM City is to have green development with a focus on clean and renewable energy. Many large corporations target to not use electricity from EVN from 2030, instead using renewable energy. That is a global commitment, uc told nhadautu.vn. Meanwhile, an FDI enterprise investing in the renewable energy industry said that its biggest challenges are to have to apply for a lot of permits and that there is no mechanism connecting it to the national power grid. Son said there is no specific legal framework on the issue of connecting to the power grid. Nguyen Van Yen, head of the Office of the Vietnam Energy Association, agreed that there is no clear legal framework for solar power investment in industrial zones, mainly related to electricity purchasing prices. The preferential purchasing price of solar power is about 9.35 cents/kWh (about VN2,000). Many enterprises produce solar power to sell to EVN, while EVN's commercial price of solar power is only 7.2 cents/kWh. This causes damage to the State, Yen said. The State needs to have more open and adequate guidelines and policies to create a stable investment environment for renewable energy projects, he said. It also is necessary to have more appropriate solutions and mechanisms for developing renewable energy projects. VNS HA NOI The steps needed to create Vietnamese lacquerware will be introduced to South Africans during an event to promote Vietnamese culture in Pretoria. Under the instruction of lacquer artisan Tran Anh Tuan, who is also founder of the Lacquer School Tay Ho in Ha Noi, guests can perfect small lacquer items including jewelry and decorative objects. The presentation is part of the Viet Nam Days Abroad held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time in South Africa in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Viet Nam South Africa diplomatic relation. Taking place in Pretoria on September 14 and 15, the event will feature the Vietnamese Cultural Space, where visitors can learn about the rich Vietnamese culture through interactive activities. Alongside lacquer, visitors can also enjoy another interactive activity to learn how to create Vietnamese ong Ho folk paintings. An artisan will show the guests how to use woodblocks to create a painting on poonah paper. Traditional craft of to he small and colourful toy figurines that are made of rice dough, will also be presented to the visitors. They can try on the royal costumes of Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) and explore Vietnamese cuisine. Attendees will also have chance to learn more about Viet Nam through a photo exhibition showcasing vivid images of the countrys natural and cultural heritages that have been granted the UNESCO recognition. Photographs presenting the diplomatic relation between Viet Nam and South Africa will also be on display at the Vietnamese Cultural Space during the event. An art show showcasing the distinctive culture of Viet Nams three regions North, Central, South, is expected to win the applause of South African audience. Nguyen Yen, Director of ong o Performance and Event Services the show producer, has revealed that the repertoire has been staged to connect with each other, aiming to tell a storyline called Colour of Viet Nam. The colours differentiate in each region and will be presented in the form of the UNESCO-recognised intangible heritages, she said. Yen said the show will be opened with a traditional dance of an ethnic Mong group from the northern mountainous region, followed by the lotus dance a dance representing the Northern Delta region. The show will include a showcase of the royal costumes of Nguyen Dynasty that represents the Centre. Traditional tunes and popular dances of the South will be presented. Following the Viet Nam Days Abroad in South Africa, similar events will be held in France and Japan in November and December. At a press conference about the event in Ha Noi on Friday, Deputy Director of the Cultural Diplomacy & UNESCO Affairs Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hoang Huu Anh said that the Viet Nam Days Abroad, as usual, consists of political, cultural and economic activities. This year, the organising committee has tailored the programme according to each country," he said. "The programme aims at delivering a rich in culture yet dynamic Viet Nam to friends in South Africa, where we can further promote cultural exchange, and in Japan and France the two nations that are somewhat familiar to Vietnamese people, he said. Viet Nam Days Abroad is a national promotional event that the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host annually since 2010. The event has been receiving enthusiastic participation of Vietnamese localities, enterprises, organisations, international communities and overseas Vietnamese communities. VNS Maputo Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and her entourage arrived in Maputo capital, Mozambique, on September 10 evening (local time), beginning a four-day official visit to the African country. Welcoming Xuan and the Vietnamese delegation at the airport were Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique Pham Hoang Kim, Mozambican Minister of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries Lidia Cardoso, Mozambican Ambassador to Viet Nam Leonardo Rosario Manueal Pene, and representatives from organisations and enterprises of both nations. During her stay, Xuan will hold talks with Prime Minister Adriano Afonso Maleiane, pay courtesy visits to President Filipe Nyusi and President of the Assembly of Mozambique Esperanca Bias, and meet with the President of the Maputo Municipal Council, General Secretary of the Frelimo Party Roque Silva, the President of the Confederation of Mozambique Economic Associations (CTA) and several Mozambican enterprises. She will have a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassys staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Mozambique, and have a working session with Movitel telecommunications joint venture in the nation. Xuans visit continues to affirm the sound traditional relations between Viet Nam and Mozambique, which have been treasured by leaders and people of both countries. With the important roles and increasing positions of Mozambique in Southern Africa and Viet Nam in Southeast Asia, the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the coming time is huge, especially in economy and trade. Mozambique has strengths in natural resources, fisheries and competitive labour while Vietnam boasts advantages in agriculture, handicrafts, fisheries, and a hard-working workforce. The complementary economies, the regular exchange of high-level delegations, and enhanced cooperation between localities and businesses are favourable factors for Viet Nam - Mozambique relations to further develop. Viet Nam and Mozambique established diplomatic relations on June 25, 1975. Viet Nam opened its embassy in Mozambique in 1976, showing its respect for, and desire to develop the traditional friendship with Mozambique in particular and African countries in general. Economic, trade and investment cooperation is the highlight of the two countries' relationship. Their trade turnover in 2022 reached over US$177 million, an increase of 16 per cent compared to 2022. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joseph Biden met with the press following their talks in Ha Noi on Sunday evening. The following is a translation of Party General Secretary Trongs address to the press. Your Excellency Mr US President Joe Biden, Your Distinguished Guests, On behalf of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, Id like to warmly welcome the US President, Mr Joe Biden, who has shown his special affections for Viet Nam and Vietnamese people and in different positions of his diplomatic career, he has always given Viet Nam his valuable support for the development of Viet Nam US friendship relations. His current visit to Viet Nam coincides with the two countries 10 year- Comprehensive Partnership anniversary celebration. I always treasure all the great memories about the US Governments respectful reception and the warmth of American people for me when I visited the US in July 2015, especially the sincere and interesting discussions between Mr Joe Biden and me during that trip. Id like to thank President Joe Biden for his invitation for me to make another visit to the US. In the spirit of friendship, equality and with mutual understanding and respect, my talks with President Biden have brought about fruitful results. Weve agreed that the Viet Nam US relations have gained mighty, deep, realistic and effective strides since the normalisation and the comprehensive partnership were established. On this occasion, on behalf of Vietnamese people, I would like to thank all American organisations and individuals that have supported Viet Nam and contributed to the development of the two countries friendship and cooperation. On that basis, for the benefit of the two countries people and the wish to strengthen cooperation for the targets of peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the new context, Mr President Joe Biden and I, on behalf of the two nations, adopted the Joint statement on establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. The partnership continues to base on the full respect for fundamental principles guiding the bilateral relationship in the coming time, including the respect for the United Nations Charter, international law and each others political institutions, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We emphasised that the understanding of each other and each other's situation, respect for each other's legitimate interests and non-interference into each other's internal affairs are always of important significance. Viet Nam highly values and treasures the US's affirmation to support a strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous Viet Nam. The contents of the new partnership inherit existing cooperation contents between the two countries, and take them to a higher level through the promotion of economic, trade, investment cooperation in the direction that renovation is the foundation, focal point and motivation for the bilateral relations, and the enhancement of cooperation in science-technology is a new breakthrough of the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. In the time to come, relevant agencies of the two nations will work together to realise the reached agreements, creating conditions for the next development steps. Viet Nam promotes relations with the US and other international partners in the spirit outlined by President Ho Chi Minh after Viet Nam regained independence, which is Viet Nam is a friend of all countries. Regarding the US, President Ho Chi Minh affirmed Viet Nam's complete independence and Viet Nam's willingness to fully cooperate with the US. The independence and cooperation are beneficial to the whole world. We all know that in many following years and months, the Vietnamese people went through uncountable sacrifice and hardship to defend the nation's independence and regain unification. The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam also the set the policy on strengthening and deepening bilateral cooperative relations in the framework of the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations; Viet Nam is a friend, a trustworthy partner as well as an active and responsible member of the international community. Mr. President Joe Biden and me informed each other about the situation of the two countries, expressing appreciation of the efforts and positive results achieved in socio-economic development in each country. Regarding complex situations and international conflicts, Viet Nam hopes that the parties engage in dialogues, resolve those peacefully on the basis of respecting the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. I hope that through this important and meaningful visit, Mr. President, other members of the delegation and all of you will have the opportunity to get first-hand feelings of the renewal, dynamic development, long history of civilisation of Viet Nam, as well as the affectionate, hospitable, friendly and peace-loving Vietnamese people. I believe that President Joe Bidens visit to Viet Nam will be a great success. I wish Mr. President new successes and wish you, members of the delegation, those present here and their families good health and happiness. VNS HA NOI General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joseph Biden met with the press following their talks in Ha Noi on Sunday evening. The following is President Joe Bidens address to the press published by the White House. PRESIDENT BIDEN: Secretary General, thank you for welcoming me to Viet Nam for this truly historic moment. Today, we can trace a 50-year arc of progress in the relationship between our nations from conflict to normalisation to this new elevated status that will be a force for prosperity and security in one of the most consequential regions in the world. We are evolving our partnership directly to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Viet Nams highest tier of partnership. And were excited about that. A critical step for our nations that reflects the strength of our relationship as we take on the challenges that matter most to the future of our region and, quite frankly, to the world. Were deepening our cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, particularly around building a more resilient semiconductor supply chain. Were expanding our economic partnership, spurring even greater trade and investment between our nations. For example, last year, a Vietnamese company signed a US$4 billion deal to build electric vehicles and batteries in North Carolina in the United States, which will create more than 7,000 jobs in the United States of America. World-class Vietnamese technology companies are going public on the US stock market. And were welcoming more important new deals during this visit. Were working to tackle the climate crisis and to accelerate Viet Nams clean energy transition; strengthening global health security and advance treatments for cancer and HIV/AIDS; enhance our security cooperation, including countering trafficking in persons. I also raised the importance of respect for human rights as a priority for both my administration and the American people. And well continue to our candid dialogue on that regard. Perhaps most vital to our future, we are doubling down on our people-to-people ties. Theyre the very heart of our partnership. That includes millions of Vietnamese Americans who strengthen communities all across the United States of America every single day and are looking forward to the outcome of this meeting. Just this year, the US supported the Fulbright University in Vietnam, graduated its first class, and theyre working to expand its new campus. One of my oldest and closest friends, Tommy Vallely, is very much involved in that. Ladies and gentlemen, were also investing in strengthening the skilled STEM workforce, promoting educational exchanges and collaboration among our scientists, our entrepreneurs, innovators to better work together to capture the enormous opportunities and I mean enormous opportunities of this new age of technology. Let me close with this. All the progress over the past 50 years none of it was inevitable. It required years of hard work from leaders in both countries, including my friend whos here today, the former senator and secretary of state, now Special Presidential Envoy on Climate, John Kerry. We got it done because of another friend who is no longer with us I miss him whose memorial well be visiting tomorrow, the late John McCain. Both men saw so clearly, as I and so many others did, how much we had to gain by working together to overcome a bitter past. Years later, I remember the hard work it took, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to be able to normalise relations in 1995. And 10 years ago, when I was Vice President, we reached a new milestone for the launch of our initial Comprehensive Partnership. Im incredibly proud of how our nations and our people have built trust and understanding over the decades and worked to repair the painful legacy the war left on both our nations. Its work that we pledge today to continue clearing unexploded ordnance, remediating environmental damage from dioxin, expanding support for people with disabilities, and accounting for every American service member still missing in action in Vietnam as well as the fallen or missing Vietnam soldiers from that war. Our cooperation on these painful issues, as well as on forging new legacies, is one of shared peace and prosperity. Its a testament I mean this its a testament for the resilience and spirit of both our peoples. Its a powerful reminder of all we can accomplish when were able to transcend the pain of the past and embrace a future of progress, one grounded on unity of our people. So, thank you again, Secretary General. Viet Nam is a critical power in the world and a bellwether for in this vital region. And I look forward to continuing this new chapter in the story of our nation. VNS HA NOI Leaders of Viet Nam and the United States of America have issued a Joint Leaders Statement on elevating the Viet Nam-US ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of President Joe Bidens State visit to Viet Nam from September 10-11. The following is the full text of the statement. JOINT LEADERS STATEMENT: ELEVATING UNITED STATES-VIET NAM RELATIONS TO A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP On September 10, 2023, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr. met and held talks in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. The two Leaders hailed a historic new phase of bilateral cooperation and friendship by elevating their nations relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the purposes of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. The United States supports a strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient Viet Nam. In the ten years since President Truong Tan Sang and President Barack Obama formed the Viet NamUS Comprehensive Partnership, the two countries have made remarkable strides in increasing mutual understanding, building mutual trust, and strengthening cooperation across all areas of the Comprehensive Partnership. Under this new framework, the Leaders underscored the fundamental principles guiding Viet Nam-US relations, including respect for the United Nations (UN) Charter, international law, and respect for each others political system, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Viet Nam and the US will continue to deepen cooperation in the following areas to ensure the interests of the people of both countries and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and in the world. POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS The two Leaders underscored the need to continue deepening political and diplomatic relations, and will promote regular exchanges of delegations and engagements at all levels to strengthen mutual understanding and build and enhance political trust. The Leaders supported improving the effectiveness of current dialogue mechanisms and intend to establish an annual dialogue between Viet Nam's Minister of Foreign Affairs and the US Secretary of State. The Leaders pledged to further promote relations between the two countries political parties and legislative bodies, including by encouraging dialogue and discussion between these bodies on priorities and each countrys practical experiences. The two Leaders will direct their government agencies to cooperate and effectively implement the cooperation programs as determined by both countries. Both countries affirm to maintain favorable conditions to complete the construction of their diplomatic and consular facilities, and ensure both sides can efficiently staff those facilities in accordance with international conventions to which both countries are parties, bilateral agreements between Viet Nam and the US, and the respective laws of Viet Nam and the US. ECONOMIC, TRADE, AND INVESTMENT COOPERATION The two Leaders reaffirmed the importance of economic, trade, and investment cooperation and innovation-driven inclusive economic growth as the core foundations and sources of momentum in the bilateral relationship. Both sides pledged to create favorable conditions and facilitate the further opening of markets for each others goods and services, support trade and economic policy, and regulatory measures to achieve this aim; and to address issues such as market access barriers via the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The US applauds Viet Nam's progress in significant market-based economic reforms, and affirms its enthusiasm and commitment for a broad, strengthened, supportive, and constructive engagement with Viet Nam in its transition to a market economy, and subsequently to market economy country status, under US law. The US noted Viet Nam officially requested the review of its market economy status on September 8, 2023. The US will review Viet Nam's request as expeditiously as possible, in accordance with US law. The US appreciates Viet Nam's ongoing efforts to further modernise and enhance the transparency of its monetary policy and exchange rate management framework, to promote macroeconomic stability, and to ensure the safety and soundness of the banking system. The Leaders will continue strengthening a non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core. Both sides applauded the progress thus far and look forward to additional substantial progress in the near future under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will deliver concrete benefits to the economies, workers, families, and businesses of the two countries and the region. The Leaders acknowledged the importance of respect for internationally recognised labour rights based on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Furthermore, the Leaders intend to accelerate cooperation on strengthening intellectual property rights and aviation, including through negotiations to amend the US-Viet Nam Air Transport Agreement under Open Skies principles. The United States pledged further support for Viet Nam in manufacturing, high quality digital and physical infrastructure development, just energy transition, sustainable and smart agriculture, and broader and sustained participation in regional and global supply chains, with a particular emphasis on Viet Nam's Mekong Delta region. To that end, the US International Development Financial Corporation (DFC) intends to continue to finance private sector projects in Viet Nam's infrastructure, climate and energy efficiency, healthcare, and small business sectors, including climate-focused and women-owned enterprises. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND DIGITAL COOPERATION Viet Nam and the US decided to strengthen science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation, regarding this as a new breakthrough of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The US affirmed its commitment to increasing support for Vietnam in the training and development of a high-tech workforce. Acknowledging Viet Nam's tremendous potential as a major player in the semiconductor industry, the two Leaders pledged to support the rapid development of Viet Nam's semiconductor ecosystem and to work together energetically to improve Viet Nam's position in the global semiconductor supply chain. Toward this end, the US and Viet Nam announced the launch of semiconductor workforce development initiatives supported by initial seed funding of $2 million from the US Government, in conjunction with future Vietnamese government and private sector support. Viet Nam and the US pledged to comprehensively cooperate in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. The two Leaders applauded the promotion of secure and reliable digital infrastructure in Viet Nam, affirming its potential to provide new opportunities for digital capability enhancement to Vietnamese innovators to expand the growth of Viet Nam's digital economy. These efforts will aim to include support for open and interoperable network architectures including through exploring the launch of an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN training lab) in Viet Nam, secure 5G, and adoption of emerging technologies to provide new digital upskilling opportunities to Vietnamese innovators, subject to congressional notification. The Leaders underscored the importance of continued collaboration between leading academic institutions in the US and Viet Nam, including through joint research initiatives, training courses, fellowships, and exchange programmes focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. EDUCATION AND TRAINING COOPERATION The US announced concrete plans to assist Viet Nam in training a high-quality workforce, contributing to the achievement of Viet Nam's future development goals. The US welcomes the nearly 30,000 Vietnamese students studying in the United States and will encourage American educational institutions to accept a greater number of Vietnamese students. The two Leaders offered congratulations on the launch of Peace Corps operations in Viet Nam and the 31st anniversary of the Fulbright Viet Nam programme. They applauded the work of Fulbright University Viet Nam (FUV) and its growing role as a regional hub for public policy training, recognizing the vital importance of investing in human capital as a critical resource for future prosperity, security, stability, and development. The US and Viet Nam recognised that enduring prosperity can only be achieved if our people have ample opportunities to learn new skills, exchange ideas, and gain international experience and understanding. Accordingly, the US and Viet Nam will encourage the opening of the doors to their universities and laboratories in order to share best practices, scientific advances, and educational opportunities with each other, with a focus on supporting increasing numbers of Vietnamese students, teachers, scholars, and researchers participating in training and educational programs in the US. Viet Nam also welcomes the increasing number of US students, scholars, and professors who are studying, researching, and teaching in Vietnamese higher-education institutions, and encourages US universities to build partnerships with Vietnamese higher education institutions, to include opening campuses in Viet Nam. CLIMATE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND HEALTH COOPERATION The US and Viet Nam will coordinate: in the Mekong and Red River Deltas; multi-sector adaptation to climate change; pollution reduction, and voluntary technical assistance for modernised transmission infrastructure, renewable energy integration, climate market development, energy storage solutions, and the improvement of regulatory framework to enable a speedy and just energy transition. The Leaders recognised the importance of working together, and with experts outside of government, to advance low-emissions, climate-resilient agriculture, biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, and the resilience of vulnerable communities, including through disaster preparedness efforts. The US supports Viet Nam's efforts to increase clean energy production. President Biden applauded Viet Nam's climate commitments under its Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), as well as Viet Nam's 2050 net zero greenhouse emissions target. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the US contribution to mobilising public and private financing for Viet Nam's JETP and cooperation with the international community to ensure its successful implementation while ensuring national energy sovereignty, security and affordability. The US committed to assisting Viet Nam with both finance and advanced climate technology to fulfill its international climate commitments. Viet Nam welcomes projects funded by international financial institutions, including the World Bank, in the areas of climate change response, energy transition, green growth, and renewable energy infrastructure. The two sides commended 25 years of the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) in Viet Nam and welcomed the 2021 establishment of the US CDCs Regional Office in Ha Noi, as well as Viet Nam's commitment to develop a Viet Nam National CDC. The Leaders acknowledge the contributions of US-Viet Nam cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and affirm to expand health security collaboration by working together on pandemic prevention, detection, and response, and other global disease threats. The Leaders affirmed the importance of cooperation on addressing disease threats at the human-animal interface, maintaining progress on immunisation coverage, and supporting public health functions, such as laboratory science and One Health workforce training. The US affirmed its support for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention and control programs, including through assisting Viet Nam's critical medical facilities, such as Bach Mai and Cho Ray hospitals, with an aim to achieve fully sustainable epidemic control of HIV and put an end to the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030, in line with Viet Nam's global commitments and national plans. The US supports Viet Nam's efforts to expand its domestic pharmaceutical sector as part of global health security cooperation; and in this regard, expresses willingness to strengthen cooperation to increase compatibility of regulatory frameworks so that Viet Nam can play an active role in regional and international medical supply chains. ADDRESSING WAR LEGACIES The Leaders commended close cooperation between the two countries to overcome the consequences of war, regarding this as a priority in bilateral relations that contributes to the building of mutual trust and understanding. The US and Viet Nam affirmed a commitment to completion of dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airport, expanding unexploded ordnance removal efforts, expanding support for persons with disabilities, regardless of cause, assisting in capacity building for the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center, including integrating Provincial and National efforts on mine action, and maintaining support for Viet Nam in accounting for Vietnamese missing and fallen soldiers from the war, including further supporting its DNA analysis capability. President Biden extended the gratitude of the American people for Viet Nam's enduring support for the accounting of and seeking remains of American personnel missing in action. Viet Nam affirmed to continue full cooperation in search of American missing personnel. CULTURE, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES, SPORTS, AND TOURISM The Leaders applauded the robust growth of people-to-people exchanges and will work together to promote two-way tourism, business cooperation, professional and academic exchanges, and study opportunities. Both sides intend to seek to increase cooperation between states in the US and provinces in Viet Nam in a substantive and effective manner, with concrete projects and programs; to strengthen ties among different communities, sectors, businesses, youth, and peoples organisations of the two countries via exchanges of delegations, joint conferences and cultural exchanges in arts, music, and sport; and to collaborate in organising activities on the anniversaries of bilateral relations. The two Leaders appreciated the substantial contribution of the Vietnamese community in the United States to the development of bilateral relations. President Biden firmly recognised the Vietnamese-American community as among the most successful, dynamic, and innovative in the United States. DEFENCE AND SECURITY President Biden congratulated Viet Nam on its important contributions to global peace and stability, including Viet Nam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, as well as for providing search and rescue and disaster response capabilities to address natural disasters in the world. Both sides intend to continue utilising the established dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the US Department of Defence and Viet Nam's Ministry of Defence, as well as between other agencies and ministries, and to cooperate effectively in humanitarian and constructive efforts such as addressing war legacies, military medicine, UN peacekeeping operations, maritime law enforcement and maritime security capacity, and other areas of mutual interest, in line with existing agreements and understandings between Leaders of both countries and their agencies. Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and criminal justice agencies; decided to deepen ongoing cooperation on law enforcement and security intelligence; collaborate and exchange information and experiences to increase the effectiveness of maritime cooperation and efforts to counter transnational crimes, piracy, money laundering, human trafficking, illegal trafficking of narcotics and precursor chemicals, cybercrime, and high-tech crime. The Leaders decided to establish a Law Enforcement and Security Dialogue track between relevant law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies. Both countries condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all of its forms and pledge to work together to counter terrorism and terrorist financing in accordance with the UN Charter and other relevant international agreements to which both are Parties. The Leaders welcome further cooperation in defence industry and defence trade in accordance with each sides conditions, through mutually agreed mechanisms. The US is committed to continuing to assist Viet Nam to develop its self-reliant defence capabilities in accordance with the needs of Viet Nam and established mechanisms. PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS The Leaders affirmed the importance of promoting and protecting human rights in accordance with each countrys constitution and international obligations. Both countries pledged continued support for the promotion and protection of human rights, including through frank and constructive dialogues such as the annual Viet Nam-US Human Rights Dialogue and Viet Nam-US Labour Dialogue, to strengthen mutual understandings and narrow differences. They encouraged further cooperation to ensure that everyone, including members of vulnerable groups, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation, and including persons with disabilities, fully enjoy their human rights. The US and Viet Nam noted human rights, regional stability, global peace, and sustainable development are mutually reinforcing. Both sides recognised the contributions that social and religious organisations continue to make in such fields as education, health care, and social services in both countries. COORDINATION ON REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ISSUES Both nations intend to enhance coordination on regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest, contributing to the joint efforts to maintain peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and throughout the word. Both sides pledged to enhance coordination and collaboration in regional and international fora such as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), as well as the broad range of ASEAN-related sectoral Ministerial meetings. The two sides supported the promotion of multilateralism, respect for international law, including the UN Charter, and the promotion of an open, inclusive regional architecture in which ASEAN plays a central role. Viet Nam appreciates the US strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the US' renewed commitment to ASEAN, as reflected in the newly established ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 2022 ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington, DC. President Biden highly valued ASEANs achievements and reiterated the US' respect for ASEAN centrality. The Leaders also applauded Indonesias 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship and welcomed Lao PDRs assumption of the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong welcomed the US role as the host of this years APEC forum. President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Vo Van Thuong to San Francisco for the APEC Economic Leaders Week in November. The Leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force, as well as freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), respect for sovereignty, and for sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states over their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in accordance with the international law of the sea as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Leaders recognized the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in its entirety, and reaffirmed their support for ASEAN efforts to conclude an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, one that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and does not prejudice the rights of any state under international law. The two Leaders underscored the critical importance of the Mekong sub-region in maintaining stability, peace, prosperity, cooperation, and sustainable development. Transboundary cooperation and sustainable development are crucial as the two countries jointly address new challenges and opportunities including food security and sustainable water management, supporting communities and their livelihoods, promoting economic connectivity, tackling non-traditional security issues, and working to provide opportunities for human resource development. Both sides welcomed the Mekong-US Partnership and other Mekong-centred mechanisms such as the Mekong River Commission and the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS). The Leaders committed to working closely with other Mekong countries toward expanded collaboration within this framework, as well as in the Friends of the Mekong. The Leaders stressed the importance of the full implementation of the ASEAN Five Point Consensus and echo ASEANs calls for the immediate cessation of violence and de-escalation among all concerned parties in Myanmar in order to create conducive environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and inclusive national dialogue. Both Leaders discussed other regional and international issues of mutual concern and underscored the importance of the peaceful resolution of all disputes in accordance with the UN Charter, seeking to ensure peoples safety and the protection of infrastructure critical to their livings. The US and Viet Nam reaffirmed support for the establishment of a durable peace on and the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and urged all parties concerned to fully and strictly fulfill their international obligations and commitments, including under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. On Ukraine, the two leaders emphasized the need for establishing a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Since normalisation of bilateral relations in 1995, the Viet Nam-US relationship has flourished vigorously and fruitfully, growing both in depth and substance. This new chapter will bring our partnership to new heights. Together, we will realize the aspirations of the people of our countries for a bright and dynamic future that contributes to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development across a crucial region and the world at large. VNS LONDON Viet Nam and the United Kingdom have harvested numerous significant achievements over the last 50 years, and their cooperation potential remains huge, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long. Among the cooperation achievements, the most important is setting up frameworks for comprehensive and concrete cooperation in various spheres, he told the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the countries diplomatic ties (September 11, 1973 - 2023). In 2010, they signed a joint statement on establishing a strategic partnership. In 2020, a new joint statement on the strategic partnership was released, identifying seven priority areas: politics-diplomacy, trade-investment-business, sustainable development and growth, education-training and science-technology, defence-security and organised crime fight, people-to-people ties, and international affairs. The countries also affirmed that they will work to elevate bilateral relations to a higher level in the subsequent 10 years, Long noted. The ambassador held that bilateral cooperation potential remains huge, particularly in the fields matching the UKs strength and Viet Nams demand. In terms of trade and investment, he said both economies boast high degrees of openness and complementarity. After Brexi, the UKs withdrawal from the EU, this country wishes to become more connected with the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, Viet Nam should further capitalise on these opportunities and potential, he elaborated. There is also much cooperation potential in education and science-technology, so it is necessary to maintain and expand scholarship programmes such as Chevening, increase the reception of Vietnamese students in the UK, and boost the Newton Programme Viet Nam. Regarding climate change fight, at the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in 2021, the Vietnamese Government announced the commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In 2022, the G7 countries, Norway, Denmark, and Viet Nam adopted the Political Declaration on Establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which was a great effort by the parties concerned, including the UK, to mobilise US$15.5 billion for reforming and creating a framework for developing renewable energy in Viet Nam. Long perceived that this will be an important field of cooperation between the two countries in the future. To further enhance bilateral relations, the two countries should increase high-level mutual visits to create a new impulse for their ties; continue effectively implementing the signed cooperation frameworks, including the UK-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), the JETP, and cooperation mechanisms in education, science-technology, security, defence; and build and approve detailed action plans to realise their commitments and cooperation priorities in the coming time, he noted. This year, as the diplomatic ties turn 50, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK is planning to hold 50 events of cultural exchanges, trade and investment promotion, educational cooperation, and people-to-people ties across the European nation, including photo exhibitions on the 50 years of bilateral relations; the Viet Nam Days in London; and the Meet Viet Nam events in Birmingham, Manchester, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. In particular, the embassy has organised a series of events to revisit the British places where President Ho Chi Minh used to stay in during his overseas journey to seek ways to save the homeland, according to the diplomat. VNS HA NOI US President Joe Bidens official visit to Viet Nam has great meaning and is an important link in the Viet Nam-US ties, said Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong during their official meeting in Ha Noi on Monday. President Thuong also quoted Viet Nams Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on putting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities and heading towards the future on the Viet Nam-US ties. The Vietnamese leader said: I strongly believe that continuing the long history of Viet Nam-US relations, with mutual respect, understanding and trust and the new momentum from this Viet Nam visit of the US President, the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development of Viet Nam and the US will see great and practical growth, bringing benefits to the people of the two countries, as well as contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and the world. Five months after Viet Nams Independence Day, on February 16, 1946, the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to then-US President Truman proposing to establish a full cooperation relationship with the US. However, the proposal underwent multiple challenges due to historical contexts, President Thuong said. He added: We have overcome those challenges and gladly say that the Viet Nam-US ties are progressing better than ever; from old enemies to the comprehensive strategic partnership. This is truly a model in international relations on reconciling and building relations after a war. This is the result of the joint efforts to overcome the ups and downs of history from multiple generations of the countries leaders and people. President Thuong said that over the past nearly 50 years, the two countries have witnessed significant milestones, progress and achievements in multiple fields of bilateral cooperation. Viet Nam and the US have worked together in trade-economy-investment, education and training, dialogue and coordination mechanisms in various sectors. One of the aspects of cooperation seeing outstanding results is overcoming war consequences, in which US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have actively provided support to Viet Nam. These projects include supporting dioxin/Agent Orange victims; clearing explosives remaining after the war, and identifying martyrs remains. Giving high regard to the two countries efforts in capturing the future's potential, President Biden emphasised the opportunities ahead and thanked the generations of diplomats who have contributed to the Viet Nam-US ties, including late Senator John McCain, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and former Senator Patrick Leahy. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, in his meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday, thanked the latter for his contributions to elevating the Viet Nam-US ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, together with Viet Nams Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. President Biden said that the US values its relations with the Asian country and supports a strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous Viet Nam. As part of the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, PM Chinh suggested the two countries prioritise promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation as well as their relations across all channels; innovation in science-technology, education and training collaboration; climate change response, green growth, developing renewable energies; and national defence and security. Viet Nam and the US should also support each other in multilateral forums, the Mekong sub-region cooperation, and for ASEANs stance, principle and central role in issues related to the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), said the PM. On behalf of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, PM Chinh also sent his condolences for the loss the US witnessed 22 years ago on September 11, 2001. He added that Viet Nam attaches great importance to the fight against terrorism and cooperation with the US on this matter. PM Chinh also appreciated his gratitude and proposed that the US continue paying attention and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese communities in the US. President Biden and PM Chinh also attended the US-Viet Nam Innovation and Investment Summit following the meeting. Welcoming the US President at the National Assembly (NA) Building, NA Chairman Vuong inh Hue believed that the new comprehensive strategic partnership will open up a new chapter in the two countries bilateral ties on all levels. The two leaders said that Viet Nam and the US legislative bodies have been playing an important role in reconciling, building trust, strengthening cooperation and elevating relations between the two countries. NA Chairman Hue said that the Vietnamese NA and government will soon implement the action plan to realise the Viet Nam-US joint statement on comprehensive strategic partnership. The Vietnamese top legislator also asked that the US soon complete the procedures to recognise Viet Nam as a market economy, while also putting resources into overcoming war consequences. He also hoped that the US government would continue supporting the stable, long-term and mutually beneficial relations with Viet Nam. After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed an exchange of war souvenirs between the two countries, which is considered a symbolic and humanitarian action for their joint efforts in post-war reconciliation. On the occasion of President Bidens official visit to Viet Nam, the two countries have issued their Joint Leaders Statement on elevating bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. VNS HCM CITY CD Washington, a 45-year-old Canadian patient, has made a full recovery and is able to walk normally after undergoing three months of traditional medical treatment at Military Hospital 175 in HCM City. He had visited many hospitals in Canada seeking treatment for the paralysis of both legs that resulted from a traffic accident eight years ago. Doctors recommended surgery but he did not agree. He researched non-surgical methods using traditional medicine and decided to come to Military Hospital 175 in Viet Nam for treatment, Vietnam News Agency reported. The doctors decided to treat him using acupuncture, acupressure, electrical stimulation therapy, whole-body magnetic stimulation for nerve recovery and physical therapy. After two months of treatment and dedicated rehabilitation efforts, the patient made his first steps with assistive devices and regained normal mobility after three months. Earlier in May, the doctors at My uc Hospital, HCM City, were overjoyed to hear that a baby was born safely and healthy in the United States. Hiba is one of the babies born through the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) method performed by Associate Professor, Ph.D., doctor Vuong Thi Ngoc Lan, a lecturer at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in HCM City. Before coming to Viet Nam, Hiba's parents had undergone six unsuccessful attempts at IVF over the past ten years. The infertile couple went to Viet Nam for help. In June 2022, they were present in Viet Nam and achieved success after their second embryo transfer. With its successes, HCM City is taking steps to assert its position and reputation in order to elevate Viet Nam's healthcare sector regionally and globally. Dr. Ho Manh Tuong, secretary-general of the HCM City Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Association, said that in the past, Viet Nam was primarily known among foreigners and Vietnamese expatriates as a place for affordable medical techniques with effectiveness in traditional medicine, dentistry, and aesthetics. However, in recent years, the field of treating infertility and rare infertility cases has been emerging with notable achievements. According to Dr. Tuong, in the US, IVF services are quite expensive, with a cost of about US$20,000, while in Viet Nam, it's only about $3,500. Even within the Southeast Asian region, the cost of IVF services in Viet Nam is approximately three times lower than in some other countries. The success rate for IVF in the country ranges from 40-45 per cent. The combination of lower costs and highly skilled doctors is one of the reasons why an increasing number of foreigners and Vietnamese expatriates are seeking medical care in Viet Nam. Some healthcare facilities in the city have seen a growing number of foreign patients seeking medical services, such as FV Hospital, which receives around 20,000 foreign patients per year, the University Medical Centre with 18,000 patients and Cho Ray Hospital with 1,200 patients. Medical tourism a promising industry According to statistics from the HCM City Department of Health, the city has 144 public and private hospitals, 318 medical stations, 196 private general health clinics, and nearly 6,000 private specialised clinics. Statistics from the city Department of Tourism showed that the number of medical tourists coming to Viet Nam for treatment has been steadily increasing over the years, with an annual revenue of around $2 billion. On average, there are approximately 300,000 foreigners coming to Viet Nam for medical treatment each year, with 40 per cent of them seeking treatment in HCM City. The Department of Health acknowledges the commitment of FV Hospital, one of the first international standard hospitals in the city, in retaining Vietnamese patients for domestic treatment and actively attracting foreign patients for medical care. Moreover, FV Hospital has repeatedly achieved international recognition for its healthcare quality through JCI accreditation. As a result, many international health insurance companies and international insurance assistance firms have accepted and signed medical examination and treatment contracts for their clients seeking healthcare at FV Hospital. Currently, around 25 per cent of the total number of patients seeking medical examinations and treatments at FV Hospital are foreigners, including individuals from South Korea, Japan, France, the United States, Canada, Cambodia, and others. One of the thriving sectors poised to attract medical tourism in HCM City is traditional medicine with two of the largest specialised units in the southern region, including the Institute of Ethnic Medicine and the Traditional Medicine Hospital. According to Dr. o Tan Khoa, director of the Traditional Medicine Hospital, this is a notable strength in combining tourism with healthcare. Viet Nam has a rich source of medicinal herbals. If utilised effectively, there are few places that can rival the development of healthcare through traditional medicine combined with tourism quite like HCM City," Dr. Khoa said. A survey conducted by the city Department of Tourism indicates that post-COVID-19, tourists are increasingly interested in resort products and healthcare services. The departments deputy director, Bui Ngoc Hieu, said this presents an excellent opportunity for the city to promote medical tourism services. The department has collaborated with the Department of Health to connect with over 50 entities, including hospitals, healthcare facilities, spas, travel companies, and accommodation providers, to create unique tourism products meeting the needs of travellers. About 30 medical tourism products will be formed in 2023. "At present, the city has health tourism products, but they are still in their beginning. In the long term, there is a need for infrastructure investment and training of specialised healthcare personnel who possess knowledge in both tourism and healthcare as well as foreign language skills," Hieu said. Building credibility abroad The Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital, a symbol of friendship between Viet Nam-Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has been a reliable hospital for the people of Cambodia to entrust their health and lives since its establishment. Dr. Nguyen Tri Thuc, director of Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City, said that on average, there are 400-500 doctors and specialists sent to Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital each year to provide specialised support. At the same time, many advanced techniques have been successfully introduced to Cambodia by the Vietnamese medical team, including complex orthopedic surgeries, pacemaker implantations, and artificial kidney placement. During a recent visit and working session at Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his appreciation for the efforts of Vietnamese doctors and physicians in their medical treatment, contributing to strengthening and tightening the traditional friendship between the two countries. PM Chinh affirmed that each well-cared-for and healthy patient would contribute to creating a bridge to reinforce and enhance the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Cambodia. This has become a historical mission beyond their professional expertise. As one of Viet Nam's first doctors to receive comprehensive training in robotic surgery techniques, doctor Nguyen Phu Huu, a deputy head of the Gastrointestinal Department at Binh Dan Hospital, was invited to the Philippines in 2019 to provide guidance on robot-assisted surgeries and performed some complex surgeries in March this year. An increasing number of countries in the region have been sending their healthcare personnel to Vietnamese hospitals for practical experience and learning. Binh Dan Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Traditional Medicine Institute, My uc Hospital and others in HCM City regularly receive foreign doctors who come to study, enhance their expertise and skills. Application of advanced techniques By May 2023, Binh Dan Hospital had successfully performed its 2,000th robot-assisted surgery after over six years of implementation. Thousands of robot-assisted surgeries have also been successfully carried out at Cho Ray Hospital. In the field of obstetrics, HCM City has become famous for its numerous successes in IVF with many renowned maternity hospitals such as Hung Vuong, Tu Du, Tam Anh and My uc. Dr. Tang Chi Thuong, director of the city Department of Health, said that despite the high level of expertise and skills among Vietnamese doctors and medical professionals, the healthcare sector in the city is still lagging behind some other countries in the region. The main reason is that the health sector has not received proper investment and lacks appropriate development mechanisms, which has prevented it from developing strongly and attracting a sufficient number of foreign patients as expected. Thailand and Singapore are two countries with developed healthcare systems that attract many foreigners for medical treatments. Singapore excels in advanced medical techniques and modern equipment due to its foreign investment-friendly policies, while Thailand has been very successful in medical tourism. Thailand leverages its advantage in tourism to promote its healthcare services. Meanwhile, Viet Nam and HCM City in particular, still face certain shortcomings such as: inconsistent infrastructure, limited foreign language proficiency, especially in public hospitals which do not adequately meet the needs of healthcare services for foreigners, according to Dr Thuong. Research and development activities have not received enough attention. Although healthcare professionals have comparable skills to many other countries, the heads of leading hospitals have not been fully committed to research and not proactively engaged in the ranking of top specialty hospitals in the region and the world. Additionally, medical tourism has not been invested properly and is still in its nascent stage, Thuong said. Based on these realities, the head of city's health sector has proposed solutions to elevate healthcare and make the city a prominent healthcare centre in ASEAN. These include establishing a top-notch healthcare training centre, developing modern infrastructure, creating high-tech medical zones in the hospital-university model, advancing specialised techniques, and building a network of specialised healthcare. The city also aims to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services, become a medical tourism destination, integrate modern and traditional medicine, and boost research and development in healthcare. It's essential to implement policies for substantial healthcare investment, attract reputable international medical universities to collaborate with domestic institutions for international-standard medical training, and bring in high-quality healthcare professionals both locally and globally. Encouraging innovation in the healthcare sector is pivotal for digital transformation, efficient management, and improved service quality. VNS HA NOI The new e-visa application, which came into force on August 15 at more than a dozen of land border gates across Viet Nam, has facilitated the arrival of more foreigners. More foreign citizens, particularly Chinese, have used e-visas to enter Viet Nam via the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, according to authorities at the border gate in the northern province of Lang Son. Huu Nghi is among the 16 land border gates across Viet Nam that have allowed foreigners to enter and exit the country with e-visas since August 15, 2023, following the Governments resolution on the application of e-visa issuance for citizens of countries and territories, under which e-visas are issued to citizens of all countries and territories. The list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit with e-visas include 13 air, 16 land, and 13 sea border gates. Since August 15, border guards of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate have carried out e-visa procedures for over 440 foreign citizens, mostly Chinese. Personnel and equipment have been added to ensure the procedures are processed quickly and smoothly. Captain Trinh Van Bac, deputy head of the Border Guard Station of the Huu Nghi International Border Gate, said officers and soldiers at the unit are strictly implementing instructions relating to the use of e-visa. They have also received training to properly deal with e-visa applications. According to this Border Guard Station, since the beginning of 2023, the unit has processed about 310,000 migration applications including nearly 164,000 for exit and over 146,000 for entering Viet Nam. The applications from Chinese citizens account for the majority with about 248,000. At Lao Bao International Border Gate in central Quang Tri Province, from August 15 to September 5, authorities carried out entry and exit procedures for 2,161 visitors of different nationalities, including 846 people under the e-visa policy. Major Nguyen Hong Trung, head of Lao Bao International Border Gate Control Station, said all nationals entering Viet Nam can apply for visas through electronic devices. Procedures at the border gate have been reduced by 30 per cent compared to the previous normal process, he said. The process of doing e-visa procedures at La Lay International Border Gate, Quang Tri Province is also easier and more convenient than before. Colonel Phan Thanh Hoang, head of La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Station, said the border gate has issued electronic visas for citizens from countries like Russia, Belgium and Slovakia. However, the border gate has mainly carried out procedures for shipping transport through customs clearance and people doing business in Laos and vice versa. There have not been many tourists, so the number of e-visa applications is still low. Most travelers use traditional methods to apply for entry and exit, he said. Foreign arrival hike o Van Hao, deputy chief of police at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City, said the e-visa policy is expected to help Viet Nam attract more international visitors in the autumn-winter tourist season of 2023. According to Hao, the resolution issued by the Government on August 14 on granting e-visas to citizens of all countries and territories represents a breakthrough and reaffirms the Vietnamese Government's commitment to continue the policy of openness to foreigners, creating favourable conditions in terms of visa, and entry and exit procedures for them, especially those visiting Viet Nam for the purposes of working, investment, and tourism. The number of foreign visitors, especially those from Europe and the Americas, is projected to increase sharply after the Autumn-Winter tourist season starts (from late September to early October), Hao said. Tan Son Nhat International Airport put automatic entry systems (Autogate) into operation in early August, helping reduce the time for security checks to about 30-40 seconds per passenger, the official noted. However, director of the municipal Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said a survey conducted by the agency at travel agencies found that there hasn't been a significant change in tourist numbers to Viet Nam following the implementation of the new e-visa policy. Statistics reported by local hotels show that the number of room reservations for September reached around 70 per cent of total capacity. Strong growth is expected in both international and domestic visitors during September and towards the end of the year, Hoa said. Sharing Hoas opinion, General Director of Viet Tourism Communication JSC Pham Phuong Anh predicted that the new e-visa policy may increase the number of international tourism arrivals to Viet Nam served by the company by 2-25 per cent per year. Visa policy hailed by other countries Israeli people and businesses have welcomed and highly valued Viet Nams new visa policy, affirming that the country is taking steps to reform its procedures in order to make it easier for foreigners to vacation and do business in the Southeast Asian nation. Talking to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Tel Aviv, respondents said that instead of having to physically stamp visas onto passports, applying for e-visas will be more convenient, faster, and cost-effective. Eran Laufman, a resident of Yavne city, said six months ago he traveled to Viet Nam and was impressed by famous destinations like Ha Long Bay and Sa Pa. He had heard of these destinations during his previous trip to Southeast Asia but couldn't apply for a visa to Viet Nam at that time because he hadn't planned it in advance. Buta Doron, founder and CEO of Doron - Vietnam Travel, said e-visas will undoubtedly provide more convenient experiences for Israeli tourists as the application process can be performed entirely online. The visa reforms hold even more significance in the context that the Viet Nam Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) has just been inked, and direct flights between the two countries are set to be launched soon. Doron said these positive developments will contribute to promoting bilateral relations, particularly in tourism and trade. He expressed a hope that direct flights would make round-trip airfare between Israel and Viet Nam more attractive, thus stimulating the travel demand of Israeli citizens to Viet Nam. Viet Fam, CEO of Vietfood Group, which specializes in importing farm produce and processed foods from Viet Nam, said some of his friends have successfully registered e-visas and headed to Viet Nam immediately after the new regulations came into effect. With the e-visa validity period reaching up to three months, visitors have the opportunity to explore all the beautiful destinations of Viet Nam, he said, adding that this fantastic policy provides convenience for holiday-makers and opens up opportunities for travel and airline enterprises. VNS HCM CITY The ong Nai Province-based Coast Guard Reconnaissance Unit No 2 under the Viet Nam Coast Guard's Command handed out essential gift packages to 100 local Buddhist followers in disadvantaged circumstances on Sunday (September 10). The unit, in collaboration with the provinces Committee for Religious Affairs, Nhon Trach Districts Youth Union, ai Phuoc Communes Peoples Committee, Medic Binh Duong General Hospital, and Chanh Tam Pagoda, also provided free health checks, medical consultation and medicine to local Buddhist followers. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Phan Nhan Hau, head of the coast guards Reconnaissance Unit No 2, said the activity is an important programme under the Viet Nam Coast Guard's (VCG) mass mobilisation movement called VCG supports ethnic minority and religious people that has been carried out over the years. It contributes to strengthening the solidarity between the army and ethnic and religious people, and building a strong people-based security policy, he said. The unit organised information about the situation in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), protecting the countrys sovereignty over its sea and islands, the fight against drug-related crime at sea, prevention and combat of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the Party's guidelines on its strategy for the sustainable development of the country's marine economy until 2030 with a vision until 2045. Coast Guard troops also distributed leaflets about the Law on VCG, and the functions, duties and powers of VCG. The activity aims to raise appreciation for the motherland and awareness of protecting the country's sovereignty over its sea and islands among religious followers, and encourage people to actively participate in denouncing crimes and providing accurate information to help the forces in the fight. VNS The road will stretch for 20km and have a total investment of VND1.17 trillion ($50.8 million). The central budget will allocate VND800 billion ($35 million) to the construction, with the remaining capital coming from the local budget. Once completed, the road is expected to contribute to the ongoing development of Binh Dinh Economic Zone by promoting further trade and investment to the area. It will also make travel easier for employees of Becamex VSIP who live far away from the IP. Becamex VSIP is considered a favourable destination for investors and this new road is one of several large-scale infrastructure projects that are vital for the socioeconomic development of Quy Nhon city. Bing Dinh is also accelerating the construction of the coastal route section of National Highway No.1D to connect with the new National Highway No.19, which started construction in March. Binh Dinh Economic Zones Management Authority aims to entice 60 new projects to Nhon Hoi Economic Zone and other IPs around the province this year, with a total investment set to reach some $136 million, more than twice the amount seen in 2022. JiaWei Corporation invests $100 million in Nam Dinh JiaWei Corporation, a Taiwanese company, has decided to invest $100 million in the My Thuan Industrial Zone in Nam Dinh province, encompassing high-tech household appliance manufacturing, support printing, and paper box production plants. Hoa Binh Construction divests Matec stake to boost capital Hoa Binh Construction Corporation has recently passed a resolution to sell its entire stake in construction machinery firm Matec to supplement its business activities with additional capital. Sunrise Material Group invests $100 million in Nam Dinh Sunrise Material Group plans to inject $100 million into the northern province of Nam Dinh's high-tech packaging film sector, with anticipated annual imports of $200 million and exports of $500 million. Australian investor poised to inject $60-100 million into Hoa Binh Construction Group Hoa Binh Construction Group has garnered interest from four potential partners for share issuance, including an Australian to is ready to invest $60-100 million. The group is focusing on capital mobilisation, debt recovery, loan restructuring, and divestment from underperforming subsidiaries. Leaders of the US International Development Finance Corporation and VPBank sign the commitment letter for a $300-million bilateral loan in Hanoi, Vietnam The loan arranged by DFC aims at improving small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to finance, especially women-owned, women-led, and climate-focused SMEs in Vietnam. The signing ceremony of the commitment letter between DFC and VPBank was held at VPBanks headquarters in Hanoi the morning of September 10, witnessed by US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, DFC CEO Scott Nathan, and VPBank Chairman Ngo Chi Dzung, along with other leaders of both organisations. DFC, the US governments development finance institution, was established in 2019 under the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development Act and focuses on bringing private capital to the developing world. DFCs mission is to promote US diplomatic policies and catalyse investment in private sector-led development. The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the official visit of US President Joe Biden to Vietnam from September 10 to 11, on the 10th anniversary of Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership, demonstrating the two countries positive and increasingly tightened cooperative relationship in many areas. Scott Nathan, CEO of DFC, speaks at the ceremony for the commitment letter signing between DFC and VPBank The approval of the loan from DFC, a US government agency with international standards and prudent credit appraisal standards and processes, to VPBank has once again affirmed VPBanks position as the market-leading commercial bank in Vietnam. The $300-million loan comes with a seven-year tenure. This loan will serve as an important source of financing to help strengthen VPBanks capital base, which in turn will promote sustainable lending activities in line with the banks growth strategy. These include supporting SMEs, women-owned or women-led SMEs, as well as shifting the banks portfolios towards climate-focused and low-carbon technology projects. Over the past years, VPBank has been one of the leading banks in Vietnam that move ahead with environmental, social and climate contribution through developing and acting on a sustainable and consistent financial development strategy with clear awareness of accountable lending principles. Prior to the loan extended by DFC, VPBank has been able to secure a number of large-sized syndicated loans worth over a billion of dollars since 2020 from reputable lenders worldwide. In particular, VPBank has lately fruitfully mobilised a $500-million syndicated loan at the end of 2022 with five reputable financial institutions: the Asian Development Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Japan International Cooperation Agency, ANZ Bank and Maybank Securities Pte. Ltd. VPBank CEO outlines policy responses and growth prospects amidst economic challenges At a virtual conference on July 16 to review the Vietnamese banking sector's first-half performance and plot its course for the remainder of the year, Nguyen Duc Vinh, CEO of Vietnam Prosperity Joint-Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank), underscored the decisive role of the government and various sectors in stimulating the national economy. VPBank brand value reaches nearly $1.3 billion VPBanks value is almost 1.5 times as high as the previous year, valued at nearly $1.3 billion and ranking 173rd in the worlds 500 most valuable banking brands. EVN to take over BOT Phu My 3 thermal power in March 2024 To prepare for the transfer after the build-operate-transfer (BOT) is expired, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will implement the pilot operation in November to test the operation standard under the supervision of EVN before being handed over to the new operator. For BOT Phu My 2.2, the MoIT asked Mekong Energy Co., Ltd to collaborate with EVN to complete and implement training programmes for the new labour force. Earlier in mid-August, the MoIT finalised the report on the transfer and receipt of the power plants and then made a report to the Prime Minister for approval. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the MoIT to carefully study the provisions of the law on investment in the form of public-private partnerships, the law on public property, and other relevant laws to clarify the legal basis, and authority and make proposals in accordance with regulations and competence of the transfer and take-over of BOT power plants, ensuring timely, strict, safe, and continuous operation of two plants. At the same time, it is required to clearly report the legal basis and practice for assigning EVN to operate the plants. The Phu My 3 BOT thermal power plant, located in Ba Ria - Vung Tau is designed with a contracted capacity of 716.8MW. The project contract and BOT contract were signed by the MoIT with the investor on May 22, 2001. The plant started commercial operation in 2004, with a term of 20 years, and was transferred without compensation to the Vietnamese side in March 2024, after the expiration of the contract Phu My 2.2 BOT project, also located in Ba Ria Vung Tau, is invested by EDFI, Summit Global Management II B.V, and TEPCI, with a capacity of 715MW. The BOT contract was signed in 2001, and operated in 2005. It is scheduled to be transferred to the Vietnamese side in February 2025 after the 20-year contract expires. $2 billion Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant could resume this year The long-delayed Nam Dinh 1 thermal power plant could get back on track by the end of 2023 thanks to the investor's determination. Van Phong 1 up and running sooner than expectated The Van Phong 1 thermal power plant, thanks to a $2.58 billion investment from Sumitomo Corporation, will start operation of its first turbine at full capacity in August, sooner than expected., with a second turbine set to be up and running by the end of the year. Thai investor suspends $2.3 billion thermal power plant project in Quang Tri Thai International Power Company (EGATi) has submitted a document to Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) regarding the suspension of the Quang Tri Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Thermal Power Plant project. The initial phase of the Kurz factory has required an investment of $40 million and boasts a production capacity of 15 million square metres of products per annum. The plant's flagship products are Luxor and Alufin films. Their 'hot stamping foil' is employed during the thermal pressing process on plastic surfaces, producing intricate decorative patterns, thereby enhancing the uniqueness and elegance of the product. These films serve supply chains across various sectors such as the automotive industry, mobile phones, household appliances, and even banking. Speaking at the plant's inauguration, Nguyen Tuan Thanh, Deputy Chairman of Binh Dinh People's Committee, highlighted Kurz Corporation's importance as a pioneer of the business community investing in the Becamex VSIP Binh Dinh. "This new Kurz Vietnam plant promises strong economic results and signifies innovation and sustainable growth for the province. It diversifies Binh Dinh's indistrial sector and opens up employment opportunities, contributing to the overall prosperity of the region," he said. Kurz Corporation made a charitable contribution to the Quy Nhon University and Van Canh district's scholarship fund, with a total value of VND1.3 billion (approximately $54,900). Earlier on the same day, Binh Dinh People's Committee initiated the construction project connecting National Highway No.19 to Becamex VSIP Binh Dinh. The project, with a length of almost 20km, runs through An Nhon town and the districts of Tuy Phuoc and Van Canh. The total investment for the road comes to $49.4 million, with about $33.8 million coming from the central budget while the remainder is sourced from local funds. The road will feature a 12m-wide base, an 11m-wide surface, two mechanised lanes, and two rudimentary lanes, complemented by drainage and street lighting. The 24-month project will be overseen by Binh Dinh Transport Project Management Board. German business steadfast in investment intentions German businesses are strategically leveraging Vietnams economy as manufacturing expansions, increased investments, and sustainable development projects showcase a resolute appetite for business growth. KfW bank and EVN set to expand Tri An hydropower plant Germany's KfW Development Bank and Vietnam Electricity (EVN) have agreed on terms for the expansion of the Tri An Hydropower Plant, with the plan to finance the project directly through KfW, circumventing the need for government guarantees. Phan Thi Lieu was hired as a senior partner in charge of tax practices on September 11. With a wealth of knowledge spanning 26 years in tax law, particularly within the Big Four (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG, and PwC) and other eminent global law firms, Lieus inclusion signals Dentons LuatViets strategic intent in this area. Throughout her illustrious career, Lieu has helmed advisory roles on the nuances of tax law tied to cross-border merger and acquisitions (M&A), international tax structuring, and intricate corporate restructuring projects, both domestically and internationally. Her profound insights into tax compliance, transfer pricing, multi-jurisdictional tax norms, and customs have proved indispensable for clients across the spectrum - from energy to fast-moving consumer goods. Her dexterity in navigating complex tax litigations, encapsulating both corporate and individual tax terrains, stands out. Parallel to her tax law expertise, Lieu's expertise traverses into corporate law, exemplified by her work in international restructuring, M&A, and commercial contracts. In addition, Lieu's professional achievements have been acknowledged by the International Tax Review with consecutive recognitions as a notable lawyer in the realm of tax dispute resolution. She is also a respected speaker and contributor to industry discourse, having engaged audiences at the Vietnam Association of Public Accountants, the Vietnam Accounting Associations, and such forums as the Asia Business Forum Conference. Commenting on this pivotal appointment, Tran Duy Canh, managing partner at Dentons LuatViet, said, "Integrating Phan Thi Lieu into our fold symbolises our unwavering resolve to render unparalleled legal and tax counsel. Her unmatched proficiency in tax law, coupled with her industry-spanning exposure, makes her one of the market's few attorneys with such profound tax-centric knowledge." Sharing her sentiments, Lieu observed, "Aligning with Dentons LuatViet, an integral part of Dentons - a major global law conglomerate, marks a cardinal juncture in my journey. I look forward to contributing my expertise to a team that upholds the highest standards of legal practice." Dentons LuatViet warmly welcomes Lieu to the team and looks forward to leveraging her expertise to provide exceptional legal and tax services to clients across various industries. Dentons LuatViet advises on groundbreaking deal in healthcare sector Prestigious law firm, Dentons LuatViet, has provided expert counsel as the Vietnamese representative for Singapore-based Thomson Medical Group in its successful acquisition of Far East Medical Vietnam Limited. This landmark deal represents one of the largest healthcare mergers in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Merger control in Vietnam: safeguarding fair competition Vietnam's merger control regime, guided by the Law on Competition, mandates the review of economic concentrations to prevent anti-competitive effects, with specific thresholds triggering mandatory merger filings and additional regulations in industries like insurance and telecommunications. Vietnam embarks on green energy revolution with PDP8 blueprint Aiming to double its electricity capacity by 2030 and committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Vietnam is actively seeking a mix of domestic and international investments. Kang Seungho, special counsel at Dentons LuatViet, notes that as Vietnam embarks on this energy transformation, it faces both opportunities and challenges in embarking on a sustainable future. Nestle also has the highest Sustainability Perceptions Value in the Food 100 ranking, valued at $1.35 billion, according to the Food & Drink 2023 report by Brand Finance. Every year, leading brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance puts 5,000 of the biggest brands to the test, and publishes over 100 reports, ranking brands across all sectors and countries. . The report points out that Nestle's ongoing commitment to environmental and social responsibility, responsible sourcing, and nutrition has contributed to its global perception as a sustainable company. Nestle has made important steps forward to achieve its sustainable development goals. Specifically, Nestle is the first company to disclose the nutritional value of its entire global product portfolio, benchmarking against the Health Star Rating system. The brand aims to lead the industry in providing delicious and balanced meals worldwide. Nestle is reportedly on track to achieve its net-zero goal by 2025 and publishes a voluntary report on impacts and risks related to climate change. This shows information transparency and its commitment to actions to combat climate change. The group also implements ESG (environmental, social, and governance) initiatives, contributing to providing career development opportunities for young people globally and empowering women in the workplace. As the world's top food corporation, Nestle is making efforts to promote the transition to a regenerative food system through partnership with farmers, suppliers, retailers and customers. In Vietnam, Nestle is supporting farmers, contributing to the transition to regenerative agriculture in coffee farming in the Central Highlands. Through the Nescafe Plan implemented in the Central Highlands since 2011, Nestle and farmers have implemented many initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of Vietnamese coffee beans, preserving soil and biodiversity, reducing the impact of climate change, promoting biodiversity, and increasing income for farmers. Towards realising the net-zero goal, Nestle strengthens cooperation with ministries, specialised units, business partners, and farmers to jointly implement initiatives to reduce emissions throughout the entire value chain, from input materials, production to post-consumer product packaging. Green coffee beans in Vietnam are purchased responsibly by Nestle through Nescafe Plan. This initiative has helped farmers save 40 - 60 per cent of water used for irrigation in coffee farming, and reduced the amount of fertilisers/pesticides by 20 per cent. Since 2015, all of Nestle Vietnam's factories have achieved the goal of "No solid waste landfilled in the environment". In 2022 alone, thanks to initiatives to reuse, recycle and circulate water, Nestle Vietnam factories saved more than 240,000 cu.m of water in production. All coffee grounds are reused as biomass fuel for boilers in coffee production, helping reduce an average of more than 14,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and save $2.24 million in fuel costs each year. By the end of 2022, nearly 90 per cent of Nestle Vietnam's product packaging was designed to be recyclable and reusable. Thanks to its continuous efforts to bring nutritious products that are good for the health of users and build sustainable regenerative food systems in Vietnam, Nestle was honoured as the most sustainable enterprise in the manufacturing sector for two consecutive years of 2021 and 2022. Nestle Vietnam strengthens collaborations in sustainable agriculture Nestle Vietnam has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to support the countrys transition to regenerative and low-emission agriculture. The new, three-year partnership will help the move to sustainable agriculture and achieve the 'net-zero by 2050' target. Nestles regenerative agriculture commitment Nestle Vietnam signed an agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in June to encourage the countrys transition to regenerative and low-emission agriculture and help the country move towards sustainable agriculture and achieve its 2050 net-zero targets. VIRs Bich Ngoc talked with Mark Schneider, CEO of Nestle Group, about the strategies required to carry this out. As reported by the KoreaHerald, Orion collected a dividend of 50 billion won ($37.5 million) in August from its wholly owned subsidiary Orion Food Vina Co., Ltd. The South Korean company is set to receive the remaining dividend of 60 billion won (about $45 million) in October. This is the first time Orion has received profits from its Vietnamese subsidiary, and the company plans to use the dividends to purchase sites in South Korea to build a logistics centre, expand its existing factories, and repay loans. Orion began exporting Choco Pie to Vietnam in 1995 and founded Orion Food Vina in 2005. By 2022, Orion Food Vina was the largest confectionary manufacturer in Vietnam and its Choco Pie products accounted for 66 per cent of the pie market, according to a Nielsen survey. The South Korean snack company recorded its highest annual earnings in 2022, with 472 billion won ($354 million) in sales and 89 billion won (almost $67 million) in operating profits, up 38.5 per cent and 40 per cent on-year, respectively. Last year, our bestselling products in the Vietnamese market were our potato-based snacks and Choco Pie, with some 70 billion won ($52 million) and 120 billion won ($90 million) in sales, respectively, said an Orion spokesperson. Orion is planning to build a third facility in Vietnam after the two plants it currently operates, one in the southern province of Binh Duong and the other in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Last month, Orion entered into a strategic partnership with Thailand's dairy behemoth, Dutch Mill Co. to expand into Vietnam's booming dairy market. Japanese confectionary giant Morinaga unlocks Vietnamese market Japanese snack, confectionary, and ice-cream giant Morinaga & Co., the owner of iconic brands Hi-Chew and Dars Chocolate, has decided to expand its presence to Vietnam, one of its key markets in Southeast Asia. Confectionary groups take bigger bite in Vietnam Foreign confectionery makers are eager to ramp up operations in Vietnam while tuning into the changing habits of consumers. Photo: baodautu.vn A notable development emerged on August 29 when Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC, a subsidiary of state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group or PetroVietnam) secured an offshore surveying licence, covering nearly 200,000 hectare off the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Rather than fortifying Vietnam's domestic energy supply and honouring its COP26 pledges, the focus intriguingly shifts to exporting green energy to Singapore using a sub-sea cable. In February 2023, PTSC partnered with Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd. (SCU), a Singapore-based subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries. This alliance envisions a Renewable Energy Export Project, a brainchild of Singapore's Energy Market Authority, targeting an offshore wind farm with a capacity of roughly 2,300MW. This licensing move neatly coincided with the Singaporean Prime Minister's visit to Vietnam last month. The partnership reflects the ongoing 50th-anniversary celebration of diplomatic ties and the 10-year strategic partnership milestone between Vietnam and Singapore. Around this time, Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry endorsed the export project with a Letter of Intent. With the procurement of this survey licence, PTSC stands as the first and sole investor in Vietnam to be green lit by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to execute marine resource observation, investigation, and evaluation activities for offshore wind power development. Under the accord, the two entities will exclusively invest in producing approximately 2.3GW of power from offshore renewables in Vietnam. This electricity will then be exported to Singapore via underwater high-voltage cables to cater to Singapore's clean electricity demand from 2030. Previously, Enterprize Energy, a foreign-invested firm, in 2020 had acquired a licence for the Thang Long Offshore Wind Project, but with its expiration, tangible progress has waned. With our establishment of the business in Asia, Enterprize Energy approached the Vietnamese government to seek consent to evaluate the Thang Long offshore wind development zone, an area of approximately 2,000 square kilometres and were able to proceed with site survey work from July 2019 for the 3,400MW projects, the company stated in its official website. As for other offshore wind projects listed in Power Development Plan VIII (totalling 6,000MW by 2030), their strategic roll-out remains indistinct. The Ministry of Industry and Trade's (MoIT) report to the government emphasised that local authorities would play a pivotal role, weighing factors like production costs, grid capacity, transmission charges, and regional socioeconomic benefits. Vietnam grapples with power investment hurdles In an August assembly convened by the MoIT, the Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien highlighted ongoing liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. While expressing optimism about their eventual fruition, especially by the 2024-2025 period, he emphasised rigorous adherence to timelines. Any project derailment would invite stringent measures, Dien said. Curiously, the session sidestepped the pressing issues plaguing LNG ventures - like setting power purchase prices or ironing out discrepancies in yearly electricity agreements. PDP8 earmarks 22,000MW of LNG power, but its development timeline remains unclear, with a few exceptions like the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 projects. A major contention arises around electricity pricing. While the MOIT remains chiefly responsible for electricity pricing - including creating retail power price frameworks and various pricing structures - it is also guiding the creation of generation, wholesale, transmission, and auxiliary service pricing structures, as well as system operation and market operation fees. It holds the overarching accountability before the government in all power-related activities, including electricity pricing. However, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has expressed reservations about bearing the responsibility of scrutinising, overseeing, and reporting on electricity price hikes below 10 per cent. Should the price surge exceed this threshold or fall outside the set framework impacting the macroeconomic scenario, the MoIT will review the pricing strategy, subsequently consulting the MoF and other relevant agencies. Ground realities suggest that administrative hesitance looms large around transparent power tariffs - central for sealing power purchase deals, kickstarting power plant construction, and foreseeing capital mobilisation challenges. For LNG projects still in the investor-hunting phase, Dien emphasises swift procedural adherence, ensuring potential investors bring the requisite financial muscle and expertise. By October 2023, localities are expected to finalise their investor shortlist. Covering a total area of 100,000 square metres, SPX's new sorting centre is predominantly automated and is capable of handling up to 2.5 million parcels per day after completing its first phase of operation and is expected to be able to process 5 million parcels per day in the next phase, with an impressive accuracy rate of up to 99.97 per cent thanks to its cutting-edge processing system. The application of state-of-the-art technology solutions to the core sorting areas has created a precise and swift goods sorting process, ensuring that goods are processed to the highest standards with the shortest transit times, helping to enhance the overall shopping experience and cater to the ever-increasing demand for online shopping. Shopee and SPX Express, as part of SEA Group, represent the largest consumer internet company in Southeast Asia. It is a good example of how Singaporean companies are committed to investing in and developing the e-commerce ecosystem in Vietnam, said Jaya Ratnam, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam at the opening ceremony. "Investment in logistics is a key enabler for digital commerce and is helping to bring our countries closer together within the ASEAN community, and in particular, it enables small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the growing digital economy," Ratnam added. Meanwhile, Nguyen Kim Anh, director of SPX said in a press release, "The opening of the sorting centre in Bac Ninh marks a tremendously significant milestone in the development of SPX. This new sorting centre aims to serve the rapidly growing e-commerce industry and digital economy. Furthermore, it acts as a crucial link that ensures goods move swiftly, safely, and reliably from sellers to consumers. It vividly illustrates SPX's relentless efforts to enhance infrastructure and fulfill our commitment to providing optimised and efficient delivery solutions. This contribution will play a key role in driving the robust growth of the digital economy." Launched in 2020, SPX offers reliable and cost-effective delivery services across Southeast Asia, supporting SMEs, big brands and individual sellers. In Vietnam, it operates a nationwide network of delivery centres across 63 provinces and cities. SPX continues to innovate its services, introduce new technologies, and develop local talent to serve customers better throughout the country. Vietnam remains a popular destination for supply chain diversification Vietnam was highlighted as a growing significant destination for supply chain diversification among China and other countries at the event themed 'Beyond Boundaries - China and Vietnam Supply Chain Opportunities' held on June 14 in Shanghai. Digital transformation takes over logistics of the future Changes in e-commerce have prompted the logistics industry to improve the way it provides services in a more professional and efficient manner via digital transformation. On September 7, Luu Van Ban, Deputy Chairman of Hai Duong Peoples Committee, and Le Do, deputy director of Thanh Cong Group, discussed the establishment of an expansive manufacturing and assembly facility, ideally located within the province's Lai Vu Industrial Zone (IZ). "Investing in Hai Duong's thriving ecosystem will amplify our production capabilities and ensure our commitment to sustainable practices," said Do, emphasising the region's socioeconomic merits and the vast talent pool. The strategic endeavour seeks to elevate the domestication of the automotive sector, reinforcing both domestic assembly and external export supply chains. Such a move is predicted to enrich Hai Duong's fiscal landscape, boost local GDP, generate employment, and refine industrial competencies. Promising an array of automotive innovations, the group's offerings are set to span from body mechanical components to state-of-the-art research and development centres, all drawing from collaborative technology partnerships with South Korean and G7 counterparts. "We're not just looking to produce; we're looking to innovate, collaborating with global tech giants to drive forward in an environmentally responsible manner," said a Thanh Cong spokesperson, underscoring its commitment to green production. The company has made a bid for a 26 hectare plot within Lai Vu IZ, anticipating an impressive design output of 200,000 vehicles per annum. Notably, the conglomerate has petitioned for favourable lease terms, including a proposed rate of $20 per square metre and an extended land use tenure. Ban, reinforcing Hai Duongs commitment said, "Our collaboration with Thanh Cong Group is testament to Hai Duongs vision of fostering strong industrial relations and elevating our local workforce to meet global standards." Chinas Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology to invest in Hai Duong Hai Duong province has proactively welcomed Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology, a prominent Chinese high-tech business specialising in lithium-ion battery materials and energy storage systems, highlighting its dedication to attracting high-tech investments and fostering a favourable business environment. Doosan Group commits $120 million investment in Hai Duong Doosan Group pledges $120 million investment for the expansion of an automotive electronic component manufacturing facility in the northern province of Hai Duong. The Ministries of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Science and Technology (MoST) jointly held the conference on September 7 in Hanoi to discuss Vietnam's emergence as a prime destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), buoyed by its economic resilience and tech-forward approach. "The last three and a half decades have seen foreign direct investment (FDI) play a pivotal role in Vietnam, significantly contributing to our achievements and the fundamental transformation of our national economy," said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong. Vietnam currently boasts 38,084 active projects, with the total registered capital amounting to over $453.26 billion. The cumulative realised capital stands at around $287.1 billion, equal to 63.3 per cent of the total valid registered investment capital. Specifically, in the first eight months of 2023, the country attracted 1,924 new projects, saw 830 project capital adjustments, and logged 22,268 foreign investor transactions in share contributions, registering nearly $18.15 billion in capital. Furthermore, the nation has embraced fresh investment in the high-tech sector from giants like Intel and Samsung. "The healthy investments from global tech conglomerates in our country is a testament to the rapidly expanding domestic market. Yet, to retain these giants, we must fortify our infrastructure, from technical aspects to utilities and skilled local manpower, ensuring a conducive environment," said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh. Foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) have been instrumental in spurring domestic businesses to improve productivity and innovation through competition pressures, with many Vietnamese companies seamlessly integrating into the production chains of foreign firms. However, while there are many achievements, certain limitations persist. It's not all sunshine and roses, Dong said. While technology adoption and investment in research and development (R&D) is growing, they still remain limited. The rate of successful technology transfer has yet to achieve anticipated outcomes." "From July 2018 to the end of 2022, there were 400 technology transfer contracts from FIEs operating in Vietnam. However, these transfers predominantly occurred between parent and subsidiary companies, with limited diffusion to the domestic sector," said Dang Dinh Tung, deputy director of the Department of Technology Assessment, Evaluation and Assessment under the MoST. According to Tung, technology transfer contracts have primarily come from investors in Japan, South Korea, the EU, the US, and ASEAN, with the key sectors being electronics, telecommunications, automotive, motorcycles, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, petrochemicals, cosmetics, mineral extraction and processing, and construction. "Data from the MoST reveals that over 100 major global conglomerates, such as Samsung, LG, General Electric, Intel, Panasonic, and Toyota, have invested in projects in Vietnam. However, only two of these, Samsung and LG, have set up R&D centres in Hanoi," Tung added. The transfer of technology from FIEs to domestic firms remains a challenge, underscoring the need for a cohesive policy to encourage swifter mechanisms. "There are calls for robust policies that foster synergies between local and foreign businesses, but local enterprises should also be urged to pivot and aggressively court tech transfers via licensing deals and intellectual property acquisitions. In essence, they shouldn't just wait for technology to come to them, but should actively pursue it," said Dinh. "Attracting foreign investment has been one of Vietnam's shining achievements since the initiation of the Reformation Policy in 1986, significantly bolstering our socioeconomic development and economic competitiveness while creating numerous employment opportunities." Meanwhile, Tran Toan Thang, director of the International Department of the Institute of Development Strategy under the MPI, believes that problems with technology transfer can be more about Vietnam's ability to receive it. "Many FIEs want to invest more in R&D and advanced technology in Vietnam, but they face challenges due to the lack of highly skilled labour available," Thang said. KKR in talks to purchase Saigon Medical Group US global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.(KKR) is currently in discussion with Singaporean investment fund Heliconia Capital regarding the acquistion of the Medical Saigon Group (MSG). Apple relocates 11 manufacturing units to Vietnam Apple has finalised the relocation of 11 of its audio device production facilities to Vietnam, marking a significant shift in the company's global supply chain strategy. How will GMT affect FDI in Vietnam? Vietnam has offered generous tax incentive policies to foreign investors in recent years to encourage them to establish manufacturing plants and processing facilities across the country. In return, such policies have strengthened Vietnams position as one of the regions large manufacturing hubs and key participants in global supply chains. VSIP Can Tho Industrial Park is the 13th Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the country, and the first project in the Mekong Delta According to Koh Chiap Khiong, CEO of Sembcorp Industries in Singapore and Southeast Asia, the company intends to establish a hub-to-port logistics network at VSIP Can Tho with complementing facilities to support and strengthen the supply chain needs of its tenants. Tran Viet Truong, Chairman of Can Tho Peoples Committee, said that the local authorities fully believed that the project would soon be deployed and put into operation. This project will create a favourable environment for investors in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta key economic region in general, and positively contribute to the integration, comprehensive and sustainable development of Vietnam, Truong said. VSIP Can Tho will span 900 hectares. When completed, it will create jobs for 100,000 workers, attracting $3.5 billion in investment. Phase 1 will cover 294ha of land and have investment of around $160 million. During this phase, the project will also supply support services for factories in nearby areas and Can Tho at large, along with those for labourers working at the industrial park. The project is oriented to be built according to the smart and sustainable industrial park model with a large food processing and distribution centre and a logistics network and supporting infrastructure to support for investor supply chain needs. The IP is located at the strategic intersection between the vertical and horizontal highways of the Mekong Delta, bordering three provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, and Hau Giang, easily connecting to the port system, airport and utility services of the city centre. As a centrally-run city, Can Tho has approved its socioeconomic development plan for the 2021-2030 period, with the vision of becoming a trade and service centre of the Mekong Delta region by 2030. Also at the launching ceremony of VSIP Can Tho, the IP signed a MoU with 12 investors for land lease and business cooperation. Adding VSIP Can Tho into its portfolio, VSIP is currently participating in the development of 17 industrial, urban and service parks across Vietnam. From the first VSIP in Binh Duong, VSIP's total land has increased to over 11,000ha. VSIP is providing production infrastructure for 880 customers from 30 countries and territories valued at of $18.7 billion and directly creating jobs for nearly 300,000 workers. VSIP III to be developed into green, smart industrial park Chairman of the Peoples Committee of the southern province of Binh Duong Duong Vo Van Minh had a working session with CEO of Semncorp Development of Singapore Kelvin Teo on January 12 to discuss the firms investment in Vietnam Singapore industrial park projects in the locality. Sembcorp and Becamex join up develop smart and sustainable IPs An MoU was signed between Becamex IDC Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (Vietnam) and Sembcorp Development Ltd. (Singapore) on February 10 in Singapore to acknowledge the cooperation to develop five green, smart, and sustainable industrial parks (IPs) in Vietnam within the next three years with total investment capital of roughly $1 billion. Most McLennan County homeowners can expect to save hundreds of dollars on their property taxes this year thanks to new state legislation. The Texas Legislature this year passed measures that shifted some of the school funding burden from local to state government and raised the homeowner exemptions to $100,000 for school taxes, pending voter approval in November. School taxes make up the largest part of the overall tax bill for McLennan County homeowners, who also pay taxes to the county, McLennan Community College and, if they live in incorporated areas, city taxes. McLennan Central Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Joe Don Bobbitt said many homeowners will see the tax cut, though anomalies exist where new construction would not be eligible for exemptions. Even homeowners moving in after Jan. 1 will be allowed a prorated homestead exemption based on their move-in date, due to 2021 legislation known as Senate Bill 8. A large piece of the tax rate decrease is due to state-mandated compression of school tax rates, which limits the rates schools can set for maintenance and operations, while supplementing the lost local taxpayer revenue with state funding. Midway ISD board President Pete Rusek told the Tribune-Herald in August that under Texas formula for school funding, state funding generally decreases as local revenues go up. As property values within a district rise, local tax revenue to the district increases, decreasing the states funding and leaving local taxpayers to foot a larger proportion of the school funding burden. The point of tax rate compression is to even out state and local shares, relieving local taxpayers of the school districts tax burden, Rusek said. At the same time, homestead exemptions will rise from $40,000 to $100,000, shrinking the homes taxable value. The measure has to be approved by Texas voters in a constitutional amendment election Nov. 7, but school districts have already incorporated the exemption into their budget projections. Bobbitt said he cant imagine that the exemptions election would fail, but if it does the tax office would have to send out a supplemental tax bill to make up the difference as districts were advised to budget with the $100,000 exemption in mind. An $18 billion tax relief package signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in July includes some $7.1 billion for the rate compression and $5.6 billion to increase homestead exemptions. An analysis of recently passed tax rates and taxable value estimates indicates that a McLennan County homeowner could see a savings of $500 or more on school taxes in the coming year. Bobbitt said said the way exemptions work is twofold: first, a homes appraised property value may only go up by 10% over last years value, capping the homes taxable value far below its market value. Then, a homestead exemption reduces the value to be taxed by the amount specified, in this case $100,000. For example, a home that was valued at $200,000 in 2022 may only increase by 10% in 2023 to $220,000. Then, the $100,000 homestead exemption reduces the homes taxable value to $120,000, which is the value that would be applied to the school tax rate. School rates School districts in McLennan County each decreased their tax rates by 15 cents per $100 valuation or more, Waco ISD leading with a 21-cent decrease. A person with a home at the districts average taxable value of $96,185, including the homestead exemption, would see a tax cut of about $654 from last year for a total of some $989 paid to the school district. Midway ISD decreased its tax rate by 18.5 cents, reducing the average taxpayers bill by about $738 this year for a total of $2,323. The average resident within China Spring ISD can expect a decrease of about $714, those within Robinson ISD a decrease of about $691.73 and a decrease of about $500.63 for those within La Vega ISD. Bobbitt said commercial properties would only benefit from the compressed rates, through many would likely break even on the tax cut due to rising property values. The $100,000 exemption does not apply for city, college and county taxes, but those entities may elect their own exemptions. McLennan County, which decreased its rate by 4 cents, and McLennan Community College each have a 20% exemption. The city of Woodway considered a general exemption this year that never came to fruition, but it decreased its tax rate by 4 cents. While the average taxable home value in Woodway increased from $345,073 to $380,351, or 10.2%, the average homeowner would see a decrease of about $18 in city taxes, for a total of $1,421. In Hewitt, the average taxable home value increased by 12.4% to $215,268, and the city hiked its tax rate by two-thirds of a cent per $100 value. The result is an average city tax increase of $143, for a tax bill of $1,177. The city of Waco lowered its tax rate by half a cent, but due to increasing property values the average homeowner will see an increase of $160 to their yearly bill, for a total of $1,557. Case study Wacos District 4 Council Member Darius Ewing agreed to serve as a case study for this story to show how shifting exemptions and rates will affect taxpayers. Ewing lives with his wife, Hannah, in a house they bought recently in the Dean Highland neighborhood. The couple will pay $2,826 in total taxes this year on their one-story, 1,370-square-foot home, according to the appraisal districts Truth in Taxation tool. Ewing said he protested his appraised value this year and won a value decrease, but theyre still up substantially from 2020 when we purchased the home. Id say its really my fault for not protesting last year and so I was negotiating down from a much higher starting point, he said. The appraised value of Ewings home maxed out its 10% homestead cap from its 2022 value, increasing from $173,800 to $191,180. This leaves $19,750 in homestead cap loss from the houses market value of $210,750. According to Truth in Taxation, Ewing will pay: $191.52 to MCC, an increase of about $10 from 2022 $491.51 to the county, about the same as last year $937.87 to Waco ISD, a savings of $723.75 from 2022, and $1,204.73 to the city of Waco, an increase of $129.47. All together, Ewing will save about $584.96 this year in taxes, and said hes looking forward to the school tax decrease. Anyone who wants to calculate their own tax savings and see their overall tax bill can visit mclennan.countytaxrates.com and search by address or homeowner. McLennan County Tax Burdens 2023 Tax Rate* 2022 Tax Rate* 2023 Tax Rate* Change Total Taxable Value 2022 Total Taxable Value 2023 Total Taxable Value % Change Avg. Taxable Home Value 2022 Avg. Taxable Home Value 2023 Home Value % Change Avg. Tax Bill 2022 Avg. Tax Bill 2023 Tax Bill % Change McLennan Co. $0.3764 $0.3298 -0.0466 $24,007,005,734 $27,911,183,583 16.26% $181,150 $202,341 11.70% $681.85 $667.32 ($14.53) Waco $0.7600 $0.7550 -0.005 $13,422,183,466 $15,706,940,436 17.02% $185,064 $206,237 11.44% $1,406.49 $1,557.09 $150.60 Hewitt $0.5401 $0.5467 0.0066 $1,301,880,092 $1,474,189,427 13.24% $191,461 $215,268 12.43% $1,034.08 $1,176.87 $142.79 Woodway $0.4172 $0.3737 -0.0435 $1,599,625,910 $1,839,909,737 15.02% $345,073 $380,351 10.22% $1,439.64 $1,421.37 ($18.27) Bellmead $0.3232 $0.3232 0 $637,678,533 $714,052,643 11.98% $114,597 $127,479 11.24% $370.38 $412.01 $41.63 Robinson $0.4600 $0.4424 -0.0176 $1,319,505,543 $1,469,753,637 11.39% $259,633 $287,717 10.82% $1,194.31 $1,272.86 $78.55 Lacy Lakeview $0.2975 $0.3314 0.0339 $511,847,650 $592,666,163 15.79% $149,134 $164,704 10.44% $443.67 $545.83 $102.16 Waco ISD $1.2419 $1.0286 -0.213282 $8,058,531,066 $8,571,803,369 6.37% $132,350 $96,185 -27.33% $1,643.61 $989.35 ($654.27) Midway ISD $1.1246 $0.9392 -0.1854 $6,497,948,484 $7,496,411,754 15.37% $272,172 $247,346 -9.12% $3,060.85 $2,323.07 ($737.77) China Spring ISD $1.1741 $1.0214 -0.1527 $1,210,087,911 $1,158,543,061 -4.26% $274,527 $245,692 -10.50% $3,223.22 $2,509.50 ($713.72) La Vega ISD $1.1881 $1.0075 -0.1806 $1,185,205,466 $1,379,260,789 16.37% $90,636 $57,193 -36.90% $1,076.85 $576.22 ($500.63) Robinson ISD $1.1244 $0.9466 -0.177744 $941,576,345 $930,841,062 -1.14% $225,229 $194,447 -13.67% $2,532.44 $1,840.71 ($691.73) MCC $0.1391 $0.1285 -0.010565 $25,236,030,634 $29,263,318,453 15.96% $181,006 $202,201 11.71% $251.73 $259.85 $8.11 The city of Waco is joining a class-action lawsuit against the makers and sellers of a firefighting foam linked to cancer and long-term environmental damage. The foam, known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), is designed for use in extinguishing fuel fires and for years was required for use at airports, including Waco Regional Airport, City Attorney Jennifer Richie said. The foams include chemicals such as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanic acid, which can cause cancer and contaminate soil and groundwater, according to a summary provided to the Waco City Council. The council voted Sept. 5 to choose three law firms to represent the city in the foam legislation: Eiland & Bonnin of Galveston, Baron & Budd of Dallas, and Cossich Sumich Parsiola & Taylor of New Orleans. More than 5,600 plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit, which is pending in the U.S. District Court in South Carolina, according to the online Lawsuit Information Center. Waco joined Fort Worth and San Angelo to become the third Texas city in the litigation, Richie said. She said Jefferson County also is a plaintiff. Richie said the city will test the airport for contamination from the hazardous foam, which was removed from the market several years ago. These products can contaminate water, wastewater, soil, and groundwater, Richie said. In the lawsuit against manufacturers, distributors and others involved in profiting from the sale of these chemicals, we seek our costs in testing and monitoring and possibly remediating and treating for any contamination. According to the courts website, the lawsuit was first assigned to the court in 2018. The lawsuit names more than 30 defendants, including 3M, DuPont, Chemours, Tyco Fire Products, Chemguard Inc, ChemDesign Inc and the Amerex Corporation. The Lawsuit Information Center states that the foam in question contains poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, known forever chemicals. A U.S. Geological Survey study this summer estimated that 45% of tap water in the U.S. contains PFAS chemicals. PFAS are extremely heat-resistant and cannot be broken down by oil or water and as a result, do not break down or biodegrade in the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency published a health advisory in 2016 warning of the possibility that exposure to the chemicals can cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society have conducted studies that linked prolonged exposure to PFAS chemicals to kidney, prostate and testicular cancer. The Lawsuit Information Center also lists bladder, pancreatic, liver, breast and ovarian cancer as being caused by PFAS exposure, in addition to leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The Lawsuit Information Center also says many of the defendants in the case were aware of the dangerous properties of the chemicals. The foams were first used in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Information Center claims many of the companies were aware of the cancer risks and never disclosed that information. John Riddle, the president of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters, said in an email statement that cancer is the leading cause of death in the fire service. He also said the TSAFF is working to search for chemicals and gear that can reduce cancer risks. TSAFF appointees to state and national committees and task forces are helping lead the search for next-generation chemicals and PFAS-free gear that reduce cancer risks but still adequately protect us on the fire ground and beyond, Riddle said. While that work continues, were also monitoring the wave of AFFF- and PFAS-related litigation around the state, including whats apparently developing in Waco. Thousands of individual, organizational and municipal PFAS cases already are on file. The legal landscape in this area is incredibly active. The first week of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxtons history-making impeachment trial closed Friday with only four prosecution witnesses taking the stand in the first four days. Even so, the broad strokes of the cases being presented by lawyers for the House impeachment managers and Paxtons defense team emerged in Tuesdays opening statements and during frequently tedious, sometimes contentious questioning of witnesses. Among the many subplots, these themes are likely to guide a trial that could take several additional weeks ending when senators deliberate in private and emerge to cast votes that will determine whether the three-term Republican will return to work or be permanently removed from office. Paxton attended the opening hours of his trial on Tuesday, during which senators overwhelmingly rejected his attempts to dismiss the articles of impeachment and his lawyer entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. He was absent the rest of the week. The trial is set to resume Monday at 9 a.m. Loyalty, evidence Under trial rules adopted by the Senate, prosecutors began presenting their case first, and they chose to lead with three former high-ranking officials of the attorney generals office all of whom reported Paxton to the FBI on Sept. 30, 2020 before quitting or being fired. Three Paxton lawyers split cross examination of the opening witnesses, and all three hit on similar themes. Lead defense lawyer Tony Buzbee equated reporting Paxton to the FBI as an act of betrayal. By going behind the attorney generals back, he said, Paxton was deprived of the opportunity to answer questions that could have cleared matters up. You went to the FBI uninformed, isnt that true? Buzbee asked Jeff Mateer, Paxtons former second in command and the first prosecution witness. I would not say that, sir, Mateer replied Tuesday. Defense lawyer Mitch Little picked up the theme during his aggressive questioning of the third prosecution witness, Ryan Vassar, former deputy attorney general for legal counsel, on Thursday. In an extensive back and forth, Little suggested that Paxton was due the courtesy of a warning after nurturing Vassars career. More importantly, Little added, failing to let Paxton address their concerns left Vassar and other whistleblowers uninformed when they met with FBI agents to accuse Paxton of criminal acts. Little said the whistleblowers had no direct knowledge, let alone evidence such as invoices, of wrongdoing regarding allegations that Austin real estate investor Nate Paul offered bribes by paying to renovate Paxtons home and employing the woman Paxton was dating outside of his marriage. You went to the FBI on Sept. 30 with your compatriots and reported the elected attorney general of this state for a crime without any evidence, yes? Little asked. Vassar tried to qualify his answer several times, but Little repeatedly objected, stating it was a yes or no question. Thats right, we took no evidence, Vassar finally stated. On Friday, Rusty Hardin, a lawyer for the impeachment managers, sought to clear up the impression left by Vassar. Vassar said he believed Little was referring to documents, documentary evidence, adding that he intended the FBI to find the truth, not conduct his own investigation. Did you give the FBI evidence? impeachment lawyer Rusty Hardin asked Friday. Our experience was evidence, Vassar said. But we did not conduct our own investigation to provide documentary evidence of what we had learned. I believed that I was a witness to criminal activity that had occurred by General Paxton. Egregious misconduct State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, gave the opening statement on behalf of the House impeachment managers. He promised senators would hear testimony portraying Paxton as obsessed with helping Paul who was under state and federal investigation for his business dealings despite warnings and objections from his top lieutenants at the agency. Paxton engaged in egregious misconduct, he said. The states top lawyer engaged in conduct designed to advance the economic interests and legal positions of a friend and donor to the detriment of innocent Texans, Murr said, adding that Paxton turned the keys of the office of attorney general over to Nate Paul. Ryan Bangert, Paxtons former deputy first assistant attorney general, testified Wednesday and Thursday that Paxton took an unusual interest in matters involving Paul, such as pressing to overrule two agency decisions that denied Paul access to documents related to an active investigation into Pauls businesses. We were devoting far more resources to Nate Paul than we ever should have, Bangert said. I was deeply concerned that the name, authority and power of our office had been, in my view, hijacked to serve the interests of an individual against the interests of the broader public, Bangert added. It was unconscionable. On Friday, impeachment lawyers called their fourth witness, David Maxwell, Paxtons former director of law enforcement. Maxwell was out of state when seven senior agency officials reported Paxton to the FBI in 2020. Instead, Maxwell took his concerns to other law enforcement officials and was later fired from the agency. Maxwell said he found Pauls complaint to be absolutely ludicrous, including claims that search warrants were improperly altered in a web of conspiracy that included a federal magistrate judge. As a result, Maxwell said he urged Paxton to drop his interest in Paul. I told him that Nate Paul was a criminal and that, if he didnt get away from this individual and stop doing what he was doing, he was going to get himself indicted. Paxtons authority Defense lawyers, in opening statements and in questions to prosecution witnesses, pushed back on claims that Paxton acted illegally when he pressed his agencys lawyers and employees to take actions that were helpful to Paul. When Vassar testified that Paxton broke internal rules on hiring outside lawyers to appoint Houston attorney Brandon Cammack to investigate Pauls complaint, Little pointed to state law to argue that Paxton as the elected leader of the attorney generals office had the power to approve Cammacks contract. Defense lawyer Dan Cogdell, in opening statements Tuesday, said Paxton hired Cammack in understandable frustration because employees of the attorney generals office did little to nothing to investigate Pauls serious complaint that his home and business had been improperly searched by state and federal officials. Similarly, several Paxton lawyers disputed allegations that Paxton improperly directed his agencys lawyers to intervene in an Austin charitys lawsuit against Paul, arguing that he had clear authority to run his agency. Prosecutors push back Under questioning from House impeachment lawyer Dick DeGuerin, Maxwell pushed back on claims that Pauls complaints had been brushed off without proper investigation. A forensic analysis of the search warrants found nothing to support Pauls claim that the documents had been improperly altered, he said. After Buzbee opened his case by stating that nothing of significance had been exchanged between Paxton and Paul, lawyers for the House impeachment team pressed their witnesses to explain how Paul benefited from Paxtons repeated interventions. A legal opinion, published with unusual speed at 1 a.m. on a Sunday in 2020, took a highly unusual position at Paxtons insistence, Bangert testified. The attorney generals office had led efforts to reopen Texas several months into the pandemic, yet Paxton demanded that the opinion say local COVID-19 safety rules barred property foreclosure sales. Only later did it become known that Pauls lawyer referred to the agencys opinion letter to avoid foreclosure sales of several Paul properties two days later, Bangert said. Buzbee warning In opening statements laying out Paxtons case, Buzbee sounded a political warning. Impeachment could become a common tactic of political retribution if Paxton a leading conservative legal voice on abortion, immigration and other key issues were to be convicted and removed from office, he argued. Lets be clear. If this misguided effort is successful the precedent it will set would be perilous for any elected official in the state of Texas, Buzbee said. Buzbee also argued that impeachment thwarted the will of Texas voters. Texans chose at the voting booth who they wanted to be their attorney general but because of what this House has done, only 30 [senators] out of almost 30 million will decide if Ken Paxton is allowed to serve in the office he was voted into, he said. Thats not how its supposed to work. Thats not democratic. Political focus Murr rejected arguments that impeachment violated democratic principles, saying the framers of the Texas Constitution did not believe elections alone could protect the public from abusive office holders. Its too easy to use the powers of office to conceal the truth, Murr said in opening statements. The voters did not, and do not, know the whole truth because Paxton went to great lengths to conceal his misconduct, he added. Impeachment lawyers also focused on the ultraconservative political beliefs held by their first three witnesses all attorneys who praised Paxtons priorities that, as one put it, turned the Texas attorney generals office into a beacon of the conservative legal movement. Mateer worked on Capitol Hill for two Texas Republican stalwarts, Tom DeLay and Dick Armey, and is now chief legal officer of First Liberty Institute, a Christian legal defense organization that focuses on religious liberty issues. His nomination for federal judge by President Donald Trump was thwarted by controversy over statements critical of transgender youth. Bangert is a senior vice president for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal advocacy group focused on religious freedom and limiting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and he had previous ties to the Christian Coalition. Vassar worked for notable conservative judges, including Don Willett, a former Texas Supreme Court justice named to a federal appeals court by Trump. Vassar also was a summer fellow for former Republican Gov. Rick Perry. Paxton has blamed the impeachment on political opposition to his deeply conservative principles, but Mateer, Bangert and Vassar testified that they reluctantly took their concerns to the FBI after concluding that Paxton was misusing his authority on Pauls behalf. <&rule> <&rdpEm>The full program is now LIVE for the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 21-23 in Austin. Explore the program featuring more than 100 unforgettable conversations coming to TribFest. Panel topics include the biggest 2024 races and whats ahead, how big cities in Texas and around the country are changing, the integrity of upcoming elections and so much more. <&rdpStrong>See the full program. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/09/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-main-themes/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. The COVID-19 air travel doldrums in Omaha may finally be over. About 468,000 travelers passed through Eppley Airfield in July, 2,000 or 0.4% more than in the same month in 2019. Thats the first time traffic has exceeded levels from before the pandemic, said Steve McCoy, chief information and development officer for the Omaha Airport Authority. The terminal and the parking garage feel more like they did before the pandemic, McCoy said. Its really an indication that travel is back. The nationwide shutdown that followed the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 inflicted a massive shock on the entire airline industry. At Eppley, air traffic dropped to near zero that month, and recovered slowly. Even in early 2021, after the introduction of COVID vaccines, the number of departing passengers numbered about 80,000, less than half of pre-pandemic levels. The number of total passengers (arriving and departing) dropped from 5 million in 2019 to 2.1 million in 2020. The figure rose to 3.7 million in 2021 and 4.5 million in 2022, according to the Airport Authority. Its coming back quicker than a lot of people thought it would back in 2020, said Steve Vlasek, director of the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. People want to be out there flying, whether its for pleasure or work. Eppleys traffic follows trends that are being seen across the airline industry, both nationally and internationally. North American travel was up 2% in June over the level four years earlier based on revenue passenger kilometers, an international travel metric, said Perry Flint, a U.S. spokesperson for the International Airline Transport Association, an industry trade group. July and August figures havent yet been compiled. It certainly aligns with what were seeing, Flint said. The flights are fuller. The airports are fuller. You cant miss it. McCoy said the announced addition of two new nonstop Sun Belt destinations from Eppley reflects the post-pandemic bounce back, especially in holiday travel. Allegiant an airline geared toward vacationers in June added twice-weekly seasonal flights to Austin, Texas, through November. And Southwest Airlines plans to begin winter-season flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January. Leisure travel has rebounded quicker than business travel, McCoy said. These are indicators of that strong leisure demand. The resurgence in traffic has happened even though the number of daily flights at Eppley is less than before the pandemic. McCoy said the airlines have managed that by flying larger planes in and out of Omaha. For example, Southwest Airlines, Eppleys largest carrier, has replaced some older 737-700 jets, which carry 143 passengers, with newer 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft, with a capacity of 175. Overall, he said, the average number of seats per Eppley departure has risen from 108 to 134 since July 2019, a 20% increase. Were seeing more types of larger aircraft, McCoy said. Omaha-area travelers returning to Eppley for the first time since the pre-COVID days may see some differences at their hometown airport, which is now embarked on a modernization plan that is expected to run through at least 2027. In 2019, the Airport Authority opened the new North Parking Garage, the beginning of a major overhaul and expansion of airport parking facilities. Then last year, the airport wrapped up the expansion of the terminal entrance road and the construction of a new ramp to the South Parking Garage, which was also refurbished. Earlier this summer, work began on a $65 million project to cover the passenger drop-off area with a glass canopy. Still ahead: construction next year of a new $92.5 million power plant, and a $600 million terminal expansion that will merge the two concourses into one, move ticket counters upstairs, and nearly double the size of the terminal. The project is now in the design phase. All this will accommodate a return to what McCoy describes as slow, steady growth at Nebraskas largest airport. The return to pre-pandemic traffic is considered a milestone in that comeback. For Eppley to be back to its pre-pandemic mark is tremendous, Vlasek said. Things are getting back to normal-ish. Photos: First Red Way flight departs from Lincoln Airport PRESS RELEASE Cape May Airport, New Jersey The Naval Air Station Wildwood (NASW) Aviation Museum is proud to announce a special event, First Responders and Military Appreciation Day, to honor and show gratitude to our brave first responders, veterans, and active-duty military personnel. This event will take place on September 11, 2023, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm followed by the Township of Lowers official 9/11 ceremony at 5:30 pm. The museum is located inside historic Hangar #1, 500 Forrestal Road, Cape May Airport, New Jersey. As a gesture of appreciation for their dedicated service, NASW is offering FREE admission to first responders, veterans, and active-duty military personnel with valid identification. Additionally, immediate family members accompanying them will receive a $4.00 discount per person on admission. The township ceremony at 5:30 p.m. is free and open to the public. For our honored veterans and first responders, there will be complimentary water ice to help beat the late summer heat (while supplies last). Additionally, just by attending the event, veterans and first responders will be automatically entered into a drawing for exciting door prizes. No purchase is necessary for participation. The First Responders and Military Appreciation Day at Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum promises to be a day of gratitude, remembrance, and unity. We invite everyone to join us in honoring our first responders and military personnel while commemorating the sacrifices made by first responders and members of the military. WATERLOO Authorities are looking for a Waterloo man in connection with last weeks fatal shooting downtown. On Monday, police announced they obtained a warrant charging 32-year-old Corey Damone Crawley with first-degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Crawley remains at large. He is wanted in the Sept. 2 shooting that claimed the life of 45-year-old Muharrum Quan Johnson of Waterloo. Johnson was shot and killed in the area of East Fourth and Mulberry streets, only a block from the police station, around 12:50 p.m. on Sept. 2. Anyone with information is asked to call Black Hawk County Dispatch at (319) 291-2515, the Waterloo Police Department at (319) 291-4340 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at (855) 300-8477. Anyone with information leading to Crawleys whereabouts is eligible for a $1,500 cash reward. Photos: Homicide, East 4th and Mulberry, Sept. 2, 2023 Waterloo Police (1) - Sept. 2, 2023 Waterloo Police (2) - Sept. 2, 2023 Waterloo Police (3) - Sept. 2, 2023 Waterloo Police (4) - Sept. 2, 2023 DES MOINES Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is accepting applications from Iowa high school students who wish to be nominated and considered for appointments to the U.S. service academies. The U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy at West Point and U.S. Naval Academy each select at least one qualified student from Grassleys nominations every year. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy makes selections in proportion to states representation in Congress. Grassley encourages Iowa students to apply to more than one service academy, as admissions are extremely competitive. The academies offer some of the best options for students interested in receiving a world-class education while serving our nation. Its a tremendous opportunity for young Iowans, Grassley said. Its an honor every year to nominate some of Iowas most talented students to our nations prestigious Service Academies. The deadline for Iowa students to complete and submit their application for a nomination from Grassley is Oct. 20. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Nominations will be made by Dec. 31. The application can be found online at grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/new_2023_academy_form.pdf. Students may hand-deliver their application to any of Grassleys offices in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, Waterloo or Davenport. Or they may mail their applications to the following address: U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Attn: Nominations Coordinator, 721 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309. Applicants must also submit a preliminary application to the academies of their choice and ask that a pre-candidate file be opened on their behalf. Additionally, Iowa students should seek recommendations from Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and their representative in the U.S. House of Representatives, as students are allowed to submit more than one nomination. For more information, please contact Grassleys Des Moines office at (515) 288-1145 or academy_nominations@grassley.senate.gov, or visit his website at www.grassley.senate.gov. REINBECK Saturday will mark the 12th year for the Reinbeck Art Festival and Car Show. The community-wide celebration is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout downtown. Artists and artisans will exhibit painting, photography, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, glass, mixed media, digital art, sculpture, watercolor, wood, fiber and metal. Theyll be set up in City Hall, 414 Main St., and Tranquility on Main, 403 Main St. Featured artists include Bill Haywood, Ginny Poppen, David Norman, Jan Drake, Jan Bernhard, Bonnie Smith, Mike Stevens, Vicki Zenk and Angie Wiebansto, Barb Grabil, Bob Hertges, Bruce Gordan, Christie Bolin, Andy Mills, Jim Ellenberger, Kathy Fehr, Kathy Etringer, Lisa Gonzales and Anne, Kay Marguard, Sue Cunningham, Deb Ansley, Julie Hughes, Terry Dirks and Marion Boyer. The Car Show includes motorcycles, cars, pickups and tractors, parked on Broad Street for viewing. In addition, the Northeast Iowa Glampers are returning to set up their vintage campers on East Main Street. A quilt show will be open at the UCC Church, 504 Broad St., a Student Art Exhibit will be shown in the CEC at 504 Clark St. The Reinbeck Public Library, 501 Clark St., will be headquarters for childrens art activities. A Touch-A-Truck experience is planned north of the library and movement, dance and fitness buffs will perform throughout the day on Main Street. In addition, Andy Mills, known as Uncle Stinky, will demonstrate blacksmithing, while Brett Evans will make wheel-thrown pots. The Northeast Iowa Weavers and Spinners will have hands-on weaving experience to share, and two flower arranging demonstrations are planned at 10 a.m. with Holly Robertson and 1 p.m. with Staci Freeze. Nancy Barsic will make silhouettes for no cost. Music on Main, sponsored by the Lions Club and the American Legion Auxiliary, will feature Kirk Eastman performing from 9 a.m. to noon; Phil and Travis from noon to 2 p.m. and Birdy Young from 2 to 3 p.m. Main Street merchants will be open to purchase food and beverages and for shopping. There will also be kettle corn. Festivalgoers can pick up a free bracelet at the welcome booth as a reminder of future festivals. The festival is under the auspices of the Reinbeck Economic Development Committee. Fall & Christmas Fig & Frolic DIY projects Fall felt garland Birch wood Christmas tree Birch wood Christmas tree ornaments Oh what fun! Gift wrapping ideas Oh, what fun! Gift wrapping ideas 2 Christmas branch Christmas-themed decorative stenciled pillows Thanksgiving Mantel Magic Christmas Mantel Magic WATERLOO Hundreds came out to the RiverLoop Amphitheatre on Sunday for the 12th annual Cedar Valley Hospice Release & Remember fundraiser. The event saw 1,000 monarch butterflies released by the Cedar River, both to raise money for CVH and to help others remember the family and loved ones theyd lost. According to Suzanne Benda, development director for Cedar Valley Hospice, the event lets people mingle and bond with others whove lost people close to them. The messages on the memory board, she explained, are a reminder that none of them are alone. Oftentimes, I think people feel like theyre on that journey by themselves and we want to show that there is camaraderie in our community, Benda said. That youre not alone and ... that were in this together and we can help them. Benda elaborated that the monarchs released on Sunday will join the other butterflies of their species that are currently migrating through Iowa and will be beneficial to the species and the environment. However, the monarch butterflies themselves also play a more profound, symbolic role in the days events. People see the butterfly as a symbol of their loved ones and, oftentimes, (their) grief process, Benda said. Because a butterfly goes through a metamorphosis and, oftentimes, thats what happens after someone grieves. Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan came to last years event after the passing of her father, Tim Bruxvoort. This year, she was back in memory of him but also her close friend Dani Stites, who died suddenly last month. Bruxvoort-Colligan said its been hard, but shes found unexpected help in the form of Stites dog, Jack Daniels, whom she adopted after her death. She brought her family, along with Jack Daniels, to the remembrance event. With her friend dying at a young age, Bruxvoort-Colligan said the memorial service was a celebration of life, which this felt like a continuation of. It is very much part of the healing process. Theres something about the butterflies thats like new life, Bruxvoort-Colligan said. Its like taking a breath to pause and remember. Funds were raised by dedicating butterflies to loved ones at $30 each and buying shirts. Others entered a raffle to release the butterflies. One such winner was Judy Baier, who was there to remember her husband, Charlie. Baier said Sunday would have been Charlies 70th birthday, so being able to release the butterflies was a special moment for both of them. In fact, she thinks he may have had a hand in it in some way. It was pretty awesome just seeing his name written on the memory board and being able to tell him happy birthday, Baier said. And I never get drawn for anything I never win anything they drew my name to release butterflies. I think Charlie had something to do with it. Close J.P. Reifenrath writes a name on the memory board while his mother, Angie, holds him up during the 12th annual Cedar Valley Hospice Release & Remember event. Monarch Butterflies rest on Judy Baier's forearm as she releases them into the wild on Sunday during the 12th annual Cedar Valley Hospice Release & Remember event. Sunday would've been her husband Charlie's 70th birthday. Hundreds came out for Release & Remember on Sunday to celebrate the memories of their loved ones and raise funds for Cedar Valley Hospice. 'Look! Look!' Riley Gleason shows off a monarch butterfly that landed on her hand. There were 1,000 butterflies released on Sunday at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo. A monarch butterfly at the Release & Remember event in Waterloo, one of 1,000 sent out into the wild Sunday. Volunteers with Cedar Valley Hospice release butterflies at the Release and Remember event in Waterloo on Sunday Monarch butterflies are coaxed out of their boxes in Waterloo during the Release & Remember event Sunday. Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan and her dog, Jack Daniels, greet a boy at Release and Remember. Bruxvoort-Colligan adopted Jack Daniels following the death of her friend, Dani, whom she was there to remember. Flatland Ridge, a cover band from Independence, performs during the Release & Remember event on Sunday. CHV Release & Remember 2023 J.P. Reifenrath writes a name on the memory board while his mother, Angie, holds him up during the 12th annual Cedar Valley Hospice Release & Remember event. Monarch Butterflies rest on Judy Baier's forearm as she releases them into the wild on Sunday during the 12th annual Cedar Valley Hospice Release & Remember event. Sunday would've been her husband Charlie's 70th birthday. Hundreds came out for Release & Remember on Sunday to celebrate the memories of their loved ones and raise funds for Cedar Valley Hospice. 'Look! Look!' Riley Gleason shows off a monarch butterfly that landed on her hand. There were 1,000 butterflies released on Sunday at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in Waterloo. A monarch butterfly at the Release & Remember event in Waterloo, one of 1,000 sent out into the wild Sunday. Volunteers with Cedar Valley Hospice release butterflies at the Release and Remember event in Waterloo on Sunday Monarch butterflies are coaxed out of their boxes in Waterloo during the Release & Remember event Sunday. Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan and her dog, Jack Daniels, greet a boy at Release and Remember. Bruxvoort-Colligan adopted Jack Daniels following the death of her friend, Dani, whom she was there to remember. Flatland Ridge, a cover band from Independence, performs during the Release & Remember event on Sunday. Two people are dead following a two-vehicle crash that also injured two others on Sept. 7 at the intersection of Highway 146 and Newburg Road just north of Grinnelll, according to a press release from the Grinnell Fire Department. The incident is being investigated by the Iowa State Patrol. At approximately 12:46 a.m., local first responders were dispatched to the car crash. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered two vehicles in the southeast ditch of the intersection. One victim with minor injuries had already removed themselves from the vehicle prior to the fire department's arrival. According to Iowa State Patrol crash reports, 45-year-old Ana Ramirez-Avalos and 27-year-old Maria Jesus Garcia-Alcocer, both of Marshalltown, were killed in the crash. Earl Weaver, 61, and Mary Miller, 68, both of Conway, South Carolina, were injured in the crash, with the latter needed to be air-lifted by MercyOne. The vehicle driven by Weaver was going eastbound on Newburg Road and failed to stop at a stop sign, striking the second vehicle driven by Ramirez-Avalos, who was traveling southbound on the highway. Firefighters had to extricate Miller, who was in critical condition. Grinnell Fire Department was on scene for about two hours providing personnel, extrication equipment and an ambulance; they were assisted by Poweshiek County Dispatch, Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office, Jasper County Sheriff's Office, Grinnell Police, Iowa State Patrol, MercyOne and Midwest Ambulance. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In the Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, jointly with aviation and artillery, repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the 53rd and 110th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Vodyanoye and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, AFU personnel and military hardware were hit near Kleshcheyevka, Krasnoye, and Maloilyinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). During the combat actions, the enemy lost up to 260 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles. In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of active action by units of the Russian Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery fire, six attacks launched by assault groups of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region) have been repelled during the day. In addition, enemy personnel and hardware were inflicted fire damage close to Novoandreyevka, north of Rabotino and north-west of Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). Up to 80 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two pick-up trucks have been neutralised during the day. In counter-battery warfare, the following vehicles were eliminated: one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery gun; U.S.-made M198, M119, and M777 howitzers, as well as Msta-B and D-20 guns. Also, a Swedish-made ARTHUR counter-battery radar station was destroyed near Shirokoye (Zaporozhye region). Ammunition depots of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade and the 9th Army Corps of the AFU were obliterated near Trudovoye and Rizdvyanka (Zaporozhye region). In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces repelled an attack by units of the 37th AFU Marine Brigade near Novodonetskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, air strikes and artillery fire struck clusters of manpower and equipment of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade and the 38th Marine Brigade of the AFU close to Nikolskoye, Novomayorskoye, and Ugledar (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The enemys losses in this direction totalled over 130 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer. In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, in co-operation with aviation and artillery, repelled an attack launched by an assault group of the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Fire also damaged hardware and personnel clusters of the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, the 5th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade, and the 67th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU in the vicinity of Kuzmino and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Over 50 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two pickup trucks, two Gvozdika self-propelled launchers, and a D-30 howitzer were neutralised. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, supported by air and artillery fire, repelled two attacks launched by assault groups of the 25th Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kuzemovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses totalled up to 35 troops, one tank, two motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery gun. In addition, an ammunition depot of the 1st Special Forces Brigade of the AFU was wiped out near Volchanskiye Khutora (Kharkov region). Over 20 Ukrainian personnel, two motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers have been eliminated by fire in Kherson direction during the day. Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groups of forces engaged manpower and military hardware of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 117 areas. In addition, a P-18 air target detection and tracking radar station was destroyed at a position uncovered by reconnaissance means near Lukashevo (Zaporozhye region). Fire struck command and observation posts of the 77th Airmobile, 93rd Mechanised, 100th Territorial Defence brigades, and 15th Regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard in the vicinity of Spornoye and Serebryanka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The Russian Naval Aviation detected and destroyed three U.S.-made Willard speedboats in the Black Sea at night, each carrying up to 36 members of the AFU special operations forces in landing groups. Air defence and electronic warfare systems destroyed and suppressed 42 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the areas of Ocheretovatoye, Novoye, Ulyanovka, and Kharkovo (Zaporozhye region), Ploshchanka, Belogorovka, and Rubezhnoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Spornoye, Soledar, and Gorlovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Novaya Mayachka and Velyka Lepetikha (Kherson region). In total, 467 airplanes and 248 helicopters, 6582 unmanned aerial vehicles, 436 air defence missile systems, 11773 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1149 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6319 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 12883 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: A lawsuit filed against officials in Dodge County related to the 2017 arrest of a Beaver Dam man has been dismissed after the deadline for appeals expired. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Selepri Amachree against Dodge County, Sheriff Dale Schmidt, Investigator Robert Neuman, and several state and federal officials, according to a ruling issued April 21. The deadline for any further appeal of this matter has now expired. Amachree, who had been meeting with clients at the Dodge County Jail as part of his business XTreme Intervention, claimed he was illegally detained in the Dodge County Jail for more than six months by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the suit, Amachree an African immigrant who has had permanent legal resident status in the United States for 50 years was taken into custody on Feb. 27, 2017, at the Dodge County Sheriffs Office in Juneau. A federal judge ordered Amachree to be released from jail in September 2017. Other defendants who were named in the suit include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE officers Brent Kriehn and Joseph Halase, Board of Immigration Appeals, former Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg and retired Dodge County Detective Robert Neuman. Amachree was seeking $5 million in damages. Amachrees detention stemmed from an order to deport him issued Nov. 7, 2002, which was appealed. The order was part of a drug conviction, but federal courts eventually determined that such convictions were not grounds for deportation and Amachrees case was sent by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals on Feb. 7, 2007. For unexplained reasons, the immigration board did not act on the matter for 10 years, until Amachree had been in custody at the Dodge County Jail for six months. When it did act, the deportation order was immediately vacated and Amachree was freed. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin previously issued an order on March 11, 2022, dismissing a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Amachree. The recent ruling from the Seventh Circuit Court upheld that dismissal. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a press release there is still misinformation about the case. Dodge County residents are entitled to know the facts that the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and the Dodge County District Attorneys Office were acting in the best interest of our citizens and inmates protecting them from an individual with a troubling past, Schmidt said in the release. The press release included points related to the case from the lead counsel for Dodge County, attorney Samuel Hall Jr.: Amachree contacted the Dodge County Sheriffs Office in 2016 requesting professional visitation access in the Dodge County Jail. This enhanced access is often provided to attorneys and other professionals who require confidential communications. In evaluating the request for professional visitor access, Schmidt directed that a background investigation of Amachree be conducted. During the course of the investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed the Sheriffs Office of an active Final Order for Removal. This bars the individual from returning to the U.S. for a period of years, or in some cases permanently. Amachree was subject to federal jurisdiction since federal law enforcement determined that he was an alien who was removable for committing an aggravated felony, according to the press release. Based on the active and open Final Order for Removal, federal law enforcement advised the Sheriffs Office that they intended to take Amachree into federal custody. On Feb. 24, 2017, after repeated voluntary visits by Amachree to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office requesting a meeting to discuss his background, Amachree was invited to a meeting at the Dodge County Sheriffs Office to discuss the results of the background investigation. Schmidt had no choice but to deny access to Amachree as a professional visitor in the jail. Immediately following that meeting, ICE law enforcement agents placed Amachree into federal custody. Dodge County has long maintained a contract with the federal government to house federal detainees. Amachree was held in the Dodge County Jail in federal custody, as his immigration case progressed in the federal courts. During that period, Amachree was a federal inmate, exclusively at the direction of the federal government. The listed facts provided by our counsel only scratch the surface of correcting the misinformation that was presented to the community, Schmidt said in the press release. As you can understand, during civil litigation, it is always best practice to withhold comment until the case concludes to maintain the integrity of the civil proceedings. By doing so, we protect the interests of not only the sheriffs office but also the taxpayers of Dodge County. Amachree said the case was dismissed prior to any oral arguments being made and had nothing to do with innocence or any of the facts brought up in the case. In a culture where abuses of authority seem to be commonplace, its sad that the case didnt make it to trial simply because my attorney didnt present it well enough, Amachree said. It seemed to be clear to everyone who had the right information that the actions of the sheriff and former district attorney were unscrupulous. In this case, there were no winners. They were not exonerated or proved to be innocent. My hope is that that they learned a valuable lesson and will conduct themselves with more integrity in the future. Amachree said he does not feel that is the case through. In the end, I love Dodge County has a new district attorney, and she is doing an amazing job, Amachree said. In a presidential contest cycle, Senate races dont get the same kind of attention when theres still a year to go until Election Day. But the start of the second fundraising quarter earlier this month brought a host of new candidate names some declared and some still biding their time that will help shape the race for control of the chamber in 2024 and the ultimate power dynamics for whoever is president in 2025. With more candidates launching their campaigns this month, the prospect of competitive primaries has become more real especially on the Republican side. Thats especially true in the top three seats most likely to flip, which represent the GOPs best chances to pick up the one or two seats theyd need to control the chamber, depending on who wins the presidency. (Rankings are based on CNNs reporting, fundraising figures and historical data about how states and candidates have performed.) West Virginias GOP primary mainly between the governor and a congressman was already brewing, but its looking even more contentious with outside groups like the Club for Growths political arm touting the millions theyre planning to spend. This race will be a marquee battle between the national GOPs more establishment forces and the conservative outside group. And, as in other races like Montana and Nevada, this one will test the National Republican Senatorial Committees new strategy of picking sides in primaries. Its impossible to talk about Republican primaries without discussing former President Donald Trump. Ever since 2016, loyalty to him has been a key litmus test for the GOP often much more than actual conservatism. But adherence to his election conspiracy theories has sometimes hurt Republicans in general elections, with the 2022 midterms being a prime example. The chairman of the NRSC, Montana Sen. Steve Daines, has endorsed Trump. And for now, at least, the former president appears to be playing along. CNN reported that hes informed two House Freedom Caucus members whom hes previously backed in West Virginia and Montana that they wont have his support for the Senate. (In Montana, Rep. Matt Rosendale hasnt yet announced his campaign but is expected to challenge the NRSCs preferred candidate.) This months ranking isnt all about primary drama, however. In Pennsylvania, Republicans breathed a major sigh of relief in May when election denier Doug Mastriano, fresh off his 15-point gubernatorial loss, decided not to run. The expectation that Dave McCormick will get into the race with a clearer lane and the GOPs lack of candidates right now in other states bumps the Keystone State up one spot on this list as slightly more likely to flip. Overall, the Senate map remains an offensive opportunity for Republicans. Democrats hold seven of the 10 seats most likely to flip next year, an independent holds one and Republicans hold two a breakdown thats unlikely to change much, although the order of the ranking will likely evolve in the months to come. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Disney-owned streamer Hulu is best known for Emmy-winning hits like The Handmaids Tale and Only Murders in the Building but theres a lot more to explore (and enjoy) if you dig deeper than the welcome screen. The iconic 1995 miniseries based on Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice includes Colin Firths memorable turn as Mr. Darcy, while Handmaids Tale star Elisabeth Moss shines as an insecure police detective in the murder mystery series Top of the Lake. There are compelling docs, too, about everything from volcanoes to Paul McCartney, and the original U.K. version of The Office offers a star-making performance by Ricky Gervais as the worst boss ever. Here are some of our picks for some movies and series that are worth clicking the search button. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now 11.22.63 (2016) Who doesnt like a what-if look at history? In this eight-part miniseries, based on a Stephen King novel, James Franco plays a high school teacher whos given the chance to go back in time with a plan to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He quickly learns two important things he goes back to the same day of the year three years before the murder and, more importantly, the past doesnt want to be changed. This is a twisty and entertaining alternate history. Watch it: 11.22.63 Attack the Block (2011) This low-budget horror film, about a group of fast-talking teenagers who fight off an alien invasion in the projects of South London, has justly become a cult classic for its sharp wit, well-paced suspense and thrifty special effects. Plus, it helped launch the careers of John Boyega (Star Wars), Jodie Whittaker (the first female Doctor Who) and director Joe Cornish (Ant-Man). Watch it: Attack the Block Fire of Love (2022) Part nature documentary, part tragic love story, this Oscar-nominated feature explores the lives of the French volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft. The couple, who died together on Japans Mount Unzen in 1991, spent decades exploring the depths of volcanoes around the world to better understand their fiery power recording silent footage of their expeditions thats been lovingly restored here. Watch it: Fire of Love Hell or High Water (2016) Facing foreclosure on the family ranch, two Texas brothers (Chris Pine and Ben Foster) decide to rob some of the banks they feel have done them wrong. The heists make them local heroes, but a Texas Ranger nearing retirement (Jeff Bridges, now 73) is hot on their trail. This is a modern spin on classic Western tropes that feels utterly grounded in the real world. Watch it: Hell or High Water McCartney 3, 2, 1 (2021) The same year that Hulu teamed with Searchlight to release Questloves Oscar-winning music doc Summer of Soul, the streamer also debuted this fascinating six-episode docuseries in which uber-producer and Def Jam cofounder Rick Rubin, 60, interviews Paul McCartney, 81, about his pioneering work with the Beatles, the 70s arena-rock band Wings and beyond. Watch it: McCartney 3, 2, 1 Children grow up while we parents are deep in the throes of life. As nutritionists, VPs of bathroom maintenance, bedtime referees and recipients of eye rolls, shrugs and the occasional surprise hug, we often miss the chance to fully appreciate what is happening around us. As a grandparent, its completely different. Time spent with a grandchild is uninterrupted joy. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now When my grandchildren were young teens, every Wednesday we had a free hour between activities to share a wonderful weekly dinner. We ate mussels (yes, I introduced them to all the finest foods), and while they sipped root beer and I enjoyed a fine glass of wine, we talked about friends, food, grades, dreams. I cherished these meals with all my heart. At one dinner, my mind drifted out of the room. I was remembering a conversation between my grandparents and me in which they gave me advice on how to get the most out of each day and live a wonderful life. And then without warning, the words tumbled out of my mouth as I passed them along to my grandchildren. Here are some lessons that I hope they took to heart. Follow your dreams You can subscribe here to AARP Experience Counts, a free e-newsletter published twice a month. If you have feedback or a story idea then please contact us here. My grandparents owned a very successful hardware store in Los Angeles. I remember my grandmother wearing sturdy shoes and thick socks. While other grandmothers stayed home, crocheting quilts and playing mah-jongg, my grandmother walked several blocks to their store and spent her days tallying numbers while my grandfather sold can openers, bolts and cast-iron cookware. They told me they were living their dream. And not to let anyone get in the way of mine. My granddaughter has dreams of a being a dancer and an actor. My grandson dreams of being an artist. I repeated to them my grandmothers words: Dont let anyone talk you out of what they think may be impossible. If you want to dance, dance. If you want to paint, paint. All the great artists in fact, all old people were once young. They all started with a dream. We can only hope they pursued them as adults. Save for a rainy day My grandmother kept galoshes and an umbrella in her hall closet, but that hardly seemed like anything that would help me in life unless I had to walk to someplace important in the rain. And although my grandparents did walk everywhere, I planned on driving as soon as I turned 16. But as I grew up and started working, I realized the significance of that statement. I began paying myself first out of every paycheck and explained savings and 401(k) programs to my grandchildren. Take care of your skin When I was growing up, all women of a certain age had a jar of Ponds on their bathroom counter. My grandmother used a simple bar of soap to clean her skin and then applied Ponds to her face. With todays emphasis on beautiful skin and eternal youth, I caution my grandchildren about the danger of too much sun. And though I purchase many overpriced anti-aging creams, I still use Ponds to remove my eye makeup. When my granddaughter, now a 20-year-old woman, came to spend the night, my jar mysteriously traveled from my bathroom to hers. After 20 years in the Marine Corps, 1st Sgt. Nick Hamm can positively say he thrives on the adrenaline rush that is familiar to all combat veterans. Even after a severe injury, he volunteered to return to the front lines. This passion, combined with his lifelong enthusiasm for motorcycles and off-road activities, drove him to establish The Warrior Built Foundation. This off-road racing company is staffed by combat veteran volunteers, and it aims to recapture the camaraderie and teamwork of military life while providing a safe and supportive environment where veterans can come together to race, bond and heal. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now That whole risk factor, they want to feel alive again, said Hamm, 46. Its a common thing with combat veterans. They want to feel that high they had in combat, that extreme adrenaline rush being here in this environment. Its like a mission. Everyone has a job, and they can feel part of the team. Operation Iraqi Freedom In 2005, Hamm was a platoon sergeant in Iraq operating in enemy territory when communications went down. While troubleshooting the radio system, he remembers hearing a boom before everything went black. I remember my legs hurting really bad. Did I lose both my legs? he said. The next thing I knew, I woke up in this tent hospital in Iraq. Hamm was told that he had undergone surgery and doctors were unsure whether they would be able to save his leg. Although his leg was repaired, Hamm knew he wouldnt be the same after the injuries hed sustained. His life took a dark turn with substance abuse and divorce. Ministerial Support for Makuutu Mining Licence Application Perth, Sep 11, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - The Board of Ionic Rare Earths Limited ( ASX:IXR ) ( IXRRF:OTCMKTS ) is pleased to advise that The Hon Dr Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, the Ugandan government minister for Energy and Mineral Development, has indicated her support for the licensing and development of IonicRE's Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project in Uganda. Ionic Rare Earths Managing Director Tim Harrison met with Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu at the Africa Down Under Mining Conference 2023 from 6-8 September in Perth. The Minister indicated her support for IonicRE's flagship Makuutu Heavy Rare Earths Project and said the Makuutu project was one of the world's best rare earths resources. "Uganda is committed to the development of its mining sector, in line with the Mining and Minerals Act 2022, and its 2040 Vision." "Under this new framework, we look forward to granting approval of the mining licence application to Ionic Rare Earths Ltd. and Rwenzori Rare Metals Ltd." This is a flagship project to establish Uganda as a strategic partner in global supply chains for heavy rare earths," the Minister said. Australia's Minister for Resources, Madeleine King, also spoke highly of the partnership between Australia and Uganda represented by Makuutu. Minister King noted that the abundance of natural resources in African nations that help to produce critical clean energy technologies presents "great opportunities for us to work together across international borders." "An example, because I know they're represented at this conference, is Australian company Ionic Rare Earths. Ionic Rare Earths operates in Uganda and develops rare earths from ionic clay projects." "The company is focused on developing its flagship Makuutu Rare Earths project to become a significant supplier of critical and heavy rare earths to support the global green energy transition," Minister King said in her address on Friday morning. Ionic Rare Earths Managing Director Tim Harrison said new laws in Uganda's mining sector had facilitated a conducive mineral investment climate. "Uganda's new mining laws and regulations offer a clear framework for mineral development in Uganda. We welcome the Ugandan government's support for expediting approvals for the Makuutu project, reinforcing the project as one of the world's largest and most advanced development-ready heavy rare earth element assets." About Ionic Rare Earths Limited Ionic Rare Earths Limited (ASX:IXR) (OTCMKTS:IXRRF) is focused on developing its flagship Makuutu Rare Earths Project in Uganda into a significant long life, low-cost, supplier of high-value critical and heavy rare earths. Makuutu is an advanced-stage, ionic adsorption clay-hosted project highlighted by near-surface mineralisation, significant exploration upside, excellent metallurgical characteristics and access to tier-one infrastructure. The ionic adsorption clay-hosted geology at Makuutu is similar to major rare earths projects in Southern China, which are responsible for the majority of global supply of low cost heavy and critical rare earths, specifically the high value magnet metals (Dysprosium and Terbium) Heavy Rare Earths (>98% originating from ionic clays). Metallurgical testing at Makuutu has returned excellent recovery rates, which provide multiple avenues for a simple process route. Makuutu is well-supported by tier-one existing infrastructure which includes access to major highways, roads, power, water and a professional workforce. Rare Earths will play a critical role in the future of clean energy. Rare Earths are a key ingredient in the permanent magnets found in wind turbines and electric vehicles. IonicRE is led by an experienced and proven team, who have the capabilities to deliver Makuutu into production and realise value for all stakeholders. Related Companies Veratin to grow cosmetic range Sydney, Sep 11, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Veratin Limited ( NSX:VTN ) is pleased to announce the Company has engaged consulting company AXD Pty Ltd for the development of seven new products. This engagement builds on a previous working relationship whereby AXD developed Veratin(TM) shampoo and Veratin(TM) conditioner that are based on eucalyptus, tea tree, aloe vera and orange peel natural extracts. The Company plans to market the existing range of hair products for 'Him' and shall be developing new Veratin(TM) shampoo and new Veratin(TM) conditioner for 'Her'. In addition, the Company shall be developing other products belonging to the Veratin(TM) Cosmetics range. These include a cleanser, exfoliator, serum, moisturiser and eye cream. The new products will contain liquid keratin produced using the Company's intellectual property. Executive Chairman of Veratin Limited, Dr Ramiz Boulos, says "We are committed to growing our cosmetic range through investment in research of new products that provide a point of difference and benefit our customers". The Company has entered into a Manufacturing Services Agreement with Pharmascope Pty Ltd, a Perth-based contract manufacturer for cosmetic and personal care products, for manufacturing of the new products. The Company has previously used Pharmascope for its existing cosmetic products. About Veratin Limited Veratin Limited (NSX:VTN) is involved in the research and development of products derived from waste wool, including the development and sales of its initial product, Verigrow(R), a wool-based liquid fertiliser for domestic and commercial use. The Company is also involved in the development of additional products and opportunities derived from its registered intellectual property. Related Companies PYX Resources' 2023 Half Year Results Briefing Sydney, Sep 11, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - PYX Resources Ltd ( LON:PYX ) ( NSX:PYX ) is pleased to announce that it will release its half-year results up to 30 June 2023 on Wednesday, 13 September 2023. The Company will hold a conference call on Monday, 18 September 2023 at 6pm AEST/ 4pm AWST/9am BST, during which management will give a presentation about the PYX's half-year results. Those wishing to listen can access the conferenced call on: Monday, 18 September 2023 at 6pm AEST, 4pm AWST, 9am BST To register prior to the call to receive dial-in details, please visit: https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/PJ44ZK47 About Pyx Resources Limited PYX Resources Limited (NSX:PYX) (LON:PYX) is a global producer of premium zircon listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia and the London Stock Exchange. The Company's flagship asset is the Mandiri mineral sands deposit, located in the alluvium sediment rich region of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Boasting the world's 5th largest producing deposit of zircon, PYX is a large-scale, near-surface open pit operation in production since 2015 and with exploration to date validating the presence of additional Valuable Heavy Minerals such as rutile, ilmenite among others within its mineral sands. Related Companies Environmental Authorisation Update Sydney, Sep 11, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Theta Gold Mines Limited ( ASX:TGM ) ( 3LM:FRA ) ( TGMGF:OTCMKTS ) provides the following update in relation to the Company's Environmental Authorisation (EA) application granted over Mining Right 83 (MR83) by the DRME. The Company wishes to advise that the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has received a notice of objection from a private individual against the EA granted by the DMRE over MR83. As per the announcement of 26 July 2023, there is a normal appeal process which enables interested and affected parties an opportunity to lodge an appeal. Theta Gold has engaged legal counsel to assist in responding to the objection against the granting of the EA for MR83. Note that out of over 900 Interested and Affected Parties, only one person has lodged an objection. About Theta Gold Mines Limited Theta Gold Mines Limited (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) is a gold development company that holds a range of prospective gold assets in a world-renowned South African gold mining region. These assets include several surface and near-surface high-grade gold projects which provide cost advantages relative to other gold producers in the region. Theta Gold Mines core project is located next to the historical gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, in Mpumalanga Province, some 370km northeast of Johannesburg by road or 95km north of Nelspruit (Capital City of Mpumalanga Province). Following small scale production from 2011-2015, the Company is currently focussing on the construction of a new gold processing plant within its approved footprint at the TGME plant, and for the processing of the Theta Open Pit oxide gold ore. Nearby surface and underground mines and prospects are expected to be further evaluated in the future. The Company aims to build a solid production platform to over 100Kozpa based primarily around shallow, open-cut or adit-entry hard rock mining sources. Theta Gold Mines has access to over 43 historical mines and prospect areas that can be accessed and explored, with over 6.7Moz of historical production recorded. Related Companies Placement Perth, Sep 11, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Limited ( ASX:BPH ) is pleased to announce that it has received binding commitments to raise $1.9 million (before costs) (Placement). The Placement was well supported by new and existing investors and upsized to accommodate strong demand. The Placement will comprise the issue of 95,000,000 new fully paid ordinary shares (Placement Shares) in the Company at an issue price of $0.02 per share. The Placement will be undertaken pursuant to the Company's existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A and subsequent to the issue of a Prospectus in compliance with the Corporations Act and the investor options subject to shareholder approval at the AGM. Placement participants will receive one (1) free Attaching Option (BPHOB.ASX) for every two (2) New Shares subscribed for under the Placement, exercisable at $0.03 each with an expiry date of 30 September 2024 (Attaching Options). The Attaching Options will be quoted on the ASX. Everblu Capital Corporate Pty Ltd (Everblu) and 62 Capital Limited (62 Capital) will act as joint Lead Managers for the Placement. Everblu and 62 Capital will be paid a cash fee of 6% on funds raised under the Placement and 1 Broker Option (BPHOB) per 3 shares issued. Commenting on the capital raising, Executive Director Mr David Breeze said: "The continued support from existing sophisticated and institutional investors is appreciated, and we welcome the new shareholders to the Company. The strong response to the Placement indicates a high level of interest in all our activities, including the growing recognition of the importance of PEP-11 to securing Australia's energy supply, the huge commercial opportunity we are developing with the BARM, and the prospectivity of our clean hydrogen investment. We are excited about all our investments and look forward to keeping shareholders updated on developments." USE OF FUNDS The proceeds raised under the Placement provide BPH with a strong cash position to fund its hydrocarbon projects. The intended use of funds will be for: - $0.2 million - Further Investment in Clean Hydrogen Technology - $1.5 million - Funding for exploration and development of oil and gas investments - $0.1 million - For working capital including costs of the offer - $0.1 million -Funding for Cortical Dynamics PLACEMENT DETAILS The Placement offer price of $0.020 per share represents a 16.7% discount to BPH's closing price on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 of $0.024 per share, and a 16.1% discount to the 15-day VWAP of $0.02385 per share. Settlement of the Placement is expected to be completed on 13 September 2023. The Placement has been conducted pursuant to the Company's existing Placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and 7.1A. A total of 7,240,308 New Shares, and 31,666,667 Broker Options will be issued under Listing Rule 7.1 and 87,759,692 shares under 7.1A. The 47,500,000 Attaching Options will be issued subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming AGM. Placement Shares will rank equally with existing fully paid ordinary shares. About BPH Energy Limited BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes. The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license. BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise. BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT). Related Companies State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code CBS/Ben Watts TV In an Instagram post, the 48-year-old actress/TV host explains her decision to launch season 4 of her daytime talk show, which is a struck show, without writers. Sep 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Drew Barrymore makes headlines after announcing that her popular daytime talk show is returning for a new season amid WGA strike. In an Instagram post on Sunday, September 10, the actress/TV host explained her decision to launch season 4 without writers. "I made a choice to walk away from MTV, film and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with which was studios, streamers, film, television," the former child star wrote on her post. "It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers. And to be clear, our talk show actually wrapped on April 20th so we never had to shut down the show. However, I am also making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me." She went on to say, "I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind. We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time." "I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience," Drew continued. "I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible. We have navigated difficult times since we first came on air. And so I take a step forward to start season 4 once again with an astute humility." A CBS Media Ventures spokesperson also spoke out regarding the matter, speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, " 'The Drew Barrymore Show' will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike." Season 4 of "The Drew Barrymore Show" is set to premiere on September 18. According to WGA strike rules, most daytime talk shows are allowed to continue to run because a lot of them do not employ writers who are a part of the union. "The Drew Barrymore Show" and "The Talk", however, are the only two shows that employ union writers. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Writers Guild told the news outlet that "The Drew Barrymore Show" is a struck show. It also shared that union members are set to picket outside of Drew's studios Monday and Tuesday in New York City. "It has stayed off the air since the strike began on May 2nd but has now (unfortunately) decided to return without its writers," the spokesperson said in the statement. "The Guild has, and will continue to, picket any struck show that continues production for the duration of the strike." Fans also slammed Drew for her decision. "As a fan of your work, I would love for you to reconsider this choice. It is explicitly against the strike, and ignoring the requests of the union. This is not just disappointing, it's a huge statement to the generation of creatives younger than you that your own feelings are more important than our industry's future," one fan said. " 'The Drew Barrymore Show is a WGA covered, struck show.' Why scab? This is unexpected from you. Damn," one other added. "The WGA has called for picket lines outside your show tomorrow. As a member of SAG/AFTRA I don't agree with your decision. We should stand WITH our writers... you should be prepared," someone else wrote. You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity After praising Danny in pre-sentencing letters, the former 'That '70s Show' stars are accused of being similar to their co-star, who received a 30-year prison sentence for sexual assault case, by the accuser. Sep 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have been thrown under the bus following their support to Danny Masterson. After praising Danny in pre-sentencing letters, the former "That '70s Show" stars are accused of being similar to their co-star, who received a 30-year prison sentence for sexual assault case, by the accuser. On Saturday, September 9, Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of Danny's three accusers, strongly suggested that Ashton, Mila and Danny are of the same nature. She uploaded via Instagram Stories a series of throwback videos which allowed social media users to observe her opinion on the three stars. Chrissie let out a short old clip from "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" wherein Mila recounted Ashton making a "side bet" with Danny on "That 70's Show" when she was 14 years old. She recalled, "Danny goes to him and goes, 'Dude, I'll give you $10 if you French kiss her.' " The accuser also released throwback footage of Mila sitting on Ashton's lap when she was a teenager. At that time, they were doing a promotion for their sitcom. Laughing and grabbing Mila, Ashton said in the clip, "And it feels good! And I like it a lot!" Aside from the two videos, Chrissie unleashed a clip documenting Ashton expressing his candid thoughts on Mila when he first got his role on "That '70s Show" alongside her. In the clip, Ashton stated, "14, she was even hotter [then], if I'm allowed to say that." Not stopping there, the victim also resurfaced a video from a 2003 episode of "Punk'd" wherein Ashton was talking about young Hilary Duff. He pointed out, "She's one of the girls that were all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsen twins." Hilary was 15 years old at that time. Chrissie resurfaced the videos one day after Ashton and Mila showed their support for Danny in pre-sentencing letters. In it, Ashton showered Danny with praise for being a "role model" and "excellent person." Meanwhile, Mila claimed that Danny has been a "loving" and "responsible parent" to his daughter. Following the letters, Chrissie could not help but voice her truth on Ashton, Mila and Danny. On Friday, she first wrote to Mila via Instagram Story, "Dear Mila, I pray you begin to process what you experienced as a child on that set. Your old interviews are very telling (I encourage everyone to watch them and decide for yourself what you hear and see. Do so before they get scrubbed from the internet)." She added, "I also know what happened in Toronto and after." Chrissie went on to call out Ashton by writing, "Dear Ashton, I know the secrets your 'role model' keeps for you. Ones that would end you." She continued, "Did you forget I was there? You were on speaker phone that night you called Danny on February 21, 2001. I heard everything. I heard the plan. In my opinion, you're just as sick as your 'mentor.' " Chrissie and other two women accused Danny of raping them. On Thursday, Danny received 30-year prison sentence after he was found guilty for two counts of forcible rape in May. You can share this post! Cover Images/Ryan Hartford Celebrity A few days after reportedly going under the knife due to 'nerve damage' in his elbow, the 'Terminator: Dark Fate' actor is spotted wearing a bandage covering his upper arm down to his wrist. Sep 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Arnold Schwarzenegger has been spotted with a protective cast. After reportedly going under the knife due to "nerve damage" in his elbow, the "Terminator: Dark Fate" actor appeared in good spirits despite still wearing a bandage. On Saturday, September 9, the 76-year-old star was caught on camera when he arrived at his office in Beverly Hills. In pictures making their rounds online, it could be seen that he had a huge cast on one of his arms. The bandage covered his upper arm down to his wrist. For the day out, Arnold sported a short-sleeved dark gray tee and a pair of black shorts. He added a pair of black sunglasses, brown leather slip-on shoes, black high socks and a brown wrist watch to complete his casual ensemble. He was also photographed carrying what appeared to be a gadget in one of his hands. On the reason behind wearing the protective cast, a source who claimed to be close to the bodybuilder revealed that he had a surgery on Thursday, September 7. Speaking to TMZ, the source spilled that doctors put on the cast on his "entire right arm" probably for one week after undergoing a surgery due to "nerve damage" in his elbow. The outlet additionally reported that Arnold did his last workout a few hours before going under the knife. Following the procedure, the politician is now exercising by taking a walk while soaking up the sun in Los Angeles, California. Arnold's new sighting came a few days after he claimed that he nearly died due to doctors' "mistake." In a video uploaded earlier in September on his "Arnold's Pump Club" fitness YouTube channel, he recalled, "I remember when I had my open heart surgery, my third one... I was really freaking out." "And I woke up all of the sudden and the doctor was standing in front of me, and saying, 'I'm so sorry, but unlike what we planned, a non-invasive surgery... we made a mistake and poked through the heart wall, and there was internal bleeding, and we had to open you up to save your life,' " he elaborated. "The bottom line is, you cannot roll the clock back. I was in the middle of a disaster... so now it's about, 'How do I get out of it?' You have to shift gears." You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity Not only he's happily reuniting with his former wife, but also the comedian is all smiles when posing with the actress and her boyfriend during the nuptials of their son and his longtime love Carly Fink. Sep 11, 2023 AceShowbiz - Eddie Murphy couldn't miss the wedding of his son Myles Murphy. The actor/comedian was there when his son, whom he shares with ex-wife Nicole Murphy, tied the knot with his longtime partner Carly Fink. The wedding, which took place in Beverly Hills on Saturday, September 9, reunited Eddie and his ex-wife, who brought along her mystery boyfriend. The two men appear to get along just fine as they were all smiles when posing together with Nicole in one of the pictures she shared via Instagram on Sunday. Nicole looked pretty in a slick pink satin dress with a plunging neckline. Eddie donned a black shirt and suit with a dark blue tie, while her current man looked dapper in a white shirt and dark suit. Both men wore dark sunglasses. Nicole also posed with the groom, who looked neat in a tuxedo by Dion Julian Lattimore for Knotstandard with a bow tie, according to PEOPLE. His new wife looked elegant in a white wedding gown designed by Enzoani with a long veil. The couple was joined by their 4-year-old daughter when they made their entry to the wedding reception venue. "Congratulations to my son Myles & now his beautiful wife Carly," Nicole captioned the snaps from the intimate ceremony. She gushed, "The wedding was stunning. proud of you two .. One big happy family." Myles proposed to Carly in July 2022. In a video shared by Carly on Instagram, Myles could be seen getting down on one knee while the three were aboard a boat as their daughter looked on. She then showed off her engagement ring featuring an oval-cut diamond. The pair welcomed their daughter in 2019, making Eddie a first-time grandparent. He and Nicole share four other children together, Bria, Shayne, Zola and Bella. He is also a father to five other children, including sons Eric, Christian, daughter Angel whom he has with ex-Spice Girls member Melanie Brown a.k.a. Mel B and a 4-year-old son whom he welcomed with Australian model Paige Butcher in November 2018. You can share this post! Chinese embassy urges relevant parties in Britain to stop anti-China political manipulation Xinhua) 11:01, September 11, 2023 LONDON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Britain on Sunday urged relevant parties in Britain to stop anti-China political manipulation. Responding to a question concerning recent reports by British media about the arrest of two British people on suspicion of providing intelligence to China, a spokesperson for the embassy said, "The claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander." "We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce," the spokesperson said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Headquartered in Mumbai, an independent integrated marketing agency, AGENCY09, celebrated its 10-year anniversary on 9th September 2023. With a steadfast commitment to growth, the agency aims to strategically expand its international presence, further solidifying its global footprint. Founded by Tushar Khakhar, supported by Bipeen Nadgauda, and later joined by Gautam Anand, the agency is now a strong team of 85 with its new central office at Turner Road, Bandra. Over the years, AGENCY09 has transformed from being a digital advertising agency to an integrated marketing agency. In 2016, they expanded the tech team delivering projects globally, namely ERPs, multi-website CMSes, modern UI/UX, and e-commerce. They have dedicated departments for Brand, Design, and Production. Today, AGENCY09 consults brands and organizations to grow and foray into a borderless economy. They scale businesses with ideas for Technology, Content, Design, and Data. The agency is currently working with notable brands like Tata Motors, Aditya Birla Capital, Reliance General Insurance, Bits Pilani, Ryan Group of Institutions, Lokmat Media, Godrej LAffaire, Jupiter Hospital, Mahindra Solarize, iGCB (Intellect Design), Parag Milk Foods, Senvion, Chinese Wok, Wurth Car-Haus, Groupsoft and BARC, to name a few. Known for being a people-first organization, AGENCY09 deeply believes in bringing positive change through creative communication and technology. Speaking on the occasion, Tushar Khakhar, Founder, AGENCY09, said, "It's been a momentous #FirstDecadeOf09, building a close-knit core team and the right infrastructure for growth. We are thankful to the industry for giving us the space to grow and contribute. In the quest to build a highly creative ecosystem, the founders have launched a design-led merchandise store called A09 Store, a travel company called Insta Holidays as an outlet for exploring. They also built a classroom to nurture creative talent named academyzeronine, and are building a new category with Octarine Organics, a well-being mushroom company. The agency celebrated this milestone with employees and their families in a meet-up. Superstar Sunny Deol appeared exuberant in Rajat Sharma's show 'Aap Ki Adalat' after the recent success of his movie 'Gadar 2' which has garnered Rs 511 crore at the box-office till now. To a question whether he would think of doing 'Gadar 3' in future, Sunny Deol replied: "Gadar 2 laane ke liye main dar raha tha, Gadar 3 ke liye main taiyar hoon" (I was afraid when I was doing Gadar 2, but now I'm ready to do Gadar 3) When Rajat Sharma asked whether he had got offers to do sequels like Border 2, Ghayal 2, Arjun 2, Sunny Deol replied: "I think the characters in these movies have made their place in the hearts of people. They want extensions of those characters. There was a time when Border 2 was being planned, but it could not happen. Now that this film (Gadar 2) has clicked, everybody is energetic, I think some day or other they will be made." Rajat Sharma: I've heard Sunny has also gained some 'josh', and that you've been demanding Rs 50 crore for a film? Sunny Deol: Look, it's the producer who will decide how much to pay depending on how much he earns. Rajat Sharma: If a movie earns Rs 500 crore, one can demand Rs 50 crore? Sunny Deol: He will decide how much he can pay. I will not say, I'll do or not do. I do not work like this. I like to be in projects where I am not a burden. Rajat Sharma: Did you ever expect Gadar 2 to become a superhit? Sunny Deol: I had no such expectations...when the first Gadar movie was made, it's the people who made it a big hit. There was no digital world in those days. But we had that gut feeling that it would click. In those days, we did not use to go out for promotions. ..This time, before doing Gadar 2, we, particularly our director, did a brainstorming. It was delayed and Covid pandemic began. When he told me about the idea, I liked it and from then onwards, work began. I had this confidence that the people who liked Gadar, will like this sequel too. I knew, either the movie will not click, or if it clicked, it will give the movie its due honour (izzat). This movie has kept its 'izzat' as a sequel." On Salman Khan praising Gadar 2 with his tweet "Dhai kilo ka haath equals chalis cr ki opening. Sunny paaji is killing it. Congrats to the entire team of Gadar 2", Sunny Deol replied: "Salman and I have a different equation. Obviously I'm senior to him. When I used to work, he used to come on the set. ..Hamesha.. He had a good bond with Papa (Dharmendra)..And so that give and take, which is with very few people, was there. Obviously, it is not that they are my colleagues. I have my bonds with everyone. I am what I am, you may like it or may not like it." Rajat Sharma: Even Shahrukh Khan has praised Gadar 2? Sunny Deol: Definitely, definitely. Woh zamana (those days) when it happened, that was a different time. I say, people forget what happened in those days. One understands such things should not have happened. It was 'bachpana' (childish), definitely. After that, Shahrukh and I met several times and spoke to each other about many things. We also talked about some movies. This time, he was watching my film with his entire family. And he called me up. Toh sab cheezen bahut badhiya hai. Sab kuch bahut badhiya (everything is fine now). Sunny Deol was obliquely referring to the incident with Shahrukh Khan during the shooting of 1993 blockbuster Darr, when he ripped the pockets of his jeans in anger and swore to never work with Yash Chopra again. Rajat Sharma: Even Karan Johar has praised you this time? Sunny Deol: "Chaliye, isliye main maafi maangta hoon" (Okay, I tender apology for this) When Rajat Sharma asked why he did not mix up much with his fraternity in the film industry and avoided parties, Sunny Deol replied: " I don't say going to parties is not good, but one has to consume liquor, which I don't. I am an early riser. I go to bed early. Earlier when I used to attend parties, senior actors, who consumed too much liquor, used to hold me back and then engaged me in a loop and spoke continuously. So one or two or three persons used to hold me back, and mujhko bhi chadh jaati thi (I used to get on a high). After drinks, you can't talk sensibly, but it was a different period then." Rajat Sharma: I was reading Dharam Ji's interview, where he said, he tried to teach Sunny and asked you to sing the song 'Mausam Yoon Barasta Hai, Dar Kyun Mujhko Lagta hai'. He said he even told Sunny to hug Amrita Singh, but he refused? Sunny Deol: It's not that it didn't happen. Basically, I'm a shy guy. I used to be shy since childhood. I say, every person has his own personality. Rajat Sharma: Do you give jhappi (hug) now? Sunny Deol: No, I mean, it's not good to give jhappi without any reason. I have changed a lot. I am changing with the times. I am now 65. If I don't change, then when? POLITICS Sunny Deol said, he was going to quit politics and will not contest next year's Lok Sabha elections from Gurdaspur, Punjab. "I am not fit for politics....I will not like to contest election anymore. It will be good if I continue to work only as an actor." Rajat Sharma: What if Modi ji insisted? Sunny Deol: I think Modi Ji understands that this boy Sunny is doing good service for the country as an actor, and he should continue to do so. Even people want I should give them good cinema in which I have expertise. I want to make good films for our youth so that they become motivated, be positive. I think we should always be positive and we are proud of what we are." Sunny Deol said: "My attendance record in Parliament is very poor. I didn't ask a single question in the House." Rajat Sharma read out his attendance record, which says, Sunny Deol went to Parliament only 19 times in the last three and a half years, and asked only one question. He skipped 2021 and 2022 winter session and this year's monsoon session. Sunny Deol said, "I don't say it's a good thing to have a low attendance. When I joined politics, I started to realize, it is not my world. But I did all the work that I had to do in my constituency. I will continue to do so, whether I attend the House or not. There is security, and I face problems. As an actor when I go there, crowds surround me. This is our shortcoming. I have a long list of work that I did for my constituency. In politics as a profession, I am a misfit.... I am only able as an actor. Earlier I became a director, a producer. I left everything because I am good at being an actor." PAKISTAN On some Pakistanis on social media challenging him for a duel, Sunny Deol replied: "Such statements will come. I am an actor. I play characters. It will be better if we do not take what is shown in movies as personal. Of course, if somebody wants a 'panga' (duel) with me, let him come." On another Pakistani saying that their army will reply if ever Sunny visits their country, the actor replied: "In reality, I am not a soldier. I am an actor. I always say, I am doing the role of a character. As a soldier, why should anybody go to another country? No soldier wants to fight the other. A soldier has to work for his country. Nobody wants to take the other's life....Let me tell you, people from Pakistan shower their love, whenever I go abroad. There are political issues which create problems. People from both sides (of the border) are the same. People have gone from here. Hum sab isi mitti ke hain, aur sab ek hi hain, aur yeh jo ladhai vagairah hoti hain, yeh honi nahin chahiye. Har aadmi jo ladh raha hai, woh kisi ka beta hai, husband hai, uski behenen hain, poora pariva uska hai aur yeh koi nahin chahta ki woh usey kho den. Na idhar ka chahta hai, na udhar ka chahta hai. Main toh hamesha yahi kahoonga ki yeh sulah ho jaye charon taraf. Kyunki zindabi jab humen mil hi gayi hai, woh jeena ke liye hai, Ladhne ke liye nahin." (We all belong to the same soil. We are all one. These wars should not have happened. Everybody who is fighting is somebody's son, husband, he has sisters, aur his whole family. Nobody wants to lose them. Neither from this side, nor from that side. I will always say that there must be conciliation all over. The life we have got is meant for living, not for fighting) Greenply Industries Limited, one of Indias largest interior infrastructure companies, has embarked on an exciting new journey with the launch of its new brand campaign for the innovative Zero Emission (E-0) product range. The Television Commercial (TVC) reflects the captivating charisma of one of India's most successful commercial stars, N. T. Rama Rao Jr. Greenply has been a trendsetter of advertising within the wood-panel industry, and with this partnership, it is setting yet another milestone. Greenply introduced India's first-of-its-kind zero-emission plywood range in the year 2021, setting new standards for product innovations in the wood panel industry. The brand's new TV commercial is set to make waves, showcasing Jr. NTR as the hero who champions the cause of healthy interiors. The story of two carpenters discovering the benefits of Greenply after a dramatic encounter with the Telegu superstar is sure to captivate audiences, reminiscent of the electrifying charm of a South Indian blockbuster. The commercial unfolds in a bustling workshop, where two carpenters labor diligently with ordinary plywood. Their discomfort becomes evident as they battle the harmful emissions emitting from the plywood, causing eye irritation, and breathing difficulties. In a true action-heroic style, Jr. NTR makes an entrance, confidently strides towards his cutout, and with a bold kick, he sends the wooden cutout made from ordinary plywood tumbling, declaring a victory over ordinary harmful emission plywood. A moment of comprehension dawns upon the carpenters, who join him in unison. The TVC depicts Jr. NTR and Greenplys Zero Emission plywood as a hero who fights the harmful emissions from ordinary plywood, protecting the consumers from its harmful effects. Mr. Manoj Tulsian, Joint Managing Director and CEO at Greenply Industries expressed his delight at this collaboration, stating, " Greenply Industries has always been at the forefront of innovation in the plywood industry. Our Zero Emission product range is a testament to our commitment to product innovation and the well-being of our consumers. We are thrilled to have Jr. NTR as our brand ambassador, as both Greenply and Jr. NTR share mutual values of sustainability and a deep commitment to the environment. We are certain that his charismatic pan-India appeal will help us reach a wider audience and create greater awareness about the critical role of eco-friendly products in the home interiors. As Greenply continues to push the boundaries of innovation, this collaboration with Jr. NTR marks a significant milestone in the brand's journey. Greenply is strategically undertaking an extensive digital campaign amplification effort designed with a multifaceted approach. This comprehensive strategy will reach the target audience, leveraging key influencers, and harnessing the full potential of the digital landscape. In addition to the robust digital presence, Greenply is also orchestrating an impactful activation of the campaign across more than 35 cities through Out-Of-Home (OOH) channels and various on-ground initiatives. This multi-pronged approach will ensure that the key message penetrates deep into urban and semi-urban areas, resonating with a diverse cross-section of the population. Television, playing a pivotal role in Greenplys campaign, serves as a dynamic medium to engage directly with its end consumers. Through this medium, Greenply aims to disseminate its message of fostering healthy interiors and championing Zero Emission products. The exciting TV campaign is set to ignite enthusiasm and drive the companys mission of creating eco-friendly living spaces across the nation. Pre-employment background screening and risk assessment company in the background verification domain, AuthBridge, which has its head office in Gurgaon, Haryana, is an enlisted background check company with National Skill Registry, an initiative of NASSCOM. Founded in the year 2005, AuthBridge is also a constituent member of APAC chapter of NAPBS (National Association of Profession Background Screeners). It is a provider of screening services to organisations for those employees who are already existing, senior management, prospective hires and partners and vendors under AuthBridge. AuthBridge customers include start-ups, MNCs from extensive industry sectors. It has created automated web-based platforms, offering instant education and employee verification services that could be utilised by other background screening organisations and companies. It is currently expanding in other regions, targeting the global markets. In conversation with Adgully, Ajay Trehan, Founder and CEO, AuthBridge, speaks at length about being in the authentication business, the solutions offered to a wide range of clients, the challenges faced in maintaining transparency, and much more. What is the idea and concept behind AuthBridge? Weve been in the business for 18 years now. And we are the largest authentication company in the country. So basically, when I founded the company, my idea was to first solve the employee verification problem. Because in a lot of organisations, when theyre hiring people, there are a lot of challenges around verifying their identity, education, criminal record, employment history, etc. So, that was the first problem. I started working for 1,300 employees. Then of course, over a period of time, we started working with banks, etc., to help them solve the problem of verifiability. So, thats what we do. We are the largest authentication and onboarding technology company in the country. First division is the employee screening division The second division, which is the financial intelligence system, is our BFSI division, where we work with the banking and financial services and insurance sector to help them in detection, KYC, video KYC and those kinds of problems. The third division is Business Solutions, where we work with large corporations and help them do authentication, distributors, franchisees, etc. Who is your primary TG and who are your competitors? Our primary target group for the workforce and Business Solutions is Corporates. And for the BFSI or the Financial Intelligence vertical, our primary target group is banks, insurance companies, NBFCs, mutual funds and those kinds of entities. How is AuthBridge helping to bring more transparency in business operations and hiring processes? Thats the whole core of the business. It just brings transparency because everything that is being stated by the candidate or by a vendor or by a distributor or by a customer gets verified. And sometimes customers also need some additional information about themselves, which also gets collected. So, the system, our processes or our technology automatically brings that comfort in the engagement. If you look at it that way, we make doing business on the Internet easy and safe. For instance, if you are a food delivery company, we will keep your delivery boys clean. We will tell you if somebody has a criminal case that can impact your reputation in any way. Or if you are a cab aggregation company, we will tell you if your driver has a criminal case or has been involved in a motor vehicle accident, because if hes a rash driver, that could impact your reputation later. We would help you not get into that trouble with the driver or with the delivery boy at all. So, it brings in a huge amount of convenience and ease of doing business. How is verification different in HR as compared to in an e-commerce platform? On the HR side or the employee side, the verifications require much more information. For example, you will do an education check, when you hire somebody for a particular job, you want to make sure that hes skilled for that job, so you will do his education check. When you hire people, you also ask them questions around their previous employment and what kind of experience theyve had. So, you want to make sure that whatever experience they are mentioning about is genuine in nature. However, in the e-commerce side or in the cab gig economy side, what they want to know is typically identity and if the person has any criminal records, because of which their reputation could be at stake. What are the challenges that AuthBridge has faced and how has it overcome them? How has been the pandemic period for your business? The first challenge was around gathering data on individuals for us to be able to verify them. So, lets say, if we were to verify you, we would need a copy of your degree, etc., which well have to first collect from you, or youll have to give it to us, and then well have to go to your university, where the degree was issued to confirm that the degree is genuine. Right now, doing that in a global operation is a very cumbersome process. So, we had to set up a lot of those processes to make sure that it happens smoothly across the world. That was the biggest challenge in the company. We did that many years ago by automating a lot of our processes, by bringing in a lot of AI, and by bringing in a lot of robotic process automation of our processes. When the pandemic struck, the challenge for us was to offer everything remotely and digitally to our customers. In the old days, we could always get in touch with a candidate and collect documents from his home, or when we were doing his or her address verification, we could send somebody down to his or her place to do a physical address verification. But, those things were not possible when the pandemic hit us. So, we had to convert a lot of our offerings to digital, and we had to also very quickly convince our customers to accept those digital offerings. Thankfully, that happened because our customers were also under a lot of pressure to still continue to be in the business despite the pandemic. So, it was a challenging time, obviously on multiple grounds, but I think from a business standpoint, it worked out pretty well for us. How is AuthBridge leveraging technology and AI to deliver best in class solutions? We have been using artificial intelligence quite extensively in AuthBridge for many years. Just to give you an idea that the criminal records or litigation records in India are all in the public domain now, to collect that data from hundreds of websites in India and to aggregate that data and then search that data, is a very complex process. If you know how courts operate, if there is a judgment or there is an order issued by the court, the name of the party may be written in running text or maybe jumbled up and whatever. In case of orders and judgments that are being released on a daily basis, how do we make sure that we are able to read those judgments and order copy seamlessly without creating any problem, without slowing the process down for our customers? Thats where we have extensively used artificial intelligence. The other area where we use AI quite a lot is document OCR and document reading. Our artificial intelligence engines can automatically look at a degree and say, for example, this is from Delhi University, and this person has done his or her BCom in this year. Similarly, our AI engines can quickly read text and convert and identify the name of the individual against which there is that order, or who the other parties are, etc. Our AI engines can also create final reports based on our findings on the data. So, a lot of that training of AI that is required to do this has been done in-house. We have a pretty strong data and AI team in AuthBridge. What are the trends in the HR industry currently, according to you? I see that the adoption of digital ways of doing things has really increased in the last 3-4 years, which was not the case earlier. Second, the hunger of the HR community to learn newer technologies and how those technologies can be used to improve their processes is quite commendable. That wasnt the case earlier. I think these are the two primary things where I see a significant shift thats really helping companies like us, which are largely technology companies, to serve the HR fraternity better. What are the plans and future vision of AuthBridge? How many verifications have been done by the company till date? First, on a daily basis we do, maybe on an extreme day, probably half a million verifications. Thats about 5 lakh verifications a day, which comes to about 15-20 million verifications in a month. And a lot of that is happening robotically and automatically with very little manual intervention from our side. When it comes to the future, actually the skys the limit, if I may say so. We are already doing business in close to about 54 countries and we are beginning to grow globally. The global revenues are growing. So thats a very positive sign for us, considering that we are a India-based company. So, it has been a fairly exciting thing. After brewing the excitement in her audiences for a few days, Parineeti Chopra announces her investment in Tritiyaa Fine Jewellery, founded by the celebrated entrepreneur Kanthi Dutt. Yesterday, entrepreneur Kanthi Dutt announced his new venture Tritiyaa Fine Jewellery, an exquisite jewellery boutique brand, to be opening doors on the 8th of September 2023 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. With great excitement, Parineeti Chopra on her investment in the brand shared, Jewellery is a treasure that lasts for generations. Happy to partner with a new age jewellery boutique brand. Very excited on this partnership with the young and energetic entrepreneur Kanthi Dutt. This partnership is not just an investment, it's a testament to our shared vision of redefining elegance and style in the jewelry world. About his association with Parineeti, Kanthi Dutt stated that, She is a very cheerful and happy person. I was looking for someone who resonates with my style of jewellery. Parineeti being a new bride, she understands how important jewellery is for a bride. We collectively wanted to put our best foot forward in making the day memorable by crafting statement pieces that speak about the bride. Cant wait for Parineeti to show off our collection during her wedding. Sharing his thoughts on the new venture, Entrepreneur Kanthi Dutt said, My love for jewellery defines celebration of lifes precious moments. At Tritiyaa, every piece is a master piece and each moment is an occasion. We offer very exclusive gold & diamond jewellery collection, including that of uncuts, victorian, rare precious stones. Our partnership with Parineeti will take Tritiyaa to greater heights and I cant contain my excitement. Tritiyaa Fine Jewellery is an end-to-end jewellery brand committed to providing the best quality and exquisite designs. Situated on Road number 36, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad the brand intends to grow to multiple locations including Bombay, Bangalore and Visakhapatnam. Sebamed, a renowned German personal care with a legacy of over 60 year has launched its new campaign #pH matters from day 1 for its baby care portfolio. The campaign ropes in Karan Johar, who acknowledges himself as a parent first then a filmmaker sharing heartfelt insights and vulnerability about his parental journey. Sebamed baby care products that are made of highest quality ingredients with the benefit of pH 5.5 is backed by robust evidence based science and makes parents decision making simpler The campaign showcases Karan Johar candidly recounting his experiences as a parent, when his kids Ruhi and Yash were born. He explains how he reached out to parents in his circle as he couldnt afford to go wrong and how all of his friends in unison shared Baby Sebamed - a brand you can blindly trust. He further adds how his doctors and pediatricians explained to him about the importance of using baby care products with pH 5.5 for babys hair and skin right from day 1. Karan Johar, a proud Sebamed parent shares: After seeking advice and learning from the world, he says that there's nothing better than Sebamed for the nourishment of his children. He further shares how pediatricians explained the importance of using pH 5.5-based products for babies skin and hair, right from the day I choose whats best for his babies. I am thrilled to be part of this empowering journey with the brand Sebamed, where I can enable Indian parents to understand the benefits of pH5.5 for healthy skin and hair right from day 1 because #pHmatters Harsh Suba, General Manager, Marketing (Digital), Sebamed shares : The #pHmatters campaign ropes in Karan Johar as a parent and explains how every parent strives to give the best to their babies. They proactively search for information and validate the same with friends and families. We hope the campaign will resonate well with our audience and persuade them to switch to Sebamed baby care products with perfect pH 5.5 Bipasha Chakroborty, General Manager, Marketing (Product Mgt), Sebamed shares : The campaign #pHmatters from day 1, highlights the benefits of using pH5.5 products for babys sensitive skin and hair right from day 1. With Karan Johar on board we hope to disseminate the new information about the benefits of pH 5.5 to millions of parents across India. Sebamed baby care products are free from harsh chemicals and supports development of skin barrier that keeps skin hydrated and protected from environmental stressors. For more information about the #pHmatters campaign and Sebamed's science-backed skincare solutions, please visit www.sebamedindia.com Griffin Arthur Fraser stands as a globally renowned public figure, renowned for being the offspring of Brendan Fraser and Afton Smith. His recognition primarily stems from his Canadian lineage, with Peter Fraser, a former journalist, being his grandfather. As a prominent personality, Griffin attracts substantial attention and admiration. His journey with autism is a particularly notable facet of his life. Should you be intrigued by this extraordinary individual, we invite you to delve into a comprehensive exploration of his captivating life. In this investigation, we will delve into various facets of Griffin Arthur Fraser's existence in the year 2020, aiming to address inquiries and pique your curiosity. Autism In The Life Of Griffin Fraser Meet Griffin Fraser, a remarkable individual who navigates life with autism, a multifaceted condition characterized by challenges in social communication and a propensity for repetitive behaviors. Griffin's journey with autism commenced during his early years, when he received his diagnosis. His parents have lovingly shared that he faces difficulties in verbal communication and comprehension. James Fraser, the devoted father of Griffin Arthur Fraser, firmly believes in showering his son with extra affection, recognizing him as a uniquely special child. James affirms that Griffin receives all the love and care he rightfully deserves. In addition to the unwavering support from his siblings, Leland and Holden, Griffin finds strength in their presence. Furthermore, James Fraser has extended his heartfelt care to a horse named Pecas, which he acquired to provide companionship and comfort to Griffin. Although he doesn't ride the horse, he frequently enjoys bonding with and petting Pecas. Is Griffin Arthur Fraser Still Alive? Absolutely, Griffin Arthur Fraser, the son of Brendan Fraser, is alive and in excellent health. Following Brendan's speech at the Oscars, there was some confusion, but it's important to clarify that Griffin is indeed alive and thriving. Griffin is on the autism spectrum, a fact that Brendan openly discussed in a 2018 interview with GQ magazine. Despite his diagnosis, Griffin continues to be a remarkable source of inspiration, leaving a positive impact on everyone he meets. Brendan has shared how his son's presence fosters greater compassion and understanding in those around him. Since Griffin's diagnosis, Brendan has been actively advocating for families caring for individuals with autism. Moreover, when interacting with fans, Brendan takes the time to connect with those who are also part of the autism community, showcasing his unwavering support and empathy. Why Did Griffin Arthur Fraser's Parents' Marriage End? Griffin Fraser's parents were a renowned Hollywood couple known for their passionate love story. James Fraser and Afton Smith first crossed paths on July 4th, 1993, during a friend's barbecue, where sparks flew between them. A love relationship developed from their initial interaction, and on September 27, 1998, at Los Angeles' famous Bel Air Hotel, they were married in a lavish ceremony. They brought three children into their family during the course of their marriage. But after nine years, Afton Smith made the painful decision to divorce James, thus their happy marriage was short-lived. In 2007, the couple made their divorce public, and it was formally concluded in 2009. Speculation soon arose, suggesting that Afton decided to end the marriage due to James' alleged affair with her co-star, Mario Bello, during a movie shoot in China. V360 Group, a multifaceted marketing consortium, is expanding its presence across the countrys length and breadth with the launch of Value 360 Bharat. With this, the firm has launched its end-to-end communications solutions including PR, digital creative marketing, and influencer marketing in 10 thriving tier-2 and 3 cities, including Kolkata, Chandigarh, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Chennai, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Indore. These cities have been selected on the back of their burgeoning business landscape housing fast-growing brands with the potential to scale exponentially with the right mix of marketing solutions. The strategic initiative will start with 10 cities and will progressively expand across 20 more cities in the next 24 months. Value 360 Bharat has been envisioned with the knowledge that India has a massive industrial belt in its regional markets. These key cities represent a significant untapped potential in the form of brands with sizeable revenues aspiring to achieve national prominence. This is where Value 360 Bharat enters the picture with integrated capabilities that will help these brands create a national brand identity. Additionally, it will also offer holistic support to create a go-to-market strategy for a national brand campaign. Moreover, as a deluge of start-ups emerge from Indias hinterlands, Value 360 Bharat can draw upon V360 Groups long-honed strength in building brands to help them gain national scale. Value 360 Bharat will also allow the firms existing national clients to reach fast-growing Tier 2 and 3 markets in India. V360 Group envisions Value 360 Bharat contributing to 15-20% of its revenue in the near future. Gaurav Patra, Founder-Director, V360 Group, said, After creating a great impact across metro regions, foraying into the regional segments of the country was the next natural progression for V360 Group, especially considering the kind of potential we have identified across these regions. We are proud to elevate our long-standing team member, Sandeep Dasgupta, to CEO of Value 360 Bharat, and believe that he will expertly helm the initiative with his characteristic leadership skills and immense knowledge of regional PR. Sandeep Dasgupta, CEO, Value 360 Bharat, said, As our firm continues to evolve, we want to now become a catalyst that offers a wider scope to existing clients and cater to regional brands possessing the ambition and scalability potential to become national entities. Value 360 Bharat will help us achieve these goals, tapping into a flourishing business ecosystem that exists beyond the countrys metro cities. Leveraging our vast experience and integrated capabilities, we are poised to unlock the next phase of growth in the PR and communications space, which will be hinged upon flourishing regional markets. Mumbai-based integrated digital marketing agency, Verve Media, has achieved yet another milestone by securing the digital mandate for Voyaah.com, a leading travel-tech platform for booking leisure travel deals online. The brand curates the best-valued holidays in top-rated luxury hotels & resorts in India and across the globe and provides customized itineraries to cater to the needs of affluent travelers. Under this strategic partnership, Verve Media will employ its expertise in SEO and SEM to amplify the brand's digital footprint. The agency's approach will revolve around driving organic growth through on-page and off-page content strategies, enhancing the brands online visibility with keyword marketing techniques, and further maximizing their growth by integrating Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Saad Merchant, Co-Founder of Verve Media, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration stating, "With Voyaah.coms mission of providing top-tier luxury travel solutions and our expertise in SEO and SEM, this collaboration is a perfect synergy. Through meticulous on-page and off-page strategies, we are set to elevate the brand's online presence and empower travelers with seamless access to their exceptional services. Our approach is geared towards boosting search engine rankings along with boosting their sales through Paid Ads and enriching user experiences, creating a win-win scenario for both the brand and its valued customer." Talking about the collaboration, Deepak Narang, AVP of Marketing & Communications at Voyaah.com said, "Going on a luxury vacation can be stressful and exceedingly expensive, if not planned correctly. That's where our team of travel experts step in to curate exclusive holiday packages that offer best-in-class pricing. From lavish accommodations to personalized itineraries, every detail is meticulously crafted to ensure a seamless journey, promising you a truly extraordinary escape. We are excited to partner with Verve Media and leverage their deep expertise in SEO and SEM to elevate our digital presence." Being one of the leading integrated marketing agencies for the past six years, Verve Media has been successful in building an illustrious reputation for providing creative digital solutions to clients from diverse industries. They have catered to clients like Rummy Circle, HiCare, Shell, Truenorth, The International by Tunga, UNDP, Bigflex and NABFOUNDATION, among others. Swiss Federal Office of Energy Bern, 11.09.2023 - The International Energy Agency (IEA) considers Switzerland's energy policy to be on the right track, but that progress is too slow. It therefore recommends that Switzerland press ahead more quickly with converting its energy system. The federal government, in cooperation with the cantons, should speed up the licensing procedures for energy infrastructures. Climate policy measures effective from 2030 onwards should also be defined as quickly as possible in order to achieve the net zero emissions target by 2050. Furthermore, the IEA suggests that energy efficiency measures be consistently taken into account in all relevant Swiss policies. According to the IEA, integration into the European electricity market by means of an electricity agreement would strengthen both Switzerland's and the EU member states' security of electricity supply. The IEA report on Switzerland's energy policy was presented to the media in Bern on Monday, 11 September, by Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the IEA. The IEA welcomes the measures that Switzerland implemented swiftly in response to the global energy crisis (in particular hydropower reserve, reserve power plants), which are effective in the short term. It is also in favour of the Bill on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources (energy legislation amendment package), which is currently before Parliament. This contains measures to achieve binding and long-term energy and climate targets and to strengthen winter electricity supply. The IEA also gives high marks to the solar and wind initiatives passed by Parliament; these aim to enable the rapid construction of Alpine solar power plants. Projects for various wind power plants are also well advanced in the approval process. In addition, on 21 June, the Federal Council submitted a bill to Parliament to speed up licensing procedures. Agreement with the EU The IEA recommends that Switzerland align its electricity market regulations with those of the EU and conclude an electricity agreement. This would result in lower costs for system services in the transmission grid for Swiss consumers and strengthen the security of electricity supply in Switzerland, as well as in the EU member states. With reference to the energy crisis, the IEA states that in order to secure its gas supply, Switzerland would benefit from having a regulatory authority and a coordinating grid company. The tasks of these bodies should be defined in the planned Gas Supply Act. Furthermore, the IEA recommends that the federal government draw up national strategies for hydrogen, e-fuels and other renewable gases and examine what role they can play in sectors that are proving difficult to decarbonise. This would allow Switzerland to consider an agreement with the EU on gas and hydrogen at a later date. According to the IEA, Switzerland could make more rapid progress in implementing its energy and climate policy measures if it were to apply suitable steps to address three key bottlenecks. The IEA sees these bottlenecks firstly in the lack of skilled workers, for example for the installation of heat pumps or charging stations for electric vehicles. Secondly, in the slow licensing procedures for renewable energy production facilities and electricity grids. And thirdly, in interruptions in the international supply chains for components and equipment in the energy sector. Energy efficiency and buildings The IEA suggests that the principle of 'energy efficiency first' be systematically taken into account in all relevant policies in Switzerland. Furthermore, the federal government and the cantons should consistently lead the way in the area of energy efficiency and renewable energies, for example through the energy-efficient renovation of government buildings. In the buildings sector, the IEA welcomes the federal government's heating strategy published in 2023, which includes renewable energy resources such as bioenergy, geothermal energy, ambient heat and waste heat from industrial processes. The IEA recommends, among other things, using renewable solutions to help cover peak loads for district heating and increasing underground exploration so that it can be harnessed for heating and heat storage. Loss of know-how in nuclear energy sector In the field of nuclear energy, the IEA warns of a loss of know-how as the field is losing its appeal among young specialists due to Switzerland's gradual phase-out. This could have a negative impact on the long-term operation of existing nuclear power plants and on Switzerland's other activities in the nuclear sector. There is a need for skilled labour for all activities related to nuclear energy, for example decommissioning, waste disposal and storage. With regard to the deep geological repositories, the IEA recommends continuing and further deepening the good cooperation with the local authorities concerned. The IEA commends the 'Swiss Energy research for the energy transition' (SWEET) programme, which supports inter- and transdisciplinary research and innovation activities for the Energy Strategy 2050 and Switzerland's long-term climate policy. With funding for SWEET set to expire in 2025, the IEA recommends quickly taking steps to secure further funding. The IEA also suggests improving coordination between universities, think tanks and research institutes on research programmes, projects and research data. The IEA conducts an in-depth review of the energy policies of its member countries roughly every five years. For the latest in-depth review, an international review team visited Switzerland from 22 to 28 November 2022. It met with numerous experts from federal and cantonal authorities, energy companies, associations and other organisations. It examined the objectives, instruments and successes of energy policy in general and in particular in the areas of energy and climate, energy efficiency, renewable energies, energy research, electricity, natural gas, nuclear energy and oil. The individual topics are discussed in detail, evaluated and accompanied by recommendations in the approximately 130-page report (Energy Policies of IEA Countries - Switzerland, 2023 Review). Address for enquiries SFOE Press Service, 058 460 81 52, media@bfe.admin.ch Publisher Swiss Federal Office of Energy http://www.bfe.admin.ch Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 11.09.2023 - The Swiss deployment to fight forest fires and support Greece after the floods came to an end on Sunday evening, 10 September 2023. In the initial phase, the team supported the Greek authorities in fire-fighting operations for five days with Swiss army helicopters. In the second phase, the team focused on the flooded areas of central Greece. Three Super Puma helicopters were used to transport people and distribute material. Today, Monday, the helicopters and their crews as well as the Swiss Humanitarian Aid rapid response team returned to Switzerland. The three Super Puma helicopters deployed to Greece on 2 September 2023 initially carried out fire-fighting operations in the Alexandroupolis area in north-eastern Greece, and were subsequently deployed to assist in the flood-affected region of Thessaly from Friday, at the request of the Greek authorities. Thanks to Swiss support, several fires were extinguished or contained, bringing the situation in the Alexandroupolis area under control. In the fire-fighting operation, around 270 tonnes of water were used during 27 flying hours. In the subsequent flood relief operation in the Thessaly region, 36 flood victims and aid workers were transported and six tonnes of material distributed in 23 flying hours. The Swiss intervention team consisted of 23 members of the Swiss Armed Forces (mainly the air force) and three specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit. The operation was carried out under the auspices of Swiss Humanitarian Aid, which is part of the FDFA, together with the Swiss Armed Forces and in close cooperation with the Greek authorities. On a visit to Alexandroupolis, the Greek president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, thanked the entire Swiss team for all their efforts. Switzerland's deployment was in response to official requests for assistance from the Greek authorities. The helicopters and the Swiss team returned to Switzerland today, Monday. For further information: FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern Tel. press service: +41 58 460 55 55 Email: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @EDA_DFAE Swiss Armed Forces media information Urs Muller Head of operational communication Tel. +41 58 464 05 42 urs.mueller.mlr@vtg.admin.ch Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports DDPS http://www.vbs.admin.ch General Secretariat DDPS https://www.vbs.admin.ch/ Defence http://www.vtg.admin.ch Ashesh Mehta with wife Shivangi Lad Mehta | Image: Facebook In a significant development, the Mumbai Polices Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has taken decisive action against the purported masterminds of a Ponzi scheme. 11 bank accounts linked to Bliss Consultants, its owner Ashesh Mehta, and his wife Shivangi have been frozen by the EOW. Krishna Hegde, a former MLA and spokesperson for the Shiv Sena party, who has been actively pursuing the case, claims that they have also frozen five residential properties connected to the elusive couple. The homes, which have a combined value of about 16 crore rupees, are situated in Kandivili, Goregaon East, and Santacruz West. The EOW is investigating additional properties and bank accounts that might require a similar course of action. With the assistance of the Mumbai Police and Krishna Hegde, this freeze has resulted in the immobilization of nearly 170 crore INR. Ashesh Mehta and Shivangi Lad Mehta have gone into hiding after allegedly defrauding over 4,000 investors out of over a thousand crores. The Mumbai Police and EOW have responded quickly to my complaint, Hegde said, and I now implore them to expedite the legal process for the release of these frozen assets, which can then be rightfully distributed among the investors who have suffered significant financial losses. Hegde also demanded that the frozen properties be liquidated and the proceeds returned to the investors via a police-managed process. The EOW has additional information, and it would be in Ashesh Mehtas best interests to come forward, cooperate with the ongoing police investigations, and aid in resolving this matter, Hegde added. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis 2002 interview on The Rosie ODonnell Show resurfaced on social media after the two actors apologized for writing letters of support for Danny Masterson ahead of his sentencing for rape. In the viral clip, Kunis reveals that Masterson once bet Kutcher $10 to French kiss her while filming an episode of their Fox sitcom That 70s Show. The actors are in good spirits about the incident, but the clip has amassed over four million views and counting in the days after Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life for rape. She was 14 when we started the show. I was 19, Kutcher says in the 2002 interview. And they were like, You guys are going to be making out in this scene. And Im thinking, Wait, this is slightly illegal. Ive never kissed a guy, Kunis adds. I was a 14-year-old little girl and I was extremely scared for my life. He was very nice about it, like, Dont worry about it. Then Danny goes to him and goes, Dude, Ill give you $10 if you French kiss her. We had a little side bet going, Kutcher confirms. Youre kissing on the show, were boyfriend and girlfriend. You would use tongue. Danny bet me like 20 bucks I wouldnt do it. Kunis and Kutcher then argue over whether or not Kutcher won the bet. I didnt let him, but I think he tried, she says, while ODonnell jokes, The cops showed up and you would get arrested. Kutcher then notes that he thinks Kunis was actually 15 years old at the time. Variety has reached out to Kunis and Kutchers representatives for further comment. Several old interview clips of Kutcher, Kunis and Masterson have circulated on social media since Mastersons prison sentence was announced. One clip features Masterson being interviewed on Late Night with Conan OBrien and telling an anecdote about slipping in and out of his Long Island accent. It builds to a joke about Masterson asking people to touch his genitals. So why are you asking people to do that? Thats the more important question, OBrien asks Masterson, who replies, I mean, you got em, you know what I mean? Everybody should grab. OBrien responds, Ive heard about you. And youll be caught soon, I know you will. I will, Masterson says. In the lead up to Mastersons sentencing, Kunis and Kutcher wrote letters to the judge in which they supported his character. Kutcher called Masterson a role model, while Kunis vouched for Mastersons exceptional character and referred to him as an outstanding older brother figure. Kutcher and Kunis, who are married and share two young children, starred with Masterson on That 70s Show from 1998 to 2006. Kutcher then starred with Masterson on Netflixs The Ranch. Masterson was written out of the show in its third season, after being accused of sexual assault in 2017. Following immense backlash for their letters, Kutcher and Kunis posted an apology video on Instagram in which they said, We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future...Our heart goes out to every single person whos ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape. 2023 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media; Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC Drew Barrymore confirmed Sunday that her talk show will resume production amid the Hollywood writers and actors strikes. And the Writers Guild of America has announced plans to picket outside Mondays taping in New York City. In a statement shared on social media, the actor and daytime TV host took responsibility for the decision to tape and release new episodes of The Drew Barrymore Show during the strikes. A spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures, which produces Barrymores show, clarified Sunday that its on-camera talent will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike. I am ... making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me, Barrymore said in her statement. I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind. Barrymore also pointed out that her program technically never went dark because its last season wrapped before the strikes began. The fourth season of the series is scheduled to premiere Sept. 18. The eastern branch of the WGA called upon its members to demonstrate Monday outside CBS Broadcast Center in New York, where The Drew Barrymore Show is taped. Barrymores program is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers, the WGA East said Sunday in a statement shared on social media. The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on The Drew Barrymore Show is in violation of WGA rules. Certain daytime talk shows that reportedly dont rely heavily on striking writers such as The View, Tamron Hall and Live With Kelly and Mark have been taping new episodes during the strikes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Others that do such as The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Jennifer Hudson Show have been airing reruns during the work stoppages. We launched live in a global pandemic, Barrymore said in her statement. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time. I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience. I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible. We have navigated difficult times since we first came on air. And so I take a step forward to start season 4 once again with an astute humility. Shortly after the WGA walkout went into effect in early May, Barrymore withdrew from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in support of striking writers. I made a choice to walk away from the MTV, film and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with, which was studios, streamers, film, and television, Barrymore said Sunday. It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers. On Wednesday, CBS Media Ventures announced that The Drew Barrymore Show would return later this month with a lineup of cutting-edge guests and key influencers. Its worth noting that no Hollywood actors who are also on strike are among the confirmed guests. _____ 2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell visited two Birmingham churches that were focal points of the civil rights movement on Monday to announce a new round of federal funding to preserve their historic buildings. Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville and St. Paul United Methodist Church in the downtown civil rights district both will receive grants to maintain and improve their campuses. Each church will receive $750,000 as part of a $3.1 million that Sewell helped secure for historic civil rights sites in Alabama this year. Bethel Baptist Church will use that money to preserve the historic building where the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth preached when he was pastor there from 1956-61 and used it as a headquarters to lead efforts to break down Birminghams segregation laws. Bethel also received an additional grant of $750,000 to build a family life and child center at the back of its newer sanctuary. Im truly elated at the investment thats being made into our community, said Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Thomas Wilder. During last years appropriations process, we fought hard to ensure that we included funding in the federal budget for local projects right here in Alabama, Sewell said. Our communities know best what they need. We are grateful to the National Parks Service and grateful to you and others who are committed to making sure that this space and other spaces like it are made available to future generations, said the Rev. Richard Stryker, pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church. In May, Sewell had announced over $3.1 million in funding from the National Park Services African American Civil Rights Grant Program that is being awarded to preserve historic sites in Alabama related to Civil Rights and the African American struggle for equality. Sewell has worked to increase funding for the NPS African American Civil Rights Grant Program to preserve Americas Civil Rights sites and HBCUs. NPS awarded the following grants, which total $3,149,900, for historic sites in Alabama: $74,800 to the City of Anniston for Story Mapping and Formalization of Operations and Maintenance for the Anniston Civil Rights Trail $750,000 to the Historic Bethel Baptist Church Community Restoration Fund in Birmingham for historic preservation $750,000 to the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Birmingham for preservation and restoration $750,000 to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery for repair and rehabilitation $75,000 to the Alabama Historical Commission in Montgomery for the Freedom Rides Museum Vintage Greyhound Bus Virtual Reality Experience $750,000 to the Alabama Historical Commission in Montgomery for rehabilitation of the second floor of the Moore Building Thats in addition to earlier appropriations for Bethel Baptist, St. Paul United Methodist and other civil rights churches. See also: Birmingham church that hosted first civil rights mass meeting gets preservation grant Five historic Alabama civil rights churches get National Parks grants Brown Chapel AME in Selma starts $1.3 million renovation, Gov. Ivey visits Sixteenth Street Baptist Church added to civil rights network Historic civil rights churches in a national park? Some ideas -- that Mobilians might just show up and march in an open, grassroots parade honoring the legacy of Jimmy Buffett are kind of like volcanos. Which is to say, most of them dont do much. But guess what? Sunday afternoon in downtown Mobile, this volcano blew up in a big way. Hundreds if not thousands of people turned out to take part in, or just to watch, a foot procession that rivaled the citys legendary Joe Cain Procession in some ways. With the Blow House Brass Band leading the way, a colorfully-clad crowd that first gathered at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza then took a 12-block stroll along Dauphin Street past Bienville Square and the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, landmarks Buffett likely would have known from his childhood. There werent too many people this would have happened for, but Buffett certainly was one of them. And there arent too many places where this idea could catch on so fast and become such a happening with so little in the way of planning, marketing or explanation. Buffett died on Sept. 1 after a four-year battle with an aggressive skin cancer. Though he was born in coastal Mississippi, Buffett grew up in Mobile and made some of his earliest recordings while still living here. The connection became a point of pride for many after a combination of songwriting skill, business acumen and musical individuality brought him enduring fame. There was a widespread sense in the days after his death that Mobile should and would honor him in some way. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said the city definitely needs to do something and that conversations had begun. Read more: Jimmy Buffetts final studio album is coming soon. The future likely does hold some form of civic recognition. But in the meantime, local filmmaker Joseph Brennan reached out to friends at the Blow House Brass Band, wondering if a second line parade was feasible. The idea caught on like wildfire, quickly won city support and made the leap to social media at which point there was no stopping it. Something was going to happen on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 10, whether it was big or small. Minutes before the parades start, surveying the crowd of hundreds that had gathered in the courtyard of the Renaissance Riverview Plaza, Brennan was clearly tickled. I woke up [that] Saturday morning to some bad news, and wanted to make the best of a bad situation, and I felt like thats something Buffett would do, Brennan said. Basically one thing led to another. People just came out and said, I want to help. What started out as just a few Gulf Coast friends who love Buffett turned into what youre looking at right now Its a great day. Joseph Brennan, a Mobile filmmaker whose idea for an open foot parade honoring Jimmy Buffett, smiles as he takes in the huge turnout on Sept. 10, 2023.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com One sign of the extent to which the event had taken on a life of its own: Before the start, as the Blow House Brass Band waited to lead the parade, the crowd was entertained by a series of Buffett tunes played by other musicians. Brennan said when they showed up and started, hed had no idea who they were. Turns out they were, at least in part, musicians and actors whod taken part in an August 2022 presentation of Buffetts musical, Escape to Margaritaville, when it was staged by Joe Jefferson Players, a local community theatre company. Harvie Jordan, who played the role of old salt JD in the production, said that when the parade was announced, the casts old text chat lit up with discussion that maybe some of the players could take part. The upshot was that some of them showed up Sunday ready to play and sing, including Jordan, Bobby Gregory and Ben Hill, with additional musicians from Gregorys band. As musicians entertained the crowd before the start of a downtown Mobile parade honoring Jimmy Buffett on Sept. 10, 2023, some impromptu dancing broke out.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Like Brennan, Jordan said hed had no idea about how the parade would play out in practice. Its going to be colorful, anyway, he said. Hopefully theyve got enough cheeseburgers down at Moes to satisfy this group. I was lobbying to put Jimmys statue where Admiral Semmes used to be, he said, referencing a nearby space where the statue of a Civil War figure with Mobile ties long stood. Thats what I think should happen. Jimmy Buffett for so many years touched so many peoples lives with his beautiful simple poetry about living the beach life, letting your troubles wash away, said Jordan. It resonates with so many people, they love him. The parade stretched out as it turned the corner onto Dauphin and headed westward. For an onlooker standing still and watching, it seemed to go on and on and on. In it were senior citizens and children, a scattering of music-makers, dressed-up dogs, some people who settled for wearing tropical shirts and others who dove into the whole grass-skirt-coconut-bra catalog. Some carried mementos of very specific moments: One woman carried a placard recalling a one of Buffetts rare large-scale performances in Mobile, a 1982 show at the Mobile Municipal Auditorium. Another man wore a shark hat that he said Buffett had worn at a 1989 Jazz Fest appearance and he carried a photo of Buffett wearing the hat, bearing Buffetts autograph and the comment, Nice hat. It was bound to happen.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com One joker carried a sign playing on a certain lawyers ubiquitous ads: Been cut by a pop-top? Call me Margaritaville. Underneath that was a cartoon sketch of a check, written out for $1,000 in damages for a cut foot. Well, it was bound to happen. Even the police officer handling traffic control seemed to enjoy the spirit of the thing: Buffett tunes could be heard coming from police-motorcycle sound systems. The Mobile Police Department officers handling traffic control during a parade honoring Jimmy Buffett seemed to enjoy the spirit of the event. Buffett tunes could be heard coming from the speakers on some of the police motorcycles.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com The procession ended at Washington Avenue, where a five-point intersection creates a large open space at Moes Original BBQ, the venue Brennan had designated as the site of the main after-party. The crowd flooded in like a storm surge and then ebbed away as people gradually returned to wherever theyd parked. In a Saturday Facebook post about the logistics of the event, Brennan thanked everyone who helped out and especially those that have generously donated time and services including Moes Original BBQ, Blow House Brass Band, Teddy Williams, Downtown Mobile Alliance, Greg M. Callahan Sr. and the Mobile Police Department. A man found dead in a burning abandoned Birmingham house has now been identified. The Jefferson County Coroners Office on Monday identified the victim as Antonio Lovelle Powell. He was 41. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service and Birmingham police responded about 11:30 p.m. Thursday to the house in the 8500 block of Third Avenue North. Once the flames were extinguished, Powell was found dead inside. He was officially pronounced dead at 11:35 p.m. BFRS investigators are working to determine the cause and origin of the fire. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death. A week after Gov. Kay Ivey sent a letter to the states library agency raising concerns about whether certain books are appropriate for children, the executive director of the Alabama Public Library Service said decisions about content must be made at the local level. From the state agency, we really have no control over that. said Nancy Pack, executive director of APLS, during an episode of Capitol Journal that aired Friday. It goes down to the local level. The local level decides what materials go into their collection. And it is the local libraries that set the policies for the viewing, where they locate the materials and its all up to local policy and procedure. In a Sept. 1 letter, Ivey said she had grown increasingly concerned about the environment our Alabama libraries are providing to families and children. I am deeply grateful for the work Alabama libraries do, day in and day out, to engage our children and promote a lifelong love of learning including by providing information that may be unavailable elsewhere in a community, Ivey wrote. At the same time, however, I respect parents who want their young children and teens to be able to freely explore a library without fear of what those children will find there. The Alabama Public Library Service administers state and federal funds to libraries across the state. Last year, APLS received nearly $13 million in state funds about $5.5 million of which went directly to local libraries. The service helps train local librarians and aims to ensure all libraries are providing quality services, but its typically up to local branches to screen books and handle any concerns. Iveys letter comes after recent efforts in Prattville, Foley and other parts of the state to clean up local libraries. Over the summer, several parents challenged childrens and young adult books that discussed gender identity and other LGBTQ themes, as well as some sexual content. Pack said calls for increased censorship in libraries are not unique to the current political climate, but that parents should ultimately determine what is appropriate for their child. There will always be some type of censorship going on in libraries over something that someone does not feel as appropriate for their community or their child. And particularly when were dealing with children, said Pack. I agree with Governor Ivey that children should be able to use the library and encourage them to read because thats a place where they can read anything they want to read and have a wide assortment of books and opinions. However, I think there is the parental guidance that is needed in a library with the parents deciding what is appropriate for their child to read. Last week, the Prattville City Council voted 4-3 against a contract that would have raised the age in the young adult section to 18, defined sexually explicit material, prohibited minors from checking out books that contained any of those terms and allowed council members to pull funding from the library at any time. Ivey, in her letter, claimed the following books displayed in local libraries were inappropriate for their labeled age range and should be moved to a different section: Foley Public Library: Who are You?: The Kids Guide to Gender Identity Prattville Public Library: The Pronoun Book and If Youre a Kid Like Gavin Ozark Dale County Library: The Mirror Season and Only Mostly Devastated LGBTQ-affirming board books and childrens books in Foley and Prattville libraries, she said, were not appropriate for toddlers and children under eight. She also claimed some young adult novels in the Ozark Dale County Library featured graphic sex scenes. Pack said during her interview on Capitol Journal that for at least one of the books in question, only seven libraries in Alabama had the book on their shelves. All seven of those libraries, Pack said, were in diverse communities of over 75,000 people. Pack said its important for libraries to strike a balance and allow children from all backgrounds to see their families and experiences represented in books too. You have children who want to see their family and you see in most childrens books, you see a mom or dad and children and you see racially mixed families, said Pack. But when you get down to the gay and lesbian books, theres not a whole lot of them out there that show two moms or two dads and the child. And that child wants to see their family represented like in all these other books, you know, you have mom and dad and children here, why arent my two moms or two dads represented like that? Ivey asked Pack to provide an answer to her list of questions before the APLS board meets on Wednesday. Pack said she is still in the process of formally responding to the governor. An 18-year-old Marshall County teen died Saturday in a one-vehicle crash. According to the Marshall County Coroners Office, the incident happened at about 3:45 p.m. in the 4000 block of Hustleville Road in Albertville. Connor Parker, 18, of the Asbury Community, was pronounced dead at the scene after a vehicle went off a bridge. Albertville Fire, Asbury Fire, Alder Springs Fire, Guntersville Fire, Marshall Health Systems EMS and the Marshall County EMA all assisted in the incident. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are investigating the incident. Comparing the Canadian and the American Right updated to 2023 (Part Four) By Mark Wegierski web posted September 11, 2023 The Conservative Party was finally able to win a strong majority in the federal Parliament in the 2011 federal election. This was the first putatively conservative majority in the federal Parliament since that won in 1988. However, in October 2015, Justin Trudeau's Liberals rebounded, and won a strong majority. Their return to power meant the undermining of whatever small steps in a conservative direction that Stephen Harper had undertaken. In the October 2019 federal election, the Liberals hung on to a strong minority government (a plurality of seats in the House of Commons) which had been supported by the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), which is even further left. In the September 20, 2021, federal election, the Conservatives proved unable to displace the Liberals (who won a strong minority government again) despite Conservative leader Erin O'Toole's desperate lunge towards "centrist" policies. It should be well noted that left-leaning infrastructures such as feminist groups (who are indeed often tightly enmeshed with governmental bureaucracies) outweigh in resources such right-leaning infrastructures (such as, most notably, the Fraser Institute think-tank) by astronomical factors. And, although there is a quite substantial amount of debate about economic issues and economic conservatism, as far as social conservatism and right-wing patriotism, these have almost no register on the Canadian political scene. Left-liberals are quite content to allow the presence of a soulless "managerial Right" that manages the economy so long as they themselves get to control all the social and cultural issues. Some Canadian newspapers, notably The National Post (formerly owned by the Canadian-born conservative press baron Conrad Black who is now somewhat disgraced), have some degree of right-wing content, including a few surprisingly acerbic columnists. There are a handful of prominent conservative academics, especially in Alberta. There also arose in April 2011, a right-leaning news outlet on television Sun Network News but it closed abruptly on February 13, 2015 (putting around 200 people out of work). Ezra Levant has also founded a major news website The Rebel Media. Candice Malcolm has also founded a substantial media initiative True North Canada. There is also the website, The Post Millennial. However, this is all very, very little, compared with the comparatively massive right-wing presence in the United States. The presence of a large, organized, political Right in the U.S., and its absence in Canada, will probably lead to increasingly divergent futures for both countries. Many of the more pleasant aspects of life in Canada are likely to disappear with the increasing triumph of ever-more-insistent, utterly unchecked and unimpeded left-liberal and left-wing policies. The political situation in Canada, with the virtual non-existence of an intellectual and cultural Right, cannot be described as healthy for Canadian society. Persons of traditionalist or conservative outlooks in Canada are faced with the unappealing prospect of the spiraling into oblivion of many congenial aspects of Canada, about which they can do virtually nothing. Their feelings of chronic hopelessness may perhaps to some extent be assuaged by looking to more hopeful developments in the United States, or perhaps in East-Central Europe and Russia. Considering that Harper had been badly stymied in his efforts at systemic reform through the federal Parliament, there might arise increased calls for regional devolution, so that, for example, Alberta or all of Western Canada could carry out social and economic policies more congenial to itself. It could be seen that Harper, during his majority government, had decisively failed, and such scenarios of regional devolution may, ironically, become the best hope for some fragmentary survival of traditionalism and conservatism in Canada. The more furiously and immoderately the Left opposed Harper, thwarting the work of the Conservative federal majority government, the more it might have created the preconditions for frustrated Conservative voters to turn to devolutionist scenarios. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home The House Foreign Affairs chairman, Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, castigated Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Sunday for jeopardizing national security with his 9-month blockade of military promotions. This is paralyzing the Department of Defense, the Republican said on CNN. That is a national security problem and a national security issue. And I really wish he would reconsider this. The comments amount to some of the sternest condemnation from a fellow Republican. President Joe Biden and aides have condemned Tuberville, demanding he relent. The secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force undertook a rare joint pressure blitz last week accusing the senator of undermining combat readiness as the promotion backlog grows. Tuberville has been blocking promotions over a Pentagon policy to reimburse service members and their families who must travel to obtain an abortion. The Biden administration adopted the policy after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade in June 2022, paving the way for Texas and other states to ban or severely limit access to abortion. As senior officers retired, three branches of the military the Marines, Army and Navy are no longer led by a Senate-confirmed officer, a first in American history. Hundreds of transfers and hand-offs of command have been stalled. The chairman of the joint chiefs, Army Gen. Mark Milley, will retire this month and with Tubervilles hold its unclear whether Bidens pick to replace him, Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown, will get a confirmation vote. So far more than 300 promotions have been stalled. By the end of the year, more than 600 officers will be awaiting promotions that require Senate approval. Approving promotions of military leaders is typically a routine, non-partisan exercise. I am concerned the senator does not appreciate the gravity of the situation, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., chair of the Armed Services Committee, said on the Senate floor Wednesday. These positions cannot simply be filled by other officers they can only be temporarily covered by their vice chiefs, who must also continue to cover their own jobs. Tuberville rejects assertions his holds have or will impact national security, pointing out that jobs are filled temporarily by lower ranked officers. Texas Sen. John Cornyn is among the Republicans who have tried to blunt the fallout. He said last week that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer could break the logjam by holding votes on the promotions one-by-one. Schumer, whos called Tubervilles tactics abominable, has rejected that approach because it could tie up Senate for months. Few fellow Republicans have defended Tuberville, though Cornyn and others have echoed complaints about the policy hes targeted. I dont support putting a hold on military nominations. I dont support that, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in early May, when he first publicly distanced himself from Tubervilles blockade. McCaul, the leading House GOP voice on foreign policy, made his comments on CNNs State of the Union. Like Cornyn, he argued that concerns about the Pentagons abortion reimbursement policy can be resolved by Congress in the defense bill. Were working this issue out in the National Defense Authorization, he said, adding, To hold up the top brass from being promoted and lower brass, I think is paralyzing our Department of Defense. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, noting hed been born in Cuba, said on CNN last week that I would have never imagined one of our own senators would actually be aiding and abetting a communist and other autocratic regimes around the world. It is just unprecedented to be attacking apolitical general officers and flag officers in this way, said Army Secretary Christine Wormuth. It is taking our apolitical military and eroding its foundations. 2023 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related media 1 photo U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R- Texas) arrives to a caucus meeting with House Republicans on Capitol Hill May 10, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images/TNS) This is an opinion column. There seems to be a great concern about the voice of conservatism today. Writing for legacy newspapers in the South, Im no stranger to the headlines and articles that attack and undermine many of the institutions, people, and places I love. I also dont spend a lot of my time stewing over people who disagree with me. Id like to take a minute to explain why Im a conservative, what Im hoping to conserve, and why Im not into partisan tribalism. Individual liberty is a paramount virtue to political loyalty. For that, I will never apologize. Im absolutely in love with the American ideal of self-governance. We the people are in far more control of our government than most nations on earth. Our government exists to maximize civil liberties in the context of an ordered society. The moment we deviate from that critical founding tenet, we deserve a full-throated rebuke regardless of our political party. The road to hell is paved with the good intentions of authoritarians whose only demand was absolute loyalty. The Constitution is an excellent safeguard against such leaders. Democrats can critique it as the product of benighted, racist, morally-failed men who are the ancestors of todays Republicans. The Constitution allows for that. Republicans can say that the First Amendment is far too permissive to allow Democrats to disparage them in such a manner. The Constitution contains a process to address that. In fact, Americas founding document is both principled and flexible. The liberties it articulates as amended over time demand our conservational efforts. For quite some time, Ive battled with the myth of a true conservative. Sen. Mitch McConnell isnt a true conservative except for when he is. Former President Donald Trump never claimed to be one, but he is one except for the excessive spending, tariffs, and that time he called for termination of articles of the Constitution. These weird games around who is and isnt appropriately conservative based on unknown standards are as destructive to conservatism as any progressive policy. I cant count the number of small elite groups attempting to position themselves as the conservative arbiters of political candidates and the orthodoxy of American constitutional liberties. Conservatives, by our nature, are free in our beliefs. We worship as we please, support the politicians we like, and, on rare occasions, dance in the rain because we feel like it. We wouldnt tolerate the idea that the government knows best even for a moment. Why should we think that small cabals of the politically weird are any better at dictating what we should believe, think, and feel? I understand why Republicans are bothered when I question their preferred politicians. What I struggle to comprehend is how those same people are categorically unable to do the same. Being intellectually honest about the politicians I oppose and dishonest about the ones I support is crazy and unethical. If anything, were more vulnerable to the political abuses of politicians we like because were much quicker to give them a free pass. Part of being a conservative is maintaining our Constitutions suspicion of the politically powerful. The political class will always try to consolidate the power which the Constitution purposely fractures. Congress has too easily delegated its power to the executive branch, yet the only time the House or Senate attempts to claw it back is when the other party is in the White House. Conservative leaders must recognize Lord Actons maxim: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The grand irony is that the time to truly divide American political power is from a majority position. Our current leaders seem unfit for such a difficult charge. Imagine the outrage if Senate Democrats agreed with the Republican House to take back their legislative authority from President Joe Biden. Far from being incensed, Americans would best protect themselves by demanding it. Contrary to current practice, conservatives must also oppose leaders who wish to wield government power to punish their political enemies and critics. Conservatives should neither use government to boost voices which agree with us nor attempt to silence those who oppose us. The American marketplace of ideas should be robust and competitive. The answer to speech that upsets us is more speech. The books we dislike should sit on the same shelf with ones critiquing them. Suppression and censorship only benefit the government and the political class. Im also a conservative because we need to learn from the lessons of our past. While isolationism on the global stage has become a popular talking point for many Republican politicians, weve literally been in this exact posture before. After World War I international cooperation gave way to isolationist voices who blamed the war on munitions companies and banks who financially benefited from the fighting. Congress passed Neutrality Acts in the 1930s which banned American citizens from trading with warring nations, making loans to them, or traveling on their ships. Even as Nazi Germany conquered Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, isolationists said the United States had no good reason to be involved. It was a politically popular posture which ignored reality. The names Republicans are using today arent even new. In the early 1940s, the America First Committee promoted the isolationist narrative through print, radio, and mass rallies. Then, as is now the case in Ukraine, Americans should have asked how many American lives could have been saved by earlier intervention. We shouldnt write blank checks to foreign nations, but we must accept that alliances matter in a world where the distances between us seem to shrink by the day. Ironically, our strength on the global stage depends heavily on our fortitude at home. Strong families are the cornerstone of a free and prosperous society. What institution is more important to conserve than the family? One research study after another confirms the value of a two-parent household to the future success of children. Because were now a culture of families which come in myriad configurations, too many conservatives have abandoned support for the family altogether. How about we support all the families and make parenting easier? Conservatives claim to care about human dignity, but we too easily reduce American parents to units of economic production. Socialists think like that. We shouldnt. Thanks to COVID-19, American children are in terrible academic shape. Giving parents the educational choices, tax policies, and flexibility to raise their families well is essential. Finally, I reject the political tribalism of the moment because I dont place my confidence in the success or failure of the candidates I vote to elect. Ive been told America is one election away from irredeemable failure for the last decade or so. Such nonsense is a political pressure play and nothing more. Americas best days are ahead of us. We secure them by rejecting fear mongering politicians who beg us to surrender our independent judgment and fall in line. Being a conservative isnt easy, nor should it be. In politics, conservatism is often the path of most resistance. That doesnt mean we should be malicious as we push back. If youre offended by my irreverence toward Trump, Biden, or just about any other politician, youll hopefully find a discussion. If youd like to see me attack my progressive colleagues for their opinions, Ill jokingly offer that they know so much that isnt so. When you beg me to rage and fight against political opponents, I hope you find a happy warrior. As I write and speak about the topics of the day as a conservative, Ill try to do so with enough humility to recognize how much I have left to learn. I hear a lot of talk about revolution these days. I agree its necessary. America needs a revolution in the way we treat each other. Each of us should declare our independence from the politicians promising the world and delivering so little. We should launch a brave new world where we trust our eyes, ears, and discernment instead of swallowing the medias bait. Every revolution begins with a few open minds willing to put principle over popularity. Theres no reason it cant begin anew with conservative ideas about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. More Cameron Smith columns: Smith is a recovering political attorney with four boys, two dogs, a bearded dragon, and an extremely patient wife. Hes a partner in Triptych Media, a business strategy wonk, and a regular on talk radio. Please direct outrage or agreement to csmith@al.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. On August 28, 1963, I participated in my first protest march on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. On January 6, 2021, I participated in my last. Over many of the intervening years I watched the United States, as exemplified by the August 1963 march, make great strides in living up to the lofty goals set forth in its Declaration of Independence. However, in recent years I have ruefully observed this nation, as exemplified by the January 6, 2021 march, inexplicably choose to set itself on the same road of inevitable self-destruction that so many failed societies have traveled. It was an overcast, albeit mild August day by Washington D.C. standards, as I, about to begin my freshman year at Catholic University, joined the thousands walking along Constitution Avenue toward the Lincoln Memorial. While it was a diverse gathering, the most noticeable among us were those that bore the scars of the civil rights battles in the deep South. Regardless of skin color, nationality or faith all were there to exercise their Constitutional right to petition Congress to address institutionalized segregation and racism. As a recently naturalized citizen, being among so many of my fellow citizens in a righteous cause gave me an overwhelming sense of pride. Thanks to the benevolence of the American people, I was fortunate to live in a country in which its citizens could march and petition the national government without the fear of retribution that had permeated the near-totally destroyed continent I left behind. While Martin Luther Kings speech was unforgettable and magnificent, it was the speaker before him who was the most meaningful and memorable for me. He was Rabbi Joachim Prinz, President of the American Jewish Congress who fled Nazi Germany in 1937. An excerpt: When I was the rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin under the Hitler regime, I learned many things. The most important thing I learned under those tragic circumstances was that bigotry and hatred are not the most urgent problem. The most urgent, the most disgraceful, the most shameful and the most tragic problem is silence. A great people which had created a great civilization had become a nation of silent onlookers. They remained silent in the face of hate, the face of brutality and in the face of mass murder. America must not remain silent. Not merely black America, but all of America. It must speak up and actand not for the sake of the Negro, not for the sake of the black community but for the sake of the image, the idea, and the aspiration of America itself. [Emphasis added] Because Americans refused to stay silent, Congress soon passed Civil Rights legislation outlawing institutionalized segregation and racism. On January 6, 2021, a massive confluence of the inhabitants of Middle America descended on Washington to exercise their constitutional right to petition Congress. Amid this tidal wave of humanity that had traveled from as far away as California and Alaska were people of all races, creeds, and nationalities. As I entered the Capitol grounds on January 6th, I was taken aback by the obvious lack of preparation as well as practically non-existent crowd barriers. There was virtually no police presence at the East Front of the Capitol and far too little at the West Front. The overall police presence was woefully inadequate particularly in light of the potential for violence initiated by Antifa in Washington. Less than five months prior to January 6th, Antifa had fomented violence at the Republican Convention in August and a Trump rally in November. As the few flimsy crowd barriers had easily been breached, a large crowd had gathered near doors at West Front of the Capitol. Many of most vocal appeared to be stereotypical Antifa-looking militants and atypical Trump supporters waving Trump flags and trying to goad others into breeching the locked doors. Sensing a set-up, I admonished those around me to stay 50-75 yards away from the building. The police soon began indiscriminately using flashbangs and tear gas thereby injuring and inciting heretofore peaceful protestors. These same police soon stepped aside and opened the doors which had been unlocked from the inside, effectively inviting the protestors into the Capitol. As I watched the culmination of the chaos my thoughts turned to a moment in history wherein a fire at the Reichstag was used as a pretext for the Nazis to blatantly prosecute, imprison their political adversaries and consolidate their power. The consensus of many historians is that the Nazis deliberately set the fire. It was only a matter of hours before the narrative was broadcast to the nation: the protestors were violent revolutionaries and Donald Trump their execrable leader and instigator of the insurrection to overthrow the government. Consequently, the stage was set for an unprecedented level of political prosecution, outrageously draconian jail terms and a consolidation of power. To my horror the United States was mirroring the despotic European nations of the 20th Century. Over the past four decades, America has been placed on a path of self-destruction by those bent on transforming it into a one-party socialist state with themselves permanently embedded as the ruling elite. An ever-growing number of increasingly self-absorbed citizens, reveling in unprecedented peace and prosperity, chose to remain silent as their nation was being incrementally transformed. They remained silent as the education establishment was gradually infiltrated by the American proponents of Marxism/socialism ultimately transmuting it into an institution of blatant anti-American indoctrination. They remained silent as the radical left fanned the dying embers of bigotry into a conflagration of racial animosity and tribalism. They remained silent as the Judeo-Christian underpinnings of this nation were purposefully eroded by undermining religion and the family in the guise of unfettered sexual freedom. They remained silent as the nations self-aggrandizing ruling class engaged in endless wars, pursued globalism, set the nation on the path to inevitable national bankruptcy, and flung open the borders to massive illegal immigration, thereby eroding the value of American citizenship and the standard of living for working class Americans. They remained silent as the statists, using the veneer of promoting voting rights, instituted mass mail-in voting, ballot harvesting, near-endless early voting, and unconstitutionally changed state voting laws in order to manipulate the outcome of elections in their favor. They remained silent as the American Marxists effectively took over the Democrat Party and subsequently instituted Nazi tactics in order to persecute their political adversaries and intimidate the citizenry. Choosing to remain silent has eventuated in the inability of the citizenry to petition their government without fear of retribution, an inequitable multi-tier justice system, a permanently fractured society, and a universal loss of faith in the integrity of elections. These outcomes are also indicators of the onset of the final stage of a republic and the inevitable rise of a permanent authoritarian one-party oligarchy. America is dying before our eyes and yet the vast majority still remain silent or emotionally invested in an individual or a political party and believes the upcoming election is no more than the typical quadrennial squabble between politicians, political factions, or parties. Photto credit: public domain image The self-righteous leftists among us suffer from the streetlight effect, "a type of observational bias that occurs when people only search for something where it is easiest to look." This refers to an old joke: A policeman sees a drunk man searching for something under a streetlight and asks what the drunk has lost. He says he lost his keys and they both look under the streetlight together. After a few minutes the policeman asks if he is sure he lost them here, and the drunk replies, no, and that he lost them in the park. The policeman asks why he is searching here, and the drunk replies, "this is where the light is." Consider the self-styled environmentalists in the Biden administration successfully strangling the fossil fuel industry in the U.S. If they looked beyond the streetlight, they might notice that China was giving permits for two new coal plants a week, and that [in 2022] "the coal power capacity starting construction in China was six times as large as that in all of the rest of the world combined." Another fashionable belief is "systemic racism", the idea that racism is structurally built into our society. The streetlight here is pointing at whites in America, and telling them to cleanse themselves of racism, while there are problems much worse than racism out of sight of the light. Presumably the diversity consultants and Woke authors don't know or don't care about the recent "Great African War", which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August 1998 and eventually got fighters from all over Africa involved. "The International Rescue Committee estimates that the war and its aftermath caused 5.4 million deaths." Do you remember any demonstrations for the non-fashionable idea of getting involved in an African war? I don't. Whatever ingredients make for a fashionable cause, the idea of fighting in the rain forest of the Congo does not. The idea of saving the planet, just by changing to renewables and haranguing the oil companies, does make for a fashionable cause. Talking of environmentalists and Africa, have our advocates of green energy expressed any concern about the following? Global cobalt demand ... [has] exploded with the arrival of electric vehicles and now is skyrocketing in tandem with government EV mandates and subsidies. ... Cobalt mining involves unimaginable horrors. "Cobalt Red", by Nottingham University associate professor of modern slavery Siddharth Kara, exposes the excruciating realities that Stop Oil and Net Zero campaigners strive to keep buried along with the bodies of parents and children killed in cave-ins or dying slowly and painfully after being maimed or poisoned in cobalt mines. Professor Kara took multiple trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo, risking his health and life to document conditions for desperate Africans in a region that holds 72% of the world's known supplies of cobalt. He estimates that 70% of this cobalt (half the world's entire supply) involves some measure of child labor, while much of the rest involves near-slave labor. Maybe someone should glue himself to the U.S. Capitol building in protest! On second thought, not the Capitol building. What's wrong with a cause being "fashionable"? Laura Seay wrote this two years ago in the Washington Post: In April 2014, members of the armed group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 seniors at the Chibok Government Secondary School for Girls in northeast Nigeria. Within weeks, their plight had become a hashtag, growing from a Twitter movement initiated by a Nigerian activist to thousands of Facebook posts, to pop stars, actors, rappers and the first lady of the United States tweeting to mobilize their followers to demand their safe return. In response, the United States and several European governments mobilized resources to assist in the search. But it would be more than three years before many of the schoolgirls now young women were freed from captivity in a negotiated settlement with paid ransom. Seven years later, 112 others remain missing. ... The specifics ... captives recorded, of hunger, abuse, beatings and other maltreatment are extraordinarily detailed and frightening ... [but] the Chibok campaign did little to help victims of other kidnappings in the region, whose situations didn't show up on international radar. What does it say about our society that our attention span is so short? After all, there is virtually no movement today to find the rest of the Chibok girls, most of whom were married off to Boko Haram fighters to bear children and live difficult lives in the forest. Why don't we, as a society, still care? Of course, we could argue that there are so many things in the world we can't do anything about, and at least there was an effort. But paying ransom has not stopped Boko Haram, and the story gets forgotten, and fashions change. Then there is "Israel Apartheid Week," which is widespread over campuses. and not just in the United States. Whatever you think of that particular issue, how many American protesters have you seen protesting the following? Hamzeh al-Masri, a Palestinian political activist, appealed to human rights organizations on August 1: We, the people of Gaza, ask you to look into the crimes of the Hamas organization... and mention those crimes. We call on you to protect us from this organization that does not stop kidnapping and torturing citizens inside Gaza.... We call upon you once again to protect us and rescue us from the Hamas organization as soon as possible. It seems morality is selective. Nor will you see the protestors for Palestine utter a peep about the plight of the Muslim Uyghurs, a people who have been rounded up, put into camps, and subjected to all sorts of horrors by the Chinese, who are settling their area with non-Muslims: There was a controversial remark by a co-owner of NBA's Golden State Warriors, Chamath Palihapitiya. He said, "Nobody cares about what's happening to the Uyghurs, okay. You bring it up because you really care, and I think it's nice that you really care, the rest of us don't care, I'm just telling you a very hard, ugly truth." ... Palihapitiya said the United States should "take care of our own backyard" before pointing the finger at other countries, citing ongoing issues in criminal justice. He went on to describe human rights on a global scale as a "luxury belief." Chamath may sound cruel, but in fact, how many of us have thought of any of the issues I've mentioned in the past year? How many of us even know about them? It is easy for your local campus leftist to parade for all the woke causes, which generally are directed at the rest of us. But it is hard to take them seriously when so much occurs outside their worldview. Image via Pixabay. An unassuming 72-year-old Maine physician named Meryl Nass has gripped the COVID-19 misinformation bull by its poisoned horns. Maine's physician licensing board suspended her from practicing in a blatant push to silence her right to free speech, in a medical field in which Meryl holds special expertise. Meryl Nass has filed a sharp-fanged lawsuit to bring this overreaching regulatory body to account. The lengths to which Maine's licensing board has gone to silence this tiger woman reveals the complete folly of the government-controlled COVID-19 narrative. Who Is Doctor Nass? Meryl Nass began her MIT education while still a teenager. She is an acknowledged medical expert on man-made epidemics, including her seminal work in Rhodesia's 1978 anthrax outbreak, which she proved was due to biological warfare in 1992. Dr. Nass cares deeply about her patients, reflected in her humble intensity, precise analysis, prolific writing, and passionate determination to speak truth to farcical regulators who overstep their authority. Maine's Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM) organized its campaign to silence Dr. Nass early. After all, she had raised doubts about COVID-19 origins, the efficacy of masks, and the safety of vaccines. She had also dared prescribe anti-viral drugs that the government had discouraged without evidence of harm, before there were official therapies (vaccines) available. It was not just regular Joes on social media who were not permitted to question the official narrative; it was doctors with advanced knowledge and expertise in these very fields. Maine's Weapons of Nass Destruction Maine's Kafkaesque attack on the distinguished Dr. Nass is comical in its absurdity. Dr. Nass has consistently defied efforts to hinder her ability to provide optimal patient care. She forwarded copies of her public testimony before the New Hampshire Legislature to the Board, in which she challenged the Big Pharma fear-porn mantra. At one point, she misrepresented a COVID-infected patient's illness to a pharmacist as Lyme Disease to secure medication (available for Lyme sufferers but not available to COVID-19 patients due to unwritten threats to pharmacists from state health agencies!), and then she immediately wrote to the Maine authorities and informed them of what she had done and what a travesty it was that she should have to jump through such obscene hoops to save lives. And so the State of Maine went after her full force, for allegedly lying in violation of ethics rules as well as spreading misinformation and prescribing ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. But Dr. Nass lied to a pharmacist to save a patient. Must a lawyer similarly reveal confidential information about her client to state agencies upon request, even when sworn to protect that client's rights? In either profession, it is ridiculous to claim a paramount duty that overrides the primary directive for the client/patient. In contrast, Maine's BOLIM deliberately misrepresented the excessive expert witness fees it paid its primary expert witness who testified against Dr. Nass to another state agency, which is a fraudulent diversion of taxpayer money. Dr. Nass's complaint recites: 96. According to documents obtained from the BOLIM under the Maine Freedom of Access Act, in order to secure the payments to pay Dr. Faust, the BOLIM represented to the Maine Department of Procurement Services in its Blanket Contract Justification & Amendment Form that experts are paid a "maximum" of $175 per hour for time attending hearing and $125 hour for consultation and preparation time. When making those representations to another Maine state agency, the BOLIM had already paid Dr. Faust $10,500 at his $500 per hour rate and intended to continue paying Dr. Faust $500 per hour for future services[.] ... The fact that the BOLIM is violating its own expert witness policies and misleading another Maine state agency substantiates its retaliatory animus against Dr. Nass. The Board issued a position statement early in the pandemic warning that questioning official (Big Pharma and WHO-dictated?) edicts about vaccines or alternative therapies would be considered unethical, claiming: Assessments and treatments of Covid-19 by physicians and physician assistants will be evaluated by the BOLIM in the same manner it evaluates assessments and treatments of any other disease process. Treatments and recommendations regarding Covid-19 that fall below the standard of care as established by medical experts and legitimate medical research are potentially subject to disciplinary action. Similarly, a physician or physician assistant who issues a vaccine exemption without conducting an appropriate examination and without a finding of a legitimate medical reason supporting such an exemption within the standard of care may be placing their licenses at risk of disciplinary action. But assessments and treatments for COVID-19 were not evaluated in the same manner as other diseases, for which physicians are commonly allowed latitude to use off-label drugs to seek effective therapies. This common practice was jettisoned during the pandemic, as officials who could not possibly know whether alternative therapies were effective prevented patients from receiving any care at all while they awaited the vaunted jab. Maine's BOLIM also tightened regulatory oversight of medical exemptions, investigating and punishing doctors for issuing medical waivers for COVID vaccines, despite Maine law permitting doctors to freely issue medical waivers. And when Meryl Nass got uppity, Maine's BOLIM mandated that she undergo a psychiatric examination in a failed effort to torment and discredit her, as well as to generate the evidence needed to justify suspending her license. Maine's actions against the hero Nass are hardly isolated incidents. A cohesive messaging plan accompanied the spread of COVID-19, rolled out in concert, evidently pre-planned. Dr. Nass's case is a textbook display of government regulatory overreach, exposing Maine's BOLIM as a captured agency that represents the best interest of not the public, but corporate purveyors of dubious products. Dr. Nass's August 16 complaint against the Board alleges that Maine's BOLIM violated her First Amendment and other rights under both the U.S. and Maine Constitutions, defiantly proclaiming: Dr. Nass intends to enjoy her free speech rights, including engaging in speech critical of the governmental handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, alternative treatments for COVID-19, and the BOLIM's pretextual effort to punish her for her speech. 112. Dr. Nass has a reasonable, objective fear of prosecution under 32 M.R.S. 3282 for her speech. The Position Statement expressly threatens doctors with disciplinary action if they "generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation." The BOLIM carried through on that threat by prosecuting Dr. Nass for criticizing the COVID-19 vaccine and the governmental response to the pandemic. Even now, the BOLIM continues with an overzealous and pretextual effort to suspend her medical license on trivial and baseless grounds. Warrior Nass Will Not Be Silenced! Meryl Nass and her attorneys are on the front lines of an information battle about a disease that is simultaneously a constitutional fracas about our rights to even have a discussion about what treatments a doctor can provide to a patient, absent government interference. Future health care, the doctor-patient relationship, and citizens' rights hang in the balance. Fortunately, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit just ruled that the Biden administration compromised First Amendment liberties by quashing so-called "COVID misinformation." First Amendment liberties should not be squashed by the government against which the Constitution was erected as defense certainly not by corrupt bureaucrats who stifle scientific inquiry and ethical patient care. A medical degree is not required to know the vital importance of free thought. Meryl Nass, the mouse that roared, roars for us all. Join the opposition, and learn truths about globalist plans to dominate humanity, at Dr. Nass's website, https://doortofreedom.org/#main. Attorney-farmer John Klar hosts the Small Farm Republic Substack and podcast from his Vermont farm. His new book is Small Farm Republic: Why Conservatives Must Embrace Local Agriculture, Reject Climate Alarmism, and Lead an Environmental Revival. Image: Pkd2016 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped). Do the crime, pay the timeat least thats what the county health department said to me when I went to fill out the necessary paperwork to procure religious vaccine exemptions in order for my children to attend school. In my conservative stronghold state, even a private school is forbidden from admitting students lest they present religious exemptions acquired by a parent through the government health department. Last Friday, when I capitulated to my abusers demandswhoops! I meant to say, when I went to satisfy legal requirements to uphold my personal convictions, little did I know I would become a prisoner of conscience. After checking in with the clinic desk, I was told to wait in the lobby. As a native English speaker seeking a religious exemption, I was a minority by far; the majority of the clients only spoke Spanish (requiring bilingual staff), and they were all there for welfare or subsidized medicine. (I sat there wondering how much this was costing me.) I was called and buzzed through a door to partitioned desks, at which point the woman behind the glass took my lettersI had to provide hardcopy requestsand began building my familys file. She asked for every bit of personal information possible; I have never seen a government employee transcribe information so efficiently, and I doubt I ever will again. She told me Id have to meet with a nurse and watch a video; to this I asked I have to? She said that I could decline, but it was strongly discouraged. I returned to the lobby, before being called back by RN Simpson who brought me to a semi-secluded injection site room, turned on the video, and leftso much for freedom of choice. The room contained unlocked refrigerators full of vaccines, confidential paperwork was in my view, and the computer video player was not a locked applicationwhat sensitive data could I have hypothetically accessed? The videos narrator was a prominent pediatrician propped up as a health expert (her evident obesity indicates otherwise), and the doctor made no pretense of hiding the agenda: this was vaccine reeducation. If these unsophisticated anti-vaxxers want to act subhuman, then they can be treated as subhuman; as the doctor said, If every parent exempted their child from vaccination, these diseases would return in the community in full force. Also, Many hospitalizations and even deaths are caused by infections of unvaccinated children with vaccine preventable diseases. The doctor insisted vaccines were safe, because theyre tested in very large studies and when adverse side effects like seizures, retardation, and death do happen, its par for the course because this can happen with any other medication too. (Curiously, she implied that vaccines are part of the medication family. Odd, no?) She said the medications (vaccines) must be in a number of studies to ensure safety and effectiveness. Now where have I heard that before? From Saturday: A toxicology report shows that a new mom in Maine was right. Her baby, Sawyer, died just 34 hours after being vaccinated. And, last month: In 2013 Health and Human Services commissioned an update of earlier findings on the lack of evidence to support claims that the (CDC) infant/child vaccination schedule was safe. Ten years later, the CDC has yet to do such a comparison study, even though it is sitting on a vast repository of data in the VSD. The doctor relied on sound medical advice from both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC (appeal to authority fallacy); about a month ago, the AAP issued a statement to reaffirm its gender-affirming care policy which currently includes the organizations support for transgender surgery of minors, and the CDC? Needless to say, I dont exactly have the highest regard for either of these medical institutions. Failing to vaccinate your child is akin to willful negligence; doing nothing is still doing something and forgoing vaccines is a choice that actively puts everyone at risk. Simpson returned shortly after the video had ended, and said she needed to go over a few things with me, just to make sure I really understood the consequences of my actions. You know unvaccinated children spread diseases. If your children cause an outbreak, no one will be able to attend school and this will affect you too; youll miss work, do you realize that? Your choices are putting the community at risk, do you realize this? My certificates for religious exemption were held hostage unless I signed a Record of Vaccine Declination form which noted: My healthcare provider has recommended that my child be vaccinated. I understand that my unvaccinated child could spread disease to another child This could result in health complications and even death for the other person. I clarified she was certainly not my healthcare provider, but it didnt matter; on the back: Unfortunately, some parents will refuse to have their child receive some vaccines. For healthcare providers who want to assure that these parents fully understand the consequences of their decision. To address the risk of VPD [vaccine-preventable disease], states should consider adopting more rigorous standards for non-medical vaccine exemptions that require parents to demonstrate that they have made a conscious, concerted, and informed decision in requesting these exemptions for their children. An example of such a standard might include a requirement for parents to complete a form that explicitly states the grounds for the exemption and requires them to acknowledge awareness of the disease-specific risks associated with not vaccinating their child(ren) [emphasis added]. Lastly, the document includes a blurb for providers which issues this mandate: For parents who refuse one or more recommended immunizations, document your conversation and have a parent sign the Refusal to Vaccinate form, and keep the form in the patients medical record [emphasis added]. I feel like the miners canary, attempting to signal that the danger is everywhere, even in the conservative strongholds but people only seem to notice once its too late. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. Fighting the climate scare to defend life By Tom Harris web posted September 11, 2023 As I described in my Enter Stage Right article " Using the Climate Change Scare to Promote Abortion , " climate alarmists are pushing increased access to abortion to supposedly help "stop climate change." Equally concerning for pro-lifers, the abortion industry has jumped on the climate change bandwagon to promote their agenda as well. This is why the pro-life movement needs to present solid arguments to show that the climate scare is not based on sound science. In my ESR piece " How Pro-Lifers Can Fight the Climate Scare Threatening Their Movement ," I explained how to contest the mistaken idea that the rise in so-called "global average temperature" is of concern. Next, let's consider the supposed increase in extreme weather than climate activists are always wailing about. Extreme weather expert and former Environment Canada scientist Dr. Madhav L. Khandekar explained: "Extreme weather is an integral part of weather and climate that has always been with us whether our climate was cooler or warmer. Reducing CO2 levels in order to reduce extreme weather is a fantasy." Pro-lifers should tell the public that the most severe weather of recent centuries occurred during the far colder Little Ice Age which ended about 1880. The worst weather of the past century, however, was generally during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. The "dirty thirties" were miserable for farmers on the American and Canadian prairies, far worse than anything we are seeing today. Well-known American climatologist Stanley Changnon has documented how the 1920s and 1930s also witnessed significantly higher numbers of thunderstorms and associated violent weather than today. University of Alberta Emeritus Professor Keith Hage's research showed that severe and destructive windstorms over Alberta and Saskatchewan peaked during the 1920s and 1930s and have lessened since. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's State Climate Extremes Committee database of extreme weather records is the best of its kind in the world. It clearly shows that the incidence of extreme weather records today is far less than in the 1930s. A plot of records set at all U.S. Historical Climatology Network Stations supports this observation: Note that, in 1936, 27 extreme weather records were set on a state-wide basis, records that still stand today. Contrast that with the number of records set in 2022, namely ZERO. Largely as a consequence of this reduction in extreme events, we have seen a continual decrease in deaths due to natural events: Joe Bastardi is Chief Forecaster for WeatherBELL , an organization that is paid to forecast weather by companies whose economic futures depend on it. Bastardi, who just published a new book titled The Weaponization of Weather in the Phony Climate War , explained: "There were one quarter the number of human beings on the planet in 1930, but there were 28 times more deaths caused by climate and natural disasters than today. This was because the weather then was more extreme than now and we lacked the early warnings we get today when extreme weather is approaching." Former Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's comments about Ottawa tornadoes being the result of climate change is also unjustified. The actual causes of the September 2018 Ottawa/Gatineau tornadoes were natural. As unseasonably cold and dry air from western Canada advanced toward the warm and moist air over southern Ontario, it produced a major thunderstorm with a funnel cloud. This then produced the two severe Ottawa tornadoes. Without that trigger of western cold air, there would not have been a severe thunderstorm and tornadoes in the Ottawa region. In " Politicians were wrong to blame the tornadoes on climate change ," (Sun chain of newspapers across Canada, October 1, 2018), Dr. Khandekar and I explained: "The July 31, 1987 Edmonton tornado had wind speeds up to 417 km/h (Ottawa's tornadoes peaked at 265 km/h) and destroyed over 300 homes and killed 27 people. Only the Regina tornado of June 30, 1912 was deadlier, killing 28 people. Other severe Canadian tornadoes include the 1946 tornado hit on the Detroit River (17 fatalities), the July 14, 2000 Pine Lake tornado (12 fatalities and at least 140 injured), and the June 22, 2007 Elie, Manitoba tornado that had wind speeds of between 420 to 510 km/h." And, generally speaking, the same is happening in the United States. As can be seen in the following graph, almost all tornado activity is either at or below the average. Moreover, there is no correlation between tornado activity and eitther emissions or "average global temperature." Historical data show that weather has usually been more extreme during colder periods. This was especially the case during the centuries-long Little Ice Age. For example, Chinese researchers found that "typhoon frequency seemed to have increased at least regionally during the coldest phases of the Little Ice Age." And during the most recent extended period when Earth's climate was generally cooling (1945 1977), we saw twelve tropical cyclones in the north Atlantic reach hurricane intensity in 1969, far above normal. A year later a tropical cyclone in the Bay of Bengal killed about 250,000 people, the greatest number ever in a single weather-related disaster. Global warming apparently reduces tropical cyclone activity over all time frames. Perhaps this is why we have seen a slight reduction in the frequency of all hurricanes in the past four decades (see graph below. Other tropical cyclone metrics may be seen here ). In his presentation at the 14 th International Conference on Climate Change in Las Vegas on Oct. 17, 2021, atmospheric scientist Dr. Neil L. Frank, former Director of the National Hurricane Center and chairman for the World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee for North and Central America, showed the graph to the right and said: "There has been a decrease in hurricane activity in the Atlantic, certainly a major decrease from the 40s and the 50s." For more on this topic, see " U.S. Landfalling Hurricanes Trend Down in 2020 Despite Claims of 'Record-Breaking' Season ," by meteorologist Anthony Watts (January 5, 2021). Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor emeritus of atmospheric meteorology Dr. Richard Lindzen's statement in the November 30, 2009 The Wall Street Journal still applies today: "The notion that complex 'catastrophes' are simply a matter of the response to a single forcing, CO2 (or solar forcing for that matter), represent a gigantic step backward in the science of climate. Many disasters associated with warming are simply normal occurrences whose existence is falsely claimed to be evidence of warming. And all these examples involve phenomena that are dependent on a confluence of many factors." Ottawa politicians, former Mayor Watson in particular, really take the cake when it comes to sensationalism about flooding as well. In reality, we have not seen any increase in flooding in the City in the past decades. Indeed, there has been a decrease in extreme rainfall throughout Ontario. There are twice as many statistically significant decreasing trends as increasing ones in southern Ontario (per the version 2.3 Engineering Climate Datasets on the slides here ). Moreover, the relationship between temperature and extreme rainfall has been disproved by research at MIT, Columbia and the University of Western Ontario. There have always been floods in history, and nothing we see now is abnormal. Data from Environment Canada since the 1950s has shown that there has been no significant change in the frequency of flooding, and the UN IPCC has also admitted that there is no increase in climate-driven changes in the magnitude and frequencies of floods in the 20th and 21st centuries around the world. Oh but what about Wildfires that so concerned Ottawa politicians that, in the city's nonsensical Declaration of Climate Emergency , they blamed climate change for supposedly increasing intense wildfires. There is no convincing historical evidence to support this idea. It doesn't even make sense on a theoretical science basis. In " Extreme wildfires caused by extreme stupidity, not global warming, " published on February 1, 2021, by historical climatologist Dr. Tim Ball and myself, we explained: "Rising temperatures and increasing CO2 both act to increase soil moisture and so reduce the potential of fires. When temperatures rise, evaporation increases, causing more precipitation which increases soil moisture and so lessens fire risk. As CO2 rises, stomata, the pores in plant's leaves, are open for shorter lengths of time. Plants therefore lose less water to the air and so more of it stays in the soil, again reducing fire potential. "The natural cycle of forest fires creates what are called crown fires. They move through quickly, burning off dead debris but leaving most of the plants still alive. When governments decided to stop forest fires, they upset the natural dynamics completely. The bureaucracies, now populated by graduates of the biased environmental education system, willingly allowed the environmental extremists' demands to end the former sensible practice of cleaning the undergrowth. Activists complained that such forest tending was not 'natural,' when it was, in fact, a reasonable facsimile of 'nature.' "So, the debris built up, leaving the forest a tinder box all ready to ignite. Making matters worse, when a fire takes hold, it now often creates what is referred to as a base fire. These fires are very difficult to extinguish the heat allows such fires to burn into the ground and, days after a fire is supposedly out, it will flare up again." What this means, of course, is that intense wildfires are not caused by global warming or CO2 rise, but by inept policy decisions by those responsible for managing our forests. In the final part of this series, I will explain why sea level rise is yet another issue we need not concern ourselves about and why the rise in carbon dioxide emissions from our burning of fossil fuels may have saved life on Earth! Tom Harris is Executive Director of the Ottawa, Canada-based International Climate Science Coalition, and a policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. He has 40 years experience as a mechanical engineer/project manager, science and technology communications professional, technical trainer, and S&T advisor to a former Opposition Senior Environment Critic in Canada's Parliament. Home Perhaps one of the most misunderstood symbols of our current era is the "Don't Tread on Me" flag that one can find emblazed on bumper stickers, on license plates, and waving from homes and businesses. I have been told by many that the flag should be banned because it represents those who support the Confederacy, the January 6 "insurrection," and other acts of political protest. I would like to set the record straight. First, let's look at what it is historically, from a fairly neutral source, such as Encyclopedia Britannica: The "Don't Tread on Me" flag properly known as the Gadsden flag or the Hopkins flag traces it roots to Commodore Esek Hopkins, the United States' first naval commander in chief, as his personal ensign during the American Revolution The flag features a coiled rattlesnake above the words "Don't Tread on Me" on a yellow background. The flag was one of several contemporary flags that included an image of a rattlesnake, which had become a popular symbol of unity among the American colonies. The rattlesnake symbol originated in the 1754 political cartoon "Join, or Die" published in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette. The cartoon, which depicted the colonies divided as segments of a cut-up snake, exhorted the colonists to unite in the face of the French and Indian War. The symbol was later used to represent unity during the Revolutionary War. One observer, writing to the Pennsylvania Journal in December 1775, claimed that a drum of the newly created Marine Corps displayed a rattlesnake alongside the motto "Don't tread on me!" From Wikipedia, I found this: The flag has been described as the "most popular symbol of the American Revolution." Its design proclaims an assertive warning of vigilance and willingness to act in defense against coercion This has led its association with the ideas of individualism and liberty. At some point after the Revolutionary War, a variation of the flag with red and white stripes was adopted by the United States Navy and was flown from the forecastle of the oldest naval vessel in commissioned service. I had the honor of commanding one of those ships, the USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20), and still proudly display the flag that was presented to me by the crew upon my departure. In modern times, the flag has been used in the United States as a symbol for right-libertarianism, classical liberalism, and small government, for distrust or defiance against authorities and government. I will not pass judgment on this, but, like it or not, one of the outcomes of the American Revolution was the adoption of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech for those who may display the flag for purposes other than its intended use. So no matter what its critics say, the flag is part of our heritage as Americans, and I plan to continue to fly my Gadsden flag with pride, knowing that it represents American independence. Any perceived negativity about it is simply the naive thinking of people who are not aware of its real history. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. Senator Tim Scott spoke recently about anticipating a red wave in 2024. I personally don't want to hear it until there is more understanding about the red trickle in 2022. I have not seen legitimate root cause analysis about 2022 from conservatives. RNC leadership remain in place, sipping expensive champagne, eating lobster and filet. I have not seen any serious discussion about what exactly went wrong. Who had the best prediction in 2022? Hold on to your electronic device: Nancy Pelosi. I can't believe I just typed her name. She was pretty confident she was going to hold the House of Representatives, and she almost did. Against all the enthusiasm, the red wave was barely a trickle. What did she know that no one else publicly knew? That Dems had stacks of money ready to be put to use in so many ways. She knew what 99.9999% of Americans would not start to find out until later. They had enough money at their disposal to support not only Democrat candidates, but also Republican candidates against whom they preferred to run. They had money for a variety of shenanigans, including fighting over ballot drop boxes, get out the vote efforts, campaign smears, etc. How did that money suddenly appear? Where did all this money come from? And how did the money get distributed to Democrat candidates? James O'Keefe may be able to explain the money-laundering, er, money distribution system that was utilized. ActBlue, for one known entity, laundered, er, distributed money, allegedly from thousands of unemployed Americans. James O'Keefe and his team are talking to these alleged donors, and they are confirming they did not donate the money. Therefore, we can conclude that someone laundered money through fraudulent use of other people's identities. Where did ActBlue get the money they were laundering/distributing? Why is there little curiosity about this? I would hope that state attorneys general would investigate this and start to prosecute if warranted. This has all the classic signs of a real RICO case: organized criminal activity in furtherance of a real crime. I will offer a possible theory of a potential source of some of the unexplained money: the Uniparty leadership closed ranks around funding Ukraine. If you did not support it, you were a puppet of Putin. Why would there be such an iron wall built around funding Ukraine, much like how there was an iron wall about the actual origins of COVID? For me, such an iron wall signals a distraction. You can't look at this. Trust us. The other red flag is that we are not allowed to know where the money is going after it is given to the Ukraine government; there are no audits in place for the funding. We are sending money to one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and we don't know where it's actually going or how it's being used. Full stop. So I believe that some portion of the money going to the Ukraine is being rerouted primarily back to Democrat sources and a few Uniparty RINOs. And they must hide the source and distribution of that money. (Does the name Sam Bankman-Fried ring a bell?) Therefore, I personally don't want to hear any talk of a red wave. I want to hear talk about getting to the root causes of what happened in 2020 and 2022. There clearly was more money in play for the Democrats (among other things), and until conservatives get more aggressive about stopping these illegal funding sources, we are going to continue to lose. We should continue to ask ourselves, why are Democrats so confident going into 2024? Because money keeps flowing to Ukraine, and possibly back to Democrat and RINO coffers. Maybe the source is not Ukraine, or not just Ukraine. This is not to assert these postulations as fact; I'm merely speculating and hypothesizing, given the distractions provided by the Uniparty. We might not find all the sources of money, but we need only find a few of the major sources and pursue transparency and justice. I believe we must level out the funding field, and we must aggressively investigate what looks like illegal money-laundering with all the classic earmarks of a criminal enterprise. Illuminating the dark sources of the money flowing in for the Democrats is in my mind one of the keys to winning going forward. I don't think we should even hear any members of the Uniparty talk of a red wave at this point, unless we can answer these basic money questions and attempt to bring integrity to political fundraising, and if we can show that there is criminal behavior afoot. Maker S. Mark (a pseudonym) is a patriot who can understand and explain advanced math and science, and is worried about the state of the nation and how to solve the problems we face. United we stand, divided we fall. Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required. This is not a 9/11 remembrance post. We remember the horrible day on which Islamic terrorists cruelly murdered 2,977 people. Instead, this is a post about how our culture has failed to sustain the day that created modern America. Historys hinge points mark a single event that breaks with the past and sets us on a new path. America has had a few: The American Revolution; the Civil War; World War I; WWII; Kennedys assassination; and 9/11. America has had room to remember all of them (yes, even World War I), but it has no room for 9/11that is, not as long as the Democrats have anything to say about it. The American Revolution was a remarkable hinge point, and thats not just because our nation began then. Its also because, for the first time in history, we had a nation explicitly founded on the notion of individual liberty arising from inherent rights that come from God, not government. Americans often badly failed to recognize that those rights exist in everyone, but the rights themselves are pure and good. And heres something to contemplate: The Bill of Rights was passed in 1791 when the French Revolution was peaking. Unlike the American Revolution, which was predicated on the rights of the individual, the French Revolution continued the totalitarianism of pre-Revolutionary France. It simply replaced the hated monarchy and aristos with the new tyranny of the Commune. Since 1791, the world has never ceased fighting these two revolutions: Individual liberty versus my party gets to be the new tyrant. Image: September 11, 2001 (cropped) by Robert J. Fisch. CC BY 2.0. Until quite recently, we celebrated July 4 as a day of tremendous value. Since 9/11, that memory has become a fight, but we still acknowledge the historic moment. The Civil War, of course, finally forced the nation to come to terms with the divide between its values and its practices. We paid a bloody price, with well over 600,000 dead. Because of Abraham Lincolns death, official Washington very quickly allowed Southerners to revert to their racist past. Thats why were still fighting battles over monuments that, had the post-war era been better managed, would never have been raised in the first place. And of course, when Woodrow Wilson gained the White House, he took his southern biases and brought them to the entire federal government. We continue to honor the Civil War, which looms large in the American consciousness. World War I saw President Wilson formulate the Wilson Doctrine: Americas responsibility was to make the world safe for democracy. George W. Bush was playing out the Wilson doctrine when he decided to reshape the Middle East after 9/11. We continue to honor World War I every time we celebrate Veterans Day. World War II not only gave rise to the Cold War but also made America the worlds dominant country. When the war ended, not only was America victorious, but it hadnt been affected by battles on its soil. It was also the only post-war nation that was defiantly capitalist. Between the one and the other, we became the worlds wealthiest nation and (true to Wilson) the worlds policeman. World War II was the backdrop to every Baby Boomers life because so many were raised by men and women who participated directly in the war. Its imagery (the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, the concentration camps, the fall of Berlin, the Blitz in Britain, etc.) was emblazoned on American minds. In 1963, John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He instantly became a Democrat martyr, which is ironic given that todays Democrats would despise his policies. His death paved the way for LBJ, who was much more radical than Kennedy. Whether on race or war, LBJs policies shaped the 1960s. Kennedys martyrdom makes sure his assassination is forever burned in our collective consciousness. And then there was 9/11. That was a true hinge point. It forced Americans to recognize that many of the worlds 1.6 billion Muslims despise everything the West stands for, with America as the avatar of the West. It led to Dubyas ill-advised forays into the Middle East. Frankly, I dont know if we ever could have changed the entrenched Arab/Muslim cultures, but I do know that the Democrats frantic, relentless, anti-America opposition made any victory impossible, and if you cant possibly win a war, dont fight it. The September 11 attacks also gave us the Patriot Act; constant surveillance; the risible notion that Islam is a religion of peace; the degradation of our military, allowing leftists to rebuild it in their own image; and a completely radicalized Democrat party. Since the 1930s, communists had been working within the Democrat party to push it further left, but it was the anti-war protests that cemented todays hard-left Democrat party, with every consequence flowing from that radicalization: Racial politics, LGBTQ+ madness, Obama as the antidote to Dubya (and Biden as Obamas successor); open borders; the 2020 election shenanigansthey all flowed from a newly ascendant left. Despite what the Democrats owe to 9/11, they have minimal interest in the day itself. If you go to CNNs home page today, 9/11 is just one of many stories, right there with GMA anchor Robin Roberts marries Amber Laign in backyard ceremony. The same is true for MSNBCs home page, where 9/11 ranks below Theres at least one thing Trump doesnt appear eager to plant his name on. Indeed, go to every MSM outlet, and youll discover the same9/11 is barely a sidebar. And in the heart of D.C., the blithering Kamala has been deputized to attend Ground Zero ceremonies. Meanwhile, Biden is in Alaska, barely noticing 9/11 but celebrating the fact that his recent executive orders will once again make us economically dependent on nations espousing the same ideology that sought to destroy us. Never Forget has become Dont bother to remember. Its no wonder that my children and their peers continue not to remember or just dont care. (As a reminder, contrary to past practice, American Thinker publishes material throughout the day. Be sure to check in to see if there's new content later in the day.) Karate is actually a truncated word. In full, it is karate-do. "Adding the suffix '-do' ('karate-do'), meaning 'way, implies karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications." The "-do" suffix appears in other words e.g., bushido (Japanese: "Way of the Warrior"), aikido ("way of harmonizing energy"). "-do" is a way of life. There is a "Democrat-do." The "Way of the Democrat" is dishonesty. There is no better example than the recent one provided by the Democrat governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham. For good reasons, many have focused on the 2A implications. However, a much more fundamental matter and a general principle are involved. In declaring a suspension of the right to carry a firearm in Albuquerque, she stated: No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute. The governor's interesting interpretation of "oath" is consistent with other prominent Democrats e.g., John Brennan and James Clapper, both of whom have been credibly accused of lying under oath. It would appear as if the "truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth" thing is nothing to Democrats. Poseur Joe Biden's Number One Son, Hunter, lies like a rug on many issues, as does his mentally defective father (citations too numerous to list, and JRB's history of lying antedates his current cognitive challenges). Democrat child-manglers lie about surgeries that affirm what is unaffirmable: As a bottom line, does gender-affirming surgery solidify the fluidity and decide/settle the gender identity matter? It does not, and it cannot, as gender remains fluid. Examples are found in the postgender-affirming surgery persons who have patient's remorse. There is a silver lining in this dark cloud of Democrat deception. The two best types of people with whom to deal are those who always tell the truth and those who always lie. You always know from where each is coming. We know which type is the Democrat. Act accordingly. Image: Picryl. Once upon a time, there was a Michelle who couldn't speak English and Paul McCartney tried to speak French, saying that "Michelle, ma belle These are words that go together well my Michelle." Over in New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said something rather remarkable when explaining an emergency. This is what she said: The Democrat issued an emergency public health order on Friday, suspending the right to carry guns in public across Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days following the shooting deaths of three children in the area. Local law enforcement officials expressed concerns that the governor's order violated Second Amendment rights. The governor acknowledged the ban may face legal challenges and addressed these concerns during a press conference. After a reporter questioned whether Grisham was upholding her oath to the Constitution, she argued no Constitutional rights were fixed, including her oath. "No constitutional right, in my view, including my oath, is intended to be absolute," she retorted. Grisham cited restrictions on free speech as an example of how rights can be curtailed in emergency situations." Based on the early responses, the governor's comments about rights not being absolute are not going over well. It never goes well when a person in a position of responsibility has so little understanding of something called the Second Amendment. Worse than that, the governor of New Mexico does not understand that criminals won't be impacted. In other words, all those guys who've been shooting in Albuquerque won't read her order. How many times do we have to repeat the line about criminals being criminals when it comes to gun laws? It will go to the courts, and the governor will lose. The issue is more important than having another Democrat's hands smacked for overreach. The real issue is that too many Democrats today do not understand why there is a crime wave in their jurisdictions. Maybe it's because their judges release them too early and the streets are no longer controlled by the police. How about those words, my Michelle? PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: AFGE. In Saint Charles County, Missouri, near Weldon Spring, adjacent to Highway 40, lies an enormous mound of rocks, rising out of the ground like an ancient burial tomb. Underneath it lies tons of hazardous waste produced by a chemical plant that once stood in its place. Today, Weldon Spring draws thousands of curious visitors each year. They climb to the top of the 75-foot tall dome to read the placards that tell the story of the sad history of communities that disappeared in 1940 to make way for the worlds largest explosives factory. Between 1940 and 1941, the US Army purchased over 17,000 acres of land in Saint Charles County, just outside of St. Louis On those land happened to sit three pretty towns with rolling wooded hills - Hamburg, Howell, and Toonerville. They were immediately evacuated. Hundreds of homes, businesses, churches, schools and any other buildings in the area were either demolished or burned and within a few months the three towns ceased to exist. A massive factory was erected to manufacture TNT and DNT in order to supply Allied troops in the Word War II. The Weldon Spring Ordnance Works, operated by Atlas Powder Company, employed more than 5,000 people and contained more than 1,000 buildings. By the time the plant ceased production on Aug. 15, 1945, the day the Japanese surrendered, it had produced more than 700 million pounds of TNT. Photo credit After the war the Army began selling off pieces of the land. The State of Missouri acquired 7,000 acres, while the University of Missouri bought another 8,000 acres, which was later sold to the Conservation Department. These pieces of property are today the Busch Memorial Conservation Area and the Weldon Spring Conservation Area. A small patch of land about 2,000 acres - was retained by the United States Atomic Energy Commission. It was there the Commission built a uranium ore processing plant in 1955. The Weldon Spring Uranium Feed Mill Plant, operated by Mallinckrodt Chemical Works of St. Louis, processed raw uranium ore into yellow cake, or concentrated ore which was shipped to other sites. The processing plant operated until 1966. During the Vietnam War the Army planned to use part of the old uranium processing facilities to produce Agent Orange, a herbicide used to defoliate jungle during the war. The Army later abandoned the plan without ever producing the chemical at Weldon Spring. The site sat abandoned for more than 20 years, but still contained contaminated equipment and hazardous chemicals. Waste lagoons were filled with thousands of gallons of water contaminated with radioactive wastes and heavy industrial metals. Beginning in the 1980's, the U.S. Department of Energy began extensive decontamination of the area, eventually building a gigantic waste disposal cell to entomb the waste materials. The official name of this site is the Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project (WSSRAP). Completed in 2001, the mountainous structure covers 45 acres and stores 1.5 million cubic yards of hazardous material. Stairs lead up to the top of the cell where there is a viewing platform and plaques that provide information about the local area, the history of the site, and the construction of the waste disposal cell. Visitors can also visit the 9,000-square-foot interpretive center housed in a building at the base of the cell that was once used to check workers for radioactivity. Incidentally, the top of the Weldon Spring waste disposal cell is the highest point in St. Charles County. There is a similar nuclear waste dome in on Enewetak Atoll Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Satellite view of Weldon Spring Site Remedial Action Project (WSSRAP) Sources: Ruralmissouri, Vice, Wikipedia The Belyana were some of the largest wooden ships ever built. Yet, they were only meant for a single journey. They were built to transport huge quantities of timber along the Volga and Kama. Instead of just floating the logs down the rivers, they were fashioned into enormous ships and these large vessels were rowed or floated downriver. At their destination, the vessel was disassembled and the wood sold. Between the 16th and the 19th centuries, hundreds of belyanas were built every year and floated down the rivers. With more than a fifth of the world's forests, timber production is one of the countrys oldest economy. Wood was logged in winter. Loggers would spent the entire winter in the forest cutting down trees and preparing them for transportation. After the spring flood, when rivers returned to normal flow, construction of belyanas started. They took the entire summer, finishing in autumn. First the hull was built using spruce beams and pine boards. The flat bottom was made of spruce and the walls were made of pine. About 240 pine and 200 spruce logs were needed to build a medium-sized belyana. The vessels were originally built without a single nail and only later, in the 19th century, did iron nails begin to be used. No tarring was performed, and the logs were simply tied tightly together. The lack of tar gave the belyans a whitish appearance, from which comes its name. Belyana means faded or white. The load of logs, beams and planks was distributed in even rows with wide openings between them so as to provide quick access to its bottom in the event of a breach or other accident. In addition, properly laid logs dry faster, which protects them from rot. Like the hull and the superstructure, the deck too was made of a load, usually of cut boards. Two cabins were installed near the stern, and served as a balance and as quarters for the crew. A high transverse bridge was built between their roofs with a cabin cut in the middle, where the pilot was located. Belyanas were richly decorated with flags of the state as well as that of a particular merchant, which most often depicted the blessings of saints or some symbols appropriate to the occasion. Small belyanas had a draught of 2.5 to 2.8 meters and could carry up to 1,600 tons. Medium belyanas had a draught of approximately 3.5 m and could carry 3,200 tons. The large ones measured up to 120 meters long and 25 meters wide, and had a draught of 5 meters. They could carry 12,800 tons of wood, comparable to a modern container ship. Each belyana was crewed by 15 to 35 sailors, while larger ones had up to 100. Most of them worked on the pumps that pumped water from the hull, which tended to flood during the journey. The belyanas had no propellers and moved by the action of the river. A huge rudder placed in the stern of the vessel allowed the pilot to navigate the belyana. After a 2,000 to 3,000 km journey along the Volga, the belyana would reach its destination, which was usually Saratov, Tsaritsyn (today's Volgograd), and Astrakhan, where the timber and hull were dismantled for firewood or went to sawmills for final processing. The boats' cabins were sold as ready-made houses. Belyanas flourished in the middle of the 19th century, when steamboats ran on wood, which had to be brought to the towns of the lower Volga. Up to 500 steamships on the Volga needed large quantities of firewood to propel them. After ships started to run oil, the demand for wood decreased. Besides, with the development of the railway system, the cost of transportation by rail became cheaper than by water, and belyanas became obsolete. Elon Musks X Corp. filed a lawsuit against the state of California, alleging that AB 587, a state bill, infringes upon X Corp.s free speech rights. The bill compels companies to define murky terms. Advertisement Advertisement In this lawsuit, X Corp. states that the bill violates federal and state free speech laws. It forces companies, like X Corp., to engage in speech against their will as they must establish definitions for politically-charged issues, such as hate speech and racism, as mandated by the bill. Elon Musks X Corp.s complaint highlights the difficulty in reliably defining terms like hate speech, misinformation, and political interference. These definitions often carry political bias due to the absence of a consensus within the public sphere, according to X Corp. The company argues that by defining these terms, it compels itself to take a position on them. Elon Musks X Corp. more lawsuit details The lawsuit further alleges that AB 587 aims to coerce social media companies into eliminating constitutionally-protected content that the state deems problematic. Governor Gavin Newsoms administration promoted the bill as a pioneering social media transparency measure when he signed it into law in September last year. Laws regulating social media moderation have been enacted in both Texas and Florida, with pending legal challenges before the Supreme Court. The challenge of social media moderation persists. X Corp. employs tools like automated systems and community flagging for moderation and fact-checking. Recently, the company introduced Community Notes for videos, allowing Top Writers to provide context for potentially misleading videos, though this feature also carries the risk of contributing to misinformation. Reddit faced criticism for replacing longtime moderators with potentially less experienced ones. Blueskys moderation manifesto even acknowledged that its approach might suppress fact-checking on the site. In summary, X Corp.s lawsuit against Californias AB 587 raises significant concerns about the impact of legislation on free speech rights and the complexities of moderating online content. These issues remain subjects of intense debate and legal scrutiny in various states. Samsungs 2023 foldables arrived on the market exactly a month ago, on August 11. Both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 are still hot and attracting buyers around the world. However, the Korean firm has already begun preparations for the next-gen models. Samsung has registered the brand names for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 7. Spotted by the Samsung-focused Dutch publication GalaxyClub, the company secured these names with trademark applications in its home country South Korea. The filings suggest it doesnt plan to change the naming convention of its foldable smartphones at least for a couple more years. Thats because the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will arrive in 2024 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement The Flip lineup appears to be missing currently, but it should just be a matter of time before Samsung gets around to security the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 brand names as well. Rumors about the former have already started coming in. We are hearing that the Korean firm will finally give its clamshell foldables a much-needed camera upgrade next year. While details are scarce, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is rumored to feature a 50MP primary shooter. Thats a notable upgrade from the 12MP unit found on the 2023 model. Its unclear whether the Fold lineup will get a similar treatment, though. The book-type foldables have offered a better camera performance than the Flip lineup, so Samsung might be looking for some parity next year. Samsung is actively registering brand names for upcoming Galaxy products Samsung isnt known for registering brand names for its upcoming Galaxy products early. It usually does that closer the the launch of the product. However, it has been giving more attention to this lately. The Korean firm trademarked the Galaxy S24 branding more than six months before the expected launch of its 2024 flagships. It has now gone a step ahead and filed trademark applications not only for its 2024 foldable but the 2025 model as well. Interestingly, an early registration of the Galaxy S24 brand name could be followed by an early launch of the phones. Rumors are that Samsung is considering unveiling the 2024 flagships a few weeks earlier than the Galaxy S23 series, which debuted on February 1 this year. This is based on the company starting the production of components in November, a month earlier. We should get a confirmation about the Galaxy S24 launch timeline in the coming weeks. The survival of the PA despite the failure of the Oslo Accords By Yoni Ben Menachem web posted September 11, 2023 Although the Oslo Agreement faced considerable challenges and ultimately failed to achieve its intended goals, the PLO and Israel have refrained from canceling it, recognizing its historical significance and the complexities of the region's security situation over the past three decades. Israel, in particular, strategically decided to maintain the Palestinian Authority's (PA) governance in Judea and Samaria, cooperating with PA security organs in the ongoing fight against terrorism. However, the PA has frequently refused to counter Jihadi groups in areas under its control, such as the case recently in Jenin and Nablus, infected by Iranian regime-affiliated terror cells. This places the entire counter-terrorism burden on Israel alone with its far-reaching security and diplomatic repercussions. As we reflect on the 30 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993 at the White House, it becomes apparent that while the accord aimed to establish a path towards an independent Palestinian state, the leadership of Yasser Arafat and later Mahmoud Abbas failed to halt acts of terrorism and incitement to violence, murder, and subversion of Israel. This realization prompted successive Israeli governments to view the Oslo agreement as a "Trojan horse" that inadvertently facilitated the movement of armed PLO terrorists into Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip. Regrettably, deception characterized Arafat's approach toward counterterrorism efforts. His tactic of releasing terrorists and permitting groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad to carry out suicide attacks against Israel further destabilized the situation. The Camp David summit of 2000 marked a critical turning point, as Arafat's outright rejection of Israel's proposals and President Clinton's plan led to armed conflict. Despite continued waves of terrorism and subsequent unrest, the PA, now under the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, has managed to sustain its position. "Pay to Slay" Treachery The PA's dual role of providing financial support to terrorists' families while coordinating security measures with Israel has threatened to undermine relations with Israel. However, recent events, such as the fighting in Jenin and the Guardian of the Walls operation in Gaza in May 2021, have revealed vulnerabilities in the PA's security control in some PA-controlled areas accompanied by internal struggles and economic hardships. Despite the undeniable shortcomings and internal contradictions of the Oslo Accords, neither the PLO nor Israeli governments have officially terminated the agreement. Instead, it persists, with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acting as a protective barrier for the PA in Judea and Samaria, preventing a scenario similar to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Israel's current Netanyahu government has also chosen to preserve the PA, preferring to maintain it in the broader fight against terrorism. Prime Minister Netanyahu even publicly recognized the PA's role in this regard. Numerous international players, including the United States, the European Union, Egypt, Jordan, and other moderate Arab nations, share concerns about the potential collapse of the PA. They fear such an event could lead to security chaos and allow terrorist organizations to exploit the situation, ultimately destabilizing the region and bolstering Iran's influence. The problem is Israel's support of the PA delegitimizes Israel in line with PA statements and actions in the international legal and diplomatic arenas. Security coordination with the PA is central to the Oslo Accords' importance from Israel's perspective. This element remains intact even though Mahmoud Abbas has occasionally threatened to suspend it. The PA leadership knows that crossing this "red line" could have severe consequences for their relationship with Israel. Recently, new armed terrorist groups, supported by Iran, have emerged in northern Samaria, presenting a significant challenge to the PA's rule. These groups engage in terrorist activities against Israel while undermining the PA leadership's authority. Internal conflicts and the struggle for succession among senior Fatah movement leaders have further weakened the PA's effectiveness. Mahmoud Abbas's advanced age and failure to achieve national reconciliation have contributed to eroding the PA's legitimacy. In light of these circumstances, it is imperative for Israel to hold Hamas accountable for its ongoing terrorist activities from the Gaza Strip and to propose a viable political framework that could reignite negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. The transformation of the Gaza Strip into a hub of Islamic extremism following Israel's withdrawal underscores the complexities of establishing an independent Palestinian entity in Judea and Samaria. Strengthening Local Palestinian Rule As the past 30 years have demonstrated, a more pragmatic and security-minded approach to more stable relations with Palestinian leadership is through agreeing to long-term local arrangements with seven Palestinian local governments. This approach could entail expanded autonomy within a framework that prioritizes enhancing security, with Israel assuming a central role and preventing the ongoing intensifying terror attacks on both sides of the 1967 lines. Despite the failure of the Oslo Accords, there is still value to security coordination between Israel and the PA. But neither Israel nor its friends and allies in the EU and Washington can allow the PA to use this security coordination as a pretext to subvert, defame, and delegitimize Israel politically, diplomatically, and by cynically misappropriating and distorting and weaponizing international law to undermine the Jewish and democratic state's legitimacy. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Home Samsung has opened the One UI 6.0 beta program for one more mid-range handset. The company is now pushing the beta update to the Galaxy A34. It rolled out One UI 6.0 beta to the Galaxy A54 last week. The Galaxy S23 series is the only other Galaxy device to get the new One UI version, leaving Galaxy S22 users frustrated. One UI 6.0 beta for the Galaxy A34 appears to be currently limited to the UK. The mid-range phone is reportedly getting the update with the firmware build number A346BXXU4ZWI1. The over the air (OTA) package weighs about 2GB, which is in the expected lines considering that its a major Android OS update. One UI 6.0 brings Android 14 Galaxy devices. Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if Samsung plans to expand this beta program to more countries. The Korean firm is testing One UI 6.0 for the Galaxy S23 series in China, Germany, India, Poland, South Korea, and the US as well. Mid-range models may not get the beta update in all of these markets, but the company could add a few to the mix. This applies to both Galaxy A34 and Galaxy A54. If youre using either of these phones, you can check for a banner about the One UI 6.0 beta on the Samsung Members app. The banner will show up on the apps home page in supported countries. You can click on the banner to enroll in the beta program. Once you have completed the registration process, the beta update will roll out to you like a regular OTA update. Samsung will push One UI 6.0 beta to the Galaxy S22 series as well When Samsung opened the One UI 6.0 beta program for the Galaxy A54 last week, many Galaxy S22 users expressed their disappointment over the company prioritizing mid-range devices over flagships. The Galaxy A34 now getting the beta update ahead of the Galaxy S22 has certainly irked a few more of them. The Korean firms idea is likely to go in the order of release date, but its natural for flagship users to expect more. Hopefully, Samsung wont take much longer to bring One UI 6.0 beta to the Galaxy S22 series. The enrollment process will be the same for the 2022 flagships as well, so dont forget to check the Samsung Members app. As far as the stable update is concerned, we are expecting Samsung to begin the rollout in late October or early November. The Galaxy S23 series will get it first, followed by other flagship models. Copyright infringement by generative AI chatbots has been a subject of debate for quite some time. However, in a groundbreaking move, Microsoft has now announced that it will protect its AI Copilot users against any claims of intellectual property (IP) infringement through its new Copilot Copyright Commitment program. As explained by Microsoft President Brad Smith, the program aims to provide commercial customers with a sense of security against potential copyright claims arising from AI-generated content. In essence, the company will assume responsibility for the potential legal risks involved if an entity challenges the user on copyright grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, even in the event that a third party takes legal action against a commercial customer, alleging copyright infringement related to their use of Microsofts Copilot or the content it generates, the company pledges to defend the customer. Furthermore, the fact that Microsoft has also committed to covering any adverse judgments or settlements stemming from the lawsuit, albeit if the consumer has adhered to the prescribed safety measures, suggests that the company is confident in its Copilots ability to generate copyright-free content. This confidence stems from Microsofts incorporation of new filters that are designed to reduce the likelihood of infringing content. These build on and complement our work to protect digital safety, security, and privacy, based on a broad range of guardrails such as classifiers, meta prompts, content filtering, and operational monitoring and abuse detection, including that which potentially infringes third-party content, reads Microsofts blog post. What services does the program apply to? While the new Copilot Copyright Commitment represents a significant step forward in the AI industry, it is important to note that this program applies exclusively to commercial customers of various offerings, such as GitHub Copilot, Bing Chat Enterprise, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Power BI, Viva Sales, Dynamics 365, and more. Therefore, individual users generating content that infringes on a personal capacity will not enjoy the same benefits. Samsung might launch the Galaxy S24 series earlier than expected. Recent developments hint at a potential unveiling of the next-gen flagships in January 2024. The Korean firm is also reportedly increasing the production volume of the phones by about ten percent compared to the Galaxy S23 series, likely because they will arrive a few weeks early in the market. According to the Korean publication ET News, Samsung is looking to produce 30 million units of the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra combined. Thats about ten percent more than the total production volume of its 2023 flagships, which have sold well. The company is hoping to build on that, with an expected rebound in the smartphone industry further driving sales. Advertisement Advertisement Galaxy S24 volumes may fluctuate depending on market conditions, but it appears that we are currently planning to produce more than the previous model, the report quotes an industry official as saying. Samsung sold about 19 million units of the Galaxy S23 series in the first six months after launch. The figure marks a 23 percent increase from the Galaxy S22 series. So the company has its reasons to increase production in 2024. Like this year and in the past, Samsung sees the Ultra model outselling the other two models next year as well. The Korean behemoth has already notified its partners about the Galaxy S24 production plan, with it quoting a production volume of 15 million units for the Ultra model and 7.5 million each for the base Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24+. Previous flagship Galaxy phones have had a similar sale ratio. The Galaxy S24 series may arrive earlier than expected Samsung could be increasing the Galaxy S24 production because its planning to launch the phones early. The company has reportedly told its suppliers to start the mass production of components in November. The Galaxy S23 series entered production in December and debuted on February 1. Going by this, the Galaxy S24 series could launch in the first half of January next year. This speculation has received backing from a few notable industry insiders as well. Samsung might be considering this because Qualcomm is launching its next-gen flagship SoC, which will power the Galaxy S24 series in some markets, about a month early. The Exynos 2400 is also reportedly arriving early (in October). The Korean firm launched its 2023 foldables a couple of weeks earlier than usual too. We will have to wait for more reports to confirm an early launch of the Galaxy S24, though. As the product is still before production, the release schedule has not been determined, an industry official said. The release date is a matter for Samsung Electronics to decide strategically. There are many cases of early release in history, such as foldable phones, so there is a possibility. Some beta testers are already noticing a new WhatsApp cross-platform messaging feature on the app. This new feature became available on WhatsApp for Android via a beta update. Since the update bringing this feature and the EU outlining Meta as a gatekeeper are days away from each other, some experts are already connecting the dots. A few days before this feature became available via update, the EU pointed out that the Digital Markets Act (DMA) outlined Meta as a gatekeeper. This means that Metas services need to support chat interoperability with other services to improve user access. Now with the emergence of this feature, it seems like Meta is already working to make this interoperability available. Advertisement Advertisement WABetaInfo points out that while the presence of this feature can be seen via the update, its function isnt clear. However, the title of the section for this feature reads Third-party chats, which hints at interoperability. This article will explore how this feature might work to keep up with the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements for a gatekeeper. Possible uses of the coming WhatsApp cross-platform messaging feature WhatsApp is currently in use by over 2.7 billion people worldwide, making it the most used messaging platform. For this reason, the EU considers it a gatekeeper service and requires it to be interoperable. This is to let other users access its services from other third-party messaging platforms without having to access WhatsApp services. This will permit a user of another third-party messaging service to chat with a WhatsApp user. Currently, that is not possible, but that is the future that the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) is fighting for. To this end, they are giving WhatsApp till March 2024 to comply with its requirements. WhatsApp already seems to be working to meet this requirement and they must start early. By doing this, theyll be able to fish out possible flaws in cross-platform messaging and fix them. Some of these flaws might have to do with end-to-end encryption for cross-platform messages. Because this feature will allow messaging between two platforms, security will be a major concern. While the EU aims to improve communication between citizens of their region, they need to consider security. WhatsApp will be able to address this issue effectively since they have already begun working on the new feature. This feature might be only available to the EU region once it rolls out soon. Also, users of WhatsApp might be allowed to opt out of cross-platform messaging. More details on the coming WhatsApp cross-platform messaging in compliance with the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) will be available in the coming weeks. The Xiaomi 14 series could get the same hardware upgrade as the iPhone 15 Pro series, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Were talking about a titanium frame, of course, as all the phones listed here are expected to feature it. The Xiaomi 14 could get the same hardware upgrade as the iPhone 15 Pro series This information comes from Digital Chat Station, one of Chinas most trusted tipsters. Ice Universe, another well-known tipster, hinted that something similar will happen. He was more specific, though, as he mentioned the Xiaomi 14 Pro. Advertisement Advertisement Truth be said, this upgrade could be limited to the Xiaomi 14 Pro, and eventually the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The Xiaomi 14 may not get it, even though thats also a possibility based on the latest information. So, whats the advantage of titanium? Well, its both stronger and lighter than stainless steel. Thanks to that material, both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will be considerably lighter than their predecessors, considerably. Theyll be stronger at the same time. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also expected to utilize a titanium frame Were expecting the same to happen with the Xiaomi 14 models too. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also tipped to utilize a titanium frame, but that phone is not expected to arrive until Q1 2024. More smartphone OEMs are expected to follow this trend, and start including titanium frames in their phones. Needless to say, this is a welcomed trend, and we do hope many flagship devices will offer it next year. The Xiaomi 13 series was allegedly very successful for Xiaomi, so the company has high hopes for the Xiaomi 14 series too. The Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro will reportedly launch first, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra is tipped to arrive at a later date. Thats what happened last year too. Do note that the two phones are tipped to launch sooner than expected, in early November. The Xiaomi 13 series dropped on December 11 last year. The launch event will take place in China first, while the global one will follow next year, most likely. (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - Silvio Berlusconi's five children have fully accepted the will of the late ex-premier and media magnate, sources said on Monday. The will did not give any of the five sole control of Berlusconi's business empire and other assets, although his two older children, Marina and Pier Silvio, do control around 53% of a legacy worth at least five billion euros between them. The sources said a team of lawyers and financial consultants had worked on clarifying many aspects of the will after Berlusconi 's death on June 12. The five heirs are set to sign a document testifying that they fully accept the will at the late ex-premier's villa at Arcore near Milan later on Monday, the sources said. This means none of them requested an inventory, which would have made things take longer. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - Notification of a deal between Italy and Germany to haand a minority stake in ITA to Lufthansa "is a long-standing issue" that "deserves a solution", said European Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, adding that he trusts that the European Commission will recognise the importance of the work done so far. "It is not part of my brief, but it is an issue that I know well and which is close to my heart," said Gentiloni, who has responsibility for economic affairs but not for competition. "Within the collegial responsibilities of the Commission I will try to address it. It is an issue that has been dragging on for a long time and I think it deserves a solution. "I think the government has worked hard to find this solution and I trust that the European Commission recognises the importance of this work," he added. In May Italy and Germany agreed to the acquisition by German carrier Lufthansa in the two-year period 2023-2024 of a 41% stake in ITA's share capital against an investment of 325 million euros. However, the deal still needs to be approved by EU competition and antitrust authorities, a step that can only be taken following official notification from the two parties. This notification, according to the European Commission, has not been forthcoming. On Sunday Italian economy ministry sources said Italy was waiting for the outcome of an EC probe, which is expected to be fast. "The notification of the agreement for the sale of a minority share of Ita to Lufthansa to the European Commission for Competition is accepted, by practice, only at the end of an investigation that the same commission is carrying out very meticulously in the context of a pre-notification phase that has already begun", explained at the MEF. Separately, EC sources said the commission was in close contact with Italy and Germany over the deal. "The European Commission remains in close contact with the parties to discuss the transaction". "Prior to its official notification, these pre-notification contacts are continuous and are part of the standard process for assessing a complex transaction", the sources added. (ANSA). View from the White House Medal of Honor ceremony for Larry Taylor By Mark Alexander web posted September 11, 2023 Some days are more interesting than others, while some are truly memorable. Last week, being in the East Room for Larry Taylor's Medal of Honor award ceremony and East Wing reception would fall into the latter category. What follows are some impressions of those events. The word "hero" is too often grossly misapplied by those, especially in the media, who don't have any reference point for what it actually means. Never before was that misuse as prolific as during the COVID pandemic, when we were inundated with "hero" proclamations, including plastic yard signs in front of homes occupied by those in the medical profession noting, "A Hero Lives Here." Actually, not. But in the case of Capt. Larry Taylor, the word "hero" is understated. To be clear, this event was not about the president, it was about an amazing Patriot warrior a year older than Joe Biden. But given the proximity of this celebration of valor to the anniversary date of the most disgraceful military exfiltration since Vietnam, Biden's surrender and retreat from Afghanistan, the "irony" of his presence, and that of the two commanders who executed that exfil Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley was unavoidable in a room full of American Patriots. In July 2023, the upgrade of Larry Taylor's Silver Star to a Medal of Honor was approved, and the award was officially made last Tuesday. Because Larry is a deeply humble man, he would never have advocated for his own recognition. Thus, the upgrade effort was led by Gen. B.B. Bell (USA-Ret.), Advisory Board chairman of the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, and Dave Hill, the last surviving member of the patrol team Larry saved that deadly night 55 years ago. When notified of the Medal upgrade, Larry responded simply, "I thought you had to do something to receive the Medal of Honor." I have known Larry for 20 years, but yesterday was my first opportunity to meet Dave Hill. While these guys are a few years older than they were in the prime of their war-fighting days, they both still have plenty of badass in their bones. Larry's Medal of Honor citation notes: First Lieutenant Larry L. Taylor distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Troop Delta, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division on June 18th, 1968, near the village of Ap Go Cong, Republic of Vietnam. On this date, First Lieutenant Taylor commanded a light fire team of two Cobra helicopter gunships scrambled on a nighttime mission in response to an urgent call for aerial fire support from a four-man, long-range patrol team. Upon arrival, First Lieutenant Taylor found the patrol team surrounded and heavily engaged by a larger Viet Cong force. He immediately requested illumination rounds and supporting artillery to assist with identifying the enemy positions. Despite intense enemy groundfire, he flew at a perilously low altitude, placing a devastating volume of aerial rocket and machine gun fire on the enemy forces encircling the friendly patrol. For over approximately 45 minutes, First Lieutenant Taylor and his wingman continued to make low-level, danger-close attack runs on the surrounding enemy positions. When enemy fire increased from the village of Ap Go Cong, he requested artillery rounds with lower illumination altitudes be fired on that portion of the village so that the burning rounds ignited the enemy positions. With both Cobra gunships nearly out of ammunition and the enemy still closing in on the patrol team, First Lieutenant Taylor flew the patrol team's potential ground evacuation route ... finding it unviable based on the heavy enemy ground fire encountered. Returning to the patrol team's location, he continued to circle it at a low level under intense enemy fire, employing his searchlight to make fake gun runs on the enemy positions to distract them from the patrol team. Running low on fuel and with the patrol team nearly out of ammunition, First Lieutenant Taylor decided to extract the team with his two-man Cobra helicopter gunship a feat never before accomplished. He directed his wingman to fire their remaining minigun rounds on the patrol team's east flank. First Lieutenant Taylor then fired his own last minigun rounds on the enemy positions, opening an avenue of movement to the east for the patrol team. He directed the patrol team to move 100 yards towards the extraction point, where First Lieutenant Taylor, still under enemy fire, landed his helicopter and instructed the patrol team to climb aboard anywhere they could. With the four-man, long-range patrol teams seated on rocket pods and skids, he evacuated them to the nearest friendly location, undoubtedly saving their lives. First Lieutenant Taylor's conspicuous gallantry, his profound concern for his fellow soldiers, and his intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army. For a much more detailed account of that night from Larry and Dave, read the Profiles of Valor post, "Larry Taylor: Medal of Honor, Pending." Perhaps the most moving moment of the day was when Larry shed a tear once the Medal was awarded. Bravo Zulu, Larry! And thank you, Dave and B.B., for ensuring Larry's valorous actions were finally properly recognized! (Watch Larry's remarks and formal induction into the Hall of Heroes today.) Regarding long overdue recognition for valorous actions, it was a privilege to meet for the first time MoH recipient Col. Paris Davis, who we profiled in March, when he was finally recognized for actions 58 years earlier. Again, these individuals are, by nature, humble warriors, and these lengthy delays are often the result of a lack of advocacy. In fact, we believe the next two award recipients may be Charles Shadrack and George Wilson, members of Andrew's Raiders who have yet to be recognized posthumously for their actions in 1862. Those actions resulted in the first Medal of Honor awards in our nation's history to other members of the Raiders. Of other impressions Joe Biden appeared far more frail than Larry Taylor, who is contending with a life-threatening illness. The East Room is small, and Biden entered the room with Taylor assisting him on one side while a staff member held Biden's arm on the other. He appears far more frail in person than I anticipated. As is typical, he fumbled through his teleprompted script, struggling with the names of other recipients present. He also strained to close the Medal of Honor ribbon around Larry's neck as is tradition. Biden then abruptly left the room before the closing benediction, and he was not present at the reception. Notably, notwithstanding his reinstated White House masking rule (though none of us present were in masks) after he was exposed to the latest strain of COVID, Biden removed his own mask despite the fact that he was in immediate proximity of Capt. Taylor. Regarding Biden's profound ineptitude as president now, much less his fitness for another term, I wrote a year ago what to me seemed obvious at the time: "It's Official Biden Will (NOT) Be the Demo Nominee in 2024." That assessment now seems apparent even to Democrats. Finally, I have been in the White House several times for presidential events, though the last time I was there was to celebrate a great president, Ronald Reagan, at the end of his second term. The event this week honoring Larry was every bit as inspiring! (Please support the National Medal of Honor Sustaining Fund with a designated gift through Patriot Foundation Trust, or make a check payable to Liberty Fund (noting MoH Sustaining Fund on the memo line), and mail it to Patriot Foundation Trust, PO Box 407, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0407.) Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - Mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro's condition has deteriorated and he has been in a special cell in a ward for inmates at L'Aquila's San Salvatore hospital for a week, sources said on Monday. The sources said the intestinal surgery he underwent on August 8 was successful but the mobster's advanced colon cancer has caused an overall deterioration in his state of health. He had been in hospital for over a month. Before being moved to the special cell he had been in intensive care. He may be set to spend some time in hospital as his condition is not compatible with a return to L'Aquila's maximum-security prison, where he was being held under the tough 41 bis jail regime, the sources said. Messina Denaro, 61, was caught in mid-January at a Palermo cancer clinic after 30 years on the run. The Cosa Nostra superboss has been convicted for his involvement in dozens of murders, including the 1992 bombings that killed anti-Mafia magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino. In addition to the Falcone and Borsellino assassinations, he has been condemned for the killing of Giuseppe Di Matteo, the 12-year-old son of a mobster-turned-State witness who was strangled and dissolved in acid in 1996, and bombings at art and religious sites in Milan, Florence and Rome that killed 10 people and hurt 40 more in 1993. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - Some 300 migrants and refugees arrived on Lampedusa in seven landings on Monday. The figures are updated to around 9:45 local time. One group of 40 people from Ivory Coast, Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Cameroon disembarked at the commercial port after being rescued by the civil rescue sail boat Nadir. Another group of 44 people landed autonomously in the same spot. Following the latest arrivals there were 526 migrants and refugees in the Lampedusa hotspot, compared to 19 on Sunday morning. 228 people were due to be transferred off the tiny island by passenger ferry later in the day. (ANSA). (see related) (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - President of the parliamentary antimafia commission Chiara Colosimo said Monday she hoped for a unanimous response "from our best people" following the latest episode of gun violence in the Camorra mafia-ridden town of Caivano denounced by parish priest Don Maurizio Patriciello earlier in the day. "I spoke to Don Patriciello again tonight. I often speak to him so that he does not feel alone," said the senator for Premier Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party on X. "Certainly he has the faith that can do more than any man. But in these hours after the umpteenth demonstration of mafia arrogance that I strongly condemn, I feel the moral duty to declare him all my affection and closeness," she continued. "I hope for a unanimous response from our best people, there certainly is and will be a response from the parliamentary antimafia commission," concluded Colosimo. On Sunday night masked gunmen rode through the impoverished neighourhood of Parco Verde, the scene of the recent alleged gang rape of two cousins aged 10 and 12, firing indiscriminately. In total 19 shots were fired, but no one was hurt. On Monday Don Patriciello told Rtl 102.5 it was the third episode of its kind since Meloni visited Caivano on August 31. "The neighbourhood is terrified, it takes little to die from a stray bullet," said the priest. "In recent days the police have been doing their utmost, but these people drive at the speed of light, everything happens so quickly and then they run off," he continued. "I read it as a challenge to the State. It is as if they wanted to say that they are not afraid of the State, this is the key to interpretation," concluded Don Patriciello. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, SEP 11 - The European Commission hopes that Italy will ratify the treaty for the reform of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) as soon as possible, a senior EU official said on Monday ahead of Friday's Eurogroup meeting in Santiago. Italy is the only country holding out on ratification of the new EU bailout mechanism amid concerns about its impact on budget sovereignty and claims the fund should also be used to boost growth. "We are highly aware of the sensitive nature of the issue in Italy and, obviously, we fully respect the parliamentary process," the official said. "But we are hoping for a positive conclusion to the process as soon as possible". The official said the EU expected Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti to give an update at the Eurogroup meeting about what is happening in Italy and what to expect in the coming months. (ANSA). Humza Yousaf has said Scottish ministers are taking the issue of Chinas influence in Scotland seriously amid the arrest of a parliamentary researcher accused of spying for the foreign state. The First Minister said the allegations should give us all concern but moved to reassure the public that ministers have been taking precautionary measures against similar threats for years. It comes after it emerged a UK Parliament researcher was one of two men arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act, accused of spying on behalf of China. The man has denied the allegations. Speaking during a visit to CodeBase in Stirling, Mr Yousaf said: Of course, any threat to our security and cybersecurity is one we take very seriously, and I know from conversations with the UK Government that they take it seriously too, and therefore the various agencies that are involved work and collaborate very well, so theres already a significant amount of work thats done to ensure that we identify where those threats come from and that we take the appropriate mitigation action. The First Ministers comments come as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for the Scottish and UK governments to conduct an immediate strategic audit on the reach of Chinas influence in Scotland. Mr Cole-Hamilton urged Mr Yousaf not to be complacent in the face of national security threats. Mr Yousaf told journalists that while the news of the arrest was concerning, Government officials were taking the necessary precautions. He said: It, of course, should give us all concern, but it is a live investigation at the moment. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has called for a review into Chinas influence in Scotland (Lesley Martin/PA) We know there are a number of hostile actors, a number of hostile states, who will try to threaten our security, indeed our cybersecurity, and I think thats where its really important that the public receives a level of reassurance that weve been alive to these threats and are taking the appropriate precautionary measures, and have been for a number of years. Mr Cole-Hamilton said: I am deeply troubled by these reports which suggest worrying evidence of Chinese interference in the operation of our parliamentary democracy. Scottish Liberal Democrats have been warning about the reach of Chinese influence for some time now. We cannot afford to be complacent in the face of national security threats. To this end, I would like to see a commitment from both our governments to conduct an immediate strategic audit of the reach of Chinas influence in Scotland. MPs have been urged not to name the parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China to avoid the risk of prejudice. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle warned that discussing the identities of those involved could hamper any future prosecution. The 28-year-old researcher has insisted he is completely innocent and he has not been named by police. However, The Times newspaper has published the name of the researcher, with former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith saying there was a clear public interest in identifying him. There had been speculation a MP would use the protection of parliamentary privilege to publicly name the suspect. But Sir Lindsay told MPs: I would remind all members of the importance of not discussing security issues on the floor of the House. That is particularly important in this case, where commenting on the identities of those alleged to be involved, engaging in speculation about the case or discussing other details runs a serious risk of prejudicing any future prosecutions which the comments made in the media were unhelpful something for which Im sure no member will want to be responsible. Recent court rulings have made news organisations wary about naming suspects before they are charged. The Supreme Court ruled last year in the case of a US citizen known only as ZXC that a person being investigated for a crime generally has a reasonable expectation of privacy. The ruling confirmed the decision of the High Court in pop veteran Sir Cliff Richards privacy case against the BBC over its coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, in August 2014. The King has sent good wishes to the people of North Korea to mark the countrys national day. News of the message emerged as North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un was thought to have travelled to Russia for talks with Vladimir Putin. The Kings message was sent to the people of North Korea via its embassy in London and the Government stressed it was not a message of support to the regime in Pyongyang. A paramilitary parade marked the 75th anniversary of North Korea in Pyongyang (KCNA via KNS/AP/PA) The message read: As the people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea celebrate their national day, I send my good wishes for the future. The Kings message would have been sent on advice from the Foreign Office and similar greetings were issued by his mother the late Queen. The 75th anniversary of North Koreas founding was marked with a parade in Pyongyang on Saturday. In Westminster, the Prime Ministers official spokesman played down the significance of the message. My understanding is this was a message to the people of North Korea rather than the regime, the spokesman said. I think this is something that happens each year and is not unusual in that regard. The King sent good wishes to the people of North Korea (KCNA via KNS/AP/PA) The timing of the message came as North Korea appeared set to provide weapons to Russia in support of the Ukraine invasion. US officials believe Mr Putin is turning to Pyongyang to replenish arms stockpiles which have been run down by the conflict. Mr Kim was reported to have set off for Russia in his armoured train on Sunday night. A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Mr Putin is attending an international forum that runs until Wednesday. Downing Street said like-minded democratic allies were standing together against Russia, contrasting that with Mr Putins attempts to secure arms from other authoritarian states. First and foremost, it is obviously right for democratic countries to seek to further align and deepen partnerships in the interests of peace and stability, the Prime Ministers spokesman said. That is very different from an approach that appears to be largely based on the selling of arms to support an illegal war. I think its important to draw a distinction between the two. Liz Truss and other senior Tory MPs have lined up in the Commons to pressure Rishi Sunak to designate China as a threat to the UK following the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for Beijing. The so-called China hawks on the Tory benches did not hold back after Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden gave a statement on the arrest and insisted China represented a systemic challenge to the UK. The former prime minister Ms Truss, joined by the likes of Tory former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and veteran MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, raised to their feet to urge the Government to specifically label China as a threat to the UK. The researcher at the centre of the row, who had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns, was arrested back in March but this went undisclosed until the Sunday Times reported it over the weekend. The individual said he is completely innocent and that he spent his career highlighting the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. Officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating. Speaking in the Commons, Ms Truss said: These are extremely worrying reports about the level of infiltration of Chinese-supported forces into our democracy. Does he (Oliver Dowden) agree that what we need to do is to recognise that China is the largest threat, both to the world and to the United Kingdom, for freedom and democracy? And does he not agree that the Government should designate it as such? Mr Dowden replied: She is absolutely right that China represents a systemic challenge to our interests and values, and it is also the case, for example, in respect of our economic security, it is the number one state-based threat to our economic security. What I would say to her is that the Government is absolutely clear-eyed about the threats that this nation faces and robust in taking action, indeed that is why I personally took the decisions in respect of banning Huawei from our 5G networks, in respect of Chinese CCTV technology, and indeed in relation to TikTok. We will continue to take whatever steps are necessary based on appropriate advice to provide that protection for our nation and our democratic institutions. Meanwhile, Sir Iain said: Its appalling news that we have a potential cell operating in and around Westminster, an espionage cell, and I as a sanctioned individual alongside many of my colleagues are particularly perturbed by this particular news. He added: When did the Foreign Secretary get told about this investigation? Was it before he went to Beijing, and if he went to Beijing with this knowledge, did he raise it with his counterpart in Beijing, because its very important to know whether we have already said it. Sir Iain noted: The problem lies in the mess weve got into over what we define China as in respect to us. Are they a threat or are they not? If they are a threat, why dont we call them a threat and take the relative action that is necessary to deal with them on that basis and sanction some people? Tory former cabinet minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Aaron Chown/PA) Mr Dowden said the Government does not provide a running commentary on intelligence matters, adding that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly regularly raises electoral interference and interference with our democratic institutions with his Chinese counterpart. He said: It would not be the case, and it has not been the case generally, that specific cases particularly those that are subject to an ongoing police investigation would be raised. MP for Harwich and North Essex Sir Bernard echoed his colleagues, saying: Why is the Government so squeamish about not just talking about threats from China, but by calling China a threat? What is the difference between a challenge and a threat? Mr Dowden reiterated the Government is absolutely clear about the threat that China represents, adding: But at the same time, it is right that we engage with China and that is the approach that we are taking alongside working very closely with our allies. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer later pressed the Prime Minister to reveal whether the Foreign Secretary raised reports of Chinese spying in Westminster during his August visit to the country. Sir Keir asked: Given the arrest happened in March, can I ask the Prime Minister if the Foreign Secretary knew about this incident before he visited China last month, and if he did, did he raise it on that trip? Mr Sunak responded: I am sure he will appreciate that as there is an ongoing investigation, as you have also said Mr Speaker, I am limited in what I can say specifically. But I have been emphatically clear in our engagement with China that we will not accept any interference in our democracy and parliamentary system. This includes sanctioning of MPs and malign activity, such as the type of activity alleged to have taken place. I can absolutely confirm that the Foreign Secretary raised these issues on his recent visit and I also reinforced this in my meeting at the G20. Ministers urged to say when they first knew about alleged Chinese spy Ministers are under pressure to reveal when they first knew about allegations of Chinese espionage in Westminster and how they responded. Rishi Sunak insisted that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly raised the issue of Chinese interference in UK democratic institutions during his recent trip to the Asian nation, and that he had reinforced this at the G20 summit. The arrest of a parliamentary researcher under the Official Secrets Act led to the Prime Minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 gathering in India on Sunday over unacceptable interference in democracy. But MPs questioned whether it took reports of the arrest, which happened in March, to be made public for the Prime Minister to raise concerns. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden declined to answer questions on the timeline in the House of Commons, saying only that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary regularly raise Chinese interference with their counterparts in Beijing. Pushed by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to elaborate on this, Mr Sunak said: Im limited in what I can say specifically, but Ive been emphatically clear in our engagement with China that we will not accept any interference in our democracy and parliamentary system. This includes sanctioning of MPs and malign activity such as the type of activity alleged to have taken place. I can absolutely confirm that the Foreign Secretary raised these issues on his recent visit, and I also reinforced this in my meeting at the G20. Rishi Sunak said he was emphatic with Chinese premier Li Qiang that actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated (Dan Kitwood/PA) The man at the centre of the allegations has insisted he is completely innocent, saying he has spent his career highlighting the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. Mr Dowden, speaking in the Commons on Monday, said he could not go into details of the case because of an active police investigation and that he would not provide a running commentary on intelligence matters. He said: It remains an absolute priority for the Government to take all necessary steps to protect the United Kingdom from any foreign state activity, which seeks to undermine our national security, prosperity and democratic values. The Government has been clear that China represents a systemic challenge to the United Kingdom and to our values. He added that we must be able to look the Chinese in the eye and call out unacceptable behaviour directly, as Mr Sunak did in New Delhi. In a statement released through his lawyers, the 28-year-old researcher who has not been officially named by police or MPs said: I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a Chinese spy. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for. Former prime minister Liz Truss called for China to be designated as a threat (Victoria Jones/PA) The Briton was arrested along with another man by officers on March 13 on suspicion of spying for Beijing, it was revealed by the Sunday Times. Officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating. One of the men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said. Both were held on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. They have been bailed until early October. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden faced questions about what ministers knew when about Westminsters alleged Chinese spy (Victoria Jones/PA) The arrests were only revealed at the weekend and the researcher at the centre of the row had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns. Conservative former minister Tim Loughton, who has been sanctioned by China, bemoaned the lack of briefings on the case as he told MPs: I found out more about this character involved from my son, who just happened to be at university with him, than anything Ive been told formally. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said it would be wrong to expect all MPs to be briefed on such a major security issue, but added that all MPs who needed to be told were informed. He earlier said security arrangements are kept under review but stressed that vetting procedures for Parliament are the same as for the Government. The allegations have led to increased pressure from China hawks on the Tory benches for the Prime Minister to toughen his stance towards Beijing. During the Tory leadership contest last year, Mr Sunak described China as the biggest long-term threat to Britain but official language used since he took office has been softer, with the integrated review of foreign and defence policy calling it an epoch-defining challenge. Ex-prime minister Liz Truss, was among Tories pressing the Prime Minister to strengthen his language towards China. She asked Mr Dowden: Does he agree that what we need to do is to recognise that China is the largest threat, both to the world and to the United Kingdom, for freedom and democracy? The Deputy Prime Minister replied: She is absolutely right that China represents a systemic challenge to our interests and values, and it is also the case, for example, in respect of our economic security, it is the number one state-based threat to our economic security. What I would say to her is that the Government is absolutely clear-eyed about the threats that this nation faces and robust in taking action. The O2 Academy Brixton has pledged to make its doors more secure as it fights to stay open after a deadly crush last year. The south London music venue faces permanent closure after the Metropolitan Police urged the council to remove its licence. Security guard Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed at the venue on December 15 last year when fans without tickets tried to force their way into a show by Nigerian artist Asake. When the doors were breached the crowd poured into the lobby towards the auditorium and surged over people who had fallen to the floor. Stronger doors are among several measures being proposed by the Academy Music Group (AMG), which runs the venue. AMG said changes to its operating policies had been developed by leading professionals to prevent a repeat of last years events. A two-day hearing of Lambeth Councils licensing subcommittee began on Monday, and will decide whether the O2 Academy Brixton is safe for use. Councillors previously suspended the venues licence for three months and the decision was supported by the venues owner, Academy Music Group. Gaby Hutchinson, 23, died after a crowd crush at the O2 Brixton Academy (PA) Philip Kolvin KC, representing AMG, acknowledged that things went very wrong last year, and said the company expressed its profound sorrow for the suffering caused to the families of those who died. AMG, which has operated the venue for 20 years, has done all in its power to analyse what went wrong, he added. Mr Kolvin said AMGs proposed safety measures would be stronger than those in place last year, and would include making the doors more secure. The venue has spent 1.2 million on maintenance and improvements in 2023, despite being closed, he added. The venue is proposing to complete a more detailed risk assessment for every show based on the type of music and the demographic of attendees, details of which will be shared with the council and Met police beforehand. But chairman of the sub-committee, councillor Fred Cowell, raised concerns the new system could become a proxy for racial discrimination. Mr Kolvin responded that black music is the cultural beating heart of the country, and said AMG wanted event visitors to have a good time but go home alive. Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, was also fatally hurt during the crush (PA) The meeting retired to a private session to discuss further details of last years incident. A total of 165 security staff were used for the Asake show, the highest number the venue had ever used, the committee was told. Later on Monday, the committee is expected to hear from the Met Police which is calling for permanent closure. About 1,000 people were outside the venue and police found large-scale disorder with crowds eventually pushing the doors open, according to Gerald Gouriet KC, who represented the Met at the earlier licensing meeting. A police investigation was launched and the Security Industry Authority opened an inquiry into corruption allegations made after the crush. A top U.S. general claims the European country's changing weather could hamper Ukraine's counteroffensive. He explained why the Ukrainian military will struggle to fight during weather changes. US General Warns Ukraine Military Over Changing Weather According to CNN World's latest report, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley said the changing weather could make it difficult for Ukraine's counteroffensive. The top U.S. general said Ukraine still has weeks of fighting its enemies before the weather drastically changes. "There is still a reasonable amount of time, about 30 to 45 days' worth of fighting weather left," said Milley. He added that after the period he gave, Ukrainian soldiers would have to deal with heavy rain and mud, which would likely affect their military activities, especially how they maneuver on the battlefield. Although this is the case, Milley commended Ukraine's effective war strategies. He said that the European country's counteroffensive had achieved very steady progress ever since early July. "The Ukrainians aren't done, this battle is not done, and they haven't finished the fighting part of what they are trying to accomplish," said Milley. The American general added that it is still too early to conclude who is the winner in the Russia-Ukraine war. Read Also: Human Rights Watch Blames Russian Cluster Munitions for Hundreds of Deaths in Ukraine Why Ukraine is Winning Against Russia Via BBC News, Adm. Sir Tony Radakin, the U.K. Chief of Defense Staff, explained why Ukraine is winning against Russia. Since the Russia-Ukraine war is an invasion, Radakin believes Kyiv is winning while Kremlin is losing. He explained that this is because the Russian government is trying to dominate and control the European country. He added that Russia hasn't achieved its goal, and Ukraine will not allow it. This is why Radakin believes that the Ukrainian government is winning against Russia. Aside from this, the official also provided an example of Ukraine's success. He stated that Ukraine already recovered around 50% of the territories seized by the Russian military. If you want to learn more details about the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive, you can click this link. Related Article: Ukrainian Brigade Shares Video of Russian Aircraft Getting Shot Down-Here's What Ukraine's Soldiers Did @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A parliamentary researcher has been arrested on suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act laws which are rarely used and more than 100 years old. Here, the PA news agency looks at the legislation which is designed to protect state secrets and national security. What is the Official Secrets Act? There are currently four Acts 1911, 1920, 1939 and 1989. The Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1911 was passed in response to the growing threat of international espionage during the years leading up to the First World War. It has been amended several times, but elements of the original legislation have been used to prosecute crimes throughout the Cold War and into the 21st century. The parliamentary researcher and a second man were arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Act, which covers spying and sabotage. Section 2 deals with the unauthorised disclosure of information. How has it been used? Full up-to-date records of OSA cases have not been published. A response to a parliamentary question from 2004 suggested prosecutions were rare about one a year, according to the House of Commons Library. A number of high-profile convictions were secured during the Cold War including of George Blake, an MI6 spy who worked as a double agent for the Soviet Union and was jailed in 1961 for offences under Section 1 of the 1911 Act. George Blake worked as a double agent for the Soviet Union (PA) But it is still the main source of legal protection in the UK against espionage more than a century after it was first drawn up. In February for example, security guard David Ballantyne Smith was jailed for spying for Russia while he worked at the British embassy in Berlin, contrary to the 1911 legislation. How has it changed over the years? The 1989 Act introduced provisions surrounding illegal disclosure of sensitive information otherwise known as leaking. It was enacted following a number of well-publicised intelligence scandals, including the disclosure by former top civil servant Clive Ponting of documents relating to the Falklands War, and the publication of the Spycatcher memoir by ex-MI5 agent Peter Wright. Spycatcher was written by former MI5 agent Peter Wright (PA) The 1989 Act replaced a so-called catch-all section of the earlier legislation with specific categories of official information subject to criminal sanction if disclosed for example security and defence. The National Security and Investment Act 2021, parts of which have come into force this year, is a further piece of legislation designed to protect the UK from acquisitions by investors and businesses which could harm national security. What is the maximum penalty for spying? The maximum sentence for espionage under the Official Secrets Act 1911 is 14 years, but longer terms can be imposed for a series of offences. Blake was the most high-profile example of this approach, having received 42 years imprisonment made up of five maximum-term sentences, three of which were made consecutive. The maximum penalty for an unauthorised disclosure under the 1989 Act is two years imprisonment or an unlimited fine, or both. The parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has insisted he is completely innocent. The man said he has spent his career highlighting the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. The arrest under the Official Secrets Act led to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday over unacceptable interference in democracy. In a statement released through his lawyers, the 28-year-old researcher who has not been officially named by police said: I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a Chinese spy. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch defended the Governments approach to China (Henry Nicholls/PA) The Briton was arrested along with another man by officers on March 13 on suspicion of spying for Beijing, it was revealed by the Sunday Times. Officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating. One of the men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said. Both were held on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. They have been bailed until early October. The arrests were only revealed at the weekend and the researcher at the centre of the row had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said security arrangements are kept under review but stressed that vetting procedures for Parliament are the same as for the Government. The allegations have led to increased pressure from China hawks on the Tory benches for the Prime Minister to toughen his stance towards Beijing. During the Tory leadership contest last year, Mr Sunak described China as the biggest long-term threat to Britain but official language used since he took office has been softer, with the integrated review of foreign and defence policy calling it an epoch-defining challenge. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch suggested that designating China a threat would escalate things with Beijing. She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: China is the second largest economy in the world, its heavily integrated in our economy as it is with many of our allies Were taking the same approach that those countries are taking. Ms Badenoch said the UK is taking certain measures, including making sure it has proper investment screening. We are taking action; what were not doing is giving endless running commentary on that because that would actually be more helpful to China than it would be to our security services, she said. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader who has been sanctioned by China, was among Tories pressing the Prime Minister to strengthen his language towards Beijing. He hit out at the weak position of not labelling China a threat, telling the PA news agency: The result is that China is penetrating all our institutions from universities to Parliament. Time to speak through strength not weakness. Tory backbencher and Home Affairs Select Committee member Tim Loughton, who has also been sanctioned by Beijing, told Times Radio: It really is not remotely appropriate that those of us most in the firing line, being sanctioned by China under threat by China, have not been given some briefing about exactly whats happened. Downing Street said decisions about whether or not to inform sanctioned MPs are for officers investigating the case. The Prime Ministers official spokesman encouraged any parliamentarians who fear they may have been targeted in any way, shape or form to contact the police. But it refused to say when ministers were first made aware of the arrest, nor whether Mr Sunaks confrontation with Mr Li was the first time the UK had raised the issue with the Chinese government. The Commons Speaker told MPs an extremely small number of people who needed to know were immediately briefed on a strictly confidential basis after the arrest, given the national security of this sensitive matter. On whether the revelations support the case for revising the designation of Beijing as an epoch-defining challenge, Downing Street said it would be wrong to reduce the approach to just one word. The Government will robustly defend Britains democracy, No 10 said, but added: We do need to be in the room arguing the case for the UK with China on issues like climate change, on issues like artificial intelligence, and thats why its important we are making this case face to face. China hit out at the arrests and claimed the situation was a political farce. A spokesman for Chinas embassy in London said: The claim that China is suspected of stealing British intelligence is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander. We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce. Former head of MI6 Sir Alex Younger said co-operation with China is necessary but just being nice to them doesnt get you very far. He told Today: China is a fact, its a huge country, weve got to find ways of engaging with it, and find ways of co-operating with it in important areas like climate change, and sometimes we have to be absolutely prepared to confront it when we believe that our security interests are threatened. Dennis Harper and Wade Sokolosky know the Civil War Battle of Wyse Fork as well as anyone. Harper, 70, grew up on the battlefield east of Kinston and has found more than 15,000 bullets, belt buckles and other artifacts from the conflict since he came across his first Minie ball at age 11. Sokolosky, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army, co-authored a book on Wyse Fork, where more men were killed, wounded or captured than in any Civil War battle in North Carolina except one. They know precisely where Confederate and Union soldiers were over those four days in March 1865. They know where they dug trenches or hastily built bridges over creeks, where the lines began and ended and where men died and were buried in mass or unmarked graves. Where some see only a soybean field or a tree line, they see regiments from distant places hunkering down or moving to attack. The 23rd Massachusetts was all in this place right here where the mobile homes are, Harper said at one point as he drove a visitor around the battlefield. The battle ranged over 4,069 acres, but these days Harper and Sokolosky are worried about one place in particular. The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to convert U.S. 70 into an interstate highway, I-42, through the battlefield and proposes building an interchange at Caswell Station and Wyse Fork roads. Thats the spot where three regiments of North Carolina Confederates charged into a line of Union soldiers from Ohio, Indiana and New York on the final, decisive day of the battle. NCDOTs initial plans for the interchange cover 55 acres where Union Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox repelled the Confederate attack. That one interchange literally wipes out a good part of Coxs defensive line. It just wipes it out, Sokolosky said. Losing that very key piece of battlefield ground, where American soldiers fought and died, thats what spurs me on. NCDOT has looked at alternatives Harper and Sokolosky created the Save Wyse Fork Battlefield Commission, a branch of a local preservation group, in hopes of persuading NCDOT to move the planned interchange a mile or so east or perhaps do without it altogether. Theyve erected a billboard near the site and solicited letters of support, including from legislators such as Republican Rep. Jon Hardister of Greensboro, the second-highest ranking member in the House. The battlefield is rich with history, and the loss of it would be devastating to the tourism of the area and the state as a whole, Hardister wrote to state Board of Transportation members earlier this year. We still have time. There are many other alternatives that will save this treasure of the counties of Lenoir and Jones and the state of North Carolina. In late July, Harper and two others met with now outgoing Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette and came away encouraged that he might intercede. But NCDOT has ruled out moving the interchange. There are no good roads to connect the relocated interchange to surrounding parts of Jones County, and building them would be expensive and eat up more land, says Heather Lane, an NCDOT engineer involved with the project. As for not building an interchange at all, thats still an option, Lane said, but it would mean people in northwest Jones County would have to drive farther to access the future interstate. Even without the interchange, NCDOT would build a bridge connecting Casewell Station and Wyse Fork roads over the highway and to new service roads on either side, taking about 12 acres of the battlefield. A third option is to redesign the interchange to make it smaller, something NCDOT estimates it could do in about 30.5 acres. Were looking at shrinking the interchange and seeing what ways we can optimize it to be the least impactful, Lane said. The conversion of U.S. 70 into I-42 includes a new bypass around Kinston. In 2018, NCDOT presented a dozen options for taking the road south of the city and asked for the publics feedback. It also weighed each routes impact on farmland, wetlands, streams, homes, businesses and Kinston itself. The N.C. Department of Transportation plans to convert U.S. 70 into a four-lane divided highway around Kinston, including a 6.5-mile section of new roadway south of town. In early 2020, NCDOT announced that it had chosen the shortest, most direct route around the city. The 6.5 miles of new roadway would have the least impact on wetlands and had the most public support, in part because it would provide the easiest access to restaurants, hotels and other businesses on the stretch of U.S. 70 that will be bypassed. But it also meant bringing the interstate through the heart of the battlefield, with the interchange at Casewell Station and Wyse Fork roads. Lane said each route had advantages and tradeoffs and that picking one was bound to upset someone. Everyone has a different perspective on that, so we have to thread the needle to find the best solution out there for our project, she said. The process takes time, and were working through it. Confederates attack to try to stop Union advance The Union and Confederate armies met outside Kinston in 1865 because of William Tecumseh Sherman. Having burned Atlanta and cut his way across Georgia to the sea, the Union general was bringing his army north through the Carolinas to help defeat the Confederates under Robert E. Lee in Virginia. His 60,000 men needed food, shoes and other material, and Sherman asked that those supplies be waiting for him at the rail hub in Goldsboro. To get it there from the port at Morehead City, the Union army had to rebuild 17 miles of tracks east of Kinston. They were busy doing that when Confederate generals Robert F. Hoke and Daniel Harvey Hill attacked near Southwest Creek east of Kinston on March 8, 1865. After losing more than 1,000 soldiers, most captured, the Union army pulled back and dug in, cutting trees and using plates, bayonets and boards to dig trenches near the crossroads area known as Wyse Fork. It was there, from a piece of high ground near where U.S. 70 runs today, that they rained bullets and shells on three regiments of charging North Carolina soldiers led by Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland. More than 300 Tar Heels were killed, wounded or captured, as the Confederate attack on March 10 failed. Their names are listed on a black granite monument to Kirklands Attack that local preservation groups commissioned and placed at the Wyse Fork crossroads, at the base of a sign advertising gas prices at the Mallard convenience store. The store and the monument will likely have to be moved when the interstate highway is built. Altogether, about 2,600 Confederate and Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured at Wyse Fork, eclipsed only by the Battle of Bentonville less than two weeks later. The Battle of Wyse Fork was largely overlooked until recent years. Harper, Sokolosky and others in Eastern North Carolina have helped bring attention to the conflict, through research, battlefield tours, local exhibits and a successful effort to have the battlefield added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Brochures for a 12-stop driving tour around the Wyse Fork Battlefield are found in visitors centers throughout the state. Jan Parson, who heads the local visitors bureau, says people going to and from the beach will stop at Kings Barbecue, Neuse Sport Shop or other businesses in Kinston. But the people most likely to spend a night or two are there to see the CSS Neuse ironclad and sites associated with Wyse Fork and The First Battle of Kinston in 1862. Many come from out of state wanting to see where their ancestors fought. Theyre not just daytrippers, Parson said. NCDOT hopes to finish the highway designs next year About 231 acres of the Wyse Fork Battlefield have been protected from development. More than a decade ago, a local organization, the Historical Preservation Group, bought 57 acres laced with undisturbed trenches and redoubts. More recently, the state and American Battlefield Trust have purchased conservation easements, including on farmland near the planned interchange. Harper says the easements will help prevent some of the development that can be expected to surround an interchange. Let me put it this way, there wont be no Bojangles on it, he said. Itll be just what you see a corn field or a bean field. Its not clear when NCDOT will get started on the new interstate highway. The state is building the road in stages between I-40 near Raleigh and Morehead City, and it doesnt have enough money to begin the Kinston segment. But NCDOT wants to settle on a route and finish its designs so that its ready to begin construction when the money is available, Lane said. For now, the fate of the interchange remains unsettled. Because NCDOT needs a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal government must review the Kinston projects potential impact on historic properties and come up with strategies for minimizing it. Among the organizations weighing in on that process is the State Historical Preservation Office, which helped get the battlefield added to the National Register of Historic Places. In a statement, the historical preservation office said it is working with other state and federal agencies to minimize and mitigate any potential impacts of the highway on the battlefield. As this work continues and decisions are made, the statement concludes, we are hopeful that continued discussions and collaboration will balance the preservation and transportation needs. President Joe Biden is nearing the end of a whirlwind trip to India and Vietnam for a series of high-profile meetings aimed at countering Chinas influence in the developing world. At the G20 in New Delhi and again in Hanoi, Biden used his swing through Asia to make the case that the US is a more reliable and trustworthy partner than Beijing, though he emphasized that he did not want a new Cold War with the Chinese. I dont want to contain China, I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up-and-up squared away, and everyone knows what its all about, Biden said. We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. Thats what this trip is all about, having India cooperate much more with United States, be closer to the United States, Vietnam being closer with the United States. Its not about containing China. Its about having a stable base a stable base in Indo-Pacific. In speaking to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Sunday, Biden underscored this point. I think we have an enormous opportunity, he said, adding: Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time. Im not saying that to be polite. Im saying it because I mean it from the bottom of my heart. He referenced supply chains and climate change and hailed aspirations for a future of greater peace, greater security and greater prosperity. Im convinced we can achieve it, he said, adding: This can be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation. But despite Bidens hopes, there were still signs of the fractures that are coursing through current geopolitics, both at the G20 summit and in Hanoi. Here are five takeaways from the presidents trip to New Delhi and Hanoi. US praises G20 statement on Ukraine, even if its softer than hoped Leaders managed to agree on a joint statement laying out shared views on climate change and economic development but showed the fractures within the group by stopping short of explicitly condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine. Diplomats had been working furiously to draft a final joint statement in the lead-up to the summit but hit snags on language to describe the Ukraine war. Officials said they worked through 300 hours of meetings and went through 15 drafts to arrive at an eventual consensus. The eventual compromise statement amounted to a coup for the summits host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but still reflected a position far softer than those the United States and its Western allies have adopted individually. All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition, the declaration read, without explicitly singling out Russia for its invasion. The document also stated opposition to the use of nuclear weapons and highlighted the economic effects of the war. In a reflection of the deep fractures among the G20 nations, the statement acknowledged there were different views and assessments of the situation. The declaration earned the praise of the United States. National security adviser Jake Sullivan called the statement a significant milestone for Indias chairmanship and a vote of confidence that the G20 can come together to address a pressing range of issues. The G20 statement includes a set of consequential paragraphs on the war in Ukraine. And from our perspective, it does a very good job of standing up for the principle that states cannot use force to seek territorial acquisition, Sullivan said. Still, the language differed from last years G20 declaration, which stated most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine. Russia, as a member of the G20, would have to agree on any consensus statement on Ukraine. Russia and China had resisted stronger language in a final statement, making any kind of agreement difficult. No G20 summit has concluded without a joint declaration of some type. Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticized the declaration. Ukraine is grateful to its partners who tried to include strong wording in the text, he wrote on Facebook. At the same time, the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Obviously, the participation of the Ukrainian side would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation. The principle of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine remains as key as ever. Biden offers an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Biden hoped to use new announcements on new infrastructure and investments as demonstration of US commitment to the developing world, and a better option for partnership than China. He announced the launch of a new economic corridor that will connect India, the Middle East and Europe on Saturday. The plans could potentially transform global trade and directly challenge Chinas own sprawling overseas development initiative, known as the Belt and Road, which has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects each year. While the project will include building integrated infrastructure, the president said it was far from just laying tracks, speaking with a group of global leaders that included the United Kingdom, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. Its about creating jobs, increasing trade, strengthening supply chains, boosting connectivity, laying foundations that will strengthen commerce and food security for people across multiple countries, Biden said. This is a game changing regional investment and huge steps forward. The US says the Belt and Road initiative uses coercive lending practices for infrastructure projects in developing countries, an accusation Beijing has repeatedly denied. Bidens proposals on World Bank reform similarly aim to offer a better deal to emerging economies. G20 hosts disappointed at Xi and Putins absence White House officials called it a disappointment to India that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not participate in the summit, but added that the United States intended to use it as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the rest of the nations that attended. I will say that I think for our Indian partners, there is substantial disappointment that theyre not here and gratitude that we are, deputy assistant to the president and coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell told reporters shortly after Bidens meeting with Modi. It was the first time Xi missed a G20 since taking office in 2012. While that was a lost opportunity in some ways Biden and Xi met for hours at last years G20 in Bali it also freed the stage for the US to make its argument for American partnerships. At a moment when the very fragile state of Chinas economy is causing deep concern about global ripple effects, Biden hoped to use the relative strength of the American market to make his pitch. Campbell said there were undeniable opportunities for the US at the summit given the leaders who were attending and those who didnt. I think we fully intend to strengthen and deepen our relationship, and we leave it to China in particular to discuss and explain why they are not here. Its really their business, he said. Biden tries to pull Vietnam closer to US Bidens trip to Hanoi was his latest attempt to pull another one of Chinas neighbors closer to the United States. In just the last five months, Biden has hosted the Philippines president at the White House for the first time in over a decade; he has feted the Indian prime minister with a lavish state dinner; and he has hosted his Japanese and South Korean counterparts for a summit ripe with symbolism at the storied Camp David presidential retreat. The latest page in the USs Indo-Pacific playbook will come via the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership that will put the US on par with Vietnams highest tier of partners, including China, according to US officials familiar with the matter. In Vietnam, its not only China whose influence Biden is competing with. As he arrived, reports suggested Hanoi was preparing a secret purchase of weapons from Russia, its longtime arms supplier. On Monday, Biden plans to announce steps to help Vietnam diversify away from an over-reliance on Russian arms, a senior administration official said. The upgrading of the US-Vietnam relationship carries huge significance given Washingtons complicated history with Hanoi. The two countries have gone from mortal enemies that fought a devastating war to increasingly close partners, even with Vietnam still run by the same Communist forces that ultimately prevailed and sent the US military packing. As Chinas economy slows down and its leader ratchets up military aggressions, Biden hopes to make the United States appear a more attractive and reliable partner. In New Delhi, he did so by wielding proposals to boost global infrastructure and development programs as a counterweight to China. Vietnam has also sought to maintain good ties with China. Its Communist Party chief was the first foreign leader to call on Xi in Beijing after the Chinese leader secured an unprecedented third term last October. In June, Vietnams prime minister met Xi during a state visit to China. But even as it seeks to avoid Chinas wrath, Vietnam is increasingly pulled toward the US out of economic self-interest its trade with the US has ballooned in recent years and it is eager to benefit from American efforts to diversify supply chains outside of China as well as concern over Chinas military build-up in the South China Sea. Awkward moment at press conference White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Sunday abruptly ended a news conference with Biden in Hanoi, at one point taking a microphone and announcing the event was concluded even as the president was still answering questions from reporters in the room. As the president was responding to shouted questions from the press, the press secretary took to the microphone to announce, Thank you everybody this ends the press conference. Biden remained on stage briefly following Jean-Pierres announcement, responding to one additional question, though his full answer was inaudible. Biden had, at that point, taken the five questions from reporters in the room that he said he would, before announcing, I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to bed. The White House announced at the start of the press conference that Biden planned to take questions from five reporters. However, the president lingered on stage, responding to additional questions about what he said to Chinese Premier Li Qiang before he was interrupted by the press secretary. Throughout the presser, Biden acknowledged the demands of the whirlwind trip, joking at one point, These five-day trips around the world are no problem. Minutes before Jean-Pierre ended the press conference, Biden had delivered a lengthy answer that involved a rambling explanation of why he uses the phrase lying dog-faced pony soldier in an attempt to explain his feelings about politicians who deny the existence of climate change The moment comes days after a CNN poll showed about three-quarters of Americans say they are concerned Bidens age might negatively affect his current level of physical and mental competence and his ability to serve another full term if reelected. Bidens defenders brushed off concerns about his age and the White House has frequently pointed to his energy levels on grueling international trips such as the current one as proof that his age is not an issue. CNNs Donald Judd, Nikki Carvajal and Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Mess with Amy Poehler and you get the horns. A tense backstage moment between "Saturday Night Live" co-stars Poehler and Jimmy Fallon two decades ago went viral last week in the wake of Fallon being accused of allegedly creating a toxic workplace on "The Tonight Show." An excerpt from Tina Fey's 2011 memoir "Bossypants" was shared via tweet by former New Yorker archive editor Erin Overbey, who wrote in the social-media post that Fey had Fallon "dead to rights." The exchange is noted in Fey's book as "one in a series of love letters" to Poehler and happened early in Poehler's first season. (She made her debut in the first "SNL" episode after the 9/11 attacks.) In the writer's room before a Wednesday readthrough, Poehler was engaging in what Fey calls some "nonsense" with Seth Meyers and "did something vulgar as a joke" that was "dirty and loud and 'unladylike.' " Fallon, who Fey mentioned was "the star of the show at the time," took offense and in a "faux-squeamish" voice said, "Stop that! It's not cute! I don't like it." Poehler stopped, "went black in the eyes for a second," and responded, "I don't (expletive) care if you like it." Fallon was "startled" while Poehler "went right back to enjoying her ridiculous bit." A tense exchange between Amy Poehler and Jimmy Fallon on the set of "Saturday Night Live" described in Tina Fey's 2013 memoir "Bossypants" has gone viral in the wake of toxic workplace allegations at "The Tonight Show." Fey also clarified in an aside not included in the viral tweet that "Jimmy and Amy are very good friends and there was never any real beef between them." In a Rolling Stone investigation published last Thursday, two current and 14 former employees of the NBC talk show say their experiences working on the show included declining mental health, intimidation from higher-ups, including the 48-year-old Fallon, and poor treatment because of the host's erratic behavior. Fallon, whose late-night show has been off-air amid Hollywood's actors and writers strikes, addressed the outlet's reporting in a virtual meeting after the Rolling Stone story was published. A "Tonight Show" staff member, who was unauthorized to speak publicly about the situation, told USA TODAY that during the call, Fallon said, "I want this show to be fun. It should be inclusive for everybody, it should be funny, it should be the best show, the best people. I just wanted to say, I miss you guys." 'Tonight Show': Jimmy Fallon accused of creating a toxic workplace in new report This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Tonight Show': Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon 'SNL' exchange goes viral A resurfaced clip of Ashton Kutcher discussing Hilary Duff and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen from his "Punk'd" days is sparking backlash in the aftermath of Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis apologizing for writing letters of support for former "That '70s Show" co-star Danny Masterson. "She's one of the girls that we're all waiting to turn 18," Kutcher said of Duff in a "Punk'd" episode that aired in October 2003, just after Duff had turned 16. "Along with the Olsen twins," Kutcher added of the child stars, who were both 17 at the time. A judge sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life Thursday for the rape of two women. In a character letter dated July 27, 2023, Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people "with decency, equality, and generosity," he wrote; Kunis' letter called Masterson "an outstanding role model and friend" and an "exceptional older brother figure." Both asked the judge for leniency in Masterson's sentencing. On Saturday, Kutcher and Kunis posted a video to Instagram apologizing for causing any pain or trauma for the character letters they wrote for Masterson after his conviction in May. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, seen here at the 9th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, apologized for writing character letters for former "That '70s Show" co-star Danny Masterson. Kutcher is facing new backlash on social media for the "Punk'd" footage, which was reportedly shared in an Instagram story on Saturday by Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of Masterson's accusers and an ex-girlfriend. She also called out Kutcher in a separate story: "In my opinion, you're just as sick as your 'mentor.'" USA TODAY has reached out for additional comment from Kutcher's representatives. 'We support victims': Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis address 'pain' caused by Danny Masterson letters Ashton Kutcher talks about kissing Mila Kunis when she was a '14-year-old little girl' in resurfaced interview Before they married, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis played a couple on the 1990s/2000s sitcom "That '70s Show." Another vintage clip that made the rounds over the weekend was from a 2002 episode of Rosie O'Donnell's talk show where Kutcher and Kunis joke around about Kutcher's bet in 1998 with Masterson to "French kiss" Kunis on the set of "That '70s Show" when Kutcher was 19 and Kunis 14. (They married in 2015.) Their characters were a couple on the sitcom and in the O'Donnell clip, the two actors talk about filming a makeout scene early on in the first season: Kutcher remembers thinking, "Wait, this is slightly illegal, right?" and Kunis admits that it was her first kiss. "Ashton's attractive and I was a 14-year-old little girl and I was extremely scared for my life," she quips. Then she reveals that Masterson told him, "I'll give you $10 if you French kiss her." Kutcher claims he did it but Kunis says, "I didn't let him. I think he tried. He never got his tongue in my mouth." One user on X, formerly Twitter, who shared the clip called the bet "literally so disgusting" while another wrote, "Producers should have been arrested." Jane Doe No. 1 comments on Danny Masterson's sentence, Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison for two rapes. The woman referred to as Jane Doe No. 1 in Masterson's trial called Kutcher and Kunis' video apology for writing character statements to the judge "incredibly insulting and hurtful" in an interview with NBC News published on Monday. "My hope is that they learn radical accountability and the importance of self-education to learn when to keep their privilege in check especially Ashton, who claims to work with victims of sex crimes. And as to Mila, I can only think of 'Time's Up,'" she added, referring to Kutcher's charity Thorn, which works to combat child sex abuse, and the Time's Up anti-harassment organization (now legal defensefund) in response to victims of sexual assault coming forward in Hollywood. Jane Doe also reacted to Masterson's sentencing of 30 years, telling NBC News it "seemed like justice." "I didnt think it was outrageous. It was nothing extra and nothing less," she added. Jane Doe went on to praise Judge Charlaine Olmedo for reminding Masterson during his sentencing that he is not the victim. "That was optional and she chose to. I felt heard. I really felt heard by her words to him," she said. Christina Ricci tells her fans to 'believe victims,' 'awesome guys' can also be abusers Shortly after Kutcher and Kunis' video Saturday, Christina Ricci wrote that "sometimes people we have loved and admired do horrible things" to her Instagram story. "They might not do these things to us and we only know who they were to us but that doesn't mean they didn't do horrible things and to discredit the abused is a crime. "People we know as 'awesome guys' can be predators and abusers. It's tough to accept but we have to. If we say we support victims women, children, men, boys then we must be able to take this stance." Ricci continued in a second story that she's known "lots of 'awesome guys' who were lovely to me who have been proven to be abusers privately" and admitted that "I've also had personal experience with this. "Believe victims. It's not easy to come forward. It's not easy to get a conviction." Contributing: Kim Willis, Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ashton Kutcher clips of Mila Kunis, Hilary Duff, Olsen twins resurface BMW announced Monday that it would invest 600 million ($750 million) in building two new electric versions of the Mini in the United Kingdom. Production of the three-door Mini Cooper and the Mini Aceman, a compact crossover, is due to begin at BMWs factories in Oxford and Swindon in 2026, the company said in a statement, as the sites gear up to make only electric vehicles from the end of the decade. BMW (BMWYY), which has owned the Mini brand since 1994, secured a multi-million pound investment from the UK government to support the development of the sites, the UKs department for business and trade announced Monday. A spokesperson for the department declined to provide a specific figure, citing commercial sensitivities. The commitment by the German automaker will secure the future of Mini production in Oxford, where the original classic version of the small car was born 64 years ago. It also appears to represent a strategic rethink. Almost a year ago, BMW told the Times newspaper that it planned to shift all Mini production from Oxford to China for efficiency reasons. Mini has always been aware of its history Oxford is and remains the heart of the brand, Stefanie Wurst, head of the Mini brand at BMW, said Monday. BMW will still build the same models at a new facility in China as part of its joint venture with Great Wall Motor (GWLLF), and expects exports from that plant to begin in 2024. It will make the new Mini Countryman at a plant in Leipzig, Germany. BMWs stock rose 1.3% following reports of the new investment in the UK. Government help The UK government funding is part of attempts to safeguard the jobs of 4,000 workers across the Oxford and Swindon facilities, as well as a broader effort to encourage global automakers to build EVs and their components on UK soil. Robots work on the Mini production line at the BMW plant in Cowley, near Oxford. - Tolga Akmen/AFP/Getty Images In July, Indian conglomerate Tata Group unveiled plans to plow 4 billion ($5 billion) into a new gigafactory in the UK to supply batteries to EVs made by its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover, in addition to other British and European automakers. Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, wrote in a note Monday that concerns had been rising over the lack of infrastructure in the UK to manufacture EV batteries and that money from the government had clearly helped clinch this [BMW] deal. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement Monday: By backing our car manufacturing industry, we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsoms (D) comments that he would appoint a Black woman to be Sen. Dianne Feinsteins replacement but not someone running for the seat. Lee, who is Black, is running for the Senate in California. Feinstein is not running for reelection in 2024, but her health problems and absences from the Senate have raised questions about whether shell complete her term. I am troubled by the governors remarks, Lee said in a Sunday statement. The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election. The perspective of Black women in the U.S. Senate is sorely needed and needed for more than a few months. Governor Newsom knows this, which is why he made the pledge in the first place, Lee added. If the Governor intends to keep his promise and appoint a Black woman to the Senate, the people of California deserve the best possible person for that job. Not a token appointment. Black women deserve more than a participation trophy. We need a seat at the table. Newsom has said if he needed to appoint a replacement, he would choose a Black woman, a position he reiterated in an interview Sunday with NBCs Chuck Todd on Meet the Press. Newsom did not describe the appointment as a caretaker position, but in pushing the governor, Todd said such an appointee would be essentially a caretaker. Newsom told Todd he doesnt want to appoint a replacement because it would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off, but conceded he would do so if necessary. He has made it clear he would not appoint any of the people currently running for Feinsteins seat. That would prevent Lee from being appointed. Getting an appointment potentially could be a big advantage. Newsom told Todd he didnt want to tip the balance ahead of a Democratic primary. Concerns over Feinsteins health have been rising, particularly after she took several months off earlier this year to deal with a bout of shingles. Feinstein announced in February she would not seek reelection after a 30-year run in the Senate. Contenders for Feinsteins seat include Lee and Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. If Lee were to win, she would become the only sitting Black female U.S. senator and only third ever elected. The last sitting Black female senator was Vice President Harris. But recent polls show Lee trails Schiff and Porter. Updated at 11:46 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Demolition of the Los Angeles area home where Marilyn Monroe spent her last months has been put on hold by Los Angeles City Council, following a last-minute motion aimed at designating the house a Historic-Cultural Monument. Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes Brentwood, where the legendary actresss former home is located, said the house was sold in July and the new owners recently filed a request to have it demolished. Unfortunately, the Department of Building and Safety issued a demolition permit before my team and I could fully intervene and get this issue resolved, Park said in a news conference on Friday. When word of its looming demise broke on Wednesday, Parks offices were inundated with calls to save the fabled bungalow that once belonged to the pop culture icon. At this point, it may be into the thousands, Park said of the volume of phone calls. All of our phones in city hall and the field office have been ringing off the hook for the last 48 hours. On Friday, the city council unanimously approved Parks emergency motion to begin the process to designate the house a historic building. Demolition is on hold until the citys Office of Historic Resources conducts a study and analysis of the home, according to Park. It remains unclear who the new homeowners are as the purchase was made under a limited liability company (LLC), which then sold the house to a trust in July. We have not been contacted at all by the property owner, Park told CNN. Most certainly they were aware of who owned the home previously and who lived and died there. Built in 1929, the Brentwood bungalow is currently valued at about $8 million, according to property records. Monroe lived there for just months before her death in 1962 at age 36, Park said. She died at home after overdosing on barbiturates. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) California state Gov. Gavin Newsom defends Sen. Dianne Feinstein amid calls to replace the latter due to her deteriorating health condition. California Gov. Gavin Newsom defends state Sen. Dianne Feinstein and pushes back against calls to replace the Democrat despite calls from colleagues. The situation comes after three high-profile Democrats have urged colleagues to consider retiring Sen. Feinstein amid her deteriorating health conditions. In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Newsom said that he was not planning to appoint any candidates to the seat should it become vacant. Gavin Newsom Defends Dianne Feinstein Newsom's stance on the matter could be a potential obstacle to Rep. Barbara Lee as her allies had reason to believe she was the state governor's first choice to fill a potential seat vacancy. However, that was before she entered the Senate race, where she is now seen trailing in polls behind better-known and better-funded fellow Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter. In the interview, Newsom added that he was instead planning on making an "interim appointment" to replace the elderly senator if needed, as per NBC News. He noted that he did not want to get involved in the primary, which led him to decide on an interim appointment. Newsom added that it would have been completely unfair to the Democratic lawmakers who have worked their tails off, noting that the primary was only a few months away. The three Democrats, Lee, Porter, and Schiff, are engaged in a high-profile legal battle ahead of the Mar. 5 all-party primary. That would be when the top two vote-getters of any party go to advance to the November general election. The two could end up being Democrats with how California's partisan tilt leans toward. On Thursday, a poll released by the Institute of Government Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, found that Porter and Schiff were running neck and neck at 17% and 20%, respectively, as Lee was trailing behind at 7%. A third of the voters involved in the polls were still undecided when asked. Read Also: Biden Unveils G20 Summit Agenda, Including World Bank Reform, New Funding Replacing the Elderly Senator The California governor added that his office is working closely with Feinstein's Senate staff and was in touch with the senator directly. The situation comes as the elderly senator's term is set to expire and her announcement that she would not be running for re-election, according to The Hill. Some progressive lawmakers have called on the California senator to step down because of the deteriorating health conditions. Feinstein's name has also been singled out in discussions where lawmakers have called on imposing age limits or giving mental competency tests to some older politicians. Newsom said that the state senator is like a family member and that he has "no objectivity whatsoever" regarding Feinstein finishing her term in Congress. He added that he was leaving it up to the elderly senator to leave office early if that was what she wanted. Additionally, the state governor reiterated his previous commitment to appointing a Black woman to fill Feinstein's seat if he was required to make the decision, said Axios. Related Article: Senate Confirms Biden's FCC Nominee Anna Gomez, Endings Years-Long Deadlock @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Eric Dickson is president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. WORCESTER UMass Memorial Health is moving ahead with its plan to close the health system's maternity unit in Leominster Sept. 23, despite vocal opposition from lawmakers, nurses and community organizations that the move will harm the health of infants and mothers. In a Monday email to the hospital system's medical providers, UMass Memorial called the decision a "very difficult one" that came down to a "severe workforce shortage" and a steady decline in the number of births at the unit. "Soon, the maternity unit will be insufficiently staffed to provide high-quality care consistently at all times, posing significant risk to mothers and newborns," reads the email from Dr. Eric Dickson, UMass Memorial president and chief executive officer, and Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas, chair of obstetrics and gynecology. "Based on this, we believe the most clinically appropriate course of action is the closure of the unit." The move comes after the state Department of Public Health said the UMass plan to ensure that Leominster maternity patients had access to quality care after the unit shut down was inadequate. The Department of Public Health also said UMass should not contemplate closure until a fully developed and implemented plan is in place, and urged UMass to consider a closure date beyond Sept. 23. The Department of Public Health issued a statement in response to the latest news from UMass: The administration is committed to ensuring continued access to maternal health services across Massachusetts. We will continue to work with UMass to ensure that patients will continue to have options and access to care. When UMass first announced in May its intention to close the unit, it cited falling birth rates and staff shortages as the primary reasons for the move. Opponents claimed the real reason was financial, as many of the unit's patients are low-income, resulting in low reimbursements from MassHealth, the state's Medicaid insurance program, that don't cover the costs of care. To keep costs down, opponents said UMass funneled maternity patients from the Leominster hospital to Worcester. State Rep. Natalie Higgins, D-Leominster, preempted the official word from UMass, stating she and other state lawmakers met Monday morning with hospital officials and were told closure would happen on Sept. 23. "Obviously, none of us are very happy to continue that conversation. It's very clear that the only conversation that we're interested in is how to keep the unit open," said Higgins. The hope, said Higgins, is that the state Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Gov. Maura Healey will declare an emergency in maternity care due to the unit's closure and will put a stop to it. A request for comment from Healey's office was not returned. "Our community will be heartbroken when (the news of closure) becomes official later (Monday). We will do everything possible we can to fight it," said Higgins. At a press conference Monday afternoon at The Village Worcester, lawmakers, nurses and activists said the Leominster unit must remain open. They believe shutting it down would not only compromise the health of infants and mothers in North Central Worcester County, but also weaken the quality and safety of maternity care countywide. They claimed UMass maternity operations in Worcester can't absorb an influx of hundreds of patients from the Leominster-Fitchburg region. UMass Memorial confident it can accommodate patients in Worcester UMass believes it has sufficient capacity in Worcester to absorb those patients, the health system said in a Monday statement. "The maternity center at UMass Memorial Medical Center can accommodate up to 5,300 deliveries each year based on number of rooms. Right now, the unit experiences between 4,500 and 4,600 deliveries annually. Were all of HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospitals deliveries to take place at the Medical Center, a sum projected to amount to less than 500 deliveries each year, the Medical Center would still have capacity." Emerson Hospital, Heywood Hospital and St. Vincent Hospital also said they can take on patients, UMass said. UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester delivered 4,142 births in 2020, according to the Department of Public Health. To meet the expected increase in maternity patients coming to Worcester, UMass said it has a full staff of registered nurses at the ready. It also assigned more doctors and advanced practice providers to improve efficiency in triage and postpartum care. As for the number of births in its Leominster unit, UMass claimed its birth numbers fell from 762 in fiscal 2017 to 511 in fiscal 2022, per filings with the state. However, some Leominster nurses said the current number would be roughly 600 if UMass didn't funnel patients to Worcester in order to consolidate costs. DPH lacks authority to keep maternity unit open Some lawmakers and activists are pushing for tougher regulations that would give the state Department of Public Health the legal authority to require that a hospital keep an "essential" service open. Currently, the Department of Public Health can rule a service essential, which it did in August when it decided that the inpatient services offered at the Leominster maternity unit are essential to the communities that the hospital serves. However, the Department of Public Health has no legal authority to require UMass or any hospital to keep an essential service open that is slated for closure. Higgins is not aware of any proposal before lawmakers that would give the Department of Public Health such authority, but if one were presented, she said she would support it. UMass Memorial: Primary concerns addressed Earlier this month, the Department of Public Health highlighted two primary problems with the closure plan. One was transportation, as the Department of Public Health felt UMass hadn't locked up options for patients who didn't have the means to travel to other birthing centers once the Leominster unit closed. Monday's letter from Husch Blackwell, the law firm that represents UMass Memorial, to the Department of Public Health spells out the transportation plan. It includes non-emergency, 24/7/365 curb-to-curb service for pregnant mothers who have barriers traveling to one of the other four area hospitals with birthing centers. The plan also includes transportation for family members traveling to the Medical Center in Worcester during scheduled visiting hours. These services come from a contract the hospital signed with GoGo Technologies Inc. UMass said it continues to negotiate with the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority to supplement transportation services provided by GoGo. All transportation services for patients and their families within the Leominster hospital's service area will last for at least three years. Ambulance service: DPH called for a better plan Ambulance service was the second significant weakness the Department of Public Health cited in the UMass closure plan. Monday's letter from Husch Blackwell stated that based on conversations UMass had with public and private emergency medical service providers, the impact on the EMS system in the Leominster-Fitchburg region will likely be minimal. For nonemergency situations, the hospital's transportation plan with GoGo should suffice. In the case of an emergency, patients will consult their medical provider, and will either be referred to the closest hospital emergency department or the facility where they plan to deliver their baby. Most pregnant mothers don't require EMS transportation, according to UMass. "The Hospitals non-emergency transportation plan is anticipated to ease the burden on the EMS service by reducing the number of patients who seek ambulance transport because they do not have private transportation," the law firm's letter reads. When EMS is needed for a longer ride to a hospital that leaves a community short in ambulance service, assistance from a neighboring city or town known as mutual aid can fill the need in that community, according to UMass. Staffing: Primary reason for closure A maternity unit that provides services at a level like the one in Leominster must have an obstetrician with full privileges on-call 24 hours a day, based on state Department of Public Health regulations, said the Husch Blackwell letter. The unit has two OB/GYN on staff to meet this requirement, but UMass said that number is insufficient because that level of on-call is very demanding and doesn't provide a safe level of care. "This is the primary reason why we must make the closure recommendation," said the law firm's letter. A minimum of five OB/GYN is needed to to cover all shifts in the maternity unit and temporary staff is helping out with 24-hour coverage, said UMass. But temporary help it not consistently available. Additional details in the UMass closure plan The Leominster hospital emergency department could be called into service when a patient arrives in labor. When that happens, delivery could occur in the department, or the doctor on-duty could determine there is sufficient time to transport the patient to Worcester, said UMass. A doctor or Advanced Practice Provider will accompany the patient in the ambulance if there is a possibility of giving birth during the trip to Worcester. Obstetric training of the Leominster emergency department staff will be ongoing. OB/GYN doctors at Leominster hospital and Worcester are available for consultations, when needed. Information about the unit's closure is presented to the community in the four main languages of the Leominster hospital's patients: English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole. $600,000 will be spent over three years to help support prenatal and postpartum care needs for the most vulnerable residents in North Central Worcester County. A consultant, Heath Resources in Action, is assessing maternity needs in the communities served by Leominster hospital. The report should be finished in October and UMass said that study is beyond its requirements to the Department of Public Health. UMass: Met DPH requirements Ultimately, UMass said it followed the Department of Public Health procedure for essential service closure and has a plan in place to continue access to quality maternity care for patients in the Leominster-Fitchburg area. "Out of respect for the DPH process, we have not been as public with our plans as we would have liked. As a result, unfortunately, some not all who oppose the closure have had loud voices and have grabbed headlines often spreading misinformation that could harm patients," reads the Dickson/Simas email. "Our duty must be to prioritize the health and safety of our patients. It is with that duty in mind that we will be closing our unit as this review process concludes." Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: UMass Memorial Health responds to criticism of Leominster closure At least eight people in central Illinois were injured Sunday in an explosion at a processing plant, officials said. The explosion happened at an Archer Daniels Midland Company plant in Decatur just after 7 p.m., a spokesperson for the company said. Its unclear what led to the blast. The extent of the injuries was unknown, Deputy Fire Chief Dan Kline told CNN in a phone call. A fire at the facility was under control early Monday and a crew was on standby to help with any remaining hotspots, fire officials said. The blast happened at the east plant within the companys processing complex, the ADM spokesperson said. ADM immediately contacted the Decatur Fire Department, which remains on the scene. Several employees were injured and transported to the local hospital for treatment, the spokesperson said. Our thoughts are with our colleagues. We do not have a confirmed cause at this time. The location in Decatur, which is about 40 miles east of Springfield, is the companys North American headquarters, according to its website. More than 4,000 employees work at the location. ADM has been a member of the Decatur, Illinois, community since 1939, when we began construction on what was then the worlds largest solvent extraction plant, the companys website says. Today, Decatur is home to ADMs North American Headquarters and is the single largest location and employee base across ADMs global footprint. More than 4,000 colleagues work here in Decatur every day to unlock the power of nature to enrich the quality of life for billions around the world. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON A full two decades after their capture, the U.S. military commission Trial of the Century against the five accused leaders of the 9/11 attacks appeared finally back on track earlier this year. Then came another delay in pre-trial hearings this past July. And in August, a bombshell: The Department of Defense disclosed that prosecutors in its Office of Military Commissions are considering a plea deal to spare the lives of self-admitted plot mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged accomplices in exchange for admissions of guilt in the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people 22 years ago today. No pre-trial agreement has been finalized, and may never be finalized with the five men being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to a Pentagon letter sent to survivors and families of those killed in the attacks. But the letter by the Office of Military Commissions Convening Authority alerted them that it is possible that a PTA in this case would remove the possibility of the death penalty at sentencing, and sought their input. Mohammed, or KSM as he is widely known, boasted about being the mastermind of the attacks on Washington and New York in a media interview even before his 2003 capture and subsequent waterboarding by the CIA. But defense lawyers want a plea agreement to spare their lives and provide better confinement conditions. 'A horrible, terrible feeling of betrayal' Terry Strada, a representative of many 9/11 families, said the possibility of such a plea agreement is just the latest but probably the biggest slap in the face yet for those demanding answers and accountability for al Qaedas suicide hijackings. Strada said the 9/11 families also have faced resistance in their efforts to investigate Saudi Arabias possible role in funding the attacks. More: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to being the 9/11 mastermind. 20 years later, hes still awaiting trial But the fact that there are now potential plea deals being offered right at the anniversary, its just a horrible, terrible feeling of betrayal, said Strada, whose husband Tom died on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center North Tower that sunny Tuesday morning. I mean, justice has not been served in two decades. How much more do they expect the families to be able to take? People are dying without seeing justice done. Last week, after the potential plea agreements drew sharp condemnation from the families and some lawmakers in Congress, President Joe Biden issued a statement saying he concurred with the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins recommendation not to accept plea agreement terms proposed by the 9/11 defendants and their lawyers. The Administration, the White House said in a statement to USA TODAY, is committed to ensuring that the military commissions process is fair and delivers justice to the victims, survivors, families, and those accused of crimes. Flowers are placed on the names of victims of the 9/11 terror attack in the North Tower Memorial Pool during the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum on September 11, 2022 in New York City. 'Answers and information that we have been denied for two decades' Like Strada, former FBI Agent Frank Pellegrino who spent decades investigating Mohammed wants the U.S. government to present its case in open court and establish a public record of what happened based on the evidence collected around the world over many years. I think the American people deserve to hear what the evidence is and not be satisfied with the fact that their government is telling them, well, we have these people, and they are guilty, Pellegrino said in an interview. Lt. Cmdr. Adam Cole, a spokesman for the Pentagons Office of Military Commissions, said prosecutors and defense lawyers will gather in Guantanamo as early as this week to restart the pre-trial court proceedings, in which they will continue argue a seemingly unending series of motions. No trial date has been set, and the frustrations have prompted at least one 9/11 family survivor to argue in favor of allowing a plea agreement. Colleen Kelly, whose younger brother Bill also was killed in the North Tower, acknowledged in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in December 2021 that such a deal could theoretically involve sparing the lives of KSM and the others. We understand that in exchange for guilty pleas the government would in all likelihood no longer seek the death penalty; this would be in part in recognition of the torture each of the defendants experienced, Kelly testified. What we would hope to finally get, however, is answers to our questions about 9/11 from the defendants answers and information that we have been denied for two decades, Kelly said. Those who have not been watching what has been unfolding in the commissions may not see this as justice. Indeed, it is not the outcome that September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows advocated for at our founding. But it is a way perhaps the only way forward at this point. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Pentagon prosecutors discussing plea deal to spare lives of 9/11 suspects CNNs continuing coverage of Hurricane Lee and Mondays forecast can be found here. Hurricane Lee has strengthened back into a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, satellite pictures and data from a hurricane hunter plane indicated Sunday. The powerful storm, which has fluctuated in intensity throughout its time over the open Atlantic, is expected to become a very dangerous Category 4 by late Sunday or early Monday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to reach portions of the southeast (United States) East Coast and are forecast to worsen and spread northward along much of the US East Coast during the next couple of days, the National Hurricane Center said in an update Sunday. Lee is forecast to slow down considerably as it moves well north of Puerto Rico, the British and US Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, but it will have an impact there and on other Caribbean islands. It remains too early to determine its long-term track for later this week and how significant the impacts could be for northeastern US states, Bermuda and Atlantic Canada. By midweek, Lee will make a turn to the north, eventually moving between Bermuda and the US East coast late this week. The East Coast is bracing for the same kind of large swells and rip currents that the Caribbean is facing now. Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles, the National Hurricane Center warned Friday night. The British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda also face swells this weekend that can bring life-threatening surf and rip conditions. A satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning in the Atlantic. - NOAA Waves breaking at 6 to 10 feet were forecast for Sunday, according to the National Weather Service office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Larger waves were expected this week along east- and north-facing beaches. Beach erosion and coastal flooding is possible, the office posted on social media. Lee, which was a Category 1 storm Thursday, intensified with exceptional speed into Category 5 status as it moved west across the Atlantic, more than doubling its wind speeds to 165 mph in just a day. Lee, which was a Category 1 storm Thursday, intensified with exceptional speed into Category 5 status as it moved west across the Atlantic, more than doubling its wind speeds to 165 mph in just a day. Vertical wind shear and an eyewall replacement cycle a process that occurs with the majority of long-lived major hurricanes has since led to the weakening of the storm, the hurricane center said. Hurricane Lee strengthened back into a Category 3 hurricane Sunday afternoon over the open Atlantic, and its starting to send dangerous rip currents to parts of the southeast US coast even as the storms longer-term path and effects are uncertain, forecasters said. Lee, with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, was centered Sunday night over the ocean about 310 miles north of the Caribbeans northern Leeward Islands and headed northwest, the National Hurricane Center said in an 11 p.m. ET Sunday advisory. The powerful storm, which has fluctuated in intensity throughout its time over the Atlantic, could become a Category 4 by Monday morning before fluctuating again later in the week, forecasters said. It remains too early to determine Lees long-term track for later this week and how significant the impacts could be for northeastern US states, Bermuda and Atlantic Canada. But the storm already was generating swells that were affecting many of the far eastern Caribbean islands as well as the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispanola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Those swells could cause life-threatening surf and rip currents, the hurricane center said Sunday. And dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to reach portions of the southeast US East Coast and are forecast to worsen and spread northward along much of the US East Coast during the next couple of days, the hurricane center said in the 11 p.m. ET Sunday advisory. The storm grew larger though not stronger Sunday evening. Hurricane-force winds extended up to 75 miles from center by 11 p.m. ET, the hurricane center said up from 45 miles six hours earlier. By midweek, Lee is expected to make a turn to the north, likely moving between Bermuda and the US East coast late this week. The East Coast is bracing for the same kind of large swells and rip currents that the Caribbean is facing now. A satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning in the Atlantic. - NOAA Waves breaking at 6 to 10 feet were forecast for Sunday, according to the National Weather Service office in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Larger waves were expected this week along east- and north-facing beaches. Beach erosion and coastal flooding is possible, the office posted on social media. Lee, which was a Category 1 storm Thursday, intensified with exceptional speed into Category 5 status as it moved west across the Atlantic, more than doubling its wind speeds to 165 mph in just a day. Vertical wind shear and an eyewall replacement cycle a process that occurs with the majority of long-lived major hurricanes then led to the weakening of the storm, the hurricane center said. Differing scenarios on Lees impact Computer model trends for Lee have shown the hurricane taking a turn to the north this week. But exactly when that turn occurs and how far west Lee will manage to track by then will play a huge role in how close it gets to the US. Several steering factors at the surface and upper levels of the atmosphere will determine how close Lee will get to the East Coast. Lee's potential track next week will be determined by multiple atmospheric factors including a strong area of high pressure to its east (yellow circle) and the jet stream (silver arrows) to its west. An area of high pressure over the Atlantic, known as the Bermuda High, will have a major influence on how quickly Lee turns. A strong Bermuda High would keep Lee on its current west-northwestward track and slow it down a bit. As the high pressure weakens this week, it will allow Lee to start moving northward. Once that turn to the north occurs, the position of the jet stream strong upper-level winds that can change the direction of a hurricanes path will influence how closely Lee is steered to the US. Scenario: Out to Sea Track Scenario: An area of high pressure (yellow circle) to the east of Lee and the jet stream (silver arrows) to the west of Lee, can force the storm to track between the two, away from the US coast. Lee could make a quick turn to the north early this week if high pressure weakens significantly. If the jet stream sets up along the East Coast, it will function as a barrier that prevents Lee from approaching the coast. This scenario would keep Lee farther away from the US coast but could bring the storm closer to Bermuda. Scenario: Close to East Coast Track Scenario: An area of high pressure (yellow circle) to the east of Lee and the jet stream (silver arrows) to the west of Lee, can force the storm to track between the two, closer to the US coast. Lee could make a slower turn to the north because the high pressure remains robust, and the jet stream sets up farther inland over the Eastern US. This scenario would leave portions of the East Coast, mainly north of the Carolinas, vulnerable to a much closer approach from Lee. CNNs Michelle Watson and Travis Caldwell contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As a lifelong surfer, Josh Wagner always appreciated the swells from distant hurricanes off Floridas coast that can bring in clean, beautiful, rolling waves. As a beachfront homeowner on the states Atlantic coast who might have lost his home south of Daytona Beach without hopping on a tractor in the middle of the night during Hurricane Nicole last fall he now fears the erosion and destruction a hurricane can bring. Hurricane Lee could be the worst of both, Wagner told USA TODAY. Its waves are forecast to be choppy, lousy for surfing, and come with a high risk of rip currents. Any big, rough waves could rip away the little bit of sand that returned to the beaches near Ponce Inlet since Nicole. Similar fears will ripple northward along the entire Atlantic coast this week. Lee is forecast to move northward parallel to shore a few hundred miles to the east, bringing huge waves and hazardous surf from Florida to Maine. As of Monday evening, the hurricane maintained its "major" Category 3 status, with sustained winds of 115 mph. and its hurricane-force winds widened considerably, now up to 75 miles from the center. Though the significant winds are likely to stay offshore for most of the U.S. coast, rip currents and dangerous surf are expected, according to the National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service offices along the coast. Bigger waves and rip currents already have begun to reach East Coast beaches, the weather service said Monday, and that's only expected to increase. "Its going to produce a tremendous amount of energy in the ocean in the form of traditional ocean waves," Jamie Rhome, the hurricane center's deputy director, told USA TODAY. When that energy strikes the coast, it produces this huge rip current risk. Hurricane Lee re-strengthened Monday in the Atltanic. Where is Hurricane Lee right now? At 11 p.m. Monday, Lee remained a major hurricane, with 115-mph winds. The storm was about 580 miles south of Bermuda and 410 miles north-northwest of the northern Leeward Islands, moving west-northwest at 7 mph. A Saildrone one of several deployed in the ocean along Lee's path 40 miles south-southeast of Lee's center reported a sustained wind speed of 77 mph and a gust of 105 mph, the hurricane center said Monday at 11 p.m. A buoy between Lee and San Salvador Island in the Bahamas reported significant wave heights of 17.7 feet. Lee is forecast to strengthen to 120 mph winds overnight Monday, then begin weakening as it's buffeted by wind shear later in the week and encounters areas of colder water left by hurricanes Idalia and Franklin. Hurricane Lee is forecast to turn north this week and pass west of Bermuda as it brings huge waves, rip currents and erosion to East Coast beaches. Forecasters say it's still too early to determine the extent of the potential impacts in New England. What is the hurricane's path? Will Lee hit the Northeast or Canada? It's too soon to know how Lee might affect the northeastern U.S. and Canada's Atlantic coast, the hurricane center said Monday, especially because the hurricane is expected to slow considerably. Hurricane Lee is forecast to make a gradual turn to the north by Wednesday and pass between the U.S. mid-Atlantic and Bermuda on Friday. Lee could bring strong winds, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. In Maine and along the coast of New England, the National Weather Service said Monday that the "track, intensity, and impacts (if any) from Lee remain uncertain." The hurricane center's track forecast cone calls for the center of Lee to be offshore somewhere between the coast of New England and southeast of Nova Scotia on Saturday night. As of 11 p.m., much of eastern New England was in the "cone of uncertainty" in the hurricane center's forecast map for Lee. This includes a portion of the Boston metro area, along with Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. "Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents" continue to hit the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Bahamas and will affect most of the U.S. East Coast this week as Lee grows and moves northward. What's the rip current concern? Rip currents are particularly worrisome for weather officials because 2023 has already been a deadly year: At least 75 deaths are thought to be attributed to rip currents and hazardous surf conditions, the third-highest year since record-keeping started in 2002. A report published by the American Meteorological Society in August concluded the percentage of direct fatalities attributed to tropical-cyclone-related rip currents has doubled. The authors found: Direct fatalities during tropical cyclone landfalls rose from 6% from 1963-2012 to 15% from 2013-2022. Fatalities often occur one or two at a time from distant storms hundreds of miles offshore. Florida, North Carolina and New Jersey experienced the highest number of tropical-cyclone-related surf and rip current deaths. The reason rip currents are so deadly is because all the other hazards in a hurricane have a visual cue, Rhome said. Even if you dont believe the forecasters, youll believe your own eyes. "The air surrounding a hurricane sinks, and that sinking air creates cloud-free conditions and warm days, he said. Thats near-perfect beach weather. People flock to the beach and theres no visual clue that anything is wrong. Theres nothing to see that may tell you you need to be cautious." Wagner said rip currents seem to be more prevalent in the soft sand offshore since the hurricanes. He advises people enter the water near lifeguards. "People think this beautiful beach is safe, and its not," Wagner said. "People dont respect Mother Nature. Youre in the ocean, youre not in a pool." What's the forecast for Lee along the coast? Swells from Hurricane Lee already are arriving between Florida and North Carolina. Melbourne, Florida: "Surf will become increasingly rough as larger breaking waves arrive later this week." Wilmington, North Carolina: Surf heights could reach 5 feet by Monday afternoon and will "continue increasing the next several days." Outer Banks, North Carolina: Seas will be "a very dangerous 10-15 feet during the day Friday," gradually subsiding through the weekend. There is a potential for "significant beach erosion, ocean overwash and coastal flooding." Sep 11, 11 AM EDT | Major Hurricane Lee peak seas near the center are ~48 ft! Large swells associated with Lee will move through the Caribbean Passages & into the Caribbean waters between the Leeward Islands & the Mona Passage today through Thu. pic.twitter.com/8dlnSu9QvR NHC_TAFB (@NHC_TAFB) September 11, 2023 What to do if youre caught in a rip current: "These rip currents grab and your first primal reaction to that is to swim back to shore. Thats hard-wired to your brain, Rhome said. Unfortunately the rip current is harder than people can swim. Most people can swim and swim and swim and can't overpower the rip current. "Your only option is to swim parallel to the shore and try to get out of it, he said. The other option is to relax and float until you're out of the current. Whats next? Its not just this storm that worries Wagner. Its the other storm the hurricane center is watching off the west coast of Africa, which already has surf forecasts calling for 20-foot swells in about two weeks. If we get hit by another storm, weve got no defense, said Wagner, an attorney and former county councilman. Communities along the beach between Daytona Beach and Ponce Inlet were hit hard by Hurricane Ian and then by Hurricane Nicole. Wagners family lost their backyard and a sea wall, which they've since been able to replace. Because the sand loss revealed his property had a coquina rock revetment, he was able to get a state permit to add rock to the wall. They have not been able to replace the 11-foot elevation of sand and dune behind their home they lost during the two hurricanes. Others along the stretch of beach haven't been able to replace sea walls or add rock and some lost homes. Up until November I used to look at storms and get excited for people like me that experienced this for the first time ever, it really changes you. His entire beachfront community is at risk if they get a slow-moving storm or a couple of storms, he said. "This storm could be really, really catastrophic." Whatever storm hits, we're going to be punched "like Mike Tyson fighting Evander Holyfield," he said. Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricane Lee's path uncertain in Northeast; rip currents a concern Getty Images Last week Kourtney Kardashian Barker, who is pregnant with her and rocker husband Travis Barker's first child together, shared that she had undergone "urgent fetal surgery" and credited doctors with "saving our baby's life." The reality star did not share what necessitated the in utero procedure, though fetal surgery is used to treat a number of health conditions. What's it like to be carrying a child who needs fetal surgery? Two families share their emotional experiences, while an expert explains what the procedure entails. What is fetal surgery? Fetal surgery refers to a procedure that is performed on an unborn baby, or fetus, while in utero. Dr. Magdalena Sanz Cortes, a fetal surgeon at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, tells Yahoo Life that fetal surgery is "not that common," but because "indications for surgery are so heterogeneous," or mixed, it's difficult to determine how many patients actually undergo it. The most common reason for fetal surgery is to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare pregnancy condition in which the placenta that identical twins share does not work evenly so that one twin has an excess of fluid and the other doesn't have enough. Without fetal surgery, "babies will die or will have permanent damage," Cortes says. Another example of a "lifesaving" situation that may involve fetal surgery is fetal anemia, in which a baby desperately requires a blood transfusion in utero. However, there are some fetal interventions that are not considered lifesaving, Cortes notes. Babies diagnosed with spina bifida, for instance, might have in utero surgery to repair their spinal cord. "We're not saving the lives of those babies, but we will hopefully get them a better quality of life, better chances of walking independently when they are older," for instance, she says. "So we use the same term, 'fetal surgery,' but there are different types of indications and different purposes." The criteria for fetal surgery are "minimally restrictive" when a baby's life is on the line. "If it's a lifesaving procedure, basically we just have to do it," Cortes says. "It doesn't matter if the mom has a medical condition, if there's a risk for preterm birth ... If you don't do the surgery, the babies will die." If the situation isn't life-or-death, however, more factors are taken into consideration before surgery can proceed. "We need to make sure that that's a good case that is actually going to benefit from an improvement in the quality of life," she explains, noting that fetal surgery increases the risk of preterm birth. "So in cases of spina bifida, if the mom has a baseline condition, we wouldn't offer it. If the mom has a history of previous preterm birth, we wouldn't offer it. If the baby has multiple other anomalies, same thing we wouldn't do it. ... We need to make sure that this is a good candidate and that we're not going to be doing more harm than good if it's just to improve the quality of life. If it's lifesaving, we go all in and we bring the patient in right away." The surgery itself can also vary. Some lifesaving surgeries are performed using lasers and are thus minimally invasive and require little downtime for patients. Other surgeries can be more complex; an open repair for spina bifida, for example, involves a larger incision that Cortes likens to a C-section. 'I was just in survival mode, doing what I needed to do for my child.' When Alisha Staten was about 19 weeks into her pregnancy, she learned that the baby she was carrying had spina bifida. The first-time mom spent the next few weeks meeting with doctors from Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital and University of Utah Health and having testing done to determine whether she was a good candidate for fetal surgery. "I was just in survival mode, doing what I needed to do for my child," Staten, who is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but was treated at the Utah Fetal Center, tells Yahoo Life. On April 6, 2021, exactly 24 weeks and two days into her pregnancy, she underwent the first fetal surgery to be performed in the state of Utah. She and her baby, a girl she and her husband would go on to name Abigail, each had their own team of specialists during the procedure. Doctors used an ultrasound to find out precisely where the baby was positioned, then opened up Staten's uterus and amniotic sac to expose Abigail's spinal cord and perform an open repair. While the baby was otherwise submerged in the womb, with a warm saline solution used to refill the amniotic fluid, her bottom and back were exposed during the surgery. April 6, therefore, has become known as Abigail's "butt birthday." Abigail's actual birthday is May 9, 2021, on Mother's Day. About a week and a half after the surgery, Staten lost her mucus plug the premature rupture of the membrane that Cortes cited as a risk of fetal surgery and began to leak amniotic fluid. She spent the rest of her pregnancy in the hospital. "It was a long healing process, and it was uncomfortable," she says of that time. "There were moments where I was just like, I can't do this anymore. My body cannot do this anymore." Staten held on until week 29 a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and delivered Abigail in an emergency C-section. She was released from the hospital a few days later, while her daughter stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until July 23 her original due date. Abigail, who has a heart-shaped scar on her back from her fetal surgery, is now 2 1/2 years old. Between having spina bifida and being born prematurely, Staten's daughter has health concerns, such as mobility and bladder control. "There's just some things that we have to adapt for ... but we meet her where she's at and we treat her just like we would a neurotypical 2-and-a-half-year-old," Staten says. "But she's funny, she's charismatic and there's just something about her that attracts people." Fetal surgery, she adds, "turned out to be the best decision" she and her husband have made. "She's happy, she's thriving. Yes, we have our setbacks. However, the fetal surgery has given her so much, and if I had to do it again, I would." 'Anything you can do to save our child, we're in.' The ob-gyn that Samantha and Joey Paris went to see for their anatomy scan last Christmas was an old family friend, so it was easy for the Dallas-based couple to quickly figure out that something was wrong when he looked at the ultrasound. "He's very thorough but jolly and always in good spirits," Joey tells Yahoo Life. "And within minutes of the appointment, his face turned pale white and he took a very calm tone." The ultrasound showed signs of pleural effusion, or a buildup of fluid; his "lungs were totally pancaked and the body was just totally filled with fluid," shares Samantha, who was about 23 weeks into her pregnancy. The baby was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, a life-threatening issue in which excess fluid can cause heart failure, and Samantha was booked to undergo fetal surgery at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston within days. "They kind of just told us the only option is you can either not do anything, but you'll probably lose the child very quickly or have a stillbirth, or we can do this surgery and have the best chance of saving your child's life," Samantha says. "And we said, 'OK, how soon can you do it?' While it was scary, it was one of those no-brainers to say, 'Anything you can do to save our child, we're in, we'll do it.' It was definitely a whirlwind. And I think before that day I had no idea [fetal surgery] was even a thing." While the couple rave about the hands-on care they received, the situation was touch-and-go. Samantha went into early labor for a few hours after the first surgery to have shunts placed in her baby's chest to relieve the buildup. "We were so stressed ... we were like, 'It's not time for the baby to be born yet, keep the baby in,'" she remembers. Due to complications with the shunts, Samantha had to undergo additional surgeries and had to remain on bed rest temporarily relocating to her parents' house in Houston for the duration of her pregnancy. Samantha visited doctors twice a week and had a total of 61 ultrasounds done. But there were highs, too. Despite the risk of preterm labor, Samantha made it to 39 weeks, vaginally delivering a baby boy. Somehow the couple had managed to keep their child's sex a surprise throughout the process, and they named him Richard Joseph Paris IV, or "Archie" for short. After three days in the NICU, the family returned home to Dallas. Joey and Samantha Paris with son Archie. (Courtesy of the Paris family) Now 4 1/2 months old, Archie recently had his shunts removed and will have routine monitoring for the first few years of his life. Other than that, "he's just living his happy baby life eating and sleeping and pooping like every other baby," says Samantha. "It truly is such a gift and a miracle." WEST PALM BEACH Police are looking for the person who fatally shot a 56-year-old Volusia County man and then left his body lying along a road along the city's western limits. Officers found the remains of William Tempesta of Deltona at about 7:15 a.m. Sunday, West Palm Beach police spokesman Mike Jachles said. A driver saw the body lying on the 5900 block of Jog Road, between Florida's Turnpike and the entrance of the Ironhorse community. "It's kind of a rural area. It doesn't appear that the man was killed there. He was dumped," Jachles said Sunday evening. Palm Beach Gardens fires police officer: Report offers details on day man was held at gunpoint Police described Tempesta as 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, with salt-and-pepper hair and a beard. He was wearing blue jeans and a black-and-gray T-shirt and was carrying a set of car keys, Jachles said. He did not have identification with him and was identified through fingerprints. Investigators determined that Tempesta had been shot, but did not say where on his body the bullets struck, or how many shots he sustained, Jachles said. "It does not appear he had been dead a long time," he said. West Palm Beach police on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, found the body of William Tempesta of Deltona lying along the side of Jog Road near the Ironhorse community along the city's western border. Federal charges follow migrant landing: Boat captain accused of human smuggling off Jupiter Inlet back in court Tempesta's family was notified Sunday afternoon about his death, and waived their right to privacy so that the public could help discover what happened to him, he said. "We are trying to determine whether he had any ties to South Florida," Jachles said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the West Palm Beach police at 561-822-1900, or call Crime Stoppers of Palm Beach County anonymously at 1-800-458-TIPS (8477). A cash reward of up to $3,000 is available for information leading to an arrest. This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Deltona man, 56, found shot dead in western West Palm Beach By Michel Rose DHAKA (Reuters) - Whether hes lobbying for Airbus to sell aircraft to Bangladesh or scouring for rare earths in Mongolia, French President Emmanuel Macron is on the offensive in Asia, pitching France as a useful alternative to bigger powers. After two days of high-level talks with G20 leaders in New Delhi, where he was treated to lunch with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Macron set off for neighbouring Bangladesh, a fast-growing South Asian nation of 170 million people. The two-day stopover in Dhaka was part of a French strategy to target mid-sized countries in a region where superpowers such as China, Russia or the U.S. are jostling for influence. "In a region facing new imperialism, we want to propose a third way," Macron told Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after landing in a sweltering Dhaka late on Sunday. "All our strategy is focused on strengthening the independence and the strategic autonomy of our friends to give them the 'freedom of sovereignty'," Macron said. The French leader, who Hasina called "a breath of fresh air in international politics", was hot on the heels of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who visited Bangladesh a few days before the G20 summit. Russia is building a nuclear power plant in Bangladesh, a $13 billion project financed by a Russian government loan. The French are also trying to sell their nuclear expertise, even if a power plant contract is a more distant prospect. They are making more progress in the aerospace sector, however. In a country long dominated by Boeing, Macron on Monday clinched a deal for Airbus to sell 10 A-350 aircraft to national flagship carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd. The Bangladesh trip comes after a series of short but high-level trips by Macron this year to Asian nations such as Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka. Macron, who launched France's Indo-Pacific strategy in 2018, the first European country to do so, has talked of Europe as a "third way" in a region increasingly under the sway of China-U.S. rivalry. "Were a country of 60 million, so of course we cant compete head-on with China," a French diplomat told Reuters. "But although the U.S. are our allies, we have our own interest and can help countries in the region diversifying their alliances, so theyre not reliant on one country alone." (Reporting by Michel Rose; editing by Mark Heinrich) Escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante has been spotted again and has changed his appearance, police said early Sunday as they try to narrow in on the Pennsylvania fugitive. A sighting was reported late Saturday "in the northern Chester County area near Phoenixville," Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement. Cavalcante had visited the home of a person he worked with years ago, who wasn't home, Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a news briefing Sunday afternoon. Cavalcante earlier Saturday night visited the home of another former work colleague, who also was not home. He was seen on the home's doorbell camera, and the homeowner alerted authorities, Bivens said. Police say Cavalcante is trying to contact his former colleagues for support after his escape. As of Sunday morning, police believed Cavalcante was no longer in the Phoenixville area, state police said on X, formerly Twitter. They added that Cavalcante, 34, had changed his appearance since he was spotted twice Friday within the Chester County search area. "He is clean shaven and last seen wearing a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball style hat, green prison pants, and white shoes," police said in the statement. A photo of Danelo Cavalcante released by police early Sunday. (Pennsylvania State Police) The U.S. Marshal Service released new images, seemingly captured on a Ring camera, alongside the statement. A few hours later, police said Cavalcante was driving a white 2020 Ford Transit van with a refrigeration unit on the top and damage to the left rear fender. The van was found abandoned in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township on Sunday morning, state police said. Investigators are searching for Cavalcante in the area. Image of white van with cooling unit and damaged fender. (via U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia ) Police warn residents in the area to stay alert and secure their property, as they believe Cavalcante may steal another vehicle. Anyone who sees Cavalcante or has any information about him is encouraged to call authorities. Law enforcement agencies have encountered "a number of challenges" trying to secure the perimeter and find Cavalcante, Bivens said at the news briefing. "Unfortunately, there are a lot of circumstances, there are a lot of issues associated with that property," Bivens said. "Tunnels, very large drainage ditches, things that could not be secured, you couple that with weather, aviation being down for a night, there are a number of reasons." Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole last month, having been convicted of fatally stabbing his former girlfriend. He slipped out of the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township on Aug. 31, an escape that was captured on surveillance video showing that he stretched himself across the exercise yard walls before he climbed to the roof. A prison guard on duty when Cavalcante escaped was fired for having violated prison policy by having a cellphone in the tower, a Chester County spokesperson said Friday. A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for tips that lead to the arrest of Cavalcante. (Photo : BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) United States President Joe Biden met with Vietnam's officials to forge a strategic partnership with the Pacific nation in an effort to stifle China's continued rising influence. United States President Joe Biden forged a strategic partnership with Vietnam following a meeting prompted by China's continued rising influence within the region. The recent discussions have brought two historical foes closer together than ever over shared concerns about Beijing's rising ambitions. Biden made the landmark visit to Hanoi when Vietnam's Communist Party leadership formally raised the nation's ties to the US to the highest level in its diplomatic hierarchy. US-Vietnam Relations The American president said the unprecedented breakthrough marks the beginning of "even a greater era of cooperation" and comes a half-century after US troops withdrew. During a news conference following a meeting with the general secretary of the Community Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, Biden spoke about the situation. The American president said they can trace a 50-year arc of progress in the relationship between the two countries. Biden added that the situation marks a new elevated status that will be considered a force for prosperity and security in "one of the most consequential regions in the world," as per the New York Times. Despite Biden nor Trong directly citing China during their public speeches, it was still a relatively important subtext for the move as the American president is working to establish a network of partnerships within the region to counter Beijing's aggressive action. In the last few months, Biden has expanded cooperation with various nations, including Australia, India, and the Philippines. He has also brought the leaders of Japan and South Korea together at Camp David, where they sealed a three-way alliance Washington has been having trouble achieving. On Sunday, Biden said that the United States is a Pacific nation and that Washington will not go anywhere, which was a statement made to put China on notice. However, when asked by reporters, the American president denied any hostile intent with his words, rejecting a new Cold War in the Indo-Pacific region. Read Also: UN Fails to Persuade Russia to Return to Black Sea Grain Deal Strategic Partnership Biden's visit to Hanoi came as trade and investment ties between the two countries have steadily been growing, and a long-simmering territorial dispute between China and Vietnam is raising tensions in the South China Sea, according to Inquirer. On Monday, executives from Google, Intel, Amkor, Marvell, GlobalFoundries, and Boeing were expected to meet Vietnamese tech executives and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hanoi to highlight the Asian nation's growing importance as a "friendshoring" destination for US technology companies. Last year, Vietnam's exports to the US increased by 13.6%, rising to $109.39 billion, led by shipments of garments, shoes, smartphones, electronics, and wooden furniture. The US president's visit to Hanoi also comes nearly five decades after the end of the Vietnam War between the Soviet-backed Communist government of North Vietnam and South Vietnam's U.S.-backed regime. For months, Washington has been pushing their plan to elevate their relations as officials said that the focus of the meeting was about semiconductors and critical minerals. The American government sees the Southeast Asian manufacturing dynamo as a key country in its strategy to secure global supply chains from China-related risks, said Rappler. Related Article: G20 Summit: Delhi Police Website Hacked by Pakistan Hackers @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WASHINGTON (AP) The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is slamming a fellow Republican in the Senate for waging an unprecedented attempt to change Pentagon abortion policy by holding up hundreds of military nominations and promotions. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday that Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville is "paralyzing the Department of Defense. "The idea that one man in the Senate can hold this up for months, I understand maybe promotions, but nominations," McCaul said. He added, I think that is a national security problem and a national security issue. And I really wish he would reconsider this. Tubervilles move has forced less experienced leaders into top jobs and raised concerns at the Pentagon about military readiness. Defense officials say Tuberville is jeopardizing American national security. Senators in both parties, including Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, also have criticized Tuberville. Tuberville has refused to budge, saying will not drop the holds unless majority Democrats allow a vote on the policy. Democrats argue that a vote o every nominee could tie up the Senate floor for months, and they do not want to give in to Tubervilles demands and encourage similar blockades of nominees in the future. McCaul said on CNN that the House would be tackling the issue of abortion in the military as part of a sweeping defense spending bill making its way through Congress. In the meantime, he said, To hold up the top brass from being promoted and lower brass, I think is paralyzing our Department of Defense. By Dan Williams and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel eased travel for Palestinian Americans from the Gaza Strip on Monday as part of final preparations for a deal enabling Israelis to enter the United States without visas, Israeli and U.S. officials said. As a condition for its accession to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Israel has since July 20 loosened access through its borders, and in and out of the occupied West Bank, for Palestinian Americans in a pilot period. The deadline for Israel to show compliance with the U.S. conditions is Sept 30. If successful, it expects to be incorporated in the VWP by November - a respite for relations strained by disputes over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms and policies on the Palestinians. Gaza, whose ruling Hamas Islamists are on Israeli and U.S. terrorism blacklists and whose borders are blockaded by Israel and Egypt, had been excluded from the pilot. That stirred protests by Palestinian Americans and U.S. calls for a change in policy. Israel's Interior Ministry said that, as of Monday, Palestinian Americans living in Gaza and who are not deemed security threats are able to enter Israel on "B2" tourist visas, which also gives them the option of flying out of its airports. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem confirmed the new policy. Palestinian Americans from abroad are still largely precluded from visiting Gaza. As a stop-gap, Israel has said it would allow those who have first-degree relatives there to apply for permission to make once-yearly visits of up to 90 days. "This is an improvement that doesn't really add any value," Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian American from the Washington, DC area, told Reuters. He said he felt like he was being told: "You may come and have a picnic in Israel, but you might not be able to go see your family which is really just minutes (away)." Under the pilot, more than 5,400 Palestinian Americans have entered Israel or crossed its boundary with the West Bank, according to Interior Ministry figures. It said 51 Palestinian Americans have been refused entry, 49 on suspicion of planning to overstay their visas and two as potential security threats. The U.S. Embassy says some Palestinian Americans have complained of being barred from travelling between Israel and the West Bank by car. On Monday, it said a joint U.S.-Israeli team begin talks "to develop solutions over the coming months". Between 45,000 and 60,000 Palestinian Americans live in the West Bank, a U.S. official estimated. An Israeli official gave lower figures, saying that of 70,000 to 90,000 Palestinian Americans worldwide, 15,000 to 20,000 are West Bank residents. Israel previously said it intended to include Palestinian Americans living in Gaza - whose number it puts at between 100 and 130 - on Sept 15 but would try to bring the date forward. Palestinian and U.S. officials have assessed that the number of dual U.S. nationals in Gaza may be several hundred. Asked about the apparent discrepancy in the figures, an Israeli official said most of those are not full-time Gaza residents. (Writing by Dan Williams, Editing by William Maclean) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Monday he had presented a formal complaint against the ruling party's primary process to a pick a candidate for the 2024 presidential election and pledged to form his own political movement. Saying it was tainted by multiple irregularities, Ebrard denounced the primary held by the National Regeneration Movement's (MORENA) just before the party on Wednesday announced the victor, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. Ebrard finished runner-up in the contest. "We're presenting a complaint in our party with total conviction that what I'm saying is true," Ebrard told reporters during a brief press conference. "What course of action we take will depend on the response from MORENA," he added. "If (things) stay as they are, I would no longer have any interest in being in MORENA." Ebrard, a longtime ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said he would organize a "national political movement" starting Sept. 18, without going into details. Lopez Obrador has publicly backed Sheinbaum as the winner of the MORENA contest and said Ebrard is free to do what he likes. Ebrard has left open the possibility of joining forces with the center-left Citizens' Movement, the only significant party yet to select a presidential candidate for 2024. Ebrard is widely viewed as an economic moderate who would encourage more investment to the country, enabling it to benefit from so-called nearshoring as companies shift their exposure away from Asia to be closer to the United States. (Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Sandra Maler) You have been involuntarily recalled for active duty. You are to report to the unit tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. My mother stops reading, collecting herself, as if putting herself back in some box. Later that day, I find her rummaging through her closet. She should be at work. I always get home from school before everyone else: Mom, my little brother, my stepfather. I am a teenager, 15, and have plans to do some teenager thing watch something Im not supposed to or have a girl over and I am more worried with that, her being home unexpectedly, than why my mother seems so upset and is gathering her clothes. The skin under her eyes is puffy. Davon Loeb and mom (Courtesy Davon Loeb) Im packing my bags and leaving tomorrow. You wont come to the base with me. Well say goodbye and she stops, hitting a wall, knowing that saying it is affirming it, say goodbye here, and Ill go to the base. Im not sure where theyre sending us yet, but itll be OK. Everything will be OK. Mom? Davon, I have to go to war. Her voice stops like a jam between gears. Weve been waiting for this day, in some ways, since America went to war after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Its 2003, and my mother has to go to war. She stops, and it seems shes choking on her words. Her bed is covered in her clothes, and a thin layer of sweat greases her face. Maybe she hasnt said it out loud yet, but she speaks as if confronting a fear that is now very real for the first time. "I have to go to war. In such a short sentence, she covers enormous ground leaving her family, deployment to another country, the dangers of war. But I signed up for this, maybe she thinks; she did, and has been in the military for over twenty years. My mother was Active Duty in the U.S. Army from 1980-1983, the U.S. Army National Guard from 1984-1987, the U.S. Army Reserves from 1987-1993, and she joined the U.S. Air Force in 1994, where she has been an officer since. Shes made a successful career in the military and is a captain. She works as a civilian nurse when not on McGuire Air Force base. She joined the military because, as she told me many times before, I was a poor Black girl who didnt have many options. Shed tell me about her brother, her sister, her uncles, her grandfather, her people, Black people, through World War II, the Vietnam War, and the eventually, the War in Afghanistan. Shed tell me how so many Black Americans enlisted in the military for an opportunity that this country, yet again, demanded of Black bodies, as if to say We will give you your rights if you will sacrifice for us, will fight for us, will die for us. After serving in the Army Reserves until 1992, my mother applied to nursing school and finished her degree in 1993. Becoming a nurse, both civilian and military, is what helped my family relocate from an apartment to a single-family home in suburbs. Education, as she always said, was most important. For all my life, my mother has been in the military, and I always remember her dressed in two ways: fatigues or scrubs. This is how I see her, returning from the base in her uniform, or from a twelve-hour shift at a hospital. The average deployment length is six to twelve months, and my mother has only been gone for 15-day training stints on various military bases, from: Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas to Yokoto Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan. When she is gone for those two-week trainings, my stepfather, little brother, and I barely get by. We microwave Chef Boyardee. We order pizza, and not just on Fridays. We eat Chinese takeout leftovers through the weekend. We pile dirty clothes in heaps. We leave unopened mail on the kitchen table. But this is different; this is war, which started over two years ago, since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. We finally say goodbye to her in the morning before school. She brings me close, fitting her face on my teenage chest, and it takes my breath away, completely, and I am breaking down, heavy sobs because I might not see her again. My little brother is waist-high, and she kneels to his height and gives him the same embrace as if shes cocooned him, as if shes bringing him back inside of her, as if she can hold him there, just a little longer, just to be her little baby again. When she lets him go, he cries, but differently than me, just runny nose and snot and Mommy-dont-leave-us, but he really doesnt understand and thinks shell be back home tomorrow. My stepfather is stone, and he waits without a word. They dont even hug each other. They just stand there as if theyre talked-out, as if the emotions of departure, of their marriage, has already been exhausted. Hes exhausted, and so is she. He carries her military-issued duffle and is carrying something else, something that looks like a man who is realizing hes now lost. She seems to stand at attention, her body taut, her skin tightened, muscle memory. Shes wearing her military fatigues, detailing her rank and position. I dont know much about this but know shes a high-ranking officer, a Black officer, a Black high-ranking woman officer in the United States Air Force, and Im proud to be her son. We wait by the phone a lot. My mother is deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Were grateful shes not in Afghanistan, or Iraq, or Qatar, or wherever we think the war is. Germany is six hours ahead. Whenever the phone does ring, we sprint to the various phones, picking up the receivers eagerly, angrily frustrated shes still not home, frustrated that were falling apart without her, that Im barely passing my classes, my little brother is not socializing, and my stepfather is living every day on a pencil-thin edge. Our voices jumble, a mess of what-happenings that happened since last we talked. She is working when were home and is off when were asleep. She tries to call as much as she can, but were sad when she does and sad when she doesnt. On the day my mother comes home, its been almost ten months. We wait at McGuire Force Base with hundreds of families. Theres a news van too. There are countless signs, big posters: Welcome Home, We love you, Thank you for your service, Heroes. She finally makes it through the crowd. Shes wearing her official uniform, the Hap Arnold Wings, blue jacket and slacks, a blue hat, her rank insignia. Describing how proud we felt of her in that moment is almost impossible. We saw her, and we saw the American people celebrate, honor, and value my mother and her fellow soldiers sacrifices not putting her in a box as a Black American but as a solider, not a woman but a soldier, not a Black woman but a soldier. In that moment, cheering, crying, and loving with all the other families, we yelled, Mom, until she found us. Davon Loeb and mom (Courtesy Davon Loeb) When she returns home from war, in the days, weeks, and months later, my mother has changed. Its not just that she doesnt cook anymore, or pack our lunches, or fold our clothes, but she longs for an independence that she no longer has the kind she had when she was away. When my mother returns home from war, shes accepted into a masters program; shes going to be a nurse anesthetist, and shes busy with school. When my mother returns home from war, she is with us but not really with us. When my mother returns home from war, she decides she no longer wants to be the same mother that she was. Shes going to be so much more. As a kid, I didnt understand my mothers change. It seemed selfish. It seemed like she was giving her life a new start, and giving our life some kind of pass-over. But now, as an adult, I understand more deeply how my mother, and so many women, had to choose between their families and their careers. I understand that these women not only sacrificed their bodies, but sacrificed their dreams. Men, fathers, are not defined by how much they cook, how much they tend to the home and the children; men, fathers, are defined societally by their careers. As a parent now, I understand how much my mother and my stepfather sacrificed while she was deployed at war. They both gave themselves for us. Military families just do that, instinctually. They have to. This article was originally published on TODAY.com By Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park SEOUL/MOSCOW (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off for Russia aboard a special train, a South Korean source said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russia's deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine. Kim would visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of Putin, the Kremlin said, while North Korean state news agency KCNA said the two would "meet and have a talk", without elaborating. U.S. officials have said the pair would discuss possible arms deals to aid Russia's war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with a much-needed economic and political lifeline. Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North. It will be Kim's second summit with Putin, after the pair met in 2019. Despite denials by both Pyongyang and Moscow, the United States has said talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia, which has expended vast stocks of weapons in more than 18 months of war. The North Korean leader left aboard his train late on Sunday, a senior South Korean government official told Reuters. The special train would take Kim to North Korea's northeastern border with Russia and the summit could take place as early as Tuesday, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing intelligence concerns, and added that details could change depending on the situation there. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang immediately confirmed an exact schedule for the visit. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to "expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts". Kim's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. SECRECY AND SECURITY Japanese media reported security was being stepped up and refurbishment was taking place at the main train station in the Russian border city of Khasan, where Kim is expected to enter Russia. Kim does not travel abroad often and, when he does, it is often shrouded in secrecy and security. He travels by a special train with its signature olive green carriages that are said to be armoured and equipped with communications systems and a personal suite for Kim to work and confer with aides. A summit between Kim and Putin would likely focus on military cooperation and possibly a deal to supply arms, U.S. and South Korean officials and analysts have said. North Korea is believed to have a large stockpile of artillery ammunition that would be compatible with Russian weapons and could help supplement the supplies being rapidly used on the Ukrainian frontlines. The United States has said it would be a "huge mistake" for North Korea to supply Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine and warned Pyongyang would "pay a price". The deepening relationship between Kim and Putin signals a further global split over the war, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance. "North Korea's support will allow Putin to wage his war for longer, which is bad news for Europe," he said. "It is further proof that much of the world doesn't support Ukraine in the way the U.S. and Europe do, and some countries such as North Korea will openly support Russia without fear of any real consequences." In Vladivostok, there was a higher police presence than usual on the streets but no North Korean flags had been put up - unlike ahead of Kim's previous trip when the city was adorned with the red five pointed stars that grace the North's flag. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi, Ju-min Park, Josh Smith, Hyonhee Shin and Jack Kim in Seoul, Guy Falconbridge and Reuters staff in Vladivostok; Editing Himani Sarkar, Simon Cameron-Moore, Nick Macfie and Alex Richardson) BEIJING (Reuters) -Residual rains from former typhoon Haikui, now a tropical storm, drenched southern China for the seventh day as slow-moving storm clouds drifted from Guangdong on the coast to Guangxi, flooding low-lying areas, blocking roads and trapping residents. In the rural county of Bobai in Guangxi region, rescuers on assault boats have scrambled to pull people to safety since Sunday night as water more than 2 metres (6.6 feet) deep stranded residents in low-rise homes, state media reported on Monday. In hillier areas, landslides destroyed roads and bridges collapsed. At one weather station in Bobai, local records were shattered when rainfall reached 511.2 mm (20 inches), more than a quarter of the region's annual precipitation. Haikui has weakened from a typhoon to a tropical storm since making landfall in Fujian province on Sept. 5, but its residual vortex has continued to wreak havoc in southern China, with the populous city of Shenzhen deluged by the heaviest rain since records began in 1952. Neighbouring Hong Kong was pelted by the worst storm in 140 years. Scientists warn that typhoons hitting China are becoming more intense and their paths growing more complex, escalating risk of disaster, even in coastal cities such as Shenzhen that regularly brave tropical cyclones and already have strong flood defence capabilities. "Typhoons that move far inland affect regions historically less exposed to heavy rainfall and strong wind, often with lower disaster resilience, leading to more severe losses," said Shao Sun, a climatologist at the University of California, Irvine. "In this case of Shenzhen, the disaster was mainly due to the slow westward movement of Haikui's residual circulation, which nearly stagnated in its spatial position from the afternoon of Sept. 7 to the early hours of Sept. 8, and a "train effect" of heavy rainfall occurred, causing the event to exceed its expected intensity." A so-called "train effect" refers to the cumulative effect of multiple convective cloud systems passing over an area in succession, resulting in a significant accumulation of rainfall accumulation and sharply raising the potential for heavy or even extreme rainfall. Heavy rain is expected to persist in Guangxi over the next few days. In other parts of China, late summer rains have tested the ability of sprawling urban centres. The streets of Xian, a northwestern city with a population of around 13 million, were quickly under water on Monday. Videos on social media showed cars and motorbikes being dragged away by fast-running floodwaters. Breakneck urbanisation in China has encased vast stretches of land in impermeable concrete, often along the banks of major rivers, that traditionally served as flood plains. According to 2018 data, 641 out of 654 large- and medium-sized cities in China were prone to flooding and waterlogging, with 180 facing flood risks each year. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael Perry) By Michael Erman and Sriparna Roy (Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna that target a recently circulating Omicron variant of the coronavirus, paving the way for the launch later this week of a fall vaccination campaign. A third shot, made by Novavax, is still under review by the FDA. Novavax said it did not expect its shot to be authorized in the United States before a meeting of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel on Tuesday to recommend who should receive the updated vaccines. Shares of Novavax closed down around 13% at $7.82. Pfizer and Moderna said their updated vaccines, which target the XBB.1.5 subvariant of the virus, were expected to be available for most people in the United States in the coming days. The FDA approved those shots for people ages 12 and above, and authorized them for emergency use in children ages 6 months through 11 years. "The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency's rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality," top FDA scientist Dr. Peter Marks said in a statement. "We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated." An endorsement by CDC Director Mandy Cohen, expected in the coming days, should clear the way for the new shots. Cohen has said she expects the shots to roll out in September. The FDA authorization follows a late summer rise in cases at a time the new EG.5 subvariant of Omicron - nicknamed Eris - has begun to rapidly spread in the United States and other countries. Scientists also have raised concerns about the highly mutated BA.2.86 subvariant detected in several countries. Pfizer and Moderna said last week that their updated COVID-19 vaccines generated strong responses in testing against BA.2.86. Novavax is still working to see how effective its vaccine is against the subvariant, the company's Chief Executive John Jacobs said in an interview. Jacobs said Novavax anticipates U.S. authorization of its vaccine in the near term. "We're working with them. We don't control their particular timing, but we're moving rapidly," Jacobs said, noting that the company has produced tens of millions of doses of its new shot and signed contracts for broad distribution across the country. The company is still planning on presenting at Tuesday's meeting of CDC advisers and does not believe that an additional meeting would be required for the CDC to sign off on its vaccine once it is approved. Novavax's protein-based vaccine is based on an older technology than the messenger RNA vaccine, which has been used for decades to combat diseases. "It would be nice to have a complete approval on it (Novavax's shot). But obviously that requires that FDA have decided the data supports it," said Jesse Goodman, a professor at Georgetown University and former FDA chief scientist. The U.S. government ended the COVID public health emergency declaration in May and handed over the responsibility for vaccinations to the private sector. The demand for the vaccine has since dropped sharply. COVID vaccines will still be free for most Americans with health insurance coverage. The U.S. government has said it is working on a program to provide the vaccines for free to people without insurance. (Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru, Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Will Dunham and Shinjini Ganguli) House Republicans return to Washington this week, months into multiple investigations surrounding President Biden and his family and with the apparent intention of eventually opening an impeachment inquiry. Theyve fanned the flames but have yet to find a smoking gun that implicates the president of directly benefiting from his familys international business dealings or making policy decisions as vice president because of them. An August House Oversight Committee GOP staff memo argued that it does not need to demonstrate direct payments to Biden in order to show corruption, an indication that the probe aims to paint a wider picture of allegations. But as pressure for an inquiry ramps up, GOP investigators have their work cut out for them particularly as they try to sway skeptics within their party to support such a move. The sprawling investigation has pingponged back and forth between two main interests: the Bidens foreign business dealings, particularly in Ukraine, and a Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden that whistleblowers allege was slow-walked by prosecutors. Oversight investigators aiming bigger House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), who is leading the probe into the business dealings, has flaunted that his panel has obtained thousands of pages of financial records and bank documents, and he said in June that his panel has gotten 100 percent of what weve requested. But he is signaling that getting information will be bumpier going forward, saying on Newsmax on Thursday that his panel has just about picked all of the low-hanging fruit and that he expects more resistance to requests going forward. An impeachment inquiry, he argued, could help put more legal weight behind their requests. Comer also has yet to subpoena members of the Biden family a step he said he plans to take that step at some point. GOP committee aides told The Hill that the panel plans to continue shuffling through thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports it has obtained, seek more interviews with associates of the Bidens and press the administration for records from when Biden was vice president. They have put together a timeline of the business events and released memos calculating how many millions of foreign dollars flowed to Biden family members, their associates and companies associated with them. Democrats, though, argue that the mountain of information gathered shows the investigation is much weaker than Republicans argue. The voluminous evidence they have gathered, including thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports and hours of testimony from witnesses, overwhelmingly demonstrates no wrongdoing by President Biden and further debunks Republicans conspiracy theories, House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in a statement. Rather than admit this unavoidable truth about their failed investigation, House Republicans have mischaracterized, cherrypicked, and concealed evidence and recycled long debunked conspiracy theories originally peddled by Rudy Giuliani and Trump, all in humiliating subservience to Donald Trumps petulant demand that they impeach President Biden. The White House has repeatedly said that the president had no involvement in his sons business dealings. After months of investigating, House Republicans have turned up zero evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden, so if Speaker McCarthy opens an impeachment inquiry simply to throw red meat to his most extreme far-right members, it will further prove this is nothing more than an evidence-free political stunt aimed at continuing to baselessly attack the President, a White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations told The Hill. Burisma and beyond Many of the allegations central to the investigation of what happened while Biden was vice president were first raised during former President Trumps first impeachment in 2019 and explored by GOP senators in 2020 though the House GOP investigators now have used the records, and power of the majority, to verify and bolster some of the details from that time. Investigators are far from proving the most salacious allegation that was also the basis of Trumps interest in Hunter Biden: that then-Vice President Biden accepted a $5 million bribe in exchange for helping oust Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin over an investigation into Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company where Hunter Biden was a board member. Biden, along with other world leaders at the time, was pushing to have Shokin removed over concerns he was failing to address corruption. Still, the GOP has fixated on claims pushed by Rudy Giuliani and memorialized in an FD-1023 form documenting an unverified tip made to the FBI alleging that Biden accepted a bribe. The FBI has not corroborated the tip. The revealing of the form by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Comer showed the confidential informant was relaying a conversation with Burisma head Mykola Zlochevsky insinuating he paid both Bidens $5 million. Republicans point out that the confidential informant was paid by the FBI and is thought by both parties to be highly credible. But the informant also said that he could not speak to whether Zlochevskys claim was accurate, noting that exaggeration and bragging about paying off politicians was normal among Ukrainian businessmen. Democrats have pointed to another document assembled by Giulianis team that purports to show Zlochevsky denying those same allegations, and a letter from Lev Parnas who had investigated the claims for Giuliani calling the Biden family allegations false. In testimony to the committee, former Hunter Biden associate Devon Archer, also a member of the gas companys board, said it was his understanding that the company thought Shokins removal would actually be bad for Burisma. Republicans have heavily highlighted other portions of Archers testimony, particularly his recollection of numerous occasions when Hunter Biden put his father on speakerphone in front of foreign business associates, with the then-vice president greeting them. Biden also attended a dinner with his son, Archer and foreign business associates in 2014. Archer said the conversation was limited to pleasantries, but Republicans argue this refutes Bidens previous claims that he had never spoken to his son about his business. Republicans continue to pull on other threads, including asking the National Archives for more records and emails from Bidens time as vice president mentioning his son, Ukraine, business partners and more. In a recent request, Comer forecast that battles could ensue over production of those records based on which are personal records subject to release or not. A focus on Hunter or his prosecutor The bigger bombshell for Republicans has revolved around what they say was the mishandling of the prosecution of Hunter Biden. Testimony from two IRS agents who worked alongside the Justice Department and FBI investigators described prosecutors as hesitant to pursue the best evidence in the case and overly collaborative with Hunter Bidens attorneys or the Secret Service outfit assigned to him. While the two agents, Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler, stop short of alleging political motivations played a part, they said the result was a landscape that favored Hunter Biden. Some actions taken by the Justice Department since their appearance before Congress appeared to give some credence to their testimony. As Hunter Bidens plea deal fell apart, special counsel David Weiss suggested he may instead choose to pursue charges in Washington D.C. or California the two locations where the whistleblowers said they found stronger evidence of tax crimes. But another key line of the inquiry for the GOP that according to one whistleblower Weiss sought but was initially denied special counsel status has failed to gain much traction. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) zeroed in on testimony from Attorney General Merrick Garland that Weiss was assured he would be granted special attorney status if he requested it, suggesting that if the law enforcement official misled Congress it could be grounds for impeachment. Garland and Weiss, however, have remained unified on that point, noting that the prosecutor never sought the status. But recent developments have in some ways overtaken the dispute. The evaporation of the plea deal in the case prompted Weiss to seek and be granted special counsel status as he previewed an intention to bring charges outside Delaware as soon as the end of the month. The GOP has since intensified its focus on Weisss overall handling of the case and his choice to initially offer a plea deal on two tax charges as well as a requirement to enter into a diversion program related to denying drug use when purchasing a gun. Republicans have dismissed it as a sweetheart deal. David Weiss and his compadres are going to be the primary driving force of Republican investigations going forward in the near future, a source familiar with leadership thinking told The Hill, while warning other events could shift the landscape. However, this all depends on whether the government shuts down or not, and if the government shuts down the investigations stop. Updated at 7:37 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The MRI of a 30-year-old patient with Dystonia, treated by a high frequency deep brain stimulation by implantation of electrodes at the level of the internal palladium. The MRI scan does not belong to Johnson. BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images A development in neurotechnology has given a stroke survivor her voice back after nearly 20 years. The woman had a brain stem stroke that left her paralyzed and unable to speak at age 30. Her new implant uses AI to decode brain signals and convert them to computerized speech. Nearly two decades ago, then-30-year-old Ann Johnson had a brain stem stroke, and though she survived, she was left paralyzed and unable to speak with a condition known as locked-in syndrome. Johnson slowly regained the ability to breathe independently, move her neck, and wink, but after 18 years, her brain hasn't recovered its ability to move the muscles required for her to speak more than a few words. With the help of a new AI-driven brain implant, she has become the first patient to successfully use a groundbreaking neurotechnology that synthesizes speech and facial expressions from brain signals, the researchers behind the project claim. In a study published in Nature late last month, researchers at the University of California San Francisco and the University of California Berkeley detailed their findings after implanting a thin layer of 253 electrodes on Johnson's brain and customizing the technology to read her brain signals. The neurotechnology uses artificial intelligence to decode the woman's brain signals while she tries to speak. Though her muscles don't move, her brain sends a signal perceptible to the electrodes, which decode what she is trying to say, and then synthesizes speech and facial expressions using a computer-generated avatar. Johnson, who doesn't have cognitive or sensory impairment after the stroke, could previously communicate at roughly 14 words per minute using her old typing method involving a device that responds to small head movements, per a University of California San Francisco news article about the breakthrough. With her new implant, her digital avatar speaks almost 80. "Our goal is to restore a full, embodied way of communicating, which is the most natural way for us to talk with others," Dr. Edward Chang, chair of neurological surgery at the University of California San Francisco, said in the UCSF publication about the research. "These advancements bring us much closer to making this a real solution for patients." Chang did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. While the UCSF and UCB researchers claim Johnson's case is a scientific first for allowing people with locked-in syndrome to communicate using neurotechnology, two researchers from Austria's Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering claimed last year they had achieved a similar feat. Though their results working with a 34-year-old man to regain his ability to speak after being paralyzed were promising, the Austrian researchers previously had a paper on the subject retracted, and "several cases of scientific misconduct" were identified in a 2019 investigation conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG), which funded some of the work. Despite neurotechnology facing controversy and ethics concerns, developments in the public and private sectors have been identified by groups like the United Nations as among the fastest-growing fields with the possibility to improve human lives. As for Johnson, the benefits of being involved in the UCSF project are far more expansive than just offering her the opportunity to speak again after all these years. "When I was at the rehab hospital, the speech therapist didn't know what to do with me," Johnson said, per the UCSF publication. "Being a part of this study has given me a sense of purpose, I feel like I am contributing to society. It feels like I have a job again. It's amazing I have lived this long; this study has allowed me to really live while I'm still alive!" Read the original article on Business Insider (Photo : Antonio Masiello/Getty Images) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signals plans to separate from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but reassures continued relations with Beijing. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signaled plans to separate from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), noting that a final decision on the matter is still being discussed. Earlier in the day, Italian media reported that the nation would end its involvement with Beijing's BRI and revitalize a strategic partnership agreement with China instead. It would seek to foster economic cooperation, first signed in 2004. Italy's Relations With China Italy is currently the only G7 nation that has signed up to China's BRI, a global trade and infrastructure plan modeled on the old Silk Road that linked imperial China and the West. Next year, Italy will hold the G7 presidency, and recasting its relationship with Beijing is expected to appease its Western allies. The latter is concerned about China's rising influence, and the move is set to reduce the risk of backlash from the Asian superpower, as per Reuters. In a statement during a press conference following the G20 summit of the world's major economies in New Delhi, Meloni said that there are European nations in the last few years that have not been part of the BRI but have gained favorable relations with China than what Italy, which is a part of the initiative, has sometimes managed. On Saturday, the Italian prime minister also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 summit and described the talks as polite and constructive. She added that the issue now is how to guarantee a beneficial partnership for both parties involved, leaving aside her nation's decision regarding the BRI. The Italian prime minister noted that China's government renewed an invitation for her to visit Beijing but said they had not set a date yet. The Italian government has also received an invitation to a BRI Forum that Beijing will host in October. Read Also: G20 Summit: Delhi Police Website Hacked by Pakistan Hackers Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative Meloni's office issued a statement on Saturday where she mentioned the 20th anniversary of a separate Global Strategic Partnership next year that was initially signed by China and a government led by Silvio Berlusconi in 2004, according to Yahoo News. Italy is poised to pursue an otherwise strong economic relationship with China, even with the possibility of ending its ties with the BRI. Meloni also acknowledged that the issue is delicate and must be carefully managed due to bilateral trade and international relations. The situation comes as China has tried to tout the initiative's benefits. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Antonio Tajani last week that bilateral trade has grown from roughly $50 billion to nearly $80 billion. The former also noted that Italy's exports to China had increased nearly 30% over the past five years. However, the Italian foreign minister recently said they have not seen great results from the initiative. He also stressed that Italy was still intent on reinforcing trade with China even if lawmakers decide that they want to stop their involvement with the BRI, said the Associated Press. Related Article: Biden Forges Strategic Partnership With Vietnam Amid China's Expanding Influence @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WASHINGTON In September 2021, Joe Biden became the first president in two decades to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks without U.S. troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, two wars started in the aftermath of that tragedy. But in ways big and small, the scars from that day are shaping Bidens presidency. "On this day, every Americans heart was wounded, Biden said at a ceremony in Alaska on Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the attacks and remember those whose lives were lost. Speaking to military members, first responders and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Biden pointed to the sense of national unity that sprung forth in the days immediately after the attacks and said its more important than ever that Americans come together around the principle of democracy. Those terrorists could not touch what no force, no enemy, no day ever could and that is the soul of America, he said. But the post-9/11 unity faded amid questions about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which dragged on for years. Today, Americans remain deeply distrustful of and dissatisfied with their government, a piece of the political landscape that gained traction in part because of the Iraq war and the false premises on which it was launched. President George W. Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in 2003, promising to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. None were ever found. Nearly 7,000 U.S. troops were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two decades later, many Americans are skeptical that either war made the country safer. Distrust of the government has made it hard for Biden to govern effectively and threatens to spill over into next years election when he will ask voters to give him a second term. Biden is living in an America where I think there's less faith in government as a concept than at any time perhaps in American history, said Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Just 20% of Americans surveyed last year by Pew Research Center said they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing most of the time a sentiment that has changed little since Bushs second term in office. Bush was president on Sept. 11, 2001, the day terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York City and the Pentagon just outside Washington, killing nearly 3,000 people. President Joe Biden bows his head during remarks to service members, first responds and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. From the archives: The day before an American tragedy: dispatches from Sept. 10, 2001 Bidens presidency continues to be shadowed by the fallout of his withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan two years ago. Biden originally announced that the pullout would be completed on Sept. 11, 2021, the 20th anniversary of the attacks that pulled the country into the war. He eventually pushed the withdrawal forward to Aug. 31 after objections from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who questioned how admitting defeat would honor the dead, according to The Last Politician, author Franklin Foers new book about the first two years of Bidens administration. On Aug. 26, 2021, in the chaotic final hours of the withdrawal, a terrorist attack initiated by a single suicide bomber at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. troops and at least 170 Afghans, infuriating Americans, angering U.S. allies and raising questions about how the Biden administration handled the pullout. Republicans and some Democrats in Congress faulted the administration for failing to anticipate Afghanistans collapse and failure to get American troops out more quickly. Gold Star families whose loved ones were killed are demanding transparency from the administration about what went wrong and why their loved ones died. Foers book recounts a tense moment that Biden spent with some of the fallen soldiers families at Dover Air Force Base just days after the attack. After the mournful ritual of a dignified transfer of the bodies, a sister of one of the soldiers screamed across the tarmac in Bidens direction: I hope you burn in hell. That was my brother. Of all the moments in August, this was the one that caused the president to second-guess himself, Foer wrote. It was the one time he kept reanalyzing his actions. Afghanistan withdrawal: Biden administration acknowledges flaws in pullout, says should have evacuated troops sooner The Biden administration acknowledged in its assessment of the war that it should have anticipated the fall of Afghanistan and moved troops out more swiftly. But it also blamed Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, arguing he set the stage for the chaotic withdrawal by lowering troop levels in Afghanistan and negotiating with the Taliban without consulting allies or the Afghan government. The Biden administration earned the criticism for the manner in which it mismanaged the withdrawal, said Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian and faculty scholar at Columbia Universitys Institute of Global Politics. But, Naftali said, the Biden administration also was the victim of a climate of mistrust. In a sense, it's ironic, and I'm sure annoying to the administration, that they didn't get any credit for getting the United States out of an unpopular war. But that I think is due to the fact that we live in this particular moment of American political culture. 'Terrible feeling of betrayal': Guantanamo trial for 9/11 mastermind in disarray on 22nd anniversary Lingering skepticism of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of the reasons Biden has had trouble getting Congress to approve emergency funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia a conflict that doesnt even involve the deployment of U.S. troops. American support for Ukraine has been eroding at the same time Republican-led House has been under pressure to show support for Trump, who has been skeptical of U.S. support for Ukraine in the war. While Biden was rightfully criticized for his management of the Afghanistan withdrawal, Naftali said, I think the administration is getting a raw deal when it comes to the understanding of the management of the Ukraine situation. Biden showed tremendous leadership in forging an alliance with U.S. allies such as Germany, France and Britain and standing firm against Russias invasion of Ukraine, Naftali said. But the Republican-led House, which would have to approve Ukraine funding, is now dominated by supporters of Trump. For many of those members of the House, its all politics, Naftali said. They cant get out their minds the first impeachment (of Trump). And so for many of those members of the House, this is all about Donald Trump. Engle argues that without the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent wars, there would have been no Trump presidency and, for that matter, no President Biden. You had to have a combination of genuine disillusionment and anger with the system to fuel Trumps revolution within the Republican Party, he said. Without 9/11, you dont get the American misadventures in the Middle East. And, therefore, you dont get Trump. Bidens appeal to voters in the 2020 election was largely a reflection of Americans desire to return to normalcy after the turbulent Trump years, Engel said. Without a radical rupture and destruction of faith in American government, American society, you don't have any need 20 years later for a guy who says, I'm boring and normal and know how things actually were supposed to work. Contributing: Maureen Groppe Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS. Sept. 11 by the numbers: Facts from a tragic day in American history More: No troops left behind: Missing troops buried for decades in an Alaska glacier. Harsh weather makes recovery tough This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sept. 11: Scars of terrorist attacks shape Joe Biden's presidency YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Digital Turbine, Google Cloud, and SADA announced that they have expanded and extended their partnership for strategic services and solutions on Google Cloud. Another step in the multi-year partnership, the renewal will accelerate Digital Turbine's pace of innovation and scale even further, a press release published on Yahoo Finance says. Under the renewed contract, the parties will continue to collaborate on several key initiatives that will include leveraging Google Cloud's advancements in Data, AI, and ML to further elevate Digital Turbine's capabilities and modernize the companys existing platforms, reduce operational complexity, and optimize processes. The SADA Armenia team of Google Cloud-certified experts was also involved in the work with Digital Turbine. Overall, SADA employs eight Google Certified Fellows, a program that recognizes individuals with deep technical expertise who can translate business requirements into technical solutions using Anthos and Google Cloud. SADA is proud to be Digital Turbine's trusted advisor and partner on their cloud transformation journey. We've worked collaboratively with their teams to help take their business to the next level while exceeding their business goals, said Miles Ward, Chief Technology Officer at SADA. Our engineering team in Armenia is delighted to collaborate with Digital Turbine. We are actively operating as a global service center, extending support to organizations worldwide as they adopt Google Cloud," stated Syuzanna Azoyan, Director of Operations at SADA Armenia. "Google Cloud and SADA have been key partners in our ongoing mission to elevate the mobile ecosystem with new technologies and experiences," said Senthil Kumaran, Chief Technology Officer at Digital Turbine. "I am confident that our collaboration will help elevate capabilities that will enable Android app developers to reach more users - and continue to grow." SADA is a company founded by Armenians living in the US Hovig and Annie Safoian. In 2021 SADA opened a Global Delivery Center (GDC) in Yerevan which is serving the companys global customers. SADAs Google Cloud ecosystem experts specialise in delivering solutions tailored to unique businesses and industries at any stage of their cloud journey. Regional businesses can use most of the opportunity to migrate to the cloud with the support of SADA Armenia and leverage all the advantages of the Google Cloud to accelerate application development, power productivity, and collaboration, and use data to sharpen their competitive edge. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Russia on Monday said it would analyze why Armenia decided to conduct military exercises with the United States and not the CSTO. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would maintain dialogue with Yerevan over the issue. Taking into consideration how Armenia did not express desire to hold military exercises with CSTO and has now announced desire to hold military exercises with the Americans, these are perhaps decisions that require very deep analysis to understand why specifically Armenia is making such decisions, what goals are being pursued, Peskov said. But in any case, we will do this during close, collegial dialogue with the Armenian side, he added. Armenia will host the Eagle Partner 2023 joint Armenian-U.S. military exercise from September 11-20. "In the framework of preparation for participation in international peacekeeping missions the Armenia-U.S. joint exercise "EAGLE PARTNER 2023" will be held from 11 to 20 September in Armenia, particularly in "Zar" Training Center of the Peacekeeping Brigade and the N Training Center of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement last week. The exercise involves stabilization tasks between conflicting parties during peacekeeping missions. The purpose of the exercise is to increase the level of interoperability of the unit participating in international peacekeeping missions within the framework of peacekeeping operations, to exchange best practices in control and tactical communication, as well as to increase the readiness of the Armenian unit for the planned NATO/PfP "Operational Capabilities Concept" evaluation. Within the framework of preparation for peacekeeping missions, units preparing for international peacekeeping operations frequently participate in similar joint exercises and trainings in partner countries, according to the statement issued by the Defense Ministry. I cannot resist this postscript to my 7,000-word manifesto, in the current American Scholar, about the South Dakota Symphony. If you happen to watch the live-stream [embedded above] of their Shostakovich 7 concert, with its 40-minute preamble, you will discover at the end an expression of pride and accomplishment the likes of which I have never before witnessed at a professional symphonic concert. It more resembles the incredulous thrill experienced by gifted conservatory instrumentalists communally discovering a great piece of music. Nothing is pro forma about this SDSO demonstration it gathers force as Delta David Gier invites members of the orchestra to stand in turn. At 1:54:58, you will see Yi-Chun Lin, the longtime SDSO principal violist, pump her arms when her section is acknowledged. And no wonder: just listen, at 1:28:00, to how magnificently these seven players sing this symphonys most beautiful song. For that matter: at 1:31:32 there is a place in the slow movement that demands maximum commitment if Shostakovichs sprawling Adagio is to retain shape: the entire string choir, unsupported by winds, recapitulates the main chorale theme fortissimo. The South Dakota players clinch this fulcrum moment. And listen to Gier and his orchestra clinch the symphonys titanic ending, beginning at 1:48. On October 28, the South Dakota Symphony presents the most formidable of all American concertos: Lou Harrisons, for piano and orchestra. The performance, with Emanuele Arciuli, will be preceded by a thirty-minute scripted introduction with film. Ancillary concerts will be heard on three university campuses. (You can sample Arciulis beautiful performance of the Harrison concerto with Dennis Russell Davies and the Leipzig Radio Orchestra on my More than Music Lou Harrison tribute on NPR.) Most American orchestras do not even know this music exists. A five-judge Constitution bench unanimously held that its 2014 verdict would have a retrospective effect NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Central government officers at the rank of joint secretary and above can be investigated and prosecuted in corruption cases without requiring prior approval from authorities, and this rule applies retrospectively from September 11, 2003. A five-judge Constitution bench, led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, unanimously held that its 2014 verdict, which had invalidated a provision of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 that provided immunity to such officers in corruption cases, would have a retrospective effect. The top court clarified that the 2014 judgment would take effect from September 11, 2003, the date when section 6(A) of the DSPE Act, which pertained to the Central government's approval for conducting inquiries or investigations, was inserted into the DSPE Act. In its May 2014 judgment, the Supreme Court had declared Section 6A(1) of the Act invalid and noted that the protection in Section 6A had the potential to shield corrupt officials. On Monday, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on whether striking down the immunity-granting provision would apply retroactively, considering the rights protected under Article 20 of the Constitution, which provides protection regarding convictions for offences. "The declaration made by the Constitution bench (in May 2014) in the case of Subramanian Swamy will have retrospective operation. Section 6(A) of the DSPE Act is held to be not in force from the date of its insertion, that is September 11, 2003," said the bench, which also included Justices Sanjiv Khanna, A.S. Oka, Vikram Nath, and J.K. Maheshwari. Justice Nath, while pronouncing the verdict, outlined three key questions considered by the bench: whether Section 6 (A) of the DSPE Act forms part of the procedure or introduces a conviction or sentence; whether Article 20 (1) of the Constitution is relevant in the context of declaring Section 6 (A) of the DSPE Act unconstitutional; and whether the declaration of Section 6 (A) of the DSPE Act as unconstitutional and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution would apply retroactively or prospectively. Justice Nath concluded that Section 6(A) of the DSPE Act only constitutes a procedural protection for senior government servants and does not establish a new offence or sentence. He clarified that Article 20 (1) of the Constitution has no applicability to the validity or invalidity of Section 6 (A) of the DSPE Act. The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on this issue on November 2 of the previous year. In March 2016, a two-judge bench of the apex court had referred the matter to a larger bench. The issue arose during the Supreme Court's consideration of an appeal against a Delhi High Court order. The High Court had issued the order while hearing a plea by a man, the chief district medical officer, who was accused of demanding a bribe and was arrested by the CBI. The individual had challenged his arrest on the grounds that it was pre-planned and did not fall under the exception provided in Section 6A(2) of the DSPE Act, which states that prior approval is not required if an arrest is made on the spot while accepting or attempting to receive a bribe. The High Court had directed the CBI to seek the Union government's approval for a fresh investigation in the case. During Biden's visit, Vietnam announced a historic strategic partnership with the United States almost 50 years after the Vietnam War. Since 2017, many big tech companies have left China in favour of its communist neighbour in Southeast Asia, investing in semiconductors and electric vehicles, which are also growing domestically. However, it would be wrong to assume that Vietnam is moving away politically from China. Hanoi (AsiaNews) Vietnam announced a strategic partnership with the United States during the visit of US President Joe Biden to Hanoi aimed at peace, cooperation and sustainable development". The agreement highlights the evolving US-Vietnamese relationship almost 50 years after the end of the war in Vietnam, as well as Vietnams progress in recent years in becoming a technological hub at Chinas expense, especially in semiconductors, electric cars, and products related to artificial intelligence. Trade tensions between China and the United States have led to the reallocation of supply chains at least since 2017, but driven further during the pandemic as a result of Chinas strict "zero COVID" policies. Last year big tech firms like Apple, Google and Samsung started to move production to Vietnam, which, in addition to being close to China, offers cheap labour and a stable political environment thanks to the countrys one-party communist regime. The United States has become, the Southeast Asian nation's second-largest trading partner after China. This morning, Biden and representatives of major US companies attended the Vietnam-US Innovation & Investment Summit with their Vietnamese counterparts, centred on setting up and expanding factories and facilities for assembling, packaging, and testing of microchips. Agreements have also been signed in aviation and artificial intelligence, while companies like Microsoft, Nvidia, Marvell and Amkor have pledged significant investments as a way to reduce their reliance on China. Amkor plans to open, for example, a new US$ 1.6 billion semiconductor manufacturing plant next month near Hanoi. Intel has invested US$ 1.5 billion in a chip assembly plant in the south of the country, its largest in the world, which could be expanded in the future, it is reported. The semiconductor market is expected to grow to $US 165.7 billion million by 2027 in Vietnam. This is driven by the growth of smartphone use in the country, currently at 61.3 million, but expected to expand further thanks to wider use in suburban and rural areas. The Vietnamese government has also given top priority to the development of the 5G network. Currently, about 40 different brands of mobile phones are exported from Vietnam, including devices made for giants like Sony and Samsung. One of the main challenges, experts point out, is the lack of skilled labour, a problem that might be solved through the agreements with the United States. The electric car sector is also booming. In mid-August VinFast Auto Ltd, Vietnam's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, became a publicly traded company in the United States; after the first day, it was worth about US billion, far more than Ford (US$ 48 billion) and General Motors (US$ 46 billion). The company's founder, Pham Nhat Vuong, Vietnams wealthiest man, said he hopes his car can compete soon with Elon Musk's Tesla, the market leader. Established in 2017, VinFast is part of the Vingroup, the largest conglomerate in Vietnam. At present, it is the only exporter of vehicles from Vietnam. Since late last year, it has shipped about 3,000 vehicles to North America, but has yet to make any profits. It is now looking to boost its electric vehicle penetration in Vietnam's ride-hailing sector through discounts and no-interest loans on motorbikes, this in a country with 70 million gas-fuelled motorbikes that could be replaced by electric ones. Meanwhile, China is closely monitoring these developments. For a couple of days, hundreds of lorries carrying bananas, durians and dragon fruits from Vietnam bound for China were held up at the border, ostensibly for quality checks, Vietnamese authorities said. The fact that they were stopped during US President Joe Biden's visit to Hanoi suggests that more than quality control was involved, especially since China is Vietnams largest export market for agricultural products. Since the 1990s, Hanoi has pursued a policy of friendship with all countries in the international community struggling for peace, independence, and development; to this end, it has concluded strategic partnerships with South Korea, Australia and Singapore to resist Chinese aggressiveness in the South China Sea, Nevertheless, China remains Vietnams largest trading partner. Chinese companies have heavily invested in Vietnam in the last 10 years, using it as a platform to access the US market. It would thus be wrong, analysts warn, to hastily conclude that it is moving away politically from China. Instead, like many other Southeast Asian countries, Vietnam is using US-Sino tensions to boost its own interests and economy. Internet drama about lost artifacts touches Chinese netizens People's Daily Online) 13:31, September 11, 2023 A three-episode Chinese internet drama, "Escape from the British Museum, has gone viral on social media platforms in China, sparking widespread discussions online and striking an emotional chord nationwide. Adopting the expression technique of personification, the fantasy series depicts an ancient Chinese artifact, a jade teapot, coming to life and taking on the form of a young woman who tries to escape from the British Museum to return home to China with the help of a Chinese journalist she meets in London. A screenshot from the Chinese internet drama, Escape from the British Museum. In the climactic finale, she fulfills her mission of delivering letters from Chinese artifacts separated from their pairs. Although she has long yearned to return home, the jade teapot goes back to the British Museum after completing her mission, as she doesn't want to flee to her home this way. "Everyone says we are from a great country, and we Chinese don't do things covertly. They believe someday we will come home in a glorious and dignified way," she explains to the Chinese journalist, who is named Zhang Yong'an. The name means lasting peace in Chinese. Details in the short video series, such as Chinese characters written with ink brush on English newspapers, and conversations between personified artifacts, moved many to tears. Photo shows a Chinese jade teapot, which is featured and personified as the main character in the Chinese internet drama, "Escape from the British Museum. In the drama, it transforms into a female human form in her quest to escape the British Museum. (Photo/CCTV News) The thing about the drama that touches netizens the most is the artifacts' desire to go home. Many viewers commented online that they hope artifacts scattered around the world will return to China "gloriously and aboveboard." In reality, China has been working for decades to recover its lost antiquities scattered worldwide. Estimates show that China has lost about 15 million artifacts, with 10 percent illegally smuggled abroad. Between 1949 and 2019, China recovered 150,000 pieces of artifacts in more than 300 batches through purchases, donations, and claims. In recent years, more lost Chinese artifacts have returned home, thanks to the persistent efforts of various parties. Photo shows Zilong ding, a three-legged bronze vessel from China's Shang Dynasty (around 1600 B.C.- 1046 B.C.). (Photo/National Museum of China) These items include "Zilong" ding, a three-legged bronze vessel from the Shang Dynasty (around 1600 B.C.- 1046 B.C.); the Bronze Tiger Ying, a bronze vessel looted from Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace; Minfanglei, a large ritualistic wine vessel from the Shang Dynasty; and painted stone reliefs of warriors unearthed from the tomb of Wang Chuzhi, a military governor who lived during the Five Dynasties (907 A.D. -960 A.D.). With growing public support and technological assistance for searches, prospects for recovering China's lost treasures are improving. Visitors view the vessel known as the Bronze Tiger Ying at the National Museum of China in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2019. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) In November 2017, the Stolen (Lost) Cultural Relics Information Publishing Platform of China was officially launched, increasing the chances of bringing lost artifacts home. Photo shows Minfanglei, a large ritualistic wine vessel from China's Shang Dynasty (around 1600 B.C.- 1046 B.C.). (Photo/CCTV financial and economic channel) Photo shows painted stone reliefs of warriors unearthed from the tomb of Wang Chuzhi, a military governor who lived during the Five Dynasties (907 A.D. -960 A.D.) in China. (Photo/Chinanews.com) (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) (Photo : Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned of a potential "financial tsunami" amid the migrant crisis that has been exacerbated by hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers. New York City Mayor Eric Adams doubled down on his warning that the Big Apple will be struck by a "financial tsunami" amid the raging migrant crisis that he says could "destroy" Gotham. Adams' remarks were made during an interview on Sunday, where he predicted that the fiscal disaster would force women and their children to be housed with single men. He warned that the situation would threaten public safety. The mayor's statements come just a few days after a violent scuffle between police authorities and migrants during a crackdown on illegal scooters. Eric Adams Warns of Financial Tsunami The NYC mayor also said that United States President Joe Biden must forcefully push for additional border control. He said this should include a "stay in place" order for migrants in Mexico until they "are allowed entry." This is opposed to illegally crossing the US southern border and claiming asylum. Adams noted that he had to be honest with New York residents about what they should expect to experience due to the migrant crisis. As per the New York Post, he warned of a financial tsunami that the city has never experienced before. He added that New York City is not a utopia and cannot manage 10,000 people a month with no end in sight. Adams said such a situation cannot be allowed to happen because it would undermine the entire city and its people. The mayor also refused to back off his controversial claim last week that the migrant crisis will destroy the city. He argued that all services within the region will be affected due to the estimated cost of addressing the issue, which is expected to reach $12 billion over the next three years. Adams said that every service in the city would be impacted by the crisis, including child service, seniors, and housing plans. The mayor added that migrants would experience the long-term impact of not getting proper treatment. Read Also: Biden Admin Accused of Persuading Socmed Giants to Violate Free Speech Worsening Migrant Crisis The situation has caused several major U.S. cities to struggle with the influx of asylum seekers who have filled homeless shelters. According to Fox News, after the Biden administration introduced a new set of restrictions in May, illegal border crossings fell sharply. However, the numbers are on the rise once more, exacerbated by families with children coming into the country. Preliminary data from US Customs and Border Protection showed that in August, officials experienced the busiest month ever for apprehensions for migrant families crossing the border with children from Mexico. Adams previously warned that agency heads must cut their budgets by roughly 15% by next spring to compensate for increasing asylum-seeker costs. The cuts, considered the largest in recent history, are liable to generate outrage from city lawmakers, the institutional left, and commissioners. The warnings also appeared to double as a pressure campaign aimed at Albany and the federal government to urge them to help with the influx of more than 100,000 migrants since last year, said Politico. Related Article: Gavin Newsom Defends Dianne Feinstein Amid Calls To Replace State Democrat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Malankara metropolitan is received at the Vatican. Based in Kerala, his Christian community traces its origins to Saint Thomas and is linked to the Syriac Orthodox Church. The pontiff expressed hope that ecumenism would bring more shared pastoral life, especially where Christians are a minority. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis met this morning in the Vatican with Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The audience was an important ecumenical event with the head of Indias largest Orthodox community. The Church traces its origins to the preaching of the Apostle Thomas in modern-day India. Since then, it has remained closely linked to the Syriac Orthodox Church Here you are at home, as a beloved and long-awaited brother," Pope Francis said as he welcomed the 74-year-old Indian prelate, who has led his community since 2021. The community is based in the Indian state of Kerala but is also found among overseas Indian communities. In his address, the pontiff mentioned the ecumenical journey undertaken by the two Churches, starting with Vatican Council II (attended by Syro-Malankara observers) and the historic first meeting between a pope and a Syro-Malankara catholicos, in 1964 when Paul VI met with Baselios Augen I, as part of the pontiffs historic visit to Mumbai (then called Bombay). Citing the communitys roots in the preaching of the Apostle Thomas, the pope mentioned the famous profession of faith "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 20:28) after the Resurrection of Jesus. Speaking about the 1700th anniversary of the first Ecumenical Council, that of Nicaea in 2025, Francis expressed hope that the two Churches can celebrate together their undivided faith. The pope went to say that Christians should learn from Thomas how to face the "painful injuries inflicted on the Body of Christ, which is the Church" by divisions among Christians. "If we put our hands together on these wounds," he said; "if, like the apostle, we proclaim together that Jesus is our Lord and our God; if, with humble hearts, we entrust ourselves in wonder to His grace, we can hasten the long-awaited day when, with His help, we shall celebrate the Paschal Mystery at the same altar. In view of this, Pope Francis praised the acts of "pastoral collaboration" performed in Kerala "for the spiritual good of the people of God. The pontiff cited in particular, "the agreements of 2010 on the shared use of places of worship and cemeteries, as well as on the possibility for the faithful to receive the anointing of the sick, in certain circumstances, in either Church. "Ecumenism always has a pastoral character," he explained. Indeed, it is by going forward fraternally in the proclamation of the Gospel and in the actual care of the faithful that we can recognise ourselves as one flock of Christ on a journey. "In this sense, I hope that pastoral agreements between our Churches, which share the same apostolic heritage, can be extended and boosted, especially in contexts where the faithful find themselves in a minority or diasporic situation. Lastly, the pope expressed his joy at the fact that a fraternal delegate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will also participate in the upcoming Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Catholic Church, which will open in Rome on 4 October. "I am convinced that we can learn much from the centuries-old synodal experience of your Church Francis said. In fact, the ecumenical movement is contributing to the ongoing synodal process of the Catholic Church, and I hope the synodal process can in turn contribute to the ecumenical movement. Indeed, "Synodality and ecumenism are two paths that go together, sharing the same goal, that of communion, which means a better witness by Christians so that the world may believe. The countrys parliament is set to vet a controversial bill by the Information Ministry. Experts view it as a step backward for a country that guarantees more freedoms than other Gulf region states. If adopted, the bill would ban criticising top officials, including the crown prince. Kuwait City (AsiaNews) Kuwaits Information Ministry has proposed a media bill that would outlaw criticism of top officials, sparking controversy and anger among critics who see it as an attempt to stifle freedom of information and violate human rights. If adopted, such a law would mark a major step backward for the Gulf country, which enjoys at present the highest degree of freedom compared to other countries in the region, like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where media are under tighter controls. Several Kuwaiti media have given wide coverage to the draft law, which aims to ban any form of criticism of high-level officials. Many Kuwaitis have reacted to the bill with anger and disdain, fearing a possible crackdown on individual rights in one of the most open countries in the region. Some Kuwaiti MPs have also slammed it as a "violation of democracy" and an attempt to "silence and intimidate" citizens. "There should be no prison sentence for an opinion," lawmaker Saud Alasfoor posted on X (ex-twitter). As one of the world's largest oil producers, Kuwait has a vibrant political life by the standards of a region that is largely conservative, where public debate and forms of dissent are kept under tight control by ruling families. Yet, despite its active National Assembly, the country has often been gripped by political stalemate with major battles between the executive and legislative branches of government. The latter is normally appointed by the ruling emir, and hung parliaments have often been dissolved for fresh elections. Under the bill, several new restrictions would be implemented, including a ban on criticising the crown prince, Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah; currently, only the emir, Kuwaits ruler, was above criticism. If the law passes, it would be virtually impossible to criticise or enquiry into members of the political elite, many of whom have been accused of corruption or mismanagement by civil society groups and are not forthcoming with respect to the proposed legislation. Despite its reputation as an open society, many journalists, politicians and activists have been imprisoned in Kuwait over the years for insulting the emir. The latest study by Reporters without Borders (RsF) ranks Kuwait 154th out of 180 countries in the world for press freedom. Although it is better than most of the other Gulf states, the emirate is still far from ideal with parliament set to discuss the bill shortly, with a strong possibility of a major blow to media freedom. "We ask that authorities [to] stop deterring journalists with legal proceedings... and prevent any infringement upon the work and liberty of journalists," said Jonathan Dagher, head of the Middle East desk at RsF. Independent media such as Manshoor, a digital magazine founded in Kuwait 10 years ago with the aim of setting a new standard for independent Gulf journalism, are especially at risk. Addressing taboo issues like sexual violence and the rights of women or migrant workers, it represents a rare voice in the region's media landscape, dominated by groups linked to oil-rich monarchies in Qatar or Saudi Arabia. Recent articles in the newspaper have exposed the lack of police support and advocacy for women victims of sexual violence and the risk of traffic accidents involving food delivery drivers. One article criticised the government's inflated claims about progress in renewable energy, while climate change is turning one of the hottest countries on earth into a furnace. Compared to neighbouring countries, we have more freedom," said Mohammad Almutawa, Manshoor's lead editor. Still, censorship has been rising in the country in recent years, he acknowledged. "We try to maintain impartiality and objectivity, he explained, while giving the freedom to think and make their own decisions. Kuwait has a population of about 4.4 million, most of them expatriates, who cannot vote and are not likely to obtain Kuwaiti citizenship. The first Parliament was elected in 1963, two years after independence from the United Kingdom on 19 June 1961. The emirate, the first Arab country to adopt a constitution in 1962, remains politically unstable, and this has held back its economic development. Oil exports represent 90 per cent of the governments revenues, favouring corruption, with conflict between the government and parliament leading to long periods of political deadlock. by Vladimir Rozanskij A flurry of cascading appointments announced abruptly on social media. Health Minister who wanted to treat the Coronavirus with herbal infusions in open dispute with local medical luminaries and the deputy who wanted a law against fake news identical to Moscow's regain posts. Bishkek (AsiaNews) - The political turbulence of Kyrgyzstan has once again been made evident by a small earthquake at the government level, which some ministers and high officials unexpectedly paid the price for. Without any prior inkling, on the morning of September 7th it appeared on social networks that Talantbek Imanov had left the position of Minister of Digital Development, and some other rather surprising replacements were made known as a result. The information in this regard was not immediately confirmed at the official level, and only the following day it became known that Imanov had been sent to replace the director of the National Investment Agency at the Presidency, Nurie Kutnaeva, who in turn had been transferred to the Ministry of Finance as director of the "Centre for Electronic Cooperation" with the provisional status of "acting". The necessary approval by the Zogorku Kenes, the parliament of Bishkek, was evidently only a formality left to later times. As soon as he took office, Imanov immediately replaced the operational director Umbriel Temiraliev, responsible for external investments, also with the formula of "transfer to another function", although it is not known what this is. It should be noted that Imanov had recently become quite well known to the public for his relations with Alexei Sirsov, a key figure in the corruption scandals in the energy sphere. The Minister of Education and Science, Kanybek Imanaliev (in office only since February), was then also transferred to another position, with the explanation of "inadequate compliance with the professional functions assigned to him". The specific cause of this decision was not explained, although it is assumed that it may be linked to the resonance due to the shortage of school textbooks that occurred when students returned to classrooms. It's not actually a new problem, but complaints about it have been much more widespread this year. His deputy Ulanbek Usekov was appointed in his place. Instead, Alykmadyr Bejsenaliev, known for his original and somewhat questionable initiatives, such as the idea of treating the coronavirus with infusions of weeds such as poisonous aconite, has returned to occupy the post of health minister. He was appointed in October 2020, to leave the position at the end of summer 2022, after a tense fight with some luminaries of Kyrgyz medicine, such as Sabyrbek Dzumabekov and Almazbek Ismankulov, and the director of the national cardiology center Akpaj Sarybaev, who he dismissed on the spot together with other authoritative scientists, even boasting of "having killed a hundred". Seven proceedings were opened against him for abuse of office, all of which ended in vain, as he returned to the ministry after a year spent directing a rehabilitation center for disabled children. However, her temporary replacement, Gulnara Baatyrova, was not left without a job, moving to the position of Minister of Labor and Migration, parallel to that of health. Her chair was left to her by Kudajbergen Bazarbaev, he is in search of better luck. The appointment of former MP Gyulsat Asylbaeva as head of the Anti-Monopoly Service of the Ministry of Economy and Trade also caused a certain stir, after having resigned due to the strong reactions against her proposed law against fake news, copied by the similar one in Russia and approved with rather impositional methods by the Zogorku Kenes in 2021. One of the tools with which the power system led by the president controls free information in Kyrgyzstan, a restless land of political upheavals and ministerial carousels. by Melani Manel Perera After Channel 4's expose calling former President Rajapaksa into question, the successor commissioned a committee headed by a former Supreme Court judge to review all information. But Card. Ranjith for an international inquiry into the massacres. Skepticism from victims' committees, "It will only serve to cover up the truth again." Colombo (AsiaNews) - In response to the revelations of the British broadcaster Channel 4, the president of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the establishment of a committee, led by a retired Supreme Court judge, which will have the task of carrying out a reconnaissance complete with all the open information relating to the Easter 2019 attacks. The main mission will be to investigate the serious accusations brought to light by the documentary broadcast a week ago, which implicated some officials close to former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who allegedly facilitated the organization of the attacks to create a climate that would pave the way for his election. Rajapaksa strongly rejected the accusations of any involvement in the massacres which caused the death of 269 people including 8 British citizens, defining the documentary as a simple invective against his political legacy. But his successor Wickremesinghe still recognizes the need for a more thorough investigation. "He showed his availability of him - some human rights activists commented to AsiaNews - but he still did not accept the request for an international investigation", which had also been requested by the archbishop of Colombo, Card. Malcolm Ranjith. And the Ministry of Defense has already released a statement in which it is excluded that "any terrorist involved in the Easter 2019 attacks has ever been on the government's payroll". According to the president's office, the new committee will present two new reports to Parliament, along with existing ones to provide legislators with a complete understanding of the situation, paving the way for new actions. However, it should be remembered that 113 out of 225 parliamentarians still belong to the SLPP, Rajapaksa's party. All police and secret service officials who are under investigation for this matter and who currently hold positions should be suspended immediately, the card had written. Ranjith in a note released the day after the documentary, reiterating that the investigations carried out so far have not been adequate. Without a transparent and sincere investigation, there will be no truth and no justice will be done - the archbishop of Colombo continues -. We don't believe in mere promises, we need absolutely independent, transparent and internationally monitored actions." Deep skepticism was expressed to AsiaNews by a citizens' committee from Colombo and Negombo, the places where the massacres took place. What this president is going to do once again is to protect his friends without resorting to independent foreign bodies. He only wants to ensure their safety and survival through political power." The Fryingpan River is pictured on Friday at Basalt. River flows have backed off of their August high and are now at normal levels. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. In 2023, the German motorcycle manufacturer introduced the new premium mid-range touring enduro motorcycles, including the BMW F 900 GS, F 900 GS Adventure, and F 800 GS, that delivered pure riding fun due to more sophisticated off-road, adventure, and touring capabilities. The BMW F 900 GS packed many innovations and featured an extended range of use thanks to its off-road capabilities and a 14 kg (31 lbs) weight reduction compared to its predecessor, making it a sporty machine. The motorcycle was built on a bridge-type frame made of steel sheet parts holding the engine and using it as a supporting element. It packed a new plastic fuel tank that saved 4.5 kg (10 lbs) of weight compared to the steel one used previously. Also, the rear end was redesigned and offered a more dynamic look as well as 2.4 kg (5 lbs) weight saving. In the aesthetic department, the bike packed standard features, such as an upper front fairing, a small windscreen, a one-piece dual seat, an Akrapovic exhaust system, a side stand, and lightweight wire-spoke wheels. The 2023 machine featured two riding modes as standard, Rain and Road, ABS Pro, and Ducati Traction Control (DTC). In addition, the bike was available with optional features, such as a Pro riding mode with two additional modes, Dynamic Brake Control (DBC) and an engine drag control system. The 2023 BMW F 900 GS had installed underneath its fuel tank an 895cc four-stroke two-cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivered an output power of 105 hp at 8,500 rpm and 94 Nm (69 lb-ft) torque at 6,750 rpm. What could be the common denominator of the following American public figures: a five-star Army General, a president, a vice president, a billionaire, a Hollywood emblem, and an architect? The answer is perhaps not at all surprisingly a carspecifically, a Crosley automobile, like the one starring in this story. Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Photo: YouTube/WD Detailing Omar Bradley, Dwight Eisenhower, Nelson Rockefeller, Humphrey Bogart, and Frank Lloyd Wright are some of the most notable owners of this quirky brand of forgotten automobiles. If you punch Crosley in a search engine, the answer most likely to top the list of suggestions is the Crosley household appliance website. And nostalgic readers will remember the days when the Crosley Shelvador refrigerator the first cold food storage unit for domestic use to have door shelves.Alternatively, audiophiles will raise an eyebrow upon hearing the names of their vintage record players or turntables. And the word has other historical echoes the first affordable in-car radio in the U.S. was a Crosley brand. The first cheap radio for domestic use in America was the Harko built by the same Crosley company.Powel Crosley Jr. was a businessman with vast intentions and great success the federal government would appoint his Cincinnati, Ohio, radio broadcasting station to make the Voice of America heard all over the world during the heat of World War II.So its not exactly a far-fetched idea that the corporation would try its hand at making automobiles and one of them is featured in the attached video from WD Detailing YouTube Channel. Crosley Motors introduced the first 60 mpg compact vehicle to the American public in 1939.Like all other auto manufacturers in the United States of Automobile, Crosley shut down civilian production to support the war effort it was the last car company to make that switch at the end of February 1942.After the world got back to its regular program, Crosley expanded its offer of cars but America was not interested in the diminutive vehicles with refrigerator badges on them. Nevertheless, the Crosley cars would be manufactured in small numbers, truth be told until one day before the Fourth of July fireworks of 1952.Although the Crosley automobiles like many of the corporations other products were advanced in concept and technology, they lacked the appeal the Detroit giants cast upon their cars. The Crosleys were small one might say very small cars, as we can see in the video.A wheelbase of 80 inches (2,032 mm) separates the two solid-beam axles. Bumper to bumper, the Crosley Super Station Wagon measures 148.25 inches (3,765 mm) and is just 57 inches tall and 50 inches wide (1,448 mm and 1,270 mm, respectively).To add to this already fatal flaw, they were equally underpowered (although, mathematically, they werent. More on this in a moment). This particular 1951 station wagon can carry four adults and their respective luggage. Or, more accurately put, it could do this trick when it ran on its power. Which, as I stated earlier, wasnt impressive at all: 27 hp from a 44 cubic-inch inline-four.Thats not a typo, but the actual motor displacement: 721 CCs one fluid ounce under three-quarters of a liter produced 33 lb-ft (45 Nm). This home-appliance-like performance was going to a three-speed manual gearbox before putting some spin on the rear wheels.The above numbers are more commonly associated with lawnmowers or ceiling fans. Still, the cars overall weight of just 636 kg / 1,402 lbs meant that the power-to-weight ratio was on the same level as the big cars America was buying.Believe it or not (but please do), Crosley introduced the disc brakes to the U.S. public in 1949. What it did not present, however, was modernity and creature comforts . Dont think of plush interiors or some high-tech like an in-car record player settle for something more commonplace, like rolling windows.As we can see, the car in the video has sliding sheets of glass at the back. And what do you think of the instrumentation? A highly optimist 70-mph (113 kph) speedometer, the odometer, and the usual gauges fuel, amps, water, oil are all the engine feedback the driver of a 1951 Crosley Super Station Wagon gets.The tiny Crosley didnt bat an eyelid compared to other proper cars of the era: the hood ornament a diving eagle is luxury-car-sized, and the grille propeller is a very cool albeit useless feature. It adorned the front end of Crosley wagons from 1950 until the companys demise in 1952.It serves no practical purpose, but it is a subtle reference to the Moonbeam airplanes five of them in total built by Crosley in 1929 before the Big Depression cut the wings off his ambitions (pun intended).The yellow woodie we see taking its first bath in many years has a curious particularity the odometer reads just 8,600 miles (some 13,900 km). However, it appears that the car has had more than one repaint during its 72-year history, which begs the question of body originality (or perhaps a rollover service record).Another exciting feature of the Crosley is the overhead camshaft engine the first mass-produced motor (think of an order of magnitude of tens of thousands) in American cars to have this architecture. And, in a cynical twist of irony, the company that earned its name and fame in the radio-making and broadcasting business equipped its cars with Motorola, Philco, or Zenith receivers but not Crosley units.The reason is simple: Powel Crosley sold the radio company before starting the motorcar enterprise. After striking gold twice with the radio and refrigerator businesses, Powel Crosley had to admit defeat in the auto world. The small independent maker did not survive the attrition war against the ever-growing dominance of General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler and eventually faded away into history, like all the other car companies outside the Big Three cartel. President Joe Biden met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu today on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India to reinforce our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to the longstanding friendship between our two countries and peoples. READ ALSO: Indiana Resident Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison on Charges of Violating Federal Narcotics Laws President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administration's steps to reform Nigeria's economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region. Nigeria's invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigeria's important global role as Africa's largest democracy and economy. READ MORE: Statement from President Joe Biden on Protecting Arctic Lands and Wildlife in Alaska @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Most of the world has already entered the autumn months, and for most of us that means a drastic change in routine compared to what happened in the summer: kids are returning to school, work becomes more intensive, and there's a lot of preparing to do for winter. Thunderbird shows eagle-etched underbelly Photo: USAF/Staff Sgt. Breanna Klemm Aggressors in the sky Photo: USAF/Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten Lightning on the ground Photo: USAF/Senior Airman Leon Redfern USAF's people favorite pastime Photo: USAF/Staff Sgt. Abbey Rieves Jumping out of perfectly fine aircraft Photo: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Devin Boyer There are some people however for whom the routine will not change: the men and women working for the U.S. Air Force. For them, it's business as usual, with a lot of training to be routinely performed so that humans and machines are always ready for conflicts that may or may not come.The Air Force will also continue to conduct its weekly release of photos of amazing humans and machines in action as it looks to always expand the reach of its activities and draw more people into its ranks.For the first week of fall the USAF treated us to images of fighter jets, transport planes, and even aerobatics teams, but we kind of feel this latest release is all about humans. Or, more specifically, humans jumping out of perfectly fine aircraft, or casually dangling their feet out the rear of one.You can enjoy the most amazing photos of USAF units in action in the lines below.The Thunderbirds are the official cool team of the USAF. Established in 1953 (which is exactly 70 years ago), this crew of talented pilots is presently flying a squad of F-16 Fighting Falcons for the enjoyment of people all around the world. And they usually make the headlines in the Air Force releases.On this occasion we get to see one of the team's F-16s as it performs a banked left turn during the Cleveland National Air Show in Ohio at the beginning of the month. The maneuver leaves the underbelly of the plane completely exposed to the crowds below, displaying the entire might of the shape of an eagle etched on the skin.The Thunderbirds outing in Ohio was an important one, because even if the air show season began long ago, this was the first time the Thunderbirds performed during a three-day event this year.September will see the team travel to another four shows, with an equal number of such events to benefit from their presence in October. The 2023 season ends in November in Florida.Fighting against mock adversaries is one of the pillars of the USAF's pilot training program, and often time that means taking on American pilots flying American planes that try to mimic the nation's most vicious enemies.The USAF has dedicated crews tasked with playing the role of bad guys during training. They're called Aggressor Squadrons , and have been around since the 1970s. These guys are flying America's most modern aircraft (sometimes painted in the colors of enemy aircraft) trying to mimic the tactics of enemy pilots from Russia and elsewhere in a bid to get pilots ready for a potential confrontation.The image we have here shows two F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed with the 18th Aggressor Squadron out of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. They do not wear the colors of the USAF, but different paint jobs as they attempt to simulate enemy aircraft.The pic was snapped back in mid-August during the Red Flag 23-3 exercise which took place over the world's largest military training range, the Joint Pacific-Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) in Alaska.Despite being the youngest fighter airplane in the U.S. arsenal, the F-35 Lightning II is a constant presence in our lives. Flying in the service of both America's and allied nations' military, the F-35 is also a constant presence in the USAF weekly photo releases.Two of them are seen here taxiing on the runway of the Al Udeid Air Base last week, during an outing of the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. They were not getting ready for some exercise, but an actual patrol mission.We're told these two planes went on to fly over the Strait of Hormuz (separating the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman) on a monitoring mission. They were not alone up there, as they were joined by an undisclosed number of A-10 Thunderbolts and F-16 Fighting Falcons for the mission at hand.We're no strangers to seeing American airmen and women spending time on the ramp of transport airplanes, even when they are open right in the middle of a flight. That doesn't mean we're not impressed at the sight any time we see it.At least four people working for the USAF are seen here right on the edge of an HC-130J Combat King aircraft as it flies over Louisville, Kentucky, during a mission of an undisclosed nature.The plane is deployed with the 79th Rescue Squadron and usually goes on combat search and rescue missions. To do that, it often needs its people to dangle their legs out the rear ramp, ready to jump at a moment's notice.For the purposes of these flights, the men and women doing this are almost always secured in place as to avoid accidents.The habit of humans jumping out of perfectly fine airborne machines and gear dates back to the 1700s, when Benjamin Franklin started dreaming of soldiers dropping from balloons to take the enemy by surprise. In the years of the Second World War, true paratrooper units were formed, and that's how today we have people who do that for a living.The USAF doesn't treat us all that often with images of paratroopers , and that's why we always jump in excitement when we see such stills.The photo we have here shows a couple of soldiers deployed with the 165th Quartermaster Brigade Aerial Delivery Company-Airborne Det 1 as they leave a mid-flight MC-130J. One of the soldiers is captured right in the middle of opening their parachute, while the other, fresh out of the plane, seems to assume a cannonball position as they clear the ramp.The jumps were performed in mid-August in Doha, Qatar, during an airborne insertion exercise, jointly held by the U.S. Army and Qatar Joint Special Forces. An impressive sight, and that's why it made it to the top of this week's USAF photos list.Stay tuned next week to see what other great images the world's most powerful Air Force has to offer Stellantis wants all its brands to make the best possible use of the eCMP and CMP architectures. Predictably, their primary focus is on SUVs, which sell at higher volumes and also can have higher price tags, everything a carmaker wants to hear. After Jeep introduced the Avenger and Fiat presented the 600e, we were waiting for Alfa Romeo to have its B-segment electric SUV. CocheSpias obtained the first image of that car. Photo: via CocheSpias AWD ICE Photo: via CocheSpias SUV kWh WLTP People still call it the Brennero, but Jean-Philippe Imparato already denied that. In a chat with the guys from the 100 Bornes YouTube channel at the 2023 Brussels Auto Show, the Alfa Romeo CEO said that the brand would organize a poll for the alfisti to choose the best name for this new product. He expected that to happen by June, but that did not occur until now. Although the poll was postponed, the vehicle's development could not stop. The picture CocheSpias published confirms the new car's design is locked down.Although the Spanish website made the picture public with all necessary precautions not to tarnish its reputation, the new Alfa Romeo follows the same proportions we have seen in the Avenger and the 600e . CocheSpias said the images came from an Alfa Romeo graphic designer. Indeed, but the story is a bit more complicated than that.This artist published several images of the user interface (UI) and brand identity he created for Stellantis in his online portfolio. The problem is that the vehicle is yet to be presented, and he probably did not know about that or just forgot about it. CocheSpias must have found them or received a tip about them and published the files. A strong sign of how revealing the pictures were is that he already erased the images from his portfolio, which did not prevent them from being published worldwide. Thanks to this involuntary contributor, we know the right way to call the new car right now: Project 966. Hopefully, this slip will not cost the talented designer more than a reprimand.According to the artist, he worked in collaboration with the Alfa Romeo designers to create interfaces for three driving modes, each one linked to specific colors that relate to these setups. His work shows which modes he was talking about: Power (for high performance), Eco (for high efficiency), and Charge (to recover as much energy as possible). Some images reveal a vehicle with a battery pack, which confirms the 966 will be Alfa Romeo's first battery electric vehicle (BEV) . We can also see the single motor on the front axle in two pictures, which may disappoint the brand's fans who love RWD vehicles. Their best shot is thederivative that one of the images also discloses. The 966 could also have a derivative with an internal combustion engine () just like the Avenger but I suspect that will not happen in this case because of what Imparato told 100 Bornes.According to the Alfa Romeo CEO, he followed three steps to ensure the brand would survive. The first one was to make it profitable again. That was the only way to ensure it would have money to invest in new projects. The second is what he called "0 to 0:" going from zero electrified vehicles to zero emissions by 2027. Commenting on the Alfa Romeo fans who bash him for taking that route, Imparato praised the alfisti who understand his reasons. "If we are not capable of going electric by 2027, (Alfa Romeo) is dead." It's either that or no more Cuore Sportivo.The 966 gives the Italian brand a product in a very competitive segment. Small SUVs are market leaders in Europe and even Lexus decided to tackle it with the LBX. Imparato already pulled off something that was not imaginable just a few years ago: he led Alfa Romeo to the top of J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study (IQS) in the premium segment. In other words, it beat Porsche and Lexus to get there. For a company that helped the Italians coin the expression "Donne e motori: gioie e dolori" (women and engines, joy and pain), that is a remarkable achievement.With old automotive architectures, it was enough to compare a new car to what its brothers from other mothers offered. Ironically, the eCMP is so flexible that it makes it pretty difficult for the 966: even the wheelbase may change. For most of the small crossovers based on this platform, this measure is 2.56 meters (100.9 inches), but the Peugeot e-2008's wheelbase is 2.61 m (102.6 in). It is also the longest small electricunder Stellantis' umbrella, at 4.30 m (169.3 in). The shortest one is the Avenger, at 4.08 m (160.8 in), so this is the range where the Alfa Romeo 966 should fit in. However, even that is a risky bet with the eCMP.What we can say for sure about the new B-segment electric SUV is that it should have a 54-battery pack, withranges of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) in mixed cycles. The Avenger can run up to 550 km (340 mi) in the urban environment, which is a common trait for all BEVs: when they do not have to fight air resistance and keep highway speeds, their charges help them run much longer.At this point, we should ask whether Alfa Romeo will still ask alfisti to choose a name for the 966 or if it has already decided on one and will just present it in a few weeks. Considering this vehicle should be for sale in 2024, we will not have to wait for long to learn what is the correct hypothesis. Here's a car nobody saw coming from a company as conservative as Toyota: a compact-sized utility vehicle with body-on-frame construction. Thing is, the Japanese automaker hasn't confirmed or denied the existence of the purported Land Cruiser Mini. FWD AWD EV Best Car, which has been wrong in the past in regard to upcoming models, allegedly heard from sources close to Toyota that we're getting a compact off-roader in 2024 for the 2025 model year. The Japanese motoring publication's report clearly states GA-F as the newcomer's platform, referring to the body-on-frame architecture that underpins both the mid-size 250 and 300 series of the Land Cruiser.At press time, Toyota still makes the old 70 series. It received extensive upgrades in August 2023 for the 2024 model year. Available in pickup truck flavor as well, the 70 series received the 1GD-FTV turbo diesel four-cylinder lump of the Hilux in combination with a six-speed automatic tranny.As you're well aware, the 250 for the US market flaunts a four-cylinder turbo gasser hybrid powertrain exclusively. The all-new Tacoma mid-size pickup is available with or without hybrid assistance. According to Best Car, the Land Cruiser Mini or whatever it will be called will boast powertrain options as small as a 1.5L naturally-aspirated hybrid.That's clearly too small of a displacement for a body-on-frame sport utility vehicle. To whom it may concern, the Yaris Hybrid packs the aforementioned 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain. Also sold as the Mazda2 Hybrid in Europe, said fuel-sipping hatchback belts out 114 horsepower and 125 pound-feet (169 Nm) at full chatter. Driving the front wheels, the electric motor is rated at 79 horsepower. As for the engine, which is dubbed M15A-FXE, that'd be 91 ponies.If Toyota intends to steal the Escape-based Ford Bronco Sport's thunder, it needs a bigger punch for the yet-unconfirmed Land Cruiser Mini. One potential candidate would be the 2.0-liter hybrid setup of the all-new Prius, which is good for 196 horsepower () or 194 horsepower ().The free-breathing I4 and the Hybrid Synergy Drive system of the Prius would be a great combo against the Bronco Sport's three-cylinder turbo mill. Ford's crossover offers 181 hp and 190 lb-ft (258 Nm). We also have to remember the Jeep Compass Trailhawk , which comes exclusively with a 2.0-liter turbo.The Land Cruiser Mini would be a unique proposition in the compact segment due to its body-on-frame construction. Slotting above the likes of the Suzuki Jimny Sierra (a.k.a. global version) and below the 250 series (a.k.a. Land Cruiser Prado), the new 'Yota is reportedly similar in footprint to the Corolla Cross. It's also believed to sport a full-size spare wheel out back, although it remains to be seen if Toyota has gifted it with a liftgate or a tailgate.On that note, pixel artist Halo oto has already produced a rendering of the Land Cruiser Mini. Obviously inspired by the Compact Cruiserconcept from June 2022 and the FT-4X from earlier, the design study isn't just wishful thinking. During the world premiere of the 250 series, Toyota further previewed a more compact sibling for the Prado.You can admire the shadowy silhouette of the yet-unreleased utility vehicle at the 18:38 timestamp of the second video below. The guy on the stage is Toyota head of design Simon Humphries, who says at one point: "This future [of the Land Cruiser] could mean anything from carbon-neutral approaches to ensuring the Land Cruiser brand is more affordable and within reach of even more people around the world."Wink wink, nudge nudge? The Chery Omoda 5 is set to hit the UK market at the beginning of 2024. The China-made crossover will be one of the cheapest models available there. Photo: Chery EV kWh WLTP SUV Sales will kick off in February 2024. The Omoda 5 is going to the United Kingdom as the newly formed brand's first of several models. It is one step further that Chery (not a spelling mistake, but the actual name of the Chinese brand) is making toward global expansion.The internal combustion Omoda 5 will arrive in the Kingdom with a price tag of 24,000 pounds ($30,000), which will make it one of the cheapest cars in the segment.The Omoda 5 is powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 183 horsepower (186 PS) and is mated to a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic gearbox. The version that is sold in China is slightly more powerful at 194 horsepower (197 PS), because it does not have to comply with such strict emissions regulations.The entry-level trim will bring along 17-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections, a dual-zone climate control, and adaptive ambient lighting. There is a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster providing all the relevant information regarding driving, plus a touchscreen of the same size.The range-topping Noble trim starts at 27,000 pounds ($33,875). For the extra money, owners are getting a heated steering wheel in leather, a sunroof, and bigger alloy wheels of 18 inches.There will also be an electric version, but there is no word on the pricing of thejust yet. It will reportedly be powered by a front-mounted electric motor that will generate 198 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. A 64-battery pack will store energy for a 280-mile range according to thetesting cycle. That means that the electric crossover should drop as a rival for Nissans Ariya, Volkswagen's ID.4, Hyundai's Ioniq 5, and Kia's EV6 According to Autocar, Chery is Chinas most prolific brand in terms of exports. The company sold 450,000 vehicles in Asia, Australia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East and is now taking the first steps in the British market.The name of the model is a reference to the brands focus on fashion ('moda' in Italian), with the 'O' standing for the brand claims "the bio element we need," whatever that is supposed to mean.Chery is targeting bold sales figures: 10,000 Omoda 5s per year in the UK, in the shape of ICEs, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars.The next model to be launched in the UK will be the Jaecoo 7, a largerto compete with the Hyundai Tucson, as Autocar reports . The lineup will include ICEs and PHEVs. Chery is planning to build up a network of 40-50 dealers before it launches in the UK in February. The first week of September was filled with incredible custom bikes, fine examples of two-wheeled engineering wonders we dug up from builders in Russia, Japan, and the Old Continent. As usual on Mondays, we take a look back at what the custom motorcycle industry had to offer, so get ready for impressive metalwork. This time, with a focus on wheels. Ducati XDiavel Piombo-X Photo: Box39 Harley-Davidson Emburo Photo: Bad Land Harley-Davidson Glatzzomobil Photo: Thunderbike Harley-Davidson Ocean Force Photo: Thunderbike Harley-Davidson Blue Breakout Wonder Photo: Bundnerbike Last week's custom bikes featured here on autoevolution offered us, as usual, a lot of Harley-Davidsons. Four of them, reinterpreted in garages located in Japan, Germany, and Switzerland, came to light in guises so extreme they'll probably be remembered for a long time by those with a passion for modified American bikes.Facing them off in the battle for the public's attention was a Ducati XDiavel taken to the extreme by a crew headquartered in Russia. And as you'll see in the lines below, the Italian-born beauty can more than hold its ground against the other four Americans.We'll start our recap with the Ducati, not only because it's the only non-Harley we've featured here last week, but also because it's a machine so extreme-looking that it is certainly worth the honor.You all know how even in its stock form the two-wheeler is not something that can easily be ignored, but in this form, bestowed upon it by the Russians from Box39, everything about it has been greatly exaggerated.The original blackness of the ride was made even deeper by the color chosen for the build. It covers not only stock body elements, plenty of which can still be seen on the machine, but also the custom bits Box39 threw in there.The bike is called in this modified form Piombo-X and comes with new wheels, produced in-house in Russia, so extreme in design they (especially the one at the rear) are perhaps the most visible bits of the ride. We then get custom fenders over both wheels, protection elements for the bike's frame, and of course a beefed-up fuel tank.Box39 does not say anything about the cost of the build, but we do get word this is the first of seven customized XDiavels we're to expect for them, so if you fancy this modified machine, keep an eye out for what's to come.Our favorite custom Japanese garage, Bad Land, returned with something called Emburo last week. We're talking about a modified VRSCAW version of the mighty V-Rod, styled in such a way as to look like a scary demon spawn from hell.Darker than night itself, the American muscle bike rides on new wheels supplied by Performance Machine and sized 19 inches at the front and 18 inches at the rear (this one is also 260 mm wide, larger than what Harley-Davidson offered on the stock machine).A wealth of other custom bits and pieces, including the headlight, handlebar, and engine covers, have been fitted on the V-Rod, but so were Harley-supplied pieces of hardware, like the 2012 Harley-Davidson fork supporting the front wheel.The Revolution engine that powers the VRSCAW, on the other hand, remains in place and, with the exception of it getting a new exhaust system, it remains largely unmodified.Bad Land does not share any info on the cost of the Harley-Davidson Emburo It sometimes happens for large custom motorcycle garages to create projects for the enjoyment of their own people, and the Harley-Davidson Glatzzomobil , made by the Germans from Thunderbike for one of their own, is no exception.The motorcycle started its adventure into our world as a Low Rider ST, and it still retains most of the elements that make it recognizable as such. All of that however was given a custom treatment that makes it unique in its family.First, the stock wheels, which usually come in at 19 inches front and 16 inches rear, have been replaced with larger pieces of hardware, coming in at 21 and 18 inches, respectively.To match the design envisioned for the bodywork, the rims and spokes, wrapped in Metzeler rubber, were painted in a shade of coppery gold.As usual, Thunderbike didn't limit itself to swapping the wheels, and for the Glatzzomobil project they also threw in a rather large 9-inch riser to give the Low Ride a club-style look, and a custom leather seat to better accommodate the new riding position.The parts used on the Harley-Davidson Glatzzomobil are alone worth about $6,600 according to the custom list we got from Thunderbike.Perhaps the most extreme custom bike we featured last week is another Thunderbike creation, something called the Ocean Force . And that's because this thing's wheels alone are worth as much as a brand-new Chevrolet Camaro.The bike was originally a Fat Boy, but was taken down a customization path with no concern about cost. In all, the unknown owner of the ride blew 39,000 euros ($42,100) for the extras that went into it, not including man hours and the paint job. Of that, $26,700 was spent on the two wheels alone...The elements are made in-house by Thunderbike and are part of a line the German shop calls Grand Prix. Monoblock by design, they come in this application in impressive sizes, 23-inch at the front and 21-inch at the rear. The latter is wrapped in a properly wide 260 mm Cruisetec piece of rubber.A while back a Swiss custom motorcycle garage named Bundnerbike came out with the most expensive custom Softail Slim S the world has ever known: the $2 million Harley-Davidson Bucherer. It was perhaps the first project to make the color blue look good on a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle.Since that time the garage released other blue American two-wheelers, and since the Bucherer conditioned us to like the color, we properly enjoyed them all. But few come even close to the effect the Harley-Davidson Blue Breakout Wonder has on our eyes and brains.The motorcycle was originally a Breakout, one of the favorite base motorcycles for Bundnerbike. It got propped on wheels the likes of which we rarely get to see deployed on motorcycles.We don't have the exact dimensions for them, but we do know the rear one, for instance, was made from a single solid piece of metal, cut in an impressive shape and held in place by a single-sided swingarm. It's an element that took Bundnerbike, as per its own admission, a full year to developThe full cost of the Harley-Davidson Blue Breakout Wonder is not disclosed, and although we don't expect it to be as huge as that of the Bucherer, it probably wasn't cheap either.That's it for last week's custom bikes recap. Stay tuned for the next five days, as we'll dig up (hopefully) even more exciting custom motorcycles for you to enjoy. A Ferrari 250 GTO burst into flames during a race at Goodwood. Driver Karen Chandhok pulled over to avoid hazard on the racetrack and managed to walk away unharmed. Lucky to get away with that with nothing more than a melted boot. Something went bang and seized up the back wheels and sent me spinning. Such a shame to end a race in my dream GT car like that but happy to get out ok! https://t.co/uZXnn1737U pic.twitter.com/E5NkaODAe3 Karun Chandhok (@karunchandhok) September 9, 2023 The incident took place in one of the turns of the Lavant Cup, a 16-car competition that involved Ferrari GTs built between 1960 and 1966. The classics raced to honor Graham Hill's 1963 Goodwood TT win at the wheel of a 250 GTO.So there were 16 cars powered by Colombo V12 engines, all rated at least 2 million pounds ($2.5 million), with some going as far as 30 million pounds ($37.6 million). Bouncing back from a sixth position on the starting grid, Karen Chandhok was riding right behind the two drivers that were battling for the lead, Rob Hall in a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM and Emanuele Pirro in a 1961 250 SWC/C.In the closing half of the tenth lap, coming out of the Lavant turn onto the straight, Karen Chandhok pressed the accelerator. The car went 'bang,' burst into flames, and started to spin on the racetrack. The driver managed to regain control and safely pull over."I heard a and and the back wheels locked up. As I turned, I saw flames, so I got right off the track safely to minimise oil going down and get out of the way," the 39-year old driver told in a conversation with the organizers of the competition.The marshals cleared the racetrack, and the race could continue with no other issues.Soon after the race, Karun Chandhok posted on X a photo of his right foot boot with the sole coming off: Lucky to get away with nothing more than a melted boot, he captioned the photo. His younger brother, Suhail Chandhok, posted a video of the incident, praising Karun for his rational and fast damage limitation reaction.The Ferrari 250 GTO that the former F1 driver was driving is (or was!) one of the world's most valuable examples of the kind. Despite the massive damage, the driver told that the owners first priority was to make sure that he was alright. He now wants to get the GTO fixed and send it back to the Goodwood racetrack.A representative of the owner talked about the aftermath of the fire. The car has "a hole in the engine" and says that the onboard fire extinguisher did its job. Most probably, the fire was the cause of an engine failure, which is not unusual in racing, especially when dealing with 60-year old cars.In production between 1962 and 1964, the 250 GTO, with the lettering standing for Gran Turismo Omologato (Homologated Grand Touring) is powered by a 3.0-liter Tipo 168 Comp/62 Colmbo V12 engine, good for 296 horsepower (300 PS). The engine is mated to a five-speed manual spinning the rear wheels of the race car. Only 36 such cars were built. Back in the 1960s, the car came with a price tag of $18,000. The North American market is never shy of declaring itself fond of crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. If you don't believe us, just look at the first-half sales to see the first four segments dominated by CUVs and trucks. SUV DRL After the first six months of the year, compact crossovers, full-size pickup trucks , and large CUVs are the dominating trio across the US market. And it's easy to understand why compact CUVs are affordable and relatively nimble, full-size pickup trucks have always been a staple of America, and large crossovers cater to all the needs of an entire family.And Nissan which came fifth among single-brand sales has a sure foothold in the sector of large crossovers with help from the mid-size Murano. The nameplate, offered since the 2003 model year, is currently in its third iteration and holds the honor of being the Japanese automaker's first crossoverto arrive in the United States and Canada.Interestingly, the Nissan Murano has never been for the faint of heart or the traditionalist type, and the company even offered a convertible variant called the Murano CrossCabriolet during the second generation's stint. The current Z52 iteration arrived in the spring of 2014 at the New York International Auto Show and was produced first in Canton, Mississippi before switching to its current location at the Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.However, even after the mid-cycle refresh and additional model year updates, one can only say that the Murano is a bit past due and could use a complete overhaul. No worries, the rumor mill's spy photographers have recently treated us to the beauty shots of the new generation and quickly set in motion the imaginative realm of digital car content creators.The good folks over at Kolesa, along with their resident pixel master Nikita Chuicko, aka kelsonik on social media, have imagined the looks of the next-gen Murano, and they sure imagined Nissan would give it some Pathfinder Concept cues. That is not beyond reason, as if it enters production, the latter is a China-only affair, whereas the global Pathfinder has different looks. As such, they would not cannibalize sales.Of course, do take all these renderings with the traditional dose of salt, as there is still a long way to go before Nissan officially comes out with the new Murano. Alas, we sure won't mind if the quirky Murano gets the updated V-motion grille with LEDlights integrating seamlessly into the triangular-shaped design. If that happens, the headlights will be noticeably slimmer, of course.Around the back, the design is as clean and sleek as it gets, with a distinctive C-pillar treatment and a minimalist hatch housing part of the LED taillights refashioned into the shape of an LED light bar. As for the profile, it will probably have fewer creases and larger wheels, aside from the greenhouse changes. So, cool or not? The Japanese automaker is struggling to recapture the lead in the North American region as General Motors (again) proves a much tougher nut to track than anticipated initially. And their way of accomplishing the feat is simple a tidal wave of novelties. SUV Since the beginning of 2023, we have seen a lot of new model introductions or promises of alluring vehicles from the Japanese carmaker . Stuff like the 2023 Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, the entire 2024 Corolla Nightshade family, or the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid sure warrant a mention or two.Then there are also the rising stars like the trio of 2024 GR special editions for the Supra (45th anniversary), Corolla (Circuit Edition), and GR86 (Trueno) or the 2024 Grand Highlander family-oriented three-row crossover. And let us not forget about the superstars such as the 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck or the 2024 Land Cruiser returning to the United States.Naturally, that doesn't mean Toyota is done. Instead, (normal) folks are waiting for the real world to be populated with the refreshed RAV4, an all-new Camry sedan, a fresh iteration of the 4Runner, and stuff like that. Plus, not to mention how the imaginative realm of digital car content creators also wants to chip in with their unique ideas.For example, Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual automotive artist behind the Digimods DESIGN channel on YouTube, has recently taken up the task of revealing a (much) larger 2024 Land Cruiser than anyone imagined. It's not only ready to duke it out with the automotive industry's behemoths but also adept at hauling and towing all the biggest stuff out there. After all, it's now a heavy-duty pickup truck! Wait, what?Yeah, seriously, the pixel master has remembered it liked to steal the DNA of the Ford F-Series Super Duty more precisely, the F-450 dually version and splash out their imagined dreams of super HD trucks. The CGI expert previously envisioned stuff like the 'all-new' Mitsubishi Triton HD and Toyota Tacoma HD. He also took a swing at the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser pickup truck with 'normal' full-size looks, so this was obviously the only way forward at least across imagination land.Well, as it turns out, it's not such a bad-looking HD truck . The only two impediments against such a model wouldn't be the platform as the 2024 Land Cruiser shares its TNGA-F underpinnings with the bigger J300 Land Cruiser, Toyota Sequoia, Lexus LX, plus the N400 Toyota Tacoma and XK70 Tundra. Instead, the existence of the larger Tundra and the big competition from the Detroit Three's HD offerings mostly negate the idea in the real world.But this is just an alternative universe, so here we are allowed to dream of a hypothetical Toyota Land Cruiser HD and even perhaps give it a (supercharged) V8 engine instead of Tundra's 437-hp i-Force Max hybrid powertrain. Also alternatively, would you consider this with a fully electric powertrain or even a hydrogen setup? When Mercedes-Benz confirmed that the Concept CLA Class would adopt several technical solutions from the Vision EQXX, the first thing that got me thinking was: Will it also ditch liquid cooling in favor of air cooling for the battery pack? Although this may look like something trivial, it is far from it. "Passive cooling" certainly aided the German automaker in reducing weight in its previous concept. Still, it may also bring serious durability consequences for the production CLA if it follows the same path. ICE kWh BEV Photo: BYD Photo: BYD WLTP Mercedes-Benz could have helped more to clarify that with the info it disclosed about the Concept CLA Class. It does not mention anywhere how the Battery Management System (BMS) keeps the battery pack at ideal temperatures. Air-cooled systems fail to keep the temperature down in fast charging which slows the process down and are not very good at heating it in cold weather. If they are too hot, performance issues are the least of the owner's concerns: lifespan may drop as well. In extreme cases, they may even catch fire.The last electric car with air cooling to be put for sale was the Dacia Spring. GreenNCAP considered it the most efficient vehicle for sale, but a unit caught fire in Romania. The Romanian brand never gave us any explanation for the blaze. The first was the Nissan LEAF, which was involved in the Rapidgate episode. Nissan limited the charging speed of the vehicle when the battery was already hot. As owners discovered the trick, the Japanese company called it a safeguard, proposing to remove it from the cars of owners who gave up on that "protection." That is the perfect excuse to void the warranty, but I have not heard of any such cases. Summing up, air cooling for electric cars may improve efficiency, but there's a cost.First of all, it is crucial to remember how the Vision EQXX achieved its impressive energy-consumption numbers. Mercedes-Benz tackled the three pillars of automotive efficiency: aerodynamics, mass, and powertrain optimization. In internal combustion engine () cars, the inherent gluttony of their mills makes efforts in the first two factors the ones that really pay off. The Achille's heel of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is weight.The Vision EQXX had a drag coefficient of only 0.17 and a small frontal area, which made it an aerodynamic beast. Its electric motor was also highly efficient, transforming 95% of the energy stored in the batteries into movement. However, its main effort in reducing mass and increasing energy density was achieved by eliminating liquid cooling.According to Mercedes-Benz, the Vision EQXX can run 10 kilometers per, which is equivalent to 6.2 miles/kWh. The most efficient electric car ever sold was the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which achieved 4.4 miles/kWh (7 km/kWh). Lucid still sells the most efficient battery electric vehicle (): the Air Grand Touring. With a range of 469 miles and a battery pack delivering 112 kWh, it reaches an energy consumption of 4.2 miles/kWh (6.8 Wh/kWh. The production CLA should beat that, but we have yet to understand how it will pull that off.Mercedes-Benz said that the Concept CLA Class spends 12 kWh/100 km. That is equivalent to 5.2 mi/kWh (8.3 km/kWh). All we have to justify that figure are some clues about what the production version of this vehicle should offer when it arrives in 2025. We do know that it will work at 800V , which allows BEVs to charge at higher speeds. The higher voltage suggests liquid cooling is a must.Something else reinforces that: Mercedes-Benz should adopt BYD's Blade Batteries on the CLA. CarNewsChina shared a report from the China Battery Enterprise Alliance (CBEA) that states the German carmaker will adopt these LFP cells in its entry-level BEV. That makes sense for several reasons, starting with the lower price for these components. Blade Batteries have a reputation of being extremely robust. They accept to be fully charged constantly that's even advisable for LFP cells. BYD also states they have a life cycle of 8 years or 1.2 million kilometers (745,650 miles). The Chinese carmaker also claims they are not prone to fires, but there have been some blazes that it never cared to explain and it should.Mercedes-Benz and BYD are no strangers, either. They are partners on Denza , a luxury car company they founded in 2010 that never went that well when the German carmaker ruled the show. The Chinese luxury brand had a single model that did not sell as much as Mercedes-Benz wanted. That changed when the German automaker decided to reduce its stake in the joint venture to 10% and left BYD with the other 90%. The brand is now blooming in sales, with three models in its lineup and some others in the pipeline.Blade Batteries are placed in BYD cars in two kinds of construction: cell-to-pack (CTP) and cell-to-body (CTB) , which increase energy density. Cooling relies on liquids, which suggests Mercedes-Benz may have also adopted it in the Concept CLA Class. That could explain why this vehicle is less efficient than the Vision EQXX, but not why it is so close: it presents 83% of the efficiency of its older brother. If it really has liquid cooling, that's an amazing accomplishment.Mercedes-Benz said the Concept CLA Class can travel 750 km (466 miles) under thecycle on a full charge. Should the production version present the same numbers and confirm it will use Blade Batteries , these LFP cells will be only for the entry-level derivative. That means the German carmaker will have at least two different battery pack options. This 750-km range should come from an accumulator with ternary cells, which have a higher energy density. Another hypothesis is that it just gets there through efficiency and a larger battery pack than BYD products currently have. We'll have answers for that until 2025. A civic activist, Artur Chakhoyan, publicized on Friday a video of himself posing as an Avinian campaign worker and talking to many participants of one such rally held in the citys Nor Nork district. They told him that they are part of entire staffs of schools, kindergartens and local government bodies that went to the gathering during their work hours. Other participants turned out to be employees of a private aqua park located in Nor Nork. Chakhoyan suggested that the party headed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian is forcing public workers to join Avinians rallies in hopes of boosting his chances in the municipal elections scheduled for September 17. The Independent Observer, a coalition of local election monitors, forwarded his video to prosecutors, demanding a criminal investigation. The Office of the Prosecutor-General said later on Friday that it is looking into the 20-minute footage posted on Facebook. But as of Monday evening, it remained unclear whether law-enforcement authorities will open a formal inquiry. Forcing or paying people to attend a rally is a criminal offense in Armenia. The Independent Observers Vardine Grigorian said the authorities must clarify whether the public workers were indeed forced to attend the Nor Nork event. Its very likely that they were taken to the rally in an organized manner, Grigorian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Other major election contenders portrayed the scandalous video as further proof that Civil Contract is abusing its administrative resources during the mayoral race. They said Pashinians political team is resorting to the kind of illegal practices which it had decried prior to coming to power in the 2018 velvet revolution. Unfortunately, our concerns are being borne out one by one, said Hayk Marutian, a former Yerevan mayor ousted by Pashinians party in December 2021. The Civil Contract party is no longer inferior to the former election-falsifying authorities in terms of fraud and abuse of administrative resources. Avinian did not comment on the scandal sparked by his Nor Nork rally. The ruling partys mayoral candidate denied any foul play, alleged by his political rivals and civil society, when he spoke to RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Thursday. They are looking for small crumbs in a big field, he said. Also on Thursday, Daniel Ioannisian of the Union of Informed Citizens (UIC) expressed serious concern over a very high concentration of public workers at Avinians campaign rallies. We can see a disproportionate percentage of school, kindergarten and medical personnel there, said Ioannisian. In two cases, we have reason to assert that they were forcibly brought [to the rallies. The UIC earlier accused Civil Contract of abusing its government levers in the months leading up to the Yerevan election campaign. Pashinians party denied the accusations before filing a defamation suit against the Western-funded non-governmental organization late last month. (Photo : AFP) (-/AFP via Getty Images) The Sudanese army allegedly conducted air strikes that resulted in dozens of civilian casualties amid its ongoing war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese army conducted an air strike that killed dozens, including civilians, while many others were injured in a market in southern Khartoum. The news of the attack was announced by a local volunteer group on Sunday and the incident marks the largest single-incident death toll since the beginning of the war in Sudan in April. As the war between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nears the five-month mark, air and artillery strikes in residential areas have intensified. Sudan's Months-Long War Neither of the two parties involved has declared victory or has shown any concrete signs that they plan to pursue mediation. On Sunday, drones were used to carry out a series of heavy air strikes on southern Khartoum. The area is a large district of the city that is occupied mainly by the paramilitary RSF, said an eyewitness who saw the strike. They asked not to be identified for security concerns. Images shown by a body of local volunteers known as the Southern Khartoum Emergency Room featured many women and men injured and what seemed to be dead bodies covered in cloth, as per Reuters. Residents in the battered area tend to be day workers who, after being cut off from their jobs, have become too poor to afford the cost of escaping from the capital. A spokesman for the Emergency Room, Mohamed Abdallah, said that the injured people had to be transported on rickshaws or donkey carts. The RSF released a statement where it accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the attack and several other strikes in the area. However, the army denied responsibility and instead blamed the RSF for the assault. Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah said that the army only aimed its attacks at the enemy's groupings and stations in different areas. While the paramilitary has fanned out across residential areas throughout the capital Khartoum and neighboring Bahri and Omdurman, the Sudanese army utilized its heavy artillery and air strikes to push the RSF back, which has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties. Read Also: Biden Forges Strategic Partnership With Vietnam as China Continues To Expand Influence Dozens of Casualties Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), a humanitarian medical care charity, described the situation in Khartoum as "carnage." It noted that there were more than 60 people who were wounded because of the attack, according to BBC. The MSF's emergency coordinator, Marie Burton, on Sunday, said that Khartoum "has been at war for almost six months." On the same day, Burton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that volunteers and medical personnel in Bashair Hospital were shocked and overwhelmed by the scale of the horror in the city. On Saturday, Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said that they do not need the African Union to resolve the country's ongoing conflict. Tensions rose after the head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, met with a political adviser to the RSF last week. Diplomatic efforts that sought to end the conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary have repeatedly floundered. The United States and Saudi Arabia brokered multiple truces in the early stages of the war, which were systematically violated before the two mediators adjourned talks in June, said the Manila Times. Related Article: Giorgia Meloni Set To Take Action To Separate From China's BRI @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 11 September 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Currently, Armenia in a mood of bellicose jingoism, tries to wage war against Azerbaijan gathering weapons and heavy armored artillery near the border with Azerbaijan. Getting emboldened by its warmongering Western allies and partners, Armenia aims an attack against Azerbaijani territory by targeting the positions of the Azerbaijani army. It should be noted that the weapons provided by India to Armenia in the amount of almost $250 million were transferred on the basis of a military agreement signed between the two countries. At the same time, there is a high probability that the Western side will also supply weapons to Armenia. If so, this could lead to India and the West supporting a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of course, in response to such an aggression by Armenia and its allies, Azerbaijan has Shusha Declaration in hand to put forward as a countermeasure against Armenia and its allies sponsoring weapons and ammunition. As is known, the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021 in the city of Shusha, is an agreement on allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye. According to the paragraph regarding the current position of the Declaration, If, in the opinion of one of the parties, there is a threat or an act of aggression from a third state or states against their independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, the inviolability or security of their internationally recognized borders, the parties will hold joint consultations and, in order to eliminate this threat or acts of aggression, carry out initiatives in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and provide each other with the necessary assistance in accordance with the UN Charter. After determining through urgent discussions the volume and form of such possible assistance, a decision will be made to secure defense needs for the adoption of joint measures and coordinated activities will be organized of power-wielding and administrative agencies of the Armed Forces." Thus, it means for Armenia, taking any wrong step against Azerbaijan is also being against Turkiye. However, there another speculation whether it is a bluff by Armenia or a true intention of a bellicose country. The likelihood of a battle is very high. What Armenia is doing is not a bluff, since it has been trying to gain time for 34 months out of a sense of revanchism. Turkish reserve General Yucel Karauz, told this in a comment for AZERNEWS. Trying to gain time, Armenia, as a country that has destroyed 65 of its 100 armies, received weapons and supplies from India and other Western countries, he added. According to the military expert, Armenias goal is to bring the event to a dead end, to make it multifaceted, to include the United States and the European Union in it, to try to find justifications and grounds for the war that will occur at the next stage. The country is also trying to provoke terrorist activity by creating an atmosphere of conflict and acting as the first act of Armenia's two-act play on inviting foreign military forces to the region. This is combined with behavior that will increase political tensions, such as the US military exercises, Iranian statements and the so-called elections in Khankendi. "However, despite all this, the Azerbaijani army is ready for battle as a victorious and powerful army. Because the victorious Commander-in-Chief, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pays attention and care to the formation of the army, both in training and in continuing to create units suitable for combat conditions as well as modernization of weapons and technical services. President Ilham Aliyev set new goals for the creation of an army in the victory parade after the trilateral war between Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia, and also set the goal of switching to the model of the Turkish army. After this, the Azerbaijani army formed into a more effective, more deterrent, more mobile and more suitable organization. And over the past 33 months, the Army has become more combative, applying lessons learned from the last war. After this, Azerbaijan will have no choice but with a strong army and fighting ability to contribute to peace and harmony in this region. The Azerbaijani army is among the leading armies in the world and is considered the most powerful army in the Caucasus," Yucel Karauz emphasized. In conclusion, speaking about the Shusha Declaration, the military expert Yucel Karauz stated that according to the Shusha Declaration, in the event of a war, an attack on the territorial integrity and legitimacy of Azerbaijan will be considered an attack on Turkiye, based on the principle that the security of Ankara passes through Baku, and the security of Baku passes via Ankara. In this context, Turkiye will provide Azerbaijan with all types of material, moral, military and political support in accordance with the current situation and requirements of Azerbaijan. Because this is an issue that will be within the framework of an agreement between two independent states concluded within the framework of international law. In fact, one of Armenias goals is to create a conflict situation here and try to turn this war into a multinational one, in which more than one country will participate, both for itself and for Azerbaijan. Turkiye and Azerbaijan are brotherly countries since the past, and they are strong allies in all spheres," the military expert concluded. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 15:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Nikol Pashinyan accuses Russia of not sending the CSTO mission mandate on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. Even, in an interview with Italian TV, he emphasized that relying on Russia was a strategic mistake. Besides, withdrawal from CSTO has been voiced by Armenian statespersons and public figures. However, on September 10, in an interview with journalists Russian FM Sergey Lavrov noted that at the ministerial level in 2021, they coordinated the CSTO mission mandate on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. He pointed out that everything was endorsed, but in the morning Armenians decided to postpone this topic. So, it seems that Armenia plays a double game with Russia and the West. On the one hand, Yerevan is talking about leaving the CSTO, and on the other hand, Armenia's economy is becoming more and more dependent on Russia. To clarify the crux of the matter, Azernews learned the opinion of Maxime Gauin, Associate Professor at ADA University, and a researcher at the Institute for Development and Diplomacy. Pointing several reasons about Armenia's deep but hidden antipathy towards Russia's influence, he implicated that Nikol Pashinyan has never liked the Russian domination of Armenia, but his margin of initiative in this regard is limited. According Gauin, this domination actually increased further during Pashinyan's rule after his failure in 2020. Another reason is the weakening of Russia, which cannot do what it did in 2020 (massive sending of weapons and ammunition to Armenia) and still less in 2016 (during the Four Days War). Russia cannot support Armenia and the separatists of Khankendi as it did before, because it cannot. A last reason is to play the Western-oriented leadership card in Western countries, the U.S. for example, Maxime Gauin said. As for withdrawal from CSTO, the expert said that Armenia will leave CSTO before the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and of a normalization agreement with Turkiye. He emphasized that without the Russian guarantee, Armenia is nothing. It is a failed state, which gave a part of its sovereignty to Russia. As you know, Russia controls the airspace of Armenia, a part of its land boundary, the railroads, the pipelines, etc. Russia has a lot of supporters (to use the most polite word) in the Armenian opposition, but also in the Armenian military. No Western power can replace Russia for Armenia now, none wants it actually and Russia would not accept the end of its tutelage on Armenia. Only a drastic change of paradigm, added to the continuous weakening of Russia, will give Armenia the possibility to stop caring about the ire of Moscow (both are needed simultaneously). Then, it will become really independent, Maxime noted. He also touched on the future of Russian-Armenian relations and said that it largely depends on relations of Armenia with its Turkic neighbors. Without peace, the control of Russia can only increase. He emphasized that empty words and symbolic exercises with tiny numbers of soldiers will never change anything in this regard. The contract of renting of the Gyumri Russian base has been extended until 2044. Armenia does not possess the financial capacity to renew its military equipment, which is almost entirely Russian-made. The Indian engineers themselves would be the first to admit that their multiple rocket launcher systems designed in the 1980s and sold to Armenia recently are low-quality weapons, easy to destroy with Turkish or Israeli UAVs. And we saw very recently what the progress of Armenia in the field of the UAVs actually meant when the Azerbaijani army destroyed without difficulty an Armenian station of control of drones. Maxim Gauin said. He added that Armenia cannot show the same attitude towards the West at some point. He noted that Russia uses Armenia for its own purpose to evade the sanctions. Even the growth of the Armenian Gross domestic product last year and this year is mostly due to the use of Armenia by Russia to bypass the international sanctions. What is the importance of the symbolic quantity of humanitarian help recently sent to Ukraine in comparison with the jets given by Armenia in 2022 for the attack against Kyiv? Or, to stick to todays issues, with the key role of Armenia in the survival of the Russian economy as a window to partly evade the sanctions? To give you a striking example, the role of Armenia in the import of Western-made cars increased after September 2022, namely after the clashes at the Armenian-Azerbaijani boundary and the passivity of Russia, busy with the successful Ukrainian counter-offensive, the expert concluded. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 12 September 2023 00:51 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more The recent visit of the delegation of the Iranian Armed Forces to Azerbaijan was marked by the discussion of a number of important issues. The fact that our southern neighbor has recently shown great interest in the melting of ice between official Baku and Tehran attracts special attention. This shows that the Tehran administration does not want to lose an ally like Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus. However, Iran's political mistakes in the recent past are constantly hanging over its head like a dark cloud. Even Armenia, its staunch ally, does not hesitate to use those errors as a tool. The video footage circulating on the social network about the alleged gathering of troops by Iran around the border of Azerbaijan was precisely a provocation plan by Armenians aimed at tarnishing relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. The most important thing is that Iran is aware of this plan and conducts joint negotiations with Azerbaijan. In his comment on the issue to AZERNEWS, Sadiq Isabayli, a member of the Management Board of the National Liberation Front of South Azerbaijan, said that the arrival of the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan and the Iranian Armed Forces to that area and the holding of a joint Iran-Azerbaijan meeting can be evaluated positively at this moment. This meeting means that Iran understands Azerbaijan's position. The Iranian side already shows that it has to settle with Azerbaijan at many points. At the same time, any threat or pressure against Azerbaijan and its national interests at the official level is unacceptable. "The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has repeatedly emphasized that no power can threaten us. In short, the forces that want to put pressure on Azerbaijan in any case will get their deserved response," Isabayli added. The expert spoke about Iran's actions against Azerbaijan in the processes after the Second Garabagh War. "We have repeatedly observed that Iran always supported the Armenian invasion, provided armed assistance to the Armenians living in Garabagh, transferred enemy trucks to Garabagh without the permission of Azerbaijan, and provided weapons to the armed forces of Armenia (arms from India passing through Iran to Armenia). And currently, the phrase "Zangazur Corridor is a red line for us" said during Ali Khamenei's time is being propagated by the state's official media in the form of a threat against Azerbaijan," S. Isabayli said. He added that the Iranian media is, at the same time, spreading various rumors that the Zangazur corridor is in the interest of the 3rd state. It is noted that the Zangazur corridor is allegedly part of the British and NATO projects. Also, some sources share false information that if the corridor is opened, there will be no country called Armenia, as a result, it increases the tension between the states of the region. If Iran talks about regional development, friendship, brotherhood, and improvement of bilateral relations, then it should stay away from this kind of dark PR against Azerbaijan, as well as accept Azerbaijan as an independent state with national interests. Otherwise, Iran may lose many chances in the region. Speaking about trust in Iran, the expert said that this is unacceptable. Because the strengthening of Azerbaijan is an unambiguous threat to it. Iran ideologically and politically has mentioned this many times both in the media and in society. In addition, Iran's biggest fear is the issue of South Azerbaijan. Because the Armenian and Russian media do not overlook the support factor of the South Azerbaijanis in the processes related to Garabagh and Zangazur. In conclusion, Sadiq Isabayli touched upon Iran's reaction to the opening of the Zangazur corridor and noted that the opening of the corridor will be resolved based on negotiations and mutual agreement until the end. "The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has always stated that negotiations regarding the opening of the corridor should be prioritized. As for Armenia, an alternative way has been thought out for it as well. In other words, the chance of opening the corridor is inevitable," the expert said. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 13:22 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has reached a new level, said Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel at a roundtable discussion on "Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations: regional cooperation", Azernews reports. "All this is the result of mutual visits of the heads of our states. This trustful dialog at the highest level is the key to the dynamic relations between the two countries. Over the past four months, the Chairman of our Majlis, Prime Minister, Minister of Transportation, and Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have visited Azerbaijan from Kazakhstan," he noted. The diplomat emphasized that the trade turnover between the two countries increased to $460 million in 2022, while in the first 6 months of 2023, this figure managed to increase to $300 million. "This is a positive dynamic. We have also started exporting our oil through Azerbaijan via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. We hope that the volume of oil transported in this direction will reach several million tons in the near future," Bayel said. The Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov paid an official visit to Azerbaijan in June of 2023, during which 11 joint documents were signed. These documents included the establishment of a joint enterprise by the railways administrations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as the establishment of a joint venture for laying a fiber-optic line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. The two countries have also agreed to increase mutual flights from 32 to 42 per week. This is part of a larger effort to increase the bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In January-May 2023, the commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan rose by 50% compared to the same period in 2022. The two countries have also signed a Comprehensive Program on the Development of Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026. This program is aimed at deepening the mutual relationship in multiple sectors, including transport, energy, trade, railway, aerospace, digital development, and others. The countries are also focusing on leveraging the Middle Corridor and integrating the Zangazur multi-modal route into it. This is expected to contribute to increasing the bilateral trade turnover, which reached $194 million in the first half of 2022. The two countries are aiming for a trade turnover of $1 billion by the end of 2023. The cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is expected to create important economic opportunities, enabling South Caucasian and Central Asian countries to benefit from China-Europe trade. The Middle Corridor is also expected to facilitate the development and deepening of Trans-Caspian cooperation. The cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is expected to bring many benefits to the region, and the two countries are committed to deepening their relationship in multiple sectors. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 17:21 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov is paying a working visit to Hungary, Azernews reports, citing a post of X by the Minister. The post reads that as part of the working visit, the Azerbaijani Minister met with Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The meeting discussed the shared perspectives on the extensive collaboration across different sectors between our nations, the initiative aimed at strengthening trade and economic ties, and the potential for partnering on green energy projects. - As part of our working visit to Hungary, we held a meeting with Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. During the meeting, we shared perspectives on the extensive collaboration across different sectors between our nations, discussed pic.twitter.com/iEBynnYXDu Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) September 11, 2023 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 10:46 (UTC+04:00) By Elchin Asgarov Chair of the Board of ICYF-ERC The Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum - Eurasian Regional Center (ICYF-ERC) is deeply concerned about the escalating border tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We strongly condemn Armenias provocative actions, which artificially ignite tensions and ultimately derail the normalization process. ICYF-ERC strongly condemns the illegal activities named as elections held in the Garabagh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan by the puppet separatist regime supported and established by the Republic of Armenia. This step is a flagrant violation of norms and principles of international law as well as the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Republic of Armenias continuous support for the puppet separatist regime, including the existence of the illegal Armenian armed forces among many other illegal activities in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, not only constitutes a violation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty but also deals a serious blow to the efforts of normalization in the region and the reintegration of ethnic Armenians living in the Garabagh region into the constitutional framework of the Republic of Azerbaijan. ICYF-ERC calls for the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan and disbandment of the separatist puppet regime. ICYF-ERC urges Armenia to immediately cease its illegal activities directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and to constructively engage in diplomatic negotiations with the Republic of Azerbaijan to support the normalization process in the region. ICYF-ERC supports peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and believes that signing a peace agreement will make a major contribution to peace and stability in the region. Moreover, ICYF-ERC calls upon the international community, including the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to strongly condemn the illegal activities pursued by the Republic of Armenia against the Republic of Azerbaijan. A robust international condemnation, in line with all OIC resolutions and statements as well as United Nations Security Council resolutions, is needed to prevent the Republic of Armenia from taking further steps that endanger the fragile normalization efforts in the region. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 12:34 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudswoman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, issued a statement regarding the injury of a soldier of the Azerbaijani army, Khayam Eminov, on September 10 in a mine explosion in the Agdam region, Azernews reports. According to the Ombudsman, the mine was planted by a sabotage group of illegal Armenian armed groups. Despite numerous demands, the Armenian side still refuses to hand over accurate maps of minefields to Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva. She emphasized that the international community and influential international organizations do not put adequate pressure on Armenia in this matter. As a result, the Armenian side continues to commit similar provocations, which leads to numerous casualties or injuries, Sabina Aliyeva said. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 14:08 (UTC+04:00) The First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev has started an official visit to the Republic of Turkiye on September 11, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. The Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army to hold a number of meetings with the military leadership of Turkiye as part of the visit held at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Army General Metin Gurak. Metin Gurak previously visited Azerbaijan at the end of August. This was his first official visit to the country. He noted the importance of the joint events planned to be held in 2024 with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish servicemen. Issues of cooperation in military, military-technical, military education, and other fields are to be discussed as part of the visit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 16:13 (UTC+04:00) On 7 September 2023, Topchubashov Center hosted a panel at the 32nd Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland, Azernews reports, citing the Forum. The panel entitled "Human Rights Situation in Iran: The Case of Ethnic Azerbaijanis" gathered several experts from all over the world. In his opening speech, Director of Topchubashov Center Rusif Huseynov, who was moderating the event, explained that the discrimination against Azerbaijanis in Iran is usually an understudied and under-discussed topic, despite their size as the biggest ethnic minority (15-30 million people, according to different estimates) and this panel was to pave way for more discussion in this direction. In his turn, Ramin Jabbarli, a researcher at the University of Washington (Seattle, United States), explained how the discriminatory attitude of different governments in Iran toward the South Azerbaijanis had been conducted over the decades: the Persianization policy, change of toponyms, lack of education in mother tongue, and economic discrimination. Turkan Bozkurt, a researcher at the University of Toronto (Canada), focused on the gender aspects of ethnic group rights in Iran, whose theocracy is known for gender apartheid and misogynistic politics. In this context, ethnic Azerbaijani women in Iran not only face discrimination based on their gender but also their ethnicity. Ms. Bozkurt referred to her human rights reports, which collected extensive data on the females arrested, tortured, and murdered during the months-long Mahsa Amini protests and mentioned influential Azerbaijani women such as Hadis Najafi and Elnaz Rekabi, who had become the icons of those protests. Joseph Epstein, Legislative Fellow, Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) (Washington, DC, United States) who had lately penned a Newsweek article about the gradual disappearance of Lake Urmia, once one of the biggest saltwater lakes, explained why this ecological catastrophe was important to discuss. According to him, the situation around the aforementioned water basin is not only an environmental issue but it might have bigger implications: political, economic, and demographic. If the water level in the lake, which is located in an Azerbaijani-populated province, continues to shrink at this pace, it may cause the second-biggest displacement of population in history. While discussing the lack of interest in the South Azerbaijan cause in the United States, Mr. Epstein suggested the Azerbaijani diaspora become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. The last panelist Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, a researcher at Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University (Tel-Aviv, Israel) focused more on the geopolitical weight of the South Azerbaijan issue in the Middle Eastern and Caucasus context. According to him, this topic is among the factors that shape Tehran's foreign policy in the direct neighborhood, including an assertive and sometimes unfriendly attitude toward its northern neighbor Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as its geopolitical alignments, such as the partnership with Armenia, again built against Azerbaijan. The panel concluded with a discussion of the lack of interest in the South Azerbaijan cause in the United States, and how the Azerbaijani diaspora could become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. The 32nd Economic Forum, held in Karpacz, Poland, is a traditional forum for thousands of experts. This year's theme is New Values for the Old Continent Europe on the Threshold of Change. The region of Lower Silesia, where the forum is held, is located about 300 km from Warsaw, Berlin, or Prague and is perfectly connected. It is a land of diversity, with amazing mountains, mysterious undergrounds, the Piast Castles Trail, the Land of Extinct Volcanoes, Milicz Ponds, and the Lower Silesian Beer and Wine Trail. The Economic Forum is also known for awarding prizes for the Man of the Year, the Company of the Year, and the Non-governmental Organization of the Year. Over the years, many prominent persons in European politics and economy have been honored with the title of the Economic Forum Man of the Year. The panel at the 32nd Economic Forum in Karpacz provided an important platform for discussing the discrimination against Azerbaijanis in Iran and its impact on Iran's foreign policy. The panelists discussed the domestic ethnic tensions and the regime`s discriminatory policies against the ethnic groups, most of all the Azerbaijanis, amid the Mahsa Amini protests and Tehran's assertive foreign policy. The discussion also highlighted the need for the Azerbaijani diaspora to become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz (Photo : Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully sent one of its Atlas 5 rockets into space, which subsequently blasted multiple National Reconnaissance Office satellites into geosynchronous orbit. United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully sent one of its Atlas 5 rockets into space, which later blasted multiple National Reconnaissance Office satellites on Sunday to monitor the geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO). The joint mission involves the U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office with the goal of improving space domain awareness. The Atlas V 551 variant rocket, nicknamed "The Bruiser," was launched with the payload "Silentbarker," also known as NROL-107. Atlas 5 Rocket Update The rocket has already flown dozens of times prior to the latest launch and includes NASA's New Horizons, which is the first spacecraft to encounter Pluto, as well as the space agency's Juno mission to Jupiter. In a statement on social media, ULA said that its Atlas 5 rocket is a reliable workhorse for U.S. national security and has successfully delivered more than 50 missions into space to serve the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Additionally, the company said that the mission on Sunday serves the needs of the U.S. Defense Department and intelligence community. This is by providing the capability to search, detect, and track objects from a space-based sensor for timely custody and event detection, as per UPI. The government will be able to overcome existing ground sensor limitations by conducting surveillance from space. From there, authorities will be able to collect timely satellite metric data around the clock. The statement added that Silentbarker will bolster the NRO's ability to provide a wide range of timely intelligence information to national decision-makers, warfighters, and intelligence analysts. They will be able to use this information to protect the nation's vital interests and support humanitarian efforts globally. While the successful launch is a cause for celebration, the initial plan for the rocket was to blast off on Aug. 28, 2023. But it was delayed due to the potential impact of Hurricane Idalia, forcing the company to roll back the rocket into its facility to wait for the storm to pass before once again deciding on a new launch date. Read Also: India Seeks To Observe Sun in New Cosmic Mission Following Historic Moon Landing Monitoring the GEO The mission aims to keep tabs on the behavior of potential enemy spacecraft in the high orbit that is favored by spy satellites, communications stations, and other high-priority U.S. assets. Silentbarker is built to operate in a geosynchronous orbit that is located 22,300 miles above the equator, according to Yahoo News. In a statement, NRO Director Chris Scolese said that the idea of this mission is to put a satellite in geosynchronous orbit and then observe that area to get a sense of what is happening day to day. During a press conference on Aug. 28, Scolese said that communication satellites move from one location to another in order to provide better coverage for other areas. The program went from concept to development over a roughly five-year period. The NRO and SSC both had overlapping interests in improving their capabilities in the GEO space and subsequently forged a collaboration that later resulted in Silentbarker. The program consists of two mission launches, the first of which is NROL-107, said SpaceFlight Now. Related Article: NASA's Mega Moon Rocket 'Unaffordable' Stifling Efforts for the Space Launch System @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 11 September 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) The third Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) will be held between March 1-3, 2024, the Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday, Azernews reports. The ADF was to be held in March earlier this year but was delayed due to the devastating twin earthquakes that shook southeastern Turkiye in February, causing the deaths of tens of thousands. The forum aims to promote Turkiyes diplomacy and foreign relations while advancing its friendship and cooperation with other nations. It takes place annually to contribute to Ankaras regional and global values in diplomacy. In 2022, the ADF was the scene of the first face-to-face meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ukraines Dmytro Kuleba after the war started, as the forum provided a platform to discuss global challenges. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 14:29 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Negotiations of the trilateral working group on unblocking transport links in the South Caucasus continue, but the aggravation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has a negative impact on this activity. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Azernews reports, citing EEF. "Of course, any aggravations always have a negative impact on our work, hold back, delay, and time passes before we come back again, sit down, and start working further," he said, answering a relevant question. - Negotiations have not been suspended, they are continuing." According to Overchuk, the next meeting of Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on unblocking transport links in the region will take place when conditions are ripe for it. Earlier, the deputy prime minister, following the results of the last meeting of the working group, noted significant progress in agreeing to unblock transport communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The 2020 so-called Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, signed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, ended all hostilities in the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh" region from 00:00, 10 November 2020 Moscow time. In 2021, an Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian commission was formed to work on implementing the unblocking of transport routes promised in the ceasefire statement. The opening of these routes could have a beneficial effect on the economies of the South Caucasus, and journey times have decreased along this route with the advent of block trains. In February 2021, Azerbaijan announced it was starting reconstruction of the 108-kilometer (67-mile) section of the railway from the town of Horadiz to the border with Armenia. The leaders agreed on the need to proceed with unblocking the transport links and the Deputy Prime Ministers will take this work forward. The sides agreed to continue working within the trilateral working group and teams led by the Foreign Ministers will take forward the process of establishing transport and economic ties in the region in the coming weeks. The EU will take forward with both parties the work of the Economic Advisory Group, which seeks to advance economic development for the benefit of both countries and their populations. To recall, Armenia was holding the so-called elections once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime created by it, which have taken steps to maintain the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, on the contrary, have taken the path of provocation and escalating the situation. Armenia should stop its futile attempts to deceive its people and the international community, put an end to the claims against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, constructively participate in the normalization process, and comply with its international obligations. The only way to achieve peace and stability in the region is the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan and the disbandment of the puppet regime. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 18:23 (UTC+04:00) The US Embassy in Azerbaijan paid tribute to those killed in the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Azernews reports, citing the Embassy. Today our Embassy, led by Charge dAffaires Hugo Guevara, marked the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks and remembered those who lost their lives. We will never forget how Azerbaijan stood with the United States during this tragic time, the embassy wrote on X. On September 11, 2001, the United States was struck by a devastating terrorist attack that took the lives of thousands of innocent people. The US Embassy in Azerbaijan paid tribute to those killed in the attacks, and around the world, memorials and services were held in their honor. In Madrid, staff from the US Embassy placed a floral wreath at a memorial in Juan Carlos I Park, and two giant light beams pierced the night sky to represent the Twin Towers. Flags flew at half-staff outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, where Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary-general, and Douglas D. Jones, the US charge d'affaires, held a moment of silence at the Sept. 11 memorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India described the 9/11 attack as an attack on humanity, while French President Emmanuel Macron posted a video on Twitter with a caption that translates to, "We will #NeverForget. We will always fight for freedom." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas released a statement saying that his country will never "forget that fateful day," and South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his deepest condolences to President Biden and the US. The anniversary of the September 11 attacks is a time to remember the lives lost and the legacies left behind. We will never forget the victims, survivors, and families affected by the tragedy, and we will continue to honor their memory. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 11 September 2023 23:20 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT) hosted a meeting between Deputy Minister Sarvar Khamidov and Vice Chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Deng Boqing, Azernews reports, citing Kabar news agency. According to the MIIT, during the negotiations, the parties discussed the progress of projects implemented using grant funds from the Government of China and considered prospects for expanding bilateral financial and technical cooperation. The Chinese side highly appreciated the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years and expressed its readiness to further intensify interaction in the implementation of socially significant projects. Following the meeting, a ceremony was held to sign a Memorandum on the implementation of 14 projects totaling over $190 million in such areas as agriculture and water management, healthcare, education and institutional development. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Living in Bahrain is the dream of many thanks to its liberal business environment, low taxes and operating costs, and well-known shopping areas. If you are thinking about working in Bahrain or if you have just accepted a job offer in the Gulf country, we are showing you the essentials of applying for a job and working in Bahrain. If you don't know how to get a work visa in Bahrain or what type of visa your employees will need, this article is for you. It also mentions the requirements you need to apply for identification card, and residency permit in the country. What are the types of work visas in Bahrain? Business visa: This visa is valid for up to four weeks, and the duration varies depending on the type of trip. Anyone wanting to stay in Bahrain for longer than a week for business needs a business visa. Work visa: Employees will all need work visas if they are taking up any type of employment. This permit is valid for one to two years and also entitles the workers to residency. Employers in this case arrange most of the paperwork. What are the requirements to obtain Bahrain work visas? An employer or Bahraini national needs to sponsor anyone looking to obtain a Bahrain working visa. Employers will handle most of the application process on behalf of the employee and must show: Sponsorship letter/Letter of employment Commercial registration number The contract duration A completed visa application form The employee's passport A passport-size photo A copy of the job contract with the employees name, birth date, and nationality Health record from an authorized clinic Proof of payment of work visa fees As employers submit the necessary documents on their end, employees will also need to complete certain steps such as: Providing a medical report Showing academic or professional qualifications for the position Application Process The Bahraini Labor Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) processes and issues all visas before expats arrive in the country. Bahrain typically processes all work visa applications in around five business days. In cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the LMRA likewise facilitates medical appointments or check ups. When your contract ends or when you apply for a new job in the country, this agency is also in charge of transferring your work visa to another employer. What are the requirements for identification card or CPR card? To apply for an identification card, known as CPR card, you will need to prepare: Your passport Sponsorship letter Marriage certificate (for spouse) and birth certificates (for children) if you are planning to bring your family with you Proof of payment of fee How to get a job in Bahrain? There are different approaches to finding a job in Bahrain and they depend on the kind of job that you are qualified to do. Company websites: This is the first thing that you should look for when searching for a job as the positions available are listed here as well as requirements and application processes. Recruitment agencies: Companies hire recruitment agencies to find the most qualified candidates for the employment position that they require. Network: Whenever you meet a person you are networking and creating a network of people that you know could get you hired. They could pass your CV onto the person that is in charge of recruiting and put in a good word on your behalf. Cold calling: Find out the name of the company and the relevant telephone numbers, be assertive and stand your ground when calling them, then ask to speak to the hiring manager. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org. Archived Results for Monday, September 11th, 2023 Older Page 1 (Photo : NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images) Disputes and diplomatic tensions overshadowed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent trip to India, where he addressed the G20 conference in New Delhi. According to the prime minister's office, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Canadian delegation were forced to spend an additional night in India on Sunday due to mechanical issues with their plane as it attempted to depart from the Group of 20 (G20) summit. The Canadian Armed Forces informed us that CFC001 was having technical problems before we left for the airport," the prime minister's officer said in a statement provided to The Hill. Since there is no quick answer for these problems, our delegation will remain in India until new arrangements are arranged. Trudeau's Trip to India: Diplomatic Challenges and Controversies On Friday, Trudeau arrived in India, where the G20 summit was taking place in New Delhi. Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, expressed his country's concerns about "anti-India activities of extremist elements" in Canada at a meeting with Trudeau on Sunday, according to a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Moreover, disputes and diplomatic tensions overshadowed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent trip to India, where he addressed the G20 conference in New Delhi. Despite efforts to improve bilateral ties, his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised several complex topics, from worries about "anti-India activities" in Canada to current demonstrations there about Indian affairs. Technical issues with Trudeau's exit from the G20 meeting added to the tension of an already challenging tour. Per The Hill, Trudeau landed in India on Friday to participate in talks about international challenges alongside leaders from other G20 members. Trudeau met with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, a meeting that was greatly anticipated but ultimately ended up being quite tense. During the discussion, Modi expressed worries about what India views as "anti-India activities of extremist elements" in Canada, highlighting the connections between these forces and organized crime, drug cartels, and human trafficking. According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, considering the two nations' shared commitment to democracy and close intercultural ties, Canada should also be concerned about these challenges. A week before Trudeau's trip, Canada announced that a public inquiry would be opened to investigate possible foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections. This news further complicated the situation for Trudeau's travel to India. Trudeau was re-elected as prime minister as a result of these elections. Such accusations can sour relations internationally, and India expressed concern over the timing of the disclosure. It's important to remember that Trudeau and his delegation have already experienced problems with aircraft. According to CTV News, Canada's all-news network, in October 2016, a crisis forced Trudeau's plane to return to Ottawa only 30 minutes after takeoff. The difficulties encountered by the Canadian delegation while traveling abroad were further highlighted in October 2019 when the VIP plane crashed into a wall while it was being pulled into an Ontario hangar. Prime Minister Modi raised the continuing protests in Canada, particularly those involving Sikh communities, as one of his main concerns when he spoke with Trudeau. Given the 1984 killing of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, India has been sensitive to similar protests. Read Also: Readout of President Biden's Engagement with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Khalistan Protests in Canada: Straining India-Canada Relations Protests in Canada frequently focus on calling for Khalistan, the autonomous Sikh nation. The Sikh community in Canada, mainly located in the Indian province of Punjab, has caused friction between the two nations, NDTV reported. Recent events have made these tensions worse, such as the parade float depicting the killing of 1984. India accuses Sikh separatists in Canada of encouraging secessionism, inciting violence against Indian diplomats, destroying diplomatic properties, and endangering the Indian community and places of worship there. Diplomatic implications have resulted from India and Canada's deteriorating relations. Just three months after both nations said they hoped to reach an initial agreement by the end of the year, Canada recently put the discussion of a planned trade deal with India on hold. The fact that Modi decided without having a bilateral meeting with Trudeau during the G20 conference only highlights the existing tensions between the two countries. In his speech, Trudeau reaffirmed Canada's dedication to upholding "freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and peaceful protest." He clarified that although Canada maintains these fundamental liberties, it rejects violence and hatred. Trudeau was adamant that the actions of a small number of people do not speak for the whole Sikh community or Canada. Another problem developed as Trudeau's trip to India was coming to an end. Due to an issue with the Canadian delegation's plane, he was late leaving the G20 conference. The board's already enjoyable tour was extended when the Prime Minister's office declared they would remain in India until other arrangements were established. Trudeau's visit to India amid controversies and diplomatic concerns highlights the complexity of international relations in a globalized society. While both Canada and India appreciate their democratic values and intercultural relationships, they also face difficulties related to past events and political unrest. The tense atmosphere and the suspension of trade negotiations serve as a reminder that diplomacy is a delicate balance that calls for careful navigation and open communication to handle concerns and establish international ties. Related Article: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Set To Take Action To Separate From China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Social Media: @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The North Tower falls after burning for 102 minutes. On the 11th anniversary of 9/11, with an Ambassador and 3 of his staff killed, and two U.S.A. embassies set ablaze, all in Muslim Countries: Was it wise for Candidate Obama's first official act to apologize to Muslims for Americans' exercising their 1st Amendment protected right of free speech? Yes, "unconditionally," he cares No, he just doesn't get it I don't pay attention 125 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? poll#10 Today, on the 12th anniversary of 9/11, we ask: Has Candidate Obama done as much to keep America as safe from terrorists as did President Bush? Yes No Who cares? 119 total vote(s) What's your Opinion? It was a clear beautiful, royal blue sky day on Wall Street. The S & P futures were up markedly, awaiting a positive open, as I turned to get my first cup of coffee, after completing my morning chores. I returned to CNBC to get the morning business news, when I noticed that the S & P futures were falling, and they were falling fast. Down 10 points, 15 points, 20 points:... I heard myself reflexively exclaim.My exclamation was unintended as prophetic, but little did I know thatwas soon to befall the victims of the South Tower, and then the North Tower of the World Trade Center.The World Trade Center's North Tower was struck at 8:46 am by American Airlines Flight 11, which was commandeered by 5 Al-Qaeda hijackers. At 9:03 am, the South Tower of the World Trade Center was struck by United Airlines Flight 175, also commandeered by a second set of 5 Al-Qaeda hijackers. American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia at 9:37am by a third set of Al-Qaeda hijackers. A fourth airline, United Airlines Flight 93, impacted into a secluded field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers courageously foiled the fourth set of Al-Qaeda hijackers attempting to strike their intended target in Washington, D.C.The late Mark Haines, CNBC's venerable morning anchor of the popular morning business show, Squawk Box, was the first authoritative voice I heard concerning this cataclysmic event that would forever reshape Americans' view of the world, and conversely, how we are viewed by the rest of the world as well. Mark, David Faber, Joe Kernen and Maria Bartiromo, the hosts of this popular show, continued through the day, finding themselves in a most inauspicious position of guiding their viewers through the most terrible moment in America's relative recent collective memory. Most of us will never forget: where we were, what we felt, when we learned of the horrendous attack by Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda hijackers.It is a moment seared within the fabric of my soul. I pray it will be a moment seared within the collective consciousness of our American People. Lest we forget, our freedoms will be forever lost.After the attack, the deaths, the tears, the war, the retribution, and the consideration of what is real, and the knowledge of what is lasting, it might be time some real hope and change. Attila Nemecz Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Beaufort County Community College 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East Washington, N.C. 27889 Ph : 252-940-6387 : 252-940-6387 Cell : 252-940-8672 : 252-940-8672 attila.nemecz@beaufortccc.edu Students returned to Beaufort County Community College (Beaufort CCC) to sustained enrollment levels as well as sustained support. The college launched the Seagull Support Station outside of its Centralized Advising Center to help students connect with college services, log into their assignments and email, and add or drop classes. Other stations throughout campus will offer snacks and connect them to support services.The college's Centralized Advising Center has now been operating for a full year, helping to enroll students earlier than in previous years, and helping grow the college's student retention rate, with 70 percent of college credit students who enrolled for Fall 2022 either graduating with a credential or signing up for courses during Fall 2023.The college's one-stop Seagull Success Station is part of that effort to help students during those first few days when they are most likely to struggle.said Dr. Lisa Hill, VP of academic affairs at BCCC.The Beaufort Promise Scholarship, the college's program to cover tuition and fees for students, has continued to boost enrollment. Between the 2021-2022 academic year and the 2022-2023 academic year, enrollment at the college (measured in full-time equivalents or FTEs) grew by 12 percent across its short-term training and college credit programs, with the number of students served (unduplicated headcount) rising by 8 percent. Enrollment last year exceeded pre-pandemic levels (2019-2020) by 19 percent. Even with new stricter qualifications in place since May 2023, the college has seen sustained enrollment levels.Under the new qualifications, the Beaufort Promise Scholarship covers tuition and fees for students taking nine or more college credit courses or certification courses the Division of Continuing Education that are 50 hours or longer. They must have and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. Students must be residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, or Washington Counties. Textbooks are not covered, though students may apply for additional scholarships. Summer semesters are not included. Students must fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or an equivalent form to determine their financial need.The Centralized Advising Center opened last August to help first-year students (who have completed 16 or less credit hours) register for courses and to offer a supportive centralized advising model that provides continuous, individualized attention to beginning students. It provides extra support as students explore degree options and aligns their curricular choices with career plans or plans for university transfer. During the Summer 2023 semester, all college credit students went through advising and registration through the Centralized Advising Center.Students can still add classes, and 14-week classes will begin on August 31. Today is September 11, 2023. Twenty-two years after the World Trade/Pentagon attacks by foreign terrorists. Since there has been no similar attack since then many Americas are content to simply believe that this event in history has ended. But the truth is, the attack itself did little damage compared to the damage that has been done by our own government to our rights and the foundations of the American system created by our Founders. This damage has been orchestrated by a cabal of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats Washington D. C. This group, and the machinery they have put into place, has done more to transform our nation than any attacks of foreign terrorists, or domestic terrorists or in fact by any war in which we have been involved in since the Civil War. In effect, a fourth branch of government has been created that is not a part of the traditional three branches of Legislative, Executive or Judicial. For purposes of understanding what it is and how this fourth branch operates we call it the Intelligence Branch. The venerable author at The Last Refuge, Sundance, has explained what has happened since 9-11 in explicit detail. What he does is connect known facts and draws a picture that has existed right under our noses since then. On this, the twenty-second anniversary of 9-11 all Americans should become aware of these events and reflect on what is needed to clean up this mess that far exceeds the rubble in Washington and New York from that day. Unless we do so it is highly probable that those who set about using the attacks twenty-two years ago will succeedwhile we go about our daily grind paying no attention to what is being done to our liberty far beyond what foreign terrorists could have ever done. Sundance writes: Barack Obama and Eric Holder did not create a weaponized DOJ and FBI; the institutions were already weaponized by the Patriot Act. What Obama and Holder did was take the preexisting system and retool it, so the weapons of government only targeted one side of the political continuum. This point is where many people understandably get confused. Elevator Speech: (1) The Patriot Act turned the intel surveillance radar from foreign searches for terrorists to domestic searches for terrorists. (2) Obama/Biden then redefined what is a terrorist to include their political opposition. In the era shortly after 9/11, the DC national security apparatus, instructed by Vice President Dick Cheney, was constructed to preserve continuity of government and simultaneously view all Americans as potential threats. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) were created specifically for this purpose. After 9/11/01, the electronic surveillance system, that was originally created to monitor threats from abroad, was retooled to monitor threats inside our country. That is when all of our electronic metadata came under federal surveillance. That inflection point, and the process that followed, was exactly what Edward Snowden tried to point out. What Barack Obama and Eric Holder did with that new construct was refine the internal targeting mechanisms, so that only their political opposition became the target of this new national security system. The problems we face now as a country are directly an outcome of two very distinct points that were merged by Barack Obama. (1) The post 9/11 monitoring of electronic communication of American citizens; and (2) Obamas team creating a fine-tuning knob that it focused on the politics of the targets. This is very important to understand as you dig deeper into this research outline. Click to read the rest of the story. Gastroenterology is a very common medical specialty, but it is not without its misconceptions. Benjamin Levy III, MD, a gastroenterologist and clinical associate of medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, connected with Becker's to discuss the biggest misconceptions about gastroenterology. Note: This response has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Dr. Benjamin Levy III: While most people think of gastroenterology as a diagnosing specialty (finding polyps and colon cancers via colonoscopies), another main goal is to prevent colon cancer. We prevent colon cancer by removing polyps with snares and biopsy forceps before polyps can turn into a cancer. I love gastroenterology because of our ability to prevent cancer. We also prevent esophageal cancer by treating dysplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus from chronic GERD/reflux. Many people think that gastroenterologists just focus on the stomach and colon. However, we're not just poop doctors. Gastroenterologists treat every part of digestion, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, small bowel and colon. We treat patients with hepatitis and manage cirrhosis. We have the ability to remove stones stuck in the common bile duct with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures. We manage patients with pancreatitis. The term "endoscopy" can refer to both esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy procedures (not just EGD/upper scope). Endoscopy is a general term for procedures where gastroenterologists use a flexible tube with a light and camera to examine the gastrointestinal tract. Many patients fear that colonoscopies are going to be painful; however, most patients are super comfortable, sleepy and unaware of the procedure. We very carefully sedate patients for their EGD and colonoscopy procedures. Many patients are sedated for colonoscopies with the help of anesthesiologists using a fantastic medication called propofol, which wears off super quickly after procedures. We very carefully make sure that each patient is comfortable throughout their colonoscopy procedure. Many patients think that colonoscopy is the only way to get screened for colon cancer. Colonoscopies are great procedures because gastroenterologists can remove polyps to prevent cancer. However, some patients (especially patients who are very sick with other serious illnesses such as heart failure or a recent stroke) choose to be screened for colon cancer with FIT (fecal immunochemical testing) or Cologuard testing, which are stool-based tests. Patients with a positive FIT or Cologuard test result will need a follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy to try to figure out why the stool-based test turned positive. An ASC in the Staten Island borough of New York City is seeking approval to enlarge an existing building, according to a Sept. 9 report from SILive.com. The Staten Island community board will meet to address the request on Sept. 12, according to the report. The ASC is seeking permission for an as-of-right development, meaning because the proposal follows all applicable zoning codes, it will not require further special permits or approvals. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry filed a lawsuit against a local dental group for allegedly scamming Medicare patients. The lawsuit alleges that Langhorne, Pa.-based Infinity Dental Management, which does business under the name Alpha Dental Excellence, violated the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law by misleading patients into believing Medicare would cover certain dental services that were not actually covered. The practice also allegedly misled patients to obtain loans and failed to notify patients of consumer rights and protections. The lawsuit aims to ban the practice from offering dental and credit services in the state and seeks payment for consumer restitution and civil penalties. The Department of State's Prosecution Division also filed administrative charges against Arpan Patel, DMD, who owns the practice. The charges cite cases where patients were misled about Medicare coverage and cases in which records were not provided to patients upon request. The administrative case could result in actions against Dr. Patel's dental license and civil penalties, according to a Sept. 7 news release. Becker's has contacted Alpha Dental Excellence for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available. Three employees of West Virginia United Health System, commonly branded as WVU Medicine, recently filed a class-action lawsuit against the health system, alleging it failed to compensate them for overtime work. The plaintiffs a housekeeping assistant, laboratory assistant and environmental services team lead at the West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown named 28 defendants in the suit, including several hospitals under WVU Medicine's control. The lawsuit claims that more than 10,000 "similarly situated" employees might have also had their overtime pay withheld. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act and West Virginia minimum wage and maximum hour standards, the plaintiffs are eligible for overtime equal to time and one-half their regular pay rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek. The suit contends that the plaintiffs have been "unlawfully deprived" of this compensation. The lawsuit calls this alleged FLSA violation "willful, unreasonable and bad faith." The plaintiffs seek unpaid compensation, plus interest, for themselves and similarly situated employees, as well as the cost of attorney fees and "other relief as may be just and proper." WVU Medicine does not comment on pending litigation, a representative for the health system told Becker's Sept. 11. Lawyers representing Culver City, Calif.-based Prospect Medical Holdings told the state attorney general's office that the organization is unsure if patients' protected health information was compromised from an Aug. 3 cyberattack, Hartford Business Journal reported Sept. 11. The letters also said that not all of Prospect's systems are back online. "Prospect Medical's information technology teams are continuing to work around-the-clock to securely restore access to its system as quickly and safely as possible, and in a manner that prioritizes its ability to provide patient care," the health system's attorney, Sara Goldstein, wrote in an Aug. 21 letter to Attorney General William Tong's office. Prospect Medical Holdings, a 16-hospital system, was hit by a ransomware attack on Aug. 3. The attack affected multiple of its affiliates, including Springfield, Pa.-based Crozer Health and Eastern Connecticut Health Network. During the attack, the hospitals had to divert emergency care for more than 24 hours, shut down its EHR and cancel elective surgeries, according to the publication. Rhysida ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the cyberattacks on Culver City, Calif.-based Prospect Medical Holdings and Ocean Springs, Miss.-based Singing River Health System, Security Affairs reported Sept. 10. On Aug. 24, the ransomware group began auctioning off the Social Security numbers, passport information and health data of more than 500,000 patients and employees from Prospect Medical. The group has now allegedly claimed responsibility for an Aug. 21 cyberattack on The Singing River Health System, which runs 3 hospitals and 10 clinics. The attack forced Singing River to take its systems offline. Cedars-Sinai is now regularly hosting meetings where its employees can pitch ideas to senior leaders on how the health system can best use artificial intelligence to improve patient care. The Los Angeles-based health system calls the meetings' Idea-thons.' After hearing from employees, senior leadership votes on which project to advanceand put to use, according to a Sept. 11 Cedars-Sinai news release. In June, the first Idea-thon brought together more than a dozen physicians from different specialties as well as AI experts. The next Idea-thon is scheduled for October and will include a more expansive group of clinicians. "Our physicians and medical teams have direct insight into the roadblocks within their daily jobs," Mike Thompson, Cedars-Sinai vice president of enterprise data intelligence said in the release. "By bringing them into the discussion on generative AI technologies, they can help identify meaningful solutions to these hurdleswhich will likely improve patient care, advance the frontiers of medical research and increase organizational efficiency." (Photo : JUAN BARRETO/AFP via Getty Images) A firefighter extinguishes a fire after a flat was hit by a missile strike in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on September 15, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Thick white smoke, visible for miles around, rises over Bakhmut: this Ukrainian-controlled town in the Donbas is still under Russian offensive pressure despite the retreat of Moscow's troops in the northeast. Fragments of drones comparable to those used by the Russian army have been found on Romanian soil, escalating tensions between Russia and NATO member Romania. The event follows Russian assaults on Ukrainian river ports only a short distance from the Romanian border. Russian Drone Fragments Found in Romania Amid Ukraine Conflict The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Federation in Bucharest on September 10 to discuss the situation. The fact that drone wreckage has been found in Romania twice in the past week raises severe concerns for Romanian authorities. According to Yahoo News, the immediate summons sent to the Russian envoy in Bucharest following the incident highlighted the seriousness of the situation. Iulian Fota, Romania's State Secretary for Strategic Affairs, communicated the country's vehement protest at the violation of its airspace due to the discovery of drone fragments that resembled those used by Russian forces in their ongoing war against Ukraine. Romania's foreign ministry expressed concern with these developments in a highlighted statement. Romania also denounced the systematic, irrational, and savage strikes carried out by Russian forces against the civilian infrastructure and the Ukrainian populace. Attacks on the Danube River near the Romanian border are of particular concern since they could endanger the safety of Romanian residents who live in the area. The early morning hours of September 4 saw Russia launch a significant strike on Ukraine's southern Odesa Oblast, using drones in the operation. This is when the most recent occurrences began. The Romanian Ministry of Defense refuted the first claim made by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry that Russian drones had crashed and exploded on Romanian soil, which was based on reports from border guards. Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, responded to the denial by claiming photographic proof of Russian drone debris landing in Romania, giving weight to the accusation. On September 6, Romania's Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, for the first time, acknowledged that pieces of a Russian drone that had been launched into Ukrainian airspace had, in fact landed on Romanian soil. As a result of this admission, Bucharest informed NATO about the incident, with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis describing the falling debris as a "serious violation of sovereignty." Read Also: Glider Tragedy in Spain: 75-Year-Old British Man Dies After Crashing NATO's Support for Romania Amid Tensions with Russia In a show of unity, NATO members released a statement reaffirming their steadfast support for Romania. On September 7, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear that there was no evidence to support a planned Russian attack on Romania. Despite these assurances, tensions have persisted despite the September 9 discovery in Romania of drone fragments that resemble Russian military equipment. Russian drones have repeatedly violated Romanian airspace, prompting concerns about the possible hazards to the nation's security and the demand for constant observation and reaction. Per Reuters, Romania is attempting to strike a balance between its responsibilities as a NATO member and its physical proximity to the ongoing war in Ukraine as the situation remains difficult. The presence of Russian drone fragments on Romanian soil is a striking reminder of the difficulties encountered by countries at the forefront of geopolitical tensions and conflicts. It is crucial that diplomatic lines stay open as the crisis develops and that international organizations like NATO continue to address the worries of member states like Romania. These drone fragments' finding highlights the need to remain vigilant and preserve regional stability in an unstable international environment. Related Article: US General Warns Ukraine About Effects of Changing Climate on Its Counteroffensive @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CMS fined two more hospitals for alleged price transparency violations Sept. 5, marking the third consecutive month the agency has levied fines to noncompliant hospitals. According to CMS' price transparency website: Washington, D.C.-based Saint Elizabeths Hospital was fined $677,440. was fined $677,440. Silver Spring, Md.-based Holy Cross Hospital was fined $325,710. Additionally, CMS' Sept. 8 update of its price transparency website included information of another hospital fined Aug. 22 that was not previously uploaded to the site. Doctors' Center Hospital Bayamon (Puerto Rico) was fined $102,200. The hospitals have 30 days from the issuance date to appeal the fines. CMS has now fined 14 hospitals for price transparency violations. To date, three hospitals have appealed their penalties and are under review, according to CMS. Colorado Rockies great Todd Helton has helped eliminate $10 million of medical debt through a partnership with New York City-based RIP Medical Debt. Mr. Helton, who retired from playing in 2013, joined forces with philanthropist and friend Ryan Jumonville to wipe out the debt for some Colorado patients, which will begin late September. RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit national charity that raises funds from donors and uses those funds to acquire and abolish medical debt for individuals in financial need. Over $10 billion of medical debt has been abolished since 2014, helping more than 6.5 million people. "Medical debt prevents people from seeking further care and is a social determinant of health meaning having debt undermines ones wellness," Allison Sesso, CEO and president, said in a statement. Mr. Helton had his jersey retired in 2014, the first player in Colorado Rockies franchise history to receive such an honor. The first half of September has been laden with health system executive exits, from resignations to retirements. The following 11 executive departures have been reported by Becker's since Aug. 31: 1. Brenda Wolf is retiring as president and CEO of La Rabida Children's Hospital in Chicago after 12 years at the helm. 2. Tom Macaronas, CFO of Parsons, Kan.-based Labette Health, is retiring Sept. 30. Janet Soper, who has served as the hospital's director of finance, controller and vice president of revenue cycle, will succeed him. 3. Craig Leach will retire as CEO of Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center on Oct. 31. Keith Hobbs has been serving as the hospital's president since February and will succeed him. 4. Kim Hodgkinson abruptly left her role as CFO of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System. A representative for the health system did not disclose if she was dismissed or resigned. 5. Matt Wille is leaving his role as president and CEO of Traverse City, Mich.-based Munson Medical Center to serve as COO of Neenah, Wis.-based ThedaCare. 6. Christopher Soska, former chief operating officer of Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Stuart, Fla., left for a new role as president of Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System. 7. Peter Hahn, MD, resigned as president of the University of Michigan Health-West. The news comes two weeks after the health system announced a restructuring of its executive team, including the elimination of "CEO" from Dr. Hahn's title. 8. Mark Behl, executive vice president and COO at Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health, resigned from his position Sept. 1. 9. Gary Hall plans to retire as CIO of Estes Park (Colo.) Health after 18 years. 10. Rosalind Brewer stepped down as CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. 11. Anthony DeFurio resigned as executive vice president and CFO of Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health. He is remaining in a short-term advisory role to ensure a seamless transition. Bo Beaudry has been named senior vice president, serving as ministry market executive for Ascension Oklahoma, part of St. Louis-based Ascension. Mr. Beaudry will begin his new role on Sept. 25, according to a news release. Most recently, Mr. Beaudry served as CEO of Cedar Park (Texas) Regional Medical Center, a position he assumed in February 2019. Cedar Park Regional is a joint venture with Ascension Seton in Texas. Before joining Cedar Park Regional, Mr. Beaudry was president of the Medical Center of Southeast Texas in Port Arthur. Brenda Wolf is retiring as president and CEO of La Rabida Children's Hospital in Chicago after 12 years at the helm, the Hyde Park Herald reported Sept. 11. Ms. Wolf has served La Rabida for 35 years; her career there began in 1988, when she was hired as the hospital's first marketing director. She is unsure what retirement will look like for her, she told the newspaper. "The last 12 years as the CEO has consumed me, and although there are things whirling in my head, I've got to stop doing this before I can really take the next step," Ms. Wolf said. The hospital is conducting a national search for a successor. Eighty-five percent is the new 100 percent, or so a number of business and work-life leaders posit, marking a shift that carries extra meaning in an industry with perfectionist tendencies like healthcare. The idea of 85 percent as the goal does not welcome inferiority, but eliminates inconsequential work and preserves long-term stamina, according to The Wall Street Journal, which interviewed business and thought leaders. For example, does the last slide of the deck influence the success of the presentation? Will a decision made with 85 percent of the information result in a different outcome than if 100 percent of information was factored? Experts say upholding 8.5 wins out of 10 as a success, not failure, will help workers better defend themselves from burnout, optimize time, protect self-worth and maintain motivation, particularly in a social media environment rich with social comparison. Eighty-five as the new 100 percent likely raises a fair amount of cognitive dissonance in healthcare. The field has long been known to grapple with perfectionism among physicians and surgeons, for instance. Minds may go to how the 85-percent-as-whole mindset could come home to affect patient safety and outcomes. Although it may be a growing concept in some circles, it is not exactly a compelling healthcare marketing slogan. Business leaders told the WSJ that reframing success at 85 percent is about compromising on the right components of work rather than treating them all as equal and landing on a healthy (versus unattainable) level of difficulty. "It's that Goldilocks balance," Krishnamurthy Subramanian, PhD, executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., told the WSJ. Dr. Subramanian recounted an experience in which he prepared for a presentation but did not overthink it, knowing it would be acceptable even if it wasn't perfect. When slides froze up toward the end, he felt confident "winging it" through to the end. "[Eighty-five percent] is not slacking," he said. Some hospitals are tightening security measures because of an increase of violence against their workers, including St. Charles Health System, a four-hospital system headquartered in Bend, Ore., according to The Bulletin. In February, a patient kicked Kathryn Darling, CNA, in the head, leading to a concussion and Ms. Darling missing months of work. Currently, signs standing five feet tall remind patients not to assault staff, and they'll soon be in St. Charles' clinics. "Do no harm, make no threats," the signs say. "Our caregivers are here to help you. Help them by being kind with your words and actions. Please treat our caregivers with the same respect you would expect to receive." Metal detectors were also recently added to the emergency department at St. Charles Bend, according to The Bulletin. Another Oregon system, Portland-based Legacy Health, also installed metal detectors after a fatal shooting happened in one of its hospitals in late July. Legacy said it would apply bullet-slow film on hospital main entrances, emergency departments and in internal entrances. Numerous hospitals and health systems are following suit as healthcare is noting the highest number of nonfatal workplace injuries compared to other industry sectors. Unionized workers on strike against Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., recently held a march amid their labor dispute with the hospital. A union representative told Becker's the march occurred Sept. 9 in Maplewood, N.J., where RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark Manigan resides. Union members also held a silent vigil outside Mr. Manigan's home. The union's actions come amid an ongoing strike that began Aug. 4 by members of United Steelworkers Local 4-200, which represents about 1,700 nurses at the facility. They also come about two weeks after Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital temporarily cut off healthcare benefits, effective Sept. 1, for striking workers who would no longer be eligible since they are no longer working in the hospital. "We see staffing as a critical safety issue for our entire community. More nurses would mean we could devote more attention to each patient while also keeping ourselves safer on the job," Renee Bacany, a nurse and member of United Steelworkers Local 4-200, said in a statement shared with Becker's Sept. 11. "We continue to urge RWJ management to bargain in good faith until we reach a fair contract that ensures staffing to match the complexity of care required." Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital spokesperson Wendy Gottsegen emphasized the hospital's commitment to reaching a new labor deal. "RWJUH has remained steadfast from the very beginning in its desire to reach a resolution as soon as possible with USW 4-200, the union representing our nurses, and did everything it could to avert a strike," she said in a Sept. 8 statement shared with Becker's. "We remain deeply concerned about the impact the union's prolonged strike is having on our nurses and their families. We hope the union shares our objective to return to the negotiating table with the goal of ending this strike immediately." A federal mediator has scheduled another bargaining session for Sept. 14. Members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 40 began a three-day strike Sept. 11 at Ascension Providence Rochester (Mich.) Hospital. The union represents about 270 nurses and radiology technologists, according to The Oakland Press. The hospital is part of St. Louis-based Ascension. Union members voted to authorize a strike earlier this year. The union and hospital have been at the bargaining table since 2022 under extended contracts, according to the union's website. Ascension, in a statement posted online Sept. 5, said the hospital has been bargaining in good faith with the union, and during a recent bargaining session presented a final offer to OPEIU that includes an RN wage proposal with an average wage increase of more than 19 percent in the first year of the contract, as well as a nearly 15 percent increase to the maximum pay rate. Ascension said the current radiology technologist wage proposal also includes an average wage increase of more than 19 percent in the first year of the deal. Ascension said the hospital would honor upcoming scheduled bargaining sessions, including one with registered nurses Sept. 11, the first day of the strike. Union members contend there has been a lack of progress in negotiations. During bargaining, OPEIU Local 40 has specifically raised concerns about pay and staffing. The union, on its Facebook page, said members specifically seek a staffing matrix and staffing committee; manageable on-call assignments; and competitive pay and retroactive pay to recruit and retain staff, among other asks. "I am concerned when I have nurses saying that they have eight or nine patients each as their assignment. It's not safe for the patients and it's not safe for the staff," said Danielle Drouillard, a registered nurse in the pre-op department at Ascension Providence Rochester, according to the Detroit Free Press. According to the publication, Dina Carlisle, RN, president of OPEIU Local 40, also contends that the 19 percent raise proposed by management is not adequate to bring union members up to the level of other metro Detroit properties for the long term. Given the strike, the hospital has contracted with a staffing agency to provide registered nurses and radiology technologists, Ascension said. Ascension said the hospital is contractually required to commit to at least four days of work for any registered nursing and radiology technologist staff replaced. Striking workers will be temporarily replaced starting Sept. 11 and will be able to return to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of Sept. 15. A National Labor Relations Board regional director is suing Longmont (Colo.) United Hospital, seeking pay raises for nurses based on allegations that the hospital held back pay and benefit increases to unionized nurses amid their representation election appeal, according to court documents accessed by Becker's. NLRB Regional Director Matthew Lomax filed the civil lawsuit Sept. 7 in federal court. It follows a March decision by NLRB Administrative Law Judge John Giannopoulos. Mr. Giannopoulos said in a decision issued March 28 that Longmont violated federal labor law when it announced that employees would receive wage and benefit increases, except nurses whose wages and benefits would remain static at the existing status quo until the resolution of matters related to the representation election. Mr. Lomax's lawsuit also names as a defendant Centennial, Colo.-based Centura Health, which has folded into Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health. It says the hospital appealed the administrative law judge's decision and that is pending before the NLRB. Longmont United Hospital shared the following statement with Becker's: "Per our policy, we do not comment on pending litigation." Mr. Lomax said announcements and subsequent withholding of wage increases and benefits from Longmont nurses occurred after nurses at Longmont voted to join National Nurses United in July 2021. The NLRB certified the union as the collective bargaining representative for the nurses last year. Mr. Lomax said the hospital is still contesting the unions' certification before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. "The result of respondent's unfair labor practices has been a predictable disaffection of Longmont RNs from the Union (and a mass exodus of those RNs from Longmont United Hospital itself), as they learned that wages and benefits they would have been eligible for prior to the union campaign and election were now being withheld from them," he said. He added in his lawsuit that "such disaffection is likely to continue in the absence of intervention." The lawsuit seeks, among other measures, to give nurses at the hospital pay increases that were previously announced for other workers. In a tragic turn of events, two foreign aid workers died on Sunday in eastern Ukraine when Russian shelling hit a van carrying a group of four people working for a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization. This incident occurred amid a spate of Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and its environs, injuring several civilians. Tragedy Strikes Eastern Ukraine The harrowing events highlight the ongoing instability in the region and the dangers humanitarian workers face. The Road to Relief group's van was on a mission to evaluate the needs of civilians living on the outskirts of Bakhmut. This eastern city was the site of one of the longest and bloodiest battles in the ongoing conflict. Per BBC, Ukrainian forces continue to hold portions of Bakhmut's western suburbs and are actively conducting a counteroffensive in the region despite succumbing to Moscow in May. As the van traveled toward its destination, it was struck by artillery shells, which caused it to turn over and catch fire. The four volunteers from Road to Relief were confined inside and faced a life-threatening circumstance. Anthony Ihnat, a Canadian citizen, perished tragically in the incident. Additionally, German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr sustained severe injuries in the incident. Emma Igual, a 32-year-old Spanish national who served as the director of Road to Relief, was the van's fourth occupant. The organization could not locate Igual, making the situation even more precarious. Later in the day, Spain's acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares communicated the tragic news that Madrid authorities had received "verbal confirmation" of Emma Igual's demise. The loss of these selfless humanitarian workers highlights the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On the same day, Ukrainian officials reported a barrage of Russian drone attacks against Kyiv and its environs. According to NY Post, these attacks resulted in at least five civilian injuries. Later, the Ukrainian Air Force announced that it had effectively shot down 26 of the 33 drones involved in the attack. The director of Kyiv's military administration, Serhii Popko, disclosed that shrapnel from Iranian-made Shahed drones had fallen in various city districts, resulting in non-life-threatening injuries. Although most of the debris fell in open areas, some residential structures, including a high-rise apartment, were damaged. Further afield, the governor of the Kyiv region reported that the drone strikes had wounded four persons across the province. Several civilian structures, including private residences, stores, a hospital, a rehabilitation center, a school, and a kindergarten, were damaged in the attacks, which hospitalized one person. Concerns have been expressed regarding the safety and security of civilians in the region due to the scope and intensity of the drone attacks. Read Also: Daniel Khalife: UK Police Scour London's Largest Park in Search of Escaped Terror Suspect Russia Claims Destruction of Ukrainian Speedboats On Sunday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry made unverified claims that Moscow's forces had destroyed three US -supplied speedboats transporting Ukrainian soldiers as they approached Russian-occupied Crimea. These claims illustrate the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia regarding the status of Crimea, which Moscow unlawfully annexed in 2014. The Russian military also reported that its air defense systems had effectively shot down eight Ukrainian drones targeting the Crimean peninsula. Another drone reportedly flew over the bordering Ukraine region of Bryansk. These developments add to the two countries' ongoing security concerns and military posturing. Separately, on August 24, Ukrainian military intelligence disclosed that its special forces had landed in Crimea, raised the Ukrainian flag along the western coast of the peninsula, and then departed without incident, as per The Independent. This brave action highlights the ongoing dispute over Crimea's sovereignty, which remains a significant contention between Russia and Ukraine. The lamentable loss of international aid workers in eastern Ukraine is a grim reminder of the region's ongoing humanitarian crisis. The fatal incident highlights the precarious security situation that civilians and humanitarian workers face in conjunction with Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and its surroundings. As tensions and military operations continue, international actors must work toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict and prioritize the protection of civilians and aid workers who are working tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the ongoing crisis. The events of this fateful Sunday highlight the urgency of finding an enduring resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Related Article: UN Fails to Persuade Russia to Return to Black Sea Grain Deal; Kremlin Sticking to Original Demand @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Becker's is thrilled to recognize 67 CEOs and top leaders of critical access hospitals from across the U.S. The leaders recognized below successfully navigated their organizations through the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to focus on growing access to care as a valuable community resource. The following CEOs of critical access hospitals are lauded for their dedication to innovation, safety and quality. Many of these CEOs have led service line expansions, recruitment efforts, and partnerships with larger hospitals and health systems. These CEOs are devoted to the continuous improvement of their critical access hospitals, knowing just how crucial they are to the communities they serve. Note: This list is not an endorsement of included CEOs, organizations or associated healthcare providers. CEOs cannot pay for inclusion on this list. CEOs are presented in alphabetical order. Contact Anna Falvey at afalvey@beckershealthcare.com with questions or comments. Brett Altman, DPT. CEO of Cass Health (Atlantic, Iowa). Dr. Altman joined Cass Health in January 2017, and the hospital has received the Performance Leadership Award from The Chartis Center for Rural Health for being in the top quartile in the country on quality and outcomes every year since then. In addition, The National Rural Hospital Association has named Cass Health a top 20 hospital each year since 2021. Prior to joining Cass Health, Dr. Altman was COO, president and CEO of Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa. In addition to overseeing operations at Cass Health, Dr. Altman is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a member of Iowa Hospital Association board of trustees and the Cass Area Development board. Tammy Anderer, PhD, MSN. Chief Administrative Officer for Geisingers North-Central and Western regions. Dr. Anderer leads all operations at Geisingers Jersey Shore Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. The hospital is a designated advanced primary stroke center as well as a level IV trauma center. She also oversees Geisinger Medical Center Muncy and Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, as well as other regional outpatient facilities. A board-certified nurse practitioner, she continues to practice clinically in emergency medicine. She has an extensive background in clinic, health plan and hospital operations. She has a deep passion for community engagement and outreach. She has been a key partner in developing a regional mobile food pantry to address food insecurity needs. Additional community initiatives she championed include a focus on agricultural safety, trauma education, preventative health screenings, and overall access to health care. Colleen Assavapisitkul, MSN, RN. President of Adventist Health Clear Lake (Roseville, Calif.). Ms. Assavapisitkul manages a 25-bed hospital with outpatient services and more than a dozen rural health clinics across 14 locations. Adventist Health Clear Lake provides several specialist services, from cancer care to lab and medical imaging. She is involved in active community outreach, working with a variety of community programs. She also oversees more than 900 associates and 200 providers in three counties. She has more than 10 years of experience in executive leadership and has led Adventist through an emergency department expansion, has improved its quality scores and improved patient care in its clinics. John Ayoub. CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics (Mobridge, S.D.). Mr. Ayoub is CEO of Mobridge Regional Hospital and Clinics, where he oversees the 25-bed critical access hospitals as well as four rural health clinics, an assisted living and senior living facility, and a specialty clinic. MRHC serves as the largest employer in Mobridge and Walworth County, S.D., with over 190 staff members. Under Mr. Ayoub's leadership, the organization has been recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital for 2023. Michael C. Backus. President and CEO of Oswego (N.Y.) Health. Mr. Backus became president and CEO of Oswego Health in January after serving as COO and executive vice president since 2020. Mr. Backus has additionally served on the Oswego Health board of directors from 2016-2020, in addition to the board of directors of ConnextCare, a regional federally qualified health center. In his current role, he works with both state and federal authorities to increase access to high-quality care throughout central New York. During his time with Oswego, Mr. Backus has successfully secured over $26 million to assist in service expansion for patients across the organization's 17 central New York locations. Mr. Backus has previous experience serving in elected office, which he utilized in his work with government agencies, public officials and the overall community through Oswego. Bert Beard. CEO of Maria Parham Health (Henderson, N.C.). As CEO of Maria Parham Health, Mr. Beard manages a 25-bed critical access hospital with more than 150 physicians and a 700 personal clinical support staff. Prior to assuming the position in 2016, he served as COO at 294-bed Wilson (N.C.) Medical Center for two years. Mr. Beard also had other healthcare administrative roles, like associate administrator and interim COO at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Fla. Barry Bloom. CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital (Hazlehurst, Ga.). As CEO of Jeff Davis Hospital, Mr. Bloom provides strategic leadership and promotes community responsibility, collaboration and patient-centric care within the organization. In 2020, he was recognized by HomeTown Health as a 2020 Hospital Leader of the Year for his innovation, leadership, and commitment to his employees and community. Prior to working with Jeff Davis Hospital, Mr. Bloom was the vice president of physicians and informational services at Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas, Ga. Rolland "Boomer" Bojo, Jr. MSN, RN, NEA-BC. President and CEO of UHS Delaware Valley Hospital (Walton, N.Y.). Mr. Bojo is CEO of UHS Delaware Valley Hospital, where he is responsible for leading the financial success and growth of the critical access hospital in addition to increasing access and quality of care. He also works closely with the emergency room nursing team. Mr. Bojo's accomplishments as Delaware Valley CEO have included expansion of its inpatient unit as well as fostering long-term staff retention and tenure. He began his nursing career at Delaware Valley in 1995, and has since served as administrator at the Grover Hermann Division as well vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Catskill Regional Medical Center. Mr. Bojo returned to Delaware Valley as president and CEO in 2021. Tom Borowski. President of Hudson (Wis.) Hospital & Clinic. Mr. Borowski is the president of Hudson Hospital & Clinic, a 25-bed critical access hospital that has earned local and national recognition for its sustainability and healing efforts. He leads the 60-person medical staff that treats nearly 20,000 emergency center and specialty clinic patients annually. Ben Bucher, FNP. CEO of Towner County Medical Center (Cando, N.D.). Mr. Bucher has served as CEO of Towner County Medical Center since 2015. TCMC is a full-service rural health clinic offering specialty care in orthopedics, nephrology, cardiology, oncology, OB/GYN and more. In 2023, TCMC was recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital. In addition to his role as CEO, Mr. Bucher is also a family nurse practitioner specializing in ER, clinic and hospital medicine, providing specialty care in dermatology procedures, joint injections and chronic disease treatment. Karen Cheeseman. CEO Mackinac Straits Health System (St. Ignace, Mich.). Ms. Cheeseman has served as CEO of Mackinac Straits Health System, a 15-bed hospital with an emergency medical center and outpatient surgery center, since 2017. She has spent more than 16 years with Mackinac Straits and serves on the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Small and Rural Council. Natalie Couturiaux Ryder, MSN, RN. Chief Administrative Officer of Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital (Dowagiac, Mich.). Ms. Couturiaux Ryder is responsible for the development, design and operational improvement of systems for healthcare delivery at Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital, where she serves as chief administrative officer. Her role combines the functions of COO and CNO in the rural healthcare setting, where she aims to maximize the value of care and execute the hospital's strategic plan. During her first 15 months in her current role, she improved patient and employee satisfaction, and she reduced staff turnover within her first year. Dolan Dalpoas. President and CEO of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital (Lincoln, Ill.). Mr. Dalpoas is the president and CEO of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital that serves the Logan County area. Under his leadership, the hospital's clinicians and staff aim to achieve higher-quality patient care, and the facility has been honored for superior clinical, operational and financial performance. For example, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health honored Abraham Lincoln Memorial with the Performance Leadership Award 2018, and iVantage Health Analytics named it among the 100 Top Critical Access Hospitals in 2019. Jeremy P. Davis. President and CEO of Grande Ronde Hospital (La Grande, Ore.). Mr. Davis joined 25-bed Grande Ronde Hospital in 2018 after serving as CEO of 42-bed Evanston (Wyo.) Regional Hospital. He has successfully recruited 38 new providers in the past three years and has introduced the hospital to the capital markets by securing investment grade ratings from S&P and Fitch ahead of a $50 million tax-exempt fixed rate public market bond issuance. Mr. Davis has more than 12 years of experience in the healthcare industry. He has earned the American College of Healthcare Executives Early Career Healthcare Executive Regent's Award. Mike Delfs. President and CEO of Jamestown (N.D.) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Delfs serves as the president and CEO of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, an award-winning critical access hospital built on innovation. He has successfully provided the community with access to services not typically seen in critical access hospitals, such as orthopedics, podiatry, urology, otolaryngology services and more. He has spent more than 28 years in the healthcare industry, including time as director, COO and CEO of both independent hospitals and health systems. He is passionate about developing leadership skills in himself and others. Under Mr. Delfs' leadership, Jamestown Regional Medical Center was recognized by the NRHA as a top 20 critical access hospital for 2023. John Durrett. CEO of Fredonia Regional Hospital (Fredonia, Kan.). Mr. Durrett serves as Fredonia Regional Hospital's CEO. The 25-bed critical access hospital employs over 130 individuals and offers care including medical, surgical, emergency, physical therapy, interventional radiology, as well as various other outpatient services. During Mr. Durrett's leadership, Fredonia Regional Hospital was recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital in 2023. He has previous experience as an administrative project manager at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kan. Jake Erickson. CEO of Bingham Memorial Hospital (Blackfoot, Idaho). Mr. Erickson served as assistant administrator and COO of Bingham Memorial Hospital before being promoted to COO. He is considered a change agent for the hospital and ensures day-to-day operational efficiency. Over the past decade-plus, which includes time that Mr. Erickson spent as head of physician recruitment, BMH has increased its medical staff 400 percent to more than 150 providers. He has also been instrumental in the hospital's major partnerships in recent years and expanded service offerings to include more than 35 physician specialties. Marty Fattig. CEO of Nemaha County Hospital (Auburn, Neb.). Mr. Fattig has over two decades of experience as Nemaha County Hospital's CEO, where he oversees all operations of the critical access hospital. Under his leadership, the hospital has been recognized as a CHIME "Most Wired" facility for the past 10 years. In addition to his role at NCH, Mr. Fattig also serves on the board of directors of CyncHealth and as the chair for the Nebraska Hospital Association. He has previous experience as a director of ancillary services and a consulting medical technologist. Lukas Fischer. CEO of Linton (N.D.) Regional Medical Center and South Central Health (Wishek, N.D.). Mr. Fischer is the CEO of two separate hospitals, overseeing operations at both. Mr. Fischer is responsible for developing and managing staff teams, negotiating improvements, promoting quality of care, coordinating staffing and reporting, performing related administrative duties, doing community outreach and making decisions on hiring and staffing. He recently oversaw a hospital campus renovation, and has previously held roles including chief operating officer and chief nursing officer. Laura Gentry, RN, BSN. CEO of Atrium Health Navicent Peach (Macon, Ga.). Ms. Gentry leads daily operations at Atrium Health Navicent Peach, which provides services to Peach county and its surrounding communities. It offers 25 private rooms, 14 emergency treatment rooms, two trauma rooms and more. Ms. Gentry's role is critical in providing care for underserved communities. She is responsible for the system's strategic, operational and financial goals. She has been influential in building community relationships and supporting community outreach programs. She has also been influential in implementing a school-based virtual health partnership with an area county school. Linda Givens. Administrator of Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital (Roseville, Calif.). In her role as administrator at Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital, Ms. Givens oversees all hospital and clinic organization as well as day-to-day operations. An advocate for patient-centered care, she has led the facility to Planetree Gold certification. In addition to serving as administrator, Ms. Givens works closely with the hospital board and is secretary of the Willits Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she served as the patient care executive for Adventist Health in Mendocino County, Calif. Martin Guthmiller. CEO of Orange City (Iowa) Area Health System. Mr. Guthmiller has spent more than 30 years of his career in healthcare. He began his tenure as CEO for Orange City Area Health System in 1994 and oversaw the planning, fundraising and construction of its $29.6 million expansion project, which was completed in 2006. The health system includes four clinics, an award-winning hospital, a newly-renovated birth center, comprehensive surgical services, a sports medicine clinic, senior care campus, and a full range of ancillary medical services. Mr. Guthmiller leads the health systems 600-strong staff and is currently focusing on senior care, including plans to expand Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Community services in Orange City, Iowa and and developing a new 55-plus living community. Hank Hanigan. CEO of Whitman Hospital and Medical Center (Colfax, Wash.). Mr. Hanigan became CEO of Whitman Hospital in 2014 after serving as COO of WhidbeyHealth in Coupeville, Wash. In addition to his responsibilities at Whitman, Mr. Hanigan is a member of the Washington State Hospital Association's Rural Hospital Committee and is on the board of Northwest Rural Hospital Committee. Mark Harrel. CEO of Phelps Memorial Health Center (Holdrege, Neb.). Mr. Harrel has led Phelps Memorial Healthcare Center as CEO since 2007. The center is a 25-bed, non-profit critical access hospital employing over 328 healthcare professionals, and contracting with an additional 150. Phelps Memorial offers a wide variety of patient services, including cardiology, ENT and otolaryngology, gastroenterology, psychiatry, oncology, orthopedics, surgery and more. In 2023, the hospital was recognized as a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association. Curtis Hawkinson. CEO of Community Memorial Healthcare (Marysville, Kan.). As CEO of Community Memorial Healthcare, Mr. Hawkinson is responsible for the overall management and oversight of the 25-bed critical access hospital. CMH employs over 200 individuals and provides patient services through three rural health clinics, visiting specialty outpatient physicians, home health and hospital care. The hospital was named a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association in 2023. Prior to his role at CMH, Mr. Hawkinson served as the CEO of Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. Deborah Herzberg. President and CEO of Avera Holy Family Hospital (Estherville, Iowa). Ms. Herzberg serves as president and CEO of Avera Holy Family Hospital, a critical access hospital serving 6,800 community members. In her role, Ms. Herzberg directs the strategic, operational and financial activities for the organization. She has been instrumental in improving recruitment efforts, enhancing patient satisfaction, and developing initiatives such as same day surgery and senior life solutions programs. She is a member of Iowa Hospital Association and the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation Scholarship committee. Meg Hickey-Boynton. CEO of Community Hospital of Anaconda (Anaconda, Mont.). As the CEO of Community Hospital of Anaconda, Ms. Hickey-Boynton oversees the operations of the critical access hospital, which offers services in family practice, obstetrics, general surgery, orthopedics, neuroscience, emergency medicine, gastroenterology and more. In addition to offering acute, emergency and laboratory services, CHA also offers home health, hospice and long-term care. In 2023, the hospital was recognized as a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association. Jodi Hovdenes, RN. President of CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center (Carrington, N.D.). Ms. Hovedenes was named president of CHI St. Alexius Health Carrington Medical Center in 2022 after serving several months as interim president. She has previous nursing experience at Carrington Health. Under her leadership. CHI St. Alexius Health Medical Center was named a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association in 2023. Toby Freier. President of New Ulm (Minn.) Medical Center. Mr. Freier gained experience as vice president of Tomah (Wis.) Memorial Hospital before joining New Ulm Medical Center and becoming president in January 2011. The nonprofit hospital serves patients in central Minnesota and includes more than 30 affiliated physicians as well as visiting specialists. In June 2019, the Minnesota Hospital Association honored New Ulm Medical Center with the Best Minnesota Hospital Workplace Award. Gary Jordan. President and CEO of Cherokee (Iowa) Regional Medical Center. Mr. Jordan serves as president and CEO of Cherokee Regional Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital with four regional clinics, senior housing, wellness services and inpatient care. He has 28-plus years of hospital leadership, beginning when he was vice president of support services at Carroll Regional Medical Center in Berryville, Ark. Mr. Jordan also has experience as CEO of Saint Luke's Health System's Wright Memorial Hospital in Trenton, Mo. Kevin Kincaid. CEO of Knoxville (Iowa) Hospital & Clinics. Mr. Kincaid leads a critical access hospital and three rural clinics. As CEO, he transformed the hospital from one on the brink of financial ruin to a successful, high-quality facility. Thanks to his leadership, Knoxville Hospital & Clinics has been recognized as a "Top 100 Critical Access Hospital" by the National Rural Health Association for two consecutive years. Prior to assuming his current role, Mr. Kincaid served as COO of Dallas County Hospital in Perry, Iowa. Mark Kuhn. CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital (Geneseo, Ill.). As CEO of Hammond-Henry Hospital, Mr. Kuhn is responsible for managing all departments and 400 employees. He came to Hammond-Henry in 2017 after serving as chief administrative officer for 17 years at Springfield (Ill.) Clinic, where he managed more than 400 physicians and 30 practice locations. He has also served as a senior leader at Lake Forest (Ill.) Hospital. Ryan Larsen. CEO of Community Medical Center (Falls City, Neb.). Mr. Larsen has served as CEO of Community Medical Center since 2005. During his time with the organization, he has led the opening of a new facility in 2009 and an expansion in 2018. In 2023, the hospital was recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital under his leadership. Mr. Larsen has previous experience in healthcare management as CFO of Wamego (Kan.) City Hospital, as well as CFO of Memorial Hospital Association in Carthage, Ill. Judy Leach. Administrator at Adventist Health Mendocino Coast (Roseville, Calif.). Ms. Leach manages a 25-bed critical access hospital that offers 24-hour emergency care, primary care and assistance with preventive and rehabilitation services. She also oversees a variety of clinics and programs offering access to care for primary care, specialty care and home care services. Her team includes more than 350 associates and 141 providers. Ms. Leach also helped the transition three years ago when Adventist began its oversight over the hospital. She has more than three decades of healthcare experience, and collaborates with community leaders to optimize healthcare through dialogue. Tom Manion. President and CEO of New London (N.H.) Hospital. Mr. Manion assumed the role of president and CEO of New London Hospital in March 2020. He has led the hospital through a successful transition to Epic EHR software, an expansion of orthopedic staff and the hospital's designation as a center of excellence for hip and knee replacements, and the launch of an express care program. With Mr. Manion at the helm, the hospital has seen positive operating margins since February 2022, the most successful trajectory in nearly a decade. Steve Massey. President and CEO of Westfields Hospital & Clinic (New Richmond, Wis.). Mr. Massey has served as president and CEO of Westfields Hospital & Clinic since 2011. His accomplishments within the organization have included the joining of Westfields Hospital and New Richmond Clinic in 2013, which formed Westfields Hospital & Clinic. The hospital was also recognized by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital in 2023. Previously, Mr. Massey served as Osceola (Wis.) Medical Center's CFO. Cynthia K. McGuire. CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital (Peterborough, N.H.). Ms. McGuire has served as the CEO of Monadnock Community Hospital since early 2014. She has more than 25 years of experience working in the healthcare industry. Ms. McGuire most recently served as the COO of Adirondack Health in Saranac Lake, N.Y. Doug McMillan. CEO of Cody (Wyo.) Regional Health. In the 26 years that he has served as CEO of Cody Regional Health, Mr. McMillan has grown it into a large critical access hospital with 25 beds. The organization's annual net revenue has grown from $20 million to $110 million annually. Mr. McMillan has built up the hospital's active medical staff from 20 physicians to over 70 providers in the community. Under his leadership, CRH is currently in the process of starting a regional flight program in partnership with Broomfield, Colo.-based SCL Health in Billings, Mont., and expanding its primary care and specialty services via a new clinic in Basin, Mont. Jac McTaggart. Senior Director of Sanford (N.D.) Mayville Medical Center; CEO, Sanford Hillsboro Medical Center. In 2017, Mr. McTaggart became CEO of Sanford Mayville Medical Center in addition to his role as CEO of Hillsboro Medical Center. He is responsible for the operations of both medical centers, which offer patients critical care, lab services, long-term care, orthopedic care, rehabilitation and more. In 2023, Sanford Mayville was named a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association under Mr. McTaggart's leadership. Tamara Miller. CEO of Madison (S.D.) Regional Health System. Ms. Miller serves as the CEO of Madison Regional Health System, a nonprofit, independent health system with 250 employees. She has worked at MRHS for 38 years, serving as CEO since 1996. Under her leadership, the critical access hospital moved to a larger facility in 2015. Ms. Miller serves on many boards, including the SD Association of Healthcare Organizations Council on Acute Care. Tylie Mills. CEO and Administrator of Pike County Memorial Hospital (Louisiana, Mo.). Ms. Mills became CEO of Pike County Memorial Hospital in August 2018 after serving as its director of nursing. She also is a former emergency department and emergency medical services director. The same month she took the helm at Pike County Memorial, the hospital underwent an unannounced on-site survey from the Joint Commission and received its Gold Seal of Approval for hospital accreditation. Cory Nelson. CEO of Sioux Center (Iowa) Health. As CEO of Sioux Center Health, Mr. Nelson is in charge of strategic planning, program development and modification, and coordination of all operations in alignment with the organization's mission. In addition, he also serves on the Sioux Center Health Foundation Board. Some of Mr. Nelson's most recent accomplishments include solidifying an obstetrics partnership with another regional facility, creating a medical director partnership with a federally qualified health center and growing Sioux Center Health by over 50 percent over the last four years. Under his leadership, the organization has been named a top workplace by the Des Moines Register and has won Northwest Iowa Review's Best of the N'West categories two years in a row. Prior to joining Sioux Center Health, Mr. Nelson served as CEO of Genoa (Neb.) Medical Facilities. Robert F. Nutter. President and CEO of Littleton (N.H.) Regional Healthcare. Mr. Nutter serves as president and CEO of Littleton Regional Healthcare, a critical access hospital that received Press Ganey's 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award. He has spent more than 17 years in healthcare administration roles. Before assuming his current role in 2017, he was the vice president and COO of Mercy Health System in Portland, Maine. Julie Petersen. CEO of Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital (Ellensburg, Wash.). Ms. Petersen oversees Kittitas Valley Healthcare Hospital's seven clinics and critical access hospital as CEO. She joined the organization in 2016 as interim CEO and accepted the permanent position the following year. Ms. Petersen has spent 30 years in the nonprofit healthcare industry. She most recently served as CFO and CEO at Prosser (Wash.) Memorial Hospital. Michael Peterson. President of Androscoggin Valley Hospital (Berlin, N.H.). Mr. Peterson has served as president of 25-bed Androscoggin Valley Hospital since December 2015. He has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare, including 10 in as a senior executive of a rural community hospital. Mr. Peterson most recently served as COO of Sebasticook Valley Health in Pittsfield, Maine. August Querciagrossa. CEO, Western Region at OSF HealthCare (Peoria, Ill.). Mr. Querciagrossa leads efforts to address access to care in rural areas including emergency services. He played a pivotal role in developing a model of care to support Illinois Valley communities when St. Margarets Health Spring Valley (Ill.) closed in June 2023, working with his teams to quickly establish local options for urgent care, primary care, occupational health and rehabilitation services. He also leads the opening of a second campus of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in rural Peru, Ill. He has overseen Illinois Valley job growth and creation by spearheading efforts to hire over 400 former St. Margaret Health employees and more than 50 physicians and advanced medical providers. He oversees eight hospitals, several of which achieved national rankings. OSF brought Perry Memorial Hospital into its ministry two years ago and renamed it OSF Saint Clare Medical Center. The critical access hospital serves residents of Princeton, Ill. and surrounding communities. Joshua Ratner. CEO of WMCHealth's HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley (Valhalla, N.Y.). Mr. Ratner leads operations for the HealthAlliance Hospital and is currently guiding the second phase of development for WMCHealth's rural advancement plan. He communicates and works closely with board members, local elected officials, families and community partners to bring high-level care to communities. He is also working closely with WMCHealth senior leadership on the addition of a $220 million critical care tower at Westchester Medical Center, which will bring together critical care and general medical-surgical services. He has more than 25 years of healthcare experience, and has also worked to expand WMCHealth's behavioral health services, focusing on patients living in rural communities. Roger Reamer. CEO of Memorial Health Care Systems (Seward, Neb.). Mr. Reamer has served as the CEO of Memorial Health Care Systems for over 20 years. The system includes the 24-bed Memorial Hospital as well as three rural health clinics and an outpatient physical therapy center. Under Mr. Reamer's leadership, Memorial Health Care Systems made the National Rural Health Association 2023 list of top 20 critical access hospitals. Dave Ressler. CEO of Aspen (Colo.) Valley Hospital. Mr. Ressler has spent 25 years as a hospital administrator, including 12 of them at Aspen Valley Hospital, where he is now CEO. He has previous experience as chief strategy officer and COO of the 600-plus-bed Tucson (Ariz.) Medical Center. During his tenure at Aspen, Mr. Ressler has worked with numerous rural hospitals to learn more about care and healthcare transformation. Jeremy Roberge. President and CEO of Huggins Hospital (Wolfeboro, N.H.). Mr. Roberge has served as president and CEO of Huggins Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, since 2016. He is responsible for managing the delivery of care to the region's 30,000 residents. Mr. Roberge joined the senior leadership team at Huggins Hospital in 2012 as senior vice president and CFO before being promoted to his current role. Bruce Roesler. CEO of The Richland Hospital and Clinics (Richland Center, Wis.). Mr. Roesler was previously president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center New Hampton (Iowa) and CEO of Avera Marshall (Minn.) Regional Medical Center before becoming CEO of Richland in 2015. At Richland, he oversees an integrated multispecialty medical group and critical access hospital with over 400 staff members. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a board member of the Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative. Shelly Russell. CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center (Osage, Iowa). Ms. Russell became CEO of Mitchell County Regional Health Center in 2014 after spending time as CNO of the critical access hospital. The hospital includes 135 staff members and is affiliated with Mercy Health Network. In 2019, iVantage Health Analytics named Mitchell County Regional Health Center a 100 Top Critical Access Hospital. She has previous experience in hospital administration at Memorial Health Center in Medford, Wis., and Aspirus, a Wausau, Wis.-based health system. Michael Schafer. CEO of Spooner (Wis.) Health. Mr. Schafer is responsible for the direction of Spooner Health, which includes a 25-bed critical access hospital, and rural home health agency. He has created a working environment that is top-ranked in employee engagement and has patient survey results that far exceed state and national averages. In 2017, he oversaw the construction of a replacement hospital and negotiated with a larger health system to bring on a local clinic to its new campus, where it partners for some services. He also was instrumental in establishing a nurse practitioner hospitalist model. In addition to his role at Spooner Health, Mr. Schafer is on the board of the Wisconsin Hospital Association. Matthew Sells. President and CEO of Shenandoah (Iowa) Medical Center. Mr. Sells became interim president and CEO of Shenandoah Medical Center in 2017 after serving four years as the hospital's CFO. Later that year, he was named permanent CEO. Shenandoah has an outpatient clinic facility, disease prevention and wellness center and women's health clinic in addition to its critical access hospital. Mr. Sells became a board member of Bank Iowa this year. Brian Stephens. President and CEO of Door County Medical Center (Sturgeon Bay, Wis.). Mr. Stephens is the CEO of Door County Medical Center, which has more than 175 physicians, an outpatient medical center and a skilled nursing facility. He spent time as the chief administrative officer before being promoted to CEO in January 2019. Scott Thoreson. CEO of Carroll County Memorial Hospital (Carrollton, Mo.). Mr. Thoreson joined Carroll County Memorial Hospital as CEO in July 2021. In his role, he is responsible for the oversight of the 25-bed critical access hospital's operations and 240-plus employees. In 2023, CCMH was recognized as a top 20 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association. Previously, Mr. Thoreson served as an administrator with the Mayo Clinic Health System in Springfield and St. James, Minn. Dawn Trompeter. President of OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center (Mendota, Ill.). Ms. Trompeter became president of OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in January 2018. She is responsible for aligning the hospital with OSF HealthCare's overall strategy and directing internal operations, maintaining a culture of collaboration and integration. She has previous experience as the vice president and CFO of OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, Ill., and Saint Paul Medical Center, where she helped the organizations improve HCAHPS scores. Karissa Turner. President and CEO of Wabash General Hospital (Mount Carmel, Ill.). Ms. Turner became president and CEO of Wabash General Hospital in January. Since then, the hospital has earned recognition as one of the 2019 best places to work in Illinois from the Daily Herald Business Ledger. She's also presided over the opening of a new orthopedic clinic at Clay County Hospital Medical Clinic in Flora, Ill. Allen Van Driel. CEO of Smith County Memorial Hospital (Smith Center, Kan.). Mr. Van Driel leads Smith County Memorial Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital. He has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare including as CEO and COO for Nebraska-based critical access hospitals. Mr. Smith has held leadership positions within the American Hospital Association, Nebraska Hospital Association and National Rural Health Association. Tom Vasko. CEO of Newman Memorial Hospital (Shattuck, Okla.). Mr. Vasko is responsible for clinical, financial, administrative and regulatory functions at Newman's 25-bed critical access hospital that specializes in several medical areas, including orthopedics and general surgery. The hospital serves 10 counties, and is the largest employer in Ellis County, Okla. After joining the hospital in February 2023, Mr. Vasko successfully launched orthopedic and surgery service lines. He also launched an outpatient infusion clinic and a women's health line. He is also active in policy and advocacy at the state and federal levels for rural healthcare. George Von Mock. CEO of Hansen Family Hospital (Iowa Falls, Iowa). Mr. Von Mock has served as CEO of Hansen Family Hospital, a MercyOne affiliate, since December 2021 after several months with the hospital as interim CEO. Under his leadership, the hospital was named a top 20 critical access hospital for 2023 by the National Rural Health Association. With over two decades of healthcare leadership experience, Mr. Von Mock was most previously CFO for Hansen Family Hospital, and director of finance for MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, before that. Treg Vyzourek. CEO of Brodstone Healthcare (Superior, Neb.). Mr. Vyzourek has served as CEO of Brodstone Healthcare since 2018. During his tenure, he has led the organization to a five star CMS rating in quality and patient experience, led mental health service expansion, an increase, and is currently planning a new construction project. Additionally, Brodstone has been named a top 100 critical access hospital by the National Rural Health Association in 2019 and 2020, and a top 20 critical access hospital in 2023. Prior to his current role, Mr. Vyzourek worked in various roles, including senior director of ancillary services, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Neb. Rhonda P. Webb, MD. CEO and CMO of Pagosa Springs (Colo.) Medical Center. As CEO and CMO of Pagosa Springs Medical Center, Dr. Webb leads operations for the medical center's hospital, emergency and ambulatory services, and outpatient clinic. The hospital and emergency/ambulance services are the only ones in the county, while the outpatient clinic is the largest in the county. Dr. Webb works closely with the board of directors to create and launch strategies that address the roadblocks faced by rural critical access hospitals. Under her leadership, the hospital has expanded service lines and undergone renovations. Dr. Webb maintains financial stability for the medical center while handling compliance and risk management. As CMO, she ensures the safe delivery of quality medical services. Harry Weis. CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System (Truckee, Calif.). Mr. Weis became CEO of Tahoe Forest Health System in December 2015. He has more than four decades in healthcare leadership, with experience in strategy, acquisitions, clinical and financial management in for-profit and nonprofit healthcare organizations. In his current role, he is responsible for a 25-bed critical access hospital providing care for residents in a 3,500-square-mile area. Kristie Williams, RN. Vice President and CEO of Carilion Giles Community Hospital and Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital (Roanoke, Va.). Ms. Williams serves as the CEO of both Carilion Giles and Tazewell Community Hospitals, both rural centers in the southern market of Carilion Clinic. In her role, she oversees hospital operations and ensures stability with an overall goal of providing and improving access to quality care. A nurse by training, Ms. Williams has over two decades of experience with Carilion Clinic and has also served as an interim CNO for six hospitals in the system. Her efforts and accomplishments with the organization include organizing vaccination clinics as well as delivering vaccinations firsthand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and expanding access across CGCH, specialty departments and outside tertiary care facilities. Aaron Wood. Administrator and CEO of Sanpete Valley Hospital (Mount Pleasant, Utah). Mr. Wood oversees Sanpete Valley Hospital, a nonprofit critical access hospital that is part of Intermountain Healthcare, a 24-hospital system. The Utah Hospital Association named Mr. Wood Rural Hospital CEO of the Year in 2019, recognizing his efforts to implement innovative healthcare delivery models. He has successfully recruited physicians and led the hospital to achieve one of the highest employee satisfaction scores in the Intermountain system. Debra J. Wright, RN. Howard Memorial Hospital (Nashville, Ark.). Ms. Wright has served as CEO of Howard Memorial Hospital since 2009. In her role, Ms. Wright provides overall oversight of strategic, clinical and financial operations and success of the facility. Under her leadership, Howard Memorial was recognized in 2023 by the National Rural Health Association as a top 20 critical access hospital. Ms. Wright has previous experience working at Wadley Regional Medical Center in Texarkana, Texas. Dustin Wright. CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare (Le Mars, Iowa). Since 2018, Mr. Wright has served as CEO of Floyd Valley Healthcare, a leading critical access hospital that is nationally recognized for obstetrics. Starting in 2014, the healthcare center has had three multimillion-dollar additions. Mr. Wright most recently worked at UnityPoint Health's hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he was vice president of operations. A patient shot and killed himself inside Inspira Medical Center in Vineland, N.J., on Sept. 9 in an incident that prompted lockdown of the hospital, according to the Courier Post. Police were called to the 262-bed hospital on reports of an active shooter, and the hospital was locked down per its security protocol. Police determined the shooting was an isolated incident and did not pose danger to patients, staff or visitors. "We understand that an incident occurred at approximately 8:40 this morning at Inspira Medical Center Vineland, and a patient sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound while under our care," Inspira Health Network Vice President for Marketing Kathy Scullin told the Courier Post Sept. 9. The spokesperson confirmed the patient died. The patient's name was not made public, nor were details about where the shooting occurred and its proximity to patients and staff. The shooting is under investigation at this time by members of the Vineland Police Department Criminal Division. The California State Board of Pharmacy recently placed a Sutter Health hospital's pharmacy on a three-year probation, local news outlet Del Norte Triplicate reported Sept. 7. The probation began July 23 after the state's pharmacy board evaluated sanitary violations reported in 2019, according to the report. Sutter Coast Hospital, located in Crescent City, Calif., has a compounding pharmacy for patients and an infusion pharmacy the latter of which was not cited and remains operational. A spokesperson for the Sacramento, Calif.-based system told Becker's the violations have since been corrected. "Since 2019, we have partnered with the California Board of Pharmacy and have made significant investments at Sutter Coast's compounding facility," the spokesperson said. "These recent upgrades exceed all sterile compounding standards for hazardous drugs, which provide protections for employees and patients." During the probation, the hospital will be subjected to unannounced visits from the pharmacy board and will be required to provide quarterly updates to the state, five hours of compounding education for pharmacy technicians and pay an undisclosed fine. Flu season in the Southern Hemisphere is winding down and health officials in the Northern Hemisphere are reviewing data on the flu vaccine's effectiveness in anticipation of the fall. According to a CDC report released Sept. 8, the flu vaccine helped reduce influenza-associated hospitalizations by 52 percent in the Southern Hemisphere. "Circulating influenza viruses were genetically similar to those targeted by the 202324 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine formulation," the CDC report states. "This vaccine might offer similar protection if these viruses predominate during the coming Northern Hemisphere influenza season." Because the Southern Hemisphere influenza season happens ahead of the that in the Northern Hemisphere, health experts often pay close attention to emerging trends to inform clinicians. Earlier this year, Seema Lakdawala, PhD, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory's School of Medicine, told Becker's that clinicians should closely watch a few key trends from the Southern Hemisphere to make predictions and adjustments: Pay attention to vaccine efficacy data because it will "be important to see how that fits with the components for the Northern Hemisphere vaccine," Dr. Lakdawala said in June. Increase masking, social distancing and vaccination efforts as the fall draws near. Understand that a 'tripledemic' could occur again, if the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus show signs of beginning to co-circulate and rise at the same time. Now, as the U.S. and the Northern Hemisphere enters fall, experts are examining the data, like information released on flu vaccinations from the CDC, and making some tweaks to these final predictions. Early on in Australia, influenza A and B were co-circulating, Dr. Lakdawala said, which can typically be a sign of a more severe flu season ahead. That prediction may still hold up, other experts confirmed to Becker's. "Influenza disease in the Southern Hemisphere over the past few months during their winter season has been severe," Mark Schleiss, MD, professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School told Becker's. "There have been large numbers of cases in Australia, and although there have not been as many cases as in the record-setting year of 2019, disease activity has been intense, with over 200,000 reported cases as of Aug. 25. Influenza during the current Australian winter seems to be disproportionately targeting children, with disease notification rates highest in children 59 years of age." The reason behind the surge, Dr. Schleiss explained, is not new strains, but rather a" two-fold decrease in pediatric vaccination compared to 2020." Decreases in childhood vaccinations of many kinds has been a trend in the U.S., in recent years, and Dr. Schleiss noted that if this trend continues with the flu vaccine this fall, it will make for a more challenging flu season across the country. Despite the possibility of a more severe flu season, many are divided on whether there will be a 'tripledemic' co-circulation of all three: flu, COVID-19, and RSV. Dr. Schleiss told Becker's it is "absolutely" a possibility. "We are already observing another surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S., which will surely be exacerbated by kids going back to school. We are also observing an 'early' RSV season. RSV typically circulates in temperate climates between November and March sometimes with more than one 'outbreak' during the winter season," Dr. Schleiss said. "Just this week, the CDC has issued a warning that we are already seeing a surge in RSV cases, in particular in Florida and Georgia. And, if disease activity in the Southern Hemisphere (particularly Australia) is any indicator, we need to brace ourselves for a difficult influenza season as well." However, Colleen Kraft, MD, a professor in the department of pathology at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta ,told Becker's she is not certain that will be the case this year. "I think what we're seeing is the spike in the fall of COVID. And I think it is going to go down at the time that influenza peaks," she said. "Crystal balls and viruses don't go together, but I really do feel like that we're spiking kind of early with COVID. So, I do think that will make this year less likely to be a 'tripledemic' year, and instead it may be sort of like a wave and then a slow more separately than it all together." While predictions vary, the one triple-threat experts have consensus on for fall respiratory virus season is betting on the trio of vaccines that will be available to help curb hospital overload. A GoFundMe account set up by a co-worker of a Rhode Island nurse who was allegedly assaulted by a patient has raised more than $87,000. Jeanine Walker Morocco organized the fundraiser to support the nurse and his family. "In the wake of the traumatic events that happened to a fellow co-worker, I'm hoping to help his family," the GoFundMe page states. "He is a great nurse, but an even better father to his two beautiful and beloved daughters. If you can donate money, please do. If not, consider leaving thoughtful words of encouragement for his work and home families." As of Sept. 11, the account has raised $87,030 of the initial $5,000 goal. The assault reportedly occurred Sept. 8 at Rhode Island Hospital, part of Providence-based Lifespan. The male nurse was assaulted by a patient while working in an inpatient unit, police said, according to NBC affiliate WJAR. Police have not released the name of the nurse or the patient. Lifespan has not commented on the nature of the attack or the employee's injuries due to confidentiality laws. However, the health system has provided the following statement to media: "We are deeply saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts are with our employee, the employee's family, and their co-workers at the hospital and throughout Lifespan." Lifespan also said it is providing assistance and support to employees who witnessed the event. Lawrence Rinsky, MD, is retiring from a decades-long orthopedic career at Stanford (Calif.) Medicine Children's Health, the hospital said Sept. 10. Dr. Rinsky began working with Stanford 52 years ago as a resident, according to a feature. He was hired as a faculty member of Stanford University's orthopedic department in 1976 and was chief pediatric surgeon for 30 years. He was also department chair at Stanford Medicine Children's Health for three years. Dr. Rinsky helped grow the pediatric orthopedic specialty from three surgeons in the 1980s to 12 currently. He has expertise in scoliosis surgery and introduced a new technique at Stanford for segmental spinal instrumentation. Dr. Rinsky also brought in nerve monitoring during scoliosis surgery which improved patient safety. "His incredible surgical skill is one of his biggest legacies," James Gamble, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Stanford Children's Health, said in the feature. "But how much he is cared for by his patients, students, colleagues, and family is his biggest legacy." Frankie & Benny's has now been sold following a 7.5m deal Northern Irelands two Frankie and Bennys restaurants have a new owner following a 7.5m deal. The Restaurant Group (TRG) has agreed a deal to sell its leisure business, which primarily includes the Frankie and Benny's and Chiquito chains, to rival Big Table Group. There are Frankie & Bennys restaurants in Belfasts Boucher Place and Victoria Square. TRG said it will pay 7.5m in cash to Big Table, which owns Cafe Rouge, Las Iguanas and Bella Italia, for it to buy the loss-making business. The business comprises of around 75 restaurants, after TRG had shut around 40 of its sites over the past year in the face of weaker trade. It comes after months of pressure from activist investors at Wagamama owner TRG for it to offload parts of its business in an effort to boost profitability. The investors, led by activist fund manager Oasis Management, called for TRG to reassess its growth plans and also pushed for the departure of the company's chairman Ken Hanna, who announced he was leaving last week. The deal, which is expected to complete in the final quarter of 2023, will allow TRG to focus on its Wagamama, pubs and concessions divisions. TRG said it is "continuing to actively explore its strategic options" to improve its profits. Andy Hornby, chief executive officer of The Restaurant Group, said: "A sale of our leisure business significantly accelerates our medium-term strategic plans to increase adjusted Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margins and reduce leverage. "On behalf of TRG, I would like to express our massive thanks to the extraordinarily hardworking and dedicated teams across the leisure business who have made huge improvements in the customer proposition over the last few years. "We wish them all well as part of the Big Table Group." Alan Morgan, chief executive officer of the Big Table Group, said: "Creating, developing and acquiring brands that complement our existing portfolio whilst offering widespread consumer appeal is a fundamental part of our growth strategy. "This exciting acquisition forms part of that strategy and we are delighted to be welcoming this new team into The Big Table Group." Andy Hornby, chief executive officer of The Restaurant Group, said: "A sale of our leisure business significantly accelerates our medium-term strategic plans to increase adjusted Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) margins and reduce leverage. "On behalf of TRG, I would like to express our massive thanks to the extraordinarily hardworking and dedicated teams across the leisure business who have made huge improvements in the customer proposition over the last few years. "We wish them all well as part of the Big Table Group." Alan Morgan, chief executive officer of the Big Table Group, said: "Creating, developing and acquiring brands that complement our existing portfolio whilst offering widespread consumer appeal is a fundamental part of our growth strategy. "This exciting acquisition forms part of that strategy and we are delighted to be welcoming this new team into The Big Table Group." If youre using online platforms, youll require a thick skin and good antennae for potential scams An attempt to sell her car on Gumtree didn't work out for Margaret Canning though a deal was done at We Buy Any Car I got five great motoring years out of my 2012 Ford Focus, but the relationship was never going to last forever. To begin with, a petrol car is not environmentally-friendly, and, as most of my car usage is commuting on my own in and out of Belfast city centre which I know is even worse for the environment a smaller model made more sense. So when I got the chance to acquire a 2018 hybrid automatic Toyota Jaris, the days of my Ford Focus were numbered. Id bought it for 5,000 back in 2018 from its first owner, who lived in rural Co Down. My brother-in-law, who at that point was obsessed with ads for second-hand cars, had spotted it on online platform Gumtree. We gave it a test-drive and agreed a deal for the asking price, later meeting for a handover at Sprucefield Shopping Centre near Lisburn. The experience couldnt have been more straightforward. So when it came to disposing of the Ford Focus last month, Gumtree which used to be owned by eBay but became an independent company during the summer was my first stop. The Focus had been taken off the road for the time being as Id already started driving the Toyota Jaris, so it was time to get her shipshape again.. I got it checked out with my usual mechanic, spending 114 including VAT on things like an oil change and oil filter change. There was a spend of 188 on two weeks temporary insurance, then 99 on six months tax, the minimum I could get it taxed for. I knew Id get the majority of that refunded in the event of a successful sale, so that wasnt too painful. The car wasnt in mint condition, which would be obvious upon viewing, and I optimistically put an asking price of 2,995 on it on Gumtree. I was surprised to get an instant call from a man with an English accent offering to pay a deposit straight away without viewing the car if I sent him my bank details there and then. The reason for his haste? He was in NI working for a named transport company (which to my knowledge, doesnt have any operations here) and was seeking a new car for his wife. His plan was to drive it home. But it all seemed suspicious and I wasnt sure how soon I should part with my bank details in the Gumtree universe, so I made my excuses to him. Read more Some positive signs despite another drop in NI business activity There were some email enquiries from would-be buyers, then a phone call from a man who lived nearby. He said hed come out and see it the following evening so since he was interested enough to come out and look at it, I thought Id fend off any other approaches in the meantime. The following night he took it, and my husband, for a test drive, then said hed let me know. But I heard nothing. Id been Gumtree-ghosted. Then I took a call from an eager-sounding, self-professed Ford lover, who sounded like the perfect match. He arrived with his wife for a viewing the following night, but wasnt impressed enough following a test-drive to make an offer, for all his enthusiasm on the phone. It was all too bruising for me as was the message from the other suitor who listed all the repairs hed do to the car to justify an offer of 2,000. Again, he offered to pay instantly via bank transfer without viewing it. Compared to my utopian experience of buying via Gumtree, it was all getting too fraught. After 72 hours, I took the ad down. From the start, my husband had been urging me to take it to We Buy Any Car for a straightforward handover, but Id insisted on trying Gumtree first. Sheepishly, I acknowledged that Gumtree had worn me down, went to We Buy Any Car and achieved a good result. The company will give you a quote for your car online, based on its age and mileage. If you take it to a We Buy Any Car hub, theyll check it out and make you an offer there and then, which could be revised down if your car isnt in perfect condition. Theyll also inspect your service history and even though I hadn't gone for a full service, the work done a week earlier did stand me in good stead. The online valuation had been 2,500, and they offered 2,303.72 minus a 49.99 admin fee a better result than the 2,000 offers I was getting though Gumtree, and without the angst. In hindsight, I approached Gumtree naively, and without doing enough research. Buying something on the platform is a very different experience to selling on it. And on contact with Gumtree, it turns out the experience Id had of people wanting to buy the car without viewing it and offering me a quick bank transfer, is a major red flag. Read more Gumtrees head of trust shares tips on selling your car safely on the platform Joseph Rindsland, head of trust and safety at Gumtree, said: Be suspicious if the buyer is willing to pay for the car without having viewed it, pressures you for a quick sale or is disinterested in the vehicle documentation. We take a zero-tolerance approach to fraud on our site, and strongly encourage users to report any concerns to us so that our dedicated trust and safety team can investigate and take action. My key advice for anyone buying or selling a vehicle is touch the metal. If purchasing, always physically view and test drive the car before transferring money and if selling, be very wary if you are offered payment without the buyer first seeing the vehicle. In addition, never share your bank details unless you are satisfied your buyer is genuine. "Gumtree will never ask for payment so any communications to this effect will be phishing scams. He adds: Gumtree works closely with the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG) to reduce online vehicle crime by educating car buyers on potential scams and offering extensive advice on how to safely buy and sell vehicles online. Id also been foolish in not restricting my communications to Gumtree itself, instead having my phone number on the ad and happily agreeing to converse on WhatsApp. What an idiot turns out I was gormlessly enabling the fraudsters number one MO. Mr Rindsland says: Keep conversations on the Gumtree platform: fraudsters will be keen to move their messages onto other platforms to avoid our trust and safety systems. Be cautious if a buyer immediately gives you their email address, phone number or generally encourages another form of communication. Never feel pressured into giving your contact details. Our platform masks the email addresses of the sellers and buyers to prevent unwanted contact. He adds: Last thought: Cars are big ticket items and a genuine buyer will be happy to give time to making the right purchase. If in doubt, walk away from the sale. And dont forget: once you have sold the car you must notify the DVLA that you are no longer the registered keeper of the car. (Photo : U.S. Geological Survey via Getty Images) PAHOA, HI - MAY 4: In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Geological Survey, a column of robust, reddish-brown ash plume occurred after a magnitude 6.9 South Flank following the eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on May 4, 2018 in the Leilani Estates subdivision near Pahoa, Hawaii. The governor of Hawaii has declared a local state of emergency near the Mount Kilauea volcano after it erupted following a 5.0-magnitude earthquake, forcing the evacuation of nearly 1,700 residents. On Sunday evening, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano started erupting for the third time this year in a spectacular exhibition of the strength and activity of nature. Rapid summit uplift and a period of high seismic activity preceded the eruption, which prepared the ground for a dynamic volcanic outburst. Kilauea Volcano Erupts: Nature's Dynamic Display in Hawaii Per Reuters via MSN, visitors to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are advised to take precautions owing to the deteriorating air quality brought on by smoke that is drifting. At the same time, the US Geological Survey (USGS) constantly monitors the situation. Following several seismic shocks and a sizable summit uplift, the USGS formally declared Kilauea to be erupting on Sunday. The USGS described the earliest phases of the eruption as dynamic, noting that fissures at the volcano's base were producing lava flows on the crater floor's surface. Although the outbreak was restricted to the confines of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, it was nonetheless an impressive and potent demonstration of the powers of nature. Visitors to the park were permitted despite the eruption, however, the USGS warned about the air quality. Prevalent winds carried eruption smoke towards the park's entrance, which caused the area's air quality inferior. This preventive action aims to protect the security and welfare of park visitors. Hawaii's Big Island inhabitants were not immediately in danger as the eruption took place. The outbreak stayed confined to the national park's boundaries, distant from residential areas. This enabled officials to control the situation without forcing citizens to leave or taking extreme safety measures. One of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea is known for its propensity for frequent eruptions and volcanic activity. The volcano erupted twice this year, first in January and then again in June, adding to its fantastic track record. Scientists and officials constantly monitor the volcano's behavior and evaluate potential dangers to nearby populations due to the region's ongoing volcanic activity. As a result of the eruption, the USGS on Sunday changed Kilauea's alert level status to "warning." This raised warning level highlights the importance of ongoing monitoring and assessment of the situation by indicating an increased potential of eruption dangers. To represent the potential dangers linked with the eruption, the aviation color code was also changed to red. Scientists and industry professionals are keenly examining the risks connected to Kilauea's activity as the eruption continues. Despite the fact that the explosion is now restricted to the national park, volcanic occurrences can be unpredictable. Therefore, it is important to consider the possibility that it may modify how it behaves. Read Also: Japan's Mt. Fuji Threatened by Pollution, Other Risks Brought by Increased Tourism Collaboration and Monitoring Amidst Kilauea's Eruption The USGS and local authorities are working closely together to guarantee the security of both park visitors and residents in the neighborhood. Systems are in place to monitor volcanic activity for any changes, allowing for quick responses and risk evaluations. Volcanic eruptions, like the one at Kilauea, serve as a potent reminder of how dynamic and constantly changing our world is. These geological occurrences have significantly impacted Earth's geological history and have formed landscapes and islands. While they can be breathtaking, they also carry inherent risks, therefore, in areas where volcanic activity is likely to occur, scientific knowledge and readiness are crucial. The ongoing Kilauea eruption emphasizes the significance of being vigilant and prepared in locations vulnerable to volcanic activity, as per Daily Beast. Although the national park may be the only place where the immediate threat exists, locals and authorities must be on the lookout for unforeseen developments. Volcanic eruptions can change quickly; thus close observation is necessary to guarantee everyone's safety who is nearby. The most recent eruption of Kilauea serves as an enthralling but frightening reminder of the strength and unpredictable nature. Although it has extended the volcano's illustrious history of activity, it also serves as a monument to the commitment and vigilance of scientists and authorities who work ceaselessly to track and react to such catastrophes. The safety and well-being of everyone in the area remain top priorities as the eruption proceeds, and continuing evaluations will inform choices about how to reduce potential risks. Related Article: British-Australian Man Held in Philippines on What He Says Are 'Fabricated' Drug Charges @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The owners of a popular pizzeria in south Belfast have opened a new restaurant in a 100,000 investment. Stephen Toney and Kristian Nicolo opened Hendrix in Stranmillis last month, creating 25 new jobs. The venue at 92 Stranmillis Road serves contemporary cuisine including tapas, while a fully-licensed bar serves beer, wine, spirits and premium cocktails. Stephen and Kristian are the founders and directors of Nicos Pizzeria on the Lisburn Road and Nicos Pizza Pasta takeaway on Sunnyside Street, off Ormeau Road. Stephen said: We are delighted with how Hendrix is being received by the people of Belfast and beyond thus far. We were confident we had the recipe for success; however, the response has exceeded our expectations. Many of our loyal customers of Nicos have continued to support us with Hendrix, and it has been great to welcome a new clientele in a new area. He said the restaurant's close proximity to the Lyric Theatre was also benefiting it, with many crowds attending for pre-theatre dinner. Nicolo, the restaurants head chef, added: We have found it very interesting seeing what dishes are popular and what our customers are raving about. "Our Birra Beef slow-cooked tacos have proved to be a big hit thus far, followed by our Salt and Chilli Chicken Tapas dish and all our pasta dishes. There have been no further drops in the prices of basic goods monitored by Price Watch There are no major changes in prices at our five selected grocers Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl, Co-op and Mace this month. Not to have price increases is a positive, but its less cheering that there are no signs of further price falls. The bigger supermarkets have made a lot of noise about bringing down the price of essentials like bread and milk and that price drop to 1.55 for two litres of milk at Tesco, Sainsburys and Lidl remains in place. There is no sign of the Co-op or the Mace following suit, with two litres costing 1.70 and 1.85 respectively. But noticeably, many retailers are now offering lower prices on basics to loyalty card customers. For example, at Tesco, Clubcard holders and buy an 800g loaf of Kingsmill Tasty Wholemeal for 1.10, which is 20p cheaper than the standard price. And Co-op has announced an investment of 70m in lower pricing, extending its members only price across nearly 200 fixed lines including milk, eggs and bread. Thats really good news for shoppers who are motivated to join the Co-op, and for those who hold Clubcards with Tesco or Nectar cards with Sainsburys. Were now facing the colder months of winter, and any opportunities to save on food bills will be welcome. And there are mixed signals when it comes to the likely level of other bills well be facing. For customers of gas supplier Firmus Energy in the so-called Ten Towns network, there will be a price fall of nearly 8% from October 1 following a price review by the Utility Regulator. The same process by the Regulator will mean there will be no price increase for customers of Power NI, our dominant electricity supplier, or for SSE Airtricitys gas customers. But indicators such as the Consumer Councils NI household expenditure tracker are a reminder that we shouldnt think the cost-of-living crisis is over yet. The tracker found that half of Northern Ireland households had seen their spending power eroded over the last year to March 2023. And inevitably, the lowest-earning households are worst affected. In the first quarter of this year, such households saw weekly income after tax rise by 2.90, or 1.2%. But that rate of increase was matched by a 1.1%, or 2.44, increase in spending on basic goods. And over half (54%) of their total basic spending was on food, rent, energy, and transport. The Consumer Council has also reported rising prices for petrol and diesel in Northern Ireland, a pattern which applies across the UK, while were also having to spend more for a fill of home heating oil. Anne-Marie Murphy, director of strategy and emerging markets at the Consumer Council, said: Our lowest earning households continue to be affected by the cost-of-living crisis and are in a much worse off position than 12 months ago. Even though it is the first quarter in two years where discretionary income has risen for the lowest earning households, this marginal increase follows seven quarters where it fell consecutively, and in an environment where the cost of basics continues to rise. This expanded household expenditure tracker considers all Northern Ireland households, and worryingly, it shows that 50% of Northern Ireland Households have less to spend after all essential bills are paid. For many of these consumers, just one unexpected bill is all it takes to cause financial difficulty. BMW has announced plans to build its next-generation electric Mini in Oxford after securing a Government funding package. The German-based manufacturers multimillion-pound investment to transform its existing plant will secure 4,000 high-quality jobs, according to ministers. Government sources declined to set out the level of taxpayer support being offered to BMW, but did not dispute the previously reported figure of 75 million. Rishi Sunak said the Government is securing jobs and growing the economy by backing our car manufacturing industry. BMWs investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build cars of the future, the Prime Minister added. The King, when he was Prince of Wales, drives an electric Mini car during a visit to the Oxford plant (Peter Nicholls/PA) Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who was given a tour of the Mini factory, was asked how much taxpayer money was being spent to secure the investment from BMW. She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: All I can tell you is what we put in the automotive transformation fund, and thats money that goes to many different companies across the sector, not just one. We put in 350 million in 2021. We do have to do some investment ourselves as Government, that is standard, and were competing against countries from all around the world as well as the EU and we are winning. Were not doing anything out of the ordinary. Production of two new electric Mini models will begin in Oxford in 2026. BMW said it will invest a total of 600 million at the site and another Mini factory in Swindon, Wiltshire, where vehicle body panels are made. In Oxford, this will involve changes to production lines and the creation of a new area for installing batteries. The new electric Mini Cooper and Mini Aceman models will be assembled at the plant alongside conventionally-fuelled cars. Mini production in Oxford will be exclusively electric from 2030. This is seen as vital to securing its future, as the brand is going fully electric from then. More than 4,000 people work across the Oxford and Swindon factories. Production of electric vans started at Stellantiss plant in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, last week (Peter Byrne/PA) The announcement is the latest boost for the British car industry, with figures last month suggesting production increased by almost a third last month compared with a year ago. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said it shows that carmakers are continuing their recovery from recent difficulties, including global chip shortages. Last week electric vehicle production also began at the Stellantiss factory in Ellesmere Port after a 100 million investment, following doubts due to post-Brexit trading arrangements. Vans such as the Vauxhall Combo Electric, Opel Combo Electric, Peugeot e-Partner, Citroen e-Berlingo and Fiat E-Doblo will be made at the Cheshire site. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said BMWs investment is a huge vote of confidence in this country as a global leader in electric vehicles. The leader of the TUC will accuse the Conservatives of having broken Britain. In his keynote speech to the TUC Congress in Liverpool, general secretary Paul Nowak will claim that nothing works in this country anymore and no-one in Government cares. He will say: Theyve had 13 years to sort out crumbling concrete in our schools, but five days before the new term they tell schools they cant open. Because and I quote the Education Secretary everyone sat on their arses. Could you think of a more perfect metaphor for this Government? A crisis of their making, but someone else gets the blame. Yet, this Government that cant keep our rivers clean, or run trains on time, or run a functioning NHS can find time to attack the right to strike. Mr Nowak attacked the controversial new law on strikes, which will be debated at the conference on Monday. He will say: The right to strike is fundamental. Without the right to withdraw our labour workers, become disposable, replaceable and exploitable. This new law isnt about preserving services for the public. Its about telling us to get back in our place and to not demand better. Well, thats not going to happen not on our watch. We fought their attack on the right to strike in parliament and well fight it at the ILO (International Labour Organisation) and in the courts. When the first worker is sacked for refusing to work on a strike day, well fight it in workplaces and on the picket lines. This movement will fight it every single day until it is repealed. The TUC is reporting the Government to the United Nations workers rights watchdog over the new law. Mr Nowak said the union body would be lodging the case at the ILO because the legislation on ensuring minimum levels of service during industrial action falls far short of international legal standards. Kainos is pushing forward with plans for its new headquarters in Belfast and student accommodation scheme for Queens University. The IT services giant had originally planned to build on the whole site, which was formerly the Movie House cinema, but has since revised down its scheme in terms of footprint. It comes after the IT services giant sold off part of the Dublin Road site to Queens University, which will develop its section into student accommodation. Its now holding public consultations on plans for the developments ahead of submitting full planning applications in November. If approved, the development will comprise of 85,000 sq ft of Grade A office space with an additional 4,000 sq ft dedicated to ground floor commercial uses, and approximately 475 student rooms. Full planning applications are expected to be submitted to Belfast City Council in November 2023. The firm previously said the new 80,000 sq ft building will be able to support the companys significant future growth plans. As part of a pre-application community consultation process, the plans for the new development will be on display to the public at the Clayton Hotel, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, on Monday 25th and Wednesday 27th September at 12 noon to 3pm and 5pm to 8pm on both days. The multimillion-pound development will support Kainos' ongoing expansion and help meet the need for specialist student accommodation in Belfast, it says. The investment is expected to contribute significantly to the regeneration of the citys Linen Quarter. Russell Sloan, incoming chief executive of Kainos, said: This new, contemporary development signals our continuing investment in Belfast. When complete, it will bring renewed character to both the Dublin Road and the Linen Quarter, and will provide significant benefits to businesses, organisations and services around us at Bankmore Square. At the heart of this investment are our people, and our desire to create an exceptional and sustainable workplace for our colleagues to connect and collaborate. Our new office will provide modern office space for up to 1,600 people, creating the capacity for our planned growth in the future. And Caroline Young, vice-president of students and corporate services at Queens University, said: Having a wide range of high quality, affordable and safe housing options, in close proximity to Queens, will ensure we can support the significant increase in demand for this type of student accommodation. With an expected 3,000 more rooms needed in Belfast by 2028 to meet growing demand, this site is an excellent development opportunity which will offer around 475 students new accommodation in a prime location in the heart of the city. It will help to transform the area, while making a significant contribution to the economy and we are excited by the prospect of working with Kainos as we develop this site. Aer Lingus has an enhanced winter schedule with more regional flights from Belfast City Airport and up to 30% off. The schedule has been released by Emerald Airlines, the largest airline serving Belfast City and the exclusive operator of Aer Lingus Regional services. It will commence at the end of October 2023, through to the end of March 2024. There are just a few days left to avail of the 30% off flights to and from the UK. The offer is applicable for trips scheduled between October 1 and March 13, 2024. The sale is now on and will conclude on September 18. With over 1.1 million seats on sale this winter across a total of 28 routes, the carrier is continuing to increase its frequencies and services across the Aer Lingus Regional route network. This includes boosting the frequency of flights between Belfast and Birmingham, offering up to five daily services. Aer Lingus Regional now operates 12 routes from Belfast City Airport, and the carrier will be welcoming its seventh aircraft to its Belfast base for the winter season. Ian Lough, Head of Commercial at Emerald Airlines, said: We appreciate that our customers enjoy planning ahead to enjoy the best value fares, and so we are delighted to be announcing our winter 2023 schedule. Our enhanced schedule continues to serve the length and breadth of the UK, including popular destinations such as Newcastle, Glasgow, East Midlands, Newquay, and Cardiff, he continued. Passengers can embrace the festive atmosphere with getaways to Christmas markets in cities such as Exeter, Leeds, Bradford, or Edinburgh. Tickets are on sale now via www.aerlingus.com. A homeless man has been ordered to stand trial accused of his friends murder in Co Antrim. Appearing at Coleraine Magistrates Court by videolink from prison on Monday, 40-year-old Jason Murray confirmed he was aware of the single charge against him and also that he did not object to his case being returned to the Crown Court. Murray, whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry prison, is accused of the murder of Paul Rowlands in Portrush between July 16-18 last year. Previous courts heard claims the men had been in a relationship, living side by side in tents on the East Strand in Portrush. After a physical altercation between the men, Murray has been accused of leaving Mr Rowlands - a 46-year-old father-of-five - to die in the street. The detective described how ambulance staff contacted police in the early hours of the morning after Mr Rowlands, who is originally from the Cambridge area, was found injured in Bath Terrace in Portrush. Paramedics performed CPR but life was pronounced extinct, said the officer, adding that Mr Rowlands was found to have sustained a laceration to his left temple above his eye and to the back of his head. Enquiries were conducted with witness accounts and CCTV leading police to declare Murray as a suspect and he was arrested at 6.35pm that Monday evening. He was noted to be under the influence and a further search found a flick knife that he was arrested for, the detective told the court, outlining that during questioning, Murray admitted they had been fighting but he put it down to a lovers tiff. Murray told police that afterwards, he went back to his tent fully expecting Mr Rowlands to turn up and even though he didnt, he wasnt concerned as that was not unusual so he went about his usual routine of drinking and fishing. Later that day, Murray went to the Atlantic bar to play pool and the court was told his opponent heard Murray say under his breath that Im a hitman - I have just killed someone. In court on Monday, a prosecutor submitted there was a Prima Facie case against the alleged killer which was conceded by defence counsel Richard McConkey and although told that he had the right to comment on the charge and to call evidence on his own behalf, Murray declined. Returning the case to Antrim Crown Court for trial and extending legal aid to allow a senior barrister to be instructed, District Judge Peter King remanded Murray back into custody and scheduled his arraignment to be heard on October 3. Two Co Armagh men have been jailed on Monday for possessing magazines for a "deadly assault weapon'' found over five years ago in a van. Martin McKerr (54), of Belvedere Manor, Lurgan, was handed a nine month sentence after he was found guilty following a non-jury trial in June this year for possessing firearms in suspicious circumstances and without a firearms certificate. Before his trial started at Belfast Crown Court, co-accused Shane Stevenson (35), of Drumlin Drive, also Lurgan, pleaded guilty to the same charges and also further admitted two counts of attempting to possess a document likely to be useful to terrorism. Stevenson was sentenced to 16 months in custody followed by a further year on supervised licence on his release from prison. During a sentencing hearing on Monday, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said: "The defendants were transporting magazines which were essential component parts for a deadly weapon, namely an AK47 assault rifle. "They did not contain any ammunition and there is no evidence before me that they were ever used in any incident. "It must be stressed, however, that any transportation of a constituent part or part of a deadly weapon is serious.'' Judge Kerr said the attempted possession of documents charges fell to be sentenced under the Counter Terrorism Act 2021 which was brought in following a series of terrorist attacks in London. It ended the early release of prisoners half way through their sentence and defendants now have to serve two thirds of their sentence before they can apply to the Parole Commissioners to be released. Judge Kerr said Stevenson will also be subject to the notification requirements under the 2008 Counter Terrorism Act for a period of ten years. He also granted a prosecution application for the forfeiture of the magazines. As both men appeared remotely via video link for the hearing, the judge ordered both defendants to present themselves at Craigavon Courthouse at 10 am on Wednesday, September 13, when they will be taken into custody to serve out their sentences. The charges against both men dated back to February 21, 2018, when a white Peugeot van was stopped by police on the Leven Road in Lurgan. The vehicle was owned and being driven by McKerr with Stevenson a front seat passenger. A prosecution lawyer told McKerr's trial earlier this year that when the van was searched, PSNI officers found a plastic bag containing smaller bags in the footwell of the passenger's side of the van. The bag was found to contain 22 empty rifle magazines compatible with AKM/AK47 assault rifles. The prosecutor said that after the items underwent forensic examinations, "it was noted that the magazines had surface rust and were covered in oil'' and "while five magazines didn't function'', all the items were "component parts of a firearm''. Also seized from the van and examined were a pair of gloves and McKerr's Samsung phone. A Crown lawyer said the circumstances surrounding the recovery of the magazines suggested both Stevenson and McKerr, who has a previous conviction for riotous behaviour in 2016, were jointly in possession of the magazines. He said: "The bag was relatively bulky and obstructed the front passenger footwell. It was either there when Stevenson got into the vehicle ... or he brought it with him into the vehicle. "We say that in either case the court would be entitled to infer that this accused (McKerr) was jointly engaged in moving what was a valuable terrorist asset." After reserving judgement in the case, Judge Kerr returned guilty verdicts against McKerr in July this year on both counts he faced. The judge said he had taken into account McKerr's refusal to give evidence at his trial, stating: "His failure is based on the fact that he has no answer to the prosecution case or none that would bear examination.'' Judge Kerr added: "I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the two counts he faces.'' At a recent plea and sentencing hearing, the prosecution lawyer said that when Stevenson's home was searched, "two pieces of cigarette papers with handwritten notes inside a flask were examined for both fingerprints and DNA''. He said on the first note, Stevenson's left thumb print was found and there was also a "DNA hit''. He added that one of the vehicle registration marks recorded on the notes belonged to the wife of a serving PSNI officer who were both insured to drive the car. A spreadsheet allegedly found on the phone of a man facing terror charges over a major PSNI data breach highlighted police commanders and an officer previously targeted by dissident republican bombers, the High Court heard today. Prosecutors also claimed that Christopher OKane, 50, accessed a website used to search for residential addresses within hours of receiving the names of members of the force. But a defence barrister described the accused as a computer geek who has only been charged because of his republican affiliations. OKane, of Main Street in Feeny, Co Derry, is accused of possessing two mobile phones for use in terrorism and having documents likely to be useful to terrorists - namely the spreadsheet of names. The data breach occurred on August 8, when personal information on all serving PSNI members was mistakenly published in response to a Freedom of Information request. Details released included the surname and first initial of every employee, their rank or grade, where they are based and their department. Within days it was confirmed that dissident republicans had accessed the information. As OKane applied for bail, the court heard his home was searched on August 18 as part of the police response. It was claimed that he tried to conceal one phone, while a second mobile was located under a bedroom pillow. Examinations established that the spreadsheet of officers' names had been sent to one of the devices by WhatsApp and downloaded before the message was deleted, according to a Crown lawyer. She contended that OKane was highly efficient in technology and tried to wipe his digital footprint. Sections of the downloaded spreadsheet were said to have been highlighted. They included those in senior executive teams in the PSNI and officers based in Derry which is the closest city to where the applicant resides, the prosecutor disclosed. Two individual officers cause specific concern - one has had multiple dealings with Mr OKane and one who in recent years was the victim of an attempted bomb attack by dissident republicans. They have been highlighted on this spreadsheet and ended up on Mr OKanes phone. Three hours after receiving the WhatsApp message, he allegedly accessed a website which includes residential addresses throughout the UK. Mr OKane has conducted a persons search for those resident in the Londonderry area, counsel added. Joe Brolly, defending, insisted his client poses no risk to any police officers. He told the court OKane is an IT expert and the administrator for websites run by Irish republican political grouping Saoradh and the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association. Hes a computer geek, the barrister said. Mr Brolly argued that the data had been shared among thousands of people, and that OKane deleted the file after it was sent to him. The difference is because hes the administrator of the Saoradh and IRPWA websites he immediately becomes a suspect, he submitted. Reserving judgment, Mr Justice Humphreys indicated he will rule on the bail application at a later stage. 11th September 2023 Detectives are appealing for information following a petrol bomb attack on a house in east Belfast last night, Sunday 10th September. At around 10.50pm, a report was received that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Epworth Street area. Damage was caused to two windows at the front of the house Mandatory Credit Presseye 11th September 2023 Detectives are appealing for information following a petrol bomb attack on a house in east Belfast last night, Sunday 10th September. At around 10.50pm, a report was received that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Epworth Street area. Damage was caused to two windows at the front of the house Mandatory Credit Presseye 11th September 2023 Detectives are appealing for information following a petrol bomb attack on a house in east Belfast last night, Sunday 10th September. At around 10.50pm, a report was received that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Epworth Street area. Damage was caused to two windows at the front of the house Mandatory Credit Presseye 11th September 2023 Detectives are appealing for information following a petrol bomb attack on a house in east Belfast last night, Sunday 10th September. At around 10.50pm, a report was received that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Epworth Street area. Damage was caused to two windows at the front of the house Mandatory Credit Presseye A house in east Belfast has been damaged following a petrol bomb attack on Sunday night. At around 10.50pm, police received a report that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a property in the Epworth Street area. Damage was caused to two windows at the front of the house. None of the three people inside the house were injured and the fire was extinguished quickly. Alliance councillor David Bell has slammed those behind the attack. "I utterly condemn this appalling act, which could have easily resulted in the death of the three people inside the property, he said. I can only imagine the terror they went through. There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for this attack. "It's senseless acts of violence such as this that have no place in our society and do nothing except create fear and bring misery for our local community. If anyone has any information on this, I would urge them to contact the PSNI immediately. Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed anyone suspicious in the area at the time of the incident or anyone with CCTV, doorbell or dash-cam footage that could assist with enquiries to contact police on 101. (Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Carlyle Group President and Chief Operating Officer Glenn Youngkin participates in a panel discussion during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's 'Infrastructure Week' program May 15, 2017 in Washington, DC. The panel, titled 'Collaboration, Compromise, Consensus: Building A Blueprint for National Infrastructure Investment,' highlighed national and local plans that emphasized public-private partnerships. Governor Glenn Youngkin pardoned a parent who vehemently objected to a transgender student sexually assaulting his daughter in a Virginia high school. When Scott Smith, a determined father, passionately voiced his concerns at a school board meeting about the tragic event that took place at Stone Bright High School, he was initially given a 10-day suspended sentence for disorderly conduct. Youngkin Pardons Father of Virginia Girl Raped in Bathroom Following this incident, another student was attacked. It has been lauded as a significant step towards justice that Governor Youngkin's decision to pardon Smith corrects what many see as a severe injustice. The incident in question occurred in May 2021 at Stone Bright High School when Smith's daughter was assaulted by a male student inside a toilet stall, as per The Hill. Surprisingly, an instructor saw the incident but did nothing to stop it. The fact that the attacker, who was dressed in a skirt on the day of the incident, gained access to the girls' restroom by abusing the school's lax policy, which allowed students to use facilities consistent with their gender identity, added to the sad tale. Unbelievably, the attacker evaded capture for three hours after the attack, during which Tim Flynn, the school principal, tried to get a no-trespass letter against Scott Smith, who had arrived at the campus. It raises significant concerns about the school's handling of the problem of putting paperwork before student safety. Even more disturbing was that on October 6 of the same year, the male student went on to sexually abuse a second female at a different school, Broad Run High School. The following attack served as a sharp reminder of the critical need for accountability and reform in the educational system. A month after the initial assault, Scott Smith's frustration and agony reached an all-time high when he went to a Loudoun County schools meeting. Officials from the school insisted time and time again that the gender-neutral restrooms where the rape took place were not a concern. Due to Smith's understandable wrath at this denial of his daughter's tragic experience, his outburst was captured on camera and extensively circulated on social media. Sadly, the police violently took him from the school board meeting and left him bloodied. Smith was accused of disorderly conduct and obstruction following this event, two misdemeanors. Later, the obstruction charge was dropped, but Smith persisted in his pursuit of justice by appealing the other accusation. A judge's decision to dismiss District Attorney Buta Biberaj from the case was one aspect of this endeavor. Smith charged Biberaj with bias and implied she was trying to use him as a scapegoat. The judge removed Biberaj from the case even though he did not find adequate justification for a direct conflict. Instead, the judge recognized the strength of Smith's argument and the possible threat to Smith's entitlement to due process. In a startling turn of events, a grand jury inquiry eventually found that Loudoun County Superintendent Scott Ziegler had disregarded complaints and concealed material about the attack in May 2021. Jessica Smith, the mother of the victim, revealed that the family had been urged to keep quiet about the assault and that they were unaware that their daughter's attacker had been admitted back to school. The male student's violent behavior and habit of sending obscene images further added to the family's sorrow when it were discovered, according to Daily Mail. The second assault was avoidable, and a particular study also addressed the lack of accountability and transparency within the school district. According to this investigation, administrators' repeated failure to take the appropriate action was ultimately to blame for the sexual assault that happened at Broad Run High School on October 6. Read Also: New Mexico Suspends Public Gun Carry in Albuquerque After Recent Shootings Battle Over Transgender Rights and Parental Advocacy In Loudoun County, the case sparked a heated discussion on the rights of transgender pupils and parental freedom of speech, as per The Washington Post. The Smith family's tenacity in seeking justice for their daughter served as a symbol of the quest for responsibility and reform in the educational system. The Smiths were understandably incensed that although the young attacker was found guilty in both assaults and imprisoned in a juvenile rehabilitation facility, he was not compelled to register as a sex offender. Scott Smith lamented the legal system's failure and the Commonwealth's attorney to sufficiently safeguard his daughter and other possible victims in a statement. The Smiths' pursuit of justice has brought to light the urgent need for educational change as well as the need for openness and responsibility in handling situations of sexual assault. The decision by Governor Glenn Youngkin to pardon Scott Smith sends a strong message that parents should have the freedom to fight for the security and welfare of their children without worrying about retaliation. It is essential to make up for a severe injustice and guarantee that no other youngster goes through something similar in the future. Related Article: UK's PM Rishi Sunak Slams China After Arrest of Beijing Spy in Westminster @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Police at the scene of the collision. Police have attended the scene of a collision on the Oldpark Road in north Belfast. The incident happened close to the junctions of Oldpark Road and Cliftonville Road shortly before 8:30pm on Sunday. Video on social media shows paramedics assisting a male at the scene where the car has overturned. The road had to be closed for a time. Three people have attended hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation following a fire in Craigavon on Sunday night. Police are treating the incident as arson with intent to danger life. The incident occurred at a block of flats in the Aldervale area shortly before 10.50pm. Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already in attendance at the scene, and in the process of evacuating residents, a PSNI spokesperson explained. A number of people were offered temporary accommodation for the evening, three of whom also attended hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. At this time it is believed that the fire was started deliberately in the ground floor hallway. Enquiries to establish the extent of the damage caused as a result are underway. Were extremely grateful for the quick actions of our officers, and for the swift response from the Fire Service in bringing the situation under control. Officers remain at the scene this morning, conducting enquiries, and an investigation to establish the circumstances of this reckless incident, which we are treating as arson with intent to endanger life, is underway. Im appealing to anyone who was in the area yesterday evening and may have noticed any suspicious activity, or who may have any information which could assist us, to get in touch. The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 1906 of 10/09/23. Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org. A by-election has been triggered to replace former Tory whip Chris Pincher, who resigned as an MP after losing his appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men (UK Parliament/PA) A by-election has been triggered to replace former Tory whip Chris Pincher, who resigned as an MP after losing his appeal against a suspension for drunkenly groping two men. Government chief whip Simon Hart asked for the writ to trigger the by-election for Tamworth in Staffordshire to be moved on September 14. The by-election has to take place between 21 and 27 working days from the issuing of the writ, suggesting it will take place on October 19, the same day former culture secretary Nadine Dorries Mid Bedfordshire constituency will be contested. Mr Pincher has comfortably won the seat for the Conservatives since 2010, with a majority of 19,634 votes at the last general election. Chris Pinchers downfall also proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Boris Johnsons time as prime minister amid anger at his handling of the affair last year (Andrew Boyers/PA) However, despite Tamworth being seen as a safe seat for the Tories previously, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned mid-term by-elections are always difficult for the Government. Mr Pincher had sought to reduce a potentially by-election triggering eight-week suspension recommended by the Commons Standards Committee for what was found to be an egregious case of sexual misconduct at Londons exclusive Carlton Club last year. But Parliaments Independent Expert Panel (IEP) dismissed his appeal last week. Addressing his decision to resign, Mr Pincher said he had already decided not to stand at the next general election and wanted to avoid further uncertainty for his constituents. The Tories fight to retain the seat has been complicated by the fact that the candidate they have lined up to fight the next general election in Tamworth is Eddie Hughes, the current Tory MP for Walsall North. Mr Hughes ruled out contesting the by-election, saying he has a commitment to my constituents until the next general election. Tory MP Eddie Hughes said he has a commitment to his Walsall North constituents until the next general election (David Woolfall/UK Parliament/PA) The Conservatives have said they will carry out a selection process for the Tamworth candidate, but what will happen if the Tories win the seat is uncertain because Walsall North is effectively being abolished in the constituency boundary review. Mr Pinchers downfall also proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Boris Johnsons time as prime minister amid anger at his handling of the affair last year. Mr Pincher subsequently lost the Tory whip, meaning he has been sitting in the Commons as an independent. The Standards Committee found in July that Mr Pinchers conduct last summer was profoundly damaging and amounted to an abuse of power. Mr Pincher appealed against the punishment, arguing it was disproportionate, but the IEP said his arguments were misconceived or erroneous and backed the proposed sanction. Scientists have found a potential new treatment for people with COPD (PA) An experimental treatment which sees a patients own cells transplanted into damaged parts of their lung could offer a new hope for sufferers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers have said. Researchers said that a new preliminary study has shown that it is possible to repair damaged lung tissue among certain COPD patients using their own lung cells. Delegates at the European Respiratory Societys International Congress were told that cell-based regenerative medicine could offer hope to cure COPD. COPD is the name for a collection of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive airways disease. It causes progressive damage to lung tissue which cannot be repaired with current treatments. People with COPD have difficulties breathing. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent chesty cough with phlegm, frequent chest infections and persistent wheezing. According to NHS Inform, the Scottish NHS website, there are more than three million people estimated to be living with the disease in the UK, of which only about 900,000 have been diagnosed. Just 20 patients took part in the preliminary trial, delegates at the conference in Milan were told. Patients reported being able to breathe better, walk further and said they had a better quality of life after the treatment. The reserach, led by scientists from Tongji University in China, saw experts examine whether a type of cell called P63 positive lung progenitor cells might be able to regenerate lung tissue damaged by COPD. These cells have previously been shown to successfully repair damaged tissue in the tiny air sacs in the lung known as alveoli in animal studies. The new research saw scientists take these cells from the lungs of patients, then using these cells to grow millions more in a laboratory before transplanting them back into the patients lungs. Of the 20 patients, 17 received this treatment. They were assessed after treatment to assess the safety and efficacy of the treatment. The academics reported that the cell treatment was well tolerated by all patients. Average breathing levels improved significantly by 12 weeks and even more benefits were seen six months after treatment. In a six-minute walk test patients managed an average of 410 metres before treatment and this increased to an average of 447 metres six months after treatment. Patients also reported that they had a better quality of life after the cell transplant. And importantly, scientists reported that in two patients with mild emphysema, a type of lung damage that is normally permanent and progressive, the treatment repaired the lung damage. CT scans of their lungs showed resolution of the lesions at 24 weeks, the authors wrote. Scientists are now planning to confirm their findings by testing a larger group of patients in another clinical trial. Professor Wei Zuo, of the School of Medicine at Tongji University in Shanghai and chief scientist at Regend Therapeutics, said: Stem cell and progenitor cell-based regenerative medicine may be the biggest, if not the only, hope to cure COPD. In our trial, 35% of the patients had severe COPD and 53% had extremely severe COPD. Usually, many patients with such severe COPD will die quite quickly if their disease progresses. We used a tiny catheter that contains a brush to collect the progenitor cells from the patients own airways. We cloned the cells to create up to a thousand million more, and then we transplanted them back into the patients lungs via bronchoscopy in order to repair the damaged lung tissue. Professor Zuo added: We found that P63 positive progenitor cell transplantation, not only improved the lung function of patients with COPD, but also relieved their symptoms, such as shortness of breath, loss of exercise ability and persistent coughing. This means that the patients could live a better life, and usually with longer life expectancy. If emphysema progresses, it increases the risk of death. In this trial, we found that P63 positive progenitor cell transplantation could repair mild emphysema, making the lung damage disappear. However, we cannot repair severe emphysema yet. Commenting on the study, Professor Omar Usmani, of Imperial College London, who is head of the European Respiratory Society group on airways disease, asthma, COPD and chronic cough, said: The results from this Phase I clinical trial are encouraging. COPD is in desperate need of new and more effective treatments, so if these results can be confirmed in subsequent clinical trials it will be very exciting. It is also very encouraging that two patients with emphysema responded so well. A limitation of this study is that the uptake of the progenitor cells when they were transplanted back into the patients is uncontrolled. So we do not know whether the lungs of some patients responded better to the transplantation than others. We hope this information may become apparent in future studies. Dr Erika Kennington, head of research and innovation at the charity Asthma and Lung UK, said: This research, which is reporting on the first in human trial of 17 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease demonstrating the safety and the proof of concept of this treatment could be a game changer for people with COPD. Transplanting someones own cells that have come from their stem cells, and which have the ability to repair and replace damaged tissue in their lungs, enables the lungs to regenerate the damaged airways and improves lung function, unlike other existing COPD treatments that simply dilate the airways to allow more air in. Cell transplantation could offer a damage reversing treatment for people with COPD, offering them a hope of a cure and we look forward to seeing what happens in the next phase of the trial. The mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by an American bully XL dog has questioned why the Government has not acted sooner to ban the breed. Emma Whitfield spoke out after Home Secretary Suella Braverman suggested the animals could be prohibited. The Cabinet minister announced she has commissioned urgent advice on outlawing the dogs after she highlighted an appalling attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham, which was filmed by an eyewitness and posted on social media. Ms Whitfields son, Jack Lis, was attacked by a bully XL named Beast in Caerphilly, South Wales, two years ago. Writing on X, previously known as Twitter, Ms Whitfield said: Its crazy how this video has gone viral and now politicians are coming out of the woodwork saying how bad it is. Where were you when my son was killed? Where were you when other innocent people were killed? Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere. If youre going to do something, please do it. Stop pussyfooting around the breed neutral bull crap and do something. Maybe you can do this and work on the backyard breeders and the thuggish owners ruining lives too. Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were later jailed after admitting being in charge of the out-of-control dog that killed Jack. Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were jailed after admitting being in charge of the dog that killed Jack Lis (Gwent Police/PA) Meanwhile, West Midlands Police said officers were continuing to investigate the incident in Birmingham which left three people injured, including the 11-year-old girl. She sustained serious wounds to her shoulder and forearms and is now recovering at home following hospital treatment. A 20-year-old man was chased across a garage forecourt and taken to hospital with bites to his shoulder and forearm, along with cuts and bruises from being dragged across the ground. Another man also suffered injuries and presented himself at hospital for treatment. Police said the dog broke free from its owner twice during the incident. The dog was seized by officers and taken to a vet suffering from heat exhaustion. He has now been taken into secure kennels and our dog unit will consider what will happen to it, a police spokesman said. The dogs owner is currently in hospital, and we will be speaking to him in due course. This was an alarming and shocking incident on a busy road in high temperatures and members of the public showed immense courage in tackling such a ferocious dog. Adding the bully XL to the banned list is the responsibility of Environment Secretary Therese Coffeys department, where, the PA news agency understands, there are concerns over the feasibility of the move. The dog, which is developed from the American pit bull terrier, is not a recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club. It could be hard to define and some fear a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs. It is against the law to own, breed or sell dogs on the list drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). But it is also against the law to have a dog that is dangerously out of control, which can be punished by prison sentences and unlimited fines. There are four banned breeds of dog in the UK: the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. A Defra spokesman said: We take dog attacks and anti-social behaviour very seriously and are making sure the full force of the law is being applied. This can range from lower-level Community Protection Notices which require dog owners to take appropriate action to address behaviour to more serious offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act, where people can be put in prison for up to 14 years, be disqualified from ownership, or result in dangerous dogs being euthanised. Downing Street said the UK Government takes the issue of American bully XL dogs extremely seriously. The footage we saw over the weekend was shocking. I know that the police are investigating that specific incident, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. We take this issue extremely seriously. We have commissioned urgent advice on what steps we can take on dangerous dogs. I think the Home Secretary set that out yesterday. And beyond that immediate work, we do have a number of measures to protect people under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Speaking during a visit to an east London school, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told reporters: I think theres a strong case for banning this particular breed. Anybody who saw footage of what happened is really shocked at what had happened and I think nobody would say thats perfectly acceptable and nothing needs to be done. I want to see what the Government is going to put forward. I hope we can do this speedily and constructively. First responders salute as an American flag is unfurled at the Pentagon at sunrise to commemorate the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon, during an observance ceremony in Washington, DC (AP) Bells have tolled at ground zero and solemn tributes were paid around the US as Americans looked back on the horror and legacy of the September 11 terror attacks. People gathered at memorials, fire stations, city halls, campuses and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on US soil on September 11 2001. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into New Yorks World Trade Centre, as well as the Pentagon and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The 9/11 attack reshaped American foreign policy and had a lasting effect on domestic fears. President Joe Biden is due to join service members and their families at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, Alaska. His visit is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of America, however remote. Sam Pulia places flags before the commemoration ceremony in New York (AP) US vice president Kamala Harris is joining the ceremony at the trade centre. Meanwhile, first lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. Ms Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected at a wreath-laying at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a Heroes Memorial includes a piece of World Trade Centre steel and a plaque honouring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St Louis suburb of 4,000 residents. Were just a little bitty community, said mayor Joe Maurath, but its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free. Members of New York Fire Department raise a US flag during the commemoration ceremony (AP) New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made September 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations. As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans carry out volunteer work on what US congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris is due to join the ceremony on the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims relatives for an hours-long reading of the names of the dead. James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Josephs name. US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin hosts an observance ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in honour of the 184 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon (AP) If their name is spoken out loud, they dont disappear, James Giaccone said in a recent interview. The commemoration is crucial to him. I hope I never see the day when they minimise this, he said. Its a day that changed history. In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service. Ms Harris husband, Mr Emhoff, is expected to attend the ceremony. The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free National Day of Learning programms, which will be available through the autumn, organisers said. We need to get the word out to the next generation, said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger. US President Joe Biden has closed a visit to Vietnam by highlighting new business deals and partnerships between the two countries and paying respects at a memorial honouring the late American senator John McCain, who endured a lengthy incarceration during the Vietnam War. Mr Biden met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who also accompanied the President as he dropped by a meeting of American and Vietnamese business leaders. Mr Biden also sat down with President Vo Van Thuong, who hosted the US leader for a state luncheon. The US President spoke about strengthening Vietnams semiconductor industry and his administrations commitment to an open Pacific. Mr Biden departs from Noi Bai International Airport (AP) Mr Biden told the CEOs: My message today is quite simple. Lets keep it up. We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships. The Vietnamese Prime Minister also stressed the need to improve cooperation and said the sky is the limit for the expanding US-Vietnam relationship. We truly wish to receive strong political commitment from the US government including you, Mr President, who has had great affection for Vietnam, the Prime Minister said. Highlights of the major deals announced by the White House during Bidens first-ever visit to Vietnam include US-based Boeings 7.5 billion dollar (6 billion) deal with Vietnam Airlines to buy about 50 aircraft and Arizona-based Amkor Technologys plans for a 1.6 billion dollar (1.2 billion) factory in Bac Ninh Province. Mr Biden, left, meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue, in Hanoi (AP) The White House also said the administration would help build Vietnamese capacity to fight regional and international transnational crime, including targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. China has been locked in long-running territorial conflicts with Vietnam, along with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as Beijing claims waters in the other nations exclusive economic zone. Mr Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday and met Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Mr Trong formally announced Vietnam had elevated the US to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. Mr Biden said the shift demonstrated how far bilateral relations had evolved from the bitter past of the Vietnam War. At the same time, Mr Biden insisted that his roughly 24-hour visit was not about trying to start a cold war with China but was part of a broader effort to improve global stability by building relationships throughout Asia, including with Vietnam, at a time of tensions with Beijing. Mr Biden insisted his presence in Vietnam was not a move towards another Cold War with China (AP) Before departing, Mr Biden visited the John Sidney McCain III Memorial near the site where, as a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant commander, Mr McCains Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down by the North Vietnamese. Both sides exchanged documents on unaccounted US service members and Vietnamese soldiers. Mr Biden left one of his commemorative coins at the memorial, the White House said. Mr McCain parachuted out of the plane and landed in a lake in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg in the fall, was dragged from the water by an angry crowd, and was beaten and bayoneted. The harrowing 1967 incident began a more than five-year ordeal that became the defining moment for the future Republican senator from Arizona and two-time presidential candidate. After six weeks in the hospital, Mr McCain, who had lost about one-third of his weight, was transferred to a prison cell. After a brief time with cellmates, McCain, the son and grandson of four-star admirals, began two years in solitary confinement in a 10-by-10ft room. At one point, Mr McCains captors asked if he wanted to go home, but it was a trick question. The US militarys code of conduct required prisoners to be released in the order they were detained. The North Vietnamese wanted to make a show of releasing McCain early as his father assumed command over the Pacific. Mr McCain refused. For four days after he refused release, Mr McCain was beaten every two to three hours by 10 guards. Filled with thoughts of suicide, Mr McCain broke and agreed to sign an anti-US propaganda statement confessing to black crimes. He later wrote: I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. It was the last time Mr McCain would break. He refused to sign any other statements or meet with visiting American anti-war activists. Eventually, Mr McCain was removed from solitary confinement and mingled with other US prisoners of war. He was released on March 14 1973. Mr McCain returned home, retired from the Navy in 1981, moved to Arizona and launched a political career. Mr Biden addressed US and Vietnamese business leaders (AP) He was elected to the House in 1982 and, in 1986, to the senate, where he and Mr Biden were colleagues. Despite his experience in Vietnam, Mr McCain was a strong advocate of restoring diplomatic relations with the country that had so badly mistreated him. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, but lost to Democrat Barack Obama. He died of brain cancer in 2018. Mr Biden delivered an emotional eulogy at Mr McCains funeral in Arizona. At the luncheon, Biden said he missed McCain. He praised McCain and John Kerry another Vietnam War veteran and former Democratic senator, secretary of state in the Obama administration and Bidens climate envoy for playing critical roles in the two nations 50-year arc of progress. Where there was darkness you all found light, Mr Biden said. Journalist Aoife Moore has written a new book, The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein Aoife Moores new book on Sinn Fein is on the shelves and in the headlines. The Derry-born journalists approach to Sinn Fein has drawn the ire of some in the media accusing her of not being hard enough on what is now Irelands largest party. She tells Ciaran Dunbar how and why she wrote The Long Game: Inside Sinn Fein, what her conclusions are, whether Sinn Fein will be able to keep their list of promises in power and the claim that Gerry Adams almost fell following the revelations his brother Liam had raped his own daughter. Lee-Anne picking up pieces as she joins dragon boat race to raise funds for air ambulance Greg out walking in lockdown 2020 with Jasmine on his back Greg working on their new house just days before his death in February 2021 Greg Schmitz using the back massager machine in the week running up to his death When Lee-Anne Schmitzs husband began complaining of back pain as they worked to renovate their new Lisburn home, they assumed hed pulled a muscle. But just days later Greg suffered a cardiac arrest in the couples bedroom and a horrified Lee-Anne watched him dying in front of my eyes. Greg was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital, but on February 28, 2021, the decision was made to switch off his life-support and donate some of his organs. He was just 42 years old. The Schmitz family His pancreas, kidneys and liver were given to three transplant recipients and Lee-Anne has since received a letter from one of them, thanking her for the incredible gift and expressing sorrow for her loss. Now the mum-of-two is preparing to take part in a dragon boat race on the Lagan, in Belfast, in September. In doing so, Lee-Anne hopes to raise money for HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) Northern Irelands air ambulance team who initially battled to save Gregs life. All the medical staff who helped Greg were incredible, says Lee-Anne (43). We found out he had a tear in his aortic valve, which is the main valve to the heart. Thats what was causing his back pain. Greg Schmitz with his children Dylan and Jasmine Lee-Anne and Greg met when they were both living and working in London in 2014, but after marrying in July 2017 and having their two children, Dylan (7) and Jasmine (4), they moved back to Lee-Annes native Northern Ireland to be closer to her family. We moved just before the first Covid lockdown and initially we rented, she says. It turned out to be a really idyllic summer, a special time for us. After the bustle of London the kids love all the outdoor space. I was working from home while Greg often took them out for walks. Dylan was always whizzing around, he had so much energy, and Jasmine would be tucked into a baby backpack on Gregs back. Lee-Anne and Greg That autumn, trained plumber Greg set up his own business, Handy Home Improvements NI. He was fit, active and healthy, remembers Lee-Anne. I would never have dreamed there could be anything wrong. It was Gregs handyman background that led the couple to buy a bit of a doer-upper in Lisburn in February 2021, and as soon as they got the keys, they began working on renovations, supported by family. So when Greg complained of a pain in his mid-back, between his shoulder blades, they assumed hed pulled a muscle, and a friend lent them a back massager machine to use in the evenings. Greg Schmitz using the back massager machine in the week running up to his death One Thursday February 25 Greg and Lee-Anne were at the house, stripping wallpaper after work, and Lee-Anne told her husband to go home ahead of her because he was struggling again with back pain. By the time I got home, late evening, him and Dylan were curled up in bed together fast asleep, says Lee-Anne. Hed been working so hard, I assumed he just needed a good nights rest. But the following morning Greg was up and pacing the bedroom, agitated and again complaining of back pain. He tried using the massager again, before lying back down in bed. Id taken Dylan downstairs to play, says Lee-Anne. I nipped up to check on Greg, and when I saw he was lying down, I lay next to him, gave him a kiss on the cheek and told him to just rest. Greg working on their new house just days before his death in February 2021 Lee-Anne went to take Jasmine downstairs but then she heard a horrible gasping sound. I raced back into the bedroom and that was it I could see that Greg was dying right in front of me, she says. I called 999 and was told to drag him onto the floor and start CPR. He was like a dead weight, and as I was moving him Jasmine, who Id been carrying, reached out her hand to touch his cheek and said Daddy. Paramedics and a doctor from HEMS arrived and worked on Greg, before taking him to hospital. They managed to restart his heart but the damage was done. Gregs brain had been starved of oxygen for too long. The Schmitz family making a snowman, winter 2020 Read more Resolve arguments with ease: Five ways to start improving communication in your relationship At home that night, Lee-Anne had the horrific job of explaining to Dylan that his daddy wouldnt be coming home. I told him daddy was going to heaven, she says. Dylan asked if hed be with the bird, because wed seen a dead bird on one of our walks that week and Id explained about heaven to him. He was just too young to understand. On Sunday, February 28, tests confirmed Greg was officially braindead and Lee-Anne made the brave decision to allow his kidneys, pancreas and liver to be harvested for donation. She says it gave her some comfort in the terrible months that followed, as she moved into their new home without her husband. Lee-Anne and Greg, summer 2020, with Jasmine and Dylan A post-mortem examination found that incredibly, Greg had already suffered a heart attack in the months or years leading up to his death, but had likely dismissed the pain and soldiered on. A tear to the aortic valve is usually caused by some inherent weakness or genetic predisposition. Almost two years to the day after losing her husband, Lee-Anne received a letter from the organ transplant service a thank you from one of the men whod received Gregs pancreas and heart. The man explained he had a wife and children, and had undergone three failed transplant attempts before Gregs gift saved his life. The letter says: Theres not a day goes by when I dont think about my donor and how fortunate I am. This also comes with a sadness when I think about his loved ones. Lee-Anne and Greg Schmitz, Christmas 2019, with Dylan and baby Jasmine Determined to put his mind at ease, Lee-Anne wrote back: Everything about my husband was good, he was the nicest man you could meet and had the kindest, most gentle soul. I love hearing that you think about him, and that a part of him lives on in you. Ive kept these letters safe and will show them to Dylan and Jasmine when theyre old enough to understand the incredible gift their daddy gave, she says. Itll never bring Greg back, but at least I know its been able to stop another family suffering. Lee-Anne and a team from Diageo, in Belfast where she works, will take on the Dragon Boat Challenge on Friday, September 15, at Rivers Edge. They are hoping to raise at least 1,500 to support the work of HEMS. Greg out walking in lockdown 2020 with Jasmine on his back To support them, visit Lee-Anne Schmitzs page on JustGiving. For more information on organ donation, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk French President Emmanuel Macron secured Bangladeshs commitment Monday to buy 10 Airbus planes, while concluding a historic visit to Dhaka where he proposed that both countries pursue a third way to safeguard their sovereignty from external pressure by big powers. During a joint news conference after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he reiterated Frances vision of a free, open, inclusive, secure and peaceful Indo-Pacific, while expressing interest in working with like-minded countries. At the news conference, Macron thanked Hasinas government for committing to purchase the new A350 passenger planes from Airbus, the aviation manufacturing giant based in southwestern France and main global rival to the U.S.-based Boeing Co. Macron, the first of Frances presidents to visit Bangladesh in 33 years, spoke in French during the news conference with Hasina. But to the befuddlement of the Bangladeshi press corps who were in the room, they could not understand what Macron was saying. The public address system apparently was not transmitting the interpreters translation from French to Bengali. Hasina was able to hear it through an earphone, which the French leader had handed to her. France thanks Bangladesh for its commitment concerning the acquisition of 10 A350 from Airbus. The two countries underline as well the importance of continued cooperation on improved air traffic management in all airports of Bangladesh, read a joint statement issued Monday evening, hours after Macron had departed from Dhaka. The national carrier, Biman, has a fleet of 16 aircraft manufactured by Boeing and five manufactured by De Havilland Canada. In May, France offered us 10 Airbus aircraft by 2030. In July, they communicated to us that they could provide two planes in the coming years, Biman CEO Shafiul Azim told BenarNews. Our technical and financial experts have been working on their proposal to come up with the price and other associated issues. We want to prepare a specific procurement plan for the two aircraft as soon as possible. A new Airbus A350 of Air France is pictured during its first flight from the Airbus delivery center in Colomiers, southwestern France, Sept. 27, 2019. [Pascal Pavani/AFP] R.A.M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, chairman of a parliamentary committee on civil aviation, said the government had not planned on switching from Boeing aircraft. Boeing is a leading aircraft maker. We have Boeing planes in the Biman fleet. Now the government wants to buy more good quality planes at competitive prices, he told BenarNews. In line with the plan, the government moves to procure aircraft from Airbus. This is an open market, he said. Procuring Airbus planes does not mean that we are shifting from Boeing. The government has not made such a decision. A common desire While commenting on their countries strategic interests, the French president said that France and Bangladesh had similar goals for the Indo-Pacific specifically the Indian Ocean, where France has island territories off East Africa. Since Bangladeshs war of independence from Pakistan in 1971, we share the same attachment to democratic values, the rule of law, and human rights, Macron said as he paid tribute to Hasinas father, Bangladeshs founding leader who was assassinated in 1975. In fact, we have a common desire to preserve the independence of our countries, to not give in to any external pressure, and, despite the conflicts in progress, to basically guard the liberty that goes with sovereignty, he said. I defend, as you know, this third way in the Indo-Pacific, founded on the respect for sovereignty and the strategic autonomy of our partners. He said he believed that Hasina shared the same desire and to safeguard the Indo-Pacific, in particular the Indian Ocean region, from all the geopolitical tensions. Macron was clearly referring to the military and economic competition between rival superpowers the United States and China, which are competing for influence in both the Indian and Pacific oceans as well as Southeast Asia. Given Russias war of imperial conquest in Europe, more than ever, it is therefore our responsibility to continue to construct partnerships with our old friends and to propose durable alternatives. This is the path that we want to pursue with Bangladesh, Macron said. While France is a longtime ally of the United States, Macron has not seen eye-to-eye with the Biden administration for pressing European countries to toe Washingtons policy on the war in Ukraine, according to news reports. During a visit to China in April, he rankled the U.S. for urging other European Union countries to resist being pressured into becoming Americas followers, and for seeking Chinese President Xi Jinpings help in bringing the Russians to the table for peace talks with the Ukrainians. French President Emmanuel Macron (center) takes a selfie with Bangladeshi locals and members of an NGO after a boat ride during his two-day visit in Dhaka, Sept. 11, 2023. [Ludovic Marin/AFP] Hasina, for her part, has complained bitterly about sanctions imposed by Washington on her countrys elite Rapid Action Battalion as well as U.S. criticism of her governments human rights record and the climate for free speech in the run-up to the Bangladesh general election, which is months away. In her statement, Hasina said ties with France had reached a new dimension, according to state news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). Today is a historic day in our bilateral relationship between France and Bangladesh which has been evolving for more than five decades, she said. We both hope that this new strategic move between Bangladesh and France will play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability and peace, she said. While Macron spoke about Russias invasion of Ukraine, his statement was directed at Beijing as well, according to Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, a former Bangladeshi foreign secretary. Over the last couple of years, we have been observing that the Western countries blamed the actions and behavior of China and Russia as being imperialist in nature. On the other hand, China and Russia have been accusing the U.S. and the Western countries of being imperialist states, Chowdhury told BenarNews. France governs some small islands in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, the joint statement refers to France as a resident of the Indo-Pacific region. France would not like to see Chinas growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, he said. To him, the most important point contained in the joint statement was the clause that touched on the war in Ukraine but made no mention of a Russian invasion. The war in Ukraine constitutes a violation of international law, in particular of the United Nations charter and is a serious threat to the rules-based international order, an excerpt read. Chowdhury noted that Macrons statement came just a few days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had visited Dhaka. Munshi Fayaz Ahmad, a former ambassador to China, discussed the leaders call for a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific. My hunch is that the term inclusive has been included in the statement due to Bangladeshs preference as it would help Bangladesh maintain a balance in her relations with the U.S. and the Western countries and China at the same time, he said. France wants to be an active force in the anti-China strategy such as the Indo-Pacific, he said. (Photo : SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) This file photo shows the Tesla logo is seen outside of their showroom in Washington, DC, on August 8, 2018. - Tesla shares surged on Tuesday October 23, 2018, after a high-profile stock short-seller shifted gears to say the electric car maker is "destroying the competition." Elon Musk and Bill Gates, two of the wealthiest people in the world, got into a heated argument last year, which some have called a "d**k-measuring contest." Musk publicly criticized Gates for shorting Tesla shares while promoting climate change action, which started the spat. Musk and Gates Engage in Heated Feud Over Tesla and Climate Change The specifics of their altercation and the underlying problems have been revealed in a new biography by Walter Isaacson that will be published soon. During a meeting at Musk's facility in Austin, Texas, in September of last year, Gates approached Musk to talk about philanthropy and climate change, as per Daily Mail. However, What started as a discussion on these global challenges swiftly devolved into a disagreement about their divergent opinions on Tesla and sustainability. In the past, Gates had shorted Tesla stock, ultimately losing him an incredible $1.5 billion. In their encounter, Gates expressed regret for the action, but Musk was unfazed and, in Isaacson's words, turned super mean toward the Microsoft co-founder. Musk's first response to Gates' request for a meeting was typical of his straightforward style. He instructed Gates to call him directly rather than speak with his secretary, scheduling the March 9, 2022 appointment. The tour Musk gave the computer tycoon of his Austin facility made him very happy, but their disagreements were significant. Gates' shorting of Tesla shares was one of the main issues. Musk, a fervent supporter of clean energy and electric vehicles, thought it was absurd that someone who professed to be in favor of combating climate change would wager against the success of a clean energy automaker. Isaacson called Gates' explanation of his choice as a way to make money alien to Musk. Also at odds with Gates' opinions were Musk's convictions about the potential of solar power and electric truck batteries. Musk was pressed on the viability of these technologies by Gates, who is renowned for his data-driven philosophy. He referred to Musk's plans to colonize Mars as "bizarre thinking." Their differences extended to philanthropy, where Musk expressed doubt and called it "bulls**t." In his opinion, only a tiny part of the money given to charitable causes would have a significant influence. Read Also: Is Your Partner a 'Serial Cheater?' Here's How to Find Out Billions and Bitcoin: Musk and Gates Spar Over Philanthropy and Cryptocurrency On the other hand, Gates gave examples of initiatives in which he had committed $100 million and seen tremendous positive results. This argument didn't stay at their meeting; it spread to social media. In a tweet, Musk made fun of Gates' appearance, while Gates expressed his concerns about Bitcoin by criticizing Musk's involvement in it. Their disagreements extended to the viability of electric vehicles, with Musk remaining steadfast in his support for the Tesla Semi project while Gates expressed skepticism. Per Times of India, the planned book by Isaacson offers insightful perspectives on Musk's character and decision-making. There are allegations that during the Russian invasion, Musk blocked Starlink's internet connection across the Crimean shore to stop an assault on the Russian naval fleet, according to Business Insider. Musk made it clear that he did not give the shutdown the go-ahead, but he did decline Kyiv's request to turn it on to avoid participating in a possible act of war. The book by Isaacson also emphasizes Musk's ferocious work ethic and urgency, which occasionally resulted in conflicts with his staff, notably in his early years at Twitter. Musk and Gates are two of the wealthiest people in the world, and their public arguments have highlighted the differences in their worldviews, philanthropic methods, and future goals. Even though both have significantly impacted technology and society, their opposing viewpoints continue to spark discussion. Related Article: Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Stuck in India as Airplane Breaks Down After Hearing Criticism From Narendra Modi @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. More than 1,000 prisoners who are on death row or facing natural-life prison sentences can appeal for lesser punishments starting Tuesday, Malaysias law minister said, as the government takes steps towards abolishing capital punishment entirely. Legal experts and activists say the announcement brings Malaysia a step closer to international human rights norms, but caution that the review of individual cases will be complicated and time consuming. Some 1,020 prisoners are eligible to file for a review of their sentences, according to Law Minister Azalina Othman Said. The Cabinet unanimously approved the mechanism for conducting court proceedings related to the revision of mandatory death penalties and life imprisonment sentences on Aug. 30, she said in a statement on Monday. Priority would be based on prisoners age, health and length of imprisonment, among other factors, Azalina said. Malaysias parliament in April voted to scrap the mandatory death penalty and end natural-life sentences, saying capital punishment as a deterrent had not lowered crime. Judges still have the discretion to implement the death sentence for 11 offenses, including murder and terrorism. It was now up to the courts to follow the governments lead and send a message that the death penalty was not a necessary component of Malaysia's criminal justice system, said Dobby Chew, the executive coordinator of the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network. We must also look at drug issues that contribute to two thirds of those on death row, he told BenarNews. Our punitive method of tackling drug use and trafficking has done nothing but result in prison overpopulation and continued proliferation of drugs in Malaysia. Senior criminal lawyer K.A. Ramu praised the appeal process for offering a second chance to individuals who have either repented or were manipulated by others to commit crimes. However, he said simply easing punishment would not address broader issues. To deter individuals from committing heinous crimes such as murder or drug trafficking, the government must address the factors that lead to such actions, cracking down on syndicates that manipulate less-educated individuals to become drug mules, he told BenarNews. New hope The sister of one death row prisoner said the announcement gave her a glimmer of hope that she might be reunited with her brother, who has been in jail for 20 years and nine months. He was 23 years old when he was given the death penalty under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, said Amelia, who did not want to give her family name. At the time of his arrest, he was only in his early twenties, she said. Its so sad to think about how much of his life has passed within those prison walls. Our mother passed away two years ago without seeing him again. It was the saddest moment for all of us. She said their father was now 77 years old with medical issues. Having my brother back would be a blessing, she said through sobs. However, navigating the appeals process will be difficult for many prisoners and their families, said Chew. There have already been indications that those awaiting re-sentencing will need their files to be revisited to identify potential mitigating factors recorded in past judgments, and there is a need to establish a baseline of their mental and physical health, he told BenarNews. Additional issues could also arise during hearings at the Court of Appeal, further complicating re-sentencing, he said. Court-assigned counsel or government-funded legal aid will be extended to prisoners who could not afford representation, Malaysias law minister Azalina said. The resentencing initiative showed the principle of restorative justice was being upheld in Malaysia and the Unity Government cared about giving prisoners a second chance, she said. In March, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told Parliament that 78,236 people were detained in Malaysian prisons, about 6,000 inmates over capacity. In order to tackle the overflowing prison population, the government introduced a parole program to allow petty criminals to do community service instead of jail time. Malaysia is moving to ban exports of rare earths in their raw form, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced Monday, saying the move would boost domestic processing and prevent loss of resources amid global concerns about Chinas control of such minerals. Rare earths are considered to be lucrative and of strategic value because they are used in the manufacturing of military equipment, lasers, smartphones and magnets found in electric vehicles and wind turbines. This move will also enhance the [raw rare earths] processing in the country while providing additional revenue to Malaysia, he told MPs while introducing the countrys economic plan for 2023 to 2025. A detailed map and comprehensive business plan will be developed to enhance domestic processing to sustain the value of the rare earth metals, including those found in bauxite, the prime minister said. Hence, the government will come out with a policy which bans the export of rare earth raw materials to prevent any exploitation, loss of resources and in turn guarantee a maximum return to the country, he said. Anwar said the industry was expected to contribute 9.5 billion ringgit (U.S. $2 billion) to the gross domestic product by 2025, while creating 7,000 jobs. Geopolitical pressure Geostrategist Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said the governments move to assert control over rare earth elements (REE) marks a significant effort to gain control over resources to not only bolster the countrys financial standing, but also counter potential pressure from China. He said China had been using REE as a geopolitical tool to exert pressure on other countries because it controls 80% to 90% of rare earths that come from them. While we may have limited leverage in the rare earth market, this policy change aims to boost domestic revenue and provide us with a strategic advantage. By reducing our dependence on China for critical minerals, especially in the production of high-tech equipment, we are safeguarding our interests, Azmi told BenarNews. For us to have a new policy to ban exports, we could use it to thwart any geopolitical pressure that will be exerted by China. In his statement, Anwar did not say when the ban would go into effect. Abd. Rasid Jaafar, the president of Malaysia Geology Institute, said China was not necessarily a threat to Malaysia. Currently China is the major player of REE in the world. They are number one in terms of knowledge and technology; from exploration, extraction, processing and production. Yes, they can be a threat to what we are trying to do but they also can be a good partner to Malaysia if a win-win deal is made, he told BenarNews. Besides REE, Malaysia is rich with tin, gold and copper. He said detailed mapping was important for the Southeast Asia country, noting it had not been done before. [I]t is useful for land-use planning as well as to convince foreign investors, he said. Australias Lynas Rare Earths Ltd., the largest producer of REE outside of China, operates in Malaysia but does not mine in the Southeast Asian country. The materials mined at Mt. Weld Concentration Plant in Australia have been imported to be processed and refined at the 347-acre plant in Gebeng, Pahang state, Malaysia. The governor of Sulu has declared it to be free of Abu Sayyaf militants, but analysts warn that the groups top leaders remain at large while private armies hired by politicians strike fear among people in the southern Philippine province. Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, who chairs a task force of military and local government officials, last week announced that the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) had been wiped out in Sulu, a chain of islands in the far south near the Malaysian part of Borneo. This marked a significant accomplishment in our never-ending quest for stability, security, and peace, he said. Analysts, however, are more guarded in assessing the status in Sulu of the group linked with Islamic State (IS) extremists, and that was tied to a string of suicide bombings until 2020. While the province has managed to improve its security, the national government has refrained from making a similar assertion, according to the observers. Why is it that in the higher-ups of the government at the national level there is no recognition that there indeed is no more Abu Sayyaf in Sulu? Julkipli Wadi, dean of the University of the Philippines Institute of Islamic Studies, said in an interview with a local radio station. Some analysts also are warning about other forces of terror that are operating in the Sulu Islands specifically small private armies kept among local politicians. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the Sulu task force, cited the voluntary surrender of 966 alleged bandits and the recovery of 559 firearms from 52 villages as a sign that conflict had subsided in Sulu. This will bring forth development and will boost the ecotourism of the province, he said. Its peaceful here now Only a few years ago, Sulu, which is part of an autonomous zone in the majority-Muslim areas of the southern Mindanao region, experienced a string of kidnappings and deadly attacks that were attributed to IS. In early 2019, an Indonesian couple carried out a suicide bombing at a church in Jolo, the provincial capital and main town on Jolo island, killing 33 people. Security officials said the couple, suspected members of the Indonesian IS-affiliate Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, executed the attack on orders from Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, the late Abu Sayyaf commander. A year later in August 2020, two suicide bombers killed 15 and injured 70 others in downtown Jolo. The military identified Mundi Sawadjaan, an ASG operative and a suspected relative of the late Sawadjaan, as the mastermind of the bombing. Pendatum Magdilon, 57, a driver-for-hire, says his home-province nowadays has a completely different vibe. Only few outsiders used to visit us, but now you cannot get your ferry tickets if you dont book in advance, he told BenarNews last month when some towns across the province declared themselves free of ASG. Its peaceful here now. The Abu Sayyaf are gone. People now go here without security escorts, he added. Passengers prepare to board a ferry at the port of Jolo, on Jolo island in Sulu, southern Philippines, Aug. 17, 2023. [Jeoffrey Maitem/Benar News] Wadi, the dean of the Institute of Islamic Studies, echoed that sentiment. You will really feel that Jolo or Solo is safe unlike before, when you couldnt go out. Now tourism is alive, the beaches are nice, he said on Saturday. But he also expressed skepticism about the local authorities claim about having gotten totally rid of Abu Sayyaf, and questioned why the top leaders of the militant group were still on the loose. Authorities say that while leaders such as Mundi Sawadjaan, the ASG leader blamed for the August 2020 suicide bombings, couldnt be detained, he had been pushed out of the province. Sawadjaan had been sighted in the neighboring Basilan province as recently as May when soldiers had two separate encounters with his group, Col. Christopher Tampus, commander of the 1103rd Brigade in Indanan, on Jolo island, told BenarNews. He also alleged that Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a militant splinter faction of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, had protected Sawadjaan in Maguindanao province. More than a dozen militant groups continue to operate across the Mindanao region but they remain outside Sulu, according to Maj. Andrew Linao, public affairs chief of the militarys Western Mindanao Command. Rommel Banlaoi, a prominent counter-terrorism analyst, said that remnants of the ASG were likely still in Sulu, in particular, and in the Philippines, in general. The Philippines continues to be one of the major destinations of foreign terrorist fighters coming largely from Indonesia and Malaysia, Banlaoi, also the chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, told reporters on Monday last week. The predominantly Muslim province of Sulu, also the poorest in the country, is geographically nearer to Sabah in Malaysia the focus of a longtime territorial dispute between Malaysia and the Philippines than to Manila, the Philippines capital city. A volunteer works inside Mt. Carmel Church, which was trageted in a suicide bomb attack in 2019, in Jolo, southern Philippines. [Jeoffrey Maitem/Benar News] Banlaoi also noted that there were other sources of instability emerging in the Mindanao region. He pointed to how local politicians were recruiting private armies, leading to political rifts and clan wars. Currently, terrorism is not confined [to militant groups]. Private armed groups maintained by local politicians have been identified as new forces of terror in the Philippines, he said. What contributed to the rapid decline [in militant activities] was not military actions but the strong involvement of local government and civil society because they actively participated in countering terrorism in the country through non-military measures, he added. Roel D. Pareno and Richel Umel contributed to this report from Zamboanga City and Iligan, southern Philippines. 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. E-commerce boosts sales of agricultural products in China People's Daily Online) 14:06, September 11, 2023 Thanks to e-commerce platforms and live-streamed e-commerce, edible mushrooms in Gutian county, Ningde city, southeast China's Fujian Province are getting on the dining tables of people across the country. "Our snow fungi are particularly sought-after in livestreams," said Huang Zhongsheng, general manager of a company in Gutian county. In Gutian, 70 percent of agricultural populations engage in the supply and sale of edible mushrooms, and the output of the edible mushroom industry accounts for 70 percent of the county's total agricultural output. Livestreamers advertise pears at a pear planting base in Jinbi township, Qianxi city, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo/Zhou Xunchao) Huang's company received 600,000 orders for products of Gutian snow fungi through e-commerce platforms in the first half of 2023. "It's something we couldn't imagine in the past," Huang said. Huang's company established a cooperative, which attracted mushroom farmers. In the past, the cooperative mainly sold mushrooms to supermarkets, farmers' markets, and processing plants. In 2020, it began to sell products on Douyin E-commerce under Chinese online video-sharing platform Douyin. "E-commerce platforms help send products from their places of origin directly to the dining tables of people at more affordable prices. Through livestreams and short videos, more people know Gutian's edible mushrooms and the methods of cooking mushrooms," Huang said, adding that many viewers place orders. Data showed that from January to June this year, Fujian witnessed a year-on-year growth of 178 percent in the sales of edible mushrooms, and a 117 percent year-on-year increase in the number of product varieties on Douyin E-commerce. In addition to Gutian's snow fungi, agricultural products from other places in China, including Yantai apples from Yantai city, east China's Shandong Province, have also seen brisk sales on e-commerce platforms in recent years. In Luoshayang village, Pingnan county of Fujian, livestreamer Tian Xiaoyu, born after 1995, runs an online store, which is seeing rising sales. After attending an e-commerce training class organized by the county, Tian introduced knowledge about edible mushrooms and the culture of Fujian-style mushroom soup in livestreams or short videos, gradually winning the trust of customers. She also promoted an instant mushroom soup product for those living a fast-paced lifestyle. "Primary agricultural products can hardly be sold at a good price in the market, but the problem can be solved if we work harder on brand building," said Tian. A stable supply chain system was established, providing job opportunities in sales, sorting, packaging, and delivery for nearly 300 villagers. Rural e-commerce has motivated migrant workers, college graduates, and ex-servicemen to return to their hometowns in rural areas to start their own businesses. Data shows that by the end of 2022, the number of rural online merchants in China exceeded 17.3 million. Last year, online retail sales in China's rural areas reached 2.17 trillion yuan ($297 billion), and online sales of the country's farm produce rose 9.2 percent year on year to 531.38 billion yuan. Not long ago, China's Ministry of Commerce and other eight departments jointly issued a three-year action plan aimed at enhancing the nation's county-level commerce system. The plan called for promoting high-quality development of rural e-commerce, vigorously developing livestream e-commerce, cultivating brands of local specialties, and encouraging entrepreneurship and employment in the e-commerce sector in rural areas. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) (Photo : Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 07: Chris Evans speaks onstage during Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Endgame" Global Junket Press Conference at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown on April 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. Chris Evans reportedly wed his fiancee, Alba Baptista, in a secret ceremony in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, surprising fans and other celebs. Several Hollywood celebrities, including Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner, and Chris Hemsworth, attended the wedding held at a remote estate, according to individuals close to the occasion. Who is Chris Evans' Wife Alba Baptista? In a novel twist, visitors were required to abide by stringent security regulations, which included giving up their phones and signing non-disclosure agreements before the event. Before they took the plunge, the couple's relationship had been quietly growing for almost two years. With this happy occasion in mind, let's take a closer look at Alba Baptista, the Portuguese actress from Lisbon who has won the leading man of Captain America's heart. According to her IMDb page, Alba Baptista has a remarkable command of five languages: English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. She credited her schooling at a rigorous institution that required a high level of discipline, particularly in languages, for her linguistic skills. Baptista has amassed over 737,000 Instagram followers in the most recent count, demonstrating her expanding notoriety and power. Ariana DeBose, Johnny Depp, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Jamie Chung, and her new brother-in-law, Chris's younger brother, Scott Evans, are just a few of the celebrities she follows on her 631 profiles. Baptista is committed to monitoring brands in the fashion and lifestyle industry, such as A24, Chanel, Prada, and Vogue, and celebrities and public figures like Greenpeace and NASA. Baptista's path to acting was coincidental. At the age of fifteen, a talent agency contacted her regarding an audition for a leading role in a movie. To learn more about Baptista's thought process during the audition, the director asked existentialist questions. She discovered acting allowed her to explore new realities, handle unfamiliar emotions, and immerse herself in her parts. This experience sparked her enthusiasm for performing. Alba Baptista has been acting for more than ten years. Natasha, the character she played in the 2022 movie 'Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris,' was her breakout performance. She first became well-known in Portugal as a result of her participation in several TV programs, including 'Jardins Proibidos,' 'Filha da Lei,' 'Madre Paula,' 'A Criaco,' and 'A Impostora. With co-stars Kristina Tonteri-Young and Lorena Andrea, she made her English-language debut in the Netflix series 'Warrior Nun' in 2020 as Ava Silva, as per MEAWW. Speaking on her time as a 'Warrior Nun,' Baptista stressed the show's emphasis on female emancipation and the power of a cohesive group of women. She acknowledged her delight in her cast members' representation of this mindset. Read Also: US Southern Command HQ Shelves Showing of 'Sound of Freedom'-but Why? Chris Evans Ties the Knot With Alba Baptista Baptista's popularity is unquestionably rising with four new projects, including 'Amelia's Children,' 'Borderline,' 'Bodyhackers,' and 'Dulcinea,' in various phases of development. Baptista and Evans' relationship first came to light in November, despite rumors that they had been dating for more than a year at the time. The couple's love for one another was evident when they held hands and strolled in Central Park. Later, in January, they made their relationship public on Instagram with a lighthearted video. Since then, they have shared their love story on social media, celebrated Valentine's Day, and going on vacations together. Chris Evans, best known as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has dated a number of well-known people in the past, including Jessica Biel, Minka Kelly, and Jenny Slate. Per Daily Mail, Evans wished to settle down and start a family after being crowned People's 2022 Sexiest Man Alive. He hopes to establish enduring customs and rites, and his friendship with Alba Baptista is a big step in that direction. Chris Evans and Alba Baptista's love story is winning the hearts of fans and giving those who believe in the strength of love and devotion hope in the world of Hollywood romance. Related Article: Elon Musk's Third Child With Grimes is True @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The burned remains of the Thompson Mill stand beside the Hoosic River in Valley Falls, N.Y. Media gather to cover Governor Maura Healey's visit to survey storm damage near a section of collapsed road on State Street in North Adams at the intersection of Morgan Avenue in July. Gracious God, It says in Scripture that You created the world and all that is in it for us to enjoy. You gave us times to rest and then to rise again. All of that was a display of power and an act of provision for us. As I see the morning light, Im reminded that Scripture says Your mercies are new every day. So though I dont know what today will bring, I pray that You will re-fill me with the strength, wisdom and love I need to serve You. I ask for Your favor to rest on me as I walk through every moment and situation. And most of all, Abba, bless me with Your presence. Help me to make the most of this day, and to worship You through what I say and do. In Jesus Name, Amen. A Prayer of Blessing for Your Ministry Almighty God, Thank You for making us Your hands and feet in this world, and inviting us to join You in what Youre doing. Youve given me gifts and talents, and I want to use them wisely. So please show me how to bring You glory through the work that I do. Guide me to the right ministry, and shape my heart for service. Let me find fellowship with others who are working alongside me, so that together our impact will multiply. Give me patience when I need to wait for a project to begin, grant me perseverance to continue when the way gets long or difficult. I pray I might get even a small glimpse of Your vision, and keep it in my sights, so my heart stays in line with Yours. In Jesus Name, Amen. Right Motives God is pleased to hear the prayers of His people. But we must be careful to have the right motivations and intentions as we approach Him. As that young Christian, I was excited to learn that I could ask God for blessing in specific things or situations. So, I started lifting up all kinds of requests, but with the answer I wanted already in my mind. I hadnt yet grasped a very important truth about prayer: God always answers us, but not always in the way we expect. Its never wrong to pray for His blessing for things we hope for. But I came before God with an agenda, seeking my will to be done. Over time I became aware that when I did that, I was leaning on my own wisdom, thinking I knew better than the Lord what was best for me or for others. The more Ive learned about Gods goodness, the less I feel the need to defend my wants to Him. Im better now at getting out of Gods way, and I look forward to seeing how He will work. Photo credit: Getty Images/iprogressman King David is known as an example of a Godly worshipper. In fact, God said about him, I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will (Acts 13:22). From an early age, David seemed to understand the importance of having a close relationship with his Lord. A few years ago, I decided I wanted to go deeper in my worship life. It didnt take long before I realized that there was no one in Scripture who could teach me more than David. So, I began to do an intense study. Through his writings and the accounts of his life, I saw a man who found ways to lift up God every day in all sorts of situations. Getting to know him better has inspired me. Here are just a few ideas on how we can worship like David did. How did David Worship? Studying Davids worship life taught me that to please God, its not enough to say or do certain things our hearts must be in the right place first. Davids words and actions reveal characteristics of the kind of worship that pleases God. 1. David Was a Broken Worshipper you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17). The NIV translation of this Psalm has a note at the top, When the prophet Nathan came to him after David committed adultery with Bathsheba. This story tells how David made a series of terrible choices that displeased the Lord (1 Samuel 17:26). In a word, he sinned. When he was finally rebuked by Nathan, David humbled himself to admit, I have sinned against the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13). This painful time brought about a new humility in David, and a greater understanding of his need for Gods mercy. I stumble and sin every day, and it is reassuring to know that like David, I can seek and receive forgiveness from a God who loves me. As I experience the grace of my Heavenly Father, my heart is filled with gratitude, which always leads to sincere and meaningful times of worship. 2. David was a Focused Worshipper You, God, are my God,earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you (Psalm 63:1-5). This Psalm was written when David was hiding from his enemies, possibly his son Absalom, in the Desert of Judah. He was probably quite lonely, and unsure about his future. But none of his feelings or concerns changed his decision to worship. He kept his eyes fixed on his God, looking up rather than around him. As I go through my day, I want to be as decisive about praise as David. No matter what might be trying to distract me, I can realign my focus back to God. Prayer, remembering Gods works, even singing a hymn or chorus will help keep my attention on the One who deserves my worship. 3. David was a Passionate Worshipper So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his night, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets (2 Samuel 6:12-15). This passage shows us a man so engaged in worshipping God that nothing else matters. Others, namely his wife Michal, disapproved of his behavior, calling him vulgar. But David didnt apologize for his passion, responding, I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this (2 Samuel 21-22). He knew the power of fully embracing the act of giving glory to God. One of my goals in worship is to be fully engaged heart, soul, mind and strength. That might mean an outwardly bigger display while Im with other people, but it could just as easily be a personal quiet time where I fully give myself over to lifting God up. Its alright if other people dont understand or approve, as long as I know that God is pleased. Where did David Worship? Davids life reveals someone who worshipped God in many ways. Here are some of the different places and moments he lifted God up: 1. In the fields The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world (Psalm 19:1-4). David wrote Psalms, or songs to God, as he tended sheep in the fields. Though it was dusty and lonely work, shepherding allowed David to take in and appreciate the nature God had created. His writing expresses his awe and gratitude for Gods provision. Most of us dont work in the fields, and our pace of life is faster and more crowded. But can we become more aware of Gods presence, and praise Him during our day, wherever we happen to be? 2. In Sauls court And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight. And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him (1 Samuel 16:21-23). David became known for his musical skills as well as his moral character, and both came into play when he started serving in Sauls court. As David used his God-given gifts, Sauls spirit was calmed, and his heart was turned more toward the Lord. While we may not all have musical gifts, God has given each of us talents of some kind. Are we willing to let God work through those talents to make others more aware of His healing power and goodness? 3. During the Battle David said to the Philistine, You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and Ill strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lords, and he will give all of you into our hands. (1 Samuel 17:42-47) David probably didnt expect hed ever have to face a giant like Goliath. But when given the chance, he gladly stepped up. Not only did he fight him, but he took the opportunity to declare Gods power to all who were gathered there. His victory was a testimony to both the Israelites and the Philistines. The giants we face arent usually soldiers. But challenges come at us in all areas of life, and some of them can feel overwhelming. Though our struggles are real and sometimes scary, can we also use them as opportunities to tell others about our amazing God? We Can Try Some of Davids Worshipful Actions In 1 Chronicles 16, David gives instructions to Asaph and his associates on how to praise the Lord. This passage is full of what I call worship verbs, or actions that David believed could bring honor to God. I found this passage to be a great jumpstart for my times of both corporate and individual worship. This is just a small list of ideas David puts forth: -Give Praise -Proclaim his name -Sing to him -Remember the wonders he has done -Declare his glory among the nations -Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength -Give thanks to the Lord -Cry out Save us, God our Savior Everything David thought, felt and did was motivated by a desire to give glory to his Heavenly Father. For him, worship was a natural reflex, and in a way, as vital as breathing. Im so glad for King Davids example that can help all of us grow in both our worship and faith lives. Photo credit: Unsplash/Hannah Busing It's once again the anniversary of 9/11. A day marked by shock, terror, sorrow, and tremendous loss, where we remember the devastating terrorist attacks against America that deeply impacted our nation. Statistics report that 2,977 people lost their lives on September 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, at the hands of Islamic extremists who hijacked four commercial airliners, carrying out suicide attacks against the United States. Megan Scheibners husband, Steve, was the pilot originally scheduled to fly American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, MA, the first plane to hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. But a last-minute bump off the flight by a senior pilot spared his life that day. She writes, We all, as a nation, have our memories of that day; memories stamped into our subconscious because of the enormity of that major life event. Memories of a major life event that continues to shape our homes, our nation, and in fact, our world. Here are 10 Bible verses to remember 9/11 through the lens of His word: 1. Remember with Respectfulness: Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15) In remembering 9/11, its important to respectively consider those who are suffering, as if we are suffering with them (Hebrews 13:3). A friend of mine was the daughter of one of the five missionaries slain in Ecuador by the Auca Indians back in 1956. It was an event that shook the Evangelical world, reported worldwide and recognized as martyrdom for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Although people probably thought they were being encouraging to my friend, they said things to her like How wonderful to have a father who was martyred for the Gospel. But it wasnt wonderful for her. It was a very personal, traumatic incident that left her fatherless, and deeply impacted her life. 2. Remember with Compassion: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) We are able to remember 9/11 with compassion, offering the comfort weve received from God when weve experienced trouble, to those around us (2 Corinthians 1:4). Although a rare last minute crew change put someone else in the pilots seat of the first plane to hit the World Trade Center on 9/11, Steve Scheibners wife writes in her book In My Seat: A Pilots Story from September 10-11, Suddenly, the gravity of the situation began to hit home. The planes that went down were ones that Steve had flown; the pilots and crewmembers whose lives were taken in an unthinkable moment were more than coworkers; they were Steves friends. Feelings of relief for her own husbands safety also brought Gods deep compassion for those around her who were grieving. 3. Remember without Fear: In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56:11) In remembering 9/11, be careful not to stir up anxious, fearful, and distressful feelings, because Jesus urges us to not be afraid of those who kill the body (Matthew 10:28). Although increasing violence in the world causes many to feel vulnerable, God doesnt want us to be afraid or to live fearfully, but rather to, Have no fear of sudden disaster (Proverbs 3:25). Despite trouble happening all around us, Jesus says we can walk in His peace. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). 4. Remember by Trusting God: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) We can remember 9/11 with trust in God, believing even though we make plans in life, its the Lord who establishes our steps (Proverbs 16:9). By keeping our hearts steadfast and trusting in Him (Psalm 112:7), even in the worst-case scenarios where it doesnt look like any good thing could ever possibly come from them, we can trust God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 5. Remember with Assurance of Gods Presence: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) Many may feel like God abandoned those caught in the 9/11 attacks, but Hebrews 13:5 assures us that God will never leave us or forsake us, even in horrific and devastating events like 9/11. God did not abandon those trapped in the attacks. During life-threatening situations like 9/11, we can be assured of Gods presence in the midst of it. Acts 7:55 describes a Christian who came under such attack. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Like Stephen, we can look to God being assured, He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart (Psalm 91:4). 6. Remember with Gods Promise: Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die (John 11:25) Although lives were tragically taken away, we can remember 9/11 with a promise, understanding all who lost their lives knowing Christ passed from this life to eternal life. Scripture promises us, When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54). Nothing, not even death, can separate us from Gods love. As Romans 8:38, 39 explains, For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Those who were killed on 9/11 knowing Christ, have received His promise of John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The Apostle Paul explained it well in Philippians 1:21, stating, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 7. Remember with Purpose: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) Megan Scheibner writes, The anniversary of September 11th brings back painful and troubling memories, but it also brings me a yearly reminder. A reminder of the clarion call Ive received that beckons me to live this life on purpose; to leave it a better place than when I found it. Like Psalm 90:12 encourages, we can ask God to, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 8. Remember with Forgiveness: Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34) As Christians its important for us to forgive those who committed the 9/11 attacks. Still, forgiving in no way condones their actions. Their violent acts reveal how, The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Recognizing this spiritual blindness, American Minute Historian William J. Federer explains, An important concept to understand is that fundamental Islam is a religion of peace, but their definition of peace is different than ours. In the West, peace is achieved when different groups get along. In sharia Islam, peace is achieved when the whole world submits to the will of Allah. In other words, world peace means world Islam. 9. Remember by Reaching Out: And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21) Thankfully, God, in His sovereignty, can convert even radical Muslims, writes Jerry Newcombe in his book American Amnesia, noting estimates say more Muslims have come to faith in Jesus since 9/11 than in the last 1400 years. As Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Like wives of the missionaries slain by the Aucas responded by reaching out to those who had murdered their husbands, leading many to Christ, we have the opportunity to reach out to Muslims with the hope of leading them to faith in Jesus Christ. 10. Remember by Recognizing Gods Justice: But let the one who boasts, boast about this: that they have the understanding to know Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight (Jeremiah 9:24) As Christians, we remember 9/11 by recognizing God will bring justice to the world, making all things new (Revelation 21:5). He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4). Because God is just, He directs us to not seek revenge but to trust Him to one-day make all things right (Romans 12:19). Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ged Lawson BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. People across the US are re-commemorating the legacy of 9/11 in 2023's celebration this Monday. Memorials, firehouses, city halls, and multiple places around the country are expected to commemorate the attacks on New York City and Washington DC when terrorists boarded planes and used them as weapons to attack the World Trade Center's twin towers and the Pentagon, respectively. Media outlets across the country are also expected to broadcast or stream the commemorations live from New York and Washington. Related events are also scheduled in the Big Apple in relation to the commemorations, the New York Post reported. The 2001 attack claimed nearly 3,000 lives and reshaped US foreign policy and domestic fears for the rest of the 21st century to date. Read Also: Airbnb Blocks New York City Bookings Due to New Short-Term Rental Policies Remembering 9/11 Beyond NYC and Washington While the major ceremonies would take place on the two major attack sites, as well as in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a fourth plane crashed after passengers of United Flight 93 fought back, cities and towns across the US are planning to commemorate 9/11, especially locations where some of the victims and first responders were native residents of. Outside New York itself, the most significant 9/11 memorial service would be held at New Jersey's Monmouth county, which became home to some of the victims. In the lead-up to the event, county officials have declared September 11 a holiday this year so that county employees and the public could attend commemorations. Other Americans involve themselves in volunteer work on September 11th, which Congress has since designated as "Patriot Day" and National Day of Service and Remembrance. Biden, Harris, Spouses to Commemorate 9/11 at Multiple Places US President Joe Biden is due to commemorate 9/11 at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, Alaska after his visit to India and Vietnam - the former for the G20 summit. He would be the very first US president to commemorate 9/11 in Alaska, or anywhere in the western part of the country. Representing Biden in New York's National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum plaza is Vice President Kamala Harris. She is not scheduled to make any speeches as the ceremony typically involves the reading of the names of the dead, the ringing of the bell at key moments of the 9/11 attack in between, and a triple-canon playing of Taps by buglers from New York's police, fire, and ambulance services. US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden would represent her husband in the Pentagon ceremony, while Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff would represent his wife at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown. Related Article: NYC Bus Drivers Strike Might Disrupt First Day of School Amid Teachers Shortage, Migrant Students Influx @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The African Union has been included as a member of the Group of Twenty (G20). Source: Reuters. We are delighted that the G20 has accepted the African Union as a member of the G20, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Saturday. G20 is the premier forum for international economic co-operation and it plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues. The group comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and the European Union. The G20 members represent around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. In his statement on the Working Session I: One Earth G20 Leaders Summit, which took place in New Delhi, India, Ramaphosa called for countries to respond collectively, decisively and with urgency to climate change. No country is spared the effects of climate change. It is vital that industrialised countries, which have the means and which carry the greatest responsibility for climate change, support sustainable development in developing economies. For us to realise the vision of People, Planet and Prosperity, we need to meet our respective commitments and responsibilities. In doing so, we will be helping to create a world that is more equitable, more resilient and more sustainable, the president said. Opportunity amidst crisis He said global reconstruction in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to accelerate the transition to low-carbon, climate resilient, sustainable societies. Developing economies are bearing the brunt of climate change, despite carrying the least responsibility for this crisis. As African and other developing economy countries, we face the task of meeting our climate commitments in the midst of significant developmental challenges like poverty, inequality and unemployment. Climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable consumption and production and resource scarcity are challenges that can only be addressed collectively and with a great deal of solidarity. South Africa calls for an enhanced and expanded Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, the president said. He said these efforts must be supported by the concrete policies and actions outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. Access to adequate and predictable financial resources from a variety of public and private sources is critical if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Development partners need to both meet their existing commitments and upscale official development assistance. Ordinary people see billions of dollars being spent on the weapons of war instead of addressing development challenges. In particular, development partners need to meet their commitments to capacity building and infrastructure development in low- and middle-income countries, the president said. What is Illuminate? Illuminate, the latest addition to the Taptap suite, harnesses the power of advanced geospatial advertising technology and sophisticated artificial intelligence to navigate the intricacies of load-shedding, a common occurrence that disrupts conventional advertising channels. In South Africa, scheduled power outages, known as load-shedding, have presented businesses with a formidable challenge. During these critical moments, television and radio advertising can often go undelivered, as power is cut for up to four hours at a time in the higher stages. What can Illuminate do for advertisers? With Illuminate, Taptap empowers advertisers, ad buyers, marketing managers, and media buyers to seize new opportunities during load-shedding events. This innovative solution ensures that ad campaigns remain agile, diverting resources away from traditional platforms like TV and radio, and toward more mobile-first placements. Alvaro Mayol, partner and chief product and technology officer for Taptap Illuminate notes, We brought Illuminate to life, doubling results through the power of location. Taptap Illuminate consolidates audience, media, and business data, offering unprecedented visibility for our clients. He goes on to add, Our 'Context System' transcends boundaries, serving media in real-time, aligning with specified conditions or scenarios at pinpointed locations. Data-driven strategies adapt to specific contexts, responding in real-time, helping brands achieve incredible results. Using data from Night Vision, we identified loadshed areas to maximise efficiency and reach. Adapting media contexts in each location ensures success. Key benefits of Illuminate by Taptap Enhanced engagement: Initial tests of Illuminate have demonstrated noticeable improvements in click-through rates (CTR), view-through rates, and even physical foot traffic to brick-and-mortar stores. This translates to tangible results and enhanced engagement with target audiences. Initial tests of Illuminate have demonstrated noticeable improvements in click-through rates (CTR), view-through rates, and even physical foot traffic to brick-and-mortar stores. This translates to tangible results and enhanced engagement with target audiences. Real-time adaptation: Illuminate seamlessly integrates with the South African load-shedding schedule, using contextual triggers to enable real-time adjustments to advertising strategies. This ensures that businesses maintain visibility and consumer engagement, even during power disruptions. Illuminate seamlessly integrates with the South African load-shedding schedule, using contextual triggers to enable real-time adjustments to advertising strategies. This ensures that businesses maintain visibility and consumer engagement, even during power disruptions. Expansion beyond South Africa: Following its South African launch in September 2023, Illuminate is poised to address similar power challenges in Nigeria, opening up new opportunities for advertisers to tap into this thriving market. Illuminate: The solution South African advertisers have been waiting for Taptap Illuminate stands as a testament to innovation in advertising technology, promising to reshape the landscape of digital advertising across Africa. This innovative solution reinforces A.M.A Digital Media's commitment to delivering results, opening new revenue streams, and connecting advertisers with their target audiences across the continent by providing businesses with the means to thrive amidst adversity. Andrew Gillett, AMA Digital Medias commercial director commented, We are very excited to provide this highly unique business solution to our client and agency partners. There has been significant demand for a load-shedding solution, as many brands are struggling to deliver their media budgets through TV and other traditional channels. He went on to note, This solution plays into our wheelhouse we are leveraging our expertise in location and audience mapping, combined with the attention that mobile delivers alongside the unique Taptap engagement ad units. With the current Stage 5 and 6 level outages, the performance and reach that this solution offers is, we hope, extremely well-timed. About A.M.A Digital Media A.M.A Digital Media is Africa's premier ad-tech and media sales house, connecting media brands with African audiences. With a focus on first-to-market solutions, global partnerships, and cutting-edge technologies, A.M.A Digital Media is at the forefront of driving advertising innovation on the African continent. Join A.M.A Digital Media in lighting up your advertising strategies with Illuminate. Together, we can navigate the challenges of today's dynamic markets and light up the path to success. For more information about Illuminate and how it can transform your advertising strategies, please contact: Contact Information Media Contact: Andrew Gillett Email: moc.aidemlatigidama@werdna Phone: +27 83 412 8008 Website: https://amadigitalmedia.com/ Kgomotso Moalusi has been appointed Eclipse Communications' managing partner: corporate to lead the agency's corporate centre of excellence business unit as well as join its exco team. Image supplied. Kgomotso Moalusi has been appointed Eclipse Communications managing partner: corporate to lead the agencys corporate centre of excellence business unit as well as join its exco team Moalusi, with close to 20 years of professional experience under her belt, is a seasoned communications professional, having held various positions at international agencies, corporates and in public sector institutions. Newsroom a great teacher With an honours in journalism and a background in newsrooms, it was a watershed moment when she joined her first communications agency in 2008. The newsroom was the greatest teacher. After leaving, I have never looked back. It remains the most rewarding and inspiring feeling to know that I am an advisor to several brands that contribute positively to our countrys economy. Next five years critical She is excited to join Eclipse Communications. I am joining an agency that is striding towards almost three decades in the industry. These next five years are not only critical for us as an agency, but for our clients who are expecting us to devise business unusual proposals and solutions. Eclipse Communications CEO, Cheryl Reddy highlights that Moalusis addition to the team will only strengthen its corporate centre of excellence business unit, home to the likes of Mondelez SSA, Pfizer SSA, South African Airways, to name a few. We are thrilled by Moalusis appointment after a rigorous search process. Apart from Moalusis mandate to guide the growth of the existing clients, she will also focus on business development, people growth and join our executive leadership team. She is a consummate professional who, through her wealth of experience is a critical thinker, a new age communications professional who is multi-skilled and has an innovative approach to communications. Authentic connections For Moalusi, a key trend in the industry is the need for authentic connections and in-person meetings. After many months of digital online interaction, there is a glaring need for people to reconnect at a human level. This is not only in terms of client interaction, but also for communication professionals. I believe the power of authentic connection can birth a new cohort of considered communicators. She also believes in a less is more approach, and that impact needs to be prioritised. Escalating economic challenges have throttled marketing and communication budgets, compelling the industry to prioritise the purpose and impact for its communication and marketing activities, taking the mood of the world, regions and countries it operates in. The untapped power of self-publishing Moalusi is a strong proponent of the untapped power of self-publishing. She says with the increased decline in traditional media outlets and paywalls to access quality content digitally, there is an opportunity for brands to consider self-publishing curating its own content and offering consumers and other stakeholders quality information not only about products and services, but also about the meaningful role they play in society. Workplace diversity, inclusion and equity The need to foster workplace diversity, inclusion and equity is close to Moalusis heart. To me, it means the ability to walk in another persons shoes to get a feel and appreciation of the journey that they have walked or are on. This does not mean that you must agree with everything they say, or need to walk the same journey, but rather to have a greater understanding of where their worldview stems from. Its the ability to embrace our differences and contribute nothing but the best versions of ourselves to achieve collective magic. Bluetti is a leader in clean energy storage and offers effective load shedding solutions to South Africans. Experts warn that South Africas power crisis may persist until the end of next year, and by the 29th week of 2023, the total hours of living in darkness in South Africa amounted to 49 days. Amid this grim milestone, Bluetti has come forward with effective solutions to combat load shedding in the country. A leader in the clean energy storage industry, Bluetti and its backup power solutions help South Africans take control of their power and escape from load shedding. AC200MAX+B230: Scalable home backup power Bluettis flagship model is the AC200MAX, which features a substantial 2,048Wh battery capacity and a powerful 2,200W AC output (4,800W surge). The 16-outlet power station provides uninterrupted power to most household appliances and essential devices during load shedding, including refrigerators, air conditioners and electric ovens. It can power a 150W refrigerator for 10 hours, a 10W light bulb for over 150 hours, or a 5000 BTU AC for one to four hours. This capacity can also be extended by adding two 2,048Wh B230 battery units, increasing the total battery capacity to 6,144Wh and enabling users to power these devices two or even three times longer. The AC200MAX then offers seven charging methods, including solar, car charging, and AC power, either separately or in combination, for flexible and fast recharging. For example, it takes five to six hours to fully charge the AC200MAX using an AC adapter at 500W. However, using the dual input to combine this with 900W of solar power for a maximum of 1,400W, reduces the charging time to less than three hours. EP500Pro: Powerhouse for extended power outages For extended power outages, the EP500Pro is a more powerful solution. This powerful and robust generator has a massive 5,100Wh capacity and an impressive 3,000W output that can ensure that lights stay on, food remains fresh in refrigerators, and all essential equipment is running. It features sensitive UPS functionality to ensure a seamless 20ms switchover when the power goes out, always providing uninterrupted power. The EP500Pro offers fifteen power outlets, ensuring it can power and charge multiple devices simultaneously, including the following: 100W smart TV 50 hours; 500W space heater 8.6 hours; 1,000W microwave 4.3 hours. It is powered by LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries and an intelligent battery management system (BMS) that protects against overcharging. Despite its weight, the EP500Pro is easy to move around and position wherever you need power thanks to its four sturdy wheels. EB3A and EB70: Compact emergency power For portable power solutions for load shedding emergencies, the EB3A and EB70 offer compact and powerful options. Weighing only 4.6kg, the EB3A offers 268Wh of capacity with a 600W maximum output to power electronics and small devices. It features nine outlets and can charge a 100W laptop for approximately 3.5 hours, a 60W mini fridge for 3.6 hours and a 5W light for 30 hours. Once depleted, the EB3A can be recharged by AC power, solar panels, a car or a generator and supports 430W dual charging to reach a full charge within two hours. It also features UPS functionality to power critical loads during sudden power failures and can be easily controlled remotely from a smartphone. The EB70 has a larger capacity of 716Wh while weighing only 9.7kg. With twelve outlets and 1,000W output power, it can power a 12W lamp for 50 hours, a 400W juicer for one and a half hours, and a Wi-Fi router for 65 hours. The EB70 also accepts multiple charging methods, including wall outlets, solar panels, and cars. Empower all in need Driven by its mission to empower communities and individuals, Bluetti is committed to bringing clean energy to every home for a sustainable future. As part of this commitment, Bluetti launched its five-year LAAF (Lighting an African Family) programme in 2021 to bring electricity to off-grid households in Africa. This programme has seen thousands of African families in off-grid areas freed from darkness and powered by free Bluetti home solar systems. Bluetti's latest endeavour is a partnership with Solar Sister, an international NGO dedicated to empowering women in Africa. This partnership will see Bluetti donate home solar kits to Nigerian women in off-grid families and continue to bring light and hope to those without. In South Africa, Bluetti is responding to the load shedding crisis as a beacon of hope, offering efficient and reliable power solutions for households and businesses alike. With Bluettis backup power, every South African can reduce dependence on the grid and mitigate the impact of load shedding. Bluetti empowers the nation to face this challenge head-on and embrace a more resilient future. About Bluetti Bluetti has been committed to promoting sustainability and green energy solutions since its inception. By offering eco-friendly energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, Bluetti aims to provide exceptional experiences for our homes while also contributing to a sustainable future for our planet. This commitment to sustainable energy has helped Bluetti expand its reach to over one hundred countries and gain the trust of millions of customers worldwide. Learn more about Bluetti: https://bit.ly/3Z1dNJW. Proposed amendments to the tax laws, following the Coronation SCA judgment, will make it very difficult for controlled foreign companies with foreign business establishments to outsource functions. National Treasury and SARS published the draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill 2023 for comment on 31 July 2023. The draft bill proposes to amend the foreign business establishment (FBE) exemption for controlled foreign companies (CFCs) in section 9D. Section 9D of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962 (Act) contains certain anti-avoidance rules for CFCs, which may result in a notional amount of a CFC's foreign income being taxed in the hands of its South African tax resident shareholders. A foreign company will be a CFC if, for example, more than 50% of the rights to participate in the shares of the company or voting rights in that company are directly or indirectly held by South African tax residents. The net income of a CFC is calculated as if the CFC were tax resident in South Africa, and such income is attributed to and taxed in the hands of its resident shareholders holding more than 10% of the CFC. Two of the common exemptions relied on by CFCs to avoid attributing "net income" to its tax resident shareholders are the high-tax exemption and the FBE exemption. The high-tax exemption applies when, broadly, the CFC is subject to a total foreign tax of at least 67.5% of the normal tax which would have been payable had the CFC been a South African tax resident. The FBE exemption applies when, among other requirements, the CFC has a fixed place of business of sufficient substance, carries on business for at least a year, is suitably staffed, and has the necessary equipment and facilities to carry on the primary operations of the business. The proposed amendment The proposed amendment in the draft bill requires CFCs of South African multinationals (SA MN) to, among others, be suitably staffed with employees and suitably equipped, and to have suitable facilities to "perform all the important functions of that business for which the CFC is compensated" to qualify as an FBE. (The current wording of the FBE exemption refers to "conduct the primary operations of that business"). Practical difficulties arising from the proposed amendment To understand how onerous the FBE exemption will become if the amendment is implemented as proposed, it is necessary to analyse the meaning of the phrase "important functions" in the context of the objective of the proposal in the explanatory memorandum (EM). The EM provides background and reasons for the proposed change and examples when necessary. The EM on the proposed amendment states that "It has come to the Governments attention that some taxpayers are retaining certain management functions but outsourcing other important functions for which the CFC is also being compensated by its clients." As there is no definition of "important functions", the ordinary dictionary meaning of these words would apply. The functions of a business are the activities carried out by an enterprise and can be the core revenue-generating activities or support activities. The word "important" means of significance or value. The proposal means that no important functions of a CFC's business, which are revenue-generating (ie compensated) may be outsourced to third parties, with the CFC employing people to manage the outsourcing. Alternatively, the CFC can still rely on the FBE exemption only if it outsources to a group entity located and tax resident in the same country as the CFC's fixed place of business. Here are some examples where the proposed amendments to the FBE exemption could be problematic. It is common for businesses to outsource their call centre needs. Is a call centre of a CFC, which is a selling, marketing and distribution subsidiary in the region an important function for which the CFC is compensated? A call centre for enquiries on sales may be an important function, but what about a help desk? Does a help desk fall within the "all important functions " In our view, it does. What about the entire logistics chain of shipping and customs clearance of goods to customers in the same country and also internationally? Without delivery of goods to customers, there is no completion of the sale.Therefore, delivery of goods is a vital function. Will a CFC need to have employees, equipment and suitable facilities to carry out the international logistics functions of its business in its entirety? Taken to the extreme, will CFCs now have to employ their own shipping and logistics staff if they intend to continue relying on the FBE exemption? What about an online retailer with a website and an app for sales? Can the retailer outsource the development and maintenance of its website and app to the best and most cost-efficient programmers globally? The proposed amendment compels the retailer to employ its own developers or contract with developers employed by another group entity living in the same country as the CFCs fixed place of business. This is contrary to the growing trend for developers and programmers to consult as remote workers globally. What if a CFC's sales and marketing strategy is to use social media influencers in multiple countries to generate interest and sales for its products? Is sales and marketing "an important function "? The sales and marketing function is usually the core activity for which a business generates revenue. At what point can a CFC use services of a third party without such usage being seen to be "managing" an important function? There are many commercial reasons why South African businesses may wish to outsource their business requirements to a foreign country rather than grow the business organically. Outsourcing to an experienced service provider with an existing network of local relationships will almost always be more cost-effective, time-efficient and less risky. Establishing and maintaining a footprint in foreign markets can be a very costly exercise for South African multinationals. Some businesses may also lend themselves more easily to outsourcing and this would be the norm in the industry globally. Problematic effective date of proposal The effective date of the proposal is also problematic and leaves no time for a SA MN with CFCs to meet the new requirements if it wants to continue to rely on the FBE exemption to avoid attributing income of the CFC to its South African tax resident shareholders. The proposed amendment comes into operation on 1 January 2024 and applies to foreign tax years of CFCs ending on or after that date. This means that the proposal applies to all CFCs with financial years ending on or after 1 January 2024. CFCs with a financial year ending on 29 February 2024, 31 March 2024 or 30 June 2024 (which are common financial year-end dates) would already be caught in the proposals. Webber Wentzel has submitted comments to the National Treasury on these issues which we hope will be taken into account. As is usually done in previous years, the tax bills should be introduced to the National Assembly around the last week of October 2023, together with National Treasury's response document on comments to the draft tax bills. In September 1951, hundreds of people from around the world met in Rome, Italy to discuss challenges faced by people with disabilities, and in particular deaf people. They demanded equal opportunities for deaf people around the world and full inclusion in communities. They established the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) to champion the rights of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. This year marks 72 years since the first World Deaf Congress was held where the WFD was established. In commemoration of this milestone, September is observed as the International Month for Deaf People to promote awareness of the rights of deaf persons around the world. The month is also used to bring to the fore challenges faced by deaf people. It aims to promote understanding of the deaf community and encourage people to take steps to be more inclusive and celebrate diversity. This includes learning sign language so that we can communicate with the deaf community. South Africa joins the international community in commemorating this important month and honours the contributions of deaf people in the development of our country. This years commemoration comes less than two months since President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the South African Sign Language Bill, which recognises the South African Sign Language (SASL) as the 12th official language. The signing into law was a historic moment and an important step towards the realisation of the rights of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. It promotes inclusivity and substantive equality as well as prevents unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability, as enshrined in the Constitution. Recognising South African sign language This milestone also builds on the achievements we have made since 1994 to ensure that the deaf communitys equal rights are realised as enshrined in our Constitution. In 2007 for instance, South Africa signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and in 2013 Cabinet adopted the countrys first report to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. In 2012, the Department of Basic Education commissioned a curriculum management team to compile a sign language curriculum and just over two years later offered a standardised SASL curriculum to Deaf learners up to matric level. In addition, in 2022 South Africa developed the first bilingual South African Sign Language Dictionary which is available as an app on smartphones to provide a standardised SASL lexical terminology. Speaking at the signing ceremony of the South African Sign Language Bill into law, President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed the importance of the official recognition of this language. He said: Having sign language recognised as an official language will address access to education, economic and other social opportunities as well as public participation. People with hearing impairments will be able to also access more services, public information and a host of other opportunities. Advancing rights, inclusion, and development The law will not only promote and protect the rights of sign-language users but will facilitate the provision of sign-language interpreters and education in sign language. The signing into law of sign language as an official language will also have a positive impact on the social and economic development of the deaf community, as well as on their access to information and services. This official recognition follows an intensive and extensive public-consultation process, which is in line with the countrys founding democratic principle to take into account peoples opinions and their input towards building a better life for all. By signing this Bill into law, South Africa becomes the 41st country in the world and the fourth in Africa that has recognised sign language as an official language. It also means that national government institutions will need to review their language policies to include SASL as an official language. All government departments are now obliged to make provisions for South African sign language interpreters as well as train civil servants, particularly front-line workers on basic SASL. While the language has long been part of curriculum in our schools, preparations are underway to ensure it is available as a second additional language. This will mean that learning and taking the language as an additional language is not restricted for learners with special needs. We call on all South Africans to learn our new 12th official language. By doing so we can create an inclusive society that creates space for everyone to thrive and enjoy the gains of our democracy. Carl Thomen is Peach Payments' product marketing lead, with previous roles including head of digital at Old Mutual Finance and chief customer officer at NONA. At Peach Payments, his responsibilities span Go-To-Market strategy, funnel analysis, sales enablement, marketing analytics, market research, and customer insights. Thomen holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Classics from Rhodes University, an MA in Philosophy from the University of Cape Town, and a PhD in Technological Ethics from the University of Gloucestershire. He's also certified in marketing by the Product Marketing Alliance and has taught and mentored at institutions worldwide, including Victoria University, the University of Johannesburg, and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation. Carl Thomen is the product marketing lead at Peach Payments. Source: Supplied. Take us through the evolution of your career. I started out as an academic, lecturing and researching at the intersection of technology, sport and culture. At some point, actually getting involved with technology became more interesting than just talking about it, and I started building basic websites and writing content for clients I met through Elance, now UpWork. That rolled into a position running content teams for an inbound agency. From there I moved into managing digital marketing for Old Mutual Finance. After a short stint taking care of commercial functions for a niche software development studio, an incredible opportunity to help build for businesses in Africa presented itself, and I arrived at Peach Payments. What do you do in your current role at Peach Payments? Effectively, I look after the middle and bottom of our funnel so that businesses of all sizes, from the biggest ecommerce players to the smallest side hustles, understand the functionality and value of our products. What we do isnt complicated (we help you buy stuff online), but it is complex. The majority of the merchants we serve are time poor and view payments as plumbing. Their attitude (rightly, given their need to be everywhere in their businesses all the time) is that its necessary that its there and that it works, but they dont want to have to understand the nuts and bolts. My job is to make sure that the journey that starts with considering us as a partner and progresses to interacting with our products and services as they need to, is as smooth and efficient as possible. What interested you in the financial technology space? The scale of the problems the industry deals with, like in our case, building payments infrastructure for the African continent, means its a great place to learn and grow. At Peach Payments, theres an opportunity to make a substantial impact on the lives of the people who run the small- and medium-sized enterprises that drive our economy. In a rapidly evolving industry, what are some of the emerging challenges and opportunities you foresee in the payments space? In terms of challenges, the transformation of a cash-based informal economy in South Africa is an interesting one. Mobile money has been touted as a solution for this problem, but its never really taken off in South Africa the way it has in Kenya, for example. I still think its a great opportunity though. I reckon blockchain and cryptocurrency present some real opportunities to remove friction from transactional processes (remittances, inter-bank payments, asset ownership and transfer) but the technological and regulatory challenges are big. What are the main challenges you face in your role? Marketers always want more budget, dont they? Outside of that, prioritisation is a constant challenge when you work in a small team in a scaling business. Theres so much stuff you could do - but the question is, what really moves the needle? What have been the highlights of your career? At Old Mutual Finance, we built a mobile game designed to get people to think about their spending habits. It was a really fun process that ended with a truly unique product. More recently, Ive been feeling really privileged being able to make a positive difference to the businesses that Peach Payments serves, by helping deliver experiences that save them time (like our new merchant dashboard) and products that make it easier for them to do business (like our payment links product). What advice would you give to aspiring product marketers looking to make a significant impact in the fintech sector? Know your customers, and talk to them, often. Even though you have product in your title, and youre going to need to communicate features, benefits and value convincingly, knowing your customer inside out is still the most important thing. When you know your customer well, you start to develop intuitions that drive better ideas and decisions. The next most important people in your life are your product managers and sales managers, so try to understand their worlds and build good relationships there as well. Product marketers are highly cross-functional, so relationship building is key. Having taught students at various institutions, what lessons have you learned that you apply in your leadership role at Peach Payments, particularly in terms of guiding and developing the marketing team? First, data helps get things done. Show a result or a trend, and your argument is much stronger. Second, you need to make your processes visible and circulate your work. Get as much feedback as you can - it will help you be better, faster. Looking ahead, what are your goals for yourself and Peach Payments? Peach Payments wants to help businesses on the African continent grow. Its great to be part of a team achieving that every day. Personally, I just want to keep learning, and elevating the product marketing function at Peach. In a notable surge, the number of SMEs in South Africa has seen a commendable 6% year-on-year increase. Recognising the potential of transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) in the business landscape, Microsoft South Africa has launched an AI-driven technology skills training program targeting 2,000 local SMEs. Source: Microsoft Work Trend Index The first training sessions were delivered in Durban, in the lead up to GovTech 2023 taking place between 12 and 14 September 2023, and leveraged the low-code capabilities of Microsoft Power Platform to help SMEs build solutions and applications that are fuelled by data and AI. Through this initiative, we want to help equip SMEs with the skills and understanding they need to develop and provide AI-driven solutions that empower government to not only modernise processes but also improve decision-making and unlock efficiencies and cost savings, says Lerato Mathabatha, public sector director at Microsoft South Africa. According to the UNCTAD 2023 Economic Development in Africa Report, it is essential to integrate digital solutions for enhanced supply chain visibility and efficiency. However, many African SMEs, due to limited digital technology usage and challenges like skills and funding gaps, are yet to become an active part of the global supply chain network. An important step forward Making AI technologies and skills accessible to SMEs is an important step forward if we want to drive a more digitally inclusive, and active business landscape in South Africa, says Mathabatha. The GovTech initiative builds on existing Microsoft support initiatives developed to cater to the unique needs of the countrys SMEs. For example, the Microsoft Founders Hub was launched in Africa in 2021 to provide entrepreneurs with access to a self-service hub that delivers a range of resources including tools like Microsoft Azure, GitHub, and Microsoft 365. It also assists SMEs with go-to-market and business support. Founders Hub currently offers support for 1,000 African startups. Microsoft has accelerated knowledge and mentorship sessions to approximately 250 African startups and is currently supporting more than 40 African startups scale and grow in their local geographies through several go-to-market, access to customers, and access to investors engagements. Accelerating AI for SMEs Microsoft's Work Trend Index, a survey across 31 countries and trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals along with labour trends from the LinkedIn Economic Graph found that while 49% of individuals fear AI replacing their jobs, a significant 70% would delegate work to AI to lessen their workloads. This highlights the potential of AI not just as a technological tool but as an enabler of business efficiency and innovation. The research also showed that 82% of leaders believe their employees will need new skills to be prepared for the growth of AI. Through this AI-focused training, Microsoft South Africa aims to equip SMEs for an AI-powered future, setting them on a trajectory of sustainable growth. As businesses in South Africa and beyond evolve with AI, Microsoft's initiatives pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future, positioning Africas SMEs at the forefront of global digital transformation. Support beyond training Of course, we also recognise that training is not a once-off activity. Post this training at GovTech, we will continue to provide SMEs with access to resources through the Founders Hub. These platforms will ensure that the businesses have the necessary support to implement, adapt, and grow using the newly acquired AI skills, says Mathabatha. With unwavering determination, Louise Carver set out to weave together a 75-minute feast for the ears, encompassing a wide variety of genres that have shaped the South African music landscape. She longed for a production that could evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth, captivating audiences both at home and among expatriate communities across the globe. She sought out theatre producer and publicist Collett Dawson, of The CoLab Network, to help guide the production and transform it into a slick, heart-warming showcase of South African music. Thus, Home Tour Live was born. On the stage, a trio of musical brilliance awaits. Louise Carver, with her unique vocals, takes her place at the piano center stage. Simphiwe Kulla, a master of the guitar, lends his soulful melodies and harmonies, intertwining with Louise's vocals, whilst Kenny Williams's percussive rhythms fill the air, adding depth and texture to the sonic tapestry. L to R: Simphiwe Kulla, Louise Carver and Kenny Williams. Image by Nick Boulton Together, their acoustic symphony unfolds, a captivating fusion of talent and passion Unforgettable classics like Paradise Road by Joy, Weeping by Bright Blue, and Too Late for Mama by the legendary Brenda Fassie and more, will transport listeners to bygone eras while stirring emotions that were as relevant today as they were then. These iconic melodies will be perfectly intertwined with newer South African hits, such as Prime Circle's infectious Pretty Like the Sun. Carver's own chart-toppers, including Home and Empty Fantasy amongst others, will further add to the tapestry of sound, showcasing her talent and the depth of her musical prowess. The show unfolds as a seamless blend of genres, from soulful ballads to upbeat rock anthems, from the heartfelt melodies of yesteryear to the vibrant rhythms of the present. When asked why shes staging this show, Carver explained; Yes we have challenges in South Africa. We all acknowledge that. But with Home Tour Live, I wanted to celebrate our unique sound and narrative, using music to uplift spirits and ignite pride in our beautiful country. With deep respect for our artists past and present, I hope the show fosters positive energy, even if for a fleeting moment. We recently chatted... What is your purpose? To create art that gives people pleasure; help where I can to make things better and get to know myself fully. What does music mean to you? It is the icing on the cake we call life. It helps us to connect to emotions we sometimes cant always access. My music is about Making sense of all the crazy things that happen to me and everyone else. What is your motto? Theres always a pearl in the pile of pooh. Fame is about Its a power that can be used for good or bad. Its also usually just a moment in time. Retirement will happen when. Not interested in that notion. It really doesnt apply when you love what you do. I don't do Black olives. I would love to co-write with Ed Sheeran Where do you go for inspiration to create? My home, on my own without distractions works well. Image supplied What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work? Working with other musicians. The song you must do during every show? Home or Empty Fantasy Any funny moments on stage? Always, sometimes your brain and body kind of disconnect and you find yourself making up lyrics to a song you have sung for years, because the actual lyrics have left the building! My heroes are... Everybody working against great odds to protect others or animals in need. Tebogo Maredi comes to mind, a man in Shoshanguve township, who is educating children about animal welfare as well as empathy. My style icon is A combo of Kate Moss mixed with Cate Blanchett. Which living person do you admire most and why? Many people but David Attenborough is an amazing soul. Image supplied What is your most treasured possession? My house, it is a home. It's your round, what are you drinking? Rose or gin and tonics. Dream gig to do? A Vegas residency. Set up camp for six months and enjoy the crazy ride. What makes you stand out? Hopefully my voice and confessional lyrics. Any nicknames? Lou for my friends and Weezy for the family. If you were not a musician, what would you do? Id be running my own business - which I do currently. I dont think I could work for someone else. Pick five words to describe yourself? Resilient, anxious, impatient, emotional and kind. 5 must have songs on your Spotify playlist please... Mid Air byPaul Buchanan Slow dancing in the dark by Joji Daylight by David Kushner Ceiling by Lizzy McAlpine Paris by Gatlin Greatest movie ever made? Out of Africa What book are you reading? The myth of normal by Dr Gabor Mate What song changed your life? Fast Car by Tracy Chapman Who do you love? My family, boyfriend, dogs, South Africa andfriends. What is your favorite word? Howzit Top of your bucket list? Croatia. Your greatest achievement? Following my heart and not caving into social norms and expectations. What do you complain about most often? ANC corruption. What is your biggest fear? Leaving SA, also sharks. Happiness is Peace in your mind, heart and body. A holiday in Mozambique also helps. On stage, I tend to Reveal too many things. I love telling a good story on stage which sometimes is TMI. The best life lesson you have learned? Go with the flow unless its a tsunami. What has been your favorite journey so far? Traveling on my own to London when I had just turned 20 with no money but huge ambition. Do you do charity work, and if you do what do you do? Yes, I work with Shoshanguve Animal Shelter and various other organisations when I can. I have a real passion for animals. Wishes and dreams? Heath, travel, business growth, time, beautiful shows, South Africa to prosper Home Tour Live show dates Durban: 13 September 2023 at Barnyard SunCoast Casino Hermanus: 15 September 2023 at Hermanus Auditorium Paternoster: 16 September 2023 at Die Koelkamers Teater Tyger Valley: 20 September 2023 at The Barnyard Theatre Johannesburg: 1 October 2023 at Silverstar Casino Barnyard Theatre Social media Website: www.louisecarver.com Twitter: @louisecarver Instagram: @louise_carver Facebook: louisecarvermusic Morocco has suffered its worst earthquake in more than 60 years, and France is prepared to assist if needed, according to its foreign minister. At least 2,500 people have been killed, and another 2,400 have been wounded in the North African nation. 'Ready to Help' Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, said the country has pledged 5 million (over $5 million) to humanitarian organizations in Morocco. Yet, she said it is up to the Moroccan government to select who it formally asks for help. Morocco's decision to accept aid from only four countriesthe United Kingdom, Spain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emiratesis seen as indicative of not just an impasse in politics but a personal ire between President Emmanuel Macron and King Mohammed VI. Relations between Paris and Rabat have been gloomy for years. Colonna said on BFM TV, "This is an inappropriate controversy ... people are suffering, people need help. We are ready to help Morocco. It is a sovereign decision and Morocco alone is entitled to determine what its needs are," as reported by The Guardian. French rescue workers from Nice, Lyon, and Saint-Etienne traveled to Morocco over the weekend. However, on Sunday, September 10, the charity's leader said that Moroccan officials were blocking their teams from entering the country to give emergency relief. Charity organizations operating in the affected area will get $5 million in relief. Macron has repeatedly expressed France's readiness to offer help to Morocco after the magnitude 7 earthquake hit late Friday, September 8. See Also: Morocco: Over 800 Die in Massive Earthquake, Damaging Historic Town Diplomatic Tensions In the past, Morocco has claimed that Macron favors his relationship with Algeria above his ties to Rabat. Analysts in the Middle East have argued that Macron is "obsessed" with strengthening ties with its former colony, Algeria, even if it means risking his relationship with Morocco. According to The Guardian, the absence of French backing for Morocco's national causeits sovereignty claim over the Western Saharahas been a source of tension between the two nations. The Polisario Front, an organization fighting for the independence of the Western Sahara, has Algeria's backing. In 2017, Macron reportedly defied convention by making his first North African state visit to Morocco rather than Algeria. However, things went downhill from there. After France threatened to limit visas for Moroccans, Algerians, and Tunisians in 2021 as a deliberate humiliation for not agreeing to take back migrants, a so-called "visas war" broke out. After Macron's phone number surfaced in Pegasus project data the same year, Paris accused Rabat of attempting to spy on him. The monarch of Rabat, though, denied the allegations. Rabat blamed France for a vote in the European Parliament criticizing the danger to press freedom in Morocco, further straining relations between the two countries this year. The ambassadors from both nations have been withdrawn. In March, when Macron declared he had a "friendly" connection with the king, Rabat said ties between the two administrations were "neither friendly nor good." See Also: French School Abaya Ban Sparks Debate Over Religious Freedom @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CNN warmonger Jake Tapper on Sunday pressed Secretary of State Antony Blinken on whether or not the "capricious billionaire" Elon Musk will face "repercussions" for "sabotaging" a Ukrainian attack on Crimea. CNN's Jake Tapper asserts that Elon Musk effectively sabotaged a military operation and asks Secretary of State Antony Blinken if there should be repercussions pic.twitter.com/JuT1F8BbFH ALX (@alx) September 10, 2023 Transcript via CNN: TAPPER: So, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has recently confirmed a report that's in Walter Isaacson's new biography of Musk that, last year, Musk blocked access to his Starlink satellite network in Crimea in order to disrupt a major Ukrainian attack on the Russian navy there. In other words, Musk effectively sabotaged a military operation by Ukraine, a U.S. ally, against Russia, an aggressor country that invaded a U.S. ally. Should there be repercussions for that? BLINKEN: Jake, I can't speak to a specific episode. Here's what I can tell you. Starlink has been a vital tool for the Ukrainians to be able to communicate with each other, and particularly for the military to communicate in their effort to defend all of Ukraine's territory. It remains so, and I would expect it to continue to be critical to their efforts. So, what we would hope and expect is that that technology will remain fully available to the Ukrainians. It is vital to what they're doing. TAPPER: I don't know that you can't speak to it. You won't speak to it. Musk says he was reportedly afraid that Russia would retaliate with nuclear weapons. Musk says that's based on his private discussions he had with senior Russian officials. Are you concerned that Musk is apparently conducting his own diplomatic outreach to the Russian government? Really, none of this concerns you? BLINKEN: Jake, I can't speak to conversations that may or may not have happened. I don't know. I'm focused on the fact that the technology itself, Starlink, has been really important to the Ukrainians. It remains so. And it should continue to be part of what they're able to call on to be able to communicate with themselves and, again, to have the military be able to communicate. Throughout this Russian aggression, we have we ourselves have always had to factor in what Russia may do in response to any given thing that we or others do or the Ukrainians do. And we have. But what's so critical now is that Ukrainians had real success over the past year. I was just in Ukraine, as you know. The last time I was there was almost exactly a year ago. In that year, from the last time I was there until this week, the Ukrainians have retaken more than 50 percent of the territory seized by Russia since February of 2022. They're now engaged in a critical counteroffensive. And we're doing everything we can to maximize our support for them, along with many other countries, so that they can be successful. Starlink is an important part of their success. And, as I said, we expect that it will continue to be so. TAPPER: It sounds like Starlink is so important that the U.S. government doesn't want to risk offending a capricious billionaire who did some things that I think, in another situation, the U.S. government might want to say something about. Musk revealed last week that CNN's report was wrong -- he did not turn off Starlink coverage to block the attack but instead refused to turn on additional Starlink coverage to facilitate the attack -- but that didn't stop Tapper from repeating the lie in order to essentially accuse him of treason. "I am a citizen of the United States and have only that passport. No matter what happens, I will fight for and die in America," Musk said Sunday night on Twitter/X. "The United States Congress has not declared war on Russia. If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such." I am a citizen of the United States and have only that passport. No matter what happens, I will fight for and die in America. The United States Congress has not declared war on Russia. If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such. Please tell them that very clearly. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 11, 2023 Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Telegram. The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.H.L. Mencken First came 9/11, which the government used to transform itself into a police state. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which the police state used to test out its lockdown powers. In light of the governments tendency to exploit crises (legitimate or manufactured) and capitalize on the nations heightened emotions, confusion and fear as a means of extending the reach of the police state, one has to wonder what so-called crisis it will declare next. Its a simple enough formula: first, you create fear, then you capitalize on it by seizing power. Frankly, it doesnt even matter what the nature of the next national emergency might be (terrorism, civil unrest, economic collapse, a health scare, or the environment) as long as it allows the government to lockdown the nation and justify all manner of tyranny in the so-called name of national security. Cue the Emergency State. Terrorist attacks, mass shootings, unforeseen economic collapse, loss of functioning political and legal order, purposeful domestic resistance or insurgency, pervasive public health emergencies, and catastrophic natural and human disasters: the government has been anticipating and preparing for such crises for years now. As David C. Unger writes for the New York Times: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have given way to permanent crisis management: to policing the planet and fighting preventative wars of ideological containment, usually on terrain chosen by, and favorable to, our enemies. Limited government and constitutional accountability have been shouldered aside by the kind of imperial presidency our constitutional system was explicitly designed to prevent. Heres what we know: given the rate at which the government keeps devising new ways to establish itself as the solution to all of our worldly problems at taxpayer expense, each subsequent crisis ushers in ever larger expansions of government power and less individual liberty. This is the slippery slope to outright tyranny. You see, once the government acquires (and uses) authoritarian powersto spy on its citizens, to carry out surveillance, to transform its police forces into extensions of the military, to seize taxpayer funds, to wage endless wars, to censor and silence dissidents, to identify potential troublemakers, to detain citizens without due processit does not voluntarily relinquish them. The lesson for the ages is this: once any government is allowed to overreach and expand its powers, its almost impossible to put the genie back in the bottle. As Harvard constitutional law professor Laurence Tribe recognizes, The dictatorial hunger for power is insatiable. Indeed, the history of the United States is a testament to the old adage that liberty decreases as government (and government bureaucracy) grows. To put it another way, as government expands, liberty contracts. In this way, every crisis since the nations early beginnings has become a make-work opportunity for the government. Each crisis has also been a test to see how far we the people would allow the government to sidestep the Constitution in the so-called name of national security; a test to see how well we have assimilated the governments lessons in compliance, fear and police state tactics; a test to see how quickly well march in lockstep with the governments dictates, no questions asked; and a test to see how little resistance we offer up to the governments power grabs when made in the name of national security. Most critically of all, it has been a test to see whether the Constitutionand our commitment to the principles enshrined in the Bill of Rightscould survive a national crisis and true state of emergency. Unfortunately, weve been failing this particular test for a long time now. Indeed, the powers-that-be have been pushing our buttons and herding us along like so much cattle since World War II, at least, starting with the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, which not only propelled the U.S. into World War II but also unified the American people in their opposition to a common enemy. That fear of attack by foreign threats, conveniently torqued by the growing military industrial complex, in turn gave rise to the Cold War eras Red Scare. Promulgated through government propaganda, paranoia and manipulation, anti-Communist sentiments boiled over into a mass hysteria that viewed anyone and everyone as suspect: your friends, the next-door neighbor, even your family members could be a Communist subversive. This hysteria, which culminated in hearings before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where hundreds of Americans were called before Congress to testify about their so-called Communist affiliations and intimidated into making false confessions, also paved the way for the rise of an all-knowing, all-seeing governmental surveillance state. By the time 9/11 rolled around, all George W. Bush had to do was claim the country was being invaded by terrorists, and the government used the USA Patriot Act to claim greater powers to spy, search, detain and arrest American citizens in order to keep America safe. By way of the National Defense Authorization Act, Barack Obama continued Bushs trend of undermining the Constitution, going so far as to give the military the power to strip Americans of their constitutional rights, label them extremists, and detain them indefinitely without trial, all in the name of keeping America safe. Despite the fact that the breadth of the militarys power to detain American citizens violates not only U.S. law and the Constitution but also international laws, the government has refused to relinquish its detention powers made possible by the NDAA. Then Donald Trump took office, claiming the country was being invaded by dangerous immigrants and insisting that the only way to keep America safe was to expand the reach of the border police, empower the military to assist with border control, and essentially turn the country into a Constitution-free zone. That so-called immigration crisis then morphed into multiple crises (domestic extremism, the COVID-19 pandemic, race wars, civil unrest, etc.) that the government has been eager to use in order to expand its powers. Joe Biden, in turn, has made every effort to expand the reach of the militarized police state, pledging to hire 87,000 more IRS agents and 100,000 police officers, and allowing the FBI to operate as standing army. What the next crisis will be is anyones guess, but you can be sure that there will be a next crisis. So, what should you expect if the government decides to declare another state of emergency and institutes a nationwide lockdown? You should expect more of the same, only worse. More compliance, less resistance. More fear-mongering, mind-control tactics and less tolerance for those who question the governments propaganda-driven narratives. Most of all, you should expect more tyranny and less freedom. Given the governments past track record and its long-anticipated plans for using armed forces to solve domestic political and social problems in response to a future crisis, theres every reason to worry about what comes next. Mark my words: as I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, if and when another crisis arisesif and when a nationwide lockdown finally hitsif and when martial law is enacted with little real outcry or resistance from the public then we will truly understand the extent to which the powers-that-be have fully succeeded in acclimating us to a state of affairs in which the government has all the power and we the people have none. In the meantime, if all we do to reclaim our freedoms and regain control over our runaway government is vote for yet another puppet of the Deep State, by the time the next crisis arises, it may well be too late. Source: http://tinyurl.com/3sn4waec ABOUT JOHN W. WHITEHEAD Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His most recent books are the best-selling Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, and a debut dystopian fiction novel, The Erik Blair Diaries. Whitehead can be contacted at staff@rutherford.org. Nisha Whitehead is the Executive Director of The Rutherford Institute. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at www.rutherford.org. U.S. President Joe Biden is now encouraging G20 leaders to support the World Bank, as well as other multilateral development financial firms. The American leader explained how helping the World Bank's expansion could hamper the growing influence of China. Joe Biden Urges G20 Leaders to Support World Bank World Bank President Ajay Banga explained that the international development organization is now helping with other global challenges. Previously, the World Bank only focused on eradicating poverty. Now, the global financial institute is also helping with climate change, food insecurity, as well as pandemics. Because of this, the World Bank is having a hard time boosting its lending capacity. "There's no way there's enough money in the multilateral development bank, or even in governments ... that can drive the kinds of changes we need for this polycrisis," said Banga via CNBC. The World Bank leader added that the World Bank really needs the private sector's capital and ingenuity to enhance its lending capacities. During the G20 summit, Biden persuaded G20 leaders to further support the World Bank over the next year. POTUS further stated that with their help, the World Bank can increase its ability to support low- and middle-income countries, as reported by the Financial Times. In his own effort, Joe Biden requested the U.S. Congress to increase the World Bank's financing by over $25 billion. If Congress accepts this, it will enable the international financial group to help developing countries improve their economy. Read Also: US-Vietnam Relations: Biden Forges Strategic Partnership With Hanoi Amid China's Rising Influence How Helping World Bank Can Hamper China's Growing Influence Recently, the U.S. president explained that if they want to develop countries' dependency on China, so they need to offer more funding options. By doing so, they can also help nations affected by the Russia-Ukraine war recover. The White House explained that by supporting the World Bank, it can become a stronger institution. Once this happens, the global development organization will be able to provide more resources needed to tackle global challenges, as well as address the urgent needs of poor countries. "It is essential that we offer a credible alternative to the People's Republic of China's (PRC) coercive and unsustainable lending and infrastructure projects for developing countries around the world," added the White House. If you want to learn more details about the latest initiative of Biden and other G20 leaders to enhance the lending capacity of the World Bank, you can click this link. Related Article: Biden Unveils G20 Summit Agenda, Including World Bank Reform, New Funding @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kildare County Council has given the green light to expand the Kildare Innovation Campus (KIC) which could contribute 5 billion to the economy when fully operational. Currently, firms based at Kildare Innovation Campus in Parsonstown near Leixlip, including HP Enterprise and DB Schenker, employ 1,000 people. Advertisement The planned extension will deliver capacity for a further 3,000 jobs. The council has granted 10-year planning permission without seeking further information on the application but has attached 53 conditions. Underlining the scale of the proposal, one of the conditions requires the applicants to pay 9.47 million towards public infrastructure costs. The authority granted the permission after concluding that the proposal would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity. Advertisement An economic assessment prepared by Grant Thornton for the applicants, Davy Real Estate entity Davy Platform ICAV on behalf of the Liffey Sub Fund, has estimated that the total economic output from the expanded Kildare Innovation Campus will be 5 billion. Expansion Advertisement The planning application for the former HP (Hewlett Packard) campus includes the construction of two new 'deep tech' buildings, four new data centre buildings and an Energy Centre to provide dispatchable power to the national grid as part of a three phased expansion of the campus from 2024 to 2035. The report stated the investment in the 178-acre KIC site will be 2.5 billion and, when complete, will result in wages of 267 million per annum. The Grant Thornton assessment stated the KIC aims to become the leading technological and innovation campus in Europe in areas such as AI & Robotics, Quantum Computing and semi-conductors, AgTech, Renewables, Digital Health and Space Technologies. Advertisement The proposal included an additional 152,138sqm of new buildings, leaving a total of 195,525sqm between existing and proposed development. A planning report by consultants Tom Phillips & Associates stated that upon purchase of the campus in 2021, the new landowners began to develop a vision for the future development of the site to maximise its economic potential. The consultants said the deep tech spaces will include a range of innovative engineering technologies including the likes of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing, both of which would have substantial benefits from co-location with data centre storage. The report noted that other examples of deep tech include block-chain, computer imaging, and Virtual Reality. Advertisement The report added that the proposed development will aim to provide for a connected innovation hub for global leaders in science and technology and to connect those global leaders with third level institutions, in particular Maynooth University. Kildare Chamber of Commerce chief executive Allan Shine lodged a submission with the council outlining the chambers support for the proposal. Mr Shine said the expanded KIC positions Kildare as the leading county in Ireland for inward investment. He added that, subject to planning, the KIC will become the leading innovation campus in Europe in areas such as AI and Robotics. The Government has pledged two million euro in relief aid to Morocco in the wake of Fridays devastating earthquake. More than 2,400 people are now estimated to have died, with a further 300,000 people impacted in the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that reduced buildings to rubble across the country. Advertisement Moroccan officials have so far accepted government-offered aid from just four countries Spain, Qatar, the UK and the United Arab Emirates. Tanaiste @MichealMartinTD has announced 2 million of Irish Aid support to the people of Morocco following the devastating earthquake. Read more https://t.co/toiDTQEPJN pic.twitter.com/nHeljGWU3p Irish Aid (@Irish_Aid) September 11, 2023 Advertisement The 2 million of Irish Aid support to the people of Morocco will assist the work of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) who are helping in the local humanitarian response efforts. Advertisement A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the funds will support immediate and urgent humanitarian needs on the ground. Advertisement The funds will support local communities most affected through the provision of emergency shelter, clean drinking water and food, mobile health care including psychological support, and hygiene centres through support of the local response by the Moroccan Red Crescent, the statement read. Evacuations are under way, and it is expected that thousands of people will be temporarily displaced in the region. Announcing the funding this morning, the Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Morocco. I was shocked and saddened to learn of this devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, the injured and emergency responders, he said. Advertisement The destruction, particularly in remote areas, will place extraordinary pressure on vulnerable groups and pose significant challenges to rescuers. Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Morocco and will provide immediate emergency humanitarian assistance. Funding from Ireland will support a locally led response and provide assistance to those most impacted by this disaster. Micheal Martin said two million euro of Irish aid will support the local emergency response. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA. Advertisement Ireland Most vacant council homes are empty for good reaso... Read More Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD, said the funding would play an important role in the rebuilding of lives and communities in Morocco following the devastating earthquake. Advertisement Ireland has a proud record of responding quickly to support partners around the world when disasters strike. Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost loved ones, he said. This humanitarian funding is a sign of Irelands support and solidarity with them at this time. The chipmaker Qualcomm said on Monday, September 11, that it would continue providing Apple with 5G modems for iPhones and iPads until 2026. According to CNBC, Wall Street analysts and Qualcomm executives have previously said that they anticipated Apple will begin using an internally built 5G modem beginning in 2024. Ties Between Apple and Qualcomm The sustained sales to Apple will increase Qualcomm's phones division, which recorded $5.26 billion in revenues in the quarter that ended in June. This will help Qualcomm lessen the pain of possibly losing a key client since the continuous sales to Apple would enhance Qualcomm's overall revenue. According to an estimate provided by UBS, Apple contributed around 21% of Qualcomm's total revenue of $44.2 billion in fiscal 2022. At the moment, Qualcomm is the exclusive provider of 5G modems for Apple's iPhones. However, Apple has been busy developing its very own modems in an effort to wean itself off of dependence on Qualcomm equipment. In 2019, it made the decision to construct its own modem, so it bought the smartphone modem division of Intel. Nevertheless, a number of industry observers believe that due to the intricacy of Qualcomm's processors, it will be difficult for Apple to transition away from using Qualcomm's products. The cellular license costs that Apple paid to Qualcomm in 2022 were around $1.9 billion, as per the estimation provided by UBS. Qualcomm also generates money from Apple via other means. According to Qualcomm, a six-year deal between the two companies allows it to continue collecting royalties from Apple. This deal was reached after the conclusion of a legal dispute between Apple and Qualcomm about royalties, which was resolved in 2019. Qualcomm has said that it anticipates supplying just 20% of the modems required for Apple to debut its next smartphone in 2026, which is an indication that the company likely still anticipates the Apple business to ultimately shrink. An executive from Qualcomm said that the business would not be revising its forecast to take into consideration the sales made by Apple. Within this week, Apple is set to make an announcement on new iPhones, which will most likely be referred to as the iPhone 15. The new units reportedly feature modems manufactured by Qualcomm. See Also: China Bans iPhones in Government Offices as Conflicts With US Increase iPhone Ban in China After the announcement of the iPhone ban on Chinese government employees, Apple's market value dropped by over $200 billion, as reported by Fox Business last week. The tech giant's stock has fallen roughly 1% over the past month. Last week, it was revealed that employees at China's key government agencies had gotten orders from higher-ups in recent weeks in the form of chat group messages or face-to-face meetings. As part of a larger effort to limit the export of sensitive Chinese data, the change was also marketed as a means to improve cybersecurity. Reportedly, China has restricted iPhone usage at government workplaces for years. However, the latest regulation expands the restriction and indicates a stronger attempt to enforce the rules from Beijing. See Also: China's New iPhone Restrictions Drive Apple Shares to Drop, Hurting Tech Industry @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A ban on the sale of shots after 2am should be put in place to target late-night anti-social behaviour, according to a Dublin City councillor. Councillor Mannix Flynn argued the rule would help to crack down on drunken behaviour on Dublin's streets. Advertisement A similar move has been made in the Australian city of Adelaide in an effort to clamp down on late-night drunkenness. New licencing laws here, which are yet to take effect, will see pubs and bars allowed to remain open until 2.30am each night, while nightclubs will be permitted to operate until 6am. However, Cllr Flynn told Newstalk the nightlife industry needs proper regulation. "We've already got late-night bars in the likes of Harcourt Street, and indeed Camden Street can be a terrible mess. Advertisement "If you drive up those areas at two o'clock, three o'clock in the morning, it's absolutely sad to see the amount of people inebriated, drunk, out of their minds, twisted, locked, falling from one end of the place to the next," Cllr Flynn said. Advertisement On the wider issue of the changes to licencing laws, Alcohol Action Ireland's chief executive Shiela Gilheany said the matter needs to be looked at again. "What really needs to be done is a health impact assessment, as was recommended by the Oireachtas justice committee on this Sale of Alcohol Bill." "In other words, before progressing any further with proposals to extend licencing laws, we should carry out that health impact assessment. "We should look at what are the additional costs going to be on our [emergency departments], on our Gardai, on street cleaning, on public transport," Ms Gilheany added. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue have agreed to meet a delegation from the Irish Farmers Association as the organisation stages a large protest outside the annual Fianna Fail think-in. Dozens of farmers set up a picket and beeped tractor horns outside the Horse And Jockey hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary. Advertisement Others held banners and flags during the IFA demonstration over a range of issues including frustration in relation to the EU cut in Irelands nitrates derogation limit and the plan to delay payments to farmers in 2023. Crowd gathering here now. pic.twitter.com/XEHcldItqb Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) September 11, 2023 Advertisement The organisation also highlighted concerns with the design of the latest suckler scheme, issues in the sheep sector, and the destruction of tillage through the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). Advertisement Mr McConalogue and Mr Martin were heckled by farmers as they attempted to engage with IFA representatives outside the hotel. Advertisement The Fianna Fail agriculture minister agreed to take a delegation from the IFA into a meeting with his party leader, Mr Martin. Mr McConalogue told the crowd: We are doing our very best on all issues. IFA president Tim Cullinan agreed to the meeting but told the minister: Were at a point of no more negotiations until youre willing to put the real issues back on the table. Advertisement Up and running in Horse and Jockey for the @fiannafailparty think in. @joemag talking to farmers about the issues that need to be addressed. pic.twitter.com/UogAdJppj6 Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) September 11, 2023 Advertisement Mr Cullinan called on Mr Conalogue to get European Commission officials to visit Irish farms and consider the IFAs proposals for the sector. He said: Theres so many serious issues here. People have told me this morning they have been waiting for payments, that is a huge concern. And the other one, obviously, is the nitrates derogation. Remember where you are, here this morning youre in the Golden Vale, the heart of farming in Ireland. By God, Im telling you, minister, were not going to lose the dairy industry, were not going to lose the beef industry or sheep industry or the tillage sector. Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods in Libya that swept away entire neighbourhoods and wrecked homes in many coastal towns in the east of the country. As many as 2,000 people were feared dead, one of the countrys leaders said on Monday. Advertisement The destruction appears greatest in Derna, a city formerly held by Islamic extremists in the chaos that has gripped Libya for more than a decade and left it with crumbling and inadequate infrastructure. Libya remains divided between two rival administrations, one in the east and one in the west, each backed by militias and foreign governments. Floods swept through eastern Libya (Libya Almasar TV/AP) Advertisement The confirmed death toll from the weekend flooding stood at 61 as of late Monday, according to health authorities. But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing were believed to have been carried away by floodwater. Advertisement Video by residents of the city posted online showed major devastation. Entire residential areas were erased along a river that runs down from the mountains through the city centre. Multi-storey apartment buildings that once stood well back from the river were partially collapsed into the mud. Advertisement In a phone interview with al-Masar television station Monday, prime minister Ossama Hamad of the east Libyan government said that 2,000 were feared dead in Derna, and thousands were believed missing. He said Derna has been declared a disaster zone. . . . pic.twitter.com/V98GFVUxEM Advertisement (@LibyaRC) September 11, 2023 Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesman for the countrys armed forces based in the east, told a news conference that the death toll in Derna had surpassed 2,000. Advertisement He said there were between 5,000 and 6,000 reported missing and attributed the catastrophe to the collapse of two nearby dams, causing a lethal flash flood. Since a 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has lacked a central government and the resulting lawlessness has meant dwindling investment in the countrys roads and public services and also minimal regulation of private building. The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias. Advertisement Derna itself, along with the city of Sirte, was controlled by extremist groups for years, at one point by those who pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group, until forces loyal to the east-based government expelled them in 2018. At least 46 people were reported dead in the eastern town of Bayda, Abdel-Rahim Mazek, head of the towns main medical centre said. The head of one of Libyas rival governments says 2,000 people are feared dead (Libya Almasar TV/AP) Another seven people were reported dead in the coastal town of Susa in north-eastern Libya, according to the ambulance and emergency authority. Seven others were reported dead in the towns of Shahatt and Omar al-Mokhtar, said Ossama Abduljaleel, health minister. One person was reported dead on Sunday in the town of Marj. The Libyan Red Crescent said it lost contact with one of its workers as he attempted to help a trapped family in Bayda. Dozens of others were reported missing, and authorities fear they could have died in the floods that destroyed homes and other properties in several towns in eastern Libya, according to local media. In Derna, local media said the situation was catastrophic with no electricity or communications. Advertisement As the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, I am deeply saddened by the severe impact of Hurricane Daniel on the country and have tasked an emergency response team to prepare to support local authorities and partners in the region. pic.twitter.com/yQptqVP3s1 Georgette Gagnon - (@ggagnonn) September 11, 2023 Essam Abu Zeriba, the interior minister of the east Libya government, said more than 5,000 people were expected to be missing in Derna. He said many of the victims were swept away towards the Mediterranean. The situation is tragic, he said in a telephone interview on the Saudi-owned satellite news channel Al-Arabiya. He urged urged local and international agencies to help the city. Georgette Gagnon, UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya, said early reports showed that dozens of villages and towns were severely affected with widespread flooding, damage to infrastructure, and loss of life. I am deeply saddened by the severe impact of (storm) Daniel on the country, I call on all local, national, and international partners to join hands to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people in eastern Libya, she tweeted. Over the weekend, Libyans shared footage on social media showing flooded houses and roads in many areas across eastern Libya. They pleaded for help as floods besieged people inside their homes and in their vehicles. Advertisement Mr Hamad announced three days of mourning and ordered flags across the country to be lowered to half-staff. Foreign governments sent messages of support on Monday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, said his country would send humanitarian assistance and search-and-rescue teams to eastern Libya, according to the UAEs state-run WAM news agency. Turkey, which supports the countrys Tripoli-based government in the west, also expressed condolences, along with neighbouring Algeria. Storm Daniel is expected to arrive in parts of west Egypt on Monday, and the countrys meteorological authorities warned about possible rain and bad weather. Rescuers have pulled an American researcher out of a Turkish cave, more than a week after he became seriously ill 1,000 metres below its entrance, said the Speleological Federation of Turkey. Teams from across Europe had rushed to Morca cave in southern Turkeys Taurus Mountains to aid Mark Dickey, a 40-year-old experienced caver who became seriously ill on September 2 with stomach bleeding. Advertisement He was on an expedition to map the cave, which is the countrys third deepest. Mr Dickey was too frail to climb out himself, so rescuers carried him with the help of a stretcher, making frequent stops at temporary camps set up along the way. Advertisement Mark Dickey is out of the Morca cave. He is fine and is being tended to by emergency medical worker in the encampment above, said a statement by the speleological federation on Monday. Advertisement Thus, the cave rescue part of the operation has ended successfully. We congratulate all those who have contributed. Lying on a stretcher surrounded by reporters following his rescue , Dickey described the ordeal as a crazy, crazy adventure. Advertisement It is amazing to be above ground again, he said, thanking the Turkish government for saving his life with its rapid response. He also thanked the international caving community, Turkish cavers and Hungarian Cave Rescue, among others. A statement from Mr Dickeys parents. Debbie and Andy Dickey, said the fact that their son has been moved out of Morca Cave in stable condition is indescribably relieving and fills us with incredible joy. The American was first treated inside the cave by a Hungarian doctor who went down the cave on September 3. Doctors and rescuers then took turns caring for him. The cause of Mr Dickeys illness was not clear. Advertisement On Tuesday, Mr Dickey said that in the cave he had started to throw up large quantities of blood. He told reporters: My consciousness started to get harder to hold on to, and I reached the point where I thought Im not going to live. American caver Mark Dickey, 40 (Turkish Government Directorate of Communications via AP) Advertisement The biggest challenges for the rescuers were the steep vertical sections and navigating through mud and water at low temperatures in the horizontal sections. There was also the psychological toll of staying inside a dark, damp cave for extended periods of time. Advertisement Around 190 experts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Turkey took part in the rescue, including doctors, paramedics and experienced cavers. Teams comprised of a doctor and three to four other rescuers took turns staying by his side at all times. The rescue began on Saturday after doctors, who administered IV fluids and blood, determined that Mr Dickey could make the arduous ascent. Before the evacuation could begin, rescuers first had to widen some of the caves narrow passages, install ropes to pull him up vertical shafts on a stretcher and set up temporary camps along the way. Mr Dickey, who is from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, is a well-known cave researcher and a cave rescuer himself who had participated in many international expeditions. He and several other people on the expedition were mapping the 1,276-metre deep Morca cave system for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association. Turkish authorities made a video message available that showed Mr Dickey standing and moving around on Thursday. While alert and talking, he said he was not healed on the inside and needed a lot of help to get out of the cave. He thanked the caving community and the Turkish government for their efforts to rescue him. US President Joe Biden has closed a visit to Vietnam by highlighting new business deals and partnerships between the two countries and paying respects at a memorial honouring the late American senator John McCain, who endured a lengthy incarceration during the Vietnam War. Mr Biden met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who also accompanied the President as he dropped by a meeting of American and Vietnamese business leaders. Advertisement Mr Biden also sat down with President Vo Van Thuong, who hosted the US leader for a state luncheon. The US President spoke about strengthening Vietnams semiconductor industry and his administrations commitment to an open Pacific. Mr Biden departs from Noi Bai International Airport (AP) Advertisement Mr Biden told the CEOs: My message today is quite simple. Lets keep it up. Advertisement We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships. The Vietnamese Prime Minister also stressed the need to improve cooperation and said the sky is the limit for the expanding US-Vietnam relationship. We truly wish to receive strong political commitment from the US government including you, Mr President, who has had great affection for Vietnam, the Prime Minister said. Advertisement Highlights of the major deals announced by the White House during Bidens first-ever visit to Vietnam include US-based Boeings 7.5 billion dollar (6 billion) deal with Vietnam Airlines to buy about 50 aircraft and Arizona-based Amkor Technologys plans for a 1.6 billion dollar (1.2 billion) factory in Bac Ninh Province. Mr Biden, left, meets with Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue, in Hanoi (AP) The White House also said the administration would help build Vietnamese capacity to fight regional and international transnational crime, including targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Advertisement China has been locked in long-running territorial conflicts with Vietnam, along with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as Beijing claims waters in the other nations exclusive economic zone. Mr Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday and met Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Advertisement Mr Trong formally announced Vietnam had elevated the US to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. Mr Biden said the shift demonstrated how far bilateral relations had evolved from the bitter past of the Vietnam War. At the same time, Mr Biden insisted that his roughly 24-hour visit was not about trying to start a cold war with China but was part of a broader effort to improve global stability by building relationships throughout Asia, including with Vietnam, at a time of tensions with Beijing. Advertisement Mr Biden insisted his presence in Vietnam was not a move towards another Cold War with China (AP) Before departing, Mr Biden visited the John Sidney McCain III Memorial near the site where, as a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant commander, Mr McCains Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down by the North Vietnamese. Both sides exchanged documents on unaccounted US service members and Vietnamese soldiers. Mr Biden left one of his commemorative coins at the memorial, the White House said. Mr McCain parachuted out of the plane and landed in a lake in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg in the fall, was dragged from the water by an angry crowd, and was beaten and bayoneted. Advertisement The harrowing 1967 incident began a more than five-year ordeal that became the defining moment for the future Republican senator from Arizona and two-time presidential candidate. After six weeks in the hospital, Mr McCain, who had lost about one-third of his weight, was transferred to a prison cell. After a brief time with cellmates, McCain, the son and grandson of four-star admirals, began two years in solitary confinement in a 10-by-10ft room. Vietnam, together our two countries will continue to work together to achieve our shared goals of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development. pic.twitter.com/LiisyLDdeA President Biden (@POTUS) September 10, 2023 At one point, Mr McCains captors asked if he wanted to go home, but it was a trick question. The US militarys code of conduct required prisoners to be released in the order they were detained. The North Vietnamese wanted to make a show of releasing McCain early as his father assumed command over the Pacific. Mr McCain refused. For four days after he refused release, Mr McCain was beaten every two to three hours by 10 guards. Filled with thoughts of suicide, Mr McCain broke and agreed to sign an anti-US propaganda statement confessing to black crimes. He later wrote: I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. Advertisement It was the last time Mr McCain would break. He refused to sign any other statements or meet with visiting American anti-war activists. Eventually, Mr McCain was removed from solitary confinement and mingled with other US prisoners of war. He was released on March 14 1973. Mr McCain returned home, retired from the Navy in 1981, moved to Arizona and launched a political career. Mr Biden addressed US and Vietnamese business leaders (AP) He was elected to the House in 1982 and, in 1986, to the senate, where he and Mr Biden were colleagues. Despite his experience in Vietnam, Mr McCain was a strong advocate of restoring diplomatic relations with the country that had so badly mistreated him. He was the Republican presidential nominee in 2008, but lost to Democrat Barack Obama. He died of brain cancer in 2018. Mr Biden delivered an emotional eulogy at Mr McCains funeral in Arizona. At the luncheon, Biden said he missed McCain. He praised McCain and John Kerry another Vietnam War veteran and former Democratic senator, secretary of state in the Obama administration and Bidens climate envoy for playing critical roles in the two nations 50-year arc of progress. Where there was darkness you all found light, Mr Biden said. His dead relatives have been dug out and buried, but the remnants of Musa Bouissirfanes former life are still trapped under rubble and dust in the ruins of the mud-brick Moroccan village of Tafeghaghte. Its incredibly challenging to lose your entire family and all your possessions, Mr Bouissirfane said as tears welled in his eyes in the community less than a two-hour drive from Marrakech. Advertisement We have lost everything our homes, our livestock and all our possessions. Less than a week ago, he was excited about his young daughter starting a new school year. Now he is mourning her death. A donkey stands inside a damaged building in the village of Tafeghaghte (Mosaab Elshamy/AP) Advertisement Far from ambulances and authorities, villagers could not retrieve her body for more than 14 hours, until Saturday afternoon. Advertisement The earthquake also killed Mr Bouissirfanes mother and father and a niece. His wife is in hospital in intensive care. The toll of the massive earthquake that killed more than 2,600 people was on stark display Monday in remote villages such as Tafeghaghte, where more than half of the 160 inhabitants are thought to have died, including the four in Mr Bouissirfanes family. He joined other survivors as they worked to clear debris and recover the dead. They toiled in a scene of horror as bulldozers dug through dust and rubble hoping to find a body. Advertisement The air in parts of the village was filled with the stench of dead cattle. People warned each other not to walk near the few buildings that remained standing because they looked as though they could topple at any moment. God save us, said Khadija Babamou, a resident of nearby Amizmiz who came to Tafeghaghte to check on relatives. Needs are immense & growing minute by minute after the Morocco's earthquake. Teams from @MaMrcs continue to work around the clock to support the affected people. The IFRC teams will support the @MaMrcs as needed. See the latest from our response https://t.co/mcFNcMRmgi Advertisement IFRC (@ifrc) September 11, 2023 Advertisement As her eyes panned around the remnants of the village, she covered her mouth and began to cry while gripping her sister. Advertisement Also Monday, Moroccan prime minister Aziz Akhannouch met King Mohammed VI and spoke publicly for the first time since the earthquake. He said the country was committed to funding rebuilding. Although Tafeghaghte has received food and water, it needs much more. Residents lack the means to purchase even a single brick, said Mr Bouissirfane, who is living in a tent and has only the change in his pocket. The efforts in Tafeghaghte mirrored those happening across the disaster zone as Moroccan soldiers, non-governmental organisations and teams sent by Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates arrived to help rescue efforts and immediate needs. So far, Moroccan officials have accepted government aid from approved non-governmental organisations and just four countries Spain, Qatar, the UK and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say they want to avoid a lack of coordination that would be counterproductive. A search for survivors near Khair Anougal (Spanish Defence Ministry/AP) That approach differs from the one taken by the government in Turkey, which made an international appeal for help in the hours following a massive quake earlier this year. Advertisement The leader of one of several rescue teams waiting across Europe said Moroccan authorities may remember the chaos that unfolded after a smaller quake in 2004, when international teams overwhelmed the airport and the damaged roads into the hardest hit areas. Rescuers Without Borders founder Arnaud Fraisse told The Associated Press he is withdrawing the organisations offer to send nine people to Morocco because our role is not to find bodies. Homes crumbled into dust and debris, choking out the air pockets that might allow some people to survive for days under rubble. People are generally suffocated by the dust, Mr Fraisse said. The UN estimates that 300,000 people were affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake, which was made more dangerous by its relatively shallow depth. Rescue crews expanded their efforts on Monday (Mosaab Elshamy/AP) Most of the destruction and deaths were in Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains, where steep and winding roads became clogged with rubble leaving villagers to fend for themselves. Ibrahim Wahdouch lost two young daughters and two other family members. He said Tafeghaghte resembled a war zone. Theres not shooting but look around, he said. Those left homeless or fearing more aftershocks have slept outside in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in devastated towns like Moulay Brahim. Advertisement State news agency MAP reported that bulldozers and other equipment are being used to clear routes. Tourists and residents lined up to give blood. In some villages, people wept as boys and helmet-clad police carried the dead through streets. More help could have quickly poured into Morocco with the governments permission. Mr Fraisse said about 100 rescue teams, with roughly 3,000 rescuers in total, are registered with the UN to help. A man walks through the wreckage in Amizmiz (Mosaab Elshamy/AP) Its their responsibility. They can do what they want, Mr Fraisse said, referring to Moroccan authorities. They didnt call. So today we think its no longer necessary for us to go there, because we wont do effective work. A Spanish search-and-rescue team arrived in Marrakech and headed to the rural town of Talat NYaaqoub, according to Spains emergency military unit. The UK sent a 60-person search team with four dogs, medical staff, listening devices and concrete-cutting gear. France, which has many ties to Morocco and at least four of its citizens among the dead, said Moroccan authorities are evaluating proposals on a case-by-case basis. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, according to the US Geological Survey. A total of 2,681 people were confirmed dead, with nearly 1,600 of them from the hardest-hit Al Haouz province, the Moroccan interior ministry reported. Advertisement Nearly all the dead have already been buried, the government said. More than 2,500 people were injured. Moroccos deadliest quake was magnitude 5.8 in 1960 that struck near the city of Agadir, killing at least 12,000. It prompted Morocco to change construction rules, but many buildings, especially rural homes, are not built to withstand such shaking. A former Conservative minister revealed he has often thought of running for the Scottish parliament. Former British international development secretary Rory Stewart told newspaper Scotland on Sunday that a political run north of the border was something to think about in the long run. Advertisement Mr Stewart ran to succeed Theresa May as UK prime minister and Tory leader in 2019 and came to prominence for his use of social media. He resigned from the Conservative Party in 2019 after losing the whip from eventual leader Boris Johnson and stood down as MP for Penrith and the Border later that year. Mr Stewart told Scotland on Sunday Scottish conservatism had more in common with the way he viewed the world, but was struggling about whether he wanted to go back into politics. Advertisement He said: I think for somebody like me who is about the liberal centre, and obviously it would be a liberal Unionist centre in Scotland, I can see a real point to that, yes. And maybe that is something to think about in the long run. Advertisement Im still struggling about whether I want to go back into politics at all. But I think if I did go back into politics, I think thats a very attractive, interesting thing. Advertisement I care deeply about Scotland. I think Scottish Conservatism has more in common with the way that I view the world. The former minister also said a second independence referendum was less relevant than it was, but warned against complacency that the unionist side would win again. He lamented the shameful state of politics and said the political culture both at Westminster and Holyrood were similar. Advertisement Mr Stewart said:I dont know Holyrood politics as well, but my sense of MSPs is that its a very similar culture to MPs, he said. They have come to a similar formation. A lot of it is their priorities being very focused on just winning the next election, not really thinking hard in detail about policy. Its very tribal; its very much about sticking it to the other side. Advertisement Its a culture where the press releases seem to substitute for policy. I think this is true both sides of the border. Islamist factions in Lebanons largest Palestinian refugee camp have said they will abide by a ceasefire after three days of clashes killed at least five people and left hundreds of families displaced. Fighting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement and Islamist groups has rocked southern Lebanons Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp since Friday. Advertisement Fatah and other factions in the camp had intended to crack down on suspects accused of killing one of their military generals in late July. Palestinian residents who fled their homes after clashes erupted (AP) Besides the five killed, 52 others were wounded, Dr Riad Abu Al-Einen, who heads the Al-Hamshari Hospital in Sidon that has received the casualties, told the Associated Press. Advertisement The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, however stated that four people were killed and 60 others wounded. Advertisement The Lebanese military said in a statement that five soldiers were wounded after three shells landed in army checkpoints surrounding the camp. One of the soldiers is in critical condition. The army command repeats its warning to the concerned parties in the camp about the consequences of exposing military members and positions to danger, and affirms that the army will take appropriate measures in response, the statement said. Palestinian Red Crescent workers treat Palestinian Sabine al-Ahmed who injured during clashes between members of the Palestinian Fatah group and Islamist militants (AP) Advertisement Ein el-Hilweh, home to some 55,000 people according to the United Nations, is notorious for its lawlessness and violence is not uncommon in the camp. It was established in 1948 to house Palestinians who were displaced when Israel was established. Lebanese officials, security agencies and the UN have urged the warring factions to agree on a ceasefire. Advertisement The interim chief of Lebanons General Security agency Elias al-Baysari said that he will attend a meeting between Palestinian factions and urge the factions to reach a resolution. The clashing factions in the camp said in a statement published on Sunday by Lebanons state-run National News Agency that they planned to abide by a ceasefire. Advertisement UNRWA said hundreds of families displaced from the camp have taken shelter in nearby mosques, schools and the Sidon municipality building. At least five people were reportedly killed and many families have been displaced (AP) Advertisement The UN agency and local organizations are setting up additional shelters after Lebanons prime minister and interior minister shut down an initiative by the municipality, the Lebanese Red Cross, and local community groups to set up a few dozen tents for families. Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics set up stations at the camps entrance to treat the wounded and provided food packages to displaced families. Among the wounded was Sabine Al-Ahmad, 16, who fled the camp with her family. She was being treated for shrapnel wounds. We were running away and a shell exploded over us, she told the AP. Dorothee Klaus, director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, said armed groups are still occupying the agencys schools in the camp. UNRWA calls on all parties and those with influence over them to stop the violence, Ms Klaus said in a statement. Several days of street battles in the Ein el-Hilweh camp between Fatah and members of the extremist Jund al-Sham group erupted earlier this summer that left 13 people dead and dozens wounded, and ended after an uneasy truce was put in place on August 3. Advertisement Those street battles forced hundreds to flee their homes. However, clashes were widely expected to resume as the Islamist groups never handed over those accused of killing the Fatah general to the Lebanese judiciary, as demanded by a committee of Palestinian factions last month. Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. Many live in the 12 refugee camps that are scattered around the small Mediterranean country. The mother of a 10-year-old boy killed by an American Bully XL dog has questioned why the British government has not acted sooner to ban the breed. Emma Whitfield spoke out after UK home secretary Suella Braverman suggested the animals could be prohibited. Advertisement The minister announced she has commissioned urgent advice on outlawing the dogs after she highlighted an appalling attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham, England, which was filmed by an eyewitness and posted on social media. Its crazy how this video has gone viral and now politicians are coming out of the woodwork saying how bad it is. Where were you when my son was killed? Where were you when other innocent people were killed? Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere. If https://t.co/0OqNvOft1D Advertisement Emma W #ForJackLis (@Emma__Whitfield) September 10, 2023 Advertisement Ms Whitfields son, Jack Lis, was attacked by a Bully XL dog named Beast in Caerphilly, South Wales, two years ago. Writing on X, previously known as Twitter, Ms Whitfield said: Its crazy how this video has gone viral and now politicians are coming out of the woodwork saying how bad it is. Advertisement Where were you when my son was killed? Where were you when other innocent people were killed? Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere. If youre going to do something, please do it. Stop pussyfooting around the breed neutral bull crap and do something. Maybe you can do this and work on the backyard breeders and the thuggish owners ruining lives too. Advertisement Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were later jailed after admitting being in charge of the out-of-control dog that killed Jack. Wales first minister Mark Drakeford has reiterated his call for the breed to be banned and also questioned why the UK government has not acted sooner. I think the UK government should get on with it, and get on with it as fast as possible, he told reporters at a Welsh government press conference. Advertisement The 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act is non-devolved and its in the hands of the UK government. Advertisement I think they should have acted already, and I certainly think they need to act now. Brandon Hayden and Amy Salter were jailed after admitting being in charge of the dog that killed Jack Lis (Gwent Police/PA) Mr Drakeford said he had met the police officers who attended after the attack on Jack, and spoken to them about what happened. I attended the Police Federation national bravery awards in London just at the start of the recess, he said. The small team of police officers who attended that absolutely awful incident were nominated for a national bravery award. I was fortunate to be able to talk with them about what they had witnessed that night and how they had helped others to deal with it. You cannot imagine how awful that must have been. The dog, which is developed from the American pit bull terrier, is not a recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club. It could be hard to define and some fear a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs. There are currently four banned breeds of dog in the UK: the pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. Downing Street said the UK government takes the issue of American bully XL dogs extremely seriously. Advertisement The footage we saw over the weekend was shocking. I know that the police are investigating that specific incident, the UK prime ministers official spokesman said. We take this issue extremely seriously. We have commissioned urgent advice on what steps we can take on dangerous dogs. I think the Home Secretary set that out yesterday. And beyond that immediate work, we do have a number of measures to protect people under the Dangerous Dogs Act. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia where he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with President Vladimir Putin that has sparked Western concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscows war in Ukraine. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said that Mr Kim boarded his personal train from the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday afternoon, and that he will be accompanied by unspecified members of the countrys ruling party, government and military. Advertisement State media photos showed Mr Kim walking past honour guards and crowds of civilians holding the national flag and flowers and waving his hand from his green-and-yellow armoured train before it left the station in Pyongyang. A group of senior officials, including Cabinet Premier Kim Tok Hun, Kim Jong Uns top economic official, were at the station to give the leader a hearty send-off, KCNA said. Advertisement KCNA did not specify whether the train had crossed the border. A brief statement on the Kremlins website on Monday said the visit is at Mr Putins invitation and would take place in the coming days. Advertisement KCNA said the leaders would meet without specifying when and where. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Mr Putin and Mr Kim will lead their delegations in talks and could also meet one-on-one if necessary. The talks will focus on bilateral ties, Mr Peskov said. As with any of our neighbours, we feel obliged to develop good, mutually beneficial relations, he added. A possible venue is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Mr Putin arrived on Monday to attend an international forum that runs through to Wednesday, according to Russias TASS news agency. Advertisement The city, located about 425 miles north of Pyongyang, was also the site of Mr Putins first meeting with Mr Kim in 2019. The visit would be Mr Kims first foreign trip since the Covid-19 pandemic, which had forced North Korea to enforce tight border controls for more than three years to shield its poor health care system. While Mr Kim has shown to be more comfortable using planes than his famously flight-adverse father, he has also used his personal train for previous meetings with Mr Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and former US president Donald Trump, reviving a symbol of his familys dynastic rule. A North Nashville shooting leads to the death of a woman. Tragically, the person who killed her was actually her boyfriend. The incident happened after the couple's argument. Here's what authorities shared. North Nashville Shooting Leads to Girlfriend's Death According to Yahoo News' latest report, the shooting incident happened in the 2000 block of Vista Lane in North Nashville, Tennessee. On Sunday, Sept. 10, the Metro police said that they were alerted around 6:30 p.m. regarding the happening. Based on their affidavit, police officers who responded to the scene were flagged down by a man. The individual was seen standing at the front doorway of a residence. After that, the police responders decided to enter the house. They found a woman found lying on the second floor of the residence. Authorities said that the lady suffered from a gunshot wound to the head. Police and other responders tried to save the woman by taking her to the TriStar Skyline Medical Center. Unfortunately, doctors pronounced her dead. The Metro police identified the victim as Danielle Yarlett. Her boyfriend was arrested after he confirmed that he shot the woman. The man also showed the weapon used to the police officers, which was quickly secured. Read Also: Indiana: 21 Indicted in Extremely Disturbing Dog-Fighting, Drug Trafficking Operation Involving 90 Dogs Boyfriend Claims It's Accidental WKRN.COM reported that the shooter was identified as Brandon Brown, a 31-year-old resident in the area. He was arrested by the police for investigation. When officers asked him, Brown confirmed that the victim was his girlfriend. He shared that they frequently argue about numerous things. But, Brandon said that the latest argument they had before the incident was about another woman. This hints that Yarlett suspects Brown of cheating. When it comes to the death of his girlfriend, Brown denied shooting his partner and didn't provide any reason why he killed her. The suspect claims that he didn't shoot his girlfriend and that the gun just went off accidentally. As of writing, the investigation is still ongoing, especially since Brown did not provide any explanation for how the gun happened to be there during their argument. Yarlett's boyfriend is still held in the Metro Jail on a $200,000 bond. He is also facing criminal homicide charges. If you want to learn more about the tragedy that happened in North Nashville, you can click this link. Related Article: 'Stop Copy City' Movement: 61 Indicted in Georgia Over Racketeering Charges @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A North Korean train thought to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia for a possible meeting with President Vladimir Putin, South Korean media reported. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday, citing South Korean government sources. Advertisement The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu in July (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) Japans Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying that Mr Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. Advertisement US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. Advertisement According to American officials, Mr Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill draining reserves and put further pressure on the West to pursue negotiations amid concerns about a protracted conflict in Ukraine. In exchange, Mr Kim could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines and military reconnaissance satellites, analysts say. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Mr Kims growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Advertisement It is thought that Mr Kim is travelling on his own personal train (AP) US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Mr Putin arrived on Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russias TASS news agency. The city was also the site of Mr Putins first meeting with Mr Kim in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement After a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship for decades, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer to each other since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The bond has been driven by Mr Putins need for war help and Mr Kims efforts to boost the visibility of his partnerships with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and have North Korea be part of a united front against Washington. While using the distraction caused by the Ukraine conflict to ramp up its weapons development, North Korea has repeatedly blamed the United States for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming the Wests hegemonic policy justified a Russian offensive in Ukraine to protect itself. Vladivostok is thought to be a venue for the meeting between the two leaders (AP) Advertisement North Korea is the only nation aside of Russia and Syria to recognise the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk and it has also hinted at an interest in sending construction workers to those areas to help with rebuilding efforts. Russia along with China have blocked US-led efforts at the UN Security Council to strengthen sanctions on North Korea over its intensifying missile tests while accusing Washington of worsening tensions with Pyongyang by expanding military exercises with South Korea and Japan. Advertisement The United States has been accusing North Korea since last year of providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims. But speculation about the countries military cooperation grew after Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to North Korea in July, when Mr Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade in the capital where he showcased ICBMs designed to target the US mainland. Following Mr Shoigus visit, Mr Kim toured North Koreas weapons factories, including a facility producing artillery systems where he urged workers to speed up the development and large-scale production of new kinds of ammunition. US officials expect Mr Kim to seal a possible deal on munitions as Moscow seeks to replenish its military machine by tapping Pyongyangs huge arsenal (AP) Experts say Mr Kims visits to the factories likely had a dual goal of encouraging the modernisation of North Korean weaponry and examining artillery and other supplies that could possibly be exported to Russia. Jon Finer, US President Joe Bidens chief deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Sunday that buying weapons from North Korea may be the best and may be the only option open to Moscow as it tries to keep its war effort going. Advertisement He said: We have serious concerns about the prospect of North Korea potentially selling weapons, additional weapons, to the Russian military. It is interesting to reflect for a minute on what it says that when Russia goes around the world looking for partners that can help it, it lands on North Korea. Some analysts say a potential meeting between Mr Kim and Mr Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. Russia which has always closely guarded its most important weapons technologies, even from key allies such as China could be unwilling to make major technology transfers with North Korea for what is likely to be limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the countries, they say. Rishi Sunak was facing pressure to designate China a threat to British national security after a parliamentary researcher was arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing. The arrest under the UK's Official Secrets Act led to the British prime minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday over unacceptable interference in democracy. Advertisement The researcher, who had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns, was arrested back in March but it went undisclosed until Saturday. Advertisement UK home secretary Suella Braverman and Mr Tugendhat are pushing for China to be relabelled as a threat to Britains safety and interests under new national security laws, the Times reported. Anyone working at the direction of China or a state-linked firm would have to register and disclose their activities or risk jail under the plans. Advertisement Representatives for Ms Braverman and Mr Tugendhat have not responded to requests for comment. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former party leader who has been sanctioned by Beijing, was among Tories pressing the UK prime minister to strengthen his language towards China. Advertisement He hit out at the weak position of not labelling China a threat, telling the PA news agency: The result is that China is penetrating all our institutions from universities to Parliament. Tom Tugendhat is said not to have had any contact with the arrested researcher since before he became security minister last September (Danny Lawson/PA) Time to speak through strength not weakness. Advertisement Mr Sunak cited his confrontation with Mr Li in New Delhi as an example of the benefits of his policy of engagement rather than shouting from the sidelines. The UK prime minister told broadcasters that he raised his very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable. Theres no point carping from the sidelines, Id rather be in there directly expressing my concerns, and thats what I did today, he added. Labours shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said not describing China as a threat is naive but argued that economic ties with Beijing could over the long-term be a positive thing. Advertisement But he told the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg China cannot be treated the same when when you have got these appalling and shocking allegations today. Advertisement One of the suspects, a man in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13th, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said. Searches were also carried out in an east London property. Both were held on suspicion of offences under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. UK justice secretary Alex Chalk vowed that lessons will be learned (Lucy North/PA) They were bailed until early October. Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, warned it is potentially part of a wider, long-term, Chinese strategy to infiltrate Parliament. Mr Tugendhat is said not to have had any contact with the researcher since before he became security minister in September last year. Ms Kearns declined to comment, adding: While I recognise the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure any work of the authorities is not jeopardised. A report from Parliaments spy agency watchdog, the Intelligence and Security Committee, warned in July that Beijing is targeting the UK prolifically and aggressively. Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, warning MPs that a suspected Chinese spy called Christine Lee had engaged in political interference activities on behalf of Chinas ruling communist regime. Labour MP Barry Gardiner, the former chairman of the now disbanded Chinese in Britain APPG, received more than 500,000 in donations from her before the warning. Thailands new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to act quickly to relieve the countrys economic problems in his inaugural speech to parliament, following four months of political uncertainty while parliamentarians were unable to agree on a government. Mr Srettha entered politics after a career as a major property developer, and his government is facing high expectations and pressing demands to address a range of economic, political, social and environmental problems in its four-year term. Advertisement Thailands economy has slumped after the Covid-19 pandemic all but crippled its lucrative tourism industry. Public debt rose to more than 60% of GDP in 2023, while household debt spiked to over 90% of the GDP this year, he said. Thailands post-pandemic economy is like a sick person, with a sluggish recovery that puts the nation at risk of entering a recession, Mr Srettha added. Advertisement Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reads the policy statement at parliament in Bangkok (AP) Advertisement He vowed to quickly take measures to relieve debt problems, mitigate rising energy costs and boost tourism, without going into detail. He also said the government would work immediately to implement a campaign promise a 10,000-baht (around 225) handout for all Thais aged 16 and older to stimulate the economy by boosting short-term spending. Details were not given, though he has previously said it would cost up to 560 billion baht (12.6 billion) and will be ready to deliver by the first quarter of next year. The promise drew major interest in the election campaign, but critics have questioned whether it would have a sustainable effect. Advertisement Long-term goals cited by Mr Srettha include boosting international trade, supporting start-up businesses, investing more in transport infrastructure, improving agricultural production, empowering local government and increasing access to land ownership. The government would also seek to amend the current military-installed constitution through a process that allows public participation. Mr Srettha has vowed to tackle Thailands post-Covid economic problems (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Advertisement These steps would allow the economy to grow and its people to be able to live with dignity, he said. Advertisement The results of Thailands elections in May revealed a strong mandate for change after nearly a decade under military control. But the Thai parliament failed to endorse a coalition formed by the progressive Move Forward party, which won the most seats in the May polls, because members in the appointed and conservative senate were alienated by its calls for minor reforms to the monarchy. Mr Sretthas Pheu Thai party, which ran a close second in the election, then formed a broader coalition without Move Forward and was able to win Senate support. Advertisement But it succeeded only by including pro-military parties and several parties that were part of the previous government, reneging on a campaign pledge not to do so. The deal raised scepticism over Pheu Thais ability to fulfil its election campaign promises while having to accommodate its allies that come from all along the political spectrum. Reforms to the military a powerful political player that has staged two coups since 2006 were part of the platforms of both Move Forward and Pheu Thai. Mr Srettha addressed the point diplomatically in his speech, promising co-development with the military to end mandatory conscription, reduce the excessive number of generals and ensure transparency in defence ministry procurement procedures. The ministry is headed by Pheu Thais Sutin Klangsang, one of the few civilians to hold the portfolio, usually controlled by veteran senior military officers. The Ukrainian military says it has recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms from Russia in the Black Sea, and claimed gains in occupied areas near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine left in ruins after the wars longest and deadliest fighting. The recapture of the so-called Boyko Towers platforms provides an energy source and takes back an asset that Russia seized in 2015 and used to launch helicopters, Ukraines ministry of defence said on Monday. Advertisement Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea, the main intelligence directorate said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to do all he can to bring back Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and has urged international allies to support the effort. Advertisement Today, I received @ABaerbock. I thank Chancellor Scholz, his team, and all Germans for supporting Ukraine, notably in areas of defense and finance. We discussed steps to enhance our air defense and artillery capabilities, protect energy system, and advance Ukraines recovery. pic.twitter.com/G2iGOr93aL Advertisement (@ZelenskyyUa) September 11, 2023 Ukraines reported battlefront gains, which could not be independently confirmed, came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was on a train heading for Russia for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement The meeting announced by the two leaders countries could include discussions of North Korea providing arms to restock Russias dwindling arsenal. In other developments, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraines capital. She promised support for Ukraines path toward European Union membership while calling for additional reforms in the country. With enormous courage and determination, Ukraine is also defending the freedom of all of us, Ms Baerbock said in a statement released by her ministry. Advertisement In the same way that Ukraine stands up for us, it can also count on us. She also pledged continued military, economic, and humanitarian support for the country and said the 22 billion (19 billion) provided so far now made Germany second to the US in terms of total support. Advertisement Ms Baerbock said that while Ukraine had already made good progress reforming the judiciary and the media, it still had some way to go in combating corruption. In fighting, Ukrainian forces liberated part of the Donetsk province town of Optyne and advanced on the towns of Klishchiivka and Andriivka south of Bakhmut, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said. Advertisement Combat has persisted on the outskirts of Bakhmut since Ukrainian troops pulled out of the city in May. Ukraine is trying to gain the high ground in Klishchiivka, to establish artillery control over Bakhmut. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon visit Russia to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin, a potentially landmark summit amid Moscow's deepening isolation over the war in Ukraine. Kim will visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of Putin, the Kremlin said, while North Korean state news agency KCNA said the two would "meet and have a talk", without elaborating. Advertisement US officials have said the pair would discuss possible arms deals to aid Russia's war in Ukraine and provide North Korea with a much-needed economic and political lifeline. Washington and its allies have been voicing concern at recent signs of closer military cooperation between Russia and the nuclear-armed North. It will be Kim's second summit with Putin, after the pair met in 2019. Despite denials by both Pyongyang and Moscow, the United States has said talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia which has expended vast stocks of weapons in more than 18 months of war in Ukraine. Advertisement The North Korean leader appeared to have left aboard a special train bound for Russia, South Korean media reported on Monday, citing unnamed senior government sources, but neither Moscow nor Pyongyang immediately confirmed an exact schedule for the visit. Advertisement North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year, and Putin pledged last week to "expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts". Kim's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former US president Donald Trump. South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper said Kim left Pyongyang late on Sunday and would meet Putin as early as Tuesday. The broadcaster YTN reported the special train would take Kim to North Korea's northeastern border with Russia and the summit was likely to be on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both reports cited unnamed senior South Korean government sources. Advertisement Secrecy and security Japanese media reported security was being stepped up and refurbishment was taking place at the main train station in the Russian border city of Khasan, where Kim is expected to enter Russia. Kim does not travel abroad often and, when he does, it is often shrouded in secrecy and security. He travels by a special train with its signature olive green carriages that are said to be armoured and equipped with communications systems and a personal suite for Kim to work and confer with aides. Advertisement South Korea's foreign ministry said it was monitoring developments but declined to confirm any details. Officials at South Korea's unification ministry said they had no information to provide, while officials at the National Intelligence Service could not be reached. A summit between Kim and Putin would likely focus on military cooperation and possibly a deal to supply arms, US and South Korean officials and analysts have said. Advertisement The United States has said it would be a "huge mistake" for North Korea to supply Russia with weapons to use in Ukraine and warned Pyongyang would "pay a price". The deepening relationship between Kim and Putin signals a further global split over the war, said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, the Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance. "North Korea's support will allow Putin to wage his war for longer, which is bad news for Europe," he said. "It is further proof that much of the world doesn't support Ukraine in the way the US and Europe do, and some countries such as North Korea will openly support Russia without fear of any real consequences." In Vladivostok, there was a higher police presence than usual on the streets but no North Korean flags had been put up - unlike ahead of Kim's previous trip when the city was adorned with the red five pointed stars that grace the North's flag. -Reuters From Ground Zero to small towns, Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with silence, tearful words and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks that struck the nation exactly 22 years before. For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on and you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you, Edward Edelman said as he arrived at New Yorks World Trade Centre to remember his brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley. Advertisement President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. His visit, en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. Advertisement We know that on this day, every Americans heart was wounded, Mr Biden said. Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal community, American hands went up, ready to help where they could. Janita Ollison, left ,and Jeannetta Ollison 17, read some of the names of 9/11 victims printed on Flags of Honour (John Klicker/AP) Advertisement Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade centre, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries at the ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial plaza. Instead of speeches from political figures, victims read the names of the dead and delivered brief personal messages. Advertisement Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked emergency workers and the military. One praised Navy Seals who killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 war on terror. Many shared personal reflections on missing loved ones. American flags outside the US Capitol on Monday (Mariam Zuhaib/AP) Advertisement Though we never met, I am honoured to carry your name and legacy with me, said Manuel Joao DaMota Jr, who was born after his father and namesake died. Advertisement Mr Biden, a Democrat, became the first president to commemorate September 11 in the western US. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Advertisement First lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where a giant American flag hung over the side of the building, bells tolled, and musicians played taps at 9.37am, the precise moment American Airlines Flight 77 hit the military headquarters. As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on, or even forgetting what happened here on September 11, 2001, said defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who deployed to Iraq in the war that followed the attack. But please know this, the men and women of the department of defence will always remember. Ms Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, laid a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. The British parliamentary researcher arrested on suspicion of spying for China has insisted he is completely innocent. The man said he had spent his career highlighting the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. Advertisement The arrest under the UK's Official Secrets Act led to the British prime minister confronting Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in India on Sunday over unacceptable interference in democracy. In a statement released through his lawyers, the researcher who has not been officially named by police said: I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a Chinese spy. Advertisement It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. Advertisement I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party. Advertisement To do what has been claimed against me in extravagant news reporting would be against everything I stand for. The UK's business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch defended her governments approach to China. Photo: Henry Nicholls/PA The Briton was arrested along with another man by officers on March 13th on suspicion of spying for Beijing, it was revealed by the Sunday Times. Advertisement One of the men, in his 30s, was detained in Oxfordshire on March 13th, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, police said. Both were held on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which punishes offences that are said to be prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state. They have been bailed until early October. UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch suggested that designating China a threat would escalate things with Beijing. Advertisement She told BBC Radio 4s Today: China is the second-largest economy in the world, its heavily integrated in our economy as it is with many of our allies Were taking the same approach that those countries are taking. Ms Badenoch said the UK was taking certain measures including making sure it has proper investment screening. Advertisement We are taking action, what were not doing is giving endless running commentary on that because that would actually be more helpful to China than it would be to our security services, she said. China hit out at the arrests and claimed the situation was a political farce. A spokesman for Chinas embassy in London said: The claim that China is suspected of stealing British intelligence is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander. We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce. Former head of MI6 Alex Younger said co-operation with China is necessary but just being nice to them doesnt get you very far. He told the BBC: China is a fact, its a huge country, weve got to find ways of engaging with it, and find ways of co-operating with it in important areas like climate change, and sometimes we have to be absolutely prepared to confront it when we believe that our security interests are threatened. One of Rupert Murdochs top lieutenants has warned that AI threatens a tsunami of job losses and could crush readers under a weight of maggot-ridden mind mould. News Corporation chief executive Robert Thomson told a conference in San Francisco that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence was epochal. News Corp global chief executive Robert Thomson has sent a dire warning about the danger of AI. Credit: AP Thomson said that AI will lead to a tsunami of job losses. From 2008 to 2020, 57 per cent of newsroom jobs in the United States have been lost, he said. Were facing another wave, in this case, a tsunami potentially of job losses because of the impact of AI. And these are not just jobs lost, but its insight lost. And so its important that all media companies understand the impact, but also, its incumbent on the big AI players to understand their impact. A photograph is a record. A piece of visual evidence. But Hoda Afshar has always understood an image can be deceiving, grasping the difference between capturing a subject and showing what cant be seen. Growing up in Tehran, Afshar was interested in theatre before going on to study documentary photography. During the mid-noughties she would make pictures of her friends at underground parties, laughing, smoking, reaching for each other. I said I want you to tell me how you want me to picture you, she says. They were like how about I move here, put my arms around this person. I was afraid of telling my teachers, because I was doing a documentary course. So I said this is actually whats happening. Hoda Afshar with some of her new work in A Curve is a Broken Line. Credit: Janie Barrett That series, Scene (2004-05), contains, in miniature, the elements that would define Afshars work as an artist the blurring of fact and fiction and the idea the camera can conceal as much as it reveals, a commitment to overturning the belief a photographer has power over the people shes photographing. A Curve is a Broken Line, Afshars first major public survey, at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until January, traces the arc of these ideas via images that are as lush as they are startling. Perhaps we should reduce the subject load and get back to basics? Focusing purely on maths and English should get our results back on track, right? This data suggest that education outcomes across the country are not improving; arguably they are becoming more pronounced and less equitable. Whats changed? Is screen time entirely to blame? Is it our teachers? That seems unlikely. By all accounts, teachers have never worked so hard or been under so much pressure to improve student outcomes. The recently released 2023 NAPLAN results made for sobering reading. One in three Australian school students is not meeting minimum numeracy and literacy expectations and one in 10 will need additional support to catch up. Predictably, high NAPLAN scores correlate closely with socio-economic advantage, indicating that areas of disadvantage have a disproportionate pooling of students who need learning support. We have progressively seen arts and creative subjects brutally cut from our public school curriculum as budgets get tighter, teaching more focused as biases towards core subjects proliferate. But narrowing the focus of teaching to literacy and numeracy outcomes in our childrens early years is proving to be detrimental to overall learning, and sadly these are lessons that have already been learnt overseas. An athlete in training undertakes a range of different exercises, not solely focusing on the core mechanics required for their particular event. Cross-training is just as important for our brain as it is for our body. We need variety to grow. Across the fields of neuroscience, education and psychology, studies have provided convincing evidence that music training is unique in its capacity to enhance cognitive functioning and academic performance, particularly in young people. Loading However, quality music learning is something that students in socio-economically disadvantaged schools rarely have access to. Private schools and public schools in well-off areas are better resourced, both from within the schools themselves and from their parent population, encouraging a more natural integration of music and other arts-related activities. As a nation that prides itself on the fair go, clearly we have some work to do within our public school system, where equity and access to programs for lower socio-economic students is biting into academic performance and social outcomes. The Australian Chamber Orchestra has been running its Foundations Program at St Marys North Public, a school comprised of many families with severe socio-economic disadvantage, since 2018. The program, funded by the ACO through philanthropy, involves each student in years 1 to 3 participating in 15 minutes of daily violin and cello practice during school hours, within the classroom. A five-year evaluation report by educator Dr Anita Collins, informed by academics from the University of Sydney, has revealed the dramatic efficacy of this unique program. Participating students have displayed improved cognitive ability, focus, creativity and better learning across all subjects and it has also improved school attendance. JM Smucker, a company known for producing jelly, is in the process of purchasing Hostess Brands, the maker of Twinkies, for a total of $5.6 billion or $34.25 per share. In a report by CNBC, the stockholders of Hostess will each get $30 in cash and .03002 of a share of Smucker's stock in exchange for each share of Hostess equity that they previously held. Smucker has also agreed to take on around $900 million worth of Hostess' debt in the process of acquiring the company. It is anticipated that the transaction will be finalized during Smucker's fiscal third quarter, which will come to a finish in the month of January 2024. Smucker-Hostess Merger The seven-year run that Hostess had as an independent, publicly listed corporation comes to an end with the sale of the firm to Smucker. In 2016, Hostess became a publicly traded corporation after completing a merger with a firm that specializes in acquisitions for specific purposes. After just three years, Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co. brought the firm back from the brink of extinction, putting an end to a shortage of Twinkies that had persisted for many months. This was accomplished by purchasing the assets of the company that was once known as Interstate Bakeries. The acquisition of Smucker is only the most recent in a series of mergers and acquisitions by Big Food, which is seeking expansion as the profits from the Covid pandemic diminish. Campbell Soup Company has recently made public its intention to acquire Sovos Bands, the company that owns Rao's pasta sauce, for a total price of $2.7 billion. Mars, the parent company of M&M's, completed the purchase of Kevin's Natural Foods in July. Also, in June, Unilever completed the acquisition of the Yasso brand of frozen yogurt. Also Read: Sandwich Franchise Subway Acquired by Private Equity Company Roark Capital for $9.55 Billion Surge in Stocks On Monday morning, September 11, before the opening of the market, shares of Hostess saw a rise of 18% as a result of the news. Meanwhile, there was a 7.5% decrease in the price of Smucker's shares. CNBC said shares of Hostess have increased by 25% so far this year, which has resulted in the company's market worth increasing to $3.73 billion as of the conclusion of business on Friday, September 8. But the company's shares had already gotten a substantial push when Reuters reported in late August that it was exploring a sale after getting interest from huge food businesses such as PepsiCo and Mondelez International, which makes Oreos. After increasing pricing to offset rising commodity costs, Hostess noticed a decrease in demand for its Twinkies and Ding Dongs. This caused investors to become concerned and bigger competitors to express interest in taking Hostess over. The firm anticipates that there will be a decrease in volume for the whole of the year. The executives decided to put a hold on any further price increases. Also Read: Microsoft Invests $95 Million in Anheuser-Busch Stock Following Bud Light Controversy With Dylan Mulvaney @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Eating outKitchen Drawer The $35 IKEA frying pan this top chef swears by If you can have just one good pan in your kitchen, what should it be? We asked an acclaimed Brisbane chef, and his answer might surprise you. Matt Shea September 12, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Its a tale as old as time: man buys something he doesnt need from Ikea. Only this wasnt any man. This was Philip Johnson, chef and owner of Ecco Bistro, one of Brisbanes most celebrated restaurants. He didnt need anything from Ikeas kitchen section, and he certainly didnt need a frying pan. Ecco Bistro owner Philip Johnson with an Ikea Hemkomst frying pan. Markus Ravik I was out there one day and I saw this pan, and I just thought, Well, its stainless steel. It has a steel handle thats attached properly with three big rivets. Its the right size and non-stick. You cant really go wrong, Johnson says. Hed picked up a 28-centimetre Hemkomst frying pan with a Teflon Professional coating. He bought it and took it into the restaurant the next day. Advertisement One of the chefs asked where I got it and I said, Ikea, Johnson says. You could see he was thinking, That wont last. Six months later, he was still using it. The Hemkomst was Johnsons answer when this masthead asked if he could buy just one frying pan for home, what would it be? Because chefs, like the rest of us, often drift towards using the same piece of equipment, whether its a pan, knife or whatever else. Brisbanes best cafe openings of 2023 ... so far So, why this Ikea number, which costs a whopping $35 at retail? Why not Scanpan or Le Creuset or any one of those expensive brands your best mate (who absolutely isnt a chef) is always banging on about? Theres a lot of marketing out there, Johnson says. People think they need a Scanpan or whatnot. Advertisement But if you look at a product and the handles attached properly, and its made of thick-enough steel, it should do the job. People build the grand kitchen, so maybe they want the grand stuff to put in it. Chefs just want something that works. Johnson cooking with the Hemkomst frying pan. Markus Ravik A lot of non-stick pans initially came with plastic handles that, even if they could take a bit of heat, it felt wrong putting them in an oven. With stainless steel it can always be used on induction, and with this pan you can go straight from the gas or induction into the oven. So, it works on those different mediums and actually lasts as long as any sort of expensive pan I know Ive had French and Dutch-brand commercial-grade pans and they havent lasted any longer than this one. Advertisement Brisbanes best restaurant openings of 2023 so far Johnson contrasts the Hemkomst with cast iron pans, in particular, which are popular among avid home cooks but often require extra maintenance when not used in a fast-paced commercial environment. The big, heavy cast iron pans, you have to cure them, maybe using oil and salt, heating them up and cooling them down, he says. And if youre really good at what you do, you can get them to work almost like a non-stick pan. The trouble comes if theyre not used all the time. In a restaurant kitchen theyre probably getting cleaned and oiled down on an hourly basis. At home, they might go rusty before you use them again. The Hemkomst is now one of the go-to pans in the Ecco kitchen. Markus Ravik Advertisement Still, Johnson has some tips for those using a quality non-stick pan. First, you dont need it screaming hot like you would a cast-iron pan I go mad if I see them getting used that way, he says. He also recommends pairing a pan with a weighted grill press (Johnson uses a 1.6 kilogram number from Josh Nilands Saint Peter restaurant in Sydney). Theyre a really good tool for keeping something flat on the pan until it gets colour in the skin, Johnson says. Could be salmon, could be chicken, could be quail. But you need one that you dont have to press down with your hand; it needs to be weighted. You use that to get some colour into the skin, and then take the weight off and pop it in the oven. Ikea 28cm Hemkomst frying pan, $35, ikea.com/au/en/ Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outMona Vale Freshly made falafels and hummus flow at this cruisy northern beaches spot Queen Esters Israeli street food proved an instant hit with the beach crowd when it opened in Newport two years ago. Now its make-it-fresh motto has extended to Mona Vale, where a sunny second venue recently opened. Lenny Ann Low September 11, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The best venues to see and be seen at this October. See all stories . 1 / 12 The Mona Vale cafe exudes easy charm, inside and outside. James Brickwood 2 / 12 Chicken shawarma pita. James Brickwood 3 / 12 Falafel bowl. James Brickwood 4 / 12 James Brickwood 5 / 12 Ziva, a fat pastry filled with cheese and olives, and served with boiled eggs, tahini, pickles and crushed tomatoes. James Brickwood 6 / 12 Four falafel with hummus. James Brickwood 7 / 12 Salami and egg challah. James Brickwood 8 / 12 James Brickwood 9 / 12 Queen Esters make-it-fresh motto extends to daily cakes. James Brickwood 10 / 12 Cookies. James Brickwood 11 / 12 Mint tea. James Brickwood 12 / 12 James Brickwood Previous Slide Next Slide Israeli$$$ Mandy Zieren, co-founder of falafel bar Queen Ester, knew Sydneys northern beach suburbs would get excited about Israel street food. I grew up in Avalon, she says. My partner Hila Zabari and I know a lot of people here, weve worked in hospitality here. We knew. And there is no food like it in this area. Queen Ester, which opened in Mona Vale in April, is sister to the original Queen Ester in Newport, co-founded by Zieren, Zabari, Niko Styr and his partner in 2021. Despite Zieren and Zabaris knowledge and instinct, none was prepared for the crowds on day one at Newport. Advertisement Ziva, a fat pastry filled with cheese and olives, and served with boiled eggs, tahini, pickles and crushed tomatoes. James Brickwood It was crazy, Zieren says. Lines out the door, every day, all week. It wasnt just novelty. People flood to Queen Esters two sites for the quality, in particular the falafels and hummus, the most common Israeli street food. The former come wrapped or in a bowl, and each crunchy, herby, nuggety dark bronze ball is a deep-fried orb of juicy happiness. Here, at a spacious, music-soaked cafe below a surfboard shop wrapped with cactus and outdoor seats on astroturf, the falafel bowl means they come laced with creamy tahini, Yemenite-spiced green pepper sauce zhug and sweet pickled fruity sauce amba. All within a lush grove of green salad, cabbage, tomato, pickles and shifka, small yellow peppers. Advertisement The mix of flavours and ingredients match the backgrounds of Queen Esters owners. Their heritage stems from Turkey, Poland, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Romania, Argentina, South Africa, England and India. So everyone brings a little bit of their perspective to what is Israeli food, Zieren says. Everyone has brought in a bit of their heart, their family and their memories. Queen Ester uses pita, not flatbread, and much thought has gone into the size of the balls, the vibrancy of their green insides and, most importantly, being freshly cooked. For a dry falafel is no ones friend. I cant tell you how many people come in and say, We dont really like falafel, Zieren says. And we say, Im not sure you have ever tried what we mean as a falafel. Chicken shawarma pita. James Brickwood Advertisement There is also chicken schnitzel lusciously edged by rice, fried eggplant, hummus, zhug, pickles, shifka and Moroccan matbucha made with tomato and peppers, and ziva, a fat pastry filled with cheese and olives and served with boiled eggs, tahini, pickles and crushed tomatoes. Queen Esters make-it-fresh motto extends to daily cakes, including the Cara orange syrup cake, made by local baker and cookbook author Rowie Dillon. Gluten- and dairy-free, this beautifully dense almond-meal wonder resembles a sliced gold medallion awash with luscious citrusy lava. Eat it on a bench outside, with a strong flat white served in a brown and black 1960s Hornsea Pottery Heirloom cup and saucer. When spring starts and the sun is higher and hotter, Queen Esters outside tables are shaded with umbrellas. But even today, a few days short of spring, babies loll on the sun-lit green astroturf, licking hummus from their fingers. People in sunhats and shorts wander in with dogs, tradie belts and wet towels, ready for lunch. No one races around. Advertisement Photo: James Brickwood Queen Esters menu is divided between breakfast and lunch, the latter offering falafels or spicy chicken shawarma in pita or bowls. There are timber tables lining one wall, stools edging a blue-and-white tiled counter and shelves bearing cans of Israeli olives and yellow peppers, and snacks including packets of Cheezel-shaped barbecue-flavoured Bissli and Bamba baked peanut butter puffs. The music, a playlist that makes you sway while ordering, is as soulful as the food. And if you hang out at the wide front window, watching the rapid industry of the open kitchen inside, its not far off visiting a friends house for a beachside get-together. We always want it to feel like youve walked into someones kitchen, grandmas kitchen, Zieren says. Advertisement And the name? Hilas grandmas name was Esther, Zieren says. But she was telling me the story [from the Old Testament and Hebrew Bible] of Queen Esther, who saved a lot of Jewish people from being persecuted. We changed the spelling but they were both two strong, powerful women, which is important for us. The low-down Queen Ester Vibe: Israeli street food and falafel bar with laidback, spacious feel, deeply boppy music and an eight-minute walk to the beach. Go-to dish: Falafel bowl with humus, green salad, cabbage, tomato, pickles, and shifka. Australias new sex discrimination commissioner may have a straightforward-sounding job title. But reality is more complicated. A person is rarely just a woman, said Dr Anna Cody, an academic and lawyer. She would also have a racial background, sexuality, disability or not-disability, be First Nations or not First Nations ... [Theres a] cross-cutting way in which inequality can play out. Dr Anna Cody plans to approach gender, sex and LGBTQI+ issues with an intersectional lens in her role as Australias sex discrimination commissioner. Credit: Wolter Peeters Cody this month starts her five-year term as the countrys eighth sex discrimination commissioner, a role that was created as part of the Human Rights Commission in 1984 to oversee the operation of the Sex Discrimination Act. But when it comes to her remit as its spelled out in the legislation tackling discrimination on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation and gender she thinks its time for the country to take a wider view. Latest News Value of broker loans falls for first time since 2019 But MFAA report shows female broker representation on rise Mortgage manager sets sights on prime loans Award winner explains resurgence of sector Does your company have effective programs geared towards sustainability? Australian Broker is searching for businesses doing their part in building a better future for the community and the environment for the inaugural 5-Star Sustainable Programs. All lending companies are invited to submit a nomination. Participate through this online form until Friday, September 29. The 5-Star Sustainable Programs report will be featured on Australian Brokers website in January. Complete the form now. Latest News Value of broker loans falls for first time since 2019 But MFAA report shows female broker representation on rise Mortgage manager sets sights on prime loans Award winner explains resurgence of sector It has become increasingly tough for Australians to rent a property, as the national vacancy rate plunged to a new low in August, according to PropTrack. PropTracks Market Insight for September showed the national vacancy rate had its largest drop in over a year in August, dropping by 0.14% percentage points to just 1.1%, with the share of rental properties vacant and available now down 54% from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vacancy rates deteriorated in every capital city bar Darwin, with Canberra and Sydney seeing the sharpest drops over the month, said Anne Flaherty (pictured above), PropTrack economist and report author. There are no signs rental conditions are easing, with the vacancy rate now sitting below 1% in three of Australias capital cities. Across Australia, the share of available rental properties has fallen by more than half since the start of the pandemic. In Sydney, the citys vacancy rate deteriorated a further 0.19ppt in August to 1.26%. Melbournes rental vacancy rate dipped 0.1ppt over the month to 1.19%. And in Brisbane, just 0.84% of rental properties were sitting vacant, reflecting a decline of 0.05ppt over the month. The capital cities with the tightest rental markets in Australia continued to be Adelaide and Perth, where vacancy rates were both below 0.7%. In contrast, the city with the highest rental vacancy rate was Canberra, at 1.72%, despite recording the largest monthly fall of 0.26pt. Darwin was the only city to enjoy an increase in its rental vacancy, lifting 0.17ppt over August to 1.7%. In regional areas, the supply of vacant rental properties also deteriorated, with the vacancy rate declining to just 1.1%. Regional SA and Queensland had the tightest rental markets, with vacancy sitting below 1%. Rents are predicted to continue rising off the back of these incredibly low vacancy rates, which are driving up competition for properties, Flaherty said. Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about this. SUNY chancellor touts UB as national leader in AI Panelists offering their perspectives on AI are (from left) David Castillo, Christine Wang, Ciprian "Chip" Ionita and Ifeoma Nwogu. Venu Govindaraju (far right) served as moderator. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki Artificial intelligence is much more than ChatGPT. Its a tool that can help professionals from scientists and teachers to physicians and farmers make data-informed decisions to address societys most pressing challenges. UB stands at the forefront of AI research and exploration. This was evident during the Sept. 6 launch of a panel discussion series called UB | AI Chat Series, Harnessing AI for Public Good. SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. joined President Satish K. Tripathi in Capen Hall to kick off the series that features faculty members from a variety of disciplines who are developing ways to use AI for the betterment of society. Approximately 60 audience members from the UB community attended. The University at Buffalo is a groundbreaker in the field, said King, who noted that UB recently received $20 million from the National Science Foundation to fund its new National AI Institute for Exceptional Education. The institute, which is designed to ensure that children with speech and language disorders do not fall behind academically, is among several cutting-edge AI initiatives at UB. Others include the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science and the Center for Information Integrity. Today were here to discuss an area of interdisciplinary strength that has implications for every aspect of our life from our homes and health to education, transportation, communication, national security and much more, Tripathi said. Im speaking, of course, about artificial intelligence. Venu Govindaraju, vice president for research and economic development and SUNY Distinguished Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, moderated the discussion with four faculty members. UB faculty member instrumental in designating historical marker for Black suffragist Dett is an unknown story, like that of so many African American women, and will enhance our understanding of these reform movements. A new historical marker celebrating Black suffragist Charlotte Dett was unveiled recently during a ceremony in Niagara Falls, thanks to the efforts of UB faculty member Lillian S. Williams, who nominated Dett for the honor. Dett is an unknown story, like that of so many African American women, and will enhance our understanding of these reform movements, Williams, associate professor in the Department of Africana and American Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, told the crowd that gathered for the event on Aug. 16 at the site of Detts one-time home. Dett (1862-1937), a suffragist and preservationist, was vice president of the Empire State Federation of Womens Clubs and served in several executive positions of the National Association of Colored Womens Clubs (NACW). She joined other NACW members, including President Mary Talbert, in preserving the Washington, D.C., estate of Frederick Douglass and in honoring the life of Harriett Tubman of Auburn. This year is the 103rd anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Williams, who serves on the board of the National Vote for Womens Trails and the National Collaborative for Womens History Sites, noted there are few markers to document this event, and even fewer to celebrate the contribution of Black suffragists. The collaborative was concerned about getting more diverse representation because typically, when we look at the suffrage movement, we focus upon upper class white women like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. But there were a variety of women of color and working-class women that were involved, and there were no markers for them, said Williams, who is also director of community engagement in Africana and American Studies. So, in the 21st century, we began to look at the roles that these women played in the movement whether they were working class, whether they were women of color we wanted an opportunity to document their contributions as well. The marker, a white and purple plaque, is located near the site of Detts former home and guest house near the Niagara Falls Convention Center on Old Falls Street. This marker, among others, was first proposed by Williams to the National Votes for Women Trail organization, and later evaluated by historians at the Pomeroy Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Syracuse that supports the preservation of community history. Desert Technologies (DT), an independent solar photovoltaic (PV) and smart infrastructure holding company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Essar group to develop renewable energy solutions for the Indian firm's proposed Green Steel Arabia (GSA) project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A statement said that the MoU was executed between Desert Technologies and Essar Group during the G20 summit on Monday in New Delhi. Through this partnership, DT and Essar will develop solutions for renewable energy generation and storage for Essar's flat steel complex in the KSA, which aims to be the first green steel project in the GCC region. The partnership will also explore opportunities for other potential projects. Commenting, Naushad Ansari, country head for the Essar Group in KSA, said, "Essar is currently looking at investing about $4.5 billion in setting up an integrated steel plant in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia. This partnership with Desert Technologies will help us access green energy and carbon-free energy storage solutions, thereby strengthening our commitment towards a low carbon footprint." "We are committed to continuing to enhance KSA's local content and help local businesses grow with us. This MoU also reconfirms Essar's commitment to long-term investments in the KSA and the development of green and sustainable strategy," he added. Khaled Sharbatly, chief executive officer of DT Investments, said, "Desert Technologies' MoU with Essar signifies our long-term commitment to meet the growing demand for renewable energy solutions, especially in the KSA." "Its solutions in the renewable energy sector, price competitiveness, and low carbon footprint solutions will further boost the growing low CO2 emission steel industry," he added. Essar has been tying up the back end for its proposed Saudi steel plant, which is expected to start production in 2027. It recently signed letters of intent (LoIs) with Vale International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vale SA, and Bahrain Steel, a subsidiary of Foulath, to secure 100 per cent raw material supply of iron ore feed. Perfios, a financial technology (fintech) company, said on Monday it has raised $229 million in a Series D funding from private equity investor Kedaara Capital for expanding business. Kedaara will invest the capital through a combination of primary fund raise and secondary sale. The investor plans to expand in North America and Europe and invest in new technologies to improve its portfolio of software as a service (SaaS) products for banking, insurance, and commerce. Perfios, which is based in Bengaluru and specialises in providing SaaS services for other businesses, earlier raised $70 million from Warburg Pincus, Bessemer Venture Partners and other investors in a Series C funding round last year. In 2019, it raised $50 million in a Series B round led by an affiliate of private equity funds managed by Warburg Pincus LLC and Bessemer Venture Partners. This (Series D) investment will help us in strengthening the digital transformation journey of our partners, thereby powering financial inclusion and providing access to financial services to billions across the globe. We are very happy to have Kedaara Capital as a new investor, and thankful to Bessemer Venture Partners and Warburg Pincus for their continued support and confidence in us, said Sabyasachi Goswami, chief executive officer of Perfios. Perfios serves the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) industry in 18 countries and delivers 8.2 billion data points to banks and financial institutions every year for decision making. It processes 1.7 billion transactions a year with an asset under management (AUM) of $36 billion, according to a statement. Led by one of the strongest teams in the space, Perfios has created truly the best-in-class fintech SaaS business that plays on the strong secular growth and increasing digitization levels in the financial services sector in India and globally. Their pioneering approach has led to a strong positive flywheel effect that will help the company maintain its market leading position, and we are excited to partner with them, said Nishant Sharma, founder and managing partner at Kedaara Capital. Louisiana federal judge has ruled that teenagers being held in the state's notorious Angola Prison, a maximum-security prison farm, be removed until Friday, September 15. Reportedly, they are being subjected to "intolerable" conditions, including extended solitary confinement, punishment with mace and handcuffs, and a lack of adequate education and mental health care. Fight for Juvenile Detainees Louisiana has one of the worst imprisonment rates in the world, and this verdict marks the culmination of a year-long dispute between civil rights organizations and the state. Angola Prison, so called because it is built on a former plantation that used African slaves, has a reputation for cruelty and violence among its inmates. Since October 2022, Angola has been home to up to 80 youngsters. Almost all of them are Black males, and the youngest of whom is 15 years old. They have been kept in cells formerly used by those on death row. This action was taken because of the instability in the state's juvenile prison facilities, which have experienced staff shortages, riots, and numerous escapes. According to The Guardian, human rights organizations were quick to condemn the move, citing concerns that imprisoned children might be mistreated in Angola. They initiated legal action, spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Fair Fight Initiative, which resulted in a seven-day hearing last month and a federal court injunction just recently. The judge's decision to release the youngsters from Angola was a relief, according to Antonio Travis of Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children. "This decision is long overdue ... and it's shameful that it has taken a lawsuit and federal intervention to try to make the [state] do the right thing for our kids." See Also: California District To Pay $2.25 Million Settlement for Victims of Teacher, Who Was Impregnated by Student She Sexually Assaulted Inside the Angola Prison US district judge Shelly Dick criticized the state in her judgment for falling short of its own expectations. Dick outlined the abuses that had been committed against the kids, all of which she deemed to be cruel and unusual. Solitary confinement was one of them, and it could endure anywhere from five to fourteen days at a time. The minors were only supposed to spend one night in the solitary confinement cells used for those on death row. Many studies have shown that even adult prisoners suffer mental health issues after just a few days of seclusion. The teenagers have been confined in an outdated structure with intermittently broken air conditioning when, last month, Louisiana declared a statewide emergency due to the scorching temperatures. As a form of punishment, Dick discovered that chains and the restriction of family visits were regularly used on youngsters. When the judge visited Angola, she witnessed adolescents eating meals and playing cards while handcuffed; one youngster was also maced in his cell. Moreover, only one of the three classrooms was functioning, so the juveniles spent half of their school day confined to their cells rather than studying. Dick also criticized the "anemic" state of mental health care in the prison. See Also: Pennsylvania Murderer Escape: Prison Guard Fired Over Danelo Cavalcante's Jailbreak After Failing To Report Incident @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Delhi High Court on Monday granted a momentary respite to SpiceJets Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Ajay Singh. It gave him time till Tuesday to pay Rs 100 crore out of the over Rs 380 crore arbitral award dues to Chairman and Founder of the Sun group Kalanithi Maran. Marans counsel told the court that Singh had time to make the payment from August 24 till September 11 but he had not done so. Singhs counsel told the court that they had paid Maran Rs 62.5 crore and were carrying a cheque for Rs 37.5 crore in Marans name. To this, the court told Singh to pay the remaining amount by Monday or Tuesday. The next hearing is likely to be on October 3. The Delhi High Court, on August 24, told Singh to pay Rs 100 crore dues to Maran by September 10. The court warned that if Singh fails to pay, SpiceJets properties will be attached towards payment of dues. Singh was present on Monday before Justice Yogesh Khanna in accordance with the courts July 24 direction. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Maran, had said that Ajay Singh and his airline now owe them close to Rs 397 crore. He said that in accordance with the courts orders, Singh and SpiceJet had filed an affidavit of the assets and liabilities. However, it was not in the format prescribed by law and in a sealed cover. The advocate also sought the attachment of around Rs 200-crore profit of SpiceJet towards Marans dues. Senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for SpiceJet and Ajay Singh, told the court that nobody would benefit if they went into insolvency. He also told the court that the airline was struggling financially. We are struggling to stay afloat, he had told the judge on August 24. Ajay Singh had on May 11 said that there was no question of filing for insolvency. There is absolutely no question of filing for insolvency. We are focused firmly on reviving our grounded fleet, he said. Also Read SpiceJet up 20% in 3 months despite analysts' skepticism; should you buy? Sun Pharma Q1 net profit drops 2% YoY, Revenue up 11%; US sales at $471 mn Aditya-L1 launch: Isro sun mission's launch date, time, and where to watch SC dismisses Spicejet's plea seeking extension to pay dues to Maran Sun Pharma Q1 profit may be weighed by weak US generic sales and Taro nos TCS joins Living Heart Project to create digital human heart models Zaggle's Rs 564 cr IPO opens on Sep 14, price band fixed at Rs 156-164 Essar, Desert Tech ink pact for RE solutions for Saudi steel project Loan disbursal by fintech firms rises 31 % YoY, value up 31.7%: Report Govt may relook at allowing Indian companies to list overseas: FM The HC, on July 31, refused to set aside the arbitral award in favour of Maran and against SpiceJet, making way for Maran to press for enforcement of the award. Ajay Singh had sought to set aside the portion of the award, which directed SpiceJet to refund Rs 270 crore to Kal Airways and Kalanithi Maran. The high court, on May 29, had ordered SpiceJet to pay Rs 380 crore to its former promoter Maran and asked the airline to submit an affidavit of assets within four weeks. Justice Khanna had issued the order on the execution petition filed by Kal Airways. The order rejected the claims of SpiceJet and directed it to pay the entire arbitral award to Kal. By Ambereen Choudhury and Chanyaporn Chanjaroen UBS Group AG is cutting Asia wealth-management jobs in the low hundreds, just months after completing its takeover of rival Credit Suisse as the bank responds to muted client activity and Chinas slowing economy. Switzerlands largest bank reduced some overlapping roles in the past months and further cuts are expected through November, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified as the plans are private. At least 100 positions could go, one of the people said. The lender is set to eliminate roles that include relationship managers in Hong Kong and Singapore, the majority within teams newly acquired from Credit Suisse, the people said. The number of cuts hasnt been finalized, they said. The lender plans to keep the majority of private bankers in Australia and India for now, one of the people said. UBS is battling muted client sentiment and activity levels in Asia-Pacific, where the regional business hub of Hong Kong has long been a booking center along with Singapore for Chinas ultra-wealthy. The wealth management units profit before tax in the region fell by 9 per cent in the second quarter from a year earlier. UBS shares pared earlier gains on Monday, trading at 22.84 Swiss francs ($25.552) at 2:54 pm in Zurich. The worlds second-largest economy expanded 3 per cent last year, one of its slowest rates of growth in decades as pandemic controls and a property crisis battered the country. Its eventual reopening provided hope China would bounce back this year, but that recovery has lost ground and the benchmark stock index is on track for a third straight year of losses. A UBS spokesperson declined to comment. Since closing the takeover of Credit Suisse in June, UBS has outlined major targets for the integration of its former rival including 3,000 domestic job cuts and more than $10 billion in cost savings. Thats likely to be a fraction of the roles to disappear globally. UBS, based in Zurich, completed its 3 billion franc ($3.4 billion) purchase of the smaller Swiss firm following an emergency government-brokered deal earlier this year. In the months that followed, global wealth boss Iqbal Khan hosted celebratory events in Hong Kong and Singapore to rally his enlarged crew to gather more fee-generating assets. The reductions come as other banks such as Barclays Plc and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. also trim headcount. Barclays plans to dismiss about 5 per cent of client-facing staff in the trading division as well as some dealmakers globally as part of the cuts, Bloomberg News has reported. Also Read UBS Group completes takeover of Credit Suisse to create bank titan UBS Wealth boss Iqbal Khan pushes 'net new money' mantra in Asia tour UBS preparing to cut over half of Credit Suisse's workforce after takeover Relief over Credit Suisse deal crumbles as focus shifts to bond risks Credit Suisse under pressure to merge with UBS, meets to weigh options Navy, Uber team up for pvt travel of naval personnel, families across India SC asks Spicejet chief Ajay Singh to furnish proof of payment to Swiss firm Walt Disney, Charter Communications near distribution deal: Report RIL backed HFCL bags Rs 83 crore order to supply optical fibre cable KKR to further invest Rs 2,070 cr in Reliance Retail, up stake to 1.42% Asia had been earmarked as one of the regions to be spared deep cuts in a bet on the regions lucrative clients, Bloomberg previously reported. UBS had about 850 private bankers in the region at year-end, while Credit Suisse had 580, according to data from Asian Private Banker. Still, a steady trickle of exits has included even senior bankers who recently joined. Gautam Anand, a managing director in Singapore hired from Credit Suisse last year, is no longer with UBS as of end-August, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapores registry. He started at UBS in January as part of efforts to bolster services for Indias wealthy diaspora. Anand did not comment when contacted by text message. In Hong Kong, bankers including Credit Suisses Martin Loh, a market group head for China and Joe Lau also left in the past few months. An Air Asia flight carrying 168 passengers and six crew members air returned just minutes after taking off from the Cochin International Airport here, airport sources said on Monday. The Kochi-Bengaluru flight, which left for Bengaluru late Sunday night, suffered a technical problem soon after take off at 11.15 PM. A full emergency was declared at the airport after the flight returned to Kochi due to a suspected hydraulic failure. It landed at the airport safely at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported, sources said. The emergency was withdrawn immediately after the safe landing of the the aircraft, they added. A village in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district has become a part of Assam in a proposal to resolve the decades-long boundary dispute between the two northeastern neighbours, and the villagers are not happy. The people of Durpai village under Kangku circle want to stay in Arunachal Pradesh and have threatened to launch an agitation if their demand is not met soon. The villagers under the aegis of Durpai Village Development Committee (DVDC) demanded immediate rectification of the looping system and keeping Durpai where it is now. Though the proposals have not yet been made public, the villagers said they have come to know about it from some officials. On April 20 this year, Assam and the Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an MoU at New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve their border disputes. Regional committees were formed to look after the inter-state boundary issue. DVDC President Reli Kena said, According to the MoU, Durpai has been clubbed with another village in such a way that it will automatically fall in Assam. He claimed that the villagers had got assurance from various quarters that their village would remain in Arunachal Pradesh. But now, it seems that every single assurance was an eyewash. The state government should know that such acts will only create chaos in the area. How can the Durpai area have two owners, as stated under the looping system? Every single infrastructure in Durpai is built by the Arunachal Pradesh government, Kena said. The locals of Durpai are the real owners of the land and they will not go to Assam, he said. If our concern is not addressed, the villagers will write a letter with their blood to the chief minister but will never accept Durpai as part of Assam, Kena said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed the MoU. DVDC General Secretary Regi Bui said the villagers would not allow the regional committee members to visit the place for the second round of ground verification. Durpai is one of the oldest villages of the undivided Siang district. We have sufficient evidence to claim our rights. Therefore, we cannot give an inch of land from the area to Assam, he said. Also Read Assam HS Result 2023: AHSEC 12th results are out at official website Assam, Arunachal ink agreement to end decade-old border issue Assam CEE Result 2023 is out on official website; all you need to know Arunachal inks MoA with 3 Central govt PSUs, allots 12 hydropower projects Assam, Meghalaya meet discussed 3 areas of differences amid border issue Weather forecast today (Sept 11): Heavy rain in few states till Sept 14 AI's SFO flight diverted to Alaska due to tech issue; lands later: Official Credit Suisse case: SC gives Ajay Singh last chance to pay, else face jail LIVE: Delhi govt bans manufacturing, sale, storage, use of firecrackers CM Sarma unveils Gandhi statue at Assam Legislative Assembly new building It is stated that Kompek, Mingmang and Ruti villages were already marked for Assam during the Namsai Declaration. Chief ministers of the two states signed an agreement to end border issues on July 15 last year too and decided to restrict the number of disputed villages to 86 instead of 123. It was called Namsai Declaration after the name of the place where their meeting was held. Bui asserted that the villagers will not allow the proposed construction of a hydropower plant in the district if their demand is not met. An out-of-court settlement should benefit both sides without impacting anyone, he said. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, has been maintaining that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities and these were unilaterally transferred to Assam earlier. After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed, which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter was in the Supreme Court for a long time. Election Commissioner Arun Goel is leading a three-member delegation to the Maldives to observe the Presidential polls being conducted there. The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated that he went to observe at the invitation of the Election Commission of Maldives. The team visited 22 polling booths located in Male and Hulhumale and observed the system and procedure of voter registration and identification and the arrangements of booths for polling. Observers representing other countries also participated in the election observation programme. The Goel-led delegation includes Deputy Election Commissioner Ajay Bhadoo and Principal Secretary Pramod Kumar Sharma. The first round of the election took place on September 9. Eight candidates are in the fray. The EC said that the votes were counted on the same day. None of the candidates could garner over 50 per cent of votes. This means there will be a second round of elections on September 30 to be contested only by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the first election. The Presidential poll was conducted according to the Constitution of Maldives, 2008, Election (General) Act, 2008, Presidential Elections Act, 2008 and Presidential Elections Rules and Regulations, 2008. Goel assumed charge as Election Commissioner on November 21 last year. Goel is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of, Punjab cadre, 1985 batch. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful conduct of the G20 leaders' summit. He said that one of the significant aspects of G20 was PM Modi has established 'Bharatbarsha' as 'Viswaguru'. CM Saha returned from Delhi on Sunday after attending the G20 summit. "I want to express my gratitude to PM Modi, as under his leadership, India has become a global leader. Leaders from Bangladesh, Britain, USA and from other countries were present in the G20 summit," CM Saha said. Further he said, "The India-Middle East Corridor was an important topic, opening up new opportunities and benefits for India. Discussions on global infrastructure and investment partnerships were also held. Upon arriving in India, all delegates paid their respects at the Gandhi Ghat, which is significant as it reflects their newfound understanding of our country." He also praised PM Modi for emphasising 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Viswas and Prayaas' during the summit. "PM Modi consistently advocates for 'One Earth, One Family, and One Future,' and this was a key focus of the G20 summit. He endeavoured to establish 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and Sabka Viswas and Prayaas'. I extend my gratitude to PM Modi for this," he added. He also highlighted the efforts taken by the Prime Minister for the summit held in Delhi adding that he has been "diligently working" for the past nine months for it. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been diligently working for the past nine months for the G-20, which took place across India. In Tripura, we hosted Science 20, with discussions focusing on Green Hydrogen. Experts from outside the state emphasised how green hydrogen can be produced," CM Saha said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced the conclusion of the G20 Summit here and proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. Also Read Embellished trees, floral works: New Delhi gets ready for G20 Summit G20 Summit 2023: Here is what the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration states IMF's Gita Gopinath praises India's G20 Summit message, PM Modi responds Heading to India with a clear focus, says Rishi Sunak ahead of G20 Summit G20 Summit: Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge not invited to President's dinner New Delhi Declaration provides direction for tourism sector: Govt on G20 Terrorist module busted in J-K's Baramulla, 3 associates of LeT held New Delhi declaration shows our G20 presidency was able to table ideas: EAM Undoubtedly diplomatic triumph for India: Tharoor on New Delhi Declaration Do not read too much into Prez Xi's absence from G20: Alfredo Montufar-Helu Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday hailed the New Delhi Declaration of the G20 members, saying it "undoubtedly" represents "a diplomatic triumph for India". In an exclusive interview with ANI, Tharoor said, "The Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. It's a good achievement because right until the G20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and, that, therefore, a joint communique might not be possible, and, that we might have to end up with a chairman's summary." On Saturday, on the opening day of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a consensus had been built on the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration before formally announcing its adoption. Prime Minister Modi, who chaired G20 sessions through the day, congratulated the Sherpas and ministers for working towards arriving at a common ground and eventually building a consensus among all G20 members and other stakeholders. Tharoor further praised India for bringing all member states to a consensus on the New Delhi Declaration. "The main reason (for lack of a consensus on the statement) was the big gulf between those who wanted a condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine and those, like Russia and China, who wanted no mention whatsoever of that subject. India was able to find a formula to bridge that gap and that is a significant diplomatic achievement because when there is a Summit without a joint communique, it is always seen as a setback for the chairman," Tharoor added. On the conduct of the G20 summit under India's presidency, Tharoor said the government actually made it a 'people's G20', adding that it was also an attempt by the "ruling party" (BJP) to turn the mega huddle of world leaders into an "asset" for themselves. "Things that were remarkable about the government's conduct of the presidency was that they did something that no previous G20 presidency has done. They actually made it a nationwide event, 200 meetings in 58 cities with huge amount of action, they converted the G20 into a sort of people G20. With public events, the university connect programmes, civil societies, all these things were done under our presidency. That is in some ways both a credit to India for taking a message of G20 to the entire people. But it was also an attempt by the ruling party to instrumentalise the G20 as something that would turn out to be an asset for them," Tharoor said. Also Read Tharoor lauds India's sherpa after '200 hrs of non-stop negotiations' claim Embellished trees, floral works: New Delhi gets ready for G20 Summit G20 Summit 2023: Here is what the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration states G20 Summit: Cong chief Mallikarjun Kharge not invited to President's dinner IMF's Gita Gopinath praises India's G20 Summit message, PM Modi responds Do not read too much into Prez Xi's absence from G20: Alfredo Montufar-Helu PM Modi, Nigerian President Tinubu discusses defence, agriculture PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with his Netherlands counterpart Mark Rutte G20 Summit 2023: PM Modi, Macron talk defence, nukes, space, and climate SC to hear Editor Guild's plea against coercive action in Manipur FIRs Prime Minister Modi, while announcing the conclusion of the G20 summit on Sunday, proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. On that, Tharoor said, "They have every right to do that, they are the ruling party. Many countries have hosted the G20 event, but never a ruling party has celebrated its leadership in such a way, the whole Vishwaguru concept, the posters of Mr Modi every 50 meters in Delhi. All of these are advertising the G20 as if it was the personal achievement of Mr Modi and the BJP government and that I think has raised some eyebrows." Before declaring that the summit closed, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organised in 60 cities across the country. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) -- a landmark announcement made on the sidelines of the just-concluded G20 summit in New Delhi -- is expected to provide a boost to key railway and port infrastructure companies like Ircon International, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Tata Projects, and GMR, experts said. Ports on the western coast of India, such as state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (Navi Mumbai) and Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla), the Adani group-owned Mundra Port, Soon after WhatsApp qualified as the gatekeeper service under the Digital Markets Act, now the platform will allow cross platform messaging with other messaging platforms like telegram. As reported by WABetaInfo, in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, available on the Google Play Store, it has been discovered that WhatsApp is actively working on complying with these new regulations. Meta owned messaging platform whatsapp is working to meet new European Union regulations. Users even without a whatsapp account will now be able to connect to users on whatsapp. This will be done by adding chat interoperability support in an upcoming app update. This feature is currently under development and whatsapp has six months to comply with the rules. It is still unknown if this feature will eventually be available in countries other than the European Union. Also Read: ChatGPT traffic experiences decline for third consecutive month: Report Whatsapp which ensures end to end encryption between the sender and the receiver is yet to decide how it will ensure this in communication with people who don't use whatsapp. Interoperability can break down this encryption. Besides WhatsApp, Meta is also compliant to enable cross-platform messaging on its Facebook Messenger. Companies like Microsoft and Meta are also planning to launch their own app stores in order to break the current duo monopoly of Google and apple. The Digital Markets Act was signed into law by the European parliament and the Council of the European Union in September 2022. The law is designed to promote fair competition by defining regulations on how digital gatekeepers can use people's data. Applicable to digital platforms, the gatekeepers list includes big tech companies such as Amazon, Alphabet, Meta, Samsung, Microsoft, and Apple. Also Read: China's Ant Group unveils finance-specific AI model as race heats up Apple reportedly said iMessage services are not large or powerful enough to justify the inclusion in purview of the Digital Marketer Act. Currently it is not compliant to the rules but this may change in future. A Californian hospital plans to close after the death of a Black mother on Jan. 10. As of press time, the Centinela Hospital Medical Centerlocated in Inglewoodis facing a lawsuit that accuses it of racist practices. But, the medical institute claims that it will close for other reasons. California Hospital to Close After Black Mother's Death According to NBC News, the Centinela Hospital Medical Center is being accused of systematic and racist practices. This was stated in the lawsuit filed by the family of the Black mother victim, April Valentine. They filed the legal action with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Because of this, the board members decided to call for a state inspection. The investigation was conducted earlier this 2023 by the California Department of Public Health. But, the Inglewood hospital still denies the allegations, claiming that its health care officials and employees reflect the varied racial and ethnic makeup of the community. Although it keeps on defending itself, the California-based medical institute still plans to close the hospital this coming Oct. 5. The Centinela Hospital clarified that it will only close because of a decreased demand for delivery and labor services. Read Also: California: New Gender Affirmation Rule Concerns Parents; Protect Kids California Says It's 'Steady Assault' What Happened to April Valentine? The Guardian recently reported that April Valentine planned to enjoy her life as a first-time parent. She trusted the Inglewood hospital for a complication-free baby delivery. The 31-year-old Black mother entered the Centineal Hospital Medical Center on Jan. 9. Sadly, she didn't make it out alive since she died the next day. Her friends and family claim that the hospital's staff were just ignoring April although she is complaining about the pain she's feeling. They added that medical employees refused to let Valentine's doula (a non-medical companion who can support a person throughout childbirth) be in the wardroom. "It's hard to even sleep, to even look at my child after seeing what I saw in that hospital that night," said April's boyfriend, Nigha Robertson. The father even performed CPR on the Black mother to save her. Nigha said that he was the only one who assisted Valentine. "Nobody touched her, we screamed and begged for help... they just let her lay there and die," he added. Related Article: Alabama: Birth Center Crackdown Leaves Pregnant Women With Less Options-Are Birthing Centers Really Too Risky? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A major rescue operation is underway in Turkey's Taurus Mountains to bring out US researcher and explorer Mark Dickey who fell seriously ill nine days ago while some 1,000 meters from the entrance of one of the world's deepest caves. How Did Dickey Get Himself into the Cave? The 40-year-old from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, was exploring Morca Cave to map it for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association when he was struck with severe stomach bleeding on September 2. Several people were also with him inside the cave, including three other Americans, the Associated Press reported. Morca is Turkey's third deepest cave, and a very complex system with many steep vertical shafts and a few horizontal sections, making Dickey's rescue challenging. As his health deteriorated deep inside the cave, dozens of emergency medical specialists from the US and all over Europe rushed to the cave to help rescue the people inside. In particular, a Hungarian doctor rushed inside to administer treatment to Dickey at the scene as early as September 3 to stabilize his condition, with multiple teams of medical rescuers assisting him in turns as they progressed out of the cave. Several medical camps were also set up along the tunnel to provide assistance and resting spots as he was being extracted. Read Also: Hong Kong Rains: City Paralyzed Following Heaviest Downpour in More Than Century Rescuer in Need of Rescue Dickey, himself an experienced cave rescuer as per his organization, the European Association of Cave Rescuers, has been assisted by teams of international rescuers who by Monday (September 11) had brought him to about 180 meters from the surface, with the hopes of having him out in a few hours from this report being published. "Mark is the guy that should be on that rescue mission that's leading and consulting," said Justin Hanley, a 28-year-old firefighter from near Dallas, Texas, who met Dickey during a cave rescue course the researcher taught in Hungary and Croatia, "and for him to be the one that needs to be rescued is kind of a tragedy in and of itself." Meanwhile, National Cave Rescue Commission coordinator Gretchen Baker, who also knew Dickey for over a decade, wished him the best as his cave rescue skills were put to the test with him as the victim. "Because of his experience teaching and doing these rescues, he understands exactly what is ahead of him," she said, adding that while it was not easy being in the stretcher, Dickey personally knows some of the rescuers from Europe. In response to the quick action of his fellow cave rescuers Dickey expressed gratitude to what he called his very closely-knit caving community. "The caving world is a really tight-knit group and it's amazing to see how many people have responded on the surface," he said. "I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge." Related Article: Morocco: Over 800 Die in Massive Earthquake, Damaging Historic Town @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Directorate of School Education, Government of Telangana, releases the TS DSC Notification 2023 on their official website on September 9, 2023. Telangana TRT Notification has declared 5089 openings for a variety of Teaching jobs via a brief TS TRT Notification 2023. Online applications for the TS TRT will be accepted from September 20 to October 21, 2023, at www.schooledu.telangana.gov.in. Overview Organisation Directorate of School Education, Government of Telangana Posts Secondary Grade Teachers (SGT), School Assistants, Language Pandits, Physical Education Teacher Exam Name Teacher Recruitment Test Vacancies 5089 Registration Dates 20th September to 21st October 2023 Selection Process Weightage of TS DSC 2023 (80%) and TS TET (20%) Job Location Telangana Official website www.schooledu.telangana.gov.in Notification The TS DSC TRT Notification 2023 is available on the official website of the Telangana Government's Directorate of School Education. The Detailed TS DSC TRT notice will be made available on September 20, 2023. Candidates will discover complete information on 5089 vacancies for Secondary Grade Teachers (SGT), School Assistants (Languages and non-languages), Language Pandit, and Physical Education Teachers. Age 18 to 44 years Salary Candidates who are chosen for TS TRT DSC 2023 roles should expect a competitive pay package. According to the rules, the in-hand salary in 2023 can be expected to be between Rs. 24,600 and Rs. 49,100/-, which may vary depending on the post. The West Bengal Education Department has announced a new State Education Policy (SEP) that maintains the current school education structure. On September 9, the Education Department published a notification proposing the continuation of the state's 5+4+2+2 school system. ''Whereas, the state government has been considering the need to revamp its existing education system starting from pre-primary to higher education level in the state of West Bengal to ensure a higher standard of education for all students, with particular focus on marginalised, disadvantaged and under-represented groups,'' the notice said. ''And whereas, the state government, for this purpose constituted an expert committee comprising of eminent educationists,'' the notification said. In April 2022, the West Bengal government formed a committee of distinguished academics - Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Sugata Bose, and Suranjan Das - to advise the state on its response to the National Education Policy, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020, replacing the 34-year-old National Policy on Education. Earlier this year, the committee presented its conclusions to the West Bengal Education Department. SPJIMR is India's top-ranked B-School in the FT Masters in Management Ranking 2023; Ranks 40th Globally Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) has been recognized as the top Indian business school in the Financial Times Masters in Management (MiM) global rankings for 2023. SPJIMR is one of only two Indian institutions in the top 50 globally. SPJIMR secured India's top position and the 40th position globally for its two-year full-time Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) with IIM Ahmedabad following at the 43rd spot. This marks the fourth consecutive year in which SPJIMR has been ranked among the world's top 50 business schools. Eleven Indian institutions including SPJIMR and IIM Ahmedabad have earned a spot in the FT Masters in Management rankings for 2023, highlighting the recognition of Indian B-schools on the global stage. The FT MiM rankings consider programs offered by schools with AACSB or EQUIS accreditation, catering to participants with limited or no work experience. The ranking criteria are categorized into specific areas, including "Alumni Career Progress" (55%), focusing on post-program alumni success, "School Diversity" (22%), assessing inclusivity and diversity within the institution, and "International Experience & Research" (23%), highlighting global exposure and research contributions. SPJIMR also secured a notable eighth-place global ranking in the "Careers Service" criterion, emphasizing its effectiveness in supporting student placements and facilitating exceptional career opportunities for graduates. Speaking on this achievement, SPJIMR Dean Prof. Varun Nagaraj stated, "It's gratifying to be recognized for our work towards making a positive impact on business and society. This recognition by FT is a testament to the collective efforts of our faculty, participants, alumni, and our many corporate and NGO partners." About SPJIMR: S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is a constituent of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), India's acclaimed and oldest educational trust. With its unique and distinctive approach to management education, SPJIMR aims to influence managerial practice and advance wise innovation through its teaching, research, and community engagement. Toyota Motor Philippines has bumped up the pricing of the Hilux range to coincide with the arrival of the Hilux GR Sport at authorized showr... Interview: Venezuela ready to work with China to build community of shared future, says Maduro Xinhua) 16:12, September 11, 2023 CARACAS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Venezuela, enjoying friendly ties and sharing "a common destiny," are both committed to peace, development, and cooperation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said. "Between China and Venezuela, there is an exemplary relationship," Maduro told Xinhua in an exclusive interview ahead of his state visit to China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Maduro is on a state visit to China on Sept. 8-14. "I believe the ties between the governments and people of China and Venezuela are ties of mutual trust, true brotherhood, and cooperation for shared development," he said. Describing bilateral ties as fruitful, the president said that Venezuela firmly supports China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which respects the diversity of a world comprised of different civilizations. "I believe the route President Xi Jinping has proposed is uniting people in all aspects -- economy, trade, culture -- and is laying the foundation to leave behind the old world of colonialism and imperialism," Maduro added. The Venezuelan leader praised China's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have a lot to thank China for. During the pandemic, had it not been for China, given the blockade against Venezuela by U.S. imperialism, neither medications nor sanitary items would have arrived, nor would the vaccines," he said. China's support for the South American country, he said, has been essential, given Venezuela's strenuous struggle under more than 950 illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western powers. Maduro voiced deep appreciation for the courage and firmness of the Chinese government and the Chinese people in assisting Venezuela in opposing those "illegal and criminal" sanctions. Venezuela has resisted the suppression of U.S. imperialism and shown it is capable of recovering from such onslaughts, said the president. "We have been moving forward in the construction of a new economic model based on productive diversification." Today the international community is facing a historic opportunity to help usher in a multipolar world, where no single country or group dominates, Maduro stressed. Throughout the history of humanity, one empire has replaced another, and one colonial power succeeded another, he said. "It is only now, in the 21st century, after so many centuries of struggles, that we see the prospect of a world free from imperialism or colonialism." Dozens of emerging nations are helping humanity reunite, and regain its right to happiness, equality, freedom, and democracy, he said, hailing China as at the forefront of those efforts. In a message to the Chinese people, Maduro called for building a homeland for all humanity, "where we can meet, recognize each other, and take the path of development, peace, and cooperation." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Elon Musk's social media platform isn't happy with California's new law. The social media company has recently filed a lawsuit against its home state of California for its new content moderation law. California signed the law in question in Sept. 2022 to better monitor hate speech, extremism, harassment, and other objectionable behaviors on social media platforms, per The Verge. Fighting For Freedom Of Speech? Musk's X doesn't seem to agree with the transparency law California signed in Sept. 2022. According to a report from Tech Crunch, the company is suing the state because the law violated the company's constitutional right to free speech. X said in its complaint, which it filed at a US district court in California, that the state was trying to dictate X's terms of service and compel "controversial disclosures about how [the company] moderates content on its platform," per Ars Technica. It also alleged in its complaint that the transparency law's true intent is to pressure social media platforms to remove certain constitutionally protected content the state could consider problematic. It also decried the financial penalty the law places on offending companies, which can go up to $15,000 per violation per day - a draconian amount as X puts it. As such, X's lawsuit aims to get a preliminary and permanent injunction to stop California Attorney General Rober Bonta from enforcing this new law. The company also said that should the court fail to block the law, California could pressure companies to "remove, demonetize, or deprioritize constitutionally protected speech the state deems undesirable or harmful." Read More: 5 Live-Action Anime Adaptations on Netflix Perfect for Otaku For those unaware, the transparency law in question, formally known as AB 587, requires social media companies to publicly detail their moderation practices around hate speech, racism, extremism, disinformation, harassment, and foreign political interference. They must also reveal how they create their policies, how they enforce them on their platforms, and what users can do to understand (or challenge) them. AB 587's author, California assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, said that the law is a pure transparency measure that requires companies to be transparent about if and how they moderate content. He also clarified that it doesn't require any specific content moderation policies, which is why AB 587 passed with "strong, bipartisan support." Gabriel even retorted that if [X] has nothing to hide, it should have no objection to the law. Is It Really Unconstitutional? X isn't the only company that finds the transparency law concerning. Certain tech groups and policy experts echoed X's concerns over the law in question. For instance, Adam Kovacevich, the CEO of the tech industry policy coalition Chamber of Progress, said the law itself is a bad idea. He explained that companies who follow it could give their content moderation playbook to bad actors and shady individuals. Netchoice, a group representing tech companies and trade associations, called AB 587 as California's new online censorship law, saying that it would force companies to submit disclosures about constitutionally protected editorial decisions that are intrusive and oftentimes impossible to comply with. "The First Amendment prohibits the government from regulating lawful speech-directly or indirectly," Netchoice's director of litigation, Chris Marchese, said. "States cannot avoid this prohibition by rebranding censorship as 'transparency' requirements." Related Article: Elon Musk is Suing ADL for Accusations of Antisemitism Photo: The Canadian Press Conservative MP for Wellington-Halton Hills Michael Chong speaks to reporters after appearing as a witness at the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) regarding foreign election interference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Canadian Conservative MP Michael Chong will be in the U.S. capital Tuesday to tell Capitol Hill lawmakers what it's like to be a target of a Chinese foreign interference campaign. Chong is one of several witnesses who are scheduled to appear before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Chong says he's unafraid to tell his story and to speak on behalf of the countless other Canadians that he says have also been targeted. The commission, which includes senators, members of Congress and executive branch officials, was set up in 2000 to keep tabs on China's human-rights record. Its last annual report described China as a country that speaks the language of human rights and democracy while actively working to undermine both. Canada's federal Liberal government, dogged by criticism of its handling of the foreign interference file, has launched a public inquiry that's expected to last 16 months. Photo: The Canadian Press Former President Donald Trump stands as the crowd cheers at the South Dakota Republican Party Monumental Leaders rally Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, in Rapid City, S.D. Lawyers for Donald Trump on Monday asked the federal judge presiding over his election subversion case in Washington to recuse herself, saying her past public statements about the former president and his connection to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol call into question whether she can be fair. The recusal motion from Trump's lawyers takes aim at U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama and has since stood out as one of the toughest punishers of Jan. 6 defendants. The request that she step aside is the latest flashpoint in already delicate relations between the defense team and the judge, who has repeatedly warned against inflammatory public comments from Trump but has nonetheless been lambasted on social media by him. Although Judge Chutkan may genuinely intend to give President Trump a fair trial and may believe that she can do so her public statements unavoidably taint these proceedings, regardless of outcome, the defense team wrote. The public will reasonably and understandably question whether Judge Chutkan arrived at all of her decisions in this matter impartially, or in fulfillment of her prior negative statements regarding President Trump. Chutkan has often has handed down prison sentences in Jan. 6 cases that are harsher than Justice Department prosecutors recommended. The judge also previously ruled against Trump in a separate Jan. 6 case. In November 2021, she refused his request to block the release of documents to the U.S. Houses Jan. 6 committee by asserting executive privilege. Trumps lawyers also cited Chutkans comments from the sentencing of a rioter who attacked police officers working to hold back the angry pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6. During the December 2021 hearing for Robert Palmer, who was sentenced to more than five years in prison, Chutkan said the defendant made a very good point that the people who exhorted and encouraged him to go and take action and to fight had not been charged. Public statements of this sort create a perception of prejudgment incompatible with our justice system. In a case this widely watched, of such monumental significance, the public must have the utmost confidence that the Court will administer justice neutrally and dispassionately, Trumps attorneys wrote. Bangladesh posts 79% cement export revenue growth in July and August 2023 11 September 2023 Bangladesh has recorded 78.8 per cent YoY growth in cement export revenue to US$2.95m in the first two months of FY23-24 (July-August 2023) from US$1.65m earned in the same months of the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). This figure includes minor amounts of salt, stone and related products. The target of US$2.26m for two months was also surpassed by 30.5 per cent YoY. Bangladesh had set a higher target export revenue of US$15m for FY23-24 against US$13.66m earned in FY22-23. Experts reported that the encouraging trend of July 2023 would lead to the target. Generally, most cement exports from Bangladesh are shipped to India, particularly from the northeastern states of Bangladesh. Other popular destinations include Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. In the first two months of FY23-24, Bangladesh saw total export revenue of all merchandise of US$9.37bn, up 9.1 per cent YoY. The full-year target stands at US$62bn. Published under Adbri enters into bauxite supply agreement with ABx 11 September 2023 ABx Group has entered into a five-year supply agreement with Adelaide Brighton Cement (ABCL), a subsidiary of Adbri, to provide cement-grade bauxite to ABCLs Birkenhead cement plant in South Australia. The agreement includes the delivery of 90,000-120,000t of bauxite over a five-year period, with the potential for extension, from ABxs DL130 project in northern Tasmania, reports The Market Herald. This five-year agreement with ABCL for the supply of cement-grade bauxite from our DL130 bauxite project represents a significant milestone for ABx and endorses the suitability of our bauxite for the broader cement industry, said Mark Cooksey, CEO and MD at ABx. ABxs mine lease application for DL130 is currently in progress and is expected to be ready for its first bauxite shipment in the 1Q24. Published under Bots have been spreading like diseases on a lot of social media platforms. While there are harmless ones, most are used in more negative matters such as spreading misinformation. X, despite Musk's mission to rid the platform of bots, is still full of them. No Shortage of Bots on X An associate professor at the Queensland University of Technology, Dr. Timothy Graham has been tracking bot activity regarding the dissemination of false information for years, including the time when Elon Musk purchased Twitter with the promise of eradicating them. It appears that the company still has a lot of work to do since according to Graham, there are still around 1,305 accounts that are identified as bots. The associate professor along with Ph.D. candidate Kate FitzGerald used a tool called Alexandria Digital for the research. Around a million tweets were analyzed concerning the first Republican primary debate when former US President Donald Trump was interviewed by Tucker Carlson. Due to Musk's new API policies, the researchers had to pay $7,800 to gain access to the posts. Graham says "It's clear that X is not doing enough to moderate content and has no clear strategy for dealing with political disinformation," as reported by The Guardian. Over 1,200 accounts were spreading disproven claims that Trump won the 2020 election during the interview. The researchers used an intricate system to identify which accounts were bots and which ones were just hyperpartisan accounts handled by actual people. Posts were analyzed through 11 hashtags and keywords to detect bot activities. Certain accounts were monitored, especially those that posted the same or similar content and links within five seconds of each other. They also factored in signs like two accounts doing the same mentioned actions five times. Excessive posting was also one of the signs. For example, an account that goes by "MediaOpinion19" had a daily average number of tweets at 662 times a day or once every two minutes. It retweeted a central account's tweets that were pro-Trump. Read Also: Threads Implements Rate Limit as Bots Arrive on the Platform Elon Musk's Promise of Removing All Bots Even before the X owner purchased the social networking site, he already expressed that they would "defeat spam bots or die trying," but so far, the problem remains prevalent. The bots are not only spreading misinformation about politics either. Bots are also invading direct messages of X users, bombarding them with job offers, chances to trade stocks on WhatsApp, and even requests to converse with attractive women, as reported by Cybernews, all of which prove that the bot problem is anything but handled. As Graham said, it was a problem in moderation. It has always been an issue with Twitter, and now as X, it continues to be a problem especially since Musk laid off most of the company's staff, including those that are tasked to keep the bots at bay. Twitter Blue, now called X Blue, was one of the tech billionaire's solutions against bots since it also verifies that the account holder is human. But, not only did it fail to solve anything, the X owner faced backlash for putting the once coveted blue checkmark behind a paywall. Related: Twitter's API to Remain Free for Bots With 'Good Content' gettyimagesbank Authorities urged to overhaul administrative process, cooperate with other countries By Lee Yeon-woo Multinational firms in Korea were found to have evaded more than 500 billion won ($375 million) in customs duties for the past five years by failing to submit relevant data and documents, according to government data unveiled on Monday. The Korea Customs Service (KCS), however, has emerged victorious in only three out of 10 tax litigation cases on average involving these companies. According to KCS data submitted to Rep. Hong Sung-kook of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, multinational firms evaded 547.2 billion won in customs duties from 2019 until the first half of this year. This constitutes 63 percent of the total 862.4 billion won in total unpaid customs duties and is 1.7 times larger than the amount evaded by domestic firms. The proportion of unpaid customs duties by multinational firms out of the total amount of evasion rose from 54 percent in 2019 to 86 percent in 2020 and 77 percent during the first half of this year. However, when the customs agency pursued litigation against multinational firms during the same period, they won only 28 percent of the cases. This is significantly lower compared to the KCS's track record of winning 48 percent of lawsuits filed against domestic firms for the same violation. Many experts attributed the low success rate primarily to an unfavorable judicial system for tax authorities coupled with a lack of manpower. "Fundamentally, the tax law is designed for compliant taxpayers. This implies that if a taxpayer declines to disclose relevant data, the onus is on the tax authority to provide evidence of the taxpayer's illicit activities," said Park Hun, a taxation professor at the University of Seoul. "In the case of multinational firms, chances are high that the relevant data is housed at their headquarters overseas. Securing the data necessitates the firm's cooperation, making it challenging for tax authorities to obtain such information and prevail in litigation compared to cases involving domestic firms," Park added. Rep. Hong Sung-kook of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea speaks during a parliamentary inspection of the government and state agencies, in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Rep. Hong Sung-kook Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, right, meets with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights, at his office in Seoul, Sept. 11. Yonhap Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho met with the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights Monday and vowed close cooperation to improve Pyongyang's dismal rights records. Elizabeth Salmon has been visiting South Korea since last Monday for a nine-day trip to meet with government officials, North Korean defectors and rights groups, as she will submit a report on the North's rights issues to the U.N. based on the results of her trip. "Seoul's unification ministry is preparing a roadmap aimed at improving North Korea's human rights situation. If the roadmap is drawn up, I think this could be a chance for (the government) to further cooperate with Salmon," Kim said, without elaborating. Kim said that improving the human rights of the North Korean people is the top priority for South Korea, while voicing hope that Salmon will help contribute to the initiative, according to the ministry. As North Korea appears to be opening up its borders after years of stringent COVID-19 lockdown, concerns have grown that North Korean defectors could be forcibly repatriated to the North. Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, right, shakes hands with Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur for North Korea's human rights, at his office in Seoul, Sept. 11. Yonhap Salmon said she expects the South Korean government's role to help enhance North Korea's human rights records, as it has large amounts of information on the North's situation. "I am very eager to work for cooperation with you and your government," she said. President Yoon Suk Yeol has taken a hard-line stance against the North's provocative acts and has stressed the need to make the international community aware of North Korea's human rights abuses. In a related move, the ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs set up a task force this month to handle South Korean detainees, abductees and prisoners of war in North Korea. (Yonhap) The Chattanooga Division of Transportation will partner with the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host a parade honoring a newly bestowed Medal of Honor recipient. Captain Larry Taylor will lead his Welcome Home parade on Monday from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through the heart of downtown Chattanooga on Market Street. CDOT wishes to issue this notice to inform the public of the potential traffic impact expected by the parade. PARADE ROUTE The parade will begin on Market Street at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr Blvd at 11:30 a.m. and travel northbound toward Aquarium Way. The parade may be viewed from any public sidewalk within this corridor. The estimated length of the parade is 45 minutes. To clear the roadway for the parade, Market Street will be closed at Frazier Ave at 11:30 a.m. All southbound traffic will need to detour via Manufacturers Ave and Highway 27. The full closure of Market Street will also limit all eastbound and westbound at the following intersections for an estimated one hour (11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.): 11th Street 10th Street Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 8th Street 7th Street 6th Street 5th Street 4th Street* 3rd Street Aquarium Way E 1st Street All traffic west of Market Street needing to travel eastbound will detour via Broad Street / Highway 27 to W 12th Street. All traffic east of Market Street needing to travel westbound will detour via Cherry Street, E 8th Street, Lindsay Street and Houston Street. Riverfront Parkway or Main Street are highly recommended as an alternative route to travel east or west of Market Street during the closure. *4th Street east and westbound will remain open across Market Street until the parade reaches 5th Street. At this point, until the parade ends only emergency vehicles will be allowed on 4th Street. STAGING AREA Market Street between W 12th Street/Houston Street and Martin Luther King Jr Blvd will close from 9:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. (estimated) for parade staging. This includes the full closure of intersections at Market Street and 11th Street, Georgia Ave, and 10th Street. Detours during this time will be via Broad Street. Street parking will be prohibited within this closure. Ceremonies/Post-Parade Staging Due to the expected high turnout for the post-parade ceremony, Broad Street and Aquarium Way will close earlier than previously announced for additional set-up. The following roads will see a full closure between 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (estimated): Broad Street between E 3rd Street and Aquarium Way Aquarium Way between Chestnut Street and Market Street. Street parking will also be prohibited during this time. Transportation/Parking CARTAs Downtown Electric Shuttle will operate as normal, however the shuttle stops between 12th Street and 11th Street (Warehouse Row / Development Resource Center) will not have service between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. All Bike Chattanooga bike sharing stations will operate as normal and are a great option to travel from nearby parking lots to the parade route. CARTA and Chattanooga Parking Authority lots are available with the North and South Shuttle Parking Garages being the best options to park and walk to the parade route. Please note that street parking along Market Street, Aquarium Way and sections of Broad Street may be limited or unavailable during the parade. Any vehicles still parked after 11:30 a.m., will not be permitted to exit until after the parade. When choosing a parking location, please keep the expected high traffic volumes in mind as high levels of vehicular and pedestrian traffic are expected within the Market and Broad downtown corridor. Plan additional time both arriving and departing for the parade. CDOT encourages all citizens to witness this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that honors Medal of Honor recipient Captain Larry Taylor. We do strongly encourage planning additional time before and after the parade while visiting, but also for traffic unrelated to the parade to utilize alternative routes. To all the businesses and residents along the closure route, we thank you for your patience. View CDOT's map of events and road closures for full details of these activities and other projects underway in our public space. A colleague recently sent me a copy of the above adventures of British politician and Prime Minister Winston Churchill written by author Candice Millard that touched on many historical aspects of the young mans life primarily during the Boer War in 1899-1900. The 318 pages of text (Anchor Books, division of Penguin Random House) followed by another 63 pages of Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography, Illustration, etc. tell the story of the two years in young Winstons life at the age of 24 that led him from an unsuccessful political candidate for Parliament to ultimately be the World War II Prime Minister of England where he is commonly recognized as part of the trio of leaders (Stalin and Roosevelt) that saved the world from Nazi and Japanese atrocities. Churchill was raised in the luxury of the English nobility and he was described by one reviewer as supremely courageous, flagrantly ambitious, and incredibly lucky in his two-year adventure in the Boer War in South Africa. The similarity between the issues of slavery in America and apartheid (racial segregation) in South Africa cannot be dismissed by simply stating that slavery was banned in 1833 in the British Empire while America went through a Civil War in 1861-1865 to finally outlaw the practice in both locales after military conflicts. His involvement in the conflict, the saga in an Army career that included his capture, and the harrowing escape to freedom appear to be a great tale of fiction in the Ian Fleming type character of James Bond. However, the authors dedicated adherence to actual history and recorded documents give it an additional twist of reality added to the thousands of pages already written about the late statesman. Churchill has been credited with being the appropriate leader of the British Empire during its darkest hour when England basically was the only citadel of freedom prior to Russia and America entering the conflict that would eventually take the lives of over 60 million men and women. Fame is often fleeting and Churchill was rewarded in the post war era by eventually being replaced as Prime Minister by Sir Anthony Eden. However, the coverage of his military experiences in South Africa in 1899-1900 is well worth reading by anyone interested in history. * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com An employee of Henley Supply Millwork told police the day before, at 10:45 a.m., he received a text on his phone while he was driving in Chattanooga. It was from a person who claimed to be Sam Henley, who is owner of the company. The person wanted him to pay $600 for surprise gift cards to company employees, so the employee replied that he would do so immediately. He then went to Target to purchase the cards, but found out they will only go to $500 worth for each person making the purchase. The employee said he then texted the person back and he was then asked to just send two cards for $200 and one for $100. The employee then purchased the cards with his company's credit card. He was then asked to send photos of the backs of the cards, but after doing so, he realized there was no way they could validate the cards that way. That's when he realized it was a scam and he called his company and they told him that the owner wouldn't do that. He then spoke to Target and they were able to void the cards and get his company's money back. He realized that this would have to be someone that knows him and knows where he works. * * * A suspicious person was reported at Northtowne Center, 5450 Hwy. 153. Police found the man reported, who said he was reorganizing the items in his vehicle. The vehicle did not come back as being stolen and the man did not have any warrants. He did not appear to be doing anything wrong and there was no victim alleging he stole any of the female items outside of the vehicle. He told police those items belonged to his girlfriend, who was currently in jail. * * * A man on Heritage Landing Drive told police someone took a pair of Ray Ban sunglasses and binoculars from his unlocked vehicle while parked there. The theft occurred around 4 a.m. There is no suspect information. * * * A woman told police after going into the McDonalds at 5440 Hwy. 153, she returned to her vehicle. While walking that way, she remotely unlocked her truck. When doing so, a white male with a beard, wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt, jumped out of a brown Honda CRV (partial plate given to police) and grabbed her purse from the back seat of the truck. The woman said she ran up to the Honda and proceeded to tap on the car window with her phone in an attempt to get her belongings back. Police attempted to obtain video footage from the McDonalds; however, McDonalds did not have cameras in that area. * * * A man on Cloverdale Circle told police his motorcycle had been stolen. He said he returned home the night before around 8 p.m. and, when he went out that morning, and observed his motorcycle was not there. He said he is not behind on payments. Police checked the tow log and his motorcycle was not towed. The motorcycle is a 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400. It is black and green and has an anime decal on the front window. The vehicle was entered into NCIC as stolen. * * * A resident on Chamberlain Avenue told police their neighbor has been driving drunk in the area. Police said they would attempt to catch him driving to assess if he was impaired. The resident was also concerned that the man may be in need of medical assistance. The man was not found in the area, but his information was found in a previous report. * * * A man in the City Arts Department called police in regards to vandalism at 6100 E. Brainerd Road. He said a statue in the park there had been painted white and yellow by someone. He said the artist intended for the piece to be black and the statue would need to be removed and repaired. At this time it is unknown who painted the statue. * * * A woman on Jasmine Street told police the day before she had discovered one of her bedroom windows had been struck with an object that caused the glass to crack. She said that when checking outside the residence, she found no evidence that someone was attempting to force entry into the residence. She said that she did need the broken window documented in the event she finds out who caused the damage to the window. She was given a report number documenting the damage. * * * The Chattanooga Fire Department got a fire alarm call at an apartment in Mary Walker Towers, 2501 Market St. Fire personnel had to make a forced entry into the apartment by forcing the door lock open. This caused the lock to be destroyed and need replacing. Damage to the lock/door was estimated at $100. * * * Vandalism was reported at an apartment at 4827 Jersey Pike. Police observed spray paint covering the front door, window and door step. The caller had left before police arrived. Police discovered through previous reports and CAD notes who the apartment owner is. The possible suspect is his girlfriend. Police decided to make a report due to the extensive and obscene images painted on the front of the apartment. * * * A woman on Folts Drive told police she had been helping out a homeless man and he would not leave the sidewalk in front of her apartment. She said the man was given a tent and had been allowed to sleep in a Jeep Liberty in the parking lot. The man had left before police arrived, but had left the tent and his belongings in the parking lot next to the Jeep Liberty. The man had no outstanding warrants. * * * A woman told police she was at pump 14 at the Speedway, 2245 Hickory Valley Road, and she got gas. She said that she used the pay at the pump and got $23.96 worth of gas. She said did not get a receipt, so she walked into the store to get one. She said that she then looked at her account and there was a pending charge for $115 at the Speedway. She said that after a few minutes of her talking to the Speedway employees, she looked at her bank account again and it showed that she only got $23.96 at Speedway. She wanted to report this to police and make others aware of the incident. At this time, she did not lose anything and the activity was only concerning. * * * A woman on E. 48th Street told police she and her son had gotten in a verbal argument that night. She said her son continues to be disrespectful and not clean after himself in the house. Police spoke to the son and he said that he would leave the house for the night. Both of them separated in order to have some space for the night. * * * A woman on Talladega Avenue called 911 because the people above her were making a lot of noise. She told police she believed the woman that lives upstairs left in a black vehicle. She was unaware of anyone else in the apartment with the neighbor. Police discovered the door to the apartment above her appeared to be kicked in. Police then cleared the apartment and discovered the entire apartment was disheveled. It appeared there was possibly a disorder prior to police arrival, however, it was now unoccupied. Through location history, police identified the possible residents - a man and woman. People searched the area for the small black vehicle, but were unable to locate it. Police could not confirm the two people were the involved ones, nor were police able to confirm the residents. * * * A man on Skillern Drive told police someone had stolen his ladder. He said the last time he saw it was around 9-10 p.m. the night before in the back of his truck. There is no suspect information. * * * Police observed a black Volkswagen Atlas (TN tag) parked at the stop sign at E. 14th Street/S. Willow Street. Police drove past the vehicle and observed what appeared to be the driver asleep. The officer conducted a traffic stop and attempted to make contact with the driver. He had the vehicle in park, but was asleep. Police woke the driver and identified him. He said he was leaving his significant other's residence and heading home. Police asked him if he had any alcoholic beverages, to which he replied he had one. He consented to SFSTs, which police conducted. Police believed the man was not over the legal BAC limit, but should not be driving for the night. He agreed and requested officers park his vehicle in the adjacent lot. Police parked his vehicle and returned his keys. He said he would walk to his significant other's residence and left the scene. * * * The office manager of the Overlook Apartments, 1201 Boynton Dr., told police that during the night-time hours, someone damaged the glass to the front entrance door of the building. There is no suspect information at this time. The manager said she would check the CCTV cameras and notify police should they find out who committed the vandalism. Police found the front entrance glass to the building to be shattered, but still intact. * * * A woman from the building at 1324 Grove Street Ct, College Hill Courts, told police she wished to report her mail as stolen, She said that according to records, her package from Aeropostale was dropped off at the mail parcel on at 9:05 a.m. She said she responded to her mail box at approximately 10 a.m., one hour later, and there was no package found to be in her mail box. There is no suspect information at this time. The woman was told to contact the Chattanooga Housing Authority Police about the matter. She said the package consisted of miscellaneous clothing of all different colors. The total dollar amount of loss is approximately $246. * * * While investigating a vandalism call at another business, officers observed (orange) graffiti spray paint on two large metal poles, affixed to the Lookout Valley Urgent Care board sign at 3520 Cummings Hwy. There is no further information available regarding leads, suspects or witnesses. * * * A man on Spring Creek Road told police someone was able to hack into his Cash App card and remove $232.84 from his card. He said he believes that the suspect could be his ex-girlfriend because she has one of his old iPhones. He said she had also confronted him about a woman he was dating. He had never mentioned the woman to her, but had sent some Cash App funds to her. At this time, he said that he needed a report to give to Cash App. Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report: ACOSTA, GABRIEL MONGTER 104 TERRA PIRE ST ALBERTVILLE, Age at Arrest: 34 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE ACQUAYE, ANTHONY CORTEZ 930 DOUGLAS ST CHATTANOOGA, 37402 Age at Arrest: 20 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD POSS. OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BARRETT, MICHAEL J 415 E CIRCLE DRIVE ROSSVILLE, 30741 Age at Arrest: 47 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA BENTLEY, KEYONTA ALEXANDER 2004 CURTIS STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37406 Age at Arrest: 32 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff FUGITIVE (BARTOW CO GA) BLAND, MARC A 1691 WALKER ST CHATTANOOGA, 374041332 Age at Arrest: 56 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD AGGRAVATED BURGLARY BLEVINS, MATTHEW D 1110 MAPLE TREE LN CHATTANOOGA, 37421 Age at Arrest: 44 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT BOEHM, EDWARD W 803 FOREST AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37405 Age at Arrest: 58 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR BOYD, DANIEL J 467 COUNTY ROAD 181 DECATUR, 37322 Age at Arrest: 48 years old Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff STALKING VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR BROOKS, JAMES DEWITT 1111 ROSELAWN DRIVE CHATTANOOGA, 374212977 Age at Arrest: 33 years old Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD DOMESTIC ASSAULT DISORDERLY CONDUCT ECK, DAVID RUSSELL 4016 S. TERRACE UNIT 5 EAST RIDGE, 37412Age at Arrest: 72 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeREGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLEDRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYEDGEWORTH, STACY MICHELE536 COUNTY RD 711 FLATROCK, 35966Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATIONDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEIMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERSFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYFOLLOWING TOO CLOSELYGODSBY, MICHAEL A245 BERRY HILL RD SOUTH PITTSBURG, 373801605Age at Arrest: 50 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CAREHIGDON, ASHLEY MICHELLE4906 SANDY TRAIL APISON, 37302Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: CollegedaleBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)HOLLAND, KRISTY JO460 STEVENSON LANE DUNLAP, 37327Age at Arrest: 52 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)JONES, FREDRICK LAVON2115 Windsor St Chattanooga, 374064145Age at Arrest: 64 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE)POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAKELLY, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES112 HALLEY BERRY LANE CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 43 years oldArresting Agency: Tenn Hwy PatrolDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEOPEN CONTAINER LAWIMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERSKINCANNON, ABIGAIL J6105 REGENCY CRT CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDOMESTIC ASSAULTRESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESSDISORDERLY CONDUCTLEWIS, BLAYTON MICHAEL4335 SPRING ST EAST RIDGE,Age at Arrest: 20 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTLOPEZ-GERONIMO, DELMAR DEJESUS1901 DAYTON BLVD CHATTANOOGA, 37415Age at Arrest: 34 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBLOCKING OR IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFICDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEIMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERSDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEMATTHEW, CHASTA LYNN1708 CRISWELL CT. SODDY DAISY, 37379Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffASSAULTMAYS, RUSSELL ANDERSON8622 SNOW HILL ROAD HARRISON, 37341Age at Arrest: 42 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCECONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE IIPOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIAREGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLEDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSEFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYMAYWEATHER, TAELOR ASHLEA3621 HELEN LANE UNIT A CHATTANOOGA, 37412Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeAGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULTCHILD ENDANGERMENTCHILD ENDANGERMENTCHILD ENDANGERMENTMCBEE, NYLE HUNTER3448 CAGLE RD CHATTANOOGA, 37419Age at Arrest: 25 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDISORDERLY CONDUCTMCLEMORE, MAX DANIEL2431 WILLIAMS ST CHATTANOOGA, 37408Age at Arrest: 46 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)MOORE, EDDIE JR1721 S HAWTHORNE STREE CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTMOORE, STEVEN TODD1104 NORTH HAWTHORNE APT. B CHATTANOOGA, 37404Age at Arrest: 51 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDTHEFT OF PROPERTY OVER $2,500FORGERYPARTRIDGE, CHARLES ANTHONY727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 374033104Age at Arrest: 68 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDCRIMINAL LITTERING AGGRAMIREZ-PABLO, EMETERIO5330 PINELAWN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374113413Age at Arrest: 43 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEDRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARESIMON, HUMBERTO1312 E 36TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37407Age at Arrest: 29 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEOPEN CONTAINER LAWFINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITYDRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSESMITH, SHONIQUE NECHELLE1418 CAROUSEL RD CHATTANOOGA, 37411Age at Arrest: 32 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgePOSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIACONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE II(POSSESSION OFSTRONG, TAURA LYNN2000 SHARP ST Chattanooga, 374041439Age at Arrest: 40 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDAGGRAVATED ASSAULTTYSON, JAMAR62 WALDEN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37421Age at Arrest: 27 years oldArresting Agency: Chattanooga PDDOMESTIC ASSAULTDISORDERLY CONDUCTWALKER, DUSTIN TRAVONNE2006 DUNCAN AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374043105Age at Arrest: 36 years oldArresting Agency: HC SheriffVIOLATION OF PROBATION (DOMESTIC ASSAULT)VIOLATION OF PROBATION (POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SWASSON, JARMELL ANTIONE2010 OAK ST. CHATTANOOGA, 37408Age at Arrest: 44 years oldArresting Agency:AGGRAVATED ASSAULTAGGRAVATED ASSAULTWILSON, NICHOLAS CAIN MCKINLEY81 MARK LANE RINGOLD, 30736Age at Arrest: 31 years oldArresting Agency: East RidgeBooked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) Here are the mug shots: ACOSTA, GABRIEL MONGTER Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 11/19/1989 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING LEFT OF CENTER LINE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE ACQUAYE, ANTHONY CORTEZ Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 07/07/2003 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): POSS. OF HANDGUN WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE BARRETT, MICHAEL J Age at Arrest: 47 Date of Birth: 04/29/1976 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA BENTLEY, KEYONTA ALEXANDER Age at Arrest: 32 Date of Birth: 04/10/1991 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): FUGITIVE (BARTOW CO GA) BLAND, MARC A Age at Arrest: 56 Date of Birth: 12/13/1966 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED BURGLARY BLEVINS, MATTHEW D Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 03/18/1979 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT BOEHM, EDWARD W Age at Arrest: 58 Date of Birth: 06/15/1965 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR BOYD, DANIEL J Age at Arrest: 48 Date of Birth: 07/18/1975 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): STALKING VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION OR RESTRAINING OR BROOKS, JAMES DEWITT Age at Arrest: 33 Date of Birth: 12/04/1989 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT DISORDERLY CONDUCT ECK, DAVID RUSSELL Age at Arrest: 72 Date of Birth: 06/04/1951 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY GODSBY, MICHAEL A Age at Arrest: 50 Date of Birth: 04/05/1973 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE HOLLAND, KRISTY JO Age at Arrest: 52 Date of Birth: 12/14/1970 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s) KELLY, CHRISTOPHER CHARLES Age at Arrest: 43 Date of Birth: 03/05/1980 Arresting Agency: Tenn Hwy Patrol Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OPEN CONTAINER LAW IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS KINCANNON, ABIGAIL J Age at Arrest: 25 Date of Birth: 06/27/1998 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT RESISTING ARREST OR OBSTRUCTION OF LEGAL PROCESS DISORDERLY CONDUCT LEWIS, BLAYTON MICHAEL Age at Arrest: 20 Date of Birth: 01/20/2003 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DOMESTIC ASSAULT LOPEZ-GERONIMO, DELMAR DEJESUS Age at Arrest: 34 Date of Birth: 10/06/1988 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): BLOCKING OR IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE MATTHEW, CHASTA LYNN Age at Arrest: 44 Date of Birth: 12/02/1978 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): ASSAULT MAYS, RUSSELL ANDERSON Age at Arrest: 42 Date of Birth: 02/16/1981 Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN SCHEDULE II POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA REGISTRATION, DRIVING UNREGISTERED VEHICLE DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MAYWEATHER, TAELOR ASHLEA Age at Arrest: 29 Date of Birth: 05/13/1994 Arresting Agency: East Ridge Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): AGGRAVATED DOMESTIC ASSAULT CHILD ENDANGERMENT CHILD ENDANGERMENT CHILD ENDANGERMENT MCBEE, NYLE HUNTER Age at Arrest: 25 Date of Birth: 01/21/1998 Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD Last Date of Arrest: 09/10/2023 Charge(s): DISORDERLY CONDUCT John Vise, 40, passed away in Chattanooga, Tennessee in late August of 2023. He was born as Gabriel Michael Fink in Columbia City, In., on Feb. 24, 1983, born to Arthur K. and Denise (Forwalter) Fink. Gabe was confirmed at Congregation Beth Aaron in Billings, Mt., but continued to evolve, developing a broad spirituality. Gabe attended at Savannah College of Art and Design, and then Green Mountain College where he studied journalism. He used his writing skills to contribute to science fiction and fantasy books, but found the publishing industry frustrating. He decided to reinvent himself, moving to New Orleans where he worked at Bloody Bourbon House, and became John Vise, the creator of Bronze Beasties, selling his artwork at shows across the country. John moved to Chattanooga, where he could easily travel to art shows, and also showed regularly at the Chattanooga River Market. He had many close friends in both Chattanooga and New Orleans and was well respected in the art community. Gabe was preceded in death by his father and a nephew. He is survived by his mother, his sister Alexandria Zadock and ex brother-in-law Matthew Fisher, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, and one great uncle. Johns ashes will be interred with his grandparents in the Mausoleum at the First Unitarian Church in Chicago. There are no formal services planned; however, friends are encouraged to celebrate his life in ways they see fit: sharing memories, cherishing his artwork, and by acknowledging how he touched so many people with his intellect, his art, and his friendship. Smiles from the Heart is a volunteer effort provided by the owners and staff of Winn Smiles Dental Practice and it will offer the local Cleveland community free dental care on Friday. Officials with Winn Smiles said it is a joy for the Winn Smiles staff to be able to provide to the community who has not only supported them as a business, but also shaped them as individuals. In 2020 they saw over 140 patients, changed over 140 lives, and created over 140 smiles. It is Winn Smiles way to give back and show thanks to the area and people that surround them. The staff will be on site at Winn Smiles Cleveland on Friday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. to provide patients that are 18 and older with an option of one free service. Patients can choose a free cleaning, extraction or filling. Services will be provided on a first come first serve basis. Dr. Brad Winn, owner of the practice said, "I got into dentistry because I wanted to help people. People often dont understand the importance of a smile. Its more than just cleanings and fillings at Winn Smiles--its about the people and what restoring their smiles means to them. Confidence in their smile is a gift that I truly never tire of being able to help give someone. Smiles from the Heart is a day when we get to open our doors and give that to, and help, as many people as possible. We all love it. Its a day where we remember that we are in the smile business first and foremost. For more information about the event, please call the Cleveland office at 205-8025. Winn Smiles Cleveland is at 148 Stuart Crossing NE. On the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, we as a nation remember those who were brutally murdered and hold their families in our hearts. Recent actions by the Biden administration demonstrate a lack of regard for the lessons of history and the threat posed by the New Axis of Evil. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are on the march against the U.S., and Bidens refusal to answer this threat projects weakness and makes the world a more dangerous place. From his disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan to his constant appeasement of Communist China, Biden has revealed his Achilles heel namely, his total unwillingness to challenge our adversaries on the world stage. In the latest example of the New Axis of Evils growing strength, the BRICS group recently decided to accept Iran a U.S.-designated State Sponsor of Terrorism and Saudi Arabia into the fold. The groups increased control over the worlds oil production will give them more economic and political strength which should worry the U.S. and our allies. Meanwhile, Communist China continues to increase its espionage activities on U.S. soil. Chinese nationals have accessed U.S. bases and other sensitive sites at least 100 times in recent years. Many times, these spies pose as tourists and take pictures of sensitive military sites. These are blatant attacks on our sovereignty, yet Biden keeps sending U.S. officials to Beijing to appease the CCP. Why does Biden want to strengthen ties with a country trying to usurp America as the worlds superpower? Its not just Beijing. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are reportedly meeting to discuss arms sales. Allegedly, in exchange for advanced technology for satellites and nuclear armed submarines, Putin will receive artillery shells and antitank missiles to fuel his war in Ukraine. Putin also plans to send food to North Korea, leaving Pyongyang free to prioritize military funding over food production. Meanwhile, private military companies linked to Russian security forces and Kremlin-tied oligarchs are absorbing Wagner fighters into their ranks, allowing the Kremlin to kill even more Ukrainians and maintain Russias influence in Africa. Bidens forceful response to this aggressive maneuver? Nonexistent. Iran, which has declared its desire to destroy the U.S. and Israel, poses a greater threat every day. Tehran has reportedly amassed enough uranium for five nuclear weapons. Moreover, Iran has largely blocked the International Atomic Energy Agency from investigating undeclared nuclear material found in the country in 2019 and refused to let the agency install more cameras in its facilities. Instead of putting enormous pressure on the regime, Biden is offering Iran a sweetheart deal in the form of ongoing hostage negotiations. The increasing aggressiveness of the New Axis of Evil is proof that Americas adversaries are undeterred by Joe Bidens foreign policy. When they see Biden, they see a nation in decline, and their resolve to achieve global domination grows stronger every day. The situation demands a strong leader who seeks peace through strength, not appeasement at any cost. Senator Marsha Blackburn Join the Friends of Hixson at Clear Creek Church on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 8 a.m. to hear about homelessness in the community. Jon Berestecky, the director of Development for the Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition, will join Joe Brackett from Homeless Healthcare to discuss homelessness in the community. The Homeless Coalition works to prevent and end homelessness in Southeast Tennessee and believes everyone deserves a safe and stable place to call home. Participants will learn about homelessness in Chattanooga, what it looks like, how the current system works for unhoused individuals, and what more can be done in communities. Homelessness is not specific to any specific part of the community, and in Hixson, there are many individuals who do not have permanent and safe housing. The meeting will be from 8-9 a.m. at Clear Creek Church of Christ, at 5612 Hixson Pike. Light refreshments and coffee will be available in the church's Community Cafe. The FOH Community Coffee Meetings are always free and open to the public; all are welcome to attend. Please visit friendsofhixson.org for information on upcoming meetings. Priscilla Presley was in a long distance relationship with Elvis. She worried the relationship was as important to him as she'd thought. When Elvis Presley began dating the future Priscilla Presley, she dreaded his return to the United States. He was in Germany with the Army, and her family was also there because of her fathers role in the military. When Elvis left, he promised to remain in contact with her. He stayed true to this word, at least to a certain extent. While Elvis continued to call Priscilla, she said she would often go months without hearing from him. Priscilla Presley worried about the state of her relationship with Elvis When Elvis and Priscilla said goodbye to each other at the airport in Germany, he promised to call her once he was home. She began receiving calls from journalists and letters from fans, but nothing from Elvis. After three weeks, he finally reached out. This became the trend for their communication. Priscilla wrote Elvis letters and waited by the phone, but she only sporadically heard from him. I was living in a state of suspended animation, waiting for Elvis infrequent calls, she wrote in her book Elvis and Me. There was never a pattern to them. He would phone out of the blue after three weeks or three months. He always did most of the talking, chatting about his current film or his costar. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley | ullstein bild via Getty Images He also used the calls to complain to Priscilla about his girlfriend, Anita Wood. This, coupled with the infrequency of his communications, made her question if she fit into his life. I didnt know where I stood, Priscilla wrote. Time and distance had created doubts and questions; I wanted to ask him, Where do I fit in your life? Or do I? Priscilla Presley constantly worried Elvis had entered into another relationship The infrequent communication made Priscilla wonder if Elvis had entered into another relationship. She knew about Wood, of course, but she wondered if other women were in the picture. I wanted to believe him when he said he still cared for me, she wrote. But during the periods when I did not hear from him, I could not help but doubt that I would ever see him again. I heard his latest record, Maries the Name (His Latest Flame), and felt sure hed fallen in love with a girl named Marie. She followed the tabloids closely and worried about each of his co-stars. He broke a months-long silence in a dramatic fashion In the spring of 1962, Priscilla had gone months without hearing from Elvis. Therefore, when he called her that March, his words came as a surprise. Elvis and Priscilla Presley | Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images Id like to make arrangements for you to visit me in Los Angeles, he said. Do you think we can work it out? Astonished, Priscilla promised to work on getting her parents approval. To her, the invitation came as validation that their relationship was real and that Elvis cared for her. Once her parents agreed to let her visit him during her summer break, she awaited her trip in eager, almost painful anticipation. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to visit Russia's Far East in a few days, a Russian media report said Monday, amid news reports that Kim may soon travel to Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin. Citing multiple sources in Russia's Far East, Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Kim is likely to visit the Russian region "in the coming days." A source in the government of a constituent territory in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District told the news agency that Kim "might visit the region shortly." Another Russian government source also confirmed that such a visit was being prepared, according to the agency. "We have been preparing for Kim Jong-un's visit for a long time," the source was quoted as saying. The New York Times earlier reported that Kim may travel to Vladivostok on his armored train to meet with Putin on the margins of an economic forum this week amid speculation the North may supply arms to Russia to support its war in Ukraine. (Yonhap) Freeze casting processes can be used to produce highly porous and hierarchically structured materials that have a large surface area. They are suitable for a wide variety of applications, as electrodes for batteries, catalyst materials or in biomedicine. Now a team led by Prof. Ulrike G. K. Wegst, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA and Dr. Francisco Garcia Moreno from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have now used the newly developed X-ray tomoscopy technique at the Swiss Light Source of the Paul Scherrer Institute to observe in real time and at high resolution how the process of structure formation takes place during freezing. A sugar solution served as the model system. Freeze-casting requires several steps: First, substances are dissolved or suspended in a solvent and then frozen in a mold with a cooling rate applied to the bottom (directional solidification). After freezing, the solid solvent phase is removed by sublimation. What remains are the previously dissolved solute molecules and suspended particles, which form the cell walls of the resulting complex, highly porous architecture. Freeze-cast materials can be used for many applications: for instance, due to their enormous internal surface areas as battery electrodes or catalysts or because of their aligned porosity in biomedical applications for example as scaffolds for peripheral nerve repair. However, exactly how the ice templates the complex architecture during freezing, and how the desired honeycomb-like aligned porosity and the cell walls with their various surface features are formed, has remained little understood until now. Dr Francisco Garcia Moreno and his team at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have developed a method to observe these highly dynamic processes in detail. "Using X-ray tomoscopy, we can image the formation of structures in situ with high spatial and temporal resolution and even observe transient phenomena and transitional structures," explains the physicist. Using an ultrafast turntable, intense X-rays, an extremely fast detector and software for rapid analysis of the X-ray data, the HZB team, together with colleagues at the Swiss Light Source of the Paul Scherrer Institute, studied freeze casting on a model system and demonstrated the high performance of the method. "For this study, we developed a new measuring cell with sensors to precisely record the temperature gradient," says Dr Paul Kamm (HZB), lead author of the study. A 3D tomogram with a spatial resolution of 6 m per second was generated. The entire freezing process was documented over 270 seconds. green hydrogen and its derivatives ammonia, Methanol, and synthetic Kerosene store energy from the sun and wind in order to transfer it efficiently from distant regions to Europe. At the same time, many industries that cannot use electricity directly as an energy source will be dependent on these climate-neutral alternatives to fossil gas and oil in the future. On behalf of the H2Global Foundation, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has examined 39 regions in 12 countries preselected by H2Global to determine where the production of such Power-to-X (PtX) products, in conjunction with transport to Germany, would be most cost-effective by 2030. The result: Brazil, Colombia, and Australia offer particularly good conditions for the import of green ammonia, methanol, and kerosene. Imports of gaseous green hydrogen could come from southern Europe or North Africa, provided that pipelines are available in time for transport. Sustainably produced hydrogen and its derivatives will be indispensable in certain sectors of the energy system, says Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Henning, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Systems ISE. According to our calculations, imports are a necessary and economically viable supplement to local hydrogen production. Power-to-X projects on the gigawatt scale, which this study considers, entail long planning and construction phases, meaning that implementation of the first large-scale projects in suitable production countries should already be initiated now. According to calculations by Fraunhofer ISE Germany will need both domestically produced and imported Power-to-X energy carriers in at least the single-digit terawatt-hour range by 2030. According to our calculations for the 12 countries preselected by H2Global, the local production costs for gaseous green hydrogen are nowhere as low as in Brazil, Australia, or northern Colombia. In these countries, it costs between 96 and 108 euros to produce enough green hydrogen to deliver one megawatt hour of energy,to produce one megawatt hour of green hydrogen, which works out to around 3.20 to 3.60 euros per kilogram, says Dr. Christoph Hank, lead author of the study. If the long-distance transport by ship, in the form of either liquid hydrogen or ammonia, is taken into account, under the best possible conditions the supply costs for Germany are 171 euros per megawatt hour with respect to the energy content of both products. According to the study, the high combined full load hours for solar and wind energy systems in these countries and thus the high utilization of the currently still capital-intensive Power-to-X processes is a key advantage of these countries. A large distance between production and use is not an exclusion criterion for ammonia, methanol, or kerosene due to their high energy density and established ship transport logistics. An alternative also explored in the study is the import of gaseous hydrogen via pipeline to Germany, with the possibility of subsequent on-site processing to its downstream products. Regions in Southern Europe and North Africa are the best choices in this scenario, explains Dr. Christopher Hank. Provided that the first sections of the pipeline infrastructure are built by 2030, large quantities of sustainably produced hydrogen could then be transported to Europe and thus also to Germany in a very cost-efficient manner. In the analysis, regions in Algeria, Tunisia, and Spain have the lowest supply costs for gaseous hydrogen, at 137 euros per megawatt hour, including transport in a natural gas pipeline converted to hydrogen. This corresponds to 4.56 euros per kilogram of green hydrogen. According to the study, the key criteria for cost-efficient Power-to-X generation are an advantageous wind-and-solar energy combination and high system utilization, as well as comparatively low capital costs. In general, we have found that the combination of good wind and solar power conditions has a very positive effect on the costs of hydrogen production, often more so than when a region only has excellent conditions for either wind or solar power generation, explains Dr. Christoph Kost, who is responsible for the renewable energy analyses of the Fraunhofer ISE study. Ultimately, the cheapest possible generation costs for renewable electricity are the decisive factor. Further significant cost reductions can be expected in the future for renewable energy and hydrogen electrolysis, also through the optimization, scaling, and ramp-up of the entire PtX value chain. The production and import costs of sustainable energy sources should thus continue to fall significantly after 2030. Cherokee Nation announced $10.6 million investment on Friday, Sept. 8 to increase salaries for more than 80% of government and healthcare employees. This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 12, shows the North's leader Kim Jong-un leaving Pyongyang for a trip to Russia on his special train. Yonhap Pyongyang, Moscow confirm meeting plan as North Korean train heads to Vladivostok By Jung Min-ho North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to arrive in Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as Tuesday and possibly sign an arms deal. After a train presumably carrying Kim left Pyongyang en route to Vladivostok, Monday, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported that he will soon "meet and have a talk with" Putin, but did not elaborate on when and where the meeting would take place. The Kremlin also confirmed that the North Korean leader will visit the country "in the coming days" at the invitation of Putin, according to Russia's TASS news agency. Hours before the confirmation, South Korean government officials said that the North Korean leader's heavily armored train appeared to have left Pyongyang on Sunday afternoon. If the summit takes place, it will be the first meeting between Kim and Putin since April 2019, when the two leaders held their first talks in Vladivostok, which ended without a joint statement. Kim also traveled to the Russian city by train at that time. Experts here said the meeting between Kim and Putin will prompt South Korea to expand support for Ukraine, escalating tensions in Northeast Asia. Foreign relations experts told The Korea Times that the argument for stronger support for Kyiv in its war with Moscow could gain traction as a result of the summit, as Kim is believed to seek Russian technologies for North Korea's weapons programs in return for providing ammunition. But they said South Korea's military aid would be unlikely and detrimental given significant geopolitical risks. "After the possible deal between Kim and Putin, South Korea's support for Ukraine will likely expand, which would intensify the current Cold War-like confrontation," said Kim Sung-soo, a professor of political science and international studies at Hanyang University. But the scholar remains skeptical that South Korea's support would extend to lethal weapons given the clear limits of Russia's cooperation with North Korea. "North Korea may demand all it wants, including Russian technology for the development of a nuclear-powered submarine, but giving such technology is not in Russia's national interest. It would almost certainly bring about Beijing's hostile reaction and cause Japan to consider developing nuclear weapons," he said. "As an experienced leader, Putin is certainly aware of all such risks This is why South Korea would not and should not make a surprise move by sending artillery or tanks to Ukraine." Kim Jung-sup, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute, a state-funded think tank, said he also believes the Kim-Putin summit would likely push South Korea to expand support for Ukraine but within the realms of humanitarian and economic assistance. Their assessments come as renowned U.S. experts on Korea peninsula affairs, such as Victor Cha and Sue Mi Terry, have spoken about the possibility of Seoul's military aid to Kyiv as the consequence of the summit. Ukrainian tanks train in northern Ukraine, Friday, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP-Yonhap TikToker Abi (@abikuru) is talking about a bad date she went on and issuing a warning about the dangers of host clubs in Japan. So I live in Japan, and one time on a date, I almost got kidnapped and sold into indentured slavery, she said. In 2018, she matched with an extremely handsome guy on Japanese Tinder who she called Ren. They had been chatting for a bit when Ren revealed that he was a host, which is someone who caters to people at a certain type of nightclub. At the time, she was 20-years-old and knew nothing about Japanese hosts or host clubs. Later, she found out it was common for Japanese hosts to use Tinder as a marketing scheme. They would swipe right on everyone and see who they could get to match with them. This was how they got their clientele. Anyway, Ren asked her if she could meet up with him on a Saturday that was two months away. Of course, she agreed. In Japan, it was normal to schedule an outing with your friends weeks in advance because everyone was always so busy. So, Rens request didnt really alarm her at all. Two months passed, and Abi had completely forgotten about Ren since they hadnt talked at all during that time. On the day of their date, she was fully dressed and ready to go out to dinner with a friend from college. But her friend canceled, saying she had fallen ill and couldnt go. As if on cue, Ren texted her at that exact moment, asking if their date was still on. They met up in Shinjuku City at 7 PM, and he took her to a fast food chain restaurant, which wasnt where she had been expecting to go for their first date. While they were chatting, she mentioned that she was surprised he wasnt working because she assumed that weekends were the busiest nights for hosts. He informed her that he did have to work that night and that his shift started at 7:30. In fact, the club he worked at was right next door. After glancing at the clock, she saw that it was 7:29. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. In the heat of summer, a 19-second video from the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland, made the rounds on Twitter (now X). The big political and economic question of the 21st century will be: What do we need humans for? said Israeli historian Yuval Harari. At present, the best guess we have is keep them happy with drugs and computer games. Hararis broader writing suggests he wasnt endorsing the future he publicly envisioned, and 19 seconds isnt fair context for his fuller meaning. But whatever Hararis intent, the question is a pressing one as artificial intelligence technology progresses to more useful stages. What are humans for? What is AI for? What problemas author and Grove City College professor Jeffrey Bilbro recently asked in Ploughdo we want ChatGPT and other AI toys and tools to solve? And will AI serve us well? Or will we conform to the machine? Ive been thinking about this in the context of my own work, because readers keep asking me if I think generative AI programs like ChatGPT will replace journalists. A few media companies, most notably BuzzFeed, have already announced theyll use AI to pump out digital bagatelles at an even higher volume and lower cost than before. Will more serious outlets that produce hard news and careful analysis do likewise? At the risk of sounding Pollyannaish, I dont think so. AI will take over some journalism work, yes, but not the kind we should have been reading anyway. It wont replace the war correspondent, the reporter at the school board meeting, the omnivorous public intellectual, the conversation-driving personal essayist. My guess is human writers will become a hallmark of high-quality and prestige media (which arent necessarily one and the same), much as intensive human service is a hallmark of luxury restaurant and hotel experiences now. AI, meanwhile, will handle cheap digital news aggregation, scraping facts from human reporting and reassembling them in a stale, low-quality synthesis. It will produce content that is badbut, crucially, it will be content that was already bad when it was harvested from a human content farm. AI is especially adept at displacing human labor in situations wherein humans had already conformed, willfully or otherwise, to the pattern of a machine, Christian tech critic L. M. Sacasas has observed. Build a techno-social system which demands that humans act like machines and, lo and behold, it turns out that machines can eventually be made to displace humans with relative ease. What it means to be conformed to the pattern of a machine in our work will vary, of course, according to the jobs we do. For me, machine-like malformation might look like laziness in language, sloppiness with facts, sleight of hand in argumentationanything for a shortcut, to increase volume and lessen costs. In other lines of work, the specifics will differ, but guiding values of ruthless speed, bureaucratic adherence to formulae, ease over expertise, and alienation from normal human goods will be the same. Most machines are morally neutral tools, but they should tend to human needs and patterns, not the reverse. To be conformed to the pattern of a machine is, I suspect, a characteristically modern way to conform to the pattern of this world, which is to say, to be oblivious to Gods good, pleasing and perfect will, lacking in sober judgment, forgetful of Gods mercy, and lethargic in worship and service alike (Rom. 12:113). Being transformed by the renewing of our minds isnt newly difficult because of AI and related technologiesas C. S. Lewis put it in Mere Christianity, we were always in for a rough time in the process of sanctification, because we have not yet had the slightest notion of the tremendous thing He means to make of us. But AI will bring new challenges to the imitation of Christ, new incentives to behave in subhuman ways, strange new ways to malform ourselves. The promise of AI, as with many machines, is that itll free us from human labor to do better things. Some labor is good to skip, but some of it is the disciplined, effortful struggle, in Bilbros words, that shapes and strengthens us and aids in our sanctification. Bypassing it wont bring greater freedom but rather a weakness that can lead to vice. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. I want to tell you about a church leader I know. He heads up a ministry at his local church that provides spiritual formation for more than half its adult populationimagine him leading a Korean American ministry in a majority Korean American church, or a Deaf ministry in a majority Deaf church. He plans and executes a full calendar of events and tailored discipleship opportunities, leading teams of volunteers to keep the ministry running. Those he serves love and value him as a leader. They feel seen and understood by him, and he has their trust. While full-time staff at the church oversee smaller, specialized ministries with ample budgets, this leader has remained in a volunteer role for years with a shoestring budget. His church covers seminary tuition for the staff ministry leaders, but he serves with no formal training, practical or theological. The group he serves and belongs to notices the minimal support from the church, and so does he. Except hes not a hebut a she. What I have described is the typical relationship of the womens ministry leader to her local church. Even as women continue to outnumber men in evangelical congregations, the leaders who serve this majority demographic do so with high influence in the pews and low investment from the pastor. A survey of womens ministry leaders released in October from Lifeway Research revealed that 83 percent of them were unpaid, and 86 percent lacked formal theological training of any kind. For churches with more than 500 in attendance, only 29 percent of womens ministry leaders were in paid, full-time positions and another 24 percent were paid part-time. Almost half (46%) received no pay. The findings track with my own experience and with what I hear from the womens ministry leaders I meet in churches all over the country. The Lifeway survey does not compare womens ministry leaders pay to that of other staff members with similar responsibilities, but anecdotally I can tell you of women in these roles learning that their male counterparts were being paid as much as twice their compensation. And while male leaders may receive funds for theological training as part of their professional development, female leaders rarely see the same opportunities. As one seasoned but unpaid leader of a womens ministry at a large church told me recently, Although I had never been asked to consider [seminary], male leadership seemed very happy I was [taking classes] and agreed to pay for my books when I asked. Not by choice, these women often find themselves serving in a leadership vacuum, with no real reporting structure and with church staff who are either disinterested in or uninvolved with the vision and execution of the ministry. They often serve without recognition, without compensation, and without resources. They do so with joy and with little to no expectation of these earthly benefits. But churches value what they commit their wallets to. Lack of investment communicates that ministry to women is nice, but not necessary. I believe such ministry to be essential and indispensable. Heres why: The work of womens ministry is the work of Titus 2, of older women shaping younger women in the faith. The worker is worth her wages. Womens ministry leaders are often the first to be trusted with confessions of victimization, the first line of defense for theologically sound Bible study, the first to ensure meals are taken to the bereaved. They are functional mothers in the family of God. As with our natural mothers, church mothers tend to serve willingly beyond what is asked, with no thought of equity or compensation. We intuitively honor church fathers, the men who lead us. But the fifth commandment compels us to honor both fathers and mothers. We can and should dignify the labors of church mothers as well. Whatever a churchs size, these women are worthy of the honor and compensation that fall within its means. Let it not be said that our churches perpetuated a culture of maternal neglect. Let the family of God honor the work of its mothers by investing in them for the vital work of serving over half of those who pass through church doors. [ This article is also available in Francais. ] Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Godwin Adeboye saw something interesting where residents of Ibadan, a city in southwest Nigeria, were dumping their garbage. At one location where people left trash, the government had posted a sign saying, Do not drop your refuse here. If you do so, the government will charge you. In another spot, someone else had written a different message: If you put your dirty material here, I curse you in the name of my family god. If somebody says, If you dump refuse here, you will die young, lose your fortune, or lose all your children in one day, nobody goes there, because they fear curses, said Adeboye, a pastor and research director at ECWA (Evangelical Church Winning All) Theological Seminary in Igbaja, Nigeria. The weight of curses wasnt just something that Adeboye saw from a distance. When he experienced numerous family members die, seemingly from mysterious causes, many suggested that curses might responsible. These arguments led Adeboye to study this phenomenon from a biblical perspective and author Can a Christian Be Cursed? (Langham, 2023). I wrote this book out of my own experience and what I see my African brothers and sisters experiencing, he said. Many Africans, even Christians, sometimes believe their financial, moral, or marital failures are because a particular spiritual curse is tormenting them, instead of taking personal responsibility. Further, Adeboye felt compelled to address a significant issue in African Christianity from an African Christian perspective. Ive read many books written on African Christianity, and many authors are not empathetic to the African experience, he said. To make the Christian gospel concrete to Africans, we must dialogue with the African experience. Adeboyes recent conversation with global books editor Geethanjali Tupps follows. Tell us a little bit about where you are from in Nigeria. I come from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, home of hundreds of ethnocultural groups and several religious traditions, with strong interreligious tensions. The Yoruba people are a major ethnic group in Nigeria. There are deeply religious Pentecostal and charismatic African church networks founded and headed by many Yoruba people. Most Christians of Yoruba background, like me, have deep African traditional religious backgrounds. Kwara is not only a Yoruba state but a mixed religious and cultural state comprised of Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, and Yoruba ethnic groups, as well as Muslims, Christians, traditionalists, and other religious groups. Article continues below In my community, people have metaphysical explanations for life experiences. Because I had the privilege of accepting the Lord at a very tender age, I therefore have a different answer to life issues. When I face challenging situations, I do not follow the traditional interpretation that attributes life challenges to curses or the devil. What is a curse? How does it manifest in African daily life? Many Africans interpret different life circumstances as expressions of curses. When a married couple cant have a child, for example, they think their family or marriage is cursed. Someone who struggles with alcoholism might believe their parents are cursed. In addition, many believe that names can be cursed. They believe curses can be generational, so sometimes people change their names. African societies have a rich tradition of name-giving. A name reflects certain things about its bearer. Therefore, many Africans believe their name is a spiritual entity that must be purified and blessed. When some people become Christians, for example, they change the name given to them by their un-Christian parents. Many Christians fear curses will be transferred via family names. In indigenous African culture, many things can be cursed: a family, a marriage, land, a building, a place of work, even a church. African Christians become confused because the Bible teaches them that they are new creatures, but when they experience difficult situations, they wonder if what happened to their parents before they became Christians is negatively impacting their lives. How does the Bible discuss curses? For Christians, the response to curses must be Christological. The cross of Christ has paid all debts. However, the Bible shows us clearly that both human grace and individual free will are vital to the human end; that is, the way things will turn out for human beings [is] determined by [both] Gods grace and human response. When humans accept Christ, we are cleansed from curses or generational debt. The first step of deliverance from generational/ancestral curses is to live a transformed life patterned on the Word of God. But the phenomenon of curses can be complicated, and my book outlines how to deal with complex issues relating to curses. What is the relationship between curses and family? Generational curses, or inherited curses, are a belief that negative things that happened to ones forefathers could also happen to those who live in a family (such as sudden death, poverty, accidents, lack of a job, financial instability, family breakdowns). Article continues below I interviewed colleagues from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, Benin Republic, Nigeria, and Congo, and I found that people throughout Africa fear curses, and many Christians believe they are affected by inherited curses. Family is not just a social institution in Africa; family is also a spiritual institution. Marriage is also a spiritual institution. There is a spiritual connection between the father and son, between the mother and son, and they believe when something happens to the father, it can also happen to the son, because they are connected spiritually. Generational curses exist today, but only for those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus. If a person is found in Christ, he or she is a new creature. This freedom in Christ does not negate Christian moral responsibility. When a genuine, born-again child of God undergoes life challenges, it is not due to curses but for the glory of the Lord and his or her spiritual growth. What are witches? In general, for curses to be effective, most Africans believe that the cursed must have offended the curser. However, witches are individuals whose curses may go into effect without any offense. Naturally, people fear them. The fear of curses from witches is not only because they are witches, but many Africans also fear the negative words of any religious leader. African Christians fear their pastors cursing them in prayers. Furthermore, in the prayers in many churches in Africa, curses on enemies take priority. I call this using curses to cure curses in my book. In the Old Testament, we frequently see God proclaim blessings or curses on future generations. How do you reconcile these beliefs of your fellow Africans with Gods words in the Old Testament? At a casual glance, the African idea about curses is similar to Old Testament (OT) examples where God places curses on people. But a closer look reveals critical differences. Yahwehs curses in the OT are largely conditional curses and related to the holiness of God. But in Africa, the majority of curses are unconditional. In my book, I argue that God does not curse his children, even in the OT. The famous Genesis 3 curses, for example, are not curses but punishment. God did not curse Adam or Eve. He cursed the ground, human work, and childbirth. And in the very pronouncement of punishment is the promise of the most significant blessing: the promise of the coming of Christ. Article continues below My book argues Yahwehs curses and blessings in the OT are not automatic or unconditional; they invoke moral responsibility, justice, and divine holiness. Yahwehs curses in the OT should not make us see God as a terrible Being but as a just God. They show that human actions determine their result. African society needs mental liberation on this, because many believe even when the person becomes a Christian, family curses still operate. Do you believe that generational blessings exist today? All over the continent, I have seen prayer mountains, prayer centers, and prayer houses all named after curses. In Nigeria, the name of the church is the center for deliverance from curses. Ive witnessed church programs where instead of preaching the Word of God, the preacher asks members to wash their heads with water so they can be delivered from curses. African Christians pray negatively and not positively. It is not like in the West, where people say, May God bless you. May God provide for your needs. Instead, Africans pray cursing the enemy, such as God, let my enemies die. God, let my enemies sleep and never wake up. So I raised a question in my book: Is it good to use curses to solve curses? My answer is no; we would rather use the Word of God to explain and know God and his Word. What do you make of the Bibles imprecatory prayers? In many respects, African Christians are particularly interested in using imprecatory psalms to reflect and respond to life challenges. These psalms frequently reoccur in the liturgy, sermons, and prayer books of many church denominations, especially the African indigenous churches. These psalms provide a biblical resource for reflection on existential experience and life challenges for many African Christians. However, many of these psalms are often read, applied, and interpreted without considering their historical and theological context. These psalms are not mere negative pronouncements but personal reflections on divine justice by the psalmists on those [they] deemed enemies of God. However, many Africans use these psalms as a resource for personal vengeance, like calling the name of their perceived human enemies while reciting a specific imprecatory psalm (e.g., Psalm 35) for a number of prescribed times. In many instances, if an African has a conflict with a fellow, he or she might choose some imprecatory psalms to curse his opponent. Article continues below I call this using curses to cure curses. In their attempt to deal with the fear of curses, they curse their cursers. Prayer books of many indigenous African churches have prayer points related to cursing ones enemies rather than praying for blessing from God. African Christian theologians have conceptualized the relevance of imprecatory psalms to reflect on African contextual experience, but practical guides on how to properly use these psalms [are] scarce. My book fills the gaps that exist in African Christian theology by providing theological and practical guidance and has a section with practical steps and samples on how to interpret and apply the imprecatory psalms correctly. How do you see the idea of curses existing in a Western context? The phenomenon of curses is not limited to the African context. First, the Western context is no longer purely West due to immigration and intercultural interactions. Second, Western institutional religious beliefs may not have the concept of curses clearly defined, but the idea of curses and their fear is discernible in the lived experiences of some people in the West. The secularism hypothesisthat as societies grow toward technological advancement, humans become less religioushas failed. Being Western is not necessarily equated with being less religious or spiritual. I will be investigating and comparing Western notions of curses versus the African context. How do we overcome these kinds of curses, especially as you see it in your own culture? First, we need belief in and engagement with the Word of God. Christianity is growing in Africa. Some predict in the next few decades, the center of Christianity will be in Africa. But I have concerns. African Christianity is growing in number, but it is not growing in quality. The quantitative growth of African Christianity must be supported by qualitative growth: knowing the Word of God. In African Christianity the top leaders sometimes position themselves above the Word of God. This confuses church members. We must give primacy to the Word of Godnot only in theory but through practices in our liturgy, in our counseling programs, other activities, and in personal study. Second, we must emphasize the doctrine of atonement. African Christians must be reminded that the atonement of Christ is final and supreme. They must be cross-centered and Christ-centered. Moreover, Jesus told his disciples they should carry their cross and follow him. Article continues below Suffering and poverty could be part of our cross; therefore, when African Christians experience challenges, these may be a cross they must carry, not a curse. Third, African leaders must emphasize personal contact and confessional experience. If an individual is truly regenerated by the Holy Spirit, then the possibility of being tormented by curses is unusual. Finally, African Christian church leaders must emphasize missions, evangelism, and discipleship. We must be intentional in discipling new Christians. If we do this, then African Christians will be equipped to deal with the fear of curses. Can a Christian be cursed? If committed to biblical spiritual formation and Christian responsibility, a Christian cannot be cursed. Biblical spiritual formation includes continuous knowing, appreciating, accepting, and acknowledging the salvation work of Christ. Christian victory over curses, whether they are inherited, family, [or] personal curses, is predicated on Christ because Christ is the solution to all our individual and collective challenges. Still, we have roles to play in our personal and collective Christian lives to appropriate our victory in Christ. This is where we must understand and appropriate the Christian concept of moral responsibility. The theology of moral responsibility is not adequately entrenched in contemporary Christianity. Moral responsibility implies that we know that we must improve our spiritual life as we follow Christ. The Bible is clear on reward and punishment mechanisms for us as Christians. We must not do some things; if we do them, there could be negative repercussions. Sometimes, people refer to these repercussions as curses. Christians cannot be cursed because Christ has become a curse for us. But if we trespass the lines of Christs precept, we might suffer the consequences. The Christian life has some demands, and Christians must follow these. A group of 36 United Methodist churches in North Carolina that had sued, demanding to sever their ties to the denomination, have agreed to leave using a plan approved by church leaders in 2019, the Western North Carolina Conference announced. The group, which includes some of the biggest churches in the conference, will formally exit the denomination at a special session of the conference, or regional geographic body, on November 4. United Methodists across the country are mired in a messy divorce over theological differences, mostly regarding ordination and marriage of LGBT Christians. A North Carolina Superior Court judge dismissed the churches case in March, but the churches and the conference continued talking and reached a resolution late last month. The churches will leave the denomination using the denominations exit plan. That plan allows churches to take their properties with them but requires they meet some financial obligations before doing so. The churches were represented by the National Center for Life and Liberty, a legal ministry that is representing thousands of United Methodist churches in multiple states. In May, the center won a lawsuit on behalf of 185 churches in Georgia who challenged a decision by the North Georgia Conference to pause the disaffiliation process. In the North Carolina case, the centers lead counsel, David Gibbs III, had argued that some churches needed to sue because the disaffiliation plan approved by the denomination was too onerous and amounted to ransom. Suing to leave the denomination has not been the standard practice. Most churches wanting to break away from the United Methodist Church have followed the approved plan, known as Paragraph 2553 of the Book of Discipline. That plan expires on December 31. Since 2019, 233 churches have left the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, a region that spans the western half of the state and includes 757 churches. A conference spokesperson said another 100 churchesincluding the 36 that had unsuccessfully suedmay leave in November. While most of the departing churches have been smaller and more rural, the 36 now breaking away include two of the conferences larger churches, Good Shepherd in Charlotte and Weddington United Methodist in a suburb of Charlotte. Wesley Memorial United Methodist in High Point, a historic church, is also departing. Members of Longs Chapel in Waynesville, adjacent to Lake Junaluska, a conference retreat center in the Blue Ridge Mountains are voting on disaffiliation on Sunday. To date, 6,240 US churches have departed the United Methodist Church, the nations second-largest Protestant denomination with some 30,000 churches, or about 20 percent of the total number. Some of the departing churches will likely join the Global Methodist Church, a new denomination formed last year with a more conservative set of beliefs. It takes a traditional view of marriage as between one man and one woman. As of July, the Global Methodist Church counted 3,100 congregations and 3,400 clergy. The Rev. Keith Boyette, the Global Methodist Churchs chief executive, was traveling and unavailable to comment. 'Lying, dog-faced pony soldiers': 5 highlights from Biden's Vietnam press conference President Joe Biden held a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday after meeting with Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. In his remarks, he discussed China, saying he doesn't want to "isolate" or "contain" the communist country and referred to people who have opposing views about global warming as "lying, dog-faced pony soldiers." Here are five highlights from Bidens press conference, including details about a multi-billion dollar solar facility in Angola the president said would be "the largest in the world," and a railroad stretching from India to the Middle East to the Mediterranean and Europe. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Gov. Youngkin pardons Loudoun County dad arrested at school board meeting after daughter's rape Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin granted an absolute pardon to Scott Smith, the Loudoun County father arrested at a school board meeting in 2021 after school district officials lied about his daughter's sexual assault by a boy who entered the girls' bathroom wearing a skirt. Smith's teenage daughter was sexually assaulted by a male student in May 2021, the first of two sexual assault incidents to occur within Loudoun County Public Schools as the district considered and later implemented a trans-inclusive bathroom policy. Youngkin released the pardon Sunday, with the document noting that Smith attended a school board meeting in June 2021, where a community member threatened to spread false and malicious information about Mr. Smith's business with the intent to damage his reputation. Following a verbal confrontation, Smith was charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct. He was later convicted in August 2021 in Loudoun County court. An appeals court, however, disqualified the prosecutor in the original case due to various concerns, including the "integrity of the prosecutions." The document also noted that although the father advocated for his daughter, a victim of assault, he was accused of "domestic terrorism" and "hate crimes." After reviewing the circumstances, Youngkin deemed it "appropriate" to grant an absolute pardon to Smith, stating that it reflects the father's "factual innocence" of disorderly conduct. "Scott Smith is a dedicated parent who's faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter. Scott's commitment to his child despite the immense obstacles is emblematic of the parental empowerment movement that started in Virginia," Youngkin said in a Sunday statement. "In Virginia, parents matter and my resolve to empower parents is unwavering." "A parent's fundamental right to be involved in their child's education, upbringing, and care should never be undermined by bureaucracy, school divisions or the state. I am pleased to grant Scott Smith this pardon and help him and his family put this injustice behind them once and for all." In response to a Monday inquiry from The Christian Post, a Loudoun County Public Schools spokesperson directed the outlet to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. As CP previously reported, Smith's daughter was the victim of the first sexual assault incident, which took place on May 28, 2021, at Stone Bridge High School, and the assailant was transferred to another school. The same male student who assaulted Smith's daughter attacked another female student at Broad Run High School on Oct. 6, 2021. Parents expressed concerns during a June 2021 school board meeting about Policy 8040, a proposal that was later enacted that allows trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their preferred gender identity. Ziegler informed parents, "We don't have any records of assaults occurring in our restrooms." Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman asserted in a November 2022 letter to the superintendent that Ziegler knew about the first sexual assault, citing an email he sent to the school board in May 2021 about the incident. After assuming office in 2022, Youngkin issued an executive order calling for an investigation into the sexual assault incidents at LCPS. Following a special grand jury report, LCPS fired Superintendent Ziegler. The grand jury indicted Ziegler after investigating whether the school official had lied to parents about the sexual assaults. In addition to Ziegler, the grand jury indicted the school system's public information officer, Wayde Byard, who was later acquitted in June. The school district's handling of the sexual assaults garnered national media attention, and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., referenced it during an October 2021 Senate Judiciary Committee. Cotton brought up Smith's arrest while questioning Attorney General Merrick Garland about a Department of Justice memo promising to increase enforcement against reportedly violent behavior at school board meetings. The senator asked Garland about the incident and whether he would apologize to Smith and his teenage daughter. And the attorney general responded that rape is a "horrific crime" and that the father is protected by the First Amendment. Nigeria: Terrorists kill Christian couple in Taraba State, 6 kidnapped in attack ABUJA, Nigeria Terrorists entering a town in Taraba state, Nigeria at about 2 a.m. on Sunday killed two Christians, wounded several others and kidnapped six people, sources said. Six Christians were kidnapped by terrorists in the Mile Six area of Jalingo, area resident Emmanuel Moses told Morning Star News in a text message. These terrorists, too, killed two Christians, one Balanko Alex and his wife, while many other Christians were injured during the attack. John Hussaini, another resident of the area, stated the same information, adding that on Friday two other Christians were kidnapped on Takum Road between Manya and Gangum. Abdullahi Usman, spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command, confirmed the killing of the couple on Sunday and the kidnappings. The gunmen gained access to the house of the victims scaling over the fence, Usman said in a press statement. They killed the owner of the house, Balanko Alex, and his wife, and kidnapped other persons. The police command has put in place mechanisms to fast-track the arrest of the bandits and kidnappers. Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on June 25 killed 20 Christians in Taraba states town of Takum. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation. Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. This April 24, 2019 file photo released by press office of the administration of Primorsky Krai region, shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un leaving a train carriage after arriving at the border station of Khasan, Primorsky Krai region, Russia. AP-Yonhap A special train believed to be carrying North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have departed for Russia, a South Korean government official said Monday. "The intelligence authorities believe the train presumed to be carrying Kim Jong-un is moving to Vladivostok," the official told Yonhap News Agency. Another senior official confirmed that Kim appears to have departed Pyongyang and is headed to Russia. Still, there has been no word from Pyongyang and Moscow on Kim's possible trip to Russia. North Korea has yet to disclose whether its leader has started his possible train trip, which is expected to take 20 hours or more. The New York Times has reported that Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok, possibly by armored train this month, for talks with Putin about the possibility of supplying Russia with more weaponry for its war in Ukraine and other military cooperation. Earlier in the day, Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Kim is likely to visit Russia's Far East "in the coming days," citing multiple regional sources. South Korea's defense ministry also said Monday it sees the "possibility" of a summit between Kim and Putin. The assessment came amid media reports that Kim and Putin could hold a summit on the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok this week. If confirmed, the trip would mark the first such visit to Russia by Kim in nearly 4 1/2 years and his first trip abroad since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pyongyang has recently been seeking to bolster military ties with Moscow in the wake of growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan. (Yonhap) Christian charity helps over 6K sex trafficking survivors find safety, healing In the last 12 years, a faith-based organization has worked with thousands of sex trafficking survivors to guide them toward a place of healing thanks to three women who heard horrendous stories and decided they wanted to make an impact. Selah Freedom was founded in 2011 after one of its founders, Laurie Swink, heard stories about trafficking victims and realized they needed a safe place to recover. Unable to sleep due to the weight of the issue on her heart, Swink founded the nonprofit alongside two other women. "So that's how Selah Freedom got started," Executive Director Stacey Efaw told The Christian Post in an interview. "Three women hearing about a horrible issue and deciding they were going to make a change." The nonprofit is based in Florida and the Midwest, offering a variety of resources to survivors, including counseling services and a safe environment through its residential program. Since the organization's founding in 2011, Selah Freedom has helped more than 6,000 trafficking survivors. Efaw said individuals can still go through the program without living at the organization's facility in Florida if they already have a safe place to stay as they go through the experience. The executive director said that Selah Freedom currently has 40 women and one man receiving counseling through the organization without living on campus. The cost of trafficking victims going through the entire program Selah Freedom offers, which includes housing, is $100,000 a year per survivor. According to Efaw, Selah Freedom partners with various agencies in the United States, including the National Trafficking Shelter Alliance. While a majority of the nonprofit is government-funded, the organization also receives financial support from individual donors, and raises money through fundraising events. Local police departments that work with Selah Freedom provide the nonprofit with referrals to help it connect with human trafficking survivors. "If there's a prostitution sting, we'll go out with them on the sting," Efaw said. "Often, that's where survivors are found. We go into the jails weekly and have jail groups, and anybody who has been arrested for prostitution, we meet with." Efaw said that trafficking victims may also call the organization through its hotline after receiving a referral through another network. Selah Freedom has two campuses. One is a short-term campus, where all participants stay for six to nine weeks before they are presented with the option of transferring to a long-term facility. Some survivors may prefer to leave the area, as the location may be the site where they were trafficked. Many of the participants at the short-term campus typically were in a detox shelter or jail before coming to the facility, according to the director. During survivors' stay at the short-term housing facility, the staff allows them time to process everything while gradually counseling them as they contemplate their next steps. "Sometimes we get survivors that have been arrested for prostitution, and then later, after working with them, they'll admit that they were being trafficked," Efaw said. "They're often very afraid to admit it." Efaw said the counseling services the group offers range from trauma therapy to regular mental healthcare that deals with treating complex emotions, such as anger, and guiding the survivors on how to build healthy relationships. "And then we have group therapy, too, which is helpful," Efaw said. "We also have a spiritual counselor if they want to focus on their relationship with God, or they are just looking to explore that area." The organization is open to helping people of all faiths, Efaw said, and women can still receive their help even if they're not Christian. She estimated that about half of the women who go through the program attend church, and if they desire a more spiritual component, the option is there, but it's not forced on them. "They need someone that loves them, is not judging them," Efaw said about the more secular survivors the organization has helped. "And we just try to show God's love through our work." Female inmate sexually assaulted by trans prisoner in New Jersey, lawsuit claims A lawsuit alleges a female inmate was sexually assaulted by a biologically male transgender prisoner in a New Jersey womens prison, accusing the states Department of Corrections and prison staff of failing to intervene. The unidentified woman filed the lawsuit against the New Jersey Department of Corrections late last month in Hunterdon County Superior Court, The New York Post and MyCentralJersey reported. She claims the assault occurred at the now-closed Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Clinton in September and October 2022. The lawsuit accuses the department and prison guards of not taking corrective action against the sexually aggressive and harassing behaviors of transgender inmates with "fully functioning male anatomy." Two other female inmates at the facility also became pregnant due to sexual interactions with transgender [prisoners], the lawsuit stated, as reported by My Central Jersey. The plaintiff, incarcerated since 2003, claims she reported the assaults to Edna Mahan employees but faced disciplinary retaliation charges instead. According to James Wronko, the attorney who filed the suit, transgender inmates were housed in areas without security cameras. The alleged assailant has since been transferred to a male facility. Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the closure of Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in June 2021 following multiple sexual and physical abuse scandals. No new location for the prison has been announced. The project is estimated to cost around $300 million, with Murphy requesting $90 million in this years fiscal budget to build a replacement. In a separate lawsuit, another inmate claimed she was forced to perform a sexual act on a male guard. The guard allegedly turned off his body camera and threatened the inmate, stating she did not want to leave with missing teeth, according to My Central Jersey. New Jersey requires its prisons to house inmates based on their self-declared gender identity rather than biological sex. This policy came as part of a settlement in the lawsuit Sonia Doe v. New Jersey Department of Corrections, filed by a trans-identified biologically male prisoner incarcerated in mens prisons for over 18 months. The settlement also included a payment of $45,000 in attorney fees and $125,000 in damages to Doe. The NJDOC said at the time that the updated policy was a positive development to ensure the health, safety and dignity of transgender, intersex and non-binary inmates. However, the policy change sparked concerns about womens safety in prisons. Leanna DeLorenzo, the New Jersey state contact for the U.S. Chapter of the Womens Human Rights Campaign, argued that the policy disregarded the safety and well-being of female inmates. She told CP in an email that being a woman is not a feeling but a reality and criticized the policy for allowing men to be housed with women based on their self-declared gender identity. Similar policies are in place in other states, including California and Washington. Last July, a 27-year-old trans-identified male, Demi Minor, who allegedly impregnated two women while incarcerated at a womens prison in New Jersey, was transferred to New Jerseys Youth Correctional Facility, a Burlington County prison for young adult offenders. The transfer came three months after NJ.com reported that two women at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility became pregnant after consensual sexual relationships with another incarcerated person. Pentagon reportedly eyeing 'massive' drone program to strike 1,000 targets in 24 hours in potential war with China Prophecy expert says use of drone technology may point to coming tribulation period The United States military may soon have the capability to attack its adversaries with thousands of drones simultaneously in a development that could have not just geopolitical but prophetic consequences as well. In a presentation delivered at the National Defense Industrial Association conference held Aug. 28, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the U.S. is working toward a massive drone program that would allow the military to locate and strike 1,000 targets in a 24-hour period using cheap drones, according to a report for U.S. defense industry trade outlet Defense One. Using land, air and sea drones, Hicks told the conference the U.S. needs to counter what it sees as Chinas most important asset in any potential war: More ships. More missiles. More people. Under the Replicator initiative, the Department of Defense is working to create inexpensive unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the multiple thousands by 2025. The initiative, said Hicks, is aimed at countering Chinas buildup with a mass of our own and a more nimble military. "To stay ahead, we're going to create a new state of the art just as America has before leveraging attritable, autonomous systems in all domains which are less expensive, put fewer people in the line of fire and can be changed, updated or improved with substantially shorter lead times," Hicks said in a Defense Department statement. Navy Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the conference that China is focused very clearly on delivering a force capable to take on the United States and that officials with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) are working to meet that challenge. Aquilino said that means preparing to hit a large number of targets across a large geographical area. Here's a metric for me: 1,000 targets for 24 hours, he reportedly told the conference. While swarming drone technology already exists and has been used for events like the Super Bowl and as a safer replacement for fireworks, its military application will have the ability to replicate the process of manufacturing thousands of drones for swarming, according to Doug Beck of the DODs Defense Innovation Unit. Replicator is obviously about replicating those things, but it's also [about] replicating that capability, because having to solve that problem that way, you've also got to create the capability to solve problems, Beck was quoted as telling National Defense magazine. Its no secret that the military has been working on drone technology along with using artificial intelligence to analyze drone footage since at least 2018. But what does this new technology have to do with the End Times - or does it? Todd Hampson of the "Prophecy Pros Podcast" said while Scripture doesnt overtly reference drone swarms and other UAV technology, it could point to a future, as-yet-unknown technology during the reign of the coming world leader depicted in the book of Revelation. The Antichrist is seen in Revelation Chapter 6 as having a bow but no arrows. This, I believe, indicates that he will come on the scene as a man of peace at first. He will win over the masses without the threat of war, initially, Hampson told CP. But then in the very next seal judgment it says, to him was given a large sword. This clearly indicates that he will then be given control of the world's most powerful military technology and forces, he added. This could include [artificial intelligence], drone technology, nuclear weapons, and other yet-unseen technologies. While some prophecy teachers see a drone-like technology emerging in Revelation 9, Hampson said he disagrees. The context is clear that these are some type of literal demonic locusts that come out of the abyss, he added. Whatever your position on eschatology, Hampson, whose latest book The Non-Prophet'sGuide to the Book of Daniel is set to debut Oct. 3, said its clear from current events that the world is moving closer to that historical climax known as the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord that future time of God's judgment on Earth is clearly approaching, he said. Thankfully, the rapture will occur first and that will be the domino that sets all final End Time events in motion. Now more than ever, we need to leverage the news of the day to point people to Christ for salvation. De-conversions and the knowledge of the truth Recently, I watched a video by a young former pastor who has renounced his Christian faith. He was gracious and not hostile toward evangelicals. Rather, he explained why he had jettisoned his relationship with Jesus. The reason came down to this: How could a loving God reject people who were sincere in whatever faith they held? Would He truly condemn them because they understood Him differently than those professing faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? In a word, this young mans issue was not the historical credibility of the resurrection of Jesus or the reliability of the Exodus narrative. Instead, he was offended by the idea that a God of mercy would not welcome into eternal life everyone who seemed to be earnest in whatever faith they have. Put simply, this former pastor decided to create a new god, one in his own image. In reading various de-conversion stories, accounts by and about people who have left their once-vibrant Christian faith, Im struck by this persistent theme. Its not about the reasonableness of Christianity, its intellectual coherence, or the credibility of its propositional claims. Rather, the Exvangelicals come to a point where their dislike of certain doctrines or practices emboldens them to abandon their walks with Christ. They jettison their faith because it does not comport with their preferences. Or, put another way, the God of Scripture is not Who they want Him to be. Former evangelical pastor Rob Bell turned from biblical faith several years ago by denying the reality of Hell. None of us like to imagine people suffering for all eternity. It seems excessive and even inconsistent with the nature of the God Who is love. Yet God is also holy, infinitely pure, and therefore rightfully enraged by our sin. He cannot turn a blind eye to human evil. In sum, God is not like us. He cannot denigrate the purity of His character by acting as though our transgressions really arent a big deal, a grandfather in the sky who pats us on the shoulder and tells us to behave a little better. And thats the sticking point: the eternal Triune God is not concerned with conforming to our expectations. His character is not malleable, and He is not accountable to us for what He does. Consider the story of Job. God allows Jobs entire family to be murdered, his vast wealth stolen, and his health broken. Job calls out to God, demanding to know why He has permitted these things given that he, Job, has been so faithful to Him. God is uncompelled to justify Himself to Job. Instead, He says, Will the faultfinder (Job) contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it (Job 40:1). Similarly, when Paul debates with an imaginary rhetorical opponent about Gods sovereignty and human free will, the apostle does not try to dissect something beyond mans grasp. Instead, he affirms that there is no injustice with God and asks, Who are you, o man, to answer back to God? (Romans 9:14, 20). But this same God is infinitely loving and desires no one to perish but all to come to repentance and faith in His Son (II Peter 3:9). This is why He invites us into relationship with Himself. In His great, undeserved kindness, God has revealed Himself to us. His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made, Paul asserts (Romans 1:20). His power, intelligence, and love are displayed in a world that is complex, ordered, and abundant. The heavens, the work of His fingers, declare His glory (Psalms 8:4, 19:1). He has revealed Himself in our very natures, with the weight of moral duty written on our hearts (Romans 2:15) and eternity placed within them (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He has revealed His character and desires, His demands, and His offer of everlasting life, in the pages of text composed by numerous men over the course of many centuries. The Bible is His written revelation. Most profoundly, He has revealed Himself in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Man and Son of God, sinless and righteous, Who took the penalty for sin we deserve as He died on the cross and Whose resurrection heralded His victory over sin, death, and the devil. Trusting in Him and Him alone for forgiveness, we receive life, eternal life, that He alone can give. This is news so grand that it invites adoration of the One offering it. It should create in us a longing to know and follow Him, not turn our backs on Him because He does not seek to appease our finite indignation about things we cant grasp. Would you really want to serve a God so eager to be liked He debases His majesty to plead for our approval? A man can no more diminish Gods glory by refusing to worship Him, wrote C.S. Lewis, than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word darkness on the walls of his cell. He is Who He is and invites us to know Him and thats the best news of all. Originally published at The Washington Stand. (CP) Iraqi Christian leaders convened with a United Nations team and international representatives in Iraq's Kurdistan Region to discuss ongoing investigations into ISIS' targeted genocide against Christians, which was described as "barbaric attacks, rooted in hate and inhumanity." The United Nations Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL, or UNITAD, organized the conference, which also included political leaders from various countries. UNITAD Special Adviser Christian Ritscher revealed the investigation's findings, saying ISIS had destroyed Christian cultural heritage in Mosul and the Ninawa plains (also known as Nineveh plains). Churches, monasteries, cemeteries, manuscripts and Christian symbols were targeted in what Ritscher described as "barbaric attacks, rooted in hate and inhumanity," the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern noted in a statement. Safeen Dizayee, head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Department of Foreign Relations, emphasized Kurdistan's role as a refuge for Iraq's Christians. "Christians are the indigenous people of this land and must continue their lives with dignity and security," Dizayee said. Dindar Zebari, the Kurdistan Regional Government's Coordinator for International Advocacy, said the majority of the remaining 200,000 Christians in Iraq have taken refuge in Kurdistan. Zebari recounted the history of Christian persecution in Iraq, noting that displacement due to terrorism peaked after ISIS' attacks in 2014. UNITAD's conference gathered over 30 Christian community leaders and international representatives from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Hungary and the European Union. Ritscher commended the resilience of the Christian community. "Your togetherness and your resilience are inspirational, not just to the Christian community in Iraq, but also to us at UNITAD," he said, according to UNITAD's press release. Ritscher also mentioned that individual case files for ISIS members involved in crimes against Christians are being developed. These identities are corroborated by testimonial evidence and internal ISIS documents. U.S. Consul General Mark Stroh and French Acting Consul General Rodolphe Richard reiterated their countries' support for UNITAD's investigations. Both emphasized the importance of investigating crimes against the Christian community and other minorities in Iraq. During the conference, UNITAD investigators provided updates on their progress. They discussed modern tools and methodologies used in international crime investigations. Christian leaders at the conference shared recommendations on evidence gathering and witness accounts. They stressed the importance of documenting ISIS' international crimes against the Christian community to hold perpetrators accountable in court. At last year's G20 event centered on religions' role in helping solve global problems, the Most Rev. Bashar Warda, the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil, warned that Christianity in Iraq was "on the very edge of extinction." During his remarks at the G20 Religion Forum in Bali, Indonesia, in November, the archbishop stressed that "sectarian violence" was a significant problem in Iraq. This country suffered the rise of an Islamic State stronghold during the last decade in which thousands of Iraqi religious minorities were killed, enslaved or forced to flee their homelands. "Without an end to this sectarian violence, there is no future for religious pluralism in Iraq, or anywhere else in the Mideast for that matter," he said. "The brutal logic of this is that there does eventually reach an end point where there are no minorities left to kill, and no minorities left to persecute." Warda added, "As I share with you this experience, I pray that you will find in our story a clear warning to you all." He noted that after around 1,900 years of existing in the region, "we Christians of Iraq now find ourselves on the very edge of extinction." Although Christians in Iraq once numbered around 1.5 million, that number has fallen to below 200,000 today as the Christian population has deteriorated since the United States military intervention began in 2003. U.S. forces and their allies killed at least 686 Islamic State suspects in Iraq and Syria in 2022 "to degrade the terror group's ability to direct and inspire destabilizing attacks in the region and globally," according to the U.S. Central Command. The Christian Post Terrorists kill Christian couple in Nigeria Terrorists entering a town in Taraba state, Nigeria at about 2 a.m. on Sunday killed two Christians, wounded several others and kidnapped six people, sources said."Six Christians were kidnapped by terrorists in the Mile Six area of Jalingo," area resident Emmanuel Moses told Morning Star News in a text message. "These terrorists, too, killed two Christians, one Balanko Alex and his wife, while many other Christians were injured during the attack." John Hussaini, another resident of the area, stated the same information, adding that on Friday two other Christians were kidnapped on Takum Road between Manya and Gangum. Abdullahi Usman, spokesman for the Taraba State Police Command, confirmed the killing of the couple on Sunday and the kidnappings. "The gunmen gained access to the house of the victims scaling over the fence," Usman said in a press statement. "They killed the owner of the house, Balanko Alex, and his wife, and kidnapped other persons. The police command has put in place mechanisms to fast-track the arrest of the bandits and kidnappers." Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on June 25 killed 20 Christians in Taraba state's town of Takum. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. "Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery," the WWL report noted. "This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation... Nigeria's government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians' rights are carried out with impunity." Morning Star News The paedophile editor and the sound of silence Can you imagine the fuss that would be made if a well known editor of a major newspaper, education expert and well known commentator on politics and current affairs was to be found guilty of being a long term paedophile? Especially when that editor had written many articles which argued that allegations of paedophilia were often witch hunts against innocent people. If you were relying on the British media you would largely have to imagine, because whilst one of their own, Peter Wilby, former editor of the Independent on Sunday and The New Statesman has been convicted of possessing images of children being raped, the reporting of this has been somewhat muted. Wilby was also a Guardian columnist and used his position as an education 'expert' to denigrate and cast suspicion on those who dared to bring up accusations of child sexual abuse. Every moral and sane person will find Wilbys' crimes and hypocrisy utterly reprehensible, yet to say they have been underreported would itself be underreporting. The silence has been deafening. Liz Hodgkinson on Conservative Woman asks the pertinent question "Why so little MSM outrage about this vile paedophile? There are surely double standards at play here? If this had been a bishop, a Catholic priest, an evangelical pastor or a government minister, the Guardian, BBC and others would have had it as headline news. Is it because he was a hero of the liberal/progressive left that they keep quiet about him? Are they scared that complaining about child sexual abuse is somehow now 'right wing'? In the same way that they vilified the hit film Sound of Freedom because they did not want to be tainted with the slightest whiff of QAnon, are they reluctant to admit that paedophiles sometimes hide among the powerful academics and journalists? Hodgkinson, a journalist herself, remembered Wilby using this tactic of casting doubts on people who made claims of sexual abuse in children's homes, and compared them to those making baseless conspiracy theories about Satanic abuse. Wilby even commended and endorsed a book by Richard Webster, an academic, who claimed that many abuse claims were false. The equivalent today would be to accuse the accusers and provide a smokescreen for the abusers, by attempting to smear all such accusations as Qanon conspiracy theorists. There is another double standard here: Wilby was given an incredibly lenient sentence a 10-month prison sentence suspended for two years with 40 hours of rehabilitation. Let's not forget this is for having material which showed real children being horrifically sexually abused. As Alan Sprague of the National Crime Agency pointed out, "He was viewing this content while working as the editor of prominent national news outlets, a role in which he was entrusted to form the news agenda for the British public. A trust which he has greatly betrayed." Those who have greater power and responsibility surely deserve greater punishment, not less? It's a strange world where you can go to jail for misgendering someone, but purchasing and watching real child abuse only deserves a slap on the wrist! Let's demonstrate these double standards in another way. Imagine that the Archbishop of Canterbury or a senior government minister had written a public letter in which they declared it "courageous" to challenge "the assumption that all sex involving children and adults is abusive"; and talked happily about "several of my friends gay and straight male and female [who] had sex with adults from the ages of 9 to 14", before writing, "None feel they were abused." Imagine this letter then finished by stating that "whilst it may be impossible to condone paedophilia, it is time society acknowledged the truth that not all sex involving children is unwanted, abusive and harmful." Our media would have been at the head of the pack calling for the author's resignation and doubtless the police would have been involved. But while the letter is real (published in the Guardian in 1997), the author is not the Archbishop of Canterbury but the gay rights activist, Peter Tatchell. And instead of being investigated by the police, he has been made the poster boy for the Metropolitan Police's new "LGBT Community Liaison Officers". Tatchell of course denies that he supports child sex, but his statements in several articles and speeches, as well as the infamous Guardian letter, make his critics continue to doubt this claim. None more so than those he made in a more recent article published in the International Business Times in 2015 where among other things he declares that "a useful sex and relationship education mantra might be: 'It's my body. It's my right to decide.'" The same Peter Tatchell who thinks that adults cannot consent to 'conversion therapy' or prayer, thinks that children should be taught that it's their body and they can consent to sex. Tatchell does not accept that child sexual abuse is right but he does seem to question whether all child sex is abuse. His views may not be the most horrific, but they do lead us down a dangerous path one which ends in the pit of Hell. Recently I had a conversation with a social worker who described such horrific sexual and physical abuse of children that I could not write it down without feeling ill. You don't have to believe every conspiracy theory to accept that such real and horrific abuse goes on and is far more prevalent than most of us would like to think. As Christians we must speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves and bring justice to a world where so many of the vulnerable are treated unjustly. It doesn't help when the powerful keep silent because they are scared of what their contemporaries might say, or seek to justify the unjustifiable. The normalisation of paedophilia as a 'sexuality' is just around the corner. We must fight tooth and nail to prevent that corner being turned. President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home Monday after visiting Indonesia and India to attend summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Group of 20 (G20). Yoon traveled to Jakarta on the first leg of the trip to attend a South Korea-ASEAN summit, an ASEAN Plus Three summit and an East Asia Summit, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening ties with the 10 ASEAN member states and the wider Indo-Pacific region. From Jakarta, Yoon traveled to New Delhi, where he attended the G20 summit and made additional financial pledges toward the fight against climate change and aid for Ukraine. Yoon used the multilateral gatherings to urge the international community to respond firmly to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and to seek support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern city of Busan. Yoon was accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee. (Yonhap) An AI center of excellence With generative AI front and center right now, Fariha Rizwan knows time is of the essence and his team needs buy-in and budgets for infrastructure and control of resources to manage the data science lifecycle. Rizwan, CIO of Z2C Ltd., a Karachi, Pakistan-based venture firm that accelerates growth for marketing technology (martech) startups, decided that developing an AI center of excellence model would be a critical step in building digital literacy in the organization. Fariha Rizwan, CIO, Z2C Z2C ChatGPT is a massive step forward for business awareness, she says. Delivering AI products will take more than technology. As Rizwan sees it, CoEs solve five problems: They promote data and model literacy across the business; data science workflows get standardized; innovation initiatives are better supported and prioritized; AI can scale to handle more use cases; and the total cost of AI initiatives is reduced. The CoE is specifically targeted at educating Z2Cs C-suite and the senior leadership of the various martech ventures in their portfolio of companies in the MENAP region. Literacy exercises and educational sessions rotate between feature launches, demonstrating the clear link between our team and building an MVP, Rizwan says. Every time a new feature is shipped or a new technology product is launched, the AI CoE team holds a town hall session for the entire company. The principal stakeholder for Rizwans budget approvals is the CFO, who gets buy-in from the CSO and the chairman for the strategy behind business goals attached to products, she says. Additionally, members of the C-suite participate in monthly sprint sessions detailing the features shipped and the UX analytics that measure feature acceptance, while reinforcing the basic data science tenets and emphasis on value creation, she says. They also drive home the role of the AI CoE, the ROI of standardizing data science workflows, the ROI of when innovation initiatives are better supported and prioritized, and the ROI of utilizing AI to scale apps/products so they can scale to handle more use cases, Rizwan says. These exercises repeatedly reinforce the connection between the CFOs team and value creation to signal the role IT plays in the overall business strategy, she adds. Developing a common language and vocabulary Like Z2C, Aflac is planning to offer informational sessions on ChatGPT as well as on the companys cloud journey for some of the board committees at their request. The goal is to gain an understanding of how theyre being leveraged inside our company as well as gaining an understanding of any risks and opportunities we need to be looking out for, says Shelia Anderson, CIO of Aflac US. Shelia Anderson, CIO, Aflac US Aflac US Tech literacy is important because it helps to bridge the gap between business and technology, she says. It helps to bring a shared understanding of technology, the drivers behind technology and also helps to explain the investment in technology and the associated value. Another educational approach that works well is implementing a core curriculum around specific tech disciplines. Anderson hasnt begun offering that yet as she has only been with the company for about a year but says past experiences have shown her that focus sessions are very successful. They include everything from what is technical debt, to a leverage of newer and emerging technologies to ChatGPT to transformation programs inside of technology, she says. It takes more time to do them, but I find them [to be] a much more rapid approach to get that full immersion with business and technology. Those sessions are usually jointly attended and facilitated largely by IT, Anderson says. The greatest issue in trying to get a program going is the challenge of time, because all the business leaders are very busy, she notes. Anderson believes, though, that once they see the value of digital literacy, it will be very well received. The primary benefits of digital literacy efforts are to build trust and relationships and get to a common language and shared vocabulary. Another is much more around a shared understanding of what prioritization means in the business; why its important to prioritize certain initiatives over others, and ultimately, that does tie into budget, Anderson says. The process starts with developing an understanding of where the perceived or actual literacy gaps are: And the thing that absolutely addresses that is having a very focused, almost curriculum approach to addressing some of those gaps, she says. What doesnt work is having a more disjointed view of what you think the business needs to know, Anderson says. You really need to spend that time asking [business leaders] the questions and then build your education and curriculum however you choose to do it, whether its in person, whether you build an online digital currency or fluency program. You have to get that understanding first. Taking a three-pronged approach Working with some really smart academics, Hussmans Seals came up with three steps for measuring digital intelligence: digital literacy, digital vision, and digital champion. Digital literacy is understanding the technology in terms of how it impacts your business; digital vision is how to apply it in your business; and digital champion is someone who is able to get others motivated, he says. In terms of the latter, research squarely shows that any innovation needs a strong internal champion or it wont be successful, Seals says. IT leaders need to be champions behind this digital technology and so I need to have a vision on how to apply that in my organization, he says. Seals own research has shown that organizations that have a strong digital vision from the business leaders are much more likely to succeed in a digital transformation journey than those that arent, he says. The focus of his doctorate work was on how legacy companies effectively drive digital transformation with a focus on leadership processes and leadership digital acuity. But the paradox Seals found is that legacy organizations arent digital, so I need [business] leaders to understand the core business and then elevate their education around digital technologies. He is still figuring out the how-to part. There are formal processes and tools that may be embedded at Hussman, such as, for example, Business Model Canvas, which defines the customer value proposition of a strategic initiative, Seals says. He is optimistic that as one of the champions, he will be able to achieve digital literacy in the C-suite. Our leadership team is becoming more aware and more literate. We have a very strong business vision on how to execute against it and we certainly have champions. Were early on in the execution of that vision but we built a foundation that will help us succeed, he says. One example is the deployment of electronic shelf labels to Hussmans retailers. Seals says they are seeing significant traction in the North American market. Initiatives are reviewed at least monthly and while he declines to provide further specifics, Seals says, Weve embedded the digital strategies into our leadership execution cadence. For Seals, it is also personally rewarding because educating business leaders on digital technologies creates a new level of excitement for a 117-year-old company. Its incredibly fulfilling because were working on some exciting things and Im seeing this organization develop in new ways. Taking an ad hoc approach Digital literacy takes time and at Rosendin, a national electrical and communications contracting firm, the approach is slow but steady. CIO Matt Lamb is focusing on educating the C-suite in three areas: cybersecurity, AI, and data. Matt Lamb, CIO, Rosendin Rosendin But right now, Lamb characterizes it as ad hoc education. Its more about answering questions based on what executives are seeing in the news, he says. Theyre coming back and asking, Are we safe, how are we leveraging AI, how are we using data? As various questions come up, IT takes advantage of the opportunity to discuss these topics in more depth. Lamb also provides materials and articles and shares what he learns at conferences. For now, digital literacy at Rosendin is a work in progress. Theres certain times when [leaders are] very interested and there is an ongoing dialogue with really good conversations occurring, and then theres times when I get too deep and I lose the audience, he says. Thats on me I have to know my audience and not geek out too hard. As Lamb figures out which approach makes the most sense, he is optimistic that the effort will be worth it. Everything is positive. We have a forward-thinking leadership and board that is supportive of technology and when it comes to budget time, things are easier. The art and science behind investment decisions When an organization develops data fluency, more effective decision-making occurs at every level of the organization, from the CEO to the intern, says Evan Huston, chief digital officer and CTO of luxury mattress company Saatva. Evan Huston, CDO and CTO, Saatva Saatva The ability to interpret, communicate, and apply data effectively serves to optimize decision-making and helps an organization make more effective investments, Huston says. There is an art and a science behind each investment decision. Too often, business leaders operate by gut feel without the science part, which lowers their win rate. One of the key components to fostering a data-driven culture is to make data accessible through a user-friendly business intelligence tool while developing the organizations data fluency, he says. When this is done well, decision-makers with the most context about the decision they are trying to make are able to develop their data fluency and self-serve their needs quickly, Huston says. Fast decision-making is a [tenet] of a data-fluent organization and has many benefits, including improved efficiency, reduced stress, and increased business success. At Saatva, Huston is targeting everyone for education but his approach is different for different levels of the organization. For example, for the board and senior management, he says its important to have business facts at the ready to inform decisions that happen more rapidly. At times, significant investment decisions are determined in hallway-type conversations, Huston explains. As the chief technologist, its important your contribution goes beyond gut feel. Other managers and strategic operators are more likely to spend time mining your BI tool for insights so they must be armed with the ability to do that. He says all his time is devoted to operating in a digital- and data-fluent manner: When you are in a leadership role, your behavior permeates throughout your team and organization so its critical to lead by example. The top diplomats of South Korea and Russia held consultations to discuss regional security on the Korean Peninsula and other pending bilateral issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. Foreign Minister Park Jin and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, met on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) meeting in India on Sunday (local time) amid speculation North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Vladivostok to meet President Vladimir Putin this week for a potential arms deal. At their meeting, Park stressed that Russia-North Korea ties should "advance in the direction of contributing to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the East Asia region" while complying with U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. He also urged Russia's "constructive" cooperation in the UNSC to resolve the North Korean issue as Seoul is set to serve as a non-permanent member of the council from 2024 to 2025. (Yonhap) Bahrain EDB As cloud adoption grows, its impact on economies and businesses is starting to show that digital transformation can make good on the utopian promises of innovation and improved public services. Those who demand to see hard facts that prove the power of cloud should examine Bahrain. A new IDC study details the Kingdoms sustained effort to build a future-ready technology ecosystem, which analysts describe as a remarkable achievement. The economy of Bahrain, an archipelago of islands in the Arabian Gulf, has always been open and diversified, with particular strengths in financial services, manufacturing and logistics. The countrys strategic pivot to digital transformation, being the first in the region to adopt a Cloud-First policy, attracted AWS to setup in-country data centers, further accelerating the adoption of cloud services, which is expected to contribute $1.2 billion revenue to Bahrains GDP by 2026, according to IDCs Economic Impact study. So why did AWS select Bahrain? Bahrains leading position in the digitization of its economy, owing to its Cloud-First policy and forward-thinking on data regulation and stance on sustainability made it a natural choice. Supported by the nations Labor Fund Tamkeen, it also benefits from a workforce that is young, highly skilled, bi-lingual and tech savvy alongside a diverse expat talent pool offering a global perspective. Bahrain was also quick to foster the resulting potential for foreign direct investment (FDI). Compared with regional peers, Bahrain has always punched above its weight in this respect. AWS launched its first Region in the Middle East with three availability zones in 2019, enabling Middle East organizations to meet business continuity and disaster recovery requirements and build available, fault-tolerant, and scalable applications from Bahrain. In turn, Bahrains investment in digital transformation, and continued focus on attracting key projects like AWS while developing key sectors as part of its overall growth and diversification plans, acted as an economic force multiplier. By 2022, on the basis of the economys superior skills base, Citi chose Bahrain as the location for its Global Technology Hub, also a first in the region, which aims to employ 1,000 native programmers over the next decade. This year, Singapore-based Whampoa Group also selected Bahrain as the HQ location for its new digital bank. More recently, the effort to continue to maintain an attractive investment environment in Bahrain has continued with the governments launch of the Golden License, which offers large-scale investors privileges and benefits including prioritized allocation of land for the investment project, and streamlined access to the provision of infrastructure and utilities. Bahrain also became the first country in the region to implement a multi-cloud and hybrid cloud system in the government sector to bolster business continuity, availability of government systems, as well as reduce operational costs. The story of success From the start, the Bahraini governments digital transformation plan was comprehensive and bold. The long-term plan kicked off in 2007 with a strategy to digitise government. This resulted in 85% of government digital infrastructure being moved to the cloud. The effect of subsequent plans rippled further and further into the wider economy. The latest iteration a five-year Economic Recovery Plan that kicked off in 2022 mandated regulatory reform, additional public sector digital transformation and investment in world-class digital and telecoms infrastructure, cybersecurity and IT skills. These digital initiatives were only one part of the wide-ranging plan that aims at achieving economic growth, fiscal balance and the managed expansion of a selection of key vertical sectors. The roots of efforts like these spread deep and wide. Between 2018 and 2022, according to IDC, 2,500 IT professionals in the public sector were retrained to support digital transformation efforts and cloud adoption. IDC also notes how Tamkeen undertook a substantial retraining program for IT professionals in the wider economy, with the aim of increasing employment in IT and telecoms by 35% by 2023. Tamkeen also supported the launch of AWS Cloud Innovation Centers at Bahrain Polytechnic and University of Bahrain, making Bahrain the only country with two Cloud Innovation Centers outside the US. In addition, an educational partnership with Apple, the expansion of professional cybersecurity training at the SANS Institute and Reboot01, powered by the French educational platform 01 Edu, offers a two-year program where graduates emerge as full stack developers. Ultimately, the Recovery Plan aims to provide 20,000 citizens with government cybersecurity training by 2026. IDC calculates that public cloud expenditure in the Gulf region is growing at less than 30% annually. In Bahrain, the figure is over 40%. The analyst firm describes the arrival of AWS as a game-changer in many respects and suggests that by deploying the right resources towards this specific goal, Bahrain accelerated implementation of its strategy. Bahrain now qualifies as a digital overachiever , with impressive internet penetration rates, world-class network infrastructure and levels of support for digital literacy that exceed anywhere else in the world. So far, so good. But has Bahrains sustained investment had a positive effect contributing to the growth and diversification of the national economy? In IDCs study, one key statistic stands out: in 2021, every dollar spent on cloud services was already generating 6.8 additional dollars in the wider economy. And theres more to come. As IDC suggests, the full impact of Bahrains long-term digital strategy is likely to become apparent in 2023. Policymakers take note: Bahrains digital transformation is a powerful endorsement of the economic multiplier effects generated by sustained strategic investment in the public cloud. Learn more here. Transparenta Consiliului Superior al Procurorilor, intre a fi sau a nu fi. Ce constatari se regasesc intr-un raport prezentat de CRJM? Keystone Moldova contracteaza servicii de consultanta pentru consolidarea competentelor profesionale ale personalului care activeaza in cadrul centrelor de zi si de plasament pentru persoane varstnice The Peruvian training ship BAP Union docks at the Busan International Cruise Terminal on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Peru, Sunday. The vessel will serve as Peru's mobile embassy by visiting major ports of friendly and cooperating nations for 10 months. Courtesy of Embassy of Peru Several major charities have launched emergency appeals as the Morocco earthquake death toll passed 2,000 people. ActionAid, British Red Cross, Care International, Islamic Relief and Oxfam have all appealed to donors to fund their response to the natural disaster. All five are members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which told Civil Society it is closely monitoring the situation and currently assessing the situation against its criteria for launching a joint appeal. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco on 8 September, affecting the provinces and cities of Al Haouz, Marrakesh, Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate, killing more than 2,000 people and affected hundreds of thousands. ActionAid: The earthquake poses particular risks for women and girls Kirsten Sutherland, humanitarian program coordinator at ActionAid Spain, said: In just minutes, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people have been turned upside down. Many families have lost everything their loved ones, their homes and their belongings. Damage to infrastructure is hampering access to information and to affected communities, especially in remote areas. Our objective is to support those communities that have been most badly affected by the earthquake. ActionAid is working closely with our local partners to assess the situation, ascertain the emergency support and funding required and launch a response as soon as access is possible. ActionAid has been present in Morocco for more than 20 years, working in collaboration with local partner organisations. Sara Almer, the humanitarian director at ActionAid International said: The aftermath of an earthquake poses particular risks for women and girls, who are living outside and need safe spaces to shelter. Islamic Relief: 10m emergency appeal launched Islamic Relief has launched a 10m emergency appeal to provide aid to survivors of the earthquake in Morocco. The charity says many of those who have died are in remote villages in the High Atlas mountains and the scale of the destruction there is still emerging. In response to the disaster, Islamic Relief is now assessing the most critical needs and identifying local humanitarian organisations who we can work with to deliver vital aid. The charity expects food, shelter and healthcare to be the most urgent needs. Homes and other buildings have collapsed, including in the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site in the historic city of Marrakech. British Red Cross: Teams providing first aid British Red Cross has also launched an emergency appeal. The local Moroccan Red Crescent is on the ground responding to the earthquake, including providing first aid to those injured and emotional support to people in shock. Whilst the situation is still developing, there are immediate and severe needs for those affected, the charity said. Care International: Teams already in Al Haouz Care International reported it is already working in the epicentre of Al Haouz. Our incredibly dedicated team in Morocco is in the area and is working with partners to assess immediate needs so we can provide the best response possible, a statement from the charity reads. Our priority is to provide meals, safe water supply, emergency shelter and medical support to families that have been impacted by the earthquake. Oxfam: Working with local partners Oxfam said its teams are currently assessing the situation in Morocco and reaching out to partners to see how it can best support them, and it will provide updates on any response as soon as possible. The charity said it is estimated that at least 300,000 people will be directly affected and it is the country's deadliest earthquake in 60 years. Our local teams have been hard at work since Friday evening, in collaboration with our local partners, to assess the situation and define the actions to be carried out in the coming days, weeks and months, it said. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Remember A Charity Week has always been about reminding everybody that they can leave a legacy inspiring and empowering them to take action and remember their favourite charity in their will. This year, sharing that message feels more important than ever. The peak of our consumer activity, its a week where we come together to celebrate legacies and get that important conversation started, both internally within charities and externally to supporters. Not just another year But 2023 is not just another year: charities are dealing with the impact of everything from the continuing fallout from the pandemic, to the cost-of-living crisis and rising concerns about climate change. Legacy income generating some 44% of annual voluntary income in the UK, most of which is unrestricted is proving crucial support for charities large and small. This makes it all the more important that we keep working collectively to raise awareness of the impact of gifts in wills, enabling charities to rely on legacy income for generations to come. Significantly too, it looks like the cross-generational transfer of wealth from the Baby Boomer generation (and what that might mean for legacy giving) is starting to filter through. While for a long time, the value of legacies from the Silent Generation (those born between 1928 and 1945) has been on the rise, it dropped slightly for the first time in 2022, with more growth coming through from the Boomers. While we do not yet know what market data will show for 2023, it could be that we are seeing the start of a shift from one generation into another. Against this backdrop, appealing to the boomer generation and inspiring them with the opportunity of leaving a gift in their Will is vital. And thats why this years Remember A Charity Week conveys the message that everybody can leave a legacy. Closing the gap Taking the theme Be remembered for, this years campaign explores the unforgettable memories we have of treasured moments spent with loved ones, and the quirky things they leave behind that help shape their legacy. From their rose bushes to their secret recipes, the campaign shows that everybody could leave a lasting legacy, and, big or small, theyre equally important and meaningful. Tapping into humour to help spark conversations about what we leave behind says about us, Remember A Charity is helping to inspire people to reflect on how they will be remembered, and whether they would also like to include a gift to their chosen charity. Legacy giving has already risen by 43% over the past decade (reaching 3.85bn in the UK last year according to Legacy Foresight ) but there is still what we call the intention gap. Overall in the UK, our research shows that 40% of people say they would be happy to leave a legacy while Smee & Ford figures show that only 16% of wills at probate actually include one, and its this gap that were working to close. So, the more of us that take part in Remember A Charity Week, the more people we can reach with this important message, and the greater the legacy income we can bring in for all charities to share. Much more than Remember A Charity Week Our 200 charity members will be taking part in the week, along with our 850 campaign supporters (solicitors and will-writers) and a growing network of legal and strategic partners. The week is a brilliant opportunity to use the campaign tools and resources, not only to share the legacy message with supporters and build on the increased profile for legacy giving during September, but to make that all-important case for legacy investment internally. While Remember A Charity Week is always the peak of our consumer activity, the need to promote legacy giving continues all year round, which means that well be running bursts of our consumer campaigns on digital channels across the calendar year. Well also continue to grow our network of professional advisers, engaging with wealth managers and financial advisers, alongside solicitors and other legal partners. And, crucially, well continue to engage with government to protect and nurture the UK legacy environment. This includes maintaining the current fiscal benefits and tax advantages of leaving gifts in wills . Well continue to work with Scottish government over the pricing structure around accessing wills, which inhibits a central notification system, and of course with HMCTS on probate delays, among a raft of policy issues. Collaboration helps us all Weve made great leaps in recent years towards normalising legacy giving. But while this intention gap remains, there is an awful lot more we can do. And for that we need you. There is real power in numbers, so please, join us this week by using the hashtag #RememberACharityWeek across your social media to help us share that message and make leaving a charitable legacy a possibility for even more people. Civil Society Voices is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Find out more about contributing and how to get in touch. is the place for informed opinion, and debate about the big issues affecting charities today. Were always keen to hear from anyone, working or volunteering at a charity, who has something to say. Yesterday, Chuck Todd signed off as host of Meet the Press, NBCs venerable Sunday morning show, after nine years in the role. His final guests were Bill Cassidy, the Republican senator from Louisiana, and Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of Californiaboth chosen, Todd said, because, unlike many other politicians these days, they accept the premise of a healthy democracy, which is that elected officials take a stand and then come on shows where they get questioned for their rationales and defend it. Todd then moderated a panel discussion, which ended with a love-in as the assembled reporters and pundits warmly thanked him and expressed pride in his legacy. Finally, Todd handed the reins to Kristen Welker, his successor, who also showered praise on Todd and his reportorial chops. (She said that Todd taught her that You have to have the confidence to ask the tough questions. Todd agreed: Its not a popularity contest, he said.) With that, and a final trademark signoff, Todd was gone. Since Todd announced his impending departure back in June, his bosses at NBC have been similarly complimentary of his legacy. The network hailed him for leading Meet the Press through an era of digital expansion and audience growth; the show now boasts a podcast, a blog, and a weekday spinoff that aired on MSNBC before moving to NBC News Now, a streaming service. And executives at NBC News also praised Todds stewardship of the flagship Sunday morning broadcast. Meet the Press has sustained its historic role as the indispensable news program on Sunday mornings, Rebecca Blumenstein, the networks president of editorial, and Carrie Budoff Brown, its senior vice president of politics, said. Through Todds penetrating interviews with many of the most important newsmakers, the show has played an essential role in politics and policy, routinely made front-page news, and framed the thinking in Washington and beyond. (Full disclosure: Blumenstein chairs CJRs Board of Overseers.) Meet the Press does now look like a modern, multi-platform brand. On the Sunday-morning front, however, many critics would dispute the success of Todds tenure and just how essential Meet the Press is these days. Over the years, such critics have viewed Todds interviews as less than penetrating; his inability to ask difficult follow-up questions became such a running joke that it was skewered by both The Onion and Trevor Noah, at last years White House Correspondents Dinner. (Chuck, you here? How you doing? Noah called out from the stage. Id ask a follow-up, but I know you dont know what those are.) And, since before Todd started hosting Meet the Press in 2014, media critics have testified to the decline not only of that show but its Sunday morning counterparts on rival networks, with the shows one-time power as political agenda-setters challenged by the twenty-four-hour news cycle and guests increased reluctance to stray beyond carefully crafted talking points (when they can be coaxed to appear at all). The Trump era only intensified such takes, as many top Republicans break with reality rendered the Sunday shows good-faith, both sides self-conception increasingly untenable. As regular readers of this newsletter may have noticed, I continue to pay close attention to the Sunday showsnot because they are agenda-setting, necessarily (though I still think they perform something like this function for the rest of the mainstream political media), but because, as the NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen once put it, they crystallize consensus practice in journalism, and display in miniature its relationship to the political class. Typically, I start my weekly download with Meet the Press. This is mainly because it is the Platonic ideal of the genre; not only the oldest and most hallowed of the Sunday shows but, to my mind, the most explicitly consensual. But I also have come to find my weekly dose of Todd, if not soothing exactly, then somehow anchoring. Sometimes, there have been substantive grounds to praise Todd: in 2018, he devoted a whole episode of Meet the Press to the climate crisis and refused to give a platform to climate deniers (Grist described the episode as a glimpse of what it would look like if we took climate change seriously); the following year, Todd justifiably lost his rag with Ron Johnson, the Republican senator for Wisconsin, after he started spouting nonsense about Trumps first impeachment. Such moments, however, cleared a fairly low bar for success. And, more often, I have found myself criticizing Todd for channeling the very aspects of consensus practice in journalism that I hate: bothsidesism, false equivalence, an obsession with presidential politics, handwringing about ill-defined concepts like polarization, a focus on political optics. (My former colleague Maria Bustillos once memorably wrote that, for Chuck Todd all the political worlds a stage, and hes the star.) After Todd announced that he was stepping back, I concluded in this newsletter that his Meet the Press too often privileged a halcyon conception of civil dialogue over hard-edged accountability journalism. His final weeks in the job havent changed my mind. Indeed, an episode that aired two weeks ago struck me as a microcosm of what Meet the Press was under Todd, and what it could have been. It opened with Todd making a good pointhedging against the media consensus that Donald Trumps alleged crimes are only helping him politicallyalbeit one rooted squarely in horserace analysis. Todd then interviewed the Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy; as I wrote at the time, the booking reflected Ramaswamys status as the political medias latest shiny object, but Todd did at least ask him some pointed questions, including by teasing at the holes in his biography and past statements. Then, Todd interviewed Bernie Sandersasking questions about whether President Biden should face a primary challenge, concerns over Bidens age, and Cornel Wests tilt at the White House from Bidens left. Finally, a panel discussed optics from the Republican debate, third parties, and polling. If some of that analysis was insightful, not much of it focused on policy. Sign up for CJR 's daily email In his interview that day, Sanders mentioned Bidens record on climate change three times. By my rough calculation, based on NBCs transcripts of Meet the Press, these were three of seventeen mentions of the word climate (in the context of climate change) across thirty-five episodes of the show this year. Mostly, these were passing references from Todds guests; Todd did do a data segment on extreme weather and bring up climate in his interview with Newsom yesterday, though the latter conversation didnt make the TV cut. (NBC posted the full interview online.) This summer, Todd asked Joe Manchin, the Democratic senator from West Virginia, about the politics of a pipeline project without broaching its climate impact, and only briefly mentioned the wildfires that devastated Hawaii. If his 2018 climate special merited plaudits, this more recent Sunday-morning record is hardly what it looks like to take climate change seriously. And, while Todds Ramaswamy interview was sharper, his NBCUniversal colleague Mehdi Hasan blew it out of the water when he had Ramaswamy on his show last weekover twenty-five minutes, Hasan picked apart almost everything that Ramaswamy said and bought detailed receipts to back up his questions, at one point waving Ramaswamys tax returns. As I wrote in a 2021 profile of Hasan as a debater-type interviewer, he comes at his subjects from an unapologetically progressive vantage point. That factand his contentious, British-style interviewsprobably wouldnt be tenable on the current iteration of Meet the Press, not least because these days, no high-level politician needs to accept an invitation to be eviscerated. Still, as Todd himself noted on air yesterday, politicians who are willing to subject themselves to even gentle scrutiny are thin on the ground, and watching genuinely tough, substantive interviews with a narrower universe of guests would have more civic valueand also make for better TVthan the umpteenth Sunday show smarmfest with a Chris Sununu or Larry Hogan. The latter type of interview, and many of the other problems I identified above, are far from unique to Todd or Meet the Press; again, the Sunday show as a genre has long been in decline. Punching them up, and reorienting them around policy rather than political process, might not reverse that decline. But it would better meet this moment than business as usual. As Todd and his team have shown with their digital expansion of the Meet the Press brand, the Sunday show format neednt be set in stone. Hopefully the same can be true of their editorial philosophy. Todds departure offers Meet the Press an opportunity to lead a much-needed reset. Well have to wait and see how Welker performs as host, though her promise, on yesterdays broadcast, to bring a reporters spirit to the role at least sounds hopeful. Whats troubling, at least based on yesterdays on-air encomia to Todd, is that Meet the Press seems to think it is already asking politicians the tough questions. (On Twitter, Rosen summed up Todds parting message as: It aint broke. Were not going to fix it. And, wow, the country sure is divided. Rosen judged the episode as a whole to have been dismal.) At least to my ear, Todds interview style might be described, at best, as friendly coaxing, the occasional clash with a Ron Johnson aside. While I would favor a more adversarial future for the Sunday shows, theres nothing inherently wrong with coaxingbut at the very least, you have to consistently coax out information of value to your viewers. To be fair to Todd, this is part of his record. But he also coaxed out a lot of trivia about the horserace and political proceduralism. As he signed off, Todd defined the essential value of Meet the Press as educational; as helping to explain America to Washington and Washington to America. Too often under Todd, I heard a show explaining Washington to itself. Other notable stories: Recently, my colleague Mathew Ingram wrote in this newsletter about an extraordinary court ruling that blocked officials across the federal government from communicating with social platforms about the content they host, casting such activity as a violation of the First Amendment. On Friday, an appeals court effectively confirmed the decision , but narrowed its scope. The Justice Department could now appeal to the Supreme Court. Earlier in the summer, three men were charged in connection with a campaign of vandalism and intimidation at properties linked to Lauren Chooljian, a reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio. Now a fourth manpurportedly an associate of a subject of Chooljians reporting (who denies wrongdoing)has been arrested in the case, and all four have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston. WBUR has the details . In the UK, the government introduced a task force aimed at clamping down on strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, that wealthy individualsincluding, in the British case, Russian oligarchshave exploited to tie up reporting they dont like. The task force will focus on non-legislative measures, but the British government is working on legislative responses, too. (I wrote about SLAPPs in the UK last year .) In Australia, a court in the state of Queensland mistakenly allowed journalists to view documents identifying the alleged victims of a man who has been charged with over a thousand child sexual abuse offences. According to The Guardian which was among the outlets to review the documents, but has not retained any identifying detailsthe press cannot legally identify the alleged victims, but could approach their families. And The New Yorker s Isaac Chotiner profiled Ross Douthat , the Times columnist who occupies an all but vanished position: he is a Christian conservative who lives among liberals, writes for them, andeven when he is arguing against abortion, or against woke progressivismhas their respectful attention, Chotiner writes. This is in part because he is curious, not only distraught, about the decline of faith in American life. ICYMI: At a home for the elderly, residents weigh in on journalisms obsession with age Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The body of a missing 77-year-old man was found Saturday, raising the death toll from floods in central Greece to 11, authorities said. The number of missing increased to six, but there could be more. The man was living in the seaside village of Paltsi, in the mountainous Pelion peninsula situated between the Aegean Sea to the east and Pagasitikos gulf to the west. He had refused to leave his home, despite the entreaties of his wife, who evacuated. I have been through storms, he had told her. The mans body drifted in the Aegean, past the island of Skiathos, to another island, Evia, where it was found late Saturday, authorities said. Pelion was hit by torrential rains first on Tuesday, with some locations reporting close to 30 inches of rain in less than a day. The rest of the region of Thessaly, to the west, was struck later Tuesday and on Wednesday and Thursday. Another village near a major Greek city was ordered evacuated Saturday afternoon as authorities frantically shored up flood defenses against a rising river. Rescue crews were evacuating stranded residents from areas already flooded elsewhere in Thessaly. The village of Omorfochori, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) by road from the city of Larissa, Thessalys capital and largest city, was ordered evacuated by SMS alert due to the rising waters of the Pineios river. Residents were directed to a town to the southeast. But the main concern remains that the already overflowing river could inundate Larissa itself, a city of around 150,000. Authorities placed tens of thousands of bags full of sand and pebbles along the rivers banks, while opening up diversion channels west of the city. The governor of Thessaly, Kostas Agorastos, was visiting the town of Palamas __ one of the worst stricken areas in the southwest of the region __ when he was evacuated by police Saturday afternoon. A small crowd of protesters had started shouting abuse at him and then jostled him, a video posted on social media showed. Agorastos, a member of the ruling conservative New Democracy party, said Friday that local and regional elections cannot take place in Thessaly as scheduled on Oct. 8, with runoffs a week later. First elected governor in 2010, Agorastos is running for a fourth term. The proximity of the local and regional polls has intensified the usual blame game from opposition parties eager to dent New Democracys supremacy that was confirmed in national elections in May and June. New Democracy controls 11 out of the countrys 13 regions. But there has been much criticism about state and local authorities response to the latest disaster to hit Greece, hard on the heels of devastating wildfires. The rescue response to the floods that resulted from torrential rains that hit the area from Tuesday to Thursday was negligible until early Thursday, while people were clinging to the roofs of their stricken homes, according to a report in Greek daily newspaper Kathimerini. The same paper reported Saturday that, of the Air Forces 12 search-and-rescue Puma helicopters, only four are operational, with the rest either cannibalized for spare parts or grounded for so long that they can no longer fly. There are also questions about the ability of regional and local authorities to deal with major crises, despite the expansion in responsibilities and funding under reforms enacted over a decade ago. Kantouris reported from Paltsi, Greece. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The use of a form that identified an employees race as part of a companys termination process was not evidence that the employer discriminated against him because he is white, a divided panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday. The 2-1 ruling was made in a high-profile case involving sexual harassment allegations against the former chief meteorologist for an Atlanta television station. The panel affirmed a US District Court judges decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Meredith Corp., owner of CBS46, in a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by former chief meteorologist Paul Ossmann. The presence of race data in the local station managers termination request is not enough for any jury to reasonably conclude that Ossmanns sexual harassment conduct, much of which he admitted, was pretext for the true reason for Ossmanns firinghis race, the panels majority said in an opinion written by Britt C. Grant. Ossmann, a 62-year-old white male, sued Meredith in 2019, charging that the television stations Black general manager used sexual harassment complaints as a pretext to fire him so that he could hire a 37-year-old Hispanic woman to replace him and further the companys diversity goals. He alleged that managers of the TV station ignored derogatory remarks that coworkers made about him because of his race. According to Meredith, Ossmann told a female meteorologist at the station that he had dreamed about having sex with her. The meteorologist told managers that she had overhead Ossmann telling another female employee that his first three-way was with a Black woman. Managers said they warned Ossmann to use better judgment, but six months later he sent a female news producer Facebook messages stating that he masturbated while thinking about her and asking for nude photos. Managers said they handed Ossmann a final warning, although Ossman said he did receive it. The final straw came about 18 months later, when Ossman told a married female co-worker that he looks at her all the time because she is attractive and carries herself well, according to the company. A Meredith policy required local managers with CBS46 to obtain approval from the corporate office before terminating employees. As part of that process, Meredith used a form provided by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that included Ossmanns age, gender and race. Merediths vice president of human resources, Kandis Bock, approved Ossmans termination after reviewing the completed form submitted by the HR manager for CBS46. Ossmann contended that use of the form, called an EEO Analysis, was direct evidence of discrimination. Meredith executives, on the other hand, said the form is used to ensure that decisions about employee discipline are made equitably. The form includes questions about the age, sex and gender of other employees disciplined for similar conduct. Judge Britt and 11th Circuit Judge Jill Pryor said use of the form did not show that Meredith discriminated against Ossmann because of his race. Ossmanns only evidence that Bock intentionally discriminated against him, aside from the fact that he was replaced by a non-white woman, is the inclusion of race on the EEO Analysis form, the opinion says. This form does not remotely approach the amount of evidence necessary for a reasonable jury to conclude that Ossmann was fired because of his race. Judge Corey Maze, a US District Court judge for Northern Alabama assigned to hear 11th Circuit Court cases, dissented. He said EEO form was clearly used to conduct a disparate impact analysis, which is a means of determining the impact of human resources decisions on the racial balance of the workplace. He said use of the form, by itself, provides evidence that race was a factor in the decision to terminate Ossmann. Maze said he would have concurred with the majority decision in full if the decision to terminate Ossmann had been made at the local level, with no involvement by the corporate office. But the decision to fire Ossmann did not stop at the local level; it ended at corporate HR, Maze wrote. And corporate wasnt satisfied knowing that Ossmann sexually harassed women; corporate needed to know Ossmanns race, and everyone elses race, so that corporate could determine whether firing Ossmann would negatively impact racial group balance. SOLON, Ohio Fraud: Solon Road At 8:25 p.m. Sept. 8, a man, 57, reported that he had been the victim of a scam. The doctor said he had received a call Aug. 24 from someone claiming to represent the Ohio State Medical Board. The caller ID stated that the call came from the board. The doctor was told his medical license had been suspended because of his involvement with a money laundering gang and that the FBI was investigating. The doctor was then told, via email, that he could get his license reinstated by wiring $20,000 to an account that later was found to be in Hong Kong. The doctor did so, as the email had included his medical license number. Afterward, the doctor called the medical board to ask about his license status and learned that he had been the victim of a scam. Police noted that medical license numbers are public records that can be searched online. Thefts: Aurora Road Police took several reports of theft from Giant Eagle, 34310 Aurora Road. -- At 1:35 p.m. Aug. 30, police cited for theft and then released a Streetsboro man, 62, who tried to leave the store with $177 worth of stolen groceries. -- At 8:50 p.m. Aug. 30, a store manager took a photo of a shoplifter who tried to leave the store with a cart filled with stolen items. The manager took note of the suspects license plate number, then recovered $295 worth of goods. The investigating officer identified the suspect as a Cleveland man, 32, and issued a warrant for his arrest. -- At 9:35 p.m. Aug. 30, police cited for theft a Chagrin Falls woman, 67, for stealing $114 worth of groceries. The woman failed to scan certain items in the self-checkout line. -- At 9:20 a.m. Sept. 5, police cited a Solon woman, 38, for failing to scan $32 worth of items in the self-checkout line. -- At 9:30 p.m. Sept. 6, an unknown man in his 30s was stopped by an employee in the stores parking lot while attempting to leave with $844 worth of stolen groceries. The suspect left in a red Hyundai sedan. Police are investigating. OVI: U.S. 422 At 10:25 p.m. Aug. 31, an officer stopped a car for failing to signal when changing lanes. The driver, a Maple Heights woman, 29, smelled of alcohol and went on to fail field sobriety testing. The woman refused to take a breath test and had her license suspended. Police charged the woman with OVI, driving under suspension and a marked lanes violation. The OVI charge was a fourth-degree felony because the woman had a prior OVI conviction on her record and refused to take a breath test. OVI: U.S. 422 At 2:40 a.m. Sept. 2, an officer stopped a car on U.S. 422 eastbound because the car continually straddled the lane markers. During the stop, the driver, a Bedford woman, 40, was observed to have bloodshot eyes and to smell of alcohol. The woman failed field sobriety tests. She refused to take a breath test and had her license suspended. Police charged her with OVI and a marked lanes violation. Improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle: U.S. 422 At 11:10 p.m. Aug. 30, an officer stopped a Nissan Altima on U.S. 422 eastbound because the cars license plate was obscured and its headlights dim. The officer asked the driver, a Niles man, 40, if there was a gun or anything illegal in the car and was told that there was not. The officer saw marijuana scattered about the cars interior and conducted a search. In the car, police found a loaded gun, a grinder and marijuana. Due to a previous conviction, the man was prohibited from possessing a gun. The gun was listed as stolen from Warren. Police arrested the man on charges of improper handling of a firearm, a fourth-degree felony; having a weapon under disability, a third-degree felony; receiving stolen property, a fourth-degree felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Drug possession: Aurora Road At 11:40 p.m. Sept. 10, an officer stopped a Jeep for speeding on Aurora Road. The driver was a man and there were two female passengers. No one in the vehicle had a drivers license. The vehicle was to be towed, so the officer conducted a search. Inside the Jeep, police found 40 amphetamine pills, a schedule II drug. Also found was cocaine and a straw that had residue on it. All three people in the Jeep were arrested. The driver, a Lakewood man, 34, was cited for driving under suspension and speeding. One of the women, 36, of Lakewood, was charged with drug possession, a fifth-degree felony, and was held on a Parma police warrant. The other woman, 35, of New Waterford, Ohio, was charged with drug possession, a fifth-degree felony. Get police blotters by email every weekday for free with our new Police Blotter newsletter. Sign up at cleveland.com/newsletters Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Sandusky man, left blind in one eye after a Cuyahoga County sheriffs deputy shot him with a beanbag round during protests over the death of George Floyd, has settled his lawsuit against the county for $1.5 million. Cuyahoga County Council is expected to approve the settlement Tuesday with John T. Sanders, a photographer who was taking pictures of the May 30, 2020, protests outside the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland when police and protesters clashed. Bruce Lourie, a sheriffs deputy, fired the beanbag rounds from about 75 feet, hitting Sanders in the head, according to the lawsuit. Sanders lost his left eye. Sanders attorney, Dennis Murray Jr., said Sanders is recovering, adding that the settlement is the right amount for the facts of the case. The whole point is that John Sanders was there to protest the loss of civil rights that led to the death of George Floyd, Murray said. The tragedy is that Johns rights were violated protesting George Floyds deprivation of rights. Whats tragic is that theres a circle of protests and loss of civil rights, and bad police officers are never held accountable. Another of Sanders attorneys, Subodh Chandra, agreed. There is no amount of money that will make up for what John Sanders lost an eye and his precious right to free speech, Chandra said in a statement. Irony isnt even the right word given that what Mr. Sanders was peacefully protesting at the George Floyd protest was unchecked police brutality. It is unclear whether Lourie has been disciplined. Murray said hes still employed. Its just outrageous. I dont know why hes still employed, Murray said. They should have fired him by now. It speaks volumes about the kind of leadership at the county. Colin Sikon is a representative of Laborers Local 860, the union that represents sheriffs deputies. He declined comment. Dave Lambert is the chief civil attorney for the Cuyahoga County prosecutors office, which defended the lawsuit by Sanders. Lambert said that while its tragic that Sanders lost his eye, video evidence in the case showed he threw at least one rock at police. Lambert also pushed back on the assertion that Sanders was a peaceful protester. There is undisputed evidence that Mr. Sanders threw a rock at law enforcement on May 30, so its inaccurate to categorize him as a peaceful protester that day, Lambert said. Lourie has been under criminal investigation since the shooting. Steve Irwin, a spokesman for the Ohio attorney generals office, said the states Bureau of Criminal Investigation completed its investigation into the shooting. Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz is the special prosecutor overseeing the case. Flaiz said his office is still evaluating the case, but he is looking to move forward now that the civil case is finished. He said his office is still researching case law surrounding the shooting. Lourie had no training for the weapon he used when he fired out of a broken window at the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland. Lourie, according to sheriffs department reports, fired wildly into the crowd and continuously asked a fellow deputy for more rounds to fire. He fired at Sanders from at least 75 feet away, according to the lawsuit. The county at the time had no polices regarding the use of beanbag rounds. The lawsuit also accused the county of negligence in hiring Lourie in 2002. As a Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police officer in 2000, he lied to supervisors during an investigation into a complaint made against him for planting evidence. Lourie, during his time as a CMHA officer, was accused of trying to persuade colleagues to lie to cover up his misconduct and for abusing members of the public, according to the lawsuit. He pleaded guilty in 2000 to a misdemeanor charge of falsification; prosecutors allowed him to enter a diversion program without a conviction. Sanders, in a previous interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, said that he went to the Justice Center to take photos of graffiti and a broken window when a deputy tossed a chemical-spray canister in his direction. When he walked away, Louries beanbag run hit him in his left temple. The impact was caught on video by a fellow protester. The round exploded and sent pellets into his eyeball. Doctors later surgically removed it. Lourie did not activate his body camera, the complaint said. The lawsuit also named Juan Rodriguez, who was near Lourie at the Justice Center and watched him as Lourie fired round after round, including one that hit a young Black man in the head, according to reports. Rodriguez wrote that he fired one beanbag round but stopped because he determined he couldnt safely fire the weapon. The lawsuit was one of at least 18 filed against law enforcement after the protests turned into riots and looting after throughout downtown after police fired less-lethal munitions at the crowd. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. An emergency worker and a dog search bodies on the rubbles, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco, Sept. 10. Reuters-Yonhap Korea remains "ready to support" Morocco if the North African country requests for support over relief and rescue efforts following a devastating earthquake last week, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. "We are ready to provide support if the Moroccan side (asks for help)," a ministry official told reporters on the customary condition of anonymity. TIFFIN, Ohio A Northwest Ohio man was flown to a hospital in Cleveland after he was seriously injured in an explosion while attempting to start a campfire using racing fuel, authorities say. A news release from the Tiffin Police Department says emergency workers were called just before 4 a.m. Saturday after a explosion was reported in the backyard of a home. When rescue workers arrived, they found the 43-year-old man lying near a stack of wood near a fire pit. Police say it appears the man used high-octane racing fuel to light the fire. The explosion occurred as the man poured the fuel onto the stack of wood while he had a lit cigarette in his mouth, police say. The victim first was taken to Tiffin Mercy Hospital, then was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. His condition was unavailable Sunday night. Police say the incident remains under investigation. TOLEDO, Ohio An F-16 fighter jet with the Ohio National Guards 180th Fighter Wing dropped its fuel tanks Sunday while flying over western Ohio because of an in-flight emergency, reports say. WTVG Channel 13 reports the F-16 was on its way to Toledo Express Airport, where the 180th Fighter Wing is based, when it dropped its two fuel tanks while flying over Hardin County. The incident forced an Allegiant Airlines flight to be diverted to Fort Wayne, Indiana, WTVG reports. The National Guard says the F-16 was on a routine training mission at about 10:20 a.m. when the emergency occurred, WTOL Channel 11 reports. The jet eventually landed safely in Toledo. Reports say the two fuel tanks were recovered about 50 miles south of the airport. WTVG reports the Allegiant flight landed in Toledo about two hours after the incident occurred. The cause of the F-16s emergency is under investigation, reports say. NEW YORK Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering today at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Commemorations stretch from the attack sites at New Yorks World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania to Alaska and beyond. President Joe Biden is due at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage. His visit, en route to Washington, D.C., from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. The hijacked plane attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. On that day, we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help, said Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginias Goochland County. Its more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Pentagon and more than three times as far from New York. But a sense of connection is enshrined in a local memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Centers destroyed twin towers. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people holds not just one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service focused on first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all the victims. Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a Heroes Memorial includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents. The 9/11 Memorial in Medina features a two-ton steel beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com Were just a little bitty community, said Mayor Joe Maurath, but its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free. New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations. As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans do volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris is due to join the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead. James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Josephs name. If their name is spoken out loud, they dont disappear, James Giaccone said in a recent interview. The commemoration is crucial to him. I hope I never see the day when they minimize this, he said. Its a day that changed history. An American flag with "Pray for our Heroes" written on it rests against the visitors center at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pa. (Mark Pynes, pennlive.com file photo) Biden, a Democrat, will be the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in Alaska, or anywhere in the western U.S. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Obama followed one of those observances by recognizing the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland. First lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend the ceremony. The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free National Day of Learning program, which will be available through the fall, organizers say. We need to get the word out to the next generation, said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger. WASHINGTON The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday amid rising case numbers, though what so far has been less severe cases as in previous years. The new shots from Moderna and Pfizer could be available within days. The Food and Drug Administration decision opens the newest shots from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to most Americans even if theyve never had a coronavirus vaccination, the Associated Press reported. Its part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must sign off. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots, the AP reported. Vaccinations could begin later this week, and both the COVID-19 and flu shots can be given at the same visit. A third vaccine maker, Novavax, said its updated shot is still being reviewed by the FDA. COVID-19 hospitalizations have been rising since late summer. In Ohio, cases reported were up last week for the ninth consecutive week. Thursdays total of 8,607 cases for the week marked the first time they have topped 8,500 since the beginning of March. The high point for the year was 13,895 on Jan. 5. And the number of COVID-19 patients in Ohio hospitals, as reported by the Ohio Hospital Association, was 355 on Thursday. This total was below 100 for several days the first half of July, but was over 1,400 when the year started. The hospital association, however, announced that it would no longer be tracking the state hospitalization trends on its website. As protection wanes over time, the coronavirus continually churns out new variants that can dodge prior immunity. Its been a year since the last time the vaccines were tweaked, and only about 20% of adults ever received that earlier update. Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said in a statement. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated. Just like earlier vaccinations, the fall round is cleared for adults and children as young as age 6 months. FDA said starting at age 5, most people can get a single dose even if theyve never had a prior COVID-19 shot. Younger children might need additional doses depending on their history of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations. The FDA pointedly, AP noted, isnt calling this latest round a booster but instead a vaccine updated to better match the currently circulating virus. The new recipe targets an omicron variant named XBB.1.5 replacing outdated combination vaccines that mixed protection against the original coronavirus strain and an older version of omicron. And while even the XBB.1.5 variant is no longer dominant, FDA determined that its close enough to coronavirus strains causing most COVID-19 illnesses today to offer good cross-protection. Like earlier versions, theyre expected to be most protective against COVID-19s worst consequences rather than mild infection. But while the FDAs decision allows for wide use of the updated shots, the CDC will decide how strongly different groups are urged to get them. Federal officials have said the shots still will be free to most Americans through private insurance or Medicare. But for the uninsured or underinsured, the CDC is working with health departments, clinics and certain pharmacies to temporarily provide free shots. ORRVILLE, Ohio The J.M. Smucker Co., known for its Smuckers Jelly, Jif Peanut Butter and Uncrustables, will be adding Twinkies, HoHos and Zingers to its lineup by buying Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion. J.M. Smucker and Hostess announced the deal Monday morning. J.M. Smucker will pay $34.25 a share in a deal thats a mix of cash, stocks and assuming $900 million of Hostess debt. The deal is expected to close by April 30. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former East Cleveland police officer who stole three guns and thousands of dollars from people he pulled over is headed to prison. Alfonzo Cole, 35, was led out of court Monday in handcuffs after he was ordered to spend the next 30 months behind bars alongside the types of people he once took an oath to arrest. Retired Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Timothy J. McGinty also fined Cole $40,000, the maximum fine he faced under the law. McGinty also ordered Cole to repay his victims for the $9,850 he pocketed from them. McGinty said that Coles actions robbed people who live and work in East Cleveland -- a community that has long dealt with high rates of crime and poverty -- of their semblance of security. The former officer also undermined police officers who were dedicated to their jobs, the judge said. To find out that the officer thats there to protect you is also conducting robberies, thats pretty scary, McGinty said. That shakes you right to your foundation. The judge also agreed to order state prison officials to place Cole in protective custody because he was a police officer. Cole will remain in the county jail in the meantime, McGinty said. Cole and his partner, Willie Warner-Sims, pleaded guilty last month to four counts of robbery and theft in office, both third-degree felonies. Coles plea deal called for a recommended sentence of 30 months in prison. Cole told McGinty that he accepted that he was going to prison. I made a series of bad decisions, he said. Ive lost family members, my career, pretty much my entire life. Cole also agreed to forfeit his state police officers license. Cole is one of 18 police officers who have been charged with committing crimes while working for East Clevelands department. The cases stem from a yearslong investigation into the department. He is the first to be sentenced. Warner-Sims is set to learn his sentence Thursday. He faces a recommended sentence of two years in prison. This is like something you see in movies that [you think], Can this possibly happen in real life? Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Andrew Rogalski said after the hearing. He said he was thankful the mens victims came forward. From a prosecutors standpoint, this isnt a triumphant day, he said. However, it sends the message that this type of behavior deserves accountability, and it shows that nobodys above the law, including police officers, and that nobodys below the law, either. Cole carried out each heist by first conducting a traffic stop for a minor violation -- three of the four stops began for a tinted window violation, Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Mary Grace Tokmenko said during the hearing. Cole then would claim that he smelled marijuana and searched the vehicle. He then pocketed the guns, drugs and cash, Tokmenko said. Cole did not file a report or turn on his body camera for any of the incidents, she said. The investigation into Cole began in July 2021, when a man went to the East Cleveland police department and told a supervisor that Cole and Warner-Sims stole $5,000 from him during a traffic stop that began for tinted windows. The man had an open bottle of alcohol in the car, and the officers ordered him out of the car and patted him down. They took $9,000 in cash the man had in his pocket and gave him back $4,000, prosecutors said. Cole and Warner-Sims did not turn on their body cameras during the interaction and did not file a report. They wrote the man a ticket for a tinted window and told him he was free to leave. The man told investigators he was on his way to a funeral home to pay for his grandmothers service and showed a bank withdrawal receipt from just before the stop. Warner-Sims later told investigators that he asked Cole why he didnt give the man back all of the money. Cole replied, This is what I do. Three days later, the sheriffs department got a search warrant for Coles apartment and found two pistols that Cole had stolen from other drivers, as well multiple other guns and a bag of marijuana. Cole stole guns from an 18-year-old man he pulled over on June 22, 2021. He told the man, who was driving his mothers car, that he pulled him over for tinted windows and smelled marijuana in the car. Cole made the man and his 10-year-old sister, who was in the passenger seat, get out of his car while Cole searched it and found a 9 mm pistol under the seat. Cole simply wrote the driver a ticket for tinted windows. Cole kept the gun, authorities said. The mans mother later went to police and reported that the gun was hers and that she accidentally left it in the car. That same day, Cole pulled over a mechanic who was on his way to buy a van for $4,000 cash. The mechanic had a handgun and a small amount of marijuana in his car. Cole took the money, a gun and the marijuana and wrote the driver a ticket. The investigation also revealed that Cole stole $800 and marijuana from a man in September 2020. Like the other cases, Cole pulled him over for a tinted window violation, then searched his car. The man was on parole at the time and worried that he would go back to prison for the drugs, but Cole wrote him a ticket and let him go. That man said he told his neighbor, who was an East Cleveland police sergeant, about the interaction. Defense attorney Rufus Sims noted that Coles life up until his criminal behavior read like a success story. He and his siblings were abused by their mothers boyfriend and ultimately taken from their home and placed in foster care. Cole dropped out of school after 11th grade but later got his GED from Cuyahoga Community College and chose to pursue a career in law enforcement. He was doing all the right things, Sims said. However, he made some very, very poor, horrible and bad decisions that have cost him dearly. COLUMBUS, OhioAfter months of uncertainty, its now likely that Ohio will use the same congressional district lines next year that it did in 2022 as left-leaning groups successfully convinced the state supreme court to dismiss their own legal challenges. The end of those lawsuits, granted by the Ohio Supreme Court last Thursday, likely brings much-needed certainty to Ohios congressional races in 2024, though it now raises new questions about what the move means for both Ohio and national politics. Rotunda Rumblings Who wrote this? Dozens of citizens told Jake Zuckerman that their names and addresses were used without their knowledge on public comments supporting drilling for oil and gas in Ohios state parks. Some of the names on those written comments belong to a nine-year-old child, an older blind woman who says she doesnt use a computer, those who oppose fracking, and others. The Consumer Energy Alliance, which drafted a form letter that bears some of those peoples names, denied using anyones name without consent. Resigning under fire: State Rep. Bob Young has submitted his resignation, effective Oct. 2. Andrew Tobias reports that Young, an Akron area Republican, delivered his resignation letter to Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens late Friday afternoon. Stephens, Gov. Mike DeWine, at least 34 other Republican House members and several Democrats had called on Young to resign after he was twice arrested this summer, once for domestic violence and again for violating a protection order. Young has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Trendline down: In Ohio and across the country, the number of abortions woman have had each year has decreased in recent decades. In Ohio, abortions have held at around 20,000, when in the 1970s and 1980s it was sometimes more than twice that number. Laura Hancock looks at how the cost and expanding types of contraception has had an impact on the abortion rate, and explores the debate over whether restrictions by the Ohio General Assembly contributed to fewer abortions. Contraception is mentioned as an explicitly protected reproduction decision under Issue 1, the proposed abortion rights amendment. Spanking Jordan: The Georgia district attorney who brought charges against ex-President Donald Trump is dismissing Ohio congressman Jim Jordans inquiry into her office as an attempt to interfere with an active Georgia criminal case, a move she described as flagrantly at odds with the Constitution, Sabrina Eaton reports. The defendants in this case have been charged under state law with committing state crimes, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis told Jordan in a sharply worded Thursday letter. There is absolutely no support for Congress purporting to second guess or somehow supervise an ongoing Georgia criminal investigation and prosecution. That violation of Georgias sovereignty is offensive and will not stand. Ethics incoming: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh told a judicial conference in Cleveland on Thursday that he hopes there will be concrete steps soon to address ethics issues on the high court, Julie Carr Smyth of the Associated Press reports. However, he stopped short of addressing calls for the justices to impose an official code of conduct. Home improvements: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Friday announced it awarded Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority almost $5 million to evaluate and reduce residential health hazards including lead-based paint, carbon monoxide, mold, radon, fire safety, and asbestos. This funding effort will help us identify homes where occupants are at risk of lead exposure and other health hazards, and build on our promise of a healthier, stronger country, said a statement from HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, a former U.S. Representative from Warrensville Heights. Congressional shift: The decision to keep Ohios congressional maps for another election cycle prompted Sabatos Crystal Ball to improve its reelection odds for Democrats Marcy Kaptur of Toledo and Greg Landsman of Cincinnati. The organization switched its assessment of their reelection prospects from toss-up to leans Democrat. The organizations Kyle Kondik, an Ohio native, noted that Landsmans district went +8 for Biden in the last presidential election, and said strong incumbent gets benefit of doubt in Kapturs district, even though it went +3 for Trump. Forest under fire: Three GOP Congress members whose districts include parts of Wayne National Forest urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on Friday not to change the name of Wayne National Forest to Buckeye National Forest. A letter from Reps. Troy Balderson of Zanesville, Bill Johnson of Marietta and Brad Wenstrup of Cincinnati said they have general concerns with removing Anthony Wayne as the namesake of the forest, and whether it is worth the $400,000 price tag. They also asked why there was only a 15-day public comment period on the proposal and sought an extension to allow more feedback. Puff puff passed: The Ohio Republican Partys State Central Committee on Friday unanimously passed a resolution opposing Issue 2, the proposed initiated statute to legalize recreational marijuana. The committee also unanimously approved another resolution opposing Issue 1, which would enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution (the committee passed a similar resolution against the measure in May), as well as a resolution backing U.S. Sen. JD Vances push of anti-mask legislation. State response: In a Friday filing with the Ohio Supreme Court, Republicans on the Ohio Ballot Board defended the ballot language for State Issue 1, the abortion-rights amendment, that voters will see ahead of the November election. Julie Pfeiffer, an attorney in Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office, summarized their argument, saying the court had no obligation to require the ballot to contain the full text of the amendment, as the amendments backers requested in a lawsuit challenging the language. This Court does not decide whether other ballot language would have been better than the language ultimately adopted by the Ballot Board, the filing said. The Court only decides whether the ballot language properly identifies the substance of the proposal to be voted upon and does not mislead, deceive or defraud the voters. The answer to those two questions is yes and thus, the ballot language approved by the Ballot Board must stand. Full Disclosure Heres five things we learned from the May 10, 2023 financial disclosure statement of Ohio Rep. Jim Hoops, a Napoleon Republican. 1. Along with his legislative salary, he earned more than $100,000 during the year from his account with the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System 2. Hes the treasurer of the Henry County Humane Society 3. He disclosed investments in a handful of deferred compensation, retirement and life insurance funds 4. He had neither creditors nor debtors greater than $1,000 during the year 5. He received an award from the Ohio Municipal Electric Association paired with notice of a $118.20 expenditure. On the Move The Center for Community Solutions, a 110-year-old health and social services think tank in Cleveland, announced its COO Emily Campbell will be the next president and CEO, starting Dec. 1. Campbell replaces John Corlett, who announced earlier this year that he is retiring. Birthdays Autumn Mitchell, policy manager to Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley Straight From The Source Kroger has long served as a leader in combatting opioid abuse and remains committed to patient safety. An unidentified Kroger spokesperson to The Cincinnati Enquirer in response to the grocers preliminary $1.2 billon settlement with state and local governments in connection to its role in fueling the opioid crisis. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. COLUMBUS, Ohio Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Monday he ordered subpoenas probing the origins of public comments sent to state regulators urging fracking in state parks letters whose purported authors say they didnt knowingly allow anyone to use their names. Yosts investigative steps, shared in an interview, come on the heels of an investigation from Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer that identified 38 people who disputed writing letters sent in their name. The authors included an older blind woman and the mother of a 9-year-old girl whose name appeared on the troves of pro-fracking submissions, which urge the state to responsibly lease rights to minerals under Salt Fork State Park and other protected lands. Yost said his office is still working out specifics of the subpoenas, but the goal is to assess what happened behind the scenes that led to form letters drafted by the pro-oil and gas Consumer Energy Alliance being submitted to state regulators. The form letter appears more than 1,000 times in a state database, and dozens of Ohioans say they didnt knowingly authorize their names to be used on them. He said there are potential violations of law, should the allegations of misattributed identities prove true. But more importantly, Yost said, peoples names appearing on public comments they dont believe in violates their right to their identities, and a governments right to meaningful democratic processes like fielding comments from the public. If its not already illegal, he said, lawmakers ought to consider guardrails to protect the states interests. Whether this is a criminal act or not is less the point than, this cant be good for participatory democracy, he said. This cant be the way things work. Because then everything would be an illusion. Gov. Mike DeWine said hed take into consideration the idea of stripping from the record the hundreds of clone letters that match those that were contested. But he later added that simply taking the contested letters down at the request of those who say they didnt authorize them is about all we can do. The Consumer Energy Alliance said it didnt apply anyones name to its form letter without permission. Rather, per spokesman Bryson Hull, it finds people on marketing sites like win.click2win4life.com and from there prompts them to agree to allow their name to be used. DeWine cautioned that some more explicit buy-in would be prudent. I would just say to groups, no matter what side youre on, on any particular issue, you know, you ought to really get the permission specific permission from people and tell them theyre actually sending a letter, not just expressing an opinion, he said. In a statement earlier Monday, he said the alliance has told state regulators it will withdraw the name of anyone who feels their name was submitted erroneously, or who changed their mind after the fact. He said the CEA explained in detail to the OGLMC how it verifies identities on its form letters before submitting them. CEA is communicating with the relevant Ohio authorities to bring full clarity to the situation, since the allegations are provably not true, he said. By Monday evening, the Consumer Energy Alliance posted a statement on its website in response to Yosts remarks. The statement generally tracks with previous remarks, saying the CEA carefully tracks the digital chain of custody of comments it submits. In a letter to Yost, CEA President David Holt said his organization would cooperate with an investigation and asked for a meeting with the attorney general to clear the air on the matter. The public comment process is an essential part of participatory democracy and a complete airing of the facts in this situation and others like it is merited, Holt said in a prepared statement. Yosts comments about ordering subpoenas came after the ranking Ohio House Democrat, Minority Leader Allison Russo, said that public comments ought to reflect actual input from the public. She sent letters to Yost and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz urging an investigation about fake letters sent by scammers and out-of-state groups trying to rig the leasing process. She asked that all state land leasing decisions be delayed, and that the OGLMC verify the public comments in the record. Allowing the OGLMC approval process to be overrun by potential fraud is unacceptable, and the Attorney Generals Office, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), and the commission should not passively stand by and await individuals to discover their names and other personal information were used to author fake public comments, she said in a statement. Roxanne Groff, a steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks, a grassroots organization that formed to oppose fracking in state parks enabled by a new state law, said in a statement that her organization noticed anomalies with hundreds of pro-fracking comments and brought it to the commissions attention two months ago. And emails obtained by public records request show three people whose names appeared on public comments denying ever authorizing them as early as Aug. 5. The Commission must strike these comments from the record, Groff said. Anything less makes a mockery of the public engagement process. Molly Jo Stanley, the Southeast Ohio regional director for the Ohio Environmental Council, said the organization advocated for administrative rules allowing for transparency and public comments to ensure Ohioans have a fair say on the fate of state lands. But we did not imagine their voices could be drowned out by hundreds of allegedly fake comments coordinated by out-of-state oil and gas interests. This is unacceptable, she said. The OEC and Save Ohio Parks call on the Commission to halt decision-making on all leasing nominations until these comments are investigated and the public record is corrected. Yost declined to comment on what the OGLMC should do as far as stripping comments from the record or delaying its processes. However, he said public officials look to public comments for different facts, perspectives and impacts of a given policy, not as a quasi-straw poll. Its not, What do all yall think? and majority rules, he said. Andy Chow, a spokesman for the ODNR, reiterated that the commission is aware of concerns surrounding some of the public comments, and that it will delete anyone who feels their name was used without knowing permission. He offered no comment on how someone whose name was used without consent could know as much, and he did not address the requests from environmentalists to slow decision making on leasing mineral rights on the first state lands. However, he hinted at technical changes to the comment submission process. The commission is determined to follow the statute as it carries out the land leasing process as required by Ohio Revised Code, he said. That includes administering an open public comments period that does not infringe on Ohio law or First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, the commission is currently working on creating a public comments portal where people can directly submit their comments to the website with additional authentication tools. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. COLUMBUS, Ohio Two environmental advocacy organizations and the ranking Ohio House Democrat demanded concrete actions, investigative and otherwise, in response to dozens of Ohioans saying their names were used without their knowing permission on letters to regulators urging fracking in state parks. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Sunday reported that 38 people said their names were used without knowing consent in public comments to the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission. They included an older blind woman and the mother of a 9-year-old girl whose name appeared on the troves of pro-fracking submissions, which urge the state to responsibly lease rights to minerals under state parks to oil and gas drillers. In a statement, Roxanne Groff, a steering committee member of Save Ohio Parks, a grassroots organization that formed to oppose fracking in state parks enabled by a new state law, said her organization noticed anomalies with hundreds of pro-fracking comments and brought it to the commissions attention two months ago. Those comments, as was reported, trace back to the Consumer Energy Alliance, a Houston-based nonprofit that advocates for the oil and gas industry. The Commission must strike these comments from the record, Groff said. Anything less makes a mockery of the public engagement process. Molly Jo Stanley, the Southeast Ohio regional director for the Ohio Environmental Council, said the organization advocated for administrative rules allowing for transparency and public comments to ensure Ohioans have a fair say on the fate of state lands. But we did not imagine their voices could be drowned out by hundreds of allegedly fake comments coordinated by out-of-state oil and gas interests. This is unacceptable, she said. The OEC and Save Ohio Parks call on the Commission to halt decision-making on all leasing nominations until these comments are investigated and the public record is corrected. House Minority Leader Allison Russo, the ranking House Democrat from Upper Arlington, said in a statement that a public comment process should reflect actual input from the public. Any allegations of widespread misuse of individuals names and opinions in these public comments should be immediately investigated by both [the Ohio Department of Natural Resources] and the Attorney General, she said. The notion of drilling and fracking on our pristine state parks is extreme already. Allowing the approval process to be overrun by potential fraud is unacceptable, and the commission cannot passively stand by and allow any of the nominations to be approved until further investigation. Bethany McCorkle, a spokeswoman for Yost, said she would look into whether anyone has reached out to the attorney general on the matter. Of the 38 public comments whose authors disputed their provenance, 28 trace back to a form letter on the website of the Consumer Energy Alliance. The nonprofit receives dues from its members, which include a broad swath of oil and gas companies, and lobbies for policies that benefit the industry. Through spokesman Bryson Hull, the Alliance said it doesnt use anyones name without permission. Rather, it finds people on marketing sites like win.click2win4life.com and from there prompts them to agree to allow their name to be used. The Consumer Energy Alliance has previously been accused of using peoples names without permission on petitions and similar submissions in Wisconsin (in 2014), Ohio (2016) and South Carolina (2018). However, it has never been convicted of or penalized for the alleged conduct. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer have reached out to Hull for comment on the new statements in this report. Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho, center, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court, Sept. 11, to attend a hearing on the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election scandal. Yonhap Prosecutors on Monday demanded imprisonment of six and five years, respectively, for former Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho and opposition lawmaker Hwang Un-ha in a court hearing on a 2018 election-meddling scandal in the southeastern city. Song, a longtime friend of former President Moon Jae-in, was indicted in January 2020 on charges of conspiring with Hwang and some presidential aides to win the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election. Hwang, who served as Ulsan's police chief at that time, was indicted on suspicion of conducting a controversial investigation into the camp of Song's election rival and incumbent ruling party chief, Kim Gi-hyeon, at the request of Song and some aides to Moon. Making prison sentence demands in the hearing at the Seoul Central District Court, prosecutors said an unprecedented government intervention in the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election and abuse of police authority undermined the fairness of the election. "Song took the lead in committing the crime and asked Hwang to conduct an investigation, resulting in him being fraudulently elected and effectively benefiting from it," the prosecution said. Regarding Hwang, the prosecution said, "Despite his obligation to be politically neutral as a high-ranking police official, he abused his investigative power to intervene in the election for political greed and became a lawmaker as a result." Prosecutors also requested prison sentences for three officials of Moon's presidential office. They asked Baek Won-woo be sentenced to three years in prison and Han Byung-do and Park Hyoung-chul be sentenced to 1 1/2 years each. The sentencing hearing is expected to take place late this year or early next year. (Yonhap) CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio-- Threat, East Washington Street: Police are investigating an issue reported to the school resource officer shortly before 1 p.m. Aug. 29 by a Chagrin Falls Schools administrator. The issue involves a juvenile student. Further information was not available on the initial report. Disturbance, North Main Street: A store owner, 72, called police 2:56 p.m. Aug. 28 to complain her husband, 74, pushed her inside her store. She was not injured. He left before officers arrived on the scene. She explained that he suffers from dementia. Fraud, Shopping Plaza Drive: The owner of Stanley Cleaners arrived at the police station 5 p.m. Aug. 28 to report someone forged and cashed a check using his business checking account in the amount of $4,627.82. He was reimbursed by the bank for that amount. Traffic stop, West Orange Street: A random registration check 8:10 a.m. Aug 30 revealed the Cleveland driver, 22, lacked a valid license and was wanted by Bedford Heights police. His passenger, a woman, 20, also had a traffic warrant with the Bedford police department. Officers searched the vehicle for marijuana and seized a small amount for destruction. Both subjects were cited by Chagrin Falls. The man was advised about his two warrants and cited for driving without a valid license. He will appear in Bedford Municipal Court. Bedford police arrived on scene to issue the woman a personal recognizance bond. Traffic stop, East Washington Street: Stopped for a faulty muffler 2:40 p.m. Aug. 31, a Willoughby man, 24, was arrested for driving under suspension. He was cited and issued a court date. Get police blotters by email every weekday for free with our new Police Blotter newsletter. Sign up at cleveland.com/newsletters. A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment. An Orleans Parish grand jury indicted a 91-year-old priest on rape charges Thursday decades after the crime had occurred, the New Orleans District Attorneys Office revealed. Lawrence Hecker, who spent most of his time as a member of the New Orleans Archdiocese, told Catholic church officials in 1999 about how hed sexually engaged with at least three underaged boys in the 1970s, according to the Guardian. In August, Hecker told reporters hed participated in simultaneous masturbation with someone who was under 16. Still, it took authorities until this week to charge him with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature and theft, which are all felony crimes. He should have been prosecuted a long time ago, New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams said during a news conference Thursday, adding that he believes that a whole lot of adults should have done a whole lot more to protect children from Lawrence Hecker. Williams did not provide specific details regarding the crimes at the conference and did not directly answer a question about how many survivors came forward in the criminal case. Yet, he said without the bravery of the survivors, an indictment would not have been possible. Church officials sent Lawrence away to a psychiatric facility after his late-90s admission, documents reviewed by the Guardian show. There, he was diagnosed with pedophilia. Experts determined that he should not be placed in situations where he might be around children or vulnerable adults. Church officials identified him as an accused predator in 2018. Despite this, it took until 2002 for Hecker to retire from the church. In Louisiana, a statutes of limitation on rape crimes does not exist, which enabled authorities to bring the charges against the former priest. Aaron Hebert, one of Heckers survivors, publicly went forward with his claims against the former priest in 2021. On a website for survivors of childhood sex abuse, he wrote about how when he was 13, Hecker took him and a couple of school athletes to the church to perform a pretend hernia examination on them. Thats when Hebert said Hecker groped his genitals. Hebert said that neither him nor his friends reported the incident to school officials because they believed Hecker to be a person of authority. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 86 percent of child abuse goes unreported. When it is reported, often a high percentage of instances are not disclosed until adulthood. The average age people who survive child sex abuse report it is 52. Not telling authority figures about what happened has left Hebert with feelings of guilt, he wrote on the website. I felt that if I could have told someone, somebody, even my parents, that perhaps Father Hecker would be held accountable for what he done to our innocence. A passenger passes through a gate at a subway station in Seoul, May 17. Yonhap The Seoul city government will launch an all-inclusive monthly transit pass plan next year, which will offer unlimited access to the city's subway, bus and bicycle-sharing services at a fixed price of 65,000 won ($48.70), officials said Monday. The city has designed the transit pass, named Climate Card, to help relieve increasing living costs and encourage the use of public transportation so as to cut greenhouse gas emissions, city officials said. The Climate Card will become available for purchase beginning in the second half of 2024 following a pilot operation from January to May. The rechargeable transit pass, to be available in the format of both a plastic card and a mobile app, will give a user limitless access to all subway lines and bus routes running across the capital as well as the city's Ddareungi bicycle-sharing service for a month. All subway lines in Seoul, including Line 1 to Line 9, GyeonguiJungang and Bundang Lines, will be covered by the Climate Card, except the Shinbundang Line that connects southern Seoul to Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, and has a higher fare system. The transit card will also be available for use at intracity buses and other buses with shorter routes inside the city. The city plans to further expand the transit card's coverage to the commercial water bus service Seoul plans to launch along the Han River by the second half of next year. A man uses Seoul's bicycle sharing service at a rental spot in Seoul, Sept. 7. Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye Universities should offer education that prepares students for employment and cultivates well-rounded citizens capable of contributing to the betterment of society, according to Fernando Leon-Garcia, president of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP). Fernando Leon-Garcia, president of the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP) / Courtesy of IAUP Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, attends a meeting of the party's Supreme Council at a tent in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 8. Yonhap The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) will push for the impeachment of Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup over allegations he unfairly interfered with a military investigation into the death of a young Marine, party leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday. The minister has been under fire over his handling of the Marine Corps investigation into what contributed to the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was swept away by an overflowing stream during a mission to search for victims of downpours on July 19. "The impeachment of the defense minister is an order from the people," DPK Chairman Lee said in a statement while on an anti-government hunger strike for the 12th day. "President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected a demand from the people that he fire the minister." The DPK leader claimed that although the defense minister was found to have unfairly interfered with the Marine Corps investigation into the death, Yoon did not remove him from office. That proves the presidential office was also involved, the opposition leader claimed. It will mark the second time for the DPK to push for the impeachment of a Cabinet minister since the Yoon administration came into office. In February, the DPK-led National Assembly impeached Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, but the Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment in July. The impeachment push comes amid reports that Yoon is mulling replacing the defense, culture and gender equality ministers, and Rep. Shin Won-sik of the ruling People Power Party, a retired three-star Army general, is being talked about as a leading candidate for defense minister. Chae's death sparked criticism that his commanders pushed for the risky operation without safety measures. The Marine Corps investigation found eight people, including the commander of the 1st Marine Division, responsible for negligent homicide and other charges, and the chief investigator, Col. Park Jung-hun, reported to Defense Minister Lee on July 30 that he will transfer the findings to civilian police as required by law. The minister approved the decision at first but reversed his decision a day later and ordered the chief investigator to hold off on the transfer, citing a need for further review. But Park transferred the records anyway and has since been under investigation on the charge of disobeying orders. The DPK has raised suspicions that the defense minister ordered that the transfer be suspended after the presidential National Security Office demanded that some of the eight people specified as responsible for the death be removed from the investigation records. The presidential office has rejected the allegations. (Yonhap) The U.S. has suffered the highest number of billion-dollar weather disasters on record this year with wildfires and severe storms wreaking havoc from Hawaii to Florida, according to a report released by the federal government Monday. The nation has been hit by 23 such disasters so far in 2023, the highest number since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration started keeping records in 1980. The previous record was set in 2020 with 22 separate disasters that each caused a billion or more dollars in damage. The 23 disasters this year have caused more than $57.6 billion in damage and killed at least 253 people, according to the NOAA report. The deadliest wildfire in more than a century ravaged West Maui, Hawaii in August, killing at least 115 people and causing up to $6 billion in estimated damages. Just weeks later, Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida's Big Bend coast, the strongest hurricane to hit the region in 125 years. The number of billion-dollar weather disasters has been increasing since 1980. On average, there were 8 such disasters every year from 1980-2022. In the most recent five years, there have been 18 such disasters annually on average, according to NOAA. Airbnb is adding James Manyika, Google's "AI ambassador," to its board of directors, the company said Monday. Manyika's addition underscores CEO Brian Chesky's ambitions in artificial intelligence, which Chesky has said will radically change the Airbnb platform by 2024. As Google's head of Research, Technology and Society, Manyika reports to CEO Sundar Pichai and focuses on how tech affects user's daily lives. Increasingly, that encompasses the company's AI research and products. Manyika is also a vice chair of the National AI Advisory Committee, the federal panel that develops strategies for AI regulation, and senior partner emeritus at McKinsey & Company. In early August, Chesky said on the Airbnb earnings call that generative AI has the ability to create an entirely new interface for the platform, based on personalization. He wants the company's integration of the new technology to result in more than a chatbot. "Our app can almost be like an AI concierge that can match you to local experiences, local homes, local places all over the world," Chesky told analysts. With Manyika on the board, Chesky gains a powerful voice that sits at the intersection of AI and society. Manyika is the ninth board member and takes the place of Belinda Johnson, who did not seek reelection earlier this year. In this article BABA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang Yong speaks during the launching ceremony of Alibaba Rural Vitalization Fund on May 17, 2021 in Lanzhou, Gansu Province of China. Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images Shares of Chinese tech giant Alibaba fell 3.5% on Monday, after the company said in a surprise move that outgoing CEO Daniel Zhang will also be stepping down as chairman and CEO of its cloud business. The move comes months after Alibaba said in June that Zhang was departing as chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group to focus on the cloud intelligence unit. Eddie Wu, who was set to take over from Zhang as CEO and director of Alibaba Group from September, will now also be chairman and CEO of the cloud business on an interim basis, the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong exchange on Sunday. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon In a surprise leadership reshuffle in June, Alibaba announced that Zhang was bowing out as both CEO and chairman on Sept. 10 to focus on the cloud intelligence business. Co-founder Wu would become CEO and director, while another co-founder, Joseph Tsai, will be chairman from September, the e-commerce giant said at that time. Zhang was Alibaba Group CEO since 2015 and the group chairman since 2019. He has also been chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group since 2022. "The board of our Company expresses its deepest appreciation to Mr. Zhang for his contributions to Alibaba Group over the past 16 years," Alibaba said in the Sunday statement. What it means for Alibaba Cloud IPO In May, Alibaba also announced plans to spin off its cloud division as a separate, publicly traded company. In a major restructuring plan in March, Alibaba split into six business groups in March, paving the way for each unit to raise outside funding and go public. The surprise announcement will weigh on Alibaba's share price in the near term until a new successor is named, Citi analyst Alicia Yap said in note on Monday. "Investors may be concerned that the timing and process of AliCloud's spin-off may be affected," she explained. However, she maintained a "buy" rating on Alibaba's stock and a target price of $151 that's 67% higher that the stock's last close of $90.05 on the New York Stock exchange. Citi will continue to monitor developments and await any new announcement, she added, citing key downside risks for the company, including a failure in executing its new retail strategy, as well as investment spend and margins pressure become worse than expected. *This is adapted from Walter Isaacson's biography, "Elon Musk," published this month. "Does this timeframe seem like something that I would find remotely acceptable?" Musk asked. "Obviously not. If a timeline is long, it's wrong." It was late at night on December 22, and the meeting in Musk's 10th floor conference room at X, formerly Twitter, had become tense. He was talking to two X infrastructure managers who had not dealt with him much before, and certainly not when he was in a foul mood. One of them tried to explain the problem. The data-services company that housed one of X's server farms, located in Sacramento, had agreed to allow them some short-term extensions on their lease so they could begin to move out during 2023 in an orderly fashion. "But this morning," the nervous manager told Musk, "they came back to us and said that plan was no longer on the table because, and these are their words, they don't think that we will be financially viable." The facility was costing X more than $100 million a year. Musk wanted to save that money by moving the servers to one of X's other facilities, in Portland, Oregon. Another manager at the meeting said that couldn't be done right away. "We can't get out safely before six to nine months," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Sacramento still needs to be around to serve traffic." Over the years, Musk had been faced many times with a choice between what he thought was necessary and what others told him was possible. The result was almost always the same. He paused in silence for a few moments, then announced, "You have 90 days to do it. If you can't make that work, your resignation is accepted." The manager began to explain in detail some of the obstacles to relocating the servers to Portland. "It has different rack densities, different power densities," she said. "So the rooms need to be upgraded." She started to give a lot more details, but after a minute, Musk interrupted. "This is making my brain hurt," he said. "I'm sorry, that was not my intention," she replied in a measured monotone. "Do you know the head-explosion emoji?" he asked her. "That's what my head feels like right now. What a pile of f---ing bulls---. Jesus H f---ing Christ. Portland obviously has tons of room. It's trivial to move servers one place to another." The X managers again tried to explain the constraints. Musk interrupted. "Can you have someone go to our server centers and send me videos of the insides?" he asked. It was three days before Christmas, and the manager promised the video in a week. "No, tomorrow," Musk ordered. "I've built server centers myself, and I can tell if you could put more servers there or not. That's why I asked if you had actually visited these facilities. If you've not been there, you're just talking bulls---." SpaceX and Tesla were successful because Musk relentlessly pushed his teams to be scrappier, more nimble, and to launch fire-drill surges that extruded all obstacles. That's how they had cobbled together a car production line in a tent in Fremont and a test facility in the Texas desert and a launch site at Cape Canaveral made of used parts. "All you need to do is just move the f---ing servers to Portland," he said. "If it takes longer than 30 days, that would blow my mind." He paused and recalculated. "Just get a moving company, and it will take a week to move the computers and another week to plug them in. Two weeks. That's what should happen." Everyone was silent. But Musk was still warming up. "If you got a godd--- U-Haul, you could probably do it by yourself." The two X managers looked to see if he was serious. Two of Musk's top loyalists, Steve Davis and Omead Afshar were also at the table. They had seen him like this many times before, and they knew that he might be. "Why don't we do it right now?" James Musk asked. James and his brother Andrew, younger first cousins of Musk, were flying with him from San Francisco to Austin on Friday evening, December 23, the day after the frustrating infrastructure meeting about how long it would take to move the servers out of the Sacramento facility. Avid skiers, they had planned to go by themselves to Tahoe for Christmas, but Elon that day invited them to come to Austin instead. James was reluctant. He was mentally exhausted and didn't need more intensity, but Andrew convinced him that they should go. So that's how they ended up on the plane listening to Elon complain about the servers. They were somewhere over Las Vegas when James made his suggestion that they could move them now. It was the type of impulsive, impractical, surge-into-the-breach idea that Musk loved. It was already late evening, but he told his pilot to divert, and they made a loop back up to Sacramento. The only rental car they could find when they landed was a Toyota Corolla. They were not sure how they would even get inside the data center at night, but one very surprised X staffer, a guy named Alex from Uzbekistan, was still there. He merrily let them in and showed them around. The facility, which housed rooms of servers for many other companies as well, was very secure, with a retinal scan required for entry into each of the vaults. Alex the Uzbek was able to get them into the X vault, which contained about 5,200 refrigerator-size racks of 30 computers each. "These things do not look that hard to move," Elon announced. It was a reality-distorting assertion, since each rack weighed about 2,500 pounds and was eight feet tall. "You'll have to hire a contractor to lift the floor panels," Alex said. "They need to be lifted with suction cups." Another set of contractors, he said, would then have to go underneath the floor panels and disconnect the electric cables and seismic rods. Musk turned to his security guard and asked to borrow his pocket knife. Using it, he was able to lift one of the air vents in the floor, which allowed him to pry open the floor panels. He then crawled under the server floor himself, used the knife to jimmy open an electrical cabinet, pulled the server plugs, and waited to see what happened. Nothing exploded. The server was ready to be moved. "Well that doesn't seem super hard," he said as Alex the Uzbek and the rest of the gang stared. Musk was totally jazzed by this point. It was, he said with a loud laugh, like a remake of Mission: Impossible, Sacramento edition. The next day Christmas Eve Musk called in reinforcements. Ross Nordeen, who worked with his friend James at Tesla, drove from San Francisco. He stopped at the Apple Store in Union Square and spent $2,000 to buy out the entire stock of AirTags so the servers could be tracked on their journey, and then stopped at Home Depot, where he spent $2,500 on wrenches, bolt-cutters, headlamps, and the tools needed to unscrew the seismic bolts. Steve Davis, a loyal Musk lieutenant, got someone to procure a semi truck and line up moving vans. Other enlistees arrived from SpaceX. The server racks were on wheels, so the team was able to disconnect four of them and roll them to the waiting truck. This showed that all fifty-two hundred or so could probably be moved within days. "The guys are kicking ass!" Musk exulted. Other workers at the facility watched with a mix of amazement and horror. Musk and his renegade team were rolling servers out without putting them in crates or swaddling them in protective material, then using store-bought straps to secure them in the truck. "I've never loaded a semi before," James admitted. Ross called it "terrifying." It was like cleaning out a closet, "but the stuff in it is totally critical." At 3 p.m., after they had gotten four servers onto the truck, word of the caper reached the top executives at NTT, the company that owned and managed the data center. They issued orders that Musk's team halt. Musk had the mix of glee and anger that often accompanied one of his manic surges. He called the CEO of the storage division, who told him it was impossible to move server racks without a bevy of experts. "Bulls---," Musk explained. "We have already loaded four onto the semi." The CEO then told him that some of the floors could not handle more than 500 pounds of pressure, so rolling a 2,000-pound server would cause damage. Musk replied that the servers had four wheels, so the pressure at any one point was only 500 pounds. "The dude is not very good at math," Musk told the musketeers. Having ruined the Christmas Eve of the NTT managers, as well as hitting them with a potential loss of more than $100 million in revenue for the coming year, Musk showed pity and said he would suspend moving the servers for two days. But they would resume, he warned, the day after Christmas. After Christmas, Andrew and James headed back to Sacramento to see how many more servers they could move. They hadn't brought enough clothes, so they went to Walmart and bought jeans and T-shirts. The moving contractors that NTT wanted them to use charged $200 an hour. So James went on Yelp and found a company named Extra Care Movers that would do the work at one-tenth the cost. The motley company pushed the ideal of scrappiness to its outer limits. The owner had lived on the streets for a while, then had a kid, and he was trying to turn his life around. He didn't have a bank account, so James ended up using PayPal to pay him. The second day, the crew wanted cash, so James went to a bank and withdrew $13,000 from his personal account. Two of the crew members had no identification, which made it hard for them to sign into the facility. But they made up for it in hustle. "You get a dollar tip for every additional server we move," James announced at one point. From then on, when they got a new one on a truck, the workers would ask how many they were up to. The servers had user data on them, and James did not initially realize that, for privacy reasons, they were supposed to be wiped clean before being moved. "By the time we learned this, the servers had already been unplugged and rolled out, so there was no way we would roll them back, plug them in, and then wipe them," he says. Plus, the wiping software wasn't working. "F---, what do we do?" he asked. Elon recommended that they lock the trucks and track them. So James sent someone to Home Depot to buy big padlocks, and they sent the combination codes on a spreadsheet to Portland so the trucks could be opened there. "I can't believe it worked," James says. "They all made it to Portland safely." By the end of the week, they had used all of the available trucks in Sacramento. Despite the area being pummeled by rain, they moved more than 700 of the racks in three days. The previous record at that facility had been moving 30 in a month. That still left a lot of servers in the facility, but the musketeers had proven that they could be moved quickly. The rest were handled by the X infrastructure team in January. All very exciting and inspiring, right? An example of Musk's bold and scrappy approach! But as with all things Musk, it was, alas, not that simple. It was also an example of his recklessness, his impatience with pushback, and the way he intimidated people. X's infrastructure engineers had tried to explain to him, in that head-explosion-emoji meeting a week earlier, why a quick shutdown of the Sacramento center would be a problem, but he shot them down. He had a good track record of knowing when to ignore naysayers. But not a perfect one. For the next two months, X was destabilized. The lack of servers caused meltdowns, including when Musk hosted a Twitter Spaces for presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. "In retrospect, the whole Sacramento shutdown was a mistake," Musk would admit in March 2023. "I was told we had redundancy across our data centers. What I wasn't told was that we had 70,000 hard-coded references to Sacramento. And there's still shit that's broken because of it." His most valuable lieutenants at Tesla and SpaceX had learned ways to deflect his bad ideas and drip-feed him unwelcome information, but the legacy employees at X didn't know how to handle him. That said, X survived. And the Sacramento caper showed X employees that he was serious when he spoke about the need for a maniacal sense of urgency. Walter Isaacson is a CNBC contributor and the author of biographies of Elon Musk, Jennifer Doudna, Leonardo da Vinci, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, and Henry Kissinger. He teaches history at Tulane University and was the editor of Time and the CEO of CNN. Don't miss: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter here European stock markets closed higher on Monday as investors looked ahead to a busy week of economic data releases around the world. The benchmark Stoxx 600 index ended up 0.3%, pulling back from gains of up to 0.9% earlier in the session. Basic resources rose 2.4%, as stocks including Anglo American and Rio Tinto traded higher following gains in metals prices and encouraging Chiense inflation figures. The Stoxx 600 on Friday broke a seven-session losing streak, its longest since February 2018. European markets Investors are looking forward to key U.S. inflation data in the week ahead, with the latest consumer price index due Wednesday and producer price index Thursday. The readings come after a string of stronger-than-expected economic data points last week renewed worries that the U.S. Federal Reserve could raise rates more than previously expected. Traders are pricing in a roughly 4 in 10 chance of an increase in November after an anticipated pause in September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool. Brendan McDermid | Reuters In Europe, investors are gearing up for the European Central Bank's next rate decision Thursday. The market is pricing in a roughly 40% chance the central bank will hike 25 basis points to 4.00%, but economists predict it will be a close call, Reuters reported. Asia-Pacific markets are also gearing up for big data releases this week. India will release its inflation and industrial output figures for August on Tuesday, and China will announce its industrial output, retail sales, and most notably, house sale prices on Friday. A federal appeals court on Friday limited the scope of a district court ruling that restricted communications between government agencies and social media companies, while also finding that several agencies likely violated the First Amendment. The ruling will make it easier for several federal agencies to communicate with social media companies such as Meta , Google , and X, formerly known as Twitter, to flag concerns they see on the platforms. Still, officials who remain subject to the modified injunction, including those in the White House, must remain careful that their discussions with the platforms won't be construed as coercive. The original case was brought by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, who alleged that federal officials unduly pressured social media firms to limit speech on their platforms, as they communicated concerns about posts related to the Covid pandemic or elections. Terry A. Doughty, a Donald Trump-appointed chief judge for the Western District of Louisiana, issued an injunction in July that would significantly restrict these kinds of discussions, though he made exceptions for federal officials to warn about national security risks or criminal activity. The decision had an immediate impact. Following the district court's order in July, the State Department canceled its standing monthly meeting with Facebook officials on election prep, The Washington Post reported. But on Friday, the three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals said that injunction was too broad. The panel narrowed the federal offices and agencies it could apply to and limited it in scope. At the same time, the appeals court concluded that the White House, the Surgeon General's office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation likely violated the First Amendment by coercing social media platforms into moderating posts on their sites. It also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention likely violated the First Amendment, though its actions were "not plainly coercive." The appeals court decision means that some federal agencies the State Department, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will not be subject to the injunction. But the offices found to have likely violated the First Amendment will still be subject to a more limited version of the order. The appeals court vacated nine of the 10 prohibitions Doughty set out in the initial injunction. The one that remained is now modified "to exclusively target illegal conduct and provide the officials with additional guidance or instruction on what behavior is prohibited." That's intended to prevent the action from capturing "otherwise legal speech." According to the appeals court's modification, the agencies still subject to the injunction are forbidden from taking actions "formal or informal, directly or indirectly, to coerce or significantly encourage social-media companies to remove, delete, suppress, or reduce, including through altering their algorithms, posted social-media content containing protected free speech." The White House, Surgeon General's office, FBI and CDC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. WATCH: The messy business of content moderation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube I signed up to try Waymo as soon as it became available in San Francisco, and this weekend Alphabet's self-driving car company finally invited me to give it a shot. My son Marlon has been obsessed with self-driving cars this year, as we've seen more and more Waymos and competing GM Cruise vehicles tootling around San Francisco without safety drivers. We thought we noticed them getting more aggressive in recent months nothing frightening, but they seemed to be pulling into intersections and merging into lanes more assertively, just like a normal San Francisco driver would do. Last month, Waymo and Cruise won approval to operate driverless cars in San Francisco at any time of day. So with self-driving cars a common feature of our local landscape, we were excited to give one a try. Saturday morning, we headed down to the local drugstore to buy sunglasses, then used the Waymo app on my phone to order a ride home. It would be about a five-minute drive, but would save us a steep uphill walk. The car pulled up with my initials, MR, on the display below the rotating lidar sensor on the roof. The door handles were flush with the side of the car until I selected the "unlock" option from the app, at which point they popped out like normal door handles. We both climbed in. The A/C was blowing cool air. The interior was bathed in light pink light from the iPad-sized console at the front of the back seat, and soft ambient music was playing. It definitely had a "welcome to the future" vibe. A female recorded voice gave us some instructions to fasten our seatbelts and not touch the brakes or steering wheel, then it pulled into motion. The car performed as if a competent human were driving. It didn't hesitate to cross the (imaginary) center line when it had to get around a parked car on a narrow street, and stuck toward the middle on a very narrow section with cars on both sides. The ride was smooth and the speed constant at just under 25 miles per hour. We fiddled with the interior console to try and connect it to my iPhone to play music from my library, but the ride was so short that I only had time to download the Google Assistant (required for that function) before it was over. For some reason, the Waymo wouldn't drive us right to our door. Our house is at the top of a very steep crest on a narrow street that has four buses running up and down it every hour, so maybe it was too much to handle. As it approached our drop-off point, the voice told us that we'd be ending our ride soon, and to touch the handle twice once to unlock the door, a second time to open it. We did as instructed, walked out of the car, and it pulled slowly off. The trip cost $8, about the same as a Lyft or Uber . As my son pointed out, Alphabet doesn't have any drivers to pay, so the money all goes straight to the company as revenue. The ride itself was completely uneventful. A little boring, even. The whole experience reminded me of the way smartphones or the internet were miraculous at first, but now seem mundane. I was a skeptic about the promise of self-driving cars. It seemed like one of those technologies that's been perpetually a few years away. But after taking this ride, I can absolutely see it becoming a very common way to get around for short urban trips, as long as Waymo and its competitors can scale up in a cost-effective way. Consumers, investors and regulators better get ready, because the technology is here and it's so advanced it seems natural and safe upon first use. WATCH: NBC Bay Area reporter takes a ride in a malfunctioning robotaxi The first of two major antitrust lawsuits brought by the Justice Department against Alphabet -owned Google is set to go to trial in Washington, D.C., this week. It represents the biggest tech monopoly action to see the inside of a courtroom in more than two decades. The Club is worried about one of the cases more than the other. Tuesday's highly anticipated trial, nearly three years in the making, stems from DOJ allegations that Google unfairly used exclusive deals with mobile companies and browser firms to make its search engine the default for consumers. Google denies those claims, arguing its practices are not anticompetitive and foster a better user experience. The suit was filed in October 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The second government complaint , which was filed in January in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleges that Google engaged in monopolistic behavior in its advertising technology business. Google has denied any wrongdoing. This ad-tech litigation has us more concerned because it goes to the heart of Google's main revenue stream. European Union regulators are pushing for a breakup of Google's online ad business. Search antitrust suit Alphabet's arrangements with companies such as Apple (AAPL) and Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser, as well as Samsung and Verizon (VZ) make Google the default search engine on their services. In particular, the DOJ will be targeting Google's deal with Apple, which is expected to be worth between $8 billion to $12 billion a year. Apple executives are expected to be called at the Google trial. JPMorgan views the trial that starts Tuesday as a "win-win" for Google. In a research note Friday, the analysts said a ruling in Google's favor keeps the status quo while a ruling against the company means it would save billions in traffic acquisition cost (TAC) payments to affiliates and firms like Apple and likely won't lead to a big loss in search market share. To be sure, if Google loses, the analysts from JPMorgan see the risk of other competitors, like distant No. 2 search engine Bing from Microsoft (MSFT), making some market share inroads, or Apple developing its own search engine. Google has previously responded to the DOJ search antitrust suit. "People use Google Search because they choose to, not because they are forced to or because they cannot easily find alternative ways to search for information on the internet," the company said in published remarks in December 2020. Ad tech antitrust suit The Justice Department's separate lawsuit targeting Google's advertising business claims that Alphabet is manipulating the price of ads on Google by being both the buyer and seller in the ad exchange market. In a January blog post, Google responded to the DOJ by saying it is "one of hundreds of companies that enable the placement of ads across the internet. And it's well reported that competition is increasing as more and more companies enter and invest in building their investing businesses." In this case, a Google win would be a tailwind for the company, but a DOJ win could impact the future Alphabet earnings. Jim Cramer is more focused on this case since a defeat would probably force Google to divest some of its key ad tech assets. "The government has a very compelling case if you believe that the universe of ads sales is limited to what Google dominates, which is the auction," Jim explained Friday during the Club's Morning Meeting . Google runs an instant auction to advertisers that determines which ads appear and in what order. Jim added, however, that the government may have a harder time proving its case given the presence of alternative advertising platforms such as Meta Platforms (META) and Amazon (AMZN). Bottom line The "win-win" thesis presented by JPMorgan is intriguing and to us, it makes some sense, which is why we think Tuesday's trial isn't the one investors should be focused on. If the trial goes in Google's favor, then it's business as usual for the company and nothing changes. If it were to lose, it's unlikely that Google would lose a significant amount of market share in search given that it is so engrained in everyone's online habits. It's like what the company just went through with chatbots. A few months ago, there was a belief that Microsoft's ChatGPT-infused Bing would usurp Google's search dominance. But those predictions have been proven wrong. However, that doesn't mean Alphabet is completely absolved from regulatory risk. We still see the advertising technology lawsuit as a potential issue, though admittedly we are less concerned about it than before because Alphabet can make the argument that the advertising universe is less concentrated than it was before. With Alphabet's fundamentals strong thanks to the recent pickup in search revenue, the Google Cloud business is poised to benefit from recent AI enhancements, and the stock still trading at a very reasonable valuation. We think it's worth sticking with for the long term. Jeff Marks , the director of portfolio analysis for the CNBC Investing Club, contributed to this report. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GOOGL, AAPL, MSFT, META, AMZN. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Google CEO, Sundar Pichai (: and Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general of antitrust for the US Department of Justice (R). Getty Images In this article GOOGL GOOG Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Google CEO, Sundar Pichai (: and Jonathan Kanter, assistant attorney general of antitrust for the US Department of Justice (R). Getty Images The biggest tech monopoly trial since the Department of Justice challenged Microsoft more than 20 years ago is set to begin Tuesday, kicking off a new chapter of anti-monopoly enforcement in the U.S. Over the next few months, the DOJ and a collection of state attorneys general will make their case to a D.C. District Court judge for why Google has allegedly violated anti-monopoly law through exclusive agreements with mobile phone manufacturers and browser makers to make its search engine the default for consumers. Google , in turn, will seek to tell the judge why its behavior is not anti-competitive and instead provides a better experience for consumers. While the trial marks the tech sector's first major anti-monopoly proceeding in decades, Google is squarely in the middle of its antitrust battles. It's already faced major fines over its competitive practices in Europe, and months after it wraps arguments in the search trial, it's set to face a second challenge from the DOJ in the Eastern District of Virginia over its advertising technology business. At stake in this trial is the chance for the DOJ to prove it can bring a successful anti-monopoly case in the modern digital age. The DOJ will likely strive to show that enforcement of the antitrust laws, not the absence of them, is what can unlock innovation, just as many believe its victory in the Microsoft case paved the way for a generation of companies including Google to thrive in a more open internet ecosystem. For Google, it's fighting to preserve a long-standing business practice that it sees as an important way to make its search products accessible to consumers, which it says creates the best experience for them. Here's what to expect as the trial begins on Tuesday. What the trial is about A key focus of the trial will be on two kinds of agreements Google has made with other companies. One type of agreement relates to the payments Google makes to browser makers like Apple to be the default search engine on the iPhone's Safari browser and other devices. The other type is Google's contracts with phone manufacturers that run Google's Android operating system, which require them to preload certain Google apps. The government argues that these arrangements locked up important distribution channels for search, creating overwhelming barriers to entry for rival search engines to compete with. Because of Google's alleged dominant position in the market, the government contends that these moves violated antitrust law by illegally maintaining a monopoly. The states will also argue an additional claim: that Google failed to make its popular search advertising tool, Search Ads 360 (SA360), sufficiently interoperable with Microsoft's Bing. Instead, they allege in the complaint, Google "favors advertising on its own platform and steers advertiser spending towards itself by artificially denying advertisers the opportunity to evaluate the options that would serve those advertisers best." Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who has led the coalition of states, told CNBC in an interview that their case and the DOJ's "are really hand-in-glove." "The cases have very compatible theories, and the core message from both is that Google's monopoly power has been abused, harming competition and hurting consumers," Weiser said. Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser speaks during a press conference announcing an indictment of the three Aurora police officers and two Aurora fire paramedics in the death of Elijah McClain on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Aaron Ontiveroz | MediaNews Group | The Denver Post via Getty Images One argument that won't make it to trial are the states' allegations that Google suppressed vertical search providers, or search services that are focused on a specific topic, such as Yelp and Tripadvisor . The judge did not allow that claim to move forward. Still, antitrust experts interviewed for this article said that in some ways, the omission could actually help the government deliver a more straightforward and streamlined argument by dedicating more time to other theories. The government is likely to argue that Google's behavior has stifled innovation that would otherwise benefit consumers. That could be because the high barriers to entry in the market could discourage rivals and because the lack of competition could lessen Google's own incentive to innovate. But Google has maintained that its actions have legitimate business purposes and are made to enhance consumer experience with its products. Points of conflict One likely area of disagreement will be how the government defines the market that Google has allegedly monopolized. While Google did not contest the definition of the general search market in its motion to dismiss the case, it could still do so in its trial arguments. While the government defines the general search market as including direct Google rivals like Bing and DuckDuckGo, Google has alluded to other tools that consumers commonly use to search online. For example, in a blog post previewing its defense, Google's president of global affairs, Kent Walker, pointed to an Insider Intelligence report that found 60% of U.S. product searches start on Amazon . Walker wrote that the abundance of places where consumers can use online search shows that Google hasn't foreclosed competition. Still, much of the trial is likely to focus on whether Google's alleged exclusionary contracts can be considered bad acts used to further its monopoly. That means the behavior doesn't have a legitimate business purpose "besides aggrandizing or keeping your market power," according to Rebecca Haw Allensworth, an antitrust professor at Vanderbilt Law School. "I think the judge is probably inclined to find that Google has substantial monopoly power," said Bill Kovacic, who teaches antitrust at George Washington University Law School and is a former FTC chairman. "So the attention is going to be focused on the behavior. And one of Google's principal themes will be that everything we do gives the user a better experience. And that the net effect of each practice is to make the user better off than they would be otherwise." One important part of the case will be examining the payments Google makes to Apple to secure its place as the iPhone's default search engine in its Safari browser. On the one hand, the government may argue that the billions of dollars Google is estimated to spend on that position shows just how valuable it sees that placement and the level of sacrifice Google is willing to take on to be the default, according to Allensworth. Google CEO Sundar Pichai (L) and Apple CEO Tim Cook (R) listen as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a roundtable with American and Indian business leaders in the East Room of the White House on June 23, 2023 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images On the other hand, Allensworth added, Google might argue that prominent placement in Apple's browser means more eyeballs for its own advertisers, and ultimately more revenue, which could be a legitimate business justification. Allensworth said she expects the government to bring in experts that attempt to argue that the payments for default placement "economically don't make sense," beyond an effort to cut out rivals. One additional element that will be discussed is Google's alleged destruction of evidence once it reasonably expected litigation. The government alleged that Google failed to preserve chat messages between employees that should have been under legal hold and prevented from auto-deleting. "That type of destruction and failure to preserve evidence is really troubling," Weiser said. "And the judge has said that's something he's willing to consider in this case. And we just want to underscore that as the judge looks at this case, we didn't have full access to the evidence because of the conduct of Google." Google has said that company officials "strongly refute the DOJ's claims." "Our teams have conscientiously worked for years to respond to inquiries and litigation," a spokesperson said in a statement earlier this year. "In fact, we have produced over 4 million documents in this case alone, and millions more to regulators around the world." What to expect on Tuesday The first day of the trial will set up the arguments for what could take as long as 10 weeks. Each party will give its opening statements before the DOJ begins presenting its case-in-chief. That means the government will call on both expert and industry witnesses to help make its case. After the DOJ concludes its main presentation, the states will have their turn, followed by Google. Afterward, the plaintiffs will likely get a chance to rebut Google's arguments. Antitrust trials are a long process, and even if Google is found liable at this stage, there could be another separate proceeding to determine the best solution for resolving the concerns. In the next few weeks, one of the most interesting things to watch for will be who is called to testify. In addition to experts like economists, expect to see Google executives called to the stand, potentially including CEO Sundar Pichai. The court will likely also hear testimony from third parties referenced in the case, like Mozilla and Apple or rivals like Microsoft or DuckDuckGo. What's at stake The case's outcome will be a significant statement on the status of antitrust law in the U.S. and how it should be applied to dominant tech firms. While the court will consider specific remedies only if Google is found liable for the allegations at this stage, a favorable ruling for the government could ultimately result in restrictions on Google's business practices or even the break up of parts of its business. Google would view such a ruling as ultimately harmful for consumers. "A ruling that says your products are too good or too successful, you can no longer pay to promote them," would be out of step with American law and "not good for the ecosystem and not good for consumers," according to Google's Walker. But supporters of the government's case believe consumers will be subject to a deteriorating search experience if the court rejects its arguments. "If Google is allowed to maintain its monopoly through illegal default search agreements while hampering competition, what that means is Google maintains its monopoly with a worse product," said Lee Hepner, legal counsel at the American Economic Liberties Project, which advocates for more enforcement of antitrust laws in markets including tech. The outcome will also be an important signal of the ability of the government to bring successful tech antitrust cases in the future, and whether current law can sufficiently account for the nuances of digital markets. For the government, winning this trial would be a significant victory, strengthening the DOJ's currently mixed record in court under antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter and signaling it can tell a compelling story about technical digital markets. A loss would be a blow to those efforts, but would likely be used as fodder in Congress to push for new antitrust laws. For the government, winning the trial may also be seen as a chance to open the digital ecosystem for the next generation of tech businesses. Many credit the Microsoft case with that effect, and this trial comes as artificial intelligence ushers in a new wave of technology and likely many new companies. But Matt Schruers, president of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, of which Google is a member, sees the rise of AI as complicating the government's arguments. Google is one of the leaders in generative AI with its chatbot Bard, though OpenAI released ChatGPT first. "That argument could not come at a more awkward time for the government, given the amazing innovations that we've seen come to market by companies that are not Google," Schruers said. "We're in the midst of an overwhelming sea change in technology, and the government has to say, 'These contracts are holding technological innovation back.'" WATCH: Google faces fast and furious pace of lawsuits as antitrust scrutiny intensifies A general view shows the building of a local railway terminal in Vladivostok, Russia, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap Security measures appeared to have been strengthened at the rail station in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok on Monday amid speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin. As of 5:40 p.m., a large number of police personnel were spotted inside Vladivostok station, unlike the previous day. A South Korean government official told Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day that a special train presumed to be carrying Kim appeared to be traveling to Vladivostok. Soldiers with service dogs, men in black suits as well as a black car surrounded by police officials entering the platform were also seen at the station, although it was unclear whether the vehicle was related to Kim's possible visit. The New York Times reported last week that Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok, possibly by armored train this month, for talks with Putin to discuss the North's potential supply of its artillery shells and other weaponry for Moscow's war in Ukraine. CNBC's Jim Cramer on Monday praised J.M. Smucker 's (SJM) decision to buy Twinkie maker Hostess Brands (TWNK) in a deal valued at $5.6 billion. "I like the deal, if only just because I like this channel for Smuckers," Cramer said on "Squawk on the Street." "People are desperate for growth in the food business, and this company's got growth," he added, referring to Hostess. Shares of Smucker, which makes its namesake jelly and owns the Jif peanut butter brand, fell more than 7% Monday, to around $131 each. Hostess Brands stock, meanwhile, surged nearly 19%, to more than $33 per share. If you like this story, sign up for Jim Cramer's Top 10 Morning Thoughts on the Market email newsletter for free. Reuters reported in August that multiple major food brands such as General Mills (GIS) and Oreo owner Mondelez International (MDLZ) had shown interest in acquiring Hostess. The company had hired investment bank Morgan Stanley (MS) which is owned by Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club to help advise on a deal, Reuters reported at the time. Perhaps the "biggest worry" about acquiring Hostess Brands is the increasing popularity of weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1 agonists, and their potential impact on consumer food preferences, Cramer acknowledged. However, he said, "I'm not so sure if that's the case. I think junk food is always going to be on the American agenda." Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk (NVO) has the leading GLP-1 weight-loss drug in the U.S. market, while Eli Lilly (LLY) which also is owned by Cramer's Charitable Trust hopes its rival drug will secure regulatory approval by year-end. Electric vehicles are taking up an increasing percentage of the overall auto market share every year rising from 4% in 2020 to 14% last year. Among the holdouts, a lack of charging infrastructure seems to be one of consumers' most common reasons for not switching from gas to electric vehicles. But now, electric road projects are appearing across the world as a potential solution to supplement static charging, allowing EV drivers to wirelessly charge their cars while they drive. "This is really an approach that can charge vehicles in any type of shape, meaning vehicles that are both buses or vans or passenger cars or trucks but it can also charge a vehicle while either driving or while standing still," Stefan Tongur, VP of U.S. business development at Electreon, told CNBC. Israel-based Electreon is one wireless EV charging provider with many pilot projects and case studies in operation in Sweden, Norway and Italy, among others. One project in Sweden, which connects the airport to the town of Visby, cost about $10.5 million and was almost entirely financed by the Swedish Transport Administration. Electreon is also taking part in the first electric road project in the U.S. in Detroit, which is expected to be constructed within the next year. "We really are looking hard within this pilot project to look at the different use cases that are out there," Michele Mueller, senior project manager of connected and automated vehicles at the Michigan Department of Transportation, told CNBC. "There are use cases for freight, transit, but then also passenger vehicles." Many growth funds have performed on pace with the S & P 500 this year, driven by mega-cap names such as Nvidia , Alphabet and Tesla . The Needham Aggressive Growth Fund , however, has outperformed. And there's one notable difference in its holdings: it has not relied on just a few Big Tech stocks to drive its returns. According to Morningstar data, the fund is beating the Wall Street index year-to-date, up around 28% as of Aug. 29, compared to the S & P 500's 18% rise. It's also among the top 20 funds with the highest annualized five-year returns at nearly 17%, according to Morningstar. Aggressive growth funds are focused on investing in growth stocks, with high potential future to grow but also higher risk. Longer term, the fund helmed by portfolio manager John Barr has managed an average annual return of 11.34% since its inception in 2001. That beats the Russell 2000 Growth index's 8.7%. Across the fund's 74 holdings, the broader technology sector accounts for 53%, while industrials comprise 16%, and health care 4.3%, as of June 30. Picking companies Portfolio manager Barr, who has managed the fund since 2010, told CNBC Pro that "there is a rich universe of investment opportunities beneath the big tech companies like Nvidia." The fund has one mega-cap tech stock in its holdings: Apple . Even then, Needham trimmed its position in the stock in the second quarter. In picking companies, Barr said he looks for three characteristics of "operational excellence": Companies with the potential to grow five to 10 times their current size, by addressing large markets and having a competitive edge. Companies investing in new products or services where the market doesn't yet recognize their potential, and also have a "cash cow" legacy unit to fund the new product. Companies with "great management," which to Barr means founders, family or long-tenured managers. "These types of managers tend to think long-term," he said. Barr also looks for the following valuation characteristic: Companies at a price with a "margin of safety," which may come from the cash flow of their legacy businesses, balance sheets, relationships with important customers, or elsewhere. "When I am right, a margin of safety purchase price may help reduce the fund's downside participation," he said. Barr started on Wall Street in 1995 at Needham Funds before leaving in 2000. He rejoined Needham in 2009. 'Hidden compounders' Barr said he would describe his style as investing in "hidden compounders," or companies with compound returns over many years. Although he begins by identifying these companies, he said the most important part of his investment process is "to hold on to these companies as they transition towards operational excellence." "[They] may exhibit revenue growth, margin expansion, and strong returns on capital. This transition may take years and some companies never make it. Over the years, most of the fund's returns have come from companies that have successfully transitioned to operational excellence," said Barr. "It is hard to hold through all of the macro noise and market turmoil that bombards us every day." The fund ultimately focuses on smaller companies "where there is less attention and a better opportunity to outperform," he said. "There are small-cap companies with rapid growth, and also with the steady growth that Needham prefers." With regards to themes, the fund has been focused on infrastructure and the reshoring of U.S. manufacturing for a number of years now, according to Barr. Within infrastructure, he likes tech, life sciences, industrials, and others. He said he prefers to invest in companies involved in the building of data centers, life sciences labs, semiconductor plants, power plants and more. "The United States has underinvested in these areas, so there could be long tailwinds," he said. Bank of America still sees major upside ahead for Nvidia , despite the stock's massive year-to-date rally and a series of recent cyclical headwinds that have impaired the semiconductor industry. Pointing to the firm's "underappreciated" pipeline of generative artificial intelligence products, analyst Vivek Arya reaffirmed Nvidia as his top sector pick in a Monday note. Based on his price objective of $650 per share, Arya's forecast implies nearly 44% upside from Monday's closing price of $451.78. Since the beginning of 2023, Nvidia's forays into AI have vaulted its stock price over 209%. But even Nvidia has not been immune to growing investor concerns around rising U.S.-China tensions, weakening industrial activity, and the sustainability in demand for generative AI products. This month alone, shares of Nvidia have toppled about 8%, while the broader PHLX Semiconductor index has pulled back nearly 3% in that same period. NVDA YTD mountain Nvidia ytd stock chart "In part, NVDA's compressed valuation already reflects investor concerns about sustainability of genAI capex, geopolitical concerns (China restrictions) and (overstated) competitive risks from AMD / INTC ," Arya wrote. Over the long term, the analyst expects Nvidia's earnings potential and several catalysts will continue to drive its share price higher. He warned investors may be "overlooking" these factors, which include the company's expanding product offerings, especially those within the generative AI space. CNBC's Michael Bloom and Samantha Subin contributed to this report Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., speaks during the Institute of International Finance (IIF) annual membership meeting in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said Monday that while the U.S. economy is doing well, it would be a "huge mistake" to believe that it will last for years. Healthy consumer balance sheets and rising wages are supporting the economy for now, but there are risks ahead, said Dimon, who was speaking at a financial conference in New York. Topping his concerns include central banks reining in liquidity programs via "quantitative tightening," the Ukraine war, and governments around the world "spending like drunken sailors," the executive said. "To say the consumer is strong today, meaning you are going to have a booming environment for years, is a huge mistake," he said. The world's largest economy has defied expectations for a downturn for the past year, including from prognosticators like Dimon, head of the biggest U.S. bank by assets. Last year, he warned that a potential economic hurricane was on the way, citing the same concerns around central banks and the Ukraine conflict. But the U.S. economy has proven resilient, leading more economists to expect that a recession might be avoided. "Businesses feel pretty good because they look at their current results," Dimon said. "But those things change, and we don't know what the full effect of all this is going to be 12 or 18 months from now." While JPMorgan and other banks have been "over-earning" on lending for years because of historically low default rates, strains were emerging in parts of real estate and subprime auto lending, Dimon said. "If and when you have a recession, which you're eventually going to have, you'll have a real normal credit cycle," Dimon said. "In a normal credit cycle, something always does worse than" expected, he added. McDonald's will begin virtual focus groups with some owners and operators as a part of an ongoing civil rights audit, according to a message to franchisees viewed by CNBC. The fast food giant retained WilmerHale law firm to conduct the examination of its practices, the memo said. Last year, shareholders approved of a proposal by SOC Investment group to conduct a civil rights audit in a close vote. At the time, SOC urged shareholders to back the measure ahead of the company's annual meeting, saying, "McDonald's plans do not adequately address the company's civil rights impact because it largely overlooks concerns with franchisees, which make up 95% of its U.S. restaurants." The audit aims to determine whether the company's policies have an adverse impact on McDonald's U.S. stakeholders, including franchisees, employees, suppliers and customers. WilmerHale will partner with Perception Strategies, a "nationally recognized research and consulting group focused on issues of identity, dignity, and belonging, to enhance our understanding of the experience of Owner/Operators across the country and to help the company continue to promote fairness and opportunity within our system," the memo said. "As part of this initiative, Perception Strategies will conduct a Climate and Belonging Assessment to gain deeper insights into the experiences of our U.S. Owner/Operators," the memo continued. The document added that the assessment would involve inviting randomly selected franchisees to participate in one-hour virtual focus groups about their experiences. The note also assured owners that neither McDonald's nor anyone employed by the company would participate in the groups or the selection process. The memo said the process is voluntary and identities would not be shared with McDonald's, and another notice said the groups would have no more than 12 people. An owner told CNBC that some franchisees were expressing concern about the 12-person panels and potential retaliation by the company. McDonald's said it has high corporate governance standards and a long history of being responsive to shareholders, and looks forward to reviewing the outcome of the WilmerHale audit. The process began last year following the 2022 shareholders' meeting and is now gathering feedback from a range of stakeholders. The audit comes as McDonald's has made changes to its franchising structure and restaurant grading system in recent years. In December 2021, McDonald's pledged to recruit more franchisees from diverse backgrounds, committing $250 million over the next five years to help those candidates finance a restaurant. Current and former Black franchisees have sued the company, alleging racial discrimination. One of the suits was dismissed, while an action brought by former MLB player Herb Washington resulted in a $33.5 million settlement from McDonald's. The company also faces two separate lawsuits from media mogul Byron Allen, alleging discrimination in its advertising practices. McDonald's has fired back against Allen in recent weeks, filing a motion for sanctions against the media companies owned by Allen. It claimed one of his suits was "frivolous" and "filled with allegations that he knows are false." The company has also committed to increase its advertising spending with Black-owned media from 2% to 5% of its ad expenses by 2024. In the filing responding to Allen, it said it was on track to meet those goals. Other major companies including Citi, Starbucks, Amazon and Airbnb have undertaken civil rights and racial equity audits in recent years, and last year Apple shareholders approved a proposal for a similar assessment. Correction: Amazon is holding an independent racial equity audit. An earlier version of this article misstated the nature of the audit. Visitors at the Tesla booth at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, July 6, 2023. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Tesla Shares of the electric vehicle maker jumped more than 10% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight. Analyst Adam Jones said the firm is on the verge of a major leap in autonomous driving. J.M. Smucker, Hostess Smucker lost 7% after it agreed to buy Twinkies-maker Hostess Brands for $34.25 a share in a cash and stock transaction, valued at approximately $5.6 billion. hares of Hostess popped 19.1%, reaching a new 52-week high. Tenable Holdings The exposure management solutions provider added 3.1% on the back of an upgrade to overweight from neutral by JPMorgan. The firm said the company should see improved fundamentals going forward. Kenvue Shares of the Band-Aid maker gained 3.6% after being upgraded by Deutsche Bank to buy from hold on Sunday. The Wall Street firm called Kenvue a high-quality company and believes the stock's slide has created an attractive entry point. The J&J spinoff has lost 15% since going public in May. Alibaba The Chinese tech company shed 1.5% on the news that outgoing CEO Daniel Zhang would unexpectedly quit its cloud business. In June, the company had announced Zhang was leaving as chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group to focus on the cloud intelligence unit. Meta The tech giant gained 3.2% after the Wall Street Journal reported Meta is developing a new AI system as capable as OpenAI's most advanced model, and more powerful than the one it released two months ago called Llama 2. According to the report, Meta is aiming to launch the product by next year. Nubank The U.S.-traded shares of the Brazilian financial firm rose more than 8% after JPMorgan upgraded Nubank to overweight from neutral. JPMorgan said in a note to clients that Nubank should continue to gain market share in Brazil for multiple years and is trading at a "good entry point" after a recent stock price decline. Qualcomm The chip stock jumped 3.9% after the company announced that it will supply Apple with 5G modems for smartphones through 2026. The continued sales to Apple will boost Qualcomm's handsets business, and could soften the blow of potentially losing a critical customer. Media stocks Shares of Disney and Charter Communications gained 1.1% and 3.2%, respectively, as both companies are nearing a deal that would end the blackout fight between the two companies. Shares of media peers Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount also traded 2.3% higher on the news. AstraZeneca The pharmaceutical company's shares lost 2.3% Monday. Per Reuters, the pullback comes after a Sunday report in the Mail saying Chief Executive Pascal Soriot privately discussed leaving the company as early as next year. Moderna Shares of the drugmaker fell 1.7% after it announced it is partnering with German drug developer Immatics to further cancer vaccine developments. Moderna will give Immatics $120 million in upfront cash as part of the deal. CNBC's Alexander Harring, Samantha Subin, Yun Li, Jesse Pound, Michelle Fox and Tanaya Macheel contributed reporting Sundar Pichai said Google 's longstanding relationship with chipmaker Nvidia isn't going to change any time soon in fact, he expects it to continue over the next 10 years. In an interview Wired published Monday, the Google CEO said the company worked "deeply" with Nvidia on Android and other initiatives for over a decade, adding that Nvidia has a "strong track record" with AI innovation. "Look, the semiconductor industry is a very dynamic, competitive industry," Pichai said. "It's an industry that needs deep, long-term R&D and investments. I feel comfortable about our relationship with Nvidia and that we are going to be working closely with them 10 years from now." In August, the two companies announced a partnership that will give Google's cloud customers greater access to technology powered by Nvidia's H100 GPUs. Nvidia's stock closed at a record high after the announcement. Nvidia's business has been booming because its powerful graphics processing units, or GPUs, are being sought after by cloud companies, government agencies and startups to train and deploy generative AI models like the technology underpinning OpenAI's ChatGPT. Google has been jostling with the likes of OpenAI and Microsoft to be at the forefront of AI innovation, and it has introduced a number of AI solutions, like its chatbot Bard, across its business units. In the interview with Wired, Pichai described AI as "one of the most profound technologies we will ever work on." Nvidia is reaping the benefits. As of Monday morning, Nvidia's stock is up nearly 212% year to date. In its fiscal second-quarter earnings, the company said its quarterly revenue doubled from a year earlier, and it expects sales in the current quarter will grow 170% from the year-ago period. CNBC's Kif Leswing contributed to this report Correction: Due to a transcription error in the original Wired article, Sundar Pichai's quote about the semiconductor industry was inaccurate; he actually said it's a "competitive" industry. PARIS Competitors or not, SpaceX continues to be willing to launch for other satellite internet companies. Elon Musk's SpaceX signed a hefty deal with satellite operator Telesat, the companies announced Monday. The agreement covers 14 launches of the Canadian venture's Lightspeed internet satellites. Telesat will utilize SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, with missions beginning in 2026. Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg heralded Falcon 9 as a "great value proposition." "It's affordable, it's reliable they can launch multiple satellites a week. It's phenomenal," Goldberg told CNBC. SpaceX has used its rockets to launch communications satellites for companies that compete directly or indirectly with its global Starlink internet network. Recent examples include satellites for OneWeb, Viasat , and EchoStar . These deals come as an Amazon shareholder alleges the company snubbed SpaceX for launch contracts of the tech giant's Kuiper internet satellites. Financial terms for Telesat's deal with SpaceX were not disclosed. SpaceX advertises Falcon 9 launches for $67 million each, which would put Telesat's purchase around $900 million at that pricing. Telesat's purchase comes as an answer to needing dependable rides to orbit in short order. Despite Telesat's 2019 agreement with Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to use its New Glenn rocket, delays in New Glenn's development mean that rocket has yet to launch for the first time. Goldberg told CNBC on Monday that the agreement with Blue Origin is still in place. He cited non-disclosure agreements for why he can't disclose the number of New Glenn launches that Telesat has lined up, but noted Blue Origin gives his company future "optionality" and believes New Glenn will "in the fullness of time be a great launch vehicle." Goldberg has previously emphasized to CNBC that Lightspeed is not intended to compete in direct-to-consumer markets against SpaceX's Starlink or Amazon's Kuiper. Instead, it will maintain Telesat's existing focus on enterprise customers government and commercial markets, however, that Starlink has expanded into over the past year. Earlier this summer Telesat announced a swap in the manufacturer of its Lightspeed satellites, with Canadian space company MDA taking the place of French-Italian manufacturer Thales Alenia Space. That deal saves Telesat about $2 billion in launching its network of 198 satellites. "It was a home run," Goldberg said Monday of the MDA contract. Three months on, the frontline had shifted south and it was finally safe enough for the three-man team of Ukrainian soldiers to start their operation in this liberated part of Donetsk region. They called it the "road of death" after the number of Russian soldiers killed there when Ukrainian forces retook the southeastern village of Blahodatne at the start of their counteroffensive in June. Wearing face masks, the Ukrainian soldiers poked sticks into the undergrowth along a deserted country road, searching for the bodies of Russian soldiers they hoped to exchange for their own comrades, living and dead. Two Ukrainian soldiers are seen in the basement of a damaged school which was once the Russian soldier's base in the village of Neskuchne, which was liberated along with Storozheve, and Blahodatne in the southeast Donetsk region, in June. "We're going to search," said Volodymyr, a 50-year-old marine, as artillery fire boomed in the distance. "Search with our eyes. And using smell." The route was dotted with gutted vehicles and shattered buildings. At one point, they used a rope to tug a body to make sure it had not been booby-trapped by retreating Russian forces. "Here's what we do. We gather up their bodies. We arrange exchanges for our prisoners who are alive. And for bodies. Our boys," Vasylii, a 53-year-old volunteer, said. "You know, so that a mother can go and visit the cemetery." Russia and Ukraine have conducted regular exchanges of prisoners of war, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers, since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The group recovered nine bodies in their day-long search on Friday. Each was loaded onto the back of a truck and taken for forensic examination. Volodymyr said Russian forces had been forced to retreat rapidly from Blahodatne and that the only other route out had been unusable because it was heavily mined. "There was probably an exchange of fire. But they retreated very quickly," he said. "They left the wounded and killed on the way and escaped to Urozhaine. But they didn't stay in Urozhaine for long either. There was intense fighting for Urozhaine," he said, referring to a nearby village that was later retaken. Reuters By Kim Han-na In the annals of history, Sept. 4, 2023, is destined to be remembered as the day when the echoes of change resounded across South Korea's educational landscape, a day named as "Education Standstill Day." This is no ordinary date on the calendar; it is an indelible marker of transformation, etching its significance into the very core of the nation's educational soul. This movement was catalyzed by a somber sequence of events, unfolding during the somber months of July and August in 2023, as the nation mourned the tragic loss of several teachers to suicide. These heart-rending events sent shockwaves rippling across the length and breadth of South Korea, transcending grief and anger into a roaring tide of passionate resolve. What began as collective sorrow transformed into an unwavering desire to illuminate the profound issues that silently plague the public education system. In a remarkable display of unity and determination, teachers across the nation converged spontaneously at iconic venues such as Gwanghwamun, Yeouido, and the National Assembly. The crescendo of this movement climaxed on Sept. 2, as an estimated 300,000 individuals congregated for the seventh rally, a potent testament to the urgency of their cause. This movement is a poignant embodiment of the collective yearning to confront the multifaceted challenges afflicting South Korean education. Among these challenges lie the harrowing accounts of child abuse, the discontentment of teachers, the erosion of pedagogical authority, the reluctance to assume specific teaching assignments and homeroom duties, the unbearable weight of excessive workloads and responsibilities placed upon educators, the erosion of trust in the educational system among students and parents, the daunting burden thrust upon fledgling teachers, and the disconcerting proliferation of baseless complaints from parents. These challenges serve as stark indicators of the profound complexities and adversities that underlie the fabric of South Korea's educational system. However, it is imperative to recognize that these issues are not confined solely to the realm of teachers; they are symptomatic of broader societal ailments that cast a shadow over students, schools, and the entire educational ecosystem. It is akin to a colossal dam that, for too long, has restrained a deluge of societal issues. Now, that dam has burst forth with unprecedented force, demanding attention and action. The rallying cry of "K-Edu, K-Teacher!" encapsulates the very essence of South Korean education and the pivotal role of its educators. It serves as a poignant reminder that the true essence of education transcends mere competition, emphasizing, instead, the cultivation of cooperation and collaborative growth. In the ever-evolving journey of elementary, middle and high school students, education serves as the vessel that imparts the joy of maturation through collective effort and solidarity. In the epoch of the 21st century, marked by the rapid ascent of advanced industries and technologies, with the omnipresent presence of artificial intelligence (AI) at the helm, there is a clarion call for a reevaluation of the core tenets of education. As the relentless march of AI continues, the role and significance of teachers ascend to unprecedented heights. In this transformative juncture, we underscore the paramount values of collaboration and community competence. To usher in an era of successful education, we must prioritize an educational paradigm that fosters a profound sense of community and mutual respect, forged through the sacred medium of human-to-human interactions. In a world where communities and interpersonal relationships are in a state of rapid disintegration, the rekindling of communal bonds and the provision of sagacious guidance within these bonds assume a position of paramount importance. This imperative extends beyond the realm of student interactions and seeps into the realm of healthy communication and mutual respect, nourishing the relationships between teachers and students, parents and children, and educators and parents. The true essence of educational success begins with the instillation of the value of respect. In the realm of public education, it is incumbent upon us to ensure that students have the privilege of learning from their educators and to promote cooperation and support among the fraternity of educators through proactive initiatives. In its quintessence, the value of education for South Korea's future is predicated on collaboration, not competition. Students, irrespective of their level, should have the privilege of basking in the radiant light of growth, driven by the principles of cooperation and solidarity, perpetually guided by the beacon of education. In a world where advanced industries and technologies such as AI continue their inexorable ascent, there exists an unmistakable imperative for education to return to its essence. As AI's dominion continues to expand, the pivotal role of educators takes on renewed significance, demanding an expansion of their roles and responsibilities. To thrive in the ever-changing landscape of future education, we must elevate educational strategies that foster community competence and invoke a profound sense of community through the profound medium of human-to-human connections. As South Korea embarks on the journey of rebuilding and rejuvenating its public education system, a brighter and more promising horizon emerges. A day is on the horizon when students, parents, and educators, in harmonious unison, will proudly proclaim "K-Edu, K-Teacher!" as a symbol of a seamlessly integrated public education system. We pledge to remain steadfast in our commitment to this vision, recognizing it as the inaugural stride towards a radiant and auspicious future for education in South Korea. I hope for a Korean education system that leads the future, where teachers and students can have a happy school together. Hanna Kim (hannakim14@chongshin.ac.kr) is a professor at the Department of Education at Chongshin University who majored in educational administration at Ewha Womans University. She served as a teacher, a researcher at the Korea Educational Development Institute and a research professor at Tsinghua University in China. The River Moskva in Moscow, Russia. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images A wave of Western companies exited Russia promptly after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. But those who didn't are now struggling to leave. For firms wishing to quit, amid heavy reputational and financial damage, the prospect of leaving is becoming harder with time. Nabi Abdullaev, a partner at Control Risks and former editor of the Moscow Times, told CNBC: "Some companies decide to stay because the risk of leaving Russia, at this moment at least, is higher than the risk of staying." This is because the Russian government is constantly changing the rules for multi-national companies wishing to leave the country, making the process especially drawn out. Companies who go for a cut-and-run approach jeopardize their assets being taken by the state and "risk criminal prosecution of Russian staff," Abdullaev said, speaking to CNBC last month. In July, Carlsberg and Danone 's Russian operations were seized by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the keys to both businesses handed to two of his closest allies. The companies were planning on selling their Russian assets before the takeover. watch now The Russian market is a dangerous one to remain in for Western companies, and as the window to leave shrinks, they risk getting caught in a geopolitical crossfire. "The expropriation of Danone and Carlsberg was a significant move because it made the Russian government's actions towards the remaining companies unpredictable. It sent a clear signal to the remaining companies that even non-strategic companies could be targeted," Maria Shagina, a senior research fellow for economic sanctions, standards and strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNBC. Among the businesses still operating in Russia are Unilever , Nestle , Philip Morris , UniCredit , Raiffeisen and PepsiCo . Research suggests that some 500 Western firms remain in the country. Some of these companies have promised to find buyers, leave, or cut down on operations. While they remain, they must also pay taxes to the Russian government, which has led to heavy criticism. The Ukrainian government, for instance, has labeled Unilever, among others, an "international sponsor of war." For its part, Unilever has stated that it will not invest any further capital into Russia or profit from its presence in the country. Heineken's struggle to leave demonstrates the difficulties faced by similar firms. The beverage company had 1,800 staff in its Russian unit and was unable to execute a quick exit. In a recent statement in which it committed to leave the country, it said, "recent developments in Russia in summer 2023 [including the nationalization of major Western companies] demonstrate that it is even more challenging for businesses to secure exit approval." Heineken also stated that it was "uncomfortable" at the prospect of the Russian state benefitting from any potentially illegally appropriated business assets. On Aug. 25, more than one year after announcing its plan to leave, Heineken found a buyer in the Russian Arnest Group which purchased the companies' Russian operations for a euro. Heineken's revenue from Russia in 2022 was $613 million, according to the Kyiv School of Economics. Companies looking to exit Russia face strict restrictions put in place by the state and fear of expropriation in light of Carlsberg and Danone's takeovers. Western companies that remain in the country are able to continue doing business because, despite sanctions, numerous transactions and activities are still authorized. "As part of the 'smart' sanctions approach, the civilian and humanitarian sectors are not targeted, and many Western companies continue to operate in these sectors," Shagina told CNBC. In comparison, sanctions on Iran and North Korea are a far more severe environment for Western companies to operate within. watch now U.S. stocks are the best place for investors compared to their international counterparts, according to Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Investment Management. While she noted global economic growth is decelerating and other countries are struggling, Roland told CNBC's Bob Pisani at the Future Proof wealth festival that the U.S. is showing signs of stabilization. That makes the country's equities the "place to be" for investors, she said. "The U.S. is simply holding in better than the rest of the world," Roland said in an interview from the conference in Huntington Beach, California. "I would call it the cleanest shirt in dirty laundry today." Roland said part of her reasoning stems from her outlook that quality stocks will perform better in a late-cycle environment. There are more of these names in the U.S., she said, while telling investors to look in sectors like health care and technology. She also said there's a "unique opportunity" for investors in U.S. bonds. Arguments that the 60/40 portfolio a strategy that involves putting about 60% of an allocation into stocks and the other 40% into bonds was dead are overblown, she added. But Roland said investors need to act quickly, as bond yields will likely "come down in a meaningful way" into the next recession. "Bonds have something they haven't had in 15 years or so, which is income," she said. "And we like that." Nearly fifty years after the fall of Saigon, the United States agreed to help build up Vietnam's defense capabilities, a tacit acknowledgement that China poses a greater geopolitical challenge today to both nations than they do to each other. President Joe Biden and General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the communist party of Vietnam agreed to "welcome further cooperation in defense industry and defense trade" between the two countries in a joint statement released Monday. "The United States is committed to continuing to assist Vietnam to develop its self-reliant defense capabilities in accordance with the needs of Vietnam and established mechanism.". Vietnam upped the U.S.'s diplomatic status to a "comprehensive strategic partner," the country's highest tier placing the U.S. on par with China. Biden said the move represented how much relations have moved on from the "bitter past" of the Vietnam War. "We can trace a 50-year arc of progress between our nations, from conflict to normalization, to this new elevated status," Biden said Sunday. The president said "enormous opportunity" exists between the two nations. "Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time," Biden said. "I'm not saying that to be polite." Biden stopped in Hanoi, Vietnam over the weekend after attending the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi, India. In both countries Biden stressed that Washington's foreign policy was not meant to "contain China." "I don't want to contain China," Biden said at a news conference in Hanoi. "We're not trying to hurt China." "We think too much in Cold War terms," Biden said. "I am sincere about getting the relationship right." Yet a day later, a top Pentagon official placed the U.S.-China relationship in precisely those terms, underscoring how difficult it is to shift away from great power competition mindset. While stressing that "war isn't inevitable," Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall on Monday warned that China is bolstering its military capabilities to take on the United States. "Today, the intelligence couldn't be clearer," Kendall said at the Air and Space Forces Association annual conference. "Whatever its actual intentions may be, I could not say, but China is preparing for a war, and specifically for a war with the United States." Apple is widely expected to roll out a new iPhone at its "Wonderlust" launch event Tuesday, and if history is any guide, there may be no better time to consider snatching up shares. Apple's stock tends to outperform six months following an iPhone launch, but moves in line with the market within one to three months following the event, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring. Apple's launch event, during which it's expected to introduce the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9, comes amid a tough backdrop for the stock in recent sessions. Apple pulled back 6% last week following reports that China banned the use of iPhones at government agencies and at state-owned enterprises where, in any case, the economy is weaker and consumer spending is slowing. Shares are down 4.4% this month but have rallied about 38% year to date. AAPL mountain 2023-09-01 Apple shares since the start of September "We believe key to watch this year will be any impact on demand from price increases for Pro models," said Barclays analyst Tim Long in a note Monday, referring to average selling prices. Even in the U.S., "We think there will be headwinds to units as Pro model ASPs are set to increase against the weaker macro backdrop." Wall Street expects this year's iPhone to include minor updates, including a refreshed internal processor, frame and USB-C ports, while Pro models could include an upgraded camera, battery and processor. Some analysts expect the updated Apple Watch to offer an improved battery and new band colors. New Pro features have many analysts bracing for price hikes to Pro models. Long expects a $50 to $100 increase for the iPhone 15 Pro and a $100 to $200 hike for the Pro Max model. Raising prices could lift iPhone revenue estimates by 6% to 8%, said CFRA's Angelo Zino in a recent note. "As in recent history, and unlike at WWDC with the unveiling of the Apple Vision Pro, we expect a quiet new product launch and lacking in the 'wow' factor," said Jefferies analyst Andrew Uerkwitz, referringto Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference. "And that's a good thing. Apple has been very consistent in its build quality, software updates, and in turn, market share gain." What it means for Apple shares Looking ahead, Wall Street sees a positive setup for Apple shares over the long term, but those tailwinds could take time to play out. The stock's historical performance also suggests it's entering a slightly weaker period. Along with recent news out of China, Apple faces a challenged upgrade cycle amid signs of softening consumer spending. These weaknesses should outweigh positive catalysts such as product innovation in the near-term, said Bank of America analyst Wamsi Mohan, who recently retained just a neutral rating on Apple stock. AAPL YTD mountain Apple shares since the start of 2023. Where the stock goes from here may mimic history, although low buyside estimates and expectations for flat shipments could alter this year's setup, said Morgan Stanley's Woodring. Apple's launch often plays out as a "sell-the-news" occasion, he said, with shares underperforming on average by about 15 basis points on the day of a launch and in line with the market in the one to three months that follow. Data analyzed by Bernstein shows a similar pattern for Apple shares before and after a launch event. In 15 of the last 17 years, Apple shares have outperformed the market by nearly 14% on average in the three months before a launch and outperformed by nearly 19% six months prior, noted analyst Toni Sacconaghi. "On net, we see risk-reward on Apple as neutral to modestly negative, given Apple's valuation remains elevated vs. history, consensus estimates for 7% revenue growth appear optimistic (particularly given a 53-week compare), and the stock is entering into its seasonally weaker trading period," he wrote. But investors willing to wait out the period of underperformance could see shares outperform by 8% on average in the six months after the event, Woodring noted. Tailwinds such as pent-up demand and easy year-over-year comps also position Apple for outperformance in the new year, and support Morgan Stanley's 8% above consensus estimate expectations for iPhone revenue, he added. "We believe that as FY24 iPhone expectations move higher, Apple can continue to outperform, as positive estimate revisions offset very moderate multiple compression," Woodring wrote. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting A Brazil took over the G20 Presidency for the next year, and its President, Lula da Silva, set forth the country's priorities during its presidency. We will put inequality at the top: inequality of gender, race, education, health, poverty and hunger. The world needs balance, the Brazilian President said while addressing a press conference on Monday. His statement came a day after the two-day-long G20 Summit concluded in New Delhi. On Sunday, he said Brazil has three priorities under the G20 presidency. These include: 1. Social inclusion and the fight against hunger 2. Energy transition and sustainable development 3. Reform of global governance institutions Besides, Lula also announced that these priorities are part of the Brazilian presidency motto which says 'Building a fair world and a sustainable planet'. At the closing session of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said two task forces will be created - the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and the Global Mobilisation against Climate Change. "We need to redouble our efforts to achieve the goal of ending world hunger by 2030. Otherwise, we will be facing the biggest multilateral failure in recent years. Acting to fight climate change requires political will and determination of the rulers as well as resources and technology transfer," the Brazilian president was quoted by news agency ANI saying. "We want greater participation of the emerging economies in the decision-making process of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, the unbearable foreign debts of the poor countries need to be addressed," he added. He said this after Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 Presidency to him. While Indonesia held the G20 presidency last year, Brazil will hold the presidency after India and hold the G20 Summit in its capital Rio de Janeiro. India took over the G20 presidency on December 1 last year at the G20 Summit in Indonesia's Bali and will continue to hold it till the end of November. (With inputs from agencies) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) - The Philippines should not give in to the provocative moves of Chinese vessels lest it be blamed for an escalation of encounters in contested waters, Col. Medel Aguilar, military spokesperson, said in a public briefing on Monday. "I cannot say for sure kung ano 'yung intent ng China but these are clearly intimidation and provocation [that] we have to avoid because we don't want to be blamed kung ano ang mangyari," he said. [Translation: I cannot say for sure what is the intent of China but these are cleary intimidation and provocation that we have to avoid, because we don't want to be blamed for what might happen.] "Bini-bingwit talaga nila tayo dito sa ginagawa nila. Very clear, they cut across our path na accidents could happen," he added. [Translation: They really want us to take the bait with what they are doing. Very clear, they cut across our path where accidents could happen.] Aguilar said Philippine vessels are feeling the mounting pressure from China because of what he called "illegal offensive actions" in the West Philippine Sea. READ: PH concludes new resupply mission to Ayungin after continued 'harassment' by China Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) Broadcast journalist Atom Araullo on Monday filed a complaint for civil damages against SMNI hosts former communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy-Partosa and Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz over red-tagging allegations. Araullo was represented by his counsels from the Movement Against Disinformation led by Tony La Vina. He was also accompanied by his mother BAYAN Chairperson Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, who also filed a civil complaint against Badoy and Celiz in July, at the Office of the Prosecutor in Quezon City. The Movement Against Disinformation said that throughout early 2022 to January 2023, Araullo was victimized by the "red tagging spree" of Badoy and Celiz, who tagged him as a journalist who produce content allegedly aligned with the propaganda of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army - National Democratic Front or CPP-NPA-NDF. It added the red tagging led to severe harm to Araullo's reputation, peace of mind, and personal relations. The journalist said he decided to file the P2.07-million damage suit against the hosts of SMNI show "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan" to protect his family and by extension, uphold press freedom. "It is my considered belief that the nature of their remarks goes far beyond the boundaries of fair criticism, and are designed to discredit, intimidate, and foment public animosity towards both me and my family. It also seems to be part of a broader pattern to harass and undermine members of the media whose reporting does not fit their agenda," he said. He added he will not file a criminal complaint against Badoy and Celiz. "I am against the criminalization of libel and would prefer not to invoke it because it also endangers legitimate journalism. Still, malicious perpetrators of disinformation must be stopped and held accountable" he explained. Araullo has been red-tagged by Badoy and Celiz in the network owned by church leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation for several charges including sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling. In October 2022, Badoy and Celiz claimed that Araullo, along with other journalists, are "operatives" of the CPP-NPA-NDF. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines stood by Araullo and other media practitioners seeking redress for damages and injury they have suffered due to defamatory statements "maliciously disseminated by these vicious red-taggers." Meanwhile, Ombudsman Samuel Martires on Monday said the criminal complaints for red-tagging against Badoy and other former government anti-insurgency task force officials have been dismissed due to lack of a law criminalizing the act. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday said there was no political pressure from Malacanang to change history by disassociating the martial law regime from the Marcos family. Wala pong pressure na kahit ano na binigay sa amin. Ito po ay isang proseso na aming pinapatupad dito sa aming curriculum and teaching strand. It is an academic discourse that we follow as we revise and review the curriculum, DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development Director Jocelyn Andaya explained. [Translation: There was no pressure of any kind on us. This is a process we go through in our curriculum and teaching strand. It is an academic discourse that we follow as we revise and review the curriculum.] Over the weekend, a letter citing plans to change historical terminology in the administrations MATATAG curriculum prompted criticism from various groups. RELATED: Educators condemn DepEd's plan to change the term 'Diktadurang Marcos' in curriculum It said the term Diktadurang Marcos would be changed to plain Diktadura in the lesson plan for the Araling Panlipunan subject in grade 6. Andaya further clarified that teachers would not be banned from mentioning the name Marcos when talking about the martial law regime. She explained that the lessons are theme-based rather than personality-based, with topics such as challenges to democracy, effects of dictatorship, violations of human rights, ill-gotten wealth, and the assassination of Benigno Aquino, Jr. Hindi po iyan revisionism because ultimately and inevitably in the discussions of these, it will always lead to: sino ba ang nagpatupad nito? So wala pong revisionism na nangyayari at mangyayari, Andaya said. [Translation: That is not revisionism because ultimately and inevitably in the discussions of these, it will always lead to: who enforced it? So no revisionism has happened or will happen.] Andaya added this was just a suggestion from specialists and is not yet final or approved. When asked if the education chief and vice president Sara Duterte is aware about the proposed changes, Andaya said it was presented to the secretary but she didnt review the details. Hindi na po tinitignan ng ating secretary o kahit ng mga nagdaang secretary iyong ano ang mga nakalagay dyan na iisa-isahin pa niya. Ang tinitignan niya, ano ba ang framework dito pero other details hindi na, Andaya said. [Translation: The secretary did not, nor did other secretaries, look at what was there. What she looked at was the framework but not the other details.] The DepEd launched the revised K-10 MATATAG curriculum last month with plans to carry out a pilot implementation sometime this year. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The economic team was not consulted when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a price ceiling on rice, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno bared. He said economic managers, including the secretaries from the Department of Budget and Management and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), were on a foreign trip when Malacanang announced the decision. Nasa Japan kami talaga when that was announced. Magkatabi kami ni [NEDA Sec. Arsenio M. Balisacan]. Nagulat nga kami, lumabas. Nagulat siyempre, he said in an interview with members of the press over the weekend. [Translation: We were in Japan when that was announced. We are next to each other. We were surprised that it was issued.] On Aug. 31, Marcos signed an executive order mandating a nationwide price control on rice following the monitoring of a price surge. The order, which began taking effect on Sept. 5, states that regular milled rice may only be sold for up to 41 per kilo, while the price ceiling on well-milled rice is at 45 per kilo. Diokno said the president knew that the market condition was not ideal to put a price cap, but the rampant hoarding and manipulation of prices forced Marcos to issue such an order. Justification is meron mga market player who are misbehaving. Under ideal condition hindi dapat nagpa-price control. Siguro the conditions are not ideal. Nangyari yan di ba, tataas sibuyas, garlic, ngayon kamatis naman. So baka kailangan talaga ang ganong measure, he added. [Translation: Justification is that there are market players who are misbehaving. Under ideal conditions, there should be no price control. Maybe the conditions are not ideal. That happened, in onions, garlic, and now tomatoes. So maybe that measure is really necessary.] RELATED: Customs shuts down warehouses storing 'smuggled' rice in Bulacan In a separate statement on Monday, Diokno expressed support for Marcos decision. We agree with the President that implementing a price cap on rice is the most prudent course of action at the moment to achieve two critical objectives: stabilizing rice prices and extending immediate support to our fellow countrymen, he said. Diokno, however, noted that price control should not last for an extended period. The official is likewise pushing for the exemption of trucks delivering agricultural produce from toll hikes. We are advocating cooperation with tollway concessionaires and operators to temporarily exempt trucks catering to agricultural goods from increased toll fees, ensuring the efficient transportation of rice, Diokno said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will travel to Singapore this week where he is set to attend a meeting with economic managers and business leaders at the 10th Asian Conference on September 13. The Asia Summit 2023 will focus on issues about peace and stability, inequality, cultural differences, and irreparable environmental damage, the Presidential Communications Office said in a statement Monday. The statement added Marcos will headline A Conversation with the President of the Republic of the Philippines, a 30-minute talk where he will discuss the administration's efforts in "improving the lives of Filipinos amid challenges from significant global events." Marcos will be the first sitting Philippine President to address the Milken Institutes Asia Summit, said the PCO. While in Singapore, Marcos will also meet with business leaders to strengthen economic ties and build partnerships. The PCO added the president was also invited by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to attend the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023. This undated photo shows Nathan Copeland, who is quadriplegic, controlling a robotic arm through electrodes implanted in his brain at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan The government is set to lead global standardization of interface data between the human brain and computers, hoping that the new standards for the innovative technology will give the country an upper hand in the highly anticipated industry, according to officials, Monday. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said its new proposal on the idea has been accepted by the joint technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on brain-computer interface (BCI). The committee held its latest plenary meetings in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 4 to 7 and approved the Korean agency's proposal. Connecting human brains directly to computers without any intrusive measures, BCI is a fledgling but promising field that will allow humans to physically control machines including vehicles using only thoughts. By allowing such capability to those with physical disabilities, the technology can be applied to various industries like medicine, health and mobility. Advanced countries have been working on developing the technology. The proposal came as the global BCI industry has been seeing difficulties due to a lack of compatibility in data generated by BCI-related device manufacturers. By resetting the data to an interchangeable version between businesses and countries through global standardization, the problem can be solved and thus spur the industry as well as reduce costs in developing related devices. The Korean government, seeing its proposal passed, has also taken leadership in a newly established working group that will be dedicated to data. Other working groups responsible for basics and application have been chaired by India since the global committee's establishment in June 2022. As of this month, there are 20 member states on the joint committee including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Japan. KATS President Chin Chong-wook said he hopes Korea will take the critical global leadership in the beginning phase of BCI global standardization at the joint committee and the new working group. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) The United States has turned over a new specialized and technical training facility to the Philippine Coast Guard to improve the capabilities of its personnel. The training facility was six years in the making, according to United States Ambassador MaryKay Calson, with Washington paying for the P250 million investment. This building and the training, it will mark an important advance in the Philippine Coast Guard's ability to safely operate and maintain PCG assets that preserve maritime safety, protect the maritime in the marine environment, enforce maritime laws and defend Philippine sovereign rights in the waters around the Philippines, including in the West Philippine Sea, said Carlson in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the turnover ceremony. Carlson stressed that the project's timing was just right given the complex geopolitical situation in the West Philippine Sea, as she said more experts from the US coast guard are expected to come to the country and train their Filipino counterparts. When the Philippine coast guard is strong, our US-PH alliance is strong, we were able to rescue fishers, and protect livelihood and combatting illegal fishing, the envoy pointed out. Carlson further emphasized that her office will continue to iron out programs to ensure that both countries' "interoperability amid coordination is top notch." For the PCG, the training facility will play a crucial role in improving the capabilities of coast guard personnel. Operations and maintenance of ships law enforcement, operations -- sila yung pinaka-mature na coast guard so gusto natin matuto sa kanila [they are most mature coast guard so we want to learn from them], PCG Vice Admiral Ronnie Gavan said. Gavan also expressed optimism that the training program would benefit the growing number of PCG members, from 30,000 to 70,000 in the coming years. In this file photo, Rick Garcia, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and Aaron Abeyta, former mayor of Antonito, Colorado, pose for a picture. The Latino Community Foundation of Colorado celebrates 15 years of philanthropy at the Denver Art Museum, Lanny & Sharon Martin Building, in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022. (PHOTO: StevePeterson.photo) Apples attempt to build its own 5G modems may have hit some kind of wall as the company has reached a deal with Qualcomm to supply 5G modems for smartphone launches all the way to 2026. Apple had been expected to begin using its own internally developed 5G modem beginning in 2024. (We had thought the iPhone 15 might be the last iPhone to use a Qualcomm modem, but this no longer appears to be the case.) Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Apple Inc. to supply Snapdragon 5G ModemRF Systems for smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026, Qualcomm Technologies announced today in a statement. The deal could actually be extended through 2028. Qualcomm also confirmed terms and conditions "similar to the previous agreement between the two companies, though actual terms were not disclosed. It is estimated that just over 20% of Qualcomms $44.2 billion 2022 revenue was generated as a result of the existing supply deal; investors scurried for Qualcomm stock, which rose about 5% in pre-market trading. There have been some market whispers that Qualcomm might be charging Apple more for the 5G modem than the company pays for its A-series mobile processors, but it is unknown whether this is true. What Apple wanted Apple has been working to build its own 5G chips for many years. In 2019, it purchased Intels 5G business, but the decision to remain with Qualcomm suggests its teams havent yet been able to meet this challenge. The global patent license agreement agreed by the two companies in 2019 remains in place. Apple and Qualcomm had a tempestuous relationship pre-2019. But the need to put 5G inside iPhones won through, and led to a subsequent peace deal between the two firms. At the same time, Apple is not a company that likes to be in thrall to a single supplier. Theres little doubt that this is a victory for Qualcomm. Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom OMalley think the company will delay introduction of the iPhone SE4 for another two years because it is unable to use its own modem. It seems clear that Apple continues working to build its own modems. Most recently, it reached a multibillion-dollar agreement with Broadcom under which the latter would begin to make parts for 5G and other wireless communications. And Qualcomm said it only expected to supply some of the modems in Apples iPhone in 2026, which suggests plans could change. Outside the box Apple seems to be learning from all of this. With 6G deployment expected to begin in 2030, Apple joined the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), an industry group working to advance cellular tech to 6G in the US back in 2019. The company is represented on the ATIS board of directors by Senior Patent Counsel Helene Workman. Given that 6G is likely to extend to satellite communications and also Apples continued work with GlobalStar (which recently hired ousted former Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs as its own CEO), perhaps the company hopes to build its own IP in some of the networking standards that will contribute to 6G. After all, ownership of some of the standards required to offer 6G connectivity would at least give Apple a more equal negotiation position when dealing with modem suppliers. For now at least, Qualcomms news suggests well be waiting for Apple 5G for some time yet. Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. Chevrolets certified pre-owned program explained Chevrolets CPO program is simply called Chevrolet Certified Pre-Owned. In order to qualify as a certified pre-owned Chevrolet, a Chevy car, truck or SUV must be six model years old or newer (i.e., at least a 2017 in 2023) and pass a thorough 172-point inspection by a trained Chevrolet technician. All CPO Chevrolet vehicles include a one-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a six-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both of which well discuss in more detail below. Youll also get two complimentary maintenance visits, roadside assistance, towing and a few other benefits attached. Lets break it all down, starting with the warranty. LEARN: What does a car warranty cover? How good are Chevrolets CPO warranties? For context, all Chevrolet vehicles come with the following factory warranties, which automatically transfer to all new owners until they expire: A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty covering virtually everything on your vehicle A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty covering your engine, transmission and drive axle(s) When you buy a CPO Chevrolet, you effectively get both warranties extended. The bumper-to-bumper warranty term extends to four years/48,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty term extends to six years/100,000 miles. (Just note that both terms are measured from when the vehicle was sold new to its first owner.) If your CPO Chevy has no factory warranty left, you still get the same one year or 12,000 miles of extra bumper-to-bumper protection, but it starts when you buy the car. You also still get the six-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Overall, one bonus year of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage plus two extra years of powertrain coverage is solidly average for a CPO program. How do Chevrolets CPO warranties compare? Chevrolets CPO warranty matches what youll get from Ford, Mazda and Toyota beat for beat. It also outstrips Subaru, which doesnt include bonus bumper-to-bumper protection at all, but falls short of Kia and Hyundai. Hyundai technically doesnt include extra bumper-to-bumper protection either, but its factory bumper-to-bumper warranty term (five years/60,000 miles) is already a year longer than a CPO Chevys. Make Additional CPO warranty coverage Chevrolet 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage; 1 year or 12,000 miles of powertrain coverage Ford 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage; 2 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage Toyota 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage; 2 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage Kia 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage; 4 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage Hyundai 4 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage Mazda 1 year or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage; 2 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage Subaru 2 years or 40,000 miles of powertrain coverage MORE: Best CPO warranties CPO Chevrolet benefits In addition to solid CPO warranties, Certified Pre-Owned Chevrolets come with the following benefits: 24/7 roadside assistance for the full length of the CPO powertrain warranty (six years/100,000 miles), which includes battery jump-starts, flat-tire changes, emergency fuel deliveries and lockout assistance. for the full length of the CPO powertrain warranty (six years/100,000 miles), which includes battery jump-starts, flat-tire changes, emergency fuel deliveries and lockout assistance. Courtesy transportation (i.e., free towing) to the nearest Chevy dealer if you experience a warranty-covered breakdown. You can also get reimbursement for your transportation expenses. Its worth noting that all new, used and CPO Chevy EVs include eight years/100,000 miles of free towing, though. (i.e., free towing) to the nearest Chevy dealer if you experience a warranty-covered breakdown. You can also get reimbursement for your transportation expenses. Its worth noting that all new, used and CPO Chevy EVs include eight years/100,000 miles of free towing, though. Two complimentary maintenance visits, including tire rotations, oil changes and multipoint inspections. These are OK benefits for a CPO program. The complimentary maintenance visits are a nice touch, but notably absent from these benefits is any kind of rental car assistance. You might be able to get a loaner if the dealer has one, but thatll totally be up to the dealer, a local Chevrolet dealer sales rep told us. The CPO plan doesnt guarantee that well be able to provide alternative transport while your vehicle is in the shop. Many competitors offer at least $35 per day in rental car reimbursements. Is a CPO Chevrolet worth it? Well get right to it: If you can find a CPO Chevy that costs less than $1,000 more than a similar uncertified vehicle, then its probably worth it. Heres why. In general, paying extra for a CPO is more likely to be worth it if: The vehicle youre considering has below-average reliability scores. The CPO warranty includes at least one year/12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection. The dealer isnt adding more than a $1,000 upcharge for certification. With that in mind, lets look at why paying extra for Chevy CPO might be worth it. How reliable are Chevrolets? Chevrolet has a mixed record for reliability. On the one hand, J.D. Power ranked the brand fifth out of 32 automakers in its 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, which is based on problems encountered with 2020-model-year vehicles. But Consumer Reports, which draws data from a broader range of model years, ranked Chevrolet a dismal 20th out of 24 brands, citing major issues with the Bolt, Tahoe and Silverado. RepairPal, which evaluates brands based on how often their vehicles need repairs and how much they cost, ranked Chevy 20th out of 32 marques. According to that site, Chevrolets cost an average of $649 per year in maintenance and repairs, which is just below the $652 average across all brands. They also make unplanned trips to the mechanic just 0.3 times per year, compared with the 0.4 industry average. However, unexpected repairs were severe (costing $2,000-plus) 25% more often than your average brand, hence the low ranking. Overall, Chevys mixed record for reliability underscores the value of additional bumper-to-bumper protection. I bought a 2019 Chevy Malibu LT and it has a little over 22K miles on it. Within the first 30 days of me having the car there's an error message that repeatedly pops up saying my car isn't in park even if it's cut off, wrote Loreal, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Illinois. I'm highly displeased because this is my first major vehicle purchase and I actually went to a certified Chevrolet dealer expecting to receive a durable vehicle. Thank God for the extended warranty because the fact I haven't had this car 60 days and I already have to have major maintenance done to it is ridiculous. How much does a certified pre-owned Chevrolet cost? On average, CPO Chevrolets cost 2.7% more than noncertified pre-owned vehicles, according to iSeeCars. That reportedly translates to an average $569 upcharge. We confirmed this ourselves with a quick look at used vs. CPO prices on Edmunds, and a price difference of $500 to $1,000 seemed about right. We also noticed that CPO Corvettes and Camaros were rarer and priced significantly higher ($2,500-plus higher) than their noncertified equivalents. If those are the models that interest you, consider reading step eight of our guide to buying a used car to learn how to negotiate with dealers the easy way. But, for the rest of the lineup, a sub-$1,000 upcharge is reasonable considering the benefits youre getting, which include: A pre-purchase inspection (about $200) A one-year extended bumper-to-bumper warranty (around $800) Two years of extra powertrain coverage (approximately $800) Two complimentary maintenance visits (about $200) Two bonus years of roadside assistance with free towing (around $200) All told, those benefits could be valued at around $2,200, so paying $1,000 (or better yet, $500 post-negotiation) is a deal worth considering. How to get the most out of Chevrolets CPO warranties If you do end up purchasing a certified pre-owned Chevrolet, here are some ways you can maximize your benefits: Log your roadside assistance number: You may not have internet access everywhere you go, which can make it difficult to access your complimentary roadside assistance if you dont have the number saved in your phone. You may not have internet access everywhere you go, which can make it difficult to access your complimentary roadside assistance if you dont have the number saved in your phone. Schedule your free service visits: Dealership service centers can often be booked out weeks or even months in advance, so it might be a good idea to go ahead and get your two free visits on the schedule before you need one at the last minute. Quick and easy. Get matched with an Auto Warranty partner. ZIP Code View Pricing Do you need an extended warranty for your Chevrolet? Since your CPO bumper-to-bumper coverage will run out eventually, you might consider investing in an extended warranty if you plan to own your Chevy long-term. But is a Chevy extended warranty worth the price? Chevys official extended warranties known as Chevrolet Protection Plans can provide bumper-to-bumper protection well beyond your CPO warrantys expiration date, but they dont come cheap. For our hypothetical 2022 Camaro SS, we were quoted $5,213 on a seven-year/84,000-mile Platinum plan, which only provided four years of protection beyond the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. Still, an extended warranty might be worth the cost if youre considering a CPO Chevy from a particularly unreliable year (like 2019) or a specific model known for having reliability issues (e.g., the Silverado, Bolt or Tahoe). While youre at it, you might consider getting multiple quotes from some top-rated third-party warranty companies as well. MORE: Chevrolet extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans Label Authorized Partner Company name Logo Contact Summary AUTHORIZED PARTNER Call Center Open (800) 270-3193 Get Pricing Label Authorized Partner Company name Logo Contact Summary AUTHORIZED PARTNER Learn More Label Authorized Partner Company name Logo Contact Summary AUTHORIZED PARTNER Learn More Homes typically go into default after a homeowner has missed one or more mortgage payments. At this point, the homeowner must do something to stay out of foreclosure. They can take any of the following steps to remedy the situation and avoid having their home seized: Foreclosure is when a lender seizes a home after a homeowner fails to keep up with their monthly mortgage payments. Preforeclosure is the precursor to this lengthy process. If a home goes into preforeclosure, the homeowner will receive notice that the loan is in default. "It is also important to research the neighborhood and surrounding area, as foreclosure homes may be located in areas where crime or other issues are present," he said. Faccone also says it's crucial to research and assess any liens or legal claims on the property and make sure they are properly addressed before closing. And he advises buyers to look beyond the preforeclosure home at everything nearby. This is typically a reflection of the financial distress buyers facing foreclosure are in. It also means that, when you purchase a home in preforeclosure, there's a good possibility the seller won't be able to complete needed repairs or renovations to get the property to closing. Jonathan Faccone, founder of Halo Homebuyers, said that many homes in preforeclosure are in disrepair due to "prolonged abandonment or neglect." A preforeclosure sale is similar to a typical home sale , although the seller may not have the means to complete many of the tasks you would see in a normal sale. How to buy a preforeclosure home Colby Hager, founder of Capstone Homebuyers in San Antonio, says that buying a home in preforeclosure is a lot different than buying a home in foreclosure. This is because if a home is already in foreclosure, that means the bank or lender has already taken possession of the property. "These homes are typically auctioned off, whereas homes in preforeclosure can still be directly negotiated with the homeowners," he said. With this in mind, you can find and purchase a preforeclosure home by taking the following steps: Check a preforeclosure list Research potential areas and properties that you are interested in, and look over preforeclosure lists found in public records. "You can also talk with real estate agents, lenders and investors who specialize in such properties and get their advice on available options," said Faccone. "There are also websites where you can search for preforeclosed homes or sign up for notifications when new ones become available. For instance, Zillow has a search feature where you can look for preforeclosed homes." It is also important to research the neighborhood and surrounding area, as foreclosure homes may be located in areas where crime or other issues are present. Jonathan Faccone, Halo Homebuyers Hager adds that you can look for preforeclosures by checking county court or recorder's office records, which list properties that have received a notice of default. You may also want to speak with real estate agents in your area, particularly those who have their finger on the pulse of the local market. "They often have inside knowledge of preforeclosure listings in the area," said Hager. Consider direct contact When you have knowledge of a home in preforeclosure that isn't officially listed for sale, it may be OK to approach its owners directly, as long as you're respectful of their situation. "Since they might be eager to avoid foreclosure, they might be more flexible on price," said Hager. You may also gain insight into the condition and potential issues of a home in preforeclosure by speaking directly with the person who owns it. Inspect and research the home Do a property lien search to check for any pending legal actions against the property before you buy. New Mexico real estate broker John Myers of Myers & Myers Real Estate says that one of the pitfalls of buying homes in preforeclosure is the condition of these properties. Many homeowners in preforeclosure do not have the funds to maintain their houses, so you will probably find preforeclosure homes in need of repairs and deferred maintenance. In addition, there may be other liens on a property in preforeclosure. It is critical to know about all the liens on a house before purchasing it, given that these financial obligations become your problem once you're the owner. The best ways to deal with these risks are to pay for a professional inspection to assess necessary repairs and to conduct a property title search with the county recorder, clerk or assessor's office where the home is located. You can find notices of default, notices of sale or pending legal actions. "Anyone can access records of homes in preforeclosure by visiting the county records department," said Myers. MORE: How to negotiate after a home inspection Secure financing and write an offer Whether you work directly with a homeowner or with a real estate agent who communicates on your behalf, you'll want to ensure you write up a fair and reasonable offer that takes the homeowner's situation into account. For example, a homeowner with a mortgage in default isn't going to be in a position to cover thousands of dollars in closing costs to seal the deal, so it doesn't make sense to ask for any seller concessions. Myers also said many homes in preforeclosure may not have any equity to pay off the mortgage and closing costs, so a short sale is the best option for the homeowner. Hager added that you should also ensure you have preapproved financing or proof of funds before you write an offer, as this can speed up the process. Choi Kang-rim, left, head of KT's AI Mobility Business, poses with Singapore Post Vice President Eric Yeo, after signing an agreement to cooperate on AI-based logistics at KT's office in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KT By Baek Byung-yeul KT forged a partnership with Singapore Post, a public postal logistics company in Singapore, to promote AI-based logistics and jointly develop new businesses in the digital logistics sector, the company said Monday. KT has been utilizing LISFO, an AI logistics platform built on digital tuning technology, to provide services for suggesting optimal transportation routes. Under the agreement, KT and Singapore Post will pilot digital logistics transportation optimization in seven districts of Singapore utilizing KT's LISFO. Singapore Post said it decided to cooperate with KT after seeing the need to optimize transportation routes and costs. The two companies will use KT's AI-based prediction solution in the planning stages to calculate optimal travel routes and offload information to drive logistics optimization. KT said it developed the AI prediction solution considering the specificity of Singapore Post's logistics operations and the local logistics environment there. The solution reflects complex variables such as the location of customers and Singapore Post's logistics center, cargo volume, vehicle type, real-time traffic information and arrival and departure criteria of cargo vehicles. Prior to the project, KT analyzed Singapore Post's transportation data and estimated that optimizing transportation through LISFO can reduce total transportation distance by 27 percent and the number of vehicles driven by 15 percent. Considering the potential of the fast-growing e-commerce market, Singapore Post is striving to strengthen its competitiveness in e-commerce logistics and has plans to promote digital transformation of the logistics industry by utilizing KT's AI, big data and global ICT know-how through the partnership. "Considering Singapore's IT infrastructure and the maturity of the e-commerce market, the logistics market is challenging, but we believe we can demonstrate the potential for KT's digital transformation," said Choi Kang-rim, head of KT's AI Mobility Business, adding that the company will continue to expand its share in the global digital logistics industry. "Singapore Post manages a vast amount of logistics big data every year, and with this, there are limitless possibilities for cooperation to create a paradigm of success with KT in Singapore," Singapore Post Vice President Eric Yeo said. The NGOs claim, An estimated population of around 60 thousand families resides in West Bengal within the Indo-Bangladesh border and border fence. This population, despite being bona fide citizens of India, are living under constant threats, physical torture and degrading treatment from the border guards. Praising border guards' actions by two Prime Ministers either reflects their naivety or their political intention to subdue illegal actions They add, Even after the joint statement issued by both the Prime Ministers last year, we have reported many incidents of killings by the border guards, along with inhuman torture perpetrated by them, upon the residents of the Indo-Bangladesh border villages. Therefore, they insist, Praising the border guards' actions by the Prime Ministers either reflected their naivety on the issue or their political intention to subdue the illegal actions of the forces of these two neighbouring countries. Now in the light of the G-20 summit, as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visits India and meets the Indian Prime Minister, we demand that the year-old statement and its implications, made by the Prime Ministers, be reconsidered, the NGOs communique says. We demand that the exact number of killings and enforced disappearances, along the Indo-Bangladesh border should come to light and the responsible border guards be tried under law for the human rights violations and crimes committed. If the true intent of the governments of both countries is to bring peace at the border, then their actions should start with ending impunity within two friendly neighboring countries by taking punitive actions against the guilty personnel, they add. Commenting on a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina at G20 summit, two West Bengal-based non-government organisations, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and Odhikar, have recalled that exactly a year ago, on 7 September, 2022, a joint statement released by both the Prime Ministers, had expressed satisfaction that the number of killings along the Indo-Bangladesh border had been reduced significantly.They also praised the border guards of both the countries for their efforts to stop smuggling and trafficking across the border. However, ironically a few hours after the release of that statement, Minarul Islam, a minor Bangladeshi school student was shot dead at the Dainur border of South Dinajpur district by the Indian Border Security Force, the two NGOs point out in a media communique.The NGO communique, signed by Kirity Roy and ASM Nasiruddin Elan representing them, respectively, said, It has been a matter of disgrace that the number of killings perpetrated by the border guards at the Indo-Bangladesh border has drastically escalated this decade.Stating that the Monmohan Singh government in July 2011 too made an effort to reduce border killings by introducing non-lethal weapons to the BSF at the Indo-Bangladesh border, the NGOs regret, However, as soon as the Modi government came into power in 2014, the decision was made to revert back to the use of lethal weapons by the BSF, which resulted in rampant killings at this border. The headquarters of Hyundai Engineering & Construction in central Seoul / Korea Times file Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) said Monday it has signed a partnership deal with a local energy IT startup via an equity investment in an effort to break into the power brokerage business. Hyundai E&C, Korea's No. 2 builder, didn't disclose the amount of its investment in the startup 60Hz, but the builder is widely expected to increase its stake down the road. 60Hz is a climate technology startup focused on developing software that forecasts renewable energy production and virtual power plants (VPPs), which are networks of small power-producing or storage devices that can be pooled together to serve the electricity grid. Hyundai E&C, the construction arm of top automaker Hyundai Motor Group, said it plans to establish "a comprehensive energy brokerage IT platform" for the first time in Asia's fourth-largest economy through the investment. The envisioned platform would match power companies with sources of demand, helping them sign deals and settle transactions. It would also provide electricity producers with financial technological solutions, while securing an IT-based energy communication environment for consumers, including the establishment of a RE100 portfolio, Hyundai E&C said. RE100 refers to a global corporate initiative aimed at shifting to 100 percent renewable electricity to lessen the impact of worsening climate change. Based on the business partnership, Hyundai E&C said it will further seek to set up a platform for VPPs. Hyundai E&C's investment comes after the company decided to include a small electricity brokerage business in its articles of association at an annual shareholders' meeting in March. Hyundai E&C and 60Hz have already co-developed an RE100 portfolio simulator, providing a strategic consulting service to several corporate power consumers. A Hyundai E&C official said it will also push to adopt other eco-friendly business strategies, including the establishment of a renewable energy conversion model. (Yonhap) Today's security teams are under enormous pressure. Organizations continue to embrace digital transformation initiatives, expanding the digital attack surface that security teams are responsible for safeguarding. Environments are more complex and interconnected than ever, requiring teams to contend with a high volume of alerts, tedious tuning exercises, and repetitive manual processes. Meanwhile, the evolution of the cybercrime industry--such as Ransomware-as-a-Service operations--has malicious actors enhancing their tactics and introducing new, more complex attacks designed to evade detection. Businesses across all industries are feeling the effects of these complexities: 84% of enterprises fell victim to one or more breaches in the last 12 months. Growing your security team is a natural idea in response to these challenges. Yet finding, hiring, and retaining qualified candidates is easier said than done. According to Fortinet research, 56% of organizations worldwide struggle to recruit talent to fill open roles. Nearly 70% of these same organizations say they face additional risks attributable to the cybersecurity skills shortage. Given these hurdles, an increasing number of businesses are choosing to outsource select security functions to dedicated experts, at least as an initial measure if not as a fundamental decision. Embracing a SOC-as-a-Service (SOCaaS) offering is one example--giving teams a quick, effective way to augment their internal capabilities and fill critical security gaps. The benefits of embracing SOC-as-a-Service offerings Organizations of all shapes and sizes can benefit from using a SOCaaS. Considering the costs associated with adopting new security tools, hiring and retaining staff, and investing the time required to identify and manage incidents, SOCaaS is an economical option for organizations looking to reduce their risk of cyberattacks and/or the routine (but constant) alert triage effort. A SOCaaS can either replace or support your organization's existing security operations center (SOC), handling some or all of your cybersecurity monitoring and incident response processes. Using a combination of skilled professionals together with detection and automation technologies, SOCaaS providers monitor your environment to identify, prioritize, and help you respond to security threats. Organizations can use a SOCaaS provider for a variety of activities, including: Gathering and analyzing threat intelligence to offer visibility into new cyber threats Implementing better detection rules for higher-fidelity alerts and fewer false positives Helping develop a comprehensive strategy to address breaches and keep the organization secure Enhancing network security Monitoring user and device access to business resources Collecting and analyzing the forensic data needed to meet compliance requirements Additionally, many security teams rely on their SOCaaS provider to offer an outside perspective- pressure testing their existing defenses and ultimately improving their risk management strategy. What to look for in a SOC-as-a-Service provider Whether you're contemplating an initial investment in a SOCaaS offering or evaluating your current provider, here are five key areas to assess--along with questions to ask--when choosing a vendor. Monitoring: Continuous monitoring capabilities are the foundation of any SOCaaS. When evaluating providers, ask how the SOCaaS provides 247 monitoring. Does the vendor have SOCs around the globe? How do they ensure their analysts have "eyes on the glass" for you around the clock? Detection: A SOCaaS should offer advanced threat detection capabilities. A great provider should use a robust threat intelligence foundation with tightly integrated security technologies. Ask about how the provider reduces noise caused by false positives and alerts and how quickly they notify customers after discovering suspicious activity. Investigation: The faster a SOCaaS identifies the root cause of an incident, the less damage attackers can do. When evaluating a provider, take a close look at the technologies they use and determine the experience level of their staff. Ask the provider if they combine human analysis with automation to reduce response times. Response: After identifying the root cause of an issue, a SOCaaS needs to contain the attacker, remediate vulnerabilities, and restore systems. What are the provider's incident response procedures and processes, and how will they coordinate with your internal team? Resiliency: While your SOCaaS partner should support your team's daily responsibilities, a highly effective SOCaaS provider should also help your security practitioners consistently improve their capabilities. Ask your vendor to share specific examples of how they help other customers fine-tune technologies, conduct tabletop exercises, and enhance processes and playbooks. Shifting from proactive to reactive with SOC-as-a-Service Consider what strategic priorities your team could work on if they weren't consumed with daily alert monitoring and triaging. What results could you achieve if your security staff shifted their time to primarily focus on proactive efforts instead of reactive, recurring tasks? How would the performance of your overall risk management program improve? With the rapid changes occurring across the threat landscape, the barrage of alerts security practitioners are expected to monitor and investigate is both daunting and, for most teams, completely unrealistic. Harnessing a SOCaaS provider can offer your organization numerous benefits, alleviating the daily burden of alert monitoring your team manages today. Further, using a SOCaaS allows your staff to engage in higher-level (and more fulfilling) projects that will enhance the organization's security posture not only today but for years to come. Learn how Fortinet's SOCaaS offering helps organizations regain focus and control within their SOC. Microsoft published a blog post on the Windows Insider Blog in late August with a vague statement saying that Windows system components were to begin respecting the default web browser setting. Windows 10 and 11 regularly bypass this setting and force-open links in Microsoft Edge instead. In my extensive testing, I havent found any changes in the new Windows Insider version. You may have read stories in the tech media celebrating that Windows will finally respect the default browser setting. This reporting seems to have been done completely without verification and based entirely on a misunderstanding. The source of the confusion is this one highlighted but vague entry in the changelog for a recent Windows 11 Insider preview build: In the European Economic Area ( EEA ), Windows system components use the default browser to open links. Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23531 (Dev Channel) , Amanda Langowski Brandon LeBlanc The highlight makes it sound like Microsoft has finally caved to regulatory pressure from the European Union ( EU ). The software powerhouse has abused the dominant market position of its Windows operating system to promote its Edge web browser and services for too long. Ive followed this developing story closely over the years. I even developed the popular open-source EdgeDeflector program that hijacked web links destined for Microsoft Edge and directed them back to your default web browser. Microsoft finally reacted and blocked EdgeDeflector from working once the Mozilla Firefox and Brave browsers began building the functionality into their web browsers. Excitedly, I installed the new Windows Insider build and began testing the changes to see them in action. At first, I didnt believe my findings. Nothing had changed from the current version of Windows 11. The new Windows version still strongly discourages changing the default browser away from Microsoft Edge. After system updates, the new version still aggressively prompts you with a captive full-screen experience on start-up to reset your default web browser to Microsoft Edge. Web links in primary surfaces still force-open Microsoft Edge including links in the new Copilot, Start menu, Search on the taskbar and desktop, Windows Spotlight, first-party apps (Outlook, Teams, News, Weather, and more), and Widgets on the taskbar (formerly called News and Weather). Ive verified my findings in the Home and Professional editions of Windows and even the EU -specific N variants of each edition. Ive tested in two configurations for Norway ( EEA member) and Germany ( EEA and EU member). For both tests, I installed devices with region and locale settings matching the desired country with IP addresses and geolocation sensor data to match. Ive checked, double-, and triple-checked my findings. Nothing has changed. Web links still force-open in Microsoft Edge instead of your default web browser. Microsoft first announced the changes for Windows Insider build 23531 (Developer channel). I waited for two more releases and retested with builds 23536 and 23541, both from the Developer channel. I also retested with the Canary channel, which is even further ahead on the development tree than the Developer channel. Microsoft sometimes gradually rolls out changes in the Windows Insider program to a limited set of users. It does not document publicly which new changes are gradually rolled out. However, there were only two new experiments in build 23531. None of them are related to default browser settings or Microsoft Edge. The new changes to default browser handling may be a gradual rollout, though. Microsoft was vague about the change, and neither its customers nor the tech media verified their assumptions before running with the story. Despite not having implemented the changes everyone assumed it had, it has received lots of positive press attention for doing the right thing. I have not found anyone commenting on whether this change worked for them in the many and extensive discussions on Hacker News, Reddit, and other social media. Ive also not found any traces of confirmation or checks in the hundreds of news sites that ran the story nor in their comment sections. There has also been no mention of it in the Insider Feedback Hub or any subsequent Windows Insider build announcements or changelogs. I have not reached out to Microsoft for a comment on this story. Frankly, at this point, I rather assume they hate me personally more than they hate their average customers. Microsoft has also refused to make statements to The Register and The Verge for their stories on the vague changes. Elon Musk Withheld Starlink Over Crimea Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire owner of Tesla, Space X Neuralink and what used to the Twitter social media platform, has turned his powers to geopolitics, claiming that he refused to give Ukraine access to his Starlink communications network over Crimea in order to avoid engagement with a "major act of war". Ukraine officials have responded by harshly criticising Elon Musk for his decision as Ukraine sought to conduct a strike on Russia in the Crimea peninsula in 2022. Satellite Internet service Starlink, operated by the Musk-controlled company SpaceX, has been deployed in Ukraine since shortly after it was invaded by Russia in February 2022. Kyiv had sent an emergency request to activate Starlink to Sevastopol, home to a major Russian navy port, he said. Musks comments were made in response to revelations that he ordered the deactivation of Starlink services over Crimea to prevent a drone attack on Russian ships. A senior Ukrainian official says this enabled Russian attacks and accused Musk of "committing evil" and that Russian naval vessels had since taken part in deadly attacks on civilians. "By not allowing Ukrainian drones to destroy part of the Russian military fleet via Starlink interference, Elon Musk allowed this fleet to fire Kalibr missiles at Ukrainian cities," he has said. "Why do some people so desperately want to defend war criminals and their desire to commit murder? And do they now realise that they are committing evil and encouraging evil?" he added. The dispute follows the release of a biography by Walter Isaacson, which alleges that Musk ordered that Ukraine's access to Starlink be interrupted because he feared that an ambush of Russia's naval fleet in Crimea could provoke a nuclear response from the Kremlin. Ukraine targeted Russian ships in Sevastopol with submarine drones carrying high explosives, but they lost connection to Starlink and "washed ashore harmlessly", according to Isaacson. Starlink terminals connect to SpaceX satellites in orbit and have been crucial for maintaining internet connectivity and communication in Ukraine as the conflict has disrupted the country infrastructure. SpaceX, in which Musk is the majority shareholder, began supplying thousands of Starlink satellite dishes to Ukraine shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year. Responding to the book's claim, Mr Musk said on X that SpaceX "did not deactivate anything" because it had not been activated in those regions in the first place. "There was an emergency request from government authorities to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol. The obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor," he said. "If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation." Reuters: The Hill: @Podolyak_M: BBC: TBSNews: Times of Israel: NYTimes: Y Combinator: ASEAN Now: Image: The Bold Bureau You Might Also Read: Using OSINT To Monitor The War In Ukraine: ___________________________________________________________________________________________ If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription. Individual 5 per month or 50 per year. Sign Up Multi-User, Corporate & Library Accounts Available on Request Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible Unknown Error An error has occured in loading this page. We have been automatically notified of this error. Please check back later. If you are the administrator of this website please view the error log for more information. Doosan Robotics' unmanned modular robot cafe / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Korea's major conglomerates are moving to tap deeper into the robotics industry as demand for collaborative robots is soaring amid rising labor costs, according to industry officials, Monday. Doosan Robotics is one of the first to manufacture collaborative robots that can process complex, human-level tasks with accuracy. The company has generated more than half of its sales from North America and Europe last year on its diverse robot lineup meeting growing demand there. Shares of Doosan Group, the mother firm of Doosan Robotics, surged by more than 20 percent, Monday, on hopes for the upcoming stock listing of the affiliate. Doosan Robotics is scheduled to go public sometime next month. The company started conducting a five-day demand forecasting on its shares with institutional investors on the same day. For now, the Doosan affiliate is considered one of the nation's most promising robotics players due to its rapid sales growth potential. According to data from Meritz Securities, Doosan Robotics secured the world's fourth-largest global collaborative robot market share of 5.4 percent, excluding China. The firm's sales came in at 45 billion won ($33.81 million) in 2022, and are forecast to soar by more than 250 billion won by 2026, according to the brokerage house. "Doosan Robotics is expected to increase its sales channels to 219 from 89 by the end of 2026, considering growing demand for robotics solutions in cafeterias and chicken franchises," Bae Ki-yeon, an analyst, at the securities firm, said. The valuation of the company is forecast to reach 1.9 trillion won shortly after the much-awaited initial public offering. Jumping on the booming robot bandwagon, Hanwha Group is also set to launch a new subsidiary manufacturing collaborative robots next month. Hanwha Robotics is a joint venture by Hanwha Group and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts set for debut sometime in early October. Hanwha Robotics plans to focus on the emerging market for industrial robots used for welding and machine tending. The company is set to gradually widen its footing in service industries such as food technology and electronic vehicle charging, as part of its longer-term roadmap. Samsung Electronics, the nation's largest company by market capitalization, is also seeking to enhance manufacturing efficiency by using artificial intelligence (AI)-powered humanoid robots for its semiconductor production. The chipmaker purchased a 14.99-percent stake in Rainbow Robotics early this year and became the second-largest shareholder of the collaborative robot developer. Starting this month, shares of Rainbow Robotics also soared by around 30 percent. According to data from the Korea Exchange, its shares were traded at around 160,000 won on the first day of September, but extended a rally to 210,000 won as of Monday on growing hopes for its partnership with Samsung. "Demand for collaborative robots is growing rapidly in markets with high labor costs, such as the United States and Europe," said SK Securities analyst Na Seung-doo. Was that 'Lord' McDonald waving the blue and gold European Union flag in the front row of the Last Night of the Proms at the Albert Hall on Saturday night? (All together now, to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory: 'We hate Boris Johnson, We hate Farage, too, We hate Rees-Mogg and Dorries, But EU we love you!') Not a clue, to be honest. I'd never heard of him and until yesterday hadn't got the faintest idea what he looked like. And I'm supposed to keep a keen eye on politics for a living, so that you don't have to. I'm aware of Ken Macdonald, who ran the Crown Prosecution Service years before Keir Starmer, and to his great credit accused Tony Blair of lying us into the Iraq war. Good egg, by all accounts. There was a Gus Macdonald, who worked for ITV's World In Action, and I seem to remember ended up as a Labour peer. 'Baron' Macdonald of Tradeston, wherever that is. But it's not him, either. Lord Big Mac wasn't directly involved in the Stop Brexit negotiations... but he played a key role in keeping Boris as far away from the fray as possible And there was always a half-chance it could be Malcolm Macdonald, turbo-charged goal-scoring machine for Fulham, Luton, Newcastle, England and that other North London team who play in red. If ever anyone deserved a peerage, he did. Not Supermac, sadly. Could he be Ronald McDonald, the legendary hamburger clown? Tragically, not. At least we'd have got fries with him, and a plastic toy. Nope, 'Lord' McDonald is, or was, head of the Foreign Office during and after Brexit. He also answers to Simon McDonald, in the family, though it turns out he's a Baron, too. (Where did we get all these Red Barons from? Bring on Snoopy versus, etc. Eins, zwei, drei, vier... ) The reason Lord McD has come to our attention is that he has admitted in a BBC documentary that he boasted to his staff about voting Remain in the referendum. Even Laura Wossname, the presenter and no friend of Brexit, like 99.99 of her BBC colleagues to the best of my knowledge had the decency to look surprised. Wasn't this admission a clear breach of the Civil Service's sacred code of impartiality? One hundred and eighty! But his lordship doesn't give a damn. 'On this occasion, this solitary occasion, I decided to tell my colleagues and therefore let ministers know that I voted to Remain in the EU. I felt they would assume that in any case, so I decided to embrace it.' Of course, they'd assume it. Whitehall in 2016 was 95 per cent against leaving the EU. In the Foreign Office, that figure would have been an underestimate. Think I'm making this up? Allow me to quote Ronald, sorry 'Lord', McDonald's own words. 'I was trying to maintain credibility and convey a message to a group of people, most of whom I felt had voted to Remain in the EU, that their personal feelings were beside the professional point. Was that 'Lord' McDonald waving the blue and gold European Union flag in the front row of the Last Night of the Proms at the Albert Hall on Saturday night? 'It was a personal decision. My board were not entirely comfortable and all these years later you can have a conversation about was it right, the right decision. 'The main feeling in the Foreign Office building was of mourning. People were in tears. People were in shock.' And there you have it, in a pistachio nutshell. The civil service flunkeys employed by us to do as they're told by elected ministers were grief-stricken by a majority vote to leave the EU. The very officials entrusted to protect our national interest and sovereignty owed their principal allegiance to an anti-democratic multinational bloc and would have us back inside its suffocating embrace in a heartbeat. Ever since the momentous vote to Leave in 2016, they have moved heaven and earth to stop it happening. Lord Big Mac wasn't directly involved in the Stop Brexit negotiations under Remainer Theresa May, our worst PM since Grocer Heath. But he played a key role in keeping Boris as far away from the fray as possible. After making BoJo Foreign secretary, once he'd been stitched up by Gove, Mother Theresa deliberately excluded the Foreign Office from the Brexit talks, despite the fact that this was Britain's biggest foreign policy decision since the outbreak of war in 1939. McDonald was Boris's designated minder, a sort of FO version of Terry McCann. It was his job to keep Johnson in detention while May sold Britain down the Danube. 'Northern Ireland border agreement, Foreign Sec? Let's have a large VAT in the Winchester and the grown-ups can sort it out.' Truth is that Lord Golden Arches was one of the four most senior civil servants in the country at the time the unelected 'quad' if you like. He may not have been in the room, but he would have undoubtedly been among those pulling Mother Theresa's strings, along with the appalling, full-of-himself Cabinet Secretary Mark 'Three Jobs' Sedwill - Rod Hull to May's Emu. And rather than be content to play Secret Squirrel, McD is now confident enough to brag about his bias. Clearly, he saw his primary role as assuaging recalcitrant Remainers in the civil service rather than carrying out the democratically-expressed wishes of the British people. There's a discernable twinkle in his eye as he confesses to Laura Wossname his true loyalty. (Tell Boris it was nothing personal, strictly business. I always liked him.) I watched Part One of this documentary with an open mind. For the first half hour or so, it seemed pretty even handed. After all, it flushed out McD in his true colours. But it soon became apparent that the Brexiteers were always going to be portrayed as the bad guys. Lord Quarter Pounder referred to the Leavers as 'the awkward squad', when the real awkward squad were the civil servants and MPs led by that grinning gargoyle Speaker Bercow determined to thwart the will of the electorate. May's disastrous, intergalactically arrogant Chancellor Philip 'Spread Fear Phil' Hammond admitted that the Treasury tried to engineer a 'soft Brexit' - ie: No Brexit, in any meaningful sense of the word. The more I saw of this documentary, the one thing which became glaringly apparent was the contempt in which the political class and I include most MPs along with the standing army of bureaucrats hold the people who pay their wages. Brexit, despite being in receipt of the largest number of votes for anything in our nation's history, was considered in Whitehall and Westminster as a terrible mistake which had to be overturned come what may. We kid ourselves that we live in a democracy, but the reality is that we are regarded as an ignorant, lumpen mob to be ignored and punished whenever possible. Brexit, or Genghis Khan's totalitarian ULEZ expansion? Jail sentences for not meeting Net Zero targets? Fines of hundreds of pounds for doing 21 mph on the Finchley Road? The Bubble always knows best. It turns out that, at one stage, there was even a plan to dump Mother Theresa and replace her as PM with some non-entity called David Lidington (nope, me, neither) who would then call a second referendum aimed at overturning Leave, backed by the majority of MPs, the entire civil service and the BBC. Laura Wossname has, perhaps unwittingly, done us a favour by lifting the stone on this Very British Coup. But don't forget that these are the same people who knifed Boris for trying to Get Brexit Done, after a fashion, and whatever he claims now for the sake of expediency Keir Starmer will drag us back into the EU in everything but name, with the full backing of the civil service. As the IRA's Gerry Adams remarked in another context, seven years on from the Brexit vote the lunatics waving EU flags at the Albert Hall haven't gone away, you know. Altogether now... There are no bad dogs, so the saying goes only bad owners. But that is a lie. The mantra was coined by TV dog trainer Barbara Woodhouse in the 1980s, before the emergence of the American XL Bully a Frankenstein dog, created by a mixture of aggressive cross-breeding and genetic modification in the U.S. XL Bullies have no place in a domestic setting. They are fighting dogs, with hair-trigger instincts to maul and kill. The attack on an 11-year-old girl in Bordesley Green, Birmingham, on Saturday which put the child and two adults who intervened in hospital was the latest in a shocking escalation of incidents that saw six people killed last year by XL Bullies, out of ten dog-related deaths, and two more the previous year. Fatalities include ten-year-old Jack Lis, savaged by a dog called Beast when he called at a friend's house in 2021. Owners Brandon Hayden, then 19, and Amy Salter, 29, both from Caerphilly, were jailed for four-and-a-half years and three years respectively. STAN RAWLINSON: XL Bullies have no place in a domestic setting. They are fighting dogs, with hair-trigger instincts to maul and kill (stock image) Fatalities include ten-year-old Jack Lis, savaged by a dog called Beast when he called at a friend's house in 2021. Owners Brandon Hayden, then 19, and Amy Salter, 29, both from Caerphilly, were jailed for four-and-a-half years and three years respectively Other victims include experienced dog handlers, such as father-of-five Adam Watts who was mauled to death at his kennels in Auchterhouse, near Dundee, the same year. In January, dog walker Natasha Johnston was set upon by a pack of eight dogs at the Gravelly Hill beauty spot in Caterham, Surrey. It was her own XL Bully that killed her. I've worked as a 'Doglistener' for 40 years, training difficult pets owned by celebrities and international royalty, in addition to working as Disney's dog behaviour specialist in the UK. When the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991, I was recognised by the courts as an expert witness. But in all my years of working with dogs, it is only the XL Bully that I have refused to handle. The breed is simply too aggressive and unpredictable. It horrifies me to see people walking the streets with these animals on leashes. They can grow to the size of American mountain lions, and be equally savage and strong. It's unthinkable for people to keep big cats without licences in Britain and it should be equally unthinkable for XL Bullies to remain legal and unlicensed. The injuries these dogs can cause defy belief. With their oversized jaws and block-like heads, they have a bite like a steel trap. Just as dangerous is the part you cannot see: their killer instinct. They are predators, wired to spot prey, stalk it, chase it at sprints of up to 35 mph, and dismember it. That's what the dog in Birmingham appeared to be trying to do. It was so powerfully built that when one of the men tried to fight it off, hitting it with all his force across the head with a shovel, the dog was undeterred. The girl, Ana Paun, was lucky to survive. XL Bullies instinctively drag their prey to the ground by the limbs, then go for the neck. Cradling a bandaged left forearm, Ana told the Mail: 'I'm now too frightened to leave home and I'm very wary of dogs.' She added: 'The pain isn't too bad as I'm on antibiotics, but I still feel really shaken up. I thought the dog might do more serious damage or, worse, kill me.' If you're attacked, your best chance is to curl up into a ball, protecting your vital organs, and hope it thinks you are dead. A child's wails will sound to the dog like the squeals of a wounded animal, stimulating its blood lust even further. I've always argued against banning whole breeds from the UK. Such a law would be difficult to implement, and with previous problem breeds it was simply too draconian. But we have no choice with XL Bullies. The dog is so dangerous that more people will be killed if we continue to allow them to be kept without strict controls and licences. The girl, Ana Paun (pictured), was lucky to survive. XL Bullies instinctively drag their prey to the ground by the limbs, then go for the neck. Cradling a bandaged left forearm, Ana told the Mail: 'I'm now too frightened to leave home and I'm very wary of dogs' They began to be bred in the 1980s, by crossing American Bulldogs and American Pitbull Terriers. Other strains were introduced, including the Cane Corso, the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (very different from the English variety, a gentle creature) and various mastiff types. The aim was to mimic the extreme bodybuilder look; all straining muscles and power. To heighten this, the most aggressive animals in each litter were picked to sire the next generation. Worse was to come, when idiotic and irresponsible breeders in the States started experimenting with genetic modification doctoring sperm and eggs in the lab, and breeding from the test tube. Because of this tampering, some have been known to weigh over 150 lb, or 11 stone. This is the stuff of sci-fi nightmares. When these dogs were imported, people had no idea what they were buying. And then the pandemic came and owners desperate to make money began cashing in on the demand for lockdown dogs. Amateur breeders had no idea how to care for the puppies during the crucial first 16 weeks of life. Dogs that do not learn to socialise with humans and other animals will always be susceptible to behaviour problems. During lockdown, socialisation was harder than ever yet the UK dog population soared, from eight million to 13 million. Numbers of XL Bullies in Britain are thought to be in their tens of thousands. This has been a problem with all sorts of breeds, but only the XL Bully has an inbuilt predilection for carnage. I have been warning of this for many months, but until this week neither the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) nor the Government as a whole has been willing to listen. Nor it seems are some owners. I've heard pleas all week that their own pet is special and harmless. One woman told me that, though she is a careful owner and would never leave her children unattended with the family's XL Bully, she has no qualms about letting her toddler play with the dog. That made my blood run cold. I tried and failed to make her understand: if that dog turns on the children, she will be powerless to protect them. It's like letting them play with a loaded shotgun. Breeders in America claim on their websites that the breed is child-friendly and sociable. They could be wearing rose-tinted glasses, or are lying. But it might also be true that the British sub-breed is deadlier, because it comes from a narrow gene pool that began with a few, hyper-ferocious imported animals. It's good news that Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) is seeking 'urgent advice' on what to do next. The first step, and this is something Defra can do overnight, is to ban all XL Bully imports It's good news that Home Secretary Suella Braverman is seeking 'urgent advice' on what to do next. The first step, and this is something Defra can do overnight, is to ban all XL Bully imports. The second is to oblige all XL Bully breeders, with immediate effect, to be registered and approved. It is completely unacceptable that anyone with one of these dogs can use it to produce a litter and then sell them without any oversight. Thirdly, it should be obligatory for all existing XL Bullies to be registered on a national database with their owners required to prove themselves fit and responsible keepers. We should not have to wait until an attack before owners can be prosecuted. The police should be able to impound dogs that are not registered. These are drastic steps. But we have never faced a problem like the XL Bully before. If we don't act now, more people will die. Looking at the extraordinary opportunities for improving the human condition offered by AI, it's difficult not to get caught up in a wide-eyed optimism about its ability to solve our problems. But like many technological breakthroughs, AI has a dark side. Just as the spectre of the Bomb overshadowed the use of nuclear power for electricity, AI offers sinister opportunities to any state wanting to control and manipulate its own people as well as those outside its dominion. The technology also presents a chilling opportunity to wage new types of warfare. That's why it is vital that we make every effort to control the use of AI, but also why rushing into talks with a belligerent China about regulating AI is so terrifyingly naive. China's all-powerful dictator, Xi Jinping has never made the case that his country's massive investment in AI is for the good of the world. At home, the Chinese People's Party uses AI to weaponise its unquenchable thirst for data tracking its citizens with cameras, monitoring their social media activity. Humanoid AI robot 'Ameca' looks on at the booth of Engineered Arts company Such surveillance techniques are also being used to glean information from the West. From our mobile phones to security cameras, smart meters and even smart TVs, China is intent on using its hi-tech exports to feed back information about our activity. So why on Earth would we invite China to attend the first global AI summit in the UK? Do we really think the country won't want to extend access to our secrets and technological functioning? Why involve a hostile government with a track record of subverting international institutions? Whitehall's desperation to invite China seems to stem from the sheer size of its AI industry. It is true, China cannot be ignored, given that so much technology is assembled there, and it is a manufacturing powerhouse with a fifth of the world's population. But let's not confuse the everyday diplomacy with China on practical issues such as trade and economic cooperation with letting Beijing help decide how we secure ourselves in the all-encompassing AI environment. One day it will make sense to involve China in such matters. But that day is nowhere near. What Britain and our allies need to do is to set out our own framework to regulate AI among friends. China's all-powerful dictator, Xi Jinping has never made the case that his country's massive investment in AI is for the good of the world Then we can test how effective our security measures are against rivals and would-be disruptors of our societies across the range of AI applications. During the 40 years of the old Cold War, America, Britain and the NATO allies did just this and developed mechanisms to deter the Soviet Union from attacking the West. Only after we had a reliable nuclear shield as well as a conventional army tripwire along the Iron Curtain could detente begin; it led eventually to Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev paving the way for genuine disarmament and an end of the Cold War threat of nuclear war. Sadly, Xi Jinping is no Gorbachev. Far from seeking an end to confrontation, he repeatedly invokes the need for China's army and intelligence to be ready for war. So it is with a deep caution about China's goals, rather than collaboration with them, that the West should approach AI. Hanwha Solutions Q Cells Division's plant in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Hanwha Solutions By Park Jae-hyuk Diminishing demand for solar power generation in Korea has prompted Hanwha to downsize domestic production of solar modules and accelerate its expansion in the profitable U.S. market, according to industry officials, Monday. Hanwha Solutions Q Cells Division, the solar module manufacturing unit of Hanwha Group, said it cut production recently at its solar module factory in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, although it has yet to decide whether to reduce output further or deploy the factory workers to its plant in nearby Jincheon. "The decision can be attributed to the decreasing solar module sales and installation rate in Korea since last year," an industry official said on condition of anonymity. Amid the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's negative stance on the solar power industry, Hanwha Q Cells' domestic revenue during the first half of this year fell to 122.7 billion won ($92 million) from 283.8 billion won a year earlier. Its domestic revenue is expected to decline further, considering that the proposed budget for the renewable energy industry next year stands at 605.4 billion won, down 42.3 percent from this year's budget. In addition, the surplus of Chinese solar modules has weighed on Hanwha Q Cells. As a result, Hanwha Solutions told securities analysts last Tuesday that its third-quarter operating profit will be halved from the second-quarter operating profit of 194 billion won. "High-priced wafers may affect the profitability of solar module production until the end of the third quarter," Kiwoom Securities analyst Chung Kyung-hee said. Samsung Securities also lowered Hanwha Solutions' stock price target to 49,000 won, down 8 percent from 53,000 won. Such a negative outlook dragged down the company's stock price to a 52-week low of 33,050 won during Monday's intraday trading session. Its stock price closed at 33,250 won, down 0.45 percent from the previous session's close. Hanwha Solutions Q Cells Division's plant in the U.S. state of Georgia / Courtesy of Hanwha Solutions READ MORE: The optical illusion so baffling a person went to the opticians The optical illusion can reveal if you are wild at heart or lost in your identity This optical illusion is said to uncover things that even you did not realise about yourself. The popular personality test is reportedly able to tell you a great deal, from deeply hidden aspects of your personality to your own IQ. The colourful image shows a range of flowers and plants in an arrangement that mirrors various different shapes including, animals, plants and more - depending on the viewer. The object you decipher first from the overall picture says a myriad of things about your personality. Among them, is whether you are in the constant pursuit of knowledge or if you are a self-sufficient soul. Take a peek at the following picture and see what you see first... The colourful, nature-filled optical illusion is said to reveal all the deep-hidden parts of yourself. Whether you are constantly seeking wanderlust or struggling with your own sense of self If you saw a face first then we have some unfortunate news for you. Spotting the face means you have issues with asserting your own identity. As such, you construct an identity for the rest of the world and build an illusion of a person who isn't really you. You attempt to be the jack of all trades in order to pad out a character, using different aspects of your life to achieve public awareness. You may use your surroundings such as your familial and romantic relationships, as well as materialistic items such as your social media following to pull a character together for the outside world. Other things you may use to do this may be your past experiences, memories and successes, according to the India Times. If you are eyes immediately drawn to the shape of a brain or a tree then you curious mind is always on the pursuit for growth. You are an inquisitive soul who loves to learn about new ideas and places. You may even be a psychology-fanatic, or love philosophy. It's likely your interest could also be piqued by the inner workings of the human mind, the website writes. You aren't simply like everybody else. You are constantly churning and mulling over all the information in the world around you. Sometimes nature may even give you subtle signs of the 'greater picture', according to the publication. At times this overload of information may cause you to become slightly lethargic and even fatigued. Didn't see a bird or a tree - not even a face? Then don't fret. In this case it is probable you say you saw a free gliding bird instead. If the answer is yes then a bird perfectly highlights your free-spirited nature. Reportedly, you hate to be controlled or tamed aren't bound by the standards set by the society around you. You focus on the wonder and glory that is mother nature rather than the hum-drum nature of everyday life. Unlike those who saw a face, you are well in tune with yourself and don't need to establish your own identity - all you desire from your life is freedom. You are likely not a big fan of dreary routines day-in and day-out and are better suited to a boundless nomadic lifestyle, according the publication. You best succeed when you are at one with mother nature, climbing mountains, hiking forests and lounging in oceans. Although your heart yearns for fulfilling its long established wanderlust with some globe-trotting, However it isn't all praise for those who see the bird, as the India Times also recommends you try and better balance your desire to see the world with nourishing your relationships with friends and family. An American woman who married an Italian man has revealed the surprising reason she feels better physically in Italy. Amber Cimiotti, from Los Angeles, has been visiting the Italian town of Ospedaletti for about 11 years. The mother-of-two recently took to Instagram to claim that higher magnesium levels in the European water and food were behind her feelings of rejuvenation. And dozens of other social media users flooded the comments to reveal they also had similar experiences. Amber Cimiotti, who married an Italian man, has been visiting the town of Ospedaletti for about 11 years In the clip, which has been liked more than 64,000 times, Amber reclined on a sun-lounger as she spoke to camera. She began: 'I went down the magnesium rabbit hole yesterday and I did that because I always feel super good in Italy. 'I'm always on the quest to figure out why I feel so good - not just because of the culture and the Aperol Spritz, but also because I physically feel good. 'I'm talking heart rate, sleep scores, energy, anxiety, like all the best scores of the year are always when I am in Italy, I kid you not.' Amber continued: 'Water got me started on it because the Italian water is full of minerals and things that replenish your body. 'I mean do you ever think about how Americans have to walk around with bottles of water or are constantly drinking where Italians never do that? They drink way less water because their water is actually replenishing their body. 'But also our soil is so depleted and theirs isn't quite as depleted so their food is mineral rich.' The social media star, who has more than 58,800 followers, then added a caveat: 'I don't know anything, I'm just a girl trying to feel good. She recently took to Instagram to reveal the surprising reason she feels physically feels better in Italy The social media star, who has more than 58,800 followers, added a caveat: 'I don't know anything, I'm just a girl trying to feel good' The mother-of-two claimed that higher magnesium levels in the European water and food were behind her feelings of rejuvenation 'But I read about magnesium all day yesterday and they were saying that long Covid could be magnesium deficiency, a lot of postpartum issues could be magnesium deficiency. 'Covid depleted magnesium in a lot of people, having kids and breastfeeding depletes it in a lot of people - because our soil and our water isn't replenishing it, 70 per cent of Americans are deficient in magnesium. 'Things like POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and chronic fatigue syndrome and many other autoimmune disorders also could be because of magnesium deficiency.' She concluded: 'Vitamin D needs magnesium so if you're taking Vitamin D but your magnesium is low that could also be a problem because Vitamin D is going to use up all your magnesium. 'Heart rate, atrial fibrillation - all of these things with your heart rate could be directly attributed to magnesium deficiency.' It was quickly met with an overwhelming response from viewers who said that they too had experienced something similar Amber uploaded the clip alongside a caption that read: 'I know nothing but it's [definitely] worth a research if [you're] questioning any of those things.' It was quickly met with an overwhelming response from viewers who said that they too had experienced something similar. One wrote: 'I lived there for only two years and everything you say is exactly right. Italy is the best in every way. We are doing our best to get back there to live!' Another added: 'Those were my thoughts exactly when we vacation in Spain! We drink less water and it's because their water actually hydrated YOU! 'Tons and tons of minerals and salts that we need.' And a third simply said: 'This. Omg yes.' Natalie's mother Devona got his handwriting digitalized and sewed into her dress Her father, Bruce, died from a sudden blood clot in 2015 and it hit her hard A young bride has broken down in tears over her mother's touching surprise that was sewed into her wedding dress after the sudden death of her father. Natalie Crockett Jimenez, 25, was getting her gown adjusted by her mother, Devona, when she was told to look at the bottom of her dress. Stitched into the dress was a blue heart with the words, 'I love you Natalie, Daddy,' and the pharmacist, from Missouri, immediately recognized it as her late father's handwriting and burst into tears that lasted for the next 30 minutes. Natalie's father Bruce died from a sudden blood clot in 2015, and Devona had found his note in her daughter's yearbook and got it digitalized. Natalie Crockett Jimenez has broken down in tears over her mother's touching surprise that was sewed into her wedding dress after the death of her father Her mother, Devona, got his handwriting digitalized and sewed into the gown. The text reads, 'I love you Natalie, Daddy,' inside a blue heart Natalie's father Bruce died from a sudden blood clot in 2015, and Devona had found his note in her daughter's yearbook and got it digitalized She then cut out a blue heart from his T-shirt and took it to her daughter's seamstress to create the overwhelmingly sweet gift ahead of her August 12 wedding. 'Is this his handwriting? Mom, how'd you get the handwriting?' Natalie asked in between her tears. 'Your yearbook,' her mother replied. Previously, Natalie had searched for her father's handwriting for years and had forgotten that one note. She was overcome with emotion and thanked her mother for the touching gesture. 'It's been hardest on her to lose my dad and she has been the one to pick up everything and glue it back together, so none of this would be possible without her, and I love her so much,' Natalie told Good Morning America recently. On TikTok, the moving 37-second-long clip has had more than 3.2 million views and 452,000 likes. Natalie's followers also expressed their awe over the emotional surprise. One person wrote: 'I just wanna squeeze you every time I watch this. Losing a parent is hard but so happy you have such a sweet, thoughtful momma.' On TikTok, the moving 37-second-long clip has had more than 3.2 million views and 452,000 likes Devona cut out a blue heart from her husband's old T-shirt and took the applique to her daughter's seamstress to create the overwhelming surprise for her special day Natalie's TikTok followers joined in on the conversation and were in awe of the surprise Another added: 'Oh my goodness I'm tearing up that is the sweetest!' A third commented, 'Y'all got me crying,' while one person wrote: 'Made me cry that was so precious.' But the blue heart wasn't the only tribute Natalie had for her big day to commemorate her father. She also carried the locket he gave her, had a white balloon, a picture slideshow at the wedding reception and a symbolic father-of-the-bride place card at the table. Her brother-in-law created a special painting of Natalie in her wedding dress alongside her dad's most recent picture. Natalie's first thought after learning the devastating news of her father's passing was realizing he wouldn't be attending her wedding. Her family's personalized touches helped comfort her on the special day. Natalie's first thought after learning the devastating news of her father's passing was realizing he wouldn't be attending her wedding Her family's personalized touches helped comfort her on the special day Natalie carried the locket her father gave her, had a white balloon, a picture slideshow at the wedding reception and a symbolic father-of-the-bride place card at the table (pictured) In 2021, Natalie made a lengthy and emotional caption about what she misses most about her dad, such as his 'sincere excitement' about her 'achievements no matter how little or big' The Missouri pharmacist graduated from the Union University College of Pharmacy in 2023 Natalie has been with her now-husband Uriel Jimenez for four and a half years. The couple met when he directly messaged her on Snapchat This isn't the first time that Natalie has wanted to share a milestone with her late father. After she graduated from college in 2023 she went to his tombstone post-ceremony. In 2021, Natalie posted a lengthy and emotional caption about what she misses most about her dad ranging from his 'sincere excitement' about her 'achievements no matter how little or big, bird watching' and 'back-scratching sessions.' She went on to vulnerably share in her Facebook post: 'Six years without you just seems unreal. It literally takes my breath away to think about it. If feels like I lost you yesterday. But it also feels like it's been an eternity since I've seen you. 'I'll never stop missing you and everything that you were and I will always cherish the memories that we have. I love you.' Natalie has been with her now-husband Uriel Jimenez for four and a half years. The couple met when he directly messaged her on Snapchat. Their first dinner date took place at Los Portales and their second one was a hike. Afterwards, Uriel asked Natalie to be his girlfriend in his truck. Advertisement The sprawling estate that featured as the home of Richard Sackler's character in Netflix's Painkiller has hit the market for a whopping $22 million. The one-of-a-kind property, called the Saint George Mansion, is nestled on 1.99 acres of land in Mississauga, Canada. It boasts more than 26,000sqft of living space with seven bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, indoor pool, cinema and even its own nightclub. The resort-like home was featured in the recent drama series Painkiller, which focuses on America's opioid crisis, as the fictional residence of Purdue Pharma president Richard Sackler - a character portrayed by Matthew Broderick. The sprawling estate that featured as the home of Richard Sackler's character in Netflix's Painkiller has hit the market for a whopping $22 million On the ground floor there is an impressive kitchen area that comes complete with all the latest appliances, a huge island and grand dining table The centerpiece of the kitchen layout definitely has to be the modern double oven and stove with an ornate hood The one-of-a-kind property also boasts a cinema which has rows of theater seating made out of official Lamborghini leather The house, called Saint George Mansion, has more than 26,000sqft of living space spread out across multiple lavish reception rooms And, as if that wasn't enough, there is also a large resort-style indoor pool which offers enviable views of the sweeping grounds Travelling upstairs, the beautiful landing leads through to the seven bedrooms, which all contain double beds The estate also makes for the perfect party house with its very own nightclub decorated in monochrome shades with a splash of color with the red seating The sprawling mansion, based in in Mississauga, Canada, features 14 luxurious bathrooms - with many even coming complete with chandelier Another of the mansion's 14 bathrooms comes decorated in a very contrasting color scheme of red and black to create a very distinctive look The home was featured in the recent series Painkiller (pictured), which focused on America's opioid crisis, as the fictional residence of Purdue Pharma's Richard Sackler The Netflix's hit series is fictionalized but was based on true events. The real Richard Sackler is believed to be living currently in Boca Raton, Florida The stunning property oozes elegance with its marble flooring, 25ft high ceilings and intricate gold details throughout. On the ground floor there is an impressive kitchen-dining area that comes complete with a huge island and grand table big enough to seat eight guests. It also includes multiple reception rooms with modern, classy, furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows. And, as if that wasn't enough, there is a large resort-style indoor pool, which offers enviable views of the sweeping grounds. There is then also the nightclub, which has its own bar and LED lights, as well as the cinema with official Lamborghini leather theater seats. Traveling upstairs, the beautiful landing leads to the seven bedrooms, which all contain double beds and are decorated with black, red, or silver interiors. The rooms are designed to provide a cozy space - and all offer amazing views of the grounds. The master bedroom boasts the height of luxury, with the addition of a fireplace and en suite bathroom. The stunning home is close to shops, restaurants, towns and supermarkets, and is only a 30-minute drive to the city of Toronto All of the upstairs bedroom suites and bathrooms are decorated with either black, red, or silver color schemes The stunning property oozes elegance with its marble flooring, 25-ft high ceilings and intricate gold detailing throughout There can be no concerns about storage space in the sprawling mansion as it also includes this very spacious walk-in closet on the second floor And if fitness is a priority for you, the home gym also offers all the equipment you could ever ask for as well as two shower rooms The ground floor nightclub features its own bar and LED lights - making it the perfect place for a lavish at-home gathering The piece de resistance in the kitchen is undoubtedly the grand dining area that features a table big enough to seat eight guests One of the 14 bathrooms features this enormous white marble shower, which includes bank seating on both sides Outside the house, there are several large patios where you can watch the sunrise or sunset over the fields on the premium loungers And if fitness is a priority for you, the home gym also offers all the equipment you could ever ask for as well as two shower rooms. Outside, there are several large patios where you can watch the sunrise or sunset over the fields on the premium loungers - as well as multiple garages. The home is close to shops, restaurants, towns and supermarkets, and is only a 30-minute drive to the city of Toronto. Saint George Mansion is currently for sale with Invidiata.com for $22 million (CA$29.9 million). It was featured in Netflix's hit series - which was based on true events - as the fictional residence of Richard Sackler, who is currently believed to be living in Boca Raton, Florida. The drama series featured a whole host of famous faces such as West Duchovny, Uzo Aduba and Taylor Kitsch. A wedding planner has revealed the one thing that brides should always do ahead of their big day. Courtney Bradley, who describes herself as a 'bridal bff,' regularly shares her helpful tricks and tips on TikTok. Most recently, the content creator, from Greater Boston, revealed the one thing brides should be doing well in advance of tying the knot. And it is all to do with opening packages as soon as they arrive - after she learnt the hard way during her own engagement. Courtney Bradley, who describes herself as a 'bridal bff,' regularly shares her helpful tricks and tips on TikTok after learning first-hand during her own engagement Most recently, she revealed the one thing brides should be doing well in advance of tying the knot - and it is all to do with opening packages as soon as they arrive In the clip, which has so far been viewed more than 43,000 times, Courtney begins: 'I literally plead with the brides I talk to to remember this tip. 'If you are planning a shower or party or wedding reception or anything, please listen because this will save you so much stress and will prevent so much last minute putting out fires.' She continued: 'As you buy all of your decor - and basically anything - number one, take the price tags off of everything as you go because you get a manicure the week before your wedding and you ruin your nails. 'This is where the important part comes in. Take everything out of the package. Do not wait until a week before or when you're actually building everything to take things out of the package.' She explained that she ordered 50 white lanterns to hang from her wedding tent during the reception and 'waited until the day of or the night before' to open the packaging. Courtney discovered too late that the fixtures had not come with metal pieces to keep the lanterns open and were therefore unusable. 'SOS open everything as you get it and take off all the price tags,' the content creator concluded. The brief TikTok clip was quickly flooded with comments from followers who were thankful for her insight. @the_engagement_studio If one tiktok can prevent you from having to problem solve at the last minute THIS IS THE ONE Check EVERYTHING as you go to make sure everything is included, nothing is broken and you have the right amount Even taking things out of the packaging adds up to SO MUCH TIME if you leave it to the last minute when you have 100 other things to do #bestweddingtips #weddingadvice #weddingtips #weddingplanning #wedding #bride #weddingdecor #weddingreception Chill Vibes - Tollan Kim The brief TikTok clip was quickly flooded with comments from followers who were thankful for her insight One person wrote: 'That's actually such good advice.' Courtney responded: 'Thank you! I promise it is such a good habit to get into for every party, holiday, etc.' Another added: 'I open legit everything lol. I've started making stuff for September next year.' A third chimed in: 'I do this any way cause I'm so excited to open things for my wedding. I have to see them lol.' 'YES pls the prep is so important,' wrote a forth commentator. Courtney, who was a bridal consultant while she was in college, previously said she was motivated to become a full-time wedding planner to help women feel confident ahead of their special day. She started her own business with over a decade of experience and now assists brides-to-be with planning their dresses, venue, guest lists, florals and more. The Egyptian 'toy boy' lover of an 83-year-old woman today hits back at her claim that she threw him out because he was 'selfish money-grabber' and instead sensationally accuses her of treating him as a 'sex slave'. Iris Jones memorably left This Morning audiences stunned when she detailed her first night of passion with Mohamed Ibrahim after she travelled to Egypt to meet him. She tied the knot with him in 2020 and assured critics - including her family that their relationship would last despite being more than twice his age. But three months ago, it emerged she had thrown the 39-year-old out of her bungalow near Weston-super-Mare after arguing about 'anything and everything' - and replaced him in her affections with her cat, Mr Tibbs. Mohamed Ibrahim, 39, has sensationally claimed that Iris Jones, 83, used him as a 'sex slave' Three years after tying the knot, it emerged that Ms Jones had thrown Iris out of her bungalow near Weston-super-Mare Hitting back for the first time today, Mr Ibrahim told Mail Online she had been using him for sex and accused him of 'destroying my good name'. He insisted he had been in love with the pensioner and denied being motivated by money or winning the right to work in Britain but said her 'false' claims have reached Egypt, making it impossible to return. Bizarrely he slammed Ms Jones for trying to persuade him to share her dislike for Britain's Royal Family, saying they clashed over his belief that Prince William would make 'a good king'. And said he now suspects that right from the start, Ms Jones was exploiting him in order to sell stories about their relationship. 'I treated Iris like a queen, but she used me as a sex slave,' he says today. 'I loved her but she broke my heart,' he added. Mr Ibrahim, from Cairo, first met the retired cleaner through Facebook in 2019. Mr Ibrahim insisted that he had been in love with the pensioner and 'treated her like a queen' during their years-long relationship The 'toy boy' said that the pensioner's claims had reached Egypt and she had 'destroyed' his good name, making it impossible for him to go back She later raised eyebrows when they appeared with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning reducing them to hysterics as she revealed that on their first night of passion, an 'entire tube of KY jelly' left her 'saddle sore'. The couple married in November 2020 celebrating with a KFC meal but spent 12 months apart before he was finally granted a visa which allowed him to move into her Somerset home. After announcing their split, Ms Jones - who has two grown-up sons - told MailOnline: 'We used to have a great sex life but then it dwindled to nothing because I was always so tired from looking after him. 'I would do all his cooking, cleaning and tidying.' She said she regretted ever meeting him and now felt 'stupid' and that 'I should have known better'. However in his first interview since the break-up, Mr Ibrahim today insists the pensioner would impose petty rules when he came home from 14-hour shifts as a security guard at a local Tesco. 'At first she was a good wife,' he exclusively told Mail Online. 'But soon she began treating me like a slave. She was using me for sex. 'She stopped me having a shower, she wouldn't even let me use the toilet when I got back from work.' Iris Jones memorably left This Morning audiences stunned when she detailed her first night of passion with Mohamed Ibrahim after she travelled to Egypt to meet him While her recount left hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby in stitches, Mr Ibrahim claims he was 'mortified' Mr Ibrahim claimed she wouldn't let him eat food from his culture, and apparently said to him: 'I own you, you're my slave.' Mr Ibrahim insists he quickly fell in love with Ms Jones after being left with a 'broken heart' in a previous relationship but says their life together in England became a nightmare. 'I respected Iris's culture, but she said I should be more English,' he said. He said: 'She wanted me to forget my past and my family back in Egypt,' and did not want him to go back home to see his mother. She even wanted him to share her dislike of the Royal Family, he claims. In a Facebook post earlier this week, Ms Jones accused him of constantly demanding money from her. Speaking of the three months they spent together in Egypt during which they tied the knot, she wrote: 'I had 40,000 in my bank account and I handed over my bank card to Mohamed every day and we were drawing 1000 Egyptian pounds daily. Iris Jones has thrown allegations out online, saying that her younger partner constantly demanded money from her 'This was to pay for living expenses, eating out, a honeymoon in Sharm-El-Shiek and generally enjoying the high life.' But Mr Ibrahim hits back today, denying marrying her to get access to her savings or ever asking her for large sums of money. 'I don't care about money,' he said. 'It's not true that I've never had a job I've worked all over the Middle East as a welding inspector on power stations, in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. I had a good salary. 'If I had been looking for money, I would have married a rich woman, not Iris. 'I've had many offers from rich women but I'm not like that. 'We helped each other with money, just like any husband and wife. 'I cared about Iris. When she went to hospital, I slept on the floor for three days none of her family did that.' Mr Ibrahim claims Ms Jones has unfairly defamed his character with her allegations even reaching friends and family in Egypt. 'If I'm such a bad man, why did she stay with me all this time?' he asked. He now believes she had a plan to cash in on public fascination with their relationship by selling her story right from the start. Iris's cringe-worthy account of their sex life on the This Morning sofa caused widespread amusement but Mr Ibrahim insists he was mortified. 'She talked about private things, our sex life,' he told Mail Online. He added: 'She had no respect for herself, for her age.' Mr Ibrahim claimed he is 'much happier without her' and has replaced her instead with a pair of slippers He claims she told him: 'Go far away and work, and send me all you earn.' But he says he retorted: 'I'm here to take care of you.' Asked why he put up with allegedly being mistreated for so long, he said: 'Love is blind.' And, now he wants to start a new life. Mr Ibrahim claimed she 'destroyed' his trust on people and chose him as he was an 'easy target'. 'It made me feel awful, I've had nightmares, I can't sleep any more. I had to see a doctor,' he said. But he claims he cannot go back to Egypt as her claims have been widely translated into Arabic and read there. 'I can't go back there until people forget about all of this,' he said. When asked why he married her, he said: 'I was stupid, I made a wrong decision. People warned me about having a relationship with her. I was blind. 'Iris is a very good actor. She plays the victim, but really I'm the victim. 'She used her age so she could play the victim.' Mohamed says he fled Weston-super-Mare after becoming worried about his safety and is now in hiding. He also denies marrying her in order to win the right to live in Britain, laughing at the idea that this is a 'rich country'. 'It's very expensive to live in the UK no-one can save any money here.' Mohamed claimed he paid around 200-a-week towards bills and other spending during their time together. He says he is now seeking a divorce and has seen a lawyer. She has told how she has replaced him with a cat, called Mr Tibbs a jibe Mohamed said 'hurt' him. 'I've replaced her with a pair of slippers,' is his rejoinder. 'The way she treated me, she doesn't deserve me. She didn't appreciate anything I did for her. 'I'm much happier without her.' Travellers flying through to Dublin were left chuckling this week after they poked fun at the 'alcohol free bar' in the airport. Posting on the website X, formerly known as Twitter, social media account @marmobet poked fun at the bar, which popped up in the capital's international airport and boasts dry versions of Guinness, Carlsberg, and Gordon's. He cheekily posted: 'I'll tell you what'll work in @DublinAirport, an alcohol free bar...', which amassed thousands of likes. Twitter users chimed in to express similar sentiment - with one posing the question: 'Who willingly drinks Carlsberg with no alcohol? It's bad enough with alcohol'. Responses were overwhelmingly negative, with users unclear as to the bar's purpose. Travellers flying through to Dublin confessed they got a surprise this week after they spotted an 'alcohol free bar' in the airport (pictured) Dublin-based Twitter account @marmobet took to the platform to poke fun at the bar that popped up in the capital's international airport, which boasts dry versions of Guinness, Carlsberg, and Gordon's One user even shared an image of a vending machine to suggest how an alcohol free bar is akin to dispensing soft drinks - accompanied with the text: 'They already have those'. Some even contemplated smuggling their alcoholic goods into the teetotal premises: 'Can I bring my pints of Guinness from the alcohol bar to drink in peace and quiet?' Another remarked: 'And yet, it's still as expensive as normal alcoholic beverages'. One user commented noted the bar's perceived lack of popularity and joked: 'The barmaid looks rushed off her feet...', ridiculing the empty looking bar. A different user felt similar and said: 'Girl behind the bar texting a manager saying, "Can I close shop - it's dead in here?"'. One even joked: 'I think the chocolate teapot could be in trouble here'. And others were still in shock that a business had actively 'invested good money into that'. Another user felt the concept was ill-advised didn't align with the country's values: 'Not aimed at the Irish market for sure', although one suggested it'd be 'a favourite among pilots?!' Ireland is a country renowned for many things - Nobel Prize-winning literature, stunning natural beauty, but most famously perhaps for its dry ale - Guinness, so people were shocked when one Dublin airport bar abandoned the booze. Pictured here is terminal 3 at Dublin Airport (stock image) This comes after tourists hit out at The Temple Bar last month for charging 'extortionate' amounts for visitors to enjoy a pint after a receipt from the pub was shared online. On August 28, Twitter account Pints of Beauty reposted a receipt shared by a reveller after visiting the Dublin tourist hotspot for a round of drinks on August 22. Posting the receipt on X, the website formerly known as, they wrote: 'I've had this sent through a few times, think we need to discuss. Tourist attraction or not, this is barbaric!! How can this be justified?' Tourists and beer-lovers who frequent the Irish haunt or have visited shared their outrage over the inflated prices - with the price of a Guinness and Heineken costing almost ten Euros each. The receipt with The Temple Bar's infamous logo printed at the top shows a total bill of 81.85 - yet, the punter had only purchased seven items. Irish Twitter users took to the platform to express their confusion at the alcohol free bar, and one even said 'not aimed at the Irish market for sure' Two pints of Guinness - Ireland's most sought after beverage from tourists worldwide - amounted to 17.90, meaning that it costs 8.95 for one pint. Next on the receipt is one pint of Heineken, setting the customer back a whopping 9.95. Two vodka and tonic drinks were then purchased - costing 27 for both, meaning the price is set at 13.50 individually. Finally, two Jameson whisky and ginger mixers also totalled 27, bringing the entire bill to 81.85. Furious tourists and punters took to the comments below Pint of Beauty's post to express their shock over the 'crazy' charges. Princess Eugenie, 33, looked happy to be abroad in Kenya with her pals Princess Eugenie enjoyed a beach trip abroad to Kenya with her friends - apparently leaving her husband Jack and their two sons at home. The Duke of York's daughter, 33, was pictured in the African country with German model and influencer, Caroline Daur, who shared a number of snaps of the group of friends on Instagram last week. They travelled to Lamu, a small town on Lamu Island, which has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2001. While the Princess was pictured in a number of photographs lapping up the sunshine and enjoying the scenery, it appears her husband Jack and their two sons, August and Ernie did not join the group. Eugenie and Jack, who split their time between Windsor and Portugal with her family, welcomed their second child on May 30th. They also share August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, 18 months. Princess Eugenie, 33, was pictured in the African country with German model and influencer, Caroline Daur A monochrome selfie posted on Caroline's Instagram, a day before anniversary of the Queen's death, showed the pair seemingly dressed up to go out. In one of the photographs, Princess Eugenie donned a simple circular necklace and modest top and wore her curled tresses down. Meanwhile Caroline opted for slicked-back hair, dramatic oversized earrings and a feathered, spotty top. Another image on the Instagram carousel showed the royal on a boat with a group of friends, enjoying a meal and wine on the open water. Princess Eugenie sported a pair of round oversized black sunglasses and donned a black top. She parted her chocolate locks so half of her hair was in a bun and the other strands were down. The mother-of-two looked in high spirits as she smiled for the photograph with her pals. Princess Eugenie's close friend Julia de Boinville was also amongst the group holidaying last week. The island, located off the northern coast, is known for its snorkelling, scuba diving, coral reefs and beaches. Princess Eugenie sported a pair of round oversized black sunglasses and donned a black top on the trip Another image on the Instagram carousel showed the royal on a boat with a group of friends, enjoying a meal and wine on the open water However Princess Eugenie has not posted anything about the trip on her Instagram thus far. It's far from the only trip the royal has taken this year, after she made an incognito appearance at the Frieze LA VIP art show held at Santa Monica Airport on February 16. Last Friday, the anniversary of the Queen's death, Princess Eugenie posted a sweet snap of herself with her late grandmother. The unseen photo showed the pair at their cabin in Balmoral. 'Thinking of you today. Missing you so much but remembering what a life of service, love and dedication to everyone and to your family, who loved you so very much. 'Forever grateful to you. And always in my heart.' A recent exclusive MailOnline poll has found that the majority of Britons think Beatrice and Eugenie should be removed from line of succession. A Deltapoll survey commissioned by MailOnline quizzed pollsters on who should stay in the line of succession, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the late Queen's granddaughters didn't fare too well. Around 57 per cent of those questioned said they would take Eugenie, 33, and Beatrice, 35, from the current line of succession. Beatrice and Eugenie receive no income from the Sovereign Grant, the government-funded 82.2 million that covers Royal Household salaries as they aren't on any official royal engagement rosters. This means they have had jobs outside of the The Firm, but this hasn't stopped them from having busy social schedules often getting snapped at parties and on foreign holidays. Earlier this year, Eugenie and Beatrice's mother Sarah Ferguson praised her daughters as 'great working mothers'. Sarah Ferguson was seen as 'the single greatest threat to the monarchy' by a senior royal aide who tried to stop her from publishing her first children's book, a writer has claimed. A new memoir by publishing industry stalwart John Sargent, who was head of the childrens book division of Simon & Schuster at the time, met with the Duchess of York and the senior aide, according to the Telegraph. A chapter in the publication, which is titled Turning Pages: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher, describes the meeting, where they discussed her 1989 book Budgie, the Little Helicopter, as 'tense'. The book - which went on to be a hugely successful bestseller, spawning merchandise and a cartoon spin-off - was aimed at three to six-year-olds, and drew on Sarah's own experience as a licensed helicopter pilot. While the royal was under contract to promote it, and said she was keen to travel to New York to do so, he writes that she said 'but they wont let me'. Sarah Ferguson (pictured promoting her book Budgie in New York) was described as 'the single greatest threat to the monarchy' by a senior royal aide The royal was blasted by the aide for her 'lack of grace', according to a new memoir (pictured L-R: Prince Andrew, Sarah Ferguson, Queen Elizabeth II in London in 1986) He rushed from the US to the UK to discuss the promotion for the book, after discovering that the publicity tour was being blocked, where he met with Sarah, who he says became quiet once the aide joined the meeting. He told the Telegraph that while palace officials finally relented, it was 'obvious that they wanted to push [him] as far as [he] could go' and that the meeting was 'tense'. Explaining the contractual obligation, an agreement was finally reached between all parties that the New York trip 'would be manageable'. Then, according to John, as he left the meeting he was followed by the aide, who 'apologised for being difficult', and tried to explain the mechanics of The Firm. The aide said: 'Think of it this way, John. The Royal family is like a Fortune 500 company, but in this case all of the management are relatives, and many of them are in-laws.' John says he then added that he described the Duchess as 'the single greatest threat to the monarchy in the current era', adding that controlling the threat was his job. 'He feared her lack of grace and popularity would stain them all.' John writes, adding that the comments surprised him. Over the years, the Duchess has been at the centre of a number of controversies. Despite facing some controversies, Sarah (pictured in Los Angeles in March) has often spoken about the bond she shared with the late Queen Elizabeth II, and how much she admired her former mother-in-law Among Sarah's most embarrassing moments was when photographs were published showing her having her toes sucked by her financial adviser John Bryan at her holiday villa in St Tropez in 1992, while they were also seen kissing, embracing and frolicking in the pool. She was also said to have had a rift with her once good friend, Princess Diana, after she claimed she got a verruca after borrowing a pair of her shoes. They were reportedly still not speaking at the time of Diana's death in 1997. And in 2010 she apologised after being secretly recorded offering to sell access to Andrew in return for 500,000. However, Sarah did attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey last September (but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021). She was not invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead but did attend Harry and Meghan's marriage at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. And Fergie has often spoken out her respect for the late Queen Elizabeth, paying a sweet tribute to her on the first anniversary of her death last week. Sarah , who goes by Fergie, often talks about her closeness to the Queen (pictured together in the 1990s) The Duchess of York, 63, described her former mother-in-law as a 'wonderful friend, mentor and a second mother' in a touching Instagram post. Sarah, who was married to the Queen's 'favourite son' Prince Andrew for 10 years, shared a sweet photo of the late monarch in her youth. 'You were a wonderful friend, a mentor, a second mother to me and grandmother to my daughters who share so much of your courage and heart. 'You will always be loved and missed by our family and our nation,' she wrote. Turning Pages: The Adventures and Misadventures of a Publisher, by John Sargent, will be published by Arcade on September 19. The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in great spirits as she helped a charity to celebrate the retirement of a loyal guide dog this week. Sophie, 57, who is Guide Dogs Patron, invited Mary Pitman, 81, and her guide dog Pipe to her home in Bagshot Park, Berkshire, to present the pooch with a medal to mark his retirement. Piper, who is approaching his tenth birthday and is due to retire later this month has been by the side of owner Mary since 2015. The pair were invited to sophie alongside outgoing Guide Dogs CEO Tom Wright and new CEO Andrew Lennox. To mark Piper's retirement after so many years of loyal service, Mary and Piper were presented with a special 'Putting my paws up' dog tag by The Duchess. The Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in great spirit as she helped a charity to celebrate retirement of a loyal guide dog Piper is one of hundreds of guide dogs who retire across the UK every year, all of whom deserve to be recognised for their devotion to their owners. As the charity's new CEO prepares to take the reins, Guide Dogs wants to take the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the retirement of guide dogs, showing how loved and appreciated they are even as their careers come to a close. Mary said: 'Piper has taken brilliant care of me. Guide dogs are life-changing and give you the chance to just go out and get on with life. To open the door and go out for a walk, just me and him, is wonderful. 'Being blind it often doesn't take much to knock your confidence. Walking into a lamppost or stepping into traffic can be enough to stop you going out entirely. Having a guide dog with you stops all of that. 'Every dog is different, and I would say my first guide dog Olive was far more dainty and feminine. 'Piper has been great too; calm but with a cheeky side. 'I'm grateful that at aged almost ten Piper is still in good health so he can fully enjoy his retirement. We'll be keeping him active with lots of walks, but he can truly relax.' Guide dogs normally retire from around the age of eight, although some will continue to work until 11 if they are healthy and happy in their job. Sophie, 57, who is Guide Dogs Patron, invited Mary Pitman, 81, (left) and her guide dog Pipe to her home in Bagshot Park, Berkshire, to present the pooch with a medal to mark his retirement To mark Piper's retirement after so many years of loyal service, Mary and Piper were presented with a special 'Putting my paws up' dog tag by The Duchess Piper will be spending his remaining years with Mary and her husband Roger at home in Thame, Oxfordshire, as a pet Piper is one of hundreds of guide dogs who retire across the UK every year, all of whom deserve to be recognised for their devotion to their owners The majority of retired guide dogs stay with their owners even after hanging up the harness. Piper will be spending his remaining years with Mary and her husband Roger at home in Thame, Oxfordshire, as a pet. Sometimes it is better for a guide dog to move on to a new home, however. If their owner is out at work all day with their new guide dog for example, the older guide dog would be very sad to suddenly be at home alone. Guide dog owners can nominate a retirement home if they cannot keep the dog themselves. This is usually a friend or family member nearby the dog already knows well. Otherwise Guide Dogs' Rehoming service will find a new family for the retired guide dog, and fortunately there's lots of people willing to give these older dogs a lovely home for their golden years. Hyundai Motor workers leave the carmaker's main Ulsan plant, after holding a four-hour partial strike in protest against the "anti-union" Yoon Suk Yeol government under the guidelines of the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), July 12. Yonhap Hyundai Motor said Monday its unionized workers have warned of a partial strike this week to demand higher wages after signing wage deals in the past four years without industrial actions, the company said Monday. Hyundai Motor workers will hold an eight-hour strike a day from Wednesday to Thursday to make their demands heard in this year's wage negotiations, a company spokesman said over the phone. The union spokesman could not be reached for comments. "The company and the union are having negotiations over wages and other conditions today and the talks will continue tomorrow," the spokesman said. The company proposed an increase of 106,000 won ($80) in basic pay, 3 1/2 months of performance-based pay and a cash bonus of 8.5 million won per person. But the 44,000-strong union demanded an increase of 184,900 won in basic salary, 30 percent of the company's net income last year, nine months of salaries in bonuses for its members, and the extension of retirement age from 60 to 64. On July 12, Hyundai workers held a four-hour strike in protest against the "anti-union" Yoon Suk Yeol government under the guidelines of the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU). The KMWU has been calling on the Yoon government to stop union repression and for the president to step down. Hyundai Motor is a core member of the KMWU, which is part of the militant Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). Hyundai has seven domestic plants in Korea and 11 overseas plants four in China and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India, Brazil and Indonesia. Their combined capacity reaches 5.65 million vehicles. (Yonhap) The mother of a former student at a prestigious ballet school has described the horror she felt when she saw her daughter, who dropped a dramatic amount of weight since starting her training, looking 'like a skeleton'. Harriet Royle, 22, was 13 when she started at Birmingham's prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School - of which Queen Camilla has been patron for six years - but after just over a year, she ended up in hospital and was diagnosed with anorexia. Her mother Michaela told BBC Panorama that 15 months after Harriet enrolled at the prestigious school, which charges 21,000 per year for fees for non-boarding students of Harriet's age, and 28,000 for boarding pupils, her daughter was showing signs of being seriously unwell. Recalling the moment she realised Harriet needed help, she described a visit after the Easter break in 2015 to watch a performance and noticed her skeletal frame when the teenager changed into a leotard and tights. She recalled: 'I had to leave the building because I was shocked by her appearance.' Harriet's frightening battle with anorexia after feeling pressure to lose weight is just one of several former ballet students' stories investigated by the programme - in which dancers described feeling suicidal and being taunted over their weight by teachers. 'It should never have got to the stage where I should have had to say to the school 'I need to bring her home'.' Harriet told the programme that she'd had some body image issues when she arrived at the school - and had episodes of bulimia shortly afterwards, which they were aware of - but felt 'fit and healthy' in November 2014. However, an appraisal that told her she needed to work on her 'aerobic fitness' knocked her confidence. 'I felt like I was fit enough,' she said. 'I thought 'well if I'm able to keep up with the boys why is my aerobic fitness not good enough to do what the girls are doing?' Just didn't make sense.' Harriet Royle, 22, was 13 when she started at the prestigious dance institution - but after just over a year, she ended up in hospital and diagnosed with anorexia The teen had to be hospitalised and was given an anorexia diagnosis that same year. Pictured following her dramatic weight-loss The teenager had felt she was 'just being told to exercise more so she'd lose weight'. 'I was kind of like, well, lets do it then,' she added. Four months later, she claims her teachers were 'pleased' to see that she was quickly and surely getting thinner - and the teenager felt like she was getting more attention from teachers. 'One of the female ballet teachers had said 'carry on doing what you're doing cause its working',' Michaela said. 'So Harriet's interpretation of that was, because she'd lost some weight, then they want her to lose some more weight.' Harriet revealed it was 'validating' to see that 'what you're doing is the right thing... to the point that it feels like you can't really stop'. Her weight loss continued at school and during holidays and was soon out of control. Harriet's mother says her daughter's extreme weight loss should never have reached the stage where she had to intervene and tell the school that she needed to take her home. Seeing the young teenager change into a leotard and tights, she saw just how thin Harriet had gotten Another Elmhurst pupil, Padua Eaton, revealed she had to take time out from lessons because of her declining mental health - and added that when she was put on antidepressants, she gained weight which fuelled her body image insecurities Grace Owen, now 22, recalled a particularly disturbing incident from her time at ballet school in which her teacher taunted her class over eating doughnuts Harriet's struggle with anorexia continued after she had left the school. She ended up spending at least six months in an eating disorder unit and had to be tube fed. She never returned to Elmhurst. The teen had to be hospitalised and was given an anorexia diagnosis that same year. According to the programme, Michaela had voiced her concerns for Harriet to the school in March of 2015, and was reassured they were 'monitoring the situation'. It almost led to me not being alive, so its important that changes are made,' Harriet said. Panorama also heard heartbreaking accounts from other former dancers, on their experiences at the UK's top ballet schools - The Royal Ballet School in London and Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham. Last year, between them, both institutions received more than 7 million in public funding. But despite their renown, accounts from former pupils tell of a toxic body shaming culture as one dancer said a teacher had placed her in front of a mirror, pointed to her body and told her: 'If I had a knife, this is what I would cut off.' Ellen Elphick, 30, who had started at Royal Ballet School in London in 2009, told Panorama: 'She literally cut my entire bum off, kind of all of half my thigh, basically, and then a third of my calf.' The former pupil describes feeling ashamed and being filled with hate for her body - and says her eating disorder spiralled after this encounter. According to the programme, Michaela (pictured) had voiced her concerns for Harriet to the school in March of 2015, and was reassured they were 'monitoring the situation' India Thompson, who was accepted into the Royal Ballet School in London in 2007, revealed she felt pressure from her teachers to lose weight when her body started to change after she reached puberty Ellen had previously developed an eating disorder at Elmhurst but says her experience at the Royal 'broke' her. 'I don't think I ever really got put back together,' she says. Ellen, who went on to dance professionlly for four years, says she still suffers as a result of feeling her body was the wrong shape. She has now decided to take legal action against the Royal Ballet School. She added: 'Am I one of the lucky ones because I still had that career? Maybe? But that doesn't mean I've not been left with life-long issues that I'm just going to have to find some way to deal with.' Lawyer Dino Nocivelli, who is representing Ellen and a number of other ballet dancers from another school, said his clients have come forward for different reasons and that some want 'an admission' about their treatment and 'to hold these schools accountable'. Ellen Elphick, 30, is now taking legal action against the Royal Ballet School for her experience when she was a student Elsewhere Padua Eaton, who was offered a place at Elmhurst aged 11 in 2008, said her mental health suffered over the years she spent in ballet training - leading to an attempt to end her life. 'Around 14, 15, I started to get depressed,' she said. 'My body started changing, I started getting a shape like a woman.' While the school stepped in to offer support - and allowed her extra breaks to manage panic attacks - the former pupil said she wasn't actually given a chance to use them. 'So, even though I was allowed these breaks it was difficult to actually get them... 'Do you really need to go know'?' Padua said she felt her mental health problems were 'annoying' for the school to deal with and that she was made to feel like a 'burden'. Panorama also heard heartbreaking accounts from other former dancers, on their experiences at the UK's top ballet schools. Queen Camilla pictured at Elmhurst Ballet School earlier this year Last year, between them, both institutions received more than 7 million in public funding. King Charles pictured at the Royal Ballet School in 2019 Grace Owen, 22, says on one occasion at Elmhurst a teacher taunted the class over doughnuts, which the students had been told were available after class. The teacher picked out the thinnest pupil and said only they were allowed to eat one, she says. '[This was] implying that she could eat them because she was of the right weight, and no-one else,' says Grace, who was 19 at the time. 'Everyone else - basically you're too fat for them.' During her graduation party at Elmhurst in 2020, Grace says she and several of her classmates were humiliated by another ballet teacher. She claims the teacher said: 'All you girls, bar one or two people, need to lose weight, otherwise you're not going to get a job.' Grace says it made her feel 'really unworthy', adding that all the school actually cared about was 'how slim you are'. She described the environment at Elmhurst as 'toxic'. Grace added: 'The ballet world is a brutal place but telling people that you're too fat I don't think that's preparing you for anything.' India Thompson, who was scouted for the Royal Ballet School in 2007 when she was 11 years old, recalled how teachers began commenting on her weight when she reached puberty and her body began to change. As she developed breasts and her figure began to resemble that of an adult woman, India claimed her teachers told her she needed to 'lengthen out' - which was code for losing weight. 'I'd get pulled out of classes to go and sit in the principal's office so that she could talk to me about "lengthening out", and what am I doing to make it happen?' she recalled. India added she was told: 'It's not happening so you can't be trying hard enough.' She said: 'It didn't matter how good my technique was. It didn't matter how good a performer I was. It was all about [the weight].' Dance critic Luke Jennings, 70, himself a former dancer, said the RBS, where King Charles is president, produces fabulous dancers, some of the best of our time. But he said it still adheres to old-fashioned ideals that ballet dancers must be super-slim. It used to be youre too fat, but it is coded now, he said. Instead they say, Youre not right, youre [surely not] fit enough, youre not committed enough. You cant say certain things [any more], but there are other ways of saying them. BBC Panorama said that while neither school wanted to be interviewed for this programme, Elmhurst in a statement said it 'promotes good physical and mental health and 'acts whenever issues are identified'. 'It was pioneered a 'ground-breaking health trust scheme', providing 'bespoke health and wellbeing support'. It has a 'modern teaching approach', placing 'highly disciplined training' within the framework of 'strong safeguarding principles'... 'It recognises certain elements but 'clear duties of confidentiality' prevent it from commenting. 'However it says 'school records vary in some significant respects' from accounts given to the programme.' Meanwhile, the Royal Ballet School told Panorama that 'nothing is more important than the happiness and continued well-being of its students' and it's 'continuously improving and innovating' to protect their health and welfare. 'When issues arise it has 'well-established processes' to ensure they are 'addressed swiftly'. The school 'strives to work towards excellence' and does so with 'integrity and passion'.' The programme, which is on at 8pm today on BBC One, is also available on BBC iPlayer. If you're worried about your own or someone else's health, you can contact Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity, on 0808 801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk Anti-feminist influencer Hannah Pearl Davis has accused No Jumper podcaster Adam Grandmaison of 'cucking out' his wife and 'ruining the sanctity of marriage' as they continue to wage war online. The 26-year-old, who goes by Pearl, has more than 1.79 million subscribers to her controversial YouTube channel, where she touts her conservative and misogynistic viewpoints. She has been dubbed the 'female Andrew Tate' thanks to her similarities to the self-proclaimed misogynist influencer, who was indicted on human trafficking and rape charges in Romania in June. Earlier this summer, Tate slammed Grandmaison who is best known as Adam22 for letting his adult film star wife, 'Lena the Plug' Nersesian, film her first sex scene with a man shortly after their wedding. Anti-feminist influencer Hannah Pearl Davis is feuding with No Jumper podcaster Adam Grandmaison - best known as Adam22 - over the 'sanctity of marriage' Davis mocked Grandmaison for 'cucking out' his wife, adult film star 'Lena the Plug' Nersesian (pictured) Grandmaison has faced backlash for letting his wife film her first sex scene with a man - male porn store Jason Luv (pictured) - shortly after their wedding In July, Davis ignited her own war of the words with Grandmaison when she posted a video of Tate criticizing the podcast host on X, formerly Twitter, writing, '@Cobratate thinks @adam22 should stop!!!! Spare us all!!!!!!' After months of back and forth between the feuding content creators, Grandmaison, 39, clapped back at Davis on Sunday for mocking OnlyFans stars like himself and his wife. 'What do we do with these only fans whores once theyre broke whores no one wants to marry in 15 years,' she posted. 'No offense but you should be more worried about nobody wanting to marry you RIGHT NOW!!' Grandmaison responded. Davis went on to attack Grandmaison's marriage to Nersesian, with whom he shares a two-year-old daughter named Parker. 'Your definition of marriage is letting another dude bang your wife on camera. People like you are ruining the sanctity of marriage. Its an insult to people that actually take marriage seriously,' she wrote. Grandmaison returned the slight by pointing out that Davis was single, which is in direct opposition to her belief that women should focus more on marriage and kids over their careers. 'I am happily married with children. You are an unwed sinner with no suitors. You will die...alone in a bingo hall,' he argued. Grandmaison, 39, clapped back at Davis, 26, on Sunday for taking aim at OnlyFans stars like himself and his wife. In return, she attacked his marriage in a series of posts 'I didnt know marriage was cucking out your wife at the expense of your children,' she hit back. 'If thats what marriage is then Id rather die alone. Why do people like you get married? Why insult religious people by making a mockery of the sacrament?' 'Why is a man who loans his wife out trying to lecture me on marriage,' she asked in a follow-up post. Grandmaison explained that he and Nersesian 'got married because we plan on spending the rest of our lives together.' 'If it offends religious people, thats a huge plus for me though, so thats awesome to hear,' he added. Davis went on to lecture Grandmaison about the sanctity of marriage, claiming it shouldn't be acceptable for people like him to tie the knot. 'Its actually disgusting that you set out to offend religious people who take marriage seriously. Its a sacrament Adam a promise to God,' she wrote. 'Notice how he says "we plan on spending the rest of our lives together" instead of "we will spend the rest of our lives together." Grandmaison defended his marriage while pointing out that Davis was single, which is in direct opposition to her belief that women should focus more on marriage and kids over their careers 'Its actually people like this that need to be shamed out of marriage. They ruin it for the people that actually believe in marriage.' Davis then shared an X-rated snapshot of Grandmaison having a threesome that he had recently posted, asking: 'Really this is deserving of the holy sacrament of marriage?' Grandmaison feigned indifference and responded: 'I see no contradiction here. You should experience an orgasm at least once before you die and you might begin to understand.' Davis insisted that 'the worst part about Adam22 is what he promotes is actually going to leave these women miserable.' She alleged that she interviews OnlyFans models all the time, and 'they generally have 0 savings, 0 plan, and 0 dating prospects if things go south.' Instead of defending their careers, Grandmaison doubled down on his criticism of Davis's single-girl lifestyle. 'Pearl chose podcasting and tweeting over getting married and starting a family. Fortunately she will have Candy Crush and a bunch of cats to comfort her in her old age,' he posted. Grandmaison and Nersesian tied the knot in Italy in May 2023 (pictured) after more than five years together The couple shares a two-year-old daughter named Parker, who was born in November 2020 Davis - who has been dubbed the 'female Andrew Tate' - has more than 1.79 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, where she touts her conservative and misogynistic viewpoints Davis continued to take shots at his wife, writing, 'At least I didnt choose porn over marriage and a family like your wife.' 'If were going to be technical here, I chose volleyball over starting a family,' she added. 'Podcasting and TWEETING is EASY. Influencers just like whine.' Davis saw a spike in popularity this year after Tate's arrest, and she often goes viral for her controversial takes, including her recent claims that divorce should be illegal and women shouldn't have the right to vote. Critics have accused her of faking her extreme right-wing views for attention, calling her a hypocrite and a grifter, an assertion she has denied in the past. Davis recently told Insider that she considers herself an advocate for men not a misogynist. 'I don't hate women,' she said while addressing her online infamy. 'Men are discriminated against in society by the legal system and feminists at large,' she claimed in the interview. 'The women that follow me watch it because they too see the larger issue, men watch it because finally there is a form of media that advocates for men.' But the hack was met with backlash as other users hit back at the household tip She said dairy fans should remove it from the packaging and store it in a Ziplock TikToker Chrissy, from Arizona, sparked debate over how best to store cheese A mom has caused quite the stir online after revealing the 'correct' way to store dairy. Content creator Chrissy, from Yavapai County, Arizona, took to TikTok to reveal she puts her cheese in a Ziploc bag after she opens the original packaging. 'Did you know after you cut open a block of cheese, you should remove it from its wrapper and put it into a different package?' the content creator, who is known for making elaborate cakes, explained. But the revelation was met with backlash as people disagreed this was the best storage solution. Content creator Chrissy, from Yavapai County, Arizona , took to TikTok to reveal she puts her cheese in a Ziploc bag after she opens the original packaging 'Did you know after you cut open a block of cheese, you should remove it from its wrapper and put it into a different package?' the content creator, who is known for making elaborate cakes, explained In the clip, which has so far been 43,000 times, Chrissy can be seen removing a large block of cheese from its original packet before putting it in a separate bag and sealing it. 'I don't know why but I saw it on the internet and so this is what I do now,' she said, captioning the clip: 'Is this everyone, or just me?' But, according to the comments, it is quite the divisive topic as one argued :'No. then the cheese will taste like Ziploc.' And others were quick to offer their own solutions. 'I put it in a paper towel and then in a glass container,' one TikToker wrote. 'If you wrap it with a paper towel then in foil and put in a Pyrex bowl it lasts so much longer!!' a second claimed. 'We've always just covered the exposed end and it lasts just fine,' agreed another. 'Yea but I thought you are supposed to wrap it in something like parchment paper,' one user argued. In the clip, which has so far been 43,000 times, Chrissy can be seen removing a large block of cheese from its original packet before putting it in a separate bag and sealing it The one thing everyone can agree on in that that all cheese needs to be kept in a refrigerator - at around 35 degrees. According to the online cooking magazine, Epicurious, there is a correct way to store cheese - but it can depend on the type of cheese. Erika Kubick, former cheese monger, told the publication balancing the moisture is the hardest part of storing cheese, as too little moisture and it will dry out and too much will make it go bad. However, he says 'do not' wrap your leftover cheese in plastic wrap. 'It traps moisture, which can help mold to form,' Kubick explained. Instead, the expert says using a glass container with a vent to let the cheese breathe is a good option. Martha Stewart also suggests leaving the plastic wrap for other foods. 'The best way to wrap cheese is to use cheese paper, a special type of thick paper coated on one side with a combination of wax and polyethylene,' she explained. 'You can buy cheese paper online and at specialty food and cheese shops. She added: 'If you're unable to find it, parchment paper - a lighter paper coated on one side with silicone that's often used in baking -is a very good, and much cheaper.' An Australian renter was left scratching her head over a mysterious feature in her new home - before its true function was revealed. The Sydney woman woman moved into a new rental home and noticed a strange red button on her wall so appealed to social media for answers. Many shared their guesses before it was revealed the gadget would trigger a panic alarm activated by hitting the red button and deactivated by turning a key. 'We just moved into a new rental. Does anyone know what this is?' the woman wrote in a post on Facebook. Screwed to the wall in her new home was a grey box with a big red button and a keyhole with a concealed wire running down to the floor. A Sydney woman was scratching her head over a mysterious item screwed to the wall in her new home before people on Facebook revealed it to be a panic button Dozens shared their guesses as one joked: 'Press it. The bed tips up and you fall through the floor into a chair below the kitchen'. 'Butler service,' another suggested. Some thought their curiosity would get the better of them with one saying 'Press it and see'. More guesses were thrown out before some came through with the true answer. 'I think it's an emergency alarm button. My parents have one near their bed. Do you have an alarm system?' one user asked to which the woman responded: 'I think there is one, yes!'. 'It's an alarm button. Used to have one that looked exactly the same at my old house. Push the button to activate the alarm. Turn the key to deactivate the alarm.' The panic button can be used to quickly call emergency services and is often installed in nursing homes or in houses where elderly people, children or sick patients are being cared for. The button is also an anti-theft device placed in jewellery stores or banks in case of a robbery to alert authorities. A struggling mum claims she's been waiting weeks for Centrelink assistance after giving birth to her second daughter. Tegan Wood, from Western Australia, welcomed her little girl into the world on August 3, but after four weeks she claims she still hadn't received her first parental leave payment. Feeling frustrated, she slammed Centrelink in a lengthy TikTok video alongside the tag 'Australia not looking after tax payers'. In the clip Tegan said she applied for the service via the app in July before her baby was born. The mum received 'no confirmation' and visited Centrelink three times but no progress was made. 'I don't understand what's going on with Centrelink. If you don't have the money, if you've overspent it somewhere else, just let people know,' Tegan said. 'We don't care. At least then we can prioritise what we need to do to get by in life because in today's rising cost of living you can't survive on one wage.' In the video Tegan addressed Centrelink directly as if she was speaking to the organisation. 'I applied for paid parental leave before my baby was born, I completed it in July of 2023. My partner uploaded it to your unuser-friendly app which you recommend doing because it's a lot easier to do,' she said. 'So we did that. We had everything correct. Our P's and Q's were all in line.' However, despite this Tegan claims she didn't receive any notice confirming the application had been received. So the couple went to Centrelink directly a week later and were told 'everything was all in order' and their application was 'in line to be progressed'. 'Still no word, no confirmation letter, nothing on the app,' Tegan said. Tegan Wood, from Western Australia, gave birth to her second daughter on August 3 and applied for Centrelink paid parental leave in July. However, she claims she waited weeks on end for the first payment The following Monday Tegan claims they returned to Centrelink, waited 45 minutes and hoped the problem would be resolved. 'We had our newborn daughter with us the whole time. The lady we saw was slightly a bit more argumentative, not a good day for her which is fine, we didn't want to get into an argument,' Tegan continued. 'Still nothing. She told us it was all correct. 'Funny enough, we had just picked up our daughter's birth certificate. She (the worker) said, "I'll take a copy of that and we'll put it on there as well." No problem.. still no word.' When Tegan had her first daughter in 2020 she said the Centrelink service was 'a lot quicker' despite Covid. 'They can't tell me now that they're understaffed... I feel like that's just an excuse these days,' Tegan said. She then went back a third time on September 4. 'Today I go back, she wanted me to wait another 45 minutes to see another lady who told me the same f***ing thing and I just didn't have the patience for it,' a frustrated Tegan said. 'We're pretty patient people and if it was the shoe on the other foot, Centrelink would be asking and demanding and harassing me for their money back. Do you know what I mean?' The Services Australia website states customers generally will receive their first payment 14 days after the start date if a proof of birth has been provided and if the claim has been finalised (stock image) Another employee then came to assist, who Tegan claims was the same worker who served her at her previous visit to Centrelink. 'I said to her, "Don't you remember me?",' she said then the woman responded: "I see what the problem is here. It looks like you haven't filled it in correctly".' This only infuriated the mum-of-two further. 'I just don't understand. On the third time you're telling me I don't have my paperwork in order but every other time that I went there you said it was fine?' Tegan said. 'Then she says "Have you tried calling the family services line?" Of course I f***ing have. What, you think I enjoy coming down here and waiting? No, not with a newborn.' At the end of the video Tegan complained how one salary isn't enough to support a family. 'My partner makes a good wage, but it's still not enough. We have a mortgage, we have cars, we have children. Come on, throw us a f***ing bone,' she said. Read more: Aussie woman left furious over eyewatering cost of her Coles shop Elly was furious over this $45 visit to the supermarket Advertisement The Services Australia website states customers generally will receive their first payment 14 days after the start date if a proof of birth has been provided and if the claim has been finalised. Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen told FEMAIL: 'We know bringing home a new baby can be a busy and stressful transition for parents to navigate. 'We sincerely apologise to this family who has not experienced the service they expected from us, and for the wait for their Parental Leave Pay. 'This year, our peak Family Tax Benefit and Child Care Subsidy balancing period is combined with policy changes that expand eligibility for both Parental Leave Pay and Child Care Subsidy, resulting in a higher volume of claims overall. 'We are here to help people experiencing financial hardship. We encourage anyone in these circumstances to contact us or visit your local service centre to chat to one of our staff members about how we can support you.' Both parents can now claim Parental Leave Pay 97 days before their child's expected birth or adoption date. Services Australia encourage people to claim online early wherever possible, and make sure they provide all the relevant documents and information so we can quickly assess their claims. Parents should keep an eye on their Centrelink online accounts through myGov for any outstanding task and letters. If a parent's Parental Leave Pay claim has been granted, they have provided their proof of birth and they havent received any payments, it may be worthwhile checking in with their employer. In most instances, employers are responsible for delivering Parental Leave Pay to parents. Read more: Woolworths launches members-only prices for Everyday Rewards shoppers Target will start selling popular Kmart Anko products across Australian stores in 2024 Tiny detail spotted in Chemist Warehouse logo that shoppers claim 'changes everything Hundreds were shocked after what looked like a normal rock in the shallows of the Noosa River in Queensland was actually an octopus in disguise. A mum and her son spotted what was later identified as a Mimic Octopus and alerted wildlife rescuers as they suspected it was sick. By the time rescuers arrived the creature had very convincingly disguised itself as a rock. 'There are around 300 octopus' species in the world, with many able to blend into their surrounds, but the Mimic takes things to the next level,' charity Wildlife Noosa said. They shared footage as the 'mystery' animal came out of its camouflage, amazing hundreds. What looks like an unassuming rock on the banks of the Noosa River turned out to be an 'elusive' camouflaged mimic octopus A Noosa local Tracey and her son Jacob spotted the octopus along the banks of the river and called Wildlife Noosa to check on its health. The organisation said it was 'strange' the octopus was so 'out in the open' with people and dogs walking so close by and making it vulnerable to predators. By the time rescuers had arrived, the octopus had tucked its tentacles in and made itself look like an unassuming rock. They used a metal pole to bring the animal closer to them so they could remove it from its potentially-dangerous position before it revealed it true identity. Dozens were impressed by the 'highly intelligent' octopus's camouflaging tactics. 'Wow! What a beauty! I so hope it recovers,' one woman said. 'How beautiful is it??' another added while some likened it to an 'alien'. Australia Zoo identified the creature as a Mimic Octopus and Wildlife Noosa took it to SEA LIFE Mooloolaba to be monitored. Rescuers presumed the animal was unwell as it was unusual for it to be in the shallow water. It is at SEA LIFE in Mooloolaba and will be released after it's nursed back to health 'The mimic has an impressive number of impersonations at its disposal. It can change its skin colour, texture, shape and behaviour to mimic animals such as eels, stingrays, jellyfish, crabs, seahorses and even venomous lionfish and sea snakes along with others,' the post read. 'It is highly intelligent and has the learning ability to adapt its mimicry in new environments. The Mimic Octopus remains a mystery to Science.' It was apparently 'uncommon' for the 'elusive' creature to be found where it was. 'It was strange behaviour for it to be out in the open, almost beached and very slow,' a representative said in the clip's comments. After a 'full assessment' at SEA LIFE the octopus is being kept at the facility to be closely monitored and treated by the 'best vets in the field'. Vets still don't know what is wrong with the octopus but it has started eating after resisting food for several days. If SEA LIFE can nurse the animal back to health it will be released back into the river. She has been using a house and pet sitting platform Molly Cochrane, from New Zealand, scored free accommodation all over Europe A solo traveller has revealed her 'ultimate hack' for scoring free accommodation in every country on her Europe trip. Molly Cochrane, from New Zealand, planned on travelling around Europe for several months and was convinced there were better options than expensive AirBnbs and overcrowded hostels. The woman, in her mid-20s, discovered 'Trusted House Sitters', a platform where people list their homes to search for available house and pet sitters while they go on holiday. Molly shared that she's been staying in 'several beautiful houses' for free for the majority of her trip, in cities like London, Edinburgh, and Bristol. 'It's so good - I've been staying in lovely places and looking after people's pets,' she said in a video. However, potential house sitters should note that some border officials consider hose sitting as 'work', and hence entry into the country might prove to be challenging if you don't possess the correct visa. Molly also revealed that she enjoyed having the company of pets as a solo traveller. 'I spent a week looking after someone's cat in Edinburgh, and now I'm in Bristol looking after someone else's dog - I'm back to London next to look after two dogs the week after. 'If you're travelling for a long time and you're not sure where you want to live, this is a great way to get a feel of the area without booking an AirBnb for a month because it's so expensive to do that.' However, Molly warned that you should only apply to be a pet sitter if your travel schedule can accommodate its needs. 'You'll know if looking after a pet actually fits in to your travel schedule - so I just wouldn't apply for anything that doesn't suit your plan!' she advised. The people hiring house sitters might not want someone who is out all day sight seeing and only home at night. The traveller added, 'Everyone is different! Cats tend to be easier to leave at home all day, but dogs require a bit more attention.' Molly Cochrane, from New Zealand, has been travelling around Europe for several months and was convinced there were better options than expensive AirBnbs and overcrowded hostels The website requires a $120 annual membership fee - but Molly claimed she 'definitely got her money back' and because she 'hasn't spent a cent' on accommodation. 'It's so beautiful, and it's such a step up from a hostel,' Molly said. 'I'm living a luxurious life and it feels so good.' Many revealed that they also used Molly's travel hack and recommended others try it. 'I'm doing this for a month while travelling Europe this year. One of the people we're pet sitting for has even offered us their holiday home in Spain!' a traveller shared. 'Currently house sitting in Hackney for the cutest dog and even cuter apartment,' another added. It showed uptake dropped below 10% of over-65s in several counties across as many as 13 states Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data revealed uptake of the bivalent Covid booster last year Advertisement America may have left itself open to a future deadly Covid wave because so few seniors have been boosted, some experts fear. Latest official data shows nearly six in 10 Americans over 65 years old did not get last year's bivalent booster shot and experts think even fewer will come forward when the newly formulated Covid vaccines are rolled out this month. The figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal there are also large disparities across different parts of the country, with as few as a quarter of seniors boosted in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. At the county level, where smaller population sizes mean the figures are more volatile, uptake is as low as 2 percent and perhaps even lower in some areas. Overall, only about 43 percent of eligible people over 65 years old nationwide have come forward to get the bivalent booster, which was rolled out last winter, according to the CDC's latest data which goes up to May 2023. More seniors are likely to have come forward since that date, but enthusiasm for the vaccines has been waning throughout the pandemic. Dr William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, warned the data suggested the US could be in for a 'notable' rise in Covid hospitalizations and deaths this winter even though most of the country has antibodies against the virus. Your browser does not support iframes. The above map shows US counties by uptake of the bivalent booster among adults aged 65 years and above. The map can be viewed by clicking the link in the bullets above The above map shows uptake of the bivalent booster among over-65s by state up to May 2023 While Covid has become milder due to more people having immunity through infection or vaccination, older people who have weaker immune systems still remain at the highest risk for severe disease and death if they catch the virus. The CDC's data was last updated in May 2023 for all 3,144 counties in the US. Hawaii was excluded because there was not enough data available. The dataset also included figures from the 100 subdivisions of the territories of the United States including Puerto Rico and Guam. Dr Schaffner told DailyMail.com, after viewing the data: 'We could have a notable Covid-influenza-RSV season this year because we will be dealing with a population that is under-vaccinated. 'That means more cases, more intensive care visits and more deaths.' He added, however: 'We don't anticipate an increase in Covid that is of the magnitude of past winters or, goodness knows, the winter before. 'But we will have an increase and that increase is largely preventable, that is the main point.' On why hospitalizations will rise this winter, he said: 'Many people have been vaccinated many months ago and now their protection is waning, but they have a false sense of security. 'They have been out and about with some friends who have gotten Covid but haven't been to the hospital. 'But as the months go on and their protection continues to wane... then they could be hit with an infection that puts them in an intensive care unit within 48 hours.' Data showed more than 60 counties across 13 states saw fewer than one in 10 seniors get the bivalent booster. Some of the counties in the US with low vaccination rates, however, did also have a small population of seniors, which can skew figures. The county with the fewest over-65s boosted across the whole US was Norton County, Virginia, according to CDC data where just 0.1 percent of older adults came forward for the shot. When contacted by DailyMail.com, however, the state's department of health claimed there were discrepancies in the national data and that the figures were wrong. A spokesperson said that, for example, 8.6 percent of seniors in Norton County had actually received the bivalent vaccine. Excluding Virginia, King County in Texas had the lowest booster uptake among over-65s with just two percent of residents having come forward to get the shot. Hospitalizations across the United States are also going up, which is feared to be driven by the EG.5 Covid variant Deaths due to Covid have risen slightly recently, official surveillance suggests At the other end of the scale was a county in Maine, where more than 86 percent of residents over 65 got the Covid booster last year. Wisconsin, Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts, Washington and Colorado mostly Democrat-led states all also had counties in the top 10 for highest vaccine uptake among the age group. When contacted by DailyMail.com, a spokesman for the CDC said its figures for counties from May were the most up to date. The above is part of the CDC advertising campaign to get people to receive the flu vaccine Dr Schaffner added: 'There have been a number of studies that have shown that your political affiliation is reflected, in part, in how assiduously the population embraces certainly the Covid vaccine and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same for the influenza vaccine also.' He added: 'There is so much information out there about Covid and its nastiness that I find myself regularly puzzled by the fact people aren't embracing this vaccine. 'All these vaccines shift the balance in your favor. None is perfect, none prevents disease, but a completely mild infection is very different to having to go to hospital.' More than 230million Americans including nearly 95 percent of over-65s came forward to get the first two shots of the original Covid vaccine. But for the bivalent booster roll out last year this figure fell to 56million with just 23million over-65s coming forward for the shot. Two shots of the original Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were needed because the first primed the immune system while the second maximized the immune response. Boosters are now being rolled out, like with the flu vaccine, to top-up immunity levels which may have waned. Studies show immunity wanes more rapidly in older people leaving them at higher risk of severe disease and death from the virus. This year, health officials are set to offer Americans an updated booster vaccine targeting the XBB variant, which was dominant in the US this summer. Early tests show that it is also effective in protecting against BA.2.86, which has triggered fears of a fresh Covid wave. There are also promising signs it will work against the EG.5 Covid variant, which is currently dominant in the US. Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the updated boosters were safe for use in everyone aged six months and older, clearing the way for the CDC to rule tomorrow on which age groups should receive them. As part of the drive, even Americans who have never had a Covid shot are eligible. This is part of a shift to treat fall updates of the Covid vaccine much like getting a flu shot. The White House has suggested this vaccine will be offered to everyone over five years old. Concerns over the Pirola variant also saw some schools bring back face masks even as studies showed the variant was not more transmissible than other currently circulating strains. Data shows Covid hospitalizations across the US are on the incline, with about 17,418 people admitted during the week ending August 26 up 16 percent compared to the previous seven-day period. But this is well below the levels reported earlier this year when there were 44,000 admissions a week in January. Deaths are also rising, with 672 fatalities recorded over the week to August 12, the latest available up six percent from 631 in the previous week. But this is also well below levels recorded earlier this year. After being shown the maps, Dr Thomas Moore, an infectious disease expert at the University of Kansas, told DailyMail.com they were 'not encouraging'. 'The map is certainly not very encouraging,' he said. Asked about the impact on this year's virus season, he said: 'I think it is hard to predict how this respiratory virus season will unfold. 'We've had significant transmission throughout the summer and the cases are increasing locally, but our hospital admission rates have not significantly increased. 'If our experience can be generalized, I think most communities will experience an increase in outpatient office and ER visits, and I expect some increase in hospitalizations. 'But, in the absence of the emergence of a Paxlovid-resistant or vaccine-resistant strain, I expect there to be nothing like the surges we experienced with any of the previous strains, including Delta and Omicron.' Millions of Brits are set to receive Covid and flu jabs as the autumn roll-out kicked off today, amid concerns over a new mutant variant. Care home residents and those who are housebound in England will be offered both vaccines this week, with the NHS inviting more eligible people to come forward from next Monday. The over-65s, frontline health and social care workers and pregnant women are among those who will be invited for top-up doses in the coming weeks. The scheme, which was due to be launched in October, was brought forward by an entire month to boost protection among the most vulnerable amid fears that the Pirola Covid strain would trigger a fresh wave of infection and overwhelm the NHS. More than 30 cases of the Omicron spin-off, scientifically known as BA.2.86, have been confirmed in England. But officials warn the true scale of the outbreak is much larger and that it is spreading in the community undetected. Covid and flu vaccines will only be offered to over-65s this winter, health chiefs confirmed. In a bid to 'go back to normal', invites won't be dished out to millions aged 50-64 who were eligible during the pandemic While virologists have warned it is too early to reliably pinpoint BA.2.86 specific symptoms, its ancestor BA.2 had some tell-tale signs. Experts aren't yet certain, however if it behaves like similar Omicron subvariants, the signs to watch out for include a runny nose, sore throat and fatigue While the variant has not been classified as a 'variant of concern' yet by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it has said it is monitoring the strain closely. This UKHSA graphic shows the number of Pirola cases by date the test containing the infected sample was received. Cases surged on August 26 shortly after the start of the care home outbreak in Norfolk While the variant has not been classified as a 'variant of concern' by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it is monitoring the strain closely. The UKHSA confirmed last week that 36 cases of the strain have now been detected, up from just three a week ago. Two are in Scotland while 34 are in England. Globally, the variant has now been spotted in the UK, US, Israel, Denmark, South Africa, Portugal, Sweden, Canada, France, Thailand and Switzerland. Speaking to Sky News this morning, UKHSA chief Susan Hopkins said the variant has 'about 30 mutations compared to Omicron' when it emerged in December 2021, and around '50 mutations compared to the original wildtype virus' which started the pandemic. However, the health agency is unclear about its transmissibility, whether it causes an increased infectivity or severity, she said. Global cases of the Pirola have doubled in the last week and has now been detected in the UK, US, Israel, Denmark, South Africa , Portugal, Sweden, France, Canada, Thailand and Switzerland. Health experts fear it is rapidly spreading worldwide undetected Responding to whether the unvaccinated majority would be at risk of illness or missing work, Ms Hopkins added: 'Some of them will be off work but many won't because many people now have very mild, asymptomatic illness and don't even know they have it. 'If we look back over the last year and a half, we've had a number of waves of new variants coming in and circulating in the community. 'It has not disrupted schools, it has not disrupted the economy.' Up to 30million people are eligible to receive a flu jab and 25million for Covid vaccines, UKHSA told MailOnline today. Eligible groups will be able to book their jabs from September 18 through the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119. As well as care home residents and housebound people, the over-65s, frontline health and social care workers and carers are also eligible for Covid and flu vaccines. People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group will also be invited. This group includes people with a chronic respiratory, heart, kidney or liver disease, as well as those with diabetes, pregnant women and those who are morbidly obese. GP surgeries and other local NHS services are also contacting people to offer the vaccines. Additionally, 8million children aged two to 17 will be offered a flu vaccine from next week. The UKHSA has urged parents to fill out the consent forms for the nasal spray vaccine, which is administered at school and via GP surgeries. Vaccine programmes have already kicked off in Scotland, while Wales will roll out at the same time as England, and Northern Ireland officially starts its programme on September 18. Hospital admissions and numbers of beds occupied by Covid patients had also been rising. Latest NHS data shows daily Covid hospital admissions have risen almost 30 per cent since June, with a seven-day rolling average of 322 as of August 25, compared to 251 on June 7 Children aged two to 17 will also be able to have flu vaccinations from next week. The UKHSA is urging parents to fill out the consent forms for the nasal spray vaccine, which is administered at school and via GP surgeries Latest Covid wastewater sampling data in Scotland also shows it has hit its highest level in over a year at 167 mgc/p/d. It last rose to this figure in June 2022 The rollout will see fewer Brits eligible for a Covid jab in comparison to last year. In August, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which guides ministers on jab rollouts, said invites will no longer be dished out to millions aged 50-64, in a bid to 'go back to normal'. At the time scientists labelled the move 'troubling' and 'short-sighted', warning cases could again shoot up. On Friday, a group of cross-party MPs wrote to ministers urging them to extend the booster programme allowing over-50s to have the jab. Members of the all-party parliamentary group on coronavirus, led by Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, called on the Government to make Covid jabs publicly available to buy privately, like the flu vaccine. However, health sources have said there are currently no plans to widen the availability of vaccines. And there is currently no way for Brits to get the jab privately. However, highstreet pharmacies have indicated that they are interested in offering the jab in the future though insiders believe the jabs wouldn't be ready until spring at the earliest. Last autumn, 40 per cent for people in their early 50s took up the offer of a booster, rising to 52 per cent for those in their later 50s. Those over 75 had a greater turnout for the boosters, with 80 per cent opting to receive another vaccine. Some 70 per cent of over-75s also opted for a spring booster earlier this year. NHS England is urging eligible people to get both Covid and flu jabs to avoid a potential 'twindemic', which would put pressure on the health service. NHS director of vaccinations and screening Steve Russell said: 'The NHS flu and Covid vaccination programmes have been very effective in protecting those at greatest risk and we will work at speed to ensure they are protected once again this year, starting with care homes and those who are housebound today. 'With concerns arising over new Covid variants, it's vital we adapt the programme and bring it forward for those most at risk, and so I strongly urge everyone eligible to come forward as soon as they can for this important protection in colder months. 'NHS staff have worked hard to ensure services are ready for patients to get jabbed at an earlier stage so they can get their protection as soon as possible.' Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UKHSA, said: 'Older people and those in clinical risk groups remain at highest risk of serious illness from Covid. 'The vaccine continues to provide the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from Covid, so please make sure you get vaccinated when offered and encourage loved ones who are eligible to do the same.' It comes after the UKHSA confirmed on Friday that 34 Pirola cases have been detected in England. Of these, 28 came from a single outbreak in a care home in Norfolk, which infected 87 per cent of residents and left one hospitalised. Health chiefs said this signals a 'high attack rate' and could be an early indicator that the strain spreads easily indoors. UK scientists were first alerted to Pirola on August 14, with concerns immediately triggered due to its large number of mutations. The UKHSA officially classified it as a variant on August 18 after the first UK case was detected in a hospitalised patient in London. While only two cases have been confirmed in Scotland, more are suspected as health agencies have detected the variant in wastewater analysis. Read more: Covid vaccines could end up being sold at Superdrug as chain confirms it is 'interested' in offering jabs privately Advertisement Latest Covid wastewater sampling data in Scotland also shows it has hit its highest level in over a year at 167 mgc/p/d. It last rose to this figure in June 2022. No Pirola cases have been detected in Wales or Northern Ireland. In total, five people with confirmed Pirola infections have so far required hospitalisation, though UKHSA analysts last week said no deaths have been recorded. Experts have also told MailOnline the data suggests that the Omicron sub-variant is more transmissible than its predecessors but that it is no more severe. However, the true scale of the UK's outbreak is unclear. Brits are no longer testing en masse like they were earlier in the pandemic with free community mass testing ending in May 2022. It means fewer cases are being detected and sequenced a process which reveals the variant behind an infection. But virologists have warned it is too early to pinpoint whether BA.2.86 triggers more severe illness than earlier versions of the virus, as scientists are still analysing recently discovered cases. Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert based at University College London told MailOnline: 'Based on the tiny number of BA.2.86 cases diagnosed to date there is no evidence for, but also no reason to expect, a significant shift in symptoms.' Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, said that a combination of immunity induced by previous infections, Covid vaccinations and 'a combination of changes in the virus' has seen Covid symptoms alter over the last three years. 'It's much more like a cold now than when we first experienced Covid,' he said. Dr Emi Mawson warned 'people are going to die' due to the appointment crisis ore than 8,722 people in the UK were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2019 A dentist has issued an emotional plea to the NHS after her patient was diagnosed with oral cancer amid an unsuccessful battle to get a dental appointment for years. Dr Emi Mawson, a dentist in Cornwall, revealed that her patient finally secured an appointment last month after complaining of toothache. While looking in their mouth, she spotted signs of oral cancer. In a video shared on TikTok last week in which she is visibly upset, Dr Mawson said that further tests had confirmed that her patient did have the disease. The dentist said she felt 'let down by the NHS dental system' and warned 'people are going to die because of this'. She urged people to check their mouths for unusual lumps, bumps and swelling, as well as long-lasting red or white patches and ulcers. Routine appointments always involve checks for signs of the disease, which include inflamed or white patches in the mouth, and small lumps or blisters. These examinations are vital, as the symptoms are often painless or not considered serious by patients. If anything worrying is seen, a referral can be made to hospital specialists for a definitive diagnosis. Almost half of mouth cancers are first spotted in this way Dr Emi Mawson, a dentist in Cornwall, revealed the patient who was finally able to attend an urgent care appointment complaining of toothache, showed visible signs of the disease. Visibly upset she said she felt 'let down by the NHS dental system' and warned 'people are going to die because of this' Routine appointments which should happen every three months to two years, depending on the patient always involve checks for signs of the disease, which include inflamed or white patches in the mouth, and small lumps or blisters. These examinations are vital, as the symptoms are often painless or not considered serious by patients. If anything worrying is seen, a referral can be made to hospital specialists for a definitive diagnosis. Almost half of mouth cancers are first spotted in this way. But in the TikTok video now watched over 250,000 times, Dr Mawson said: 'A few weeks ago now in an urgent care appointment I saw a patient who had not seen a dentist in several years and was attending with a toothache, 'When I looked in their mouth I discovered what I believed to be oral cancer. 'I have just had the letter back saying that it is and I'm just feeling so frustrated and let down by the NHS dental system in the UK at the moment. 'That person hadn't been able to get into an NHS dentist for years. 'It's so important that oral cancer screenings are done every year. 'This person had no idea they had oral cancer growing in their mouth. It grows quickly. 'It grows silently. You don't know you have it.' She added: 'It can go unnoticed but when it gets to a point where it's noticeable it's usually too late. 'The survival chances are less than five per cent for five years. 'Early diagnosis is so essential and how are people supposed to get these conditions diagnosed if they're not even able to get in and see a dentist. 'People are going to die because of this.' If caught early, when tumours are small, 85 per cent of patients survive the disease, according to the NHS. However, the majority of cases are picked up once the cancer has spread. Roughly half of these patients die within three years of diagnosis. One in 55 UK males and one in 108 UK females will be diagnosed with oral cancer in their lifetime, Cancer Research UK say. New cases of mouth cancer were already rising sharply before the pandemic. More than 8,722 people in the UK were diagnosed in 2019 an increase of 97 per cent since 2000. But with no new data since 2019, medics have long feared new cases will also have gone undiagnosed. Dr Mawson added: 'It can go unnoticed but when it gets to a point where it's noticeable it's usually too late. The survival chances are less than five per cent for five years. Early diagnosis is so essential and how are people supposed to get these conditions diagnosed if they're not even able to get in and see a dentist. People are going to die because of this' Only 43 per cent of over-18s were seen by a dentist in the 24 months to June this year, compared to more than half in the same period before the pandemic struck Dr Mawson said: 'Please can people check their mouths, check their relatives mouths. 'Get them to make sure they're checking underneath their lips, the sides of their tongue, the back of their throat.' Early warning signs include 'anything that looks unusual', she said. This includes 'lumps, bumps, swellings, red and white patches that don't disappear in two weeks, non-healing ulcers'. She added: 'If you don't have a dentist, every single county has got an emergency dental service that you can ring to say that you've noticed something in your mouth that you'd like to have checked. They will give you an appointment.' How much does NHS dentistry cost? There are 3 NHS charge bands: Band 1: 23.80 Covers an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish, and planning for further treatment. Band 2: 65.20 Covers all treatment included in Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions). Band 3: 282.80 Covers all treatment included in Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges. For comparison, check-ups can cost between 20 and 120 at private dentists, according to Which?. Dentures and bridges can also cost up to 2,520, the consumer watchdog says. Advertisement An ever-worsening crisis in NHS dentistry has left millions struggling to get appointments and medics warning that the service is 'on its last legs'. Latest figures show the number of NHS dentists has plunged to 23,000 the lowest in a decade. Nine in ten NHS dental practices are not accepting new adult NHS patients, leaving one in five Brit with no dentist. Even for those who are able to afford private treatment, there are waiting lists. NHS dentistry has been in crisis for many years but the situation has worsened since Britain emerged from the pandemic. Thousands of NHS dentists quit during Covid and industry polls suggest even more are considering going fully private in the near future. Dentists argue it is no longer financially viable to offer NHS procedures because of a lack of Government investment. The British Dental Association (BDA), which represents dentists, said many no longer wanted to do NHS work because they were paid for only a limited number of NHS treatments each year. As a result, people have been left with no choice but to pay huge private fees, go without or do their own dental procedures. A recent Health and Social Care Committee inquiry described the state of the NHS dental service as 'totally unacceptable in the 21st century'. It set out fundamental change centred on reform of the NHS contract dentists work to. Overall, 18.1million adults saw their dentist in the two years to June 2023, up from 16.4million in the 24 months to June 2022. But it is still well below the 21million seen in the two years to June 2020 The BDA characterized the reform plan as an 'instruction manual' to save NHS dentistry. However, a recovery plan for the service promised in April has yet to be published by the government. Tobacco use and heavy drinking are known to increase the risk of oral cancer. It's also caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) the same infection that causes cervical cancer. In a third of cases, the tumour is in or on the tongue. But it can also appear in the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, the tonsils, salivary glands and in the upper throat, including in the larynx, or voicebox as it's better known. In the US, the American Cancer Society estimates around 54,540 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer will be diagnosed in 2023. Some 11,580 deaths from oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer will also be recorded, it said. A woman reacts by the rubble of destroyed buildings in the aftermath of the deadly 6.8-magnitude September 8 earthquake, in the village of Imi N'Tala near Amizmiz in central Morocco, Sept. 10. AFP-Yonhap Survivors of Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades struggled to find food, water and shelter on Sunday as the search for the missing continued in remote villages and the death toll of more than 2,100 seemed likely to rise further. Many people were spending a third night in the open after the 6.8 magnitude quake hit late on Friday. Relief workers face the challenge of reaching the worst-affected villages in the High Atlas, a rugged mountain range where settlements are often remote and where many houses crumbled. The death toll climbed to 2,122 with 2,421 people injured, state TV reported. Morocco said it may accept relief offers from other countries and will work to coordinate them if needed, according to state TV. The damage done to Morocco's cultural heritage became more evident as local media reported the collapse of a historically important 12th century mosque. The quake also damaged parts of Marrakech old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Moulay Brahim, a village 40 km (25 miles) south of Marrakech, residents described how they dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands. On a hillside overlooking the village, residents buried a 45-year-old woman who had died along with her 18-year-old son, a woman sobbing loudly as the body was lowered into the grave. A boy walks in debris near the epicenter of an earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco, Sept. 10,. Xinhua-Yonhap As he retrieved possessions from his damaged home, Hussein Adnaie said he believed people were still buried in the rubble nearby.' "They didn't get the rescue they needed so they died. I rescued my children and I'm trying to get covers for them and anything to wear from the house," Adnaie said. Yassin Noumghar, 36, complained of shortages of water, food and power, saying he had received little government aid so far. "We lost everything, we lost the entire house," Noumghar said. "We want just for our government to help us." Later, sacks of food were unloaded from a truck which local official Mouhamad al-Hayyan said had been organized by the government and civil society organizations. People stand by the rubble of a collapsed building in the aftermath of the deadly 6.8-magnitude Sept. 8 earthquake, in the village of Imi N'Tala near Amizmiz in central Morocco, Sept. 10. AFP-Yonhap Twenty-five bodies had been brought to the village's small clinic, according to staff. With many homes built of mud bricks and timber or cement and breeze blocks, structures crumbled easily. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people. In the badly hit village of Amizmiz, residents watched as rescuers used a mechanical digger on a collapsed house. "They are looking for a man and his son. One of them might still be alive," said Hassan Halouch, a retired builder. Korea ready to support quake-hit Morocco: foreign ministry Morocco earthquake killed young boy as family sat at dinner table More than 2,800 killed by earthquake in Morocco The team eventually recovered only bodies. The army, mobilized to help the rescue effort, set up a camp with tents for the homeless. With most shops damaged or closed, residents struggled to get food and supplies. People carry the remains of a victim of the deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake, in the village of Imi N'Tala near Amizmiz in central Morocco, Sept. 10. AFP-Yonhap "We're still waiting for tents. We haven't had anything yet," said Mohammed Nejjar, a laborer who was folding his blanket in a makeshift shelter constructed with bits of wood. "I had a little food offered by one man but that's all since the earthquake. You can't see a single shop open here and people are frightened to go inside in case the roof falls down." The quake's epicenter was 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city beloved by Moroccans and foreign tourists for its medieval mosques, palaces and seminaries richly adorned with vivid mosaic tiling amid a labyrinth of rose-hued alleyways. The government said on Sunday it has set up a fund for those affected by the earthquake. The government has also said it is reinforcing search-and-rescue teams, providing drinking water and distributing food, tents and blankets. The World Health Organization said more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster. Rescue workers take part in a rescue operation following a powerful earthquake in Ouirgane, south of Marrakesh, Morocco, Sept. 10. EPA-Yonhap Foreign aid Spain said 56 officers and four sniffer dogs have arrived in Morocco, while a second team of 30 people and four dogs was heading there. Britain said it was deploying 60 search-and-rescue specialists and four dogs on Sunday, as well as a four-person medical assessment team. Qatar also said its search-and-rescue team departed for Morocco. U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his "sadness about the loss of life and devastation" caused by the quake. "We stand ready to provide any necessary assistance to the Moroccan people," Biden told a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. A U.S. official said a small team of disaster experts dispatched by the United States arrived in Morocco on Sunday to assess the situation. France said it stood ready to help and was awaiting a formal request from Morocco. Other countries offering assistance included Turkey, where earthquakes in February killed more than 50,000 people. By Sunday, the Turkish team had not yet departed. "The next two to three days will be critical for finding people trapped under the rubble," Caroline Holt, global director of operations for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), told Reuters. Women react as volunteers recover the body of a family member from the rubble of collapsed houses in the village of Imi N'Tala near Amizmiz in central Morocco after the deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake, Sept. 10. AFP-Yonhap Holt said the international aid system has been waiting for an invitation from Morocco to assist, adding this was not necessarily unusual as the government assesses needs. Pope Francis offered prayers and solidarity for the victims. The Government plan to increase the number of PAs to 12,000 by 2036/2037 do not attend medical school and instead do two years of postgrad training A revolt by senior medics is set to halt plans for the NHS to hire junior staff to plug NHS workforce gaps. Doctors today said that the health service is increasingly turning to physician associates (PAs) because they are much quicker and cheaper to train. They warned that patients are often unaware that they are being seen by such staff, rather than a qualified doctor. Associates do not go to medical school, and instead do two years of post-graduate training on top of a degree in a subject like biomedical sciences. But the Government wants to increase their role in the NHS. Doctors today said that the health service is increasingly turning to physician associates because they are much quicker and cheaper to train. They warned that patients are often unaware that they are being seen by such staff, rather than a qualified doctor The plan published in June has pledged to increase the NHS permanent workforce by almost a million by 2036/2037. It expects to see a rise from 1.4million to between 2.2 and 2.3million. Under the NHS workforce plan released in June, ministers also plan to increase the number of PAs by almost fourfold to 12,000 by 2036/37. The plan also suggests that PAs might be allowed to prescribe in the future Under the NHS workforce plan released in June, ministers plan to increase the number of them by almost fourfold to 12,000 by 2036/37. The plan also suggests that PAs might be allowed to prescribe in the future. First introduced in 2003, the role currently allows physician associates to take medical histories, perform physical examinations and analyse test results, but should always work under supervision. They are not allowed to prescribe drugs or refer patients for procedures. Established by the Royal College of Physicians, the faculty also says PAs are intended to work 'alongside' doctors and provide 'medical care.' However concerns have mounted in recent weeks over the scope of their role, the confusion among the public over their level of expertise and lack of regulation. Senior anaesthetists, under the group 'Anaesthetics United', have now also sounded the alarm on their expanding use and called a general meeting of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, in an attempt to oppose plans for anaesthesia associates. Associates can give anaesthesia under the supervision of a consultant, who might oversee two associates in separate operating theatres at the same time. This, in theory, allows more operations to be performed than if the consultant were directly working on a single patient. Dr Richard Marks, a semi-retired anaesthetist in London, told The Times: 'Anaesthesia associates are non-doctors that have done a two-year course that enables them to give anaesthetics. 'Theoretically under supervision and within a narrow scope of practice, but anecdotally both of these conditions are waived in the real world.' Consultant anaesthetist normally undergo nine years of on-the-job training after their medical degree. Dr Marks, who has been both a regional director of training and vice-president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, also said that arguments that associates were necessary, given a national shortage of anaesthetists, 'do not withstand close scrutiny'. During a meeting scheduled for October 17, the group has called motions including mandating the college council to ask clinical directors to pause recruitment of associates. The group is also pushing for patients to be clearly told when an associate would be providing their care. The Times reported that similar efforts are at an early stage in other medical specialties, where physician associates are being used more often. For several years the Government and General Medical Council, which oversees doctors' standards, have discussed plans for associates to be regulated by the GMC. But the watchdog says this will not happen until 'the second half of 2024 at the earliest.' The calls also come after the death of actress Emily Chesterton, who was just 30. In July it was revealed she had been seen twice by the same PA who failed to spot blood clotting symptoms and instead said the 30-year-old actress had anxiety and long Covid. Her parents said that at no point during the appointment at the GP surgery was Ms Chesterton made aware that the person who had diagnosed her was not a fully qualified GP. Her health deteriorated on the same evening of her second appointment before her family called an ambulance, but she suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital last November. Under the NHS long-term workforce plan, the number of medical school training places will be doubled by 2031/32, taking the total number of places to 15,000. GP training places in England for junior doctors will also increase by 50 per cent to 6,000. Training for pharmacists will also rise by almost 50 per cent to around 5,000 places for 2031/32. Meanwhile, training for clinical psychology and child and adolescent psychotherapy will also be expanded, with places rising by more than a quarter to 1,300 by 2031 The calls also come after the death of actress Emily Chesterton (pictured), who was just 30. In July it was revealed she had been seen twice by the same PA who failed to spot blood clotting symptoms and instead said the 30-year-old actress had anxiety and long Covid. Her parents said that at no point during the appointment at the GP surgery was Ms Chesterton made aware that the person who had diagnosed her was not a fully qualified GP A coroner concluded her life could have been saved if she had been to A&E and was treated for a pulmonary embolism. The GP practice where Ms Chesterton was seen, the Vale Practice in Crouch End, north London, has now stopped employing PAs. At the time, members of the doctors' union the British Medical Association (BMA) called for the role to be renamed as 'physician assistant' and for more efforts to ensure that physician associates were not confused with doctors. A motion was passed in the same month at the BMA's annual representative meeting in Liverpool calling for the physician associate to be renamed physician assistant, and that those in the role should never be referred to as 'doctor' in medical settings. It also called for PAs to hold their registration through the Health Professions Council rather than the GMC, and said they must 'take personal responsibility for their professional actions'. Health minister Will Quince said he would look into the renaming suggestion and that, regardless of the title, 'we need to make sure they are properly introducing themselves and their role, and making that very clear to patients'. Dr Fiona Donald, president of the Royal College, which is surveying its members, said: 'We await the results of our member survey...There are enormous pressures on anaesthesia services nationwide due to a shortage of anaesthetists, unprecedented demand for our services and a lack of training positions for doctors specialising in anaesthesia.' Meanwhile, an NHS spokeswoman said: 'Anaesthetist associates are highly trained practitioners that work under the supervision of a consultant...and help free up clinicians so they can spend more time with patients.' Dr Anthony Fauci has said nationwide face mask mandates will not return this winter even if there is a significant rise in Covid cases. Despite being derided for his gloomy comments in the past, the former White House chief medical adviser said he'd be 'extremely surprised' if the blanket restrictions returned at a federal level. But he could not promise that masks will not be 'recommended' again at the state or local level after schools, colleges and businesses across America began asking staff and students to wear them again. Fauci, 82, also said the risk of a deadly Covid wave that rivals previous peaks of the pandemic happening again was 'probably low' because so many Americans have immunity from vaccination or past infection. Dr Anthony Fauci said that he would be 'extremely surprised' if the US would bring back nationwide face mask mandates in crowded areas. But he did say these could be recommended Government data shows that Covid cases are now rising again (shown by the orange line, indicating the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus) He also said that older Americans and those with underlying conditions should get the updated booster vaccine before winter to top-up their immunity. On healthy Americans, he said they should have 'the choice' but did not say they would need it. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today said the updated Covid booster was safe for use in everyone aged six months and over, clearing the way for the CDC to rule tomorrow on the age groups that should get the shot. Asked whether mask mandates would return on ABC 'This Week', Dr Fauci said: 'No, I don't see that in the future at all. 'I can see that if we get a significant uptick in cases that you may see the recommendation that masks be used under certain circumstances and indoor crowded settings. 'But I don't see there being, certainly not federal mandates I would be extremely surprised if we would see that.' He added: 'There may be local organizations that may require masks, but I think that what we are going to see mostly is that if the cases go up then there might be recommendations, not mandates there's a big difference there.' Asked whether the US was facing a deadly Covid wave, he said: 'I don't think at all, though again you always have to keep yourself with an open mind with this virus, it's fooled us before. 'But given the level of immunity that we all have... in other words people who have been vaccinated, boosted, people who have been infected like you and I... the chances of this being an overwhelming rush of cases and hospitalizations is probably low. 'So, I think none of us in the public health field are predicting that this is going to be a tsunami of hospitalizations and deaths the way we saw a year or more ago.' All indicators show Covid cases are now rising in the US as the country approaches the fall months. Hospitalizations rose 16 percent in the week to August 26 when 17,400 admissions were recorded compared to 15,000 in the previous seven-day spell. Deaths are also up by six percent to 672 in the week to August 12, compared to 631 previously. There have also been concerns over new Covid variants including the more transmissible EG.5 strain, which is currently dominant in the US, and the highly mutated 'Pirola' strain. Early tests show the Covid vaccines set to be rolled out this winter made by Pfizer and Moderna should also help to protect against severe disease triggered by those variants. Dr Fauci also recommended on Sunday that older adults and those with underlying conditions who have weaker immune systems should get the updated boosters. The above shows how uptake languished on last year's booster rollout, with less than 17 percent of eligible adults coming forward He said: 'My own personal feeling is that I believe certainly those who are vulnerable, the elderly, those with underlying conditions... 'But I believe we should give the choice to people who are not in high-risk groups to have the vaccine available to them. '[This is] because, again, we have experience with this type of vaccine in billions of people, it is a safe vaccine, of course, with the mRNA, there is a very, very low risk, particularly in young men of getting myocarditis [heart inflammation], but the risk from Covid itself is greater than the risk from the vaccine.' Masks have been returning at some companies, universities and schools in recent days and President Biden, 80, was even pictured wearing a mask after his wife Jill tested positive for Covid last week. President Biden removes his face mask during a Medal of Honor ceremony today - an act that appeared to exemplify Americans' fatigue with masks Fauci's comments come after a member of the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine committee exclusively told this website that healthy adults under 75 years old did not need to get the updated booster. Dr Paul Offit, who advises the FDA on a range of shots for infectious diseases, told DailyMail.com middle-aged and younger Americans who do not have chronic diseases already had strong enough immunity through previous Covid vaccines and infections to prevent severe illness this winter. The FDA today said the updated Covid boosters were safe for use in everyone aged six months and over. This paves the way for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rule tomorrow on which age groups will be recommended the updated vaccine. The expectation is the Biden Administration will sign off on another nationwide rollout, encouraging every American to take it, despite other countries, like the UK, saying the vaccines are only needed for adults over 65. Dr Offit told DailyMail.com: 'I think we are best served by targeting these booster doses to those who are most at risk of severe disease (i.e. hospitalization). 'Specifically, those over 75 years of age, those who have health problems that put them at highest risk of severe disease (such as obesity, chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease and diabetes, among others) [and] those who are immune-compromised and those who are pregnant.' One in three UK medical students plan to emigrate to practise medicine and many will not come back, a large survey suggests. The study of 10,486 trainee medics from the UK's 44 medical schools found 32 per cent intend to leave for the likes of Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada. Reasons given for leaving the UK included better pay offers abroad, work-life balance and improved conditions. Around 60 per cent of those surveyed were either not satisfied or not at all satisfied with the prospect of working in the NHS. A quarter of all the UK's medical student population were included in the survey, which has been published in the journal BMJ Open. This chart shows the number of UK registered doctors who have requested documents for a job application overseas over the past five years. Interest peaked in 2022, but 2023 is also on track to be a bumper year Interest in making a move overseas for nurses and midwives exploded last financial year, with over 16,000 applications The study looked at the intentions of medical students after university graduation and/or on completing the two-year NHS foundation training programme. A total of 32 per cent intended to emigrate to practise medicine, either immediately after graduation (6 per cent of those intending to leave), after completion of foundation year one (32 per cent) or after foundation year two (61 per cent). This group of students was then asked about the likelihood of them returning to UK medicine. Half planned to return after a few years, while 8 per cent intended to return after completion of their medical training abroad. The remaining 43 per cent of those planning on emigrating said they had no intention of returning to the UK. READ MORE: Pay increases may not be enough to stop the exodus of personnel from NHS, survey finds Overall, health professionals ranked work-related stress, workload intensity and staffing levels as the primary 'push factors' underpinning decisions to quit Advertisement Some 2,543 medical students surveyed listed the places to which they would like to emigrate, with Australia the most commonly mentioned destination (42 per cent), followed by New Zealand (18 per cent), the US (10 per cent) and Canada (10 per cent). Fewer than 3 per cent of all those surveyed planned to leave medicine altogether, but those who did intended to pursue careers in consulting, technology, financial services and law. Writing in the journal, the researchers, including from the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, said: 'The NHS is facing a critical workforce shortage, with approximately 10,000 doctors relinquishing their licence to practise in 2021, representing a loss of nearly one-tenth of the doctor workforce. 'A British Medical Association survey of 8,000 senior doctors determined that 44 per cent of NHS consultants in England plan to leave or take a break from working in the NHS over the next year. 'Similarly, a recent survey of 4,553 junior doctors in the NHS reported that four in 10 plan to leave the NHS, with 33 per cent of these wanting to emigrate to another country to work. 'The combination of these previous surveys of the doctor workforce, and the results of our medical student survey suggest this trend is presently unlikely to improve.' The authors said it was perhaps 'unsurprising' medics wanted to leave for countries such as Australia 'given the higher salaries, reports of improved work-life balance, and the fact that these countries' primary language is English'. The poll was carried out between January and March 2023 and people were aged 22 on average, with 67 per cent being women. Of all those surveyed, most (84 per cent) planned to complete both years of the UK's foundation training after graduating. The authors concluded: 'The findings of this study emphasise the urgency of addressing the factors that are driving the exodus of doctors from the NHS and suggest that increased recruitment of medical students may not provide an adequate solution to staffing challenges. While Australia topped the list for both destinations other countries like the US and the United Arab Emirates are also of interest for UK medics looking for greener pastures Interest in life Down Under has peaked for nurses and midwives in the most recent financial year, with some 4,000 applications made 'The causes of the problem are complex, and finding a solution will require a multifaceted approach. Steps could include improving work-life balance, increasing salaries, addressing the growing competition for specialty training posts and promoting greater flexibility in career pathways. 'Undoubtedly, the continued loss of skilled professionals from the NHS represents a significant concern, so it is critical to consider means of reversing this trend.' In June when unveiling the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said figures suggested around 95 per cent of medics still work for the NHS after foundation training. Asked about whether people should be tied to an NHS contract, he said 'the scale of what is happening is not at the scale of what people commonly assume' and said he had not thought it was the right approach to take. The UK has 3.2 doctors for every 1,000 people, ranking 25th among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. However, this figure also represents the lowest number of doctors per head among European countries in the OECD, the researchers note. Figures show most junior doctors do stay to practice medicine in the UK. Only 7 of those who completed their first two years of foundation training in 2016 had left the profession five years later, according to the General Medical Council (GMC). Before the pandemic, more than 6,000 junior doctors and consultants a year applied to the medical regulator for a Certificate of Good Standing, which they use to apply for work abroad. While doctors are lagging behind unions say 2023 could be a bumper year for disenfranchised medics to be lured to Australia thanks to 'cheeky' recruitment tactics Australian figures suggest roughly half of UK medics who apply for a job in Australia are successful, with nearly 950 getting in 2021-22 compared to the 1,800 who applied in the 2022 calendar year After a drop during the pandemic the number rose to about 7,000 in 2022 and the figure is expected to be higher still for 2023, although this may simply be a catch-up following a dip during the pandemic. The GMC says around half of doctors who apply for a certificate remain working in the UK. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'There are record numbers of staff working in the NHS with over 6,000 more doctors compared to this time last year and the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, backed by over 2.4 billion, will double the number of medical school places to recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years. 'Doctors who started their hospital training this year will receive a 10.3 per cent pay increase, with the average junior doctor set to get 8.8 per cent. 'We have also reformed the pension tax system enabling staff to remain in work for longer if they wish, helping to reduce pressures so staff can enjoy a work-life balance. 'We are also focused on improving culture, leadership, and wellbeing to ensure up to 130,000 fewer staff leave the NHS over the next 15 years.' Dr Latifa Patel, from the British Medical Association, said: 'There have been increasing concerns about doctors, at the start of their careers, deciding to leave the UK and we have seen blatant recruitment campaigns to urge them to do so. 'However, this survey reveals the very real and worrying trend of doctors making the decision, even before they have qualified, to either practise medicine overseas, leave the NHS or leave the profession altogether. 'It is disheartening that medical students already recognise the extent to which our profession has been devalued through constant pay erosion and declining working conditions, and have made up their minds, as a result, that the NHS is not the right place for them to work. 'They are investing seven years of their lives, starting out with the intent to be a doctor in our NHS, only to have that enthusiasm and commitment crushed out of them. 'The Government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this increasingly untenable situation. 'This study clearly shows that increasing medical school places alone is not enough to turn the tide on the growing workforce crisis. 'It is not too late to fix this, but the power to do so rests with the Government. 'Retention must be prioritised, and plans must address pay restoration, career progression and working conditions. 'The Government making a credible offer to our members to reverse 15 years of declining pay must be the starting point.' The women in the waiting room are subdued, a little tense. Not unexpected in a hospital. But what happens next that Tuesday evening is extraordinary. A nurse pushes open the door to a ward, where four women stand in a row. They are naked to the waist and signal to those in the waiting room to come forward. This is one of the monthly face-to-face BRA (breast reconstruction awareness) meetings held at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, where women diagnosed with breast cancer who are facing a mastectomy (or who have already had the surgery) come to look at the results of different types of reconstruction in women who have actually had them. Broomfield Hospital was the birthplace of this groundbreaking service which has since spread to other parts of the UK and Good Health has been given exclusive access. The volunteers take groups of about four patients at a time, discussing their exposed breasts and pointing out scars, transplanted skin or new nipples that have been surgically crafted or tattooed on. This is one of the monthly face-to-face BRA (breast reconstruction awareness) meetings held at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, Essex, where women diagnosed with breast cancer who are facing a mastectomy (or who have already had the surgery) come to look at the results of different types of reconstruction in women who have actually had them (like the inspiring women above, pictured l-r: Elsie McNamara, Tracy Judge, Emma Goddard, Lisa Cassius) They tell their stories without medical jargon, offer tips, console patients close to tears, make jokes to put others at ease. Although the new patients have already been advised by their oncologists about the best reconstruction for them, the BRA meetings allow them to view the options, as well as see the results in real life and on different body types and skin tones, at different lengths of time after surgery. Often what they see and hear from those who have already been through it is vital for confirming what kind of surgery they want. Pictures in leaflets give no idea of what it's like in real life But they also leave with something unexpected a positive state of mind after being with this supportive group of volunteers and fellow patients. That was certainly true for Tracy Judge, 52, a legal PA from Rayleigh, Essex, who first attended a BRA meeting in 2017 soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) cancer in the milk ducts of her right breast which was dispersed through the ducts, so needed a mastectomy. She says: 'My children were then 13 and 18 and I had to get the cancer out to make sure I could see them grow up. But even though I was an E-cup when I was diagnosed so quite large I didn't care if I had a reconstruction.' In fact, only 30 per cent of women in the UK needing mastectomies choose to have a reconstruction. But Tracy's mind was changed radically after the BRA meeting. It had been suggested she have a DIEP reconstruction, using tissue taken from the abdomen to 'reconstruct' the breast (see box, right). 'Although I'd seen pictures in leaflets, I had no idea how it would look in real life,' says Tracy. That was certainly true for Tracy Judge (pictured here), 52, a legal PA from Rayleigh, Essex, who first attended a BRA meeting in 2017 soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer '[At the BRA meetings] I saw a lady who'd had a DIEP. I was nervous about her semi-nakedness but she was loud and funny and I felt all my embarrassment lifting. 'Like me, she'd wanted to get better rather than worry about how she looked. But she looked terrific. She joked that she'd never had a boob as perky as her new one. 'She was only four months down the line but I could hardly see her tummy scar, which was very fine and ran across her body. 'She gave me so many great tips one of the best was to bring little bags into hospital to put all the drains [that take fluid out of the body] in when you go to the bathroom. 'And I learned that I wasn't going to be laid up in bed afterwards for so long I couldn't keep acting as a mum. 'My husband Brian [a policeman, 54] had said I'd still be me even if I was left with just one breast but that meeting was life-changing as I realised that a DIEP reconstruction was right for me, and I chose to have it at the same time as the mastectomy.' THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF BREAST RECONSTRUCTION Breast reconstruction can be done immediately after a mastectomy or delayed for weeks, months or even years. There are two types: an implant or an autologous reconstruction, which uses the patient's own body tissue. IMPLANT Silicone gel implants for use after a mastectomy were first introduced by plastic surgeons Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin, in Texas, in 1963. In the 1980s, another option was introduced for women who didn't have immediate implant surgery expanders, to gradually stretch breast skin left after a mastectomy, so that a patient with insufficient skin could have a reconstruction. This was followed in 1984 by the Becker expander. This has two chambers, one containing a silicone implant, the other filled each week or two with salt water so it gradually expands to form a new breast. However, saline can wrinkle under the skin and leak. Implants can be inserted by surgeons at the time of a mastectomy. The nipple and areola the dark skin surrounding it are removed but can be replicated later. Scars are usually right across the breast. Potential complications of implant surgery include infection, rupture, displacement, rejection and capsular contracture, where fibrous scar tissue can become hard and painful (see main story). Implants have also been linked to a rare cancer breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Since 2016, anyone with a breast implant in England is put on a register, so they can be warned of any faults. AUTOLOGOUS This is less likely to be rejected by the patient's body than an implant, and is performed by plastic surgeons either immediately after a mastectomy (where much of the patient's original breast skin can be used) or at a later date (where skin as well as tissue is taken from another part of the body and there is often a larger scar). There are two types. The first is free flap surgery, where fat and skin with its blood vessels are transferred from the donor site to the chest, then the tiny vessels are connected to those in the chest wall. The other type, known as a pedicle flap, involves transplanting tissue usually from the upper back while it's still attached to its original blood supply. Diep flap is the most common type of free flap surgery. During the six to eight-hour procedure (experienced surgeons can sometimes do this in three to five hours), skin and fat, but no muscle, is taken from the lower abdomen and moved to the chest to make the breast. The arteries and veins are connected to those in the chest wall or armpit using microvascular surgery. A thin scar stretches from hip to hip. Other types use the transverse rectus abdominis muscle which runs from the lower ribs to the pelvic bone (known as TRAM flap); or the transverse upper gracilis muscle in the inner thigh (TUG); or fat and skin from the upper or lower buttock (SGAP and IGAP); or the side of the chest (TAP). The latissimus dorsi back muscle, below the shoulder blade, can also be used. Complications of free flap surgery include changes in breast sensation, poor wound healing and a collection of fluid or blood around the site of the wound. More seriously, but rarely, a lump can form and areas of tissue may die off (see main story). Advertisement Most women opt for breast reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy: a survey of patients last year by the charity Breast Cancer Now found that 64 per cent who opted for reconstruction had it immediately, while 35 per cent delayed it. Having reconstruction at the same time means the woman is never left without a breast and the skin can be saved from the operation and used in the reconstruction. However, the patient must be healthy enough to have the much longer surgery. A delayed reconstruction gives women longer to decide what kind they want, but they can be waiting for months, even years, as once the cancer has been removed, the surgery is no longer deemed urgent. A report last year by Breast Cancer Now found that 40 per cent of women waiting for breast reconstruction during the Covid pandemic faced a delay of two years or more, as NHS services have still not returned to normal. There has been a 34 per cent drop in breast reconstructions in 2021/22 compared with 2018/19. For more than 40 years, pioneering work in breast reconstruction has been done at the world-renowned St Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns at Broomfield Hospital. Initially, there were just 20 breast reconstructions a year, most using tissue from the woman's back or abdominal muscles (see box). The world's first DIEP reconstruction using fat from the abdomen but, vitally, not taking the muscle was performed in 1991 at St Andrew's and is now routine in the UK and around the world. The breast reconstruction unit specialises in 'autologous' reconstructions, using the patient's own tissue. It also does implants. 'Using your own tissue means there aren't the complications of using a foreign body like an implant, so there's less risk of infection or rejection,' explains Jolene Butcher, lead clinical nurse specialist in breast reconstruction at Broomfield, who has organised the BRA meetings since 2018. 'Also, it feels the same as the rest of your body, moves the same and lasts for life. [Implants last for about 15 years.] And because it doesn't involve cutting through muscle, it's far less painful.' However, DIEP reconstruction, the gold standard, isn't suitable for all. 'Patients need enough fat and tissue on their abdomen to recreate the breast and so women who have had extensive surgery there already, such as complex repair of a hernia, are not suitable,' says Jolene Butcher. Tissue can also be taken from the thighs, buttocks or back. Broomfield Hospital does almost 400 'free flap' reconstructions a year with about 3,200 carried out countrywide, according to a Royal College of Surgeons report published in February: that's nearly one in eight breast reconstructions in the UK. Last year's Breast Cancer Now survey revealed that only 40 of England's 130 NHS Trusts with breast units offer free flap constructions the rest offer implants only. This is partly due to the lack of plastic surgeons 78 more plastic surgeons were needed to meet demand for free flap breast reconstructions, according to the Royal College of Surgeons' report. A lack of theatre space was also a problem. Breast Cancer Now points out that although the initial cost of implant reconstruction is cheaper on average 3,824 compared with 6,458 for free flap the greater number of follow-up procedures for implant surgery means that it ends up costing 10,180 compared with 10,779 for free flap. The BRA charity was set up in 2004 by two breast reconstruction nurses at Broomfield Hospital, Christine Moxon and Jayne Knight, to support women who were facing mastectomies. A vital part of that was bringing these patients face to face with women who'd already had the surgery and the BRA meetings were born. Since then, more than 7,200 patients have attended them. Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and told they need a mastectomy are invited. Jolene Butcher and two other nurses then sift through the list of volunteers to find those who are a good match for each batch of new patients. She says: 'We try to match women coming to the meeting with a volunteer who's had the kind of surgery they're thinking of, but we ask patients to speak to them all, as there are different body shapes, different scarring, different times taken to heal. 'We don't ever look for volunteers with the 'best results'. And they don't have a script they say whatever they think,' she says. 'The new patients can bring someone to support them but it's a women-only event.' Nurses and surgeons from elsewhere in the UK, Australia, Brazil and Italy have visited Broomfield to study its breast reconstruction work and the BRA meetings. Broomfield's meetings are open to women outside the area, and a monthly virtual meeting caters for those at a distance. They don't need to be formally referred but are asked to ring first. Another volunteer, Sandra Turner (pictured above), 65, had a double mastectomy in 2004. She was 46 at the time, and working in logistics for food giant Tate & Lyle 'Many have been so enthused by how the BRA meetings helped them that later they became volunteers themselves,' says Jolene Butcher. Another volunteer, Sandra Turner, 65, had a double mastectomy in 2004. She was 46 at the time, and working in logistics for food giant Tate & Lyle. Her initial treatment was not at Broomfield, and she was not offered a reconstruction. 'I was only a 32B and thought it wouldn't make any difference. But it affected me mentally and I felt like a freak. My mother saw my body once and sobbed,' she says. 'I went back to work and wore sponge falsies which drove me nuts as they didn't stay in one place. Silicone ones I was then given were better but very heavy and sweaty.' Sandra heard about the reconstructions being done at Broomfield and lobbied her original breast surgeon, who referred her. Some women cry - they're going into the unknown She later had a latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction on one breast in 2008 and a DIEP on the other side nine months later (done separately as she had existing lung conditions that meant she couldn't undergo very long surgery). She volunteered after the first reconstruction. She says: 'I got over my shyness quickly. I was proud of my one breast. I told patients the surgeon joked that he was going to give me a Jordan [aka Katie Price], a C cup, bigger than before, maybe to compensate.' Sandra's positive attitude and sense of humour made her a hit at meetings from the start. 'Women were embarrassed to look at my one breast but I laughed, made light of it, and said: 'That's what I'm here for'. 'I pointed out the scar where the nipple had been removed and said their scarring may end up looking like this. I was back at meetings after my second reconstruction. 'I get so involved in patients' stories. Unsurprisingly, some cry at our meetings they're going into the unknown, but I try to bring a little humour to lift that black cloud. 'They want to know how long it will be before they can get back to work, go shopping or drive, and what it feels like coping with that. At least they're talking to people who've come through it.' Research suggests the reasons why more women don't choose to have reconstruction include what they saw as their 'old age' and having two sites of surgery (stock image) Research suggests the reasons why more women don't choose to have reconstruction include what they saw as their 'old age' and having two sites of surgery. Sandra remembers one woman who really thought she wouldn't be able to get through the mastectomy and reconstruction mentally or physically. Sandra says: 'I told her my story and she looked a lot happier after listening. In fact, after we got dressed, her son a famous actor who was waiting outside came in to thank us. 'You've made my mum feel better than she has for ages,' he said.' The volunteers at the meetings are selected to reflect different body types and experiences. Lisa Cassius, 39, who manages a fostering service for a local authority, became a volunteer early last year. She'd benefited from a BRA meeting before her mastectomy and reconstruction in 2021. She was motivated by the fact that she is a younger patient and a black woman. 'Going into the mastectomy, all the images I'd seen were of white women,' she says. The face-to-face meetings 'can't compare with pictures in leaflets', she adds. 'The scarring I'd seen on white skin was red which went paler whereas my scarring is dark, almost black. And keloid scars [which are thick and raised] are a big risk for darker skin.' Lisa, who lives in Chelmsford, had been diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer, the most common type, in her right breast in November 2020. Lisa Cassius (pictured above), 39, who manages a fostering service for a local authority, became a volunteer early last year. She'd benefited from a BRA meeting before her mastectomy and reconstruction in 2021 It was mid-pandemic and so she received the news alone. 'I was in such a state of shock that I couldn't ask questions,' says Lisa, who is married to Seun, with whom she has three children. After chemotherapy, she had a mastectomy and an immediate DIEP reconstruction. She was keen to help women facing reconstruction and relay her experience with treatments. 'Seun has been so supportive but it has taken a toll on him,' she explains. 'I'm having hormone treatment and that is hard for a young couple. 'I have no libido, no sex drive. I tell women that at meetings. But I also offer advice such as buy a good pillow so you can sleep comfortably on your back, which you need to do for at least eight weeks after surgery. 'And also buy special pants to hold your abdomen in after a DIEP, and bras which open at the front so the nurses can check the reconstruction.' She adds: 'Attending my first face-to-face meeting as a volunteer was so emotional that I couldn't go into work for three days I was so overwhelmed. 'One mother with cancer apologised that her daughter, who came along to support her, left the room in tears. But it's shocking for women that they, or a loved one, will look like this. I feel sad for them, but going to the meetings is key to the process. What having breast cancer does to you mentally is greater than the physical effects. That's what I tell patients... 'I know how awful it is the moment you first look at your new breast. Mine looked like a patchwork quilt. 'But the magnitude of what having breast cancer does to you mentally is greater than the physical effects. I'm honest and tell patients that. 'I've aged so much and put on weight with the drugs I'm on, but it helps patients that I'm not stick-thin. 'I also tell them there's light at the end of the tunnel.' The variety of each volunteer's experience means they offer an honest and realistic perspective which helped Lucy O'Kane, 44, an NHS administrator, who had a rare complication three months after her DIEP operation in 2022. Some of the new breast tissue on her right side died off, a complication that affects about three per cent of DIEP reconstructions. 'My breasts were oozing liquid and were glowing and hard in places,' recalls Lucy, who lives in South Ockendon, Essex, with husband Jason, an HGV driver, and their two teenagers. After surgery to remove the dead tissue her breast looked 'partially mangled', she says. Last November, before having surgery to rebuild the breast using tissue from her thigh, she attended a BRA meeting. 'I felt vulnerable but was so glad I went,' she says. 'They lined up a lady for me who had been through the same two operations. She was in her 60s. I was mesmerised. 'She looked great and gave me the boost I needed, as her attitude was to just get on with it.' Lucy adds: 'Then I was with another volunteer and one of the patients broke down in tears and this lady, with no bra on, gave her a hug. I felt a warmth and comfort from all those women that evening and came out buzzing.' Hairdresser Emma Goddard (pictured), 49, had implant surgery and a mastectomy in 2015 (not at Broomfield) for DCIS that had spread to her lymph nodes but even though she wanted a DIEP reconstruction, her hospital didn't offer it and she had to join an 18-month waiting list for surgery at Broomfield Hairdresser Emma Goddard, 49, had implant surgery and a mastectomy in 2015 (not at Broomfield) for DCIS that had spread to her lymph nodes but even though she wanted a DIEP reconstruction, her hospital didn't offer it and she had to join an 18-month waiting list for surgery at Broomfield. 'I didn't want to go flat,' says Emma, who is married to electrician Neil, 45 the couple have two teenage daughters. So immediately after the mastectomy she had a Becker implant (see box on previous page). 'The implant was a lot smaller than the natural breast,' she says, 'but Neil said he loved my wonky boobs.' She then had chemotherapy and lost her hair. 'Steroids blew me up and I put on 2st I hated myself,' says Emma. 'Neil and I were crying when I said that I worried I'd lose him.' A year later, Emma had a mastectomy and Becker implant on the non-cancerous side. However, last year her left breast, the one that had cancer, became hard and painful: tough, fibrous tissue had built up around the implant, a side-effect known as capsular contracture. 'I'm in a lot of pain, find it hard to work and can't turn my body on that side,' she says. 'I live on ibuprofen.' Now on the waiting list at Broomfield for surgery, she went to a BRA meeting with Tracy Judge, a client, in January so she could see the results of DIEP surgery she is now booked for a double DIEP (so they match). 'It was so good,' she says of the meeting. 'You wonder if you'll get through all this but volunteers' bodies were fabulous and the DIEP looked natural.' One of the oldest volunteers is Elsie McNamara, who was in the fashion business. A grandmother of three, she lives with husband John, a structural engineer, near Dunmow, Essex both are in their early 70s. Elsie was diagnosed with DCIS in 2014 and underwent a six-hour mastectomy and DIEP reconstruction in the summer. 'I cried when I was diagnosed,' she says. She had been 'very upset' when she went to a BRA meeting before her surgery. Elsie says: 'But the volunteers looked so good the doctors really try to match the new breast to the other one and you see so much more than in a picture. I realised you don't have to be disfigured. One of the oldest volunteers is Elsie McNamara (pictured), who was in the fashion business. A grandmother of three, she lives with husband John, a structural engineer, near Dunmow, Essex both are in their early 70s 'My daughter, Laura, who was with me, pointed at one volunteer who had two apparently perfect breasts and couldn't believe that one nipple was reconstructed. 'I wanted the reconstruction so I could wear nice clothes and feel feminine. It took a year to settle and is soft and warm, although I don't have much feeling in the breast. But it has been much easier than when I had a new knee four years ago, which was agony.' Elsie became a volunteer after her surgery, and says: 'It is useful that, as volunteers, we're all different ages. I talk about how I sobbed for hours on day three after the surgery after not sleeping the night before, and how the worst thing is the heat, so bring a fan.' The relationship between the volunteers and patients at the meetings is empowering for both. As Emma says: 'I want to be a volunteer eventually because I got so much out of it. We were all there for one reason breast cancer and had such empathy for each other.' Elsie remembers one woman who'd come from another hospital where a male doctor said it wasn't worth having a reconstruction because she was very small-busted. 'Another woman, in her 50s, said her husband was horrified at the thought of the mastectomy and had left her. She felt worthless. We volunteers improved her mood. 'Even if someone decides not to have a reconstruction, we're there to support them emotionally, too. That's how I felt, and I hope that's what we do.' Mechanics, plumbers, electricians and carpenters often learn their trade on the job. But now a new profession is being added to the list of apprenticeship training schemes: doctor. So how would you feel if the doctor treating you in hospital or at your GP surgery hadn't undergone the traditional training of up to six years at medical school (plus another five years to be a GP, or longer for a hospital consultant)? Are they second-class doctors or actually better equipped to do the job, as some experts now suggest? This new apprentice scheme is part of a raft of measures to address the shortage of NHS doctors and create a sustainable future workforce. Currently, half of new doctors are recruited from abroad as the UK supply route has struggled to keep up with demand. So how would you feel if the doctor treating you in hospital or at your GP surgery hadn't undergone the traditional training of up to six years at medical school (plus another five years to be a GP, or longer for a hospital consultant)? (stock image) Meanwhile, the number of home-grown medical students a year is only around 7,500 in England, which has left the country lagging behind other developed countries in terms of doctors per head of population. One proposal to get doctors into the NHS faster is to reduce medical degrees from five years to four. Another approach is to employ more physician and anaesthesia 'associates'. Unlike fully qualified doctors, physician associates do only two years of postgraduate training (generally after a bioscience degree) before they have direct contact with patients. (Anaesthesia associates also do a two-year postgraduate course.) Physician associates, who are under the supervision of a doctor, generally work in GP surgeries or in A&E, and are permitted to do a range of tasks including diagnosing illnesses, analysing test results and, in some cases, they're able to provide medication. Anaesthesia associates can give anaesthesia under consultants' supervision. The Government is planning greater use of physician associates with 10,000 on the payroll by 2036/37, up from 3,000 now. But concerns have been raised about this new medical role after actress Emily Chesterton, 30, died from a blood clot on the lung last October after a physician associate dismissed it as anxiety Emily thought she had seen a GP. Her symptoms calf pain and shortness of breath should have suggested a pulmonary embolism (a lung clot) and meant she was sent to A&E, a decision which a coroner ruled would probably have saved her life. She'd been seen twice by the same physician associate at a GP practice in North London, who told her to take anti-anxiety pills which she'd previously been prescribed. Her father Brendan said after the inquest in July: 'We are concerned patients are seeing physician associates and not realising they are not doctors, like Emily.' But concerns have been raised about this new medical role after actress Emily Chesterton (pictured), 30, died from a blood clot on the lung last October after a physician associate dismissed it as anxiety Emily thought she had seen a GP Separately, yesterday it was reported that the Royal College of Anaesthetists is being pressed by doctors to halt its support of the anaesthesia associate scheme. The Doctors' Association UK, a campaigning group, is concerned titles such as physician associate 'create misleading impressions for patients, potentially conflating the distinct professional roles of physician associates and doctors'. It has also said it is 'not safe' for the Government to use 'any alternative healthcare provider as replacements for fully trained doctors'. So will the Medical Doctor Apprenticeship scheme provide an acceptable solution to the workforce crisis? Under the scheme, the next generation of doctors will learn how to be a fully-qualified medic without going to university full-time. They will need the same A-level grades in the same subjects as are needed to get a university place, but they will then study and 'earn while they learn'; starting paid work on the wards or in GP practices immediately, and learning as they go along. 'The main difference between the Medical Doctor Apprenticeship and a traditional medical degree is apprentices will work in healthcare from the beginning of their degree while also studying the academic subjects of the medical degree,' says Elizabeth Hughes, medical director for Undergraduate Medicine at NHS England. 'They'll spend most of their time with their employer, which could be a hospital or in general practice. And they'll work safely under supervision at an appropriate level that is suitable to their stage of training.' Up to 2,000 prospective doctors a year will be able to train this way in England by 2031/32. The first 200 will begin their five-year apprenticeship programme as part of a pilot scheme next year. According to NHS England, it will allow the NHS to 'draw on the widest pool of talent' attracting people traditionally put off medicine by the cost of going to medical school for five years. This typically leaves them 50,000 to 90,000 in debt. Apprentices' tuition fees will be paid by the Government and they'll also receive a salary from their employer. 'The aim is to recruit students from varying backgrounds, who may have struggled to pursue a traditional medical degree education, so that future generations of health professionals more closely mirror the population they serve,' NHS England said last year, when the idea was first suggested. 'Apprenticeships may also appeal to people who might have gained experience in clinical roles and be ready to start training as a doctor at a later stage in their career.' Dr Martin Scurr (pictured), a retired GP and Good Health columnist, agrees: 'Is this a way of opening a backdoor for people who academically didn't get the right grades and can be brought in on the grounds that they will be trained as apprentices?' Encouraging people from different socio-economic backgrounds to become doctors is universally accepted as a good thing. 'Medical schools have tried to be inclusive, and some are better at it than others,' says Barry Paraskeva, a consultant surgeon at Imperial College NHS Trust in London, who helps design teaching for medical students. But some may see an apprenticeship as the easier option, he says. 'The training to be a doctor is rigorous. It requires high A-level grades, pre-medical school tests, sometimes a pre-medical degree and a structured interview. 'Why would you do all that if you can go on the medical apprenticeship scheme?' Dr Martin Scurr, a retired GP and Good Health columnist, agrees: 'Is this a way of opening a backdoor for people who academically didn't get the right grades and can be brought in on the grounds that they will be trained as apprentices? 'Medicine is a huge course none of it is very difficult but it is like doing 45 O-levels all at once. 'In other words, there is an awful lot of it to be crammed into five years, even on the traditional medical school course, never mind working at the same time.' Concerns are also being raised about how the doctor apprenticeship scheme will work in practice. Despite being officially announced by NHS England last July, details of the scheme still remain sketchy and the start date for the pilot scheme has already been put back a year, from this month to 2024. It is also not clear what kind of work they will do, how much they will be paid and who will monitor them. Nor do we know what proportion of their time will be spent working compared with studying. And how does 'study' work if you're on the wards? And who will train and supervise these students? Another unanswered question. Queen Mary University of London is one of the medical schools known to be taking part in the scheme. But when Good Health contacted it for more details, we were told: 'It's still not something we can speak about at this time.' What we do know is that at the end of the scheme apprentices will have to take the same exams as other medical students to join the medical register, run by the General Medical Council. Clare Owen, assistant director of the Medical Schools Council, which represents the 46 medical schools in the UK, says: 'The knowledge and outcomes needed will be exactly the same as for someone going through a traditional medical degree. How that balances out in practice between lecture-based and practical-based learning will be down to individual medical schools.' Dr Scurr fears the scheme could create a 'second-class cadre of doctors'. 'By definition, they will be the students who didn't get into medical school. There will be positives but it's going to be like the curate's egg it's going to be good in parts and that is a worry for the NHS and patients' (stock image) Mr Paraskeva believes on-the-job experience is vital for training doctors. 'When I was training, medical students were part of the team: we were on call, carried a bleep, took blood and saw patients. It was like an apprenticeship,' he says. 'Medical students now seem to be on the wards less than they were and that means they sometimes don't want or feel comfortable putting themselves in situations where they are doing clinical work like taking blood. 'If an apprenticeship reintroduces a more hands-on approach, it would be a good thing for doctors and patients. I would challenge medical schools to say why this is not happening anyway for students going down the more traditional route.' Separately, will apprentices who graduate have the same career opportunities as their medical school peers? Mr Paraskeva has his doubts: 'If you want to be a surgeon or oncologist, would the apprentices be as equipped academically as someone who has gone down the traditional medical school route? 'Or would they be disadvantaged because they don't have the academic background?' Dr Scurr fears the scheme could create a 'second-class cadre of doctors'. 'By definition, they will be the students who didn't get into medical school. There will be positives but it's going to be like the curate's egg it's going to be good in parts and that is a worry for the NHS and patients.' Doubled up in agony from the searing pain in his bladder, Arnie Skelton somehow managed to get himself to A&E. 'It was four or five hours before I was finally examined by a doctor and in that time I experienced some of the worst pain I've ever felt in my life,' says Arnie, 72, from Stockport, who runs a training and development business. 'It was excruciating. My bladder was so full that my stomach was sticking out, yet try as I might I just couldn't pee for about eight hours. 'I'd taken paracetamol and ibuprofen but it didn't touch the pain.' Arnie was suffering from severe urinary retention which meant he was unable to pass any of the urine stored in his full bladder (a man's bladder can hold around 1.2 pints). Arnie Skelton (pictured above), 72, was suffering from severe urinary retention which meant he was unable to pass any of the urine stored in his full bladder (a man's bladder can hold around 1.2 pints) It was due to a chronic condition, diagnosed in 2018, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an age-related problem where the prostate gland gradually becomes enlarged. It can then press against the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis, impeding urine flow, meaning men struggle to pee. So the relief Arnie felt when doctors drained his bladder by inserting a catheter a thin plastic tube via his penis and up into his bladder was 'just incredible', he says. 'It took about four minutes for my bladder to empty and almost instantly I was pain-free,' says Arnie. But his euphoria waned when, at a follow-up check a few weeks later, doctors told him he would need to keep the catheter in place and hooked up to a plastic urine bag strapped to his thigh until he could have surgery for the underlying BPH, to remove the excess prostate tissue. Without the surgery and a catheter he could have ongoing attacks, they predicted, warning it could be another 12 to 18 months before he could have the operation on the NHS. 'I was delighted I could pee again but the thought of putting up with a catheter for that long was completely unacceptable,' says Arnie. 'It constantly moves around inside your penis as you move and irritates the foreskin so much that it started to bleed. 'And after just two weeks of using it I developed a urinary tract infection caused by bacteria from the catheter and the infection came straight back almost as soon as I finished a course of antibiotics.' (Urinary retention is much less of a problem in women so they don't generally use catheters for the same length of time.) Now some of Britain's most senior doctors are warning that up to 10,000 men here could be suffering in silence from the physical and mental effects of wearing urinary catheters for months even years while they await surgery. Once a catheter has been inserted into the bladder, it's held in position by inflating a balloon on the end, while the other end is attached to a bag strapped to the leg and emptied every couple of hours (catheters are changed around every three months). As well as the embarrassment and discomfort they cause, catheters make sex extremely uncomfortable, almost impossible; disrupt sleep (the fear of dislodging it at night keeps many men awake) and increase the risk of urinary tract infections (due to bacteria lurking on the plastic surface). In fact, almost one in 20 catheter-related urinary tract infections in men can lead to life-threatening sepsis, when the immune system overreacts to a bug. The doctors all specialists in urology are calling for the NHS to set a new target of 30 days from a catheter being fitted to surgery being completed. BPH affects half of all men over 50 it can be treated with drugs that relax bladder muscles or shrink overgrown tissue, but some 25,000 men a year in the UK undergo surgery either using a laser to destroy the excess prostate tissue, or cutting it away. Professor Roger Kirby, president of the Royal Society of Medicine and recently retired as one of the UK's leading prostate surgeons, is one of those calling for change. Once a catheter has been inserted into the bladder, it's held in position by inflating a balloon on the end, while the other end is attached to a bag strapped to the leg and emptied every couple of hours (catheters are changed around every three months) (stock image) He told Good Health: 'It's estimated that there are about 10,000 men out there right now with catheters in, waiting for an operation. They're not seen by the NHS as especially urgent. 'But if you have a catheter you're more at risk of urinary tract infections and a small percentage of those lead to sepsis, which can be fatal.' Professor Kirby has experience of how debilitating catheters can be. 'I had one for a while a few years ago following prostate cancer surgery. At night I couldn't sleep because I was so worried I might disconnect the bag and get urine over the mattress and my penis felt sore all day. 'Meanwhile, you have a bag strapped to your leg full of urine and you worry all the time about infections,' he says. 'Many of the men affected don't like to complain about their situation and just put up with feeling miserable while waiting for surgery they're powerless and suffering in silence.' Richard Hindley, a consultant urologist at Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, says NHS data shows that most men wait an average of 160 days five to six months for this type of surgery from when they turn up in agony at A&E and have a catheter installed. Before the Covid pandemic, he says, the average was 90 days. 'A lot of these men are remarkably stoical about it,' Mr Hindley told Good Health. 'It's not prostate cancer, so they sort of battle on through it having a thoroughly miserable time. 'But some of them are only in their 50s yet sex is out of the question. It has a huge impact on their psychological wellbeing.' Mr Hindley and other concerned colleagues recently published a report in the journal Trends in Urology and Men's Health highlighting the problem, and calling for bladder obstruction surgery to be upgraded to priority level 2 under the system for ranking NHS procedures. It means they should be completed within a month of doctors ruling surgery is needed. Bladder obstruction in most parts of the country is at priority level 3 i.e. the target is three months. In reality, experts warn, even the current goal is rarely achieved. The report adds that catheter-related infections currently cost the NHS more than 54 m a year to treat. Adding to the problem, it says long-term use causes the bladder to shrink, through lack of use of the muscles, by more than a third within the first year. Men are then left needing to urinate a lot more often as their bladder holds less. 'When a man has a catheter, the bladder is just sitting there empty most of the time and so loses its elasticity,' says Mr Hindley. Delaying surgery may also result in poorer outcomes, according to a new study in the Journal of Urology by doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in the U.S.. They tracked more than 17,000 men aged over 40 who had surgery for bladder obstruction caused by BPH: the surgical failure rate where the operation did not sufficiently ease the blockage was almost twice as high (33 per cent) in men who had catheters for longer than six months compared with men who didn't need one or used one only briefly (17 per cent). Professor Kirby says: 'There are 7.6 million people awaiting surgery on the NHS and obviously priority goes to cancers that cannot be left too long or life is endangered. But catheters can be life-threatening if they cause infections that lead to sepsis and they also have a massive impact on quality of life.' Arnie used life savings to pay to have his prostate surgery done privately (for around 10,000) in July this year. 'I was very lucky that I could afford to go private but I fear many men will have no choice but to bear with it,' he says. 'I still have lingering problems because the muscles that control my bladder wasted away during the months it was in. But everything is so much better I'll never forget the pain of having a full bladder and not being able to go.' HOME REMEDIES - DIY treatments that really work This week: Stretch your foot to ease plantar fasciitis The painful condition is caused by inflammation to the plantar fascia the thick tendon at the heel base that acts as a shock absorber from walking or standing for long periods. A 2003 study by the University of Rochester in the U.S., published in the journal Bone and Joint Surgery, showed a simple stretch reduced pain even in those who'd had the condition for as long as ten months and, in a two-year follow-up, 92 per cent of people were still pain-free. The painful condition is caused by inflammation to the plantar fascia the thick tendon at the heel base that acts as a shock absorber from walking or standing for long periods (stock image) Put your painful foot on the opposite knee. Using the hand on the affected side, hold the foot and pull the toes back toward your shin. Hold for ten seconds, repeat ten times. 'You cannot perform this stretch too often,' says Tariq Khan, a consultant podiatrist at University College Hospitals London. 'But the most important times are first thing in the morning and after a prolonged period of sitting. DID YOU KNOW? People with dementia are still able to learn new things despite their illness, according to a study by Linkoping University in Sweden. Ten dementia patients were given tablet computers for the first time in their lives and told to use them as they wished. They gradually learned to operate them independently and chose activities based on their interests and by collaborating with other patients. The lead researcher Elias Ingebrand said this debunks commonly held beliefs about dementia and results are valid for other forms of learning, which should be actively encouraged for those with the condition. Heathrow shrugged off August bank holiday flight chaos as passenger numbers surged on the same time last year. The UK's biggest airport revealed that 7.5million passengers used its services in the month of August. This is slightly lower than the 7.6million figure in July but a 25 per cent increase on the 6 million figure in August 2022. The UK's biggest airport revealed that 7.5 million passengers used its services in the month of August In a statement, the airport, said: 'Passenger satisfaction was higher than pre-pandemic, reflecting the investment the airport, airlines and their ground handlers have made in recruiting and training over 25,000 new colleagues in the last two years. 'This extra resilience meant that while flights at Heathrow were impacted by the UK-wide air traffic restrictions in August, operations quickly returned to normal. At the end of August, Britain was plunged into getaway chaos as many attempted to beat the rush of the bank holiday weekend. The country endured its busiest day for flight departures in four years, hour-long queues at the Port of Dover and major delays on the M25. Prior to the weekend, passengers flying from the South East to mainland Europe also suffered cancellation and delays, owing to poor weather and industrial action on the continent. On the Monday, a collapse of the UKs air traffic control system left many stranded and unable to return to Britain. Heathrow added: 'Security wait times averaged only 1.5 minutes in August. Passengers used the extra time in the airport to stock up on food as Pret A Manger sold nearly 1m sandwiches this summer. Others indulged in retail therapy to get 'beach ready', with a pair of sunglasses sold every two minutes. 'Passengers and the UK's supply chain have a growing list of destinations to choose from. With travel restrictions lifted, Heathrow now has more flights to more destinations in China than any other European hub. LATAM has confirmed the UK's only direct service to Peru will take off from Heathrow on 1 December.' Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said: 'I am very proud of the way colleagues across team Heathrow made sure that passengers had a super start to their summer holidays, with record levels of passenger satisfaction and average security queue times of less than two minutes - Heathrow is back to its best.' Last week, Britain's competition body conditionally backed the aviation regulator's controversial rules over Heathrow Airport's airline charging structure. The Competition and Markets Authority said the Civil Aviation Authority was 'not wrong in most' of the decisions that were the subject of appeals by Heathrow and the airlines British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. But the CMA sided with the airlines on 'one small element' relating to the potential impact of 'exceptional events' on passenger volumes and a 'relatively minor aspect' of the CAA's cost of debt calculation. RBS has been named and shamed as the bank that has closed the most of its branches after axing hundreds of High Street sites over the last eight years. The bank, which is owned by NatWest and was bailed out by the taxpayer during the last financial crisis, has shuttered more than 80 per cent of its locations since 2015. It is the worst offender of the major High Street banks, having closed the biggest portion of its branch network, the Daily Mail can reveal. RBS has shut 451 branches since 2015 and is preparing to close two more this year, which will leave just 104 sites still open. Banks have argued that shutting branches is necessary as most customers now prefer to manage their finances online. Vanishing: RBS, which is owned by NatWest and was bailed out by the taxpayer during the last financial crisis, has closed more than 80% of its locations since 2015 But campaigners said mass closures risk cutting off the elderly, who prefer to use face-to-face services. Charity Independent Age said some older customers do not have access to the internet either due to a lack of confidence or due to the cost and many are afraid of being scammed online. The charitys director John Palmer said: Its very concerning that so many older people are potentially being left without access to a bank branch. Banks must make sure that branch closures do not cut those in later life off from accessing their finances. Figures from consumer group Which? show The Co-operative Bank has shut 77.3 per cent of its network by closing 170 sites over the last eight years. There are just 50 branches remaining. Barclays has shut 74.4 per cent of its network since 2015, leaving customers with just 314 branches across the country. By the end of 2023 it will have closed 1,140 sites more than any other bank. HSBC has also closed a huge portion of its branches and only has 335 sites left. It has abandoned 743 locations since 2015, adding up to 68.3 per cent of its branches. TSB has closed 423 sites accounting for 66.9 per cent of the number it had in 2015 and Virgin Money has shut 277, which is 64.7 per cent of its network. NatWest, which owns RBS, has closed 61.8 per cent of its locations. The bank, which was rocked by the Nigel Farage debanking scandal this summer, will have shut 838 sites by the end of 2023. Between them, NatWest and RBS have closed 1,291 branches since 2015. NatWest did not respond to a request for comment. Lloyds customers will have lost access to 736 branches by the end of the year, totalling 52.5 per cent of its network. Lloyds Banking Group also owns Bank of Scotland and Halifax, which have lost 45.4 per cent and 26.7 per cent of their networks respectively. Santander has closed 477 sites more than half of its branches at 51.8 per cent and has 444 remaining. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: Another week and another set of figures which clearly illustrates the rapid decline in bank branches countrywide. The continued stream of bank closures over the last few years has been a serious blow for millions of older people. Banks said they are adapting to changing customer behaviour and try to provide some in-person services, including pop-up sites and banking hubs, when a permanent site closes. A spokesman for UK Finance, which represents the banking sector, said: A decision to close a branch is never taken lightly and only after an extensive review of how much it is being used and the other options in the local area. Shares in AstraZeneca fell after the Mail on Sunday revealed boss Pascal Soriot is planning to leave the company. The newspaper said the 64-year-old has told friends and advisers that he is looking to depart as soon as next year, having been in charge for more than a decade. However, he has not yet spoken with the companys board or its chairman about his plans, the report said. With traders back at their desks yesterday for the first time since the report was published, shares in the drugs giant fell 3.2 per cent, or 344p, to 10,502p. Soriot has had one of the most successful careers in British corporate history, spearheading the development of the first Covid-19 vaccine and fending off a takeover bid from US rival Pfizer. Successful tenure: AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot is reportedly looking to step down as soon as next year, having been in charge for more than a decade AstraZeneca is valued at over 160billion as it vies with Shell (up 0.3 per cent, or 7.5p, to 2510p) for the title of biggest FTSE 100 company. An AstraZeneca spokesman said: We do not comment on market rumours. We have regulatory obligations and were there any truth in a rumour that could significantly impact our share price we would make an announcement. The FTSE 100 rose 0.3 per cent, or 18.68 points, to 7496.87 and the FTSE 250 added 0.3 per cent, or 59.25 points, to 18,522.44. Shares in Wandisco fell after admitting it suffered months of trauma following an accounting scandal. The software group which is changing its name to Cirata next month as part of a plan to distance itself from the dark days of March 2023 discovered potentially fraudulent irregularities in March regarding orders, revenue and bookings by a senior sales employee. Revenue fell to 2.4million in the first six months of 2023 from 4.6million during the same period of 2022. The cash pile plunged from 15.2million at the end of December last year to just 2.6million on June 30. Stock Watch - Barkby Group Shares in Barkby Group rocketed after it confirmed reports it could sell its business which develops sound technology to improve sleeping patterns. The AIM-listed firm said it is exploring options to maximise shareholder value from Cambridge Sleep Sciences (CSS). It could be worth around 50million, Sky News reported. Barkby has appointed advisers to pursue strategic review of its investment in CSS. Shares soared 163.3 per cent, or 4.9p, to 7.9p. Wandisco insisted it is in a transitional year and still expects to deliver bookings of between 5.7million and 7million for the whole of 2023. It added it should end the year with around 13million to 13.2million of cash. Shares slid 7.9 per cent, or 5.2p, to 61p. Miners surged as hopes of a recovery in Chinas economy following challenges in its property sector boosted metal prices. Fresnillo gained 4.6 per cent, or 25.6p, to 580p, Glencore rose 2.2 per cent, or 9.35p, to 435.35p, Anglo American added 2.4 per cent, or 48.5p, to 2071.5p, Antofagasta ascended 2.9 per cent, or 43p, to 1509.5p and Rio Tinto lost 3.4 per cent, or 166.5p, to 5001p. A positive update from GSK also helped to lift the blue-chip index. The pharmaceuticals giants submission for its drug to treat patients with a rare blood cancer that contributes to anaemia was accepted for review by the Japanese regulator. Shares rose 1.7 per cent, or 24.6p, to 1468.8p. But Melrose endured a second session of losses as the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) downgraded its rating on the stock to sector perform from outperform. It said this was justified given the aerospace business is valued in line with peers. Shares fell 5 per cent, or 25.3p, to 485.5p. There was better news for insurers L&G and Aviva after brokers at Deutsche Bank Research upgraded their target prices. Shares in L&G rose 1.6 per cent, or 3.4p, to 220p and Aviva added 1.5 per cent, or 5.7p, to 374.9p. Investors in Sportech dumped shares as the betting firm proposed cancelling its AIM listing. It cited the significant burdens with being a publicly traded company and estimated that its business costs will fall by around 450,000 a year. At least three-quarters of shareholders must vote in favour of taking the company off the stock market at its upcoming general meeting. Shares tumbled 35.6 per cent, or 34.5p, to 62.4p. After taking the fashion world by storm, she reflected on her difficult journey Natalie Dennis is one of the UK's fastest growing luxury handbag brand owners, but her success hasn't all been plain sailing. The 47-year-old battled extreme dyslexia for all of her childhood, and couldn't even read the alphabet. She left her school in Bratton Fleming, Devon with just one GCSE in art and was finally diagnosed at the age of 18. Against all odds, Natalie became a leading designer available in Harrods, fighting off job offers the likes of Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, Burberry and Gucci. After taking the fashion world by storm and working for the million-pound business, Natalie has reflected on her difficult journey to get there. Natalie Dennis is one of the UK's fastest growing luxury handbag brand owners, but her success hasn't all been plain sailing The 47-year-old battled extreme dyslexia for all of her childhood, and couldn't even read the alphabet. She left school with just one GCSE but didn't let that slow her down She said: 'It was in primary school when I started to realise I was different. 'I couldn't read the alphabet and I would get a ruler across my hand. I started to fall behind quite quickly in my learning and couldn't really make sense of any of it.' 'I knew dyslexia was a thing, but in rural places like that, it just wasn't something that was even talked about.' Natalie spent most of her school life in the bottom set, and left with just one GCSE, an A in art. She said: 'I hope these days there is much more support for young children like me and by the time I got to university, I had a scribe for my exams which helped immensely.' Despite her academic battles, Natalie's creative flare was always alive and she began designing at just three years old. She said: 'I started designing handbags at only three or four years old when I would make clothes and little handbags for my Barbie dolls. 'I would go to my friends' houses who would have lots more toys than me, because we didn't have much money, and I would play with all their toys and dolls and then come home and recreate them all. 'I would make these little bags out of cardboard, paper, and scraps of fabric. I would also make little mini patterns myself. 'I didn't realise then, but now looking back, that is where my pattern skills came in to be able to make handbags.' Natalie had a flair for creativity from a young age and began designing bags out of anything she could get her hands on at just three years old Natalie says her handbags (pictured) are inspired by her love of the outdoors and describes her style as 'timeless' With just one GCSE, Natalie found it challenging to get into university and had to spend three years at North Devon College studying for a National Diploma in all different areas of art. Natalie thrived in her field, going on to study for a Higher National Diploma in Fashion clothing at Maidenhead College, which is now part of Reading University. At the end of the course, she won first place in a competition by designer Wayne Hemingway, who urged her to apply for the London fashion school Cordwainers. It was there that she met fashion designer and lecturer, Darla Jane Gilroy, who managed to help get Natalie's dyslexia diagnosed properly at the age of 18. Successfully achieving a 2.1, Natalie surprised her tutors by using an unusual revision technique. She revealed: 'I managed to overcome my dyslexia challenges by being creative. I got people to do stuff for me, I recorded all my lessons and lectures. One of my lecturers knew it was pointless me going to lessons as I couldn't write to take down notes. 'The night before the exam, I had a whole term of lessons that I didn't attend. She gave me a recording and I played it through the night. I got up the next day and I got the second highest score ever in the test without attending any of the classes.' Natalie now sells her designer handbags to millionaire customers at Harrods in London Despite being sought over by big name brands from Gucci to Burberry, Natalie has invested in her own brand and wants to put sustainability at the heart of her business My last college project was for a company called Tula which was one of the largest in Europe for handbags at the time, and I also helped them develop Radley's first range. 'At the end of the course I was offered a position with Alexander McQueen, which my university turned down.' Natalie went from strength to strength outside of fashion school, she quickly became head of design at Dollargrand and had to repeatedly turn down job offers from world-renowned design brands. She revealed: 'I had people like Gucci, Burberry and Mulberry ringing me up daily to ask for an interview, but I turned them all down because one day I wanted to have my own luxury brand, but I knew if I worked for someone else, I would give all my own style away, so I refused.' Natalie first began selling her own homemade handbags at London's Portobello Market, and within 12 months she was pushing thousands of units a month for big name brands such as Ted Baker, Faith, Country Casuals and Austin Reed. But despite money pouring in, Natalie wasn't fulfilled, she said: 'I got fed up with that. Although I was making lots of money, I realised it wasn't really about design, it was about taking trends, looking at the market, and then feeding into each of those brands. 'I wanted to make timeless designs that people wanted to purchase for the aesthetics and because it makes them feel good, instead of merely keeping up with fast fashion trends.' After watching the market trends change within the industry, Natalie saw an opening for smaller, bespoke, unknown brands and took the plunge in 2018, investing time into her own brand. She said: 'It was time for me to start thinking about what I was going to do and how I was going to eventually unfold my story, that I where we are now, we started just before lockdown. In 2018 I travelled around the world looking at manufacturing in Portugal, Spain, China, and everywhere. I went to over 100 factories.' 'My handbags, based on curves and timelessness, are driven by my love for the outdoors. 'I spent a lot of time by the sea, the waves and patterns on the shore massively influence me. I found 3D structures within nature fascinating My facilitation with the curve I didn't know at the time had a name. The Golden Ratio.' But with her international footprint growing fast Natalie, who puts sustainability at the heart of her business, has even bigger plans. She said:' We are now currently in the middle of designing a prototype which will be recycled leather, and we are going to do a vegan leather to come out in the next six months.' A general view of the MINI plant in Oxford, the United Kingdom, Monday, when the BMW Group held a press conference on investment for the MINI production in the U.K. / Reuters-Yonhap BMW has announced plans to build its next-generation electric Mini in the city of Oxford after securing a British government funding package. The German-headquartered manufacturer's multimillion-pound investment to transform its existing plant will secure 4,000 high-quality jobs, according to ministers. Government sources declined to set out the level of taxpayer support being offered to BMW, but did not dispute the previously reported figure of 75 million ($94 million). Rishi Sunak said the government was securing jobs and growing the economy "by backing our car manufacturing industry." "BMW's investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build cars of the future," the prime minister added. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who was given a tour of the Mini factory, was asked how much taxpayer money was being spent to secure the investment from BMW. She told BBC Radio 4's "Today" program: "All I can tell you is what we put in the automotive transformation fund, and that's money that goes to many different companies across the sector, not just one. We put in 350 million in 2021. "We do have to do some investment ourselves as government, that is standard, and we're competing against countries from all around the world as well as the EU and we are winning. We're not doing anything out of the ordinary." Production of two new electric Mini models will begin in Oxford in 2026. Markus Gruneisl, CEO of BMW (U.K.) Manufacturing and CEO of Swindon Pressings, speaks at a press conference on the BMW Group's investment for the MINI production in the U.K., at the MINI plant in Oxford, Britain, Monday. Reuters-Yonhap The husband of a British mother left with life-altering injuries has relived the moment a hire car smashed into her in a cafe in Fuerteventura. Harriet Moxon, 34, from Middlesex, managed to push her five-year-old daughter Eve out of the way as another Brit tourist veered off the road and into the outdoor terrace, injuring eight people including a four-month-old baby. The family had sat down for a morning coffee and toastie on the Avenida Nuestra Senora del Carmen in the town of Corralejo on August 31 at around 11.30am, after enjoying a holiday in the sun. Harriet's husband Luke had taken their son Ellis, seven, to the bathroom - and witnessed the 'nightmare' horror of watching the oncoming car ploughing into where his family were sat just moments later. Harriet was airlifted to hospital where she underwent three emergency services, before being put on life support and remaining in intensive care for a week. Harriet Moxon, 34, from Middlesex, has been left with life-altering injuries after a car smashed into a cafe in Fuerteventura on August 31 Devoted mother Harriet has been left paraplegic and has undergone three emergency surgeries Brit tourist veered off the road and into the outdoor terrace, injuring eight people including a four-month-old baby She is currently paraplegic and has had her spleen removed as well as surgeries on her spine and kidneys. She could be facing more surgeries in Hospital Insula, where she is staying on Gran Canaria. Her devastated husband Luke told MailOnline he initially thought both Harriet and Eve were dead, as Eve was lying face down on the ground. Luke said: 'You don't think it's ever going to happen to you. Our whole lives have been turned upside down. It was a nightmare. 'I just came out and saw the car wipe them out. I thought they were dead. We can't work out how they survived.' He added that car looked like it was going at 60mph. After he raced over to the scene, Harriet then told him she couldn't feel her legs. Eve spent three days in hospital but miraculously escaped without any bumps or bruises. Harriet's twin sister, mother-of-two Charlotte Ridgeon, heard what had happened at 5pm on the Thursday evening, and was on the next flight to the Spanish island by 6am the following morning. She said her sister is a nurse who 'loves yoga' and is 'very into sport and her body image' - and has been devastated by what has happened. A picture of the aftermath of the crash shows the car's windscreen smashed and its bonnet dented Charlotte and the family - including husband Luke and children Harley, 15, Heston, 13, Callum, 13, Ellis and Eve - are seeking to raise 55,000 for medical transportation to bring Harriet home Harriet is a nurse who 'loves yoga' and is 'very into sport and her body image' - and has been devastated by what has happened Charlotte said: 'Its horrendous. Words cant explain how horrific it is but she did what any mother would do.' She said that Harriet's mother-in-law owns a property in Fuerteventura and the family go out there to visit three or four times a year. Although they know the area well, the day of the crash was the first time they had visited that particular cafe. Charlotte said her sister has woken up and has managed to tell them more about what happened. She added: 'Shes clearly very emotional and in quite a lot of pain. She's coming to terms with what has happened and is frustrated at the inability to use her legs. 'She just wants to get home as she doesn't speak the language. At the moment she's in foreign country in a beaten up state and wants to be with her parents and family in a familiar environment.' 'She's realistic about her condition, with her experience in healthcare. She's just amazing. She's so strong and astounds me every day. We thought we'd lost her.' 'I'm not doing anything she wouldn't do for me. I came into the world with her and I'm with her all the way.' Harriet's twin sister Charlotte (left, with Harriet on the right) heard about what had happened at 5pm on Friday, and caught the next available fight out. Local media reported that several people were lifted to hospital on Gran Canaria, including the four-month-old baby, while two men, aged 40 and 43, and two women, 18 and 49 suffered serious multiple trauma. The English driver was also taken to hospital. The cause of the crash is still unclear as the Spanish Civil Guard continues to investigate. Charlotte and the family - including husband Luke and children Harley, 15, Heston, 13, Callum, 13, Ellis and Eve - are seeking to raise 55,000 for medical transportation to bring Harriet home. In London Harriet can be taken to a specialised spinal rehab facility, where she will be able to recover with the support of her family in a familiar environment. Doctors have said that the trajectory for spinal shock and injury is 'unclear' and that only time will tell regarding how much Harriet is able to recover. So far, the family have managed to raise over 25,000, with Charlotte saying she has been 'amazed' at the support from well-wishers. Local reports also said previously that the holidaymaker has tested negative for drugs and alcohol, as investigators are said to be looking into the theory that he suffered a health problem at the wheel. A police chief said at the time: 'Two of the seven people the car went into are from the UK.' In London Harriet can be taken to a specialised spinal rehab facility, where she will be able to recover alongside her family Doctors have said that the trajectory for spinal shock and injury is 'unclear' and that only time will tell regarding how much Harriet is able to recover He added that the driver was a 55-year-old British man who was driving a hire car and was on holiday on the island. 'He is still under observation in hospital. 'He was with his partner who is also British and we have spoken to her but I am not at liberty to reveal what she said.' The police chief continued: 'The investigation into the incident is ongoing but there is nothing at this stage pointing to any intention of the part of the driver to hurt anyone and therefore nothing at this stage pointing to any criminal responsibility on his part for what happened. He has not been arrested.' Isai Blanco, mayor of the municipality of La Oliva which Corralejo is part of, added: 'Our thoughts are with the people affected by this tragic incident. 'We are working closely with the relevant authorities to try to clarify what happened and offering our support to the victims and their families at this difficult time.' You can find out more and donate to the GoFundMe here. The family of the hero grandfather who died after he bravely grabbed a snake wrapped around his mate's leg have relived his final tragic moments. Beloved Donny Morrison, 69, was killed when the snake - believed to be an eastern brown - bit him after he grabbed it off his friend at a rural Queensland school celebration. He was with his wife Leanne and daughter Britt at Koumala State School's 100th anniversary on Saturday at a local park 60km south of Mackay, central Queensland. But during the day-long celebration, the snake coiled itself around the ankle of Mr Morrison's 65-year-old friend until he spotted it and Mr Morrison leapt into action. He successfully peeled the snake off and was taking it away when it is understood he was then bitten and collapsed. Locals and paramedics desperately fought in vain for 30 minutes as they tried to save him but he is believed to have had a heart attack and died. Now his family have thanked the local community and revealed how happy Mr Morrison had been at the school celebration before the tragedy struck. A man tragically died while attending Koumala State School's centennial celebrations on Saturday. Pictured are festivities earlier in the day 'We all enjoyed ourselves, especially Donny who was really happy to have caught up with so many old friends,' daughter Megan Kerr said through the school. 'We would like to thank everyone involved with the incident involving Donny. People pulled together in an attempt to resuscitate Don but unfortunately were not successful. The family added: 'Donny was a well liked member of the Koumala community and will be missed by many. 'Thank you to the school and committee that pulled together a wonderful celebration. 'We are sorry that the incident lead to the event being shut down early. 'If you were involved directly in the emergency response please feel free to get in touch. 'Also please seek help if you feel you need to talk through the events that transpired as it was a confronting situation for all.' Medics are still unsure about the exact species of the snake that bit the man but suggests that the symptoms he displayed are indicative of a bite from a brown snake. Brown snakes are deadly due to the potent venom they possess, which can quickly lead to paralysis, severe bleeding, kidney damage, muscle weakness, neurological symptoms, and cardiac effects when injected into a human or animal through a snakebite. One friend wrote: 'Beautiful gentleman and a friend to all who ever had the pleasure to know him. Sincerest condolences to his beautiful wife and family.' Community leaders who attended the festivities earlier in the day have also paid tribute and expressed their condolences. 'This was a complete accident that could never have been predicted or prevented,' Mirani MP Stephen Andrew told the Courier Mail. 'Everyone thought they were going to celebrate a great event, this was completely unexpected.' Two men were bitten by a suspected brown snake (stock image) while attending Koumala State School's centennial celebrations Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May added: 'To end the celebrations of the centenary of the school in that way is such a tragedy.' 'It's been a great shock to the community'. Queensland Ambulance Deputy Commissioner Dr Claire Bertenshaw said bystanders and paramedics did everything they could to save his life. She said it would have been just human nature for him to try to assist his friend. 'You can't really say how you are going to act in those sort of circumstances, and I think everyone would try and rescue the friend that they are with,' she told the Today show. 'The advice would be to try to stay away from the snake, give them as much room as you can, but obviously, this man was entangled with the snake, and his friend became the hero and tried to save him.' 'You would try and find something long to get the snake off with, a big twig, try and shake your leg free, try to get away from the snake without getting other people involved.' 'But, you know, you are always going to jump into action. Adrenaline takes over and you try and save who you are with.' The man's friend, aged in his 60s who was also bitten was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition and has since discharged. 'I think he is at home, so that is a really good outcome,' Dr Bertenshaw said. She urged Aussies to be snake aware and warned this season could be worse than usual due to a warmer-than-normal winter. 'That means if you see a snake, staying away from it and if you are going bushwalking or into a snake's territory, you need to take some protective equipment with you,' Dr Bertenshaw said. 'Wear protective boot, long pants and take a bandage, so if you bitten you can apply a pressure immobilisation bandage to yourself or people you are with' Aussies are also urged to be on the lookout inside their home as snakes like cold tiles. 'You will find snakes in places where you don't always expect them. So I think you should probably always be snake aware in Australia,' Dr Bertenshaw said. Associates of retired Dr. Scott Anthony Burke were banned from de-boarding onto the mainland of Nantucket after the former spine doctor and his pals were busted with 'guns, drugs and prostitutes' on his luxury yacht. Burke posted a $200,000 bail after pleading not guilty to drug and weapons-trafficking charges in an arraignment at Plymouth District Court. Locals of the tiny Massachusetts island say drugs and sex are an expected element of the stays of some rich-and-famous visitors, but the weapons charges were a step too far for the island's residents. One marina worker told the New York Post that someone from Burke's boat 'tried to get sandwiches or something from the island.' 'They tried to come to the marina, and we told them to leave,' the anonymous worker said. Scott Anthony Burke, 69, was released on a $200,000 last week. He is pictured here in Plymouth District Court The retired doctor was busted last week aboard his luxury yacht in Nantucket harbor with drugs, sex workers and guns One local said the drug charges, and even the sex workers found aboard the boat weren't necessarily out of the ordinary for the island: 'Everybody does that. He got busted, that's it,' the 61-year-old told the post. 'The guns [are] a completely different ballgame,' the source added. Burke, 69, a married father of two, retired in 2021 after running a successful spine and rehabilitation clinic in Colorado for years. He now primarily resides in the exclusive Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. The retired doctor was busted aboard the luxury yacht early last Tuesday morning. On Sunday, Nantucket deputies said he had been spring loose after posting his $200,00 bail. In Massachusetts, bail must be paid in full. Burke posted bail at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility one day following his arrest on the 82-foot Jess Conn yacht. Local dock workers and fishermen said they have since seen people chilling out onboard the doctor's yacht, which has remained anchored in the Nantucket harbor since Tuesday. It is not clear whether Burke is among them or if he has left the island. 'There are people on the boat, but I dont know who they are,' said an angler over the weekend. 'Yesterday, I saw two males They were just sitting in the back with hats and glasses on. Just two people sitting in the shadows.' The Coast Guard and Nantucket Police launched a probe after a woman was taken from the vessel, called the Jess Conn, after a 'wellness check' Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com appear to show Dr. Scott Burke (right) spending the holiday season with his wife Ellen, 65, and two children Jessica and Connor on a similar boat in 2017 - also called the Jess Conn Burke and his crew were busted Tuesday morning after police were alerted to a woman on the boat in need of medical assistance after experiencing a possible overdose onboard. Responding emergency workers transported the woman to a nearby hospital and promptly discovered some 14 grams of ketamine, 43 grams of cocaine, a loaded 9mm pistol, a .380 pistol and 30-round magazines on board. The floor of the boat's bedroom was also allegedly littered with loose ammunition, according to the official police report. After police cuffed him, Burke allegedly confessed to owning the guns, and he told the officers where other weapons aboard the vessel were stores. In their report, law enforcement officers wrote: 'Scott Burke does not possess a valid [license to carry] or [firearm identification] card.' As a result of the arrest, Burke was charged with one count of trafficking a Class B drug, one count of possession to distribute a Class A drug, one count of possession of ammunition without a license and four counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device. Law enforcement sources told the Nantucket Current that sex workers were discovered aboard the boat during the raid. The doctor, who also owns a $2.3million mansion in Englewood, Colorado, appears to have named the vessel after his children. The Jess Conn arrived in Nantucket Harbor on August 23 after a voyage from Newport, Rhode Island. Law enforcement sources confirmed that other contraband was found alongside the guns, drugs and prostitutes, but did not go into further details The retired doctor, who set up a medical insurance company where both his children work, appears to have previously owned several other crafts. Pictured: Scott Burke (right) Law enforcement sources confirmed that other contraband was found alongside the guns, drugs and prostitutes, but did not go into further details. The luxury yacht was designed by Jeff Leishman, and boasts four decks of over 24 meters each. It has three large guest cabins, an owner's cabin, a laundry room, as well as a main saloon and formal dining room. The yacht also has a hot tub on board, and can house up to eight guests as well as accommodation for two crew members. Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has slumped to new lows, with every state except Tasmania poised to vote 'No', while Anthony Albanese's personal rating plummets. The most recent Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in the Nine newspapers on Monday, showed 43 per cent of voters supported a plan to enshrine an Indigenous Voice into the constitution, down 20 percentage points from a year ago. In the past month, the percentage of voters who are certain about voting 'No' has risen from 33 per cent to 37 per cent, whereas the percentage of those who say they will probably vote 'No' remains unchanged at 12 per cent. The poll had 16 per cent of voters undecided. The percentage of Australians in favour of the referendum has dropped for the fifth month in a row. It's also the third month in the row that the 'No' vote has been ahead. Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has fallen along with support for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) in the latest poll Since the last survey Victoria has flipped to a majority 'No' state, leaving Tasmania the only jurisdiction left in the 'Yes' camp. For the voice to succeed, the 'Yes' campaign will require more than 50 per cent of the vote across the nation and in four of the six states. Mr Albanese and Labor have also taken a hit in the poll with the Prime Minister dropping to minus 7 per cent in net performance. However, he is still far ahead as preferred Prime Minister compared to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. About 43 per cent of voters chose Mr Albanese as preferred Prime Minister, while 28 per cent backed Mr Dutton. Meanwhile, about 29 per cent were undecided. This represents a slight narrowing of the gap compared to the previous poll, which had Mr Albanese at 46 percent and Mr Dutton at 25 percent. Resolve director Jim Reed claimed the results showed support for the No campaign was 'still growing' and that the recent ad campaign featuring John Farnham's iconic song 'You're the Voice' did little for the Yes camp. 'The more people engage in the debate, and the more they consider the proposal, the more they are put off,' he said. 'The comments we collect from respondents are becoming more exasperated and frustrated in their tone as the campaign wears on. Many people seem impatient for this to be over, especially those who see it as a diversion or divisive.' Tasmania is now the only state where the Yes vote is ahead, with voters in every other state preferencing the No camp (pictured, Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney (centre) at a Yes23 event on the Gold Coast) Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said there were still many undecided voters who could be convinced when she was asked about the results of the poll. 'We're going to ask them to vote Yes because this acknowledges 65,000 years of Australian history,' she told Seven's Sunrise on Monday. 'This idea came from Aboriginal people, well over 80 per cent of them support it. This is not a committee that has a veto over parliament. It doesn't stop things happening. 'It is a committee to give advice, it really is a lot less scary than some of the No campaign are making it out to be.' However, critics of the referendum including Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce claim the Voice lacks transparency. 'It will fundamentally change how this nation works and that is why people are moving away from it,' he said. The Resolve Political Monitor surveyed 1604 eligible voters. The Voice referendum will be held on October 14. Mr Dutton has pledged to hold a second referendum if the upcoming vote fails, and should the Coalition be returned to power. King Charles III 's highly symbolic state visit to Kenya continued today with the monarch visiting a monument celebrating the African nation's independence from Britain in 1963. His Majesty also laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Uhuru Gardens outside Nairobi on a trip dominated by Kenya's colonial past. Charles, who has been accompanied on the trip by Queen Camilla, then walked to the Mugomo Tree, a fig tree planted on the site of the declaration of Kenya's independence in 1963. It was planted in the exact spot where the Union Flag was brought down and the first Kenyan flag was raised. It is viewed as modern Kenya's birthplace and is close to a 78ft column topped by a set of hands holding a dove of peace that celebrates the country's independence and the inauguration of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president. The first full day of the five-day visit will end with a state banquet held in the King and Queen's honour where Charles will give a speech to guests who will include prominent Kenyans and figures from the UK. Britain's monarch is expected to acknowledge the 'more painful' aspects of Britain's colonial relationship with Kenya - including atrocities and the execution of 1,000-plus people perpetuated during the Mau Mau rebellion - when he gives a return toast at the banquet. But Charles is unable to offer an official apology, despite calls by activists who also want Britain to pay further damages over human rights abuses dating back to the 1950s. This is because he is visiting at the request of the British Government , which, while having already paid out nearly 20million in compensation, has not apologised. This is the shocking moment a driver ploughed a large Army truck through a police roadblock near a Royal Marines base in Somerset. Footage from the incident shows the 41-year-old driver smash into the block, knocking a police vehicle out of its way. He then hits a parked car and a signpost before the video ends. The man then drove to the A361 M5 overbridge where he left the vehicle and climbed over the railings - leading the motorway to be closed in both directions. He was arrested 25 minutes later and he currently remains in police custody. Police have confirmed that no one was harmed during the incident. Footage from the incident shows the 41-year-old driver smash into the block, knocking a police vehicle out of its way. He then hits a parked car and a signpost before the video ends The man then drove to the A361 M5 overbridge where he left the vehicle and climbed over the railings - leading the motorway to be closed in both directions. He was arrested 25 minutes later and he currently remains in police custody Avon and Somerset police said officers were sent to an address in Norton Fitzwarren, near Taunton, around 4.40pm yesterday following a report that a man was making threats to a person living there and had caused damage to the property. When officers arrived, the man, 41, left the address in a large military truck. Police said he then drove the vehicle into two police cars blocking the road, causing them extensive damage. 'Thankfully, no police officers or members of the public were hurt in the incident,' a police spokesman said. One local, speaking to the Somerset Country Gazette, described the incident as an 'army truck on rampage', adding that their 'thoughts [were] going out to those in Taunton'. Other community members alleged that officers instructed them to stay in their homes while the incident unfolded. On a hot summer's day, the postcard-perfect high street of Lyndhurst is heaving with tourists. Families tuck into cakes and ice cream and shop for souvenirs after a day out in the nearby New Forest National Park. Buried in the graveyard of the gothic Victorian St Michael And All Angels church are the ashes of Alice Liddell the inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. But it's not as bucolic as it looks. In June, it was revealed Lyndhurst, along with Minstead, a village two miles north, had the most unsolved burglaries in the UK, with 84 still unresolved. No burglaries have been solved in three years. To many, it seems the local Hampshire Constabulary has all but given up. As a result, shopkeepers and residents in this quaint village have become vigilantes. Instead of calling the police, they've set up Facebook and WhatsApp groups to catch Lyndhurst's bad guys. One group member is Janine Stone, owner of Lyndhurst Antiques Centre. On a busy Saturday morning, two of her colourful Moorcroft charger plates together worth 750 went missing. In June, it was revealed Lyndhurst, along with Minstead, a village two miles north, had the most unsolved burglaries in the UK (Pictured: The Stag Hotel in Lyndhurst Village) Janine, 52, immediately made a police report complete with CCTV images of the suspects. All she received was an automated email saying, sorry, there was nothing they could do. So she posted the details on Facebook. It had soon been shared 344 times viral for a place like Lyndhurst. Days later, the shoplifter returned the items. 'It was the pressure that got to her,' Janine says. 'Her friend saw the photo and told her that her image was all over social media, and said she should do the right thing.' Her shop is celebrating its 25th anniversary next month, and Janine's been in charge, with her partner Jason, for the past eight years. 'We've only had four thefts since we've run the shop. But we still need the police,' she insists. 'It would be nice to have a visit from an officer, rather than an automated email response.' Aaron Page, 41, of Pages of Lyndhurst, agrees. He's one of the 20 high street WhatsApp warriors. On the group chat, they share information ranging from customers behaving suspiciously to people using counterfeit notes. 'I'm not anti-police. But it feels like they've just left us,' says Aaron. The store sells local produce such as honey and wine, as well as flavoured coffee beans and confectionery. Janine, 52, owner of Lyndhurst Antiques Centre, made a police report after two of her Moorcroft charger plates went missing, but was told that there was nothing police could do He shows me a CCTV image of a man in a hi-viz jacket who recently tried to steal a 29 bottle of whisky from his shop. 'I put my hands on his rucksack to stop him. He just handed back the bottle. Then he went into the Co-op, where he bought a bottle. Then he went into a public toilet to drink it all. So brazen.' Some are more unlikely suspects. 'I had an elderly lady in here once, who stole a Ford Mustang car model. She walked out with it and I went after her,' Aaron says. 'I put a hand on her shoulder and said, 'Excuse me madam, I know you've got the car!' I was polite to her; she just gave it back to me.' Last Monday, policing minister Chris Philp said all reports of shoplifting should be investigated, (the usual threshold for police to get involved is if the goods are worth over 200). But business owners are desperate for the return of bobbies on the beat. 'That will be the biggest deterrent,' insists Aaron. Brett Wateridge, 47, has been burgled several times over the years for his fencing tools Yet Hilary Brand, Lib Dem councillor for Lyndhurst and Minstead, and owner of Lyndhurst Tea House says shoplifting is not the worst of the village's troubles. The bigger problem, she says, is in the more rural parts, where professional gangs target sheds or outbuildings set away from houses. That's the case in Emery Down, a chocolate-box village just over a mile away. Brett Wateridge, 47, lives there with wife Jo and their children. Burglars have blighted his life for 20 years. 'In the past you would get a visit from the police who would show some interest. Seems less so now,' he says. 'They give you a crime reference number so you can claim on your insurance.' Brett is a fencing contractor and keeps tools in sheds behind their bungalow. Two weeks ago, burglars stole 400 of equipment and his son's mountain bike. Giovanni Parma runs Paws in the Forest toy shop in Lyndhurst which, along with Minstead, had the most unsolved burglaries in the UK 'I haven't bothered reporting it,' says Brett. 'You wonder how many other crimes are not reported. 'I've got friends who have installed CCTV cameras apparently even that's not enough evidence to prosecute anyone.' A year or so ago, Brett's family had a more frightening experience. 'My daughter, who was 18, heard burglars in the middle of the night trying to smash the shed door. 'A guy was waiting in the van, shouting at the other to hurry up. We got the registration number. 'The police said the van had been stolen from Salisbury. Still, they had no luck catching them.' Sophie Draper runs the Sofikas clothes shop in Lyndhurst village, which had 84 outstanding burglaries on the book, forcing her to resort to vigilante WhatsApp or Facebook groups Brett has now installed an alarm and everything is locked away. 'My daughter doesn't sleep well now, she's anxious someone might break into the house,' he says. Brett's neighbour, 57-year-old commercial properly landlord Adrian Stride, moved to the area three years ago with his wife and their children into a Grade II-listed former schoolhouse. Two months ago, burglars smashed their way into their garage at 3am. They didn't touch the Ferrari and Porsche in there, but took two bikes worth 12,000. To add insult to injury, they dragged the bikes along the Porsche, damaging the paintwork. 'No need for that it felt vindictive! I didn't catch them in the act. Otherwise. Well, we would have had words!' he says grimly. Like the shop owners, Brett has also resorted to sharing posts about the crimes on WhatsApp groups. 'It doesn't solve the problem but it's something,' he says. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has insisted forces have the manpower to investigate all crimes His neighbour Peter Power, a former Met superintendent, is more pessimistic. 'Once you get citizens forming vigilante groups, because they've lost faith in the police, the cornerstone of our democracy is being eroded,' he says. 'Dwindling police numbers need looking at, and it's happening all over the country.' Home Office figures reveal that 2.3 million cases nationally were dropped without a suspect being found last year; just 5.7 per cent of crimes were solved last year. In the year to March, only 4.4 per cent of all thefts resulted in someone being charged. In the past fortnight, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has insisted forces have the manpower to investigate all crimes. And last year a pledge to attend every home burglary was announced. However, government funding for policing has been cut by 20 per cent in real terms since 2010, resulting in 600 out of 900 police stations closing in England and Wales. There is a station in Lyndhurst, but Hampshire Constabulary say it is a 'neighbourhood police office which is not open to the public and does not offer front counter services'. Lyndhurst Parish Council told the Mail it wants to discuss crime in the village with Hampshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, and is working with the New Forest District Council to expand the CCTV network. It seems the crime wave has brought people together. Hopefully, with such a display of unity, anyone looking to steal from Lyndhurst's resilient residents might think again. A series of bizarre social media posts made by the accused Bourke Street killer have come to light, including one where he claimed: 'I am not mad'. Zain Khan, 26, allegedly drove his mother's white Toyota Aurion down through Melbourne's CBD, ploughing into bystanders before colliding with two other vehicles at about 6.20pm on Friday. Among the alleged victims was a 76-year-old man from Brunswick, who died when Khan's car collided with his Hyundai at the intersection of Bourke and Russell Street. Two women remain in hospital with head injuries and broken bones, while another man is recovering with a broken pelvis and a concussion. Now, it has emerged that Khan, an ex-barber, made a series of strange Facebook posts including one where he shared a link to a 'soul touching Quran recitation'. Zain Khan (pictured), 26, allegedly drove his mother's white Toyota Aurion down through Melbourne 's CBD, ploughing into bystanders before colliding with two other vehicles at about 6.20pm on Friday Khan, an ex-barber, made a series of strange Facebook posts including one where he shared a link to a 'soul touching Quran recitation', adding: 'I am not mad. even god says so' Another post said simply: 'Justice will be served' 'I am not mad. even god says so,' Khan captioned the post made in September 2020. Another post made in 2019 said simply: 'Justice will be served'. The accused killer also repeatedly shared his admiration for a notorious US rapper murdered in 2016 while awaiting trial over domestic violence offences. Khan professed his adoration for Jahseh Onfroy, known professionally as XXXTentacion, in one post, adding: 'he had light in his soul. he my only psychologist'. It comes as Khan's mother revealed how her son struggled with mental illness and stopped taking his medication two months before allegedly carrying out the deadly rampage Khan's mother, who did not want to be identified, said her son is a 'nice kid' and 'humble son' who became 'sick'. Khan, 26, was charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life over the Bourke Street chaos that unfolded on Friday 'I don't believe that he would want to hurt people, he wasn't like that,' she told 7News. READ MORE: One person killed and five injured after car mows down crowd Advertisement She said her son had stopped taking his anti-psychotic medication two months ago, although he continued taking other mood stabilisers. 'He was not [a] terrorist, he has got mental health issues,' she said. Khan's family claim he was 'normal' when taking injections for an important medication, but when he stopped them, he wanted to move out. He was employed at a cafe at Melbourne's Sunshine public hospital, approximately 20km west of Bourke Street, and worked the day of the tragedy. But Khan did not complete his shift on Friday and instead left work early. Video of Khan has also emerged online with him sitting in a car intensely staring into the camera lens. Others clips show Khan dancing by himself. After the horror scenes on Friday evening, Khan was filmed bizarrely lying on the windscreen of his mother's car, dressed head to toe in white. Two police officers dragging him off the Toyota, arresting and restraining him, then marched him away from shocked onlookers. Victoria Police alleged Khan accelerated after allegedly mowing down three pedestrians at a tram stop on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Streets. It is understood Khan, from Melton West 40km from Melbourne, was unable to adequately answer questions from police and was taken to hospital. Eerie footage shows Khan, dressed in all-white, sitting on the roof of the Toyota for several minutes before police officers pulled him down and arrested him (pictured) He was released on Saturday evening and faced a late-night court hearing at which he was charged with 10 offences including murder and attempted murder. He also faces three counts of intentionally cause serious injury and two counts of conduct endangering life. Police confirmed Khan is known to have a history of mental illness and have officially ruled out terrorism as a potential motive. He reunited with his adopted mum the following day The moment a young chimp ran into its adopted mother's arms after recovering from a lethal snake bite has warmed the hearts of thousands of Aussies. Three-year-old chimpanzee Gandali was reunited with his surrogate mother, Samantha, at Central Queensland's Rockhampton Zoo last Wednesday. Gandali was attacked by an eastern brown snake the day before. Handlers believe he mistook the venomous snake for a toy. Zookeepers immediately rushed to Gandali's rescue, but protective mum Samantha fought to stay by his side. Once the pair were separated, Gandali was taken to the veterinarian team for antivenom treatment and observed overnight. Three-year-old chimpanzee Gandali (above) was reunited with his adopted mother, Samantha, after being bitten by an eastern brown snake last week Miraculously, the small chimp fully recovered from the dangerous bite and returned to his mum the next morning. Footage of the pair hugging each other after Gandali's treatment was shared online, with viewers commenting, 'they certainly missed each other'. 'That was beautiful to watch,' one person wrote. 'So grateful the vet team saved this little one. Mum looks so happy,' another said. Cr Rutherford said Gandali was re-introduced to each chimpanzee in a separate 'den' before he was freed into the outdoor enclosure. 'Gandali returned to Rockhampton Zoo where he is slowly being reintroduced to the troop. He has already been reunited with his surrogate mother, Samantha, with both of them running into each other's arms, which was beautiful,' Cr Rutherford said. 'This reintegration process will ... allow for the troop dynamic to readjust, which is an important process when a chimp has left the troop and returned, even for a short period of time.' Samantha took on the role of Gandali's adopted mum after his birth mother, Holly, died in December, 2022. The chimp was at Rockhampton Zoo for 11 years before suddenly becoming sick and passing overnight. Little Gandali ran into Samatha's arms and the pair hugged (above) after Gandali was taken overnight for antivenom treatment Samantha took on the role of Gandali's mum after his birth mother, Holly (pictured with Gandali), died in late 2022 Samantha and Gandali already had a special relationship with Samantha caring for him after her own twin chimps were stillborn in 2021. Cr Rutherford thanked the team who helped Gandali's quick recovery. 'I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Rockhampton Zoo team and our local vet team for their swift response and expert care, and also the overwhelming support from our community who had Gandali in their thoughts,' she said. A marketing expert has offered a new catchphrase for the Yes campaign to try and win back voters after the latest poll suggested the Voice referendum will fail. Taco Bell chief marketing officer Andrew Howie warned the Yes campaign needed a slogan to counter the No side's catchy tagline: 'If you don't know, vote No.' The No campaign's simple marketing has led to it having a huge 57-43 lead nationally, with Tasmania the only state left still backing the Yes side. Mr Howie's solution is for the Yes campaign to also simplify its message. 'My campaign slogan is, "If you don't care, just vote yeah!" he wrote on LinkedIn. While he admitted that 'no one has asked for' his advice, his intervention was prompted by having 'quite a few conversations recently with various people who either don't understand or don't care about the Voice referendum.' With the latest poll showing the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum headed for defeat, a marketing guru has a whacky suggestion on how to save the day. Anthony Albanese (second left) is pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon, Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney and Australian Politician and Labor MP Marion Scrymgour during the Garma Festival on August 4 Andrew Howie, the chief marketing officer at Taco Bell, took to LinkedIn (pictured) to say the Yes campaign needs a slogan to counter the No side's 'If you don't know, vote No' 'I try to explain that a successful result is highly unlikely to impact them in any way,' he said. Mr Howie's marketing wisdom was mostly met with support from social media users. 'The Yes campaign could do with some more marketing help to simplify the message,' one wrote, though another poster disagreed that it was a complicated issue. READ MORE: Poll shows support for the referendum has slumped to new lows Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has slumped to new lows, with every state except Tasmania poised to vote 'No', while Anthony Albanese's performance rating plummets. Advertisement 'The constitution is not a detailed document,' they wrote. 'The detail can be determined and altered by the govt of the day through the legislative process. 'It is the idea that matters. The idea is to give the First Nations people a say in matters that affect them. Very simple.' Another contributor said they had 'been saying the same thing,' as Mr Howie. 'It simply doesn't impact white Australia,' they wrote. 'Reading the No argument made me feel so angry at their scaremongering and sinister, suggestive ambiguity.' Another said they loved the idea and that 'You should be writing for Albo,' while one called for idea to get more support by turning it 'into a meme at speed'. There was one naysayer, though, who wrote that 'If they do care, they will vote No everywhere!' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Howie for further comment. The advice came as support for the Voice slumped to new lows, with every state except Tasmania poised to vote 'No', while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's performance rating plummeted. The Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in Nine newspapers on Monday, showed 43 per cent of voters supported a plan to enshrine an Indigenous voice into the constitution, down 20 points from a year ago. Andrew Howie (pictured) admitted that his advice to the Yes campaign was not asked for The No campaign's simple marketing has led to it having a huge 57-43 lead nationally, with Tasmania the only state left still backing the Yes side. Members of the Yolngu people are pictured performing during the Garma Festival on Sunday, August 6, 2023 In the past month, the percentage of voters who are certain about voting No has risen from 33 per cent to 37 per cent, whereas the percentage of those who say they will probably vote No remains unchanged at 12 per cent. The poll has 16 per cent of voters as undecided. The percentage of Australians in favour of the referendum has dropped for the fifth month in a row, and since the last survey Victoria has flipped to a majority 'No' state, leaving Tasmania the only jurisdiction left in the 'Yes' camp. For the voice to succeed, the 'Yes' campaign will require more than 50 per cent of the vote across the nation and in four of the six states. He had been at war with killer George Marrogi EXCLUSIVE The daughter of a gangland killer who was best mates with underworld boss Gavin 'Capable' Preston could hold clues to his bloody public execution. Sabrine Maghnie, 23, is the daughter of slain gangster Nabil 'Mad Lebo' Maghnie, who was a trusted ally of Preston before he was shot dead in a hail of bullets in what remains an unsolved killing. She is also the girlfriend of Jesse Marrogi - the brother of jailed killer George Marrogi - who was at war with Preston before he was gunned down on Saturday. Sabrine reportedly met with Preston between three and four weeks ago, which is of interest to Homicide Squad detectives tasked with solving the case, The Age reported. Her relationship with Jesse has long raised eyebrows in criminal circles due to her own father's well-known hatred for George Marrogi while he was still alive. Sabrine Maghnie, 23, (right) is the girlfriend of Jesse Marrogi (left), who slain gangster Gavin Preston reportedly threatened to rape Gavin Preston (left) pictured with his partner Lauren Howe before he had her name inked on his forehead. He was murdered on Saturday in a hail of bullets George Marrogi and Nabil Maghnie tried to kill each other before Maghnie was shot dead and Marrogi jailed for 32 years over a murder. Jesse Marrogi had reportedly so angered Preston he threatened to not only bash him, but rape him. Those who knew the 50-year-old said such talk was more than a threat from the ruthless thug, who was known to act out such attacks in jail. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Sabrine Maghnie had anything to do with Preston's execution, only that it has been reported she may have met with her father's old friend. Sabrine's father - 'Mad Lebo' Nabil Maghnie had been great mates with her father, but greater enemies with her boyfriend The other side of Gavin 'Capable' Preston On Monday, images obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveal a side to Preston only seen by those close to him. Preston had spent most of his life behind bars and had only been released from jail in April after serving nearly all of an 11-year jail term for shooting two drug dealers, killing one of them. A relaxed Gavin Preston enjoys a game with a young boy in an image he shared to social media before his death Gavin Preston teaches a young boy how to play pool in an image he shared to social media A distraught Lauren Howe outside the cafe where her partner Gavin Preston was murdered on Saturday READ MORE: HOW GAVIN PRESTON MET HIS BLOODY END Second from death: Gavin Preston moments before he was murdered by a gunman in black (left) Gavan Preston was shot dead while enjoying breakfast at Sweet Lulus cafe at the Keilor Village in the city's north-west on Saturday morning. A 40-second clip shows a hooded man in black sprinting towards the cafe's outdoor seating area and firing in Preston's direction. Terrified diners throw themselves to the ground and cover their faces as the notorious criminal slumps in his seat and falls to the ground beside his table. As the gunman runs away, two women check each other for injuries before grabbing their handbags and escaping the cafe. Two men are seen cautiously approaching Preston, who remains motionless beside the table where just seconds earlier he had been eating breakfast. Preston was eating with Abbas Maghnie Jr, known as AJ, the son of crime figure and Preston associate Nabil Maghnie, who was also shot dead in 2020. Advertisement Upon his release, Preston began posting images of himself on Facebook of his new life on the outside. Images showed him cosied up to partner Lauran Howe before and after having her name inked on his forehead. Others showed him having a hit of pool with a young child and enjoying video games on the couch. The tender photos appeared a world away from the violence that had scarred most of his life. While Preston was considered 'capable' of anything, so much so that he recently had the word tattooed on his neck, sources have told Daily Mail Australia he had a caring nature only enjoyed by those he held dearest. A former girlfriend of Preston recalled a story where a young Preston ditched his own tickets to see the 90s hard rock band Skid Row after his date wasn't allowed entry to the venue. 'He was a gentleman. He could have gone in but he stayed with me,' she said. Preston was killed instantly while chatting with Abbas Junior Maghnie over coffee at a Keilor cafe. The son of Nabil and brother of Sabrine remains in hospital after catching one of the 10 bullets fired at Preston. Detectives probe Marrogi crypt theory While the motive behind Preston's murder remains unknown, it is understood detectives are interested to know if he had anything to do with last months attempt to steal the body of Meshilin Marrogi, Georges late sister, from the family crypt at Preston General Cemetery. Meshilin - a beautician - had died tragically from complications related to Covid 19. Her death had cut her jailed brother hard and he was not granted leave to attend her funeral. A young Gavin Preston gave up a Skid Row gig after his date was refused entry The Marrogi clan: Jesse, Meshilin, mum Madlin and George during a brief period when George wasn't in jail in 2016 Sabrine Maghnie's boyfriend Jesse had been threatened by Gavin Preston Gavin Preston had been allied with Nabil Maghnie (pictured) before he was shot dead. Preston had been enjoying breakfast with Nabil's son when he was shot dead on Saturday She had been with Marrogi when he travelled to Highpoint Shopping Centre to check-out the kind of hoodie he wanted to wear while murdering Kadir Ors, who was riddled with bullets in an execution-style hit not dissimilar to Preston. Jesse Marrogi in a rap video filmed outside his family's home While George is currently serving 32 years in jail - all of which he is likely to serve behind bars - he is alleged to still run his vast criminal organisation on the outside. On Monday, his own mother Madlin Enwiya, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court over charges alleging she helped launder money for George. She appeared in court via videolink from Brows By M - a brow stylist business once operated by Meshilin. Her appearance coincided with a Herald Sun report that suggested Preston may have been targeted for helping himself to allegedly stolen trucks from a transport company linked to the Marrogi clan. But those in the know suggest if George copped even a whiff of evidence to convince him Preston was involved in the attempt on his sister's body, his death certificate was signed and sealed. Meshilin Marrogi's grave was desecrated by unknown offenders last month Sabrine Maghnie, who has the words 'Mad Lebo' plastered down her leg, had reportedly met with Gavin Preston For decades, the guiding principle of Britain's dealings with China has been that if we engage with the communist regime it will play with a straight bat. While ministers have occasionally criticised Beijing's appalling human rights record, they have also bent over backwards not to alienate our fifth largest trade partner. Indeed, only two weeks ago Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met Chinese officials, despite repeated intelligence warnings about the threat it posed to Britain's national security. Yet with every passing week, this softly-softly approach is looking increasingly naive. The arrest for alleged spying activities of a parliamentary researcher with links to several senior Tory MPs serves only to strengthen the fear that China views the UK less as a friend than a foe. Which makes it all the more important that Britain urgently reconsiders its invitation to China to attend November's artificial intelligence summit, when governments will agree safety measures governing the ways AI is used. While ministers have occasionally criticised Beijing 's appalling human rights record, they have also bent over backwards not to alienate our fifth largest trade partner (Pictured: Xi Jinping) Organisers have reasoned that involving the Chinese in the decision-making would make them feel duty bound to obey the rules. But the idea that these tyrants will simply conform to any global accord is ridiculous, as they have demonstrated with their ruthless duplicity over Hong Kong. As Edward Lucas points out today, far from regarding AI as a tool to further advances in medical science and education, Beijing will treat it as another opportunity to spy, harass and steal intellectual property. The Government must not treat China like any other country, but as a malign actor hell bent on global domination. When will the penny finally drop? Shamefully silenced Few could fail to have been touched by our heart-breaking interview on Saturday with a 19-year-old girl who is fighting attempts by NHS doctors to withdraw her life-preserving care. A court ruling has forbidden her from putting her name to her story, preventing her from fundraising to join clinical trials in North America. (Stock Photo) Few could fail to have been touched by our heart-breaking interview on Saturday with a 19-year-old girl who is fighting attempts by NHS doctors to withdraw her life-preserving care So it is heartening to see so many powerful voices stepping forward to demand these draconian restrictions be lifted. Health Secretary Steve Barclay should take note of their pleas and help her regain both her name and her voice. At the very least, it would give this brave young woman the opportunity to pursue the most basic human instinct there is to survive. A dangerous liberty For the friends and family of Joanna Simpson there can be no more appalling prospect. Despite bludgeoning her to death, her husband Robert Brown will be released from prison in weeks having served just 13 years of a 26-year sentence. Her friend Hetti Barkworth-Nanton tells the Mail that she and Joanna's family are 'terrified', and who can blame them? Justice Secretary Alex Chalk promised yesterday that he was doing 'everything' to veto Brown's release. Fine words, but the clock is ticking. For everyone's safety, this remorseless killer must remain where he belongs behind bars. No one disputes the fact that the slave trade was one of unmitigated evil. But is it the right course for Caribbean nations to demand slavery reparations from the Royal Family centuries later? Perhaps they should heed the wise words of Sir Trevor Phillips, who in Friday's Mail suggested their energies would be better directed in tackling modern problems such as knife crime, which disproportionately affects young black men. No amount of money can atone for past sins. But we can learn from them and together strive to build a better, more just future. Voters have continued to turn against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with overall support sliding to new lows and every state except Tasmania poised to vote No. The most recent Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in Nine newspapers on Monday, showed 43 per cent of voters supported a plan to enshrine the Voice into the Constitution, down 20 percentage points from a year ago. The percentage of Australians in favour of the referendum has dropped for the fifth month in a row and since the last survey Victoria has flipped to a majority No, leaving Tasmania the only state left in the Yes camp. For the Voice to succeed, the Yes campaign needs more than 50 per cent of the vote across the nation and in four of the six states. The plummeting support for the Voice has also had a knock-on effect on its biggest backer - the Labor government - with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suffering a fall in his net performance rating to minus 7 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with his partner Jodie Haydon in Jakarta Asked about the falling support, Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said there were still many undecided voters who could be convinced. 'We're going to ask them to vote Yes because this acknowledges 65,000 years of Australian history,' she told channel Seven's Sunrise show on Monday. READ MORE: Indigenous leader points out gaping hole in Voice referendum A prominent Aboriginal leader has pointed out a gaping hole in the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Advertisement 'This idea came from Aboriginal people, well over 80 per cent of them support it. This is not a committee that has a veto over parliament. It doesn't stop things happening. 'It is a committee to give advice, it really is a lot less scary than some of the No campaign are making it out to be.' But critics of the referendum including Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce claim the voice lacks transparency. 'It will fundamentally change how this nation works and that is why people are moving away from it,' he told Sunrise. The news comes as postal voting applications for the Voice open, with the legal order to hold the referendum expected to be handed down on Monday. Governor-General David Hurley will issue the writ compelling the Australian Electoral Commission to hold the October 14 poll, kick-starting its processes. Postal vote applications will open on Monday once the legal document has been issued and will close a month later on October 11. The electoral roll closes seven days after writs are issued - meaning Australians have a week to ensure they're enrolled. Voting in the referendum is compulsory, and failure to do so may result in fines. Hundreds of early voting centres will be available from October 2, with centres to open in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia a day later due to a public holiday. Every state except Tasmania in now poised to vote No in the referendum on the Voice. A map of Australia is pictured Australians will be asked to vote on constitutional recognition of Indigenous people and to enshrine a new advisory body called the Voice. Indigenous leader Noel Pearson said the referendum 'absolutely' has a chance of winning. 'I just don't believe when the hand of friendship and reconciliation is extended from Indigenous people that at the end of the day, their love will be unrequited,' he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to hold a second referendum if the upcoming vote fails and the Coalition is returned to power in the next federal election. Abu Hamza has launched a new bid for release from a US prison dubbed 'a clean version of hell', according to reports. The hook-handed hate preacher, 65, was given a life sentence in 2015 after being extradited from Britain on US terrorism charges, and has since been held in solitary confinement at ADX Florence, a 'supermax' prison in the Colorado desert. But Hamza has now claimed that multiple bouts of Covid have left him too ill to remain in the facility, which is thought to be the most secure prison in the world, The Sun reported. The former imam of Finsbury Park Mosque in North London, whose lawyers claim is in 'substantially failing health', reportedly spends 23 hours a day in a windowless and soundproof cell. His counsel, citing the 'draconian conditions' at the prison, is understood to be asking a judge for 'compassionate release'. Abu Hamza, 65, (pictured) has handed a life sentence in 2015 after being extradited from Britain on US terrorism charges and has since been held in solitary confinement at ADX Florence, a 'supermax' prison in the Colorado desert But Hamza was now claimed that multiple bouts of Covid have left him too ill to remain in the facility, which is thought to be the most secure prison in the world. Pictured: ADX Florence His lawyer Michael Bachrach is expected to argue that the jail's conditions 'have led to multiple bouts of Covid-19, substantially failing health, and 24/7 solitary confinement for the past eight years'. He is allegedly speeding up a planned appeal in light of Hamza's health, The Telegraph reported. He expects to file the appeal by October 31. The terrorist's bid for compassionate release was first raised three years ago but was held up by another ongoing appeal claiming that his trial and appeal lawyers gave him 'ineffective assistance'. Hamza, who reportedly praised the hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks, was extradited to the US in 2012 to face 11 terrorism charges including the kidnapping of 16 tourists in Yemen in 1998. He also faced charges for assisting terrorists and trying to establish a terrorist training camp in Oregon. At his sentencing in New York the judge branded his actions as 'barbaric, misguided and wrong'. She said he was not remorseful and argued that if at 'any time he is released, the world will not be safe'. An attempt to appeal over his extradition to the US had failed when the European Court of Human Rights ruled that 'conditions at ADX would not amount to ill-treatment'. MailOnline has approached Mr Bachrach for comment. Low-achieving pupils should be banned from taking out student loans to fund a huge expansion in apprenticeships, MPs will urge today. The New Conservatives lobby group will call for the number of students on 'Mickey Mouse' courses at the taxpayer's expense to be slashed. In a report, the group will point out that 'too many courses are propped up by Government funding that do not deliver value for money to the student'. And the group suggests that those who get lower marks, such as three Es, at A-Level should be banned from applying for student loans to cut the overall bill. The idea is part of a plan aimed at dramatically reducing the number of young people going to university. Authored by MPs Jonathan Gullis (pictured) and Lia Nici, the report says of many degrees: 'Contact hours and the rigour of courses are often low, and the earnings potential of graduates does not justify the debt accrued' The report (authored by MPs Jonathan Gullis and Lia Nici, pictured) says: 'There is a common misconception that young people have the right to attend university but they do not have the right to study "Mickey Mouse" courses at the taxpayer's expense' Authored by MPs Jonathan Gullis and Lia Nici, the report says of many degrees: 'Contact hours and the rigour of courses are often low, and the earnings potential of graduates does not justify the debt accrued. Too often graduates work in non-graduate level jobs with little to no hope of earning enough to even start repaying student loans years after graduating. 'There is a common misconception that young people have the right to attend university but they do not have the right to study "Mickey Mouse" courses at the taxpayer's expense.' The report argues that it is the 'students with the lowest academic attainment who tend to undertake poorer quality degrees that do not lead to graduate-level salaries'. And in turn, loans for subjects such as creative arts, performing arts and communications are rarely repaid. Some 20 billion is loaned to around 1.5 million university students in England each year, figures show. The value of outstanding loans at the end of March 2023 reached 206 billion and the Government forecasts the value of outstanding loans to be around 460 billion by the mid-2040s. The MPs write that, in contrast, high-performing degree-level apprenticeships often deliver earnings well above those of graduates. The report also calls for a minimum student loan repayment of 45 per calendar month for those not meeting the current salary threshold. It estimates the savings from the changes would amount to 1.8 billion per year. The ideas are part of 17-point plan for skills and education that will be unveiled by the group later today. The mother of a 16-year-old girl who was killed by a stray bullet in New York City last year slammed the plea deal her daughter's shooter received as too lenient. In an interview with the New York Post, Yanely Henriquez said she wished the teenage killer of her daughter was in line for a sentence of at least 25 years for the murder. 'I will never forgive him for what he did to me and my family and thats never going to change,' Henriquez said. Angellyh Yambo died in April 2022 after being caught in the crossfire of a Bronx shootout as she walked home from school. Jeremiah Ryan, now 18 years old, is expected to be sentenced this Friday to 15 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. Straight-A student Angellyh Yambo, 16, was leaving University Prep Charter High School in the Bronx in April of 2022 when a total of six rounds were fired, one of which fatally struck her Jeremiah Ryan, 18, is set to be sentenced on Friday after striking a plea deal with theh Bronx DA 'He has a second chance of life but my daughter doesn't,' Henriquez said, also admitting there would have been 'a lot on the line' had the case gone to trial. Ryan was accused of firing six rounds from a 9mm Polymer 80 ghost gun - an untraceable firearm that can be purchased through the internet and assembled at home. The street fight was allegedly between two rival gangs, and took place near University Prep Charter High School in the Bronx, where Yambo had been a straight-A student. Two other students were also injured in the fight. A spokesperson for the Bronx District Attorney's Office, Patrice O'Shaughnessy, said Ryan's deal was struck only after Yambo's family had been consulted. O'Shaughnessy added the family agreed to the deal 'because they did not want to sit through a trial.' 'This is definite accountability for what he did and justice for Angellyh.' 'He has a second chance of life but my daughter doesn't,' said Yambo's mother Yanely Henriquez (pictured left) Yambo (center) was reportedly a straight-A student at her Bronx charter school Yambo's family had just celebrated her 16th birthday when she was fatally struck Henriquez is at work preparing a statement to read in court at the sentencing. She said composing the statement is 'one of the hardest things I have had to deal with' in the wake of her daughter's murder. She said she will have to 'be brave' for her children, who include two sons. 'Im going to have to find the courage and strength and everything to stand up there and [read] it. I know its going to be very hard,' she said. In the wake of Yambo's tragic death, Deputy Police Chief Timothy McCormack said: 'We have two families that are completely destroyed right now - our victim's family and our shooter's family.' A former top general in the United States Marine Corps ripped President Joe Biden's disastrous plan to withdraw from the war in Afghanistan - one the ex-military leader said history would view as a mistake. General Frank McKenzie, who retired in April of 2022, was the head of US Central Command during the withdrawal, including the suicide bomber attack that killed 13 service personnel at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021. In an interview Sunday, he said he feels the withdrawal - which drew widespread criticism and which he had previously defended - will be looked at as a terrible mistake from plan to execution. 'I believe history is going to view the decision to come out of Afghanistan in the way that we did and the manner that we were directed to come out as a fatal flaw,' he said. McKenzie said in March 2022 that he would regret the withdrawal for the rest of his life - a decision that allowed the Taliban to quickly seize control of Afghanistan as Americans and refugees fled for safety. General Frank McKenzie, now retired, was the head of US Central Command during the withdrawal. He now says it was the wrong decision to leave 'I have a lot of regrets about how it ended in Afghanistan. I have a regret with the basic decision, which I think was the wrong decision,' he told Fox News. 'And I particularly regret that we did not choose to begin to evacuate our people, our embassy personnel, our American citizens and our at-risk Afghans at the time we made the decision to bring in our combat forces. I think that was a serious mistake, and I think that led to the events of August 2021 directly.' McKenzie has previously said he was proud of the way that American troops evacuated 124,000 people from Kabul but was and remains forever haunted by the suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service personnel and more than 100 Afghans. 'We were dealing with the possibility of a suicide vest attack but without specific description of the person,' McKenzie, who served under Biden and Trump, said of the attack. 'We were dealing with a possibility of an indirect fire attack, either rockets or mortars, but I do know that there was no intelligence to support the assertion that we knew what the bomber looked like that he was carrying a backpack with three yellow stripes,' he added. 'There were just none of that. We just did not have that intelligence.' He was honest when asked about what he may have changed about the withdrawal. 'You always look back any time you lose people and you wonder if you could have done things differently, and I am haunted by that. I think about it quite a bit. It's one of the many regrets that I have. I examined everything we did. I think about it particularly in the month of August of every year for the rest of my life.' Smoke rises from a deadly explosion outside the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021 McKenzie has previously said he was proud of the way American troops evacuated 124,000 people from Kabul but was and remains forever haunted by the suicide attack that killed 13 U.S. service personnel and more than 100 Afghans Among McKenzie's successes was the high-profile raid to kill or capture the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, but he also described how he thinks every day about the troops killed in Kabul. He spoke about it initially when he gave his final press briefing in March of 2018. 'The collapse of the Afghan government was not the result we desired when we began our withdrawal,' he said. 'That said the courage and hard work of several thousand service members under difficult and dangerous conditions, which allow the evacuation of 124,000 U.S. partners and Afghan nationals is something the nation can be very proud of. 'It came at the terrible costs of 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghan civilians killed. 'And that is a loss that I deeply regret. I'll regret it for the rest of my life. 'We owe these heroes our gratitude.' The 13 fallen service members were returned to the U.S. after the August 26 attack on Kabul airport during the final days of the withdrawal from Afghanistan Left to right: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo Marines Corps Corporals left to right: Daegan W. Page, Hunter Lopez, Humberto A. Sanchez Marine Corps Lance Corporals left to right: Kareem M. Nikoui, Dylan R. Merola, Rylee J. McCollum, Jared M. Schmitz Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza (left) and Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak (right) Thousands of Afghans were trying to flee to safety, and U.S. Marines were checking them one by one when the suicide explosion happened. The local offshoot of the Islamic State - known as ISIS-K - claimed responsibility. 'Not a day goes by that I don't think about August of last year and the loss of our 11 Marines, one soldier and one sailor there,' said McKenzie. 'I think about it a lot. You go back and you always try to find ways things that you could have done different.' But he said the battlefield was a dynamic place. 'We were not able to stop this attack,' he said. 'I don't know what we could have done that would have presented this particular attack,' he said. 'For those for those family members who've lost a child or loved one there. My heart breaks for them and I feel their pain.' He has led U.S. troops in the Middle East and southwest Asia for the past three years. And he took over responsibility for the mission in Afghanistan last year, as the U.S. was winding down its presence. He alluded to some of the darkest moments during his final comments to journalists. 'And there have been days, I'll tell you, I would rather have my leg taken off below the knee, then come in there and talk to you guys,' he said when he retired. 'But it was an important thing to do.' He used the occasion to deliver an assessment of the region under his command, and describe the threats to the U.S. 'Continue to see Iran as the greatest threat to regional security and stability,' he said. 'They furnish weapons, support and direction to proxies across the region who engage in acts of terror and undermine local governments, all advancing Iranian interests. Iran's arsenal was on display at the weekend when missiles slammed into a U.S. Army base and a Kurdish news channel office in Erbil, Northern Iraq in retaliation for an Israeli attack Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps last month unveiled a new missile - the 'Khaibar-buster' - with a range of about 900 miles 'Iran's ballistic missile threat has continued to advance and expand with greater ranges and accuracy. CENTCOM has continued to watch Iran and its proxies as we act as a deterrent to Iranian attacks on U.S. interests. Those attacks, and the threat to American interests, were on display last weekend when its rockets smashed into a U.S. Army base and a Kurdish news channel office in Erbil, Northern Iraq. Iran later claimed responsibility, saying it mounted the attack in retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard last week. No one was hurt in the attack on Erbil. A landlord has been ordered to pay their former tenant $2,100 for failing to keep the property 'in reasonable repair' after receiving a series of complaints about the house. Debbie Mudford had moved into the home in Weston, in NSW's Hunter region, in July 2021 and paid $390 a week in rent. The tenant lived with a raft of problems including a faulty hot water system, ant infestation, and a broken front gate that had been blown off by strong winds. A fed-up Ms Mudford took legal action against her landlord and made an application to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) in June 2022. She requested a reduction in her rent, repairs to the house and $7,500 in compensation. Ms Mudford moved out of the property months later in August. A landlord has been ordered to pay their former tenant $2,100 after they complained about an ant problem, a faulty hot water system and a gate being blown off in the wind (stock image) NCAT handed down its decision in October and found 'the landlord failed to keep premises in reasonable repair'. Ants had been found in the kitchen with Ms Mudford paying $360 for pest control to take care of the problem. The hot water system was also found to be leaking during an inspection of the house in October 2021. A relief valve for the hot water system was replaced in November, but in December Ms Mudford told her landlord there was no hot water. The landlord took a week to replace the hot water system, which left Ms Mudford facing huge water and gas bills. The tenant had to pay $360 in water and gas from October 29 to January 4 when the water system was finally fixed. Ms Mudford also complained about the dishwasher, which didn't work from November 2021 up until when she moved out nine months later. 'The Tribunal finds that, as a result of the landlord's failure to repair or replace the dishwasher, the tenant suffered inconvenience, loss and damage,' the tribunal found. The front gate on the house had also flown off during windy weather in November 2021 and was not replaced when Ms Mudford still lived there. 'The Tribunal finds that as a result of the landlord's failure to repair or replace the gate, the tenant suffered inconvenience, loss and damage, and a significant reduction of security and privacy,' the tribunal found. The landlord was ordered to pay compensation for the ants, the faulty hot water system and dishwasher, and the broken gate - totalling $2,100. Other claims put forward by Ms Mudford, such as damage to her car, were dismissed. Annastacia Palaszczuk has broken her silence after returning to work on Monday following an international holiday where she was rushed to hospital. The Queensland Premier jetted back into Brisbane airport on Sunday evening after a two-week European holiday and a slump in the polls at home for the Labor Party. Ms Palaszczuk is attended a Labor caucus meeting on Monday morning, just 12 hours after her flight home landed, amid rumblings her leadership may be at risk. After the meeting, she said: 'I've led this party through three successful election victories and ... the thing that energises me are the people of this state. 'That's what drives me and keeps me going'. A shock new poll shows the stark challenge facing Ms Palaszczuk as she returns to work. The recent poll from the RedBridge group found Labor's primary vote sitting at just 26 per cent compared with 41 for the Queensland Liberals. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) is facing mounting challenges, with her Labor Party slumping in the polls Ms Palaszczuk had she was suffering from health issues last month while with her partner Reza Adib at a medical conference in Naples, according to The Australian. After speaking at the cabinet meeting on Monday, Ms Palaszczuk said she suffered a medical episode at the party's state conference in Mackay in June. The Premier said she spent 'fix or six' hours in hospital but after further tests was given the all clear. She has had further tests since and had been given the all clear. Ms Palaszczuk said she was feeling 'refreshed' and 'energised' after her overseas holiday - one which most of her cabinet colleagues did not know about. It is healthy for leaders to have a break and I felt I needed a break,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'I feel refreshed, I feel energised and I am absolutely determined to lead the party to the next election.' During Ms Palaszczuk's Italian getaway, Acting Premier Steven Miles held a cabinet meeting without her and said he had not spoken to the Premier during her holiday. This marked the first time cabinet had gone ahead without Ms Palaszczuk in six years, according to a report in The Courier Mail, sparking speculation of an impending leadership change. Mr Miles publicly backed the Premier, insisting he and his fellow Labor MPs were fully behind her. 'No one has worked harder for Queenslanders than the Premier,' he wrote on Facebook during Ms Palaszczuk's holiday. 'I'll say it again, the Premier's doing a great job delivering for Queenslanders and she has our full support.' The Courier Mail also reported MPs had expressed concern over Ms Palaszczuk's leadership in recent weeks, although none have been willing to go public with their comments. 'The inner city is stuffed and the regions are absolutely cooked,' one Labor MP said. 'It has big 2012 vibes. We can't have too many more like this. She (Ms Palaszczuk) has to think about how, and if, she can turn this around. She is not the most nimble policymaker.' Opposition Leader David Crisafulli (pictured) blasted Labor's 'chaos and crisis' While another Labor MP said she 'needs to go' and believes the public has 'switched off' to Ms Palaszczuk because they think she is 'tone deaf'. The unrest comes after the release of RedBridge Group survey's new poll, which showed the Labor government would be wiped out in next year's election. The poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 Queensland voters between August 26 and last Wednesday, delivered a blow to the party just ahead of the Premier's return. 'I'm looking forward to a big week,' Ms Palaszczuk told reporters waiting at Brisbane airport on Sunday night, before saying she 'absolutely' intended to lead Labor in next year's state election. Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli took aim at the returning Premier and her party. 'Our focus is on the issues that matter to Queenslanders, while the state Labor government is obsessed with its own chaos and crisis,' Mr Crisafulli wrote on social media on Sunday. Queenslanders are due to head to the polls in October 2024, with Ms Palaszczuk attempting to win a fourth consecutive term in office. The three men who callously tortured a man before he fell to his death from a fourth-floor balcony during a drug-fuelled party will each spend less than a decade behind bars, a court has been told. Cian John English, 19, died after falling from the fourth floor of the View Pacific resort in Surfers Paradise on May 23, 2020. What should have been a fun night with friends turned quickly to tragedy when Mr English and a mate were tortured and assaulted in the fourth-floor hotel room directly above theirs for 27 minutes. Cian English died after he fell from a balcony on the Gold Coast in May 2020. Picture Supplied English was just 19-years-old. His grieving family say: 'We'll never see him get married, never get to experience his children who could have been anything' Lachlan Paul Soper-Lagas, 21, Jason Ryan Knowles, 25, and Hayden Paul Kratzmann, 23, have each pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr English. The court was told Mr English and his friend were invited by Kratzmann to his room after the two groups had began chatting while each were on their respective balconies. The men then continued to take a cocktail of prescription and non-prescription drugs as they partied. Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said just before 2am things changed when Kratzmann began to accuse Mr English and his friend of stealing the drugs. Mr English and his friend, who had protested their innocence, were then for the next hour assaulted, intimidated, taunted and threatened with a knife. Hayden Kratzmann (left) and Jason Knowles (centre) and Lachlan Soper-Lagas (right) pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Cian English Mr English fell from the fourth floor balcony of The View Pacific Resort at Surfers Paradise The court was told Mr English was also stabbed in the arm, although it's not clear by who. The court was told it was an acquaintance of Kratzmann who was later charged with possessing the drugs. Some of the abuse was captured on video by two juvenile females whose charges are still before the court. Ms Marco said the three men spent time 'inflicting pain and suffering' on Mr English and his friend. In an effort to flee the assaults, Mr English ran to the balcony after he realised it was unlikely he'd make it to the front door safely, the court was told. Ms Marco said 'most likely he tried to climb down to the floor below which is where his unit was and fell.' 'They each threatened and intimidated Mr English (and his friend) and encouraged the others,' Ms Marco said. 'This forced him to seek to escape by climbing over the balcony and falling to his death.' Cian English had checked into the Surfers Paradise hotel hours before his death. The court was told the three men failed to help Mr English and instead packed their bags and left the apartment 16 minutes after he fell. Kratzmann later made a triple-0 call, telling the operator he saw someone on the ground outside the apartment while riding his bike but lied about his name and phone number. Mr English was declared dead by paramedics at 3.53am. The court was told the trio stole another man's shoes, belt, wallet, bag and Apple AirPods. They were then later seen wearing items of clothing or with property belonging to the victims, with photos being posted on social media. Kratzmann also later 'drew a crude piece of graffiti about the incident involving the deceased on a pole' at a train station before his arrest. READ MORE: Teenage boy Cian English plunges to his death from a fourth-floor Surfers Paradise balcony while trying to escape violent eshay thugs Mr English fell from the fourth floor balcony of The View Pacific Resort at Surfers Paradise Advertisement Ms Marco submitted that Kratzmann and Knowles should be sentenced to 11 years in jail, while Soper-Lagas, who had no prior criminal history, should receive nine years imprisonment. Kratzmann's barrister Tim Ryan said his client had expressed a wish 'go back in time and fix his mistakes'. Knowles' barrister Damian Walsh said the 25-year-old had written to the court about the consequences 'he now has to live with' after that fatal night. Mr Walsh said his client would never 'forgive himself' and expressed deep remorse despite the prosecution's objecting. The court was told Ms Marco had objected to Knowles' referral of the night as an 'accident' in his letter to the court. However, Mr Walsh explained that his client had poor literacy skills and he was remorseful. The court was also told 32 character references had been submitted on behalf of Soper-Lagas, with his parents detailing how the 21-year-old had donated his time to help neighbours whose houses had flooded in 2022 while on bail. Soper-Lagas' barrister Jack Kennedy said the last thing his client thought about when he fell asleep was Mr English's face, and he's 'the first thing he thinks about when he wakes in the morning'. 'He's demonstrated real and tangible steps to rehabilitation, hasn't had drugs since (being on bail),' Mr Kennedy said. The Crown accepted the three men's guilty pleas and withdrew its original murder charges. Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco accepted the guilty plea to manslaughter The three men also each pleaded guilty on Thursday to two counts of armed robbery in company, two counts of torture, and one count of stealing. Kratzmann also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of entering a premises with intent to commit an offence. Chief Justice Helen Bowskill sentenced Kratzmann and Knowles to nine years and six months imprisonment. Both men will be eligible for parole after six years serves. Soper-Lagas was sentenced to eight years in jail, with a parole eligibility date after he's served three years and three months. Justice Bowskill said she had found Soper-Lagas hadn't physically hurt Mr English and his friend but had threatened them while armed with a knife and encouraged his friends to continue their assault on the pair. She said Soper-Lagas had been 'emotionally immature which might explain why you went along with' Kratzmann and Knowles. She said the three men had engaged in a 'pack mentality' in how they each acted that fateful night. Supporters of Soper-Lagas, Knowles and Kratzmann outside court Justice Bowskill said while Kratzmann was the 'instigator' the two other men were responsible for their part in the physical and mental abuse the pair. She said she found while Kratzmann was the one responsible for stabbing Mr English in the arm, the 19-year-old felt he had no other choice but to flee the trio by trying to climb over the balcony. 'I feel sure now nearly three and a half years later....you all bitterly regret your actions and you have now taken responsibility by pleading guilty,' Justice Bowskill said. 'I can only hope it has pierced your hearts and brought home the enormity of your actions to be used by you in the future.' She said the three men's behaviour was 'despicable' and callous towards Mr English and his friend. '(Mr English was) a young man very much loved by his family and friends who have suffered unfathomable grief and pain as a result of his death, compounded by the awful circumstances in which they occurred,' Justice Bowskil said. 'Your conduct also caused severe harm in particular psychological harm to a second young person.' Speaking outside court, Knowles' lawyer Andrew Bale said 'it is a tragedy on many levels'. A sleepy President Joe Biden saw his rambling Vietnam press conference brought to a sudden end on Sunday night with his mic cut and jazz music playing him off the stage, like he went too long in an awards speech. Biden was mid-flow and answering questions from journalists when he was interrupted and forced to shuffle away and head backstage. 'We talked about stability, we talked about the Third World, excuse me, the Southern Hemisphere has access to change. It wasn't confrontational at all....' Biden said as he rambled on. Suddenly, the booming voice of his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, could be heard butting in. 'Thank you everybody. This ends the press conference. Thanks everyone,' she said as she brought the presser to a close. A sleepy Joe Biden saw his rambling Vietnam press conference brought to a sudden end on Sunday night with a mic cut and jazz music playing him off the stage Biden was mid-flow and answering questions from journalists when he was interrupted Suddenly, the booming voice of his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre , could be heard butting in and thanking people for attending All the while, Biden continued to speak, not realizing his mic had been muted. In another bizarre twist, jazz music then began to play over the loudspeaker, with the 80-year-old still seemingly trying to answer questions as he continued to speak into the microphone. As the president tried to answer a few more questions, the music grew louder prompting Biden to put away his leather-backed folder and shuffle offstage, disappearing behind a black curtain. Biden whispered, he walked about the stage and he used that now-famous phrase 'lying dog faced pony soldier' during the 26-minute engagement with the press, using a set list of reporters to call on. After spending two days in India for the G20 Leaders' Summit, Biden jetted to Vietnam Sunday to upgrade the countries' diplomatic ties and ended the day with a press conference. In what was supposed to be a show of stamina - Biden is circumnavigating the globe in five days - the 80-year-old commander-in-chief joked about not knowing if it was morning or night and ended the presser event by saying, 'I'm going to go to bed.' He regaled reporters with a story he says is from a John Wayne movie and features the 'Indians' - not the ones he just met with - who don't buy it when a Union soldier says 'everything will be good' if they go back to the reservation. Biden held a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday night after spending two days in India for the G20 Leaders' Summit. At the presser, he talked to reporters about a John Wayne movie that featured the 'Indians' to make a point about climate change After his mic was cut, Biden tried to speak not realizing he had been silenced. He had to shuffle off the stage as jazz music loudly played 'And the Indian looks at John Wayne and points to the Union soldier and says, 'He's a lying dog faced pony soldier.' Well, there's a lot of lying dog faced pony soldiers out there about global warming. But not anymore,' Biden said. 'All of the sudden, they're all realizing it's a problem,' the president said, whispering into the mic. The president had been asked if he was concerned that there was no agreement on fossil fuels that came out of the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi. He's used 'lying dog faced pony soldier,' once at a 2020 campaign event in New Hampshire and at an event in Connecticut in June, where he also muttered, 'God save the Queen, man.' The press conference started more than an hour late and kicked off by the president acknowledging that his aides told him who he would be calling on. 'They gave me five people here,' Biden said, returning to his custom of both calling from, and speaking about, the list apologetically. 'I'm just following my orders here,' he said at another point, as he looked at his list to call another news organization or name, as reporters in the audience yelled and waved their hands frantically to be called on. The questions were China-heavy and Biden skipped answering queries when they were piggybacked on another question - so he didn't address Russia and North Korea going into business together, nor Ukraine's discontent with the G20 statement on the war, which didn't name Russia as the aggressor. Biden grabbed the hand mic and left the podium at one point to address a reporter who was standing to one side of the room The president admitted his whirlwind schedule had left him confused over whether it was day or night Biden with general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong The choice of journalist also appeared to have Biden mostly ignoring a group of U.S. print and TV reporters who were girding to get into domestic concerns like his low poll numbers due to his advanced age and a possible indictment of his son, Hunter, on a gun charge. Those polls show a broad concern about his age going into a second term, with a survey last week from AP-NORC showing that 77 percent of Americans, including 69 percent of Democrats, believe Biden is too old to run for reelection. A Wall Street Journal poll out Monday had similar findings, with 73 percent of voters saying Biden is too old to run again, including two-thirds of Democrats. White House aides pointed to this whirlwind trip as evidence that Biden is up to the job. 'It is evening isn't it?' Biden cracked at the top of the press conference. 'This around the world in five days is interesting,' he also noted. He later joked that the schedule was 'no problem.' 'I can imagine. It is evening, I'd like remind you,' a BBC reporter quipped to the president. At one point, Biden grabbed the hand mic and started walking. He moved toward the side of the stage where one of the five chosen reporters was standing, but it briefly gave the appearance he was abandoning the press conference. Every reporter on the list was a woman, something that wasn't lost on a journalist from the independent U.S.-backed Voice of America. 'Thank you Mr. President. I hope you didn't think that calling only on women would get you softballs tonight,' she told him. Biden made a reference to Good Morning Vietnam, a movie that he said was a song. Pictured: Actor Robin Williams who started in the 1987 movie GOOD MORNING VIETNAM The 1987 Vietnam War biopic was one of the biggest hits of Robin William's career, winning him one of his three Oscar nominations for best actor. It tells the story of Airman Adrian Cronauer who arrived in Saigon to work as a DJ for Armed Forces Radio as the war intensified in 1965. Starting each show with his catch phrase 'Good morning, Vietnam!' Cronauer, played by Robin Williams infuriates his superiors with his rock and roll playlist and satirical commentary on their conduct of the war. It won Williams the funniest actor prize at the American Comedy Awards and its soundtrack, featuring the Beach Boys, James Brown and the Searchers, went platinum. Williams won funniest actor in a movie prize at the American Comedy Awards for his portrayal of a disruptive DJ at the height of the Vietnam War Advertisement Biden said that wasn't the case. 'Oh I know better than that. If you sent me a softball, I wouldn't know what to do with it. I'd probably strike out even worse,' Biden joked. After Biden answered one of the two questions posed to him by VOA, he told the journalists, 'I tell you what, I don't know about you, but I'm going to go to bed.' The president's clumsy comments were slammed by his critics as further signs that he would struggle to cope with a second term. 'Biden gets VERY confused during his "press conference" in Vietnam,' tweeted RNC Research. 'And Democrats wonder why Biden isn't polling better,' added former Trump senior adviser Jason Miller. 'Oh good, reference the darkly satirical title of a movie about a horrible and bloody war that still looms largely in Vietnam's psyche,' tweeted FuriaDiDonna. 'So he's making a joke in Vietnam about a catchphrase (not a song) in a (great) movie that's about the US being at war in their country??' added Booker9e. Biden had opened the presser by noting, 'One of my staff members said, "Remember the famous song Good Morning Vietnam?" Well, good evening, Vietnam!' Biden told reporters, mistakenly calling the Robin Williams' movie a song. 'And good morning back in America,' he added. The 1987 film was one of the biggest hits of the year, telling the story of Airman Adrian Cronauer who arrived in Saigon to work as a DJ for Armed Forces Radio as the war intensified in 1965. Starting each show with his catch phrase 'Good morning, Vietnam!', Cronauer, played by Williams, infuriates his superiors with his rock and roll playlist and satirical commentary on their conduct of the war. It won Williams the funniest actor prize at the American Comedy Awards and its soundtrack, featuring the Beach Boys, James Brown and the Searchers, went platinum. Two British tourists reported missing following the devastating earthquake in Morocco have been found alive, safely sleeping on the streets of a remote village. Rebecca Calvert, 65, and friend Hilary Mckegney, 64, had not been in contact with family and friends since the catastrophic 6.8 magnitude quake hit the country on Friday, killing more than 2,000 people. Mrs Calvert's daughter, Katie, had taken to X - formerly known as Twitter - pleading with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to send help to the Atlas Mountains town of Imlil where it was thought her mother was missing. But the growing fears over their safety ended when the husband of Mrs Calvert, of Windsor, Berkshire, said she was found to be staying on the streets with Ms Mckegney, of Taunton, Somerset in the village, some 30 miles south of Marakesh. They had just arrived in Imlil for a hiking trip and were due to stay at Hotel Le Village Du Toubkal when the earthquake struck, according to reports. Rebecca Calvert, 65, of Windsor, in Berkshire, had not been in contact with friends and family after the devastating earthquake hit Morocco Mrs Calvert was with her friend Hilary Mckegney (pictured), 64, of Taunton, Somerset. The pair were staying at the Hotel Le Village du Toubkal in Imlil Before they were found, Katie wrote: 'Our mother - Rebecca Calvert - is currently missing in Morocco, in town of Imlil, really close to the earthquake. 'She was staying at Hotel Le Village Du Toubkal. We are sick with worry and need your help in finding her and bringing her home safely. 'I've called the foreign office and reported her missing, but they can't tell me that people are on the ground searching in this specific region, and this is an incredibly time sensitive situation. From reports it seems rescue efforts won't reach within time to help . 'Please urgently send British resources to the specific region (Imlil), and urgently provide an update on their whereabouts. At least two British nationals were stating there. If we get there quickly we could save them.' The Foreign Office told Mrs Calvert's husband, Will, that the town was unscathed in the earthquake. The 66-year-old, who is the director of Windsor and Eton Brewery, told the PA news agency his wife was incredibly fortunate to be safe as she was staying within 20 miles of the epicentre of the earthquake. 'We lost all contact. Comms were down. The only road up there was closed. 'We made contact through any means we could. We went through our MP to the Foreign Office and they managed to find out some information. 'They told us the indications were the village was relatively unscathed, which was surprising given how close it was to the epicentre. It was probably within 20 miles. 'It sounded hopeful. We finally heard from my wife and her friend (on Sunday). They slept with the locals in the streets for two days.' Mrs Calvert was finally able to get phone signal again as she travelled towards Marrakesh on Sunday and spoke to her husband. He added: 'There will be many in a much less fortunate position. There is no doubt she was hugely fortunate to be that close to the epicentre and the building held. 'One thing that was clear from talking to the MP was that there's a fair few British nationals in that area. So there is bound to be someone in a less fortunate position.' Ms Mckegney and Mrs Calvert were set to sleep on the floor of Marrakesh airport on Sunday and hope to fly back to London Gatwick on Monday, Mr Calvert added. But their journey could be delayed and the husband was told there was a crack in the runway at the airport in Marrakesh. Mrs Calvert's son, Callum, wrote on X today: 'We've now heard from Rebecca's travelling party and she's safe and well and currently travelling to the airport to return home. 'We so so appreciate everyone's support, including the foreign office, @AdamAfriyie and his Chief of Staff, and all the friends and strangers who have gone so far out of their way to help us. 'Obviously this is an ongoing crisis and many others are still in need. I feel so deeply for everyone affected by the tragedy, and really hope that others in similar situations will be OK.' Windsor and Eton FC, where Mr Calvert is also listed as a director, posted an update on its Facebook page. 'Many of you may be aware that Willy Calvert's wife Rebecca and her friend were caught up very near the Morocco earthquake disaster,' they wrote. 'We are so so pleased to let you all know that they are both safe and well. 'Willy has been so pivitol in helping create our new club and whilst our thoughts and hopes go to all those not so lucky in this terrible event, we at least can celebrate the fantastic news that Rebecca and friend are safe.' Tourists are leaving Morocco in droves after the country was rocked by a devastating earthquake. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco was the worst to hit the country in 60 years and has killed more than 2,000 people Long queues were seen snaking out of Moroccan airports in the days after the earthquake hit Morocco was hit with its worst earthquake in 60 years late on Friday night, bringing down buildings across the country and forcing citizens and tourists alike to sleep in the streets as fears that buildings would collapse on them grew. Holidaymakers were seen leaving the stricken country in their thousands, with queues seen snaking out the main entrances at several Moroccan airports, including Marrakesh Airport. The UK Government has sent 60 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment to Morocco. While an emergency medical team has also been deployed to assess the existing healthcare capacity and the extent of the damage. Sky News Australia has launched legal action against a university fact-checking organisation linked to Facebook, demanding assertions that some of its news reports were false must be retracted and compensation paid. Lawyers from Ashurst, representing the broadcaster, have listed at least five fact-checks published by RMIT FactLab since December of the previous year that claim Sky News's content is false. Four of those are related to the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum. RMIT FactLab is led by Russell Skelton, a former journalist at Fairfax who also led the ABC's fact-checking arm and is married to ABC presenter Virginia Trioli. The FactLab released the five fact-checks even though their certification from the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) had expired on December 2 of the previous year. According to their agreement with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, RMIT FactLab is required to possess a valid IFCN certification in order to post its assessments with that site, which can lead to the original story being blocked. 'Despite FactLab acknowledging it is not certified and its clear acceptance of that fact, demonstrated by the removal of some of the misleading material, the 'verdicts' will appear on the FactLab website and therefore are still being used on Facebook,' the legal letter from Sky News read, first published by The Australian. 'As you are aware, Meta only works with IFCN certified organisations as fact checkers. A Peta Credlin editorial posted by Sky News was blocked on Facebook, with factcheckers claiming it was false information 'Continuing to publish the verdicts, and provide them to Facebook, is clearly misleading when FactLab concedes it does not have the relevant certification required to do so.' FactLab labelled a report from Sky News host Peta Credlin that the Uluru Statement of the Heart was 26 pages long rather than a one-page summary as false information, making it unavailable for viewing on Facebook. Sky News launched an investigation which revealed FactLab's role, and Meta then suspended its partnership with RMIT due to its lack of certification. Sky also said the FactLab was biased in favour of a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to federal parliament. On Thursday, RMIT University's legal representatives replied to Sky's legal requests, and said the broadcaster's actions led to the suspension of RMIT FactLab. Sky News Australia has begun legal action against RMIT FactLab over verdicts (pictured, Sky News political commentator Peta Credlin) They also argued that when Sky News created its own Facebook page, it had agreed to Meta's terms of use so the legal claim should be against Meta and not RMIT. 'These terms include that your client's content may be subject to whatever programs Meta utilises or applies, such as third party fact-checking programs, or algorithms which either promote or reduce your client's contents appearance in user's feeds,' RMIT's lawyer said. 'If, as your client claims, it has suffered quantifiable financial loss because of Meta's application of its own terms of use, then your client's claim is against Meta.' Sky News's legal team sent another letter to RMIT University on the following Friday, contesting these assertions. 'Our client may have agreed to Meta's terms of use, but its agreement to those terms do not extend to actions that breach the law and thus enable FactLab to conduct its 'fact-checking' for Meta whilst in breach of the consumer law,' the letter from Sky's lawyers said. 'In any event, it is RMIT who has breached its agreement with Meta by failing to adhere to the requirements of its third-party fact checking program.' An RMIT spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the university maintained confidence in FactLab. 'RMIT FactLab stands by the accuracy of its work to date and as published,' the spokesperson said. 'It remains dedicated to slowing the spread of viral misinformation and disinformation through its fact checks.' 'FactLab's accreditation with the International Fact Checking Network (IFCN) is currently in the process of being renewed. 'The IFCN has confirmed that RMIT FactLab has a record of successful compliance with the Code.' An Italian photographer has hired a pet detective and offered a 5,000 reward to trace her missing Persian cat - but an animal rights group has suggested the kitty may have been victim to a sinister satanic sacrifice. Celebrity fashion snapper Nima Benati, now-turned model and influencer herself, has shot Vogue and Vanity Fair front covers and was even featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Italia 2019. And often glued to Nima's side is her most prized picture accessory, her white fluffy Persian cat called Bartolo - who has made an appearance in many of her campaigns. But Nima's beloved pet, said to be 'like a son' to her, has tragically become one of 30 cats reported missing in Italy's Apennine Mountains in the last month. Pet detective Said Beid, who has been hired to track Bartolo down, said there are many reasons for the cat disappearances - such as getting lost trying to find family, being eaten by wild animals or stolen by thieves looking to breed them for profit. However, an animal rights group instead believes the missing cats are may have been abducted and sacrificed by a satanic sect. An Italian photographer has hired a pet detective and offered a 5,000 reward to trace her missing Persian cat (pictured together) Celebrity fashion snapper Nima Benati (pictured with cat Bartolo) has shot Vogue and Vanity Fair front covers, and was even featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Italia 2019 Often glued to Nima's side is her most prized picture accessory, her white fluffy Persian cat called Bartolo - who has made an appearance in many of her campaigns Five-year-old Bartolo went missing on August 9 - after being left with Nima's family in Monghidoro, a town near Bologna, while the influencer went on holiday to Costa Rica. Nima's sister Shasa told The Times that Bartolo has always been fine when left with the family in Bologna and had 'free reign in the mountains'e when left at that house. She said he would often disappear for two days and come back 'drenched after a storm with a mouse in his mouth'. But this time Bartolo did not return, and is still yet to be found - despite hundreds of reported sightings. Nima got Bartolo from a breeder in Naples. She never had him micro-chipped. Mr Beid said cats often go missing in the summer when their families leave them to go on holiday or leave them with family or friends in a new environment. Nima's beloved pet, said to be 'like a son' to her, tragically became one of 30 cats reported missing in the Apennine Mountains in the last month Five-year-old Bartolo went missing on August 9 - after being left with Nima's family in Monghidoro, a town near Bologna, while the influencer went on holiday to Costa Rica Nima's sister Shasa told The Times that Bartolo has always been fine when left with the family in Bologna (pictured is a previous time Bartolo went to stay) and had 'free reign in the mountains'e when left at that house 'Some are stolen by cat thieves who breed them for profit; others are eaten by wild animals after they venture outdoors as they search for their owners and get lost,' he said. He went on to say that owners of missing cats will be hoping they have just gotten lost, as 'domestic cats can be found weeks after living in the wild'. The Italian Association for the Protection of Animals and the Environment, which has reported on satanic sects sacrificing black cats to mark Halloween, says no cat carcasses have been found in the area. The association claims this could suggest the missing cats in Bologna are instead being sacrificed by a satanic sect. Nima's sister said Bartolo (pictured with Nima) would often disappear for two days and come back 'drenched after a storm with a mouse in his mouth' Nima got Bartolo from a breeder in Naples. She never had him microchipped 'The issue is urgent and alarming, and cat owners are beginning to be afraid,' it says. Shasa described Bartolo as being like a son to her sister. 'She sleeps with her on her pillow and on the sofa,' she said. 'Shes her shadow.' She is staying hopeful that her sister Nima's beloved Bartolo is still alive, adding that the thought of someone harming him 'makes me want to cry'. Other owners of missing cats in the area have reported discovering their pets' unbuckled collars. Local police are said to be investigating. Shocking footage has captured a Qantas plane missing three bolts and a seal on one of its engine parts raising concerns about the airline's standards of maintenance. Journalist Michael West tweeted a video that shows three out of the four bolts that hold an engine air duct in place missing as well as the seal. West said the video was supplied by a Qantas pilot and that the missing pieces had fallen off into the 737's cowl. West told 2GB host Ben Fordham on Monday that although he originally tweeted the plane's maintenance had been done in the Middle East, Qantas had told him it was 'a local stuff up' performed in Brisbane. 'It's lucky that airplanes have more engines, the consequences of this, three bolts of four missing in the air duct is that apparently a fire could have started onboard,' West said. Independent journalist has tweeted video, he says leaked by a Qantas pilot, that shows an engine part missing three of the four bolts that keep it in place and also a seal West admitted that 'to say that the plane could have crashed would be too alarmist'. He said because of outsourcing and cost cutting by Qantas, which made almost $2.5billion in profit last financial year, there was a 'lot of concern' from engineers about the unreasonable demands being made on them. 'You've got these problems and they are mounting and there are a lot of them due to outsourcing and cost cutting,' West said, citing unnamed Qantas sources. Qantas told Daily Mail Australia that 'safety is always our top priority' and they are conducting an investigation into how the defects occurred. 'The issue with the air duct was identified by engineers on Saturday and the aircraft was inspected before returning to service,' a spokesman said. 'The air duct takes air away from the engine and has no impact on the operation of the engine.' The air duct issue emerged on a Qantas 737 (pictured) that had been maintained in Brisbane West said that regulators, such as watchdog ATSB, inspect Qantas planes before they take off. 'A plane generally won't go in the sky if it's is something wrong with it,' he said. However, he said Qantas was successfully keeping some issues out of the spotlight including a recent incident where one of their planes took off from the wrong runway at Los Angeles international airport LAX. This led to two pilots being stood down, West said. West also raised the issue of the watchdog ACCC's investigation into Qantas selling tickets for 8000 flights that had already been cancelled. READ MORE: Qantas passenger Nikita Bennett crawled to her seat after being dropped from wheelchair Advertisement He said former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce sold 17million shares in the airline 'in early June this year when the investigation was in full swing' but hadn't been publicly announced. The value of those shares have dropped by almost 14 percent since the ACCC investigation was announced. 'It's possible that Alan didn't know the ACCC was dealing with the Qantas lawyers but you would think that if the competition regulator is investigating you, you would think that the board and the chief executive would know about it,' West said. He also pointed out that Mr Joyce sold his shares during a Qantas buyback. West called on corporate watchdog to launch an investigation into whether Mr Joyce knew of the ACCC investigation and its possible effect on the price of Qantas shares. 'If he did know, an insider trading prosecution is plausible, indeed warranted' West wrote on his website. Insider trading is when someone has access to confidential information that they use for their benefit giving them an unfair advantage over all who don't know. West said if there was investigation 'the perception that politicians and regulators are "under Qantas thumb" can only deepen; indeed, that there is one rule for the rich and powerful and entirely another for the rest of us'. Former Qantas CEO (pictured right with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese) made the shock decision to quit two months early amid a deluge of bad publicity for the airline West also called on the Qantas board to resign, as he alleged the airline used the $2.7billion in Covid subsidies given it by the federal government to buy back shares inflating their price, which the CEO was also able to personally benefit from. 'It is a very bad look,' West writes of Joyce's stock offloading. 'Presumably Joyce told the board in advance of the sale (we dont know this either), which is now equally culpable for this tacky decision, yet the Qantas directors were docile and let it pass.' Amid a storm of bad publicity Mr Joyce made the shock decision to retire as Qantas CEO last week, which was two months earlier than previously announced. A mother who launched a desperate bid to raise $500,000 for her son's life-saving bone marrow transplant has been told the operation will go ahead even if she can't afford it. Brisbane woman Amelia Corzo-Remigio had been trying to pull the funds together for her son Daniel's operation, after the six-year-old was diagnosed with aggressive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in January last year. Daniel underwent several rounds of chemotherapy and went into remission after the first stage of treatment. But a check-up in July this year showed the cancer had returned with little Daniel now in a race against time to receive a bone marrow transplant. Amelia Corzo Remigio had been trying to pull the funds together for her son Daniel's operation, after the six-year-old was diagnosed with the aggressive B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in January last year Ms Corzo Remigio moved to Australia from Peru in 2018 with her husband and Daniel when he was just 18-months-old, and Daniel's older brother. Because they aren't permanent residents, they don't have access to Medicare and their insurance does not cover the bone marrow transplant. 'The transplant is too expensive. Going back to Peru is not an option, as the medical system is already saturated and a delay can reduce chances of Daniel surviving,' the mother wrote on a GoFundMe. The fundraiser amassed more than $136,000 in just over two weeks but Daniel's family were still more than $350,000 short. Ms Corzo Remigio made a plea to Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, who on Sunday night incredibly announced the operation would go ahead - regardless of whether the $500,000 was secured. 'While we encourage the community to donate if they can, Daniel's family will not be asked to pay more than they are able to, either before or after the operation,' Ms Fentiman said. 'I want to wish brave little Daniel good luck and a speedy recovery.' Ms Corzo Remigio said she felt like her 'soul returned to my body' after hearing the news. 'I feel reassured that Daniel will receive all the care that he needs to save his life,' she told the ABC. Ms Corzo Remigio moved to Australia from Peru in 2018 with her husband and Daniel when he was just 18-months-old, and Daniel's older brother (pictured together) 'We are eternally grateful for every donation and everyone's work that has led us to this point. We thank the health minister for taking time to look into our case.' Ms Corzo Remigio had moved her family to Australia in 2018 to pursue a PhD at the University of Queensland. 'Over the last 5 years, Australia has become my family's home,' she said. 'We have worked and built our lives here and we are surrounded by a beautiful community.' Last year, Ms Corzo Remigio finished her PhD and got a research fellow position at Queensland University's Sustainable Minerals Institute. Upon launching the GoFundMe, the mother said she understood it was a 'tremendous' amount of money. 'We believe communities are stronger when they come together and that we can make a difference in one child's life,' she said. 'Every dollar increases Daniel's chance of survival!' A leading pollster says scattergun messaging by a 'botched' Yes campaign is a key reason why it has been unable to persuade enough voters to back the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in next month's referendum Polling conducted by the Redbridge Group shows the reasons offered by likely Yes voters for supporting the Voice are very diffuse. Beyond the eight most popular rationales for supporting the poll, 29 per cent of Yes voters saying have other reasons - reflecting the variety of different messages that have been put forward by Voice proponents. That is in contrast to likely No votes, whose reasons reflect the more refined messaging of opponents Over half of likely No supporters intend to vote that way because of one of three reasons: the proposed Voice is divisive, its operation is vague and ill-defined, and it will do nothing to alleviate the problems of Aboriginal communities All those messages have been heavily pushed by official No campaigners, such as Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament has fallen along with support for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) in the latest poll The most common reasons voters are saying Yes or No to the Voice have been laid out in new polling. The only Yes campaign message to break 20 per cent of voters is 'other reasons' The most popular reason for voting Yes is that the 'idea came directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people' - which is a point Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly made. The Labor government's message 'constitutional recognition for concrete results' encouraged 11 per cent of Yes voters, while the slogan 'the time is now' is favoured by eight per cent. But the biggest portion of participants - 29 per cent - said they were voting Yes for other, unidentified reasons. RedBridge director Kos Samaras - who has publicly stated he will be voting Yes - said the Yes camp had 'completely botched' its research. 'The Yes camp are trying to win this referendum by driving down a dark road without headlights,' he said. 'Remember that early this year, Yes was heading for a win. But they have been spending millions, selling the wrong messages, to the wrong audiences. 'At the centre of all successful campaigns is good research. If you dont get that right, then a large portion of all the good will, effort and money is in part, wasted.' He later told Daily Mail Australia the fact voters are saying Yes for reasons outside of the campaign 'should be a serious red flag'. 'They seem to have no idea who a significant group of their supporters are and why they are voting Yes,' he said. 'Worse, it means their narrative is ill-equipped to turn around the decline in support.' The Yes campaign has been plagued by concerns it lacks message discipline and was too slow to get off the ground. But insiders say campaign efforts will ramp up from Thursday this week, after parliament takes a break for the final time before the October 14 vote. Meanwhile the No campaign has narrowed down its target audience and correctly identified its strongest message: 'it divides us' It is an attempt to draw the debate away from Canberra and into the community, where Yes strategists say the referendum will be won. Despite support slipping in polls across the board, Yes campaigners are still confident in their pitch, and say the feedback they are getting on the ground is vastly different from the polls. The most recent Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in Nine newspapers on Monday, showed 43 per cent of voters supported a plan to enshrine the Voice into the Constitution, down 20 percentage points from a year ago. The percentage of Australians in favour of the referendum has dropped for the fifth month in a row and since the last survey Victoria has flipped to a majority No, leaving Tasmania the only state left in the Yes camp. For the Voice to succeed, the Yes campaign needs more than 50 per cent of the vote across the nation and in four of the six states. The weakening support for the Voice has also had a knock-on effect on its biggest backer - the Labor government - with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suffering a fall in his net performance rating to minus 7 per cent. Resolve director Jim Reed claimed the results showed support for the No campaign was 'still growing' and that the recent ad campaign featuring John Farnham's iconic song 'You're the Voice' did little for the Yes camp. The percentage of Australians in favour of the referendum has dropped for the fifth month in a row and since the last survey Victoria has flipped to a majority No, leaving Tasmania the only state left in the Yes camp 'The more people engage in the debate, and the more they consider the proposal, the more they are put off,' he said. 'The comments we collect from respondents are becoming more exasperated and frustrated in their tone as the campaign wears on. Many people seem impatient for this to be over, especially those who see it as a diversion or divisive.' Voting in the referendum is compulsory, and failure to do so may result in fines. Hundreds of early voting centres will be available from October 2, with centres to open in the ACT, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia a day later due to a public holiday. Australians will be asked to vote on constitutional recognition of Indigenous people and to enshrine a new advisory body called the Voice. The US Coast Guard responded to reports of a potential fire on the yacht belonging to retired doctor Scott Burke, who was arrested last week after being caught with guns, drugs and prostitutes aboard the boat off the coast of Nantucket. According to the New York Post, one fisherman heard the alert go out on Sunday evening and laughed about it. 'We were like, Oh, hes burning the evidence!'' said the source. 'Oh, hes getting in trouble so hes burning the evidence and were going to come back and hes going to have blown up the boat in the harbor and it will be a nightmare.' The Coast Guard stationed around Nantucket confirmed that they were dispatched to the Jess Conn - Burke's 82-foot luxury vessel - around 4pm after a woman called to report a fire after seeing smoke. The retired doctor was busted last week aboard his luxury yacht in Nantucket harbor with drugs, sex workers and guns On Sunday, the US Coast Guard responded to reports of a potential fire on the yacht belonging to Burke However, officials fast determined that the smoke was merely the boat's exhaust. It wasn't 'anything out of the ordinary,' authorities told the outlet. The retired doc's yacht remains anchored in Nantucket harbor close to one week after the cops discovered a handful of drugs, guns and sex workers onboard after responding to a report that a woman had overdosed. Since then, associates of Burke have been banned from de-boarding onto the mainland of Nantucket. Burke posted a $200,000 bail after pleading not guilty to drug and weapons-trafficking charges in an arraignment at Plymouth District Court. One marina worker told the New York Post that someone from Burke's boat 'tried to get sandwiches or something from the island.' 'They tried to come to the marina, and we told them to leave,' the anonymous worker said. One local said the drug charges, and even the sex workers found aboard the boat weren't necessarily out of the ordinary for the island: 'Everybody does that. He got busted, that's it,' the 61-year-old told the post. 'The guns [are] a completely different ballgame,' the source added. Burke, 69, a married father of two, retired in 2021 after running a successful spine and rehabilitation clinic in Colorado for years. He now primarily resides in the exclusive Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. The Coast Guard and Nantucket Police launched a probe after a woman was taken from the vessel, called the Jess Conn, after a 'wellness check' Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com appear to show Dr. Scott Burke (right) spending the holiday season with his wife Ellen, 65, and two children Jessica and Connor on a similar boat in 2017 - also called the Jess Conn The retired doctor was busted aboard the luxury yacht early last Tuesday morning. On Sunday, Nantucket deputies said he had been spring loose after posting his $200,00 bail. In Massachusetts, bail must be paid in full. Burke posted bail at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility one day following his arrest on the 82-foot Jess Conn yacht. Local dock workers and fishermen said they have since seen people chilling out onboard the doctor's yacht, which has remained anchored in the Nantucket harbor since Tuesday. It is not clear whether Burke is among them or if he has left the island. 'There are people on the boat, but I dont know who they are,' said an angler over the weekend. 'Yesterday, I saw two males They were just sitting in the back with hats and glasses on. Just two people sitting in the shadows.' Burke and his crew were busted Tuesday morning after police were alerted to a woman on the boat in need of medical assistance after experiencing a possible overdose onboard. Responding emergency workers transported the woman to a nearby hospital and promptly discovered some 14 grams of ketamine, 43 grams of cocaine, a loaded 9mm pistol, a .380 pistol and 30-round magazines on board. The floor of the boat's bedroom was also allegedly littered with loose ammunition, according to the official police report. Law enforcement sources confirmed that other contraband was found alongside the guns, drugs and prostitutes, but did not go into further details After police cuffed him, Burke allegedly confessed to owning the guns, and he told the officers where other weapons aboard the vessel were stores. In their report, law enforcement officers wrote: 'Scott Burke does not possess a valid [license to carry] or [firearm identification] card.' As a result of the arrest, Burke was charged with one count of trafficking a Class B drug, one count of possession to distribute a Class A drug, one count of possession of ammunition without a license and four counts of possession of a large-capacity feeding device. Law enforcement sources told the Nantucket Current that sex workers were discovered aboard the boat during the raid. The doctor, who also owns a $2.3million mansion in Englewood, Colorado, appears to have named the vessel after his children. The Jess Conn arrived in Nantucket Harbor on August 23 after a voyage from Newport, Rhode Island. The retired doctor, who set up a medical insurance company where both his children work, appears to have previously owned several other crafts. Pictured: Scott Burke (right) Law enforcement sources confirmed that other contraband was found alongside the guns, drugs and prostitutes, but did not go into further details. The luxury yacht was designed by Jeff Leishman, and boasts four decks of over 24 meters each. It has three large guest cabins, an owner's cabin, a laundry room, as well as a main saloon and formal dining room. The yacht also has a hot tub on board, and can house up to eight guests as well as accommodation for two crew members. The Greens will support the government's housing policy, delivering 30,000 new social and affordable homes, after securing a total of $3billion in additional spending from Labor. After months of tense negotiations with the Albanese government over the Housing Australia Future Fund - which had stalled in the Senate - Greens leader Adam Bandt on Monday revealed the party would support the policy. 'Pressure works. Labor said there was no more money for housing this year and we pushed them to find $3b,' Mr Bandt said. The government did not give in to the Greens' demand they cap rent increases, but Mr Bandt said his party would continue to fight for renters' rights. The Labor government has described the legislation and associated commitments the 'most significant reforms to housing in a generation'. Since the policy's inception, the Greens have expressed concerns about the associated risks of relying on stock market returns. After months of tense negotiations between the Greens and government, leader Adam Bandt today revealed they'd come to a consensus to support the bill At the last election the Prime Minister's promised to the Australian public he would assign $10 billion to a fund to build 30,000 homes nationwide. That money would be invested and all returns - up to $500 million per year - would be spent on building the new properties. The new amendments have guaranteed an annual spend of $500million from 2024 regardless of investment returns. READ MORE: Labor unveils most signficant housing reform in a generation Advertisement The government will also spend $1billion immediately on public and community housing, and has committed a further $2billion to social housing. Mr Bandt and his housing spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather, had repeatedly slammed the policy for failing to to offer any immediate assistance to struggling renters, despite an ongoing cost of living and affordability crisis. He said: 'Renters are powerful and the Greens are the party of renters. We have won more money for housing for renters, and rent control is next. 'I say this to Labor: if you continue to ignore renters, your political pain has just begun. There are several more significant bills on the immediate horizon where the Greens will use our position in balance of power to push the government to address soaring rents with a freeze and cap on rents.' Last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to working with states and territories to build 1.2million new homes in the next five years to combat the national housing crisis. The prime minister has promised life will get easier for renters under the new agreement, after meeting with state premiers to discuss housing Mr Albanese promised life will get easier for renters under the new agreement, after meeting with state premiers to discuss housing. He acknowledged supply remains the primary issue across the board, and has vowed the new homes will be built in 'well located' areas around Australia, starting from July 2024. This is an additional 200,000 homes than pledged last year. National Cabinet has also agreed to work toward providing a 'better deal for renters', which will include developing a nationally consistent policy to remove no-grounds evictions and move toward limiting rent increases to only once a year. The government will look toward phasing in minimum rental standards. 'This is borrowed, unashamedly, from some of the Hawke reforms,' Mr Albanese said. And today, after the Greens revealed their support, Mr Albanese said: 'The $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund will create a secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable rental housing, fulfilling the commitment the Government made to the Australian people.' Of the 30,000 new homes which have been committed to, 4,000 will be set aside specifically for women and children impacted by domestic violence, and older women at risk of homelessness. More to come New York's police officers will face overtime cuts - despite increased crime - as the city continues to struggle with the financial toll of the migrant crisis that has overwhelmed the Big Apple. Upwards of 110,000 migrants are littered across the New York area, with most arriving in the last 18 months from the southern border. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned the issue could cost taxpayers $12million and destroy the city. Jacques Jiha, the city's budget director, has told not just the police department, but fire, sanitation and corrections to drastically reduce overtime. 'The mayor will issue a directive to implement an overtime reduction initiative for our city's four uniformed agencies (NYPD, FDNY, DOC/DSNY),' he wrote in a Saturday memo. The move is part of city-wide budget reductions to help find money to pay for the swell of migrants. The situation might even lead city shelters to force migrant women and children to live in tents because of overcrowded facilities. New York's police officers will face overtime cuts in an attempt to try and get the city's migrant crisis, as funds to keep cops on the job will now be diverted to funding shelters Upwards of 110,000 migrants are littered across the New York area and Mayor Eric Adams' office has estimated the issue will cost New York City $12billion over three years No layoffs are being proposed by the city as part of attempts to keep budgets in check, according to the New York Post. There will, however, be a hiring freeze, save for departments like public health and safety. There is also, apparently, a reduction in overtime. 'These agencies must submit a plan to reduce year-to-year OT spending,' he added, saying that they must send City Hall monthly reports to track their progress toward the city's goal for overtime reduction. The memo comes days after Mayor Adams went on a highly publicized rant, tearing into the migrant crisis crippling the Big Apple - which he warned will 'destroy' the city without urgent action. Speaking to furious residents at a town hall meeting on Wednesday, he admitted he doesn't see a solution to the problem as he slammed the lack of help from Joe Biden. 'Let me tell you something, New Yorkers. Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don't see an ending to this,' he conceded. 'This issue will destroy New York City. Destroy New York City.' He blamed both the state and federal government for 'grossly inadequate' funding to help with the crisis. Migrant services inside the city are also apparently on the chopping block, as Jiha wrote in the memo. 'We are also reducing services being provided to asylum seekers and closely monitoring these services to ensure they are being delivered in the cost-efficient and cost-effective manner possible,' he said. 'The city is experiencing a humanitarian crisis we did not cause,' Jiha wrote. On Sunday, Adams said migrant woman and children who had been given priority at city shelters could soon find themselves out of in-door shelters. 'Were going to have to eventually move women and children into congregant settings. Some migrants might have to move into outside tents,' he said in an interview aired Sunday on PIX11, according to the New York Daily News. 'This is not an academic exercise, this is not a utopia. New York City cannot manage 10,000 people a month with no end in sight. That cant happen, and that is going to undermine this entire city,' the mayor said on PIX11. Migrant services are also apparently on the chopping block, as Jiha wrote in the memo Patrick Hendry, head of the city's biggest police union, the Police Benevolent Association, said that this is no time for cuts to overtime Jacques Jiha, the city's budget director, has told not just the police department, but fire, sanitation and corrections to drastically reduce overtime Patrick Hendry, head of the city's biggest police union, the Police Benevolent Association, said that this is no time for cuts to overtime. 'It is going to be impossible for the NYPD to significantly reduce overtime unless it fixes its staffing crisis,' Hendry said. 'We are still thousands of cops short, and we're struggling to drive crime back to pre-2020 levels without adequate personnel. Despite mayor Adams' cries for help from the state and federal government, the city has not received aid to cover the extra costs, so the $4.7billion would come from the city's budget. That amount is equal to the budgets for the city's sanitation, fire and parks departments combined. There are now nearly 60,000 migrants in the city's care, with about 21,000 new migrant children starting school this year. Many of the migrants are being house in hotels and shelters throughout the city. That has led to scenes of migrants sleeping for days outside the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan as they tried to get inside the at-capacity hotel. In other parts of town, protests have been held as migrants are held in schools with students returning to the classroom. As the school year kicked off on Thursday, some schools were forced to turn away students as the classrooms overflowed. City officials have said they expect the number asylum seeker population to reach nearly 33,980 households this fiscal year. Migrants sleep outside the Roosevelt Hotel in downtown Manhattan Streets in Manhattan have become overrun with migrants hoping for space in one of New York City's sanctuary hotels, pictured outside the once-iconic Roosevelt Hotel in August Eric Adams has turned to a variety of city landmarks and emergency shelters to house over 110,000 migrants in New York. Pictured: Refugees lined the street outside the iconic Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan in August New York City's migrant crisis is expected to cost the city $4.7billion this year. Above is a list of some of the landmarks that have been turned into emergency shelters as officials struggle to house nearly 60,000 migrants in the city's care There are now nearly 60,000 migrants in the city's care, with about 21,000 new migrant children starting school this year. Ecuadorian migrant Kimberly Carchipulla, right, and her son 5-year-old Damien, center, wait for the bus on their way to school on Thursday, in New York As the school year kicked off on Thursday, some schools were focused to turn away students as the classrooms overflowed The city is currently paying about $385 a night per migrant family that needs housing and feeding. According to Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, asylum seekers are costing the city roughly $10 million every day. An exasperated Adams did not mince words on Wednesday as he said the city's survival hangs on outside help to deal with the crisis. It started with a madman down in Texas deciding he wanted to bus people up to New York City,' he said, referencing Texas governor Gregg Abbott's busing of migrants to the city. Adams continued: '110,000 migrants we have to feed, clothe, house... we have to educate their children, wash their laundry sheets... give them everything they need.' Many of the migrants have been bused in from southern states like Texas and Florida as the conservatives governors - such as Abbott Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - of these states look to put some of the migration pressure on progressive governments and President Joe Biden in Washington. They are not undocumented but do not have work permits, as they must wait months to receive them after applying for asylum. Experts say this is one of the main issues, as the migrants can't work and become independent enough to find their own housing. A consent decree from decades ago, means the city must provide housing for all homeless individuals. Last week, Abbott ripped Adams and New York calling the mayor a 'hypocrite' for his warning. The Texas governor noted the migrant population in New York is a fraction of what Texas has faced coming from the border with Mexico. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has shuttled over 35,000 migrants from his state to 'sanctuary cities' across the US, including over 13,300 to New York City The crisis at the border was escalated in April with the expiration of Title 42, a pandemic-era immigration policy - leading to over 10,000 undocumented arrivals every day for several days 'Mayor Adams was proud to tout his self-described sanctuary city status until Texas began busing migrants to New York City to provide relief to our overrun and overwhelmed border communities,' Abbott's press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 'With millions of residents, New York is only dealing with a fraction of what our small border communities deal with on a day-to-day basis,' Mahaleris continued in his statement. 'Instead of complaining about 13,000 migrants sent from Texas, Mayor Adams should be calling out his party leader, President Biden, who has been flying planeloads of migrants all around the country and oftentimes in the cover of night, straining state and local resources across the country. 'Until President Biden steps up and does his job, Texas will continue busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide relief to our overwhelmed border towns.' There have been a flood of migrants arriving at the southern border under Biden's administration, including a spike when Title 42 ended. As Title 42 ended, migrants crossing hit a record 10,000 a day at the border with Mexico. That crushed services and overwhelmed border towns, leading to some states to bus migrants to northern, liberal-led cities. Abbott's move to begin bussing migrants in August 2022 came over a year after he launched 'Operation Lone Star', an initiative that allowed him to take sweeping action against asylum seekers filling Texas towns. He issued a disaster declaration in May 2021 in over 50 counties - most on or near the border - which granted him authority to deploy Texas National Guard troops and advanced his powers to detain. According to analysis by The Texas Tribune, ProPublica and The Marshall Project published in March 2022, the project costs taxpayers $2.5 million every week. Abbott's handling of the migrant crisis in his own state took a major hit this month, however, as a judge ordered him to remove a floating barrier the governor had placed on a river between the US and Mexico to deter border crossings. Danielle Wood called on the PM to look at inheritance tax The incoming chief of the Productivity Commission has called on Anthony Albanese's Labor government to implement an inheritance tax that will take money from parents leaving their belongings to their children. Danielle Wood, 43, the former head of the Grattan Institute thinktank, advocated the new tax in a speech delivered to the Economic Society of Australia on August 30. Ms Wood claimed the policy would shift some of the tax burden to older, rich people and off younger people. In her speech, she also called for retirees to pay a 15 per cent tax on their superannuation earnings and reducing the discount on capital gains tax. Ms Wood, who was appointed to the Productivity Commission top job when first choice Chris Barrett pulled out, said the inheritance tax should not apply to all bequests but only those over $1 million. The incoming Productivity Commission boss has called on Anthony Albanese (pictured) to consider an inheritance tax 'We know that there is a growing pot of wealth, sitting in the hands of older Australians that will be passed on in coming decades,' she told news.com.au. 'You would set some kind of threshold for the size of inheritances and only tax above that amount.' Ms Wood acknowledged such a policy was 'political dynamite' as it's 'seen as kind of interfering with a personal transaction, which is sort of given out of love'. 'But in a world ... where we need to raise money, we're otherwise going to be pushing a huge burden onto future workers.' When pressed for further details about her idea, Ms Wood suggested the tax could kick in at around $1 million or $2 million - around the price of a modest home in Sydney. Ms Wood said she would not want smaller inheritances targeted by the tax. However she emphasized her 'longstanding' advocacy for an inheritance tax was a personal view, not yet an official Productivity Commission position. Danielle Wood (pictured), 43, was appointed to the role by the Albanese government. She was previously the chief executive officer of the Gratton Institute Ms Wood also called for retirees to pay a 15 per cent tax on their superannuation earnings and a reduction in the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount (stock image) READ MORE: Why huge changes to superannuation tax breaks could backfire and end up costing Aussies more Advertisement Australia abolished inheritance taxes in July 1979, a year after Queensland's eccentric National Party premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen led the charge to get rid of death duties. The other states copied Queensland and saw Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser scrap the federal inheritance tax. The Albanese government recommended to the governor general to appoint Ms Wood as the next Chair of the Productivity Commission earlier this month. Her term will last for five years. 'Ms Wood is an outstanding economist who will bring exceptional public policy expertise to the Productivity Commission,' Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in a statement. 'Her track record of leadership and innovative research at the Grattan Institute will greatly contribute to the PCs mission.' 'Ms Wood will be the first woman to lead the Productivity Commission or any of its predecessor agencies that stretch back for more than a century.' The previously announced candidate for the position, Chris Barrett, has informed the Government he is not proceeding with the appointment as he would stay in Victoria to become that state's Treasury Secretary. A young cleaner has revealed the putrid state some Aussie renters leave their home in when their lease is up. Charlotte Bosanquet, the 20-year-old founder of the small business Care Cleaning Services, shared a video of an end-of-lease clean at the weekend. The clip showed piles of rubbish, leftover toys, clothes, a dirty toilet, clumps of hair, plates filled with mouldy food, toothbrushes and drawings all over the walls. 'This is the reality of how some people leave their homes when renting... we will be focusing on clearing absolutely everything out of the property,' Ms Bosanquet said. The 20-year-old business owner shared a video to TikTok on Sunday showing a walkthrough of an end-of-lease clean. The video shows piles of rubbish, leftover toys, clothes, a dirty toilet, clumps of hair, plates filled with mouldy food, toothbrushes and drawings all over the walls Ms Bosanquet said her first step in these scenarios was to remove all the rubbish from the home - which would take the entire weekend. 'We decided to start upstairs and go room by room, so pretty much we just threw everything into a bag and took it down the stairs to the skip,' she said. Ms Bosanquet made a shocking discovery of 'unexpected goodies' while cleaning the kitchen and the pantry - a pair of false teeth. The young cleaner said was a brand new build and the tenants were the first to live in the rental. Many social media users shocked at the state of the home. 'No way this is normal circumstances, who would leave so much stuff behind? all those toys and clothes,' one person wrote. 'I cant believe people can leave it like this, my house gets dirty and I get stressed,' another commented. Founder of Care Cleaning Services Sydney Charlotte Bosanquet said the removal of rubbish would take the whole weekend before she and her team of eight could start cleaning the home 'What!!! I left my house spotless except I forgot to wipe down one ceiling fan and because of that I didn't get all of my bond back,' a third chimed. A fourth person added: 'Great work team. but wow!!! how do people live like that.' Ms Bosanquet revealed her business in February made $3,745 in one week - earning $630 in one day during a 10am to 3pm shift. She explained the cleaning shift was conducted by her and eight of her staff. A row has broken out after a call to ban XL Bully dogs after one of the crazed animals mauled a young girl before chasing and attacking two men who were trying to save her. Dog trainer Kay Taiwo pushed back at calls for a ban and claimed American XL Bully dogs were 'not bred or made to be ultra-aggressive'. She said: 'These dogs don't want to jump about the place. You go online and see people who own these dogs, they will tell you that the dog is calm.' However, she was slammed by dog behavioural expert Stan Rawlinson, who said 'this dog is not a nice dog'. Meanwhile, GMB viewers took to social media to voice their opinions after presenter Ed Balls compared banning XL Bullies to preventing the sale of handguns. Dog trainer Kay Taiwo (pictured) claimed American XL Bully dogs were 'not bred or made to be ultra-aggressive' However, she was slammed by expert Stan Rawlinson (pictured), who said 'this dog is not a nice dog' The pair clashed on Good Morning Britain after a row broke out about banning the controversial breed West Midlands Police opened an investigation after the 11-year-old girl and the two men who intervened were injured in the daylight attack in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon (File image) Twitter/X user Hayley Auton said: 'GUNS!!!! Your not taking guns off our police or army because those are responsible persons. Don't take the dogs from those responsible enough to have them .' (sic.) Social media user Zoe Newton added: '@GMB disgrace, No clue presenters Get them off the air! 3 against 1 here. No neutral minded with one saying she is scared, why cause she read a article & a behaviourist who ADMITS he's never accessed and XL. I don't have an XL myself. All dogs can be dangerous the same as HUMANS!!' (sic) XL Bully owners have slammed plans to ban the beasts. Tracy Turner, 50, from Stoke, owns a male XL Bully called Mush. She told MailOnline: 'I own one and it's not going anywhere.' Ms Turner added: 'There shouldn't be a ban. It's how you bring them up. Tracy Turner, 50, from Stoke, owns a nine-month old XL Bully called Mush. She told MailOnline: 'There shouldn't be a ban. It's how you bring them up' She bought Mush when he was just ten weeks old (left). Ms Turner said: 'He won't take food unless he is told. He has a brilliant temperament [and] loves his toys at the end of the day' The dog owner added: 'It's how you treat them. If you show aggression they will show it back' 'I have had mine from 10 weeks old and he is now nine months old. 'While he's out for walks I've trained him to walk aside of me, to sit when told, not to jump up people as he is getting very heavy. 'He won't take food unless he is told. He has a brilliant temperament [and] loves his toys at the end of the day. 'It's how you treat them. If you show aggression they will show it back.' The row came after Suella Braverman last night vowed to ban dangerous American XL Bully dogs. West Midlands Police opened an investigation after the 11-year-old girl and the two men who intervened were injured in the daylight attack in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon. A video circulating online which was taken from the top deck of a double-decker bus showed the rampage erupt The Home Secretary said she had commissioned 'urgent advice' on outlawing the breed after the 'appalling' attack. Suella Braverman and Policing Minister Chris Philp commissioned the advice on banning the breed last week, with it being the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' responsibility to add the breed to the banned list. She said: 'This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. 'We can't go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.' The dog sprints after another man, who is seen on the film wearing a while t-shirt and shorts Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she had commissioned 'urgent advice' on outlawing the breed after the 'appalling' attack The nightmare bite attack unfolded as the animal's owner was taking it for a walk on Saturday afternoon in Bordesley Green, Birmingham. A video circulating online which was taken from the top deck of a double-decker bus showed the rampage erupt. The little girl's arms was chomped on by the animal before a man managed to pull the dog off her. Do YOU own an XL Bully dog? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement She ran into a shop for safety as the XL Bully was held on the floor but it then managed to escape. The dog sprints after another man, who is seen on the film wearing a while t-shirt and shorts. He is chased onto a petrol station forecourt where he was attacked before the animal is hit and stops the attack. Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, backed Braverman's ban, adding that he has become 'deeply concerned' by the rise in bully dog attacks on people, pets and livestock. An activists and dog breeders alike have claimed the breed are 'very reactive', 'incredibly powerful' and 'dangerous'. Dog breeder Stan Rawlinson, 76, said there is 'something wrongly wired' in XL bully dogs and told the newspaper that he 'wouldn't go near one'. He said they are 'a danger to women, children and everyone else' and can 'open up your jugular veins almost immediately'. Similarly, Elisa Allen, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said: 'It is an undeniable fact that most serious and fatal dog attacks are by bully breeds.' With their 'hair-trigger response' and 'desire to kill', the muscular American Bully XLs are the 'fighters' of choice in this disturbing underworld, with experts saying the horrific levels of savagery displayed by the dogs are 'unnatural' and instilled in them through violent training and years of inbreeding. Despite being outlawed in the UK almost 200 years ago, authorities have warned dog fighting in Britain is on the rise and these type of breeds are the first choice. The muscular American Bully XLs can display 'unnatural' savagery because it had been instilled in them through violent training and years of inbreeding. Bloodshed is now spilling out onto the UK's streets, with the animals responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks since 2021 amid a boom in their popularity, with Bully XLs increasingly being used by celebrities as status symbols. There is no suggestion the dog in this video was anything other than a pet. On Sunday West Midlands Police launched an investigation into what went wrong. A force spokesman said: 'We're investigating after three people were bitten by a dog in Birmingham yesterday. 'An 11-year-old girl ran past the dog as it was being walked by its owner in Bordesley Green, when she was bitten. 'Two men intervened but were bitten and left with injuries to their shoulders and arms. 'They were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries. 'The dog was initially taken to a local vet to be checked over before being taken into secure kennels while the investigation continues. 'The owner of the dog has been spoken to by officers.' This is the latest in a series of dog attacks in the hot weather. As the mercury has been rising, so have the reports of killer canines setting upon victims including a woman who died after being mauled by Rottweilers and a number of children who have been scarred for life. Emma Chandley, a practising vet with Perfect Pet Insurance, said that summer highs 'lower the thresholds for violence' in humans and animals, warning: 'Dogs are more likely to attack and bite in the warmer summer months. As with humans, tensions tend to rise as the temperature does. In a previous incident teaching assistant Katie Deere, 31, was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm 'From my experience, dogs are more likely to bite on hotter days and days when the air pollution is higher,' she told the Daily Express. Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed the rise of the Franken-Bully, a 'mutant' breed of the American Bully XL that some experts fear are 'too dangerous to live'. Underground breeders are creating giant 'mutant crossbreeds' by mating banned pitbulls with legal mastiffs and bulldogs to evade dangerous dogs laws. It comes amid fresh calls for XL Bullys to be banned in Britain after shocking data revealed the breed has been involved in the majority of fatal dog attacks in the UK since 2021. Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved the XL bulldogs - rising to six in 10 in 2022, and fears there could be many more fatalities if urgent action isn't taken to stop the rise of the generically engineered American crosses from reaching Britain's shores. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms Stitches on Miss Deere's arm. She fears if the victim had been a child 'they would have been killed' The mother was due to start a new job this month but is now recuperating and making twice weekly hospital visits Severe injuries to Ms Deere's hand. She described the attack as 'like an out-of-body experience' In a previous incident teaching assistant Katie Deere, 31, was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed. Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm. The quick-thinking single mother pushed the pushchair towards a passer-by who stopped to help and her own dog ran away. READ MORE: Dog attack leaves three-year-old girl in hospital with serious injuries after her face was mauled by the animal Advertisement But she was left at the mercy of the bully XL. Thankfully a lorry driver who witnessed the attack stopped and bravely intervened pulling the dog off her and calling for an ambulance. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms. The traumatised victim later underwent five hours of surgery on her arms, including 50 stitches and repair to a finger that was partially amputated. She is now recovering with relatives and an aunt who has set up an online fundraising appeal said they had discovered Miss Deere is 'not entitled to any sort of compensation or government help as the dog was uninsured and owned by a minor'. The incident happened at 11am on August 17 in Askern, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Meanwhile, tragedy struck yesterday when a woman, 40, died after two Rottweilers savaged her legs and arms when she tried to say help to them. Marie Stevens' nightmare unfolded on August 18 in Netherton in Merseyside. She was rushed to hospital after the dogs pounced and had been discharged to go back home. But she collapsed at her Brighton-le-Sands home on Sunday and was sadly pronounced dead. Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved XL bulldogs - rising to six in ten in 2022, including high-profile maulings that killed children Jack Lis, ten, and Bella-Rae Birch, aged 17 months. So far in 2023, the dogs have fatally savaged two people - amid fears a third person, a four-year-old girl, could also have fallen victim. It comes as shocking footage on social media has shown how the dogs chase down some of their victims, with one video in London capturing the moment one of the beasts tackles a screaming woman to the floor while it tears chunks of her flesh off. Only this week it was revealed two Bully XLs were responsible for killing 22 pregnant sheep and injuring 48 others in a frenzied attack in Wales that forced a farmer to shoot both of the dogs. Meanwhile, police forces across the UK say they are increasingly being called out to seize or destroy the animals - which shares the DNA with the banned American Pit Bull Terriers but that are not on Britain's list of dangerous dogs. In July, horrifying footage showed the moment two police officers in South Yorkshire were attacked by a Bully XL, with the incident leading to a warning from one of the county's top cops, who said Britain could no longer 'ignore the fact that the XL bully breed is disproportionately represented in the number of dog attacks'. The situation comes as Britain is gripped by an epidemic of dogfighting, with the RSPCA saying it has attended an average of 30 incidents a month this year. Horrifying police body-worn camera footage shows the moment two officers in South Yorkshire were attacked by an American Bully XL The dog can be seen mauling one of the officers in the footage, released by police in July of this year While in London, one woman was filmed being attacked by a Bully XL as she screamed and begged for help as the beast dragged her to the floor Pictures show how Bully XLs are forced to run on make-shift treadmills amid claims some of the animals are whipped or kicked by their owners to make them more aggressive. And there is evidence of a low-level group of wannabe dogfighters obsessed with the culture of 'strong' dogs. These animals may not take part in matches, but they are trained to be aggressive, risking injury to other pets and people. Meanwhile, pictures on social media show how other owners are 'training' their dogs, letting the animals dangle from ropes by their teeth to strengthen their jaws and biting power. Other owners appear to allow their animals to sink their teeth into tree branches as they while dangling in the air. Dr Lawrence Newport, a law and criminology lecturer at Royal Holloway University recently published a detailed report on the Bully XL, and was worried by the trend. He told MailOnline the dog's violent upbringing by savage owners had led to them having a 'hair trigger response' and a 'desire to kill'. Did you see the attack? Email stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk Anyone with information has been asked to contact police via Live Chat quoting log 3245 of 9/9. President Joe Biden is scheduled to be on the ground in Alaska for less than two hours Monday as he marks the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The White House put out the September 11 schedule Sunday night, after the president spent two days in New Delhi, India for the G20 Leaders' Summit and then traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, as the U.S.'s diplomatic status was elevated with the Asian nation. On Monday morning from Vietnam, the White House also noted that the Biden administration would install a 9/11 Memorial on the North Portico starting at 6:30 a.m. - as Biden won't memorialize the terror attacks until hours after the Twin Towers were hit. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shared only vague details on how Biden would mark the solemn anniversary once the Vietnam leg of the Asia trip was added on. It would be the first time a president didn't attend one of the anniversary services at Ground Zero, the Pentagon or in Shanksville, Pennsylvania or host a memorial service at the White House, as Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama each did during one year of their terms in office. GOING BACK IN TIME: President Joe Biden (left) spent the morning of Monday, September 11 in meetings with Vietmanese leaders including Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right). He'll then cross the International Date Line to mark 9/11 in Alaska Lights are beamed up from Ground Zero where the World Trade Center stood before the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is typically Air Force One's refueling stop. Those stops usually last around 90 minutes as the president's plane is filled with gas. DailyMail.com asked Jean-Pierre for details on how Biden would mark the 9/11 anniversary in Alaska during a press briefing in late August. She was asked if there had been any discussions about scheduling the Vietnam leg of the trip before the president was due in India, so to not skip marking the day in one of the three places where the planes crashed. 'So, look, we'll - we'll have more on - on 9/11 in Alaska. As you just men - as you just mentioned, I laid out - announced that,' she said. 'Look, the president wanted to make sure that he, as the president, did something to commemorate 9/11. And that's what you're seeing. That's what you're seeing the president do,' Jean-Pierre continued. 'We'll certainly have more details to share. I just don't have anything more outside of that.' President Joe Biden listens to Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong during a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. He has meetings with Vietmanese officials the Monday morning of September 11 and then will pay tribute to Sen. John McCain President Joe Biden delivers a toast at a State Luncheon Monday in Hanoi as he meets with Vietmanese leaders during his five-day trip to India and Vietnam Jean-Pierre was pressed for the plans, again, on board Air Force One Thursday as the president flew to India for the G20. 'Look, the president is going to mark the anniversary of the September 11th attacks this year in Alaska, as you just mentioned, with - with service members and their families. 'And, as he does every year, as hes done every year, he plans to honor the lives lost and the families and loved ones who still feel the pain of the terrible day. This is something he feels is very important to do. We can only imagine the heartbreak and the pain that the 9/11 families have felt every day for the past 22 years,' she continued. She added that the 'families have certainly been on his mind in recent days and they will continue to be on his mind as we approach the anniversary, as you know, is coming up on Monday.' Jean-Pierre wasn't sure when asked if any 9/11 family members - or anyone else personally impacted by the 2001 attacks - would be on hand. 'We'll have more to share, but we'll definitely be meeting with the service members and their families, which he believes is incredibly important. We'll certainly have more to share as we get closer to Monday,' she said. Biden has a full day scheduled on September 11 in Vietnam, including a visit to the late Sen. John McCain's memorial in Hanoi. The monument's site, alongside Ho Truc Bach Lake, marks where McCain's plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. The late senator spent five years in the country as a prisoner of war. Former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry, another Vietnam War veteran, will be with Biden as they were both McCain's Senate colleagues and friends. Biden will then fly east and cross the International Date Line so he's able to mark 9/11 before the day concludes in the U.S. An Australian woman who flew to Bali for a wellness retreat spent 12 days in hospital after suffering a stroke while taking a dip in a holy waterfall. Ingrid Zubaydullaeva, 59, had flown from Melbourne to the popular island getaway on August 26, before arriving at the retreat in Ubud. The following day, Ms Zubaydullaeva and her fellow travellers were taken to the Sebatu holy water spring which is where the 59-year-old started to feel unwell. She had been near the waterfall when her right side suddenly gave in, leaving Ms Zubaydullaeva toppling over into the water. As those around her rushed to her side, the reception was so bad the bus driver was forced to race to a nearby hospital just to get them to send an ambulance. Ingrid Zubaydullaeva spent 12 days in hospital after suffering a stroke in Bali while on a wellness retreat Making matters worse, the ambulance took two hours to arrive, with helpers taking another hour to bring Ms Zubaydullaeva up from the waterfall to the top of the hill. Her friend Liz Brine said Ms Zubaydullaeva was unable to move or speak, and her right side was paralysed from the stroke. When she was finally assessed at hospital, five hours after her fall, Ms Zubaydullaeva was told she had hypertension, which is when a person's blood pressure is too high. 'No one saw it coming. She was fine during the flight and even on the morning before she had the stroke,' Ms Brine told news.com.au. She'd visited her GP before her trip and had been given the all-clear, adding to the confusion as to why she suddenly became so unwell. 'It is not known exactly what caused it and there were no initial concerns,' Ms Brine said. Ms Zubaydullaeva arrived back home in Melbourne on Sunday after spending 12 days in hospital, with her son flying over from Australia to be by her side. While receiving care, the mother racked up a $6,000 medical bill. Ms Brine has asked the community to help out by donating to a GoFundMe while Ms Zubaydullaeva tries to get back on her feet. 'She had to borrow money to pay for the final bill as she just wanted to come back to Australia to continue treatment here,' the friend told Daily Mail Australia. 'She still has a long road ahead as her mobility is still impaired.' Hurricane Lee continues to grow stronger as it churns over the Atlantic and remains a threat to the coast of the northeast U.S. with dangerous rip currents. Late on Sunday, the storm was centered about 285 miles north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120 mph and it was moving northwest at 8 mph. Last week, Lee strengthened from a Category 1 storm to a Category 5 storm in just one day. It lost strength, becoming a Category 2 storm in recent days, but now has grown stronger to a Category 3 and increased in size. 'We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear,' said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the U.S. East Coast, but the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear. Hurricane Lee is not forecast to make landfall and is expected to stay over open waters at least through Friday This satellite image provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Lee, right, in the Atlantic Ocean seen on Sunday Lee is expected to strengthen further in the upcoming days and then weaken again, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The center of Lee also was growing in size, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 75 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles. Breaking waves of up to 20 feet were forecast for Puerto Rico and nearby islands starting early this week, with authorities warning people to stay out of the water. Coastal flooding was expected for some areas along Puerto Rico's north coast and the eastern portion of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the National Weather Service in San Juan. Sunday appeared to be just another hot and humid late summer day in Puerto Rico's capital, San Juan, where people walked by the beach or exercised, and businesses were open. 'So far it's just a normal day,' Kelly Herrera, a guest service agent at the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel on San Juan's beachfront, said in a phone interview. Herrera said people were advised to stay away from the water in preparation for swells and dangerous rip currents generated by the storm. The National Weather Service's office in Puerto Rico forecast waves of 6 to 10 feet, possibly higher, in some coastal areas. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the U.S. East Coast starting on Sunday, but that the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaked on Sunday The storm's projected path shows it remaining at sea - however, some models show it hitting the Northeast U.S., impacting places such as New York City and Boston with heavy rains and dangerous conditions. 'Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the U.S. East Coast this week as Lee grows in size,' the center said. Lee is the 12th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaked on Sunday. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was about 1,185 miles west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late Sunday. Its winds stood at 65 mph and it was forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by Monday night. It was moving northward at 8 mph. Storms may be battering some parts of the UK but they haven't yet dampened hopes of an eighth day of the September heatwave. Some parts of Britain could be set to bask in glorious sunshine again today before temperatures finally plunge after a record-breaking heatwave. Forecaster Simon King told BBC R4 Today that 30C remained a possibility, sparking hopes for another sunny day. Even so, the Met maintained that a large swathe of rain was pushing down from the northwest, bringing with it cooler temperatures. They admitted it will stay humid with low cloud and mist in the southeast for the rest of Monday. By Tuesday it expected to be dry and sunny but will be cooler, and will progress in a similar fashion on Wednesday. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: 'There will be a few thunderstorms tomorrow. POWYS: After a torrential downpour, the sky clears and lightning made for a spectacular light show at Builth Wells in Powys, Wales GLOUCESTERSHIRE: A gigantic lightning cloud was spotted over the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal at Hardwick on Sunday evening LINCOLNSHIRE: Storms (pictured in Fosdyke) may be battering some parts of the UK but they haven't yet dampened hopes of an eighth day of the September heatwave Forecaster Simon King told BBC R4 Today that 30C remained a possibility, sparking hopes for another sunny day KENT: The country battled a seventh consecutive day of 30C heat on Sunday. Pictured: A view of a busy beach in Broadstairs, Kent yesterday KENT: Bosses have been told to expect millions of staff to pull sickies in a bid to take advantage of the warm weather NEWCASTLE: The Met Office issued a yellow thunderstorm warning covering southern Scotland from midnight until 6am on Monday morning. Pictured: Cars and vehicles get trapped on a flooded road as a torrential downpour in Newcastle yesterday afternoon The warning means some people could be in store for flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds - with possible interruptions to road access and public transport NEWCASTLE: Some people could be in store for flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds - with possible interruptions to road access and public transport 'But for the vast majority they will be a bit more scattered in nature than (on Sunday).' Bosses have been told to expect millions of staff to pull sickies in a bid to take advantage of highs of 28C today. BrightHR, which monitors absence among more than 800,000 workers, told the Daily Star that the number of Britons off work today could rise by a fifth. What is causing the heatwave in Britain? The heatwave is being driven by tropical storms pushing a high pressure system over the UK, with the jet stream having moved to the north and bending into what is known as an omega blocking pattern. Named after the Greek letter Omega () because of its shape, this system occurs when an area of high pressure gets stuck between two areas of low-pressure to the west and east and also slightly south. This has brought torrential rain and flooding for Spain and Greece but hot, dry and clear conditions for the UK. Advertisement Yet some Britons may need to brace themselves for thunderstorms today after the country battled a seventh consecutive day of 30C heat. Scotland may have already seen the weather break though, with the Met Office issuing a yellow thunderstorm warning covering the south of the country from midnight until 6am today. Some people could be in store for flash flooding, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds - with possible interruptions to road access and public transport. This week's heatwave has already broken the record for the most consecutive days with temperatures above 30C in September, with Saharan dust generating vivid sunsets and sunrises in the clear conditions. The Met Office said that the highest temperature on Sunday was recorded in Cambridge, at 32.5C. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said that the heatwave is 'unprecedented'. 'We have never seen anything as long lived in terms of a heatwave in September before,' he said. 'We have a third thunderstorm warning overnight for southern Scotland,' Mr Morgan said. 'That expires at 6am. And then once that's cleared, there will be a few thunderstorms tomorrow. 'But for the vast majority they will be a bit more scattered in nature.' The next few days will start to see cooler temperatures across the UK, with tomorrow predicted to see showers in the southeast. The rain will eventually clear on Tuesday, leaving mostly dry and sunny conditions while Wednesday will see a cooler start with some sunshine and further showers later in the day. NORTH TYNESIDE: Paddle boarders take to the water as the sun rises over a cargo ship near Cullercoats Bay LONDON: A cyclist rides along a path at Hackney Marshes in north east London KENT: A view of a busy beach in Margate, Kent, which saw yet another scorching day DORSET: Durdle Door in Dorset was packed this afternoon as beach goers enjoyed another day scorching September sunshine The sun rises this morning in Dunsden, Oxfordshire BRISTOL: People with umbrellas admire Brunell's Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol under stormy skies during a shower of rain CAMBRIDGE: A couple in a kayak pass punters on the River Cam in Cambridge DEVON: Raich Keene and Raphael the retriever on a sunny back beach at Teignmouth, Devon, yesterday morning KENT: People flock to a beach in Margate, Kent, earlier on Sunday Yesterday saw Brighton beach packed with parasols as 150,000 day-trippers flocked to the Sussex resort, while Blackpool pulled in 100,000 visitors. This week's hot weather has triggered a fresh wave of health warnings, amid fears the NHS will come under pressure, as those with heart conditions or breathing difficulties are put at most risk. Some events have also been cancelled, including Dogfest, which was due to take place this weekend at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire but was called off after the weather conditions were deemed 'not in the best interests of dogs'. The scorching conditions are making the UK warmer than Malaga on the Costa del Sol, which was only set to reach 28C (82F) yesterday. Supermarkets reported soaring demand for summer food and drink products, with Tesco estimating it would be up to 80 per cent higher this weekend than in mid-July. Meanwhile Toolstation said sales of watering cans have increased by 107 per cent compared to the previous week, and up 84 per cent compared to this time last year NORTHUMBERLAND: The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning until tomorrow morning KENT: A lady relaxes on the beach in Broadstairs, Kent yesterday Sales of cooling fans have risen by a whopping 1,704 per cent, while water sprinklers are up by 465 per cent and hoses have risen by 88 per cent in the same timeframe. Lakeland added that sales of ice cream makers are up by 483 per cent week on week although, bizarrely, heated blankets are also up 192 per cent week on week. Meanwhile Waitrose said sales of burgers were up 29 per cent compared to the same time last year, ice cream sales up 49 per cent and rose sales up 28 per cent. Searches for 'Ice lolly' on Waitrose.com have risen 60 per cent in the last week, while 'bbq food' is up 29 per cent and 'picnic bag' is up 200 per cent. EXCLUSIVE One of Australia's most notorious gang rapists, Mohammed Skaf, has filed a restraining order against two people, including a female drug dealer, two years after he was freed from jail. Skaf, 40, walked from Long Bay correctional complex in October 2021 after serving a 22-year sentence for his role in a string of brutal sexual assaults around south-west Sydney - carried out when he was 17 years old, alongside his brother, Bilal. The brothers, along with about 12 others, went on a month-long rape rampage in the weeks leading up to the 2000 Olympic Games, holding at least six women against their will and repeatedly assaulted. Few crimes in Australia's recent history have stirred more community anger than the campaign of terror waged by the gang. Upon his release, Skaf had indicated a wish to get married, have children, find a job and study architecture. However, Daily Mail Australia can now reveal he fears for his personal safety. Mohammed Skaf is pictured on the day he walked from Sydney 's Long Bay correctional complex, in October 2021 Mohammed Skaf (right) was released in 2021 from Long Bay jail. Bilal Skaf (left) will be eligible for parole in 2033. He is serving a minimum term of 28 years with a maximum of 31 In June, police took out apprehended violence orders against Alexandra Mastropetros, 27, and Hicham Ismail, 31, on Skaf's behalf. The AVO against Ismail, who was previously jailed for affray, was upheld in Bankstown Local Court in September for a period of two years. The restraining order against Mastropetros came as she was charged with stalking and intimidation with an intent to cause fear and physical harm. Mastropetros failed to appear in court on September 7, in accordance with her bail conditions, and was convicted in her absence. She was also convicted of two drug supply offences and will face court again for sentencing on September 21. Skaf was one of gang of Lebanese-Australian youths led by his older brother Bilal who went on a rampage of pack rapes in Sydney's south-west in 2000. At least six women and girls were held and repeatedly sexually assaulted in four attacks that shocked Australia and raised racial tensions to fever pitch in NSW. Mohammed Skaf is pictured outside his family's home at Greenacre Gang rapist Mohammed Skaf after his arrest at the age of 17 One woman was raped 25 times by 14 attackers at three locations in an ordeal that lasted six hours. She was called an 'Aussie pig', told she was going to get it 'Leb-style' and asked if 'Leb c*** tasted better than Aussie c***'. In another attack, a 16-year-old was pinned down on the ground and raped by 18-year-old Bilal while a dozen of his underlings stood around her laughing. 'These men treated her much like wild animals treat prey they have just killed,' judge Michael Finnane said, at the time. He described their crimes as being 'worse than murder'. 'These were not random attacks and, in my view, they were aimed at creating terror in the community,' he said. 'It seemed clear to me that these men were sending out a message to the community in Sydney. 'Skaf and the members of this gang clearly wanted public recognition for what they had done.' Skaf's brother Bilal was the ringleader of the gang. He was almost 19 upon arrest, and is now 42. He will be eligible for parole in 2033. Nine members of the Skaf gang were jailed. About five offenders were never caught. Upon his release from jail in October 2021, the younger Skaf brother had spent most of his life in custody and never publicly expressed remorse for his crimes. The Skaf family home is about 1.7km from Gosling Park (above) where one of the Skaf gang's pack rapes occurred on August 12, 2000 Former soldier Daniel Khalife allegedly escaped prison by strapping himself to the underside of food delivery vehicle using a material 'which may have been from bed sheets', a court heard today. The 21-year-old was remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with escaping custody at HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday and will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 29. Khalife, who has been accused of spying for Iran, was arrested on a canal towpath in west London at 10.41am on Saturday after being pulled off a push bike by a plain-clothes counter-terrorism officer. Prior to his alleged escape, Khalife had been on remand at Wandsworth Prison after being charged with terror offences in January. At the short hearing, Khalife wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms appeared in the dock flanked by two police officers and a dock officer spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. Khalife wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms appeared in the dock flanked by two police officers and a dock officer spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth Captured alleged spy Daniel Khalife was swept into Westminster Magistrates' Court today in an armoured police van The Met held traffic as the terror suspect was rushed to appear in court Daniel Khalife, a former soldier in the 22 Signal Regiment, was on remand at HMP Wandsworth ahead of his six-week terror trial when he escaped A dog walker helped lead police to Khalife after they chatted on a park bench The terror suspect's four days on the run ended at 10.41am on Saturday when an undercover officer pulled him from a bike as he cycled along a canal towpath Prosecutor Thomas Williams said on the morning of 6 September, Wandsworth prison notified police that Khalife was missing. He had been working in the jail kitchen and 'there were suspicions he had disappeared via a food delivery truck.' The court heard police intercepted the delivery truck at 8:40am on Upper Richmond Road. Police found two makeshift straps, made from material thought to be from bed sheets, with clips on each end, attached to the underside of the vehicle. Mr Williams said: 'There was a four-day manhunt of 150 police officers per day, using resources from other police forces and government agencies.' The court heard Khalife was arrested at 10:41am on 9 September after a plain clothed officer, in an unmarked vehicle received reports Khalife had been spotted on a bicycle. Khalife had in his possession a small amount of money, clothes and a mobile phone. He told officers he had 'almost been caught on several occasions', that he 'hated the governor of Wandsworth', and that he had been to Richmond Park and the Chiswick area Khalife also told officers the lorry driver was unaware of his escape. Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram remanded Khalife in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on 29 September. A 75-hour manhunt was launched after he escaped by clinging to the bottom of a food delivery lorry. British-born Khalife, who has Iranian and Lebanese heritage, was charged in January with breaching the Official Secrets Act and for an alleged bomb hoax at his barracks. Over the weekend he was charged with escaping HMP Wandsworth contrary to common law. Scotland Yard was last night refocusing its efforts on piecing together Khalife's four days on the run, including probing those who might have helped him escape or evade capture while at large. Suspicions that Khalife relied on a network of support were fuelled after he was arrested wearing new clothes, carrying a Waitrose cool bag filled with food and travelling on a mountain bike. A former prisons minister said the terror suspect would have received some sort of 'collusion and support'. During the manhunt, a house in Richmond, south-west London, was raided by police after intercepted communications led them to believe Khalife may have been there, security sources told The Mail on Sunday. Shortly after the raid, there were sightings less than three miles away in Chiswick. Khalife was detained as he cycled along a canal towpath in Greenford, west London. Sources have also claimed that Khalife, who is accused of spying for Iran, had access to a mobile phone behind bars, raising the prospect that it may have been smuggled in by a visitor or a member of staff. Officials have refused to comment on whether he had access to a phone, but Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the escape was clearly planned. He told LBC: 'It is a question. Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation? This is really concerning.' A national manhunt was launched for Daniel Abded Khalife, a former soldier suspected of terror offences when he escaped on September 6. It ended four days later Khalife was wearing a chef's uniform of Wandsworth prison similar to the one pictured at the time of his escape. He was in different clothes and had a bike when he was arrested The 21-year-old former soldier will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court today charged with escaping Wadsworth Jail Two guards at HMP Wandsworth have been suspended following Khalife's escape. It is understood both were involved in overseeing the exit of the Bidfood catering vehicle from the prison grounds. It also emerged that Wandsworth's head of security and safety is under investigation for alleged misconduct. Bobby Cunningham was suspended a few months ago. Former prisons minister Rory Stewart told Sky News: 'It seems clear if he had strapping underneath this vehicle, that there was some kind of collusion and support. But it's also clear that they seemed to spend, I don't know, half an hour [to] 45 minutes before they even noticed he was gone from the kitchen, and he shouldn't be in the kitchen in the first place.' The man accused of murdering young mum Kelly Wilkinson is yet to have a psychiatrist assess his mental state at the time of the horrific killing, a court has been told. Ms Wilkinson's estranged husband, Brian Earl Johnston, is charged with murdering the mother of three in April 2020. Police allege Mr Johnston doused his estranged wife in petrol before setting her alight at the back of her Arundel home on the Gold Coast. Her burnt body was found by emergency services at the home. Mr Johnston was found by police close by the home a short time later. He allegedly had serious burns to his hands and airway and was taken to hospital. Kelly Wilkinson's body was found in the backyard of her Gold Coast home in April 2020. Ms Wilkinson is pictured Brian Johnston (pictured) allegedly doused Ms Wilkinson in petrol before setting her body alight During a brief mention at Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday, Mr Johnston's defence barrister Kim Bryson said her client was still being briefed on the prosecution's evidence and she was yet to receive trial instructions. Ms Bryson said she was also seeking a psychiatric expert's report on Mr Johnson's mental health at the time of the alleged murder. She told the court that she'd approached 16 different psychiatric experts and finally had secured one, but the report wouldn't be ready until mid to late November. Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy KC said he expected the trial against Mr Johnston would take between two to three weeks. Justice Callaghan set the trial date for March 11, 2024. The matter was also listed for pre-trial discussion on December 16. Police discovered Ms Wilkinsons body at her Arundel home (pictured) in April 2020 Ms Wilkinsons sister Danielle Carroll (pictured left) and her husband Rhys Carroll (pictured right) were seated in court on Monday when Brian Johnston's trial date was set Mr Johnston, who is yet to enter a plea, remains in custody. Police also charged another man, Bradley Bell, with Ms Wilkinson's murder. Mr Bell allegedly drove Mr Johnston to her Arundel home and helped fill up a jerry can with fuel along the way. Mr Bell was committed to stand trial in May 2023 and remains in custody. An explosion and fire at a soybean processing facility in Illinois injured eight employees over the weekend and sent a tower of smoke into the air, officials said Monday. The explosion occurred at the east plant in the Archer Daniels Midland processing complex shortly after 7pm on Sunday in Decatur, about 150 miles southwest of Chicago, the agricultural company said in a statement on its website. Six of the eight injured workers were taken from the scene by ambulance with the 'extent of injuries unknown,' Battalion Chief Wade Watson with the Decatur Fire Department said in a statement Monday morning. ADM said in a statement early Monday afternoon that five employees remained in hospitalized 'receiving treatment for their injuries' and added that the company's 'priority is providing our injured colleagues and their families support.' The explosion was followed by a large plume of dark smoke high above the facility in a video posted by WCIA-TV. The explosion occurred at the east plant in the Archer Daniels Midland processing complex shortly after 7pm on Sunday in Decatur, about 150 miles southwest of Chicago At least eight people were injured in the blast. Fire crews can be seen working on the scene The Chicago-based company said the plant where the explosion occurred produces soybean oil and white flake for soybean protein production. That plant is currently idle and ADM's adjacent corn processing plant is 'also temporarily down until we can safely resume operations,' the company said. 'The main fire was extinguished overnight, and we are continuing to closely monitor and assess the extent of the damage to the complex as we investigate the cause of the incident,' ADM said. The Decatur Fire Department said a fire crew remains on the scene monitoring hot spots and the cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation. The explosion is the second episode at the plant in less than a month, the (Decatur) Herald & Review reported. On Aug. 28, two Decatur firefighters required hospital treatment after they battled a large fire at the plant. In that instance, crews found heavy fire in a processing tank that was spreading into adjacent tanks. A convicted killer serving three life sentences for the grisly double murder of a mother and her daughter has pleaded he 'didn't do this' and pointed the finger of blame at Milly Dowler's killer Levi Bellfield instead. Michael Stone, 63, has always maintained his innocence regarding the gruesome murders of Linn Russell and her daughter Megan who were savagely killed in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent in 1996. In new interviews from his cell in HMP Frankland which are due to be aired in a Sky documentary, The Russell Murders: Who Killed Lin & Megan , the killer pleads: 'I never did this. It wasnt me. I wasnt there. 'Bellfield is getting it off his chest and telling the truth. It should show that Im not responsible.' The killings - which shocked the nation- saw Lin, 45 and her two daughters, Josie and Megan, six, as well as their dog Lucy tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Michael Stone (pictured) is currently imprisoned after twice being convicted of the Russell murders but has consistently insisted his innocence Lin Russell, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan (above with her mother) and nine-year-old Josie, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack in 1996 Serial killer Levi Bellfield has reportedly confessed to a double murder from 1996 and signed a written statement with 'information only the killer would know' The only person to survive the ordeal was nine-year-old Josie who sustained horrific injuries with Stone going on to be convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1998. Earlier this year, Bellfield reportedly signed a confession to the double murder, which 'contains information only the killer would know'. Speaking in April, Stone's solicitor claimed they had received a 'genuine' four-page statement from Bellfield in which he details his involvement in the killings - until he withdrew it. Bellfield's solicitor Theresa Clark told the Mirror : 'This is a new and more detailed one. 'The statement made last year was never signed by him but he's subsequently done a written statement which he's signed.' Kent Police have always maintained that Stone's conviction is safe and referenced Bellfield's troubling history of offering prison officers false confessions. However, Stone's legal team have said they will launch legal action to challenge the Criminal Case Review Commissions (CCRC) decision to refuse to refer his conviction to the Court of Appeal. Stones barrister Mark McDonald has called for a demanding a judicial review that would mean the investigation into the Chillenden murders would be reopened. Of particular interest to Stone's defence would be fragments of DNA found on a bootlace that was discovered a short distance from the bodies as no forensic link between Stone and the murder scene has ever been established. Stone has twice been found guilty of their murders and is serving three life sentences, but no scientific or identification evidence links him to the scene. Pictured: Police at scene in 2001 Lin, 45, her two daughters, six-year-old Megan and nine-year-old Josie, as well as their dog Lucy, were tied up and savagely beaten with a hammer in the brutal attack. Only Josie survived. The deaths in the picturesque village of Chillenden, Kent in 1996 shocked the nation Stone's defence team claim that new Y-STR DNA testing techniques could now prove Bellfield was responsible. Speaking to the Mirror, Mr McDonald said: 'The CCRC have said they will not be doing any further DNA testing. 'We are issuing a letter to force them to do testing that they havent done. There were broken strands of DNA found at the scene which did not belong to the family and did not belong to Michael Stone. 'It is that that we want testing. We want Mr Stones case to be sent directly to the Court of Appeal.' Stone's police record dates back to 1971 when he was 12 years old and continued into his adult life, serving three prison sentences in the 1980s and 1990s. Stone has previous convictions for crimes including ABH, robbery, burglary and GBH and was known to carry weapons. He was sentenced to two years' in prison in 1981 for attacking a man with a hammer during a robbery. He then received a four-and-a-half year sentence for stabbing a friend while he slept in 1983, an attack that penetrated the friend's lung and nearly killed him, and he tried to wound a police officer in the eye after this arrest. Stone was jailed for a third time and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for two armed robberies in Maidstone and Brighton respectively during the same week in 1986. He was released from prison in 1993. After being arrested on unrelated charges a year after the murders, Stone was alleged to have confessed to the murders to prisoner Damien Daley in Canterbury Prison. Levi Bellfield is currently serving life in prison for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler Bellfield has also allegedly confessed to murdering 19-year-old student, Elizabeth Chau in 1999 Bellfield is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of schoolgirl Millie Dowler, 13, in 2002. He has also been convicted of murdering Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, and will never be considered for parole. Bellfield is thought to be the only criminal in UK legal history to be serving two whole-life orders. Earlier this year he is said to have confessed to another murder. In April 1999, a 19-year-old student, Elizabeth Chau, left Thames Valley University and was caught on CCTV walking home along the Uxbridge Road near Ealing police station. She was never seen again. The Sun reported Bellfield penned a 'signed confession' to killing Ms Chau, 'bundling her in a van' and also detailed 'where she is buried' as well as admitting five other murder attempts. He is understood to have handed in the confession to his solicitor Theresa Clark in March this year however the Met Police have not yet began searching the area the killer claims to have buried her body. Mr McDonalds continued: 'The CCRC primarily dismissed Bellfields confession because they say he has spoken to police in the past and he has made confessions which the police have investigated and which turn out to be not true. 'But they tell me what those cases are, what the allegations were and the extent of the police investigations. Bellfield has admitted to the murder of Elizabeth Chau. However the Metropolitan Police have refused to dig. 'That raises questions about the CCRC decision because we dont know the extent of the police investigations.' The Russell Murders: Who Killed Lin And Megan? is on Sky Documentaries and NOW on September 16 at 9pm. Police are searching for two teenage 'eshays' who refused to pay their bill at a family-run nail salon, assaulted a worker, racially abused him and fled the scene. The female duo visited the Get Polished nail salon in the Newcastle suburb of Waratah about 2:30pm on Sunday, where they requested two complete sets of acrylic nails costing $140. They then refused to hand over the money for the service according to staff, blaming the lack of mobile service in the store for the reason they couldn't pay. The two fled and when a staff member caught up with them, they kicked him in the stomach and him slapped in the face, before telling the man of Asian descent to 'go back to your own country'. In footage posted to the Salon's Facebook page, one of the girls can be heard saying 'try and catch me on this you f***ing dopey c**t' while riding away on a scooter. 'That's what I thought mother f***er,' she told the worker. READ MORE: Out of control eshays leave some Australians too scared to leave their homes Advertisement 'They were being rude ... (The male staff member) was very upset,' owner of the store Lee told News.com.au. In a post to the salon's Facebook page, they claim the two girls had 'provoked and dared our employee to fight back if he dared and said that they were underage'. 'We are a small family business trying to earn a living and would like to alert the community and other small businesses so that this does not happen to them,' the post reads. 'We hope that sharing this post they will stop this awful and unacceptable behaviour.' Lee said her frustration is not about the money - it's about the lack of respect. 'I'm angry because it's happened a lot,' Lee said. 'Teenagers know their power and they can get away with everything. 'Pressing charges is not going to affect them at all, I know that because there was exactly the same incident with my staff [in another store]. 'They ran away and my staff caught them and they still got away.' Police are searching for two teenage 'eshays' who refused to pay their bill at a family-run nail salon, assaulted a worker, racially abused him and fled the scene Footage posted by the nail salon shows one of the teenagers riding a scooter while telling one staff member to 'try and catch me on this you f***ing dopey c**t' Numerous locals commented on the salon's Facebook post to detest the girls' actions towards the staff. 'This kind of action is unacceptable, scornful, disrespect and such an embarrassment,' one local wrote. 'They are just plain awful and they and their parents should be ashamed,' a second wrote. NSW Police have released descriptions of two girls they believe can aid with enquiries, while urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. 'The first woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance with blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a black 'Champion' hoodie, with grey trackpants, and black and white 'slides',' a statement from NSW Police reads. 'The second woman is described as being of Caucasian appearance with dark brown hair. She was last seen wearing a grey 'Ellesse' jumper, with dark pants and white 'Onitsuka Tiger' sneakers.' Richard Branson's sister has urged people not to cancel their holidays to Morocco following an earthquake that has killed more than 2,100 people. Vanessa Branson, whose family own hotels in the country, made a plea for tourists to continue with their holiday plans and for donations to the victims. She also called on the annual meeting of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to go ahead in Marrakesh on October 9 as planned. Her plea came as video showed damage to one of Branson's hotels - the Kasbah Tamadot - that sits in the Atlas Mountains 30 miles south of Marrakesh. It is also near to the small village of Imlil where two British backpackers were reported missing by their families, but confirmed overnight to be safe after they spent a night sleeping on the streets. Vanessa Branson, whose family own hotels in the country, made a plea for tourists to continue with their holiday plans to Morocco and for donations to the victims of the earthquake Vanessa Branson's plea came as video showed damage to one of Branson's hotels - the Kasbah Tamadot - that sits in the Atlas Mountains, 30 miles south of Marrakesh The epicentre of the quake struck in Al Haouz province, around 45 miles south of Marrakesh. The province is home to small communities high up in the Atlas mountains, as well as Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot hotel (pictured) People carry the remains of a victim of the deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Morocco 'The summit absolutely needs to go ahead. There is no reason not to visit Marrakesh now,' Vanessa Branson told The Times from the Moroccan city, home to one million. 'Although a number of old buildings have been damaged, the fundamental heart of the town, like its people, is robust,' she added. Ms Branson urged holidaymakers to continue with their holiday plans to the country, saying that money from the tourism industry would be vital for the rebuilding efforts of communities left devastated by Friday's 6.8 magnitude earthquake. The epicentre of the quake struck in Al Haouz province, around 45 miles south of Marrakesh. The province is home to small communities high up in the Atlas mountains, as well as Branson's Kasbah Tamadot hotel. The region is largely rural, made up of red-rock mountains, picturesque gorges and glistening streams and lakes. Small hamlets are dotted through the hills. Marrakesh itself also experiencing strong shakes that caused rubble to fall into the streets and alleyways. 'All the international hotels and most riads are strong enough to stay in,' Ms Branson said. 'My message is: don't cancel your holidays. You will come to a country where the true resilience and beauty of the people is shining through the crisis.' Ms Branson's plea came as the footage, verified by the Associated Press and showing the damage to the Kasbah Tamadot, was posted online. The short clip showed a doorway with rubble on the ground, and damage to the castle-like turrets above, some of which teetered on the brink of collapse. Volunteers dig in the rubble of collapsed houses in the village of Imi N'Tala near Amizmiz in central Morocco after the deadly 6.8-magnitude, September 10, 2023 Family members embrace in the rubble of collapsed buildings in Morocco, September 10 A woman is overcome with emotion at the site of collapsed buildings in Morocco, Sept. 10 Meanwhile on Monday, rescuers faced a growing race against time to dig any survivors from the rubble of devastated villages in the surrounding hills. The country's strongest-ever earthquake has so far claimed more than 2,100 lives and injured over 2,400, many seriously, according to official figures. Rabat on Sunday announced it had accepted aid offers from four foreign nations, while many other countries have also said they were willing to send assistance. Authorities have responded favourably 'at this stage' to offers from Britain, Spain, Qatar and the UAE 'to send search and rescue teams', the interior ministry said. It noted the foreign teams were in contact with Moroccan authorities to coordinate efforts, and said only four offers had been accepted because 'a lack of coordination could be counterproductive'. Other offers may be accepted in the future 'if the needs evolve', according to the ministry. France was willing to provide aid 'the second' Morocco requested it, President Emmanuel Macron said. A Qatari aid flight left from Al-Udeid air base outside Doha on Sunday evening, an AFP journalist said. Spain has sent 86 rescuers and eight search dogs to Morocco to 'help in the search and rescue of survivors of the devastating earthquake suffered in our neighbouring country', said a defence ministry statement. 'We will send whatever is needed because everyone knows that these first hours are key, especially if there are people buried under rubble,' Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told public television. A woman cries and is consoled by family as volunteers recover the body of a family member of collapsed houses in the village of N'Tala, in central Morocco, September 10 A volunteer prays near the rubble of collapsed buildings in the village of Imi N'Tala People walk past a partially collapsed building on September 10, 2023 in Ouirgane, Morocco The earthquake wiped out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountain range, where civilian rescuers and members of Morocco's armed forces have searched for survivors and the bodies of the dead. Many houses in remote mountain villages were built from mud bricks. The remote village of Tafeghaghte, 40 miles from Marrakesh in Al-Haouz province, was almost entirely destroyed, with very few buildings still standing. 'Everyone is gone! My heart is broken. I am inconsolable,' cried Zahra Benbrik, 62, who said she had lost 18 relatives. Authorities recorded more than 1,300 deaths in Al-Haouz province alone. According to Moroccan public television, 'more than 18,000 families have been affected' by the quake in Al-Haouz, site of its epicentre. The education ministry announced that classes in the worst-hit villages of Al-Haouz were 'suspended', and schools would not be open from Monday. Citizens on Sunday rushed to hospitals in Marrakesh to donate blood to help the injured while many mobilised to help those affected. Some parts of Marrakesh's historic medina and its network of alleyways saw significant damage, with mounds of rubble and crumpled buildings. The kingdom has declared three days of national mourning. The Red Cross warned it could take years to repair the damage caused by the quake. 'It won't be a matter of a week or two... We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years,' said Hossam Elsharkawi, its Middle East and North Africa director. The quake was the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir, killing more than 12,000 people. Angel Lynn's mother has revealed her paralysed daughter's first word in three years was 'mum' after she was left brain-damaged during a horror kidnapping by her jealous ex-boyfriend. Angel, 22, was bundled into the back of a moving van in Rothley, Leicestershire, in September 2020 by her ex Chay Bowskill, then 20. She suffered catastrophic brain injuries when she fell out of the vehicle head-first at 60mph on the A6 near Loughborough. Obsessed Bowskill is now serving a 12-year prison sentence for kidnapping, coercive and controlling behaviour, and perverting the course of justice. During his relationship with Angel, the callous thug was known to be controlling and aggressive and would send her dozens of abusive texts messages calling her a 'stupid c***' 'b****', and a 'divvy little s**g' when he didn't get his way. Her mother Nikki Lynn today told Good Morning Britain that she feared her daughter would 'never speak again' after the tragedy, before Angel suddenly said the word 'mum'. Angel Lynn's mother has revealed her paralysed daughter's first word was 'mum' after she was left brain-damaged during a horror kidnapping by her jealous ex-boyfriend Angel (pictured before the kidnapping), was bundled into the back of a moving van in Rothley, Leicestershire, in September 2020 by her ex Chay Bowskill, then 20. She suffered catastrophic brain injuries when she fell out of the vehicle head-first at 60mph Angel's mother Nikki Lynn (pictured) today told Good Morning Britain that she feared her daughter would 'never speak again' after the tragedy, before Angel suddenly said the word 'mum' 'She said it the first time and I just couldn't believe it. I thought I've got to get it on camera, because sometimes she doesn't always do things a second time. I asked her to do it again and she did it straight away,' said Nikki. 'I was in the hospital. I just walked in, and then she was groaning. It started when I said, ''Angel you know if you're making those sorts of sounds, you must be able to say something''. 'That's when I started making sounds myself and it just came out. I had no warning or anything [...] because I thought she'd never speak again. You don't like to get your hopes up.' Angel's parents also spoke about their daughter's changes in behaviour after she started a relationship with Bowskill. 'Clothes. Her appearance. Angel used to wear a lot of skinny jeans. She had a beautiful figure,' said Nikki. 'That went to wearing tracksuits and hoodies and not wearing makeup,' said Paddy Lynn, Angel's father. 'She didn't really have her hair down like she used to - it would be tied up in a bun.' Nikki and Patrick were told their daughter would not survive after the tragedy. CCTV caught the moment Angel was forced into a van by Bowskill and his accomplice Rocco Sansome in Rothley, Leicestershire, in September 2020 after an argument. She then fell out of the vehicle, which was driven by Sansome, as it travelled at 60mph, before she was found by horrified members of the public. Bowskill was jailed for seven and a half years earlier this year while Sansome received 21 months. Bowskill's sentence was later increased to 12 years, although Sansome's was not changed. An incredibly emotional clip showed Angel speaking in sign language to her mother Nikki When Angel met Chay Bowskill (pictured) her life changed, her parents told a Channel 4 documentary earlier this year Angel's parents also spoke about their daughter's changes in behaviour after she started a relationship with Bowskill, saying she started wearing baggier clothes and wearing her hair up more Angel used to wear a lot of skinny jeans. She had a beautiful figure,' said Nikki Nikki and Paddy Lynn (pictured) appeared on Good Morning Britain today to share Angel's first word since tragedy struck in 2020 Angel's first word since the accident comes months after heartbreaking footage was released showing the young woman signing 'I love you too' to her mother in a Channel 4 documentary about the tragedy. She can be seen in the film in her mobility chair as Nikki tenderly holds her hand and tell her 'You will get there you know. You have come so far in the last year.' And as her mother tells her 'I love you', Angel points to her eye, her heart, then her parent, before making the number two with her fingers to reciprocate back. Nikki replies to her 'I know you do baby'. More heartbreaking footage showed bubbly Angel singing, dancing and laughing with her friends before she met her controlling boyfriend who kidnapped her and changed her life forever. Her parents revealed how it went downhill when she met jobless Bowskill who took away her independence. 'Angel always wanted to be a forensic scientist and work for the police, she was very ambitious,' her father Paddy told. 'But when she met Chay all ambitions went down the drain.' In the documentary 'The Kidnap of Angel Lynn,' Angel's mother Nikki and cousin Fahren describe an 'amazing' former relationship Angel had, but when that ended Angel slipped away from the friendship group. When she started to get 'back out there' was when she met Chay, Nikki said, 'which changed her life'. 'I didn't really like Chay from the beginning. He didn't have a job, Angel's always had a job,' Paddy, Angel's father, said. 'Angel always made out she wasn't going out with him, they were just friends. 'With her first boyfriend she never used to hide anything from us, we knew where she was. But everything changed when she met Chay, she used to tell fibs so she must have been ashamed of him, probably because he wasn't a good boy. 'It broke my heart because me and Angel were always close. As soon as we found out we were having a girl I said let's call her Angel - and she's always been my angel. She was always daddy's girl.' Paddy described how Angel was always 'fun' and 'adventurous'. Bowskill was jailed for seven and a half years earlier this year. Bowskill's sentence was later increased to 12 years Nikki and Patrick were told their daughter would not survive after the tragedy Angel's mother revealed she had got a tattoo on her ankle which said Chay's name READ MORE: Heartbreaking unseen footage shows Angel Lynn dancing and laughing with friends and family - as parents reveal paralysed teen wanted to join the police before meeting jobless car thief boyfriend who kidnapped her when she dumped him Advertisement But Nikki said she was told her daughter's boyfriend 'was a bad one and that he used to steal cars and motorbikes'. Nikki revealed Angel was doing a public services college course and had got a competitive place on a trip away - but had turned down the opportunity to stay with Bowskill. 'Wherever Chay went, Angel went,' Nikki said, adding that they used to go from 'hotel to hotel'. Angel's mother revealed she had got a tattoo on her ankle which said Chay's name. 'She wanted both excitement and love, and that's probably what she thought she was getting at the start,' Nikki said. But she revealed she was told Bowskill 'used to steal cars - and he finally got caught'. Her father hoped she would 'see sense' when Bowskill was sent to prison, but it didn't work out that way. Nikki tells the documentary that Angel always seemed to be running around after Bowskill, sending him money, and that she would make sure she was home for 6pm to speak to him. He would phone her on the house phone to ensure she was at home, she claimed. 'I do think she did love him, so it was a bit easier then for him to control her,' Nikki said. A grandmother killed another motorist in a hit-and-run road smash after she was allowed to drive despite taking three different powerful prescription painkillers for her arthritis. Angela Worrall, 66, caused an oncoming car to swerve and hit a tree as she tried to overtake a lorry - then drove on apparently oblivious to what happened behind her. The driver of the other vehicle was Keith French, 59, a cable layer, who suffered fatal injuries in the impact and died at the scene. The tragedy occurred as she was driving her red Citroen C3 on the A5117 near Ellesmere Port at 3pm on November 5, 2021, while on her way to collect her granddaughter from school. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, Worrall who was legitimately taking the opioid medications tramadol, dihydrocodeine and gabapentin for arthritis and fibromyalgia was chased down by another motorist but she ignored his pleas to pull over. At Chester Crown Court, Worrall, who lives in the Elton area of the city, was sentenced to a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months - despite having faced up to five years jail in jail. Grandmother Angela Worrall, 66, killed another motorist in a hit-and-run road smash after she was allowed to drive despite taking three different powerful prescription painkillers The driver of the other vehicle was Keith French, 59, a cable layer, who suffered fatal injuries in the impact and died at the scene When arrested later she was said to be unsteady on her feet, was unable spell her own name and could not keep a balance when walking in a straight line. She claimed to know nothing of the tragedy but insisted she had never been advised not to drive. A judge said her senses may have been affected by the medication but the court heard she was not charged with drug driving whilst impaired by reason of the medication. Mr Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, said: 'Mr French was driving his Vauxhall Corsa motor having just left the M53. Mrs Worrall was driving her Citroen C3 in the direction of Cheshire Oaks and was on her way to collect her granddaughter from school. 'She was one car in a line of four vehicles. In front was a Ford Transit van with a trailer. There was no suggestion of excessive speed by anyone. Mr French was driving at a perfectly safe speed in the opposite direction. 'Mrs Worrall pulled out into the opposing lane. All drivers thought that she was trying to overtake the transit van. The driver immediately behind her she said pulled out suddenly and in a deliberate manoeuvre. 'She drove halfway into the oncoming lane before swerving quickly back behind the Transit van to avoid the oncoming Mr French. At Chester Crown Court, Worrall, who lives in the Elton area of the city, was sentenced to a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months 'The drivers also saw Mr French take evasive action. He swerved to avoid a collision and lost control, driving onto the pavement and colliding with a tree. The driver of the Ford Transit said it was clearly obvious what happened and said the Citroen driver must have been able to see in the mirrors. However, Mrs Worrall did not stop after the collision, after what happened to Mr French's vehicle. The court heard the Transit driver followed Worrall up to a roundabout and pulled up alongside her while his passenger leant out and waved at her but she did not respond. 'The driver of the Transit van took the note of her registration,' Mr Roberts continued, 'When he drove back to the scene he gave the registration to the police. Sadly, Mr French died from the catastrophic injuries sustained in the collision. 'The defendant was located within the hour whilst she drove back on the same roundabout having picked up her granddaughter. When she was arrested she had difficulty spelling her surname. 'When back in custody she was unsteady on her feet and she had to sit down. 'An impairment test was carried out at the police station but she could not keep a balance when walking in a straight line. The medication did not help. he was asked to count out 30 seconds in her head, and she failed that impairment test. 'She was taking tramadol, dihydrocodeine and gabapentin. She said she had been taking them for years. She is not to be sentenced for driving whilst impaired due to those drugs but that hopefully gives an overall impression of the circumstances. In an interview later that night, she said she swerved to avoid a dog that had run into the road. 'She denied overtaking the Ford Transit, she denied knowing that Mr French had swerved off the road, and said she had not been aware of the driver of the Transit trying to get her attention on the roundabout.' 'Much loved brother' Mr French (pictured) was described as having driven at a 'perfectly safe' speed In a statement Mr French's brother Graham said: 'Keith was a much loved brother, a great character. He looked after his mum but he is not there to care for her now. She has lost her son. She is struggling with that. She should not have had to come to terms with losing a child. He was a big character, a part of the family, much loved and very much missed.' For Worrall, defence lawyer James Cooke said she has always had issues with balance, and that her reactions must be seen in the context of a woman who had never been in a police station before and being told she had caused a fatal accident. 'She was understandably scared and there was an element of shock after being told what had happened,' said Mr Cooke. 'She makes a genuine and heartfelt apology. She knows she cannot say anything that can bring Mr French back. There are no words that she can utter that can bring any solace to his family but she does want through me to articulate the fact that she does feel all those things, shame, guilt and remorse, and offers an unreserved apology. 'She is well thought of, somebody who played an important role in the upkeep of her children and latterly her grandchildren. This accident has had a dramatic impact on her personality, her health, her life. She has not resumed driving by choice. She has struggled to come to terms with what she has done and this is something that she's going to have to live with for the rest of her life.' Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett also banned Worrall from driving for two years and ordered her to complete 10 rehabilitation activity days with the probation service. He told her: 'This is a case where everybody has lost - it is a truly, truly, tragic case. No sentence I can pass can in any way compensate Keith French's family, his brother and his family for the huge loss they have suffered. 'I'm quite satisfied that stupidly you decided to pull out to see if you could overtake the van. You pulled out sharply, checked you could not overtake and pulled back in sharply. The tragedy occurred as Worrall (pictured outside court) was driving her red Citroen C3 on the A5117 near Ellesmere Port at 3pm on November 5, 2021 'The tragedy is that Mr French, who was driving perfectly properly in the opposite direction, must have seen that extremely quick manoeuvre and he took evasive action. Tragically, his car went off the road and hit a tree. 'I recognise that the medication you took is what you have been prescribed and nobody has told you not to drive, but it seems to me that your senses were not as clear as they should have been and you have been taking that medication for your very significant medical issues. 'You should have been aware of that. What you should not have done was decide to suddenly manoeuvre as you did. The evidence points that you had no idea of the devastation you caused. If you had you would not have driven back in the way you did. 'Nevertheless, the van driver was trying his best to get your attention. It was all part and parcel of a poor piece of driving on that day. Medical evidence is something I must take into account. 'Whatever punishment this court passes, nobody will punish you more than you have punished yourself. You will have to live for the rest of your days knowing that you have caused the death of someone and you alone have caused that death.' Vietnamese leaders toasted to President Joe Biden's health Monday as he cultivated powerbrokers and touted business deals a day after the country's Communist Party head said he hadn't 'aged a day.' The toast came as Biden met Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, as part of an effort to cement growing political ties with the country's leadership, which is upgrading its official diplomatic status with the U.S. It came on a day when Biden is also pushing forward U.S.-Vietnam business ties, including a new deal for Vietnam Arlines to purchase about 50 aircraft from Chicago-based Boeing for $7.5 billion. Another deal will have Arizona-based Amkor Technology construct a $1.6 billion factory in the country's Bac Ninh Province. Those economic ties could be cemented further if Vietnam with U.S. government backing purchases F-16 fighter aircraft in the coming months. Vietnam is seeking to diversify its military hardware even as it continues arms deals with Russia, which has been its historic supplier. Salud! Vietnamese leaders toasted President Joe Biden's health, on a day when he met with business leaders and top figures in the government and toured a memorial to his late friend Sen. John McCain Vietnam is the United States' 10th largest trading partner, with two-way commerce of about $90 billion, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Biden who is on his first-ever trip to Vietnam said it was an honor to be there adding that it was a day that 'may have seemed impossible not that long ago.' He also referenced the 'boundless possibilities ahead' as the U.S. and Vietnam strengthen ties, amid continued flexing by China in the region. Biden, who is a teetotaler, also quoted a Vietnamese poet during his own toast and remarks. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Phm Minh Chinh during his confab with business bosses and said 'the sky is the limit' on cooperation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was there. 'We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships,' Biden said. Companies represented at the meeting included Boeing Global, semiconductor firm Marvell, and Google. He was also set to meet Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam. The global deal-making came just hours after Biden visited the Vietnamese Communist Party headquarters, which has a hammer and sickle display on its exterior. At that event, Biden got a vote of confidence in his youthful bearing - from the aging communist party leader who has amassed power in Hanoi for decades. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 79, delivered the compliment while welcoming Biden to Vietnam for a visit where the U.S. will be elevated to a 'comprehensive strategic partner' and the president will honor the late Sen. John McCain. Trong buttered up Biden, 80, inside communist party headquarters, under a large statue of Ho Chi Minh. 'It's nice to see you again. You have nary aged a day and I would say you look even better than before,' Trong said, drawing chuckles from the president. 'Every feature of you Mr. President is very much complimentary of your image,' Trong added. Vietnam is the United States' 10th largest trading partner, with two-way commerce of about $90 billion, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office President Joe Biden (left) attends a meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) at the Communist Party of Vietnam's Headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam President Joe Biden (left) participates in a welcome ceremony hosted by Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday afternoon Trong made the remark as the two men were seated at a long table to announce the U.S.'s upgraded status. 'This is Vietnam's highest tier of international partnership,' Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer explained to reporters on board Air Force One ahead of the arriavl. Biden arrived in Hanoi Sunday afternoon after spending two days in India at the G20 Leaders' Summit. He was whisked to Vietnam's Presidential Palace where he was treated to a welcome ceremony that included a musical performance and dozens of schoolchildren waving both countries' flags. With Biden was former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry, whose service in the Vietnam War, and subsequent objection to the conflict, was a major piece of the Democrat's 2004 presidential run. The two former Senate colleagues will pay tribute Monday to one of their own - McCain - who was held as a prisoner of war for five years in Vietnam after his plane was shot down on October 26, 1967. Kerry, who Biden appointed as his climate czar, told DailyMail.com he was in Vietnam recently working 'on a lot of things' and confirmed he would be attending Monday's event honoring McCain. Former Secretary of State John Kerry can be seen standing behind President Joe Biden (left) and Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right). Kerry and Biden will pay tribute to Sen. John McCain Monday in Hanoi Dozens of school children holding up both American and Vietmanese flags participated in the welcome ceremony for President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace on Sunday President Joe Biden is welcomed to Vietnam at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday President Joe Biden will on Monday visit the memorial marking where the late Sen. John McCain's plane was shot down in October 1967 There's now a memorial at the crash site. 'A thruline you will see during our time there is this five-decade arc in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship from conflict to normalization to the establishment of a comprehensive partnership in 2013 and now to this elevated status of partnership, again the highest level in the Vietmanese system,' Finer said. The upgrade is another way the U.S. is trying to combat China. Still top Vietnamese officials were also tending to their relations with China before Biden's arrival, a decision that reflects China's powerful sway and long-term commitment, despite longstanding tensions between the two nations. Vietnam 'can't be sure that the United States would really come to their defense if push came to shove with China,' John Ciociari, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Gerald R. Ford School's Weiser Diplomacy Center at the University of Michigan told DailyMail.com. 'It still is heavily reliant on China for trade and investment,' he noted. The New York Times reported Saturday, one day before Biden's arrival, that Vietnam was also seeking an arms deal with Russia, despite deepening its U.S. ties and amid Russia's assault on Ukraine. Finer noted how the U.S. has discouraged countries from having military partnerships with Russia. 'It should not be appealing to have a security relationship with a country that is committing war crimes, that is committing violations of international law,' Finer said. But Finer also pointed out that Vietnam and Russia have long had military ties. 'Vietnam has had a decades-long relationship with Russia, and a decades-long military relationship with Russia. But our strong sense is that there is increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietmanese, with that relationship,' Finer said. 'The value proposition of that relationship it not what it once was,' he added, calling disentangling Vietnam from Russia a 'work in progress.' But the job has some unpopular conditions Driving a bus in Sydney pays up to $100,000 a year - so why does hardly anyone want to do it? Transport for NSW currently needs 370 bus drivers across all parts of Sydney and a further 10 regional areas, with some job adverts also offering bonuses of up to $6,000 just to start work. While salaries are advertised at between $70,000 to $90,000. they can go higher with overtime and allowance for driving double decker or double carriage buses. Drivers also get perks such as free travel on all public transport, which can be worth up to $3,000 a year. A 2023 recruitment campaign has attracted 144 new drivers since April, but it's still not moving fast enough to meet the shortage of drivers, which is leading to cancelled services every day and angry passengers across the network. While the private companies that operate Sydney's routes are expected to run 95 per cent of services on time, they don't measure up in four major areas according to data from the NSW Bus Industry Taskforce. Driving a bus in Sydney pays up to $100,000 a year - so why do the drivers seem so bad tempered and to reluctant to do the job? Pictured: two Sydney bus drivers in a promotional photo While the private companies that operate Sydney's routes are expected to run 95 per cent of services on time, they don't measure up in four major areas. Pictured: a woman checks her phone as a bus departs While a 2023 recruitment campaign has brought on 144 new drivers, it's still not moving fast enough to meet the shortage of drivers. Pictured: passengers queue to wait for a Sydney bus at the Queen Victoria Building Buses in the Eastern Suburbs, the Hills District and North Shore ran on time just under 95 per cent of the time as at July 2023. In the Sutherland/Georges River/Punchbowl areas buses were on time only 88 per cent of the time. The major reason buses don't run on time is understood to be driver shortages, which remain despite the attractive wages, putting pressure on the drivers who are behind the wheel. 'New South Wales is dealing with an unprecedented bus driver shortage,' a Transport for NSW spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. Many drivers are feeling stressed by pay issues, gruelling work hours and fears over their security from demanding and argumentative passengers. The safety of bus drivers, who usually are on their own if confronted by violent passengers, and the long list of responsibilities scares off many potential applicants. The mandatory Driver Authority training includes issues such as 'dealing with aggressive passengers, safe driving, needs of passengers with disabilities, emergency response, fatigue management, crash procedures, rock throwing, defensive driving and fire prevention'. In March last year a Sydney bus driver of Asian descent was verbally abused by a Covid denier after asking the person to wear a mask. Video of the incident showed the male passenger shouting at her. 'You are not gonna f**king push me! F**k you, I'm not doing it! It's over, Covid's a scam and I'm not sick, f**k you,' he said while walking to his seat. He also told her to 'go back to China'. At he time face coverings were mandatory on Sydney transport. Some of the drivers however get into conflicts when passengers are not apparently at fault. Nine news court reporter Tiffiny Genders called out the driver of Sydney's 333 eastern suburbs bus service on August 30. Nine's Chief Court Reporter Tiffiny Genders (above) called out the driver of Sydney's 333 bus route on August 30 after he 'humiliated' an elderly passenger Genders shared a tweet (above) slamming the Sydney bus driver's behaviour While salaries are advertised at between $70,000 to $90,000 they can go higher with overtime and allowance for driving double decker or double carriage buses. Pictured: a driver waits for a passenger to board a Sydney bus She tweeted that the driver of the service, which runs from Bondi to Circular Quay, in Sydney's CBD, abused an elderly woman after she stepped on. She accused the driver of 'Humiliating an elderly passenger... all because she misunderstood an instruction.' One of the main downsides to the job is understood to be split shifts that mean drivers start earlier and finish later than most workers. A common shift begins at 5.30am and finishes at 6.30pm, with five hours off in the middle of the day. The unpopular shifts are necessary because more drivers are needed for the peak periods when most commuters travel. One woman Karyn, who quit driving for Keolis Downer on the Northern Beaches, said the shifts don't suit the lifestyles of people with young families - or people who want a social life. 'It makes it impossible to have a life outside [work], have a social life, have a family life,' she told Nine newspapers. She now drives for a private company working four day weeks and earns $84,000, $2,000 less than she earned for her brutal monthly work cycle. The current NSW Transport minister Jo Haylen, who has been in the job since March 2023, blamed the previous government for the shortage of drivers and for several common complaints bus drivers make about their jobs. 'We're still facing a significant shortage of bus drivers because the former Liberal government refused to engage with the workforce,' Ms Haylen told Daily Mail Australia. 'They left the bus industry with sub standard toilets and rest areas, a two tiered wages system and an unnecessary amount of red tape that discouraged people from becoming bus drivers.' Covid denier was seen shouting horrific abuse at an Asian bus driver in Sydney after he was told to wear a mask The bus driver repeatedly told the unmasked man to get off the bus but he fought back telling her to 'go back to China' 'There are a sizeable number of drivers in training but we will not be able to fix this problem overnight.' The issues are said to be related to the privatization of Sydney's bus network, much of which occurred in 2021. The current state government is also waiving the $70 fee for those applying for a new Bus Driver Authority as part of efforts to boost driver numbers in NSW. The fee waiver is available for 12 months. Daily Mail Australia approached Transport for NSW for comment. A Wilko rescue deal proposed by HMV owner Doug Putman has collapsed, with the retailer's administrators now expected to try to sell about 100 stores to Poundland. The Range is also now set to buy the Wilko brand as PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) continues to try to save as many of its 400 stores and 12,500 employees as possible. Canadian businessman Mr Putman's proposed deal fell through after weeks of talks over a deal that could have saved hundreds of stores and jobs, reported Sky News. It comes after PwC last week named the first 52 Wilko shops across Britain that will shut either tomorrow or this Thursday, which will result in the loss of 1,016 staff. Discount chain B&M has agreed to buy up to 51 stores and other parties have been speaking to PwC about acquiring the remaining 300 after the 52 shut this week. Unlike Wilko, discount retailers B&M and Poundland have cashed in on demand for affordable homeware and miscellaneous goods amid the cost of living crisis. A Wilko store in Cardiff is pictured yesterday with closing down signs posted on the windows A Wilko rescue deal proposed by HMV owner Doug Putman (pictured in a store) has collapsed Mr Putman told MailOnline: 'It is with great disappointment that we can no longer continue in the purchase process for Wilko having worked with administrators and suppliers over several weeks to seek a viable way to rescue it as a going concern.' Which Wilko stores will close this week? Administrators for Wilko have revealed the locations of 52 stores which will close this week. The following Wilko shops will close tomorrow (Tuesday): Acton, London Aldershot, Hampshire Barking, London Bishop Auckland, County Durham Bletchley, Milton Keynes Brownhills, Walsall Camberley, Surrey Cardiff Bay Retail Park Falmouth, Cornwall Harpurhey, Manchester Irvine, North Ayrshire Liverpool Edge Lane Llandudno, Wales Lowestoft, Suffolk Morley, Leeds Nelson, Lancashire Port Talbot, Wales Putney, London Stafford, Staffordshire Tunbridge Wells, Kent Wakefield, 121 Kirkgate Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Westwood Cross Retail Park, Kent Winsford, Cheshire The following Wilko shops will close on Thursday: Ashford, Kent Avonmeads, Bristol Banbury, Oxfordshire Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria Basildon, Essex Belle Vale, Liverpool Burnley, Lancashire Clydebank, Glasgow Cortonwood, Barnsley Dagenham, Essex Dewsbury, West Yorkshire Eccles, Greater Manchester Folkestone, Kent Great Yarmouth, Norfolk Hammersmith, London Huddersfield, West Yorkshire Morriston, Swansea New Malden, South-west London North Shields, Tyne and Wear Queen Street, Cardiff Rhyl, Wales Southampton West Quay St Austell, Cornwall Stockport, Greater Manchester Truro, Cornwall Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Walsall Woking, Surrey Advertisement Sources claimed they 'had tried very hard to make it work but it had been just too difficult with running costs and suppliers, it was always going to be a challenge'. The main issue blocking the deal was said to have been the prohibitive cost of replacing the retailer's old legacy supply chain and moving to a new system. Mr Putman added: 'We had financing in place and received the full support of PWC, Wilko management and staff representatives, which we are deeply thankful for considering what a challenging time it has been for them. 'However, commitment to overhauling the trading framework of the business with partners and the costs of running Wilko's legacy operations infrastructure combined has meant that a stable foundation could not be secured to ensure long term success for the business and its people in the way that we would have wanted.' Mr Putman is thought to have wanted around 200 stores and had offered to pay off 40million of debt to creditor Hilco. He was also said to have been keen to purchase the Wilko brand, which would have meant its signature red logo stayed on high streets. Meanwhile it was also reported that suppliers are demanding overdue payments from administrators, which has slowed down the sale process. Last week, PwC said 'it is possible that further store closures may regrettably be necessary' after naming the first 52 shops to close. There will be closures tomorrow and on Thursday across the UK in locations ranging from Bishop Auckland and Barrow in Furness to Hammersmith in West London and Weston-super-Mare. Last week a further 299 redundancies at two distribution centres in Worksop in Nottinghamshire and Newport in south Wales were announced taking the total number of jobs lost to 1,601 since Wilko crashed into administration on August 10. Discount chain B&M agreed to buy up to 51 shops. It is thought to want to rebrand the Wilko stores it is buying as it expands its high street presence. But it remains uncertain how many staff will be kept on. Retail property expert Jonathan De Mello, founder and chief executive of JDM Retail, told MailOnline today: 'The worst possible outcome for Wilko staff has now been realised, with Putman's bid falling through. 'The bid was ill fated from the outset, with Putman initially bidding for 350 stores way too many given a large number of these will have contributed little/nothing to overall business profitability. 'This led to Gordon Brothers refusing to finance the deal; forcing Putman to pare down the stores he wanted to keep to 200, and then 100. Wilko's suppliers also rightly wanted repayment of debts owed by the Wilko before extending lines of credit once again, which also made the deal less likely. 'With B&M acquiring 51 stores last week, and 52 stores to close imminently, this leaves a further circa 300 Wilko stores at risk of closure at this point, which will mean thousands of additional job losses.' He also examined the reported plans by The Range to acquire the Wilko brand and online assets, and Poundland to acquire 100 stores, saying the latter had 'not confirmed whether this will include store staff'. Empty shelves in a Wilko store on Queen Street in Cardiff yesterday which will shut this week Wilko's administrators are expected to try to sell about 100 stores to Poundland (file image) Mr De Mello continued: 'Given the considerable overlap between Poundland and Wilko on the high street, I feel that it is unlikely that the staff will be part of the equation, as Poundland would ideally not want to trade from two stores in the same town. ANALYSIS: 'Worst possible outcome' By JONATHAN DE MELLO The worst possible outcome for Wilko staff has now been realised, with Putman's bid falling through. The bid was ill fated from the outset, with Putman initially bidding for 350 stores way too many given a large number of these will have contributed little/nothing to overall business profitability. This led to Gordon Brothers refusing to finance the deal; forcing Putman to pare down the stores he wanted to keep to 200, and then 100. Wilko's suppliers also rightly wanted repayment of debts owed by the Wilko before extending lines of credit once again, which also made the deal less likely. With B&M acquiring 51 stores last week, and 52 stores to close imminently, this leaves a further circa 300 Wilko stores at risk of closure at this point, which will mean thousands of additional job losses. It appears that The Range are the front runners to acquire the Wilko brand and online assets, and Poundland apparently are keen to acquire 100 stores but have not confirmed whether this will include store staff. Given the considerable overlap between Poundland and Wilko on the high street, I feel that it is unlikely that the staff will be part of the equation, as Poundland would ideally not want to trade from two stores in the same town. They would therefore consolidate into the bigger, more prominent store and close the other which would mean that, sadly, the bulk of Wilko's workforce will likely need to find new employment very shortly.' One potential retailer however, in addition to Poundland, that could potentially acquire some Wilko stores is Aldi. With their ambitious plan to expand their 990 strong store portfolio to 1,500 in the next few years, they need to leave no stone unturned in their location search, and a number of Wilko stores will likely fit the bill, in terms of size, accessibility and market potential. Aldi have also thrown a lifeline to Wilko staff, encouraging them to apply for some of the circa 6,000 current job vacancies they have. Jonathan De Mello is a retail property expert and founder and chief executive of JDM Retail Advertisement 'They would therefore consolidate into the bigger, more prominent store and close the other which would mean that, sadly, the bulk of Wilko's workforce will likely need to find new employment very shortly.' Wilko was founded by JK Wilkinson in 1930 with a single shop in Leicester. It outlasted the demise of rival Woolworths after the financial crisis in 2008. But its leadership and owners have been criticised after 77million was handed to former shareholders in the past decade first reported by the Mail on Sunday including during years when the firm made a loss. Nadine Houghton, national officer for the GMB union, said today: 'Due to the incompetency of Wilko bosses the deal has now run out of time. 'If the owners had been transparent and honest, thousands of loyal Wilko workers may not now be in this awful position. 'This is another devastating blow for them, who have seen their lives and futures gambled on the whims of millionaires and billionaires. 'Wilko bosses should be ashamed that this once great family business now appears to be beyond saving.' Lisa Wilkinson, granddaughter of the founder, stepped down as chairwoman of the board earlier this year after the group secured emergency cash funding in the hope of stabilising the business. Last week the GMB union, which has about 3,000 members who worked for Wilko, criticised previous management of the beleaguered chain for failing to rescue the business and protect jobs. It said: 'We make no apology for placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of the previous family director and board chair, and will continue to highlight her role in destroying what was a successful business whilst taking millions in dividends.' Chief executive Mark Jackson said the management team 'left no stone unturned' in attempting to revive Wilko in the lead-up to its collapse last month. Last week B&M apologised for appearing to make light of Wilko's crisis after it agreed to buy some of its shops. In a now-deleted post on social media, the homeware chain said: 'Popped into B&M for a few things and left with 51 Wilko stores. Happens to the best of us.' It was criticised for being tone deaf given more than 1,600 job losses at Wilko stores. B&M said: 'This post has been removed. It should not have been made and we apologise for the offence it has caused.' B&M was taken over by Simon and Bobby Arora in 2004 and has more than 700 stores. Simon stood down as chief executive last year. It also emerged last week that Aldi is eyeing up former Wilko stores and could hire workers from the chain. Discount chain B&M (file image) has now agreed to buy up to 51 Wilko outlets across the UK Fellow discount retailer The Range is now set to buy the Wilko brand (file picture) Aldi has said it wants to open 500 more shops in the UK after marking the opening of its 1,000th store in Surrey as part of its expansion plans. Its UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said it could use former Wilko stores for new sites sites. Asked whether Also is looking at ex-Wilko stores, its UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley told the Daily Mirror last week: 'Clearly, with an ambitious target of 1,500 stores, we will look at all the opportunities. It comes down to the availability and suitability.' Aldi has called for staff affected by the collapse of Wilko to get in touch because it has about 6,000 jobs currently available. Mr De Mello said: 'One potential retailer, in addition to Poundland, that could potentially acquire some Wilko stores is Aldi. 'With their ambitious plan to expand their 990 strong store portfolio to 1,500 in the next few years, they need to leave no stone unturned in their location search, and a number of Wilko stores will likely fit the bill, in terms of size, accessibility and market potential. 'Aldi have also thrown a lifeline to Wilko staff, encouraging them to apply for some of the circa 6,000 current job vacancies they have.' President Joe Biden paid tribute to John McCain Monday by visiting the monument in Hanoi that marks where the late senator's plane was shot down before he spent five and a half years in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. Biden was joined by former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry, who like Biden was one of McCain's Senate colleagues, but unlike McCain returned from serving in Vietnam to be one of the faces of the U.S. anti-war movement. The president spent the morning with Vietnamese officials, as the U.S.'s diplomatic status with the nation was upgraded, before making a final stop at the statue, located on the bank of Truc Bach Lake. 'I miss him. He was a good friend,' Biden said, adding 'it was important to me,' when asked by a reporter why he made this stop part of his official visit. A wreath with red, white and blue flowers was already in place in front of the statue, with a Navy and a Marine officer standing alongside it. President Joe Biden paid tribute to John McCain Monday by visiting the monument in Hanoi that marks where the late senator's plane was shot down before he spent five and a half years in Vietnam as a prisoner of war Biden was joined by former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry (right), who like Biden was one of McCain's Senate colleagues, but unlike McCain returned from serving in Vietnam to be one of the faces of the U.S. anti-war movement John McCain is photographed on March 14, 1973 the day he was released from a Hanoi prison camp after spending five and a half years as a prisoner of war at the hands of the North Vietnamese The president touched the wreath and bowed his head. He then shook the hands of the officers, giving them challenge coins. Biden also left a command coin at the site. Kerry and Secretary of State Antony Blinken lingered nearby. Vice President Kamala Harris had previously visited the site in August 2021. On Monday, Biden and National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue also witnessed the exchange of war artifacts at the National Assembly Building in Hanoi. U.S. veterans Matt Keenan and Chuck Searcy returned a diary recovered by U.S. forces in 1967 to its author, Nguyen Van Thie. Vice Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien presented Blinken with artifacts that were related to U.S. service members still missing in action from the Vietnam War. The White House said that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency had already verified the ID cards given to Blinken and the artifacts will be handed to family members once he returns to the U.S. Blinken also gave the Vietnamese a report from Havard University produced for the Pentagon that contained information about 576 Vietnamese soldiers. After his stop at the McCain memorial, the president was headed to the airport to fly to Alaska - to briefly mark 9/11 and refuel Air Force One - and then onto D.C., ending that five-day Asia trip that had him circumnavigating the globe. Biden met McCain in the 1970s as a military aide assigned to the young Delaware senator and not long after the Arizona Republican had suffered immensely at the hands of the Vietnamese. McCain described the brutal treatment he received as a prisoner in North Vietnam for five and a half years to U.S. News & World Report in 1973, which was republished in 2008 while he was running for the presidency. President Joe Biden is captured walking to the statue that marks where the late Sen. John McCain was shot down, resulting in his 5.5 years of being a prisoner of war in Vietnam President Joe Biden gave presidential challenge coins to the Navy and Marine officers who were standing at the John McCain monument in Hanoi, Vietnam on Monday A picture taken in 1967 shows Navy Airforce Major John McCain lying in bed at a Hanoi hospital after his plane was shot down He recalled October 26, 1967, when a Russian missile the 'size of a telephone pole' ripped the wing off his Skyhawk dive bomber. The force of being ejected from the aircraft broke right leg and both arms. After nearly drowning from the weight of his gear, he was kicked and spit on by some townspeople at the edge of the lake, and also bayoneted in the groin, before an ambulance hauled him off to a prison. There, McCain was interrogated and deprived of medical care. At one point McCain agreed to talk - with officers calling over a 'psychotic torture' called 'The Bug' - but a 'completely incompetent' doctor called 'Zorba' said the future senator was too far gone. The North Vietnamese finally aided McCain once they realized he was the son of a 'big admiral.' McCain's father, John S. McCain Jr., was the commander of the war in the Pacific. 'They figured because my father had such high military rank that I was of the royalty or the governing circle. They have no idea of the way our democracy functions,' McCain observed during his hospital stay. An image of the sculpture depicting the capture of the late Sen. John McCain in Hanoi, Vietnam A photo taken in 1967 shows Navy Airforce Major John McCain being examined by a Vietnamese doctor Still, he was treated horrendously. 'They said I needed two operations on my leg, but because I had a "bad attitude" they wouldn't give me another one,' McCain recalled. After his time in the hospital, McCain was moved to a camp called 'The Plantation,' where he was kept in solitary confinement for more than two years. He recalled being barely able to bathe and having a bucket with an ill-fitting lid as a toilet. When McCain did get some human interactions it would be the North Vietnamese pushing him to confess to war crimes or asking him to lie and say on-the-record that the treatment he was receiving was humane. In 1969, after three Americans were released from the POW camps, President Richard Nixon started publicizing the horrific treatment, which McCain said improved his life. But he was still ravaged by illness. Vice President Kamala Harris paid tribute to Sen. John McCain at the Hanoi statue on August 25, 2021, the three year anniversary of his death John McCain is pictured about a month after being released from Hanoi He recalled that in late 1969 he was down to 'to 105, 110 pounds, boils all over me, suffering dysentery.' Nixon's bombing of Saigon in 1972 prompted McCain's eventual release on March 14, 1973. Biden came into McCain's life several years later and even pushed him to launch a political career, despite the fact that they would be members of different parties. That especially came to a head in 2008, when Biden was picked to be on Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama's, presidential ticket. McCain was leading the Republican presidential ticket with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his VP. The Democrats would go on to win that race, while McCain stayed in the Senate, serving until his death from brain cancer on August 25, 2018. Biden gave his eulogy. President Joe Biden (right) greets Cindy McCain (left) as he awards the late Sen. John McCain with the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in July 2022 As Biden mounted his own presidential campaign during the 2020 cycle - against Republican President Donald Trump - he received a key endorsement from Cindy McCain, John McCain's widow. She was hurt and disturbed by some of the comments made by Trump about her late husband. Early on in Trump's presidential run, Trump mocked McCain for his prisoner of war status. 'I like people who weren't captured,' Trump said. McCain, known as a political 'maverick,' later got back at Trump by refusing to provide a Senate vote that would have allowed the Republican president to tout that he had repealed Obamacare. Cindy McCain got her revenge too, helping Biden flip Arizona to blue in the 2020 election. She was rewarded with an ambassadorship, serving for two years as the ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. She now heads the World Food Programme. The late senator's daughter, Meghan McCain, now a columnist for DailyMail.com, at times voiced support for Biden. In April 2019, as Biden was about to announce his presidential campaign, Meghan defended him after a handful of women complained of him being too touchy-feely with them. 'Joe Biden is one of the truly decent and compassionate men in all of American politics. He has helped me through my fathers diagnosis, treatment and ultimate passing more than anyone of my fathers friends combined,' she tweeted. 'I wish there was more empathy from our politicians not less.' But Meghan, a Republican like her father, has voiced utter disappointment in Biden's performance as president. 'The man I once considered a friend and confidante has morphed into a feckless and unreliable leader I no longer recognize,' she wrote in her opening DailyMail.com column in September 2021, and hasn't been swayed away from this opinion since. Rishi Sunak insisted today that he had talked tough with China as he faced increasing pressure to label the communist regime a 'threat' amid an alleged spying scandal. The Prime Minister told MPs he had had warned Premier Li (Qiang) that interference in UK politics 'will never be tolerated' in a brief meeting at the G20 in Delhi. Tories are pushing for China to be tagged a 'threat' to British interests after a parliamentary researcher was arrested on suspicion of spying. Home Secretary Suella Braverman and security minister Tom Tugendhat are said to want the Asian superpower classed as a risk to the UK's 'safety and interests' under new national security laws. The move would mean agents working 'at the direction' of China or state-linked companies must register with the government. If they do not it would be a criminal offence subject to a five-year jail sentence. Pressure for the rules to be applied stepped up amid one of the most serious suspected Westminster security breaches involving a foreign state - although the national security powers would not apply in the current case. And there were calls for the Government to ban Beijing from attending the UK's world-first summit on artificial intelligence this autumn in response. Mr Sunak told the Commons today: 'I have been emphatically clear in our engagement with China that we will not accept any interference in our democracy and parliamentary system ... actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated.' The Prime Minister told MPs he had had warned Premier Li (Qiang) that interference in UK politics 'will never be tolerated' in a brief meeting at the G20 in Delhi. Parliament's spy agency watchdog, the Intelligence and Security Committee, warned in July that Beijing was targeting the UK 'prolifically and aggressively' (Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping) Pressure for the rules to be applied stepped up amid one of the most serious suspected Westminster security breaches involving a foreign state - although the national security powers would not apply in the current case Rishi Sunak confronted China's premier at the G20 yesterday over his country's 'unacceptable' interference in British democracy Conservatives had been mulling using a statement by Deputy PM Oliver Dowden to name the individual - who has protested their innocence through lawyers - under the protection of Parliamentary privilege. But as the Commons began sitting this afternoon, Sir Lindsay reminded members that 'we do not discuss the details of security issues on the floor of the House', saying that unguarded remarks might 'prejudice' any future case. And while MPs railed at the government for a 'flip-flopping' approach to China, they steered clear of delving deeply into the current furore. Sir Lindsay intervened several times to warn politicians who seemed to be laying out details. Meanwhile, tensions have flared between Tories, with Mr Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns facing claims they risked being Beijing's 'useful idiots' through links to the suspect. MPs said the latest furore represented an 'escalation' in hostilities, and urged ministers to take the threat posed by China seriously, while others called for a full review of all those who hold parliamentary passes. The researcher was in a key role in Parliament for a year, having been promoted from a more junior position. MPs were said to be furious that they were left in the dark about his arrest in March. 'Game-changing' new law Spies working for hostile states increasingly face the risk of prosecution under a new law hailed by the head of MI5 as 'game-changing'. Following the introduction of the National Security Act in July, police and MI5 are expecting to bring more espionage prosecutions in the coming year. MI5 director general Ken McCallum said: 'We face state adversaries who operate at scale and who are not squeamish about the tactics they deploy to target people and businesses in the UK. 'The National Security Act is a game-changing update to our powers. We now have a modern set of laws to tackle today's threats.' Espionage was a criminal offence, but the relevant law in the Official Secrets Act was more than 100 years old. In practice, the outdated law made it impossible to prosecute foreign spies. The National Security Act has made it an offence to assist or work covertly for a foreign intelligence service. Advertisement He worked with MPs some of whom are privy to highly sensitive information on international policy for several years, and has spent time living and working in China. Senior Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith called for China to be classed as a threat. 'The problem lies in the mess we've got into over what we define China as in respect to us,' he told the House. 'Are they a threat or are they not? If they are a threat, why don't we call them a threat and take the relative action that is necessary to deal with them on that basis and sanction some people?' Former PM Liz Truss told the Commons: 'These are extremely worrying reports about the level of infiltration of Chinese-supported forces into our democracy. Does he agree that what we need to do is to recognise that China is the largest threat, both to the world and to the United Kingdom, for freedom and democracy? 'And does he not agree that the Government should designate it as such?' Mr Dowden replied: 'She is absolutely right that China represents a systemic challenge to our interests and values, and it is also the case, for example, in respect of our economic security, it is the number one state-based threat to our economic security. 'What I would say to her is that the Government is absolutely clear-eyed about the threats that this nation faces and robust in taking action, indeed that is why I personally took the decisions in respect of banning Huawei from our 5G networks, in respect of Chinese CCTV technology, and indeed in relation to TikTok. 'We will continue to take whatever steps are necessary based on appropriate advice to provide that protection for our nation and our democratic institutions.' Bob Seely, a Tory member of the foreign affairs committee, has also urged ministers to take the threat from China 'seriously', adding: 'China does not want to live in harmony with the Western world, but it wants to be in a dominant position over it. 'That doesn't mean we wag a finger at them it means we have a sensible, nuanced relationship but one where we are much more robust about protecting our interests and understanding our vulnerabilities and what that means in the future.' Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, said outside the Commons: 'We should assume this not an isolated incident but potentially part of a wider, long-term, Chinese strategy to infiltrate Parliament.' However, other ministers are believed to have concerns about damaging economic relations with China. Parliament's spy agency watchdog, the Intelligence and Security Committee, warned in July that Beijing was targeting the UK 'prolifically and aggressively'. Last year, MI5 issued a rare security alert, warning MPs that a suspected spy, Christine Lee, had engaged in 'political interference activities' on behalf of China's ruling communist regime. And in July it was alleged China sent an agent posing as a tourist to infiltrate a Commons briefing by Hong Kong dissidents, trying to access an invitation-only committee room before being turned away. The suspect has links to several senior Tory MPs, including security minister Tom Tugendhat (left) and foreign affairs committee chairman Alicia Kearns (right), a vocal China critic The parliamentary researcher, in his late 20s, was arrested along with another man, in his 30s, by officers on March 13 on suspicion of offences under section one of the Official Secrets Act 1911. They were both released on bail and have not been charged. Inquiries are being conducted by Scotland Yard's counter-terror command. The Prime Minister raised his concerns with Chinese counterpart Li Qiang at the end of the G20 summit in India yesterday. The Chinese PM is understood to have responded by saying the two leaders obviously have 'differences in opinion' during the conversation, which also touched on Ukraine and trade. Mr Sunak said he raised his 'very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable'. He added: 'There's no point carping from the sidelines I'd rather be in there directly expressing my concerns, and that's what I did today.' Labour business spokesman Jonathan Reynolds said the government policy of not describing China as a threat was 'naive', but he argued that economic ties with Beijing could bring benefits.' Senior Tory MP Caroline Nokes called for a review of Parliament's pass-holders. Downing Street and the House of Commons both declined to comment, citing their policies on security matters. New York City officials have identified the remains of two more victims who died during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years after the tragedy. A man and a woman were both identified but their names are being withheld at the request of their families. This is the latest positive identification in the decades long effort to return victims to their families, and the first in the last two years. The last positive identifications were in September 2021 and before that, the last identification was made in 2019. New York Citys medical examiner has now been able to link remains to 1,649 World Trade Center victims, using cutting-edge DNA sequencing techniques to test body fragments recovered in the rubble. New York City officials have identified the remains of two more victims who died during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years after the tragedy Authorities confirmed the identifications just days ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 hijacked-plane attack that killed 2,753 people in Lower Manhattan. They are the 1,648th and 1,649th people to be identified by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) using advanced DNA testing. Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, said he hopes the new identifications can bring 'some measure of comfort' to the victims families. He said: 'As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones. 'We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner attest to the citys unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones.' The techniques used by the city's DNA laboratory include recently adopted next-generation sequencing technology. It's more sensitive and rapid than conventional DNA techniques and it has also been used by the US military to identify the remains of missing American service members. It's also been used to test the remains of over 100 people who died during the wildfires in Maui last month. The 'Tribute in Light' ceremony is tested in New York ahead of the anniversary today Officials said that the identification of the man was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001. The identification of the woman was confirmed through testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2006, and 2013. In addition to the two new identifications this year, OCME has identified 60 human remains associated with previously identified individuals. However, despite the advancements in DNA technology, 40 percent of those who died in the attack, some 1,104 victims, remain unidentified - they are currently being stored at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Graham, said: 'More than 20 years after the disaster, these two new identifications continue to fulfill a solemn pledge that OCME made to return the remains of World Trade Center victims to their loved ones. 'Faced with the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country, we stand undaunted in our mission to use the latest advances in science to serve this promise.' The arrest of an alleged Chinese spy at the heart of the British government has sent shockwaves through the West, sparking urgent questions over how Beijing gathers intelligence. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confronted China's premier Li Qiang over his country's 'unacceptable' interference in British democracy, while MPs have said it marks an 'escalation' in hostilities by the superpower. It is not the first time China has been condemned for the alleged use of spies. The incident follows allegations earlier this year that China flew a surveillance balloon over the United States, causing a diplomatic furore. A multitude of Chinese espionage techniques have been documented over the years, with spies arrested and companies sanctioned for their alleged roles. Here, MailOnline looks at some of the ways China has worked to spy on the West in recent years. The arrest of an alleged Chinese spy at the heart of the British government has sent shockwaves through the West, sparking fresh fears over how Beijing gathers intelligence The incident follows allegations earlier this year that China flew a surveillance balloon over the United States Cyber warfare The United States warned in 2022 that the Asian giant represents 'the broadest, most active, and persistent cyber espionage threat' to its government and private sector. According to researchers and Western intelligence officials, China has become adept at hacking rival nations' digital systems to gather trade secrets. In 2021, the United States, NATO and other allies said China had employed 'contract hackers' to exploit a breach in Microsoft email systems, giving state security agents access to sensitive information. Chinese spies have also hacked the US energy department, utility companies, telecommunications firms and universities, according to US government statements and media reports. The United States also has its own ways of spying on China, deploying surveillance and interception techniques as well as networks of informants. Tech fears In 2019, the US Department of Justice charged tech giant Huawei with conspiring to steal US trade secrets, among other offences In the technology sector, there are concerns that China's state-linked firms would be obliged to share intel with their government. In 2019, the US Department of Justice charged tech giant Huawei with conspiring to steal US trade secrets, among other offences. Washington has banned the firm from supplying US government systems and strongly discouraged the use of its equipment in the private sector over fears that it could be compromised. Huawei denies the charges. Similar anxiety over TikTok, developed by China's ByteDance, has been the subject of heated debate in the West - with some lawmakers calling for an outright ban on the app over data security fears. ByteDance was accused last year of allowing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members to access the data of Hong Kong civil rights activists, allegations the company refuted as 'baseless'. Earlier this year, it was announced that TikTok would be blocked from 'all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network', to ensure cyber security. TikTok, developed by China's ByteDance, animates Western political debate Industrial and military espionage Beijing has utilised Chinese citizens abroad to gather intelligence and steal sensitive technology, according to experts, US lawmakers and media reports. One of the most high-profile cases was that of Ji Chaoqun, who was in January sentenced to eight years in a US prison for sharing information on possible recruitment targets with Chinese intelligence. Ji was accused of supplying information about eight people to the Jiangsu province security ministry, an intelligence unit accused of engaging in the theft of US trade secrets. Ji Chaoqun was sentenced to eight years in a US prison for sharing information on possible recruitment targets with Chinese intelligence Xu Yanjun was found guilty of playing a leading role in a five-year Chinese state-backed scheme to steal commercial secrets from GE Aviation Last year, a US court sentenced a Chinese intelligence officer to 20 years in prison for stealing technology from US and French aerospace firms. The man, named Xu Yanjun, was found guilty of playing a leading role in a five-year Chinese state-backed scheme to steal commercial secrets from GE Aviation, one of the world's leading aircraft engine manufacturers, and France's Safran Group. In 2020, a US court jailed Raytheon engineer Wei Sun - a Chinese national and naturalised US citizen - for bringing sensitive information about an American missile system into China on a company laptop. Spying on politicians Chinese operatives have allegedly courted political, social and business elites in Britain and the United States to glean information which might be useful for the CCP. The alleged Chinese spy in Westminster had contacts with Conservative MPs while working as a parliamentary researcher and has worked on international policy, including relations with Beijing, according to the Sunday Times. US news website Axios ran an investigation in 2020 claiming that a Chinese student enrolled at a university in California had developed ties with a range of US politicians under the auspices of Beijing's main civilian spy agency. Christine Fang, or Fang Fang, was accused of developing ties with a range of US politicians under the auspices of Beijing's main civilian spy agency The student, a Chinese national named Christine Fang or Fang Fang, used campaign financing, developed friendships and even initiated sexual relationships to target rising politicians between 2011 and 2015, according to the report. It alleged that through 'campaign fundraising, extensive networking, personal charisma, and romantic or sexual relationships with at least two Midwestern mayors, Fang was able to gain proximity to political power', citing ex-US intelligence officials as its sources. Another technique used by Chinese operatives is to tout insider knowledge about the Communist Party's opaque inner workings and dangle access to top leaders to lure high-profile Western targets, researchers say. The aim has been to 'mislead world leaders about (Beijing's) ambitions' and make them believe 'China would rise peacefully - maybe even democratically'' author Alex Joske wrote in his book, 'Spies and Lies: How China's Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World'. Beijing has also exerted pressure on overseas Chinese communities and media organisations to back its policies on Taiwan, and to muzzle criticism of the Hong Kong and Xinjiang crackdowns. 'Police stations' Beijing has set up more than 100 of the 'police stations' around the globe, according to reports Beijing is alleged to have set up more than 100 so-called 'police stations' overseas, used to monitor Chinese citizens who are living in exile, according to a report shared with CNN. In September 2022, Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders said China had set up 54 overseas 'police stations' around the world, allegedly to target Communist Party critics. Methods could include harassment and even forced repatriation, according to reports. Beijing has denied the claims. The Netherlands ordered China to close two 'police stations' there in November. A month later, the Czech Republic said China had closed two such centres in Prague. A woman was hospitalised after a father accidentally drove through a crowd of protesters when his son, a nervous new driver, handed him the wheel. Several people, both commuters and protesters, were thrown to the ground by the grey car as it careened into them on a Tel Aviv highway on Saturday night. A man, believed to be the father, was pulled out of the car after it came to a halt while a younger man, believed to be the son, sat wordlessly in the front passenger seat. A female passenger was spotted panicking in the back of the grey car shortly after it came to a stop. Israeli police let the unnamed father go on Sunday morning despite ramming the crowd of demonstrators, who were protesting major judicial reforms in Israel. Several people were sent flying after the grey car careened into the demonstrators One woman was taken to hospital to treat her injuries following the incident The car was driven for several metres before it came to a halt Cops reportedly believed the father's claims that he had no intention of hitting the demonstrators. The Times of Israel reported that his son, a new driver, was driving the car before he got overwhelmed by the protesters blocking the road. The father, in the front passenger seat, decided to switch seats with his son, but accidentally hit the gas when he was moving into the drivers seat, causing the car to jolt forward into the protesters. The incident drew swift condemnation from Israel's highest echelons, with prime minister Benjamin Netenyahu writing in a statement that he 'strongly condemns any form of violence and calls on everyone to act with restraint and uphold the law.' The shock incident came just days after Israel's transport minister Miri Regev was caught on tape urging her driver to drive through a group of guards and police officers who were blocking her car from moving. He reportedly told cops that he had accidentally put his foot on the accelerator The dad reportedly took the wheel from his son, a nervous new driver This isn't the first time anti-judicial reform protesters have been run over this year. In July, three people were injured when a car rammed through a crowd marching against the government's overhaul of the country's judicial system. Israel has seen 36 straight weeks of protest after the country's coalition government pushed through a series of controversial pieces of legislation that critics claim will severely weaken the country's democracy. In July, the coalition government, led by Netenyahu's right-wing Likud party, passed the so-called 'reasonableness' bill, which removed Israel's Supreme Court ability to cancel government decisions that it considers unreasonable. On top of this, the government is also looking to weaken the Supreme Court's power to review and throw laws out by letting a majority of just one in the Knesset, the country's parliament, to overrule judicial decisions. The government also wants to scrap the requirement for ministers to obey the advice given by their legal advisers. Israel is currently in its 36th week of national protests over the government's judicial reforms Critics say the coalition government wants to weaken the country's Supreme Court Benjamin Netenyahu and his allies claim the judicial changes with strengthen democracy While Netanyahu and his allies say the changes will strengthen Israeli democracy by limiting the authority of unelected judges and giving elected officials more powers over decision-making, critics say the reforms are a power grab fueled by personal and political grievances of Netanyahu - who is currently on trial for corruption charges - and his partners. Netanyahu was indicted with charged of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate scandals involving media moguls and wealthy friends in 2019, and has consistently denied the charges. Earlier this year, Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan told the corruption trial that Netenyahu and his wife demanded a nearly 160,000 'supply line' of pink champagne and jewellery, and would complain if their cigars were not the right size. He told Israeli prosecutors that he and the prime minister had a secret language for the gifts that he gave. Milchan, who produced major films including L.A. Confidential, The Revenant and 12 Years a Slave, said he routinely gave the couple tens of thousands of dollars in lavish gifts in exchange for personal and professional favours. A woman and her dog were shot dead while trying to help a friend leave her abusive boyfriend who then fled the scene. Police were called to an apartment in Spring, Texas, on September 9 to reports of an incident. The woman, who was in her 20s, and her dog were found dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. She was trying to help her friend escape from domestic violence, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said yesterday. The friend's boyfriend, Dmitri Humphrey, is wanted in connection with the fatal shootings. He is also wanted for other unrelated felony charges. A woman and her dog were shot dead while trying to help a friend leave her abusive boyfriend Dmitri Humphrey (pictured) Police were called to an apartment on E Mossy Oaks Road in Spring, Texas, on September 9 where they found a dead woman and dog Officers are now on the hunt for him after he fled the scene in a Jeep. Sheriff Gonzalez added: 'Please be on the lookout for Dmitri Humphrey, wanted in connection with the shooting death of a female and her dog. The shooting occurred at 23:23 E Mossy Oaks. 'Humphrey fled the scene in White Jeep Wrangler, TX LP: TFN-4278. If you know his whereabouts, call us at 713-274-9100 or CrimeStoppers 713-222-TIPS (8477). 'Humphrey is currently wanted on unrelated felony warrants and murder charges are in the process of being filed against him.' An investigation has been launched in to the fatal shootings. Elizabeth line passengers have suffered the most cancellations of any UK rail service in the past two months, official data has revealed - with nearly one in ten trains axed. The 18.9billion line in new tunnels through Central London was launched in three sections in May 2022 to great fanfare by Mayor Sadiq Khan - who hugged colleagues and posed for selfies on the first train - before the full timetable began this May. But a troubled rollout amid problems over train reliability and infrastructure in recent months has infuriated passengers, with some left stranded in tunnels or at stations. Transport for London (TfL) apologised today after Office of Rail and Road (ORR) data revealed Elizabeth line cancellations hit 9.1 per cent in the four weeks to August 19. This was more than any other UK rail operator - with CrossCountry being the second worst at 7.5 per cent; then Grand Central and Northern Trains, both at 6.5 per cent. There was disruption once again across the Elizabeth line today due to a broken down train at Paddington. One passenger posted a photo this morning of huge queues at Woolwich station Following behind were TransPennine Express at 6.4 per cent and Great Western Railway at 5.4 per cent. The best performing was Caledonian Sleeper at 0.3 per cent. RAIL OPERATORS' CANCELLATIONS OPERATOR CANCELLATIONS Elizabeth line 9.1% CrossCountry 7.5% Grand Central 6.5% Northern Trains 6.5% West Midlands Trains 6.5% TransPennine Express 6.4% Great Western Railway 5.4% Avanti West Coast 4.5% Transport for Wales 4.5% Govia Thameslink Railway 3.9% Heathrow Express 3.9% London North Eastern Railway 3.0% East Midlands Railway 2.5% London Overground 2.3% Merseyrail 2.3% South Western Railway 1.9% ScotRail 1.8% Southeastern 1.8% Chiltern Railways 1.7% Hull Trains 1.5% Greater Anglia 1.2% Lumo 1.2% c2c 0.6% Caledonian Sleeper 0.3% Office of Rail and Road data shows cancellations for four weeks to August 19, 2023 Overall, the ORR reported cancellations across Britain rose to 3.9 per cent from 3.3 per cent in the previous four weeks. They are now at their highest level in eight months since being at 8 per cent in the four weeks to January 7, 2023. The latest period was the worst month by far for the Elizabeth line since it launched 15 months ago. Its previous high for cancellations was 4.3 per cent in the four months to March 31 this year less than half the latest proportion. The line running from Heathrow Airport and Reading in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east opened 4billion over budget and four years late. And despite passengers praising its quick and pleasant journeys when timetables run to plan, others have been taking to social media to complain about disruption which is causing them to be late for work or social engagements. This morning, there was disruption once again across the line due to a broken down train at Paddington. One commuter said on X: 'New week, more Elizabeth Line cancellations and delays.' Another added: 'Elizabeth Line don't start again too early for this.' A third said: 'Elizabeth line strikes again. When will it become efficient?' A fourth posted a picture of huge queues at Woolwich station, saying: 'Irony: watching a piece on BBC London about how the Elizabeth line is always delayed at 7.30, greeted by this sight in Woolwich at 8.30.' Former Transport Minister, who now works for the Campaign for Better Transport, told MailOnline today: 'The Elizabeth line has been a huge success and enabled speedy connections that simply did not exist before. London Mayor Sadiq Khan embraces Transport for London Commissioner Andy Byford as they travel on the first eastbound train on the Elizabeth Line from Paddington on May 24, 2022 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan poses for a selfie on the first Elizabeth line train on May 24, 2022 'It is a pity therefore that the line has had a rough period in terms of cancellations, which appears to be largely down to Network Rail. 'It is important that Network Rail doubles down to prevent any further recurrence of their poor performance on this line.' A spokesman for transport watchdog London TravelWatch told MailOnline: 'Since May this year, TfL has timetabled Elizabeth line trains to run every two and a half minutes between Paddington and Whitechapel at peak times - with frequencies of up to 24 trains per hour in both directions. 'Whilst it runs as though a 'metro service' in terms of frequency compared to other rail timetables, the cumulative impact of one or two train cancellations can still be extremely disruptive - leading to longer wait times between trains, crowding and further delays. 'We know that passengers rely on the Elizabeth line for commuting into central London and to get to Heathrow Airport and other key transport hubs and interchanges. 'It's really important that TfL addresses the recent underlining issues - seemingly infrastructure and fleet faults - to get performance back to where it should be.' The group also pointed out that the most recent ORR passenger performance stats for January to March 2023 showed the Elizabeth line at the top of the charts nationally, with 85.2 per cent of trains on time within that period. It was also the only operator to improve performance compared to the previous year. However, the next publication date for more recent data is this Thursday - so it will be watching out for any big changes. People queue for the Elizabeth line at Paddington station before the first train on May 24, 2022 Elizabeth line director Howard Smith said today that issues with signalling systems and a broken maintenance train were among the reasons behind recent disruption. READ MORE Revealed: The first FOUR Elizabeth line stops to get superfast 4G coverage with 33 Tube stations to be connected by the end of 2023 - is YOUR local station one of them? Advertisement He told MailOnline: 'The Elizabeth line has rightly and quickly become one of the most popular railways in the country. It has also been one of the most reliable, but we have had a difficult period which included disruption for our customers for which we apologise. 'There were a number of recent issues including significant problems with Network Rail's signalling systems and infrastructure on the western section, and a defective maintenance train. 'We continue to work with all parties involved in the Elizabeth line to provide a safe and reliable railway. This includes our partners, such as Network Rail, and a programme of upgrades delivered by the train manufacturer, Alstom, will further improve reliability of our fleet of trains.' The Elizabeth line has been a big success for TfL in terms of usage, with it having carried more than 200 million passengers since opening in May 2022 and more than four million passenger journeys now taking place each week. However, the western section of the route was hit by a major Network Rail signalling system outage from July 25 on the western section. This severely impacted services for two days and meant trains were not able to easily get to and from the Old Oak Common depot, located in Acton near the proposed HS2 station. Then on August 16, there was another incident where a maintenance train leaked hydraulic fluid within the central tunnel section of the line. The first passengers for the Elizabeth line at Paddington go down an escalator on May 24, 2022 This fluid had to be cleaned from more than 1.2 miles (2km) of track before TfL could safely run again services. The line was part suspended from Abbey Wood to Whitechapel for most of that day, which severely limited the number of trains that could run. Sources at TfL confirmed a review had 'already resulted in changes to maintenance practices and to incident management' following this disruption. It followed disruption on May 16 that saw rush-hour passengers trapped on an Elizabeth line service for 75 minutes, with the delay so long that one passenger allegedly had to urinate on the carriage floor because there were no toilets on board. Network Rail has also responded to criticism over the cancellations. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'The Elizabeth line has been a huge success and now accounts for one in five train journeys across the whole country. 'Its arrival means we have had to transform the way we operate the railway into London Paddington, weaving high-intensity metro services around long-distance trains travelling hundreds of miles. 'That brings challenges and recently there have been additional significant issues that have delayed passengers on that route. 'We're working together as an industry to improve performance and we can only apologise to customers who have had their journeys disrupted.' The line runs from Heathrow and Reading in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east TfL claimed in July that the Elizabeth line was responsible for 140,000 'new' journeys in London each day, and said more than a third of those who have switched from the Underground preferring it over the Central line. Transport bosses have also now named Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and Liverpool Street stations as being the first to get superfast 4G connectivity by the end of this year. TfL said the line's seven other subterranean stations and tunnels are set to get signal by the end of April, as transport bosses also ramp up the 4G rollout across the Underground network over the coming months. Last week it was revealed that more than two out of five UK train services during the first half of the year were delayed. Some 41 per cent of trains between January and July were at least one minute late, according to BBC analysis of industry data collated by website On Time Trains. Residents living near a 'ghost town' housing estate built for NHS staff say it has become a magnet for fly-tippers, vandals and drug dealers after the old tenants were kicked out and the area was 'left to rot' for three years. Hospital Close in Evington, Leicester was once a bustling community of hospital workers and their families. Locals living in the shadow of Leicester General Hospital now say drug addicts and vandals are blighting the area and making them feel unsafe in their own homes after it was abandoned in 2019. Three years ago University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust decided it could not afford to maintain the homes or upgrade them to modern standards. As a result, the Trust issued eviction notices to hospital staff and the health workers, including many nurses, living in the properties were forced to move out. Hospital Close, in Evington, Leicester, was once a bustling community of hospital workers In 2019, hospital workers who lived on the site were told they had to leave The area has now become a fly tipping paradise with piles of detritus littering the area Residents living near the area say it has become a magnet for fly-tippers, vandalism and drugs Since then, the remaining residents say they have been 'forgotten about' as the estate has also become a hotspot for fly-tipping and other antisocial behaviour. Ashley Lewis, 32, who lives on a neighbouring road, said: 'It's quite spooky to be honest, it's a complete ghost town now. It used to be a thriving little community of NHS staff and their families. It's gone from having these angels and life-savers to drug dealers and thugs. As people know its derelict you get people using and selling drugs, boy racers using it as a track and I don't even walk over that way anymore. The fly-tipping is just constant, one thing will get dumped and once that's cleared another load will replace it. It's just really sad to see.' Grandfather-of-two Terry Goldsmith, 69, who also lives nearby, added: 'The place has just been left to rot and its a real shame. 'You've got the hospital right next to it so it was a perfect place for staff to live. I've lived her 45 years and it was also quite a nice place to be. But now it looks like a warzone, the whole place is boarded up and a complete mess. There's no street lights so it's quite frightening. 'The council said it would all be developed but nothing has happened in three years. It's like they have forgotten about it and the remaining residents here.' Three years ago University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust decided it could not afford to maintain the homes and upgrade them to modern standards Since then, the remaining residents say they have been 'forgotten about' as the estate has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour Hospital staff previously spoke of their anger at being given just three months to find somewhere new to live after being booted out of the properties The Trust issued eviction notices to hospital staff and the health workers, including many nurses, living in the properties were forced to move out Hospital staff previously spoke of their anger at being given just three months to find somewhere new to live after being booted out of the properties. George Kolankanny told his local newspaper at the time: 'Our children go to school near here, we have lived here for ten years, it is our home. We both work at the hospital, we have lots of friends and neighbours here, we won't have that anymore. 'Living here we have our own community, we help each other out with dropping the kids off at school and picking them up depending on our shifts and we are good neighbours. When we all move on we won't have that any more, everything is going to change. We've been telling them for years that the houses are not in a good state but they kept saying they were fine, but now all of a sudden we have to leave because they are not good enough.' Leicester City Council bought 174 units of former nurses' accommodation for 10.5million in March 2021 and said it would spend more than 4million bringing the homes back into use. The authority said 135 new homes will eventually be created on the site, which will be used as affordable rented accommodation. Leicester City Council bought 174 units of former nurses' accommodation for 10.5 million in March 2021 It said it would spend more than 4 million bringing the homes back into use The authority said 135 new homes will eventually be created on the site, which will be used as affordable rented accommodation Speaking at the time, Leicester assistant city mayor responsible for housing, councillor Elly Cutkelvin, said: 'These units were formally used to house nurses working at the neighbouring Leicester General Hospital, but have been unoccupied for many years and have fallen into disrepair. 'We've been in talks with UHL about purchasing these units for several months, in order to bring them back into meaningful use and benefit local people by providing badly needed affordable housing. 'The next step will be appointing contractors so that work can get underway on transforming these buildings and giving them a new lease of life. 'Money from Right to Buy house purchases gets returned to the Government unless we put it to use ourselves, so by investing it in creating more affordable housing we are ensuring the money stays within Leicester and helps local people who need it most.' A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: 'Since the purchase of these vacant former nurses' homes, we have been working hard to develop the estate to provide 135 new affordable homes. 'We understand residents' concerns regarding the condition of the site. We are working hard to bring the development forward as soon as possible with work expected to begin early next year. 'We have also put in place a programme of clearance work, along with regular grounds maintenance and 24-hour security to help tackle issues of antisocial behaviour. 'This is an ambitious 17million scheme being delivered in a very challenging economic climate. Once complete, it will provide much needed new housing and help revitalise what was at risk of becoming an abandoned estate. 'In the meantime, we would encourage local residents to let us know of any issues so we can take steps to help address them.' Fears of an arms deal to help Russia batter Ukraine are growing as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off to Moscow where he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with Vladimir Putin. Kim boarded his personal train from the capital, Pyongyang, on Sunday afternoon, the state's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday. It is understood that Kim will be accompanied by unspecified members of the country's ruling party, government and military. A brief statement on the Kremlin's website on Monday said the visit is at Putin's invitation and would take place 'in the coming days.' KCNA said the leaders would meet - without specifying when and where. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. In exchange, experts warn Kim could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines and military reconnaissance satellites. Fears of an arms deal to help Russia batter Ukraine are growing as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has set off to Moscow where he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with Vladimir Putin. Pictured: Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in April 2019 It is understood that Kim will be accompanied by unspecified members of the country's ruling party, government and military. Pictured: Kim Jong Un departs Pyongyang, North Korea on Sunday to visit Russia A brief statement on the Kremlin's website on Monday said the visit is at Putin's invitation and would take place 'in the coming days.' Pictured: President Vladimir Putin reads aboard a helicopter during a working trip to the Far Eastern Federal District on Monday North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen fire a M109 self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Monday State media photos showed Kim walking pass honour guards and crowds of civilians holding the national flag and flowers and waving his hand from his green-and-yellow armoured train before it left the station in Pyongyang. A group of senior officials, including Cabinet Premier Kim Tok Hun, Kim Jong Un's top economic official, were at the station to give the leader a 'hearty send-off,' KCNA said. The agency did not specify whether the train had crossed the border. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Putin and Kim will lead their delegations in talks and could also meet 'one-on-one if necessary.' He added that the talks will focus on bilateral ties. 'As with any of our neighbours, we feel obliged to develop good, mutually beneficial relations,' Peskov said, adding that Putin will also host an official dinner for Kim. A possible venue for the meeting the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The city, located about 425 miles (680 kilometres) north of Pyongyang, was also the site of Putin's first meeting with Kim in 2019. Kim Jong Un is pictured waving his hand from his green-and-yellow armoured train before it left the station in Pyongyang on Sunday State media photos showed Kim walking pass honour guards and crowds of civilians holding the national flag and flowers on Sunday A green train with yellow trimmings, resembling one used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his previous travels, is seen from a viewing platform in Fangchuan in northeastern China's Jilin province on Monday Journalists near the North Korea-Russia frontier saw a green train with yellow trim - similar to one used by the reclusive Kim during previous foreign trips - at a station on the North Korean side of a border river. It was unclear whether Kim was on the train, which was seen moving back and forth between the station and the approach to the bridge that connects the countries. It had not crossed the bridge as of 7 p.m. (1000 GMT). Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. Japan's Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. South Korea's Presidential Office, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service didn't immediately confirm those details. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kim's growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the US, South Korea, and Japan. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kim's growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the US, South Korea, and Japan. Pictured: A view of the demolished Kupyansk, Ukraine on September 5 this year Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill declining reserves as he seeks to defuse a Ukrainian counteroffensive and show that he's capable of grinding out a long war of attrition. Pictured: Ukrainian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region on September 6 this year Washington DC will monitor the meeting closely, reminding both countries that 'any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,' and that the US 'will not hesitate to impose new sanctions.' Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen in the Donetsk region on Monday US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill declining reserves as he seeks to defuse a Ukrainian counteroffensive and show that he's capable of grinding out a long war of attrition, the US officials warned. That could potentially put more pressure on the US and its partners to pursue negotiations as concerns over a protracted conflict grow despite their huge shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine in the past 17 months. 'Arms discussions between Russia and the DPRK are expected to continue during Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia,' said White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson, using the abbreviation for North Korea's official name of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 'We urge the DPRK to abide by the public commitments that Pyongyang has made to not provide or sell arms to Russia.' State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Washington will monitor the meeting closely, reminding both countries that 'any transfer of arms from North Korea to Russia would be a violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions,' and that the US 'will not hesitate to impose new sanctions.' The visit also marks Kim's first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic, which had forced North Korea to enforce tight border controls for more than three years to shield its poor health care system. While Kim has shown to be more comfortable using planes than his famously flight-adverse father, he has also used his personal train for previous meetings with Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and former US President Donald Trump, reviving a symbol of his family's dynastic rule. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks while visiting the 'Zvezda' Shipbuilding Complex in the Bay of Bolshoy Kamen, in the far eastern region of Primorsky Krai, Russia on Monday A person walks past a residential building destroyed as a result of hostilities in 2022 in the town of Izyum, Kharkiv region, on Monday Smoke rises above buildings following a shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine on Monday A man walks past a house destroyed by recent shelling in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine on Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre) and Russian CEO of Rosneft oil company Igor Sechin, right, visit 'Zvezda' Shipbuilding Complex in the Bay of Bolshoy Kamen, in the far eastern region of Primorsky Krai, Russia on Monday After decades of a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The bond has been driven by Putin's need for war help and Kim's efforts to boost the visibility of his partnerships with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and have North Korea be part of a united front against Washington. While using the distraction caused by the Ukraine conflict to ramp up its weapons development, North Korea has repeatedly blamed Washington for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming the West's 'hegemonic policy' justified a Russian offensive in Ukraine to protect itself. North Korea is the only nation besides Russia and Syria to recognise the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk and Luhansk - and it has also hinted at an interest in sending construction workers to those areas to help with rebuilding efforts. Russia, along with China, have blocked US-led efforts at the UN Security Council to strengthen sanctions on North Korea over its intensifying missile tests while accusing Washington of worsening tensions with Pyongyang by expanding military exercises with South Korea and Japan. The United States has been accusing North Korea since last year of providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims. But speculation about the countries' military cooperation grew after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to North Korea in July, when Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade in the capital where he showcased ICBMs designed to target the US mainland. Following that visit, Kim toured North Korea's weapons factories, including a facility producing artillery systems where he urged workers to speed up the development and large-scale production of new kinds of ammunition. Experts say Kim's visits to the factories likely had a dual goal of encouraging the modernisation of North Korean weaponry and examining artillery and other supplies that could possibly be exported to Russia. Jon Finer, US President Joe Biden's chief deputy national security adviser, said Sunday that buying weapons from North Korea 'may be the best and may be the only option' open to Moscow as it tries to keep its war effort going. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019 'We have serious concerns about the prospect of North Korea potentially selling weapons, additional weapons, to the Russian military,' Finer said on a plane carrying Biden from India to Vietnam. 'It is interesting to reflect for a minute on what it says that when Russia goes around the world looking for partners that can help it, it lands on North Korea.' Some analysts say a potential meeting between Kim and Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. Russia, which has always closely guarded its most important weapons technologies, even from key allies such as China, could be unwilling to make major technology transfers with North Korea for what is likely to be limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the countries, they say. Lord Simon McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has admitted he told colleagues he voted Remain at the EU referendum. The ex-mandarin defended the extraordinary breach of civil service impartiality rules as he described how fellow officials were 'in tears' after the Brexit vote in 2016. The crossbench peer claimed he was 'trying to maintain credibility' among his colleagues by revealing his personal political views in the wake of the Leave result. Lord McDonald served as the most senior official at the Foreign Office between 2015 and 2020 as the UK made its exit from the EU. He had long been suspected of being an ardent Remainer but his confession that he publicly declared how he voted has stunned other Whitehall officials. Lord Simon McDonald, the former top civil servant at the Foreign Office, has admitted he told colleagues he voted Remain at the EU referendum. Lord McDonald served as the most senior official at the Foreign Office between 2015 and 2020, including a period when Boris Johnson was Foreign Secretary The crossbench peer claimed he was 'trying to maintain credibility' among his Foreign Office colleagues by revealing his personal political views in the wake of the Leave result. Lord McDonald: The Remainer mandarin Lord McDonald of Salford, the ex-top official at the Foreign Office, was claimed to have been forced into early retirement from his civil service career in 2020. Lord McDonald left his Foreign Office role at the time it was being merged with the Department for International Development by Boris Johnson. According to reports prior to his departure, he was on a 's*** list' of top civil servants that Number 10 wanted replaced following the PM's 2019 general election landslide. Widely regarded as an ardent Remainer, the mandarin's departure swiftly came as part of the PM's shake-up of Whitehall in the wake of the Covid crisis and after the UK's official exit from the EU. Mr Johnson and Lord McDonald were well-known to each other after the PM's spell as Foreign Secretary in Theresa May's Government - with the pair said to have 'never seen eye to eye' in their workings together. Prior to his retirement from the Foreign Office, Lord McDonald had given confused evidence to MPs about Britain's decision not to join an EU scheme to buy ventilators when the pandemic hit. His exit from the civil service came despite him having previously expressed a wish to serve for an extra two years. Last year, just prior to Mr Johnson being ousted as PM, Lord McDonald penned a bombshell letter to a parliamentary watchdog that deepened the Chris Pincher scandal. He revealed Mr Johnson had previously been told of a 2019 complaint about Mr Pincher. It gave further ammunition to Mr Johnson's critics as he attempted to deal with fresh allegations against Mr Pincher's behaviour. Advertisement Lord McDonald made the admission in a new BBC documentary titled Laura Kuenssberg: State of Chaos. Speaking about his actions in the wake of the Brexit vote, he told the programme: 'On this occasion, this solitary occasion, I decided to tell my colleagues - and therefore let ministers know - that I voted to Remain in the EU. 'I felt they would assume that in any case, so I decided to embrace it.' The civil service code of conduct includes strict guidance on Whitehall officials maintaining political impartiality. It states that civil servants must not allow their 'personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions' and should 'serve the government, whatever its political persuasion, to the best of your ability in a way which maintains political impartiality'. Pressed on why he ignored the principle of civil service impartiality after the Brexit vote, Lord McDonald added: 'I was trying to maintain credibility and trying to convey a message to a group of people, most of whom I felt had voted to Remain in the EU, that their personal feelings were beside the professional point. 'It was a personal decision. My board were not entirely comfortable and all these years later you can have a conversation about was it right, the right decision.' Describing the atmosphere in the Foreign Office after the EU referendum result, Lord McDonald said: 'The main feeling in the Foreign Office building was of mourning. People were in tears. People were in shock.' Helen McNamara, a fellow former senior civil servant who served in Whitehall at the same time as Lord McDonald, expressed her surprise to the programme at her ex-colleague's actions. 'Wow I don't know why that would be a good or helpful thing,' she said. The documentary also heard from Lord Philip Hammond, who was Chancellor during Theresa May's government. Asked if the Treasury was trying to block Brexit during his time in charge, he replied: 'The Treasury was certainly trying to go for a soft Brexit and I don't think we should apologise for that at all.' The documentary also explores suggestions that David Lidington, who was Mrs May's de facto deputy, could have taken over as prime minister and called a second EU referendum amid the Westminster chaos over Brexit. Asked if such conversations took place, Mr Lidington said: 'Yes that was what happened. Theresa was not going to go that was very clear. 'And I certainly never made any suggestion to her or made any move against her. I would not have done so. 'There weren't conspiracies, what there were were increasingly desperate searches for ways in which to break the deadlock with a deal.' Union leaders will today vote on action to tackle Rishi Sunak's new anti-strike law designed to limit the impact of walkouts that have hammered the NHS and other public services over the past year. The TUC conference will hold a ballot on 'non-compliance' with the legislation pushed through by Mr Sunak after months of crippling action by workers including nurses, doctors, train staff and civil servants. In his keynote speech to the event in Liverpool, general secretary Paul Nowak warned that unions will fight the minimum service rule - which means some workers would have to work for safety reasons instead of striking - 'every single day until it is repealed'. He told delegates the law was designed to tell workers to 'sit down and shut up', adding: 'That is not going to happen, not on my watch.' He has reported the Government to the United Nations, saying the legislation 'falls far short' of international legal standards. He says the union body will be lodging the case at the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It came as RMT boss Mick Lynch refused to rule out calling a rail strike during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester between October 1 and 4. In his keynote speech to the event in Liverpool, general secretary Paul Nowak said 'nothing works in this country anymore and no-one in Government cares'. Hundreds of junior doctors stage a rally outside Downing Street as they begin their latest strike over pay, 11 August 2023 The TUC conference will hold a ballot on 'non-compliance' with the legislation pushed through by Mr Sunak after months of crippling action by workers including nurses, doctors, train staff and civil servants. Mr Lynch told Politico: 'That is a possibility in the time frame. Our members look for the most effective prosecution of the strike. And whether the Tory conference is part of that factor, I havent spent too much time thinking about it, but that will be a part of it because its in two or three weeks time.' READ MORE: More NHS strike misery on the way: Both junior doctors and consultants will hold four days of united industrial action from September Advertisement Unions will attack the legislation during a debate on Monday, claiming the new law is unnecessary and unworkable and will do nothing to resolve disputes. Mr Nowak, who took over as TUC leader in December, used his speech to accuse the Conservatives of having 'broken Britain'. He will say: 'They've had 13 years to sort out crumbling concrete in our schools, but five days before the new term they tell schools they can't open. 'Because - and I quote the Education Secretary - everyone ''sat on their a**es''. 'Could you think of a more perfect metaphor for this Government? A crisis of their making, but someone else gets the blame. 'Yet, this Government that can't keep our rivers clean, or run trains on time, or run a functioning NHS can find time to attack the right to strike.' Shadow defence minister Dan Jarvis has pledged that Labour will repeal the law if it wins power at the next election. He told GB News: 'The anti-strike legislation was deeply flawed. That's why we opposed it in Government and Angela Rayner will be speaking at the TUC forumshe will outline all the detail of our plan, a working plan, which the next Labour government would introduce. 'We've said that we will repeal this legislation within the first 100 days of the next Labour government and Angela Rayner will lay out the details of our proposals.' However Mr Sunak has defended the proposed mass closure of railway station ticket offices as 'the right thing for the British public'. The Prime Minister was questioned on his trip to India about plans by train operators to shut nearly all station ticket offices in England amid pressure from the Government to cut costs. The plan has sparked fierce criticism from opposition politicians, trade unions, disability groups and public transport organisations. More than 680,000 responses were submitted to the consultation, which ended on September 1. Concerns were raised by the public and 'stakeholders' around the impact on accessibility, safety and security, issues with ticket machines and how stations will be staffed in future, according to watchdogs Transport Focus and London TravelWatch. An online petition calling for ticket offices to remain open passed 100,000 signatures on Friday, meaning the issue can be considered for debate in Parliament. He said: 'It's right that our railway network is modernised and is put on a sustainable footing. 'That's the right thing for the British public and British taxpayers and recognises the fact that I think only one in 10 tickets are sold currently in ticket offices. 'But this is actually fundamentally, as far as I understand it, about getting people out of ticket offices on to platforms and in stations where they can help people in different ways, which is where the help is required. 'Those are exactly all the things that we'll be discussing in the consultation and it wouldn't be right for me to pre-empt the response or what the conclusions are.' A Government spokesman said: 'The purpose of this legislation is to protect the lives and livelihoods of the general public and ensure they can continue to access vital public services during strikes. 'The legislation does not remove the ability to strike, but people expect the Government to act in circumstances where their rights and freedoms are being disproportionately impacted, and that's what we are doing with this Bill.' It has been 50 years since the coup detat against president Allende in Chile. In this article, Carlos Cerpa Mallat describes the events that preceded the coup, how the transition from dictatorship to the current regime took place, and draws the main political conclusions of that tragedy, which are necessary to arm the new generations. On 11 September 1973, the coup d'etat took place against the government of the Socialist Party President of Chile, Salvador Allende. It was the first time that a candidate identified as a Marxist had come to power by electoral means, which generated great illusions in social democracy throughout the world. But the counterrevolution was implacable. For US President Richard Nixon, toppling Allende was a matter of "making the Chilean economy scream." Imperialism intervened through the CIA, dedicating more than 13 million dollars to right-wing parties, media and bosses associations, which for three years would commit economic sabotage, reactionary communication campaigns, and terrorism. On the other hand, the working class put the forces of reaction in check on several occasions in a formidable display of mobilisation and conscious organisation in defence of its class interests against the right wing and imperialism. Organised in the Cordones Industriales, the Juntas de Abastecimiento y Precio, and other groupings, the Chilean workers left for us a valuable experience of self-organisation, which showed in an embryonic way how it is possible to direct production and manage society on a new basis. But their impulse towards the seizure of power was curtailed on every important occasion by the communist leaders and the socialist president himself, who called on the masses to trust the Armed Forces, who would be their executioners. The dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet left behind thousands of murdered and missing detainees, in addition to inflicting unspeakable tortures. In a small country of 10 million inhabitants, official figures indicate that at least 40,000 people suffered human rights violations, mostly young people, workers and peasants. The flower of the Chilean youth and working class was annihilated. The experience of the Allende government shows that the institutional road to socialism is not possible. It represents the failure of reformism, which does not understand the class character of the state. Popular Unity In 1969, the Popular Unity (UP) was formed, composed mainly of the Socialist Party and the Communist Party, and petty bourgeois parties such as the Radical Party. It was a popular front, with the particularity of being led by two mass workers' parties. The Popular Fronts were a policy of the Stalinist Comintern, which called on the Communist parties to form alliances with parties of the supposedly 'democratic' bourgeoisie. But at bottom, the popular fronts meant the subordination of the working class to the interests of the bourgeoisie, under the veil of an anti-fascist alliance. The Popular Unity succeeded in mobilising very broad sectors of the working masses: a culminating moment of a decades-long process of mass radicalisation in Chile and on the continent. The Christian Democracy was formed as a party that sought above all to stop the growth of the workers' parties. In 1964, the Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Montalva, campaigning with leftist phraseology and under the slogan of "Revolution in Liberty," defeated Salvador Allende in the presidential elections. Agrarian reform was initiated, which fulfilled only one third of the plan to benefit 100,000 peasant families; as well as the "Chileanization" of the copper sector, which established mixed companies with 51 percent state participation in mining. But the limits of these reforms only fueled the desire for profound transformation. The strength of the working class already stands out at that time. In 1970, 85 percent of the population were wage earners, 46 percent of whom were labourers. The Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), the main union federation, organised 700,000 members, and during the socialist government it reached one million members, a third of the active population. In the public sector, unionisation reached 90 percent. In 1965, there were 723 strikes, and in 1972 they reached 3,526, of which only 3.4 percent were considered legal. But at the same time, the situation facing the working class was precarious. Almost half of the working population earned less than the minimum wage. In 1970, a quarter of the national population did not have their own family housing, and in Santiago 10 percent lived in shantytowns. The US and CIA conspiracy began before Allende assumed office / Image: Che Mella, Wikimedia Commons In 1965, the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR) was founded, the result of the merging of various groups. Among them was the Partido Obrero Revolucionario (Revolutionary Workers Party), with origins in the Chilean Left Opposition of the 1930s. But the MIR was dominated by petty-bourgeois and academic elements, who promoted peasant guerrilla warfare. In 1969, they bureaucratically expelled those who opposed it, mainly working-class cadres. During the Allende government, the MIR was the most important revolutionary left group with some mass support. From 2,000 members at the end of the 1960s, it reached 6,000 in 1973, and was able to mobilise some 15,000 people, including sympathisers. The peasant wing of the MIR, the Revolutionary Peasant Movement, surpassed the legality of the agrarian reform process. Very significantly, in La Araucania region, mobilised together with the Mapuche, they achieved the expropriation of almost 200,000 hectares of private land, which were returned to indigenous communities. In 1970, the Communist Party had 60,000 members, one of the largest in Latin America and the largest in the Popular Unity. The Communist Youth reached 80,000 members in 1973. The Socialist Party was further to the left than the Communists, and had an explosive growth during the three years of the Allende government, going from around 55,000 members to 125,000 members in 1973. Thus, as a whole, the leftist parties had between 200-300,000 members. For its part, the Christian Democrats had some 60,000 members, with an important presence in trade unions, while the right-wing opposition and fascist groups had around 30,000 members. For his part, Salvador Allende was a doctor who, over the course of his career was a parliamentarian, minister of health, and four-time candidate for the presidency. He finally won the elections on 4 September 1970, with 37 percent of the vote. Right-winger Jorge Alessandri obtained 35 percent and the Christian Democrat candidate 28 percent. The division of the right-wing and Christian Democracy votes allowed the Popular Unity to obtain a majority. But this triumph is also an expression of the rise of the masses during the 1960s. Since he did not obtain an absolute majority, Allende needed congressional ratification to assume the presidency. The US and CIA conspiracy began before he assumed office. A false flag kidnapping was prepared against Commander-in-Chief Rene Schneider, led by General Viaux, with the participation of the fascist group Patria y Libertad (Fatherland and Freedom). The plan was to blame the revolutionary left for the kidnapping and provoke a military putsch that would prevent the congress from ratifying Allende. But the plan did not work: Schneider resisted the kidnapping with his gun, and the far-right gunmen had to liquidate him. The coup plot was revealed, which forced the supposedly democratic institutions to support the peaceful transfer of power. The position of commander-in-chief was passed by seniority to Carlos Prats, another military officer considered a constitutionalist, like Schneider. In any case, instead of holding out hope for constitutionalists within the state apparatus, the Popular Unity parties should have taken heed of the obvious danger of a military uprising that would force an armed confrontation between the workers and the counterrevolution. Ultimately, Allende was ratified under the condition of signing a Statute of Constitutional Guarantees, which established the autonomy of the Armed Forces. That is to say, from the very first moment, the hands of the popular government were tied over the fundamental question of the character of the bourgeois state and its armed wing. The Popular Unity programme The Popular Unity in government applied its programme of democratic and anti-imperialist reforms, including measures in favour of workers unprecedented in the history of Chile: nationalisation of natural resources being the most emblematic; along with the nationalisation of copper (considered the "salary of Chile); partial nationalisation of banking, foreign trade, and strategic companies, such as the ITT telephone company; acceleration of the agrarian reform initiated by the Christian Democrat government; social reforms called the "40 measures," such as the delivery of half a litre of milk daily for all children; and the freezing of rent. The strategy of the Popular Unity proposed a gradual transition to socialism through institutional channels. It argued the specificity of the Chilean State as a stable political system and considered the Armed Forces as "constitutionalist" and respectful of democracy. In addition, it defined the existence of a progressive national bourgeoisie. The Social Property Area was created, with workers' participation, comprising 90 nationalised strategic companies. The workers would take this initiative further through occupations. As many as 254 monopolist companies were included in the Social Area. During the Popular Unity government, there were more than 2,000 land occupations. While the Christian Democrat government had expropriated 3.5 million hectares of land, Allende's agrarian reform expropriated 5.3 million hectares of basic irrigated land, reaching up to 35 percent of agricultural land. The self-organisation of the workers in the Cordones Industriales (Industrial Belts) is the highest point of this Chilean revolution; a revolution "from below," which surpassed the revolution "from above" of the Popular Unity government programme. As the slogans of the time said, it was a dispute between "advancing without compromising", and "consolidating in order to advance." In 1973, the Social Area of nationalised companies came to comprise 30 percent of the industrial workforce and 90 percent of mining production. During the first year, there was an industrial growth of 12 percent. In fact, until mid-1972 there was a small golden era. In some nationalised textile companies, production doubled. The consumption of national products doubled, a sign of a better quality of life for workers, who could now buy household appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators, and who consumed more meat and milk. However, the state only controlled 15 percent of distribution. This would be taken advantage of by the bourgeoisie, which used the control it maintained over the economy to sabotage the government. At the same time, the imperialist boycott blocked access to spare parts and machinery. According to the project of the Popular Unity, the key was the rapid implementation of a planned economy in the Social Area, which would transform the relations of production and increase productivity. However, the Allende government's nationalisation measures, which did not replace the anarchy of the market with democratic planning, provoked the sabotage of the bourgeoisie. This contributed decisively to the deterioration of the social and economic situation, leading to defeat. Despite the difficulties, electoral support for the government increased; the Popular Unity parties obtained 50 percent in the 1971 municipal elections. The Socialist Party grew from 12 percent to 22 percent. In 1971, a sector of the Christian Democracy that supported the Popular Unity resigned, following the example of the MAPU, which split from the Christian Democrats in 1969. This positive development showed the adhesion of some middle sectors to working-class interests, but on the other hand the Christian Democracy remained under the control of its right wing. Industrial Belts The ruling class abandoned its hopes of overthrowing the government by democratic means, and in October 1972, a strong bosses' offensive was launched with the aim of overthrowing the government. The bourgeoisie and imperialism were aware of the sharpening of the class struggle under the Allende government, with the working class threatening to surpass the limits of bourgeois democracy. They were not willing to lose their power, wealth and privileges without putting up a fight. Unfortunately, the leaders of the left did not have the same clarity of vision and continued to rely on the supposedly democratic character of the Armed Forces, and the possibility of advancing to socialism gradually without breaking with bourgeois democracy. Industrialists froze their activities. The truck drivers' union carried out a reactionary stoppage that affected the transportation of fuel, raw materials, food, and maritime cargo. Students from the Catholic University, doctors, engineers, and public transportation joined the strike. The opposition managed to drag along the middle classes. The workers responded by occupying the factories abandoned by the bosses and the Cordones Industriales flourished, as democratic, rank-and-file workers' organisations. They controlled production, and made their own spare parts, which were scarce due to the economic blockade. To organise the distribution of basic products, the Juntas de Abastecimiento y Precio (Supply and Price Committees) multiplied, which fought hoarding and the black market. As happens in all revolutions, an embryo of dual power was established, which went beyond the factories, and could organise peasants and the poor. Between 20-30,000 workers mobilised in Santiago around the Cordones Industriales. As happens in all revolutions, an embryo of dual power was established / Image: fair use After a month, the bosses strike was defeated, and Allende formed a civilian-military Cabinet. This was a slap in the face, since the military was called upon to mediate in a conflict where the working class had already triumphed. He placed the military together with union representatives in his cabinet, confusing the independent workers' organisations with the government. In an attempt to avoid an inevitable confrontation, in January 1973, the government presented the Prats-Millas Plan: to return the factories occupied in October, which were not in the government programme. It also reduced the Social Area plan from 90 to 49 enterprises. This was unacceptable to the workers, who resisted the measure, and the plan was withdrawn in February 1973. A Gun Control Law was also enacted, which was used in raids against the Cordones Industriales. Meanwhile, in the months before the coup, fascists carried out at least 20 attacks daily. On the basis of blind confidence in the democratic character of the state, the workers were disarmed, while the fascist gangs ran wild. In the parliamentary elections of March 1973, Popular Unity obtained 44 percent. The right wing did not succeed in decisively weakening the government in the electoral field. For all advanced workers, the coup conspiracy was evident, and the coup itself imminent. The question then was whether to wait for the aggression or to take the initiative. The art of revolutionary insurrection requires means of defence, timing and coordination. But the bulk of the preparatory work should be devoted towards creating a political task directed at the soldiers with a general programme of democratisation of the armed forces, with the aim of organising anti-coup units. On 29 June 1973, a sector of the army revolted; the so-called Tanquetazo, organised by middle-rank officers linked to Patria y Libertad. Commander-in-Chief Prats, accompanied by a certain General Augusto Pinochet, repressed the rebels in downtown Santiago. General Prats then reflects in his diary: There is no longer any doubt in my mind that a considerable number of general officers of the armed forces and carabineros maintain political ties with opposition leaders, and that these contacts are conspiratorial in nature. (...) Why not talk politics in the barracks, if a regiment with its commander at its head has taken to the streets to attack the presidential palace and the Ministry of Defense, and if the commander in chief has also had to take to the streets to defend the constitutional government with a machine gun in his hand? The Cordones took the initiative and occupied all the factories in the capital, seized the main access routes to Santiago, and the peasants' centralised the food supply. The putsch was defeated. But serious flaws were evident; groups of workers wandered without direction through the streets of Santiago. At the end of the day, Allende asked, once again, that the companies occupied during the day be returned and that workers go back to their homes in peace. Since Prats and Pinochet repressed the uprising, the Communist Party believed that its thesis that the Armed Forces were constitutionalists was confirmed. In reality, the Tanquetazo was only a dress rehearsal, which proved that the conspiracy was at full speed and it was only a matter of time before another coup was sprung. This was still a favourable moment for the government to rely on the working class and launch an offensive that would definitively expropriate the bourgeois saboteurs. The contradiction was between defending a government that the workers considered their own, and the need to overcome it by revolutionary means. This same government disarmed them politically and materially in the face of the counterrevolution. The socialist revolution was the only means of defence. The coup-plotting officers of the Navy understood that the Navy and the Air Force would not be enough to lead a successful action against the government. It was essential to count on the support of the Army, and in this, General Carlos Prats was an obstacle. General Prats was harassed by the press and by protests from the military wives; he faltered under the psychological pressure, and then Pinochet assumed the position of command in chief. Prats described him as follows: He is the scoundrel of limited lights and excessive ambition, capable of spending a lifetime crawling or crouching down waiting for the moment to commit a crime by force, which will allow him to change his destiny by a bold stroke of daring. I am convinced that he only jumped on the bandwagon of the coup plotters at the last minute, but I have no doubt that he will cling to power whatever the cost. He will remain as the great traitor of our history. The one who led the army and the armed forces to commit a major and irreparable mistake. The Army command had thus taken its place in the coup plot. Prats would be assassinated months later in exile in Buenos Aires. Constitutionalist sailors and the coup It was known that the main conspirators were in the Navy and that they met regularly with US military advisors. Under the guise of making preparations for the UNITAS operation, they actually prepared communication codes between US and Chilean ships for the coup d'etat. In addition, the navy provided weapons and military training to Patria y Libertad, while the officers shouted openly pro-coup slogans to the troops. A group of sailors knew of the plans of their officers to overthrow the government. They also knew that there were many sailors opposed to a coup. Two strategies were developed that divided the opinions of the group. One idea, inspired by the 1931 uprising of the navy when the sailors imprisoned the officers and took control of the ships, was to react only in case of a coup, where they would occupy the ships and take them to the high seas, out of use for the counterrevolution. The other idea was to anticipate the coup, with part of this group deciding to contact political leaders of the revolutionary left. The MIR, the MAPU and the Socialist Party did not agree with the plan in its totality as presented by the group, nor did they reach consensus among themselves. The lack of unity of a revolutionary leadership of the workers was another disadvantage, while the counterrevolution was able to solve this problem through the three hard years of opposition, obtaining unity of command for the coup. In August 1973 the meetings with the left were discovered. The sailors were prosecuted by the military justice system, accused of insurrection and tortured. Scandalously, Allende does not intervene to help them, arguing that to do so would violate the autonomy of the Armed Forces! This was decisive for the eventual defeat, since it discouraged the rank and file soldiers and sailors from acting in defence of the government. In addition, the Popular Unity did not elaborate a policy for the armed forces, and the troops were not listened to. One of the tortured sailors, a corporal, would say years later: "I think Allende was more concerned about winning the command, about winning the officers (...) So he neglected us NCOs." On 4 September, 800,000 workers marched in front of the house of government, La Moneda, demanding weapons and the closing of congress. On 5 September, the Cordones Industriales sent a letter to President Salvador Allende, highlighting some of the workers' demands: ...We consider not only that we are being led to the road that will lead us to fascism at a dizzying pace, but that we have been deprived of the means to defend ourselves. Therefore we demand of you, comrade President, that you place yourself at the head of this true army without arms, but powerful in consciousness that the proletarian parties put aside their divergences and become the true vanguard of this organised but directionless mass. We demand: (...) With regard to the social area: not only should no company be returned where there is a majority will of the workers to be intervened, but it should become the predominant area of the economy. (...) We demand the repeal of the Gun Control Law that has only served to harass the workers, with the raids practised in industries and towns, which is serving as a dress rehearsal for the seditious sectors of the armed forces, who thus study the organisation and response capacity of the working class in an attempt to intimidate them and identify their leaders. In the face of the inhuman repression of the sailors of Valparaiso and Talcahuano, we demand the immediate freedom of these heroic class brothers, whose names are already engraved in the pages of Chilean history. However, Allende and the Popular Unity leaders remained stubbornly attached to their conception of a 'democratic' state that obeyed the government, and a 'constitutionalist' armed forces that respected the chain of command. That path led directly to disaster, as the Cordones Industriales warned in their letter: We are absolutely convinced that historically, reformism sought through dialogue with those who have betrayed time and again, is the fastest road to fascism. Ignoring the clamour of the working class, Allende proposed a plebiscite to the parties, in an attempt to use parliamentary methods to resolve the conflict of powers between the government and the opposition in Congress. The date of the coup was then set for 11 September, to prevent the announcement of this measure. Every uprising needs a moment of "overflow", a delicate moment in which the forces jump from stasis resolutely into offensive action. The surprise factor relies on secrecy and deception. That there was a coup in the making was no secret, but the leadership of the left, mainly the communists and Allende himself, were deceived by their own political theses on the constitutionalism of the armed forces. The General Staff had elaborated an anti-insurrectional plan in case of emergencies to defend the government (the Hercules Plan), but in reality this was applied to the overthrow of the government itself. As it was already public knowledge that the Navy were coup plotters, the coup began at dawn in the port city of Valparaiso. Then the natural response would be to send the regiments from Santiago to suppress the uprising. In reality, they would only go to a friendly meeting with the rebels, to neutralise any resistance and proceed with the coup in Santiago. Joan Garces, close advisor to President Allende explains: "Pinochet's work consisted in converting the device destined to defend the government into a centre of direction and support for the insurrection (...) But the success of Pinochet's action cannot be explained without considering the decisive fact: in front of the state apparatus there was no organisation with the capacity for military resistance (...) The absence of any autonomous proletarian coercive capacity left the Popular Unity with no other military choice but to continue supporting the officers who appeared to have a professional and democratic conscience". (Allende y la experiencia chilena. Joan Garces. 1976. p.363). The workers, deprived of political leadership, concentrated in the workplaces, awaiting instructions. Faced with an enemy superior in arms and organisation, what was called for was to respond with mobility and communication, not to remain in fixed points. Some factories and working-class neighbourhoods resisted heroically, but the military gained control of the whole situation in a few hours. It is said that Allende did not arm the workers. That is true, but it is not the best way to pose the problem. The problem is that the main organisations toyed with the military question without seriously considering it. It was necessary to form cadres, to develop a policy directed to the rank-and-file soldiers, and eventually to prepare a force of their own. It is not enough to suppose the existence of sympathetic sectors in the armed forces: the active coefficient of the class struggle is needed. A decisive action of the organised masses could have won over a sector of soldiers and sailors, breaking the Armed Forces along class lines. Above all, a revolutionary party was needed to direct the tremendous creativity and combat-readiness of the working class and its vanguard. Sadly, in the absence of this, the masses were politically disarmed. The dictatorship Frei Montalva and the Christian Democrats thought that the military would hand over power to them in the short term. But the dictatorship dragged on for 17 years. The masses were demoralised and powerless in the face of the triumphant reaction. There was a disastrous economic situation, after years of sabotage by the right wing itself, but also as a result of the international capitalist crisis. Despite its internal contradictions, the dictatorship was able to maintain itself by inertia. In the leftist organisations in hiding and in exile, strong internal debates began. It was a question of defining three things: the causes of the defeat of the Popular Unity government, the character of the military dictatorship, and finally, by what means to put an end to the dictatorship. The Chilean working class had defeated the counterrevolutionary offensive on several occasions, notably in October 1972, and showed its potential to lead the economy and society. It was necessary to generalise these experiences and coordinate them at regional and national levels. Unfortunately, this was not achieved, due to lack of time, but above all due to the absence of a revolutionary leadership with sufficient support among the masses. The workers required bold actions to solve the question of power. And finally, reaction resolved this question in its favour. Pinochet's dictatorship used the state apparatus in the manner of a Bonapartist regime / Image: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile, Wikimedia Commons The fascist group Patria y Libertad was a small auxiliary force of reaction. This differentiates Pinochet fundamentally from the fascism of Hitler or Mussolini, who relied on mass fascist organisations to destroy the working class. For its part, Pinochet's dictatorship used the state apparatus, the rule of the sword, in the manner of a Bonapartist regime. But it was a particularly cruel example, precisely because of the great strength that the workers had shown. In this sense, it was Bonapartism with fascist features. The military were neither economists nor intellectuals. It was not until the arrival of the so-called Chicago Boys in 1975 that the regime adopted a distinct economic and political project. The dictatorship did not simply recover the lost positions of the bourgeoisie and imperialism, but transformed the social and economic structure of Chile under the so-called neoliberal model. The counterrevolution consolidated its project and dictated the 1980 Constitution. The ideological and economic pillars of the system were established. The Labour Code with its anti-union laws put an end to sector wide bargaining. The denationalisation of copper allowed the concessioning of other state-owned companies. The pension system was privatised. Public education was municipalized and university education privatised. The forestry business was also handed to private profiteers. We could go on, but let us simply say that these policies left a horrendous legacy, and were challenged by the student movement of 2006 and 2011, and more recently by the rebellion of October 2019. Exile played a decisive role on the left, in a process known as Socialist Renovation, influenced by the experience of the Stalinist regimes, Eurocommunism and the credit financing of European social democracy. The class collaborationism of Berlinguer's "historical compromise" in Italy, was fundamental. So too was the "model transition" in Spain after Franco's death. In short, the Socialist Renovation tried to combine bourgeois democracy and 'socialism', while generating alliances with the centre, that is to say with Christian Democracy, abandoning the notion of class struggle and the seizure of power by the working class. The Socialist Party suffered a crisis and divisions in 1979 over this turn, but the Socialist Renovation was broadly accepted. However, despite this concession to reformism, to this day there are socialist tendencies, with more presence in the interior of Chile, which maintain their revolutionary traditions. Until 1979, the Communist Party, whose leadership had not broken with the popular-front policy that led to the disaster, wanted to include the Christian Democracy in an "Anti-Fascist Front" against the dictatorship. But the Christian Democrats rejected them, and actually sought to isolate them politically. Influenced by communists in the GDR and the militant spirit of young communists at home, a strategy of Mass Peoples' Rebellion was promoted.. That is to say, the path of the political defeat of the Armed Forces and not conciliation with the regime. The fight against the dictatorship In 1982, Chile suffered the greatest economic crisis since 1930. GDP fell 15 percent, unemployment reached 25 percent, and in some marginal areas it was up to 40 percent. At the beginning of the 1980s, the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua and El Salvador, where some Chileans fought and received instruction, had some effect on the Chilean masses. 1983 marked 10 years of unbearable state of emergency and curfews. Something had to give. These factors explain protests that took both the military and the political parties by surprise. The Confederation of Copper Workers (CTC) called for the First National Day of Protest on 11 May 1983. The demonstrations were massive and especially combative in the outskirts of Santiago. Professionals, merchants and transport workers also joined in. An organisation of women opposed to the dictatorship, MEMCH 83, also arose. Those unions willing to mobilise formed the National Workers' Command (CNT). The Democratic Alliance was created, which brought together the Christian Democracy, the renovated socialists, and some right-wing sectors, opposed to the dictatorship, which pressed for a quick negotiation. On the other hand, the Communist Party, more radical socialists, the MIR, and other leftist groups formed the Popular Democratic Movement. There was a competition between the negotiated alternative of the Democratic Alliance and the insurrectionary Popular Democratic Movement. A third option was to continue with the dictatorship, which contemplated a plebiscite in 1988 to affirm its control. Pinochet sought to buy time with fruitless dialogue, while unleashing indiscriminate repression and the selective elimination of opposition leaders. A pre-insurrectionary mood threatened to overwhelm the negotiations. The Communist Party connected with the radicalisation in the working-class neighbourhoods, military cadres entered the country, and the Frente Patriotico Manuel Rodriguez (FPMR) was born. The largest National Days of Protest took place on 2-3 July 1986, with a total stoppage. The groups that sought the political defeat of the Armed Forces called this the "decisive year". But the seizure of arms sent from Cuba, a failed FPMR operation and a month later an attempt on Pinochet's life failed. This constituted a logistical and moral blow that plunged the Communist Party and the FPMR into a crisis. Thus, the negotiated solution triumphed, which gave rise to the Concertacion de Partidos por la Democracia, campaigning for the 1988 plebiscite. The NO vote (i.e., NOT to continue the dictatorship) won with 56 percent, against 44 percent for YES. The agreed democratic transition was a compromise from above, to avoid the insurrectionary overflow from below. The dictatorship was oxygenated at decisive moments, avoiding its fall by revolutionary means. Impunity for the crimes of the dictatorship was established and the armed forces remained infected with torturers and murderers. The Concertacion, a coalition formed mainly by the newly founded Partido Por la Democracia, plus the renovated Socialist Party and Christian Democracy, managed the democratic aspirations of the Chilean people after the dictatorship. But they ruled keeping most of the legacy of the dictatorship intact, making the necessary superficial changes so that nothing changed. The same neoliberal capitalist policies remained. Ultimately, the coup took place not for the sake of having a dictatorship, but to protect capitalism from the revolutionary demands of the masses. Capitalism, and the economic policies of Pinochet, remained in place despite the removal of Pinochet himself from power. Fifty years after the bloody coup detat, Chileans still live with the legacy of that defeat. The uprising of 2019 represented a rejection of the entire regime created at the end of the dictatorship. It is crucial to draw the necessary lessons from the Popular Unity government. The main one is understanding the class character of the bourgeois state, which cannot be used to gradually introduce socialism. A young man looking for love had a shotgun pointed at the back of his head and was stabbed multiple times shortly after picking up a woman he met on Snapchat for a date. Emergency services rushed to Mi Mi Street in Oatley, South Sydney, after reports a car had crashed into the back of a parked vehicle at 10.25pm on Thursday. Paramedics found the 23-year-old driver at the scene and treated him for minor knife wounds before being taken to St George Hospital as a precaution. Prior to being taken away, the man told a bystander that he crashed the car in an desperate attempt to escape from two thugs who had threatened him with a knife and a double-barrelled shotgun. He told the bystander and police that he had picked up a woman he met online for a before the two men entered the backseat of his car and told him to hand over his phone and wallet. Speaking to the bystander, who was recording the interaction on his phone, the 23-year-old said one of the men had cut him 'everywhere' while pointing to his arms. 'All of a sudden two guys jumped in the backseat, one has a f***ing shotgun at (the back of my) head,' the man says while standing in front of his wrecked car. 'The other guy has a knife so I didn't know what to do. 'Then the guy with the gun jumped out and said 'give me all your s**t'.' He then explained that he made a split-second decision to purposely crash his car to give himself an opportunity to escape his attackers, climbing out of the window and fleeing. A resident of the street was able to help police to corroborate the man's story 'date trap' story after CCTV footage showed one person in a group of people holding a shotgun. An Oatley resident told 9News that he 'a lot of people don't feel safe outside their homes and we shouldn't have to feel this way'. A young man (pictured) looking for love had a shotgun pointed at the back of his head and was stabbed multiple times, shortly after picking up a woman for a date. The 23-year-old driver claimed one man threatened him with a double-barrelled shotgun (circled) while another 'cut' him with a knife Police confirmed the man had arrived at the location to meet with the woman who he had met online. They allege that shortly after entering his vehicle, a man approached the driver's side window wielding a shotgun before taking his mobile phone. 'The woman exited the vehicle and the 23-year-old man accelerated from the scene where he crashed into the parked car,' a statement from NSW Police reads. 'Officers established a crime scene and have commenced an investigation into the incident.' Anyone with information or dashcam or mobile phone footage related to the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers or St George Police Area Command. A close crony of Ramzan Kadyrov has vanished and is feared dead amid claims he was poisoning the Chechen warlord, according to reports from Russia. Elkhan Suleymanov, 49, a medic who served as health minister and deputy premier of Chechnya stopped posting to his 55,000 Instagram followers a year ago and has not been seen or heard from since. Meanwhile, the health of 46-year-old Kadyrov - who has sent tens of thousands of his soldiers to fight in Putin's war in Ukraine - has been the subject of deep speculation in Russia amid claims he is terminally ill. Now, a Telegram channel known to have links to law enforcement has made the extraordinary claim that Kadyrov blamed his former ally for his poor health and accused Suleymanov of poisoning him. Some suspect he had him buried alive. Suleymanov once acted as personal doctor to Kadyrov and his family, while photos posted online suggest the pair shared a close relationship. Elkhan Suleymanov, 49, a medic who served as health minister and deputy premier of Chechnya stopped posting to his 55,000 Instagram followers a year ago and has not been seen or heard from since. It is claimed Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov (left) had him killed after blaming Suleymanov for his ill health Kadyrov - often seen as bloated in pictured - became convinced he was poisoned after receiving unknown injections from Suleymanov, it is claimed The health of 46-year-old Kadyrov (pictured) has been the subject of deep speculation in Russia amid claims he is terminally ill Past photographs often showed them in the countryside together or during official engagements, arms around each other's shoulders and clasping each other's arms. However, Suleymanov - who at one point would post almost daily to his Instagram - has not shared an update with his followers since October 2022. If tyrannical leader Kadyrov - a leading Putin ally with a reputation for brutality - did suspect the doctor of poisoning him, then it is unlikely he would have shown mercy. Telegram channel VChK-OGPU, with links to law enforcement, said the warlord 'blamed the sharp deterioration in his health' on Suleymanov. 'No-one there has seen Suleymanov since October 2022, and there is talk that he was brutally killed and buried alive in the ground,' stated the channel. 'Absolutely everyone says that he is no longer alive and that he died a painful death.' Other claims are that he has returned to Baku in Azerbaijan - his birthplace - or is working quietly in Moscow, yet he has not been seen publicly. Further claims suggest he moved to the Middle East. Kadyrov - often seen as bloated in pictured - became convinced he was poisoned after receiving unknown injections from Suleymanov, it is claimed. 'He was removed from the post of Deputy Prime Minister overnight in October 2022 and has not been seen since,' said the channel citing its anonymous sources. Another source said: 'If Kadyrov really suspected Suleymanov of poisoning, then we are unlikely to see him alive. If we are talking about something else, then he may be in captivity and they will show him on camera.' Elkhan Suleymanov (right), 49, a medic who served as health minister and deputy premier of Chechnya stopped posting to Instagram a year ago and has not been seen or heard from since Suleymanov was unusual in the warlord's hierarchy. While not an ethnic Chechen, he seen as exceptionally close to Kadyrov who believed he had saved his mother. Suleymanov had worked in the West and was a professor and specialist in cancer. Similar claims were made earlier by another Telegram channel 1ADAD, which claimed he was beaten when he was dismissed. It claimed in July that he now worked in Moscow at the National Medical Research Centre for Radiology - yet there seems little evidence he is here. Nor is there hard evidence of his death. Kadyrov's foes accuse him of carrying out extra judicial killings. Multiple pictures show Kadyrov and Suleymanov together. In early July amid a swirl of health rumours, Kadyrov in a rambling post said he had recorded a film to prove he - the Chechen leader - was 'still alive' . 'We are still alive somehow,' he said at the time. 'Anyway, we don't want to live long. 'We will live a short but decent life.' Exiled Chechen opposition politician Tumso Abdurakhmanov said at the time: 'Information is coming in that Kadyrov is near death and no longer speaks. 'His kidneys have completely failed, and dialysis does not help. 'It is possible that these are his last days.' However, since then he has been seen, apparently looking better. A friend of the missing medic told VChK-OGPU channel today: 'Elkhan Suleymanov is a very professional person with high personal standards. 'He is soft, sociable, and non-conflicting, a classic intellectual. 'Just a couple of days before his unexpected dismissal, he discussed tests and the causes of Kadyrov's strange illness with doctors from Moscow until late at night. 'I called a friend in Germany about this. 'Then he simply disappeared. Later, information about his resignation appeared. 'All this time, friends are being told that he left with his family for Baku, is engaged in science, does not want any publicity and will not communicate.' A hunter in southwestern Montana was severely mauled by a grizzly bear on Friday, leading officials to close off part of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. On September 8 at 1:45pm, Madison County Dispatch received a 911 call from a hunting party where an individual had been attacked by the bear while tracking a deer. The caller explained that the hunter, who was near the Yellow Mule Trail, needed immediate medical treatment. Emergency crews were quick to the scene and used a helicopter ambulance to fly the hunter to a nearby hospital. The attack happened south of Big Sky, which is a popular resort area about 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) north of Yellowstone National Park. A hunter in southwestern Montana was severely mauled by a grizzly bear on Friday, leading officials to close off part of the Custer Gallatin National Forest Emergency crews were quick to the scene and used a helicopter ambulance to fly the hunter to a nearby hospital An emergency closure has been implemented in the Buck Ridge Yellow Mule Area while officials are investigating the incident and trying to locate the bear. In a Facebook post, Custer Gallatin National Forest explained that the man who was attacked had shot at the bear and likely wounded it. The closure includes the Yellow Mule Trails and all access to Buck Ridge Trail. Yesterday, the page also posted that a young black bear had been spotted outside of Bozeman, warning visitors to use extra caution and be aware of their surroundings. The news follows a string of other bear attacks in the Montana area this year. The Montana Department of Fish and Game have warned that the likelihood of encounters between grizzlies and humans is increasing as the bear population grows more widespread in Montana. Grizzly bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states. In a press release issued on Friday, they wrote 'This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they consume more food in preparation for hibernation. 'This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities.' The Montana Department of Fish and Game have warned that the likelihood of encounters between grizzlies and humans is increasing as the bear population grows more widespread in Montana An emergency closure has been implemented in the Buck Ridge Yellow Mule Area while officials are investigating the incident and trying to locate the bear Friday's attack comes just after authorities killed another grizzly after it broke into a Montana home with her cub to steal dog food. The female grizzly that was euthanized on Saturday was the same one that mauled a woman to death two months ago. Amie Adamson, 47, from Derby, Kansas was killed by the bear on July 22 of this year. The hiker was found dead at the Buttermilk Trail just west of Yellowstone National Park after heading out for her morning jog just before 8am. It was also found to be the same bear responsible for injuring a person near Henrys Lake State Park in Idaho in 2020. Early on 2 September, a homeowner had reported that a bear with a cub had broken through a kitchen window and taken a container of dog food, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said in a statement. Later that day, agency workers captured the cub and shot the 10-year-old female grizzly with authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kim Jong Un is travelling on a train to Russia to discuss a potential arms deal, according to reports, with the Kremlin confirming on Monday the North Korean dictator received an invitation from Vladimir Putin. Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the armoured train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports, while Japan's Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying that Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. North Korea is one of the few countries to have openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Putin pledged last week to 'expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts.' A summit between Kim and Putin would likely focus on military cooperation and possibly a deal to supply arms, US and South Korean officials and analysts have said. Kim Jong Un is travelling on a train to Russia amid rumours of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin to discuss a potential arm deal, according to reports. It will be the first meeting between the pair since April 2019 (pictured) US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting on Monday. 'At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days,' it said in a statement. The two countries are seen as taking steps to expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The city was also the site of Putin's first meeting with Kim in 2019. According to US officials, Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to bolster his stalled invasion and refill declining reserves as he seeks to defuse a Ukrainian counteroffensive. He is also eager show that he's capable of grinding out a long war of attrition. That could potentially put more pressure on the United States and its partners to pursue negotiations as concerns about a protracted conflict grow despite their huge shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine over the past 17 months. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. In exchange, Kim could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines and military reconnaissance satellites. Speculation about the countries' military cooperation grew after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (pictured left) made a rare visit to North Korea in July, when Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade in the capital where he showcased ICBMs designed to target the US mainland. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kim's growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target its enemies, including the United States, South Korea, and Japan. After a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship for decades, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer to each other since Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The bond has been driven by Putin's need for war assistance and Kim's efforts to boost the visibility of his partnerships with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing. He has been taking steps to break out of diplomatic isolation and have North Korea be part of a united front against Washington. While using the distraction caused by the Ukraine conflict to ramp up its weapons development, North Korea has repeatedly blamed the United States for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming the West's 'hegemonic policy' justified a Russian offensive in Ukraine to protect itself. North Korea is the only nation aside of Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk and Luhansk - and it has also hinted at an interest in sending construction workers to those areas to help with rebuilding efforts. Russia - along with China - have blocked US-led efforts at the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions on North Korea over its intensifying missile tests. Moscow has also accused Washington of worsening tensions with Pyongyang by expanding military exercises with South Korea and Japan. The United States has been accusing North Korea since last year of providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims. But speculation about the countries' military cooperation grew after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to North Korea in July, when Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade in the capital where he showcased ICBMs designed to target the US mainland. Following Shoigu's visit, Kim toured North Korea's weapons factories, including a facility producing artillery systems where he urged workers to speed up the development and large-scale production of new kinds of ammunition. Experts say Kim's visits to the factories likely had a dual goal of encouraging the modernization of North Korean weaponry and examining artillery and other supplies that could possibly be exported to Russia. Jon Finer, US President Joe Biden's chief deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Sunday that buying weapons from North Korea 'may be the best and may be the only option' open to Moscow as it tries to keep its war effort going. A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russia's TASS news agency. The city was also the site of Putin's first meeting with Kim in 2019 'We have serious concerns about the prospect of North Korea potentially selling weapons, additional weapons, to the Russian military. It is interesting to reflect for a minute on what it says that when Russia goes around the world looking for partners that can help it, it lands on North Korea,' Finer said aboard a plane carrying Biden from India to Vietnam. Some analysts say a potential meeting between Kim and Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. Russia - which has always closely guarded its most important weapons technologies, even from key allies such as China - could be unwilling to make major technology transfers with North Korea for what is likely to be limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the countries, they say. A Nessie hunter has claimed to have made the sixth sighting of the mythical beast this year after spotting a curved creature in the water. Fiona Wade said she was stunned after seeing 'three odd and seemingly connected shapes' in Loch Ness, in Scotland at 10:45am on August 31. She said it was 'like nothing I have seen before and I can only describe it as Nessie as I can't think of any logical thing it could have been'. Her 'sighting' of the legendary creature, which lasted for around 30-40 seconds, has now been logged in the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register. It follows a similar sighting by civil servant Alastair Gray on August 26, who claimed to have seen 'three odd and seemingly connected shapes' near Invermoriston. A Nessie hunter has excitedly claimed she spotted the fabled monster as sleuths from around the world are descending on Loch Ness to track down the beast The sixth so-called sighting of the Loch Ness Monster this year was recorded by a woman who was baffled after seeing a curved creature in the legendary water Ms Wade said her sighting was 'almost identical' to that seen by Mr Gray and 'probably in a very similar location'. 'I might add that I was not aware of this sighting on Saturday until returning home this evening. 'It initially looked like a periscope but then two curved areas followed, it was moving and about half way out in the Loch looking roughly over to mid way between Foyers and Whitebridge.' 'I have seen deer crossing before but this was like nothing I have seen before and I can only describe it as Nessie as I can't think of any logical thing it could have been. 'It was large enough to catch my eye and it appeared to leave a slight wake behind it,' Ms Wade said. The sighting took place at 10.45am, the water was calm and there was allegedly no nearby boat activity. The sighting, which lasted 30 to 40 seconds, has been accepted by the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register. It came as a 12-year-old girl said she spotted the Loch Ness Monster in 2018 and has the images to prove it. Charlotte Robinson from Leeds in Yorkshire was staying at Loch Ness Highland Lodges at Invermoriston when she said she saw the beast pop up about 50 feet away from her on the first day of her holiday. It took place just four days after Chie Kelly captured startling images of a large unidentified creature slowly spinning on the surface of the legendary loch. Mrs Kelly, 51, was taking photographs from the village of Dores when she and her businessman husband Scott, 68, saw a strange 'serpent-like' creature moving over a distance of around 100 metres before disappearing. Mrs Kelly, who works as a translator, was so shocked by what she saw on August 13, 2018, that she feared public ridicule and did not share the images. Charlotte Robinson from Leeds in Yorkshire was staying at Loch Ness Highland Lodges at Invermoriston when she said she saw the beast Charlotte said the creature popped up about 50 feet away on the first day of her holiday However, after reading about the biggest search for Nessie in over 50 years that took place last weekend, she was inspired to share the images. It was then that she plucked up the courage to show her photographs to veteran Nessie hunter Steve Feltham, who has set a world record for the longest vigil of searching for the Loch Ness Monster - spanning more than 30 years. He was astounded and described them as the 'most exciting' surface pictures of Nessie he had ever seen. Charlotte said a strange creature surfaced in front of her for about a minute before re-surfacing approximately ten feet away seven minutes later. Charlotte was on holiday with her mum Kat, a business intelligence data analyst, and her father Dave, a factory worker. Mr and Mrs Robinson had stayed at the same holiday centre 16 years earlier. Chie Kelly, 51, was taking photographs from the village of Dores when she and her businessman husband Scott, 68, saw a strange 'serpent-like' creature moving over a distance of around 100 metres before disappearing Mrs Kelly, who works as a translator, was so shocked by what she saw on August 13, 2018, that she feared public ridicule and did not share the images. However, after reading about the biggest search for Nessie in over 50 years that took place this year, she was inspired to share the photographs Charlotte Robinson at Loch Ness. She took the photos just four days after Mrs Kelly captured startling images of a big unidentified creature Charlotte saw the creature and captured it on her phone. 'There was something in the water about 50 feet from the shore. I took a photo. It had a neck and head was in the shape of a hook,' Charlotte said. 'I just took what I saw. It was black - I just don't know how far it was out of the water. I'm not good at judging distances. 'But after about a minute it disappeared and then came back up again in a different place. It was up for less than a minute the second time. I kinda believed in Nessie, but I wanted to see the proof. I always imagined her as having a long neck and flippers. 'I have seen something but I'm not sure what.' Her mum added: 'Charlotte said she had taken a photo of a creature in the loch and I said, "Right, sure you have!" For weeks she's been going on about seeing the Loch Ness Monster. 'But when I saw the picture, I couldn't believe it. Something's there. With all the sightings over the years there must be something in the loch.' Organiser Alan McKenna (left) joins Nessie hunters on board a boat on Loch Ness for what was described as the biggest search for the Loch Ness Monster since the early 1970s A view of Loch Ness. It has been 90 years since the Loch Ness Monster phenomenon began Nessie expert Mr Feltham was astonished by the image and said that it was 'the best of 'Nessie' in years'. Charlotte's sighting was accepted by the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings' Register. Gary Campbell, the keeper of the register, said: 'It was some extraordinary week because as well as Charlotte's sighting there were three others of an unexplained creature. 'It appears that the creature was moving between Dores and Fort Augustus. These pictures by Mrs Kelly and Charlotte are the best of Nessie ever taken and are totally baffling. It all adds to the evidence that is definitely something unexplained in Loch Ness.' Mr Campbell added that Mrs Kelly's sighting had now been added to the official register. It has been 90 years since the modern phenomenon of seeking out the Loch Ness Monster began. On April 14, 1933, hotel manageress Mrs Aldie Mackay reported seeing a 'whale-like fish' in the waters of Loch Ness. From the car, she glanced out across the still calm waters towards Aldourie Castle where she spotted something. Mrs Mackay's sighting was reported in the Inverness Courier on May 2, 1933 by Alex Campbell, the water bailiff for Loch Ness and a part-time journalist. It is widely regarded as the first modern 'sighting' of a monster in the loch. In 2019, Prof Neil Gemmell, a geneticist from the University of Otago in New Zealand, trawled Loch Ness and found no evidence of plesiosaur DNA. However, he found a great deal of eel DNA and posited that there may be giant eels in Loch Ness and that these might be behind the Nessie sightings. In 2020 startling images of a large creature inhabiting the depths of Loch Ness were captured on sonar off Invermoriston by skipper Ronald Mackenzie aboard his Spirit of Loch Ness tourist boat. Mr Feltham said they were the 'most compelling' evidence yet of the existence of a Loch Ness Monster. Experts were astounded by the clarity of the image of an object, estimated to be 32 feet long and hovering 62 feet above the bottom of the loch. Leading sonar expert Craig Wallace described the sonar images as 'large, clear and distinct contacts, all strangely near to the loch bed' and '100 per cent genuine'. According to Google, there are around 200,000 searches each month for the Loch Ness Monster and around 120,000 for information and accommodation close to Loch Ness. The monster mystery is said to be worth 30m to the region. Irish missionary St Columba is first said to have encountered a beast in the River Ness in 565AD. There have been five 'official sightings' this year of the Loch Ness Monster. The official register has now logged 1,161 sightings, including webcam images, from records and other evidence spanning centuries. One of the most well-known photographs of the Loch Ness Monster later proved to be a hoax. In 1994, before his death at the age of 90, Christian Spurling confessed to his involvement in a plot to create the famous Surgeon's Photo British surgeon Colonel Robert Wilson came forward with a picture that appeared to show a sea serpent rising out of the water of the loch. Mr Wilson claimed he took the photograph early in the morning on April 19, 1934, while driving along the northern shore of Loch Ness. In 1994, before his death at the age of 90, Christian Spurling confessed to his involvement in the plot to create the famous Surgeon's Photo. He revealed that the object in the water was in fact a toy submarine outfitted with a sea serpent head. Seven candles - one for each of the babies murdered by Lucy Letby - and an eighth for her yet unknown victims were lit in a poignant service at Chester Cathedral last night. Almost 100 people attended the Service of Lament, Prayer and Hope, led by Dean Tim Stratford. Staff from the Countess of Chester Hospital, where the infants died, including consultants Dr John Gibbs and Dr Ravi Jayaram, who gave evidence against Letby during the ten-month trial, were among the congregation. Chester Labour MP Samantha Dixon also attended. Several worshippers fought back tears or dabbed their eyes as the candles were lit while the cathedral choir sang. The Right Reverend Mark Tanner, the Bishop of Chester, gave the address and members of the congregation were invited to light candles at the end of the service. Seven candles - one for each of the babies murdered by Lucy Letby - and an eighth for her yet unknown victims were lit in a poignant service at Chester Cathedral last night Lucy Letby, 33, was last month sentenced to a whole-life term for murdering seven babies and trying to murder six more Seven candles - one for each of the babies murdered by Lucy Letby (pictured being arrested) - and an eighth for her yet unknown victims were lit in a poignant service at Chester Cathedral last night Pictured: Countess of Chester Hospital where Letby murdered six babies Letby, 33, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six more at the hospital's neonatal unit during a year-long killing spree last month. The convictions made her the most prolific child serial killer in British history. She was sentenced to a whole life tariff, meaning she will never be freed. Following the 40-minute service, the Bishop said: 'It is really important we gather at a time when people are despairing, when they don't know where to turn, when there is anger, confusion and grief because the church exists to hold those kind of things, to introduce some kind of hope. 'It was really hard but it's right that it is really hard, we are mourning the loss of babies, but it was also really good to be together. The moment of lighting candles in the middle of the service I could barely look up, it was just beautifully poignant.' A chilling photograph of killer nurse Lucy Letby comforting a newborn at the Countess of Chester Hospital Lucy Letby is pictured holding an infant at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012 The Very Reverend Dr Stratford said members of the community had asked him to make the cathedral available as a space to pray following the trial and verdicts. 'I found it very painful, the stories behind each of these children's deaths are immensely painful,' he said. 'Living in Chester, this has happened in this community. I've asked myself in conversation with others how could this happen here? This has happened in the hospital that serves us, a place we know as a place of care.' Dr Gibbs, who has since retired, said it was 'hard to make sense' of what had happened. He added: 'Sometimes it's just a time to pray and express sympathy with the families.' A climber who fell nearly 2,000 ft down the side of one of New Zealand's deadliest mountains was 'exceptionally lucky' to survive after landing on snow, police said Monday. The man was in a group of climbers approaching the snow-capped summit of Mount Taranaki, a dormant volcano on New Zealand's North Island that is nearly 8,300 ft tall, when he lost his footing and slipped at around midday on Saturday. After watching him plummet, one member of the group began to climb down to find him. Miraculously, he was found with minor injuries 600m below them, only losing his ice axe and crampons on the way down. He was rekitted and safely brought down to the bottom of the mountain. The unnamed man plummeted down Mount Taranaki, a dormant volcano on New Zealand's North Island that is nearly 8,300 ft tall Despite the unnamed man's enormous fall, senior constable Vaughan Smith said he only sustained minor injuries during his fall thanks to warm weather in the area. 'Thanks to recent spring weather, the ice had softened, and the snow caught the climber's fall. He is exceptionally lucky to be alive,' Smith said in a statement. 'These are challenging areas and when things go wrong there are often serious consequences.' The climber slipped in the same area where two other mountaineers fell to their deaths in 2021. On top of this, a French climber died after plummeting from the same peak in 2016. Climbing Mount Taranaki demands 'special skill and preparation' due to the risk of avalanche and the chilling sub-zero temperatures, according to New Zealand's conservation department. The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council describes Mount Taranaki as challenging for climbers all year round, warning of its reputation as one of the country's 'deadliest mountains'. It added: 'Its isolation from other mountains, proximity to the coastline, and geographic position make for some of the most fast-changing and adverse weather conditions found anywhere in New Zealand. 'The weather, combined with the complex and rough terrain, creates a highly unique environment. One mistake can be disastrous.' New Zealand Police advises that mountaineers who want to travel up the mountain should take a distress beacon with them. 'While New Zealands mobile phone coverage network is good in urban areas, its unlikely youll have reliable coverage in the backcountry or in marine areas. 'If youre unsure, opt to take a beacon. Its important you know how to use it before you leave and register your beacon to help store your information for rescue services.' It also says that family and friends should be told about long trips: 'Before you go for a tramp or walk in the great outdoors let family and/or friends know where youre going, and when to expect you back.' A high school in Oregon has been closed after a bomb threat was spread on social media - on the weekend of the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. Police officers searched Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, on Saturday after a post using 'threatening language' detailed the 'use of a destructive device' and referenced the anniversary of the terrorist attack which saw 2,753 die in 2001. Today's classes have been canceled as well as all extra-curricular activities. In a message to students and parents, the school said: 'After a meeting this evening with our law enforcement partners, we made the difficult decision to cancel all classes and activities at Summit High School on Monday September 11, in response to a threat that was posted on social media this weekend. 'Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating this threat, and we believe it is best for students to stay home tomorrow. All students are excused for the day, and all after-school activities, including practices and games, are canceled,' it said according to KTVZ. Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, has been closed after a bomb threat was spread on social media Police said they searched Summit High School in Bend, Oregon, on Saturday after a post using 'threatening language' detailed the 'use of a destructive device' and referenced the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack Lights are beamed up from Ground Zero where the World Trade Center stood before the terror attacks on September 11, 2001 It continued: 'With the assistance of Oregon State Police and the FBI, detectives are working to determine if the threat is credible or not. The school campus was searched today; an additional search will be conducted in the morning with the assistance of a trained OSP canine. 'If you have any information on who may be responsible for the threat, please contact Bend Police at (541) 693-6911.' The district said it will provide an update to worried families this evening. Police have not yet identified anyone linked to the now-deleted post. Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the 2001 hijacked-plane attack that killed and injured thousands in Lower Manhattan after aircrafts were flown into the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon. Danniella Westbrook has got away scot-free despite being convicted of fraud by a Spanish court after driving away from a garage without paying for a tank of petrol. The former EastEnders star was pulled aside by police last month after she jetted to Ibiza, later saying she was confronted by gun-wielding officers within minutes of landing on the island and taken into a room at the airport. She has since spoken of the terrifying ordeal and of her fears she would be arrested and thrown in prison - and her worry that the 36 euros she failed to pay for fuel back in 2018 could have rocketed up to 3,000 euros with fines. The 49-year-old also claimed she had been told to return to Spain in three weeks and make the payment by a payment plan after trying to sort it out with different courts. But today officials at the small court in Velez Rubio in the province of Almeria near the garage she drove off from on July 22, 2017 said her fraud conviction was now spent because of a legal loophole and she wouldn't be made to pay anything. Danniella Westbrook (pictured outside a courthouse in Spain last month) has got away scot-free despite being convicted of fraud by a Spanish court after driving away from a garage without paying for a tank of petrol Danniella was first arrested by police in 2018 and detained for 14 hours over a driving offence, before being convicted of fraud for failing to pay the 36 euros of petrol. The soap star had failed to pay for the petrol put into her hire care at a motorway stop during her last time in the country five years ago, and she was convicted of a minor fraud offence in October 2018 despite a no-show at the court. At the time, the bizarre night was played out in front of four people inside a courtroom including the judge and garage owner. They heard how the actress emptied her handbag out on the counter of a nearby family-owned service station before telling staff she had no money. Dad-of-two Serafino Reche, then 44, told the hearing he reported Danniella to police on July 24, 2018 - two days after she drove off from the Galp petrol station he ran at the time with his brother Antonio off the A-92 motorway in Chirivel. The mum-of-two, prosecuted under her former married name Danniella Jenkins, was ordered to repay the 36 euros and fined 300 euros in her absence. The fine conditions involved the payment of three euros a day for a month. And the actress was also warned in a four-page sentencing document that she would face a day in jail for every two days' unpaid fine. However, as the situation was never properly resolved, she was confronted by police last month and - as a result - was ordered to face Spanish court on the mainland. But today, legal sources confirmed the sentence was now spent because officials had not been able to formally notify her of her punishment within a year of its issue. One said: 'That means the sentence has been archived for her and she no longer has any criminal responsibility in this matter.' Spanish police sources confirmed the Ibiza interception, which was not an arrest, was the result of a court-issued residence inquiry relating to the unpaid petrol. Garage owner Mr Reche told Westbrook's trial in her absence: 'She came in and emptied her handbag on the counter and said she had no money. She left a foreign driving licence and said she'd pay later but I never heard from her again.' The former Eastenders star was pulled aside by police last month after she jetted to Ibiza, later saying she was confronted by gun-wielding officers within minutes of landing on the island and taken into a room at the airport He admitted after the hearing he had no idea Westbrook was an actress who once entertained millions in a famous BBC soap. He also confessed he had little hope of ever being paid. But he added at the time: 'Hopefully the bad publicity she'll get from this will shame her into paying me. 'I think she knew she had no money before she filled her car up with petrol from the way she turned her bag upside down the moment she got to the counter. 'It's incredible to think of all the hassle she's caused me and herself over such a small amount of money because she would have had to apply for a new driving licence to replace the one she left behind. 'I had a friend's funeral to attend this morning and was worried at one point I wouldn't make it when the court case didn't start on time. 'Having to take time out to deal with things like this is an unnecessary inconvenience when I've got a family business to run and two young children to look after. 'But I went through with this because people like her shouldn't think they can get away with it. 'Even if I don't end up getting my money back, hopefully it will make this woman think twice before trying it on again next time.' Danniella was held over the unpaid fuel bill when her name flagged up on a police database at passport control as she went to board a flight back to the UK on April 23 2018, the last time she was in Spain before the airport confrontation last month. She was hauled to court in Malaga after a night in a police cell - but released after being told a criminal complaint had already been lodged with the court in Velez Rubio and she had to turn up for trial there. Pals wrongly claimed after her Malaga detention she had been held over an alleged driving offence. It was upon entering Spain again in August that she was confronted by armed police, and told that she needed to visit a court on the mainland to resolve the matter. She later flew to Alicante where she visited a court there, but was met with further confusion when she was told she was at the wrong courthouse, and had to go to one in Murcia instead, 'We went to the court in Alicante and they referred us to the court in Mercia but we can't go back until mid-September to sort it out, which I will do,' she told the Mirror. It appears this will no longer be necessary. On Sunday Danniella took to her Instagram Stories to call out her daughter Jodie for blocking her on the social media platform. President Joe Biden wrapped up his five-day trip to India and Vietnam Monday where promoted U.S. business deals, had government officials toast to his health, and had a top aide give his press conference the hook with piped in jazz music. He spent the start of Monday, Sept. 11th meeting with top Vietnamese leaders and business officials, touting deals to have U.S. aircraft and tech manufacturers ship products to the growing southeast Asian economy. He met a wider swatch of the country's political leadership, a day after Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 79, told 'you look even better' than when the two men met 15 years ago. It was a day spent touting increased diplomatic and political ties at a time of Chinese muscle-flexing, and showcased Biden once again practicing the diplomacy he savors. President Biden's trip to Vietnam included an odd press conference where he called on reporters off a list and had to be reminded of the fifth assigned questioner But it was before the U.S. media where Biden once again showed some of the potential liabilities that have some Democrats fretting about his poll numbers, amid concerns about his age and performance, with the president running at just 39 per cent approval in a new CNN poll. It featured a series of odd moments, including when Biden called on reporters from prepared list, had his Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre cut off the event, then came back to address reporters briefly while jazz music was being piped over a sound system. He told a long story about John Wayne movie where he spoke about cowboys and 'Indians,' then went back to a tale about the phrase 'lying dog faced pony soldiers' that he used then and has used previously. In another bizarre moment, Biden made a show of stamina by commenting on his 'around the world in five days' journey but then concluded his presser by announcing, 'I tell you what, I don't know about you, but I'm going to go to bed.' He wandered around the stage at times, mic in hand, and also rolled out his trademark whisper. That came a day after Trong, 79, the most powerful figure in government with younger figures waiting in the wings, buttered up Biden in front of a huge statue of Ho Chi Minh. Biden was here in part to try to upgrade and cement relations with a leading trading partner Biden met top officials and business leaders Vietnamese people lined roads to see his motorcade, and some had their streets blocked President Joe Biden held a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday night after spending two days in India for the G20 Leaders' Summit. At the presser, he talked to reporters about a John Wayne movie that featured the 'Indians' to make a point about climate change President Joe Biden grabbed the hand mic and left the podium at one point to address a reporter who was standing to one side of the room The visit followed a trip to India hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the meeting of the G20 'It's nice to see you again. You have nary aged a day and I would say you look even better than before,' Trong said, drawing chuckles from the president. 'Every feature of you Mr. President is very much complimentary of your image,' Trong continued, before joking about his own grey hair. There were somber moments Monday as well. Biden paid tribute to John McCain by visiting the monument in Hanoi that marks where the late senator's plane was shot down before he spent five and a half years in Vietnam as a prisoner of war. Biden was joined by former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry, who like Biden was one of McCain's Senate colleagues, but unlike McCain returned from serving in Vietnam to be one of the faces of the U.S. anti-war movement. The memorial, located on the bank of Truc Bach Lake, was the final stop of his trip. 'I miss him. He was a good friend,' Biden said. A wreath with red, white and blue flowers was already in place in front of the statue, with a Navy and a Marine officer standing alongside it. Biden himself did not serve during the Vietnam war, having received five student deferments. Despite criss-crossing the as a senator and in the White House he made 57 trips as vice president alone it was Biden's first trip to Vietnam. Before arriving home, Biden was set to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks. He planned to speak to service members and first responders at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, Alaska. It coincides with a refueling stop, with a planned stop of just two hours. Earlier Monday, Vietnamese leaders toasted to Biden's health as he cultivated powerbrokers and business leaders a day after the country's Communist Party head said he hadn't 'aged a day.' The toast came as Biden met Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, as part of an effort to cement growing political ties with the country's leadership, which is upgrading its official diplomatic status with the U.S. It came on a day when Biden is also pushing forward U.S.-Vietnam business ties, including a new deal for Vietnam Arlines to purchase about 50 aircraft from Chicago-based Boeing for $7.5 billion. Another deal will have Arizona-based Amkor Technology construct a $1.6 billion factory in the country's Bac Ninh Province. Those economic ties could be cemented further if Vietnam with U.S. government backing purchases F-16 fighter aircraft in the coming months. Vietnam is seeking to diversify its military hardware even as it continues arms deals with Russia, which has been its historic supplier. Salud! Vietnamese leaders toasted President Joe Biden's health, on a day when he met with business leaders and top figures in the government and toured a memorial to his late friend Sen. John McCain Vietnam is the United States' 10th largest trading partner, with two-way commerce of about $90 billion, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office. Biden who is on his first-ever trip to Vietnam said it was an honor to be there adding that it was a day that 'may have seemed impossible not that long ago.' He also referenced the 'boundless possibilities ahead' as the U.S. and Vietnam strengthen ties, amid continued flexing by China in the region. Biden, who is a teetotaler, also quoted a Vietnamese poet during his own toast and remarks. He was accompanied by Prime Minister Phm Minh Chinh during his confab with business bosses and said 'the sky is the limit' on cooperation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was there. 'We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships,' Biden said. Companies represented at the meeting included Boeing Global, semiconductor firm Marvell, and Google. He was also set to meet Vuong Dinh Hue, Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam. The global deal-making came just hours after Biden visited the Vietnamese Communist Party headquarters, which has a hammer and sickle display on its exterior. At that event, Biden got a vote of confidence in his youthful bearing - from the aging communist party leader who has amassed power in Hanoi for decades. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 79, delivered the compliment while welcoming Biden to Vietnam for a visit where the U.S. will be elevated to a 'comprehensive strategic partner' and the president will honor the late Sen. John McCain. Trong buttered up Biden, 80, inside communist party headquarters, under a large statue of Ho Chi Minh. 'It's nice to see you again. You have nary aged a day and I would say you look even better than before,' Trong said, drawing chuckles from the president. 'Every feature of you Mr. President is very much complimentary of your image,' Trong added. Vietnam is the United States' 10th largest trading partner, with two-way commerce of about $90 billion, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's office President Joe Biden (left) attends a meeting with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) at the Communist Party of Vietnam's Headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam President Joe Biden (left) participates in a welcome ceremony hosted by Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday afternoon Trong made the remark as the two men were seated at a long table to announce the U.S.'s upgraded status. 'This is Vietnam's highest tier of international partnership,' Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer explained to reporters on board Air Force One ahead of the arriavl. Biden arrived in Hanoi Sunday afternoon after spending two days in India at the G20 Leaders' Summit. He was whisked to Vietnam's Presidential Palace where he was treated to a welcome ceremony that included a musical performance and dozens of schoolchildren waving both countries' flags. With Biden was former Secretary of State and Sen. John Kerry, whose service in the Vietnam War, and subsequent objection to the conflict, was a major piece of the Democrat's 2004 presidential run. The two former Senate colleagues will pay tribute Monday to one of their own - McCain - who was held as a prisoner of war for five years in Vietnam after his plane was shot down on October 26, 1967. Kerry, who Biden appointed as his climate czar, told DailyMail.com he was in Vietnam recently working 'on a lot of things' and confirmed he would be attending Monday's event honoring McCain. Former Secretary of State John Kerry can be seen standing behind President Joe Biden (left) and Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right). Kerry and Biden will pay tribute to Sen. John McCain Monday in Hanoi Dozens of school children holding up both American and Vietmanese flags participated in the welcome ceremony for President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace on Sunday President Joe Biden is welcomed to Vietnam at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday President Joe Biden will on Monday visit the memorial marking where the late Sen. John McCain's plane was shot down in October 1967 There's now a memorial at the crash site. 'A thruline you will see during our time there is this five-decade arc in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship from conflict to normalization to the establishment of a comprehensive partnership in 2013 and now to this elevated status of partnership, again the highest level in the Vietmanese system,' Finer said. The upgrade is another way the U.S. is trying to combat China. Still top Vietnamese officials were also tending to their relations with China before Biden's arrival, a decision that reflects China's powerful sway and long-term commitment, despite longstanding tensions between the two nations. Vietnam 'can't be sure that the United States would really come to their defense if push came to shove with China,' John Ciociari, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the Gerald R. Ford School's Weiser Diplomacy Center at the University of Michigan told DailyMail.com. 'It still is heavily reliant on China for trade and investment,' he noted. The New York Times reported Saturday, one day before Biden's arrival, that Vietnam was also seeking an arms deal with Russia, despite deepening its U.S. ties and amid Russia's assault on Ukraine. Finer noted how the U.S. has discouraged countries from having military partnerships with Russia. 'It should not be appealing to have a security relationship with a country that is committing war crimes, that is committing violations of international law,' Finer said. But Finer also pointed out that Vietnam and Russia have long had military ties. 'Vietnam has had a decades-long relationship with Russia, and a decades-long military relationship with Russia. But our strong sense is that there is increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietmanese, with that relationship,' Finer said. 'The value proposition of that relationship it not what it once was,' he added, calling disentangling Vietnam from Russia a 'work in progress.' Today marks 50 years since the coup that overthrew the government of Salvador Allende in Chile. To remember the revolutionary struggles of this period and to emphasise the invaluable lessons contained therein, International Marxist Radio is back for a special episode. Allendes Popular Unity government, which carried out a series of major reforms for workers and the poor (but which maintained a naive belief in the loyalty of the states armed forces), was brutally crushed by a reactionary military conspiracy, led by General Augusto Pinochet and backed by international imperialism. Carlos Cerpa Mallat, a leading member of the International Marxist Tendency in Chile, explains how Allende came to power, how the workers were ultimately defeated, and why the events of 1973 show the need for revolution, rather than having illusions in a route to socialism through bourgeois democratic channels. For more by Carlos on the 1973 coup, we recommend his recent article, which provides a detailed account of the history and lessons of the period, available here in English and here in the original Spanish. We would also like to draw readers attention to two articles by Alan Woods, recently republished on marxist.com. Firstly, Chile: the threatening catastrophe, written two years before the coup, warns of the imminent risk of armed counter-revolution, if the Allende regime failed to mobilise the masses to carry out a socialist programme. Secondly, Lessons of Chile 1973, written in 1979, looks at the history of the Chilean labour movement and explains why Allende was unable to stop the coup, despite the many warnings. Listen and subscribe below Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Marxist.com Podcasts: https://podcast.marxist.com/2023/09/11/chile-coup-50-years-on/ This is the moment a security camera caught an intruder breaking into a young mother's home in Scotland - leaving her horrified as he slept in her bed. Terrified Caitlin Sullivan, 22, was at her friend's house when the camera in her bedroom started to buzz, she said. She examined the footage but was shocked to see the mystery sleeper climbing into the bed she shares with her baby for a nap. After she saw the nap on August 29, at 7.45am, the part-time carer immediately called the police and met them at her home. The mystery sleeper was taken away but Miss Sullivan claims he was never arrested. Caitlin Sullivan, 22, from Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, said: 'I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so shocked - I didn't know who he was' The man was caught on CCTV going to sleep in Miss Sullivan's bed, leaving her feeling terrified The intruder - who left the house covered in blood - sent a bizarre message to Caitlin on Facebook the following day - thanking her for letting him get some sleep alongside an apology, she said. She said she has only returned back home since to clean as she is terrified he will come back. Miss Sullivan, from Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, said: 'I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so shocked - I didn't know who he was. 'I couldn't believe there was a man in my bed. I don't understand how he got into my house. 'I haven't been staying in the house since. I never want to go back to that house. 'It's the fact that both me and my little boy sleep in that bed. If I was there he would probably have climbed into my bed and slept next to me.' A day later Miss Sullivan says she received a bizarre Facebook message from him apologising. The message said: 'To give you my sincere apologies, I don't keep well. 'Thank you for letting me put my head down for three hours, hope no harm was done.' He ended his message with 'hope to meet you one day'. Miss Sullivan said she doesn't understand how the man found her name and is looking to move as she is too scared to go home. The man later messaged her: 'Thank you for letting me put my head down for three hours, hope no harm was done' Blood on the floor of Miss Sullivan's home, left behind by the intruder on August 29 She said: 'I phoned the police and they just told me to block him. 'Who is to say he won't come back. He has not been punished for it so he might do it again. 'I am scared to stay in my house now because of my little boy. 'My neighbours said the man was trying to get into my house the night before around 10pm - he was seen screaming and shouting.' A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'Around 9am on Tuesday, August 29, officers were called to a report of someone within a house on Rosebank, Sauchie. 'Officers attended and after being able to gain entry to the property spoke to the person within. 'No criminality was established and the complainer was spoken to. Police have received no further complaints or reports in relation to this incident.' A missing two-year-old girl is in a serious condition after being found in a village pond near her home. Hampshire police was called at 5.02pm on Sunday after the toddler was reported missing from her home in Forge Road, Kingsley, Bordon. She was found ten minutes later a few hundred feet away in Kingsley Pond and has been rushed to hospital in a serious condition, a police spokesman told MailOnline. Officers are 'making enquiries' in the area to investigate the circumstances around this incident, a Hampshire police said in a statement. The toddler was found in Kingsley Pond (pictured) on Sunday evening and has been rushed to hospital in a serious condition The pond is a few hundred feet away from Forge Road where the girl was reported missing Last night a nearby car park was filled with about a dozen police cars as officers gathered to search for missing youngster, reported the BBC. The large pond is 574ft long and 236ft wide. It is about 330ft from the road where the toddler lives. Cordons placed around the body of water have since been lifted. The first of several moments of silence at New York's annual September 11 ceremony was rife with emotion Monday - as Americans mark 22 years since the attacks took thousands of lives in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Arlington, Virginia. Moments before, in a taste of the ceremonies set to take place nationwide, officials in Virginia unfurled US flag on the west side of the Pentagon - the same site where one of the hijacked planes struck. The attacks happened quickly - claiming nearly 3,000 lives and counting as illnesses to this day continue to affect first responders. The North Tower was hit at 8:46 am, then 17 minutes later the South. A third hijacked plane ripped a hole into the western side of the Pentagon at 9:37 am - leaving another 184 lives lost. A flag has been unfurled at the site each year since - celebrating the bravery that was on display from first responders as well as countless Good Samaritans who jumped into action that day. There, Donald Trump and Melania Trump were among those who participated in a moment of silence at Monday morning's ceremony. Other commemorations currently being held stretch from the other attack sites, and to Alaska and beyond. Joe Biden is due at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, and Kamala Harris - in a rare public appearance - is currently at the procession at Ground Zero. Others in attendance included Ron DeSantis and Michael Bloomberg - the successor to the mayor at the time of the tragedy, Rudy Giuliani. Despite recent legal woes, the man known as America's Mayor made the time to attend, as did Mayor Eric Adams. Scroll down for video: The first of several moments of silence at New York's annual September 11 ceremony was rife with emotion Monday - as Americans mark 22 years since the attacks took thousands of lives Officials were seen unfurling a US flag on the west side of the Pentagon early Monday morning - a hint of some of the ceremonies set to take place observing the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks Also spotted in the crowd was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional name reading and the tolling of the bells. In total, six moments of silence will be observed - commemorating when each of the towers was struck and collapsed, as well as the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93. The first was held after the tolling of the bells at 8:46am, which marks the beginning of the attacks - when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower. The impact killed all 92 on board. At 9:03am, a second moment of silence was held - marking when hijackers deliberately crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower - leaving no doubt in any New Yorkers' mind at the time that the attacks were planned and malicious in nature. The next was at 9:37am, when another group of terrorists deliberately crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, just outside the nation's capital. A fourth was then held at 9:59am to mark the moment the South Tower, the second structure to be hit, collapsed, with another slated for four minutes later - to mark the moment passengers on United 93 heroically stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers. In response, the hijackers crashed the plane into an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania - likely saving many lives, as many theorized the plane's target was either the White House or the Capitol. The final moment of silent mourning, meanwhile, is slated for 10:28 am - the time that The North Tower collapsed, leaving the 16-acre World Trade Center site in ruins and the collective US consciousness in tatters. Then, on Monday night, the annual Tribute in Light will shine over Lower Manhattan, casting an aura where the Twin Towers once stood. However, across the country, the rescue effort commenced immediately - a taste of the resilience present in the heart of countless Americans in the centuries before, and after, the senseless tragedy. The president's visit, en route to Washington, D.C., from a politically driven trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote it may be. Kamala Harris and Eric Adams were among those at the ceremony at Ground Zero, one of several set to commence across in honor of the lives lost Flordia Gov Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis also attended the ceremony, the 21st held in the wake of the senseless attacks that forever changed the country Also present for the procession was former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional reading of the names and the tolling of the bells Also present was Bloomberg's predecessor - and mayor at the time of the tragedy - Rudy Giuliani. Despite recent legal woes involving ex client Donald Trump, he made time to attend Also spotted was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional name reading and the tolling of the bells Harris, Bloomberg, and Hochul all looked somber at the remembrance ceremony, the most attended in the country PAST AND PRESENT: The ceremony serves as an opportunity to look simultaneously toward both the past and future, learning from the tragedy while honoring lives lost Flying from Florida to attend the annual event, DeSantis was joined by his wife Casey Law enforcement officers rang a bell as names were read during the remembrance ceremony - which will have have six tollings in total timed to coincide with the events of that day Sara Nelson, a United Flight Attendant based in Boston who lost 9 friends on flight 175, is seen mourning at the memorial at Ground Zero Monday morning. The first moment of silence was held at 8:46am Other commemorations set to take place Monday morning include ones at the other attack sites, in New York (seen here) and Pennsylvania. Others will be held as far as Alaska, where president Biden is slated to attend a ceremony in Anchorage Unlike the current president - who was not present at any of the three crash sites - Donald Trump and Melania Trump attended the ceremony at the Pentagon, seen here participating in a moment of silence On that day, 'we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling - that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help,' said Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia's Goochland County. More than 100 miles from the Pentagon and more than three times as far from New York, the site - like dozens of others across the US - share a sense of connection is enshrined in a local memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Centers destroyed twin towers. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people holds not just one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service focused on first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all the victims. Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. In Shanksville, volunteers at the Flight 93 National Memorial were seen placing a wreath at the entrance of the memorial plaza early Monday, to honor the passengers who heroically stormed the cockpit forcing hijackers to crash in a field only a few miles from Washington, DC. In Arlington, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin participated in a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 184 people killed at the Pentagon - the last of the tree crash sites. In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin participates in a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 184 people killed at the Pentagon - one of three sites targeted during the senseless attacks The west side of the DoD building was targeted during the attacks. A flag has been unfurled at the site each year since - celebrating the bravery that was on display from first responders as well as countless Good Samaritans who jumped into action that day Gordon Felt, president of Families for Flight 93, left, speaks with Chaplain Gary Monroe of the USS Somerset as part of a memorial ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsyvania, where United 93 crashed after passengers stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers Volunteers at the Flight 93 National Memorial are seen placing a wreath at the entrance of the memorial plaza early Monday The World Trade Center was an idea for decades that finally became a design of two 110-story towers in the 1960s. Built for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the 16-acre 'superblock' with its own zip code would have seven buildings First responders work at ground zero after the September 11 attacks in New York. Twenty-two years later, Americans are looking back on the legacy of 9/11, gathering all over the country A fourth moment of silence will then be held at 9:59am to mark the moment the South Tower collapsed, with another slated for four minutes later - to mark the moment passengers on United 93 stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a 'Heroes Memorial' includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents. 'Were just a little bitty community,' said Mayor Joe Maurath, but 'its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free.' New Jersey's Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations. As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans do volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. At ground zero, Harris - after facing criticism for a lack of public appearances for the past three years - joined famous faces in Giuliani, DeSantis, Hochul, and Bloomberg in the ceremony on the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims' relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead. James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Joseph's name. 'If their name is spoken out loud, they don't disappear,' James Giaccone said in a recent interview. The event in Manhattan did not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims' relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is spending the day flying back from Vietnam with a two-hour stop-over in Alaska where he will meet with service members and first responders. This is the first time a President will spend 9/11 away from Washington, D.C. or the three crash sites The commemoration is crucial to him. 'I hope I never see the day when they minimize this,' he said. 'It's a day that changed history.' Biden, meanwhile, will be the first president to commemorate September 11 in Alaska, or anywhere in the western U.S. Havin attended last year's memorial in Arlington, he's already facing criticism for the unprecedented decision not to mark the anniversary of 9/11 at one of the three crash sites. Instead he will spend just two hours at Joint Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska with service members and first responders on his way home from a 24-hour trip to Vietnam dominated by a shambolic and rambling press conference. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Obama followed one of those observances by recognizing the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland. First lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend the ceremony. The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free 'National Day of Learning' program, which will be available through the fall, organizers say. 'We need to get the word out to the next generation,' said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger. While far flung, the ceremonies serve as an opportunity to look simultaneously toward both the past and future, learning from the tragedy while honoring lives lost - a number that is still rising. On Monday, as health cases linked to toxic dust wrought by debris left by the attack continue to rise decades later, officials identified the remains of two more victims who died during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years after the tragedy. A man and a woman were both identified but their names are being withheld at the request of their families - with the discovery serving the latest positive identification in the decades long effort to return victims to their families. It's also the first in the last two years, with he last positive identifications were in September 2021 and before that, the last identification was made in 2019. Officials said that the identification of the man was confirmed through DNA testing of remains recovered in 2001. The identification of the woman was confirmed through testing of remains recovered in 2001, 2006, and 2013. In the years since the tragedy, New York Citys medical examiner has been able to link remains to 1,649 World Trade Center victims, using DNA sequencing techniques to test body fragments recovered in the rubble. New York City officials have identified the remains of two more victims who died during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years after the tragedy On Monday night, the annual Tribute in Light will shine over Lower Manhattan, casting an aura where the Twin Towers once stood The newly confirmed victims are the 1,648th and 1,649th people to be identified by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) - causing Adams on Monday to celebrate how new identifications can bring 'some measure of comfort' to the victims families. Among those in attendance at Ground Zero, the mayor said: 'As we prepare to mark the anniversary of September 11, our thoughts turn to those we lost on that terrible morning and their families who continue to live every day with the pain of missing loved ones. 'We hope these new identifications can bring some measure of comfort to the families of these victims, and the ongoing efforts by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner attest to the citys unwavering commitment to reunite all the World Trade Center victims with their loved ones.' US Marines in Kabul were reportedly forced to pick up human feces and other trash from an airport after losing 13 comrades to a suicide bomber. The soldiers were ordered to clean up the Hamid Karzai International Airport to leave it pristine for the Taliban in August 2021. A new book, Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden's Fiasco and the American Warriors Who Fought to the End, details the humiliation of the soldiers, with those of all ranks being left furious at the decision. Just days after a suicide bomb killed 11 marines, a Navy corpsman and an Army staff sergeant - as well as 170 civilians - on August 26, the soldiers were given the orders to 'police call' the area. It meant they would have to stand shoulder to shoulder and walk through the area, picking up 'every stray piece of trash or debris' in the path. The soldiers were ordered to clean up the Hamid Karzai International Airport to leave it pristine for the Taliban in August 2021 New book, Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden's Fiasco and the American Warriors Who Fought to the End , details the humiliation of the soldiers The grim task was their final one following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, with their battalion commander joining the cleanup effort. Authors James Hasson, a former US Army Captain, and Jerry Dunleavy, state that the 3rd platoon of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines felt that the order was the 'biggest f*** you ever' following their efforts in the country. The area they were ordered to clean up had previously held more than 120,000 Afghan refugees, who had camped in the area 'defecating and leaving trash, bags, clothes, and other unspeakable things.' 'When we asked what the terminal had looked like, a junior Marine involved in the cleanup sarcastically replied, It wasnt exactly clean",' the book states. 'The Marines were also ordered to unflip all of the vehicles they had flipped over the previous day. 'The Marines of 2/1 were certain that the order had come from higher headquarters because their battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Brad Whited, joined them in the cleanup effort and was as visibly displeased as they were. 'Marines at every level of the company were infuriated by the order, and the story has spread far beyond the units involved.' One junior member of the company asked if the order 'was serious', and had looked for brooms and rubber gloves after being informed it wasn't a joke. The grim task was their final one following the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, with their battalion commander joining the cleanup effort Just days after a suicide bomb killed 11 marines, a Navy corpsman and an Army staff sergeant - as well as 170 civilians - on August 26, the soldiers were given the orders to 'police call' the area Flag-draped coffins of service members killed in action are loaded onto a transport aircraft during a ramp ceremony at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, August 27, 2021 Left to right: Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza (left) and Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak (right) The command sergeant major said that the order to clean the passenger terminal 'came with a threat that we would not leave at all if it was not completed', which he felt was an injustice to his Marines. It was degrading and ridiculous,' one Marine said. 'We took a lot of casualties and put a lot of effort into that mission and to close it out that way was wrong. 'Morale was really down at that point, and it was an extremely pointless effort.' After cleaning up piles of trash, feces, and half-eaten food to prepare for the Talibans arrival, the remaining Marines finally left the country a few minutes after midnight on August 29. It comes after General Frank McKenzie ripped President Joe Biden's disastrous plan to withdraw from the war in Afghanistan. McKenzie, who retired in April of 2022, was the head of US Central Command during the withdrawal and was overseeing the area when the suicide bomb attack happened on August 26. The area they were ordered to clean up had previously held more than 120,000 Afghan refugees, who had camped in the area 'defecating and leaving trash, bags, clothes, and other unspeakable things' Marine Corps Lance Corporals left to right: Kareem M. Nikoui, Dylan R. Merola, Rylee J. McCollum, Jared M. Schmitz After cleaning up piles of trash, feces, and half-eaten food to prepare for the Talibans arrival, the remaining Marines finally left the country a few minutes after midnight on August 29 Marines Corps Corporals left to right: Daegan W. Page, Hunter Lopez, Humberto A. Sanchez General Frank McKenzie, now retired, was the head of US Central Command during the withdrawal. He now says it was the wrong decision to leave A Marine with SPMAGTF-CR-CC lifts an evacuee during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport on the day of the suicide bomb attack In an interview Sunday, he said he feels the withdrawal - which drew widespread criticism and which he had previously defended - will be looked at as a terrible mistake from plan to execution. 'I believe history is going to view the decision to come out of Afghanistan in the way that we did and the manner that we were directed to come out as a fatal flaw,' he told Fox News. 'I have a lot of regrets about how it ended in Afghanistan. I have a regret with the basic decision, which I think was the wrong decision. 'And I particularly regret that we did not choose to begin to evacuate our people, our embassy personnel, our American citizens and our at-risk Afghans at the time we made the decision to bring in our combat forces. I think that was a serious mistake, and I think that led to the events of August 2021 directly.' Among McKenzie's successes was the high-profile raid to kill or capture the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019, but he also described how he thinks every day about the troops killed in Kabul. A top former Army commander said that the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan will be looked at as a terrible mistake from plan to execution McKenzie, who served under Biden and Trump, said: 'We were dealing with a possibility of an indirect fire attack, either rockets or mortars' He said that they did not have a ' specific description of the person' who may be responsible for the suicide bomb attempt before it happened Among McKenzie's successes was the high-profile raid to kill or capture the ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019 He said that they did not have a 'specific description of the person' who may be responsible for the suicide bomb attempt before it happened. McKenzie, who served under Biden and Trump, said: 'We were dealing with a possibility of an indirect fire attack, either rockets or mortars. 'But I do know that there was no intelligence to support the assertion that we knew what the bomber looked like that he was carrying a backpack with three yellow stripes 'There were just none of that. We just did not have that intelligence. You always look back any time you lose people and you wonder if you could have done things differently, and I am haunted by that. I think about it quite a bit. It's one of the many regrets that I have. I examined everything we did. I think about it particularly in the month of August of every year for the rest of my life.' The militant leader of a civil service union has warned that Labour leader Keir Starmer is not to be trusted and demanded he be more leftwing and 'radical'. Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) general secretary Mark Serwotka lashed out at Sir Keir for binning a series of 10 'socialist' pledges he stood on when he ran to replace Jeremy Corbyn. Mr Serwotka, who was a close ally of Mr Corbyn, used a radio interview to warn his successor that 'anyone who makes 10 pledges and then breaks them is not in a position to ask to be trusted'. He also cautioned against emulating triple election-winning leader Sir Tony Blair after a shadow cabinet reshuffle promoted several MPs who served in the last Labour administration. Sir Keir and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have also pledged fiscal discipline if Labour wins the next election, with the country likely still to be in the grip of a financial crisis and little Treasury headroom. But in an interview with LBC the union leader said Sir Keir, who has led his party to a double digit poll lead over the Tories, had to 'enthuse people to vote for Labour with a real radical vision, not just rely on the fact that people are fed up with the Conservatives.' 'I hope Sir Keir Starmer accepts we should not go down the route of Tony Blair and actually lose the opportunity to do radical change in this country. He should embrace the fact that we are in a crisis and we need radical solutions to that crisis, not financial conservatism,' he said. Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)general secretary Mark Serwotka lashed out at Sir Keir for binning binning a series of 10 'socialist' pledges he stood on when he ran to replace Jeremy Corbyn . Sir Keir (pictured today) and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves have also pledged fiscal discipline if Labour wins the next election, with the country likely still to be in the grip of a financial crisis and little Treasury headroom. In July last year Sir Keir junked the promises he made in 2020, as he campaigned to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, and blamed the economic impact of the Covid crisis. 'The financial situation has changed, the debt situation has changed,' he said at the time. Sir Keir's 10 pledges were: - to increase income tax for the top five per cent of earners - to abolish Universal Credit and university tuition fees - to introduce a Clean Air Act to tackle pollution - to have 'no more illegal wars' and review all UK arms sales - to support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water - to 'defend free movement as we leave the EU' - to work 'shoulder to shoulder with trade unions to stand up for working people' - to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with an elected chamber - to 'pull down obstacles that limit opportunities and talent' - robust action to eradicate antisemitism and to maintain Labour's links with unions He also abandoned Labour's 2019 election manifesto, after Mr Corbyn led the party to an historic defeat. Mr Serwotka said: 'The problem I have with Keir Starmer, if you get elected by making 10 solemn pledges, and then when it comes to face the electorate, you have actually ripped up the majority of those pledges, you don't stand high on the list of Labour leaders in my book. One of Sir Keir's 10 'socialist' pledges was a promise to 'support common ownership of rail, mail, energy and water' 'But he still has time to recognise that if he still stands by the vision that he set out when he was elected as Labour leader, then he can reclaim a lot of support and goodwill - but he has got work to do.' Sir Keir today said Labour is 'looking to the future' after another union boss, Unite's Sharon Graham, accused his party of being a '90s tribute act'. The Labour leader, who is heading to Liverpool later today to dine with the TUC general council, insisted there is 'a lot of common ground' with trade unions. The party's moves to sideline left-wingers and a perceived lack of support in industrial disputes has attracted union anger. Asked about Unite general secretary Ms Graham's comment, Sir Keir told reporters at an east London school: 'The Labour Party is absolutely focused on the future, not the past, and the challenges that we will inherit if we're privileged enough to go into government. 'The central challenge will be growing the economy. Within that is dignity and respect for working people in their working environment.' Asked how he plans to keep unions on side, Sir Keir said: 'The Labour Party and the trade unions have had a long relationship together and we had a big session at the beginning of the summer where we agreed policy going forward. 'So what you'll see here is a lot of common ground as we go towards what we know will be really huge challenges.' Labour's National Policy Forum document, agreed in July, is reportedly expected to be published soon. Ten of Britain's top retailers have agreed to fund a police crackdown on shoplifting gangs - by paying cops to scan faces of thieves using CCTV. High street giants including John Lewis, Co-op, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Next are among those reportedly pumping 600,000 into the operation, dubbed Project Pegasus. In return, police forces will run CCTV images of suspected shoplifters through the national database, which includes the latest facial recognition technology. It has emerged that bosses at Co-op had resorted to hiring undercover security guards to protect its stores and staff from thieves - while rival Tesco is getting staff to wear body-cameras to help catch shoppers who assault them. Police chiefs have increasingly come under fire for the apparent lack of action in tackling the looting epidemic blighting stores, with the chairman of Asda last week saying the shoplifting had essentially been 'decriminalised'. This brazen thief appeared to struggle to get out the Co-op in Lavender Hill, Wandsworth, with his heavy ruck sack, weighed down by stolen booze A thief seen in Nottingham. Ten major retailers are set to pump in 600,000 into a police operation to tackle shoplifting The introduction of Project Pegasus has since been hailed as a 'game-changer' by police chiefs, who claim it will give them a national picture of where shoplifting gangs are operating and the stores they are targeting. Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner who is the national lead for business and retail crime, claimed 20 per cent of offenders account for 80 per cent of shoplifting offences in her county. Speaking of Project Pegasus, she told The Times: 'It'll be a game-changer for policing because for the first time ever, policing will get a complete picture across the country of where these gangs are hitting different areas and they'll have that data and intelligence to be able to put that out to local police forces to go after those gangs.' Nationally. the number of shoplifting offences ballooned by a quarter this year, according to the Office for National Statistics. In the 12 months to March, the police recorded 339,206 cases of shoplifting despite the British Retail Consortium estimating there were eight million crimes, which it says costs retailers nearly 1billion annually. Only 48,218 incidents of shoplifting reported by the police were charged, 14 per cent, while 183,450 investigations, or 54 per cent, were closed with no suspect being identified, fuelling claims the crime isn't taken seriously enough by cops. The situation is so out of control that the Co-op has been forced to hire undercover security guards to protect its stores, reports the Telegraph. Alongside normal uniformed security guards, the chain last night confirmed it had stepped up the use of 'covert' operatives to catch shoplifters red handed. The undercover staff, supplied by contractor Mitie, are specially trained to confront and hold thieves until police officers arrive. CCTV footage of a couple who attacked a shop worker in Bristol in another display of violence towards frontline retail staff Thieves are targeting stores every two seconds in Britain, figures have shown Shop are increasingly keeping certain items under lock and key. The idea of locking up products began with wine and spirits before being extended to other high-value items such as steaks, imported cheeses, razor blades and manuka honey Even Ferrero Rocher boxes have been seen in plastic cases to try and prevent thieves from stealing them Despite this, in four-fifths of examples where someone is caught police still do not bother to turn up, the Co-op claimed. The firm's new measures to tackle shoplifters came just weeks after Co-op separately revealed it had been forced to resort to 'dummy', display-only packaging for products in some stores because so many were being stolen. Bosses at the retailer claimed that across the UK, the number of crime, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour instances had rocketed 35 per cent year-on-year, with more than 175,000 incidents recorded in the first six months of 2023. Yet police forces failed to respond to 71 per cent of serious retail crimes reported, the supermarket chain claimed. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has ordered police to investigate every theft as part of a major crackdown. But the move faced criticism from the National Police Chiefs' Council, who accused her of meddling in forces' operational independence. Speaking of the epidemic blighting the Co-op, Matt Hood, managing director of food, said: 'The rise in shop looting and retail crime, perpetuated by repeat, prolific offenders and organised criminal gangs is becoming one of the most significant issues facing UK communities. 'This isn't a victimless crime, as my store colleagues who have been verbally abused and had knives and syringes pulled on them can vouch for, but it is seemingly a consequence-less crime. 'The Home Office and NPCC say every crime will be investigated, which are great words, but actions are better and, frankly, yet to be seen, as our stores report serious crimes every single day, but in 71pc of cases, no police turn up. 'Co-op has invested over 200m to try and keep our colleagues and stores safe, so I am increasingly frustrated by how our efforts are not being matched by those who have the power to enforce consequences.' The boss of John Lewis today called for a royal commission into Britain's high streets, which she said risk becoming 'looting grounds' for crime. Charlene Corbin, 28, was bottled by a shoplifter at the Co-Op where she works Ms Corbin's head wound that she sustained after being bottled by a thief at the store Dame Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, which also owns Waitrose, said some UK towns and cities have become 'shells of their former selves', awash with vacant stores. Dame Sharon said the UK needs a comprehensive plan to stop organised gangs, and called for Scottish legislation that makes the abuse of a retail worker an offence to be brought in nationwide. READ MORE: High street shops are turned into fortresses with everyday goods under lock and key amid shoplifting epidemic Advertisement 'Only a royal commission can set out a fresh vision for a prosperous high street for decades to come', she concluded. Last week saw Asda's chairman Lord Stuart Rose saying the shoplifting had been 'decriminalised' thanks to lack of police action. Lord Rose, who was previously the boss of Marks & Spencer, said the authorities have turned their heads away from a shocking wave of crime being battled by frontline shop staff. He also echoed calls by the boss of Tesco for more to be done to protect workers from attacks and blamed complacent authorities which have 'allowed' lawlessness. 'Theft is a big issue,' he said speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari. 'It has become decriminalised. It has become minimised... It's actually just not seen as a crime anymore.' Police chiefs and retail bosses met with ministers on Thursday to hammer out plans to target shoplifters. It's thought the huge surge in shoplifting has been driven by organised crime groups who send out individuals to steal high value items from shops like steaks and booze, which are then sold on to market owners, corner shops and pubs. Tesco chief executive Ken Murphy has previously called for the Government and police to help supermarkets to better protect staff from abuse. Writing in The Mail on Sunday, the boss of the country's largest supermarket called for English laws to 'go further' and make abuse or violence towards retail workers an offence in itself, as in Scotland. He also called for 'better links between police forces and businesses' to both take criminals to task and prevent incidents in the first place, as he pledged to offer a body camera to every frontline Tesco store worker. Monday marks the first time since the attacks a President has not spent 9/11 in either D.C. or one of the three crash sites Meanwhile, Biden snubbed victims' families by spending two hours in Alaska to mark the anniversary as he stops for a refueling on his way back from Vietnam Joe Biden's unprecedented decision not to mark the anniversary of 9/11 at one of the three crash sites left Vice President Kamala Harris filling in at the Ground Zero ceremony in New York on Monday. Biden infuriated families of the 2,977 killed by the hijackers by becoming the first president not to visit Manhattan, the Pentagon, or Shanksville, Pennsylvania to remember the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Instead he will spend just two hours at Joint Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska with service members and first responders on his way home from a 24-hour trip to Vietnam dominated by a shambolic and rambling press conference. The White House sent Harris to mark the 22nd anniversary at Ground Zero in New York instead. Vice President Kamala Harris (right) is attending on Monday morning the commemorative service marking the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at Ground Zero with New York City Mayor Eric Adams (left) Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is spending the day flying back from Vietnam with a two-hour stop-over in Alaska where he will meet with service members and first responders. This is the first time a President will spend 9/11 away from Washington, D.C. or the three crash sites Also attending the service at Ground Zero on Monday is Rudy Giuliani, who was the Republican mayor of New York City at the time of the 2011 attacks and was known afterwards as America's Mayor. Now, however, Giuliani finds himself embroiled in legal battles related to his efforts to help Donald Trump overturn the 2020 election Biden's plans on Monday not only snub victims and their families, but also marks the first time a president has not attended one of the anniversary services at Ground Zero, the Pentagon or in Shanksville, Pennsylvania or at least hosted a memorial service at the White House, which Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama each did during one year of their terms in office. Former New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg were spotted at the service on Monday morning. Giuliani, now embroiled in election-related legal scandal, was mayor during the time of the attacks. His term ended just months after the attack and he was succeeded by Bloomberg. Bill de Blasio, another former NYC Mayor, was also at the services at Ground Zero. While Harris was seen speaking with Bloomberg and de Blasio in New York City on Monday, she avoided Trump ally Giuliani. Harris was also spotted Monday interacting with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state's Attorney General Letitia James. Biden's stop over in Alaska Monday coincides with a refueling layover as Biden returns from a five-day trip to India and Vietnam. Also on Monday, Biden held a bizarre press conference in Vietnam where he once again featured some of the potential liabilities some Democrats are fretting over amid concerns about his age and performance. It featured a series of odd moments, including when Biden called on reporters from a prepared list. His Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also cut off the event, then he came back to address reporters briefly while jazz music was being piped over a sound system. He told a long story about a John Wayne movie where he spoke about cowboys and 'Indians,' then went back to a tale about the phrase 'lying dog faced pony soldiers' that he used then and has used previously. Harris landed in New York City on Monday as she steps in for President Joe Biden to mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks at Ground Zero Giuliani wasn't the only former NYC mayor to attend the commemorative service. Harris spoke with former Mayor Mike Bloomberg as fellow former Mayor Bill de Blasio stood behind the duo Harris places her hand over her heart during the National Anthem at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Monday. She stood alongside Mayor Eric Adams (left) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (right) during the service Harris was also seen interacting with New York Attorney General Letitia James (left) on Monday The White House released Biden's September 11 schedule Sunday night, after the President spent two days in New Delhi, India for the G20 Leaders ' Summit and then traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, as the United States' diplomatic status was elevated with the Asian nation. Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Biden's White House installed a 9/11 Memorial on the North Portico. Biden won't memorialize the terror attacks until he lands in Alaska hours after the Twin Towers were hit 22 years prior. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre shared only vague details on how Biden would mark the solemn anniversary once the Vietnam leg of the Asia trip was added on. VP Harris' schedule was also vague, just noting she would spend the morning attending the annual 9/11 Commemoration Ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. The ceremony is held every year at Ground Zero to honor the nearly 3,000 killed on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is typically Air Force One's refueling stop. The stops there usually last around 90 minutes as the president's plane is filled with gas. It's tradition for Presidents to spend 9/11 at one of the three crash sites New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia or in Shanksville, Pennsylvania or hold a ceremony at the White House Presidential hopeful and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis along with his wife Casey DeSantis arrived at Ground Zero on Monday morning to mark the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Jean-Pierre was asked last month if there had been any discussions about scheduling the Vietnam leg of the trip before the president was due in India in an effort to not skip marking the day in one of the three places where the planes crashed. 'So, look, we'll - we'll have more on - on 9/11 in Alaska. As you just men - as you just mentioned, I laid out - announced that,' she said. 'Look, the president wanted to make sure that he, as the president, did something to commemorate 9/11. And that's what you're seeing. That's what you're seeing the president do,' Jean-Pierre continued. 'We'll certainly have more details to share. I just don't have anything more outside of that.' Despite Biden's absence, Republican presidential candidates vying to take his spot in the White House are making visits to New York City to commemorate the attacks. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrived in the city early with wife Casey DeSantis to pay their respects at Ground Zero. Biotech millionaire Vivek Ramaswamy is also headed to New York to attend the 9/11 FDNY Pipes and Drums Tribute. Former Mayors Giuliani, Bloomberg and de Blasio also attended as well as current Mayor Adams, whom Harris was seen speaking with ahead of the service on Monday. Law enforcement officers ring a bell as names are read during a remembrance ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the World Trade Center The messy birds managed to enter the two-bed flat and stayed for four weeks This is the horrendous 15,000 worth of damage wreaked by pigeons on an East London flat after tenants accidentally left a patio door ajar. The messy birds managed to flutter their way into the two-bed house and proceeded to take over every room in the house. Over the course of the next four weeks, the birds splattered every room with poop, with the worst hit being the living room and kitchen. The kitchen was covered in mess, with drying rack stacked with clothes splattered, and the toaster, kettle, worktop and floor. The living room was a 'sight to behold' according to pest control bosses, with the sofas, carpet and TV all victims to the pesky birds. This is the horrendous 15,000 worth of damage wreaked by pigeons on an East London flat after tenants accidentally left a patio door ajar The kitchen was covered in mess, with drying rack stacked with clothes splattered, and the toaster, kettle, worktop and floor The living room was a 'sight to behold' according to pest control bosses, with the sofas, carpet and TV all victims to the pesky birds The birds caused the damage within four weeks, leaving the property completely uninhabitable Pest control experts said the flat resembled the island of Roca Partida in Mexico - which is also known as 'bird poo island'. The tiny uninhabited island is almost completely white due to the sheer amount of 'bird guano' from nesting brown booby, sooty tern and brown noddy birds. The landlord - who didn't want to be named - called experts at the London Network for Pest Solutions after his eyes 'popped out of his head' when he saw the extent of the mess. The clean-up operation means the landlord - who admitted that he should have checked the property after it was vacated - will be a whopping 15,000 out of pocket. Paul Cooper, the MD of London Network for Pest Solutions, said: 'The landlord took one peek inside and called us immediately. 'The pigeons had redecorated throughout leaving the home in a complete mess. 'It took the pigeons just four weeks to wreck the place.' He said the firm's pigeon expert had to put on a protective suit and two masks to mask the 'overwhelming stench', adding: 'Our pigeon surveyor was sent in suited and booted. 'He said the stench was overwhelming and he had to double mask using both a dustmask and a PureFlo mask [and air purifying respirator]. Asked about the cost, he said it would cost around 15,000: 'The property will be out of action for the best part of a month, whilst it is cleared, cleaned, redecorated and refurnished.' The landlord admitted he should have checked his property after it had been vacated The landlord's eyes 'popped out of his head' after he opened the door and was greeted with the mess The messy birds managed to flutter their way into the house through a partially open patio door, and proceeded to take over every room in the house The pigeons (file image) managed to cause 15,000 worth of damage, smothering the floors and furniture with feathers and poo An American scientist trapped 1,000 meters down a cave in Turkey could be rescued as soon as Monday evening, rescuers say. Mark Dickey, 40, was on an international exploration expedition in the Morca cave in Mersin province's Taurus mountains when he began suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding at a depth of 1,040 meters. Since the rescue mission began 10 days ago, responders have managed to extricate the New York speleologist - meaning cave expert - halfway up the ginormous chasm. More than 150 rescuers from around the world have been working on the rescue mission in Turkey's third deepest cave. Dickey, who normally leads cave rescue missions himself, could be freed at soon as tonight, according to the Speleological Federation of Turkey. An American scientist trapped 1,000 meters down a cave in Turkey could be rescued as soon as Monday, rescuers say Mark Dickey, 40, (pictured in the cave) was on an international exploration expedition in the Morca cave in Mersin province's Taurus mountains when he began suffering from gastrointestinal bleeding at a depth of 1,040 meters More than 150 rescuers from around the world have been working on the rescue mission in Turkey's third deepest cave 'The rescue team is currently trying to get Mark to -180 meters,' the federation said on X. 'The 180 meters camp will continue after Mark rests for a while. If everything goes well, it is aimed to be taken out today evening or tomorrow.' Giuseppe Conti, European Cave Rescue Association technical commission chairperson said the first few days of the rescue mission were about reaching Dickey and keeping his medical condition stable. He told reporters that the mission moved on to the phase of gradually lifting him out of the crevice on Saturday. 'Our medical team is working really hard to try to keep Mark's condition as stable as possible,' Conti said. 'Since yesterday, we started lifting the stretcher and transporting him through the cave.' 'We have to do it very carefully because we cannot risk any conditions worsening (for) Mark. So we must pay attention meter after meter. 'Currently, the stretcher is about 500 meters from the surface.' Dickey, who normally leads cave rescue missions himself, could be freed at soon as Monday evening, according to the Speleological Federation of Turkey Rescuers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Turkey are involved in the mission Dickey's fiancee, Jessica Van Ord, who was with him during the expedition, has been staying at the camp site and working with the rescue teams. Van Ord has taken leading roles in previous cave rescues herself - including the case of an elderly cockapoo which she saved by managing to slip herself into an incredibly tight crevice to reach the pooch. The 12-year-old canine got stuck in a cave at the Minnewaska State Park Preserve in upstate New York two years ago. Tulga Sener, medical coordinator for the cave rescue commission, said her fiancee's medical condition is 'very good' despite his illness. 'A medical doctor will accompany him the whole way,' Sener said. 'Right now, Italian doctors are accompanying him along the route. Mark's medical condition right now is very good.' Speaking on Sunday, Cenk Yildiz, Mersin provincial head of Turkey's AFAD disaster management authority, said Dickey would be brought out in two to three days 'if they don't experience any problems.' Rescuers from Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Hungary and Turkey are involved in the mission. The international group has divided Dickey's journey to freedom into sections, with each country's team taking responsibility for a section. Bulgarian rescuers pulled him up the first 500 feet, followed by a Croatian team for the next 500 feet and so on, until he reaches Turkish rescuers on the final leg. Dickey, who lives in Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County, New York, is a well-known figure in the international caving community. He is described by the European Cave Rescue Association as 'a highly-trained caver and a cave rescuer himself'. 'He has participated in caving expeditions in many karst areas of the world for many years,' the association said. 'In addition to his activities as a speleologist, he is also the secretary of the ECRA medical committee and an instructor for cave rescue organizations in the USA.' Supercar owners drove their vehicles into Central London yesterday in a protest against Sadiq Khan's expanded Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez). The motorists led by Petrolheadonism Club founder Ciro Ciampi from Milton Keynes brought modified, classic vehicles and supercars to parade along Whitehall. They drove from Regents Park to Downing Street to show the perceived hypocrisy at how some of their 'supercharged monster' cars do not have to pay the Ulez charge. The event - one of many Ulez protests in the capital in recent months - was filmed by motoring journalist Shahzad Sheikh, who calls himself the 'Brown Car Guy'. Mr Ciampi told Mr Sheikh: 'We've got to celebrate this moment. For people that are here protesting, wow, amazing, because they've been affected big time because they live within the M25. It's just absolutely stupid that it's been extended. Supercar owners drove their vehicles into Central London yesterday in a protest against Sadiq Khan 's expanded Ultra-Low Emission Zone (Ulez) The motorists led by Petrolheadonism Club founder Ciro Ciampi from Milton Keynes brought modified, classic vehicles and supercars to parade along Whitehall 'I've got a big event in Wembley, it's going to affect my event next year. For me I've got a couple of cars that are not Ulez complaint and I've got to pay 12.50 if I come into London for my meetings and stuff like that. 'But then I've got a V12 in the garage or my mate's got this eight-litre V8 supercharged monster that is Ulez free. It's not about clean air. 'It's absolutely somebody being a narcissist, jumped up, bloody-minded egotistical, arrogant mayor that just won't listen to anybody.' Yesterday's event is the latest in a string of anti-Ulez protests to have taken place in the capital over the last few months. Anti-Ulez campaigners have been taking to the streets of London in protest against the expansion of the ultra low emission zone, which took place on August 29. Yesterday's event comes after a string of anti-Ulez protests to have taken place in the capital over the last few months. Pictured: People protest against Ulez in Tooting, London, last month The expansion of the zone has received opposition from campaigners who say the 12.50-a-day charge is a tax on the poor and working class who cannot afford to buy. Among those protesting in Tooting, London, last month was retired financial planner Warren Stephens, 50, who suggested it is 'all about money and control'. Mr Stephens, whose car is Ulez compliant, said: 'It is saying 'you are OK to drive your polluting car if you give me 12.50'. 'It is all about money, otherwise they would ban petrol and polluting cars.' The victims were taken by ambulance to the Roma Port of Entry in Roma, Texas, and transported to two hospitals The shooting took place moments after two vehicles carrying 20 people were reportedly caught in a crossfire between criminal groups At least seven people were wounded on a Mexico road near a United States-Mexico bridge after they were caught in a crossfire between rival criminal organization. The victims, three U.S. citizens and four Mexican nationals, were among 20 people traveling aboard a pickup truck and a van to the east-central state of San Luis Potosi early Saturday when came under fire in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas. The pickup truck was struck by an armored vehicle that is commonly used by cartel. The attackers then fled. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that the officers at the Roma Port of Entry in Roma, Texas, received two Mexican ambulances. A pickup truck, one of two vehicles carrying 20 U.S. and Mexico citizens, was struck by an armored vehicle on a road in Tamaulipas, Mexico, near the RomaCiudad Miguel Aleman International Bridge on Saturday. Seven Americans and Mexicans were taken to hospitals in Texas for treatment The wounded victims were taken to Starr County Memorial Hospital and McAllen Medical Center in Texas following a violent attack in the Mexican border town of Miguel Aleman Roma Police chief Iv Garza told Univision that officers on the scene applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding on a victim's leg. The group was processed and rushed to Starr County Memorial Hospital and McAllen Medical Center. The four Mexican citizens were identified as Orlando Sanchez, 61; Alberto Aguilar, 76; Maria Fuentes, 68; and Joes Aguilar, 71, Telemundo 40 reported. Texas Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar told BorderReport.com that one of the Americans was shot on the right foot and another was wounded on the upper back. 'We know that the injured individuals, including U.S. citizens and lawful permanent U.S. residents, are getting medical care,' Cuellar said. Tamaulipas is considered one of the most violent states in Mexico, due to the presence of criminal organizations dedicated to migrant smuggling, drug trafficking and other illicit activities. Factions of the Gulf Cartel have been at odds following the arrests and extradition of the group's high-ranking leaders. A woman sits in one of the two vehicles transporting 20 U.S. and Mexican citizens that came under fire Saturday morning in Tamaulipas, Texas Survivors of a violent shootout standing near one of the two vehicles that had crossed over from Texas and were attacked on a road in Miguel Aleman, a border town city in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas In May, military soldiers were caught on video executing five alleged members of a cartel in the border town of Nuevo Laredo. Footage showed the gunmen's pickup truck crashing into the wall of a store before the military truck that was in pursuit of them rammed the vehicle. The men were forced out of the pickup, beaten, dragged across the dirt-covered ground, forced to kneel facing the wall and later shot. The soldiers tried to cover-up the scene by reporting that an infantry had been attacked by members of the Cartel del Noreste (Northeast Cartel). They said that the troops were inspecting a pickup truck that was carrying the five victims. During the search, they said that the suspects tried to recover their weapons and were killed in a crossfire. In March, four Americans were kidnapped in that state, two of whom were killed and two rescued, in an incident that caused tension between the governments of the two neighbor nations. It was a case that seemed more at home in one of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels than reality. On September 7, 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident writer working for the BBC, felt a slight sharp pain while waiting for a bus on Waterloo Bridge in London. After looking behind him, he saw a man picking an umbrella up off the ground. Four days later - exactly 45 years ago today - Markov was dead. A post-mortem examination revealed he had been murdered with the poison ricin, which had been delivered into Markov's leg via a tiny pellet fired from the end of the mysterious man's umbrella. It was a case that seemed more at home in one of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels than reality. On September 7, 1978, Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident writer working for the BBC, felt a slight sharp pain while waiting for a bus on Waterloo Bridge in London. After looking behind him, he saw a man picking an umbrella up off the ground. Four days later - exactly 45 years ago today - Markov was dead Markov had defected to the UK - and opted to move to to Clapham, South London - after fleeing Bulgaria in 1969. The writer had continued to infuriate his home nation's Communist regime with broadcasts on the BBC's Bulgarian Service which mocked dictator Todor Zhivkov. When he was attacked, Markov had been walking across Waterloo Bridge to get to his office at the BBC. A man stepped out from a bus stop and jabbed him with an umbrella. After apologising in a foreign accent, he hailed a cab and left the scene. Markov returned to his office but then quickly fell ill. He was taken to hospital that night with a high fever and died three days later. The subsequent post-mortem examination found a pinhead-sized pellet in his leg that had been laced with ricin. His wife, Annabel Dilke, was left to raise their two-year-old daughter on her own. In 2013, the prime suspect in the case was tracked down to a small Austrian town, where he worked as an antiques dealer. Francisco Gullino, who died in August 2021, had been named as the possible perpetrator of the crime in 2005. A post-mortem examination revealed he had been murdered with the poison ricin, a which had been delivered into Markov's leg via a tiny pellet (above) fired from the end of the mysterious man's umbrella The bus stop (right) Markov was walking past when he was pricked with the umbrella He had once been known as 'Agent Piccadilly' by his Communist handlers. He was named in Bulgarian files as their only agent in London when the regime's secret services backed by the Russian KGB had Markov 'liquidated'. Gullino left Britain the day after the attack and flew to Rome, where it is alleged he stood in a particular spot in St Peter's Square in order to send a signal to his Bulgarian handler. In an interview carried out by German filmmakers, Gullino admitted he was 'probably' in London at the time of Markov's murder, but denied involvement in the plot. He also refused to confirm that he was a spy, despite the enormous evidence in Bulgarian security archives suggesting that he was. Gullino had first been recruited by Bulgaria in 1970 after being caught smuggling drugs. He made three trips to London in 1977 and 1978, according to files from Durzhavna Sigurnost, the Bulgarian secret police. After the attack on Markov, he returned via Rome to Denmark, where he lived in Copenhagen. A replica of the umbrella used to murder Markov previously went on display in an exhibition at the Spy Museum in Washington D.C. In 1993, after the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, he was interrogated for six hours by British and Danish detectives. He admitted he had worked as a spy but protested his innocence over the Markov case, and was released after Bulgaria refused to provide information on the case. Gullino finally emerged as the prime suspect in 2005 after a Bulgarian investigative journalist researched his country's surviving intelligence archives. By then the much-travelled antiques dealer was living in the Czech Republic, while keeping an address in Budapest. The Daily Mail's initial coverage of Georgi Markov's death. The news made the front page The Mail's coverage of what they called the 'sinister micro-ball' that was used to kill him He later moved to Wels. Staff at the premises of Juergen Hesz, one of Europe's most successful antique traders, said Gullino knows their boss and has been seen at the offices. He was tracked down by director Klaus Dexel, while making the documentary Silenced: The Writer Georgi Markov and The Umbrella Murder. Asked by filmmakers if he is still in contact with his Bulgarian contact from the 1970s, he declined to give a straight answer, replying with a smile: 'This is an intimate question. Is it forbidden to talk to such people? 'Is it not good to work with foreign countries' secret services?' A mother was only fed ketchup sachets as she was enslaved, tortured, burned and beaten to death by three 'sadistic' killers, a court has heard. Shakira Spencer, 35, was found dead by police at her home in Hanwell, west London, after a neighbour spotted maggots crawling from under her front door on September 25, 2022. Ashana Studholme, 38, her lover Shaun Pendlebury, 26, and Lisa Richardson, 44, all deny murder and preventing a lawful burial. Allison Hunter KC, prosecuting, told the Old Bailey that the three killers controlled and tortured Ms Spencer, who was described as a 'beautiful happy, healthy' woman. 'For whatever was their cruel, sadistic motive, these three defendants tormented, tortured, starved, burned, and eventually battered Shakira to death,' said Ms Hunter. Shakira Spencer, 35, (pictured) was fed ketchup sachets as she was enslaved, tortured, burned and beaten to death by three 'sadistic' killers, a court has heard 'Over the months leading up to her murder the defendants, primarily Studholme and Richardson, subdued and dominated Shakira so totally that she was under all of their complete control. 'She was isolated from everyone she had previously known, her freewill seemingly sapped and stolen from her. 'They stole her self-respect, her finances, took over her flat, prostituted her (at least so they claimed), treated her like a slave ordering her wake up in the early hours of the morning to clean their houses, sending her to the shops to do their errands, feeding her only on sachets of ketchup. Ms Hunter added: 'Then in circumstances of unbelievable depravity, [they] boasted about and on occasion photographed and filmed what they did and were intending to do to her. 'The last beatings to the brink of her death took place in the home of Ashana Studholme likely between 11 and 12 September.' Ms Spencer was once a 'voluptuous size 16' but was reduced to 'skin and bone' by July last year, jurors heard. The victim was bundled into the boot of a red Honda Civic motor vehicle borrowed by Pendlebury from his aunt on the evening of September 12, the court heard. It was driven by him and Studholme back to Shakira's flat in Hanwell. They placed her body in a cupboard in her hallway while they returned to Studholme's home in Greenhill Road, Harrow, and 'together with Lisa mounted the clean-up operation,' said the prosecutor. 'It had first been their plan to dispose of her body in a caravan Pendlebury had borrowed from his same aunt on 15 September 2022,' said Ms Hunter. 'Pendlebury never returned the caravan to his aunt, but once the three defendants had set about removing what they thought were all traces of Shakira's blood, bodily fluids and DNA from their own respective premises, and attempting to clear traces of their presence in Shakira's flat after she lay dead.' Shakira was found dead by police at her home in Hanwell, west London (pictured) after a neighbour spotted maggots crawling from under her front door on September 25, 2022 Ms Hunter said the defendants were captured on CCTV buying cleaning products and going towards Shakira's flat in the early hours of September 16. 'Her state of decomposition must have been so bad that they could no longer risk moving her. So they just left her there to be found,' said Ms Hunter. 'It was only when neighbours saw maggots crawling out from under her door that the police were called to Shakira's address on Sunday 25 September 2022 and the painstaking investigation which ensued revealed in detail what they had done. 'Shakira's state of decomposition was so bad that the precise mechanism that caused her death could not be determined. 'The post mortem revealed crushing injuries to where her left ear would have been, four 'deficient areas' on what would have been her scalp representing full thickness lacerations that would have been inflicted whilst she was alive, defects to the bone of her left eye socket.' Ms Hunter added that injuries also included epidermal degloving of the feet, consistent with scalding - 'one of the activities that Shaun Pendlebury admitted to his mother and uncle that he had joined in.' In early 2021 Shakira had been a 'healthy even voluptuous size 16', said the prosecutor. 'By July 2022 Shakira Spencer was just skin and bone. 'Gaunt and skeletal bruised from head to foot with hollowed black eyes, she was barely a scrawny size 6 in images taken by the defendants just before she died. ' Ms Hunter explained to the jury how Shakira met the three defendants. 'They are connected to each other and remotely to Shakira through a complex web of relationships. 'Shaun Pendlebury is the son of Michelle Pendlebury. 'Michelle Pendlebury knew Lisa Richardson as a friend of her sister's, and Lisa Richardson's brother Craig was a friend of Shaun's which no doubt led to his introduction to Lisa.' Ms Hunter added: 'Studholme and Richardson would use Shakira's bank and cash point cards at will, for their food, sundries and cab journeys etc, but in acts of particular callous inhumane savage and ironic brutality, they also used them to buy the materials they used to try to remove traces of Shakira's bodily fluids and DNA that would reveal the extent and the locations of their final beatings and stowage of her barely conscious body in the lead up to her death.' The court also heard that Richardson sent a series of messages mocking and abusing Shakira. On 14 July, she sent a message to Carla Gilmaney saying: 'I've just f*** this b**** up this b****...she ant going no we're xx iamvgoing smash hur up nah joke.' She sent another message saying she was going to 'mash up' Shakira, it was said. The following day Richardson allegedly sent a message in which she said: 'So at the end of the day she deserved everything she got... I didn't even beat her that much - I just gave her a couple of slaps a tappy tappy (slapping sounds can be heard) slap 1-2-3 but no.' On 22 July, Richardson sent a message that showed Shakira with an elongated nose, the court heard. 'In August there are further images of Shakira, beaten with black eyes, and lying either asleep or unconscious on Lisa Richardson's sofa which she sent with an accompanying message stating 'look who I've got'. Pendlebury, Richardson and Studholme all deny murder and preventing a lawful burial. The trial continues. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was blasted by a UK minister today over 'unhelpful' comments he made about Irish unity, as the two countries clashed over power-sharing in Northern Ireland. Chris Heaton-Harris lashed out after the Irish premier, 44, last week said he believed reunification would happen in his lifetime. The Northern Ireland Secretary spoke at an event in Belfast to launch a 858million fund for the country and Irish border regions. He warned that the comments would have a detrimental effect on unionists who are currently blocking the formation of the Stormont assembly and power-sharing executive. Mr Heaton-Harris said: 'There are always plenty of people who are willing to point out when obstacles are put in the way. 'The Taoiseach's got a lot of domestic politics on his plate, but occasionally unhelpful comments down in Dublin do resonate up here amongst the unionist community, and I need the clearest picture possible to get the executive up and running.' Chris Heaton-Harris lashed out after the Irish premier, 44, last week said he believed reunification would happen in his lifetime. The Northern Ireland Secretary spoke at an event in Belfast to launch a 858million fund for the country and Irish border regions. Last week Mr Varadkar said he believed the island of Ireland was 'on a path' to unification, adding: 'In that united Ireland there is going to be a minority. Roughly a million people who are British. And you judge the success and quality of a country by the wait it treats its minorities. That is something we are going to have to think about.' Today he said confidence is 'starting to wane' among Northern Ireland parties that it will be possible to get the Stormont institutions up and running again. He said he told Mr Heaton-Harris that a point is coming when 'alternative arrangements' will need to be discussed to address the power-sharing gap in the region. The Taoiseach said: 'I don't want to put an artificial deadline on it, work is ongoing, talks are still ongoing. 'But I think we all appreciate they can't be ongoing forever. 'I think if it is advancing at all, it's advancing at a snail's pace, and I know from talking to all five main parties here that confidence is starting to wane about whether it is going to be possible to get the Assembly and the Executive up and running. 'I am worried about that, I am certainly not giving up on it. We are willing to help in any way that we can. 'But there does come a point at which the stalemate can't go on forever.' However Mr Heaton-Harris responded saying: 'I think devolution can be restored and, to be frank, I don't think it would be a Plan B because, whatever was happening, we'd be constantly trying to make sure that the executive got back up and running. ' Brazil's President Lula has withdrawn his personal assurance that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he attends next year's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Putin missed this year's gathering in the Indian capital New Delhi, avoiding possible political tension and any risk of criminal detention under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Brazil is an ICC member but President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has raised eyebrows after telling Indian news network Firstpost: 'If I'm the president of Brazil and if he comes to Brazil, there's no way that he will be arrested.' But he changed tack earlier today, telling reporters: 'I don't know if Brazil's justice will detain him. It's the judiciary that decides, it's not the government.' Putin has skipped recent international gatherings and sent his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to New Delhi instead for the September 9-10 G20 meeting, even though India is not an ICC signatory. Brazil's President Lula, pictured today at the G20 in New Delhi, has withdrawn his personal assurance that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he visits the next G20 in Brazil Putin, pictured today in the far eastern region of Primorsky Krai, Russia, missed this year's gathering in the Indian capital New Delhi, avoiding possible political tension and any risk of criminal detention In March, the ICC announced an arrest warrant for Putin over the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. The Kremlin denies the accusations, insisting the warrant against Putin is 'void'. On Saturday, the G20 nations adopted a declaration that avoided condemning Moscow for the war in Ukraine but called on all states to refrain from using force to grab territory. The next summit is slated for November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro and Lula said he hoped 'that by then the war is over'. But he also questioned Brazil's membership of the war crimes court, adding that 'emerging countries often sign things that are detrimental to them'. 'I want to know why we are members but not the United States, not Russia, not India, not China,' Lula said. 'I'm not saying I'm going to leave the court, I just want to know why Brazil is a signatory.' A brave schoolgirl who was savaged by a dangerous XL Bully dog in a ferocious rampage as terrified crowds fled the area said today: 'I'm now too frightened to leave home.' Ana Paun, 11, told how the powerful breed of bulldog 'which was suffering from heat exhaustion' leapt up at her after lying unleashed in a Birmingham bus shelter as she walked home from buying sweets with her sister. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline today, traumatised Ana said: 'The dog just came at me out of nowhere. 'I was walking to the shop with my elder sister and the dog was with its owner, who was standing by a bus shelter. 'The dog stared at me and as I got closer it suddenly jumped up and bit my arm, it didn't take its gaze off me and continued staring while it was biting. 'It sort of locked on to my arm and wouldn't let go. I was screaming as loud as I could.' This comes as Home Secretary Suella Braverman has pushed for a ban on American bully XL dogs, arguing they are a 'clear and lethal danger', particularly to children, after the 'appalling' attack on Ana. Ana Paun was walking to the shops with her 18-year-old sister when the powerful breed of bulldog leapt up at her from a bus shelter Ana remained in hospital for a day and was allowed home to recover last night with a bandaged arm The eleven-year-old is now recovering at home following the gruesome ordeal Brave members of the public grabbed anything they could to beat away the crazed beast Ana added about the attack: 'The dog knocked me to the floor and was still attacking me. A man helped me and hit the dog which released it from my arm but it then lunged at me again and bit my shoulder. Do YOU own an XL Bully dog? Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement 'I was in shock but another man managed to grab the dog from behind and pull it off me. The dog then chased someone else into the petrol station and attacked him on the forecourt. 'I managed to get off the floor at this point and with my sister I ran into the shop to safety. There was a lot of blood pouring from my arm. 'The staff called the police and the ambulance and I was taken to Heartlands Hospital.' She said: 'I thought it was going to attack my face and neck and that I was going to die. 'I kept screaming and screaming - I was petrified.' Ana remained in hospital for a day and was allowed home to recover last night. She said she has lived in the area for five-years but has never seen the dog before. Cradling a bandaged left forearm, she added: 'I don't blame the dog but the owner did nothing at all when I was attacked. He just watched on and didn't attempt to stop it. 'I'm now too frightened to leave home and I'm very wary of dogs. 'The pain isn't too bad as I'm on antibiotics but I still feel really shaken up. I thought the dog might do more serious damage or worse, kill me. I'm really thankful to the people who helped me.' Ana was one of three people bitten by the dog, two men were also attacked. Her relieved mother, Monica, said a man who tried to help her daughter was chased into a neighbouring Texaco petrol station and left more seriously hurt. More footage has emerged of a savage dog attack in Birmingham that left an 11-year-old girl and two men injured Ana's mother has said she does not want the dog to be destroyed and has blamed the animals owner for the incident She said: 'We bumped into him in hospital. He had a very serious bite wound to his upper arm. 'He lives near to us but I think he's still in hospital as his injuries are more severe. But I thanked him for helping to save my daughter. 'I don't want the dog to be destroyed, it's the owner who is at fault. They shouldn't be walking around with such a dangerous dog, especially one that isn't on a lead or muzzled. 'Ana is doing ok, she is a strong girl. We've had visits from friends and family, who have been worried sick. Ana's also been on FaceTime chats with her schoolmates to show them she's ok. 'I shudder to think what could have happened. It doesn't bear thinking about. 'I'm originally from Romania, where there are lots of stray dogs roaming the streets and there have been attacks on people. I've always been careful around them. 'I didn't expect my daughter to be seriously injured by one on the streets of Birmingham.' A passenger on the top deck of a passing bus filmed the horrific attack on their mobile phone on Saturday afternoon. The footage was uploaded onto social media and shows the muscular dog attack Ana as force her to the ground as onlookers scream. A man is seen pulling the dog away from her as the XL Bully goes for another man in a white T-shirt and shorts who sprints onto a petrol station forecourt. A video circulating online which was taken from the top deck of a double-decker bus showed the rampage erupt The dog sprints after another man, who is seen on the film wearing a while t-shirt and shorts Several men come to his aid, including one brandishing a metal pole, and force the dog to flee. The bully was initially taken to a local vet to be checked over before being taken into secure kennels while the investigation continues. It's owner has been spoken to by officers from West Midlands Police. A spokesman clarified: 'The dog was seized by officers and taken to a vet suffering from heat exhaustion. He has now been taken into secure kennels and our dog unit will consider what will happen to it. 'The dog's owner is currently in hospital and we will be speaking to him in due course. 'This was an alarming and shocking incident on a busy road in high temperatures and members of the public showed immense courage in tackling such a ferocious dog.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman is now pushing for a ban on American XL bully dogs, saying they are a 'clear and lethal danger' particularly to children. She tweeted: 'The American XL bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. 'We can't go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.' Ms Braverman and Policing Minister Chris Philp commissioned the advice last week, with it being the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' responsibility to add the breed to the banned list. The Home Secretary told The Sun they are looking to 'enhance public safety' and 'ban their breeding and sale'. Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, backed the ban, adding that he has become 'deeply concerned' by the rise in bully dog attacks on people, pets and livestock. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she had commissioned 'urgent advice' on outlawing the breed after the 'appalling' attack This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. We cant go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them. https://t.co/fp07T4FWRZ Suella Braverman MP (@SuellaBraverman) September 10, 2023 However, adding dogs to the banned list is the responsibility of Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's department, where it is understood there are concerns over the feasibility of adding the American Bully. The dog is not a recognised as a specific breed by the Kennel Club. It could be hard to define and a ban could inadvertently outlaw a range of other dogs, some fear. Ms Braverman seized on news that West Midlands Police was investigating after Ana and two men who intervened were injured in the incident in the Bordesley Green area on Saturday. It is against the law to own, breed or sell dogs on the list drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). But it is also against the law to have a dog that is dangerously out of control, which can be punished by prison sentences and unlimited fines. Emma Whitfield, the mother of 10-year-old Jack Lis who died after being mauled by an American bully in Caerphilly, South Wales, has been calling for a change in the law. Sir John Hayes, a close ally of Ms Braverman, has been pushing in the House of Commons for a ban on the dog he has claimed is 'bred to kill'. However, animal charities including the RSPCA have been pushing for an end to breed-specific bans which they say work against dogs perceived to be 'dangerous' and lead to thousands of 'innocent' animals being put down. Following the attack, which is the latest in a terrifying spate of incidents, debate has raged as to whether the XL bully breed should be banned. This morning on Good Morning Britain, dog trainer Kay Taiwo pushed back at calls for a ban and claimed American XL Bully dogs were 'not bred or made to be ultra-aggressive'. Dog trainer Kay Taiwo (pictured) claimed American XL Bully dogs were 'not bred or made to be ultra-aggressive' However, she was slammed by expert Stan Rawlinson (pictured), who said 'this dog is not a nice dog' West Midlands Police opened an investigation after the 11-year-old girl and the two men who intervened were injured in the daylight attack in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon (File image) She said: 'These dogs don't want to jump about the place. You go online and see people who own these dogs, they will tell you that the dog is calm.' However, she was slammed by dog behavioural expert Stan Rawlinson, who said 'this dog is not a nice dog'. Meanwhile, GMB viewers took to social media to voice their opinions after presenter Ed Balls compared banning XL Bullies to preventing the sale of handguns. Twitter/X user Hayley Auton said: 'GUNS!!!! Your not taking guns off our police or army because those are responsible persons. Don't take the dogs from those responsible enough to have them .' (sic.) Social media user Zoe Newton added: '@GMB disgrace, No clue presenters Get them off the air! 3 against 1 here. No neutral minded with one saying she is scared, why cause she read a article & a behaviourist who ADMITS he's never accessed and XL. I don't have an XL myself. All dogs can be dangerous the same as HUMANS!!' (sic). Today the RSPCA announced that despite the ever-growing calls from the British public they would not be throwing their weight around any talks of banning the breed. A spokesperson from the Dog Control Coalition told MailOnline: 'This recent dog bite occurrence is a deeply sad incident and our thoughts are with all those involved. 'We are all incredibly concerned about the rising number of dog bite incidents and the biggest priority of everyone involved is to protect the public. 'Thirty-two years of the Dangerous Dogs Act, which has focused on banning specific types, has coincided with a troubling increase in dog bites and fatalities which shows that this approach simply isn't working. 'Sadly, the increased popularity of American XL bullies has made them valuable commodities, resulting in irresponsible breeding, rearing and ownership, which can all contribute to an increased likelihood of aggression in dogs, regardless of breed. 'However, the view of all leading animal charities is that the solution is not banning more types. Instead, the government needs to focus on the improvement and enforcement of current breeding and dog control regulations, and on promoting responsible dog ownership and training.' Tracy Turner, 50, from Stoke, owns a nine-month old XL Bully called Mush. She told MailOnline: 'There shouldn't be a ban. It's how you bring them up' She bought Mush when he was just ten weeks old (left). Ms Turner said: 'He won't take food unless he is told. He has a brilliant temperament [and] loves his toys at the end of the day' The dog owner added: 'It's how you treat them. If you show aggression they will show it back' XL Bully owners have also slammed plans to ban the beasts. Tracy Turner, 50, from Stoke, owns a male XL Bully called Mush. She told MailOnline: 'I own one and it's not going anywhere.' Ms Turner added: 'There shouldn't be a ban. It's how you bring them up. 'I have had mine from 10 weeks old and he is now nine months old. 'While he's out for walks I've trained him to walk aside of me, to sit when told, not to jump up people as he is getting very heavy. 'He won't take food unless he is told. He has a brilliant temperament [and] loves his toys at the end of the day. 'It's how you treat them. If you show aggression they will show it back.' The row came after Suella Braverman last night vowed to ban dangerous American XL Bully dogs. West Midlands Police opened an investigation after the 11-year-old girl and the two men who intervened were injured in the daylight attack in Birmingham on Saturday afternoon. A video circulating online which was taken from the top deck of a double-decker bus showed the rampage erupt The Home Secretary said she had commissioned 'urgent advice' on outlawing the breed after the 'appalling' attack. Suella Braverman and Policing Minister Chris Philp commissioned the advice on banning the breed last week, with it being the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' responsibility to add the breed to the banned list. She said: 'This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children. 'We can't go on like this. I have commissioned urgent advice on banning them.' Robert Buckland, the former Justice Secretary, backed Braverman's ban, adding that he has become 'deeply concerned' by the rise in bully dog attacks on people, pets and livestock. An activists and dog breeders alike have claimed the breed are 'very reactive', 'incredibly powerful' and 'dangerous'. Dog breeder Stan Rawlinson, 76, said there is 'something wrongly wired' in XL bully dogs and told the newspaper that he 'wouldn't go near one'. He said they are 'a danger to women, children and everyone else' and can 'open up your jugular veins almost immediately'. Similarly, Elisa Allen, of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), said: 'It is an undeniable fact that most serious and fatal dog attacks are by bully breeds.' With their 'hair-trigger response' and 'desire to kill', the muscular American Bully XLs are the 'fighters' of choice in this disturbing underworld, with experts saying the horrific levels of savagery displayed by the dogs are 'unnatural' and instilled in them through violent training and years of inbreeding. Despite being outlawed in the UK almost 200 years ago, authorities have warned dog fighting in Britain is on the rise and these type of breeds are the first choice. The muscular American Bully XLs can display 'unnatural' savagery because it had been instilled in them through violent training and years of inbreeding. Bloodshed is now spilling out onto the UK's streets, with the animals responsible for the majority of fatal dog attacks since 2021 amid a boom in their popularity, with Bully XLs increasingly being used by celebrities as status symbols. There is no suggestion the dog in this video was anything other than a pet. On Sunday West Midlands Police launched an investigation into what went wrong. A force spokesman said: 'We're investigating after three people were bitten by a dog in Birmingham yesterday. 'An 11-year-old girl ran past the dog as it was being walked by its owner in Bordesley Green, when she was bitten. 'Two men intervened but were bitten and left with injuries to their shoulders and arms. 'They were taken to hospital to be treated for their injuries. 'The dog was initially taken to a local vet to be checked over before being taken into secure kennels while the investigation continues. 'The owner of the dog has been spoken to by officers.' This is the latest in a series of dog attacks in the hot weather. As the mercury has been rising, so have the reports of killer canines setting upon victims including a woman who died after being mauled by Rottweilers and a number of children who have been scarred for life. Emma Chandley, a practising vet with Perfect Pet Insurance, said that summer highs 'lower the thresholds for violence' in humans and animals, warning: 'Dogs are more likely to attack and bite in the warmer summer months. As with humans, tensions tend to rise as the temperature does. In a previous incident teaching assistant Katie Deere, 31, was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm 'From my experience, dogs are more likely to bite on hotter days and days when the air pollution is higher,' she told the Daily Express. Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed the rise of the Franken-Bully, a 'mutant' breed of the American Bully XL that some experts fear are 'too dangerous to live'. Underground breeders are creating giant 'mutant crossbreeds' by mating banned pitbulls with legal mastiffs and bulldogs to evade dangerous dogs laws. It comes amid fresh calls for XL Bullys to be banned in Britain after shocking data revealed the breed has been involved in the majority of fatal dog attacks in the UK since 2021. Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved the XL bulldogs - rising to six in 10 in 2022, and fears there could be many more fatalities if urgent action isn't taken to stop the rise of the generically engineered American crosses from reaching Britain's shores. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms Stitches on Miss Deere's arm. She fears if the victim had been a child 'they would have been killed' The mother was due to start a new job this month but is now recuperating and making twice weekly hospital visits Severe injuries to Ms Deere's hand. She described the attack as 'like an out-of-body experience' In a previous incident teaching assistant Katie Deere, 31, was with her own dog when she was suddenly set upon by an unsupervised bully XL breed. Miss Deere had already picked up her own dog out of concern for the loose aggressor, which ran across the road and clamped its jaws on her arm. The quick-thinking single mother pushed the pushchair towards a passer-by who stopped to help and her own dog ran away. READ MORE: Dog attack leaves three-year-old girl in hospital with serious injuries after her face was mauled by the animal Advertisement But she was left at the mercy of the bully XL. Thankfully a lorry driver who witnessed the attack stopped and bravely intervened pulling the dog off her and calling for an ambulance. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, bleeding from wounds to both arms. The traumatised victim later underwent five hours of surgery on her arms, including 50 stitches and repair to a finger that was partially amputated. She is now recovering with relatives and an aunt who has set up an online fundraising appeal said they had discovered Miss Deere is 'not entitled to any sort of compensation or government help as the dog was uninsured and owned by a minor'. The incident happened at 11am on August 17 in Askern, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Meanwhile, tragedy struck yesterday when a woman, 40, died after two Rottweilers savaged her legs and arms when she tried to say help to them. Marie Stevens' nightmare unfolded on August 18 in Netherton in Merseyside. She was rushed to hospital after the dogs pounced and had been discharged to go back home. But she collapsed at her Brighton-le-Sands home on Sunday and was sadly pronounced dead. Two in four deadly dog attacks in the UK in 2021 involved XL bulldogs - rising to six in ten in 2022, including high-profile maulings that killed children Jack Lis, ten, and Bella-Rae Birch, aged 17 months. So far in 2023, the dogs have fatally savaged two people - amid fears a third person, a four-year-old girl, could also have fallen victim. It comes as shocking footage on social media has shown how the dogs chase down some of their victims, with one video in London capturing the moment one of the beasts tackles a screaming woman to the floor while it tears chunks of her flesh off. Only this week it was revealed two Bully XLs were responsible for killing 22 pregnant sheep and injuring 48 others in a frenzied attack in Wales that forced a farmer to shoot both of the dogs. Meanwhile, police forces across the UK say they are increasingly being called out to seize or destroy the animals - which shares the DNA with the banned American Pit Bull Terriers but that are not on Britain's list of dangerous dogs. In July, horrifying footage showed the moment two police officers in South Yorkshire were attacked by a Bully XL, with the incident leading to a warning from one of the county's top cops, who said Britain could no longer 'ignore the fact that the XL bully breed is disproportionately represented in the number of dog attacks'. The situation comes as Britain is gripped by an epidemic of dogfighting, with the RSPCA saying it has attended an average of 30 incidents a month this year. Horrifying police body-worn camera footage shows the moment two officers in South Yorkshire were attacked by an American Bully XL The dog can be seen mauling one of the officers in the footage, released by police in July of this year While in London, one woman was filmed being attacked by a Bully XL as she screamed and begged for help as the beast dragged her to the floor Pictures show how Bully XLs are forced to run on make-shift treadmills amid claims some of the animals are whipped or kicked by their owners to make them more aggressive. And there is evidence of a low-level group of wannabe dogfighters obsessed with the culture of 'strong' dogs. These animals may not take part in matches, but they are trained to be aggressive, risking injury to other pets and people. Meanwhile, pictures on social media show how other owners are 'training' their dogs, letting the animals dangle from ropes by their teeth to strengthen their jaws and biting power. Other owners appear to allow their animals to sink their teeth into tree branches as they while dangling in the air. Dr Lawrence Newport, a law and criminology lecturer at Royal Holloway University recently published a detailed report on the Bully XL, and was worried by the trend. He told MailOnline the dog's violent upbringing by savage owners had led to them having a 'hair trigger response' and a 'desire to kill'. Anyone with information has been asked to contact police via Live Chat quoting log 3245 of 9/9. All three current MPs appearing on Monday's episode of Q+A admitted to maintaining exclusive Qantas chairman lounge memberships despite criticising the airline for alleged misconduct. Only moments after stating he was 'trying not to' fly with Qantas as a 'statement' against the airline's practices, National MP Kevin Hogan revealed he still held a the exclusive membership with the airline. Individuals cannot purchase or use frequent flyer points to gain access to the secretive chairman lounge, but must be hand-picked by Qantas officials. This comes less than two weeks after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced action in the Federal Court of Australia against Qantas for allegedly engaging in false, misleading or deceptive conduct. It is alleged the airline advertised more than 8000 flights scheduled to depart between May and July 2022 that it had already cancelled. READ MORE: Qantas staff overjoyed after Alan Joyce's early exit from the airline Advertisement Q+A host Patricia Karvelas asked which of the politicians on the panel, including Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and independent Member Kylea Tink, held a membership. All three politicians promptly raised their hands. As did former NSW Premier and High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell. 'A free drink and some stale peanuts will not stop me from calling them out when the behaviour is wrong,' Ms Tink said. 'There's good stuff there, it's better than stale peanuts,' Karvelas shot back. The question came after writer and youth advocate Yasmin Poole revealed she had paid $4000 for a return ticket to Australia from the UK to appear on the panel. 'The nuts are good I hear in the Chairman's Lounge,' Karvelas added. The revelation came moments after Mr Watt called for increased transparency from the airline. Three current MPs appearing on Monday's episode of Q+A admitted to maintaining exclusive Qantas chairman lounge memberships despite criticising the airline Among the three ministers was independent Kylea Tink (pictured), Agriculture Minister Murray Watt and National MP Kevin Hogan The Labor Agriculture Minister also criticised Qantas for outsourcing many of its functions, cutting wages and bringing in labour hire. 'That's had a direct impact on customers,' he said. 'It's one of the reasons why so many flights get cancelled and baggage gets lost.' Last month, it was reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's 23-year-old son Nathan had received a pass into Qantas' invite-only Chairman's Lounge, sparking debate about the government's closeness to Qantas.' It was the start of another round of issues to face Qantas, including the airline's announcement of a $2.47billion profit result while it slashed costs and struggled to offer adequate customer service. A class-action lawsuit over pandemic-era refunds, an ACCC investigation over selling cancelled fares, the refusal to pay $2.5billion in government subsidies and a poor-showing by then-chief executive Alan Joyce at a Senate hearing added to the airline's woes The Qantas chief executive then announced his immediate resignation on September 5 after a fortnight of anger at the national carrier, bringing forward his retirement by two months. Individuals cannot purchase or use frequent flyer points to gain access to the secretive chairman lounge (pictured), but must be hand-picked by Qantas officials The airline recently came under heavy criticism after posting a profit margin of $2.47billion, leading to the early resignation of former chief executive Alan Joyce (stock image) After serving at the airline's helm for 22 years, Vanessa Hudson took over as the new managing director and group chief executive on Wednesday. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement that Qantas' conduct had likely affected 'tens of thousands of people'. 'We allege that Qantas' conduct in continuing to sell tickets to cancelled flights, and not updating ticketholders about cancelled flights, left customers with less time to make alternative arrangements and may have led to them paying higher prices to fly at a particular time not knowing that flight had already been cancelled,' she said. 'Cancelled flights can result in significant financial, logistical and emotional impacts for consumers.' The California sommelier found guilty of flying to Texas to 'break' a young woman for sex work was living with a married couple and engaged in a three-way relationship where he'd openly sleep with and torment the man's wife, sources tell DailyMail.com. The 37-year-old married mother Ian Justin Ranney, 35, had been living with was too traumatized to discuss her own relationship with the now-convicted felon. 'I have a family and I'm not interested in dredging anything more up,' she told DailyMail.com. DailyMail.com can also reveal that Ranney, a resident of San Mateo, had just gotten his 'dream job' at a nearby luxury resort Rosewood Sand Hill, sources told DailyMail.com, but put off his start date so he could take the trip to Texas last November. He was never able to return to California after getting arrested outside a North Texas warehouse when he showed up with tools of torture including restraints, rope and batons. Ian Ranney, 35, responded to an ad posted by a federal agent posing as a human trafficker asking for an 'experienced sadist' who would be paid $6,000 to 'break' a young woman DailyMail.com can reveal that Ranney was living with a married couple and 'tormented' the man's wife. The 37-year-old married mother Ranney had been living with was too traumatized to discuss her own relationship with the now-convicted felon. The sex predator had been responding to an ad seeking an 'experienced sadist' who would be paid $6,000 to torture a human trafficking victim to get her to engage in sex work. But it turned out to be a federal sting and the ad was posted by an agent posing as a human trafficker. In February, Ranney pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to 14 years in jail last week in Dallas. The news sent shockwaves to California, where Ranney was pursuing his sadistic double life while working as a high-end sommelier. Restaurant regulars would call Ranney 'Sheldon' because he strongly resembled a Jim Parsons' nerdy character by the same name on the TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory A relative of the 'traumatized' woman told DailyMail.com that Ranney had been living with the young woman and her husband for years in a condo complex in San Mateo and they'd known each other since high school. 'She fancied herself in love with Ian,' the family member said. 'He'd treat her very badly. I'm not surprised at what happened. I knew he was into that kind of stuff, making people feel bad, hurting women.' Ranney had worked for years at Taurus Steakhouse, an upscale restaurant in San Carlos, California, that recently closed. He started out there as a waiter after the restaurant opened in 2019. A wine enthusiast, he worked his way to become a sommelier and briefly served as general manager. A coworker at Taurus described Ranney as an 'odd dude' who seemed harmless. A tall, handsome man with a cheesy little mustache, he'd drive into work in his Tesla, wearing a suit. Some regulars would call him 'Sheldon' because he strongly resembled a character by the same name on the TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Ranney was also 'kind of creepy,' particularly in the way he'd linger around tables with older female customers. 'He liked cougars,' the coworker said. 'You couldn't get him away from those tables because he was flirting with them. 'He had some weird social issues but otherwise seemed normal,' the coworker continued. 'He always thought he was the smartest guy in the room but that wasn't the case. 'He even told me at one point he was a little bit on the spectrum,' the source said. 'He didn't pick up social cues. He would continue to talk and didn't get it when it was time to shut up and leave.' 'He had this odd way we just got used to,' he said. 'He didn't seem dangerous at all, just weird. It was more like, that's Ian.' Ranney's social media shows a luxuries lifestyle filled with travel and elegant dinners. He advised upscale restaurants on their wine selections and last worked for Taurus Steakhouse in San Carlos Ranney and the FBI agent agreed he would work to 'break' the woman in an isolated warehouse for four days at $1,500 per day Ranney found another prized gig, accepting a position as sommelier for a fancy hotel and restaurant Rosewood Sand Hill in nearby Menlo Park before he was arrested Ranney made no secret of the fact he was pursuing a three-way relationship with a married couple. 'He lived with another guy and a girl, and the girl had a kid,' the colleague told DailyMail.com. 'It was a weird triangle thing. According to Ian, she took turns where she slept at night. He was pretty open about it. But I didn't get into it with him. I didn't pry into his private life.' Ranney, however, did get into some trouble at work. After becoming manager, he would allegedly horde tips for himself, taking over tables with the highest-paying customers. It got so egregious that some of the servers were organizing to sue him for wage fraud, the source said. He was about to get fired last year when he quit. 'He left in lieu of termination,' the source said. Ranney found another prized gig, accepting a position as sommelier for a fancy hotel and restaurant Rosewood Sand Hill in nearby Menlo Par 'Ian had plenty of money,' the former coworker said. 'He had taken tips that he shouldn't have and made a ton of money before leaving the restaurant. And he was about to start a good, well-paying job that he really wanted to do. 'That was his dream job,' the colleague said. 'But he never actually started. He put off his start date so he could take this trip to Texas. And then he never came back from Texas.' Ranney planned to bind and waterboard a 21-year-old woman for four days, dousing her genitals with a chemical irritant and subjecting her to complete sensory deprivation. A criminal complaint seen by DailyMail.com says Ranney told agents he specialized in 'objectification and degradation,' having 'psychologically destroyed a few girls.' He added he could 'break any bi***.' He described himself as a '35M, 6'4 Sadistic Dom' who would 'use you mercilessly, showing you a world of pain you never imagined.' Ranney's social media shows a luxurious lifestyle filled with travel and elegant dinners. He posted images proudly showing off his Tesla, vaccine card and voting records on Facebook. 'Wine is my passion. Great service is my specialty,' he wrote on Instagram. Ranney described himself as a '35M, 6'4 Sadistic Dom' who would 'use you mercilessly, showing you a world of pain you never imagined'. His coworkers said Ranney revealed he was on the spectrum and 'didn't pick up on social cues' Ranney posted images proudly showing off his Tesla, vaccine card and voting records on Facebook The FBI agent who posted the ad claimed they needed someone to 'train one of his girls that was no longer wanting to work for him.' They stated they ran a human trafficking organization for 'high-end clientele' and had bought the woman from another trafficker. When the agent said they needed the victim to independently conduct sex work and bring them the profits, Ranney said this would be 'trickier,' but that he 'loved a challenge.' 'That sounds fun,' he wrote. Ranney and the agent agreed he would work to 'break' the woman in an isolated warehouse for four days at $1,500 per day. He wrote he would try to leave the woman 'undamaged,' adding: 'The worst she might get is like a broken bone or two. 'I specially use chemicals during a lot of my torture scene,' he said. 'One of my favorites is capsaicin.' Ranney suggested someone record the victim being tortured with the chemical as 'having someone else watch her in that torture is a good way to put them in their place.' He planned to bring 'blackout contacts' for sensory deprivation. While Ranney engaged in consensual BDSM acts, prosecutors noted he was repeatedly told the ad was not about roleplaying or fantasy, and was reality. Police also found a 14-year-old girl's explicit photos on his phone that he admitted he received through Snapchat. During last week's sentencing, Ranney's lawyer claimed he had a hard time 'connecting' to people, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. Judge Terry Means ruled that because of Ranney's IQ, he would recommend a prison with 'mental challenges' so the sadist isn't 'warehoused.' The coworker at Taurus Steakhouse told DailyMail.com that he doesn't doubt the crime in Texas but found it hard to believe Ranney had previously 'broken' several other women, at least not during his time at Taurus. 'He was at work all the time,' the source said. 'I personally believe he may have made up some things he was saying to get to where he was going. A couple of us who worked with him believe he made up his experience.' It is the third day of protesting against the government's subsidies for fossil fuels Up to 10,000 climate activists blocked the A12 highway at The Hague in protest this morning, with police forced to deploy a water cannon to clear the major highway. It is the third day that mobs of people have been protesting over government subsidies for fossil fuels. News agency ANP said thousands of protesters were blocking the major traffic artery into the Dutch seat of government in both directions. Footage showed eco-zealots marching down the road with posters and flags while an orchestra played on a makeshift bandstand. Dutch police officers can be seen standing in packs as they shoot powerful water canons at protesters while others attempt to lift defiant activists out of the road. A climate activist is arrested on the Hague's A12 motorway as it is blocked for the third day in a row in protest against the government's support for the fossil fuel industry Climate activists being sprayed with a police water cannon before being removed from the A12 motorway Eco protesters are sprayed with the police's water canons as they block the A12 A climate activist is carried away by police officers on the A12 motorway An eco mob dominated the A12 this morning which leads towards the Dutch parliament Over the weekend around 3,000 activists were detained by police during two days of protests on and around the A12. And on Saturday an estimated 10,000 activists joined the protest, while on Sunday several hundreds blocked the road. Extinction Rebellion, which organises the events, has said protesters will try to block the highway on a daily basis until the Dutch government stops using public funds to subsidise the oil and gas industry. On Saturday protesters wore swimming costumes and waterproof coats as they danced while police fired water cannons against them on the Utrechtsebaan on the A12. The activists have threatened a permanent blockade of the motorway, vowing to 'stay or come back every day' until fossil fuel subsidies are dropped. Among those held was Dutch actress Carice van Houten, best known for her role as Melisandre in the hit TV series 'Game of Thrones,' said Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman Anne Kervers. Eco protestors stand in defiance against the police's powerful water canons Dutch police officers attempt to lift protestors off the road towards The Hague Dutch police push back at climate activists on the A12 in The Hague Activists sit as police fire water canons at them A woman makes a peace sign with her hand as she is carted away by a police officer The police use water cannons against climate activists from Extinction Rebellion who block the Utrechtsebaan on the A12 in The Hague Protesters on the front line held up their fists in resistance or put their heads down to protect themselves from the jets of water They also held up signs, with one reading: 'What about future generations?' to protest against fuel subsidies Arrested protestors are wheeled of by Dutch police after blocking a highway. Police have made an unknown number of arrests Police arrested another protestor, who looked like they had brought an inflatable swan along Dutch actress Carice van Houten participates in the action by climate activists Horns, whistles and police sirens could be heard around the city, as protesters paraded the streets in vehicles. The activists brandished signs with sayings like 'Fossil Fuel Subsidies are Not Cool,' and warned that the extreme temperatures seen around the world this summer are a sign of the future, if fossil fuels aren't abandoned. After several hours, police moved in and fired volleys from water cannons at the crowd, and picked up or dragged some protesters away, wheeling them away in special orange wagons. Protesters on the front line held up their fists in resistance or put their heads down to protect themselves from the jets of water. Those farther back danced and jumped up and down under the spray, appearing to enjoy the shower on an unusually hot September day for the Netherlands. Around 25,000 people had turned out from across the country for the protest by early afternoon according to Extinction Rebellion. The Hague mayoral spokesman Robin Middel put the turnout at around 10,000 to 12,000. A police chief said he has no regrets after his officers raided a pub following complaints it was displaying gollywog dolls behind the bar. In April, six officers visited the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, which has since shut down and removed the dolls. Last week the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced no further action would be taken after the landlords were investigated for a suspected hate crime. However Chief Constable BJ Harrington said he would 'make no apologies' for the investigation. Speaking to BBC Essex, he said: 'Did we overreact? No. If someone makes an allegation of a crime, it's our job to proportionally investigate that. Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington said he made 'no apologies' for the raid on the White Hart Inn, Grays, Essex, over its collection of Gollywogs Landlords Chris (left) and Benice Ryley (right) retired and moved to their holiday home in Turkey. They were said to be 'utterly gutted' by the decision to close the pub Mrs Ryley was quizzed by officers after police received an anonymous complaint about the golliwog display at The White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex The White Hart Inn (pictured) in Grays, Essex was forced to close after Heineken and Carlsberg told the owners to stop serving their beer and a maintenance firm refused to work on site The pub reportedly displayed its collection of dolls for the last 10 years Police seized the dolls from the pub on April 4 while investigating an allegation of hate crime that had been reported on February 24 'To gather the evidence and to make sure, if it meets the threshold, to put it to the Crown Prosecution Service who then make an assessment. Firstly [it's] about the evidence and about the public interest. 'That's what we did in this case. I make no apologies for doing that.' The force said a member of the public reported on February 24 that the items displayed at Benice and Chris Ryley's pub 'caused them alarm and distress'. The police seized the dolls from behind the bar on April 4 and the Campaign for Real Ale removed the pub from its Good Beer Guide the following week. Landlord Mrs Ryley said she had displayed the collection, donated by her late aunt and customers, for nearly 10 years. The building was later vandalised on April 16 prompting a separate police investigation. Mrs Ryley closed the pub on 1 May, citing a boycott by brewing companies and the maintenance firm Innserve. Constable Harrington's comments come five months after Suella Braverman slammed police for sending six officers to seize the dolls from pub - suggesting it was an over reaction. Essex Police said it investigated under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 - causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress - and section 31 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 - a racially or religiously aggravated public order offence. The Ryleys were leaseholders of the pub and the building owner, Admiral Taverns, said in May it planned to reopen the venue under new management. A jogger today claimed he saw accused spy Daniel Khalife twice the day before he was caught after escaping Wandsworth prison but couldn't get through to police to report the sighting. Frank Noon claims he spotted someone who fitted the profile of the suspected terrorist asleep on a bench in West London on Friday morning, then saw him again sitting in a shed at the entrance to an old cemetery. He insists that he tried to report it to police via 101, but 'gave up' when he couldn't get hold of anyone. Mr Noon told the Mirror that he then told a neighbour about the sighting who then spoke to a 999 call handler. The revelation comes after a court today heard how Khalife allegedly escaped prison by strapping himself to the underside of food delivery vehicle using a material 'which may have been from bed sheets'. The 21-year-old was remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday charged with escaping custody at HMP Wandsworth on Wednesday and will next appear at the Old Bailey on September 29. Former soldier Khalife, who has been accused of spying for Iran, was arrested on a canal towpath in west London at 10.41am on Saturday after being pulled off a push bike by a plain-clothes counter-terrorism officer. Prior to his alleged escape, Khalife had been on remand at Wandsworth Prison after being charged with terror offences in January. A dog walker helped lead police to Khalife after they chatted on a park bench The terror suspect's four days on the run ended at 10.41am on Saturday when an undercover officer pulled him from a bike as he cycled along a canal towpath At the short hearing, Khalife wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms appeared in the dock flanked by two police officers and a dock officer spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. Prosecutor Thomas Williams said on the morning of 6 September, Wandsworth prison notified police that Khalife was missing. He had been working in the jail kitchen and 'there were suspicions he had disappeared via a food delivery truck.' The court heard police intercepted the delivery truck at 8:40am on Upper Richmond Road. Police found two makeshift straps, made from material thought to be from bed sheets, with clips on each end, attached to the underside of the vehicle. Mr Williams said: 'There was a four-day manhunt of 150 police officers per day, using resources from other police forces and government agencies.' The court heard Khalife was arrested at 10:41am on 9 September after a plain clothed officer, in an unmarked vehicle received reports Khalife had been spotted on a bicycle. Khalife had in his possession a small amount of money, clothes and a mobile phone. He told officers he had 'almost been caught on several occasions', that he 'hated the governor of Wandsworth', and that he had been to Richmond Park and the Chiswick area Khalife also told officers the lorry driver was unaware of his escape. Captured alleged spy Daniel Khalife was swept into Westminster Magistrates' Court today in an armoured police van Daniel Khalife, a former soldier in the 22 Signal Regiment, was on remand at HMP Wandsworth ahead of his six-week terror trial when he escaped Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram remanded Khalife in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey on 29 September. A 75-hour manhunt was launched after he escaped by clinging to the bottom of a food delivery lorry. British-born Khalife, who has Iranian and Lebanese heritage, was charged in January with breaching the Official Secrets Act and for an alleged bomb hoax at his barracks. Over the weekend he was charged with escaping HMP Wandsworth contrary to common law. Scotland Yard was last night refocusing its efforts on piecing together Khalife's four days on the run, including probing those who might have helped him escape or evade capture while at large. Suspicions that Khalife relied on a network of support were fuelled after he was arrested wearing new clothes, carrying a Waitrose cool bag filled with food and travelling on a mountain bike. A former prisons minister said the terror suspect would have received some sort of 'collusion and support'. Khalife wearing a grey jumper and jogging bottoms appeared in the dock flanked by two police officers and a dock officer spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth During the manhunt, a house in Richmond, south-west London, was raided by police after intercepted communications led them to believe Khalife may have been there, security sources told The Mail on Sunday. Shortly after the raid, there were sightings less than three miles away in Chiswick. Khalife was detained as he cycled along a canal towpath in Greenford, west London. Sources have also claimed that Khalife, who is accused of spying for Iran, had access to a mobile phone behind bars, raising the prospect that it may have been smuggled in by a visitor or a member of staff. Officials have refused to comment on whether he had access to a phone, but Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the escape was clearly planned. He told LBC: 'It is a question. Did anyone inside the prison help him? Other prisoners, guard staff? Was he helped by people outside the walls or was it simply all of his own creation? This is really concerning.' Two guards at HMP Wandsworth have been suspended following Khalife's escape. It is understood both were involved in overseeing the exit of the Bidfood catering vehicle from the prison grounds. It also emerged that Wandsworth's head of security and safety is under investigation for alleged misconduct. Bobby Cunningham was suspended a few months ago. Former prisons minister Rory Stewart told Sky News: 'It seems clear if he had strapping underneath this vehicle, that there was some kind of collusion and support. But it's also clear that they seemed to spend, I don't know, half an hour [to] 45 minutes before they even noticed he was gone from the kitchen, and he shouldn't be in the kitchen in the first place.' He then sent text messages pretending to be her and used her bank cards Matthew Waddell killed his partner Sarah Albone at her home in Befordshire A man who hid his partner's body in a purple suitcase in a wheelie bin was today found guilty of her murder - after police found a confession note. Matthew Waddell, 35, launched a 'frenzied and horrific attack' on mother-of-three Sarah Albone - with whom he had been in a 'toxic' relationship - at her home in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. The remains of the 38-year-old were found in a taped up bin at her house in Winston Crescent on February 25 this year - three months after she was last seen. Over that time Waddell told her family and friends she was receiving treatment at a hospital in London and could not be contacted. He sent text messages from her mobile phone pretending to be her, used her bank card and sold her belongings, Luton Crown Court heard. Matthew Waddell, 35, launched a 'frenzied and horrific attack' on mother-of-three Sarah Albone, 38 (pictured) Waddell hid his partner's body in a purple suitcase in a wheelie bin and was today found guilty of her murder In a letter found in the house, Waddell wrote: 'I stamped on your head so many times I have caved your head literally, but you were still breathing. I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around your head. There was blood everywhere.' He went on: 'I felt nothing.' A post-mortem examination found a 'frenzied and horrific attack had been carried out, resulting in 'catastrophic injuries'. It found the cause of death to be airway obstruction caused by catastrophic injuries to her head, and she had broken ribs and injuries to her body. Sarah Albone, who had multiple sclerosis, was attacked, possibly while getting in or out of bed. It included stamping, kicking, punching and possible use of a weapon. Last Christmas Eve, with her body just feet away in the wheelie bin, Waddell sent a video message to a friend while watching TV. He said: 'This is what Christmas is all about - a big glass of wine and James May talking about f***ing different types of cheese.' Waddell denied murdering Ms Albone at her home in Winston Crescent, Biggleswade between November 28 last year and February 26, but was convicted by the jury. Prosecutor Martin Mulgrew said Scenes of Crime Officers found the purple suitcase wrapping in industrial cling film under the remains of a carpet in the bin. She was found in her pyjamas in the foetal position. Ms Albone was reported missing by her family on February 21 after she had not been seen since before Christmas Her remains were discovered after police searched her home and found an outdoor bin had been taped shut In the house, there was evidence that attempts had been made to clean the scene, with carpet and gloves found in the bin along with her body, the court heard. A large amount of blood had soaked through the carpet and onto the bedroom floorboards. Blood splatter was on the wall near the double socket and radiator. Mr Mulgrew said that after her murder Waddell set out in 'a sophisticated manner' to lay false information about Sarah's whereabouts. He said: 'To throw family, friends and the police off the scent he sent text messages from her phone pretending to be her. He pretended she was in a hospital in London and did not want to see anyone. 'He withdrew cash from her account and began selling her belongings on line.' The couple had first met in November 2020. Because Sarah Albone had Multiple Sclerosis and a neurological disorder, she became dependent on him. But Mr Mulgrew said the relationship was not healthy. In January 2021 she ended it because she felt he was emotionally controlling. However in April that year the relationship resumed. She suffered a stroke in August and in September she ended the relationship again, but Waddell would return repeatedly. She called police and he was arrested for harassment. He was released on police bail with a condition not to contact her. He ignored it and visited her home. 'He had developed an obsession and could not accept she would not be part of his life,' said the prosecutor. In December 2021 she reported him for assault. In a statement she catalogued his controlling and aggressive behaviour towards her. She complained he watched pornography and contacted other women. Her step-sister Corinne Foster described the relationship as ' toxic.' She told the police she had not been in contact with Sarah since November 24, although they would talk regularly before then. Sarah Albone, who had multiple sclerosis, was attacked, possibly while getting in or out of bed Waddell then sent text messages pretending to be her and wrote a confession note In February Waddell, pretending to be Sarah, replied to Corinne's anxious text messages saying: 'I am ok. I am in hospital in London. I am home in the beginning of March.' Asked why 'Sarah' had not told her, he replied: 'Sorry babe. A big part is my mental health. They are putting a plan in for me.' Mr Mulgrew said: 'This peaked Corinne Foster's suspicion. It was because of the way the texts were written. Sarah Albone would never have called her babe. The tone and the grammar did not match.' When she recorded a phone conversation with Waddell he told her that Sarah could only text from the hospital because there was something wrong with her phone. He told her: 'It has been really surreal - I can't go along every day without her. It has been hard. She is in the best place possible. They are putting a plan in place for her mental health treatment outside the hospital.' In the witness box Waddell said he had snapped after suffering 'years of abuse' from 5 foot 1 tall Sarah, who had multiple sclerosis. He told the jury: 'It was like a curtain came down. It is a feeling like you would not believe. You literally go numb. You stop feeling.' Judge Michael Simon remanded Waddell in custody for sentencing on Thursday. Police have recovered the five children of Urfan Sharif, who fled to Pakistan after his 10-year-old daughter Sara was found dead in the UK, from his father's home during a raid on Monday. The five children, aged between one and 13, were found at the home of Muhammad Sharif, Urfan's father and Sara's grandfather, in the northern city of Jhelum, 108 miles from Lahore. The news comes a month after Urfan, 41, fled the UK to Pakistan with his wife and brother, along with his five children, before calling 999 from the city of Islamabad to report that his daughter was dead in his home in Horsell, near Woking. Nasir Mehmood Bajwa, a district police officer, told the Guardian: 'Police with a heavy contingent on Monday evening raided Sharif's residence in Jhelum and recovered five children. They are healthy and in good condition.' Police reportedly broke the locks of the house's main gate before storming in and confiscating CCTV cameras as part of a major raid of over 20 properties in search for the family. Sara Sharif (pictured) was found dead and alone in her family's home near Woking, Surrey, on August 10 The five children were found at the house of Muhammad Urfan (pictured) Pakistani cops, who arrested 10 members of Sara's family over the weekend, are still looking for Urfan, his wife, Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, 28. Muhammad Sharif previously denied knowing where the rest of Sara's siblings were, but admitted to the BBC that he had been hiding his grandchildren in Jhelum. He did not say how long they had been with him for. Earlier this week, Muhammad begged his son to 'cooperate with the police and face the law.' 'Sharing the truth is their fundamental right, it is not possible to hide things. The more details they share, the better for them.' Muhammad said this past weekend that the family is negotiating with local politicians to hand themselves into official custody. Sara was just 10 when she was found dead and alone in her family's home on August 10. Post-mortem examinations revealed the young girl had suffered 'multiple and extensive injuries.' An inquest held last month said that the cause of Sara's death was 'not yet ascertained' but was likely to be 'unnatural.' Pakistani police are still looking for the three adults who whisked away five children to Pakistan Sara's mum, Olga Sharif, revealed that her injuries were so bad that she barely recognised her in the mortuary. 'One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised,' she told Polish TV channel TVN. 'Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like.' Olga said she hopes to bury her child in her native Poland. Urfan and Beinash were last seen in a video published last week, in which the stepmother said without emotion that Sara's death 'was an incident.' An inquest held in August did not determine an exact cause of death, but said that it was likely 'unnatural' Sara's body was found in her family's home in Horsell, near Woking Sara's family had fled the UK to Pakistan by the time her body was found 'Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on. My main concern is that Pakistani police will torture or kill us, that is why we have gone into hiding,' she added. 'All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety. The kids are unable to attend school as they are afraid to leave the house. No one is leaving the house. 'The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear of safety. That is why we have gone into hiding.' Beinash denied in the video that the schoolgirl fell down the stairs and broke her neck, claiming that this statement was spread by a Pakistani media outlet. She added that the family were willing to cooperate with UK authorities and were prepared to 'fight our case in court.' Surrey Police said shortly after the family's video was published that it was working with Interpol, the UK's Foreign Office and the National Crime Agency to figure out its next steps. Sara's mother, Olga, said she barely recognised her own daughter in the mortuary Olga said of her daughter's body in the mortuary: 'One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised' 'We are working hard to progress the investigation into Sara's murder and a key part of this is piecing together information about her life from anyone who knew her or her family',Detective Superintendent Mark Chapman, from the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said 'We are grateful to everyone who has come forward with information, and I would like to stress that any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could be of use in developing our understanding of her lifestyle. 'Every single piece of information that we receive is reviewed by the investigation team and further enquiries carried out if appropriate. I would urge anyone who may have information and hasn't yet come forward to reach out to us.' MailOnline previously reported that cops had arrested one of Sara's uncles, Imran, as they were 'convinced' he knew where the family was hiding. A source said: 'We spoke to Imran and some of the family members last week and they insisted that they did not know where Urfan and his family are. 'But we don't believe them, there's absolutely no way that they can't know where eight of their relatives who have come from England are. They are telling us a pack of lies.' 'They clearly have something to hide. We have got hold of one of them and will be interrogating him until he tells us the truth.' Disturbing new video from Philadelphia shows addicts on the street in a trance like state, passed out on the sidewalk in the city's multiple homeless encampments. In the Kensington neighborhood, the footage shows fires burning on trash littered sidewalks as groups of people set up camp. Drug users are seen hunched over with no control of their limbs, while others are sprawled across the garbage covered streets. Large groups have taken over the sidewalks, turning them into homeless encampments where many people live in their own filth. The neighborhood is known as ground zero for the citys drug epidemic and has become an open-air drug market. @thebizzleeffect Awareness Matters! In Order To Deal With This Epidemic We Must Learn And Have Awareness Of Whats Going On! Together We Can Fight This One Person At A Time! Never Judge,Have Compassion,Empathy Of The People Because It Could Be Any Of Us Out Here! KareAndAssist Scary - The Thing About Noise Business owners have taken matters into their own hands to try and fend off addicts from loitering in front of their stores Drug users in a zombie like state can be found on the streets of Kensington any time of day Many of the addicts living on the streets are forced to turn to crime and theft to sustain themselves. One local activist revealed businesses are using booby traps like sprinkler systems to keep drug addicts away from their storefronts. 'Businesses end up throwing soapy water on the ground just so it is wet, and it is not a comfortable place to sit down, said activist Frank Rodriguez. There's businesses that set up sprinkler systems, they have to set up these crazy little hacks and booby traps just to keep people of their stoops.' Philadelphia police department data shows that citywide theft is up two percent compared to last year and total property crimes are up by 22.35 percent. Additionally, crime data reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer shows that Kensington has one of the highest drug crime rates in the city. Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy toured Kensington as part of a campaign stop. He captioned footage of his visit with, 'The people I met in Kensington, PA, couldnt care less if you had an R or D next to your name. Fentanyl, Violence and homelessness are the problem. Thats what we show up to fix. America First.' The picture remains the same since Ramaswamy visited the neighborhood in July. Crowds of people are still slumped over in the 'dope lean,' living on the streets. The gruesome scene is fueled by the use of a potent animal tranquilizer, Xylazine, known as tranq. A powerful sedative, it has infiltrated the drug supply and is used to enhance the effects of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. A potent animal tranquilizer known as tranq has infiltrated the drug supply Vivek Ramaswamy saw this homeless encampment on the corner of Kensington & Allegheny In July, addicts are seen shooting up while sitting on the streets in Kensington Drug users can be found passed out or in a lifeless trance after using drugs mixed with 'tranq' Philadelphias Opioid Response Unit released an action plan to tackle the overdose crisis in April In 2021, the Center for Disease Control found that Pennsylvania had one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country, reaching 5,449 overdose deaths. Philadelphias Opioid Response Unit outlined its plan to address the overdose crisis in April. They announced investments in community-based efforts and a law enforcement partnership to disrupt the drug market. The City of Brotherly Loves District Attorney Larry Krasner was impeached in 2022 for his failure to crack down on crime, however he remains in office. Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson has been hit with a $50million lawsuit by his longtime business partner over allegations he got him to invest $17million in a fraudulent deal. Paulson, 67, has worked with Fahad Ghaffar in Puerto Rico since 2013, but a legal complaint has now lodged a wedge between the two men with Ghaffar claiming the investment was 'misrepresented' to him. Ghaffar, 42, invested the money into Paulson's F40 luxury car company in 2022, under the agreement that it would be converted into a 50 percent equity stake. The complaint filed in federal court last week states that Ghaffar believed he was set to earn an additional 10 percent for his work for the company and repeatedly requested documentation. But Paulson and his attorneys continued to 'misrepresent' to Ghaffar that he had bought half of the interest in the luxury car company, according to court documents. Paulson (right) , 67, has worked with Fahad Ghaffar (left) in Puerto Rico since 2013, but a legal complaint has now lodged a wedge between the two men with Ghaffar claiming the investment was 'misrepresented' to him Paulson and his attorneys continued to 'misrepresent' to Ghaffar that he had bought half of the interest in the luxury car company, according to court documents Paulson has denied the allegations, calling them 'baseless', with a spokesman for his firm confirming an internal investigation has been launched into Ghaffar's actions. They added they are planning to file their own counter-complaint against Ghaffar. 'This action is a baseless attempt to deflect attention from the gross misconduct that Fahad Ghaffar has committed. We are conducting an independent investigation to fully document these cases,' said a Paulson PRv spokesperson. 'We will be filing a complaint which will show numerous instances of misconduct, misappropriation of funds, fraud and self-dealing involving himself, family members and associates across almost all Paulson entities in Puerto Rico. Fahad was a former executive of Paulson PRV and was terminated, for cause, on July 31. 'Fahad no longer has any responsibilities at Paulson PRV or any of its affiliates.' The billionaire had just bought the dealership for $103 million in February 2022, promising Ghaffar his investment was in a convertible note which would eventually give him the 50 percent. But Ghaffar states that he was never given the note, despite wiring the $17 million, and alleges in the court documents that he became the chief executive officer of F40 without pay. He carried out the work on the basis of the promised terms of the note, and says in the filing that Paulson emailed him in August to remove him from his role. The suit states: 'Ghaffar would not have purchased the convertible note and invested $17 million, but for Paulson's misrepresentations regarding the convertible note, including his promise to deliver documentation thereof. 'Ghaffar would not have worked tirelessly on behalf of F40 to increase its profits for the benefit of Paulson, but for Paulson's misrepresentations regarding the Convertible Note.' Ghaffar claims that Paulson asked for his investment because the billionaire became 'skittish' about Puerto Rico. The billionaire had just bought the dealership for $103 million in February 2022, promising Ghaffar his investment was in a convertible note which would eventually give him the 50 percent Ghaffar, 42, invested the money into Paulson's F40 luxury car company in 2022, under the agreement that it would be converted into a 50 percent equity stake Paulson is currently in the midst of a bitter divorce with his ex-wife, and is dating influencer Alina de Almeida He has previously invested heavily in hotels and other businesses within the US territory predicting it would become the 'Singapore of the Caribbean'. According to the court documents, the pair met in 2013, with Ghaffar's website claiming they spoke when Paulson was in contract to buy the St. Regis Bahia Beach resort. The suit states Paulson 'exploited Mr. Ghaffar for 16 months of services while giving lip service to the misrepresented terms of the convertible note which he slickly failed to ever produce.' Ghaffar is suing Paulson for securities fraud, unjust enrichment in violation of Puerto Rican law, breach of contract, fraud, damages, violation of the uniform securities act of Puerto Rico and constructive trust. Hes seeking at least $50 million in damages, proof of the contract between Ghaffar and Paulson and attorneys fees. Paulson floated the possibility of moving to the island for years after buying two iconic hotels in San Juan, the Condado Vanderbilt and La Concha, which he his firm bought for $260 million in 2014. Paulson is in the midst of an ugly multi-billion dollar divorce from his wife Jenny, 51, with the couple having no prenuptial agreement Paulson's new girlfriend, Alina de Almeida, 34, flashing her trim abs in sportswear on her company's Instagram John Paulson with Alina de Almeida sitting close together at the US Open in September But he never made the move, and a spokesman told Bloomberg in 2022 that he no longer plans to do so. The billionaire, estimated to be worth around $3million by Forbes, made his fortune by shorting subprime mortgages, or betting against them, in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis. He recently hit headlines for saying he wants to marry his 34-year-old girlfriend after moving her into his Fifth Avenue apartment. Paulson is in the midst of an ugly multi-billion dollar divorce from his wife Jenny, 51, with the couple having no prenuptial agreement. In July 2022, Jenny Paulson sued John over allegations that he hid billions of dollars in secret trusts that cut her off from her share of his fortune, court papers show. Sources claim that he told pals he wants to marry nutrition influencer, Alina de Almeida, who is almost half his age as well as saying he 'wants to have a baby with her'. The pair, who are now thought to share Paulson's swanky Manhattan home, have taken their relationship public at glitzy events since he filed for divorce in November last year. King Charles has sent a message of congratulations to North Korea to mark the 75th annual celebration of its founding. Citing his good wishes for its future, His Majestys words were sent via the North Korean Embassy in London on the advice of the Foreign Office. Despite concerns about the totalitarian dictatorships weapons testing programmes and human rights record, Britain has a policy of encouraging North Korea to engage with the outside world through credible dialogue. In 2021, it emerged that Queen Elizabeth II was similarly advised by officials to acknowledge the countrys national celebration. At the time Buckingham Palace said it was standard practice for national days across the world to be recognised by the monarch. King Charles sent his good wishes for its future in recognition of North Korea's 75th annual celebration of its founding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the countrys founding anniversary with a parade of paramilitary groups and diplomatic exchanges The North Korean head of mission was also offered an invitation to King Charles Coronation in May on the advice of Whitehall, as well as the late Queens funeral. In his first message to the country, King Charles said: As the people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future. His message was reported by state-run newspaper KCNA. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un marked the countrys founding anniversary with a parade of paramilitary groups and diplomatic exchanges in which he vowed to deepen ties with China and Russia. The parade displayed rocket launchers hidden in delivery trucks and tractors towing troops and weapons. Republicans are looking to compel three of President Joe Biden's current and former officials Jen Pskai, John Kirby and Ned Price to testify on the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Sunday that subpoenas were already sent as they seek testimony in the investigation into Biden's bungled removal of all U.S. troops from Kabul in August 2021. Among those McCaul is calling are Biden's former Press Secretary Jen Pskai, who is now a television host for MSNBC; current National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, who was Pentagon Press Secretary at the time of the withdrawal; and former Department of Defense Spokesperson Ned Price. When asked by CNN's State of the Union host Jake Tapper on Sunday if he's prepared to issue subpoenas, McCaul responded: 'Well, we have.' 'And I threatened to hold the secretary of state in contempt,' the Texas Republican added. 'But it took that to get a personal phone call to start getting cooperation.' Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (pitured) has sent subpoenas to current and former Biden officials to testify on the bungled Afghanistan withdrawal Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, now an MSNBC host, are among those McCaul says the panel wants to hear from in its investigation into the disastrous withdrawal two years ago CHM @RepMcCaul announces next steps in Afghanistan investigation on @CNNsotu, including his request to conduct transcribed interviews of former @WhiteHouse Press Sec. @jrpsaki, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Comms John Kirby, and former @StateDept Spokesperson @nedprice. WATCH pic.twitter.com/AlOTkE4Ouw House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) September 10, 2023 All U.S. troops left Afghanistan by August 30, 2021 after Biden promised to get all forces out of the country by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The absolutely chaotic withdrawal led to the deaths of 13 U.S. service members. Republicans largely blame Biden for the disorganized, deadly and overall failure of a withdrawal and many say his administration bungled what was supposed to be a victory in ending a 20-year war. 'There's no reason why this administration should not be giving these Gold Star families all the answers. All they want is the truth,' McCaul told CNN on Sunday. 'They want transparency. And when they don't do that, it makes them wonder, why are you hiding things, right? So I feel like I'm the advocate on behalf of the Gold Star families.' He said the families of the fallen service members 'deserve to get access' to those involved in the withdrawal. On August 15, 2021, the Taliban seized Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, leading to a swift dissolvement of the Afghan government as ex-President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. The U.S. Embassy evacuated and retreated to Hamid Karzai International Airport, which fell into chaos with those fleeing the country. Critics of Biden say that the withdrawal was rushed and there was nothing set in place to help the Afghan government with the transition. Therefore, the Taliban was able to take over the government quickly, essentially erasing progress made in the 20-year war. In the final days of the withdrawal, 11 Marines, one Army Soldier and one Navy Sailor were killed in a suicide bombing outside the Abbey Gate of the Kabul Airport. Around 170 Afghan civilians also died in the attack. Families of the fallen soldiers have for years demanded answers about the withdrawal. 'They deserve to know about why an airstrike was not given to them to take out the very individual who was in charge of the suicide bombing operation with ISIS-K,' McCaul said of the families. 'They need to know why they were released from Bagram Air Base.' He said the subpoenas will 'go all the way up the chain of command, both State, DOD, and ultimately within the White House.' McCaul also wants to hear from former Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby (left), now NSC's Strategic Communications Director, and ex-Defense Department Spokesperson Ned Price (right) McCaul says Gold Star families of the 13 U.S. service members killed during the withdrawal deserve to know why a strike was not approved to take out the suicide bomber that ended up killing their loved ones and approximately 170 Afghan civilians 'But I would ask that they give these families answers. I mean, in a way, they have more power than I do. It's easy for them to say no to me. It's very hard for them to say no to these families,' McCaul added. His reasoning for wanting to speak with Psaki is to ask about the messages she was sending out from the White House at the time of the withdrawal and the discrepancies between that and what was happening on the ground. 'John Kirby made the comment that no weapons were left behind, which is insane,' he added of wanting his panel to speak with the NSC Strategic Communications director. 'There are $7 billion of weapons. And I can show you the tapes of the weapons and the cash that were left behind,' 'Ned Price at the State Department making rosy comments,' McCaul said of the former DOD spokesman. 'And we need to -- we sent letters to have them testify all giving a rosy picture, while at the same time what was happening on the ground was very different. I don't know where this is going to end, Jake, but, as a former federal prosecutor, I'm going to follow all the facts.' 'I have great respect for General McKenzie and General Milley, by the way. I don't know if any of this actually went up to their level, but I do know that an airstrike was denied that could have taken out the suicide bombing team, ISIS-K.' A group of protesters stormed Kevin McCarthy's office on Capitol Hill on Monday, demanding he reauthorize PEPFAR, the HIV/AIDS relief program. 'McCarthy - pass PEPFAR now,' they shouted and chanted as they seated themselves on the floor. U.S. Capitol Police removed them from McCarthy's office in the Rayburn House Office Building, which is across the street from his official speaker's office in the Capitol building. The seven protesters, some wearing t-shirts that read HIV-positive and waving signs calling to 'end AIDS,' were handcuffed and taken away. It's unlikely McCarthy was in that office as he usually works out of the Capitol building but his staff didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiry. Monday marks the day House members are returning to Washington D.C. after their summer break. A protester is arrested in Kevin McCarthy's office PEPFAR, a widely-praised global program started by President George W. Bush, has become caught up in the fight over abortion. It faces a September 30th deadline to be reauthorized. PEPFAR, also known as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, fights AIDS and HIV and the virus that causes it in areas throughout the developing world. It provides funding for prevention, treatment and medication. PEPFAR funds are credited with saving 25 million lives across the globe. The funds are spread across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The activists - from Health GAP (Global Access Project), which is a nonprofit that advocates for those with HIV and Housing Works, a group dedicated to ending homelessness and AIDS - posted video and pictures of their protest all over social media. 'This global AIDS program has saved 25 million lives. We need a CLEAN 5-YEAR REAUTHORIZATION from Congress,' Housing Works posted online. But some conservative Republicans charge that funds from the program's nearly $7 billion annual budget goes to abortion providers. President Joe Biden's administration, the program's leaders and outside experts vehemently deny this. Protestors stormed McCarthy's office to demand that PEPFAR, a global AIDS program, become reauthorized Speaker Kevin McCarthy i s dealing with several government funding issues However, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who heads the subcommittee that controls PEPFAR, is leading the charge to stop the program's renewal until the anti-abortion restrictions the Biden administration lifted in 2021 are reinstated. Those restricts prevented groups using PEPFAR funds from discussing abortion as an option. Democrats argue any pause in funding can harm those fighting the virus. McCarthy, meanwhile, is dealing with a full plate. As lawmakers return to Capitol Hill this week, he has to fund the government before the September 30th deadline, deal with a White House request for more aid to the Ukraine and appease conservatives, who want to begin impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden. He is balancing several balls in the air as the fall session begins. He became speaker after a deal with the conservative wing of the Republican Party issued a list of demands - including the ability to call a quick vote to 'vacate the chair' and remove him from office. Now that threat hangs over McCarthy's every move like the sword of damocles. If Congress doesn't pass a bill to fund the government by the end of the month, there will be a partial shutdown. Given the Congressional schedule, there are just 11 working days to do that. Conservatives are pushing for massive cuts in federal spending. Democrats, who control the Senate, are standing firm against them. McCarthy could bring the right-wing under control by launching an impeachment inquiry into Biden and his role in his son Hunter's business dealings. The White House has said Biden is not involved in his son's business dealings. The protesters want the global PEPFAR fund reauthorized - it proves treatment of AIDS/HIV patients around the world Six protesters occupied McCarthy's office on Monday morning But former President Donald Trump still has many allies in the Capitol, who want to see the current president go through what the last one faced. They charge the Biden family enriched themselves based on Biden being the vice president. Republicans have not yet been able to produce evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden. The White House is urging Congress to pass a temporary funding measure to keep the government open through the end of the year, tacking to it a request for $16 billion in disaster relief funds and $24 billion for the Ukraine. Many Republicans oppose funding for the Ukraine but could come around to a compromise if McCarthy moves forward on impeachment. The House, which Republicans control by a thin 222-212 majority, has passed only one appropriations bill so far. The Senate plans to move forward on Monday with bipartisan bills. Senators of both parties hope floor action will give them the upper hand in negotiations with the House. More than 23,000 migrants have now crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, according to official figures. It comes after 1,034 people were rescued in 18 dinghies in just three days from Friday to Sunday during the September heatwave before being brought ashore in Dover, sending the total for this year to 23,103. Images show young male asylum seekers queuing on Monday to go into the Atrium Hotel in Feltham next to London Heathrow. Numerous former hotels have been taken over by the Home Office to house asylum seekers. On Saturday, 425 people crossed in seven boats, suggesting an average of around 61 people per vessel. On Sunday, six inflatables carrying 389 passengers arrived in temperatures of above 30C, with an even higher average of around 65 people in each dinghy. Young male asylum seekers queuing at the Atrium Hotel in Feltham next to London Heathrow on September 11, 2023 A group of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel in a small boat travelling from the coast of France and heading in the direction of Dover, Kent, on August 29, 2023 Crossings continued on Monday, marking the 10th consecutive day of arrivals amid a spell of warm weather. In total, 3,002 people have arrived in the first 10 days of September alone, with the hot weather making for ideal crossing conditions. On Sunday, 153 migrants had to be rescued by French authorities off the coast of Calais. The French coastguard rescued two dinghies with broken engines and returned them to the port. The first boat was crammed with 81 people, including eight women and 10 children who were returned to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the early hours of the morning. One person was reported to have fallen into the water from the dinghy but was picked up by rescuers. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel, on September 4, 2023 A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel, on August 23, 2023 Later, a second dinghy carrying 72 people was also rescued, with all of the passengers, including 17 children and 14 women, carried back to Calais. One of the women who was rescued by the French was pregnant and received medical attention from a doctor when she was brought aboard the safe vessel. A Home Office spokesperson has said: 'The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. 'Our priority is to stop the boats, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers. 'The government is going even further through our Illegal Migration Act which will mean that people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.' A group of people thought to be migrants crossing the Channel in a small boat travelling from the coast of France and heading in the direction of Dover, Kent, on August 29, 2023 Migrants are escorted by UK Border Force workers at the Marina in Dover on August 10, 2023 The new figures come after an MP called on the Prime Minister to insist the EU does more to stop the importation of inflatable boats from places such as Turkey. Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet in Kent, made the request to Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister's Questions last Wednesday. In the past, the migrants' dinghies were purchased in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, but that has decreased since the police exposed this operation. Many boats are now purchased from Turkey where they can be bought in bulk and more cheaply. Mr Mackinlay informed the PM that any UK dinghy manufacturer wishing to sell in the EU market would need to apply the Conformite Europeene (CE) marking and make custom declarations, noting that they would also face the possibility of being stopped and checked. However, none of this seems to be as rigorously enforced, if at all, when supersized, dangerous dinghies are bought from Turkey and taken across the EU border into Bulgaria and Greece for onward use in the English Channel, crossing countless EU countries on the way. Mr Mackinlay accused the EU of double standards on the matter, especially in light of their overzealous approach to goods passing from the GB mainland to Northern Ireland. A group of people thought to be migrants are rescued by Border Force vessel Defender as they cross the Channel in a small boat heading in the direction of Dover on August 29, 2023 Small boats and engines used to cross the Channel by people thought to be migrants at a warehouse facility in Dover, Kent, on July 4, 2023 He said: 'Entry of GB products into Northern Ireland to comply with EU Single Market rules has taken us down various cul-de-sacs in recent years. 'Yet the super-sized, unsafe dinghies, produced predominantly in Turkey cross many EU borders before their use in the Channel. 'That's why I have asked Rishi Sunak to insist that the EU, which professes to be so enthralled with its own regulations, rigorously enforces CE standards and safety, and actively stop the importation of these dinghies into the EU.' Mr Mackinlay is also calling for the immediate return of Channel migrants to France by Chinook helicopter, calling it Plan C. Some 2,017 people were recorded to have made the journey across the Channel to the UK between Monday September 4 and Sunday September 10, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office data. More than 3,000 have crossed since the start of September, compared to around 2,600 for the first 10 days of the same month in 2022. Around 30,700 crossings have been recorded since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on October 25 last year, official Government figures for the period and provisional data suggests. A boat carrying around 50 migrants drifts into English waters after being escorted by a French Warship from the French coastline on August 24, 2023 A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard the Dover Lifeboat following a small boat incident in the Channel on August 10, 2023 They indicate about 40,700 crossings have been recorded during Home Secretary Suella Braverman's time in office, taking into account the period including her brief first tenure between September 6 and October 19, 2022 and since she was re-appointed on October 25. Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'Less than two weeks ago, Rishi Sunak told the media that his plan to stop the small boats was working, and that the British people should have confidence in him to deliver.' She also accused Ms Braverman of making 'countless claims and promises', adding: 'The Prime Minister and Home Secretary should spare us the empty slogans and start working on solutions.' Downing Street has admitted France and the UK could do more to curb Channel crossings. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I think we're in no doubt on both sides there is certainly more we can do. 'Obviously, we are in touch with our French counterparts about taking further action to prevent crossings. 'I think it is still worth noting that, for the first time ever since these sorts of crossings began, the numbers are tracking lower than they did the previous year. That is notable and significant. 'But, obviously, there is much more to do to get this situation under control. So, we will continue to work very, very closely with our French counterparts to up interceptions, both at the channel but further upstream as well.' Apple could lose its place as the world's most valuable company to Silicon Valley rivals Amazon, Microsoft or Google because of their pioneering work with artificial intelligence (AI). The tech giant became the world's first $3 trillion company earlier this year on the back of 2.2billion iPhones sold since 2007, and will unveil its new iPhone 15 tomorrow at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California. But it saw $200billion wiped from its share price last week amid growing hostility from China, and faces claims it may be 'doomed' by its failure to develop an inhouse version of the technology powering the AI revolution. 'It's hard to pick losers today, because it's very early. However, we believe that clear winners are the arms dealers that house Large Language Models (LLMs),' said analyst Laura Martin of Needham. 'Not only do their LLMs have the lowest cost structures and first-mover advantages, but their average lifetime value per Cloud customer is about to skyrocket owing to the stickiness of apps built on their LLMs.' Apple CEO Tim Cook has been cagey about his company's AI development (L to R) Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Microsoft's Bill Gates, and Google's Larry Page could each see their companies overtake Apple in value 'Not only do their LLMs have the lowest cost structures and first-mover advantages, but their average lifetime value per Cloud customer is about to skyrocket owing to the stickiness of apps built on their LLMs.' Microsoft, Amazon, and Google's parent company Alphabet have spent billions of dollars on the LLMs that scour and feed millions of pages of the internet through language algorithms to produce answers to questions posed by human users. Apple has now reportedly ramped up spending on AI development to millions of dollars a day under a team of 16 led by former Google engineers. And insiders told The Information that its prototype known as Ajax GPT, is allegedly more powerful than OpenAI's GPT3.5. But Needham warns that companies without their own LLMs already face being priced out of the market as uses for AI multiply. 'Generative AI will redefine the basis of competition for media and internet companies,' Martin told marketwatch.com. Apple has been the world's most valuable company for most of the last 12 years but has recovered little of the value it lost last week following reports that the Chinese government is cracking down on iPhone use among government employees. China's iPhone crackdown comes as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing, and shows that even Apple's longstanding good relationship with the Chinese government may not protect it from geopolitical headwinds. 'Beijing is looking to reduce its dependence on US technology, but this (ban) acts as a significant headwind to Apple as China is its largest international market and accounts for about 20 percent of its revenues,' said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at interactive investor, a UK investment platform. Chinese tech firm Huawei also spooked Apple, and the US government, earlier this month with the launch of its Mate X5 and the Mate 60 Pro+ containing the advanced chips that Washington hoped its sanctions would prevent China developing. The US Commerce Department said it is working to obtain more information 'on the character and composition' of the Huawei chip that may violate trade restrictions. 2.4billion iPhones have been sold around the world since its debut in 2007, but will it just be a platform for other companies' artificial intelligence? Microsoft, which has developed the Gorilla LLM, spent years of the late 1990's and early 2000's as the world's most valuable company and briefly took the top spot again in 2021. Alphabet has been promoting its Bard LLM on its Google search engine, while Amazon is the developer behind Alexa. But Needham says the battle for top spot will play out over the next ten years, and many analysts insist Apple will remain a tech titan with a 'golden installed base of two billion consumers'. 'Apple is the hearts and lungs of Cupertino, and it's the best consumer brand in the world,' Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said. A man and a woman have been assaulted by a group at the demolished remains of Britain's wonkiest pub before they both fled in a car and collided with a pedestrian. Staffordshire Police said the assault victims got into a car to leave the area around the burnt down The Crooked House pub at about 8.30pm on Saturday, September 9, but were obstructed and were then involved in a collision with a female pedestrian. The woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged. The car reportedly left the scene but the man and woman inside later contacted Staffordshire Police to report the incident, according to BirminghamLive. The force said in a statement issued today: 'We understand that a man and a woman were assaulted by a group of people while in the area. The Crooked House pub, an 18th century drinking hole formerly known as Britain's wonkiest The burnt out remains of The Crooked House pub near Dudley, Monday August 7, 2023 'Fortunately, the pedestrian, a woman, was not seriously injured.' It is understood that the disorder at the site of the landmark pub in Himley, near Dudley, occurred after an unofficial event with food and drink provided. How Staffordshire venue The Crooked House sunk 4ft into ground due to mine subsidence The Crooked House pub, pictured in 1907 The Crooked House in Himley, Staffordshire, attracted tourists from across the world and was a popular wedding venue. Prior to its destruction, the venue was described as Britain's wonkiest pub, 4ft lower on one side than the other. It was first built as a farmhouse in 1765, but sank into the ground due to mining works carried out in the 1800s. It was converted into a pub in around 1830 and was first known as The Siden House 'siden' being Black Country dialect for 'crooked'. It was later renamed the Glynne Arms after Sir Stephen Glynne, a brother-in-law of Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, who owned the land. The Glynne Arms name remained above the door until the 1970s -when its nickname the 'Crooked House' was adopted as the formal moniker. Advertisement This event was unconnected to the main Save The Crooked House (Let's Get It Re-built) Facebook campaign. Campaign co-ordinator Paul Turner said the administrators of the Facebook group, which has attracted more than 28,000 members, had advised people to stay away from the site before Saturday's incident. 'We don't want people guarding the site,' he said. 'There is no benefit in it and no reason for it.' Saturday's disorder came two days after Staffordshire Police confirmed that it had arrested and bailed a third suspect, a 51-year-old man from Buckingham, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson. Officers had previously arrested and bailed two other men, aged 66 and 33, in connection with the fire, which broke out on August 5. Staffordshire Police stated: 'We have arrested a third man as our investigation into the fire at the Crooked House pub continues. 'Officers have been trawling through CCTV footage and speaking to those who have come forward with information since the fire on 5 August. 'We can now confirm that a 51-year-old man, from Buckingham, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. 'He has since been released on conditional police bail while we continue to carry out a number of lines of enquiry. 'We would like to thank everyone who has already come forward with important information about this investigation and those who are continuing to engage positively with officers. 'We understand that speculation is still widespread, both locally and online. Wed like to reiterate that we are working hard to get through an extensive list of enquiries at this time. 'The 66-year-old man and the 33-year-old man, who were previously arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life, remain on conditional police bail at this time.' The much-loved former farmhouse has been the focus of a community effort to rebuild it since it was bulldozed after the devastating fire. The much-loved former farmhouse has been the focus of a community effort to rebuild it since it was bulldozed after the devastating fire The pub was left completely ablaze in the fire, which authorities have since said is a suspected arson Days after the incident, owners Adam Taylor, 44, and his wife Carly, 34, arranged for the pub to be demolished. South Staffordshire Council have since agreed that The Crooked House's owners, Adam Taylor and his wife Carly, can rip down the first floor of the boozer on safety grounds Campaigners have pledged to rebuild the pub 'brick by brick' if necessary Days after the incident, owners Adam Taylor, 44, and his wife Carly, 34, arranged for the pub to be demolished. South Staffordshire Council have since agreed that The Crooked House's owners, Adam Taylor and his wife Carly, can rip down the first floor of the boozer on safety grounds. Last month, Historic England has said it is 'considering all possible avenues' to rebuild Britain's wonkiest pub after it went up in flames on August 5. The body said it has already received 38 applications for the pub in Himley, Staffordshire, but no final decision has yet been made. Since the fire, it emerged that The Crooked House had been put forward for listed status protection just days before it burned down. Historic England had already received a submission from experts just a week before the inferno, requesting that the pub be given protection as a listed building. The blaze came just two weeks after the 18th century boozer was sold by brewer Marston's to a private buyer. Staffordshire Police are treating the blaze as 'suspicious' following reports that individuals were seen inside the pub in the hours before it went up in flames. Charles Bronson has told his ex-wife he wants to remarry her during her prison visit in person for the first time in 50 years. Irene Dunroe, 71, visited Britain's most notorious prisoner in person at HMP Woodhill last week for the first time in five decades where the former lovebirds discussed their relationship. Ms Dunroe first wed Bronson, 70, in 1971 when he then went by his real name Michael Peterson. Three years later he was put behind bars. The pair divorced in 1976 but stayed in contact. Bronson - who in recent years changed his last name to Salvador in tribute to the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dali - has been wed three times, including to ex-Coronation Street actress Paula Williamson. She was found dead at her home in 2019. Now it looks like Bronson wants to rekindle his romance with first wife and mum-of-three Ms Dunroe following the two-hour prison visit. Irene Dunroe, 71, visited Charles Bronson, 70, in person at HMP Woodhill last week for the first time in five decades where the former lovebirds discussed their relationship Bronson, who changed his last name to Salvador in 2014, is even thinking of buying Ms Dunroe a ring for Christmas Loved-up Bronson is even thinking about buying her a ring for Christmas, according to The Mirror. But Ms Dunroe, from Wirral, Merseyside, said she wants to concentrate on getting him out of prison first, although she has not ruled out the pair saying their vows to each other again. 'He said I haven't changed at all and he was looking into my eyes and saying you've still got the same gorgeous eyes,' she told The Mirror. 'He was full of compliments. He's always saying that he wants to try the relationship, and that he's always loved me - that I'm his first love.' Bronson lost his latest bid for freedom in March when a Parole Board ruled he might not be able to control violent outbursts if he is released. The panel ruled it 'could not be satisfied' that Bronson had the 'skills to manage his risk of future violence until he has been extensively tested outside of his current highly restricted environment'. The notorious prisoner, who has gone by the name of Salvador since 2014, was deemed still a threat to the public despite protesting he was a 'man of peace', as it was also ruled he should not be moved to an open prison. Bronson was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, and during his time inside he has taken 11 hostages in nine prison sieges and has attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. Bronson was first locked up for armed robbery in 1974, and during his time inside he has taken 11 hostages in nine prison sieges and has attacked at least 20 prison officers Bronson lost his latest bid for freedom when a Parole Board ruled he might not be able to control violent outbursts if he is released Eventually, in 1999, he received a life sentence for kidnapping a prison art teacher. His last conviction for a violent offence was in 2014 when he was tried for assault. READ MORE: Charles Bronson might not be able to control violent outbursts if he is released, Parole Board rules Advertisement The appeal was only the second in English legal history to be held in public. Afterwards, Bronson's son, George Bamby, said: 'I would have loved Charlie to have been released, but completely respect the decision of the Parole Board.' In a statement, the board said: 'After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress that Mr Salvador has made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearings, the panel was not satisfied that Mr Salvador was suitable for release. 'Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that he should be transferred to an open prison. 'The panel noted that Mr Salvador has spent most of the last 48 years in custody and that much of this time has been in conditions of segregation. 'The panel accepted that Mr Salvador genuinely wants to progress and that he is motivated to work towards his release. It thought that there was evidence of improved self-control and better emotional management.' Bronson suffers from PTSD because of his 'brutal' treatment in prison, a previous hearing was told. Ms Dunroe (right) appears on Loose Women in 2018 alongside Bronson's third wife and ex-Coronation Street actress Paula Williamson (left) where the pair discussed their friendship Ms Dunroe appeared on This Morning to defend Bronson and revealed how the man dubbed Britain's most violent prisoner is 'protective, kind and compassionate'. Ms Dunroe appeared on This Morning in 2017 where she defended Bronson and revealed how the man dubbed Britain's most violent prisoner is 'protective, kind and compassionate'. In an interview with then hosts Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, she claimed the he was not violent, despite him 'having fights at the end of the night'. She described her ex-husband as a 'handsome and protective man'. She said the pair met in a pub called The Bull in Great Sutton, Cheshire, and instantly hit it off. 'He was always very immaculate he had jet black hair, thick sideburns and a little Mexican moustache. 'He was such a gentleman, he used to open car doors for me he was protective as well.' A bogus financial adviser befriended elderly or vulnerable people to win their trust and then defrauded them out of almost 900,000 to fund his gambling addiction, a court has heard. Despite having no formal qualifications, Peter Holbrook, 75, abused his clients' trust by writing wills, handling probate matters and making fake investments over a ten-year period. When some victims asked why they hadn't received their inheritance Holbrook lied, and claimed he'd been distracted because his daughter had died of cancer. Today Holbrook was jailed for five years and three months at Bradford Crown Court after admitting fraud. The married father-of-two pleaded guilty to defrauding nine people out of 849,839 to feed his gambling habit between 2011 and 2021. Peter Holbrook arrives at Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced for defrauding some of his clients out of more than 800,000 Jailing Holbrook, Recorder Richard Thyne KC told him he had 'taken away people's financial security at a time when they were vulnerable and most needed it'. He said: 'You took away hard-earned money that parents had saved to give to their children upon their death. Plans for retirement were overturned and homes were sold to pay for the cost of care that should have come from people's savings.' Many of his victims died before Holbrook was brought to justice, but family members packed the public gallery to see him sentenced. READ MORE: Level of fraud on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp higher than robberies burglaries and killings combined Advertisement Angus MacDonald, prosecuting for West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said Holbrook would 'befriend the victims before offering to handle their probate.' In many cases he forged letters from banks or investment companies to maintain a false cover story when clients asked about their funds. 'Many victims worked hard all their lives, only to see their life savings gambled away,' said Mr MacDonald. Barbara Middleton lost 231,625 to the fraudster. He prepared the wills for Mrs Middleton and her husband Leslie and when he died in 2017 he met the widow and her two daughters to organise the probate. He told her she was now a 'very wealthy woman' and that he would invest the money. They trusted him, but he gambled away the money or used it to repay other victims. In a victim impact statement Mrs Middleton stated she will never get over what the defendant has done and she now has no inheritance to pass on to her daughters. The biggest loser was Joan Dobson, who lost 384,303 to Holbrook. Mrs Dobson was 85 when she died in January and had been married to husband Herbert, who died in 2020. Holbrook used his 'powers of persuasion' to convince her he could handle the probate and she transferred the six-figure sum for him to invest. A general view of Bradford Crown Court Instead, he gambled it away or transferred sums to other victims. A statement previously made by Mrs Dobson said Holbrook's fraud was 'shocking and devastating'. Her daughter described how she blamed herself for being tricked - calling herself 'a stupid old woman'. Elizabeth Fox said her parents had worked hard throughout their lives to save the money Holbrook took from them, and it left her mother questioning every item of expenditure as her health 'drastically declined'. Other victims found themselves out-of-pocket to sums ranging from 20,000 to 150,000. Holbrook also transferred 47,000 to his own wife, repaid a personal loan of 15,000 and funded a holiday to Holland and Belgium. 'None of that money has been repaid,' said Mr MacDonald. A letter written by Holbrook to the court said: 'There is nothing that can excuse the utter contempt I have for myself. I wish I could turn back the clock and do these cases properly. 'My actions are disgraceful, wrong, and the worst is that I have betrayed these decent, nice people. 'The hurt, stress and nightmare I have put them through is unforgivable.' John Batchelor, mitigating, said his gambling addiction came 'out of nowhere' as he found himself handling large sums of other people's money. 'It started with horses and then betting shops and then online, and it became pernicious indeed,' said Mr Batchelor. 'He was gambling, at times, twelve hours a day. Those betting companies have benefitted, and in reality, nobody else has,' he added. Mrs Dobson's son Greg Dobson welcomed the custodial sentence. Speaking about the family ordeal outside court he said: 'It just opened up a nightmare for us really. The money was passed down from my father, from his hard work as a teacher of a lot of years, and it was her savings as well. We haven't seen any of that back.' A ten-year-old schoolboy died while out playing with his friends when he accidentally hanged himself while playing on a rope swing, an inquest heard. Lewi Sullivan was with friends when he fell from a tree while caught in the rope swing and was helped by a passerby before he could be taken to hospital. Lewi died three days later with his provisional cause of death given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury and hypoxia hanging. The hearing at Pontypridd Coroner's Court was adjourned until May next year for a full inquest. In a tribute, heartbroken dad Nigel Sullivan, 44, said his son loved 'rugby and motorbikes' and riding in lorries at his groundworks and plant hire business. Lewi Sullivan, 10, of Rassau, South Wales, was out playing with his friends when he fell from a tree while caught in a rope swing Lewi was taken to hospital where he died three days later. His provisional cause of death given as hypoxic ischemic brain injury and hypoxia hanging Passers-by desperately tried to help Lewi, of Rassau, near Ebbw Vale, South Wales, before an air ambulance arrived to transport him to hospital on September 1. His father, Nigel, has now paid tribute to his 'fun, loving, caring' son after he died at Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff last Monday. He said: 'Lewi was a fantastic, caring and loving son. He really was every father's dream, and we had this brilliant father and son bond. 'I was proud to bits of him, and I know he was really proud of me, not only as a father, but also as a friend. We had a very strong friendship bond as well as being father and son and that was really special to me.' Lewi, who lived with his dad Nigel, stepmum Louise and his two brothers, was described as 'the best child a dad could ask for.' His parents - including mum Falina - thanked those who tried to help their son including paramedics from the air ambulance. Nigel said: 'I just want to thank everyone who tried to help Lewi - the kids who were with him when it happened, and even some passers-by. 'I know one guy tried to help him for almost 20 minutes before the ambulance arrived. In a tribute, heartbroken dad Nigel Sullivan, 44, said his son loved 'rugby and motorbikes' and riding in lorries at his groundworks and plant hire business 'The air ambulance was out of this world, the paramedics were fantastic, the police incredible. All of the professionals who helped him were incredible. 'The staff at Noah's Ark went above and beyond for him, and I know they did everything they could. I know he had the best care possible and that they gave him the best chance. 'We sometimes don't appreciate the NHS, but I am so grateful to them for all the things they did for him.' He added: 'Lewi was an absolute gem of a child. He loved his rugby and motorbikes and he loved being in lorries and machines with me. He was loved by all around here and he would stop and speak to anybody. 'He was such a lovable kid. He was a real loveable rogue, a real character with a wicked sense of humour.' Rhymney rugby club - where Lewi's brother Dan played - also paid tribute. A club spokesman said: 'All at the Brewers will be shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic loss suffered by the family of former Rhymney RFC player Dan Sullivan from Ebbw Vale. 'Dan, who played several years with our minis, juniors and youth, has lost his young brother Lewi in a dreadful innocent accident, while out playing. 'Sincere sympathy to father Nigel, well known too at the Park, to Dan and all the family. RIP Lewi.' Nigel said Lewi was 'proud' to be part of Beaufort rugby club. A Beaufort RFC spokesman said: 'As a club, we are truly devastated by the passing of one of our mini bulls Lewi. You were the funniest and most out going little lad who loved playing rugby for Beaufort RFC. You will sadly be missed by many.' A fundraising page has been set up to raise funds for the Air Ambulance and the Noah's Ark paediatric critical care unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. House Republicans return from August recess ready to go after President Biden for his family's foreign business deals - but House Democrats say the investigation is a 'total bust' that focus on Hunter rather than Joe in a new memo. 'Chairman Comer s investigation has conclusively disproven the Republican allegations against President Biden,' declared top Oversight Committee Democrat Jamie Raskin, Md., in the new memo. 'The voluminous evidence they have gathered, including thousands of pages of bank records and suspicious activity reports and hours of testimony from witnesses, overwhelmingly demonstrates no wrongdoing by President Biden and further debunks Republicans conspiracy theories,' the memo added. Raskin claims the evidence gathered is a 'total bustan epic flop in the history of congressional investigations' that is meant to distract from Donald Trump's mounting legal woes. 'Chairman Comer s investigation has conclusively disproven the Republican allegations against President Biden,' declared top Oversight Committee Democrat Jamie Raskin, Md., in the new memo Chair James Comer has sought to tie President Biden to his son's foreign business dealings Speaker Kevin McCarthy could move forward with a formal impeachment inquiry as soon as this month, he warned earlier in August - a threat Raskin pushed back against in the memo. An impeachment inquiry is contingent on whether Republicans are satisfied with the level of cooperation the Biden administration shows in providing evidence requested by the committee. Raskin claimed that agencies have cooperated plenty - but the evidence just doesn't implicate the president. Comer 'does not lack evidence - he has substantial evidence, but it shows no wrongdoing by the president and undermines the false GOP allegations,' he said. 'The Biden-Harris Administration has bent over backwards to accommodate Republicans often ridiculous and transparently political demands.' Republicans have uncovered extensive evidence of Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family receiving millions from foreign oligarchs while Joe was vice president, but have yet to directly connect any such payments to him. The memo warned Republicans against launching an impeachment inquiry without more concrete evidence. 'If House Republicans vote to open an impeachment inquiry in the absence of any evidence of wrongdoing, let alone the high crimes and misdemeanors required under the Constitution, they will once again be enabling former President Trumps efforts ... to return to power and avoid being held accountable for his pervasive crimes and corruption.' Republicans have uncovered extensive evidence of Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family receiving millions from foreign oligarchs while Joe was vice president, but have yet to directly connect any such payments to him Hunter Biden's former business partner Devon Archer revealed to the committee last month that Joe Biden had been in touch either by phone or in person with Hunter's associates 20 times over the course of 10 years - though Archer did not say the president directly spoke about business. Archer testified that Hunter was selling the 'Biden brand' to his associates, and just hearing the vice president's voice on speed dial was enough to convince them to fork over cash. Emails and testimony have revealed that Joe Biden did attend dinner with Hunter, Archer and foreign oligarchs who paid his son on two different occasions at Cafe Milano in Washington, D.C. 'This is a transparent effort to boost Donald Trumps campaign by establishing a false moral equivalency between Trump,' said the memo, 'the four time-indicted former president now facing 91 federal and state criminal charges, based on a mountain of damning evidence for a shocking range of felonies, including lying to the FBI, endangering national security by illegally keeping classified documents, and conspiring to subvert the U.S. Constitution and President Biden, against whom there is precisely zero evidence of any wrongdoing whatsoever.' A group of 'flash rob' thieves stormed into a Los Angeles Macy's department store at Northridge Mall on Sunday morning as they filled bags with $20,000 worth of perfume. Cellphone video of the crime showed several men dressed in dark hoodies and blue medical face masks loading up bags of what appeared to be cologne and perfume merchandise. Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the incident just after the robbery occurred around 11.10am. This news comes as the trend in 'flash robs' are on the rise for big chain stores in California, where groups of thieves have overwhelmed retailers, taking everything they possibly can. According to The Ocean County Register, police believe that five to ten male suspects were involved and fled in an unlicensed black Infinity. Cellphone video of the crime showed several men dressed in dark hoodies and blue medical face masks loading up bags of what appeared to be cologne and perfume merchandise The 'flash robbers' are believed to have used hammers and their bodies to break open the glass display cases at the Macy's department store Los Angeles Police Public Information Officer Tony Im said that the thieves reportedly used hammers and bodily force to smash glass cases filled with fragrance brands. Due to the rise in store robberies in the state, the Los Angeles Police Department have launched a task force dedicated to preventing smash-and-grab robberies like this one. 'The Organized Retail Crimes Task Force is a multi-agency task force, which will be led by the Los Angeles Police Department's Commercial Crimes Division,' LAPD assistant chief Dominic Choi told KNX News Radio Los Angeles. This new report is just one instance of 'flash mob' robberies that have been trending since Los Angeles's zero cash bail policy came back into play. The city's recently reinstated policy means that people who are arrested and charged with a crime are allowed to be released from custody without having to pay bail upfront for certain categories of crimes. Just last week another California Macy's store was ransacked by four robbers at the Brea mall on September 5. After one of the suspects was arrested, the other three went on a manic run as they stopped near an elementary school, ran into a dentist's office and tried to get away in a rideshare car before being arrested. A Nordstrom Rack and another Macy's store were also targeted by groups of thieves that made off with thousands of dollars in designer handbags. As the robbers in this most recent Macy's heist tried to get away with black and white garbage bags full of luxury perfumes, other shoppers attempted to chase them down A group of 'flash rob' thieves stormed into a Los Angeles Macy's department store at Northridge Mall on Sunday morning as they filled bags with $20,000 worth of perfume The city's zero bail policy means that people who are arrested and charged with certain crimes are allowed to be released from custody without having to pay bail upfront This Macy's in the Northridge Mall in LA is not the first Macy's in town to be targeted by smash-and-grab robbers. The store in Santa Anita Mall was also robbed of perfume back in August Six suspects swarmed into the Nordstrom Rack in Riverside on August 14 and loaded their arms with purses before making a run for it. This store hit prior to this attack on July 10. On August 22 at the Macy's store in the Santa Anita Mall, suspects hurled bottles of perfume into trash bags. An LA Nike store was also attacked by six thieves in a brazen heist on August 13 at the East Los Angeles location. They were all caught in the act with burglary tools and $30,000 worth of merchandise. As the robbers in this most recent Macy's heist tried to get away with black and white garbage bags full of luxury perfumes, other shoppers attempted to chase them down. Police last saw the suspects as they drove away and are still searching for them. Los Angeles Mayor Bass has reported that 11 suspects have been arrested so far after launching the multi-agency task force. They can face up to six months in county jail, but rarely, police will press charges. At a press conference held to announce the official task force, Mayor Bass said: 'These are not victimless crimes. No Angeleno should feel like it is not safe to go shopping in Los Angeles.' A fugitive man who escaped two weeks ago from a Pennsylvania prison where he was being held for the 2021 murder of this ex-girlfriend managed to flee Brazil in 2017 after he killed a student at a food truck stand. Daniel Cavalcante, 34, gunned down Walter Junior in Figueiropolis, Tocantins on November 5, 2017, and then managed to slip past authorities at BrasiliaPresident Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport two months later. Evaldo Feitosa told Brazilian news outlet G1 that he was talking to Cavalcante and that he approached Junior at a corner table. He remembered they were having a conversation before he heard several shots being fired and someone shout, man the guy killed his friend. TV Globo also reported that the killing was over money Junior owed Cavalcante. Danelo Cavalcante is still on the run after escaping the Chester County Prison on August 31 Walter Junior (pictured) was murdered over a debt on November 5, 2017 by Danilo Cavalcante in Tocantins, Brazil It took a Tocantins state court exactly eight days to grant the citys district attorney approval of the arrest warrant, according to Brazilian news outlet G1. Cavalcante had already disappeared by the time the Civil Police had the court order for his arrest. The Brazilian outlet also reported that the Tocantins court failed to promptly file the arrest warrant with the National Prison Bank and did not do so until June 2018. Had the arrest warrant been logged with the registry, customs authorities at the airport would have been alerted and Cavalcante would have been stopped for boarding the flight in January 2018. Pennsylvania state law enforcement reported Cavalcante missing on August 31 after he climbed a a wall, just weeks after he was sentenced to life in prison for stabbing his former girlfriend, Debora Brandao, in April 2021. Prosecutors say he stabbed Brandao dead in front of her two children to stop her from reporting him to United States authorities. Police said Monday that they had expanded the manhunt after he was spotted near the home of former co-workers about 20 miles away from where the ongoing search was taking place. Debora Brandao (pictured) was stabbed dead in April 2021 by Danelo Cavalcante, who feared that she would turn him over to police because she knew he had murdered a person in Brazil Danelo Cavalcante was spotted Saturday outside the East Pikeland Township, Pennsylvania home of a former work colleague Danelo Cavalcante 'crab-walking' his way to freedom at the Chester County Jail on August 31 Cavalcante, who is now clean-shaven, has been spotted multiples times in the last week. On Saturday, a home surveillance camera showed him in front of a former colleague's home in East Pikeland Township, according Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens. Police said that they had worked together several years ago and that Cavalcante asked to meet him. But the homeowner, who was at dinner with his family and didn't respond, called police after returning home and reviewing his doorbell video. A second sighting was also reported after he showed up at another former co-worker's home in nearby Phoenixville. The 2020 Ford Transit van investigators believe fugitive Danelo Cavalcante stole is towed Sunday A 2020 Ford Transit van that had been stolen by Cavalcante on Saturday night was found Sunday at a field next to a barn in East Nantmeal Township, outside the area where police had been searching for him. The van had been taken from the West Chester-based Bailys Diary, near the Chester County Prison, where he was being held ahead of his transfer to a state prison. Bivens said Cavalcante may have left the vehicle behind because it was low on fuel. Since the escape, police have deployed patrol vehicles and helicopters broadcasting a message from Cavalcante's mother, asking him to turn himself in. Cavalcante's sister was arrested over an immigration matter, Bivens said. This is the ferocious moment a fist fight breaks out in front of shocked locals and holidaymakers at a popular Spanish theme park. Ferrari Land, an hour away from Barcelona in Salou on the Costa Dorada, is a PortAventura World park which opened as the only one in Europe dedicated to the legendary Italian luxury car manufacturing firm Ferrari. However, today it was making headlines for other reasons as footage of a punch-up sparked by alleged queue jumpers led to these extraordinary scenes as visitors waited to get on a ride. At least three men were filmed lashing out with their fists after one of the group jumped over a barrier and confronted another who had complained he hadn't waited his turn to go on the ride. One of the violent trio was seen taunting his rival as he dodged his punches and motioned to him to bring on more in between trying to land some of his own blows. At least three men can be seen lashing out with their fists while they wait in the queue for a ride at Ferrari land Other people in the line can be heard screaming at the men to stop punching each other It is believed the rollercoaster ride was the park's famous Red Force which goes from 0-110mph in just five seconds. A witness watching the violence unfold complained about the lack of security, saying: 'No security guard, no park manager controlling. 'You spend money with the intention of having a good time and you come across this scum without anyone to protect you.' The incident is said to have happened yesterday at the popular theme park, which opened in April 2017 within PortAventura World complex in Salou. Its most famous ride is the steel launched Red Force roller coaster which is the fastest steel roller coaster in Europe. The theme park was packed because today is a Bank Holiday in the area as it is the National Day of Catalonia so locals took advantage of the three-day weekend to go to the beach and pursue other leisure activities. PortAventura bosses said they condemned any sort of violent behaviour, telling local press: 'As soon as we were informed about this incident we acted rapidly and comprehensively by immediately expelling all those involved.' Police are said to have been informed but it was not clear today if any arrests had been made. The man in the white t-shirt, pictured middle left, originally jumped over the metal railings to hit somebody Three GOP-led states are ramping up their probe into financial services firm Morningstar over alleged anti-Israel bias. Morningstar used 'deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentations, unfair practices, and/or the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts,' the state attorneys general of Alabama, Kentucky and Montana say. Specifically, they accuse the company of issuing 'unfavorable controversy ratings' for six Israeli companies that do business in the West Bank. 'ESG scores are heralded to consumers as a carefully-crafted set of objective criteria used to inform profitable investing, but what we've seen is that these scores are simply an ideologically-driven tool used to deceive consumers and harm companies that display even a modicum of adherence to traditional American values, including the support of Israel,' Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall told DailyMail.com. 'My colleagues and I will continue to use the tools available to us to demand transparency for consumers when it comes to ESG investing.' Last year, 19 states first launched an investigation into Morningstar for its controversial environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, including anti-Israel bias in its investment rating system. 'My colleagues and I will continue to use the tools available to us to demand transparency for consumers when it comes to ESG investing,' said Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is one of the leaders leading the investigation into Morningstar The company is accused of violating anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) laws. The BDS movement pushes to boycott companies and institutions that support Israel by encouraging banks not to invest there. However, a Morningstar spokesperson told DailyMail.com that it does not support the BDS movement and has had 'substantive and productive' meetings with organizations concerned that its ESG research 'reflected biases.' 'Our research today is even stronger and more consistent for the investors we serve. Among the changes weve made, we have enhanced our approach to using sources, clarified the human rights guidance that underpins aspects of our research, unified oversight of our methodologies, and improved the language we use.' The spokesperson continued to say they have received the inquiries from the GOP-led states and the company 'will address each inquiry through the appropriate procedural mechanisms.' The companies that the AGs say were assigned unfavorable controversy ratings included: B Communications, Bezeq, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, Elbit Systems, Elco, Electra and Shapir Engineering and Industry. The attorneys general are demanding documents and internal communications to get to the bottom of why Morningstar gave them a bad rating. The firm is facing action from additional states over its practices. In July, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that his state of Florida was opening an investigation into Morningstar for anti-Israel bias. 'They're specifically targeting Israel,' the governor and 2024 presidential hopeful said about the company. 'It is disgraceful.' The governor received a standing ovation from the Christian United for Israel (CUFI) crowd following the conclusion of his remarks during which he pledged continued support for Israel. He told DailyMail.com at the time of his speech that if elected, he will tear up President Biden's 'horrendous' treatment of Israel - and slammed progressive Democrats for trying to 'scapegoat' the world's only Jewish state. In July, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that his state of Florida was opening an investigation into Morningstar for anti-Israel bias Morningstar was formally notified about the expanded GOP-led investigation at the end of last month. The action has been praised by consumers advocacy groups. Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting Morningstar was 'disguising' an Israel boycott as ESG ratings. 'Those who wish to see financial institutions turn away from the political agendas like those driven by Morningstar and other ESG activists, must continue to call out this type of insidious behavior,' said Consumer's Research Executive Director Will Hild. The mother of Ben Needham said 'her stomach churned' when she realised her family's German connection, amid fears that a boy found in a river in Bavaria is her son. British police last week confirmed they are looking into reports of a body found in the River Danube, more than 30 years after Ben Needham went missing on the Greek island of Kos. Ben's heartbroken mother Kerry has been searching for her son, who was just 21 months old, ever since he vanished while playing at his grandparents' farmhouse in July 1991. She alerted officers to a fresh appeal by Interpol, accompanied by a facial reconstruction, to identify the body of a young boy found by a canoeist in the River Danube in May last year, which had been weighed down with a flagstone slab and wrapped in foil. 'This child has obviously been disposed of in the most horrific way,' Ms Needham told the Mirror. 'I thought the reconstructed face had similarities to Ben but there's a lot of little boys who resemble Ben. But even my parents say the picture looks familiar. They have similar eye shapes where one of the eyes slants down a little bit. And then on Thursday night my stomach churned when I realised: "Oh my God we had a German connection years ago!".' Ben's heartbroken mother Kerry has been searching for her son, who was just 21 months old, ever since he vanished while playing at his grandparents' farmhouse in July 1991 Ben Needham went missing more than 30 years ago on the Greek island of Kos Ms Needham said a prisoner once told them that Ben was in Germany. Her parents, Christine and Eddie Needham, who are aged 70 and 74, were appearing on the Greek version of Surprise, Surprise, which sees families reunited, in 1996. Prisoner Andonis Bedzios phoned into say: 'I have Ben in my hands.' It was five years after Ben had disappeared. Mr Bedzios told them he was phoning from inside Larissa Prison and that he had once escaped from jail and had seen Ben with a family of travellers in Veria, Greece. He said they had been taking care of his own son while he was in prison for selling fraudulent lorry parts. He claimed that Ben was living in Germany with one of his relatives. The British Consul to Athens, Gordon Bernard, became involved when there was a promised handover of the missing boy, which he personally attended but no one showed up. Mr Bernard told the Mirror in 2015 that he believed Ben had been trafficked. Interpol released a reconstruction of the boy found in the River Danube near Grossmehring in Bavaria on May 19, 2022 South Yorkshire Police Officers excavating and searching for Ben's remains on the Greek island of Kos in 2016 Recalling the claims of Mr Bedzios, Mr Bernard, who is now aged 81, told the newspaper: 'It was all very fraught at the time. We drove to Larissa after the prisoner said he would arrange for Ben to be handed over. There was real hope. 'Me and the embassy driver sat in a cafe and the driver got phone calls about where Ben was going to be and was directed from place to place. He was never at any spot that they said. Whether they got spooked or thought the police were there I just don't know. READ MORE: British police WILL investigate whether body of young boy found in German river is tragic toddler Ben Needham who went missing more than 30 years ago on the Greek island of Kos Advertisement 'I remember thinking to myself: "Suppose he does turn up, what am I going to do?" I thought I'd just grab him, put him in the car and get back to the embassy - but it didn't happen. I felt really upset, most of all for the family.' Mr Bernard, who retired to Sussex 22 years ago, added: 'It is the one regret of my career is that I could not do anything to help the Needham family find Ben.' When a picture showing how Ben would look aged 31 was released on July 23, 2021, a day before the 30th anniversary of his disappearance, Ms Needham revealed that she did not believe the police theory that he may have been killed by a digger and said that 'we must keep searching'. Detectives from South Yorkshire Police carried out a three-week search of Kos in 2016. Speaking at the time, then-Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said: 'My team and I know that machinery, including a large digger, was used to clear an area of land on 24 July 1991, behind the farmhouse that was being renovated by the Needhams. 'It is my professional belief that Ben Needham died as a result of an accident near to the farmhouse in Iraklis where he was last seen playing. 'The events leading up to and following that incident have been explored by my team of experts to great lengths. The fact that we have not had a direct result during this visit to Kos does not preclude the facts that we know to be true.' Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Ms Needham wiped away tears as she spoke about trying to stay strong during the police search in 2016 Police formally ended a search on the Greek island of Kos in October 2016, saying they believe Ben died as a result of an accident on July 24, 1991 The Interpol appeal over the body found in the River Danube has seen the international police organisation flooded with leads. After South Yorkshire Police confirmed they are looking into the reports, Ms Needham said: 'I'm pleased they are looking into it. Every possibility has to be investigated and ruled out. Our hope is that one day one piece of information will come forward which will uncover the truth.' The appeal notes that the boy is thought to be between five and six years old. The description adds: 'He was approximately 110 cm (43.3 in) tall and 15 kg (2.36 st), with brown hair and blood type 0.' It says that the results of investigations indicate that he likely spent time outside of Germany. Ben's mother Kerry holding up a clipping of the tragic story in 1991 Police digs on land at the farmhouse failed to uncover remains and tests on a toy car and scrap of leather sandal did not find a DNA match with Ben Interpol DNA Database Manager Francois-Xavier Laurent told local media on Tuesday last week: 'We have received 33 hints from the public.' He added: 'We can now assume that this boy was probably not German.' In the Interpol Black Notice, the organisation said it was 'seeking the public's help in identifying a deceased boy and to determine the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death'. Interpol Secretary General Juergen Stock said: 'Through this Black Notice, Interpol is calling upon the global law enforcement community to cross-check databases and consult open or unsolved cases. 'Someone, somewhere knows something about this boy, making it equally important to release certain details publicly. 'Whether he was the victim of trafficking, abduction or violence, we are committed to mobilising all of Interpol's policing capabilities to identify him and help investigators shed light on his death.' Wizz Air has warned that engine issues on some Airbus planes will see it forced to reduce its flight capacity by 10% next year. The airline said engine issues, that mean manufacturer RTX must carry out checks on hundreds of planes worldwide, will see it forced to cut flights. Wizz Air estimated the situation will likely see it cut its capacity by 10% in the six months running up to June 30 2024. US engineering company RTX explained that a 'rare condition in powder metal used to manufacture certain engine parts' had necessitated the checks. The manufacturer said between 600 and 700 jet engines made by its subsidiary, Pratt & Whitney, will have to be removed and examined between now and 2026. Wizz Air said engine issues on some Airbus planes mean it will be forced to cut its flight capacity by 10% next year The Virginia-based company said Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan (GTF) engines will need to be inspected, as it said other models are less impacted. 'Pratt & Whitney is analysing the impact of powder metal on other engine models within its fleet, and other engine models currently are expected to be far less impacted,' the company said. Wizz Air, however, warned the engine issue are likely to end up grounding some of its aircraft, leading to a reduction in its flight capacity. The London-listed airline told shareholders: 'Wizz Air was informed by RTX that its Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will be subject to inspection intervals, resulting in engines being removed for shop visits during the remainder of 2023 and into 2024.' The airline warned inspections will see it forced to ground some flights after engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney warned of issues with its geared turbofan (GTF) engines 'That will likely cause some of its aircraft being grounded in this period,' the budget airliner said. 'Wizz Air is currently assessing the implications to understand the extent of the impact on its fleet, with initial estimates indicating a potential capacity reduction of 10% for the second half of the 2024 financial year.' 'Wizz Air will continue to work with Pratt & Whitney to minimise the impact to its fleet plan and costs to the business,' the firm added. 'The company continues to take proactive action to mitigate any financial and operational impact and will be seeking financial compensation from Pratt & Whitney.' A two-year-old girl almost lost her fingers after trapping her hand in an escalator in a shopping mall in El Salvador. The toddler was with her mother at the Plaza Mundo shopping centre in Apopa, El Salvador, when she got her fingers stuck. The girl's mother cradled her child as technicians worked to free her fingers from the jagged guard at the bottom of the escalator. The child got stuck after reportedly placing her hand under the guard rail, while her mother was distracted, at 6:30pm on 5 September. The unnamed girl later underwent an operation at a nearby hospital where surgeons successfully saved all of her fingers. A two-year-old girl got her hand trapped in an escalator in a shopping mall in El Salvador The young girl cradled her as technicians worked to free the child from the escalator The girl's fingers were saved by doctors who were also able to prevent any long term injuries Santiago Echavarria Medina praised the doctor's 'excellent work' Roberto Rosales said: 'As always, science working wonders...' Jose Antonia Moreno Alva said: 'God bless that little girl' Doctors were also able to prevent the risk of any long term effects that could impact her her in the future. The young girl was discharged the following day and will have to go through a rehabilitation process to maintain normal use of her hand. A video shows the the girl's desperate mother trying to save her child as she sits with her hand stuck in the escalator. Locals quickly took to social media to commend the doctor's on their work in the saving the young girl. 'Excellent work,' one local, Santiago Medina, commented. Another social media user, Roberto Rosales, commented on the wonders of modern medicine. 'As always, science works wonders,' he said. A third social media user, Jose Alva, said: 'God bless that little girl.' The 16-year-old boy who died in a canal after entering the water on the hottest day of the year has been named locally. Preston McNally was pulled from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Burnley, Lancashire, on Saturday evening. Emergency services were called at 4.20pm on that day, which sparked a frantic search for the teenager. However, it ended in tragedy when his body was recovered from the water just before 7.20pm. Paying tribute on social media, a heartbroken family member described him as someone who made 'every person laugh.' Preston McNally, 16, died in a canal after entering the water on the hottest day of the year The unnamed teen was pulled from the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in Burnley, Lancashire. Pictured: People sailing along the canal last week The distraught relative said: 'Oh my darling boy. My heart is broken. You didn't deserve this and our family didn't deserve this. 'You were so loved and you made every person laugh so much. It was only days ago you chipped your front tooth (I've heard you still had 4 girls around you). 'I am so sorry you have been taken from us, I'm sorry for us all but especially your mum and dad and my dad too. 'Your sisters, your aunties, your cousins, your nannies, we're all going to miss you so much. 'My heart aches and I don't know how we will ever come to terms with losing you. 'Forever 16 and forever in our hearts. Love you always.' Other grieving relatives said their 'world has crashed down into a million pieces' after his tragic death. One posted: 'Yesterday we lost someone who was loved by so many. Our sweet squishy faced blue eyed boy, he was the bane of our lives. The UK had the seventh consecutive day of 30C heat on Sunday - the longest September heatwave on record. Saturday was officially the hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 32.7C recorded at Heathrow. Pictured: Dunsden, Oxfordshire 'Words cannot comprehend how we are all feeling as a family, we are devastated, empty and just like that over night our world has crashed down into a million pieces.' Another said: 'There will only ever be one Preston McNally.' His death comes as the Met Office confirmed the UK had a seventh consecutive day of 30C heat on Sunday - the longest September heatwave on record. Saturday was officially the hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 32.7C recorded at Heathrow. Sunday became the seventh consecutive day of 30 degree weather in the UK with 32.5C recorded in Cambridge. A bipartisan pair of senators are urging the Biden administration to declassify any documents related to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the 9/11 attacks. The senators said the FBI and Department of Justice had stonewalled their efforts to get to the bottom of how involved Riyadh was in the attacks 22 years ago. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI director Christopher Wray in July asking 'that the U.S. government finally provide full transparency into what it knows about the attacks, particularly as it relates to Saudi Arabias involvement.' Sens. Blumenthal and Johnson wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI director Christopher Wray in July asking 'that the U.S. government finally provide full transparency into what it knows about the attacks, particularly as it relates to Saudi Arabias involvement' They asked for complete, unredacted records about the Saudis' involvement to be handed over and an explanation for any classified portions of the records. Now over a month later, the senators said they had not received a single document from the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ). 'Your failure to respond to our letter only adds to our concerns about the U.S. governments longstanding refusal to provide full transparency to the American public, and particularly for the families of 9/11 victims, about Saudi Arabias role in the 9/11 attacks,' the letter read. The pair of senators, who lead the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, threatened to slap DOJ and FBI with subpoenas if their requests are not fulfilled. Lawmakers, activists and survivors have for decades urged agencies to offer transparency about what links they'e found between the Saudi government and the 9/11 hijackers. In 2021, President Biden issued an executive order requiring government agencies - CIA, FBI and Justice Department, to release a trove of documents to the public that would shed more light on how the attack happened. That move declassified more than 900 pages of documents - reversing a move by Trump-era Attorney General Bill Barr that invoked the state secrets privilege that suppressed information that may have pointed to Saudi involvement in the attack. However, the government refused to comply with Biden's order and released only a few sanitized summaries of the information, 9/11 families say. The reason they won't release the documents is the same as why they don't want to have a trial, according to family members. 'They are terrified of what KSM and these other detainees will say about not only the Saudi role in 9/11, but about what the United States intelligence agencies knew. And they don't want information to see the light of day,' Brett Eagleson, founder of 9/11 Justice said. Further complicating matters is President Biden is reportedly considering a meeting with Crown-Prince Mohammed Bin Salman next month at the G-20 conference Further complicating matters is President Biden is reportedly considering a meeting with Crown-Prince Mohammed Bin Salman next month at the G-20 conference in India. The pair could discuss a Saudi-Israel deal to normalize relations - which would be a huge get for the U.S. president. 'Long ago the U.S. made a political decision not to embarrass the Saudis,' said Eagleson. 'But we are asking that the 9/11 families be included in any deal: we want an apology we want an admission of guilt, we want closure.' The Saudi government has always denied being involved in the attacks, and has sought to move beyond the matter as bin Salman tries to modernize and deepen ties with the West. In 2000, then-Saudi graduate student Omar al-Bayoumi, 42 at the time, claimed he had met the first two 9/11 hijackers by chance at a restaurant and decided to be hospitable and take them under his wing. He drove them to their flying lessons, secured bank accounts and a lease on a property for them. Both the FBI and the 9/11 commission initially backed up al-Bayoumi's account that he was unaware of their intent to kill people in their country upon meeting them. But last year, the FBI released fresh documents affirming that a-Bayoumi was an agent with the Saudi intelligence service who worked with Saudi religious officials and even reported to the Saudi ambassador in Washington. New York City officials have identified the remains of two more victims who died during the 9/11 attacks, 22 years after the tragedy The 'Tribute in Light' ceremony is tested in New York ahead of the anniversary today The two hijackers, Khalid al-Mihdhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi, were known to both the Saudi intelligence service and the CIA as al-Qaeda operatives. The CIA had tracked them from a meeting in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, but the agency said it lost track of them as they flew from Bangkok and then on to Los Angeles in 2000. The CIA did not alert the FBI that two terrorists had entered the country for more than a year - in August 2001 - just one month before the fateful attack. Families of 9/11 victims say there is an entire trove of documents that could be released to establish an even stronger connection between the Saudi kingdom and the 9/11 attackers. 'By refusing to give us the documents is accomplishing two things. They're there, they're protecting the kingdom from embarrassment, but they're also protecting our own intelligence failures,' said Eagleson. 'They buy billions of dollars of U.S.-manufactured weapons, they stabilize global oil markets. So there's not a lot of people or there's not a lot of big willingness to try to push them around much.' MGM said it's working with police after identifying a cybersecurity issue Thousands of guests at MGM Resorts in the Las Vegas strip have been locked out of their hotel rooms after the company was hit with a cyber attack, according to reports. MGM Resorts International has about 48,000 rooms on The Strip. The company's properties include Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, Luxor and MGM Grand, among others. The outage, first detected on Sunday night, has affected company emails, reservations, room keys and casino slot machines. The company said in a statement on Monday: 'MGM Resorts recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the Companys systems. Promptly after detecting the issue, we quickly began an investigation with assistance from leading external cybersecurity experts. 'We also notified law enforcement and took prompt action to protect our systems and data, including shutting down certain systems. Our investigation is ongoing, and we are working diligently to determine the nature and scope of the matter.' The system outage appears to be affecting slot machines at the company's casinos Guests at MGM Resorts in the Las Vegas strip have been locked out of their hotel rooms due to a cyber attack, according to reports A concierge at the iconic Bellagio hotel told NBC News 3 the whole system is down 'internally and externally' and it's unclear when it will be restored. All computer operations are currently being done manually, the hotel worker said. Meanwhile guests of MGM properties have taken to social media to speak about the situation, with many saying they are unable to get into their rooms. Footage shows the casino at the ARIA with the machines off as the outage continued just before 4pmEST. MGM is the biggest employer in Nevada and owns most of the casinos on the Strip. The company's website is currently unavailable and directing potential guests to call for reservations. Guests of MGM properties have taken to social media to speak about the situation Tech issues continue at MGM Resorts as company officials work with law enforcement to investigate a "cybersecurity incident". Several slot machines were spotted not working at the @AriaLV this morning. [: @bryanhorwath] READ MORE: https://t.co/diVQq7I19P pic.twitter.com/pKCXivEOnD KTNV | Channel 13 News Las Vegas (@KTNV) September 11, 2023 ATMs and credit card machines are down - restaurants at the properties are only taking cash and room charges have been paused. Guests told 8NewsNow they were locked out of their rooms on Sunday night and unable to buy food due to the system outage. Some have claimed they were left unable to claim their ticket and cash out after playing at the casino's slot machines. The outage appears to be affecting MGM properties outside of Vegas, including the Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and the Mississippi-based Biloxi. MGM was hacked back in 2019, with a reported 142 million guests affected. Among the people implicated in the breach were Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, and Justin Bieber according to prior reports. ZDNet verified that there was no financial information in the breach and according to an MGM spokesperson, mostly consisted of, 'contact information like names, postal addresses, and email addresses.' Jill Biden on Monday laid a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon to honor the 185 people who died there during the September 11th attacks. The first lady was joined by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark Milley. It was her first public appearance since she tested positive for COVID last week. She tested negative on Thursday. Jill Biden was one of the many administration officials joining the remembrance cermonies taking place throughout the country to mark the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. She was there to represent President Joe Biden, who spent the anniversary thousands of miles from the site of ground zero, in Alaska. Vice President Kamala Harris represented the administration in New York at Ground Zero and second gentleman Doug Emhoff was at Shanksville, Pennsylvania. '22 years ago today, the horror of 9/11 changed us all in some way,' she said later Monday at a second event. 'We must always remember those lost that day and in the aftermath. And we will keep their families, always in our hearts. We stand with them today and every day.' Jill Biden folds her hands in prayer before the wreath at the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon Jill Biden and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley at the Pentagon She laid the wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 people who died in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77, which struck the west side of the Pentagon during the September 11 attacks. She wore a black dress and was greeted by Secretary Lloyd Austin, Joint Chief Chairman Mark Milley and Mrs. Holly Anne Milley. Biden touched the wreath and folder her hands in prayer before it. Then she stood with her hand over her heart, as a lone trumphet played Taps. Gen. Milley and Secretary Austin saluted. She then went to greet the about 80 people who were present to watch the wreath laying. She spoke briefly to the crowd and went down the rope line to shake hands. Earlier on Monday, officials unfurled US flag on the west side of the Pentagon - the same site where one of the hijacked planes struck. Every year a ceremony is held at Ground Zero to honor the nearly 3,000 killed on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Jill Biden stands with her hand over her heart, as a lone trumphet played Taps. Gen. Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin saluted Jill Biden shakes hands with those at the ceremony Jill Biden with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley (right) President Joe Biden marked 9/11 in Alaska with Maj. Gen. BrianA Eifler, Commanding General, 11th Airborne Division, right, and Chief Master Sgt. Amy Miller, U.S. Air Force, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Jill Biden hugs Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Jill Biden at a wreath laying at the Pentagon Laying a wreath in Shanksville are Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, Gov. Josh Shapiro, Deborah Borza (mother of Flight 93 victim Deora Frances Bodley), Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and park ranger David M.Schmitt Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff walks along the Wall of Names with Deborah Borza, mother of crash victim Deora Frances Bodley, as she kisses the wall Meanwhile, the president has faced criticism from 9/11 families for his absence at the one of the major spots of the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. Biden's scheduled stop in Alaska marks the first time a president has not attended one of the anniversary services at Ground Zero, the Pentagon or in Shanksville, Pennsylvania or at least hosted a memorial service at the White House, which Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama each did during one year of their terms in office. Biden marked the occassion in Alaska, where he is scheduled to be on the ground for less than two hours. He's at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, where he's stopping on the way home from a trip to India and Vietnam. Traditionally presidents spend 9/11 at one of the three locations where planes crashed and killed 2,977 Americans or host a ceremony at the White House. But Biden is on a military base that is 4,362 miles away from Ground Zero. In total, six moments of silence were observed on Monday - commemorating when each of the towers was struck and collapsed, as well as the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93. The first was held after the tolling of the bells at 8:46am, which marks the beginning of the attacks - when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower. The impact killed all 92 on board. At 9:03am, a second moment of silence was held - marking when hijackers deliberately crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower - leaving no doubt in any New Yorkers' mind at the time that the attacks were planned and malicious in nature. Vice Presidnt Kamala Harris places her hand over her heart during the National Anthem at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Monday. She stood alongside Mayor Eric Adams (left) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (right) during the service The next was at 9:37am, when another group of terrorists deliberately crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, just outside the nation's capital. A fourth moment of silence cane at 9:59am to mark the moment the South Tower, the second train to be hit, collapsed, with another four minutes later - to mark the moment passengers on United 93 heroically stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers. In response, the hijackers crashed the plane into an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania - likely saving many lives, as many theorized the plane's target was either the White House or the Capitol. The final moment of silent mourning came at 10:28 am - the time that The North Tower collapsed, leaving the 16-acre World Trade Center site in ruins and the collective US consciousness in tatters. Harris was at Ground Zero in New York. She didn't speak but was present when the first bell was rang and listened to some of the readings of the names of the dead. The 'crumbly concrete' at the centre of the school shutdown crisis has now been found in Parliament. A parliamentary spokesman has confirmed the presence of RAAC in the Houses of Parliament. 'As part of routine ongoing investigations, RAAC was identified in one area of the Palace,' he said. 'Structural engineers have confirmed there is no immediate risk. Where RAAC is found, mitigations will be put in place as necessary.' However, the crumbly concrete does not pose any 'immediate risk', the spokesman added. RAAC has now been discovered in the Houses of Parliament, a parliamentary spokesman has confirmed, although it does not pose any 'immediate risk' Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has come under scrutiny for the way she has handled the crisis and last week pushed the blame onto schools It comes as ministers remain under pressure over the issue, with concerns about the state of school buildings sparking anxiety about the presence of the aerated concrete in other publicly-owned buildings and infrastructure. The scandal caused fury from parents after more than 100 schools were ordered to fully or partially shut buildings before the new academic year due to safety concerns. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently came under intense scrutiny for the way she has handled the crisis which caused chaos in schools up and down the country. Last week she sparked fury from schools as she blamed them for failing to 'get off their backsides'. Ms Keegan dramatically escalated the tit-for-tat with teachers as she vented frustration at delays in getting information about RAAC in buildings. After delivering an extraordinary foul-mouthed rant about not getting credit for doing a 'f***ing good job' responding to the chaos, Ms Keegan complained that 5 per cent of schools had still not responded to a questionnaire sent out by her department in March 2022. And only on Friday Heathrow and Gatwick airports both confirmed RAAC had been found. Concrete that has caused chaos across the UK in recent days has now been found at Heathrow (file photo) and Gatwick Heathrow (pictured) and Gatwick airports handle nearly 100million passengers a year between them RAAC was found first at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 (pictured) last year, while Gatwick has been aware of the presence of RAAC for some time The schools that had to close or partially close due to the presence of the crumbly concrete as children returned from the summer holidays Bosses at the airports have said they were aware of the presence of RAAC before the crisis over the use of the material in school buildings. RAAC was found first at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 last year. Safety precautions have already been put in place on a temporarily basis as airport bosses now decide on a permanent solution to the issue. The scandal over RAAC being used in schools led to Heathrow chiefs to review their plans for the building material. The airport believes that their plans are still suitable but will monitor their buildings and mitigate any issues discovered at the airport. A Heathrow spokesperson said: 'Industry has been aware and acting on the remedial steps that should be taken in buildings that contain this material. We, like many others, have been assessing our estate and will continue to mitigate the risk where this material is found. 'Passenger and colleague safety will always be our first priority and we will continue to update stakeholders across the sector as our plans for permanent solutions progress.' Gatwick Airport has been aware of the presence of RAAC for some time. The airport regularly inspects any RAAC installations and they last inspected the material in their buildings in June this year. Structural engineers have said the inspections have not raised any causes for concern and that there is no risk to anyone at the airport. Gatwick are also committed to having independent engineers carry out regular checks. Concerns about the safety of the parliamentary estate are long-standing, amid repeated delays to plans to restore and refurbishment the famous site. There have been repeated warnings in recent years about the threat of fire and asbestos across the estate. The restoration project is estimated to cost several billion pounds. Hunter Biden's daughters Maisy Biden, 22, and Finnegan Biden, 23, were in New York City on Sunday - as their grandfather Joe made his way back from Vietnam and prepared to mark the anniversary of 9/11 away from the attack sites. In photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com, Hunter and Kathleen Buhle's two daughters were seen in New York City on Sunday loading duffles bags into a vehicle. Their eldest daughter Naomi Biden, 29, was not seen with her two younger siblings. Meanwhile, their grandfather President Joe Biden was noticeably absent from the city where two planes crashed into the World Trade Center Towers 22 years ago on September 11. Biden instead commemorated the anniversary of the terrorist attacks during a plane refueling in Anchorage, Alaska on his way back from a five-day trip to India and Vietnam. Maisy Biden, 22, and Finnegan Biden, 23, were spotted in New York City on Sunday loading bags into a vehicle Maisy and Finnegan are daughters of Hunter Biden and Kathleen Buhle. Their older sister Naomi, 29, was not pictured in New York City with the two younger sisters on Sunday Meanwhile, Biden held a bizarre press conference in Vietnam before heading to Anchorage, Alaska where he marked 9/11 with troops during a refueling at a military base Families of 9/11 victims were furious by the snub as Biden on Monday became the first President ever since the attacks to not mark them from either Washington, D.C. or one of the three crash sites Ground Zero in New York City; the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia; and the field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. During their New York City outing over the weekend, Maisy was dressed in a white graphic t-shirt, jeans, and Adidas trainers while Finnegan donned a black t-shirt, red shorts, and slippers. Biden attended Maisy's graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in May. She studied fine arts and appears to work in the visual art industry in New York City. Finnegan works for her grandfather's former primary rival Mike Bloomberg, which the President revealed in November 2021 during a press conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother Kathleen Buhle confirmed on Instagram that Finnegan is working in the City with the caption: 'Finny may be the middle daughter but we all agree that she's the boss - well deserved! I'm missing my girl up in NYC right now and want to shout out that she's always in my heart. Here's to the middles!!' Maisy graduated the University of Pennsylvania in May with a degree in fine arts, she is perusing a career in visual arts Maisy appears to live in New York City and works for one of Michael Bloomberg's foundations Biden wasn't in the Big Apple on Monday but Vice President Kamala Harris was there at Ground Zero for the annual 9/11 commemorative service. The President attracted the ire of victims' families on Monday by not going to New York or any of the other two crash sites. Instead, Biden marked the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 by meeting with service members and first responders during the Air Force One refueling in Anchorage, Alaska on Monday. Also on Monday, Biden held a bizarre press conference in Vietnam where he once again featured some of the potential liabilities some Democrats are fretting over amid concerns about his age and performance. It featured a series of odd moments, including when Biden called on reporters from a prepared list. His Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also cut off the event, then he came back to address reporters briefly while jazz music was being piped over a sound system. He told a long story about a John Wayne movie where he spoke about cowboys and 'Indians,' then went back to a tale about the phrase 'lying dog faced pony soldiers' that he used then and has used previously. At the same time as the press conference, Finnegan and Maisy were spotted in New York. A CONTROVERSIAL heroin shooting gallery is set to be introduced after Scotlands top law officer said people using drugs in the facility would not be prosecuted. Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain yesterday announced she would be prepared to confirm that simple possession offences would not be prosecuted within such a facility if it was set up by the Scottish Government. In light of this, First Minister Humza Yousaf said he would take forward plans for a pilot in Glasgow with urgency despite drug laws being reserved to Westminster. The Home Office confirmed it remained opposed to such a move and stressed there is no safe way to take illegal drugs. It is understood UK ministers believe a range of offences in addition to possession would be committed by users and staff at a drug consumption room. Staff could be liable for offences such as aiding and abetting someone to commit a crime, and could even be held liable in the event of a death. The tray which will be presented to the addict with the prescribed dose of Heroin In a carefully worded statement, Ms Bain said: I would be prepared to publish a prosecution policy that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute drug users for simple possession offences committed within a pilot safer drugs consumption facility. I have not been asked to sign-off or approve any facility and it would not be appropriate for me to do so. However, prosecution policy is for me alone to set and this policy, and the consequences which flow from it, have been considered deeply and thoroughly. But she said the statement will not extend to any criminal offences other than possession of controlled substances... it does not amount to an exclusion zone whereby a range of criminality is tolerated. Booths in Scotland's first addictions service treating patients with pharmaceutical grade heroin in Glasgow Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC said I have not been asked to sign-off or approve any facility and it would not be appropriate for me to do so' Ms Bain added: Police Scotland have operational independence and it has been of the utmost importance to me to ensure Police Scotland retain the ability to effectively police the facility and ensure the wider community, those operating the site and those using the facility can be kept safe. Asked if the pilot scheme could proceed without Home Office approval, Mr Yousaf said: Thats my understanding, that we would given the statement of prosecution policy just initiated by the Lord Advocate. I should say, there will be limitations in terms of a pilot, so the best option for us would be if the UK Government gave approval or devolved the powers to us to be able to give approval. But I certainly think that the prosecution policy articulated by the Lord Advocate certainly helps us to move forward. However, a Home Office spokesman said last night: There is no safe way to take illegal drugs, which devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities and we have no plans to consider this. Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: It is important to note that existing legislation will not be changing and, while we may take an overall supportive policing approach, police officers will still be bound by their legal duty to uphold the law and will not be able to simply ignore acts of criminality which they see occurring. BLENDING the old and young, President Mnangagwa yesterday announced his new Cabinet that is expected to consolidate gains made in the past five years and accelerate the implementation of programmes and projects that will transform the lives of Zimbabweans towards Vision 2030. The delicate balance between change and continuity, women and men and the countrys 10 provinces saw young people like Chikomba West Member of Parliament, Tatenda Mavetera, a former actress, being appointed into the new Cabinet while tested old hands were retained as the President lived to his word of hitting the ground running. Addressing journalists at State House in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa, who was flanked by his deputies, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga and Vice President Kembo Mohadi, said he will be making further appointments today. New faces were blended in with the old with Cde Barbara Rwodzi taking charge of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry that now stands alone from the Climate Change, Wildlife and Environment Ministry. Tourism is the third largest economic sector in the country after mining and agriculture. Cde Edgar Moyo assumes the reins at the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, with Cde Lovemore Matuke now the Minister of Provincial Affairs in the Office of the President and Cabinet. Other new appointments include Cde T Moyo who will lead the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education while Cde Mavetera is now the Minister of Information Communication Technology. Zanu-PF secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde Tino Machakaire, is another new face in Cabinet as he leads the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training Centres. Dr Douglas Mombeshora also bounces back into Cabinet as the Minister of Health and Child Care, with Cde Chris Mutsvangwa taking over the new Ministry of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs. Professor Paul Mavhima, formerly the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare now heads the newly created Skills Audit and Development Ministry and is succeeded by Cde July Moyo. Cde Winston Chitando moves from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works with his former position going to Cde Soda Zhemu. Senator Monica Mutsvangwa is now the Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises with former Minister of ICT, Cde Jenfan Muswere replacing her at the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, the former Minister of Women Affairs, Community and Small to Medium Enterprises, is now the Minister of Industry and Commerce. The new Cabinet speaks to President Mnangagwas thrust of consolidation with agencies such as the vital Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency being housed under the Ministry of Finance and Investment Promotion. The Ministry of War Veterans, that will be headed by Cde Chris Mutsvangwa, is another new standalone Ministry that is also in harmony with the critical War Veterans League of the ruling party Zanu PF and is expected to attend to the needs of former liberation fighters and enhance their welfare. Crucially, the new Ministry of Skills Audit and Development responds to the industrial parks and innovative hubs that have been set up by President Mnangagwa across the countrys universities. Among other things, the new ministry will enhance skills development and ensure that innovative hubs are turned into real employment propositions and anchor start-ups around the country. With President Mnangagwas focus on consolidation and enhancement critical, Ministries such as Agriculture, Transport and Infrastructure Development remain in the same hands for continuity. Mashonaland Central Province was seemingly rewarded for steadfastly voting for and standing by the ruling party Zanu PF with several new ministers and deputies hailing from the province where the ruling party won all the parliamentary seats.Herald I almost felt bad for Mayor Eric Adams last week as he woefully lamented the coming destruction of New York City being wrought by President Bidens ballooning migrant crisis. Almost. Sympathy would have been more forthcoming if Adams, and frankly almost every American politician with a D after their name, hadnt spent years embracing and perpetuating the hairbrained policies that caused this mess, simultaneously silencing anyone who dared to speak out against them. Heres what a defeated Adams told the citizens of Gotham on Wednesday: Never in my life have I had a problem that I did not see an ending to. I don't see an ending to this This issue will destroy New York City. Not might destroy. Not could destroy. Will destroy. What a difference two years can make. Adams campaigned in 2021 promising to preserve the New Yorks sanctuary city status. We should protect our immigrants. Period, he said then. Now he wants them gone. I almost felt bad for Mayor Eric Adams (pictured) last week as he woefully lamented the coming destruction of New York City being wrought by President Bidens ballooning migrant crisis. Almost. Sympathy would have been more forthcoming if Adams, and frankly almost every American politician with a D after their name, hadnt spent years embracing and perpetuating the hairbrained policies that caused this mess, simultaneously silencing anyone who dared to speak out against them. (Pictured: Texas border in May). Adams has been demanding action from the federal government for several months, as more than 110,000 migrants have flooded the Big Apples streets in the past year and Bidenville tent cities have proliferated. But this time he sounded more desperate. This was abject surrender. Can you blame him? The greatest, most powerful city in world history, a veritable modern Rome which he is charged with defending is now on the brink of ruin. On Staten Island, fiery protests erupted in recent days as hundreds of desperate residents reached boiling point over their disappearing commuter safe-haven. Space is fast running out, with a former Catholic school and even nursing homes being converted into asylum housing. On Manhattan its the same story. Parks are littered with make-shift shelters. Swanky hotels are now closed to public use, transformed into towering temples of failure. Outside the Roosevelt Hotel, across from Grand Central Station, scores of men line the sidewalk, sleeping on cardboard and under sleeping bags. Even this 1,000-room establishment cant contain the influx. At least 41 people have been arrested at the Roosevelt in recent months, largely for domestic-violence offenses. One victim was 11 years old. In Brooklyn, pretty public schools are bursting at the seams. New Yorks beleaguered education system has taken on some 21,000 new migrant students this year alone. Many are unvaccinated. Most speak no English. The Department of Educations solution? Schools must simply make do and hire a translator. Violent crime is rocketing. Posh neighbourhood streets are carpeted in feces and trash. Subway stations now substitute for homeless shelters and mental asylums. Young families avoid walking outside after dark. This farce has cost Adamss administration $3.6 billion this fiscal year. The bill could top $12 billion by 2025. Yet Bidens White House has sent a meagre $140 million to soften the blow. The greatest, most powerful city in world history, a veritable modern Rome which he is charged with defending is now on the brink of ruin. On Staten Island, fiery protests erupted in recent days (pictured) as hundreds of desperate residents reached boiling point over their disappearing commuter safe-haven. On Manhattan its the same story. Swanky hotels are now closed to public use, transformed into towering temples of failure. Outside the Roosevelt Hotel (pictured), across from Grand Central Station, scores of men line the sidewalk, sleeping on cardboard and under sleeping bags. Even this 1,000-room establishment cant contain the influx. No wonder Adams ordered all city agencies on Saturday including the police and fire department to slash their spending by 15 percent before next Spring. Its a depressing acceptance of defeat that will only worsen the cycle of crime and squalor, with even fewer public services and support for local tax-paying residents. So its now clear: Bidens mothballing of the Trump-era Title 42 deportation policy in May has been more disastrous than experts and commentators, myself included, predicted. The numbers are truly staggering: Over 177,000 were arrested crossing from Mexico in August alone. Earlier this year, Red Southern-state leaders like Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned that ending Title 42 would mean migrants had to be bused north, to spread the burden. Adams pulled the racism card, accusing Abbott and Co of targeting black-run cities. But the truth is, they were just wanted to give Democrat-run cities a taste of their own toxic open-border medicine. And its worked. Last month, leaders of 100 top New York firms, including powerhouses like Pfizer and JPMorgan, signed an extraordinary letter calling on Biden to end the overwhelming and growing crisis, to take immediate action to better control the border. Yet these are the same posturing elites who spent the past decade peddling corporate progressivism, pushing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion agendas, waving pride flags, issuing platitudes on the climate crisis, and no doubt helping to shame into silence the type of ordinary American who dares question whether untrammelled immigration is anything other than a positive. Mayor Adams is no better. So its less I told you so, and more too little too late. And its the same all across our once-great nation. Chicago, San Francisco, Washington. Bastions of American supremacy brought low by Democrat incompetence. At least 41 people have been arrested at the Roosevelt in recent months, largely for domestic-violence offenses. One victim was 11 years old. This farce has cost Adamss administration $3.6 billion this fiscal year. The bill could top $12 billion by 2025. So its now clear: Bidens mothballing of the Trump-era Title 42 deportation policy in May has been more disastrous than experts and commentators, myself included, predicted. Not that theyll ever admit it. Not that theyll ever apologize to the well-meaning men and women who warned out of patriotic duty that mass uncontrolled immigration will lead to more racial division, not inclusion, that it will worsen living standards for all, and stretch public services to breaking point. For their troubles they were trashed as racists of the highest order. Vile bigots. Harbingers of hate. But the Left never, ever learn. After Adamss speech warning of New Yorks coming destruction, achingly liberal state senator Jessica Ramos branded him as defeatist and insulting and chided him for emboldening xenophobic and anti-immigrant rhetoric. Naturally, her own solutions for the citys survival werent forthcoming. NYC cant be destroyed, she simply said. What little moral courage it takes to stare in the face of self-inflicted disaster and cover your eyes, pointing elsewhere to apportion blame. But that is the America we now live in: a nation run by lunatics, descending into lunacy, with the problem-solvers told theyre the problem. 'Woke' policies are not to blame for America's falling military recruitment numbers, instead the problem lies with the average person's lifestyle, a military expert claimed. Professor Peter Feaver of Duke University said increased drug use was more responsible than new diversity training requirements for a 25 percent shortfall in Army recruitment last year. Because of drug use, obesity or health concerns, it's just a smaller pool than it was even two years ago,' Feaver said. These are the big drivers. The Army is in the middle of a five-year plan to become a model example of diversity, equality and inclusion, with the blessing of the White House. But Republicans have insisted the Biden administration is hellbent on politicizing the military with Republican primary candidate Ron DeSantis making the issue a centerpiece of his presidential campaign. Professor Peter Feaver says its not 'woke' policies that are hurting military recruitment, but Americans are too fat to serve Because of drug use, obesity or health concerns, it's just a smaller pool than it was even two years ago,' Feaver said Florida governor Ron DeSantis pictured with firefighters at today's 9/11 remembrance service in New York has helped lead the Republican charge on 'wokeness' in the military We got to give the military non-combatant immunity in the culture wars, Feaver told Fox News, calling for identity politics to stay away from the military. Politicians should drain some of this partisan poison that is hurting the military on the margins, he added. I think that will help recruitment,' Feaver said. He also attacked Democrat concerns that the military is increasingly attracting far-right extremists. There's not good evidence that either of those conditions is pervasive in the military, he added. The particular issue of far-right extremism is pretty limited in the military, very limited. Last year the Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of its 60,000 enlistment goal, and has only reached 40 percent of this years target with three months to go. A leaked internal Defense Department survey in June reported that only 9 percent of young Americans who would qualify for the US military have any inclination to apply. Last year the Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of its 60,000 enlistment goal, and has only reached 40 percent of this years target with three months to go The drop in figure has led many in the GOP to blame liberal policies pushed by the Biden administration for the dropping numbers. That includes drag shows for troops and DEI training classes. Feaver admitted that some officials may be overdoing diversity programs but that it only amounted to a small proportion of any soldiers military training. It just stands to reason that an organization that large is going to have people falling off the horse on that side, he added. Republicans succeeded in limiting abortion access for troops, the funding of transgender medical care and DEI initiatives as their price for passing the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act this summer. I think the military that I see is different from the military I served in, Florida Governor DeSantis said. I see a lot of emphasis now on political ideologies, things like gender pronouns. I see a lot about things like DEI, and I think that that's caused recruiting to plummet. Harvard professor Kit Parker claimed this week his students are hiding their military status to avoid backlash from classmates and faculty members. 'It boils down to leadership. It boils down to the president,' the lieutenant colonel who served in Afghanistan added. The Army is attempting to improve its recruitment and preparation process for young soldiers as only 29 percent of youth are qualified to serve Harvard Professor Kit Parker (left) has said his students are ashamed to admit if they have military connections, but Lt. Gen Xavier Brunson blamed the recruitment crisis on young Americans being too fat or criminal to defend their country. In January the Army announced plans to expand three fat camps to allow hundreds of overweight or underqualified potential recruits to make the grade before they start basic training. Lt. Gen Xavier Brunson, the commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state blamed the crisis on young Americans being too fat or criminal to defend their country. 'Some of the challenges we have are obesity, we have pre-existing medical conditions, we have behavioral health problems, we have criminality, people with felonies, and we have drug use,' he added. A Pentagon report that month revealed that 26 percent of service people are unable to provide their households with enough food to 'live an active, healthy life. Majority of California voters to NOT support cash reparations for slavery after Gov Newsoms task force recommended residents be given $5million handout More than half of California voters are against cash payments for reparation for slavery, a new poll has found. The research is showing a potential issue for lawmakers as they begin to consider reparation in the state next year. Governor Gavin Newsom set up a reparation task force, which suggested awarding every black resident $5million. It also believes that those entitled to the cash should have their personal debt wiped and guarantee a $97,000 income for 250 years and $1 homes. Governor Gavin Newsom set up a reparation task force, which suggested awarding every black resident $5million More than half of California voters are against cash payments for reparation for slavery, a new poll has found A UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies survey commissioned by the Los Angeles Times found that 59 percent of voters oppose cash payments. Of those Black Californians who were asked their opinion, 76 percent of them were in favor of reparations, while 51 percent of white Californians were strongly opposed to the cash payment. More than four in 10 voters were strongly opposed to the cash reparations, despite Newsom sitting up the taskforce in 2020. After two years of deliberation, the task force sent a final report and recommendations to the state capitol where a decision will be made on the matter. The group suggested that cash payments to all descendants should be based on health disparities, mass incarceration and over-policies as well as housing discrimination. Up to $13,619 is recommended for health disparities each year the person has resided in California which was worked out by comparing life expectancy between Black non-Hispanic and white non-Hispanic Californians. Eligible descendants are recommended to be given $2,352 for mass incarceration, and housing discrimination is $3,378 for each year between 1933 and 1977, if they resided in California. The poll also found that the majority of those who opposed the reparations said it was unfair to ask todays taxpayers to pay for wrongs committed in the past,, with 60 percent of voters giving that opinion. It also believes that those entitled to the cash should have their personal debt wiped and guarantee a $97,000 income for 250 years and $1 homes After two years of deliberation, the task force sent a final report and recommendations to the state capitol where a decision will be made on the matter Nearly one in four asked had no opinion on reparations, while 29 percent said California is doing little The Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll surveyed 6,030 registered California voters online in English and Spanish from Aug. 24-29. Of those asked, 53 percent said that its not fair to single out one group for reparations when other racial and religious groups have been wronged in the past, Only 19 percent said their reason for opposing the proposal was that it cost too much, suggesting that the money was not the main issue. Among Democrats, 43 percent favored and 41 percent opposed cash reparations, while Republicans were strongly against the proposal at 90 percent. Despite widespread opposition to cash payments, 60 percent of those asked said that they thought that the legacy of slavery is affecting the position of the states Black residents today. Nearly one in four asked had no opinion on reparations, while 29 percent said California is doing little. Of those asked 26 percent said that the state was doing the right amount, with 22 percent feeling that they are doing too much. The Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll surveyed 6,030 registered California voters online in English and Spanish from August 24-29. Democrat Congresswoman Cori Bush introduced a resolution to reignite a push for federal reparations in May, suggesting the total amount would be at least $14trillion. America's entire GDP was $25 trillion in 2022 and is currently $31.4 trillion in debt. Lawmakers are currently engaged in tedious negotiations over where to cut the budget so they can raise the debt limit. Five American citizens being held hostage by Iran will be released in return for the unfreezing of $6 billion held in South Korean banks, the U.S. government announced on Monday - enraging Biden administration critics, particular as the timing coincided with the anniversary of 9/11. The five U.S. hostages - businessmen Siamak Namazi, 51, and Emad Shargi, 58; environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, 67; and two anonymous people- will be freed once the money has been transferred from South Korea to an intermediary, Qatar, and then to Iran. Five Iranian citizens held in the U.S. will also be released. The deal has been months in the works and was long expected, but Republicans reacted with fury - with Donald Trump saying the money would pay for terrorism and calling Biden an 'incompetent fool', and Ron DeSantis accusing Biden of 'selling out on America.' Trump said he had never paid to release any hostages, and added: 'This incompetent FOOL is absolutely destroying America. He had the audacity to announce this terrible deal today, September 11th.' His Republican rival for the presidency, DeSantis, said: 'This deal bankrolls nuclear ambitions, hostage takers, and extremists who hate America.' Businessman Emad Shargi (left) and British-born environmentalist Morad Tahbaz are two of the U.S. citizens transferred from prison to house arrest before a possible deal Siamak Namazi, 51, will also be released. His family said they were grateful he was out of prison, but that they would not rest until he was home after eight years in captivity Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and a Republican representing Texas, said he was 'deeply concerned' by the move, and called the timing of the announcement 'particularly egregious'. 'The Americans held by Iran are innocent hostages who must be released immediately and unconditionally,' McCaul said. 'However, I remain deeply concerned that the administration's decision to waive sanctions to facilitate the transfer of $6 billion in funds for Iran, the world's top state sponsor of terrorism, creates a direct incentive for America's adversaries to conduct future hostage-taking.' McCaul pointed out that Saif al-Adel - an Egyptian who the UN in February concluded had taken over al-Qaida's leadership after the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri in an airstrike in Kabul - is believed to be sheltered by Iran. Iran has denied that al-Adel is in the country. 'It's particularly egregious that this is taking place on the same week as the anniversaries of 9/11 - as Iran is actively harboring the leader of Al Qaeda - and Mahsa Amini's murder by Iran's so-called 'morality police.' 'The administration is demonstrating weakness that only further endangers Americans and freedom-loving people around the world.' A view of the entrance of Evin prison in Tehran, Iran, where the Americans were held The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions Marco Rubio, a senator for Florida who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the deal was 'shameful'. 'This is the message the Biden Administration is sending to the bloody regime in Tehran as we commemorate 22 years since al-Qaeda's terrorist attack against our nation,' he wrote on X. 'Shameful.' Tom Cotton, senator for Arkansas, used the same adjective. 'First Joe Biden used 9/11 as an excuse to flee Afghanistan. Now he desecrates this day by paying ransom to the world's worst state sponsor of terrorism. Shameful.' Iowa senator Joni Earnst, an Iraq war veteran, tweeted: 'President Biden is going through with his $6 BILLION payout to the IRGC and its proxies. 'This will only greenlight Iran's illicit actions and encourage further hostage 'diplomacy'. Biden's failed strategy of appeasement must end.' Gabriel Noronha, a former State Department advisor on Iran, tweeted: '9/11 is one hell of a day to notify Congress you're transferring $6 billion to the regime harboring Saif al-Adel and the rest of Al-Qaeda's leadership.' Secretary of State Antony Blinken approved the deal late last week, but Congress was not notified of the decision until Monday - as the nation remembered the deadliest attack on American soil in history. Last month four of the five detainees were moved from Iranian jails to house arrest in a hotel. One was already under house arrest. #Mercury Brittney Griner on proposed release of US captives from Iran #wnba pic.twitter.com/PzR4Uul3Mu jeffmetcalfe (@jeffmetcalfe) September 11, 2023 Some politicans were more accepting of the deal. 'There are no good deals w/Iran,' tweeted Aaron David Miller, another former State Department advisor. 'Only various degrees of bad ones. If you want to free 5 Americans some unjustly imprisoned for years, what's alternative? 'It's easy for some in Washington to hang tough, especially if they're not rotting in Evin prison.' Brittney Griner, the basketball player released in December after almost nine months in a Russian prison, broke down in tears on hearing the news of the Americans' release. 'I'm really happy. And I can't wait for it to be official, and for them to be home with their family,' she said. 'I know how much they are waiting for them to be home. I know what it feels like.' The waiver - which allows banks to process the transaction, without violating sanctions - will boost the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a growing threat to U.S. troops and Mideast allies. Under the terms of the deal, Qatar's central bank will hold the money for Iran to use for the purchase of humanitarian goods. Due to numerous U.S. sanctions on foreign banks that engage in transactions aimed at benefitting Iran, several European countries had balked at participating in the transfer. Blinken's waiver is aimed at easing their concerns about any risk of U.S. sanctions. A new United Nations report has revealed a 24 percent in cocaine production in 2022 in Colombia. The increase rose to 1915.8 tons, eclipsing a 20-year high, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Monday. The study also showed that coca crops covered 568,000 acres in 2022, an increase from 13 percent the previous year. Coca is the chief ingredient in cocaine, that by large has fueled the country's six-decade armed conflict with guerrilla groups, leaving at least 450 people dead. During a presentation of the report, UNODC Regional Director Candice Welsch expressed concerns over Colombia's yearly 'increase in coca crops.' Welsch attributed uptick to the increase of crops in the province of Putumayo, which borders Ecuador. Production elsewhere was relatively stable. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released its annual report Monday which detailed a 24 percent surge in cocaine production in Colombia. The study also showed that coca crops covered 568,000 acres in 2022, an increase from 13 percent the previous year. Coca leaf collectors are pictured in on a field in Narino, Colombia on May 12 Bags with coca paste, a crude extract of the coca leaf, are pictured at a laboratory in Narino, Colombia on May 11. The release of the annual report came two days after Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared that Latin America needed to shift the region's focus from a war on drugs towards public health. The Andean nation's first leftist president called the drug battle a failed militarized strategy while addressing the Latin American and Caribbean Conference on Drugs in Cali, Colombia. 'What I propose is to have a different and unified voice that defends our society, our future and our history and stops repeating a failed discourse,' Petro said. 'It is time to rebuild hope and not repeat the bloody and ferocious wars, the ill-named 'war on drugs', viewing drugs as a military problem and not as a health problem for society.' The countries participating in the conference said in a joint statement that demand for illicit drugs must be reduced by educating the public and combating inequality, poverty, lack of opportunities and violence. They also agreed on the need to break the harmful links between drug and firearms trafficking, transnational organized crime, illegal logging, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering and corruption. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who attended the event, said countries must strengthen family unity with love, combat poverty, and encourage the planting of corn, beans, cocoa, coffee, fruits and timber to reduce land area dedicated to illicit crops like marijuana, as well as opium poppy and coca leaf - the raw materials for drugs such as heroin and cocaine. The Mexican president said Latin American countries need to support the United States in its fight against fentanyl out of a 'moral obligation' and 'humanism.' 'They are facing a pandemic,' Lopez Obrador said. 'Regardless of our differences, above partisan ideas and ideological positions are human rights and the main human right is the right to life.' Aerial view of coca fields in Narino, Colombia on February 26, 2020. Coca leaves are the main ingredient in producing cocaine Packages of cocaine are displayed to the press on May 29, 2013, in Cali, Colombia President Petro's administration wants to help rural communities voluntarily substitute some 247,105 acres of coca crops over the next four years, an official told Reuters recently. The president has also promised more social investment in production areas and ruled out a restart to aerial fumigation with herbicide glyphosate. Almost 13 percent of Colombia's annual deforestation is linked to illicit crops, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told a drugs conference last week. The country's deforestation reached 477 square miles last year, down 29 percent from 2021. A crash in coca prices caused by oversupply and new production in other regions is contributing to food insecurity in Colombia and causing displacement, according to a report by the UN World Food Programme. YOUNG men and boys as young as 13 are being targeted by foreign sextortion scammers, police have warned. The trend has been identified in Police Scotlands latest performance report, which reveals the force is now raising awareness of the issue in schools, colleges and pubs as well as on social media. The sexual extortion scams typically involve the sharing of indecent images on social media, such as Instagram and Snapchat. The scammers make initial contact with their victims, usually young males, then migrate the chat from one platform to another in a bid to extort money or vouchers. They usually involve the victim being enticed to send nude or explicit photos or videos to someone who has befriended them online. Victims are then blackmailed into sending money or gift cards to prevent the images being distributed to people they know. The scammers make initial contact with their victims then migrate the chat from one platform to another in a bid to extort money or vouchers Police Scotland has conducted analysis of threats and extortion crimes recorded across a number of local policing divisions. In Highlands and Islands division, where many victims are aged under 18, officers have been conducting visits to schools, colleges and the University of the Highlands and Islands to raise awareness. In Renfrewshire and Inverclyde division, 32 out of 36 crimes analysed related to sexual extortion. The Lothians and Scottish Borders division review also found the majority of threats and extortion crimes related to sextortion motivated by financial gain. The police report says: While not always the case, the most likely victims are young males. In the Lothians and Scottish Borders the most frequent age range of victims, also mainly male, was 13-18 years old and in Ayrshire division victims were most likely to be males in the 14-23 age range. A police spokesman said: Sextortion is an insidious crime. It is a form of blackmail and can pose challenges to detect as those responsible typically operate outside the UK. These criminals do not care about the devastating impact their demands can have on victims. We would urge people to be aware of the risks and stay safe online. Donald Trump filed a motion on Monday seeking to disqualify U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan from presiding over the federal criminal case charging him with trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss. The former president said last month he planned to seek Chutkan's recusal as well as a change of venue for the case, which is currently being held in Washington, D.C. Trump argued in a court filing that Chutkan's prior statements appearing to refer to Trump's role in influencing the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters raise questions about her impartiality in the case. The court filing cites a remark Chutkan made at a 2022 sentencing hearing for a Capitol riot defendant in which she suggested that the rioter was motivated by 'blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day.' Trump's lawyers argued that the comment indicated the judge's belief that Trump 'should be prosecuted and imprisoned.' Former U.S. President Donald Trump filed a motion on Monday seeking to disqualify U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan from presiding over the criminal case charging him with trying to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss Chutkan, who was picked to oversee Trump's criminal case, was declared 'the toughest punisher' of rioters charged with offenses relating to the 2021 riot. In a profile by the Associated Press, written last year, it said: 'Chutkan has handed out tougher sentences than the [Justice Department] was seeking in seven cases, matched its requests in four others and sent all 11 riot defendants who have come before her behind bars.' The article, titled 'In Jan. 6 cases, 1 judge stands out as the toughest punisher', continues: 'In the four cases in which prosecutors did not seek jail time, Chutkan gave terms ranging from 14 days to 45 days.' The AP article continued that Chutkan jailed, despite prosecutors not asking for it, 'an Ohio couple who climbed through a broken window of the U.S. Capitol.' The 61-year-old was nominated by former President Barack Obama, was born in Jamaica and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's law school. Trump has slammed Chutkan on his Truth Social platform since she was appointed to his case. He called her 'highly partisan Judge Tanya Chutkan,' and referenced her sentencing of a January 6 rioter. 'She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED & UNFAIR!.' His comments came just days after she warned him against making statements that might intimidate witnesses or impact the 'integrity' of the trial. The former president is facing a maximum of 55 years in prison on four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and obstruct the electoral count for trying to overturn the 2020 election. The 45-page indictment says he was 'determined to remain in power' despite 'having lost.' The trial has been set for March 4, 2024 - the day before 'Super Tuesday.' DailyMail.com learned over the weekend that Trump's legal team is considering a brash move that would put Republican members of Congress on the stand in his defense by questioning them about their own January 6 objections. 'They were essential to the recognition of objections, because you had to have a representative from the Senate and from the House [to trigger a floor debate]. 'So the senators' objections were obviously important, very important,' a source familiar with Trumps legal teams thinking told DailyMail.com. The move which would have to be approved by a federal judge and could face objections from prosecutors could allow the former president to cover his own post-election conduct by having his lawyer question the likes of Hawley and Cruz. The pair were among the members of the GOP instrumental in setting up a political clash in Congress as Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Judge Chutkan admonished Christine Priola, who pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding after breaching the Senate Chamber January 6, while handing down a 15-month sentence Former President Donald Trump went after the federal judge overseeing his January 6 case in Washington, DC The effort wouldnt involve probing lawmakers about why they voted the way they did a posture that could touch on separation of powers issues and the Constitutions Speech or Debate clause. But it could examine what objections that you see right up until and including J6 [January 6] and to the extent that elected officials have legitimate objections, it's hard to criticize the president for having the same objections or similar ones, said the source. So that would really be the theory and it would go to the bona fides of having objections right through the J6 period, the source added. If sustained, it could have political implications beyond the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C. by providing a platform for Republicans facing their own reelections, and giving them a chance to reinforce their loyalty to Trump, the who is leading all Republicans by a wide margin in presidential polls. Sir Keir Starmer has been branded untrustworthy and timid by trade union leaders who warned him not to ape Tony Blair if he wins power. The Labour leader also came under pressure to repeal all anti-strike laws as his party prepares to unveil its plan for workers' rights. The first of a series of attacks he faced yesterday as union barons gathered at the TUC Congress in Liverpool came over his U-turns on scrapping tuition fees and on taxing the rich. Veteran PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told LBC radio: 'I hope when Keir Starmer comes to Liverpool he is actually going to accept he should not go down the route of Tony Blair and lose the opportunity to do radical change in this country. 'The problem I have with Keir Starmer is that if you get elected by making ten solemn pledges and when it comes to face the electorate you have actually ripped up the majority of those pledges, you don't stand very high in the list of Labour leaders in my book.' The Labour leader also came under pressure to repeal all anti-strike laws as his party prepares to unveil its plan for workers' rights (File Photo) Asked if Sir Keir can be trusted, Mr Serwotka replied: 'I believe that anyone who makes ten pledges and then breaks them is not in a position to ask to be trusted.' Next the opposition leader came under fire from Unite's Sharon Graham for his failure to put forward radical policies including on nationalisation. 'Where is Labour on this issue? They cannot be on the same wobbly fence that they're sometimes on for the other issues we're trying to push,' she told TUC delegates from the conference stage. She accused him of being 'too timid to talk of hope, too conservative to make change' and of 'watering down your own promises to give workers a real voice'. Ms Graham said some in the union movement believe they should trust a future Labour government and that it will be 'alright on the night'. But she added: 'We cannot wait for jam tomorrow. With the rowing back of workers rights, I'm not in a very trusting mood. 'The challenges we face are just too big to leave to the timid.' Unite's Sharon Graham accused Starmer of being 'too timid to talk of hope, too conservative to make change' and of 'watering down your own promises to give workers a real voice' (File Photo) Rail union leader Mick Lynch told Labour it should see improving workers' rights as a 'vote winner'. 'They should be enthusiastically promoting the New Deal for Working People [an initiative launched by Labour in 2021] as key to delivering the change this country needs,' he said. Although Labour is committed to scrapping the new Strikes Act, which promises minimum service levels in sectors such as transport during industrial action, TUC delegates passed a motion calling for it to go further and 'repeal all anti-trade union laws within 12 months of gaining office'. As unions vowed not to comply with the anti-strike law, a teachers' leader said he would shut down schools if the legislation led to his members being sacked for walking out in breach of minimum service requirements. National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede told a fringe meeting: 'Should any one of the NEU members get sacked, the next time we take strike action we will close that school until they are reinstated.' A former Whitehall mandarin sparked calls for the reform of the Civil Service yesterday after he appeared to admit breaking impartiality rules over Brexit. In an extraordinary revelation, former Foreign Office chief Simon McDonald said he had told staff he voted Remain in the wake of the 2016 referendum to show solidarity with his shell-shocked officials. Lord McDonald said the move was necessary to 'maintain credibility' in a department which was left 'in mourning' after Britain voted to leave the EU. But his decision appeared to be in breach of the Civil Service code and fuelled concerns that senior officials tried to frustrate Brexit. Former Cabinet minister Liam Fox described Sir Simon's comments as 'completely inappropriate'. Simon McDonald nspeaks during joint press conference with the Undersecretary of Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador in 2017 Dr Fox, who served as international trade secretary during the Brexit negotiations, said: 'It is yet another example of the loss of the Civil Service impartiality we have a right to expect. READ MORE: Lord McDonald reveals the contempt in which the political class hold the people who pay their wages Advertisement 'This sort of attitude was a big issue during the negotiations. We had politicians trying to thwart Brexit in Parliament, including the Speaker John Bercow. And we clearly had a nod and a wink to the Civil Service from senior figures like Lord McDonald that it was fine to put the brakes on. 'It just reinforces the need for Civil Service reform. We need to move to a system where the secretary of state can sack the permanent secretary because we need to know that the top of the civil service is committed to implementing what the public have voted for.' Fellow Tory Peter Bone said: 'These comments show there was a fundamental problem with people at the heart of government refusing to accept the verdict of the British people. 'You could see the results at the time it explains why we had these farcical delays and obstacles to leaving the EU.' Lord McDonald admitted that the Foreign Office's board was 'not entirely comfortable' with his decision to reveal to staff and ministers how he had voted. Told about his comments, former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara told the BBC: 'Wow, that is genuinely surprising... I don't know why that would be a good or helpful thing.' The former Foreign Office chief giving evidence by videolink to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in 2020 A fellow mandarin described Sir Simon as a 'pompous a**e'. Lord McDonald's comments are made in a documentary by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on the chaos that engulfed Westminster following the Brexit vote. He said the Foreign Office was 'in mourning' after the Brexit vote. 'People were in tears. People were in shock,' he said. 'On this occasion, this solitary occasion, I decided to tell my colleagues and therefore let ministers know that I voted to remain in the EU.' He added: 'I was trying to maintain credibility and trying to convey a message to a group of people, most of whom I felt had voted to remain in the EU, that their personal feelings were beside the professional point.' The code for civil servants requires that they act with impartiality by never allowing 'personal political views to determine any advice you give or your actions'. They are barred from expressing personal views 'on matters of national political controversy'. But Tory MP Alicia Kearns, who previously served as an official at the Foreign Office, said anti-Brexit views were common in the department at the time. Ms Kearns said one senior civil servant told a meeting of officials: 'We know the British public got it wrong.' One former Foreign Office official also claimed that Lord McDonald had been 'deliberately obstructive' when ministers were trying to negotiate Britain's departure from the EU. Career diplomat who posted 'It was a good day' when Boris quit By Sam Greenhill Lord McDonald's candid admissions will have shocked few in Downing Street. For years the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office mandarin was suspected of privately waging guerilla warfare against No10's Brexit policies in the corridors of Whitehall. Under Boris Johnson's tenure, the career diplomat was reportedly on a 'No10 s*** list' for his perceived opposition to leaving the EU. Mr Johnson and his ministers were convinced he was part of the civil service 'blob' trying to frustrate the will of the public. There was certainly no love lost between the Foreign Office's top official and Mr Johnson, who was foreign secretary before becoming Prime Minister. After a 40-year career in the civil service, Lord McDonald became famous overnight for one spectacular act: helping to trigger Mr Johnson's downfall. He made an explosive intervention in the Chris Pincher controversy in July last year that triggered a crisis when he publicly accusing No10 of lying. After deputy chief whip Mr Pincher was accused of sexual groping, No10 claimed the PM had been unaware of a previous complaint in 2019 about Mr Pincher before appointing him. 'For years the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office mandarin was suspected of privately waging guerilla warfare against No10's Brexit policies' After reports Mr Johnson had nicknamed him 'Pincher by name, pincher by nature', Lord McDonald wrote a bombshell open letter contradicting Downing Street's claims. It gave ammunition to critics as Mr Johnson attempted to deal with the fresh allegations against Mr Pincher. When a few weeks later Mr Johnson resigned, the former mandarin was accused of gloating after posting online a photo of Parliament at sunset captioned: 'It was a good day.' Before resigning, Lord McDonald was permanent under- secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Britain's most senior diplomat from 2010 to 2015. He held that post when Mr Johnson was foreign secretary and insiders said the two repeatedly clashed. Mr Johnson thought the 'Remainiac' mandarin was trying to 'undermine him by leaking stories about him being lazy'. Lord McDonald, 62, left his role in 2020 and was made a peer, sitting as a crossbencher as Lord McDonald of Salford, after the city where he was born in 1961 where he attended grammar school before going to Cambridge University. Last year he took up the post of Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. He is married to Olivia, whose father Baron Wright of Richmond was head of the Foreign Office from 1986 to 1991. The couple have two sons and two daughters. In 2018, he rejected reports the Foreign Office was left demoralised by Brexit, comments that will be scrutinised in light of his latest remarks. In an open democracy, Parliament has to be the ultimate bastion of free speech. So MPs are understandably furious they have been effectively forbidden from discussing the alleged discovery of a spy in their midst. The man, suspected of working for China, has been named, photographed and profiled in a leading daily newspaper. Yet Westminster, along with other media outlets, has been instructed not do the same. There are, of course, legal issues. The suspect has been arrested and bailed but not charged. So Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was understandably concerned about the possibility of prejudicing any future trial with speculation under Parliamentary privilege. But these considerations must be balanced against the legitimate right of MPs to voice their concerns about any potential security lapse. They were not even told of the arrest until it was revealed by a Sunday newspaper. Little wonder they now feel deeply aggrieved. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was understandably concerned about the possibility of prejudicing any future trial with speculation under Parliamentary privilege (Pictured: Rishi Sunak addresses MPs on Monday) How far did this supposed infiltration go? Is it thought to have been one man working alone, or could there be others? How badly has our national interest been compromised? These are all vital questions to which MPs deserve answers. Yet they are told they can't even raise them. In China, silencing questions about how the country is governed is routine. Britain, however, is the Mother of Parliaments. We elect representatives to ask such questions on our behalf. They cannot and should not be gagged. Contempt for Brexit The four core values of the Civil Service, according to its own code, are 'honesty, integrity, impartiality, and objectivity'. By voicing his opposition to Brexit while head of the Foreign Office, Simon McDonald betrayed two of those values and sailed very close to the wind on the others. A former foreign policy adviser to Gordon Brown and fierce critic of Boris Johnson, Lord McDonald has told the BBC Whitehall was 'in mourning' after the referendum, with some of his staff reduced to tears. To show he understood their feelings, he told them he too had voted to stay in the EU. 'I felt they would assume that in any case,' he said. 'So I decided to embrace it.' Leaving aside the image of snowflake public servants weeping over a perfectly rational democratic decision, why on earth would Lord McDonald think it was acceptable to reveal his bias so openly? Lord McDonald has told the BBC Whitehall was 'in mourning' after the referendum, with some of his staff reduced to tears It was hardly conducive to good governance. Delicate negotiations were beginning on how best to achieve our EU withdrawal. As Foreign Office permanent secretary, he had a pivotal role. Knowing such a senior mandarin didn't want to leave at all could have been seen as a green light for other civil servants to drag their heels, or advise maximum alignment with EU regulations. It would also have encouraged Brussels negotiators to play hard ball on everything from exit payments to fishing rights, knowing Whitehall was on their side. Only when Mr Johnson became prime minister were Lord McDonald and other diehard Remainers replaced. Within a few months the deadlock was broken, and a withdrawal agreement signed. That this was achieved despite the civil service, rather than with its help, shows how far Whitehall has fallen from its own lofty ideals of assisting governments of all stripes without fear or favour. It is now so nakedly anti-Tory that it often seems little more than an arm of the opposition. As his forces converged on Madrid during the Spanish Civil War, Nationalist general Emilio Mola boasted that he had four columns marching on the city and a fifth operating inside it. The term 'fifth column' has since come to mean a group that works from within to undermine a larger group or nation. Isn't that what much of the civil service has become? Originally from the Nihonbashi area, this Tokyo secret hidden gem food spot tragically burnt down during the war but was later rebuilt here in one of Asakusas hidden back streets, just behind the iconic Senso-ji Temple. And now this hidden gem is run by a father and son duo serving lines of locals each and every day. The owner, Ueki san, took over this Japanese food ship from his father when he was 29 years old making him the 4th generation owner in his family. But he actually, started his career at the age of 16, studying under his grandfathers friend at a traditional Japanese cuisine restaurant in Shimane prefecture. After which he worked in other industries to gain more life experience before setting back down here. Japanese-style Chinese restaurants like Asahi are known in Japan as MACHI-CHUKA, directly translated Town and Chinese. Its origin traces back to the 1600s when it arrived in Japans Nagasaki area during the Edo period but through time underwent a gradual evolution to suit Japanese tastes. Families say getting justice has been 'horrific' No charges yet been laid over tragedy The grieving family of one of the six students killed in the Tasmania jumping castle tragedy have lashed out at the justice system as the deadline looms for criminal charges to be laid. Hillcrest Primary School students Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Peter Dodt, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, and Chace Hamilton, 11, died when a jumping castle and several inflatable Zorb balls were lifted 10 metres into the air by a strong wind gust in December 2021. Three others were also seriously injured during the tragedy, but almost two years later, no charges have been laid - but have yet to be ruled out. Now the grieving families face a new battle, urgently appealing for the removal of the time restrictions regarding the filing of charges. In Tasmania, workplace safety laws stipulate that charges must be brought within two years of an incident. As this deadline rapidly approaches, there are only three months remaining for any potential charges to be filed. A distressed parent described the process of seeking justice as 'horrific in every sense of the word.' Hillcrest Primary School students Zane Mellor, 12, Peter Dodt, Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Jye Sheehan (pictured clockwise from top left) died in the jumping castle tragedy Prosecutors only have until December 16 to lay charges over the jumping castle tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School (pictured) 'The two-year limit should be formally waived,' they told 7news.com.au, stressing that the trauma extended beyond the affected families to include Hillcrest teachers, staff, students, first responders, hospital staff, and the entire community of Tasmania. Adding to the families' nightmare, preparations for an inquest into the students' deaths were put on hold in February. The inquest was told WorkSafe Tasmania refused to hand over documents to the coroner because doing so could prejudice the regulator's own investigation and potential prosecutions. The Supreme Court of Tasmania was told in July the documents include an engineer's report, and statements of three TaZorb employees and two department of education staff. WorkSafe Tasmania's lawyer, Michael O'Farrell SC, told the court releasing the documents could compromise potential prosecutions and further investigations. Families are calling for the time restrictions on pressing charges to be abolished. Pictured are shattered residents paying tribute one day after the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy He indicated the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had a WorkSafe Tasmania report and was still considering whether to prosecute. 'The matter remains under investigation, and that is an important element of our claim in this case,' O'Farrell said. He said granting the coroner access to the documents could lead to a scenario where the DPP could say there was insufficient permissible evidence to be able to prosecute. The coroners investigation has finished, and witnesses have given statements. Flowers, soft toys and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania in December 2021 The Devonport community will mark the two year anniversary of the tragedy in December. Pictured are the 2022 one year commemorations Anthony Albanese returned from a series of overseas summits on Monday and told parliament the referendum would go ahead on October 14. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton urged the prime minister to scrap the vote to avoid dividing the nation. Mr Dutton asked Mr Albanese to 'withdraw his Voice referendum, so we can avoid an outcome which sets back reconciliation and divides the nation'. With support for the Voice plummeting in all opinion polls, Mr Dutton told Mr Albanese 'it is clear the referendum will not be the moment of unity the 1967 referendum delivered'. 'Australians will get to determine their view on that date,' Mr Albanese told parliament. Governor-General David Hurley issued the referendum writ on Monday after a meeting of the executive council in Canberra. Overall support has slid to new lows with every state except Tasmania set to vote 'No' to a constitutionally-enshrined consultative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (above) has locked in October 14 for the Voice referendum despite support for his Yes campaign falling A Resolve Political Monitor survey, published in Nine newspapers on Monday, showed 43 per cent of voters supported a plan to enshrine an Indigenous voice in the constitution, down 20 percentage points from a year ago. The percentage of Australians in favour of the plan has dropped for the fifth month in a row and Victoria has flipped to a majority 'No' state since the previous survey. A successful referendum will require a 'Yes' vote from more than 50 per cent of voters in four of the six states. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said there were still many undecided voters who could be convinced to vote 'Yes', adding the purely consultative body with no veto power was 'a lot less scary than some of the 'No' campaign are making it out to be'. Yes23 spokesman Dean Parkin said the majority of campaigners and volunteers he saw out doorknocking around the national were in the 'Yes' camp. 'We knew that we would be in this position in the lead-up to the final vote,' he said. 'But it's very clear about what we need to do, we need to get out there and have as many conversations as we possibly can between now and the referendum.' Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said the government had 'failed miserably' in its bid to sell the positives of the voice and provide detail. But she also rejected the opposition's pledge to hold a second referendum on constitutional recognition as a 'brain fart'. Nationals leader David Littleproud said the prime minister needed to split the question to avoid dividing the nation, with most people supporting constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He denied a failed referendum would send a negative message to Indigenous Australians, saying it would be viewed as a rejection of the prime minister's model. 'Many Indigenous Australians feel that view now and that's why I think it's wrong for Indigenous leaders who support 'Yes' to make generalised statements about how Indigenous Australians will feel,' Mr Littleproud told reporters in Canberra. Recent surveys found support for the Yes vote is below 40 per cent in every state except Victoria (pictured, Yes campaigners in Brisbane) Postal vote applications close on October 11. The electoral roll closes seven days after writs are issued, meaning people have a week to ensure they're enrolled. Hundreds of early voting centres will be available from October 2, with centres to open in the ACT, NSW, Queensland and South Australia a day later due to a public holiday. The arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China will not stop Beijing being invited to the UK's upcoming artificial intelligence summit, No 10 hinted yesterday. Despite calls to ban Beijing from attending the world-first summit this autumn, Downing Street insisted 'we do need to be in the room arguing the case for the UK with China' on issues such as AI. MPs have urged Rishi Sunak to bar China from the summit in the wake of the Chinese spying allegations, saying inviting them would make Britain look 'weak'. Downing Street said yesterday that the Government would 'robustly defend' Britain's democracy. But the Prime Minister's official spokesman added: 'We do need to be in the room arguing the case for the UK with China on issues like climate change, on issues like artificial intelligence, and that's why it's important we are making this case face-to-face.' Despite calls to ban Beijing from attending the world-first summit this autumn, Downing Street insisted 'we do need to be in the room arguing the case for the UK with China' on issues such as AI In November, Britain will host a major meeting of countries to discuss the risk of the rise in the technology and bid to agree on global safety measures. The Prime Minister announced the summit amid fears AI's rapid advancement meant current working practices and safeguards are already out of date. Ministers are said to want to involve the Chinese due to the size of the country's AI industry. The Government has not confirmed China's attendance at the AI summit, to be held at former Second World War codebreaking centre Bletchley Park in November, but has said the 'global' summit will bring together 'key countries'. No 10's comments came after Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch refused to say whether China should be invited in the wake of the allegations. Asked whether Beijing should be blocked from attending, she told Sky News: 'That's a decision for the Prime Minister to take.' Mrs Badenoch also said the UK 'certainly should not be describing China as a foe'. 'China is a country that we do a lot of business with. China is a country that is significant in terms of world economics. It sits on the UN Security Council,' she said. 'We certainly should not be describing China as a foe but we can describe it as a challenge... I don't think we should be careless in terms of how we speak about other countries when these sorts of things happen.' And she suggested that designating China as a threat would 'escalate things'. 'Whether or not you use words like threat I think is a reflection of how far you want to escalate things,' she told Radio 4's Today programme. 'China is the second largest economy in the world, it's heavily integrated in our economy as it is with many of our allies... We're taking the same approach that those countries are taking.' No 10's comments came after Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch (pictured) refused to say whether China should be invited in the wake of the allegations. Asked whether Beijing should be blocked from attending, she told Sky News: 'That's a decision for the Prime Minister to take' Britain is a world leader in AI, ranking third behind the US and China. The technology contributes 3.7billion to the UK economy and employs 50,000 people. The summit will consider the risks of AI and discuss how they can be mitigated through internationally co-ordinated action. The EU, US and Japan are reportedly pushing back against inviting China to the summit. But some MPs have urged ministers to ensure Beijing is present at the event. Tory MP Mark Logan, vice-chairman of the all-party parliamentary committee on China, said it was 'just silly to keep going down the hole of 'let's close up' or not engage or influence what China is doing'. Fellow Tory Bob Seely, a member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said: 'I don't think we should sulk, I think we should continue to deal with people.' Remainer ministers plotted to oust Theresa May and hold a second referendum on Brexit, it emerged yesterday. Mrs May's former chief of staff Gavin Barwell said senior figures had discussed replacing her with her deputy Sir David Lidington to facilitate talks with Labour on a second referendum. The plot fizzled out, with Sir David saying he had never reached the point of 'moving against' the then prime minister. But the extraordinary plan underlines the desperate attempts made by senior figures at Westminster to thwart the will of the people and prevent Britain leaving the EU. Details of the secret scheme emerged in a new documentary by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on the fallout from the 2016 vote to leave the EU. Remainer ministers plotted to oust Theresa May (pictured) and hold a second referendum on Brexit , it emerged yesterday Mrs May's former chief of staff Gavin Barwell (pictured) said senior figures had discussed replacing her with her deputy Sir David Lidington to facilitate talks with Labour on a second referendum Asked about the plot, Lord Barwell said he had 'never had a conversation' with Sir David about the details, but added: 'It is definitely something that some people were talking about as a potential way through.' Sir David acknowledged that the idea had been floated as a possible way to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit which had paralysed parliament. But he insisted he would never have mounted a coup against Mrs May. Asked about the plot to join forces with Labour to force a second referendum, Sir David said: 'Yes, that was what happened.' He added: 'Theresa was not going to go and I never, never made any suggestion to her or any move against, or would have. 'There weren't conspiracies - there were increasingly desperate searches for ways to break a deadlock with a deal.' Sir David was one of the most prominent supporters of EU membership in government. He spent six years as Europe Minister and helped David Cameron negotiate new terms, which were ultimately rejected in the referendum. Any move to hold a second referendum would have split the Conservative Party and could have toppled the government - and risked allowing Jeremy Corbyn into No 10. Mrs May's Cabinet was packed with pro-Remain ministers, some of whom were accused of trying to thwart Brexit. Former Chancellor Philip Hammond acknowledged that he had pushed for a 'soft Brexit'. 'The Treasury was certainly trying to go for a soft Brexit and I don't think we should apologise for that at all,' he said. But prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Treasury's behaviour under Lord Hammond had been 'anti-democratic'. 'The Treasury never wanted to leave and tried to obstruct it,' he said. Ministers yesterday launched a crackdown on bogus legal actions being used to silence journalists from publishing stories in the public interest. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced a taskforce to assess how best to stop 'abuse' of so-called 'strategic lawsuits against public participation' (Slapps). They often involve the threat of costly bogus defamation and breach of privacy claims to halt publication of stories. Russian oligarchs seeking to silence journalists are among those who have used them. In a written statement, Ms Frazer told the Commons: 'Slapps seek to silence investigative journalists, writers and campaigners, often on unfounded defamation and privacy grounds which prevent the publication of information in the public interest. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer (pictured) announced a taskforce to assess how best to stop 'abuse' of so-called 'strategic lawsuits against public participation' (Slapps) The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will allow Slapps to be thrown out by judges more quickly and place a cap on costs for those targeted 'This abuse... is used by the wealthy to intimidate and financially exhaust opponents, threatening them with extreme costs for defending a claim and therefore undermining the reporting of important public interest issues.' The taskforce with representatives from the Society of Editors, the News Media Association, the National Union of Journalists and the Law Society of England and Wales will meet bi-monthly. It will consider non-legislative responses to Slapps targeting journalists and report back to ministers. Its proposals, if accepted, will complement incoming legislation tackling economic crime-linked Slapps, which cover up to 70 per cent of such cases brought to court. The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill will allow Slapps to be thrown out by judges more quickly and place a cap on costs for those targeted, making them less effective at strong-arming reporters into abandoning stories. A driver has been killed and his two passengers rushed to hospital after a ute rolled on a road in central Queensland. The Toyota HiLux crashed on Lake Callide Drive at Valentine Plains, east of Biloela, at 6pm on Monday. The 21-year-old driver was rushed to Biloela Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two passengers in the ute, a woman, 18, and a girl, 17, suffered minor injuries and were rushed to hospital. A Toyota HiLux crashed on Lake Callide Drive (pictured) at Valentine Plains, east of Biloela, on Monday The driver of the ute was rushed to Biloela Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two passengers were also taken to hospital (stock image) The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating. Anyone with information or dashcam footage or CCTV is urged to come forward. It comes after a man, 25, died in a single-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway at Canoona, north of Rockhampton, at 10am on Monday. The man, from Yandina, was heading northbound in his blue 2010 Holden Commodore when it left the roadway, crashed into trees and rolled, according to police. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the car, was ejected from the vehicle and declared dead at the scene. A Russian driver involved in a Bali moped crash has offered a cryptic comeback at the Australian tourist he collided with who initially claimed to be the victim of a hit and run. Dmitry Akimenko, 26, escaped with only minor knee injuries after colliding with the moped ridden by Australian tourist Benjamin Ward, 24, at 2am on August 31 in the North Kuta district of Bali's Badung Regency. Mr Ward, who suffered a serious head injury and four broken bones - including the tibia and fibula of his right leg, which pierced the skin - initially claimed the police were searching for a 'Russian guy' over the crash. However, Daily Mail Australia revealed last week Mr Ward was actually the one at fault, according to Indonesian police. Now, Mr Akimenko has referred to the crash in an Instagram post which begins with him turning the ignition on the Kawasaki Ninja he was riding on the night in question. Dmitry Akimenko (pictured), 26, was left with minor knee injuries in a collision with Australian tourist Benjamin Ward, 24, at 2am on Thursday 31 August in the North Kuta district of Bali's Badung Regency The video then cuts to a a Russian comedy sketch where a man impaled by a tree branch laughs off his gruesome injuries. It is unclear whether Mr Akimenko was making light of his own injuries or those suffered by Mr Ward. Daily Mail Australia has approached Mr Akimenko for comment. Exclusive images taken in the aftermath of the head-on collision can now be revealed for the first time. Benji Ward (pictured), 24, suffered a serious head injury and broke four bones, including the tibia and fibula of his right leg, which pierced the skin One shows Mr Ward's 155cc engine Yamaha NMax lying crumpled by the side of the road, while the other shows Mr Akimenko's bike standing on the footpath. Indonesian police said there were no witnesses to the accident but Mr Ward told them he was the one at fault. 'The hit and run crash never happened,' said First Inspector Putu Deniani. 'The Australian and the Russian had a traffic accident and both of them were at the same medical clinic that night. They told us that they have agreed to solve the matter peacefully , without taking legal action.' Ms Deniani added: 'We feel disappointed with Mr Ward's suggestion it was a hit and run crash. 'The fact is, it was not hit and run crash. He himself hit the Russian.' Well-wishers donated over $40,000 after a GoFundMe page was set-up by Mr Ward's friend and OnlyFans model Bailey Scarlett to raise funds for his surgery and medical evacuation back to Melbourne. Pictures taken in the crash's aftermath show Mr Ward's 155cc engine Yamaha NMax lying crumpled by the side of the road Another shows Mr Akimenko's bike on the footpath A now-deleted update on the page suggested Mr Ward had been injured in a hit-and-run, a claim he echoed in comments from his hospital bed made four days ago. 'They're (the police) trying to find the Russian guy who hit me because he also hit another person on the same night and broke his arm,' Mr Ward said. But this publication later revealed that there was no hit-and-run, according to local police. Instead, Mr Ward signed a 'peace agreement' through an intermediary on Monday to pay compensation to Mr Akimenko, to avoid being charged with a traffic offence. Well-wishers donated over $40,000 after a GoFundMe page was set-up by Mr Ward's friend and OnlyFans model Bailey Scarlett to raise funds for his surgery and medical evacuation back to Melbourne Daily Mail Australia understands that under the peace agreement Mr Ward agreed to pay just over $1,000 to cover Mr Akimenko's medical expenses and $3,500 to pay for the damage to his bike. 'It was not a hit-and-run crash, and both parties has decided to resolve the case with peace agreement,' Badung Police chief Teguh Priowarsono said. It is not suggested that Ms Scarlett knew that the hit-and-run did not take place when she set up the GoFundMe. Daily Mail Australia previously approached Mr Ward and Ms Scarlett for comment about the revelations. A now-deleted update on the page suggested Mr Ward had been injured in a hit-and-run (pictured), a claim he echoed in comments from his hospital bed made four days ago (below) Last week, Ms Scarlett shared a breakdown of Mr Ward's current medical costs on the GoFundMe page and claimed the total bill so far was $39,000. The same day, Mr Ward shared a Australian Air Ambulance aeromedical retrieval quote for $180,750 to his Instagram stories. 'Some people have the audacity to try say I'm trying to make money off the flight home so here you go,' he captioned the post. 'Don't think in the situation I'm in this is necessary but some low life's clearly have nothing better to do then (sic) talk s***.' On Monday, Mr Ward shared this update from his hospital bed He also hit back at critics who apparently suggested he was trying to make money off his flight home Mr Ward required an urgent blood transfusion and underwent surgery to have a metal halo splint drilled into his right leg. 'Everything's all good, the surgery went well,' said Mr Ward from his hospital bed four days ago. 'I've got another surgery in three weeks, I've got a Halo on at the moment and there's no bleeding from the brain all the blood from my head has stopped so its all looking positive. He also thanked friends and family who had donated. Ms Scarlett, who is an OnlyFans model and influencer, has previously represented Australians in Bali suffering a medical crisis. She previously acted as a de facto media spokesperson for the family of baby 'Lucky'. Mr Ward (pictured left) will have a metal halo brace drilled into his leg requiring him to use a wheelchair for months Bailey Scarlett, an OnlyFans model and actress, set-up the GoFundMe page for her friend Mr Ward. She also acted as a de facto media spokesperson for Baby Lucky's parents Honey and Pan Ahimsa in February. It is not suggested that Ms Scarlett knew that the hit and run did not take place when she set up the GoFundMe In February, the family captured the nation's hearts when Lucky's mum, Honey Ahimsa, launched a desperate bid to charter a medical evacuation. Her then-seven-week-old daughter needed to fly back to Australia for life-saving care not available in Indonesia. Ms Ahimsa, a wellness influencer and mother-of-two originally from Melbourne, said doctors in Bali gave her baby a 50 per cent chance of survival. Almost $200,000 was raised in a matter of days by kind-hearted donors who rallied behind the stranded family as Lucky battled sepsis, severe pneumonia, lung failure and RSV-bronchiolitis. She was flown to Brisbane on a medevac flight in February, and doctors treated her successfully. A few months later in July, Daily Mail Australia revealed Ms Ahmisa and her partner Pan, along with Lucky and their other young child, have returned to Bali where they are renovating a house. An infestation of red fire ants - described as 'one of the most invasive species in the world' - could soon swarm the UK, a new study has warned. While the species is native to South America, it has been spotted in Europe for the first time, sparking fears it could soon spread across the entire continent. Its sting is painful and can cause nasty pustules and allergic reactions, possibly leading to anaphylactic shock. Scientists are now calling on the public to help limit the insect's spread. 'Citizens can play a very important role in this,' said Mattia Menchetti of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. 'We hope that, with their help, we will be able to cover a wider area. This will help us track and spot all the possible areas invaded in the region.' An infestation of red fire ants - described as 'one of the most invasive species in the world' - could soon swarm the UK, a new study has warned Aside from Europe (red star), it's already been able to establish itself in Australia, China, the Caribbean, Mexico and the US READ MORE: The invasive species wreaking havoc on Britain - including Asian hornets, giant hogweed, and killer shrimp Britain is home to 2,000 invasive species which pose a threat to our native wildlife. Pictured: giant hogweed Advertisement The red fire ant, or Solenopsis invicta, was spotted in Sicily, marking the first time it has been officially sighted in Europe. 'S. invicta is one of the worst invasive species,' said Mr Menchetti. 'It can spread alarmingly quickly. Finding this species in Italy was a big surprise, but we knew this day would come.' Its fiery name comes from its painful stings, which can leave pustules on its victims. The creature originated in South America, but has spread quickly through various methods, including flying into wind streams, through the maritime trade, and by shipping plant products. Aside from Europe, it's already been able to establish itself in Australia, China, the Caribbean, Mexico and the US. 'There are a vast number of alien ant species currently establishing in Europe, and the absence of this species was kind of a relief,' said Mr Menchetti. 'For decades, scientists have feared that it would arrive. We could not believe our eyes when we saw it.' The team were alerted to the ants' arrival in Sicily, and decided to travel there to see them for themselves. Their tests revealed 88 nests in a 4.7-hectare area, with some housing thousands of ants. Its fiery name comes from its painful stings, which can leave pustules on its victims The team were alerted to the ants' arrival in Sicily (pictured), and decided to travel there to see them for themselves How to spot a red fire ant Red fire ants have several distinct characteristics: Small size (1/16- to 1/5-inch long) Body reddish with shiny dark brown gaster with stinger Large eyes and 3 teeth on front of head Petiole with 2 nodes; no spines on thorax 10-segmented antennae with 2-segmented club Extremely aggressive Source: UCIPM Advertisement And it doesn't appear that the insects are new to the area, with many locals reporting regularly getting stung for several years. 'The locals have been experiencing these painful things since at least 2019, so the ants have probably been there for a while,' Mr Menchetti said. 'And the real extension of the invaded area is probably larger.' To understand how the species arrived in Sicily, the team analysed the DNA of the queen ants and compared it with the genomes of ants from all over the world. This revealed that this particular population arrived from either the US or China. Now that the ants are in Italy, the researchers have created a model to predict where the species will spread to next. According to the model, seven per cent of the European continent is suitable for the species, with this figure set to grow thanks to climate change. In particular, urban areas are at high risk of infestations, with 50 per cent of European cities vulnerable - including London. 'This is especially concerning because many of the cities, including London, Amsterdam, and Rome, have large seaports, which could allow the ants to spread rapidly to more countries and continents,' said Roger Vila, a senior author of the study. According to the model, seven per cent of the European continent is suitable for the species, with this figure set to grow thanks to climate change The only country to have successfully eradicated red fire ants is New Zealand, and the researchers claim Europe should base its own interventions on what worked there. Initially, scientists will inspect local areas to see if the species has already reached them. Next, they'll begin a multi-year treatment plan to eradicate the nests and monitor the invaded sites to make sure there aren't any resurgences. The team also says that citizens can do their part to help, by taking photos if they think they've found any ants. 'There needs to be more awareness about this problem because the problem is already in Europe,' Mr Menchetti concluded. 'We need coordinated action, and we need it now.' Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, the scientist who led the team that cloned Dolly the Sheep, has died aged 79. Described as a 'a titan of the scientific world', the researcher's death comes five years after he revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease the condition Dolly offered hope of finding a cure for. She was the first mammal ever to be cloned from an adult cell. When Sir Ian unveiled the sheep in 1997 it paved the way for potential stem-cell treatments to tackle conditions such as Parkinson's, a degenerative disease which affects more than 150,000 people in the UK. Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Sir Ian Wilmut. 'A titan of the scientific world': Professor Sir Ian Wilmut, the scientist who led the team that cloned Dolly the Sheep, has died aged 79. He is pictured with Dolly in 1997 DOLLY'S OWN CLONES Dolly the sheep died prematurely at the age of six 20 years ago. However, four more sheep were derived from the same batch of cells as Dolly and considered her clone 'sisters' when they were born in 2007. Known as the 'Nottingham Dollies' they were Debbie, Denise, Dianna and Daisy. They became part of an experiment to study the long-term health effects of cloning. The sheep lived until the age of 10 - around 70 years old in human years - but researchers revealed in 2017 that they would be put down. The reason, they said, was because there was no 'scientific merit' in keeping them alive and 10 years of age was very old for a sheep. Advertisement 'He was a titan of the scientific world, leading the Roslin Institute team who cloned Dolly the sheep the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell which transformed scientific thinking at the time. 'This breakthrough continues to fuel many of the advances that have been made in the field of regenerative medicine that we see today. 'Our thoughts are with Ians family at this time.' In 2018, in an interview with the BBC, Sir Ian said he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's just before Christmas of the previous year. He added: 'There was a sense of clarity, well at least now we know and we can start doing things about it. As well as obviously the disappointment that it will possibly shorten my life slightly, and more particularly it will alter the quality of life.' Professor Bruce Whitelaw, director of the Roslin Institute, said: 'With the sad news today of Ian Wilmut's passing, science has lost a household name. 'Ian led the research team that produce the first cloned mammal in Dolly. 'This animal has had such a positive impact on how society engages with science, and how scientists engage with society. His legacy drives so many exciting applications emerging from animal and human biology research.' Parkinson's causes a range of symptoms, including muscle stiffness, slow movements, loss of smell and involuntary shaking. There are treatments available that can help, but nothing can be done to slow down or stop the degenerative disease's progression. Parkinson's causes a range of symptoms, including muscle stiffness, slow movements, loss of smell and involuntary shaking Speaking on the eve of Dolly's 20th anniversary in 2016, Sir Ian said widespread use of stem cell treatments for conditions like Parkinson's was still likely to be 'decades away'. He admitted that in the early days, scientists including himself had been carried away by the prospect of revolutionary stem cell therapies. Dolly, who was born at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, on July 5 1996, made history by being the first mammal cloned from an adult cell. Sir Ian said he had never hidden the fact that Dolly's creation was largely a stroke of luck. She was the only surviving lamb from 277 cloning attempts and was created from an udder cell taken from a six-year-old Finn Dorset sheep. Dolly, who was born at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, on July 5 1996, made history by being the first mammal cloned from an adult cell The pioneering technique the Roslin team used involved transferring the nucleus of an adult cell into an unfertilised egg cell whose own nucleus had been removed. An electric shock stimulated the hybrid cell to begin dividing and generate an embryo which was then implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother. The result was a newborn animal that was a genetic copy of the original cell donor. Dolly died on February 14 2003. She had suffered from arthritis and a virus-induced lung disease, and is thought to have aged prematurely due to being cloned from a sheep that was already six years old. Despite sensational speculation about human cloning at the time of her birth, Dolly's most important legacy was a massive boost to stem cell research. The same cell reprogramming technique used to create Dolly was adopted by other scientists to generate 'induced pluripotent stem cells' (iPS cells) from adult human skin cells. Geologists have uncovered what they believe could be the world's largest lithium deposit inside an ancient supervolcano along the Nevada-Oregon border in the US. Clay containing up to 40 million metric tons of the precious metal was identified throughout the 28-mile-long McDermitt Caldera - nearly double what has been found in Bolivia's salt flats that have long held the record for the most lithium deposits. While the amount of lithium is based on estimates - no drilling has taken place - scientists have found high concentrations of lithium in the caldera since the 1970s. As of 2022, the average battery-grade lithium carbonate price was $37,000 per metric ton, meaning the volcano is potentially sitting on $1.48 trillion worth of the precious metal. Canada-based Lithium Americas Corporation plans to begin mining as early as 2026, mine the region for the next 40 years, and then backfill the pit. However, the plan has been criticized due to the environmental impact of mining and claims that the site is on sacred Native American land. Lithium is a critical component for batteries that power everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and solar panels - and China has dominated the market for decades because 90 percent of the metal mined is refined in the nation. The McDermitt Caldera could hold the most lithium in the world. The crater, which formed 19 million years ago, sits along the Nevada-Oregon border. Experts said the extraction process would only need water to remove clay that will be leached to extract lithium The plan has been criticized due to the environmental impact of mining and claims that the site is on sacred Native American land Anouk Borst, a geologist at KU Leuven University who was not involved in the study, told Chemistry World: 'If you believe their back-of-the-envelope estimation, this is a very, very significant deposit of lithium. 'It could change the dynamics of lithium globally, in terms of price, security of supply and geopolitics.' McDermitt Caldera is believed to have formed about 19 million years ago, and last erupted 16 million years ago. Geologists believe the eruption pushed minerals from the ground to the surface, which left lithium-rich smectite clay. Faults and fractures also formed from the explosion that provided a way for lithium to rise to the surface of the crater. Melissa Boerst, a Lithium Nevada Corp. geologist, points to the area of future exploration from a drill site in 2018 Clay containing up to 40 million metric tons of lithium was identified throughout the 600-mile-wide McDermitt Caldera - nearly doubling what has been found in Bolivia's salt flats that have long held the record for the most lithium deposits A lake formed within the caldera after the last eruption, and the team analyzed sediments, finding high lithium concentrations. The team shared in the study published in Science Advances that they hand-picked claystone samples from McDerrmitt Caldera and found they were also high in lithium concentrations. Previous drilling in Thacker Pass, located nearby and owned by Lithium Americas, has 13.7 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent and was previously known as the largest deposit in the US. To identify which supervolcanoes offer the best sources of lithium, researchers measured the original concentration of lithium in the magma. Because lithium is a volatile element that easily shifts from solid to liquid to vapor, it is tough to measure directly, and its original concentrations are poorly known. The team looked at tiny bits of magma trapped in crystals during growth within the magma chamber. These 'melt inclusions,' completely encapsulated within the crystals, survive the supereruption and remain intact throughout the weathering process. As such, melt inclusions record the original concentrations of lithium and other elements in the magma. Researchers sliced through the host crystals to expose these preserved magma blebs, which are 10 to 100 microns in diameter, then analyzed them with the Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe in the SHRIMP-RG Laboratory at Stanford Earth. Pictured is an exposed area of the crater that experts believe is filled with lithium The team has collected core samples from the caldera, which were tested, showing high lithium concentrations The took is used to measure the ratio of lead to uranium to calculate the age of the mineral grain, which allowed researchers to identify the caldera's lithium enrichment degree. These results were then compared with data from a technique that details the chemical composition and physical properties of whole-rock samples and clay separates. Researchers also noted in the paper that trioctahedral magnesian smectite clay minerals, which are lithium-bearing clay minerals, were found abundantly in the caldera. Tom Benson with Lithium Americas and Columbia University told DailyMail.com that he began studying the McDermitt caldera in 2012 to understand why it contained so many different deposits. 'I soon began to realize that Li [lithium] was the behemoth, occurring throughout the caldera from the northern tip in Oregon to the southern tip in Nevada,' Benson said. Tom Benson with Lithium Americas and Columbia University told DailyMail.com that he began studying the McDermitt caldera in 2012 to understand why it contained so many different deposits. 'I soon began to realize that Li [lithium] was the behemoth, occurring throughout the caldera from the northern tip in Oregon to the southern tip in Nevada,' Benson said. 'So, I quickly changed my focus to understanding the origin of the Li deposit, as little to no information was known about its genesis at the time.' 'This study shows caldera-wide drilling that demonstrates that this smectite to illite conversion at depth only occurs in the Montana Mountains and to the south around the Thacker Pass area. Benson continued to explain that lithium-bearing sediments are right at the surface of the Earth, which 'makes the deposit one of the least impactful mines ever to be built.' Most of the world's lithium deposits are locked up in brine. Lithium brine recovery entails drilling to the underground brine deposit, which is then pumped to the surface and distributed to evaporation ponds like this one in Bolivia 'We will do a process called strip mining in which we dig a small hole to the bottom of the resource, and after about five years, start migrating the pit eastward, said Beson. 'As we do that, we will start backfilling the pit (with material that has only touched the water, so it is benign to the environment - in fact, likely better because we will have removed As, Sb, and other heavy metals from the ground that are contained in the clay). 'Once the pit has reached its 40-year mine life, the pit will be completely backfilled and revegetated, leaving it much like how it looks today, if not more vegetated, and at a slightly lower elevation.' Benson noted that phase one of the project aims to mine 40,000 tons annually, yielding $1.6 million in yearly revenue. READ MORE: Tiny town in Arkansas that sits on a multi-billion-dollar gold mine of precious lithium is set to become epicenter of EV and mobile battery BOOM! A small, quiet Arkansas town home to just 11,100 people is set to become the epicenter of the US 'white gold' boom. Advertisement 'The US would have its own lithium supply, and industries would be less scared about supply shortages.' The US is slowly abandoning gas-powered cars for electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - but the shift also means it will be more reliant on other countries, like China, to provide the necessary materials. Extracting lithium on US soil would help the nation on its path to self-reliance, which the country has strived to - but has yet to obtain. The nation is home to only one active lithium mine, Clayton Valley, near Silver Peak, Nevada, but many companies are working to change that. The US imports hundreds of millions of lithium-ion batteries each year, with the volume ever increasing. According to data from the UN Comtrade Database, China accounted for most UUS battery imports last year, with a total trade value of $9.3 billion. South Korea and Japan are popular sources, with batteries worth $1.3 and $1.0 billion imported to the U.S. in 2022. The total import value of lithium-ion batteries nearly tripled since 2020, reaching $13.9 billion last year. Data has proposed that about one million metric tons of lithium will be needed to meet global demand by 2040 an eight-fold increase from the total global production in 2022. 'Developing a sustainable and diverse supply chain to meet lower-carbon energy and national security goals requires mining the highest-grade domestic lithium resources with the lowest waste: ore strip ratios to minimize both the volume of material extracted from the Earth,' the researchers wrote in a study published in Science Advances. 'Volcano sedimentary lithium resources have the potential to meet this requirement, as they tend to be shallow, high-tonnage deposits with low waste: ore strip ratios. While the discovery could be great news for the US economy, it spells trouble for Native American tribes that claim the land is sacred. The Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock people are pushing back on mining, stating the project would 'authorize almost 100 acres of disturbance from 267 exploration drill sites.' The tribes are part of the People of the Red Mountain organization, which said there are 91 significant cultural sites in the area. 'The global search for lithium has become a form of 'green' colonialism,' People of Red Mountain, an Indigenous-led organization created to protect the sacred site, said in an August statement 'The Caldera holds many first foods, medicines, and hunting grounds for tribal people both past and present.' The organization is now trying to stop on the Oregon side of the caldera. While lithium is critical in the transition to clean energy, extracting white gold can lead to long-term ecological damage. The lithium extraction process uses a lot of water more than 500,000 liters per ton of lithium. Miners drill a hole in salt flats to extract lithium and pump salty, mineral-rich brine to the surface. After several months, the water evaporates, leaving a mixture of manganese, potassium, borax and lithium salts, filtered and placed into another evaporation pool. After 12 and 18 months, the mixture is sufficiently filtered to extract lithium carbonate. Over a year, producing 60,000 tons of lithium could devastate the surrounding environment - up to 30 million tons of earth needs to be dug. This is more than the annual amount of dirt dug up to produce all coal output of all but seven or eight US states In May 2016, dead fish were found floating in China's Liqi River, where a toxic chemical leaked from the Ganzizhou Rongda Lithium mine. Cow and yak carcasses were also found floating in the river, likely killed by drinking the contaminated water. Lithium extraction also harms the soil and causes air contamination. In Argentina's Salar de Hombre Muerto, residents believe lithium operations contaminated streams used by humans and livestock for crop irrigation. In Chile, the landscape is marred by mountains of discarded salt and canals filled with contaminated water with an unnatural blue hue. According to Guillermo Gonzalez, a lithium battery expert from the University of Chile, 'This isn't a green solution it's not a solution at all.' BANGKOK, Sep 12 ( News On Japan ) - A Japanese man who escaped from an immigration facility in Bangkok by commandeering a police vehicle has been apprehended in Pattaya, 150 kilometers from the Thai capital. According to local police, the suspect, identified as Yuki Yagi (35), seized a police vehicle on Sunday and escaped an immigration facility in Bangkok, breaking the facility's doors while speeding off. Yagi reportedly dumped the police vehicle and took a taxi to a hotel in Pattaya to hide out. When police raided the hotel, Yagi broke a window in an attempt to resist capture, but was eventually taken into custody and returned to the immigration center. Yagi was wanted in Japan on charges of fraud, with his deportation to Japan imminent. It is expected that he will go through legal proceedings in Thailand regarding his latest escape, and if found guilty, will be incarcerated in a Thai prison. It's almost time to get your jumpers out of storage and pour yourself a pumpkin spice latte, as autumn officially arrives on 23 September. Experts from Forestry England say that the combination of a rainy spring with the record-breaking temperatures in June has paved the way for a 'spectacular autumn show.' Andrew Smith, director of Westonbirt Arboretum, said: 'It's amazing to see how all the different factors come together to create autumn colour every year. 'While the wet spring and reduced sunshine may bring delightful surprises, other elements also play a significant role. 'Factors such as genetics, tree species, elevation, and local climate conditions all contribute to the magical spectacle. This combination ensures that the intensity and timing of the autumn colours remain a wonderful mystery every year.' Experts from Forestry England say that the combination of a rainy spring with the record-breaking temperatures in June has paved the way for a 'spectacular autumn show' Met Office data shows that this spring was particularly wet, with rainfall across Britain 55 per cent higher than average. While this rain may have dampened many Britons' spirits, it did wonders for the growth of the UK's trees. 'This abundance of rain has helped set the stage for a stunning display of colourful leaves in autumn,' Forestry England explained. 'This is because the rain provided plenty of moisture to the soil, which helps to promote strong and healthy growth.' Following this rainy spring, Britain basked in record-breaking heat in June, with temperatures hitting a daily average of 15.8C - 2.5C higher than average. This sunny weather allowed Britain's trees to flourish, according to Forestry England. 'Plenty of sunshine has meant a good growing season for the nation's forests, helping them build up plenty of the sugars which produce the stunning autumn reds, golds and oranges as they are absorbed back into the tree,' it explained. Following this rainy spring, Britain basked in record-breaking heat in June, with temperatures hitting a daily average of 15.8C - 2.5C higher than average 'Instead of following the usual pattern, the weather experienced in early spring could lead to a more gradual and enchanting shift in leaf colours this autumn, creating a beautiful mix of colours that are truly one-of-a-kind.' The arrival of the autumn colours could also be influenced by the hot start to this month. 'If temperatures remain high, this can delay the onset of autumn and the subsequent colour change in leaves,' Forestry England said. The leaves change colour when days become shorter and temperatures cool, with the green chlorophyll starting to disappear, leaving yellow and orange hues. 'So, while the warm weather may slightly alter the beginning of autumn, it can also extend it, offering more chances for people to witness nature's splendid transformation,' Forestry England added. A comet discovered only in August will be visible to the naked eye when it soars with 78 million miles of Earth on Tuesday before disappearing for another 400 years. Nishimura, named after the Japanese photographer who captured it on August 11, can be spotted by its greenish glow as it sweeps across the northeastern hemisphere in all parts of the world, including the US and the UK. Astronomers said the best chance to view this once-in-a-lifetime display is for skygazers to look near the Leo constellation about 90 minutes before sunrise. The comet last visited about 435 years ago, about a decade or two before Galileo invented the telescope - and the next time it will be visible from Earth will be 2458. A comet discovered only in August will be visible to the naked eye when it soars with 78 million miles of Earth on Tuesday before disappearing for another 400 years The green comet is shooting through space at 240,000 miles per hour, and while it has been seen in the sky, it will be glowing bright on Tuesday and the following days. It will sweep past Earth closer than the moon, which sits 238 million miles from our planet. The nucleus is the solid, central part of the comet, made out of rock, dust, and frozen gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. The wondering ice ball contains a molecule called dicarbon that produces a green glow when broken down. Nishimura may be visible to the naked eye, but having a pair of binoculars or a telescope will make it even easier to spot. Before departing the solar system, the comet will come closer to the sun in about September. However, Paul Chodas, manager of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, said the comet could disintegrate when it soars close to the sun. Italian astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, said in an email that the next week represents 'the last, feasible chances' to see the comet from the Northern Hemisphere before its lost in the suns glare. Astronomer Gianluca Masi captured the comet C/2023 P1 Nishimura over Marciano, Italy on September 5, 2023 Astronomers said the best chance to view this once-in-a-lifetime display is for skygazers to look near the Leo constellation about 90 minutes before sunrise 'The comet looks amazing right now, with a long, highly structured tail, a joy to image with a telescope,' he said. Masi said that if it survives its brush with the sun, the comet should be visible in the Southern Hemisphere by the end of September, sitting low on the horizon in the evening twilight. The comet was discovered by Japan's Hideo Nishimura on August 12 using a telephoto lens mounted on a Canon camera while it was around 93 million miles from the sun. Stargazers have been tracking the rare green comet since its discovery by an amateur Japanese astronomer in mid-August. The Nishimura comet now bears his name. It is unusual for an amateur to discover a comet these days, given all the professional sky surveys by powerful ground telescopes, Chodas said, adding, 'This is his third find, so good for him.' The comet last visited about 430 years ago, Chodas said. That's about a decade or two before Galileo invented the telescope. The first spotless giraffe has been seen roaming the plains in Africa, just weeks after a Tennessee zoo announced the birth of a giraffe that also lacked the markings. A photographer captured images of the young calf running alongside her mother on a private game reserve in Namibia. The last time a spotless giraffe appeared in the spotlight was in Tokyo in 1972. While seeing a solid-colored giraffe may be exciting, experts have warned that the lack of patterns puts the animal at risk of predators. The spots are unique to each animal, making it confusing for predators to narrow in on a single prey. The first spotless giraffe has been seen roaming the plains in Africa Spots and patterns on a giraffes coat help camouflage them in the wild, but the markings also usually sit atop a concentrated area of blood vessels that allow the animal to shed heat and control body temperature. While it is common for color variations or changes in spot or stripe patterns to be observed in various species, the cause is often unknown. The lack of spots is due to a genetic condition called leucism, which blocks skin cells from producing pigments. Dr Julian Fennessy, Giraffe Conversation Foundation's (GCF) co-founder and director of conservation, said: 'The lack of spots could be caused by genetic mutations or recessive genotype in one or more genes related to the pattern, but without detailed genetic analysis, these are mere speculations.' The spotless giraffe is one of only about 117,000 left in Africa, as the animal is now extinct in at least seven countries - there are just four distinct species left. A photographer captured images of the young calf running alongside her mother on a private game reserve in Namibia The spots are unique to each animal, making it confusing for predators to narrow in on a single prey Stephanie Fennessy, GCFs executive director and co-founder, said: 'Giraffe are in trouble and if we dont act now, our grandchildren might not be able to see any giraffe in the wild when they grow up. 'That is what really worries me! But the good news is that it is not too late! If we act now, we can all stand tall for giraffes and secure a future for these gentle giants in the wild.' The spotless giraffe in the wild follows news of one being born in the US that was previously believed to be the only of its kind. The public was asked to name the calf, landing on Kipekee, the Swahili word for 'unique,' for the new star at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee. Keepers were staggered by the baby reticulated giraffe when it was born on July 31 with none of its species characteristic spots or patches. The spotless giraffe in the wild follows news of one being born in the US that was previously believed to be the only of its kind. The public was asked to name the calf, landing on Kipekee, the Swahili word for 'unique,' for the new star at Brights Zoo in Limestone, Tennessee The zoo said their now six-foo-tall baby is thriving and has started showing her off to visitors while she remains under the care of her mother. The worldwide population of reticulated giraffes has fallen to just 38,000, and the zoo hopes Kipekees arrival will help focus attention on the species plight. 'Wild populations are silently slipping into extinction, with 40 percent of the wild giraffe population lost in just the last three decades, said Bright. 'The international coverage of our pattern-less baby giraffe has created a much-needed spotlight on giraffe conservation. 'Tequila is best enjoyed by sipping shooting it down doesn't give it the respect it deserves.' So says etiquette expert William Hanson, who in a viral TikTok video with over one million views, explains that doing shots of tequila is wrong. In the video, filmed at Mexican restaurant Cavita on Wigmore Street, London, Mr Hanson says: 'We don't shoot it back in a shot form. Instead, in Mexico, the correct etiquette is to sip tequila. And if you need to, in between, you can use lime or orange and salt, which you suck to cleanse the palette.' MailOnline Travel asked Mr Hanson if shots are ever acceptable. He said: 'Tradition in Mexico suggests that tequila is a noble drink best tasted and enjoyed by sipping. Shooting it down somewhat diminishes it and doesn't give it the respect it deserves. 'Tequila is best enjoyed by sipping shooting it down doesn't give it the respect it deserves,' says etiquette expert William Hanson. In a viral TikTok video with over one million views, Mr Hanson explains that doing shots of tequila is wrong 'Needless to say, it is widely believed to be the Americans who cultivated the "shoot it" culture.' So, should one turn down doing shots if offered? Mr Hanson said: 'For some, a night out isn't complete without doing shots of tequila. Bless them. If you are not a shots sort of person, don't feel you need to do shots to fit in. Be yourself. Politely decline and drink whatever you want properly. Equally, never pressure anyone to do a shot.' The etiquette expert revealed that the correct glassware for tequila is a flute glass 'as it heightens the aromas and funnels them upwards to the nose'. Mr Hanson said: 'For some, a night out isn't complete without doing shots of tequila. Bless them. If you are not a shots sort of person, don't feel you need to do shots to fit in' In the video, Mr Hanson takes a sip of tequila and reveals that it is the first time he's ever tried it. And the verdict? He said: 'It was very strong and I am so thankful I didn't need to incorrectly - shoot it back or else I'd have been on the floor. 'I could appreciate why many like it, but it won't be being worked into my drinks repertoire.' Mr Hanson revealed that his go-to party drink is a gin and tonic 'a tall glass with regular London dry gin, none of these new flavoured gins' or a gin and Dubonnet 'if I'm feeling really wild'. For more from William visit his TikTok here and Instagram here. He can be found tweeting at twitter.com/williamhanson. The study reveals that Brits' top baking fail is dealing with unrisen cake batter Leicester is home to the worst cake bakers in Britain, according to a new study, which also reveals Brits' most common baking fails. Researchers asked the nation about their baking skills, with 66 per cent of those from Leicester admitting their cakes are usually a 'disaster', compared to the national average of just 43 per cent. In second place is Birmingham where 64 per cent of people admit their baking skills leave a lot to be desired, followed by London (third, 59 per cent). In joint fourth place, it's Leeds and Liverpool, where 58 per cent of locals declare their bakes 'disastrous'. Fifth in the ranking is Glasgow, where 57 per cent say they are cake-baking amateurs, followed by Nottingham (sixth, 56 per cent), Manchester (seventh, 52 per cent), Norwich (eighth, 51 per cent), and Sheffield (ninth, 49 per cent). Elsewhere, the study, which comes ahead of the return of hit series The Great British Bake Off, found that Brits' most common baking fail is dealing with unrisen cake batter. A third of respondents (33 per cent) have faced this issue. Leicester is home to the worst cake bakers in Britain, according to a new study, which also revealed Brits' most common baking fails The second most common baking fail is burning the top of the cake (20 per cent). It's followed by taking a cake out of the oven with a soggy bottom (third, 19 per cent), which can mean the oven's temperature was not high enough or the cake was not baked for long enough. Other baking fiascos include making cakes with a rock-hard sponge, dealing with melted icing, facing sunken sponges, and making cakes that are bone dry (all 15 per cent, joint fourth). More patisserie fails include fruit sinking to the bottom of a bake and making a cake that's too thin to cut in half (joint fifth, both 11 per cent), the study of 2,000 people has revealed. And 10 per cent of Brits have made cakes with lumpy, un-sifted flour (sixth). BRITAIN'S WORST CAKE BAKERS RANKED 1. Leicester (66 per cent) 2. Birmingham (64 per cent) 3. London (59 per cent) 4= Leeds (58 per cent) 4= Liverpool (58 per cent) 5. Glasgow (57 per cent) 6. Nottingham (56 per cent) 7. Manchester (52 per cent) 8. Norwich (51 per cent) 9. Sheffield (49 per cent) Source: Samsung Advertisement Common baking fails include dealing with an unrisen batter and burning the top of the cake The art of baking appeals to a wide audience, with almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of those surveyed saying they find baking shows like the Great British Bake Off inspiring. But despite this keen interest, more than half (53 per cent) of Brits are forced to throw out their bakes because they're inedible, the findings show. Almost a quarter of Britons (23 per cent) have ended up buying a cake and passing it off as their own, the study reveals. While 39 per cent claim their cake creations are so bad, they could not even consider posting them on social media. Thirty-nine per cent claim their cake creations are so bad, they could not even consider posting them on social media More than a third (34 per cent) of respondents said trying to decorate cakes was 'stressful', while 55 per cent blamed their oven not being at the right temperature for their baking disasters. The research was commissioned by Samsung's Series 7 Bespoke AI Oven, which has an internal camera and burn detection function. Gino Grossi, from Samsung UK, said: 'Our research says that over 55 per cent of the nation has blamed their oven for their baking disasters, while 70 per cent feel having smarter tech in the kitchen would help improve their baking skills.' Do you know who the mystery woman is? Email tips to newsUS@dailymail.com A rep from the Italian boat rental company noted that 'third person on board' - who has not been identified - had 'obstructed the captain's view' to the back of the boat The couple has been accused of public indecency by Italian authorities on August 28, after the rapper, 46, was snapped with his pants down with Censori 28, nestled between his legs in front of gawking tourists A mystery woman, dressed in all black, a head scarf, and sunglasses - was aboard the Venice canal boat where Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori were snapped in an apparently compromising position last month Advertisement It seems Venetian tourists weren't the only witnesses to Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori's very amorous boat ride last month - as photos show a mystery companion was in close quarters when the couple was caught in flagrante. The pair were accused of public indecency by Italian authorities on August 28, after the controversial rapper, 46, was snapped with his pants down and with his Australian bride, 28, nuzzled between his legs, during a water taxi ride on the city's famous canals. The two were slammed for engaging in an apparent lewd act in front of dozens of gawking tourists, however, DailyMail.com can reveal that a third passenger had also been onboard at the time and likely got a front-row view of the couple's racy display that ultimately got them banned from future boat rides. While West was pictured exposing his bare buttocks as Censori knelt in front of him at the back of the vessel, the shadowy woman, who has not been identified, can be seen standing behind the boat's captain at the bow. A shadowy woman, who has not been identified, can be seen standing behind the boat's captain at the bow, while a bare-bottomed Kanye West sat on the deck while his wife Bianca knelt in front of him, during a ride on the Venice canals last month The couple was accused of public indecency after West was caught flashing his derriere during the very amorous boat ride The mystery guest, who appeared to be concealing her identity in an all-black ensemble, headscarf, and dark sunglasses, also returned inside the boat Photos taken shortly after the alleged racy act, show the mystery guest - who appeared to be concealing her identity in an all-black ensemble, headscarf, and dark sunglasses - sitting back inside the hull across from Censori, while West remains bare-bottomed sitting on the deck. The rap artist, who now officially goes by 'Ye', eventually adjusts his pants and joins the two women inside. The trio were later snapped disembarking the boat together before going on a stroll around the romantic city. It is unknown if the woman was aware that any indecent acts were taking place during the ride or if the couple chose to act on an opportune time when the friend made her way to the front of the boat. Earlier this week, MailOnline exclusively revealed that police in Venice are now investigating the incident and have identified the driver of the water taxi, who is expected to be questioned about what he witnessed. The Italian rental company also noted that 'third person on board the taxi' who was riding with Ye and Censori had 'obstructed the captain's view' to the back of the boat. The couple's friend seemed to spend much of her time up front with the boat's captain as West and Censori got some alone time on the back of the vessel It appeared that things were getting very steamy as Censori faced the hitmaker and, at one point, rested her elbows on his knees Photos taken shortly after the alleged racy act, show Censori back inside the hull of the boat while West remains exposed, sitting on the outer deck The rap artist, who now officially goes by 'Ye', eventually adjusts his pants and joined the two women inside Police are also asking for photographers to hand over the images that went around the world. A Venice police source said: 'There are standards of public decorum that have to be followed by tourists and locals alike and any breaches are severely punished. 'The images of West with his trousers down while in a taxi as he and his partner crossed the lagoon were seen all over the globe. 'You could clearly see his trousers were half down and we have received complaints from people who witnessed it. Now we have identified the driver of the boat and we will be asking him what he saw as well. 'The images show the couple clearly in a state of intimacy and if the local prosecutor decides to press charges then we will notify the couple, most probably through the relevant embassies. 'The offence being investigated is acts contrary to public decency which is punishable by an administrative sanction.' The couple appeared to be blissfully unaware of the groups of tourists sailing past them - the latest in a line of boundary-breaking public outings that have caused scandal among Italian locals The trio were later seen walking around the city together after a boat ride on the romantic city's famous canals Earlier this week, MailOnline exclusively revealed that police in Venice are now investigating the incident and have identified the driver of the water taxi, who is expected to be questioned about what he witnessed Venetian officials have also expressed outrage - hardly surprising considering the city issues fines for infractions like swimming in the canals, open air picnics and sprawling on the steps of public buildings. Elisabetta Pesce, councilor for public security in Venice, told MailOnline: 'Without any shadow of doubt what we saw from the couple was a lack of respect for Venice, which is the most enchanting city in the world.' A spokesman for Venezia Turismo Motascafi - the firm that owned the boat the couple were on, said that it was 'completely unaware' of the incident. They added the pair would have been kicked off the boat if the driver had noticed their public exposure. The Italian rental company noted that 'third person on board the taxi' who was riding with Ye and Ms Censori had 'obstructed the captain's view' to the back of the boat. The company has since banned the couple from using their boats in the future. 'We completely dissociate ourselves from such acts and behavior. Mr West and his wife will certainly no longer be welcome on board our company's boats.' This ban is not the first in recent times, as Bianca has recently sparked controversy in Italy due to her wardrobe choices. Further, other sources have claimed West and Censori have been courting controversy in Italy to prepare for the launch of a new Yeezy fashion collection Kanye West's new wife Bianca Censori, 28, (second, left) comes from a family just like his ex-Kim Kardashian. Pictured left is Bianca's mother Alexandra, second right is Bianca's sister Alyssia and far right is Bianca's other sister Angelina Last month, Italian locals complained to the police that the 28-year-old was walking around in public 'virtually naked'. She managed to avoid a fine for that but if convicted of public indecency they could face a fine from 5,000 to 10,000. Prior to boarding the boat, West was covered from head-to-toe in an all-black ensemble while Censori wore a knee-length trench coat which she teamed with a pair of nude heels. However both shed their layers once getting on board, with Censori ditching her coat in favor of a a strapless nude-coloured number as West pulled down his pants which exposed his bare behind. It appeared that things were getting very steamy as Censori rested her elbows on his knees while he was then seen cradling her head as they sailed along the river. And the couple didn't appear to mind who spotted them during the trip - given that they were surrounded by other boats filled to the brim with tourists, all of whom had a perfect view of the pair putting on their amorous display. The fashion designer who is widely believed to be behind all of Censori's recent and controversial looks and his new muse were first romantically linked in January 2023 just months after his divorce from Kim Kardashian was finalized. The couple wed in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in January, about two months after the rapper's divorce to Kim Kardashian was finalized. It's the outfit which has had the whole world talking and Italians turning their heads in horror. But Bianca Censori's barely-there nude leggings have been seen on the curves of another one of Kanye West's partners - his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Back in 2017 at the height of her marriage to the rapper, Kardashian stepped out in an almost identical pair of latex leggings to Censori's head-turning bottoms. Unlike Censori, Kardashian wore a nude bralette with her spray-on tights and a pair of lace-up Victorian boots. West's new wife instead paired the racy leggings with a ripped crop top, which exposed her breasts, and a pair of Perspex stiletto heels, similar to a pair Kim also owns. Bianca Censori 's barely-there nude leggings, right, have been seen on the curves of another one of Kanye West 's partners - his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, left She appeared naked in the jaw-dropping top which hugged her ample cleavage and trim waist, and bizarrely covered her chest with a purple cushion from the couple's hotel in Italy. The leggings in question appear to be from West's popular Yeezy line, for which Bianca acts as an architectural designer. Bianca also recently stepped out in a black bikini top and tights, another ensemble which bares a striking resemble to an outfit worn by Kardashian last year. Censori has been raising plenty of eyebrows with her outrageous wardrobe choices while holidaying with the rapper in Italy. Fashion designer West is widely believed to be behind all of the Melbourne-born beauty's recent and controversial looks. West and Censori were first romantically linked in January 2023 just months after his divorce was finalised. Bianca, right, also recently stepped out in a black bikini top and tights, another ensemble which bares a striking resemble to an outfit worn by Kardashian last year, left The couple wed in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in January, about two months after the rapper's divorce to Kardashian was finalised. However, the legality of the union is in question, as they did not file a marriage certificate. Previously, Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021 after six years of marriage. The former couple share four children together North, 10, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four. Throughout their longtime romance, West often called Kardashian his 'muse' and he heavily influenced her fashion choices. Meanwhile, calls are being made for West and Censori to be arrested over their latest outrageous display in Venice. The couple sparked controversy last Monday after they were spotted enjoying an amorous moment on a boat, with West exposing his bare buttocks in front of gawking tourists. Kanye and Bianca wed in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in January, about two months after the rapper's divorce to Kardashian was finalised The Kardashians star filed for divorce from the musician in February of 2021; They are pictured in Beverly Hills in 2020 Images of the couple showed the American rapper, 46, seated at the back of the river taxi while his Australian so-called bride placed her head in his lap. Prior to boarding the boat, West was covered from head-to-toe in an all-black ensemble while Censori wore a knee-length trench coat which she teamed with a pair of nude heels. However both shed their layers once getting on board, with Censori ditching her coat in favour of a strapless nude-coloured number as West pulled down his pants which exposed his bare behind. It appeared that things were getting very steamy as Censori rested her elbows on his knees while he was then seen cradling her head as they sailed along the river. Advertisement Cara Delevingne is back in New York City days after escaping the disastrous Burning Man festival that left attendees stranded in the Nevada desert for days. The 31-year-old model can be seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos after stepping out in Manhattan on Friday morning. Delevingne, who recently spoke out her newfound sobriety, went makeup-free and casual for the outing, sporting black leggings, a gray t-shirt and sneakers. Wearing a sweatband with her hair pulled back in messy bun and a bottle of water in hand, she appeared to have been heading to a morning workout session. Cara Delevingne can be seen in exclusive DailyMail.com photos stepping out in Manhattan on Friday morning Wearing a sweatband with her hair pulled back in messy bun and a bottle of water in hand, she appeared to have been heading to a morning workout session Despite having ditched the makeup, the British-born model looked healthy and fresh-faced - a likely result of her sober lifestyle At one point Cara held her belly as she waited for her car service to arrive near her Gramercy Park neighborhood. Despite having ditched the makeup, the British-born model looked healthy and fresh-faced - a likely result of her sober lifestyle. She is now due to appear in the upcoming season of American Horror Story: Delicate, premiering September 20 on FX, which will also feature Kim Kardashian. The show's official trailer was released Wednesday in which Cara was seen as her character, Meg, for the first time. Earlier this week, the actress was pictured leaving Burning Man festival with her pal Tessa Thompson after the wet weather finally cleared up enough to allow guests to leave. Cara and actress Tessa, 39, reportedly hiked for five miles to a paved road with their pals to their flashy vehicle, according to a post shared to social media. The British-born model was spotted back in New York City after finally escaping the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert earlier this week At one point Cara held her belly as she waited for her car service to arrive near her Gramercy Park neighborhood Earlier this week, Cara was seen in good spirits as she was seen leaving Burning Man after flooding left tens of thousands stranded in the Nevada desert In the snaps, Cara cut an edgy figure in what appeared to be waterproof trousers and a black fleece, which she styled with sturdy black trainers. She walked with her belongings across her front in a backpack and appeared to be in good spirits despite the chaos as she flashed a peace out sign. The group were joined by other pals as they walked through the muddy roads after flooding from the summer storm. Other pictures then showed Cara and Tessa reaching a paved road, where flashy vehicles waited to collect them. Cara is a regular festival-goer at Burning Man and often attends with her pals, normally sharing snaps to her social media of her time at the event each year. Festival lover: Cara is a regular festival-goer at Burning Man and often attends with her pals, normally sharing snaps to her social media of her time at the event each year (pictured in 2016) Delevingne is set to play a rather creepy character named Meg - who was seen eerily waving in the new trailer of American Horror Story's upcoming season This year, however, Burning Man descended into chaos as fed-up revelers snapped and fought during the mass exodus from the washout festival on Monday. Tensions frayed during the hours-long line of RVs and campers on the way out of the Nevada desert, with cops warning many had turned hostile towards each other. Pershing County Sheriff Jerry Allen said exhausted partygoers 'lashed out' at one another after finally breaking following a weekend of misery in the rain and mud. Drone footage from DailyMail.com showed snaking crowds of vehicles inching their way slowly across the sand as they made for the exits on Monday afternoon. Some tried to cut in front of each other while others swerved in the mud to avoid crashing, with reports of patience running thin throughout the gridlock. With just over three months left before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters on December 20, the lack of any type of marketing has fueled rumors that Warner Bros. is essentially abandoning the film. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a follow-up to Warner Bros.' 2018 smash hit Aquaman, which took in $335 million domestic and $1.14 billion worldwide. Jason Momoa returns as the title character, as does controversial actress Amber Heard as Mera. There were rumors in July that WB may push Dune Part Two, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Color Purple into 2024, due to the ongoing writers and actors strikes, with both unions forbidding its members from promoting their work from struck companies during the work stoppage. While the studio did ultimately push Dune Part Two from its November 3, 2023 release to March 15, 2024, it hasn't pushed The Color Purple or Aquaman 2, with Twitter user @TheComixKid speculating over the weekend that WB has no marketing budget for the superhero sequel. Abandoning: With just over three months left before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters on December 20, the lack of any type of marketing has fueled rumors that Warner Bros. is essentially abandoning the film First movie: Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a follow-up to Warner Bros.' 2018 smash hit Aquaman, which took in $335 million domestic and $1.14 billion worldwide Rumors: There were rumors in July that WB may push Dune Part Two , Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom and The Color Purple into 2024, due to the ongoing writers and actors strikes, with both unions forbidding its members from promoting their work from struck companies during the work stoppage @TheComixKid quote-retweeted another Twitter user @WhenBatmenFly, who said, 'Aquaman 2 is coming out in 3 months and still no trailer. Why is no one panicking?' @TheComixKid repsonded, 'Because they know its bad, they know itll lose money, and they arent putting a marketing budget behind it at all.' It's unclear if @TheComixKid is just floating his own speculative ideas or if he's citing industry sources about the movie's marketing budget, or apparent lack thereof. Another Twitter user, @NebsGoodTakes, shared the brief 30 seconds of footage that has been released thus far, though there still has been no publicly released trailer yet. That 30 seconds of footage was part of a teaser for Warner Bros.' then-2022 slate of DC Comics films from February 2022, when, at that time, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was slated for December 16, 2022. While it's still possible that Warner Bros. could shift Aquaman and he Lost Kingdom into 2024 as previously rumored - which would certainly explain the lack of marketing thus far - the studio still hasn't done that yet. If the studio is in fact planning on releasing Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom on December 20, the lack of marketing is quite surprising, since that 30-second clip is the only footage released thus far. The studio did showcase a full trailer for attendees at CinemaCon 2023 during the Warner Bros. panel in April, though that trailer still has yet to be publicly released. Money loser: @TheComixKid repsonded, 'Because they know its bad, they know itll lose money, and they arent putting a marketing budget behind it at all' Only footage: Another Twitter user, @NebsGoodTakes, shared the brief 30 seconds of footage that has been released thus far, though there still has been no publicly released trailer yet Speculation: It's unclear if @TheComixKid is just floating his own speculative ideas or if he's citing industry sources about the movie's marketing budget, or apparent lack thereof Release shift: While it's still possible that Warner Bros. could shift Aquaman and he Lost Kingdom into 2024 as previously rumored - which would certainly explain the lack of marketing thus far - the studio still hasn't done that yet Warner Bros. promoted the original Aquaman at CinemaCon 2017, before filming had even begun, showcasing a concept art sizzle reel. Filming began in May 2017, with director James Wan showcasing the first footage at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2017, while filming was still under way. The first official trailer wouldn't debut until the next year's San Diego Comic-Con in July 2018, five months before it hit theaters. With just over three months before Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom hits theaters, the lack of any real marketing has been troublesome for many fans, it seems. It's also worth noting that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the final film in the previous DC Studios regime lead by Walter Hamada, with the first film under new DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran - Superman: Legacy starring David Corenswet as the new Man of Steel - set to hit theaters July 11, 2025. Miriam Margoyles has slammed famed comedian Steve Martin after she starred in a film with with him in the Eighties. The 82-year-old Harry Potter star worked with Martin on the 1986 movie Little Shop of Horrors, and claims the experience was 'vile' and described her American co-star as 'unkind'. 'I just thought he was rather horrid. He was a c**t, thats all I can tell you,' she alleged in an with News.com. Margoyles explained she had to share a scene with Martin, now 78, in which he played a dentist and she was a receptionist. In the scene, her character is 'punched' by Martin's and she explained it took several takes before the funnyman was satisfied. Miriam Margoyles has slammed famed comedian Steve Martin after she starred in a film with with him in the Eighties The 82-year-old Harry Potter star worked with Martin on the 1986 movie Little Shop of Horrors, and claims the experience was 'vile' and described her American co-star as 'unkind' Margoyles described the Father of the Bride star as a 'brilliant perfectionist,' but she felt left out of the process. 'I didnt enjoy it and I had a splitting headache at the end of the day,' she said. He (Steve Martin) was incredibly unfriendly, because he was a perfectionist.' She did have some nice words for Martin though, calling him very 'gifted' and her scene in the finished film with him 'very good'. 'I just thought he was rather horrid. He was a c**t, thats all I can tell you,' she alleged in an with News.com Martin, 78, first rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and later starred in Saturday Night Live, before launching a blockbuster big screen career with the hit movies The Jerk (1979), Three Amigos (1986), and the Father of Bride Franchise. He is now starring in the hit streaming series Only Murders in The Building on Disney+. Margoyles, who appeared last year in the ABC travel series Australia Unmasked, will publish a new memoir on September 12. She did have some nice words for Martin though, calling him very 'gifted' and her scene in the finished film with him 'very good' Called Oh Miriam!, the book takes readers behind the scenes of the star's 50-year-career on TV, stage and screen. Included in the book is an unflattering portrait of rock legend Mick Jagger. She also reveals she turned down a high-profile role in a Marvel film , because she did not want to live in America. Margoyles is best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Jacqueline Felgate has become the latest media personality to be called out over her extensive list of sponsored Instagram content. The 3AW radio host, who was recently promoted as the new Drive host to replace Tom Elliott, has been hawking products via her social media account for some time. While the act is not uncommon among journalists in media, many have been slammed for plugging products for extra cash and it's been noted for being 'unprofessional'. The Australian Communications and Media Authority also has strict disclosure rules for radio broadcasters in this case, in which posts such as these must be 'declared' by 'someone who is on air for more than three hours a week over a four-week period', The Australian reported. As for Felgate, the 41-year-old has countless sponsored ads and promotions which are highlighted through hashtags. Jacqueline Felgate has become the latest media personality to be called out over her extensive list of sponsored Instagram content One recent Instagram reel is in partnership with Flybuys and Coles Supermarkets, which she discloses in the caption. 'Your Flybuys can take you and three others from the supermarket to Hollywood! Scan your Flybuys and receive an entry for every $30 spent in one transaction. Head to the link below to find out more!' the caption reads. Another post from the radio host plugs BMW's new X7: 'A dirty car the sign of a great weekend! The @berwick.bmw X7 is my dream car- fits two kids, a husband, two dogs and tows two horses! And handles the slippery mountain roads perfectly! #ambassador.' The 3AW radio host, who was recently promoted as the new Drive host to replace Tom Elliott, has been hawking products via her social media account for some time. One recent Instagram reel is in partnership with Flybuys and Coles Supermarkets, which she discloses in the caption Another post from the radio host plugs BMW's new X7 vehicle Other ads range from Maybelline makeup to other skincare products that have 'repaired and soothed skin even more effectively than before', as well as Chemist Warehouse. In her Coles post, Felgate sparked criticism for supporting a supermarket chain as prices of groceries continue to skyrocket. 'Do you feel weird promoting for Coles knowing the insane price gouging theyre doing? people are struggling to feed their families,' one user commented. 'Record profits and inflated prices when Australians are suffering shame on you gutless company,' added another. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Felgate representatives for comment. Felgate is among many personalities at the Nine Network who plaster ads across personal Instagram accounts. Last year, Today show's Brooke Boney and Today Extra's David Campbell were called for 'polluting' their Instagram accounts with paid partnerships, which ranged from items like chocolate to skincare. Other ads range from Maybelline makeup to other skincare products that have 'repaired and soothed skin even more effectively than before', as well as Chemist Warehouse Mila Kunis claimed that when she was 14, Danny Masterson had bet Ashton Kutcher, daring him to 'French kiss' her during production of That 70s Show. The clip of Kutcher, 45, and Kunis, 40 - which came from a joint interview on The Rosie O'Donnell Show that aired in April of 2002 - resurfaced as the pair was in the headlines Saturday after publicly apologizing for letters they wrote in praise of Masterson to the judge sentencing the actor his rape conviction. The 2002 clip occurred during the early years of the Fox comedy, which ran from 1998-2006 and starred Kunis, Kutcher and Masterson in the respective roles of Jackie Burkhart, Michael Kelso and Steven Hyde. At the time of the interview, Kutcher was 24 and Kunis was 19. They chat with O'Donnell about how early on in the show, the script called for their characters to be 'making out' in a scene. 'I'm like thinking this is slightly illegal, right,' said Kutcher, noting the young age of his costar. Ohh this WILL be a thread pic.twitter.com/WlXHYfYxgE Kolii (@koliikat) September 9, 2023 The latest: Mila Kunis claimed in a interview on The Rosie O'Donnell Show that aired in April of 2002 that when she was 14, Danny Masterson had bet Ashton Kutcher, daring him to 'French kiss' her during production of That 70s Show Details: A Los Angeles judge Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. Pictured in May with wife Bijou Phillips on the way to court Kunis said that the scripted kiss was the first time she ever had ever been kissed, and it occurred during the first week of filming on the retro comedy. 'I never kissed a guy ... I was a 14-year-old little girl and I was extremely scared for my life,' Kunis said. Kunis explained how Masterson offered to wager Kutcher $10 to French kiss her: 'Danny goes, "Dude, I'll give you $10 if you French kiss her,"' Kunis said, turning to Kutcher and asking, 'What, if you stick your tongue in my mouth?' Kutcher said that Kunis was 'making it sound like it was really' lecherous, conceding that he and Masterson 'had a little side bet going' on the kiss. Kutcher said Masterson wagered him $20 that he 'wouldn't do it,' and he said he would, saying it was consistent with what was called for in the script. O'Donnell joked, 'And then the cops showed up and you got arrested , pretty much.' Kunis and Kutcher were at odds over whether he actually kissed her, as she said, 'I didn't let him ... he never got his tongue in my mouth.' Kutcher said he actually believed Kunis was 15 at the time of the exchange, adding, 'There's a big difference - that one year makes the whole world change.' Throwback: The show starred Kunis, Kutcher and Masterson in the respective roles of Jackie Burkhart, Michael Kelso and Steven Hyde. Pictured with costars Topher Grace, Wilmer Valderrama and Laura Prepon 21 years ago: The 2002 clip occurred during the early years of the Fox comedy, which ran from 1998-2006 Background: Kunis said that the scripted kiss was the first time she ever had ever been kissed, and it occurred during the first week of filming on the retro comedy Statement: Kutcher said that Kunis was 'making it sound like it was really' lecherous, conceding that he and Masterson 'had a little side bet going' on the kiss Bet: Kutcher said Masterson wagered him $20 that he 'wouldn't do it,' and he said he would, saying it was consistent with what was called for in the script Memory: Kunis and Kutcher were at odds over whether he actually kissed her, as she said, 'I didn't let him ... he never got his tongue in my mouth' Kunis and Kutcher had issued a contrite clip days after a Los Angeles judge Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. In a video posted on Instagram Saturday, Kutcher and Kunis said they were sorry for the pain they may have caused with the letters, which were made public Friday. Kutcher said the letters that asked for leniency 'were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way. 'We would never want to do that and we're sorry if that has taken place.' Kutcher said Masterson's family approached them after the actor was convicted in the rapes in May and asked them to write character letters describing 'the person that we knew for 25 years.' Masterson had reunited with Kutcher on the 2016 Netflix comedy The Ranch, but was written off the show when the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was revealed the following year. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women, and pleas for fairness from defense attorneys. Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people 'with decency, equality, and generosity,' he wrote in his letter dated July 27, 2023. Clarification: Kutcher said he actually believed Kunis was 15 at the time of the exchange, adding, 'There's a big difference - that one year makes the whole world change' Response: Kunis and Kutcher had issued a contrite clip days after a Los Angeles judge Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003 Kunis in her letter to Olmedo called Masterson 'an outstanding role model and friend' and an 'exceptional older brother figure.' Both rapes took place in Mastersons Hollywood-area home in 2003 when he was at the height of his fame on That 70s Show. The victims testified that Masterson drugged them before violently raping them . Kunis said in the apology video that their letters did not mean to undermine the testimony of victims. 'Our heart goes out to every single person whos ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape,' she said. Christina Ricci appeared to have weighed in on the controversy surrounding their decision to pen character letters to the judge as she took to Instagram on Saturday night to air out her grievances, urging people to 'believe victims.' The 43-year-old Addams Family actress did not name Kutcher or Kunis explicitly, but statements shared on her page seemed to be directed at the couple, who have come under fire for their support of Masterson. The married pair acknowledged the backlash in a joint video apology shared online Saturday afternoon. On Sunday Christina reemerged via Instagram Stories to clarify that she wasn't referring specifically to the Kutchers, although she admitted that 'recent events have made' her 'think more about this.' Speaking up: Christina Ricci appears to have weighed in on the Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis controversy surrounding their decision to pen character letters to the judge in Danny Masterson 's case after his double rape conviction Complicated: Ricci did not name Kutcher, 45, or Kunis, 40, explicitly, but statements shared on her page seemed to be directed at the couple, who have come under fire for their support of Masterson In white font typed against a black background, Christina wrote, 'Unfortunately I've known lots of 'awesome guys' who were lovely to me who have been proven to be abusers privately. 'I've also had personal experience with this. Believe victims. It's not easy to come forward. It's not easy to get a conviction.' In a separate slide, she continued, 'So sometimes people we have loved and admired do horrible things. 'They might not do these things to us and we only know who they were to us but that doesn't mean they didn't do the horrible things and to discredit the abused is a crime.' 'People we know as "awesome guys" can be predators and abusers. It's tough to accept but we have to. If we say support victims - women, children, men, boys - then we must be able to take this stance,' the note concluded. On Sunday morning, the mother-of-two was back online to say that she hadn't intended to call out Ashton and Mila. 'What I wrote wasn't meant to seem so pointed,' she began in the post to her 1.6 million followers. 'It's just something I've been thinking about generally as different individual's wrongdoings have come to light over the past couple of years and I too have found it difficult to reconcile the person or people I knew with the things they've done.' She finished, 'But, yes, recent events have made me think more about this.' Christina's take: In white font typed against a black background, Christina wrote, 'Unfortunately I've known lots of "awesome guys" who were lovely to me who have been proven to be abusers privately More to say: In a separate slide, she continued, 'So sometimes people we have loved and admired do horrible things' Clarity: Sunday morning the mother-of-two was back online to say she hadn't intended to call out Ashton and Mila Masterson had no reaction as Olmedo handed down her decision - 15 years for each felony rape, with the sentences to run consecutively. Words used in the celebrity testimonies couldn't be more opposite to the sentiments used by his victims. At the sentencing trial, Jane Doe #1 called Masterson a 'true coward and heartless monster,' adding that to this day she suffer from an extreme fear of the dark and frequently wakes up crying. Kutcher and Kunis worked with Masterson on That 70s Show - but they weren't the only cast members to speak up. Former That 70s Show star Debra Jo Rupp, who played the hilarious Kitty Forman, also shared her support. 'Danny was always respectful and kind,' she said. 'On show days when the camera crew would come in, Danny was the one that shook each camera man's hand before we started. He knew everyone's name, where they lived and about their families. I did not.' Rupp added: 'He was loved. Over the years Danny is one of the few that came to support me by seeing my shows in the theater. 'He brought his family sometimes. And it was a joy. And so appreciated.' His fate: Danny was sentenced 30 years to life for drugging and raping two women in the early 2000s Kurtwood Smith, who played Rupp's husband Robert Griggs, also submit a letter. 'I consider Danny a talented, hardworking, giving actor. I have viewed him being respectful and considerate to those he has worked with,' he said. 'He has been a leader and positive force among his peers. He has seemed loving and caring, not only towards his wife and daughter, but his family at large.' Other stars included in documents include Sneaky Pete star Giovanni Ribisi, William Baldwin, who is married to Chynna Phillips - Masterson's wife's sister, and TV producer Shawn Piller. DailyMail.com has reached out to reps for Kutcher and Kunis for comment. Mel B has revealed intimate details about her upcoming wedding to fiance Rory McPhee. The Spice Girls star, 48, told 2Day FM's Hughesy, Ed and Erin she wanted her special day to be at one of the most famous wedding venues in England. 'Because I have an MBE I can get married at the same place Princess Diana married Charles. I'm still waiting to here back from St. Paul's Cathedral in London,' she said. 'We have put all our forms in and we are just waiting on them to give us the day.' She said her former Spice Girls bandmate Victoria Beckham would be designing a glamorous bridal gown for her to wear. Mel B opened up on Monday about her upcoming wedding plans to fiance Rory McPhee (pictured together). The Spice Girl, 48, told 2Day FM's Hughesy, Ed and Erin she wanted her special day to be at one of the most famous wedding venues in England 'Once I get the date I will go wedding dress shopping. Victoria Beckham wants to make me a dress,' she added. The Leeds native then told co-host Dave Hughes he and his wife Holly were both invited. In August, Mel B revealed she had found solace and confidence in her fiance Rory McPhee after enduring years of abuse in her former marriage to Stephen Belafonte. Mel B also revealed her former Spice Girls bandmate Victoria Beckham (pictured) would be designing a glamorous bridal gown for her to wear She said despite knowing McPhee as a trusted family friend, their relationship took her by surprise. In a candid interview with The Daily Telegraph Mel B opened up about her unexpected romance with McPhee. Breaking free from a toxic past, Mel B expressed her newfound calmness and the freedom she gained from leaving her abusive relationship with her second husband Stephen Belafonte, whom she was married to from 2007 - 2017. They are thought to have been dating since 2018 when they met through mutual friends in Los Angeles, including celebrity make-up artist Renee Camilleri. In August, Mel B revealed she had found solace and confidence in her fiance Rory McPhee after enduring years of abuse in her former marriage to Stephen Belafonte. Pictured: Mel and Stephen in 2016 Their relationship became more serious the following year when Mel returned to the UK for the Spice Girls reunion tour. It's claimed the Leeds-born hairdresser Rory got down on one knee to propose at luxury country hotel Cliveden House in Berkshire with a 100k ($196,405 AUD) diamond ring in November 2022. Mel shares eldest daughter Phoenix, 24, with her first ex-husband, Dutch dancer Jimmy Gulzar, who she met in 1998 when he was hired as a dancer for a Spice Girls world tour. Peter Thompson of popular Aussie hard hard rock band The Splatterheads has died. The sad news was announced on Facebook on Sunday. Details of Thompson's passing are yet to be released, though one family friend said the talented bassist was residing in Maleny, Queensland at the time of his death. Thompson played bass guitar with The Splatterheads, who gained a loyal following on the pub scene for their fast and loud heavy rock style and bizarre, gory makeup. 'Bit of sad news ... Peter Thompson aka PT from our mates Splatterheads has passed away,' announced fellow hard rockers Suiciety on their Facebook page Peter Thompson of popular Aussie hard hard rock band The Splatterheads has died Thompson played bass guitar with The Splatterheads, who gained a loyal following on the pub scene for their fast and loud heavy rock style and bizarre, gory makeup Meanwhile, Bored, another band from the 90s, also paid tribute to Thompson. 'Sending our love to The Splatteheads family and friends on the loss of PT,' they shared on their Facebook. 'He will be sadly missed and always remembered. 'Play ya Splatterheads tunes Loud and Proud! Vale PT.' They included two pictures of Thompson playing live on stage in their post. Thompson and the band's other members, Adrian Carroll, Christo Fletcher and Sly Faulkner once shared a house in Brisbane. Pictured: Rockers Suicidy pay tribute to Peter Thompson on their Facebook page Thompson and the band's other members, Adrian Carroll, Christo Fletcher and Sly Faulkner once shared a house in Brisbane (all pictured) They later formed The Lompoc County Splatterheads and played their first shows in Sydney in 1987, eventually shortening their name to The Splatterheads. Though never reaching any significant chart success, The Splatterheads mounted a packed out European tour in 1995 and later played support to chart-topping American band Weezer. They were beloved by their fans after adopting 'fake' injuries - including bloody head wounds - as part of their stage act. Their recording include the album Bot, and the songs Fish Biscuit and Tired. The second edition of New York Fashion Weeks bi-annual extravaganza now in day four. Lori Harvey is among the many stars, celebrities, and fashionistas making a presence during the series of event where international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public. On Sunday, the model, entrepreneur, and socialite didn't let rainy weather deter her from hitting the pavement to take care of some errands in the hours before she gets all dolled-up for another night on the town. For the afternoon excursion, Harvey, 26, opted for a dressed down, but still sexy look, consisting of a purple micro mini cargo skirt and a cropped white tank top. The combination, which was all about flaunting her legs, midriff and cleavage, was sure to turn more than a few heads while she strutted her stuff on the bustling streets. On a mission: Lori Harvey, 26, didn't let a little rain stop her from heading out on an errand run, hours before getting all dolled up for another night on the town during New York Fashion Week When spotted by an admiring photographer, the rain had just stopped falling, although there was the occasional drop or two still coming down. Harvey didn't seem to be too bothered by Mother Nature's fickle weather, considering her decision to dress in such a skimpy ensemble. Rounding out her overall afternoon look, the founder of SKN By LH also wore a pair of tan platform boots that resembled Uggs, and had her raven tresses in a long and straight blunt bob with a part in the middle. Harvey, who also carried her essentials in small black bag over her left shoulder, never seemed to pay attention to the photographer, opting instead for casual-cool demeanor while she strolled from street-to-street. While she looked off to the side and into the horizon, people along the sidewalks and streets slowly began to take notice of her, and soon enough some began snapping photos. By the early evening, East Coast time, the step-daughter of TV host Steve Harvey took to her Instagram page and share a series of snaps of herself all decked out in one of the dresses she wore during one of the many fashion shows going off in New York. 'A little @dundasworld moment last night,' she shared in the caption, in a shout-out to fashion designer Peter Dundas, who founded the brand with Evangelo Bousis in 2017. Revealing: The model, entrepreneur, and socialite flaunted her fab figure by dressing down in a micro mini cargo skirt and cropped tank top Head turner: While Harvey looked off to the side and into the horizon during her walk, people slowly began to take notice of her, and soon enough some began snapping photos The model also took to her Instagram page to showcase on the the items she wore for the Dundas show in Manhattan on Saturday night NYFW outing: Harvey also gave her Instagram fans and followers a glimpse at one of the dresses she wore while walking for the Dundas show Revealing: The step-daughter of TV host Steve Harvey was a feast for eyes in a red sequin dress that was see-through enough to help showcase her ample assets She struck a number of poses in a red sequin dress that was see-through enough to help showcase her ample assets underneath. The sleeveless number also had sleeveless design and a red leather neckline that went up her neck a couple of inches. For this particular outfit stylists had her dark tresses pulled back off her face and into a tight fashionable bun. NYFW has been a busy time for Harvey, who was seen at the the Proenza Schouler show on Saturday and the Prabal Gurung Spring 2024 Ready To Wear Fashion Show the previous night. Stylin': The Memphis, Tennessee native also had her raven locks pulled back into a tight bun Chic: The see-through number had a sleeveless design and a red leather neckline that went up her neck a couple of inches Fashion in display: New York Fashion Week kicked off on on Thursday, September 7 and goes through until Wednesday, September 13 In the lead up to the the week-long celebration of fashion Harvey worked the Victoria's Secret 'The Tour' event on Wednesday, and also made an appearance at the Chanel party that very same night. Harvey has been a mainstay at NYFW events over the years, both as a spectator watching the various new collections roll out on stages across the city and as a model who helps sell the fashion lines. New York Fashion Week is a bi-annual series of events in Manhattan that typically spans seven to nine days in February and again in September of each year. This go-around kicked off on Thursday, September 7 and goes through until Wednesday, September 13. Just afer rumors started swirling that Warner Bros. was 'abandoning' any sort of marketing campaign for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the studio released a new teaser. The studio dropped a 30-second teaser for the highly-anticipated Aquaman sequel, which offers brief glimpses of new footage and reveals the first full trailer will be released on Thursday. Warner Bros. did showcase a full trailer for the superhero sequel at the annual movie theater owners convention, CinemaCon in Las Vegas, though that trailer was never subsequently released to the public. The trailer also confirms two more important points about the movie: Amber Heard is confirmed to return as Mera, and the movie will in fact open in theaters December 20. There had been a report in July speculating that Warner Bros. may push Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom into 2024, and while the studio did push Dune: Part Two into next year, Aquaman 2 will arrive in theaters just before Christmas. Teaser: Just afer rumors started swirling that Warner Bros. was 'abandoning' any sort of marketing campaign for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, the studio released a new teaser Full trailer: The studio dropped a 30-second teaser for the highly-anticipated Aquaman sequel, which offers brief glimpses of new footage and reveals the first full trailer will be released on Thursday The teaser shows brief shots from the movie featuring Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry/Aquaman both above and under the sea. Patrick Wilson's Orm is seen underwater when a massive gold robotic mechanism grasps. Yahya Abdul-Mateen III is next seen as David Kane a.k.a. Black Manta, who promises something quite nefarious. 'I'm gonna kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear,' Kane says, as Aquaman is seen distraught as a home is burning to the ground. The trailer also features the title character battling with his gold trident, and while Heard isn't seen in the trailer, she is listed as cast in he description. Back in July, there were reports that the superhero sequel has gone through an 'unprecedented' three rounds of reshoosts, a year and a half after principal photography originallly wrapped. While reshoots have become common in big-budget movies like this one, a third round is said to be 'unprecedented' for a movie this size, according to THR. The most recent round of reshoots took place in New Zealand in mid-June, and involved Jason Momoa (Aquaman) and Patrick Wilson (King Orm). Above ground: The teaser shows brief shots from the movie featuring Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry/Aquaman both above and under the sea Gold: Patrick Wilson's Orm is seen underwater when a massive gold robotic mechanism grasps him Nefarious: Yahya Abdul-Mateen III is next seen as David Kane a.k.a. Black Manta, who promises something quite nefarious Destroy: 'I'm gonna kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear,' Kane says, as Aquaman is seen distraught as a home is burning to the ground There is no indication yet if Amber Heard was part of the reshoots, which comes just days after she broke her silence about returning to play Queen Mera While Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton had filmed scenes as their respective Batman characters, a report from July claimed neither of them were in this new version. Just a few weeks after the last round of reshoots, James Gunn and Peter Safran were named the new co-heads of DC Studios. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be the last film from the current DCEU slate at his time. Chris Evans has reportedly wed girlfriend Alba Baptista, but before the two met the actor enjoyed a number of high-profile romances with some of Hollywood's leading ladies. On Sunday, it was revealed that the Captain America star, 42, and his girlfriend Alba, 26, tied the knot during an intimate ceremony, held at a private estate in Cape Cod, over the weekend, according to Page Six. In January, Evans officially confirmed his relationship with Alba in a cute video. Earlier in November, People reported the action star has been dating her for over a year and the relationship is 'serious.' However, prior to their romance, Evans was linked to a number of stars, including Jessica Biel, Lily James, and Lily Collins. Amid the exciting news that Evans has finally found the one, DailyMail.com looks back at his previous romances... Taken: Chris Evans, 42, has reportedly wed girlfriend Alba Baptista, 26, but before the two met the actor enjoyed a number of high-profile romances with some of Hollywood's leading ladies The ex: Among his most famous relationships was his romance with actress Jessica Biel, 41, from 2001 until 2006; They are seen in 2003 Jessica Biel (2001-2006) Evans' love life has been of interest to fans ever since his romance with Jessica Biel, 41. The former pair began dating in 2001 and starred in two movies together, thriller Cellular in 2004 and romantic drama London in 2005, during the course of their five-year relationship. In 2005 the relationship appeared to be going from strength to strength, with Jessica telling Cosmopolitan that the duo were discussing marriage. 'We always talk about [marriage]. We both want to be married, and we both want to have children,' she said. 'But we're not engaged, so the rumors are false ... so far,' she added. In that same interview she also revealed that Chris surprised her on her 21st birthday with a romantic gesture, by placing rose petals on her bed. She also shared that she enjoyed cooking for her boyfriend: 'It's old-fashioned and fun, and I feel kind of homemaker-y and great doing it.' Despite everything seemingly moving in the right direction, the relationship did not last and the two split just a year later in 2006. Jessica went on to marry pop sensation Justin Timberlake in 2012. Strong: In 2005 Jessica even told Cosmopolitan that the duo were discussing marriage, however they split just a year later; Seen 2001 Love on set: The couple starred in two movies together during the course of their five-year relationship; Pictured 2006 in Los Angeles Lily James (2020) Cinderella actress Lily James, 34, and Evans sparked dating rumors after they were spotted together on two different occasions in London, in July 2020. They were first spotted heading to a hotel after partying into the early hours at a private members' club together. They later enjoyed a second outing in a London park as they tucked into some ice cream and fawned over each other while lounging on the grass. The Mamma Mia actress and Evans appeared cosy as they chatted together during their day out following rumors that Lily is working on her long-term romance with Matt Smith. Previously she had been seen heading to London hotel, The Corinthia, in the same taxi as him, after partying into the early hours at private members' venue, Mark's Club in Mayfair just before 1am. They arrived back to the hotel just after 1am but left the taxi separately, with Chris heading to the main entrance and Lily, who lives in north London, to another door around the back. The two did not address the dating rumors. James remained tight-lipped about the romance and when asked about her relationship status in an interview with The Guardian she replied with 'no comment.' With Lily: Cinderella actress Lily James, 34, and Evans sparked dating rumors after they were spotted together on two different occasions in London, in July 2020 Lily Collins (2015) The Avengers: Age of Ultron actor started dating Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, 34, in 2015. The duo met at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in February. Chris and Lily were seen with grinning smiles as they gazed at one another while out in Hollywood, in their first public outing in March of 2015. 'It's just the beginning stages. But they're having a lot of fun and seeing where it goes,' a source said of the pair at the time. The duo were previously said to have been spotted the week prior, grabbing an Italian meal in Los Angeles. An eyewitness told E! News the pair dined solo on the patio, adding: 'It for sure seemed like they were on a date.' Interestingly enough the hunk almost came face-to-face with another ex while stepping out with Lily. Chris' former flame Minka Kelly was seen arriving at the same location in Hollywood just moments before Chris and Lily were spotted on a romantic date. Though the couple were seen on a number of dates, the romance lasted less than a year. Lily #2: The Avengers: Age of Ultron actor started dating Emily in Paris star Lily Collins, 34, in 2015. Though the couple were seen on a number of dates, the romance lasted less than a year; She is seen 2019 Jenny Slate (2016) Chris struck up a romance with Jenny Slate, 41, after they worked together on 2016 drama/comedy Gifted. However, the romance only lasted nine months, and the pair split due to 'conflicting schedules.' The duo reunited in November 2017, but ended their relationship for good in March 2018. Following their split, Evans spoke about his desire for having a family. 'I definitely want children. I definitely want a family. But you cannot put the cart before the horse,' he told USA Today. 'The family only works if its built off the extension of the love you feel for a person. If you all of a sudden want the kid more than you want the relationship, you may be on shaky ground.' Slate has since went on to marry artist Ben Shattuck. Movie chemistry: Chris struck up a romance with Jenny Slate, 41, after they worked together on 2016 drama/comedy Gifted. They dated on/off until 2018 Christina Ricci (2007) It's not clear how long Evans dated Christina Ricci, 43, but the duo looked cozy as they attended the 2007 Met Gala arm-in-arm. The actress looked stunning in a sleeveless white gown and carried a beaded silver clutch. Meanwhile Evans looked dapper in a crisp black suit and tie. Cozy: It's not clear how long Evans dated Christina Ricci, 43, but the duo looked cozy as they attended the 2007 Met Gala arm-in-arm Minka Kelly (2007) Evans and Friday Night Lights alum Minka Kelly, 43, first sparking romance rumors in 2007. They split after only a few months together, not long after Minka ended things for good with other on and off boyfriend, Derek Jeter. The duo reunited in 2012, only to split again in 2013. The couple called time on their relationship last year due to work commitments keeping them apart. 'It didnt make sense for them to be together right now,' a source told Us Weekly at the time. According to the publication, the pair were, however, still on 'good terms'. By 2014 they appeared to be back together once again, but were last seen on Labor Day weekend in 2015. On and off romance: Evans dated Friday Night Lights alum Minka Kelly, 43, on and off from 2007 until 2015; She is pictured 2013 Alba Baptista (2021 - present) Evans has now reportedly found his happy ever after with Alba. A source revealed that the pair's wedding was 'locked down tight' and attendees were asked to 'sign NDAs and phones were forfeited' as per Page Six. The insider also revealed that the happy couple's star-studded guest list included his Marvel co-stars, like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner. Additionally, John Krasinski, his wife Emily Blunt, Elsa Pataky and Susan Downey were seen 'in nearby Boston for the wedding,' according to People. The actor confirmed their romance in January, sharing a cute video of them. In the caption he said he was looking back on 2022 as he added three red heart emojis that made it clear he had love for the budding star. Earlier in November a source told People: 'They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her.' In July, Evans' brother, Scott, defended his sibling's romance with Alba, despite their 16-year age gap. Happily ever after: Evans has now found his happy ever after with Alba. The couple's star-studded guest list included his Marvel co-stars, like Robert Downey Jr ., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner Happier than ever: In November, People reported the action star has been dating her for over a year and the relationship is 'serious' In response to public scrutiny and wild reactions to Chris' relationships over the years, Scott, who is openly gay, said that 'it's tough' for Chris as 'people can ruin things pretty quickly.' While appearing on Nick Viall's podcast The Viall Files, Scott explained how fame affected his brother's ability to date. Scott explained that a superstar's girlfriend will initially think: 'Oh, I'm just dating a person, he's a guy,' only to find herself on the business end of 'article after article after article after post after tag after tag.' He spoke candidly about Chris' besotted public 'destroying' his girlfriends and denouncing 'anybody he's tried to date' as 'a piece of crap.' Scott acknowledged that 'you can only take that for so long,' which 'makes relationships kind of hard for him, I think.' Kaia Gerber looked casual cool while out in New York just days after her stunning magazine shoot was revealed. The 22-year-old model showed off her incredible frame while on an outing with best friend Travis Jackson in New York City on Sunday. She gave a peek at her toned tum in a green knit sweater along with black cargo pants and black Adidas sneakers featuring green laces. The stunner accessorized with a blue dad cap featuring "documentary +' embroidered on it as she carried along a black tote bag. Her brunette tresses were worn down under her stylish headwear as she showcased her natural looks with complementary make-up. Stunner: Kaia Gerber showed off her incredible frame while on an outing with best friend Travis Jackson in New York City on Sunday Gorgeous: The 22-year-old model gave a peek at her toned tum in a green knit sweater along with black cargo pants and black Adidas sneakers featuring green laces Last week Kaia turned 22 as her supermodel mom Cindy Crawford shared a heartfelt birthday wish for her 'little girl' on Instagram. In a post shared with her 7.9 million followers, the former Pepsi spokesmodel uploaded a montage of throwback footage from Gerber's childhood. She wrote in the caption, 'Happy 22nd Birthday @kaiagerber!' The legendary superstar added, 'Such a joy watching you bloom into an inspiring young woman. 'Love spending time with you at this new stage in our lives woman to woman but youll also always be my little girl!' The adorable throwback video clips featured the actress in different scenes from her early years including learning how to walk, playing with brother Presley, 24, and taking a bath. The snippet was soundtracked by the 1969 Beatles song Here Comes The Sun. Cindy shares her only daughter and son Presley with husband Rande Gerber, who she married in 1998. Flashback: Last week Kaia turned 22 as her supermodel mom Cindy Crawford shared a heartfelt birthday wish for her 'little girl' on Instagram Precious: The modeling veteran shared old footage featuring sweet moments with her daughter Adorable: A home video montage showed a little Kaia splashing around in a bathtub Two of a kind: The mother-daughter looked more like sisters as they attended an event together in 2021 Kaia treated herself to a spa day in West Hollywood to mark the special occasion. Earlier this year Cindy joked about her look alike daughter 'stealing' her beauty. Chatting with InStyle, she said, 'I look at my daughter and notice that her hair is shiny and healthy looking she has my old hair, and I want it back!' The classic beauty added that Gerber's hair inspired her Age-Proof Hair Care System for her Meaningful Beauty line. And in May, Crawford told People that Kaia is balancing her career and personal life similarly to how she did in the 1980s as she noted, 'I think that she kind of sees how my husband and I have dealt with it throughout the years.' Ashton Kutcher has come under fire again, this time for making a problematic comment about Hilary Duff while she was underage. A resurfaced clip shows the actor, 45 who's been slammed over his support of convicted rapist Danny Masterson in a 2003 episode of his show Punkd, where he spoke about a then 15-year-old Duff (now 35) during the introduction segment. 'Hilary Duff is in Lizzie McGuire, she also has an album out. Shes going to be in a movie called Cheaper by the Dozen. And shes one of the girls that were all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsen twins,' he added. While Hilary was just 15, Mary-Kate and Ashley would have been 17-years-old at the time, while Kutcher was 25-years-old. The video was unearthed after another older clip of Ashton went viral, where during a joint 2002 interview with his current wife Mila Kunis (now 40) the actress revealed that Masterson bet Kutcher to 'French kiss' her when she was a '14-year-old little girl'. ashton kutcher is a slime ball pic.twitter.com/6ZOQ70Vf21 riley (@princess_antifa) September 9, 2023 Problematic: Ashton Kutcher has come under fire again, this time for making a problematic comment about Hilary Duff while she was 15-years-old Yikes: 'Shes one of the girls that were all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsen twins,' Kutcher said in a resurfaced clip from his show Punkd in 2003 Kutcher and Duff starred in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen together and she appeared on an episode of the MTV prank show, which he hosted. Kutcher is now receiving a ton of backlash over the comment, which many have deemed 'gross' and 'creepy.' Earlier in the day Kutcher's wife Mila was pictured in the second unearthed clip, as she spoke about their time on That 70s Show. The clip of Kutcher and Kunis which came from a joint interview on The Rosie O'Donnell Show that aired in April of 2002 resurfaced as the pair was in the headlines Saturday after publicly apologizing for letters they wrote in praise of Masterson to the judge sentencing the actor his rape conviction. The 2002 clip occurred during the early years of the Fox comedy, which ran from 1998-2006 and starred Kunis, Kutcher and Masterson in the respective roles of Jackie Burkhart, Michael Kelso and Steven Hyde. At the time of the interview, Kutcher was 24 and Kunis was 19. They chat with O'Donnell about how early on in the show, the script called for their characters to be 'making out' in a scene. 'I'm like thinking this is slightly illegal, right,' said Kutcher, noting the young age of his costar. Kunis said that the scripted kiss was the first time she ever had ever been kissed, and it occurred during the first week of filming on the retro comedy. 'Creepy': Kutcher is now receiving a ton of backlash over the comment, which many have deemed 'gross' and 'creepy' Prank show: The father-of-two hosted the prank show from 2003 until 2007 Not very funny: Kutcher and Duff starred in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen together and she appeared on an episode of the MTV prank show, which he hosted; She is seen in 2003 Teenagers: While Hilary was just 15, Mary-Kate and Ashley would have been 17-years-old at the time; they are seen in 2003 'I never kissed a guy ... I was a 14-year-old little girl and I was extremely scared for my life,' Kunis said. Kunis explained how Masterson offered to wager Kutcher $10 to French kiss her: 'Danny goes, "Dude, I'll give you $10 if you French kiss her,"' Kunis said, turning to Kutcher and asking, 'What, if you stick your tongue in my mouth?' Kutcher said that Kunis was 'making it sound like it was really' lecherous, conceding that he and Masterson 'had a little side bet going' on the kiss. Kutcher said Masterson wagered him $20 that he 'wouldn't do it,' and he said he would, saying it was consistent with what was called for in the script. O'Donnell joked, 'And then the cops showed up and you got arrested , pretty much.' Kunis and Kutcher were at odds over whether he actually kissed her, as she said, 'I didn't let him ... he never got his tongue in my mouth.' Kutcher said he actually believed Kunis was 15 at the time of the exchange, adding, 'There's a big difference - that one year makes the whole world change.' Kunis and Kutcher had issued a contrite clip days after a Los Angeles judge Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. The latest: The video was unearthed after another older clip of Ashton went viral, where during a joint 2002 interview with his current wife Mila Kunis (now 40) the actress revealed that Danny Masterson bet Kutcher to 'French kiss' her when she was a '14-year-old little girl' Background: Kunis said that the scripted kiss was the first time she ever had ever been kissed, and it occurred during the first week of filming on the retro comedy Statement: Kutcher said that Kunis was 'making it sound like it was really' lecherous, conceding that he and Masterson 'had a little side bet going' on the kiss Ohh this WILL be a thread pic.twitter.com/WlXHYfYxgE Kolii (@koliikat) September 9, 2023 In a video posted on Instagram Saturday, Kutcher and Kunis said they were sorry for the pain they may have caused with the letters, which were made public Friday. Kutcher said the letters that asked for leniency 'were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way. 'We would never want to do that and we're sorry if that has taken place.' Kutcher said Masterson's family approached them after the actor was convicted in the rapes in May and asked them to write character letters describing 'the person that we knew for 25 years.' Masterson had reunited with Kutcher on the 2016 Netflix comedy The Ranch, but was written off the show when the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was revealed the following year. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women, and pleas for fairness from defense attorneys. Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people 'with decency, equality, and generosity,' he wrote in his letter dated July 27, 2023. Kunis in her letter to Olmedo called Masterson 'an outstanding role model and friend' and an 'exceptional older brother figure.' Response: Kutcher and Kunis publicly apologized on Saturday for letters they wrote to the judge sentencing Masterson in the wake of his rape conviction His fate: Danny was sentenced 30 years to life for drugging and raping two women in the early 2000s Both rapes took place in Mastersons Hollywood-area home in 2003 when he was at the height of his fame on That 70s Show. The victims testified that Masterson drugged them before violently raping them . Kunis said in the apology video that their letters did not mean to undermine the testimony of victims. 'Our heart goes out to every single person who's ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape,' she said. Kutcher and Kunis worked with Masterson on That 70s Show - but they weren't the only cast members to speak up. Former That 70s Show star Debra Jo Rupp, who played the hilarious Kitty Forman, also shared her support. Kady McDermott swapped on villa for another this week as she enjoyed a late summer break on the French Riviera. The former Island star updated her Instagram followers with snaps from her current holiday in St. Tropez. just weeks after completing her second stint on the ITV2 dating show. Dressed appropriately in a white bikini, Kady, 28, showed off her curves in a series of Instagram posts while unwinding next to an inviting outdoor pool. Caught in profile, the brunette - single following her recent split with fellow islander Ouzy See - shows off a golden tan as she sweeps her wet hair across her shoulders. Kady has been enjoying a welcome break in the south-of-France with Joanna Chimonides, another ex-Love Island contestant who appeared on the show in 2019. Living the good life: Kady McDermott swapped on villa for another this week as she enjoyed a late summer break on the French Riviera Here we go The former Island star updated her Instagram followers with snaps from her current holiday in St. Tropez. just weeks after completing her second stint on the show Ouzy recently admitted he 'ruined' his short-lived relationship with Kady, while batting off claims that he cheated with a brand influencer called Alicia. He told MailOnline: 'I just want to clear it up, I was in the wrong. I can understand why Kady was upset, the girl (Alicia) set me up, she came to the hotel and I had never done anything with her. 'I was with Kady when she posted the statement of the split online and was with her when it all came out. 'We weren't exclusive at the time and we hadn't even had our first date. Things were going in the right direction and going well but when we came out of the villa, things were so different. 'Then that happened on July 30 and after me and Kady met up and I kind of ruined it. I knew the girl before, I knew of her. 'We'd met like three times as friends, but she messaged me when I was out and about in London. 'There was no romantic connection though. This girl's friends were all posting about it on Twitter and it was muggy and it looked bad on Kady's side. But I never had a romantic connection with her. It is what it is and I'm happy now.' Ouzy went on to say he has 'no regrets' and insisted the split 'was not Kady's fault' but 'he was set up'. There she is: Kady has shared numerous snaps from the south-of-France over recent days Gutted: Ouzy recently admitted he 'ruined' his short-lived relationship with Kady, while batting off claims that he cheated with a brand influencer called Alicia He added: 'It's been mad. I have no privacy anymore, but I've enjoyed it and I have no regrets. I was set up a little bit and it's not all true. 'I will say it's not Kady's fault. She is an amazing girl and it was my fault, but I was set up. In the villa I had the best time ever but obviously they don't show everything and it is very different on the outside, but I loved it.' The couple - who have now unfollowed each other on Instagram - originally got together after Kady returned from Casa Amor single and Ouzy was left looking for love again after Ella ditched him for Tyrique following the ultimate relationship test. They were then voted out together after a trip to the Island Beach Club when Whitney and Lochan voted to dump them after being chosen as the most popular. 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Beauty entrepreneur and former TV presenter Trinny said she didn't get to grieve for Johnny Elichaoff until six months ago - eight years after his death - when their daughter Lyla left home, leaving her alone. Johnny, who also had a son Zak from a previous relationship, took his life in 2014 aged 55. Although he was known to have suffered a series of failed oil investments before his death, Trinny said he was going through such turmoil that he'd convinced himself his children were better off without him - despite his hypervigilance over their welfare. The former What Not To Wear presenter, 59, whose Trinny London business is valued at 180 million, told Monday's Diary of a CEO podcast: 'Johnny had hypervigilance around his children because he had been in the Israeli army and he was a paramedic. Emotional: Trinny Woodall has opened up about her ex-husband's suicide, saying it was hard to understand how someone so obsessed with their children's welfare would end their life Devastating: Trinny said she didn't get to grieve for Johnny Elichaoff until six months ago - eight years after his death - when their daughter Lyla left home 'And he had from it post-traumatic stress disorder which wasn't diagnosed until about 20 years later. 'But one of the things also is hypervigilance around his children, so he was always so worried for their welfare. 'So you kind of have this thing of where do you get to in your brain, when you are so worried about your children, that you can convince yourself that the best thing for your children, who you love profoundly, is that you're not in their life anymore? 'And that is something that is so important that we can help people who get to that situation - that they don't get to that final part of that situation. 'It's understanding what to recognise, and it's very hard to recognise. I didn't recognise. There were lots of details of it which could have really upset me, of things that were done wrong. But you kind of have to let go. 'You need to work through these stages and not get stuck in something which eats you up.' She added: 'Every person who has had somebody commit suicide will at some stage say "was there anything I could have done to stop it?"' Johnny's death came after the couple had divorced, but Trinny said they remained so close that they would still speak every day until he died - but it took her eight years to grieve. Hard to process: Trinny said he was going through such turmoil that he'd convinced himself his children were better off without him - despite his hypervigilance over their welfare Tragic: Johnny, who also had a son Zak from a previous relationship, took his life in 2014 aged 55 She said: 'We spoke every day on the phone. It took me a long time to grieve because he left a mess when he died which I had to kind of deal with. 'So it preoccupies you to not then actually just think about what you miss in somebody. You're focused on what you've got to do, you go on to auto-pilot. 'Probably oddly I moved in March and that was the first time I remember Lyla went away, and it was the first time in 35 years I'd been on my own in the house. And I grieved for Johnny, all those years later.' She added: 'I suppose you need space. He died, there was a mess, then starting the business, I was living in a house I couldn't afford to live in, I had to sell it for lots of reasons, one of them for that reason. 'There were so many sort of fires I was dealing with - trying to guide Lyla to be OK. So there were a lot of years of that. Moving: Trinny was close to tears as she discussed her former husband's death on YouTube podcast Diary of a CEO Old times: Trinny with former husband Johnny Elichaoff at the Conservative Party Black and White Ball at London's Old Billingsgate Market in 2008 'And then another life change of just deciding I want to live on my own then brought up in a way to be able to just feel something that I hadn't really let myself feel. 'Sometimes in life we know we're not in that part of that strong enough to feel that feeling and move forward, and we have to be in the right situation and give ourselves that breathing space to be able to feel the fullness of that feeling without judgement or guilt of remorse.' She said what she felt then was "there was nothing better in anyone else than the bestness of Johnny - and I missed it". 'This is eight years later, but things take time,' she added. Johnny, who had battled an addiction to painkillers for 20 years, died at the Whiteley's shopping centre in Bayswater, west London, in November 2014. The drummer turned businessman had been talked down from the same spot 11 days previously and was sectioned briefly. Proud mother: The TV presenter with the couple's daughter, Lyla Elichaoff, at the V&A Summer Party and DIVA Exhibition Preview in June But he returned to the shopping centre twice more in the space of five days before finally killing himself the next day. Johnny married TV presenter Trinny in 1999 in London's Knightsbridge and the couple had a child Lyla, now 19, before they divorced in 2009, but remained on good terms. An inquest into his death was conducted at Westminster Coroner's Court in November 2015, during which Trinny's brother Mark Woodall read a statement from the presenter. She wrote: 'Johnny Elichaoff was a much loved brother, father and husband and he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. 'Even in his darkest moments he was always there for those who needed him as a parent, brother, son and spouse with unconditional love and support. 'As a person he had the best sense of humour, he was unconditionally kind and never spoke ill of other people. 'He was heartfelt with his advice and had the ability to always make people feel better once they had confided in him 'Everyone who met him had a story to tell about and not a day goes by his family don't think of him and the utter tragedy of his passing.' He reportedly tied the knot to his Portuguese actress girlfriend during an intimate ceremony last week. And now Chris Evans fans are devastated upon hearing the news that the Captain American star is off the market for good. The actor, 42, and 'wife' Alba Baptista, 26, reportedly wed at a private estate in Cape Cod and got attendees to 'sign NDAs and phones were forfeited', according to Page Six. Fans gushed to Twitter on Monday morning to mourn Chris' single life as well as congratulate the happy couple. Some wrote: 'Streets saying Chris Evans got MARRIED????' Newlyweds! Chris Evans fans are devastated upon hearing the news that the Captain American star is off the market for good after he reportedly married girlfriend Alba Baptiste last week Off the market: Fans gushed to Twitter on Monday morning to mourn Chris' single life as well as congratulate the happy couple 'Just heard the news about Chris Evans' 'I JUST WOKE UP FROM A NAP WHAT DO YOU MEAN CHRIS EVANS IS MARRIED' 'It's a sad day for us Chris Evans girlies! Happy for him BUT DAMN. Should've been me.' 'Just saw someone post that Chris Evans got married. No one talk to me.' 'Chris Evans has shattered a lot of hearts'. The publication also revealed that the happy couple's star-studded guest list included his Marvel co-stars, like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner. Additionally, John Krasinski, his wife Emily Blunt, Elsa Pataky and Susan Downey were seen 'in nearby Boston for the wedding,' according to People. In January, Chris officially confirmed his relationship with Alba in a cute video in which he and his love were trying to scare each other. Devastated: Fans were upset to hear that Chris was married and took to Twitter to share their distress In the caption he said he was looking back on 2022 as he added three red heart emojis that made it clear he had love for the budding star. In November, People reported the action star has been dating her for over a year and the relationship is 'serious.' 'They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her,' a source told the site. In the past, he has dated actresses Jenny Slate, Minka Kelly and Jessica Biel. Last year, he was also rumored to be close to Selena Gomez. Chris told People in 2022 that he feels very 'content' in his personal life. And he also shared that he would like to settle down one day. 'That's absolutely something I want: wife, kids, building a family,' said the actor. 'When you read about most of the best artists, whether it's actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasn't the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships; the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared. 'So it's also something through my long 41 years that also rings true. Keeping it private: A source revealed that the pair's wedding was 'locked down tight' and guests were asked to 'sign NDAs and phones were forfeited' Celebrating with loved ones: The insider also revealed that the couple's star-studded guest list included his Marvel co-stars, like Robert Downey Jr ., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner Happier than ever: In November, People reported the action star has been dating her for over a year and the relationship is 'serious' 'Those things are the most important. I love the idea of tradition and ceremony. I had a lot of that in my life, so the idea of creating that I can't think of anything better,' he added. Alba, who has a successful career as an actress, worked in a short film Miami landing in her the Best Actress Award at the Festival Iberico de Cine at the age of 16. She then starred in several films in Portugal including Caminhos Magnetykos by Edgar Pera,and Equinocio by Ivo Ferreira. In 2019 she appeared in the film Patrick, the directorial debut of Goncalo Waddington, and which was in competition at San Sebastian International Film Festival. Next came Fatima in 2020 where she worked with Harvey Keitel. Alba starred in the lead role of Ava in Netflix's series Warrior Nun, which was released in 2020 and this year she had the lead role in Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. Viewers have been left in awe after binge watching the newly released docuseries Spy Ops on Netflix, with some calling it the 'best' documentary they've watched. The series became available to watch on the streaming site on September 8, and has already been met with rave reviews from fascinated viewers around the globe. Spy Ops takes a deep dive into the world of geopolitics, with intelligence operatives from MI6 and the CIA sharing their personal accounts of spy craft, Cold War campaigns, and coups carried out by covert agents. The eight-part series sees episodes focusing on politically controversial events, such as Opertation Jawbreaker, in which US troops touches down in Afghanistan with a mission to take down the Taliban only fifteen days after September 11, 2001. Other episodes follow MI6's daring attempt to retrieve a Soviet double agent from Moscow, as well as showcasing a testimony from a man who planned and attempted an assassination of Catholicism's highest figure, Pope John Paul II. Rave reviews: Viewers have been left in awe after binge watching the newly released docuseries Spy Ops on Netflix, with some calling it the 'best' documentary they've watched Viewers from around the globe have been taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the new docuseries, with many encouraging others to watch, describing it as 'one of the best' documentaries ever. One person wrote, 'The show "Spy Ops" is pretty good on Netflix,' while another, agreeing, said, 'Spy Ops on Netflix is really good!' Another impressed fan wrote: 'Oh my God. Spy Ops on Netflix is riveting. One of the best docs ever.' A fellow X user agreed, saying: 'Netflix documentaries have me in a chokehold, check out Spy Ops.' Another person tagged the CIA's official account and wrote: '@CIA Watching Spy Ops, in Netflix. Amazing!!!!!' A final viewer referenced a quote from the docuseries that caught their attention, writing, '"We have a place, surprisingly, the CIA does, that has every weapon known to man. And you can get them in quantities." Spy Ops on Netflix is wild.' Some viewers, however, shared their distaste at some of the content pushed in the series, with a number of people criticising the US Government and it's 'involvement' in other countries' affairs. One person said: 'I'm watching Spy Ops, the US has tentacles everywhere. In every country. They are the government of the world who can just invade any country when they don't like the leader.' American mission: The eight-part series sees episodes focusing on politically controversial events, such as Opertation Jawbreaker, in which US troops touch down in Afghanistan with a mission to take down the Taliban only fifteen days after September 11, 2001 Geopolitics: Other episodes follow MI6's daring attempt to retrieve a Soviet double agent from Moscow , as well as showcasing a testimony from a man who planned and attempted an assassination of Catholicism's highest figure, Pope John Paul II Highly rated: Viewers from around the globe have been taking to X , formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the new docuseries; with many encouraging others to watch, describing it as 'one of the best' documentaries ever, while others criticised the US Government Another viewer wrote: 'Spy Ops is literally glamorising some states' criminal activities worldwide. Do they ever think of the people living and dying in those countries where they think anything can go during any operation?' One person said: 'Spy Ops lacks some serious counterbalance. Like did anyone say: maybe we should get other perspectives? It's a great one sided historical review. Those always go well.' A final disgruntled viewer wrote: 'It's fascinating to see/hear the USA admit to election meddling in a foreign country with so much confidence. They're probably the only country that can do this with impunity.' On the subject of CIA and accusatory 'meddling,' this comes after the CIA have recently been sued for its role in helping to craft a letter from 51 intelligence officials discrediting Hunter Biden's laptop as Russian disinformation. A Republican report released in May showed that the CIA was actively involved in getting signatures for the letter which 'was a political operation to help elect' Hunter's father Joe Biden in November 2020. Jon Hamm cut a dapper figure in a grey suit as he watched the men's singles Final at the US Open in New York City on Sunday. The actor, 52, was spotted sitting with his new wife Anna Osceola while watching the match between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. The couple - who tied the knot in Big Sur this past June after two years of dating - seemed in high spirits as they eagerly watched the Grand Slam. The Mad Men star opted for a crisp white open collar shirt with the smart grey outfit and donned a pair of dark sunglasses. Meanwhile, Anna cut a stylish figure in a green gingham shirt dress and accessorised by layering two gold necklaces and donned a pair of sunglasses. Couple: Jon Hamm and wife Anna Osceola watched the men's singles Final at the US Open in New York City on Sunday All smiles: The actor, 52, cut a dapper figure in a grey suit while watching the match between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens Many more stars showed up for the legendary sport competition, which saw Djokovic winning the 24th Grand Slam title again - for the fourth time. The star-studded event saw the likes of Justin Timberlake, Nicole Kidman, Emily Ratajkowski, Matthew McConaughey, and a steamy appearance of Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet. Jon and Anne famously met on the Mad Men series finale back in 2015, the same year he ultimately ended his 18-year relationship with Jennifer Westfeldt. During his past relationship, which spanned nearly two decades, the 52-year-old was adamant that he would never tie the knot as he stated that he didn't 'have a particularly defined example of marriage.' 'My parents got divorced when I was two and never remarried. So it doesn't mean anything to me,' he said during a 2012 interview with Playboy. 'I don't mean to say that it shouldn't mean things to other people. I'm not judging it one way or another.' The star continued: 'It's just my experience. I don't have that paragon of married life to look at and think, 'Oh yeah, that's it! That's what I want!'' Additionally, he stated that he did not have 'a driving force to have a baby.' Still, he wasn't completely opposed to becoming a father as he said he wasn't 'ruling it out.' Exciting: The couple - who tied the knot in Big Sur this past June after two years of dating - seemed in high spirits as they eagerly watched the Grand Slam Amazing: The Mad Men star opted for a crisp white open collar shirt with the smart grey outfit and donned a pair of dark sunglasses while Anne looks chic in a green gingham dress Just months after meeting Anna on set of Mad Men, Jon and Jennifer announced they ended their longtime relationship. With great sadness, we have decided to separate, after 18 years of love and shared history,' they told ET in a joint statement. We will continue to be supportive of each other in every way possible moving forward.' At the time, a source told the outlet that Jon's 'party-heavy lifestyle' had become too much for Jennifer. 'Jon and Jennifer really fought hard to make their relationship work, Jennifer more so than Jon,' the source revealed. 'They were together for many years, but in the end, it was too much work. It's no secret that Jon likes to go out and leads a very party-heavy lifestyle. And Jennifer was just tired of that.' Additionally, it was claimed Jennifer wanted him 'to grow up' but 'he never wanted to.' Ultimately, she became sick of 'being his mother.' Eight years after their split, however, he managed to finally walk down the aisle with Osceola, who is 17 years his junior. The couple reportedly began dating in 2020, five years after they were introduced on the set of his AMC show, which ran from 2007 to 2015. Anna bagged a small role as the receptionist named Clementine at Esalen, a spiritual California retreat that Jon's character (Don Draper), attended in the final episode of the hit series. The couple have been spotted together dating as far back as 2017 but rumours of their romance really took off in 2020, when the pair were repeatedly spotted running errands together during the coronavirus lockdown. The pair exchanged vows just before sunset at Anderson Canyon in Big Sur, California, which is where they were first introduced while filming the series finale. Fateful meeting: Jon and Anne famously met on the Mad Men series finale back in 2015, the same year he ultimately ended his 18-year relationship with Jennifer Westfeldt Jodie Whittaker was spotted filming exterior court scenes for Netflix's upcoming drama Toxic Town on Monday. The Doctor Who actress, 41, whose role has not been announced, was seen in a leather jacket and black trousers while filming a scene in which her character speaks to members of the press outside a court. The upcoming four-part limited series from Broke & Bones, Toxic Town, tells the tragic story of the real life Corby poisonings, one of the UK's biggest environmental scandal in which toxic waste in East Midlands led to birth defects in babies. She was seen on set alongside Rory Kinnear who was dressed smart in a suit for the scenes in the drama, which is yet to have a release date. The drama focuses on three mothers fighting for justice following toxic waste spillages in the town of Corby in Northamptonshire. Shooting: Jodie Whittaker was spotted filming exterior court scenes for Netflix 's upcoming drama Toxic Town on Monday Action: The Doctor Who actress, 41, whose role has not been announced, was seen in a leather jacket and black trousers while filming a scene in which her character speaks to members of the press outside a court Filming: She was seen chatting to crew members while shooting In character: Jodie tucked her short blonde tresses behind her ears as she was spotted speaking to press during one scene which was filmed outside of a court building On set: Netflix's upcoming four-part limited series from Broke & Bones, Toxic Town, tells the story of the real life Corby poisonings, one of the UK's biggest environmental scandal Reaching out: Lisa and Simone Atkinson (right-left) were affected by the poisionings, as Simone was born with birth defects In 1980, the town experienced one of the biggest child poisonings cases and exposed children to a high volume of toxic waste, which saw more birth defects in this period than ever - the worst foetal poisoning scandal since thalidomide. The local council attempted to remove the waste - an attempt that led to contamination spreading to populated areas, impacting the health of locals. A case was subsequently brought against Corby Borough Council, which found the waste disposal had led to birth defects, with a far above average number of babies born in Corby with upper-limb defects. Four-episode limited series Toxic Town tells the story of the legal battle between parents of the affected children and the Council. Alongside Jodie fans will see Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood, Downton Abbey star Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle and The Diplomat star Rory Kinnear. The release date is yet to be announced. Toxic Town's writer, Jack Thorne, said: 'The Corby toxic Waste case is one of those moments in history that is defining. 'It showed our ability to close our eyes and ears to the safety of our people. It also showed the remarkable way that people will fight for what's right. 'Toxic Town tells the story of these funny, brave, incredible women and the way they scrapped for their children.' High spirits: The Broadchurch star was also seen on set alongside Rory Kinnear who dressed smart in a suit Plot: The drama focuses on three mothers fighting for justice following toxic waste spillages in the town of Corby in Northamptonshire Co-stars: Robert Carlyle, 62, and Rory Kinnear, 45, were spotted filming exterior court scenes on Monday for the series, Toxic Town Drama: In 1980, the town experienced one of the biggest child poisonings cases and exposed children to a high volume of toxic waste, which saw more birth defects in this period than ever Co-stars: Alongside Jodie fans will see Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood, Downton Abbey star Brendan Coyle, Robert Carlyle and The Diplomat star Rory Kinnear Looking sharp: The gentlemen dressed in character donned a pair of sharp suits, with Robert in a grey on grey ensemble and Rory wore a classic combination of a black blazer, white shirt and a blue stripped tie The Corby Poisonings The Corby toxic waste case was a court case decided by The Hon. Mr. Justice Akenhead at the High Court of Justice, London, on 29 July 2009 in the case of Corby Group Litigation v. Corby Borough Council. The judge found Corby Borough Council liable in negligence, public nuisance and a breach of statutory duty for its reclamation of a Corby Steelworks in the town of Corby, Northamptonshire, between 1985 and 1997. The landmark decision was historically significant as the first in the world to establish a link between atmospheric toxic waste and birth defects and held implications for other council reclamation programs and the methods of conducting reclamation in England and Wales. In November 2005, expert evidence was submitted to the High Court in London by the mothers of 30 children who claimed that during their pregnancies they were exposed to contamination from the waste removal operations. They sought to bring a legal action to try to prove a link between the mismanagement of toxic waste and birth defects suffered by their children. PICTURED: Parents and children affected by the poisoning releasing balloons in 2020 The case to be heard at the High Court in 2009 represented 18 young people who alleged that toxic waste dumped by Corby Borough Council between 1984 and 1999 was the cause of their deformities. All had serious disabilities, including missing or underdeveloped fingers and deformities of their feet. They alleged that their mothers ingested or inhaled the toxic substances that affected the development of their limbs while they were still in the womb. All of their mothers either lived in or regularly visited Corby between 1984 and 1999 when the work was carried out across the town. The case had taken ten years to reach this point largely because of the difficulties encountered in obtaining disclosure of information from Corby Borough Council. In his ruling, Mr Justice Akenhead said it was clear that the council had permitted toxic waste to disperse into the atmosphere. He also said that there was a "statistically significant" cluster of birth defects between 1989 and 1999, and that, "toxicologically, there were present on and from the Corby Borough Council sites, over the whole period from 1985 (and possibly before) until 1997, the types of contaminants which could cause the birth defects complained of." Advertisement Since quitting Doctor Who, Jodie was spotted filming scenes for the Australian thriller One Night at Malabar ocean pool in Sydney in February. In 2021, Jodie confirmed she would be leaving Doctor Who, with the BBC revealing that her departure will play out across a three-part special. The British star, who was the show's first female Doctor, described her four-year stint manning the Tardis as being 'the best job I ever had'. Ncuti Gatwa was unveiled as the 15th Doctor on the popular sci-fi show in May 2022 after Jodie Whittaker confirmed her departure from the role. Bwhind the scenes: The two highly esteemed actors appeared to be chatting away between takes behind the cameras He is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor, after Whittaker made history as the first permanent female Time Lord in 2017. Break: While on set Jodie was spotted picking up a hot drink from a crew member The eleventh season of Married At First Sight is currently being filmed in Sydney. Daily Mail Australia can now reveal that a glamorous brunette bombshell is set to shake things up on the upcoming season. Gold Coast-based mother-of-one Jade Pywell will be one of two intruder brides to walk down the aisle. She will be paired with Sydney-based weightlifter and athlete Ridge Barredo. Sources close to the model revealed her identity, telling Daily Mail Australia that she is a 'very fun, down to earth kinda girl who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty'. Daily Mail Australia can now reveal that a glamorous brunette bombshell is set to shake things up on the upcoming season. Pictured: Jade Pywell The Gold Coast-based mother-of-one will be one of two intruder brides to walk down the aisle She is no stranger to the Gold Coast party scene, and was photographed attending tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's infamous Australia Day party back in January. Photos show Jade showing off her incredible physique posing alongside model Lucciana Beynon and her brother Valentino. Jade is hoping to meet the man of her dreams on the Channel Nine dating experiment. Sources on set have described Jade as, 'the next Jessika Power.' Sources close to the model revealed her identity, telling Daily Mail Australia that she is a 'very fun, down to earth kinda girl who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty' She was also photographed attending tobacco tycoon Travers 'The Candyman' Beynon's infamous Australia Day party back in January. Pictured, left, with Lucciana Beynon, right, and her brother Valentino, centre Like her fellow co-stars, her Instagram account with more than 11,700 followers is now private - which is a requirement for all participants. Jade and her 'TV groom' Ridge were spotted checking into Skye Suites in Sydney's Green Square last week after attending the first dinner party, where MAFS is currently being filmed. It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed the pair will be joined by another two couples: Maddy Jevic and Ash Galati and Mike Felix and Stephen Stewart, the show's first gay couple since same-sex weddings were legalised in 2017. Despite Channel Nine bosses revealing that the forthcoming series will be 'less screechy' and focus more on love, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that things on set have been the most chaotic to date. A Sydney bakery will be offering undead-themed pastries to celebrate the premiere of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon on Stan. Cult bakehouse LODE will be partnering with the streaming service to give away 100 limited-edition croissants on September, 12 from 8am until gone. LODEs award-winning chef Lorenzo Librino designed the limited-edition pastry aptly titled 'The Sugarcoa-dead Daryl'. It's a twice-baked charcoal croissant, filled with macadamia frangipane and a raspberry and rhubarb compote, topped with Italian meringue. The croissant will be available exclusively at LODE Circular Quay, 5 Sai Ying Lane, where Zombies will make themselves at home from 8am, handing out the free croissants to the first 100 people who drop in. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon premieres September 11 only on Stan. A Sydney bakery will be offering undead-themed pastries to celebrate the premiere of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon on Stan Cult bakehouse LODE will be partnering with the streaming service to give away 100 limited-edition croissants on September, 12 from 8am until gone Known for its intricate, detailed and highly 'Instagrammable' treats, and buttery, flaky pastry, LODE Pies & Pastries is considered one of the best bakeries in Sydney. Meanwhile, the new Walking Dead spinoff has not even premiered yet and has already been green-lit for a second season. The news about the soon-to-debut program was revealed by Variety, and it was also reported that The Walking Dead: Dead City is also set to return for a new run of episodes. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which is due to premiere on September 12 in Australia, is centered on the fan-favorite character of the same name played by Norman Reedus (pictured), who unexpectedly washes up in France and tries to find a way back home The Norman Reedus-starring show, which was recently the subject of a new trailer, continues the story of the fan-favorite character made famous during the original survival drama series, which ran from 2010 until 2022. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is centered on the fan-favorite character of the same name, who unexpectedly washes up in France and tries to find a way back home. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is the second of three brand new series from The Walking Dead Universe launching exclusively on Stan, with The Walking Dead: Dead City now streaming and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live premiering in 2024. Convicted drug smuggler 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury launched her own Cameo profile on Monday. The drug trafficker-turned-fitness influencer, 28, made the announcement on Instagram, sharing a link with her 33.7k followers. Cameo is an online platform that allows fans to purchase personalised videos and messages from various celebrities, internet influencers, and television stars. Through her Cameo profile, Sainsbury will give followers the opportunity to purchase personalised videos for $47 each and messages for $31. The forthcoming contestant on SAS Australia has posted an introductory video laying out what she is offering fans. Convicted drug smuggler 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury launched her own Cameo profile on Monday. Pictured The drug trafficker-turned-fitness influencer, 28, made the announcement on Instagram, sharing a link with her 33.7k followers 'Hey guys, it's Cassie here. I am accepting any video requests whether it be a motivational speech, a shout out, a birthday message, I am here nothing weird,' she said. Sainsbury also declared that all money she earns via Cameo will be donated to an unnamed charity. Cassie will also be featuring in the new season of Channel Seven's reality show, SAS Australia: Buried Alive, as indicated by the newly dropped trailer. Through her Cameo profile, Sainsbury will give followers the opportunity to purchase personalised videos for $47 each and messages for $31 The forthcoming contestant on SAS Australia has posted an introductory video laying out what she is offering fans. 'Hey guys, it's Cassie here. I am accepting any video requests whether it be a motivational speech, a shout out, a birthday message, I am here nothing weird,' she said Sainsbury earned herself the nickname 'Cocaine Cassie' when she was caught trying to smuggle 5.8kg of cocaine (above) out of Columbia The video begins by dropping its celebrity contestants in a sandy desert, which the subtitles say is located in an 'undisclosed location in the Middle East'. The contestants are then seen being put through a series of grueling physical challenges, including running across the roof of a moving train and dodging grenades. They are also seen being buried alive in coffins built in the sand. 'The selection process is brutal. This is the hardest military course in the world. If you're weak, easily offended or physically unfit, leave now,' host Ant Middleton tells the contestants. Cassie will also be featuring in the new season of Channel Seven's reality show, SAS Australia: Buried Alive, as indicated by the newly dropped trailer. The video begins by dropping its celebrity contestants in a sandy desert, which the subtitles say is located in an 'undisclosed location in the Middle East' 'The selection process is brutal. This is the hardest military course in the world. If you're weak, easily offended or physically unfit, leave now,' host Ant Middleton (pictured) tells the contestants Cassie will join Anthony Mundine, former Roosters captain Boyd Cordner and Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice on the new series. Cassie will join Anthony Mundine, former Roosters captain Boyd Cordner and Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice on the new series. The Adelaide woman became known as Cocaine Cassie in 2017, after she was detained by Colombian authorities for trying to smuggle almost 6 kgs of cocaine out of the country hidden in 18 boxes of headphones. She was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 2020, returning to South Australia soon after, where she now works as a fitness influencer. Twenty-six years have passed since Kate Winslet stripped off for one of her more famous scenes as the socially stifled Rose DeWitt in James Cameron's award-winning Titanic. Back then, she wanted Leonardo DiCaprio's budding artist Jack Dawson to draw her 'like one of his French girls' as she reclined on a chaise longue in her upper-class quarters aboard the doomed passenger ship. And while the roles have been rich and varied since then - she recently reunited with Cameron to play an animated, free diving Na'vi in his blockbuster Avatar sequel - Winslet will go full circle with a topless scene in her forthcoming film, the factual drama Lee. The Academy Award winner plays iconic World War II photographer Lee Miller in the Ellen Kuras directed film, a role that involved a degree of transformation in order for Winslet to accurately portray her physical presence on screen. One scene finds her posing topless on a beach as Miller spends time with her future husband Roland Penrose, artist Man Ray, poet Paul Eluard, his wife Nusch, and the model Ady Fidelin. Let's talk: Kate Winslet reflects on her attitude towards onscreen nudity in the latest edition of Vogue magazine Coming soon: The Academy Award winner plays iconic World War II photographer Lee Miller in the Ellen Kuras directed Lee. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival Old times: Twenty-six years have passed since Winslet stripped off for one of her more famous scenes as the socially stifled Rose DeWitt in James Cameron 's award-winning Titanic Here we go: The actress also stripped off for her role as British paleontologist Mary Anning in 2020 drama Ammonite (pictured) And she admits she refuses to shy away from nudity onscreen, despite the obvious self-consciousness that comes with exposing oneself in front of a camera crew. Speaking to Vogues October 2023 issue - in which she also collaborates with photographer Annie Leibovitz for a new cover shoot - she said: 'I always have to act everything out! I know better than to waste precious energy on criticising my physical self. 'I think any woman is better off just saying: I believe in myself. It doesnt matter what other people think; this is who I amlets get on with it.' Reflecting on her latest topless scene, she added: 'You know I had to be really f**king brave about letting my body be its softest version of itself and not hiding from that. 'And believe me, people amongst our own team would say, "You might just want to sit up a bit." And Id go, "Why? [Because of] the bit of flesh you can see? No, thats the way its going to be!"' Lee received its first official screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 and the reviews are encouraging, but Winslet admits they initially struggled to find anyone willing to back the project - something she attributes to most major studios being run by men. She said: 'The men who think you want and need their help are unbelievably outraging. Ive even had a director say to me: "Listen, you do my film and Ill get your little Lee funded" Little! 'Or wed have potential male investors saying things like: "Tell me, why am I supposed to like this woman?' Nonplussed: Winslet admits she refuses to shy away from nudity onscreen, despite the obvious self-consciousness that comes with exposing oneself in front of a camera crew Stunning: The actress has accompanied her new interview with a photoshoot, carried out by celebrated photographer Annie Leibowitz Despite those initial setbacks, Winslet says the film industry has now dramatically shifted in favour of women - something she never believed would happen while posing for DiCaprio in that famous scene. 'Oh, my God! This is the best part. Young actresses now - f**k me - they are unafraid. It makes me so proud. 'And I think, Yes, all the sh*t flinging, all the struggle, all the using my voice for years, often being finger-pointed at and laughed at - I dont give a sh*t! It was all bloody worth it. 'Because the culture is changing in the way that I couldnt in my wildest dreams have imagined in my 20s absolutely toughened me up, but the one thing it gave me, more than anything else, was a profound understanding of what it means to play a character like Lee Miller.' Vogue's October 2023 issue is available on newsstands nationwide from September 19. Millie Bobby Brown debuted her long brunette hair extensions on Monday as she headed out to promote her book Nineteen Steps wearing two stylish ensembles. The Stranger Things star, 19, looked effortlessly chic in a white ensemble as she departed BBC Radio 2 after advertising her first novel. Her first outing of the day saw Millie dress in a strapless white linen top with matching linen trousers. The actress added a glamorous pair of white court heels to her outfit and acessorised with a square Louis Vuitton clutch bag and added a gold choker. Millie look incredibly stylish and showed off her slender physique in her timeless choice of wardrobe. Gorgeous: Millie Bobby Brown debuted her new long brunette hair extensions and headed out to promote her new book Nineteen Steps in two stylish ensembles on Monday in London Stunning: The Stranger Things star, 19, looked effortlessly chic in a white ensemble as she departed BBC Radio 2 after advertising her first novel The newly engaged star, who is usually known for her short cut bob, showcased her new brunette hair extensions for the occasion. She added a white headband with her first outfit and swapped it for a brown one for her second outing. Meanwhile, Millie cut another trendy display as she changed into a FRAMEs brown leather co-ord and flashed her toned legs. The actress styled her leather blazer and mini skirt with a pair of white heeled-boots. Millie looked happy and relaxed as she waved to photographers and fans before heading into the venue in Piccadilly. Nineteen Steps, which will be published September 12, is a history novel about a courageous 18-year-old woman called Nellie Morris who lives with her family in Bethnal Green, in Londons East End, while the second world war rages on around them. When a tragic accident occurs during an air raid one night, the consequences are catastrophic - and life will never be the same again for Nellie. 'Writing Nineteen Steps has been a really special project for me. The story is inspired by true events and my own family history,' she explained while showing a photo of herself and her grandmother. Stylish: The newly engaged star showcased her new brunette hair extensions for the occasion Glamorous: Her first outing of the day saw Millie dress in a strapless white linen top with matching linen trousers Chic: The actress added a glamorous pair of white court heels to her outfit and acessorised with a square Louis Vuitton clutch bag and a statement gold choker Incredible: She added a white headband with her first outfit and swapped it for a brown one for her second outing Slender: The actress styled her faux-leather blazer and mini skirt with a pair of white heeled-boots Busy: Millie looked happy and relaxed as she waved to fans before heading into the venue in Piccadilly Incredible: Nineteen Steps will be published September 12 In a statement released via publisher William Morrow, the Screen Actors Guild Award winner revealed a few more details about her personal connection to the tale, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Inspired by my Nanny Ruth, this book is very personal and close to my heart. 'I grew up listening to stories about her time living through the war. Im honored to keep her story alive.' Millie and her fiance, Jake Bongiovi, 21, the son of Jon Bon Jovi, recently got engaged after two years of dating. The star recently revealed she has started wedding planning and it's 'so fun' in a candid new interview. The actress expressed her excitement over being engaged to Jake and planning their wedding together in an interview with Women's Wear Daily last month. The star also touched on her preference to keep her life private as she would rather save the special moments for herself. She said of her upcoming big day: 'I can say that the planning is going. It's so fun. And it's such an exciting time in my life.' Cute: It comes after Millie revealed she has started wedding planning with fiance Jake Bongiovi, 21, and it's 'so fun' in a candid new interview 'I think probably drawing the curtains, just because there are only so many moments in life that you get only once,' she said. 'And to have everyone's opinions and eyes looking at that just feels unnatural to me,' she said about wedding planning. 'So I feel it's important to keep those things those small precious moments in life really close to your chest.' Advertisement Joey King seems to be having the time of her life in Europe. The Kissing Booth actress was seen on her honeymoon in Italy with her new husband Steven Piet this weekend. The 24-year-old Bullet Train star had on a black bikini that showed off her toned figure as she splashed around with her 32-year-old spouse in Italy. They were on a boat on Lake Como, where George Clooney owns a villa with his wife Amal and stars such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Matt Damon like to vacation. The lovebirds tied the knot in Spain a week ago. Time to have fun: Joey King seems to be having the time of her life in Europe. The Kissing Booth actress was seen on her honeymoon in Italy with her new husband Steven Piet this weekend In love in the lake: The 24-year-old star had on a black bikini that showed off her toned figure as she splashed around with her 32-year-old spouse in Italy Joey and Steven enjoyed a little fun in the sun as they dived off their boat Joey. King showed off her voluptuous physique by wearing her black bikini with a strap over her tummy and Steven went shirtless in the blazing hot sunshine. Beforehand, the couple enjoyed a spot of lunch al fresco style thoroughly enjoying their honeymoon holiday. Lake Como, in Northern Italys Lombardy region, is an upscale resort set against the foothills of the Alps. The lake has three slender branches that meet at the resort town of Bellagio. At the bottom of the southwest branch lies the city of Como, home to Renaissance architecture and a funicular that travels up to the mountain town of Brunate. The Hollywood stars tied the knot on the island of Mallorca in Spain. Only their closest family and friends were in attendance, a source told People and Vogue. This comes a month after she enjoyed a 'Steve-themed' bachelorette party with her friends ahead of her upcoming nuptials. The Lie actress and her guests dressed up as various well-known 'Steves' for the celebratory occasion. King's bachelorette weekend was hosted in Napa Valley, California, and she's been using social media to document the festivities. Lovely on the lake: They were on a boat on Lake Como, where George Clooney owns a villa with his wife Amal and stars such as Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Matt Damon like to vacationx Jump for it: She was seen jumping on and off the boat. The star seems to be in the best shape of her life as her legs looked toned and tanned Boat life: It seemed to be just the two of them on the boat as they went in and out of the lake Snapping away: Her spouse took photos with his professional camera as she stood on the back of the boat King is the queen of poses: She put her arms out as she looked back at her husband The famous cannonball move: She pulled up her legs as she was seen mid air about to put a hole in the lake She shared video footage of her and her pals in their versions of Steve on Instagram and TikTok. Joey wrote in her Instagram caption to 18.7 million followers, 'I love all my Steve(n)s.' The bride-to-be dressed as her director fiance, donning gray trousers, a short-sleeved maroon shirt, and beige suspenders. The movie star additionally wore a pair of dark-rimmed eyeglasses and she pulled her hair back. Two of her friends arrived as the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, showing up in black turtlenecks and jeans. Someone else dressed up as the beloved, nerdy 90s sitcom character Steve Urkel. Another party guest chose to portray Steve Irwin, while someone else chose to be Steve from Blues Clues. One of the Los Angeles native's friends was an iteration of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler. And finally, someone else had the idea to be daredevil Steve-O from MTV's reality series Jack***. Watch your phone! Her husband Piet held onto his cell phone while dangerously close to the water Flashing some underboob: As Joey pulled up her arms to her hair, her suit pulled up showing off some of her chest Hat's on: She wore a cap at one point that seemed to say Patou on the front An earlier social media post showed Joey and her close friends at Cakebread Cellars. One snap showed the Bullet Train star in a white veil and a cream-colored halter neck dress. King met Piet on the set of her hit TV series The Act, and they began dating in September 2019. The filmmaker popped the question in February 2022, which King announced in an Instagram post shortly after. 'I never knew happiness could be so powerful that it can take the air from your lungs, overwhelming every part of you that you cant help but feel your eyes well from the undeniable joy,' she wrote. 'I never knew that a person's presence and heart could feel like a real home,' she added. 'I never knew love could be so unquestionably beautiful. I never knew until you. The date was 2/2/22 when you asked me to marry you and made me the luckiest lady alive,' she noted. Now with more on her body: Joey added a pleated back skirt with black-and-gold sandals as she carried a red woven purse from Kate Spade New York Congratulations: King and Piet seen on a fuchsia carpet in August 2022 in Los Angeles for her film Bullet Train 'I love you more than an Instagram caption could ever do justice. Hanging out with you forever sounds like a real dream, so lets do it,' she finished. Joey used Steven's May birthday as another opportunity to express her love for her man. Sharing a slew of photos with Piet, she wrote, 'To the man who, when I lay my eyes on him, makes my breath catch from how lucky I feel that hes mine. 'How does one describe a person like you? I dont fully know. What I do know is that the world became a better place the day you were born. Happy birthday Stevie P. Your love is my happy place.' The post currently has 1.3 million likes from the star's devoted fanbase. Rylan Clark says the National Health Service is 'on its knees' after being held in a telephone queue for hours while trying to secure his ailing mother a hospital appointment. The TV presenter, 34, and his extended family have been nursing his beloved mum Linda after she suffered a serious fall while on an overseas holiday. But while he's openly praised staff for their care after she was safely returned to the United Kingdom, he shared his frustration with waiting times after failing to get her private medical care. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday, he raged: 'My mum has been home 4 days, tried to book her in private (because luckily I can afford that) for her arm and leg, wont take her because surgery wasnt done by them, since Friday have been waiting for the NHS hospital to come back to me, have been number 76 in the Queue since this morning finally get through to be told they havent received her referral (which they have) my mum is 71 and has other serious health issues. 'I know the NHS is on its knees at the minute but what on earth would she do without family around her. Ive now been told theres nothing else the gp surgery can do (who have been great) so here with my mum in 2 casts, she needs her stitches and staples removed this week, and then her physio can begin, at a loose end here, any advice from doctors/nurses on here would be great thanks.' Not happy: Rylan Clark has slammed the National Health Service after being held in a telephone queue for hours while trying to secure his ailing mother a hospital appointment Fuming: While he's openly praised staff for their care after she was safely returned to the UK, he was less charitable about the NHS after failing to get her private medical care Days earlier Rylan praised the 'dream team' of staff who helped to fly his mum home from Spain, after she suffered a horror fall during their holiday. The presenter shared a selfie with the crew who chartered the private jet to fly them back to the UK, after Linda underwent surgery in the wake of her injury. On Thursday, Rylan revealed that he and Linda were finally heading home, and were using the services of Helicopteros Sanitarios, a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year health care service which operates mobile services for medical care in the Costa Del Sol and provided the transport back to the UK. Sharing a snap with the services' staff, he captioned the post: 'Dream team.' He then shared another image of Linda once they'd boarded the flight on a stretcher attached to various medical apparatus, with the sweet message: 'Love her.' Sweet: Rylan had previously praised the 'dream team' of staff who helped to fly his mum Linda home from Spain, after she suffered a horror fall during their holiday Cute: The presenter shared another image of Linda once they'd boarded the flight on a stretcher attached to various medical apparatus, with the sweet message: 'Love her' Rylan previously shared that getting Linda home on the private jet had 'cost him an arm and a leg. In a caption, he penned: 'She might have broke an arm and a leg but shes cost me an arm and a leg! LINDAS COMING HOME!! Massive thank you to the amazing team and surgeons at Helicopteros Sanitarios. Thanks for looking after my mum x Linda was kept on the stretcher for the entirety of the journey and strapped to various medical devices while they were accompanied by medical staff. Last week, Rylan updated fans as he took to Instagram on Sunday morning to share a smiling photo of his mother in her hospital chair. Linda could be seen putting on a brave face while both her arm and leg were wrapped up in bandages and braces. Captioning the snap, Rylan wrote: 'Someone is out of the bed and in a chair. She cant believe how many people have sent messages. 'Thanks everyone. Will update you all with more as I can x'. It comes after he announced his mum had made it out of surgery after suffering a serious fall on their holiday. Jetting off: Rylan previously shared that getting Linda home on the private jet had 'cost him an arm and a leg' Pained: The TV star took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal they were heading home following the the trip, which had been thwarted by her fall Off we go: In his latest post he shared a trio of snaps showing his beloved mum, with whom he stars on Celebrity Gogglebox, on a stretcher attached to various medical apparatus Tough time: Last week, Rylan updated fans after his 71-year-old mum Linda was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery during their holiday. Doing better! She took to Instagram on Sunday morning to share a smiling photo of his mother in her hospital chair Grateful: Captioning the snap, Rylan wrote: 'Someone is out of the bed and in a chair. She cant believe how many people have sent messages. Thanks everyone' Rylan assured fans that 'all went well' after earlier announcing that he would be pulling out of his scheduled Radio 2 show, with Scott Mills replacing him. Sharing a picture of his mother's hands with a cannula in, he wrote: 'Mum is out of surgery. All went well. 'Asked me if she can still have a new driveway. She's deffo come round. Thanks for all your lovely messages x' Last week, the presenter took to Instagram to announce the worrying news that his mother had suffered a serious fall. Rylan admitted he was praying for his mother and explained that he would be pulling out of his scheduled Radio 2 show. After revealing his mother would need to go under the knife, he later told fans: 'Surgery has gone well. Will keep yas updated x' Rylan filled fans in with his original post, which read: 'So unfortunately I took my mum away on her first holiday in a good few years and sadly she's had quite a bad fall, resulting in her having to have surgery out here. Update: It comes after he announced his mum had made it out of surgery after suffering a serious fall on their holiday with a picture of his mother's hands with a cannula in 'She's not in the best health with her other conditions and this has made it more complicated. My priority at the moment is my mum. 'Cheers scott for covering me at radio 2 and Thanks to the people out here that have sent their well wishes. 'Praying for a successful surgery and a quick recovery. Will update you on mummy. Linda as and when I can x' X Factor star Rylan's celebrity pals quickly flooded the comments section of his Instagram post with well-wishes. Kate Garraway wrote: 'Sorry to hear Rylan,' while Jordan North added: 'Oh mate, hope she's doing ok. Big love,' and Catherine Tyldesley penned: 'Sending love, light and healing darlings.' Vanessa Feltz commented: 'O my goodness I am sorry to hear it! Praying for a speedy recovery, while Ruth Langsford wrote on behalf of herself and husband Eamonn Holmes: 'Oh no.darling Linda. Sending you both all our love.' Linda has battled with Crohn's since her 30s, a condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. She often has to undergo multiple operations to remove damaged parts of her bowel and takes numerous medicines each day for her condition. Rylan's mum also contracted sepsis in 2018, which almost killed her. Back in 2027, Linda endured a six-week stay in hospital, after a procedure related to her Crohn's disease went wrong. Rylan previously opened up to the Daily Mail about his mum's battle with the illness, which has affected many aspects of her life. He explained: 'My mum lost her job because of the disease - it totally dictates her life. When she was diagnosed it really hit her hard because it wasn't picked up early enough. 'The earlier you pick it up the easier it is to control. I grew up with the disease as well because she was ill - it is life-threatening. It's scary. 'It could be difficult when I was young because sometimes she couldn't come on school trips and other times she was so embarrassed about her symptoms that I couldn't have my mates to stay over.' Crohn's disease is a chronic condition, which affects around one in 1,200 people in the UK, causing inflammation of the lining of the digestive system, although it is most commons in the intestines. It causes symptoms including diarrhoea, intense abdominal pain, weight loss and fatigue. Worrying: Last week, the presenter announced that his mother had suffered a serious fall and explained that he would be pulling out of his scheduled Radio 2 show Support: Rylan issued his followers with an update after his celebrity pals flooded the comments section of his Instagram post with well-wishes Special bond: Linda has become hugely popular since her first stint alongside her famous son on Celebrity Gogglebox in 2021 Linda has become hugely popular since her first stint alongside him on Celebrity Gogglebox in 2021, however Rylan previously admitted she has no idea of her level of fame. He write in a Sunday Times Magazine article: 'She's not dealing with her fame, she doesn't really know. She's not on social media and I'm never gonna let her be.' Rylan added: 'My mum, Linda, is my biggest f****** headache, but I don't know what I'd do without her. 'She's got the best of both worlds with me I'm a son and a daughter. I can talk to her about make-up and blow-dry her hair, and I can tell her to f*** off. She's a liability. 'She's the ultimate cross between the nan from Catherine Tate and Pam from Gavin & Stacey.' The stars were out in force for PR Simon Jones and Rich Lally's incredible wedding in London over the weekend. And naturally, when a wedding guestlist features the great and good of the showbiz worlds the ensembles were set to leave jaws dropping - with Ashley Roberts at the helm at The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place on Saturday. The former Pussycat Dolls star, 41, wore a futuristic black gown with cut-outs at the bust while plastic straps and buckles underneath gathered her skin in a tight style. Hot on her heels was Cheryl, 40, who looked ethereal in a billowing gown in a shimmering fabric with a floor-sweeping hemline and cape attachment. Away from the elegant looks, NDubz star Tulisa, 35, went wholly more low-key - as she sported beige shorts and a crop top with a floppy hat - in stark contrast to the other ladies' ball-gowns and bust flashing looks. Popping out: Naturally, when a wedding guestlist features the great and good of the showbiz worlds the ensembles were set to leave jaws dropping - with Ashley Roberts at the helm at The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place on Saturday Amazing: Hot on her heels was Cheryl, 40, who looked ethereal in a billowing gown in a shimmering fabric with a floor-sweeping hemline and cape attachment Stunning: Myleene looked incredible in a black gown as she entered the event Oh hey: Away from the elegant looks, NDubz star Tulisa, 35, went wholly more low-key - as she sported beige shorts and a crop top with a floppy hat - in stark contrast to the other ladies' ball-gowns and bust flashing looks Cream dream: Tulisa looked stylish - but low-key - in her ensemble for the event A vision: Perrie Edwards was sensational in a blue gown with feathered detailing Myleene Klass, 45, and Perrie Edwards, 30, who performed piano and sang at the event also went for incredible glamour - with the former rocking a chic black gown with cut-outs and the latter going braless in a slip dress. Simon is one of the UK's leading publicists and works with celebs such as Ant and Dec, N-Dubz, Cheryl Tweedy, Little Mix and Raye. Following their jaw-dropping arrival, Perrie put on a spectacular performance alongside Myleene on stage, where she sang while Myleene performed on the piano in front of the guests. Simon is one of the UK's leading publicists and works with celebs such as Ant and Dec, N-Dubz, Cheryl Tweedy, Little Mix and Raye. Sharing some content to Instagram, Myleene wrote: 'Wedding of the century! A day full of love, love, LOVE. It was an honour to play you down the aisle and perform with @perrieedwards for your special present... 'After 23 years of friendship, to see @simonjonespr marry the man he was destined to be with, @incrediblyrich was everything. Mr. and Mr. Jones, you were meant to be. Heres to the rest of your lives full of love, friendship and dancing.' Guests were also treated to a performance from Alesha Dixon. Taking to Instagram, Authur Gourounlian shared the video of Perrie and Myleene singing. He captioned the post: 'I mean, when @perrieedwards sings at your wedding and @myleeneklass plays the piano, what else can you wish for @simonjonespr @incrediblyrich' A vision: Nadine put on a chic display in a white shirt dress, with a beige belt that cinched in her waist, while Kimberly looked stunning in a white dress with red roses on it Strutting her stuff: Nicola Roberts looked stunning in an olive slip dress Cheeky! Love Island star Amber Davies looked sensational in a sheer black gown Heading out: Alesha Dixon was joined by her handsome husband A vision: Later in the night, Denise Van Outen and Kimberley Walsh left arm in arm Stunner: Jade Thirlwall was joined by her boyfriend Jordan Stephens - who also seemed to have missed the glam memo Newlyweds: Simon and Rich looked loved-up as they said 'I do' during the lavish ceremony Back together: Cheryl was seen reuniting with her Girls Aloud bandmates Kimberley Walsh , Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts as they attended PR friend Simon Jones' star-studded wedding Also at the celebrity-filled bash saw Girls Aloud stars Kimberley Walsh, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts. Girls Aloud split in 2013 and consisted of the four girls and Sarah Harding, who sadly lost her battle to breast cancer in 2021. But they reuinted for the special occasion and posed for a group snap alongside Arthur. Nadine put on a chic display in a white shirt dress, with a beige belt that cinched in her waist, while Kimberly looked stunning in a white dress with red roses on it. He captioned the Instagram post: 'And just like that Reunited. Celebrating Simon & Rich' Arthur shared a series of content from the special day, including a snap of himself and partner Brian Dowling with the newly weds. He also posed beside stars such as Tess Daly, Pippa O'Connor Ormond, Dec and Nadia Forbe. Guests were treated to performances from Alesha Dixon and Perrie Edwards, while Myleene Klass showed off her talented piano skills. Sharing some content to Instagram, Myleene wrote: 'Wedding of the century! A day full of love, love, LOVE. 'It was an honour to play you down the aisle and perform with @perrieedwards for your special present. 'After 23 years of friendship, to see @simonjonespr marry the man he was destined to be with, @incrediblyrich was everything. Mr. and Mr. Jones, you were meant to be. Heres to the rest of your lives full of love, friendship and dancing.' A vision: Perrie looked incredible in her gown which she accessorised with lashings of gold jewelry Couple: Mollie King and her husband Stuart Broad left hand in hand with The Saturdays star wowing in a pink satin suit Key role: Comedian and Strictly star Jayde Adams served as the celebrant during the ceremony Helping hand: A grinning Tess Daly was helped to her ride home by pal Brian Dowling Wow! Myleene Klass wowed in a very racy black cut-out dress, leaving hand in hand with her partner Simon Motson Colourful dress code: Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall enjoyed the night with her beau Jordan Stephens Calling it a night: Ant McPartlin looked dapper in a grey suit for the star-studded do What a night! Declan Donnelly looked in great spirits as he left with his wife Ali Kim Kardashian showcased her tiny midsection while enjoying a beach day in Turks and Caicos on Monday. The stunning entrepreneur and TV star flashed her flat midriff in a electric blue triangle top with matching spandex bottoms from her very own line, SKIMS Swim. Her tiny top flaunted her ample cleavage while high-waisted thigh-grazing shorts showcased her pert derriere. The brunette beauty, 42, wore her dark hair in a tight bun, adding futuristic style sunglasses. Kim enjoyed a paddle boarding session during her tropical getaway. The latest: Kim Kardashian showcased her tiny midsection while enjoying a beach day in Turks and Caicos on Monday Focused: The stunning entrepreneur and TV star flashed her flat midriff in a electric blue triangle top with matching spandex bottoms from her very own line, SKIMS Swim Peaceful: Her tiny top flaunted her ample cleavage while high-waisted thigh-grazing shorts showcased her pert derriere Kim was seen getting on to her paddle board and then enjoying a solo session in the water. The stunner is set to ring in he 43rd birthday next month on October 21. Just last week, Kim enjoyed a family outing to Beyonce's LA concert at SoFi Stadium. Kim attended the concert with her nine-year-old daughter North West, sister Khloe Kardashian and niece Penelope Disick. Kim has four children with ex-husband Kanye West: North, Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four. Kim filed for divorce in February 2021 just before what would have been the pair's seventh wedding anniversary. In November 2022, Kim and Kanye's divorce was finalized, with Kanye agreeing to pay $200,000 a month in child support and equal custody. Kanye 'married' Yeezy architect Bianca Censori, 28, in January 2023; they did not file a marriage certificate so the union is not considered legal. Sisters Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner arrived separately to the Beyonce concert with their friends; Kylie made her public debut with boyfriend Timothee Chalamet at the concert. For the concert, Kim donned a silvery crop top from Swarovski, adding ripped denim bottoms. Kim sported cascading curls to round out her glamorous concert look. Good times: The brunette beauty, 42, wore her dark hair in a tight bun, adding futuristic style sunglasses Workout: Kim enjoyed a paddle boarding session during her tropical getaway Vacation fun: Kim was seen getting on to her paddle board and then enjoying a solo session in the water Solo outing: The star enjoyed time to herself for her beach day Directions: Someone brought out her paddleboard so she could use it Kind: The gentleman put the board down for the star Happy: She seemed ecstatic on the board, standing up with her paddle Casual: The star kept her sunglasses on during most of her beawch day Fit: The star seen laying down on her paddleboard Svelte: She highlighted her tiny waist in the skintight look Beach day: Kim enjoyed her active outing to the ocean Wow! She slipped in the water during her session Back on: Before getting back on it for more paddle boarding That girl! Just last week, Kim enjoyed a family outing to Beyonce's LA concert at SoFi Stadium Family: Kim attended the concert with her nine-year-old daughter North West, sister Khloe Kardashian and niece Penelope Disick The official trailer for American Horror Story: Delicate dropped last week - featuring a first look as Kim in her role on the show. She stars opposite Emma Roberts and Cara Delevingne. Kim's first lines in the Ryan Murphy horror anthology series were heard - with the star telling Emma's character: 'You are an A-list star now. Focus on the good.' Emma portrays a top actress named Anna Victoria Alcott while Kim portrays a friend and actress Siobhan Walsh. Kim's character does a bit of foreshadowing early in the clip as she tells Emma: 'You have a peculiar penchant for turning dreams into nightmares.' The plot follows Emma's character, who has had multiple IVF treatments and begins to become paranoid that mysterious forces are keeping her from getting pregnant. She eventually does conceive a child, but the pregnancy ends in what doctors tell her is miscarriage. However, she can still feel her baby growing as her body continues to show signs of a pregnancy. As if the challenge of creating offspring wasn't already enough, it appears as if the protagonist's career (and life) hangs in the balance. Kim could be seen in a distorted image in the trailer as she queries Emma: 'Do you want an Oscar? Do you want it as much as a baby?' to which the protagonist quickly responds yes. In April her casting was announced; the star shared the news on April 10 via her Instagram page. the show's 12th season is called Delicate, and will be based on Danielle Valentine's upcoming novel called Delicate Condition. The book is about a woman who is convinced someone sinister is making sure her pregnancy doesn't happen. In a statement to THR, AHS co-creator Ryan Murphy said: 'Kim is among the biggest and brightest television stars in the world and we are thrilled to welcome her to the AHS family.' Looks good: The official trailer for American Horror Story: Delicate dropped last week - featuring a first look as Kim in her role on the show Eerie: She stars opposite Emma Roberts and Cara Delevingne Adding: 'Emma and I are excited about collaborating with this true force in the culture. Halley Feiffer has written a fun, stylish and ultimately terrifying role especially for Kim, and this season is ambitious and unlike anything we have ever done.' Emma previously starred on AHS from 2013 until 2019 during season three, season four, season seven and season eight; she played Madison Montgomery, Maggie Esmerelda, Serena Belinda, and Brooke Thompson. The Kardashians star voiced the character Delores for Paw Patrol: The Movie, which was released in 2021 and reprised the role for Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which is set to be released sometime later this year. She also appeared in Ocean's Eight in 2018, 2 Broke Girls in 2014, voiced a character in American Dad! in 2014, played Ava in the project Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor and as Nikki LePree in Drop Dead Diva in 2012 for four episodes. She played herself on 30 Rock in 2012, Princess Leia in Alligator Boots in 2009, Debbie Fallon on CSI: NY in 2009, Brothers in 2009, Summa Eve in Deep in the Valley in 2009, Elle in Beyond the Break in 2009, herself on How I Met Your Mother in 2009, the short Meow in 2008 and as Lisa in Disaster Movie in 2008. Kim starred in a number of music videos including Christina Milian's Dip It Low in 2004, Fall Out Boy's Thnks fr th Mmrs in 2007, Nicki Minaj's Come on a Cone in 2012, ex husband Kanye West's Bound 2 in 2013, Fergie's M.I.L.F.$ video in 2016 and Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike vs. Paris Hilton for Best Friend's A**. Johnny Depp has been promoting the new Sauvage ad from Dior. And in an interview shared with the South China Morning Post, the 60-year old movie star and musician talked about his interests these days. The versatile actor shared that he loves the Bahamas, because he can feel 'normal' there. The Hollywood A-lister added that he loves being on his own island because it's like a 'sanctuary.' It is where he feels 'freedom' because he can 'escape scrutiny.' The actor has been famous for over 40 years thanks to his many hit films and his high-profile love life. His likes: Johnny Depp has been promoting the new Sauvage ad from Dior. And in an interview shared with the South China Morning Pos , the 60-year old movie star and musician talked about his interest these days Good location: The versatile actor shared that he loves the Bahamas, because he can feel 'normal' there. The Hollywood A-lister added that he loves being on his own island because it's like a sanctuary Blue water: It is where he feels 'freedom; because he can 'escape scrutiny.' The actor has been famous for over 40 years thanks to his many hit films and his high-profile love life Turns out the Bahamas is where he feels 'normal.' 'Where I feel the most myself in this world, and where I go to feel absolutely normal, I suppose, is my place in the Bahamas, because its an island and nobodys looking at me,' said the star. 'Youve got to have some sanctuary, a safe place where you can escape the scrutiny and the interest of others, a place where you can just sit on a beach, read, paint, meditate or whatever, thats freedom to me. 'Thats the only real freedom.' And the ocean makes him feel refreshed. 'The idea of being under, just free in the ocean, with the wind pounding against you, the sun pounding down on you, and the shimmery ripples across the water, sparkles everywhere It cleanses your mind,' added the father of two. 'The thing that intrigues me most is the most basic, the simplest way of living. I dont have a decadent lifestyle. 'Yes, everything boils down to real simplicity for me. When youre on the island, youre not at some swanky hotel. It doesnt look like the Four Seasons or anything. It should look like what it is. It should look like a simple island house. Nothing grand, nothing. Just simplicity.' Depp added that working in Hollywood reminds him of how competitive life can be. 'Everyone is going to be affected by the passing of time, but I understand that in terms of the idea behind it, which is to say that Ive always felt better in myself by sticking to my guns about choices that Ive made,' said Depp. New normal: Turns out the Bahamas is where he feels 'normal.' 'Where I feel the most myself in this world, and where I go to feel absolutely normal, I suppose, is my place in the Bahamas, because its an island and nobodys looking at me,' said the star He then called it a 'competitive racket.' He added, Ive never felt the need to be competitive with anyone. I hate the idea. Its about who wins what, who gets what, whos better and whos worse, and who makes more, and all that 'I dont care about any of that stuff. If you care about any of that stuff, man, I just think its counterproductive to the actual work that youre doing as an actor.' Johnny shared that an actor should do his best. 'When I finish a film I say goodbye to the character, and I dont watch other people. Most of the time not out of disrespect to the filmmaker the less Im aware of any whos hot, whos not, whos f***ed up, whos this the better it is. I prefer ignorance to knowledge in that field. (Laughs) 'I feel that Ive been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to present some characters over the years characters and scripts that I felt really had something, and I felt like I had something to add to them. He also brought up his special connection to music. Grounded feel: 'Youve got to have some sanctuary, a safe place where you can escape the scrutiny and the interest of others, a place where you can just sit on a beach, read, paint, meditate or whatever, thats freedom to me,' he said; seen in May in Cannes 'Music for me has always been by far the fastest, most effective way to a feeling, to an emotion, to thoughts and situations that youve lived. And if you apply those things to your work, you know that you can live inside the moment that you experienced 30 years ago, or you can apply various memories to things. 'So music has always been super important, it was always somehow connected with that lonely blues guitar. The beauty of it for me, was that it was automatically rock 'n' roll, but at the same time, its Bach. Its Mozart as well. Now he is directing his pal Al Pacino in a film about the artist Modigliani. 'I thought after that film, Im never directing again. That was dumb. With this new project, Al Pacino when we did Donnie Brasco together, we got tight and have been very close, to this day had this as a project he was going to direct back in the Nebraska days, then everything went other ways. 'Maybe a year and a half ago, Al called and just said, Hey, John, remember that Modigliani thing? You know what I was thinking, man? What about you direct it? I would like for you to direct the thing. Ill play a part! And I just thought, Great. I dont have to be in it if I dont have to be in it, sure! All I have to do is put together a cast that can deliver and just capture the moments that they give me and put it together in a cutting room. Its a lot easier when you dont have to look at yourself, your own mug on the screen.' Rock on: 'Music for me has always been by far the fastest, most effective way to a feeling, to an emotion, to thoughts and situations that youve lived. And if you apply those things to your work, you know that you can live inside the moment that you experienced 30 years ago, or you can apply various memories to things,' he noted Fire man: 'So music has always been super important, it was always somehow connected with that lonely blues guitar. The beauty of it for me, was that it was automatically rock 'n' roll, but at the same time, its Bach. Its Mozart as well,' he said He also talked drawing. 'Since I was a little kid, my escape from reality was a piece of paper and a pencil. So I was always drawing, getting in trouble for it, even in school, and getting yelled at by the teacher in first grade, second grade, third grade, fourth grade, for just drawing: drawing Frankenstein, Dracula, The Mummy and Wolf Man. And weirdly, dark things, like sort of universal monsters. 'So drawing has always been a part of my life and painting as well I started painting a long time ago now, but never thinking that I was going to display paintings or anything. It was just something for me to do and keep my brain occupied really. It still doesnt make me any good, but its a nice outlet.' Last week the actor was seen in a new commercial called The Call Of The Blazing Sun for the Dior fragrance Sauvage. He talked about eagles, the sky, dry wood and the cold wind in a moody clip. 'Bold and powerful, in his essence, his truth, embodies the soul of Sauvage,' Dior said on Instagram. The brand also called him 'fearless.' The Hollywood star looked gypsy handsome in his black clothing with his silver jewelry and his long hair worn down. In his interview he said he likes the solitude of his ads. 'Theres a sense of solitude, but not a lonely solitude. 'Its a kind of Zen-like solitude that I feel in those little films. 'You do not quite understand the reason behind certain things, but it makes perfect sense if you just accept what is happening like the wolves [for the 2021 campaign], for instance. That was magic, I thought.' The ex of Vanessa Paradis was reportedly paid an eye-watering $20million to reup his contract with the French company earlier this year. He never goes out of style: Last week the actor was seen in a new commercial for the Dior cologne named Sauvage Money bags: The ex of Vanessa Paradis was reportedly paid an eye-watering $20million to reup his contract with the French company He first signed on as the face of Sauvage in 2015. Depp - whose daughter Lily-Rose Depp dates 070 Shake - had on a black button-down vest over a black collared shirt with silver chains dancing down his chest. Johnny added black coated denim jeans with silver buttons on the pockets. He seemed to have on some eyeliner - which his POTC character Jack Sparrow was known for - as well as a deep Malibu tan. The red carpet wonder had manicured facial hair that included a mustache with a scruffy goatee. The ads were shared by Christian Dior on social media on Thursday. In May it was reported that the What's Eating Gilbert Grape? actor would continue serving as the face of Dior Sauvage, after signing a three-year contract 'upwards of $20 million.' T he Edward Scissorhands actor may have struck the largest mens fragrance deal in history, according to Variety. The publication pointed out he was paid nearly twice what Robert Pattinson earned as a spokesperson for Dior Homme. Similarly, Brad Pitt was paid $7 million to promote Chanel No. 5. A source told the outlet that 'most A-listers with fragrance deals pull in around $2 million-$4 million per year like Chris Pine, whose deal with Armani is valued at $4 million a year over 3 years.' Depp first became the face of the men's scent in 2015. Local law enforcement in Malibu is reviewing the issue and might forward it to the DMV, where Busey would have to pass driving tests Authorities in Malibu, California are reviewing the recent incident in which Gary Busey was accused of a hit-and-run, and could mandate 79-year-old actor to re-take his drivers test as a result. Police sources told TMZ on Monday that officials are 'strongly leaning toward submitting paperwork to the DMV' that would force Busey, a Malibu resident, to retake the test. The incident that occurred weeks back is the latest in a line of instances in which the Celebrity Apprentice alum appeared to display 'poor driving habits,' law enforcement sources told the outlet, which factors into the decision of a potential re-test. Busey is currently being investigated for an August 30 incident in which a woman accused him of crashing into her car with his Volvo in the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway near the pier, then speeding off. Busey drove off, the woman claimed, and she followed him and filmed the chase. The latest: Authorities in Malibu, California are reviewing the recent incident in which Gary Busey was accused of a hit-and-run, and could mandate 79-year-old actor to re-take his drivers test as a result. The actor was pictured in LA in May of 2021 She yelled at him to pull over, and when he eventually did she confronted him. 'You hit my car,' she shouts, as he turns to look at her and grins. 'I need your information. Sir! You hit my car!' It is unclear if she recognized the actor, who was nominated for the Oscar for 1978's The Buddy Holly Story. He also starred in the original of A Star Is Born, and the Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze classic Point Break. Busey has been in the headlines in recent years for his wild antics: he was accused of groping at least three women during a film convention in August 2022. A day later he was photographed sitting on a Malibu bench with his hands down his pants, seemingly pleasuring himself in broad daylight, in full public view. In the August 30 footage, Busey eventually gets out of his car, but refuses to give the woman his insurance details. 'It'll be wiped out,' he tells her, seemingly referencing damage to their cars. His Volvo had scratches and a large dent in the front bumper, while hers had scratches to the back. 'It doesn't matter - that's not how this works,' she replies, audibly angry and distressed, in footage from TMZ. 'You hit my car, you have scuffs all over your car.' Details: Busey is currently being investigated for an August 30 incident in which a woman accused him of crashing into her car with his Volvo in the 23000 block of Pacific Coast Highway near the pier, then speeding off. Pictured in 2018 Conflict: In the August 30 footage, Busey eventually gets out of his car, but refuses to give the woman his insurance details. Pictured in NYC in 2019 Busey then says: 'Progressive insurance.' She replies: 'I want the number, I want your information.' The actor, getting back into his car, says: 'No, no. I'm private.' He starts the engine, and turns his car around to drive away, playing The Beach Boys song Wouldn't It Be Nice, and laughing. 'Sir! You don't get to just leave hitting someone!' she pleads as Busey drives off. The woman called police, and an investigation was opened. Under state law, leaving the scene of a minor collision can qualify as a misdemeanor. It is not the first crash Busey has been involved in. In 2015, close to the spot of the August 30 incident, Busey reversed out of a parking spot and hit a woman. She was treated at the scene by the Los Angeles Fire Department and released. Past: In 2015, close to the spot of the August 30 incident, Busey reversed out of a parking spot and hit a woman. Pictured in 2012 And in 1988, he nearly died after crashing off his Harley Davidson without a helmet. 'I hit the concrete going 45 miles per hour,' he told David Letterman the year after the accident. 'I hit a little sand and gravel, fish-tailed, hit my rear brake, and I smashed into the concrete, and I don't remember seven weeks of my life. I was in the hospital for two months. I'd split my skull, scraped the temple side of my brain.' The accident left his left eye permanently disfigured and also significantly changed his personality. His son Jake, now 51, said the accident made him 'more impulsive and prone to anger and delusions of grandeur,' according to a 2019 Hollywood Reporter profile. 'He was a vegetable in a wheelchair staring at the wall,' said Jake. 'At 17, I had to teach him with my mom to talk, to eat, to feed himself. To walk again. To write. That was very difficult for me at that age. 'The post-accident version of him turned his personality up to 11. I feel like I lost my dad on December 4, 1988.' The Hollywood Reporter profile detailed his lack of filter, following the accident. They reported that while being photographed for the magazine, he asked a slim male photo assistant: 'Did you used to be a woman? You came out great.' He then told a female hairstylist: 'If you're not having fun, I have something for you to have fun: I'll tickle you till you pee.' Busey is seen in September 2018, at the New York Stock Exchange Busey previously faced drug charges in 1995 when authorities found cocaine during a search of his Malibu home. He was charged with one count of cocaine possession and three counts of possession of marijuana, possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms and being under the influence of cocaine. In the past he has also been arrested on charges of spousal abuse. In 2011, during a season of Celebrity Apprentice, he was accused of sexually assaulting a female employee of the show. 'We were smoking cigarettes outside, and Busey was standing next to me,' an employee told the Daily Beast in 2016. 'And then at one point, he grabbed me firmly between my legs, and ran his hand up my stomach, and grabbed my breasts. 'I didn't know what to do. So I made this joke that, 'Oh, I've never been sexually harassed by a celebrity before!' Then he grabbed my hand and put it [over] his penis, and said, like, 'I'm just getting started, baby.'' In August of 2022, his spokesman claimed that the actor perhaps needed to relieve himself - which was why he was caught on camera with his pants round his ankles, his hands buried in his crotch. 'Gary often sits on the bench in front of his home to meditate and look at the ocean,' said a spokesperson. They told Page Six: 'Our only guess is that perhaps at his age, he realized he couldn't get to the bathroom in time which explains what happened in the video of him on the bench.' Seemingly unaware that he was in full public view, the actor lowered his pants and sat on a bench with his hand between his legs. His representative said Busey was on private property, but he was in full view of the public. Busey was filmed making his way to a bench at the lookout point, where he sat down, pulled out his phone and then pulled down his pants. Busey stuck one hand down the front of his pants, appeared to clench his jaw and then looked around to make sure no bystanders had caught him in the lewd act. Seemingly satisfied with his actions, Busey lit up a cigar and looked out over the ocean for nearly 30 minutes before getting back in his car and leaving the park. The day before, he was charged with four counts of sexual contact and harassment after multiple women accused him of indecent conduct at a New Jersey horror movie convention. The case is believed to be pending. The charges stem from offenses that are alleged to have occurred at the annual Monster Mania Convention at the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, NJ, police said. Cherry Hill Police say three women were touched by Busey inappropriately during an autograph signing and meet and greet. Busey is seen here taking pictures in the same photoshoot area of the Monster Mania event where at least three women have accused him of inappropriately touching them Busey is seen with a fan the annual Monster Mania Convention, which was held at the Doubletree Hotel on August 12-14, 2022, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey Pictured, Busey with fans during the Philadelphia convention The actor, who lives in Malibu, California, was scheduled as a featured guest for all three days of the event The charges stem from offenses that are alleged to have occurred at the annual Monster Mania Convention at the Doubletree Hotel on August 12-14, 2022 in Cherry Hill, in the Philadelphia suburbs 'It was about contact. It was about touching,' Cherry Hill Police Lt. Robert Scheunemann told the Philadelphia Inquirer, noting that 'multiple complaints' about the actor's conduct had been received throughout the weekend. Busey had to be removed from a portion of the event after he was seen groping women, according to Fox 29. Police initially did not identify the suspect as the actor, but followed up with a statement saying that Busey was the man facing charges. At the convention Busey was said to be appearing alongside other actors including Ralph Macchio, Tom Skerritt and Veronica Cartwright. A lawyer for the convention, Nikitas Moustakas, said the convention company was 'assisting authorities in their investigation into an alleged incident involving attendees and a celebrity guest at its convention.' 'Immediately upon receiving a complaint from the attendees, the celebrity guest was removed from the convention and instructed not to return,' he said. 'Monster-Mania also encouraged the attendees to contact the police to file a report. The safety and well-being of all our attendees is of the utmost importance to Monster-Mania, and the company will not tolerate any behavior that could compromise those values.' Busey called the allegations lies. 'It took less than 10 seconds and they left,' he said of the meeting at the Monster-Mania convention. 'Then they made up a story that I assaulted them sexually.' He added that 'nothing happened' and 'it was all false,' he told TMZ, in video footage shot at a gas station. Nigora Bannatyne says she thinks of her body 'like a car' as she criticises the unhealthy lifestyles of 18-year-olds. The wife of Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne shared the secret to her incredible looks during a holiday with Duncan and pals. Nigora, 43, who, first met Duncan, 74, when he visited the Harley Street dental practise where she worked told her Instagram followers: 'Think of your body as a car fill it with high quality energy.' Nigora, who was spotted with Duncan over the weekend in Monaco and the Cote D'Azur, has now arrived in London where she caught up with friends for some Russian food in Marivanna. Secrets: The wife of Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne shared the secret to her health and beauty on holiday with Duncan and pals Smitten: Nigora, 43, who, first met Duncan, 74, when he visited the Harley Street dental practise where she worked told her followers: 'Think of your body as a car' And she also popped into the gym for a pre food workout. She told her followers online: 'I'm 43. Nowadays you see 18 years olds eating fast foods, drinking soda eating coloured GMO , high sugar foods, without realising what damage they are causing to their health.' 'Right now their livers, kidneys are manage to filter all that junk out but with time they turn to numerous medications to heal vicious cycle.' Nigora added: 'Think of your body as a car fill it with high quality_energy. Pump your brain and body with daily exercise! 'That's my main goal and the secret to a healthy and beautiful body!' Nigora got engaged to businessman Duncan in 2017 with a 40,000 ring in Monte Carlo. The couple who married the same year now live full time in Portugal's Vale De Lobo district but regularly travel the world. In June Duncan whisked his wife off to Paris, France to celebrate their sixth wedding anniversary. Healthy: She told her followers online: 'I'm 43. Nowadays you see 18 years olds eating fast foods, drinking soda eating coloured GMO , high sugar foods, without realising what damage they are causing to their health.' Last month during his summer break in Miami Duncan looked worlds away from his Dragons' Den self. The businessman, 74, swapped his smart suits for a bright pink leopard print shirt and fedora in the snap shared to his Instagram. Duncan completed the look with a pair of burgundy shorts and matching loafers and left his top unbuttoned showing off a collection of silver necklaces. The TV star, who appeared on the BBC investment series from 2005 to 2015, also donned a pair of tinted shades. A furious David Koch has threatened legal action as scammers continue to use digitally-altered images of him to rip off Aussies. The fed-up business journalist and former Sunrise host took to Twitter last week to slam an AI-generated photo of himself looked bloodied and bruised. Koch tagged the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in a desperate attempt to take down the latest scam. The digitally altered image shows Koch with two black eyes and a dismayed expression captioned: 'This is the dark truth behind the incident.' He told 2GB's Ben Fordham on Monday he's looking at legal options against social media platforms that publish the fake ads. David Koch is calling for the ACCC to take action after a fake news article surfaced on social media last week READ MORE: How Kochie survived a barrage of scams throughout his 21-year career on screen Advertisement 'I'm so frustrated with this that I'm looking in the possibility of defamation against social media platforms that run these ads because it's damaging me,' Kochie fumed. 'People are getting hoodwinked into this thinking 'I've done this because you told me'. 'It's all a massive scam using high profile people and really trashing our reputation in the process.' He added a lot of Aussies have been sucked in by scams. Koch recalled how a woman recently contacted him after she came across an ad featuring the TV star on a Bible app she was using. She clicked on the link and was scammed $10,000 in the process. Koch wants social media platforms to held more accountable for ads, just like other traditional media platforms. 'It's been happening for years but now it's getting out of control,' Koch said. 'I report and report to all the platforms. They tell me they take them down but then they come back like locus.' 'I've had enough. It damages my reputation.' 'These platforms have to held accountable. There's duty of care that the traditional media have in terms of making sure people aren't hoodwinked and that's got to be extend to the platforms.' 'If these digital platforms can stop people posting because they've put up a rude picture or the content is offensive so why can't they do the same thing with these 'ads'? David Koch (right), pictured with his former Sunrise co-host Nat Barr is becoming increasingly frustrated at being at the centre of fake ads online The longest-serving breakfast TV anchor in Australian history has become increasingly fed up with fraudsters using his photo in fake ads online trying to lure thousands from Aussies. David Koch (pictured with wife Libby) is looking at taking defamation action against social media outlets who publish 'fake' ads online Koch has unwittingly been the face of countless scams over the years, promoting everything from erectile dysfunction pills and Bitcoin investments to fake cryptocurrency trading apps and kitchen benchtops. The online scams have appeared everywhere from real estate and news websites to even weather apps. At least one Aussie woman lost $150,000 of her life savings while another man recently lost $30,000 within seconds. Koch has previously told how he was scrolling through properties on a real estate website when came across a fake ad showing a digitally altered photo of him surrounded by police with the headline: 'Thousands flock to ATMs after Kochie's arrest'. Days earlier, Koch also addressed a 'bloody annoying' death hoax after criminals used his image and fake news of his passing to scam people out of thousands of dollars. He was bombarded with 'tributes' while he was on leave from Sunrise when a Twitter post announcing his death went viral. Originating from a hacked account, the tweet included a link redirecting users to a cryptocurrency scam featuring fraudulent celebrity endorsements purporting to be from the likes of Koch, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and others. At the time of his 'death', the Port Adelaide Power chairman was in Adelaide with his family enjoying AFL's inaugural Gather Round. Kaz Crossley set pulses racing in an extreme plunging animal print thong swimsuit while on the beach in Spain on Monday. The former Love Island star, 28, showed off her pert bottom in the skimpy piece, which left little to the imagination. The Muay Thai trainer sizzled in the bodycon swimsuit, drawing attention to her cleavage and toned curves. Kaz appeared carefree as she enjoyed a relaxing day at the beach, while busy holding onto her phone. She wore a brown headband and walked along the beach front in flip-flops. Jaw-dropping: Kaz Crossley put on a VERY cheeky display in an extreme plunging animal print thong swimsuit on the beach in Spain on Monday Sensational: The Muay Thai trainer sizzled in the bodycon swimsuit, drawing attention to her cleavage and toned curves She accessorised with a dainty necklaced and small golden hoop earrings.The bombshell opted for a subtle make up adding rosy blush. And the star has stunned fans again earlier last week during her Spanish getaway - as she looked sensational in a mint green bikini. The reality star turned Muay Thai trainer showcased her washboard abs and toned physique as she relaxed by the poolside at the Jacaranda Lounge. Last month, the 28-year-old reopened painful wounds as she reflected on being questioned and held in prison in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences. Kaz recently broke down in tears as she spoke about being questioned and held in prison in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences. She revealed it was the 'lowest point of her life' as she discussed the 'very scary' experience of being held behind bars. In 2020, the reality star was filmed without her knowledge, appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai by her 'controlling and manipulative' ex-boyfriend. She said it 'destroyed her mental health and career' and she admitted she 'didn't leave the house for three months due to crippling anxiety'. After flying into Abu Dhabi for a work trip following the incident, Kaz was put in jail for a week alongside a new mother and her six-month-old baby. Speaking to GK Barry on her podcast Saving Grace podcast, Kaz discussed her traumatising experience from start to finish. She explained: 'The Dubai thing for me is so much deeper than anything that was portrayed in the media.' Kaz has now insisted she 'was not arrested' as she explained how she was moved jails and locked up with a newborn baby and its mother. She explained: 'I wasn't arrested I was just held for questioning. I was not arrested but I was inside the jail so it felt like it but I wasn't put in handcuffs. 'I was treated like any other inmate. I was taken to Dubai and then I got put in another jail for a day. This was really eye opening experience. 'Inside this jail there was a six-month-old baby in with me. In Abu Dhabi it is illegal to have kids if you're not married. Opening up: Kaz recently broke spoke about being questioned and held in prison in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offences 'It was a horrible place': She insisted she 'was not arrested' as she explained how she was moved jails and locked up with a newborn baby and its mother 'The child was with the mother in jail and she had it in the hospital by Caesarean and the police came to the hospital and put her in jail with the baby after two days. 'She was in there for six months before I arrived. I still speak with her now but I was probably at the lowest point of my life and I was holding this tiny baby. 'It was a horrible place and it was not nice. I had nothing to wash with no clothes it was disgusting.' Health insurance companies that own pharmacies are charging themselves more than 20 times the market value for certain drugs, leaving patients with considerable out-of-pocket costs and premiums. Insurance companies CVS Health and Cigna can pay pharmacies - which they often own - more than $6,600 a month for a cancer drug that is available for as little as $55 a month, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. All of the insurers mentioned said the analysis provided a limited view of the overall market. 'It's a win-win,' Dr. Simon F. Haeder, an associate professor at the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, told DailyMail.com. 'The insurance company has an interest to get as much out of the patient as possible, that's money they can extract in out-of-pocket payments in addition to the premiums they collect,' said Haeder. CVS Health charges $7,000 a month for cancer drug Gleevec. The same dose can be purchased for around $50 elsewhere CVS, Cigna and UnitedHealth can charge considerably more than market value for medication, meaning patients pay considerable out-of-pocket costs and increasing premiums. Gleevec (pictured) is a cancer drug has a market value of around $50 a month The drugs that are most affected by this phenomenon are known as generics. When the patent for a particular drug expires, it can be replicated by other manufacturers - usually for a very low cost. Generics are meant to be a useful way to drive down the high cost of drugs. But across a selection of generic drugs, The Journal found that CVS and Cigna's prices were at least 24 times higher on average than what the manufacturers of those drugs sell them for. Cancer drug Gleevec has a market value of around $50 a month. CVS Health buys it for $7,000 and Cigna pays around $6,600. A third insurer, UnitedHealth, charges around $200 a month, according to The Journal. Generics of the lung cancer drug Tarceva can be bought for around $70 a month. CVS, Cigna and UnitedHealth pay around $2,050, $4,400 and $550 respectively. 'Generics in Europe tend to be relatively cheap, in the U.S. something being generic doesn't necessarily mean it's much cheaper that the original version,' said Haeder. He says the scheme serves to extract as much money as possible from the patient in a variety of different ways. Most obviously, by buying the medication for higher prices, the insurer is able to charge more to the patient in out-of-pocket payments when they go to collect the drugs. That can either be because the terms of their plan dictate that they pay some copayment - a fixed proportion of the cost of their medication - or because they pay for drugs up to a certain excess above which the insurer will pay. Secondly, not only does the setup make insurers more money in the moment, it also enables them to increase profits later. When premiums come to be renegotiated they can point to the patient's previous expenditure on medication and justify more expensive subsequent coverage, Haedar said. The Affordable Care Act dictates insurance companies must spend at least 85 percent for the revenue they collect from premiums on medical care. If they fail to do so, they then have to pay out rebates to customers on those premiums. Generics of the lung cancer drug Tarceva (pictured) can be bought for around $70 a month. CVS, Cigna and UnitedHealth pay around $2,050, $4,400 and $550 respectively The supply chain for prescription drugs is notoriously complex and consists of a variety of parties who are often not only aligned, but often own one another. In addition to the insurer and the pharmacy is what is known as a PBM, or pharmacy benefit manager. They negotiate with the pharmacy over reimbursement for the drugs and for rebates from the drug manufacturer. Drug manufacturers are incentivized to pay those rebates because in turn the PBM will recommend the drug to consumers. The three largest PBMs in the country - Caremark, Evernorth/Express Scripts, and OptumRx - are owned by CVS Health, Cigna and UnitedHealth respectively and control 85 percent of the market. So everyone in the supply chain - except the consumer - makes money as a result of a higher list price of the drug. 'The incentive is there for the PBMs and the specialty pharmacies to keep prices as high as possible,' Shannon Ambrose, the co-founder of Archimedes, a company that competes with PBMs, told The Journal. A spokesman for CVS Health told DailyMail.com: 'Comparing prices for a limited basket of generic drugs provides an incomplete view, because Medicare plans price their network offerings across all prescription drug products - brand, generic and biosimilar in order to lower costs for the most expensive branded products. 'This market basket approach lowers the branded cost, which lowers the overall cost for plan sponsors and members.' He added the prices it submits to Medicare represent the highest contracted rate it has with pharmacies and doesn't include lower prices some of its pharmacies may accept. Commenting on The Journal report, Cigna told DailyMail.com: 'This misleading analysis does not accurately represent typical medication costs for our customers. This article cherry picks isolated medications among the thousands we cover and does not provide meaningful insights about the medication affordability and safety that we ensure for millions of people'. DailyMail.com also wrote to UnitedHealth for comment on the prices it pays per month for cancer medication but did not receive a response by time of publishing. It told The Journal that none of the drugs cited are used frequently by its patient population and most would pay less out-of-pocket using its insurance plan. Rental properties that allow pets cost nearly $2,000 more per year on average, new data shows. The median monthly rent for properties advertising that pets were permitted was $2,061, whereas the median rent for those that did not was $1,898, according to figures from rental marketplace Zillow. And the number of American renters that own pets is on the rise too. More than 59 percent of renters reported having at least one animal in 2022, up from 46 percent in 2018 - a shift that has been attributed to the rise of working from home and loneliness caused by the pandemic. But only 54 percent of rental listings on Zillow explicitly state that pets are allowed. That varied across the country, however as Texas was named the most pet-friendly state in the U.S. overall. Rental properties in the U.S. that allow pets cost nearly $2,000 more per year on average The number of Americans that own pets increased by 13 percent in three years - thanks in part to an increase in working from home Zillow ranked the cities based on what proportion of its listing allowed pets and found that Austin had the most pet-friendly rental housing stock, with 80.8 percent of listings stating pets were allowed. It was followed closely by Dallas and Fort Worth, with 78 and 77.2 percent of adverts noting a tolerance for pets. Those three cities were followed by Charlotte, North Carolina, and Denver, Colorado, with 76.6 and 76.5 percent. A spokesperson for Zillow also said the 'pet-friendly' filter is the most widely used filtering tool among those looking through rental listings on the website. It allows potential tenants to hide properties that don't allow big dogs, small dogs, or cats. Additional costs on renters with pets are justified on the basis that they incur additional wear and tear on the property. In addition to charging more in rent, landlords have a number of other ways to charge tenants with pets - those include pet deposits, fees and rent. Pet deposits are like security deposits, and see the renter pay a fee at the beginning of the tenancy that should be refunded at the end should no serious damage be caused by the pet. According to Zillow, the typically range from between $200 and $500. A spokesperson for Zillow said the 'pet-friendly' filter is the most widely used filtering tool among those looking through rental listings on the website Another way to charge tenants is by way of pet fees - a non-refundable fee paid by the tenant for keeping a pet in the rental property. They can range from less than $100 to more than $500, depending on the size of the pet. Pet rent is an increasingly prominent means of charging renters with pets, and sees landlords charge an additional rent each month - between 1 and 3 percent. The Humane Society of America notes that renters with pets often have trouble finding housing due to their pets - and claims that in turn can lead to increased numbers of pets ending up in shelters. In its 2022 rental guide, Zillow advises that if a rental listing is garnering limited attention, it may be time for the landlord to consider accepting pets. It comes as the cost of rental properties soar and Americans face the toughest market in years. Rent in New York City hit a new high in July, averaging $5,588 a month, up 30 percent since 2019. Marine Le Pen castigated on Sunday the "subtle mix of marketing and dishonesty" of "Emmanuel Macron's policy" and referred to the future European elections, "a fundamental democratic meeting for the French", during her speech. returned to Henin-Beaumont (Pas-de-Calais). Deploring a "generalized collapse" of France, the leader of the deputies of the National Rally detailed for a short half an hour at the podium the springs of this "downgrading", from public services to the economy, via the "bankruptcy" in terms of immigration or by the "pandemic of unbridled violence". From her stronghold in Pas-de-Calais, Ms. Le Pen notably highlighted the dramatic situation of the school and the false answers provided, according to her, by the Minister of Education Gabriel Attal. As for the ban on the abaya pronounced at the start of the school year, "I find it difficult to be fascinated by the implementation of a measure which, in reality, should have been in force since the vote of the law of 2004 on religious signs at school, if we had less timorous rulers, she gritted. More generally, Ms. Le Pen attacked the subtle mixture of marketing and dishonesty which colors Emmanuel Macrons policy in all areas, from hospitals to nursing homes and public transport. She also attacked the disinterest, even the nonchalance displayed by Emmanuel Macron and some of his ministers for the protection of the French, particularly targeting illegal immigration. Listing a few proposals (lowering VAT, salary increases for teachers, etc.) during her speech, Ms. Le Pen estimated that "the time when the opposition that we embody was only a force of protest. More than ever, we embody hope and solutions, she said, setting the course for the next European elections in June 2024, a fundamental democratic meeting for the French. The leader of the RN deputies specified that she would present next weekend in Beaucaire (Gard) a "proposal which should bring together all those who are attached to their nation and who are aware that without it, there is no no more freedom, no prosperity, no identity, no security, no progress". Before her speech, Ms. Le Pen had wandered around the city's flea market, taking selfies or posing in an old Volkswagen with young women dressed in retro 1950s style. "We will do a lot more the day we are in a situation, don't worry," she slipped to a resident who challenged her. While Ms. Le Pen benefits from favorable polls, France is starting to see clearly, rejoices Pascal Delbecque, a retired electrician. If she becomes president, "at least she will do a little for us French people", he continues. Present during the speech, Bastien, forklift driver and RN activist, calls on the French to "give Marine a chance" after having "tried almost all the parties". "We see that purchasing power is continuously decreasing and that no one is moving. We have to find a solution," he pleads again. 10/09/2023 16:56:52 - Henin-Beaumont (France) (AFP) - 2023 AFP Emmanuel Macron arrived in Bangladesh on Sunday evening to "open a new page" in the relationship with this country which is "gradually regaining its place on the international scene" and thus "consolidate" France's "Indo-Pacific strategy" after the G20 summit in India. During an official dinner in Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the French president praised "the tremendous success of Bangladesh", emphasizing that it was "founded on democratic principles and the rule of law". France will be at your side again in the future, he promised, particularly in the face of the challenge of adapting to global warming in a country regularly exposed to floods. The entourage of the French head of state had explained before the visit that it aimed to consolidate France's strategy for the "Indo-Pacific", this vast area covering the Indian and Pacific Oceans, the scene of growing international tensions between the United States and China, and where France, with the strength of its overseas territories, intends to develop its presence alongside regional partners. In a region faced with a new imperialism, we want to offer a third way, without wanting to intimidate our partners or involve them in unsustainable plans, launched Emmanuel Macron, in an allusion to Chinese aid accused of dangerously increasing the debt of poorer countries. Sheikh Hasina for her part welcomed this French plea in favor of strategic autonomy, which coincides with our own foreign policy. You bring a breath of fresh air to international relations, she told her guest. The two leaders referred to former French minister Andre Malraux, who campaigned for Bangladesh's independence in the early 1970s. Monday, after a visit to the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman memorial, founder of Bangladesh and father of the current head of government, Emmanuel Macron must have a bilateral meeting with the latter before returning to Paris. The French presidency estimated that after inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the July 14 national holiday this summer in Paris, and a stopover in Sri Lanka at the end of July at the end of a tour in the Pacific, Emmanuel Macron in the space of six months had done more on South Asia than in the space of a decade. The visit to Dacca will also be "an opportunity to deepen the bilateral relationship with a country which is experiencing rapid economic development (..) and which is seeking to diversify its partnerships", noted the Elysee. 10/09/2023 22:08:33 - Dacca (AFP) - 2023 AFP India and the UK on Monday expressed their commitment to an early conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Addressing a joint press conference with UK Chancellor of Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said both sides intend to expedite the free trade agreement. "There is definitely some discussion on the FTA...The key on both the sides is to conclude it as soon as possible," she said at the conclusion of the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. Hunt appreciated the efforts being made for the direct listing of Indian companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). "We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the LSE as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies. "Alongside that, there is a new Pensions and Insurance Partnership, the establishment of knowledge and expertise-sharing and the new UK Infrastructure Financing Bridge and a deepened partnership on the developmental GIFT City. So, we can really support each other's plans to strengthen the relationship and the way the next step of this is a comprehensive FTA and Bilateral Investment Treaty," Hunt said. Sitharaman said emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and India's new Digital Personal Data Protection Act offer ample opportunities for both nations to collaborate on frameworks for secure and inclusive financial intermediation. "Success of the India-UK Green Growth Equity Fund is a testament to the efficacy of public-private partnerships in channelling large-scale sustainable finance," she added. Equity benchmark indices extended their rally for the seventh day running on Monday as investors continued to remain optimistic about the domestic markets. Buying in index majors Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy Services also added to the winning momentum in equities. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 293.7 points to 66,892.61 in early trade. The Nifty advanced 95 points to 19,914.95. Among the Sensex firms, HCL Technologies, Maruti, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Wipro, Nestle, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro and UltraTech Cement were the major gainers. IndusInd Bank and Bharti Airtel were the laggards. In Asian markets, Shanghai quoted with gains while Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong traded lower. The US markets ended in the positive territory on Friday. Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.18 per cent to USD 90.49 a barrel. The BSE benchmark had jumped 333.35 points or 0.50 per cent to finish at 66,598.91 on Friday. The broader Nifty advanced 92.90 points or 0.47 per cent to settle at 19,819.95. "The G20 Delhi declaration and India's diplomatic triumph can trigger continuation of the positive market mood and momentum," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. In the present favourable market mood, Nifty is likely to make another attempt at a record high trying to conquer the psychological mark of 20,000, Vijayakumar said adding that however, investors have to be cautious since fundamentals do not support a sustained rise above 20,000. "The market is ignoring worries arising out of crude at USD 90 a barrel," he added. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 224.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data. Swami Vivekanandas lecture at the Worlds Parliament of Religions revolved around the principle of unity, tolerance, and justice We are commemorating 130 years of the Parliament of the Worlds Religions held in conjunction with the Columbian Exposition in Chicago at the Permanent Memorial Art Palace, now known as the Art Institute of Chicago. It opened on September 11 with international representatives of the worlds religions present. The Indian delegate Swami Vivekananda, a great Hindu monk, magnetic orator, poet and Indias most progressive social reformer, riveted the audience with his call for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism. Over the next several weeks, thousands of attendees came to hear Swami Vivekananda and other leaders speak, making the Parliament a watershed moment in inter-faith dialogue. Swami Vivekananda was a prominent figure in the late 19th-century Indian spiritual and philosophical landscape. Spiritualization of the world in sync with great Sanatan traditions was an article of faith for him. He left an indelible mark on the world with his profound teachings and charismatic personality. He was considered a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India and in bringing Hinduism to par with most of the religions in the world. Born in 1863 in Calcutta, he was deeply influenced by his guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans, and went on to become a key proponent of Vedanta and the spread of Hindu philosophy and spirituality to the West. His iconic address at the Worlds Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 introduced Hinduism and the concept of religious tolerance to a global audience. Inquisitive to the core, his life underwent a sea change ever since he came into contact with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans. Under his divine guidance, Swami Vivekananda made strides on the spiritual path. For him, independence was a virtue and dependence a sin; loving others a virtue, and hating others a sin. His speech at the Worlds Parliament of Religions, Chicago, on September 11, 1893, left an indelible mark on the gathering comprising religious and spiritual personalities of different faiths from across the world. With his opening words of Sisters and brothers of America, he instantly captivated the audience, transcending cultural boundaries. Vivekananda eloquently emphasized the universality of all religions and the importance of tolerance and acceptance. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth, said Vivekananda. His address was more of a convincing patriotism than a religious statement. His condemnation of sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism found many followers in the Western world. His statements fed to the contemporary American psyche. He was a bridge between East and West. Swami Vivekananda was equally worried about the mass backwardness of people. He batted for a national resurgence to get rid of chronic poverty, untouchability and caste-based discrimination. As a scholar commentator, he championed the cause of the downtrodden and dedicated himself to uplifting the masses by instilling a sense of pride and self-respect among them. He vouched for the regeneration of Bharat Mata and Sanatan Parampara. He felt the need for self-introspection by all in general and youth in particular because he had great expectations from them. According to him, youth was the most promising means of change he wanted to see happening in our society. For him, Indian cultural heritage was powerful and magnificent but people were suffering. It was like a situation where a lion was living in a herd of sheep and was behaving like them because he had been living with them since his childhood. The lion felt his strength only when he was made to realize that he was a lion by another fellow lion, taking him to a pond where he could see his reflection. He immediately realized that he was a lion, as big and powerful as the other one. Similarly, Swami Vivekananda felt the need for a cultural and nationalist awakening among Indians. He was Indias first national hero for whom the dire need of the hour was to revive and restore our countrys grand cultural heritage and legacy. He advocated for the unity of all religions, emphasizing the universal truths they shared. His call for unity, harmony, and the recognition of the divinity within each individual left a profound impact, inspiring a new era of inter-faith understanding. Chicago witnessed not just a speech, but the birth of a global spiritual ambassador whose message of peace and universal brotherhood continues to resonate across the world. He promoted the idea that true spirituality should lead to tolerance, respect, and understanding among people of different backgrounds and beliefs. For him, youth equipped with strong character and willpower can ensure global transformation. Swami Vivekananda firmly believed that lack of education was the root cause of peoples suffering. He appreciated the scientific education of the West but was of the view that Indian education should not be divorced from its rich cultural legacy. For him, keeping our spiritual and cultural identity alive was an equal identity. I am happy that today India led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has once again given the world the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the theme for the 18th G20 summit. One Earth, One Family, One Future is the message that Prime Minister Modi ji has given to world leaders through the G20 Summit. The teachings of Swami Vivekananda hold immense importance, resonating far beyond his lifetime. His philosophy centred on the harmony of religions, the unity of all beings, and the power of self-realization. His call for self-confidence, self-discipline, and selfless service continues to inspire individuals to strive for personal growth and contribute positively to society. His teachings have not only shaped modern Hinduism but have also influenced global perspectives on spirituality, interfaith dialogue, and the pursuit of a meaningful and purposeful life. Swami Vivekananda felt that idealism could inspire us to work towards the greater good and uplift humanity, and advocated for selfless service to society. As we commemorate 130 years of the Parliament of the Worlds Religions, let us reflect on the progress made in fostering religious tolerance and diversity, while also acknowledging the ongoing work required to ensure peaceful coexistence among different faiths. His teachings remain a beacon of hope, promoting a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and the potential for spiritual awakening. His vision revolved around the principles of unity, tolerance, and justice as essential components of social inclusion and harmony. His ideas will continue to inspire us to build a more inclusive and harmonious society. (The writer is the Governor of Haryana. The views expressed are personal) Bangladesh and France on Monday signed two bilateral agreements to improve cooperation in infrastructure and to build the first-ever earth observation satellite after French President Emmanuel Macron held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina here. Macron arrived in Dhaka on Sunday from India after participating in the G20 Summit in New Delhi. It was the first visit by any French president to Bangladesh since 1990. Francois Mitterrand was the last French president to visit Bangladesh in February 1990. Hasina said France expressed support for Bangladeshs sovereign policy independence, particularly in the context of the ongoing geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty.We both hope that this new strategic move between Bangladesh and France will play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability and peace, she said in a joint press briefing after holding talks with Macron.The Government of France has expressed its satisfaction with the responsible and committed activities of the Government of Bangladesh in protecting the fundamental and human rights of its people, Hasina was quoted as saying by UNB News. As leading and responsible resident powers in the Asia and Pacific, the prime minister said, Bangladesh and France will act to ensure geopolitical stability of the region. As a trusted development partner of Bangladesh, Hasina said, France has assured Bangladesh of its continued cooperation in infrastructure development, she said. Earlier, a Credit Facility Agreement was signed between the Economic Relations Division (ERD), Bangladesh, and the France Development Agency (AFD), France on Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Programme, Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The concessional loan will help the Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement (UGIIP) project, which will be implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), it said, quoting the French embassy here. The deal will also serve to provide capital investment for improved municipal infrastructure and service provision in 88 municipalities. A Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation between Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited (BSCL) and Airbus Defence and Space SAS, France related to the Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System was also signed, the report said. This will be the first-ever earth observation satellite for Bangladesh, which depends on buying images from different companies satellites like Airbus when needed, it said. Two-way trade between Dhaka and Paris reached an all-time record of 4.9 billion euros in 2022. Thirty French companies have an office in Bangladesh, most of them in the RMG (ready-made garment) sector, logistics shipping, or engineering, the report said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's aircraft is facing technical issues at the Delhi airport due to which his departure has been delayed, according to a source. The source said the flight was scheduled to take off at 8 pm on Sunday, and due to technical issues, the departure of the prime minister has been delayed. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained. Quoting a statement from Trudeau's office, Canada's CTV News channel said the aircraft was experiencing technical issues. Upon our departure for the airport, we were made aware by the Canadian Armed Forces that CFC001 was experiencing technical issues, the channel quoted the statement from the prime minister's office as saying. These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made, it added. Trudeau arrived in the national capital on Friday to attend the G20 Summit that concluded on Sunday. After taking part in the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth arrived in this holy city on a two-day visit on Monday. He visited Dashashwamedh Ghat, along with his family, where the rituals were performed for the peace of the soul of his late father-in-law. Riding on a big boat carrying pind-daan, the visiting Mauritius Premier immersed the ashes into the sacred water in the midstream of river Ganga in front of Manikarnika Ghat as per the Hindu tradition amidst the chanting of mantras. Earlier, when Pravind Jugnauth landed at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur, he was welcomed by the UP Minister for Labour and Employment Anil Rajbhar on behalf of the state government. Divisional Commissioner (DC) Kaushal Raj Sharma and senior district and police officers were also present. In view of the visit of Mauritius PM, elaborate security arrangements were made at all the places he was scheduled to visit during the day. Apart from the police personnel from Varanasi Police Commissionerate, 10 IPS from outside, five ASPs, eight Deputy SPs, five inspectors, 40 men and women sub-inspectors, 200 constables and head constables and three companies of PAC personnel have been deployed at different places. Tight security arrangements were made at river Ganga, when the Mauritius PM visited there. Last time, Pravind Jugnauth visited the city to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Day Conference held in January 2019. He also visited Kashi Vishwanath and other temples at that time apart from visiting, along with his countrys delegates, to Prayag to take a holy dip at Sangam, confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati during Kumbh. Mauritius Prime Minister will visit airport on Tuesday morning and then go to Mumbai. If the reaction of Hindus in Tamil Nadu towards the hate speech of the DMK leaders condemning Sanatana Dharma as everything from dengue to leprosy is any indication, a strong resentment is brewing up in the State against the Government led by MK Stalin, according to Sanatan Dharma activists like Arjun Sampath. It all started with Stalins son Udhayanidhi exhorting people to annihilate and abolish Sanatan Dharma which according to the latter was more contagious than Dengue, Malaria and Corona. A Raja, former Union minister who shot into notoriety through the 2G spectrum case went one step further and said that the Sanatan Dharma was more dangerous than HIV and leprosy and should be banished from the Dravidian land once and for ever. Political pundits in Tamil Nadu are baffled by the timing of Udhayanaidhi Stalins reported charges against the Sanatanis. There is nothing surprising in these charges against the Sanatan Dharma. The DMK has been telling the same for the last 100 years but the show goes on. I wish Stalin and his son focused more on governance than cakling for genocide of the Sanatanis, said R Rajagopalan, veteran political commentator. CD Meyyappan, AICC leader, declined to make any observation about these statements by the father-son duo. Till he called for the abolition of Sanatan Dharma, Udhayanidhi was known only in Tamil Nadu. Now he has become an international figure. But I am sure that the controversy will die a natural death in the next few days, said Meyyappan. An interesting fact about the silence maintained by the Hindu monks in the State has come out. According to Arjun Sampath, president, Hindu Makkal Katchi, an organisation trying to get the temple doors opened up for all irrespective of caste and creed, the Aadheenams (Ashrams) in Tamil Nadu are afraid to react to the statements by the DMK leaders. All these ashrams are controlled by the Department of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and the minister in charge is Sekhar Babu, a Dravidian hothead. The pontiffs of these Mutts stand to lose their position if they antagonise the DMK, Sampath told The Pioneer. The HMK founder also said that the move by entrepreneurs and industrialists in the State have to be noticed with concern. Many of them are planning to move out of Tamil Nadu. The mushrooming of industrial parts in the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border is a signal that all is not well in Dravida Nadu, he said. The monks are on a mission to convince the Sanatan believers that there is no Tamil Nadu without Sanatan Dharma. The Tamil history, whether it be cultural, social or political history survives because of the contributions made by Shiva and Vishnu saints. The State wakes up everyday to the hymns composed by the 63 Saiva saints, collectively addressed as Nayanmaar and the 12 Vaishnava saints Alvars who composed Divya Prabhandam, said Sampath, who asked whether there was a day in the State which has not echoed with these devotional songs. An observation made by the Madras High Court chief justice SV Gangapurvala and justice PD Audikesavulu on September 5 has come as a shocker to the DMK Government. The First Bench termed the continuation of Senthil Balaji who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on charges of money laundering as a Constitutional travesty. Balaji was the minister for power and excise in the Stalin cabinet but following his arrest by the ED, the Chief Minister took the portfolios held by the former and gave it to two of his acolytes. Despite the order by Governor RN Ravi, Chief Minister Stalin has not dropped the tainted minister from the cabinet and this has put the government in a dilemma. The DMKs alliance partners say that charity should begin at home referring to the temple visits made by Stalins wife Durga to all leading temples in South India praying for the success and well being of her husband and son Udhayanidhi. Durga had offered a gold headgear wearing 32 sovereigns to Lord Krisha, the presiding deity of the famous Guruvayurappan Temple in Kerala on August 11. She also donated a state-of-the-art machine to grind sandalwood into paste at the temple. Her agents in Guruvayur Temple said that her prayers were for the elevation of Udhayanidhi as deputy Prime Minister after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. To queries about the rationalism propagated by the DMK , the agents retorted. So what? Thats for the party cadre. Well, if anyone feels a resemblance to the words of George Orwell in Animal Farm that all animals are equals though some are more equal, it may be a strange coincidence. India has not only come of age in holding mega events like G20 in magnificent style but also pulled it off with astute diplomacy to bring on board diverse groups within the grouping in forging consensus. India spent `4,100 crore for the G20 summit and in the process created a plethora of permanent assets and infrastructure in the national Capital. Government sources said the Modi Government in a way also exhibited its financial prowess by spending the amount for the mega international historic event when compared to `364 crore in Indonesia last year. While Japan G20 spent `2,660 crore in 2019, Argentina hosted it at `931 crore in 2018 and in the year 2017 the G20 was held in Germany costing the Government `642 crore. As per the official expenditure accessed by The Pioneer, the maximum cost of `3,600 crore was incurred by ITPO followed by Delhi Police `340 crore. Delhis civic bodies like NDMC spent `60 crore, PWD utilised `45 crore, MCD `5 crore, DDA `18 crore, Forest Department `16 crore and the MEA, MES together about `one crore. In the annual Budget 2023-24, the Government had allocated `990 crore for the G20 presidency. Sources said security, among the most significant components of G20 preparations, was among the most prominent items on the list of expenditure in addition to the maintenance of roads, footpaths, street signage and lighting. The money was spent on roads, security, footpaths and lighting, among several other things. Several sculptures have also been installed at various places in the national capital as part of the makeover process. The maximum was spent by the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) to present a grandeur Bharat Mandapam in the premises of Pragati Maidan. The newly built international convention and exhibition centre is a state-of-the-art complex and presents a picture of modernity but art and traditions of the country are also reflected in its design and architecture. The Summit Meeting Room has all modern air-conditioning, acoustic and seating facilities but the heritage of India has been tastefully incorporated into its design. The welcome backdrop depicted the ancient Konark temple of Odisha with the G20 logo depicted on one side and the presidencys theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam One Earth. One Family. One Future on the other side. A level above where President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi had greeted them before the ceremonial dinner, the backdrop had depicted the ancient Nalanda university ruins in Bihar. In the corridor next to it, a small statue of Nataraja is placed, while the 27-foot tall Nataraja made with ancient lost wax technique used for Chola bronzes, stands majestically in the verdant lawns, adding an artistic and divine touch. Delhi cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj thanked the people of Delhi for making the G20 Summit a success and assured that the beautification of the national capital will continue. NDMC said it is contemplating deploying? security guards to prevent vandalisation or theft of assets like fountains and sculptures installed ahead of the G20 Summit. We will maintain the assets, including 65 fountains and nearly 20 sculptures, that were installed at prominent locations and roundabouts for the G20 Summit, NDMC vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay told The Pioneer. He said he has urged Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena to hold monthly or bimonthly meetings of different agencies to ensure better delivery of civic services to people. Signaling warm and robust relations with Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said ties between India and Saudi Arabia are crucial for stability and welfare of the region and world. Describing the Arab nation as one of Indias most important strategic partners, he also said both sides are adding new dimensions to the ties in tune with changing times. These assertions were made after Prime Minister Modi on Monday reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The two countries decided to expedite implementation of the USD 50 billion West Coast refinery project, and identified energy, defence, semiconductor and space as areas for intensified cooperation during talks between Prime Minister Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The two leaders held the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council was announced in 2019 with an aim to further increase cooperation in critical areas. The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince is on a State visit to India following the end of the G20 Summit. Trade, economy, defence, and cultural cooperation were the main topics of discussion between Prime Minister Modi and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. For India, Saudi Arabia counts as one of its closest and biggest strategic partners, Modi said. India-Saudi Arabia partnership crucial for stability, welfare of region and world. We are adding a new dimension to our ties in tune with changing times. We have identified several initiatives to take our close partnership to the next level, he added. The Prime Minister said he had productive talks with the Saudi Crown Prince. Both leaders discussed trade ties and the immense scope for bilateral cooperation in areas, including grid connectivity, renewable energy, food security and semiconductors. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and I had very productive talks. We reviewed our trade ties and are confident that the commercial linkages between our nations will grow even further in the times to come. The scope for cooperation in grid connectivity, renewable energy, food security, semiconductors and supply chains is immense, he wrote on X. The leaders assessed the progress of the two Ministerial committees of the Strategic Partnership Council, namely the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation Committee and the Economy and Investments Cooperation Committee. They also discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including political, security, defence, trade, economy, culture, and people-to-people ties. Additionally, they discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit, Muhammad Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. We will work together to create a great future for both the countries, he said. This is Prince Salmans second State visit to India. Saudi Arabia is one of Indias key strategic partners in West Asia. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. Then Army Chief General M Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been a series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. During the two-day G20 Summit in New Delhi, Saudi Arabia was one of the signatories to the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The initiative was jointly announced by Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Yesterday, we made a decision to start a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe. This corridor will not only connect two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe, Modi said. Once completed, the project can serve as a modern-day Silk Road that functioned as the central trade route facilitating economic partnerships, political alliances, and cultural integration across continents. Prime Minister Modi also cited Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 initiative, an all-encompassing nationwide reform programme launched in 2016 for the economic, cultural and architectural development of the West Asian country. Under your leadership and Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth and I congratulate you for that, Modi said. India and Saudi Arabia have a long history of cordial and cooperative relations, with extensive people-to-people ties. According to the Government data, bilateral trade between the two countries reached an all-time high of USD 52.75 billion in fiscal year 2022-23. During his 2019 visit to Riyadh, Prime Minister Modi had said India and Saudi Arabia have a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) that meets regularly and that the two countries have identified a number of areas of mutual interest and cooperation in the field of defence and security. The two economic powerhouses are also major trading partners. India is Saudi Arabias second-largest trading partner, while Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth-largest. The two countries have a strong partnership in the energy sector, with India importing a significant amount of oil from Saudi Arabia. The India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council was established during Prime Minister Modis visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019 as a mechanism to streamline and strengthen bilateral ties across diverse domains. The council operates through two Ministerial committees focussed on political, security, social and cultural cooperation, and economic and investment cooperation, providing a structured framework to foster deeper collaboration and understanding between the two countries. The first Leaders Meeting of the council, co-chaired by Prime Minister Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince during this visit, signifies a commitment to nurturing this partnership to new heights, encompassing a wide array of bilateral concerns and opportunities for collaborative endeavours. The famed 3rd-century Buddhist Stupa land of Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh has become the first solar city in the country. The city, known for the Great Buddhist Stupa originally built by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, the then Governor of Ujaiyini, is now connecting the ancient with the modern through solar light. Ashoka, who was married to Devi, the daughter of a merchant from the nearby town of Vidisha, is known to have visited the Sanchi Buddhist site. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the Sanchi solar city, saying, By becoming the countrys first solar city, this historic place has shown the way to the world, much like Lord Buddha once did. Engineers and site officials at Sanchi told The Pioneer that a 3 MW solar plant, which caters to the citys needs, is fully operational, and another plant with a capacity of 5 MW to meet agriculture-related requirements is under construction. The 3 MW plant has been built close to the UNESCO World Heritage site on a 5-hectare plot. The stupa, majestically overlooking the solar plant amidst lush greenery, stands tall in its height. Once completed, Sanchi will produce more energy than it consumes. The majority of the energy requirements of Sanchi city are planned to be met through ground-mounted solar panel projects. Additionally, rooftop solar panels will be installed on residential and office buildings in Sanchi, including the Sanchi Railway station. Residents in Sanchi are encouraged to use solar products such as solar study lamps, solar dryers, solar water heaters, or solar lanterns. Officials have stated that electric vehicle charging stations will be set up to promote e-mobility in the town. Furthermore, solar water kiosks will be installed at public places, and solar street lights will line the roads in the town. Solar trees will also be placed in common areas, offering free Wi-Fi, mobile charging, and space for community gatherings. Close to the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site, wind turbines are planned to be installed near the Stupa to harness wind energy. Energy floors will be laid at the entry gate of the main Stupa to raise awareness about the availability and development of energy in various activities. The project mentioned that hydro-electric power will continue to supply the city in parallel with solar power, which will soon become the primary source of light for the city. Incidentally, Indias first solar-powered village is Modhera in Gujarat, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October of last year. Sanchi Stupa, monasteries, temples, and pillars dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th century AD were declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO in 1989. Virat Kohli's supreme fitness was evident in his 47th ODI century while comeback man KL Rahul produced an equally engaging ton on comeback as India thrashed a listless Pakistan by record 228-run margin in a rain-marred Super Four game of the Asia Cup here on Sunday. This is India's biggest win in terms of runs against the cross-border neighbours. India posted an imposing 356 for 2, as Kohli (122 not out off 94 balls) and Rahul (111 not out off 106 balls), which was his sixth ODI hundred, pummelled a hapless Pakistan, whose chase ended at 128 for 8 as Kuldeep Yadav (5/25) scythed through them. On the century count in ODIs, Kohli now stands just two behind Sachin Tendulkar's record 49. Once India restarted the day from 147 for 2 in 24.1 overs, they needed Kohli and Rahul, the two overnight batters, to go big, and they did that in some style. Along with Rahul, Kohli amassed 233 runs for the unbeaten third wicket stand the highest ODI partnership for India against Pakistan. En route to his 77th international century, Kohli also added some personal milestones to an already long list, becoming the fastest batsman to 13000 ODI runs and scoring his fourth ton in as many innings at the R Premadasa Stadium. Kohli is only the second batter to achieve the feat of scoring four successive hundreds at a venue after South Africa's Hashim Amla, who made this sequence at Centurion. However, Rahul's hundred was equally important from a team's perspective. Rahul, who was playing for India for the first time since earlier this March after an injury lay-off, batted for 141 minutes without any discomfort, and later kept wickets to underline his return to full fitness. Beyond the cold realm of numbers, the knocks of Kohli and Rahul carried immeasurable aesthetic value. The ball was coming onto the bat nicely, and Pakistan attack was also defanged in the absence of injured Haris Rauf, who had brought in a semblance of control the previous day with a quick spell. Barring Naseem Shah, none of the other four Pakistan bowlers managed to even beat Kohli and Rahul, who batted with a lot of panache. Kohli took his time to get going, allowing Rahul to do the early running. But once he went past 50, Kohli switched the gears seamlessly, as he often does. The first indication of a transformed Kohli came when he caned pacer Faheem Ashraf through the covers for a four. Kohli brought his quick hands into play to pounce on a length ball on the off-stump, and from that point he seldom looked back. His first fifty had come in 55 balls, and the remaining 72 runs cascaded in just 39 balls, as Pakistan bowlers were put through the wringer. Sensing the mood that Kohli was in, Rahul slightly took his feet off the pedal. The 31-year-old knew a big score was there for the taking and he just needed to keep his focus right on the button. Pakistan bowlers erred in length against Rahul, giving him enough space outside the off-stump and the Bangalore man exploited it to the hilt to get some easy boundaries. Four of his 12 boundaries came between point and third man and he collected a total of 24 runs from that region, the most productive in his innings. After allowing Rahul to soak in his hundred, Kohli too went past the mark with a single and celebrated his own moment with gusto a jump and punch in the air. Kohli, perhaps, saved his best for the last. In the 50th over, the former captain carted Ashraf for two overs, a paddle sweep and a strike over cover, and applied the finishing touches with a whistling six over long-on. Indian bowlers did not have to do anything extraordinary as they were defending 357, and the highest-ever run chase at this venue was 292. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was bowling in an ODI for the first time since July 2022, gave India the perfect start, sending Imam-ul-Haq into the hands of Shubman Gill at second slip. Hardik Pandya breached the defence of Pakistan captain Babar Azam with a delivery that shaped in just that bit. Kuldeep, India's best bowler in ODIs this year, hastened their fall as the left-arm wrist spinner bamboozled the Pakistan middle and late order with his endless variations. The injured Rauf and Naseem Shah did not come out to bat as Indian bowlers were not even required to strive for 10 wickets. Regional employment fair-cum-offer letter distribution ceremony was organized on Monday at Vinoba Bhave University campus of Hazaribagh. Parliamentary Affairs-cum-Rural Development Minister Alamgir Alam, while addressing the function, said that the Jharkhand government is working to strengthen the state amidst all the challenges. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the government has taken many decisions, which are proving to be milestones in the development of the state. The state is moving rapidly on the path of progress. Our government has started schemes for every class and every section. Now you do not have to visit the offices to avail the benefits of the schemes, rather the government officials are going to your doorstep, solving your problems and connecting you with the schemes. The Rural Development Minister said that skill training is giving new opportunities to the youth of the state to get employment by making them skilled. Youth are doing business after getting loans for self-employment from CMEGP. Through Birsa Green Village, the government is working towards improving the rural economy as well as the environment and making people property owners. Along with this, while enumerating the public welfare schemes and achievements of the government's policies and decisions, he said that the state government is not getting money for the PM's residence for the last two years. Besides, a three-room housing scheme is being started for those deprived of Abua housing. Under the Abua Housing Scheme, houses will be provided to seven to eight lakh people. While addressing the function, Labour Minister Satyanand Bhokta said that today 11500 young men and women have been selected for various companies and institutions in the Regional Employment Fair, they are getting offer letters today. Best wishes to all of you for your good future. He said that the government is working diligently to ensure 100 per cent employment through skill training. Apart from this, the government has made arrangements for employment at home for lakhs of migrant labourers in the unorganized sector. 40 thousand skilled young men and women who have received training have been given employment. The decisions of the government have been historical and development oriented. Besides, the government is working for the progress and progress of all sections of the society, society and family. On this occasion, 11850 young men and women of the provincial area were given appointment letters by the guests in various departments and areas. Before this, the guests were welcomed by giving them saplings. The welcome address on the occasion was given by Secretary, Labour Planning, Training and Skill Development Department, Rajesh Kumar. The stage was coordinated by Rajshree Prasad. Besides, a colourful presentation of local and Jharkhandi folk dances and songs was given by various troupes of the Art Culture Department. On this occasion, apart from the guests, a large number of young men and women including dignitaries from various departments, divisional and district level officials were present. Notably, Chief Minister Hemant Soren was scheduled to take part in the programme, but due to technical snag in his chopper he could not fly to Hazaribag. The CM in his message gave best wishes to the newly recruited youth and wished them a bright future ahead. Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) Vice Chancellor (VC), Dr Omkar Nath Singh said that the inclusion of Agri-Informatics and Agri-Electronics in the agriculture sector with the joint collaboration of C-DAC, Kolkata and BAU, Ranchi as a revolutionary step. Singh said this on Monday while presiding over the training cum workshop on FPO Mediator IT Intervention at BAU. He appreciated the team spirit and efforts of C-DAC, Kolkata and BAU scientists in the field of information technology. Speaking as Chief Guest Senior Director, C-DAC, Kolkata, Aditya Kumar Sinha said that the role of technology is becoming important in the changing agricultural environment. Food security will be the biggest problem facing the country in the next 50 years. There is a need to solve it through mutual understanding, cooperation, good utilization and joint efforts. There are majority of small and medium farmers in the country. Participation of small and medium farmers will be necessary in the future food security of the Country. The latest technologies will have to be incorporated and advanced along with their indigenous and traditional knowledge, he added. Sinha said that agricultural technological innovation and its development should be in the interest of farmers and should be easily accepted by them. Future thinking, understanding, cooperation and sharing of experience will have to be included in technological development on the basis of feedback from farmers. This will give importance and boost to technological development. Efforts will have to be made in smart agriculture with everyone's cooperation. In this direction, farmers producer organization mediated IT intervention will give impetus to agricultural development, he added. On the occasion, the Senior Director of C-DAC, Kolkata, BAU VC and guests jointly inaugurated the Agri-Information and Agri-Electronics poster. Devicharan Gop was honored with the Best FPO Mobilization Award, Gandura Oraon was honored with the Best FPO Award and Rajendra Mahato was honored with the Best FPO Network Award. On the occasion, Dr TN Sahu and Dr Subhash Sahu were honored for promoting agricultural technology through Nagpuri language. Dr SK Pal, Dr Sushil Prasad, Dr MK Gupta, Dr S. Karmakar, Dr BK Aggarwal, Dr AK Pandey, Dr Ramesh Kumar, Dr Nibha Bada, Dr BK Jha for their outstanding contribution in promoting IT in agriculture sector through various means. Dr Neeraj Kumar, Dr HC Lal, Dr Binay Kumar, Dr Ashok Kumar Singh, Dr CS Singh, Dr SB Kumar, Dr SK Jha, Dr IA Ansari, Dr NC Gupta and Dr Ashok Kumar Singh were honored by giving mementos. On this occasion, the Vice Chancellor specially honored the team of C-DAC, Kolkata for promoting IT innovation in the agriculture sector. On the occasion, Co-Director, C-DAC, Kolkata, Ritesh Mukherjee highlighted the importance of development and establishment of Technology Resource Centre. The program was conducted by Radio Hariyali Coordinator Shashi Singh, and a welcome speech was given by Dean Agriculture Dr. DK Shahi and vote of thanks was given by Organizing Secretary Dr. BK Jha. A large number of officials and farmers associated with FPO including Dr. PK Singh, Dr. Shiv Mangal Prasad, ED DK Rusia, Dr. P. Mahapatra, Dr. Arvind Kumar etc. were present on the occasion. Baid Finserv Ltd - one of India's leading MSME loans and Vehicles loan provider has approved the proposal of issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures for an amount not exceeding Rs. 250 crore on private placement basic. Company approved the issuance at its 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 7, 2023. The terms and condition of the issue will be decided by the board of directors. Established in 1991, Baid Finserv Ltd is India's leading vehicle loan and MSME loan provider. As a Non-Deposit Taking NBFC, the company provides Auto Loans, Commercial Vehicle Loans (new & used), MSME Loans, Loan Against Property, and other asset-backed loans. Having a strong focus on serving the underserved, the company has recently expanded its operations into Madhya Pradesh, as well as semi-urban and rural areas of Rajasthan. The core objective of Baid Finserv is to make finance accessible at a reasonable cost while maintaining utmost transparency in all dealings. The General Administration Department in Chhattisgarh on Monday issued an order stating those accused of crime against women such as molestation and rape will no longer be eligible for government jobs. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had made an announcement regarding this on August 15. Those against whom crimes are registered under sections 354, 376, 376A, 376B, 376C, 376D, 509, 493, 496 and 498 of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), 2012, will be banned from appointment to government services and posts till a final decision of the criminal case, the order said. Women's cells have been established in 547 police stations and outposts. Women's counselling centres have been set up in every district headquarters. Crime against women research units have come up in Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Raigarh and Janjgir-Champa districts. The police Abhivyakti app, for women's safety, has 1.85 lakh registered users. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday expressed his government's commitment to preserve the sites visited by Lord Ram and to promote spiritual tourism. Chhattisgarh is also establishing Krishna Kunjs in urban areas, he said. He was addressing a gathering at Mukundpur of Nagri Sihava in Dhamtari district where he unveiled a statue of Lord Ram. Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu was present on this occasion. The statue has been built under the first phase of the Ram Van Gaman Path, an initiative of the Chhattisgarh government to promote spiritual tourism. The Chief Minister also inaugurated other development works such as Ram Vatika, statues of Saptarishi, a tourism information centre, Shringi Rishi ashram, a yagyashala and beautification of Lord Hanuman temple. AJSU Party's one-day village in-charge conference cum worker meeting was held at Avantika Bhawan on Monday. On the occasion, AJSU Party supremo Sudesh Kumar Mahato took the present Jharkhand government to task and said that corruption has become the culture of the Hemant government. Without making offerings, no work is done for officials and also for poor people. It is said that files move from one table to another only after making offerings. He said that the government has deviated the administrative officers from their basic work which is not at all appropriate in the interest of the state. He said that the time has come to root out corruption. Public trust is looking towards AJSU. Because he knows. While encouraging the workers, he said that you village level workers are the real foundation of the party. Only if you become strong will the party be able to achieve its goal. Regarding former MLA late Kamal Kishore Bhagat, he said that by working together under his leadership and guidance, we have continuously developed our capabilities, the pleasant results of which we will see in the 2024 assembly elections. AJSU Party leader Assembly in-charge and wife of late Kamal Kishore Bhagat Nehru Shanti Bhagat said that please give me a chance in the coming elections. I will definitely fulfill the unfulfilled dreams of Kamal Kishore Bhagat and will dedicate not only my body and mind but my whole life in the service of this field. Central Chief Spokesperson Dr. Devsharan Bhagat and Central Senior Vice President and District In-charge Hasan Ansari reviewed the village-wise, panchayat-wise and block-wise organizational work and gave important guidelines to all the workers. The program was presided over by District President Omprakash Bharti, operations Ramchandra Giri and Anita Sahu. Mainly present in the program were Central Secretary Roshan Lal Chaudhary Nurul Huda Central Secretary Lal Guddu Nath Shahdev Suraj Aggarwal Arvind Yadav Ram Nandan Sahu Raju Gupta Devendra Sahu Central Women Spokesperson Anju Devi and a large number of officials and workers were present. The newly-constructed Bharat Mandapam that was the centre of activity amid tight security during the just- concluded G20 Summit, wore a deserted look on Monday. The Bharat Mandapam that boasts of graceful sandstone pillars, ornamental panels inspired from traditional jaalis, richly embroidered carpets and Rajasthani style friezes on the oval core of the ceiling, was the cynosure of all eyes on Monday, with authorised people clicked selfies and loitering around the area. Many security personnel, other staff and some other authorised visitors were seen taking pictures inside the summit room, and also with the board Bharat that was placed in front of Indias chair during the G20 Summit.Several others took selfies with flags and the G20 backdrop in the summit room or the welcome backdrop that was used on Saturday morning when Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted various world leaders just before the summit got underway. The welcome backdrop depicted the ancient Konark temple of Odisha with the G20 logo depicted on one side and the presidencys theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam One Earth. One Family. One Future on the other side. The international convention and exhibition centre has a piece of India in its architecture and interiors. The Mandapam at Pragati Maidan is a state-of-the-art complex and displays a combination of modernity and art and traditions in its architectural design. The Mandapam hosted the G20 Summit from September 9-10, but beyond limited visuals seen on television and the internet during the mega event, the elaborate internal features of the new landmark remains a mystery for many as it is yet to be opened to the public. The Summit Meeting Room has all modern air-conditioning, acoustic and seating facilities. However, the heritage of India has been inherently incorporated into its design. Beneath the oval core of the ceiling of the summit room, are laid richly embroidered and colourful carpets surrounding modern digital screen panels. Next to the round table area, a creamish-colour carpet bearing floral embellishments adorns the floor.Sandstone, a common feature in old buildings in the national capital, from Shahjahanabad to the Raisina Hill complex, has been used in the pillars of the summit room, while ornamental panels inspired from traditional jaalis, present in Mughal-era buildings and monuments as well as in palaces in various parts of India, punctuate the walls of the cavernous room. Behind each of these panels is another fabric-based panel adorned with motifs of traditional Indian embroidery style, adding to the elegance of the room. Around the oval core of the ceiling, Rajasthani style friezes seen in palaces and havelis have been painted. Potted Areca Palm plants and rich stocks of daises were added in the royal lounge just for the summit and millet-based snack and Indian coffee, among other items were on the menu for high tea arranged for them. Outside the Summit Meeting Room and Leaders Lounge a huge hallway is currently hosting the Culture Corridor G20 Digital Museum which was tailor-made just for the summit. High wooden doors with leaf-style ornamental patterns on its outward side open into the hallway where rare and rich artefacts sourced from all G20 members nations and invited countries are currently displayed as part of the one-of-its-kind project. The world leaders experienced the hospitality and heritage of India as also its embrace of modernity and its technological prowess, particularly the growth of the digital public infrastructure of India, G20 India Special Secretary Muktesh Pardesi told a news agency. A level above where President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Modi had greeted them before the ceremonial dinner, the backdrop had depicted the ancient Nalanda university ruins in Bihar. A small statue of Nataraja is placed, while the 27-foot tall Nataraja made with ancient lost wax technique used for Chlola bronzes, stands majestically in the verdant lawns, adding an artistic and divine touch. The Delhi BJP slammed the Arvind Kejriwal Government for reimposing a ban on firecrackers on Diwali and accused it of hurting sentiments of Hindus. Delhi BJP demanded that the Government allow green crackers. The BJP leaders also alleged that the Government had failed to check air pollution in the city. The Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has opposed the ban on bursting crackers during Diwali for the third consecutive year. Crackers that contribute to pollution should be restricted but permission should be granted for the use of green crackers. Diwali is not just a festival; it is deeply intertwined with the emotions of millions of Hindus, Bidhuri said in a statement. There has been no scientific study so far proving that pollution increases due to bursting of crackers during Diwali, he claimed. The Delhi Government should not forget its responsibility to reduce pollution. Pollution around Diwali increases because the Government has failed to fulfil its responsibilities, said Bidhuri. He alleged that the Government was hurting the sentiments of Hindus. Delhi BJP vice-president Kapil Mishra said it has been proved in the court and also by scientists that firecrackers are not the source of pollution. In a post on X, he asserted that the people will not follow the ban on firecrackers. It has been proved in the court that firecrackers are not the source of pollution, he claimed. Rain continued in Madhya Pradesh on Monday while state capital remained dry during the same period. Around half an inch of rainfall was recorded in Damoh and Sagar. At the same time, it rained in Jabalpur, Guna and Pachmarhi also. The weather department has predicted light rain for the next three days. Monsoon system will be active again from September 15. This will cause heavy rain once again. The threat of drought is averted due to the continuous rains in Madhya Pradesh for the last 6 days. Earlier on Sunday, it rained in 16 districts. According to the Meteorological Department, another system is becoming active from September 12-13. It will remain active in the state from September 18th to 20th . That means there are chances of rain in the state for the next one week. The big dams of the state, Kolar, Bargi, Indira Sagar, Tawa and Tillar dams are such which overflowed in July-August. The gates of Kolar and Bargi dams were opened in July itself. The Upper Lake of Bhopal is still empty by 2.5 ft. Due to this, the gates of Bhadbhada and Kaliyasot dams did not even open. Kerava Dam is also empty. There are some dams which are on the verge of overflowing. If heavy rains continue for two-four days, the remaining dams may also overflow. The quota of rain has been full in Indore, Narsinghpur, Burhanpur, Niwari and Bhind of Madhya Pradesh. There has been 27 percent excess rainfall here. Whereas 18 districts of the state including Bhopal and Rewa have received 20 percent to 39 percent less rainfall so far. There are a total of 44 districts where the rainfall figures are in minus. These districts have high expectations from September. Because heavy rains are expected to continue in the second week also. Scientists of IMD Bhopal have claimed that there will be moderate to heavy rain in the state from September 18 to 20. In such a situation, the picture of the districts may change. There is currently 14 percent less rainfall in the state An average of 29.09 inches of rain has fallen since June 1. Whereas there should have been 33.70 inches of rain. According to this, the overall rainfall figure in the state is still less by 14 percent . There has been 11 percent less rainfall in the eastern part and 16 percent less rainfall in the western part. Monsoon had entered the state on June 24 this year. It rained well in the beginning. But in July and then in August the monsoon showed indifference. Due to this the rainfall figures are less. There was a monsoon break of about 21 days twice in the month of August. Of the remaining days, only 8 days saw light and sometimes heavy rain. Therefore the whole of August remained dry. Earlier in July also the activity of the monsoon system was less. Therefore the figure remained in minus. The first week of September turned out to be dry. It has been raining since the second week due to the active monsoon. Generally there is good rainfall in July and August. But both these months have been dry. It has been raining well in September for the last four-five days. There will be monsoon activity from 18th to 20th September. After this the monsoon will bid farewell. The victory of Samajwadi Party candidate Sudhakar Singh in the Ghosi assembly bypoll is being projected by the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) as the much needed template for the opposition alliance to take on the BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The SP also is confident that the victory will be a turning point in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The opposition, to buttress their claims, refer to the 45-year-old by-election to Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat in 1978 in which Congress candidate Mohsina Kidwai registered a victory a year after the crushing defeat of the Congress in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections. The Azamgarh bypoll results had made a huge contribution in reviving the electoral fortunes of the Congress in north India. The SP claims that the victory of its candidate, Sudhakar Singh, in Ghosi bypoll against the Bharatiya Janata Party has generated excitement among the constituents of the opposition bloc INDIA in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, particularly in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Political analysts, however, are skeptical to the claims of the INDIA bloc and have termed their confidence as gloating. They are of the view that the SP and the Congress, the most active INDIA bloc members in Uttar Pradesh, will have a long way to go to take on the BJP in the state. They pointed out that despite the alliance of the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the combine could win only 15 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats and RLD drew a blank. In the 2022 UP assembly polls, the SP secured 32.1 per cent votes against the BJPs 41.29 per cent. The Congress secured barely 2.33 per cent votes, which is insignificant in a populous state like UP. However, the vote share of the SP went up sharply in comparison to the 2017 elections when the Akhilesh Yadav-led party had secured only 21.8 per cent votes and was reduced to 47 seats. The SPs seats also went up to 111 in 2022. On the other hand, the BJPs vote share remained almost the same in 2017 and 2022 but its seats in the assembly were reduced substantially. In the 2022 UP assembly elections, the BJP won 255 seats against 312 in 2017. Thus, the combined vote shares of the Congress and the SP would not have made any difference against the BJP in the 2022 polls. The analysts point out that the bypoll results of Ghosi assembly seat have exposed the vulnerability of small caste-based parties which have been operating in the sub-regions of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The leaders of numerically small castes, Dara Singh Chauhan and Om Prakash Rajbhar who were believed to have had a sway over their respective Lonia and Bhar castes, have failed to deliver to desired level during the by-election. Dara Singh Chauhan, the BJP candidate from the Lonia caste and Rajbhar, an ally of the BJP, were with the SP in the 2022 UP assembly polls and both recently switched over to the BJP. The two leaders had hardly made a difference to the prospects of the SP in the 2022 polls. Another noticeable point is the increasingly dwindling clout of BSP. The party was reduced to a single seat in the UP assembly and secured only 12.88 per cent votes in 2022 an all-time low vote share of the party in the last 30 years. Despite Ghosi having a significant Dalit population, the SP candidate secured about 58 per cent votes against his rival in the bypoll, suggesting that it did secure the Dalit votes too. INDIA bloc has a long way to go. There still exists a big gap in the vote shares of the BJP and INDIA bloc. INDIA bloc can ill-afford to be complacent on the basis of some recent victories in UP and some other states, said a SP leader. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given instructions to run a special campaign to make the roads of the state pothole-free before Diwali in the coming November. Holding a meeting with various departments on Monday, the chief minister said that the monsoon this year was unusual. There is a possibility of continuous rain in many districts in the coming days. Keeping this in mind, a state-wide road pothole-free campaign should be run before Diwali in November, Yogi Adityanath said and added: Where it is raining, traffic should be streamlined by placing boulders and running rollers. He said there were about four lakh kilometres of roads of departments like the Public Works Department, National Highways Authority of India, Mandi Parishad, Irrigation, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Sugar Industry and Sugarcane Development, Housing, Infrastructure and Industrial Development department in the state. It is the responsibility of all of us to make commuting on every road a pleasant experience. If the previously laid roads deteriorate due to big projects like the metro or expressway, the department concerned would be held responsible, the chief minister said. After being briefed about the departmental action plan for pothole-free roads campaign, the chief minister directed the departments concerned to focus on better planning, ruling out any dearth of funds in this regard. He instructed all departments to ensure that the road building agency or contractor also takes the responsibility of maintaining the road for the next five years after its construction. The terms and conditions in this regard should be clearly mentioned, he added. Terming engineers as the backbone of construction work, the chief minister said that there should be no shortage of engineers anywhere and if necessary, they should be deployed through outsourcing also. Instructing ministers and officers of the departments concerned to review construction projects by making random visits to the field and fixing accountability, the chief minister stressed on mechanised repair of roads rather than manual. He also said that the engineers should be posted only on the basis of merit. The chief minister said that every department should ensure that people with criminal records do not get a place in any public interest project. Their close relatives and gang operatives should also be kept away from contracts, he added. The chief minister said that geo-tagging should be done for the pothole-free and re-construction campaign. It should be linked to the PM Gatishakti portal, and its own portal should also be developed on similar lines so that the quality of work can be continuously monitored, he said. While giving instructions to the Urban Development and Rural Development departments, the chief minister said that waterlogged streets must be cleared immediately. He said the officers of the departments should remain present on the streets. While discussing the problem of stray dogs in cities, the chief minister gave instructions for speedy implementation of the proposed animal birth control units and making other necessary arrangements. BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi as part of Sankalp yatra today addressed a public meeting at Ramgarh Assembly constituency. The rally witnessed a large number of people listening to Marandi where he once again attacked the Hemant Soren government failure on all fronts. While addressing the meeting, BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi in his aggressive style attacked the JMM/Congress alliance government. He said that Jharkhand has been ruined under the JMM/Congress alliance government which is in power. On one side, there is looting of mines, minerals, coal, iron, stones, sand, criminals are rampant, police administration is busy in recovery and the public is worried. Discussing state-supported corruption, he said that it is futile to expect eradication of corruption from a state whose Chief Minister himself is engaged in looting and getting the state looted. He said that middlemen dominate the state. The common man is not getting sand to build houses but the brokers and robbers are sending sand from the state to Bihar, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai and the commission money is reaching the top. He said that in the state one has to pay money for making caste certificates, income certificates and even death certificates. He said that in order to save the robbers, brokers and middlemen, the Chief Minister gets expensive lawyers to represent him in the court and protects them. Marandi said that if there is a JMM/ Congress government in the state then the criminals have courage. Sisters and daughters are not safe in the state. At some places daughters are being burnt with petrol and at some places they are being cut into pieces. He said that when JMM, Congress and RJD form a government in the state, there is talk of loot and corruption and when a government is formed in the country and state under the leadership of BJP, there is talk of development. He said that Congress could not provide roads and electricity to the villages during its 60 years of rule. The village roads are the gift of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The previous Raghuvar government of BJP at the Center and the state together provided electricity to every home. Today, houses for the poor are also being built and facilities like toilets, gas cylinders and electricity are being provided in them. He said that not only this, the Prime Minister worried about food grains for the poor. He said that today the JMM/Congress government is getting even the grains looted. Even roads are not being repaired under the present government. There are no teachers in schools, no medicines in hospitals, no doctors. There are power cuts for hours. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made India proud in the country and the world. Today the whole world is looking towards India with hope. A prisoner lodged in the Banda district jail on charges of molestation and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act died under mysterious circumstances on Sunday evening. The jail officials claimed that the prisoner died of cardiac failure while the family members alleged that the excesses and negligence of jail administration led to his death. They demanded action in the matter. The local administration claimed that a panel of doctors had been formed for post-mortem examination and any action would be taken according to the outcome of the autopsy. Reports said that Ajit Kumar Kushwaha of Parshuram Talab area in Banda was an assistant teacher (instructor) in the primary school in Bisanda police station area. He was accused of molestation by a student and an FIR was registered against him by the Bisanda police on charges of molestation while invoking SC/ST Act and POCSO Act. After this, he was sent to jail on March 2. The family had applied for bail and its hearing was scheduled for Monday. But, Ajit died on Sunday evening. The deceaseds father, Vasudev, accused the jail administration of committing murder as part of a conspiracy and that his son was innocent. He said on Raksha Bandhan, Ajits sister had gone to the jail to tie and at that time he was absolutely fine and had no disease. The jail administration, however, claimed the victim died of a heart attack. They said as soon as the prisoner fell on the ground on Sunday evening, he was rushed to the hospital but the doctors pronounced him dead. Medical Officer of the District Hospital, Dr Akash, said that prisoner Ajit was brought by the jail staff who claimed that he was having chest pain. The body has been sent for post-mortem. Meanwhile in Farrukhabad, a youth died in police custody under mysterious circumstances. The family alleged use of third degree by the police led to the death. However, the cops said that the victim died in a road accident after being taken to the police station. The incident took place in Meerapur police station area. Reports said that one Dileep Yadav (25) of Roop Nagar village under Merapur police station was present with his family at his house on Saturday evening when three policemen, including Sub-Inspector Lavkumar, incharge of Meerapur police station, and Panchal Kumar, in-charge of Pakhna police outpost under the Mohammadabad police station, came to the house and picked up Dilip Yadav, claiming he was wanted in a molestation case, and left for Pakhna police outpost. The family alleged that when they went to the police outpost, they saw the cops using third degree on Dileep in the presence of JCB owners for whom Dileep was working as a driver. The family members said that in the night, police informed them that they were shifting Dileep when they met with an accident in which Dileep died. The family alleged that the cops killed Dileep and to hush up the matter, they tried to make it a case of road mishap. The family members staged a demonstration outside Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumars residence on Sunday evening after which he handed over the probe to additional superintendent of police and assured the family that action would be taken on the basis of the findings in the probe and the post-mortem report. To ensure vaccination of all sections of the society, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Monday launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (IMI 5.0) aimed at overcoming barriers including vaccine hesitancy, myths, and taboos relating to vaccination. The event highlighted the importance of vaccinating eligible children and strengthening immunity in the face of existing challenges. A Media Sensitisation Meeting, in collaboration with Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity Project (M-RITE), was also organized along with the launch event. As a part of IMI 5.0, the Health Department will focus on overcoming the issues that hindered vaccination coverage and also cover the population that were left out of Routine Immunization efforts, said the Minister. Dr Balbir said that the State has conducted comprehensive training at various levels to emphasize the importance of reaching out to those, who had not been vaccinated or are only partially vaccinated and incorporating them into the immunization program. Punjab Health Department has planned 6,156 sessions to target 60,670 children (0-5) and 10,163 pregnant women, he said. The Minister also emphasized that the campaign prioritizes children aged 0 to five years who have not received any vaccines, with the ultimate goal of providing life-saving vaccinations to all eligible children. Additionally, it represents a significant step towards nationwide Measles and Rubella elimination, ensuring that every child under five years completes the crucial two-dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV), he added. The state Health Secretary Dr Abhinav Trikha underlined the integration of technology via the U-WIN portal. This state-of-the-art platform enables healthcare professionals to effectively track and document the vaccination status of children and expectant mothers, ensuring complete coverage and prompt interventions, he said. Director Health and Family Welfare Dr Adarshpal Kaur appealed to the health staff to reach out to the marginalized sections of the society for the success of this campaign. Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr Hitinder Kaur presented a detailed overview of the campaign and assured the Health Minister for 100 per cent achievement of the targets in the campaign. Dr Gopal Krishna Soni, Project Director, USAID-supported M-RITE, said: The project under the guidance of the Punjab State Government has successfully administered COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable and marginalized populations in the state. BJP parliamentarian from Ranchi Sanjay Seth on Monday met Ranchi Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar highlighting the civic issues within the Municipal area of State Capital. Seth informed the officer about the spread of dengue, chikungunya in the city and lack of cleanliness drive by civic bodies. The MP informed the Municipal Commissioner about the problems of Ranchi city and directed for their immediate solution. He also asked the house owners to first ensure and fix their arrangements instead of charging fine if larvae are found in the houses. He also said that if the Municipal Corporation corrects its arrangements, then such a situation will not arise. Cleanliness and fogging of the city is something which, if implemented, can prevent the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya to a great extent. On this issue, the Municipal Commissioner told the MP that the work of fogging and cleaning of the city is going on. This is being accelerated on a war footing. The MP appealed to put a ban on dumping of garbage and remove the accumulated garbage in many areas of the city including Avadhoot Ashram near Bada Talab area. The MP also asked for better maintenance of the statue of Swami Vivekananda. Apart from this, instructions were also given to the Municipal Commissioner to fortify the Shahdev Ghat located on the banks of Bada Talab. He told the Commissioner that a waste management plant is being set up by GAIL in Jhiri, but such arrangements have been made that wet and dry waste should come separately. Still wet and dry waste is not being collected separately. This arrangement should be strictly ensured so that the waste management plant can be started on time and its benefits can also be availed. He also gave instructions to fix faulty street lights in every locality of Ranchi city and ensure adequate and proper lighting in the localities and streets. On this, the Municipal Commissioner said that currently he has got 12000 lights, wherever required, he will ensure further lighting by installing these lights. Seth said that work on three flyovers is going on in the city. Because of this, potholes have formed everywhere. Water is accumulating around those pits. There is a possibility of an epidemic spreading due to this also. Therefore, it is necessary that arrangements for bleaching and fogging are ensured at these places also. The MP also asked the Municipal Commissioner for regular cleaning of public toilets in the city so that the spread of the epidemic can be prevented. A task force was formed to prevent pollution and remove encroachments from around various water sources in the urban area under Ranchi district on Monday. In the meeting held under the joint chairmanship of Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rahul Kumar Sinha and Ranchi Municipal Commissioner, Amit Kumar a joint task force was formed for the action of identifying and removing all the unauthorized buildings falling within 15 meters from the boundary of Bada Talab, Harmu River, Hinnu River, Kanke Dam and other rivers and water reservoirs in Ranchi District. Along with the river wise schedule, all the teams have been directed to take action as per the scheduled date. Action will be taken to remove encroachment from around Bada Talab under the chairmanship of the Circle Officer of the city from September 08 to September 9. Action will be taken to remove encroachment from around Harmu River under the chairmanship of Circle Officer Hehal from September 11 to September 12. Action will be taken to remove encroachment from around Hinu river under the chairmanship of Circle Officer, Argora from September 13 to September 14. Action will be taken to remove encroachment from around Kanke Dam under the chairmanship of Circle Officer Hehal from September 15 to September 16. Therefore, according to their responsibilities, the above constituted team will jointly take action to remove all the unauthorized structures which are within 15 meters of the river boundary. The machinery and equipment used to remove unauthorized structures will be handed over to Ranchi Municipal Corporation. Meanwhile, a meeting of the District Level Coordination Committee was held under the chairmanship of Ranchi DC, Sinha. Ranchi DDC, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Director, District Rural Development Agency, DPM JSLPS, all Block Development Officers and other concerned officials were present. In the meeting, first of all the block wise review of various housing schemes was done by Sinha. While giving necessary guidelines to the Block Development Officers to complete the construction work of the pending houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), the DC asked them to reduce the time taken between the payment of the first and second installments by bringing necessary speed in the construction work. The DC asked to take action as per rules against the beneficiaries who do not get the houses constructed after receiving the installment. He asked all the Block Development Officers to review the houses that are complete, incomplete and to be completed under the scheme in their respective areas. N. Chandrababu Naidu (File Photo) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail in the wee hours of Monday after a court in Vijayawada sent him to a 14-day judicial custody in alleged Skill Development scam case. Amid tight security, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) brought the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo to Rajahmundry from Vijayawada by road. The convoy reached the jail around 1:15 a.m. Police had made elaborate security arrangements around the prison. Naidu's son Nara Lokesh was allowed inside the jail and after completing the paperwork he left the jail. NSG commandos guarding Naidu were not allowed inside the jail. On the direction of the Vijayawada ACB Court, Naidu has been allotted a special room. The court has also directed the jail authorities to allow home food and medicines. The convoy of police vehicles left Vijayawada Court Complex after 10 p.m. Police did not allow any other vehicle to follow the convoy. There was tight security to prevent any protest along the 200-km route. TDP workers had staged protests at several places on Saturday when the 73-year-old leader was being brought to Vijayawada from Nandyal, where he was arrested by the CID early Saturday. As a precautionary measure, police have imposed section 144 of CrPC across the state. The ACB Court remanded Naidu to judicial custody in the evening, after lengthy arguments and day-long suspense. TDP leaders alleged that the CID deliberately delayed producing Naidu before the court and shifted him to jail to deny him sleep for nearly 48 hours. Naidu's lawyers are likely to file a bail petition in the High Court on Monday. An AirAsia India flight carrying 168 passengers and six crew members air returned just minutes after taking off from the Cochin International Airport here, airport sources said on Monday. The Kochi-Bengaluru flight, which left for Bengaluru late Sunday night, suffered a technical problem soon after take off at 11.15 PM, the sources said. "An AIX Connect flight departing from Kochi for Bengaluru, returned back after take-off due to a minor technical issue. The actions of the crew were inline with the airline protocol of placing safety above all," an AIX Connect Spokesperson said. AIX Connect Private Limited is also known as AirAsia India, sources said. The spokesperson said alternate arrangements were being made for the affected guests. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused to the travel plans," the spokesperson added. A full emergency was declared at the airport after the flight returned to Kochi. It landed at the airport safely at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported, sources said. The emergency was withdrawn immediately after the safe landing of the aircraft, they added. The strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia is crucial for regional and global stability and welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday during his talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. Describing Saudi Arabia as one of India's most important strategic partners, Modi said both sides are adding new dimension to the ties in tune with changing times. Modi and Bin Salman reviewed the bilateral relations at the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. In his opening remarks at the meeting, the prime minister said several initiatives have been identified to take "our close partnership to next level. Our relationship will get a new direction and energy in today's meeting". The India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council was announced in 2019 with an aim to further increase cooperation in critical areas. Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit," Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. "We will work together to create a great future for both the countries," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle-East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. Maldivians will return to the polls on Sept 30 to vote in a runoff election between the top two candidates in the countrys presidential race after neither secured more than 50% in the first round, the elections commission said Sunday. Main opposition candidate Mohamed Muiz managed a surprise lead with more than 46% of votes, while the incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was seen as the favourite, got only 39%. The election on Saturday has shaped up as a virtual referendum over which regional power India or China will have the biggest influence in the Indian Ocean archipelago state. The vote was to choose the countrys fifth freely elected president since Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008. Solih is perceived as pro-India, facing off against his main rival Muiz, who is seen as pro-China. The result is seen a remarkable achievement for Muiz, who was only a late selection as a candidate by his party after its leader, former President Abdullah Yameen, was blocked from running by the Supreme Court. He is serving a prison term for corruption and money laundering. I did not expect Muiz to have this kind of a lead against Ibu (Ibrahim Mohamed Solih), said Azim Zahir, a political science and international relations lecturer at the University of Western Australia. This is a major blow (to Solih) and one could read it even as a rejection of his government, said Zahir. Muiz had only three weeks to campaign and did not have the advantage of a sitting president, Zahir said. He said Muizs strong stand against the presence of Indian troops in the Maldives could have been a significant factor in the election. Solih is seeking a second term and is battling allegations by Muiz that he had allowed India an unchecked presence in the country. Muiz promised that if he wins, he will remove Indian troops stationed in the Maldives and balance the countrys trade relations, which he said are heavily in Indias favour. He however has promised to continue friendly and balanced relations with the Maldives closest neighbour. The Peoples National Congress, Muizs party, is viewed as heavily pro-China. While its leader Abdullah Yameen was president from 2013-2018, he made the Maldives a part of Chinas Belt and Road initiative. The initiative envisages building ports, railways and roads to expand trade and Chinas influence across Asia, Africa and Europe. Mohamed Shareef, a senior official for Muizs party, told The Associated Press that the removal of Indian military personnel was a non-negotiable position for the party. He said the number of Indian troops and their activities are hidden from Maldivians and that they have near-exclusive use of certain ports and airports in the country. Both India and China are vying for influence in the small state made up of some 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. It lies on the main shipping route between the East and the West. Muiz seems to have taken advantage of a split in Solihs Maldivian Democratic Party that led Mohamed Nasheed, a charismatic former president, to break away and field his own candidate. Nasheeds candidate, Ilyas Labeeb, secured 7% of the vote. The India Out campaign spearheaded by Muizs party has been ubiquitous on social media in the runup to the election and almost all candidates except Solih adopted the India vs the rest rhetoric, said Zahir. Solih was widely credited with having brought stability to the country and adeptly handling the COVID pandemic, which was expected to help him gain support. Regardless of who wins, there is also a possibility that the mostly Sunni Muslim nation could become more socially conservative because both sides are backed by religious hard-liners. The groups are not known to espouse violence but they want more control over women and are against music and art and religious freedom, Zahir said. Maldives is believed to have sent the highest number of fighters per capita when the Islamic State group was at its height. A local group with the IS ideology set off a bomb targeting Nasheed, who is seen as pro-West in 2021, seriously wounding him. More than 282,000 people were eligible to vote in the election and turnout was nearly 80%. A Pakistani soldier was killed in an overnight shootout with militants in the countrys northwest, near the border with Afghanistan, the military said. A military statement late Saturday said the shootout took place in Mir Ali, a major town of North Waziristan that served as a safe haven for militants for decades. It said the military had been searching for terrorists there. The shootout took place days after Pakistan closed the key northwestern Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan after border guards from the two sides exchanged fire Wednesday. Clashes that same day in the northwestern Chitral district near the border killed four Pakistani soldiers and 12 militants. Scores of trucks loaded with goods, many carrying perishable items including vegetables and fruits, were still lined up on both sides of the Torkham border point Sunday, waiting for the crossing to reopen. Torkham witnessed previous clashes in February and the town remained closed for several days after the two sides accused each other of trying to build new posts along the border. Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, a senior official of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged authorities to prioritize solving the border issue as traders stand to lose millions of dollars in perishable goods if Torkham is not opened soon. A Pakistani Christian couple has been arrested on blasphemy charges after torn pages of Quran were recovered from the rooftop of their house and in the street in Lahore, police said on Sunday. The couple Shaukat Masih and Kiran Masih are facing life imprisonment as they have been booked under section 295-B of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPP) which carries a life sentence for the desecration of the holy book. The case has been registered against the Christian couple of Docage Town, Rangers Headquarters, Harbanspura Lahore on the complaint of a Muslim man, Mohammad Taimur, of the same area. According to the FIR, Taimur said he was standing at a food shop of Docage Town Street on Friday when he found some pages of the Muslim holy book there. It appeared that the pages had been thrown from the roof of a house under which they were found. I knocked on the door and a woman named Kiran Masih opened the door. I showed her the torn pages of the Quran to her. She responded that her minor daughters Sundas and Rubi, and son Sabir might have thrown the pages. Taimur went to the rooftop of the house and found a pink colour bag with more pages of the Quran, the FIR says. The complainant then informed the police on the emergency number after which the North Cantonment police Station reached and arrested the suspects. Police officer Mahmood Ahmad told PTI on Sunday that the police registered the blasphemy case against the Christian couple after the torn pages of holy Quran were found at their home and in the street. The couples three children could have also been booked after their mother alleged that they might have thrown the pages in the street. However, only Kiran and her husband have been booked under 295 B of PPC, he said. A police source told PTI that Shaukat Masih was not at home when the complainant accused Kiran of blasphemy on Friday midnight. He said that when complainant Taimur accused the Christian family, the area people gathered there and police were called in which controlled the situation and immediately arrested Kiran. Shaukat Masih was arrested later in the day, he said. Last month, a mob of over 6,000 led by the radical Islamist party, Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), attacked scores of churches and houses of Christians over blasphemy allegations in Jaranwala town of Faisalabad district, 130 km from Punjabs provincial capital Lahore. At least 21 churches and 86 homes of Christians were burnt down by the violent mob, however, no casualties were reported. American Equity Investment Life (NYSE:AEL) pays an annual dividend of $0.02 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 0.04%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 18 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 0.37%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, AEL will have a dividend payout ratio of 0.29% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for AEL. The Charles Schwab Corporation is a financial services company that offers a wide range of investment services, including brokerage, banking, and financial advisory services. Founded in 1971 and headquartered in Westlake, Texas, the company operates through two main segments: Investor Services and Advisor Services. The Investor Services segment offers individual investors retail brokerage and banking services, while the Advisor Services segment provides custodial, trading, and support services to independent investment advisors. In 2020, the company completed its acquisition of TD Ameritrade, further expanding its client base and offerings. Charles Schwab Corporation's management team is led by Walt Bettinger, who has been the company's President and Chief Executive Officer since 2008. Mr. Bettinger joined the company in 1995 and has held various leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer and Head of Schwab Institutional. 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To address these risks and challenges, Charles Schwab Corporation is focused on maintaining a robust regulatory compliance program and investing in data security and privacy measures. The company is also focused on diversifying its revenue streams and expanding its offerings to meet the evolving needs of its clients. DUNEDIN, New Zealand Cancer diagnostics company Pacific Edge (NZX, ASX: PEB) today releases details of written submissions on the draft local coverage determination (LCD) that proposes non-coverage of Cxbladder tests by Medicare, the US national health insurance provider. The written submissions argue Cxbladder Triage, Detect and Monitor tests should retain Medicare coverage based on the clinical value they offer to patients, clinicians, and healthcare payers. Written submissions are the second element of the notice and comment period required when proposing a new LCD. The details released today concern the draft LCD DL39365 proposed by Novitas the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) with jurisdiction for Pacific Edges US laboratory on July 27, 2023, and its sister MAC First Coast Service Options (FCSO). Pacific Edge Chief Executive Dr Peter Meintjes said: Pacific Edge believes there is no new information in these submissions, but they provide further context of a sensitive process and show the weight of opinion supporting the arguments for continued Medicare coverage Cxbladder. The material released can be found attached and includes: A Pacific Edge letter to Novitas Medical Director Dr Patrick Mann MD summarizing the submissions on the draft LCD of which the company is aware. Pacific Edges medical rebuttal of Novitas evidentiary review of the clinical evidence supporting Cxbladder tests. A letter from the American Urological Association (AUA), the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA), and the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU) - the three most influential urological organizations in the US, covering every practicing urologist in the country. The letter includes unpublished non-peer-reviewed results from Kaiser Permanente that shows Cxbladder Triage safely excluded 78% of the patients presenting with hematuria from a cystoscopy. It also showed similarly positive results for Cxbladder Monitor for patients under surveillance for the recurrence of bladder cancer. A submission from the diagnostic technology industry group The Coalition for 21st Century Medicine which provides a detailed critique on the structure and approach of the draft LCD. An open letter from long-time Pacific Edge research collaborator Dr Yair Lotan Professor of Urology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and 13 other key urologic opinion leaders supporting the use of urine bladder cancer markers. This letter has also been accepted for publication in the journal Bladder Cancer, the official journal of the US advocacy group, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network. The written submissions follow the presentations made during the open public meetings held in August. The written comments are important, because MACs are required to respond to all comments in a process that is also reviewed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Written submissions closed in the US on 9 September. Novitas and FCSO may take up to 365 days from the original US publication date (27 July 2023) to withdraw or finalize the LCD including a response to written comments. When finalized, the MACs must provide a minimum of 45 days notice before the LCD becomes effective. For more information: Investors: Dr Peter Meintjes Chief Executive Pacific Edge P: 022 032 1263 Media: Richard Inder The Project P: +64 21 645 643 OVERVIEW Pacific Edge: www.pacificedgedx.com Pacific Edge Limited (NZX/ ASX: PEB) is a global cancer diagnostics company leading the way in the development and commercialization of bladder cancer diagnostic and prognostic tests for patients presenting with hematuria or surveillance of recurrent disease. Headquartered in Dunedin, New Zealand, the company provides its suite of Cxbladder tests globally through its wholly owned, and CLIA certified, laboratories in New Zealand and the USA. Cxbladder: www.cxbladder.com Cxbladder is a urine-based genomic biomarker test optimized for the detection and surveillance of bladder cancer. The Cxbladder evidence portfolio developed over the past 14 years includes more than twenty peer reviewed publications for primary detection, surveillance, adjudication of atypical urine cytology and equivocal cystoscopy. Cxbladder is the focal point of numerous ongoing and planned clinical studies to generate an ever-increasing body of clinical utility evidence supporting adoption and use in the clinic to improve patient health outcomes. Cxbladder has been trusted by over 4,400 US urologists in the diagnosis and management of more than 100,000 patients, including the option for in-home sample collection. In New Zealand, Cxbladder is accessible to 75% of the population via public healthcare and all residents have the option of buying the test online. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. 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Related News: General Capital Subsidiary Director Resignation Arvida Bank Facility Update BFG - Capital Return - Interim Orders Received CHI - Exchange Mechanism of CHI010 notes for CHI030 bonds CHI - Channel launches retail bond offer October 30th Morning Report AGL - Accordant Group - Half Year Financial Performance CBD - Successful Verification for Oral Solution Products Spark Finance extends Westpac Sustainability-Linked Loan General Capital (GEN:NZX) Subsidiary General Finance Update The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Mastercard Inc. is a leading technology company in the payments industry that provides payment processing solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. Mastercard is one of the largest payment processors in the world by market cap and the number of payments processed. Mastercard was founded in 1966 as Master Charge: The Interbank Card. The company was created to respond to the growing need for a secure and reliable payment processing system. In 1979, the company changed its name to Mastercard. Mastercard is in over 200 countries and territories and serves over 2.8 billion cardholders. Mastercard operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, providing payment processing services to financial institutions, merchants and governments. The company earns revenue primarily through transaction processing fees, cross-border fees and other value-added services. Mastercard's business is divided into four segments: domestic assessments, cross-border volume fees, transaction processing fees and additional revenue. Mastercard's financial performance has been consistently strong in recent years, with revenue and earnings growth driven by increased transaction volumes and higher fees. Mastercard faces significant competition from other payment processing companies, including Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) and PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL). However, Mastercard has maintained its position as one of the largest payment processors in the world due to its strong brand recognition, global network and innovative technology solutions. Mastercard has consistently invested in innovative technology to enhance its payment processing solutions. One of the company's most significant innovations in recent years is Mastercard's tokenization technology, which provides a secure way to process payments without exposing cardholder data. Mastercard has also invested heavily in contactless payment technology, which has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mastercard has a solid commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, increase financial inclusion and promote gender equality. Mastercard is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts, including the Mastercard Foundation, which focuses on advancing financial inclusion in Africa. As with any company, Mastercard faces several risk factors that could impact its financial performance. One of the most significant risks facing Mastercard is the potential for increased regulation of the payment processing industry. Mastercard is also vulnerable to changes in consumer behavior, such as a shift away from traditional payment methods toward mobile payments. Additionally, Mastercard's business depends on the overall health of the global economy, which could be impacted by factors such as inflation, geopolitical tensions and natural disasters. Valvoline Inc. (NYSE:VVV) released its earnings results on Wednesday, August, 9th. The basic materials company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.37 by $0.06. The basic materials company earned $376.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $367.53 million. Valvoline had a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 42.99% and a net margin of 110.05%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 18.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.58 EPS. Thanks to a new discovery linked to shares of Tesla, regular folks can now target gains of 100% or more in six days or less. New research shows its happened 23 different times this year. The next trade is scheduled for this Thursday. The following companies are subsidiares of Eaton: Abeiron III Unlimited Company, Aeroquip Iberica S.L., Aeroquip-Vickers, Aphel Technologies, Argo-Tech, Arrow Hose & Tubing, Azonix Corporation, Babco Electric Group, Baricide Inc., Beijing Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Blinda Industria e Comercio Ltda., Bussmann International Holdings LLC, Bussmann International Inc., Bussmann S. de R.L. de C.V., CBE Services Inc., CEAG Notlichtsysteme GmbH, CLS (Canada) Company, COBHAM INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, CTI-VIENNA Gesellschaft zur Prufung elektrotechnischer Industrieprodukte GmbH, Cambridge International Sarl, Cannon Technologies Inc., Chagrin Highlands III Ltd., Cobham, Cobham Mission Systems Davenport AAR Inc., Cobham Mission Systems Davenport LSS Inc., Cobham Mission Systems FWB Inc., Cobham Mission Systems Orchard Park Inc., Cobham Mission Systems Wimborne Limited, Cooper (China) Co. Ltd., Cooper (Ningbo) Electric Co. Ltd., Cooper B-Line Inc., Cooper Bussmann LLC, Cooper Capri S.A.S., Cooper Crouse-Hinds (LLC), Cooper Crouse-Hinds AS, Cooper Crouse-Hinds B.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH, Cooper Crouse-Hinds LLC, Cooper Crouse-Hinds MTL Inc., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S. de R.L. de C.V., Cooper Crouse-Hinds S.A., Cooper Csa Srl, Cooper Edison (Pingdingshan) Electronic Technologies Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Electrical International LLC, Cooper Electronic Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Cooper Enterprises LLC, Cooper Finance USA Inc., Cooper Germany Holdings GmbH, Cooper Industrials, Cooper Industries (Canada) Company, Cooper Industries (Electrical) Inc., Cooper Industries Colombia S.A.S., Cooper Industries FZE, Cooper Industries Finance B.V., Cooper Industries Global B.V., Cooper Industries International LLC, Cooper Industries Japan K.K., Cooper Industries LLC, Cooper Industries Romania SRL, Cooper Industries Russia LLC, Cooper Industries Trading Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Unlimited Company, Cooper Industries Vietnam LLC, Cooper Interconnect Inc., Cooper International Holdings S.a.r.l, Cooper Korea Ltd., Cooper Menvier France SARL, Cooper Notification Inc., Cooper Power Systems LLC, Cooper Power Systems do Brasil Ltda., Cooper Pretronica Unipessoal Lda., Cooper Safety B.V., Cooper Securite S.A.S., Cooper Shanghai Power Capacitor Co. Ltd., Cooper Technologies Company, Cooper Univel S.A., Cooper Wheelock Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices Inc., Cooper Wiring Devices de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Cooper Xi'an Fusegear Co. Ltd., Cooper Yuhua (Changzhou) Electric Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Copperlogic, Cutler-Hammer Electrical Company, Cutler-Hammer Industries Ltd., Cutler-Hammer SRL, Cyme International T & D Inc., D.P. Eaton Electric, Digital Lighting (Dong Guan) Co. Ltd., Digital Lighting Co. Limited, Digital Lighting Holdings Limited, Dongguan Cooper Electronics Co. Ltd., Dongguan Wiring Devices Electronics Co. Ltd., E. Begerow, E.A. Pedersen Co., ETN Asia International Limited, ETN Holding 1 Limited, ETN Holding 2 Limited, ETN Holding 3 Limited, Eaton (China) Investments Co. Ltd., Eaton (Switzerland) Holding I GmbH, Eaton (Switzerland) Holding II GmbH, Eaton (Switzerland) Holding III G.m.b.H., Eaton Aeroquip LLC, Eaton Aerospace LLC, Eaton Ann Arbor LLC, Eaton Automated Transmission Technologies Corporation, Eaton Automation G.m.b.H, Eaton Automation Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Automotive Components Spolka z o.o., Eaton Automotive Spolka z o.o., Eaton Automotive Systems Spolka z o.o., Eaton B.V., Eaton Capital Global Holdings Unlimited Company, Eaton Capital Unlimited Company, Eaton Controls (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Controls (UK) Limited, Eaton Corporation, Eaton Domhanda I Limited, Eaton Domhanda Unlimited Company, Eaton Electric, Eaton Electric & Engineering Services Limited, Eaton Electric (Japan) Ltd., Eaton Electric (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Eaton Electric (South Africa) Pty Ltd., Eaton Electric (Thailand) Limited, Eaton Electric (Vietnam) Company Limited, Eaton Electric AB, Eaton Electric AS, Eaton Electric ApS, Eaton Electric BV, Eaton Electric G.m.b.H., Eaton Electric Holdings LLC, Eaton Electric Limited, Eaton Electric S.I.A., Eaton Electric S.a.r.l., Eaton Electric S.r.l., Eaton Electric Spolka z.o.o., Eaton Electric d.o.o., Eaton Electric s.r.o., Eaton Electrical (Australia) Pty Ltd, Eaton Electrical Equipment Co Ltd, Eaton Electrical IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton Electrical Ltd., Eaton Electrical Products Limited, Eaton Electrical S.A., Eaton Electrical Srl, Eaton Electrical Systems Limited, Eaton Electro Productie S.r.l., Eaton Elektrik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eaton Elektrotechnika s.r.o., Eaton Enterprises (Hungary) Kft., Eaton Enterprises Limited, Eaton Enterprises S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton FZE, Eaton Filtration (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Filtration (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Eaton Filtration (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Filtration BV, Eaton Filtration Ltd., Eaton France Holding SAS, Eaton Fu Li An (Changzhou) Electronics Co. Ltd., Eaton Germany G.m.b.H., Eaton Germany Holdings GmbH, Eaton Global Holdings II Limited, Eaton Global Holdings III Limited, Eaton Global Holdings Limited, Eaton Global Limited, Eaton GmbH & Co. KG, Eaton Holding (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Holding (UK) II Limited, Eaton Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Holding I B.V., Eaton Holding II S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding III B.V., Eaton Holding IV S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding Limited, Eaton Holding S.a.r.l., Eaton Holding SE & Co. KG, Eaton Holding Turlock B.V., Eaton Holding V B.V., Eaton Holding VI B.V., Eaton Holding VII B.V., Eaton Holding VIII B.V., Eaton Holding XIII S.a.r.l., Eaton Hydraulics LLC, Eaton Hydraulics Systems (Jining) Co. Ltd., Eaton I Spolka z.o.o., Eaton II LP, Eaton III LP, Eaton IV LP, Eaton India Innovation Center LLP, Eaton Industrial Products Pvt. Ltd., Eaton Industrial Systems Private Limited, Eaton Industries (Argentina) S.A., Eaton Industries (Austria) G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries (Belgium) BV, Eaton Industries (Canada) Company, Eaton Industries (Chile) S.p.A., Eaton Industries (Colombia) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Egypt) LLC, Eaton Industries (England) Limited, Eaton Industries (France) S.A.S., Eaton Industries (Ireland) II Limited, Eaton Industries (Ireland) Limited, Eaton Industries (Israel) Ltd., Eaton Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Eaton Industries (Jining) Co. Ltd, Eaton Industries (Korea) Limited, Eaton Industries (Morocco) LLC, Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V., Eaton Industries (Philippines) LLC, Eaton Industries (Spain) S.L., Eaton Industries (Thailand) Ltd., Eaton Industries (U.K.) Limited, Eaton Industries (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Eaton Industries Company, Eaton Industries EOOD, Eaton Industries G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holding G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Holdings Ltd., Eaton Industries I Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries II G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries II Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries III Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries IV Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries IX LLC, Eaton Industries KFT, Eaton Industries LP, Eaton Industries Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Industries Middle East LLC, Eaton Industries Panama S.A., Eaton Industries Pte. Ltd., Eaton Industries Pty. Ltd., Eaton Industries S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Industries SAC, Eaton Industries Sdn. Bhd., Eaton Industries V Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries VI Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries VII Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries VIII LLC, Eaton Industries X Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XI Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XII Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XIII Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XIV Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XIX Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XV Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XVI LLC, Eaton Industries XVIII Unlimited Company, Eaton Industries XX Unlimited Company, Eaton Industria e Comercio de Produtos Eletricos e Servicos Ltda, Eaton Intelligent Power Limited, Eaton International B.V., Eaton International Industries Nigeria Limited, Eaton Japan G.K., Eaton LLC, Eaton LP, Eaton Leasing Corporation, Eaton Limited, Eaton Ltda., Eaton MEDC Limited, Eaton Management Services LLP, Eaton Manufacturing G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing Hungary Kft., Eaton Manufacturing II G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing III G.m.b.H., Eaton Manufacturing LP, Eaton Manufacturing Limited, Eaton Moeller B.V., Eaton Moeller S.a.r.l., Eaton Phoenixtec MMPL Co. Ltd., Eaton Power (Shanghai) Trading Limited Partnership, Eaton Power Quality (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Eaton Power Quality Limited, Eaton Power Quality OY (Finland), Eaton Power Quality Private Limited, Eaton Production International G.m.b.H., Eaton Protection Systems IP G.m.b.H. & Co. KG, Eaton S.A.S., Eaton S.r.l., Eaton SE, Eaton Safety Limited, Eaton Science & Technology Management (Hainan) Limited Partnership, Eaton Services S.a.r.l., Eaton Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Technologies (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Eaton Technologies G.m.b.H., Eaton Technologies Private Limited, Eaton Technologies S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Teorainn Limited, Eaton Trading (FZC) LLC, Eaton Trading Company S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components (Proprietary) Ltd., Eaton Truck Components S. de R.L. de C.V., Eaton Truck Components Spolka z o.o., Eaton eMobility France SAS, Eaton-Powerware, Electromanufacturas S. de R.L. de C.V., Electrum Group Ltd., Ephesus Lighting, FHF Bergbautechnik GmbH & Co. KG, FHF Funke+Huster Fernsig GmbH, Flight Refuelling Limited, Funke+Huster GmbH, GeCma Components electronic GmbH, Gitiesse S.r.l., Green Holding S.a.r.l., Green Motion SA, Grupo Desdemona S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Otello S. de R.L. de C.V., Hein Moeller Stiftung G.m.b.H., Hernis Scan Systems A/S, HuanYu High Tech, IE Power, Innovative Switchgear Solutions Inc, Institute for International Product Safety G.m.b.H., Integrated Hydraulics, Integrated Partial Discharge Diagnostics, Internormen Technology, Jeil Hydraulics, Joslyn Sunbank Company LLC, Kaicheng Funke+Huster (Tangshan) Mining Electrical Co. Ltd., Lian Zheng Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., MP Group SAS, MTL Instruments B.V., MTL Instruments LLC, MTL Instruments Private Limited, MTL Instruments SARL, MTL Italia Srl, MTL Partners II Inc., MTL Partners Inc., Marina Power and Lighting, Martek Power GmbH, Martek Power S.A. de C.V., McGraw-Edison Development Corporation, Menvier Overseas Holdings Limited, Micro Innovation Holding, Mission Systems, Moeller Electric (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Moeller Electric Ltda., Moeller Holding Gmbh & Co. KG, Moeller Industria de electro-electronicos do Amazonas Ltda., Morestana, Norex AS, Optimum Path Systems (Shanghai) Ltd., Oxalis Group, PDI Intermediate Corp., PT Eaton Industries, PT Ulusoy Electric Indonesia, PT Ulusoy Electric Industry, PT. Fluid Sciences Batam, PerkinElmer - aerospace division, Phoenixtec Electronics (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Phoenixtec International Corp., Phoenixtec Power, Pigozzi, Plumtree I Limited, Plumtree Mauritius Limited, Polimer Kaucuk Sanayi Ve Pazarlama, Power Distribution Holdings Inc., Power Distribution Inc., Pringle Electrical Manufacturing, Productos Eaton Livia S.L., Pulizzi Engineering, RTE Far East Corporation, Riseson International Limited, Rizhao Yoosung Shinhwa Automobile Parts Co. Ltd., Rolec Comercial e Industrial, Royal Power Solutions, SOURIAU, Santak Electronic (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Santak Electronics Company Limited, Saturn Insurance Company Ltd., Scantronic Benelux BV, Schreder-Hazemeyer, Scoremax Limited, Sefelec GmbH, Sefelec SAS, Senyuan International Holdings Limited, Senyuan International Investments Limited, Shakespeare Holdings Inc., Silver Light International Limited, Silver Victory Hong Kong Limited, Souriau Dominican Republic Ltd., Souriau Germany GmbH, Souriau India Pvt Ltd, Souriau Italy Srl, Souriau Japan KK, Souriau MAROC Sarl, Souriau S.A.S., Souriau UK Ltd, Souriau USA Inc, Standard Automation & Control LP, Sunbank Family of Companies LLC, Sunbank de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Sure Power Inc., T.T.M.C. (2012) Ltd, TGM Automotiva, TTMC Holdings Inc., Technocontact, Telkom Kenya, The MTL Instruments Group Limited, Tractech, Tripp Lite Holdings Inc., Tripp Lite of Canada Corp., Trippe Manufacturing Company, Turlock B.V., Tuthill Coupling Group, Ultronics, Ulusoy Elektrik Imalat Taahhut ve Ticaret AS, Winner Hydraulics Ltd., Wright Line Holding Inc., and Wright Line LLC. Read More State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, regulatory reporting, investor, and performance and analytics; middle office products, such as IBOR, transaction management, loans, cash, derivatives and collateral, record keeping, and client reporting and investment analytics; foreign exchange, and brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; loans and lease financing; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors. It also engages in the provision of portfolio management and risk analytics, as well as trading and post-trade settlement services with integrated compliance and managed data. In addition, the company offers investment management strategies and products, such as core and enhanced indexing, multi-asset strategies, active quantitative and fundamental active capabilities, and alternative investment strategies. Further, it provides services and solutions, including environmental, social, and governance investing; defined benefit and defined contribution; and global fiduciary solutions, as well as exchange-traded funds under the SPDR ETF brand. The company provides its products and services to mutual funds, collective investment funds and other investment pools, corporate and public retirement plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, and investment managers. State Street Corporation was founded in 1792 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers checking, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; business, car, and other loans; lines of credit, student lines of credit, and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as mobile, online, and overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, specialty, investing and private wealth, and international banking services; foreign exchange services; and cash management services. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Eli Lilly and Company is a US-based multinational pharmaceutical company. It is the 12th largest pharmaceutical company by revenue and has offices in 16 countries. Its medicines are sold in at least 125 countries including its 8 blockbuster drugs. The company is a member of the S&P 500 and S&P 100 indices, it brought in roughly $5.5 billion in revenue for 2021 and employs more than 35,000 people across its network of research and production facilities. Eli Lilly and Company was founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly. The colonel, a veteran of the Civil War, had recently dissolved an unsatisfactory partnership and set on his own to produce and develop medicinal chemicals. Colonel Lilly remained as president until his death in 1898. His charge to his family, company and coworkers was to take what you find here and make it better and better. The company is well-known for many drugs, including the first mass-marketing of quinine to treat malaria. The company brought in $4,470 in its first year and saw that figure grow 10X over the next 3. Among the many innovations during this time period is the addition of gelation coatings for pills which helped set the company up for rapid expansion. The company was incorporated in 1881 as Eli Lilly and Company issuing stock to family and friends. The 1900s brought about more change for the company, change in the form of expansion which included international markets. Advancements during the war years included increases in efficiency due to increased automation and the development of precision technologies. Among the technologies was pill manufacturing which included injecting medicines directly into a gelation capsule. This method allowed for more exact dosing, setting the standard for modern production. The company produced capsules for itself and sold excess capacity to competitors. Other major advancements include fruit flavorings in medicine, straight-line manufacturing and a method of blueprinting manufacturing tickets to prevent errors. The modern period saw the company grow and discover new, world-class pharmaceuticals. Today, the company is engaged in the discovery, development and marketing of human pharmaceuticals. It offers a wide range of treatments, including Prozac but is perhaps most noteworthy for its work with insulin. The company is the first to mass produce insulin and has made numerous advances in treating diabetes in the time since. While other drugs are more widely known, its diabetic drugs Basaglar, Jardience, Trulicity, Humalog and Humulin are its top-sellers and contribute the bulk of revenue and cash flow. Along with Diabetic research, the company also focuses on Alzheimer's, Oncology, Immunology, Obesity and Pain care. At the end of 2022, the company pipeline had 23 compounds in Phase 3 clinical trials and 1 in review. There were another 18 in Phase 2 trials and more than 2 dozen in Phase 1 trials. The average cost to discover a new drug was running at $2.6 billion with a 10-year discovery-to-patient timeline. The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc.. Read More Target Corporation has a long history dating back to 1902. The company began as Goodfellows Dry Goods, operated by George Dalton, and later changed its name via a progression of mergers and acquisitions. The first Target store was opened in Roseville, Minnesota in 1962 as the discount division of the parent company. The idea was discount or low-priced items could still be fashionable and desirable. After meeting great success in the home territory, the concept went public in the late 1960s was later expanded on a national level during the 1980s. Target Corporation is now the 7th largest retailer in the US and is projected to bring in more than $113 billion in revenue for fiscal 2023. The department stores were shed in 2004 so today Target operates as a general merchandise retailer that serves on-trend items at discounted prices. It is known as a big box retailer and is a member of the S&P 500. The company listed about 2,000 stores in mid-2022 and had plans for growth. The company offers an assortment of everyday, household, and food goods in a bright and cheery atmosphere. It has set itself apart from other low-priced retailers as the chic choice for savvy shoppers. The companys stated purpose is to help families discover the joy of everyday life and it does so by offering quality products that families can afford. The company sells its products through a chain of stores as well as eCommerce. eCommerce is about 20% of Targets total revenue and was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Services like delivery, same-day pickup, and access to thousands of necessary and discretionary items are also driving adoption. Target also offers amenities like cafes and opticians, and it hosts Starbucks inside the stores. Target Corporation has paid and increased its dividend for more than 5 decades. The company issued its 53rd consecutive distribution increase in calendar 2022 bringing the total annual payout to $4.32. In late October 2022, the payout was worth 2.7% in yield and came with a 40% payout ratio and a 9% distribution compound annual growth rate. Target is a leader in ESG and giving back to the community. Among its many endeavors is to return 5% of its profits to community charities as well as to inspire its employees to volunteer. Volunteers donate more than 1 million man-hours per year. by M.K. Bhadrakumar Any longtime observer of Russian politics would know that the state of play in the Russian-American tango is best assessed from subplots, often obscure and unnoticed, away from its amphitheatre where gladiators cross swords. Therefore, two alleys on Ukraine crisis need to be explored. One is the meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in Jakarta on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit and the other the unannounced arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev. Both events happened on Wednesday. The cypher traffic between Jakarta, Kiev, Moscow and Washington would have been pretty heavy during the past 48 hours. Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (L) met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Jakarta, September 6, 2023 [MEA] The Russian readout on Lavrovs meeting with Jaishankar said that the two ministers exchanged views on the most pressing issues of bilateral relations and international issues A mutual desire to increase coordination in multilateral formats, primarily at the UN, as well as within the SCO, BRICS and the G20, was emphasised. Evidently, what warranted the meeting was the feverish Indian attempt to work out a formulation on Ukraine for the G20 Declaration that would enable Modi government to claim a diplomatic triumph. Last week, Lavrov warned that There will be no general [G20] declaration on behalf of all members if our position is not reflected. But Jaishankar would know that an axiom of Russian diplomacy is, Never say never. It seems unlikely that Moscow will stand in the way of Modi holding a trophy when the G20 concludes on Sunday. For President Biden too, a successful Modi becomes a more effective partner in the Indo-Pacific. In fact, the White House announcement highlighted that While in New Delhi, President Biden will also commend Prime Minister Modis leadership of the G20 and reaffirm the US commitment to the G20 as the premier forum of economic cooperation, including by hosting it in 2026. Some compromise formula on Ukraine may still be negotiated. If so, its parameters will be an indicator of the extent to which Moscow and Washington are inclined to bridge their respective interests and expectations. Meanwhile, on September 6, Blinken embarked on quite an untypical visit to Kiev. There was no fire in his belly. For once, he didnt threaten Russia or ridicule Putin from Ukrainian soil. Nor did Blinken show much enthusiasm for Kievs counteroffensive. Rather, his focus was on the wars horrific trail causing human suffering, Ukraines post-conflict recovery as a democracy and its economys reconstruction. Blinken said repeatedly that he was undertaking the visit on Bidens instruction. In the presence of President Zelensky, Blinken stated: We are determined in the United States to continue to walk side by side with you. And President Biden asked me to come, to reaffirm strongly our support, to ensure that we are maximising the efforts that were making and other countries are making for the immediate challenge of the counteroffensive as well as the longer-term efforts to help Ukraine build a force for the future that can deter and defend against any future aggression, but also to work with you and support you as you engage in the critical work of strengthening your democracy, rebuilding your economy. Stirring words, but there was no boastful talk of liberating Crimea, carrying the fight into the Russian camp or forcing Russia to vacate the annexed territories and negotiating with Russia only from a position of strength. At Blinkens joint press availability with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the latter claimed that they had a substantive discussion on providing long-range rockets, ATACMS to Kiev. But Blinken sidestepped the topic. The most unusual thing about Blinkens visit was that it spilled over to a second day. This must be the first time Blinken spent a night in Ukraine. Blinken had a rather tight schedule on the first day meeting Kuleba, Zelensky and Prime Minister Denis Shmigal, but the itinerary for the second day [September 7], was left open. Obviously, he came to Kiev for some serious discussions. Conceivably, Biden could be interested in starting peace talks between Moscow and Kiev now that the Ukrainian counteroffensive has failed to meet its politico-military objectives, and there are worrisome signs of support waning in America and Europe for the proxy war, while a Russian offensive could deal a knockout punch on Ukraines military. Both Russian and western estimates are that close to 65-70,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in these past 3 months alone since Kievs counteroffensive began. Meanwhile, in an interesting coincidence, on September 6, Ukraines parliament Verkhovna Rada approved the appointment of Rustem Umerov as the new Defence Minister replacing Alexei Reznikov. A Crimean Tatar born in Uzbekistan (USSR), Umerov has no previous military background. But he is trusted by Zelensky and is acceptable to the Americans. What distinguishes Umerov is that he was a key negotiator at the peace talks with Russia in Istanbul last year in March, which actually resulted in an agreed document (from which Zelensky subsequently retracted under Anglo-American pressure.) Again, he was instrumental in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative (so-called grain deal between Ukraine and Russia) which became operational in July last year at Istanbul. These are straws in the wind that must be duly noted. On September 7, one day after Umerovs appointment, the Turkish Defence Ministry announced in Ankara: We are closely monitoring the events unfolding between Russia and Ukraine, which seriously threaten the security of our region and the entire world. We confirm our readiness to play an active and assisting role in ensuring a ceasefire and a stable peace, as well as provide comprehensive support in alleviating the humanitarian crisis. Again, it must be carefully noted that the Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler had just returned from Russia as a member of the delegation accompanying President Recep Erdogan to Sochi on Monday. In yet another coincidence, on September 7, Zaporozhye Region Acting Governor Yevgeny Balitsky (a Kremlin appointee) told TASS out of the blue that Russia and Ukraine need a neutral platform where the two countries can negotiate pragmatic solutions to mutual issues, including prisoner swaps, which would work even as the special military operation continues. Balitsky was responding to a pointed question from TASS about the current possibility of Russia-Ukraine talks. He went on to state that: There should be a negotiating platform somewhere at the level of foreign ministries, at the level of other mediating countries. People are needed who are, unfortunately, disengaged from the situation. They are able to tackle the issue in an objective and pragmatic way, however, there should be a table somewhere where authorised representatives would interact. This will allow [POW] swap issues to be resolved, or, for example, the issue of a moratorium on shelling nuclear power plants. This will benefit everyone, even in war time, no matter how cynical this sounds. So, in any case there should be some kind of platform. It could launch the beginning of more extensive talks. And something could grow from this as a result. And, perhaps, we would be able to resolve the task set forth by the president peacefully. Make no mistake, Balitsky is a seasoned politician from Melitopol hailing from a military family who served in the Soviet army and had two terms in the Ukrainian parliament since he entered politics in 2004. No doubt, he spoke on instructions from the Kremlin. By the way, Putin had met Balitsky at the Kremlin two weeks ago. Balitskys remarks were carefully timed, and Blinken and his Ukrainian hosts wouldnt have missed the message he transmitted that Moscow is open to negotiations. Even as cracking sounds are audible on the frozen lake of Russian-American relations, what lends enchantment to the view is that both Biden and Lavrov are arriving in Delhi later today for the G20 summit through Sunday. M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific. George Risk Industries, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells various electronic components worldwide. The company offers computer keyboards, proximity switches, security alarm components and systems, pool access alarms, EZ Duct wire covers, water sensors, electronic switching devices, security switches, and wire and cable installation tools, as well as door and window contact switches, environmental products, liquid detection sensors, and raceway wire covers. Its products are used for residential, commercial, industrial, and government installations. The company serves security alarm distributors, alarm installers, original equipment manufacturers, and distributors of off-the-shelf keyboards. George Risk Industries, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is based in Kimball, Nebraska. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 60,000 kilometers (km) of operational electricity transmission and distribution lines; 2,900 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 7.8 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 540,000 long-term contracted sub-metering services. This segment also offers heating, cooling, and energy solutions; gas distribution; water heaters; and heating, ventilation, and air conditioner rental, as well as other home services. Its Transport segment offers transportation, storage, and handling services for merchandise goods, commodities, and passengers through a network of approximately 22,000 km of track; 5,500 km of track network; 4,800 km of rail; 3,800 km of motorways; and 11 port terminals. The company's Midstream segment offers natural gas transmission, gathering and processing, and storage services through approximately 15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines; 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage; 17 natural gas processing plants; and 10,600 km of gas gathering pipelines, as well as 525,000 tonnes polypropylene production capacity. Its Data segment operates approximately 207,000 operational telecom towers; approximately 46,600 km of fiber optic cables; approximately 881,000 fiber-to-the-premise connections; two semiconductor manufacturing facilities; and 70 distributed antenna systems, as well as 50 data centers and 230 megawatts of critical load capacity. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Accenture plc is a global professional services company that operates in various industries worldwide. With a mission to provide exceptional strategy and consulting, interactive technology, and operation services, Accenture has established itself as a leader in the professional services sector. The company's headquarters are located in Dublin, Ireland. Accenture offers its diverse client base a wide range of products and services. Its application services cover areas such as agile transformation, DevOps, software and quality engineering, data management, and intelligent automation. The company also provides strategy and consulting services, focusing on data and analytics, metaverse, sustainability, and HR transformation. Accenture's technology services encompass cloud infrastructure management, AI, and technology consulting. Additionally, the company offers engineering and R&D digitization, business process outsourcing, and various services related to technology innovation. Accenture is led by a highly experienced and accomplished management team. Julie T. Spellman Sweet serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Accenture, bringing her expertise in driving growth and delivering strategic value to clients. Kathleen R. McClure is the Chief Financial Officer overseeing the company's financial operations. Gianfranco Casati serves as the Executive Chairman of Growth Markets, and Jean-Marc Ollagnier leads as the Chief Executive Officer of Europe. James O. Etheredge holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of North America. These executives bring a wealth of knowledge and industry experience to their respective roles, contributing to Accenture's success. Accenture has consistently delivered strong financial performance over the years. The company has reported substantial revenue, impressive earnings, and healthy profit margins. Accenture's financial performance reflects its ability to generate significant income and maintain a strong market position. Furthermore, the company has effectively managed its debt levels, ensuring financial stability and flexibility. Accenture's valuation metrics, such as price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratio, are generally favorable compared to industry peers. The company's strong financial performance, market leadership, and growth potential contribute to its favorable valuation. Investors recognize the company's value and prospects, which may be reflected in the stock's performance. Accenture operates in the broader professional services industry, which is characterized by intense competition and evolving trends. The industry's landscape is constantly changing due to technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifts in client demands. Accenture competes with other major professional services firms, each vying for market share and differentiation. Its strong reputation, global reach, and comprehensive service offerings give it a competitive advantage. Moreover, Accenture's ability to leverage emerging technologies and provide innovative solutions positions it well in the industry. Accenture has numerous growth opportunities in various areas. The company can leverage its expertise in emerging technologies such as AI, data analytics, and automation to drive innovation and expand its service offerings. Additionally, Accenture can explore new markets, capitalize on digital transformation initiatives and pursue strategic acquisitions to enhance its capabilities. The company's strong relationships with key customers and ability to provide tailored solutions enable it to seize growth opportunities effectively. While Accenture has demonstrated resilience and adaptability, it faces certain risks and challenges. Changes in consumer preferences, technological disruptions, and evolving regulatory landscapes pose potential dangers to Accenture's business. Consumer preferences can shift rapidly, requiring the company to stay agile and continuously innovate to meet changing demands. Moreover, technological disruptions, such as advancements in artificial intelligence or automation, can impact the traditional service offerings of professional services firms. Accenture must stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and adapt its services to remain relevant and competitive. Additionally, regulatory changes can introduce uncertainties and compliance challenges. As governments worldwide implement new regulations and policies, Accenture must navigate the evolving landscape to ensure compliance while providing valuable services to clients. Close monitoring of regulatory developments and proactive engagement with relevant stakeholders is essential for the company to mitigate potential risks. Despite these challenges, Accenture's robust risk management strategies and ability to anticipate and respond to market dynamics position it well to address potential risks. The company's focus on innovation, investment in talent development, and strategic partnerships contribute to its ability to overcome challenges and sustain its growth trajectory. The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company is a leading global biopharmaceutical company with a long and impressive history of innovating and developing medicines that improve the lives of patients around the world. Founded in 1887 when William McLaren Bristol and John Ripley Myers purchased the Clinton Pharmaceutical Company, the company was initially named Bristol, Myers and Company. Its first nationally recognized product, Sal Hepatica, was released in the 1890s. Bristol Myers-Squibb offers chemically synthesized drugs and biologics administered through injections or infusions to patients. The company's pharmaceutical portfolio includes a large number of well-known products. BMS's primary research and development sites are in New Jersey, California, Spain, Massachusetts, New York, Belgium, Japan, India and Massachusetts. The company's products sell to wholesalers and distributors around the world. Bristol Myers-Squibb has a robust pipeline of investigational medicines in its pipeline. In addition, the company has established strategic collaborations and partnerships with various companies, successfully launching new products. These partnerships and investments generate portions of the company's revenue. Bristol Myers-Squibb has acquired several companies over the years, including Medarex in 2009, ZymoGenetics in 2010, Inhibitex Inc. in 2012, Amylin Pharmaceuticals in 2012, iPierian in 2014, Flexus Biosciences in 2015, Cardioxyl in 2015, Padlock Therapeutics in 2016, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals in 2017, IFM Therapeutics in 2017, Celgene in 2019, Otezla in 2019, Forbius in 2020, MyoKardia in 2020 and Turning Point Therapeutics in 2022. In 2005, the company divested individual consumer products and its subsequent consumer products businesses. In December 2014, the company received FDA approval for its cancer drug, Opdivo, used to treat skin cancers that do not respond to drug therapies. In 2019, the company divested its consumer health business, UPSA, to Taisho. The company has also faced several scandals, lawsuits and investigations over the years, the biggest of which is the ongoing $1 billion lawsuit from Guatemala for the company's role in a 1940s experiment that infected hundreds with syphilis. In 2001 BMS faced an accounting scandal that resulted in a restatement of revenues from 1999 to 2001. In 2002, BMS faced a lawsuit based on illegally maintaining a monopoly on Taxol, a chemotherapy medication. The former head of the pharma group and the ex-CFO were indicted for federal securities violations in 2005. In July of 2006, an FBI raid on the company's corporate offices revealed that the company took steps to delay the release of a generic version of one of its drugs. BMS began a significant restructuring in 2009, focusing on the pharmaceutical business and biologic products, productivity initiatives and cost-cutting. The U.S. attorney forced the company into oversight and appointed a monitor as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. Lou Schmukler joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2010 as global product development and design president. In 2013, Forbes magazine ranked the company as the drug company of the year. Dr. Giovanni Caforio took the reigns as CEO in 2015. In 2017, reports began to surface that activist investor Carl Icahn took a stake in the company, widely seen as a signal for a potential future takeover. As Bristol-Myers Squibb continues to experience success and growth, the company is committed to delivering innovative treatments to patients and staying ahead of the curve in the biopharmaceutical industry. With its focus on research and development and a long and rich history of delivering innovative medicines, BMS offers an excellent long-term investment opportunity. Visa Inc. is a US-based multinational financial services company formed from a consortium of US banks. It is the 2nd largest payment processor globally and the leading payment processor outside China. Its market share in 2021 was roughly 50% of global transaction volume x-China. Transactions are processed in 1 of 4 hardened data centers in key regions worldwide. The data centers are hardened against internal and external attacks, both physical and digital, and can operate independently of each, providing ample redundancy for the system. As of 2022, the company can process more than 30,000 transactions per second, making it the most viable solution for most use-case scenarios. Visa Inc. was founded in 1958 by Bank of America as the BankAmericard Credit Card network. Not only is the card itself of historical importance, but how it was launched is also. Bank of America launched the program with the first mass mailing of unsolicited credit cards, changing the nature of the entire consumer credit market. At the time, consumers often had several credit accounts with local merchants, which was cumbersome for financial record-keeping; by introducing a consumer-friendly credit card, Bank of America unified merchant credit accounts into one billing statement. The BankAmericard network was so popular, and to compete again with the then-number 1 MasterCard, Bank of America opened use to other financial institutions. By 1970 Bank of America had relinquished direct control of the institution allowing a consortium of financial institutions to operate the company. It was rebranded as Visa in 1976 and grew to become the dominant payment processing network in the decades since. Visa Inc is not a card issuer; it does not extend credit to consumers and does not set rates or fees for consumers. It is in business to provide electronic funds transfers services or EFT to financial institutions, banks, government and businesses. Entities needing financial payment processing infrastructure can enroll in VisaNet and issue Visa-branded cards and services to their clients and customers. Visa operated as four separate entities serving different regions of the globe until restructuring in 2006. The restructuring resulted in the merger of 3 of the four assets into Visa Inc, leaving Visa Europe as a stand-alone entity. The new Visa Inc held its IPO in 2007, selling half of its shares, raising nearly $18 billion or almost double the targeted amount. Visa Europe was later acquired by Visa Inc, forming the unified company traded today. Visa employs more than 26,500 individuals globally and brought in roughly $15 billion in revenue for fiscal 2021. The company has more than 3.9 billion active cards out globally; it has processed more than 255 billion transactions and is used by more than 80 million merchant locations. As a forward-thinking company, Visa is also engaged to some degree with the cryptocurrency markets and has partnerships with Coinbase and Crypto.com, among others. The following companies are subsidiares of Lennar: 360 Developers LLC, Alliance Financial Services Inc., Ann Arundel Farms Ltd., Aquaterra Utilities Inc., Arbor Mill Veteran Project 2018 LLC, Asbury Woods L.L.C., Astoria Options LLC, Autumn Creek Development Ltd., Aylon LLC, Azusa Associates LLC, B2 Milpitas LLC, BB Investment Holdings LLC, BCI Properties LLC, BMR Communities LLC, BMR Construction Inc., BMTD LLC, BPH I LLC, Bainebridge 249 LLC, Bay Colony Expansion 369 Ltd., Bellagio Lennar LLC, Belle Meade LEN Holdings LLC, Belle Meade Partners LLC, Black Mountain Ranch LLC, Blue Horizons Estates LLC, Bonterra Lennar LLC, Bramalea California Inc., Bressi Gardenlane LLC, Breton Park Lennar LLC, CAP IL 1 LLC, CL Ventures LLC, CML INACTIVE LLC, CML-MO HAF LLC, CML-MO HAF PARKING LLC, CP Block 6aS LLC, CP Block 8aS LLC, CP Block 9aS LLC, CP Center Apartments LLC, CP Center Garage LLC, CP Red Oak Partners Ltd., CP Vertical Development Co. 1 LLC, CP/HPS Development Co. GP LLC, CP/HPS Development Co.-C LLC, CPFE LLC, CPHP Development LLC, CalAtlantic Financial Services Inc., CalAtlantic Group, CalAtlantic Group Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Arizona Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Georgia Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Texas Inc., CalAtlantic Homes of Washington Inc., CalAtlantic Mortgage Inc., CalAtlantic National Title Solutions LLC, CalAtlantic Title Agency LLC, CalAtlantic Title Group LLC, CalAtlantic Title Inc., CalAtlantic Title LLC, CalAtlantic Title of Maryland Inc., Camarillo Village Park LLC, Cambria L.L.C., Candlestick Retail Member LLC, Cardiovascular Medical Specialists LLC, Carolina Blue LLC, Carson 175 LLC, Cary Woods LLC, Casa Marina Development LLC, Central Park West Holdings LLC, Cherrytree II LLC, Club Bonterra Lennar LLC, Coco Palm 82 LLC, Colonial Heritage LLC, Columbia National Risk Retention Group Inc., Commonwealth Incentive Fee LLC, Concord Station LLP, Coventry L.L.C., Creekside Crossing L.L.C., Crest at Fondren Investor LLC, DBJ Holdings LLC, DCA Financial LLC, DTC Holdings of Florida LLC, Darcy-Joliet L.L.C., Durrell 33 LLC, EL Ventures LLC, EV LLC, Eagle Bend Commercial LLC, Eagle Home Mortgage LLC, Estates Seven LLC, Evergreen Village LLC, F&R QVI Home Investments USA LLC, FLORDADE LLC, Faria Preserve LLC, Fidelity Guaranty and Acceptance Corp., Fidelity Land LLC, Fox-Maple Associates LLC, Friendswood Development Company LLC, GDI MANAGER LLC, Garco Investments LLC, Greystone Construction Inc., Greystone Homes of Nevada Inc., Greystone Nevada Holdings LLC, Greystone Nevada LLC, Greywall Club L.L.C., HCC Investors LLC, HPS Development Co. LP, HPS Vertical Development Co. LLC, HPS Vertical Development Co.-B LP, HPS Vertical Development Co.-D/E LLC, HPS1 Block 1 LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-1B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-2B LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3A LLC, HPS1 Block 48-3B LLC, HPS1 Block 50 LLC, HPS1 Block 51 LLC, HPS1 Block 52 LLC, HPS1 Block 53 LLC, HPS1 Block 54 LLC, HPS1 Block 55 LLC, HPS1 Block 56/57 LLC, HSP Arizona Inc., HTC Golf Club LLC, Hammocks Lennar LLC, Harbor Highlands Group LLC, Harveston LLC, Haverton L.L.C., Heathcote Commons LLC, Heritage Pkwy East Holdings LLC, Heritage of Auburn Hills L.L.C., Hewitts Landing Trustee LLC, Hingham Properties LLC, Huntley Venture L.L.C., Inactive Companies LLC, Independence L.L.C., Independence Orlando LLC, Isles at Bayshore Club LLC, KMC Real Estate Investors LLC, Kendall Hammocks Commercial LLC, Kentuckiana Medical Center LLC, Kingman Lennar LLC, LB/L Duc III Antioch 330 LLC, LCD Asante LLC, LCI Downtown Doral Investor LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor GP LLC, LCI North DeKalb Investor LP LLC, LEN - Belle Meade LLC, LEN - OBS Windemere LLC, LEN - Palm Vista LLC, LEN BPT Investor LLC, LEN Mirada Investor LLC, LEN Notarize Investor LLC, LEN OT Holdings LLC, LEN Paradise Cable LLC, LEN Paradise Operating LLC, LEN-CG South LLC, LEN-Cypress Mill LLC, LEN-Ryan 1 LLC, LEN-Touchstone LLC, LENH I LLC, LENNAR HOMES OF TENNESSEE LLC, LFS Holding Company LLC, LH Eastwind LLC, LHI Renaissance LLC, LMC 10th & Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 144th and Grant Investor LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Holdings LLC, LMC 2401 Blake Street Investor LLC, LMC 360 Acoma Holdings LP, LMC 410 S Wabash Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Holdings LLC, LMC 808 Gateway Investor LLC, LMC 8th Avenue Apartment Investor LLC, LMC 990 Bannock Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Holdings LLC, LMC Axis Westminster Investor LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Holdings LLC, LMC Berry Hill Lofts Investor LLC, LMC Block 42 Holdings LLC, LMC Build to Core III Investor LLC, LMC Build to Core III LLC, LMC Burnside Holdings LLC, LMC 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It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems. It also provides medical technologies to diagnose and treat rate and rhythm disorders of the heart comprising 3-D cardiac mapping and navigation solutions, ablation catheters, diagnostic catheters, mapping catheters, intracardiac ultrasound catheters, delivery sheaths, and other accessories; spinal cord stimulator systems for the management of chronic pain; indirect decompression systems; and deep brain stimulation systems. In addition, the company offers interventional cardiology products, that uses in the treatment of coronary artery disease and aortic valve conditions. Further, it provides stents, balloon catheters, guidewires, atherectomy, and thrombectomy systems to treat arterial and venous diseases; and peripheral embolization devices, radioactive microspheres, cryotherapy ablation systems, and micro and drainage catheters to treat cancer. The company was incorporated in 1979 and is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Canada Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of publicly traded securities in the Canadian market, as measured by the MSCI Canada Index (the Index). The Index seeks to measure the performance of the Canadian equity market. It is a capitalization-weighted index that aims to capture 85% of the (publicly available) total market capitalization. The Fund invests in sectors, such as financials, energy, materials, industrials, telecommunication services, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, utilities, information technology and healthcare. BlackRock Fund Advisors (BFA) serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Switzerland Capped Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Switzerland 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Zurich Stock Exchange. The Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index with a capping methodology applied to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the Index weight and all issuers with weight above 5% do not exceed 50% of the Index weight. Components primarily include consumer staples, financial and healthcare companies. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the securities of its Index and in depositary receipts (DRs) representing securities in its Index. BlackRock Fund Advisors is the Funds investment adviser. by Ayanjit Sen Lingering disagreements changed to achieving consensus on issues. That is what G20 in New Delhi achieved. And achieved it with shrewd diplomacy. It was indeed a great diplomatic accomplishment for India. Apart from admitting the African Union as a permanent member (55 countries with a population of 1.4 billion)in G20 a move to make the group have a true global representation India, on its part, truly played the role of a charismatic leader of the Global South. Until now, only South Africa was a member of the G20. This is indeed a great step, considering the current global situation. A man walks near flags ahead of G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 8, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis The most talked-about achievement was to produce a consensus document despite polar differences over the war in Ukraine. There was indeed a softening of the position compared to what the G20 took last year when Russia was condemned. In New Delhi, it was a different ballgame, with forcible grabbing of territory been agreed upon but there was no direct condemnation of Russia. India has played a picture perfect diplomacy since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began. The fracturing of the G20 over the Ukraine conflict was mended by India with China, Russia and some western nations with a strong backing from Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. Diplomatic sources in a few European countries told the Sri Lanka Guardian that India has showcased the perfect way to make the G20 countries agree to the text despite initial throwbacks and indications that some countries would not budge from their respective positions. Despite Ukraine terming the G20 statement on Russia nothing to proud of, but no one can take away the fact that it, at least, created a consensus. Both Russia and Europe hailed Indias role in the declaration on Ukraine. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, was quoted in an Indian newspaper saying,I thank India for creating a foundation for democratisation of global relations. India has marketed itself as a perfect bridge between the Global South and the Global North during its presidency tenure of G20 and have focussed on issues like climate change, sustainable development, food security and inclusive economic growth. The G20 Delhi Declaration has been a manifestation of the stupendous effort put up by India as an influential economic and diplomatic power in the world. And, not to forget, this has also helped India showcase its diverse culture and its upcoming projects, which would lead to enhanced trade and foreign investments. Apart from all those Indian government officials associated with the G20 summit, a big credit goes to the Chief Coordinator of the summit and former Indian Foreign Secretary, Mr HarshVardhan Shringla. An indispensable role was played by Indias G20 Sherpa, Mr Amitabh Kant and his team. The G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration has also called for strengthening global health. In the declaration, the G20 leaders said, We remain committed to strengthening the global health architecture, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) at its core, and building more resilient, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage, implement one health approach, enhance pandemic preparedness and strengthen existing infectious diseases surveillance systems. G20 leaders also agreed to pursue tripling renewable energy capacity globally by 2030 and agreed to phase-down unabated coal power. A diverse coalition, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, also unveiled plans of development of railways, ports, hydrogen pipelines, electricity and data networks.A project aims to increase India-Europe trade by linking rail and port facilities across the Middle East. These plans could also improve relations between Israel and Gulf Arab states. The G20 billboards across the national capital bears testimony to the fact that the summit was a huge success, overcoming the challenges of the different governing styles and economic views of member countries. Ayanjit Sen is our Special correspondent in New Delhi. He is an International Affairs expert, international-award winning senior journalist, consultant on Media Diplomacy and author. He has worked for over 24 years as a digital and television journalist with CNN (Delhi and Hongkong), BBC News (London and Delhi), ESPN, ABP, The Statesman, India Today Group & Times Now. Nearly half of his career, he has worked with international media organizations. He is currently working as a professor of media management in Bennett University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India (part of the Times of India Group). He has worked in several parts of the globe including Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK and Afghanistan. iShares MSCI Mexico Capped ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Mexico Capped Investable Market Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Mexico IMI 25/50 Index (the Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Mexican Stock Exchange. The Index is a free-float adjusted market capitalization weighted index with a capping methodology applied to issuer weights so that no single issuer of a component exceeds 25% of the Index weight and all issuers with weight above 5% do not exceed 50% of the Index weight. Components primarily include consumer staples, materials and telecommunications companies. The Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the securities of its Index and in depositary receipts (DRs) representing securities in its Index. The Funds investment adviser is BlackRock Fund Advisors. NuScale Power Corporation is a leading company in advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) for nuclear power generation. The company aims to provide safe, reliable, cost-effective nuclear energy solutions to meet the world's growing demand for clean and sustainable power. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, NuScale Power Corporation operates in various locations nationwide. It is at the forefront of developing innovative technologies that have the potential to transform the nuclear power industry. NuScale Power Corporation specializes in designing, developing, and deploying small modular reactors. These compact, scalable, and highly efficient reactors offer several advantages over traditional large-scale reactors. The company's flagship product is the NuScale Power Module. This groundbreaking SMR design can generate up to 60 megawatts of electricity. The NuScale Power Module features advanced passive safety systems, modular construction, and enhanced operational flexibility. It leverages natural circulation and passive cooling mechanisms, reducing the need for active systems and operator intervention during normal and abnormal conditions. This innovative design ensures safety, reliability, and improved economics for nuclear power plants. NuScale Power Corporation primarily targets the global nuclear power industry. With the increasing demand for clean and sustainable energy sources, NuScale's SMRs offer a promising solution to meet the electricity needs of various regions. The company aims to partner with utilities, energy companies, and government entities to deploy its SMR technology worldwide. Key customers of NuScale Power Corporation include major utility companies, energy developers, and government agencies interested in incorporating advanced nuclear power into their energy portfolios. The company has established strategic collaborations and partnerships with industry leaders to advance its technology and facilitate commercialization. NuScale Power Corporation has achieved several notable milestones in its journey toward commercializing its SMR technology. In 2022, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) completed its review of NuScale's Design Certification Application, marking a significant regulatory milestone for the company. This achievement demonstrated the viability and safety of NuScale's innovative SMR design. Furthermore, NuScale Power Corporation secured contracts to deploy its SMR technology in various regions, including the United States, Canada, and Europe. These contracts showcase the growing interest and confidence in NuScale's SMR technology as a sustainable and reliable energy solution. The leadership team at NuScale Power Corporation comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in the nuclear power industry and related fields. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide the company's strategic direction and drive innovation. John L. Hopkins serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of NuScale Power Corporation. With a background in nuclear energy and a track record of leadership in the industry, Hopkins plays a pivotal role in steering the company toward success. Chris Colbert is the Chief Financial Officer overseeing the company's financial operations. With his finance and business strategy expertise, Colbert ensures effective financial management and supports NuScale's growth objectives. Investors and industry analysts have closely watched NuScale Power Corporation's financial performance. The company still needs to achieve profit. NuScale Power Corporation has strategically invested in research, development, and deployment activities to advance its SMR technology. The market performance of NuScale Power Corporation's stock has garnered significant attention for its downward trajectory since Q3 2022. Various factors influence the stock's performance, including company financials, industry dynamics, and market sentiment. NuScale Power Corporation operates in the dynamic and evolving nuclear power industry. The company is positioned within the heating equipment sector of the computer and technology industry. Energy demand, regulatory frameworks, environmental concerns, and technological advancements shape the industry landscape. NuScale's SMR technology provides a competitive advantage in terms of safety, efficiency, and scalability compared to traditional large-scale reactors. NuScale Power Corporation is well-positioned to capitalize on various growth opportunities in the nuclear power industry. The company's innovative SMR technology offers potential advantages such as reduced capital costs, enhanced safety features, and flexibility in deployment. NuScale aims to seize opportunities by expanding its partnerships, securing new contracts, and exploring international markets. The company's ongoing research and development efforts could also lead to further technological advancements and potential applications beyond power generation. NuScale Power Corporation faces risks and challenges that could impact its operations and financial performance. These include regulatory uncertainties, public perception of nuclear power, competition from alternative energy sources, and the complexity of nuclear project development. The company must navigate these challenges through effective risk management strategies, regulatory compliance, and continued innovation to mitigate potential negative impacts. Oracle Corporation is a leading technology company developing software solutions for businesses worldwide. Founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates, the company is headquartered in Austin, Texas and has a presence in over 175 countries. Oracle's primary focus is on providing cloud-based software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to its customers, helping them to streamline their operations and reduce costs. The current management team at Oracle is led by Chief Executive Officer Safra Catz, who has been with the company since 1999 and served in several senior leadership positions before assuming her current role. Other key management team members include Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison, who co-founded the company, and Executive Vice President of Product Development, Steve Miranda. Oracle has reported slight growth in recent years, with its revenue around $40 billion in the last several years. Its net income has also been relatively stable over the past several years. The company's debt levels have remained relatively unchanged over the past few years. Oracle's current valuation metrics show that it trades at a price-to-earnings ratio and price-to-book ratio below the industry average. These valuation metrics suggest that the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers in the technology industry. Regarding market performance, Oracle's stock has shown some volatility in recent years but has performed well. Its stock price has increased from around $44 in 2017 to $102 in 2022, although it has experienced some dips and spikes during that time. The company has also seen an increase in trading volume in recent years, indicating that it is attracting more investor interest. Oracle operates in the highly competitive technology industry, competing with other software giants like Microsoft and Salesforce. The industry is constantly evolving, with new trends and innovations emerging regularly. One direction that has gained prominence in recent years is adopting cloud-based solutions, which have been a key focus for Oracle. The industry is also subject to regulatory and political pressures, which can impact the operations of companies operating in the space. Oracle has identified several growth opportunities, including developing new products and services, expanding into new markets, and making strategic acquisitions. The company has recently announced plans to expand its cloud infrastructure footprint by adding new data centers in several countries. Additionally, Oracle has made several acquisitions in recent years, including its acquisition of NetSuite in 2016 and TikTok's US operations in 2020. Like any company, Oracle faces risks and challenges that could impact its future growth and profitability. One significant risk is the changing preferences of consumers and businesses, which could affect the demand for its products and services. Additionally, increased regulatory scrutiny and competitive pressures could impact the company's operations. Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS) pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.79%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 3 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 41.09%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, OTIS will have a dividend payout ratio of 36.17% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for OTIS. Cheniere Energy, Inc., an energy infrastructure company, primarily engages in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) related businesses in the United States. It owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana; and the Corpus Christi LNG terminal near Corpus Christi, Texas. The company also owns Creole Trail pipeline, a 94-mile pipeline interconnecting the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with various interstate pipelines; and operates Corpus Christi pipeline, a 21.5-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG terminal with various interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines. It is also involved in the LNG and natural gas marketing business. The company was incorporated in 1983 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Welltower (NYSE:WELL) pays an annual dividend of $2.44 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 3.00%. The dividend payout ratio is 1,060.92%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, WELL will have a dividend payout ratio of 61.62% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for WELL. KORE Group Holdings, Inc. provides Internet of Things (IoT) services and solutions worldwide. It offers connectivity and location-based services, device solutions, and managed and professional services that are used in the development and support of IoT technology and applications for the Machine-to-Machine market. The company's products include IoT connectivity-as-a-service; connectivity enablement-as-a-service; device management services; and security location based services. It serves customers in healthcare, fleet and vehicle management, asset management, communication services, and industrial/manufacturing sectors. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust is a unique investment opportunity for those seeking exposure to the energy sector. The trust operates as a pass-through entity, meaning it receives revenue from its royalty interests and then distributes that to its unit holders. In this way, investors can benefit from the trust's ownership of royalty interests without the operational risks typically associated with oil and gas exploration. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust was created in 1980 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The trust holds royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties in the San Juan Basin of northwest New Mexico. The San Juan Basin is one of the largest natural gas-producing areas in the United States, and it has been a significant source of oil and gas for several decades. The trust's assets consist of royalty interests in approximately 2,400 producing oil and gas wells in the San Juan Basin, which various exploration and production companies operate. The management team of San Juan Basin Royalty Trust is led by its trustee, BBVA USA, which is responsible for managing the trust's assets and distributing income to its unit holders. BBVA USA was a subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from 2007 until 2021. In 2021 BBVA USA was acquired by PNC Financial Services. In terms of financial performance, San Juan Basin Royalty Trust has reported an increase in revenue over the past few years due to higher oil and gas prices. The trust has maintained a relatively stable profit margin of around 90%. The trust has also held a low level of debt. This indicates that the trust has a strong balance sheet and is not heavily leveraged. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust has a market capitalization of around $500 million. The trust's high yield is one of its main attractions for investors, as it provides a steady stream of income that can be reinvested or used for other purposes. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust's market performance has experienced volatility in its stock price over the past few years. However, the trust has maintained a consistent income distribution to its unit holders, which has helped support its stock price. The trust's stock price is also influenced by changes in commodity prices, interest rate changes, and investor sentiment toward the energy sector. San Juan Basin Royalty Trust operates in the oil and gas industry, subject to fluctuations in commodity prices and regulatory changes. The trust's main competitors are other royalty trusts and oil and gas exploration companies that operate in the San Juan Basin. The trust is also subject to regulatory and political risks, such as changes in environmental regulations or tax policies that could impact the profitability of its royalty interests. These risks are inherent in the energy sector and are not unique to San Juan Basin Royalty Trust. The company has growth opportunities despite the risks and challenges facing the trust. One potential growth opportunity is the development of new oil and gas reserves in the San Juan Basin, which could increase the trust's royalty interests and revenue. The trust could also explore opportunities to expand its royalty interests into other oil and gas-producing regions. Another potential growth opportunity for the trust is to invest in renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar power, which could diversify its portfolio and reduce its exposure to commodity price fluctuations. However, there are also risks associated with these growth opportunities. Developing new oil and gas reserves could require significant capital expenditures and be subject to regulatory hurdles. Investing in renewable energy sources is expensive and may not provide the same level of return as the trust's existing royalty interests. One of the most significant risks facing San Juan Basin Royalty Trust is the potential for changes in consumer preferences and regulatory policies related to climate change. As more consumers shift towards renewable energy sources, demand for oil and gas could decline, impacting the trust's royalty interests and revenue. Additionally, governments worldwide are implementing policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, which could also affect the profitability of the energy sector. Danaher Corporation, founded in 1984 by brothers Stephen and Mitchell Rales, is a globally diversified conglomerate headquartered in Washington, D.C. The company has evolved into a major player across various industries, offering a wide range of products and services in the medical, industrial, and commercial sectors. Danaher's mission is to innovate and provide high-quality solutions that positively impact people's lives worldwide. Danaher's began in 1984 as a Massachusetts real estate investment trust called DMG, Inc. The company underwent several reorganizations and strategic acquisitions, culminating in its present-day structure and diverse product portfolio. Danaher is involved in designing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad array of products and services. Its offerings span medical diagnostics equipment, life sciences and diagnostics tools, environmental solutions, water quality analysis systems, industrial automation tools, and other specialized instruments. Danaher's mission is to leverage its technological expertise and commitment to continuous improvement to develop innovative solutions that enhance human well-being and drive sustainable growth. The company's diverse product portfolio includes cutting-edge medical diagnostic devices, scientific instruments used in research and healthcare settings, water quality monitoring systems, and automation equipment for industrial applications. Danaher caters to various markets, including healthcare, life sciences, diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. Its products and services find applications in research institutions, healthcare facilities, industrial manufacturers, and government organizations. Danaher Corporation boasts a leadership team comprising highly accomplished individuals with diverse expertise, driving the company's success and strategic direction. At the helm is Steven M. Rales, the Co-Founder and Chairman, who played a pivotal role in establishing Danaher and has been instrumental in shaping its strategic vision. With his visionary approach, Rales has steered the company towards sustained growth and innovation. Rainer M. Blair holds the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director, leading Danaher's day-to-day operations and spearheading its growth strategies. Blair's dynamic leadership has been crucial in driving the company's expansion and ensuring its position as a market leader. Danaher has displayed excellent financial performance in recent years, with consistent revenue growth and profitability. The company's financial stability and strategic acquisitions have contributed to its robust performance. Danaher's strong financials indicate its ability to generate revenue and profits, which has positively influenced investor sentiment and contributed to its favorable valuation. Danaher's valuation metrics demonstrate positive investor sentiment and confidence in the company's future growth prospects. Its favorable price-to-earnings ratio and price-to-cash flow ratio reflect investor willingness to pay a premium for its earnings potential and cash generation capacity. Danaher's stock performance has been noteworthy, driven by its strong financials, strategic initiatives, and positive market sentiment. Investors should closely monitor any recent news or events that may have impacted Danaher's share price, such as industry developments or major acquisitions. Danaher operates in diverse industries with various competitors. Its competitive advantages, including a broad product portfolio and emphasis on innovation, position it well within its industries. Danaher has ample growth opportunities, including expansion into emerging markets, strategic acquisitions, and research and development investments. The company's strong focus on continuous improvement and customer-centric solutions will drive its pursuit of growth opportunities. Danaher faces potential risks and challenges, including market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and economic uncertainties. However, its proactive risk management strategies mitigate potential impacts on the company's financial performance. by Kazi Anwarul Masud INDIAS ECONOMIC GROWTH COULD BEST THAT OF CHINA Washington Posts Adam Chandler has expressed the opinion that Indias taking over the Presidency of G-20 is propitious for the country. He writes Last year, it overtook its neighboring giant, China, to become the worlds most populous nation, according to estimates from the United Nations. Its future looks comparatively brighter, too: Indias population is far younger than Chinas, and the government expects its economy to grow by 7 percent this year besting China. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the countrys ambitions are becoming loftier: India last month succeeded in becoming the first nation to land a spacecraft on the moons south pole. This all is coupled with a growing geopolitical divide between the United States and China that is seeing Washington pull New Delhi closer despite its concerns about Narendra Modis nationalist bent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi [Source: X] NARENDRA MODI WOOED BY THE USA In June, Modi was greeted by President Biden for an official state dinner during a trip to Washington, where he addressed Congress for the second time, joining an elite group of world leaders such as Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Benjamin Netanyahu. More notable than who will be in New Delhi for the event is who will not be there: Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping. Putin has not specified specifically why he will not attend the G-20 summit. Though he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court due to alleged oppression during the invasion of Ukraine. India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute and would not be required to arrest Vladimir Putin. Relations between India and Russia are clearly not the problem, however. INDIA-RUSSIA FORGED IN BLOOD Modi spoke with Putin on the phone just last week, with a warm-sounding statement from the Indian government saying that the prime minister thanked his Russian counterpart for Russias consistent support to all initiatives under Indias G-20 Presidency, and that the two leaders reviewed progress on a number of issues of bilateral cooperation.These are good words indeed. But India is unlikely to have a smooth sail in her Presidency of the group. India and Russia consider their relations as forged in blood. But for Russias repeated veto in 1971 Bangladeshs war of liberation could have been delayed for an indefinite period. Wikipedia informs that the G20 is the latest in a series of postWorld War Two initiatives aimed at international coordination of economic policy, which include institutions such as the Bretton Woods twins, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, and what is now the World Trade Organization would not have been born. The G20 was foreshadowed at the Cologne summit of the G7 in June 1999 and formally established at the G7 Finance Ministers meeting on 26 September 1999 with an inaugural meeting on 1516 December 1999 in Berlin. As of 2023, there are 20 members in the group: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Guest invitees include, amongst others, Spain, the United Nations, the World Bank, the African Union, and ASEAN. ADB PREDICTS CHINA AND INDIA WILL PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN GLOBAL ECONOMY A 2011 report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) predicted that large Asian economies such as China and India would play a more important role in global economic governance in the future. The report claimed that the rise of emerging market economies heralded a new world order, in which the G20 would become the global economic steering committee. The ADB furthermore noted that Asian countries had led the global recovery following the late 2ooo recession. It predicted that the region would have a greater presence on the global stage, shaping the G20s agenda for balanced and sustainable growth through strengthening intraregional trade and stimulating domestic demand. CRITICISM OF G-20S EXCLUSIVITY Criticism by the Danish Institute of International Studies of the G20s exclusivity, particularly highlighting its underrepresentation of African countries and its practice of inviting observers from non-member states as a mere concession at the margins, which does not grant the organization representational legitimacy. Concerning the membership issue, US President Barack Obama noted the difficulty of pleasing everyone: Everybody wants the smallest possible group that includes them. So, if theyre the 21st largest nation in the world, they want the G21, and think its highly unfair if they have been cut out. Others stated in 2011 that exclusivity is not an insurmountable problem and proposed mechanisms by which it could become more inclusive. Things however has changed for China. XI-JINPINGS AGE OF STAGNATION In an article titled Xis Age of Stagnation The Great Walling-Off of China by Ian Johnson September/October 2023 published on August 22, 2023has written about the youth unemployment rate is over 20 percent, and many people wonder how their children will be able to get married if they cannot afford to buy an apartment. Figures for the second quarter were slightly better, but only compared with the second quarter of last year, when the economy was nearly brought to a standstill by COVID lockdowns. A variety of indicators show growing vulnerabilities in a range of sectors, and many Chinese feel they are in a recession. The authors have also pointed out the asphyxiant style of government under Xi-Jinping. In comparing to this predecessors style of governance they wrote in decades past, if accidents or disasters occurred that reflected poorly on the party, leaders such as former president Hu Jintao and former prime minister Wen Jiabao visited the locales in question to show they cared, drawing on much the same playbook as their Western counterparts in such situations. Xi also travels often around China, but rarely to express condolences, let alone to take implicit government responsibility for failures. Instead, he mostly visits local communities to exhort them to comply with party doctrine and government policy. This feeds into the impression among many Chinese people of an increasingly remote leadership that allows few dissenting viewpoints, shuns internal debate, and feels no compulsion to explain itself to the public. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN XI-JINPINGS CHINA AND FORMER EASTERN BLOC The differences between Xis China today and the Eastern bloc of the 1960s and 1970s are many. In those years, the countries in the Soviet sphere experienced a shortage of economy, with lines for bread and years-long waits to buy automobiles. There are no signs of such privation in China today. Nonetheless, the governments pursuit of total control has set the country on a path of slower growth and created multiplying pockets of dissatisfaction. Critics of the regime point out that Beijings restrictions on information very likely created the conditions that led to the COVID-19 crisis: in late 2019, local officials hushed up early warnings of the virus because they feared that bad news would reflect poorly on them. That silence allowed the virus to gain a foothold and spread around the world. Although censorship keeps these and other government-induced problems out of the public eye, it also cuts off some of the smartest citizens from global trends and the latest research. The authoritarian style of governance cannot be but act as a bottleneck in the path of Chinas growth and ultimately bring it down to the level of most G-20 countries from the pinnacle of being the richest country in the world. Kazi Anwarul Masud is a retired Bangladeshi diplomat. During his tenure, he worked in several countries as the ambassador of Bangladesh including Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Germany Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools. It also sells products through its Website, FloorandDecor.com. The company serves installers, commercial businesses, and other sectors. The company was formerly known as FDO Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. in April 2017. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The following companies are subsidiares of TJX Companies: AJW South Bend Realty Corp., Arizona Merchants Inc., Bob's Stores, Concord Buying Group, Derailed, Fashion Factory Outlets (Trade Secret) Pty Limited, H. G. Conn. Merchants, H.G. AZ Merchants, H.G. Brownsburg Realty Corp., H.G. Conn. Merchants, H.G. Conn. Realty Corp., H.G. Georgia Merchants, H.G. Indiana Distributors, HomeGoods, HomeGoods Georgia, HomeGoods Imports Corp, HomeGoods Imports Corp., Jusy Meazza Buying Company S.r.L., Marmaxx Operating Corp., Marshalls, Marshalls Atlanta Merchants, Marshalls Bridgewater Merchant, Marshalls Bridgewater Merchants, Marshalls Woburn Merchants, Marshalls of Beacon, Marshalls of Beacon VA, Marshalls of CA, Marshalls of Elizabeth, Marshalls of Elizabeth NJ, Marshalls of Glen Burnie, Marshalls of Glen Burnie MD, Marshalls of IL, Marshalls of MA, Marshalls of Matteson, Marshalls of Matteson IL, Marshalls of Nevada, Marshalls of Richfield, Marshalls of Richfield MN, NBC Apparel, NBC Apparel LLC, NBC Atlantic Holding Limited, NBC Atlantic Limited, NBC Attire, NBC Attire Inc., NBC Charlotte Merchants, NBC Distributors Inc., NBC Europe Limited, NBC Fashion India Private Limited, NBC Fifth Realty Corp., NBC First Realty Corp., NBC Fourth Realty Corp., NBC GP, NBC Holding, NBC Hong Kong Merchants Limited, NBC Manager, NBC Manteca Merchants, NBC Merchants, NBC Nevada Merchants, NBC Operating, NBC Philadelphia Merchants, NBC Pittston Merchants, NBC Second Realty Corp., NBC Seventh Realty Corp., NBC Sixth Realty Corp., NBC Trading, NBC Trust, New York Department Stores, New York Department Stores de Puerto Rico Inc., Newton Buying Company of CA, Newton Buying Corp, Newton Buying Corp., Newton Buying Imports, STP Retail, STP Technology Systems, Sierra Trading Post, Strathmex Corp., T.J. Maxx of CA, T.J. Maxx of IL, T.K. Maxx Holding GmbH, T.K. Maxx Management GmbH, TJX Australia Holding Company Pty Limited, TJX Australia Holding Company Pty Ltd., TJX Australia Merchants Pty Limited, TJX Australia Pty Limited, TJX Australia Pty Ltd., TJX Austria Holding GmbH, TJX Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG, TJX Deutschland Ltd & Co. KG, TJX Digital, TJX Digital Memphis Merchants, TJX Distribution Ltd. & Co. KG, TJX Europe Buying (Deutschland) Ltd, TJX Europe Buying (Polska) Ltd, TJX Europe Buying Group Limited, TJX Europe Buying Ltd, TJX Europe Limited, TJX European Distribution, TJX European Distribution Sp. Z o.o, TJX Germany Ltd., TJX Incentive Sales, TJX Ireland Unlimited Company, TJX Nederland B.V., TJX Oesterreich Ltd. & Co. KG, TJX Poland, TJX Poland Sp. Z o.o, TJX UK, TJX UK Property Limited, TJX Vietnam Company Limited, TK Maxx, Trade Secret, WMI-1 Holding Company, WMI-1 Holding Company, WMI-99 Holding Company, WMI-99 Holding Company, Wagon Wheel Realty, Winners Merchants International, and Winners Merchants International L.P.. Read More by Norman Solomon The day after the U.S. government began routinely bombing faraway places, the lead editorial in the New York Times expressed some gratification. Nearly four weeks had passed since 9/11, the newspaper noted, and America had finally stepped up its counterattack against terrorism by launching airstrikes on al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military targets in Afghanistan. It was a moment we have expected ever since September 11, the editorial said. The American people, despite their grief and anger, have been patient as they waited for action. Now that it has begun, they will support whatever efforts it takes to carry out this mission properly. As the United States continued to drop bombs in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfelds daily briefings catapulted him into a stratosphere of national adulation. As the Washington Posts media reporter put it: Everyone is genuflecting before the Pentagon powerhouse Americas new rock star. That winter, the host of NBCs Meet the Press, Tim Russert, told Rumsfeld: Sixty-nine years old and youre Americas stud. Almost 3,000 people lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and more die each year because of related illnesses stemming from the day's events. [Photo: NewsWeek] The televised briefings that brought such adoration included claims of deep-seated decency in what was by then already known as the Global War on Terror. The targeting capabilities, and the care that goes into targeting, to see that the precise targets are struck, and that other targets are not struck, is as impressive as anything anyone could see, Rumsfeld asserted. And he added, The weapons that are being used today have a degree of precision that no one ever dreamt of. Whatever their degree of precision, American weapons were, in fact, killing a lot of Afghan civilians. The Project on Defense Alternatives concluded that American air strikes had killed more than 1,000 civilians during the last three months of 2001. By mid-spring 2002, the Guardian reported, as many as 20,000 Afghans may have lost their lives as an indirect consequence of the U.S. intervention. Eight weeks after the intensive bombing had begun, however, Rumsfeld dismissed any concerns about casualties: We did not start this war. So understand, responsibility for every single casualty in this war, whether theyre innocent Afghans or innocent Americans, rests at the feet of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In the aftermath of 9/11, the process was fueling a kind of perpetual emotion machine without an off switch. Under the war on terror rubric, open-ended warfare was well underway as if terror were a state and not a technique, as Joan Didion wrote in 2003 (two months before the U.S. invasion of Iraq). We had seen, most importantly, the insistent use of September 11 to justify the reconception of Americas correct role in the world as one of initiating and waging virtually perpetual war. In a single sentence, Didion had captured the essence of a quickly calcified set of assumptions that few mainstream journalists were willing to question. Those assumptions were catnip for the lions of the military-industrial-intelligence complex. After all, the budgets at national security agencies (both long-standing and newly created) had begun to soar with similar vast outlays going to military contractors. Worse yet, there was no end in sight as mission creep accelerated into a dash for cash. For the White House, the Pentagon, and Congress, the war on terror offered a political license to kill and displace people on a large scale in at least eight countries. The resulting carnage often included civilians. The dead and maimed had no names or faces that reached those who signed the orders and appropriated the funds. And as the years went by, the point seemed to be not winning that multicontinental war but continuing to wage it, a means with no plausible end. Stopping, in fact, became essentially unthinkable. No wonder Americans couldnt be heard wondering aloud when the war on terror would end. It wasnt supposed to. I Mourn the Death of My Uncle The first days after 9/11 foreshadowed what was to come. Media outlets kept amplifying rationales for an aggressive military response, while the traumatic events of September 11th were assumed to be just cause. When the voices of shock and anguish from those who had lost loved ones endorsed going to war, the message could be moving and motivating. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush with only a single congressional negative vote fervently drove that war train, using religious symbolism to grease its wheels. On September 14th, declaring that we come before God to pray for the missing and the dead, and for those who love them, Bush delivered a speech at the Washington National Cathedral, claiming that our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil. War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing. President Bush cited a story exemplifying our national character: Inside the World Trade Center, one man who could have saved himself stayed until the end at the side of his quadriplegic friend. That man was Abe Zelmanowitz. Later that month, his nephew, Matthew Lasar, responded to the presidents tribute in a prophetic way: I mourn the death of my uncle, and I want his murderers brought to justice. But I am not making this statement to demand bloody vengeance Afghanistan has more than a million homeless refugees. A U.S. military intervention could result in the starvation of tens of thousands of people. What I see coming are actions and policies that will cost many more innocent lives, and breed more terrorism, not less. I do not feel that my uncles compassionate, heroic sacrifice will be honored by what the U.S. appears poised to do. The presidents announced grandiose objectives were overwhelmingly backed by the media, elected officials, and the bulk of the public. Typical was this pledge Bush made to a joint session of Congress six days after his sermon at the National Cathedral: Our war on terror begins with al-Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated. Yet by late September, as the Pentagons assault plans became public knowledge, a few bereaved Americans began speaking out in opposition. Phyllis and Orlando Rodriguez, whose son Greg had died in the World Trade Center, offered this public appeal: We read enough of the news to sense that our government is heading in the direction of violent revenge, with the prospect of sons, daughters, parents, friends in distant lands dying, suffering, and nursing further grievances against us. It is not the way to go. It will not avenge our sons death. Not in our sons name. Our son died a victim of an inhuman ideology. Our actions should not serve the same purpose. Judy Keane, who lost her husband Richard at the World Trade Center, similarly told an interviewer: Bombing Afghanistan is just going to create more widows, more homeless, fatherless children. And Iraq Came Next While indescribable pain, rage, and fear set the U.S. cauldron to boil, national leaders promised that their alchemy would bring unalloyed security via a global war effort. It would become unceasing, one in which the deaths and bereavement of equally innocent people, thanks to U.S. military actions, would be utterly devalued. In tandem with Washingtons top political leaders, the fourth estate was integral to sustaining the grief-fueled adrenaline rush that made launching a global war against terrorism seem like the only decent option, with Afghanistan initially in the countrys gunsights and news outlets filled with calls for retribution. Bush administration officials, however, didnt encourage any focus whatsoever on U.S. petro-ally Saudi Arabia, the country from which 15 of the 19 September 11th hijackers came. (None were Afghans.) By the time the United States began its invasion of Afghanistan, 26 days after 9/11, the assault could easily appear to be a fitting response to popular demand. Hours after the Pentagons missiles began to explode in that country, a Gallup poll found that 90 percent of Americans approve of the United States taking such military action, while just 5 percent are opposed, and another 5 percent are unsure. Such lopsided approval was a testament to how thoroughly the messaging for a war on terror had taken hold. It would have then been little short of heretical to predict that such retribution would cause many more innocent people to die than in the 9/11 mass murder. During the years to come, the foreseeable deaths of Afghan civilians would be downplayed, discounted, or simply ignored as incidental collateral damage (a term that Time magazine defined as meaning dead or wounded civilians who should have picked a safer neighborhood). What had occurred on September 11th remained front and center. What began happening to Afghans that October 7th would be relegated to, at most, peripheral vision. Amid the righteous grief that had swallowed up the United States, few words would have been less welcome or more relevant than these from a poem by W.H. Auden: Those to whom evil is done / Do evil in return. Even then, Saddam Husseins Iraq was already in the Pentagons crosshairs. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee in September 2002, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld didnt miss a beat when Senator Mark Dayton questioned the need to attack Iraq, asking, What is compelling us to now make a precipitous decision and take precipitous actions? Rumsfeld replied: Whats different? Whats different is 3,000 people were killed. In other words, the humanity of those who died on 9/11 would loom so large that the fate of Iraqis would be rendered invisible. In reality, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Official claims about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction would similarly prove to be fabrications, part of a post-9/11 pattern of falsehoods used to justify aggression that made those who actually lived in Iraq distinctly beside the point. As I shuttled between San Francisco and Baghdad three times in the four months that preceded the March 2003 invasion, I felt I was traveling between two far-flung planets, one increasingly abuzz with debates about a coming war and the other just hoping to survive. When the Bush administration and the American military machine finally launched that war, it would cause the deaths of perhaps 200,000 Iraqi civilians, while several times as many more have been killed as a reverberating effect of that conflict, according to the meticulous estimates of the Costs of War Project at Brown University. Unlike those killed on 9/11, the Iraqi dead were routinely off the American media radar screen, as were the psychological traumas suffered by Iraqis and the decimation of their countrys infrastructure. For U.S. soldiers and civilians on contractor payrolls, that wars death toll would climb to 8,250, while back home, media attention to the ordeals of combat veterans and their families would turn out to be fleeting at best. Still, for the industrial part of the military-industrial-congressional complex, the Iraq War would prove all too successful. That long conflagration gave huge boosts to profits for Pentagon contractors while, propelled by the normalization of endless war, Defense Department budgets kept spiking upward. And Iraqs vast oil reserves, nationalized and off-limits to Western companies before the invasion, would end up in mega-corporate hands like those of Shell, BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil. Several years after the invasion, some prominent Americans acknowledged that the war in Iraq was largely for oil, including the former head of U.S. Central Command in Iraq, General John Abizaid, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, and then-senator and future Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. The Never-Ending War on Terror The war on terror spread to far corners of the globe. In September 2021, when President Biden told the U.N. General Assembly, I stand here today, for the first time in 20 years, with the United States not at war, the Costs of War Project reported that U.S. counterterrorism operations were still underway in 85 countries including air and drone strikes and on-the-ground combat, as well as so-called Section 127e programs in which U.S. special operations forces plan and control partner force missions, military exercises in preparation for or as part of counterterrorism missions, and operations to train and assist foreign forces. Many of those expansive activities have been in Africa. As early as 2014, pathbreaking journalist Nick Turse reported for TomDispatch that the U.S. military was already averaging far more than a mission a day on the continent, conducting operations with almost every African military force, in almost every African country, while building or building up camps, compounds, and contingency security locations. Since then, the U.S. government has expanded its often-secretive interventions on that continent. In late August 2023, Turse wrote that at least 15 U.S.-supported officers have been involved in 12 coups in West Africa and the greater Sahel during the war on terror. Despite claiming that it seeks to promote regional security, stability, and prosperity, the U.S. Africa Command is often focused on such destabilizing missions. With far fewer troops on the ground in combat and more reliance on air power, the war on terror has evolved and diversified while rarely sparking discord in American media echo chambers or on Capitol Hill. What remains is the standard Manichean autopilot of American thought, operating in sync with the structural affinity for war thats built into the military-industrial complex. A pattern of regret distinct from remorse for the venture militarism that failed to triumph in Afghanistan and Iraq does exist, but there is little evidence that the underlying repetition-compulsion disorder has been exorcised from the countrys foreign-policy leadership or mass media, let alone its political economy. On the contrary, 22 years after 9/11, the forces that have dragged the United States into war in so many countries still retain enormous sway over foreign and military affairs. The warfare state continues to rule. Adapted from the introduction to Norman Solomons book War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine (The New Press, 2023). Copyright 2023 Norman Solomon Norman Solomon is a co-founder of RootsAction.org and executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy. Distributed in partnership with Globetrotter, this text is excerpted from Solomons new book, War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine (The New Press, 2023). All rights reserved. Eating a good pizza can be a life changing spiritual experience. You know when you eat a good pizza, and its usually made by an Italian master pizza chef. Of course, not every pizza is made equal, and as much as you can get a wonderful delicious crispy pizza, you can also get an unholy greasy stodgy pizza. For many across the globe, the pizza is definitely classed as a religion because they can be utterly life-changing. Indeed, many different cultures adhere to the pizza religion in different ways; for example, the Americans like deep dish pizzas with heart attack levels of cheese and grease on their pies. The Brits generally follow what the Americans do, but the Italians are true Pizza Orthodox followers and the originators of this remarkable dish. The Cathedral of Pizza is located in Naples, Italy, and here, many followers of the pizza religion flock every year to pay their respects to the Saints of Pizza and to be anointed by the Pizza Priests at the Cathedral di Pizza. I come here every day to pay my respects and pray to our beloved Pizza of Life, Pizza Messiah, Lord Quattro Stagioni he made the best pizza ever made and could even cure illnesses with his pizza, Giovanni Bertrums, from Tuscany, Italy revealed. The Holy Quattro Stagioni pizza is preserved and encased in the Cathedral di Pizza where pilgrims flock in their thousands daily to see the religious artefact. In 2021, a man tried to steal the Holy Pizza from its casing but was thankfully arrested before he could take a bite. According to the Pizza religions scriptures, followers are granted an eternity of eating their favourite pizza after they die, but only if they pass the Great Pizza Test when they get to the Pizza Gates of Heaven and adhere to the Ten Commandments of Pizza during their lives on earth. Holy Pizza Reverend, Dante Formaggi, is today officiating a pizza ceremony to cure a man from his leprosy. The intricate ritual lasts for two and a half hours, and involves four extra large Diavola pizzas with plenty of spicy salami. After eating copious amounts of pizza, the priests listen out for the holy burp as they hold the man down, where his face is slapped five times with a pizza slice. He is then dunked head-first into a tub of marinara sauce. It is a miracle of pizza! The man has been cured of his leprosy. Praise the pizza saints who have granted this wonderful miracle to take place today! You have been healed of your leprosy. Before your face looked like pizza, but now you look like a man again. Praise be to the Giver of Pizza our Lord Quattro Stagione, the reverend proclaimed before eating the last slice of pizza and burping loudly in satisfaction. Alerted by other customers police rushed to the hotel, which is at a stone's throw away from the Panjagutta police station, where he and the hotel staff complained against each other. DC Image Hyderabad: A youth from Chadrayangutta in the city identified as Liyaqat was allegedly beaten up the staff of a hotel at Panjagutta, following an argument when he reportedly asked for extra curd while having biryani at the hotel on Sunday midnight. According to reports, Liyaqat asked for extra curd and in the process, an argument broke between him and the hotel staff, who allegedly assaulted him. Alerted by other customers police rushed to the hotel, which is at a stone's throw away from the Panjagutta police station, where he and the hotel staff complained against each other. Police shifted both parties to the PS for further inquiry. At the PS, Liyaqat collapsed. When he was rushed to a nearby private hospital, he was declared dead. Panjagutta police registered a case against the hotel staff and started a probe. One of the less publicized Ukrainian advantages in their war with Russia is superior battlefield data collection and analysis. This means Ukrainian commanders have a better knowledge of what Russian forces are in or headed for Ukraine, and what they are likely to be doing. To do this Ukraine uses a combination of locally developed tools plus a wide array of Western and Russian sources. Ukraine built an elaborate and effective distributed system that constantly collects all this information and transforms it into a format that Ukrainian forces can use for finding targets, gauging their value, and suggesting what weapon would be most appropriate and effective to destroy or degrade the target. This explains why Ukrainian precision-guided munitions, air strikes and artillery are able to hit so many essential Russian targets. Ukraine also developed software that continually collects and analyzes online discussions by civilians about military activity and determines which reports are most useful. These are used as part of a data collection system that includes open source videos, satellite photos and radar images as well as overheard Russian radio and cell phone conversations. All this data is organized that military commanders can access to track nearby enemy units and their real-time activity. Ukrainian uses its locally developed Delta battle-management distributed system to organize this information and make it available to any Ukrainian on a remote device like a PC or cell phone because Delta is cloud based and equipped with a robust security system. Delta was certified as NATO compliant and is one of several Ukraine-developed apps that persuaded NATO to back Ukraine against the Russian invaders. In addition to making it easier for commanders to track themselves and all nearby Ukrainian and Russian units, Delta also provides target information that has enabled long-range weapons to operate so effectively against the Russians. While the enemy also uses UAVs and electronic sensors to track Ukrainian units, the Russians dont have anything like Delta to do this as effectively as the Ukrainians. Before 1991, when Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union, it produced a disproportionate number of Soviet programmers and software engineers. After independence, Ukrainian software specialists were able to find work in the West or establish app development firms in Ukraine and work for local and foreign clients. Delta was developed for use by Ukrainian forces and exported to friendly countries, a list that did not include Russia. When the invasion began in 2022, Ukraine already had some apps to make it possible for any Ukrainian with a cell phone to take a picture of Russian activity, especially cruise missiles, and automatically transmit it, along with location data, to a Ukrainian military command center where that information was added to similar reports to provide air defense forces with target information. The attack information also went to civil defense units in cities that were apparently targets. This enabled air raid alarms to be used to get people into shelters quickly. The software advantage of Ukrainian forces is substantial. This edge was given a boost early in the war when Elon Musk, the developer and owner of the Starlink communications satellite system, provided Ukraine with free access to Starlink. This gave Ukrainian forces a major communications advantage over the Russian invader. Since it was satellite-based, Starlink was difficult, and often impossible, for the Russians to electronically disrupt (jam). Russian military communications are still inferior to what Ukrainian troops have. This is one reason why Russian forces suffer more casualties and, even when they outnumber Ukrainian forces or have superior weapons, are unable to exploit that advantage. US President Joe Biden being greeted by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks on during the G20 dinner, in New Delhi, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is also seen. (PTI Photo) CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin attending the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in honour of the dignitaries attending the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi on Saturday has caused the raising of some eyebrows in the State and also at the national level since many of the Chief Ministers in the Opposition camp had given the event a slip. In West Bengal, their Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees presence at the dinner triggered a war of words between her party, the Trinamool Congress, and the Congress. Adhir Ranjan Choudhury, a Congress MP, wondered if Banerjee attending the dinner would not weaken her stance against the Narendra Modi government. Nothing would have happened if she had not attended the dinner, the sky would not have fallen, the Congress MP said, triggering an angry response from the TMC, whose MP Santanu Sen said that Choudhury would not decide what event the Chief Minister attended as part of protocol. Among the other Chief Ministers of the national Opposition camp who were present at the dinner were Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Himachal Pradeshs Shukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In Bihar, Nitish Kumar came under attack after a photograph of him with Narendra Modi at the dinner appeared on social media. Since Nitish Kumar had not met the Prime Minister after he broke away from the NDA and formed the Mahagathbandhan more than a year ago, people started speculating on his future course of action. His participation was a message to both the NDA and the Opposition INDIA coalition, former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said. Prominent Chief Ministers who kept away from the dinner were Chhattisgarh's Bhupesh Baghel, Rajasthan's Ashok Gehlot, Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal. In Tamil Nadu, the murmurs against Stalins participation were muted as none of the leaders in the State wanted to take a strident stand against the DMK at the moment. Even the Congress, whose national president and leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, was not invited for the dinner did not come out openly against Stalin. Official sources said that Stalin had left for Delhi only after ascertaining that other Chief Ministers like Mamata Bannerji were attending the dinner, while many others feel that he could have avoided going to Delhi. Sources in the Opposition AIADMK said that their general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami was indeed invited for the dinner but decided to give it a skip after it was made known that Stalin would be attending it. Though Palaniswami was very much an ally of the BJP, he felt that he might not get the due importance in the presence of the Chief Minister, sources said. The top court questioned asked Krishna Mohan Reddy's counsel why they failed to submit their arguments before the High Court. (Image: Facebook) Hyderabad: In a huge relief to Gadwal BRS legislator B. Krishna Mohan Reddy, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Telangana High Court`s orders which had set aside his election in 2018 and declared D.K. Aruna, then a Congress candidate, as the winner. A division bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta issued notice to Aruna, now BJP vice-president, directing her to file her contentions within two weeks. The state government had issued a gazette notification declaring her the winner following a communique from the Election Commission. The High Court on August 24 declared Reddys election void and imposed a fine of `2.5 lakh on him for filing a false affidavit. It had declared Aruna elected with retrospective effect from December 2018, besides directing Reddy to pay her `50,000 towards litigation costs. Challenging the same, Krishna Mohan Reddy had approached the apex court. The top court questioned asked Krishna Mohan Reddys counsel why they failed to submit their arguments before the High Court. Counsel Sundaram said the petitioner had not received any notice from the High Court with regard to Arunas election petition. He further submitted that Arunas counsel had misled the court by submitting forged documents to make the court believe that Reddy had accepted the court notices. Counsel also said that Reddy had erred in filing the election affidavit by not mentioning his savings account details. The case adjourned to four weeks. Huzurabad legislator Etala Rajendar. (DC Image) HYDERABAD: Although over 6,000 BJP activists and a handful of leaders applied for tickets to the upcoming Assembly elections, several leaders, including those who are expected to be in the fray for the state polls, stayed put. On the other hand, the BJP is currently changing tack, stating that another process was underway for selecting party candidates, with the Sangh Parivar having a significant say, making the application process infructuous. Six thousand applicants may have wasted their time, money and effort. Those who did not apply include state party president G. Kishan Reddy, Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nizamabad MPs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Soyam Bapu Rao and Arvind Dharmapuri, Rajya Sabha member Dr K. Laxman, former MLAs N.V.S.S. Prabhakar (Uppal), and party vice-president D.K. Aruna (Gadwal). Also not on the list of applicants were Goshamahal MLA D. Raja Singh, suspended by the party and Huzurabad legislator Etala Rajendar, its state election management committee chairman. Some party leaders said that many of these leaders were not enthusiastic about contesting the Assembly polls as the BJP was badly trailing the Congress in popular perception as an alternative to the BRS. "These are senior leaders who are well known and are looked up to by many in the party. Them not applying is not sending a good signal to the rest of the party. If the high command mandates that they should contest the Parliament elections, they could always withdraw from the Assembly race," a senior leader said. This makes it appear that there are two tiers in the BJP one that has to fight for a place in the candidates list and another that is privileged though the leaders who did not apply won different elections earlier and will be obvious choices as candidates, the party leader said. Former MP A.P. Jithender Reddy (Mahbubngar), former MLC N. Ramchander Rao (Malkajgiri), Dubbak MLA M. Raghunandan Rao, party state vice-president G. Manohar Reddy (LB Nagar), and party spokesperson N.V. Subhash (Khairatabad) are among well-known names who applied for tickets. Meanwhile, the state BJP is understood to have made progress in shortlisting potential candidates, with the Sangh Parivar expected to have a significant say. The BJP has tasked four senior leaders holding significant positions in the state unit to provide their own list of three potential candidate names from each constituency. It also asked its Sangh Parivar colleagues to put together a list of 119 names independently. The plan, according to knowledgeable sources, was to see if common names pop up and if these names would make it to the top three options, would be sent to the party's high command. If a name proposed by the Sangh Parivar matches the name for a particular constituency, the party high command would be recommended to consider that name. It was learnt that the four leaders lists had been submitted to the party leadership while inputs were awaited from the Sangh Parivar. This process, according to sources, was on before the party announced that it would accept applications from aspirants who lined up at the BJP state headquarters and submitted their applications. The BJP received 6,003 applications. While it is expected that most of the applicants do not stand a chance, the party claimed that it opened the process to give everyone a chance to throw their hats into the ring. According to sources, there was some discussion and debate on whether the collection of applications should be taken up. Amid misgivings, a decision was taken to go ahead with this plan. The ACB Special Court on Monday deferred to Tuesday the verdict on TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's plea for a house remand, after he was sent to the Rajahmundry Central Prison (PTI) Vijayawada: The ACB Special Court on Monday deferred to Tuesday the verdict on TD chief N. Chandrababu Naidus plea for a house remand, after he was sent to the Rajahmundry Central Prison on a 14-day judicial remand in connection with the skill development fraud. On the other hand, investigating agency AP CID also filed a petition seeking five-day custody of Naidu to question him. With Naidu starting his 14-day remand on Monday in connection with the `371-crore scam, his counsel requested the court to consider a house remand, considering his advanced age and threat to life Senior Supreme Court advocate Siddartha Luthra argued that his client Naidu was facing a threat to life at the prison and it was no longer safe for him to serve judicial remand. He expressed concern over security arrangements for Naidu, citing the presence of hardened criminals in the prison. Advocate Luthra argued that the Centre had provided high security to Naidu and the state government should not intervene in the matter. He also quoted several past verdicts of the SC awarding house remands, including to five ministers in a case in West Bengal. However, Additional Advocate General Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy, representing the state government, argued that the AP CID was opposing house remand to Naidu and ruled out any provision for house remand under the CrPC. Reddy submitted that Naidu was healthy and that it was safe for him to stay in prison, claiming security cover was enhanced by strengthening electronic vigilance through CCTV cameras. He ruled out any security threat to Naidu and said that a team of doctors was made available round-the-clock to take care of Naidus health needs. Meanwhile, the Director General of Police sent a letter to the ACB court to issue directions to provide adequate protection to Naidu. Later, Naidus counsel filed a petition in the court seeking direction to the state government to permit verification of documents pertaining to the AP Skill Development Corporation scam in the wake of the AP CID presenting a 28-page remand report. After hearing both parties, the ACB special court judge expressed concern over the number of petitions already filed before the completion of the hearing on one petition. The judge advised them to file the petitions early and deferred the pronouncement of judgment in the current case to Tuesday. Antero Midstream (NYSE:AM) pays an annual dividend of $0.90 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 7.41%. AM has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The dividend payout ratio is 123.29%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on EPS estimates, AM will have a dividend payout ratio of 92.78% in the coming year. This indicates that the company may not be able to sustain their current dividend. Read our dividend analysis for AM. Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) pays an annual dividend of $2.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 2.86%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 54.55%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, ALV will have a dividend payout ratio of 27.24% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for ALV. Local job seekers will have a chance to speak directly with prospective employers at a special event planned for the City Hotel this week. The Derry City Job Fair on Tuesday, September 12 is a chance for individuals to chat to employers, learn about vacancies that exist in the Council area and enhance their employment prospects through practical advice and support. The Job Fair is hosted by Department for Communities, Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership and Cross Border Partnership Employment Services (incorporating the Department of Social Protection, Ireland). The Labour Market Partnership is a province-wide approach developed by the Department for Communities which creates targeted employment action plans for council areas and allows for collaboration at local and regional level to support people towards and into work The Job Fair is a chance for individuals to chat to senior decision makers, learn more about the vacancies that exist in the Council area and enhance their employment prospects through practical advice and support. One of the employers in attendance will be Bishops Gate Hotel and their manager JP McCafferty said they have a number of exciting opportunities for prospective employees. Bishops Gate Hotel are very excited to be attending this event, he said. We want to meet you if you are passionate and enthusiastic about hospitality, interested in a long and vibrant career and keen to work in one of the best hotels in the region. We have full and part time vacancies open in our Food and Beverage, Reception and Housekeeping Departments. We are also delighted to announce openings for the Bishops Gate Trainee Manager Development Programme - an 18 month placement in a variety of departments at Bishops Gate Hotel, you will learn about managing a Food & Beverage Department, working with our Conference & Events Team, and also the opportunity to work in our Rooms Department within Housekeeping, Concierge and Reception. This is a very exciting position and an opportunity to work with some of the leaders in the Hospitality industry. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, urged the public to take advantage of the chance to make informed decisions about their next career move. "The Derry Job Fair will feature a diverse mix of employers from a range of sectors all under one roof including engineering, education, IT, hospitality, manufacturing, construction and customer service," she said. "Those in attendance can also avail of practical support on how to enhance your employability and make a successful application through CV and interview advice. "Whether you are currently out of work or just considering the next step in your career journey I would encourage you to attend." The Job Fair will take place from 11am to 3pm on Tuesday September 12 and admission is free. A second Job Fair is also being arranged for the Alley Theatre in Strabane on Wednesday, September 27 from midday to 3pm. For further information email dfcemployerservices@ communities-ni.gov.uk Concerns around the poor quality of directional signage along the recently opened A6 route from Derry to Belfast have been raised. Following a series of lengthy delays, the A6 dualling scheme from Dungiven to Drumahoe opened to motorists in April of this year. SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has written to the Department for Infrastructure calling for an audit of the existing signage. The Foyle MLA said: It is concerning that a mere five months since the full opening of the A6 dualling scheme, it appears as though the signage is coming apart at the seams. It took long enough to have these traffic signs erected in the first place; they were one of the last installations of the A6 project which was dogged by delays. "This was despite department officials advising years prior that my proposal for a progressive dual naming approach to include Derry~Londonderry couldnt be implemented on the basis that A6 signage was at an advanced stage. Regardless, they shouldn't be showing signs of wear already. The signage is comprised of several board frames which seem to be coming apart in places and is quite thin. Additionally, the material is very reflective at night to the point that it's impacting visibility for motorists. "Quite frankly, the poor quality of the signage along the network is very concerning, I've written to DfI to ask if these defects were identified as part of their recent road safety audit and if so, when remedial action will be carried out. , Attica Group A Derry mother has vowed to take her campaign for mandatory Group B Strep testing, for all pregnant women in the North, to Stormont. Shannon Doherty, whose son Rian almost died from complications arising from the bacterial infection, is also organising a fundraiser for Altnagelvin Hospitals Ward 6, where Rian received life-saving treatment. B Strep is a bacteria commonly found in the digestive tract, urinary tract, and genital area. It rarely causes symptoms or problems in adults but it can be fatal for newborn babies. Baby Rian's all set for Micky Doherty hosts Baby Rians Big Bingo Night I will fight until I know for sure I have made Group B Strep testing mandatory for every pregnant woman. Our fundraiser, Micky Doherty hosts Baby Rians Big Bingo Night and all my awareness raising is just the beginning, Shannon told Derry News. I will stand outside Stormont until they listen to me and make Group B Strep testing mandatory. Shannon has started an online petition which can be signed at HERE. Baby Rians Big Bingo Night is taking place in the Maldron Hotel in the city on Friday, October 6. Tickets cost 10. Clearly emotional, Shannon explained the motivation behind the event saying: My son Rian was born prematurely but he was out home and doing everything as normal. However, on the night of July 3, I noticed it was taking him two hours to drink three ounces. I knew in my heart there was something wrong, so I rang Out-Of-Hours and the doctor told me to phone an ambulance. By this stage, Rian had turned pure yellow. He had previously had jaundice and I was panicking in case he had it again. He started to take seizures in my arms and his eyes were rolling to the back of his head. His wee body was jumping. The ambulance was with me within five minutes but it was the longest five minutes of my life, watching him so sick. The paramedics took one look at him and put him straight into the back of the ambulance. On the way to Altnagelvin, they had to stop the ambulance and they were working with him as his breathing was poor, recalled Shannon. The distraught mother and Baby Rian were rushed straight into Resuscitation when they got to hospital. I started to panic, said Shannon, but all of the medical staff were keeping me calm. Within a minute, there was a doctor there and then a paediatric doctor. Thats when I realised Rians situation was extremely serious. They had to get a catheter into him and I thought, Hes only a wee tiny baby. How are you going to do this? He was pure yellow. Then they did a Gas Test on Rians foot. His results were so bad they said, Gather your things, were going up to the ward. We are taking him down to treatment. We need to get a line in. It was half five in the morning before he came back to me. I was really, really panicking. My heart was in my throat. Then they told me, at that minute in time, they didnt know what was wrong with Rian. They just said he was very, very ill, said Shannon. A consultant then came to talk to Shannon and asked if she had ever heard of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Then he said to me they wanted to do a lumbar puncture on Rian, said Shannon. I was cried out. He had to go for his lumbar puncture alone. His daddy and I were not allowed in. He needed oxygen afterwards. He was very ill. The Doctor told his daddy it was meningitis but they didnt know if it was bacterial or viral. Less than half an hour later, we were told it was blood poisoning and Rian had sepsis. The lumbar puncture results confirmed the cause was late onset Group B Strep, which had gone undetected. Rian had Strep B from birth but it hadnt been picked up until he was six and a half weeks old. Had it been detected sooner, it might not have gone to the meningitis and the sepsis. Rian was critically ill for 48 hours. But, he is one of the lucky ones. He came out the other end. He has suffered some possibly life-changing effects. His hearing is affected and this may affect his speech. That will all be monitored over the next 18 months. Rian is also missing some of his early milestones and we have been told to expect a possible diagnosis of cerebral palsy, said Shannon. You would never think by looking at him, said Shannon, all he does is smile. Shannon said Rians illness devastated the whole family. I have two children with autism, said Shannon, and when Rian went into hospital, his sisters didnt know if they were coming or going. It was just at the start of their summer holidays. His sisters didnt get to see him the whole time he was in hospital. They are mad about him but they know they cant touch him, which is hard because he is their wee brother and they love him. Shannon said she was fundraising for Ward 6 because of the care and the amount of support they gave Rian when he was admitted. They could not do enough for us and I want to give something back. Rian is going to be under their care for years. He is not discharged completely. We want to, maybe, provide more beds for parents to be able to stay with their sick children, she said. I also want to raise awareness about Group B Strep because it is not routinely offered for pregnant women. I feel all pregnant women should be screened. If the mother has it, the baby is going to contract it no matter what. I am going to take on this campaign. I am in the middle of drawing up a petition. If it is the last thing I do, I am going to make it mandatory for all pregnant women to be tested for Group B Strep. No family should have their life turned upside down the way we have. Shannon said she could not thank everyone involved in Baby Rians Big Bingo Night enough. The whole of Derry is putting their arms around us, she said. I just cant thank Ward 6 enough for the care they gave and are still giving, Rian. They kept my wee man with us. It could have been a different outcome. They treated my son like their son. Hand on heart I cannot thank them enough. A spokesperson for the Department of Health told Derry News: In Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, routine testing for GBS in pregnancy is not currently recommended because there is insufficient evidence to support it. This position is kept under regular review. If you are concerned about GBS, discuss it with your doctor or midwife. Baby Rians Big Bingo Night is taking place in the Maldron Hotel in the city on Friday, October 6. Tickets cost 10 and can be purchased from Shannon herself on: 07599858810. Any families reading Shannon and Baby Rian's story who have been affected by group B Strep or who are pregnant and may wish to know more about testing can also contact the Group B Strep Support group at: www.gbss.org.uk or by phone at: 0330 120 0796. Northern Ireland will get about 1 billion of peace funding from the UK and Irish governments and the European Union (EU). Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Irish premier Leo Varadkar and European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic will be joined on Monday for the announcement in Belfast by the head of the Northern Ireland civil service Jayne Brady and Irelands Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe. The new funding plan will see 1.14 billion euro received through PeacePlus, a new EU programme aiming to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The UK Government is contributing 730 million to the total allocation. PeacePlus will deliver investment across six key themes designed to ensure the continued economic, social and environmental development of Northern Ireland. During his visit, Mr Varadkar will also have a bilateral meeting with Mr Heaton-Harris to discuss the importance the Irish government attaches to the restoration of the powersharing institutions and to the British/Irish partnership, as well as the Irish governments concerns relating to the UK Governments Legacy Bill. The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill includes a form of limited immunity for some perpetrators of crimes committed during the conflict and would also prevent future civil cases and inquests into Troubles offences. Mr Varadkar has previously said the Irish government would give consideration to taking an interstate case against the UK at the international court of the Council of Europe if the Bill became law. The Taoiseach will also engage with Northern Ireland business during the visit. Development and management of EU North/South programmes is the responsibility of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), a North/South Implementation Body established under the Good Friday Agreement. The SEUPB is headquartered in Belfast, with smaller offices in Omagh and Monaghan, and is jointly sponsored by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. HIGHLIGHTS WhatsApp is reportedly working on a third-party chats feature. It is expected to allow individuals using other apps to connect with WhatsApp users, even without having a WhatsApp account. WhatsApp is likely working on this feature to comply with new EU regulations. Meta-owned instant messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a third-party chats feature. This support for chat interoperability is expected to allow other people to connect with users on WhatsApp even if they dont have a WhatsApp account. As this feature is currently under development, it is not ready for beta testers, as per the report. According to a report by a known WhatsApp tipster publication, WABetaInfo, the messaging platform is working to meet new European Union regulations by adding chat interoperability support in an upcoming app update. Also read: WhatsApp will soon make sharing original quality photos & videos easier Source: WABetaInfo The European Union has recently agreed on a significant competition reform called the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This reform will impose strict rules on major tech companies, requiring them to allow users to communicate across different apps. WhatsApp is among the companies that must adhere to the new regulations outlined in the DMA. This is because WhatsApp qualifies as a gatekeeper service due to its status as a large tech platform with a substantial user base, meeting the DMA's criteria. In the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, available on the Google Play Store, it has been discovered that WhatsApp is actively working on complying with these new regulations. Also read: WhatsApp may soon let users disable instant video message feature For the new third-party chats feature, WhatsApp is expected to add a new section dedicated to the new regulations. As it is in development, the section appears empty and is not accessible to users. In order to deliver its interoperability service in the European Union, WhatsApp has six months to modify the app to the new European standards. It is still unknown if this feature will eventually be available in countries other than the European Union. The third-party chat support will likely enable individuals using other platforms to reach out to WhatsApp users, even if they don't have a WhatsApp account. According to the report, while this broader network is expected to improve communication with people who use different messaging apps, the new feature might also raise concerns about end-to-end encryption when receiving a message from users who dont use WhatsApp. Also, users might have the choice to opt out in the future, as outlined in Article 7 of the regulations. HIGHLIGHTS Apple iPhone 14s Emergency SOS via satellite feature has helped to save two hikers. The hikers were trapped on a riverbank in New Zealand's Arthur's Pass National Park. The hikers were struck because of the rising water levels caused due to heavy rainfall. Apple iPhone 14s Emergency SOS via satellite feature has helped to save two hikers in New Zealand who were trapped because of the rising water levels as a result of the high rain runoff. According to a report by AppleInsider, two hikers who were trapped on a riverbank in New Zealand's Arthur's Pass National Park used the Emergency SOS via satellite feature on their iPhone 14 to receive help. Also read: This feature in iPhone 14 series is powered by Qualcomm and no, we aren't talking about 5G Water levels at the Sudden Valley Stream in Arthur's Pass started to rise to a dangerous level as a result of the area's high rain runoff. The hikers were unable to navigate around or through the danger and used the iPhone 14's Emergency SOS by satellite capability to get help. Also read: Apple iPhone 14 series FAQs including battery size, new camera features, price in India and more The rescue operation of the hikers was operated by New Zealand air and rescue ambulance operator GCH Aviation and Canterbury West Air Rescue Service. Canterbury confirmed its involvement in this rescue operation via its Instagram account. "Did you know that an iPhone 14 has an SOS feature that can connect via satellite and alert authorities if you become lost or injured out in the backcountry? Canterbury wrote, "Yesterday we were able to respond to some hikers stranded in a river because they had this technology with them. Apples Emergency SOS via satellite feature had helped to save users many times. Earlier this year, the feature helped to save two tourists who got lost in an area without cellphone signal during an outing in the Apennine Mountains. Fortunately, they had an iPhone 14 which provided them the option to call for help via a satellite text message. They were then rescued by the local fire department. Also, a hiker in Californias Angeles National Forest was rescued with the help of her iPhone 14s Emergency SOS via satellite feature. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Weekly news roundup: ASML CEO warns against compelling China to be innovative and other top stories These are the most-read stories on the DIGITIMES Asia website during the week of September 48: ASML CEO warns against 'compelling China to be innovative' Semiconductor equipment firm ASML is seeing a negative effect on US' containment policy towards China. ASML CEO Peter Wennink shared his views on the China issue, as well as the export restrictions and protectionism that the company is facing. Wennink emphasized during the interview that isolating China completely through export controls is not a viable approach. This indirectly suggests that Huawei's self-developed 5G SoC used in Mate 60 Pro and manufactured by SMIC's N+2 7nm processing node should not come as a surprise to anyone, as these restrictions are, in fact, pushing China to redouble its innovation efforts. Support for Huawei 7nm chip could hurt SMIC profitability, say sources For SMIC, providing support for Huawei's 7nm chip without access to EUV technology could prove to be detrimental to its profitability, according to industry sources. Relying on DUV and multiple exposure processes to make 7nm chips for Huawei would generate high costs and poor yield rates for the Chinese foundry house. If SMIC developed the 7nm process specifically for Huawei, the manufacturing quotes must be very high, the sources said. Otherwise, the more SMIC makes for Huawei, the more losses, the sources added. Why TSMC sees more trouble than Samsung in US fab projects TSMC has encountered difficulties building its advanced wafer fab in the US, sparking concerns over the prospects of the Taiwanese foundry house's overseas expansions in terms of production costs and labor issues. In contrast, the Korean chipmaking giant Samsung Electronics' US fab project seems to be experiencing none of the issues that are troubling TSMC. Sources from the semiconductor industry noted that TSMC embarked on its US fab project under different situations than those when Samsung started its. And TSMC and Samsung have been working differently in building their respective fabs. Rumors debunked: who made the SoC within Huawei Mate 60 Pro? Recently, Huawei launched its latest flagship smartphone, the Mate 60 Pro. It is rumored that the internal chipset used is a completely Chinese-made SoC, successfully circumventing the technological sanctions imposed by the United States in recent years. However, the market rumors remain very chaotic to date. In response to this, DIGITIMES conducted in-depth interviews and investigations in the hope of clarifying various exaggerated and untrue statements for all readers. Expectations grow for heightened US containment measures against China, says DIGITIMES Research Amid US sanctions and the visit of US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to China, Huawei's Mate 60 Pro, featuring the homegrown Kirin 9000s chip based on SMIC's N+2 process, has sparked much discussion. DIGITIMES Research believes the US may mount new policies to contain China's semiconductor development. Japan's export controls on lithography and thin film deposition more likely to be enforced, says DIGITIMES Research As Japan's ban on semiconductor equipment exports to China officially went into effect on July 23, many are left wondering about its implications for the Chinese semiconductor industry. A total of 23 types of semiconductor equipment were included by the export controls regime, covering lithography, etching, thin film deposition, heat treatment, cleaning, and inspection. According to DIGITIMES Research analyst Eric Chen, however, the restrictions on lithography and thin film deposition equipment are more likely to be enforced and thus impacting China's advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Huawei localizes over 90% of components for Mate 60 Pro Huawei's unveiling of the Mate 60 Pro has shaken the industry. The company has demonstrated to the world, by producing a flagship smartphone featuring most components made or developed by Chinese companies, that it has to potential to be self-reliant and decouple from US technologies. According to Chinese media, including Cailien and Jiwei, about 7080 suppliers for the Mate 60 Pro have been disclosed, and local suppliers in China accounted for more than 90% of the components adopted in the smartphone. Still, some non-Chinese components are used in Mate 60 Pro, including memories from SK Hynix and Micron. Blumind targets sustainability in the chip industry, seeking long-term partnership with Taiwan Blumind is pitching a farsighted approach of neural network processing using an all-analog architecture for AI applications to be more sustainable in the future. The company has completed the latest phase of R&D and is now looking to commercialize its high-performance, low-cost, and sustainable AI chips. Instead of building a digital compute architecture like most other industry players today, the company has invented an all-analog neural network signal processor architecture that is totally event-driven, highly efficient and accurate. The semiconductor industry has started working on reducing the mind-boggling power consumption and improve the sustainability of AI, said Niraj Mathur, co-founder of Blumind. For AI to be more broadly adopted in all aspects of our lives, it has to become more energy efficient, he added. Having worked in the chip industry for decades and witnessing the surge of AI applications, Mathur and his team at Blumind believe that it is necessary to deliver new innovative semiconductors to enable AI for everyone, everywhere. Markets ranging from smart wearables, health monitoring, to smart mobility and robotics, will demand ultra-low power, low latency and low-cost solutions to become major drivers of global economic growth. In order to meet the growing demand for AI-enabled applications in people's everyday lives, such as camera-based collision avoidance, microphone-based voice command detection and natural movement for robots, the chip industry has been seeking ways to reduce costs and power consumption of AI chips. Blumind's all-analog neural network processor can reduce power by 100x-1000x versus current AI chips, said Mathur. The architecture does not rely on absolute voltage or current and does not use ADCs or DACs in the neural network core. This makes Blumind's products impervious to process, voltage and temperature variations without compromising accuracy. Additionally, Blumind's architecture does not require the latest semiconductor fabrication nodes to manufacture their chips, but instead utilize cost-effective mature and readily available fabrication nodes. There is also a trend in the industry of using mature processing nodes due to heightened demand for automotive chips and IoT electronics. When Mathur met John Gosson, who is now the CTO of Blumind, he knew that AI sustainability will be the next inflection point of the industry. Gosson was already working on the project and the two decided to form Blumind to commercialize Gosson's invention. Blumind will present its novel processor at TIE Awards in Taipei on Oct 12-14, 2023, aiming to look for lighthouse customers and to build a significant, long-term presence in Taiwan. The Canadian company closed their latest round of fundraising at the beginning of this year. It is expecting to start another round of fundraising later this year. Blumind's prototype test board MBABANE Over a six-month period ending June 30, 2023, the Malkerns Square property development generated E7.5 million. This is according to the SBC Groups results for the six-month period, which indicated that the groups consumer lending revenue grew by 14.4 per cent to E202.3 million, when compared to the E176.7 million realised by the end of June 2022. SBC Group financial solutions provider to the customer base in both Lesotho, under Lesana Ltd, and in Eswatini trading as Select Ltd. The revenue generated by the Malkerns Square property development contributed to the groups revenue, which increased by 13.9 per cent to E209.8 million (June 2022: E184.2million). The increase is attributable to the loan book growth in both Eswatini and Lesotho, while achieving a stable yield in both businesses, of 29.8 per cent and 29.9 per cent respectively. Increased Meanwhile, the SBC Groups total operating expenses increased by 25.2 per cent to E85.4 million (June 2022: E68.2 million) which was a necessity to support the future growth strategies of the group, as well as initiatives to protect the groups market share. The group reported that in both Eswatini and Lesotho the book profit margin was diluted when compared to the prior comparable period. This was reportedly mainly as a result of the higher cost of debt, including both interest and debt raising cost. As a result of higher than expected external settlements, management had to put in place certain measures to protect their loan book, which came at an additional cost of E3.8 million. The group reported that the pressure on their book margin was partially offset by lower provisioning for bad debts resulting from improved collections and arrears account management. A stable collection performance, particularly in managing the distressed loan portfolio, enabled the total SBC Groups impairment provision cost to end on 2.84 per cent of the gross loan book (June 2022: 2.96 per cent). Due to the current high cost of debt interest cycle, finance costs of E130.9 million (June 2022: E107.6 million) increased by 21.7 per cent, which was in excess of the loan book growth. Our debt is predominately funded through notes issued under the MTN programmes and other promissory notes. E23.9 million (June 2022: E21.3 million) of the total interest expense is attributed to the funding cost of the Malkerns Square project, read the report. Attributed The group mentioned that the balance of this increase was attributed to growth in the consumer lending business, coupled with the cost of carrying excess funding. As a percentage of revenue, consumer lending net interest paid amounts to 30.4 per cent (June 2022: 29.4 per cent) voicing the high market interest rate cycle globally. 1 Indian educational tech giant Byjus has surprised lenders with a repayment proposal, aiming to settle its $1.2 billion term loan in under six months. Under this plan, the company is willing to pay back $300 million of the distressed debt within three months upon acceptance of the proposed amendment. The remaining amount would be repaid over the following three months. Lenders are currently reviewing the proposal and seeking further information regarding the funding source for the repayment. Byjus and its lenders have been locked in a year-long conflict marked by unsuccessful negotiations to restructure its loan agreement. The companys decision to skip an interest payment on its term loan, one of the largest such loans among startups globally, has aggravated the dispute and contributed to its growing financial difficulties. Byju Raveendran, the founder of the eponymous learning app, launched the platform in 2015. The company, formally known as Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd., secured the five-year loan in 2021 to support its expansion beyond India. In August 2015, Byjus introduced The Learning App to the educational landscape. In 2017, the company expanded its offerings with the launch of the Byjus Math App for children and the Byjus Parent Connect app. By 2018, Byjus had garnered an impressive user base of 15 million, with 900,000 of them being paid subscribers, marking a significant milestone to become Indias first edtech unicorn. By 2019, the platform had successfully reached students in non-metropolitan and rural areas, constituting 60% of their user demographic. In January 2022, Byjus made a strategic move by joining forces with other leading edtech companies like Simplilearn, Unacademy, upGrad, PrepInsta Prime, and Vedantu to establish the Internet and Mobile Association of Indias India EdTech Consortium. Then, in March 2022, Byjus ventured into a new chapter by signing a contract with the Qatar Investment Authority to establish a new edtech company and an R&D center in Doha, further expanding its global presence and impact in the field of education. In August of 2022, Bloomberg News released a report stating that the ministry of corporate affairs had issued a letter to Byjus, demanding an explanation for the failure to submit its audited financials for the fiscal year ending in March 2021. Byjus provided clarification, attributing the 17-month delay to the complexities involved in consolidating the financial records of its acquisitions during that particular year. Remarkably, despite the delay, Deloitte bestowed a clean audit upon the company. In November 2022, a significant number of Byjus employees voiced their grievances regarding perceived unfair treatment by the company. Reports suggested that Byjus had terminated the employment of more than 5,000 individuals. In April 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made a public announcement regarding its execution of searches at Byjus offices, citing actions taken under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. During these searches, the ED disclosed the seizure of incriminating documents. Hence Byjus is eager to arrive at a swift resolution and implementation of the proposed amendment; but it remains uncertain whether an agreement will be reached. If it works, it would be a pivotal step in the broader effort to revive the startup, which was once valued at $22 billion and is now struggling with financial challenges. SITEKI After over a decade with no success in finding Gogo Emelinah Metfula (90) of Sinceni community under Siphofaneni Inkhundla, on Saturday over 100 family and community members buried her clothes to find closure. According to former Nceka Umphakatsi Bucopho Nkosingiphile Masina, the elderly woman was reported missing in 2011. Masina said the matter was reported to the police but Gogo Metfula had not been found since the year she went missing. He stated that it was suspected that she could have been murdered as the police also failed to make a breakthrough in this matter. Masina said the Sinceni community was still shocked following that efforts were made to search for the missing elderly woman but were unsuccessful. The Metfula family and members of the Nceka community on Saturday decided to bury the clothes of the missing elderly woman. She went missing in March 2011 and since then, she has not been found or traced, he said. However, Mfankhona Sibandze, a community member who attended the burial mentioned that the community had suspicions about certain individuals who might have been involved in her disappearance. Sibandze said after the elderly woman went missing, the community went to search for her in the mountains and bushes around the Sinceni community with no luck. Disappearance I will make sure that I get to the bottom of this matter as something is amiss regarding the unfortunate disappearance of the elderly woman. According to information obtained after she went missing, people stopped the bus she was on board and led her to an unknown destination. It appears even the police were told to stop looking for her by powerful people in authority, he claimed. A family member, Bhekumuzi Metfula said they resolved to bury the clothes of his grandmother to find closure on the matter. Bhekumuzi said his grandmother went to visit her maternal home at KaPhunga in March 2011. He said when she was returning home on board a bus, she never reached home. We met as a family and resolved that we should bury her clothes as there has been no success in locating her whereabouts, he said. Meanwhile, in 2021, an estimated 70-year-old elderly woman went missing at Velezizweni area under Mankayane. Takitsi Lukhele had no children and was staying alone at her homestead. 1 On Monday, 11 September 2023, Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his joy regarding the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance, highlighting it as a significant decision that Brazil had been advocating. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Lula underscored Brazils commitment to increasing ethanol production, emphasizing the critical role Brazil plays in providing ethanol as an alternative to oil. We are continuously enhancing ethanol production in Brazil, Lula said. The world is well aware of Brazils significance in the realm of ethanol as a viable alternative to oil. This decision brings immense happiness to Brazil, as it aligns with our longstanding efforts. The Global Biofuels Alliance was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 9 September 2023, in the presence of US President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Lula, Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. President Lula talked of Brazils technical knowhow in biofuels, which will be vital for the future. Lula pointed out that Brazil had advanced biofuels technology. And he referred to the global recognition of biofuels as a potential solution to the issues of greenhouse gas effects and emissions. The Global Biofuels Alliance aims to promote international biofuels trade, share concrete policy insights, and offer technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide. The alliances primary objective is to foster global collaboration and cooperation to accelerate the adoption of biofuels by identifying best practices for the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels and bio-products. As many as 19 countries, including India, have pledged their support as founding members of the Global Biofuels Alliance. In a July report, the International Energy Agency projected that global sustainable biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to align the worlds energy system with the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. India, which is striving to become carbon neutral by 2070, is actively expanding the use of biofuels in its transportation sector. The country has advanced its deadline to 2025 for doubling the nationwide ethanol blending in gasoline to 20 percent. The Emergency Department (ED) at Letterkenny University Hospital has been extremely busy over the past few days with high numbers of people attending, the group who run the hospital, Saolta have said. Yesterday, Sunday September 10, 130 people attended at the Emergency Department. Many of the attendances are patients who are very sick, frail, and elderly need to be admitted to the hospital for treatment. There is ongoing pressure on bed availability in the hospital and we regret that many patients are currently experiencing long waiting times to be admitted from the ED to an acute bed in the hospital. In a statement Saolta said: "We are committed to treating everyone who presents at our ED but we do so strictly in order of medical priority. The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause. "We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as Out of Hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED." TV vet Noel Fitzpatrick broke down in tears as he described comforting the owner of a dog in his care which almost died twice. The Irish veterinary surgeon, who came to prominence through the Channel 4 television programme The Supervet and will soon be embarking on a live tour, said he had an overwhelming feeling of being useful as he held the woman. Speaking to Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio breakfast show, Fitzpatrick, from Ballyfin in County Laois, said: Ive been thinking a lot about this, with the earthquake in Morocco over the weekend, and the war in Ukraine and all that stuff. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noel Fitzpatrick (@profnoelfitzpatrick) And I started to write the show and I thought, well, its all relative, we all have our own challenges, our own issues in life, but theres a lot of stuff in the world. And this concept of being useful they talk about compassion fatigue in my job, in my profession, because every day I just try to be useful to the family. I dont call them owners, I never have, theyre just a family of a dog called Mabel, who I saw out yesterday afternoon. So Mabel has been in my hospital for the last few weeks, Mabel nearly died twice. Choking back tears, he added: And Mabel went home yesterday. And her mum works in prisons and shes seen all kinds of stuff. She helps ladies in prisons who have had a really tough time for various reasons, and theyre in there because of maybe stuff that they didnt really mean to do, etc, etc. So I held Mabels mum yesterday and I just felt this surge of being useful in that moment, that Mabel, for her and for her family and for me, represented everything thats important in life. If I can somehow translate that ethereal essence of oneness that bonds us all together as human beings, actually, at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters, which is your children, your mum, the people that you love. He continued: But in that moment, youre of service and if I can serve everybody on the tour, bring them into that love and make them feel safe in a world which sometimes feels unsafe, then I feel that thats really worthwhile. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noel Fitzpatrick (@profnoelfitzpatrick) Fitzpatrick, 55, who previously toured Ireland in 2022, said his new live tour of the UK will detail the 13 things animals have taught him love, hope, truth, faith, curiosity, tenacity, trust, passion, empathy, care, humility, kindness and gratefulness. He said: The whole point of the show is to make us the best humans that we can be. The live show, Beyond Supervet, will accompany Fitzpatricks hit books, including his forthcoming book about the adventures of his much-loved dog, late border terrier Keira. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has accused Sinn Fein of infecting a new generation of young people. Speaking to reporters in Co Tipperary, where Fianna Fail is holding its annual think-in, Mr Martin said there is huge incompatibility between his party and Sinn Fein. He said Sinn Fein has been very slow to bring closure to many victims of Provisional IRA violence. The Fianna Fail leader said a recent documentary on the murder of Thomas Niedermayer by the republican paramilitary group was sobering. He added: It reminds us of the need for Sinn Fein not to triumphalise the horrible deeds they did. They still try to triumphalise it, they still try to justify it. The problem with that is that youre infecting a new generation of young people. We need to take all of that out of our politics and move on. And if we expect others to do it, then I think Sinn Fein have an obligation to do that, and theyre showing no evidence in fact theyre doubling down, and thats a view I have. Asked about these comments, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told reporters in Belfast that he agreed with the Tanaiste. I think we need, as a country, to have an honest appraisal about what happened in the past, he said. I dont think it is ever right for people to whitewash history or to glorify things that happened in the past that hurt a lot of people, and that doesnt just apply to Sinn Fein. Mr Martin was responding to a question from reporters about whether his position on entering into a coalition with Sinn Fein in the future has softened. He said: As far as were concerned, we believe theres huge incompatibility with Sinn Fein on range of policies the most important one being, in my view, the enterprise model of our economy, which I believe Sinn Fein would undermine. In addition, he accused Sinn Fein of being anti-enterprise and anti-European. Also, in terms of the climate agenda, I think theyve been particularly two-faced on that and lacking any genuine commitment and theyve sought to play politics with it. Further pressed on the possibility of engaging with Sinn Fein if the arithmetic would allow for the parties to enter into coalition after the next election, Mr Martin also accused the gathered reporters of cheerleading for Sinn Fein. He said: You guys need to stop cheerleading them on as if it is a slam dunk. Its not, its very fragmented. The options are very wide. He told reporters: Im resisting this trend that all of you are at. Im serious. We dont do coronations in Ireland, we fight elections. Maybe you should put it to other people who theyre considering going into government with. Sinn Fein has been asked for comment. Louth County Council say they are pleased to again support the now annual Culture Night event, an initiative of the Arts Council of Ireland, which kicks off on Friday 22nd September. This years theme is One Night For All and it gives artists in Louth a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the county has to offer. Louth County Council Arts Office issued a call out in July asking people to get involved, and say they were delighted with the public response. Louth County Councils Acting Arts Officer and Creative Ireland Co-Ordinator, Moya Hodgers said: Culture Night has been running for an incredible 18 years. It continues to invite everyone everywhere, on one joyful night, to discover and celebrate all that our culture is today. This is a national moment connecting everyone to cultural activities locally and nationally and opening up pathways to ongoing engagement. This year we have everything from a Poetry SOS clinic in the county museum to a visual art project and live music in Dundalk Library. An Tain Arts Centre and Droichead Arts Centre will open their doors with a range of activities including artist in residence workshops, podcasts and live music, added Moya. Mo Chara, Dundalk will also celebrate the local live music and art of Dundalk with performances and artist talks. Drogheda Library is set to host a photography exhibition which has been developed over the last few weeks with Ukrainian and Irish photographers who have worked with displaced Ukrainian families in the area. The Journey of Hope exhibition will show a range of images of the war in Ukraine along with images of families who have made Ireland their home over the past 18 months. Artist studios in both Dundalk and Drogheda will also be opened with 8 Fold Artist Studios in Drogheda and Bridge Street Studios and Bo Studios in Dundalk all opening their doors to the public. The Boyne Tradfest kicks off on Culture Night with a host of music and singing sessions across various venues in Drogheda. Townley Hall opens its doors with free tours and AAEX (Art as Exchange) will host a special evening in the Creative Spark Downtown Hub where participants can create their own art and contribute to a larger scale piece that will grow throughout the night. There will be more live music with Comhaltas in the Oriel Centre (Dundalk Gaol) and the Ardee Brass Band in Ardee library. In short, a wide range of free events are happening for everyone to enjoy on Friday 22nd September. While all are free, some events will require booking in advance due to limited spaces. For full information on each of the events go to the Culture Night website https://culturenight.ie/location/louth/ or to the Louth County Council website on https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/arts/ and click on the Culture Night 2023 button to get full details of the programme. Louth County Council has given the go ahead for a new housing development at the Dublin Road in Dundalk. Molaris Limited applied to Louth County Council on 21 December 2022 for planning permission for development on a site bound by the Dublin Road (R132) to the west, an existing dwelling to the north and an existing dwelling known as St Cecilia's to the south and by an open ditch to the east. The development would see the demolition of an existing derelict structure on site and the construction of 39 dwellings, comprising six one-bed; 12 two-bed and 21 three bed homes, in a combination of houses and duplex apartments ranging in height from two to three storey. The duplex apartments are provided with balconies. A new vehicular access is also planned from the R132 as part of the development, as well as all associated site development works. Louth County Council sought further information on the proposed development in February of this year. Significant further information was provided to the local planning authority on 28 July, which included proposals to reduce the number of homes from 39 to 37. The local planning authority granted conditional planning permission for the development on 8 September 2023. SITEKI The Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, holds a strong view that the bad blood between her ministry and SNAT cost her a Parliament seat. SNAT is the Swaziland National Association of Teachers. According to the minister, she said she was informed that her relationship with teachers would play out negatively during the elections. Mabuza quickly stated though that she moved on from the primary elections loss and was now focusing on her projects. Relationship One woman told me that my relationship with teachers will come into play during the elections. I know that some teachers were influenced not to vote for me but I have just moved on and focusing on my projects now. I dont want to be embroiled in issues that will not benefit me, she said. Noteworthy is that SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini has been found guilty on all the 109 absenteeism charges preferred against him by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and eventually dismissed as a teacher at Moyeni High School. The minister lost by 14 votes to Philemon Mkhatshwa, who recorded 578 votes, while she received 564 votes. Worth noting is that government barred the hosting of SNAT consultative meetings in schools across the country. However, Mabuza thanked the voters who came in numbers to support her during the primary elections. I gathered that teachers were influenced to not vote for me under the Mafutseni Inkhundla. But I have since let it go and I am now focused on something that will benefit me like my projects, she emphasised. Independent investigations within some of the teachers under this inkhundla confirmed the allegations. One teacher, who asked that her identity be concealed in fear of victimisation, stated that such a message was conveyed to members of the organisation in a branch meeting, that they should vote for their favourite chosen candidates but not enemies of SNAT. Matter After that message, it became clear whom it was directed to as we all know that there is a strained relationship between government and SNAT, briefly asserted the teacher when quizzed about the matter. SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati described the allegations as cheap politics and stated that as an organisation, they did not want to comment on issues of elections. Meanwhile, Minister Mabuza, together with her counterpart at Tourism and Environmental Affairs Moses Vilakati and over 10 outgoing MPs, crashed out of the race to Parliament during the primary elections. Lutfo Dlamini is among the high profile and seasoned politicians to bow out of the race. MBABANE It is final, Cathedral of All Saints Rector Advent Canon Nhlanhla Dlamini is leaving the church for Scotland. This follows that the All Saints Cathedral Church has been rocked by controversy, among which the advent canon and his archdean were transferred to Mhlume and recently the revocation of his pastoral licence. However, the above remains in the past now as Advent Canon Nhlanhla requested to join a ministry outside of the Diocese of Eswatini. According to the Chairperson of the Anglican of Southern Africa Safe and Inclusive Church, Lay Canon Rosalie Manning, the All Saints Parish will be led by a retired senior priest. Manning stated that Bishop Dalcy Dlamini would also assist the parish with moving on and to prepare the church for a change in pastoral ministry. The chairperson further stated that at this stage, it was not considered prudent to proceed with disciplinary action while allowing the work of transformative justice to take place. Bishop Dalcy has committed to leading the work of healing, restoration and building within the Diocese of Eswatini as necessary, Manning said. Manning added that a task team to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of this process, particularly the transformative justice process, would be established and it would comprise members of the Cathedral of All Saints Parish and the Diocese of the Safe and Inclusive Church. On the issue of Advent Canon Nhlanhla, she said currently they would be reaching out to where he had indicated that he would prefer to be placed in Scotland. We have already started that process and Bishop Dalcy will write the letter of recommendation and speak to a bishop in Scotland, which has to be approved by the archbishop, Manning added. Sabbatical Manning noted that it had been agreed that Advent Canon Nhlanhla would officially leave the All Saints Cathedral on October 31, 2023 after his term of office comes to an end and thereafter have a two-month paid sabbatical that would be followed by a 55 days paid leave. Sabbaticals are periods of paid time away from work, which are agreed between the employer and employee. She said Advent Canon Nhlanhla indicated that he would appreciate support with transitioning within the parish and pastoral support would be made available to him and the parish. Manning said what they discovered was that the parish of All Saints Cathedral really loved advent Canon Nhlanhla. She said they had to explain that the movement and transfer of Advent Coan Nhlanhla was entirely the prerogative of the bishop. Manning said there was a process to be followed and in this instance, it was followed to the letter. She said Bishop Dalcy would make available some pastoral support to the parish and she had also undertaken to get a retired bishop to be the pastor of the All Saints Cathedral and also make herself available to assist. Manning said it had been a time of great pain and hardship to everybody and at this time they did not think it would serve any purpose to institute disciplinary hearing and a recommendation of transformative justice was made to be overseen by a task team, which comprised of members of the cathedral, diocese in leadership and the Safe and Inclusive Church. She said they were privileged as a church to have Reverend Michael Lapse, who is an expert in the work of transformative justice and would reach out to him. When questioned if she was happy about the decision by the commission, Bishop Dalcy said she was pleased. On the other hand Advent Canon Nhlanhla said he did not have a comment. Deris Hlophe, who is the Church Warden at All Saints, said they would comment after seeing the media statement. MANZINI Sibongiseni Mjabuliseni Nxumalo only filled five stamps to meet the requirements of the EITF win a car competition, to win a brand new Kia Sonet worth E380 000. Nxumalo (37), who works as a cleaner at the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs under the Meteorology Department in Mbabane, had his name drawn during a draw held at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre yesterday. For one to win the competition, he or she had to visit the EITF stands from September 1st to 10th, and gather stamps on their entry form. The entry form had to be dropped into the entry box. Meanwhile, Nxumalo only filled five entry forms for him to win the prize. The car which Nxumalo won was courtesy of Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA), with sponsorship from FNB Eswatini and Kia Motors Eswatini, Oracle Insurance and Mitra Energy. Present during the draw to ensure that there was transparency were all the stakeholders of the competition, and the names of the entrants were drawn from a transparent container. Soon after the draw, Nxumalo was called and informed that he had won the car. He was asked to verify his identity number, of which he did, and was then further requested to come to the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre in Manzini at the FNB stand today, where the prime minister would officially hand over his brand new wheels. Draw Speaking soon after the draw, Tawanda Chivaro, Kia Eswatini Director, expressed his congratulations to the winner. He also appreciated all the partners for the commendable partnership and for making the Trade Fair a resounding success. Wesbanks Nkosingiphile Mkhonta said it was indeed a successful 2023 Trade Fair. He alluded to that the numbers for this years competition had doubled, revealing that a total of 3 027 entrants had participated in the competition. Mkhonta acknowledged his amazing team and their partners Kia for sponsoring the vehicle, Mitra Energy which will fuel the vehicle with two full tanks, as well as Oracle Insurance, wich will provide one years full insurance for the vehicle. The winner, Nxumalo, who was at a loss for words and could be heard releasing sighs of relief and shock, said he was grateful for the prize. Ever since I was born, I have never entered a competition and won. I hardly earn an income so I also have a side hustle working as a driver for schoolchildren after school. I was planning on purchasing a seven seater vehicle to expand my business, Nxumalo said. He extended his appreciation to the organisers of the Trade Fair for pulling together such a great initiative. I didnt know that this years Trade Fair was about me and I am truly grateful and at a loss for words, Nxumalo said. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and its staff are shocked and saddened by the recent devastating earthquake in Morocco and the tragic loss of more than 2000 lives. The Bank stands ready to support the country and the Moroccan people. Our offices in Agadir, Casablanca and Tangiers will be working to assist their partner businesses and the local economy in these difficult times. WHAT do farming, ham, Berlins hopping food scene, pull-your-own-pints, an Irish country pub, and gourmet butter all have in common? The answer can be found tending the embers inside Corks diminutive over-the-fire restaurant, Elbow Lane, in the shape of its head chef, Harrison Sharpe. Originally from Waterford, Harrison, 30, grew up surrounded by a family immersed in food. Grandparents on both sides were farmers. On his maternal side, farming was paired with running a three-generation country pub and establishing Bradys Quality Meats, known for their ham. His mother paired life as a publican with a career as a development chef, and his father worked all his life in Waterford Crystal until the financial crash of 2008 shuttered the factory. His parents now run Irish Gourmet Butter, continuing a butter-making tradition in the family going back four generations. Harrison uses this butter to baste and flavour every dish that leaves the pass to satiate the appetites of salivating diners. The potatoes and carrots used on the menu are from his grandmothers farm in the coastal Waterford village of Ardo, delicately flavoured with a natural taste of salt from the sea. In the mix are uncles who are chefs and bar owners; even Harrisons own brother, Ronan, is a hospitality professional who recently joined Elbow Lane as its new General Manager. Despite all evidence pointing to a career in food as the obvious path, it wasnt always a clear cut one. I always liked cooking, Harrison says. All the family are really into food; I remember learning recipes and cooking with my mum shes an awesome cook, same with my aunts and granny. Harrison Sharpe, head chef at Elbow Lane. I wanted to be a chef, and when I was 16, I did work experience at a restaurant. But when youre that age you dont want to work hard or do split shifts. I wanted to be getting up to mischief with my friends. I parked cheffing for a while and lost what I wanted to do. I looked at architecture, interior design, carpentry something to do with my hands; I like seeing a finished product that I can touch and hold. When the financial crash hit and Harrisons father lost his job at Waterford Crystal, culinary college was no longer an option because his parents couldnt afford to support it. I moped around doing shifts in the pub. Eventually, mum said I had to get out of the house and do something, so I went over to my uncle who was living in Berlin and working as a chef. Harrisons first Berlin sojourn was for just a couple of months, but it was enough to convince him that working in kitchens was what he wanted to do. I liked watching my uncle look at what ingredients he had in his fridge and make something that was always delicious. I thought I at least want to learn how to cook properly. Harrison headed back to Ireland, and moved to Cork to begin a two-year culinary course at the then CIT. But although the desire for the culinary profession was there, discipline was missing. I was having a lot of fun enjoying college life, maybe not doing as much of the school side. I got through the first year, but I could have done so much better. After the summer, Harrison transferred to WIT to complete the second year, and met two mentor-chefs who completely changed his outlook: Michael Quinn and Tony Barry. They really knew how to wake you up, he says. I was 20 and was still a little sh*t, but they just knew how to get the best from you. When someone else is really passionate for what they do, they make you stand up that bit straighter and make you feel like you want to be like them. Thats what I think about this career now - its a profession. After graduating, Harrison made a beeline back to Berlin, working in restaurants such as Salt and Bone learning the craft of nose-to-tail animal cookery, and later the tiny kitchen of Gal Ben Moshes first restaurant, Glass, cooking up Middle Eastern fine dining cuisine and working long weeks. After a year, Harrison was burnt out working relentlessly to exacting standards in a pressured environment. But Berlin wasnt done with him yet, and he stayed working side hustles at an uber-trendy regular street food festival called Bite Club. Harrison Sharpe, head chef at Elbow Lane. It was really class. Thai BBQ, Jerk Chicken, Korean Fried Chicken; loads of crazy variety all in one place for a day. I went freelance, working for a lot of the stalls being their chef for the night. I was pretty decent by that time, and knew what people needed. They were long days, but I learned a lot of different cooking styles; it was fun, summers in Berlin are awesome, and it paid well. After two years in Berlin, in 2015 Harrison headed back to Cork. I found the opening at Elbow Lane and met with Stephen Kehoe. I remember thinking just how clued in and professional he was. He really made me want the job, and he reeled me in! Stephen is far and away the best chef Ive ever seen. Ive worked with a lot of great chefs, but he is the whole package; hes a restaurateur, businessman, mentor and a good person. I thought Elbow Lane looked cool and it was the exact opposite of the precise technical cooking I had done in Glass. Elbow Lane is pure analogue cookery - cave man cooking over fire! Fermentation was getting big then, and everyone was really into craft beer as well, so I thought Id give it a year here and then maybe look at something else. Im here six years now! One year turned to two, working shoulder to shoulder with Aishling Moore. When she left to open Goldie, Harrison was offered the opportunity to step up as head chef of Elbow Lane. I decided to double down and stay. I love this place and I couldnt pass up the opportunity. Market Lane Group is a great company to work for, Stephens a great mentor, Id learned so much here, why shouldnt I stay a bit longer. As Elbow Lanes new head chef, Harrisons instinct could have propelled him to do something radically different from what had been before. But the restaurants clientele is loyal and come loaded with expectations. Getting definition was hard for the first six months. I changed a couple of things, but the more I evolved, the more confident I got, the more I understood what that definition is and isnt, explains Harrison. When Goldie opened, it got so much acclaim it almost blacked us out. But that was a great thing because I was able to figure it out myself without dealing with external factors, like critics coming in. Now, Im very confident in what we do. I know where the restaurant should go, and how our food here is defined through my lens. At the start, I was trying to think, what would Stephen do or what would Aishling do, but dishes wont sing the same way when it has your own personality and technique put into it. These days, he is confidently asking What Would Harrison Do?, and the response is a laser focus on quality and honing the craft of managing flame, fire and ember. Were cooking over a wood grill which changes throughout the night, what wood is used, whos cooking it. "Because were so good at that, if we want to be the whole package as a restaurant, we apply that to the meat, fish, and veg, and we must curate those relationships with our suppliers in the same way. Vegetables feature throughout the menu, and although Harrison will always try to increase the number of veg-forward dishes, ultimately Elbow Lane will never be a vegetarian restaurant. The focus is on sourcing the best quality meat and fish, because that is what the customer expects. If you asked me when I was 25, I would have said Im just doing this for me, thats it, and if customers dont like it, they can go somewhere else. But this is hospitality which means we have to be hospitable to people. We do as much as we can to give customers a great experience that also works for me, my staff, and makes everyone proud of what we serve. Even so, there is always room for experimentation, and having a micro-brewery right next door helps with finding new ingredients and flavours to play with. The brewery uses barley, yeast, hops and water to make beer, but the brewing process creates waste by-products. Brewers spent grain has been turned into a kind of soy-sauce or dried out and used in breads, or collected and fed to pigs that one day will return as a dish on the menu. Hops are very interesting. Theyre extremely bitter but also have fruity, citrus, pine-y flavours. Putting hops into vinegar and aging it gives you something unique, says Harrison. Its cool to play around with wort (unfermented unhoped beer). We use it to cook mussels, throw loads of salt and herbs in to poach our potatoes, and reduce it down to a honey consistency that we use as a dressing. We use the finished beers to make batter and steam our ribs in after theyre cooked. Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adria were renowned for their ability to apply scientific method to cookery, creating culinary movements such as molecular gastronomy and manipulating senses to reframe how we experience dishes. This approach to cuisine has always fascinated Harrison, and he is currently studying for a Diploma in Food Science and Technology at UCC to explore this more. Its something Id always wanted to do, he says, glinting at the idea of a crazy experimental food lab. He hints at a new venture within Elbow Lane that will support the restaurant groups commitment to reduce waste and turn would-be waste into new foods with exciting flavours. In 2024, Harrison will lead Elbow Lanes tenth birthday celebrations with his brother, Ronan, by his side. Working with a sibling means that your patience is never-ending, says Harrison. You both share the same goals and want the business to succeed, and being able to trust each other implicitly makes running a business so much easier. Elbow Lane is open daily, 5pm 10pm. Online bookings and walk-ins welcome. www.elbowlane.ie Next week, Kate Ryan chats to Jack Bell who is behind the newly opened Jacks at Pilgrims Rest. https://www.elbowlane.ie/ MBABANE A female civil servant employed by the Ministry of Finance is being investigated by the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) after close to E2 million from government coffers was transferred to her childs bank account. The civil servant, who is based in Mbabane, under the Treasury Department, is alleged to have made the transactions on diverse occasions. She is reportedly based in the banking section of the department, which is responsible for making payments. Pending intense investigations which have been launched by the police, the childs bank account, which it is suspected, was used as an instrumentality to commit a crime, has been frozen. The civil servant, it was reliable gathered, has been moved to another section within the Treasury Department. The police are currently investigating suspected cases of theft and money laundering. The order to freeze the account was issued after the bank expressed its misgivings on the activities of the bank account and the holder thereof, who was receiving large amounts of monies at very short intervals. The name of the implicated officer is known to this publication but cannot be mentioned as the matter is still under investigations and so far no one has been arrested. The government employee is alleged to have deposited the money into the minors account, in which she is the sole signatory, without the knowledge of her superiors. The activities in the bank account, according to sources, raised suspicion to the bank and this resulted in it being monitored closely. According to sources, the monies that were transferred to the childs account ranged from E100 000 and E1 million. Other amounts she allegedly deposited into the account were E200 000 and E500 000. The highest amount that was transferred to the account, as per the insiders, was E1 million. The bank had many questions about the reasons for depositing such amounts of money into a minors bank account. Another thing which made them to monitor the bank account was that all the transactions that were made into the account were from the Treasury Department but it was not clear what was being paid, said the insider. The source said deposits of large sums of money, such as E1 million and E500 000, were the red flag. Investigations by this publication unearthed that after the monies had been deposited, they were quickly withdrawn by the civil servant or dispatched to different bank accounts locally and outside the country. Laundering A red flag on bank accounts is usually issued when there are unusual cash deposits or withdrawals, rapid movement of funds, multiple accounts with similar names or unusual customer behaviour could indicate money laundering activities, prompting the need for further investigation. An inquiry has been opened to establish why such substantial amounts of monies from government coffers were being deposited into the minors bank account. They will also seek to establish what services were rendered by the account holder or signatory to warrant such payments, said the source. The insider further stated that the investigations by the police would also focus on the holders of the bank account in which some of the monies were transferred after they were deposited by the civil servant into her childs account. The investigators must dig deeper into this matter as there are reasonable suspicions that there is a cabal behind all this and the childs account was being used as passage to steal the money from the State, said another source close to the matter. Banks regularly monitor accounts for suspicious or illegal activity. If an account raises red flags, it will be frozen and put under investigation until the issue can be resolved. Suspicious transactions are any event within a financial institution that could be possibly related to fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, or other illegal activities. Suspicious transactions are flagged to be investigated, but many suspicious transactions are simply false positives. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter and further stated that investigations were still ongoing. In the event the police manage to make a breakthrough in this matter, it will not be the first where a government accountant is implicated in the alleged theft of substantial amount of money belonging to the State. A matter involving an accountant who was stationed at the Ministry of Tinkhudla Administration and Development is currently pending at the High Court. Mbongeni Mkhwanazi, who was employed as an accountant in the ministry, and his duties included processing payments to service providers and/or suppliers of goods of the Decentralisation Department, features in all 18 counts. The accused persons have been charged for contravening the Prevention of Corruption Act No.3 of 2006 or alternative counts of fraud. In total, they allegedly diverted E5 105 785 from the ministry through unlawful misrepresentation purportedly made by the accused persons to the Treasury Department and /or government. The total diverted amount was initially said to be about E10 million. However, the Crown has amended the indictment and the money in question totals about half the previously stated amount. The offences, according to the indictment, were committed between 2012 and 2013. Their matter is still pending at the High Court before Principal Judge Qinisile Mabuza and when the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty to the 18 counts. Meanwhile, last year, it was reported that the country loses about E91 million per month, due to corruption at government ministries and departments. Shocking The shocking revelation was made by the then Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Madlangampisi outgoing Member of Parliament (MP) Sibusiso Scorpion Nxumalo, during the debate of the report of the committee prior to its adoption in the House of Assembly. The E91 million lost monthly amounts to E1.2 billion annually and this has been the trend since 2019, as revealed by Nxumalo. The money reportedly shot up to E51 million from the previously known E40 million monthly loss to corruption, which is over a 100 per cent growth. Nxumalo revealed that the report showed scary trends that were evidence that governments funds were misappropriated and mismanaged. The legislator also revealed that E7.4 billion was unauthorised expenditure by the ministries and government departments without the approval of Parliament, much to the shock of the MPs. According to the Auditor General, Timothy Matsebulas report, the Judiciary had failed to account for over E300 million under the Guardian Fund and some people could not claim back their bail money after being acquitted. Crucial documents are lost at the Masters Office, leaving widows and children worse off. The Judiciary is said to, however, have clarified the whereabouts of the money. Former Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo was quoted having suggested that there should be a piece of legislation that should have strong clauses that spoke to dealing with perpetrators of corruption. FIONA TWOMEY from Newtownshandrum will travel to Kenya next month as part of Cobh-based, Brighter Communities Worldwides annual Harambee trip. Harambee, which means all pull together in Swahili, is the official Kenyan motto. Brighter Communities Worldwide works in partnership with local communities in Kenya and its success is largely built on facilitating communities to determine what they need. Fiona admires Brighter Communities Worldwides programmes as she says they equip the locals with the skills they need to have a sustainable future, once the volunteers leave. I am really looking forward to the trip. This is my first time volunteering overseas, Fiona said. I have always wanted to do something like this and when the opportunity came up this year to travel as part of Brighter Communities Worldwide Harambee this October, I kind of just went for it. I know it will be a great experience and I feel very lucky to be able to do it. I really enjoy meeting and working with new people and I am sure that I will gain just as much, if not more, from the programme. While there, Fiona will take part in the Lifeskills peer education programme and economic empowerment programme. Priority for these programmes is given to vulnerable groups particularly girls, women and people with disabilities, she explained. Fiona is busy fundraising for the event and has already raised significant funds to support Brighter Communities Worldwide. She recently climbed Carrauntoohil with a group of friends and family as part of her fundraising drive. Family and friends have been incredibly supportive of my trip to Kenya. A lot of people have been interested to learn about the work of Brighter Communities Worldwide and hopefully by increasing awareness of the charity and the positive impact it has, more people might consider volunteering themselves in the future, she concluded. Donations can be made here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/FionaTwomey A cork couple shared the story behind their unconventional first kiss that set tongues wagging at a surprise party. It was the night that circus stars Cormac Mohally and Noelle ORegan started to look at each other as more than just good friends. Cormac and Noelle have many strings to their bow but it was circus that brought them together. The artistic director of the Circus Factory in Cork met his now wife during a circus training workshop he was running in 2009. However, it would take years for love to blossom between the pair. Cormac recalled: She came into the workshop and I liked her energy. Years ago I asked her 'why are you single?' She just seemed like such a cool person. I didnt have 'those' eyes when I first met her because I was in another relationship but it was easy to see how amazing she was. Cormac cast his mind back to before their romance. It was sometime between 2014 and 2016 that we became really good friends, he told The Echo. I can still remember the day I rang her on the phone. I started the call by saying 'Im ringing you because youre my friend'. Im normally terrible at ringing people but I was just after dropping my friend to school and thought 'Im going to ring my friend'. Noelle started crying. Shes a very emotional person." Noelle ORegan enjoys spin in a wheelbarrow from her new husband Cormac Mohally during their wedding last month The friends had a wealth in common. Cormac delighted audiences on Britain's Got Talent in 2017 as one half of comedy/dance double act Lords of Strut. Noelle from Kinsale subsequently performed on the show with artist Tom Campbell with a quirky act involving clay and dance. It was three years ago at Cormacs 40th birthday party that we kissed for the first time, Noelle said. Me and a few of our circus friends threw a surprise birthday party for Cormac. He was super emotional and told me that he couldnt believe I had done this for him. Nobody could have predicted what happened next. I said 'Is this the part where we shift?' and he said 'yeah, okay'." The pair locked lips prompting a frenzy among onlookers. We were just having the mess but our friends were losing their minds, Noelle said. I didnt think anything of it but less than a year later we were at a friends birthday - a picnic in Bells Field - when we kissed for the second time. We were only allowed to be in groups of six at the time. Technically, that was our second kiss but I always think of it as our first 'real' one. Noelle recounted the intensity of that time. We spent that weekend holding hands, she said. Every now and again I would kiss him and hed look really shocked. I was asking 'Jesus, is it okay that I kissed you?' and hed say 'its okayits lovely'. I almost died every time he held my hand. Cormac Mohally and Noelle O'Regan performing for then Lord Mayor Cllr Tony Fitzgerald. Picture. John Allen Despite spending a number of nights together, Noelle was unsure where the relationship might lead. She opened up about the moment they said goodbye to one another after he dropped her home. He turned to me on the path and asked 'can we see where this goes?' For the next few days I was stressed out of my head wondering what exactly he could have meant by the question. Fortunately, Noelle had nothing to worry about and Cormac proposed to her a year later at a Circus Factory event. On the Easter weekend the following year we were on stage and having trouble with the rigging. There was someone sorting out the rigging when Cormac told me he had a question for me. We were in front of hundreds of people. They werent sure if it was an act or he was actually proposing. Noelle and Cormac tied the knot last month. The plan was to get married during Easter of the following year but my sister was coming back from New Zealand and I wanted her to be there, Cormac explained. Cormac Mohally proposing to his then girlfriend Noelle ORegan during a Circus Factory performance. Photograph: Jed Niezgoda The couple held their wedding party in Noelles brothers cowshed. We went to see it in January when it was full of cows, she told The Echo. When a DJ box and door was added to it, it looked amazing. We did it festival style. My sister did it up like a beautiful banquet and picked the flowers for it. My friend Taylor and I did the centre pieces. Cormac described their transition from friends to husband and wife as a natural progression. When we started going out the relationship was deep and intimate, he said. This was like another layer to our friendship. Noelle opened up about what attracted her to the performer. Cormac is really funny. I like the way he sees the world because its a bit quirky and of course he is a total ride. Cormac is the organiser behind the Pitch'd Circus and Street Arts Festival which takes place at various venues and streets across Cork city from September 11 to September 24. There has been considerable disappointment in Ballincollig at the news last week that a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) proposal accepted by Cork city firefighters does not provide for the reopening of Ballincollig Fire Station. The proposal, which was accepted last Monday by 72% of those balloted, would see the introduction of a fourth pump, which would be crewed out of the fire brigades Anglesea Street headquarters. Firefighter and Siptu shop stewart Billy Crowley described the latest WRC proposals as a step in the right direction, and he thanked the people of Ballincollig who had supported the firefighters campaign and held protests outside the closed fire station. Mr Crowley said Cork city firefighters understood the feeling amongst people of Ballincollig that the station should be reopened. And that may be the case, but there has to be a data-driven case for it. And that will require patience, he said. Fianna Fails Councillor Colm Kelleher, welcomed the reinstatement of a fourth pump in Cork city, but called for clarity on the details of any future deal. I welcome the reinstatement of the fourth pump, albeit there is a line in the agreement that it would be based out of Anglesea St and would have a presence in Ballincollig, he told The Echo. Theres going to be a four-week lead-in of operational exercise carried out to see how that can be achieved. I would be hoping that, even though its based out of Anglesea St, that [the fourth pump] could come [to Ballincollig] on a daytime basis and open our station on a daytime basis. Sinn Fein have described the proposal as falling far short of what the people of Ballincollig need and deserve. Sinn Fein councillor Eolan Ryng said the closure of Ballincollig Fire Station since November 2021 had been due to the failure of Cork City Council to recruit firefighter. This flies in the face of assurances given to the people of Ballincollig when the city boundary was redrawn in 2019 that our fire service would be retained, he said. The new proposal to have a fire brigade presence in Ballincollig, but no full-time reopening of Ballincollig station, is a fudge and it falls far short of what the people of Ballincollig need and deserve. What it does at the very least acknowledge is that there is a need for a fourth fire pump in the city and that a retained service is no longer fit for purpose in an urban area. This is something we have been saying since 2021, Cllr Ryng added. Ballincollig fire station needs to be operational to ensure the entire city and surrounding areas are properly served. His party colleague, local area representative Joe Lynch, added some fighting words. It appears that some Ballincollig-based public representatives are prepared to tolerate Cork City Council management pulling the wool over the eyes of the people of Ballincollig. In July, local councillors from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael abstained on a motion in City Hall directing the Council to reopen Ballincollig fire station. Ballincollig is being badly let down by such inaction, Mr Lynch said. Ballincollig fire station needs to be reopened on a full-time basis without delay. Members of the Green Party in Cork have welcomed Government plans to reduce speed limits on many roads. The proposed changes follow the recent, significant rise in road fatalities after twice the number of people lost their lives on Irish roads last month compared to August of last year. A review of speed limits is being prepared by Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers and it is expected to be presented soon. Under the proposals, speed limits of 80km/h would be introduced on national secondary roads where the limit currently stands at 100km/h, and the speed limit on local and rural roads would drop from 80km/h to 60km/h. Within towns, cities and residential areas there would be a limit of 30km/h, while roads on the fringes of urban areas could be capped at 50km/h. The changes would mean that speed limits across Cork city, except on arterial and national roads, will be 30km/h. Speaking after the announcement of the planned changes, which are expected to come into effect from early 2024, Oliver Moran, who is a Green Party councillor for Cork City North East, said they were both appropriate and necessary. This is something that has been demanded by parents, cyclists and residents' groups across the city and it will be hugely welcomed, he said. The roll-out of special 30km/h zones across the city has been painstaking. The bureaucratic process involved simply couldnt keep up with demand from residents groups. In March, Cork City Council agreed unanimously to support the Road Safety Authority in 30km/h being the default speed limit on urban roads, Cllr Moran said. Its a crucial step to equalising the road for everyone in an urban environment. "At 50 km/h there is a 70% chance that a pedestrian hit by a car will die, that falls to 10% at 30km/h. He added that under the proposed changes, cyclists and motorist would be travelling at approximately the same speed, reducing one source of conflict between different users of the road. In reality, when traffic lights and junctions are taken into account, it makes little or no difference to motoring journey times. But it means everyone being able to share the road more safely, Cllr Moran said. GARDAI have issued a warning to motorists travelling on the Macroom bypass N22, urging them to be aware of deer in the area. The warning comes following a series of road collisions in recent weeks, whereby drivers have reported a high number of deer crossings on the newly opened bypass. Temporary warning signs have been erected on the new section of the N22 Macroom road to warn road users of the crossing wildlife and to be wary of the potential danger. An Garda Siochana of the Cork, Kerry, and Limerick Southern Region shared: Motorists travelling on the N22 Macroom bypass from Carrigaphooca west of Macroom, to Toonlane, just east of Ballymakeera will have seen new signage. This is due to a number of road traffic collisions with deer crossing the road. Gardai for the Southern region reminded motorists to be aware of the current speed limits and to slow down where possible. The speed limit is 100km and Macroom gardai and Cork West Road Policing Unit will continue with speed checks. Recently a driver was detected travelling at 172km. Macroom councillor Eileen Lynch said: We do appear to have had a massive influx of deer in the area in the last 12 to 14 months. The North Cork Cllr said that the issue of deer crossing was not relevant at the time during the original planning of the Macroom bypass. However, she went on to say that the issue is becoming increasingly more common, not just in Cork but across the country. A representative for the Irish Deer Commission has said: The Macroom Bypass/N22 was built through traditional deer habitat but without any mitigation measures to reduce deer vehicle collisions. The organisation has issued a list of advice for motorists who encounter deer on the busy road. Reduce speed where you see a warning sign and stay alert. Prepare to stop, never swerve as you could hit another obstacle or vehicle. When you see a deer dip your head lights, as the full beam may cause the deer to freeze. I HEARD a lady being interviewed on the radio recently who was selling her home in Cyprus and moving to Ireland permanently because of the weather. I was surprised to hear that, because while Ireland might have a lot going for it, I never thought of the Irish weather as being particularly attractive. I spend a lot of time in Cyprus and have often considered moving there permanently for the same reason - the weather. And theres no shortage of like-minded people harbouring a secret desire to spend as much time as possible in the sun, but it seems the glorious Mediterranean heat isnt for everyone. Andrea Busfield said that she was looking at buying a property in Cork or Tipperary because she was fed up with the changing climate in Cyprus. She said the weather has become too extreme for her and her three horses, five dogs and four cats - but particularly for her horses. She wants them to live like regular horses, grazing in open fields and enjoying the kind of freedom they simply dont get in Cyprus anymore. Andrea, who is an author, is also worried about fires, which she feels are getting more intense. She reckons the weather is noticeably changing for the worst, and she finds the humidity difficult to cope with and worries that her animals are uncomfortable with it too. She previously lived in Afghanistan, which I would imagine is quite hot, and also lived in Austria. She left there because she was tired of their long winters, which makes me wonder how much she knows about the climate she is headed for in the Emerald Isle. She might be better off having a trial run before making a final decision. Im very familiar with the climate in Cyprus and Im not convinced its changing to that extent. Some winters are colder than others and some summers are hotter. Temperatures hit forty degrees in Nicosia in the height of the summer this year and ten years ago it was just as hot up there. There have been years when I was roasted during the Easter period, and other years when Ive been frozen - it changes. There is something else this lady should consider before making her move too apart from the weather. According to the Irish Examiner, new data confirms Ireland to be the most expensive country in Europe for household goods. European Commission figures show Switzerland and Iceland are the only countries in the continent with higher consumer prices. Ireland was the most expensive country in the EU for household expenditure on goods and services last year, with prices 46% above the EU average. The high prices in Ireland are largely driven by expensive alcohol and tobacco, energy, transport, and communications prices. Ireland also has the second highest energy prices in the EU after Denmark. The cost of electricity and gas in the Republic is 38% above the EU average, and prices for communication services are 56% above the EU average. The cost of restaurants and hotels is 28.5% above EU average prices for eating out and tourist accommodation, making Ireland the fourth most expensive after Denmark, Finland, and Luxembourg. Motoring costs in Ireland are the third highest, while public transport prices here are the fourth most expensive, together with Denmark after Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. Sophie Steinebach, of The Broke Backpacker website, has written a blog offering some advice for anyone considering making the move to Ireland. She says that Ireland is a fantastic option, known for its ancient traditions and gorgeous scenery. It oozes charm and offers a unique perspective on contemporary life, but cautions that there are a few things to be considered beforehand - not least how much it actually costs to live there. Sophie adds: Its famously dreary when it comes to the weather. The cost of living in Ireland is among the highest in the EU, and the public transport infrastructure is nothing short of nightmarish. Like everywhere else in the world, it comes with good and bad aspects that need to be weighed up. She also warns: Public transport is notoriously terrible in Ireland. Irish Rail offers an extremely limited service across the island, with all routes running via Dublin. The bus service, operated by Bus Eireann, is a little bit better with an extensive network throughout the country. Transport within the major cities isnt much better, Sophie says, but smaller cities like Cork and Galway are pretty walkable so its less of a concern there, but within Dublin the bus company is universally loathed by the population. She does has some good things to say about Cork. As the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland, staying in Cork should not be overlooked. Its near the sunniest part of the island and is surrounded by some truly stunning scenery. The city maintains an independent spirit - and many locals believe Cork is the nations rightful capital. Cork simply oozes creativity and has an alternative vibe. Sophie goes on: Cork is full of that traditional Irish charm. The inhabitants are very proud of their city, and for good reasons. From its natural surroundings to its vivacious live music scene, Cork has so much to offer expats. Gorgeous scenery, luscious forests, cascading cliffs and understated mountains make Ireland one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. Irish people are friendly and welcoming. On the negative side, she says, The weather is terrible - I cant say for certain whether Ireland has the worst weather in Europe, but Im pretty confident that it probably does. Whilst the east coast isnt quite as bad as the west, it can still get pretty bleak. Im sure Ms Busfield will get a great welcome wherever she decides to settle in Ireland, and that her horses will definitely have a better quality of life. I hope shell be able to say the same for herself. Olivia Kelleher An Irish doctor based in Morocco has spoken of the devastation in the country after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 2,500 people. Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors in the rubble more than 48 hours after Morocco's deadliest earthquake in over six decades devastated villages in the High Atlas Mountains. Dr Clare McCaughey, originally from Bangor in Co Down but who now lives in Marrakesh, said the city "got off lightly" compared to mountainous areas where people were "facing devastation" following the quake. She told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk radio: "Up there you have got very, very poor quality housing. Not much more than mud brick. People have houses that just went straight down. "I was talking to a friend up there right now and despite the best efforts on the ground he is saying now that he is not seeing a whole lot of wounded people. It is basically they died or they got out on time. Because it was that sudden everything shook and the houses came down." Damaged buildings in the mountain village of Moulay Brahim in Morocco after the earthquake. Photo: Phillipe Lopez/AFP via Getty Dr McCaughey said the aftershocks of the earthquake were still being felt in Marrakesh. "There is still fear about that. People in the city not wanting to go back to their houses. Worried about the potential for aftershock and damage to their homes. That is generating still a lot of fear around." She said the Moroccan authorities have worked very quickly to assist impacted persons and areas. "There is a big military response and they have a big major incident protocol in place. No one has ever dealt with anything on this scale before of course and never expected to but that is kicking in. "The military were right up there in the mountains within the first hour or two. It is very time sensitive because there are people who can still be found and helped and that needs to happen." Tourism Meanwhile, Clare Dunne, chief executive of the Irish Travel Agents Association, told Newstalk that most Irish people tend to visit Agadir rather than Marrakesh. "As yet we have no reports of any Irish people being injured or caught up in it. I do have one of my own staff on holiday in Marrakesh and she is safe and well," she said. "Obviously it is very subdued with the three days of mourning. For our own part we want to send our condolences to all of our colleagues and friends and partners in Morocco who are still working. Despite the devastation they are still looking after our clients. We very much appreciate that." Ms Dunne said airports in Morocco remained open and flights were still operating to the country. "I was talking to the managing director of Sunway this morning and he said they havent as yet had any request to change or cancel holidays. "People who were due to go on Saturday went. Everything is operating as normal in the hotels and the resorts. Deciding to go to therapy is always a positive step as it acknowledges the importance of setting aside an hour a week to talk to a therapist or a counsellor about any challenges that may be blocking you. Your reasons for seeing a therapist could range from a major event like the breakdown of a relationship to wanting to explore issues in your life, so it is vital to find an accredited therapist who is a trusted source. The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) has been connecting the community with accredited therapists for more than 40 years. The IACP is the largest counselling and psychotherapy association in Ireland. As well as being a link between those looking for therapy and those providing the service, it maintains practice and training standards. Much of the organisations work involves developing high standards in the profession of counselling/psychotherapy. It has established a comprehensive code of ethics and practise for its members. The IACP embraces equality, diversity and inclusion and operates in a trustworthy and transparent manner. When navigating major life events such as the breakdown of a relationship or the death of a loved one, therapy can be incredibly helpful. Finding the right therapist for you is crucial for the success of your journey. There is more to connecting with the appropriate professional than location. As Jade Lawless, Vice Chair of IACP says: There are different types of issues that therapists will work with. Theres lots of different models of counselling and psychotherapy, but interestingly, research shows that the relationship with your therapist is one of the most defining characteristics for you to feel that therapy is working for you. Thats why its really important to choose a trusted and accredited therapist. Different therapists have different styles. Its okay to test the waters at an initial session and see how that feels before you commit. In other words, shopping around is perfectly acceptable. Our modern society has many challenges that can be navigated through therapy. As Jade points out: Theres the increased use of social media and the fact that its now the norm to work from home. Were accessible to other people 24/7. Children especially find it difficult to move away from their screens. Before, you went to school, you came home to a safe haven whereas now, everything follows you as youre constantly online. This impacts mental health and self-esteem. It can lead us to compromise our own boundaries. Were definitely seeing an increase in anxiety around that in recent years, and also since the pandemic. Jade Lawless is Vice Chair of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). With professionals on hand to help people deal with often difficult issues, its reassuring to know that you can approach your therapist in a totally open and honest manner, safe in the knowledge that everything is confidential. We all know that navigating a personal issue on your own is difficult. In the short term, its beneficial to open up and share your experiences and your fears with a trusted accredited professional, this could bring you comfort and relief. As you move into the relationship with the therapist, you can begin to understand your own thoughts and feelings a little bit better, which will increase your self-awareness. That will increase your confidence and give you new coping skills to navigate life situations. It helps with emotional regulation. You can carry the therapy tools outside the therapy room and apply them throughout your life. The increased use of social media and the transition to working from home mean were now accessible to other people 24/7. This can be a source of significant anxiety. Going to counselling/therapy these days has become more acceptable. But well always be working against some form of stigma which is why its so important to speak openly and understand how counselling can benefit you. Its the age-old adage, a problem shared is a problem halved. If you need someone to talk to, the IACP can help you connect with an accredited therapist in your community. The Find a Therapist Tool gives details of counsellors/psychotherapists in your area including their qualifications, therapeutic services available, and fees charged. www.iacp.ie 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. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced last week the canceling of oil and gas drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The leases were previously sold on Jan. 6, 2021, during former president Donald Trumps term, but were then suspended by the Biden administration in June 2021. The leases would have spanned 10 years and covered 430,000 acres on the Coastal Plain of the refuge. Of the nine tracts sold, two leases were canceled by the lessees after the Biden administration called for a review of the leases. That left seven tracts, with a total of 365,000 acres, which were canceled on Sept. 6. According to the Department of the Interior, a draft from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cited multiple flaws and legal deficiencies in the leasing, including insufficient analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, including failure to adequately analyze a reasonable range of alternatives and properly quantify downstream greenhouse gas emissions; and failure to properly interpret the Tax Act. As such, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland authorized cancellation of the remaining leases. With climate change warming the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the planet, we must do everything within our control to meet the highest standards of care to protect this fragile ecosystem, Haaland said in a statement. President Biden is delivering on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in history. The steps we are taking today further that commitment, based on the best available science and in recognition of the Indigenous Knowledge of the original stewards of this area, to safeguard our public lands for future generations. However, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), who held the remaining seven leases, said it will go to court over the lease cancellations, Reuters reported. AIDEA previously sued after the Biden administration suspended the leases for further review, but the case was dismissed. The government is also proposing new protections for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The proposal would limit future oil and gas leases and other industrial development on 13 million acres of the Special Areas of the reserve, including the Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon and Peard Bay Special Areas. According to the Department of the Interior, these Special Areas are important wildlife habitats for grizzly bears, polar bears, migratory birds and caribou. The proposed rule would completely ban new leases on 10.6 million acres, about 40% of the reserve. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge in the U.S., spanning over 19 million acres. It includes coastal marine, coastal plain tundra, alpine tundra, boreal forest and forest-tundra transitional ecological regions. Alaska is home to many of Americas most breathtaking natural wonders and culturally significant areas, President Joe Biden said in a statement. As the climate crisis warms the Arctic more than twice as fast as the rest of the world, we have a responsibility to protect this treasured region for all ages. Danish delegation inspects feed production condition at factory in Hung Yen, Vietnam Denmark has recently sent experts to Vietnam to provide technical support and take samples for quality inspection to certify conformity of imported animal feed at ports. These activities occurred within the framework of the Sectoral Strategic Cooperation Program (SSC) between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food. Last month, a delegation from Denmark's Department of Livestock Production assessed the conditions of animal feed production at a factory owned by the Hanoi Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Joint Stock Company (Hung Yen branch), located in Vietnam's Hung Yen province. The factory has a complete compound feed production line and a powder supplement production line. The meeting was attended by the Danish delegation to provide technical assistance in improving the institution for Vietnam's livestock industry. The assessment activities of the Department of Livestock Production have ensured urgency, honesty and objectivity, and bear many similarities with the management of feed quality control in Denmark. Experts have also shared more about how law enforcement is implemented on feed management in Denmark. Still, they suggested that the feed factory should further strengthen biosecurity and hygiene. The representative from Hanoi Pharmaceutical and Veterinary Joint Stock Company, Nguyen Quy Cuong, agreed with the points that the evaluation team pointed out. He affirmed that he had drawn many useful lessons from the evaluation done by the Department of Livestock Production to further improve the production process, improve product quality and commit to overcoming shortcomings as soon as possible. - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development - Department of Livestock (Vietnam) Japan temporarily stops import of Swedish pigs, pork over ASF concerns Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has temporarily suspend the import of live pigs and pork from Sweden to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in Japan. This came after Sweden confirmed an outbreak of the diseases in wild boars in the country on September 7. The ministry reiterated that the suspension is to prevent live pigs raised in Japan from being infected with ASF, and is not due to food safety concerns. However, there is also no record of Japan importing live pigs and pork from Sweden during the 2020-22 period. - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Japan) Pennsylvania, US achieves avian influenza-free status Pennsylvania, US, has attained the designation of "highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-free" by the World Animal Health Organization, signalling a significant milestone for the state's poultry industry, Yahoo! News reported. The announcement was made jointly by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Governor Josh Shapiro. This recognition is a significant development for Pennsylvania's poultry sector, which is valued at US$7.1 billion, as it marks a return to normal international trade conditions. The state had been grappling with the outbreak of the current avian influenza strain since April 2022, impacting 31 commercial flocks, 36 backyard flocks, and resulting in the loss of 4,648,240 domestic birds. The journey towards achieving the "HPAI-free" status was a collaborative effort involving a response team comprised of hundreds of veterinarians and specialists from various organizations. These included the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Penn State Extension, and PennAg Industries. Together with poultry businesses, they worked tirelessly to reach this critical milestone. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro expressed his pride in the administration's coordinated and aggressive response to this public health emergency, emphasizing the significance of this achievement. The recently approved budget, signed by Governor Shapiro, allocates increased funding of nearly 6.4% to the Agriculture Department. This funding supports agricultural emergency preparedness and response efforts, including providing US$31 million to assist poultry farmers impacted by the HPAI crisis in covering testing costs and recovering losses incurred by their flocks. The budget also includes a US$1 million investment in funding for the Centre for Livestock and Poultry Excellence at PennAg Industries. This centre plays a pivotal role in supplying the necessary equipment, personnel, training, and research funding that have been instrumental in Pennsylvania's response to the avian influenza outbreak. Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding commended Pennsylvania's coordinated and effective response to the HPAI outbreak, underscoring the collective effort that led to this achievement. Currently, the department is in the process of reviewing applications for the fifth round of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Recovery Reimbursement Grant programme. This initiative aims to reimburse industry stakeholders for the expenses incurred in enhancing biosecurity measures to safeguard against the virus. While the last confirmed infection of the current strain of highly-pathogenic avian flu in Pennsylvania was reported on March 17 in Lancaster County, the state remains under a general quarantine to protect its poultry industry from the virus's spread. The Department continues to conduct testing and monitoring activities state-wide. Despite the absence of recent detections of the most infectious strain of the virus in Pennsylvania, detections in neighbouring states emphasize the need for continued vigilance, particularly with the upcoming wild bird migration season. - Yahoo! News Increase in Vietnam's tra fish exports to Europe Vietnam saw a growing percentage of its tra fish exports to Europe, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP). Exports to Germany have increased 25% so far this year over the same period last year. Exports also grew for those to New Zealand (17%), Sweden (25%) and Finland (by 18-fold), Vietnam Plus reported. Analysts anticipated that declines in other markets will gradually narrow over the rest of 2023 as the holiday season shows promises. There is a hope that tra fish exports may reach nearly US$1.8 billion in 2023. - ScandAsia BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum which opened Sunday in Shanghai. In his letter, Xi noted that the world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century, and a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is gaining momentum. Scientific and technological innovation is an important force for humankind to jointly address risks and challenges and promote peace and development. China will firmly pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win strategy of opening up, continue to expand high-level opening up, continue to promote international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with a more open mindset and a broader range of measures, build a globally competitive open innovation ecosystem, and work with other countries to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for scientific and technological development, Xi said. It is hoped that the Pujiang Innovation Forum will adhere to the theme of innovation, inspire innovative ideas, spread innovative thoughts, augment innovative spirits, and make new contributions to advancing international scientific and technological cooperation and enhancing the common well-being of humankind, Xi added. Themed "Open Innovation Ecosystem: Innovation for Global Connectivity," the 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Shanghai municipal government. Good Meat, the cultivated meat division of food technology company Eat Just, has announced that a group of leading Islamic scholars has advised the firm that real meat made from cells, without raising and slaughtering animals, can be halal if production meets certain criteria. Answering this theological question is a meaningful step forward for international acceptance of cultivated meat since halal consumers represent about 25% of the world's population, the company said. Good Meat said its chicken cell line and production process that were approved by regulators in the US and Singapore do not yet meet the criteria, however, with the clarity the company will work on a process to meet the halal guidelines moving forward, it said. This Shariah opinion from a trio of well-respected scholars in Saudi Arabia comes as cultivated meat begins to enter commerce in the United States and consumers around the world are learning how meat made in this new way can help address global food systems challenges connected to climate change, food safety, food security and animal welfare, it said. The global halal meat market was a $202 billion business in 2021 and is estimated to reach $375.05 billion by 2030, according to some estimates, it said. The Shariah scholars reviewed documentation prepared by Good Meat and attorneys at AlDhabaan & Partners in association with Eversheds Sutherland that described how cultivated chicken, the companys first product, is made. The panel studied details about how the cells are sourced and selected, the ingredients fed to the cells to stimulate growth, how the cells are harvested and how finished products are manufactured. Good Meat also engaged the Halal Product Advisory, a Division of Halal Product Development Company, a fully owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, to advise and assist the company with the official process for halal pre-certification in Saudi Arabia and globally. The scholars concluded that cultivated meat can be halal under the following conditions: The cell line is from an animal that is permissible to eat, such as a chicken or a cow; The animal the cell line is extracted from is slaughtered according to Islamic law; The nutrients fed to the cells are permissible to eat, and do not include any substances that are forbidden to be eaten such as spilled blood, alcohol or materials extracted from animals that have not been slaughtered properly or pigs; The cultivated meat is edible and that it does not harm human health, and this is confirmed by referring to specialists, such as a countrys food regulatory agency. "If cultivated meat is to help address our future food system needs, it has to be an option for the billions of people around the world who eat halal. This landmark ruling provides much needed clarity on how to ensure that is achieved. All companies should work to build a process to meet these guidelines," said Good Meat Co-founder and CEO Josh Tetrick. The above ruling is a positive sign for cultivated meat companies that want to serve areas of the world with large Muslim populations, like the Middle East. In fact, a recent poll of more than 2,000 consumers in six key Middle East countries found that a vast majority of respondents would purchase cultivated meat and switch to it from conventional meat, assuming it was halal, sold at a comparable cost and tasted the same as what they are used to. The GOOD Meat-commissioned study released at last years United Nations Climate Change Conference polled consumers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other countries in the region. TradeArabia News Service Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), one of the worlds largest aluminium smelters, has won the Brandon Hall Group Silver Award for Excellence 2023 for the fourth time in recognition of its training and development initiatives. The award was in recognition of Albas Training & Development Programme (TDP) under the Best Development Programme for Frontline Leaders Category, said a statement. Alba previously won Brandon Hall Group awards in 2016, 2018 and in 2021. The TDP is one of Albas major and long-running initiatives that aim at boosting Bahrainisation by raising the professional calibre of its Bahraini employees through education and skills training, thus enabling them to take positions in supervisory ranks and above. Commenting on this award, Albas Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali said: We are delighted to be recognised amongst the best by receiving the prestigious Brandon Hall Award again for one of our in-house Training & Development Program (TDP). Albas TDP Programme is a top initiative designed with a deep understanding of individual needs and commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth in line with Bahrains Economic Vision 2023. The TDP initiative has allowed us to develop hundreds of nationals throughout the years and today we are proud to have 85% Bahrainisation out of our total workforce. The Brandon Hall Group is a leading global research and analyst firm based in the United States which honours excellence and best practices in learning and development, leadership development, diversity, and inclusion as well as other areas related to human resources management for over 20 years. TradeArabia News Service Katie Hopkins IOM show is a sell out This Wednesday (September 13) Katie Hopkins will be on the Isle of Man for her stand up comedy show. The show, which is now sold out, is being held at the Manx Legion Club in Douglas at 8pm. Hopkins took to instagram to promote her visit and promised the audience they're in for an evening of laughs and will leave feeling better. The show on the Island is part of her UK 'infectious' tour. Tim Crookall MHK appointed as Minister for Infrastructure Tim Crookall MHK (R) receiving his Warrant of Appointment from His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer (L) The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK has confirmed that Tim Crookall MHK will return to the Department of Infrastructure as Minister. Cannan said: Tim Crookall is a committed and experienced politician who has consistently stepped up to serve the Island when needed. Tim fully understands that the Department of Infrastructure is undergoing an evolution and is committed to delivering the vision set out in Our Island Plan. It will be good to have him back in the Council of Ministers. Crookall was appointed Minister for Infrastructure in October 2021 before becoming Minister for Enterprise in June 2022. Crookall said: I am delighted to be asked to return to the Department of Infrastructure. I fully recognise the pressures that the Department is facing and the commitment to refocus its operations. He added that he intends to bring any change proposals to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible and ensure the Department moves forward with focus and purpose. On the eve of Apple's big fall iPhone event , Qualcomm announced it will continue to provide the company with 5G smartphone modems through 2026. Its an indication that while Apple has successfully scaled up its chipset manufacturing efforts and ended its reliance on Intel, the company hasnt been able to do the same with 5G radios as yet. However, it seems Qualcomm believes Apple will eventually be able to manufacture its own 5G radios at enough scale. Qualcomm only expects to supply around 20 percent of the components Apple will need for its 2026 iPhones. Its been clear for a while that Apple intends to build its own modems and bring more of the iPhone supply chain in house. It bought Intels mobile modem business for $1 billion four years ago, getting its hands on useful patents and knowledgeable staff in the process, as The Wall Street Journal notes. However, any plan to manufacture its own smartphone modems at scale evidently hasnt come to pass yet. MGM Resorts confirmed on Monday that it was hit by a cybersecurity issue, shutting down systems across its suite of casinos. The hotel giant owns a notable swath of casinos along the Las Vegas Strip, where some gamblers reported slot machines being taken offline because of the incident. At MGM Resorts' international properties, hotels are currently taking reservations via phone because of website shutdowns. "MGM Resorts recently identified a cybersecurity issue affecting some of the company's systems," the company wrote in a statement. It said the company "took prompt action to protect our systems and data, including shutting down certain systems" in response to the attack. MGM Resorts has not confirmed how widespread the shut down is, what systems have been affected or other details about the incident. Customer anecdotes report issues making reservations, using ATM machines, playing certain games and mobile key entry into hotel rooms, but Engadget has not independently confirmed these reports. While MGM Resorts informed the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department about the incident, the department said in a statement that these types of incidents are typically passed along to federal agencies. Sir Ian Wilmut, the scientist who led the team that cloned Dolly the sheep in 1996, has died at 79. The University of Edinburgh, where he served as a professor before his 2012 retirement, announced his passing today. Dolly was the first successful cloning of a mammal from an adult somatic cell, demonstrating the viability of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). The controversial milestone helped pave the way for todays research on regenerative medicine. Born near Stratford-upon-Avon (also Shakespeares birthplace) in 1944, Wilmut discovered an interest in biology while at school in Scarborough; he later switched his major at the University of Nottingham from agriculture to animal science, kicking off the work he would be most known for. His Ph.D. studies at the University of Cambridge foreshadowed his later breakthroughs, focusing on the preservation of semen and embryos for freezing. In 1972, he became the first scientist to successfully freeze, thaw and transfer a calf embryo, which he called Frostie, to a surrogate mother. Wilmuts work at The Roslin Institute in Edinburgh continued to push the boundaries of animal genetics. He strived to create modified sheep that would produce milk with proteins that could treat human diseases. A year before Dolly, he successfully cloned two lambs (Megan and Morag) whose cells were taken from sheep embryos. University of Edinburgh Dollys successful birth in 1996 marked the first time a mammal was successfully cloned from an adult cell. The scientifically groundbreaking announcement also set off a media firestorm as experts and casual observers wrestled with lab-made mammals ethical implications. Specifically, many wondered: If theyre doing sheep now, how long until they clone humans? Religious groups accused the researchers of playing God. Even those who focused more on the natural world than supernatural ones worried about the potential for making designer humans or something out of The Island of Dr. Moreau. While Dolly proved that cells could be used to create a copy of the animal they came from, Wilmuts next experiment proved that they could also be altered. Polly, born in 1997, was the first genetically modified cloned mammal. His team spliced the hosts genes with a human gene to create a sheep that would produce a protein missing from people with hemophilia. Polly was Wilmuts last cloning experiment. Wilmut moved to the University of Edinburgh the following decade, focusing on using cloning to make stem cells for regenerative medicine. He was knighted in 2008 and retired in 2012. Wilmut was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 2018 and became a patron of a new research program at the university working to slow the diseases progression with next-gen therapies. According to The Guardian, Sir Ian is survived by his wife Sara, his children Helen, Naomi and Dean and his five grandchildren: Daniel, Matthew, Isaac, Tonja and Tobias. The Essex Reporter is a daily digital news website covering the Town of Essex and City of Essex Junction, Vermont. Our beat reporters are on the ground every day covering local government, schools, sports, business and culture. Oman is gearing up to host Food and Hospitality Oman (FHO), the sultanate's largest international business event for the food and hospitality sectors. Now in its 16th edition, FHO will be held from September 18 to 20 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center. Organised by Connect (Oman Exhibitions Organizing Company LLC) and held under the patronage of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources, the event will be inaugurated by Dr Saud bin Hamood bin Ahmed Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources of Oman. Oman Air Catering, a prominent leader within the aviation catering domain that has the logistics capability of over 18,000 meals per day, is the Host Organisation. FHO is being held in partnership with ASaffa Foods SAOG as the Poultry Sponsor. At Oman Air Catering, we are committed to providing unparalleled services by adopting the highest standards of excellence and innovation. Our support for Food and Hospitality Oman reflects the diligent efforts of the Oman Air Catering team to showcase the richness that the Sultanate of Oman enjoys in the food and hospitality sectors, said Al Waleed bin Zaher Al Abri, General Manager, Commercial Affairs, Oman Air Catering. We are delighted to participate in Food and Hospitality Oman as it represents the significance of the food industry in the Sultanate of Oman. It helps to develop market relationships and find new and diverse sources and business in the food and hospitality industry. We also invite guests to visit our platform and learn more about ASaffa Foods products, said Hamdoon Al Suqri, Chief Commercial Officer, ASaffa Foods SAOG. FHO is set to provide a platform for exhibitors from Oman, Bangladesh, Belgium, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE. These industry frontrunners will converge to share ground-breaking innovations, strategic insights, and significant developments in the agriculture, food, and hospitality sectors. Co-located at the event will be the FHO Knowledge Hub featuring insightful workshop sessions accredited by CPD certification. The free-to-attend sessions will promote interactions and thought-provoking panel discussions on subjects such as unlocking the potential of the food industry for a sustainable future and elevating the standards of hospitality as a whole. Among the event's key exhibitors are notable entities such as Oman Air Catering, ASaffa Foods SAOG, Gulf Mushroom, INOX Kitchen Equipment, National Distribution Company, Oman Tourism College and Saraya Distributors. TradeArabia News Service Rural campaigners have called for government action after a goat farmer was 'targeted' by vegan activists encouraging malicious online reviews. The Gourmet Goat Farmer, a farm shop near Avebury that specialises in goat meat, was the subject of a controversial post in the private Facebook group Vegan Wiltshire. A screenshot from the page showed group admin Ian Somerville say: Can we have some negative reviews on this place, please? Theres no way an animal farm should be able to enjoy a five-star rating. In response, the Countryside Alliance, which is campaigning for the government to clamp down on fake reviews that target legitimate businesses, has reiterated its calls for it to be made an offence. While the government have pledged a 'crackdown' on fake reviews, campaigners fear that the new legislation only allows perpetrators to be punished if they are running a competing business. Countryside Alliance director of external affairs, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, said: Cases such as this show why soliciting targeted harassment of law-abiding business owners and employees through malicious fake reviews should be an offence. "We cannot emphasise enough just how much damage it can do to business owners mentally. That is what the sensible changes to the Online Safety Bill that we campaigned for would have done. "The government must listen to the small businesses that are being victimised, and protect their wellbeing and livelihoods from these cranks." Speaking to South West Farmer, Gourmet Goat Farmer owner Laura Corbett said she was shocked by the post and claims to have had "sleepless nights" over the situation. She said: Were third-generation farmers doing our best to modernise, we left dairy eight years ago and have a growing herd of goats. My heart is with the livestock the UK has some of the highest welfare standards in the world and our animals have a free-range lifestyle where they are only housed in winter. We do conservation work and encourage wildlife, and the livestock has regenerative purposes which helps the whole lifecycle. But while Ian Somerville did not accuse the business of substandard practices, he believes free-range farmers have a responsibility to speak out against industrial farming methods. He added: I see posts from firms like GGF far too frequently in my feed and I don't encourage them. Those who bring sentient beings into this world for the sole purpose of using them until they're worn out and then killing them are not on my list of favourite people. This kind of farm makes out that their animals benefit from being farmed there. Although they don't generally mention the larger, industrial kind of farms, the implication is that those farms are somehow wrong. After all, if you set a standard and you shout about it, you must believe that those who don't measure up are substandard. In a post on Facebook, Ms Corbett invited any critics to come and see the farms techniques, but says she received no response. She added that other farms in the area have been the victim of negative reviews and fears that any rural business could end up on a target list. Farmers are being reminded that they can sign up to the UK's post-Brexit Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme next week. The government's new farm support scheme will accept applications from Monday 18 September following roll out delays and criticism from the industry. Since 30 August, farmers have only been able to register their interest in taking part. Those applying will need all the necessary information in place to register, including online maps and land use / cover details,. The SFI will pay farmers for taking actions that support food production whilst protecting the environment. Defra said the 'new and improved' offer includes 23 actions to protect the environment while supporting food production and productivity. Actions available include soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland. Defra Secretary Therese Coffey said: The Sustainable Farming Incentive is important for sustainability - for production and profitability. "With opening up the options, from mid September for everyone, there is likely to be an opportunity for every eligible farmer to join SFI. Farming Minister Mark Spencer added: "Weve done a huge amount to streamline and improve the SFI, making it as simple and flexible as possible for farmers to engage with, apply for and embrace. The scheme will remain flexible to allow for the changing needs and requirements of both farmers and their markets to ensure the best outcomes for food production and the natural environment." Full details of the SFI 2023 were published in June, which confirmed that the scheme's payments will be issued quarterly. Scientists fear World War Three could break out in space after India landed on the Moon. Scientists fear World War Three could break out in space The South Asian country made history last month for becoming the first nation to successfully land a spacecraft on the south pole of the Moon. Experts are now worried that war will break out between countries like India, Russia, China and US over colonisation rights of the lunar surface and other planets. Minerals harvested from the Moon can not only be used to create weapons but also provide fuel for spacecrafts. An Astrophysicist at New York University Abu Dhabi, Dr Dimitra Arti, said: Since agencies around the globe are thinking about establishing permanent human bases on the moon, ice can help with habitation and be used to produce rocket fuel for missions to Mars and elsewhere. In July, the head of UK Space Command, Air Vice Marshal Paul Godfrey, warned Chinese leaders and Russian president Vladimir Putin have been secretly pumping billions into space travel in a plan that could see them build deadly cosmic weapons from minerals mined from the Moon. Bernie Taupin believes he and Sir Elton John are "interconnected mentally". Sir Elton John and Bernie Taupin have worked together for decades The 73-year-old songwriter has worked with the 'Philadelphia Freedom' hitmaker since the 1960s and he insisted it doesn't matter where in the world they are, they are always as close as ever. He told The Times magazine: After years of being together, were just interconnected mentally. The geographical distance doesnt really matter. The pair speak every few days on FaceTime, but Bernie finds it "easier" to wait for Elton to call him. He said: [Yesterday he asked me,] What are you doing? I said, Oh, I just went to get the car washed. And he said, I just went out on the yacht. "Hes on a very well-deserved vacation in the south of France with the family. I always let him call me; its easier that way because of his schedule. I mean, Im just going to the gas station or the market and hes He chuckles. Well, hes Elton John. The pair briefly parted ways professionally in the 1970s, but neither of them felt at ease working with other artists. Bernie recalled: We were both worn out. Wed broken every record and filled every stadium in the country where do you go from there? Probably drugs were involved in their height at that point... We both had that sense of jealousy. Its like the marriage thing: My partners cheating on me. In their personal lives, Elton has two sons with husband David Furnish, while Bernie has just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the day he met fourth wife Heather, and the songwriter described them as an "army of four". He said: Heather and David are really close, because they both manage each of us. Everythings in-house now. We have nobody peripherally taking 50 per cent. We are basically an army of four. Bernie thinks it is possible he could be "dead by now" if he'd never met Elton. Asked what life would have been like if they'd never met, he said: Probably one of two things: I would have ended up driving a tractor and spending every night in the same pub for the rest of my life and be dead by now. Or I would have maintained my obsession with Americana and emigrated. I would like to think [the latter], because it shows more moxie in my personality. And Elton insisted he wouldn't have had the career he's enjoyed without Bernie's creative input. Asked the same question, he said: Id probably be working in WHSmith or a record store. [Our meeting] was serendipity on the biggest scale. Kevin Federline is considering taking his ex-wife Britney Spears to court to ask for more child support, according to a report by TMZ. Kevin Federline is considering requesting more child support from his ex-wife Britney Spears The 45-year-old dancer currently receives $40,000-a-month child support, but that sum is predicated on each parent having their sons - Sean Preston, 17, and Jayden James, 16 - 50 percent of the time. However, in reality, the two boys have been living entirely with their father for the past several years. The former couples eldest son Sean Preston turns 18 on Thursday (14.09.23), the age at which financial support ends. Britney's contributions for Jayden are set to last until he graduates high school in June 2025. Britney, 41, and Kevin's current arrangement, which was put in place after the pop star filed for divorce and before the 2008 conservatorship that gave her father, Jamie Spears, 71, the right to make all her financial, health and personal decisions until that was legally ended in November 2021. In August, Kevin - who also has two kids daughters, Kori Madison, 21, and Kaleb Michael, 19, with his ex Shar Jackson - relocated his entire family to Hawaii with his wife Victoria, 40 - with whom he has two daughters, Jordan Kay, 12, and Peyton Marie, nine - a decision that Britney did not contest. Britney - who recently split from husband Sam Asghari, 29, with the fitness instructor filing divorce papers - was said to be relieved that the child support payments for Sean will soon stop. An insider told DailyMail.com: "Britney is relieved that Sean is turning 18 on September 14 because she is tired of paying Kevin the insane amount of money he is getting." Nicolas Cage says its always a good thing it his late dad August Coppola shows up in his dreams. Nicolas Cage loves it when his dad August Coppola, comes to him in his dreams The Moonstruck star admitted he likes it when his father - who died from a heart attack in 2009 aged 75 - comes to him when he is sleeping as he hasnt seem in person since he passed away. The 59-year-old actor - who changed his last name when he entered Hollywood - told People magazine: I always like it when my father shows up. I haven't seen him in person since he passed on. So when he shows up, that's always a good thing. Nic - who named his and wife Riko Shibata's daughter August Francesca after his dearly departed dad - joked about how he was transported to the Toronto International Film Festival following the tot's first birthday on 7September. He continued to the outlet: "It's becoming a tradition. She had her first, one-year birthday party yesterday. And here I am today. I'm just like sort of transported. The Pig star - who also has son Kal-El, 17, with his ex Alice Kim, 39, and son Weston, 32, with his ex Christina Fulton, 56 - dubbed it a tradition. Nic said: "I think it's a good tradition. We had a nice time together yesterday. The Dream Scenario actor also revealed his top four movies of all time. He told film site Letterboxd: Juliet of the Spirits, Orson Welles Citizen Kane, Truffauts The 400 Blows along with Stanley Kubricks 2001 [A Space Odyssey]. But Nicolas admitted it was hard to narrow down his selection as his list of favourites just goes on and on. MEET THE Chelsea Detective in this original and gripping new crime-drama starring the inimitable Adrian Scarborough, who was made for this leading role as DI Max Arnold, a down-to-earth, wily and wise detective, with no shortage of crimes to solve in Londons beautiful yet brutal borough. The Chelsea Detective Series 1 This Acorn TV Original drama delighted viewers, and earned a legion of fans, when it premiered on Acorn TV and now, hot on the heels of a brand-new second season, The Chelsea Detective Series One is set to make its DVD and digital debut on 11 September 2023 courtesy of Acorn Media International. After separating from his art dealer wife Astrid (Anamaria Marinca Midsomer Murders, Fury), Max (Scarborough) lives on a houseboat on the River Thames in Chelsea, just yards from some of the most valuable real estate in Europe. The highly regarded borough is full of beautiful people, but it has a dark underside of deprivation, violence, greed and murder. Bodies have a way of showing up and things are rarely as they seem, but Maxs determination and knowledge of Londons streets, means hell find a way to root out the truth and bring those responsible to justice regardless of their wealth or status. Together with his trusty colleague, Streatham-born D.C. Priya Shamsie (Sonita Henry Luther, Krypton), Max must investigate a slew of enthralling cases from the strange to the complex, including the death of a lonely stonemason on the London Underground, which, at first, seems like a real-life haunting; the strange disappearance of Robyn Romano, social media sensation and wife of high-profile restauranteur; the stabbing of a well-liked security guard which takes Max from the luxury homes of the super-rich to drug dealing street corners and the murder of a teacher at a prestigious international school. For captivating crime in well-to-do West London, open your casebook for The Chelsea Detective Series One an addictively good police procedural showcasing witty humour, charming characters and spectacular sites. Competition Prize provider Aim Publicity To be in with a chance to win a copy all you need to do is answer the question below, then complete and submit the the attached entry form. Question: Where does DI Max Arnold live in the borough of Chelsea A. Caravan B. Houseboat C. Centre Point GOOD LUCK by Matt Shine for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Closing Date : 21st September 2023 After the sucess of Bachchan Back to the Beginning & Dilip Kumar - Hero of Heroes, FHF is back with another blockbuster festival - Dev Anand @ 100-Forever Young - to commemorate the 100th birthday of the evergreen star. pic.twitter.com/vs5KJhOqak Film Heritage Foundation (@FHF_Official) September 11, 2023 The selection of movies aims to familiarise the younger audience with the memorable roles played by Dev Anand, such as Starring Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala, and Ashok Kumar, Jewel Thief is the iconic spy thriller heist film that revolves around a jewellery expert (Anand), as he and the police attempt to capture a notorious jewel thief, but in the process, their true identities get thoroughly muddled. Johny from Johny Mera Naam (1970) The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) has organised a film festival titled 'Dev Anand@100 Forever Young' to commemorate the birth centenary of Dev Anand.The festival will showcase the legendary actor's iconic movies on the big screen across 30 cities including Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Trivandrum, Chennai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Kolkata, Guwahati, Indore, Jaipur, Nagpur, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Gwalior, Rourkela, Raipur, Noida, Kochi, Aurangabad, Vadodara, Surat and Mohali on September 23 and 24.As reported by The Times of India, the films have been handpicked by FHF in partnership with NFDC and NFAI, who have also restored them. The aim of this festival is to reintroduce Dev Anand's work to a new generation and evoke nostalgia among his admirers, according to officials from I&B and FHF.A film festival is being organised by exhibitors, the Film Heritage Foundation, and the National Film Development Corporation to commemorate the birth centenary of Dev Anand on September 23 and 24. This comes after the successful events 'Bachchan Back to the Beginning' and 'Dilip Kumar - Hero of Heroes' held last year.Known for its suspenseful storyline and memorable performance, C.I.D is a 1956 classic film directed by Raj Khosla. The movie revolves around Inspector Shekhar, who is assigned to investigate a murder case. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of crime, deceit, and secrets.Considered one of the greatest films of all time, Guide is known for its exceptional storytelling, music, and performances. It starred Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman and is based on the novel of the same name by R.K. Narayan.Directed by Vijay Anand, Johny Mera Naam, starring Dev Anand, Hema Malini and Pran was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1970. The film won three awards at the 18th Filmfare Awards for Best Comic Actor to I. S. Johar, Best Screenplay and Best Editing to Vijay Anand.Prithul Kumar, MD NFDC and Joint Secretary (Films) said, "It is important for the public to witness Dev Anand on the big screen once again, just as they did during his heyday decades ago. The NFDC-NFAI is leaving no effort spared to ensure that these films are presented in the best possible way, with hundreds of restoration artists, technicians, graders, DOPs, sound engineers and archivists, spread across multiple cities, are hard at work to once again bring these films to life. The restoration of the films is being undertaken as part of the National Film Heritage Mission and funded by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting."Amitabh Bachchan said, "As Dev saab turns 100 this year, I still remember how his attitude and singular style in his performances would get us out of our hostel beds in the middle of the night, jump the boundary walls of the college to the nearest film theatre repeatedly, just to witness the magic of his charm and energy. And on our way back we would sing along with his songs, his deliveries of dialogue and create this wonderful world he had structured for us to be remembered forever."Suneil Anand, Dev Anands son said, "As we celebrate his centennial, Id like to say that dads movies were decades ahead of their time. Im confident that the fest will be a huge success, and newer audiences will rediscover the youthful magic of my father who will forever stay young on screen." The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) marked a significant step towards its flagship event, the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government, by convening the 4th High-Level Ad-Hoc Working Group (HLAHWG) meeting at the GECF Secretariat. This gathering sets the stage for the Summit, scheduled to take place on March 2, in Algiers, Algeria, with associated events commencing on February 29. The HLAHWG, comprising representatives from GECF member countries, including Algeria, UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Bolivia, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, oversees the preparations for the upcoming edition of this biennial gathering. During the session, the Algerian delegation presented comprehensive updates on the ongoing preparations, as well as insights into the Summit's draft agenda and draft declaration. The GECF Summit represents a pivotal moment for member countries and the global energy community. It serves as a platform for fostering international cooperation, addressing critical energy challenges, and shaping the future of the gas industry. As the countdown begins to the 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government, the GECF looks forward to welcoming leaders, delegates, and stakeholders from across the world to Algiers, where strategic dialogues and collaborative efforts will chart the course for a sustainable, secure, and prosperous energy future, said Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the GECF. -TradeArabia News Service In the world of advertising, there are moments that redefine the industry, and Everest, the iconic spice brand, has just orchestrated one such moment. In a historic move, Everest has brought together two of Bollywood's biggest superstars, Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan, for an unforgettable ad campaign. This collaboration marks the first time in advertising history that these two megastars have joined forces to promote a brand. Amitabh Bachchan sharing his thoughts on the campaign adds, "I've always believed in the power of simplicity, and Everest's campaign encapsulates that essence perfectly. It was an enriching experience to work alongside Shahrukh Khan, and together, we've celebrated the joy of home-cooked meals." Shahrukh Khan also took to social media when the initial teaser was released and shared, "It was soooooooo much fun to work with @SrBachchan after so many years. Came back from the shoot inspired and blessed. And just to let u know he beat me in the run!!!!" R Balki sharing his thoughts says, "I think it's the first time ever that Amitji and SRK are featuring in a commercial together. It was an iconic shoot. They were like two buddies who are meeting on set after years..we were all of course excited but they were even more...it was like shooting with two legendary kids. Never been this ecstatic shooting . Never been sadder that it ended. They are just too cool and special together and I thank Everest from the bottom of my heart for trusting me with this once in a lifetime ad." The campaign doesn't just promote Everest's products; it captures the essence of home-cooked meals and the emotions they evoke. It resonates with audiences on a personal level, reminding them of the comfort and nostalgia associated with homemade dishes. Everest has evolved into India's No. 1 spice brand, available in over 10,00,000 outlets Pan India .This iconic brand exports its products to more than 60 countries and is India's leading spice brand in terms of market share. Everest is celebrated for its commitment to freshness, purity, and authenticity, offering a diverse range of 50 spices and blends. Everest's unwavering dedication to quality and innovation has earned it eight Superbrands titles and recognition as one of India's Iconic brand by economic times & Prestigious Brands. Everest continues to elevate kitchens worldwide with its legendary spices and blends. Kiara Advani News: Speculation is rife in the tinsel town of Bollywood as heartthrob Sidharth Malhotra and the stunning Kiara Advani were recently snapped by the paparazzi at an undisclosed shoot location in Mumbai. Normally, SidKiara are spotted at their date nights and award functions among other public appearances, but to see the duo near a film set has ignited the rumour mills. Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani's last on-screen collaboration in the critically acclaimed film, Shershaah, left audiences spellbound, and fans have been eagerly awaiting a reunion ever since. While there has been no official confirmation regarding the project, insiders suggest that the real-life couple could soon be a part of yet another cinematic gem after their first collaboration ended up with a Special Jury Award at the 69th National Film Award. Fans have taken to social media platforms, expressing their enthusiasm and anticipation for this potential collaboration. X (formerly Twitter) saw hashtags like #SidKiara and #BollywoodsHottestPair trending, with fans speculating about the genre and storyline of the mysterious film. As the rumour mill continues to churn, only time will reveal the truth behind this exciting speculation. Until then, fans will have to content themselves with anticipation and hope for an official announcement that will undoubtedly send waves of excitement through Bollywood fans worldwide. Given their undeniable on-screen chemistry, industry experts believe that a project starring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani could be a box-office hit waiting to happen. Chris Evans Wedding: Hollywood heartthrob Chris Evans has tied the knot with his 26-year-old sweetheart, actress Alba Baptista, in a wedding ceremony that remained tightly under wraps. The couples wedding came as a shock to their fans who are now eager to learn more about the woman who captured the heart of Captain America. Chris Evans Gets Married To Alba Baptista Known for his privacy, Chris Evans had managed to keep his relationship with Alba Baptista largely out of the public eye until reports surfaced in November 2022, revealing their serious romance. The couple, who had been together for over a year, exchanged vows in a discreet ceremony held in Massachusetts, USA. The wedding featured stringent security measures, including non-disclosure agreements for attendees and a strict prohibition on phones. As the news of their nuptials broke, fans were left buzzing with curiosity about the lucky actress who had won Chris Evans's heart and officially taken him off the market. Rumors of their wedding began to circulate after a few pictures surfaced from Boston, Evans' hometown. These photos depicted a lunch gathering at the upscale Newbury Boston hotel, attended by Hollywood celebs like Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey, Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Jeremy Renner, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt. Meet Alba Baptista Born on July 10, 1997 in Lisbon, Portugal , Alba Baptista embarked on her professional acting journey with the series Jardins Proibidos. Following her initial success, she went on to star in various Portuguese television shows and films, including Jogo Duplo, A Impostora, Filha da Lei, and A Criacao. Alba made her Hollywood debut with the Netflix series Warrior Nun, which premiered in 2020 and garnered international attention. Her performance in Warrior Nun catapulted her into the global spotlight and she went on to star in, "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris" which premiered in 2022, and featured esteemed actors such as Lesley Manville from The Crown and Jason Isaacs from Harry Potter. Beyond her acting pursuits, Alba Baptista is committed to making a positive impact through charity works. She is actively involved in volunteering at an orphanage in Cambodia, where she focuses on providing educational support to underprivileged children. Meanwhile, neither Evans nor Baptista has confirmed their wedding. AR Rahman's Concert Marred By Safety Concerns: AR Rahman enthusiasts who flocked to the much-anticipated 'Marakkuma Nenjam' concert in Chennai last night were left disheartened and shaken due to alleged poor event arrangements by the show organizers. Mammootty And Mohanlal To Feature In Big Star Show In Qatar: Malayalam Film Stars Unite For Spectacular Event Attendees, many of whom had spent substantial sums on tickets, voiced their grievances and accused the concert's organisers of neglect. Independent filmmaker and artist Charulatha Rangarajan took to social media to recount her distressing experience, shedding light on the issues faced by concertgoers. In a tweet posted on her X account, Charulatha Rangarajan described an unsettling encounter, stating, "Woke up to having such a weight in my heart. The unsafe feeling I have today is haunting me. One of the people who groped me literally looked into my eyes when I just asked him for the way and move. I'm exhausted. #marakumanenjam #ARRConcert @actcevents @arrahman." Woke up to having such a weight in my heart.The unsafe feeling i have today is haunting me. One of the people who groped me,literally looked into my eyes when I just asked him for the way and move. I'm exhausted.#marakumanenjam#ARRConcert@actcevents @arrahman pic.twitter.com/58SXFOP5kJ Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 11, 2023 To people who are saying don't blame @arrahman he needs to take accountability to give it to the worst event management! Beginning & ending was traumatic,you know how I had to cope?I shut my eyes and was trying to vibe cause I didn't wanna get a panicattack.#MarakkumaNenjam Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 11, 2023 To all the die hard fans who are saying don't blame @arrahman I have his name tattooed,doesn't mean its okay for him not to take accountability for what people went through and pathetic event management overcrowding,Stampede, molestation IS NOT OK. I'm not Okay! #MarakkumaNenjam Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 11, 2023 To all the people who are saying I should have been mindful that these kinda incidents might transpire &lots of women go through this on a daily basis,for me to not make big deal of it! ARE YOU HUMAN? This is traumatising. Literally asking me to sit at home! Wow #marakumanenjam Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 11, 2023 Nightmarish Experiences At 'Marakkuma Nenjam' Numerous fans heading to the concert on Sunday evening found themselves stranded in heavy traffic, causing over a two-hour delay for the public. Social media is flooded with allegations that the concert's organisation was so poor that even ticket holders numbering in the thousands were unable to attend. Fans who anticipated a musical delight expressed their dismay, deeming it their worst concert experience. Bramayugam Big Update: More Exciting Details Unveiled After Mammootty's Eerie Avatar Reveal Meanwhile, as A R Rahman expressed his gratitude to the audience for yesterday's 'MarakumaNenjam' event, the comment section of his X post was inundated with criticism. These troubling revelations have sparked concerns about the security and overall management of the 'Marakkuma Nenjam' concert, leaving AR Rahman's devoted fans hoping for a swift resolution to address the reported issues and ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience for future events. TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY! Stop ignoring us. This betrayal is worse than the feeling I woke upto! Thank you for treating us like filth!#marakumanenjam https://t.co/u3k6alPmCO Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 11, 2023 JAKARTA, Sept 9, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Through the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum (AIPF) held in Jakarta on 5-6 September 2023 as the flagship event of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, Indonesia showcased 93 cooperation projects worth US$38.2 billion and 73 potential projects worth US$17.8 billion, to encourage cooperation among ASEAN member countries and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region.With a contribution of 64 percent to global economic growth, the Indo-Pacific is considered a strategic region where cooperation should be promoted instead of geopolitical rivalries and conflict, according to Vice Foreign Minister Pahala Nugraha Mansury."AIPF is expected to present the habit of cooperating and building together among ASEAN countries in the Indo-Pacific," Pahala said during a press briefing after the forum's opening in Jakarta on Tuesday.The discussions and business-matching agenda during the two-day forum focus4d on three primary areas of cooperation, including green infrastructure and resilient supply chains, innovative sustainable financing, digital transformation and creative economy.Those sectors, he said, are expected to be new sources of growth in the ASEAN - which is estimated to grow by 4.5 percent this year and the next, according to IMF.As part of Indonesia's ASEAN chairmanship, the AIPF has been held as a platform for promoting constructive dialogue, and concrete collaboration between SOEs and the private sector. "ASEAN is the future and epicentrum of growth. It plays a significant role in the Indo-Pacific region," SOEs Deputy Minister Rosan Roeslani stated.From the Indonesian side, the country offers some cooperation in the development of an alumunium shelter worth USD1.8 billion, the development of Benoa Port in Bali worth USD4.3 billion, as well as a project of a fertilizer factory, toll road, and special economic zone in Sanur, Bali.During the AIPF, Indonesia also promotes cooperation in green infrastructure and sustainable financing in developing the New Capital Nusantara mega-project in East Kalimantan.AIPF was inspired by the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) initiated by Indonesia and adopted by ASEAN member countries in 2019. It aims to strengthen an inclusive regional architecture, encourage collaboration, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and take the existing opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region.AIPF is also aligned with the theme of this year's ASEAN Summit: making ASEAN the epicenter of growth while maintaining peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The ASEAN region is considered to have sufficient capital to become the center of the world's economic growth, with a collective gross domestic product (GDP) of US$ 3.3 trillion in 2021.For more information, please contact:Usman Kansong, Tel. +62-816785320Director General of Information and Public CommunicationMinistry of Communication and Information, IndonesiaPlease visit:http://asean2023.id,https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023,https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023Source: ASEAN SummitsCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. The 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and 11th Salon de TE drew to a successful close yesterday. The World Brand Piazza showcased 10 top-tier watch brands, captivating visitors HONG KONG, Sept 10, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - The physical exhibitions of the 42nd HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and 11th Salon de TE, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd, concluded successfully yesterday. Despite the interruption caused by the extreme weather conditions on Friday (8 September), the four-day physical fairs welcomed nearly 15,000 buyers from 95 countries and regions, bringing brisk trade to the fairgrounds. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, online exhibitions will continue until 16 September, providing additional opportunities for buyers to browse products and conduct business exchanges.HKTDC Deputy Executive Director Sophia Chong said: "As the world's leading watch and clock fair, we are delighted to see more than 700 exhibitors attended our first watch and clock fairs since Hong Kong reopened. Many exhibitors even received orders on the spot. Buyers who attended the fairs were very international. There has been a satisfactory increase in attendance from Mainland China, Middle East and ASEAN countries which added to the fairs' vibrancy."Exhibitors came from 17 countries and regions; the Swiss Independent Watchmaking Pavilion (SIWP) and Franceclat returned to the fairs while the International Luxury Group (ILG) made its debut. Together they showcased a variety of Swiss and international watch brands. ILG Chief Operating Officer Chavadi M.S said Salon de TE was an excellent platform for identifying business partners and OEM suppliers. "We have achieved very satisfactory results at the exhibition that far exceeded our expectations. We have identified Asia-Pacific retailers and distributors as potential business partners. The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE are truly international. We will return next year."The debut 'Guo Chao' theme attracted much attention. A number of heavyweight Chinese watchmakers showcased timepieces that blend Chinese cultural elements with exquisite craftsmanship.Survey: Respondents expect overall sales to grow in coming 2 yearsTo gauge watch and clock industry trends for next year, the HKTDC conducted an on-site survey during the fairs, interviewing about 900 exhibitors and buyers for their views on topics such as market outlook and product trends. The survey found nearly 60% of respondents expect overall sales to grow in the next two years. Most respondents consider South Korea, Australia & Pacific Islands, North America and Japan to offer the best growth prospects among traditional markets, while India, the Middle East, Mainland China and ASEAN countries are the most promising among emerging markets.Smartwatches remain as top trendIn terms of product trends, 26% of respondents expected smartwatches to continue as the most popular watch category, followed by mechanical watches (22%), automatic watches (16%), and quartz analogue watches (14%). They consider fashion watches (34%), smartwatches (32%), and leisure type watches (23%) to have the highest growth potential in future.Hong Kong's Dayton Industrial Co., Ltd. has been in the watch business for more than 60 years and is a world-class smart analogue watch developer and manufacturer. Dayton Industrial Director Paul Anthony Yuen said the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE are the world's largest marketplaces for watches and clocks as well as parts and components. "The Wearable Tech Zone inside Salon de TE provides an important platform for us to promote our smartwatches and look for cooperation opportunities. We have connected with new buyers from France, Germany, Iran, Mainland China, Russia, Sweden and Turkey who are interested in our OEM and ODM services. We are also going to collaborate with a famous horologist to produce innovative hybrid smartwatches."All-new Scan2Match offered alongside Click2Match fosters business opportunitiesAugmenting EXHIBITION+, the fairs launched the Scan2Match function, enabling buyers at the physical exhibition who scan the exhibitors' QR codes with the HKTDC Marketplace app to bookmark their favourite exhibitors, browse product information and e-floor plans, make product enquiries and continue discussions online even after physical fair, extending the interactions from offline to online platforms.Swiss exhibitor Ribawatch (Suisse) Sarl has participated in the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair since 2008. Marketing Manager Rami Taher said: "Due to COVID-19, we were unable to attend the physical fair last year. We are happy to be coming back this year and have high expectations. The HKTDC's Click2Match service has helped us set up six business matching meetings. We have found a Turkish buyer who is interested in our OEM services and two buyers from France and India who want to be distributors of our Rama and RSW brands, respectively. I am confident in securing new orders through this fair. I expect the fair will generate US$1 million in sales for our company."Naouras Dabaan, COO of the Dabaan Group Co., a watch manufacturer and distributor in the United Arab Emirates, noted that he had visited the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair more than 10 times. "At this year's fair, I have met with six new suppliers and 11 existing suppliers. So far, I have placed orders worth US$400,000 in total, with five watch suppliers. I am also going to place two new orders for complete watches worth US$100,000 as well as purchase US$25,000 worth of watch displays. The HKTDC's Click2Match service is very useful, and the brand-new Scan2Match function provides the perfect means for me to collect exhibitor information."Following these two fairs, the HKTDC will hold the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia from 13 to 16 October. Both fairs will also adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model to help SMEs expand their businesses and capture business opportunities.Media enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Frankie Leung, Tel: +852 2584 4298, Email: frankie.cy.leung@hktdc.orgAgnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.orgWebsites- Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com- Salon de TE: https://hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/te- Photo download: https://bit.ly/3rfoJHbAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInSource: HKTDCCopyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing Friday, honoring foreign friends who have promoted humanity's shared values, and facilitated cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world and mutual learning among global civilizations. The Orchid Awards is spearheaded by China International Communications Group, and the Orchid Awards Secretariat is located at the China Center for International Communication Development. 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, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Among the ten foreign awardees were Joseph W. Polisi from the United States, Essam Sharaf from Egypt, Flora Botton Beja from Mexico, and David Ferguson from the United Kingdom. The awardees agreed that fostering deeper people-to-people exchanges and cultivating mutual understanding represented a shared global aspiration. In light of this, they called for more cultural envoys to promote exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations. Regarding their roles in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, the awardees pledged more contributions to enhancing consensus among societies and promoting closer people-to-people ties. Over 300 people from relevant central departments, international organizations, diplomatic envoys in China, representatives of Chinese and foreign think tanks and media organizations attended the ceremony. An international cultural forum was held after the award ceremony. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206269/Orchid_Awards.mp4 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/award-ceremony-held-to-honor-foreigners-for-contribution-to-cultural-exchanges-301922745.html LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Comerica Incorporated ("Comerica" or "the Company") (NYSE:CMA) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors who purchased the Company's securities between February 9, 2021 and May 29, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before October 20, 2023. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at bschall@schallfirm.com. The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Comerica failed to provide effective oversight of its contractors that ran its Direct Express program on a day-to-day basis. The Company failed to maintain compliance with its federal contracts due to poor fraud dispute handling and allowing sensitive information to be managed in Pakistan. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Comerica, investors suffered damages. Join the case to recover your losses. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq 310-301-3335 info@schallfirm.com www.schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782640/deadline-action-alert-the-schall-law-firm-encourages-investors-in-comerica-incorporated-with-losses-of-100000-to-contact-the-firm Regulatory News: BenevolentAI ("BenevolentAI" or the "Company") (Euronext Amsterdam: BAI), a leader in the development of advanced AI that accelerates biopharma discovery, announces the appointment of Catherine Isted, ACMA, who will be joining the Company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect. Catherine is an experienced strategic finance professional and chartered accountant with over 25 years within the life sciences industry. She was most recently Chief Executive Officer of ReNeuron (AIM: RENE), a UK-based leader in stem cell-derived exosome technologies, having previously been CFO. Prior to this, she was at Oxford Biomedica plc (LSE: OXB), a quality and innovation-led viral vector Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), at a time of significant growth for the company, where as part of the finance leadership team, she headed up Corporate Development and Investor Relations as well as worked with the Board on various strategic projects. Previously, Catherine had a successful career in leading healthcare banking teams, 12 years of which at Partner level, holding research analyst and equity sales positions at Morgan Stanley, ABN AMRO, Nomura and Peel Hunt. She started her career as a bench scientist at Merck Sharp Dohme (MSD), before moving into their finance department as an accountant. Catherine holds a first-class Chemistry degree and is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant. Joanna Shields, Chief Executive Officer of BenevolentAI, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Catherine to the BenevolentAI Executive Leadership Team. We have entered an exciting time for the Company and Catherine's experience will be instrumental as we execute our strategic plans and drive growth. Along with the Board and the rest of the leadership, we look forward to working with her to realise the full potential of our pipeline, our platform, and our AI tools." Catherine Isted, Chief Financial Officer of BenevolentAI, commented: "The need to improve the speed and success of the biopharma industry R&D process is indisputable and, as a leader in AI-augmented drug discovery technologies, BenevolentAI is at the forefront of this opportunity. I am delighted to join the team and contribute to unlocking value and growth for BenevolentAI in this exciting area of science." PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF INSIDE INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 17(1) OF THE REGULATION (EU) NO 596/2014 ON MARKET ABUSE (MARKET ABUSE REGULATION) About BenevolentAI BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) is a leading developer of advanced artificial intelligence technologies that unlock the value of multimodal data, surface novel insights, and accelerate biomedical discovery. Through the combined capabilities of its AI platform, its scientific expertise, and wet-lab facilities, the Company is developing an in-house drug pipeline of high-value assets. The Company is headquartered in London, with a research facility in Cambridge (UK) and a further office in New York. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230910101580/en/ Contacts: Enquiries: Investors: Fleur Wood VP Investor Relations fleur.wood@benevolent.ai investors@benevolent.ai T: +44(0) 203 781 9360 Media: Rajin Kang VP Communications rajin.kang@benevolent.ai T: +44(0) 203 781 9360 FTI Consulting: Ben Atwell/Simon Conway/Victoria Foster Mitchell T: +44 203 727 1000 BenevolentAI@fticonsulting.com Letter to Shareholders and Corporate Update Liege, Belgium, 11 September 2023 - 7:30 CEST - Mithra (Euronext Brussels: MITRA), a company dedicated to Women's Health, (the "Company" or "Mithra"), today published a Letter to Shareholders and Corporate Update from Chief Executive Officer, Dr. David Horn Solomon. Dear Fellow Shareholders I have now been CEO of Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA for five months, which makes this a natural point to look back with you at the progress we have made so far. I want to summarize our recent accomplishments and share what we are working on now and what we still need to do. As you will have seen, we recently made a number of announcements documenting the execution of our strategy, which we first laid out for you in May, and encouraging step-wise progress since then. We raised EUR 20 million in a successful equity financing, with potential for up to an additional EUR 45 million in equity. This is an important demonstration of our ability to raise finance during turbulent market conditions and our commitment to transition away from debt financings. We signed a supply agreement for production of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) Estetrol (E4) native estrogen, deepening our relationship with Gedeon Richter, our European marketing partner for Estelle and Donesta . This also will bring savings on cost of manufacturing, significantly improving future profitability for Mithra. and Donesta . This also will bring savings on cost of manufacturing, significantly improving future profitability for Mithra. We received a EUR 1.25 million milestone payment from Fuji Pharma, marking important progress in Estelle's development in Japan. We signed a new Canadian licensing deal for Donesta with Searchlight Pharma, worth up to EUR 17.05 million in licensing and milestone payments plus tiered double-digit royalties. with Searchlight Pharma, worth up to EUR 17.05 million in licensing and milestone payments plus tiered double-digit royalties. We generated about EUR 10 million in cash for operations from our sale of about half of our shares of Mayne Pharma, our U.S. marketing partner for Estelle, where we remain approximately a 5% shareholder. We announced positive preclinical data on a highly innovative novel therapeutic candidate for triple negative breast cancer. We secured access to EUR 12.5 million in financing from Highbridge and Whitebox under the loan facility, which was also amended to better align their interests with our shareholders'. I hope that you will agree that these achievements are significant and consistent with the strategy we set forth in our shareholder letter in May. Our focus is on execution and transparency. Our strategy remains to leverage the two main pillars to our business: the industry-leading research and development organization based here in Liege, Belgium; and our innovative products, the highly differentiated contraceptive, Estelle, and the exciting therapeutic-candidate for symptoms of menopause, Donesta. At the same time, we are actively evaluating the best strategic alternatives for two other non-core businesses owned by Mithra: Novalon, our growing complex therapeutics business, and our state-of-the-art contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO). As they have during the past months, Mithra's businesses will continue to provide access to capital and afford us opportunities to pursue the goals supported by our investors. The most recent financing enables us to enhance our vigorous commercial activities to grow sales of Estelle globally and fund completion of the marketing authorization application for Donesta in the U.S. We can now also continue investing strongly in Donesta, to further expand on its market potential. We aim to differentiate it in the treatment of menopause symptoms, and to demonstrate clinically that its potential benefits extend to other valuable aspects of women's health and well-being. We also are evaluating initiation of clinical development in new and valuable additional indications for Estetrol, such as its potential benefit for improving implantation rates during In Vitro Fertilization. A portion of the proceeds has been reserved to support growing our pipeline to include new innovative medicines for women's health, through internal discovery and/or additional in-licensing. In summary, the financing was an important step in restoring our balance sheet and another step in our move away from dilutive debt financings towards sources for operating capital, like partnering and equity financing, that create alignment amongst shareholders to support long-term value creation. Women's health has traditionally been supported by generic or repurposed medicines, or devices. We believe that there is market demand and great opportunity in bringing innovation back to this therapeutic area, to provide the benefits of impactful new medicines to women of all ages. To take full advantage of these opportunities, alone or in partnership, we must continue to strengthen Mithra financially. To this end, we have appointed advisors to work vigorously on continuing the restructuring the company's debt. Our aim is to rapidly rationalize the capital structure and make it more compatible with the exacting criteria of our current supportive investors, as well as the most respected institutional specialist investors in the U.S. and around the world. Mithra's executive leadership is working closely and in lock-step with our Board of Directors to execute on our strategy. While pleased with recent progress, we are not complacent and feel great urgency to continue to "right the ship" and successfully return to smooth sailing together with our loyal shareholders, to whom we are most grateful. It is gratifying to look back on what we have achieved in a relatively short period of time - and exciting to consider what is to come. With best regards, David Horn Solomon Chief Executive Officer For more information, please contact: Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA David Horn Solomon Chief Executive Officer investorrelations@mithra.com (mailto:investorrelations@mithra.com) Investor & media relations Chris Maggos Cohesion Bureau chris.maggos@cohesionbureau.com (mailto:chris.maggos@cohesionbureau.com) +41 79 367 6254 About Mithra Mithra Pharmaceuticals SA (Euronext: MITRA) is a Belgian biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming Women's Health by offering new choices through innovation, with a particular focus on contraception and menopause. Mithra's goal is to develop products offering better efficacy, safety and convenience, meeting women's needs throughout their life span. Mithra explores the potential of the unique native estrogen estetrol in a wide range of applications in women health and beyond. After having successfully launched the first estetrol-based product in 2021, the contraceptive pill Estelle, Mithra is now focusing on its second product Donesta, the next-generation hormone therapy. Mithra also offers partners a complete spectrum of solutions from early drug development, clinical batches and commercial manufacturing of complex polymeric products (vaginal ring, implants) and complex liquid injectables and biologicals (vials, pre-filled syringes or cartridges) at its technological platform Mithra CDMO. Active in more than 100 countries around the world, is headquartered in Liege, Belgium.www.mithra.com ESTELLE and DONESTA are registered trademarks of Mithra Pharmaceuticals or one of its affiliates. Important information The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words "believes", "estimates," "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", "plans", "continue", "ongoing", "potential", "predict", "project", "target", "seek" or "should", and include statements the Company makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Subscribe to our mailing list on investors.mithra.com (https://investors.mithra.com/en/contact/subscribe) to receive our press releases by email or follow us on our social media : Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/company/1456363/) Twitter (https://twitter.com/mithrapharma) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mithrapharmaceuticals/) Attachments READING, United Kingdom and WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Emerson, a respected former airspace executive, as Chairman of the Board. Emerson's rich leadership experience, proven in his previous senior executive roles at Airbus, as well as his current engagement in the space industry, will be key in guiding ALL.SPACE as it moves its fifth generation 'smart terminal' into initial production, set for release in Q4 2023. With a distinguished career in aerospace and defense, Chris brings a wealth of experience to the company, having previously served as Chairman and CEO of Airbus US Space and Defense and, prior, President of Airbus Helicopters Inc. His other executive roles included marketing, product strategy, and finance. "ALL.SPACE is pioneering the next generation of satellite communication with our inventive smart terminal," said Chris Emerson. "Our technology will transform how individuals and organizations access and use satellite and cellular communications, setting us apart in the industry and enabling our customers to truly harness the power of every major network through one device." The smart terminal expands ALL.SPACE's connectivity capabilities by converging advanced communications over multiple networks and operators, offering 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular multi-network integration plug-and-play options. This provides the unique advantage of connecting all satellite operators across all orbits and all cellular operators across all available networks, further cementing ALL.SPACE as a provider of the world's most convergent communications platform. John Finney, Founder and CEO of ALL.SPACE, said: "We are on the cusp of a pivotal era in global communications. As we complete terminal performance and reliability verifications, and adhere to Mil Standard environmental testing, we are also in the early phases of scaling our worldwide commercial operations. Focused on delivering high-quality, resilient communications, our initial market entry is dedicated to serving the needs of NATO and Five Eyes defense markets. With successful ongoing pilots and trials, and the implementation of our production capabilities at scale, we are now preparing for early customer deliveries. Under the proficient guidance of our newly appointed Chairman Chris Emerson, ALL.SPACE is all set for a strong market entry with our revolutionary 'SMART' terminal platform." ALL.SPACE's aim is to extend global connectivity and explore new markets demanding next-generation satellite services through innovative minds and ground-breaking technology. With the appointment of Chris Emerson as Chairman, ALL.SPACE propels ahead to revolutionize the industry standard for connectivity - One Device. All Networks. No Compromise. About ALL.SPACE ALL.SPACE, is an industry-leading global satellite communications company pioneering the development of next-generation technologies. With a vision of delivering ubiquitous connectivity across land, air, and sea, ALL.SPACE creates cutting-edge solutions to address the complex challenges of today's evolving satellite industry. Investors in ALL SPACE include Seraphim Space Investment Trust, AEI HorizonX, Promus Ventures through its Luxembourg based space investment fund, Orbital Ventures, SES, Firmament Ventures, UK government's Future Fund, Space Angels and family office investors such as Waterlow Management Limited and Boka Capital. For more information, please contact: Anne Wainscott-Sargent, Corporate Communications +1 (404) 435-5784 media@all.space Nigel Fox, CFO nigel@all.space A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db8c5596-ba88-42b2-aa3d-a253af6d8531 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chair of the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee, is hosting the extended 45th Session Held from 10th to 25th September in Riyadh. This will be the first in-person session of the World Heritage Committee in four years. Composed of representatives from 21 States Parties elected by the General Assembly, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the use of the World Heritage Fund, the decision on sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, and the state of conservation of World Heritage Sites. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was unanimously elected by representatives of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to be the chair of the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee and to hold the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The decision acknowledges the Kingdom's prominent role in supporting global efforts in heritage preservation and protection, in line with the goals of UNESCO. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee commenced with an opening ceremony, which was held at the historic Al Murabba Palace. A dazzling display themed "Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow" was put on for guests, and served to highlight the importance of protecting and celebrating culture and heritage as the world modernises and transforms for a better future. His Highness Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Saudi National Commission For Education, Culture and Science said, "Saudi Arabia is pleased to host the extended 45th session of the World Heritage Committee. Heritage is core to Saudi Arabia's identity, and a unifier of the nation and the world. The Kingdom's contributions to this important international dialogue demonstrates our commitment to preserving culture and heritage for generations to come. Alongside UNESCO and partners, we look forward to facilitating greater global collaboration and collective capacity-building in safeguarding global cultural heritage, to achieve our shared vision of global sustainable development." Saudi Arabia is home to vast heritage and diverse culture. Currently, Saudi Arabia is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr), At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah, Historic Jeddah, Rock Art in the Hail Region, Al-Ahsa Oasis and ?ima Cultural Area. One further site in Saudi Arabia is nominated for consideration at this year's Committee session. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206646/1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206647/2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206648/3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206649/4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206650/5.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206651/6.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206652/7.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206653/8.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/45th-session-of-the-unesco-world-heritage-committee-convenes-in-saudi-arabia-301923282.html ORLANDO, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Holiday Island Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK:HIHI) who recently completed a reverse-merger with XA Interactive, Inc., a prominent player in the secondary recovery oil and gas sector is proud to announce a game-changing acquisition that signifies a significant milestone for both companies. In a strategic and undisclosed all-stock transaction, XA Interactive has successfully acquired all assets of Louisiana Onshore Exploration, which encompass a wide array of valuable resources, including operating wells, revenue, pumpjacks, drilling equipment, and a sprawling land portfolio comprising thousands of acres of land leases under management. This acquisition is set to redefine the energy exploration landscape, consolidating XA Interactive's position as a key player in the industry. By combining forces with Louisiana Onshore Exploration, XA Interactive reinforces its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable energy solutions. Michael Prozer, Chairman of XA Interactive, expressed his enthusiasm for this transformative move: "The acquisition of Louisiana Onshore Exploration's assets represents a strategic leap forward for XA. We are excited to welcome their team, resources, and expertise into our organization, which aligns seamlessly with our vision for long-term growth and innovation in the energy exploration sector. Together, we'll harness our collective strengths to unlock new opportunities and continue delivering reliable, sustainable energy solutions to our clients." Chris Roy, V.P of Land for Louisiana Onshore Exploration, commented on this acquisition: "We are excited to join forces with XA Interactive in this landmark transaction. This opens up new avenues for growth and innovation in the energy sector. We believe that our assets, and expertise will bring significant value to XA, and will create a dynamic synergy that benefits both companies and our stakeholders. We are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration that will drive the industry forward while ensuring continued excellence in energy exploration and production." Josh Cohen, CEO of Controlled Capital, who played a crucial role in orchestrating this strategic roll-up, also weighed in on the acquisition: "This transaction marks a significant achievement for both XA Interactive and Louisiana Onshore Exploration. We believe that this partnership will create synergies, enhance operational efficiency, and drive enduring value for all stakeholders involved."This acquisition follows the signing of a definitive agreement by both parties, solidifying their commitment to this transformative relationship. For media inquiries and further information, please contact: Media Contact: E-Mail: josephine@xainteractive.com Company Name: XA Interactive, Inc. Contact Person: Josephine Vargas City: Orlando State: Florida Country: United States www.xainteractive.com Investor Relations: Controlled Capital 112 W 34th St New York, NY 10120 Direct - (917) 584-7042 www.controlledcap.com About XA Interactive (OTC PINK:HIHI): XA Interactive is a dynamic player in the secondary recovery oil and gas sector, focused on harnessing innovative solutions to unlock the hidden potential of energy resources. With a commitment to sustainable growth and operational excellence, XA Interactive is dedicated to making a positive impact within the industry. About Controlled Capital: Controlled Capital is a leading financial advisory firm specializing in energy transactions. With a wealth of experience and expertise, Controlled Capital provides strategic guidance and facilitates impactful partnerships and financing options within the energy industry. Forward-Looking Statements: THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS". FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE STATEMENTS CONCERNING ESTIMATES, PLANS, OBJECTIVES, GOALS, STRATEGIES, EXPECTATIONS, INTENTIONS, PROJECTIONS, DEVELOPMENTS, FUTURE EVENTS, PERFORMANCE OR PRODUCTS, UNDERLYING (EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED) ASSUMPTIONS AND OTHER STATEMENTS THAT ARE OTHER THAN HISTORICAL FACTS. IN SOME CASES, FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF FORWARD-LOOKING WORDS SUCH AS "ESTIMATED," "BELIEVES," "SEEK," "EXPECTS," "MAY," "WILL," "SHOULD," OR "ANTICIPATES," OR THE NEGATIVE OF THESE WORDS OR OTHER VARIATIONS OF THESE WORDS OR COMPARABLE WORDS, OR BY DISCUSSIONS OF PLANS OR STRATEGY THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. MANAGEMENT WISHES TO CAUTION THE READER THAT THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, STATEMENTS REGARDING THE COMPANY AND ITS PLANS OR INTENTIONS, ESTIMATES, GOALS, COMPETITIVE TRENDS AND OTHER MATTERS THAT ARE NOT HISTORICAL FACTS ARE ONLY PREDICTIONS. NO ASSURANCES CAN BE GIVEN THAT SUCH PREDICTIONS WILL PROVE CORRECT OR THAT THE ANTICIPATED FUTURE RESULTS WILL BE ACHIEVED. ACTUAL EVENTS OR RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY EITHER BECAUSE ONE OR MORE PREDICTIONS PROVE TO BE ERRONEOUS OR AS A RESULT OF OTHER RISKS FACING THE COMPANY. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SHOULD BE READ IN LIGHT OF THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN EARLY-STAGE COMPANY THAT HAS LIMITED ASSETS AND OPERATIONS, THE COMPARATIVELY LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE COMPANY, THE INTENSE COMPETITION THE COMPANY FACES FROM OTHER ESTABLISHED COMPETITORS, THE UNCERTAINTIES ARISING OUT OF THE LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES THAT DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACT DEVELOPMENT-STAGE COMPANIES. ANY ONE OR MORE OF THESE OR OTHER RISKS COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THE FUTURE RESULTS INDICATED, EXPRESSED, OR IMPLIED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT TO REFLECT EVENTS, CIRCUMSTANCES, OR NEW INFORMATION AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNANTICIPATED OR OTHER SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. SOURCE: XA Interactive, Inc. via PRISM Mediawire, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782612/xa-interactive-acquires-all-assets-of-louisiana-onshore-exploration-in-a-landmark-all-stock-transaction Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - Riverside Resources Inc. (TSXV: RRI) (OTCQB: RVSDF) (FSE: 5YY) ("Riverside" or the "Company"), Riverside is pleased to announce that it has signed an option agreement with private owners to acquire 100% in several mineral concessions in the Boundary District of Southern British Columbia in an area that is traced northward as the geologic and structural extension of the Republic and Toroda grabens which are well-endowed gold districts to the immediate south in northernmost Washington State across the USA border. The Republic District has produced over 3M ounces in gold over the past several decades and is a well-established gold camp; however, the Canadian side has not seen much epithermal gold development and Riverside, over the current summer 2023, has made a number of mineralization finds and acquired key tenures as the start of a new gold program in southern BC. The Company has staked the prospective geology to include over 107 kilometers square that includes key locations of known gold occurrences and now significantly expanding and finding new showings of mineralization through the field programs. This prospective geology in southern BC extends northward from the historic Kinross Gold's Knob Hill (~4M Oz Au Produced)1,2 and Buckhorn Gold (~1.3M Oz Au)1,2 mines in Washington State. The Riverside tenure in British Columbia is prospective for low sulfidation epithermal style gold-silver mineralization. Riverside's work includes building upon previous generative work including BC Government databases, fieldwork, and Geoscience BC research data bases to create a structural interpretation of the district and has led to the discovery of several prospective vein targets inside the tenures controlled by Riverside. Property Description and Program Actions: The Elly Project is a series of mineral tenures that Riverside Resources (BC) Inc. staked and includes some core claims optioned from private owners that the Company sees have gold potential within a region that hosts historic gold and base metal producers and many mineral prospects. The Elly Project is within the Christian and Granby valleys of Grand Forks and Greenwood, BC. The project has excellent road access through major highways and secondary highways and a network of logging roads. Recent logging has exposed many new areas for mineral exploration and opened up access in the area. Elly program for Riverside is an example of the generative mineral exploration approach: working with historic data and following up with stream sediment sampling, rock sampling, and active prospecting to expand our understanding of the known mineral locations. The field program during 2023 has located the Bunch Grass Target as one of several priority zones as work continues into the autumn as assays continue to come in. Figure 1: Blue graben faults trending northward into southernmost BC with the Franklin and Greenwood Camps being key locations for the Elly Project. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/180196_b365ad54f44adb05_002full.jpg Modified from https://adamera.com/projects/overview/. The Republic and Toroda Grabens comprise structural features that bound Paleogene-age alkalic volcanics (Sanpoil Volcanics) and siliciclastic (O'Brien Creek Formation, Klondike Mountain Formation) rocks. Gravity and structural trends suggest that the Republic and Toroda Grabens and other analogous extensional basins extend northward into Canada. Sedimentary and volcanic fill in the Republic Graben exceeds 3000 m and gold and silver, with lesser Pb, Zn, Te mineralization occurs in various levels of the Paleogene units. Figure 2: Simplified diagram showing extensional tectonic environment in a Horst-Graben terrain and the gold mineralization at Elly is along the Normal fault structures as the primary control for the Eocene epithermal gold in the Republic Graben and its extension northward from northernmost Washington State, USA up into the Grand Forks region of British Columbia. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6101/180196_b365ad54f44adb05_003full.jpg At Elly as in the Republic Gold Mining District to the south the graben faults are a major structural control where Paleogene-age gold mineralization is deposited adjacent to the more favorable reactive host rock stratigraphy in the paleo-near surface environment. At Elly, the Company has begun to integrate the structural geology and reconstruction of the basins for targeting. Riverside has completed a first phase of generative exploration starting with stream sediment sampling prospecting and rock sampling. These samples have been shipped to ALS Laboratories in North Vancouver and the company awaits the results. The Company signed a Letter Agreement (LA) wherein the Company may acquire up to 100% interest in the Elly-Anika and Chilco projects located in British Columbia, Canada. Under the LA, the Company is granted a sole and exclusive right and option to acquire up to 100% interest in the said property by making the following cash payments and incurring the following exploration expenditures as follows: Due date Cash Exploration expenditures Upon the date of LA (May 3, 2023) $10,000 (paid) - On the first anniversary of the LA date (May 3, 2024) $15,000 20,000 On the second anniversary of the LA date (May 3, 2025) $30,000 20,000 Qualified Person: This news release was reviewed and approved by Freeman Smith, P.Geo., a non-independent qualified person to Riverside Resources, who is responsible for ensuring that the geologic information provided within this news release is accurate and who acts as a "qualified person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. 1. Kinross Annual Report, 2012. 2. https://adamera.com/projects/overview/ About Riverside Resources Inc.: Riverside is a well-funded exploration company driven by value generation and discovery. The Company has over $7M in cash, no debt and less than 75M shares outstanding with a strong portfolio of gold-silver and copper assets and royalties in North America. Riverside has extensive experience and knowledge operating in Mexico and Canada and leverages its large database to generate a portfolio of prospective mineral properties. In addition to Riverside's own exploration spending, the Company also strives to diversify risk by securing joint-venture and spin-out partnerships to advance multiple assets simultaneously and create more chances for discovery. Riverside has properties available for option, with information available on the Company's website at www.rivres.com. ON BEHALF OF RIVERSIDE RESOURCES INC. "John-Mark Staude" Dr. John-Mark Staude, President & CEO For additional information contact: John-Mark Staude President, CEO Riverside Resources Inc. info@rivres.com Phone: (778) 327-6671 Fax: (778) 327-6675 Web: www.rivres.com Mehran Bagherzadeh Corporate Communications Riverside Resources Inc. Phone: (778) 327-6671 TF: (877) RIV-RES1 Web: www.rivres.com Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking information. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology (e.g., "expect"," estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "plans"). Such information involves known and unknown risks -- including the availability of funds, the results of financing and exploration activities, the interpretation of exploration results and other geological data, or unanticipated costs and expenses and other risks identified by Riverside in its public securities filings that may cause actual events to differ materially from current expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180196 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Aflac Incorporated Photo: Daniel Teague and brother, Austin, get a taste of astronaut life during their trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Originally published on Aflac Newsroom Six-year-old Daniel Teague loves everything about outer space and has his sights set on becoming an astronaut. He is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia but will not let that slow him down in his pursuit to blast off to the stars in a few years. In the meantime, Daniel and his family recently visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida to learn what it takes to be an astronaut, thanks to Aflac and Make-A-Wish South Carolina. Getting ready for takeoff On Aug. 1, Aflac granted Daniel's wish at a surprise celebration hosted at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Gen. Charles "Charlie" Duke, a retired S.C. astronaut, who walked the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, shared a special video message to get Daniel ready for takeoff. Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits, helped deliver Daniel's wish and give him a few travel essentials - Aflac luggage, an Aflac plush duck, packing cubes, a water bottle and a blanket. "Making this wish come true for Daniel is another way for Aflac to celebrate his strength and courage - and to give him extra joy and hope," said Ruff. "Aflac is happy to work with Make-A-Wish South Carolina, as we continue our 28-year commitment to supporting children with cancer, their families and health care teams." Make-A-Wish South Carolina grants wishes that bring hope, joy and support to local children with critical illnesses. Since 2018, Aflac has donated nearly $50,000 to grant seven wishes. AGC2300900 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Aflac Incorporated Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporated Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782718/a-wish-upon-a-star--in-outer-space AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Exports in the Netherlands declined for the fourth straight month in July, according to figures published by the statistical office CBS on Monday. Exports dropped 0.9 percent year-on-year in July, following a 1.0 percent rise in the previous month. The nation exported fewer chemical and metal products in July, the agency said. At the same time, shipments of machinery and equipment advanced from last year. Data showed that the volume of imports was 2.2 percent higher in July compared to a year ago. Citing its export radar, the CBS said conditions for exports in September were more unfavorable than in July, mainly due to the fact that German producer confidence was more negative, and the growth of German industrial production turned into a contraction. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / The polyurethane adhesives made in Henkel's Elgin, IL production facility are utilized across markets and applications - from food packaging to building construction and from kitchen and bath fixtures to recreational vehicles (RVs). As the highest volume polyurethane manufacturer in Henkel's North American network, product manufactured in this plant serves multiple customers worldwide. Learn more in this segment of AViewFrom: Elgin, Illinois. Constructed by Henkel, the Elgin, IL site located on Gasket Drive broke ground in the late 1980s and has been an essential contributor to the company's success ever since. Today, nearly 100 employees from engineering, product development, quality management, logistics, and operations make this vibrant, five-day-a-week, three-shift site a powerhouse of production, technical expertise, and innovation. Both liquid and hot melt polyurethane adhesives are produced here at massive scale - totaling thousands of tons annually. The adhesives - sold under the LOCTITE, LIOFOL, TECHNOMELT, and TYCEL brands - are used to build flexible food packaging like drink and coffee bean pouches, provide structural stability to RVs, encapsulate electronics for protection, and enable engineered wood products used for mass timber building assemblies among others. Unique among production facilities, Elgin is in the product development and innovation business, too. We have a product development lab, are working actively with the innovation team on exciting initiatives for the water filtration market, and of course, are focused on manufacturing advanced liquid and hot melt polyurethanes. The collaboration is invaluable and the feedback loop very short! Drew Thaler, Director of Operations at the Elgin Plant Dwight Heinrich, Product Development Senior Manager, agrees: "I like that we have R&D on-site and work with innovation teams across the Henkel organization on special projects. This enables Elgin to showcase some of our important customer partnership initiatives and highlight the significance of the materials made here." Having been an integral part of the Henkel operations footprint for over 30 years, the 165,000 sq. ft. Elgin plant has seen several expansions and incredible transformation. Current and upcoming investments and improvements include decarbonization efforts, integration of digital capabilities, and water efficiency enhancements. "One of the most impactful additions has been our distributed control system," says Thaler. "This helps automate our production process, taking manual controls - like pressure regulation and material additions - out of the equation. Our operations team is then free to focus on other important manufacturing tasks." The plant is investing in technology to support the sustainability goals of the organization. A focus on water conservation includes a planned electrolysis system which will maintain clean water, reduce consumption, and remove corrosion from piping to improve overall water cleanliness and efficiency. COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION ACROSS THE REGION: Polyurethane chemistry has uses in a variety of markets. One of the new applications has been in the water filtration market. The Elgin manufacturing team worked with Henkel's R&D specialists in Rocky Hill, CT, to scale a game-changing liquid filtration product. "LOCTITE UK 8050/5050 has been one of our biggest commercial successes in filtration and the foundation for many other formulation developments," shares Alyssa Beebe, Innovation Program Manager in Rocky Hill, emphasizing that the collaboration between development, application engineering, and manufacturing was vital to this achievement. "It was the first adhesive to achieve blister-free performance on membranes, which is tremendous in the filtration space." Blister-free bond lines mitigate the potential for bacterial growth which prolongs the life of the water filter. DID YOU KNOW: "Polyurethanes are used for many lamination applications," says Heinrich. "Did you know that United States passports are coated in materials made here?! That's pretty cool!" A Quality Specialist is loading a sample for tensile testing. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Henkel on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Henkel Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/henkel Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Henkel View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782720/aviewfrom-henkel-north-america-elgin-il ESG100, the first ever large-scale assessment of ESG disclosure compliance ahead of European Sustainability Reporting Standards - indicates significant implementation challenges ahead. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Position Green, the Nordic region's largest, independent pure-play sustainability firm, has published its sixth annual ESG100 report. This study represents an industry first in its assessment of how well-prepared listed companies are for the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), expected to become EU law and implemented on 1 January 2024. In this study, those assessed represent the largest 300 companies from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and some of Europe's most recognizable names, including Volvo, Maersk, Carlsberg, and Scatec. Position Green Logo Based on the 2022 disclosures from companies assessed, the ESG100 reveals a significant overall shortfall in reporting standards, with companies on average making just 54% of the core ESRS disclosures. Scandinavian companies are typically more advanced in ESG disclosures, so data suggests other European companies will have major implementation challenges ahead. With many investors already calling on the EU to tighten mandatory disclosures on emissions and climate risk in the current ESRS draft, the additional gap in compliance may undermine investor confidence at a time when private capital is required to drive net zero. With the increased requirements and scope of companies required to report ESG information under ESRS, an estimated 10,300 non-EU-domiciled firms will be affected, including 31% from the United States and 11% from the United Kingdom. With the major expansion of social issues on which companies must disclose, including workforce, workers in the value chain, affected communities, and consumers, there is potential to inflame existing anti-ESG rhetoric in the U.S., specifically with regard to policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This report should therefore serve as an insight into what companies outside of the EU need to address in the lead up to the rules becoming law. The ESG100 finds that the majority of companies now have clear net zero commitments in place, with 62% of firms committing to achieving zero emissions by 2050. However, the majority of climate targets are not matched by credible transition plans - with just 41% of firms having one in place, and only 33% have targets verified by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), a key indicator of credibility. Only three firms, namely Danish clean energy specialists Vestas and building technology firm FLSmidth, and Swedish construction giant Skanska, included the key elements of a robust plan. More companies than ever have reported linking executive remuneration to ESG targets, with 34% disclosing the link, compared to 25% last year. Pressure on boards to incorporate ESG measures in executive pay is clearly driving the move, but this still falls well short of meeting investor expectations. Climate is the area of ESG commanding the strongest investor attention, but only 15% of companies reported the link between executive remuneration and emissions reduction targets, and only 6% provided a detailed description of the KPIs used for performance-related pay, indicating a misalignment in expectations. Data in the report indicates that the majority of companies are now prepared to report on emissions, but gaps do remain, with 15% of firms failing to report even their Scope 1, 25% their Scope 2, and 31% their Scope 3 emissions. Accurate reporting of emissions is critical in providing investors data needed for decisions based on climate impact, risk, and opportunity. With Scope 3 emissions estimated to be up to 11 times larger than a company's direct (Scope 1) operations, to truly decarbonize, the accurate reporting of all three Scopes is critical. Joachim Nahem, Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Position Green, added: "Never before has this report been more timely. There is turbulent political rhetoric surrounding the very nature of ESG, and a key objective of ESRS and the SFDR is to avoid greenwashing, requiring that companies provide investment-grade disclosures. Our findings show that Nordic corporates are not quite there yet, though it remains to be seen if the reporting requirements themselves are too onerous. "In our deepest-yet assessment of the Nordic regions' largest public companies, this report serves as a clear indicator to corporates, shareholders and would-be investors both in and outside of Europe of the challenges ahead. The ESRS will be the deepest, broadest, and most forensic set of ESG rules ever introduced, and so preparing for this is absolutely critical. Position Green looks forward to supporting its partners, current and future clients through this next challenge, and helping drive onwards to a sustainable future." About Position Green Position Green is the largest independent sustainability firm in the Nordic region and a pioneer in ESG transformation. As a pure-play sustainability partner supporting organizations to accelerate their sustainability journey, it provides proprietary ESG reporting software solutions, advisory services, assurance, and a learning and academy offering. Position Green is a member of the UN Global Compact and a partner of GRESB and the SASB Consulting Program, having contributed to the development of the SASB Marine Transportation standards. Position Green is also a certified GRI Training Partner and a CDP Accredited solutions provider. As of July 2023, Position Green has over 600 clients worldwide, including more than 50 GP/LPs, and more than 270 employees across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the UK, the U.S., and Belgium. Contact Information Sandro Pardo Marketing Manager sandro.pardo@positiongreen.com +1 6463279412 Related Files ESG100_PressRelease_US.pdf SOURCE: Position Green View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782741/report-reveals-major-gaps-in-company-readiness-in-countdown-to-landmark-european-sustainability-reporting-rules-becoming-law Available on both iOS and Android platforms starting September 11, 2023, the app is designed to empower tech enthusiasts and anyone interested in the rapidly evolving tech landscape by offering them all the same functionalities as the HackerNoon.com website. EDWARDS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / HackerNoon, the independent publishing platform, is pleased to announce the launch of the HackerNoon App, a purpose-built companion for tech enthusiasts and developers who want to remain engaged with their favorite content anytime, anywhere. HackerNoon Mobile App Banner HackerNoon Mobile App Banner Available on both iOS and Android platforms starting September 11, 2023, the app is designed to empower tech enthusiasts and anyone interested in the rapidly evolving tech landscape by offering them all the same functionalities as the HackerNoon.com website, including the ability to engage in polls, listening to audio, and discovering content personalized to their tastes. With the newly launched app, readers can expect to: Explore Original Tech Stories: Dive into HackerNoon's extensive library of original stories and user-generated content covering the latest tech trends, coding insights, and startup stories. Dive into HackerNoon's extensive library of original stories and user-generated content covering the latest tech trends, coding insights, and startup stories. Listen to Audio on the Go: The app reads stories aloud, keeping readers informed while they're on the move. The app reads stories aloud, keeping readers informed while they're on the move. Create and Manage Playlists: Readers can save their favorite stories to personalized playlists for easy access and quick reference. Readers can save their favorite stories to personalized playlists for easy access and quick reference. Discover Newsletters: Subscribe to favorite contributors in-app and stay up-to-date with their publications. Subscribe to favorite contributors in-app and stay up-to-date with their publications. Engage with a Vibrant Community: Join discussions and shape the future of tech with fellow enthusiasts. Join discussions and shape the future of tech with fellow enthusiasts. Comment Freely: Share insights and dive into tech discussions across stories. Share insights and dive into tech discussions across stories. Discover Personalized Recommendations: The app learns readers' preferences and offers tailored article recommendations. The app learns readers' preferences and offers tailored article recommendations. Build Their Profile: Share interests, skills, and expertise with the community. Share interests, skills, and expertise with the community. Effortlessly Search: Seamlessly explore any topic at any time with HackerNoon's powerful search feature. Seamlessly explore any topic at any time with HackerNoon's powerful search feature. Engage with Polls: Contribute to the collective knowledge of the HackerNoon community through weekly polls. Contribute to the collective knowledge of the HackerNoon community through weekly polls. Stay Informed with Notifications: Receive timely updates and alerts for new stories. Receive timely updates and alerts for new stories. Share and Connect: Easily share favorite articles with friends and colleagues using HackerNoon's diverse social sharing options. The HackerNoon App caters to the modern tech-savvy audience, offering a convenient and accessible way to stay updated on the latest tech trends. Whether they're an experienced technologist or simply curious about the tech world, the HackerNoon App is readers' passport to a richer tech experience. Download the HackerNoon App on your favorite App Store. Click here to download for iOS or here for Android. About HackerNoon: HackerNoon is a global platform built for technologists to read, write, and publish. With an open and international community of 45,000+ contributing writers and 4,000,000+ curious monthly readers, HackerNoon is at the forefront of technology storytelling. Founded in 2016, HackerNoon is an independent technology publishing platform run by David Smooke and Linh Dao Smooke. Visit us on social media: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn Contact Information Sheharyar Khan Editor, Business Technology sheharyar@hackernoon.com Linh Dao Smooke COO, HackerNoon linh@hackernoon.com SOURCE: HackerNoon View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782733/hackernoon-launches-mobile-app-bringing-tech-news-anytime-anywhere Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, September 11 For immediate release 11 September 2023 FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOMETRUST PLC (the "Company") MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 868.30 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company. The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023. Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 19,441,645; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 205,549,658. The figure of 205,549,658 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. For and on behalf of Frostrow Capital LLP Company Secretary For further information, please contact: Victoria Hale Frostrow Capital LLP Tel: 020 3 170 8732 JACKSON, MS / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Survivors of the tornadoes that devastated the Mississippi Delta in March can receive free legal help from Entergy employees. Trained employee volunteers are available to help homeowners and renters in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties file Federal Emergency Management Agency appeals. Entergy has partnered with SBP, a national disaster recovery organization, to train more than 150 employees on the FEMA appeal process. Employee volunteers from across Entergy's four-state service area will guide families who have applied for FEMA assistance and have been denied or received less than what they need to recover. SBP's FEMA Appeals Program helps disaster survivors access more funding to fulfill their immediate and long-term recovery needs, and Entergy is supporting the efforts through a grant and hands-on service. The assistance is provided through one-on-one phone or video consultations. Survivors are eligible to file an appeal if they: Applied for FEMA assistance and received an initial award or response letter. Were denied an SBA loan, are still awaiting a response from SBA, or were not requested by FEMA to apply for a loan. Did not have homeowners/flood insurance, or the coverage was less than $36,000. Owned and occupied their home at the time of the disaster. Renters can qualify for appeals. "We know that seeking assistance from governmental agencies after a disaster can sometimes be a frustrating and confusing process. This effort is just one way we're showing our extended commitment to our customers after the storm," said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. "We're humbled by Rolling Fork's resilience, and grateful to our employee volunteers and SBP for helping the community receive this vital assistance." Customers can sign up to receive assistance by calling 800-276-9511. For more information, visit sbpusa.org/our-mission/advocate/fema-appeals-program. About SBP USA SBP is a national social impact organization dedicated to shrinking the time between disaster and recovery by reducing risk, increasing preparedness and resilience, and improving disaster recovery systems, policies, and programs to better serve the needs of all Americans. Since its founding in 2006 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, SBP has rebuilt homes for more than 4,000 families, with the help of 150,000 volunteers in 16 communities across the U.S. and the Bahamas. About Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Entergy Corporation Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporation Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782916/entergy-to-provide-free-legal-assistance-to-rolling-fork-tornado-survivors TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Green Mountain Energy and IDEA Public Schools hosted a ribbon-cutting last week for a new hydroponic farm and upcoming outdoor classroom at IDEA Achieve Academy and College Preparatory in Haltom City, Texas. The new shipping container facility, named 'Freight Farm,' was made possible thanks to a grant of more than $178,000 from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. For students at IDEA Achieve, the new hydroponic farm offers unique opportunities to explore concepts in engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology, through its use of specialized lighting, pH-controlled fertilizer injectors, computerized controls, and a controlled climate to support plant growth and development. The new hydroponic farm program will also be used in the school curriculum to teach these concepts, as well as all the practical skills associated with them. Outside of the curriculum, students will experience additional learning opportunities on campus farm operations, taste tests, composting, and more. "This is our first and only hydroponic farm in the Tarrant County region, and thanks to Sun Club, over 1,000 students at IDEA Achieve will have access to hyperlocal produce that is sustainably produced year-round using only 5 gallons of water per day," said Deborah Ray, the Child Nutrition Program Director of Farms for IDEA Public Schools. "This supports not only their physical nutrition but increases the diversity of academic and technical learning experiences for our students. The hydroponic farm will have lasting effects in the community, and we couldn't be more excited to officially launch this program with the help of our partners, Sun Club." This project marks the second time IDEA has received a Sun Club grant. In 2018, the organization received $100,000 for a solar array to power the district headquarters building. Freight Farm will be used to expand IDEA Achieve's existing farm program and will be considered the first hydroponic farm for the IDEA Tarrant County region. Eliminating seasonal and logistical barriers to sourcing fresh food, Freight Farm will produce nearly 500 heads of lettuce weekly for students to eat in the lunchroom. "There's something so fulfilling about contributing to the education of young students and teaching them how vital it is to take care of our planet," said Mark Parsons, Vice President and General Manager of Green Mountain Energy. "With the addition of this hydroponic farm, we trust that IDEA Public Schools will continue to encourage students to incorporate sustainability into their lives at school and at home." Sun Club, since its founding in 2002, has empowered local communities and donated over $13 million for sustainability projects with 156 nonprofit organizations, including 34 schools, across Texas and the Northeast. The charitable program supports projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship. Sun Club is funded by Green Mountain Energy, its customers, and its employees. The Freight Farm is set to open in early September, more details to come. To learn more about the farm programming at IDEA Public Schools, please visit ideapublicschools.org/farm. ### About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Green Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub. About IDEA Public Schools IDEA Public Schools believes that each child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a network of tuition-free, K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas and its affiliates. IDEA has been recognized in national rankings for The Washington Post, The U.S. Department of Education's list of Blue Ribbon Schools, and U.S. News & World Report's Top High Schools lists. For the last 16 years, IDEA has sent nearly 100% of its graduates to college and remains on track to uphold that legacy. GME Media Contact Estefania Joy 713-537-5735 media@greenmountain.com Twitter: @GreenMtnEnergy IDEA Media Contact Lynnette Montemayor 512-317-7864 lynnette.montemayor@ideapublicschools.org Freight Farm will produce nearly 500 heads of lettuce weekly for students to eat in the lunchroom. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Green Mountain Energy on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Green Mountain Energy Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/green-mountain-energy Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Green Mountain Energy View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/782973/idea-public-schools-celebrates-new-hydroponic-farm-program-thanks-to-green-mountain-energy-sun-club BOSTON, Sept. 11, 2023the leading Asia Pacific centred biotech CRO with global execution capabilities, announced today an expert panel webinar on Clinical Trials in China: Unlocking the Potential of Advanced Therapies. Novotech is collaborating with Endpoints News to jointly host this webinar. The webinar will examine how China's focus on cutting-edge innovations and collaborations is attracting international biotech companies seeking to unlock the potential of advanced therapies including immuno-oncology, vaccines, cell & gene, and RNA. China accounted for 27.7% of the global clinical trials activity in 2022, according to GlobalData. The panel will also discuss the significant benefits China offers clinical stage biotech companies including but not limited to: strong appetite from foreign sponsors to run trials, lower trial density and low risk of competing trials, large pools of patients, high patient recruitment rates, high number of active investigators and efficient regulatory pathways. Webinar When: September 13, 2023 Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm EDT REGISTER HERE Key learnings from the webinar will include China's current clinical trial environment, market potential, and the specific advantages it offers for conducting clinical trials in advanced therapies. Topics covered include: What are China's strengths in advanced therapies? What are the potential challenges of conducting clinical trials of advanced therapies in China? What are the current and future opportunities for biopharma? The expert panelists are: YI ZHANG DIRECTOR, BIOLOGICAL CELL THERAPY CENTER, THE FIRST AFFILIATED HOSPITAL OF ZHENGZHOU UNIVERSITY ANGELA MEN CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, ZHEJIANG HAICHANG BIOTECH CO., LTD XIAOYE HE HEAD OF MEDICAL & PV, NOVOTECH CHINA CHARLEY SHA HEAD OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS, NOVOTECH CHINA MODERATOR ARSALAN ARIF FOUNDER & PUBLISHER, ENDPOINTS NEWS Novotech has more than 3,000 employees operating across 25 geographies with 34 office locations, including Greater China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Europe. The CRO offers biotech's a unique and unparalleled suite of early to late-phase services across the US and Europe, with a foundation in Asia Pacific where the company has built a reputation for delivering high-quality expedited clinical trials. Recognized for its industry-leading contributions, Novotech has received numerous prestigious awards, including the CRO Leadership Award 2023 and the Asia Pacific Cell & Gene Therapy Clinical Trials Excellence 2022 award. Additionally, the company was honored with the Asia-Pacific Contract Research Organization Company of the Year Award. Its commitment to collaboration is evident in the 50 Leading Site Partnership agreements it has signed over the past three years. About NovotechNovotech-CRO.com Founded in 1997, Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading Asia Pacific centred Contract Research Organization (CRO) with global execution capabilities. The Company has established itself as a clinical CRO with labs, phase I facilities, drug development consulting services and regulatory expertise. It has experience in over 5,000 clinical projects, including Phase I to Phase IV clinical trials and bioequivalence studies. Novotech employs over 3,000 staff globally across 34 office locations. Novotech is positioned to serve as a partner and ally to small and medium-sized biotech, biopharma and pharma sponsors seeking to conduct clinical trials in Asia Pacific, the US and Europe. For more information visit Novotech CRO Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - The Board of Directors of Bear Creek Mining Corporation (TSXV: BCM) (OTCQX: BCEKF) (BVL: BCM) ("Bear Creek" or the "Company") announces that Mr. Anthony Hawkshaw, Vice Chair of Bear Creek and former Chief Executive Officer, has taken a medical leave of absence from the Board while he continues his battle against a significant health threat. Commencing immediately and for the duration of this temporary medical leave, Mr. Hawkshaw will cease his duties as a director of the Company and will not participate in a quorum in respect of Board meetings and resolutions. Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, Chair of Bear Creek, states, "On behalf of the Board and all at Bear Creek, we wish Tony a speedy recovery from his current health challenges and every success in his ongoing cancer battle. We will miss Tony's participation in Bear Creek while he is on leave but we know that he is a dogged fighter with a formidable spirit and look forward to when he is able to resume his role with the Company. In the meantime, we wish Tony and his family all the best, now and for the future." On behalf of the Board of Directors, Eric Caba President and Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: Barbara Henderson - VP Corporate Communications Direct: 604-628-1111 E-mail: barb@bearcreekmining.com www.bearcreekmining.com Subscribe to Bear Creek Mining news Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding: the temporary nature of Mr. Hawkshaw's resignation and his potential future resumption of board duties . These forward-looking statements are provided as of the date of this news release and reflect predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events based on the Company's beliefs at the time the statements were made, as well as various assumptions made by and information currently available to them. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to: the nature of Mr. Hawkshaw's health challenge. Although management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions on which they are based do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the expectations expressed in them. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions expressed above do not occur, but specifically include, without limitation, risks relating to general market conditions and the additional risks described in the Company's latest Annual Information Form, and other disclosure documents filed by the Company on its SEDAR page at www.sedar.com. The foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on behalf of the Company, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180231 Open Cosmos, a Harwell, UK-based space tech company, raised $50M in Series B funding. The round saw participation from ETF Partners, Trill Impact, A&G, Accenture Ventures, Banco Santander InnoEnergy Climate Tech Fund and Claret Capital Partners, Taavet Hinrikus and Kheng Nam Lee. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth, delivery and international expansion, broaden its offering and continue to deliver market innovation. Founded in 2015 by CEO Rafel Jorda Siquier, Open Cosmos designs, builds and operates satellites to simplify access to space, empowering organisations worldwide to use satellite data to solve key challenges. Satellites have a range of use cases. Their onboard technology, when combined with AI applications, can measure greenhouse gases, while providing data on global temperature trends and can help monitor the extent of polar ice caps, sea levels, and ocean currents. EO imagery provides enhanced coverage of forests, allowing for the detection of deforestation. During natural disasters, satellite imagery provides real-time data, helping to assess the extent of damage and coordinate relief efforts, while satellites equipped with specialised sensors can detect and monitor oil spills quickly before they are even visible from the ground. Some of the satellites due to launch in the next few months include: MANTIS, funded through UKSA and in partnership with ESA, will produce high-resolution imagery to monitor logistics, energy infrastructure and natural resources IOD6, in partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult, which will focus on monitoring the Atlantic coastal and maritime areas PLATERO, contributed by Spain, will combine Earth Observation and IoT on the same satellite to monitor biodiversity and provide real-time insights in the context of natural catastrophes Today, the company has a team of nearly 70 people distributed across the UK, Spain and Portugal and is looking to expand into Latin America, Middle East and Asia Pacific in due course. FinSMEs 11/09/2023 The success of modern businesses lies in their ability to streamline operations. From boosting productivity to cutting costs and improving inventory management, finding ways to maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality is the primary goal of any business looking to increase profitability and stability. One area businesses should explore for operation improvement is SAPan enterprise software solution designed specifically for companies seeking an edge in the competitive business environment. Through comprehensive analytics, automated processes, and customizable workflows tailored to suit individual company needs, SAP can unlock a world of potential-boosting power beyond what traditional databases offer. This article will explore how SAP can help your business develop a customized approach that will lead you toward operational excellence. What is SAP, and What are The Benefits of Using It for Businesses SAP is a software application that has been around since the 1970s. Initially, it was used by large businesses to manage their logistics and supply chain operations. However, over time, SAP has evolved to offer a comprehensive suite of software solutions that cover everything from finance and accounting to customer relationship management. The benefits of using SAP for businesses are numerous. First, it provides a centralized system for managing all business operations, which can lead to increased efficiency and productivity. It can help businesses make better-informed decisions by providing a real-time view of performance data. Finally, the SAP frontend makes it easy for employees to use the software, which can lead to increased adoption rates and decreased training costs. Ultimately, SAP is a powerful tool businesses can use to streamline their operations and stay ahead of the competition. How to Get Started with Implementing SAP Software in Your Business Operations The first step to implementing SAP software for your business is finding a partner to provide the software and onboarding services. It should be done carefully, as not all partners are created equal. Before deciding, look at their track record, customer feedback, and pricing plans. Once you have selected a partner, they will help you start the implementation process, which includes creating an SAP roadmap and outlining the specific needs of your business. Then, it would help if you decided on a deployment option that best fits your business operations and budget. Options include cloud-based solutions, in-house servers, or third-party hosting providers. Afterward, you can configure and customize the systems settings for your specific needs. Finally, it is essential to ensure that users are appropriately trained in using the system. Doing so will help them take advantage of all the features and capabilities of SAP software. The Latest Features and Advancements of SAP Software SAP is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of businesses. SAP softwares latest features and advancements include real-time analysis, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI). All three can help businesses better understand customer behavior and market trends and identify optimization opportunities. Moreover, SAP has recently released a mobile app that enables users to conveniently access all their business software from any device. It allows employees to monitor progress and make decisions on the go, increasing productivity and collaboration. Finally, SAP offers a range of integration options, allowing businesses to connect multiple applications and giving them a unified view of data across systems. How to Optimize Existing Processes By Leveraging the Power of SAP SAP can optimize existing processes by automating manual tasks, streamlining data entry, and providing real-time reporting. With the help of SAPs analytics tools, businesses can gain insight into how their processes are performing and identify potential areas for improvement. For instance, if youre running an e-commerce business, you could use SAP to track customer orders and inventory levels. This data can be used to customize processes based on customer demand, ensuring that products are in stock when needed and reducing costs associated with overstocking or understocking items. Additionally, SAPs artificial intelligence capabilities enable businesses to make smarter decisions faster by analyzing customer data in real-time. Overcoming Challenges with Deploying and Managing SAP Software Deploying and managing SAP software can be daunting for businesses due to the systems complexity. To make sure that implementation goes as smoothly as possible, it is essential to have an experienced partner who understands your specific needs. Additionally, companies should invest in proper user training and devote adequate resources towards maintenance and support. Finally, businesses need to be mindful that SAP is a long-term investment. Although the upfront costs may seem high, the value of using an integrated system will make itself apparent in the long run through increased efficiency and productivity. With these considerations in mind, companies can maximize the potential of their SAP software and unlock competitive advantages in todays business environment. Best Practices for Making the Most Out of SAP in Your Business Environment To make the most out of SAP in your business environment, you must have a clear roadmap and vision for how you want to use the software. Start by defining goals and objectives for using SAP, then break them into actionable tasks. Additionally, it is essential to have an experienced partner who can provide support throughout the entire process. Once you have implemented SAP in your business, ongoing monitoring and optimization are essential. It involves assessing existing processes and ensuring that the most recent features of SAP are being utilized to their fullest potential. Finally, it is vital to regularly review user feedback to ensure employees are satisfied with the software and getting the most out of it. With these best practices, businesses can ensure their SAP investment pays off. In what came as a heartwarming surprise for Chris Evans fans, the Hollywood actor tied the nuptial knot with his girlfriend, Alba Baptista in an intimate ceremony. A Page Six report claimed that the Captain America actor has married the 26-year-old Portuguese actress. Notably, the ceremony was reportedly a private affair and those attending the event had to sign NDAs. Moreover, mobile phones were also not allowed. As per a source, Chris close friends arrived to grace the dreamy event. These friends included Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr and Thor star Chris Hemsworth. Reportedly, the venue for the wedding ceremony was the couples Boston home in Massachusetts. It must be noted that Chris and Alba are yet to confirm the reports about their wedding. Meanwhile, X (previously known as Twitter) is flooded with photos of Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan Downey, Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky and Jeremy Renner. In the photos, the stars can be seen enjoying a meal in the five-star Newbury Boston hotel. As soon as the photos surfaced on social media, people began to speculate that Chris was likely to get married soon. Later, a few more reports surfaced confirming the same. Besides the Avengers cast, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt were also seen gracing the wedding ceremony. While Chris Evans and Alba Baptista chose to maintain distance from the public eye, reports suggest that they started dating each other in 2021. In November 2022, People Magazine quoted a source informing that Chris Evans was serious about the relationship. They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her, the source said. Moreover, Chris also hinted at his wedding last year when he spoke about starting a family in an interview after he won Sexiest Man Alive 2022 crown. While speaking with People, he had shared, Thats absolutely something I want. Wife, kids, building a family. For those unversed, Alba Baptista is a renowned Hollywood actress who is known for her role in Warrior Nun. The Portugal actress hails from Lisbon. She has been seen in numerous films and shows such as A Impostora, Filha da Lei, A Criacao, and Jogo Duplo. On Monday, Kiren Rijiju shared images of Indias Matsya 6000 submersible on social media. Next is Samudrayaan This is MATSYA 6000 submersible under construction at National Institute of Ocean Technology at Chennai. Indias first manned Deep Ocean Mission Samudrayaan plans to send 3 humans in 6-km ocean depth in a submersible, to study the deep sea resources and pic.twitter.com/aHuR56esi7 Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 11, 2023 But what do we know about the Matsya 6000? Lets take a closer look: The Matsya 6000 is a three-person submersible that will be able to go 6,000 metres under the sea. Meaning fish in Hindi, the vessel is being developed by Chennais National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT). Rijiju on X wrote that the initial journey will be only 600 metres and vowed that the submersible would not disturb the marine ecosystem. As per The Times of India, the Matsya 6000 will likely undergo trials in early 2024 in the Bay of Bengal. The newspaper quoted NIOT director GA Ramadass as saying that the Matsya 6000 is a 2.1-diameter sphere. Made of 80mm-thick titanium alloy, it will be able to withstand a pressure 600 times greater than that at sea level. The Matsya 6000 will be able to operate from 12 to 16 hours straight and will have an oxygen supply of 96 hours. Except for the sphere, we have redundancy for everything. Sometimes double, sometimes triple redundancy. An official sea trial will be certified, and we have gone with DNV-GL for certification. We will also follow standard operating procedure such as deploying the submersible from a ship, which will remain on the surface right above the submersible for easy communication with the underwater vehicle, Ramadass told the The Times of India. Scientists are taking a relook at its design after the Titan submersible disaster earlier this year in which all five passengers including the CEO of the submersible company died. When we were in the planning stage, there was a proposal to use carbon fibre for our submersible but we eventually firmly ruled it out and have insisted on a titanium enclosure, Ramadass told The Hindu earlier this year. Carbon fibre is strong but is not fracture-resistant. At these depths, any thing other than titanium is not recommended, he added. Ramadass said all research missions globally rely on titanium. Ramdass also told the newspaper that the Matsya 6000 also has syntactic foam. This is a flotation device will rise to the top of the ocean thus helping to find the submersible even in case it cannot resurface. According to the newspaper it the Matsya 6000 will feature the ultra short baseline acoustic positioning system (USBL). This will allow the mothership carrying the transponder to send information and the submersible to respond. This will let the mothership know where the submersible is. Only five nations France, the US, China, Russia and Japan have thus far created man submersibles. The Matsya 6,000 will look at chemosynthetic biodiversity in hydrothermal vents and low-temperature methane seeps in the ocean, as per Indiatimes. As per NDTV, the Matsya 6000 will promote tourism and ocean literacy. System design, concept of operation, subcomponents functionality and integrity, emergency rescue, failure mode analysis are reviewed and certified as per the rules of International Association of Classification and Certification Society for man-rated usage of manned submersible at a depth of 6000 metres. The Samudrayaan project is slated to explore the ocean depths for resources. The mission will scout for precious metals such as cobalt, copper and manganese, according to The Times of India. As per Indiatimes, the project will also examine the biodiversity of the ocean. Dr Jitendra Singh, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences, earlier this year said Samudrayaan project is likely to be ready to go by 2026. The Samudrayaan project is part of Indias Rs 4,077-crore Deep Ocean Mission. Critical effort Rijiju in June had said work on the submersible was progressing as scheduled and that it would be ready soon. The Samudrayaan, comprising manned and unmanned exploration, is a very critical effort started by the ministry of earth sciences. The unmanned mission has gone beyond 7,000 metres, while the submersible for the manned mission is under construction, the minister said. I will be overseeing the progress of the construction with our scientists and engineers. I hope we will complete it on time, the minister told reporters here after speaking at the World Ocean Day celebrations at NIOT. He said India will have to play a critical and leadership role in exploration of the ocean and develop resources in a sustainable manner for a balanced ecosystem. Similar to space exploration, we need to go deeper into the ocean and do research. We must be prepared to go much deeper and make India proud Life in the ocean and life on the land are directly connected, Rijiju said at the event and called upon people to rededicate themselves on World Ocean Day to contribute in a much better way to humanity. We must build our future more secure and enrich ourselves with better knowledge systems, live with dignity and respect nature. God has been kind to us. Whatever has been gifted to us through nature must be preserved, the minister said. Rijiju said the initiative would send out a strong positive message that the government is concerned about the lives on land as well as the ocean. He called upon the NIOT scientists to showcase their research outcomes, as these are basically meant to benefit the people. Success stories should be told to people in a better and candid manner, he added. He regretted that the blue economys contribution to the national GDP is less than 10 per cent. We are underperforming. Smaller countries with shorter coastlines have larger contributions to their national economy. This means India will have to ensure that oceans do not remain as a vast potent canvas but utilise the resources in the best possible manner, he added. With inputs from agencies The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers staged a protest today (11 September) in Andhra Pradesh a day after its leader N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to a 14-day judicial custody concerning an alleged scam involving the State Skill Development Corporation. Naidu was arrested on Saturday (9 September) morning by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the alleged scam that took place during his stint as the state chief minister from 2014 to 2019. His arrest has been condemned by the Opposition parties in the state, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Jana Sena Party (JSP) and the Congress. The development comes just months ahead of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls and the Lok Sabha elections next year. Will N Chandrababu Naidus arrest affect the polls in Andhra Pradesh? Lets take a closer look at whats happening. Whats the case? The AP Skill Development Corporation was set up by the Naidu government in 2016 to provide skill training to unemployed youth. The CID probe found that the TDP government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project worth Rs 3,300 crore in collaboration with a consortium consisting of Siemens Industry Software India Ltd and Design Tech Systems Pvt Ltd, as per Hindustan Times (HT). While 10 per cent was to be invested by the AP government, the rest of the cost of the project was to be borne by Siemens. Under the project, Siemens was tasked with establishing six centres of excellence for skill development. It is alleged that the TDP government released Rs 371 crore funds for the project in the first three months of its launch, while Siemens did not invest anything. Out of these funds, Rs 130 crore was spent on the project and Rs 241 crore was allegedly diverted to at least five shell companies, reported Indian Express. These shell companies were allegedly linked to some employees of Siemens and AP Skill Development Corporation. According to the CID, the project was launched without adhering to the standard tendering process. The department also claims that Naidu who it says is the prime conspirator and the TDP benefited from the alleged scam. The CID has signalled that Naidus son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokeshs role is also being investigated, as per NDTV. The CID nabbed the TDP chief at Nandyal in the early hours of Saturday. The former AP chief minister has denied any wrongdoing. I have done nothing wrong. The CID has arrested me without any proof, Naidu said after his arrest. How will it affect polls in AP? Naidus arrest has generated sympathy among TDP workers, who called for a state bandh today to express their protest. #WATCH | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: TDP workers hold protest against the arrest and judicial custody of former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/IHOILhp2g3 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 The TPD has dubbed the arrest illegal and politically motivated, seeking President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shahs intervention. AP is slated to hold state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. According to Indian Express, analysts believe any public sympathy for Naidu might be short-lived. The BJP, which may support the ruling Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the upcoming polls, has condemned Naidus arrest but stayed away from backing the bandh called by the TDP. Naidus TDP had left the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2018 over the Centre not granting special category status to Andhra Pradesh after the bifurcation of the state. He is now trying to return to the NDA fold but has not received a go-ahead so far. The saffron partys ally Jana Sena Party (JSP) of actor-politician Pawan Kalyan is reportedly keen on forging an alliance with the TDP to counter the YSRCP. But the BJP is likely to go with the ruling party for the upcoming polls. The BJPs priority in the south (where its electoral presence is limited) will be to check the Congress. The party has to ensure that the Congresss gains in Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are limited. The YSRCP has more potential for that, a BJP leader told Indian Express in August. In the 2019 AP Assembly polls, the YSRCP registered a landslide victory bagging 151 of the total 175 seats. The TDP was reduced to 23 seats, while the JSP won one seat. The YSRCP also swept the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by winning 22 out of the total 25 seats, while the TDP managed to secure three seats. As per Indian Express, the ruling YSRCP has not lost its electoral footing in Andhra Pradesh. The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led state governments welfare schemes are popular among the public, while the TDP has failed to unite anti-government votes, the newspaper reported in August citing BJP leaders. If the TDP wins in 2024, Naidu may hand over the leadership to his son Nara Lokesh, observers told Indian Express. Political reactions to Naidus arrest Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari, who is also also Naidus sister-in-law, condemned his arrest. JSP chief Kalyan called the incident unfortunate in a democracy. In a veiled attack on chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, the actor-politician said, The manner in which the former chief minister was arrested today (Saturday) is sad. We condemn in the strictest terms the way the state authorities and the ruling party are making arrests on the orders of one leader (chief minister Reddy), reported ANI. As per The Hindu, the JSP has also backed the state bandh called by the TDP. Congress leader Surendra Rajput questioned the timing of Naidus arrest, calling it a political vendetta. #WATCH | Lucknow: On the TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidus arrest, Congress leader Surendra Rajput says, Whatever is happening in Delhi, the Central government is doing it in other states tooWhy do arrests happen when elections are nearThis is political vendetta pic.twitter.com/jGOVTc0d3m ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) September 10, 2023 YSRCP general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy has denied that the arrest was politically motivated. He said as per Indian Express, Chandrababu is alleging vendetta, given he was not named in the first CID FIR. But not naming him in the first FIR itself shows the honesty and integrity of the investigation agencies. This proves there was no political interference in the investigation. He cant escape from this, and if someone thinks he is above the law because he was a former CM, he is wrong! With inputs from agencies Days after a report came to light that the British police had arrested a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China, Beijing dismissed the allegations, dubbing them pure fabrication. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning also asked the United Kingdom on Monday (11 September) to stop spreading false information. The allegation of China spying on the UK is pure fabrication. China firmly opposes it. We urge the UK to stop spreading false information and stop its anti-China political manipulation and malicious slander, Ning was quoted as saying by Reuters. Lets take a closer look at the development. Did China spy on the UK? The UK police said on Saturday (9 September) that they had arrested two men one in his 20s and the other in his 30s in March under the Official Secrets Act. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested two men on 13 March on suspicion of offences under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, Londons Metropolitan Police said, as per AFP. A man in his 30s was arrested at an address in Oxfordshire and a man in his 20s was arrested at an address in Edinburgh, the police added. Searches were also carried out at both the residential properties, as well as at a third address in east London, the force said in its statement. The police said the duo was later released on bail until October. According to UK newspaper The Sunday Times, the man in his 20s was a researcher at the UK Parliament and had access to several ruling Conservative Party MPs. The 28-year-old Briton, who had previously worked in China, had links to UK security minister Tom Tugendhat and foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns, and other senior Tory lawmakers. The researcher had a pass that gave him full access to the UK Parliament buildings, as per The Sunday Times. Sources told BBC that the parliamentary researcher was involved in international affairs issues. Tugendhat reportedly had contact with the suspect before he became security minister in September last year. Kearns, who as per The Sunday Times employed the researcher, refused to comment on the case. While I recognise the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure any work of the authorities is not jeopardised, the Conservative MP was quoted as saying by Sky News. UK PM talks to Chinese official UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday he raised the concern over Beijings interference in Britains parliamentary democracy during a meeting with Chinese premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. With regard to my meeting with Premier Li, what I said very specifically is that I raised a range of different concerns that we have in areas of disagreement. In particular, my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is clearly unacceptable, Sunak said, as per Reuters. Li attended the G20 Summit held over the weekend in India in place of Chinese president Xi Jinping. ALSO READ: From secret agents to police stations: How China spies on the West China reacts A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London called the reports of suspected espionage malicious slander. The claim that China is suspected of stealing British intelligence is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander, the spokesperson said in a statement late Sunday, as per Al Jazeera. The Chinese spokesperson also urged the UK to stop anti-China political manipulation and to stop putting on such self-staged political farce. Researcher claims innocence The man whose identity has not been disclosed by the UK police claims he is completely innocent. I feel forced to respond to the media accusations that I am a Chinese spy. It is wrong that I should be obliged to make any form of public comment on the misreporting that has taken place, the researcher said in a statement. However, given what has been reported, it is vital that it is known that I am completely innocent. I have spent my career to date trying to educate others about the challenge and threats presented by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the researcher said, as per Reuters. UK govts cautious approach The British government on Monday refused to label China as a threat to the country. UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch said the country should refrain from dubbing China a foe. China is a country that we do a lot of business with, Badenoch told Sky News. China is a country that is significant in terms of world economics. It sits on the UN Security Council. We certainly should not be describing China as a foe, but we can describe it as a challenge. Sunaks spokesman, Max Blain, said the UK should use this opportunity to engage with China, not to just shout from the sidelines, reported Associated Press (AP). We are always very clear-eyed about the risks. They do represent an epoch-defining challenge to the UK, (but) we do not think it is right to reduce the approach to just one word, Blain told reporters. UK MPs slam China Speaking to Sky News, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith called the spying allegations very serious indeed, adding it is not the first time that alleged Chinese spies have infiltrated Parliament. He said it is puzzling that the government still does not want to call China a systemic threat. As per BBC, Tory MP Tim Loughton branded Chinas Communist Party a hostile foreign threat. He said, This is yet further evidence of how far the tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) reach into British institutions. Yet again the security of Parliament has potentially been compromised, reinforcing how we cannot view the CCP as anything other than a hostile foreign threat, Loughton added. Keir Starmer, Opposition Labour leader, called upon the British government to set a clear policy on China, rather than division and inconsistency. The very big question now for the prime minister is was this raised when these arrests took place back in March or has it only been raised now that its come into the public domain? he was quoted as saying by Reuters. ALSO READ: Persistent Chinese spy targets UK officials on LinkedIn, seeking classified information in exchange for money or trips Previous Chinese interference allegations There have been other reports of alleged Chinese espionage in the UK. Last year, British intelligence service MI5 warned that a Chinese government agent called Christine Lee had been engaged in political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, engaging with members here at parliament, reported AFP. In July, the UK Parliaments intelligence and security committee claimed that Beijing was targeting the UK prolifically and aggressively, warning that the government did not have the resources, expertise or knowledge to deal with it. It appears that China has a high level of intent to interfere with the UK government, targeting officials and bodies at a range of levels to influence UK political thinking and decision-making relevant to China, the report said, as per BBC. The latest spying allegations could further dampen relations between the UK and China, which have strained over recent years over security, investment and human rights. With inputs from agencies by Bill Benzon As I am writing this (September 11, 2022) the Metaculus prediction site sets arrival of AGI aka artificial general intelligence as early as July 25, 2029, though a more rigorous setting of the question indicates that our incipient machine overlords wont appear until May 26, 2042.[1] As people are interested in and excited by the technology, their imaginations run ahead of their reality-testing. Alas, a significant percentage of those people also believe that, once it emerges, AGI technology will somehow amplify itself into a superintelligence and proceed to eliminate the human race, either inadvertently as a side effect of some other project, such as creating paper clips (a standard example), or deliberately. This strikes me as being wildly implausible. The history of artificial intelligence dates back to the early 1950s, when the first chess program was created and work on machine translation began and is so irregular that I dont see how any reasonable predictions can be made.[2] The future of AI is MOSTLY UNKNOWN. I conclude, then, that belief in AI Doom is best thought of as a millennial cult. It may not have a charismatic leader like Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple, much less be located in an isolated jungle compound. But its belief system closes it off from the world. Its vision of AI is a fantasy that is useless as a guide to the future. AGI as Shibboleth Artificial intelligence was ambitious from the beginning. This or that practitioner would confidently predict that before long computers could perform any mental activity that humans could. As a practical matter, however, AI systems tended to be narrowly focused. The fields grander ambitions seemed ever in retreat. Finally, at long last, one of those grand ambitions was realized. In 1997 IBMs Deep Blue beat world champion Gary Kasparov in chess. But that was only chess. Humans remained ahead of computers in all other spheres and AI kept cranking out narrowly focused systems. Why? Because cognitive and perceptual competence turned out to require detailed procedures. The only way to accumulate the necessary density of detail was to focus on a narrow domain. Meanwhile, in 1993 Verner Vinge delivered a paper, Technological Singularity, at a NASA Symposium and then published it in The Whole Earth Review. Progress in hardware has followed an amazingly steady curve in the last few decades. Based on this trend, I believe that the creation of greater-than-human intelligence will occur during the next thirty years. (Charles Platt has pointed out that AI enthusiasts have been making claims like this for thirty years. Just so Im not guilty of a relative-time ambiguity, let me be more specific: Ill be surprised if this event occurs before 2005 or after 2030.) What are the consequences of this event? When greater-than-human intelligence drives progress, that progress will be much more rapid. In fact, there seems no reason why progress itself would not involve the creation of still more intelligent entities on a still-shorter time scale. [] This change will be a throwing-away of all the human rules, perhaps in the blink of an eye an exponential runaway beyond any hope of control. Developments that were thought might only happen in a million years: (if ever) will likely happen in the next century. That got peoples attention. The concept of the technological singularity provided a new focal point for thinking about artificial intelligence and the future. It is one thing to predict and hope for intelligent machines that will perform this that and the other task. The idea that the emergence of such machines will change the nature of history itself, top to bottom, that is a claim of a different order. In the mid-2000s Ben Goertzel and others felt the need to rebrand AI in a way more suited to the grand possibilities that lay ahead. They settled on the term artificial general intelligence, aka AGI. Goertzel realized that the term had limitations. Intelligence is a vague idea and, whatever it means, no real-world intelligence will ever be totally general. Still, it seems to be catching on reasonably well, both in the scientific community and in the futurist media. Long live AGI! The important point is that the term did not refer to a specific technology or set of mechanisms, as a recent debate between Steven Pinker and Scott Aaronson shows.[3] It was an aspirational term, not a technical one. And so it remains. Thus a few weeks ago technologist named Jack Clark produced a long tweet stream about policy issues in AI. Clark was Policy Director at OpenAI for four years and is a co-founder of Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. In the middle of the tweet stream he observed: If AGI has no coherent definition, then how can one predict when it will occur? It doesnt make sense to build much of anything on the idea, much less the end of humanity.[4] A community seems to have formed around belief in AI Doom Destructive artificial intelligence has been a theme in popular culture for a while. The Terminator franchise is perhaps the best-known fictional depiction of destructive artificial intelligence. Before that we had Stanley Kubricks HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey. One might even argue that the Monsters from Id in Forbidden Planet, from 1956, is another example in fact, I have argued that.[5] But most of the people who watch these and similar films and television programs, and read books on the same theme, these people do not believe that rogue AIs is something we have to worry about, NOW. Some of them may worry about losing their jobs to a computer, but thats quite different from worrying about computers taking over the world and exterminating humanity. But in 2014 Nick Bostrom published Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (Wikipedia): The book ranked #17 on The New York Times list of best selling science books for August 2014. In the same month, business magnate Elon Musk made headlines by agreeing with the book that artificial intelligence is potentially more dangerous than nuclear weapons. Bostroms work on superintelligence has also influenced Bill Gatess concern for the existential risks facing humanity over the coming century. That book, I conjecture, helped move fear of AI Doom from a theme in science fiction to something of concern in the halls of practical affairs. Thus in 2015 a number of and others founded OpenAI as a non-profit research company. Some of the founders, including Elon Musk and Sam Altman, were explicitly motivated out of concern over the potential threat AI posed to humanity. Meanwhile others had been articulating these concerns at various places on the web. You will find a significant concentration of these people within an internet link or three of LessWrong, a blog and internet community that was started in 2009 by Eliezer Yudkowsky, who recently posted a list entitled AGI Ruin: A List of Lethalities a list of reasons why AGI will kill you, which has attracted well over 600 comments as I am writing this. I have no idea how many people fear AI doom thousands, tens-of-thousands, hundreds-of-thousands? I dont know. I do know that some of them are wealthy and are directing some of their wealth toward research on existential risk (the relevant term of art) due to rogue AI technology.[6] Thus one foundation, Open Philanthropy, has so-far given over $200 million toward mitigating Potential Risks from Advanced AI.[7] As Ive not looked through the grants I dont know how much of that is more or less specifically directed at fear of rogue AI. Id guess that that would be a relatively small fraction of the total. Most of it appears to be targeted more generally, where rogue AI is just one thing being looked into. But it IS being investigated. Just how much money is currently chasing after rogue AI project, I do not know. My sense, though, from conversations in the Twitterverse[8] and elsewhere is that the number is rising. Why? The threat might be real, no? Sure, thats what these people think, and they can give detailed arguments about why the threat is real, arguments that have been developed over the last two decades or so. However, I have come to believe that AI Doom, like AGI, functions as a shibboleth, an idea that marks a group such that giving assent to it is necessary for group membership. People believe in AI Doom, not because it is justified by powerful arguments, but because they want to be a member of the club. What about the Japanese? The influence of culture It is by no means obvious to me that concern about AI Doom exists wherever we find substantial communities of AI researchers. In particular, my sense purely anecdotal is that the Japanese do not worry about it. For what its worth, theyre certainly much more interested in anthropoid robots than Americans are and have spent more effort developing them. Frederik Schodt has written a book about robots in Japan: Inside the Robot Kingdom: Japan, Mechatronics, and the Coming Robotopia (1988, and recently reissued on Kindle). He talks of how, in the early days of industrial robotics, a Shinto ceremony would be performed to welcome a new robot to the assembly line. Of course, industrial robots look nothing like humans nor do they behave like humans. They perform narrowly defined tasks with great precision, tirelessly, time after time. How did the human workers, and the Shinto priest, think of their robot compatriots? One of Schodts themes in that book is that the Japanese have different conceptions of robots from Westerners. Why? Is it, for example, the influence of Buddhism? Consider Astro Boy, the best-known robot in Japanese popular culture. There are some robots that get out of control, but they never come close to threatening all of humanity. Rights and protection for robots was a recurring theme in Tezukas Astro Boy stories. Of course, in that imaginative world, robots couldnt harm humans; thats their nature. Thats the point, no? Robots are not harmful to us. But those stories were written a while ago, though Astro Boy is still very much present in Japanese pop culture. More recently Joi Ito has written, Why Westerners Fear Robots and the Japanese Do Not. He opens: AS A JAPANESE, I grew up watching anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, which depicts a future in which machines and humans merge into cyborg ecstasy. Such programs caused many of us kids to become giddy with dreams of becoming bionic superheroes. Robots have always been part of the Japanese psycheour hero, Astro Boy, was officially entered into the legal registry as a resident of the city of Niiza, just north of Tokyo, which, as any non-Japanese can tell you, is no easy feat. Not only do we Japanese have no fear of our new robot overlords, were kind of looking forward to them. Its not that Westerners havent had their fair share of friendly robots like R2-D2 and Rosie, the Jetsons robot maid. But compared to the Japanese, the Western world is warier of robots. I think the difference has something to do with our different religious contexts, as well as historical differences with respect to industrial-scale slavery. Later: This fear of being overthrown by the oppressed, or somehow becoming the oppressed, has weighed heavily on the minds of those in power since the beginning of mass slavery and the slave trade. I wonder if this fear is almost uniquely Judeo-Christian and might be feeding the Western fear of robots. (While Japan had what could be called slavery, it was never at an industrial scale.) Is Ito right? Is fear of robots, of advanced AI, a product of Western culture? Why fear artificial intelligence? Let me say that I really dont know just what Silicon Valley culture has spawned a fear of the most sophisticated of its own creations. Its one thing for Hollywood to creation films about rogue artificial intelligence. Its something else entirely for those fictions to escape from Western cultures imaginarium and take up residence in the hearts and minds of the people creating the technology. Writing in Buzzfeed a couple of years ago, Ted Chiang, the science fiction writer, speculated: I used to find it odd that these hypothetical AIs were supposed to be smart enough to solve problems that no human could, yet they were incapable of doing something most every adult has done: taking a step back and asking whether their current course of action is really a good idea. Then I realized that we are already surrounded by machines that demonstrate a complete lack of insight, we just call them corporations. Corporations dont operate autonomously, of course, and the humans in charge of them are presumably capable of insight, but capitalism doesnt reward them for using it. On the contrary, capitalism actively erodes this capacity in people by demanding that they replace their own judgment of what good means with whatever the market decides. [] The fears of superintelligent AI are probably genuine on the part of the doomsayers. That doesnt mean they reflect a real threat; what they reflect is the inability of technologists to conceive of moderation as a virtue. Billionaires like Bill Gates and Elon Musk assume that a superintelligent AI will stop at nothing to achieve its goals because thats the attitude they adopted. That would seem to be in the same general ballpark as Joi Itos speculation about slavery in the Judeo-Christian world. I have a somewhat different thought, one that is grounded in the nature of current AI technology. For the sake of argument I am going to posit that an intellectual workers deepest sense of agency is grounded in the unvoiced intuitions that they have about the domain in which they work. Those intuitions lead them into the unknown, telling them what to look for, leading them to poke around here and there, guiding them in the crafting of explicit ideas and models. I was trained in computational semantics in the classical era of symbolic computing. I read widely in the literature and worked on semantic network models. I have intuitions about the structure of natural language semantics. Others worked on syntax or machine vision. Deep learning is very different. In deep learning you create an engine that computes over huge volumes of data to create a model of the structure existing in individual items, whether texts or images. This leads to intuitions about how these learning engines work. But those intuitions DO NOTE translate into intuitions about the domain over which a given engine works. Thus the deep learning researchers intuitions are isolated from the mechanisms that are actually operating in the object domain. Those mechanisms are opaque. They cannot have a sense of agency about those mechanisms for they did not design and fabricate them. There is a peculiar sense, then, in which deep learning technology is already out of control. It is a bit like magic. If we cant control it, then surely it will turn on us. This suggestion is not in direct contradiction to the more political and ideological proposals offered by Ito and Chiang. Rather they would seem to be complementary. Beyond this I simply note that the world is changing in profound ways. Belief in Doomsday AI can give us little or no insight into those changes. It will not help us to meet the real challenges posed by AI. Here be dragons. References [1] Heres the URL for the less stringent Metaculus version of the question: https://www.metaculus.com/questions/3479/date-weakly-general-ai-system-is-devised/. Heres the URL for the more stringent version of the question: https://www.metaculus.com/questions/5121/date-of-general-ai/. [2] For a recent version of a long-standing argument against the possibility of artificial intelligence, see Ragnar Fjelland, Why general artificial intelligence will not be realized, Humanities & Social Sciences Communications, 7, 10, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-0494-4. Rodney Brooks has been offering fairly explicit predictions about advances in robotics and AI that are, on the whole, skeptical. See his most recent Predictions Scorecard, 2022 January 01, Robots, AI, and other stuff, https://rodneybrooks.com/predictions-scorecard-2022-january-01/. [3] The debate took place at Scott Aaronsons blog, Shtetl Optimized, in two stages. The first stage had posts by both Pinker and Aaronson followed by 302 responses: Steven Pinker and I Debate AI Scaling, June 27, https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=6524. The second stage again had posts by both Pinker and Aaronson, this time followed by 283 responses: More AI debate between me and Steven Pinker!, July 21, 2022, https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=6593. For what its worth, I commented in both stages. [4] If you want an explicit argument against the possibility of AI apocalypse, Robin Hanson who is something of a fellow traveler to these zealous prophets of doom has provided one, Why Not Wait On AI Risk? Overcoming Bias, June 23, 2022, https://www.overcomingbias.com/2022/06/why-not-wait-on-ai-risk.html. [5] William Benzon, From Forbidden Planet to The Terminator: 1950s Techno-utopia and the Dystopian Future, 3 Quarks Daily, July 19, 2021, https://3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2021/07/from-forbidden-planet-to-the-terminator-1950s-techno-utopia-and-the-dystopian-future.html. [6] See the Mitigation section of the article, Existential risk from artificial general intelligence, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_risk_from_artificial_general_intelligence#Mitigation. [7] See the page, Artificial Intelligence, at Open Philanthropy, August 19, 2022, https://www.openphilanthropy.org/focus/potential-risks-advanced-ai/. [8] For example see this tweet by Timnit Gebru from May 29, 2022, https://twitter.com/timnitGebru/status/1531107974642647041?s=20&t=YUadMIcvZEbNQQHQlzaKFg. China is infamous for its trickery. The country has often been accused of attempts to spy on the rest of the world. Now the United Kingdom has raised an alarm. A British parliamentary researcher was arrested on suspicion of being a Chinese spy in March this year. He is said to have ties to key Tory MPs. A report in The Sunday Times identifies him as Chris Cash, a 28-year-old history graduate. The events have raised new concerns about how Beijing acquires intelligence. The incident comes after reports that China floated a surveillance balloon above the United States earlier this year, triggering a diplomatic uproar. China has used a variety of strategies to gather knowledge on Western nations, ranging from cyber warfare to tech sector worries and industrial espionage. Here are some of the ways China has worked to spy on the West in recent years: Cyber warfare The United States warned in 2022 that the Asian giant represents the broadest, most active, and persistent cyber espionage threat to its government and private sector. According to researchers and Western intelligence officials, China has become adept at hacking rival nations digital systems to gather trade secrets. In 2021, the United States, NATO and other allies said China had employed contract hackers to exploit a breach in Microsoft email systems, giving state security agents access to sensitive information. Chinese spies have also hacked the US energy department, utility companies, telecommunications firms and universities, according to US government statements and media reports. The United States also has its own ways of spying on China, deploying surveillance and interception techniques as well as networks of informants. Tech fears In the technology sector, there are concerns that Chinas state-linked firms would be obliged to share intel with their government. In 2019, the US department of justice charged tech giant Huawei with conspiring to steal US trade secrets, among other offences. Washington has banned the firm from supplying US government systems and strongly discouraged the use of its equipment in the private sector over fears that it could be compromised. Huawei denies the charges. Similar anxiety over TikTok, developed by Chinas ByteDance, animates Western political debate with some lawmakers calling for an outright ban on the app over data security fears. Industrial and military espionage Beijing has leaned on Chinese citizens abroad to gather intelligence and steal sensitive technology, according to experts, US lawmakers and media reports. One of the most high-profile cases was that of Ji Chaoqun, who was in January sentenced to eight years in a US prison for sharing information on possible recruitment targets with Chinese intelligence. Ji was accused of supplying information about eight people to the Jiangsu province security ministry, an intelligence unit accused of engaging in the theft of US trade secrets. Last year, a US court sentenced a Chinese intelligence officer to 20 years in prison for stealing technology from US and French aerospace firms. The man, named Xu Yanjun, was found guilty of playing a leading role in a five-year Chinese state-backed scheme to steal commercial secrets from GE Aviation, one of the worlds leading aircraft engine manufacturers, and Frances Safran Group. In 2020, a US court jailed Raytheon engineer Wei Sun a Chinese national and naturalised US citizen for bringing sensitive information about an American missile system into China on a company laptop. Spying on politicians Chinese operatives have allegedly courted political, social and business elites in Britain and the United States. According to the Sunday Times, the alleged British spy had contacts with MPs from the ruling Conservative Party while working as a parliamentary researcher and has worked on international policy, including relations with Beijing. US news website Axios ran an investigation in 2020 claiming that a Chinese student enrolled at a university in California had developed ties with a range of US politicians under the auspices of Beijings main civilian spy agency. The student, named Fang Fang, used campaign financing, developed friendships and even initiated sexual relationships to target rising politicians between 2011 and 2015, according to the report. Police stations Another technique used by Chinese operatives is to tout insider knowledge about the Communist Partys opaque inner workings and dangle access to top leaders to lure high-profile Western targets, researchers say. The aim has been to mislead world leaders about (Beijings) ambitions and make them believe China would rise peacefully maybe even democratically author Alex Joske wrote in his book, Spies and Lies: How Chinas Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World. Beijing has also exerted pressure on overseas Chinese communities and media organisations to back its policies on Taiwan, and to muzzle criticism of the Hong Kong and Xinjiang crackdowns. In September 2022, Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders said China had set up 54 overseas police stations around the world, allegedly to target Communist Party critics. Beijing has denied the claims. The Netherlands ordered China to close two police stations there in November. A month later, the Czech Republic said China had closed two such centres in Prague. With inputs from AFP Its been 22 years since the 11 September, 2001, attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died. But tens of thousands of others either first responders who rushed in to save lives without thinking about their own safety or people who were simply going about their business that fateful day continue to face health issues. The health issues facing patients are myriad from mental health to respiratory diseases and cancer. Doctors have also identified a World Trade Center cough. Lets take a closer look: Why is it so bad? After the twin towers fell, toxic dust hung in the air for months around Ground Zero affecting tens of thousands of people including first responders and residents of New York. As per The Conversation, that dust comprised a combination of cement dust, particles, asbestos and chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals comprise cancer-causing dioxins and polyaromatic hydrocarbons byproducts of fuel combustion. The dust also contains heavy metals such as lead and mercury known to be lethal to humans as well as the carcinogen cadmium. Cadmium, used to make electric batteries and pigments, is harmful to the kidneys. The toxic brew also contained human-made chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) which are deadly for the nervous system and can hurt the reproductive system. These were made worse by the fuel combustion of the jet engines. The dust comprises particulate matter large, very small, fine and ultrafine. The tiny particles are especially deadly for the nervous system as they can go to the brain straight through the nasal cavity, as per The Conversation. By the numbers Over 80,000 first responders have joined the World Trade Center Health Program, as per UPI.com This free program created under the 9/11 Zadroga Act which was named after a responder who died after working at Ground Zero provides medical monitoring and treatment for first responders affected by 11 September-related illnesses. It also looks after more than 30,000 civilians who lived through the harrowing events including those who lived and worked in the area around Ground Zero and students of schools nearby. Around 80 per cent of those enrolled in the health program are men, as per NY1.com. Around 74 percent of responders have at least one condition directly related to exposure on 9/11, as per Scientific American. The most common conditions among enrolled responders are chronic rhinosinusitis, or nasal inflammation, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cancer, asthma, sleep apnea and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As of June 2021, one per cent of survivors are under age 35 and younger, while two per cent are between the ages of 35 and 44. Over half the enrollees are current or former first responders in the 45-64 age bracket. A third of the survivors are afflicted by digestive illnesses, while a fourth have been diagnosed with cancer. Prostate, breast, skin, thyroid and lung cancer are the most common cancers. Around 30 per cent suffer from numerous health issues. Over 3,000 people in the programme have already passed away, as per UPI.com Survivors speak out Reggie Hilaire, whod just joined the ranks of the police in 2001, found himself standing guard at the ruins of the towers in the aftermath of the attacks. I stood there for 12 hours. I remember someone clearly saying, You should be wearing a mask. And Im like, All right, give it to me. I dont know. No one gave it to me. Hilaire told Ny1.com. Hilaire was also deployed to a landfill on Staten Island where he had to examine piles of toxic debris to try to identify human remains. Hilaire said he worked over 850 hours in those conditions. Then, a few years later, he found something on his neck. My wife was pregnant with our son, and I remember were in bed and shes holding me, and she goes, Whats this lump on your neck? Im like, I dont know. And Im playing around. Its a big lump. So Im moving around, like, Hey, look it, look at this. This is pretty cool. And shes like, No, you got to get that checked out. It was thyroid cancer. It was kind of like, OK, I have a newborn. Cancer? What, what, what? Hilaire told the website. The surgery was successful, but doctors soon discovered that he had multiple myeloma. Remember Charlie Brown, the teacher, when he called bwah bwah bwah? Thats all I heard. I didnt hear anything else. And I was like, This, this cant be. How you mean cancer? I just got another one. Fire Lieutenant James McCarthy added to the website, After a while, everyone was coughing, and that was only a couple of days. Everyone was coughing, and some people more than others. And then when you were off duty, you were coughing. And when you were off a couple of days, you were still coughing. McCarthy, now president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, said few people took precautions. We were told that the air was safe. McCarthy added. So there was a confidence in what werent experts, but just people that told us that it was OK. As per Scientific American, John Feal was a supervisor at a demolition company who arrived at Ground Zero the day after the attack. A few days later, his left foot was crushed in an accident. Feal, who has since faced chronic health issues and had over 40 surgeries, has created a foundation to help responders and survivors. Most Americans just think two buildings came down that day and innocent lives were lost to senseless violence, and that did happen, Feal told the outlet. But many dont know that tens of thousands of people got sick, and many have died since then from their illnesses contracted at Ground Zero. With inputs from agencies Our relationship with pets has changed drastically in recent decades. Pet ownership is at an all-time high, with a recent survey finding 69 per cent of Australian households have at least one pet. We spend an estimated A$33 billion every year on caring for our fur babies. While owning a pet is linked to numerous mental and physical health benefits, our pets can also harbour infectious diseases that can sometimes be passed on to us. For most people, the risk is low. But some, such as pregnant people and those with weakened immune systems, are at greater risk of getting sick from animals. So, its important to know the risks and take necessary precautions to prevent infections. What diseases can pets carry? Infectious diseases that move from animals to humans are called zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. More than 70 pathogens of companion animals are known to be transmissible to people. Sometimes, a pet that has a zoonotic pathogen may look sick. But often there may be no visible symptoms, making it easier for you to catch it, because you dont suspect your pet of harbouring germs. Zoonoses can be transmitted directly from pets to humans, such as through contact with saliva, bodily fluids and faeces, or indirectly, such as through contact with contaminated bedding, soil, food or water. Studies suggest the prevalence of pet-associated zoonoses is low. However, the true number of infections is likely underestimated since many zoonoses are not notifiable, or may have multiple exposure pathways or generic symptoms. Dogs and cats are major reservoirs of zoonotic infections (meaning the pathogens naturally live in their population) caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. In endemic regions in Africa and Asia, dogs are the main source of rabies which is transmitted through saliva. Dogs also commonly carry Capnocytophaga bacteria in their mouths and saliva, which can be transmitted to people through close contact or bites. The vast majority of people wont get sick, but these bacteria can occasionally cause infections in people with weakened immune systems, resulting in severe illness and sometimes death. Just last week, such a death was reported in Western Australia. Cat-associated zoonoses include a number of illnesses spread by the faecal-oral route, such as giardiasis, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis and toxoplasmosis. This means its especially important to wash your hands or use gloves whenever handling your cats litter tray. Cats can also sometimes transmit infections through bites and scratches, including the aptly named cat scratch disease, which is caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae. Both dogs and cats are also reservoirs for methicillin-resistant bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with close contact with pets identified as an important risk factor for zoonotic transmission. Birds, turtles and fish can also transmit disease But its not just dogs and cats that can spread diseases to humans. Pet birds can occasionally transmit psittacosis, a bacterial infection which causes pneumonia. Contact with pet turtles has been linked to Salmonella infections in humans, particularly in young children. Even pet fish have been linked to a range of bacterial infections in humans, including vibriosis, mycobacteriosis and salmonellosis. Close contact with animals and some behaviours in particular increase the risk of zoonotic transmission. A study from the Netherlands found half of owners allowed pets to lick their faces, and 18 per cent allowed dogs to share their bed. (Sharing a bed increases the duration of exposure to pathogens carried by pets.) The same study found 45 per cent of cat owners allowed their cat to jump onto the kitchen sink. Kissing pets has also been linked to occasional zoonotic infections in pet owners. In one case, a woman in Japan developed meningitis due to Pasteurella multicoda infection, after regularly kissing her dogs face. These bacteria are often found in the oral cavities of dogs and cats. Young children are also more likely to engage in behaviours which increase their risk of getting sick from animal-borne diseases such as putting their hands in their mouth after touching pets. Children are also less likely to wash their hands properly after handling pets. Although anybody who comes into contact with a zoonotic pathogen via their pet can become sick, certain people are more likely to suffer from serious illness. These people include the young, old, pregnant and immunosuppressed. For example, while most people infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite will experience only mild illness, it can be life-threatening or cause birth defects in foetuses. Shutterstock What should I do if Im worried about catching a disease from my pet? There are a number of good hygiene and pet husbandry practices that can reduce your risk of becoming sick. These include: Washing your hands after playing with your pet and after handling their bedding, toys, or cleaning up faeces Not allowing your pets to lick your face or open wounds Supervising young children when they are playing with pets and when washing their hands after playing with pets Wearing gloves when changing litter trays or cleaning aquariums Wetting bird cage surfaces when cleaning to minimise aerosols Keeping pets out of the kitchen (especially cats who can jump onto food preparation surfaces) Keeping up to date with preventative veterinary care, including vaccinations and worm and tick treatments Seeking veterinary care if you think your pet is unwell. It is especially important for those who are at a higher risk of illness to take precautions to reduce their exposure to zoonotic pathogens. And if youre thinking about getting a pet, ask your vet which type of animal would best suit your personal circumstances. The Maratha reservation issue is resurfaced at the centre of Maharashtra politics. The Eknath Shinde-led state government has called an all-party meeting today (11 September) to find a solution to the ongoing Maratha quota stir. The fresh protests started after Maratha Kranti Morcha leader Manoj Jarange-Patil went on an indefinite hunger strike in Antarwali Sarathe village of Jalna district on 29 August calling for reservations for Marathas in educational institutions and government jobs. He reportedly announced recently that he has given up water and intravenous support. On Jarange-Patils strike, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said on Sunday (10 September) in Pune, We have made all possible efforts to end Jarange-Patils hunger strike but he refused to call it off, reported Hindustan Times (HT). Lets take a closer look at whats going on in Maharashtra. But first, who are the Marathas? The Marathas comprise a group of castes who are traditionally peasants and landowners. They make up around 33 per cent of the population in Maharashtra, as per an Indian Express report. The Marathas have dominated Maharashtra politics since the state was formed in 1960. Out of the 20 chief ministers so far, 12 including the incumbent Eknath Shinde belonged to the Maratha community, the report added. Political scientist Suhas Palshikar believes that except for some time in the 1980s, the share of Marathas has mostly remained over 50 per cent in the state Cabinet, reported Times of India (TOI). The demand for a reservation by the Marathas is not new. The issue has taken influenced state politics and led to mass agitations since 1981, as per Indian Express. The community has cited a decline in financial prosperity due to agrarian problems for their demand for quotas in education and government jobs. In 2017 and 2018, the Marathas organised massive protests in the state to push for their demand for reservations. Previous attempts to meet demand Before the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly elections, the then Congress-led government announced an ordinance granting 16 per cent reservation to Marathas in government jobs and education. However, the Congress lost the Assembly polls in 2014 and was replaced by the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. Outfits such as Maratha Kranti Morcha and Sakal Maratha Samaj spearheaded mass protests in Maharashtra in 2017 and 2018 over the reservation issue, which turned violent. In November 2018, the then Devendra Fadnavis-led government gave 16 per cent reservations to the Marathas under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) Act. The next year, the Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Maratha quota under SEBC. However, the court reduced the 16 per cent reservation to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs, as per the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commissions recommendation, reported Indian Express. However, in 2021, the Supreme Court blocked the Maratha reservation, citing the breach of the 50 per cent cap on total reservations the court had set in its 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement. The top court also noted that only the president can amend the central list of socially and backward classes, while states could only make suggestions, according to The Hindu. As per Scroll, the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had sought the Centre and presidents intervention to grant Maratha quota. However, the issue remains unresolved till now. In April this year, the apex court rejected a review petition in the matter. The renewed Maratha quota stir Maratha leader Jarange-Patil was thrown into the limelight after his protest for the Maratha quota took a violent turn on 1 September. As per The Hindu, the police baton charged and fired tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in the Antarwali Sarathi village which stopped local authorities from shifting Jarange-Patil to a hospital. Several people, including 40 police personnel, were injured in the incident. Over 15 state transport buses were set on fire. The Opposition targeted the state government over the incident, demanding the resignation of deputy chief minister Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. It also led to more protests by the Maratha community across other parts of the state. Last week, Fadnavis said the government regretted the use of force against the protesters. Amid pressure, chief minister Shinde said on 4 September that a panel has been set up which will furnish a report within a month exploring how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region. Kunbis come under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra. Jarange-Patil, who is a farmer in Jalna, has refused to call off his protest until a government order (GR) is issued granting Maratha reservation. The state government wants to give the Maratha community a reservation that will be foolproof and which will pass legal test. We are not taking any decision in haste. The state does not want to cheat anybody, Shinde told reporters today ahead of the all-party meet, as per the news agency PTI. Fadnavis has assured the OBCs that no injustice would be done to them and the government will not take any decision that will pit them against the Marathas. #WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: Ahead of an all-party meeting on the issue of the Maratha reservation, Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis says, The questions related to any community is beyond the politicsBe it government or Opposition, everyone should think about the pic.twitter.com/jTLuDGtifc ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Meanwhile, Maratha outfit Sakal Maratha Morcha called for a bandh in Thane today to protest against the recent police lathi-charge on agitators in Jalna. Local leaders from the Opposition also declared support for the bandh, reported PTI. Why is the stir politically significant? The current agitation gains prominence as it comes ahead of the crucial Maharashtra Assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections next year. Long overdue municipal elections in several cities, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune and Thane, are also in the offing. Political leaders of all hues including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Congress Ashok Chavan, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s Raosaheb Danve and Shinde factions Arjun Khotkar have visited Jarange-Patil in Jalna recently to express solidarity. According to opinion polls, there is a close fight between the Mahayuti government, comprising the BJP, Shindes Shiv Sena camp and Ajit Pawars NCP faction, and the MVA coalition of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawar-led NCP. With polls just months away, the issue of the Maratha reservation is expected to play a major role. With inputs from agencies Bigwigs from around the world including US president Joe Biden, Frances Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz descended on India for a star-studded G20 Summit last week. The mega event was also attended by top officials from the European Union and 14 heads of international organisations. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on a week-long tour of Europe. But what was Rahul up to? Lets take a closer look: Rahul meets businessmen in Belgium On Thursday, Rahul shared a video on social media from his Bharat Jodo Yatra. That date, 7 September marks the first anniversary of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which started last year. Crores of steps towards unity and love of Bharat Jodo Yatra have become the foundation of a better tomorrow for the country, the caption read. The journey continuestill hatred vanishes, till India unites. This is my promise! Rahul, accompanied by telecom entrepreneur Sam Pitroda, landed in Brussels on Thursday. Sri Rahul Gandhi has landed in Brussels as a part of his reach out program to Indian Diaspora in European countries,IOC is coordinating this program to ensure maximum participation! Dr @sampitroda also will be participating in all these events happening at different EU countries pic.twitter.com/llxnBFPrAF Indian Overseas Congress (@INCOverseas) September 7, 2023 The program, coordinated by the Indian Overseas Congress, saw Rahul meet Indian diaspora and European Union (EU) lawyers on his trip. He then met some businessmen and held a media interaction in Brussels. As per India Today, Rahul at a press conference at the Belgium Press Club called for a democratic and freedom-oriented vision for production as against the Chinese way of offering prosperity sans political freedom. China is proposing a particular view or particular vision of the planet, Rahul Gandhi said, They (China) are putting on the table the idea of the Belt and Road (the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). And one of the reasons they are able to do that is because they have become a centre of global production. But I dont see an alternative vision coming from our side. That vision requires a vision for production in a democratic environment. What the Chinese have basically shown is that it is possible to produce effectively in a coercive environment, where you dont give people freedom, where you restrict their freedom but you offer them prosperity without political freedom, he added. The challenge for us is can we provide an alternative vision where we do production under democratic conditions with political and economic freedom, Rahul Gandhi said. There is a lot of cooperation that can happen between the US, Europe and between us and I think thats where a lot of our focus should go. How can we create an alternative to the Chinese production model that is a coercive production model? A competitive vision? Rahul at the press conference also spoke of his session with the European Parliamentarians. [W]e were giving them a sense of the type of challenges India is facing economic challenges, other challenges, the general sort of attack on the democratic institutions, Rahul said. [T]here is a full-scale assault on the democratic institutions of our country that everybody knowsAnd of course, minorities are under attack but so are many of the other communities Dalit communities, tribal communities, lower caste communities are also under attack, he added. There is an attempt to change the nature of our country. Our country in the constitution is described as a union of states and we believe that the most critical aspect of our union is the conversation between members of our union. And there is an alternative vision, which is the BJP vision, which believes that power should be centralised, power should be concentrated, wealth should be concentrated and the conversation between members of the unionbetween people of India should be suppressed. And so, this is the fight between two visions. I like to term it the fight between Mahatma Gandhis vision and Nathuram Godses vision, Nathuram Godse being the person who assassinated our leader, he said. The democratic fight and the fight for democracy in India is ours, and its our responsibility. And we will take care of it, and we will make sure that the sort of onslaught on our institutions and on our freedom is stopped. The Opposition will make sure it happens. Rahul was quoted by Indian Express as saying that European Parliamentarians were very concerned. They felt that there is an attempt to stifle the democratic structures of India. They were very clear with us, he added. Rahul also slammed the Centre for not inviting Mallikarjun Kharge for the G20 dinner. Kharge is the Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. Rahul was quoted as saying by the newspaper, It tells you something. It tells you that they dont value the leader of 60 per cent of Indias population, and it is something that people should think about. Why are they feeling the need to do that? And what is the type of thinking that goes behind that? However, Rahul also stood behind the governments stance on Russia. I think the Opposition, by and large, would agree with Indias current position on the (Russia-Ukraine) conflict. We have a relationship with Russia I dont think the Opposition would have a different position than what the government is currently proposing, was quoted as saying by NDTV. He also praised the G20, saying it was an important conversation and it is a good thing that India is hosting it, as per Indian Express. Heads to France, jabs Centre Rahul then travelled to Paris where he held meetings with French lawmakers. At an event in France on Sunday at the Sciences PO University, Rahul took a jab at the government over the conjecture that it is going to change Indias name to Bharat. The BJP government seems to be irritated with the name of our coalition. Now, theyve decided to change the name of the country. People act in strange ways. : Shri @RahulGandhi Sciences PO University, Paris Watch the full video here: https://t.co/uuqbjyPGMy pic.twitter.com/vlkXdBq5Yv Congress (@INCIndia) September 10, 2023 Responding to a query, Rahul initially called the use of both India and Bharat perfectly acceptable. Well the Constitution actually uses both names, right? The line in the Constitution, which I began with, is India, that is, Bharat, shall be a Union of States. So I dont really see a problem both are perfectly acceptable. Rahul then added, But, I think, maybe we irritated the government a little because we named our coalition INDIA and that got them all heated up. And now theyve decided to change the name of the country. I mean, you know how these things are I mean, we could always give our coalition a second name as well (but) I dont think it will solve the purpose. But people act in strange ways! The Opposition has bloc, coming together in the run-up to the 2024 polls, has styled itself Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). The Centre has called a special session of Parliament from 18 to 22 September with no official word on the agenda. President Droupadi Murmu sending an invite to G20 leader as President of Bharat the first use of such phrasing on an official invite sparked a row. Holland and Norway As per Deccan Chronicle, Rahul then flew from Paris to Holland on 10 September. Here, he interacted with students of 448-year-old Leiden University at The Hague. The last leg of his tour was in Norway. Here, he met the countrys lawmakers in Oslo followed by a meeting with NRIs. He also interacted with students of University of Oslo. Rahul is likely to return to India tomorrow or early on 13 September, as per Deccan Chronicle. This is Rahul Gandhis first foreign trip after his membership as a Congress MP was reinstated by the Lok Sabha following the Supreme Courts stay on his conviction in the Modi surname remark defamation case. Earlier this year, the Wayanad MP had visited the United States, where he interacted with the Indian community, attended a lecture program at Standford University, and attended other meetings. In March, he visited the UK and took part in several programs. With inputs from agencies California might become the first state to outlaw caste discrimination. The move will provide added protections to people from countries like Nepal, India and Bangladesh, who were not included in the pre-existing anti-discrimination law. The bill, which is the first of its kind in the country, must now be signed by California governor Gavin Newsom before it becomes law. Though a number of civil rights organisations, faith-based organisations, and progressive legal scholars supported the law, it was met with strong resistance from certain Indian-Americans and Hindu organisations, who claim it unfairly targets South Asians and Hindus. Indian-Americans held a peaceful protest rally in the state capital of Sacramento urging Newsom to veto the anti-caste discrimination bill. The legislation revises Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act by adding caste as a protected category under ancestry. We ask Governor Newsom to Veto SB403 so history remembers that you said no to discrimination against Indian-Americans and said no to racially profiling our community! Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation told the gathering of Indian-Americans in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento on Saturday. Displaying posters and banners, the protestors, most of whom had gathered from various parts of the state, urged the governor not to sign the bill into law as this would end up in discrimination against the Hindu community. Much worse is that the bill amounts to racial profiling of the Hindu community, they argued. Hindu American Foundation has said that it is exploring every option to protect the rights of Hindu Californians and is planning to file a lawsuit against this. The bill was introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan-American woman elected to the state legislature, in February. The California Senate overwhelmingly passed SB403 Discrimination on the basis of ancestry with 31-five votes last week. Anti-caste actions in California California has recently become a hotbed of anti-caste protests. State regulators sued Cisco, a technology company, in 2020, stating that two high-caste Indian executives had discriminated against a Dalit engineer by subjecting him to lower salary and poorer working conditions, reports The Guardian. In 2022, California State University added caste as a protected category in its anti-discrimination policy. Caste was also an issue of friction at Google last year, when the company cancelled a planned discussion on caste equity after several employees protested that it was upsetting to Hindus, reports CNN. Caste has also been at the centre of debates over how Hinduism is portrayed in California textbooks during the last two decades. Some Hindu organisations felt that the planned textbook wording fostered bias and stereotypes against Hindus and pushed to have particular references to the caste system removed or changed. With inputs from agencies In 2019, Italy shocked the United States and European world when it announced that it would become the first Group of Seven (G7) country to join Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Now, four years later, it seems that Italy is done with the BRI and is pulling out of the project. Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni, according to various media reports, privately hinted to Chinese premier Li Qiang at the G20 Summit that her country plans to exit the plan. Reacting to media reports, Meloni did clarify that a final decision on whether to leave the BRI was still to be taken. Interestingly, the news of the reported departure from the BRI comes at a time when India announced the launch of India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, seen as a competitor to Chinas BRI, of which Italy is a signatory. We take a closer look at why Italy is choosing to part ways with BRI and what is the significance of such a move. End of the BRI road for Italy On the sidelines of the G20 Summit being held in New Delhi, Italys Giorgia Meloni in a private conversation with Chinas Li Qiang said that her country is seeking to exit the BRI project. For the uninitiated, the BRI project, dubbed as the New Silk Road, was launched by Xi Jinping in 2013. It is essentially a vast collection of development and investment initiatives devised to link East Asia and Europe through physical infrastructure. A Bloomberg report stated that Meloni told Qiang that the project was testing Italys relations with United States. In a press conference later, Meloni referred to her conversation with the Chinese premier, saying, A cordial and constructive dialogue on how we can deepen our bilateral partnership I intend to keep my commitment to visit China It makes more sense to go to China when we have more information on our bilateral cooperation and how to develop it. Leaving the Silk Road does not compromise relations, but the decision still has to be taken, the prime minister assured. The BRI project, it seems, has become a thorn for Italy. In the recent past, there have been voices of dissent against the initiative from the Italian side. In July, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto had told the newspaper Corriere della Sera that the country wanted to walk back (from the BRI) without damaging relations with Beijing. The choice to join the Silk Road was an improvised and wicked act, made by the government of Giuseppe Conte, which led to a double negative result. We exported a load of oranges to China, they tripled exports to Italy in three years, said Crosetto in the interview, as quoted by Politico. However, China has signalled that leaving the project could spell trouble for Italy. The Chinese ambassador to Italy had earlier in the year warned that there would be negative consequences for Italy if it withdrew from the agreement. Italys change in stance when it comes to the BRI is much different today from 2019 when it signed to join the project. At the time, Italy was looking to attract investment and expand Italian exports access into Chinas huge market. Moreover, several Italians felt abandoned by Europe and were more than willing to turn to China to fulfil its investment needs. However, the BRI has not been able to meet Italian hopes and expectations. Despite signing numerous arrangements under the BRI from pork exports to everything else under the sun it did little to change the Italy-China economic ties. Since Italy joined the BRI, its exports to China have increased from 14.5 billion to 18.5 billion, while Chinese exports to Italy have grown far more dramatically, from 33.5 billion to 50.9 billion. Also, data reveals that Chinese investment in non-BRI countries in Europe has far outstripped its investments in Italy, with Chinese FDI in Italy dropping from $650 million in 2019 to just $33 million in 2021. This makes it clear that joining the BRI does not necessarily confer a countrys special status with China or guarantee it more trade and investment with China. Bye bye BRI, hello India-Middle East-Europe Corridor While there have been rumblings against the BRI in Italy, the timing of the departure from the project is notable. Firstly, Italy will hold the G7 presidency next year. Hence, the announcement could hold Rome in good stead with its Western allies. Secondly, India announced the new India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, which is being dubbed as a game changer. Leaders of India, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union jointly unveiled this mega economic corridor on Saturday at the sidelines of Day 1 of the G20 Summit. The new project will consist of two corridors. The east corridor will connect India with Gulf countries and the northern corridor will connect Arabian Gulf with Europe. The corridors will consist of a ship-to-rail transit network to facilitate cost-effective transport routes for the countries. The memorandum of understanding read, It will enable goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. The countries also plan to lay down a cable network for electricity and digital connectivity along with pipes for clean hydrogen export. Many view the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, which US president Joe Biden called a big deal, as Indias way of countering the BRI. New Delhi has long been against Xis ambitious infrastructure project. This is because the BRI passes through Indian territory illegally held by Pakistan. The announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor also comes at a time when the BRI is receiving increasingly bad press. Many countries that joined it enthusiastically now find themselves staring at a massive debt burden to China. An analysis by the Associated Press of a dozen countries most indebted to China including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia found that paying back the debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of the tax revenue and draining foreign currency reserves. Behind this, AP said, Is Chinas reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help. With inputs from agencies Amidst heavy police deployment and Section 144 of CrPC prohibiting the assembly of people, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers held demonstrations in different parts of YSRCP-ruled Andhra Pradesh as a state-wide bandh called by the TDP to protest the arrest of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu kicked in on Monday. The administration and police, anticipating trouble however, responded with an unprecedented crackdown on the TDP workers and have prevented their protests from snowballing as a number of party leaders were taken into preventive custody. The police rounded up protesters across the state and took them to police stations, citing preventive detention. All 21 TDP MLAs have been put under house arrest with large police contingents stationed outside their houses to prevent them from leaving home. Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the state CID from Nandyal early on Saturday in connection with the multi-crore AP State Skill Development Corporation scam allegedly involving his governments tenure during 2014-19. An Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada sent Naidu to 14 days of judicial custody on Sunday evening. He was shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail, 200 km from Vijayawada, after the court order. The TDP chiefs arrest has heated up Andhra politics barely months before the Assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections, with the party calling it political vendetta unleashed by the Andhra government led by YSRCP boss and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Naidu has repeatedly been locking horns with Jagan on various issues in recent months. On Sunday night, the TDP had given a call for the state-wide bandh on Monday, with its state president K Atchannaidu calling upon party activists all over the state to oppose Naidus arrest. This arrest is illegal and politically motivated. Those who support democracy should come out to protest and make the bandh successful, he said. But, since a large number of state and district-level TDP leaders have been put under house arrest by the police, the party has not been able to organise the protests on a large scale so far. Police chiefs in the cities and the superintendents in the districts have banned rallies and processions, deploying massive police across the state to curb demonstrations. The biggest protest was reported from Naidus home turf Kuppam the constituency from where he has been elected continuously since 1989. Observing the bandh on Monday, the TDP activists blocked roads and set tyres on fire, but were later arrested by the police. Protests were held at various state transport buses facilities as the TDP workers tried to prevent buses from leaving. The police made arrests in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Tirupati, Anantapur, Guntur, and other places. Among those arrested at various places were many women TDP members. At several places, the supporters of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) also took to streets to hold protests. JSP chief K Pawan Kalyan has condemned Naidus arrest, calling it politically motivated. Senior TDP leader Yanamala Rama Krishnudu alleged that the party leaders house arrest and crackdown on protesters amounted to a total failure to uphold democratic principles in the state. At least IAS and IPS officers who are supposed to uphold democratic values should not participate in this. The way a 73-year-old leader (Naidu) who has a name world over is being ill-treated is shameful and condemnable. If anything happens to Chandrababu Naidu while he is in police custody or jail, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and YSRCP will be responsible, Krishnudu said. Pawan Kalyan also said that the police action preventing peaceful protests and locking up leaders was against democracy. People protest when they see injustice but this kind of crackdown on people and their leaders is condemnable, he said. The CID is currently seeking to interrogate Naidu over alleged irregularities in the construction of the Amaravati capital citys inner ring road during the TDP regime. The Jagan government claims that Naidu allegedly rejigged the original design of the inner ring road to increase the value of lands owned by the TDP leaders there. A day after senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor hailed India for the Delhi Declaration consensus, BJP on Monday said that its good that Tharoor sees something good in it and hoped that the rest of the Congress leaders too had the same view. Talking to ANI news agency on Monday, the BJP MP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said, It is good. He (Shashi Tharoor) is a former diplomat. The manner in which India has gained a respectable position under the leadership of PM Modi, the manner in which a consensus (on G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration) has been received, the manner in which the African Union has received a seat at the G20 is a significant diplomatic triumph for IndiaPrime Minister has done a historic work. If Shashi Tharoor is seeing something good in it, it is good. I hope the rest of the leaders of Congress, including those on a foreign visit, see something good in it, added Prasad taking a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is on a Europe tour. On Sunday, Tharoor told ANI that the Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. Its a good achievement because right until the G20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and that therefore a joint communique might not be possible. We might have to end up with a chairmans summary, said Tharoor. #WATCH | On G-20 Summit, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, The Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. Its a good achievement because right until the G-20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and that pic.twitter.com/Y51wr3WDWa ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2023 He said the reason for that, in particular, the main reason was the big gulf between those who wanted a condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine and those, like Russia and China, who wanted no mention whatsoever of that subject. India was able to find a formula to bridge that gap. And that is a significant diplomatic achievement because when there is a summit without a joint communique, it is always seen as a setback for the chairman, added Tharoor. Tharoor had also earlier taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to congratulate Indias G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant for the Delhi Declaration consensus, and said it was a proud moment for India at G20. Tagging Kants remarks in an interview on how the consensus was achieved on the paragraphs on Russia-Ukraine, Tharoor said in a post on X, Well done @amitabhk87!Looks like the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS! Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got final draft, says Indias G20 Sherpa on Delhi Declaration consensus. A proud moment for India at G20! Tharoor, a former under secretary-general, said in his post late Saturday night. India on Saturday pulled off a big diplomatic win after the G20 summit adopted a consensus declaration overcoming major differences on the Russia-Ukraine war. On Sunday, Kant said it took over 200 hours of non-stop negotiations by a team of Indian diplomats to deliver a consensus on the G20 declaration that was adopted at the Leaders Summit here. The team of diplomats, including joint secretaries Eenam Gambhir and K Nagraj Naidu, held 300 bilateral meetings and circulated 15 drafts with their counterparts on the contentious Ukraine conflict to drive home a consensus that was clinched on the first day of the G20 Leaders Summit itself. With inputs from agencies A man who was aboard an IndiGo flight from Mumbai to Guwahati was handed over to Guwahati police after a fellow passenger lodged a complaint of alleging that he groped her when she was asleep on flight and the lights were dimmed. Thed incident was reported by the airline on Sunday. According to the woman who made the accusation, the man in question raised the armrest and touched her inappropriately while the cabin lights were dimmed during the late-night flight. Following this unsettling incident, the airline promptly informed that they had filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the man and handed him over to the Guwahati police. The flight, IndiGo flight 6E-5319, took off from Mumbai at approximately 9 pm and arrived at its destination just 15 minutes past midnight. This marks the fifth reported case of sexual harassment involving passengers on flights within the past two months. The woman recounted her experience to the Times of India, explaining that she was seated in an aisle seat and had fallen asleep once the cabin lights were dimmed. Initially, she had lowered the armrest but was surprised to wake up and find it raised, with her male co-passenger leaning close to her. She remarked, I found it strange because I distinctly remember lowering the armrest. Half-asleep, I didnt dwell on it too much, put the armrest down again, and went back to sleep. After some time, upon waking up, she discovered the male passengers hands on her. However, since he appeared to be asleep, she decided not to jump to conclusions. Consequently, she decided to wait, keeping her eyes half-closed and pretending to be asleep. A few minutes later, when the co-passenger began groping her and behaving inappropriately, the woman felt the need to scream but was unable to do so as she felt frozen. She mustered the courage to act when the man attempted to grope her again. She pulled his hand away and let out a scream. Subsequently, she turned on the seat lights and summoned the cabin crew. While recounting the incident, she mentioned, He started apologising for his actions, while I was shouting, crying, and narrating the incident. IndiGo issued a statement confirming that the male passenger had been handed over to the Guwahati police upon the flights arrival due to the sexual harassment complaint filed by the female passenger. The airline also offered their support and revealed that they had lodged an FIR against the accused with the local police. by Rafael Newman All will uniteno sooner had our world Combusted (see The Big Bang) than it sought Accretion of the bits that had been hurled To every corner (where there once was naught, One nanosecond previous, un-warmed By ours or any other burning stars, Un-lit by lunar satellite), and formed, In steady labour, suns and planets, Mars, And Jupiter, and Venus, and the rest: Great gatherings of what was late alone, But now into a merry round compressd Was through our skies in conjunct chorus thrown. And so it is with us, made of those bits As well, and yearning for return to what We once were, unities before the blitz: One rounded whole, harmonic and uncut As yet by gods invidious, those same Whom weve appeased in solemn ritual, With sacrifice, and planetary name, And ceremonies individual. Yet no creed is a Nightingale enough To tend the suture basted us at birth, The seam traversing this, our human stuff, As once it rived our ancient home, this Earth. We seek our other selves, that half (or third) Creations parturition cleft away, What Zeus, or Shiva, or the Gospels Word Rent from us, on that paradisal day When we were sold a godly bill of goods: That business with the apple and the rib, Our newborn shame, our ouster from the woods, Where wed disported us till then ad lib. Because the truth is more complex, not less: We were hewn from each others side apart, And fashioned for a life of loneliness Unless we hunt and hold our other heart, The Adam to our Lilith (pardon, Eve), Who was no more sprung from a lesser limb When she was briefly not on the qui vive Than Eve herself sprang from a lesser him. Nor were we all composed of opposites Until that jealous bolt, assembled from A mothers elements, a poppas bits: Though that has been the recipe for some. No, there are also composites of men And women both, whose riving drives a search As cherished now as it was chastised when We lived in fealty to crown and church. And some there are who do not seek a second, But merely wish to heal the cruel divide Rude nature made within, and who are reckoned Agamic, viz. with one self satisfied. All will unite, I say! As do we now, From town to town across this fair demesne, Where free folk tend their flocks, nor ever cow Was grudged safe passage to a pasture green. And gathered here, we prove in fine the trend Writ gross in every saga, every lay: That born alone, we will to others bend And make of dark disunion wedded day. That as we hurtle through our common night, Still outward flooding since we first arrived, Each one of us may be a source of light To guide the other back whence we derived. Two such we celebrate today, whose calling Is the very cure creation laid on us, Whose duty often compasses forestalling The breach that opens on a bleak nec plus. So let us cheer, from Frankford-upon-Trent To Quinte West, from Thomasburg to Trenton, Beneath the shelter of a festive tent (Best spot to hold a tented-fest event in); From Stockdale up to Stirling, from Toronto To Montreal, from Kingston and the Islands To Londonor to Zurich, if you want to; And from Down East to far-flung Rocky highlands! We cheer the courteous and lucid soul Of these two numinous, well-wrought, and youthful hearts That had been halved, but now are newly whole And thus far greater than the sum of precious parts! For Lucy Newman-Hogan and Kurtis Wright ZurichHastings County, Ont., 12 VIII 2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, focussing on shoring up bilateral trade and defence ties. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/QEiLHbIgQY ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/EE7l3z7G1t ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit, Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud says I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 SummitA lot of announcements have been made that will benefit G20 pic.twitter.com/rNz8q0lDAi ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. We will work together to create a great future for both the countries, he said. Saudi Arabia is one of Indias key strategic partners in the Middle-East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud held bilateral talks on Monday during which the two leaders reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership, said the Ministry of External Affairs. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote, Transforming India-Saudi Arabia ties! PM Modi and Crown Prince and PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held bilateral talks. The two leaders reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership. Transforming India-Saudi Arabia ties! PM Modi and Crown Prince and PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held bilateral talks. The two leaders reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the pic.twitter.com/VccszA6CJu Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 11, 2023 The two leaders also signed the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council held at Hyderabad House. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sign the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council held at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/DB9B3MBZOA ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit, Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. We will work together to create a great future for both the countries, he said. Saudi Arabia is one of Indias key strategic partners in the Middle-East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud held the first leaders meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council on Monday and discussed cooperation in areas such as energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare and food security. PM Modi said in his opening remarks that the talks with the visiting Saudi Arabian leader will provide new energy and direction to ties between the two nations. For India, Saudi Arabia is one of its most important strategic partners. As two large and fast-growing economies of the world, our mutual cooperation is important for peace and stability in the entire region. In our talks, we have identified several initiatives to take our partnership to the next level. Todays talks will provide new energy and direction to our relations. This will provide us inspiration to work together for the welfare of humanity, he said. PM Modi said that the economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe will provide economic growth and digital connectivity between these regions. He noted that the cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in the economic sector is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region. Yesterday, we have taken a decision to start a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe. This corridor will not only connect two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe. Under your leadership and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth and I congratulate you for that. PM Modi also thanked the visiting leader for Saudi Arabias contribution to the success of Indias G20 Presidency. He lauded the Saudi Arabian Crown Princes commitment or the welfare of Indians residing in Saudi Arabia. India, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor during the G20 Summit. PM @narendramodi and Crown Prince & PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held the first Leaders Meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. Agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X. PM @narendramodi and Crown Prince & PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held the first Leaders Meeting of the - Strategic Partnership Council. Agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and pic.twitter.com/lGjBHs2vD4 Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 11, 2023 The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, who arrived here on a three-day State visit, attended the G20 Summit in the national capital. The Saudi Crown Prince is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and senior officials. Prior to his meeting with PM Modi, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu welcomed the Saudi Arabian leader. The Saudi Crown Prince then inspected a combined defence services Guard of Honour. Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries, he told reporters. Later in the day, Saudi Arabias Crown Prince is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu. India and Saudi Arabia have historically close and friendly relations with extensive people-to-people contacts. The bilateral trade reached an all-time high of USD 52.75 billion in FY 2022-23. I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 SummitA lot of announcements have been made that will benefit G20 countries and the world. We will work together to create a great future for both the countries, said the Saudi Crown Prince. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud says I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 SummitA lot of announcements have been made that will benefit G20 pic.twitter.com/rNz8q0lDAi ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 He will shortly meet PM Modi at the Hyderabad House for bilateral meeting and discuss range of issues including trade, energy and also focus on building people-to-people ties. Following his meeting with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, the Saudi Crown Prince is expected to sign the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council at the same venue around 12 noon. After concluding all these, the Saudi Arabian PM will meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan around 6:30 p.m. Salman will depart from New Delhi around 8.30 pm. His Royal Highness earlier visited India on a State Visit in February 2019, and this will be his second State Visit to India. Meanwhile, India and Saudi Arabia also signed several MoUs under India-Saudi investment deal. #WATCH | G 20 in India | Delhi: Several MoUs were signed between India & Saudi Arabia in Delhi under India-Saudi investment deal. pic.twitter.com/3OdT4trFks ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 With inputs from agencies Navigating consensus in multilateral forums has always been an intricate dance of diplomacy, particularly in an era overshadowed by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. The tensions and divergent interests that the conflict epitomises amplify the inherent challenges of building unity amidst global diversity. Philosopher Isaiah Berlin, in his seminal work on the plurality of values, alluded to the inescapable conflict between competing objectives and ideals. Similarly, scholar Hedley Bull emphasized the anarchical society of international relations, where states, despite being intertwined in a web of interdependence, grapple with their own priorities and apprehensions. Yet, it is against this intricate backdrop that the consensus reached in the New Delhi Declaration becomes all the more significant. India, in a testament to its emerging leadership and diplomatic finesse, has managed to bring disparate nations onto a shared page, demonstrating that even amidst global uncertainties, the art of consensus-building remains alive and potent. In recent years, India has ascended as a credible and influential voice for the Global South, positioning itself as a responsible stakeholder in the realm of international diplomacy. Unlike certain nations that have entangled low and middle-income countries in debt traps, often undermining their sovereignty and economic independence, India has charted a different course. The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 as a permanent member, a landmark move initiated at Indias behest, stands as a seminal example of this leadership. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister of India organised the Voices of the Global South Summit, thereby providing a significant platform for marginalised nations to articulate their concerns and aspirations on the global stage. By facilitating the African Unions inclusion in the G20, India has not merely voiced concerns about the Global South but has taken a transformative step towards its empowerment. This advocacy and actionable change underline Indias commitment to a more inclusive and equitable international order. As such, Indias efforts further validate the notion that it serves as a dynamic force for unity and cooperative global governance. Against this backdrop, Indias G20 presidency has also pushed for multilateral development banks (MDB) reforms. This started with India setting up an Independent Expert Group on Strengthening MDBs which was headed by Lawrence Summers and N K Singh. The group has already turned in the first of two volumes of its recommendations, titled The Triple Agenda. The current state of global challenges, ranging from extreme poverty to climate change, demands a radical reformation and strengthening of MDBs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are falling behind, with over 600 million people still in extreme poverty and urgent issues like climate change not being adequately addressed. MDBs, which have a wealth of knowledge and are capable of providing low-cost, long-maturity financing, are well-positioned to support needed reforms and resources. They can create the conditions for transformative growth by working with governments and the private sector. Yet, they themselves need to undergo transformations to meet these immense challenges. Thus, the expert group has proposed a triple agenda for MDBs: adopting a mandate that includes poverty elimination, shared prosperity, and contributing to global public goods; tripling sustainable lending by 2030; and creating a new funding mechanism for engaging with willing investors. However, achieving these ambitious goals will require significant changes in how MDBs operate. They need to integrate development and climate agendas effectively, become more client-responsive, take more risks, and streamline their project timelines. MDBs have to mobilise more private capital, aiming to double the current rate of 0.6 dollars for every dollar they lend. Additionally, the report emphasises the need for a new legal and institutional mechanism to attract more investors and recommends a General Capital Increase for those MDBs with headroom constraints. Importantly, the report states that MDBs should work cohesively as a system, harmonising their various operational standards and sharing diagnostic tools. For these reforms to succeed, sustained multi-year efforts and independent oversight are essential. There is a need for an independent monitoring group to report on the progress and ensure the recommendations are implemented effectively across multiple presidencies. The Indian G20 presidency also took forward the work of the Italian G20 presidency on Capital Adequacy Framework. Indias G20 Presidency came up with the G20 Roadmap for the Implementation of the Recommendations of the G20 Independent Review of Multilateral Development Banks Capital Adequacy Frameworks. [Refer] The Roadmap serves as a strategic blueprint for the implementation of the CAF (Common Assessment Framework) recommendations across MDBs. Offering a clear snapshot of progress, it outlines both successful adaptations, such as risk appetite redefinitions and collaboration on the GEMS 2.0 initiative, as well as areas requiring further action, like the utilisation of callable capital and the exploration of hybrid capital options. It provides actionable forward-looking guidance from the G20 on topics ranging from capital adequacy metrics to interactions with Credit Rating Agencies. The Roadmap also fosters cross-institutional collaboration and encourages MDBs to engage in regular reviews and refinements of their strategies. It represents an evolving tool designed to maximise the lending capacity and operational efficiency of MDBs while ensuring alignment with international best practices. These reforms of MDBs would benefit the global south the most. The G20s New Delhi Declaration re-emphasises its commitment to a robust, quota-based, and sufficiently funded International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a linchpin of the global financial system. It underscores the importance of continuing with IMF governance reforms, especially under the 16th General Review of Quotas, with a completion target of 15 December 2023. This process aims not only to revise the quota formula but also to confirm the centrality of quotas in IMFs financial resources. Concurrently, the G20 celebrates the raising of $100 billion in voluntary contributions and $2.6 billion in grants, urging swift delivery of these pledges to benefit countries in dire need. It also applauds advancements in specific trust initiatives like the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) and the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT), and calls for further voluntary support to make these programs more effective and sustainable. The declaration showcases G20s ongoing commitment to Africa and explores the possibility of channelling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through MDBs, while maintaining their reserve asset status. Overall, the declaration is a comprehensive affirmation of G20s commitment to fortifying the IMF and addressing financial inequities globally. Indias G20 presidency, under the backdrop of the New Delhi Declaration, is a poignant testament to the nations steadfast commitment to raising the voices of the Global South on the world stage. Drawing parallels from the cinematic world, it is reminiscent of the epic journey of Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, where he strives against all odds to champion a larger cause, illustrating that even the smallest entity can have an indomitable spirit and profound impact. In the same vein, Indias leadership successfully put forth the concerns of nations that often remain marginalised in global discourse. Indias endeavours resonate with the idea that, even in a global society with diverse interests, finding a harmonious consensus is achievable. Through its presidency, India has not only tabled the pressing issues of the Global South but also catalysed actionable change, redefining global diplomacys narrative. This commitment is a living embodiment of the phrase actions speak louder than words, proving that true leadership is not just about voicing concerns but championing them towards tangible outcomes. The author is OSD, Research, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. He tweets @adityasinha004. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Albert Einstein once said: It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. This statement remains highly relevant even today. We are currently in the era of emerging technologies, characterised by declining technology costs, increasing computational power and capabilities, a significant increase in data volumes, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence leading to the production of robotic devices and automation and finally routine tasks determining job vulnerability. The Government of India has extensively promoted innovation in the country through the establishment of Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools nationwide under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), which is implemented by NITI Aayog. Currently, there are 10,000 ATLs across the country, with each school receiving Rs 20 lakh for their setup and maintenance over five years. The National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) programme, initiated in 2016 by the Department of Science and Technology, comprises various components designed to support innovation, startups, and the startup incubation ecosystem in the country. India Innovation Index is already operational in India. Additionally, there is the National Innovation Fund, established in 2020, and organisations like the Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network in the state of Gujarat, which is represented by government officials, technology and management institutions for the scaling up of grassroots innovations. India is blessed with incredible natural beauty, unique cultural heritage, and diverse ways of living and lifestyles. Simultaneously, it is endowed with vast natural resources, making it a land of opportunities. Furthermore, each region faces distinct local problems that require the appropriate application of technology for resolution. Therefore, local self-governments should create an environment that fosters a coordinated approach to develop innovative ideas and startups capable of addressing these local issues, thereby facilitating the overall development of their respective regions. Local governments must take the initiative to encourage efforts in this direction, ensuring the effective implementation of existing government innovation schemes mentioned above. This will promote public-private initiatives, foster the growth of medium and small-sized enterprises and at the same time enable the customisation of Indias reality with the best practices from around the world. Take, for example, a tourist village in a remote locality in India, which has its own uniqueness globally, but it lacks a synchronized, innovative and coordinated model to highlight the region globally. This ultimately hinders the ability of this tourist village to achieve its potential. Thus, there may be a need for an arrangement, perhaps with the initiative of the village administration, to enable local technocrats to design a mechanism to facilitate and satisfy the requirements of international tourists. This could be possible by involving competitive, young and talented start-ups that have the potential to develop innovative digital technology. India has already made significant progress in the start-up ecosystem. Organisations similar to the Grassroots Innovations Augmentation Network may be promoted in every state of India so that innovations receive significant emphasis in our country. However, the mere presence of such organisations may not be sufficient. They need to be linked with every village in that particular state and the key issues faced by each of the villages should be appropriately highlighted through digital linkage. This needs to be further connected with all the universities and schools so that students have the opportunity to think and develop innovative ideas to facilitate their long-term resolution. Grassroots innovations could also provide solutions for Indian cities on various issues including congestion, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector, air quality issues, the rapid growth in the number of private vehicles (largely motorcycles) and increasing road accidents. Considering the above, there is a need for a policy for every state government in which innovations/ideas strictly evolve from grassroots-level young technocrats. Local self-governments could play a key role in enabling a coordinated environment for the same. Way forward For establishing support initiatives at the state or regional level, the respective governments including district and local self-administration roles are crucial. It may indeed depend on the respective state/regions priority for bottom-up innovation and also their fiscal position. The initiative should essentially begin at the high school level where the thirst for innovation should be nurtured in students through the establishment of innovation clubs and the provision of required training. Awareness programmes about the need for grassroots innovations are also mandatory for schoolteachers and local self-governments through practical workshops at the state and district levels. An Innovation Facilitating Unit should essentially be set up in village panchayats/municipalities, which should be headed by technocrats and scholars with vast experience in relevant areas. These units could be tied up with major industries and establishments in their respective districts or states, which could guide the overall process and even provide seed funding for testing such innovations. India is the third-largest start-up ecosystem in the world, achieved in a short span of time. There is no doubt that once India works on grassroots innovations, incorporating suggestions as stated above, we could immensely contribute to global technology development and achieve a top position in the world in terms of startup growth and numbers. The author serves as Civil Servant at Indian Ministry of Finance. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The consensual leaders declaration and the consensus on admitting the African Union as a full member of the G20 were astonishing in terms of their emergence, speed, and meticulousness. The fact that both of these events occurred on the first day surprised most analysts, many of whom had predicted a chairs summary rather than a leaders statement. As a result of hard negotiations, these two decisions set the tone for discussions, enabling the G20 to be more responsive to global requirements, especially those of developing countries. A lot of media attention, however, focussed on the absence of President Xi Jinping from the Summit. Did this impact China in any way? Did the G20 suffer from his absence? While it is true that President Xi had never missed a G20 summit until now, this time the summit was coordinated with the East Asia Summit in Jakarta. The EAS is always attended by the Chinese premier. Perhaps this time, China simply followed the logic of connecting the EAS and G20 Summits by having the premier attend, as the dates were close to each other. There was speculation that Xi did not attend because he could not control the narrative of Indias G20. There were many occasions during the year-long negotiations when Chinese delegates made protests and objections, sometimes seemingly frivolous, such as objecting to the use of the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (or One Earth One Family One Future) due to its Sanskrit origin. On climate issues, MDB reforms, debt stress and Ukraine, China encountered stumbling blocks in the process. The Chinese had many red lines in negotiations, but it often seemed that they were simply stirring the pot, if not trying to spoil Indias emergence during its successful G20 presidency. Perhaps when they realised that India would succeed nevertheless, then, some analysts believe, Xi decided not to attend and instead sent the low-key Premier Li Qiang. Premier since March 2023, he is not yet widely known in G20 circles. However, President Biden announced in Hanoi on Sunday that he had quietly met Li in New Delhi. India did not express any disappointment at the absence of Xi. It was the prerogative of every country to be led by their choice. India knew that Xis presence would perhaps call into question whether a bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi would take place or not. Such meetings have not occurred for some time, neither at an SCO Summit nor at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg earlier this year. Xis non-attendance made it evident that there isnt much to discuss bilaterally due to Chinas unwavering stance on issues such as the border, trade and cohabitation in a growing Indo-Pacific. This is not to say that the presence of Premier Li did not provide adequate Chinese participation. Certainly, Li is not Xi, and as a newcomer, he lacks the impactful presence of an established leader. There was noticeably more media coverage of Xis participation in other summits on Indian television than of Premier Lis current participation. The Indian media was clearly missing Xi. President Biden seemed to miss Xi. Perhaps he was waiting for a bilateral meeting to restore vitality to the US-China relationship, as several US cabinet ministers have been attempting while visiting China. The Americans were relieved that Putin was not coming, as they might have walked out on him had he spoken at the G20. With Xi, they were looking for engagement. However, in these circumstances, they were denied both opportunities. Ultimately, China did not obstruct the consensus on the leaders statement. In response to a question, the Indian external affairs minister stated that China was helpful, and in fact, without their cooperation, the leaders statement by consensus would not have emerged. China did create problems in the past, but in the end, they played a more cooperative role. Nevertheless, its important to note that the leaders statement is not a binding document. If it were, then China might take a more assertive stance, as they are doing with the code of conduct in the South China Sea with ASEAN. China may be concerned about the terminology used in the paragraphs dealing with Ukraine, particularly those related to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a rule-based international order. China is often accused of violating these principles, most recently through its cartographic aggression against its neighbors. China criticised India for holding meetings in Arunachal Pradesh, which China considers disputed territory. China blamed India for having grand plans with a small mindset. China is preparing for the 10th anniversary of the BRI. It remains to be seen how many countries will actually attend this time, as the BRI has not delivered as promised originally, and debt stress has damaged its reputation. The announcement by President Biden, along with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE and the European Union regarding new rail, port and energy connectivity between India, West Asia and Europe is a new proposal. This proposal may bring forth the quality infrastructure that countries have been talking about to address the lack of transparency associated with the BRI. Initiatives such as the US Build Back Better, the EUs Global Gateway, India-EU connectivity, and the I2U2 collaboration among India, Israel, USA and UAE all contribute to this new proposal, which is substantial and could be a game changer if properly implemented. Furthermore, France announced a connectivity project across Africa, challenging the concept of the BRI. The involvement of countries within these projects includes BRICS countries such as India, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and the UAE among others. This also indicates that the challenge to China through the development of regional connectivity will not only occur in the Indo-Pacific, where Japan is taking the lead, but will also take place in West Asia and Europe, where China has made limited gains and is now facing pushback. It is evident that the G20 presidency has positioned India on the global centre stage as an important country with a robust economy, a commitment to the Global South, and the ability to steer priorities toward these objectives. China will need to respond to this challenge by matching it with greater effort and acting more responsibly as a global power. The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Days after comparing Sanatan Dharma with vector-borne diseases dengue and malaria, Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin Monday posted a picture of a burning mosquito coil on X. Though the post by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalins son does not have any caption, the picture of a burning mosquito coil has once again sparked controversy among political parties. Udhayanidhi Stalin remains defiant The post appears that the junior Stalin continues to rake up the Sanatan Dharma controversy. The post comes hours ahead of BJP's protest led by BJP state president K Annamalai. The protest will be held across Tamil Nadu against Stalin and will also demand that the offices of Hindu Charitable Department be blocked in all the districts of the state. The BJP has been seeking apology by Udhayanidhi, but the tweet by the DMK leader appears to be an indirect way of him saying that he stands by what he said on Sanatan Dharma. The tweet also comes after his statement over the weekend where he said that he will continue to speak against Sanatan Dharma even if it costs the state government dissolve. BJP reacts to Udhayanidhi's burning mosquito coil "DMK has always been an anti-Hindu party and they continue to be the same. Only during elections, the leaders of this party throng to the temples and posts photos and videos, otherwise throughout the time they are in power, they always involve themselves in the minority appeasement," Tamil Nadu BJP leader Vinoj P Selvam said. "DMK believes attacking majority community of the country, putting them down and insulting them just because Hindus are tolerant and have been taught by the religion to stay tolerant, they take advantage of the factor and forgetting minority votes of the state. They have been attacking Hindus and it is not new," Selvam said. 'Udhayanidhi is desperate for attention' AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan reacted to the latest post by Udhayanidhi and said: "It is in DNA of DMK to attack believe and sentiments of the majority. Udhayanidhi is following footsteps of his father and grandfather." "Udhayanidhi going all over shows he wants to get elevated as the leader in the minds of the people. It is his desperation to get attention," Sathyan said. On Sunday Udhayanidhi described BJP as "a poisonous snake that needs to be chased out of Tamil Nadu". At a family wedding of DMK legislator Sabha Rajendran at Neyveli in Cuddalore district on Sunday, Udhayanidhi hit out at BJP ally AIADMK too, likening the party to "a garbage mound that shelters the snake". "The garbage too should be cleared," he said. "The snake slithers into our house from the garbage. If we need to eliminate the snake, we must ensure there is no garbage. So, people should be ready to remove the BJP and the AIADMK from Tamil Nadu in 2024," he said. "We sent the slaves packing in the 2021 assembly election. We should send their masters home in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections," Udhayanidhi said. Udhayanidhi said he would continue to speak against Sanatan Dharma in future. "There have been voices raised against Sanatana dharma for the past 100 years in Tamil Nadu. We will continue to speak for the next 200 years too," he said. Udhayanidhi even said that his remarks on Sanatana were not new. On multiple occasions in the past, B R Ambedkar, Periyar (DK founder E V Ramasamy) and M Karunanidhi (former DMK patriarch) had spoken about it. In an unexpected move, Chinas Alibaba Group announced on Sunday that Daniel Zhang would step down from his role in the companys cloud business. This development comes just two months after it was revealed that Zhang would leave his positions as group CEO and chairman to focus on the cloud unit. Zhang had been simultaneously serving in three roles, leading the group and overseeing the cloud intelligence unit, which is Chinas largest cloud provider and is set to be spun off from Alibaba as part of the companys restructuring. The decision for Zhang to depart the cloud unit was communicated in an internal letter to staff, as reported by Reuters. Zhang had been scheduled to hand over the role of group CEO to Eddie Wu on Sunday, and the same letter stated that Wu would also take charge of the cloud business following Zhangs departure. Alibaba issued a statement expressing appreciation for Zhangs contributions over his 16 years with the company. However, there was no immediate response to requests for comment from Zhang himself. The cloud business is a significant component of Alibabas restructuring announced in March, dividing the company into six units, each with its own CEO and board. In May, Alibaba announced its intention to complete the public listing of its cloud unit within the next year. The company now states that it will continue to execute the spin-off plan under a newly appointed management team. Analysts have estimated the value of the cloud unit to be between $41 billion to $60 billion. However, the vast amount of data it handles has raised concerns about potential regulatory scrutiny both in China and internationally. The internal letter, signed by Alibaba co-founder Joseph Tsai, who assumed the chairman role from Zhang as planned on Sunday, mentioned Zhangs wish to transition away from his role as chairman and CEO of the Cloud Intelligence Group. The Alibaba board accepted this decision and appointed Eddie as acting chairman and CEO of the Cloud Intelligence Group. The letter also noted that Zhang would continue to contribute to Alibaba in a different capacity. The company announced a $1 billion investment in a technology fund that Zhang will establish. Additionally, Zhang was given the title of emeritus, a first in Alibabas history, indicating his lasting connection with the company. Zhang had taken over as the head of Alibabas cloud unit in December, following a significant outage the unit experienced. He joined Alibaba in 2007 and is known for spearheading the companys annual Singles Day shopping festival. Zhang became CEO in 2015 and took on the role of chairman in 2019, succeeding both positions from Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma. During his tenure, Zhang led Alibaba through a turbulent period characterized by increased regulatory scrutiny on the tech giant. A recent report from the United Nations drug agency reveals that Afghanistan is now the worlds leading producer of methamphetamine. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released this report on Sunday. According to the report, meth in Afghanistan is mainly created using the ephedra plant, which grows naturally, or substances legally available within the country. The report states that Afghanistans increasing meth production poses a growing threat to the health and security of the nation and the surrounding region. This surge in meth supply could lead to addiction problems and disrupt the synthetic drug market. Furthermore, meth believed to originate from Afghanistan has already been confiscated in East Africa and the European Union, as mentioned in the report. The annual seizures of meth within Afghanistan have skyrocketed from 220 pounds in 2019 to a staggering 6,000 pounds in 2021, indicating a significant increase in production. Unfortunately, the report lacks specific data on the total quantity of meth produced in Afghanistan, its value, or the extent of its use by Afghan citizens. Angela Me, Chief of the UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch, explained that producing meth in Afghanistan offers several advantages over making other drugs like cocaine or heroin. Unlike those substances, meth doesnt require waiting for crops to grow or a significant amount of land. Meth labs can be mobile and discreet. Afghanistans abundance of the ephedra plant, which is not found in major meth-producing countries like Myanmar and Mexico, makes it a convenient source for meth production. Me also noted that it is too early to determine the impact of the Talibans efforts to combat drug production and supply in Afghanistan. The Associated Press also reported that Afghanistan is grappling with a drought and severe economic challenges stemming from decades of conflict and war in the region. Although Afghanistans Taliban-led government claims to have dismantled 644 narcotics facilities and eradicated about 12,000 acres of land used for drug cultivation, a UN report from 2022 indicated a 32% increase in opium cultivation since the Taliban took control. An anonymous health official in the country, speaking to the AP, disclosed that approximately 20,000 Afghans are in hospitals due to drug addiction, with crystal meth being a predominant factor. by Michael Liss Some Presidencies just come apart: The men occupying the office are objectively unable to manage the chaos around them. Herbert Hoovers might be thought of as in this category. James Buchanans as well. Perhaps Jimmy Carters. Others, like Richard Nixons, die of self-harm, unmourned. Still others end in fatiguetheir party, or the public, essentially tires of them. Harry Trumans flirtation with running for a second full term fell victim to Estes Kefauver, Adlai Stevenson, and a mostly uninterested Democratic Establishment. George Herbert Walker Bush found Message: I care not quite as compelling as he had hoped. Sometimes the public, or just the Party, wants a change. What separates the survivors, the people who seek and succeed both at the job itself and the politics of getting reelected? Its certainly not being free of the seven deadly sins. Nor is it being above politics. Its a core philosophical anomaly of our system that our Chief Executive is charged with acting on behalf of all citizens while being the political leader of half. That takes, along with the talent, intelligence, and temperament to get the job done, a certain moral agility, a selective application of standards of right and wrong, sometimes even to the extent of muting the dictates of conscience. Presidents are in the business of making choices, often ones where there are shades of grey rather than clear bright lines, and, to make these choices, they have to call upon their own resources, both light and dark. If you could somehow take samples of DNA from every President, good, bad and indifferent, and run them through a centrifuge, you might, might come up with a sample that resembles Lyndon Baines Johnson. A complex, contradictory man with a complex and contradictory record. Any fair evaluation of LBJs Presidency must include the tragedy that preceded it. For slightly over two hours on November 22, 1963, until the fatally wounded JFK succumbed and Johnson could take the Oath of Office, the country was an orphan, without a President. An unfillable hole had been created, patched over by the Constitutional process for succession, but emotionally unsatisfying. The public didnt dislike LBJ, but it had not asked for him. It chose Kennedy, and he had then been ripped from its arms. Still, the machinery of peaceful succession moved on, as it must. America can pause to remember, but one person is not a government, and our citizens have lives to live. Johnson started strongly. He handled the mourner-in-chief role well, showed tact and sensitivity in dealing with the grieving family and the grieving nation. He used his considerable legislative gifts to lever JFKs legacy into an impetus for groundbreaking social and civil rights legislationtaking significant political risks to do so. He appointed high-level committees to look at seemingly intractable problems plaguing America and to suggest solutions. He didnt just ponder, he acted: In his Great Society initiatives, he laid out a broad vision with an updated approach to the New Deal. The Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Medicare, and Medicaid were all products of his efforts. For all the potential controversy of what he was doing, his approval ratings were stunningsustained in the 70s all through 1964 (including the period of his crushing landslide over Barry Goldwater) and in the mid-60s through 1965. This is part of the LBJ legacy, and it is an impressive one. Even with all these accomplishments, LBJ still had two backbreaking problems. Domestically, legislation and study couldnt change enough minds, suggest enough innovations, or improve conditions enough to deal with racial problems. That the racial divide wasnt new didnt make it less of an issue. The expectations of the Black community after World War II just had not been met; its patience was exhausted, while, at the same time, white backlash was rising. LBJ fought mightily, even heroically, against this, but he fell short. Perhaps no one could have done better, but what was done was both way too much for some, and not nearly enough for others. Pain at home, more abroad. Vietnam was LBJs most stupendous unforced error. Lets be fair and say American involvement in Vietnam was a legacy inherited from both Eisenhower and JFK. We can acknowledge that, while stating the facts: the American troop involvement in 1963 was 16,300, and it grew to just 23,300 in 1964. Once reelected, LBJ went at it with a determination that shocked the country. Using enhanced Presidential power granted him with Congresss adoption of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, American men, volunteer and conscripted, were poured into Vietnam. Troop levels reached 84,300 in 1965 and 385,300 in 1966. The public reacted, and Democrats lost 47 House seats in the Midterms. LBJ was not deterred. 485,600 in 1967. Along with seemingly endless troop escalations came the bombing campaign known as Operation Rolling Thunder, which began in March of 1965 and did not end until November of 1968. Why? Hindsight is easy. We know that JFKs Cabinet was hawkish, and LBJ kept on key members. We know that most of the military voices that LBJ heard were optimistic to the point of being Pollyannaish. It was always one more push, 50,000 more men, more and different weaponry, expanded bombing targets, and better training of ARVNbut we were winning the war and constantly degrading the enemys military capabilities. Johnson was stubborn; he believed in the Domino Theory; he was convinced American victory was essential; and he sought it single-mindedly. The problem was that the glacial hand of reality was knocking at the door. The draft kept taking boys from their homes, and too many came back maimed or in boxes. In 1967, roughly 1000 men a month were lost, and many times that wounded. On Vietnam, the public was splitting along cultural lines, with colleges being centers of resistance and blue-collar workers more supportive. Increasingly, the war-skeptical public saw itself without a real choiceeither vote LBJ, and a continuation and perhaps escalation of American involvement, or vote Republican, and end up with the same policy options. The anti-war movement needed leadershipnot just at the grassroots, but near the top. It needed a champion with, or having the potential to create, a national profile. All through the fall of 1967, activist Democrats, particularly Allard Lowenstein, but also a variety of leaders of student groups from across the country, began seeking out a candidateand getting turned down. Vietnam was not easy. Some of the anti-war Senators who might have led were concerned about keeping their own seats, others didnt think the time was quite right (or ever right) to take on a sitting President of their own party. Robert Kennedy was in the latter group. They asked; he said no. Finally, they found one in Minnesotas less famous Senator, Eugene McCarthy. No more LBJ against a GOP rival. Now LBJ or McCarthy against a GOP rival. It is hard to describe McCarthy. Perhaps Hubert Humphrey nailed it when he said, Basically, Gene disdains whatever peer group he is in. McCarthy managed an Olympian remoteness that seemed almost Zen-like. He sometimes gave off the impression that politics was beneath him. He wasnt hands-on in his campaign. His public statements were airy, educated, sometimes above his audienceand he liked it that way. Its almost easier to describe what he wasntnot dynamic, not particularly charismatic, not (not) a round-the-clock worker. Still, after much self-absorbed pondering, he allowed himself, in a Garbo-like way, to announce hed be entering the New Hampshire Primary. He was going to take on LBJ. That was news. McCarthys candidacy was not at all quixotic: First, his core staff really did have talent, and they focused it on college campuses and amongst the young. Theres a tendency to see the McCarthy team as having been staffed by men with beads and beards, and barefoot women in tie-dye. Those people were part of the movement, but equally important was the tremendously energetic contingent of those who wouldnt have looked out of place at a training meeting at IBM. McCarthy also possessed a genuine aversion to the war that did not seem at all synthetic, and a personal beef with LBJ to keep the home fires warm. In 1964, LBJ had told both McCarthy and Minnesotas then Senior Senator (a gentleman named Hubert Horatio Humphrey) that one of the two of them would be his Veep. McCarthy didnt like the manipulation and pulled out just in timeto hear LBJ to pick Hubert. The incident created some bad blood between McCarthy and LBJ. Now that there were two, could there be more? Yes, because Robert F. Kennedy hung over the field (and particularly over LBJ). Its not that Bobby hadnt thought about it. He had. Its not that he wasnt getting a lot of advice from his extended Kennedy brain trust, the old guys from JFKs time and some of the Young Turks. He was. Its not like he didnt want the jobhe was, after all, a Kennedy, just as ambitious, just as tough, and maybe more ruthless than the others. But Kennedys play to win, and RFK had a lot of concerns about how it would look if a Kennedy challenged any Democratic President, and perhaps especially LBJ. His brain trust splitall agreed it was inevitable he would run for the Presidency. But was 1968 too soon? Teddy thought it was. Or 1972 too late, as many of the others suggested. Kennedy continued to grapple with it. In late 1967, as McCarthy was getting in, Kennedy was telling people he wouldnt accept a draft. He maintained that position through January, despite McCarthys gearing up and Johnsons continuing to escalate in Vietnam. On January 31, 1968, he met with a large number of political journalists at the National Press Club. The rules of engagement were that everything was off the record, on background only unless specifically permitted by RFK to be on. The atmosphere was supposed to induce frankness, and Bobby was frankon most things. He critiqued Vietnam as one of the great disasters of all time, but seriously questioned McCarthys approach to campaigning for his apparent disinterest in the problems of race and the inner cities. Bobby felt both were moral crusades, and McCarthys one-issue focus had, in effect, diminished those other issues. The journalists certainly loved the inside dirt, but what they really wanted to know was whether Bobby was sticking to his guns or would join LBJ and McCarthy and duke it out for the Presidency. Kennedy was still out, still (at least publicly) concerned about splitting his Party and ceding the Oval Office to the Republicans. The boys on the bus wanted more than this, so Bobby allowed (for public consumption) that he would not enter the campaign under any foreseeable circumstances. What Bobby did not know was that, at that very moment, the unforeseeable was in the process of becoming reality. Reporters with him began to see wire reports about a new, comprehensive military assault by the North Vietnamese against South Vietnamese cities and military assets. What became known as the Tet Offensive had just begun, and it was about to change history. What Americans learned from Tet, most impactfully from that first phase (the entire operation ended September 23) was that, contrary to the rosy evaluations from the military and President Johnson, the North Vietnamese werent going quietly into the night. In fact, they literally penetrated the outer wall of the US Embassy in Saigon before being turned. This was not an enemy on its heels. Tet also helped set in motion a domestic figure with the potential to change minds, Walter Cronkite. Cronkite was the most respected man in television journalism, and although, up to that point, he had been generally Establishment-neutral, he decided he needed to see for himself. On February 6th, he took a small crew with him on a 19-day trip through the war zone, seeing things firsthand, talking to as many people as he could, getting away from the cocoon in which General Westmoreland tried to keep him. He took personal risks, at one point needing to be evacuated from the smoldering city of Hue on a helicopter also carrying 12 body bags. When he returned to the States, he and his team meticulously assembled a show, aired on February 27, 1968, that was just devastating to the Administrations position. He closed with this: But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did the best they could. This is Walter Cronkite. Good night. Johnson, upon hearing these words, knew that something had irrevocably changed, reputedly saying, If Ive lost Cronkite than Ive lost Middle America. Whats more, Cronkite made it impossible to argue that the only peaceniks were silly students and flaky eggheads. Cronkites gravitas enhanced the movements seriousness. Still, Bobby stayed out, despite the increasing pressure from his closest advisors, some of whom were ready to go work for McCarthy. March 12, 1968, the almost unthinkable almost happened. The incumbent President of the United States, albeit running only as a write-in, was nearly defeated by Eugene McCarthy, a man with a shaggy-dog operation who, only a month before, had reported fundraising just one quarter of what was budgeted. Johnson was shocked and wounded. While he still controlled the party apparatus (and we were still in an era where primaries were largely for show), hed been embarrassed. Whats more, the result weakened Johnsons hand in the things he cared about. First, he was already having trouble getting what he considered vital legislation through an increasingly resistant Congressnot the thing a former Master of the Senate was used to. Second, eroding American support for the war weakened him, while he still clung to the hope that a major American commitment plus relentless bombing would achieve a form of victory. Johnson still had the powernot just of the Presidency, but also specifically granted to him in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolutionbut what he was losing was the moral authority. Tet, Cronkite, New Hampshire, and then the dam broke. There really were three candidates. On March 16, Robert F. Kennedy formally declared, infuriating McCarthy, and deeply unsettling LBJ. What was McCarthy all up in arms about? After all, no one, not even a man with as healthy a sense of self as Eugene McCarthy, was entitled to the nomination. But Bobby had said no the previous fall, hed said no again on January 31stand now, having taken no risks at all, he was trying to go through the palace gates knocked open by McCarthy himself. As for LBJ, the bizarre psychodrama between him and RFK had roots in real grievances. LBJ hated losing, period, but Bobby was almost certainly right that Johnson feared losing to him. What neither McCarthy nor RFK could have had any substantive knowledge of (although Kennedy had guessed at it months before) was that the confluence of events really was preying on Johnsons mind. LBJ had always possessed a sense of destiny, but he was also fatalistic. Johnson men did not live long lives, and he was approaching his complement. In 1955, hed had a serious heart attack and had given up smoking and his favorite foods as a result. There was no question that the stress on the job was wearing on himhe was looking considerably older. He wondered, as well, about his political longevity. He could read polls, and Gallups mid-March numbers were the worst to date of his Presidency. So, very gradually, sliding back and forth from stubbornness, to exhaustion, to frustration, and perhaps even feeling a sense of martyrdom, he was convincing himself that hed have a far greater chance of achieving his military and legislative goals if he simply announced he wasnt running for a second term. With all that would come the added benefit of appearing statesman-like and self-sacrificing. Inside the LBJ inner circle, which included his wife and his two daughters, both of whom were married to soldiers headed to Vietnam, the choices were less clear. Many of his closest political advisors were aware of a basic law of American politicsits a lot easier for a lame duck to quack than it is to walk. What Johnson really wanted was a second term without the peskiness (or malevolence) of some of his own partys most inflated egos nipping at him. Then, he could finish Vietnam on his own terms and press for the Great Society programs on which he had not yet been able to deliver. Johnson still thought he could win. He still had the unions when the unions were key sources of cash and infrastructure for any Democratand some of those union heads absolutely hated Bobby because of his crusade against corruption in the Teamsters when he was Chief Counsel to the Senates Rackets Committee in the later 1950s. He also still had the support of the old party bosses, like Richard Daley, running the old party machines. Finally, and possibly decisively, he had the old system for the unions and party bosses to manipulate. One of the less understood aspects of Presidential nominations pre-1968 is that many of the primaries didnt conclusively select the nominees, the bosses did. The slate of delegates from a state might go unpledged, or pledged only on the first round, or dominated by a Favorite Son candidate there to swap favors. What may have tipped Johnson was the realization that the Democratic coalition was eroding faster than expected. Southern Democrats, who would support him on Vietnam, were upset about his domestic program, particularly on Civil Rights. Many would defect to George Wallace. And more progressive, younger, more urban voters who agreed with his Great Society push completely rejected his policies on Vietnam. He might very well get the nomination with the help of his institutional constituency. He might also beat the eventual Republican nominee. But he might also suffer more defeats, demonstrate clearly that he had lost the ear of the Democratic voter, and blow up the balance of his domestic accomplishments while doing nothing positive in Vietnam. It late March, he announced hed be delivering a major speech on March 31 on his war (and peace) policy in Vietnam. He did not tip his hand on the substance of that speech. Nor did he mention his second intention, not fully formed, not totally agreed on, not in any way final, that, whoever the countrys next President might be, it would not be Lyndon Baines Johnson, and he would say so. There was more debate among his advisors and family. Finally, he made up his mind, and his Vietnam speech and the political addendum were loaded into the teleprompter. Cameras on, he delivered the military aspect, including a long-sought cessation of the bombing except in very narrowly defined areas. He urged Americans to support his policies, and the North Vietnamese to come to the bargaining table. Then, a deep breath, and I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. A stunned nation stopped what it was doing. For the briefest moment in time, Johnson got the honeymoon he wanted. The press sang his praises: the public approved. Everyone knew the field would go back to three when LBJs Vice President (and presumed heir to the traditional labor and party boss assets) announced, but for now, Humphrey just wept. McCarthy and Kennedy were subdued and gracious in public. The sunshine held for exactly four days. On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King stepped out on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee. He was there to join in a march that was to be held the following Monday in support of Memphiss Sanitation workers strike. He didnt make it. At 6:05 p.m., he was struck in the face by an assassins bullet. Rushed to a nearby hospital, he was soon declared dead. As if Vietnam was not enough, one hundred cities now exploded in agony and in rage. Coming in September: The aftermath of King, Humphrey formally in, RFK and McCarthy slug it out, Wisconsin, Oregon, California, the tragedy at the Ambassador Hotel, McGovern in, chaos in Chicago, Nixon, Wallace, and Humphreys last dash for the crown. As the G20 Summit successfully concluded with 100 per cent consensus on New Delhi Declaration, most of the international media have praised India and spoken of its rising clout as the voice of the Global South. The Washington Post lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in addressing global concerns and receiving 100 per cent consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The post lead with a story titled, India forges compromise among divided world powers at the G20 summit in a diplomatic win for Modi. Dubai based media organisation, Gulf News emphasised on the aspect of how the 18th G20 Summit shaped the world in harmony and diversity and shared their story with the headline, 18th G20 Summit: Shaping a world of diversity and harmony. Australian news outlet ABC news however saw the Delhi declaration as being watered down in its language on the conflict in Ukraine. It wrote Anthony Albanese hails watered down agreement as G20 summit wraps. Albanese on Saturday termed the G20 Summit hosted by PM Modi as successful and also stated that the New Delhi Summit was followed by a good bilateral discussion between the two leaders. As the G20 Summit culminated with productive initiatives, British daily broadsheet, The Telegraph spoke about Indias move to become the highlight of the New World Order. Their story read Why India is poised to become the centre of the New World Order. At the G20 Summit, Indias presidency gave importance to global multi stakeholder collaboration as a means to tackle common challenges like the climate crisis and shows the path of global harmony and green finance. Qatar-based Al Jazeera highlighted that Russia had applauded the balanced declaration as the G20 Summit successfully comes to an end. Russia praises balanced declaration as summit concludes Al Jazeera stated as their headline. South China Morning Post story read US, Russia praise G20 summit declaration as India meeting closes. US President Joe Biden on Sunday had said that this years G20 summit has proved that the group can still drive solutions to the most pressing issues of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict. Taking to X, US President said, At a moment when the global economy is suffering from the overlapping shocks of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict, this years Summit proved that the G20 can still drive solutions to our most pressing issues. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday described the New Delhi G20 Summit as a milestone and said the active role of the Indian presidency has genuinely consolidated the G20 countries from the Global South for the first time in history. Earlier, Chief Coordinator of Indias G20 Presidency, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that the G20 Summit has provided India with an opportunity to showcase its diversity, legacy and digital public infrastructure. Bangladesh on Monday inked a deal with France for the purchase of 10 Airbus aircraft worth $3.2 billion and a letter of intent was exchanged for an earth observation satellite system as French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held talks to boost bilateral ties. Macrons visit to Dhaka, the first by a French president in 33 years, is widely seen as a move by Paris to consolidate its Asia-Pacific strategy and counterbalance a new imperialism in this part of Asia where Chinas influence is growing steadily. Based on democratic principles and the rule of law, in a region facing new imperialism, we want to propose a third way with no intention to bully our partners or to lead them to an unsustainable scheme, Macron told Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a veiled reference to China. All our strategy is focused on strengthening the independence and the strategic autonomy of our friends to give them the freedom of sovereignty, he said. Macron and Hasina on Monday discussed a commitment from Bangladeshs flagship carrier Biman Airline to purchase ten A350s from European aircraft maker Airbus, a potential contract that could be worth as much as $3.2 billion. Biman had previously bought aircraft from the US manufacturer Boeing. The 51-year-old state-run airline has a fleet of more than 20 mostly Boeing planes. Speaking to reporters, Macron said that Bangladeshs initiative to procure Airbus was an important point and I thank you for your trust in the European aerospace industry. And this commitment for 10 Airbus A350 is important, Macron said in a statement to the media after a meeting with the Bangladesh premier. A French diplomat recently said France was a country of 60 million so it could not compete head-on with China while the US is an ally, so France can help countries in the region diversify their alliances, so theyre not reliant on one country alone. A letter of intent was also signed to provide Bangladesh with an earth observation satellite system through cooperation between Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited, or BSCL, and Airbus Defense and Space SAS. Authorities in Dhaka said they were still ironing out the details of the deal while Bangladeshs Economic Relations Division signed the agreement with the French Development Agency. State-run Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd Chairman Shahjahan Mahmud said that the satellite to be procured would travel through an orbit around 350 miles above the earth. This will be used mainly to observe the status of our crops and the sea. Currently, we dont have any monitoring capabilities across the vast sea, he said. Bangladesh bought its first geostationary communications and broadcasting satellite, named Bangabandhu Satellite-1 and launched it in 2018 from France. According to foreign relations analysts, Macrons two-day stopover in Dhaka was part of a French strategy to woo Bangladesh where superpowers such as China, Russia or the United States are jostling for influence. Macrons visit follows a Pacific trip in July to the French overseas territory of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, as well as a stopover in Sri Lanka, in which he outlined his Indo-Pacific strategy aimed at recommitting France to the region. France is Bangladeshs fifth-largest trading partner in the fields of engineering, energy, aerospace and water sectors. The bilateral trade ties started growing in the early 1990s while the total trade between Bangladesh and France soared from Euro 210 million to Euro 4.9 billion today with France being Bangladeshs 5th largest export destination. China has lashed out at media reports alleging a man who was arrested on suspicion of espionage was gathering intelligence for Beijing, labelling the claim a political farce. UK police said over the weekend that they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying, with the Sunday Times reporting he was a researcher in Britains parliament. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested him, and another man in his thirties, in March on suspicion of offences under the Official Secrets Act and both have been bailed until October. The arrests led British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to tell Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit in New Delhi that he had very strong concerns about Beijings interference in democracy. Asked about the media reports that the British pair were arrested on suspicion of providing intelligence to China, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said it was malicious slander. The claim that China is suspected of stealing British intelligence is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander, the spokesperson said in a statement published late Sunday. We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday said that he hopes when Brazil opens the G20 Summit next year the Russia-Ukraine war would have ended and things would be back to normal. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, Lula said, Brazil has the conditions to be the host country of G20 next year. We want to use many cities in Brazil to organise a great number of events there. I hope that when we open the Summit in Brazil, the war has ended and we are back to normal times. #WATCH | G 20 in India | President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says I would like to congratulate India for organising the Summit exceptionally well. We have received great warmth from the Indian people. Brazil has the conditions to be the host country of G20 next year. pic.twitter.com/YnHZ2fQnWm ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Congratulating India for hosting an exceptionally well summit, he said that the leaders and delegates received great warmth from the Indian people. I would like to congratulate India for organising the Summit exceptionally well. We have received great warmth from the Indian people, he added. He said he was unaware of the reasons for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to not participate in the G20 Summit. I will invite them and hope that they will come to Brazil and participate in the summit, added Lula. Calling it a big responsibility, Lula listed a few priorities that Brazil would want to focus on during the G20 Summit next year. #WATCH | G 20 in India | President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says It is a lot of responsibility for Brazil to host the G20 Summit next year. We will put the inequality issue as the core issue during the Summit. Another issue that we are going to discuss is the energy pic.twitter.com/ruCau7aaHu ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 We will put the inequality issue as the core issue during the summit. Another issue that we are going to discuss is the energy transition. Brazil has extraordinary potential in the production of clean energy. We are also going to discuss the reform of the multilateral institutions. We also want to discuss permanent membership of the UN Security Council, added the Brazilian President. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 presidential gavel to the Brazilian President and expressed faith that Indias successor will further global unity and prosperity. PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel to Lula at the concluding session of the G20 Leaders Summit amid thunderous applause. Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the G20 presidency on 1 December and the next Summit is scheduled to be held at the popular seaside resort city of Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. Lula also held a bilateral meeting with Modi Sunday evening where the two leaders talked about ways to boost trade and cooperation in agriculture and technology. With inputs from agencies Anti-government protesters got into a scuffle with police outside the residence of Israels justice minister on Monday, the eve of a historic Supreme Court hearing over the bid by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition to curb its judicial powers. On Tuesday, the entire 15-judge Supreme Court bench will convene for the first time in Israeli history, to hear an appeal against the judicial amendment passed by the coalition in July. Attempts to reach agreements between Netanyahu and his opponents over the contested judicial overhaul plan have so far been fruitless, adding to fears that Israels worst crisis in years will only deepen with the court petitioned to quash legislation by politicians who accuse it of overreach. Despite the ramped-up rhetoric, a ruling from the Supreme Court could come as late as January, leaving time for the sides to reach agreements on judicial reforms, granting a possible reprieve after months of protests and signalling stability to the markets. If compromises are not reached, Netanyahu could opt to present a scaled back version of the original plan. The scuffles broke out as police moved to control crowds gathering outside the house of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, one of the main architects of the plan, with footage showing demonstrators blocking the ministers car. A big demonstration is expected outside the court later on Monday. The appellants in Tuesdays hearing opposition lawmakers and watchdog groups say the amendment removes vital democratic checks and balances and invites abuses of power. They also argue that the relatively rushed legislation process itself was flawed. In its legal response to the petitions, the government has said that the Supreme Court has no authority to even review the so-called reasonableness amendment to a quasi-constitutional Basic Law, and said the debate could lead to anarchy. Netanyahus nationalist-religious coalition launched its judicial campaign in January, sparking the unprecedented protests, spooking investors and sending the shekel down as Western allies voiced concern for the health of Israels democracy. Netanyahu, who says the judicial changes are meant to balance a Supreme Court that has become too interventionist, has been hazy when asked whether he would abide by a ruling that would quash the new law. With fears of a constitutional crisis mounting, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said on Wednesday that parliament would not accept abjectly being trampled by the Supreme Court. A day later at a demonstration outside the court, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned the bench that voiding the legislation would be overstepping its boundaries. No one has the authority to quash the peoples laws, he said. Russia claimed Sunday that the United Russia party, which staunchly backs President Vladimir Putin, had won local ballots in four Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia. The Kremlin claimed to have annexed the eastern and southern territories last year despite not having full military control over them. The elections have been dismissed by Ukraine and its allies as a sham. Data published by Moscow and proxy officials showed voters in the war-battered territories, where Ukraine is clawing back ground, had backed United Russia with more than 70 per cent of the ballot in each territory, state-run news agencies reported. The polls also being held across Russia came ahead of presidential elections next year expected to prolong Putins rule until at least 2030. His opponents are in exile or jail and Moscow has criminalised criticism of its conflict in Ukraine and detained thousands for speaking out. Authorities set up mobile polling booths days ahead of the vote in the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, where Moscow said a polling station was attacked by a Ukrainian drone. In Donetsk, which has been partially controlled by separatists since 2014, Kremlin-installed authorities said Ukrainian shelling had injured election officials. Voting was also taking place in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian security services said they had compiled a list of collaborators helping to organise the voting and vowed retribution. Live in peace In Rostov-on-Don, a southwest city close to Ukraines border attacked by drones this week, two voters told AFP the conflict was their main worry. We just want to live in peace with our children, said 40-year-old Nina Antonova. Everyone is worried about this one problem the war. We dont have any other concerns, said 84-year-old Anatoli, a pensioner who declined to give his last name. In Moscow, which was also hosting a mayoral vote, there were few campaign posters. Incumbant Sergei Sobyanin a Siberian-born Kremlin loyalist in post since 2010 won a convincing reelection, a senior election official said. In his 13 years at the helm of Europes largest city, Sobyanin has presided over numerous mega-projects that have transformed Moscows skyline. In 2013, he was almost defeated by anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny. Navalny, who dismissed the vote from behind bars, was jailed in 2020 on old fraud charges his allies say were a pretext to end his political work. Sobyanin beat out the grandson of a veteran Communist politician and a little-known candidate from a new party dubbed New People. Moscow residents ahead of the vote had praised Sobyanin for modernising the city. Moscow is blossoming in front of our eyes, 21-year-old student Rukhin Aliyev told AFP. Musician Kirill Lobanov said Sobyanin had done very well as mayor, particularly in the last year marked by the conflict. Sobyanin has downplayed increasing Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow that have hit the Kremlin and crashed into the capitals iconic financial district. High alert In regions bordering Ukraine that have seen frequent attacks, voting was going ahead with additional security precautions. Electoral commission chief Ella Pamfilova said voting had been postponed in Shebekino, a district of the Belgorod region that has been hit by shelling, due to a regime of high alert. Observers say one of the few competitive races in Russias 11 time zones emerged in Siberias remote Khakassia, where governor Valentin Konovalov is seeking re-election. The 35-year-old Communist defeated a Kremlin-backed candidate in 2018 after a wave of rare protests in the sparsely populated mountainous region. In this years campaign, he initially faced Moscow-backed candidate Sergei Sokol, who portrayed himself as a Kremlin-decorated hero who fought in Ukraine. Sokol dropped out at the last minute, citing health reasons. Konovalov is one of few regional leaders not backed by the Kremlin who remains in office. Even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in India for the G20 Leaders summit on Sunday, Khalistani secessionists held a so-called Referendum in Surrey, British Columbia. Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the founder of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), was present at the gathering of the Khalistani separatists held at the Guru Nanak Singh Gurudwara in Surrey, Vancouver. In a provocative speech, Pannun used intimidating language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other leaders. He claimed that the separatists were challenging the territorial integrity of India. Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday raised strong concerns about the continuous anti-India activities by extremist elements in Canada in his pull-aside meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister Modi stated that it was essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats. The Prime Minister conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. It added, The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats. Prime Minister Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship. After his meeting with PM Modi, Trudeau in a news conference said that he had many conversations with PM Modi on the issue of Khalistan extremism and foreign interference, and Canada would always defend freedom of expression, and at the same time will always be there to prevent violence. He further emphasised that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. Both the issues came up. Over the years, with PM Modi, we have had many conversations on both of those issues. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred, Trudeau said. He added, I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada. The flip side of it, we also highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of law and we did talk about foreign interference. Earlier this month, Canadian authorities had withdrawn permission to hold the so-called referendum at a public school in Canada after concerns were raised over promotional materials that featured pictures of a weapon. The referendum was scheduled to be held at the Tamanawis Secondary School in Canadas Surrey on 10 September. A couple is seeking a refund after their flight experience was marred by sitting near a dog that made unpleasant noises precisely farting and snorting. Gill and Warren Press, residents of Wellington, were embarking on a long journey from Europe to New Zealand. Their 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore with Singapore Airlines took an unexpected turn. The trouble began when they realized that their premium economy seats were right next to a passenger with an emotional support dog that was making disruptive sounds. Mrs. Press described hearing a loud snorting noise and initially thought it was her husbands phone. However, they soon discovered it was the dogs heavy breathing. Disturbed by this, Mrs. Press requested to be relocated to a different seat. Unfortunately, the only available seats were located at the rear of the economy class. They reluctantly remained in their original seats but encountered another issue when the dog began to emit unpleasant odors and reportedly occupied Mr. Presss legroom. Mrs. Press claimed that the dog couldnt be placed in the aisle due to the hindrance it would cause to the flight attendants trolleys. This led to the dogs head being positioned under her husbands feet, causing discomfort. Furthermore, Mr. Presss shorts were allegedly stained with the dogs saliva. Mrs. Press approached a flight attendant once more, who offered them seats at the front of the economy class that had previously been reserved for cabin crew but were now vacant. The couple was assured that the incident would be documented, and the airline would follow up. However, a week passed with no communication. Mrs. Press subsequently sent an email complaint and received a travel voucher of NZ$200 (95) per passenger three weeks later. Nevertheless, she finds this compensation inadequate and is now demanding a full refund, emphasizing that they did not receive the experience they paid for. A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines acknowledged the situation, stating that they typically make an effort to inform customers seated near an assistance dog before boarding. They expressed sincere apologies for this lapse and vowed to work with their airport teams to prevent such incidents in the future. Additionally, they mentioned that when passengers seated near an assistance dog request a seat change, the airline will assist in relocating them within the same cabin, space permitting. The airline is currently in direct contact with the concerned couple. President Joe Biden said Sunday his visit to Vietnam to showcase stronger ties with Hanoi was not about trying to start a cold war with China, but rather was part of a broader effort to provide global stability by building US relationships throughout Asia at a time of tensions with Beijing. Its not about containing China, Biden said at a news conference in Vietnams capital after attending the Group of 20 summit in India. Its about having a stable base. The American president came to Hanoi as Vietnam was elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. That is evidence of how far the relationship has evolved from what Biden referred to as the bitter past of the Vietnam War. The expanded partnership reflects a broader effort across Asia to counter Chinas influence. Biden has said Vietnam wants to flex a degree of independence, and US companies are seeking an alternative to imports from Chinese factories. He is pursuing possible allies while also trying to soothe tensions with China. I think we think too much in cold war terms, Biden said at his news conference. Its not about that. Its about generating economic growth and stability in all parts of the world. And thats what were trying to do. He added: We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. Thats what this trip is all about. Biden opened his news conference by saying he had traveled around the world in five days, from Washington to New Delhi and now Hanoi, showcasing efforts by his administration to forge alliances. The president will stop in Alaska on the way home Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In response to one question, Biden told reporters he had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while in India. The contact is the highest-level interaction between U.S. and Chinese officials since Biden and Chinas president, Xi Jinping, held talks at last years G20 in Indonesia. Xi skipped the India talks and sent Li in his place. We talked about stability. It wasnt confrontational at all, Biden said. The exchange, between G20 sessions Saturday, was brief, according to a senior Biden administration official. It was not clear who approached whom, but Biden was interested in seeing Li and underscoring his desire to stabilize the up-and-down relationship between the two countries, said the official, who was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden went into meetings with Vietnams leaders after his arrival in the country. He welcomed the new partnership and said he hoped for progress on climate, the economy and other issues during his 24-hour stop in Hanoi. We can trace a 50-year arc of progress between our nations from conflict to normalization to this new elevated status, Biden said with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at party headquarters. Biden has described himself as being part of the Vietnam generation although he did not serve in a war. He was given five draft deferments and was exempted from military service because he had asthma as a teenager. Biden called Vietnam a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. He noted that veterans such as John Kerry, his climate czar, and the late John McCain, a Vietnam POW and Republican senator from Arizona, found ways to build a relationship with Vietnam after the war. Both men saw so clearly, as I and so many others did, how much we had to gain by working together to overcome a bitter past, he said. Trong pledged that his country will work hard to implement the agreement. Only then can we say it is a success, he pledged. Biden described the U.S. and Vietnam as critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time. Neither leader specifically discussed how Chinas economic and geopolitical rise had contributed to their countries expanded partnership, yet it was hard to explain the mutual embrace without Beijings growing influence. Vietnam previously bestowed the same level of relations on China and Russia. Elevating the U.S. suggests that Vietnam wants to hedge its friendships as U.S. and European companies look for alternatives to Chinese factories. With Chinas economic slowdown and Xis consolidation of political power, Biden sees an opportunity to bring more nations, including Vietnam and Cambodia, into Americas orbit. Biden was welcomed upon his arrival in Vietnam with a pomp-filled ceremony outside the mustard-colored Presidential Palace. Schoolchildren lined the steps and waved American and Vietnam flags. Biden watched from an elevated review stand as high-stepping members of the military marched past. Biden and Trong both expressed happiness over seeing each other again after last meeting some eight years ago in Washington. Biden was vice president at that time. Trong had some flattering words for Biden, who is running for reelection next year and faces persistent questions at home about his age. You have nary aged a day, and I would say you look even better than before, Trong said. I would say every feature of you, Mr. President, is complimenting your image. Biden chuckled at that. But the packed schedule and jet lag appeared to take a toll on the 80-year-old president, who wrapped up his news conference saying Im going to go to bed. Jon Finer, Bidens principal deputy national security adviser, addressed reports that Vietnam was pursuing a deal to buy weapons from Russia, even as Hanoi is seeking stronger relations with the U.S. Finer acknowledged Vietnams lengthy military relationship with Russia. He said the U.S. continues to work with Vietnam and other countries that have similar ties to Russia to try to limit their interactions with Moscow, which Washington accuses of committing war crimes and violating international law with its aggression in Ukraine. U.S. trade with Vietnam has already accelerated but there are limits to how much further it can grow without improvements to the countrys infrastructure, its workers skills and its governance. Nor has increased trade automatically put the Vietnamese economy on an upward trajectory. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that the CEOs she talks with rank Vietnam highly as a place to diversify supply chains that, before the coronavirus pandemic, had been overly dependent on China. American imports of Vietnamese goods have nearly doubled since 2019 to $127 billion annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But it is unlikely that Vietnam, with its population of 100 million, can match the scale of Chinese manufacturing. In 2022, China, with 1.4 billion people, exported four times as many goods to the U.S. as did Vietnam. North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia and meeting with President Vladimir Putin will be a full-scale visit, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. Kim has set off for Russia aboard a special armoured train, a South Korean official said, as Pyongyang and Moscow on Monday confirmed a summit with President Vladimir Putin amid Russias deepening isolation over its actions in Ukraine. The armoured train that Kim uses for foreign visits appears to have departed Pyongyang, South Korean media reported citing a government official. There will be talks between the two delegations. And after that, if necessary, the leaders will continue their communication in a one-on-one format, Peskov said. A video of his remarks was posted on social media by a Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin. According to Peskov, the main topic of the talks will be bilateral relations between the neighbouring countries. We will continue to strengthen our friendship, Peskov said. If the summit with Putin goes ahead, it will be the North Korean leaders first international trip in more than four years, and the first since the pandemic. The two leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its war in Ukraine, a US official earlier told CBS, the BBCs US partner. Kims last trip abroad was also to Vladivostok in 2019 for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Koreas nuclear disarmament talks with then US President Donald Trump. by Anton Cebalo In the decade before World War I, the newspaper dominated life like it never would again. The radio was not yet fit for mass use, and neither was film or recording. It was then common for major cities to have a dozen or so morning papers competing for attention. Deceit, exaggeration, and gimmicks were typical, even expected, to boost readership. Rarely were reporters held to account. This characterization is not mine but taken from Austrian writer Karl Kraus. Kraus believed this environment had to be held responsible for plunging Europe into war. He parodied its excesses in his 1918 play The Last Days of Mankind where he developed his signature montage style. In a time of upheaval, Kraus cut through the noise by repeating its own voice back at it, splicing quotes together into a new interpretation. As he recounted in the plays preface, the most improbable deeds reported here actually took place. The most implausible conversations were spoken verbatim. Kraus pursued a unique kind of literary realism with the perceptive eye of a documentarian, and in his crosshairs was the newspaper. Like many writers and artists of the early 20th centurywhose perspectives ring so familiar to us todayKraus sought to dramatize how mass media, particularly the newspaper, was distorting the urban individuals sense of place. Is it so surprising that writers and artists then, argues critic Lucy Sante, took such pleasure in shredding it? After all, the stakes were dire. I have been reading Santes translation of one such shredder: Felix Feneon. He is an individual who remained largely unknown during his life, but played an outsized role in modernism and early 20th-century literature. Feneon found himself close to the heart of this media whirlwind I am describing, writing anonymously for the French newspaper Le Matin in 1906. But rather than get caught up in its bluster, he instead opted for an approach that was unique in its candor, simplicity, and intended speed of consumption. In just a few lines each, Feneon reported on over a thousand real-life stories in 1906 that sought to show the senselessness of everyday life then. They were printed in snippets as a column, tinged with wit and sometimes even humor. They were written like readymades, as if winking at the reader to say: sadly, this is how things are, take it as you will. His stories give us a panorama of unrest and crime in France in 1906from murders to political corruption to labor agitation and more. Here are a few of them: Strikers in Ronchamp, Haute-Saone, threw in the river a worker who insisted on continuing his labor. Delalandes tender feelings for his maid were such that he killed his wife with a pitchfork. The Rennes assizes sentenced him to death. Instead of 175,000 francs in the coffers deposited with the tax collector at Sousse, there was nothing. If my candidate loses, I will kill myself, M. Bellavoine of Fresquienne, Seiene-Inferieure, had declared. He killed himself. The French ditch-diggers of Florac have protested, sometimes with their knives, against the amount of Spanish spoken on their work sites. The Blonquets stank of drink. A saloonkeeper in Saint-Maur dared refuse them service. They slew him with an indignant dagger. While thundering for the Republic, a 300-year-old cannon exploded in Chatou, but no one was hurt. When these stories and many more are read together in a single sitting, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the maladies that plagued France that year. Each snippet is a story unto itself, letting the readers mind wander on the details of what took place. During his life, Feneon refused to publish all these stories as one book. In fact, he was only revealed to be the author much later in the 1940s. It was finally compiled into an English-translated collection in 2007 by Lucy Sante titled Novels in Three Lines. Its influence in 1906, however, must have been widespread. At the time, Le Matin was one of the big four daily French newspapers with a staff of over 150 journalists. Feneon would also go on to commission the first French translation of James Joyces writing. One cannot help but relate Feneons style to our short-form way of communicating nowadays, be it a tweet or even a flash fiction story. In a time of print medias excesses, he shredded the newspaper. Given the comparable whirlwind of todays infosphere, Feneon, and in his own way Kraus as well, are worth revisiting in how they approached realism sincerely in a time of great upheavel. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday told lawmakers that he had warm and productive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as he updated the UK Parliament about his recent visit to New Delhi for the India-led G20 Summit. Addressing the House of Commons after his first visit to India as British Prime Minister, the 43-year-old leader began by flagging his and his wife Akshata Murtys Indian connections and financial interests in India. In his detailed parliamentary statement, Sunak went on to highlight his three key aims of the India visit, which included increasing diplomatic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine, climate action and strengthening ties with India. I held warm and productive discussions with Prime Minister Modi on strengthening our relationship in defence, technology and a free trade deal between our nations, Sunak said. India and the UK have concluded 12 negotiating rounds towards an FTA, which both sides believe will significantly enhance the GBP 36 billion bilateral trade partnership. While in India, Sunak told reporters that things arent quite agreed on the pact and that he wont rush things. For the record, let me declare that as is a matter of public record, I and my family are of Indian origin. My wife and her family are Indian citizens with financial interests in India, Sunak told the Commons with reference to Murtys shares in Infosys the software major co-founded by her father Narayana Murthy. Sunak pointed out that even as most G20 leaders came together in Delhi in a spirit of cooperation, one leader was missing from the summit. Putin has lacked the courage to face his G20 peers day after day. His actions cause horrendous suffering in Ukraine, violating the UN Charter, threatening European security and disrupting global energy supplies. Leaders united in calling out the human suffering caused by Putins war, he said. On his other key priority at the summit, he stressed that the UK is seen as a global leader on climate issues. At the G20, I made a record commitment of over 1.6 billion pounds for the Green Climate Fund, the single biggest international climate pledge the UK has ever made, he said. Against the backdrop of UK media revelations over the weekend of the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China, Sunak told MPs that he met Premier Li Qiang on the margins of the summit in New Delhi to condemn such actions. I was emphatic with Premier Li that actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. I also emphasised the UKs unyielding commitment to human rights, and I was clear on the importance of maintaining stability and international law as the basis for stable relations, he said. During questions raised by members of Parliament, Sunak was asked about the case of British Sikh activist Jagtar Johal who is lodged in an Indian jail on serious charges. The British prime minister confirmed that he had raised the matter during his talks with the Indian counterpart and that the UK remains committed to seeing a resolution to the case. WhatsApp is taking steps to comply with new EU rules by introducing chat interoperability, as reported by WABetaInfo. Recently, WhatsApp introduced multi-account support in beta for Android users. The European Union has passed the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which imposes strict regulations on major tech companies, including the requirement for users to communicate across different apps. Third-party chats support: WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 As a prominent tech platform, WhatsApp falls under the DMAs criteria and is actively working to adapt. Signs of their efforts to adhere to the new rules can be seen in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.8 update, where they have created a dedicated section for these regulations, although its not yet accessible to users. WhatsApp has a 6-month window to align itself with these regulations and provide interoperability in the European Union. Interoperability will enable people from other messaging apps to contact WhatsApp users, even if they dont have WhatsApp. While this broadens communication, it raises concerns about encryption. Though technical details are scarce, it is suggested that WhatsApp could ensure end-to-end encryption is maintained in interoperable systems. Users may also have the option to opt out, as per Article 7 of the regulations. Availability Development of third-party chat support is currently underway and will be available in a future app update. Source XIAMEN, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's commitment to high-standard opening-up and an improved business environment has boosted the confidence of foreign investors attending the ongoing 23rd China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), with senior officials reiterating the country's sincerity in facilitating international exchanges and cooperation. The event kicked off in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, on Friday, drawing the participation of companies from 102 countries and regions. Wang Yong, vice chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said that China will unswervingly promote high-standard opening up. Noting that the country is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and is pursuing a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, Wang stressed that China would promote high-standard opening up, further improve the environment for foreign investment and firmly safeguard the multilateral trading regime. Among those attending CIFIT is ABB, a world leading electrification and automation company. It has invested approximately 19 billion yuan (about 2.63 billion U.S. dollars) in China over the past 31 years, expanding its operations to encompass research, manufacturing, sales and engineering services in 700 Chinese cities. James Zhao, senior vice president of ABB (China) Ltd., told Xinhua, "China's business environment has been continuously improving over the years." He cited the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect three years ago, as a significant step in providing a legal framework and protection for foreign investments. "China's recent introduction of new policies will surely provide a more equitable business environment," Zhao added. According to a report released by the Development Research Center of the State Council during CIFIT, China has maintained its position as the world's second-largest recipient of foreign investment since 2017 and remains one of the most attractive investment destinations globally. In 2022, China's actual use of foreign direct investment (FDI) reached 189.1 billion U.S. dollars, marking an 8 percent year-on-year increase on a comparable basis. The country's share of global FDI rose from 8.2 percent in 2012 to 14.6 percent in 2022. The report attributed China's success to its proactive alignment with high international standards, continuous optimization of investment policies and the business environment, and persistent expansion of market access. Saleh Ali Khabti, Deputy Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, lauded China's investment environment as "great" and cited the growth of Saudi companies' investments in China as evidence of the improved business environment. He also mentioned the recent increase in investment by Saudi Aramco, the world's oil giant, in various Chinese regions. At a CIFIT forum for promoting investment in China, Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, met with companies both from home and abroad, pledging greater efforts to enhance opening up. He said the country would shorten the negative list for foreign investment access, remove and relax restrictions on foreign investment, and increase the openness of the modern service industry. China will also increase policy support for foreign investment, improve services and guarantees for foreign-funded enterprises, and strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of foreign investors, Chen added. "With China stepping up efforts to stabilize foreign investment and promote consumption, events like CIFIT provide us with golden platforms, allowing us to engage in deep communication with the Chinese government and creating favorable opportunities," Lu Haiqing, chief corporate affairs and strategic relations officer of IHG Greater China, told Xinhua. As one of the first multinational hotel groups coming to China, the UK-headquartered hotel giant has launched 658 hotels across 200 Chinese cities, operating under 12 distinct brands. Lu highlighted the company's impressive growth trajectory in China, noting, "Every year, we witness the inauguration of approximately 100 new IHG hotels in China, and we currently have 500 more in the pipeline for construction." He affirmed IHG's commitment to accelerating its expansion in China, particularly in the post-epidemic era, as it remains confident in the country's promising economic prospects and the continuously improving business landscape. Lu disclosed that he had directly exchanged ideas with various provincial and city-level government officials. "We had offered our insights and received active feedback from the governments," Lu said, adding that the group had secured good opportunities for future development during the exchanges. When asked about the details, Lu responded with a confident smile, stating, "We will provide more details when they are finalized, and some of them are in the second and third-tier cities. We anticipate swift progress in the follow-up work." by David Kordahl This column is ultimately a review of A Guess at the Riddle: Essays on the Physical Underpinnings of Quantum Mechanics, the short new book by David Z Albert, a philosopher at Columbia University and (as I found out last week) the graduate advisor of the founding editor of 3QuarksDaily, S. Abbas Raza. Unlike Raza, I have never met Albert, but my parasocial relationship with his work is midway through its second decade, which I am now acknowledging upfront. I first became aware of David Z Albert when I was an undergraduate at a small Lutheran college in rural Iowa. On its top floor, the Wartburg College library had a large painting of Martin Luther, our hero, overseeing a bonfire of Catholic theology. But in the basement, where the unburnt books were held, I found a copy of Alberts 1992 debut, Quantum Mechanics and Experience. The books style seemed wholly unusual to me. As a physics student, I wasnt accustomed to books that were at once about science but somehow separate from it. I was impressed how Albert had retained only enough detail for a conceptual critique. I didnt know, then, that its peculiar patois was just that of the analytic philosophers, with Albert merely adopting an eccentric dialect of that communal tongue. In my last column for 3QD, I wrote about how quantum models work. A physical system is associated with a quantum state. As time passes, the quantum state changes according to a deterministic rule, the Schrodinger equation, branching smoothly into distinct outcomes. At the end, you compare how much of the wave-functionwhat percentage of its total squared amplitudeis parked in each possible branch, and this gives you the probability of observing each outcome. Quantum Mechanics and Experience is a book about the measurement problem in quantum mechanics, which (roughly) is the question of how nature decides which one of the predicted possibilities within the final quantum state we actually end up observing. Alberts book wasnt my first exposure these issuesI had read Nick Herberts 1987 book, Quantum Reality, a few years earlierbut it represented the first time I got the sense that these issues were still debated, and still up for grabs. The summer before I first entered physics grad school, I read Alberts follow-up book, Time and Chance (published in 2000, read by me in 2008), which did for thermodynamics what his previous book had done for the measurement problem. That is, it made thermodynamics seem dangerous, strange, deep. But I soon found out that physicists are not, in general, very sympathetic to the philosophical approach. When I told my physics advisers that I enjoyed reading philosophy of physics, even professors who explored such issues themselves warned me off. David, one told me, you have to understand that these peoplephilosophersare two hundred years behind us! Theyre not used to being challenged. When they talk to actual physicists, they leave shell-shocked! Three years later, I left grad school, myself a bit shell-shocked, quitting without finishing a dissertation. I stopped thinking of myself as a physicistat least, to the extent that that was possible while still earning a living teaching physicsbut kept track of my old heroes. For instance, I was delighted by Alberts public tiff with the physicist Lawrence Krauss, where Albert wrote an extremely negative New York Times review of Krausss book, A Universe From Nothing, and Krauss, as a physicist, didnt enjoy being challenged. I clearly had things to learn from Albert, who, love him or hate him, could make his preoccupations intelligible. A few years later, in 2015, I saw that Alberts third book, After Physics, had been published, and I jumped at the chance to review it. My review was, unsurprisingly, a rave. I was fully on board with Alberts project, which I understood as helping us to imagine what our scientific accounts really imply. The godfather of such realist attempts at making sense of quantum theory was John Stewart Bell, whose papers on the subject were collected as Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics a few years before his death in 1990. (Last year, 3QD contributor Jochen Szangolies discussed Bells famous theorem in a lucid column.) Much of what Albert has written on quantum theory, so far as I can tell, involves making explicit what was quietly implicit in Bells work. Consider the idea I found most startling in After Physics. Albert first expressed this startling idea in his 1995 paper, Elementary Quantum Metaphysics, where he described it as deriving from a few casual remarks scattered here and there in various papers and private communications of John Bell. Either with extreme modesty or extreme hubris, Albert found the idea to be so straightforward and so ineluctable to me since then as not to merit any further discussion. Here it is: if we take quantum theory seriously, the three-dimensional space of our everyday experience is an illusion, a shadow on Platos cave. The real space to consider is the 3N-dimensional configuration space of the wave-function, where N is the number of particles in your universea number estimated, in our universe, to be on the order of 1080, not even counting contributions from neutrinos or light. This all sounds a little nuts, and it finally brings us to the new book. A Guess at the Riddle is, as mentioned, a short book, 130 small pages including the index. Its compact because Albert doesnt repeat anything from his other books. Since he explained them in Quantum Mechanics and Experience, Albert expects readers to understand Bohmian, GRW, and Everettian approaches to quantum measurement. The past hypothesis, a term coined in Time and Chance, is used without explanation, as is the Mentaculus, a joke he introduced in After Physics. Take this as a warning. I could follow his arguments, but Im a superfan. In the new book, Albert returns to the subject of quantum mechanics to ask, can we imagine a quantum world? Albert insists that we shouldnt let the old historical baggage get in our way. The first step in this is to flatly admit that the attempts of Bohr and his circle to come to grips with this riddle somehow got off on the wrong foot, and all of a sudden Hegel and Kierkegaard and Buddhism and modernist crises of representation and principles of complementarity and verificationist theories of meaning and alternative systems of logic and interactive dualism and the cold war and the House Un-American Activities committee and God knows what else got dragged into the conversation, and the result was a gigantic and protracted intellectual disaster. Good. (Albert is fond of single-word, single-paragraph declamations of this sort.) So what can we do, instead, that might allow us to bypass all that guff? There are just three essays here. The first two present new arguments in favor of the sort of wave-function realism that Albert has been defending since the mid-90s, and the third piecewell, Im not entirely sure, but Ill take a stab at it. A Guess at the Riddle, the first long essay, is a revised version of a paper that used to be titled How to Teach Quantum Mechanics (no doubt an homage to J.S. Bells How to teach special relativity). This piece labors to make the reader aware that the dynamical space that emerges in quantum mechanics is conceptually distinct from the physical space that we mark off with meter sticks. To make this clear, Albert works through simple examples with one particle described in one dimension, one particle described in two dimensions, and so on. But the moral, here, is essentially the same as that of Elementary Quantum Metaphysics, or of the essay Primitive Ontology in After Physics. The world may not be as it seems, but that doesnt mean it isnt some particular way: The trick (in a nutshell) is to learn to think of what we see in our experiments as the to-ings and fro-ings of shadows on a wall. The idea is that all those to-ings and fro-ings can actually be understood, the idea is that all of those to-ings and fro-ings can actually be explained, notwithstanding their almost unspeakable original weirdness, in terms of a simple and visualizable and mechanical account of something thats going on (as it were) behind our backs, in a part of the cave at which we are forbidden to directly look. The second essay, Physical Laws and Physical Things, argues for the fundamental status of wave-functions in a different way. Albert notices that its logically possible to get rid of elements of a theory by moving their status from that of a physical thing to that of a physical law. Logically possible, but incredibly weirdthe physicists version of a reductio ad absurdum. Albert applies the argument to a version of quantum theory, and notes how it would be strange not to go with what the theory seems to be telling usi.e., that the wave-function is a physical thing, not something up at the level of a physical law. But in the third essay, some doubts surface. This last essay, The Still More Basic Question, addresses those who harbor skepticism that the wriggling of stuff in some stupendously high-dimensional space (i.e., that of the quantum wave-function) can credibly be reduced to the tables, chairs, rocks, and trees of common experience. To put this sharply, Albert invents a fanciful protagonist: Image that somebodycall her Darleensays, I have a new proposal for a fundamental physical theory of the world: The world consists entirely of fundamental objects called schmoozles, whose physical states evolve in time in accord with such-and-such equations of motion. Tell me what you think! And we tell Darleen that we have no idea what to think, because she has told us nothing whatever about how to apply her theory to the business of making predictions about the behaviors of the various macroscopic paraphernalia of our everyday experience of the world, and so we have no way to make a judgment of its empirical adequacy. And Darleen respondsapologeticallythat she somehow neglected to mention, and that she certainly ought to have mentioned, that whenever the schmoozles are behaving this way then we have a table, and that whenever the schmoozles are behaving that way then we have a chair, and so on. And now we understand each other. Now we have been presented with a theory. And now we are in a position to consider the question of how well or how poorly this theory succeeds as an account of our empirical experience of the world. Physics, unfortunately, only offers us schmoozles. Is that enough? I should come clean about something. Since reviewing David Z Alberts last book, I have once again joined the physicists. The year after I reviewed After Physics, I returned to physics grad school, joined a research group, and wrote a dissertation. Along the way, some of the physicists attitude of pragmatic dismissal rubbed off on me. And Ill admit that I felt exasperated by the end of A Guess. I wish that Alberts discussions connected with ongoing scientific investigations, as the strongest arguments against wave-function realism (cf. David Wallaces Against Wavefunction Realism) stress that its scientific content is about one century behind, stuck with the puzzles of the 1920s, rather than practices of today. Still, many physicists stop thinking when they moo about philosophy, and Albert has proven himself time and again to be a visionary who faces these old puzzles without flinching. I hope, in another half-decade, to read his next book. by Gus Mitchell This September marks 50 years since the deaths of three men. One died at the very beginning of the month, in Oxford, one in the middle, in Santiago, and one at the end, in Vienna. Anyone likely to be reading this will have heard of J.R.R. Tolkien, who died on 2 September in Oxford, city of his life and work, aged 81. Unfortunately the contemporary world has absorbed Tolkien to an unhealthy extent that sweetens and ultimately sickens his achievement. His achievement was to create myth anew. I use that word order deliberately, as opposed to created a new mythology. I dont know how many people will have heard of Victor Jara. If they havent, they ought immediately to stop reading until they have given their full attention to Manifiesto, one of the really incomparable things ever committed to record. Manifiesto was recorded in August 1973. It was released posthumously; in its closing lines, Jara had written: For a song has meaning / When it beats in the veins / Of a man who will die singing / Truthfully singing his songs. And Jara was murdered the following month, on September 16th, doing what he himself had predicted. Many people will have heard of W.H. Auden. Another acronymous luminary of 20th century British letters, he is also its greatest poet. Auden died on 29 September in Vienna, aged 66: rather lonely, estranged from his partner Chester Kallman, intending himself to make his way back to Oxford, and having likely swallowed his habitual nightly dose of barbiturate and vodka (his practice for three decades.) Auden was the kind of poet that doesnt really exist anymore: a grand reflection of his age. September also marks fifty years since the Pinochet coup in Chile, a coup supported by both the United States and the United Kingdom, and that would lead first to the deaths of the democratically elected socialist president Salvador Allende, then at least two thousand more Chileans, and the torture and imprisonment of more than thirty thousand more. On the 12 September 1973, the morning after the coup and Allendes suicide, Victor Jara, along with five thousand others were arrested by the fascists and taken as prisoners to the Estadio Chile in Santiago. Jara defined himself as a music worker, not an artist. People and time will decide [the latter]. Jara was born in 1932, raised among the rural poor and peasants, and after moving to Santiago, studying and directing theatre, grew frustrated with the limited reach of all but songspecifically the folk music of the New Chilean Song movement, led by its founder and his mentor Violeta Parrato reach the lives of working people. Jara devoted himself more and more to song and became the essential leader of the movement. Following Parras example, he toured the country singing for and about the local and working people, in constant support of Allendes Popular Unity party. Many of Jaras songs reinforce that defending people and defending landboth, of course, to be devastated by the fascistsis inseparable. He sang for the people who labour / so that the future may flower and so for Chile itself: a far strip of country / narrow but endlessly deep. His voice is at once gentle and strong, a lilting tenor driven by urgency. Auden was probably the last poet of his kind. That age being the modern one, and Auden a repentant modernist, he was constantly and ironically and self-aware of the fact thatas he most famously stated the casepoetry makes nothing happen; yet he wrote as though it did, as though the truth which the poem struggled to accomplish were a deeply consequential matter, with implications for English itselfmother tongue, as he was fond of calling it. He was probably the last poet, too, to have a voice that people counted on, that was listened for and personal to people who might not ordinarily have kept up with the poetry. Auden tried to say and reconcile important things: literature, faith, history, science, politics, society, war, psychology, freedom, responsibility, and (the agent binding all the rest) morality and ethics, a search for the Good. He was fond of abstract, grand capitalisations, and in his poetry, at least, they might still be locatable in the modern age. His poetic and prose voice werealthough he was rightly suspicious of his own gifteffortlessly authoritative, and it was an authority that no public figure, poet or intellectual, could approach now. Whether Middle Earth will persist in our imaginary for another hundred or thousand years will determine J.R.R. Tolkiens success in creating, as his commentators have often dubbed it, a new mythology. What Tolkien did do was to create myth anew: he showed the modern world that it was no different from any other human epoch in its need for the mythic dimension. We now call this High Fantasy or just fantasy literature, but that is just the inevitable hollowing that occurs in most generations following a significant cultural discovery, when the originating genius vacates, and imitation and codification takes over. Today, we can barely recognise Tolkiens achievement for what it really was, since for most of the culture, now, Middle Earth is yet another brand. It was probably only possible for this to be the work a man who had himself experienced and survived the shattering of all previous reality represented by the slaughter of the First World War. Its often called the first machine war. But what this really, ultimately means is that it was the first algorithmic war; the first war fought under, and conducted according to, the imperatives of an emerging global diktat of capital, the same one that, in 1973, would depose Salvador Allende. As Victor Jara waited (as, probably, he knew) to die in the stadium, he was writing a poema poem commonly known today as Estadio Chile. It was apparently composed on his second night there and committed to various memories and scraps of paper even in the moment, and it would be smuggled out to Jaras widow, Joan (still living, at 97) in a shoe, and spread underground. It was, like Manifiesto, a posthumous manifesto to an imprisoned people. His fellow prisoners attested to Jaras example in the stadium itself: encouraging, singing for those around him, popular songs, and snatches of the poem-in-progress. That was before he was separated from the crowd by militia, his nails torn off, his hands broken, ordered to play the guitar, brutally beaten, before finallyapparently still singingbeing shot in the head and then a further 43 times. If a poem, among many other things, is an attempt to suspend time and capture a moment or a state of true experience or understanding, then Estadio Chile must be one of the most preciously true poems of the 20th century. Here is a translation of that poem, which deserves nothing less than quotation in full: There are five thousand of us here in this small part of the city We are five thousand I wonder how many we are in all the cities and in the whole country? Here alone are ten thousand hands which plant seeds and make the factories run How much humanity exposed to hunger, cold, panic, pain, moral pressure, terror, and insanity? Six of us were lost as if into starry space One dead, another beaten as I could never have believed a human being could be beaten The other four wanted to end their terrorone jumping into nothingness, another beating his head against a wall, but all with the fixed stare of death What horror the face of fascism creates! They carry out their plans with knife-like precision Nothing matters to them To them, blood equals medals, slaughter is an act of heroism Oh God, is this the world that you created, for this your seven days of wonder and work? Within these four walls, only a number exists which does not progress, which slowly will wish more and more for death But suddenly my conscience awakes and I see that this tide has no heartbeat, only the pulse of machines and the military showing their midwives faces full of sweetness Let Mexico, Cuba and the world cry out against this atrocity! We are ten thousand hands which can produce nothing How many of us in the whole country? The blood of our President, our companero, will strike with more strength than bombs and machine guns! So will our fist strike again! How hard it is to sing when I must sing of horror Horror which I am living, horror which I am dying To see myself among so much and so many moments of infinity In which silence and screams are the end of my song What I see, I have never seen What I have felt and what I feel will give birth to the moment It is unclear, of course, whether Jara finished the poem, but it seems unanswerably right that it ends with an unresolved embrace, with faith in the future which its author would never seebut which an echoing demonstration of Good might, somehow, help to bring about. And that is heroism, if anything is. In a lecture, The Hero in Modern Poetry, delivered in 1954, Auden described the problem of locating heroism within modern literature. What Auden rather vaguely terms the coming of the machine by which I think he means not merely mechanised war but the Machine Age, the whole technologised 20th centuryhas absorbed all previous sources of authority. The moment you get a technological civilisation, there is at once a divorce of power from excellencewars are won, in the end, by machines, which take no oath of loyalty. Among the technological, modernised, bureaucratic nations, whether capitalist or communist, it is as impossible to praise public figures as to blametheir power depends much less on will than on the machines they command. Again, as in the case of the First World War, we should conceive the term machine to have wide (more than literal) application. For Auden, it is the Unknown Soldier, that anonymous symbol of sacrifice to the machine, who is the only kind of a hero possible in a technological civilisationand art cannot touch it. What really made The Lord of the Rings was Tolkiens reintroduction (made possible by a modern academics expertise in European philology and mythology) to reintroduce Romance and Epic tradition into a European literature which had long bad farewell to those genres and replaced them with the interiorities of the novelthe new form of an increasingly self-aware market. Romance and epic describe the deeds of heroes, and wherever there is a myth (which always acknowledges divinity of various orders) then you will also find heroic powers, containing some part of the divine but, fatally, of a lower order than the gods. Thus, Achilles; thus, Gilgamesh, a two thirds divine and one third mortal warrior king, who is also terrified of death; thus Aragorn, the prophesied future unifier of Middle Earth, yet also mortal man, doomed to die. And the hobbits, of course, the commonest of heroes, those heroes of the commons. Yet Tolkien, as Auden said, was also of the age that could neither commit nor admit heroism. Tolkien and Audens odd, uncertain friendship began at Oxford in the 1920s, when Auden, who was studying English and was fascinated with Old and Medieval English and the Norse Sagas attended many of Tolkiens lectures. According to Auden, it was hearing the Professor read electrifyingly from Beowulf rather than his lectures (I do not remember a word he said) which made the impression. Auden later proved Tolkiens most important critical champion amongst modernist high brows, and it was probably his partial initiation by Tolkien into the reasons and mysteries of language itself which earned Tolkien Audens undying loyalty. Tolkiens building blocks, his main motivators in creating what Auden dubbed his Secondary World, one in which heroes could again exist, were the words of old or dead languages he loved so well. As Tolkien himself put it, words themselves are custodians of ancient cultures and thus infuse the present with the past. Or as Auden wrote in his old age: Though I suspect the term is crap / If there is a Generation Gap, / Who is to blame? Those, old or young / Who will not learn their Mother-Tongue. Language, like the earth, air, sky, water which is the property (and, Auden indicates, the responsibility) of everyone and no-one. Tolkien once described the meaning in his great books: they are, like most great stories, at root and behind veils of myth and metaphor, about particular people on a certain patch of soil they call home, both of which are worth defending against those who wish them harm. (The other time he offered so pithy a definition of his intentions was in a brilliant BBC documentary in 1968. The Lord of the Rings, he replies, is about what all great stories are about: death. The inevitability of death.) Jara sang in Manifiesto, his last song: I sing because the guitar has purpose and reason it has a heart made of earth and wings like a dove A song makes sense when it flows through the veins of he who will die singing the real truths In the place where everything goes and where everything begins a song that has been brave will always be a new song The humanity of a hero is in their reflection of our universal double nature: capable of divine transformation on earth (if our myths, too, are always about any one thing, it is change, as Ovid understood) because of their fidelity to their own mortality. Instead of a conclusion, three poems. In western lands beneath the Sun the flowers may rise in Spring, the trees may bud, the waters run, the merry finches sing. Or there maybe tis cloudless night and swaying beeches bear the Elven-stars as jewels white amid their branching hair. Though here at journeys end I lie in darkness buried deep, beyond all towers strong and high, beyond all mountains steep, above all shadows rides the Sun and Stars for ever dwell: I will not say the Day is done, nor bid the Stars farewell. J.R.R Tolkien He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be One against whom there was no official complaint, And all the reports on his conduct agree That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint, For in everything he did he served the Greater Community. Except for the War till the day he retired He worked in a factory and never got fired, But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc. Yet he wasnt a scab or odd in his views, For his Union reports that he paid his dues, (Our report on his Union shows it was sound) And our Social Psychology workers found That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured, And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it cured. Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan And had everything necessary to the Modern Man, A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. Our researchers into Public Opinion are content That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went. He was married and added five children to the population, Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation. And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education. Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard. W.H. Auden Victor Jara of Chile Lived like a shooting star He fought for the people of Chile With his songs and his guitar His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Victor Jara was a peasant He worked from a few years old He sat upon his fathers plow And watched the earth unfold His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Now when the neighbors had a wedding Or one of their children died His mother sang all night for them With Victor by her side His hands were gentle, his hands were strong He grew up to be a fighter Against the peoples wrongs He listened to their grief and joy And turned them into songs His hands were gentle, his hands were strong He sang about the copper miners And those who worked the land He sang about the factory workers And they knew he was their man His hands were gentle, his hands were strong He campaigned for Allende Working night and day He sang Take hold of your brothers hand You know the future begins today His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Then the generals seized Chile They arrested Victor then They caged him in a stadium With five-thousand frightened men His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Victor stood in the stadium His voice was brave and strong And he sang for his fellow prisoners Till the guards cut short his song His hands were gentle, his hands were strong They broke the bones in both his hands They beat him on the head They tore him with electric shocks And then they shot him dead His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Now the Generals they rule Chile And the British have their thanks For they rule with Hawker Hunters And they rule with Chieftain tanks His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Victor Jara of Chile Lived like a shooting star He fought for the people of Chile With his songs and his guitar His hands were gentle, his hands were strong Adrian Mitchell Sursa foto: Ilona Andrei / G4Media Ministerul Sanatatii clarifica ce cabinete de libera practica trebuie sa se reautorizeze dupa noul ordin emis de Alexandru Rafila / Cat timp au la dispozitie sa faca schimbarile si ce risca daca nu implementeaza noile prevederi Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2023. President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to resolve the diplomatic dispute with Nigeria. Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, which was also operating to Dubai similarly suspended its flight as the UAE stopped issuance of visa to prospective travelers.Emirates had suspended its flight to Nigeria over its inability to repatriate trapped funds.When he hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria at Aso Rock last month, the President had directed that issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians should be immediately resolved, emphasizing that he stands prepared to personally intervene. Quote We are a family with the UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably. As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son, or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues, the President had said. On Sunday, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Presidential spokesman, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities over the issue. President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the Presidents departure from New Delhi, India. The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja. The President is maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates. Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement. Nigerias first indigenous chartered accountant, Akintola Williams, Williams, who pioneered Nigerias accounting profession and was instrumental in developing the countrys financial sector, died at the age of 104.A source, who did not want to be mentioned, says online that Williams died at his house in Lagos, on Monday (today).In this report,12 things to know about the late pioneer chartered accountant. Quote Chief Akintola Williams was born on August, 9 1919, in the UK. He began his education at Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Bankole Street, Apongbon, Lagos Island, Lagos, in the early 1930s. He went to Yaba Higher College on a UAC scholarship, obtaining a diploma in commerce. In 1944, he travelled to England where he studied at the University of London. Studying Banking and Finance, he graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Commerce. He continued his studies and qualified as a chartered accountant in England in 1949. He was the elder brother of Chief Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, QC, SAN (December 16, 1920 March 26, 2005) who was the first Nigerian to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Williams was the first Nigerian to qualify as a chartered accountant. In 1952, he founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co, in Lagos. He was a founding member and first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Williams played a leading role in establishing the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960 with the goal of training accountants. He was the first president of the association. Also, he played an invaluable role in the establishment of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He was honoured with the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian Government in 1982. In April 1997, Queen Elizabeth also honoured him with the title Commander of the British Empire. President Bola Tinubu celebrated the late doyen in August when he celebrated his 104th birthday. Government Flags New Android Vulnerabilities Impacting Millions in India: Heres How to Stay Safe News oi -Kabir Jain In a concerning development, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has identified multiple security vulnerabilities within the Android operating system. These vulnerabilities pose a significant threat to the privacy and security of Android device users in India, with the potential for unauthorized access and data breaches. Even the latest Android 13 is not immune to these vulnerabilities, making millions of users susceptible to cyberattacks. CERT-In's Response CERT-In has taken swift action in response to these security vulnerabilities. They have called upon the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to issue an advisory alerting the public about these newly discovered flaws. Given the widespread impact across various Android versions, this is a matter of paramount importance to safeguard the digital lives of millions of Indian citizens. The Vulnerabilities CERT-In has made detailed reports available on its official website. Of particular concern is the second notice, labeled as CIVN-2023-0262. This notice highlights critical vulnerabilities within the Android operating system that could be exploited by malicious actors to steal sensitive data from mobile devices. What makes this issue particularly grave is that multiple Android versions are vulnerable. Android Versions 11, 12, 12L, and 13 all carry these risks. The Risks These vulnerabilities go beyond data theft. Hackers can potentially gain elevated privileges on affected devices, granting them unauthorized remote access and the ability to execute programs on users' phones. The implications of such unauthorized access are concerning, as it can lead to a range of malicious activities, including data manipulation, eavesdropping, and more. Root Causes and Google's Response It's important to note that the root cause of these vulnerabilities is not solely Android itself. CERT-In has traced these issues back to weaknesses in the Framework of the Google Play System and certain closed-source components of Qualcomm, a major player in the Android ecosystem. To effectively address these vulnerabilities, Qualcomm must issue a patch. Google, the company behind the Android operating system, was the first to identify these vulnerabilities. They published an Android Security Bulletin detailing the specifics, particularly focusing on the vulnerabilities in Qualcomm's closed-source components. Fortunately, Google has acted swiftly to address these issues, releasing two new security patches in September 2023. Google's Security Patches Google's response has been to introduce two new security patches, with the first released on September 1 and the second on September 5. They have urged all Android device manufacturers to integrate these patches into their upcoming Android updates. These patches provide critical fixes to mitigate the risks associated with the identified vulnerabilities. Protecting Your Device For Android users, safeguarding their devices is of paramount importance. The most effective way to ensure protection is to update their devices to the latest version provided by their respective phone manufacturers. A key indicator of security is the patch date, and if it reads 2023-09-05, users can rest assured that they are protected against these vulnerabilities. However, for those whose phone manufacturers have not yet issued an update, precautionary measures are essential to minimize the risk of cyberattacks: Stick to Trusted Sources: Refrain from installing third-party apps from sources outside the Google Play Store. Stick to trusted and verified sources to reduce the risk of downloading malicious apps. Exercise Caution with Links: Avoid clicking on links from emails or messages that appear suspicious or are from unknown sources. Phishing attempts often use enticing links to compromise devices. Avoid Cracked Apps: Do not use cracked versions of applications. These versions may contain malicious code that exploits vulnerabilities in your device. The Way Forward It's crucial to understand that these preventive measures are temporary solutions. The most effective and long-term solution is to install the September 5 Android Security Patch. Users are encouraged to reach out to their phone manufacturers and urge them to provide this update promptly. By doing so, they contribute to a safer digital environment, protecting their data and privacy from potential cyber threats. Via Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Nokia G42 5G budget 5G smartphone launched in India for Rs 12,599: All you need to know News oi -Carlsen Martin Nokia has officially unveiled a new 5G smartphone in India. The Nokia G42 5G arrives as the latest smartphone from the HDM-Global sub-brand to join the country's affordable 5G ranks. The Nokia G42 5G features a Qualcomm chipset, a triple-camera setup, a smooth display, and solid battery with fast charging support. The Nokia G42 5G also offers excellent software support for a budget smartphone. Nokia G42 5G Pricing, Availability in India The Nokia G42 5G price in India is set at Rs 12,599 for the sole 6GB/128GB model. Nokia has mentioned that this is a special "Launch Price", so you can expect the Nokia G42 5G price to go up following the first couple of sales. Nokia's latest budget 5G phone will be available for purchase in India via Amazon. The first sale for the Nokia G42 5G will take place on September 15 at 12 noon. The Nokia G42 5G is offered in So Purple and So Grey colour options. Nokia G42 5G Specifications The Nokia G42 5G is powered by the 8nm Snapdragon 480+ chipset paired with the Adreno 619 GPU. The phone comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, although up to 5GB of unused storage can be utilised as virtual RAM. The Nokia G42 5G packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 20W fast charging support. Are you ready to #MoveFast with the incredible Nokia G42 5G! Powered by Snapdragon 480+ 5G, 11GB RAM, 50MP triple rear AI camera, 3-day battery life... all this, and so much more... Launching at just 12,599. Sale starts on 15th September, 12PM on Amazon Specials. Click here pic.twitter.com/rqhbVSKQex Nokia Mobile India (@NokiamobileIN) September 11, 2023 Nokia has equipped with affordable 5G smartphone with a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 560 nits. The Nokia G42 5G runs stock Android 13. Nokia promises two years of Android OS updates and three years of regular security updates with the G42 5G. For optics, the Nokia G42 5G gets a triple-camera setup on the back with a 50 MP primary sensor, a 2 MP depth sensor, and a 2 MP macro unit. Up front, the Nokia G42 5G opts for an 8 MP selfie camera. The phone also offers enhance sound quality with OZO Audio, which also enables 3D Audio capture. The Nokia G42 5G features a side-mounted fingerprint reader and an IP52 rating for splash resistance. Connectivity options on the device include 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, a USB Type-C 2.0 port, and more. The back cover of the device is made of 65% recycled material and has undergone several tests to ensure its durability. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Redmi Note 13 Series Smartphones Launch This Month: Specifications, Features, SoC, Camera Details Confirmed News oi -Alap Naik Desai Xiaomi has officially confirmed the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 series smartphones. There's even an official poster announcing the top-end model in the series; Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus. The Redmi Note 13 should include about five smartphones including the entry-level Redmi Note 13 4G, the Redmi Note 13 5G, the Redmi Note 13 Pro, the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, and the Redmi Note 13 Turbo edition. Let's look at the latest available details about the upcoming midrange Android smartphones from Xiaomi that are born from a collaboration between Redmi, Samsung, and MediaTek. Poster Confirming Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus Key Camera Specs Revealed Xiaomi should release multiple Android smartphones with slightly varying specifications and hardware under the Redmi Note 13 series. However, the brand has started teasing the top-end Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus smartphone. The biggest highlight of the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus is undoubtedly its primary camera. Xiaomi has announced the primary camera lens embedded in the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ will be supported by a custom version of the 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP3 Discovery Edition camera sensor. The main lens will have a massive 1/1.4-inch sensor. Redmi Note 13 Pro series launching later this month in China. MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra, 200MP main camera (Samsung HP3), up to 120W fast charging.#Xiaomi #Redmi #RedmiNote13 #RedmiNote13Pro pic.twitter.com/bWTa6zTmi5 Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) September 11, 2023 Previous reports have suggested even the Redmi Note 13 Pro variant will get the same 200MP main camera. Moreover, the sensor supporting the imaging hardware will make the "fastest 200MP ultra-clear camera in the industry," some leaks have claimed. To ensure the humongous camera is able to quickly capture images and videos in ultra-high definition, Xiaomi has worked with MediaTek. The chipset maker has helped bolster the imaging architecture and enhance both the software and hardware capabilities of the upcoming Redmi Note 13 smartphones. Xiaomi is promoting some buzzwords such as "bionic perception" and "fusion optics", which should be different modules helping to offer a "top-notch photography experience". More details about these technologies should be released gradually. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus Will Be Powered By Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC Xiaomi has officially confirmed the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus will be powered by the new MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra SoC. Needless to mention, Xiaomi's device will be among the first to get this new chipset. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Ultra is built on the new 4nm process. It is a 5G-enabled octa-core 2+6 chipset that includes two Cortex-A715 Performance cores clocked at 2.8 GHz and six Cortex-A510 Efficiency cores clocked at 2.0 GHz. The chipset has ARM Mali-G610 GPU and the power-efficient AI processor APU 650. Redmi Note 13 Series is set to launch in China this month, with its primary focus being on the screen and the main camera of the phones. Redmi Note 13 Pro+ will use Dimensity 7200-Ultra processor and 200MP Samsung HP3 sensor. pic.twitter.com/lG2UHY8X4U Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) September 11, 2023 MediaTek's built-in AI Processing Unit (APU) promises to optimize the efficiency of AI tasks and AI fusion processing for greater power and performance. Smartphones will also benefit from MediaTek's HyperEngine 5.0 technology which can offer power savings using AI-based Variable Rate Shading (VRS). Additionally, CPU and GPU smart resource optimizations will ensure better battery life. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications NRO & Space Force partner to launch SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission SIILENTBARKER is NRO's final launch on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket National Reconnaissance Office National Reconnaissance Office FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Office of Public Affairs 703-808-1198, media@nro.mil Release #8-23 September 10, 2023 CHANTILLY, Va. -- The National Reconnaissance Office, in partnership with U.S. Space Force's (USSF) Space Systems Command, Space Launch Delta 45, and United Launch Alliance, successfully launched the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today, at 8:47 a.m. EDT. SILENTBARKER is a joint NRO and USSF Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission to meet Department of Defense and Intelligence Community space protection needs. "SILENTBARKER is yet another example of the strong relationship between the NRO and the U.S. Space Force, and the work we are doing together to advance America's interests in space," NRO Director Dr. Chris Scolese said. "The capabilities we are putting into orbit will help expand the U.S. intelligence advantage and keep our nation safe." NRO and USSF have a shared interest to strengthen the nation's SDA and Indications & Warning capabilities to enable timely decision making to defend DoD and IC critical capabilities against current and projected threats. NRO and USSF have been collaborating on SDA to enable effective defense of space capabilities. By working together, the NRO-led acquisition, with USSF support, will increase mission capability and leverage opportunities for cost efficiency. Additionally, SILENTBARKER shows the flexibility inherent in the acquisition approaches the NRO uses to deliver timely capabilities to our users by launching this mission three years from Critical Design Review. "Today's launch was a team effort and the culmination of years of innovation and diligence from all corners of the NRO," Office of Space Launch Director Col. Eric Zarybnisky said. "The speed at which this program went from concept to on orbit illustrates our commitment to getting new technologies into use as fast as possible. This helps us stay ahead of our competitors and ensures our users have the best possible space domain awareness to do their jobs." For future missions, NRO and USSF are working hand-in-hand to shape the future of space-based Ground Moving Target Indicators (GMTI), which will provide day, night, all-weather detection and tracking of ground and maritime targets for the warfighter. Working with USSF and other military services, the NRO's flexible acquisition approaches will allow us to develop and acquire reliable and resilient GMTI systems at speed, delivering this critical capability to the warfighter in the very near future. Additional information on upcoming launches will be made available at NRO.gov/launch. ### The NRO is the leader in developing, acquiring, launching, and operating the nation's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites to secure and expand America's advantage in space. We are building a diversified and resilient architecture of spacecraft and ground systems designed to meet the challenges of a changing space environment by accelerating innovation and leveraging strategic partnerships, backed by a diverse and highly skilled workforce. At the NRO, we See It, Hear It, Sense It so our nation's warfighters and policymakers have decision advantage amid increasing global competition. Learn more at NRO.gov. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden at Meeting for Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment September 09, 2023 International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre New Delhi, India 5:46 P.M. IST THE PRESIDENT: Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you all. My colleagues, this is someone once said in a similar domestic action that was positive: This is a big deal. This is a real big deal. And I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. One Earth, One Family, One Future: That's the focus of this G20 Summit. And in many ways, it's also the focus of this partnership that we're going to that we're talking about today: building sustainable, resilient infrastructure; making quality infrastructure investments; and creating a better future a future of a greater that's represents greater opportunity, dignity, and prosperity for everyone. Last year, we came together as one to commit to this vision. And this afternoon, I want to highlight the key ways in which the United States and our partners are working to make this a reality. Economic corridors you're going to hear that phrase more than once, I expect, over the next decade. Economic corridors. As we work to address infrastructure gaps across low- and middle-income countries, we need to maximize the impacts of our investments. That's why, a few months ago, I announced that the United States will work with our partners to invest in economic corridors. In practice, it means we're focusing on regional infrastructure projects that deliver results across multiple countries and in multiple sectors. And, today, I'm proud to announce that we've finalized a historic agreement for a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. As as a key part of this corridor, we're going to invest in ships and rail that extends the India that extends from India all the way to Europe, connected by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel; bridging ports across two continents; unlocking endless opportunities, including making it far easier to trade, export clean energy, expand access to reliable clean electricity, lay cables that will connect communities that secure a stable Internet, contributing a more stable, more prosperous, and integrated Middle East. And I want to thank the sponsors. And I particularly want to thank Prime Minister Modi and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salam [sic] Sa- excuse me, Mohammed bin Salman and President von der Leyen and the European Commissions. And since his he's not speaking today, I wanted to or maybe he is speaking today. I had a note he wasn't speaking. Any rate, I'm going to I'm going to stop there. In Saudi Ar- the Sub-Saharan Africa we're working in a private-public partnership as well to invest in a Trans-African Corridor. That includes a new partner, the European Union. President von der Leyen, thank you for making this very possible. Together, as part of this corridor, we're going to invest in a new rail line that will extend from the western port in Angola, to the the DRC, to Zambia, and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean. It's a project that's about far from just laying tracks. It's about creating jobs, increasing trade, strengthening the supply chains, boosting connectivity, laying foundations that will strengthen commerce and food security for people across multiple countries. This is a game-changing regional investment. And the both of these are huge huge steps forward, but they're far from the only ones. We're continuing to make big investments in infrastructure around the world. That includes a solar energy site, an insulin manufacturing facility, an electricity project right here in India. We're continuing to develop economic corridors across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. And together with our partners, we're working to mobilize the trillions of investment needed to close the infrastructure gaps around the world, including the formation of a new investor forum that the United States will host in a couple of weeks. Let me close with this. The world stands at an inflection point in history. A point where decisions we make today are going to affect the course of our future our future all of our futures for decades to come. A point where our investments are more critical than ever. So, together, let's continue to work as one to seize this moment in history and max- maximize our collective investments, to find new partners, to unlock new capital. Because when we invest in low- and middle-income countries, all countries benefit. When we invest in emerging economies, all economies benefit. And when we invest in the future of people anywhere, people everywhere benefit. So, I want to thank you, again, for being here. I look forward to working with all of you. And I'm going to turn it back to the prime minister. Thank you. (Applause.) (Event continues.) MODERATOR: Thank you, your Highnesses and your Excellencies, for launching the landmark India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. I would request all media and officials to remain seated and standing in their places while the leaders depart. THE PRESIDENT: Could I excuse excuse me for interrupting, but as we say in my body I used to work, "a point of personal privilege." I did not mention the Sheikh Mohammed of the UAE, but because I knew he wasn't speaking. But I do want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. I don't think we'd be here without you. Thank you. (Applause.) 6:05 P.M. IST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G20: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on to the accession of the African Union as a permanent member European External Action Service (EEAS) 10.09.2023 EEAS Press Team Today, we join our brothers and sisters in Africa in celebrating the accession of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. The G20 is a prime forum for addressing today's global challenges. The African Union membership will increase the representation of Africa in multilateral fora, provide an additional platform to discuss common challenges and contribute to devise global solutions. The European Union has strongly supported the accession of the African Union. It will bring to the G20 the voice of the African population, its share in the global economy and further advance the aspirations in particular of the African youth on the global stage. The European Union reaffirms its strong commitment in developing a more inclusive multilateral system. We look forward to working together and contribute to a better functioning, responsive and more inclusive international order. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G20 Summit concludes with 'basic unity amid rising divergences' Global Times Chinese Premier Li calls for solidarity, cooperation; African Union joins the group By Yang Sheng Published: Sep 10, 2023 10:42 PM Updated: Sep 10, 2023 11:24 PM The G20 Summit held in India on Saturday eventually adopted a joint declaration with very basic solidarity and a neutral stance on the Ukraine crisis, which caused rising divergences among members, while Chinese analysts said the G20 is still an important multilateral mechanism for global governance despite the group facing more dangers of dysfunction due to complicated struggles among major powers. Leaders of the G20 reaffirmed their commitment to international economic cooperation and pledged to take concrete steps to foster global growth, the Xinhua News Agency reported. In a declaration announced on the opening day of the two-day annual summit, G20 leaders said they would act in concrete ways through partnerships to accelerate strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. Chinese Premier Li Qiang said at the third session of the 18th G20 Summit on Sunday that the world is undergoing a difficult period of complex and volatile development, and as the difficulties intensify, there is an increasing need to strengthen confidence and enhance expectations for the future, take a long-term view and actively respond to difficulties and challenges. G20 members should play an exemplary role, start with specific matters and strive to do well in the present, Li said. Noting that the most urgent issue is development, Li pointed out that the G20 members should place development at the center of macro-policy coordination. Neutrality and fairness The joint declaration this year shows no clear criticism and direct condemnation against any country over the Ukraine crisis, which is different from the one in 2022. "Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly," the declaration read, noting that "In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible." The joint declaration at the summit in Bali, Indonesia 2022 said: "Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy... There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions. Recognizing that the G20 is not the forum to resolve security issues, we acknowledge that security issues can have significant consequences for the global economy." Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the joint declaration this year shows a very basic consensus among the members, and it also proves that the power of developing countries and non-Western economies in this multilateral mechanism is rising, as they are able to preserve neutrality as a joint stance of the G20, preventing the mechanism from being completely controlled and hijacked by Western narratives and positions. The declaration in Indonesia included the tough words that the West wanted to include, but the facts prove that these words were not helpful at all for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, due to their unrealistic and selfish policy on the crisis, peace efforts are in difficulties, and the bloodshed and conflict in Ukraine are still far from over, experts said. Be more representative According to the declaration, the leaders said they would better integrate the perspectives of developing countries into the future G20 agenda and strengthen the voice of developing countries in global decision-making. Welcoming the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20, the group said it strongly believes the AU's inclusion will significantly contribute to addressing global challenges. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their ties with and support to the AU and reiterated their strong support of Africa. Established in 1999, the G20 is a central forum for international cooperation on financial and economic issues. It comprises 19 countries plus the European Union, and now the AU, which was included in the group on Saturday. "China is the first country that explicitly expressed its support for the African Union's membership in the G20," and "China supports the AU in playing a bigger role in global governance," Mao Ning, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday. Rahamtalla M. Osman, Permanent Representative of the AU to China, told the Global Times in an interview in 2022 that "the AU appreciates China's and Indonesia's support for the AU to join the Group of 20." Although the AU was formally included at the G20 Summit in India, the result reflects the efforts of all developing countries in the group, and with the participation of the AU, the multilateral mechanism formed by the top economies of the world would be more representative, experts noted. Lin Minwang, a professor at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday that India has gained a lot from being the host of the summit this year, as it has made itself "highly attractive" in the international arena, as India is a country that is being courted by both the West and Russia. "A successful G20 Summit will reinforce the rule of Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party in India." India also represents that developing countries do not want to take sides between the West and Russia on the Ukraine crisis, and also do not want to be forced to take sides when the US has launched all-out containment against China, Lin said. However, India's national strength and economic size are still not enough to realize its ambition to be the leader of the Global South, experts noted. Key for global governance "Cascading crises have posed challenges to long-term growth," the group warned in the declaration, stressing that G20 cooperation is essential in determining the course the world takes. Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday that the need to establish more practical cooperation mechanisms, take concrete actions and support developing countries in better addressing development challenges such as poverty reduction, fundraising, climate change and food and energy security. According to the joint declaration, the group said they would speed up the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and scale up financing from all sources for accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said at the summit that a lack of commitment to the environment prevails in the world, leading to an unprecedented climate emergency. He stated that since the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009, rich countries should have provided $100 billion a year in new and additional climate finance to developing countries, but that promise was never fulfilled, the Latin American News Agency reported on Saturday. This shows that the divergences between developed and developing countries remain unsolved on the climate change issue, and it is unlikely that developed Western countries will fulfill their promises in the future, analysts said. "Although divergences are increasing among major powers, the G20 is still the most representative multilateral mechanism that focuses on global economic issues. China will keep its participation in the mechanism, to make its voice heard and to listen to voices from the world," Li Haidong said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan conflict: At least 40 killed in airstrike on Khartoum market Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 2:28 PM An airstrike has hit a crowded market in the south of Sudan's capital Khartoum, killing at least 40 people and injuring dozens more, according to local activists. "The number of victims of the Quoro market massacre" has risen to 40 by the afternoon, the local resistance committee said in a statement on Sunday, revising its previous toll of 30 killed. The attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which has been raging since mid-April after tensions heightened over a power struggle between army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who now commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The statement said the death toll was expected to rise, as casualties continued to pour into the nearby Bashair hospital. The RSF blamed the military's air force for Sunday's attack, though it was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim. "We only aim our attacks at the enemy's groupings and stations in different areas," Brig Gen Nabil Abdallah told Reuters. The Sudanese army denied responsibility and blamed the RSF. The hospital had made an "urgent appeal", calling upon medical professionals in the vicinity to come and provide assistance in treating the injured people arriving. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over 4 million people have been internally displaced as a result of the surge in violence, and another million have fled to neighboring countries. Also last month, the UN warned that millions of people across Sudan are running out of food and are on the brink of famine as the situation in the war-torn Northeast African country is spiraling out of control. Nearly 7,500 people have been killed in the war that erupted on April 15, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. Activists and doctors on the ground, however, say the death toll is likely far higher. Accessibility to numerous areas has been severely restricted, and both sides of the conflict have not disclosed their losses. After nearly five months of fighting, neither faction has gained a decisive advantage. The international community, including the UN, the Arab League as well as many countries in the world has already urged the country's two military leaders and their allies to stop the aggression and resolve their issues through dialog for the sake of the suffering Sudanese nation. Several ceasefire talks mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia have also failed to stop the violence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden arrives in Vietnam in bid to lure China's neighbor Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 11:24 AM US President Joe Biden has arrived in the Vietnamese capital on a visit officials say is aimed at deepening ties with the Southeast Asian country, amid US concerns about the growing influence of China and Russia in the region. Biden, who flew to Hanoi from the G20 summit in New Delhi, disembarked Air Force One around 4:00 pm (0900 GMT) on Sunday. The Western leader aims to hold talks with the leader of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong, on Sunday. And, on Monday, Biden will meet President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. In Hanoi, Biden will "discuss ways to further deepen cooperation between the United States and Vietnam," according to the White House. "The leaders will explore opportunities to promote the growth of a technology-focused and innovation-driven Vietnamese economy, expand our people-to-people ties through education exchanges and workforce development programs, combat climate change, and increase peace, prosperity, and stability in the region." Biden will also hold talks on semiconductors and critical minerals, and sign off on a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Vietnamese officials, media reported. Washington has been pushing for the upgrade of ties for months as it sees the Southeast Asian manufacturing dynamo as a key country in its strategy to secure global supply chains from China-related risks. Biden's short visit to Vietnam aims to shore up support against China's increasing influence in the world. Upgrading its diplomatic relations with the US is important for Vietnam as Hanoi only has top-level ties with Russia, India, South Korea and China. Meanwhile, the New York Times reported just ahead of Biden's visit that Vietnam was secretly arranging to buy arms from Russia in contravention of US sanctions. The NYT report cited a Vietnamese finance ministry document that laid out plans to finance arms purchases from the Kremlin through a joint oil and gas project in Siberia. AFP contacted the Vietnamese government for a comment on the matter. Meanwhile, Jon Finer, the US deputy national security advisor, told reporters on Sunday that Washington acknowledged Vietnam's decades-long military cooperation with Russia. However, he noted that there was "increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietnamese with that relationship," and the United States and allies could help Hanoi "diversify away from those partnerships." Vietnam is a key manufacturing hub, which Washington sees as an important partner as it looks to source less from China after Chinese-linked supply chain shocks in recent years rocked the global economy. The two sides will likely announce new cooperation on semiconductors, Finer said. Perpetual war Meanwhile, Beijing last week urged Washington to put aside its old zero-sum Cold War mentality and pursue plans that benefit all of humanity. "We believe that when dealing with relations with Asian countries, the US should abandon the Cold War mentality of a zero-sum game," said Mao Ning, spokeswoman of China's Foreign Ministry. China called on the US to "abide by basic norms of international relations, not target third parties and not undermine regional peace, stability, development and prosperity." US military hegemony is humanity's "biggest enemy" and prevents countries from exercising their sovereignty, according to an expert. Jaime Tamayo, a political scientist from the University of Guadalajara, told Xinhua in an interview that this hegemony and the actions resulting from it put humanity at risk by keeping the threat of a new war always latent. "It is essential to be clear about who the enemy is," Tamayo stressed, considering that the United States "is a country that lies, deceives and uses supposed arguments of a false humanism to continue maintaining one of the cruelest empires." He added, "If we look at the number of displaced people, deaths, crimes, exploitation, even modern slavery that it has caused with all this ... we can see that it is one of or perhaps the cruelest empires that has existed in the history of humanity." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Niger military: France deploying forces in West Africa for 'aggression' Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 5:38 AM Niger's junta leaders say France is deploying its military forces to West African countries with a plan for "aggression" against its former colony. "France continues to deploy its forces in several ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries as part of preparations for aggression against Niger, which it is planning in collaboration with this community organization," Niger's regime spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said on Saturday. In his statement, Abdramane said France had deployed military aircraft, helicopters and 40 armored vehicles to Cote d'Ivoire and Benin. "Military cargo aircraft have enabled large quantities of war material and equipment to be unloaded in Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Benin, to name but a few," he added. The junta seized power from President Mohamed Bazoum in a July coup staged by the presidential guard who later gained support from the rest of the country's military forces and the Muslim nation. In the meantime, relations have deteriorated between Paris and Niamey ever since the putsch, due to the former's refusal to recognize Niger's new rulers and its throwing support behind the ousted president. Last month, Niger's military leaders declared French Ambassador to Niamey as persona non grata and revoked his diplomatic immunity. France has roughly 1,500 forces in Niger. Meanwhile, the Nigerien junta is also embroiled in a standoff with the ECOWAS. The West African bloc has threatened to intervene militarily if talks to return the ousted president fail. The ECOWAS warned that it would not engage in endless dialogue with Niger's junta. The defense chiefs of the 15-member bloc said last month that they were ready to take military action anytime the order is given by their superiors. "We are ready to go anytime the order is given," ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah said. "The D-Day is also decided, which we are not going to disclose." However, the bloc added it preferred a peaceful solution to the crisis, and taking military action would be the last option. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Close call as Chinese ships again harass Philippine ships in Manila's EEZ A BenarNews reporter traveled with a select group during a Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. Camille Elemia 2023.09.10 -- The Chinese ships began to swarm around the BRP Cabra soon after 7 a.m. on Friday, sailing uncomfortably close to and hemming in the Philippine Coast Guard ship as it escorted civilian boats toward Ayungin Shoal. A China Coast Guard ship, with bow number CCG 21616, was the first to arrive on scene some 10 nautical miles (18.5 km) from the shoal located in South China Sea waters within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. A BenarNews correspondent and other reporters, who were given special permission to travel aboard the Cabra and another coast guard ship for the resupply mission, witnessed the tense moments at sea. Similar scenes where Chinese ships acted aggressively had played out lately during previous Philippine missions to deliver supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusty old navy ship that serves as Manila's military outpost at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal. "Philippine vessel, you are approaching the waters of China. To avoid miscalculation and misunderstanding, please inform your intention," the China Coast Guard ship radioed to the BRP Cabra at around 6:30 a.m. The Cabra radioed back, saying it was "conducting lawful routine maritime patrol within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in accordance with international and Philippine laws." "Request to stay clear from our passage in accordance with collision regulations," the radio operator said from the Cabra's bridge. About 30 minutes later, at least three other CCG ships and vessels from China's maritime militia fleet joined the fray. The Chinese ships then executed maneuvers to try to impede the civilian boats' passage that Philippine Coast Guard officials described as dangerously close. A CCG vessel, with bow number 21551, repeatedly tried to cut the Cabra's path to separate it from one of the supply boats. After failing to overtake the Cabra from the right side, CCG 21551 then sped up to overtake it from the left side. As the Chinese ship executed this maneuver, it sailed toward the Cabra and then abruptly stopped only three to five meters (9.8 to 16.4 feet) from the Philippine ship, PCG officials said. During the standoff, at least a dozen more radio exchanges as well as challenges and counter-challenges ensued between the Philippine and Chinese ships. "Your behavior has infringed upon [the] authority, security, and interest of China. I warn you, please leave the area immediately. Any consequences will be borne by you," a voice from CCG 5305, the largest of the China Coast Guard ships present, warned the Cabra's crew. After being separated from their PCG escort ships, as the Chinese ships had intended, the Filipino civilian boats managed to sail on, reach the Sierra Madre, pick up Philippine Navy personnel and deliver food and other supplies. The coast guard rated the latest mission a success, despite the tense encounter with the Chinese vessels. "The routine RoRe [rotational and resupply] mission was again subjected to dangerous maneuvers, jeopardizing the crew members' safety aboard the PCG vessels and Philippine supply boats," Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesman on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), said in a statement to media. During Friday's incident, the PCG said it had recorded 10 instances of dangerous maneuvers carried out by four CCG ships and four Chinese maritime militia ships toward the BRP Cabra and another Philippine Coast Guard ship, the BRP Sindangan. Two Chinese warships from the People's Liberation Army Navy were also spotted monitoring the area. At one point, CCG 5305 blew its horn three times while crossing the bow of BRP Sindangan at a distance of approximately 50 to 60 yards. The BRP Cabra, for its part, was corralled by five Chinese ships: three maritime militia vessels and a CCG ship in front, and another CCG ship behind. Overnight journey The crews of the Cabra and Sindangan, 44-meter-long (144.3-feet-long) coast guard multi-purpose response vessels, and the journalists aboard them had left the Philippine island of Palawan at around 9 a.m. on Thursday. The coast guard ships were deployed to escort two small supply boats, the Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, which the Philippine Navy had commissioned for its routine rotational and resupply mission. The wooden boats were transporting food, supplies, and a new batch of sailors headed to the Sierra Madre, a decrepit World War II-era ship. In 1999, the Philippines deliberately ran it aground in Ayungin Shoal, which lies in the contested Spratly Islands, in response to China's occupation of nearby Mischief Reef. The two Unaizah May boats and the PCG vessels met up near Sabina Shoal late Thursday night, with the two smaller ships sailing between the coast guard ships. "That was the instruction to us, protect the Unaizah May boats," Emmanuel Dangate, the commander of the Cabra, told the reporters aboard his ship. View from the bridge During Friday's standoff, the atmosphere on the bridge of the Cabra was quiet and sober as the Chinese ships closed in on the PCG ship. Some of the crew were even smiling and joking around. Dangate, the Cabra's skipper, remained calm as he gazed ahead from the bridge and gave orders to his crew. "During this kind of mission, it ignites our patriotism and dedication," the commanding officer told the select group of reporters, who had been allowed to travel to get a rare first-hand view of one of the Philippine resupply missions. From time to time, he would look through his binoculars and ask brief questions to his team. "Does that ship have an AIS [automatic identification system]?" he asked, pointing to a distant vessel that appeared to be a Chinese militia ship. "None, sir," a junior crew member replied. This meant that some of the Chinese vessels were turning off their automatic identification systems so as to conceal their positions and technical information from other vessels in the area. As the standoff unfolded, a P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane from the United States Navy, Manila's main defense ally, repeatedly overflew the area during and after the incident. An unidentified Black Hawk helicopter, according to PCG officials, tried to reach the wooden boats. An unidentified white aircraft was also spotted. The maritime militia vessels and the CCG ships continued to closely guard the PCG vessels for hours as the Philippine ships waited for the supply boats to return from Ayungin Shoal. The Chinese vessels finally dispersed when the Philippine ships set sail at around 3 p.m. on Friday for their return trip to Palawan. Philippine authorities pointed out that unlike in past resupply missions, China has now deployed its smaller CCG vessels, which are more quick to maneuver to block Philippine vessels. During the previous resupply mission, on Aug. 22, the two PCG ships were able to escort the civilian boats a bit closer to the shoal despite China's moves. But this time, they were able to reach only 10 nautical miles from the shoal, with Tarriela citing the use of smaller and faster CCG vessels as a possible reason. Noticeable, too, was the more active participation of maritime militia vessels in harassing Philippine vessels during recent resupply missions, officials said. A dispute with China over the Spratly chain was at the heart of Manila's decision in 2012 to bring an international lawsuit against Beijing in 2012. The Philippine case was considered groundbreaking because it no country had previously challenged China in a world court over its territorial claims in the waterway. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark verdict that invalidated Beijing's sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea, an important gateway for global trade. Beijing, however, has refused to acknowledge the award, citing history by insisting that the islands are part of its territory. BenarNews is an online news outlet affiliated with Radio Free Asia. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address G20 ends on high note for Indian host New Delhi brokers compromise communique, entry of African Union. By Chris Taylor for RFA 2023.09.10 -- The G20 wound up on Sunday with leaders visiting a memorial statue to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, a day after adding 55 new member states via the African Union and coming up with a compromise communique soft on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited the African Union to join the G20 as a permanent member on Saturday in his opening remarks, calling on members to end a "global trust deficit." "It is time for all of us to move together," Modi said. Despite widespread anticipation that this year's summit would be a damp squib, it appeared to have featured some significant pushback on China's apparent unwillingness to play ball with the developed world. Modi announced on Saturday that negotiators had resolved deep differences over the wording on the war in Ukraine, but the phrasing - not invasion by Russia but "war in Ukraine" - was clearly a bone to Russia and China, whose leaders did not attend. China and Russia were opposed to any joint statement that censures Russia's invasion of Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden skipped the final session of the summit, heading to Vietnam, where a White House official said the two nations would elevate their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting it on a par with Beijing and Moscow's engagement with Hanoi. Modi pronounced the summit a success. "On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration. I announce the adoption of this declaration," Modi told the G20 leaders in New Delhi. "#G20India has been the MOST ambitious in the history of #G20 presidencies. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, we have more than tripled the substantive work from previous presidencies," said India's G20 Sherpa representative Amitabh Kant on social media. Commentators said that it was significant that India appeared to be ready to take a more assertive role in global politics. Modi ended the summit by passing on the ceremonial gavel to Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country takes over the bloc's presidency. Welcome Africa The announcement of permanent inclusion of the 55-nation African Union (AU) is likely to be a blow for Chinese president Xi Jinping, who did not attend the summit for unknown reasons, and recently heralded the new membership of six countries in the BRICS grouping as "historic." The AU's young population of 1.3 billion is expected to double by 2050, when it will account for a quarter of the global population. It's strategically important to both China, Africa's largest trading partner and one of its largest lenders, and Russia, its leading arms provider. Meanwhile, in what will likely be seen as a challenge to Xi's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), U.S. President Joe Biden, Modi and allies announced a rail and shipping corridor connecting India with the Middle East and ultimately Europe. The project will include the United States, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and other countries in the G20. Commentators speculate it will enable greater trade and be an ambitious counter to China's massive BRI, through which it has sought to invest and lend its way to making its economy better connected with the world. The moves on Saturday, which were roundly seen as pushback against China, came against a background of speculation as to why China's Xi was not present and calls for Beijing to explain itself. "It's incumbent upon the Chinese government to explain" why its leader "would or would not participate," Jon Finer, the U.S. deputy national security adviser, told reporters in Delhi. He said there was speculation that China is "giving up on G20" in favor of groupings like BRICS, where it is dominant. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who attended the summit as a representative of Xi, called on the European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for greater unity and cooperation between the two sides to counter global uncertainties, according to a statement on Sunday from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Li urged the EU to provide a non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies, as the bloc becomes warier of the risks of engaging China, seeing it as a "systemic rival" since 2019. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content September not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Their Freedoms Have Been Taken Away': Afghanistan Sees Surge In Female Suicides Under Taliban Rule By Ahmad Hanayish, Abubakar Siddique September 10, 2023 Shabana had a bright future ahead of her. She was studying to become a doctor and preparing to get married. But the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 turned her life upside down. The militant group's ban on women attending university forced her to abandon her studies. Then her fiance, who is based abroad, broke off their engagement. Shabana, who was in her 20s, last month committed suicide in her hometown of Charikar, the provincial capital of the northern province of Parwan. She is among the growing number of women and girls who have taken their own lives in Afghanistan, one of the few countries in the world where experts estimate that more women are committing suicide than men. The surge in the number of female suicides in the country has been linked by experts to the Taliban's severe restrictions on women. The hard-line Islamist group has banned women from education and most forms of employment, effectively denied them any public role in society, and imposed strict limitations on their mobility and appearance. Although there are no official figures, Afghan mental-health professionals and foreign organizations have noted a disturbing surge in female suicides in the past two years. "Today, women and girls make up most of the patients suffering from mental conditions in Afghanistan," said Mujeeb Khpalwak, a psychiatrist based in Kabul. "If we look at the women who were previously working or studying, 90 percent suffer from mental health issues now," Khpalwak added. "They face tremendous economic uncertainty after losing their work and are very anxious about their future." Many Afghan women say they have been turned into virtual prisoners in their homes since the Taliban takeover. The vast majority of women are unemployed. And most say they are gripped by hopelessness. Violence against women, meanwhile, has increased under the Taliban. The militants have scrapped legal assistance programs and special courts that were designed to combat violence against women and girls. Forced and early marriages of teenage girls have also spiked across Afghanistan, with parents marrying off their adolescent daughters to avoid forced marriages to Taliban fighters. Maryam Saeedi, an Afghan women's rights activist, says some women see suicide as the only way to escape their plight. "They commit suicide to end their problems, which is dangerous," she told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Maryam, a resident of Kabul, says her 16-year-old sister has suffered from extreme depression since the Taliban banned girls above the sixth grade from going to school. "My sister's mental health has suffered tremendously," she told Radio Azadi. "It is tough for girls to cope after all their freedoms have been taken away." The Taliban has said that 360 people committed suicide in the country last year, without offering any details. Unofficial figures suggest that the number of female suicides has surged since 2021, when the Western-backed Afghan government collapsed. The World Health Organization revealed in 2018 that around 2 million Afghans -- out of a population of around 40 million -- suffered from mental distress. "These numbers are likely much higher today," Action Against Hunger, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, said in a statement on September 5. It added that Afghanistan was grappling with an "unprecedented but unseen mental-health crisis." Khpalwak, the psychiatrist, says that the country lacks the resources to address what he called a mental-health epidemic. "The number of mental-health patients is rapidly rising, but the treatment available to them is not enough," he said. "Women psychiatrists cannot work because of the restrictions on their work. There is an urgent need to address the growing mental-health crisis." Faiza Ibrahimi of RFE/RL's Radio Azadi contributed reporting to this story Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-women- suicides-taliban/32586222.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron: France to Pull Troops Out of Niger Only If Requested by Ousted President Sputnik News 20230910 PARIS (Sputnik) - Earlier in the day, Niger's military leadership accused France of deploying forces in some West African countries to conduct military intervention in the country. France does not recognize Niger's rebel authorities and, therefore, will agree to withdraw its troops from the country only if requested to do so by ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday. "French troops were deployed on the territory of Niger at the request of Niger itself ... France's position is simple: we condemn it [the military takeover], we demand the release of President Bazoum and the restoration of constitutional order, and we do not recognize the legitimacy of the rebels' statements ... And if we ever redeploy troops, we will do so at the request of President Bazoum," Macron said at the G20 Summit in New Delhi. A total of 1,500 French soldiers are currently deployed in Niger and 1,000 are stationed in Chad after they were forced to withdraw from Burkina Faso and Mali, following the military takeovers in those countries. The military takeover in Niger took place on July 26. President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. Following the military takeover, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened intervention if the rebels did not reinstate Bazoum. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Secretary Verma's Meeting with Colombian Foreign Minister Leyva US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson September 10, 2023 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma, and General Laura Richardson met with Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva this week in Bogota. The U.S. delegation and Foreign Minister Leyva emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Colombia partnership to democracy, security, and human rights in the Western Hemisphere and the world. The U.S. delegation and the foreign minister also discussed efforts to humanely manage irregular migration and further strengthen our robust counternarcotics and security cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Jake Tapper of CNN's State of the Union US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State New Delhi, India September 10, 2023 QUESTION: And joining me now is Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Secretary Blinken, thanks for joining us. I do want to start with this devastating earthquake in Morocco Saturday morning. The death toll staggering, expected to rise, of course. Rescuers struggling to reach some hard-to-hit - hard-hit areas. Obviously the first 24 to 48 hours are the most crucial. What is the U.S. doing to help? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Jake, you're right: This is devastating. And we've reached out immediately to the Moroccan Government to offer any assistance that we can provide. We have mobilized the government itself to be ready to provide that assistance. We have U.S. Agency for International Development, which takes the lead in these efforts, that is ready to go. And we await word from the Moroccan Government to find out how we can help, where we can help. But we're ready to go. QUESTION: G20 leaders agreed to a joint declaration that in part called for countries to "refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition" against other sovereign nations. That is significantly weaker language than last year's joint statement, which called for Russia's "complete and unconditional withdrawal" from Ukraine. Why did the U.S. agree to a watered-down declaration that does not even condemn Russia by name or explicitly call for Russia to leave Ukraine? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jake, the G20 countries in the statement all stood up for the importance of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and that's very clear. I was in the room when all the leaders spoke today with President Biden, and it was very clear from everything that they said that not only do they want to see this war end, but they want to see it end on just and durable terms, and it was also very clear that the consequences of Russia's aggression are being felt throughout the G20 countries and throughout the developing world. So there was, I think, real clarity from the leaders in the room, and again, the statement strongly affirms the proposition that this is about Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty - the principles that are at the heart of the United Nations Charter. QUESTION: But I've heard you talk about this issue. You must be disappointed that they couldn't agree to stronger language. SECRETARY BLINKEN: I think it's very important that the G20 spoke as one. I mean, to some extent, maybe it's the G19 because obviously Russia is also here - it's part of the G20 - but the fact that we have a statement coming out collectively of, again, affirming the importance of Ukraine, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, that speaks loudly. But what really speaks loudly, again, are the leaders in the room itself. And I think if you were on the receiving end of what so many of them said, if you were in the Russian seat, it's pretty clear where the rest of the world stands. QUESTION: So Speaker McCarthy right now appears to be moving to separate the nearly $24 billion in new funding to help Ukraine from this potential spending deal to avert a government shutdown later this month. What would that mean for Ukraine's offensive if the aid is separated and if that aid ultimately is not approved by Congress? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, this is a moving picture, and I think it's very clear to us and to many in Congress that this additional assistance is something that Ukraine needs in this moment to continue to carry out the counteroffensive, to regain its territory, as well as to strengthen its defense, its military going forward. It's not only the right thing to do; it's the smart and necessary thing to do in our own interest. Because as we've said from day one, if we allow this Russian aggression to go forward with impunity, it's not just Ukrainians who are suffering. It's virtually everyone around the world who relies on the principles that are at the heart of the UN Charter, including that one big country can't simply trample on the borders of another, invade it, and try to take it over. Because if we allow that to go forward with impunity, if we don't stand up against that, then it's open season everywhere around the world. I heard Leader McConnell speak very powerfully to this, other colleagues on the House side like Chairman Mike McCaul of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. So we've had a strong bipartisan partnership with Congress throughout. I would expect that to continue. QUESTION: So SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has recently confirmed a report that's in Walter Isaacson's new biography of Musk that last year, Musk blocked access to his Starlink satellite network in Crimea in order to disrupt a major Ukrainian attack on the Russian navy there. In other words, Musk effectively sabotaged a military operation by Ukraine, a U.S. ally, against Russia, an aggressor country that invaded a U.S. ally. Should there be repercussions for that? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jake, I can't speak to a specific episode. Here's what I can tell you: Starlink has been a vital tool for the Ukrainians to be able to communicate with each other, and particularly for the military to communicate in their effort to defend all of Ukraine's territory. It remains so and I would expect it to continue to be critical to their efforts. So what we would hope and expect is that that technology will remain fully available to the Ukrainians. It is vital to what they're doing. QUESTION: I don't know that you can't speak to it; you won't speak to it. Musk says he was reportedly afraid that Russia would retaliate with nuclear weapons. Musk says that's based on his private discussions he had with senior Russian officials. Are you concerned that Musk is apparently conducting his own diplomatic outreach to the Russian Government? Really, none of this concerns you? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jake, I can't speak to conversations that may or may not have happened. I don't know. I'm focused on the fact that the technology itself - Starlink - has been really important to the Ukrainians. It remains so and it should continue to be part of what they're able to call on to be able to communicate with themselves and, again, to have the military be able to communicate. Throughout this Russian aggression, we have - we ourselves have always had to factor in what Russia may do in response to any given thing that we or others do or the Ukrainians do, and we have. But what's so critical now is that Ukraine has had real success over the past year. I was just in Ukraine, as you know. The last time I was there was almost exactly a year ago. In that year, from the last time I was there till this week, the Ukrainians have retaken more than 50 percent of the territory seized by Russia since February of 2022. They're now engaged in a critical counteroffensive, and we're doing everything we can to maximize our support for them along with many other countries so that they can be successful. Starlink is an important part of their success, and as I said, we expect that it will continue to be so. QUESTION: It sounds like Starlink is so important that the U.S. Government doesn't want to risk offending a capricious billionaire who did some things that I think in another situation the U.S. Government might want to say something about. But let's move on. Last month marked two years since the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan that killed 13 servicemembers during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. I recently spoke to Gold Star family members of those lost servicemembers, and they told me that they think the Biden administration - specifically the Pentagon - is not giving them the answers and the accountability that they need for what happened to their loved ones that day. Does the Pentagon need to be more forthcoming about what happened that day to those 13 servicemembers? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jake, I can't even begin to put myself in the shoes of those who lost their loved ones and who were acting so heroically and bravely. I can't begin to imagine what they're feeling. I can just say that if I were in their shoes, I'd probably feel exactly the same way. And we're determined as an administration to make sure that for the entire duration of the war, including Abbey Gate, that we draw the lessons that we need to draw from it and act accordingly. And we will and we are. At the same time, the President made a very difficult but very important decision to end America's longest war - 20 years. And we want to make sure, and as a result of what the President did we can make sure, that we're not going to have another generation going to Afghanistan to fight and die there as we had for 20 years. So we did the right thing. But of course, we will look very hard at everything, every aspect of the decisions that we made to make sure that we get it right every time going forward, and that everyone who was involved feels that appropriate justice has been done to the sacrifice of their loved ones. But again, for me, I had a chance to see many of these families when we brought their loved ones home through Dover, and it's a - it's something that, again, I just can't fully put myself in their shoes. I have so much admiration for the extraordinary courage of service of Sergeant Gee, Corporals Lopez, Espinoza, so many others. They were extraordinary. But I'll say one last thing. Like so many other people, I've been engaged, as you have, in the war in Afghanistan, Iraq over 20 years. And during that time, I was in government virtually the entire time. I was out at Dover repeatedly as we brought the remains of our servicemembers home. I was in a C-17 with a flag-draped coffin coming back from one of those battlefields. I know the sacrifice of so many over so many years. And I know that because President Biden ended America's longest war, that won't be the case going forward - that we will not, as I said, be sending another generation of Americans to fight and die there. QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for your time today. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Jake. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Jonathan Karl of ABC This Week US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State New Delhi, India September 10, 2023 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us. I want to begin with that devastating earthquake this weekend in Morocco. What is the United States doing to assist in the relief, recovery, search and rescue operation there? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jon, you're right; it is devastating. And we've reached out immediately to the Moroccan Government, made very clear to them that we are prepared to assist in any way that we can. We have the U.S. Agency for International Development, which takes the lead in our efforts, mobilizing, and we're waiting to hear from the Moroccan Government how we can be of most assistance. But we're tracking this very carefully, and our hearts go out to the people of Morocco who suffered this devastating earthquake, and we stand ready to help in any way that we can. QUESTION: And I want to turn to your trip. You were obviously in Ukraine this week. You went from there to the G20 meeting of world leaders in India. I noticed that the joint statement coming out of that G20 meeting does not explicitly condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine. Why is it that you couldn't get world leaders to agree on a statement calling out Russian - Russia's aggression, as they've done in the past? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, the leaders here all stood up very clearly, including in the statement, for Ukraine's sovereignty, for its territorial integrity. I think the statement's a very strong one. And what I heard in the room as well makes very clear that virtually every member of the G20 - perhaps minus one - is intent on making sure that there is a just and durable end to this Russian aggression. And leader after leader in the room made clear that, for the rest of the world too, the consequences of what Russia has done are having a terrible, terrible impact. Food insecurity around the world - Ukraine had been the breadbasket of the world for so many years. Russia blockaded its ports after the invasion. A deal was negotiated to allow grain to get out; Russia recently tore it up. That was during - while that deal was in force, 30 million tons of grain were getting out of Ukraine, and mostly to developing countries, including countries that are represented here at the G20 - 18 billion loaves of bread. Now, because of Russia, that's stopped. It was very clear in the room, going around the table, that countries are feeling the consequences and want the Russian aggression to stop. But I think the statement reflects the strong support that virtually every country in the G20 has for Ukraine and its territorial integrity and sovereignty. QUESTION: I mean, it doesn't explicitly condemn Russia's action, which was done in the previous G20 statement. But let me move on to your time in Ukraine. You spent quite a bit of time with President Zelenskyy. What is your sense? How does he see this ending? Does he see himself coming to a negotiating table with the Russians at some point? How does this end? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, I found both President Zelenskyy and every Ukrainian that I met - whether it was folks in the government or whether it was many other Ukrainians that we had a chance to engage with over the course of two days - incredibly resilient, incredibly courageous, incredibly resolute. And ultimately, that's really what's at the heart of this and the reason that I remain very confident in Ukraine's ultimate success, which is that they're fighting for their country, for their future, for their freedom. The Russians are not. And keep in mind Putin has already lost in what he was trying to achieve. He was trying to erase Ukraine from the map, end its independence, subsume it into Russia. That has already been a failure. Now, where exactly this settles, where lines are drawn, that is going to be up to Ukrainians. But I've found a strong determination to continue to work to get their territory back that's been seized by Russia. And as to negotiations, Jon, it takes two to tango. QUESTION: Sure. SECRETARY BLINKEN: And thus far, we see no indication that Vladimir Putin has any interest in meaningful diplomacy. If he does, I think the Ukrainians will be the first to engage, and we'll be right behind them. Everyone wants this war to end, but it has to end on just terms and on durable terms that reflect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. QUESTION: Okay, last question. We understand that the United States is considering sending those long-range missiles that Ukraine has been asking for for a long time. These are long-range missiles, 200 miles in range. Are you okay if those missiles allow Ukraine to attack deep into Russian territory? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jon, first, you - we have had an ongoing conversation, engagement almost daily with Ukrainians from the very start of the Russian aggression about what they need, when they need it. And all along, we've worked, bringing together dozens of countries, to make sure that they have in hand what they need to defend themselves. And that's been a moving picture. It's been moving with the conflict itself, from trying to make sure they were defending Kyiv, which they did so successfully early on, to now trying to take back more of their territory in the south and in the east. And so at any given time, we're looking - and part of the reason that I was in Ukraine again was to hear directly from President Zelenskyy - he had just been to the front lines - their perspective on how things were going and what it is that they needed to be successful, all of which I report back to my colleagues in Washington. But I think it's a mistake to focus on any given system, because what's so important is for anything that we do and other countries do in support of Ukraine, it's not only the weapon system itself, it's are Ukrainians trained on it, are they able to maintain it, can they use it effectively as part of their strategy. And we are working on that every single day. In terms of their targeting decisions, it's their decision, not ours. QUESTION: Well, did you bring up SECRETARY BLINKEN: As a general matter, we haven't encouraged or QUESTION: Did you bring up SECRETARY BLINKEN: I'm sorry, say that again? QUESTION: We've seen an increasing number of attacks on Russian territory by Ukrainian drones, some in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don just a couple of days ago. Did you bring that up? SECRETARY BLINKEN: No. QUESTION: Are you - are you okay with - I mean, obviously, they're - it's their decisions, but is this war now escalating into Russia? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Jon, we haven't encouraged and we haven't enabled any use of weapons outside of Ukraine's territory. Having said that, let's take a step back for a second. Virtually every single day the Russians are attacking indiscriminately throughout the entire country of Ukraine. Just during the 48 hours that I was there going in, more missiles were launched at civilian targets, including in Kyiv while I was there; a horrific attack on a marketplace, people just going to buy food, civilians, had nothing to do with this war - killed 17 people. This is the daily life for Ukrainians. This is what they face every single day. So they have to make the basic decisions about how they're going to defend their territory and how they're working to take back what's been seized from them. Our role, the role of dozens of other countries around the world that are supporting them, is to help them do that. And ultimately, what we all want is an end to this Russian aggression and an end to the aggression that, again, is just and is durable. That's what Ukrainians want more than anyone else. That's what we're working toward. QUESTION: All right, Mr. Secretary, thank you for your time. Safe travels. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Jon. Good to be with you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden Elevates US Relationship With Vietnam By Anita Powell September 10, 2023 President Joe Biden on Sunday affirmed that the United States and Vietnam would elevate their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" a move the White House described as "unprecedented and momentous," and that brings the U.S. level with its main adversary, China, which has the same upper-tier diplomatic status with Vietnam. "Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time," Biden said during his first meeting after arriving to a triumphant welcome in Vietnam's verdant capital, Hanoi, where thousands of residents watched his motorcade pass by. "I'm not saying that to be polite. I'm saying it because I mean it from the bottom of my heart." "Vietnam will continue to strengthen its ties to the U.S. and other international partners in the spirit of Ho Chi Minh after Vietnam achieved its independence," said Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who is considered the nation's most powerful and respected political official. "Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community," he added. Neither spoke overtly about Beijing's increased ambitions or its apparent moves, through a new map, to claim territory that Vietnam claims. "The Vietnamese want a stronger relationship with the United States," John Kirby, director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, told VOA on the sidelines of the trip. "The Vietnamese share many concerns that the United States has, both economically and from a security perspective in the region. We share a lot of interests; we also have a shared perspective of some of the challenges including the course of behavior of the PRC. It's really quite a stunning turn of events over recent decades to see our two countries working together this closely." This is a big step from a nation that only established relations with the U.S. in 1995, and which has carefully calibrated its relationship with its powerful northern neighbor, China. In recent years, that bond has strengthened. Trong and Biden have met before. Trong was the first Vietnamese Communist Party leader to ever visit the U.S., in 2015, and he was hosted for dinner by then-vice president Biden. The elevation from comprehensive partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership is significant. Vietnam counts only four other nations on that level: China, Russia, India and South Korea. The difference "sounds like word soup to those of us in the U.S., but for Vietnam, a communist state with a pretty rigid kind of Leninist hierarchy of diplomatic relations, this stuff actually matters," said Gregory Poling, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "Vietnam has a very clear hierarchy of diplomatic relations," said Poling, who also serves as director of the Southeast Asia Program and Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the CSIS. "There's also rumors they may do that for Japan and Australia as well, all of which suggests that the Vietnamese are willing to take a bit of retaliation from China now to make that happen," he added. "And that will send a message, I think, up and down the Vietnamese government that senior levels are committed to a closer relationship with the Americans, so everybody get on board." Bich Tran is a postdoctoral Fellow at the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. Tran said the relationship was "due for an upgrade." "An official upgrade will empower Vietnamese officials in engaging with their American counterparts," she said. "This year is considered the best time to do so because it marks 10 years of comprehensive partnership and 50 years of diplomatic relations. An upgrade will entail deeper security cooperation between the two countries and Vietnam's commitment to further improve its human rights record." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Readout of President Biden's Engagement with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu September 10, 2023 President Joe Biden met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu today on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India to reinforce our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to the longstanding friendship between our two countries and peoples. President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administration's steps to reform Nigeria's economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region. Nigeria's invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigeria's important global role as Africa's largest democracy and economy NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer September 10, 2023 Aboard Air Force One En Route Hanoi, Vietnam 11:15 A.M. IST MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. (Inaudible.) We wanted to make sure that we, kind of, gave a little bit of a preview of our next leg. As you all know, we're heading to Viet- Vietnamese, and so or Vietnam, I should say. (Laughs.) And so, we have, as you can see, Jon Finer, the Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, here to to level-set with us and lay out what's going to happen on this next leg with the President. Go ahead, Jon. MR. FINER: Great. Thanks, Karine. So, first, I want to say a couple words about the G20. At the G20, President Biden continued to deliver on the commitments we've made to champion an economic agenda at home and abroad, to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth for American families and families everywhere. Leading by example and working with partners around the world, the U.S. and the G20 delivered for developing countries and for our shared planet. At a moment when the global economy is suffering from the shocks caused by climate crisis, fragility, and conflict, including the immense suffering unleased by Russia's war in Ukraine, this year's summit at the G20 can still drive solutions to our most pressing issues. President Biden championed an ambitious agenda to mobilize significant additional financing for development from all sources public and private, domestic, and international. He rallied G20 partners to agree to collectively mobilize more concessional finance to boost the World Bank's capacity to support low- and middle-income countries. And alongside India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union, we announced a landmark commitment to work together to develop a new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. The transformative partnership has the potential to usher in a new era of connectivity from Europe to Asia with a railway linked through ports connected to the Middle East. This will create novel interconnections to facilitate global trade, expand reliable access to electricity, facilitate clean energy distribution, and strengthen telecommunications links. Now, I've seen some reporting that seems to imply what we think is actually not the message that the G20 sent on Ukraine. First of all, the countries of the G20 signed up to the Bali language last year, and the vast majority of G20 countries have supported multiple U.N. resolutions that call our Russia's illegal aggression. The joint statement issued yesterday builds on that, to send an unpreceded, unified statement on the imperative that Russia refrain from using force for territorial acquisition, abide by its obligations in the U.N. Charter, and cease attacks on civilians and infrastructure. This is fundamentally consistent with the strategy that we have been adopting for some time now to focus countries in the world that are seeking an end of the conflict, to make sure that they are pushing for a just peace on the basis of the key core principles of the U.N. Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Biden is engaging with countries around the world to press for just that. And the statement is a major step forward in this effort, highlighting the major economies from around around the world including, by the way, Brazil, India, South Africa are united on the need to uphold international law and for Russia to respect international law. Now, on to Vietnam. The reason we're headed to Vietnam today is because we believe the U.S. and Vietnam are critical partners at (inaudible) time. When we arrive, President Biden will participate in a bilateral meeting with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Together, they will announce a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the United States and Vietnam. This is Vietnam's highest tier of international partnership. It's important to make clear that this is more than words. In a system like Vietnam's, it's a signal to their entire government, to their entire bureaucracy, about the depth of cooperation and alignment with another country that is possible. As a top 10 trading partner and a key stakeholder in the security of the South China Sea, Vietnam is a critical relationship of the United States, and we will be deepening that relationship through this visit. A through line you will see during our time there is this five-decade arc in the U.S.-Vietnam relationship that shows how far we've come from conflict, to normalization, to the establishment of a comprehensive partnership in 2013, and now to this elevated status of partnership again, the highest level in the Vietnamese system. On Monday, the President will meet with Prime Minister Chinh and Vietnamese and American industry leaders to discuss continued opportunities to enhance our business and technological cooperation. Together, they will announce a new memorandum of cooperation to help strengthen our semiconductor industries. President Biden will also meet with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President Vo Van Thuong to discuss economic issues and of importance to our people and our people-to-people ties. Before the President departs on Monday, he will also pay his respects at a memorial for the late Senator John McCain obviously, a close friend of the President's who played a critical role in the progress that we have been able to make with Vietnam. So, with that, happy to take questions MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Aamer, go ahead. Q Going back to yesterday, did the President have a chance to have any more pull-asides than what you guys have read out? And particularly with the Crown Prince, was there anything more substantive beyond what we saw when they were on stage? MR. FINER: So, on the Crown Prince, the President was very pleased, obviously, with the event that took place where they were both present. Saudi Arabia obviously contributed substantially to that, and we believe it is a very important opportunity for all the countries in the room and for interconnection among the three regions involved. The President exchanged brief greetings with the Crown Prince, but there was not time in that setting for a more substantive conversation. We can get you a more complete list of some of the pull-asides that the President had. I mean, I think you're aware. I won't what I'm going to give you is not comprehensive. He spoke with President Jokowi of Indonesia. He spoke actually today with with President Tinubu of Nigeria. We believe he had an interaction with just about every other leader within the G20, so I don't want to go through all of them and risk leaving somebody out. But he has had a number of substantive conversations along the margins. As I said when I talked to you all yesterday, it's not the kind of event that lends itself to long, formal bilateral meetings, so you do this kind of catch-as-catch-can, and he was able to do a number of them. Q Did he talk with Sergey Lavrov or the Chinese Premier? MR. FINER: I'm not aware of him speaking to Foreign Minister Lavrov or the Chinese Premier. Q What role does Sergey Lavrov play in the resolution that you just talked about or the declaration that they made? MR. FINER: I mean, as you'd expect, Foreign Minister Lavrov represented Russia's view of the conflict, which, by the way, is not a widely held view in that room. But I think, honestly, the most important role that Sergey Lavrov played is by simply representing the fact that his own boss, President Putin, could not be present in this conversation. And so, that, plus the tone and tenor of the remarks made by a number of countries in the room, shows the degree of discomfort that Russia continues to have on the international stage, including in a venue where, you know, I think, historically they have had countries that have been somewhat sympathetic to their worldview. There is not a lot of that in the G20 right now. (Cross-talk.) MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, (inaudible). Q Thank you. Can you comment a little bit on new reporting from the New York Times and several other outlets that Vietnam is in talks with Russia over a new arms deal, one that could potentially trigger sanctions from the U.S.? MR. FINER: So, look, this requires, I think, a bit of context. So, one, the United States has been clear. We discourage countries from having these security partnerships, these military relationships with Russia for a whole range of obvious reasons. It should not be appealing to have a security relationship with a country that is committing war crimes, that is committing violations of of international law. And we stand against that, and we work with a number of countries around the world to limit those interactions. Second, you know, it is important to acknowledge Vietnam has had a decades-long relationship with Russia and a decades-long military relationship with Russia. But our strong sense is that there is an increasing discomfort on the part of the Vietnamese with that relationship. We are working not just with Vietnam, but with a number of countries that historically have had these close security and military partnerships with Russia to point out something that they realized very clearly for themselves: that the value proposition of that relationship is not what it once was and that there are opportunities to diversify away from those partnerships. We are going to work on that with Vietnam. We are working on that with a number of historical partners of Russia. And we are finding not just that they are receptive to our ideas on this subject, but that many of them are seeking out these opportunities to diversify, again, away from Russia themselves. So, this is going to be a work in progress. It is something that will be on the agenda of this visit. And, you know, beyond that, don't have much more to say about it. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Anita, go ahead. (Cross-talk.) Hold on, guys. Go ahead, Anita. Q Thank you. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Everyone is going to get a question. Go ahead, Anita. Q On the grain deal, the G20 leaders renewed their commitment for a return to the grain deal. Can you just update us on any progress on that either from the U.S. side, from intermediaries like Turkey, or anybody else? MR. FINER: Yeah. So, look, we believe that the grain deal was a fundamentally positive thing: positive for the wider world because it brought more grain to market; certainly positive for Ukraine because it enabled them to conduct commerce that is core to their economic economy and prosperity. There is no reason that Russia had to pull out of that deal. They made that decision on their own. We totally disagreed with it. We support efforts by the Secretary General and by the Turks, principally, to try to restore the grain deal because we think it is in the interest of the wider world at a time when food insecurity continues to be a challenge. But we don't have any more to say about this. Q Are we any closer to MR. FINER: The ball really is the ball really is in Russia's court to decide whether it is willing to go back into a deal from which it derived maybe some benefit, but that broadly probably benefited the rest of the world. (Inaudible.) Q Just to follow on the potential arms deal between Vietnam and Russia, is the U- is there a security component to this new elevated relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam? And is the U.S. willing to sell weapons to Vietnam in order to discourage them from buying more from Russia? MR. FINER: So, let me point you to two words: comprehensive and strategic. It's hard to imagine a relationship that is both comprehensive and strategic that doesn't have a security dimension. So, yes, there will be a dimension that is security-related to this partnership. I don't have anything to announce to you in terms of of some sort of arms sale or something like that. But, again, we believe that we and other countries that are aligned with us and that are likeminded have the ability to offer an alternative an alternative security cooperation to what Vietnam and other countries that have worked for a long time with the Russian military and can make an offer to help them diversify away from a relationship that we think they're increasingly uncomfortable with. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Geoff- go ahead, Geoffrey. Q Jon, there's a new book out on Elon Musk, and it says that he basically denied extending Starlink protection to Ukraine that because he thought it was a risk that it would bring a wider war if they attacked Crimea. My question is: What's the risk to the U.S. and to Ukraine to have so much reliance on one person and commercial space and in stuff like that? MR. FINER: So, I don't have a lot to say on this beyond the fact that we think access to Starlink has played an important role for the Ukrainians in the course of this conflict. We think they should continue to have that access. And, you know, beyond that, I've read the reports about the book. I you know, I don't have any more knowledge of of his role. Q And on Lavrov also, do you know if any senior U.S. officials had a chance to talk to him about detained Americans or anything else? MR. FINER: Not that I'm aware of. Q Jon, several other leaders scheduled multiple bilateral meetings for the G20. Why didn't we see that with President Biden? And we only received one readout from a formal engagement. Was that a decision by the President? Was there a lack of interest? Can you speak to that? MR. FINER: I think you may well see more during the course of today more information that we put out. But I guess what I would say about that is it is not exactly the same for the United States and for other countries to step out of the room while leaders are speaking and then conduct side business in a formal way that pulls you away from the sessions of of the G20. People take note when the U.S. president is present for their remarks. We think that's a sign of respect to other leaders to listen to them the way we expect them to listen to President Biden. And so, the way we decided to handle this was, you know, we had bits of business that we wanted to get done with different leaders, but we did not want to distract from the overall proceedings. We just handled it differently. Q And back in July, the President said at a fundraiser that he got a call from the head of Vietnam. Was that the General Secretary? And he said that they wanted to upgrade their partnership to the same status of China and Russia. Is that what we're going to see today? MR. FINER: That is what you're going to see today. The President spoke over the summer with the General Secretary, who he will be meeting later on today. That was then followed up in a series of meetings: Jake Sullivan with the chairman of their external relations operation in in Washington and then a phone call between Jake and that same person to talk about advancing, again, the prospect of a deeper cooperation between our two countries and elevating the level in a formal way. We also engaged with the Vietnamese ambassador in the United States to get to the point where we are now ready to announce what will be the highest-level relationship that Vietnam has with any countries in the world after the meeting that takes place later today. Q Can I ask (inaudible)? Q Jon, a quick question on sorry semiconductors and rare earth minerals. We understand that is a huge part of what is going to be discussed. Would you talk about any agreements, especially around rare earths, that the U.S. plans to strike with Vietnam? MR. FINER: So, what I will say is I don't want to scoop either the President or the rest of of the work that is still ongoing, by the way, to land what I think will be a very detailed joint statement that will lay out deliverables for this visit. They will have those elements that you just described. I don't want to get into the details before all the work is done because this stuff is still being negotiated. Q Jon, can you talk about the package for Ukraine Q Did North Korea come up during the G20 talks, particularly as it relates to Russia's war on Ukraine? And can you provide any update on what we know about the North Korea- Russia talks and if the U.S. still anticipates that Kim could go to visit Putin potentially while the President is in Vietnam? MR. FINER: So, what I'll say about North Korea is what we have said a number of times: We have serious concerns about the prospect of North Korea potentially selling weapons additional weapons to the Russian military. But taking a step back, it is interesting to reflect for a minute on what it says that when Russia goes around the world looking for partners that can help it, it lands on North Korea as maybe the best and maybe the only option that it's got, with maybe one or two exceptions. We have, over a period of months now, made public when we had these concerns. And when we think these talks that are ongoing between the two countries might actually lead to a significant arms sale, we have not only highly discouraged that, we have sanctioned that activity; we have worked with our partners and allies to raise these concerns directly with with the North Koreans, including countries that maintain diplomatic relations with North Korea, which obviously the United States doesn't. And we'll see what happens. Q Did this come up during the G20? Q On ATACMS for Ukraine, there is a report that the President sup- approved that. Is that right? MR. FINER: So, what I guess I'd say on that at this point is I'm not taking anything off the table. We don't have a decision to announce on new capabilities, but our position all along has been we will get Ukraine the capabilities that will enable it to succeed on the battlefield. We think that approach has worked at every phase of this conflict, including the current phase, where I think, you know, you are seeing slowly but inexorably inexorably, the Ukrainians start to make progress in their counteroffensive. And we will continue to assess the situation on the ground and make decisions based on that. But no new capabilities to announce today. Q To announce today. Should we just be one in the near future, though? MR. FINER: I mean, again, that I'm not going to tell you what you should or shouldn't anticipate. I hear the anticipation in your voice, but I'll leave it at that. (Laughter.) Q The President went to dinner last night. Was it worth his while? Did he get something out of that diplomatically? He hasn't gone to those in the past a couple times. MR. FINER: So, look, these things are often of value in terms of building relationships with key people. I don't have any specific substance to read out from the dinner, but I think he did find it of value. Q Can we get MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, we're going to wrap this up soon. Q Yeah, can we get a quick update on U.S. assistance to Morocco after the quake? And then, also, Iran has arrested six people and accused them of organizing riots on the on the anniversary most of Mahsa Amini's death, so I want a reaction to that. MR. FINER: So, on Morocco, look, we have made very clear to the Moroccan government that we are ready to provide significant assistance. We've got search and rescue teams ready to deploy that can help not just with with that activity, but with medical and other forms of assistance. We are also ready to release funds at the right time that can help the Moroccans recover and deal with this horrific tragedy that has befallen them. You saw the statement that the President has put out. Secretary Blinken has reached out to his counterparts to offer help. And, you know, right now the the Moroccans are obviously preoccupied focusing internally on this recovery, and the United States will be with them at every step of the way when they are ready to avail themselves of what we have to offer. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Q Iran? MR. FINER: Oh, on look, on Iran, the arrest of dissidents in Iran is both appalling and, unfortunately, not new. I've seen the reports. We obviously are against, you know, politically motivated arrests along these lines. And beyond that, don't have much more to say. Q Any consequences? MR. FINER: I mean, we have imposed a number of consequences, as you well know, on Iran for a full range of activities. I will look at these most recent reports, but I don't have any new consequences to announce at this time. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Thanks, everybody. 11:33 A.M. IST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuelan president meets Shanghai Party chief; supports local companies to take part in the 6th CIIE Global Times By Global Times Published: Sep 11, 2023 02:41 AM Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro Moros made a stop in Shanghai and met with Shanghai Party chief Chen Jining on Sunday as he continues his state visit to China which started on Sep 8 and will end on Sep 14. Maduro thanked Shanghai for its warm reception and said he would support Venezuelan enterprises in participating in the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai. Maduro said that using the state visit as an opportunity he looked forward to take the cooperation between the two countries to a new stage, deepening cooperation in economy, trade, technology, tourism, and local exchange. Chen Jining said he welcomed Venezuelan companies to participate in the 6th CIIE and welcomed them to bring more unique products, culture, and services to Shanghai, entering the Chinese market and sharing the opportunities of China's modernization. President Maduro is paying a state visit to China from September 8 to 14, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday. China and Venezuela are comprehensive strategic partners and the China-Venezuela relations have withstood the test of the evolving international landscape and remained rock-solid, said Mao Ning, another spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, at a regular press briefing on Friday. Prior to his visit to Shanghai, Maduro visited South China's Shenzhen as his first stop to China. Right after arriving in Shenzhen, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday that he is ready for what will be a historic visit to strengthen cooperation ties and to build a new global geopolitical landscape. During his visit to Shenzhen President Maduro said he is most impressed by China's technological development, according to Shenzhen Special Zone Daily. When asked about the reason for choosing Shenzhen as the first stop of his trip, Maduro said, "For those who are looking for development, technology, and new inventions, Shenzhen is an important place, so it is a good starting point." Maduro also showed an interest in Chinese smart phone maker Huawei, according to Venezuelan local media. According to a local television show which aired on September 4, when commenting on the launch of Huawei's latest Mate 60 Pro, Maduro said that he congratulates Huawei on making the technological breakthrough despite years of unjust sanctions and suppression from Western countries. Maduro also revealed that he is currently using a Huawei smartphone, and he is satisfied with its user experience and security. He further called on Venezuelan scientists to learn from Chinese companies, daring to innovate in the field of new technologies and driving Venezuela's technological development. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Can 14th Amendment Keep Trump From Seeking a Second Term? By Masood Farivar September 10, 2023 A new lawsuit to bar former President Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 Colorado primary ballot has revived a legal and political debate over an obscure provision of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, a progressive watchdog, filed the lawsuit on behalf of six Colorado voters on Wednesday. It claims that Trump is ineligible to run for the White House again because he supported an "insurrection" against the Constitution on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the Congressional certification of Joe Biden's victory. The lawsuit cites Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 to prevent former Confederate officials and soldiers from regaining power after the 1861-65 American Civil War. The provision, known as the "disqualification clause" and "insurrection clause," says that no one who has taken an oath to support the Constitution and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the Constitution or "given aid or comfort" to its enemies can hold any federal or state office unless given a waiver by Congress. "Because Trump took these actions after he swore an oath to support the Constitution, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment prohibits him from being president and from qualifying for the Colorado ballot for president in 2024," the CREW lawsuit says. The lawsuit raises several questions, including whether Trump's actions in the lead-up to Jan. 6 constituted a rebellion or insurrection, whether Section 3 applies to the presidency, and whether state election officials have the power to enforce it without an act of Congress. CREW is not the only group seeking Trump's disqualification. Two other liberal groups a Free Speech for People, and Mia Familia Vota Education Fund a recently asked top election officials in more than 10 states to bar Trump and have vowed to take legal action. On his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed this week that "almost all legal scholars" agree that the 14th Amendment doesn't apply to the 2024 presidential election. He called the effort "election interference" and "just another 'trick' being used by the Radical Left Communists, Marxists, and Fascists, to again steal an election." But it's not just those on the left making the case. In recent weeks, a growing number of conservative legal scholars have joined the calls for Trump's removal from the ballot. Among them are J. Michael Luttig, a conservative former federal appellate judge, and Steven Calabresi, a co-founder of the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization. They contend that Trump's actions constitute an insurrection against the Constitution, and that disqualifies him from holding office again. Here is what you need to know about the Section 3 of the 14th Amendment and the push to kick Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot: What is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, and what does it say? The 14th Amendment is one of three amendments to the U.S. Constitution that were enacted after the Civil War to extend civil and legal rights to formerly enslaved Black people. The amendment is best known for its Section 1, which grants citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" and guarantees citizens the "equal protection of the laws." The amendment's less-well-known Section 3 states that no one who took an "oath ... to support the Constitution of the United States" and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the Constitution or gave "aid or comfort to [its] enemies" can serve as a senator, representative or presidential elector or hold any office a civil or military a unless approved by a supermajority vote of Congress. How has the provision been used in the past? In the years after the U.S. Civil War, a period known as the Reconstruction Era, the provision was used to prevent former Confederate officials from holding office. But the measure remained largely dormant for more than 150 years until the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol. Following that attack, liberal groups sought to use Section 3 to challenge the eligibility of several Congressional candidates who had opposed the 2020 election results. The effort failed to gain traction. The only successful application of Section 3 occurred last September, when a New Mexico judge removed from office a county commissioner who had been convicted in connection with Jan. 6. Does the provision apply to the president? Section 3 does not explicitly mention whether the president is subject to disqualification under the provision, leading some experts to argue that the presidency is exempt. But that is a misreading of the text and history of the provision, said Gerard Magliocca, an Indiana University law professor who has written extensively about Section 3. "This issue was raised in Congress when the proposal was under consideration," Magliocca told VOA. "Someone said, does this apply to the presidency or the vice presidency? And the answer given was yes, it does." What is more, Magliocca said, the phrase "officer of the United States," as used in Section 3, refers to the president, making him subject to the disqualification provision. "Andrew Johnson, who was president at the time, repeatedly referred to himself as the chief executive officer of the United States in asserting his authority to pursue Reconstruction in the aftermath of the Civil War in 1865," Magliocca said. What are the legal arguments for and against applying Section 3 to Trump? Though initially designed to punish rebellious Southerners, most legal scholars agree that Section 3 may apply to any act of rebellion or insurrection. The debate now is whether Jan. 6 qualifies as such an act. Proponents of Trump's disqualification say that it does and that the case against the former president is straightforward: Trump swore to uphold the Constitution as president but then broke that vow when he instigated the Jan. 6 "insurrection," making him unfit for office under Section 3. The provision doesn't require a criminal conviction, said U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat and a staunch Trump critic. "It just requires that you engage in these [insurrection] acts," Schiff said recently on MSNBC. "It's a disqualification from holding office again. And it fits Donald Trump to a T." Opponents disagree that Jan. 6 rises to the level of an insurrection. They note Section 3 was added in response to a real rebellion. "But it is notable that Trump has not been charged even with incitement, let alone rebellion or insurrection," said Jonathan Turley, a conservative law professor at The George Washington University, Wednesday on Fox News. Derek Muller, a law professor and election law expert at University of Notre Dame, said the dispute in part hinges on what acts count as insurrection. "If you're making a comparison to the Civil War, what happened on January 6th was certainly not at that level, but are there lesser acts that could fit this?" Muller said. Another question concerns the role of Congress in disqualifying individuals. Some scholars have argued that Section 3 is not "self-executing," meaning it needs an act of Congress to be implemented. But others say no such action is needed. "I don't have strong thoughts on those questions, but I think they're the things that people are wondering about, whether or not it applies in the context of what happened today," Muller said. The courts will decide The legal challenges to Trump's candidacy are just beginning to make their way through the courts and eventually may end up before the Supreme Court. Secretaries of state from Democratic-leaning states such as Colorado and Michigan say they'll await court guidance before taking action. But the courts may not weigh in soon. "I think a lot of state courts will be very reluctant to hear these claims early," Muller said. This is not the first time a major presidential candidate has faced legal challenges over his eligibility. Barack Obama in 2008 and Ted Cruz in 2016 faced lawsuits over questions regarding whether they were "natural born citizens," a requirement for presidency. Obama was born in Hawaii to a Kenyan father and American mother. Cruz was born in Canada to a Cuban father and American mother. But the lawsuits didn't reach the "merits" stage to address the key question a was the candidate a natural born citizen? a as they ground through procedural hurdles. A similar fate may await the legal challenges to Trump's candidacy, Muller said. "Many of these cases will continue the same way, hitting all those barriers before they get to the heart of the question: Did you participate in an insurrection or rebellion?" Muller said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China sends remote-sensing satellite into preset orbit Global Times By Global Times Published: Sep 10, 2023 07:30 PM With the new generation Long March-6A carrier rocket, China successfully launched on Sunday a new remote sensing satellite, Yaogan-40, into a preset orbit to carry out electromagnetic environment detection and related technical tests. The mission was carried out by a Long March-6A carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi Province at 12:30 pm. The Long March-6A carrier rocket, developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) 8th Academy, is a new generation of solid-liquid fuel bundled medium rocket. It can launch four tons into a 700-kilometer solar synchronous orbit. Designed with the development approaches of modularization, combination and serialization, the rocket can use a variety of configurations through the adjustment of boosters to meet the diversified requirements of satellite launches. The launch marks the first time that the 55-meter-long carrier rocket placed a remote sensing satellite group composed of three satellites into space. The satellite group was developed by the CASC 5th Academy. As a new member of the Long March series of carrier rockets, the Long March-6A has been greatly improved in terms of its mission adaptability. This was the third launch mission of the Long March-6A carrier rocket and the 487th mission for the Long March series of carrier rockets. Long March-6A carrier rocket successfully completed its maiden flight test in March of 2022. The Long March 6A RS-2 carrier rocket successfully put the Yunhai-3 satellite into scheduled orbit in November of 2022, marking the first generation of China-made carrier rockets to be put into operation the same year as its first flight. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus's Lukashenka Sets Passport Trap To Lure Opponents Back Home By Raman Vasyukovich, RFE/RL's Belarus Service, Tony Wesolowsky September 09, 2023 Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the de facto ruler of Belarus, is setting a trap, his opponents say, for those who fled abroad to escape his repressive rule. No longer will Belarusian embassies issue or renew passports to nationals living abroad, according to a fresh edict from Lukashenka published on September 4. If they need the document, Belarusians will have to return home. And critics fear Belarus's security forces will be waiting. An estimated 200,000-300,000 Belarusians have left the country since August 2020, when Lukashenka was declared president for a sixth five-year term after an election that was widely condemned as rigged. That vote triggered a wave of protests that were crushed by Lukashenka's security forces. Hundreds were arrested, many were tortured, and several died in the crackdown. Opposition leaders were rounded up, with many imprisoned. Others fled. The West has refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate president of Belarus. The Belarusian human rights group Vyasna says more than 1,500 people are currently behind bars in Belarus as political prisoners. Opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled to Lithuania after challenging -- and many say beating -- Lukashenka in the 2020 election, warned Belarusians, saying in comments to the Associated Press on September 4 that "even if your passport expires, you should not return to your home country if you risk persecution." The new restrictions come amid what opponents and activists say are stepped-up efforts by the Lukashenka regime to round up opponents. Detentions of Belarusians who have lived abroad and returned home are up this year, they say. Activists predict this latest move could result in more Belarusians applying for either asylum or new passports in the countries where they reside, or eventually even opting for a "new national passport" recently unveiled by the Belarusian opposition in exile but still unrecognized internationally. Condemnation of Lukashenka's latest move was quick and widespread. "The announcement about plans to withhold passport services for Belarusians who live abroad is another repressive measure to control and restrict them," the U.S. Embassy in Belarus said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "This latest draconian move by the Belarusian government is an apparent retaliation against its critics in exile," said Anastasiia Kruope, assistant Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch (HRW). "Those forced to return to the country to obtain essential documents will be at risk of arrest and political prosecution." Putting Belarusians In 'Precarious Position' According to Lukashenka's decree, a Belarusian passport may only be renewed now where the holder was registered as residing inside Belarus. Up till now, Belarusian expatriates have been able to get new passports at the country's diplomatic missions abroad. "The cancellation of consular services now places exiled Belarusians in a precarious position. Unless they return to Belarus to renew expired passports, they could find themselves without their primary identification document and unable to access a wide range of essential services in their current countries of residence," wrote Hanna Liubokova, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council. "However, returning to Belarus could result in arrest and prosecution in connection with their earlier involvement in anti-regime protests." For example, a Belarusian abroad wanting to sell property back home through a third person needs to grant power of attorney but that can only be done from inside Belarus, Krystsina Rykhter, a legal adviser to Tsikhanouskaya, told RFE/RL's Belarus Service. "The same applies to notarization and state registration of contracts related to real estate and vehicles," she said. No reliable figures are available on how many Belarusians have fled the country since the tainted 2020 presidential election. Research by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe indicates that as many as 500,000 Belarusians may have resettled abroad in that time. Minsk Already Cracking Down On Returning Belarusians As many as 100 Belarusians who were living as expats have been detained so far this year upon their arrival back in Belarus, according to Vyasna, which was designated as "extremist" by Lukashenka's government in August. "The numbers are approximate, because we usually learn about mass cases of detention, as was the case in June when about 40 people were detained. Or we learn about cases of detention related to criminal cases," Svyatlana Golovneva, a Vyasna lawyer, told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. Veranika Kazak was detained by Belarusian security forces on August 25 after her return from Italy, where she has resided for several years, Current Time reported. Upon arrival, she was reportedly summoned by police in Minsk for questioning about comments she had posted on social media. Her current whereabouts are unknown. According to Vyasna, an unspecified criminal case has been opened against Kazak. Returning Belarusians have been facing greater scrutiny at the border for more than three months now, activists say. Security officials often check their mobile phones or question them about whether they took part in any of the 2020 postelection protests or even their views on the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Russia used Belarus as a launchpad for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Many of the 30,000 Russian troops stationed in Belarus poured over the border into Ukraine, only to be beaten back. Routes Back Home Closing Getting home for many Belarusians is not necessarily a simple task. Flights between European destinations and Belarus have been severely restricted since the European Union imposed overflight and airport bans following Belarus faking a bomb threat to reroute an international flight carrying dissident blogger Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend in May 2021. For those wishing to travel back by road, options are also diminishing as countries bordering landlocked Belarus shut border crossings amid ongoing migrant and security crises along with other sources of tension with Minsk. Poland has closed all but one border crossing with Belarus this year following the imprisonment of a journalist of Polish origin and expulsions of Polish diplomats. Lithuania has closed two of six border crossings. On August 28, Poland and all three Baltic states vowed to close their borders with Belarus entirely in the event of any "critical incident" involving mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group, Polish Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said in remarks quoted by Reuters. EU and NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, which each share a border with Belarus, have been increasingly concerned about border security since hundreds of battle-hardened Wagner mercenaries arrived in Belarus at the invitation of Lukashenka following an abortive mutiny in Russia. Those neighbors have also seen an increase in the number of mainly Middle Eastern and African migrants trying to cross the border in recent months and accuse Belarus of facilitating them, a claim Minsk rejects. The crisis at the EU's eastern border with Belarus had otherwise eased since Minsk intensified flights from non-European destinations in 2021 as part of what Western officials dubbed Lukashenka's inhumane "weaponization" of third-country migrants. In February, Lukashenka's government established a commission ostensibly to "aid" Belarusians wavering about whether to return home to provide them with practical information, including whether arrest warrants await them at home. Critics fear the commission is just another tool to locate Lukashenka opponents -- something he himself appeared to allude to in comments on February 6 when the new body was announced. "We should look not only at the so-called opposition in exile. There can be others. They understand very well that we will find them anyway. Someone will apply to the commission. You will sort everything out in the commission," Lukashenka said. For Belarusians wary of risking arrest, part of the organized opposition abroad hopes they will opt for their version of the same document. Self-exiled Belarusian opposition members unveiled an alternative "new national passport" on August 6. Valer Kavaleuski of the group United Interim Cabinet of Belarus told a conference in Warsaw that talks with the European Union were under way to get the passport recognized. Whether the international community or Belarusians will opt for that is unclear. Many analysts, however, are predicting a rise in the number of Belarusians either applying for asylum abroad or seeking citizenship in the foreign countries where they now reside. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-passport-renewal- arrests/32585546.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President of the Union of the Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union Azali Assoumani Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau September 10, 2023 New Delhi, India Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the President of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Azali Assoumani, on the margins of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. Prime Minister Trudeau extended his condolences to the people of Morocco, an African Union member state, following the recent earthquake, and conveyed Canada's readiness to provide support. Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated Canada's support for AU membership in the G20. The Prime Minister also highlighted Canada's commitment to the African Union, as reflected by the recent establishment of a fully dedicated mission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Canada's role as a permanent observer to the AU. The Prime Minister and the President discussed the importance of the rules-based international order to support trade and economic growth that benefits everyone. The Prime Minister and the President further discussed issues of regional security, including the situation in Gabon, and reiterated their support for the Economic Community of West Africa States' (ECOWAS) peaceful mediation efforts in relation to the ongoing instability in Niger. The leaders looked forward to meeting again at upcoming international engagements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi stresses striving for full revitalization of northeast China Global Times By Xinhua Published: Sep 09, 2023 05:27 PM Updated: Sep 09, 2023 09:20 PM Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed "writing a new chapter" in striving for the full revitalization of northeast China as he convened a key meeting in Heilongjiang Province earlier this week. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the meeting held in the provincial capital Harbin on Thursday afternoon. To revitalize northeast China in the new era, the president called for both increasing support and stimulating self-motivation. He emphasized the need to blaze a path of high-quality and sustainable development with more courage and concrete actions. Cai Qi, 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, and Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice premier of the State Council, attended the meeting. Xi noted that the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have made new progress in revitalizing northeast China following a relevant meeting in 2018. Noting that northeast China boasts rich resources, solid industrial foundations, favorable geological locations, and significant development potential, Xi pointed out that the region is now faced with new and great opportunities. It is important for the region to push for industrial innovation via scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the modernization of its distinctive industrial system, said Xi. To push for the full revitalization of northeast China, the real economy is the foundation, sci-tech innovation is the key, and industrial upgrading is the direction, he added. It is also important to promote the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional industries and make them more internet-based, Xi said, calling for fostering sound industrial chains and clusters. He stressed the importance of cultivating emerging strategic industries, including new energy, new materials, advanced manufacturing, and electronic information, and accelerating the development of clean energy such as wind power, photovoltaic power, and nuclear power. Xi called on the region to accelerate the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, saying that northeast China shoulders the main responsibility for ensuring stable production and supply of grain in the country. It is imperative to ensure that grain production and supply are abundant at regular times and reliable during extreme circumstances, said Xi. Xi stressed advancing opening up and cooperation internally and externally, and called on the northeastern region to integrate closely into Belt and Road cooperation and play a bigger role in facilitating domestic economic flows and linking domestic circulation and international circulation. Xi urged efforts to systematically lay out and develop a modern infrastructure system in northeast China, speed up the study and building of oil and gas pipelines, railway and high-speed railway networks, new-type power grids and power transmission channels, as well as new-generation mobile communications and data networks. Xi stressed improving the overall quality of the population and supporting the full revitalization of northeast China with high-quality development of the population. Vigorous efforts should go into developing public-interest childcare services and easing burden on families in childbearing, parenting and education while keeping the birth rate and population scale at a proper level, Xi said. Policy support for fostering talent should be enhanced, and more entrepreneurship and innovation platforms should be established to help the northeastern region retain and bring in talent, Xi said. Xi underlined more work to improve the political atmosphere, create a sound business environment, and spur enthusiasm for hard work and entrepreneurship. Xi urged Party members and cadres to support the development of private companies, and proactively address their concerns and help them solve problems while ensuring no corruption emerges. He underlined efforts to promote integrity and credibility, enhance the protection of intellectual property rights, and create a stable, transparent, regulated, and predictable legal environment for all business entities. Work should be accelerated to defuse local government debt risks as well as address risks concerning medium-sized and small financial institutions to restore a healthy financial environment, Xi said. He stressed that strengthening Party leadership and Party building is the fundamental guarantee for the full revitalization of northeast China. Noting that parts of northeast China have been ravaged by severe flooding since the flood season started, Xi urged efforts to arrange post-disaster restoration and reconstruction, resume the order of production and life in the disaster-hit areas as soon as possible, and stay on high alert against the autumn flood season. Ding Xuexiang called for studying and implementing the guiding principles of Xi's speech, making new breakthroughs in the full revitalization of northeast China to serve the country's overall development better. Ding also stressed upholding the people-centered development philosophy and continuously enhancing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA Navy's semi-submersible ship holds first nighttime operation training Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Sep 10, 2023 07:26 PM A special strategic semi-submersible ship of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently conducted its first nighttime operation training, a move analysts said on Sunday reflects the vessel's round-the-clock combat capability. The semi-submersible ship Yinmahu, attached to a support ship detachment of the PLA Navy, recently mobilized for nearly 1,000 nautical miles to an unfamiliar sea region, consecutively carried out vessel loading and transport training, and for the first time held submerge-load-float training at nighttime, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday. Yinmahu is the PLA Navy's latest semi-submersible ship. It has a large deck with a length of more than 100 meters and a width of more than 30 meters that can submerge more than six meters underwater while the other parts of the ship remain above the surface, the report said. Semi-submersible ships like Yinmahu serve as large maritime transport platforms that can deliver entire weapon platforms, which means that the ship has special strategic significance, CCTV said. It can also transport small vessels that do not have enough range but need to operate in the far sea and extra large equipment that cannot be transported through other means. In a single voyage, it can deliver thousands of tons of equipment and supplies, and it can also conduct rescue operations for damaged vessels at sea. During the training, Yinmahu simultaneously loaded three smaller boats at sea under strong wind and wave plus low visibility conditions, marking a new breakthrough in the PLA Navy's capabilities in semi-submersible ship operations, the CCTV report said. The nighttime training shows that the semi-submersible ship has reached round-the-clock combat capability, a Beijing-based military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday. In military operations, nighttime ops are vital in gaining tactical or even strategic advantages, the expert said. Among many of its applications, one of them is that semi-submersible ship can transport the Zubr-class large air-cushioned landing craft, which is too large to fit into the PLA Navy's amphibious landing ships, so the transport vessel is also useful in landing missions, the expert said. Since its commissioning, Yinmahu has been training and exploring, and has become a key component in the PLA Navy's joint combat system, CCTV reported. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Friendly drills among Chinese, foreign militaries outshine US, Canadian, Philippine provocations Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Sep 10, 2023 11:27 PM China recently conducted multiple military exercises with countries including Thailand, Singapore and Pakistan that have enhanced joint operational capabilities and deepened friendship, and by comparison, concurrent US and Canadian provocations in the Taiwan Straits and Philippine's trespassing in the South China Sea were insignificant, experts said on Sunday. Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) forces participating in the China-Thailand Blue Strike-2023 joint naval exercise, including the Type 071 comprehensive landing ship Simingshan, the Type 054A guided missile frigate Anyang and the Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship Chaohu, embarked on the return voyage from Sattahip, Thailand on Sunday after completing all training missions from September 1 to Saturday, the PLA Daily reported on Sunday. The joint drill practiced subjects including urban warfare, light arms live-fire shooting, sniping tactics, rappelling, cross-deck helicopter landing, well dock operations, humanitarian aid, establishment of field hospitals, formation maneuvering and joint anti-submarine and light communications, as the two sides learned from and improved each other, enhanced mutual trust and deepened friendship, the PLA Daily said. The China-Singapore Cooperation-2023 joint ground exercise started on Wednesday in Singapore, four years after the last edition of the Cooperation joint exercise in 2019, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. Focusing on joint urban counter-terrorism operations, the drill is expected to enhance professional training levels and further deepen mutual trust and friendship, Xinhua said. Another ongoing foreign military interaction is the China-Pakistan Shaheen (Eagle)-X joint air exercise that started on August 28 in Northwest China, which is organizing joint training on typical combat scenarios including air defense and countermeasures as well as seizing and control in a move to boost the two sides' joint training level and interoperability. The Chinese side deployed aircraft including the J-10C, J-11B, J-16 fighter jets and the KJ-500 early warning aircraft in addition to HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, and the Pakistani side sent the J-10CE and JF-17 fighter jets, according to a video released by the PLA Air Force on Saturday. Other recent Chinese military interactions with foreign countries include the Pure Homeland-2023 multinational joint mine-clearing operation in Cambodia and the ongoing far sea training visit tour by PLA Navy training ship Qi Jiguang to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Amid the friendly atmosphere of military exchanges and cooperation, some US-led and US-incited provocations have made some disharmonious noises. The US Navy destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and the Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa on Saturday sailed through the Taiwan Straits, and their transits were tracked, monitored and handled in accordance with the law by naval and air forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson at the command, said in a statement on Saturday. On Friday, two supply ships and two coast guard ships of the Philippines trespassed into waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao (commonly known as Ren'ai Reef) in the Nansha Qundao (Islands) in the South China Sea, forcing the China Coast Guard to send stern warnings, conduct monitoring and apply effective restrictions, the China Coast Guard said in a statement on Friday. Together with or backed by the US, Canada and the Philippines are provoking China and showing off a political presence, but these moves have no military significance at all, as their vessels are very vulnerable in the region facing Chinese forces, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday. Compared with Chinese military interactions with other countries, which are with peaceful intensions, the US-led and US-incited military exercises and operations are directed against China, Song said. "China is a maker of peace, and the US is a destroyer of peace," he noted. No matter how much the US and its allies provoke, there is no change to the fact that the Nansha Islands and the island of Taiwan belong to China. The provocations will only expose the US' selfish, hegemonic goals in contrast to China's initiatives on global security and cooperation, analysts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Vice Premier meets with Kim Jong-un, agreeing to further develop, deepen relations Global Times By Global Times Published: Sep 10, 2023 11:31 PM Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his three-day visit to the neighboring country from Friday to Sunday, agreeing to further develop friendly relations between the two countries and exchange views on deepening cooperation. Chinese observers said the meeting between Liu and Kim serves not only to stabilize regional peace and stability against the backdrop of the US-led West's increasingly tough sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang, but also to deepen cooperation between the two countries in key fields at a time when North Korea is gradually normalizing its border operation. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, led a Party and government delegation to North Korea to attend commemorative events marking the country's 75th founding anniversary on September 9, which fell on Saturday this year, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday. Liu passed on greetings from the Chinese top leader and congratulated North Korea on its 75th founding anniversary. Speaking highly of the achievements that North Korea has made, Liu expressed wishes for a prosperous path ahead for the country, according to Xinhua. In meeting with Kim, the Chinese vice premier said China values the traditional friendship between the two countries and is willing to promote the continuous deepening and development of China-North Korea ties, the report said. Agriculture, medicines and public health are of great important to the livelihoods of the North Korean people, and China will deepen cooperation with North Korea for the well-being of the two countries, Liu told Kim. The high-profile Chinese delegation to North Korea highlights China's firm stance of developing friendship and its support toward North Korea amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula provoked by Western forces, LA Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. The visit will assist in maintaining regional peace and stability, LA said. The Chinese vice premier's visit comes only one and a half months after Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, led a Chinese Party and government delegation to the country. LA said that Liu is in charge of the health and agriculture sectors in China. China deepening key cooperation fields in agriculture, medicines and public health with North Korea during his visit is within expectations. Agricultural cooperation with North Korea likely includes more emphasis on developing high-tech agriculture, including agricultural machinery and greenhouse crops. It will help the country to alleviate chronic food shortages, LA told the Global Times. On medicines and public health, China's cooperation is of great significance to North Korea as the country is gradually stepping out of the pandemic and reopens its borders, LA said. Overall, the Chinese vice premier's visit will not only deepen cooperation in key fields, but will also help to resume normal communications with Pyongyang in the post-pandemic era in trade, tourism and culture, Chinese observers noted. In their meeting, Kim thanked Liu for leading the Chinese delegation to visit the country which is of great importance and burnished the commemorative events for the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea. North Korea is willing to further develop friendly cooperative relations with China to enhance the well-being of the peoples of the two countries, Kim told Liu. Kim also wished the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics onto new and greater achievements, and that the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will surely be realized. During his stay in North Korea, Liu also met with North Korean premier Kim Tok-hun, visited the China-North Korea Friendship Tower and Anju, a city in South Pyongan province, to visit the cemetery for martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV), mourning with deep grief the deaths of CPV martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War to Resist the US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Party and Government Delegation Visits Friendship Tower Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- The party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) led by Liu Guozhong, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice-premier of the State Council of China, on a visit to the DPRK to attend the celebrations of its 75th founding anniversary, visited the Friendship Tower on Saturday. Accompanying the delegation were Mun Song Hyok, vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Pak Myong Ho, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and Wang Yajun, Chinese ambassador to the DPRK. Members of the guard of honor of the Korean People's Army lined up at the Friendship Tower. The national anthems of the PRC and the DPRK were played. A floral basket in the name of the party and government delegation of the PRC was placed at the Friendship Tower. Written on the ribbons of the floral basket were letters reading "Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers will be immortal". The participants paid a silent tribute to the memory of the CPV martyrs. The members of the delegation looked round the interior of the Friendship Tower to realize once again the immutability and invincibility of the DPRK-China friendship forged with blood and strong with militant friendship in accomplishing the joint cause of anti-imperialist independence and socialism. Liu Guozhong wrote in the visitor's book: "Martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers will be immortal and the China-DPRK friendship will shine for all ages!". -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Greetings from Belarusian President Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, September 10 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from Aleksandr Lukashenko, president of the Republic of Belarus, on September 9. In the message, the Belarusian president extended his heartfelt congratulations to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un on the occasion of the foundation day of the DPRK. The Belarusian and Korean people have always defended the rights to independent development and choice of their future, he said. In the message, he said that he is rejoiced over the fact that the cooperation between the two countries has been developed in an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual respect since the establishment of diplomatic relations. He expressed the belief that contacts in various fields between Minsk and Pyongyang would be steadily strengthened, making a weighty contribution to building a fair world free from conflict and hastening the transition of international order to a multi-polar system. He wished Kim Jong Un good health and success in his responsible state work and the DPRK people happiness and well-being. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Has Photo Session with Participants in Paramilitary Parade Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, September 11 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Sunday had a photo session with the participants in the paramilitary parade celebrating the 75th founding anniversary of the DPRK. The participants at the venue for the photo session were full of great emotion and joy as they were to have another happy time with the highest honor of having splendidly celebrated the 75th birthday of the DPRK through a grand paramilitary parade in the presence of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un , the invincible banner of our powerful Party, state and people. The moment Kim Jong Un arrived, all the participants raised stormy cheers of "Hurrah!", looking up to him who is adding eternal brilliance to the new era of self-respect and prosperity, the era of our state-first principle, while consolidating the national power of Juche Korea to the maximum with his extraordinary idea, leadership and iron pluck. Acknowledging their enthusiastic cheers, he congratulated all the participants in the parade who made a contribution to glorifying the 75th founding anniversary of the DPRK as a grand political festival to be specially recorded in the history of the country. Kim Jong Un was greeted by O Il Jong, department director of the WPK Central Committee who is commander of the Worker-Peasant Red Guards, Kim Su Gil, chief secretary of the Pyongyang Municipal Committee of the WPK, and Ri Hi Yong, first vice department director of the C.C., WPK. He said that the impressive military parade, which showed the bravery and cohesion peculiar to Juche Korea, is a great event as it proudly represented the foundation of the genuine People's Republic and the glorious history of its development, and a powerful demonstration of the invincible spirit of socialist Korea where all the people form a fortress for national defence to reliably protect the independent dignity, national prestige and peace and stubbornly advance to achieve the great cause of building a powerful nation. Saying that the 75-year-long history of the DPRK proves the truth that independence and self-sustenance are guaranteed by the strong power for self-defence, he stressed the need for all the people across the country to firmly defend the precious gains of the revolution with the absolute might of single-minded unity and by dint of all-people death-defying resistance, tightly taking arms in one hand and hammer, sickle and writing brush in the other. He expressed expectation and belief that the participants in the parade would play the vanguard and core role in the honorable struggle to implement the Party's policy on putting all the people under arms and turning the whole country into a fortress and build a powerful socialist nation, in the same spirit and mettle that they showed while marching through the square full of patriotic enthusiasm. Then he had a significant photo session with them. When the photo session was over, stormy cheers of "Hurrah!" and shouts of faith of " Kim Jong Un " and "Devoted defence" by the participants resounded throughout the sky of September. All the participants made a firm pledge to build a manifold fortress and become the first death-defying corps in defending the Party Central Committee and achieve fresh miracles and victory in the van of all-people patriotic struggle for overall prosperity of the country, bearing in mind the great love and trust shown by Kim Jong Un as the most precious treasure of their life. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India-France Joint Statement AlysAe - President of France 10 September 2023 Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi had a bilateral meeting over lunch with the President of the French Republic, H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron during the G-20 Leaders' Summit at New Delhi on September 10, 2023. The two leaders discussed, assessed and reviewed the progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in July, 2023 in Paris. They also exchanged views on important international and regional developments. President Macron's visit to India comes after the historic visit of prime Minister Modi to Paris on July 13-14, 2023 as the Guest of Honour on the occasion of French National Day on 14 July 2023, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. Acknowledging the strength of India France partnership, founded in deep trust, shared values, belief in sovereignty and strategic autonomy, a resolute commitment to international law and principles enshrined in the UN Charter, an abiding faith in multilateralism and a mutual pursuit of a stable multi-polar world, both leaders emphasized the need to expand their collaboration to address regional and global challenges. They reiterated their unwavering commitment to collectively serve as a force of good, carrying the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' i.e. 'one earth, one family, one future', during tumultuous times reshaping the global order. With the 'Horizon 2047' Roadmap, the Indo-Pacific Roadmap and other outcomes during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit serving as recent points of reference, the two leaders discussed overall progress and next steps on the implementation of the new and ambitious goals for cooperation in areas of defense, space, nuclear energy, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, climate change, education, and people-to-people contacts. They also carried forward their discussions on India-France partnership in the Indo Pacific region and Africa, including in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, biodiversity, sustainability and industrial projects. They underlined their role of providers of solutions for the Indo-Pacific through their cooperation in the framework of the International Solar Alliance, launched by India and France, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi on India's success of Mission Chandrayaan 3. The two leaders recalled six decades of India-France Space cooperation and reviewed the progress since holding of the first Strategic Space Dialogue in June 2023. They acknowledged the strong India-France civil nuclear ties, good progress in the discussion for the Jaitapur nuclear plant project and welcomed the continuing engagement of both sides to expand bilateral cooperation to establish a partnership for co-developing SMR and AMR technologies as well as the forthcoming signature of a dedicated declaration of intent. France reiterated its steadfast and unwavering support for India's membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to strengthen the defence cooperation through partnership in design, development, testing and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms, and expand production in India, including for third countries in Indo-Pacific and beyond. In this context, they also called for early finalisation of the Defence Industrial Roadmap. Laying emphasis on areas such as digital, science, technological innovation, education, culture, health and environment cooperation, both leaders called for strengthening of institutional linkages in these domains, on the model of the Indo-French Campus for the Indo-Pacific. They also reaffirmed commitment to expand cultural exchanges and work together in development of museums. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Macron for France's continued support to India's Presidency of G-20, which had advanced inclusiveness, unity and cohesion in international efforts to address global challenges and build a more stable global order. India and France also welcomed African Union's membership to the G-20 and look to work with AU, for the progress, prosperity and development of Africa. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany to Spend Over $64Bln on Major Defense Contracts by End of 2023 Sputnik News 20230910 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Lehnigk-Emden added that the funds would be allocated for the purchase of US F-35 fighter jets and Chinook heavy transport helicopters, as well as the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defense system, the report said. Germany will allocate 60 billion euros ($64.3 billion) from the Bundeswehr's special fund by the end of the year for major defense orders, including the purchase of F-35 fighter jets, a newspaper reported on Sunday, citing Director-General of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support Annette Lehnigk-Emden. At the same time, Lehnigk-Emden noted that her agency, despite the desire for faster decision-making, still faces a number of obstacles, including the need to obtain parliamentary approval for any defense spending exceeding 25 million euros, the report stated. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced last year the establishment of a 100-billion-euro special fund to finance major defense projects such as the purchase of F-35 fighter jets. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with President of the French Republic India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting over lunch with H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. President Macron's visit to India comes after Prime Minister visit to Paris in July 2023 as the Guest of Honour on the occasion of French National Day on 14 July 2023, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership. 2. Prime Minister Macron congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Macron for France's support in this regard. 3. The two leaders discussed and reviewed bilateral relations, particularly in the context of the 'Horizon 2047' Roadmap, the Indo-Pacific Roadmap and other outcomes that emerged during Prime Minister recent visit. They also discussed the implementation of the goals for cooperation in areas of defence, space including industrial and startup cooperation, nuclear energy including partnership for co-developing SMR and AMR technolgies, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, connectivity, energy, climate change, education, cooperation in National Museum and people-to-people contacts. 4. The two leaders exchanged views on important international and regional developments, including on the Indo-Pacific region and stressed on the need for reformed multilateralism. They welcomed the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and pledged to work together for its implementation. 5. President Macron congratulated Prime Minister on India's successful Chandrayaan-3 Mission. The two leaders recalled six decades of India-France Space cooperation. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of G20 Summit in New Delhi. This was the Chancellor's second visit to India this year, following his State Visit to India in February 2023. 2. Chancellor Scholz congratulated Prime Minister on success of G20 Presidency. Prime Minister appreciated Germany's support during India's G20 Presidency, marked by high-level participation at various G20 meetings and events. 3. The leaders also reviewed the progress in their bilateral Strategic Partnership. They discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas like defence, green and sustainable development, critical minerals, mobility of skilled personnel and education. 4. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. 5. Prime Minister invited Chancellor Scholz to India next year for the next round of Inter-Governmental Consultations. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of Netherlands India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of G20 Summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Rutte congratulated Prime Minister for the success of India's G20 Presidency and the Summit. He also congratulated India on the success of the Chandrayaan mission and conveyed his best wishes for the Aditya mission to the Moon. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen their bilateral partnership, including cooperation in trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy and green hydrogen, semiconductors, cyber and digital technology, among others. Discussions also covered regional and global issues of mutual interest. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. President Tinubu congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. He also thanked Prime Minister for ensuring the permanent membership of the African Union in the G20, and for promoting the interests of the Global South. Both leaders held productive talks on various areas of wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, including in trade and investment, defence, agriculture, millets, financial technology and capacity building. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, President of the Republic of Korea on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of G20 Summit in New Delhi. President Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Prime Minister on India's G20 Presidency. He also congratulated Prime Minister on the success of Chandrayaan mission. The leaders noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations. They reviewed progress on various areas of bilateral Special Strategic Partnership, including in trade and investment, defence production, semiconductors and EV battery technology. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with the President of Comoros India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of the Comoros on 10 September 2023 on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. 2. President Assoumani thanked Prime Minister for his initiative and efforts in making the African Union a permanent member of the G20. He shared his particular pleasure that this had occured during India's G20 Presidency, considering India's role and links with Africa. He felt this would also give a boost to India - Comoros relations. He further congratulated Prime Minister for the success of India's G20 Presidency 3. Prime Minister congratulated the African Union and Comoros on joining the G20 and highlighted India's efforts to articulate the Voice of Global South and recalled the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India in January 2023. 4. Both leaders also had an opportunity to discuss their bilateral partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the numerous initiatives underway, and discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas like maritime security, capacity building and development partnership. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with the President of Brazil India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met H.E. Mr. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. President Lula congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for Brazil's G20 Presidency next year and assured him of India's full support. Discussions took place on ways to strengthen India - Brazil Strategic Partnership, including cooperation in bio-fuels, pharmaceuticals, agro-based industries, space and aviation. A Joint Statement was issued at the conclusion of the meeting. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada India - Ministry of External Affairs September 10, 2023 Prime Minister met Prime Minister of Canada H.E. Mr. Justin Trudeau on 10th September on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Trudeau congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. Prime Minister highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties. He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomtic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship. The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats. Prime Minister also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship. New Delhi September 10, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian delegation visits Azerbaijan for military cooperation talks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 9, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Senior Iranian army official Brigadier General Mohammad Ahadi is in the neighboring Azerbaijan Republic where he has met with the defense minister and other top officials for talks on cooperation between the two countries. Ahadi, who serves as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for International Cooperation Affairs, is in Baku at the head of a high-ranking military delegation for the third meeting of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Committee for Defense and Military Cooperation. He has also held talks with Azerbaijan's Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov, Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, and Hikmet Farhad Hajiyev who is Foreign Policy Advisor to the country's president. The talks took place on Saturday, according to a press release by the Iranian Embassy in Baku, and covered a range of issues including bilateral ties between Tehran and Baku. Regional and international issues were also top on agenda, according to the embassy. Iran and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1992. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian navy's 92nd fleet returns home IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 9, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Republic of Iran Army's 92nd naval fleet has successfully completed an 86-day mission and returned home. The fleet, led by the homegrown destroyer Sahand, docked at the Imamat wharf after sailing 18,000 nautical miles in distant waters, according to the Iranian army's public relations department. The mission was carried out to uphold the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran and ensure the security of shipping lines in the Red Sea. In addition, the fleet was dispatched to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden. According to report, the 93rd naval fleet, including the domestically built Jamaran destroyer, is stationed in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. 4208**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes any EU initiative for cooperation: Deputy FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Sep 10, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran has demonstrated its resolve for bilateral engagement with the European Union and welcomes any initiative that would open new avenues for cooperation with the bloc, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani has said. Bagheri made the remarks during a meeting with Luigi Di Maio, the EU's special representative for the Persian Gulf region, in Tehran on Sunday. The deputy foreign minister highlighted the strategic diversity in Iran's foreign policy, which he said has invigorated the country's diplomatic endeavors. He also emphasized that Iran's dynamic and agile foreign policy has created unparalleled opportunities for international players to engage with the Islamic Republic. Di Maio, in turn, acknowledged the influential role of the Islamic Republic in the region and beyond and underscored the willingness of all EU member states to promote dialogue and interaction with Iran. Di Maio, a former Italian foreign minister who was appointed as the EU's first envoy for the Persian Gulf region in May, also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian earlier in the day. 4353**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's oil exports to China hit historic record in August: Report Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 5:18 PM Iran's exports of oil to China hit an all-time record in August despite continued US pressure on the country, according to a report published in the local media citing data from a major international energy data company. The Sunday report by Fars news agency said Iran's oil exports to China had reached an average of 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in August according to data released by Kpler, a French data firm based in Belgium. The figure was the highest recorded in the history of Iran's oil exports to China and was even higher than volumes reported before Iran came under US sanctions in 2018, said the report. It said that previous records in Iranian oil exports to China had been reported in February 2023 at 1.3 million bpd and in November 2022 at 1.2 million bpd. The report estimated that Iran's revenues from August sales of oil to China had amounted to some $3.5 billion which it said was equal to Iran's entire oil sales to China in 2020. The estimate was based on average prices used to trade crude oil supplies from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in August and considered the $10 discount Iran offers on those prices to make its oil grades competitive despite US sanctions. The figures are the latest sign Iran has effectively emerged from the impacts of US sanctions on its oil industry. Oil exports from Iran had reached as low as 0.3 million bpd in mid-2019 months after Washington toughened its sanctions on Iran by cancelling waivers given to Asian buyers of Iranian oil. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses 'baseless' reports on troop deployment on Azerbaijan border Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 5:09 PM Iran has dismissed as "baseless" reports about the deployment of its troops on the northern border with Azerbaijan under the current tense circumstances in the South Caucasus. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for International Cooperation Brigadier General Mohammad Ahadi addressed the allegations during an interview to Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA) on Sunday. The senior military official, leading an Iranian military delegation, was in Baku to participate in the Azerbaijan-Iran Joint Commission meeting. These are "completely groundless" reports, he said, playing down suggestions that Iran sought to dispatch forces for engagement in a possible war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Iran and Azerbaijan enjoy "very good" relations, he said. Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Baqeri and Azeri Defense Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov recently held a phone conversation over the situation in the region. On Saturday, the Azerbaijani defense minister received the Iranian delegation and discussed the reconstruction work undertaken in the liberated territories under the leadership of Azerbaijan's President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev and the operational situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border and in the Karabakh economic region. During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views about the prospects for the development of military cooperation, regional security, and other issues of common interest. In a phone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, President Ebrahim Raeisi said Iran was ready to play an effective role in preventing new clashes and any geopolitical change in the disputed Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The president reiterated Iran's support for the territorial integrity of all regional countries. Located in the South Caucasus, the landlocked region of Nagorno-Karabakh has been at the center of a dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia for more than three decades. Since gaining independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, the two neighboring countries have fought two wars, in 1994 and 2020, over the mountainous territory. Karabakh, while acknowledged as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, has a predominantly Armenian population that has persistently opposed Azerbaijani governance since a separatist war in 1994. Tensions remain high and skirmishes along the shared border are a regular occurrence despite mediation efforts by the European Union, the United States and Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes any EU initiative on boosting mutual cooperation: Deputy FM Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 5:07 PM Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani says the Islamic Republic welcomes any initiatives proposed by the European Union to open new doors of interaction and cooperation, reiterating the country's resolve for bilateral engagement with the bloc. Bagheri Kani, who is also Iran's chief negotiator, made the remarks in a meeting with Luigi Di Maio, EU Special Representative for the Persian Gulf region and his accompanying delegation in the capital Tehran on Sunday. He went on to say that Iran's capacities in the regional and international arenas "have presented irreplaceable opportunities for regional and global players to hold dialogue, interaction, and cooperation." Bagheri Kani further underlined that Iran in practice has shown that it has the necessary determination and ability to hold bilateral interaction, while referring to the role of the European Union in mobilizing and consolidating the capacities of Europe. Therefore, he said, Tehran welcomes any initiative from the European side to boost cooperation and interaction. Di Maio, for his part, acknowledged Iran's important and effective role in regional and global developments, emphasizing that all EU member states support dialogue and interaction with the Islamic Republic. Di Maio, a former Italian foreign minister was appointed as the EU's first envoy for the Persian Gulf region in May. The EU official also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Tehran earlier in the day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Spy Chief Says Iran's Attempts To Supply Russia With Missiles 'Foiled' By RFE/RL September 10, 2023 The head of Israel's intelligence agency said on September 10 that Iran's attempts to supply Russia with missiles had been foiled, The Times of Israel reported. Speaking at an annual counterterrorism conference in Israel, Mossad chief David Barnea did not elaborate on how the supply deal was interrupted and by whom. "I have a feeling that more deals will be foiled soon," he said, again without elaborating. Russia has been turning to allies like Iran and North Korea for weapon supplies, including missiles, as Western sanctions hinder the speed of domestic production. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is expected to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible weapons deal. Iran has already provided Russia with hundreds of Shahed-136 drones, which have rained terror on Ukrainian cities. Barnea said Iran had intentions to provide Russia with short- and long-range missiles. Russia has been using its own missiles to bomb civilian targets in an attempt to demoralize citizens but supply is low. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in December that the United States believed Iran was considering the sale of "hundreds of ballistic missiles" to Russia. In return, Russia was offering Iran "an unprecedented level of military and technical support that is transforming their relationship into a full-fledged defense partnership," he said at the time. Kirby said Russia was training Iranian pilots on the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter, with Iran potentially receiving deliveries of the plane within the year. He said the fighter planes would significantly strengthen Iran's air force relative to its regional neighbors. Barena told the audience he was concerned about Russia supplying weapons to Iran. "Our fear is that the Russians will transfer to the Iranians in return what they lack, advanced weapons that will certainly endanger our peace, and maybe even our existence here," he said. On Iran's nuclear program and a potential agreement with world powers that would see sanctions on Iran eased, Barnea urged the international community to "be on high alert." "Iran's known nuclear weapon ambitions, and its past attempts to implement them, require that the international community be on high alert, and demonstrate unflagging determination to foil these ambitions," he said. With reporting by The Times of Israel, Al-Jazeera, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-missiles-foiled- israel/32586533.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with Interim President of Mali Assimi GoAta Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi GoAta at the latter's initiative. September 10, 2023 13:50 Vladimir Putin expressed condolences in connection with the terrorist attack in northeastern Mali on September 7. The presidents had a substantive exchange of opinions on practical measures for the further development of Russia-Mali cooperation in various areas, such as trade, the economy and humanitarian spheres, as well as efforts to tackle terrorism. Assimi GoAta thanked Vladimir Putin for the support provided by the Russian side, in particular, during the recent UN Security Council vote on lifting international sanctions against the Republic of Mali. While discussing issues of ensuring stability in West Africa and the Sahara-Sahel region, the sides agreed on the need to resolve the situation in the Republic of Niger through political and diplomatic means. The presidents agreed to continue contacts at various levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Guard At One Of Putin's Palaces Flees To Ecuador, Criticizes War And Kremlin Leader By RFE/RL's Russian Service September 10, 2023 A guard at one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's residences in occupied Crimea has fled to Ecuador, calling the Kremlin leader a war criminal. Vitaly Brizhaty, who worked on the Ukrainian peninsula for the Federal Protection Service (FSO), the Kremlin's bodyguard agency, told Dozhd TV in an interview that he opposed the war in Ukraine. Brizhaty is the second member of the FSO to flee and publicly criticize the president over the invasion of Ukraine. Brizhaty worked at Olivye, one of Putin's two palaces in Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities revealed the massive palace in Olivye in a 2021 report. In the interview, Brizhaty said that Putin didn't trust his own guards. He said the Kremlin would announce Putin's arrival at two different airports in Crimea but that he could very well end up arriving by sea. "That's how much this man fears for his life," he said. Brizhaty claimed that FSO personnel were banned from communicating with Ukrainian relatives, citizens of the United States and European Union, or any people who oppose the war, under threat of criminal prosecution. He said he feared punishment because one of his friends, a former classmate with whom he has remained in contact, now resides in the United States and has come out against the war. Brizhaty claimed that if his friend liked a pro-Ukrainian post on Instagram, he could come under investigation. "It's just insane," he said. A few months after the start of the war, Brizhaty said he tried to quit the FSO but was told he would be sent to fight in Ukraine if he left the service. In the meantime, his wife, a native of Crimea, applied for a residence permit in Ecuador as a qualified worker and received it. The permit extended to him as well. As FSO and other Russian security-service personnel are not allowed to hold a foreign passport or residency permit, Brizhaty was dismissed and he immediately left with his wife for Ecuador. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-guard-putin-flees- ecuador/32586511.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's Regions Boost Spending By Half On Security Services, Police Amid Growing Repression By RFE/RL's Russian Service September 10, 2023 Russia's regions have ramped up spending this year on national security and law enforcement as the state intensifies its crackdown on any form of dissent amid a failing war, according to a new report. Regional spending on security services and police rose on average by more than half, a new record since the fall of the Soviet Union, according to a detailed report released by Russia's Gaidar Institute on August 30 and reviewed by The Moscow Times last week. Spending on security and law enforcement remains a small part of Russian regions' overall budget, with the federal budget overwhelmingly covering those needs. The jump in regional spending on security and law enforcement this year is vastly outpacing other areas, such as communal housing, social spending, and health care, the report says. Regional spending on housing and communal services rose by a quarter while social spending, including pensions, by 18 percent on average. Health-care spending fell for the second year in a row, declining more than 3 percent on average. Overall, regional budgets increased spending this year by 13 percent. Russia's federal budget accounts for the lion's share of spending on security and law enforcement and the increase has been no less staggering. Russia is on pace to boost spending on those segments this year by 48 percent, surpassing the record set in 2012 following large-scale street protests in Moscow, the Gaidar Institute wrote. Russia is boosting law enforcement numbers and pay as the Kremlin steps up domestic repression to a level not seen since Soviet times, following its poorly planned invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As many as 120,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the fighting to date and 180,000 injured, The New York Times reported last month, citing unidentified U.S. officials. Repression has contained public anger over the tremendous losses. The Kremlin has outlawed any criticism of the armed forces, going so far as to detain people for comments they made in private conversations, a throwback to the Soviet years. Political opponents have been sentenced to decades behind bars. At the same time, Russia's security services have stepped up their search for internal enemies. Russian authorities have launched 82 treason investigations over the first seven months of 2023, a quadrupling over all of 2022, according to Kholod, an independent news website. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-regions-spending- surge-security-clampdown/32586472.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Energy Ministry Sticks to LNG Output Target of 140Mln Tonnes by 2035 Sputnik News 20230910 VLADIVOSTOK (Sputnik) - Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov told Sputnik that his ministry remains committed to a target level of domestic liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at 140 million tonnes by 2035, describing anything above this mark as unfeasible. "The upper limit of our forecast is 140 million tonnes by 2035, which is not up for revision. Our new target is 100 million tonnes by 2030," Shulginov said. When asked about suggestions of some Russian lawmakers to boost LNG production to 180 million tonnes, the minister said that such plans "are not very realistic" in the current conditions. Shulginov also added that the Russian Energy Ministry supported the idea of allowing the export of LNG to subsidiaries of companies that already have export licenses. In 2022, Russia's LNG output amounted to 32.5 million tonnes, up 8.1% from the previous year, Russia's Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) said. The LNG production in Russia decreased by 4.4% in January-July 2023 year-on-year to 18.7 million tonnes, Rossstat said in August. The 8th EEF is taking place on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University in the Russian city of Vladivostok from September 10-13. RIA Novosti is the official media partner of the forum. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 100 terrorists killed in joint Syrian-Russian military operations in Idlib Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 6:45 AM At least 111 foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists have been killed and 80 others wounded after Syrian and Russian forces jointly carried out a string of strikes against terrorist bastions in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib. Syrian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Saturday that the days-long intense and precision operations in cooperation with Russian air forces were in response to flagrant violations committed by terror outfits in the southern countryside of Idlib. "The armed terrorist organizations supported by some regional and international parties continue in launching repeated attacks on safe villages and towns and sites and positions of the Syrian Arab Army adjacent to the de-escalation zones in the Idlib and Hama countryside, so Syrian-Russian forces carried out qualitative operations in the aforementioned sites," the statement said. It added that the Syrian army launched heavy and concentrated strikes on terrorist headquarters, fortifications, and ammunition depots, effectively disrupting their capabilities, using a variety of firepower, such as artillery and multiple missile systems. A substantial number of terrorist strongholds, operation rooms, and warehouses were obliterated, it said. The majority of the slain terrorists were members of the so-called Ansar al-Tawhid (Supporters of Monotheism) Takfiri militant group, according to the statement. Russia has been providing Syrian forces with military assistance in the ongoing battles across the conflict-plagued Arab country. The Russian assistance, which began in September 2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, has proved effective as Syrians continue to recapture key areas from remnants of the Daesh terrorist group and other foreign-backed terrorist factions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy seeks to boost repair facilities with NT$616.2 million crane upgrades ROC Central News Agency 09/10/2023 08:30 PM Taipei, Sept. 10 (CNA) The Navy said Sunday it has requested NT$616.2 million (US$19.2 million) for new drydock cranes to help strengthen domestic wartime ship repair capacity. According to the 2024 defense budget recently submitted to the Legislative Yuan, the Navy plans to spend NT$377.7 million in 2025, and NT$377.9 million in 2026 to acquire the cranes. The Navy, which did not disclose the technical specifications of the purchases, said that the new cranes would allow damaged warships to be repaired more efficiently to better support Taiwan's military. While the Navy did not say which supplier it would use, an assessment released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Industrial Cooperation Program in March 2022 showed that Taiwan may be able to manufacture drydock cranes domestically in the future. The Navy said Taiwan's naval shipbuilding capacity had progressed significantly in recent years, citing the Yushan and the Tuo Chiang-class corvette as examples. According to the Navy, more diverse vessels are currently either under production or being launched as part of Taiwan's effort to bolster its wartime readiness. (By Matt Yu and Evelyn Yang) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan Says Discussed F-16 Jets Supplies With Biden During Informal Talks at G20 Summit Sputnik News 20230910 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday he had discussed possible deliveries of F-16 fighter jets to Turkiye with US President Joe Biden during informal talks on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. "I did have a pull-aside, informal conversation with President Biden and we did discuss F-16s. But when it comes to the F-16 aircraft, unfortunately, what they do is take this to Sweden [Sweden's accession to NATO]," Erdogan said after the summit, adding that Ankara was upset by such an approach. Sweden "should fulfill the duties it has to fulfill," the Turkish leader said, adding that if it fails to do so, he would be "bound by resolution" coming from the Turkish parliament. In April 2021, the United States excluded Turkiye from the F-35 program after Ankara purchased Russia's S-400 air defense systems. Erdogan said later that year that Washington had offered that Ankara buy F-16 jets instead, one generation behind the F-35s. However, the deal needs approval from the US Congress, with many lawmakers strongly opposing the initiative, in particular, due to Turkey's position on Sweden's NATO bid. Sweden, along with Finland, submitted its NATO application in May 2022, several months after Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine. Finland became a member of the alliance in April 2023. Apart from Turkiye, Sweden's application is still pending ratification by Hungary. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "We have been making intense efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 10.09.2023 Holding a press conference following the G20 Summit in New Delhi, President ErdoAYan said: "We have been making intense efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has cost millions of lives. We have undertaken many diplomatic moves ranging from the Istanbul Process, which brought the sides together around the same table, to the prisoner exchange and Black Sea Initiative." President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan held a press conference following the 18th G20 Summit in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Extending his condolences to the people of Morocco, President ErdoAYan said: "We are ready to help our Moroccan brothers and sisters as a country that experienced the disaster of the century just six months ago. We have completed the 18th G20 Summit in India. On behalf of myself and my nation, I congratulate India on its successful term presidency. I am grateful to anyone, particularly Prime Minister Modi, for their efforts, as well as for their hospitality towards myself, my wife, and my delegation." Noting that this year's G20 Summit convened under the theme of "One Earth, One Family and One Future," President ErdoAYan pointed out that environmental issues facing the earth were discussed during the first session of the summit. Drawing attention to the increasing impacts of the climate change, loss of biodiversity and the triple planetary crisis, President ErdoAYan said that the destructive consequences of these are felt in a wide spectrum from wildfires to floods, drought, and warming. "WE TAKE IMPORTANT STEPS IN NUCLEAR AND HYDROGEN INVESTMENTS" Pointing out that TArkiye's share in green gas emission is quite low, President ErdoAYan stressed that TArkiye, nevertheless, shares the burden in this vital issue concerning the common future of humanity and the world. TArkiye is among the countries making the most meaningful contributions to the Paris Climate Agreement with its 2053 net zero emission and green development targets, underlined the President. "We are taking important steps both in nuclear and hydrogen investments and in renewable energy. We rank the 5th in Europe and the 12th in the world in terms of installed renewable power. Our steps in energy efficiency and renewable energy have prevented 90 million tons of carbons' equivalence of green gas emissions annually. We have doubled our emission reduction targets by 2030 in line with our 2053 net zero emission target. We are one of the leading countries of the world in combatting desertification and erosion. With the projects we implement in a wide range of areas, we are working for a greener, cleaner, and a more livable TArkiye and world." Describing the Zero Waste Project, led by First Lady Emine ErdoAYan, as a critical milestone in this process, President ErdoAYan stated that the project, run with the motto, 'The World, Our Common Home,' received five international awards, three of them from the United Nations offices and programs. "WE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES" Pointing out that the Zero Waste Project has turned into a global movement with the United Nations General Assembly resolution, President ErdoAYan said: "With this resolution, March 30 has been declared as the International Zero Waste Day. With our proposal, we have highlighted the importance of zero waste initiatives in the G20 declaration. We drew attention to the significance of fair burden sharing between developed and developing countries during the first session of the summit. In addition, we stressed the importance of funding and technology transfer to developing countries." TArkiye will continue to work for the preservation of the earth, pointed out the President. "During the second session titled 'One Family,' we recounted our efforts aimed at leaving no one behind and enhancing the global solidarity. We told what should be done in order for refugees and displaced persons to return to their home countries in a voluntary, secure and honorable manner." "WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE GREAT HUMAN FAMILY OF 8 BILLION PEOPLE" "We are all members of the great human family of 8 billion people," underlined the President. "None of us can feel safe in a world where children die since they cannot find a piece of bread and water, where tens of thousands of travelers of hope lose their lives in deserts every year, where our seas quickly turn into giant cemeteries of refugees, where millions are displaced from their homes due to wars and conflicts, where human life grows increasingly more worthless despite all the rhetoric; in short, in a world where heartbreaking tragedies take place right beside us. If extravagance, waste and luxury go rampant on one hand while 735 million people grapple with famine on the other hand, then it means that there is very serious problem." "NEARLY 600 THOUSAND SYRIANS HAVE RETURNED TO THEIR COUNTRY IN A SECURE AND VOLUNTARY MANNER" Pointing out that from Africa to Asia, billions of people work and break sweat under terrible circumstances for the joy and prosperity of just a handful of people, President ErdoAYan noted: "We believe that a more just world is possible. We make the most aid in the world in proportion to national income. We host over four million innocent and oppressed people in our country. Clearing Syria's north of terrorist organizations, building permanent houses in this region with the support of brotherly countries, and meeting the needs in every area from education to security, we eliminate at their roots the causes that force people to emigrate." President ErdoAYan added that nearly 600 thousand Syrians have returned to their country thus far in a secure and voluntary manner befitting human dignity, and that this number will further increase with the implementation of more projects. "33 MILLION TONS OF GRAINS HAVE REACHED INTERNATIONAL MARKETS" President ErdoAYan underscored that TArkiye has been making intense efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been going on for one year and a half, costing hundreds of thousands of lives. Drawing attention to TArkiye's diplomatic moves including the Istanbul process that brings together the sides around the same table, the prisoner exchange and the Black Sea Initiative, President ErdoAYan went onto say: "33 million tons of grains have reached international markets within the framework of the Black Sea Initiative. We have prevented the further escalation of the food crisis thanks to this initiative, which has been prolonged for three times as a result of our personal dialogue. We thoroughly discussed this issue during the visit I paid to Sochi on Monday at the invitation of Mr. Putin." "STEPS THAT WOULD DISRUPT TRANQUILITY AT THE BLACK SEA MUST BE AVOIDED" Russia, Qatar and TArkiye attach importance to the shipment of processed flour to African countries in need of food, stressed President ErdoAYan. "We will achieve this in solidarity. A process that excludes Russia on the grain issue is very unlikely to be sustainable. We are of the opinion that steps that would disrupt tranquility at the Black Sea and escalate tension in the region must be avoided. Meticulously applying the Montreux and maintaining constant dialogue with the sides, we have not allowed such a situation thus far. We will soon convene the Food Security Working Group to contribute to global food security. We will remain in close contact with Russia, Ukraine, the United Nations and the international community. The summit declaration duly mentions all of these efforts of our country." Welcoming the decision to let the African Union into the G20 as a permanent member with TArkiye's strong support, President ErdoAYan expressed his wish for the African Union's membership to lead to favorable developments for all the African brothers and sisters. "ATTACKS TARGETING MUSLIMS AND REFUGEES ARE NO LONGER TOLERABLE" President ErdoAYan warned that the "One Earth, One Family and One Future" ideal sustains the biggest harm from Islamophobia and xenophobia which spread like a plague. Stressing that attacks targeting Muslims and refugees in some Western countries are no longer tolerable, turning into a wave of hatred in some places, President ErdoAYan said: "Most of the countries claiming to be advocating democracy and human rights unfortunately play ostrich in the face of this barbarism. Burning the Quran under police protection is an overt provocation and hate crime, not a freedom of expression. No one can expect us to remain silent in the face of this. I believe that countries where Islamophobia is on the rise should adopt more determined policies on this issue for the common future of humanity. Loopholes, if any, should be corrected. Necessary legal amendments should be made rapidly. As a responsible member of the international community, we deem it our duty to tell the truth openly as a true friend. Accordingly, we bring this issue up at all the platforms we are a member, first and foremost at the United Nations." TArkiye contributed to the United Nation's declaring March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, stated President ErdoAYan. "In this respect, the resolutions of the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly regarding attacks on the Holy Quran are of importance. We are pleased to see that some countries take administrative and legal measures in the face of such incidents. Desecration of holy books are denounced it the G20 declaration as well upon our country's proposal and efforts." President ErdoAYan noted that TArkiye urges anyone advocating humanitarian values, attaching importance to human rights and freedoms and believing that followers of different faiths can co-exist peacefully to lend support to TArkiye's efforts in this direction. "TARKAYE AND INDIA HAVE IMPORTANT POTENTIAL IN MANY AREAS" Stressing that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the foundation of MIKTA, President ErdoAYan said: "Under the term presidency of Indonesia, we as the leaders reviewed the last 10 years of MIKTA and our future projections. I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of India Mr. Modi as part of my visit. TArkiye and India, our biggest trade partner in the South Asia, have important potential in many areas, particularly in economy." Expressing his belief that this potential can now be unleashed at the highest level now that the uncertainties of the election period have been left behind, President ErdoAYan said: "The May 14-28 elections, held with a record high turnout reaching some 90 percent, have reconfirmed both the strength of the Turkish democracy and our nation's confidence in our government. We further consolidate this confidence with every step we take." Voicing his observation that the Medium Term Programme TArkiye unveiled on Wednesday has been welcomed with pleasure both at home and abroad, President ErdoAYan stated: "The statement made by the World Bank reflects the confidence in the Turkish economy. The World Bank Group has added a new investment package of 18 billion dollars to its already existing investment package of 17 billion dollars. Therefore, the size of the investments the World Bank is planning to make in TArkiye over the next three years reaches 35 billion dollars. We all will see that international investments will grow in parallel with our economic achievements." "WE WILL NEVER DEVIATE FROM OUR GOALS OF THE CENTURY OF TARKAYE" While healing the wounds of the February 6 earthquakes on one hand, Ankara will never deviate from the goals of the Century of TArkiye on the other hand, noted President ErdoAYan, expressing his opinion that his visit to India enabled the fact of a growing and strengthening TArkiye to be better understood along with other issues. President ErdoAYan further stressed that he held fruitful bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister, the host of the summit, as well as the leaders of Japan, Brazil, the UAE, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the European Council, and the World Bank on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Thanking the New Delhi for its hospitality, President ErdoAYan wished success to Brazil, which has taken over the G20 term presidency from India. President ErdoAYan answered reporters' questions following his speech. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan calls for Russia to not be 'marginalized' in grain deal Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 September 2023 1:57 PM Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for Russia not to be "marginalized" in negotiations aimed at restoring a crucial Black Sea grain export deal, stressing that any initiative that isolates Moscow is unlikely to be sustainable. Erdogan made the remarks in a press briefing after the conclusion of the annual meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) in the Indian capital, New Delhi, on Sunday, where he said the issue of reviving the Black Sea Grain Initiative was discussed in great detail. "No process that marginalizes Russia on the Black Sea grain initiative will be viable," he said, adding a meeting is going to be held on the issue between representatives from Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations, without specifying a precise date or location. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkey and the United Nations on July 22, 2022, allowed for the safe export of grain from Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Russia withdrew from the deal in July this year, saying its conditions for the agreement were not met. Moscow complained that its agricultural exports faced obstacles and not enough Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need under the grain deal. It said its grain and fertilizer exports faced barriers in practice because of sanctions by the West affecting port access, insurance, logistics, and payments - including the removal of agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank from SWIFT. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already said Moscow is ready to return to the deal if as the West met its obligations with regard to Russia's own grain exports. Russia and Ukraine are two of the world's key agricultural producers. The two are influential players in the wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed, and sunflower oil markets. More than 24.1 million tons have been exported under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to the United Nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Foreign Aid Workers Killed In Ukraine As Russian Drones Target Kyiv By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service September 10, 2023 Two foreign aid workers were killed and two others wounded in eastern Ukraine, officials said on September 10, hours after at least one person was injured in fresh Russian air strikes on the capital, Kyiv. A van carrying the four aid workers "came under Russian attack" near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on Instagram. The volunteers were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being hit by shells on September 9, it said. Road to Relief said Canadian Anthony Ihnat died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously wounded. The group said the whereabouts of the van's fourth passenger, Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organization's director, was not immediately known. Hours later, Spain's acting foreign minister, JosA Manuel Albares, said that authorities in Madrid had received "verbal confirmation" of Igual's death. The aid workers were on their way "to assess the needs of civilians caught in crossfire in the town of Ivanivske" on the outskirts of the war-torn city of Bakhmut, said Road to Relief, which helps evacuate wounded people from frontline areas. Ukraine's military said on September 10 its forces had made modest headway in an area of the southern front line. "We are moving forward! Defense forces in the Tavria area have advanced more than 1 kilometer," Ukrainian Army commander Oleksandr Tarnavskiy said in his daily update. Russian forces, meanwhile, targeted Kyiv with dozens of Iranian-made Shahed drones early on September 10, wounding one person and causing a fire near a city park, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's air defenses shot down 25 out of 32 drones, most of which targeted the capital and surrounding region, officials said, adding that the attack lasted nearly two hours. "Drones came onto the capital in groups and from different directions," Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's city military administration, wrote on Telegram. Debris from downed drones fell on Kyiv's Darnytskiy, Solomyanskiy, Shevchenkivskiy, Svyatoshynskiy, and Podil districts, according to city authorities. One person was injured in Podil, and a fire broke out near one of the city's parks, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The drone debris reportedly sparked a fire in an apartment in Shevchenkivskiy, but it was quicky extinguished. There was no immediate comment from Russia about the latest attack on Kyiv. But Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed a Ukrainian-launched drone over Russia's southwestern Bryansk region at around 8.30 a.m. on September 10. The ministry did not immediately report any casualties or damage. The Russian charge d'affaires in Bucharest was summoned by the Romanian Foreign Ministry on September 10, following the discovery of new fragments of a drone similar to those used by the Russian military on Romanian soil, the Agerpres website reported. Romania said on September 9 that it found new drone fragments on its territory near the border with Ukraine, in the second such discovery in Romania in a week. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said the findings indicated there has been "an absolutely unacceptable violation of the sovereign airspace of Romania, a NATO ally, with real risks to the security of Romanian citizens in the area." NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on September 9 on X, formerly known as Twitter, that there was "no indication of intent" to hit the alliance member, but said the findings "are destabilizing." With reporting by Reuters and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian- drone-strike/32586181.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses 340 Troops in Donetsk, Zaporozhye Directions - MoD Sputnik News 20230910 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 340 troops in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions over the past 24 hours, with the Russian army repelling eight attacks, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. "During the fighting [in the Donetsk direction], the enemy lost up to 260 troops, two armored combat vehicles and five vehicles," the ministry said. In the Zaporozhye direction, the Ukrainian armed forces lost about 80 troops, two armed vehicles and two pickups, the ministry stated. Moreover, in the Black Sea region, the Russian naval aviation detected and destroyed three US-made speedboats with Ukrainian landing groups, resulting in the loss of 36 servicepeople for Kiev, the ministry added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdogan Warns Any Grain Route Plans Leaving Out Russia Bound to Fail Sputnik News 20230910 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ankara is placing enormous importance on ensuring food security in Africa, but any alternatives to the grain deal that exclude Russia's participation are bound to fail, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cautioned on Sunday. "In the grain corridor process, we believe that any initiative that isolates Russia is bound to fail, its success is of very little possibility," the Turkish leader said after the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Erdogan also noted that Turkiye and Qatar were placing great significance on grain supplies to Africa, where food scarcity has had a serious impact. "When meeting with [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov, I proposed that we do not limit ourselves to 1 million tonnes [of grain supplies to Africa], but send even more grain instead, since African countries need it," Erdogan said. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced after a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that his country would soon ship free grain to six African countries in a bid to alleviate food shortages on the continent. On July 18, the Turkiye- and UN-mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative, or grain deal as it is commonly called, which provided for a humanitarian corridor to enable exports of Ukrainian grain over the past year amid the Russian military operation expired as Moscow did not renew its participation in the deal. The Kremlin said that the deal's component on facilitating Russian grain and fertilizer exports had not been fulfilled. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Aircraft Destroy Three US-Made Boats Near Zmeiny (Snake) Island Sputnik News 20230910 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian naval aviation aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed three boats with a landing force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Zmeiny (Snake) Island, which were heading toward Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. "This night, in the western part of the Black Sea water area, northeast of Zmeiny (Snake) Island, naval aviation aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed three US-made Willard Sea Force high-speed military boats with landing groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, traveling in the direction of the Crimean coast," the ministry said. Ukraine has suffered very significant losses in the conflict with Russia, especially during its so-called counteroffensive in the past three months, which has resulted in tens of thousands of soldiers killed and wounded as well as hundreds of units of military equipment destroyed, according to reports. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK donation of hydrographic equipment keeps Ukrainian waters safe The UK Hydrographic Office has donated survey equipment and cartographic software to Ukraine to support safer navigation in the area and keep waters safe 10 September 2023 The UK Hydrographic Office, an agency of the MoD, has donated A1.6 million worth of equipment to the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine, helping to keep the seas around Ukraine safe and support commercial shipping amid ongoing Russian attacks. The equipment - which includes two full Single Beam Echo Sounder systems and two Multibeam Echo Sounder systems - will be used to carry out hydrographic surveys. These surveys collect accurate data of the seabed and marine environment. The data can then be processed and used to produce and maintain nautical charts and navigational information to support safer navigation in the area. Baroness Goldie, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, said: This donation shows the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine. In addition to this equipment, the UK Government has provided Ukraine with missiles, ammunition, drones and we've trained over 20,000 Ukrainian personnel. The equipment provided by the UK Hydrographic Office will contribute to the protection of ports and shipping lanes, helping Ukraine's ships stay safe so they can move goods, including food supplies, in and out of the country. The equipment enables production of navigational information and nautical charts containing safety information. Vessels moving through Ukrainian waters can use this to plan a safe route, including through any humanitarian grain corridor. Along with the equipment and software, the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine has been offered training on specialist courses delivered by the UK Hydrographic Office and the Royal Navy. The training will help develop the necessary skills to effectively use the donated equipment. Peter Sparkes, Chief Executive, UK Hydrographic Office, said: The UK Hydrographic Office is steadfast in our support to our Ukrainian colleagues, and to the mariners and people of Ukraine. This donation will give the State Hydrographic Service of Ukraine the necessary tools and training to maintain their international responsibilities as a coastal state through this challenging period. Background: About the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) The UKHO is a leading centre for hydrography, providing marine geospatial data to inform maritime decisions. We work with a wide range of data suppliers and partners to support maritime navigation, safety, security, and marine development around the UK and worldwide. We make location-based information available through ADMIRALTY Maritime Data Solutions, our world-leading range of charts, publications, and custom data sets. Our use of marine data and technology, combined with our expertise, ensures we continue to innovate and provide a wider range of solutions. We source, process, and provide access to location-based information, ranging from seabed to surface. This enables our partner organisations to make critical maritime decisions - informing the sustainable use and management of the marine environment and supporting the development of the blue economy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Hails G20 Consensus on Respecting Nations' Territorial Sovereignty By VOA News September 10, 2023 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday hailed a consensus declaration reached at a summit of 20 of the world's largest economies that called for respecting sovereign states' territorial integrity. The declaration at the now-concluded event denounced the use of force to seize territory but stopped short of condemning Russia for its war on Ukraine. Russia invaded the neighboring country in February 2022. In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" program, Blinken said the statement by the G20 nations "strongly affirms the proposition that this is about Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty." Despite the diminished tone toward Russian aggression compared to last year's G20 talks, Blinken told CNN that there was consensus among the participants that "not only do they want to see this war end, but they want to see it end on just and durable terms." Blinken said the leaders made it clear that "the consequences of Russia's aggression are being felt throughout the G20 countries and throughout the developing world." However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during a press conference at the closing of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, said excluding Russia from any talks on resuming a Black Sea grain deal would not be sustainable. The grain deal allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea. Russia exited the deal in July. Russia, Ukraine and Turkey are going to continue to discuss the grain deal "in order to support the global food security, food supply security," Erdogan said. When asked by VOA's Ukrainian Service if Russia would increase its demands on Ukraine if Kyiv conceded to some of Moscow's terms to revive the deal, Erdogan cited Moscow's claim that the West has not kept to its promises on the deal brokered by the U.N. and Ankara. Ukraine and its Western allies have dismissed the Kremlin's demands as a ploy to advance its own interests. Erdogan expressed agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin's bid to send grain free of charge to African countries through Turkey and Qatar. "When I had talks with Mr. Lavrov here, I reiterated that we should not limit this amount to one million (tons) and look for ways to increase it," said Erdogan, referring to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A key Russian demand to revive the grain deal has been the reconnection of the Russian Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT international payments system. It was cut off by the European Union in June 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine that year. The Russian Agricultural Bank subsidiary in Luxembourg could immediately apply to SWIFT to "effectively enable access" for the bank to the international payments system within 30 days, the United Nations told Russia in a letter, seen by the Reuters news agency on Friday. On Saturday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia needed its state agricultural bank -- and not a subsidiary of the bank, as proposed by the United Nations -- to be reconnected to the international SWIFT bank payments system. "All our conditions are perfectly well known. They do not need interpretation, they are absolutely concrete and all this is absolutely achievable," Peskov told Reuters. "Therefore, Russia maintains its responsible, clear and consistent position, which has been repeatedly voiced by the president." Russia's exit from the deal in July came a year after it was brokered to combat a global food crisis the U.N. said was worsened by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and Russia are both leading grain exporters. Russia-held territories voting Russian authorities on Sunday reported multiple attempts to sabotage voting in local elections taking place in occupied areas of Ukraine. Kyiv and the West have denounced the balloting, calling it a sham and a violation of international law. Voting ended earlier than scheduled in Russia-occupied Donetsk due to security concerns. Russian electoral officials say forces loyal to Kyiv had previously killed pro-Moscow officials, blown up bridges and helped the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets. Earlier, a drone strike destroyed one polling station in the Zaporizhzhia region, Nikolai Bulaev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Central Election Commission, told reporters. He said there were no casualties as the staff was not present at the time. Ella Pamfilova, who heads Russia's Central Election Commission, called the incident "a terrorist act" while speaking to reporters that same day. She alleged that a Western-supplied drone was used but gave no evidence. In the neighboring Kherson region, a Russia-appointed official said that a live grenade was discovered on Saturday near a polling station. Maria Zakharova said the grenade was hidden in bushes outside the station, and that voting had to be halted while emergency services disposed of it. Russian drone attacks Russia launched about three dozen drones over Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, early Sunday. The early morning attack lasted about two hours, with debris falling over the city. Meanwhile, the British defense ministry said Sunday Russia's Pskov oblast, near the Estonian border, has organized "volunteer security patrols" to bring a stop to drone attacks against Kresty Air Base in Pskov. The ministry said due to the limited range of quadcopter drones, the attacks on Kresty were almost certainly launched from Russia. The volunteer patrols will "likely" serve as a deterrence, according to the ministry. The use of volunteers indicates that it is "highly likely" that there is a shortage of trained security personnel within Russia," the ministry said. Tatiana Vorozhko Koprowicz of VOA's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report from New Delhi. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEWARK, Del, Sept. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The convenience food market is expected to have a delicious rise between 2023 and 2033, growing at an impressive 7.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The fast-paced modern lifestyle and the growth of urbanization drive the need for convenient meal options that offer rapid and hassle-free preparation. The appeal of quick meals grows more alluring as people find themselves stressed for time, fueling the expansion of the convenience food business globally. The convenience food market's growth trajectory is ignited by variables, with shifting consumer preferences and cutting-edge product development playing critical roles. Consumers can embrace the convenience and comfort of pre-packaged meals thanks to rising disposable incomes, especially in emerging nations where a growing middle class looks for time-saving culinary solutions. Convenience food producers simultaneously take advantage of the chance to adapt to consumers' changing tastes and preferences by developing novel goods that satisfy consumer needs for healthier, natural, and individualized convenience food options. This convergence of consumer demands and industry innovation fosters an exciting era of culinary convenience, propelling the market's increasing trend. Get Market Growth Summary with Exclusive Report Sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-96 Key Takeaways from the Convenience Food Market: With a sizeable market share of 17.2%, the United States dominates the market for convenience foods. This demonstrates the nation's strong preference for fast food options, influenced by busy schedules and a strong desire for time-saving meal options. Germany's 6.2% market share demonstrates the hunger for convenience meals in the nation. This shows that German customers increasingly seek quick and simple meal options to meet their busy lifestyles. With a sizable market share of 10.2%, China exhibits exceptional market growth. The rising demand for fast food options in the Chinese market is mostly due to the country's growing middle class, urbanization, and shifting consumer preferences. With a significant market share of 4.6%, Japan demonstrates the inclination of Japanese customers for convenience food. An engaged workforce and a need for quick and practical food options might explain this. Australia and the United Kingdom have smaller market shares of 1.8% and 3.9%, respectively. However, due to factors including evolving lifestyles, urbanization, and a growing need for quick-to-prepare foods, these markets still provide market penetration and expansion opportunities. The growing demand for convenience food in today's fast-paced lifestyle. With consumers seeking convenient meal options that save time and effort, the convenience food industry is witnessing significant growth, driven by a variety of ready-to-eat and pre-packaged options. This trend is expected to continue as consumers prioritize convenience without compromising on taste and nutrition - says a lead Future Market Insights (FMI) analyst. Competitive Landscape The market for convenience foods has a very high level of competitiveness. To keep ahead of the competition, the market is dominated by several significant businesses continually inventing and creating new items. Several smaller regional competitors are also present in the market and frequently have a price and convenience advantage. Nestle Swiss multinational food and beverage corporation Nestle has its headquarters in Vevey. By revenue, Nestle is the biggest food corporation in the world, and it dominates the market for convenience foods. Lean Cuisine, Stouffer's, and Hot Pockets are a few of Nestle's convenience food brands. Unilever An international consumer goods manufacturer headquartered in London, England, is called Unilever. The second-largest food firm in the world by revenue, Unilever, is well-represented in the market for convenience foods. The convenience food brands owned by Unilever include Knorr, Hellmann's, and Ben & Jerry's. Tyson Foods The corporate headquarters of the American multinational food company Tyson Foods is in Springdale, Arkansas. The world's biggest producer and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, Tyson Foods also holds a sizable share of the convenience food market. Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Ball Park are some of Tyson Foods' convenience food brands. Conagra Brands Chicago, Illinois, serves as the corporate headquarters for Conagra Brands, an American international food corporation. It is well-known in the market for convenience foods. Convenience food brands owned by Conagra Brands. Need Assistance? Get in Touch with Our Sales Team Today: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/96 Key Developments The expansion of Internet sales has significantly boosted the demand for convenience foods. Consumers are using digital platforms to conveniently buy their preferred convenience food goods as online grocery shopping is popular. The emergence of meal kits has altered customer attitudes toward home cooking in the convenience food industry. These pre-packaged kits give customers pre-portioned ingredients and thorough instructions so they can easily make home-cooked meals without worrying about grocery shopping or meal planning. Key Segments Profiled in the Convenience Food Market Survey By Type: Frozen Foods Canned Foods Chilled Foods Ready-To-Eat Snacks Meals By Distribution Channel: Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Departmental Stores Mom & Pop Shops Convenience Stores By Region: North America Latin America Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa Europe Click Here to Request Methodology Details on the Convenience Food Market. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/request-report-methodology/rep-gb-96 Author: Nandini Roy Choudhury (Client Partner for Food & Beverages at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has 7+ years of management consulting experience. She advises industry leaders and explores off-the-eye opportunities and challenges. She puts processes and operating models in place to support their business objectives. She has exceptional analytical skills and often brings thought leadership to the table. Nandini has vast functional expertise in key niches, including but not limited to food ingredients, nutrition & health solutions, animal nutrition, and marine nutrients. She is also well-versed in the pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, retail, and chemical sectors, where she advises market participants to develop methodologies and strategies that deliver results. Her core expertise lies in corporate growth strategy, sales and marketing effectiveness, acquisitions and post-merger integration and cost reduction. Nandini has an MBA in Finance from MIT School of Business. She also holds a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Nagpur University, India. Nandini has authored several publications, and quoted in journals including Beverage Industry, Bloomberg, and Wine Industry Advisor. Have a Look at Related Reports of Food and Beverage Domain: Food Grade Lubricants Market : Through 2032, the market for food-grade lubricants is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 6%. By 2032, the market's estimated value is expected to rise from its current level of US$ 258.43 million to US$ 462.81 million. Food Preservatives Market : A market valuation of US$ 2,965.62 million is predicted for the worldwide food preservatives market in 2023. By 2033, the market is projected to grow at a 6.8% CAGR and reach US$ 5,725.70 million. Food Additives Market : A valuation of US$ 2.44 billion is projected for the food additives market in 2023, and US$ 4.62 billion is predicted for 2033. During the forecast period, a CAGR of 6.6% is expected to be achieved by the market. Food Enzymes Market : During the forecast period, the average CAGR for the food enzymes market is expected to be 6.5%. Frozen Food Market : From 2022 to 2032, the global frozen food market is projected to develop at a CAGR of 6.7%, from a projected value of US$ 314,285 million in 2022 to US$ 602,257 million. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 5000 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Contact Us: Nandini Singh Sawlani Clichy, France, September 11, 2023 BIC Investor Update and Horizon Strategic Plan Interim Review BICs Horizon strategic plan objectives by year-end 2025 (a): Annual Net Sales: growth of 5 - 7% (b) Adjusted EBIT margin: improvement approx. 150bps from 2022 level of 14.0% Free Cash Flow: generation of an additional 20 million annually from 2024 above its current >200 million objective Sustainable Development: 100% of BIC packaging will be reusable, recyclable, or compostable BIC, a world leader in Stationery, Lighters and Shavers, is today hosting an Investor Update event in Paris from 2:00 p.m. CET, to deliver an interim update on its five-year Horizon Strategic Plan. Management will provide an overview of BICs pivot to growth, which has been underpinned by new internal capabilities developed since the launch of Horizon in late 2020. Horizon brings together a set of interconnected initiatives that have resulted in BICs transformation into a business that is delivering accelerated growth, improved efficiency and generating robust cash flows. Based on the initial 5-year financial and operational objectives to 2025, BIC had demonstrated its ability to execute Horizon through its accomplishments to date.12 Accomplishments to date: Net Sales: increased by approx. 600 million (c) Free Cash Flow: generation of +200 million expected for the 5th successive year in 2023 Sustainable development: 70% of packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable (d) Funding profitable growth: approx. 370 million Capex and approx. 170 million M&A (e) Sustainable shareholder returns: 550 million (f) Gonzalve Bich, Chief Executive Officer, commented: I am proud of the progress made by our teams on meeting the Horizon Strategic plan objectives we set ourselves in November 2020. When we launched Horizon, we set out a new vision for BIC, one that harnesses the capabilities we have built to become a more consumer-centric company, without eroding the strong manufacturing and distribution-led competencies synonymous with BIC. With that in mind, we have built new commercial and operational capabilities and reduced complexity to increase efficiency and stay true to our vision. x As we look ahead to 2025, I see continued upside as these new initiatives unlock greater potential across the Group. Our teams have been driving sales growth with new go-to-market capacity globally, increased focus and investment. Our Revenue growth management and operations teams have been leading by a) growing value ahead of volume, behind price and mix, b) simplifying the portfolio and maximizing the value of our SKUs, c) improving our promotion effectiveness. Meanwhile, we are successfully leveraging our global supply chain to minimize our cost of production, ensure supply security and reduce lead time to shelf for our customers. By tapping into our deep data insights, we are maximizing our ability to innovate and create everyday essentials that bring simplicity and joy to people all over the world with our products. All of our actions are underpinned by our commitments toward Sustainability and the Groups resilience. To attend the Investor Update event, please register via the following link: https://investors.bic.com/en-us/investor-update-2023 The Investor Update will commence at 2:00 p.m. with physical demonstrations of the latest BIC innovations in Digital Writing and Expression, and Skin Creative, at the #Cloud Business Center, 10 bis, rue du 4 Septembre, 75002 Paris, France. The presentation will be published on BICs Investor Relations website at 2:00 p.m. Paris (CET) time. The Webcast will start at 3:00 p.m. Paris (CET) time: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/bic/20230911_1/ Investor Relations team investors.info@bicworld.com Kimberly Stewart Head of Investor Relations +33 6 37 01 42 68 kimberly.stewart@bicworld.com Isabelle de Segonzac Image 7, Press Relations contact +33 6 89 87 61 39 isegonzac@image7.fr 2023 AGENDA All dates are subject change 3rd Quarter and 9 Months 2023 Results October 25, 2023 (post market close) GLOSSARY Constant currency basis: constant currency figures are calculated by translating the current year figures at prior year monthly average exchange rates. constant currency figures are calculated by translating the current year figures at prior year monthly average exchange rates. Adjusted EBIT: adjusted means excluding normalized items. Adjusted EBIT margin: adjusted EBIT as a percentage of Net Sales. Free Cash Flow: net cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures (CAPEX). Free cash flow does not include acquisitions and proceeds from the sale of businesses DISCLAIMER A presentation related to this announcement is also available on the BIC website (www.bic.com). This press release includes certain statements that are forward-looking about our plans, strategies and objectives through to 2025, as well as statements with respect to net sales, adjusted EBIT growth, sustainable development objectives, market shares, cash conversion and shareholder returns. Such statements are based on managements current views and assumptions considered reasonable, but which are naturally subject to risks and contingencies generally beyond the control of BIC, and which may change at any time. These risks and contingencies may lead such statements to ultimately prove inaccurate and the actual results or performances to materially differ from those expressed or implied therein. The main risk factors are further developed in BICs Universal Registration Document which is filed with the French financial markets authority (AMF) on March 30, 2023 and is available on the website (www.bic.com). Investors are cautioned that although BIC believes that the information and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors and it is impossible for the Company to anticipate all factors that could affect such assumptions. Any information relating to past performance contained herein is not a guarantee of future performance. Nothing herein should be construed as an investment recommendation. About BIC A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationary, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox, and more. In 2022, BIC Net Sales were 2,233.9 million. The Company is listed on Euronext Paris, is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes, and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It has received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (previously Twitter), or YouTube. (a) See Disclaimer (b) At constant currency (c) Year-end 2020 to year-end 2022 (d) As of December 31, 2022 (e) Cumulated 2020 - 2023 estimates; (f) Shareholder Return = dividends + total share buybacks; full year 2020 to first half 2023 Attachment HIGHLIGHTS Novo admitted to ASX under the ticker NVO listing 37.5 million CDIs following successful completion of dual ASX:TSX listing. Novo's IPO was oversubscribed raising the maximum of A$7.5 million at A$0.20 per CDI, with strong support from local institutional and sophisticated investors. ASX listing opens up a more ready accessible Australian capital base to Novo, with greater access to liquidity and increased exposure to Australian institutional investors. Novo welcomes key investors First Sentier Investors Ltd, Lazarus Securities Partners Ltd and Harmanis Holdings Pty Ltd to its loyal shareholder base which includes De Grey Mining Limited (ASX:DEG), Heritage Capital Management (IMC Holdings), Liatam Mining Pty Ltd and Yandal Investments Pty Ltd. Novo owns a highly prospective 10,500 sq km Pilbara, Western Australia, exploration portfolio, with a strong focus on the Nunyerry and Balla Balla Projects - both located in the East Pilbara. Novo has a strong balance sheet with no debt, cash and marketable securities of A$51.75 million and is focused on executing its growth strategy aiming to identify and define deposits with +1 Moz development potential. Egina JV partner De Grey planning ~39,000 m of aircore, RC and diamond drilling to commence this month, with a primary focus on the Becher Project. Exploration programs also set to commence at Nunyerry North in September 2023, Balla Balla in Q4 2023 and at the Belltopper Gold Project (Victoria) in October 2023. Belltopper is located ~50 km south of Agnico Eagles Fosterville Gold Mine in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone (which zone has seen 60 Moz AU historical production). VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO, TSX: NVO, & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce the Company has successfully listed on the ASX, with trading in Novos securities having commenced on Monday, 11 September 2023 under the ticker NVO. Novos Initial ASX Public Offering (IPO) closed early and listing on the ASX followed completion of a A$7.5 million raise, before costs, through the issue of 37,500,000 shares (settled on the ASX in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests (or CDIs) at A$0.20 per CDI). The CDIs are issued in the ratio of 1 CDI for 1 Novo share. The IPO was led by Argonaut PCF. Novo is a leading Western Australian gold explorer which owns a 10,500 sq km Pilbara exploration portfolio and the Belltopper Gold Project in Victoria. The Company has a well-defined growth strategy of seeking to identify and define deposits with material development potential. Novos portfolio Includes key Pilbara, Western Australia, projects such as Becher, Nunyerry North and Balla Balla. Novo Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO Mike Spreadborough said this was an exciting milestone for Novo and the Company looks forward to continuing to deliver value to its new and existing shareholders through the ASX listing. We are delighted to be listed on the ASX and I would like to welcome all new shareholders to Novo, the future is very exciting. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the many people involved in getting us to this stage and acknowledge all the hard work that went into getting us ASX ready. The ASX listing is the logical next step for Novo and will facilitate our Australian growth plans, considering the local investor appetite for mining and exploration opportunities. We are focused on accelerating our exploration activities and seeking value accretive opportunities to grow long-term shareholder value. We have several exploration programs planned for the second half of 2023 and we look forward to getting boots on the ground and drill rigs spinning. We will be delivering regular updates as drilling progresses at Becher, Nunyerry North, Balla Balla and our Belltopper Project in Victoria. We also look forward to working with our Egina JV partner De Grey, as they take over all exploration efforts within the Egina JV, with a 39,000 m program set to commence at Becher in September. In June this year, De Grey agreed to invest up to A$25 million on exploration at the Companys Becher project and adjacent tenements within 4 years, to earn a 50% interest and form the Egina JV. De Grey also became Novos largest shareholder through a A$10 million cornerstone investment, with a ~10.3% shareholding (post ASX listing). De Grey is managing all exploration efforts at Becher and is set to commence drilling this month with a planned program of 39,000 m of aircore, RC and diamond drilling. At Nunyerry North, an initial 2,000 m RC drilling program is scheduled to commence in September 2023. At Balla Balla, a program of wide-spaced reconnaissance AC drilling is planned, while at East Pilbara, a 2,000m RC program in Q4 2023 will test recently identified intrusion relation targets. In Victoria, the Belltopper Project has a 2,000 m diamond program planned to commence in October 2023 to test key targets. Following the IPO capital raising, Novo has 342 million shares on issue (37.5 million of which currently take the form of CDIs on the ASX and with 304.5 million being shares on the TSX). At the IPO offer price of A$0.20, this implies a market capitalisation of ~ A$68.4 million (approximately C$60 million. Novo also currently has 6.5 million options and 30.5 million warrants on issue. The top 10 shareholders (including CDI holders) are as follows: Overall TSX/ASX Shareholding - Post IPO Rank Holder # of Securities % Holding 1 De Grey Mining Limited 35,273,786 10.3 2 Heritas Captial Management (Australia) - IMC 16,213,685 4.7 3 Liatam Mining Pty Ltd 12,820,512 3.7 4 Creasy Group Holdings 15,519,177 4.5 5 Citicorp Nominees Pty Ltd 10,550,000 3.1 6 Harmanis Holdings Pty Ltd 5,000,000 1.5 7 GBM Resources Ltd 4,037,872 1.2 8 Donald Smith Value Fund LP 3,594,500 1.1 9 SC Pilbara Gold Pty Ltd 3,382,550 1 10 M & G Munday 2,800,000 0.8 This announcement was authorised by Mike Spreadborough, Executive Co-Chairman. Contact Investors: Mike Spreadborough +61 419 329 987 mike.spreadborough@novoresources.com Media: Cameron Gilenko +61 466 984 953 cgilenko@citadelmagnus.com About Novo Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper Project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and Australian corporations law) including, without limitation, references to the Companys exploration growth strategy. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. Pune, India, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global 5G testing equipment market size was valued at USD 1.69 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 3.51 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their latest report titled "Global 5G Testing Equipment Market Forecast, 2023-2030." 5G testing equipment plays a crucial role in measuring and evaluating the infrastructure of 5G devices. The convenience of using 5G test equipment is enhanced by the growing availability of large data centers. Furthermore, the demand for 5G test equipment is expected to be driven by ongoing research and development efforts aimed at making 5G infrastructure more user-oriented and compliant with industry standards. Request a Sample PDF: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/5g-testing-equipment-market-104774 Key Industry Development June 2023: Keysight Technologies, Inc. launched PathWave Advanced Design System (ADS) 2024, which is capable of accelerating the 5G mmWave product development and testing by providing chip manufacturers with new millimeter wave, sub terahertz wave, and sub-THz frequency abilities. Key Takeaways 5G testing equipment market size in North America was USD 0.56 billion in 2022 Increased Adoption of Advanced Applications and IoT Connectivity Propels 5G Traffic Connectivity Propels 5G Traffic Rising Network Traffic and Expanding Applications Drove Market Amid Pandemic Wireless and RF Testing Segment to Witness Higher CAGR due to Increased Wireless Spectrum Usage Discover the Leading Players Featured in the Report: Companies leading the global 5G testing equipment market are Keysight Technologies (U.S.), Anritsu (Japan), VIAVI Solutions Inc. (U.S.), NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORP. (U.S.), TEKTRONIX, INC. (U.S.), Artiza Networks, Inc. (Japan), Mobileum (U.S.), Teradyne Inc. (U.S.), Spirent Communications (U.K.), EXFO Inc. (Canada). Report Scope & Segmentation Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 9.7% 2030 Value Projection USD 3.51 Billion Base Year 2022 5G Testing Equipment Market Size in 2022 USD 1.69 Billion Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 160 Segments covered Equipment Type, Application, End User and Geography Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/5g-testing-equipment-market-104774 Drivers and Restraints Rising Demand for Fast Mobile Communications Drives Growth in the 5G Market The demand for fast mobile communications has grown to ensure secure connectivity for connected devices. High-speed internet connectivity supports communication among large-scale IoT devices, and the adoption of advanced multimedia applications has increased 5G traffic. By the end of 2023, an estimated 438 million devices will be connected using 5G, as per Thales Group webinar, driving the market. However, the high cost of testing and technological complexities are expected to stifle 5G testing equipment market growth. Segmentation By Equipment Type Oscilloscope Signal Generator Spectrum Analyzer Network Analyzer Others (Power Analyzer, Logic Analyzer) By Application Lab Testing Performance Testing Wireless and RF Testing By End-User Telecom Equipment Manufacturers IDMs & ODMs Others (Telecom Service Providers) By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South America Regional Insights North America Dominates the Market Fueled by Extensive Infrastructure Deployment North America held a significant 5G testing equipment market share in 2022 due to widespread 5G infrastructure deployment and the presence of major network service providers. Early-stage implementations by telecom service providers and ongoing technological advancements contribute to the region's market dominance. Europe is poised to witness strong demand for 5G testing services due to the increasing need for higher data transfer speeds in residential and commercial settings. Quick Buy - 5G Testing Equipment Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/104774 Competitive Landscape Key Players Drive Growth through Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships Prominent 5G testing equipment players in the global market are focused on supporting a larger user base and facilitating network connectivity for multiple devices by transitioning to 5G connections. These companies strategically acquire small and local firms to expand their business presence. Additionally, mergers, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and significant investments in 5G technologies contribute to the increasing demand. FAQs How big is the 5G testing equipment market? The global 5G testing equipment market size was USD 1.69 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach USD 3.51 billion by 2030. How fast is the 5G testing equipment market growing? The global 5G testing equipment market will exhibit a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period, 2023-2030. About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Attachment Dublin, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Warehouse Automation Global Market Report 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global warehouse automation market has demonstrated remarkable growth, ascending from $17.32 billion in 2022 to $19.78 billion in 2023, with a compelling Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.2%. Forecasts indicate further expansion, with projections envisioning the market to soar to $33.59 billion by 2027, maintaining a robust CAGR of 14.2%. In-Depth Insights for Informed Strategies The warehouse automation market research report is a pivotal addition to an expansive collection of reports, offering comprehensive statistics and analysis. Covering global market size, regional distribution, competitor insights with market shares, intricate segmentation, trends, opportunities, and vital data, this report equips businesses with a comprehensive understanding of the current and future industry landscapes. Empowering Innovation through Research and Development A significant trend permeating the warehouse automation sector is the escalated focus on research and development. Industry players are increasingly investing in R&D facilities to foster the development of cutting-edge products, gaining a competitive edge by introducing technologically advanced solutions boasting enhanced operational capabilities. For instance, Honeywell International Inc., a prominent conglomerate, announced plans in November 2021 to establish an advanced R&D testing facility in the Czech Republic, specifically for Honeywell Intelligrated warehouse automation. This strategic move aligns with the burgeoning demand for secure, accurate supply chain technologies, facilitating the enhancement of efficiency, accuracy, and throughput within warehouses and distribution centers. Strategic Acquisition to Drive Innovation In a strategic acquisition in July 2021, Zebra Technologies acquired Fetch Robotics for $290 million. This initiative has significantly bolstered Zebra Technologies' enterprise asset intelligence vision and strengthened its presence in intelligent industrial automation. By embracing new methodologies to enhance workflows and empower customers in automated and data-driven environments, this acquisition has paved the way for the future of warehouse automation. Regional Dynamics and Future Prospects The warehouse automation market demonstrated its prominence in North America in 2022. Notably, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing region during the forecast period. The comprehensive report encapsulates regions like Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. E-commerce Surge Catalyzes Market Momentum The upsurge in e-commerce sales emerges as a driving force behind the warehouse automation market's growth. Retailers grappling with escalating order volumes and the demand for efficient last-mile deliveries are turning to warehouse automation as a competitive advantage. As e-commerce is projected to constitute 22% of global retail sales in 2023, an increase from 14.1% in 2019 according to the Robotic Business Review, the sector's growth holds immense potential. Prologis' study emphasizes that warehouse automation is expected to elevate e-commerce real estate sector revenues by 10% to 20% per square foot by 2021. This underscores the profound influence of the e-commerce sector on warehouse automation market growth. Comprehensive Market Scope and Value The warehouse automation market encompasses entities offering solutions for operational efficiency, productivity enhancement, labor cost reduction, and seamless warehouse processes. The market value includes not only the revenues from services provided but also the value of associated goods within the service offering. Unlocking Strategic Advantages with the Report Designed to offer a global outlook, the report is a critical asset for navigating the complex warehouse automation market. Armed with insights into the pandemic's repercussions, geopolitical disruptions, and impacts on agriculture, energy, and mineral commodity supply, businesses are empowered to strategize based on localized data and analysis. The report facilitates identifying growth segments, outperforming competitors using forecast data, understanding customer preferences through the latest market shares, and benchmarking performance. Critical Questions Addressed for Informed Decisions Delving into market characteristics, size, growth, segmentation, and regional distribution, the report uncovers competitive landscapes, market trends, and strategies. By answering essential questions about the most significant and rapidly expanding warehouse automation markets, their interplay with economies and demographics, and the driving forces of market evolution, the report offers an authoritative resource for making well-informed decisions. Navigating the Future of Warehouse Automation As the warehouse automation market forges ahead amidst challenges and opportunities, this report serves as an invaluable guide. Armed with insights, businesses can capitalize on growth prospects and proactively navigate the evolving landscape, gaining a competitive edge in this dynamic sector. Major players in the Warehouse Automation market are Daifuku Co. Ltd. Honeywell Intelligrated KUKA Group KNAPP Group Omron Corporation ABB Ltd Kardex Group SSI Schaefer AG Locus Robotics Dematic Group (Kion Group AG) Vanderlande Industries BV Godrej Consoveyo Logistics Automation Space Magnum Equipment Toyota Industries Yaskawa Electric Corp Inc WITRON Logistik + Informatik GmbH Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023 - 2027 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $19.78 billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2027 $33.59 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 14.2% Regions Covered Global For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qmxvab About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Gas Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023-2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The European gas market is expected to register a CAGR of over 2.5% during the forecast period. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the market in 2020. Presently, the market has reached pre-pandemic levels. Key Highlights Over the long term, factors such as the surge in demand for natural gas within countries, namely Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy, are expected to drive the market during the forecast period. On the other hand, the increasing benefits of renewables, and the region's plan to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, complemented by volatile natural gas prices, are expected to restrain the growth of the studied market. Nevertheless, technological improvements and increased natural gas production from numerous gas fields, such as the Groningen natural gas field, Snohvit gas field, and Troll oil and gas fields, are expected to create ample opportunities for the market players. Norway is expected to dominate the market due to its increasing natural gas production during the forecast period. Europe Gas Market Trends Utility Sector (i.e., Power Generation) Sector Expected to Dominate the Market Power generation uses a variety of sources ranging from fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil, to renewable sources, such as wind and solar. As of 2021, Europe generated around 23.7 % of its electricity from natural gas. The power generation mix is heavily skewed toward natural gas because of cheaper domestic fuel availability and vast reserves. Due to constraints in adding other conventional generation sources, viz., hydro, solar, and oil, its share in the mix has increased over the years. In 2021, electricity generated from oil, natural gas, and coal produced around 259.4 billion kWh of the total electricity generated, accounting for over 45% of the total electricity production across Germany. The growing number of natural gas-fired power plants in Germany will, in turn, showcase the utilization of natural gas within the country. Also, as of 2021, among the European countries, Belarus generated the most electricity from natural gas, accounting for 95.7%, followed by Malta, Italy, and the Netherlands. This shows that power generation through natural gas is predominant in Europe. In December 2021, Ansaldo Energia began construction works for a project that aimed at improving the efficiency of the EP Produzione combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) in Tavazzano and Montanaso in Italy's Lodi province. The new 800 MW CCGT unit is scheduled to get commissioned by November 2023. Owing to the above points, the utility sector is expected to dominate the European gas market during the forecast period. Norway Expected to Dominate the Market Norway has rich natural gas reserves. As of 2021, with 114.3 billion cubic meters, the country was its topmost producer. It has displaced Russia as the top supplier of NatGas to the EU as energy supply chains are rejiggered. By the end of the year 2022, natural gas demand across the country was expected to recover to its pre-crisis levels and increase slightly during the forecast period. It must be mentioned that in 2021, the country's natural gas consumption was around 4.3 billion cubic meters (bcm). To meet the demand and offset the production decline from maturing assets, investments in new gas fields are being undertaken by the operators in the North Sea. With more than 20 development wells associated with these projects, new project sanctions will directly impact increased drilling activity over the next three years. In November 2021, under the development plan, Norway's state-controlled Equinor was expected to turn the Oseberg field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf from primarily being an oil asset into a gas producer. Moreover, in July 2022, Eesti Gaas AS, an energy company in Estonia, signed an agreement to buy two terawatt-hours (TWh) of liquefied natural gas from Equinor. The deal cost is around USD 315.53 million. Owing to the above points, Norway is expected to dominate the European gas market during the forecast period. Europe Gas Market Competitor Analysis The European gas market is moderately fragmented. Some of the key players in the market (in no particular order) are BP PLC, Equinor ASA, TotalEnergies SE, Chevron Corporation, and Exxon Mobil Corporation. A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Chevron Corporation BP PLC TotalEnergies SE Exxon Mobil Corporation Equinor ASA NK Lukoil PAO Gazprom PJSC ADR Rosneft Oil Co. PJSC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fa4and About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Green and Bio Polyols Market Size and Share Analysis by Raw Material, Type, Application, End-Use - Global Industry Demand Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In 2022, the green and bio polyols market exhibited a revenue of USD 4.6 billion, and it is set to skyrocket at a compelling rate of 9.3% by the close of the decade, projecting a substantial valuation of USD 9.3 billion by 2030. This remarkable industry progress is largely attributed to the surging environmental consciousness and stringent governmental regulations aimed at curbing the utilization of petroleum-derived polyols. Furthermore, the escalating demand for versatile polyurethane (PU) and firm foams in both the construction and woodworking sectors is poised to magnify the global need for these eco-friendly chemicals. Among the diverse sectors, the woodworking category emerged as a frontrunner in 2022, generating USD 1,470 million in revenue, and it is poised to maintain its leading stance in the foreseeable future. Wooden articles are ubiquitous in households, automobiles, and packaging materials. The thriving construction industry, particularly the surge in house construction, has significantly elevated the demand for furniture, including beds. The projected urban migration of over 1.75 billion people by 2030 is anticipated to fuel construction activities, consequently amplifying the demand for foam used in furniture cushions and mattresses. Polyether polyols commanded a lion's share, exceeding 62%, in 2022, and this dominance is projected to persist. These polyols are derived from the catalysis of epoxides, finding extensive application in the production of flexible PU foam, soft foam, rigid foam, and molding foam products. Their widespread usage can be attributed to their ready availability and commendable structural integrity. A distinctive characteristic of polyether polyols is their molecular composition, comprising multiple hydroxyl groups and ether chains. Novel polypropylene glycol (PPG) variants possess an elevated main hydroxyl content of around 70%, showcasing heightened reactivity when combined with polyisocyanates. The North American green and bio polyols market took the lead, contributing a substantial USD 2,664 million in revenue during 2022, and this dominance is anticipated to persist. The region boasts a robust market for polyols owing to the escalating demand and their superior quality and performance attributes. Key industry players are actively championing the adoption of green and bio polyols as substitutes for petroleum-derived counterparts. This transition is particularly pronounced in the U.S., driven by increased investment in construction projects spanning corporate offices, resorts, residential buildings, outdoor recreational facilities, and retail spaces. Driven by burgeoning consumption of flexible PU foam and heightening environmental concerns, the demand for green and bio polyols is poised to sustain remarkable growth in the upcoming years. This trend underlines the industry's alignment with eco-friendly practices and its pivotal role in meeting the evolving market demands. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 170 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $4.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $9.3 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.3% Regions Covered Global Competitive Landscape List of Market Players and their Offerings Competitive Benchmarking of Key Players Product Benchmarking of Key Players Recent Strategic Developments Company Profiles BASF SE The Dow Chemical Company Cargill Incorporated Covestro AG Bayer AG Mitsui Chemicals Inc. Huntsman International LLC Emery Oleochemicals Arkema Synthesia Technology Novomer Inc. Koch Industries Inc. Johnson Controls International Plc Piedmont Chemical Industries PolyLabs Global Market Overview Market Volume, by Raw Material (2017-2030) Market Revenue, by Raw Material (2017-2030) Market Volume, by Type (2017-2030) Market Revenue, by Type (2017-2030) Market Volume, by Application (2017-2030) Market Revenue, by Application (2017-2030) Market Volume, by End-Use (2017-2030) Market Revenue, by End-Use (2017-2030) Market Volume, by Region (2017-2030) Market Revenue, by Region (2017-2030) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lrx124 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecom Logistics Canada continues to take big leaps in its mission to become an environmentally friendly logistics company. Ecom Logistics Canada recently announced an expansion of its electric fleet with the delivery of two additional brightdrop electric delivery vans. In addition, the company recently placed a large order for Tesla Semi trucks, which points to a larger commitment to transitioning its fleet of 500+ vehicles to electric. According to Luqman Ahmed, CEO of Ecom Logistics, This is a significant step towards achieving our goal of being a net zero emissions logistics company. By 2030, we aim to be a net zero emissions logistics company and these new electric delivery vehicles are an important part of that journey. Were thrilled to be leading the way in reducing Canadas transportation impact on the environment. The new electric delivery vans will be used in select cities in Canada, allowing Ecom Logistics to provide sustainable middle and last mile delivery solutions for businesses. In addition, the company is looking to install charging stations across its fleet locations to efficiently charge its electric vehicles. "Ecom Logistics Canada's bold leap towards environmental sustainability is a testament to our unwavering commitment to turning every logistical step into a stride for a cleaner planet." - Harmandeep Pannu, Fleet Manager at Ecom Logistics We invite all businesses who care about sustainability to support Ecom Logistics Canada in its mission to become a net zero emissions logistics company by 2030. About Ecom Logistics Ecom Logistics Canada is a leading logistics company that provides 3PL services for retailers, wholesalers, and businesses. With a fleet of 500+ vehicles and 250,000 sq ft warehousing and fulfillment space, they are committed to providing seamless fulfillment and delivery experiences for businesses across Canada. The company is currently expanding its electric delivery fleet to reduce its environmental impact. Contact: Aseem Saini aseem@ecomlogistics.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d7bcc84f-1349-437a-9c10-392d138c9555 Covina, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Automotive roof also called as top is the portion of automobile present on above the passenger compartment which help in protecting the occupants of vehicle from wind, sun, rain and other external elements. Growing industrialization and automotive sector has contributed in market growth. Rising purchase of vehicles due to high disposable income has given positive impact on target market growth. Further, growing demand for premium vehicles and advancement in automotive sector is expected to provide lucrative opportunities in Automotive Roof System market growth. Key Highlights: In May 2023, Gabriel India, an auto component manufacturer collaborated with a Netherland-based company Infalfa Roof System to develop sunroofs for car manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Hyundai, Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra in India. Gabriel and Inalfa invested Rs 170 crore for new manufacturing facility with name Inalfa Gabriel Sunroof Systems (IGSS) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Request Your Free Sample Now! https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/690 Key players in the automotive roof system market include, Webasto Group Magna International Inc Valmet Automotive Inc Inteva Products, LLC Covestro AG Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V. AAS Automotive s.r.o. CIE Automotive ALUPROF Aluminiumprofile GmbH Tata Group. Automotive Roof System market accounted for US$ 32.5 billion in 2022 and is estimated to be US$ 56.8 billion by 2032 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 5.4%. Automotive Roof System market is segmented based on Type, Material, Distribution Channel and Region. Market segmentation: By type, the global automotive roof system market is segmented into sunroof system, panorama roof system, solar roof system, multi-optional roof system, and convertible roof system. By material, the global automotive roof system market is segmented into steel, aluminum, polycarbonate, and others. Others material sub-segment is bifurcated into vinyl and canvas. By vehicle type, the global automotive roof system market is categorized into sedan, hatchback, and utility vehicle. By distribution channel, the global automotive roof system market is classified into aftermarket and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). By region, Europe automotive roof system market is expected to dominate in terms of revenue in the global automotive roof system t market over the forecast period. This can be attributed to rising demand for passenger vehicles and inclination towards luxurious lifestyle in European countries. North America automotive roof system market is expected to account for second-highest share in terms of revenue in the global automotive roof system market in the near future. Download Full Market Research Report@ https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/690 Analyst View: Rising disposable income coupled with increased purchasing power of an individual has given rise in sale of vehicles such as cars and others which in turn has fueled the demand for market growth. Growing investment in lightweight vehicles and increased focus on innovative automotive components is anticipated to boost the demand for Automotive Roof System market growth over the forecast period. Automotive Roof System Market: Challenges and Opportunities Challenges: Weight and Fuel Efficiency: Meeting stringent fuel efficiency standards while incorporating larger and heavier panoramic roofs and convertible systems presents engineering challenges. Cost Constraints: Developing advanced roof systems with innovative features can be costly, and automakers must balance innovation with cost-effectiveness. Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to safety regulations and emissions standards, especially when incorporating sunroofs and panoramic roofs, adds complexity and cost to roof system design. Consumer Preferences: Rapidly changing consumer preferences for roof types (e.g., sunroof, moon roof, and panoramic roof) require automakers to offer a variety of options, which can be logistically challenging. Opportunities: Advanced Materials: Advancements in lightweight materials like carbon fiber and polycarbonates offer opportunities to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency. Smart Roof Systems: Integration of smart technologies, such as electro chromic glass and solar panels, provides opportunities for energy generation and enhanced user experiences. Electric and Autonomous Vehicles: The rise of electric and autonomous vehicles creates opportunities for innovative roof designs that cater to the unique needs of these vehicles. Customization: Offering customizable roof options allows automakers to meet diverse consumer preferences, contributing to brand differentiation. Emerging Markets: Expanding into emerging markets with growing automotive industries offers substantial growth potential for roof system manufacturers. Automotive Roof System Market: FAQs 1. What are the different types of automotive roof systems? Automotive roof systems include sunroofs, moon roofs, panoramic roofs, and convertible roofs, each with its own features and functionality. 2. How do roof systems impact vehicle safety? Roof systems must comply with safety standards, and advanced materials and designs contribute to the structural integrity of vehicles in case of accidents. 3. Are electric vehicles (EVs) driving innovation in roof systems? Yes, EVs often incorporate solar roofs for supplementary power generation, and innovative roof designs can enhance the overall efficiency of EVs. 4. What is the role of smart technology in automotive roof systems? Smart roof systems can include features like electrochromic glass that adjusts transparency, as well as solar panels that contribute to vehicle power supply. 5. How are automotive roof systems evolving with autonomous vehicles? Roof systems in autonomous vehicles may integrate sensors, cameras, and communication equipment while providing enhanced passenger experiences, as occupants may no longer need to focus on driving. 6. What are the environmental considerations in roof system design? Manufacturers are exploring sustainable materials and designs to reduce the environmental impact of roof systems, such as using recyclable materials and minimizing waste during production. 7. How do automakers balance cost and innovation in roof system design? Automakers strive to offer innovative roof features while maintaining affordability, often by offering different roof options at various trim levels. 8. Are there opportunities for roof system customization by consumers? Yes, some automakers offer customization options, allowing consumers to choose their preferred roof type, color, and features to personalize their vehicles. These FAQs provide insights into the automotive roof system market, addressing common questions about types, safety, technology, and sustainability in roof system design and manufacturing. About us: Prophecy Market Insights is specialized market research, marketing/business strategy, analytics, and solutions that offer strategic support to clients for making well-informed business decisions and identifying and achieving high-value opportunities in the target business area. We also help our clients to address business challenges and provide the best possible solutions to overcome transform and advance their businesses with growth. Related Reports: Automotive Brake Systems Market worth US$ 27.81 billion 2019 with a CAGR of 3.70% Automotive Adhesive Tape Market worth US$ 6.5 billion 2023 with a CAGR of 4.90% Automotive Switch Market worth US$ 28.8 billion 2019 with a CAGR of 9.00% Blog: www.prophecyjournals.com Follow us on: NASHVILLE, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, September 6, U.S. Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Annual Americas Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) 44th annual conference. The SBA administers the network of Small Business Development Centers which provide entrepreneurs with counseling, training, and resources to help small business communities thrive throughout the country. At the conference, Administrator Guzman participated in a fireside chat with Americas SBDC President & CEO Tee Rowe and Board of Directors Chair Linda Rossi, where she discussed how the SBA is building upon its support for small businesses by expanding its capital access programs and resource networks, including SBDCs and associated initiatives. She also discussed how President Bidens Investing in America agenda is delivering record-low unemployment rates, a small business boom, and soaring job creation. Americas SBDCs offer in-depth courses and networking opportunities, many geared toward underserved communities including Black, Hispanic, AAPI, veteran, woman, and rural small business owners. The SBDC network includes nearly 1,000 local centers that offer in-depth training and networking opportunities, as well as help small businesses connect with SBA resources along with SCORE, Women's Business Centers (WBCs), and Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs). President Bidens first 31 months in office have been the greatest period for new small business growth in American history, with 13.1 million new business applications nationwide. During that same time, private companies have committed $1 billion in investments across the state, creating good-paying jobs that will boost U.S. competitiveness, rebuild infrastructure, strengthen supply chains, and help build a clean energy economy. For follow-up interview requests for Administrator Guzman, please contact Rebecca Galanti at rebecca.galanti@sba.gov. ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. Wexford, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wexford, Michigan - Cadillac, Michigan - Classic Car Deals, a renowned name in the classic car industry, is thrilled to share a glowing customer review that epitomizes the company's commitment to providing exceptional and transparent service. Deb Hunter, a classic car owner and recent client, applauded the customer service she received, emphasizing her newfound trust in the company for future dealings. Earning Customer Trust in a Skeptical World is at the center of Classic Car Deals business model. When Deb Hunter approached Classic Car Deals to sell her classic car, she was initially skeptical and hesitant. "I was concerned I would get the 'short end of the stick,'" she admits. This sentiment is not uncommon in the industry, where people often worry about the complexity of details, from appraisals to paperwork and beyond. However, Deb's experience with Classic Car Deals has completely transformed her perspective. "I want to say, they were outstanding. I have not had that positive of customer service in years," she declared. Deb's satisfaction was, in no small part, due to her interaction with Pam, a team member at Classic Car Deals. According to Deb, "Pam is a Rockstarshe communicated well, handled all the details, price, shipping, title, transport of the car, wired money to me right away." Classic Car Deals prides itself on its team of professionals who go the extra mile to ensure that every client receives individualized attention and service that exceeds expectations. Pam is just one example of how the company's commitment to customer satisfaction permeates its staff. Deb's review also emphasized the company's efficiency and transparency, which turned her initial skepticism into lasting trust. "I have more classic cars I hope to work with them to sellnow that I feel comfortable with them," she stated. Classic Car Deals understands that selling a classic car is not merely a transaction; its a significant emotional and financial decision. The company aims to simplify this process, making it as seamless and transparent as possible. The company sees Debs testimonial as more than just a pat on the back; it motivates them to continue setting the industry standard for exceptional service. "We're incredibly grateful for Debs kind words, but were even more excited that she is looking forward to future dealings with us," says John Beebe, CEO of Classic Car Deals. "We're not just in the business of selling classic cars; were building long-term relationships." Classic Car Deals urges anyone who shares Debs initial hesitations to allow them to turn doubt into trust and transactions into relationships. See more Classic Car Deals testimonials. Classic Car Deals offers consignment services for collectors who are looking to sell their vehicle with a trusted and respected platform. From hot rods, muscle cars, classic SUVs and 4X4s, up to exotic cars like Lamborghinis and Ferraris. Classic Car Deals is an online platform that gives power to the buyers and sellers. With a high focus on customer service, CEO John Beebe had this to say, Classic Car Deals is committed to delivering an exceptional old school customer service feel, in a high tech and modern platform. Our company believes in being able to talk to someone on the phone if you have questions, or via email if that best suits a persons needs.Point is that at Classic Car Deals, we care about people and cars, and in that order. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5ikA7ICTRg For more information on how Classic Car Deals can assist in buying or selling classic cars, visit classiccardeals.com to learn more. ### For more information about Classic Car Deals, contact the company here: Classic Car Deals 7196 34 Rd Cadillac, Michigan 49601 WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A coalition of global organizations announced the launch of a campaign dedicated to ending the Azerbaijani blockade of the Armenian territory Artsakh, and ending the genocide of 120,000 Armenians who have been trapped in their own country for more than 260 days without the ability to access food, fuel, medicine and other life-saving necessities. These prominent organizations unite under the banner "120,000 Reasons" to signal to President Joseph Biden and the U.S. Congress that immediate action is needed to end this genocide, allow the delivery of life-sustaining relief and allow Armenians unencumbered access to their country. Without these actions, America could standby and allow the death and displacement of 120,000 Armenian Christians. On Capitol Hill, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress convened a pivotal hearing to address the genocide perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the ethnic Armenians in Artsakh. The ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia, which began in December 2022, has severed access by approximately 120,000 Armenian residents in Artsakh to essential goods; including food, electricity, life-saving medication and healthcare. Testifying was former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo. Normally people believe Genocide requires many persons dying via killings or gas chamber. There are different forms of Genocide. One requires zero victims. Genocide under article II c) requires just creating the conditions to destroy the people . . .. Blocking the Lachin Corridor with the life system for the Nagorno-Karabakh people are exactly the conditions, stated Luis Moreno Ocampo. Any U.S. assistance to President Aliyev and Azerbaijan to enable or facilitate the blockade of the Lachin Corridor or other forms of genocide could be considered complicity in genocide. Caption: The hearing was live-streamed via the Commission website . Featuring Luis Moreno Ocampo explaining the conditions of genocide according the Genocide Convention. On Friday, September 1st, hundreds marched in Washington in solidarity with the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Artsakh suffering from the Azeri blockade. The march, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, started near the Marriott Renaissance D.C. Hotel and ended in front of the White House, where multiple speakers demanded that President Joe Biden honor his commitment to speaking out against and stopping atrocities, and help prevent another genocide from occuring to the Armenian people. Caption: Photo taken from The Armenian Youth Federations protest in front of the White House demanding action from President Biden. The 120,000 Reasons campaign stands as a formidable alliance composed of The Armenian National Committee of America , The Armenian Assembly of America and The Philos Project. These organizations stand united by a steadfast commitment to champion human rights at the forefront of foreign policy and call on President Biden to honor his commitment to impose security measures and sanctions on Azerbaijan and to put a stop to the ethnic cleansing. Said James Tufenkian, Founder of 120,000 Reasons. The Philos Project is proud to stand with our coalition partners in condemning Azerbaijans blockade and starvation of the 120,000 Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh, said Robert Nicholson, the President and Executive Director of the Philos Project. We call on Christian leaders across the United States to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters and to call for the harshest possible condemnation of Azerbaijan from President Biden. The Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million innocent Christians during the Armenian Genocide. It is our duty as Christians and Americans to ensure that Azerbaijan does not finish the job. For nearly a year now, the Lachin Corridor has been illegally blocked by Azerbaijan, depriving the Armenian people of essential supplies, from medication to food and more. This man-made humanitarian crisis in Artsakh is part of a larger campaign to eradicate the Armenian people, Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America. As Armenian organizations throughout the U.S. unite to raise awareness with policy makers in Washington, DC, we continue to sound the alarm about the specter of another Armenian Genocide and the dire situation on the ground in Artsakh that has resulted in senseless deaths due to the Azerbaijani blockade. There are today 120,000 living, breathing reasons that Americans of all faiths and backgrounds are coming together to break Azerbaijans genocidal, nine-month-long blockade of Artsakhs indigenous Christian Armenians, said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of Armenian National Committee of America. The Biden-Harris Administration must be held accountable for its total failure of leadership abandoning at-risk Christians to appease an oil-rich dictatorship. The coalition is on a constant growth trajectory and welcomes organizations to join as campaign partners. Organizations interested in collaborating are encouraged to reach out via email at 1200000reasons@nahigianstrategies.com or visit https://www.120000reasons.org/ . About the Armenian Assembly of America The Armenian Assembly of America, founded in 1972, is the leading non-partisan Armenian-American advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The Armenian Assembly has been instrumental in raising public awareness of Armenian issues, promoting greater Armenian-American engagement in the U.S. democratic process and providing humanitarian support and development programs in Armenia and Artsakh. To learn more: https://www.armenian-assembly.org/artsakhblockade . About The Armenian National Committee of America The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization, dedicated to raising awareness for a free and independent Armenia, influencing U.S. policy on Armenian American concerns and representing the collective Armenian American viewpoint to elected officials. Learn more at anca.org/blockade . About The Philos Project The Philos Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting positive engagement between Christians and the Middle East. Through various initiatives, including educational programs, advocacy efforts and partnerships, the Philos Project seeks to build bridges of understanding, facilitate interfaith dialogue, and advocate for the protection of religious minorities, ultimately striving to contribute to a more peaceful and inclusive Middle East. Learn more at https://philosproject.org/savearmenia/ . Contact: Press@120000Reasons.org Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9bd8a40-d53e-45f5-a451-a3f88a972b5f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ba1cab6-4686-40e8-9856-240b10bc6717 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ab84b40-a493-436c-b933-07cbc42ddacc A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6907428-ef46-4691-824d-e9b4700ad3a0 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COLLECTIVE METALS INC. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) (the Company or Collective) is pleased to announce that it has received assay results from its initial Rock Sampling Program (the Program) that was completed as part of its due diligence evaluation of the Princeton Copper Project (the Project) in Spring of 2023. The Program emphasized locating, examining, and, in most cases, sampling exposures, roadcuts, caved trenches or outcrops associated with previously identified copper mineral occurrences. Most of the occurrences that were examined are located adjacent to logging roads and were accessed by truck. Several traverses were undertaken to access historic copper mineral showings at Lamont Ridge Wilmac and Trojan occurrences. Highlights Three samples that were collected from outcrop samples returned copper grades that range from 0.3% to 0.5%. The highest-grade sample was taken from the Trojan copper showing that occurs within the Trojan Condor Corridor (Figures 1 to 3). Nineteen samples collected during the 2023 program contain anomalous Copper with assay results that returned more than 100 ppm (Figures 2 and 3). Field observations and geochemical analysis of the 2023 results confirm presence of altered diorites that are known to host copper mineralization in the Copper Mountain Mine. The Companys 2023 field exploration program is progressing well with results of reconnaissance soil sampling program expected in the coming weeks. Christopher Huggins, Chief Executive Officer of Collective, commented, One of the difficulties hindering evaluation of copper mineralization on the Property is the lack of bedrock outcrops. Despite this, assay results from the minimal rock outcrops that are available in the Property are comparable to head grades of copper mines in British Columbia. We are very happy with these results that provide valuable insights into the geology of the Property. Figure 1 Map showing location of the Project. Figure 2 Map showing copper results from the 2023 outcrop samples in the northern half of the Project. Figure 3 Map showing copper results from the 2023 outcrop samples in the southern half of the Project. Princeton Copper Project The Companys flagship Project is easily accessible by road and is located immediately west of Highway 3 south of Princeton, BC, in a well-established mining district with excellent infrastructure, a local workforce and support services. The Project hosts potential for identification of one (or more) copper gold alkalic porphyry occurrences similar in age and deposit type to the Copper Mountain Mine. The Project is also approximately 10 km west of Hudbay Minerals Incs currently producing Copper Mountain Mine, which hosts a Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve of 702 Mt of 0.24% Copper1. Qualified Person This news release has been reviewed and approved by Rick Walker, P. Geo., who is acting as the Companys Qualified Person for the Princeton Property project, in accordance with regulations under NI 43-101. The information disclosed is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Princeton Project. References 1 Copper Mountain Mine Life of Mine Plan and 65Kt/D Expansion Study Update NI 43-101 Report, Richard Klue, VP Technical Services, CMMC; Patrick Redmond, VP Exploration and Geoscience, CMMC; Luis Alberto Chang, VP Mining, CMMC; Berge Simonian, Director of Metallurgy, CMMC; Amaru Humala, Director of Mechanical Engineering, CMMC Scott Weston, VP Business Development and Strategy, Ausenco; August 1, 2022. About Collective Metals: Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) is a resource exploration company specializing in precious metals exploration in North America. The Companys flagship property is the Princeton Project, located in south-central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 10 km west of the currently producing Copper Mountain Mine. The Princeton Project consists of 29 mineral tenures totaling approximately 28,560 ha (70,570 acres) in a well-documented and prolific copper-gold porphyry belt and is easily accessible by road, located immediately west of Highway 3. The Companys Landings Lake Lithium Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of Li 2 O. The Landings Lake Lithium Project is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario and covers 3,146 hectares. The Whitemud Project, with several identified pegmatite outcrops, neighbours the Landings Lake Project and consists of 381 single cell mining claims totaling 7,775 hectares. Social Media ON BEHALF OF COLLECTIVE METALS INC. Christopher Huggins Chief Executive Officer T: 604-968-4844 E: chris@collectivemetalsinc.com Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: mineralization potential of the Project based on the results of the Program. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e65b8af-cef3-4b31-8056-ca248d1ebcd0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a609818-1e8d-47e0-a09b-538e0e666e2e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ae08b99-79c0-483d-9c8d-b98260999bf4 NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE) between February 28, 2019 and August 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important October 23, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Hawaiian Electric 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 Hawaiian Electric class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18336 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 October 23, 2023. 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 litigate 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 firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Hawaiian Electrics wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed; (2) accordingly, despite knowing the degree of risk that wildfires posed to Maui, the Companys inadequate safety protocols and procedures placed Maui at a heightened risk of devastating wildfires; and (3) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Hawaiian Electric class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18336 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com 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 investors 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 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Vancouver, September 11, 2023 - Radius Gold Inc. (TSXV:RDU) ("Radius" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling at its Tropico Project located in the Fresnillo mining district in Zacatecas, Mexico. In the past few months, the Company has defined targets and completed all preparations to commence drilling on this compelling epithermal gold-silver system. Highlights Tropico is a gold mineralized "hot spring type" sinter and breccia pipe system Radius plans a 2000m drill program Targeting a Fresnillo-style high grade precious metal mineralized system at depth below an outcropping sinter and breccia pipe Also targeting bulk minable, near surface gold mineralization hosted within the outcropping 450m x 200m breccia pipe Tropico target has never been explored or drill-tested by another operator President & CEO Bruce Smith commented: "The Radius team is excited to have drilling underway at Tropico. We have been chasing this target for several years and now we can finally drill-test it. Fresnillo is one of the world's greatest epithermal systems and to have optioned a gold bearing sinter and breccia pipe target within this district that has not yet been drill tested is remarkable." About the Tropico Target The Tropico target is defined by surface mapping and geochemical sampling outlining a sinter and silicified breccia pipe with a strong gold mercury arsenic antimony geochemical signature (see news release, March 21, 2023). The Tropico gold system is roughly oval shaped, 450m long by 250m wide orientated NNE. A CSAMT survey defined a coherent resistive feature that precisely matched the surface geology, defining a robust pipe shaped target that starts at surface directly below the outcropping silicification and extends to 800m depth at the maximum extent of the survey (Figure 1). The resistive target is approximately 10 times more resistant than adjacent host rocks (see news release, June 7, 2023). Figure 1: Drill Targeting Sketch Click Image To View Full Size Location The Tropico target is located 30 km northwest of Fresnillo city, Zacatecas, Mexico (Figure 2). The Fresnillo mining district is one of the world's most productive epithermal systems and hosts the world's oldest continuously operating mines producing silver, gold, copper, lead, and zinc for approximately five centuries, since 1554. Figure 2: Location Map Click Image To View Full Size The district hosts over 150 veins, mantos and chimney deposits including +30 large scale ore producers and it continues to deliver more recent discoveries that include the multi-million ounce silver and gold producer, Juanicipio Project, a joint venture between MAG Silver and Fresnillo Plc. Radius entered into an option agreement with local claim owners to acquire 100% of the property in March 2023 (see news release, March 21, 2023). Technical Information Bruce Smith, M.Sc. (Geology), a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, is Radius' Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Smith has 28 years of mineral exploration experience and has prepared and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Radius Gold Inc. Radius has a portfolio of projects located in Mexico and Guatemala which it continues to advance, utilizing partnerships where appropriate in order to retain the Company's treasury. At the same time, management is seeking out additional investment and project acquisition opportunities across the globe. Radius is a member of the Gold Group of companies, led by Simon Ridgway. You may find more information on Radius Gold at www.radiusgold.com or www.sedarplus.ca. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Bruce Smith President and CEO Symbol: TSXV-RDU Contact: Bruce Smith 200 Burrard Street, Suite 650 Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6 Tel: 604-801-5432; Toll free 1-888-627-9378; Fax: 604-662-8829 Email: info@goldgroup.com Website: www.radiusgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward- looking statements and include, without limitation, statements about the results of exploration work and future plans at the Company's projects. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. 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 results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, whether the planned exploration work at the Company's projects will proceed as intended; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the Company's stated goals and the planned exploration and development activities at its properties will be achieved; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. 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, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, Sept. 11, 2023 - Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) (the "Company" or "Collective") is pleased to announce that it has received assay results from its initial Rock Sampling Program (the "Program") that was completed as part of its due diligence evaluation of the Princeton Copper Project (the "Project") in Spring of 2023. The Program emphasized locating, examining, and, in most cases, sampling exposures, roadcuts, caved trenches or outcrops associated with previously identified copper mineral occurrences. Most of the occurrences that were examined are located adjacent to logging roads and were accessed by truck. Several traverses were undertaken to access historic copper mineral showings at Lamont Ridge - Wilmac and Trojan occurrences. Highlights Three samples that were collected from outcrop samples returned copper grades that range from 0.3% to 0.5%. The highest-grade sample was taken from the Trojan copper showing that occurs within the Trojan - Condor Corridor (Figures 1 to 3). Nineteen samples collected during the 2023 program contain anomalous Copper with assay results that returned more than 100 ppm (Figures 2 and 3). Field observations and geochemical analysis of the 2023 results confirm presence of altered diorites that are known to host copper mineralization in the Copper Mountain Mine. The Company's 2023 field exploration program is progressing well with results of reconnaissance soil sampling program expected in the coming weeks. Christopher Huggins, Chief Executive Officer of Collective, commented, "One of the difficulties hindering evaluation of copper mineralization on the Property is the lack of bedrock outcrops. Despite this, assay results from the minimal rock outcrops that are available in the Property are comparable to head grades of copper mines in British Columbia. We are very happy with these results that provide valuable insights into the geology of the Property." Figure 1 - Map showing location of the Project. Figure 2 - Map showing copper results from the 2023 outcrop samples in the northern half of the Project. Figure 3 - Map showing copper results from the 2023 outcrop samples in the southern half of the Project. Princeton Copper Project The Company's flagship Project is easily accessible by road and is located immediately west of Highway 3 south of Princeton, BC, in a well-established mining district with excellent infrastructure, a local workforce and support services. The Project hosts potential for identification of one (or more) copper gold alkalic porphyry occurrences similar in age and deposit type to the Copper Mountain Mine. The Project is also approximately 10 km west of Hudbay Minerals Inc's currently producing Copper Mountain Mine, which hosts a Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve of 702 Mt of 0.24% Copper1. Qualified Person This news release has been reviewed and approved by Rick Walker, P. Geo., who is acting as the Company's Qualified Person for the Princeton Property project, in accordance with regulations under NI 43-101. The information disclosed is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Princeton Project. References 1 - Copper Mountain Mine Life of Mine Plan and 65Kt/D Expansion Study Update NI 43-101 Report, Richard Klue, VP Technical Services, CMMC; Patrick Redmond, VP Exploration and Geoscience, CMMC; Luis Alberto Chang, VP Mining, CMMC; Berge Simonian, Director of Metallurgy, CMMC; Amaru Humala, Director of Mechanical Engineering, CMMC Scott Weston, VP Business Development and Strategy, Ausenco; August 1, 2022. About Collective Metals: Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) is a resource exploration company specializing in precious metals exploration in North America. The Company's flagship property is the Princeton Project, located in south-central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 10 km west of the currently producing Copper Mountain Mine. The Princeton Project consists of 29 mineral tenures totaling approximately 28,560 ha (70,570 acres) in a well-documented and prolific copper-gold porphyry belt and is easily accessible by road, located immediately west of Highway 3. The Company's Landings Lake Lithium Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of Li 2 O. The Landings Lake Lithium Project is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario and covers 3,146 hectares. The Whitemud Project, with several identified pegmatite outcrops, neighbours the Landings Lake Project and consists of 381 single cell mining claims totaling 7,775 hectares. Social Media ON BEHALF OF Collective Metals Inc. Christopher Huggins Chief Executive Officer T: 604-968-4844 E: chris@collectivemetalsinc.com Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: mineralization potential of the Project based on the results of the Program. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e65b8af-cef3-4b31-8056-ca248d1ebcd0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a609818-1e8d-47e0-a09b-538e0e666e2e https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8ae08b99-79c0-483d-9c8d-b98260999bf4 Saguenay, September 11, 2023 - First Phosphate Corp. (CSE: PHOS) (FSE: KD0) ("First Phosphate" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has filed on SEDAR+ its Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") on the Lac a l'Orignal Property (the "Property" or the "Project") located 84 km northeast of Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. First Phosphate acquired and negotiated a 100% royalty free interest in the Property in 2022. The PEA provides a viable case for developing the Property by open pit mining for the primary production of a phosphate concentrate and secondary recovery of magnetite and ilmenite concentrates. The PEA is considered by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. to meet the requirements as defined in Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. This PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be classified as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that First Phosphate will be successful in obtaining any or all of the requisite consents, permits or approvals, regulatory or otherwise, for the project to be placed into production. The PEA has an effective date of July 25, 2023, and the report is dated September 11, 2023. The results of the PEA were previously reported in the Company's news release dated July 26, 2023, and there are no differences in the PEA Technical Report from those results. The PEA Technical Report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Of The Lac A L'orignal Phosphate Property, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Northern Quebec" can be found on SEDAR+ (http://www.sedarplus.ca/) and the Company's website at www.FirstPhosphate.com. The PEA was led by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. with contributions from Knight Piesold Ltd. and Lamont Inc. Qualified Persons The Qualified Persons responsible for sections of the PEA Technical Report are as follows: Antoine Yassa, P.Geo. (P&E Mining Consultants Inc.), Author 4-12, 14, 23 Co-Author 1, 25-27 Danielle Demers, P.Eng. (Knight Piesold Ltd.) Co-Author 1, 16, 25-27 Jessica Breault, P.Eng. (Knight Piesold Ltd.) Co-Author 1, 18, 21, 25-27 Ann Lamontagne, P.Eng. (Lamont Inc.) Author 20 Co-Author 1, 25-27 Ken Kuchling, P.Eng. (P&E Mining Consultants Inc.) Author 15 Co-Author 1, 16, 21, 25-27 D. Grant Feasby, P.Eng. (P&E Mining Consultants Inc.) Author 13, 17 Co-Author 1, 21, 25-27 Andrew Bradfield, P.Eng. (P&E Mining Consultants Inc.) Author 22, 24 Co-Author 1, 21, 25-27 Eugene Puritch, P.Eng. (P&E Mining Consultants Inc.) Author 2, 3, 19 Co-Author 1, 18, 25-27 The scientific and technical disclosure for First Phosphate included in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gilles Laverdiere, P.Geo. Mr. Laverdiere is Chief Geologist of First Phosphate and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About P&E Mining Consultants Inc. P&E Mining Consultants Inc., an associate group of twenty (20) professionals established in 2004, provides geological and mine engineering consulting reports, Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates, NI 43-101 Technical Reports, Preliminary Economic Assessments, Pre-Feasibility and Feasibility Studies. About First Phosphate Corp. First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate ("LFP") battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in responsible manner and with low anticipated carbon footprint. First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source. First Phosphate holds over 1,500 sq. km of royalty-free district-scale land claims in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean Region of Quebec, Canada that it is actively developing. First Phosphate properties consist of rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that generally yields high purity phosphate material devoid of high concentrations of harmful elements. For additional information, please contact: Bennett Kurtz, CFO and CAO bennett@firstphosphate.com Tel: +1 (416) 200-0657 Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com Media Relations: media@firstphosphate.com Website: www.FirstPhosphate.com Follow First Phosphate: Twitter: https://twitter.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate -30- Forward-Looking Information and Cautionary Statements Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: the Company's commitment to producing high purity phosphate materials under a low carbon footprint; the Company's plans to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's proposed development of its land claims in the Saguenay Region; and timelines, methods, and plans for the Company's next steps for Property as stated, including open pit mining. Forward-looking information in this press release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's ability to producing high purity phosphate materials under a low carbon footprint; the Company's ability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's ability to develop its land claims in the Saguenay Region; and the ability of Company to carry out its goals under the stated timelines, methods, and plans for Property. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the Company's inability to produce high purity phosphate materials under a low carbon footprint; the Company's inability to integrate directly into the functions of certain major North American LFP Battery producers; the Company's inability to develop its land claims in the Saguenay Region; and the inability of Company to carry out its goals for the Property under the stated timelines, methods, and plans. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180260 SPEED READ: Illinois is the first state to legalize marijuana sales through the legislative process and the 11th to allow recreational use. The new law will provide financial aid to minorities in the marijuana industry. The large majority of marijuana business owners is white. The legislation could result in expungements for more than 750,000 people. What's in the Illinois Marijuana Law? The Legal Marijuana Landscape The legalization of marijuana has ushered in a booming industry now worth more than $10 billion and employing a quarter-million people in the U.S. For racial minorities, however, the world of legal weed presents hurdles.Though marijuana-related arrests have dropped notably overall, black people are still arrested at disproportionately high rates. In Washington, D.C., for example, blacks were arrested for possession at a rate of 8 per 100,000 people in 2016, compared to whites arrested at a rate of 2 per 100,000, according to the Drug Policy Alliance.When it comes to marijuana businesses, minorities are underrepresented -- 81 percent of owners and founders are white, according to 2017 data fromIllinois is aiming to tackle these inequalities.Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill on Tuesday that makes Illinois the first state to legalize marijuana sales through the legislative process and the 11th state to allow recreational use of the drug. (Vermonts legislature legalized recreational cannabis in 2018 but stopped short of approving its sale.) In contrast to their predecessors in other states, Illinois lawmakers created one of the most far-reaching legalization bills in the country. Unlike other states' legalization laws, Illinois' legislation explicitly seeks to make it easier for people of color to benefit from the booming marijuana industry.We are taking a major step forward to legalize adult use [of] cannabis and to celebrate the fact that Illinois is going to have the most equity-centric law in the nation, Pritzker said during a press conference in May. For the many individuals and families whose lives have been changed -- indeed hurt -- because the nations war on drugs discriminated against people of color, this day belongs to you."Under the new law, the statewill provide financial assistance to minorities interested in the marijuana industry. Through the Cannabis Business Development Fund, Illinois will help lower licensing fees for and provide low-interest business loans to minority entrepreneurs. The bill allocates $12 million to the fund as well as a portion of the fees charged for marijuana licenses.A person pursuing one of these businesses cannot get a traditional bank loan, says Edie Moore, executive director of the Chicago branch of NORML, a marijuana legalization advocacy group that worked with Illinois lawmakers on the legislation. If you cant get a business loan or you dont have a rich uncle or an inheritance, then you are just locked out.In addition to financial support, the law will establish marijuana job training programs at community colleges. Courses will cover a range of topics -- from growing cannabis plants to establishing business best practices. Up to eight schools will roll out these programs by September 2020, five of which must have a student population that is more than 50 percent low-income.Other jurisdictions around the country, including Denver, Los Angeles and Massachusetts, are establishing social equity programs to support minority-operated marijuana businesses. Some have run into challenges . Unlike Illinois, these efforts have taken place after the states legalized recreational use.Amid this equity push, there's also a growing movement to expunge criminal records for low-level marijuana offenses. California, Colorado, Maryland, New Hampshire and Oregon, among other states, have made it easier for past offenders to have their sentences reduced or their records cleared. Illinois new law will follow this trend and could result in expungements for more than 750,000 people.Furthermore, 25 percent of the marijuana sales tax revenue and other fees will be used to create a Restore, Reinvest and Renew program that will award grants to help revitalize and address violence in communities affected by the war on drugs.With the addition of Illinois, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana use -- mostly through ballot measures. Most recently, Michigan voters approved a legalization initiative last year.Legalization ballot measures are brewing for 2019 or 2020 in Arizona, Florida and Ohio. New York and New Jersey lawmakers had appeared likely to legalize recreational marijuana this year, but intraparty fighting among Democrats halted the conversation in both states. Ralph Weisheit, a criminal justice professor at Illinois State University, says many lawmakers may support the goal of legalizing marijuana, but when it comes to details -- such as home cultivation or criminal justice issues -- disagreements can boil over.But, says Weisheit, lawmakers in other states might be able to use Illinois law as a roadmap.The basic structure of Illinois bill is something thats been gestating for a long time. Its not an impulsive or rash thing, says Weisheit. I dont know whats going to happen in New York or New Jersey, but I expect at some point [the legislation] will come back. Haas to debut Red Bull-like B car in Austin Haas is set to follow in Red Bull and McLaren's wheel-tracks with a looming car update. Kevin Magnussen, Italian GP 2023 Haas F1 Team / LAT After an abysmal performance for the small American team at Monza, drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen lamented a lack of car development this year. It's just a paradox that we have one of the weakest cars with the strongest foundation I've seen in the team, said Magnussen. Right now it's all about enduring it and having patience. The drivers' criticism appears justified, given that Haas even had to revert to an older-spec front wing at Monza because the latest one was inappropriate for such a high speed circuit. But Auto Motor und Sport now reports that Haas is currently working on a rare car upgrade for its home race at Austin late next month. Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the update is so significant that it could be described as a 'B' car that is said to be closely based on the Red Bull . On the surface, it appears to be a wise move, given that McLaren's Red Bull-like upgrades in 2023 moved the team from deep within the midfield to become one of Red Bull's main challengers at some races. 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg said: Christian Horner told me after Monza that he thinks the competition will be much tighter next year because everyone will copy Red Bull. Haas boss Gunther Steiner confirmed: We will be heavily modifying the car to better understand which direction we have to go in next year. Indeed, with an office on the grounds of Ferrari's Maranello factory, Haas' car is heavily based on the Ferrari design philosophy. No matter what we do, we can't find a laptime anymore, Steiner lamented. So the 'B' version for the US GP will, according to Schmidt, look more like a Red Bull . The floor, sidepods and engine cover will adopt elements from the fastest car in the field. Boss Steiner admits the radical mid-season change of direction is a risk. The risk would be even greater if we only discovered in Bahrain 2024 that something was wrong with our new path, he said. McLaren showed us that you can make a big leap with a change of concept. It's no use just adding new parts to your existing car and just standing still. Schmidt said both Haas and technical partner Ferrari will then both head in the Red Bull-McLaren direction with new chassis and transmissions for 2024. (GMM) Vettel admits Schumacher comeback now unlikely Sebastian Vettel admits that his friend and protege Mick Schumacher will probably spend another year on the Formula 1 sidelines in 2024. Mick Schumacher, Monaco GP 2022 Haas F1 Team / LAT Axed Haas driver Schumacher, 24, settled for the reserve role at Mercedes this year in the hope of returning to a race cockpit next season. But the young German and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admit that the driver market is probably not going to accommodate Schumacher, the son of F1 legend Michael, in 2024. The situation is difficult at the moment, retired quadruple world champion Vettel said at the Nurburgring as he demonstrated his title-winning 2011 Red Bull on the fabled Nordschleife layout. There is maybe only one cockpit left at the moment and it's not that easy, or it's rather difficult, to slide back in, he told Sky Deutschland. But there is always some possibility, Vettel added. Schumacher admitted recently that he unfortunately has a plan B for 2024, and most insiders think it is simply staying put on the backup role at Mercedes. I think it's important that things continue in a certain way for Mick next year, said the 36-year-old, "that he continues to work on the second chance. From a German perspective it's essential because he's not just the biggest young talent but perhaps even the only one at the moment, Vettel added. Schumacher was replaced at Haas this year by the impressive returning 36-year-old Nico Hulkenberg - now the only German on the grid. Vettel admits that Germany's chances of even launching a return to the Formula 1 race calendar are slim. It is so expensive, he said. "The costs involved in setting up a grand prix are very high and perhaps the Germans are just a bit too realistic. Formula 1 has become more popular worldwide, but not in Germany. Meanwhile, Bild newspaper reports that Vettel will attend the Japanese GP at Suzuka in two weeks. US-Ghana Business Expo: 50 Private, public sector players to explore new frontiers Charles Benoni Okine Business News Sep - 11 - 2023 , 08:34 About 50 Ghanaian businesses from both the private and public sector will participate in the 2nd US-Ghana Business Summit and Expo which opens, Tuesday, September 12, in Philadelphia, United States of America. Also attending the high profile event will be individuals who are expected to explore major opportunities in the areas of manufacturing, construction, real estate and agriculture in their quest to either set up their own businesses or form joint ventures with their American counterparts. An initiative of the US-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Philadelphia, the event is meant to among other things help to deepen discussion and relationship with critical institutions that facilitate international business development and cooperation. Carefully modelled around the concepts such as the World Affairs Council, African Caribbean Business Council and World Trade Centre of Delaware, the annual event comes at a time when Ghanaian businesses and trade institutions are seeking credible collaborations and partnerships to scale up in the wake of the challenging economic environment in the country occasioned by the twin global events of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian/Ukraine war which have disturbed the foundations of many an economy including Ghana. It is expected that with Ghana successfully closing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to restore credibility, the summit and expo will create a unique platform for Ghanaian businesses and trade institutions to open new chapters with their American counterparts. Line up We are ready with all the necessary preparations and the itinerary is set. From the itinerary, you can tell we have a very robust agenda. For example, we will be traveling to two states and holding deep business and stakeholder discussions with the numerous Chambers of Commerce and business institutions, the President of the US-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, Florence Torson-Hart, told the Daily Graphic ahead of the opening. We also have the opportunity to visit the manufacturing plants of high companies which are leaders in manufacturing, construction and real estate. This company built the replacement bridge for the Tappan Zee Bridge (the Largest Transportation Design-Build Project in the US) in New York City, she added. Mrs Torson-Hart said delegates would also visit Case New Holland Industrial that makes world class equipment and technology for agriculture and construction. ShopRite has also partnered to offer a pop up shop for Ghanaian products and retail opportunities thereafter. The individual companies in Ghana have chosen to take advantage of this partnership, Mrs Torson-Hart said. She noted that as part of the event which is fast developing into one of the most sought-after for Ghanaian businesses and government agencies, there will be a meeting with the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce members to provide a unique opportunity for further business-to-business (B2B) and private business discussions. There will also be company investment pitches which will include a meeting at the Millersville University; a tour of manufacturing companies; a visit to the Hershey Park; tabletop exhibition and a special meeting with the Governor. On Thursday, September 14, there will be an all day exhibition in Philadelphia, while at the same time, individual and institutional meetings; B2B matching and B2G activities have been scheduled. Others will be a meeting with World Trade Centre (WTC) of Delaware businesses, tabletop exhibition; company investment pitches; cultural day and the unveiling of Diasporan/Ghanaian Store at Shoprite. Expectations As an added toast to the event, she said the chamber was planning to unveil the ShopRite /Ghana Market. Again, Ms Torson-Hart said work was ongoing to finalise some of the business deals under consideration, increase the number of US companies on board, as well as offer Ghanaian companies' opportunities to scale businesses. Another crucial aspect will be how to identify funding resources for companies, particularly those interested in growing but with specific interests in agriculture, real estate, trade, energy, logistics and Fintech. Takeaways She said the event would also provide a platform for discussion, orientation and education of business opportunities in Ghana. Ms Torson-Hart said the turnaround point after all, will be opportunities market expansion, ability to scale business, new lead generation and identify resources including technological solutions and funding. Many men destroying their destinies with sex - Prince David Osei Edith Mensah Showbiz News Sep - 10 - 2023 , 14:20 Renowned Ghanaian actor Prince David is urging men to prioritise their personal development, career, and overall well-being over casual relationships and fleeting moments of pleasure. In a recent Instagram post sighted by Graphic Showbiz, the actor shared his perspective on relationships and the impact they can have on one's life. He noted that while there was nothing wrong engaging in romantic or sexual relationships, it becomes worrying when these pursuits take precedence over long-term goals and aspirations. The actor stressed that it was crucial for individuals, especially young men, to maintain a balance between their personal lives and their ambitions, adding that achieving success often required discipline and focus. He wrote: "Brother don't put your head on Delilah's laps, don't get caught up in Delilah's trap, man. That's where big dreams go to die! Don't swap your fate for a quick roll in the hay. Time to leave that comfort zone and conquer the world. Don't let sex chain you down, bro; the world's your oyster. Reach for greatness. Stay alert, bro! Stay awoke fam. " He encouraged men not to fret about their significant others leaving them when they set out on new paths since any woman genuinely in love with a man will always offer her unwavering support for his progress. " Don't stress over your girl, wife... if she's the one, she'll hold it down for you. Too many dudes parking their potential 'cause they're afraid their woman will bounce." We almost landed in the ocean- -Sarkodie writes about near death experience with Delta Airlines Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Sep - 11 - 2023 , 10:16 Multiple award winning Ghanaian artiste, Sarkodie has narrated his near death experience with Delta Airline which had an emergency landing on an island in Portugal on Saturday, September 9. Sharing his ordeal in a Facebook post on Sunday, September 10, Sarkodie said he missed out on his event at Detroit, in the Michigan State of USA due to the unfortunate development. The two time VGMA Artiste of the Year winner lamented about how poorly the airline handled the devastating situation by not communicating and updating passengers about the situation on the ground. Sarkodie indicated that his post was not to tarnish the image of any business entity but to call for the right things to be done to save the lives of passengers. So I missed my event in Detroit due to Delta Air Lines doing an emergency landing on an island in Portugal yesterday No compensation nothing and our bags still on the island. Moving forward I wouldnt want to tarnish a business but hopefully they see to this problem and resolve it, part of the post reads. Sarkodie wrote: So I missed my event in Detroit due to Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines doing an emergency landing on an island in Portugal yesterday. It was unfortunate but I know these things happen so I wasnt trippin even though they communicated poorly and didnt have the courtesy to update us on exactly what was happening sat at the airport for about 6 hours and from complains from passengers, this isnt new with that airline especially from this part of the world (Africa) they keep sending these weak old flights (business class almost same as economy) to pick us up knowing very well they are not safe but still risk lives. We almost landed on the ocean but thank God we touched that island safe. No compensation nothing and our bags still on the island. Moving forward I wouldnt want to tarnish a business but hopefully they see to this problem and resolve it and to my fans in Detroit Im very sorry and we working on making it up to you (sic). Recommended articles: Hunger is pushing celebs into politics - Kwaku Manu Many men destroying their destinies with sex - Prince David Osei 2023 Limited voters registration exercise: Concerns Osei Kwame Griffiths Opinion Sep - 11 - 2023 , 07:12 There has been a lot of commentary on the news conference held by the Electoral Commission (EC) Chair, Jean Mensa on Thursday, August 17, 2023. I present a point of view as an expert in biometric technology and mass registration exercise, and expose the misinformation spewed. Since 2020, the EC has not carried out any exercise to register new eligible voters. That means Ghanaians in the 18 to 21 years bracket have not had the opportunity of getting their names on the voters register. Unfortunately, most of these potential voters stand the risk of being disenfranchised if the EC is not called to order. According to the ECs modalities, the registration exercise will take place in all the 268 district offices of the Commission, including the Guan District. In other words, each District Office will serve as a Registration Centre. A quick scan through the non-urban constituencies in Ghana indicates that there are several places within the constituencies where eligible registrants will have to pay more than GH50 using transportation to get to the constituency/district capitals before they can register. Let me highlight the transportation burden on such eligible registrants in some specific constituencies: Take the case of Karim who lives in Bamboi in the Bole/Bamboi District. Karim will have to travel two and half hours to Bole and another two and half hours back at the cost of GH80 in order to register per the ECs modalities. If Karim does not have a Ghana Card, he will have to make this trip many times first to get his Ghana Card and finally travel again for the EC registration Centre. There is another option for Karim if he has no Ghana Card. He will have to bear the transport cost of two guarantors in addition to his, a total cost of GH240 just to get registered. This is the story for many other places, hence the disenfranchisement will be widespread if the EC is allowed to go on the path it has decided. For instance, the Afram Plains has the largest land mass in the Eastern Region, with 2,341.3 square kilometres. Out of the 31 electoral areas and 127 polling stations, 13 electoral areas and 54 polling stations are located on various islands. Owing to the topography of the constituency, constituents are compelled to rely on boats, canoes and ferries as the only reliable means of transport. To this end, one has to travel several kilometres and long hours on water and commute by road to Donkorkrom to access the district capital at the cost of more than GH100 per person and more than GH300, if guarantors are to be transported. This journey cannot be done in a day, so accommodation will have to be arranged for the eligible registrant and his/her guarantors. The 1992 Constitution states the right to vote in Article 42 as follows; Every citizen of Ghana of 18 years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for public elections and referenda. The eligibility criteria to register and vote is therefore set per Article 42 as follows; To be eligible to register and vote, you must; (1) be a Ghanaian (2) be 18 years and above and (3) be of sound mind. However, per the modalities set by the EC for the limited registration, if you live in Afram Plains, you have to think of adding transportation, and in some cases accommodation cost, to the eligibility criteria. This is an unsurmountable roadblock! Osei Kwame Griffiths Fmr. Executive Secretary, NIA. Mob: 0541563923 The view from here A tale of two authors, their books Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng The view from here Sep - 11 - 2023 , 12:08 In the past few weeks, two friends of mine, each with a big and distinguished title, launched their autobiographies. These two men have never met, and on the surface, belong to two completely different professions, and yet they converge and reinforce each other within Ghanas dwindling sphere of the public intellectuals. It is from that perspective that the two authors and their books should be of interest to the Ghana nation. I present to you Brigadier General Daniel Frimpong (retired) and Professor Kwesi Yankah (retired?). Both of these gentlemen have served Ghana with distinction, and their two book launches were more than the events as advertised. In both instances, we celebrated more than books. The distinguished respective audiences turned these events into precision) that the celebrated General spent in the colours of the Ghana Armed Forces. He was commissioned as an Armoured Reconnaissance (Recce) officer in 1973 after his cadet training in Ghana and Canada. He retired in 2014 as the Deputy Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College. He commanded the Ghana Military Academy from 1998 and 2002 and was Ghanas first Military Advisor at the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations from 2002 to 2006. Between 2008 and 2009, he served in Uganda as the UNs Senior Military Advisor to former Mozambique President Joachim Chissano who was the UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy for the Lords Resistance Affected Areas of Uganda, DRC, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. The above is a severe resume of the Generals career that could be contained in the brief space of the blurb at the back of his book. In truth, his academic, professional and military CV could fill a sizable portion of this newspaper, and would still hold readers spellbound. From his earliest days in the military until his retirement, the General participated in several peacekeeping assignments around the globes trouble spots and regales the reader with some unforgettable tales he gathered along the way. Equally compelling are the many stories related to his academic exploits because General Frimpongs military career also included many opportunities not only to study but also to teach. Interestingly, even in retirement, he has been as busy as he was in uniform; and most of what he does now is the result of the experiences and knowledge he acquired in the military. For example, in 2017, he was appointed the CEO of the African Peace Support Trainers Association in Kenya, and he is currently the Chairman of the Council of the Family Health University College, which is Ghanas premier private medical school. Now, coming to Professor Kwesi Yankah, we encounter another person who has spent his entire adult life in the service of the country as an academic, administrator, scholar, public servant and a politician. His book is titled The Pen at Risk, which is a tribute to the Profs age-long engagement in public discourse, often sailing close to dangerous waters during military regimes celebratory moments to honour the contributions of both men. Brigadier General Dan Frimpongs book is appropriately titled The Military My Life. Its subtitle captures the essence of the book: 43 Years- 5 Months- 25 days. That is the exact period, (calculated with military. His books subtitle is Spilling My Little Beans. It turns out to be a whole bag of beans! Professor Yankah was professor of linguistics and oral literature specialising in the ethnography of communications. He has served as the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana and the President of the Central University. The author of several books, he was inducted as a fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1999. He held several positions in the university, where he was dean of students as well as dean of the Faculty of Arts and head of the Linguistics Department. His last position at the university was that of Pro-Vice Chancellor for academic and student affairs. From September 2011 to 2017, he was the President of the Central University. In March 2017, he was appointed a Minister of State at the Ministry of Education. For most people, Professor Yankah is known for his many contributions to newspapers, usually through his popular columns such as Abonsam Fireman in the Catholic Standard and Woes of a Kwatriot in The Mirror. Prof. Yankah has been a Senior External Advisor, Centre for Local Strategies Research, University of Washington, and a Member of the Policy Working Group, the African Presidential Archives and Research Centre, Boston University. In 1999, he was elected Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences in Accra. He served a three-year term as the Honorary Secretary of the academy from 2003. I have struggled to contain the brilliant lives and careers of both men in these few paragraphs but they should demonstrate to readers that they both have dedicated their entire lives in the service of Ghana. However, unlike many people who have served alongside these men in their previous endeavours, these two have been part of a cohort, usually described as public intellectuals. They have not been content to simply do what they were paid for, illustrious as that would be in themselves. After his stint in politics, Professor Yankah has found new audiences through his social media interactions where he constantly regales readers with his incisive wit and insights. General Frimpong has written a column in the Daily Graphic for the past seven years (page 10 on Fridays), and lectures frequently at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, GIMPA, and the Legon Centre for International Affairs. Their books are full of episodes, events and anecdotes that together tell an interesting history of our country from the 1970s. Incidentally, both men are in their early 70s and came of age around the same time. Although they scaled the greasy poles of completely different professions, their passions emanated from the same wellsprings of patriotism and commitment to their country and its future. These are books that must be read because they are relevant to our times, but equally importantly, they are enjoyable. Both books were published by DigiBooks and are available at all leading bookshops across the country. Catholic University, partner present 60 beds to 5 health facilities Biiya Mukusah Ali Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:27 The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) has presented 60 hospital beds and mattresses to five health facilities in the Bono Region to help address the no bed syndrome at the facilities. The beneficiary facilities include the Sunyani Regional Hospital, which took delivery of 20 beds; Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital, 20, Sunyani Municipal Hospital, 10, Fiapre Health Centre, five, and five for the CUG Clinic. The donation, which was supported by Health Information Technology for Africa (HITA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in Germany, sought to reduce bed deficits at the major health facilities and promote quality health delivery. 180 Beds After the presentation last Thursday, The Dean of School of Nursing and Midwifery of the CUG, Professor Prudence Portia Mwini Nyaledzigbor, who lobbied for the beds, told the Daily Graphic that the 60 beds were part of the 180 beds to be distributed to health facilities in the Bono and Bono East regions. She said the university was expecting the remaining 120 beds by the end of the month, explaining that "we have put measures in place to distribute them among the municipal and district hospitals, including Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) in the regions". Prof. Nyaledzigbor said some technical personnel from the beneficiary facilities had been trained in how to operate, assemble and fix the beds when the need arose. Lying on floor She explained that students from the CUG, who did their practical attachments at the facilities, complained to her that they sometimes attended to patients while they were lying on the bare floor. Prof. Nyaledzigbor explained that such situation negatively affected both patients and health personnel who had to squat for longer periods to treat patients. She said having witnessed similar situation in some hospitals, prompted her to write to the NGO to supply the beds to the affected health facilities. Prof. Nyaledzigbor said she had also planned to seek assistance for some dialysis machines to be donated to the hospitals to support the treatment of patients on dialysis. Maintenance For his part, the Vice-Chancellor of the CUG, Prof. Daniels Kwabena Obeng-Ofori, charged the beneficiary facilities to ensure proper maintenance of the beds. He said the NGO had also responded positively to stock the universitys three laboratories with computers to enhance the department's online examinations and improve teaching and learning of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the university. Prof. Obeng-Ofori commended the health facilities for allowing the universitys students to do their attachment at their facilities and appealed to the facilities to give students proper training during their practicals. Logistics The Deputy Administrator of the Sunyani Regional Hospital, Adams Umar Mengu, after receiving the hospital's share of 20 beds, said the donation had come at the right time when the hospital needed them to increase its logistics in order to ensure the smooth transition of the facility to a teaching hospital. He said medical equipment played a crucial role in the promotion of quality health delivery and the expansion of the hospital to meet a teaching hospital status. Mr Mengu said the hospital, which was a referral facility, had a 350-bed capacity, explaining that the additional 20 beds would increase the number of beds at the facility. Customs uncovers falsification of documents by shipping companies, agents Emelia Ennin Abbey Sep - 11 - 2023 , 05:58 The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority has uncovered activities of two shipping companies and clearing agents involved in an alleged falsification of information on trade documents to evade payment of taxes. The clearing agents are said to have connived with the shipping lines to falsify information on their manifests and bills of lading, including incorrect description of goods to obtain priority clearance to evade payment of taxes to the state. An audit conducted during preliminary investigations into the case of one of the bills of entry had uncovered a tax evasion of GH10.15 million. Demand notices have been issued to retrieve all the taxes lost to the state, including penalties and possible prosecution of the perpetrators. The names of the shipping companies and agents have not been given because investigations are ongoing. The Commissioner of the Customs, Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, who confirmed this in an interview, said the activities of the two shipping lines and importers were discovered through intelligence. He said it was realised that the bills of lading submitted for clearance of the goods at the Tema Port had some false information. Examination And upon physical examination, it was found out that the descriptions on the bill of entry (BOE) was different from the goods found in the container. He said although the container contained footwear, bags, belts, underwear, galvanised pipes, among others, it was labelled as containing knapsack sprayers. Following the discovery, Alhaji Iddisah said the Internal and Post Clearance Audit (PCA) department of the division were tasked to conduct audit on the agents and importers behind the suspected illegal act in accordance with sections seven and nine of the Customs Act 2015 (Act 891), and the World Customs Organisation Revised Kyoto Convention. In all, 23 BOEs were examined of which 22 belonged to one shipping line with entries undervalued for the purposes of paying lower custom duties and taxes. It also showed that some clearing agents processed customs declarations with inaccurate particulars with the aim of paying lower duties and taxes, while the clearing agents also provided cloned declarations containing actual descriptions of the goods, value and duty rates and collected the amount payable from the importer. It was further revealed that the bills of lading from the shipping lines and invoices declared to Customs were falsified by the local shipping line. Alhaji Iddisah said during investigations, the companies admitted that their officers had falsified the actual description of the goods. He said management had decided to expand investigations into the past six years to find out whether other companies had also engaged in the illegal activities at the port. The commissioner said investigations were ongoing to find out the level of involvement of the importers as well. Measures On improvement of monitoring, Alhaji Iddisah said his outfit had moved the monitoring activities from the ports to the headquarters to ensure effective supervision. Other measures include the creation of a holding area where goods cleared would properly be screened and re-examined if necessary, and the facilitation of speedy clearance via the green channel system. Exploded quarry in Shama was operating illegally - Minerals Commission Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Sep - 11 - 2023 , 07:00 The Minerals Commission has said the quarry, which exploded at Kobenandohkrom in the Shama District of the Western on Sunday was operating illegally. The commission said mine inspectors noticed that the company was working at night ostensibly to prevent them from being noticed by the inspectors of the Commission and the local task force comprising the police and members of the sand winners and quarry association. A routine monitoring visit by the inspectors from the Takoradi Office of the commission to the site revealed that the enterprise was engaged in site cleaning and preparatory works and had conducted run of the machines and equipment on site without the approval of the Commission. In a statement, the commission said its preliminary investigations confirm that the site of the explosion is a subject of an application by a company with the name STA Addsams Enterprise. An explosion at the STA Addsam quarry mine, formerly Omini Quarry, in the Shama District in the Western Region, has killed four persons and left many injured. Many night workers, believed to be Chinese and Ghanaians, were burnt beyond recognition, while others, including the managing director (MD) of the company, are still missing. Those who survived were rushed to the various hospitals in the district and Sekondi. A fuel station and the only health post in the area were not spared, as the blast caused extensive damage to countless structures and compromised the structural integrity of many buildings. Sundays incident is the second to hit the Western Region in less than two years after an explosion wiped out Appeatse in January last year. The explosion is said to have occurred at about half past midnight yesterday from an unapproved storage for explosives. Checks by the Daily Graphic from multiple sources revealed that the explosives were being kept in an adjoining facility to the residence of the workers of the company without permit from regulators, contrary to the law governing the acquisition, storage and use of explosives. Suspicion The sources suspected the MD to be one of the four Chinese who could not be accounted for. The sources alleged that when the driver of the MD arrived at the site last Saturday, the MD asked him to sleep in the car but he decided to walk home to sleep and return to work the following morning. They said the driver returned to the site yesterday morning only to hear that the MDs vehicle was part of the vehicles destroyed by the explosion. The only way you can tell if the MD is around is when you see his car, and his car is among the properties destroyed in the blast, a source said. It explained that the Chinese nationals were sleeping in an apartment outside the quarry until they built a residential facility at the mines where they all sleep. Asked if the mine had the right to store explosives, the source said, when it comes to explosives, officials of the Minerals Commission come and make sure that we use what we can and if we are not able to use all they take it away. The source said the quarry might have procured the explosives from the open market on the blind side of the regulator because the quarry does not have the permit to store such explosives. Minerals Commission When contacted, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, said that the commissions mine inspectors were carrying out investigation at the site. He described the incident as unfortunate and added that his team was working around the clock to establish what went wrong. When asked whether the storage was permitted, he said that could be ascertained only after the inspectors had completed their investigation. The District Chief Executive for Shama, Ebenezer Dadzie, also told the Daily Graphic that efforts were underway to recover those missing and ascertain the extent of damage. Describing the situation as unfortunate, he said the District Security Council, which he chairs, could not readily disclose the number of injured persons and deaths. He said the assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the district were in the community to take a closer look at the affected property and advise the victims accordingly. Information gathered by the Daily Graphic also indicated that the company was storing the explosives illegally. A source close to the company said the explosion did not occur in the process of blasting, rather the explosives were being kept in a room which was not a structured storage explosive magazine. The source said owing to the poor handling of the explosives, it became charged and detonated, razing the quarry to the ground and causing havoc to the nearby communities. Rescue team The Senior Fire Service Officer, Emmanuel Bonney, who led the rescue team, said nine people sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment at the hospital. He said information made available to them indicated that four other Chinese workers who resided on the premises were missing. Mr Bonney said preliminary findings indicated that there was storage of explosive materials ammonium nitrate and fuel which were not handled well, leading to the explosion. EPA The Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), George Diawuoh, also said his outfit and other sister agencies were still studying Explosion rocks Shama - 4 Dead, managing director, others missing Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Sep - 11 - 2023 , 04:11 An explosion at the STA Addsam quarry mine, formerly Omini Quarry, in the Shama District in the Western Region, has killed four persons and left many injured. Many night workers, believed to be Chinese and Ghanaians, were burnt beyond recognition, while others, including the managing director (MD) of the company, are still missing. Those who survived were rushed to the various hospitals in the district and Sekondi. A fuel station and the only health post in the area were not spared, as the blast caused extensive damage to countless structures and compromised the structural integrity of many buildings. Sundays incident is the second to hit the Western Region in less than two years after an explosion wiped out Appeatse in January last year. The explosion is said to have occurred at about half past midnight yesterday from an unapproved storage for explosives. Checks by the Daily Graphic from multiple sources revealed that the explosives were being kept in an adjoining facility to the residence of the workers of the company without permit from regulators, contrary to the law governing the acquisition, storage and use of explosives. Suspicion The sources suspected the MD to be one of the four Chinese who could not be accounted for. The sources alleged that when the driver of the MD arrived at the site last Saturday, the MD asked him to sleep in the car but he decided to walk home to sleep and return to work the following morning. They said the driver returned to the site yesterday morning only to hear that the MDs vehicle was part of the vehicles destroyed by the explosion. The only way you can tell if the MD is around is when you see his car, and his car is among the properties destroyed in the blast, a source said. It explained that the Chinese nationals were sleeping in an apartment outside the quarry until they built a residential facility at the mines where they all sleep. Asked if the mine had the right to store explosives, the source said, when it comes to explosives, officials of the Minerals Commission come and make sure that we use what we can and if we are not able to use all they take it away. The source said the quarry might have procured the explosives from the open market on the blind side of the regulator because the quarry does not have the permit to store such explosives. Minerals Commission When contacted, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, said that the commissions mine inspectors were carrying out investigation at the site. He described the incident as unfortunate and added that his team was working around the clock to establish what went wrong. When asked whether the storage was permitted, he said that could be ascertained only after the inspectors had completed their investigation. The District Chief Executive for Shama, Ebenezer Dadzie, also told the Daily Graphic that efforts were underway to recover those missing and ascertain the extent of damage. Describing the situation as unfortunate, he said the District Security Council, which he chairs, could not readily disclose the number of injured persons and deaths. He said the assembly and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the district were in the community to take a closer look at the affected property and advise the victims accordingly. Information gathered by the Daily Graphic also indicated that the company was storing the explosives illegally. A source close to the company said the explosion did not occur in the process of blasting, rather the explosives were being kept in a room which was not a structured storage explosive magazine. The source said owing to the poor handling of the explosives, it became charged and detonated, razing the quarry to the ground and causing havoc to the nearby communities. Rescue team The Senior Fire Service Officer, Emmanuel Bonney, who led the rescue team, said nine people sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment at the hospital. He said information made available to them indicated that four other Chinese workers who resided on the premises were missing. Mr Bonney said preliminary findings indicated that there was storage of explosive materials ammonium nitrate and fuel which were not handled well, leading to the explosion. EPA The Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), George Diawuoh, also said his outfit and other sister agencies were still studying what went wrong. We were told that the quarry stored some explosives within the same area they use as their residential facility which is not the ideal practice, he said. Mr Diawuoh said storage of highly dangerous mining explosive materials in such a manner was not the best practice and was contrary to the law governing handling of explosives. He explained that even though the team was yet to establish the cause, explosives must be stored in a suitably safe place. Mr Diawuoh said the key safety principles were to ensure that they were stored where appropriate with permit. Proper storage The magazine for the storage of explosives must be a building or structure other than an explosives manufacturing building used for the storage of explosives and has to go through the permitting process, he explained further. He said investigations were currently ongoing to ascertain the damage caused to the nearby communities their residential and commercial facilities - and to establish the exact quantity. Currently,the police and the Ghana National Fire Service are providing security at the scene of the disaster. Ga Manye funeral: Shops in Accra Central Business District to close Vincent Amenuveve Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:19 The offices and shops in the Central Business District of Accra are expected to close for three days to make way for the final funeral rights of the late Ga Manye, the Paramount Queen of Ga State, Naa Dedei Omaedru III. From Friday, October 27 to Sunday, October 29, we expect all shops and offices in the Central Business District to be closed until after Sunday. We expect people to drape their houses or businesses with black and red, including the markets, because we are mourning together so we will all be in red and black, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, Justice Naa Yarley Adjei Amoah, told the Daily Graphic in an interview. We respectfully ask all our mourners and sympathisers to cooperate with us so that everything will go on smoothly without any hitches, Justice Amoah further urged. She said the various markets in the Ga paramountcy must drape all their surroundings in black and red because we are mourning together, it's not just the palace so we are respectfully calling on all to cooperate with us in this time of grief, she said. Funeral activities Justice Amoah, who is also the Secretary to the Central Funeral Planning Committee, said a committee had drawn up a comprehensive programme for the funeral. She said the funeral rites would start earnestly from Sunday, October 15, this year. From that time, we are expecting complete solemnity in the Ga State. There would be no other funerals in the State until after October 31, 2023, she reiterated. Justice Amoah further explained that from Monday, October 23, this year the chiefs would be receiving both local and international visitors and mourners from places such as Aneho in Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Lying in state On Thursday, October 26, the remains of the queen would be prepared to lie in state. On Friday, October 27, the body will be brought to the Ga Traditional Council where a pre-burial service would be held. On Saturday, October 28 at 8 a.m. there would be a burial and funeral ceremony at the Ga Traditional Council. On Sunday, October 29, there will be a thanksgiving service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Accra. High profile personalities, chiefs and people from all walks of life continue to sign the book of condolence opened in honour of Manye Omaedru III. Last Friday, a delegation from the Overlord of Dagbon, Ya Na Abukari II, as well as waste management company, Zoomlion, were there to commiserate with the Ga State. Ghana pumps JSE first oil - Will boost revenue, economy Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:21 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has turned on the valve at the offshore Jubilee Field to signify the production of additional oil from a new well, the Jubilee South East (JSE) Project. This successful project adds about 30,000 barrels of light sweet crude oil per day (bopd) to what is being produced from the countrys premier oilfield, the Jubilee Field, which lies offshore Cape Three Points in the Western Region. Production from the field started dwindling from a peak of 120,000bopd in December 2010 to about 70,000bopd. The additional oil has been made possible through the $4 billion Value Maximisation Plan put in place by the lead operators of the Jubilee Field, Tullow Ghana and its partners, to develop new projects over 10 years. The partners have invested $1 billion in the JSE Project in three years to drill wells and install subsea infrastructure needed to bring previously undeveloped reserves to production. The consistent investment saw the successful JSE project, which added more than 30,000 barrels with the current production to 106,000bopd. The project has advanced the use of Ghanaian suppliers and companies in-country who are fabricating the majority of the complex offshore infrastructure, with more than 90 per cent homegrown workforce. The success of the project is said to be the demonstration of the evolution of the Ghanaian supplier base that could now support substantial elements of its oil and gas industry and is testament to the partners commitment to developing local competences and capabilities. The Jubilee Partners described the success and the current level of production from the Jubilee Field as a major milestone for the partners and for the country. Time of arrival At exactly 12 noon, President Akufo-Addo turned the valve to symbolically commence the pumping of first oil from the Jubilee Southeast. He arrived at 11 a.m. on the Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Kwame Nkrumah, in a helicopter and went through the safety briefing before being led by a Tullow official to the control room and the flow line where he turned the valve to open the pipes for the crude oil to gush through from the block to the production vessel. After the exercise, the President returned to Takoradi to address a large gathering. President Akufo-Addo commended the Jubilee partners for their commitment to the country and the immense contribution towards the reversal of dwindling levels of oil production at Jubilee and, by extension, the country. Today, as we commemorate the delivery of the Jubilee South East Project and the attainment of first oil, I commend the dedicated operator, Tullow Ghana, in collaboration with its partners, the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC), Kosmos Energy Ghana, Jubilee Oil Holdings and Petro SA. The President said the partners had shown exceptional commitment to make this achievement possible. It is truly a moment of joy for us all, a testament to what collaboration and strategic partnerships can do, he said. Local value maximization President Akufo-Addo added that the government's policy was to make the upstream petroleum operations a catalyst to create value through local participation. To that end, he said, the Local Content and Ghanaian Participation law L.I 2204, which was passed in 2013, had been amended to include channel partnerships and strategic alliances in the upstream petroleum sector. The oil industry has become an important contributor to the growth of our national economy. The significance of the petroleum sector in the Ghanaian economy is evident in its share of gross domestic product, exports and government revenues, the President stated. In synergy with other pivotal sectors such as mining, services, industry and agriculture, the President said the oil and gas sector was crucial to the government's efforts to move the nation on the path of sustained progress and prosperity. Clear pathway The Board Chairman of Tullow Ghana, Phuthuma Nhleko, said the success of the project defined the clear pathway to ensuring mutual benefit of all stakeholders. He said reaching the milestone and increasing gross production above 100,000bopd spoke very much of collective oversight to elevate the success of the field to ensure its relevance. Let me assure you that we will nonstop here we are yet to see the full extent and potential of the greater Jubilee Field and a good sign forth country, the economy and people of Ghana as well as the partners, he said. The Managing Director of Tullow Oil Ghana, Wissam Al-Monthiry, said the Jubilee partners were proud with other achievements in the area of local content, which saw the participation of Ghanaians on the fabrication of some of the worlds most advanced subsea equipment in Ghana. The partners are happy with the additional revenue that will come not only to the partners, but to the nation for the benefit of the people. Naturally, Jubilee is big but keeps getting bigger and progressing to be one of the worlds elite oilfields with over a billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas which will serve the nation for more than a decade, he said. Hail local content The Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, said the success of the project came with significant benefits to the country. One important aspect is the commitment of the partners to the countrys drive towards local content. I must say that not only did the partner ensure the fabrication of the components but also the work was done by Ghanaians, he said. The Chief Executive of the Petroleum Commission, Egbert Faibille Jnr, commended the partners for the commitment to the development of the industry in the country. The success is significant for the country,owing to the fact that most critical fabrications were done in Ghana which has led to transfer of skills. The success story today shows we are making headway and it is significant for local content development, Mr Faibille stated. KsTU received accreditation for 16 programmes Joshua Bediako Koomson Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:15 The management of Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has explained that it has received accreditation for 16 out of the programmes that are without accreditation as of 2021. It said obtaining accreditation for 16 other programmes was at various stages of the accreditation process. The management further explained that the accreditation process could take between six months and one year, and that accredited programmes took three to five years to expire, depending on the type of programme. KsTU wants to assure its students, potential students and the general public that its programmes are being run on the highest standards required by the Ghana Tertiary Commission (GTEC) and the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), a statement signed by the acting Public Relations Officer of the university, Joshua Appiah, said statement. The statement was in response to the sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament in Sunyani in the Bono Region last Monday to consider the 2021 Auditor Generals Report. The proceedings of the committee were carried in the Daily Graphic titled "KsTU runs 32 unaccredited programmes Report. Press statement According to KsTU, the headline was misleading since it did not reflect the current situation of accreditation at the university. Further, the statement said the Auditor General's Report was written in 2021 but the headline did not indicate same. Unaccredited programmes During the sitting, the committee said institutions running unaccredited programmes was an issue that affected students negatively when they later applied to pursue higher programmes at other universities. Context The Chairman of the PAC, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, said the committee would invite the GTEC and the universities to find a solution to problems related to the delay in renewing or granting accreditation. There is the need to bring the two bodies together to look at where the problem is and how we can address it, so we dont examine students on courses and programmes that dont have accreditation, he said. Mechanical issue with backup oxygen system forced emergency landing of Delta Airlines Accra-New York flight Graphic.com.gh Sep - 11 - 2023 , 14:04 A mechanical issue with the backup oxygen system is what forced the emergency landing of a Delta Airlines Accra to New York flight, the airline company has explained. The Delta Airlines flight from Ghana to New York had to do an emergency landing five hours into the flight due to an oxygen malfunction on the plane. The incident happened on September 8, 2023, where the Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Accra (ACC), Ghana, to New York (JFK) underwent a diversion and emergency landing at Praia da Vitoria (TER) located on Terceira Island in the Azores. This diversion was reportedly initiated due to concerns related to oxygen levels on board the aircraft. The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 767-300ER, registered as N191DN. Delta Ghana to New York Emergency Landing While Praia da Vitoria Airport in the Azores is relatively remote, it serves Azores Airlines. It has connections from airlines such as Ryanair, TAP Air Portugal, TUI Fly (seasonally), and SATA Air Acores. The airport boasts a nearly 11,000-foot runway, making it well-prepared for diversions, and its geographic location means diversions there are not uncommon. However, Delta Air Lines does not have its own ground staff at this airport. In situations where the airline lacks its own ground staff, passenger assistance at the airport is likely to be limited. Information provided to passengers may also be restricted, primarily relying on crew members who may not prioritize customer service. Related article: We almost landed in the ocean- -Sarkodie writes about near death experience with Delta Airlines Flight from Accra to JFK was diverted to a remote Portuguese island (TER) in the middle of the Atlantic due to low oxygen levels in the cockpit. We were shuttled to Gate 6 (ie purgatory) with no food, water or direct communication from any Delta rep at all! Help. This is crazy Kiaundra Eggleston (Smith) (@KiaundraSmith) September 9, 2023 Below is a copy of a statement from Delta Airlines explaining the incident Delta Air Lines Statement on DL157 Emergency Landing Delta flight 157 from Accra to New York-JFK diverted to Lajes Airport following a mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system. The crew descended to a lower altitude out of an abundance of caution during the diversion and the aircraft landed safely. An alternate aircraft was dispatched from Lisbon to help our customers more quickly get to their final destinations while the original aircraft was repaired by maintenance technicians. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels. Additional background information: Boeing 767-300ER aircraft 215 customers and 6 crew onboard Customers were provided meals at TER and deplaned into a secure area while waiting for the alternate aircraft for the alternate aircraft from Lisbon, which has now departed for Lajes. Refunds and an additional gesture of goodwill were provided to our customers for the experience. The original aircraft and crew have also since made it to JFK Delta Air Lines Statement on DL157 Emergency Landing Motorway tunnel: Highway Authority starts stolen bolts replacement Della Russel Ocloo Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:32 Workers from the Bridge Maintenance Unit of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) last Saturday started replacing the bolts holding the corrugated metals in the tunnel that connects Tema Community 18 to Borteyman. The replacement is to prevent the bridge which lies beneath the Accra Motorway from collapsing, following the theft of about 1,400 of the 2,000 bolts holding the bridge to the motorway concrete. The stealing incident was discovered recently following an assessment on the bridge which showed signs of imminent danger. The assessment found the missing bolts to have also compromised the structural integrity of the bridge, making it susceptible to collapse if not repaired immediately. The tunnel was closed to traffic last Saturday to allow for the replacement of the bolts. The Principal Engineer at the Bridge Division of GHA, Aaron Nana Amponsah, told the Daily Graphic yesterday at the tunnel that the missing bolts were essential for holding the bridge together and pointed out that the collapse of the bridge could divide the motorway into two, thereby cutting Accra from Tema. The tunnel has recently experienced severe vibration due to the heavy axle loads on the motorway. Officials say the vibration had further weakened the structure of the tunnel. Similarly, some blocked watercourses have caused floodwaters to form a pool around the bridge, also affecting its basin. To avoid future theft of the bolts, Mr Amponsah said the new ones were being welded to the corrugated metals, so as to make them firm and hence difficult to remove. "We have also done concrete works around the bridge basin to prevent water from pooling there; the watercourses have been diverted into a nearby storm drain," Mr Amponsah said. A Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Stephen Jalulah, who inspected the tunnel last Wednesday prior to the commencement of work, lamented the damage caused to the corrugated metal by the alleged thieves. Mr Amponsah gave an assurance that the work would be completed by midnight of today to allow for the tunnel to be opened to traffic. Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change: African leaders demand fulfilment of $100bn pledge Timothy Ngnenbe Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:09 The maiden African Climate Summit (ACS) has ended in Nairobi, Kenya, with a call on the West to honour the $100 billion commitment in annual climate finance promised developing countries. The payment of the funds by the rich countries who are guilty of large-scale pollution is now three years overdue since the pledge at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009. With the clarion call for timely action to reduce the rising global greenhouse emissions, the African leaders reminded the developed countries which are responsible for a chunk of the emissions to walk the talk. In what has been dubbed the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change, the African leaders further called for the operationalisation of the loss and damage fund that was agreed on at COP27 to help deal with the adverse effects of climate change on deprived communities in developing countries. The ACS, which began in Nairobi on September 4, 2023, had global leaders, intergovernmental organisations, regional economic communities, UN agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations, among others, as participants. Communique In a communique issued on September 6, 2023, they called upon the global community to act with urgency to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, fulfill your obligations, honour past promises and support the continent to address climate change. They also called for upholding of commitments to a fair and accelerated process of phasing down unabated coal power and inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while providing targeted support to the poorest and most vulnerable in line with national circumstances. We call for climate-positive investments that catalyse a growth trajectory anchored in the industries poised to transform our planet and enable African countries to achieve stable middle-income status by 2050, they added. The African leaders also pledged to develop and implement policies, regulations and incentives to attract local, regional and global investment in green growth, inclusive of green and circular economies. They also agreed to collectively act to propel Africa's economic growth, create jobs and aid global decarbonisation efforts by leapfrogging the traditional progression of industrial development. Additionally, they resolved to focus their economic development plans on climate-positive growth, including expansion of just energy transitions and renewable energy generation for industrial activity, resilient agricultural practices, and essential protection and enhancement of nature and biodiversity. Investment They further pledged to work together to promote investments in reskilling to unlock the human capital that would power Africas inclusive green transition. The leaders also resolved to redouble their efforts to boost agricultural yields through sustainable practices to enhance food security while minimising negative environmental impacts. They expressed commitment to integrate climate, biodiversity and ocean agenda into national development plans and processes to increase resilience of local communities and national economies. Stop operating unapproved campuses by Sept.30 - GTEC warns varsities Severious Kale-Dery Sep - 11 - 2023 , 12:00 The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has given public universities operating unapproved campuses other than their main campuses to stop by September 30,2023. We have written to them to cease the running of such centres by September 30.Some of them have written to us asking for dialogue and conversation,which we do not have any problem with. At the end of the day,what we are looking for is that we want things to be done and done properly, the Deputy DirectorGeneral of GTEC, Professor Ahmed Abdulai Jinapor, told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview in Accra. Most of the established universities have other campuses throughout the country in a bid to extend their programmes to the various regions. The GTEC insists that many of the centres are not fit for purpose,hence its refusal to sanction them. Prof. Jinapor,however,admitted that not all such centres were illegal. We have some that have approval but all those in senior high schools and colleges of education run by universities as distance,as well as nursing institutions by universities and in some instances places of work are illegal. We are not against distance education,but it must be fit for purpose like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology one at Tamale and not those using basic and senior high schools or churches as centres, he said. Distance education is part of the policy of GTEC to bring tertiary education to the doorstep of the poor but not distancing education, Prof. Jinapor explained. He said the GTEC was working with the Ghana Education Service to issue a fiat to all senior high and basic school heads to desist from giving out their schools as centres to such universities. By Severious Kale-Dery Stop operating unapproved campuses by Sept.30 Prof. Jinapor described as unacceptable the use of office premises and basic school compounds as centres of learning for some of the universities, saying such centres were not fit for purpose. Touching on courses offered on satellite campuses,Prof. Jinapor also stated that it was unacceptable for a public university in one region to establish a campus in another region where there is a public university to run the same programmes. Describing the tertiary education environment as cancerous,the GTEC deputy director-general gave an assurance that the commission was working hard to deal with the numerous challenges bedevilling that space. The tertiary education landscape is a cancerous environment but we will definitely purge it of this cancer. The only way that we can do this is to get the buy-in of the immediate stakeholders within this architecture, which is management of the institutions, he said. Prof. Jinapor appealed to parents to take keen interest in the institutions and programmes their children select,giving the assurance that whatever the GTEC was doing was in the interest of parents and their wards. He dispelled the perception that the position of GTEC was meant to make tertiary education scarce, thereby denying some people tertiary education. So,we are aware of all these challenges; we are working very hard to address them. It will take somemtime but we are very committed to getting these issues addressed and we are working with speed, he said. Prof. Jinapor assured the public that the GTEC was working very hard to address the challenges,saying that it had inherited loads of such challenges,that we think we are doing very well based on where we are today. We pray and hope that it will get to a time that the institutions will buy into the fact that without accreditation,you cannot run a programme. We have instances where students have got scholarships to study abroad and those scholarships have been denied because the awarding institutions go on the GTEC website only to realise that those programmes are not accredited, he said. Were retooling security agencies to secure maritime space President Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu Sep - 11 - 2023 , 06:04 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the government will retool the security agencies to secure the country's maritime domain. At the commissioning of three patrol vessels in Takoradi in the Western Region yesterday, the President said the new additions would make the coast unattractive to illegalities. The vessels GNS Aflao and GNS Half Assini, as well as a GMA vessel named after Ghanaian industrialist, Esther Afua Ocloo, were donated to the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) by the US to help deter illegal activities such as piracy, drugs and arms smuggling and human trafficking at sea. Strategy The President explained that the national integrated maritime strategy which was recently launched provided the necessary framework to sanitise activities and also ensure safety on the sea. He said the government was aware of the enormous responsibility on the Navy to ensure the countrys maritime domain and the region were safe, that is why we are taking steps to retool the Navy. The country has not recorded any kidnapping on ships in the last two years. This is a significant achievement considering the fact that we experienced several attacks on ships, including kidnapping of nine crew members on Ghanaian fishing vessels in 2021, and the continuous attacks on ships at the anchorage, particularly in Takoradi, which are not acceptable. One of the patrol vessels I endorse efforts being made to protect ships at the anchorage and also regulate the maritime space, the President added. He further said that after the resolution of boundary issues with neighbouring Cote dIvoire, efforts were underway to ensure other challenges along the eastern border were also resolved. As we protect maritime territories, there is the need to maintain a significant naval presence so as to prevent criminals from exploiting the contested areas, President Akufo-Addo said. The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, also said that the Navy and the Armed Forces have seen an increase in their fleet size and equipment, adding that efforts were underway to equip the Air Force as well. Commendation The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, commended the US government for the support and said the boats were the first two out of four donated as part of the US support to the country, saying we are looking forward to the arrival of the remaining two. The US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, said the commissioning capped months of hard work by both the Ghana Navy and the US Navy after training of the crew and sea trials in the country. She said the ships were former US Coast Guard Cutters which could be put to immediate use by the Ghana Navy. These boats are the latest in our long-standing support to the Ghana Navy, including training, technical assistance and naval infrastructure projects. We have all heard stories of international trawlers operating off the coast whose activities threaten the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen across the Gulf of Guinea. We are providing $24 million over five years to help the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture install electronic monitoring systems on trawlers licensed to fish in Ghana, the ambassador said. She added that the system would also assist the ministry, through the University of Cape Coast, to designate marine protected areas to restrict fishing and other activities to protect fragile ecosystems and species. "My government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words" - Akufo-Addo Graphic.com.gh Politics Sep - 11 - 2023 , 14:45 "My government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds," President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said. Speaking at the 2023 Bar Conference in Cape Coast on Monday morning, President Akufo-Addo said: "We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption." "It has been a holistic approach. We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip-service," the President added. On Monday, 11th September 2023, I delivered an address at the 2023 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association at Cape Coast, in the Central Region. I used the theme of the Conference, Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life; The Role of the Legal Profession, to place, once again, my governments record on corruption for public scrutiny. I showed that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since our nation attained independence, nearly sixty-six (66) years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector. My government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds. We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption. It has been a holistic approach. We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip-service. NPP youth leader Salam Mustapha calls for active participation in voter registration Kweku Zurek Politics Sep - 11 - 2023 , 09:01 Mr. Salam Mustapha, the National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called upon all party stakeholders to ensure that their eligible friends and family members take part in the upcoming limited voter registration exercise. The Electoral Commission (EC) has set the registration of new voters for the electoral roll to kick off from September 12, 2023, to October 2, 2023, at its 268 District offices nationwide. During a live stream on his Facebook page, Mr. Mustapha emphasized the significance of engaging in this civic exercise in preparation for the 2024 General Elections. "To all NPP members, my TESCON colleagues, fellow youth organizers, regional, and other party officials, encourage a friend or two to register because your vote holds great power. "Let's all be actively involved. Our vote represents our voice, and in 2024, let's mobilize, campaign, and vote for the New Patriotic Party to continue with the commendable projects and policies they're implementing." He urged party members to support any young Ghanaian eager to participate in the registration process to become a voter. Furthermore, Mr. Mustapha claimed that he had received intelligence indicating that some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress were contemplating actions to disrupt the process due to their grievances with the Electoral Commission. Mustapha pledged to take measures to ensure safety at the registration centres and safeguard Ghana's democracy. Huawei silently launched three Mate 60 phones in the past two weeks, all of them with 5G support. Multiple sources from China now claim this is the first step of a new offensive to the global smartphone market. IT Home quoted insiders who claimed Huawei lays foundations with the domestic market in China and continue its overseas expansion, but an exact timeline is currently unavailable. Huawei Mate 60 Pro Huawei has been a hostage in a trade war between China and the United States that began over five years ago. As a result, the company was barred from accessing most US technologies, but the Mate 60, Mate 60 Pro, and Mate 60 Pro+ arrived with 5G and a Kirin 9000S chipset built on the 7nm technology process. The company officially did not comment on the SoC situation, but domestic reports revealed the chip was fully Chinese-made, raising further questions about how local companies acquired the know-how for such complicated processes in such a short time. Huawei already increased its yearly production forecast from 30 million in January to 38 million today. Of them, 20 million units have already been shipped, and the Mate 60 Pro units will account for 6 million more or a third of the remaining orders. The Pro+ supports voice calls over satellite, in addition to texting There were some reports the series might not make it outside of China, but Huawei hasn't made an official statement about it, leaving the door open for eventual global release. Quick glance to the past saw Huawei used to have 42% of the Chinese smartphone market but now is under 10%, while the global market share is currently 3% - a six-fold decline from mid-2019. Source (in Chinese) At this point it is fairly certain that the Galaxy Ring, Samsungs entry into a new category of health-focused wearables, is not coming this year. Now Ice Universe offers a launch window the Ring will be announced at the Galaxy S24 unveiling event in January. Even more importantly, it sounds like Samsung has high expectations of this new product line as the tipster says that the Galaxy Ring will be the star product of the event, perhaps outshining the Galaxy S24 series itself. While the Unpacked events for the S22 and S23 series were in February, there have been January launches too. And were already seeing detailed leaks about the Galaxy S24 series, so a slightly earlier launch seems quite possible. As for the ring, the question remains whether it will be ready in time. Samsung is reportedly ready to start mass production, but things are moving slowly due to the extra regulatory clearances needed for a health-tracking product. The Ring is expected to synthesize the health-focused features of the Galaxy Watches while dropping the most (all?) of the smartwatch features (its not clear whether it will even have a display). The smaller, less obtrusive form factor of the Galaxy Ring could bring in a wider audience people who prefer classic watches or dont want to wear a watch at all, but still want sleep, heart rate and exercise tracking. And if Ice is right, this will be more than a ring-shaped smart band, it will be Samsungs Next Big Thing in wearables (speaking of smart bands, Samsung seems to have given up on the segment). Source (in Chinese) | Via Samsung has released the One UI 6.0 beta for the Galaxy A34 in the UK with others to follow. The beta, version A346BXXU4ZWI1, weighs around 2GB and packs One UI 6 along with Android 14. While the beta starts off with the UK, it's likely that China, India, Korea, Germany, and Poland could follow. Galaxy A34 owners need to install the Samsung Members app and apply for the beta from there. Then, it will become available under Software update in Settings. The Galaxy A34 One UI 6.0 programme The Galaxy A34 enters the One UI 6 beta programme after the Galaxy S23 series and the Galaxy A54. Source | Via In honor of the numerous lives lost 22 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, several government officials shared their thoughts on how the tragedy has shifted the operations of first responders and the sacrifices made in the risky occupations. Chief Joey Manibusan, the acting fire chief the Guam Fire Department, wanted to remind the community that despite the two decades that have passed since 9/11, it is still important to recognize what happened. The fire service throughout the nation has evolved since 9/11 from a highly effective yet dated firefighting force to a modern emergency management and response organization, said Manibusan. We do numerous joint exercises with our public safety and non-government organizational partners to prepare for all kinds of emergencies, from natural to man-made to acts of terrorism. All citizens should be vigilant and aware of their surroundings: if you see something, report it. Manibusan further noted to continue to remember over 60 sons and daughters of Guam that have been lost since 9/11. Sen. William Parkinson, legislative committee oversight chair over the Guam Fire Department, shared his participation in honoring the National Day of Service and Remembrance. The tragic events of 9/11 reverberated not just through the cities directly impacted, but across our nation, touching our shores here in the Pacific, noted Parkinson, who has also formerly spent nine years as a federal firefighter. We remember with profound respect the first responders who bravely rushed towards danger, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Parkinson further added that with his experience as a former firefighter, he was touched by their unwavering dedication, embodied with the spirit of unity and selflessness. Even thousands of miles away, we on Guam stand in solidarity with firefighters and first responders across the nation, recognizing that the values of bravery, resilience, and unity know no bounds, added Parkinson. Let us serve, remember, and honor their legacy today and always. As the legislative chairman of emergency response and border safety, Sen. Dwayne T.D. San Nicolas reflected on today in memory of nearly 3,000 lives lost from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., amongst the four airplane crashes. We will never forget the sacrifices made by New Yorks frontline heroes, said Sen. San Nicolas. I express my heartfelt appreciation to our very own brave men and women, our heroes, of Guam for their dedication in protecting our island and country. Thank you to our local, federal and military first responders. Sen. Chris Barnett, who leads the legislative committee over public safety, shared that the sense of American security at home was forever changed on this day. Given the looming threat of China and the now normalized rhetoric about a potential attack on Guam, this day of reflection and remembrance takes a new tone when considering the risks our island faces as a potential first-strike community, shared Barnett. Sen. Chris Duenas, the legislative vice-chair on public safety, echoed Barnetts sentiment in regards to how the devastation 22 years ago has served as a reminder of the importance of national security and the safety of our citizens. Here on our island, we face a rising tide of crime that poses a threat to the well-being of our people. It is imperative that we take proactive measures to ensure that everyone in our community feels secure within the walls of their homes, acknowledged Duenas. Just as the events of that fateful day in New York and Washington D.C. prompted law enforcement across the nation to step forward as the frontline of defense, we must do the same here on Guam. Duenas added how this continues to emphasize the importance of recruiting additional first responders. We need to bolster our efforts to recruit more dedicated men and women in blue who are willing to answer the call and protect our island, added Duenas. By increasing the presence of police officers on our streets, we can respond swiftly to situations that endanger lives and ensure that our community remains a safe haven for all. Sen. Roy Quinata, who wasnt even six years old yet at the time of 9/11, further shared that no matter how old residents were or where they were at the time of the event, everyone was definitely shook up. We have a population that has up to 10 percent being part of the military one way or another. We definitely have a lot of patriotism in our veins and a lot of sacrifices from the previous generations, shared Quinata, who is also part of the legislative committees overseeing fire and emergency response. We always want to make sure that we are resilient to any disaster. No matter how far we go in life, we come together as a community and a nation to rebuild our way of life. Quinata added that despite a small amount of residents opting to be local first responders, they deserve their honor as well. Individuals who sign up for those careers are very brave and basically volunteer their lives to put others before themselves, added Quinata. These people volunteer to have time away from their families and those that they love the most to put themselves in harms way and try to save others to live another day. Were thankful and blessed to have these people taking care of threats around our island. Jayson Gaan Sowas will face multiple felony charges following a shooting Saturday afternoon that left Benedic Beram dead. According to a magistrates report filed in the Superior Court of Guam, police responded to a call about a possible shooting in Maite. At about 3:30 p.m. Sept. 9, officers arrived at the Hi-5 Logo shop and saw a man lying on the walkway in front of the shop. Officers saw two wounds to the side of the victims hips. The victim was later identified as Benedic Beram. He was transported to Naval Hospital, where he died that same day. Officers saw a man who matched witnesses description of a possible shooter. According to the complaint, the man, who identified himself as Sowas, raised his hands above his head and told police where they would find the gun. According to the complaint, Sowas admitted that he entered a vehicle parked at the probation office nearby, saw a black bag and took the firearm that was inside. The complaint says that Sowas walked to the 24-hour laundromat in Maite and threatened people without reason. Sowas then walked to the HI-5 logo shop and saw Beram lying on the walkway in front of the building. The report says that when police asked Sowas why he shot Beram, Sowas said, I dont know, I just wasnt thinking when I shot him. Sowas was charged with murder as a first-degree felony and a special allegation of a deadly weapon used in the commission of a felony. He was also charged with burglary of an automobile and theft of a firearm. The charges carry a possible sentence of life in prison plus another 80 years. Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam Permit Czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org. Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen AFB Environmental Flight and the National Park Service. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Haiti - FLASH : Results of the results of the single Bac exams for 7 departments and per student The Ministry of National Education has published the results of the single bac exams (Secondary 4) 2022/2023 for 7 departments : Center, Grande-Anse, Nippes, North-East North-West, South and North... Results* by department of the single Baccalaureate (S4) 2022/2023: (in descending order) Center: out of 7,097 participants, 4,089 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 57.62% (slight increase) the previous year 56.67% Nippes: out of 3,592 participants, 1,749 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 48.69% (sharp drop) the previous year 67.09% North-West: out of 6,471 participants, 2,927 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 45.23% (sharp drop) the previous year 60.04%% North-East: out of 4,482 participants, 1,800 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 40.16% (very sharp drop) the previous year 70.33% South: out of 6,183 participants, 2,445 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 39.54% (very sharp drop) the previous year 85.77% Grande Anse: out of 3,678 participants, 1,400 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 38.06% (sharp drop) the previous year 50.36% North: out of 11,935 participants, 3,652 candidates admitted, i.e. a success rate of 30.06% (strong drop) the previous year 47.54% *According to data provided by the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE). The Ministry informs that the results of the other departments will be communicated shortly. School directors are invited to collect their school's ranking from the relevant Departmental Directorate of Education (DDE). Pour consulter les resultats par eleve pour ces 6 departements CLIQUEZ SUR CE LIEN IMPORTANT: This official BUNEXE address can be difficult to access due to the too large number of applicants which overloads the Government server and sometimes makes it dysfunctional. If you are unable to reach the BUNEXE site, avoid trying to access several times in a row, you will only further saturate the BUNEXE server. It is best to try again with an interval of 10 to 30 minutes and be very patient. HL/ HaitiFree Haiti - Justice : At least 52 foreigners are languishing in Haitian prisons A certain number of foreigners are incarcerated in Haiti "Even if the list is not exhaustive, we can count at least 52 foreign nationals from : Colombia (including members of the commando who assassinated President Jovenel Moise), Jamaica , from the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Uruguay, Bolivia, the United States and Nigeria among others... most of whom are detained on drug or murder charges [...]," declared Inspector General Pierre Rene Francois, emphasizing that most do not know if they will one day be judged He said the 52 foreigners are being held in several penitentiaries in Haiti, where at least 142 other prisoners have died in 2022, most from malnutrition, cholera, tuberculosis or other infectious diseases. Prison officials said relatives of several foreign detainees contacted them through their respective embassies or consulates to learn more about their conditions of detention. PI/ HaitiLibre The daily newspaper reported at the end of last month that 60 per cent of the 1,044 survey respondents stated that they do not consider fur farming ethically acceptable and 49 per cent that fur farming should be prohibited in Finland. THE MAJORITY of Finns do not regard fur farming as ethically acceptable, reveals a survey commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat. The proportion of respondents in favour of prohibiting the industry has crept up by four percentage points in the past two years. Over a quarter, or 27 per cent, of respondents contrastively viewed that fur farming is ethically acceptable and 33 per cent that it should not be prohibited. Most EU members states have prohibited fur farming fully or partly. Austria, Germany and the Netherlands called for a bloc-wide ban on fur farming on grounds of animal welfare and public health risks at a meeting of agriculture and fishery ministers in Luxembourg in June. With the proposal drawing support from 14 other member states, Finland was part of a smaller group of member states opposing the ban. Animal health and welfare are a prerequisite for all sustainable animal production, including fur production. A fur industry that recognises its responsibility is responsible for its part for looking after and improving animal welfare, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah (CD) stated to Helsingin Sanomat in June. The well-being of fur animals can and must be improved based on the latest scientific knowledge and best practices without having to ban the industry. Many member states have already prohibited the industry in their national legislation. The fur industry has faced scrutiny and difficulty this summer following the detection of a highly pathogenic strain of the avian influenza at several fur farms in Finland. The detection has led to the culling of tens of thousands of fur-bearing animals over a concern that minks, in particular, could simultaneously contract the avian and regular influenza and produce a recombinant virus that poses a serious threat to humans. Helsingin Sanomat on 31 August wrote that attitudes toward fur-farming vary significantly based on the age and gender of the survey respondents, with women more likely than men and young people more likely than old people to both view the industry as unethical and support its prohibition. Supporters of the Green League and Left Alliance viewed almost without exception that fur-farming is unethical and should be prohibited. The sentiment was shared by over half of those who identified as supporters of the Social Democrats. Roughly half of Centre, Finns Party and National Coalition supporters viewed contrastively that the industry should not be banned. The problems of the industry stem not only from public health concerns but also the economic sustainability. Nordea and OP Financial Group, the two largest financial groups in Finland, are effectively no longer granting loans to fur farms due to weak profitability and ethical and social considerations, Helsingin Sanomat reported on 26 August. When we weigh up risks related to natural production, we dont look exclusively at economic indicators but also at ethical and social perspectives, said Nina Arkilahti, the head of business banking at Nordea. The demand for furs, she reminded, is declining in the West. And for perfectly valid reasons. Business operations that are based on animal production where only the furs are utilised to produce clothing arent on a sustainable foundation, she commented to the newspaper. The number of active fur farms has collapsed from well over 4,000 in 1980 to 400 in 2022. Last year, 62 per cent of companies in the industry reported an operating loss, according to another report by the newspaper. Finnish fur exports to two key markets have been disrupted in recent times. Exports to China were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic and exports to Russia by the export ban imposed on luxury items worth over 300 euros over Russias war of aggression in Ukraine. The ban does not apply to raw skins, tanned furs or modified furs. The Finnish Fur Breeders Association (Fifur) has been caught in recent years exaggerating the employment, export and tax impact of the declining industry. Statistics Finland in August 2022 confirmed that Fifur has double-counted jobs in the industry by claiming that the industry has a direct employment impact of 3,185 people. The industry lobby did not immediately correct the exaggerated figures, according to an investigative report by YLE. Actually the industry provided employment to slightly fewer than 1,600 people and generated products worth 64 million euros, equalling less than a tenth of a per cent of the value of Finnish goods exports. The vast majority, or 96 per cent, of the value was generated in four counties in Ostrobothnia. Helsingin Sanomat's survey found that 52 per cent of respondents believe people who make a living from fur farming should be encouraged to pursue another occupation with public subsidies. Three in ten expressed their opposition to the idea. The respondents were also asked about their level of concern about reports that the avian influenza is spreading at fur farms: three per cent told that they are very concerned, 38 per cent that they are somewhat concerned, 37 per cent that they are not particularly concerned and 20 per cent that they are hardly at all concerned. The survey was carried out on 2530 August by Kantar Public. Aleksi Teivainen HT Adriana Alvarez wins scholarship for public health studies "I am pursuing a MPH with a concentration in place-based health which will allow me to further develop the skills needed to connect with different communities," Alvarez said. "While working with various rural communities in WNC, I have learned that developing connections with community members is vital to effectively assist the community. Through fostering these connections, we were able to vaccinate over 100 individuals who would have otherwise not have had access to the Covid-19 vaccines at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. "With my degree, my goal is to start a non-profit clinic that provides accessible primary care for low-income populations as well as immigrant and undocumented populations." Alvarez earned a degree in public health at Agnes Scott College in 2020 before enrolling this year in the master of public health program. The competitive tuition-offset scholarships are awarded to public health students who have lived or worked in Western North Carolina and have expressed a commitment to serve mountain communities that have been underserved and disproportionately affected by structural biases. THE 20-year-old romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding might never have become the hit it has were it not for actress Rita Wilson, aka Mrs Tom Hanks. She took her husband to see the original stage version, written as a one-woman show by its star Nia Vardalos and, just two months after the plays run ended in Los Angeles, Hanks signed her up for his film production company. The resulting movie, based by Vardalos on her own exuberant family and her experience of marrying a non-Greek man, was made on a budget of just $5 million but went on to gross more than $320 million, making it one of the most profitable films of all time. A 2016 sequel with largely the same cast achieved only modest success and now the original actors return for a third time in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 (12A), opening this week at the Henley Regal Picturehouse. Vardalos, who also directs, reprises her role as Toula with John Corbett as husband Ian, Lainie Kazan as her mother, Louis Mandylor as brother Nick, Gia Carides as cousin Nikki and Joey Fatone as cousin Angelo. Hanks and Wilson are the producers. This time the film follows the noisy, nosy Portokalos family as they travel to Greece for a reunion following the death of patriarch Gus, played by Michael Constantine, who died in 2021. The film is dedicated to his memory. The film has a running time of 90 minutes. Also opening after last weeks preview is Past Lives (12A), a film from South Korea in which two childhood sweethearts reunite decades later to realise they were meant for each other. The film has a running time of one hour, 46 minutes. Barbie (12A), Oppenheimer (15) and Scrapper (12) all continue. As India proudly hosts the G-20 Summit in September the leaders of the worlds largest economies will assemble and develop the global agenda for the upcoming year. Behind each of the decisions being taken at this Summit, there are Civil Servants who are providing critical inputs and making decisions that would shape the lives of people not only in India but around the world. The Role of Civil Servants: A Glimpse into Their Responsibilities This is merely a glimpse of the responsibilities that are expected to be carried out by the Civil Servants of our country. They also play an important role in the policy formulation and their implementation. To be a part of this team, they undergo a rigorous selection process under the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE), one of the most challenging and prestigious examinations in India. The UPSC CSE: A Test of Multifaceted Skills This examination is not just a test of knowledge, it evaluates candidates on a wide range of skills and attributes essential for effective administration and governance. To navigate this demanding journey successfully, it's crucial to understand the intricacies of each stage and the skills required to excel. Preliminary Examination: The First Step The Preliminary Examination serves as the initial platform in an aspirant's pursuit of becoming a civil servant. It consists of two objective-type papers: General Studies Paper I and General Studies Paper II (CSAT). This stage aims to evaluate the aspirant's readiness for the more in-depth Main Examination by assessing their fundamental knowledge, current affairs awareness, and cognitive abilities needed in Civil Servants. Mains Examination: The Analytical Crucible The Mains Examination is the written stage that delves deeper into an aspirant's knowledge and analytical skills. It comprises nine papers, including four General Studies papers including Ethics, two papers for an optional subject, and one Essay paper. This stage assesses the aspirant's ability to think critically, analyze complex issues, and communicate effectively through coherent and cogent writing. Personality Test (Interview) The final stage of the UPSC CSE is the Personality Test, commonly known as the Interview round. It's a crucial assessment stage that evaluates an aspirant's intellectual and social traits that reflect their ability to interact effectively with diverse groups of people and their readiness for a career in Civil Services. Holistic Preparedness: A Necessity In light of the diverse requirements and challenges posed by each stage of the UPSC examination, it becomes abundantly clear that holistic preparedness is not just an advantage but a necessity. To stand out as a well-rounded and successful aspirant, it is crucial to embark on a preparation journey that integrates various facets from the beginning itself. Key To Success: A Smart and Integrated Preparation Strategy At the heart of UPSC success lies the need for a smart and integrated preparation strategy for Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages. Each of these stages requires a distinct set of skills and knowledge. Weaving them into a cohesive strategy to develop knowledge, competencies, and personality traits needed to excel at each stage of the examination becomes essential. This would not only optimize the use of time and resources but also ensure that aspirants are consistently progressing toward their goal. Building a Strong Foundation After having adopted such a strategy, aspirants need to progressively move towards laying the foundation of their preparation in subjects like History, Geography, Economics, Polity, and the Environment. This forms the cornerstone of their preparation and is applicable to both Prelims and Mains which need to be constantly updated and enriched with current affairs and regular newspaper reading. The Role of Quality Resources: A Crucial Factor In this endeavor, access to reliable, validated, and effective resources and study materials play a crucial role as it not only helps aspirants build the requisite knowledge base but also save valuable time and effort in developing the same. Developing Essential Skills: Problem-Solving and Answer Writing However, mere possession of knowledge is not sufficient as the development of problem-solving and answer writing skills for Prelims and Mains examinations respectively constitute the most consequential phase of the preparation. In this regard, Mock Tests and Previous Year Questions play a decisive role in familiarizing an aspirant with the demands of the examination, the nature and pattern of questions, and evolving dynamics requiring nimble strategies to cater to this demand. Valuable Insights and Guidance: The Mentor's Touch Furthermore, quality assessment, performance analysis, and targeted feedback can help aspirants evaluate their progress, identify areas for improvement, and refine their approach accordingly. At the same time, quality guidance from experienced peers, friends, and Mentors can provide valuable insights, study plans, targeted interventions, and emotional support, to continuously improve and remain on track to achieve success in this examination. Learning From Toppers Success Strategies Here, one can gain valuable insights from the Toppers Talk and their Answer Scripts in the form of essential lessons to enrich their own skills for Prelims and Mains examinations and refine preparation approaches. Furthermore, they can help adopt innovative learning techniques, precise note-making, and effective revision strategies to help learn, retain, and apply the learned knowledge. Mental Resilience and Unwavering Motivation It needs to be acknowledged that the UPSC journey is a long and challenging one. Developing mental resilience in the face of obstacles and keeping a high motivation level by continually reminding oneself of their ultimate goal helps to stay committed and steadfast toward goal attainment. Innate Potential for Great Achievements There is an innate potential in each aspirant to achieve great and magnificent outcomes when they put their hearts and minds into it. With hard work, dedication, and perseverance with a single focus, any challenges can be surmounted and any goal can be achieved by the brilliance of a human mind and perseverance in effort. India's Transformation: The Role of Civil Servants As India moves with a confident stride in its developmental journey carrying the aspirations of more than a billion people, it would require dedicated officers and committed bureaucracy to turn these dreams into reality. The UPSC CSE provides that gateway to be a part of a nucleus of Team India that drives this transformation of India into a developed nation by 2047 Visit us at: http://www.visionias.in/delhi/ Or Call us at: 8468022022, 9019066066 Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Mumbai, September - BOSS Appliances, a name synonymous with innovation and excellence, proudly introduces India's first Hand Blender featuring an industry-disrupting 5-year warranty. With a rich history dating back to 1985, BOSS embarked on its mission with perseverance, continuous growth, and strategic reformation. The result was the creation of India's very first Hand Blender, a product that not only redefined cooking practices but also shaped the way Indian households operated. BOSS has evolved into a powerhouse of kitchen innovation, expanding into a diverse array of products, including mixer grinders, juice extractors, food processors, oven toaster grillers, and many more. With a visionary outlook and a dedication to delivering exceptional value, BOSS has expanded from a single product offering to a comprehensive product range encompassing over 60 products across 13 distinct categories. This remarkable feat is supported by an expansive Pan India service network, along with a robust retail presence of 6000+ retailers. BOSS Appliances' offerings have captured the hearts, trust, and preference of not just Indian households, but have also made their mark in international markets, including the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the USA. With 35 years of leadership in India's kitchen appliances sector, the brand has garnered numerous awards for its superior quality, user-centric design, and innovative edge. The brand's unwavering commitment to quality has led to ISO certifications, adhering to stringent Indian and international norms such as ISI, CB, and G-Mark, in addition to rigorous manufacturing and quality inspection standards. Looking ahead, the brand aspires to ascend to the forefront of the home appliances industry by consistently elevating benchmarks in product utility, innovation, and durability. With the introduction of India's first hand blender featuring an unparalleled 5-year warranty, BOSS Appliances is certain to revolutionize kitchen experiences once again. For further information about BOSS and its exceptional product range, please visit https://bossindia.com/ or contact +91 91440 91440 About BOSS Appliances: Established in 1985, BOSS Appliances has evolved from a hand blender manufacturer to a comprehensive provider of kitchen and household appliances. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, the brand's extensive product range and global presence reflect its dedication to excellence. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Food Tiger is committed to delivering convenience, quality, and satisfaction to your dining experience. With our user-centric approach and a commitment to timely deliveries, we aim to be your go-to food delivery app, ensuring that your cravings are always satisfied. Download Food Tiger today and embark on a culinary journey like never before. Your favourite dishes are just a tap away! Food Tiger is One of the fastest growing food and grocery delivery App chain in all over India Food tiger has made it easy to go and Order from your favourite restaurants & track on the go, with the all-new FoodTiger app. The app is so convenient and easy to use that it will become your daily convenience companion and its Powered by tech and operational excellence. The app is creating a powerful impact on the food industry. Food Tiger has been growing its quick-commerce footprint in more than 40 cities across 11 markets in India Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, Chennai, Lucknow, Indore, and Ahmedabad. The app was launched in 2014. The technology platform that connects customers, restaurant partners and delivery partners, serving their multiple needs. Customers use our platform to search and discover restaurants, read and write customer generated reviews and view and upload photos, order food delivery. The app also provides restaurant partners with industry-specific marketing tools which enable them to engage and acquire customers to grow their business while also providing a reliable and efficient last mile delivery service. We also operate a one-stop procurement solution, Hyperpure, which supplies high quality ingredients and kitchen products to restaurant partners. We also provide our delivery partners with transparent and flexible earning opportunities. Food Tiger has a wide options of food and groceries in one tap solution for your daily needs around the corner . the app is a culinary that celebrates the rich tapestry of india cuisine while making it easier than ever to explore order and enjoy the diverse flavours of this vibrant nation . its not just an app : its a passport to the world of gastronomic adventures in the palm of your hand .download the foodtiger app today and embark on a journey to discover the heart and soul of Indian foods. Food tiger also has a franchise module where u can invest in and start your own dream business where you are your own boss . let us see the offers and services Offered by food tiger and why only foodtiger is the future of culinary business. Food Tiger WHY FOOD TIGER? Unparalleled Culinary Excellence Seamless Technology Integration Diverse and Extensive Menu Lightning-fast delivery Sustainable Practice Community Centric Approach Customer centric Experience Innovation and AI Hyenine and safety Charitable initiatives Global Reach FRANCHISE MODELS AVAILIABLE: City Franchise 10 Lac Investment Office Area 300 SFT 2 Sales Manager 1 Computer Operator Income : 40% Of total Sales from All City IT Support: Admin DashBoard Restaurant Dashboard Delivery Partner Mobile App Marketing Support: Advertising Support Sales Support Recruitment Support Promotion Activities Delivery Partner Appointment Delivery Franchise Delivery Franchise 2 Lac Investment Delivery Boy with Bike Income : Rs. 50 on Delivery of Per Order IT Support: Admin DashBoard Restaurant Dashboard Delivery Partner Mobile App Delivery Bag, Tshirt, Cap Marketing Support: Advertising Support Sales Support Recruitment Support Promotion Activities Delivery Partner Appointment Dark Store Franchise DarkStore Franchise 20 Lac Investment Store Area 1000 SFT 1 Sales Manager 1 Computer Operator Income : 10% Of total Sales from All State IT Support: Admin DashBoard Restaurant Dashboard Delivery Partner Mobile App Marketing Support: Advertising Support Sales Support Recruitment Support Promotion Activities Delivery Partner Appointment WAREHOUSE FRANCHISE: Warehouse Franchise 15 Lac Investment Store Area 1000 SFT 1 Sales Manager 1 Computer Operator Income : 10% Of total Sales from All State IT Support: Admin DashBoard Restaurant Dashboard Delivery Partner Mobile App Marketing Support: Advertising Support Sales Support Recruitment Support Promotion Activities Delivery Partner Appointment FRANCHISE SUPPPORT food tiger provides various types of personal and techinical supports to the franchisees to help them maintain AND SUPPORT CONSISTENT BRAND Standards with below main key areas of support for better and successful running of the bussiness Training and Onboarding: Provide comprehensive training programs for franchisees and their staff, covering operations, customer service, order management, and use of technology platforms. This ensures that franchisees are well-equipped to run their delivery operations efficiently and effectively. Site Selection and Set-Up: Assist franchisees in selecting suitable locations for their delivery hubs or kitchens, considering factors like customer density, accessibility, and visibility. Offer guidance on the layout, design, and equipment setup to ensure smooth operations. Operational Support: Offer ongoing operational guidance and best practices to help franchisees streamline their order processing, delivery logistics, inventory management, and quality control. Operational Support: Offer ongoing operational guidance and best practices to help franchisees streamline their order processing, delivery logistics, inventory management, and quality control. Operational Support: Offer ongoing operational guidance and best practices to help franchisees streamline their order processing, delivery logistics, inventory management, and quality control. Operational Support: Offer ongoing operational guidance and best practices to help franchisees streamline their order processing, delivery logistics, inventory management, and quality control. Supply Chain Management: Help franchisees establish relationships with approved suppliers and negotiate favorable pricing for ingredients, packaging, and other supplies. This ensures consistency in product quality and cost-efficiency. Supply Chain Management: Help franchisees establish relationships with approved suppliers and negotiate favorable pricing for ingredients, packaging, and other supplies. This ensures consistency in product quality and cost-efficiency. Supply Chain Management: Help franchisees establish relationships with approved suppliers and negotiate favorable pricing for ingredients, packaging, and other supplies. This ensures consistency in product quality and cost-efficiency. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. Financial Guidance: Offer financial planning support, including assistance with budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis. Provide benchmarking data and financial models to help franchisees set realistic goals and monitor their financial health. FRANCHISE REQUIREMENT Franchise requirements for a FoodTiger based on the company's specific business model, industry regulations, and overall goals. However, here are some common franchise requirements that a FoodTiger might consider: Initial Investment: Franchisees will need to make an initial investment to cover costs such as franchise fees, training, equipment, technology, marketing, and initial inventory. The investment amount can vary significantly depending on factors like location, size of the delivery area, and the company's brand. Franchise Fee: Franchisees typically pay a one-time franchise fee for the right to operate under the company's brand and utilize its systems and support. This fee can vary widely and may be influenced by factors like the company's reputation and market presence. Business Experience: Franchisees might be required to have a certain level of business experience or management skills to ensure the successful operation of the delivery business. Some food delivery companies may prefer franchisees with prior experience in the restaurant or hospitality industry. Financial Stability: Franchisees should demonstrate financial stability and have the necessary capital to fund the startup and ongoing operations of the franchise. This may involve providing financial statements, credit history, and proof of available funds. Location and Infrastructure: Franchisees need to secure a suitable location for their delivery hub or kitchen, ensuring it meets the company's specifications for size, layout, and accessibility. They should also have the necessary infrastructure to support delivery operations, including equipment and technology. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Franchisees must adhere to all local, state, and federal regulations related to food preparation, health and safety, licensing, permits, and zoning. The food delivery company may provide guidance and support in navigating these requirements. Training: Franchisees and their staff will likely need to complete comprehensive training programs provided by the company. This training covers various aspects of operating the food delivery business, including order processing, customer service, technology usage, and quality control. Use of Technology: Franchisees should be willing and able to use the company's designated technology platforms, such as the ordering app, website, and delivery tracking systems, to ensure consistent customer experiences. Marketing and Branding: Franchisees are expected to adhere to the company's branding guidelines and participate in local marketing initiatives to promote their delivery services effectively. Operational Standards: Franchisees must follow the company's operational standards, including menu offerings, food quality, packaging, delivery times, and customer service protocols. Agreement Terms: Franchisees will enter into a franchise agreement that outlines the terms, obligations, and rights of both parties. This legal document will specify details such as territory rights, royalty payments, and renewal options. It's important for both the FoodTiger and potential franchisees to engage in thorough due diligence and discussions to ensure a clear understanding of the franchise requirements, expectations, and the support provided. Each company's specific requirements will depend on its business model, objectives, and market conditions. For more such details you can visit our website : http://foodtigerindia.com/ Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Amid a surge in dengue cases in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he has instructed officials to take all necessary precautionary measures to prevent spread of the vector borne disease and urged the people to give utmost priority to cleanliness in their neighbourhoods. Over 7,000 dengue cases reported in Karnataka, CM instructs for measures Also Read - Karnataka pvt transport unions call for bandh today In a Facebook post on his official page, he said more than 7,000 dengue cases have been reported across the state in the last few days, out of which more than 4,000 cases were from Bengaluru city alone. "Spoke to concerned department officials about the rapid spread of dengue, instructed them to take all necessary precautionary measures. In Bengaluru city limits, effective measures are being followed for mosquito control including spraying of medicines, identifying places where water is stored and cleaning them," Siddaramaiah said. "I request the public to give priority to cleanliness around the house and be careful about mosquito bites. Don't be afraid of dengue, be aware," the chief minister added. On Friday, Karnataka Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao launched a disease surveillance dashboard and a mobile application for effective monitoring and curbing of dengue. The dashboard, a disease forecasting software, has been developed in partnership with the Department of Health, Bengaluru municipal corporation -- Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) -- and the AI and Robotics Technology Park (ARTPARK ) -- at the Indian Institute of Science to assist policymakers and public health officials in preparing for outbreaks and managing disease control activities. According to officials, the dashboard based on the Artificial Intelligence model can predict surge in infections four weeks in advance. It provides a map of outbreaks across Karnataka at the district and sub-district levels along with case trends across years. A 4-week predictive risk map of outbreaks will also be made available to state and district officers. In addition to predictions, data from multiple sources is being standardised and streamlined for improved analysis. Both the dashboard and mobile app are focused on dengue, to begin with, and the aim is to expand to additional diseases in the future, the officials had said. The officials said the dashboard can be accessed only by the healthcare workers and health officials as of now and soon it will be made available for the public to view the latest data related to dengue cases in their specific jurisdictions. The mobile app is also a linked application to the dashboard but it functions independently. As of now, the mobile app is piloted in BBMP jurisdiction. ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers, medical officers, healthcare workers and spraymen will be using the application. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In yet another theft at a locked factory, burglars made off with 6 lakh in cash and copper wires from a factory in Industrial Area, Phase 2, on Sunday night. Chandigarh police have lodged an FIR under Sections 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Before fleeing, the thieves also took away the DVR of the CCTV cameras on the premises in an attempt to impede police probe. Maman Chand, a resident of Sector 7, Panchkula, in his complaint to the police, said he had locked his factory, RK Enterprises, around 9.30 pm on Sunday and returned home. Just 45 minutes later, he received a call from a worker that the lock of the small door of the factorys main shutter was broken. Chand said he rushed back to the factory and realised there had been a theft. Apart from copper wires, the thieves stole 6 lakh in cash from the drawers of his table. Sector 31 police have lodged an FIR under Sections 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). On August 15, 24 lakh in cash, a mobile phone and a cheque book were stolen from a factory in Industrial Area while it was closed for Independence Day holiday. Police had cracked the case two weeks later with the arrest of three habitual offenders, two aged 19 and one aged 20. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 45-year-old businessman shot himself in the temple with a .32-bore pistol at his friends flat in Motia Royal City, Zirakpur, on Monday. Police said the deceased, who was a resident of Majri Mohalla, Markanda, Haryana, did not leave behind a suicide note. (iStock) His friend, a property dealer, tried to pacify the businessman when he took out his licensed pistol to shoot himself, but failed, said the police. Seeing the weapon, a man accompanying the deceased fled the spot. Police said the deceased, who was a resident of Majri Mohalla, Markanda, Haryana, did not leave behind a suicide note. They said he was married and had made multiple attempts to end his life in the past. He, along with a female friend, used to live in the same society in a flat that he had rented through the property dealer in 2021. According to sources, the deceased and his female friend had consumed some poisonous substance in the past. While the woman had died, he had survived. In the current case, police said the deceased, along with a male friend, visited the property dealers flat around 1 pm. The realtors family was also at home. After having a cup of tea, the businessman took out a pistol. Seeing this, the man accompanying him fled. His friend tried to stop him and console him, but he eventually shot himself, a police official said. The body of the deceased was moved to the mortuary of Dera Bassi civil hospital for autopsy. Police are looking for the man who had accompanied him to the realtors house to know the reason behind his extreme step. His kin told the police that his business was going well and they were not aware if he was under stress. Police have initiated inquest proceedings in the matter. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nikhil Sharma Nikhil Sharma is a staff reporter who covers Faridkot district in the Mansa region of Punjab. ...view detail Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday said the state government has sought permission from the Union government to prepone the procurement of paddy and millets, in view of the farmers demands. Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala on Monday said the state government has sought permission from the Union government to prepone the procurement of paddy and millets, in view of the farmers demands. (HT File) While the Centre has given directions to start the procurement of paddy and millets from October 1, Chautala, who also holds the portfolio of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, said that he has requested the Central government to allow procurement of paddy from September 25 and millet from September 20. If the permission is granted, procurement process can be started even before October 1, said Chautala, adding that paddy will be procured by the food, civil supplies and consumer affairs department, HAFED, Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, and Food Corporation of India. Chautala directed the officers concerned to make adequate arrangements, such as a fire tender every market, during the procurement season. Maize procurement will start from September 20, moong from October 1, sesame, arhar and urad from December 1. The deputy CM said this years target for paddy purchase is 60 lakh metric tonnes. The paddy will be procured across 215 procurement centres while 92 places have been earmarked for procurement of millets. Agriculture and farmers welfare minister JP Dalal said the government has taken measures to ensure availability of fertilisers. He said that recently a meeting was held through video conferencing under the chairmanship of Union chemicals and fertiliser minister Mansukh Mandaviya regarding the availability of fertilisers. Dalal said chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also held meetings with the Union minister on this issue. He said the state has adequate stock of DAP and urea. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Over a month after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) started livestreaming Gurbani from the Golden Temple on its YouTube channel, its Haryana counterpart also followed suit and started worldwide broadcast of Gurbani from Nada Sahib Gurdwara, Panchkula, on Monday. HSGMC general secretary Ramnik Singh Mann (centre) addressing the media at Nada Sahib gurdwara, Panchkula, on Monday. (SANT ARORA/HT) Gurbani will now be streamed to 63 countries from 3.14 am to 8am, Indian Standard Time (IST), through World Punjabi TV. Besides, the livestream will also be available on our social media page and YouTube channel, said Ramnik Singh Mann, general secretary of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) while addressing the media on Monday. He added, Though any channel can telecast Gurbani, the channel will have to give an undertaking to follow the maryada (code of conduct). No advertisement or commercial break will be allowed between the telecast. All rights will remain with the HSGMC, said Mann. He said, This is a big milestone, and one of the first decisions we have taken after assuming charge of the gurdwara body. The Nada Sahib Gurdwara is situated on the banks of Ghaggar river and is the place where Guru Gobind Singh had halted while travelling from Ponta Sahib to Anandpur Sahib after the Battle of Bhangani in 1688. Punjabs Gurbani telecast row The SGPC had rolled out its YouTube channel, Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Sri Amritsar on July 24 for livecast of Gurbani, amid controversy around its telecast by PTC, a private channel. The Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab had got the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed in the assembly to end the monopoly of PTC and ensure free telecast for all. The SGPC had, however, termed the move as an intolerable interference of the government in Sikh affairs. The G-Next Media Private Limited (PTC channel) has held the Gurbani telecast rights since 1998 when the SGPC signed an agreement with it. The SGPC had last signed an agreement to this effect on July 24, 2012, for 11 years under which G-Next Media was to deposit 1 crore annually (with a 10% annual increase) to the education fund of the SGPC. However, this year, the gurdwara body decided to not renew the agreement and start the streaming Gurbani from its own YouTube channel. On HSGMC elections Talking about preparation for HSGMC elections, Mann said the process of enrolling voters is underway and by September 30, the registration of voters will be done after which the voter list will be prepared. The HSGMC general secretary added, As many as 40 wards have been made after the delimitation process for HSGMC elections. We had held a meeting with Haryana CM, in which we had raised a few concerns, like the form being in Hindi and the need to make it available in Gurmukhi etc. The CM has already issued directions to this effect, added Mann. He also said that since there arent many Haryana officials who are fluent in Punjabi, teachers, lecturers and other language experts have been attached with the deputy commissioners for preparing the voter list and carrying out the election process. In December 2022, the Haryana government had constituted the 38-member ad hoc committee to manage, supervise and take over all assets of 52 gurdwaras in the state, including movable and immovable properties. In September last year, the Supreme Court had upheld the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara (Management) Act, 2014, bringing all gurdwaras under the control of the HSGMC. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Three labourers from Nepal were killed and five injured when the tipper truck they were travelling in veered off the road and fell into a gorge at Khashdhar in Chirgaon tehsil of Shimlas Rohru sub division, police said on Monday. Three labourers from Nepal were killed when the tipper truck they were travelling in veered off the road and fell into a gorge at Khashdhar in Chirgaon tehsil of Shimlas Rohru sub division on Sunday. (Representational photo) Also read: Himachal to receive light rain this week The victims, all natives of Nepal, were working for a contractor engaged with the public works department for constructing a road in Chirgaon and were returning home when the accident took place on Sunday evening, Shimla superintendent of police (SP) Sanjeev Gandhi said. Rescue teams took all eight victims to the civil hospital at Rohru, where doctors declared three brought dead. A case was registered and investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the accident. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab, Chandigarh and north Indian states have suitable atmosphere for trade and investments. There are schemes of Union government to make India self-reliant and for this, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes for 14 key sectors have been announced to enhance exports, said Som Parkash, minister of state of commerce and industry, during a conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Monday. Union minister Som Parkash with others during the CII northern regions Conference on Demystifying Trade and Investment in Chandigarh on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT) He added that government has removed 39,000 compliances and decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central acts. CII northern regions conference on Demystifying trade and investment brought together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to deliberate on the role of quality standards in enhancing exports. Patrick Hebert, consul general, Chandigarh, Consulate General of Canada, said, India and Canada are among the top 9 trading partners for each other. Our bilateral trade in goods and services has bounced back after the Covid pandemic and is approaching US $23 billion, a record high for India-Canada relations. Hebert said that Canadian firms are investing in India, especially in Punjab and Chandigarh, while looking at the growing demands in the region. He said that negotiations are ongoing for a conclusion of the Early Progress Trade Agreement. Utpal Kumar Acharya, joint DGFT - Chandigarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Leh and Ladakh, announced that post offices will serve as export centres for transactions up to 5 lakh, with plans for future expansion. CII northern region exports task force chairperson Amit Thapar emphasised the need for the manufacturing sector to produce world-class products at world-class prices. The office bearers of the Chamber of Chandigarh Industries (CCI) submitted a memorandum to minister Som Parkash seeking help in reviving the industries in the city. CCI general secretary Arun Goel said, The industries are being neglected by UT administration and are struggling. Even the MSME scheme is not being implemented properly. We request your intervention to promote trade and investment in. While assuring help, Parkash said that he will meet UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit to discuss the matter. Minister lays foundation stone of girls hostel at FDDI Mohali Later in the day, the minister laid the foundation stone of the girls hostel at Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI), Banur. FDDI managing director Arun Kumar Sinha was the guest of honour at the inauguration of the hostel that will accommodate 242 students. Addressing the gathering, he said that a Punjab will have a good future in shoe and leather-related industries. He emphasised that in todays time of competition and fashion, product quality is of utmost importance. He added that institutes like FDDI play an important role in bringing Indian products on the global map. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON There is a beeline of local and foreign tourists enjoying the beauty of Aru Valley surrounded by majestic mountains and a gushing rivulet passing on the side. The Valley is around 12 kilometers from Pahalgam and a stopover to the famous Kolahoi glacier. HT Image The resort, known for breath-taking ice-fed streams, lakes, pine forests, mountain trails and glaciers, is a trekkers paradise, with mostly foreign trekkers exploring the destination. And for nature lovers, on the outskirts of Aru, there is a tented accommodation for tourists. While foreign tourists love to go for horse rides or trekking, tourists from different parts of the country enjoy in taking a stroll on the lush green meadow. Over the past two years, locals say a large number of tourists are visiting Aru, encouraging authorities to lay fresh macdam on the uphill road right from Pahalgam. Its a very beautiful place. I would like to spend a full day here, said Fedrik, a tourist from the United States, adding, The only thing I can say is Kashmir is beautiful. Another foreigner, Mouin ul Haq, who works as a freelance journalist in Bangladesh, was capturing beauty on his DSLR camera while his wife Menu and daughter were busy taking selfies. He said has been to several South Asian countries along with his family but Kashmirs beauty is all along different. We came from Kolkotta to Kashmir and stayed here a couple of nights in Pahalgam, and then moved to Srinagar and other tourist places. Our trip has been wonderful. Hope I will come again to this place, said Haq. A newly married young couple from Karnataka said they liked Pahalgam and its surrounding villages. We have extended our stay here for one more night and would love to come to this place again. Despite the Amarnath yatra, when heightened security was placed around the resort, more than three lakh tourists visited the resort and its adjoining localities. In July and August, around 3,22, 594 tourists visited Pahalgam. Now more tourists will come as yatra has ended and many people have made advance bookings in hotels, cottages, and huts, a senior tourism officer said. Though the yatra has ended, the rush in the market that houses dozens of shops of Kashmiri art has started picking up and traders are hoping that tourists will flock to the resort so they too can make some earnings. For us, the last two months were a lean business period. The yatris never stopped in the market and due to the extra security, less number of tourists came to this place. We hope now rush will go up, said Raja Waseem, who owns a big shop of Kashmir handicrafts in the main market. Another trader Ghulam Jeelani who lives in neighbouring Batkote village and owns a dry fruit shop in the market said hotel owners have confirmed good bookings after the yatra. We hope tourists turn in good numbers so we too can make profits. Earlier this place used to be full of foreigners, now very less foreign tourists visit the resort, he said. Irshad Ahmad, manager of a prominent hotel in Pahalgam, said now tourists from southern parts of the country and non-resident Indians (NRIs) also visit in good numbers, which is encouraging. From the past three years, there has been a spike in tourists arrival but still it will take time to declare Pahalgam a destination visited by the maximum number of tourists. He said the government should try to look for options when more tourists will prefer to visit Pahalgam during winter. Efforts and facilities should be created to make Pahalgam a winter tourist destination. He said the shooting crews have started returning to Pahalgam. Another hotelier said Phalgams infrastructure is still far behind with top destinations of the world. If tourists prefer to visit Pahalgam, they should get world-class infrastructure. Unfortunately, we still lag behind. With the success of the multi-phase Gondola cable car lift at the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the cable car corporation is also planning a Gondola feature at Pahalgam. The corporation aims to propose to the government the construction of the cable car in the picturesque Pahalgam tourist resort in Anantnag known for some breath-taking ice-fed streams, lakes, pine forests, mountain trails and glaciers. The corporation surveyed some four probable areas but appears to have selected the route from Yatri Niwas, a property of J&K Tourism Development Corporation, to Bai-Saran, a meadow on a hilltop surrounded by pine forests and snow-clad mountains. In 2022, Pahalgam recorded a tourist footfall of about 7.89 lakhs of which 2.60 lakhs were local visitors of J&K. Officials said this year the number will cross the one million mark. The government figures claim that 1.27 crore tourists, including foreigners, have visited J&K till August and the Valley has seen a 59% increase in foreign tourists. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The situation in eastern Ladakh was very nice and being head of the Northern Command, I would not allow anyone to come on the Indian side, said Northern Command chief lieutenant general Upendra Dwivedi on Monday while fielding media queries during the three-day-long North Tech Symposium --2023 that began at the IIT Jammu. Chief of defence staff general Anil Chauhan (right) with general officer commanding-in-chief Northern Command lieutenant general Upendra Dwivedi during the North Tech Symposium 2023 at IIT Jammu on Monday. (PTI) Ladakhs lieutenant governor Brigadier (retired) BD Mishra said Not an inch of Indian land has been occupied. Lieutenant general Dwivedi said, We are always operationally prepared on the Line of Control (LOC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) to meet any challenges with Pakistan and China. As an Army commander of the Northern Command, whatever I am guarding is our area and I will not allow anyone to come on the Indian side, he responded to a pointed query on the situation in eastern Ladakh. He asserted that the situation in Ladakh was normal and very nice. It may be recalled here that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his nine-day-long Ladakh visit, had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of peddling lies to the opposition over Chinese incursion in eastern Ladakh. India and China have been locked in a protracted border standoff in eastern Ladakh for the past three years. Ties between the two neighbours nosedived following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020 when 20 Indian soldiers died in hand-to-hand combat with the Chinese troops. On August 13 and 14, both the countries held 19th round of Corps Commander-level meetings at the Chushul-Moldo border. General Dwivedi also informed that nearly 200 terrorists were waiting across the LoC in Pakistan. They are waiting to infiltrate but our alert troops are deployed at the borders and we are trying to eliminate them there itself, he said. On counter-terror operations, he said, 46 terrorists were killed in the past nine months out of whom 37 were foreign terrorists and nine were locals. Owing to our relentless CI and CT operations, people now say that normalcy is in the offing. He, however, attributed the sudden spike in terrorism in the two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to Pakistans desperation. Despite being embroiled in economic crises and other problems, Pakistan continues to fuel terrorism in a bid to disturb peace, he said. Whenever theres peace, Pakistan tries to disturb it. And, when they dont get local terrorists, they send foreign terrorists, added the officer. The Northern Army commander said while the Army remained fully prepared at the LoC and LAC, Rashtriya Rifles were doing very good work in CI and CT operations (anti-terror operations) in the hinterland. On drones, he said, So far as drone technology is concerned, we have inducted a lot of equipment. Since drone technology keeps improving, we have to enhance our counter-drone technology. He informed that the participants at the symposium have brought with them the latest technologies, which will enhance the counter-drone technologies of the Army, be it software or dynamics. Meanwhile, reacting to Rahuls remarks on China taking over Indian land in eastern Ladakh, BD Mishra said, I will not comment on what Rahul Gandhi has said but I can comment on what I have seen on the ground. The fact is that not a single inch of land has been occupied. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Dehradun Police has arrested a 42-year-old lieutenant colonel for allegedly killing a 25-year-old Nepali bar dancer after she insisted him for marriage, an official said. Police have also recovered a hammer used in the crime. The womans body was found in the Raipur area of Dehradun on Sunday. (Representative Image) The womans body was found in the Raipur area of Dehradun on Sunday, police said. The Raipur police station in charge was informed by gram Pradhan Sauda Siroli about the body lying on the Thano road around 7am in morning. A case in this regard was registered under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to police, they found injury marks on the fore and back of the head of the woman. Dehradun senior superintendent of police (SSP) DS Kunwar said, The accused, identified as Ramendra Upadhyaya (42), a native of Panditwari in Dehradun, had met victim Shreya Sharma at a dance bar in Siliguri in West Bengal when he was posted there . The two initially became friends and then started living as a couple in a live-in relationship. When the accused was transferred to Dehradun, he brought her along. The accuseds wife came to know about her, so he sent the victim back to Siliguri before calling her back again. The accused took a flat on rent and kept the woman there. After some days, the victim woman started insisting him for marriage. They would often fight over the issue. So, the accused planned to get rid of the victim by killing her, he said. To execute his plan, the accused took her to a bar on the Rajpur Road. The accused made her drink too much and then he took her towards the Thano road by car. He (the accused) parked the car in a secluded place in the forests. The accused then took out the hammer kept under the back seat and hit her with it multiple times. After she appeared dead, the accused poured toilet cleaner on her face to make it difficult for people to recognise her. Then he pushed the body out of the car along the road, the SSP said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Delhi witnessed heavy traffic in parts of the city on Monday morning as some routes were diverted due to the movements of the foreign dignitaries in the national Capital a day after the G20 Summit. The traffic might continue through the afternoon and evening as dignitaries will be leaving the city till later in the day, an officer said. (PTI) A senior traffic police officer said that some foreign dignitaries were still in the Capital for bilateral talks with India while some were leaving for the airport. In the presence of some dignitaries still in the NDMC New Delhi Municipal Corporation area, and some leaving for the airport, dedicated routes had to be created, leading to traffic disruptions in some parts of south and central Delhi, the officer said. The traffic might continue through the afternoon and evening as dignitaries will be leaving the city till later in the day, the officer added. The traffic advisory, issued ahead of the G20 summit, had not mentioned anything about Monday morning. The traffic police had encouraged people to use the metro only on September 8, 9 and 10. Also Read | Saudi Crown Prince begins day-long state visit after G20 Summit Several visits by the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman are scheduled for Monday, including a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hyderabad House. He is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the evening, before departing from the city. Dignitaries from Brazil, Mauritius and Mexico were scheduled to leave during the day. This might lead to heavy traffic around Dhaula Kuan, which is on the way to the airport, said the traffic police. Meanwhile, commuters complained of chock-a-block roads in Dhaula Kuan and around India Gate. A commuter complained of a traffic jam on the Ring Road, on the way to Moti Bagh. Another commuter posted on X around 10am saying, Stuck here on Dhaula Kuan for the past hour. No information about what happened here. Everyone is clueless. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Ashneer Grover is facing flak on social media after the BharatPe co-founder remarked at an event in the city that the reason it has been rated as India's cleanest city for six straight years is because it bought the cleanliness survey. Ashneer Grover (File Photo) A clip of his statement has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter); both Indore residents and Madhya Pradesh politicians have lashed out at the entrepreneur for his remark. Since 2016, when the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) began the annual Swachh Survekshan, Indore has been rated as the cleanest city in the country. What did Grover say? Grover said: ""See, there is a concept, playing to the gallery, that is, wherever you go, praise it saying I have never seen such a nice city. Now the problem with me is that for three-four years I have heard that Indore is the cleanest city...you have bought the survey. It's a simple thing." He then sought to clarify his comment, saying that not only chips packets, but construction material should also be seen as filth. You have construction going on everywhere in the city, the ex-Shark Tank India judge stated. Politicians, citizens react Pushyamitra Bhargava, the Indore mayor, warned the business leader with legal action. He has insulted the hard work of the city's people and sanitation workers. We will take appropriate legal action and serve a notice for defamation, Bhargava said. Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra, on the other hand, said that people like Grover have trash in their brain. The entrepreneur-author, meanwhile, is yet to react to the mayor's legal action warning. (With PTI inputs) Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Six people from two families, natives of Dholpur district in Rajasthan, were killed in a road accident when their car collided with a private bus around at 1 am on Monday in Bharatpur. Representational image. The accident took place near Khansurjapur village under Rupwas police stations limits. The police rushed the occupants of the vehicle to the Rupwas Community Health Center. The doctors declared six of them dead. Two people are critical, while a 1-year-old child survived. The families were returning from a visit to the Khatu Shyam temple in Sikar when the accident took place. Apart from them, the police also found two dead bulls at the site of the accident. The deceased were identified as Harendra Lodha (32), his wife Mamta Devi (30), their 6-year-old daughter, Santosh Lodha (37), his wife Sudha Devi (35) and their 5-year-old son. Banni Singh, Rupwas police station in-charge, said a private bus was going from Dholpur to Bharatpur and the car was coming from Bharatpur when they had the head-on collision. The bodies will be handed over to the families after post-mortem. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that she has no objection if the country is called Bharat but insisted that the name India should also stay. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee shows a copy of the Constitution of India during a press conference at Nabanno in Kolkata on Monday. (HT Photo) Those who speak Bengali and Hindi call the nation Bharat. But the name India is mentioned in the first line of the Preamble to the Constitution that Babasahed Ambedkar drafted. But they (Centre) introduced a new name without amending the Constitution. This is unconstitutional, the chief minister told the media a day before leaving on a 11-day tour of Spain and Dubai to seek investments to the state. The word Bharat is also mentioned in the Constitution. We have no objection to it but the word India should not be deleted. Why do we need to make the change? Our passports mention the words Republic of India. People call the nation by various other names such as Hindustan and Bharatvarsh, said Banerjee. Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Trinamool Congress chairperson said: I think they changed the name because they were thinking of the (oppositions) INDIA alliance. If that is the case then I can also say that lotus, which is the election symbol of BJP, was used at the G20 summit. It was everywhere. But lotus is also our national symbol (flower). One should think about such issues. I am not saying these to start a quarrel. These are things to be discussed amicably. Bengal BJP chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: Bharat is an everlasting soul. Having a debate on it is an insult to the fundamental spirit of the Constitution. Also Read | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee reshuffles Cabinet ahead of Spain, Dubai visit The chief minister also took a swipe at the Centre for the fresh summons sent by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday. She also protested the arrest of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday. Abhishek Banerjee said in a social media post on Sunday evening that ED has summoned him on September 13, the day the coordination committee of the INDIA group of opposition parties, of which he is a member, is scheduled to hold its first meeting. The chief minister said: This is political vendetta. In a democracy, some political parties may have certain adjustments (understanding) with each other. Some may not. But democracy also defines some limits. If a party behaves like this today because it is in power, then another party will do the same if it comes to power tomorrow. This should not happen. The CPI(M) was in power (in Bengal) for 34 years. I did not touch any of its (former) ministers. This is courtesy in democracy. They are disturbing Abhishek every day. He has to go to lower courts, the high court and the Supreme Court to seek justice. He is being harassed unnecessarily. There is no evidence (against him). They cannot tolerate the young generation. They dont want them to be successful in politics. But the young generation will not accept this. They will fight back, she added. On Chandrabau Naidus arrest, she said, As political parties, we have an appeal. I did not like the manner in which Chandrababu Naidu was arrested. If something is wrong, you should hold talks, inspect and investigate. You have the right to do that. But dont do anything in a vindictive manner. This may boomerang in the coming days. Although he is a suspect in the coal smuggling operation and the bribe-for-job scam in the West Bengal education department, Abhishek Banerjee did not mention in his X handle the case Sundays summon letter was linked to. A lawyer representing the ED in court said the summon is most likely linked to the bribe-for-job scam because the Calcutta high court recently asked ED why Abhishek Banerjee was not questioned. The federal probe agencies are independent bodies and the cases are being monitored by courts. Our party plays no role here, Samik Bhattacharya said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Mumbai: Protests over reservation for Marathas intensified in Maharashtra on Sunday as groups backing and opposing quotas for the dominant community dug in their heels, indicating that the deadlock over the fractious issue was nowhere close to resolution. NCP leader and MP Supriya Sule interacts with members of Maratha Kranti Morcha on the sixth day of the hunger strike at Azad Maidan on Sunday. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ HT PHOTO) Four days after the state government proposed to grant quotas to a subset of the Maratha community, Manoj Jarange-Patil, who is leading the charge for quotas, announced that he had given up water and intravenous support, attempting to put even more pressure on the government to accept his demand of bringing the entire community under the other backward classes (OBC) umbrella. Also Read| Many hurdles in the way of Maratha-Kunbi integration But any such move was opposed by OBC groups and Kunbis the subset of the Maratha community that is already classified as backward who fear that the influential community that makes up roughly a third of the states population will eat into their share. The government appeared caught between the two sets of demonstrations, and called for an all-party meeting on Monday the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena administration has sought to understand the views of opposition parties since the protests first surfaced roughly two weeks ago. We have made all possible efforts to end Jarange-Patils hunger strike but he refused to call it off, said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in Pune on Sunday. The demand for quotas by Marathas is decades old, but in 2018, the state government granted 16% reservation in the face of sweeping protests. It was slashed to 13% in jobs and 12% in education by the Bombay high court. In 2021, the Supreme Court quashed the move. The current crisis began on September 1, when protesters demanding OBC status for Marathas were lathi-charged by the police in Jalna the site of Jarange-Patils hunger strike. Under pressure, chief minister Eknath Shinde announced last week that Marathas from the central Maharashtra region can access reservation under the OBC category if they can produce a certificate from the Nizam era classifying them as Kunbis. But the order which opened the window for quotas for the community left all sides unhappy. The Maratha groups said they wanted reservations without any stipulation, and not just for the eight central Maharashtra districts. The OBC and Kunbi groups feared their quotas will be eaten into by the fresh entrants. Kunbis get reservation in the OBC category while Marathas come under the general category. Jarange-Patil and some Maratha outfits say that until the Nizam rule was dismantled in September 1948 in central Maharashtra, the Marathas were considered Kunbis, and were effectively OBCs. Jarange-Patil announced to reporters in Jalna that he had stopped drinking water and accepting IV fluid from Sunday. The government should take its decision as per its convenience. I am not in any hurry, he said. But OBC groups also dug in their heels. We are not ready to give up our share of reservation for anyone else. If the government wants to give reservation to the Maratha community, it should consider giving it from the open category, said Baban Taywade, president, OBC Mahasangh. Naresh Barde, a Kunbi leader from Nagpur said they sought two resolutions in the meeting. The agitation will continue until we are assured in writing that Kunbi certificates will not be given to all Marathas and the existing OBC quota will not be touched to provide reservation to the Maratha community. The protests also appeared to be spreading. From Sunday, both Kunbis and OBCs started an indefinite sit-in protest at Samvidhan Chowk in Nagpur city, seeking a written assurance from the government that they would not have to share their quota with any other community. Ravindra Tonge, an OBC activist, will begin an indefinite hunger strike in Chandrapur from Monday, while a day-long protest is to be held at Khamgaon in Buldhana and Bhandara on Tuesday. To discuss their strategy for agitations in western Maharashtra, leaders from the OBC community are meeting in Mumbai the same day. Ajit Pawar said that CM Shinde wanted to understand the views of leaders from all political parties, and thus called a meeting at Sahyadri guest house on Monday. We have organised a joint statewide OBC parishad to decide our agitation in this fight to save our reservation, said Chandrakant Bavkar, working president, OBC Janmorcha. Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe welcomed the move to hold the all-party meeting, but said that it should be convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the government is really serious about resolving the complex issue of reservation. A bill should be brought during the special session of Parliament to remove the cap of 50% reservation so that the Maratha community can be accommodated This is the only way to resolve this issue. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Faisal Malik Faisal is with the political team and covers state administration and state politics. He also covers NCP. ...view detail Two brothers were charred as a speeding car caught fire after hitting a road divider on Sion-Trombay road in Matunga on Monday. According to police, the five occupants in the car were drinking throughout the night and were proceeding towards south Mumbai in the early morning when the accident occurred around 4.30 am. Mumbai, India - Sep 11, 2023 : 2 People died, 1 Serius and 2 people injured in Car burning at Sion, in Mumbai, India, Monday, Sep 11, 2023. (Photo by Vijay Bate/HT Photo) Kunal Aatar, 33, a resident of Nerul, is married to a woman from Mandale village in Anushakti Nagar, police officials said. After dropping his wife at her parents house on Sunday, Aatar decided to party with four residents of Mandale - Pravin Mulji Waghela, 18, Ajay Mulji Waghela, 21, Harsh Kadam, 19, and Ritesh Bhoir, 25. They drank at a bar in Ghatkopar and left in a Hyundai i20 around 4 am for south Mumbai to visit famous Ganeshotsav pandals and Marine Drive. Near Ganga Vihar hotel in Matunga, their car crashed into a road divider. As it was in high speed, the impact was huge and the vehicle immediately caught fire, a police officer from Sion police station said. Aatar was behind the wheel while Ajay Waghela was on the front passenger seat, the officer said. Ajay and Pravin two brothers and both school dropouts - died on the spot. Kadam has suffered 90% burns and is presently admitted to Sion general hospital and is said to be in a critical condition. The police suspect that the vehicle was running at a speed of more than 100 kmph and due to the crash, the CNG tank might have leaked and set the car ablaze. Aatar and Bhoir have suffered minor injuries. We are in the process of registering an offence against Aatar, who is also the owner of the four-wheeler, under section 304 (ii) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) along with sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police officer said. The police said they had taken blood samples of Aatar to test for alcohol and prima facie found he was drunk. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! A 1986 batch Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, who took voluntary retirement after 12 years of service, was arrested on Monday on charges of strangling his 61-year-old wife, a Delhi high court lawyer, to death at their Sector 30 home in Noida on Sunday morning, following a dispute over the sale of the house, said senior police officers. The suspect, Nitin Nath Singh, managed to stay at the crime scene, hidden inside a storeroom in their house, for almost 12 hours even as police teams and the dog squad ran around in circles trying to locate him. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) More baffling, however, was the fact that the suspect managed to stay at the crime scene, hidden inside a storeroom in their house, for almost 12 hours even as police teams and the dog squad ran around in circles trying to locate him. He was arrested around 2am Monday, following a late night search of the property, said police. Also Read: Man scolds friend for beating wife in Delhi, killed Police identified the suspect as Nitin Nath Singh, a 1986 IIS batch officer who retired in 1998 as assistant director, Indian Information Service. Police said Singh sold the home they were residing in for 4.5 crore and took 55 lakh as advance.When his wife, Renu Sinha, came to know about this, a fight broke out between the couple, and he killed her, investigators said. Noida deputy commissioner of police Harish Chander said, The suspect retired from IIS and later worked with an American firm, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and other such major organisations. The couple has a son who is settled with his wife in America and has not visited home since 2015. Renu Sinha, 61, an advocate practising in the Delhi high court. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) The suspect told us that on Sunday around 10am, Sinha got to know about the sale of the house and a fight ensued between them. During the heated argument, he strangled his wife to death in the washroom. Singhs fingerprints were found on her neck, Chander said. Police said after killing Sinha, Singh could not leave home as people kept visiting their home that day. Around Sunday noon, three people, including the realty broker, visited the home, and he showed them the first floor while convincing them that the ground floor, where his wife was lying dead, had the same layout as the first. Noida assistant commissioner of Police-1 Rajneesh Kumar said, Later, when his phone started ringing, he took the call and lied to the caller that he was at Lodhi Road in Delhi. Subsequently, he switched off his mobile phone and hid in the storeroom of the house. Around 3.15pm, Sinhas brother came looking for her, and when no one answered the doorbell, he alerted the police. Police reached the spot and broke open the door to find Sinha lying dead in the washroom and her husband missing. The couples home in Sector 30 in Noida. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) Police formed four teams to search for Singh, but despite heavy police deployment and a dog squad inspection, investigators had no clue that Singh was hiding in the storeroom on the first floor. Police said a lookout notice was issued to nab him before he flew out of the city after they got to know that he had a British citizenship. The CCTV camera at the couples home was not working since the past two months, so police scanned the neighbours CCTV footage and came to know that Singh never left home. Around 2am Monday, we called Sinhas brother to the home again to search the entire house in his presence. We found Singh hiding in the storeroom on the first floor. Sinhas mobile phone, his passport, and his mobile phone were recovered from his possession. It was revealed that he planned to leave the country after consulting his lawyer on Monday morning. said ACP Kumar. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! LUCKNOW The chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation, Ashish Kumar Goyal, issued safety instructions on Monday to power distribution employees and other officers on how to provide services safely during the expected intermittent rainfall over the next few days. The chairperson mandated 100% compliance with safety standards in all maintenance work. (Representative photo) During a review meeting concerning power supply held at Shakti Bhawan, he advised all employees and officers involved in electricity distribution to exercise special caution due to the heavy rains. He emphasised, Since we have received reports of waterlogging in many areas, the risk of damage to power lines, electrical poles, and other equipment also increases during such times. In such a situation, electricity officers and personnel must take special care to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and to promptly rectify local electrical faults, said Goyal. Furthermore, he directed that all concerns reported through the power corporation helpline should be promptly addressed. He stated, In case of power disruptions, local public representatives and members of the media should be informed as soon as possible about the estimated time for rectifying the power fault and restoring electricity. The chairperson also mandated 100% compliance with safety standards in all maintenance work. He stressed that employees should use a complete set of tools and conduct proper risk assessments before undertaking any tasks. He instructed electricity distribution personnel to conduct regular patrols in their respective areas to prevent accidents. Additionally, he urged citizens to exercise caution when handling structures or items that may conduct electricity. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! As many as 198 soap boxes containing suspected heroin weighing 2.527 kg worth 21 crore in Jorabat area near the Assam-Meghalaya border was seized on Sunday, police said. Police arrested three suspected drug peddlers, all of whom are residents of Manipurs Thoubal district. (Guwahati Police) Three persons have been arrested in a joint operation conducted by Jorabat Outpost of Meghalaya and Central Guwahati Police District (CGPD). War On Drugs got a huge boost when a joint team from Jorabat Outpost and Central Guwahati Police District (CGPD) team busted a huge consignment of 198 soap boxes of suspected Heroin weighing 2.527 kgs. Market value of this haul is 21 crore, Guwahati police wrote on social media account X (formerly Twitter). Also Read:Assam police arrest two drug peddlers from Cachar with 35-crore consignment According to police, the vehicle was coming from Manipur and it took a route through Mizoram, Barak Valley part of Assam and Meghalaya to reach Guwahati and it was heading towards West Bengal. Police arrested three suspected drug peddlers, all of whom are residents of Manipurs Thoubal district. Police said that the drugs were kept in secret chambers in a vehicle, and they had to cut those chambers to recover the contrabands. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma showered praise on the authorities. In a similar incident last month, Assams Cachar police arrested three residents of Manipurs Churachandpur and Kangpokpi along with narcotics worth 7 crore. Police said that the suspected drug peddlers travelled from Manipurs Churachandpur district with 1.5 kg heroin in a Bolero car through Mizoram and entered Cachar district from Dholai area. They wanted to take the consignment to some other state, and they chose an unusual route to distract the police, but they failed, said Cachar superintendent of police (SP) Numal Mahatta. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! PRAYAGRAJ One of the 10 individuals accused in the Atala violence case from June 10th of last year surrendered before the court on Monday. Mohd Ilyas, one of the 10 accused charged under the Gangster Act, appeared before the court. Authorities are actively pursuing the remaining eight accused. (HT Photo) The alleged mastermind behind the violent incident, Javed Mohd (also known as Javed Pump), is currently incarcerated at Deoria Jail. Authorities are actively pursuing the remaining eight accused, according to the police. The outbreak of violence occurred in the Atala area, under the jurisdiction of the Khuldabad police station, on June 10th. A large crowd had gathered to protest against alleged derogatory comments made by the then BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma, regarding Prophet Muhammad. The police filed an FIR against 70 named individuals and 5,000 unidentified persons involved in activities such as stone pelting, arson, and other serious offenses under the Indian Penal Code. Over 100 people, including Javed Pump, the alleged mastermind, were arrested. Javed was also slapped with charges under the National Security Act (NSA). On August 20th of this year, the police additionally invoked the Gangster Act against Javed Pump, Faisal Raza, Aarif Ali, Ahmad Ali, Ilyas, Hamza, Amir Khan, Asif, and Abdul Rehman. Police officials revealed that nine of them had been granted bail in connection with the violence case. However, following the application of the Gangster Act against them, they became wanted individuals. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest them. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Characterising the Congress-led Himachal Pradesh government as ineffectual and prone to blaming the Centre for its own shortcomings, leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur slammed the state government while speaking to the media during a meeting of the Mandi Block Committee of the BJP on Monday. HT Image In contrast to the state governments claims of systemic change, Thakur asserted that there has been no substantial improvement on the ground. He went on to say that the Congress government and the chief minister consistently attribute their own failures to the central government. Initially, they cited a lack of funds for the first four months, and now they are using disasters as a diversion from their failures. The leader of the Opposition expressed his concern about the Congress leaders derogatory comments about the Prime Minister, emphasising that the BJP will respond assertively to such provocations. Thakur alleged that the state was in a state of chaos under the Congress regime, with corruption rampant and ministers and officers at odds with each other. He also claimed that not a single project had been implemented in the state in the nine months since the Congress came to power, and he accused the state government of achieving nothing except shutting down institutions. Regarding chief minister Sukhus leadership, the former chief minister suggested that if he cannot manage affairs effectively, he should refrain from claiming that the government is running smoothly. Furthermore, the leader of the Opposition cautioned that the BJP would not tolerate any bias shown by the government towards Mandi and Kangra districts. He criticised the chief minister for downsizing Sardar Patel University (SPU), Mandi, which was established by the previous BJP government. CM Sukhu cited a lack of infrastructure as the reason for disaffiliating more than 80 colleges with SPU, but, leader of opposition pointed out that the Congress, during its previous tenure, had opened colleges in primary schools and village revenue offices. Thakur also criticised the government for increasing the power tariff for industries. He announced that the BJP would seek answers to these questions and issues from the state government during the upcoming assembly session. Earlier, addressing the party workers, Thakur urged everyone to work together in the interest of the party. Certainly, with the unity and dedication of our workers, the BJP will script a history by winning all the four seats in Himachal in upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, he said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! VARANASI The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, offered prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and later witnessed the iconic Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Monday. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth (Sourced) After participating in the G20 summit in Delhi, Jugnauth arrived in Varanasi around 11 am on Monday. Earlier in the day, he received a warm welcome from U.P. Minister Anil Rajbhar, Divisional Commissioner of Varanasi Kaushal Raj Sharma, and other officials. After a brief rest at the hotel, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, accompanied by his family, reached Dashashwamedh Ghat, where rituals were performed to honour the memory of his late father-in-law. He also immersed the ashes of his late father-in-law in the middle stream of the Ganga, in front of Manikarnika Ghat. In the afternoon, Jugnauth and his family members visited Kashi Vishwanath Dham around 5 pm. There, he offered prayers to Baba Kashi Vishwanath and witnessed the world-famous Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. He is scheduled to depart on Tuesday. Given the arrival of the Prime Minister of Mauritius, security and traffic arrangements have been tightened in Varanasi. In addition to the Commissionerate Police Force, 10 IPS officers from outside, five Additional SPs, eight Deputy SPs, five Inspectors, 40 male and female Sub-Inspectors, 200 constables, head constables, and three company PAC personnel have been deployed for security. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh State Roadways and Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) officials noted a significant decline in passenger numbers on Sunday, despite the continued operation of all roadways buses during day and night hours amidst intense-to-light rain spells. Uttar Pradesh State Roadways and Transport Corporation (HT File) Ajit Singh, public relations officer (PRO) for the UPSRTC, said, During heavy rainfall and weekends, we often witness a substantial drop in revenue, sometimes exceeding 1 crore in losses. The persistent rain led to a shortage of passengers at nearly all Lucknow bus stations -- including Awadh, Charbagh, and Alambagh. Regional manager for Lucknow, RK Tripathi, said, While we did not cancel any buses, we observed a noticeable decrease in passenger turnout that day. Consequently, we have decided that buses wont operate without at least 25 passengers. The roadways and transport corporation has stipulated that overnight buses will only commence their journeys if a minimum of 25 passengers are on board. Tripathi added, We have not yet convened a meeting to discuss additional measures for managing buses and passenger demand during the forthcoming rainy days. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Over 100 toilets have been built for exclusive use by transgender people in the national capital, the city authorities informed the Delhi High Court on Monday. The PIL has said since the transgender community constitutes 7-8 per cent of the total population of the country, the authorities must necessarily provide toilets for them. (File) (Representational Image) The counsel for the social welfare department told a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma that a total of 102 such toilets have been built and 194 more are under construction. "Efforts are being made and further action will be taken expeditiously," the counsel told the court. The counsel for the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which functions under the union ministry of home affairs, informed the bench that 12 toilets for transgender people are operational in the area under its jurisdiction and tenders for construction of 79 more have been awarded. The area is commonly referred to as Lutyens' Delhi. The court was hearing a PIL filed by Jasmine Kaur Chhabra seeking direction for constructing separate washrooms for the third gender on the ground that their absence makes transgender population prone to sexual assault and harassment. The court, which had earlier ordered expeditious construction of public toilets for transgender people, said it will pass an order on the petition, observing that "substantial progress" has been made by the authorities. "We will dispose it of," the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Narula, said. On March 14, the high court had warned in case of non-compliance of its direction for construction of public toilets for transgenders, it will order personal appearance of city officials before it. It had noted citing the status report filed by the city government that while the process of construction of such toilets was stated to be underway none were complete. The PIL has said since the transgender community constitutes 7-8 per cent of the total population of the country, the authorities must necessarily provide toilets for them, and ensure they are treated equally. The petition said Mysore, Bhopal, and Ludhiana have already started taking action and have built separate public washrooms for them but the national capital is still not seen taking such an initiative. There are no separate toilet facilities for transgenders, they have to use male toilets where they are prone to sexual assault and harassment. Discrimination on the ground of sexual orientation or gender identity, therefore, impairs equality before the law and equal protection of the law and violates Article 14 of the Constitution, the petition, filed through advocate Rupinder Pal Singh, has said. People, including men, women, and transgenders, feel uncomfortable and hesitate when the third gender uses the washrooms which are made for others, the plea has asserted, adding this also violates the 'right to privacy' of the third gender. Last year, the Delhi government had informed the high court that 505 toilets meant for persons with disabilities have been designated for the use of transgenders and creation of separate washrooms for them will be fast-tracked. The high court had earlier told the government wherever new public spaces were being developed, there should be separate toilets for transgenders. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)s population dynamics and research expert Sanjay Kumar on Monday said incidences of child marriage in Bihar was alarmingly higher in out-of-school girls, while it came down significantly among those who have at least completed their class 10 education. At Bankipur Girls High School in Patna. (HT FILE) Making a presentation to underline the link between child marriage and education at a seminar at the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies, the UNFPA official presented data to show that the prevalence of child marriage was around 57% among out-of-school girls, while it dropped to 12% overall among girls having completed at least matriculation. Even among the scheduled caste girls, it is just 25% in case of those who have completed matriculation, he said, while speaking at a seminar on Factors abetting child marriage in Bihar, experience and perspective. UNICEFs child protection expert Banku Bihari Sarkar said the average rate of prevalence of child marriage in Bihar is around 40%, with seven districts accounting for 51-57% child marriages of girls. Lakhisarai district has the highest prevalence of 57%. Saran district, which has the most adverse sex ratio (779/1000), also has the lowest rate of child marriage at 26.2% and the reasons need to be probed, he said. Experts also pointed to higher maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) due to child marriage and reaffirmed its direct linkage with education level of girls, a line maintained by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar while narrating states experience towards population control on the floor of the Assembly earlier. We have witnessed the link between girls education and population control. In Bihar, the fertility rate is very high at 3.7%, but it drops significantly with increase in education level of girls. We have found if a mother is matriculate, it drops to two; if a mother is plus two, it goes down to 1.6, less than the national average of 1.7. So, education of girls is the masterstroke for population control, CM Kumar had said, while underlining the need for girls education to control states burgeoning population. Even in the Niti Yoga ranking of the states in terms of achievements vis-a-vis sustainable development goals (SDGs) this year, Bihar left many states far behind on two important social indices gender equality and violence against women. The statistics also vouch for it. More girls have been enrolled than boys in class IX in Bihar schools for the last couple of years, almost a five-fold increase since 2007-08, bringing gender parity in school education, thanks to state governments slew of initiatives. According to Pratham study, the highest school enrolment leap of 13% for girls was registered during the 2006-10 period. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the alleged police action on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demonstrators during a Raj Bhawan march in Bihars capital Patna on June 13 and asked the states chief secretary to submit an action taken report in the matter within four weeks. NHRC has asked the Bihar chief secretary to submit an action taken report in the matter within four weeks. (Representative Image) NHRC received a complaint from Bihar BJP president Samrat Choudhary, who said that a peaceful protest was allegedly provoked by the Patna district administration. He said that police lathi-charged and used tear-gas shells and water cannons, causing serious injuries to the protestors, including senior leaders and female workers. He also alleged that no FIR has been lodged by the police after the incident. The BJP has also alleged that the lathi charge had left a functionary of the party, Vijay Kumar Singh, dead and several others, including member of Parliament (MP) Janardhan Sigriwal, injured. The Patna administration, however, citing his autopsy report, has said that the functionary died of heart disease and complications related to it. The BJPs Raj Bhawan march was held in protest against the continuance of deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav in the chief minister Nitish Kumar-led state Cabinet despite filing of chargesheet in the railways land for job scam, the Grand Alliance (GA) governments breach of promise on 10 lakh jobs and backtracking on its assurance to schoolteachers on their demand for government employee status. Choudhary requested NHRC on August 5 to act against the district administration, DM and the senior superintendent of police (SSP). The Commission has taken cognizance of the matter and directs its Registry to forward a copy of the complaint to the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Bihar calling for Action Taken Report in the matter within four weeks, positively, failing which the Commission shall be constrained to invoke coercive steps u/s 13 of PHR Act-1993, a statement from NHRC said. BJP state spokesperson Rakesh Kumar Singh said that the Lok Sabha Privilege Committee has summoned seven officials to appear before the committee on September 21 over the alleged lathi charge on BJP leaders, including member of Parliament (MP) Janardhan Sigriwal. Sigriwal had filed a complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Prakash Birla on July 20 alleging a conspiracy by police to kill him. Singh said that a letter issued by the committee on September 5 has asked the state DGP, Patna DM, SSP, ASP, SO of Patna, DSP Patna and Patna Sadar SDO to appear before the committee. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Avinash Kumar Avinash, a senior correspondent, reports on crime, railways, defence and social sector, with specialisation in police, home department and other investigation agencies. ...view detail Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday condoled the death of four labourers from the state who were killed in a lift collapse incident at a multi-storey building in Thane city of Maharashtra on Sunday evening. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (Sunil Saxena/HT File Photo) Kumar announced ex-gratia of 2 lakh each for the kin of each of the deceased and directed the states resident commissioner to make all possible arrangements to bring back their bodies to their native villages. All four deceased labourers hailed from Samastipur district and have been identified as Sunil Kumar Das (35), Rupesh Kumar Das (23), Kari Das (35) and Manjesh Chaupal (35). Bereaved families in Tabhka village of Samastipur appealed to the government to bring back the mortal remains of the deceased labourers at the earliest. All four labourers were carrying out waterproofing work on the 40th floor of an under-construction building when the mishap took place after a cable wire malfunctioned, causing the lift to collapse. Kari Das worked as a mason craftsman in Mumbai for several years, while Sunil and Rupesh accompanied him last week. While Kari is survived by his wife, four children, and parents, Rupesh got married three months back. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON JAMUI: Twenty of the 55 students who ran away from a state-run residential school in Bihars Jamui district have returned to the hostel by Monday morning, a government official said. The girls ran from the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) in Sono block of the district past Saturday midnight after the authorities failed to serve dinner. It is not clear why the hostel authorities were not able to serve dinner to the students (HT File Photo) Jamui district education officer Kapil Dev Tiwari said Seema Kumari, the district programme officer of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, has been told to hold an inquiry. The girls were classes 9-12 students. Seema Kumari confirmed that the girls ran away because there was no dinner on Saturday night, About 20 girls have returned till Monday morning, she said, describing the incident as a security lapse. We are trying to bring all the girls back to the hostel, said Prashant Kumar, who is officiating as the school principal. Hostel warden Guddi Kumar said the girls were angry on Saturday night because there was no dinner. We tried to pacify their anger till 2am and later went to sleep, she said, adding that the girls would have walked out of the hostel after opening the gate after 2am. Avinash Kumar, the guard, said he had dozed off when the girls walked out. Among the 20 girls who returned on Monday was Sonali Kumari. She said this was not the first time that there was no dinner at the hostel and there had been several instances in the past where students were called upon to help with the cooking. We were hungry and a hungry person can commit any sin, added another student, Khushboo Kumari The students, who accused the authorities of corruption and mismanagement, said they were forced to pay 2,200 as hostel charges though the government capped the fee at 1,600. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One person was killed and ten others suffered injuries when members of two communities clashed at a village in Maharashtras Satara district following an objectionable post on social media, police said on Monday Several houses were burned down by miscreants at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil, some 150 kms from Pune on Sunday night. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) Several houses were burned down by miscreants at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil, some 150 kms from Pune late on Sunday night. This led to tension between the two communities. The Satara police have arrested 25 persons, including two youth for derogatory posts and 23 others in connection with murder, rioting and destruction to public order. Internet services have been suspended across the district till Tuesday midnight. Section 144 has also been imposed as a precautionary measure, said Jitendra Dudi, Satara district collector. Eyewitnesses said that a violent mob of over around thousand people went berserk and targeted houses, business establishments and handcarts in a particular area. The mob set fire to some houses and resorted to vandalism. In a statement Satara police officials stated, An incident involving an objectionable status message uploaded on social media on occurred Sunday at 11 pm. The citizens misunderstood the message as communal, posing a law-and-order situation on ground. We have detained two persons for derogatory posts. However, the police have not disclosed the content and nature of the post citing sensitivities involved in the case. The Satara police led by senior officers including Superintendent of Police Sameer Shaikh reached the spot and brought the situation under control. Shaikh said, The situation is under control and citizens must not believe in rumours. Steps have been taken to ensure that objectionable social media messages being circulated online are brought to the polices notice. Satara Member of Parliament (MP) Shriniwas Patil sought additional steps from the government to normalise the situation. Whatever has happened is sad and unfortunate. My appeal to all is to maintain peace, said Patil. According to Shaikh, an objectionable post and comments by two youths from a community triggered tension between two communities, leading to communal clashes. In response to the post, there was retaliation , stone pelting and damage to public property by another community. Two cases have been lodged, the first under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 295 (promoting enmity between two communities) and the other case is related to rioting and destruction of public property. Accordng to Satara district collector Jitendra Dudi, situation was under control and peaceful in the area in the aftermath of the riots. Two objectionable social media posts were uploaded by some miscreants which triggered riot-like situation in the area. One person has died and ten others have been injured during the incident. The district administration has suspended Internet, he said Following the clashes, Kolhapur Special IG Sunil Phulari appealed citizens for peace and said that sharing of objectionable posts must be avoided. He further appealed to citizens to stop rumours. We are monitoring the situation closely and reinforcements have been stationed to prevent outbreak of violence, he said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Janata Dal (Secular) patriarch Deve Gowda has confirmed that an alliance with the BJP is on the cards in Karnataka for the upcoming general election. A BJP-JD(S) tie-up is a formidable alliance on paper: In the recent assembly elections that the Congress won, the BJP-JD(S) combined vote share was 49.29%, as against the formers 42.88%. Despite losing ground over the years, the JD(S) has a base in the Old Mysuru region and continues to have pockets of influence across the state. A three-cornered contest helped the Congress in the assembly polls, while the BJP juggernaut could not be stopped despite a Congress-JD(S) tie-up in the last general election. PREMIUM Yediyurappa confirmed BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka for Lok Sabha electiion 2024. (In photo PM Modi and Deve Gowda). The BJP-JD(S) tie-up raises questions about the future of the latter. Can the JD(S) keep its core support, which is voters indifferent to both the Congress and the BJP? Historically, it has been a formation that drew its strength from the Lohiaite socialist stream and the Congress-O, which became the Janata Party in Karnataka in the 1970s. Multiple splits since the 1980s have reduced its base. The Janata Party could win the state on its own in the 1980s, but the JD(S) is now largely confined to the Vokkaliga community and a section of Muslims. The rise of D K Shivakumar in the Congress may impact the JD(S)s Vokkaliga vote while an alliance with the BJP can lead to a loss of support among Muslims. As for the BJP, the party aims to consolidate the full anti-Congress spectrum votes, and the tie-up with JD(S) offers the opportunity to expand its base in the latters stronghold. Politics in Karnataka is set for a churn ahead of the general election. Four things stand out about Indias G20 presidency, the crowning moment of which is undoubtedly the Delhi Declaration, announced on Day 1 of the leaders summit. PREMIUM People walk past a banner with flags of countries participating in G20 summit at the International Media Center (IMC) at G20 venue on the eve of the two-day G20 summit in New Delhi on September 8, 2023. (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP)(AFP) One, with 200 events across 60 Indian cities, the past nine-and-a-half months have truly taken G20 to the people to the extent that a rarefied summit, often dealing in areas that appear abstract to the common man, can be. In addition, it exposed the world to parts of India they may otherwise not have visited. This may well become the template for future G20 presidencies especially those that believe there are substantive domestic gains, electoral and otherwise, to be made. Two, with the benefit of hindsight, India was patient and played the long game. As ministerial after ministerial went by without statements, questions began to be asked about whether the G20 Summit would end inconclusively. Meanwhile, as India began to pack the draft with what appeared to be a laundry list of items, on issues such as the reform of multilateral development banks, digital public infrastructure, and women-led development, doubts began to be expressed about the presidencys ability to arrive at a consensus. In the end, though, New Delhis perseverance and patience paid off. Three, while critics may insist that the G20 declaration downplays the Ukraine issue ignoring the fact that it is difficult to play down what is a full-fledged war India focused on the big picture. This was both the impact of the war around the world, and of all the other issues at stake that would end up as collateral damage if the leaders summit failed to arrive at a consensus on the declaration. The result and there will always be those who argue with this was a much more nuanced and detailed take on Ukraine in the declaration (compared to Bali), and no compromise on any of the other issues that India believed were important. This newspaper has written about the skilful diplomacy required to pull this off, with the help of key partners, including past and future G20 presidencies, who realised that, more than anything else, the future of G20 itself depended on the Delhi summit having a declaration. Four, in addition to addressing immediate challenges such as Ukraine and the debt crisis faced by many developing and poor countries, the declaration did enough in areas that will have a significant long-term impact on the world: It provided a template for digital public infrastructure; it recommended a viable path for the reform of multilateral development banks; it ensured the COP climate talks in November happen on the back of an undertaking by G20 on emission reduction; it brought AI, and its impact, into the conversation; and it suggested a consistent model for the regulation of crypto assets. Any G20 presidency would take pride in these. It is time to get used to a new idea, and a new acronym, which is set to become a central dimension of Indias expanded foreign policy engagement in the coming years. IMEC, or the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, is the most ambitious multi-national and multi-regional geo-economic and geo-strategic project that India has ever signed on to. A rail and shipping corridor that will connect India to Europe through West Asia, it has the potential to deepen physical connectivity, unlock tremendous commercial opportunities, set new standards in infrastructure financing and development, and reshape global trading routes. But the logic of the project goes way beyond the economic case for it. IMEC is an attempt to show the world that Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) isnt the only game in town and, if countries so choose, they do have a choice when it comes to their development models. PREMIUM US President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabian PM and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and PM Narendra Modi seen during the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor. The first-of-its-kind economic corridor will be a historic initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany, and the US.(AP) India, the US, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia signed on to a memorandum of understanding on the sidelines of G20. Expect Israel to get on board if and when the Riyadh-Tel Aviv normalisation happens. IMEC has multiple objectives linking the regions to commercial hubs, facilitating the development and export of clean energy, laying undersea grids, linking energy grids and telecommunication lines, expanding reliable access to electricity, and connecting communities to secure and stable Internet, among them. To be sure, the project is just at the stage of ideational conception: It will be years before the first tangible signs of the project become visible. But that should not distract from both the reasons and consequences of IMEC. For the US, it is part of an effort to lower temperatures and enhance connectivity between adversarial and warring parties in West Asia and integrate India into the region. The project can help Delhi restore its historic connections to its west, in addition to its connectivity push in the east, possibly making India a physical hub beyond a diplomatic bridge. For both Delhi and DC, it is a way to fuse the collective strength of the grouping to counter China. For Saudi Arabia and UAE, this is an opportunity to integrate with the wider world at a time when they have to look beyond their fossil fuel-driven economic strength. The project will, of course, require huge resources, exemplary execution abilities, and a complex institutional mechanism. But for its sheer vision and ambition, IMEC deserves to be applauded. Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh has finally unveiled the full version of the title song Jaane Jaan from his upcoming film with the same name. The song has lead actor Kareena Kapoor singing the classic number in a dance bar with Uditi Singh performing pole dance in a short golden dress in the background. Vijay Varma is seen as one of the visitors at the bar and enjoying Kareena's live performance. Also read: Jaane Jaan trailer: Seedhi saadi Kareena Kapoor is hiding a secret from police and padosis. Watch Vijay Varma, Kareena Kapoor and Uditi Singh in stills from Jaane Jaan title song. Jaane Jaan title track The song has visuals from the film as well. Originally composed by Laxmikant - Pyarelal and penned by Rajendra Krishan, Jaane Jaan has been re-created by Sachin-Jigar and sung by them along with Neha Kakkar. Vijay Ganguly has choreographed the dance number. The original song from the 1969 film Intaquam featured Helen and was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Sharing the song teaser on Sunday, Sujoy Ghosh had written on X, Our first song coming tomorrow and whatta honor it was to have a Laxmikant-Pyarelal song in our film. Penned by Rajinder Krishan. These are the reasons I make films. Unveiling the full song on Monday, he tweeted, Our title track for you Suno. Batao (listen and tell us the response). #jaanejaan. More about Sujoy Ghosh's Jaane Jaan Jaane Jaan is a murder mystery starring Kareena as a single mom who is the only suspect in a murder case, Jaideep Ahlawat as her neighbour and Vijay Varma as the cop investigating the case. It marks Kareena's OTT debut and will release on Netflix on September 21. The film is based in Kalimpong and is the official adaptation of Keigo Higashino's Japanese novel Devotion of Suspect X. Talking about making her OTT debut, Kareena had said at the trailer launch, I am more nervous than I was 23 years ago. Because I was watching the promo so closely on the television screen. So people will be watching me closely in their homes. I'm nervous, but I know one thing for sure- we all have worked really hard." She further added, "Everyones doing so much work on Netflix and its so good and I did not want to be left behind. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON DC is set to release the sequel to their billion-dollar hit, Aquaman, bringing back Amber Heard as Mera, a figure who has stirred controversy in Hollywood after her divorce from American actor Johnny Depp. Aquaman sequel faces storm of controversy as Amber Heard returns, But DC remains hopeful for 'Lost Kingdom' success (Twitter. X)(Twitter . X) The journey to bring director James Wan's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to the big screen has been massive. Despite the challenges faced, the film is on the verge of its highly-anticipated premiere in December, with some concerning factors. Early test screenings left audiences underwhelmed, with some even calling it "unwatchable". The film also underwent a demanding post-production process, including three rounds of expensive reshoots. ALSO READ: Amber Heard spotted with crutches in Madrid ahead of her training injury for the NYC marathon Another major issue is the Aquaman franchise's association with Amber Heard. The actress, known for her roles in The Rum Diary and 3 Days to Kill, publicly accused her former husband, Johnny Depp, of physical abuse in 2016 during their relationship, alleging he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. This led to Disney and other studios cutting ties with Depp, causing him substantial financial losses in potential movie roles. In response, Depp sued Heard for defamation in 2022, resulting in a high-profile trial where Depp emerged victorious and was awarded over $10 million in damages. During the Depp vs. Heard legal battle, fans rallied behind Depp, resulting in online harassment directed at Heard. A petition circulated calling for her dismissal from the sequel, with some fans suggesting Emilia Clarke as a replacement. While DC didn't entirely remove Heard from the film, reports suggest her role as Mera has been shifted to avoid backlash. However, conflicting sources claim that Heard's role remains, similar to her presence in the 2018 Aquaman film. In any case, Mera will appear in the sequel, with the storyline possibly revealing that she and Arthur have had a child since the events of the first film. As Warner Bros gears up to promote Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, a teaser trailer offers a glimpse of Heard's return to the superhero franchise. ALSO READ: Happy birthday to me, Jason Momoa celebrates his 44th birthday with a snowy hot tub session Eagle-eyed fans noted a scene in the teaser featuring a burning house, possibly the new home of Tom Curry. In this brief shot, Mera can be seen rushing toward the structure, attempting a rescue mission. Mera appears to be wearing a greenish suit from the first Aquaman film, suggesting a connection between the two sequels. However, Heard is expected to feature in a new, more blue-tinted suit in this sequel. While fans remain hesitant about Heard's return to DC, the studio appears optimistic about the movie, although the teaser trailer keeps Mera in the background. Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of Deadpool 3 next year. Superstars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will be seen in action in the upcoming superhero film. Deadpool 3 director has credited army of the nerdiest nerds for acing Wolverine's suit in the upcoming movie(X(formerly Twitter)/@deadpoolmovie) Recently, the film's director Shawn Levy interacted with EW at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival and highlighted how meticulously his team has worked for the upcoming film "Deadpool 3". He was all praise for the team which helped develop the comic-accurate Wolverine's suit in the movie. Levy hailed the team as "an army of the nerdiest nerds". Like the rest of the world, Ive waited two decades to see Wolverine in a whole movie with Deadpool, and I dont know if this is our last shot at Wolverine on screen, so I was going to make goddamned sure we get the old yellow and blue just once, and that we get it right, Levy told EW. It also helps that Im making this movie within the MCU, so I have access to an army of the nerdiest nerds available to a Marvel project, said Levy. ALSO READ| Good Morning America's Robin Roberts marries longtime partner Amber Laign Meanwhile, fans have applauded the latest look of Wolverine in the upcoming movie. The bright yellow suit is reminiscent of the one Wolverine wore in X-Men: The Animated Series from the 90s. Fans took to "X"(formerly Twitter) and reacted to Wolverine's suit. "YESSSSS I LOVE IT #Deadpool3 #Wolverine lets break the internet!," posted one user. "Nailed it guys!!," wrote another user. "Holy sh*t he has wolverine has the yellow suit on," commented a third person. "loving the classic wolverine outfit," wrote another. Notably, Deadpool 3 will be the third movie of the film series. Deadpool released in 2016 was the first film and Deadpool 2 released in 2018 was the second film of the series. The big three film festivals- Berlin, Cannes and Venice, are over. Cue to the crucial fall film festivals- Telluride and Toronto, which are still ongoing. These are but essential in providing a road map to the Oscars next year, and if there's one category that is stacked it is the Best Actress in a Leading Role. (Also read: Poor Things to Maestro: 10 films premiering at the 2023 Venice Film Festival that we can't wait to watch) Emma Stone, Sandra Huller and Margot Robbie are in the running for the Best Actress Oscar race this year. Fresh out of Venice Venice Film Festival provides a sure-shot lead when it comes to the category, given how the Volpi Cup for Best Actress award chosen by the festival often translates into an Oscar nomination. The streak is unbeatable at this point- four of the past winners in the past five years of the festival have gone on to secure an Oscar nomination, with one winning. The list includes Olivia Colman for The Favourite (2018), Vanessa Kirby for Pieces of a Woman (2020), Penelope Cruz for Parallel Mothers (2021) and Cate Blanchett for Tar (2022). This should leave the most recent winner in the category, Cailee Spaeny for Sofia Coppola's Priscilla beaming with joy. Cailee has never been nominated before, and the Academy loves honouring a newcomer in an author-backed biopic. Given how Priscilla reconstructs the narrative introduced by Baz Luhrmann's Elvis, that got star Austin Butler a Best Actor nomination, Priscilla could bode very well with the Academy members. The other big showdown that burst out of Venice was Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things. Critics showered raved reviews upon its premiere calling it the best film the Greek filmmaker has ever made, boasting a career-best turn for star Emma Stone. Although the Oscar winning actor, who had already won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress for La La Land a few years ago, didn't receive it this time around, her film took home the highest honour at the festival- the Golden Lion for Best Film. Her fourth Oscar nomination is now locked. A second Oscar win? Only time will tell. A lot of buzz for Sandra Huller Interestingly, Stone's trajectory is quite similar to another film festival breakout- German actor Sandra Huller for Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest, both of which triumphed at Cannes Film Festival. The 45 year-old starred in two of the strongest competition titles at Cannes, where many predicted her to win the Best Actress award. Yet, her films took precedence over her acclaimed turns. French director Justine Triet won the coveted Palme d'Or and The Zone of Interest brought in the Grand Prix, the second topmost award at Cannes. The one who surprisingly scooped Best Actress at Cannes was Turkish actor Merve Dizdar for Nuri Bilge Ceylan's About Dry Grasses. Last week, Variety reported that Sandra Huller will be campaigning in the Best Supporting Actress category for The Zone of Interest, while her work in Anatomy of a Fall, would certainly push her in the Lead category. If she is able to crack into both the categories, Sandra would make history as the first actress to mark double nominations for two non-English language performances in the same year. Besides these performances, other contenders vying for a spot in the Best Actress race include Carey Mulligan in Maestro (directed by Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper, and premiered at Venice), Annette Bening in NYAD (Bening is a beloved industry veteran who has never won, and her film just premiered at Telluride), Natalie Portman in May December (predictably received great reviews after the Cannes premiere), Greta Lee in Past Lives (a solid breakout performance that has been in the buzz since its premiere at Berlin earlier this year), Margot Robbie in this year's biggest film Barbie, and Fantasia Barrino in The Color Purple (opening in theatres this Christmas). Despite their apology video, the controversy around Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis isn't dying down. The couple is in the eye of an internet storm after it was learnt that they wrote character letters in support of their friend Danny Masterson, who was convicted of two counts of rape last week. Now, internet is realising that Ashton made some controversial comments about underage actors during his younger years too. (Also read: Jimmy Fallon mocking audience member in an old episode goes viral amid toxic workplace allegations) Ashton Kutcher, left, and Mila Kunis have apologised for character letters they wrote on behalf of fellow That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson before he was sentenced for rape this week. (Jae C. Hong/Invision/AP) Old comments resurface Chrissie Carnell Bixler, one of the women who had accused Danny of rape, took to social media after Ashton and Mila shared their apology video, to share an old clip of him talking about Hilary Duff. It is a 2003 episode of Punkd in which Ashton says about a then-15-year-old Hilary, Shes one of the girls that were all waiting for to turn 18. Along with the Olsen twins. Chrissie also shared footage from The Rosie ODonnell Show, in which Ashton's now wife Mila recalled how he made a side bet with Danny when she was 14 years old on That 70s Show, about giving her a French kiss. Danny goes to him and goes, Dude, Ill give you $10 if you French kiss her,' she said. Internet reacts The internet found the clips and Ashton's comments unacceptable. Gross gross gross gross gross, wrote one person. The arrogancethe entitlementdisgusting, commented another. Others tried to defend Ashton too. Yeah, I've been ignoring that one because his recent work to combat human trafficking was who I thought he was, but now it feels really appropriate bringing this clip back up. Only sometimes do people change, said a person. Another person said that it was common for men to think this way back in the day. Hell, it wasn't just him. It was such a commonplace thing back then, where grown a** adults were openly counting down the days till these girls turned 18. Infamously, there was a website with an actual countdown for the Olsen twins, read a comment. A judge in Los Angeles on Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. In a video posted on Instagram, Kutcher and Kunis said they were sorry for the pain they may have caused with the letters, which were made public on Friday. Kutcher said the letters that asked for leniency "were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatise them in any way. We would never want to do that and we're sorry if that has taken place". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail The AR Rahman concert held in Chennai on Sunday turned out to be a disaster for his fans who flooded social media, blaming poor management. Many said the volume was too low, barely audible to those who were away from the stage. Many shared experiences of suffering panic attacks and anxiety due to overcrowding and promised that they would never attend an AR Rahman concert despite being his biggest fans. There were also reports of people with tickets being turned away from the venue. Some even tore their tickets in rage. Also read: AR Rahman talks about next-level infrastructure after cancelling Chennai show over unfavourable conditions, TN CM reacts Fans at AR Rahman concert in Chennai on Sunday were left disappointed with the management. Fans destroy tickets, complain of fights at concert due to poor management Film trade analyst shared a fan video and wrote, Disappointed #ARRahman fan tore #MarakkumaNenjam concert tickets and says this is indeed an unforgettable event and a worst gift from A R Rahman to the people. Sharing another video from the show, an upset fan wrote, Very badly organised concert. Waste of money. Energy. Felt a huge sense of betrayal. I was feeling so stressed than good vibes because of so many fights and shit that was going around! Unfair max was No proper sound! #actcevents #MarakkumaNenjam #ARRConcert @arrahman. Stampede like situation, bad audio, panic among fans Another wrote, Paid 15k for this shit view. Almost died in the stampede. People were overflowing from every f****ng corner. No chairs for anyone. No audio for anyone. Well orchestrated shitshow @arrahman. Never ever attending your concert. Ever. Many shared videos of asking AR Rahman fans to not come to the concert in case they were on the way. A fan shared a few videos of people complaining about the arrangement and wrote, It was worst concert ever in the History #ARRahman #Scam2023 by #ACTC. Respect Humanity. 30 Years of the Fan in me died today Mr. #ARRAHMAN. #MarakkumaNenjam Marakkavey Mudiyathu (can't forget). A performer in the stage cant never see whats happening at other areas just watch it. A fan shared a picture from the show, A person with a Gold ticket. The situation wasn't any different for those who got some of the best seats. Sharing his experience, a person tweeted, I am Devastated. AR Rahman is literally the only artist I look up to. He's everything to me. I love him with all my heart. BUT, I got trampled and had a full blown anxiety attack and a breakdown even though I bought Gold tickets. I cannot begin to imagine what others went through. Commenting on the same, AR Rahman tweeted Monday noon, Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and werent able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap @BToSproductions @actcevents. ACTC Events also shared a tweet on Monday, Grateful to Chennai and the legendary @arrahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldn't attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you. #MarakkumaNenjam. AR Rahman is an Oscar-winning music composer known for his work in films like Ponniyin Selvan series, Enthiran, Sivaji: The Boss, Rangeela, Bombay, Taal, Rockstar and Slumdog Millionaire. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail BTS member Kim Taehyung aka V joined fellow member Suga on his drinking show Suchwita as the show finally premiered on Monday. He is the last BTS member to appear as the show guest. The two talked about several things, ranging from V's just released solo album Layover to BTS' reunion and even remembered their fond memories from the past. Also read: BTS' V joins Suga on Suchwita, reveals plans of Bon Voyage 5 in Northern Europe after group reunion in 2025 Kim Taehyung aka V was the latest guest on Suga's show. Kim Taehyung and Suga in Suchwita Amid this, Kim Taehyung opened up about his dark phase in 2018 when he was surrounded by negative thoughts. He said he was so tired of BTS' hectic schedule that he even thought about hurting himself in order to get some rest. V said, I have never said this before. Its my first time telling this to fans through Suchwita because people dont know why we were having such a hard time or why we were struggling so much. Theres no one who can understand. Suga added, At that time, everyone was so exhausted. Of course, we did our best but there were moments when we felt burned out. When these moments hit Taehyung we talked a lot about how burned out we were. Kim Taehyung's difficult phase in 2018 Its like after some time had passed, I started to compare myself to others Because my pace is slower than the members, and my thoughts are a bit different is that why am I more burned out? I thought this a lot. Whenever I looked at our members when we perform, the members are so perfect and they enjoy the stage. But why am I only one like this? Is what I thought at that time. So relatively my burnout was severe, confessed V. Suga mentioned that all members should have focused on being happy about their achievements instead of dealing with these problems, however, the opposite happened. V said, "But all of us were like So what if our results are good? Why do we have to hurt ourselves this much in pursuit of results?, implying that their body and minds were exhausted. Kim Taehyung thought of hurting himself Those were my thoughts as I was exhausted, V chimed in. Both admitted that they had to take the decision to rest for themselves. V recalled, I was totally drained. I was so exhausted. I thought so much about taking one day off. I was so tired I wanted one day when I could do nothing. In 2018 after we shot MV for Fake Love I was so exhausted that I asked that like Since tomorrow we only have dance practice, would it be okay if we took a day off? But we were preparing for our comeback and it was an important dance practice, so we couldnt rest. So I was like So I guess we cant rest. and all this negativity piled up inside me. I didnt think I could do anything in that state so I kept thinking of ways I could rest. I even thought I should get hurt. If I get hurt, would I be able to rest? So, I thought I should get hurt. But now I want to change that me of the past," he shared on the show. BTS consists of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook. Previously, other members including Jungkook and J-Hope had talked about their difficult times in the past. Currently, the group is on a hiatus to focus on their solo careers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Director Nithilan is directing actor Vijay Sethupathi's 50th film Maharaja. The first look poster of the film was released was released on Sunday in Chennai. Sethupathi took to stage at the launch and became very emotional as he spoke about the film. Vijay Sethupathi looks dangerous in Maharaja. Maharaja poster The poster shows Vijay in a blood-soaked shirt and pants, sitting in police station with a sickle in his hand. His left ears seems to have been chopped off too. 50th film not expected The actor said to the media, Thank you for your praise and criticism. 50 is not expected at all. It's like a milestone. How far we have come gives us hope. Also, it adds experience. This includes patience and wisdom. Thanks to all the directors and artists who gave me good experiences. After finishing the dubbing of Naan Mahaan Alla, Aruldas Annan and I exchanged each other's cell phone numbers. Suddenly one day there were two missed calls. When we call back, our friend Seenu Ramasamy is directing the film. He told me to do the film no matter what role I was given. At that time, he and I did not even have a great relationship. After that, I went and saw Seenu Ramasamy sir. Now I have reached this stage. There are two reasons why I am here. Thank you very much Aruldas. Thank you Seenu sir. Thank you for this moment, he added. 'Maharaja will do well commercially' Speaking about Maharaja, he said, "Natti Sir, Aruldas Anne, Singambuli Anne have all acted well. Abhirami and Mamata both acted very well. I am a fan of Abhirami Medathoda from VirumandiIt will be a movie where Maharaja talks. It will also do well commercially. While writing the film, Nithilan had written it as a film that would earn double or triple profit for the producer. Vijay also mentioned Anurag Kashyap, who is part of the film. He said, Anurag Kashyap is not only a director but also a good actor. I made a phone call. He said that he would definitely do it and he had come and acted. Vijay was most recently seen as the villain in Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. The film has earned more than 280 crore in four days since release. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Nineteen people have been killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the state relief commissioner's office said Monday evening. A woman wears a trash bag over her head to protect herself from heavy rain.(REUTERS) Four of the deaths were due to lightning and two due to drowning, it said. READ | Lucknow weather: Rainfall to continue today; schools to remain closed Four deaths were reported from Hardoi, three from Barabanki, two each from Pratapgarh and Kannauj, and one each from Amethi, Deoria, Jalaun, Kanpur, Unnao, Sambhal, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar districts, it said. Incessant rains have hit normal life in Uttar Pradesh, particularly the central part of the state, since Sunday. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday alleged the agenda of the upcoming special session of Parliament is to separate Mumbai from the state and declare it as a Union Territory. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole(HT Photo/Santosh Kumar) Prime Minister Narendra Modi never called a special session of Parliament on COVID pandemic or issues like (2016) noteban or Manipur. The session is convened now as per the whims and mood of the government. This session will declare Mumbai as a union territory and separate it from the rest of Maharashtra, Patole alleged while speaking to reporters. READ | Part of special session is likely to be held in new Parliament building The Centre has not spelt out the agenda of the special session to be held from September 18 to 22, triggering various speculations. Mumbai is an international city and the financial capital. Now, powerhouses of Mumbai such as Air India, the International Financial Services Centre, and the diamond market among others are being shifted out of the city," Patole alleged. READ | Congress leader Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi, lists issues for special Parliament session He claimed a plan is afoot to shift the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange to Gujarat. Patole also alleged that as the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government- comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP, and Congress- was a major obstacle in such anti-state decisions, it was brought down by the Centre. Musician AR Rahman on Monday responded to a barrage of criticism on and off social media over the chaos at his concert in Chennai on September 10, and asked people who couldnt enter the venue to contact the event organisers with their grievances. AR Rahman shared a screenshot of this post on his Instagram handle, and added a second message, offering to be the sacrificial goat (X/@water_menon) Dearest Chennai Makkale, those of you who purchased tickets and werent able to enter owing to unfortunate circumstances, please do share a copy of your ticket purchase to arr4chennai@btos.in along with your grievances. Our team will respond asap (as soon as possible), he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Rahman shared a screenshot of this post on his Instagram handle, and added a second message, saying he was offering himself as the sacrificial goat this time and hoped that Chennai gets world-class infrastructure for such events. Some people call me G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all times) Let me be the sacrificial goat this time for all of us to wake up ..let chennais live art flourish with a world class infrastructure, increase in tourism, efficient crowd management, traffic management ,refining audiences to follow rules ..creating a safe and surreal experience for children and women ..Triggering a cultural renaissance at chennai celebrating our deserving , illuminated local and international talent. Read more: AR Rahman concert in Chennai earns flak for poor audio, no chairs, anxiety and panic among fans due to poor management The Tamil Nadu police also started a probe after director general of police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal told the Tambaram police to look into the traffic and other arrangements made for the concert. Jiwal also asked the police to see if excess tickets were sold. Tambaram commissioner Amal Raj said about 50,000 people turned up for the concert as against the expected 20,000. The musicians outreach on social media was a response to criticism about the way the concert, titled Marakkuma Nenjam, was organised. Video clips put out by people on social media showed people complaining that they were refused entry despite holding valid passes. Many posts alleged that the organisers sold way more tickets than the space. The concert, organised by ACTC Events at a location on Chennais East Coast Road, was initially scheduled in August but was postponed due to heavy rain. In a post on X, ACTC Events said the concert was a massive success and apologised to people who were stranded outside the venue.Grateful to Chennai and the legendary @arrahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldnt attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you, the firm said. On X, some called it management of the concert the worst ever. VIP zone tickets were priced at 25000 and 50000 and there was no security, every zone was one. The organisers over-sold the tickets. The seats were all off centre . Even in vip area, there was no stage view. No bouncers to man the areas!!! The entry demarcations were missing! everyone was entering from everywhere, said Sridevi Sreedhar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh taken a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Joe Biden's recent press briefing during his brief visit to Vietnam post his tour to India for G20 Summit. There, Biden talked about about respecting human rights, role of civil society and free press. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) Taking a jibe at this, Ramesh reiterated that the US President's team was allegedly not allowed to interact with the media or take questions after the bilateral meeting with PM Modi. Mr Modi saying to Mr Biden Na Press Conference karunga, Na karne doonga (won't hold a press conference, won't let you hold one) has had no impact, the Congress MP wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Earlier, Biden briefed about the bilateral meeting he had with PM Modi during a presser in Vietnam. He said, "I raised the importance of respecting human rights, the vital role of civil society, and a free press and building a strong and prosperous country with Mr Modi. We got a lot of important work done." "Mr Biden is saying the same things in Vietnam which he said to Mr Modis face in India on respecting human rights, the role of civil society and the free press," Ramesh said. The Congress leader had earlier similar claims and alleged that Biden's team was not allowed to hold a press conference despite multiple requests. "President Biden's team says despite multiple requests India has not allowed media to ask questions of him and Prime Minister Modi after their bilateral meeting. President Biden will now take questions in Vietnam on Sept 11th from the media accompanying him. Not surprising at all. This is how democracy is done Modi-style!" he wrote on X earlier. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday questioned if a fact-finding report on Manipur violence prepared by the Editors Guild of India (EGI) could lead to a criminal case, observing that it was at best their subjective opinion. Police officers stand amidst smoke billowing out from tear gas shells fired to disperse the crowd gathered to demand the removal of the army barricades in Bishnupur district, on September 6 (REUTERS FILE) A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud posted the petition filed by EGI president Seema Mustafa and the three-member team that visited the state last month to Friday and sought the states response to permit the body to approach the Delhi high court to quash the two criminal cases registered against them in Manipur. It is a report after all. Can that be subject matter of a criminal case? It is at best their subjective opinion. This is not a case where a person was accused of doing anything on the ground, said the bench, also comprising justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra. The state has filed an affidavit that the petition against the first information reports (FIRs) should be filed with the Manipur high court, which it said, was fully functional and where there is provision to appear virtually. The bench said: We are not going to quash the FIRs, but are considering whether we should ask them to go to Manipur high court or to approach the Delhi high court. The FIRs were registered at Imphal and Porompat police stations on September 3, a day after the EGI published its fact-finding report. The FIRs accused the EGI and its team of promoting enmity, stoking communal tensions in the state, besides insulting the Meitei community. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, said, As it has come from the court, we shall take instructions about the Delhi high court hearing the matter. We do not want them to make it a political issue. Our worry is this may become a precedent. This matter can go to a high court near to Manipur. The bench extended the protection against arrest, first granted to the journalists on September 6, till Friday, and told Mehta: You may make a guarded statement that it shall not be treated as a precedent. The subject matter of the FIRs is only the report. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for EGI, said it was hazardous for the team of journalists to go to the state and referred to a recent instance where the house of a lawyer was vandalized for appearing in a case against the government. I am not playing politics, but we do not want a situation where we pursue the matter before the high court and our lawyers house gets vandalized, he said. He informed the court that the team of journalists comprising Seema Guha, Sanjay Kapur and Bharat Bhushan visited the state from August 7 to 10 on an invitation from the Indian Army. He showed a copy of the July 12 letter from the army about unethical reporting of incidents of Manipur violence by the vernacular media. It is on an invitation by the Army seeking an objective examination that I go to the state and once we submit a report, how can these offences stand? Why should we be prosecuted on this basis? Allow us to challenge these offences in the high court here (in Delhi), Sibal said. He also referred to a statement by Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh at a press conference on September 4 justifying the offences detailed in the FIR. In its affidavit responding to the petition, the Manipur government said as per a prime facie probe by the state, portions of the report were false, published without verification, and highly controversial. It added: Prima facie, many facts in the report were misrepresented, some of them were plainly incorrect, some of them apart from being false are also highly controversial...The intent behind the same requires to be investigated as the same holds a high propensity of creating a public order issue in a sensitive area. The state disputed several claims made in the report regarding sensitive issues from the standpoint of law and order, such as the crackdown on drug cartels, eviction of only certain communities from forest land, partisan conduct of state authorities during the violence and distribution of developmental funds. The state said these were potentially dangerous claims. It is a sensitive time for the state and any kind of false and misleading reportage can have a direct bearing on the law and order situation in the state. The FIRs were filed under Sections 153-A (promoting enmity), 298 (uttering any word with a deliberate intention of wounding religious feelings), 505 (statement to incite violence against any class or community of persons), 499 (criminal defamation). 120-B (criminal conspiracy) among other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). EGI said its report was meant to alert the authorities and to develop appropriate responses and solutions to assist them in decision-making to uphold the rule of law. Titled Report of the Fact-Finding Mission on Medias Reportage of the Ethnic Violence in Manipur, the EGI team found clear indications to show how the leadership of the state became partisan during the conflict which witnessed the executive, bureaucracy, police and other security forces divided along ethnic lines. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bengaluru: A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against Congress minister and Hiryur MLA D Sudhakar for allegedly trespassing and attacking a Dalit family over a property dispute in Yelahanka A first information report (FIR) has been lodged against Congress minister and Hiryur MLA D Sudhakar for allegedly trespassing and evicting a family over a property dispute in Yelahanka. A case has been registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and section 421 of the Indian Penal Code (fraud), said police. The FIR registered identifies Seven Hills Developers and Traders as accused no 1 and Sudhakar as accused no 2. There are two more accused - Srinivas and Bhagyamma. Sudhakar, who is the secretary of Seven Hills Developers and Traders Company, has been accused of fraudulently acquiring Survey No. 108/1 land in Yelahanka, which allegedly belongs to the complainant, according to the complaint. They have accused him of using a JCB machine to evict a woman and her family and causing damage to the house, a senior officer quoted from the complaint. Although the land dispute is pending in court, the minister and associates are accused of resorting to harassment as a means of intimidation. The case came a day after Sudhakars son, Suhas, filed a police complaint, accusing 11 people of trespassing on the said property. The minister denied the allegations, saying: The accusations against me are false. For all the land we own, we have all the documents. The transaction is more than nine years old. The case is moving as per the law. We will go by the law too. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party has called for Andhra Pradesh bandh on Monday in protest against the arrest of the former chief minister in connection with a misappropriation of government funds case. Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party or JSP has extended its support to the state bandh call. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supporters burn tyre during their protest against the arrest of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Prakasam on Saturday. (ANI Photo) TDP workers held a protest in Chittoor against the arrest of Naidu. The TDP activists pelted stones on a bus in Chittoor district as the Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus came out of the depot. Protestors also set tires ablaze on the road. On Sunday, a day after his arrest in a case involving alleged corruption in Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation, Chandrababu Naidu was sent to 14 days in judicial custody. Top updates on Andhra Pradesh bandh call: 1. Expressing solidarity with TDP leader Nara Chandrababu, who was arrested and sent to custody in the alleged skill development case, the TDP has called for a bandh across the state. The Andhra Pradesh Police has enforced Section 144 across the state. 2. Police also tried to detain several party leaders including TDP MLC Kancherla Srikanth in Chittoor district as a preventive action to maintain law and order in the state. Even as the police moved to detain TDP MLC Srikanth he staged a sit-in on the road and raised slogans against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state. 3. Protests were also held in Tirupati and West Godavari districts against the arrest and judicial custody of Chandrababu Naidu. 4. A local court in Vijayawada remanded Chandrababu Naidu in judicial custody for 14 days in the alleged multi-crore corruption scam. He was arrested in connection with a fraud case involving misappropriation of funds from the Skill Development Corporation, leading to a loss of 300 crore to the state government, Andhra Pradesh CID chief N Sanjay said on Saturday. 5. JSP chief Pawan Kalyan accused the ruling party YSR Congress Party of resorting to anti-social activities in Andhra Pradesh. It further alleged that the YSRCP government in the state is harassing the opposition parties. In a statement, Kalyan also urged the JSP workers to participate peacefully in the bandh. Also Read | Shocked Zoho CEO supports arrested Chandrababu Naidu of TDP: Worked so hard to 6. Chandrababu Naidu has been moved to Rajamundry Central prison after being remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Heavy police security has been deployed at the jail prior to the former chief ministers remand. 7. A large number of TDP workers gathered at Vijayawada court premises while the police officials moved the TDP chief to the central jail. The Rajamundry Police has imposed section 144 in the city limits to maintain law and order in the area. 8. Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada. 9. Home-cooked food, medication, and a special room were among the amenities granted by a court to the TDP chief for his fortnight-long stay in jail. 10. In its remand report, the CID said Chandrababu Naidu was non-cooperative during interrogation, and that even though they had arranged for a helicopter for him to travel to Vijayawada from Nandyal, the place where he was arrested, Naidu refused and drove to the city, with his convoy obstructed on several occasions by angry TDP cadre. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A group of residents from 25 villages in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday staged a protest in Tadmetla village of the district alleging that security personnel killed two people in a fake encounter against Maoists, villagers said. Chhattisgarh villagers protest against fake encounters against Maoists on Monday. (HT Archive) On September 5, police said that two Maoists carrying a reward of 1 lakh each on their head were killed in an encounter with security personnel in a forest between Tadmetla and Duled villages under Chintagufa police station limits when a joint team of personnel from different security forces was out on an anti-Maoist operation. According to police, the killed Maoists were identified as Sodhi Deva and Rava Deva, who were active in the Jagargunda area committee of the Maoists. However, villagers have alleged that Sodhi and Rava were local residents and not involved in any Maoist activities. Both were innocent and living peacefully. The two were on their way back home from Chintalnaar Bazaar when they were picked up by the police and dragged into the jungle. The next day police claimed that they were killed in an encounter, a villager said on condition of anonymity. According to locals, Rava ran a grocery shop in the village and Sodhi was a farmer and a tailor. Residents said they will intensify their protest against the security forces and organise a rally fromTadmetla to Burkapal village in the district on Thursday. Alleging excesses by the local security forces in the area, Narendra Deva, a resident of Tadmetla said, This is how we live. We do not know when any of us will be get picked by them (security forces) and killed which is why we have decided to hold a protest. Police have dismissed the villagers allegation, saying that they have strong evidence to show that the Rava and Sodhi were Maoists and were also involved in the killing of at least two people in the area. The modus operandi of militia cadres is that they mostly stay in villages and act at the behest of Maoists. We have strong evidence regarding involvement of these two deceased militia cadres in the murder of Tadmetlas deputy sarpanch, and assistant teacher and other villagers, inspector general of police, Bastar range, Sundarraj P said. Possession of documents like PAN card, Aadhaar card, voter ID card etc does not mean that these people do not have links with Maoists or are not involved in violent activities, Sundarraj added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON RAIPUR/SUKMA: A week after Chhattisgarh police claimed to have killed two Maoists in an encounter with security forces in Bastars Sukma district, the villagers on Monday alleged that the deceased were villagers and not Maoists. Villagers, however, insisted that Sodhi Deva and Rava Deva were not Maoists but were close friends on their way home (File Photo) Hundreds of people from 25 villages are protesting in Tadmetla against the alleged fake encounter and demanded a probe into the issue and announced a bigger rally on September 14. The state police, however, trashed the charge and stressed that it was common for Maoists to try to misguide the villagers. According to the police, an encounter took place in the forest between Tadmetla and Duled villages under Chintagufa police station on September 5 after which police issued a statement in which they claimed that the two Maoists were killed. It was said that the two were carrying a reward of 1 lakh each and a pistol and rifle were recovered from the spot. The Maoists were identified as Jan militia cadres (foot soldiers) Sodhi Deva and Rava Deva, who were active in the Jagargunda area committee of CPI( Maoist) and carried a reward of 1 lakh each on their heads, the police said on the day Villagers, however, insisted that Sodhi Deva and Rava Deva were not Maoists but were close friends on their way home. They said Sodhi Deva was a farmer and a tailor while Rava Deva owned a grocery shop in Tadmetla village. Both were innocent. They were living peacefully and were doing their work. As per our information on September 4, both returned from Timmapuram village and went to Chintalnaar Bazaar to buy some groceries. There they were picked up by police, tied to a motorcycle and dragged into the jungle. The next day, police claimed that they were killed in an encounter, said a villager, requesting anonymity. Narendra Deva, a resident of Tadmetla village, said they didnt know who would be next. Thats why we have decided to hold a protest. People are coming in from all the villages to ensure that the same problem isnt passed on to the next generation, he said. Inspector General of Police, Bastar range, Sunderaj P, rejected the allegation, insisting that the police have enough evidence to establish that the two were Maoists and involved in the killing of two persons. The modus operandi of militia cadres is that they mostly stay in villages and act at the behest of the Maoists. We have strong evidence regarding the involvement of these two deceased militia cadres in the murder of Tadmetlas deputy sarpanch, an assistant teacher and other villagers, said As part of their typical modus operandi, the Maoist leadership tries to misguide the villagers and defame the security forces, the senior police officer added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail The Congress has hit out at Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for questioning the legitimacy of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi and her family members using the Gandhi surname. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. (ANI file) While Sarma called the Gandhi family members as sardar (leader) of duplicates, the Congress questioned how someones surname can be a cause of concern for Assam when it is faced with more pressing problems and asked him to concentrate on solving those first. Addressing the concluding day of the two-day national executive of BJPs Mahila Morcha, Sarma said, I have told them (Gandhis) that you are the sardar of duplicates. (Mahatma) Gandhi ji gave us Independence and they grabbed the surname. All are duplicate Gandhis. I researched for long by which formula Indira, Rahul, Rajiv and Priyanka became Gandhi, but I couldnt find it. Indias first scam was with their surname, Sarma alleged. The Assam CM added that if some dacoit were to use the Gandhi surname, it would not make him a sage. My humble request to Rahul Gandhi ji, please leave your duplicate surname as it is not original, Sarma, who resigned from the Congress in 2015 to join the BJP, said. Hitting back, Congress spokesperson Apurba Bhattacharyya said, Such words are unbecoming of a chief minister. Who is he to comment on whether Rahul ji is worthy of the Gandhi surname or not? Does it concern the states problems in any way? How can someones surname be a problem for the state? Bhattacharyya said there are multitudes of problems facing the state and the chief minister should focus on them. Along with being the CM, he also holds the Home portfolio. When the police are talking about acting tough against corruption, its SP-level officer is being arrested for misdoings. The CM should first focus on solving the states problems and not engage in tactics to divert public attention, the Congress leader added. While investigating an alleged extortion case, the Assam CID arrested 10 people, including SP and DSP level police officers, in Bajali district recently. Sharing a video clip of Sarma's statement, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera wrote on X (formally Twitter), Here, chief minister of Assam @himantabiswa is questioning @varungandhi80s right to have the Gandhi surname. Another Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also shared the same clip and said, You got your name from your father Shri Kailash Nath Sarma ji, right? Similarly, Rajiv ji had an affair with his father Feroze Gandhi and the same happened with his grandson too. Sarma, meanwhile, also slammed the Congress for using the word INDIA as the acronym for the Opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, claiming that the grand old party uses India and Bharat as per its political convenience. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhury on Sunday questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees decision to attend the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of G20 meet in New Delhi, asking if that would not weaken her stance against the Narendra Modi government. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP SP Singh Baghel and others during the G20 dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu,(Twitter) The state Congress president also wondered whether there was any other reason for the Trinamool Congress supremo to take part in the programme. The TMC hit back at Choudhury, saying that Banerjee is one of the prime movers behind the non-BJP bloc INDIA and the Congress leader did not need to lecture her about certain protocols to be followed from the administrative point of view. "When many non-BJP CMs refrained from attending the dinner, Didi (Mamata Banerjee) went to Delhi a day in advance. She attended the occasion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the same room. I wonder what prompted her to rush all the way to Delhi to be in the dinner party along with these leaders," Choudhury told reporters here. Banerjee went to Delhi on Friday, while the dinner party was held the next day. Choudhury asked, "Is there any other reason behind her attending the occasion?" Reacting to his statement, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen said everyone knows Mamata Banerjee is one of the architects behind INDIA and none can question her commitment. "Choudhury will not decide when the chief minister of the state will go to attend a dinner on the occasion of G20 as part of the protocol," Sen said. The BJPs West Bengal spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the Congress and CPIM joined hands with the Banerjee-led party in Delhi against the saffron camp, betraying the people of the state who were victims of the TMCs terror. "The Congress itself has joined hands with the corrupt TMC in Delhi. It is the BJP which has remained vocal against the corruption of TMC leaders. ED and CBI are raiding against them. The BJP is with the people of Bengal. "So, people like Adhir Choudhury should explain who is actually cosying up to TMC and doing a disservice to the people of the state," Bhattacharya said. Banerjees flight was scheduled for Saturday, but it was rescheduled to Friday afternoon owing to regulation of flight movements in the national capital, officials said. A special court for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) cases in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh on Monday reserved its judgment for Tuesday on the petition filed by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu seeking house-imprisonment, people familiar with the matter said. Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu being taken to prison after a court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days in an alleged corruption case, in Vijayawada on Sunday. (PTI) Naidu, who was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) police on Saturday morning in connection with 371 crore state skill development corporation scam, was shifted to Rajahmundry jail in the wee hours of Monday, after he was denied bail by the ACB court on Sunday night. The TDP chiefs counsel and senior Supreme Court lawyer Siddharth Luthra filed a petition in the ACB court on Monday, requesting that Naidu be kept under house imprisonment, as he was a high-profile leader with serious security threat and was under the protection of National Security Guards (NSG) guards round the clock. Luthra argued that Rajahmundry central jail was not safe for Naidu, as it housed hardcore criminals. We have our own doubts over the security provided to him in the prison. He has been provided with high security by the Centre, which could be provided to him in the house remand, he said, quoting certain judgements given by the Supreme Court in the past. Additional advocate general Sudhakar Reddy said there was no provision for house imprisonment in the Criminal Procedure Code(CrPC). There is adequate security in the jail and as per the court directions, Naidu has been provided with a separate room and other facilities under additional security. In fact, he is safer in jail than at his home, he argued. After hearing prolonged arguments from both sides, the ACB court judge deferred the judgment to Tuesday. After going through the judgment of the ACB court, Naidus lawyers would move the bail petition to the state high court, a TDP leader familiar with the development said. After obtaining the arrest warrant from the court on Sunday night, the CID authorities shifted Naidu to Rajahmundry central jail at around 1.30 am on Monday on judicial remand of 14 days. He was allotted remand prisoner number 7,691 and lodged in a separate room at Sneha block with all the facilities and was also provided home-cooked food, medicines and other requirements. Director general of police (DGP) K V Rajendranath Reddy told reporters that instructions have been given to the East Godavari police to maintain vigil and arrange necessary force at the prison and in the vicinity. We have provided round-the-clock surveillance on the jail with closed-circuit television [CCTV] cameras to ensure safety to the VIP prisoner, the DGP said, adding that arrangements have already been made at the jail dispensary, Rajahmundry government hospital and also a corporate hospital in case of any medical emergency. Meanwhile, police have erected barricades, diverted traffic and imposed restrictions on vehicular movement on the Jail Road as a precautionary measure. Public movement has been restricted outside the jail. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bengaluru: Some Janata Dal (Secular) leaders have reportedly raised concerns over the partys likely alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to people familiar with the matter. HT Image This development comes a day after JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda confirmed that his party has held discussions with BJP to form an alliance in the state for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While a section of leaders in JD(S) is unhappy about the party joining hands with BJP, which brought down their coalition government in 2019, others are concerned about the party losing the Muslim vote base in the Old Mysuru Region. JD(S) Gurmitkal MLA Sharanagouda Kandakur said that joining hands with the BJP will threaten the partys future. The Congress-JD(S) government was brought down by the BJP. In the 2023 elections, our partys division of votes helped the BJP. Now, if we go with the BJP, what will be our political future tomorrow? he said. We have followed the orders of the partys leaders no matter what. Ultimately, when it comes to the field, the alliance with the BJP raises questions about our political existence. This question haunts all of our leaders, Kandakur added. In 2019, Kandakur was approached by the former chief minister BS Yediyurappa with a proposal seeking his father and then MLA Naganagouda Kandakur to join the BJP. Kandakur, however, recorded the conversation between him and Yediyurappa and made it public, causing major embarrassment to the BJP. Another senior leader said that the decision would impact the partys Muslim vote bank. In JD(S) blueprint ahead of the 2023 polls, Muslims featured prominently. The party made CM Ibrahim the party chief and even took a stand during the Hijab issue to appeal to Muslim voters. Congresss rainbow coalition had swept the Muslim votes. Instead of gaining Muslim votes from them (Congress), we had lost our Muslim base to the Congress. But, we had a chance to reclaim it because the Congress has not done anything that it had promised, may it be rolling back the reservation taken away by the BJP or removing the ban on Hijab. We have lost the opportunity to consolidate that vote bank, said a senior leader who requested anonymity. Apart from the JD(S) loyalists, several former BJP legislators who joined the regional party too are worried about their future. MLAs Karyiamma from Devadurga and Hagribommanahallli MLA Nemraj Naik had joined the JD(S) from the BJP. The leaders are concerned about the political future if the party joins hands with the BJP. They had faced severe opposition when they left the BJP, and now they fear vendetta, said the above-mentioned leader. According to experts results of the alliance will depend on vote transfer, however, BJP has a long term goal as well. If you look at the history of such alliances in Karnataka, Lok Shakti and BJP had formed an alliance, which led to the Lingayat votes shifting to the BJP. In the case of 2019, BJP benefited by increasing its vote share, said political analyst Sandeep Shastri. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP fought a united Congress-JD(S) combine and still won 25 seats out of 28 in the state and walked off with a 52% vote share. In 2014, BJP fought JD(S) and Congress separately, recording a vote share of 45%, against Congress bagging 41% and JD(S) only 9%. The BJP joining hands with the JD(S) is, in a way, the party conceding that it was no longer in the position that it was in 2019. With the alliance, they wont be contesting more than 25 seats, and they have to sweep them all, which is unlikely. However, the BJPs plan, according to me, is to marginalize the JD(S) by joining hands with them and making inroads into the Old Mysuru Region, Shastri said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came under attack after she referred to G20 as 'inke G20' in her speech on Sunday. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday pointed out that there is no unity in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance over G20 either -- as Shashi Tharoor praised G20 but Priyanka Gandhi condemned it. Congress's Adhir Ranjan attacked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for attending G20 dinner while Congress leader Sukhwinder Sukhu was present at the dinner. "This is what happens when you have no vision or mission. Just contradictions and mindless oppositions," Poonawalla took a dig at INDIA. Dig Deeper Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi (ANI) More news on G20 Summit: What the G20 Summit success means for India and the world A fresh controversy started over former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's straight attack on the BJP as he said there is a possibility that a Godhra-like situation may occur following the Ram temple inauguration. "The government could invite a large number of people for the Ram Temple inauguration and on their return journey, an incident similar to that in Godhra may occur," Uddhav said bringing a massive allegation against the government. Ram Temple is likely to be inaugurated in January 2024, before the Lok Sabha election, it is being speculated. A possible date between January 21 and January 24 is being determined for the inauguration by PM Modi. Dig Deeper More news on Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya: Two-day Ram temple construction committee meeting begins in Ayodhya on August 25 The Latest News 19 people killed in rain-related incidents in the past 24 hours in UP, schools shut in some districts. Dig Deeper IndiGo passenger booked for alleged sexual harassment onboard Mumbai-Guwahati flight. Dig Deeper Modi govt punishing IAS officer who exposed 13,000 cr scam in J&K: Congress. Dig Deeper India News It was a compromise: Netherlands PM Mark Rutte on Ukraine in G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. Dig Deeper IndiGo passenger booked for alleged sexual harassment onboard Mumbai-Guwahati flight. Dig Deeper Weapon of Mass Diplomacy: Anand Mahindra's title for G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. Dig Deeper Global Matters: EU's warning to Russia on 'illegal' vote in occupied Ukraine. Dig Deeper Moscow slams ban on Russians bringing cars, some goods into EU: Racist. Dig Deeper Train to Moscow? Kim Jong Un to visit Russia in coming days, Kremlin confirms. Dig Deeper Lifestyle and Health Shehnaaz Gill will soon be seen in Rhea Kapoor and Karan Boolani's upcoming film Thank You for Coming, starring Bhumi Pednekar, Kush Kapila, Dolly Singh and Shibani Bedi. The star cast of the chick-flick recently stepped out in Mumbai to attend its trailer launch and served head-turning sartorial moments in steal-worthy dresses. Shehnaaz Gill also made a statement in an orange-coloured one-shoulder backless dress, serving sultry elegance. If you liked Shehnaaz's look in the ensemble, we have some good news for you. We found the price details. Scroll through to find out more. Dig Deeper What's Trending: The village of Brezna in northern Montenegro is holding its annual Laziest Citizen contest. Yes, you read that right. The event started with 21 competitors, but now only seven remain. These contestants are vying for a grand prize of $1,070 (approximately 88,000.) Last year, the lying down record was set at 117 hours, however this year, the competition has crossed 20 days, with the competitors demonstrating unrelenting perseverance, reported The New York Post. Dig Deeper SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saudi Arabia is one of India's most important strategic partners, after his bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in New Delhi on Monday. Both leaders also signed the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council held at Hyderabad House. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia speaks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival for a ceremonial reception at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Monday,(AP) "As two large and fast-growing economies of the world, our mutual cooperation is important for peace and stability in the entire region. In our talks, we have identified several initiatives to take our partnership to the next level. Today's talks will provide new energy and direction to our relations. This will provide us inspiration to work together for the welfare of humanity," Modi said at a joint press briefing. Speaking on the historic economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe, Modi said, Yesterday, we have taken a decision to start the historic economic corridor... This corridor will not only connect two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe. Under your leadership and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth At the G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday, India, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the European Union announced a historic agreement to launch a mega India-Middle East-Europe shipping and railway connectivity corridor. This is a historic and first-of-its-kind initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure involving India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany and the US. The crown prince congratulated Modi on the management of the G20 Summit held between September 9 and 10, and the initiatives achieved, including the economic corridor. "...There was no disagreement at all during the history of this (India-Saudi Arabia) relationship but there is cooperation to build the future of our country and create opportunities. Today we are working on future opportunities...I congratulate you on the management of the G 20 Summit and the initiatives achieved, including the Economic Corridor linking the Middle East, India and Europe which requires that we work diligently in order to create it into reality...," Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar, national security advisor Ajit Doval and others were present in the meeting. Saudi Crown Prince on State visit to India The crown prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, who arrived in New Delhi on a three-day State visit to India attended the G20 Summit. Modi and the crown prince reviewed the progress made under the two ministerial committees of the Strategic Partnership Council i.e. the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation and the Committee on Economy and Investments Cooperation. Modi and the Saudi Arabia leader also discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including political, security, defence, trade and economic, cultural and people-to-people ties. Both the leaders will also discuss the regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Saudi crown prince was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ministers and senior officials. Prior to his meeting with Modi, Mohammed bin Salman received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The prince then inspected a combined defence services guard of honour. In a brief statement, Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries." Later in the day, he is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu. Mohammed bin Salman on G20 Summit Speaking at the G20 Summit, Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, "... We look forward to the integration of the initiative and the economic corridor project which is announced in this meeting. I would like to thank those who worked with us to reach this founding step to establish this important economic corridor..." Modi said the mega-deal would give a sustainable direction to connectivity and sustainability across the world. Earlier, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince visited India on a State visit in February 2019 and the current visit will be his second State visit to the country. "India and Saudi Arabia have historically close and friendly relations with extensive people-to-people contacts. The trade between both countries reached all-time high of USD 52.75 billion in FY 2022-23, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an earlier press release. India is Saudi Arabias second-largest trading partner whereas Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth-largest trading partner. Both countries also have a strong partnership in the area of energy, according to an MEA statement released earlier. Saudi Arabia also hosted a three-day event in conjunction with the G20 Leaders Summit to provide an immersive and interactive experience of the Kingdoms leading projects in various fields. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the International Media Centre on Sunday evening at the G20 Summit venue after the two-day event concluded. PM Modi had visited the place to meet Indian and foreign journalists. (PTI Photo) PM Modi had visited the place to meet Indian and foreign journalists. While the main summit was held in Bharat Mandapam in the erstwhile Pragati Maidan complex, the International Media Centre (IMC) was set up in its proximity at hall number 4 and 5, an official said on the condition of anonymity. The complex is owned by the International trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), which is under the administrative control of the commerce and industry ministry. This is the first time that a Media Centre is located so close to the main summit venue, the official said. Also Read: Indias G20 win shows US learning how to counter China rise Information and Broadcasting secretary Apurva Chandra said that earlier the Hall number 1 was proposed as the venue for the media centre. It was closer to Bharat Mandapam. But, the present venue was finally chosen as we wanted a bigger space to accommodate about 3,000 media persons, he said adding that the media centre with two floors was more spacious and comfortable for journalists. Based on the feedback, it was clear that the facilities were found useful by media professionals, which is reflected in the wide coverage of the event. We appreciate the involvement and coverage given by the media on this occasion, Chandra said. According to the first official, the event saw over 3,000 registrations from both domestic and foreign media, including print, electronic, digital and freelance journalists. The facility was equipped with over 1,300 work stations with internet connectivity and printer, high speed WiFi, and International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) for clean feed from Bharat Mandapam, recorded by national broadcaster Prasar Bharati. Manish Desai, principal director general of the press information bureau (PIB) said more than 2,000 journalists were working at a time including over 600 foreign journalists at the media centre. PIB teams were deployed in three shifts throughout the summit period. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China finally broke its silence on the New Delhi G20 summit saying that the Declaration adopted by the member nations has sent a positive signal that the influential grouping is working together to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery. (L-R) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden attend a session as part of the G20 Leaders' Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 9, 2023. (AFP) India on Saturday pulled off a big diplomatic win after the G20 summit held under its presidency adopted a consensus declaration overcoming major differences on the Russia-Ukraine war, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for ending the "global trust deficit". In its first comment on the outcome of the two-day summit, which concluded Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry spoke highly of its outcome. The summit adopted a leaders declaration, which reflects Chinas proposition and states that the G20 would act in concrete ways through partnerships, sending a positive signal of the G20 working together to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery and global development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Asked for her comment on the summit outcome, Mao said, In the process of preparing for this New Delhi summit, China played a constructive role and always supported the summit in attaching importance to the concerns of developing countries and reaching fruitful outcomes in support of common development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the summit, deputising for President Xi Jinping. Asked whether China supports the absence of direct criticism of Russia in the G20 statement and whether softer language would help end the conflict in Ukraine, Mao said China's stance on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. The G20 leaders declaration is the result of consensus reached through consultation and reflects the common understanding of all members. The New Delhi Summit reaffirms that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues. We always believe that the key to the final resolution of the Ukraine crisis lies in discarding the Cold War mentality, attaching importance to and respecting all sides legitimate security concerns, and seeking a political solution through dialogue and negotiation, she said. The spokesperson said China will remain committed to promoting peace talks and working together with the international community for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Mao said China has always attached importance to and actively supported the work of the G20 and believes that its important for the grouping to stand in solidarity and cooperate to address various risks and challenges in the world economy and development. During his attendance at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Premier Li Qiang elaborated on Chinas views and propositions on G20 cooperation, calling on all parties to stick to the original aspiration of solidarity and cooperation, live up to the responsibility for peace and development as required by our times, and be partners in promoting the world economic recovery, open cooperation and global sustainable development, she said. The G20 member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union. On Saturday, the African Union was admitted as G20's permanent member. The environment ministry has started DNA profiling of all captive elephants across India to prevent any kind of trafficking of pachyderms, ministry officials said. The environment ministry has started DNA profiling of all captive elephants across India. (AFP) The Centre, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, has come up with an app named Gajah Suchana to collect biological samples of captive elephants for genome mapping. An initiative has been taken by the ministry to map the genotype of all captive elephants in the country to prevent illegal trafficking of elephants, said a senior official of the ministry, who asked not to be named. He said that blood samples of elephants from some states including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Tripura, Delhi, and Uttarakhand have already been collected. Some other states such as Kerala have also started the initiative. States such as Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura and Madhya Pradesh account for around 95% of captive elephants in captivity without ownership certificates. The problem arises when an elephant is exchanged or when an elephant is sent to some facility, we dont know whether it is the same animal reflected in the ownership certificate. The document has no face or photograph of the animal. DNA is the only thing we can match. So, if every certificate has the animals DNA profile, it can be matched, said a second environment ministry official, who asked not to be named. The Centre submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court in 2019 that said that there were at least 2,454 captive elephants in India then. Around 560 of these animals were with the state forest departments while around 1,687 were with private individuals, 85 in zoos and 96 in temples among others and the rest in circuses. Of these, 660 captive elephants didnt have any valid ownership certificate, according to the affidavit. Kerala and Assam account for over half of all captive elephants in the country. In some case it was detected that the tusks of captive elephants were sawed from the edge and sold off. If genome mapping is done every individual elephant would have an unique identity like our Aadhaar cards and it would be easy to identity any parts of the animal if it is trafficked, said an officer of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau who asked not to be named. A similar initiative was taken up in 2016 for saving rhinos in the name of RhODIS or the Rhino DNA Index System, a wildlife forensics tool that was specially developed for investigating wildlife crime cases related to the rhino The Union environment ministry along with Wildlife Institute of India (WII), forest departments of West Bengal, Assam and Uttar Pradesh and WWF India launched RhODIS India programme. The first case under the RhODIS India programme was investigated in 2017, when a horn was seized near Guwahati in Assam. Earlier microchipping was introduced to identify individual elephants where in a microchip with all details of the animal was inserted. It was easier to read with a scanner. But genome sequencing is more foolproof. It would, however, need a state-of-art laboratory, said Raman Sukumar, , elephant expert and ecologist at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. Indias infrastructure push along its farthest frontiers, a firm and focussed response to Chinas thrust on developing its border areas, is set to get a boost with new roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields and helipads -- the latest in a raft of projects worth thousands of crores that have supported the militarys pursuit of robust deterrence against the neighbour with whom the country has been locked in a standoff in eastern Ladakh for more than three years, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) officials aware of the matter said on Monday. As things stand, China has an edge over India in border infrastructure, but the country is on the fastest way to bridge the gaps, BRO officials said. (AP) FORTRESS AMERICA was breached today by the worlds most spectacular terrorist attack. In the first of a series of coordinated attacks, two hijacked planes crashed into and levelled New Yorks 110-storey World Trade Center in Washington DC, another hijacked aircraft wrecked parts of the Pentagon and a car bomb damaged the State Department. Thousands of people are feared dead. HT This Day: September 12, 2001 -- America under attack US President George Bush said the explosions were an apparent terrorist attack and said terrorism against our nation will not stand. He promised the US would hunt down those responsible. A Boeing 767 also believed to have been hijacked, also crashed in western Pennsylvania. The attacks began shortly before 9 a.m. local time (2 p.m. EST), when two hijacked passenger planes flew directly into the upper floors of the World Trade Center towers in the heart of New Yorks financial district. Shortly afterwards in Washington DC. an aircraft hit the helicopter pad at the Pentagon. One side of the five-sided US military headquarters collapsed and there are an unknown number of casualties. A third explosion in New York an hour after the initial crashes brought the south tower of the World Trade Center crashing to the ground. A witness said he saw bodies falling from the towers and people jumping out. Minutes later, the Centers north tower also collapsed. I just saw the building I work in come down, said businessman Gabriel loan, outside City Hall, with a cloud of smoke and ash from the World Trade Center behind him. I just saw the top of Trade Two come down. The ash was two to three inches deep in places. People wandered dazed and terrified. Senator Chuck Hagel said: This is the second Pearl Harbour I dont think that I overstate it. Authorities had been trying to evacuate the 50,000 people who work in the twin towers. New Yorkers have been told to head to the north of the city away from the disaster zone, and bridges and tunnels in Manhattan have been closed amid fears of further attacks. Subway lines were shut down and trading on Wall Street suspended. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was diverting transatlantic flights headed for the US to Canada after earlier grounding all flights in response to the attacks in New York and Washington. Thousands of people have been evacuated from the White House and all other government and public buildings in Washington DC and New York, including the Treasury, the White House, the UN headquarters and the State Department. Chicago has also begun evacuations. Other US cities are on alert. Borders with Canada and Mexico have been sealed. An Arab journalist said that bin Laden had warned of an unprecedented attack against the US a fortnight ago. From Abu Dhabi there was a report that a Palestinian group had owned responsibility but the group later denied these reports. DAY OF TERROR 8.55 AM (NY local time) Passenger plane crashes into north tower of World Trade Center 9.15 Another plane hits second tower 9.30 President Bush cuts short Florida visit, returns to Washington 9.40 Explosion reported at Pentagon. White House evacuated 10.05 South tower of WTC collapses 10.30 Second tower collapses, sending huge clouds of smoke over Manhattan 10.35 Explosion at State Department 10.40 Boeing 767 passenger aircraft crashes in western Pennsylvania 10.43 Pentagon says it is monitoring another hijacked plane 11.00 FAA says several planes still missing NEW DELHI: India and Saudi Arabia on Monday outlined steps to expedite Riyadhs long-gestating plan to invest $100 billion in the country, including a mega refinery, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman explored ways to bolster cooperation in areas ranging from energy to defence. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia speaks to PM Narendra Modi at a ceremonial reception at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Monday. (AP) The crown prince, also the kingdoms prime minister, began a day-long state visit after participating in the G20 Summit over the weekend. The Saudi leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before he and Modi co-chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, the apex body to oversee bilateral ties that was set up in 2019. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important strategic partners for India. As the worlds two largest and fastest growing economies, our mutual cooperation is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region, Modi said at the meeting, speaking in Hindi. We together made a historic beginning to establish an economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe, Modi said, referring to the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) during the G20 Summit. An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US and other G20 partners for the corridor, which Modi said will enhance economic cooperation, energy development and digital connectivity. The Saudi prince too referred to IMEC and said the partners will have to work diligently in order to create it into a reality. He added there was no disagreement in the history of India-Saudi Arabia relations, which are based on cooperation to create opportunities. Also Read: Stamp on new trade corridor to counter Chinas BRI push Today were working on future opportunities. There is a huge agenda to be working with. We are working through this council to achieve these accomplishments, and these are promising, he said. The two countries agreed to set to set up a joint working group (JWG) to streamline and channelise the $100 billion in investments promised by the Saudi side during the crown princes last visit to India in February 2019. Of this, $50 billion was earmarked for the West Coast refinery, a mega plant to be set up by Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian firms. Both sides extended their full support to the early implementation of the West Coast refinery project, Ausaf Sayeed, secretary (overseas Indian affairs) in the external affairs ministry, told a media briefing. Besides the JWG on investments, there will be a specialised monitoring committee to ensure progress in the refinery project. Sayeed acknowledged there had been delays since the refinery was announced in 2018 due to various factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic. The whole idea was that a JWG or a committee would go into all facets of this and then see ways and means of expediting this, he said. The two leaders instructed officials from Indias petroleum ministry and the Saudi energy ministry to identify factors hindering the early implementation of the refinery. Reports have suggested the refinery, expected to produce 1.2 million barrels a day, has been held up because of challenges in acquiring land in western Maharashtra. The stakeholders have explored the option of splitting the mega plant into several refineries. During the meeting, Modi suggested areas for potential Saudi investments, including waterways, ports, expansion of railways and freight corridors, highway infrastructure, energy, hydrogen, and gas grids. The two sides agreed to expedite negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Sayeed said could act as a catalyst for economic cooperation. The negotiations were delayed because of the change of GCCs chief negotiator and there is keenness on both sides to complete the pact as early as possible, he said. The two sides signed eight agreements, including one inked by the energy ministers to expand the hydrocarbons relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership. This agreement will cover renewable energy, petroleum, electricity, green hydrogen and strategic petroleum reserves. Saudi Arabia is currently Indias third largest supplier of energy and supplied crude oil worth $29 billion during 2022-23. The kingdom, however, was overtaken last year by Russia, which emerged a key energy supplier by providing discounted oil after the Ukraine war. The other agreements covered digitalisation and electronic manufacturing, cooperation between Indias Central Vigilance Commission and the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, the national archives, Invest India and the Saudi investment ministry, the exim banks, and SIDBI and the Saudi SME Bank. Another agreement covered seawater desalination, including cooperation in future technology, exchanges of investment and expertise and joint research. During their meeting, the two leaders focused on cooperation in energy, defence, security, technology, transportation, healthcare and education, and identified space and semiconductors as new areas of collaboration. Sayeed said the two sides are also eyeing cooperation in fintech and trading in national currencies, for which proposals and concept notes have been exchanged. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the current volume of trade, which has been in the range of $30 billion a year, with India as the kingdoms second largest trading partner and Saudi Arabia as Indias fourth largest trading partner. Modi laid emphasis on new sectors such as critical minerals and food parks, and suggested the creation of a JWG on education and skill development. Modi also mentioned that, depending on capacity, Saudi Arabia could consider accommodating more Indian pilgrims for the annual Haj. Indias current quota for the Haj is 175,000. The Indian government has focused on enhancing security and energy ties with West Asian states, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which is home to 2.2 million Indians the largest expatriate community in the kingdom. Modi pointed to the large number of Indian workers and thanked Saudi Arabia for helping them during the pandemic. The Saudi crown prince noted that 7% of the kingdoms population comprises Indians, who play a large part in the countrys economic growth. We consider them to be a part of Saudi Arabia. We watch and take care of them like we take care of our own citizens, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Xi Jinpings decision to stay away from the Group of 20 summit may have been intended to deny India its moment. Instead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the US and Europe figured out how to more effectively counter China on the world stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden, United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other leaders at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat on the final day of the G20 Summit.(PTI) Fellow G-20 nations hailed Indias success in reaching an agreement on a joint communique that remained in doubt just days before world leaders gathered in New Delhi for their most significant annual diplomatic event. Apart from finding consensus on Russias war in Ukraine, the most difficult issue, they also elevated the African Union as a full G-20 member and took action on issues like climate change and debt sustainability that are priorities of emerging markets. The final outcome irked Ukraine, which saw the compromise on war language as weaker than what leaders produced just 10 months ago in Bali, Indonesia. But for the US and its allies, criticism of a communique that on substance was similar to Bali and has little impact on the ground is a small price to pay for giving Modi a win that bolsters Indias status as a rising power capable of blunting Chinas global influence. President Joe Biden led the charge, seeing in India his administrations best hope of isolating China and Russia and providing a booster shot to the US-led world order. The result showed that Washington is finally learning the language of the so-called Global South, with India as its principle guide. Some commentators are pointing to watered-down language on Russia-Ukraine as a sign of Western climbdown, said Milan Vaishnav, director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. But theres another way of looking at it: The West is also invested in making sure India got a win. A lack of consensus would have been a huge disappointment for India. If there was a moment that illustrated the summit dynamics, it was Bidens meeting on Saturday to discuss White House-led efforts to deliver more financing to developing nations. Along with World Bank President Ajay Banga, the first Indian American to hold the role, Biden was pictured with Modi, Brazils Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa key members of the BRICS grouping, minus China and Russia. That bloc expanded earlier this month, posing a challenge for the Group of Seven advanced economies. Earlier in the day, US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer swiped at China by referring to those nations as the three democratic members of the BRICS, saying they and the US were all committed to the G-20s success. And if China is not, thats unfortunate for everyone, Finer said. But much more unfortunate, we believe, for China. And the US didnt stop there. It separately announced a deal with India, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Israel and other Middle Eastern countries to develop an ambitious rail and maritime network across the region. Biden hailed it as a game-changing regional investment, cementing the deal with a three-way handshake that included Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who the US president had cast as a pariah ahead of the last American election. That kind of pronouncement is more likely to appeal to Middle East interests than badgering over human rights, even if the projects time line and funding remains vague. The US denied it was meant to counter Chinas growing influence in the Gulf, but a French official acknowledged it was designed to provide competition for Xis Belt and Road Initiative, saying that wasnt a bad thing. I want to see China succeed economically, Biden told reporters Sunday in Hanoi, Vietnam, where he flew after the G-20. But I want to see them succeed by the rules. Xis move to skip the G-20 summit for the first time since he became president in 2013 marked a shift in behavior from last November, when he cast himself as a statesman with a responsibility to get along with other countries. Chinas negotiators also risked appearing petty in looking to thwart Indias progress, taking a stand on minor issues like Modis use of a Sanskrit phrase and the USs bid to host the G-20 gathering in 2026. The Global Times, a newspaper affiliated with the Communist Party, called the US just a copycat for its Mideast infrastructure plan. In a further blow to Beijing, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the summit that her nation plans to withdraw from the BRI while still looking to maintain friendly relations, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named. At a press conference after the G-20, Meloni said she spoke to Li, representing China in Xis absence, about the BRI but a decision had yet to be made. Going into the summit, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused China of acting as a brake on progress toward a joint statement. At one point in the deliberations behind closed doors, Beijing raised the issue of access to semiconductors in a discussion of climate action, people familiar with the talks said. That prompted National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan a leading advocate of US export controls on chips and chip technology to China to decry the idea of holding climate hostage to unrelated issues. Chinas Li told leaders that the G-20 needs unity instead of division, cooperation instead of confrontation, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. That followed a commentary posted hours earlier by a Chinese think tank affiliated with the countrys top spy agency, which criticized India for having sabotaged the atmosphere for cooperation at the G-20 by pushing its own agenda. But China relented on its opposition to the communique, and India drew praise from all camps for negotiating a compromise. People familiar with the discussions said the breakthrough occurred after India, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa jointly put forward a proposal on language describing the war. This consensus itself shows the cemented role of India as a trustworthy fulcrum of a world bitterly divided on geopolitical issues like the Ukraine war, said Swasti Rao, an associate fellow at the Europe and Eurasia Center at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses. There is little doubt that middle order powers wish to keep the global economic order multipolar and not fall into the Chinese game of dominating it. While the final language on Ukraine made some US allies uneasy, supporting the compromise presented a bigger opportunity to align more closely with major democracies in the Global South that ultimately serve as key swing nations when it comes to Russias war and other world issues. G-7 leaders publicly praised the outcome, with Sunak insisting that the language adopted was very strong and that Russia is completely isolated. Just and Durable For the US, any move that bolsters India and amplifies other democracies in the Global South helps to counter China and Russias influence, particularly when it comes to bringing about the G-20s call for a comprehensive, just and durable peace in Ukraine. Back in May at the G-7 summit in Japan, the US and its allies struggled to convince Modi, Lula and Indonesias Joko Widodo to side with them on Ukraine, even after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy made a surprise appearance. Zelenskiy wasnt invited to address Indias G-20. A senior European Union official said the agreement effectively saved the G-20 as the last global forum bringing together the worlds major powers. Moreover, the official said, it helped bridge the gap between the G-7 and emerging markets, who would now be partners in holding Russia to account if it doesnt follow through on seeking a just peace in line with UN principles. Other senior European officials said China shot itself in the foot by staying away from the summit, allowing India to cement its leadership of the Global South and providing the US and Europe a clear path to strengthen ties with emerging markets. Even Russia, represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after Vladimir Putin stayed home, saw the agreement as a win. Moscow was pleased that BRICS democracies served as interlocutors with the G-7, according to a person familiar with the situation, underscoring Chinas status as an outsider looking in. The US, of course, could yet stumble in its bid to appeal more to the Global South. Ahead of the G-20, Biden skipped a summit in Indonesia hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a move that appeared like a snub to Widodo. The US president sought to do damage control in Delhi, meeting the Indonesian leader briefly and pledging to meet him at the White House in November, when world leaders head to the US for the APEC summit. More significantly, however, was Indias ability to grasp the moment to assert a global leadership role. Modi who is on pace to extend his decade in power next year declared that history has been created while his chief negotiator, Amitabh Kant, called India the spokesperson of all the Global South. More than anything else, it has amplified the voice of Global South, Kant said of the summit outcome. It has also demonstrated that India has a huge capacity of bringing the world together and leading the world in developmental and geopolitical issues. Toronto A pro-Khalistani secessionist group organised a hastily arranged referendum at a gurdwara in Canadas British Columbia, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to his counterpart Justin Trudeau strong concerns about anti-India elements promoting secessionism from Canadian soil and inciting violence against diplomats. HT Image The controversial exercise was conducted on Sunday in the town of Surrey at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara by the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group. This same shrine was headed by SFJ leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar before he was gunned down by unidentified assailants on June 18 in its parking lot. The referendum was the latest in a string of provocative moves by pro-Khalistani groups in Canada that have caused bilateral relations to nosedive in recent months. Designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of the banned SFJ, was present at the referendum, local media reported. While there was no official response from the Canadian government, there have been other rounds of referendum in the country before in Brampton and Mississauga in the Greater Toronto Area. The Indian government did not react to the referendum. During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Modi told Trudeau that mutual respect and trust are essential for progress in bilateral ties. Modis remarks came on the back of extremist elements organising rallies and protests in support of Khalistan in several Canadian cities and targeting Indian diplomatic facilities and officials over the past few months. The Indian side was particularly angered when a float at a recent rally eulogised the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. During the bilateral meeting, Modi emphasised that bilateral ties are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties, but conveyed Indias strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. These elements are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, the statement added. Modi mentioned that mutual respect and trust are essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship. Though the statement didnt directly name pro-Khalistan elements, there was no doubt whom the Indian side was referring to. In Canada, SFG announced another round of the referendum on October 29, also in Surrey. The venue for the September 10 referendum was originally the Tamanawis Secondary School. However, a week before its scheduled date, it was cancelled by the Surrey District School Board due to a violation of our rental agreement. The reason cited was that the poster for the event carried images of the school along with a picture of an AK-47 gun as well as a kirpan. Despite repeated attempts to address the issue, the event organisers failed to remove these concerning images, and materials continued to be posted throughout Surrey and on social media, the release noted. SFJ also blames India for Nijjars assassination though the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which is investigating the case, has neither arrested anyone in this connection nor attributed any motive behind the murder. India has repeatedly raised the matter with the Canadian government, irked by Ottawa allowing the countrys territory to be used for separatist activity, no strong action has so far been taken in this regard. Under fire over the pro-Khalistan demonstrations, Trudeau told a news conference in New Delhi that Canada will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but simultaneously asserted it will also prevent violence and tackle hatred. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us, he said. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred. I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada, Trudeau said. Diaspora Canadians make up a huge proportion of our country, and they should be able to express themselves and make their choices without interference from any of the many countries that we know are involved in interference challenges, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail Heated discussions took place between the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition Untied Democratic Front (UDF) camps in the Kerala Assembly on Monday over allegations of conspiracy to implicate late former chief minister Oommen Chandy in a sexual exploitation case connected to the solar scam that broke out in 2013. Oommen Chandy (HT Photo) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had probed the allegation of sexual abuse levelled by a woman, who is the prime accused in the solar scam and had gone on to exonerate Chandy in the case, reportedly named a few political leaders who conspired to trap the former chief minister. The report was submitted by the agency in a magisterial court in Thiruvananthapuram in December last year. Moving an adjournment motion in the House on the issue, Congress MLA Shafi Parambil cited the CBI reports findings to allege that fake letters written by the complainant in the sexual assault case were exploited to harass Chandy when he was the chief minister. Parambil said, A man who led a transparent, clean, and honest life of public service was showered with abuses and mocked by using a sexual assault complaint when he had crossed the age of 70. Those who used the six fake letters drafted by a woman swindler to attack him [Chandy] will never be forgiven by the states public...CBI report clearly states that a power broker named Nandakumar paid the complainant 50 lakh in exchange for the letters [of alleged sexual abuse] she wrote. Why was that power broker allowed to get an appointment for the complainant at the chief ministers office on the third day the CM took charge? When even the state police and the crime branch concluded that there was no strength to the allegations [against Chandy], why was the LDF government in such a hurry to hand over the case to the CBI? asked Parambil. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan demanded that the state government allow the CBI to probe the allegations of criminal conspiracy in the case. He alleged that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the number one accused in the case because he invited the complainant to his office and got the letters from her, which the CBI has now proved are fake. The crux of the CBI report is the criminal conspiracy. Where did it start? In 2016, on the third day of taking charge, the CM meets the complainant. Corporate power broker Nandakumar is the middleman. The complaint is drafted there itself and received, said Satheesan, alleging that the fake complaint was manifested by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to humiliate opposition leaders. In response to this, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan pointed out that the state government does not have access to the said report of the CBI, the findings of which have been mentioned in the local media. But at the same time, he said, that necessary action can be taken on alleged criminal conspiracy after legal examination. It was after three months of taking charge [as CM] that the complaint related to the solar scam came. Apart from taking action on the complaint, I have not made any kind of political intervention during the investigation process. You [UDF] are saying that there was a conspiracy and that a probe is necessary. You can go ahead and raise the findings of the said CBI report. After examining it legally, necessary steps can be taken, said the chief minister. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail The Maharashtra government on Monday decided to withdraw all cases filed against Maratha quota protesters and suspended three senior police officers as chief minister Eknath Shinde reiterated his commitment to grant reservation to the influential community and appealed to the main agitator to end his hunger strike. Maharashtra government decides to withdraw all cases filed against Maratha quota protestors. (Bhushan Koyande) The announcements came after an all-party meeting attended by all major political parties in the state passed a resolution that appealed to the main protester, Manoj Jarange Patil to call off his 14-day-long hunger strike and asked him to be part of the committee constituted to draft a reservation strategy for Marathas. We are admitting the demand of withdrawing all the cases registered against the protesters during their protest last week. The officials concerned have been directed to act immediately on it, Shinde said. There was a demand for the suspension of the officials concerned. We are suspending three senior officers, including additional superintendent of police (SP) Rahul Khade and deputy SP Mukund Aghav, he added. The demand for quotas by Marathas is decades old, but in 2018, the state government granted 16% reservation in the face of sweeping protests. It was slashed to 13% in jobs and 12% in education by the Bombay high court. In 2021, the Supreme Court quashed the move. The current crisis began on September 1, when protesters demanding OBC status for Marathas were lathi-charged by the police in Jalna the site of Jarange Patils hunger strike. All three officers named by Shinde on Monday were part of the operation. Under pressure, Shinde announced last week that Marathas from the central Maharashtra region can access reservation under the OBC category if they can produce a certificate from the Nizam era classifying them as Kunbis. But the order which opened the window for quotas for the community left all sides unhappy. The Maratha groups said they wanted reservations without any stipulation, and not just for the eight central Maharashtra districts. The OBC and Kunbi groups feared their quotas will be eaten into by the fresh entrants. Since then, protests over the reservation have intensified as groups backing and opposing quotas for the dominant community have dug in their heels, with the government apparently caught in the middle. I appeal to Jarange Patil to give some time to the justice Shinde committee constituted to decide how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members in central Maharashtra. We appeal to him to either be part of the committee or appoint his representative. We are concerned about his health and well-being and also the law and order in the state, the CM said after the meeting. We have also passed a resolution unanimously to appeal to Jarange Patil to call off his hunger strike, he added. Jarange Patil said he will discuss the proposals with his associates on Tuesday and take a decision but added that neither him nor a representative will join the Shinde committee. Shinde said that his government was committed to restore Maratha reservation. A dedicated commission has been appointed to weed out the lacunae pointed out by the apex court. We are tapping the option of curative petition and other legal alternatives. We have appointed a task force of senior counsels to represent us in the Supreme Court. We are taking the steps to establish the social and educational backwardness of the community, he added. The CM also assured OBCs that their reservation will not be touched. Do not come under any false propaganda. I appeal to the members from the OBC community to not resort to the protest and cooperate with us, he said. Leaders from the Congress, Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Bahujan Vikas Aghadi, Peasants and Workers Party, Samajwadi Party and other smaller parties attended the meeting that went on for more than two hours. We have not yet discussed this issue within the opposition alliance, but we do not want to do any politics over it. The Congress is of the opinion of (providing reservation to the Marathas, Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth offered prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Monday, following the two-day G20 World Leaders' Summit in New Delhi, for which the island nation was invited as a guest. Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the most important ghats in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, located on the Ganges River and in close proximity to the Vishwanath Temple. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth offering prayers at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi on Monday. (ANI) In a video shared by the news agency ANI, Jugnauth was seen with a group of priests at the ghat, performing puja. The ghat is well known for ceremonies involving prayers to the Ganges River and Lord Shiva, typically conducted on a boat on the river. Mauritius PM Jugnauth arrived in New Delhi on Friday to participate in the G20 Summit, having received an invitation from India. He was one of over 25 heads of state present during the summit, representing both member nations of the group and guest nations. Expressing his delight at being invited to the summit, Jugnuath said, I must thank the Govt of India, particularly PM Modi, for having invited Mauritius as a Guest Country to attend this G20 Summit. Mauritius is very honoured to be participating. We have contributed throughout the year and we are going to contribute to this Summit. In addition to Jugnauth, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy visited the Akshardham temple on the final day of the summit. Sunak, the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, expressed pride in his Hindu roots upon arriving in India. Bilateral meeting between Modi-Jugnauth Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jugnauth on the day of his arrival and conducted a bilateral meeting with him. PM @KumarJugnauth and I had a very good meeting. This is a special year for India-Mauritius relations as we mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between our nations. We discussed cooperation in sectors like infrastructure, FinTech, culture and more. Also reiterated India's commitment to furthering the voice of the Global South, PM Modi wrote on X about the bilateral meeting. Mauritius has also agreed to join the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA), an India-led initiative to facilitate the adoption of biofuels. The alliance was launched by PM Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, and as many as 19 countries and 12 international organisations have already agreed to join. The Mauritius Prime Minister also shared his views on the Delhi Declaration adopted during this year's summit. Delighted to have taken part in the unanimous adoption of the new Delhi declaration. Congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji @narendramodi and all heads of State and Government who made the choice of accelerated, green and sustainable progress #G20, he wrote on X. On the day of the summit's conclusion, Jugnauth said, My heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji @narendramodi for his invitation to the 18th G20 summit. The world is indeed one family. Our shared efforts for a better planet will foster peace, justice and sustainability. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India and Saudi Arabia on Monday outlined steps to expedite Riyadhs long-gestating plan to invest $100 billion in the country, including a mega refinery, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman explored ways to bolster cooperation in areas ranging from energy to defence and reaffirmed their support to the new India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, exchange agreements, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo) The Crown Prince, also the kingdoms Prime Minister, began a day-long State visit after participating in the G20 Summit over the weekend. The Saudi leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before he and Modi co-chaired the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, the apex body to oversee bilateral ties that was set up in 2019. Also Read: G20 declaration confirms Russias isolation, isnt a win: Emmanuel Macron Saudi Arabia is one of the most important strategic partners for India. As the worlds two largest and fastest growing economies, our mutual cooperation is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region, Modi said at the meeting, speaking in Hindi. We together made a historic beginning to establish an economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe, Modi said, referring to the launch of IMEC during the G20 Summit. An agreement was signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the UAE, the US and other G20 partners for the corridor, which Modi said will enhance economic cooperation, energy development and digital connectivity. Also Read: G20's Delhi declaration, a 'positive signal' to tackle global challenges: China The Saudi prince, too, referred to IMEC and said the partners will have to work diligently in order to create it into a reality. He added there was no disagreement in the history of India-Saudi Arabia relations, which are based on cooperation to create opportunities. Today were working on future opportunities. There is a huge agenda to be working with. We are working through this council to achieve these accomplishments, and these are promising, he said. The two countries agreed to set to set up a joint working group (JWG) to streamline and channelise the $100 billion in investments promised by the Saudi side during the crown princes last visit to India in February 2019. Of this, $50 billion was earmarked for the West Coast refinery, a mega plant to be set up by Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Indian firms. Both sides extended their full support to the early implementation of the West Coast refinery project, Ausaf Sayeed, secretary (overseas Indian affairs) in the external affairs ministry, told a media briefing. Besides the JWG on investments, there will be a specialised monitoring committee to ensure progress in the refinery project. Sayeed acknowledged there had been delays since the refinery was announced in 2018 due to various factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic. The whole idea was that a JWG or a committee would go into all facets of this and then see ways and means of expediting this, he said. The two leaders instructed officials from Indias petroleum ministry and the Saudi energy ministry to identify factors hindering the early implementation of the refinery. Reports have suggested the refinery, expected to produce 1.2 million barrels a day, has been held up because of challenges in acquiring land in western Maharashtra. The stakeholders have explored the option of splitting the mega plant into several refineries. During the meeting, Modi suggested areas for potential Saudi investments, including waterways, ports, expansion of railways and freight corridors, highway infrastructure, energy, hydrogen, and gas grids. The two sides agreed to expedite negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Sayeed said could act as a catalyst for economic cooperation. The negotiations were delayed because of the change of GCCs chief negotiator and there is keenness on both sides to complete the pact as early as possible, he said. The two sides signed eight agreements, including one inked by the energy ministers to expand the hydrocarbons relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership. This agreement will cover renewable energy, petroleum, electricity, green hydrogen and strategic petroleum reserves. Saudi Arabia is currently Indias third largest supplier of energy and supplied crude oil worth $29 billion during 2022-23. The kingdom, however, was overtaken last year by Russia, which emerged a key energy supplier by providing discounted oil after the Ukraine war. The other agreements covered digitalisation and electronic manufacturing, cooperation between Indias Central Vigilance Commission and the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, the national archives, Invest India and the Saudi investment ministry, the exim banks, SIDBI, and the Saudi SME Bank. Another agreement covered seawater desalination, including cooperation in future technology, exchanges of investment and expertise and joint research. During their meeting, the two leaders focused on cooperation in energy, defence, security, technology, transportation, health care and education, and identified space and semiconductors as new areas of collaboration. Sayeed said the two sides are also eyeing cooperation in fintech and trading in national currencies, for which proposals and concept notes have been exchanged. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the current volume of trade, which has been in the range of $30 billion a year, with India as the kingdoms second largest trading partner and Saudi Arabia as Indias fourth largest trading partner. Modi laid emphasis on new sectors such as critical minerals and food parks, and suggested the creation of a JWG on education and skill development. Modi also mentioned that, depending on capacity, Saudi Arabia could consider accommodating more Indian pilgrims for the annual Haj. Indias current quota for the Haj is 175,000. The Indian government has focused on enhancing security and energy ties with West Asian states, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which is home to 2.2 million Indians the largest expatriate community in the kingdom. Modi pointed to the large number of Indian workers and thanked Saudi Arabia for helping them during the pandemic. The Saudi crown prince noted that 7% of the kingdoms population comprises Indians, who play a large part in the countrys economic growth. We consider them to be a part of Saudi Arabia. We watch and take care of them like we take care of our own citizens, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA AC Moideen and Congress state chief K Sudhakaran appeared before officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kochi on Monday in connection with two separate cases. AC Moideen (HT Archives) While Moideen is being quizzed by ED officials for the first time in connection with alleged fraud at the Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank in Thrissur, the Congress leader was summoned for questioning in a cheating case, in which fake antique dealer Monson Mavunkal is the prime accused. Moideen, the MLA from Kunnamkulam and former minister for local self-government in the first Pinarayi Vijayan-led cabinet, arrived at the ED office in Kochi around 9:30 am. He had skipped the first day of the ongoing Kerala Assembly session to appear before the central agency. ED officials had asked me to come, thats why I am here, he told reporters before walking into the office. The federal agency is probing an alleged fraud to the tune of 150 crore at the CPI (M)-controlled bank in Thrissur district, where benami loans were sanctioned in cash to non-members of the bank by mortgaging properties of poor members without their knowledge. It had said that these fraudulent loans were disbursed on the instructions of Moideen. Earlier, Moideen had failed to appear before the agency twice, citing personal reasons. In August, his premises including his residence in Wadakkanchery were raided by ED officials in connection with the case. Subsequently, the bank accounts of Moideen and his wife containing deposits of 28 lakh were frozen. On his part, Moideen has denied any role in the alleged fraud at the bank. So far, the ED has arrested two people in the case, who were allegedly beneficiaries of the illegal loans sanctioned at the bank. Further probe in the matter is underway. Meanwhile, Sudhakaran arrived at the ED office at around 11 am. This is the second time that the Congress leader has been quizzed in connection with the cheating case involving Mavunkal. The last time I was called for questioning, I had submitted all records of my banks and my wealth. If there are any corrections needed, I am ready to do that. There is no evidence against me, he told reporters. Mavunkal, a dealer of fake antiques, had allegedly cheated several people of 10 crore by claiming that he needed funds to clear procedures to collect a massive amount of money, which was frozen by central government authorities. The money was reportedly part of proceeds of sales of antique pieces sold to a royal family in the Gulf. After the case came to light in 2021, photos of Sudhakaran with Mavunkal also popped up. One of the complainants had said that he had given money to Mavunkal in the presence of Sudhakaran. The Congress state chief however has maintained that he has no involvement in the financial dealings of Mavunkal and that he had met him solely for some treatment as the latter had claimed to be a cosmetologist. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vishnu Varma Vishnu Varma is Assistant Editor and reports from Kerala for the Hindustan Times. He has 10 years of experience writing for print and digital platforms and has worked at The New York Times, NDTV and The Indian Express in the past. He specialises in longform reportage at the intersections of politics, crime, social commentary and environment. ...view detail Home-cooked food, medication, and a special room were among the amenities granted by a court to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu for his fortnight-long stay in jail. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu undergoes a medical test(PTI) An ACB Court here directed the superintendent of Rajamahendravaram central prison to accommodate 73-year-old Naidu separately in view of the purported threat to his life. The former CM is a Z-plus category security protectee. "The superintendent of central prison is directed to provide all the special amenities including food (cooked at home), medication, special room in central prison to petitioner/A37 (Naidu)," the Judge ordered. According to the detention order, the Judge highlighted that there are grounds to believe the accusations levelled against Naidu, and 24 hours were not enough to complete the investigation. "This is an authorisation to you (superintendent), to detain Naidu in custody, and to cause him to be produced before the Court on the 22nd day of September, 2023 at 10.30 am," the Judge ordered. Amid tight security and inclement weather, the former Andhra Pradrsh CM was sent to Rajamahendravaram from Vijayawada, a distance of about 200 km, in a convoy on road. Following Naidu's dispatch to jail, his son and TDP general secretary, Nara Lokesh, penned an emotional note on X (formerly Twitter), alleging his father was unjustly sent for remand for a crime he never committed. "My anger simmers, and my blood boils. Is there no limit to the depths political vendetta will sink? Why must a man of my father's calibre, who has accomplished so much for his country, state, and Telugu people, endure such injustice?" asked Lokesh. Lokesh said he and his father were "fighters" as he called on people to join him in his battle and sought support from Telugu people worldwide. Janasena party president Pawan Kalyan alleged that Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was trying to tar political opponents as criminals and sending them to jail just because he too once did. According to the actorpolitician, who is BJP's local ally in the southern state, Reddy would not have become the Chief Minister had laws worked effectively. On Sunday night, the ACB Court in Vijayawada remanded Naidu to 14 days of judicial custody for his alleged role in the multi-crore Skill Development Corporation scam. Naidu was arrested in a pre-dawn operation on Saturday at Nandyala, which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping. The former CM was arrested by the CID around 6 am on Saturday from a marriage hall (outside which his caravan was parked) at Gnanapuram in Nandyala. The Supreme Court on Monday said that its 2014 ruling, removing the immunity to central government employees at the joint secretary level and above from probe in corruption cases, will apply retrospectively and that no such employee can demand a protection from coercive measures for the period between September 2003 when the impugned law was framed, and May 2014 when it was struck down. Supreme Court of India. (PTI File Photo) A constitution bench, headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, declared that Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act is held to be not in force from the date of its insertion September 11, 2003. The bench, which also comprised justices Sanjiv Khanna, AS Oka, Vikram Nath and JK Maheshwari, further clarified that Section 6A was a procedural provision and that the 2014 decision on its validity had nothing to do with the applicability of Article 20(1), which lays down that no person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the alleged act. The central question before the bench related to the applicability of Section 6A in DSPE Act, which required an investigating agency to go to the government to seek approval for the probe against public servants. Section 6A of the DSPE Act mandated the governments prior sanction to proceed in corruption cases against officers of the rank of joint secretary and above. However, an exception provided in Section 6A(2) states that no approval is necessary for cases involving arrest of a person on the spot on the charge of accepting or attempting to accept a bribe. Section 6A of the DSPE Act was added in September 2003 through Section 26 of the Central Vigilance Commission Act (CVCA) when the NDA was in power. The then law minister, Arun Jaitley, had defended the provision in Parliament during a debate on the Central Vigilance Commission Bill. Jaitley said that those in decision-making positions, who must exercise discretion, and those who have to take vital decisions, needed to be protected against frivolous complaints. In 2014, a five-judge constitution bench struck down Section 6A of the DSPE Act, ruling that status or position cannot shield an officer of the level of joint secretary and above from unconstrained probe by the CBI in cases of corruption. This bench termed Section 6A a discriminatory provision that impedes tracking down the corrupt senior bureaucrats. The court had at the time said that the protection in Section 6A has propensity of shielding the corrupt, adding the provision suffers from the vice of classifying offenders differently for treatment thereunder for inquiry and investigation of offences, according to their status in life. The petitioner in the present case, Dr RR Kishore, was arrested by the CBI in 2004 for allegedly accepting a bribe. Kishore, at the time, was a chief district medical officer in Delhi and thus, holding the rank of a joint secretary-level officer. He had subsequently challenged the arrest in the Delhi high court, citing lack of sanction from the competent authority to arrest him. The high court, in 2006, held that the arrest was illegal since prior approval from the Union government was not obtained by CBI. At the same time, the high court allowed CBI to conduct a fresh investigation after seeking the governments approval. In 2007, CBI challenged this order in an appeal. While the matter remained pending in the top court, the 2014 ruling came that did away with the requirement of prior sanction for investigating charges against the central government employees at the joint secretary level or above. When CBIs appeal against Kishore came up before a two-judge bench in March 2016, it was noted that the 2014 judgment by the constitution bench did not mention if the ruling would apply retrospectively or prospectively. Therefore, the matter was again referred to a five-judge constitution bench to clarify whether the 2014 decision meant that officials with cases pending against them could be deprived of their immunity retrospectively. Meanwhile, in 2018, the central government brought an amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, by adding Section 17A, extending the immunity from prosecution without prior sanction even to retired government officers. Arguing in person before the constitution bench, Kishore contended that after Section 6A was struck down by the Supreme Court, the protection was reinstated by the legislature in 2018 and hence, the legal protection still continues. CBI, on its part, opposed Kishores plea, arguing that Section 17A of the PC Act was not intended as a replica of Section 6A DSPE Act. Countering Kishores submission that the protection should be considered to be applicable in a way that it was never struck down in view of the 2018 amendment, the agency argued that such an interpretation could open floodgates of litigation. The Constitution bench judgment on Monday means that there would be no protection to the public servants on the premise of a sanction under Section 6A in pre-2014 cases. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON One person was killed and 10 others suffered injuries when members of two communities clashed at a village in Satara district of Maharashtra following an objectionable post on social media, police said on Monday. A car damaged after a clash between two groups over a controversial post on social media, at Pusesawali village in Satara district (PTI) Satara police and district administration have refused to disclose the content and nature of the social media post, citing sensitivities involved in the case. They also refused to divulge the identity of the deceased and 23 accused arrested in the incident so far. The incident took place at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil around 150 km from Pune on Sunday night, leading to tension between the two communities. Some houses were also set on fire by miscreants, a senior district official said. Also Read| Maratha quota stir: Govts balancing act irks all stakeholders Two objectionable social media posts were uploaded by some miscreants which triggered riot-like situation in the area. One person has died and 10 others have been injured during the incident, Satara district collector Jitendra Dudi said. The administration has suspended internet across the district till Tuesday night as a precautionary measure. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have also been imposed, Dudi added. Meanwhile, police have arrested 23 people after registering a case under Section 302 (murder) and those related to rioting and destruction of property under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). An incident involving an objectionable social media post occurred around 11 pm on Sunday. Some residents misunderstood the post as communal, posing a law-and-order situation on ground, the Satara police said in a release. A case under Section 295A (promoting enmity between two communities) has also been registered against two youngsters for posting an objectionable social media post and commenting on it. We have detained both youngsters for questioning in connection with the derogatory post and comments, the release added. The situation is under control and people must not believe in rumours..., Satara superintendent of police Sameer Shaikh said. Kolhapur range Inspector General Sunil Phulari made an appeal to people to maintain peace. We are monitoring the situation closely and reinforcements have been stationed to prevent outbreak of violence, he said. Building on G20 momentum, the never-tiring Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today host Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with the objective of turning the Middle-East corridor project into reality and cementing bilateral ties with a rapidly rising West Asian global power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention centre for the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 9. (HT Photo) Even though the Crown Prince is just 38 years old, it was MBS who as the principal architect first approached Bharat for the Middle-East corridor and then roped in UAE and US into the ambitious plan that has the potential of becoming the backbone of global trade. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prince MBS having personal relationship based on mutual trust, India and Saudi Arabia will further cement ties as Riyadh looks to invest in India and is also willing to consider Rupee-Riyal trade in oil exports to Bharat. The two countries have close strategic and security relationships and converge on opposing religious radicalization by pan-Islamic forces like Muslim Brotherhood and terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. It is due to Crown Prince MBS and PM Modi joint efforts and candid conversations that Pakistans leverage on the bilateral equation has been reduced to zero but Islamabad still uses the OIC platform to settle personal scores with Bharat. After becoming Prime Minister in 2014, Narendra Modi made an all- out effort to reach out to Saudi Arabia as the country was the biggest supplier of oil to India and the relationship in the past was looked at through the prism of Pakistan. Crown Prince Salman, on his part, has changed the image of his country through sweeping reforms and empowering of women without giving up on religious beliefs. Under his leadership, Saudi has acquired global heft and today competes with other big Sunni powers in West Asia and plays with both west and China based on its national interest. Even though Saudi Arabia and US were estranged over the Kashoggi affair, Washington with NSA Jake Sullivan as points person has rebuilt the relationship after Chinese President Xi Jinping held an Arab summit in Riyadh on December 9, 2022. PM Modi made it a point during the launch of the ME corridor on the side-lines of the G-20 summit to bring Crown Prince MBS and US President Joe Biden together. After years of systematic building of relationship, Bharat and Saudi Arabia are close trade partners with the Middle-East corridor being the dream project of both countries. Saudi Arabia will be the key investor in the ME corridor project and will fund some 850 kilometers of railroad to Haifa Port via Jordan for the northern leg of the corridor. In fact, Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince MBSs leadership is asking for the same concessions as UAE with a promise of double the investment in Bharat. The India and Saudi Arabia relationship today is anchored on strong political and historical bonds rather than mere trade and investment. The two countries share close security and defence cooperation with the intelligence agencies of both the countries in constant touch with each other on a mutual benefit basis. The state visit of Crown Prince Salman, from an Indian perspective, has no less of a billing than the just concluded G-20 summit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bengaluru The severity of the side effect of guarantees implemented by the @INCKarnataka government is affecting the people, HDK said. (ANI) Former chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Monday, slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government for implementing the guarantees without a proper plan, and alleged that the bandh called by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association was a result of misgovernance in the state. The severity of the side effect of guarantees implemented by the @INCKarnataka government is affecting the people. Inequality and bias in distribution of government schemes has created anarchy. As a result of the unscientific, half-baked Shakti scheme, the private transport has been destroyed today, Kumaraswamy said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The bandh has been called by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association over state governments alleged failure in fulfilling their several demands, including a ban on bike taxis. The federation comprises a total of 32 private transport unions, including autorickshaws, buses and taxis. The former chief minister alleged that the Congress-led government has destroyed the private bus network which provides as good service of a service as the government transport in the state does. Those who used to drive cabs and autos after taking loans have become homeless. The situation is such that it is impossible to carry on with a normal life, he tweeted. Kumaraswamy further pointed out the inconvenience caused to the school-going children, the public and to those travelling to and from the airport. There is difficulty in transportation of essential items including fruits and vegetables. Urging the state government to consider the demands of the private transport unions, the JD(S) leader said their demands are not impossible to be fulfilled. The government should not forget that they also have families, he said. Its not enough to hold talks with them for the sake of it. Those who are facing difficulty should be helped according to the reality. My demand is to act as promised and provide relief to those affected due to the guarantees. The chief minister Mr. @siddaramaiah and the transport minister Mr. @RLR_BTM should immediately call the affected people and talk to them, Kumaraswamy added. The state BJP has also shown its political support for the bandh. State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel extended his support for the bandh and accused the Congress-led government of looting the people of the state. The government, which is looting the people of the state wherever it can, from transfer rackets and price hikes, has no money to meet the demand of the private transport system, Kateel tweeted on Monday. Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai accused the state government of not paying heed to the issues of the transport unions. A meeting was held in Bengaluru regarding the strike by the Private Transport Union to solve the issue. But the government has not done anything to respond to their problems. Due to this, the union has lost confidence in the state government. Meanwhile, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar alleged that the bandh was politically motivated. It is true that the private bus owners are suffering due to the Shakti scheme. But the protest of Ola and Uber drivers may be politically motivated. We will take action to resolve the problem of private bus owners. Even if the auto drivers are suffering, we will resolve it. We are aware of the issues, Shivakumar said in Bengaluru on Monday. Shivakumar further said that threatening the government and causing inconvenience to the commuters is not a good development. The government will definitely listen to all their problems and provide suitable solutions, he added. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday began a state visit to India, after participating in the G20 Summit over the weekend, to review bilateral ties and cooperation in areas ranging from energy to security. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud during the G20 summit in New Delhi last week. (AP Photo) The de facto Saudi ruler, who also holds the post of prime minister, will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day-long visit. Saud Al-Sati, the Saudi deputy minister for political and economic affairs, travelled to New Delhi last month to review preparations for the visit by Mohammed bin Salman, or MBS as he is popularly known. Al-Sati, who earlier served as the ambassador to India, met Ausaf Sayeed, secretary (overseas Indian affairs) in the external affairs ministry, and reviewed the gamut of bilateral relations. The current Saudi ambassador, Saleh Eid Alhusseini, also met external affairs minister S Jaishankar last Tuesday. Look forward to the further development and progress of the India-Saudi Arabia relationship across all domains, Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting. Modi and MBS had a phone conversation in June when they reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to bolster ties in connectivity, energy, defence, trade and investment. This was the first contact between the leadership of the two countries since China brokered a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of Indias key partners in West Asia in recent years, especially in defence, security and energy. Saudi Arabia is also home to 2.6 million Indians, one of the largest concentrations of expatriates in the region. MBS last visited India in February 2019, and this was followed by a visit to Saudi Arabia by Modi in October the same year, when the two countries created the Strategic Partnership Council. This body has two pillars a political, security, social and cultural committee headed by the foreign ministers, and a committee on economy and investments led by the Indian commerce minister and the Saudi energy minister. The recent incident from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, in which a boy died after being infected with rabies following a dog bite, was mentioned in the Supreme Court on Monday, as the issue of stray dog menace came up for an informal discussion while a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud was hearing a case. Representational Image This happened after a lawyer, who was heavily bandaged, revealed on being asked by the CJI that he was hounded and attacked by five stray dogs. What happened? Spotting lawyer Kunal Chatterjee with a bandaged arm, CJI Chandrachud sought to know how the former got injured. Chatterjee told the CJI that he was attacked by a pack of dogs in his neighbourhood. Offering to help Chatterjee, the CJI asked, Do you need any medical attention? I can ask the registry to take you right now. Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, meanwhile, urged the apex court to take suo motu notice of the 'stray dog menace' in the country. Solicitor General speaks Mentioning the Ghaziabad incident, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, the country's second-highest law officer, noted how stray dogs have become a huge menace. Recently a video surfaced. A child was bitten by dogs in Uttar Pradesh. Usually we do not take much care. Once rabies developed, he was taken to hospital. The doctors said nothing can be done, the child was dying in his father's lap, said Mehta. On this, Justice Chandrachud recalled how two years ago, his law clerk was attacked by some wild dogs while parking his (clerk's) car. The Ghaziabad incident The Ghaziabad Police have booked four persons of a family for allegedly sheltering stray dogs after one of the dogs reportedly bit the 15-year-old boy. The deceased did not inform his parents and treated the wound with turmeric; eventually, however, he developed rabies, and passed away on September 4. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday reserved its orders on petitions filed by the directors of real estate group M3M, Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal, seeking interim bail in a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The Bansals are also accused of bribing a trial court judge (since suspended) to secure favourable orders. The Supreme Court reserved its orders on petitions filed by the directors of real estate group M3M on Monday. (ANI) A bench of justices AS Bopanna and Sanjay Kumar closed arguments in the case after agreeing to consider the petitions by Basant and Pankaj Bansal, who have challenged their arrest citing several violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and demanded interim bail on medical ground. Both the accused were arrested on June 14 after ED, probing into money laundering charges against Gurugram-based M3M and another real estate firm, Ireo group, found that an amount to the tune of over 400 crore was diverted through several shell companies. Further investigations revealed that the two firms tried to manipulate the trial court proceedings in ED cases against them by indirectly bribing special judge Sudhir Parmar. Parmar was suspended from service on April 27. Opposing the petitions, additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju, who represented ED, referred to the evidence collected so far to indicate that their modus operandi in managing the judge was shocking. He told the court that the arrest was legal and the entire procedure of taking them into custody was video-graphed. Last week, ED also filed an affidavit opposing the bail pleas. A person who is capable of interfering with the independence of judiciary would certainly not be entitled to be released in a serious offence of money laundering, the affidavit said. The fact that the petitioners Pankaj and Basant Bansal being key managerial persons or promoters of M3M group have bribed the ED judge to take benefit in existing proceedings shows that they are capable of influencing witnesses and authorities and further capable of tampering with evidence, it added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) not only concealed several facts about previous investigations against the Adani Group but also tweaked the regulations to keep the groups regulatory contraventions and price manipulations undetected, one of the petitioners demanding investigations into allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud against the Adani Group made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, has claimed in the Supreme Court. A petitioner claims in the Supreme Court that Sebi hid facts against Adani group in stock manipulation probe. (HT Archive) In an affidavit filed two days ago, Anamika Jaiswal alleged that the market regulator did not apprise the court of an investigation initiated by the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) against the Adani group of companies over alleged overvaluation of import of equipment and machinery by various entities of the Adani Group from a UAE-based subsidiary. Also Read: Why is PM not ordering a probe into Adani row: Rahul Gandhi In January 2014, DRI sent a letter to the then Sebi chairperson, UK Sinha, alerting him that there may be stock market manipulation by the Adani group of companies, said Jaiswals affidavit, adding this letter was also accompanied by a CD containing evidence of siphoning of 2,323 crore. According to the petitioner, Sinha chose to close the investigation instead of acting on DRIs inputs. It pointed out that Sinha, who retired as Sebi chairperson in March 2017, is now a non-executive director of NDTV, which was acquired by the Adani Group in 2022. Jaiswal further said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also had to shut its probe in the matter after the Maharashtra government did not grant sanction for prosecution. Also Read| '22 out of 24 matters probed: SEBI submits status report to SC in Adani case It is shocking that SEBI has not disclosed the receipt of the said letter (DRI letter) and evidence from the DRI till date before this Honble Court, stated the affidavit, citing Sebis previous statements to the court that it started investigation against the Adani group only in June-July 2020. The affidavit said that Sebis conduct amounts to perjury. Referring to the latest status report submitted by Sebi in the court earlier this month, Jaiswal said that though the market regulator claimed that 22 out of 24 investigations arising out of the Hindenburg report were final in nature, outcomes of these investigations have been kept under wraps by Sebi. The affidavit also alleged a conflict of interest in Sebi conducting investigation into the matter. It said that Cyril Shroff, managing partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas law firm, has been a member of Sebis committee on corporate governance, which looks at offences like insider trading. Cyril Shroffs daughter is married to Karan Adani, son of Gautam Adani, showing clear conflict of interest, claimed Jaiswal, stressing that 5 of the 24 Sebi investigation reports are on insider trading allegations against the Adani group. HT reached out to Shroff and the law firm for a response to Jaiswals allegations, but the attempts remained unsuccessful. To be sure, the committee on corporate governance was constituted by Sebi in 2017 and it has 23 other members, which include bankers, entrepreneurs, chartered accountants, business executives, senior bureaucrats and corporate lawyers. Jaiswals affidavit also referred to certain new reports by international papers that reportedly incriminate the Adani Group for contravening an array of regulations. It further maintained that Sebi brought amendments into the regulations relating to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and listing obligations and disclosure requirement (LODR) were in 2014 and 2015 respectively only to benefit the Adani group. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the matter on September 15. Hindenburgs report published in January claimed brazen accounting fraud and stock manipulation by the Gautam Adani-led group. Though the conglomerate rejected the report as unresearched and maliciously mischievous, it triggered a massive rout of Adani Group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in days and forced the cancellation of a 20,000 crore share sale in the groups flagship. Acting on a clutch of petitions demanding a probe into the matter, the Supreme Court on March 2 set up a six-member panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge AM Sapre, to look into regulatory failure by Sebi and alleged breach of laws by the Adani Group. In its report submitted in May, the committee said the allegations of stock price manipulation or violation of MPS norms by Adani Group companies cannot be proved at this stage. Seven women were killed after a stationed tourist van, which was hit by a good lorry from behind, fell on them as they sat on a low-rise concrete divider on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway (NH 44) in the wee hours of Monday. The accident injured 10 other people out of which five were women. (PTI) The accident, which took place in Tamil Nadu's Sandaipalli village near Tirupattur district's Natrampalli town at around 2:40 am, injured 10 other people including the drivers of the van and the lorry. According to police, five of the injured were women. The deceased, as reported by The Hindu, have been identified as M. Meena (50), D Devayani (32), P Saittu (55), S Devika (50), V Savitri (42), K Kalavathi (50), and R Geetha (34). All of them belonged to Vellore's Pernambut. The deceased, travelling along with eight relatives from the Pernambut town, were on a trip from Saturday to visit pilgrims and tourist destinations in Karnataka's Mysore and had rented two tourist vans for the same. What happened? As the women were on their way back, one of the front wheels of one of the vans got punctured on the highway, which led to them getting off the bus and sitting on a one-foot-high concrete median close to the van. The danger lights and other lights of the van were functioning. At the same time, the lorry's driver 34-year-old P Arunachalam, who was carrying smartboards for classrooms in the vehicle, was en route to Chennai from Bengaluru. Arunachalam did not notice the parked van and hit it from behind, which then fell on the women and killed them on the spot. What police said? Tirupathur Police officials speaking to news agency ANI said, "It was early morning with less visibility, and the van was stationary at a sharp turn, which could have been the reason for the speedy mini-truck's collision with the van. In the incident, seven women were dead on the spot, and 10 people got critical injuries. The Natrampalli Police and NHAI patrol vehicles immediately reached the spot to rescue the injured. Those who were injured had been shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri and Tirupattur and to the Government Taluk Hospital in Vaniyambadi, The Hindu reported. The bodies had been send to a government hospital in Tirupattur. The Natrampalli Police has filed a case. Tirupattur Collector D Bhaskara Pandian also visited the families of the deceased at the hospital. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shashi Tharoor of the Congress said the New Delhi Declaration at the 18th G20 Summit is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. He also praised the Narendra Modi government for bringing all member states to a consensus on the New Delhi Declaration. The Congress MP, however, criticised the government for instrumentalising the G20 Summit as something that would turn out to be an asset for it. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Saturday, on Day 1 of the G20 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a consensus had been built on the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration before formally announcing its adoption. The Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. It's a good achievement because right until the G20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and, that, therefore, a joint communique might not be possible, and, that we might have to end up with a chairman's summary," Tharoor told news agency ANI on Sunday. Tharoor, who earlier praised India's G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant the diplomat's hard work in achieving the consensus, said, The main reason (for lack of a consensus on the statement) was the big gulf between those who wanted a condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine and those, like Russia and China, who wanted no mention whatsoever of that subject. India was able to find a formula to bridge that gap and that is a significant diplomatic achievement because when there is a summit without a joint communique, it is always seen as a setback for the chairman. 'Govt turned event into asset for themselves': Shashi Tharoor On the conduct of the G20 Summit under Indias presidency, the Congress leader said the government actually made it a peoples G20. According to Tharoor, it was also an attempt by the ruling party (BJP) to turn the mega event into an asset for themselves. Things that were remarkable about the government's conduct of the presidency was that they did something that no previous G20 presidency has done. They actually made it a nationwide event, 200 meetings in 58 cities with a huge amount of action, they converted the G20 into a sort of people G20. With public events, the university connect programmes, civil societies, all these things were done under our presidency. That is in some ways both a credit to India for taking a message of G20 to the entire people. But it was also an attempt by the ruling party to instrumentalise the G20 as something that would turn out to be an asset for them, Tharoor said. On Modi's proposal at the conclusion of the G20 Summit on Sunday to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the forum for international economic cooperation, Tharoor said, They have every right to do that. They are the ruling party. Many countries have hosted the G20 event, but never a ruling party has celebrated its leadership in such a way, the whole Vishwaguru concept, the posters of Mr Modi every 50 meters in Delhi. All of these are advertising the G20 as if it was the personal achievement of Mr Modi and the BJP government and that I think has raised some eyebrows. Before declaring that the summit closed, Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Shashi Tharoor slams govt for not inviting opposition Tharoor also slammed the central government for not inviting the opposition to the G20 Summit. Tharoor said that a country that calls itself the "Mother of Democracy" completely excluded its "democratic opposition" from the event. "A country which calls itself the Mother of Democracy was showcasing an event from which its democratic opposition was excluded. That was very unfortunate," the Congress MP said. Tharoor said that there was a "complete failure" to accommodate the Opposition in the G20 event and the spirit of "accommodation and conciliation" that was present in achieving the Delhi Declaration was not extended in the "domestic context". "There was a complete failure to accommodate the Opposition. The same spirit of accommodation and conciliation that we saw in achieving the Declaration was not extended in the domestic context to Indians," Tharoor said. The Central government did not invite any opposition leader to the President's dinner for G20 delegates barring the chief ministers of opposition-ruled states. This invited sharp criticism from the Congress as well as parties in the opposition INDIA bloc. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra came under attack after she referred to G20 as 'inke G20' in her speech on Sunday. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday pointed out that there is no unity in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance over G20 either -- as Shashi Tharoor praised G20 but Priyanka Gandhi condemned it. Congress's Adhir Ranjan attacked West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for attending G20 dinner while Congress leader Sukhwinder Sukhu was present at the dinner. "This is what happens when you have no vision or mission. Just contradictions and mindless oppositions," Poonawalla took a dig at INDIA. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said G20 venue was flooded and referred to G20 as 'their G20'. Priyanka Vadra's 'inke G-20' On Sunday, Priyanka Gandhi said there was flooding at the G20 venue on Sunday. As she said it was kind of God's intervention to the government's pride, Priyanka referred to G20 as 'inke G20'. "I thought of something that what the public of the country could not say out of fear was said by the God himself that don't be so proud; this country made you the leaders, put the country and its public ahead of everything," Priyanka said. "Priyanka Vadra & her party are entitled to be bitter & crib but look at what Priyanka ji says INKA G20 - Are such programs inka unka or Bharat Ka?This is the mindset problem of a family that has always believed - Jo Desh Ka woh inke parivar ka.. she is only manifesting that!" Shehzad said. What Shashi Tharoor said on G20 Congress MP Shashi Tharoor praised Amitabh Kant for the Delhi Declaration consensus and called it a proud moment for India. But Tharoor condemned the government for not inviting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to the G20 dinner and also called out the 'shutdown of Delhi' for three days. T "This diplomatic triumph makes it all the more a pity that the government does not bring the same attitude of conciliation & co-operation to bear in its domestic dealings. The failure to invite the Leader of the Opposition, and indeed any Opposition MP, to any of the G20 events, receptions, dinner etc underscores my point. No other democracy would snub its own Parliamentary colleagues on a global stage like this. A pity that the spirit of accommodation that prevailed at G20 is absent within Indian politics!" Tharoor said. 'I wonder what prompted her...': Adhir versus Mamata West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee attended the dinner hosted by the President on the occasion of G20. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he did not understand what prompted Mamata to rush all the way to Delhi to attend the dinner while many non-BJP CMs stayed away from it. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi Parliament staff, both inside and outside the two Houses, will sport new uniforms as they move to the new Parliament building next week, Lok Sabha officials familiar with the matter said. The new uniform, they added on condition of anonymity, will have an Indian touch. The new uniforms will include Manipuri headgear for the marshals of the two Houses, and shirts with lotus motif (which also adorns the carpets in the Rajya Sabha in the new building) for officers in the table office, notice office and parliamentary reporting sections. All women officers will get sarees with new designs, the officials said. (PTI) The new uniforms will include Manipuri headgear for the marshals of the two Houses, and shirts with lotus motif (which also adorns the carpets in the Rajya Sabha in the new building) for officers in the table office, notice office and parliamentary reporting sections. All women officers will get sarees with new designs, the officials said. To be sure, the lotus is Indias national flower, but the proposal may spark a political controversy as it is also the poll symbol of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Also Read| Agenda of special Parliament session is to declare Mumbai as UT: Nana Patole According to the officials, all 18 National Institutes of Fashion Technology (NIFTs) were asked to suggest new designs for the uniforms. An expert committee finalised the new uniform from those proposals, said one of the officials. Officers from all five key branches of the Parliament secretariatreporting, table office, notice office, legislative branch and securitywill sport new uniforms in this session, as will the marshals. These branches deal with MPs [members of Parliament] and other visitors. In many ways, they are the face of the Parliament secretariat. Their uniforms add to the dignity and glamour of the Indian Parliament, a second? official added. Also Read: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi, lists issues for special Parliament session The marshals, who stand beside the Chair and assist presiding officers , will now wear cream coloured kurta pyjamas instead of safari suits. They will also wear Manipuri headgear instead of a turban. The officers of the five departments too, will abandon their pale blue safari suits and sport button-down shirts with a lotus motif. They will wear cream-coloured jackets and pale white trousers. This will be a significant change from the current range of safari suits in blue, fawn, Prussian blue and charcoal shades, depending on the section. The table office handles the entire range of paperwork for the House and sorts questions for Question Hour. The Parliament security branch, headed by an IPS officer, is responsible for maintaining the internal security of the complex. The government has deployed paramilitary forces to external security of the complex. The reporting branch, which sits in the Well in front of the Speakers chair, takes verbatim notes of all discussions inside the House and parliamentary committees. The Legislative branch works as the secretariat for introduction of bills. In 2000, Parliament officials of these five section, were also given allowances up to 17,000 for women and 16,000 for men to buy uniforms; the allowance was payable every two years. The five-day special session of Parliament that has been scheduled from September 18 to 22, will be partly held in the new Parliament building, said people familiar with the matter. While the first day of the session will be held in the old building, the remaining part of the session will be held in the new building that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28. Lok Sabha officials said the new building is fully prepared for hosting the special session, the agenda for which is yet to be disclosed by the union government. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao has announced that the state's Palamuru-Rangareddy lift irrigation scheme will be inaugurated on September 16. In a high-level meeting on Wednesday convened by KCR to assess the project's progress and he urged officials to expedite the remaining tasks, including land acquisition. Engineering officials reported that dry run trials had already been successfully completed, and the scheme was ready for the wet run. Taking their recommendations into account, KCR scheduled the wet run for September 17. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao convened a review meeting on Wednesday.(HT Photo) During the meeting, the chief minister emphasised the importance of completing the Palamuru lift scheme with the same dedication and efficiency demonstrated in the construction of the Kaleshwaram lift project. He also reflected on the poignant songs penned by renowned writer Goreti Venkanna, which vividly depict the hardships faced by the people of Palamuru district. Following the inauguration, celebrations will be organised in every village in the old Mahbubnagar and Rangareddy districts on the day after the lift scheme's launch on September 17. Residents will participate in special rituals, including puja ceremonies and the symbolic washing of deities' feet with Krishna water in local temples. KCR further highlighted the historic significance of the lift scheme, featuring giant pumps unparalleled anywhere in the world, as it will fulfill the drinking water needs of South Telangana's residents. He expressed pride in how the scheme overcame numerous obstacles and was completed with the government's vision of self-rule. CM will switch on Bahubali pump at Narlapur intake At the Narlapur intake, KCR will initiate the process by activating the Bahubali pump sets that connect to the Krishna River (specifically, the Srisailam fore flow). Through this wet run, Krishna water will be pumped using the powerful Bahubali pumps and directed to the nearby Narlapur reservoir. As soon as the motors are activated, KCR will then make his way to the Narlapur reservoir, where he will partake in special ceremonies to honor the river Krishna. This event will add another illustrious chapter to the history of Telangana's irrigation sector, KCR said. These pumps boast a remarkable 145 MW power output, a feature not found anywhere else in the world. The sheer scale of these pumps is astonishing, with each bolt weighing around 12 kg and the total weight of the pump assembly reaching a staggering 240 tonnes. Many hurdles to complete the scheme: CM KCR The chief minister expressed his disappointment at the numerous obstacles created by certain forces in the completion of the lift scheme. He lamented that political leaders had filed hundreds of cases against the Palamuru lift scheme, branding them as a curse upon Palamuru district. He stressed that politics should be focused on improving people's lives in a meaningful way, rather than sacrificing their well-being for selfish motives, as had occurred in the case of the Palamuru Ranga Reddy project. He said that the state government, however, displayed unwavering determination in completing several projects. Officials in the irrigation department bravely accepted the challenges they faced. He reiterated the government's resolute determination to expedite the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Scheme's progress. This effort aims to provide drinking water and irrigation water to the villages in South Telangana. The chief minister further made it clear that revolutionary changes are on the horizon for Telangana's agriculture sector, with the goal of achieving integrated and comprehensive agricultural development. This, in turn, will balance the lives of Telangana's farmers, leading to abundant crops and the realisation of the vision of Bangaru Telangana the Golden Telangana. No more migration for livelihood Addressing the issue of migration due to the lack of irrigation facilities, KCR said, The River Krishna flows through Telangana. However, due to the negligence of the rulers in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, the people of old Palamuru and Rangareddy districts endured decades of hardship without access to drinking water. Projects in the Krishna basin were initiated and then abandoned by the AP rulers. It's unfortunate that Palamuru, which boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, had to open porridge centers to combat hunger problems. Migration for livelihood became a regular issue, with buses full of migrant laborers bound for Bombay. Even farmers owning 60 acres of land struggled to make a living. Palamuru faced heart-rending conditions during droughts, and Rangareddy, despite its fertile lands, lacked irrigation facilities. People who migrated for work often never returned. Even large landowners faced livelihood challenges. However, with the state government's focus on developing lift schemes, particularly in Palamuru Ranga Reddy, the situation changed dramatically. Projects like Nettempadu, Bhima, Kalwakurthy, and Koil Sagar, which had been pending for decades, were completed swiftly. Today, Palamuru thrives with green crops, and migration has ceased. We are witnessing a reverse migration of people returning to Palamuru from other states, the chief minister explained. Public meeting after the inuguration ceremony To mark the historic inauguration of the Palamuru lift project, the government is planning a massive public gathering. Residents from every village in the old Mahbubnagar and Rangareddy districts are expected to participate in this significant event. The chief minister has instructed chief secretary Santhi Kumari to oversee the arrangements for this public gathering and the lift scheme's inauguration. The government is committed to ensuring that attendees have access to transportation and food facilities during the event. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lingamgunta Nirmitha Rao Trainee Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital Stream. India's regional languages attract me. ...view detail To engineers across India, September heralds the one day of the year National Engineers Day when their tribe is acknowledged. For this, they have Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861-1962), who was born on September 15 in a village called Muddenahalli 60 km northeast of Bengaluru and celebrated during his lifetime as one of the very ablest of Indias engineers, to thank. The centralised air-conditioned railway terminal, named after eminent civil engineer Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, in Bengaluru. (PTI) Knighted in 1915 by King George V, Sir MV was so admired in his own state that he acquired folk hero status, becoming a metaphor for extraordinary intelligence, rectitude, and discipline. To this day, in Kannadiga homes, it is common to describe a bright youngster as Vishveshvarayya-n taley (Visvesvarayas brain). Legends abound about his uprightness, like the one in which Sir MV fetched a different pen and inkwell to help a friend fill a form, instead of using the ones he had been using for his work, because he would not use the governments resources for personal business. And his near-unreasonable insistence on punctuality had even ministers showing up at his door five minutes early, knowing that they would be turned away if they knocked even a minute after the appointed time. If this aspect of his personality made him an unusual Indian, there was another, that put him in ideological conflict with his towering compatriot, Mahatma Gandhi. Even though Sir MV was the older by eight years (and a couple of weeks), it was he who was the more modern in his approach to development; he embraced the western industrial-capitalist model, exhorting the country to industrialise or perish, while Gandhiji advocated for self-sufficient agrarian village republics. So much of Sir MVs work as a civil engineer, however, was about building dams, irrigation systems, and reservoirs, all of which benefited farmers, that Gandhiji had nothing but praise for him. In a remarkable career spanning seven decades he retired from the board of Tata Steel at the age of 95 Sir MV spent only 23 years in harness, working for the British Indian government in Bombay Presidency. In that time, he designed an intricate irrigation system in the Deccan Plateau, gave recommendations for water supply and drainage systems in Aden (todays Yemen), and patented his design of automated weir floodgates for dams. In 1908, having opted for voluntary retirement, he travelled to Europe for a closer study of industrialized nations. In 1909, after a successfully executed commission from the Nizam of Hyderabad to design a flood-protection system for the city had turned him into a celebrity, the Mysore Diwan, V P Madhava Rao, invited Sir MV to take over as Chief Engineer of Mysore, which he graciously accepted. Thus, at long last, did the best-known alumnus of Bengalurus Central College wend his way homewards. In 1912, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV appointed Sir MV Diwan of Mysore. In a too-brief seven-year stint, he founded several enduring institutions, including the State Bank of Mysore, the Government Engineering College (now the University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering), the Bangalore Press (whose calendars continue to grace so many homes), the Century Club, and a whole slew of industries and factories that catapulted Mysore unequivocally into the 20th century. In 1918, the staunch secularist and meritocrat, who believed that religion was a plague and caste inequalities were best addressed by means of education and community leadership, courted huge controversy when he resigned in a huff, in opposition to the Maharajas proposal to bring in affirmative action. Today, in Sir MVs erstwhile home on Museum Road, his descendant Satish Mokshagundam lovingly preserves, among other souvenirs, the peepal leaf-shaped medallion that was bestowed on Thatha in 1955, making him the very first recipient from Karnataka of the countrys highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna. (Roopa Pai is a writer who has carried on a longtime love affair with her hometown Bengaluru) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Agitated by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu's arrests, workers of his Telegu Desam Party (TDP) carried out a state-wide protest on Monday, disrupting the daily life of the people. The demonstration has turned violent in some parts of the state leading to burning down of tires, destruction of public property. Women protestors being removed from streets(ANI) Visuals from across the state show protestors hurling slogans criticising the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government. Several TDP workers carried out sit-in in the middle of roads causing disruption in traffic movement. Workers have reportedly pelted stones on state-run buses. Police have been trying to control the law and order situation. Several party leaders including TDP MLC Kancherla Srikanth in Chittoor district were detained as a preventive action. Protests were also held in Tirupati and West Godavari districts against the arrest and judicial custody of Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday in connection to an alleged corruption case. He was later sent to judicial custody on Sunday for 14 days, till September 23, by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam. The case pertains to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of 3300 crore, as per the officials. It is a black day in the history of Andhra Pradesh. Chandrababu Naidu was illegally arrested and sent to jail yesterday without producing any kind of evidence in court, TDP spokesperson said. (With ANI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON What does the Prime Minister of a G7 country do when he suddenly finds himself stranded in a foreign country for 36 hours? Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stuck in India owing to plane glitch. (AFP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, 51, chose to stay in his room in the Capitals Lalit Hotel after his Airbus plane developed a snag. What made the situation worse was that New Delhi has not been entirely warm towards Trudeau with a tersely worded statement describing Indias strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada being issued on Sunday. A little after that, secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Sunday hastily arranged the Khalistan referendum at a gurdwara in Canadas British Columbia, a move that did not go unnoticed in Indian government circles. Also Read: How to read the fine print of the G20 Delhi Declaration Trudeau did not have any engagement with the Indian government on Monday. The ministry of external affairs confirmed that they had received no request for any other official engagements and the office of the minister of state who was assigned to receive Trudeau, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, also confirmed that his duty was simply to receive the Canadian Prime Minister at the airport on his arrival. There was also no indication of any engagements at the local high commission either. The Canadian Armed Forces continue their best efforts to get the Canadian delegation home, said Mohammed Hussain, press secretary at the Prime Ministers office, in reply to HTs queries. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid. And so, Trudeau spent the day in the hotel. Also Read| Wont tolerate this kind of violent extremism': Rishi Sunak on Khalistani issue Both he and his son stayed in, said a person familiar with the details. The Prime Ministers 16-year-old son, Xavier, was travelling with him, and accompanied him to Jakarta and also Singapore before flying into New Delhi. The Canadians and the Japanese booked most rooms at the Lalit, but now only about 30 of the rooms continue to be occupied by the PMs core team and accompanying media. The flight plan for the ferry flight departing with the Prime Minister has not been received yet. However, the flight is expected to land at around 11pm on Monday and depart by Tuesday afternoon, an airport official said. While the exact problem with the aircraft isnt exactly known, the glitch has caused a bit of a controversy back home. Commentator Tom Mulcair went on air on CTV to call it a debacle. He said that it was shoddy of the government to not order new planes causing an embarrassing issue. Officials in Delhi said that the aircraft is being looked at by GMR Aerotech. The frosty bilateral and the glitch, both must have evoked a sense of deja vu for Trudeau. Back in 2018, when he was in India for a state visit during which some of the same issues were raised, the A-310 he was travelling had faced technical issues when he was to depart for Delhi. The plane involved in the current debacle is a CC-150 Polaris, one of several modified Airbus A310-300 the Canadian armed forces uses for the transport of its VIPs. The exact aircraft, with the registration number 15001, is 35.8 years-old, according to flight tracking websites. The age of the jet, while old, is not unusual. US President Joe Bidens Air Force One planes two VC-25As based on the Boeing 747 are over 36 years-old. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amitabh Kant, the Sherpa for last week's Delhi G20 Summit, is an AK-87, a Weapon of Mass Diplomacy, industrialist Anand Mahindra quipped on Monday, joining the chorus of voices praising the ex-bureaucrat, the chief architect behind the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 2-day conclave. Indias G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant with joint secretaries Eenam Gambhir and Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Also Read | Consensus reached, New Delhi Declaration adopted at G20 I hereby give @amitabhk87 the title of 'AK-87, A Weapon of Mass Diplomacy, Mahindra wrote on X (formerly Twitter). In a major diplomatic win for India, the New Delhi Declaration, unlike last year's Bali Declaration, made no mention of Russia in connection with the Ukraine war, on since Feb 2022. The declaration was worded as such in consensus with all member states, and, according to Kant, was reached after more than 200 hours of non-stop negotiations. Ukraine, on the other hand, was left unimpressed. It was read out by Summit host, prime minister Narendra Modi, on September 9, the first day of the conference. While the US-led western bloc has been vocal against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and imposed sanctions against President Vladimir Putin and his associates, India has refrained from taking any such action or criticising the Kremlin. That India continues to buy oil from Russia has also irked the West. Incidentally, neither Putin nor Xi Jinping, his Chinese counterpart, attended the G20 Summit. While foreign minister Sergey Lavorv represented Russia, China was represented by premier Li Qiang. The Delhi G20 Summit was India's first as host, and the first in South Asia. Brazil will host next year's edition. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai took to the streets on Monday to lead a protest over the Sanatan row triggered by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's statement, he said if a preacher puts a price on someone's head, then he is a fake preacher and not following Sanatan either. Annamalai was questioned on Ayodhya seer Paramhans Acharya's announcement of 10 crore on Udhayanidhi's head. Annamalai condemned the seer and asked who was giving him the money from outside. Sharing the clip of Annamalai's statement condemning Paramhans Acharya, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram asked why the 'bulldozer govt had not yet taken any action on the seer then. Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai held a protest in Chennai on Monday over the Sanatan row. (ANI) Without naming Udhayanidhi, Annamalai said some people want to be heroes by demeaning a religion. "People want overnight fame. They did not come by themselves, they came because they belong to a dynasty. People believe they can say whatever they want. Now we believe the law of the land and the people of the country are the final judges. They're not going to allow this deed to go unpunished. Crediting the DMK for the Sanatan row which Annamalai said would only make BJP grow, he said, "This did not happen under the leadership of former CM Karunanidhi. Now a fault line has formed in Tamil Nadu. As far as politics is concerned, whenever there is a fault line, there is an opportunity for a new party. DMK has opened the door for us in Tamil Nadu. In terms of ideology, Udhayanidhi Stalin is the most important reason for the growth of BJP in Tamil Nadu." Udhayanidhi stood by his statement that Sanatan is like dengue, malaria and needs to be eradicated. The minister clarified that there is no genocide call in his statement. As this controversy went on, Udhayanidhi on Monday posted a photo of a mosquito coil and then blasted a social media user for a comment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The chief of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said that the army is always operationally prepared on the Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) with Pakistan and China, respectively, to meet any challenges and asserted that they would not allow anyone to come on the Indian side. The chief of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi. (File Photo) We are always operationally prepared on the LoC and LAC to meet any challenges with Pakistan and China, he told media persons at the three-day North Tech Symposium 2023 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jammu. Asserting that the situation in Ladakh was normal and very nice, he said, As an army commander of the Northern Command, whatever I am guarding is our area and I will not allow anyone to come on Indian side. Meanwhile, lieutenant governor of Ladakh, Brig (retd) BD Mishra, who was also present at the event, said that not an inch of Indian land has been occupied by China in the region. It may be recalled here that senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during his nine day visit to Ladakh, had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of peddling lies to the opposition over Chinese incursion in eastern Ladakh- a claim the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government has outrightly rejected. India and China are locked in a protracted border standoff in eastern Ladakh for the past three years. The ties between the two neighbours nosedived following a deadly clash in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June 2020 when 20 Indian soldiers died in hand-to-hand combat with the Chinese troops. On August 13 and 14, both the countries held 19th round of Corps Commander level meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border. I will not comment on what Rahul Gandhi has said but I can comment on what I have seen on the ground. The fact is that not a single inch of land has been occupied, the LG said. Lt Gen Dwivedi also said that while the army remained fully prepared at the LoC and LAC, Rashtriya Rifles were doing a very good work in CI and CT operations (anti-terror operations) in the hinterland. He informed that nearly 200 terrorists were waiting across the LoC in Pakistan. They are waiting to infiltrate but our alert troops are deployed at the borders, and we are trying to eliminate them there itself, he said. He said, 46 terrorists were killed in the past nine months, out of whom 37 were foreign terrorists and nine were locals. Despite embroiled in economic crises and other problems, Pakistan continue to fuel terrorism in a bid to disturb peace. Whenever theres peace, Pakistan tries to disturb it. And, when they dont get local terrorists, they send foreign terrorists, he added. Owing to our relentless CI and CT operations, people now say that normalcy is in the offing, he said. He, however, attributed the sudden spike in terrorism in the two border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to Pakistans desperation. On drones, he said, so far as drone technology is concerned,we have inducted a lot of equipments. Since drone technology keeps improving, we have to enhance our counter drone technology. He said that the participants at the symposium have brought with them latest technologies, which will enhance the counter drone technologies of the army, be it software or dynamics. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a novel initiative, a folk artist has converted his cowshed into a museum in a bid to preserve the dying folk art form of Chitrakathi being practised by the Thakar Adivasi community in Maharashtra's Konkan region. The museum, set up in Kudal village of Sindhudurg by folk artist Parshuram Gangavane, who won the Padma Shri award in 2021 for reviving the 500-year-old Chitrakathi art form, has been attracting several researchers, students and tourists, the artist claimed. Folk artist converts cowshed into museum to help revive Chitrakathi art form(Photo by Google Arts and Culture ) Chitrakathi is a combination of art and storytelling. The Thakar tribal artists not only create paintings, but also narrate stories through paintings by composing songs around it and using music in the background. I did not have sufficient money to spend on this project, but I had the determination to preserve this art form. That is when I decided to convert my cowshed, next to my house, into a museum, Gangavane, aged around 70, told PTI on Sunday. The museum was inaugurated in 2006 by renowned Marathi theatre personality late Prabhakar Panshikar. Gangavane claims that since then, hundreds of researchers, students and curious tourists have visited the museum. I have paintings in this museum which are around 300 years old. They are a part of the Chitrakathi art form, he said. The folk artist claims there are around 1,500 paintings, which are rare, in his collection. Talking about the history of this art form, Gangavane said Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had given shelter to the Thakar tribals and patronised this art form. But with the passage of time, the art form stopped getting support, he said. Gangavane, who has been practising Chitakathi since the age of 12, made efforts to revive it by introducing it as a medium of social awareness. He recalls how he used to travel to villages with his puppets raising awareness among people against open defecation. Puppet shows used to be a huge crowd puller before television came into existence. Social messages were given through these shows, he said. Gangavane said efforts need to be made to pass on this folk art to the future generation. At his home, his sons Chetan and Eknath are taking forward their father's vision. I feel proud about the work of my father. Students from colleges of architecture, fashion technology and animation come here to study this art form, Chetan said. He said the setting up of the museum has helped to keep alive this tradition. Konkan-based journalist Vivek Tamhankar said the state government should promote this art form as "if we lose it, it would be lost forever." Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The ancient intricate art form of 'Mata Ni Pachedi' from Gujarat along with the timeless allure of Braj's Sanjhi art were the highlights of the 'Sama-Vaya' national art camp held amid the picturesque landscapes of Sanget Valley in Jammu. Jammu's first art retreat Sama-Vaya concluded on Sunday after five days of fruitful collaborations at Skyview by Empyrean in the cherished Patnitop tourist destination. Six artists and craftsmen showcased their individual and collective masterpiece works. Jammu's 'Sama-Vaya' art camp showcases masterpieces from Gujarat to Braj (Representative image)(Pixabay) One of the artists at the camp-cum-exhibition was National Award recipient Sanjay Manubhai Chitara, whose 'Mata Ni Pachedi' painting depicting goddess Durga was recently presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak. This art form, passed down through generations, holds great cultural significance. The Vaghari community from Gujarat, when barred from temples, created their own shrines on cloth with natural colours and named them "Mata Ni Pachedi". "I have come from Ahmedabad in Gujarat to take part in this painting conclave. Mata Ni Pachedi is a traditional art of Gujarat which is three hundred years old. It is made from natural colours and bamboo sticks. The paintings depict Wanwati Mata. It is a full-fledged story on canvas", Chitara, who was awarded by former president Abdul Kalam in 2000, told PTI. Sanjhi art, from the culturally rich land of Braj in Uttar Pradesh, was also showcased at the camp. Award-winning artist Mohan Kumar Verma displayed his fifth-generation tradition through Braj art, which focuses on Lord Krishna. Verma, who is a Sanjhi paper-cutting artist, said, "We have come here from Mathura to showcase our traditional art in this beautiful valley of Kashmir. Sanhji paper cutting is ancient Braj art. It is usually made in front of Krishna idols in temples for a fortnight. However, we are making such paintings throughout the year to survive this art", Verma told PTI. The Sama-Vaya art retreat, curated by Anupa Mehta and Anuradha Sorabjee, brought together award-winning artisans and craftsmen like Mohan Kumar Verma, Ramesh Hengadi, and Sanjay Chitara, along with contemporary artists Sarika Mehta, Bhairavi Modi, and Kanchan Chander. Painter Sarika Mehta of Gujarat said she was grateful for the wonderful environment provided to artists by the organisers. The camp drew top local artists, painters, teachers, students, and art enthusiasts from all over the country. They interacted with nature to draw inspiration for their art, creating beautiful pieces through various art forms. Students from the Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) in Jammu University engaged with the artists, exchanging ideas and experiences, enriching the event. "The artists who have come from outside have worked on various themes including landscape, abstract, figurative etc. More such activity should take place in the state and private players should come forward. Such big artists interacting with young students will be a very fruitful experience for our institution and generations here", Prof Rakesh Sharma, head of department, Applied Arts, IMFA said. "The camp has given great exposure to students of fine arts like us. We have seen a wide range of colours, expressions and ideas in these paintings. It is a good initiative and such things should continue in future too," Sikanda Sharma, a student of IMFA, said. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! A blend of unique and healthy dishes was served to the world leaders at the recently concluded G20 summit, organised for the first time in India between September 9-10. A host of delicious millet dishes found their place in this elaborate menu for the 2-day event. US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, Ursula von der Leyen, President of European Commission, Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of OECD; Minister of Economy, Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez of Mexico; Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius; were among the delegates that attended the event. (Also read: Millet dishes dominate G20 Summit dinner menu, here are benefits of the superfood) Chef Sanjay, Head Chef, The Ashok shared 4 unique recipes that were served to delegates staying at The Ashok, who came to attend G20 summit. As the G20 summit in New Delhi comes to a close, India has been able to achieve a full consensus on the leaders declaration successfully. While reaching a consensus on the deceleration among all member states is an achievement in itself, the Sherpas and Indias G20 team were able to propose and impress upon all other members to agree to the key takeaways from the summit. As the 18th G20 summit successfully concludes in New Delhi, the baton of responsibilities will now be passed on to Brazil which will hold the G20 Presidency for 2024. (PTI) Firstly, the declaration does not mention Russias invasion of Ukraine, however, it does refer to the Bali declaration where Russia was explicitly condemned for its aggression. It also refers to the stated positions of the respective nations and that of resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly. The declaration thus appears to have taken a milder approach in naming and shaming Russia. The fact that Western nations agreed to not mention Russia in the deceleration is something that was unexpected and was considered to be the main point of contention for India in getting an overall consensus. Indias G20 team worked meticulously on carving the statement and its endless backdoor negotiations with member nations so as to cater to its own interests while giving the G20 members a common ground to arrive at carefully drafted wordings on the Ukraine conflict that was acceptable to all. Secondly, the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 will significantly contribute to addressing the global challenges of our time. Africa plays an important role in the global economy. This is a reflection that G20 (perhaps now G21) is committed to strengthening its ties with and supporting Africa and countries of the global south to realise their aspirations under Agenda 2063. The accession of the African Union into the forum will be the watershed moment for Indias Presidency of the G20 as its perseverance and efforts to include the African Union reflect on its efforts to be a genuine voice of the Global South was realized. The third key agenda was around elaborate and urgent steps that need to be taken on the climate crisis and working on targets to achieve the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The declaration elaborates on the need to urgently accelerate its actions to address development and climate challenges, promote Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), and conserve biodiversity, forests, and oceans. G20 also reiterated the importance of sustainable biofuels and renewable energy towards achieving zero and low-emission development strategies and noted the setting up of a Global Biofuels Alliance. The declaration also emphasized the issue related to global debt, especially for low-income countries and the need to pursue reforms for better, bigger, and more effective Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address global challenges to maximise developmental impact. On the need for reforming international financial institutions, the declaration also reiterated the need for an international development finance system that is fit for purpose, including for the scale of need and depth of the shocks facing developing countries, in particular the poorest and most vulnerable. The international finance system must deliver significantly more financing to help developing countries to fight poverty, tackle global challenges and maximise development impact. The other significant takeaways were about focusing on the potential of digital tools and technologies and digital public infrastructure in fostering safe and resilient digital ecosystems. It also highlighted the need for gender equality and the need for enhancing economic and social empowerment. India invested substantial time, energy, and financial resources in hosting the G20. The team worked painstakingly to come up with concrete and clear declarations for the leaders summit. It also provided the government and PM Modi a platform to showcase a new resurgent India which is willing to take centre stage in global affairs and play a constructive and pivotal role in setting the global agenda. As the 18th G20 summit successfully concludes in New Delhi, the baton of responsibilities will now be passed on to Brazil which will hold the G20 Presidency for 2024. Indias ability to skilfully discuss and tackle the challenges at the G20 in this fragmented world order can provide templates and a roadmap for Brazils presidency. It will have to build upon the achievements at the New Delhi summit with hundreds of elaborate events and meetings held under Indias presidency. G20 in 2024 will again be a testing time for Brazil and will have to focus on deliverables for the upcoming year. Dr Mohit Anand is Prof of International Business and Strategy at EMLYON Business School, France. Rajesh Mehta is a leading consultant and columnist working on market entry, innovation and public policy. The views expressed are personal. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The G20 summit has concluded with host India and its political leadership basking in the sweet glow of success, and domestic and international adulation. There was a massive public relations build-up to the summit, celebrating the occasion as an affirmation of Indias emergence as one of the most consequential nations of the world and its leader, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi as an international statesman. There were doubts whether the outcomes would live up to the celebratory ambience. There was the knotty issue of the Ukraine War, the unexpected absence of Chinas top leader Xi Jinping from the summit and, of course, the legacy of complex issues from earlier summits, including the indebtedness of poorer developing countries, particularly from Africa, the tepid response to the climate crisis even as it threatens planetary survival, and the unwillingness to engage in international cooperation and regulation of powerful technologies such as cyber and Artificial Intelligence, which can greatly enhance human welfare but could, if unrestrained, become instruments of unmitigated doom. PREMIUM India succeeded in mobilising a consensus to admit the AU into the G20 at the very first of the three sessions (AFP) On all these counts, the New Delhi summit proved to be more substantive and forward looking than its predecessors, and that too, in a fractured geopolitical setting, with deepening tensions among the major G20 countries. Importantly, India declared early on its intention to represent the concerns and aspirations of the Global South and the proposal to invite the African Union (AU) was part of this effort. India succeeded in mobilising a consensus to admit the AU into the G20 at the very first of the three sessions. This is an important achievement and will enhance Indias credentials as a friend and well-wisher of Africa. The Global South is still a largely amorphous entity, lacking a clear identity but will begin to crystallise slowly. India, not China, will have the first-mover advantage in emerging as its leading voice. How India would manage the deeply polarising issue of Ukraine was the chief preoccupation at the summit. The lack of a consensus language on this divisive issue would mean that the New Delhi Declaration would end up with a chair summary instead of a consensus declaration. There would be comparisons with the previous Bali summit in 2022, when host Indonesia managed to secure a consensus document. A consensus formulation on Ukraine did emerge and all credit must go to Indias extremely able negotiating team. But without detracting from Indias consensus-building abilities, it is clear that a decision was taken by the United States (US) and other G7 countries to accept considerably weaker language on the Ukraine War than at Bali as the price to be paid for not spoiling Indias coming out party. Unlike at Bali, there was no direct condemnation of Russia for its aggression against Ukraine and its occupation of that countrys sovereign territory. Ukraine was quick to criticise this with justifiable vehemence. Xi Jinpings absence from the summit did not dim Indias shining moment. While Premier Li Qiang attended the summit, his presence and that of his country barely registered. Had Xi participated, some of the attention from Indias presidency would have been deflected to his anticipated bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. There might have been a bilateral with PM Modi, and against the background of recent tensions on the India-China border, this, too, would have kept the spotlight on him irrespective of the outcome. Instead, the spotlight stayed throughout on Modi. It is unusual for China to be away from the centre of international attention. Xis absence should be counted as a diplomatic misstep by Beijing. There were other important developments at or around the summit that were noteworthy. On the eve of the summit, there was a bilateral meeting between Biden and Modi and a joint statement was issued. This is unusual since Modi had undertaken a State visit to Washington in June this year and a lengthy and substantive joint statement was already issued at that time. Much of that earlier joint statement found reflection in the latest one, but on a couple of important items, such as the GE-jet engine technology transfer deal and the acquisition of advanced drones, there was swift progress. Both sides appear eager to portray their growing partnership in defence and high technology. The US has clearly taken a bet on India and is eager to demonstrate this. Despite its multi-alignment professions, India is more aligned with the US today than it ever was with the erstwhile Soviet Union during their extended strategic partnership. This is an important and consequential shift in the evolving Asian and world geopolitics. Another important initiative is the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced on the sidelines of the summit. This will involve sea links between India and West Asian ports, from which rail links are planned to the Mediterranean ports such as Haifa (Israel) and Piraeus (Greece). Key partners are the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and several European countries. This is potentially a significant project rivalling Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that has run into difficulties. The declaration and other documents reflect several ambitious commitments on climate finance, indebtedness, multilateral development bank reforms and tackling financial risks. The wish list is ambitious but the developed world itself is facing severe economic headwinds. The times are not propitious for the delivery of these commitments. Nevertheless, India has done well to raise the profile of these challenges and it will now be the turn of Brazil to raise the torch higher. It will be a difficult act to follow. Shyam Saran is a former foreign secretary and an honorary fellow, CPR. The views expressed are personal Those who have been involved in tough multilateral negotiations are used to the clock being stopped to allow the negotiators more time to arrive at a consensus. But seldom do you see multilateral negotiations concluding satisfactorily a day earlier, leaving the leaders enough time to do shopping and sight-seeing. Such is the magic that India pulled off on Saturday when the G20 leaders agreed to a final joint declaration based on consensus. Full credit to Team India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The success that India achieved against all odds is also a testament to Indias rising geopolitical clout. For the G20, it was a matter of credibility. Failure to arrive at a leaders declaration in New Delhi would have damaged the institution, perhaps irreversibly. PREMIUM G20 members agreed to a Green Development Pact, which they hope to achieve through mainstreaming the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) (PTI) India set itself three overriding objectives for its presidency: One, to showcase the country in all its glory and diversity; two, to try and be the voice of the Global South; and three, to be the bridge between the North and the South. As it turned out, it came through with flying colours on all three. Showcasing the country was a good move. And despite critics saying we were overdoing it, the message hit home and G20 delegates were duly impressed. The investment in goodwill and infrastructure will pay handsome returns. Two moves helped India fulfil its role as the voice of the Global South. One was the Voice of the Global South Summit held in January with the participation of some 125 countries, an overwhelming majority of which were from the Global South. India listened patiently to their interests and concerns; more significantly, it took them on board and the New Delhi Declaration fully reflected it. The second masterstroke was to push for the admission of the African Union as a full-fledged member of the G20 during its presidency. Both these actions should burnish Indias credentials to assume the mantle of leadership of the Global South. It goes without saying that the G20 was envisioned as an economic forum, so it does not have the mandate, strictly speaking, to deal swiftly with geopolitical issues. Yet, geopolitical issues have an enormous impact on the global economy, as the conflict in Ukraine has shown. If India really wished to be the voice of the Global South, it needed to get a consensus on the paragraphs on Ukraine. This had eluded India in the run-up to the summit and all ministerial meetings ended in a stalemate. It is here that the genius of Indian diplomacy manifested itself. The Bali leaders declaration was a black swan event, since Russia basically agreed to scathing self-condemnation there. That was not going to happen again, so Indian wordsmiths had to come up with language, de novo, that would reflect the consensus. They delivered with a document where every side can interpret the language as substantiating its own position on the intractable conflict. As for Indias other priorities, the declaration showed how substantive the outcomes were. For instance, the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs) agenda was severely disrupted in the last three years and the world is off course on most SDGs. Recognising this, the declaration committed to accelerate the full implementation of the SDGs and scale up financing from all sources. In this context, the G20 hopes to pursue reforms for better, bigger and more effective multilateral development banks to address the developmental challenges of the Global South. The climate crisis was also a key priority. G20 members agreed to a Green Development Pact, which they hope to achieve through mainstreaming the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), implementing the G20 High Level Voluntary Principles on Hydrogen, tripling global renewable energy capacity and scaling up climate finance. The declaration sought to deliver on climate and sustainable finance by calling for an ambitious replenishment of the green climate fund, noted the need for $5.8 to 5.9 trillion for developing countries before 2030 to implement their nationally determined contributions, and reminded developed countries of their longstanding obligation to give $100 billion to developing countries. It also called on countries to set an ambitious and new quantified goal of climate finance from the floor of $100 billion to fully implement the Paris Agreement. In digital public infrastructure, India left an indelible imprint. The G20 leaders welcomed both the Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure and Indias plan to build and maintain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository on a voluntary basis. The G20 also took note of the Indian presidencys proposal of the One Future Alliance, a voluntary initiative aimed at building capacity, providing technical assistance and adequate funding for implementing digital infrastructure in lower income countries. Emphasising the importance of gender equality, the G20 members committed to halving the digital gender gap by 2030. At the end of the day, India ticked all the boxes and quite simply rose to the occasion. Indias transition from being a balancing power to a leading power may have just begun. This G20 triumph will fundamentally transform Indian diplomacy. Mohan Kumar is a former Indian ambassador, dean/professor and director of the G20 Centre at OP Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal The past few months have been dominated by speculation about the scheduling of the next general elections. But what has gone relatively unnoticed is an ambitious new strategy launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI), called the Turnout Implementation Plan (TIP), the latest in a series of interventions by the poll watchdog that began with the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation, SVEEP programme in 2010 that resulted in India creating a turnout record in Lok Sabha elections of 2014. In 2009, the voting percentage stood at 58%, which went up to 66.4% in 2014, and 67.6% in 2019. Now, the ECI hopes to push it past 70%. PREMIUM 2024 will be a critical test with Indias electorate which currently stands at 950 million likely to exceed a billion (Sakib Ali/ HT Photo) As part of TIP, the ECI has asked chief electoral officers to prepare turnout implementation plans for each assembly constituency after an elaborate gap analysis. The exercise includes a demography and topography review, an extensive study of turnout history and an assessment of local socio-cultural modes and institutions, the nature of participation barriers and prevalent communication channels. The attempt is to map the non-voter and resolve her predicament. State and district officials will have a scientific job to accomplish while fixing their turnout targets and the roadmaps to arrive there. The plan aims that no assembly segment lags the state average, and no state falls behind the national average. Unlike many countries that have voter education built into their statutes, India embraced this principle late into its democratic trajectory, and only incorporated this principle as a substantial aspect of democratic action in the late 2000s. But the revival of turnout as a key thrust of the poll watchdog is important, given global trends of depressed voting, especially in metropolitan areas. Between the 1940s and 1980s, voting in developed countries hovered around the stable mark of 75%, but since the early 1990s, it has dipped to around 60%, according to studies by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. This trend is marked in Europe, and affected major countries such as Egypt, Nigeria and Venezuela, where some elections have seen turnouts of around 30%. The reasons can be varied political conditions and perception of democratic backsliding, despondence over economic development, unexciting agenda and candidature, problems with ease of voting, quality of campaign, concentration of elections, or plain voter apathy. Voter fatigue amidst a glut of polls is given as one of the reasons for the call for One Nation One Election. In 1950, universal adult suffrage was boldly adopted by a young Republic, making the radical promise of equality to its citizens. At the same time, it bestowed upon itself an onerous responsibility of educating and inspiring people who had been kept out of the system. The large denominator of Indias eligible voting population, therefore, must be matched by a high turnout for this democratic promise to actualise. Lower participation points to a democracy deficit at a time when the number of contesting candidates is on the rise. Against this backdrop, 2024 will be a critical test with Indias electorate which currently stands at 950 million likely to exceed a billion. The upcoming general elections to five state assemblies could show the way. In addition to TIP, two additional steps might help. One, a rigorous revision of the electoral rolls, especially close to the date of the polls, can be a turnout enhancer. If dead, absent or duplicate names are removed from the list and eligible people are added, both the denominator and the numerator are positively impacted. Purification of the electoral roll, abetted by the best available technology is rightly in steady focus of election managers. Two, remote voting can empower millions of internal migrants who face significant logistical and financial hurdles in voting. For now, the idea has not attracted the political consensus necessary for takeoff. In this case, more than the turnout, what is at stake is the functional voting right of citizens displaced for existential reasons. If technology can help these people, political parties need to find the conviction to embrace it. Indias democratic standing in the world hinges on the quality of its elections, the core of which is voter participation. Half the countries in the world including India fall within the 60%-79% voter turnout band. At a time when India has made rapid strides in establishing itself as a preeminent economic and diplomatic power, it should also aspire to get into the elite club of countries that see 80% turnout in democratic elections. Higher turnout places greater accountability on lawmakers, and can foster better performance from the countrys elected executive. Indias urban citizen who is often accused of being the bystander in its electoral process interested but not involved needs to appreciate this. Akshay Rout is a former director general, Election Commission of India. The views expressed are personal The grand G20 summit has concluded, and a question arises in its wake: What has the country and its people achieved with such splendour? Ill take you back 15 years to find the answer. PREMIUM Perhaps the question in your mind is: What is the immediate benefit of the G20 meetings to India and Indians? (PTI) In September 2009, then Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh was in the United States for a G20 summit. It was customary then for the PM to speak with the journalists accompanying him, on the aircraft back home. During this press conference, a journalist asked Singh: Can you give us an idea of what Indias aam aadmi has benefited from the G20 after its three rounds? How does he benefit from the G20 meetings in his daily life. Singh replied: If the world economy collapses, there is obviously some effect on our country... No country by itself can ensure that all its goals of economic life can be achieved by working to the exclusion of other participants, in the increasingly interdependent world that we live in. There is, therefore, a necessity for India to ensure that the global economic system continues to progress. Singhs response remains relevant today. The slogan of One Earth, One Family, One Future is also used by the current PM Narendra Modi. The world is moving towards a global village, a concept that took shape in the 1990s. No country in the world may now follow the ekla chalo re (walk alone) policy. On September 26, 1999, the G20 was founded with this goal in mind. The world then was reeling from the Asian financial crisis. There was a consensus that such situations could recur in the future, and that a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors from these 20 nations would be useful in dealing with them. This was a significant move because the G20 group accounts for 85% of global Gross Domestic Product. Is the mission of this grouping a complete success? Certainly not. The Russia-Ukraine conflict had left the G20 summit in Bali last year divided into two camps. This time, neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Chinese President Xi Jinping visited New Delhi. Longstanding tensions between countries are the harsh reality of our times. The League of Nations, founded in 1920, and the United Nations, founded in 1945 with fresh resolutions following its failure, have yet to untangle these knots. What else would you expect from the G20, which is only 24 years old? Perhaps the question in your mind is: What is the immediate benefit of the G20 meetings to India and Indians? It goes without saying that G20 meetings were held in 60 major cities around the country. This resulted in infrastructure development. The central government alone had set aside 990 crore for this purpose. The state governments spent money in addition. I live in Noida, travel to Delhi for work, and frequently visit family in Agra or Varanasi. The development that took place in all these metropolitan cities in one year not only made these cities more beautiful but also added amenities for people. Another direct and indirect message emerged from this historic gathering. The G20 tourism group met in Srinagar from May 22 to 24. After several years, such an international event could be held in the Valley. This sent a message to the world that, with the repeal of Article 370 and the division of the state, this violence-hit region is now moving towards peace. Top executives from travel agencies from nations that were unable to attend owing to diplomatic obligations were there. This will pave the way for foreign tourists to arrive in the coming days. It is desperately required in the current situation. The Opposition alleges that G20 meetings were held in one or more countries each year, but in India, the central government sought to exploit this chance for electoral advantage. They claim that the way the New Delhi event appeared on giant screens in all cities, towns, and villages was designed to enhance the PMs image and to distract from existing issues. This is a classic Indian political formula. The same had happened in November 1983, when India hosted the non-aligned nations summit. Similarly, the Asian Games in 1982 were used for political gain. Apart from technology, the only difference between then and now is that the faces and stances of the critics have shifted. We have to understand that the road of progress, companionship, and politics cannot always be the same in a democracy. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. The views expressed are personal Google has confirmed its Pixel Watch 2 for India, with the device set to be launched in the country on October 5, a day after its likely unveiling at the tech giant's annual Made By Google event. Google's Pixel Watch 2 (Image courtesy: Google) Worth every minute of the wait. Meet the all-new #PixelWatch 2 on 5th October. Available exclusively on Flipkart, Google India said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on September 8. The main products to be launched at the New York City event, however, will be the all-new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. In India, these, too, will be sold via Flipkart. Pixel Watch 2: Specifications According to News18, the smartwatch is expected to be available in both Wi-Fi and LTE variants; it is likely to be powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chip, which will also provide a longer battery life to Watch 2, as compared to the first-generation Watch. Additionally, the company could go with a 1.2-inch OLED display for Watch 2, along with support for ultrawide-band (UWB) which provides improved connectivity for the product. Pixel Watch 2: Price As per the report, Google could price Watch 2 in the sub- 30,000 segment. The device will have competitors such from the Watch series of both Apple and Samsung. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India's triumphant victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup match has set social media ablaze with celebration. Team India finished in style after scoring a 357 runs while Pakistan could only make 128 runs. With India emerging as the champions of the match, a wave of celebratory posts flooded X (formerly Twitter) as fans shared their enthusiastic reactions to the win. India won against Pakistan during the Asia Cup match. (AFP) Here's what people are saying about the India vs Pakistan game: On the Reserve Day of the Asia Cup Super 4 match held at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, India showcased a commanding performance against Pakistan. The match culminated with India securing a resounding victory, defeating Pakistan by an impressive margin of 228 runs. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! The village of Brezna in northern Montenegro is holding its annual Laziest Citizen contest. Yes, you read that right. The event started with 21 competitors, but now only seven remain. Montenegro is holding 'Laziest Citizen' competition. (Unsplash ) These contestants are vying for a grand prize of $1,070 (approximately 88,000.) Last year, the lying down record was set at 117 hours, however this year, the competition has crossed 20 days, with the competitors demonstrating unrelenting perseverance, reported The New York Post. As per Geo News, people are under care, and their health is looked after. Their only responsibility is to remain still, as standing or sitting would result in immediate disqualification. They have 10 minutes every eight hours to use the restroom and can do things like read or use technological devices. Dubravka Aksic, who won this contest in 2021, told CGTN that she was persuaded to compete again by her family and finds it fairly easy with the organisers taking care of all their needs. (Also Read: Feeling lazy? Meet 98-year-old US citizen who works seven days a week, gets honoured for longevity) "I don't see why they believed I could win again this year. Since today is the twentieth day, neither I nor any of the other people present here today expected it to last this long," Aksic told CGTN. Filip Knezevic, a 23-year-old first-time participant from the northern town of Mojkovac, also believes he could win. He said to CGTN, "Naturally, I have high hopes of winning; that's why I came. There's plenty of motivation and free time, and I feel great here." As the competition progresses, contestants' health remains good, and they enjoy comfort while adhering to tight regulations. This event in the small Adriatic country began 12 years ago to poke fun at a prevalent stereotype that Montenegrins are lazy. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! New York City mayor Eric Adams has warned that the ongoing migrant crisis may lead to a Financial Tsunami. The city has been dealing with a big influx of migrants and Adams has been vocal about the repercussions. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (AFP) In an interaction on PIX 11s PIX on Politics on Sunday, Adams said: I have to be honest with New Yorkers with what were about to experience a financial tsunami that I dont think this city has ever experienced." This is not utopia. New York City cannot manage 10,000 people a month with no end in sight. That cant happen, and that is going to undermine this entire city, he warned. Reportedly, the cost of handling the migrant crisis is set to reach a whopping $12 billion over the next three years. Every service in the city is going to be impacted, from child service to our seniors to our housing plan, everything will be impacted, warned Adams. We have a fiscal cliff thats about to hit us from the federal government. This can undermine this entire city, my children, my families, the longterm impact to migrants who are not getting the proper treatment they deserve, these cuts in services to the children of the city, my elders and seniors, my housing, he added. Adams highlighted that the current financial aid from federal and state governments wasn't enough in dealing with the crisis. Were talking $12 billion, $12 billion of running our city: sanitation, police, education, libraries, everything that we have to run the city. Theres a minimum amount of money that comes in that we have to address this crisis as a national crisis, and weve been ignored, highlighted the mayor. ALSO READ| Ive seen her play beer pong: Royal Family member reveals Kate Middleton is highly competitive in the game Recently, a brawl had broken out between cops and migrants over the confiscation of illegal scooters in Brooklyn. Three migrants were arrested for attacking a police officer during the operation. One paramilitary personnel died and eight, including two civilians, injured in a blast in Pakistan near Peshawar. The top police official confirmed that a vehicle carrying the paramilitary officials of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa division was attacked while it was headed towards Peshawar. Screengrab of a video clip showing aftermath of the blast.(Twitter) According to the official, the blast was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED). However, there was no prior threat. The bomb disposal squad is carrying out the investigation to determine the nature of the blast. Visuals from the location show the aftermath of the incident. The blast completely damaged the vehicle. Security forces and civilian could be seen present at the spot. The explosion took place days after nine security personnel were killed and 17 others were injured in a suicide bombing incident in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A rather tragic incident also took place in Khar region of the same province on July 30. A blast triggered by a suicide bomber at a political party meeting killed at least 54 people and injured 100 others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro will be admitted to a Sao Paulo hospital on Monday to undergo two surgical procedures related to a 2018 stabbing, he told Reuters late on Sunday. Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro(Reuters) Bolsonaro said he will undergo procedures to correct a hiatus hernia and a deviated septum. A third operation to correct his intestine, that was also expected this month, has been rescheduled by doctors. "The third one is for October or November," Bolsonaro told Reuters. The surgeries will take place at the Vila Nova Star hospital in Sao Paulo where Bolsonaro underwent preparatory examinations last month. The ex-president's operations will be on Tuesday. He will be discharged from the hospital on Thursday if no complications arise. Since 2018 Bolsonaro has had at least six operations, some directly linked to when he was stabbed in the abdomen while campaigning for the presidency in September 2018. Bolsonaro has meanwhile been facing multiple criminal probes that could result in prison sentences. On Saturday, Brazil's Supreme Court authorized a cooperation deal between one of his former aides and the country's Federal Police. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China's President Xi Jinping dominated Chinas news agenda despite his absence from the Group of 20 summit in India, with Li Qiangs attendance in his place receiving scant coverage by official media. Chinese President Xi Jinping (Reuters/File) Although Xi didnt make a public appearance or engage in any official meetings over the weekend, state media gave his earlier trip to northeastern Heilongjiang province wall-to-wall coverage. Reports highlighted the Chinese leaders inspection of a military facility, while newspapers gave letters Xi sent to world leaders and others prominent play. On Sunday, Xi monopolized the first two pages of the Peoples Daily, the Communist Partys mouthpiece. In contrast, Li, the first Chinese premier to attend a G-20 summit, was relegated to page four for a speech he delivered and meetings on the sidelines with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. The first 20 minutes of a half-hour evening news program on state TV were devoted to Xi, whereas Li got less than four for his dealings at the leaders summit. Xis decision to skip the G-20 gave Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a chance to boost his nations influence. India founded a biofuel alliance with the US and Brazil, while the US signed an agreement with India, Middle Eastern countries and the European Union to link them via a network of railways and sea routes. Li also held just four bilateral meetings, with Meloni, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, von der Leyen and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, according to statements from Chinas Foreign Ministry. US President Joe Biden said during a trip to Vietnam on Sunday that he also met with Li at the G-20. In contrast, Xi met 11 heads of state at the G-20 summit in Bali last year. Symbolizing the low profile Li kept at the summit, he was left out in a video clip that Modi posted on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, that showed heads of states arriving for the opening of the event. The few meetings that Li held didnt yield any wins for China. Meloni told him that Italy plans to withdraw from Xis signature Belt and Road Initiative while still looking to maintain friendly relations with Beijing, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be named. At a press conference, Meloni said she spoke to Li about the BRI but a decision had yet to be made. Sunak told Li he was concerned about interference from Beijing, hours after it emerged that two men had been arrested in the UK for allegedly spying for China. Scant coverage While Lis arrival in New Delhi was streamed on the official summit feed and reposted by some users on social media platform Weibo, the Chinese embassy in India simply posted a photo of an airplane to announce Lis landing. The summit itself didnt get much play in Chinese official media. State broadcaster CCTV had a one-liner on the summit opening. The addition of the African Union to the bloc was given some airtime, although the joint communique adopted a day earlier was only picked up by state television on Sunday afternoon, after the summits close. Hours before the gathering began, a think tank linked to Chinas Ministry of State Security published a strongly worded criticism of India, accusing the G-20 host of pushing its own agenda and causing disagreements. Xi has also hogged the news limelight with letters and messages. On Saturday, he sent a congratulation letter to North Koreas Kim Jong Un on the 75th anniversary of the countrys founding. He also wrote to some teachers ahead of the annual celebration for the profession on Sunday, as well as to a forum on China-Central Asia cooperation. The president extended condolences to the Moroccan king for the deadly earthquake in the North African nation, as well as to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is at the G-20 summit for floods that ravaged the country. Since the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11, a tidal wave of conspiracy theories has emerged over the past two decades. (FILES) (FILES) In this file photo smoke billows from the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, New York on September 11, 2001. A proposal to allow alleged perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks to plead guilty and avoid the death penalty poses a powerful dilemma for victims' families, some of whom still want to seek the ultimate retribution after two decades of legal limbo. The proposal detailed by prosecutors in a letter this month could offer families of the nearly 3,000 victims the best path to a resolution of a case bogged down in pre-trial maneuverings in the Guantanamo military commissions for years -- and with no end in sight. (Photo by STAN HONDA / AFP)(AFP) The North and South Towers, were built in the 1960s with innovative steel and concrete designs that influenced many skyscrapers built afterward. Official investigations into the tragic events were carried out by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). FEMA's report came out in 2002, followed by NIST's comprehensive three-year investigation, funded by the US government and published in 2005. ALSO READ| Mel Tucker, Michigan State football coach, faces suspension without pay amidst sexual misconduct investigation Some conspiracy theorists raised concerns about NIST's funding, suspecting government involvement in the towers' collapse or foreknowledge of the attacks. Despite criticism of these reports and their imperfect aspects, the widely accepted explanation for the towers' collapse points to the intense fires that raged within the buildings after the plane impact, rather than direct impact or explosives. Here are 5 of the weirdest 9/11 conspiracy theories that have been proliferated over the years- Holographic Planes: This preposterous theory claims that the planes that hit the World Trade Center were not real, instead holographic projections were created by advanced technology. The theory ignores the countless eyewitnesses who saw and heard the planes, as well as the physical evidence of plane debris and DNA from the victims. It would appear that whoever came up with this theory is a huge fan of the Spider-Man villain Mysterio. Thermite Paint: This theory suggests that a special type of thermite, a substance that can burn through metal, was painted on the steel beams of the World Trade Center towers to weaken them and cause them to collapse. The theory has no scientific basis, as thermite would not be able to ignite or sustain a reaction under the conditions of the towers. Missile at the Pentagon: This bizarre theory alleges that the Pentagon was not struck by American Airlines Flight 77, but by a missile fired by the U.S. government or another entity. The theory is contradicted by the radar data, flight data recorder, security camera footage, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence of plane parts and bodies at the Pentagon. No Plane at the Pentagon: This theory goes even further by denying that any plane was involved in the Pentagon attack. It claims that the government staged the whole event using explosives, fake witnesses, and media manipulation. The theory is easily refuted by the same evidence that disproves the missile theory. Stand-Down Order: Another preposterous theory that aligns with the inside job theory which states that the US government deliberately allowed the attacks to happen by issuing a stand-down order to prevent the military from intercepting or shooting down the hijacked planes. The theory is based on a misunderstanding of the military protocols and procedures at the time, as well as a disregard for the chaos and confusion that occurred during the attacks. Every year on September 11, the world remembers the horrific terrorist attacks( known as 9/11 attacks) that shook the United States and led to the death of nearly 3,000 people. A total of four commercial aircrafts were hijacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists to execute the deadly attacks. Smoke billows from the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, New York on September 11, 2001.(AFP) Two of the planes were used to bring down the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City. The third aircraft was intentionally crashed into the Pentagon building which is home to United States Department of Defense headquarters. On the anniversary of 9/11 attacks, the world also remembers United Airlines Flight 93 which was the fourth aircraft under the seize of terrorists on the same day. Here is the story of Flight 93 whose passengers showed ultimate courage in the face of terror and at the cost of their lives. Here is how the passengers and crew of Flight 93 prevented a likely attack on United States Capitol Building, where the country's legislators were in session. Flight 93 route and other information Flight 93 was a Boeing 757 non-stop flight from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, California. There were seven crew members and thirty-three passengers on the flight. The flight was delayed by more than 25 minutes from its scheduled take off time, due to heavy morning traffic. This very delay proved crucial in causing the terrorists to miss their actual target once they later gained control of the flight's cockpit. What happened while Flight 93 was in air At about 9:28 a.m, the terrorists on Flight 93 forcibly acquired control of the aircraft by entering the cockpit. They changed the plane's direction towards Washington, D.C., the capital of USA. Meanwhile, the passengers were taken to the back of the plane. By 9:03 a.m, the other two hijacked planes had already crashed into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. By 9:37 a.m, the third plane had hit the Pentagon building. While Flight 93 changed its route, passengers and crew used airfones to report the hijacking and learnt about the attacks by the other three aircrafts. It was then that they planned a coordinated resistance against the terrorists. The passengers and crew fought against the terrorists in a bid to foil their plans. In due course of time at 10:03 a.m, the terrorists crashed Flight 93 into an empty field in the Pennsylvania countryside outside of Shanksville, PA. All occupants of the plane including the passengers got killed. As per the flight data recorder, recovered evidences and responses to interrogations, it was revealed that the United States Capitol Building was likely the intended target of the terrorists. French President Emmanuel Macron rejected a demand by Nigers military rulers to withdraw its troops from the West African nation after a coup strained relations between the two countries. Tensions between Niger and its ex-colonial power have grown since the junta ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup and severed military ties with France. (File) If we redeploy, I would do it only at the request of President Bazoum, Macron said, referring to Nigers ousted leader, as the G-20 summit wrapped up in New Delhi, India, on Sunday. We dont recognize any legitimacy in the declarations from the putschists. His comments came after the ruling junta said France was ignoring its request for the 1,500 French troops stationed in Niger to leave the country by September 3. Nigerien and French military officers met earlier this month to discuss a plan for a French troop withdrawal from Niger, a junta spokesman said late Saturday. No progress has been made on implementing the plan, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on public broadcaster Tele Sahel. Tensions between Niger and its ex-colonial power have grown since the junta ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a July 26 coup and severed military ties with France. Macron has said he would back a decision by the Economic Community of West African States to use force to restore democracy though the regional bloc has backed off the threat and said diplomacy is its priority. Abdramane also said France was deploying troops in several West African countries as part of preparations for a possible regional military intervention aimed at ousting the junta. France continues to deploy its forces in several Ecowas countries as part of preparations for an attack on Niger in collaboration with the regional bloc, Abdramane said. A spokesman for the Ecowas Commissioner said he wasnt authorized to speak on the matter. An Ivory Coast defense ministry spokesman wasnt aware of any troop movements. The junta has called for continued protests until the French soldiers leave Niger. The mobilization must continue, it must continue until the departure of the French troops, Army Chief of Staff and junta member General Moussa Barmou said in an address to protesters broadcast on Tele Sahel late Sunday. We remain united in our fight to regain our independence. Hawaii's Kilauea volcano, one of the world's most active, erupted again, spewing fountains of lava more than 80 feet high. The volcano began erupting at around 3:15 pm local time, the US geological survey's (USGS) Hawaiian volcano observatory said. "The eruption was preceded by a period of strong seismicity and rapid uplift of the summit," it said. This marks the third time the volcano has erupted this year, after bursting in January and June. Hawaii Kilauea Volcano: An eruption takes place on the summit of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.(AP) A USGS livestream from the rim of the caldera showed fountains of lava erupting from multiple fissures in the crater. "Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 20-25 meters (65-82 feet) high," the volcano observatory said raising the volcano's alert status from "watch" to warning. The aviation alert was increased to red. Hawaii emergency management agency warned that volcanic gases could be a problem for people exposed to them. "At this time, lava at Kilauea is confined to the summit and does not pose a lava threat to communities. However, eruptions emit volcanic particles and gases which may create breathing problems for people exposed," it posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). Kilauea is one of six active volcanoes on the Hawaiian islands. It erupted almost continuously between 1983 and 2019. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail In the shadow of the 9/11 attacks that shook the world, there lies a remarkable story of bravery and sacrifice that often goes untold. On the anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks, the world remembers the heroic actions of Rick Rescorla, a man who defied orders, saved lives, and became a symbol of courage. Rick Rescorla: A True Hero's Sacrifice on 9/11 (Twitter. X)(Twitter. X) Rick Rescorla served as the head of security for Morgan Stanley in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Rick's extra carefulness Prior to the devastating events of September 11, 2001, Rick was always skeptical about the vulnerability of the Towers basement. After the 1993 bombing at World Trade Center, Rick implemented regular evacuation drills, using his unmistakable megaphone to guide thousands of employees down the stairwells to safety. During the drills, he would sing Welsh and Cornish songs. Rick's message to his colleagues was, "In an emergency, no matter the chaos, leave your offices, descend the stairwells, and evacuate the building. Rick's action during the 9/11 attacks On the day of the 9/11 attacks, when the first plane struck the North Tower, the Port Authority advised occupants of the South Tower to stay put, declaring the area secure. But Rick ignored the orders, picked up his megaphone, and led his employees to safety. ALSO READ: 5 bizarre 9/11 conspiracy theories that refuse to die out Even after the second plane struck their tower, Rick's Cornish songs kept their spirits up as they evacuated. He didn't stop there, though. After ensuring his employees were safe, he went back into the South Tower, searching for survivors. On the day, Rick had called his wife, Susan. He said, "Stop crying. I have to get these people out safely. If something should happen to me, I want you to know I've never been happier. You made my life." Unfortunately, Rick never made it out of the South Tower alive. Yet, thanks to his leadership, determination, and unwavering dedication to the safety of others, all but six of the more than 2700 Morgan Stanley employees under his care survived. Reporters accompanying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his upcoming United States visit are threatening to boycott the trip after being informed they will not be allowed to return to Israel with the Israeli premier. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(AP) According to the Israeli Prime Ministers Offices announcement, the unusual decision relates to the time pressure of leaving after Shabbat and the urgency of arriving in Israel before the start of Yom Kippur. In response to the announcement, the Israeli diplomatic press corps threatened to boycott Netanyahus US trip. On behalf of all the reporters who are supposed to fly with the prime minister, I am informing you that as long as we cannot return with you on the prime ministers plane, we will not be able to sign up for the flight and will be absent from it, the press corps wrote in a letter to Netanyahus spokesperson Topaz Luk. It is unreasonable to expect us, the journalists who accompany the trip, to leave the Shabbat space in order to arrive in Israel a day before [Yom] Kippur or alternatively to stay on Yom Kippur in New York. What is forbidden to reporters according to the rules of protocol should apply to the entire entourage. In fact, you are excluding from the delegation anyone who wants to be in Israel on Yom Kippur (as the prime minister, his entourage and the professionals want to do) and is not willing to violate Shabbat and fly during it. We look forward to finding a reliable solution as soon as possible that will allow us to return together with the prime minister, taking into account, of course, the religious correspondents taking part in the journey. The trips of prime ministers over the years have been conducted in such a way that prevented the desecration of the Sabbath. We insist that a solution be found this time as well. What is forbidden to reporters is also forbidden to the prime minister and his entourage. Netanyahu will depart Israel on the evening of September 17 following the conclusion of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and land in San Francisco the next day. While in California, he is expected to visit Silicon Valley for a tour of the tech industry. Netanyahu may also meet with X owner Elon Musk. After spending the day in Silicon Valley, the prime minister will travel to New York City, arriving there on Sept. 19. In New York, Netanyahu is slated to address the U.N. General Assembly, with his speech likely to take place on Friday morning. Netanyahu will remain in New York over the Sabbath, flying back shortly before the start of Yom Kippur on the evening of September 24.Rea SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As US president Joe Biden finished his 26-minute press conference in Vietnam that capped off his trip to the country after the G20 summit, he joked, I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to go to bed." Joe Biden made the comment in response to a question about why he hasnt spoken to Chinese president Xi Jinping. The Chinese leader and Russian president Vladimir Putin did not attend the G20 meet in New Delhi. Joe Biden In Vietnam: US president Joe Biden meets with Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (not pictured) in Hanoi, Vietnam.(Reuters) Ill just follow my orders here. Staff, is there anybody that hasnt spoken yet? I aint calling on you, Joe Biden said at another point during the presser. In response to a question about climate change, the US president said, The Indian looks at John Wayne and points to the Union soldier and says, Hes a lying, dog-faced pony soldier!' Well, theres a lot of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers out there about global warming." The US president also quipped at reporters. When Voice of America correspondent Anita Powell said at one point. Thank you, Mr. President. I hope you didnt think that calling only on women would get you softballs tonight", Joe Biden joked, If you sent me a softball I wouldnt know what to do with it, Id probably strike out even worse." On China, the US president contented, What this trip was about it was less about containing China. I dont want to contain China. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away. He also said that China's dampening economy would reduce the prospects of an invasion of Taiwan. I think China has a difficult economic problem right now for a whole range of reasons that relate to international growth and lack thereof and the policies that China has followed, Biden told reporters. I dont think its going to cause China to invade Taiwan; matter of fact, the opposite. It probably didnt have the same capacity that it had before," he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail Britain's King Charles has sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un congratulating the North on its founding anniversary, North's state media reported on Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves next to participants of the civil defense military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the country, in this picture released on September 11, 2023. (Reuters) "As the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future," the message said, according to news agency KCNA. Authorities in eastern Libya declared the city of Derna a disaster zone Monday after the Mediterranean storm Daniel caused devastating floods over the weekend in different parts of the North African nation. An aerial view of floods in Libya.(REUTERS) At least seven people were reported dead Monday in an initial tally in the coastal town of Susa in northeastern Libya, according to the Ambulance and Emergency Authority, and one other person was confirmed dead Sunday. The man was stuck in his car and surrounded by floods in the eastern town of Marj, according to Walid al-Arfi, spokesperson for the government-run emergency response agency in eastern Libya. READ | 5 killed, over 60,000 displaced as monsoon floods hit Myanmar The Libyan Red Crescent said it lost contact with one of its workers as he attempted to help a stuck family in the town of Bayda. Dozens of others were reported missing, and authorities fear they could have died in the floods that destroyed homes and other properties in several towns in eastern Libya, according to local media. Over the weekend, Libyans shared footage on social media showing flooded housed and roads in many areas across eastern Libya. They pleaded for help as floods besieged people inside their homes and in their vehicles. Ossama Hamad, the prime minister of the east Libya government, has declared Derna a disaster zone after heavy rainfall and floods destroyed much of the city. Hamads government declared a state of emergency Saturday and suspended classes as a precaution ahead of the storm, which made landfall overnight. Controlling eastern and western Libya, Cmdr. Khalifa Hifter deployed troops to help residents in Benghazi and other eastern towns. Ahmed al-Mosmari, a spokesperson for Hifters forces, said they lost contact with five troops who were helping besieged families in Bayda. The storm is expected to arrive in parts of west Egypt on Monday, and the countrys meteorological authorities warned about possible rain and bad weather. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dallas: From an early model of the iconic alien mothership from Close Encounters of the Third Kind to a complete Stormtrooper costume from Star Wars, bidding opens on 14 and 15 October on thousands of pieces Hollywood model maker Greg Jein collected over his lifetime, including many he created during his nearly half-century career. The model of the X-Wing fighter which will be auctioned in Dallas, US. (Heritage Auctions) Of particular interest is a 20-inch X-Wing Fighter, believed to be lost, which was used in the climactic battle in the original Star Wars film. Built by George Lucas visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic, the model was used in the final battle, including the famous trench run, of 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope. It is one of just four known hero models especially detailed for use in close-up shots; it has articulating wings, working lights and is marked with battle scars.The model, for which bidding will start at $400,000, stood in for the X-Wings known as Red Leader, Red Two and Red Five, the latter flown by hero Luke Skywalker. Jeins collection which also includes an original Stormtrooper costume from A New Hope, an astronaut suit from 2001: A Space Odyssey, Batarang throwing weapons from the 1960s Batman television series, and props from Star Trek will be auctioned Heritage Auctions in Dallas on 14 and 15 October. Jein, who had an Oscar and Emmy nominated career making miniature models, was also a collector of costumes, props, scripts, artwork, photographs and models from the shows he loved. The X-Wing model has been described by Heritage Auctions as the pinnacle of Star Wars artifacts to ever reach the market. Visual effects historian Gene Kozicki told the Hollywood Reporter that those working in visual effects regarded the model as a white whale because no one knew where it was. For those of us that grew up in the 1970s or 1980s, and those of us that work in visual effects, this model is as significant a find as the ruby red slippers or the Maltese Falcon, Kozicki said. Kozicki, along with a group of Jeins friends and VFX professionals, was helping Jeins family organise his collection when he discovered the model in a cardboard box. He said those in the room knew immediately that it was the actual filming model and then the magnitude of the discovery started to set in. Kozicki said it was not known how Jein, who did not work on Star Wars, came to possess the model. He speculated it may have come into Jeins collection during his time working on Steven Spielbergs 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which was made by many visual effects workers who also were working on Star Wars around the same time. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON At least 2,122 people were killed and 2,421 others injured after the strongest earthquake in a century hit Morocco on Friday. As per the United Nations, at least 300,000 people in the North African country have been affected by the quake. A person stands near damaged houses in Tafeghaghte, a remote village of the High Atlas mountains, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 10, 2023. (Reuters) Rescue operations are underway after buildings were reduced to rubble as the powerful quake hit the country. The interior ministry released a statement saying, The Moroccan authorities have carefully assessed the needs on the ground, bearing in mind that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive. Here is what we know so far: When did the earthquake happen and where? The US Geological Survey (USGS) said that the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it hit at 11:11pm on Friday, with shaking that lasted several seconds. Moroccos National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale. The US agency had also reported a magnitude-4.9 aftershock hit 19 minutes later. The epicentre of the Morocco earthquake was high in the Atlas Mountains roughly 70 kilometers south of Marrakech, economic hub of Morocco. It was also near Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa and Oukaimeden, a popular Moroccan ski resort. The USGS said the epicentre was 18.5 kilometres below the Earths surface, while Moroccos seismic agency put it at 8 kilometres down. Strength of the Earthquake The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.8, which is considered strong. The quake hit at a shallow depth which made its impact stronger and more destructive. As per USGS, the earthquakes in the region were uncommon but not unexpected. CNN reported that since 1900s, nine earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher have hit the region but none had a magnitude of more than 6. This is the deadlistest earthquake to hit Morocco since 1960, when a quake hit town of Agadir and killed around 12,000 people damaging the whole city which has been rebuilt since then. The tremors of the quake were felt as far as coastal cities including country's capital Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira and Agadir. Neighbouring countries Portugal and Algeria also felt the quake's tremors. What areas have been damaged the most? The earthquake caused damage to Marrakesh's largest mosque built in the 12th century, Koutoubia Mosque, as well as the red walls that surround the old city and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Morocco quake also damaged a historical mosque, Tinmel Mosque, in the High Atlas Mountains which was built by a medieval dynasty which conquered North Africa and Spain. Along with this several buildings have been irrevocably damaged and as per eyewitnesses several villages and towns around the Atlas Mountains have been destroyed, CNN reported. Almost all homes in Asni village have been damaged. Over a 1,000 people have died in Al Haouz province and around 400 people have lost their lives in Taroudant City of Morocco. Tafeghaghte, a village around 59 kilometres away from the epicentre, has been completely destroyed. Marrakesh, one of the largest cities of Morocco which is a tourist hub, has also faced severe damage. How international government responded? Morocco on Sunday announced that it had accepted aid from four nations Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as several countries came forward and offered support and assistance to severely-hit country. As per AFP, the interior ministry said that Moroccan authorities responded favourably "at this stage" to offers from these four nations to send search and rescue teams. The ministry added that foreign teams were coordinating with authorities, adding that only four countries' offers had been accepted as a lack of coordination could be counterproductive. Tunisia has sent 50 paramedics and specialised unit personnel along with searching dogs, advanced monitoring devices and drones. Qatar has sent medical and rescue teams. A Spanish military and rescue team of 56 officers and four dogs reached Morocco on Sunday. Another team of 30 people and four dogs from Spain was also heading to Morocco. The United States sent a disaster experts' team, whereas theUnited Kingdom deployed 60 rescue specialists and four dogs. France has pledged 2 million euros to Morocco. Israel's national medical and disaster emergency service Magen David Adom has also representatives. Oman also ordered rescue teams, urgent relief and medical aid to be sent to Morocco. Several other countries like Taiwan and Turkey said that teams were ready to be deployed if Morocco required more assistance and aid. Morocco government's response The Morocco government has said it had activated all the available resources in order to tackle the earthquake and urged the people to avoid panicking. Morocco's King Mohammed VI ordered the setting up of a relief commission for the distribution of aid to survivors, including those who lost their parents and homes in the quake. He also announced a three-day national mourning period and had urged mosques across the country to hold funeral prayers, Janazah, on Sunday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The death toll from Morocco's devastating earthquake has risen to 2,497, the interior ministry said on Monday, as search and rescue efforts continue. Morocco Earthquake: A person carries an item of furniture, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in a hamlet on the outskirts of Talaat N'Yaaqoub, Morocco.(Reuters) Another 2,476 people were injured, the ministry said, updating a previous toll of 2,122 dead and 2,400 wounded. Moroccan soldiers and aid teams in trucks and helicopters battled Monday to reach remote mountain towns devastated by a monstrous earthquake that killed more than 2,400 people, with survivors desperate for help to find loved ones feared trapped under the rubble. Moroccan officials have so far accepted government-offered aid from just four countries Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates and some foreign aid teams said they were awaiting permission to deploy. Moroccos Interior Ministry says officials want to avoid a lack of coordination that would be counterproductive. The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people were affected by Friday nights magnitude 6.8 quake, made more dangerous by its relatively shallow depth. Most of the destruction and deaths were in Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains, where homes folded in on themselves and steep, winding roads became clogged with rubble. Residents sometimes cleared away rocks themselves. People cheered when trucks full of soldiers arrived Sunday in the town of Amizmiz. But they pleaded for more help. Its a catastrophe, said survivor Salah Ancheu in the town where mountainside homes and a mosques minaret collapsed. We dont know what the future is. The aid remains insufficient, the 28-year-old said. Army units deployed Monday along a paved road leading from Amizmiz to remoter mountain villages. State news agency MAP reported that bulldozers and other equipment were being used to clear the routes. Tourists and residents lined up to give blood. In some villages, people wept as boys and helmet-clad police carried the dead through streets. Aid offers poured in from around the world. About 100 teams made up of a total of 3,500 rescuers are registered with a U.N. platform and ready to deploy in Morocco when asked, Rescuers Without Borders said. A Spanish search-and-rescue team arrived in Marrakech and headed to the rural Talat NYaaqoub, according to Spains Emergency Military Unit. Britain sent a 60-person search team with four dogs, medical staff, listening devices and concrete-cutting gear.Rea SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Villagers wept for lost relatives in the rubble of their homes on Monday as the death toll from Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades rose to more than 2,800 and rescuers raced against time to find survivors. Moroccan and Spanish rescuers search the rubble for survivors in Talat N'Yacoub village of al-Haouz province in earthquake-hit Morocco on September 11, 2023. (AFP) Search teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar were joining Moroccan rescue efforts after a 6.8 magnitude quake struck late on Friday in the High Atlas Mountains, with the epicentre 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech. State TV reported the death toll had risen to 2,862 with 2,562 people injured. Rescuers said the traditional mud brick houses ubiquitous in the region reduced the chances of finding survivors because they had crumbled. Among the dead was 7-year-old Suleiman Aytnasr, whose mother had carried him to his bedroom after he fell asleep in the living room of their home in a hamlet outside Talat N'Yaaqoub, in one of the worst-hit areas. He had been about to start a new school year. "As she came back, the earthquake happened and the ceiling was destroyed and fell on him," said Suleiman's father, Brahim Aytnasr, whose eyes were red from crying. He had spent Monday trying to salvage items from the debris of his house. In the village of Tagadirte, where few buildings had been left standing, 66-year-old Mohamed Ouchen described how residents pulled 25 people alive from the rubble in the immediate aftermath of the quake. One of those rescued was his own sister. "We were busy rescuing, because we didn't have tools, we used our hands," he said. "Her head was visible and we kept digging by hand." Footage from the remote village of Imi N'Tala, filmed by Spanish rescuer Antonio Nogales of the aid group Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (United Firefighters Without Borders), showed men and dogs clambering over steep slopes covered in rubble. "The level of destruction is ... absolute," said Nogales, struggling to find the right word to describe what he was seeing. "Not a single house has stayed upright." Despite the scale of the damage, he said rescuers searching with dogs still hoped to find survivors. "I am sure that in the coming days there will be some rescues, we think that there may still be people in the collapsed structures, that there may have been pockets of air, and as I say, we never give up hope," he said. DAMAGE TO HERITAGE After an initial response that was described as too slow by some survivors, search and rescue efforts appeared to be speeding up on Monday, with tent camps appearing in some locations where people were preparing for a fourth night outdoors. A video filmed by Moroccan outlet 2M showed a military helicopter flying over an area close to the epicentre, dropping sacks of essential supplies to isolated families. With much of the quake zone in hard-to-reach areas, the authorities have not issued any estimates for the number of people missing. The harm done to Morocco's cultural heritage has been emerging gradually. Buildings in Marrakech old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were damaged. The quake also did major damage to the historically significant 12th-century Tinmel Mosque. Residents in Tinmel, a remote village close to the epicentre where 15 people were killed, said they had been sharing food, water and medicine, but desperately needed tents and blankets to shelter from the cold mountain nights. AID EFFORT It was the North African country's deadliest earthquake since 1960, when a tremor was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, and the most powerful since at least 1900, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In a televised statement on Sunday, government spokesperson Mustapha Baytas defended the government's response, saying every effort was being made on the ground. The army said it was reinforcing search-and-rescue teams, providing drinking water and distributing food, tents and blankets. A major road connecting the High Atlas Mountains to Marrakech was gridlocked on Monday evening as heavy vehicles and volunteers carrying relief supplies headed towards some of the hardest hit communities in remote areas of the mountains. Moroccan volunteers and civilians, aided by some foreigners, helped direct traffic and clear the road of rock debris. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch told local media the government would compensate victims, but gave few details. The Moroccan government wants to proceed with International Monetary Fund-World Bank annual meetings scheduled for next month in Marrakech, two sources familiar with the planning said. Morocco has accepted offers of aid from Spain and Britain, which both sent search-and-rescue specialists with sniffer dogs, and from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. State TV said the government might accept relief offers from other countries later. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have departed for Russia for a summit with President Vladimir Putin, South Korean broadcaster YTN reported on Monday, citing an unnamed senior government source. Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia. (File/AP) Kim appears to be headed to North Korea's northeastern border on a special train, with the summit likely to be held as early as on Tuesday, according to the report. The broadcaster earlier said the meeting could take place on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Russian news agency Interfax reported Kim was expected to visit the Far East "in the coming days". South Korea's foreign and unification ministries, when reached by telephone, said they had no information to provide. Officials at the National Intelligence Service could not be reached for comment. The trip, if confirmed, would be Kim's first visit abroad in more than four years and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. His last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump. If Russian president Vladimir Putin decides to run in the 2024 presidential election, no one will be able to compete with him, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "The president has not yet announced that he will nominate his candidacy," Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's RBC business news service reported. Russia's president Vladimir Putin is seen.(AFP) But if we assume that the president stands as a candidate, then it is obvious that there can be no real competition for the president at this current stage, the spokesman said adding that Vladimir Putin "enjoys the absolute support of the population". Vladimir Putin- a former KGB agent- has been in power in Russia as president or prime minister for more than two decades. Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February last year has become the biggest challenge of his rule ushering the gravest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. As the war in Ukraine has not gone according to Russian president's plan, he faced a brief mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who later died in a plane crash. Following the invasion, the West has slapped the toughest ever sanctions on Russia's $2.1 trillion economy. Earlier, Chinese president Xi Jinping told Putin in March that he was convinced Russians would support the Kremlin chief in next year's presidential election. Opinion polls show Vladimir Putin remains by far the most popular politician in Russia. In August, his approval rating stood at 80%, higher than before the Ukraine war, according to the Levada-Centre. Around 70% of the population support the Russian invasion in Ukraine, though opposition politicians and some Western diplomats say such polls cannot be trusted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Canadian prime minister was repeatedly humiliated and trampled upon by the rest of the world, the country's main opposition leader and Justin Trudeau's likely successor to the top post, Pierre Poilievre, has said, mocking the premier over his struggles during the recently-held Delhi G20 Summit. PM Modi meets Justin Trudeau on the sidelines on G-20 Summit Poilievre, however, playfully remarked that no Canadian would like to see such a behaviour towards their country's prime minister. Putting partisanship aside, no one likes too see a Canadian prime minister repeatedly humiliated & trampled upon by the rest of the world, the Conservative Party MP joked on X (formerly Twitter). He was reacting to a Toronto Sun clipping with the headline THIS WAY OUT with the accompanying image showing Trudeau with his Indian counterpart and G20 host, Narendra Modi. In the picture, the two leaders are shaking hands. While Trudeau is looking into the camera, Modi, on the other hand, is looking at something, and pointing to it. Justin Trudeau in India According to multiple reports, the 51-year-old politician, PM since 2015 and currently in his third term, was snubbed by world leaders during the 2-day conclave. While heads of state (and governments), including US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak, Japanese premier Fumio Kishida, among others, held bilaterals with Modi on the sidelines of the summit, Canada was only granted a pull aside meeting. When that meeting happened, Modi took up the issue of Khalistani extremism in Canada and threats of violence against Indian diplomats from Khalistani extremists, Trudeau raised India's alleged interference in Canada. Also Read: SFJ holds Khalistan referendum in Canada as PM Modi flags extremism with Trudeau Then, the Trudeau-headed Canadian delegation, which was scheduled to depart Sunday night, was forced to extend stay by a few more hours after a technical snag was detected in their aircraft before departure. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail British prime minister Rishi Sunak told UK lawmakers that he had "warm and productive" discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. The UK PM updated the parliament on his recent visit to New Delhi for the India-led G20 Summit. Addressing the House of Commons, the 43-year-old leader talked about his and his wife Akshata Murtys Indian connections and financial interests in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.(PTI) "For the record, let me declare that as is a matter of public record, I and my family are of Indian origin. My wife and her family are Indian citizens with financial interests in India, Rishi Sunak said in reference to Akshata Murtys shares in Infosys. Rishi Sunak also highlighted his three key aims of the India visit, which included increasing diplomatic pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin, climate action and strengthening ties with India. "I held warm and productive discussions with Prime Minister Modi on strengthening our relationship in defence, technology and a free trade deal between our nations, Rishi Sunak said. He also pointed out that even as most G20 leaders came together in Delhi, one leader was missing from the summit- Vladimir Putin. "Putin has lacked the courage to face his G20 peers day after day. His actions cause horrendous suffering in Ukraine, violating the UN Charter, threatening European security and disrupting global energy supplies Leaders united in calling out the human suffering caused by Putin's war, he said. He stressed that the UK is seen as a global leader on climate issues saying, At the G20, I made a record commitment of over 1.6 billion pounds for the Green Climate Fund, the single biggest international climate pledge the UK has ever made. On China, the UK PM said, I was emphatic with Premier Li that actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. I also emphasised the UKs unyielding commitment to human rights, and I was clear on the importance of maintaining stability and international law as the basis for stable relations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail The European Union warned Russia on Monday that there would be "consequences" for those involved in staging elections in Ukrainian regions seized by the Kremlin. A member of an electoral commission prepares ballots for counting at a polling station during local elections held by the Russian-installed authorities in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Donetsk.(Reuters) Moscow claimed Sunday that the United Russia party, which staunchly backs President Vladimir Putin, had won local ballots in areas occupied by Russia. "We strongly reject this further futile attempt by Russia to legitimise or normalise its illegal military control and attempted annexation of parts of Ukrainian territories," the 27-nation bloc said. "Russia's political leadership and those involved in organising them will face the consequences of these illegal actions." The EU has already imposed 11 rounds of unprecedented sanctions against Moscow since it launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin claimed to have annexed four eastern and southern territories last year despite not having full military control over them. Voting also took place in Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014. The elections have been dismissed by Ukraine and its allies as a sham, and Kyiv's forces are fighting to claw back the territory seized. The ballots were part of local polls held in Russia, which came ahead of presidential elections next year expected to prolong Putin's rule until at least 2030. His opponents are in exile or jail and Moscow has criminalised criticism of its conflict in Ukraine and detained thousands for speaking out. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ukraine's military said that Russia could launch a big mobilisation campaign soon to try to recruit hundreds of thousands of soldiers from inside Russia and occupied Ukraine. Without any evidence, the Ukrainian general staff said, A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers' catastrophic losses. Russia-Ukraine War: Russia's president Vladimir Putin is seen.(AFP) Russian officials have said that there are no current plans for a new wave of mobilisation and that Moscow is focused on recruiting professional soldiers. But Ukraine's military said that the mobilisation campaign could target between 400,000 and 700,000 recruits, citing different estimates. The number of Russians recruited in Moscow and St Petersburg would remain "minimal", while Russians would be drawn heavily from the regions outside the two big Russian cities, it said. This comes days after a senior Ukrainian military spy official said there were 420,000 Russian servicemen currently inside Ukraine. Last month, the New York Times reported citing unnamed US officials that nearly 500,000 Ukrainian and Russian troops had been killed or wounded in the war since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said if Russian president Vladimir Putin decides to run in the 2024 presidential election, no one will be able to compete with him. "The president has not yet announced that he will nominate his candidacy," Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's RBC business news service reported. But if we assume that the president stands as a candidate, then it is obvious that there can be no real competition for the president at this current stage, the spokesman said adding that Vladimir Putin "enjoys the absolute support of the population". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on Sunday hastily-arranged the Khalistan referendum at a gurdwara in Canadas British Columbia. SFJ has also announced another round of the referendum on October 29, also in Surrey. (Representative file image) This development comes the same day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conveyed Indias strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. The voting took place at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the town of Surrey, the same gurdwara which was headed by SFJs principal figure in the province Hardeep Singh Nijjar before he was gunned down by unidentified assailants on June 18 in its parking lot. SFJ has pinned the blame on India for Nijjars assassination though the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), which is investigating the case, has neither arrested anyone in this connection nor attributed any motive behind the murder. Also Read: On margins of G20 summit, Modi flags anti-India activity, threats to diplomats in Canada SFJ has also announced another round of the referendum on October 29, also in Surrey. The venue for the referendum was originally to be held at the Tamanawis Secondary School. However, a week before its scheduled date, it was cancelled by the Surrey District School Board due to a violation of our rental agreement. The reason cited was that the poster carried images of the school along with a picture of an AK-47 gun as well as a kirpan. Despite repeated attempts to address the issue, the event organisers failed to remove these concerning images, and materials continued to be posted throughout Surrey and on social media, the release noted. While India has repeatedly raised the matter with the Canadian government, irked by Ottawa allowing the countrys territory to be used for separatist activity, action is unlikely to be taken in this regard. Trudeau had said this while addressing media persons in New Delhi, where he was attending the G20 leaders summit and met Modi on the margins of the global event for a pull-aside bilateral. Diaspora Canadians make up a huge proportion of our country, and they should be able to express themselves and make their choices without interference from any of the many countries that we know are involved in interference challenges, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mayor Eric Adams' budget director, Jacques Jiha, has instructed the city's four uniformed agencies police, fire, sanitation, and corrections to curtail their overtime expenditures. (FILES) New York Mayor Eric Adams speaks during the New York Democratic Party 2022 state Nominating Convention, in New York on February 17, 2022. Adams, the Democratic mayor of New York, sounded the alarm this week over the financial strain his city faces as thousands of asylum seekers arrive each month -- many sent by Republican governors after crossing the southern US border. "This issue will destroy New York City," Adams said September 6, 2023, evening at a public meeting where he responded to residents' questions. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR / AFP)(AFP) In a memo dispatched to city agencies on Saturday, Jiha stated his intent to issue a directive for the implementation of an overtime reduction initiative applicable to the NYPD, FDNY, DOC, and DSNY. He said the agencies must submit a plan to lower their OT costs compared to last year and report their progress monthly to City Hall. The memo came as Adams warned that the city is facing a financial crisis due to the influx of tens of thousands of asylum seekers, which he said could cost the city $12 billion in the next three years. He said the city will have to cut its spending by 5% immediately and possibly by 15% by spring, although Jiha said that would still only cover two-thirds of our projected asylum costs. Patrick Hendry, the leader of the Police Benevolent Association, the largest police union, slammed the idea of cutting police overtime. He said the NYPD is already understaffed and struggling to reduce crime to pre-2020 levels. If City Hall wants to save money without jeopardizing public safety, it needs to invest in keeping experienced cops on the job, Hendry said. A political strategist also said that Adams, who will run for re-election in 2025, is taking a big gamble by reducing the police manpower. If you cut overtime, you have fewer cops on the street. That equals less police protection, said consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who has worked with police unions. The NYPDs OT budget was over $700 million last year, and critics have long complained about high police overtime costs. But Adams, a former transit cop, also ran for mayor on a promise of restoring public safety. The overtime reduction is part of a larger plan that Adams and his budget director have laid out to deal with the costs of caring for the asylum seekers. ALSO READ| Mel Tucker, Michigan State football coach, faces suspension without pay amidst sexual misconduct investigation The plan also includes a hiring freeze, except for public health and safety and revenue producers; a freeze on out-of-town travel, except to Albany and Washington, DC; a ban on buying new equipment and hiring new consultants; and a reduction in services for asylum seekers. Jiha said the cuts are necessary unless President Biden and Congress and Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature provide more financial assistance. He said the current aid from Washington and Albany is grossly inadequate. The city is experiencing a humanitarian crisis we did not cause, Jiha stated. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia "in the coming days" after receiving an invite from Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un posing with participants of a military parade on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the nation.(AFP) "At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days," it said in a statement. Earlier, Reuters reported quoting South Korean media that Kim Jong Un appeared to have left aboard a special train bound for Russia. Russia's Interfax news agency also said earlier that Kim Jong Un was expected to visit Russia's far east "in the coming days". South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang late on Sunday and would meet Putin as early as Tuesday. The broadcaster YTN reported that the special train would take Kim to North Korea's northeastern border with Russia and the summit was likely to be on Tuesday or Wednesday. Both reports cited unnamed senior South Korean government sources. Japanese media reported security was being stepped up at the main train station in the Russian border city of Khasan where Kim is expected to enter Russia. Recent overtures have signalled closer military between the nuclear-armed North Korea and Russia amid Ukraine war. The United States has also said that talks are advancing actively for North Korea to supply arms to Russia. The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin would be in the far eastern city of Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum but said it had "nothing to say" about a possible visit by Kim. North Korea has openly supported Russia since the invasion of Ukraine last year while the Russian president pledged last week to "expand bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts". Kim Jong Un's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Vladimir Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former US president Donald Trump. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Britain's home secretary said Monday she is seeking urgent advice on banning a type of American Bully dog, highlighting an attack on a 11-year-old girl over the weekend. A 10-year-old boy who died after he was mauled by an XL Bully in Wales in 2021. (Representational Image)(REUTERS) Suella Braverman said she has commissioned advice on outlawing XL Bully dogs after police said they were investigating an incident in the central English city of Birmingham on Saturday, when a girl was injured by one of the dogs. Two men who intervened were also injured. This is appalling. The American XL Bully is a clear and lethal danger to our communities, particularly to children, Braverman wrote on social media. We can't go on like this." Police said the incident took place on a busy road after the dog broke free from its owner. The girl sustained serious injuries to her shoulders and forearms, and was recovering after hospital treatment. The animal was seized by officers and officials will consider what to do with the animal, police added. For months, some campaigners have been calling for a ban on the XL Bully, which was originally bred from the American pitbull terrier. Emma Whitfield, the mother of a 10-year-old boy who died after he was mauled by an XL Bully in Wales in 2021, questioned why authorities haven't acted sooner. Where were you when my son was killed?, she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Where were you when I was at Parliament asking for change? Nowhere. If youre going to do something, please do it." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said it took the issue extremely seriously but did not provide more details on the proposed law change. Four breeds of dogs are currently banned in the U.K., including the pitbull terrier, the Japanese tosa, the dogo Argentino and the fila Brasileiro. The Dangerous Dogs Act also prohibits owners from allowing their dog to be dangerously out of control," which can be punished by fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years in serious cases. The XL Bully is not recognized as a specific breed by the U.K.'s Kennel Club, which has argued that no breed of dog is inherently dangerous. The organization says breed-specific bans do not address the most important factors contributing to biting incidents, primarily irresponsible dog owners who train their dogs to be aggressive. The bully breeds get their name because they were originally used in blood sports, such as bull baiting. The dogs have a muscular build and a heavier bone structure than pit bulls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON UK prime minister Rishi Sunak said that he will never forget first private meeting with late monarch Queen Elizabeth II shortly after he took over at Treasury. Rishi Sunak said the late Queen had an amazing historical perspective on the ups and downs of the British economy and revealed how a very funny audience with Queen Elizabeth II gave him confidence ahead of his first Budget as chancellor. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak(AP) The UK prime minister said that her amazing historical perspective on the ups and downs of the British economy had helped calm him down calling for a more permanent way to recognise her 70 years of service. The late Queen died on September 8 last year, and the prime minister said: I have had the time to reflect even more about the just unbelievable contribution that she made to our country over such a prolonged period of time. The first time I properly sat down with her was before I gave my first Budget, which I didnt actually realise was a thing because I got to chancellor quite quickly. I will never forget that moment. One of the highlights I have had in government was that time I spent with her and just talking about the economy and the country," he said. She had just the most amazing historical perspective, having seen I dont know how many dozens of chancellors over the years and all the ups and downs of the British economy. She had a great perspective on that, which actually gave me confidence. She was also very funny about things," he recounted. Rishi Sunak said his first visit to Balmoral, which took place last weekend, had got him thinking about the late Queens service. We should obviously think about, more permanently, the right way to recognise and celebrate everything that she did for our country," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday that the Russian military had targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with "multiple missiles" on Aug. 24, citing declassified intelligence. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves his Downing Street office in London. "Thanks to declassified intelligence, we know the Russian military targeted a civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea with multiple missiles on the 24th of August," Sunak said in an update to parliament on the G20 summit he attended in New Delhi. Since Russia quit a UN-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. Both the United States and Britain had warned in July that Russia might expand its targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea. The UN rights chief on Monday blamed Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal as well as its alleged attacks on agricultural facilities for higher food prices that have been particularly damaging in the Horn of Africa. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivers a speech at the opening of the 54th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.(AFP) "The Russian Federation's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, and attacks on grain facilities in Odesa and elsewhere, have again forced prices sky-high in many developing countries taking the right to food far out of reach for many people," Volker Turk said at the opening of the Human Rights Council session in Geneva, referring specifically to high malnutrition rates in Somalia. Russia quit the UN-brokered grain deal, aimed at easing a global food crisis, in July. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US President Joe Biden on Sunday said he held "substantial discussions" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to strengthen the Indo-US partnership and thanked him for his leadership and hosting the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat on the final day of the G20 Summit. (PTI) Biden told reporters here in the Vietnamese capital that he also raised the importance of respecting human rights with Prime Minister Modi. Biden, who arrived in New Delhi on his first visit to India as the US President, held wide-ranging talks with Modi and they vowed to "deepen and diversify" the bilateral major defence partnership while welcoming forward movement in India's procurement of 31 drones and joint development of jet engines. "I want to once again thank Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and his hospitality and hosting the G20. He and I have had substantial discussions about how we're going to continue to strengthen the partnership between India and the US building on the Prime Minister's visit to the White House last June, Biden said during a press conference here. "As I always do, I raised the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role the civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with Modi, he said. According to the joint statement issued on Friday after Modi and Biden held bilateral talks, "The leaders re-emphasised that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship." Biden also talked about the significant business he had done in India during the G20 Summit. "This was an important moment for the United States to demonstrate our global leadership and our commitment to solving the challenges that matter most to people around the world. Investing in inclusive growth and sustainable development, addressing the climate crisis, strengthening food security and education, advancing global health and health security, he said. "We showed the world the United States is a partner with a positive vision for our shared future, he added. On the corridor connecting India to Europe with the Middle East and Israel, he said that are going to open up untold opportunities for transformative economic investment. He said the "illegal war in Ukraine was also discussed at the summit and there was sufficient agreement on the need for just and lasting peace. Responding to questions, President Biden said his goal is to provide stability around the world by building America's ties with Vietnam and other Asian countries as he insisted that he is not trying to start a "cold war" with China. "It's not about containing China. It's about having a stable base," said Biden, who is here as Vietnam was elevating the United States to comprehensive strategic partner. Biden also said that he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi and talked about stability. "It wasn't confrontational at all," he added. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday extended his condolences to Foreign Minister Bourita and the people of Morocco over the loss of life and destruction caused by Fridays earthquake Damaged house in Tafeghaghte, a remote village of the High Atlas mountains, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 10, 2023. (Reuters) Expressing grief and "deep sadness" to the Moroccan minister over call, he discussed how the United States can best support the quake-hit country in times of need. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Secretary Blinken expressed his deep sadness and extended his condolences to Foreign Minister Bourita and the people of Morocco over the loss of life and destruction caused by Fridays earthquake," the US States Department official spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "The Secretary and Foreign Minister Bourita discussed how the United States can best support the Government of Moroccos leadership of the humanitarian response to this tragedy," the statement read. The Secretary and Foreign Minister promised to keep in touch as the response efforts continue in Morocco. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake destroyed entire communities in the Atlas Mountains' slopes 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, a popular tourist destination, Al Jazeera reported. A magnitude 4.5 aftershock struck the same area on Sunday. According to official numbers revised late on Sunday, the largest earthquake to ever hit the country of North Africa resulted in at least 2,122 fatalities and more than 2,400 injuries, many of them critically, prompting the first foreign rescuers to fly in to assist. The earthquake took place at 03:41:01 (UTC 05:30) at a depth of 18.5 km. Its caused pulses to travel from Sidi Ifni in the south to Rabat in the north and beyond. The epicentre was noted at 72 kilometres west of Marrakesh, a major economic centre. Both survivors and the bodies of the deceased were sought by civilian rescuers and Moroccan military personnel. Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the quake. Taking to X, PM Modi said, Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressed grief over the loss of lives and devastation caused by the Morocco earthquake. "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible earthquake in Morocco last night. The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends," Sunak said in a post on X on Saturday. The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a luncheon with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong in Hanoi, Vietnam.(REUTERS) Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after U.S. and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday, according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been named. The waiver drew criticism of President Joe Biden from Republicans and others who say the deal will boost the Iranian economy at a time when Iran poses a growing threat to U.S. troops and Mideast allies. On X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said its ridiculous for US to be blackmailed into paying $6B for hostages which will help indirectly finance the number 1 foreign policy of Iran: terrorism. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas accused Biden of paying ransom to the worlds worst state sponsor of terrorism. The waiver means that European, Middle Eastern and Asian banks will not run afoul of U.S. sanctions in converting the money frozen in South Korea and transferring it to Qatars central bank, where it will be held for Iran to use for the purchase of humanitarian goods. The transfer of the $6 billion was the critical element in the prisoner release deal, which saw four of the five American detainees transferred from Iranian jails into house arrest last month. The fifth detainee had already been under house arrest. Due to numerous U.S. sanctions on foreign banks that engage in transactions aimed at benefitting Iran, several European countries had balked at participating in the transfer. Blinkens waiver is aimed at easing their concerns about any risk of U.S. sanctions. People familiar with negotiations said they expect the detainees will be released as early as next week. The American prisoners include Siamak Namazi, who was detained in 2015 and was later sentenced to 10 years in prison on internationally criticized spying charges; Emad Sharghi, a venture capitalist sentenced to 10 years; and Morad Tahbaz, a British-American conservationist of Iranian descent who was arrested in 2018 and also received a 10-year sentence. The fourth and fifth prisoners were not identified. To facilitate their release, the United States has committed to release five Iranian nationals currently held in the United States and to permit the transfer of approximately $6 billion in restricted Iranian funds held in (South Korea) to restricted accounts in Qatar, where the funds will be available only for humanitarian trade, Blinken wrote. The sanctions waiver applies to banks and other financial institutions in South Korea, Germany, Ireland, Qatar and Switzerland. I determine that it is in the national security interest of the United States to waive the imposition of sanctions ... with respect to foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction of Germany, Ireland, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland that are notified directly in writing by the U.S. government, to the extent necessary for such institutions to engage in transactions occurring on or after August 9, 2023, Blinken wrote. Sanctions waivers apply to transactions involving previously penalized entities such as the National Iranian Oil Company and Central Bank of Iran to transfer funds from accounts in the Republic of Korea to accounts in Switzerland and Germany and from accounts in Switzerland and Germany to accounts in Qatar, and to use the transferred funds for further humanitarian transactions in accordance with written guidance from the U.S. Government, he wrote. President Joe Biden wrapped up his first trip to Asia as president with a press conference in Vietnam that was marred by rambling answers, awkward jokes, and a nap request. U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a press conference, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. AP/PTI(AP09_10_2023_000398B)(AP) During Biden's press conference on Sunday night, the event took an unexpected turn as he was mid-flow, responding to journalists' questions. It was a peculiar moment, reminiscent of an excessively lengthy awards ceremony speech, when the President found himself quite literally "played off" the stage by the sudden onset of jazz music blaring from the loudspeaker. "We talked about stability, we talked about the Third World, excuse me, the Southern Hemisphere has access to change. It wasn't confrontational at all..." Biden, 80, began, his remarks meandering. This unexpected turn of events was marked by the commanding voice of his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, who interjected, "Thank you, everybody. This ends the press conference. Thanks, everyone," swiftly bringing the press conference to an abrupt conclusion. Meanwhile, Biden continued speaking, unaware that his microphone had been muted long ago. Soothing jazz melodies began emanating from the loudspeakers while Biden appeared to persist in answering questions, his voice gradually drowned out by the rising music. As the tunes grew louder, Biden eventually put away his leather-backed folder and made his exit from the stage, disappearing behind a curtain. Biden traveled to India and Vietnam for a series of meetings with leaders of the G20 and the Indo-Pacific region, with the goal of countering Chinas growing influence and aggression. But, his trip was overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, which has escalated in recent weeks as Russia invaded its neighbor. The 80-year president spent much of his time and attention on the conflict, which he said was a global issue that threatened the international order. Biden also made headlines for his remarks on Taiwan, the self-governing island that China claims as its own. On Monday, Biden said that the US would respond militarily if China attacked Taiwan, which contradicted the longstanding US policy of strategic ambiguity that avoids taking a clear stance on the issue. On Tuesday, he clarified that his policy had not changed, but did not retract his earlier statement. He said that he did not want to contain China, but to have a relationship that was on the up and up. Bidens press conference in Hanoi on Sunday was supposed to be the final act of his trip, but it turned into a spectacle of gaffes and blunders. Biden appeared tired and confused as he answered questions from reporters, often going off on tangents and making jokes that fell flat. At one point, he said that he was going to bed after the press conference, which lasted 26 minutes. He also said that he was following his staffs orders on whom to call on, and that he would not answer any softballs. ALSO READ| Growing Hurricane Lee threatens Eastern US coastline with powerful waves and rip currents The 46th US President also repeated one of his favorite anecdotes about a John Wayne movie where an Indian character calls a Union soldier a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. He used this phrase to describe those who deny climate change. Bidens performance drew mockery and criticism from some observers, who questioned his mental fitness and leadership abilities. A video clip of Biden asking for a nap went viral on Twitter, with over 2 million views and thousands of comments. Part of a nearly 2000room addition across multiple Hilton brands, Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square expands the brand essence of flexible design and local vibe with its second lifestyle hotel in the epicenter of New York City. In a new era of Hilton growth in one of the world's most iconic destinations, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) has opened Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square, the second hotel from the Motto by Hilton brand in New York City. The 400-room tower is in the heart of Manhattan's famed Times Square neighborhood, offering an immersive and authentic affair under the lights of Broadway. Reimagining the large-scale footprint of a New York City hotel, Motto New York City Times Square will entice guests looking for connection and efficiency. Guest rooms designed with an intentional footprint feature soft neutral textures offering a cozy escape, while dynamic storage and technology features synthesize their stay. The property's signature restaurant The Alderman will offer an elegant take on the classic New York City diner with American food and craft cocktails inspired by the beginning of the last century, updated to have a modern flair. The ideal New York City adventure hub, Motto New York City Times Square is set inside the bustling city center, just above 47th Street. The hotel is steps away from 41 Broadway theaters, immersive spectacles, unique outdoor attractions and distinct dining venues, while also being just minutes from celebrated uptown museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA and The Guggenheim, in addition to Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. With the debut of Motto New York City Times Square, alongside the recent and upcoming openings of Tempo by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton in Times Square this summer, Hilton will add nearly 2,000 rooms to its portfolio in this iconic destination. A Minimal Nod to The Past, for Future Travelers Inspired by combining 1920s New York City style and design with today's modern lines and architectural elements, a sophisticated palette of warm tones will offer guests a tranquil respite from the excitement of the neighborhood, while still granting unparalleled access to the bright lights and world-renowned attractions. The connection to past and present is expressed throughout, with headboards mimicking the city skyline with curves and corners that reflect the architectural evolution of the city, in a neutral and calming collection of textures. Art selected by contemporary artists reinvents the lines and forms of 1920s fashion in a minimal and sophisticated way for the modern era of the 2020s. Art focused on shape scale replaces the technicolor displays outside, with softer refined details. Communal spaces marry the rhythm of the archways and corners with an intentional flow of welcoming spaces from The Commons to the arched lobby bar and into the on-property restaurant. Flexible Guest Rooms with Smart Room Technology Motto New York City Times Square will offer cleverly compact rooms with a soft, modern design that feature unobstructed views of the city and are outfitted with everything guests need for an enjoyable and restful night's sleep, including top-notch mattresses and sound-absorbing surroundings. The hotel features its signature sets of connecting rooms, providing guests the ability to book up to six unique adjoining rooms together. Motto by Hilton was the pioneer of Confirmed Connecting Rooms by Hilton technology, so guests can not only take advantage of the brand's unique room configurations, but also simplify coordinating travel for larger friend and family groups. Other room details include: Cleverly compact rooms are designed to provide what guests value most in a more efficient footprint, while in-room tech allows guests to personalize their space by adjusting the temperature and lighting by mobile device Flexible sleeping setups, including a queen Bunkie (bunk bed) with a twin bed above, a queen flex bed that stows into the wall, and standard queen bed Design details to maximize the space, including built-in storage and conveniently located power outlets Sleek and beautifully tiled showers with premium bath amenities and high-quality shower heads, as well as illuminated vanity and full-size mirrors As part of Motto by Hilton, Motto New York City Times Square is committed to the brand's investment in carbon offset projects across the globe that create impactful change, including the Starch Wastewater to Energy initiative in Thailand, the Rwanda Boreholes project, Blue Fire Bio Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Utilization Project, the Crow Lake Wind initiative and the Taiwan InfraVest. Guests of Motto New York City Times Square can enjoy the benefits of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton's distinct hotel brands. Members have access to instant benefits such as Digital Key, flexible payment options using Points, exclusive member discounts and free Wi-Fi. Hotel website Thompson San Antonio - Riverwalk, an award-winning contemporary hotel on the banks of the iconic San Antonio River Walk, today announced the appointment of David Arciniega as Executive Chef. A native of San Antonio, Chef Arciniega has been a member of the hotel's culinary team since he joined as Executive Sous Chef in 2022, responsible for the concept design and execution of all private events. In his new role, Chef Arciniega will oversee the hotel's culinary program, from weddings and events to its signature dining venues, The Moon's Daughters and Cenote Pool Deck, which offer Mediterranean-inspired menus. Prior to joining Thompson San Antonio Riverwalk, Chef Arciniega served as Taskforce Chef at Hyatt's renowned Hana Maui Resort, where he successfully managed the three-meal restaurant. Previously, he was the Executive Chef at Texas State University, planning banquet menus and overseeing private events, and also held the role of Manager & Sommelier at Maverick Texas Brasserie. Chef Arciniega has been honored with numerous awards for his culinary expertise and dedication. During his time as Chef and Owner at Amaya's Cocina, his accomplishments were celebrated by San Antonio Magazine, San Antonio Express-News, and placed in the Top 15 Best Restaurants to Eat in 2015 by San Antonio Current. Additionally, while serving as the Beverage Director at Botika at The Pearl Brewery, acclaimed by the San Antonio Express News as one of the best new restaurants of 2016, he played a key role in hiring and training the restaurant's entire opening team. Chef Arciniega's appointment as a Sous Chef at Oloroso in San Antonio led him to pursue a Level 1 Sommelier certificate from The Court of Master Sommeliers. Through his various roles in the culinary industry, Chef Arciniega gained a profound understanding of operations at every level while continuing his education at St. Phillips Community College, where he graduated with a degree in Culinary Arts. Aman Group, which operates some of the worlds most expensive hotels, secured a $360 million investment from a group including a United Arab Emirates wealth fund and an investment firm backed by an influential member of that nations royal family. The investment values Aman, run by Chief Executive Officer Vlad Doronin, at $3 billion, the hospitality firm said Friday in a statement. The fresh funds come from a group that includes a unit of Abu Dhabi wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. and Alpha Wave Ventures, a private equity fund co-managed by US firm Alpha Wave Global and Chimera Capital part of a business empire overseen by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed. Read the full article at BloomBerg.com The Austrian hotel group Alpin Family and the German hotel tech provider SuitePad are strengthening their partnership following successful pilot projects in three hotels. By the end of the year, an additional ten properties in the group will be furnished with SuitePad in-room tablets. These tablets offer guests an easy way to access hotel information and services digitally, enhancing the personalization of their stay. For instance, guests can now have the option to forgo room cleaning if they want to and on the days of their choice. The leading in-room tablet solution was introduced last year in these three hotels - Nikolaus by AvenidA, Glemm by AvenidA, and 24 by AvenidA - to evaluate its effectiveness and added value for the guests. The outcome was highly convincing. Our goal was to establish contemporary and efficient communication with our guests. The positive response in terms of high usage rates and duration shows us that SuitePad was the right choice for us, emphasizes Christoph Mazur, COO of the Alpin Family Hotel Group. On top of that, within eight months, we were able to save nearly 8,000 through canceled room cleanings in our housekeeping. The decision to expand the rollout to ten more Alpin Family properties by the end of the year and to equip not only the luxurious brand 'AvenidA' but also the trendy 'The House Collection' reinforces the group's strong commitment to a modern guest experience. We are proud to have a renowned partner like Alpin Family by our side to drive the digital transformation of the industry, says Moritz von Petersdroff-Campen, Co-founder and CEO of SuitePad. We are particularly pleased that the group is opting for our technical integrations to replace hotel phones and remote controls with SuitePad's all-in-one solution. About Alpin Family Alpin Family is a rapidly growing player in the Austrian hotel industry, consisting of the well-established hotel brands "AvenidA," "The House Collection," and "Alpin Rentals." Alpin Family boasts a portfolio of over 20 locations with 600+ accommodations in Austria's top destinations. About Suitepad SuitePad has been helping hotels engage their guests in a digital world for ten years. Their award-winning in-room tablets replace traditional guest directories, serve as a central upselling tool, and combine TV remote control and telephone in one device effectively decluttering the hotel room and providing guests with a modern and hygienic experience. The company's portfolio also includes a BYOD solution (for guest-owned devices). In January 2023, SuitePad was awarded the HotelTechAward "Best Guest Room Tablet" for the fourth time in a row. More than 1,000 customers worldwide, from renowned hotel chains to independent boutique properties, use the digital guest engagement platform in over 70,000 rooms to improve guest communication, generate higher sales revenue, and streamline processes. Susanne Krebs Marketing Manager Content/PR/Branding View source The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has launched the Mekong Tourism internship finder on MekongTourism.org. The initiative is designed to address labour challenges faced by the tourism industry and to be a useful tool for interns seeking entry into tourism. The internship finder is primarily aimed at young people who are studying tourism and who would benefit from workplace experience. However, the internships are also open to people with aptitude, who are not yet in education or training. The tourism sector, which contributes about 16% of GDP to the whole Mekong subregion, according to ResearchGate.net, is grappling with skill shortages. This deficit is impacting the quality of services offered to tourists and the overall sustainability of the industry, says the MTCO. The Mekong Tourism internship finder programme will be a step towards resolving that issue, it says. The MTCO invites tourism industry players in the Mekong region who are recruiting, or plan to recruit, to advertise internships on our website at no cost, says Ms Suvimol Thanasarakij (pictured), Executive Director of Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office. We want the next generation of tourism professionals to be well-equipped, not just in theory, but in practice. We want to elevate industry standards. First-hand on-the-job experience is vital to that process, says Ms Suvimol. The Mekong Tourism internship finder will feature tourism internship opportunities in Cambodia, Chinas Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam. The MTCO says that the project has four goals: facilitating hands-on experience, by working alongside existing professionals in travel and hospitality roles; imparting both technical and soft skills; ensuring that students are industry-ready upon graduation; and building connections between tourism businesses and students, including recent graduates. We are confident that the internship initiative will enhance human capital development in the region and be instrumental in elevating the quality of services and experiences that the Mekong region offers to tourists," says Ms Suvimol. The Mekong Tourism Internship page is available at https://mekongtourism.org/internship/. Interested employers should complete and submit the following form: https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-internship-form-for-employers/ About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) - comprising Cambodia, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, is one of the world's most dynamic tourist destinations. The six GMS governments established the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in 2006, as a tourism collaboration framework, with its objective to develop and promote the Mekong Region as a single tourism destination. MTCO's role is to coordinate activities that boost tourism's contribution to inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability in the GMS. The MTCO work plan is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG), which is made up of senior representatives of the National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) of the six member countries. MTCO activities are supported by the Asian Development Bank. Please visit www.MekongTourism.org for more information. For those who havent read the first few editions of this Mille Club series, membership qualification is simple: offer rates of more than a thousand (hence mille) dollars, pounds, Euros or equivalent. If youre already there (or very close), or aspire to this lofty room rate level, please read on. Whereas American Express (since 1987) espoused the selling line, Membership has its Privileges, the opposite applies to your property if you want to uphold four-figure-plus nightly rates. Aptly expressed, as a member of the Mille Club, Membership has its Responsibilities. The key concept here is that crossing the chasm of four digits in the price tag comes with some serious psychological baggage. In other words, guest expectations jump. Mille Club Comp Sets Lack Geographic Specificity To start, recognize that once you charge over $1,000 per night your comp set has widened to include not only local competitors but also multiple properties farther afield that the luxury guest has on their radar. Consider the luxury and HNWI travelers living in Los Angeles looking for a quick getaway. They can travel north to Santa Barbara/Montecito or south to Newport/Laguna Beach. From Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, depending upon traffic, either destination is roughly 90-120 minutes away. So, a Newport-based property should consider properties in Montecito as rightful competitors, even though they are three hours away as the crow flies. Why? Because they are chasing the same target audience. And that is just the local situation. Luxury guests have the capital and the wherewithal to go anywhere. To build on the previous situation, said traveler may be bored by the drive north to Santa Barbara or south to Laguna Beach, and instead opt for a private charter out of Van Nuys Airport to literally anywhere within flight range for example, Cabo San Lucas. The implication is that you arent just competing against local outfits as most traditional comp sets define them, but pretty much every property worldwide that the luxury guest has previously experienced to thereby establish a baseline expectation for what your experience should be. For all intents and purposes, for the luxury traveler, geography is no longer of primary consideration. Your guests measure you against their standards which are exceptionally high. If you want to play with the big boys, youve got to step up to the plate! Pre-Departure Planning In a previous article, we discussed the critical sense of arrival and how your guest passes judgment immediately upon entry. By now, we expect that youve already attended to all the important elements of the guests initial journey into your property. But have you considered and applied the same attention to detail as to their departure? If you have read or glanced at Nobel laureate behavioral economist Daniel Kahnemans 2011 book Thinking, Fast and Slow, then you may be inclined to believe the endpoint of the guest interaction is even more important than the first impression. The evidence for this was codified as the peak-end rule wherein people ultimately remember and are thus emotionally influenced by primarily the high point and the end point of an experience. Thus, a propertys sense of departure needs some re-examination. For this, Benjamin Franklin said, By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Guest departure planning starts with gathering data on every check-out planned for that day, learning as much as you can about particular departure needs. Specific departure communications with the guest should start no later than the afternoon before the end of stay. Ideally, you have garnered some information about flights, transportation modes, payment methods and special needs at check-in. Even if you have this information, a lot can change, so its always good to reconfirm. If you are arranging a private car service to the airport, you can develop an appropriate work back schedule to ensure a smooth transition from their guestroom to checkout and then to car service. Here you can manage the process to ensure minimal wait time by having the folio prepared in advance. In most cases, there will be no late items to post, and if there are adjustments can easily be made. LIFO Front Desk Interaction Accountants use the inventory term of LIFO, meaning last-in-first-out. Lets apply this terminology to reframe the peak-end rule as it relates to your guests impressions of your property that is, their last experience is the first one they will talk about. Picture this scenario. Were staying at a five-star, boutique hotel in London (name redacted) with a rate well above a 1,000 per night a Mille Club member for sure. Here were the exact final words from the front desk agent, Shall I staple your credit card receipt to the folio? How does this help us as guests? And does anyone really care about a printed receipt in an era where everything is digitally dispatched? While this lesson applies to all transactional conversations, the bigger goal here is to leave guests on an emotional high. Now, compare the impression of this to a five-star, beachfront resort in Laguna Beach, California, with a comparable rate to the London property. The front desk agents final words, Ive completed your folio and as well, looked at possible routes for you to take to the airport. Our valet recommends a slightly longer route outlined on this map, which given the traffic right now should save 15 to 20 minutes. Ive also put two water bottles in your car. Have a safe journey back to Toronto and we look forward to your return soon. It is immediately obvious that the final impression was enhanced in just a few sentences and extra effort befitting the four-digit nightly rate. And the fact that we remember this conversation some ten years later reinforces the value. Importantly, our belief is that every luxury guest should be escorted to their transportation, with a simple thank you for staying being sufficient. Under no circumstances should a Mille Club guest be asked to recommend or review a property on social media. Their stay with you should be considered confidential. It is strictly their option, not yours to suggest. Departure Gifts The goal of your departure program is to enhance the memorability of your property. Emphasizing and teaching about the peak-end rule across all departments will help to instill the overall significance of embellishing your sense of departure. While every revenue manager would like to have the departing guest book their repeat visit right on the spot, it is probably not the best time to make this request, as it often seems too aggressive. Therefore, what you want to accomplish is to lay the foundation for their next visit. The best way to create a tangible memory of their visit is through a departure gift. When planning this gift, logistics are important. Understand the guests departure transportation. For example, if they are traveling by air, a bottle of house wine will probably be given to the taxi or Uber driver, as they will not be able to manage it through carry-on. Funnily enough, we recall a colleague who received a small Swiss-style army knife as a souvenir, only to find it raising red flags at airport security clearly not the impression that was intended. Some of the better departure gifts that we received over the years are still on our desks providing continual reminders and social proofing of the properties. With names stated because these properties are all admiral examples to learn from, these departure gifts include: A shell coaster from the Halekulani on Waikiki Beach, Honolulu An antique key and keychain (which also acted as a door fob) from Crockfords at Resorts World Las Vegas A USB memory stick hiding within a real wine bottle cork from the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California Above all, use your imagination while sticking within the framework of your hotels theme, and you will find the appropriate approach. It will take time, energy and some extra costs, but the consequences of not amplifying your sense of departure in this way are far greater. Larry Mogelonsky Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited View source There is a growing interest in acoustic design, the process of considering and carefully curating the acoustics of rooms and buildings within architectural or design plans. Nowhere is this concept more important than in a hospitality setting for hotel guests and those socializing or holding meetings in hospitality establishments. We've all experienced the frustration of struggling to hear someone who is less than a meter away due to poor acoustics. Hospitality businesses are beginning to recognize that superior acoustics can be a powerful differentiator. Picture yourself in a trendy, crowded restaurant with a vibrant atmosphere. You're excited to catch up with a friend or have an important conversation, but the noise level is so high that you can barely hear the person across the table. You try to listen, but the ambient noise drowns out your words, turning what should be an enjoyable experience into a struggle for communication. Reducing background noise: A growing consideration for concept designers and hospitality professionals Whether it's a restaurant, a lobby, or a coworking area, the acoustic environment plays a crucial role in shaping our interactions and how we feel. However, it's a topic often forgotten in hospitality concept design. Surprisingly, it wasn't until about two decades ago that architects began recognizing the importance of acoustics. Dr Issam Ezzeddine, principal design architect at the National Engineering Bureau, highlighted this during the "A Good Night's Sleep" roundtable in Dubai, stating that there was a complete lack of understanding, experience, and emphasis on acoustic design. Unfortunately, this negligence comes at a cost to guests, staff, brands, and, ultimately, the bottom line. The impact of poor acoustics can be felt in diminished customer experiences, strained staff interactions, and a negative reflection on the overall brand image. Professionals recognize the importance of acoustics in hospitality design and prioritize the creation of environments that enhance rather than hinder our interactions. By addressing this often-forgotten aspect, we can create spaces that truly cater to the needs of both guests and businesses, leading to better experiences and greater success. The impact of acoustic environment on customer wellbeing Sound is everywhere, and sound affects our bodies. When sound becomes unwanted and disruptive, we call it noise. Noise affects our comfort and experiences, especially the high frequencies, for instance, a ringtone, nails on a keyboard, and even certain bird songs. The main consequence of noise exposure is the increase of our cortisol level also called the stress hormone which impacts our blood pressure, blood sugar level, and cognitive performances, and long-term exposure to high cortisol-level decreases immune system functions. In addition to disrupting our mood and general feeling, it directly affects how we experience a service. The most stringent example shown in studies is that noise directly interferes with our brain's capabilities to process food information. Indeed, a loud background reduces the perceived intensity of sweet and salty flavors and increases the perceived intensity of bitter and sour flavors. Therefore, if the food is important in your restaurant, acoustic should be too. Identifying sources of noise pollution in the hospitality industry Noise pollution poses a significant challenge in the hospitality industry, with each outlet having its unique sources of noise. The impact of poor acoustics is not limited to lobbies or restaurants; guests can encounter issues in various areas throughout the hotel. The origins of noise are diverse and area-specific. They range from simple conversations and laughs to cutlery and similar noises. Hoteliers look to diversify and improve their offerings to satisfy the changing demand. For instance, the interest in business centers and coworking areas is growing. In meeting rooms, speech intangibility is essential. In a context where guests are likely to be international and speak different languages, reverberation can create a communication barrier in addition to affecting your guests' well-being. In a similar setting, the spa and wellness area require careful consideration of the chosen materials to maintain a calm and relaxing atmosphere despite the potential cost. Creating spaces with optimal acoustic qualities Creating spaces with optimal acoustic qualities requires a holistic approach integrating acoustic design from the initial concept stage. Collaboration between architects, interior designers, and acoustic consultants is crucial to balance aesthetics and functionality. The room assessment process begins with creating a 3D plan of the room and considering the existing materials. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the space and its acoustic characteristics. Acoustic consultants then use computational software to determine the right amount of acoustic material required to achieve a certain level of performance, primarily measured by the reverberation time (RT). Strategic placement of acoustic panels, diffusers, and absorbing materials becomes essential in implementing the acoustic design plan. For instance, installing acoustic ceiling treatments can effectively mitigate noise coming from above, while incorporating panels on walls can reduce sound reflections and enhance speech intelligibility. Careful consideration of the flooring, furniture, and decor materials also significantly reduces noise and improves acoustics. By integrating this approach with the expertise of design professionals, hospitality spaces can be transformed into environments that offer both visual appeal and optimal acoustic qualities. This collaborative effort ensures that the aesthetics and functionality of the room are balanced, resulting in an exceptional acoustic experience for guests while maintaining the desired ambiance and atmosphere. Acoustic solutions innovations for a better guest experience Various acoustic solutions are available to hospitality professionals seeking to improve the sound performance of their properties. Panels are a popular choice due to their easy installation and overall performance, these are a few examples of the different panel materials in available today: Wooden panels are commonly used as they're both sustainable and add a natural touch to the design. PET panels can be manufactured and certified using recycled plastic bottles, addressing an important environmental concern; single-use plastic. Another type of acoustic panel is made from mycelium material and textile residues, creating an eco-friendly and original option. Another 100% circular solution is Archisonic Cotton, which combines cotton waste from the fashion industry with natural minerals from Tuscany. These advancements in acoustic panel materials contribute to the growing sustainable design trend. They demonstrate the effort to combine aesthetics, acoustical performance, and sustainability in the hospitality design industry. By incorporating these innovative solutions, professionals can enhance both the acoustic qualities and the overall sustainability of their spaces, positively impacting the guest experience and the environment. When acoustic design meets sustainability story-telling Design not only serves aesthetic purposes but must also tell a story. The choice of materials, sourcing, and longevity are the new priorities for hotel designers. Sustainability used to be all about energy savings, but this is not enough anymore. The growing importance of sustainable building materials and FF&E represents a great opportunity for acoustic solutions providers. Hoteliers should consider both acoustic and circularity to enhance the guests experience through thorough and aesthetic designs, and build up a storytelling which will go beyond what the competitors are currently doing. New generations are aware of greenwashing strategies and expect more from their favorite brands. Sven Erni EHL Alumnus and CEO of Impact Acoustic Fast movers like Impact Acoustic are changing the status quo and accelerating the transition toward circular acoustic designs. They believe they have a responsibility to make a positive impact on the guests and our planet. 3 reasons why hospitality professionals should consider acoustic design solutions 1. Improve guest satisfaction and wellbeing Creating spaces with optimal acoustic qualities ensures a more comfortable and enjoyable guest experience. By reducing noise levels and enhancing speech intelligibility, guests can fully engage in conversations and savor their dining experiences without unnecessary distractions for example. Overall, good acoustics will make the guests feel more comfortable resulting in higher satisfaction. 2. Improve staff retention The hospitality industry is known to be difficult and demanding, and employees are harder to find and keep year after year. Staff turnover is among the highest across all sectors. This is due to the nature of the work, the long hours, and the difficulty working when others enjoy (e.g. weekends, holidays, evenings). A positive acoustic environment also benefits the staff. Reduced noise levels create a more pleasant work environment, leading to higher job satisfaction and increased staff retention rates. Happy employees are more likely to deliver excellent customer service. 3. Improve brand image Acoustic design is an essential component of brand identity. By prioritizing acoustic comfort and providing a peaceful atmosphere, hospitality businesses, especially in the luxury segment, can enhance their brand image, projecting an image of quality, care, and attention to detail. Acoustic Design: an invisible differentiator In the fast-paced and competitive world of hospitality, acoustic design should not be overlooked. By identifying noise pollution sources, understanding the impact of background noise on customer experience, and incorporating soundproofing and sound absorption techniques, hospitality professionals can create spaces that prioritize acoustic comfort and enhance the overall customer experience. Investing in acoustic design not only benefits guests but also improves staff wellbeing, enhances brand image, and contributes to the long-term success of hospitality businesses. With a thoughtful approach to acoustics, the hospitality industry can create environments that leave a lasting positive impression on guests and ultimately lead to greater success, while contributing to making a positive impact on the planet. EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source India's outbound travel sector has experienced significant growth in recent years. The number of Indian travelers heading abroad reached approximately 27 million in 2019, growing at a CAGR of ~ 9% during 2011-19. Although the pandemic temporarily clipped the wings of international travel, there has been a gradual resurgence. Over 21 million Indians embarked on an international journey in 2022, with the top five destinations being the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, Singapore, and Thailand. Notably, a recent report highlights that India emerged as the largest source market for outbound tourism in Asia in 2022, showcasing an impressive 190% year-on-year growth. After nearly three years of restricted cross-border travel, Indians are eagerly spreading their wings, once again, to explore the world, mirroring a trend akin to the pent-up demand that fueled domestic tourism in the last two years. Indias outbound travel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 11% to surpass $44 billion by 2032, according to a recent industry report. This growing demand for outbound travel reflects the evolving aspirations and improving financial capabilities of the growing Indian middle class and youth population, who are increasingly seeking international travel experiences. Indian passport holders now enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 57 countries, propelling the Indian passport seven places higher to the 80th position in the Henley Passport Index. Moreover, with India recently claiming the title of the world's most populous country, it is gradually emerging as a formidable force in the outbound tourism market, and the world is taking notice. Countries across the world are trying to attract Indian travelers by launching targeted marketing campaigns showcasing their unique attractions, with some even partnering with Indian celebrities or influencers. Abu Dhabi Tourism, for instance, has enlisted Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh as the destination ambassador. Meanwhile, Germany, which hosted more than 600,000 room nights from Indian travelers in 2022, is investing INR 45 million in marketing efforts to regain pre-pandemic levels of 1 million room nights from Indians by the end of this year. The German Embassy is also working on simplifying the visa application process and reducing the visa processing time. Similarly, Italy is working on reducing the waiting time for Schengen Visa for Indians, and the country has issued nearly 38% more visas to Indians in the first seven months of 2023 compared to 2022. China has temporarily relaxed visa regulations for Indians, and Thailand is planning similar measures. Furthermore, Germany, the US, and the UK, among others, are working on easing work visa rules for Indians. The improving airport infrastructure in the country is also fueling the outbound growth trajectory. Several airlines, both domestic and international, are increasing the number of flights from international destinations to key Indian cities. Direct flights are also being added on various routes, such as from Delhi to Minsk, Belarus, Kochi in Kerala to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, among others. Egypt Airlines, in fact, has started direct flights from Delhi to Cairo, to tap into the transit traffic from Delhi to Europe, Africa and North America. Home grown airlines, like Air India, Vistara and IndiGo are also starting new direct international flights from the country; IndiGo, for example, plans to start 174 new international flights this year. This strategy aims to attract more Indian travelers by reducing travel time and increasing accessibility to various destinations. Additionally, many destinations, airlines, and cruises have introduced enticing offers to attract the price-sensitive Indian traveler. For instance, Saudi Arabia has introduced a 96-hour free stopover visa with a free one day hotel stay for travelers using SAUDIA airline, while the Singapore airline, Scoot, is offering a 50% discount for children. These offers coupled with the fact that countries like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Singapore, and France are accepting Indias Unified Payment Interface (UPI) payments, allowing Indians to pay in rupees during their travel is making outbound travel even more lucrative for Indians. Domestic hotel companies should actively consider expanding their footprint to key international markets that are frequented by Indians to tap into this growing market. View source Lobby at the Outbound Mammoth (formerly the Sierra Nevada Resort) in Mammoth, CA Waterton, a Chicago-based national real estate investor and operator, announced the official launch of its new Outbound Hotels brand, a collection of locally-minded hotels offering differentiated lodging options for lifestyle travelers seeking outdoor-inspired experiences in boutique settings. From Yosemite National Park and Jackson Hole, WY to the vistas of Mammoth Lakes, CA and the bucolic Green Mountains of Vermont, every Outbound Hotels-branded property gives visitors a curated connection to the outdoors. "Outbound Hotels expands the traditional hospitality model," said David Schwartz, CEO and chairman of Waterton. "Our portfolio of hotel properties creates lifestyle-oriented lodging options in destinations that provide year-round opportunities to connect adventure-minded visitors and locals to the outdoors. Local ambiance is often lost in today's lodging products so we're flipping the script to create authentic, experience-based destinations in select markets where contemporary, boutique options don't exist." The vision for the Outbound Hotels brand began with Waterton's acquisition of The Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole, WY in 2020. Acquired in partnership with Jackson, Wyoming-based Orion Companies, it has been rebranded as The Virginian Lodge, an Outbound Hotel. The Outbound portfolio operated by Springboard Hospitality -- was expanded in 2021 with the acquisition of Outbound Mammoth (formerly the Sierra Nevada Resort) in Mammoth, CA, and Towne and Country Stowe in Stowe, VT, acquired by Waterton in March 2023. Most recently, Waterton partnered with Argosy Real Estate Partners to bring its re-positioning and re-development acumen to a 17-acre Qualified Opportunity Zone site in Oakhurst, CA just south of the main gate to Yosemite National Park. The property will be developed as Outbound Yosemite Resort, a 135-key outdoor-inspired, lifestyle hotel consisting of 108 new vacation rental cabins and 14 hotel rooms located above an expansive 12,500 square-foot clubhouse, in addition to the 13-key boutique hotel currently on the site. "Outbound Hotels properties are well-positioned to meet the aesthetic and local-activity-focused Millennial and Gen Z cohorts while appealing to a broad demographic of travelers," said Matt Mering, executive vice president of hospitality at Waterton. "Additionally, the long-term fundamentals and market dynamics in the selected markets are well-suited for our lodging strategy, as outdoor-inspired travel has become an increasingly attractive option. Together with our partners, we are committed to creating a compelling lodging experience that we believe will surprise, delight and connect visitors to some of the most attractive national park, mountain, beach and ski towns." Rendering of the Les Zeniths development Rotana announced today its entry into Senegal with Les Zeniths Arjaan by Rotana. The 150-key property in Dakar will be launched under the Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana brand and is expected to be completed by 2026. Commenting on the announcement, Makram El Zyr, Corporate Vice President of Development at Rotana, said: "The launch of our first property in Senegal marks a significant milestone for Rotana, and we are excited to be working with HM Group of developers to mark our expansion into West Africa. Senegal is a rapidly growing market and leading tourism development on the African continent. We look forward to delivering on our brand promise "Treasured Times" by offering guests a hassle-free experience and home comforts as they settle down to city life." Representing the height of elegant city living, the property will offer 150 fully furnished spacious studios, one and two-bedroom apartments. To recharge and relax, residents will have access to the Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club featuring a comprehensive gym, swimming pool, sauna, steam and massage rooms. The property also includes four meeting rooms with flexible seating plans and cutting-edge audio-visual technology to suit all business needs. Dining options include an all-day cafe and 24-hour room service. Ali Bilal, Managing Director of HM Development, added: "We are delighted to be working with Rotana to launch Les Zeniths Arjaan by Rotana, as part of our latest venture in Senegal. In addition to the hotel apartments, Les Zeniths is a mixed-use green development comprising of residential, office and commercial spaces. Articulated around a shopping mall, it provides great convenience and caters to the diverse needs of those visiting the city for long- or short-stays." A modern, architecturally impressive development, Les Zeniths is a high-end, state-of-the-art, and environmentally friendly project set in the heart of the urban hub of the vibrant Diamniadio. Creating a new destination for both business and leisure, the project will be built with efficiency and sustainability in mind, to meet the challenges posed by the region's climatic conditions. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Finish 2023 strong with a smart Fall and Holiday Music Marketing Plan As we head into the eventful fall season, holidays and award ceremonies are right around the corner. This guide will help you get ahead of your work to create a successful music marketing plan to finish 2023 high note. by. Randi Zimmerman of Symphonic Blog If youre in Florida like I am, you know its still blazing hot outside. Wherever you are, even if it doesnt quite feel like it yet, fall is right around the corner! For musicians big and small, this means its time to start planning your marketing efforts for your fall and holiday releases, prepping for awards season and more. To make this process as easy as possible, our friends at Found.ee have some tips to help you get started. Fall Releases If you have any releases planned for the fall, you should err on the side of an earlier release to avoid running into holiday season. To make sure your releases get proper attention, youll want to avoid the time when the internet is saturated with holiday messaging, not to mention the increase in advertising costs. Conversely, ad costs in September and October (before Black Friday advertising) are some of the lowest all year. Holidays If youre planning on releasing any physicals or new merch for the holidays, get started early! Global delays in production (especially for vinyl and other physical formats) have eased up, but are still ongoing. Now is a good time to build up your email lists and focus on re-marketing audiences now with ads and social media content so that you can market your merch effectively when the time finally comes. Timelining This goes without saying, but make sure you methodically plan out your next few months. This includes accounting for the time it takes to get content created and all the other behind-the-scenes efforts required to launch new music. The end of the year (and the dreaded holiday season) will come sooner than you realize. All too often, we hear about fall releases being pushed to the following year due to scheduling issues. Dont let that be you! Grammys Prep As you watch the Grammys each year, it seems as though the only people who win are always the Kanyes and Beyonces of the industry. What you may not know is that there are tons of other winners not shown on tv, most of which are talented independent artists who have been working just as hard as you are now. If youre a talented musician, its not as hard as you think to get nominated for a Grammy, and it certainly is possible to win as an independent artist. If youre trying to get nominated for a Grammy, theres some important marketing you should be doing to make sure your chances are as high as possible. Thats what For Your Consideration marketing is all about. Although it may feel early to start FYC ads now, targeted advertising can help increase familiarity and awareness of your project amongst tastemakers before ad costs balloon as we enter awards season. If you want to put out a remix or other content to remind voters of your release from earlier in the year, you need to start planning now! Need some help? We did a whole article about how to get nominated as an independent artist. Be sure to check that out right here. To wrap it all up If youre looking to upgrade your marketing strategy for the fall, Found.ee makes music advertising quick and painless. If youve set up an ad before on another platform, youll be able to get an ad up on to sites like Pitchfork and Complex in less than 2 minutes. Whats not to love? // To learn more about Found.ees managed ads program, click here. Good luck! Share on: X / Twitter tells court music publishers lawsuit is B.S. [Mike Masnick] Mike Masnick of Techdirt explores what he sees as the absurdity of a lawsuit by the major labels against X / Twitter for ongoing music piracy. Op-ed by Mike Masnick from Techdirt Back in June, we wrote about a ridiculously weak lawsuit from the big music publishers against exTwitter, claiming that the platform, mostly known for text, and which barely has any reasonable system for posting or listening to music, was a music piracy haven. As we noted, the publishers lawsuit seemed misguided in multiple ways, beyond just the lack of facilities on exTwitter for music, but also because the entire lawsuit seems to ignore the nature of the DMCA or any number of previous cases that says that online platforms need to have specific, actual knowledge of infringing works, rather than generalized knowledge that infringement is happening on my platform. exTwitter has now hit back in court (first reported by Torrentfreak), and is asking for the judge to toss out the lawsuit. My initial fear with this lawsuit is that exTwitter would blow it by hiring bad lawyers who dont understand the nuances here, but at least that doesnt seem to be the case so far. Elon appears to have turned it over to his favorite lawyer, Alex Spiro, and his colleagues at Quinn Emanuel. While I wouldnt trust Spiro for any of this, QE actually does have some very strong lawyers on copyright who have won some big cases, so theres some serious lawyering going on. The preliminary statement lays out the details of what a joke this case is: Plaintiffs fail to adequately allege direct infringement because the Complaint does not contend that X acted with the requisite volitional conduct. The law requires that direct infringement arise from active, knowing, non-automated conduct by a defendantnot from the passive, automated operations of a website. The Complaint contains no allegations of active, intentional conduct by X, or any X employee, related to the allegedly infringing user postsan omission that is fatal to the claim. The contributory infringement claim is similarly defective. The United States Supreme Court has held that where a company offers a product or service that has substantial non-infringing usesas Xs service indisputably doesthe copyright plaintiff must allege that the defendant took active steps with the intent of encouraging infringement. See Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd., 545 U.S. 913, 937 (2005) (Grokster). In this case, Plaintiffs do not allege that X encouraged, induced, or took affirmative steps with the intent to foster the infringement of Plaintiffs works. To the contrary, Xs anti-infringement policies and practices, including its DMCA policy, belie any reasonable assumption that X has induced its users to infringe any copyrights. Even reading the Complaint in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs, no liability can be established on the facts as pleaded. As this Court appropriately recognized in a case with similar facts, this pleading defect requires dismissal of the contributory liability claim. See Eight Mile Style, LLC v. Spotify USA Inc., 535 F. Supp. 3d 738, 746 (M.D. Tenn. 2021). Finally, Plaintiffs claim for vicarious liability fails as a matter of law because Plaintiffs do not allege that the ability to post infringing content to the X platform (in violation of the Terms of Service) is a draw to users sufficient to confer an obvious and direct financial benefit to X, or that X had the practical ability to supervise the alleged infringement. As such, the vicarious liability claim is also insufficiently pleaded and should be dismissed. Theres a ridiculous amount of caselaw on exTwitters side on this one. I still worry about how Elon, as a wild card, will tweet something ridiculous like hey everyone, lets start posting infringing songs here for the lulz or whatever. But, barring that, exTwitter has a strong case here, and the publishers look even greedier than they normally do in filing this case. Twitter is not a music platform, and even if Musk is gradually hoping to turn the platform into one, that should be dealt with when those plans become clear, rather than the flimsy theories filed in this lawsuit, which would get laughed out of any law school copyright law discussion. Share on: The shelter at First Methodist Church is expected to open this month after several years of planning. Pittsfield's 'Pearl Street Shelter' Opening Soon PITTSFIELD, Mass. The shelter at First Methodist Church is soon to open with a straightforward name that has a deeper meaning. ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush told the Homelessness Advisory Committee last week that the new facility is planned to open around the end of the month as the Pearl Street Shelter. When people get to know the shelter and its staff, the hope is that it is referred to as "The Pearl." Because the entrance to the shelter is on Pearl Street, the name was proposed to eliminate confusion because the building's frontage is on Fenn Street. There is also a sentimental interpretation. "I would like to call it the Pearl because a pearl is a treasure," Forbush said. "And I'm hoping that everybody that stays there is able to kind of find their own treasure in themselves when they do leave and hopefully that is leaving to housing." She added that pearls are created in an oyster with an irritant, explaining that she is affectionately calling herself the irritant that will hopefully create the pearls. "We are hoping to create a really nice community there," Forbush said. "We will be a 40-bed, year-round shelter at that location." ServiceNet will manage the shelter and hopes to be in by the end of the month. The furniture is expected to be delivered next week and there are a couple of construction projects left. Second Street Second Chances Triples its Outreach Goal PITTSFIELD, Mass. Since launching a little over a year ago the nonprofit Second Street Second Chances has tripled its original goal. When the organization first started out its goal was to help 150 people in its first year but as of date it has seen more than 500 people, Executive Director Jason Cuyler said. Second Street Second Chances works with current and formerly incarcerated individuals to provide the support that they need for a successful reintegration into the community. It was established when a community coalition started looking into the challenges people go through when being reintegrated into their communities, board President Mark Gold said. From there, the organization put together key partners from health care, cultural centers, legal aid, and other community organizations to aid in providing formerly incarcerated individuals access to resources, Gold said. "One of the things that we wanted to do here at Second Street is, we wanted to collaborate as much as possible with all the wonderful local community agencies that we have here in Berkshire County, " Cuyler said. "And we really wanted to dig down deep and find out how we can successfully help people transition back into the community. The organization starts working with the individuals while they are incarcerated to determine what resources they need for a successful reentry and will continue working with them when they are released, Gold said. The non-profit aims to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with job readiness skills and access to job opportunities while treating them with respect and encouragement with the goal to make them productive and contributing members of their communities. On this journey the nonprofit also works towards educating the community so they can embrace these individuals when they are reintegrated. It collaborates with Berkshire County organizations to provide or provide access to resources such as medical, mental health, and substance use disorder services, financial and literacy resources, transportation, employment, legal services, and many more. The establishment of the organization was also spearheaded by Berkshire Community College in partnership with the Berkshire County House of Correction, and the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office. Over the last 12 years the city has been trying to establish a program like this but despite getting legislators to advocate for it, the initiative did not pan out, Sheriff Thomas Bowler said. When Gold approached the sheriff's office showing that he already had a vision and understood what was going on in the community it was clear that the best path would be through the non-profit route, he said. When a person is incarcerated they are entered into a structured environment that they do not have upon reentering into the community. "A lot of these individuals lack structure, guidance, direction, resources, access to resources, and they miss out on a large number of opportunities, Bowler said. It is vital that the community continues to provide those services and access to resources so they can overcome obstacles such as mental health issues, substance use disorders, or lack of education and job opportunities, he said. According to its website, since launching it has received grants from the state and city amounting to $1,015,300. It also receives support from a variety of community members and organizations. New Chief Joins Great Barrington Fire Department GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. Scott Turner has joined the Great Barrington Fire Department as its new chief. Turner, who began his job Sept. 1, has 29 years of experience in fire protection service and has served as the fire chief of Three Rivers Fire Department in the Pioneer Valley since 2013. He succeeds Charles Burger, who departed the Berkshire region earlier this year. Interim Chief James Mead has been leading the department since. "We are impressed with Scott Turner's experience and talent in fire protection in Massachusetts, and we look forward to his leadership at GBFD," said Town Manager Mark Pruhenski. "And we are grateful to Interim Chief Mead for managing the department while we conducted our search for a new chief." Turner is a graduate of the Massachusetts Fire Academy, in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management. In 2023, he completed the Chief Fire Officer Management Training Program, and in 2017, completed training as a fire protection officer. Prior to working in fire protection, Turner worked for the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Bureau of Forest Fire Control. He also served as a seasonal firefighter. In his new role, Turner will lead the Great Barrington Fire Department's staff of three paid firefighters and 17 call firefighters. Felicia Belisle of Savoy wearing her dad's turnout gear begins her 220 flights on a stair climber at Planet Fitness in honor of the firefighters who rushed into the Twin Towers. Savoy Woman Honors Lives Lost on 9/11 With Memorial Stair Climb Felicia Belisle says she hoped others at the gym would ask about what she was doing. 'I want to make sure these people are never forgotten,' she said. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Felicia Belisle, 27 of Savoy, climbed 220 flights on a stair machine in full firefighting gear, paying tribute to firefighters lost during the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Monday, Sept. 11, was a normal day for many in Planet Fitness looking to get in an early workout but among the joggers, Belisle was starting a much more difficult workout. She hoped others took notice. "I want to make sure these people are never forgotten and 9/11 is never forgotten," she said through labored breaths. "I want to remember all of the firefighters." The stair climber was taped off with a note indicating that the machine was reserved starting at 9:03 a.m. the moment when the second plane, Flight 175, struck the South Tower. Belisle said her father is a firefighter and firefighting has always been of interest to her and a part of her life. "Ever since I was born my father was a firefighter, and it has always been something of importance to me," she said. "I had this idea, and I knew I had to do it." Belisle wore her father, Dave's, turnout gear. When iBerkshires spoke with her, she had completed 19 flights; she later posted on Facebook that she had climbed 220 flights by the end. Belisle said she was 3 or 4 when 9/11 happened. Although the details from the day are fuzzy, they have stuck with her. "I remember seeing it on TV and not really understanding what was going on but being scared," she said. Belisle, who was giving shorter answers as she continued her climb, said the workout itself wasn't bad but the heat was the real challenge. The heavy turnout gear was not the breeziest even in an airconditioned, ventilated room. She only could imagine what it was like for firefighters who summited the burning World Trade Center. Belisle said no one had spoken to her or asked questions yet. But she wanted people to remember and she hoped her actions caused some reflection amongst gym goers. "It seems like year after year people think about it less and less, and I don't want people to forget," she said. iciHaiti - FLASH : Abinader convenes the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Haiti Homero Figueroa, Spokesman for the Presidency and Director of Government Strategy, announced that President Luis Abinader has convened an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, for this Monday, September 11, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at the Police Palace National. This meeting responds to growing concern about the evolving situation in Haiti. President Abinader will chair the meeting whose only item on the agenda will be the situation at the border with Haiti and the monitoring of actions implemented to deal with it. The Minister of the Interior and Police, Jesus Vasquez Martinez, is summoned to this meeting; the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Diaz Morfa; the Director of the National Police, Major General Eduardo Alberto Then; the President of the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), Vice Admiral Jose Manuel Cabrera Ulloa; senior military commanders; the Head of the National Intelligence Directorate (DNI), as well as other senior officials. President Abinader and his security team will comprehensively address the situation in Haiti and coordinate necessary actions to protect the nation's interests. IH/iciHaiti iciHaiti - Diversion Canal : Tension rises in the Dominican Republic While the Dominican Government convened an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council this Monday morning to address the situation in Haiti and the new crisis at the border https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-40471-icihaiti-flash-abinader-convenes-the-national-security-council-to-discuss-the-situation-in-haiti.html Haitian groups have already started to install culverts in the dug space which will be used for the diversion of water from the Masacre River for commercial irrigation purposes On Saturday September 9, a crane was seen on the west bank of the tributary as it laid sections which will be coupled to form the water main. According to several consistent reports, this work would benefit, among other things, from the support of former senator Waninque Pierre. Also, it was emphasized that a large group of Haitians remains day and night around the canal, armed with sticks, machetes and stones, to prevent the work from being interrupted and the work destroyed by compatriots affected by the closure of the border and who want the construction of the canal to stop and binational trade to resume. Meanwhile, agents of the Protected Areas Surveillance Brigade of Haiti met with soldiers of the Dominican Army at the border, without the issues discussed having been revealed Margarito de Leon, the Dominican Vonsul in Ouanaminthe, sent a letter to the Haitian authorities to end the conflict that this generated in which he wrote "[...] The reason is to reiterate our intention and to invite you to continue our efforts to seek a harmonious solution, under the protection of the laws and treaties in force. To the impasse created between the two nations by the unilateral action of a group of Haitian citizens on the banks of the Massacre River [...]" For his part, Santiago Riveron, the mayor of Dajabon, asks the Dominicans to support President Abinader's decision to close the border in part of the province, "given the rebellious attitude that the Haitians maintain in the pursuit of construction illegal Canal." Also read about the Haiti Irrigation Canal affair : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40463-haiti-flash-4th-day-of-border-closure-in-dajabon-the-standoff-continues.html Also read about the Haiti Irrigation Canal affair : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40450-haiti-flash-diversion-channel-the-dominican-republic-sends-armored-vehicles-to-the-northern-border-with-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40406-haiti-politic-the-dr-asks-haiti-to-stop-the-resumption-of-work-on-the-diversion-channel-of-the-massacre-river.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36174-haiti-politic-claude-joseph-deplores-the-stoppage-of-the-construction-of-the-irrigation-canal-of-the-massacre-river.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34875-icihaiti-rd-resumption-of-works-of-the-massacre-river-irrigation-canal.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-34389-icihaiti-dr-stop-in-haiti-of-the-construction-of-the-canal-to-collect-water-from-the-massacre-river.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33974-haiti-dr-the-construction-of-the-haitian-canal-on-the-massacre-river-on-the-way-to-becoming-an-international-affair.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33953-haiti-flash-dominican-geologist-osiris-de-leon-denies-haiti-s-assertions.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33945-haiti-flash-canal-on-the-massacre-river-in-haiti-dominican-president-abinader-raises-the-tone.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33854-haiti-flash-president-abinader-announces-the-construction-of-a-dam-on-the-artibonite-river-in-dominican-soil.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33823-haiti-agriculture-diversion-of-the-massacre-river-in-search-of-a-solution-with-the-dr.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33596-haiti-flash-conflict-with-the-dr-over-a-canal-diverting-the-massacre-river-to-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Amber Heard and Elon Musk have revealed details about their past relationship in the SpaceX founders upcoming biography. In the biography written by Walter Isaacson, the SpaceX founder, 52, and the Aquaman actress, 37, opened up about their romance, which was made official in April 2017. After going public, the couple continued to date on and off in the following months. But, in 2018, the pair ended the relationship once and for all. The Los Angeles Times reports that Isaacson wrote that, at the time, Heard - who had just gone through a contentious divorce with Johnny Depp - drew [Musk] into a dark vortex around 2017 that lasted more than a year and produced a deep-seated pain that lingers to this day and that his brother and friends hated her with a passion. The author dubbed the time span of their relationship as a hellacious period in Musks life. According to Isaacson, Musk first took an interest in the actress after seeing her in 2013s Machete Kills, chronicling the beginnings of their tumultuous romance in the biographys Rocky Relationships chapter. Musk and Heard reportedly met a year later when she visited SpaceX. In the book, Heard reportedly told Isaacson she was fascinated by Musks work, I guess I could be called a geek for someone who can also be called a hot chick. During their first meeting, Musk took Heard for a ride in Tesla as she visited the facility, Isaacson wrote. The author reportedly illustrates the dynamic between the two, sharing intimate details of their courtship and whirlwind romance, including the time Musk flew to Australia in April 2017 to visit Heard while she was filming Aquaman. There was another time in which Heard allegedly commissioned a costume to roleplay Mercy - a character from the video game Overwatch - who Musk said she resembled. Isaacson also documents some of the more unsavory aspects of their relationship like explosive arguments including a fight they allegedly had towards the end of their relationship during a trip with his family to South America in December 2017. Although Heard reportedly confirmed to the author that the argument occurred, she also made a point of sharing photos and videos of the rest of the evening, in which Isaacson writes showed the actress and tech mogul sharing a loved-up New Years Eve kiss. Kimbal Musk, who had been there the night of the argument, reportedly told Isaacson that he thinks its really sad his brother falls in love with these people who are really mean to him. He elaborated: Theyre beautiful, no question, but they have a very dark side and Elon knows that theyre toxic. Elon himself remarked to Isaacson that the relationship he shared with Heard was brutal. Heard acknowledged that, while she still loves her ex-boyfriend very much, he tends to be attracted to women who may ultimately not be the best for him. Elon loves fire, and sometimes it burns him, she remarked. When asked by Isaacson why he tends to fall for these types of women, Musk reportedly laughed and replied, Because Im just a fool for love. I am often a fool, but especially for love. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Giant house spiders are preparing to invade homes across the UK as the species enters its mating season. Found hiding behind the fireplace or in the bath, giant house spiders also known as Eratigena Atrica - are particularly prevalent during autumn as mating season begins. Males begin to look out for females to partner up with, staying with their chosen ones for weeks at a time and mating numerous times until they die. At this point, theyre eaten by their female partner. Giant house spiders are often found hiding behind the fireplace or in the bath (Wikimedia Commons/Sarefo/CC BY-SA 4.0) Often seen scurrying across rooms after the light is turned on, female house spiders can survive for several years, and both males and females can live for months without eating or drinking, according to The Wildlife Trusts. With 650 species of spider across the UK, the majority are too small to bite. Though the domestic house spider and the giant house spider rarely bite, theyre infamous for their size and speed, with a leg span growing up to 7.5cm. Among the largest spiders in central and northern Europe, the giant house spider is typically dark brown with three lighter spots towards the head. The same colour as the domestic house spider, the female body size can reach 18.5mm whilst males are slightly smaller, at between 12 and 15mm. Spotted across the UK, giant house spiders are particularly fond of warmer areas including East Anglia, Gloucester and Birmingham, Glenlivet Wildlife reports. Female house spiders can survive for several years (Wikimedia Commons/Darkone/CC BY-SA 2.0) Theres nearly always a way to get in the house, they can also come in through things like towels that are left outside. Keeping your house tidy and keeping clothes off the floor may reduce places for them to hide, but its very difficult to keep them out, Professor Adam Hart, Entomologist at the University of Gloucestershire, told The Manc, reassuring that UK house spiders are relatively harmless. Oils can also be used to deter spiders, with citrus family scents including orange, lemon and lime particularly powerful, as is peppermint oil. The species is particularly fond of warmer areas including East Anglia, Gloucester and Birmingham (Wikimedia Commons/Sarefo/CC BY-SA 4.0) Property expert Paul Gibbens told MailOnline that reducing clutter is key to stopping the giant house spiders from entering the home. Spiders love hiding places. Reduce clutter in basements, garages, and other storage areas to avoid infestations, Mr Gibbens said, adding that trimming trees and shrubs so that they dont touch the outside of the home prevents spiders from using these as bridges through which to enter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 2,000 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel last week, figures show. Crossings continued on Monday, marking the 10th consecutive day of arrivals amid a spell of warm weather. Some 2,017 people were recorded making the journey between Monday September 4 and Sunday September 10, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office data. More than 800 arrived over the weekend alone. On Saturday, 425 people crossed in seven boats, suggesting an average of around 61 people per vessel. The average rose to around 65 on Sunday, when 389 people were detected in six boats. The latest crossings take the provisional total for the year so far to 23,103. This is still lower than this time last year, when around 27,000 had already been recorded. But more than 3,000 have crossed since the start of September, compared to around 2,600 for the first 10 days of the same month in 2022. Around 30,700 crossings have been recorded since Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister on October 25 last year, official Government figures for the period and provisional data suggests. They indicate about 40,700 crossings have been recorded during Suella Bravermans time in office, taking into account the period including her brief first tenure between September 6 and October 19 2022 and since she was re-appointed on October 25. Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: Less than two weeks ago, Rishi Sunak told the media that his plan to stop the small boats was working, and that the British people should have confidence in him to deliver. She also accused Ms Braverman of making countless claims and promises, adding: The Prime Minister and Home Secretary should spare us the empty slogans and start working on solutions. A Home Office spokesman said: The unacceptable number of people risking their lives by making these dangerous crossings is placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system. Our priority is to stop the boats, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to disrupt the people smugglers. The government is going even further through our Illegal Migration Act which will mean that people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The fiance of a caver who fell ill on an expedition in Turkey is assisting with a massive rescue effort to save him. Mark Dickeys partner and fellow caver Jessica Van Ord was with him when he began suffering gastrointestinal bleeding more than 1,000m below ground in the Morca cave complex on 2 September, according to Reuters. Ms Van Ord remained by Mr Dickeys side as an Italian rescue team with medical personnel reached the 40-year-old New Yorker and gave him IV fluids and blood inside the cave. She has been staying at a base camp near the mouth of the cave, and working with the 150-strong team of cavers who have travelled to Turkey to help bring Mr Dickey out by stretcher. On Sunday, the Speleological Federation of Turkey wrote on X/Twitter that rescue teams had brought Mr Dickey to 500m below the surface just after 7pm local time (2pm EST). Half of the rescue distance is over, the federation wrote. The operation began on Saturday afternoon with doctors, paramedics and experienced cavers began carrying Mr Dickey on a stretcher from a depth of just below 1,000m. Medical base camps were set up along the shaft, where the stricken caver could rest during the slow and arduous extrication. Turkish authorities said 190 personnel from eight countries were taking part in the operation, which is expected to take up to 10 days. Mr Dickey thanked the Turkish government and rescuers in a video message on Thursday. Prior to embarking on the expedition, Mr Dickey posted several photos on Facebook with Ms Van Ord showing the pair making last-minute preparations. Caving Academy gear being inspected and marked before heading off to the MORCA expedition, Mr Dickey wrote on 13 August. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyTech email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Artificial intelligence is using gallons upon gallons of water. Microsoft alone used more than 2,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water in its data centres last year. The latest numbers are leading to yet more questions about the sustainability and environmental dangers of the growth of artificial intelligence and related technology. Artificial intelligence requires vast computing resources, undertaking deeply complex calculations on behalf of people around the world. AI systems tend to be run in the cloud rather than on individual peoples computers, meaning that companies running them must operate vast server farms to deal with the queries of their users. Those server farms in turn need to pump in water to cool themselves down, because of the heat generated by those computers. That has long been a concern for environmentalists, but the sharp growth in artificial intelligence has led to even more use. Microsofts water consumption rose 34 per cent between 2021 and 2022, according to its latest environmental report, highlighted by the Associated Press. It was up to almost 1.7 billion gallons. Not all of that is from artificial intelligence. But Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside working to better understand the environmental impact of AI told the AP that the majority of the growth is because of the technology. Google also said that its water use had increased by 20 per cent over the same period. That varied across its different data centres, which are based in different parts of the US. For each 5 to 50 prompts, or questions, put to ChatGPT, it uses 500 millilitres of water, according to a paper that will be published by Professor Ren and his team later this year. Many technology companies have expressed concerns about their own water use, and how to minimise any negative effects of their data centres. The environmental concerns can be especially pressing because the use of water can be focused in particular areas around a data centre, meaning that the damage may not be spread. Google said last year for instance that Wherever we use water, we are committed to doing so responsibly. That includes analysing where water is being used and how much stress it might put on the surrounding area, for instance. AIB's Cathy Bryce has become the first female president of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland Derek Butler, CEO of Grid Finance and Patricia Callan, director of Financial Services Ireland (FSI), launching FSIs Irelands Fintech Future report. Photo: Fran Veale/Julien Behal Photography More than two-thirds (70pc) of fintech firms expect to hire in Ireland over the next three years, a survey has found. Start-ups were the most upbeat, with 86pc predicting substantial growth in turnover between now and 2026, according to the survey by researchers Amarach for Financial Services Ireland (FSI), the Ibec group representing the industry. Almost three in four (73pc) longer-established firms said the same. In the sector in general, there is certainly still a lot of positivity, a lot of growth, said FSI director Patricia Callan. Globally, we are hearing about job losses. I sense that is more of a correction from Covid. In general, there is huge demand for better-quality financial services and for things like better customer experience. However, 37pc of the start-ups surveyed said there was a shortage of technical talent and skills particularly in areas such as software engineering and compliance which they said was the main impediment to growth. Almost two-thirds (65pc) of all respondents said there was not enough government support for growth. And more than one-third (35pc) said financial regulations were hampering the expansion of their business. The Government has pledged to create 5,000 new financial sector jobs between this year and 2026. All of the innovation supports and grants that whole system needs to be constantly under review with a view to competitiveness, Ms Callan said. All of the countries are moving to offer better things. If we want to keep attracting people here, that is something we are going to have to get better at. Meanwhile, Cathy Bryce, managing director of capital markets at AIB, has been appointed the first female president of the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). The group represents more than 125 Irish-based lenders. Ms Bryce takes over from outgoing president and BPFI chair Jim OKeeffe, AIBs managing director of retail banking. She said the BPFI is focused on providing supports for our customers and communities and ensuring Ireland remains a competitive and attractive location for the financial sector that brings huge employment to the country. Ms Bryce started her career in investment banking with Morgan Stanley before moving to ABN AMRO. She joined AIB in 1996 and spent a year (in 2018) working at the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) before returning to AIB. Yvonne Bauer is the CEO and owner of 85pc of Bauer Media Bauer is close to getting clearance for the acquisition of youth radio company iRadio, with Coimisiun na Mean taking over decision-making from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). Bauer in Ireland is made up of the former Communicorp stations plus Red FM in Cork. This deal would make it the largest commercial radio group in Ireland. The BAI and now Coimisiuns rules cap ownership at 25pc of radio services licensed. What percentage would Bauer own after the deal? In response to a query, a spokeswoman said: The percentage of sound broadcasting services that would be owned by Bauer Media if the transaction is approved is a matter that will be relevant to Coimisiun na Means consideration of the proposed transaction under the Ownership and Control Policy. Coimisiun na Mean has not yet completed its consideration of the proposed transaction and is unable to provide this information at this time. The Coimisiun was unwilling to say what proportion Bauer owns now, perhaps because the devil will be in the detail. Bauer owns six of around 30 licences, although some operators might run more than one station. And while iRadio originally ran two stations, it is now seen as a single contract. Boylesports ad campaign aims at smarter gambler BoyleSports has teamed up with London-based creative agency Above+Beyond and marketing communications agency, Wake The Bear, to launch its new ad campaign, which it says is the first of this scale in the bookies 40-year history. The campaign, titled Dont just bet. Choose wisely highlights the many variables behind every outcome and aims to position Boylesports as the choice of smarter gamblers. The campaign includes a 60- second TV advert and will also run on on-demand video, print, audio, digital and OOH. The iPhone 13. Apple shares took a hit on the China news Apples Chinese ban will sound Merrion St alarms Department of Finance mandarins who have long feared volatility in Irelands goldrush style corporation tax take will have awoken on Friday morning to unsettling news. Apple, one of Irelands biggest golden nuggets in taxation terms, saw its shares fall as China reportedly banned state officials from using iPhones. A decline in tax paid by Apples main Irish subsidiary was already suspected to have been behind at least some of a big dip in funds flowing into the Exchequer last month. The Chinese ban will do nothing to reverse that. TEKenable will expand its workforce to more than 200 people. Stock image Dublin-based technology company TEKenable is to create 20 new jobs next year, with the set-up of its new AI and data analytics division. The new practice will expand the 20-year old companys workforce to more than 200 people. The new positions include cloud engineers, artificial intelligence (AI) engineers, data analysts and consultants, who will be headed by a data analytics and AI industry expert, the company said in a statement. TEKenables group chief executive, Nick Connors, said the new service would help businesses leverage the very latest technology to boost revenues, deliver operational efficiency and improve security. TEKenable has operations in Ireland, the UK, Spain, Hungary, the Nordic countries and the UAE. Meanwhile, Irish advisory firm Konversational has signed a 3m deal to roll out new software for IT services provider Ergo. The deal will use AI to help Ergo provide additional features for its clients, including a 24/7 virtual assistant. It is expected to generate revenue growth of over 10m in the next five years for Ergo. Dublin-headquartered Ergo employs over 700 professionals across Ireland, the UK, US, Colombia, New Zealand and Romania, providing technology for firms in the financial services, pharmaceutical, life sciences and public sectors throughout the world. It is the second partnership for Ergo and Konversational. Peter Donnelly is an Irish author and illustrator based in Wicklow. His childrens books The Presidents Glasses and The Presidents Surprise are bestsellers. His latest, The Presidents Dog, is out now, published by Gill. BOOK: Magicians of the Gods Im currently reading Graham Hancocks Magicians of the Gods, as I enjoyed his previous book Fingerprints of the Gods. His suggestions are controversial, ruffling the status quo of accepted human history. Im interested in alternative viewpoints and like how Hancock presents a different narrative as to what may or may not have come before us. STREAMING: Killing Eve I mostly watch documentaries but lately weve been addicted to Killing Eve. Its well written and the two lead roles are acted brilliantly by Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. I love how it switches from light to dark in an instant. Comer is my favourite sociopath. I should also mention Tommy Tiernans [RTE] Epic West which I finally got to watch recently. Beautifully shot, and Tiernan is terrific and often surreal as he takes us on a journey through the west of Ireland. PODCAST: Amplify Archaeology My favourite podcast at the moment is Neil Jackmans Amplify Archaeology. Each episode is a (re)discovery of Irish archaeology, from the Newgrange solstice to Viking Dublin. Jackman gives his guests plenty of space and time to explain some intriguing treasures from our island. MUSIC: Sigur Ros Im currently listening to, ATTA, the latest offering by the Icelandic band Sigur Ros. Its a sweeping, spiritual and cinematic album, recorded with the London Contemporary Orchestra. I love writing and illustrating to it. I share an art studio with my partner and we listen to music a lot while we work. We have quite similar tastes, which helps. Other artists I enjoy: Brian Eno, David Sylvian, Cocteau Twins and Chet Baker. TRAVEL: Iceland I hope to get up to Iceland later in the year. My partner was there in January and she has me eager to make the trip with her this time. I expect I will find it very inspirational so I plan to carry a sketch pad with me. Luxembourgish-German actress Vicky Krieps is set to play the late television producer in the film. The role of Sophie Toscan du Plantier has been cast in Jim Sheridans upcoming film about the Frenchwomans murder in Ireland almost three decades ago. Luxembourgish-German actress Vicky Krieps is set to play the late television producer in the film, titled Re-creation, with Oscar nominee Sheridan describing her as the perfect choice for the role. Variety reports that Sheridan, who is best known for making My Left Foot and In the Name of the Father, will co-direct Re-creation after co-directing the five-part documentary series about the case, Murder at the Cottage. Re-creation is being described as a mix of documentary and drama, with a plot synopsis reading: Fiction to question reality. The filmmakers embark on a journey through facts and lies behind the unsolved murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, giving her back a voice that was abruptly interrupted and helping those grieving find closure. Speaking about the casting, Sheridan told Variety: "Since our first meeting in Berlin, it was clear to me that Vicky was just the perfect choice for this role. "She always looks like she has her feet on the ground but with an ethereal quality that allows her spirit to break any obstacles. Sophie Toscan du Plantier Sheridan will direct Re-creation alongside David Merriman (Rock Against Homelessness), who added: Sophie will have her place in this film beyond the tabloid headlines that have become her legacy. We feel lucky to have Vicky with us and believe she will bring the truth to this character that she deserves. Supported by Screen Ireland, the documentary sections of Re-creation will be partly shot in Ireland, while the drama section will be shot on a sound stage in Luxembourg. Producers are aiming to release the film in cinemas in late 2024. Sinn Fein has said it supports keeping the Nitrates Derogation where it can be shown that water quality can be maintained and improved in areas as necessary. It comes as the Minister for Agriculture confirmed last week mooted restrictions to Irelands Nitrates Derogation will come into force next year. The restrictions will mean thousands of farmers will need to reduce their stocking rates by either securing more land or cutting livestock numbers. In a statement to the Farming Independent, Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane said the origin of the current issue is that the government signed up to this flawed review mechanism with the European Commission. "We have pointed out that the mechanism on which this review was based is flawed, and it is disappointing that Minister McConalogue was not transparent with farmers about the presence of this mechanism and the required review for months after the Nitrates Action Plan was approved. The Minister should have engaged with the European Commission to find a more appropriate mechanism than comparing results in two adjacent years; especially given that results can vary significantly based on factors such as weather patterns and does not reflect all the positive work that farmers have been doing in recent year. I do not believe sufficient time has been given to see the results of those efforts by farmers. We appreciate the hard and sometimes costly work undertaken by many dairy farmers over the past number of years to minimise the impact that agriculture has on the environment. "Many of them, encouraged and instructed by Government invested significantly in dairy and are under financial pressure. In that context it was incredibly disappointed that the Minister agreed to such a flawed review mechanism that has the potential to have a devastating impact on many farmers, while failing to recognise the important work that they have done. This is going to impact dairy farmers with modest stocking levels as those farmers who can afford to purchase land will do so, smaller dairy farmers will not be able to do this, she said. Micheal Martin said there is huge incompatibility between his party and Sinn Fein It comes as the Government said it will look at potential supports for dairy farmers who are affected by new nitrates limit. Tanaiste Micheal Martin, was speaking following a meeting between farmers protesting at the Fianna Fail think-in in Tipperary today said: It was a constructive meeting and I think we listened carefully to all of the opinions, there was people representing different aspects of farming, obviously the dairy industry in particular, which will bear the brunt of the decision by the Commission in respect of the reducing the derogation and that will impact on farmers, he said. But we have said, look, we will reflect on our discussion to see what we can do to alleviate the pressures on certain farmers who are in derogation. The Government will look at potential supports for dairy farmers who are affected by new nitrates limits, according to Tanaiste Micheal Martin. He was speaking following a meeting between farmers protesting at the Fianna Fail think-in in Tipperary today, the Tanaiste and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue. It was a constructive meeting and I think we listened carefully to all of the opinions, there was people representing different aspects of farming, obviously the dairy industry in particular, which will bear the brunt of the decision by the Commission in respect of the reducing the derogation and that will impact on farmers, he said. But we have said, look, we will reflect on our discussion to see what we can do to alleviate the pressures on certain farmers who are in derogation. He said the Irish Government will now seek to keep the derogation at 220kg and not allow it to decrease further. That will need all of us to work together, certainly, on measures that will ensure water quality is at a level that sustains and supports our retention of the derogation long-term. We can see how climate is going to play havoc with food security in the future and that is why we need a healthy, sustainable farming industry. Minister Martin said many, many farmers have worked extremely hard to meet their obligations under the current derogation. We have to try and see what we can do in the interim to help alleviate pressures on the farmers who will suffer from the decision to go from 250 to 220. IFA protest over Nitrates Restrictions at the Fianna Fail 'Think In' in the Horse and Jockey this morning. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue are meeting the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) in Tipperary where the Fianna Fail parliamentary party think-in is taking place. Minister McConalogue was met with scores of farmers protesting over stricter nitrates limits which are being imposed by Europe at the hotel where the think-in is being held. The Tanaiste, Minister and Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill came out to meet the protestors, who demanded an in-person meeting with the Tanaiste. Minister McConalogue has come under fire for holding a virtual and not in-person meeting with the EU Environment Commissioner who confirmed the cut in nitrate limits from up to 250kg nitrogen per hectare to 220kg. He has also been criticised by Fine Gael colleagues over his handling of the new rules. Were not having engagement until we get to Micheal Martin and we have a proper meeting to discuss the very serious issues around this sector, said IFA President Tim Cullinan. Its up to Fianna Fail and this Government to get back into proper negotiations with us. Mr Cullinan would only speak with the Tanaiste and Mr Martin offered a meeting straight away. Talks are currently underway ahead of the FF think-in, which is due to kick off later this afternoon. The IFA is set to protest on Friday at the Fine Gael think in, which is to take place in Limerick. Up to 3,000 farmers may be forced to cut herds as the new rules restrict the amount of fertiliser that can be spread and the number of cows dairy farmers can keep on their farms unless they can obtain more land. The rules are due to kick in January 1 2024. Farmers had been using a nitrates derogation which allows higher stocking rates on their farms, but this was dependent on Ireland improving water quality. However, this improvement has not happened. According to IFA there is deep frustration of farmers in relation to the cut in the nitrates limit and the Minister for Agricultures plan to delay payments to farmers in 2023. IFA President Tim Cullinan said Minister Charlie McConalogue and the Government are out of touch with farmers and rural Ireland. This Minister is in office. but not in control of his Department. He makes announcements first and then pretends to consult with farmers later. Thursdays meeting was another example of this. It came a day after his announcement which followed a video call with the relevant EU Commissioner. This was a pathetic attempt on such an important issue. He needs to get on a plane and sit down with the Commissioner, he said. Its not just the delayed payments and the Nitrates Derogation cut. There are numerous other examples of the Ministers failure to take farmers views on board. These include the design of the latest suckler scheme; issues in the sheep sector; the destruction of tillage through the CAP; the inability to draw down BAR funding; and the forestry debacle. They are all examples of a Minister who doesnt appear to be in control, he said. Every approach this Government has taken is based on an ideology of reducing production. They keep talking about schemes to support farmers, but most of it goes on compliance costs, with little or no money funding ending up with farm families, he said. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, are sacrificing farmers to stay in power. We will send a strong message that farmers and rural Ireland have been completely let down by the Government parties. They them need to stand up for farmers and rural Ireland, he said. Eighteen people are due to appear before Dublin District Court this morning following an investigation into money laundering profits made from drug dealing, intimidation and extortion. As part of Operation Satailt, Gardai have charged 14 males and four females and referred one juvenile to the Garda Youth Diversion Programme. The 18 people due before court this morning are charged with over 80 offences relating to money laundering, theft, and possession of drugs for sale or supply. A garda spokesperson said: As a result of an ongoing operation targeting persons benefiting from the proceeds of crime in the North Dublin area, 18 people are due to appear before Dublin District Courts this morning, Monday 11th September 2023. Up to 215,000 more people are to become eligible for a GP visit card from today. It is part of the roll-out of free GP care to around 430,000 more people under a relaxed means test, with the remainder of people on higher incomes invited to apply in a second phase qualifying from November. Outgoings such as mortgage payments, as well as dependant children, will be taken into account. People are asked to fill in an online application for the benefit, which saves them around 70 per GP visit and out-of-hours urgent GP care. However, GPs have warned the extension will lead to more surgery visits and will push up the waiting time to get an appointment with a family doctor. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said when the addition of six to seven-year-olds, who were brought in to the free scheme during the summer, is included, it will mean 500,000 more people will have free GP care by the end of the year. The expansion of free GP care to close to 500,000 people this year is supported by the landmark agreement between the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), signed in early July 2023, which put in place a series of financial supports for GPs, Mr Donnelly said. On August 8, 2023, free GP care was expanded to 78,000 children aged six and seven. From today, free GP care is expanded to 215,000 people aged between eight and 69 on a means-tested basis. From November 13, 2023, it will be expanded to 215,000 more people on a means-tested basis. He said people aged up to 69 and parents of children aged eight and up can apply for a means-tested GP visit card on the HSE website. The means test assessment considers a person or familys circumstances, income and expenses. As well as assessing various kinds of income, the means test considers personal situation, including dependant children and living situation, plus expenses such as rent or mortgage and childcare costs. In this first phase, the weekly income threshold for a single person living alone increases from 304 to 361. In the second phase, which opens in November, it will rise to 418. The weekly income threshold for a single person living with family increases from 271 to 322 in the first phase and will increase to 373 in the second. For a couple or one-parent family, the threshold rises from 441 to 524 in the first phase and goes up to 607 in November. The HSE has developed a simplified online application process for means-tested GP visit cards which is now available on hse.ie/GPVisitCards. GPs are to get around 130m more in financial supports to relieve the pressure and hire more staff, such as advanced nurse practitioners. Mr Donnelly added: We are increasing GP training places by over a third, so that we will have 350 places annually by 2024. We secured a landmark agreement with the IMO which supports GPs to recruit and retain more staff. We are supporting the Irish College of General Practitioners successful non-EU GP training scheme, which is bringing qualified doctors into frontline care in Ireland now. Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious, has been asked to contact gardai. Pic: Stock image/Getty A 79-year-old man has told of his ordeal at the hands of two masked intruders who broke into his rural home during an aggravated burglary in Westmeath. The pensioner, who has asked to remain anonymous over fears for his safety, described waking to find a man and a woman in his bedroom after the pair smashed their way into his house last week. They stole 200 from the mans wallet and took two pieces of jewellery that belonged to his late wife. New data shows number of children not accepted by mental health services varies dramatically depending on location Ellen Coyne: Statistics show in parts of the country, more than half of the young people who are referred to CAMHs are turned down More than half of the children and teenagers referred to their local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) service are refused access in some parts of the country. Around 4,000 children referred to mental health services this year were not accepted by the HSE, as the overall refusal rate increased by more than 10pc in three years. Analysis of new data shows the numbers of children not accepted by the service varies dramatically depending on where they live. Cork and Kerry, the area with the highest waiting lists for childrens mental health services, also had one of the highest refusal rates. More than half of the almost 1,200 children referred to the service this year were not accepted. Figures compiled by the HSE show that in 2020, around 28pc of the 17,436 children and adolescents referred to Camhs were turned down. By last year, that refusal rate had increased to almost 40pc with 8,676 of the 21,762 children referred to their local Camhs service being refused. So far this year, more than 4,300 children have been refused out of 10,412 referrals. This is a refusal rate of 41pc. During the pandemic, there was a spike in the number of children being referred to the specialised mental health service. Referrals jumped from 17,436 in 2020 to 22,212 in 2021. But the numbers of referrals accepted increased slightly only from 12,531 in 2020 to 14,439 in 2021. Different parts of the country had dramatically different refusal rates. Last year, the national refusal rate was around 40pc. But in two parts of the country, more than half of the children referred to Camhs were refused. In Cork and Kerry, more than 50pc of the 2,776 children and young adults referred to the service were not accepted. At the moment, Cork and Kerry have the highest Camhs waiting list in the country, with almost 1,000 children still waiting for treatment for moderate to severe mental health issues. So far this year, the refusal rate for Cork and Kerry is above 51pc. The HSE area covering South Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford had the highest refusal rate last year, with more than 51pc of its referrals being turned down. And so far this year, the refusal rate for the same area stands at 54pc. The figures were released in response to a parliamentary question from Mark Ward, the Sinn Fein spokesman on mental health. He said that the refusal rates were another example of young people trying to access Camhs not getting uniformity of care. It is clear by the information I received from the HSE that some areas are accepting more referrals than others. We need to see consistency of care across all Camhs services, he said. Mr Ward said children have a battle to actually get the treatment that is needed. The HSE should look at a centralised triage referral system that will at the very least place the child on the correct list. He said he was aware that GPs in desperation are referring children to multiple agencies for their mental health hoping that someone will provide treatment. Anna, a mother based in Dublin, recently received a refusal letter from Camhs for her daughter Claire, who will be 10 next month. Their names have been changed to protect Claires identity. Claire suffers from what Anna described as severe social anxiety, behavioural outbursts and anger. The family GP had written an extremely strong referral letter for the girl. And even the GP was shocked when we were refused, based on what was in the referral letter, said Anna. They gave me a generic letter saying Camhs was only for people with moderate to severe mental health problems. But when a psychologist isnt actually willing to see a child, how can they know for sure that they dont have those kinds of mental health problems? Anna said she had tried to explain to Claire that they were going to try to get her help. Its bad enough having to go to these people, without being told basically that your issues arent big enough. Youre not important enough, basically, she said. I am angry now. Really angry. It feels like were just a statistic, just another number. That they dont care. The HSE said: Camhs is a specialist clinical service for people under 18 with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. It is not for everyone; only a small percentage (approximately 2pc) of the population would require access to this service. Every effort is made to prioritise urgent referrals so that young people with high-risk presentations are responded to as soon as possible and this is often within 24 to 48 hours. Approximately 30pc of referrals received by Camhs are inappropriate for the service and do not meet the referral criteria set out in the Camhs operational guidelines. Four people are receiving treatment in hospital after incidents of assault and a car being driven into a group of people during an altercation in Galway on Sunday evening. Gardai are investigating the serious public order incident in a car park of a shopping centre on the Headford Road around 6pm. A large number of people were involved in the incident, being shared widely on social media. Local representatives in the area are calling for calm amid repeated public order incidents in the past fortnight. During the course of the incident, a vehicle was driven at speed at a group of people, according to gardai. A man and a woman are receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for their injuries, which are non-life threatening. Two men were also assaulted and are also receiving treatment at UHG for non-life threatening injuries. Gardai have seized a number of weapons and two vehicles have also been seized for technical examination. The Mayor of Galway City has called for calm, following incidents of assault that occurred in Galway on Sunday. It's a very concerning trend that appears to be developing within our city, The Mayor of Galway City Eddie Hoare said. I always say that Galway is a safe city. We pride ourselves on that status, that we're a friendly city and a safe city. But unfortunately, these repeated incidents that are happening far too regularly now are unfortunately doing reputational damage to our city, Cllr Hoare said. The comments come after videos were widely circulated online that showed a vehicle being driven at speed at a group of people in the car park of a shopping centre in Galway. As mayor Id call for calm among all parties involved, and just to step back. Someone's going to be seriously injured be it within the feuding parties or an innocent bystander, Cllr Hoare said. He is due to meet with Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche tomorrow in relation to the recent incidents in the city. I will be meeting with the Chief Superintendent Gerry Roche tomorrow morning to discuss a plan that we can put in place to effectively address this, nip it in the bud and start with what has been happening, Mr Hoare said. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, Gardai attended the scene of a road crash on Wellpark Road in Galway this afternoon. The collision which involved two cars occurred at 11.45 am. Gardai say there are no reports of injuries and the road where the crash happened is open. A garda spokesperson said: Gardai in Galway are investigating a serious public order incident that occurred on the Headford Road in Galway yesterday evening, Sunday 10th September 2023, at approximately 6.10pm. A large number of people were involved in an altercation in a car park on the Headford Road. Two men were assaulted and are currently receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for non-life threatening injuries. During the course of the incident, a vehicle was driven at speed at a group of people. A man and woman are receiving treatment at University Hospital Galway for their injuries, which are understood to be non-life threatening. Gardai have seized a number of weapons which are understood to have been used during the course of the incident. Two vehicles have also been seized for a technical examination. Investigations are ongoing. Two men have been acquitted of carrying out an armed robbery 10 years ago during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. The Special Criminal Court said that the evidence indicated both men were members of the criminal gang involved but could not find them guilty of being directly involved in the robbery. Actor Domhnall Gleeson (back row, right) helped support the Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice superhosts, who include (front row) Ursula McKeogh, Carol Collins, Detty Cornally, Annette Moran, Adrienne Parkes, and (back row) John Ryan and Mary Hogan. Photo: Conor McCabe John Ryan saw his mother and two sisters-in-law spend their final days in hospice care. The experiences drove him to join the nationwide effort to raise 2m during Irelands biggest coffee morning. Mr Ryan has already handed over 30,000 in nine years to thank the staff who cared for his mother, Mary, and sisters-in-law, Bernadette and Jean. I find that despite the cost of living, no one refuses donating to the hospice because death touches us all, said the 62-year-old, whose fundraising drive will benefit Waterford Hospice Movement and Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork. Seeing loved ones die is a real eye-opener. Your health is your wealth no matter what you have in life. Mr Ryan, from Lismore, Co Waterford, will be fundraising for Bewleys Big Coffee Morning Social for Hospice. While the official event day is September 21, his coffee morning will be staged opposite St Carthages Cathedral in Waterford this Saturday. Nearly 200km away, the owners of a pub in Moate, Co Westmeath, is planning to host a similar event in memory of several regulars. Denis and Annette Moran of The Gap House decided to help with a sponsored walk which raised over 28,000 for South Westmeath Hospice. We have lost a lot of dear friends and loved ones down through the years, said Ms Moran, whose event takes place on September 23. When some of these people passed away, we were all devastated and just felt helpless. That same desire to give something back to local hospices is the driving force behind Ursula McKeoghs event at her local community centre in Meanus, Limerick, this Friday. The 54-year-old cancer survivor is staging it in memory of her friend, Rita Cotter, who died from a brain tumour three years ago. Meanwhile, a Dublin-based grandmother who starts stockpiling baked goods months in advance had over 400 cakes in freezers ahead of her coffee morning. Carol Collins (76), who is based in Swords, uses her own home-grown organic produce to pack eight freezers with cakes, tarts and soups. Sales of her produce have raised over 37,000 in eight years for St Francis Hospice in the capital. Another Dubliner, Adrienne Parkes (77), has been volunteering at Our Ladys Hospice & Care Services in Harolds Cross since her late friend Anne OHanlon persuaded her to help out 11 years ago. Her coffee mornings in Walkinstown this years is on September 23 have been such a success that she has even spotted children emptying their pocket money into donation boxes. Register now to host a coffee morning at hospicecoffeemorning.ie or call 0818 995 996. A donation can be made at hospicecoffeemorning.ie/donate Luas Red Line services have resumed with delays following an incident on the line in Dublin city centre this evening. Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident on the Luas line at Benburb Street earlier this evening, a garda spokesperson said. A woman has since been taken to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital for treatment. A collision between a car and a tram on Benburb Street this afternoon resulted in delays to services. In a travel update after 6pm, a spokesperson said Luas tickets were valid on Dublin Bus for the duration of this disruption. Please be advised Red Line services have reopened with delays following incident at Museum. Our teams are working to resume normal service, they said. Firefighter/paramedics from Phibsborough, North Strand and Tara Street fire stations are finishing on scene at a tram/car road traffic collision in Smithfield. Delays on approach@DCCTraffic pic.twitter.com/NRG3QREjrs Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) September 11, 2023 All Green Line services are operating normally, the spokesperson added. The lift at Broombridge is out of service. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. All other lifts and escalators are in full working order, they said. Following the incident this afternoon, Luas passengers were told to expect delays until services returned to normal scheduling. Gardai and firefighters from Phibsborough, North Strand and Tara Street fire stations attended the scene shortly after 1pm. A photo of the collision shared by Dublin Fire Brigade shows how the front of a Luas tram was scratched and damaged during the incident. A garda spokesperson confirmed that gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision this afternoon. There was no reports of any serious injuries. The road and line has since fully reopened to traffic, they added. Dublin poet looked elsewhere for help and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease A Dublin man who waited four years for a hospital referral to treat an aggressive mouth cancer believes he would be dead had he not sought help elsewhere. James Mooney, a poet and podcaster who is best known online as The Wandering Paddy, presented to his GP in the summer of 2019 complaining of a sore throat after he found a lump on his neck. He said the GP examined him, became concerned and urged him to go to hospital immediately. I was in serious pain, Mr Mooney said. The back of my throat was white and red. I learned later that the discolouration was the cancer cells and where they were at that stage. This happened really quickly. The cancer I had was very aggressive. It started out as a sore throat and later looked like mumps. Mr Mooney went to Tallaght University Hospitals emergency department, was processed there and saw a doctor who was also concerned about his symptoms. The doctor referred him to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic. He was told to go home and wait for an appointment notification. As the days and weeks passed, an appointment was not forthcoming. Mr Mooneys concern deepened. He went back to his GP who again referred him to the hospital. They said there was already a referral in the system and I would be contacted, Mr Mooney said. It would be four years before he heard from the hospitals ENT clinic again. Last month, Mr Mooney said he received two letters from the hospital. One was for an appointment at the ENT clinic on September 2. The other was for a duplicated appointment on September 9. He presented for the first of these appointments believing it was in relation to a separate health issue. I was told we are doing the follow-up for your 2019 A&E visit when you presented with a sore throat. I said it wasnt just a sore throat it was cancer. Id be dead if I hadnt done something about it myself. Mr Mooney has made a formal complaint about the delays and indicated a willingness to engage with the hospital about how his case was handled, he said. He is glad he did not wait for a referral from Tallaght and sought help elsewhere. By October 2019, with his symptoms getting worse, Mr Mooney presented to another GP. The GP was able to get a doctor at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin to examine him. He was diagnosed with an aggressive mouth cancer and by the end of that month underwent a biopsy. A few weeks later, he had further surgery. By the time he underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy in early 2020, Mr Mooney had lymph nodes removed from the side of his neck, underwent a tonsillectomy and lost part of the back of his tongue. A spokeswoman for Tallaght University Hospital said it could not comment on individual cases but did say its ENT service is very busy with a large number of referrals. A shortage of specialists in the area is a factor in how cases are managed. When a referral is received, it is triaged based on the available information, she said. The referral will be added to the urgent or routine waiting list. GPs can submit additional information on a patient which will prompt a review and reprioritisation as appropriate. Where wait times are long, patients are contacted at regular intervals through a validation process where they can confirm if the appointment is still required as they may have received treatment elsewhere or the issue [may have been] resolved. When a patient confirms that they still require an appointment, one will be issued, or if declined the appointment slot will be offered to someone else. Mr Mooney said he did not receive communications at regular intervals. While he has been free of cancer since undergoing treatment, he feels the delays in his care contributed to him having worse outcomes. He suffers with chronic pain that needs to be managed and has been left with scar tissue. My life is irreversibly changed, he said. If I had that initial referral, it would not have spread to my lymph nodes. I wouldnt have needed the level of radiotherapy I needed and would not be left with the damage I have now. I could be dead. I am glad to be alive and I am lucky, but only because a GP was able to refer me to someone he knew and said I have a patient who needs urgent investigation, can you take a look?. Mr Varadkar promised that the use of tents from Electric Picnic would be a 'temporary' measure. Photo: Frank McGrath The Taoiseach has said more tents to house Ukrainian refugees may be needed temporarily, even in the teeth of an Irish winter. Leo Varadkar also said the new vacant homes tax could be also increased in the future to encourage sales and greater occupancy. He promised that the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees in tents at the Electric Picnic site is going to be temporary. It wont last more than a few weeks, and well be able to find accommodation for people after that, he said. But there will be times when we need to use tents. Its not ideal during the winter and nobody wants to have to do that. But the truth is, we have a huge number of people arriving into the country from Ukraine and from other parts of the world and we have a responsibility to provide them with shelter. Tents are not the solution that we want, but on occasion, they have been used and they may have to be used again. The situation has reached a pinch point because of the recall of 3,000 places for student accommodation even as 600 new arrivals set foot in Ireland every week. Meanwhile, the new vacant homes tax could be increased in the future, Mr Varadkar said. The idea behind the vacant homes tax is essentially to impose tax on homes that are vacant without good reason. We have a housing crisis, and it shouldnt be the case that apartments are left vacant in areas of housing demand for a prolonged period of time. It is a new tax. Its legislated for and its coming in, and well have to see how it works. As we said at the start, the rate is currently three times the Local Property Tax (LPT) on the home. Thats the charge, but were open to increasing it in future when we have time to see how it works. Mr Varadkar said the vacant homes tax was not going to be the panacea to solve the housing crisis, but I do think it can make a contribution. It was a matter of nudging people who have a vacant home or apartment away from leaving it vacant by encouraging them to rent it out, or sell it, as the case may be, Mr Varadkar said. Meanwhile, only 64 modular homes have been delivered so far out of a total of 700 promised a year ago. The Taoiseach pledged that hundreds more will be developed over the next couple of months. I do think that it could help form part of the wider solution when it comes to housing supply, he added. But I do know from experience that when it comes to modular homes, theyre never as quick to build as people think and theyre not particularly cheap either. But they are definitely part of the solution, he said. Delays were caused because you cant just drop a home into a field. You have [to] make sure that the site is serviced, and in a lot of cases, theres been a delay in getting electricity or [getting] the road in, or getting other services. In some places, when theyve gone to the sites, theyve found problems they didnt know were there for example, like having to move a pipe, Mr Varadkar said. I tend not to use the term rapid build for that reason. I think modular units or modern methods of construction is a better description. Local authority managers claim industrial action by 12,000 workers who began a ban on engaging with politicians today breaches a major pay deal. The Local Government Management Agency claims Forsa could have instead referred a dispute to the Labour Court. Forsa has written to TDs, senators and councillors informing them of an indefinite ban on non-statutory political representations. This means its members are refusing to deal with politicians queries and requests for information. Forsa claims local authority management is refusing to engage meaningfully on setting up a job evaluation scheme. In a message to politicians, it urges them to contact local authority chief executives and demand that the LGMA engage with the union, write to Minister Darragh OBrien to intervene or pass a motion at council. A Local Government Management Agency spokesperson said the union had advised it that clerical administrative grade staff would begin industrial action today. They said the industrial action follows talks at the Workplace Relations Commission in relation to job evaluation. Following the WRC engagement, it was open to Forsa to refer the matter to the Labour Court, instead they have chosen to commence industrial action, contrary to the provisions of the public sector pay agreement Building Momentum, they said. LGMA has consistently advised Forsa that this issue is broader than the local authority sector and should be dealt with at central level on a public sector wide basis. The spokesperson said if the union wishes to follow established processes, it will engage. Forsa wants a job evaluation scheme to assess if a job grade is properly matched to the duties and responsibilities attached to the role. In a notice to public representatives, the union argues that almost 10,000 council jobs were lost following the financial crisis. It says services were only maintained because staff took on additional responsibilities above their pay grades. Local authority workers in the North and right across Britain have had access to job evaluation for decades, it says. It is also commonplace across much of Europe. In Ireland, many Forsa grades represented in the HSE and higher education have access to job evaluation. It claims the local authorities were once the employer of choice, but that is no longer the case. We apologise in advance for any impact this action may have on your important work as an elected representative, it says. Please see what you can do to support local government workers our members and your constituents. The unions executive committee is due to meet this week and could ramp up industrial action. Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has hit out at a fake leaflet featuring his name and face Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has hit out at a fake leaflet featuring his name and face and advocating for a "multicultural Malahide". Mr OBrien has posted a "Disinformation Alert" on social media after the leaflet began circulating to homes in the well-heeled community, in what could be the first example of dirty tricks in the run-up to the Local and European elections next year. The leaflet was headlined "Housing for All," the name of Mr O'Brien's national accommodation strategy and read: "Dear constituents: As you may know, as your Minister for Housing, I've been very busy dealing with the global migration crisis. Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien has hit out at a fake leaflet featuring his name and face "I'd like to ask a favour from the good people of Malahide. Ireland is renowned for helping those fleeing war and persecution, and we hope you can help us with our shortfall in accommodation for those in dire need of help. "We hope for 200,000 arrivals in 2023, but we have a shortfall of nice homes for them. If you can give up a spare room or two, or a nice granny flat, or ideally a community hall, we'd love to hear from you. "Financial incentives are available, although we know it is not about the money to you. We'd love to make Malahide more multicultural and become a lighthouse of hope for those less fortunate. "Please contact my office if you can help enrich Malahide. Yours in diversity, Darragh. But the minister himself said as he highlighted the issue: "Some people may have received fake leaflets through their letterboxes in the Malahide area over the weekend, an obvious attempt at sowing discontent through disinformation. He said it was "quite clear someone went to great lengths draft, print and circulate these." The Housing Minister added: "At its core, disinformation like this seeks to cause tension in an area. The people of Malahide have proven themselves to be welcoming, in fact Fingal is one of the youngest, fastest growing and most diverse areas in Ireland. "It is a place Im proud to represent." Today's News in 90 seconds - September 11th Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said were in a very different phase when it comes to dealing with Covid. Photo: Gareth Chaney More than 3,500 council-owned homes are currently lying vacant across the country, according to new figures. However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that vacant homes in Local Authorities are usually not occupied for a reason. The report, conducted since the end of June, revealed there are 712 vacant houses owned by Dublin City Council. Cork City Council has 350 vacant homes, Limerick City and County Council 228, Cork Country Council 184, Wicklow 175, Donegal 171, Kerry 149, followed by Galway City which has 127 vacant houses. In the majority of cases, those houses are vacant for a good reason, said Mr Varadkar. The figures on vacant council properties comes as 12,847 people are homeless by the latest statistics, but Mr Varadkar said there are a number of reasons for empty properties. He said. I looked at the figures, and what that indicates at any point in time, about 2 - 3pc of local authority houses are vacant, and they're generally vacant for a reason. Sometimes they're being refurbished, sometimes they're being earmarked for demolition to be replaced by new complexes, you'll see that all over Dublin. Sometimes a tenant has moved out and a new town is about to move in. So you'll always have a certain amount of vacancy," he said. The vacant council figures were released to Aontu leader and Meath West TD Peadar Toibin under a Freedom of Information request. It comes as the 31 local authorities across Ireland have over 95,000 people on their housing waiting lists. The Taoiseach was speaking in Belfast where he held bilateral meetings with UK representatives following the announcement of 1.14 billion in funding through the Peaceplus programme. He said the urgency of the Government on housing was seen in the fact we built more social housing last year than any year since the 1970s. He added: We'll do that again this year, probably at about 10,000 social homes, the housing stock, and that's providing homes for thousands of families. Housing Minister Darragh OBrien has yet to publish the number of social housing homes built by the State this year. He has said he would not publish the data until he had verified the information involved. Sinn Fein has criticised non-publication of the figures for social and affordable housing delivery for the first six months of the year. The Government has promised to build 9,100 new social homes and 5,500 affordable homes in 2023. Mr Toibin said: "It is incredible that in the jaws of a national emergency in terms of housing that well over 3,500 local authority homes are lying empty tonight. Mr Toibin said there are enough empty local authority homes in the state to house well over half the number of people who are homeless. Thousands of homeless people are living in emergency accommodation throughout the country at great human cost to themselves and at great financial cost to the state." "There will always be a length of time and a level turnover of Local Authority accommodation. But there appears to be a growing dysfunction in some arms of the state when dealing with housing. "Bureaucracy, red tape, poor management, lack of staff and inefficiency is making housing provision grindingly slow. Mr Toibin added that rising HAP and RAS figures show the continuing reliance on the private sector for the provision of social housing. A spokesperson for the Department of Housing said at the end of 2021 Local Authorities had a social housing stock of 141,483 homes. Local authorities will always have a level of vacancy in their housing stock, which will inevitably fluctuate over time as tenancy surrender and re-letting is an ongoing process. The reasons for vacancy can also vary, and may include units which are marked for demolition and major regeneration or earmarked for sale, for example. The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority. However, there has been extensive funding provided under the current government to support local authorities with both standard re-lets as well as properties requiring more extensive works to be brought back into use. Since 2020 6,300 vacant social homes have been brought back into productive use, and Minister OBrien has approved 31 million in funding to support the return of 2,300 vacant local authority homes this year. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said were in a very different phase when it comes to dealing with Covid. Photo: Gareth Chaney A legal mandate to wear face masks is unlikely to return, despite highly spreadable new variants of Covid, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said. Mr Varadkar said such a prospect is unlikely, even as more masks are seen back on the streets with people opting for self-protection. The arrival of new Covid strain, Pirola, has seen an increase in hospital cases across Europe and last week it was detected in the UK, meaning it is likely already in Ireland. Asked if mask-wearing could be encouraged again in wintertime, the Taoiseach said I think thats very unlikely. Were in a very different phase when it comes to dealing with Covid. Its become a virus that is going to be with us forever, he said. There will be waves of Covid just like there are waves of flu and while people might be advised to wear masks in certain circumstances, certainly if they have symptoms or theyre just recovering, I dont think a legal mandate will come back. Leading scientists fear Pirola could evade the vaccines, meaning those jabbed for Omicron and earlier versions of the virus could still become quite sick. The UK has brought forward the autumn booster programme for older people, but Ireland is not offering any additional jabs for the under-65s or non-medically vulnerable people. Explainer: What is Long Covid? Mr Varadkar said the acute hospital system would be able to cope, even with an upsurge in the Pirola strain. Its not that long ago that I was Minister for Health and we spent 14bn a year, and its looking more like 24bn this year. Weve never had a better funded health service, never had more frontline staff working in the health service, including nurses, doctors, dentists and therapists. "Despite predictions of an over-spend again this year in the acute hospital sector, there was thus every reason to believe the situation can be contained this winter, he said. Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar at separate events today accused Sinn Fein of infecting the younger generation Sinn Fein going into government after the next election is not a slam dunk, according to Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Asked if his position on entering into coalition with Sinn Fein in the future had softened, the Fianna Fail leader said: [Sinn Fein] will not be our first choice at all. The people will decide in terms of the numbers but we will stick to our policies and we will negotiate on the basis of our policy platform. "As far as we're concerned, we believe there's huge incompatibility with Sinn Fein on range of policies, the most important one being, in my view, the enterprise model of our economy which I believe Sinn Fein would undermine." He accused the party of being "anti-enterprise" and "anti-European". "Also, in terms of the climate agenda, I think they've been particularly two-faced on that and lacking any genuine commitment, said Mr Martin. The Tanaiste also said Sinn Fein has been "very slow to bring closure to many victims of Provisional IRA violence. "It reminds us of the need for Sinn Fein not to triumphalise the horrible deeds they did. "They still try to triumphalise, they still try to justify it. The problem with that is that you're infecting a new generation of people." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who is in Belfast today to launch a new joint peace funding programme, said he agreed with the Fianna Fail leader that Sinn Fein is "infecting" the younger generation. "Yeah, look, I certainly agree with the Tanaiste on that," Mr Varadkar said, while adding: "I didn't didn't hear what he said in full or in context." The Taoiseach continued: "I think we need, as a country, to have an honest appraisal about what happened in the past. And I don't think it's ever right for people to whitewash history or to glorify things that happened in the past that harmed and hurt a lot of people. "And that doesn't just apply to Sinn Fein, that applies broadly, I think." Earlier, Micheal Martin also said the media needs to stop cheerleading the opposition party. He criticised the media for a coronation of Sinn Fein as being the party to lead the next government. You guys need to stop cheerleading them on, he told journalists at the Fianna Fail think-in in Tipperary. As if its a slam dunk. Its not, its very fragmented, the options are very wide. We dont do coronations in Ireland, we fight elections. He said this would not be his last think-in as party leader and vowed to lead the party into the next election. Maura Derrane will present the Nine O'Clock show on RTE Radio 1 from Monday: Photo: David Conachy Maura Derrane, who is temporarily taking over Ryan Tubridys old radio slot, opened up about her pre-show nerves before presenting her first of the newly rebranded Nine OClock Show. The RTE television host, who co-presents the Today Show with Daithi O Se, took over from alternating hosts Oliver Callan and Brendan Courtney today for a fortnight. Its my first time in a radio studio so its a little bit daunting, I have to admit, she told listeners in the opening monologue. I was driving down to Galway on Friday, with my nine-year-old son Cal, and I was quite nervous and I was telling him how this is a big deal that I am doing radio and he was saying you do TV all the time. I said yes but its a challenge and its different. The Galway-born broadcaster was told by her son to believe in yourself, and that is what I am doing today, she said. "Anyone out there maybe facing a new challenge, think the same, you can do it. On the show, Derrane was joined by Aoife McCabe, the manager at the Ballymacarbry community centre in Waterford, and the show featured a segment on the Calor Housewife of the Year competition with Dr Shonagh Hill of Queen's University Belfast and former winner, Jane Kelly. The former Ireland AM host will present the Nine OClock Show on Radio 1 for two weeks, as the National Broadcaster continues to search for a replacement for the slot. Today's News in 90 seconds - September 11th Ryan Tubridy has posted a video showing him whizzing down a road on the red Vespa he was gifted by U2 on his final Late Late Show appearance in May. The former RTE broadcaster was gifted the luxury Italian moped by Bono, which was brought out live on air by comedian PJ Gallagher as a parting gift following the end of his 14-year tenure as host. The U2 frontman, who gifted Gay Byrne a Harley Davidson on his final appearance as host, labelled Tubridy as more of a mod than a rocker in a video message when the Vespa was handed over. Ryan Tubridy on his Vespa gifted by U2 Since then, Tubridy has stated that the electric bike was sitting in storage in the UK, however, last week he said that it had finally arrived to his home. He revealed the news while chatting to Chris Evans on his Virgin Radio UK radio show, which drew strong speculation that the now departed RTE star could be making a move to the UK for work. Posting to Instagram, Tubridy is seen taking the Vespa for a ride down the road to U2s 1988 single Angel of Harlem. He told his 251k followers that the U2-mobile has landed and thanked them for such a thoughtful farewell gift. He described his new toy as a rare, electric Vespa that just hums along. The Dubliner previously told Chris Evans that the registration plate for the Vespa is something mad like RTU2LOVE. Tubridy said that he was still flabbergasted by the gesture from Irelands best-selling band of all time and thanked them and the people behind the scenes at his former employer who made it happen. Its electric, its red, its perfect, he added. The Special Criminal Court is today expected to deliver its verdict in the case of two men accused of taking part in a robbery during which a detective was shot dead. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) was on an armed escort at Lordship credit union near Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013, when the convoy was ambushed. Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead while a five-man gang escaped with around 7,000 in cash. In 2020, Armagh man Aaron Brady (32) was convicted of capital murder, as well as robbery, and is currently serving a minimum sentence of 40 years imprisonment. His two alleged accomplices, Brendan Benny Treanor and James Jimmy Flynn, were charged with robbery and are also accused of conspiring to commit creeper burglaries along with Brady and another man between September 2012 and January 2013. They both denied the allegations and went on trial before the non-jury court in Dublin earlier this year, with the lengthy case concluding in May. The three judges had originally set a date of September 19 to deliver their verdicts, but this was brought forward to this morning. The prosecution case against both men relied on CCTV evidence, mobile phone communications before and after the robbery, a two-hour silent period at the time of the robbery, their association with Brady, and statements given by the accused after the crime. Senior counsel Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, also said in his closing speech that a tattoo Mr Treanor had on his back in 2018 was an act of hubris and glorified his position within the credit union raid. A picture of the tattoo was shown to the court, which the prosecution alleged showed four gangsters, one of whom is holding a long-barrel firearm, as well as a woman in a balaclava with a firearm, a BMW car and cash. However, Sean Guerin SC, counsel for Mr Treanor, of Emer Terrace in Dundalk, said in his closing remarks that there was no evidence his client was at a credit union during a fatal armed raid. Mr Guerin said the closer you examine the prosecution case, the further from Mr Treanor you get, and asked the court to acquit his client of both charges. Bernard Condon SC, defending Mr Flynn, of Ravensglen in Newry, Co Down, said there was not one iota of evidence to support the case that his client was at Lordship credit union on the night of the murder and robbery. The three judges will this morning begin delivering what is expected to be a lengthy ruling. A proposed ban on mobile phones in primary school is an idea getting a lot of love among parents. According to a poll published in this paper last week, 90pc of parents support the idea of a ban. Those with kids in secondary school think similarly, it seems. More than 80pc would back a ban at second level, according to a back-to-school survey carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions. For many parents, the issue of how to handle technology with their kids feels overwhelming. Resistance seems futile. The tidal shift in our culture, values and behaviours feels inexorable too huge, too wholesale to avoid. Parents themselves are swept up in it too, tech has invaded every part of our waking lives. As with all rapid change, the risks, losses and pitfalls involved can only be fully appreciated in hindsight. And in the murky waters of uncertainty, it can feel almost impossible to know how to exercise good parental judgment. Micheal Martin, fresh from a trip to Jordan, where theyve been doing their fair share of refugee-welcoming over the years, now finds himself Tanaiste of a country seemingly determined to keep things, shall we say, basic. Weve gone old-school with canvas and pegs for those fleeing war. Well done, Ireland, for truly roughing it. Jordan is a country that deserves a gold star in the Hosting Refugees 101 handbook. It has been welcoming refugees from across the Middle East for years. Quite the overachievers, those Jordanians. While he was there, Martin must have taken notes on how Jordan managed to absorb hundreds of thousands of people fleeing conflict with such apparent ease. We saw in the assembly on the Repeal of the Eighth how they operate. Women hurt by abortion were not allowed to address the group Sarah Carey asks is there anything to be said for another Citizens Assembly? (Irish Independent, September 9) No, no please. Have we not had enough of this type of democracy, or, rather, lack thereof? I wonder how many are even aware of how these are assembled. Do they know that a facilitator is appointed to each table and all overseen by an appointed leader? Do we know who these leaders or facilitators are appointed by? We saw in the assembly on the Repeal of the Eighth Amendment how they operate. Women hurt by abortion were not allowed to address the gathering. As letter writer Robert Sullivan recently wrote, we have elected TDs who are supposed to represent those who elect them. How is it acceptable to replace these with unelected people who are not accountable to the people? Ms Carey herself admitted that she finds the current fondness for Citizens Assemblies rather irritating although she commends them for consensus-building. I would guess many are not supportive of consensus-building when it involves pandering to the lowest common denominator and excludes as many voices as is the case currently. It certainly cannot be described as democracy. A proper factual and balanced debate on that subject would be most welcome. Is it likely? I wouldnt advise holding ones breath. Mary Stewart Ardeskin, Donegal No time to wait we must do all we can to prevent temperature rise over 1.5C This past week, Ireland has experienced a rare September heatwave; the first of the 21st century. At the time of writing, all 25 weather stations monitored by Met Eireann are exceeding their long-term average temperatures by a minimum of 3C and, in some cases, in excess of 5C. While there remain three weeks of September, it is likely to be our warmest September on record for the time being. Simultaneously, throughout the week, there have been hugely damaging floods in Greece, Spain, Hong Kong, Bulgaria, Brazil, the United States, and Algeria. Many hundreds of people have lost their lives and many thousands more will be at risk in future. We must be cognisant that these impacts heatwaves, floods, disease emergence, droughts, crop failures remain in their infancy. As climate change continues with no semblance of abatement, we must continue to shout loudly about these events events which do not need to happen as they are, and will go on happening, with worsening effects. Unfortunately, our current economic system dictates no solutions to the crises we face. A new report from The Lancet showed that at the current rate, it would take 220 years for countries to decouple emissions from GDP. Another UN report released last week detailing our progress with regard to the Paris Climate Agreement found that even with the current commitments, we are far off track from any reduction in global temperature. We do not have the time for incremental tinkering of the status quo. If all aspects of the planet are to thrive, a radical change is needed. We are past 1.2C of warming we have a very limited time to prevent a rise above 1.5C. Now is the time to act. Criodan O Murchu An Taisce Climate Committee Member, Peterswell, Co Galway Why a little better time management could go a long way to cut speeding As someone who commutes across the Border on a regular basis, I have been following the proposed new speed restrictions with more than a passing interest. I can understand why the Government feels obliged to implement new measures in light of so many fatal road traffic accidents recently. However, I do not consider the existing speed limit of 100kmh on national secondary roads as being excessive. Indeed one of the greatest afflictions on our roads at present is the crawler the driver who potters along, oblivious to the build-up of traffic behind them. I would contend that speed management is only one aspect of the current problem. Another contributory factor (and one that the Government cannot control) is that of time management. All too often, we are all guilty of either dawdling around or allowing inadequate time for the journeys we are undertaking. The fact that we are on the late side may encourage us to take unnecessary risks. We do not require a Government directive to improve our punctuality and to allow extra time for our journeys. Gerard Cassidy Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh Scrap ridiculous 80km limit on rural roads and teach learners to brake As the number of deaths on our roads start to rise, the focus seems to be on the speed limits and how to reduce the speed at which motorists should be travelling. The speed limit on rural roads at present is 80km. This is far too fast to be driving on roads that are so often bendy and narrow. We should also be educating learner drivers about how to slow down, using their gears and the brakes. When travelling down a hill, you should be in a lower gear, as when braking at speed, this will allow you to have more control of the car. Susan Burke Cahir, Tipperary It is our duty to protect the ideals of Wolfe Tone from the lies of rabble rousers If one visits the fine square in Bantry, Co Cork, a statue of the former 18th-century seeker of Irish freedom, Theobald Wolfe Tone stands as a reminder of a difficult past we have endured and resolved successfully. Our nation of freedom and democracy was established through the ideals of Tone and his successors, and we have been at peace and enjoying the rule of law since the early 1920s. It was not until the illegal IRA erupted in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s that a false Wolfe Tone connection was dreamed up to add legitimacy to the criminal activities of that organisation and its proxies. We have heard over these past decades rabble-rousing claptrap via a ridiculous and fanciful Sinn Fein history of their own modern roots. Add to this the attempt to poison the minds of the young at concerts where bands like The Wolfe Tones somehow permit themselves to influence those who have little knowledge of the horrors the modern IRA inflicted. These types of impediments to true democracy will be with us for the foreseeable future. Yet bringing truth to dispel the lies remains the task of patriotic citizens who, thankfully, remain the sane and safe majority. Robert Sullivan Bantry, Co Cork Life is on the right track for academic John OHegarty until a moment of recklessness sets him on a path to self-destruction. If you want to listen to the complete series now, search for Im Not Here To Hurt You wherever you get your podcasts and hit subscribe The Im Not Here to Hurt You podcast featuring John O'Hegarty on independent.ie Today something a little different on the Indo Daily. Were bringing you the first episode in a major new podcast series from the Irish Independent. Im Not Here To Hurt You is the true story of John OHegarty, a high-flying academic who was destined for great things. He studied philosophy in the prestigious University of Leuven in Belgium and had a masters in psycho-analytic studies from Trinity College, Dublin. On the day he politely robbed his first bank, he crossed over into a world where all his education became meaningless. It was his point of no return but it wasnt the moment that changed everything. That came two years previously on a winters afternoon in 2002 when an accident would alter the course of several peoples lives and ultimately lead John to become one of Irelands most prolific bank robbers. If you want to listen to the complete series now, search for Im Not Here To Hurt You wherever you get your podcasts and hit subscribe. The Indo Daily will be back with you on Tuesday. Jacqueline Higgins, Proprietor of the Angelic Healing Clinic at Strand St. Kanturk, is a finalist in the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards for Masseuse of the Year and Best Customer Experience. The competition will be held at the Raddison Blu Hotel in Cork on September 24th. Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald Jacqueline Higgins, proprietor of the Angelic Healing Clinic at Strand St. Kanturk, is a finalist in the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards for Masseuse of the Year and Best Customer Experience. The competition will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cork on September 24th and Jacqueline is really excited to be in the running for such a prestigious award. I want to say a huge thank you to my clients, who nominated me. It was a wonderful surprise in June, the day before my birthday, to get a notification that Im one of the finalists in these categories, said Jacqueline. My passion for this industry has never dwindled as there is always so much more to learn. Jacqueline is simultaneously celebrating another milestone with the 10th anniversary of the opening of The Angelic Healing Clinic happening this week. I had just finished studying beauty and body therapy at Mallow College in May 2012 and I began working at Tantalize here in Kanturk for Deirdre OCallaghan. She taught me how to run a business and it was at her salon that my passion for massage and just giving the clients a full pampering experience began to grow, Jacqueline explained. She also paid tribute to Sandra Lehane who, she said, taught her the holistic side of the business and became her Reiki master. I was so mesmerized by this new aspect that I knew what I wanted to do and that was to be a holistic therapist, she said. Jacqueline acquired her current premises at Strand St. when the former occupant, Sandra Lehane, moved to New Zealand in 2013. I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back since. I built it from the ground up throughout the years, putting the clients needs, comfort and relaxation at the forefront, from the ambience of the room right through to the treatments. I gained new qualifications through the years with reflexology and hot lava shell massages, she said. Im blessed with all my clients both new and regulars for without them I wouldnt be able to achieve all of this. I thank you. Also, to the amazing community of Kanturk and to The Beauty Zone, we have supported each other throughout the years and Im beyond grateful. Finally, thank you to my family and friends for your ongoing support, Jacqueline said as she celebrates her 10th anniversary in business and looks forward eagerly to the Irish Hair and Beauty Awards Ceremony at the end of the month. A drunken man found stumbling in and out of traffic had put himself at risk of jail because he was already on a suspended sentence, a court heard. Dylan OConnor (35), who had 65 previous convictions, was a danger to himself on the night. Judge Treasa Kelly said she would spare him a conviction and apply the Probation Act if he made a 200 charity donation. OConnor, with an address at a city hostel, pleaded guilty to public intoxication. A garda told Dublin District Court he found the accused stumbling in and out of traffic on the quays at the Four Courts at 2.50am on May 24 this year. OConnor was highly intoxicated, was a danger to himself and was arrested. His previous convictions included 42 for public order offences. The accused was glad he was detected on the night, when he was more of a danger to himself than anyone else, his solicitor Peter Keatings said. He had been off drink and out of trouble for an extended period but fell off the wagon and had some vodka. He apologised for the lapse. You took a big chance of going into prison when you had that vodka, the judge told the accused, noting his suspended sentence for another offence. Residents living near Dublin Airport will stage a protest this evening over the flight path they claim has been impacting their lives for over a year. Groups from Fingal and East Meath, represented by St Margarets, The Ward, and Fingal Organised Residents United Movement (F.O.R.U.M), will gather outside Fingal County Council on Main Street, Swords, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. They hope to pressure Fingal County Council to stop daa breaching their planning conditions, the group said. Theyre unhappy that daa is exceeding the 65 flights per night cap, operating flight paths not in line with the environmentally assessed paths listed in their planning conditions. According to the group, some communities are affected by flight paths that do not match what daa presented in the planning application for the North Runway. Many of us made complaints to the planning enforcement over a year ago, a spokesperson said. For over a year several investigations have been ongoing within Fingal County Councils planning department about these issues and warning letters have been issued to daa. So far, one of the issues has been concluded, with Fingal County Council agreeing with our complaints that Dublin Airport is breaching the planning condition on the North Runway that limits the number of flights to 65 per night. We urge Fingal County Council to update us on the other investigations and explain why they are taking so long to conclude. The protest is not about closing the airport. Dublin Airport is an important piece of national infrastructure. Dublin Airport operator, daa, won a stay on a recent planning enforcement notice by Fingal County Council The operation of the airport must be in accordance with the permission in place. If it is not, then that is a problem daa need to resolve before they simply do what they like. Our request is simple. Fingal, as the planning authority with responsibility for the airport operations, must enforce the planning conditions in place at Dublin Airport. This must be done quickly, correctly and with transparency. We have waited over a year for this and demand results from our council immediately, they added. In light of the protest, a spokesperson for daa, the operator of Dublin Airport, said: The recent judgement made by the High Court, to allow leave for daa to apply for a Judicial Review and impose a stay on Fingal County Councils recent enforcement order issued in relation to a planning condition attached to the opening of North Runway, was a pragmatic decision. While it does not solve the underlying planning issues, it protects the 30,800 jobs in Fingal supported and facilitated by Dublin Airport and the 2.8bn contribution to the local economy. It also ensures vital international air connectivity for Ireland Inc continues. Balancing the needs of a major European hub like Dublin Airport with the needs of local communities and residents is always a delicate matter, but one we take extremely seriously. Fingal County Council has been contacted for comment. Overhaul in responsibility for running of Kerrys water services comes into effect from Wednesday, September 13. Uisce Eireann will take over full responsibility of Kerry water services from September 13. Close to 200 water service staff in the county must decide whether to stay employed with Kerry County Council (KCC) or redeploy to Uisce Eireann by 2026 as part of an overhaul in the countys water services. The new Master Cooperation Agreement (MCA) comes into effect from 13 September when Uisce Eireann takes over full responsibility for the day-to-day running and management of Water Services from KCC. KCC admit that any staff redeployments will impact workplace planning but this is a key part of the national agreement. Local staff can make their decision earlier than 2026 if they wish under the Transformation Plan that was set up to oversee the switch. Its envisaged that by 1 January 2027, KCC will have no further role in the provision of water services in Kerry. Until then, the service will be provided by a combination of Local Authority and Uisce Eireann frontline staff who will report directly to Uisce Eireann. The MCA was discussed at a special meeting of KCC on Monday where councillors expressed concern for the future of water services and the loss of local, experienced staff and their associated knowledge of water systems. The change means KCC must now rely on the County Development Plan to influence decision-making on Water Services Capital Investment and to reflect the priorities and policy objectives of the Council. Transition to the MCA is part of a national overhaul that sees it replace the existing Service Level Agreement between Uisce Eireann and all 31 Local Authorities, as signed off on in May 2023. Kerry Councillors were told that an Uisce Eireann Regional Office would be established at Castleisland. However, some councillors called for an office to be opened in each Municipal District to retain local awareness of issues. Other core concerns outlined by councillors is the faceless service that Uisce Eireann provide, while unease over a lack of accountability and demands for more constructive representation from Uisce Eireann were also raised. Even more concerning for councillors is that day-to-day information about water services will no longer be provided at local MD meetings. Moreover, KCC stated that Water Services Directorate Reports will not be provided going forward and all questions will be referred to Uisce Eireann for direct reply. Its not that there wont be any representation. Their will of course be, but it will be a different way of influencing, said KCC CEO Moira Murrell. its very important that our prioritisation, as set out in the County Development Plan, is put forward very formally from now on from Kerry County Council. Its very important that our planning processes are very tuned into the water needs of the council, Ms Murrell said. On the lack of day-to-day engagement with councillors, Ms Murrell said it is an adjustment. Its how representations are delivered to Irish Water that is going to be important. They have set up systems and processes and they will be meeting you as well, she stated. Lastly, there was total agreement in the council chamber when KCC water service staff were thanked for their many years of dedicated work in localities across the county. Concerns have been raised by the residents of west Sligo about a dangerous junction on Sligo-Ballina road (N59). The junction linking with and a county road L6208 (known as Carnarea) is recognised locally as being extremely dangerous and various minor incidents have happened there in the past. As a result many people are now choosing to travel further along the coast road to exit somewhere safer. A resident of the Highpark area, Mark Boland, told The Sligo Champion that they have submitted several complaints over the years but no solution has been found by the authorities. He said, The N59 road was resurfaced and consequently raised slightly around 2008. This impacted further the sight lines for those exiting on to the N59 in a vehicle thats lower than a van or large jeep as the walls on the right side of the road block the views. There have been small collisions but what is really of concern is the risk of a serious incident. A car that is waiting to exit sometimes has to pull back along the ditch so that they dont get struck by the cars coming from Ballina. There is a primary school about 1.5km away from the junction and now that the schools are back, there will be many cars coming on that road. Its a busy road but sometimes it will take people one or two minutes just waiting there to take a safe exit. Its been over 13 years since the resurfacing of the road was done and the volume of traffic on N59 has got higher. The county road L6208 itself has seen increased traffic volumes with school traffic and Wild Atlantic Way tourism. Skreen Dromard Community Council Chairperson, Audrie Kee, said: As a community we have given complaints both about the dangerous junction and the speed of traffic in the locality. Our community centre is located beside the N59 and there have been incidents of children being knocked down, and minor car crashes as well. A speed limit has been put in place by the council but its on a very small length of the road. Also, there is not enough notice to the drivers, so by the time they realise the speed limit they kind of pass the zone. I would like the authorities to either put up some signs and increase that speed limit area of road or put those yellow flashing lights to make people more aware of the speed limit. Local councillor Michael Clarke says negotiations are going on between the council and the landowner of the land on the right side of the junction. He said, It is a dangerous bend, but the situation is ongoing. Negotiations are difficult and sensitive and it takes time. A Compulsory Purchase Order could have been another option, but its very expensive and I dont know why the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have not looked at it. Audrie said the landowner is ready to do whatever is needed to be done about the issue. A woman who spent 14 days in ICU battling sepsis says she would not have survived without the quick actions of her sister. As World Sepsis Day approaches, Moninne Bradley, from Killygordon in Co Donegal is urging the public to know the signs of sepsis. She was left fighting for her life last year as the result of the rapid spread of sepsis. She has praised the help her sister, Orla Noonan, a nurse, gave. In the weeks leading up to her collapse, Moninne had been fighting an infection and had taken a course of antibiotics and steroids to combat it. When she later developed spots on her throat, she believed it was a side effect of the antibiotics. She returned to her GP and was started a course of tablets to treat thrush. On the day before her hospitalisation, Moninne went to work as usual. Still concerned about a swelling that appeared on her neck, she intended to return to her GP as a precaution the following day. I had been fighting an infection for a few weeks but was still going to work and getting on with things. I thought I might go back to the GP to be sure but at 9pm that night I took very ill and spent the entire night vomiting, she recalls. Her sister Orla, a nurse in Letterkenny University Hospital, was keeping a close eye throughout. However, despite her years of experience, she was left stunned by the sudden and rapid deterioration Moninne experienced. I saw her at 6.30m and she was standing in my kitchen talking. She was a little concerned about the lump on her neck but there was absolutely nothing alarming. I couldnt believe when I saw her the following morning when I came off night duty. I got the shock of my life. She had gone downhill so quickly. She was agitated, shaking, and exhausted. She was a terrible colour. As a nurse, I have regularly checked blood pressures, but she was too agitated to accurately record. Orla quickly rang Moninnes friend Marie for support then contacted Moninnes GP. She was so concerned that she also rang the Emergency Department in LUH and was advised to call an ambulance. Moninne was rushed to LUH where she was treated for sepsis in ED and transferred to ICU. The following day she was transferred to UHG where her condition continued to deteriorate. We didnt know if she was going to make it. At one point they felt they would have to amputate her arm; recalls Orla. Moninne went into renal failure and lost the tips of her fingers on one hand. However, after 14 days in ICU, she began to slowly recover. Moninne remembers nothing of her ICU hospital stay but was left stunned to discover how ill she had become. I had heard of sepsis but I had no idea just how quickly it could hit you. If it had not been for Orla I would not be here. I am hugely grateful to the ambulance team, ED, ICU teams and hospital staff in Letterkenny and Galway hospitals. I also want to thank my family, friends and community for all their prayers. Im lucky I survived and I plan to mark every day of it. Im still in recovery but Im getting there. I want to make sure other families have the knowledge when it comes to sepsis, she added. Siobhan Kelly, Sepsis Lead at Letterkenny University Hospital said: We are taking this opportunity to make people aware of what Sepsis is and how serious it can be. Sepsis is a common, time-dependent medical emergency which can affect a person of any age, from any social background and can strike irrespective of underlying good health or medical conditions. However, early recognition and timely referral to critical care can have a major impact and this is the message we want to get out. Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing, Saolta Hospital Group added: Sepsis is a silent killer. This serious condition can very quickly lead to multi organ failure and often death. However, as Moninnes story shows, prompt recognition of the condition and treatment will save lives. I urge all of you to familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms of sepsis and never hesitate to call for help if you are worried. Sepsis is a life threatening condition caused by an infection that affects the organs and kills one in five people who develop it. Over 13,000 patients received treatment for sepsis in Irish hospitals in 2021. If you have an infection, know the signs of sepsis. Its important to get treatment early if you need it. More information on sepsis can be found at hse.ie/sepsis. A male common seal is responding well to treatment having been rescued in Strandhill, Co. Sligo last month. Lough Owel, as he has been christened, was found alone in Strandhill, and further examination showed that he was underweight with minor injuries. Seal Rescue Ireland posted an update on the charitys Facebook page: Lough Owel is a male Common Seal who was rescued from Strandhill Beach, Co. Sligo on the 14th August. "He was alone and exhausted & was finding it very hard to rest on the busy beach. After some time monitoring this little pup, it was clear that mum was nowhere to be seen & that he would need support to survive. After arriving at the rescue, he was given a thorough examination, where he was found to be underweight and had some minor injuries, including a swollen muzzle on the right side. "Lough Owel has responded well to treatment and is gaining weight! He likes to let us know he is ready to eat, by making munching noises with is mouth whenever we get close! Seal Rescue Ireland offered the following guidance: "Please remember to give seal pups like Lough Owel room to rest & recover. 100 meters is advised! Seals are wild animals and have been known to bite, so please keep your dogs on a lead and children at a distance. We have 24 seals in our care who are all here due to orphaning. Orphaning is often caused when unknowing walkers & seal watchers get too close. Seals are not confident on land and are extremely cautious of humans. If a human is too close to their pup, they will often abandon them out of fear. Help us to reduce the number of orphaned seals like Lough Owel, spread the word. Give seals space. If you see a seal that you think may be orphaned, sick or injured please call our 24 Hour Rescue Line for help & advice: 087 195 5393 A series of events are planned over four days In North Sligo to commemorate the spanish armada shipwreck of 1588 North Sligo will remember the Spanish Armada in a series of poignant events this week-end. Remembering the Armada, Sligos annual Armada commemoration was launched at City Hall by Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Councillor Gerard Mullaney. The heritage and history festival has grown significantly over the years and this year a four day programme will provide the Armada story in Sligo with a greater profile than ever before. Sligo has such a rich tapestry of history and heritage, and none more important than that of the Spanish Armada. It is down to community efforts, allied to official support that helps bring these stories to prominence, and the Armada weekend is a marvellous example of this cross-cooperation, says Councillor Mullaney. The Armada commemorative weekend, which comprises lectures, walks, concerts, traditional Irish music and dance, workshops and historical events, is now in its 14th year and draws people from far and wide. We have several groups travelling from Spain for the weekends events, says Eddie OGorman, Chair of Spanish Armada Ireland. We have a really diverse programme this year. We consider the living history aspect of the Armada to be very important, and people will be able to immerse themselves in activities to get more familiar with this incredible chapter of history. The weekend of events begins with a bus tour to Killybegs Harbour, where an official welcome will be given to officers and members of the Spanish Navy, who will be in attendance for the weekend. Other highlights include a performance of the famed De Cuellar Suite, composed by Michael Rooney, an Armada Heritage Tour, Tercio Irlanda, climate change event, 8km Armada road race, art workshops and of course the remembrance parade itself, which takes place at Streedagh on Saturday at 3pm. The remembrance event is one we invite the entire community to attend, adds Eddie. It brings together the Spanish and Irish people in a way that we can respectfully pay tribute to the souls of over 1,100 men who lost their lives at Streedagh in 1588, when three Armada ships were wrecked at the beach. It provides us with a way to better understand the significance of the tragedy itself but also helps us to create a strong bond between both communities, principally through our shared culture and heritage. Many of the events at Remembering the Armada are free, and the proceeds from the paid events are invested back into the Spanish Armada Visitor Centre in Grange, which has been open throughout the summer and will remain so each Saturday and Sunday until the end of September. Thanking the work of the community to promote the countys Armada heritage, the Cathaoirleach added: Sligo County Council has, for many years, supported Spanish Armada Ireland, the voluntary group that promotes Remembering the Armada, and will continue to do so. I commend Eddie OGorman and his team for their work and wish all of our Spanish visitors a wonderful weekend. Remembering the Armada takes place at Streedagh, Grange, Cliffoney and Sligo between 14-17 September. Visit www.SpanishArmadaIreland.com for details and ticket information. Plans are in train to advance a proposed Gorey North Relief Road and railway bridge that would divert traffic away from the Main Street. Senator Malcolm Byrne met recently with Wexford County CEO Tom Enright and the intention is that the County Council will seek planning permission for the project in the first half of next year. The route will run through the St Waleran's site. It will be transformative in taking traffic away from the centre of town and is something that has been on my agenda for a while, said Senator Byrne. I am optimistic that there will be government support, but it is essential that there will be cooperation with Irish Rail. The aim is to create a relief road from the old Arklow road at an area called Ballyloughan, not far from the Bolands furniture store, and from there the road would go over a major new bridge yet to be constructed over the existing railway line. That will be designed such that it will be high enough to allow both for electrification of the line at some stage in the future, and for a double line to be put in, said Senator Byrne. Its going to be a much bigger bridge to future proof it for when we expand the railway at some stage. The bridge would be built so that over a weekend, it would be dropped down on to the structure. There will have to be discussions with Irish Rail, but I think they are aware this is coming down the track, if you pardon the pun. From the railway line, the road will go via the St Walerans site and ultimately link in with the inner relief road that is running around the town. The biggest part of the project is the bridge. The road isnt as difficult. Thats going to be built as part of the St Walerans development. But the building of the bridge will be the significant part, and obviously because there are negotiations that will have to happen with Irish Rail, that will take some time, said Senator Byrne. The next major step is get the planning application lodged early next year. Then there is the funding requirement. Certainly I have indicated, in terms of infrastructure projects for Gorey, that this is critical. There should be central government support for this but obviously it has to go through the planning process first, said Senator Byrne. Its not a small project. Senator Byrne said discussions should be held with residents and landowners living close to the proposed route. The engineering challenge of building the bridge will have to be met, but given how quickly north Wexford and Gorey are growing, this piece of infrastructure is critical to Goreys long term development, he said. It will help to take a lot of traffic out of the centre of the town. Unfortunately, at present a lot of the traffic has to go into the town centre even if it doesnt need to be there, said Senator Byrne. The northern distributor road would make a significant difference in reducing traffic from the Main Street. Its going to be a multi-million euro project. The inclusion of the bridge complicates cost. If it was a just a road with a cycle path and due regard to pedestrians, it would be a lot easier, he said. A North Relief Road would be more than a kilometre long from where it comes off the Arklow road, to where it would link to the Ballytegan road. That in turn would link to a road going through what is now Coill na Giuise. It will also allow for the development of what will effectively be a new village at the St Walerans site. The town is growing so quickly, but weve got to ensure effective traffic flows well into the future. Its positive that the Council will move towards its design and apply for planning in the first half of next year, concluded Senator Byrne. Wexford Credit Union has elected a new board oversight committee following the mass resignation of its previous board oversight committee and chairperson in July. Those resignations, which were allegedly a result of internal disagreements within the organisation, left the credit union without any sitting board oversight committee and at risk of intervention from the Central Bank. However, at a special general meeting held remotely on Wednesday, September 6 a new board was proposed and elected by members. Chairing the meeting, Mr Gerry Forde, who is on the board of directors at Wexford Credit Union (WCU) addressed the controversy which had engulfed the organisation since news of the resignations broke. The purpose of this meeting is to elect a board oversight committee, which were legally required to do following the resignation of the committee on July 31, he said. The role of the board committee is such that these resignations do not impact on the day-to-day organisation of the union, it has been very much business as usual at the union over the past few weeks. You may have seen a media report suggesting otherwise, but we contacted the media outlet in question and they subsequently published the correct position in a follow-up article. Some members have asked us why the board oversight committee resigned; no reason was given for the resignation, but I want to reassure all members that their decision as we understand it is in no way related to the safe guardianship of the members funds or other regulatory matters. A total of 78 WCU members attended the meeting remotely which also saw internal auditor (Brian Hayes), external auditor (Sinead Doyle from BJ Doyle and Co), legal advisor (Michael Walshe from OCWM Law) and external PR consultant (David Clerkin from Gordon MRN Assoc) in attendance. The five names put forward for election were Mairead Healy, a former senior manager within WCU, Padraig Clancy, who had previously worked as a student within WCU, Michael Cogley, whose history with the organisation includes work with Piercestown Credit Union and The Irish League of Credit Unions, Lorraine Maher, a past director of WCU, and Lorna ONeill, a former volunteer with WCU who has previously served on its committees. Members were asked to vote electronically on whether they wished to see these candidates on the board with a simple yes or no option appearing on screen beside each name. All five of the candidates were approved for roles on the board oversight committee; Michael Cogley and Lorraine Maher both received 92 per cent approvals, 89 per cent of voters approved Lorna ONeill, 84 per cent of voters approved Mairead Healy, and Padraig Clancy received 78 per cent approval. The vote was tallied by Brian Hayes and the five candidates were subsequently elected to the board. Concluding the meeting, Mr Forde said: The board of directors would like to thank all of the above for putting themselves forward for these roles and it is satisfied that all are qualified and have appropriate and relevant experience to offer. During the meeting, a question was posed via the online messaging service asking who the current chairperson of WCU was following Brian Murphys resignation. The response was as follows: Phillip OConnor is going forward as the chairperson. As the chairperson of a board of directors of a credit union is a PCF (Pre-approval Controlled Functions) function under central bank regulations, Phillip will need to go through this process. This process is under way. Bray SuperValu, on Castle Street, has joined forces with SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) to demonstrate its commitment to energy reduction and sustainable business in the retail sector. The Wicklow store used the SEAI grant to install solar panels, resulting in the energy equivalent of powering 36 Irish houses per year. These new energy efficient upgrades, combined with previous works in-store, amount to 151,980 KWH of energy per year, a 34 per cent overall carbon reduction for the store. Tanya McGarry, General Manager of SuperValu Bray said: We were delighted to receive a grant from SEAI through their Building Sustainable Communities initiative. Thanks to this grant, we installed solar panels on our roof which has contributed massively to a decrease in our energy bills. We are feeling very positive about building a more sustainable future for our store and the Bray community. SuperValu Bray is one of 25 stores nationwide who took part in the Building Sustainable Communities initiative this year, identifying and upgrading areas in their own operations which can be made to reduce energy costs, fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The combined energy savings from these stores is 3.7 million KWH enough to power 880 Irish homes. The SEAI partnership complements Musgraves overall sustainability strategy and commitment to achieving a net zero carbon target by 2040. In addition, SuperValu is once again continuing its long-standing objective to bettering the surrounding local communities by nominating community buildings and clubs across the country to benefit from the scheme. For the first time, this years initiative also sees a contribution made to not-for-profit affordable housing charity Cluid Housing, supporting 40 Dublin based Cluid houses to raise their BER (Building Energy Certificate) rating from D2 to B2. Through this initiative, SuperValu is committed to continue developing a sustainable Irish retail sector by reducing store energy costs, fossil fuel usage and zero carbon emissions, while also helping local communities across Ireland by making sustainability improvements to both local community organisations and affordable homes. Tanya Osborne, CEG (Community Energy Grants) Programme Executive at SEAI said that SEAIs mission is to highlight the importance of sustainable energy and celebrated the work achieved in collaboration with SuperValu through the years. She said: Creating a more sustainable society is at the core of everything we do at SEAI, and we firmly believe in the importance of working together to enact change. SEAI works with individuals, businesses, and organisations across Ireland by providing grant support for much-needed energy upgrades. Building Sustainable Communities closely aligns with our values and demonstrates the power of businesses and communities coming together. We are very grateful to SuperValu Bray for collaborating with us once again on this important initiative, she added. SuperValu is part of the Musgrave Group, Ireland's largest grocery and food distributors. With 220 stores throughout Ireland, SuperValu has served the people of Ireland for over 30 years and are deeply engrained in the roots of the Irish communities that they have stores. SuperValu maintains a reputation for quality, value and friendly service, with stores in over 465 locations throughout the country. Coill na nOg are inviting entries from Wicklow schools to their native tree and hedgerow planting competition. Wicklow schools are invited to take part in the Coill na nOg native tree and hedgerow planting competition, which aims to create mini-woodlands and native hedgerows in support of the EU 3 billion trees initiative. Coill na nOg is a native tree and hedgerow planting initiative delivered by Biodiversity in Schools and funded by a selection of county councils across the island of Ireland. Each October, they deliver free tree and hedgerow packs consisting of eight native trees (bare-root whips) and 25 native trees to set 7m of single-row hedge to participating schools, who are given access to supporting resources, including videos and worksheets to help them plant and get to know their trees. Coill na nOgs campaigns cover the whole island of Ireland, north and south, and are fully inclusive across the entire education system, including pre-school, primary, secondary and homeschool. Many schools will be assigned a kit via their local authority, while kits are also raffled across Ireland. The Tree and Hedgerow Kits competition which closes on Friday, September 22 at 1 p.m. is open to preschools, primary schools, secondary schools and homeschools across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Tree packs consist of 8 native trees (a mix of oak, rowan, birch, alder, hazel). Hedgerow packs consist of 25 native trees and shrubs (a mix of hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, elder, guelder rose, crab apple, and spindle). Trees are bareroot whips at least 40-60cm in height, grown in Ireland. Even if you don't win one of the resource packs, you can still take part in Coill na nOgs social media competition. All you need to do is take a picture of your class exploring a local woodland or hedgerow or planting trees at your school. Share the photograph on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CoillNaNogs. Winners will be chosen on Friday, December 15, with one lucky school in with the chance to win a pack of outdoor wildlife signs worth 375. In this first year, we are aiming to plant 1,000 trees, a Coill na nOg spokesperson said. Coill na nOg is Irish for Wood of the Youth and, each year, this children's forest will continue to grow and expand across Ireland. Ireland has one of the lowest levels of native tree cover in Europe, at only 2%. This is extremely low, especially considering our rich tree heritage. Therefore, it is important the next generation grow to appreciate the importance of our trees from a biodiversity, climate and heritage perspective by nurturing them on their school grounds. Similarly, hedgerows are also under threat. Although we have an impressive 689,000km across Ireland (enough to stretch around the planet 17 times!) we are losing up to 6,000km every year. This is disappointing as they are the last remaining refuge for wildlife. We want to see more native hedgerows, mini-woodlands and Irish trees in schools across Ireland so please get involved in rewilding your school and your students! Enter at biodiversityinschools.com/coill-na-nog Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologised for sending letters of support to a judge, after fellow actor Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of two women. Both attacks were said to have taken place in Mastersons home in the Hollywood area in 2003, when he was starring in That 70s Show. Kunis and Kutcher, who married in 2015, rose to fame on the same sitcom, about teenagers coming of age in the 1970s. In an Instagram video on 45-year-old Kutchers account, he said: We are aware of the pain that has been caused by the character letters that we wrote on behalf of Danny Masterson A couple of months ago, Dannys family reached out to us, and they asked us to write character letters to represent the person that we knew for 25 years, so that the judge could take that into full consideration relative to the sentencing. They were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatise them in any way. We would never want to do that and were sorry if that has taken place. According to the Associated Press news agency, in his letter dated July 27 Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people with decency, equality, and generosity. Kunis, 40, said: We support victims. We have done this historically through our work and will continue to do so in the future The letters were not written to question the legitimacy of the judicial system, or the validity of the jurys ruling. Our heart goes out to every single person whos ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse or rape. Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003 (Wade Payne/Invision/AP) Her letter to Los Angeles Superior Court judge Charlaine F Olmedo called Masterson an outstanding role model and friend and an exceptional older brother figure. Masterson also starred alongside Topher Grace and Laura Prepon in That 70s Show from 1998 until 2006. Grace, Prepon, Kunis and Kutcher have since reprised their roles with appearances in Netflix series That 90s Show, released in 2023. Kutcher also starred opposite Masterson on American sitcom The Ranch, until the latter was written out of the show when an LAPD investigation was revealed in 2017. On Thursday, before Masterson was sentenced, Los Angeles Superior Court heard statements from the women attacked by the 47-year-old in which they detailed their trauma and pain. A jury of seven women and five men has found Masterson guilty of two counts on May 31 after seven days of deliberations. A parliamentary researcher who has been arrested on suspicion of spying for China has said he is completely innocent, in a statement released by his lawyers. The researcher at the centre of the row, who had links with senior Tories including security minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Alicia Kearns, was arrested back in March but this went undisclosed until Saturday. When Russian authorities took away Yan Dvorkins 10-year-old adopted son last spring, there was nothing he could do but shout in frustration. His crime? He was a transgender, non-binary person, married to a man. The official from child services had denounced him to prosecutors because he was open about his gender identity on social media a crime in Russia for which he was convicted and then ordered to give up the son he adopted five years ago. It was so mean and low and hypocritical, said Mr Dvorkin, who uses masculine pronouns. I was so angry. I said, Do you understand that because of you, my child cannot live in his own family? It was like talking to a wall. Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine yesterday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four people working with a Ukrainian NGO, while dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from frontline areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organisation said. Danny Masterson was sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping to women in the 2000s. Photo: Mario Anzuoni Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have apologised for character letters they wrote for their former That 70s Show co-star Danny Masterson, who was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women at his California home in the early 2000s. Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Ridesharing app Uber on Monday announced it has partnered with the Indian Navy to become its exclusive mobility partner to offer transportation solutions for official travel and commute of naval officers, staff, and families across the country. This partnership will deliver reliable, convenient, and safe mobility solutions to the esteemed Indian Navy officers, staff and their families. Through this partnership, the Indian Navy will seamlessly integrate Ubers advanced ride-sharing technology via a seamless platform - Uber for Business into the Naval ecosystem. As part of this collaboration, Uber aims to drive effective change management for both official travel and commuting and also bring curated enterprise benefits for the Indian Navy. Speaking at the MoU signing, Abhinav Mittoo, Sr. Country Manager, Uber for Business, Uber India, South Asia & Egypt said, This partnership signals an important stride towards digitalization as we embrace shared mobility options. Through this MoU, we aim to contribute to the Indian Navys larger vision of embracing technology for transformative change. CNS Admiral, R Hari Kumar, Indian Navy said, This partnership originated from a need to find a solution and help officers and their families for their travel requirements, and avail the benefit from the IT revolution and digitization in the country. Uber has revolutionized travel and stands for comfort, reach, and reliability today." UK Chancellor Jermy Hunt with Nirmala Sitharaman during Economic Dialogue in Delhi Indian firms could soon list in London, it has been announced as part of a package of plans unveiled Monday by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt alongside Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as they met in Delhi for face-to-face talks. The news that India will explore potential London listings follows recent changes to Indian regulation to allow domestic companies to access global markets and underlines the UK capitals strength as a hub for international capital raising. In addition, a new UK-India Pensions and Insurance Partnership will support the growth of the sector in both countries. The partnership will focus on knowledge sharing, growing bilateral investment, and diversifying risk, including through pension fund trade missions to encourage increased bilateral investment. The launch of a UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge was also announced Monday. Co-led by Indian public policy think tank NITI Aayog and the City of London Corporation, the initiative will focus on sharing expertise in structuring and financing major infrastructure projects. The announcements are part of a series of commitments unveiled following high-level meetings as part of the 12th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD). Jeremy Hunt, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: Im very proud of the progress weve made through the UK-India EFD this time. Its a big step forward to hear India confirming that theyll explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies. I see India as Asia's Silicon Valley and the UK as Europe's Silicon Valley, so there's a lot we can work on together. Total trade between the UK and India was worth 36.6 billion in the last financial year, up over 34% year on year, with an 82 million increase in UK-Indian financial services trade over last year. EFDs are a regular way of deepening ties to grow the economies of both countries. Investment between the UK and India so far already supports over half a million jobs across both economies, and UK businesses sold goods and services worth around 15 billion to India in 2022. Mondays EFD was the first face-to-face meeting of its kind between a UK chancellor and Indian counterpart since 2017, with the most recent taking place virtually in 2021. India-UK trade has more than doubled since the first EFD in 2007. Other major announcements as part of the EFD, include: -The signing of the UK guarantee to the World Bank to unlock an additional $1 billion of green financing in India. This will promote clean energy investment and support green growth targets, accelerating Indias climate transition and ability to meet COP26 commitments. It is hoped that it will encourage other international partners to support India and shape the worlds climate transition. -Agreement to explore new investment opportunities in areas of shared priority, including leveraging institutional capital to invest in climate adaptation and green businesses in India. This builds on the success of the Green Growth Equity Fund, Indias first dedicated climate change fund backed by British International Investment. The EFD follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks visit to Delhi for the G20 leaders summit, where he announced that the UK will provide $2 billion to the Green Climate Fund the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change, which will make a significant contribution towards the UKs pledge to spend 11.6 billion on international climate finance, cementing our global climate leadership. It also comes after the recently announced Alive with Opportunity campaign from the UK Government, designed to showcase the deep bond between Britain and India and build on the continuous exchange of people, ideas and culture. The campaign is part of the UKs ambitions to double trade with India by 2030. Bill Winters, CBE, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered and UK Chair of the India-UK Financial Partnership (IUKFP), said: I was delighted to lead a delegation of UK business leaders to accompany the Chancellor of the Exchequer to New Delhi and participate in the EFD. The IUKFP is a crucial platform for UK-India cooperation on issues of critical importance to our respective financial and related professional services industries. This innovative public-private partnership has delivered real benefits for both our nations. We look forward to working with both governments to advance our shared goals, including deepening our bilateral trade and investment relationship, greening our financial systems, enhancing collaboration on financial innovation, and enabling cross-border data flows. India and the UK are natural partners, and there are valuable opportunities for us to learn from our respective successes and benefits to be gained by harnessing our full potential. Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Cooperation, said: I am delighted that the City of London Corporation is able to play a part in the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) through the India-UK Financial Partnership and our co-sponsorship of the UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) with the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog). "This new infrastructure initiative is aimed at leveraging the City of Londons expertise in structuring and phasing major projects to meet Indias infrastructure needs smoothing the path for long-term sustainable investment into India. The EFD marks the strength of the partnership between the UK and India and lays an excellent foundation for future ventures between our financial and professional services sectors. Photo courtesy: PIB Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden welcomed deepening academic relations between the two nations as IIT Council signs MoU with Association of American Universities to establish Indo-US Global Challenges Institute A number of other multi- institutional collaborations in academics and research were welcomed in the US-India joint statement following the bilateral meeting of the two leaders ahead of the G20 meeting. The Indo-US Global Challenges Institute will provide a platform for addressing strategic research programs that require interdisciplinary solutions in critical & emerging technologies The MoU was signed by AAU President Barbara Snyder, and Abhay Karandikar on behalf of IIT Council representing Indian universities As the G-20 Summit gets underway, India-USA collaborations have deepened in the education sector. In a joint statement following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden ahead of the G20 Summit, the two leaders have welcomed several multi-institutional collaborations between the two countries. In a groundbreaking initiative, IIT Council on behalf of all higher educational institutes in India entered into an MoU with the Association of American Universities (AAU) to establish and seek support for the Indo-US Global Challenges Institute. The intent to set up the institute had been announced in June this year, during the US visit of Prime Minister Modi. The Institute will seek to address some of the most consequential economic, environmental, and technological challenges that have the potential to affect the security, prosperity, and stability of both countries. The Institute will be a virtual network of partner universities and provide a platform for addressing strategic research programs that require interdisciplinary solutions in critical & emerging technologies such as sustainable energy and agriculture, health & pandemic preparedness, semiconductor technology and manufacturing, advanced materials, telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum science. The joint Indo-US Global Challenges Institute Governing Council will develop an organizational framework to promote research collaborations, create knowledge sharing platforms, work towards resource mobilization, and ensure inclusive growth of research enterprise. The MoU was signed by Prof. Barbara Snyder, President of AAU and Prof. Abhay Karandikar on behalf of the IIT Council representing all higher educational institutes of India. In another significant partnership, IIT Bombay has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as an international partner. This will give shape to a shared vision of a global quantum economy catalyzed by a bedrock of India-US cooperation. Another collaborative institutional partnership has been formalized between the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to launch the New York University-Tandon and IIT Kanpur Advanced Research Center in critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, multi-institutional Joint Research Centers involving the State University of New York at Buffalo and IIT Delhi, Kanpur, Jodhpur, and BHU are also being set up in the areas of critical and emerging technologies. A novel initiative of academia-startup partnership, under the India-U.S. Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X), was recently kicked-off through a Joint Accelerator Program workshop with Indian Startups and multiple higher educational institutes. This initiative aims to engage startups in developing innovative solutions to mutual defence technology challenges in India and USA. Expressing satisfaction at the signing of these partnerships, Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has said that this is a sign of the growing relationship between India and the United States in education, research and skill development. He said that these partnerships are also in consonance with the priority set by the G20 Education Working Group under the Indian presidency to enhance academic and research collaborations among G20 countries. Commending our institutions for their initiatives, the minister expressed confidence that groundbreaking work will emerge from these collaborations to address global challenges in critical and emerging technologies. Image Credit: PIB New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss trade, economy, defence and cultural cooperation in a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud here on Monday. The Saudi Crown Prince is in India for a three-day tour which began with the G20 Summit, which concluded on Sunday. In the meeting, which will be held at Hyderabad House, Modi and Mohammed bin Salman will co-chair the First Leaders' Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. Strategic Partnership Council is an agreement which was signed between the two nations Riyadh in 2019. The two leaders are also expected to discuss other aspects of bilateral relations including political, security, social et al. Modi announces India-Middle East-Europe corridor Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) with India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US as its members. The corridor will provide a new direction to connectivity and sustainable development of the entire world, said PM Modi In his remarks, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of physical, digital, and financial connectivity. He said that IMEC would help promote economic integration between India and Europe. "Today we all have reached an important and historic partnership. In the coming times, it will be a major medium of economic integration between India, West Asia and Europe," he said. The corridor will give a new direction to connectivity and sustainable development of entire world, said PM Modi Photo Courtesy: Pixabay A retired employee of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) was shot dead by three masked men in Aspur Devsara area of Pratapgarh district here in Uttar Pradesh, police sources said here on Monday. Police sources said that Shyam Shankar Tiwari (62), a resident of Akaripur village, was shot dead by three persons while he was going to the temple near his house late on Sunday night. "According to the family members the incident took place over an old rivalry," they said. Sources said that on the complaint of the deceased's son Shivam Tiwari a case has been filed against one named and two unidentified persons. "The body has been sent for postmortem examination and the matter is being investigated," they said. (With UNI inputs) PM Narendra Modi in a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at Hyderabad house, in New Delhi on September 11, 2023. Photo Courtesy: PIB Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India and Saudi Arabia's cooperation is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region. In a bilateral meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in New Delhi, Modi said, "We are adding a new dimension to our ties in tune with changing times. For India, Saudi Arabia is one of our most important strategic partners." During the meeting, both leaders reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the strategic partnership. "As the world's two largest and fastest-growing economies, our mutual cooperation is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region," he added. The PM said, "Saudi Arabia is important for India. I once again thank His Royal Highness for his contribution to the success of the G20 Summit. Calling the decision to build the economic corridor between India, West Asia, and Europe "historic", the Prime Minister said, "This corridor will not only connect two countries, but also help in providing economic growth and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe." Speaking at the meeting, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said, "There was no disagreement at all during the history of India-Saudi Arabia relationship, but there is cooperation to build the future of our country and create opportunities". "Today we are working on future opportunities... I congratulate you (Modi) on the management of the G20 Summit and the initiatives achieved, including the Economic Corridor linking the Middle East, India, and Europe, which requires that we work diligently in order to make it a reality," Saud added. Both leaders also co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC). At the meeting, the Prime Minister said that during the talks, both nations had identified several initiatives to take the partnership to the next level. "Today's talks will provide new energy and direction to the relations. This will provide us inspiration to work together for the welfare of humanity," he added. After the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince signed the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council. The Crown Prince is on a three-day state visit to India. He arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the 18th G20 summit. Earlier this morning, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. India is the second-largest trade partner for Saudi Arabia, whereas Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth-largest trading partner. During the financial year 202223, bilateral trade was valued at over 52 billion dollars. Saudi direct investments in India amount to over three billion dollars. (With UNI Inputs) Representative image/ courtesy: UNI Chennai/IBNS/UNI: In a freak accident, seven women were killed and ten others, including five women, were injured when a tourist van fell on them after it was rammed by a goods-laden lorry near Natrampalli in Tirupattur district of Tamil Nadu on the Chennai- Bengaluru National Highway (NH-44) on Monday. According to reports, the deceased women were returning to their hometown near Permanbut town in Vellore district, about 70 km from the accident spot, after visiting various pilgrim centres in Karnataka when the accident occurred. Police said the seven women, identified as--P.Selvi alias Settammal (55), M.Meera (51),S.Devaki (50), K.Kalavathi (50), K.Savitri (42), R.Geetanjali (35), and D.Devayani (32)--were sitting on the concrete median, after one of the front tires of the tourist van, in which they were returning to their hometown, got burst. After parking the vehicle close to the median, the driver of the tourist vehicle was replacing the damaged tire, when a goods-laden lorry rammed into the rear side. In the impact, the tourist van fell on the seven women sitting on the median, killing them on the spot. Ten people, including the tourist van driver and the lorry driver, received injuries and were admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Krishnagiri and Tirupattur and to the Government Taluk Hospital in Vaniyambadi for treatment. Police and other district officials rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to the Tirupattur government hospital for post-mortem. Police said the deceased women along with eight of their relatives from Pernambut town, went on a visit to various pilgrims and tourist centres in Karnataka on Sept 8 by hiring a tourist van, when the tragedy occurred while they were returning home. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced compensations for the next kins of the deceased and those injured in the road mishap. Rahul Gandhi speaking at the Paris event/ courtesy: Facebook page New Delhi/IBNS: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), declaring that they "have nothing to do with Hinduism" and that "there is nothing Hindu about what the BJP does...". Gandhi was at an event in France on Sunday, Gandhi said, "I have read the Gita, a number of the Upanishads and many Hindu books... absolutely nothing Hindu about it (the BJP)... " "I have not read anywhere in any Hindu book, or heard from any learned Hindu person, that you should terrorise or harm people weaker than you. This idea... this word - 'Hindu nationalist' - this is a wrong word. They are not 'Hindu nationalists'... they have nothing to do with Hinduism," Gandhi emphasised. I have read the Gita, Upanishads and many Hindu books. There is nothing Hindu about what the BJP doesabsolutely nothing. I have not read anywhere in any Hindu book or heard from any learned Hindu person that you should terrorize or harm people who are weaker than you. They pic.twitter.com/mEj2vOrAxq Congress (@INCIndia) September 10, 2023 Interacting with students at Paris' Sciences PO University, he slammed the Indian government, accusing them of being "out to gain power at any cost". "They (BJP and RSS) have nothing to do with Hinduism. They are out to gain power at any cost... and will do anything to ensure the caste structure and social structure of my country is not threatened," he said. His comments came after a question about the "scary radicalisation of youth by Hindutva forces". This is not the first time he has attacked the BJP on this topic. In 2021, he called them "fake Hindus" who "use" religion for their benefit. The Indian government often faces criticisms abroad over allegations about oppressing the oppositions' voices Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)/Wikimedia Commons There is fantastic news for all Captain American fans as actor Chris Evans and Alba Baptista have tied the knot after dating for over a year. The actor, 42, wed Alba Baptista during a ceremony at a private estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, US, on Saturday, a source told People magazine. Many of the couple's famous friends were spotted in nearby Boston for the wedding, including Evans' Marvel costars Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, Susan Downey; Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky; and Jeremy Renner; plus John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, People reported. According to reports, the couple has been dating for more than a year. A source told People: "They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her." Portuguese actress Alba Baptista starred in multiple Portuguese series and films such as A Impostora, Filha da Lei, A Criacao, and Jogo Duplo. From 2020 to 2022, she starred in the Netflix series Warrior Nun, which marked her English-language debut. Evans started his career with his appearance in television series such as Opposite Sex in 2000. Following appearances in several teen films, including 2001's Not Another Teen Movie, he gained attention for his portrayal of Marvel Comics character the Human Torch in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). Evans made further appearances in film adaptations of comic books and graphic novels: TMNT (2007), Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), and Snowpiercer (2013). Evans gained wider recognition for portraying Steve Rogers / Captain America in various Marvel Cinematic Universe films, from Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). His work in the franchise established him as one of the world's highest-paid actors. Aside from comic book roles, Evans has starred in the drama Gifted (2017), the mystery film Knives Out (2019), the television miniseries Defending Jacob (2020), and the action film The Gray Man (2022). He also voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Pixar's Toy Story spin-off film Lightyear (2022). Photo Courtesy: Silvia Parveen Lenny X page An image of UK PM Rishi Sunak, sitting down on one knee, while speaking to his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the G20 Summit is earning warm affection from netizens. The picture is now viral on the internet. Big man don't have ego! Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of UK sat down on the floor to match the comfort - in a tetatete with with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. #G20 pic.twitter.com/6oAbzuskbd Ayanangsha Maitra (@Ayanangsha) September 10, 2023 Several netizens praised the British PM's gesture and one of them, sharing the image on X, wrote: "Big man don't have ego! Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of UK sat down on the floor to match the comfort - in a tetatete with with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. #G20." What a lovely & an adorable picture of Our HPM Sheikh hasina & @RishiSunak. pic.twitter.com/OS0Mwu6hN9 Silvia Parveen Lenny (@ParveenLenny) September 10, 2023 Another netizen shared the photo and described it as 'adorable'. Rishi Sunak ji is such a gentleman. He meets Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina ji with such humbleness. More power to @RishiSunak Ji pic.twitter.com/51rgSuuCOE Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) September 10, 2023 "What a lovely & an adorable picture of Our HPM Sheikh hasina & @RishiSunak," wrote the X user on the platform. Also Read: G20 Meeting: Rishi Sunak, Narendra Modi discuss ways to deepen trade linkages, boost investment Another netizen called Sunak a 'gentleman' for the act. "Rishi Sunak ji is such a gentleman. He meets Bangladesh's PM Sheikh Hasina ji with such humbleness," she said. Rishi Sunak visited India over the weekend to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Sunak, who visited New Delhi's Akshardham Temple by taking a brief break from his busy G20 schedule, on Sunday said he is a 'proud Hindu' and his India-origin root will always help him connect with the country. Also Read: I am a proud Hindu, says British PM Rishi Sunak after visiting Akshardham Temple in New Delhi "I am hugely proud of my Indian roots and my connections to India ... being a proud Hindu means I will always have a connection to India and the people of India," the PM was quoted as saying in an X post by the British High Commission. "I am hugely proud of my Indian roots and my connections to India ... being a proud Hindu means I will always have a connection to India and the people of India." Also Read: PM Modi, British PM Sunak discuss free trade deal This was Rishi Sunak's first official visit to India since becoming Britain's Prime Minister. Before leaving India after the completion of the summit, Sunak described the G20 meet as 'historic' and 'thanked' his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for hosting the event. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is believed to be travelling in a special train from Pyongyang to Vladivostok to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) A special train, which is believed to be carrying Kim Jong Un, is heading towards Vladivostok city in Russia where the North Korean leader is likely to meet President Vladimir Putin, South Korean media outlets reported. "The intelligence authorities believe the train presumed to be carrying Kim Jong-Un is moving to Vladivostok," a South Korean official told Yonhap News Agency. Another senior official confirmed to the South Korean news agency that Kim Jong Un appears to have departed Pyongyang and is headed to Russia. Meanwhile, the Russian government has confirmed that Kim Jong Un will visit Moscow at the invitation of Vladimir Putin. "At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days," the Kremlin said in a statement as quoted by Sputnik Globe. However, the exact date of the visit or whether a meeting with Putin is planned has not been specified in the statement. The two leaders are likely to discuss the possibility of North Korea supplying weapons to Moscow to support the ongoing war in Ukraine. A U.S. official earlier told CBS News that the North Korean leader will discuss the possibility of his nation supplying weapons to Moscow to support its war against Ukraine. US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters recently as quoted by CBS News that Russia's Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, recently travelled to North Korea to "try to convince Pyongyang to send artillery ammunition" to Russia, and after the visit, Putin and Kim exchanged letters "pledging to increase their bilateral cooperation." According to reports, Kim Jong Un and Putin last met in April 2019 in Vladivostok. Seven terrorists killed during exchange of fire with security forces in Pakistan. Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Flare At least seven terrorists were killed and six injured during an exchange of fire with Pakistani security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Chitral district on Saturday, media reports said on Monday. The army troops effectively engaged terrorists' location and resultantly, seven terrorists were killed while another six were critically injured, read the statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, the statement said. Pakistan is witnessing a spike in terror attacks in regions like KP and Balochistan after outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government last year in November. A report released in July by the think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said the first half of the current year witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 389 people across the country, reports Dawn News. Photo Courtesy: UNI Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for boosting the capacities of the national army, the Chinese Defence Ministry said on Monday. "Xi called for improving the quality and level of combat readiness, increasing training in key and complex issues, as well as strengthening new combat abilities," the defence ministry said in a statement. The Chinese leader also noted the importance of comprehensive strengthening of "party building" within the armed forces and of maintaining a high degree of integrity, unity, security and stability of the troops. China is holding a joint ground forces exercise with Singapore from late August until mid-September to strengthen practical cooperation between both states' armies and increase the level of real combat training of the troops. (With UNI Inputs) Image: Wikimedia Commons A Frontier Constabulary (FC) official died and eight others, including two civilians, were hurt as a blast occurred close to Prime Hospital Complex in Pakistan's Peshawar city on Monday. Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan told Dawn News that a vehicle of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa FCs Mohmand Rifles regiment was targeted in the attack at around 10:30am. The vehicle was headed towards Peshawar from Machni when the blast occurred, he said. SP Khan said that one FC official was killed as a result while six FC officials and two civilians were also injured. Stating that there was no prior threat, he said the blast was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED). The SP said further probe into the incident is currently going on. Until a few years ago, Indias sexual wellness market was a dimly lit lane in underground Palika Bazar that you visited secretively to buy a personal massager. Or a shadowy lane in Fort, Mumbai, lined with dildos that magically vanished at the slightest hint of a police patrol. Thankfully, those days are history. The marketplace is now accessible on your phone, in the comfort and privacy of your home and a bunch of homegrown brands have made it possible. The digital age has transformed how we approach and embrace sexual health, with a focus on frank, open discussions about sexuality. Shows like Netflixs Sex Education paved the path. Bollywood has followed suit: Think Swara Bhasker in Veere Di Wedding or entire seasons of Made in Heaven and Lust Stories. Its a whole new world of empowerment and freedom to explore desire without fear or judgment. And brands like MyMuse, That Sassy Thing, The Sangya Project, and Leezus have kept their ear to the ground. MyMuse, a luxury sexual wellness brand that sells massagers, lubricants and even intimate card games, was founded by Anushka and Sahil Gupta in 2020. The husband-wife duo honed their expertise in business and marketing at international universities. Meanwhile, Leezus launched in 2022, which also sells massagers and lubricants, is the brainchild of Leeza Mangaldas, a pleasure-positive content creator and author of the acclaimed The Sex Book: A Joyful Journey of Self-Discovery. MyMuse Both these brands are on a mission to destigmatise sexual wellness in a country where repression is the norm. Drawing from their experiences, Gupta and Mangaldas vowed to create all-encompassing platforms where individuals could unapologetically embrace their sensuality. But they are also reacting to sound research. According to this paper, Indias sexual wellness market was valued at $1,153.5 million three years ago and is expected to reach $2,095.4 million by 2030. Unsurprising, considering 60% of Indias population is under 35. Sexy Time For Mangaldas, who studied at Columbia University, returning to Mumbai as a young woman exploring her sexuality was tough and a far cry from student life, where shed conducted consent training workshops and educated peers about safer sex practices. In India, there was a paucity of platforms providing easily accessible, non-judgemental information contextualised to India, where people could share questions, experiences, and resources about sex and sexuality. As a young, unmarried woman, even accessing contraception or an STI test could feel like such an obstacle course, let alone talking about sexual pleasure, she said. About five years ago, Mangaldas started creating pleasure-positive, inclusive sex education content on YouTube and other social media platforms. From what works during sex to busting myths, Mangaldas provides nuanced information in her videos that routinely cross 500k+ views. Around the same time, the Guptas were contemplating starting a venture in the health sector. While they initially considered starting a content platform, during the pandemic they noticed the lack of access to good sexual wellness products in India, such as polygenic condoms and clean lubricants. Therein lay an opportunity. Leezu According to research that MyMuse conducted, around 91% of their audience turned out to be first-time users, and a significant percentage were from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. They also discovered that Indian men not only buy products for themselves but also massagers for their partners: 38% of men bought female massagers. All of this turned into insights that shaped their products. This category already requires product education. We aim to simplify it by curating test products and making shopping easier, said Anushka. We wanted the products to be around the entire realm of intimacy, and not focus on physical acts. It was very much like a design exercise. MyMuse launched four products: A massager named Pulse, a lubricant, a massage oil for daily use, and a candle. The brand spent considerable time just showing images to focus groups to see what resonated with them, and what shapes, sizes, and forms would work. We wanted to create a massager that was versatile, universal, and comfortable, said Anushka. This dictated the minimal, discreet design of Pulse. MyMuses research also found that most lubricants available in India were of poor quality and had fragrances that harm vaginal health. So they launched Glide, a water-based lubricant, approved by gynaecologists. MyMuse The Pleasure is Ours There were hurdles, of course. The Guptas faced some negativity online but realised that candour and sensitivity went a long way in encouraging customers to open up. For Mangaldas, the challenges were a lot more prosaic. In India, if you are working as a sexuality educator or a sex tech entrepreneur, you have the twin challenges of sex-negative and shame-laden societal attitudes and anachronistic colonial-era obscenity laws, as well as sex-negative content restrictions and ad policies on social and digital media, she said. Many of these policies are also applied inconsistently and often in sexist ways. However, the messages of support and interest that Mangaldas received convinced her that people were receptive to sex education. After years of interacting with her followers, Mangaldas launched a dual-ended massager named Pyaari, with five suction and 10 vibration modes, and a massage oil. All of her products aim to help women and queer people own their pleasure and bodily autonomy. Their approach and language might differ MyMuse exudes class and sexiness, while Leezus pop-colour products and aesthetic radiate cheerfulness and fun but both the brands agree on one thing: Providing a judgment-free space to their consumers is non-negotiable. MyMuse has an anonymous section on their website, where readers (especially newbies) send in personal questions and their experts write back with advice over email. A quiz on the website offers further help. Leezu, whose brand is based on providing scientifically accurate information, says her focus is on making products that make intimacy more comfortable, enjoyable, and equitable. Leeza Mangaldas/Instagram In a country like India, sexual wellness advocacy couldnt have come a minute too soon. Lets explore! A 47-year-old man from the United States caused a heated debate on social media with a Reddit post. He described an incident where he left his 43-year-old wife, Meg, at the airport and took a flight without her. This situation also involves their 21-year-old daughter, Jess, whom he had before marrying Meg. Since Jess was in another U.S. state, the couple planned a "long weekend" visit to see her. The man saw himself as a "Type A" personality, contrasting with his wife's more laid-back nature. "I like to have everything organized and make sure that we get where we need to be early, especially when traveling," the man wrote on Reddit. "My wife is the opposite, very go with the flow and we will get there when we get there," he added. The couple, married for nearly a decade, has a daughter from the man's previous marriage who is now attending college on the opposite coast, according to the New York Post. They make frequent visits to see her. Unsplash In his Reddit post, the man revealed that he had been experiencing anxiety the days before their latest trip. This was because his wife's actions had caused them to miss their flight to visit their daughter the previous year. He described how he had attempted to wake her up five times, but she decided to take a shower, make coffee, and have cereal while he nervously waited for their flight. When his wife was finally ready, they reached the gate, but their flight had departed. They had initially planned to spend two days with their daughter, and he was enthusiastic about maximizing their time together during this visit. However, on this occasion, the couple arrived at the gate well in advance, which eased the man but irritated his wife, who continued to complain about the wait to board. They successfully boarded their first flight and landed less than an hour before their connecting flight. To reach the second gate, they had to take several trains. They reached their departure gate with just 15 minutes to spare. Then, his wife expressed a craving for coffee, but she declined his offer to buy something from the nearby market close to their gate. Instead, she insisted on getting Starbucks coffee, which required a train trip. "I tried to talk her down, but she was adamant. She walked away at a quick pace for her, saying shed be back in time," the man mentioned. After 15 minutes, the plane started boarding, but his wife hadn't returned. He waited at the gate until a crew member told him the door needed to be closed in two minutes, so he had to be in his seat or leave the boarding ramp. He said he tried to plead with the airline employee, but they said they couldn't delay the plane any longer. His wife called him a few minutes after he had taken his seat. He encouraged her to get a ticket for the next flight and left to spend the weekend with his daughter. Some believed his wife deserved to be left behind, while others thought he was "crazy." For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. The September 11 attacks, often called 9/11, stand as one of the most devastating acts of terrorism in the annals of the United States. This catastrophic event, which unfolded in 2001, encompassed a sequence of airline hijackings and suicide missions aimed at New York City and Washington, D.C. The impact was deep, leading to widespread destruction and the heartbreaking loss of almost 3,000 lives. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, believed to be the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, was once part of the Muslim Brotherhood. Before 9/11, he attempted to blow up over a dozen American planes in the 1990s, but his plan failed. Later, he joined forces with Osama bin Laden to orchestrate the 9/11 terrorist attack. According to the AP, more than 20 years after the 9/11 attacks, the remains of two victims from the World Trade Center have been identified, marking another step in the ongoing effort to reunite them with their families. Just days before the 22nd anniversary of the hijacked plane attack, authorities verified the identification of a man's and a woman's remains. At the families' request, city officials have chosen not to disclose their names. As per a report in AP, New York City's medical examiner has successfully linked remains to 1,649 World Trade Center victims. They use advanced DNA sequencing techniques to test body fragments found in the rubble. Officials noted that improvements in sequencing technology, with greater test sensitivity and quicker results, have identified remains that had tested negative for identifiable DNA for many years. According to AP reports, the U.S. military also employs similar methods to identify missing service members. (Also read: 15 Years On These Documentaries Reveal The Mysteries, Conspiracies And Rumours Surrounding 9/11) They use these techniques to test body fragments from over 100 individuals who died in the Maui wildfires last month. Agencies The reports also mention that the most recent identification took place in 2019. Over 1,000 human remains remain unidentified from the September 11, 2001, attacks. These remains are currently preserved at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Seldom does a day pass without the worlds richest person Elon Musk being in the news. The billionaire is often in the limelight for some reason or the other, whether its his personal life, or his professional life. And now, his soon to be released biography book is expected to reveal more details about both aspects of his life. Elon Musk's Biography To Release On 12th Sept Reuters The biography, which releases on 12th September, portrays the billionaire entrepreneur as a complex, tortured figure whose brilliance is often overshadowed by his inability to relate on a human level to the people around him his wives, his children and those on whom he relied to help develop the space exploration and electric car businesses that made him the wealthiest man on earth. The book is by Walter Isaacson, the journalist whose previous works have chronicled the lives of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin, as per The New York Times report that has reviewed the book in detail. It opens with a quote from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who once said, The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do. Here is what all one can expect to be revealed in the worlds richest person Elon Musks soon to be released biography book. What All To Expect From Elon Musk's Biography NYT Also Read: Why Apple CEO Tim Cook Once Rejected Elon Musk's Offer To Buy Tesla Elon Musk had bought Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion, after a surprise bid for the company and then a seeming reluctance to follow through with the deal. -Days after Twitters board approved the deal, Musk told his four teenage sons that he had purchased the social network to sway the next U.S. presidential election. How else are we going to get Trump elected in 2024? he said. (It was a joke, Isaacson writes, but Musks sons still didnt understand his rationale for buying Twitter, an app they rarely used.) -After acquiring Twitter, Elon Musk and his lieutenants combed through its employees internal communications and social media posts, looking for signs of disloyalty, Mr. Isaacson writes. The musketeers, as Musk loyalists were known inside Twitter, searched Twitters Slack archives for keywords including Elon, and fired dozens of employees who had made snarky comments about Musk. -Musk staged a surprise raid on a Twitter data facility in Sacramento, Calif., last winter, shortly after acquiring the company. Musk had decided to move servers housed in the facility to another Twitter data center to cut costs, but Twitters infrastructure leaders warned him that moving the expensive equipment safely could take months. In a fit of anger, Mr. Musk decided to move the servers himself, enlisting a small team and a flock of moving vans to haul them away on Christmas Eve. (He later said he regretted the decision, which led to service outages.) Also Read: 15 Books Recommended By Billionaire Warren Buffett For Investors Revelations About Personal Life Reuters Elon Musks sprawling family has been a source of comfort amid the frequent turmoil of his industry-spanning business interests, Mr. Isaacson writes. But his relationship with his father, Errol, is a source of trauma that remains with him. -Elon Musks father is described as emotionally and physically abusive and is quoted speaking disparagingly of Black people. When Mr. Musk agreed in 2016 to meet his father, from whom he has been largely estranged, a friend recalls to Mr. Isaacson, It was the only time I had ever seen Elons hands shaking. Mr. Isaacson writes, There are certain people who occupy a demons corner of Musks head space. They trigger him, turn him dark, and rouse a cold anger. His father is number one. -While the musician Grimes, also known as Claire Boucher, was giving birth to his son X in May 2020, Musk took a picture of the delivery and shared it with his friends and family, including her father and brothers. Grimes was understandably horrified and scrambled to get it deleted. He was just clueless about why Id be upset, she told Mr. Isaacson. Also, Elon Musk and his ex-partner Grimes share three children, not two as previously believed, according to the biography about the Tesla CEO, Independent reported. According to The New York Times' review of Elon Musk's biography, Musk and Ms. Grimes welcomed a third child, a son named Techno Mechanicus, who also goes by ''Tau.'' However, not much is known about him or when he was born, and his identity has been a closely guarded secret. Musk now has ten known biological children with three different women. Politics & Donald Trump AFP Elon Musks politics defy simple categorization. Despite his attacks on liberal critics, his rants against woke Democrats and his occasional promotion of far-right conspiracy theories, he is portrayed as more disillusioned with the leftward drift of the Democratic Party than he is a fan of Republicans. -Musk repeatedly professes not to be an admirer of former President Donald J. Trump, telling his biographer, Im not Trumps fan. Hes disruptive. Mr. Isaacson writes that Mr. Musk harbors a deep disdain for the former president whom he considered a con man and seemed, Mr. Musk says, kind of nuts. -But neither is he a Biden supporter, though he tells Mr. Isaacson that he would have voted for Mr. Biden in 2020 had he cast a ballot. (He decided not to vote because he was registered in California and considered it a waste because the state was not competitive in the presidential election.) Mr. Musk describes an encounter with Mr. Biden several years ago in which he came away unimpressed. When he was vice president, I went to a lunch with him in San Francisco where he droned on for an hour and was boring as hell, like one of those dolls where you pull the string and it just says the same mindless phrases over and over. What About Artificial Intelligence? Reuters Elon Musk has long been worried about artificial intelligence, which he considers a potential existential threat. He was a co-founder of OpenAI before breaking ties with the organization in 2018, and recently announced he was forming a rival A.I. company, X.AI. -Musk summoned Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, to a meeting at Twitters headquarters in February 2023, shortly after the release of ChatGPT. Mr. Musk angrily asked Mr. Altman to justify how he could legally transform a nonprofit funded by donations into a for-profit that could make millions. The encounter, Mr. Isaacson writes, left Mr. Altman pained. -Musks decision to start X.AI came partly out of concerns about underpopulation. (He is the father of 10 children.) The amount of human intelligence, he noted, was leveling off because people were not having enough children. Meanwhile, the amount of computer intelligence was going up exponentially, Mr. Isaacson writes. Mr. Musk believed that at some point, biological brainpower would be dwarfed by digital brainpower. -Musk gave X.AIs early employees three goals: Create an A.I. chatbot capable of writing code, an A.I. chatbot trained to be politically neutral and an artificial intelligence that could reason and pursue truth. You should be able to give it big tasks, such as Build a better rocket engine, Musk told Mr. Isaacson. fox Musks relationship with the media, which was already strained before he bought Twitter, reached new levels of tension after the deal was announced. -The Seinfeld co-creator Larry David confronted Elon Musk at the wedding in 2022 of Ari Emanuel, the chief executive of the media conglomerate Endeavor, who had seated them at the same table. Do you just want to murder kids in schools? Mr. David asked Mr. Musk, grilling him on his support of Republican candidates in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 students dead. No, no, Mr. Musk replied, according to Mr. Isaacson. Im anti-kid murder. Mr. Emanuel also seated the MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, another Musk critic, at the same table. It ended up being a microcosm of Twitter, Mr. Isaacson wrote. -As Musks erratic tweets damaged Twitters relationship with advertisers, he sought counsel from boldfaced names in the media industry on how to repair the rift. One was David Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns HBO, the Warner Bros. movie studio and CNN. They spoke for more than an hour. Zaslav told him that he was doing self-destructive things that made it harder to attract brands that were aspirational. He should focus on improving the product by adding longer video offerings and making ads more effective. Also Read: 10 Times Elon Musk Has Taken A U-Turn Since Buying Twitter Revelations About Tesla & SpaceX getty For years, Tesla has been the highest-profile business in Musks portfolio of companies, serving as a constant source of pride and stress. -The companys early struggles contributed to a long, difficult period for Musk, one that took a physical and mental toll, he told Mr. Isaacson in a 2021 interview. You cant be in a constant fight for survival, always in adrenaline mode, and not have it hurt you, Mr. Musk said. But he also acknowledged that he had found purpose under pressure: When you are no longer in a survive-or-die mode, its not that easy to get motivated every day. -Even as the company found success, it attracted critics in the form of short-sellers who bet against Teslas stock. That practice reached a fever pitch in 2018 as Tesla struggled to meet production goals, infuriating Mr. Musk, who called short-sellers leeches on the neck of business. But he acknowledged that some of those traders had also collected an impressively accurate picture of the company from insiders and even drones flying over Teslas factory. The degree of inside information they had was insane, he said. -Production sprints and struggles at Tesla and the space exploration company SpaceX also sharpened Mr. Musks philosophy, which he distilled into a five-step approach that he called the algorithm and which he repeatedly invoked to employees. It involved, in order: questioning requirements, deleting parts or processes, simplifying and optimizing, accelerating processes, and, finally, automating. I became a broken record on the algorithm, Musk told Mr. Isaacson. Also, Elon Musk created SpaceX to help humanity become a multi-planetary species. The companys success so far is a credit to his willingness to accept risks, sometimes successfully and sometimes not, as per the report. theintercept -During the countdown to a pivotal launch in 2015, an unidentified liquid began dripping from a Falcon 9 rocket, frightening Mark Juncosa, a top SpaceX official. Musk deliberated briefly before deciding to proceed, resulting in a successful launch. At the time, Mr. Juncosa assumed that Mr. Musk had based that decision on a complicated risk assessment, but realized he was wrong after reviewing footage years later. I thought he had done some complex quick calculations to decide what to do, but in fact he just shrugged his shoulders and gave the order, Mr. Juncosa said of Musk. He had an intuition of what the physics were. -To achieve interplanetary flight in the future, SpaceX needed to find a way to make money in the present. So in 2015, Musk announced Starlink, seeking to tap into the lucrative market of providing internet service, in this case through a constellation of low-orbit satellites. The service has become a vital lifeline to people in war zones and helped the Ukrainian military defend against Russian invasion. But Musk has also been criticized for not allowing Ukraine to use the service to launch a drone attack on a Russian naval base last year, fearing that it would have provoked a major escalation in the war. We did not want to be a part of that, Musk said. -In 2021, SpaceX for the first time successfully sent a crew into orbit without a professional astronaut aboard. Afterward, Mr. Musk reflected on the role that he and his company had played in advancing space exploration. Building mass-market electric cars was inevitable, he said. It would have happened without me. But becoming a space-faring civilization is not inevitable. He added, This flight was a great example of how progress requires human agency. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here. PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Nikos Androulakis paid a visit to animal farmers wiped out by the floods in Platykampos, in Thessaly's city of Larissa , on Sunday. The forecasts for Karditsa, central Greece, had warned of the threat of severe flooding, but there was no timely intervention and coordination by the government , SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance spokesperson Stergios Kalpakis told Action 24 news station on Saturday " September 09/10, 2023 - Information Clearing House - " People's Voice ---The founder of Wikipedia has issued a stark warning to the public about the site he helped create, claiming that the U.S. government has taken it over as a tool for information warfare against the public. Millions of unwitting Americans use Wikipedia as an authoritative source of information on the Internet. Google and social media companies promote Wikipedia to the top of their search results and use the data posted on the site as definitive facts when users are looking for information. However, the data contained within Wikipedia are often generated and edited by a shadowy group of activists who seek to advance a political and social narrative. According to Wikipedia co-founder Lawrence Mark Sanger, the CIA and other alphabet intelligence agencies are now in charge of Wikipedia and use it to manipulate public opinion. Sanger claims the CIA and FBI have been secretly operating the site for the past 15 years. He made the bombshell admission during an interview with Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald. Sanger claims that Wikipedia has become a tool of control in the hands of the U.S. government. He warns that the site is now heavily controlled by the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence agencies. We do have evidence that even as early as 2008 that CIA and FBI computers were used to edit Wikipedia, Sanger told Greenwald. Do you think that they stopped doing that back then? Just how did we get to a point where truth is tied to a particular ideology? Sanger asked. Sanger highlighted the gradual change he observed in Wikipedias content over the past several years. He began noticing that from 2006 to 2008, articles related to controversial topics in science started to express far-left biases. Sanger explains that scientific pages related to topics such as global warming and Big Pharma, shifted from science to far-left propaganda. Then I started noticing around 2010 to 2015 that articles on like Eastern medicine and holistic medicine were so obviously biased, Sanger said. It really got over the top between 2013 and 2018, he continued. Greenwald agreed that President Trumps rise in American politics had a huge impact on the severity of the propaganda. They note that the liberal establishment narrative aimed at countering President Trump was strikingly apparent in Wikipedias content. Sanger also expressed concern about the abandonment of Wikipedias original neutrality policy. He warns that rank and file Wikipedians those responsible for the bulk of editing on the site now take cues from liberal corporate media outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times. Sanger also pointed out that Wikipedia officially lists 80 percent of the major sources of news on the right to be unreliable. By the time of the Trump administration, Wikipedias bias had massively intensified, Sanger said. Sanger claimed that no encyclopedia to my knowledge has been as biased as Wikipedia has been. He believed that Wikipedia became a target for weaponization between 2005 and 2015, with information warfare conducted online. Sanger claims that sites like Wikipedia play a central role in this conflict. Instead of using Wikipedia, Sanger recommends other online encyclopedias such as Ballotpedia and Conservapedia. However, Sanger notes that these more trustworthy Wikipedia alternatives are hidden in the search results provided by Google. Greenwald, a longtime Democrat who previously supported the Obama administration, revealed that hes no stranger to the weaponization of new information tools. Greenwald describes the hijacking of Wikipedia as the most valuable propaganda arm of any other weapon. Watch: Slaynews.com reports: Greenwald said he had been targeted with political attacks and weaponized propaganda due to his involvement in whistleblower Edward Snowdens release of U.S. government secrets. Sangers revelations aligned with findings from a programming student named Virgil Griffith, who first published evidence of CIA and FBI activity on Wikipedia in 2007. According to a 2007 Reuters report, Griffith had developed a program, called Wikiscanner. The program could trace the location of computers used to edit Wikipedia articles. The Huffington Post reported in 2008 that the CIA and FBI were found to have edited numerous articles, removing incriminating information. The CIA, for example, used its computers to remove casualty counts from the Iraq War. The FBI, meanwhile, removed images of Guantanamo Bay and edited articles on various subjects. Sanger concluded that intelligence agencies either paid influential individuals to advance their agendas or developed their own personnel within the intelligence community to manipulate Wikipedia content to their advantage. " September 10/11, 2023 - Information Clearing House - " The Telegraph --- Despite the official blackout, we can reasonably infer that these emails pose a real danger to President Biden, or at least that he perceives that they one day might. The documents are stored at the National Archives, and Biden need only ask to get them released. That he has refused to do so raises some uncomfortable questions. This is, after all, the very same man who promised to provide transparency on his first day in office. Republicans, perhaps predictably, believe that the secret emails will prove that the former vice president was deeply involved in his son Hunters lucrative influence peddling. Peeling back this veil of secrecy would be one advantage of a formal impeachment investigation, which the House of Representatives is expected to launch soon. Three House committees Judiciary, Oversight, and Ways and Means are currently investigating alleged corruption within the Biden family. While all have the power to subpoena, they face a major limitation in regards to enforcement. Lets say one of those committees requests testimony or documents from the Secret Service. If they dont receive them, all the committees can do is ask Merrick Garland and the Department of Justice to go to court and force compliance. But Garland, desperate to protect his boss, is highly unlikely to sign-off on their request. That said, if the House launches an impeachment investigation the Department of Justice will lose that blocking power. The committee can then go to court directly and demand compliance. It doesnt have crawl on bended knees to President Bidens appointees and ask, in vain, for help. What are House Republicans really looking for in those emails? Mainly, they want proof the vice president discussed US policy with his son, who then shared that information with his business partners. If the vice president indicated he was helping his son, that would be far worse and if any classified information was leaked, that would be a crime in its own right. House impeachment investigators wont stop with the emails. They want a full range of information from the White House, Executive Branch agencies, Biden family members, their business partners, and the banks through which the family allegedly funnelled foreign income. The banks in question generated hundreds of suspicious activity reports on these foreign transfers, which then disappeared into a web of Biden family LLCs a web investigators will be keen to unravel. In tracing these transactions, the committee will be looking out for two kinds of possible corruption. The first and most important involves any direct involvement by Joe Biden himself. His family members matter only if their income hinged on Joes position and actions. Hunter and Joes brothers, James and Frank, made a lot of money trading on Joes name and his powerful position but thats not necessarily illegal. Nor is it illegal if Joe himself knew what they were doing and lied about it. What is illegal is if Joe knowingly aided these family efforts. The second involves any attempted cover up. We know that the Biden White House and multiple agencies seem to have obstructed any harmful disclosures. Thats also not inherently illegal though it may be politically damaging if the obstruction is publicised but any official involvement from administration officials on behalf of the president and his aides would be. The president has strenuously denied knowledge of his sons business activities. As more damning information became publicly available, however, the White House quietly modified the content of those denials. For years, Joe Biden stuck to the line that he knew nothing at all about the seemingly shady deals. Recently, though, his White House press secretary has switched to saying he wasnt in business with his son. The shift was obvious, but not acknowledged. An impeachment investigation does not necessarily mean a full House vote on the matter. Republicans will take the next step only if the investigation turns up lots of evidence and theyll need far more to convince the Democrats to remove the president after a Senate trial. But if they have it, the consequences for Bidens re-election campaign will be catastrophic. Its little wonder that the Democrats are keen to minimalise this story: theyve tied themselves to an aging, infirm and unpopular leader. Adding on a corruption charge may prove fatal. Charles Lipson is the Peter B. Ritzma Professor of Political Science Emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he founded the Program on International Politics, Economics, and Security " September 10/11, 2023 - Information Clearing House - " Tom dispatch --- The day after the U.S. government began routinely bombing faraway places, the lead editorial in the New York Times expressed some gratification. Nearly four weeks had passed since 9/11, the newspaper noted, and America had finally stepped up its counterattack against terrorism by launching airstrikes on al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban military targets in Afghanistan. It was a moment we have expected ever since September 11, the editorial said. The American people, despite their grief and anger, have been patient as they waited for action. Now that it has begun, they will support whatever efforts it takes to carry out this mission properly. As the United States continued to drop bombs in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfelds daily briefings catapulted him into a stratosphere of national adulation. As the Washington Posts media reporter put it: Everyone is genuflecting before the Pentagon powerhouse Americas new rock star. That winter, the host of NBCs Meet the Press, Tim Russert, told Rumsfeld: Sixty-nine years old and youre Americas stud. The televised briefings that brought such adoration included claims of deep-seated decency in what was by then already known as the Global War on Terror. The targeting capabilities, and the care that goes into targeting, to see that the precise targets are struck, and that other targets are not struck, is as impressive as anything anyone could see, Rumsfeld asserted. And he added, The weapons that are being used today have a degree of precision that no one ever dreamt of. Whatever their degree of precision, American weapons were, in fact, killing a lot of Afghan civilians. The Project on Defense Alternatives concluded that American air strikes had killed more than 1,000 civilians during the last three months of 2001. By mid-spring 2002, the Guardian reported, as many as 20,000 Afghans may have lost their lives as an indirect consequence of the U.S. intervention. Eight weeks after the intensive bombing had begun, however, Rumsfeld dismissed any concerns about casualties: We did not start this war. So understand, responsibility for every single casualty in this war, whether theyre innocent Afghans or innocent Americans, rests at the feet of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In the aftermath of 9/11, the process was fueling a kind of perpetual emotion machine without an off switch. Under the war on terror rubric, open-ended warfare was well underway as if terror were a state and not a technique, as Joan Didion wrote in 2003 (two months before the U.S. invasion of Iraq). We had seen, most importantly, the insistent use of September 11 to justify the reconception of Americas correct role in the world as one of initiating and waging virtually perpetual war. In a single sentence, Didion had captured the essence of a quickly calcified set of assumptions that few mainstream journalists were willing to question. Those assumptions were catnip for the lions of the military-industrial-intelligence complex. After all, the budgets at national security agencies (both long-standing and newly created) had begun to soar with similar vast outlays going to military contractors. Worse yet, there was no end in sight as mission creep accelerated into a dash for cash. For the White House, the Pentagon, and Congress, the war on terror offered a political license to kill and displace people on a large scale in at least eight countries. The resulting carnage often included civilians. The dead and maimed had no names or faces that reached those who signed the orders and appropriated the funds. And as the years went by, the point seemed to be not winning that multicontinental war but continuing to wage it, a means with no plausible end. Stopping, in fact, became essentially unthinkable. No wonder Americans couldnt be heard wondering aloud when the war on terror would end. It wasnt supposed to. I Mourn the Death of My Uncle The first days after 9/11 foreshadowed what was to come. Media outlets kept amplifying rationales for an aggressive military response, while the traumatic events of September 11th were assumed to be just cause. When the voices of shock and anguish from those who had lost loved ones endorsed going to war, the message could be moving and motivating. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush with only a single congressional negative vote fervently drove that war train, using religious symbolism to grease its wheels. On September 14th, declaring that we come before God to pray for the missing and the dead, and for those who love them, Bush delivered a speech at the Washington National Cathedral, claiming that our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil. War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing. September 10/11, 2023 - Information Clearing House - In a year, if a friend asks you if the CIA is in your underwear, you'd probably not take the question seriously. You'd be wrong. The CIA is spending millions in tax dollars to get into your underwear next year. Eleven years ago, when this column asked if the CIA was in your kitchen, folks who read only the title of the column mocked it. Yet, then-CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus gave a talk to CIA analysts that he fully expected to be kept secret. In the talk he revealed that CIA vendors had discovered a means to log on to the computer chips in kitchen microwave ovens and dishwashers. From there, they could listen in real time to the conversations in a kitchen if those chatting were nearby the appliances. Unfortunately for Petraeus, but fortunately for the Constitution, one of his analysts was so critical of the CIA's disdain for constitutional norms that the analyst recorded a major portion of Petraeus's talk and leaked it to the media. Is the CIA in your kitchen? Yes, not physically, but virtually. The CIA, notwithstanding a clause in its charter that prohibits it from engaging in surveillance in the United States or from engaging in any law enforcement activities, has a long history of domestic spying without search warrants. That last phrase "without search warrants" when used in conjunction with CIA spying is redundant. The CIA does not deal with search warrants. It behaves as if the Fourth Amendment and the First (protecting the freedom of speech and of the press) and Fifth (protecting life, liberty and property), for that matter do not exist or somehow do not pertain to its agents. Not long ago, I was challenged to a public debate at the Conservative Political Action Conference by the general who was then the head of the National Security Agency, the CIA's domestic surveillance cousin. The topic of the debate was whether domestic warrantless spying is constitutional. I accepted the challenge and aggressively pressed the general on the notorious lack of fidelity that the 17 federal spying agencies have for the Constitution in general, and specifically the Fourth Amendment. The general gave me two answers, both of which would have flunked a bar examination. First, he argued that the Fourth Amendment only protects against unreasonable surveillance, and his 60,000 domestic spies were behaving reasonably. After the laughter died down, I pointed out that the Supreme Court has held that all searches and seizures all surveillance conducted without search warrants are as a matter of law unreasonable, and thus violative of the amendment. Then he retreated to a post-9/11 argument crafted by the Department of Justice in the George W. Bush administration. That argument offers that the Fourth Amendment only restrains law enforcement; it does not restrain the intelligence community. I pointed out that this view is defied by both language and history. The plain language of the amendment has no exceptions to it. Rather, it protects "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects." I then reminded him we were friends, mind you; but I could not let him get away with publicly trashing the document he and I had both sworn to preserve, protect and defend that the Fourth Amendment was written in the aftermath of British intelligence agents breaking down the doors of colonists' homes ostensibly looking for compliance with the Stamp Act of 1765 but really looking for subversive materials by folks whom today we call the Founding Fathers. I present this brief background so as to offer a flavor for the mindset of the feds who spy on us and to address the latest craze among senior level intelligence folks in the Biden administration. Last week, the Director of National Intelligence she is the nominal head of all 17 federal surveillance agencies revealed to Congress that she had spent $22 million in order to develop cotton fibers that she called smart clothing. The fibers will enable the CIA and other federal spies to record audio, video and geolocation data from your shirt, pants, socks and even your underwear. She billed this as the largest single investment ever made to develop Smart ePants. Smarty pants how appropriate is that name for federal intrusion? Smarty pants is the jerk who can't stop talking and won't change the subject. The CIA does not directly develop its ability to connect to your kitchen microwave and dishwasher or your socks and underwear. Rather, it hires outside groups to do so. In the case of smarty pants, 28 American tech firms and laboratories have helped to develop this monstrosity. Most are not household names, but some are like the University of Virginia (which is owned by the state of Virginia), Penn State (which is owned by the state of Pennsylvania) and DuPont (which owns most of the state of Delaware). You can't make this stuff up. The federal government's appetite for surveillance is quite literally insatiable. And its respect for the individual natural right to be left alone is nonexistent. It traffics in evading and avoiding the Constitution, using absurd and puerile arguments that have never been accepted by the courts, even though every single federal employee has sworn an oath of fidelity to the Constitution as it is generally understood and interpreted. When the DNI told Congress about this while Congress was on its summer break not a peep was heard from anyone in Congress or from the sleepy White House for whom the DNI works. Does the government work for us, or do we work for the government? What employee gets to spy on his bosses by putting trick textiles into the bosses' underwear and then gets away with it? When will Congress protect our liberties? When will enough of this warrantless spying be enough? To learn more about Judge Andrew Napolitano, visit https://JudgeNap.com . At least twenty-four persons, mostly women and children, have been confirmed dead and over 30 people rescued, in a boat mishap that occurred in Niger State. The incident was said to have occurred on Sunday afternoon, in communities between Jebba and Kainji dam in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. A combined rescue operation by marine police and local divers in collaboration with Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) is ongoing. Reports about the number of persons that boarded the ill-fated boat were still sketchy as of the time of filling this report. Also, the cause of the boat mishap remained unknown although sources around the area said the passengers were not wearing any life jacket when the incident occurred. Chairman of Mokwa Local Government Area, Jibrim Muregi, who confirmed the incident said divers were making frantic efforts to rescue victims and recover more bodies. READ ALSO: Twelve Die In Nasarawa Boat Mishap, Assembly Mourns The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has expressed shock at Sundays boat accident that claimed many lives in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state. He called for the use of life jackets for anybody boarding a boat in the state and condemned overcrowding of any boat embarking on a journey. The governor, who spoke on Sunday in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, described the accident as both terrible and undesirable. This is quite a shocking and sorrowful situation to the people of the affected communities and I share in their sorrow. I pray that Allah will grant the deceased Aljannah Firdausi, the statement read. While commiserating with the families of the victims, the governor directed the Niger State Emergency Management Agency to do the needful to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. Meanwhile, the Overseeing Director-General General of NSEMA, Alhaji Salihu Garba, in a statement on Sunday, said the agency received a report of a boat accident and had since engaged divers to conduct search and rescue operations. Presently, the agency, in collaboration with the Mokwa LG authority and the community divers, is conducting search, rescue and recovery operations at the scene of the incident. So far, 24 corpses have been recovered while over 30 have been rescued as the operation is ongoing, he said. A father, Ejike Wilson alongside two pastors have been arrested by the Rivers State-based vigilance group, ONELGA OSPAC, over the death of a his 24-year-old disabled son in the Port Harcourt area of the state. The young man identified as Lucky Wilson reportedly died after an operation to remove his hunchback and sell it to suspected organ traffickers. An officer with the Planning and Advisory Committee of the security group, codenamed OSPAC, who confirmed the incident to The Punch on Sunday, said the suspects were nabbed while trying to flee Port Harcourt. One of the suspects, who was said to be the pastor of a new generation church in Osiakpo, near Omoku in the state, Olatoye Olawale, 54, said the victim was handed over to him by his father, Ejike, and Ejikes younger brother, Pastor Paul Osiagor Wilson. Olatoye, during interrogation, was said to have revealed that the duo brought Lucky to him for a surgical operation to enable the family to extract mercury from his hunchback. READ ALSO: Angry Mob Burns Suspected Ritualist To Death In Niger Paul said his brother (Ejike) had a son who had a hunchback which he was planning to do away with. I asked him why, and he said the boy was a thief; the boy was this and that. He said when the boy was much younger, the father attempted to sell him, but it didnt work out well. He asked whether I knew the people who could take up the boy. I told him that I would make inquiries. The suspect noted that they all agreed to a surgical procedure and contacted an associate said to be in Abeokuta, Ogun State, who promised to pay N10m for mercury which would be taken from the victims hunchback. The boy in question (Lucky) even came to meet me, begging me that if the hunchback could be removed, I should help him. He said he wanted to be like a normal human being. I told them that he might not survive the procedure, but he said he would survive it. That was when we fixed a date for us to travel for the procedure. My first contact was an NGO in Owerri, Imo State, which said they would extract the mercury and pay us N5m. I asked him what would be our own percentage. At last, both Paul and Ejike accepted the N5m offer, but the NGO didnt show up again. The suspect explained that he approached another contact in Abeokuta, Ogun State, which offered to pay N10m but that the payment would be made in two or three months time, which all parties agreed to. He noted that the victims father, Ejike, kept visiting his office and disturbing him. The day we travelled for the surgery in Lagos before heading to Abeokuta, Ejike handed over the boy to me and Paul gave me N15,000 for transportation At the hospital, I called the father because of the document we were to sign, but he told me to go ahead and sign on his behalf. The operation was carried out, but in the end, the boy couldnt make it, he added. Ejikes brother, Paul, 38, expressed sadness at the incident, but denied any involvement, saying he only introduced Olawale to his brother. He stated thereafter he was not involved in their subsequent discussion with Olawole and his brother, even as he also denied giving them transport as claimed by Pastor Olawale. The OSPAC Commander, Felix Nwobakata, while addressing newsmen, said the arrest would serve as a deterrent to anyone trying to indulge in ritual acts. Speaking through his media aide, Obed Douglas, he confirmed the arrest, adding that the two pastors and the victims father had been arrested. All three suspects have been handed over to the Assistant Inspector General, Monitoring Unit, Zone 16, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, for further investigation and prosecution. See photos below: Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, says Nigerians require rapid change from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration. Abdulsalami made the remarks on Sunday, when the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, paid him and former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, a courtesy visit. Suleiman Haruna, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information and National Orientation, made the disclosure. According to the Minister, visits to elders are part of Nigerias cultural heritage. While acknowledging that the fatherly role they have played for this country over the years will be remembered, he also informed them of the Presidents determination to return Nigeria to its former glory. READ ALSO: Abuja Was Wrecked, Massively Defrauded Shehu Sani Abdulsalami who congratulated Tinubus administration on its 100-day anniversary said, The information portfolio is a tough job, having to market the image of the government at a difficult time. The government faced a very difficult situation and inherited many challenges with the economy, fuel subsidies, and security. Nigerians, as a people, want changes to happen quickly. So, my message to them is they should join hands with the government to overcome these challenges. Responding to questions from the media, the minister noted that elder statesmen have always been known to preach peace and unity. President Tinubu is always talking about using our diversity for prosperity, and that is the message the elder statesmen also echoed here. Nigeria is a very diverse country, and we should use that diversity positively for the progress and development of our dear nation, he said. Former Adamawa Governor, Bala Ngilari, in defence of his integrity amid corruption allegations, says hed faint if he owns N1 billion. Ngilari, who governed the North Eastern state for a brief period between October 2014 and May 2015, was convicted of corruption and sentenced to prison after leaving office. The former governor made the remarks while appearing as a guest on Trust Television Daily Politics program. When asked if he had like N1bn of your own? he replied, If I see N1bn now, I will faint. In fact, the good thing is that the greatest difficulty for a person who tries to be honest and righteous is that you gather so many enemies. Till tomorrow, I say it boldly without fear or favour, if you take the proceedings of the courts that arraigned me on a five-count charge, there is not one count of the five that said I took one naira or diverted one naira, not one, Ngilari said. He further said that after losing the governorship seat, he wanted to contest as a senator in the following election year, but could not because the delegates in his party were asking for N1m each. In fact, I tried to contest for the Senate too under APC. I went round, toured and two, three days to the primary election, I called and reached out to the delegates through my director general and my coordinators. The delegates told me, Look, sir, when it comes to the right person to go for this thing, you are the right person, but honestly we will be sincere and honest with you we cannot accept N100,000 which you want to offer us. To help. My idea was that I could offer N100,000 for probably 200 people. That would come to about N20 million, so that they could go and start something at home. I mean N100,000 at that time was something. (But) they said, No, sir, we will not collect your N100,000 because there are people who are willing to give us one N1 million each, he added. READ ALSO: Pulpit Isnt For Politics, Olukoya Slams Prophets Over Failed 2023 Election Prophecies Speaking on the state of the nations economy, he said Nigerians should be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he inherited a myriad of challenges from successive governments over the past 20 to 30 years Ngilari stated that the average Nigerian is not patient with the government because he wants to see results immediately. He said: This government inherited a backlog of so many things. I mean going back to probably 20, 30 years that didnt begin with this government, and there is no magic wand that any other person would have done, and the problem is solved, Ngilari said. Therefore, in all fairness, President Tinubu has been steadily tackling these things. It will take some time for us to see the results. Yes, but the problem with the Nigerian, is hes so impatient; he wants results immediately. It doesnt happen anywhere in the world. I do know that given the steady rate at which they are going, give this regime the next six months; believe me, we will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Reacting to why he was optimistic that Tinubus administration would bring good results, he said, I am because, look at this, for example, one very radical decision that the Tinubu government has taken is to say no more borrowing. For me, this is a wonderful economic step. They are saying whatever we will do, in terms of development, will be based on what we can generate internally. We will not borrow again, Nigerians are overburdened. What is more, here is a government that appears to be a listening government. Ive seen some criticisms, like the initial attempt by the government to give Nigerians N8,000 palliative. There was massive criticism, and the government made a U-turn. That is the way it should be. MURIC Faults Phrank Shaibu For Linking VP Shettima With Boko Haram Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has knocked Phrank Shaibu, aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for accusing Vice President Kashim Shettima of aiding and abetting Boko Haram insurgents during his tenure as Governor of Borno State. Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC, posited in a statement on Sunday that Shaibus specific accusation of Shettima assisting the abduction of the Chibok girls is false, malicious, odious, and insidious. His words: We are confounded both by the weight and intensity of these allegations, particularly against a sitting vice president. They are false, malicious, odious and insidious. They are simply lies from the pit of Jahannam. How could any rational being accuse VP Shettima of aiding Boko Haram? It is on record that former President Goodluck Jonathan threatened to withdraw federal troops from Borno State when Shettima as the state governor complained of a glaring lackadaisical approach from the federal government to the Boko Haram saga. He asked if Shettima would be able to stay in the government house if he withdrew federal troops. READ ALSO: Urban Development: Children Should Be Made To Produce Basic Necessities Women Affairs Minister Jonathans exact words were, I will pull them out for one month whether he (Shettima) will stay in that his Government House. But, if he thinks what he said is correct then I will pull out the armed forces for one month. VP Shettima had complained to the visiting President that Boko Haram was gaining the upper hand in the region because Nigerian soldiers are not well armed. But an angry Jonathan gave him the cold response above. It was more than a response. It was a threat. It was like, Behave, or I will unleash them on you. The Director, therefore, urged Shaibu to look elsewhere for those responsible for lapses in the attack on the Chibok girls. We have no doubt that he does not have to look far, behind his shoulders, perhaps, Akintola said. The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a female and the abduction of no fewer than two persons in the Jalingo metropolis by unknown gunmen. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the horrible incident occurred in the Mile Six area in the early hours of Sunday. Confirming the report, the spokesperson of the command, Abdullahi Usman, said, It has been confirmed that there was a kidnap in the house of one Balanko Alex in Mile Six area of Jalingo today (Sunday). Usman said that the unknown gunmen gained access to the house via the fence, killed the owner of the house and his wife before disappearing with two persons. READ MORE: Gunmen Attack Parish House, Burn Seminarian In Kaduna He added that the police have launched an investigation into the incident and commenced combing of the forests and nearby mountains to rescue the victims. Some Mile Six residents who spoke with DAILY POST lamented the recurring attacks on the area. They urged the governor to use his military experience to address the problem. They also urged him to provide logistics to security operatives to make it easier to arrest the situation. Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has slammed those alleging that President Bola Ahmed Tinubus Legal Team is responsible for drafting of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judgement. Recall that in the past week many Nigerians and political elites faulted and pointed loopholes in the judgement that affirmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 election. However, Fani-Kayode, in a statement, described the allegation as absurd, stressing that it is a vicious attack on the judiciarys integrity. According to him, the coordinator of Tinubus legal team, Babatunde Ogala, has clarified the controversy surrounding the inscription and wording referred to the Presidents lawyers in the copy of the judgement. He added that those spreading the falsehood aim to discredit the judgement and delegitimise the Presidents mandate simply because they lost the election and have no hope of winning at the Supreme Court. He said, The allegation that the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court was written and drafted by the Presidents lawyers or that they were given a copy before the verdict was formally delivered by the judges is simply absurd. This is surely the most insidious, savage, blatant and vicious attack on the integrity of the Judiciary in the history of our country. READ ALSO: PEPT Judgement: No Retreat, No Surrender; Keep Hope Alive Peter Obi Urges Obidients The inscription and wording that made reference to the Presidents lawyers at the top of a copy of the judgement has, in my view, been eloquently and adequately explained away by Babatunde Ogala SAN, who is the coordinator of President Bola Tinubus legal team. Any suggestion that there is more to it than that and that there is something fishy and sinister going on is rooted in mischief and deceit and is little better than an ill-conceived, ill-contrived, far-fetched and hallucinatory conspiracy theory cooked up by deluded and depraved minds and lost souls. Those that are spreading this potpourri of falsehood and filth and who are making these dangerous and grave allegations are working towards an answer and looking for some non-existent evidence to discredit the judgement, bring into question the entire judicial process, delegitimise the Presidents mandate and stigmatise and pour scorn, contempt and opprobrium on the election itself. They are doing this in an attempt to provoke anger, disorder, violent protests, anarchy and chaos in the land and in an attempt to engender an Arab spring/End SARS type of operation in our country, annul the election and justify a military take over and the formation of an Interim National Government. They seek to destabilise our nation with classic Goebellian propaganda, misinformation and disinfirnation mainly through the auspices of the social media and they are fully committed to the cause of inspiring and provoking violence, treason, rebellion, revolution and insurrection for no just cause and truncating democracy. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, has posited that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi will return from the Supreme Court defeated in their attempt to upturn the ruling on the outcome of the 2023 polls. Recall that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), had on Wednesday, September 6, unanimously dismissed the suits by Obi and Atiku and affirmed the electoral victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its February 25 candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima. However, both Obi and Atiku in separate reactions rejected the verdict of the tribunal and vowed to challenge it at the Supreme Court. Speaking on Channels Television, on Sunday, the senior lawyer observed that the unanimous tribunal judgment which affirmed the victory of Tinubu is already fixed. According to him, the tribunals judgment was detailed and thorough, hence, opined that the matter does not need to go to the apex court. From my experience from the bar, I believe that the unanimous judgment of the tribunal is unassailable. It is as fixed as you can fix anything. I assure you if theres an appeal, I doubt whether anything can come out of the appeal. READ ALSO: Tribunal Must Come Clean About Tinubus Imprint On Judgment LP I doubt if the Supreme Court can upturn the judgment of the tribunal. I make this submission because almost all the issues raised before the tribunal had been adjudicated upon by the apex court, he said. The lawyer added that in Atikus case, point of facts were canvassed and according to the law, when you canvass points of facts, you must provide the particulars upon which you want the court to make a pronouncement. Clarke noted that the tribunal dismissed Atikus case because his lawyers didnt provide any material of facts before it. Atiku failed to raise issues on point of law. How could he get a judgement in his favour he queried. On the petition by Peter Obi and LP, Clarke pointed out that almost all issues raised by them including the status of Abuja had been ruled upon by the Supreme Court in previous times, hence the Appeal Court is not expected to go against a Supreme Court ruling. His words, Almost all the four items that the Labour Party asked for were decisions that had been and heard upheld by the apex court. So, what are you asking the tribunal to do? To sit on an appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court? A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Osita Chidoka, has strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its handling of the 2023 presidential election. Recall that Atiku Abubakars PDP and Peter Obi of Labour Party had challenged the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February poll, praying the court to nullify his win on the basis among others that INEC did not do a real-time transmission of results to the election portal. However, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) ruled that INEC had the discretion to transmit results in the manner it saw fit. Despite the court dismissing the petition and confirming Tinubus win, Chidoka held INEC responsible for not fulfilling its pre-election promise to transmit election results electronically in real-time. He expressed his disappointment during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics, faulting the electoral bodys inability to electronically transmit election results in real-time. READ MORE: Tribunal Must Come Clean About Tinubus Imprint On Judgment LP INEC is a monumental disgrace. INEC is an organisation I am ashamed to be associated with as a Nigerian, he said. He said this is because of the promises INEC made with the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun [governorship] elections. I came on this programme and called for third-party verification of the INEC system so that we are sure that on election day what is going to happen that day would not lead to a glitch. On election day, INEC said there was a glitch, the former Aviation minister said. Despite not testing the system, it is a shame that INEC went to court to argue that not complying with its regulation does not make it a ground to cancel an election, he noted. The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden has commended Bola Tinubu for his strong leadership. Biden met with Tinubu on Sunday on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India and reinforced US enduring commitment to Nigeria. Recall that the Nigerien military led by Amadou Abdramane, toppled the democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum. The military leadership also announced the dissolution of the nations constitution, suspension of all institutions, and closure of the countrys borders. Tinubu, in his role as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a sub-regional group to which the Niger belongs, condemned the coup and imposed sanctions on the new regime. READ MORE: Joe Biden Announces Delegation To Attend Tinubus Inauguration In a statement released by the White House during the second day of the G20 summit in India, the US president lauded Tinubu for preserving the rule of law in Niger and also acknowledged his national economic policies in Nigeria Biden said: President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administrations steps to reform Nigerias economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region, the White House said in a statement. Nigerias invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigerias important global role as Africas largest democracy and economy. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the weekend, decried the issues it goes through in registering briefcase political parties in the country. Acting Director, Department of Election and Party Monitoring, INEC, Hajiya Hauwa Habib, who spoke during a programme themed Validation Session: Needs assessment of political parties in Nigeria, lamented that such parties usually give INEC problems during elections because they usually have issues of factionalization and leadership disputes. Information Nigeria understands that the programme organised by The Kukah Centre and funded by the European Union was part of component III of the European Unions Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria. Citing an example, Habib said a political party was registered in 2018 with only four members and got a court injunction to make them appear on the ballot. She added however that the party was later deregistered because they are not a serious party. While kicking against the registration of weak political parties in the country, she pointed out that to register a political party, the constitution requires that the proponents must have a membership of 24 people from 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory. We see them as briefcase political parties. Sometimes the Chairman and the Secretary hijack the political party because they registered the political party from inception and all the members were not necessarily financial members. READ ALSO: The chairman, secretary, and treasurer continue to dominate everything about the political party. In their constitutions, they assign duties and schedules to every executive member. The Financial Secretary, Welfare Secretary, and Publicity Secretary are not allowed to perform their duties once the party is registered. In the long run when it is a year or two towards election, you find the secretary and the chairman struggling on who owns the party. Thereabout, you find factionalisation, they give us problems during elections, rush to the courts, and the courts are not helping matters. There is a political party in 2018 that got registered with only four members. While Section 223 of the constitution tells you that it is 24 members minimum in 24 states and FCT. Now, these people are all from the South-West, there are four of them. They went to court and the court insisted that they should be on the ballot. Of course, they have been deregistered because they are not a serious political party. They think that membership of a political party in Nigeria is a joke. It is through the political parties that governance and government are given to citizens. How do you think a political party with 24 people running the party can perform without a presence at the local level during elections? When asked about the suggestion from some quarters for INEC to be unbundled, Habib said certain duties, such as investigation should be removed from the commission. The moment we conduct elections and the certificate of return is issued, we have done our job, she noted. The trial of a West Philadelphia man who is facing the death penalty for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend and their unborn child in King of Prussia began Monday, with prosecutors painting Rafiq Thompson as a cold-blooded killer who had hatched a plan to gun down the pregnant woman. In Mondays opening statements, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Assistant District Attorney Samantha Arena said Thompson, 40, shot Tamara Cornelius four times at close range at an Exxon station in King of Prussia last April, while she was four months pregnant with his child. Thompson is facing multiple counts of first- and third-degree murder in Montgomery Countys first capital case since 2014. On April 8, 2022, while hiding a stolen Glock G19 handgun in his right hand, Steele said, Thompson began yelling at Cornelius, 31, before raising the gun and shooting her. Advertisement And then he fires again. Tamara is trying to get away. And then he fires again. Shes trying to get away. And then he fires again, Steele said to the jury. After she stumbled to get away, Cornelius tumbled to the ground in agony and Thompson stood over her, Steele said. Thompsons lawyer Frank Genovese argued that the evidence presented by prosecutors would not meet the criteria to justify a first-degree murder conviction, while acknowledging that it was clear that his client had killed Cornelius. Not every killing is a murder. And not every murder is a murder of the first degree, Genovese told the jury. According to police documents, Thompson had been texting Cornelius in the weeks before the killing, after she told him that he was the father of her unborn child. In early 2022, Cornelius was trying to break up with Thompson, while Thompson accused her of cheating on him. Thompson sent dozens of unanswered texts until April 8, when he asked Cornelius to meet him for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory at the King of Prussia Mall, according to the documents. According to witnesses cited in the documents, the two were arguing at dinner and Thompson left ahead of Cornelius. Several witnesses who saw Cornelius and Thompson at points throughout the night, from the heated dinner at Cheesecake Factory to Cornelius dying moments, testified Monday. A server recalled seeing them argue, but could not say what they had been fighting about. One witness, who had been pumping gas at the Exxon station where the shooting occurred, said he heard multiple gunshots before seeing a woman pass the front of his car, closely followed by a man. The witness said he was frozen, trying to become invisible so as not to be seen by the gunman. Surveillance footage played for the jury showed Thompson pulling up in a silver Nissan sedan behind Cornelius white Toyota Avalon. Thompson is seen arguing with Cornelius, who was pumping gas, before pulling out a gun and shooting her. As she tried to flee, tripping to get to the other side of pumps, Thompson ran after her and continued shooting. Another witness said she had just pulled away from the gas station when she heard gunshots and called 911 before returning to the scene. Once there, she saw Cornelius lying on the ground and got out of the car to console her, holding her hand and telling her to stay with her. Genovese said that a single moment in time did not encompass all of the couples tumultuous relationship. For most of Mondays proceedings, Thompson, clad in a blue shirt and red tie, did not react. Occasionally, he would clasp his hands together and shake and lower his head to the table where he sat alongside his lawyers. Pennsylvania has had a moratorium on executions since 2015, under which defendants can be sentenced to death. Despite the moratorium, Steele has said the case was egregious enough to warrant pushing for capital punishment. Ninety-nine people are on death row in Pennsylvania, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Corrections list. Three were convicted in Montgomery County, a spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office said. When Thompson was arrested, he was on probation for a 2018 aggravated-assault conviction for hitting another former girlfriend with his van and charging at her with a knife after she ended their relationship. According to the records, Thompson had been harassing the woman, who had obtained a protection-from-abuse order against him before the attack. Thompson was in prison for three years for the assault and paroled in June 2019. Under a new staffing rule proposed by CMS, two thirds of nursing homes will need to hire nurse aides. Read more President Joe Bidens administration has proposed nationwide minimum staff requirements for nursing homes that exceed the current staffing level that facilities in Pennsylvania are newly required to meet. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule would require that each nursing homes have a registered nurse on site at all times. It further requires that each resident receive 33 minutes (0.55 hours) of direct care each day from a registered nurse and an additional two hours, 28 minutes (2.47 hours) of direct care from a nurse aide. Pennsylvania already regulates nursing home staffing levels, and this summer rolled out the most significant update of these rules in decades. Since July 1, the Pennsylvania Department of Health has required all long-term care facilities to provide 2.87 hours of direct care to each resident daily, up from the 2.7 hours of daily direct care had to provide prior. The hours of care are not divided by type of provider. A bigger jump to 3.2 hours of direct care per day is scheduled to go into effect in Pennsylvania on July 1, 2024. Advertisement Pennsylvanias regulations also require specific staff-to-patient ratios for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. That makes it difficult to compare the overall hours of direct care required in the state to the proposed rule, which does not, for example, require minimum care time from licensed practical nurses. Bidens proposal acknowledges that other types of works also provide essential care in nursing homes, and estimates that when they are accounted for residents will receive roughly four hours of care daily, more than Pennsylvanias next jump will require. READ MORE: We want to hear your thoughts about this and other health-related articles. Please fill out our Eds and Meds survey. Dangers of low staffing in nursing homes The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how the low staffing levels in nursing homes played a role in the high numbers of COVID-19 deaths within many facilities. At the same time, profit-driven private equity firms have been purchasing nursing homes, a trend that caught the ire of the White House. And as Wall Street firms take over more nursing homes, quality in those homes has gone down and costs have gone up, Biden said in his 2022 State of the Union remarks. The proposed staffing requirement is the flagship item in a list of actions the White House announced Sept. 1. Others include more robust enforcement of existing standards and increased transparency of nursing home ownership. We have a president who put this issue on the map for the first time of any of our lifetimes, said Matthew Yarnell, president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, a labor union that represents thousands of nursing home workers. Yarnell said the proposed rule represents real progress, and he believes it will help bring back nurses and aides who left positions at nursing homes because they were charged with taking care of too many people. READ MORE: Stricter regulations for staffing of Pennsylvania nursing homes go in effect this Saturday Not enough or unfunded mandate? Voices from both side of the debate expressed disappointment in the proposed rules. Some experts and nursing homes advocates said the proposal doesnt go far enough. Many advocacy organizations, including the American Nurses Association, recommend that each nursing home resident receive at least 4.1 daily hours of direct care. There are some real positives in here, but I wish the administration had gone further, David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, told KFF Health News. National industry groups admonished the White House, saying that if finalized, the proposal would force nursing homes to close. We hope to convince the administration to never finalize this rule as it is unfounded, unfunded, and unrealistic, said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, a nursing home industry group, said in a statement. In Pennsylvania, nursing homes have been struggling to find the staff to meet the much lower requirement that took effect in July, said Zach Shamberg, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, the AHCAs state chapter. He cited as a problem that Pennsylvania did not increase the rate at which the states Medicaid program reimburses nursing homes enough to cover the extra cost of labor, Shamberg said. He is concerned that the new proposed federal rule doesnt come with funding attached, while requiring many more workers. This is an unfunded mandate on an industry that cant afford another unfunded mandate, Shamberg said. READ MORE: Sen. Bob Casey worries that nursing homes are uninspected and neglected About two-thirds of nursing homes nationwide would have to hire nursing aides, and one-third would have to hire registered nurses to meet the proposed standards, the White House said. Low reimbursement rates are a challenge for many nursing homes, said Rachel Werner, a health economist and executive director of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. But she is skeptical that all nursing homes are spending all that they can on staff that provides direct care. Private equity is coming into nursing homes, so they clearly see the opportunity to squeeze revenues, Werner said. Werner considers most important the strong evidence that increasing staffing levels in nursing homes improves quality of care and outcomes for resident, and current staffing is just too low. This change to increase the levels is a long time coming and sorely needed, she said. An invalid Flowflex COVID-19 rapid test, with a false lot number, is shown next to a valid test. Philadelphia's health department is recalling thousands of the invalid tests after discovering they were not made by Flowflex's manufacturer. Read more The Philadelphia health department is recalling tens of thousands of COVID-19 rapid tests after it discovered that the tests were invalid during a routine inventory check, health officials said. People who received Flowflex rapid tests should check the lot numbers on the box, health officials said. Any boxes with the lot number COV2110012 are invalid, meaning they were not made by Flowflexs manufacturer, ACON Industries. Where the tests came from, and whether they work, is unclear. People who do find a test with the invalid lot number should not use it and instead get a replacement test at one of the citys five resource hubs, the department said. Advertisement The health department received around 105,000 of the invalid tests and distributed 4,000 of them on its own. Another 43,000 were sent to organizations working with the department to distribute tests and other COVID resources; its unclear how many those organizations have already given out, said James Garrow, the health departments communications director. The remaining tests are still in storage, and the health department will not distribute them. Garrow said the city received the tests from a distributor who purchases testing kits, masks, and other pandemic mitigation equipment from wholesale retailers. The city has been working with the distributor since 2021, he added. Im not sure where these tests got put into the pipeline, he said. READ MORE: We want to hear your thoughts about this and other health-related articles. Please fill out our Eds and meds survey. Invalid tests discovered in Philly The invalid tests were discovered when department staff were checking the expiration dates of the COVID tests they have stockpiled. The Food and Drug Administration has recently extended the shelf lives of many COVID tests, and runs a website where customers can search for the lot numbers printed on their COVID tests and check for new expiration dates. But when checking a certain batch of Flowflex tests, health department staff couldnt find the lot number on the FDAs site at all. Garrow said the department then sent a sample of the tests to ACON Industries and was told that the manufacturer didnt make them. Its not clear who made the tests, or why. They look exactly the same [as the legitimate tests]. The only difference is the lot number is a bad lot number, Garrow said. Someone went to a lot of trouble to do this. The FDA has alerted customers of counterfeit Flowflex tests circulating nationwide, but this is the first time Philadelphias health department has encountered them, Garrow said. The discovery is concerning, Garrow said, as COVID cases are on a slight uptick, and the department worries that patients might lose trust in rapid tests that the public has come to rely on for home diagnoses. The department is developing processes to prevent obtaining more faulty tests, he said. Not only should you have tests at home in case someone is feeling under the weather, but you should have faith that those tests can correctly diagnose you, health commissioner Cheryl Bettigole said in a statement. The virtual nursing pilot program at Abington Hospital ran from March to June of this year. Read more Bazz Jarjous didnt go to nursing school to type notes into charts. He would rather spend time with his patients, but administrative tasks take up most of the Abington Hospital nurses day. Earlier this year, Jarjous had the opportunity to help develop a potential solution. He participated in a virtual-nursing pilot program at the Jefferson Health-owned hospital: Bedside nurses were paired with a remote nurse who assisted via telehealth. From a computer station away from the unit, he would handle the administrative work of interviewing patients at admission, typing notes, and ordering medications from the pharmacy. Even though not the most glamorous tasks for a nurse, he found the experience rewarding. Because he didnt have to manage the direct care of five other patients, Jarjous could take time with the patients he spoke with through a screen. He felt like a valuable team member. I really felt helpful, he said. Advertisement Jefferson Health leaders say patients and staff members gave the virtual-nursing pilot high marks. At a time when hospital nurses are in short supply and burnout rates are high in the profession, the concept centering on a mobile telehealth station being wheeled from room to room could be part of the solution. And Jefferson found it could cut down significantly on a major hospital expense: staffing. READ MORE: We want to hear your thoughts about this and other health-related articles. Please fill out our Eds and Meds survey. Virtual care during nursing shortage Telehealth has long been touted as a solution for many ailments of the American health-care system, with the potential to expand access to care in rural areas, reduce costs, and make care delivery more convenient. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of virtual health care, as regulators temporarily relaxed rules to allow providers to prescribe medications that previously required inpatient visits. The Jefferson pilot explored how telehealth could address a staffing challenge. Roughly 30% of direct-care nursing positions in Pennsylvania hospitals are vacant, according to a 2022 survey by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. As hospitals struggle to recruit and retain nurses, a major grievance cited by nurses is burnout due to having too many patients under their care. The virtual nursing pilot at Jeffersons Abington Hospital ran from March to June. More than 20 cameras were spread through two med/surg units where patients are preparing for surgery or recovering from a procedure. When a bedside nurse needed help with an admission or discharge, answering patients questions, or taking notes, theyd call in the virtual nurse. READ MORE: Insurers would be required to pay for telemedicine visits under a new Pennsylvania bill For the health system, thats cheaper than having two nurses at the bedside, said Colleen Mallozzi, senior vice president and chief nursing informatics officer at Jefferson. And patients end up waiting for a shorter period of time to get discharged. She noted the normal nursing ratio on the unit is five or six patients to each nurse. One virtual nurse was able to see 30. They can cover a much wider breadth of patients, she said. An additional benefit of virtual nursing is that it offers an alternative job, without leaving patient care, for nurses who need a break from the bedside, she said. Other hospitals across the country also reported positive experiences with virtual nursing, including in New Jersey. An article on the website of the American Hospital Association, a trade group for the hospital industry, touts virtual nursing as an alternative to the traditional model of only-bedside nursing, which they call unsustainable due to a projected shortage of nurses. Groups advocating for nurses also see the potential of virtual nursing but caution that telehealth should only be used to support bedside nurses, not replace them. Virtual nurses should never be used to decrease the number of nurses at the bedside, said Wayne Reich, the CEO of the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, via email. Moving forward, Jefferson is looking to launch a larger pilot that will include additional responsibility for the virtual nurses, such as safety observations for patients at risk for falls. While some staff were initially apprehensive, Mallozzi said that most had accepted the model by the time the pilot was over. This is one where theres not a lot of eye rolls, which is a good feeling, she said. Byun Bros. Sales Inc., also known as B&B Sales, was paying baggers, loaders, and general laborers a day rate or salary for their work, and was not paying overtime to those who worked more than 40 hours in a week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Read more A grocery wholesaler in North Philadelphia must pay over $419,000 to 21 workers for deliberately denying them overtime. Byun Bros. Sales Inc., also known as B&B Sales, was paying baggers, loaders, and general laborers a day rate or salary for their work, and was not paying overtime to those who worked more than 40 hours in a week, the U.S. Department of Labor found. B&B Sales and its owner intentionally withheld overtime wages earned by 21 hardworking employees, in violation of federal law that protects their rights to be paid fully for their labor, said James Cain, division director of the departments local wage and hour division. The company agreed to a settlement, which a federal judge approved on Aug. 30. Advertisement B&B Sales must also pay $8,379 as a civil penalty to the Department of Labor. The actual amount of back wages owed to employees was just under $210,000, and the settlement included an equal amount of additional damages to the employees. The outcome of this investigation and the litigation that followed will provide meaningful financial relief to vulnerable workers who depend on their wages to make ends meet, Samantha Thomas, a deputy regional solicitor of labor in Philadelphia, said in a statement. Richard Byun, president of B&B Sales, did not respond to a call for comment on the settlement. Byun represented himself in the case, according to court records. Will Vogler, an Ardmore resident, stands by a doorway to his unfinished Earthship in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County. Read more TAMAQUA, Pa. At first glance, the long glass building on a sun-soaked hillside in this rural Schuylkill County town is obviously a greenhouse. Its a home too, though, in the vein of The Hobbit, or will be in a few more years, builder Will Vogler said. Its also a natural heating and cooling system and a water filtration plant off the grid, in the woods. Vogler calls his 80-foot-by-50-foot building the Tamaqua Sustainability Project, inspired by a decades-old architecture developed in the high desert of New Mexico. When I look at it, I see an engine, the Ambler resident said beside his project. Thats what Mike Reynolds, a 78-year-old architect, intended when he created the first Earthship with old beer cans and used tires in Taos in 1979. People made fun of his dream for decades. Advertisement I was the crazy hippie in the desert building houses out of garbage, Reynolds told The Inquirer. I was ridiculed and abused. I even lost my architecture license in one state. A combination of climate change, catastrophic weather events, water scarcity, and power grid failures have cast the Earthship biotecture in a new light, however. Reynolds said theres about 3,000 already built, globally, some as far as New Zealand and Australia. Hes still building more in a 630-acre subdivision in Taos and said theyre all sold before theyre finished. The world went to hell in a handbag and people began to look to us for an alternative, he said. Today, Reynolds thinks theres no structure better designed to combat climate change and survive in it than the Earthship. Bad weather and power outages compelled Vogler, a father of three who works in software, to delve into sustainable living. Hurricane Sandy, in particular, was really eye-opening, he said. It seemed like there was quite a few storms for a time, one after another. We live in a wooded area and having our power going out all the time had me thinking there has to be a better way. Vogler, a Penn State graduate, dabbled in generators but was surprised at how little they could actually power. He hired organic farmers to turn his backyard into an edible landscape and, after learning about Earthship biotecture picked their brains about building a greenhouse in that style. They had no clue what I was talking about, he said. Vogler kept researching and connected with seasoned Earthship builders who helped get his project off the ground, or rather, into it. Vogler, 47, and his father, Bill, purchased the 18 acres in Tamaqua about three years ago. The permitting and code process has moved slowly, he said. Few officials have seen an Earthship, he said, or dealt with builders who dont want to connect to the grid. Its just as much a learning process for them, he said. Vogler has spent about $100,000, recently installing a septic system. He also created a GoFundMe and urges volunteers to visit the property, both for the labor and to learn. On this warm Sunday afternoon, a handful of people had traveled to Tamaqua to help Vogler build air intake tunnels with concrete and cans. The tunnels pull in cooler air, pushing the heat out of vents on the Earthships roof, making the interior much cooler than expected. Many of the volunteers were interested going off-grid for good, or having a getaway if needed. Theres honestly not a lot of places in Pennsylvania where you can learn how to do this, said Buddy Light, a Montgomery County native interested in building an Earthship. The goal of any Earthship, Vogler said, is to be self-sustaining, with building materials that are recycled. If its an engine, it runs on the air, rain, wind, and dirt. He doesnt consider his project an official Earthship because he isnt using tires in his building. (The tires make great insulation.) He does have a plenty of cans, though, and walls made of old bottles and cement. Youd be crazy to build an Earthship without a bottle wall, he said. Vogler is hoping to sell off some parcels to like-minded buyers interested in building Earthships too. Those funds would help him finish the project. We want to create a community, he said. At least three to five other projects here. Reynolds doesnt trademark his idea or even ask for licensing fees. He wants the information to spread, like a virus. People are coming out here in droves from the cities, he said. It used to be young hipsters but now its conservatives, wealthy families too. Everybody is insecure about the state of things. Reynolds said the Earthships are too expensive right now, often selling for up to $800,000. My whole financial model is treading water. Im not trying to make a billion dollars, he said. Ive got to have a fleet on the market for under $400,000 or $300,000. Were going to get into a lease program too. For Vogler, the goal is to live in his Earthship with his family when its done. Its odd, really, that more people arent doing this, he said. This honestly feels like the most rebellious thing I could do. Danelo Cavalcante, 34, stabbed his former girlfriend of two years dozens of times in front of her two young children in 2021. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the death of Deborah Brandao, 33, only to escape Chester County Prison at the end of August. As hundreds of law enforcement officers search for Cavalcante, who has been on the lam for close to two weeks, some residents have asked why he remained in the United States to begin with. Update: Danelo Cavalcante was caught in Chester County after a two-week manhunt Cavalcante is an undocumented immigrant who entered the country illegally. He fled to the United States because he was wanted in a 2017 homicide in his native Brazil. Prosecutors contend that he killed Brandao after she learned of that slaying and threatened to go to authorities. Advertisement That has led some to wonder: Shouldnt he have been deported before he committed another crime or after he was convicted of killing Brandao? According to area immigration lawyers who work with people facing deportation, the short answer is no, and thats generally to ensure that justice is carried out in the most serious of crimes. Studies show that U.S. citizens are more likely to be arrested for violent, drug-related, and property crimes than their undocumented counterparts. There are about 11 million undocumented people living in the United States, according to U.S. Census data, and immigration lawyers say those who keep a low profile can fly under the radar, as authorities are more concerned with immigrants who pose a threat to public safety. The main net that the Department of Homeland Security uses to try to catch those people, to initiate what are called removal proceedings, is a contact with the criminal justice system, said Ricky A. Palladino of Philly-based Palladino, Isbell & Casazza LLC. Thats what appears to have happened with Cavalcante. It wasnt until he was wanted for a homicide that Chester County authorities learned he was also wanted in connection with a killing abroad. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson told the New York Times a detainer was lodged against Cavalcante after his arrest in Chester County. Still, lawyers say it is in the justice systems interest to keep some of the most serious offenders on U.S. soil, as their home country is under no obligation to mete out prison time for crimes committed elsewhere. Palladino said its a way to ensure justice for the victims of serious crimes and their families. The victims family would also have an interest in making sure that he served his full sentence because some people would argue that if hes sent back, hes given a new lease on life, said Palladino. Lonny Fish at the Liberty Law Team, who represents undocumented immigrants charged with crimes, said keeping serious offenders in U.S. custody is also meant as a deterrent. It tells people they will serve their full sentence if they commit a crime. Still, lawyers said immigration authorities do not hesitate to deport people who have been convicted of crimes. So-called deportable offenses run the gamut and include crimes involving moral turpitude, controlled substances, and firearms offenses. There are also pettier crimes involving theft. Lawyers say the immigration system typically offers little leniency for the pettier crimes. Thomas Griffin, partner at Philly-based Solow, Hartnett and Galvan, said someones documentation, or lack thereof as in Cavalcantes case, will often come to the attention of immigration authorities as the person awaits criminal proceedings. During this time, Griffin said, ICE can issue a detainer, which basically lets local authorities know they want to come back for the person in custody the minute the person is up for release. So when he walks out of the prison that day, having completed a sentence, he goes right into a whole other justice system, said Griffin. Even so, Griffin said, undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes can avoid deportation if they can make a case for asylum or hardship, or have American-born children who need them. They also have a better chance of avoiding deportation if they have been in the country for an extended period of time without having legal trouble. Back in Chester County, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens described few endings for the fugitive, who escaped Aug. 31. Bivens said law enforcement has been authorized to use deadly force against Cavalcante if he isnt actively surrendering. Cavalcantes other choice is to go to prison for the rest of his life, said Bivens. That would be in the United States. Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories is an exhibit that aims to tell the story past, present, and future of the Lenape people. It is now on display at the Michener Art Museum. Pictured is a sculptural piece by Lenape artist Holly Wilson, titled "Bloodline." Read more Growing up in the tristate area, Ahchipaptunhe was often met with blank stares when he would talk to people about being Lenape. Even though the Lenape are from this land, their existence had been erased and, as a result, Ahchipaptunhe felt that he didnt belong. It wasnt until he started creating art that Ahchipaptunhe was able to redefine what being Lenape meant to him. And as of last Saturday, he and other Lenape artists have their work on display at a new exhibit at the Michener Art Museum. Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories is an exhibit that aims to tell the story past, present, and future of the Lenape people. This exhibit, which will be on display into January, appears to be the first to focus solely on Lenape art. The inspiration for the exhibit came from a depiction of Penns Treaty being conducted with the Lenape, a painting originally made by Benjamin West. The painting has been reproduced on everything from textiles to fine china to textbooks and Laura Igoe, chief curator at the Michener, wanted to highlight the problem with the image. Advertisement It became interpreted as an actual, factual history about the event, Igoe said. But Benjamin Wests painting was made 100 years after any kind of agreement with the Lenape and William Penn occurred. The image, Igoe said, was a form of propaganda to reassure colonists as they displaced Native Americans and cheated them of their land. So Igoe connected with Joe Baker, executive director of the Lenape Center in Manhattan and cocurator of the exhibit, to create a space that would show Lenape history as told from the perspective of Lenape artists. Were not invisible For Baker, a significant part of this exhibit is land acknowledgment knowing that the Michener, and the Philadelphia area, sits on Lenape land. Our presence within our homeland has effectively all been erased, Baker said. We have been forcibly displaced through generations of hundreds of years beginning in the 1700s. [The exhibit] signals that we are back, that we are here and present, and that we lead very diverse, contemporary, professional lives, he continued. We have continued our culture, our language, and our traditional practices, in spite of all the efforts to steal from us and erase us. That presence and existence of the Lenape is exactly what appealed to Ahchipaptunhe when Igoe and Baker reached out to him to contribute to the exhibit. One of the things that I struggle with is that when Lenape is brought up, its always brought up in a passive voice, like a historical conversation, he said. [The exhibit] reestablishes the fact that were not invisible, and our culture is still growing and developing and moving. Ahchipaptunhe will be showcasing that in his artwork, which consists of abstract paintings of the small details on Lenape pottery details that distinguish it from other Native American art. It takes me back to a place where I feel like Im connected to [my ancestors] and thinking about their process of developing, he said. When creating his paintings, Ahchipaptunhe considered that his ancestors used tools readily available to them to make interesting stamps or marks on their pottery, such as branches or potatoes. Ahchipaptunhe, likewise, used nontraditional artistic tools to create his pieces. Our culture is still growing and developing and moving. Ahchipaptunhe The exhibit features a wide array of pieces, from historic Lenape art and objects such as ceramics, beadwork, and basketry, to paintings of Lenape dances, to a sculpture of bronze figures representing ancestors on top of a chunk of a locust tree. All of the artwork tells one story that the curators and artists hope viewers will take away with them: The Lenape are still here, and they still have a connection to their homeland. Never Broken: Visualizing Lenape Histories is on display through Jan. 14. To visit, purchase tickets at www.michenerartmuseum.org. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, at 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown. The manhunt for escaped convict Danelo Cavalante nears its two-week mark in Chester County. Read more >> Update: Danelo Cavalcante has been apprehended. Follow The Inquirers live coverage. Escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante continues to elude authorities after breaking out from Chester County Prison on Aug. 31. Here is a map showing the latest developments in the search for Cavalcante, including the most recent sightings and where police are focusing their search efforts: Cavalcante, a Brazilian national, was sentenced last month to life in prison for murdering his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, 33, in front of her children in 2021. His escape from Chester County Prison resulted in the firing Thursday of a corrections officer who had been on duty in a guard tower and carrying a personal cell phone in violation of prison regulations, a source told The Inquirer. Anyone with information on Cavalcantes whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the State Police tip line at 717-562-2987. Cavalcante is considered extremely dangerous. In addition to stabbing Brandao to death, he is also wanted by authorities in Brazil for allegedly shooting a man to death in 2017 in the state of Tocantins. Natalie Shaak poses on her stoop with the temporary front door and storm door of her Port Richmond home. Read more Philadelphia Salvage Co. was once beloved. Its door restorations, custom tables made of salvaged lumber, and retail space that featured everything from antique light fixtures and stained glass to claw-foot bathtubs were the subject of admiration in fixer-upper and home-restoration circles. The business touted popular Philly bars and restaurants like Charlie was a sinner and Attic Brewing in its client portfolio. And its social media pages racked up tens of thousands of followers who were often awed by the intricate century-old doorknobs and craftsmanship of made-to-order front doors the business would post with the hashtag saving history. Thats changed in the last year. Customers have filed complaints with the state, claiming the business bilked them of deposits, sometimes in the thousands, and failed to return property, including historic doors and custom hardware, and was unresponsive to their inquiries. Port Richmond resident Natalie Shaak, 39, is out almost $7,000 and the front door project she started with the company in September 2021 remains incomplete, with the actual door and custom brass still in the business possession. Advertisement Jennifer Merrigan, 46, was a first-time homeowner in South Philly who wanted a front door with historical significance. She says she is now out more than $2,000 and doesnt have the door she paid to have rehabbed in December 2021. The disappointing part is just not knowing if anything is ever going to happen and then being out that money, said Shaak. Finally, they have some answers. After The Inquirer made several attempts for comment, Philadelphia Salvage Co. owner Chris Stock responded Sunday that the business has gone bankrupt. We have every intention of returning projects, albeit in their as-is condition and stage of development, as many are historic and heirloom pieces, Stock wrote in an email. In an email, Stock outlined how the pandemic and subsequent staffing shortages disrupted the business hed built. He said he would reach out to clients throughout the rest of the month to coordinate the pickup of items. He did not make mention of what would happen to deposits made. At least nine customers have filed complaints against the business, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office. Customers, however, are unsure whether those complaints will yield any results. Whats more, customers like Shaak say theyre long past the time frame allowed to file charge disputes with their credit card companies. A local business set on saving history Philadelphia Salvage Co. was founded in 2011. Its website says the business celebrates the Citys rich architectural heritage by fabricating custom furniture from old-growth lumber milled in Philadelphias only operating urban sawmill. Stocks reputation and eye for restoration grew among contractors and people looking to bring back historic charm to their homes. The business was listed as a place to go for vintage and antiquing fans by outlets such as Philadelphia Magazine and Curbed Philly. Shaak, who is a bit of a history and restoration buff, found the company to be just what she was looking for in 2019, when she wanted to salvage and restore a cornice at the top of her home, which had been covered with shingles and tiles, hiding the original pattern of the woodwork. Shaak has put much care into her home, even visiting city archives to learn more about her two-story construction that was first sold in 1865 the earliest record she could find and was built with no indoor plumbing. Whether its the mural of a raccoon eating a pretzel on her exterior wall or the bathroom, every detail and restoration of Shaaks home has been a labor of love and intense planning. Philadelphia Salvage Co. seemed to care about the details as much as she did. The cornice project was slow-moving but absolutely gorgeous, said Shaak, who hired the business for a second project a customized interior door with Florentine glass that was equally as successful. Thats why she went to the business again in September 2021 for a third project where Philadelphia Salvage would remove her front door, restore and fix her door frame, repair and paint a purchased door, and install a custom-built storm door, among other things. There are not a lot of people in Philadelphia who do this kind of work, said Shaak. She said she was understanding when Philadelphia Salvage Co. informed her of delays in February 2022 citing COVID and staffing. She went on to order custom hardware for the door in the spring. Other customers whod placed work orders in late 2021 also started to hear about delays that spring. Then another setback came. In June 2022, Stock announced on social media that Philadelphia Salvage Co. would be moving locations, to the Frankford spot. He said the Department of Licenses and Inspections required the business to install a sprinkler system at its previous Tioga location that would exceed $100,000. A spokesperson for L&I confirmed the Tioga space was given a cease-operations order for not being properly zoned as a salvage yard, a space retailing antiques, or a space for wood restoration and cutting. During the late summer months, Shaak and other customers said their messages werent being answered. Finally, the company posted on its social media pages in September. The company apologized for the lack of communication, saying it had lost access to its building along with all its contents and custom order book. The company said it had gotten all of its belongings back and would begin reaching out to clients. Stock told The Inquirer the new location came with a different set of issues with rent being double for a quarter of the space. Whats more, the team became a third of its previous size because staff found the commute far and quit. Even so, the company got back to Shaak in November and by December her project seemed to be moving forward. Stock came to Shaaks house to take measurements and grab the custom hardware she ordered. Shaak claims she never heard from the company or Stock again despite numerous tries to get in touch via phone, email, and social media. A group bands together The last time Philadelphia Salvage Co. posted on its socials was late November 2022. We are slowly catching up, reads the end of the post. One day at a time. Thank you. But the tenor of the comments has become less complimentary. One user claimed to have their century-old door and 50% deposit stolen, another person wrote they were ripped off, and someone else asked, What does slowly catching up mean? Through social media comments, Shaak and several other jilted customers got together via email to share what they knew and possible action they could take to get their deposits and belongings back. One of the challenges for people like Shaak is that by giving the business the benefit of the doubt, she exceeded the six-month window for which she could dispute the charge. Several in the group wrote a formal letter demanding their deposits be returned or else legal action might be taken. They never got a response. He defrauded us, took our money and now wont even respond to our requests, said Merrigan, an attorney, who has given up on working with the business and simply wants her money back. Nine customers then filed complaints with the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office but the mediation process is voluntary, according to the offices FAQs. We cannot force a business to respond to a consumer complaint, but we will make every effort to try to engage with the business to provide a response, reads the FAQ answer. Despite the delays and gaps in communication, some Philadelphia Salvage Co. customers were still willing to give the business the benefit of the doubt should it resume. Shaak, one of the customers who has lost the most financially, was one of them. In his email, Stock said the company had tried to recuperate from the chaos for the last six months but hadnt been able to, adding he wanted to do right by customers and return what are in many cases historic and heirloom pieces. Stock didnt immediately respond to follow-up questions regarding the decision to cut off communication with customers. While this may not satisfy or make up for our clients inconvenience, I deeply apologize and promise this outcome was never my intention, he said. A section of the Schuylkill River Trail near the Manayunk Canal. A portion of the trail will remain closed through the end of the year to allow construction to advance on a water restoration project. Read more A portion of the Schuylkill River Trail temporarily closed to pedestrians and bikers on Monday for a project by the Philadelphia Water Department that aims to reconnect the Manayunk Canal with the Schuylkill River and improve the water conditions in the area. Those traveling on the Schuylkill River Trail will encounter closure signs at Shawmont Avenue and Nixon Street on one end, and right below Leverington Ave. on the Manayunk Towpath. Walkers and bikers can detour along Umbria Street, which runs parallel to the closed off section of the trail. The closure will remain in effect through the end of the year, and will allow construction to advance on the restoration project, which includes pouring concrete before the weather gets too cold. Planning discussions for the Flat Rock Dam Betterment project began in the 1990s, but work officially kicked off last year. PWD estimated that the project will be completed in the fall of 2024. In February, a community meeting was held at the Venice Island Performing Arts Center to share more about the project with residents. When the project is completed, flowing water will pass through the Manayunk Canal for the first time since the 1940s. A lack of flow has created unfavorable water conditions, impacting the habitat and creating seasonal odors, according to the PWD. The restoration project is part of Philadelphias efforts to meet federal Clean Water Act standards, as well as to protect drinking water sources for the city. The project also has historical significance, as the locks, dam and canal in the area are the last remaining complete section of the Schuylkill Navigation system built in the early 1800s to tame the Schuylkill River and allow boats to transport coal. Were like the Wizard of Oz, people think were really big but you pull the curtain back and its just one person pulling a few levers, she said. There are only 55 of us and our impact across the region is we punch above our weight in terms of what we bring to the market. The study found that in New Mexico, a driver with an excellent driving record and excellent credit would pay an average of $412 per year in auto insurance premiums, according to NM Political Report. However, a driver with an excellent driving record but poor credit would pay an average of $733 per year. It is particularly offensive that this proposal is being rushed through in secrecy during the final weeks of the legislative session, the letter said. A plan to bail out the insurance industry and make Californians pay demands a thorough public debate, but the details of this proposal have yet to be seen in public. The expansion of digital brokers. The adoption of technology and specifically IoT and analytics solution. The increased demand for auto, life and health insurance, which is driving the growth of the insurance brokerage market due to an ageing population. In an interview with Insurance Business, Bhamburkar broke down why these three factors will have a significant impact on the industry going forward, what lines of coverage are driving big business and how Asia Pacific could be the next epicentre for the industry. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed three bills into law that affect workers, including one raising the minimum disability benefit under workers compensation over three years. The second new law prohibits employers from disciplining employees that opt not to participate in meetings about the employers political or religious views while the third strengthens criminal penalties against employers who steal wages from workers. The workers compensation legislation increases the minimum benefits for low wage workers who are injured and cannot work. It increases minimum benefits for permanent or temporary partial disability to $275 in 2024, $325 in 2025, and to one-fifth of the state average weekly wage in 2026. This legislation will help to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the benefits and protections that allow them to work with dignity, Hochul said. The second piece of legislation (S4982/A6604) amends the states labor law to protect employees freedom of speech and conscience related to meetings featuring their employers views on political and religious matters. The law prevents employers from taking adverse actions against their employees who refuse to participate in such meetings. It goes into effect immediately. Sponsors of the bill claim that employers nationwide have increased partisan messaging to employees and that employees may feel pressured into following their employers political positions. They said some employers have held mandatory political rallies for partisan candidates and meetings regarding specific legislation or on issues such as unionism and religious topics. Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, said the legislation addresses the long history of employers using so-called captive audience meetings to force their views on personal decisions related to religion, health care, politics, or joining civic or fraternal organizations or labor unions. Non-partisan communication like neutral get out the vote drives would still be permitted. The third bill (S2832-A/A154-A) amends the states penal statute by adding wage theft to the types of activities included in the crime of larceny. Prosecutors will be able to seek stronger penalties against employers who steal wages from workers. It goes into effect immediately. According to Cornell Universitys Worker Institute, wage theft in New York accounts for nearly $1 billion in lost wages each year and affects tens of thousands of workers. This law will arm prosecutors with a new powerful tool to go after greedy employers who steal wages, allowing them to pursue larceny charges and aggregate cases, said Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, a sponsor. Topics Fraud New York Workers' Compensation Talent RiverStone International, the London-based provider of legacy solutions in the Lloyds market, has signed an agreement with members of the Catalina Group to acquire Catalina Insurance Ireland, an Irish insurance company regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Financial details of the acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals, were not disclosed. Catalina Insurance Ireland has two main portfolios: a German med-mal book and a UK motor portfolio. Total reserves were approximately US$350 million at the time of evaluation. Luke Tanzer, chief executive officer of RiverStone International, said: This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to delivering on our geographical expansion strategy, and in particular our objective to continue to grow our capabilities within the European market. RiverStone International operates in the UK company and Lloyds of London markets as well as Bermuda, and Europe. The company has transacted a wide variety of deals, ranging from insurance and reinsurance portfolio transfers to company purchases. It has acquired more than US$14.1billion of liabilities since 2010 and with around US$7.5billion of total liabilities. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions MADISON, Wis. (AP) A northern Wisconsin sawmill has agreed to pay nearly $191, 000 and stop hiring children under 16 to settle a federal lawsuit labor regulators filed after a teenager was killed on the job this summer and other child employees were hurt in a string of accidents. Michael Schuls died in July after he became pinned in a wood-stacking machine at Florence Hardwoods. He was trying to clear a jam in the machine in the facility`s planing mill when the conveyor belt he was standing on moved and left him pinned, according to Florence County Sheriff`s Office reports obtained by The Associated Press through open records requests. An ensuing U.S. Department of Labor investigation found that three children ages 15 to 16 were hurt at the sawmill between November 2021 and March 2023. The sawmill also employed nine children between the ages of 14 and 17 to illegally run machines such as saws, the investigation found. Most work in sawmills and logging is prohibited for minors. But children 16 and older can work in Wisconsin planing mills like the Florence Hardwoods facility where Shuls was pinned. Planing mills are the final processing sites for lumber. The investigation also determined that seven child employees between 14 and 17 worked outside legally permitted hours. The labor department filed a civil lawsuit against Florence Hardwoods on Tuesday, but the agency and the sawmill`s attorneys had already reached a consent decree to settle the action in late August. U.S. District Judge William Griesbach approved the deal Wednesday. According to the agreement, the sawmill will pay the labor department about $191, 000. In exchange, the department will lift its so-called hot goods restrictions on the facility, which prohibit the sawmill from selling anything produced using illegal child labor. The agreement bars Florence Hardwoods from hiring anyone under 16 and requires it to notify the labor department if it hires anyone between the ages of 16 and 18. Employees between those ages must be treated as apprentices or student learners. Federal law severely limits those employees` exposure to dangerous tasks and requires that such work be conducted under the supervision of an experienced worker. Florence Hardwoods also will be required to place warning stickers on all dangerous equipment and post signs visible from 10 feet away warning people that anyone under 18 isn`t allowed in the facility`s sawmill and planer mill. The facility also will have to submit to unannounced inspections. Florence Hardwoods officials released a statement Friday through their attorney, Jodi Arndt Labs, insisting they didn`t knowingly or intentionally violate labor laws but saying they will accept the penalties. As a small company, employees are like family, and the death of Michael Schuls was devastating, the statement said. We are only able to move forward thanks to the love and support of our workforce and the community. Michael will forever be in our hearts and his family in our prayers. Schuls` family has in the past declined to comment on allegations of negligence by Florence Hardwoods. A message to a person managing the family`s GoFundMe page was not immediately returned Friday, and attempts to reach family members by phone and email weren`t successful. State regulators also launched an investigation into Schuls` death. Messages left Friday with the state Department of Workforce Development inquiring about the status of the probe weren`t immediately returned. Schuls` death comes as lawmakers in several states, including Wisconsin, are embracing legislation to loosen child labor laws. States have passed measures to let children work in more hazardous occupations, for more hours on school nights and in expanded roles. Wisconsin Republicans back a proposal to allow children as young as 14 to serve alcohol in bars and restaurants. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Talent Wisconsin USI Insurance Services said Monday that KKR is making a new equity investment of more than $1 billion to become USIs largest shareholder. Private equity firm KKR and Canadian pension fund Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) in 2017 agreed to buy brokerage USI Insurance Services from Onex Corp. in a $4.3 billion deal. Under the terms of a new agreement expected to be completed by the end of 2023 KKR and Valhalla, New York-based USI will buy shares of the company held by CDPQ and other investors. Over 50% of CDPQs shares will be bought in the transaction, USI said. When we embarked on our journey with KKR and CDPQ, we shared a vision about the forces impacting our industry and a plan for USI to be a leading innovator in that transformation, combining world-class sponsorship and investment with our team of experts, differentiated solutions and technology, said Michael Sicard, chairman and CEO of USI, in a statement. The power of this strategic partnership has exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to be continuing our journey with the support of our long-term shareholders. USI said its size has doubled to over 10,000 team members across more than 200 offices, and its management and employees will retain their significant ownership in the company going forward. We are enormously proud of everything the USI team has accomplished and we have a high conviction in the opportunity ahead for this winning team and operating model as USI continues to innovate and scale, added Chris Harrington, partner at KKR. Together with CDPQ we have supported significant investments in USIs platform and technology that position USI for long-term growth. We are pleased to reach this agreement to increase our ownership with a substantial investment of additional long-term capital. Photo: Photographer: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images HOUSTON (AP) Texas power grid has been under tremendous stress during this summers sweltering heat, with the state setting 10 new records for electricity demand. The grid`s reliability has been questioned by residents and lawmakers since a deadly winter blackout in 2021 knocked out power to millions of customers for days and resulted in hundreds of deaths. Concerns were renewed this week after Texas power grid manager issued an emergency alert due to low reserves and high demand. Following the alert, the U. S. Department of Energy granted an emergency order allowing Texas to temporarily suspend emissions rules so power plants could produce enough electricity to prevent outages. The summer heat isnt subsiding as high temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius) were expected in much of Texas through the weekend. This summers challenges have raised more questions about the power grids reliability and what more the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the grid manager, should do to shore it up. WHAT HAS TEXAS DONE SINCE THE 2021 BLACKOUT? Significant changes included mandates for plants to weatherize for the cold. Texas lawmakers also passed bills this year aimed at providing incentives for the development of more on-demand generation not including renewables like wind or solar to keep up with the state`s fast-growing population. But its not clear whether that will entice companies to build. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has declared the changes have fixed all of the flaws that caused one of the largest power outages in U.S. history. But skepticism remains. Energy experts say Texas isnt doing enough to ease demand on the system. When a bill to increase energy efficiency in new construction reached Abbotts desk in June, the governor lumped it in with other vetoes while trying to pressure lawmakers into reaching a deal on property tax cuts. HOW HAS THE SUMMER HEAT IMPACTED THE POWER GRID? Record power demand and other problems culminated this week when ERCOT issued a level 2 energy emergency alert, bringing Texas the closest it has been to statewide outages since the 2021 winter storm. ERCOT said it issued the alert because operating reserves fell as demand surged and power from wind and solar energy sources proved insufficient. It also cited another cause: congestion on a transmission line that prevented the flow of power from South Texas to the rest of the grid. The increased stress on the power grid has prompted ERCOT to ask customers 10 times in the last three weeks to cut their electricity use. These high temperatures are driving record demands for this time of year, Pablo Vegas, ERCOTs president and CEO, said in a Wednesday letter to the U.S. Department of Energy that asked for the temporary suspension of emissions rules. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm granted ERCOTs request, writing Thursday in a letter that the threat of power loss to homes and businesses in Texas is presenting a risk to public health and safety. Texas has never had forced outages in summer months since ERCOT was created in the 1970s, according to the grid operator. WHAT ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS CAN TEXAS MAKE TO SOLIDIFY THE GRID? Doug Lewin, an Austin, Texas-based energy consultant who writes the Texas Energy and Power Newsletter, said improvements could include using grid enhancing technologies that allow for more electricity to flow on transmission lines and additional battery storage of electricity. He said battery storage likely helped prevent outages this week. Lewin also called on ERCOT to prioritize programs that would pay residential and small business consumers to use less electricity. Such programs already exist for big power users like manufacturers and cryptocurrency miners. On Friday, Riot Platforms, a bitcoin mining company, said it received about $7 million in energy credits in August from ERCOT for reducing its energy usage. It also got about $24 million in energy credits from its energy provider, TXU, for selling back electricity it had pre-purchased. They want to compensate me for (using less energy), Ill participate. But Im not doing it uncompensated while Riot Platforms is getting paid millions of dollars. No, like pay me for it, Lewin said. ERCOT also needs to be more open about its operations, Lewin said, adding that questions remain about the grid operator`s explanation on what caused this week`s emergency alert, including whether low wind generation was a factor. I sometimes criticize ERCOT and (the Public Utility Commission of Texas) and the only reason I do it is because we all need them to be successful, he said. And I think the only way to be really good at a job like that is to be open, honest, transparent to a fault. Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin contributed to this report. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Texas A little over a year ago, Peter Gardner, a Louisiana developer, completed rehabbing an apartment building with 144 units and got a surprise so ugly it made him decide to move his business out of town. When the project began, his broker estimated the annual cost of insuring it would be $75,000. But by the time Gardner finished it, the insurance cost had risen to $175,000. He paid it, but when he went to renew the policy this past July, he got another shock. The broker now said it was $275,000. An alternative broker could only find policies over $300,000 per year. Gardner bought his first house for renovation in New Orleans in 1999 when he was still in college. Over the years, hes tackled roughly 100 projects. He currently owns about 400 apartments that he rents. He survived the downturn after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but now the market impacts of climate change have become so inexorable that he sees no choice but to start again in another city to the north. Im a business climate refugee, because if I cant make a profit here, I dont feel comfortable buying new projects, investing here any further. Reeling from four hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 that caused $23 billion in damage, Louisiana is undergoing an insurance calamity that is harming the states economy and even reducing its population. Theres no question were experiencing a crisis in the insurance availability in our state, said James Donelon, commissioner for the states Department of Insurance, who notes the crisis extends not only to property insurance for homeowners and businesses, but also to car and flood insurance, which are sold separately. Its certainly causing some people to turn in the keys and give up their homes and to shut the doors on their businesses. Louisiana is not alone in suffering from insurance woes. Rates are going up across the nation, particularly in states like Florida and California, which have been hit hard by climate-exacerbated natural disasters. Florida has a seen a tripling of rates and some of the super rich are complaining of annual premiums topping $600,000. But Louisiana has one of the lowest average incomes in the nation and so the rising costs there are quicker to cut to the bone. The state is among the top three in the nation which lost the greatest percent of their populations between 2021 and 2022, according to the latest census. Many may have left because of hurricane damage. More than 8% of Louisianans told the U.S. census that they were displaced by a natural disaster last year, compared to a nationwide average of 1.6%. The root of the problem is climate change. Its made hurricanes and rain storms that plague the city both worse and more frequent. Climate change is driving not only direct losses but also repricing of insurance, mortgage and even utility rates, says Jesse Keenan, a professor of sustainable real estate at Tulane University. There have long been endemic issues such as crime, pollution and economic stagnation in the state, said Keenan, but now unaffordable insurance is the breaking point. Louisiana is the third most expensive state for property insurance, according to Insurify, an insurance comparison-shopping website. They estimated the average cost at $5,353 annually, or three times as much as the national average. Twelve insurers that write homeowners coverage in Louisiana were declared insolvent between July 2021 and February 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Those closures sent insurance prices spiraling out of control, in both absolute terms and also in prices relative to local median incomes that are among the lowest in the nation. The average premium rose 6.7% in 2021 and then 18.5% in 2022, according to the Louisiana Department of Insurance. But even those averages hide the real pain. Coastal Louisiana, which includes roughly everyone in the third of the state south of Interstate 10, has seen property insurance increases far higher and faster, according to the commission and thats when they can get insurance at all. First responders rescue residents from floodwater after Hurricane Ida in LaPlace, Louisiana. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-backed insurer of last resort, went from 45,000 policies in 2020 to 130,000 currently. Thats despite the fact that, by law, it charges 10% above market rate and raised rates 65% at the beginning of this year. No one is immune. In June, the New Orleans School board announced that insurance had been raised by 55% to $12.3 million. That came on top of a 50% increase a year earlier. Officials said they were looking for ways to prevent cuts to student programs, including by selling buildings, since the state was not offering additional funding. On the app NextDoor, which connects people in neighborhoods, rising home insurance rates are a constant complaint. Its killing me to be paying nearly 10k for a basic dwelling policy, Linda Chaplain, who lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans, wrote in August. Its not just property insurance that is spiking. Louisiana has the least affordable car insurance rates in the nation, according to a 2022 study by the Insurance Research Council. The average policy is roughly three times the national average. And now flood insurance is creeping up as well, which is hitting people in the poorest neighborhoods particularly hard, according to a recent study by New Orleans city officials. Flood insurance is sold separately from property insurance and it is mandatory for federally backed mortgages in severe flood zones. (More than a third of New Orleans is in such a zone). For decades, the feds had subsidized the program, but lost roughly $1.4 billion annually. So in 2021, it rolled out a new premium pricing policy, under which homes at most risk could see increases of up to 18% a year up to a maximum of $12,000. Coastal Louisiana, roughly everyone in the third of the state south of Interstate 10, has seen property insurance increases far higher and faster according to the commission and thats when they can get insurance at all. Photographer: Mark Felix/Bloomberg Austin Feldbaum, director of hazard mitigation for New Orleans, said within a year of the reform going into effect he began being deluged with calls from people desperate for help. They couldnt pay their flood insurance and wanted help getting grants to raise their houses on platforms, hoping it would reduce their premiums. The calls prompted him to do his own analysis of the impact federal insurance reforms had on affordability in the city. In 2020, before the reforms, 5% of the city had flood insurance costs that were more than 5% of the average household income. But he says that if all of the rate increases are allowed to go into effect, some 25% of the city will owe more than 5% of their incomes in flood insurance and in many cases a lot more. If you look at where the costs end up, some monstrous proportion of the city would be unable to reasonably afford flood insurance, said Feldbaum. And not by a small margin, but where its just completely beyond the average households ability to pay the average premium. The insurance pain is already unbearable now for the citys poorest, according to Marguerite Oestreicher, executive director of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. Habitat makes zero-interest mortgages available to low-income people who are unable to qualify for traditional loans. They currently help thousands of families in the New Orleans area, providing services from new homes to used furniture. We have been inundated with calls from families desperate for a solution, she said. She estimates they are getting about 10 calls per week for the families in their program. Patrice Mimitte is one of those homeowners urgently seeking a solution. When she got her home through the NOLA Habitat program eight years ago, her insurance payments were about $1,500 annually. Her flood coverage was about $400. Both had inched up over the years, but then last year both went through the roof. She paid $4,000-plus for homeowners and $700 for flood. The additional cost more than doubled her mortgage payment from $580 a month when she started to over $1,200. On the phone recently, Mimitte said she had just gotten a new letter from the insurance company with next years premiums and she was afraid to open it. It turned out her premiums will go up to $5,183 annually in October. As a single parent, the only person working in my house, I dont have any extra hands. Im already working two jobs to try to make ends meet. At this point, I just dont know what to do. Photo: Flooding and Damage to homes a day after Hurricane Ida. Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Louisiana Climate Change One of the longest-serving TV meteorologists in Atlanta was terminated from his high-profile job in 2019 because of repeated instances of sexual harassment of colleagues, not because his skin is white, a federal appeals court decided. Paul Ossmann was fired from CBS46 TV in 2019 after almost three decades in the weather broadcast business, after female co-workers complained about his sexually charged comments, requests for nude photos and other inappropriate actions, a panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals explained. Ossmann argued that the harassment allegations were a pretext and that he was let go because of reverse racial discrimination. Ossmann lost in federal district court in 2022 but pressed his case all the way to the 11th Circuit, one stop short of going to the U.S. Supreme Court. His lawyers argued that his replacement at the TV station was a hispanic woman and that race data collected on a corporate form showed that race was a factor and that he was discriminated against. The appeals court did not agree with Ossmanns claims. The ultimate question in any discrimination case is whether the defendant intentionally discriminated against the plaintiff based on race. Ossmann failed to show that a reasonable jury could conclude that Meredith terminated his employment because he was white, Judge Britt Grant wrote for the majority of the panel. The district courts order granting summary judgment for Meredith is therefore affirmed. It was the second time Ossmann had been terminated from an Atlanta TV station. In 2011, after some 20 years on the job, WAGA-TV let him go due to poor ratings and other concerns, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. Ossmann that year filed for bankruptcy protection and gave up his upscale Atlanta home. But he said later that he pulled himself together and in 2012 was hired at CBS46 TV, according to news reports. He was named chief meteorologist in 2017. During that time, though, female co-workers repeatedly complained about his inappropriate behavior, the appeals court explained. The court said that Ossmann did not produce evidence that he had been discriminated against. On the other hand, Meredith (the TV station corporation) has produced extensive evidence of Ossmanns sexual harassment, which is a valid, nondiscriminatory reason for his termination. Judge Corey Maze dissented. He noted that by recording race data on employees, the TV stations parent company had considered race when firing and replacing Ossmann, contrary to whats allowed by federal rules and recent case law. Whether the corporations human resources department would have reached a different decision if the races were changed is a genuine issue of material fact that only a jury can decide, Maze wrote. Merediths hand is in the cookie jar, he added, citing from the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that struck down affirmative action in college admissions: Outright racial balancing is patently unconstitutional. Ossmann is now in the Cincinnati area, according to his Linkedin page. CROSS CITY, Fla. (AP) An elderly man who was cleaning debris from Hurricane Idalia in north Florida when a tree fell on him has been declared the state`s third death from the Category 3 storm, officials said Thursday. The 90-year-old man died Tuesday in Dixie County after a tree fell on a tractor he was operating, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Hurricane Idalia made landfall with 125 mph (201 kph) winds across the state in Floridas remote Big Bend region. Other Idalia-related deaths in Florida confirmed by the states 25 local district medical examiners are a man who died in a traffic crash near Gainesville hours before Idalia made landfall on Aug. 30 and a windsurfer who went missing that same day off Florida`s Space Coast. A man in Valdosta, Georgia, also died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear another tree out of the road, according to the Lowndes County Sheriff Office. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden on Thursday approved a disaster declaration for three Georgia counties following Hurricane Idalia`s sprint across southern and coastal Georgia on Aug. 30. The storm made landfall with 125 mph (201 kph) winds in Floridas remote Big Bend region before moving north into Georgia. Biden initially approved assistance to individuals and governments in Cook, Glynn and Lowndes counties. He also approved seven counties in Florida for assistance after Idalia and has added six more. Lowndes County, home to the city of Valdosta, experienced the worst damage, with estimates showing 80 homes destroyed and 835 homes sustaining major damage as winds reached nearly 70 mph (113 kph). One man in Valdosta died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear another tree from a road, sheriffs deputies said. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, in a letter sent Wednesday, requested aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to governments in 30 counties and individuals in the three counties Biden approved and added Appling County. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency expects more counties to be added and additional types of assistance granted. This assistance will quickly be put to good use helping those impacted by Hurricane Idalia, Kemp said in a statement. We will not stop calling for greater assistance until every Georgia county that sustained damage receives a federal disaster declaration and the help Georgians deserve. Aid to individuals can include cash to pay for temporary housing and repairs and low-cost loans to repair uninsured property. For local governments and electric cooperatives, FEMA will help reimburse debris removal and pay for emergency workers, as well as repair public infrastructure. Kemp estimated Georgia governments saw at least $41 million in damage to public infrastructure, well above the $19 million threshold required statewide for a disaster declaration. Individuals and business owners in the three counties can seek assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA app. Photo: Boat owners and staff at Bull River Marina as Hurricane Idalia moved toward Savannah, Georgia, Aug. 31. (Stephen B. Morton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, File) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Georgia Most of West Maui will officially reopen to travelers Oct. 8 under a new wildfire emergency proclamation signed last week by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green. Nonessential travel to much of the island`s western coastline has been strongly discouraged since devastating wildfires killed at least 115 people in the historic town of Lahaina last month. State tourism officials initially urged travelers to stay away from Maui so residents and agencies could focus on emergency response efforts and supporting those displaced by the fires. In mid-August, officials began encouraging tourists to return to other parts of Maui, avoiding the burn zone and spending money to help the region recover. On Thursday, Green told a meeting of the state Council on Revenues that he expected authorities to reopen most of West Maui to travelers in October, with the exception of the fire-damaged neighborhoods. The area, which includes beach resorts in Kaanapali, north of historic Lahaina, has 11,000 hotel rooms. Thats half Mauis total. In the emergency proclamation signed Friday, the governor said the previous guidance that strongly discouraged nonessential travel to West Maui will be discontinued Oct. 8. Tourism is a major economic driver in Hawaii, and the wildfire disaster prompted state officials to lower their 2023 economic growth prediction for the entire state to 1.1%, down from 1.8%. The number of visitors arriving on Maui sank about 70% after the Aug. 8 fire, down to 2,000 a day, and only half of the available hotel rooms there are occupied, said Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association president Mufi Hannemann. Airlines have begun offering steep discounts on flights to Hawaii, and some resorts have slashed room rates by 20% or are offering a fifth night free. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Hawaii Coral Gables, FL September 7, 2023 The Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA) is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Insurance Journals Academy of Insurance. This collaboration aims to further enhance and expand education opportunities for insurance professionals, from Continuing Education (CE) courses to live webinar series. The educational landscape of the insurance industry is ever-evolving, and to best serve our members and the wider community, it is essential that we provide top-tier resources and learning opportunities, states Juan Carlos Diaz-Padron, President of LAAIA National. Our partnership with the Academy of Insurance is a testament to our commitment in driving forward the knowledge and skills of insurance professionals in our industry. One of the highlights of this partnership is the Academy of Insurances commitment to support LAAIAs scholarship recipients. Every recipient will now be granted a complimentary full-access membership to the Academy of Insurance, providing them with an array of educational resources, webinars, and courses to propel their career forward. Patrick Wraight, Director of Education at the Academy of Insurance, adds, We are proud to join forces with LAAIA, an association that shares our dedication to professional growth and education. By becoming more accessible to LAAIA members, we are investing in the future leaders of our industry, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to succeed. This synergistic partnership promises to: Elevate the quality and range of educational content available to LAAIA members and the wider insurance community. Support the ongoing professional development of insurance practitioners, ensuring they remain at the forefront of industry advancements. Foster a stronger community of well-educated, connected, and inspired insurance professionals. Both LAAIA and the Academy of Insurance are eager to roll out their joined initiatives and look forward to witnessing the positive impacts these will bring to insurance professionals and the industry as a whole. For more details on this partnership or to access the range of educational offerings, visit www.laaia.com and www.ijacademy.com . About LAAIA The Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies (LAAIA) was founded in 1969 as The Voice of Independent Insurance Agents. Today our members represent over $1 Billion in premiums. We work to ensure a healthy insurance environment by providing continuing education, legislative advocacy, representation on national advisory councils, monthly networking events, community outreach and the largest annual insurance convention and trade fair in South Florida. LAAIA is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit professional association administered by a volunteer board of directors. The Latin American Association of Insurance Agencies is an association of insurance professionals whose purpose is to protect the rights of its members for the benefit of the consumer through education, information, networking and active participation in the political environment and community service. Press Contact: Maribel Ramirez Phone: 305-477-1442 info@laaia.com Topics Training Development Source: Streetwise Reports September 11, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) This telehealth company is expanding its platform to cover remote monitoring for pediatric patients with diabetes and other eligible conditions. Find out why one analyst says this company's stock is gathering momentum. Telehealth company Reliq Health Technologies Inc. (RHT:TSX.V; RQHTF:OTCQB; A2AJTB:WKN) announced it has expanded its platform to cover remote monitoring for pediatric patients with diabetes and other eligible conditions. The company said it expects to add more than 3,000 pediatric patients to iUGO by Q2 2024 through existing contracts with home health agencies in Texas. "In Texas, Medicaid covers home telemonitoring (remote patient monitoring) for children with diabetes, hypertension, end-stage solid organ disease, organ transplant or who require mechanical ventilation," said Reliq Chief Executive Officer Lisa Crossley. "These vulnerable young patients can benefit greatly from in-home monitoring of their chronic conditions to identify potential complications, enable early interventions, and prevent hospitalizations." The iUGO platform helps manage diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and others. Patients get audible reminders to step on a scale, take their blood pressure, or prick their fingers for glucose monitoring. The information is automatically uploaded to the cloud. Drawing on data from fall detection devices, medication tracking, and vital signs, iUGO flags patients at home or in facilities who need additional monitoring. The patients being added through existing Texas contracts will net an average revenue of US$50 per patient per month at 70% gross margin, the company said. Onboarding for those patients will begin next month. Home care can provide comfort for a child to recover quicker from treatment, experts said. "Children heal faster in their own home," said Susan Huff, senior director of Johns Hopkins Pediatrics at Home. "They sleep better in their own beds. There is data to show that children recover quicker when they are out of the acute care setting. Home care visits may decrease doctor visits and repeat hospitalizations." The Catalyst: An 'Inflection Point' Reliq had its first profitable quarter during the three months ending March 31 with a gain from operations of CA$731,017 YoY. It also has started scoring larger contracts for iUGO, including one with a U.S. health plan that operates in five states with more than 3,000 doctors and 1 million patients. The company is gathering "continuing momentum," wrote Maxim analyst Allen Klee, who rated the stock a Buy with a CA$1.75 per share target price. "We believe the company has hit an inflection point of accelerating revenue and EBITDA profitability," he wrote. "Tailwinds include a significant number of larger contracts that have been won." The company will not release final financial results for fiscal year 2023, which ended June 30, until October. But Crossley recently told analysts and shareholders that according to estimates, revenues more than doubled from fiscal year 2022. iUGO is a "compelling offer for practitioners," Klee wrote. "A typical practice can bring in more than US$1 million in Medicare and Medicaid payments implementing it." Market Getting 'Significant Boom' The telehealth market was valued at US$128.12 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to US$504.24 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.7%, according to Fortune Business Insights. "The market is getting a significant boom with the rising start-up funding and launch of products, especially for virtual consultations," the researchers wrote. The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill and put many burdens on healthcare workers. "This has opened new market opportunities for digital health platforms," according to the report. "The demand for virtual consultations increased by many folds amid the crisis, The company said the platform could have particular benefits for young patients. "Providing proactive support to pediatric patients through in-home monitoring can have a dramatic impact on patients' long-term health, helping to prevent nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, organ damage, and other complications that can lead to shortened lifespans and poor quality of life in adulthood," Crossley said. Reliq also recently announced a post-discharge program for acute hospitals on iUGO. Called iUGO Care, it supports patients being discharged from an acute care hospital to their homes, inpatient rehabilitation, assisted living, or skilled nursing facilities. Hospitals can be assessed penalties of up to 3% of total Medicare reimbursement for the following year if they don't meet targets reducing readmissions, which could mean millions of dollars in lost revenue, Reliq said. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-9012] More than 96% of all hospitals in Florida were assessed financial penalties in 2021 because of the issue. Over 2,300 U.S. hospitals will pay more than US$320 million in such penalties in 2023, according to Kaiser Health News. Ownership and Share Structure About 8% of Reliq's shares are owned by insiders, including Crossley, with 1.6% or 3.22 million shares. About 0.3% of the company is owned by institutional investors, including FNB Wealth Management, with 0.01% or 0.03 million shares, according to Reuters. Other top investors include Eugene Beukman, who owns 0.11% or 0.23 million shares, and Brian Storseth, who owns 0.07% or 0.14 million shares, Reuters said. Crossley said 91.7% of the company is retail. The company has 203 million shares outstanding, with about 200 million free-floating. It has a market cap of CA$91.3 million and trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.76 and CA$0.375. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Source: Streetwise Reports September 11, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) With a new assay reporting 119 g/t Au over 4.10m and 147 g/t Au over 2.70m at its Jackpot feature, things are looking up for New Found Gold Corp. Read to see why one newsletter writer said this company had "the best gold project in Canada," and why you should buy this stock. New Found Gold Corp. (NFG:TSX.V; NFGC:NYSE.American) is a Canada-based mineral exploration company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and evaluation of resource properties with a focus on gold properties located in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario, Canada. The firm's flagship Queensway Project consists of approximately 87 mineral licenses, including 6,043 claims comprising approximately 151,075 hectares of land. This project is located over 15 kilometers west of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, just 18 kilometers from Gander International Airport, and is home to the Jackpot feature. New Found Gold also owns a 100% interest in the Lucky Strike project in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, comprising approximately 11,684 hectares, as well as a scattered portfolio of different mining and royalty interests throughout northeastern Ontario. The Catalyst: New Assays from the Jackpot Project On September 5, the company announced the results from 30 diamond drill holes that were completed as part of a follow-up drill program designed to test the new Jackpot discovery located 2.5 km north of Keats along the highly prospective Appleton Fault Zone (AFZ). Jackpot is a new discovery that was announced on June 22 with the discovery hole interval of 95.7 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 3.25 meters (m) in NFGC-23-1292 intercepted at a vertical depth of just 20m and situated 280m east of the AFZ. Follow-up drilling was designed to efficiently determine the orientation of the vein for continued expansion drilling. 119 g/t Au over 4.10m in NFGC-23-1425 and 147 g/t Au over 2.70m in NFGC-23-1423 are located 20m down-dip and 15m along strike, respectively, of previously the reported NFGC-23-1292. All three intervals occur at a vertical depth ranging from just 20m-40m. Initial drilling indicates that Jackpot is an approximately east-west striking, steeply north-dipping high-grade gold-bearing fault that is laced with coarse-grained visible gold. New Found Gold COO Greg Matheson explained that "Jackpot is another exciting discovery for our team, delivering exceptional high-grade and near-surface gold mineralization a full 2.5km north of our flagship Keats zone." "The caliber of today's intercepts speaks to the growing mineralized canvas at Appleton North and demonstrates that these newly identified structures are host to high-grade mineralization akin to many of our better-defined zones to the south." "Similar to Lotto, Jackpot is characterized by the presence of an abundance of coarse gold that is associated with a substantial brittle fault and quartz veining. One drill is incrementally stepping out on this new discovery to follow it along strike and to depth with additional results expected in the near term." In addition to the work at the Jackpot site, the firm is currently undertaking a 500,000m drill program across the Queensway holdings, with approximately 36,400m of core pending assay results. Why This Sector? Premium Metal, Premium Location Gold remains a primary mining target around the globe, but the truth remains that most viable gold mining projects are located far afield of North America in jurisdictions with spotty records regarding relationships with international mining firms. As INTERPOL pointed out in a 2022 report, this reality means that much of the world's easily minable gold is not actually available to white market actors. "In the context of COVID-19, illegal gold mining has been lining criminals' pockets more than ever before, allowing crime groups to funnel money into other illicit activities while destroying the local environment," according to Cindy Buckley, Acting Assistant Director of INTERPOL's Illicit Markets division. Even in jurisdictions where health concerns are a priority, the mining process can remain quite dangerous. As Henry Wilkins reported for The Voice of Africa in 2021, "Terror attacks on gold mining operations in Burkina Faso are becoming a regular occurrence. So, while there remains a fair amount of gold out there to be mined, not much of it turns up in relatively safe and stable jurisdictions like Canada, where New Found Gold is located. Why This Company? 'Best Gold Project in Canada' On August 2, COO Matheson said, "We've been itching to get the drill bit turning back at QWS, given the great success of our first program completed in the fall of 2022. From my experience with early-stage exploration projects, it is rare to have this kind of success on an initial pass, with 27 of 33 holes hitting significant gold mineralization." At that time, Technical Analyst Clive Maund explained that, in his opinion, the firm had "BIG upside potential" as "the best gold project in Canada." Why Now? Looking Better Than Ever In an updated opinion published on September 4, Maund re-upped his claim, explaining that "Eric Sprott has been accumulating New Found Gold in a persistent manner in recent weeks and 'Bob Moriarty of 321gold recently observed, 'Their assay results are so outstanding that they're the best I have ever seen. No one I know is smart enough to even guess at how much gold New Found Gold has.'" Clivemaund.com "On the 39-month chart," Maund explained, "we can see the very strong runup that occurred during the 2nd half of 2020 and the 1st half of 2021 and how it was followed by a quite severe bear market reaction that bottomed a year ago last September. On this chart, we can also see how the Cup & Handle base is forming beneath a broad band of quite strong resistance arising from the extensive trading in the CA$7 - CA$9 zone during the last half of 2021 and the first half of 2022. Once this resistance is overcome, a major bull market advance should follow." "Since New Found Gold is getting closer and closer to breaking out of the giant base pattern, it is rated more of a buy than when we first looked at it, and it is at a slightly better price. Given its massive resources, this looks like a great stock to own since its upside is potentially massive once gold really gets moving, which is only a matter of time with paper assets set to eventually approach their intrinsic value, which is zero." On June 7 this year, analyst Ron Struthers shared similar sentiments. "It is amazing and reflects how bad this market is with New Found Gold Corp. at these prices and reporting drill holes that can only be described as spectacular. It reminds me of Kirkland's Fosterville discovery, which is the lowest-cost gold mine in the world because the grade is very high." He reported New Found Gold VP of Exploration, stating that "Discovering high-grade gold mineralization of this magnitude over such a thick interval is rare in nature, and yet, Queensway has produced several of these high-caliber hits across a multitude of zones." [OWNERSHIP_CHART-9988] "I don't know how long we can buy NFG at these cheap prices," he concluded, writing that "the stock did pop about US$0.70 on the news, so there might be a pullback, and why I have a Strong Buy below US$6.50." Ownership and Share Structure According to Reuters, 5.25% of New Found's shares are held by management and insiders. Founder, CEO, and Chairman Collin Kettell has 2.90%, with 5.16 million shares, and President Denis Laviolette has 1.22%, with 2.18 million. 39.97% is with strategic investors. Palisades Goldcorp Ltd. has 26.30%, with 46.77 million shares. Sprott Mining Inc. has 13.67%, with 24.30 million, and 2176423 Ontario Ltd. has 4.98%, with 8.86 million. 3.53% is with institutional investors. Van Eck Associates Corp. has 2.71%, with 4.81 million shares, and Integrated Advisors Network LLC has 0.38%, with 0.68 million. The rest is in retail. According to its website, New Found has a market capitalization of $1.069 billion, with 179 million basic shares outstanding and 12.5 million options. It has cash and marketable securities totaling US$47 million. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100? That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More Credit Suisse Chief Operating Officer Francesca McDonagh is leaving the firm three months after its emergency takeover by rival UBS Group AG. McDonagh has decided to resign to pursue a new opportunity outside of the bank, Credit Suisse Chief Executive Officer Ulrich Koerner said in an internal memo on Monday seen by Bloomberg and confirmed by a spokesperson. I am very appreciative of her leadership, Koerner said in the memo, adding McDonagh will remain available to ensure a smooth transition. A tsunami of red tape is punishing farmers who are trying their best to cope with increasing regulations, the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has claimed. It has called on the Government to ease the levels of bureaucracy relating to supports paid through the Common Agricultural Policy. The standard Government response to similar calls over the years is that it is obliged to account for the significant amount of money it receives from the European Union. INHFA national vice-president John Joe Fitzgerald, who again recently raised the issue, said most farmers were sick and tired of increasing levels of form filling. He said they have become more complicated, with never-ending regulations demanding more and more time from farmers. FREE Irish Examiner gilet with an annual digital subscription Subscribe for 1.54/week Billed as 80 for first year. Ts&Cs apply Mr Fitzgerald said the INHFA has major concerns around the increasing bureaucracy following recent Department of Agriculture demands. These require the online registration of all farmers on the newly established National Fertiliser Database. Beyond CAP, he said there are additional European Union and national regulations around habitat and environmental protection. Major financial implications He claimed these have major financial implications for farmers while delivering little in terms of environmental benefit. Mr Fitzgerald accepted rules and regulations were required in agriculture the same as in any other industry. But they must be proportionate and not put farmers at a disadvantage. Unfortunately, when we assess the demands made through EU and national regulation and compare it to what farmers in other parts of the world comply with, then there is a major disadvantage. Referring to the beef and sheep sectors, he said increased access is being provided to EU markets for farm products from non-EU countries that does not have to comply with the onerous regulations that Irish farmers must meet. Mr Fitzgerald outlined how electronic tagging was introduced in the sheep sector here in 2019 on the basis that it would help market access. But today, New Zealand and Australian lamb are getting access to the same EU markets that Irish farmers are selling into. Critically though, they are getting this access without electronic tags, while Irish farmers have to endure this additional cost, he said. Mr Fitzgerald said there was a growing push to get more farmers Bord Bia-certified on the basis it would help in the delivery of better markets. "However, with beef prices in freefall, many farmers are questioning the merits and benefits of such a scheme and the onerous requirements associated with becoming and maintaining Bord Bia membership. For many more there is also a growing level of anger around the Bord Bia requirement relating to the new Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme, he said. Mr Fitzgerald said there was a need for Government and EU policy to take account of the make-up of Irish farms. These are primarily family-run with limited resources and every time we update and increase regulation, we increase their workload and stress levels. On this basis, it is time for the minister, his staff and EU officials to reconsider how they operate and recognise the enormous and unfair burden their policies are having on farmers and their families, he said. The issue of form-filling for farmers was raised in the Dail earlier this year by Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu, who said multiple State and EU agencies often ask for the same information many times each year. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Martin Heydon accepted form-filling was a constant source of frustration for farmers. Accounting for EU money But he stressed the country must be able to account for the European Union money it is receiving, as do other member states. If we are found in audits by the EU not to have administered it appropriately according to the schemes, we can be subject to very significant disallowances and fines. I have come to understand very quickly that there is a significant need here. Therefore, we do not look to develop or make things any more complex than they need to be. There is a requirement that we must stand over the administering of the EU money, however, which is significantly important to our farmers and to the rural communities in which they are based, he said. Mr Heydon said the department tried to keep the level of work to a minimum so as not to burden farmers. However, necessary paperwork was a requirement of many of the schemes and programmes. He said one of the key performance indicators of the department's information management and technology statement of strategy was the number of services offered digitally, such as form-filling. These digital services will inter alia have pre-filled customer details as a default for all new digital forms. They will, therefore, recognise the farmer has been there before. That will take away the need to ask farmers for the same information many times over, he said, adding there was also much streamlining in the departments online systems. Humans have an inherent fascination with the darker aspects of life, and our interest in true crime has given rise to a multitude of books, documentaries, podcasts, and even dramatisations of real-life criminal events. But historian, author and one of Irelands best-known podcasters, Fin Dwyer, is adamant that his book, A Lethal Legacy: A History of Ireland in 18 Murders, does not fall into the true crime genre. This book is a history book. The murders were chosen because of when they happened, not how or why. In most of the cases, we know who did it; its the context of the murders thats explored and the history around them that I focus on. I have reservations about the wider true crime genre; sometimes the way families and victims are treated is appalling. Its something Ive thought about a lot. Instead, the Irish History Podcast hosts third book, which hes been researching for almost a decade, maps the causes and aftermath of 18 different cases and looks at how these events played a part in shaping Ireland. There were particularly graphic details that I came across in my research that I just felt were not necessary and left them out, he adds. Im writing history, so I didnt add anything that didnt serve a purpose. Ned and Mary Sheas murders in 1821 happened against the backdrop of the brewing famine and captured a lot of the tensions that were present in rural Ireland. Their case is particularly brutal, but thats not why I chose it. Their case wasnt chosen because of mystery or an unsolved element; it was significant because of the events that were happening around them. Individuals dont make history; they can influence it, and in these murders, we are not looking at people who made history; these cases were chosen more because of all the events that were happening around them. Some of the murders featured in the book happened over 150 years ago but are relayed with incogitable detail. Murders are very useful for historians because history slows down around a murder. Historical records hold minute details about the person and their life, and the records from older murders have incredible details as there was a huge interest in the victims life at the time, so they give us a really detailed, personal insight into the past. Nineteenth-century newspapers would print the court cases almost verbatim, so all the details are all available to research and offer a rich insight into their lives, much more so than today. One story Dwyer found particularly poignant and thought-provoking was the murder of Mary Hart of Ballyneale in Co Kilkenny. Murder is a very harrowing and traumatic thing, and Mary Hart, who died in very tragic circumstances in the 1890s, was a victim of the attitudes towards mental health that have followed us right through to the 20th century. Her death really tells the story of the problematic way mental health has been treated. This case touches on something broader I try to draw out in the book, and its not a unique Irish thing, just the idea that institutions were seen as ways to treat all problems. This idea that an institution could solve any problem had disastrous implications. That came out in the chapter about Mary Hart, where intuitions were seen as the answer to lifes problems, and part of that solution was segregation from society, along with medical views, convincing us that the issues were somehow contagious. When presenting real-life murder cases, balancing historical narratives with the human stories of victims and the societal impact of the crimes presented ethical considerations for Dwyer. Being mindful that relatives of the victims could potentially read the book, he aimed to avoid revealing sensitive or sensational details that might distress them. I did try as much as I could and took into account that there may be some relatives reading this book, so I was cognisant of that while writing it up. I didnt want to reveal anything that would sensationalise these murders, as there are people alive who are descendants of the murder victims. In terms of some of the details I did put in the book, in those instances, it made sense to include details that are harrowing to read, but they were important in conveying the mental state of the murderer. A Lethal Legacy: A History of Ireland in 18 Murders by Fin Dwyer RICH AND FASCINATING HISTORY Dwyer, who hails from Castlecomer in Kilkenny, has a global listenership with the Irish History Podcast. When creating content for both his podcast and his books, he says he focuses on weaving personal stories into the historical narrative, and by connecting historical facts with individual experiences, he enhances accessibility. The podcast audience is about 40% Irish, 40% US, then mostly Australian and the UK, so its diverse, with everyone having varying degrees of knowledge of Irish history. I always start off assuming that people may not have much background knowledge. Maybe they havent engaged in history in 30 years since leaving school, and history class might not have been the best experience back then. I try to focus on personal stories, like in this book, then build the architecture of the historic event around that story. It makes it more accessible when people hear about someones life. One of my recent podcasts is about a woman whose story was meant to be in the book. She was a survivor of the Great Hunger, and its a really personal story. I could trace her through the workhouses, but then another woman comes up in the research around 1870 with the same name, and from that point on, their records are indecipherable. Its disappointing that I couldnt trace her all the way and finish her story for the book, but thats where being a historian comes in: the facts have to come first. Her story does feature in a podcast, and I build history and facts around her; otherwise, history can just feel like a lot of unrelatable dates and events. So where did Dwyers own interest in history come from? As a kid, I spent a lot of time playing in what was then the ruinous former demesne of the Wandesforde Estate, which is now the Castlecomer Discovery Park. That gave me a natural curiosity about the famine. Also, Castlecomer was a coal-mining town, which meant I was surrounded by a very rich and fascinating community history. In the book, Dwyer explores various periods of Irish history and offers many lesser-known facts about our past. The book begins in the 1800s with Ned and Mary Sheas gruesome murders before the Great Hunger. Several more murders occurred around the time of the famine. Dwyer says that despite it being the most important event in our history, public understanding of the famine is limited. He says Irish people are less interested in the Great Famine than the 1916 Rising. In the US, it seems people acknowledge the importance of the famine more, and there are understandable reasons for this. People who survived the Great Hunger and remained in Ireland lived in a country that was utterly decimated, surrounded by memories of a deeply traumatising event. They dont want to remember. Other featured murders happened during the late 1890s, a time of mass emigration, with later murders documented around the Irish revolutionary era through the 1920s. Theres a chapter from the 1940s following Tullamore man Michael O Dwyer, then The Troubles takes us up to the 1970s, with the book finishing on the tragic murder of Declan Flynn in Fairview Park in 1982. Tying them all together is their significance in time and the effect they had on our wider history, with the effects seen right up to the modern day. For most of us, dealing with dog excrement is a rare and, at most, irritating inconvenience. Many of us will only come up against the issue when we have children and steer our buggies into a pooey pile while walking along the strand or in the street but for certain cohorts, dog fouling can cause untold problems. Problems that are not being dealt with. Part of a recent report put together by the National Council for the Blind (NCBI) Ireland for their Clear Our Paths campaign showed that just eighty-two dog fouling fines were handed out by local councils in Ireland throughout 2022. Information, provided by the local councils at the request of NCBI, showed that eighteen councils from around the country handed out no dog fouling fines at all over the course of last year. While Kerry County Council had the highest number of fines with twenty-seven and two convictions related to those fines, neighbouring Cork handed out just one. For 51-year-old Ciara Barrett, these figures come as little surprise. The mother of three was diagnosed with retinol cancer some six years ago. Though the cancer itself was dealt with successfully, the illness triggered an autoimmune response that attacked the cones and rods of her eyes and rendered her blind. Before, Id have said to myself it was a disgrace and Id have steered the buggy around it or walked around it but now I cant see it and its a real and regular problem, says the native of Carrigaline. My cane goes in it or my foot goes in it. Most of the time Im with someone and they help but when Im on my own and I cant see it, I dont know if it has even happened. And it becomes a big deal trying to clean your cane or its on your foot and you drag it into the house and before you know it, its everywhere. Ciara exercises six days a week at a local park where she says there are often problems with dogs, their owners and dog fouling. We have a warden but his hands are tied because they have to either see the dogs in the middle of the act or have a picture of the same and it not being picked up so they can issue fines, she says. There are not enough dog wardens and when they are out there, they are too nice. There arent enough dog bins either and the councils are removing a lot of regular bins. Often youll get people bagging the poo but not having anywhere to put it and they leave it on the ground. Ciara Barrett at her home in Carrigaline, Co. Cork. Picture: David Creedon According to the law, it is an offence not to clean up after your dog if it fouls in a public place. Failure to clean up your dogs waste can lead to a 150 on-the-spot fine or on summary conviction to a fine of up to 4,000. While in theory, the law looks like a good clear rap on the knuckles, in practice, it is something of a joke. And that is down to the fact that it is very rarely policed. Three people can issue fines for dog fouling - dog wardens, litter wardens and gardai. There are just seventy dog wardens employed in Ireland. Fifty of those work full-time and another twenty are employed part-time. Given that those wardens look after almost two hundred thousand licensed dogs and often deal with situations that might be viewed as more urgent, it is hardly surprising that so few fines were issued. As well as the mess and inconvenience, coming into contact with dog excrement can cause serious health problems. The main danger to health in dog faeces is the presence of the eggs of Toxocara Canis, or dog roundworm. Once in the human body, the larvae of these eggs can cause extreme fever and illness and severe damage to organs. Contact with infected dog faeces can also cause serious eye infections and in some cases loss of sight, with children especially at risk. John Fulham, Public Engagement Manager at the Irish Wheelchair Association Its a very real problem, says wheelchair user and Public Engagement Manager at the Irish Wheelchair Association, John Fulham. It happens a lot and for someone like me, a wheelchair user, I have to be on my guard all the time. Even in my own apartment complex, I recently had to put a post into the WhatsApp group asking people to pick up after their dog because people are just leaving it there. According to John, the problem gets worse in Autumn when the excrement gets covered with leaves. People just think ah sure it'll be fine, itll biodegrade but the problems happen long before it gets to that point, says the father of one. And it has gotten worse. It had improved for a while but people have become complacent again. When someone like me rolls over it, it gets everywhere. It gets on your hands, on your clothes and there is the potential for infection. John believes that awareness is key to helping people understand the consequences of leaving their dogs excrement unattended but he acknowledges that no matter how hard we try to educate and inform, there will always be people who simply just dont care. Those that dont clean it up tend to be brazen about it, he says, and sometimes when Ive said it, they fight back and that then becomes a problem for me. John Fulham, Irish Wheelchair Association It is these people that fines and laws need to target and until those become more robust, the problem is sure to continue. The problem here is that you can have all the laws you want, whether its dog poo or speeding, but without implementation, its useless, says John. Unless you have people being punished for transgressions then I think it undermines the law. More bins, more fines, says Ciara Barrett. Wardens have very little power and people are increasingly aggressive towards them. That needs to change somehow. How do other countries deal with their do-do? Earlier this year, Robert Menard, mayor of Beziers, France, brought in a local law requiring dog owners to submit their dogs DNA and carry passports. If you are caught with your dog but without a passport, you are fined automatically. Poo-la-la. In 2013 authorities in the Spanish village of Brunete started mailing dog poo back to the pet owners who left it behind. This was done with the help of twenty volunteers who were on the lookout for irresponsible pet owners to strike up a conversation with. Their aim was to discover the name of the offending dog which was then identified and matched to its owner from the registered pet database held in the town hall. After 147 special deliveries had been mailed to negligent pet owners, the reported dog littering decreased by 70%. In the UK, councils can prosecute if people are happy to provide a witness statement against anyone seen not picking up their dog's mess. Some years ago councils in Gloucestershire and Dorset in the UK, opted to spray paint the piles of dog poop in bright colours to highlight the mess it makes on the streets. We are not sure how effective it was but at least it looked a little prettier. In 2011, officials in New Taipei City in Taiwan started offering a lottery ticket for every bag of poo citizens handed in. Officials collected 14,500 bags from 4,000 people, and the scheme reportedly halved the amount of excrement in the city. A woman in her 50s won the top prize - a beautiful gold ingot. Tanaiste Micheal Martin says a constructive meeting took place between Irish Farmers Association (IFA) protesters and Fianna Fail ministers, following a protest outside the partys think-in earlier this morning. The protest, over the European Commissions decision to tighten rules on Irelands nitrates derogation, is taking place outside the Horse and Jockey Hotel, where the Fianna Fail think-in is ongoing in Co Tipperary. Mr Martin, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue and Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill attended the meeting, alongside representatives from the IFA. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mr Martin said they listened carefully to the opinions from different agricultural sectors. The Tanaiste admitted that dairy farmers would bear the brunt of the decision by the European Commission to reduce Irelands nitrate derogation. We have said we will reflect on our discussions to see what we can do to alleviate the pressures on certain farmers who are in derogation but who have fulfilled a lot of their obligations, Mr Martin said. Mr Martin said that it was important, in the medium term, to retain the nitrates derogation at 220 beyond 2026. He said that the Government were not considering compensation, but the conversation would now move to facilitate measures to organise farming in a way that reduces the impact of the nitrates decision on certain farmers. Tipperary Protest This morning, a large group of IFA members gathered outside the Horse and Jockey Hotel in Co Tipperary to protest at the European Commissions decision to tighten rules on Irelands nitrates derogation. The change will mean that farmers will face stricter rules around the spreading of manure from January, with Mr McConalogue previously saying that negotiations between the Government and the EU will not be re-opened. Farmers say they could lose up to 40,000 a year under the change. The Agriculture Minister previously said that the changes to the derogation would be challenging for farmers, but the EU Agriculture Commissioner had been very, very clear that negotiations would not be re-opened. Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue addresses IFA Members protesting outside the Fianna Fail think-in in Tiperary, who are saying the Government are out of touch with farmers and rural Ireland. Pictures: Finbarr O'Rourke Addressing the crowd of protesters, Mr McConalogue said he was willing to sit down with farm organisations. Im willing to sit down with farm organisations all the time, Mr McConalogue said, with interruptions from the crowd criticising him for only meeting with the EUs Agriculture Minister virtually. We are doing our very best on all issues, Mr McConalogue added, to more heckles. IFA President Tim Cullinane said that Tipperary is the heartbeat of rural farming, adding that he was concerned about the changes to the nitrates derogation. We lost the beef industry down here and by god, Im telling you minister, were not going to lose the dairy industry, were not going to lose the beef industry or sheep industry or the tillage sector, Mr Cullinane said. Thats our clear position You know that our team put a very, very credible proposal together and we want that proposal going back to Brussels. We want you to get the officials in the commission, come over here to Ireland and to see what were doing. Shortly after Mr McConalogue returned inside the hotel, Mr Martin returned and spoke with a number of protesters, including Mr Cullinane. The introduction of free books for secondary school students remains under discussion as part of the negotiations for the upcoming budget, the minister for education has confirmed. The Department of Education is examining how free school books could be introduced for secondary school students, according to Norma Foley. Last year, the minister announced a scheme for free primary school books as part of Budget 2023 that saw school costs reduced for parents of younger children this September. That has been so positively welcomed and endorsed by school communities and their parents and guardians, said Ms Foley. I have never made a secret of the fact it is my aspiration that we would move forward at post-primary level. However, it is a very, very different experience at post-primary level, she added. We have many competing demands when it comes to the budget and I have to be cognisant of the variety of demands that we have in the discussions. Its certainly a part of the discussion, but there are many demands. It comes as End Child Poverty Week 2023, hosted by the Childrens Rights Alliance, kicked off on Monday, with a focus on educational disadvantage. The burden that school costs place on low-income families is immense, according to the CRA. The group estimates that introducing free school books at second-level would cost approximately 70m. Mental health crisis Meanwhile, the first day of End Child Poverty Week heard calls for Ireland to stop "playing catch-up" as it lags behind its European counterparts when it comes to accessing multi-disciplinary teams in schools. There is a mental health crisis out there, said Professor Paul Downes, director of the Educational Disadvantage Centre at Dublin City University. The pandemic effects are still being felt in the system. "The academic results are holding up fairly well; the mental health and wellbeing aspect, particularly in a Deis context, really needs to be addressed. There is a mental health crisis across Europe, he said, adding that the European Council has highlighted the need for a system response around adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and stress, that hinders school engagement. Multi-disciplinary teams could include social services, youth services, outreach care workers, psychologists, specialists, and nurses as well as teachers. A lot of this is quite routine in a wider European context. Ireland is playing catch-up here in this area. Primary schools are under severe financial pressure and need help immediately with a myriad of cost pressures, school management bodies have warned. The primary management bodies have called on the Government for further investment so that school communities are not totally dependent on voluntary contributions from already-hard-pressed parents" to provide basic requirements such as heat, light, and water. In a joint statement, the primary management bodies warned that schools finances remain extremely challenged due to ongoing significant increases in energy, insurance, cleaning, and waste-disposal costs, as well as in the cost of teaching materials and buses. The group includes An Foras Patrunachta, the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA), the Church of Ireland Board of Education, Educate Together, ETBI, NABMSE, and the Muslim Primary Education Board. Last years budget saw an increase in the primary school capitation grant, which was welcomed by the group, which believes it was critical in assisting schools to maintain financial solvency. However, CPSMA general secretary Seamus Mulconry said schools are under severe financial pressure and need help immediately. Schools can no longer count on a bailout from 'the Bank of Mum and Dad'," he said. Government must fulfil its constitutional obligation to provide free primary education now. Educate Together chief executive Emer Nowlan said that last years increase just about enabled most schools to keep their heads above water, with many continuing to struggle to meet utility bills and other basic costs. Chronic underfunding is now at crisis level, and this is hitting disadvantaged communities and developing schools hardest the Government must build on last years budget to ensure all schools have the basic funds they need, she said. 'Chronic underfunding is now at crisis level,' says Educate Together CEO Emer Nowlan. NABMSE general secretary Eileen O'Rourke said that special schools, and, increasingly, schools with special classes, face a substantial extra financial burden every year due to the cost of the annual training they must provide for all school staff. In special schools, SNA and bus escort teams can frequently number over 100 people to be trained, along with all other school personnel," she said. This training is provided by external private companies, and adds up to a cost of thousands of euros which schools must pay out of their annual budget. These schools also purchase protective equipment and wearables for staff, often imported from the UK, which also presents another substantial financial challenge. The group has called for an immediate increase in the basic capitation rate to 275 per pupil; an increase of 10% across all other capitation grants; and for the capping of the grant to an enrolment of 500 pupils to be abolished for larger schools. It has also called for schools to be provided with extra funding to replace the enhanced cleaning grant, the annual funding to meet schools ICT costs to be restored, and the grant calendar to be fixed and communicated to schools as soon as possible. A 35-year-old Cork woman accused of attacking and robbing a 15-year-old girl of a 300 necklace which she got for her confirmation has been remanded in custody for a fortnight. Michelle Harrington of Ravensdale Road, Mahon, Cork, appeared at Cork District Court by video link from prison. Judge Olann Kelleher remanded her in custody until September 25, on the application of Sergeant Gearoid David who said directions were not yet available from the Director of Public Prosecutions. It is alleged that she carried out the robbery on this young teenager at around 4pm on September 3. Michelle Harrington said she spoke with the teenager and her two friends but had nothing to do with any attack or robbery. Garda Conor Cronin objected to bail when the case first came before the court last week and said that one of the grounds for the objection was the seriousness of the alleged incident which occurred on Sunday, September 3. Garda Conor Cronin said: At approximately 4pm two females aged 15 and 16 and a male aged 18 were together in an area beside the skate park at Mardyke Walk, talking and enjoying the sun. They were approached by two females one of them being Michelle Harrington. At first, the two females were talking normally to them. As the three began to leave, Michelle Harrington said they were not allowed to leave until they handed over money. The male handed over 9, the 16-year-old female handed over 4.80 and the 15-year-old female handed over 1 as that was all she had for the bus home. Michelle Harrington and the other female wanted more from this teenager and they attacked her. She was boxed in the face and body numerous times and kicked into the back (Ms Harrington) caught the injured party in a head-lock and removed a chain from around her neck. She had gotten this for her confirmation. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has arrived in Belfast where he will hold bilateral meetings with UK representatives and discuss the UK's controversial Legacy Bill. Mr Varadkar is in Northern Ireland for a funding announcement for PEACEPLUS, a new EU programme to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. He is meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and will be joined by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, a representative of the UK Government, and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Dr Jayne Brady. The meeting comes as controversy continues over the passage of the UK legacy bill. The bill will see all civil and criminal Troubles cases including inquests close down from next May. The bill has been severely opposed by all victims' groups and the political parties. Mr Varadkar has said he will make a decision in the coming weeks on whether to launch a legal challenge against the UK government's Northern Ireland Legacy Bill. He said the Government is also assessing legal advice on the strength of taking a case over the bill. Mr Varadkar will hold a bilateral meeting with the UK Government representatives to discuss the legacy bill. He is to also hold a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Sefcovic to discuss the EUs commitment to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, as well as the state of play on the restoration of Stormont. Mr Varadkar is to announce 1.14bn in funding through PEACEPLUS a total of 850m in funding for community and cross-border funding will come from the British Government, with 235m from the EU and 58.6m from Dublin. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he has appealed to the UK Government to pause progressing further with its controversial Legacy Bill. Mr Varadkar said the Government hasnt made a decision yet on whether to take legal action against the UK and is awaiting advice from the Attorney General which is due in a number of weeks. The Taoiseach was speaking in Belfast following a meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris. Mr Varadkar said: We have once again appealed to the UK Government to pause this. We don't think it's the right thing to do. We haven't yet made a decision on whether or not we'll take an inter-State case to Europe on such a big decision. It's not a small thing to do, to take a neighbouring state to court. Mr Varadkar said in his discussions with the UK's Secretary of State, they talked about the lack of progress being made when it comes to establishing the Executive and the Assembly. He said: We're very keen for that to happen. And I did say to the Secretary of State that there is going to come a point where we can't keep waiting and we have to start talking about alternative arrangements, within the confines of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Varadkar said he will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October which will allow for discussions on a Plan B to restore power-sharing. Mr Heaton-Harris has said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had been making "unhelpful comments" that were impacting unionists in Northern Ireland when he said he believed he would see a United Ireland in his lifetime. "The Taoiseach's got a lot of domestic politics on his plate, but occasionally unhelpful comments down in Dublin do resonate up here amongst the unionist community, and I need the clearest picture possible to get the executive up and running," he said. Mr Varadkar said its not the first time hes expressed his view that hed like to see a United Ireland in his lifetime. Every time I say it, it's not the right time. So I would have often asked the question of people: when is the right time? Our Constitution, Articles 2 and 3, aspire to unity. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, Mr Varadkar added. Mr Varadkar was asked if he favoured Confederation as an interim step between the two jurisdictions on this island if a border poll were passed and unity endorsed. He said: Im not going to talk about that today, but I might on another occasion. The Taoiseach also met with European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic, a representative of the UK Government, and the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Dr Jayne Brady, and was joined by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe. They announced 1.14bn in funding through PEACEPLUS a new EU programme to build reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Supports for farmers hit by the nitrates derogation will be examined, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said after a meeting with protesters. There were heated interactions when Micheal Martin and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue came out to speak to farmers who parked tractors and mounted a day-long picket outside Fianna Fail's think-in. Afterwards, IFA representatives held an hour-long meeting with the politicians in a bid to gain concessions on a European decision to cut a nitrates derogation for Irish farmers. Speaking after the private meeting, Mr Martin conceded that dairy farmers will bear the brunt of the decision, which farmers say could cut their income by up to 40,000 per year. We have said we will reflect on our discussions to see what we can do to alleviate the pressures on certain farmers who are in derogation but who have fulfilled a lot of their obligations, said Mr Martin. However, he said the Government is not considering compensation. Instead, the conversation will now move to facilitate measures to organise farming in a way that reduces the impact of the nitrates decision on certain farmers. It is understood Mr McConalogue is looking at ways of transferring manure from over-producing farmers to others as a way of spreading out nitrates across the country. Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue speaking to angry farmers from West Cork. It would mean that those in the dairy sector, who will be impacted by the cut in the nitrates derogation, would be able to stay within the new thresholds by giving some of the manure produced on their farms to the tillage sector instead of spreading it on their own land. This would also cut the amount of chemical fertiliser used in other forms of agriculture, such as tillage. However, this suggestion is believed to be at an early stage, and sources warned that transferring manure is not practical in some areas or regions. A large group of IFA members gathered outside the Horse and Jockey Hotel from early yesterday morning and remained in place throughout the day. Farmers from South Tipperary and Carrigaline, Co Cork, protesting at the Horse & Jockey. Mr McConalogue was heckled by the crowds when he suggested that he is always willing to sit down with farming organisations, but said negotiations around the changes due to come into force from January will not be reopened. We are doing our very best on all issues, Mr McConalogue added, to more heckles. Minister for Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue speaking at the IFA protest. IFA president Tim Cullinane said: We lost the beef industry down here, and by God, Im telling you minister, were not going to lose the dairy industry, were not going to lose the beef industry or sheep industry or the tillage sector." Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaks to president of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire It is understood that Mr Martin expressed stern words with farming representatives during the meeting, correcting a number of criticisms they have made of the Government in recent days. Mr Martin later told reporters that there is a "clear challenge" in terms of water quality, which has been cited as one of the reasons behind the decision to tighten the rules around nitrates by the EU. "Climate is going to play havoc with food security in the future and that is why we need a healthy, sustainable farm industry and agricultural industry," he said. The headlines, when a new writer hits the jackpot, tend to stress that they have won themselves a two-book deal. The inference it is hoped will be drawn is that the publishers have such faith in the writer, that theyre not just buying one novel from them, but two. In actual fact, of course, what the publishers are doing is taking a punt that if the first offering works, the second will be seen by readers as brand continuation. Sometimes it happens Lee Child, Marian Keyes, Stephen King, and Cathy Kelly are all names that writ large on the cover of a book guarantee the browser standing at the table in the bookstore that if they go for one of those writers latest offerings, they will, at the very least, be protected from boredom. It can only go so far, that author branding, and Lee Child is an example of precisely how far. Readers who discovered and fell in love with his early thrillers may have demonstrated their fidelity to him when he got fed up with the writing business and had his brother take over the franchise, although the Lee Child name still hovers above the title. His violently charismatic itinerant central character Jack Reacher has run out of steam, though, with the recent plots increasingly involving software or AI, which are about as interesting to read as horoscopes in a year-old dentist waiting room magazine. It may take time, and people will continue to discover and love the old novels, but Reacher is done. The great thing is that the book which launched him wasnt directly followed by a dud. His creator, over several decades, has reliably produced dozens of novels in the series, generating those ridiculous statistics claiming that a Reacher thriller is sold somewhere in the world every thirty seconds. Lee Child was never afflicted with the dread second novel syndrome, whereby a debut novelist experiences national or international critical acclaim and/or mega sales, only to face-plant, in publication terms, immediately afterwards. Some, like Charlotte Bronte and Edgar Allan Poe, simply died after their initial outing into fiction, although Poes specialism had always been the short story or novella, rather than the full-length novel. Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone with the Wind at the end of the 1920s and saw it published in 1935. In 1949, she was killed on her way to the theatre in Atlanta by a speeding car, but long before her sudden extinction, it was pretty clear to everyone that a sequel or any other novel wasnt going to be forthcoming from her. The same was true of Harper Lee, whose lovely To Kill a Mockingbird sits alone on the shelves, popular and cherished to this day, despite the gruesome literary necrophilia of recent years. Some once-off novelists, like Oscar Wilde, were just better at something else and had the cop-on to concentrate on that something else. The very weakest of Wildes plays knocks the hell out of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the central proposition of which is known to almost everybody whos ever read a book or thought about ageing. Most people have the wit not to read the actual novel, which is about the most tediously overwritten bit of melodrama ever crafted. If, enthralled by the central theme, you feel a sense of duty to read the work itself, you would be well advised to tamp down your sense of literary responsibility and save yourself a great deal of intense verbiage leading inexorably to a conclusion with which you are already trope-familiar. Some stellar first novelists, though, do try. They try hard but come up with a second book that doesnt come near having the impact of their first. The follow-up story is so bad, in the eyes of the publisher, as to be unpublishable. The awful truth may be that the writer had only one novel in them. Thats not good news for either side, because the person who divvied out the two-book deal suddenly has a question mark over their literary judgment, even though the first book did well. In ghastly conversations with the author, the publisher quietly points to the small print in the two-book contract that testifies to the amount of discretion that rests with the publisher when it comes to bringing out the follow-up novel. The ghastly conversation ends with indications from the publisher that they will always be willing to look at new work from the writer, who sits, stunned, praying the first book stays in print. After they part, the writer finds something else to do, sometimes teaching Creative Writing in academia, carrying the credibility of having produced a significant early work while sadly claiming, year after year, that theyre working on the next Great American/Irish/English novel. The exception is the writer of a debut breath-taker whose second novel measures up to the first. The glorious exception rare, sadly is the writer who betters that first book. This summer, it is Megan Nolan, whose first novel, Acts of Desperation, was published by Jonathan Cape in 2021. That debut offering was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. So far, so critically acclaimed. Now the 30-plus Waterford woman has produced a second: Ordinary Human Failings. It is markedly better than its forerunner. In theory, its a thriller, an account of a child murder in England and how suspicion falls on another girl, that child belonging to one of those exceptional families where the neighbours DONT say to journalists reporting the murder: They were lovely people who kept themselves to themselves and that young mother LIVED for her daughter. This family are immigrants into England from Waterford, and the sudden peculiar way they arrived is just one of the many disadvantageous things about them. The book is set in the 1990s, allowing a pivotal character the print journalist madly seeking to get the family to tell their side of the story to operate without either the constraints of todays ethical standards or the pressures of social media. Just as the reader comes to comfortable conclusions about the journalist, Nolan upends them. The same thing happens just as the reader decides that, however subtly layered and brilliantly observed is the alcohol problem of one character, fictional alcoholics can hold your attention for just so long. At precisely that point, another character articulates your thoughts. Nolan hasnt quite written a thriller. While its exciting, it head-butts an anti-climax towards the end. She hasnt quite written a novel, either. The compelling pull on the reader is not of promised action or resolution but of stomach-clenching pain, of layered insight, of a sentence on each and every page that forces a wondering re-read. The sentences unfurl like flags at half-mast. They whisper open as does old tissue paper around a forgotten gift. They evoke Joan Didion but testify to a unique and Irish genius. Survivors of Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades struggled to find food, water and shelter on Sunday as the search for the missing continued in remote villages and the death toll of more than 2,100 seemed likely to rise further. Many people were spending a third night in the open after the 6.8 magnitude quake hit late on Friday. Relief workers face the challenge of reaching the worst-affected villages in the High Atlas, a rugged mountain range where settlements are often remote and where many houses crumbled. The death toll climbed to 2,122 with 2,421 people injured, state TV reported. Morocco said it may accept relief offers from other countries and will work to coordinate them if needed, according to state TV. Residents take shelter ouside at a square following an earthquake in Marrakesh on September 9, 2023. The damage done to Morocco's cultural heritage became more evident as local media reported the collapse of a historically important 12th century mosque. The quake also damaged parts of Marrakech old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Moulay Brahim, a village 40 km (25 miles) south of Marrakech, residents described how they dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands. On a hillside overlooking the village, residents buried a 45-year-old woman who had died along with her 18-year-old son, a woman sobbing loudly as the body was lowered into the grave. As he retrieved possessions from his damaged home, Hussein Adnaie said he believed people were still buried in the rubble nearby. "They didn't get the rescue they needed so they died. I rescued my children and I'm trying to get covers for them and anything to wear from the house," Adnaie said. Yassin Noumghar, 36, complained of shortages of water, food and power, saying he had received little government aid so far. "We lost everything, we lost the entire house," Noumghar said. "We want just for our government to help us." Later, sacks of food were unloaded from a truck which local official Mouhamad al-Hayyan said had been organised by the government and civil society organisations. Twenty-five bodies had been brought to the village's small clinic, according to staff. With many homes built of mud bricks and timber or cement and breeze blocks, structures crumbled easily. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people. CORRECTS NAME OF VILLAGE A cracked mosque minaret stands after an earthquake in Moulay Brahim village, near Marrakech, Morocco, Saturday. In the badly hit village of Amizmiz, residents watched as rescuers used a mechanical digger on a collapsed house. "They are looking for a man and his son. One of them might still be alive," said Hassan Halouch, a retired builder. The team eventually recovered only bodies. The army, mobilised to help the rescue effort, set up a camp with tents for the homeless. With most shops damaged or closed, residents struggled to get food and supplies. "We're still waiting for tents. We haven't had anything yet," said Mohammed Nejjar, a labourer who was folding his blanket in a makeshift shelter constructed with bits of wood. "I had a little food offered by one man but that's all since the earthquake. You can't see a single shop open here and people are frightened to go inside in case the roof falls down." The quake's epicentre was 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city beloved by Moroccans and foreign tourists for its medieval mosques, palaces and seminaries richly adorned with vivid mosaic tiling amid a labyrinth of rose-hued alleyways. The government said on Sunday it has set up a fund for those affected by the earthquake. The government has also said it is reinforcing search-and-rescue teams, providing drinking water and distributing food, tents and blankets. The World Health Organization said more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster. Foreign Aid Spain said 56 officers and four sniffer dogs have arrived in Morocco, while a second team of 30 people and four dogs was heading there. Britain said it was deploying 60 search-and-rescue specialists and four dogs on Sunday, as well as a four-person medical assessment team. Qatar also said its search-and-rescue team departed for Morocco. Emergency crews work, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake, in Amizmiz, Morocco on Sunday Picture: Reuters US President Joe Biden expressed his "sadness about the loss of life and devastation" caused by the quake. "We stand ready to provide any necessary assistance to the Moroccan people," Biden told a news conference in Hanoi, Vietnam. A US official said a small team of disaster experts dispatched by the United States arrived in Morocco on Sunday to assess the situation. France said it stood ready to help and was awaiting a formal request from Morocco. Other countries offering assistance included Turkey, where earthquakes in February killed more than 50,000 people. By Sunday, the Turkish team had not yet departed. "The next two to three days will be critical for finding people trapped under the rubble," Caroline Holt, global director of operations for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), told Reuters. Holt said the international aid system has been waiting for an invitation from Morocco to assist, adding this was not necessarily unusual as the government assesses needs. A person stands near damaged houses in Tafeghaghte, a remote village of the High Atlas mountains. Picture: Reuters Pope Francis offered prayers and solidarity for the victims. Morocco has declared three days of mourning and Morocco's King Mohammed VI called for prayers for the dead to be held at mosques across the country. Islamist factions in Lebanons largest Palestinian refugee camp have said they will abide by a ceasefire after three days of clashes killed at least five people and left hundreds of families displaced. Fighting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement and Islamist groups has rocked southern Lebanons Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp since Friday. Fatah and other factions in the camp had intended to crack down on suspects accused of killing one of their military generals in late July. Palestinian residents who fled their homes after clashes erupted (AP) Besides the five killed, 52 others were wounded, Dr Riad Abu Al-Einen, who heads the Al-Hamshari Hospital in Sidon that has received the casualties, told the Associated Press. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, however stated that four people were killed and 60 others wounded. The Lebanese military said in a statement that five soldiers were wounded after three shells landed in army checkpoints surrounding the camp. One of the soldiers is in critical condition. The army command repeats its warning to the concerned parties in the camp about the consequences of exposing military members and positions to danger, and affirms that the army will take appropriate measures in response, the statement said. Palestinian Red Crescent workers treat Palestinian Sabine al-Ahmed who injured during clashes between members of the Palestinian Fatah group and Islamist militants (AP) Ein el-Hilweh, home to some 55,000 people according to the United Nations, is notorious for its lawlessness and violence is not uncommon in the camp. It was established in 1948 to house Palestinians who were displaced when Israel was established. Lebanese officials, security agencies and the UN have urged the warring factions to agree on a ceasefire. The interim chief of Lebanons General Security agency Elias al-Baysari said that he will attend a meeting between Palestinian factions and urge the factions to reach a resolution. The clashing factions in the camp said in a statement published on Sunday by Lebanons state-run National News Agency that they planned to abide by a ceasefire. UNRWA said hundreds of families displaced from the camp have taken shelter in nearby mosques, schools and the Sidon municipality building. At least five people were reportedly killed and many families have been displaced (AP) The UN agency and local organizations are setting up additional shelters after Lebanons prime minister and interior minister shut down an initiative by the municipality, the Lebanese Red Cross, and local community groups to set up a few dozen tents for families. Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics set up stations at the camps entrance to treat the wounded and provided food packages to displaced families. Among the wounded was Sabine Al-Ahmad, 16, who fled the camp with her family. She was being treated for shrapnel wounds. We were running away and a shell exploded over us, she told the AP. Dorothee Klaus, director of the UNRWA in Lebanon, said armed groups are still occupying the agencys schools in the camp. UNRWA calls on all parties and those with influence over them to stop the violence, Ms Klaus said in a statement. Several days of street battles in the Ein el-Hilweh camp between Fatah and members of the extremist Jund al-Sham group erupted earlier this summer that left 13 people dead and dozens wounded, and ended after an uneasy truce was put in place on August 3. Those street battles forced hundreds to flee their homes. However, clashes were widely expected to resume as the Islamist groups never handed over those accused of killing the Fatah general to the Lebanese judiciary, as demanded by a committee of Palestinian factions last month. Lebanon is home to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees and their descendants. Many live in the 12 refugee camps that are scattered around the small Mediterranean country. At least four clashes have been reported between Myanmars junta and the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) in Waingmaw and Hpakant townships in northern Kachin State since Saturday. Fighting broke out in Hawang Par village in KIA territory in Hpakant when junta troops ambushed KIA and resistance allies predawn on Monday. At least five resistance fighters were killed in the clash. Pro-junta Telegram channels posted pictures of five bodies, assault rifles and ammunition reportedly seized by junta infantry. Meanwhile, villagers fled their homes as fighting continued in Hawang Par village with some residents still trapped in their homes. Junta infantry based in Tar Ma Hkan village reportedly shelled the village. Media reported that KIA troops ambushed a 25-vehicle junta convoy near Hka Lar Yang village in Waingmaw on Saturday. The convoy, carrying food, reinforcements and ammunition, was ambushed by resistance forces while heading to Nam Sang Yang village. Sources said three junta vehicles were destroyed during the ambush. The juntas Light Infantry Battalion 142, based in Dawthponeya town, shelled the area in response. Indiscriminate shelling near a school in Dawthponeyan injured two female teachers on Saturday, residents reported. Clashes broke out near Aung Jar and Ma Dee Yang villages on Saturday, killing at least 20 junta troops. The Irrawaddy was not able to verify the casualty figure. Junta reinforcements pushed further into strategically important Nam Sang Yang village about 20km from Laiza and the KIA headquarters. Two junta outposts and one held by the regime-allied Shan Nationalities Army in Hpakant Township were seized by the KIA in early August. Two civilians have been killed and two others seriously injured by gunfire and land mines planted by junta troops near the border of Shwebo and Wetlet townships in Sagaing Region since September 4, members of resistance forces said. A 19-year-old woman lost a leg after stepping on a land mine planted by junta troops after they raided Gway Kone Village in Shwebo Township on September 4. The raid was conducted by about 80 troops from Light Infantry Battalion 12, which is based in the township. The next target was nearby Sa Khan Thar Village in Wetlet Township. It was raided the next day. Two men, one 19 and the other 40, were shot. The older man survived and is receiving medical treatment, said Captain Yan Gyi, a spokesperson of resistance group Shwebo District Battalion 23. Junta troops planted landmines in the village before they left. A 19-year-old resident was killed after stepping on a land mine on September 8, but 13 land mines have been removed from the village, Captain Yan Gyi said. Landmines were planted on the main roads, and at the entrance of the monastery and school. They [regime soldiers] are cruel, he told The Irrawaddy. He warned residents returning to the village to be watchful for landmines even after the Peoples Defense Forces cleared the area, and asked them to report any sign of a possible landmine. Three other villages were torched by junta troops during the four-day rampage near the border of the two townships in southeastern Sagaing More than 100 of 350 homes in Sa Khan Village were incinerated, while another 40 houses in nearby Ywar Thit Kone Village and 11 more in Phoe Win Tat Village were torched. In early September, nearly 800 regime troops from Mandalay and Shwebo Township attempted to create a corridor running north from Sagaing Township (which borders Mandalay State) through Wetlet and Shwebo townships. They incinerated entire villages and fired mortars indiscriminately at the resistance stronghold. Thousands of residents have been displaced for a month by attacks by junta troops in Wetlet Township, the Wetlet Peoples Strike Committee said. They need food and medicine urgently, the committee said. Last weeks arrest of trade chief Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe amid a crackdown over surging food prices has placed his boss the juntas notoriously corrupt Lieutenant-General Moe Myint Tun under the spotlight. Yan Naung Soes arrest, which came after the military regime detained and questioned hundreds of importers and exporters, leaves Moe Myint Tun, who ranks 6th in the junta, embroiled in deep scandal and at risk of being sacked. In addition to business owners and bankers, officials at military-owned businesses such as the Myawaddy Bank and Myanmar Economic Corporation have also been detained for interrogation. Many of the detainees reportedly bribed Moe Myint Tun. Yan Naung Soe is Moe Myint Tuns right-hand man. Businesspeople estimate that Moe Myint Tun has acquired millions of US dollars in bribes from exporters and importers over the past two years. Business owners who have sought his favor said he only meets those who bribe him in US dollars. They nickname him The Sky a reference to his high regime position and the English translation of his name. He also drives a military-grade vehicle specially ordered from Russia. We have to pay a bribe of at least US$ 20,000 or the equivalent in gold and gifts just to meet him. We then hand over more money depending on the type of business, said a business owner, describing his dealings with Moe Myint Tun. Moe Myint Tun refuses to meet those who bribe him with less than US$ 20,000, and the bribe is not returned, added the business owner, who requested anonymity. Even his former secretary who was sacked recently is already a millionaire, said another business owner. The secretary, a military officer, handled bribes directly on Moe Myint Tuns behalf but was sacked after quarrelling with his boss a few months ago, according to sources. Who is Moe Myint Tun and whats next? The positions he holds grant the general significant benefits. Moe Myint Tun is the sixth most powerful general in the current regime after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, deputy junta chief Soe Win, General Maung Maung Aye, Navy chief Admiral Moe Aung and Air Force chief General Tun Aung. A graduate of the Defense Services Academy 30th intake, Moe Myint Tun played an important role in the 2021 coup, leading a team of military officers to arrest elected President U Win Myint. This earned him the trust of Min Aung Hlaing. He was appointed to the State Administration Council, as the junta calls itself, following the coup. Aged 55, he is the youngest member of the council. He was tasked with overseeing Myanmars economic affairs, chairing the junta-controlled Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee (FESC), which was formed by the regime in response to a dollar shortage. The FESC has backroom control not only of the Central Bank of Myanmar but also of any dollar expenditures in the country. It also issues export and import licenses. Moe Myint Tun served as a personal staff officer to Deputy Senior-General Maung Aye, the deputy supremo of the previous military regime, which collaborated with numerous business cronies. This position enabled him to build up a network of business contacts that includes Myanmars top cronies. After the current regime appointed him to key posts overseeing Myanmars foreign trade and economy, Moe Myint Tun brought in Brig-Gen Yan Naung Soe to his office. Yan Naung Soe leads the juntas Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods. He created breathing space for the regime when it was suffocating under a dollar shortage triggered by US sanctions, helping design measures such as mandatory currency conversion that drew dollars from Myanmar businesses and citizens into regime coffers. Last week, however, he became the highest victim so far of the crackdown on soaring food prices. Yan Naung Soe has been scapegoated as the corruption scandals unfold. In fact, Yan Naung Soe can do nothing without Moe Myint Tuns knowledge, said a business owner. As Yan Naung Soe was being questioned, Moe Myint Tun was simultaneously pressuring military intelligence chief Ye Win Oo, according to information leaked from a military office. Meanwhile, retired Lieutenant General Nyo Saw has been brought in to cover for Yan Naung Soe in the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods. The junta boss now faces a dilemma over whether to sack his trusted aide, Moe Myint Tun. We have to wait and see what Min Aung Hlaing decides, said a business owner. Myanmars oldest revolutionary group, the Karen Nation Union (KNU), on Monday urged the United Nations and foreign countries to take action to stop the juntas war crimes. The group, founded in 1947, made the call after a series of junta airstrikes on civilian targets in three villages, killing three children and a teacher in Papun Township, Karen State. Southeast Asian leaders last Tuesday urged the junta to stop attacks on civilians while strongly condemning its violence and attacks on civilian targets. But the junta attacked Papun two days later, ignoring the call. During the airstrike on a boarding school at Htee Kaw Htar village, pupils Saw Eh Mu Lar, 14, Naw Htee Khu Phaw, 16, and Saw Bo Gyi, 13, and teacher Saw Phar Dah, 56, were killed. Five children, aged nine to 16, and another teacher were injured. In the other two airstrikes, 13 civilian buildings, including a school and two religious buildings, were destroyed and a villager was injured. The KNU said: We urge the UN, its member countries and international justice mechanisms as well as ASEAN and international human rights organizations to take action for more effective sanctions against the military council. Amid strong condemnation by rights groups, the ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference will be chaired by Myanmar juntas air force chief General Htun Aung in Naypyitaw from September 12-15. By ordering an indiscriminate campaign of aerial terror, Htun Aung is responsible for the slaughter of civilians and destruction of schools, hospitals and places of worship, rights group Justice for Myanmar stated in late August. About 1,000 people were killed in 930 airstrikes under Htun Aungs command between January last year and this July, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. He has been sanctioned by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Canada. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia told the media last week that their air force chiefs will not attend the Naypyitaw meeting. The fact that Myanmars generals crave legitimacy is well-known, but the extent to which they will go to save face reached another peak after ASEAN leaders decided last week not to allow Myanmar to assume the rotating leadership of the bloc in 2026 and strongly condemned post-coup violence in the country. The regime responded to condemnation from Southeast Asian leaders by saying it was too busy building a country based on democracy and federalism to handle ASEAN affairs. On Sunday, it even claimed it had asked the Philippines if it could move its term forward and chair ASEAN in 2026, and also inform Indonesia, the blocs current chair, of the generals decision. The ASEAN Summit last week decided that the Philippines will replace Myanmar as the chair of the bloc in 2026. The decision was prompted by Indonesia. This is the second time Myanmar has been unable to chair ASEAN. In 2006, the previous military regime said it was skipping the leadership role because it was working to bring about a democratic transition in Myanmar in line with the generals so-called seven-step roadmap. Myanmar has been excluded from ASEAN summits and foreign ministers meetings, for failing to honor an ASEAN agreementthe so-called Five-Point Consensuson how to handle the post-coup crisis in Myanmar. In a statement on Myanmar issued by ASEAN leaders on September 5, they said: We strongly condemned the continued acts of violence in Myanmar, which have caused prolonged suffering among the people, humanitarian crisis, and destruction of public facilities and adversely impacted regional stability, particularly along the border region. Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir urged ASEAN leaders to do more than issue a statement. He called for them to take harsh action against Myanmars military leaders. Myanmar will be hosting the annual ASEAN Air Chiefs meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Many ASEAN members have announced they will shun the meeting. Even if the regime publicly demands that takes the ASEAN chair in 2026, the bloc will not allow a pariah state to lead it, regional analysts agree. A regime struggling to maintain its grip on power cannot handle ASEAN affairs, they explain. The junta has publicly admitted that it does has not yet achieved complete control over Myanmar since the February 2021 coup. Myanmar has become a thorn in the side of ASEAN. Shunned by the West and fellow ASEAN countries, Myanmars regime has been seeking new friends and expanding its diplomatic ties with countries in the Middle East and Africa. It has also taken an initial step to join BRICS, which is dominated by its key allies China, Russia and India. Last weeks ASEAN Summit decided to set up a troika mechanism to handle Myanmar. It will comprise the previous, current and incoming ASEAN chairs. At least 23 Myanmar junta troops were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) stepped up attacks on regime targets across the country. In one case, three soldiers defected to a resistance group in Kachin State. Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe and Bago regions and Kachin and Karen states. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs. Some military casualty figures could not be independently verified. Junta base raided in Bago The Defense Ministry of the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) said its armed wing, the Peoples Defense Force (PDF), and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) raided a military base in Lat Pan Village in Waw Township, Bago Region on Saturday. During the raid, drones were also used to drop bombs on the military base. Two soldiers were killed and three others injured amid no resistance casualties. Junta base seized, burned in Bago Tharyarwaddy District PDF Battalion 3802, the armed wing of the NUG, said it managed to occupy and burn down a military base on the Bago Yoma mountain range in Minhla Township, Bago Region during a raid on Saturday night. Forest officers, police and soldiers were stationed at the base, but they all abandoned it during the resistance raid. The junta base was notorious for extorting civilians and for allowing illegal logging by taking bribes. Junta General Administration Office bombed in Sagaing Joint resistance groups during a recent drone strike operation on regime forces in Budalin Town. / Chindwin Brothers Chindwin Brothers said it and eight resistance groups used makeshift remote-controlled airplanes to drop bombs on regime forces stationed at the township General Administration Department office and fire station in Budalin Town, Sagaing Region last Friday and Saturday. Military casualties were unknown. Clashes break out in Sagaings Shwebo Township Joint resistance forces engage in a recent clash with regime forces in Shwebo Township. / Black Wolf Army At least four soldiers were injured in Shwebo Township, Sagaing Region as the resistance group Black Wolf Army and another PDF group attacked a military unit for two days on Sept. 7 and 8, the PDF groups said. Military convoy hit by mines in Sagaing The resistance group Fight for Freedom said it triggered land mines to ambush a military convoy of 100 troops on the Sagaing-Shwebo road in Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday, damaging two vehicles. Miliary casualties were unknown. The convoy was transporting junta troops who raided villages in northern Sagaing Township between Sept. 3 and 8. During their raid, the soldiers committed war crimes including looting and burning houses, attacking villages, arbitrarily killing civilians and using villager detainees as human shields, the resistance group said. Junta soldiers killed in drone strikes in Sagaing Regime forces are bombed by a drone in Wetlet Township on Saturday. / EGF At least seven soldiers were killed and some others injured in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when five resistance groups used drones to drop bombs on regime sentries near a railway station, said Eagle Guerrilla Force, which took part in the attack. Regime forces killed in urban attacks in Magwe Resistance forces raid regime forces at the township General Administrative Department Office in Yesagyo town on Saturday night. / MBT At least two soldiers were killed and three others injured in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Saturday night when Myingyan Black Tiger and another local resistance group conducted a surprise attack on regime forces stationed at the junta-run township General Administration Department office in the center of Yesagyo town, the resistance groups said. Junta bases raided in Karen At least eight regime forces were killed and eight others suffered injuries in Papun Township, Karen State last Thursday when Brigade 5 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), raided four junta outposts in a single day, said KNUs Mutraw District. The next day, the junta conducted air strikes on a village in the area, destroying a house and killing some livestock belonging to civilians. Three junta soldiers defect in Kachin Myo Hla PDF, which forms Battalion 5 of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) based in Shwegu Township, Kachin State, on Saturday said three junta troops under the militarys Division 88 defected to the nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Monday, Sep 11th, 2023 (6:05 pm) - Score 768 Shropshire-based UK ISP and alternative network provider Exascale, which has already built their own gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to around 2,000 premises (mostly around Telford and Wrekin), has announced that theyre moving their network build further south. Just to recap. Exascale is a smaller operator that has been gradually expanding their Dark Fibre and FTTP network at their own pace, starting with the northern part of Telford (target of c.4,000 premises) and more recently expanding across a small patch of West Bromwich. Theyve also used gigabit vouchers to tackle a few smaller rural locations. However, in a very brief and vague announcement today, the provider said theyre going to be expanding their full fibre network to the south of Telford & Wrekin. The company went on to say they aim to connect both urban and rural homes and businesses as part of this expansion. Exascales CEO, Thomas Bibb, said: This is a very exciting time for Exascale, as we continue to build new Gigabit / Full Fibre networks and connect customers, despite the current economical challenges facing our businesses and consumers in the UK. This new expansion scheme is funded through demand, working with local developers and government initiatives. Sadly, the announcement doesnt name any of the locations theyll be targeting in the new expansion or how many premises will be reached. Leading Communications and Technology Event Returns to Florida for the 24th Consecutive Year Shelton, CT September, 11, 2023 TMC today announced that Cebod Telecom has signed on a Gold sponsor for MSP Expo, the #TECHSUPERSHOW, being held February 13-15, 2024 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. MSP Expo is the premier conference and networking summit for MSPs. This is where MSP business owners and technology specialists share strategies to grow their managed services businesses. Were glad to welcome Cebod Telecom as a Gold sponsor of MSP Expo in 2024, said Rich Tehrani, TMCs CEO. Cebod Telecom is a leading provider of cloud-based telephony solutions for businesses of all sizes. Their focus is on delivering exceptional customer satisfaction through our VoIP phone solutions that enable businesses to access their phone systems instantly, anytime, and from anywhere. They are a must-see at MSP Expo. We invite Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to resell our cutting-edge phone systems and services, helping unlock enhanced profit margins, said Kunal Mittal, Cebod Telecoms CEO. Join us to redefine communication dynamics while optimizing returns. Cebod Telecom is a premier cloud-based telephony solutions provider, catering to enterprises across the spectrum, specializing in best-in-class VoIP phone solutions, placing paramount emphasis on customer satisfaction. Its avant-garde technology empowers businesses to swiftly access their phone systems irrespective of location, fostering seamless connectivity. Through Cebod Telecom, enterprises relish unhindered communication, heightened collaborative potential, and economic efficiency. In addition to its comprehensive range of services, Cebod Telecom provides white-label solutions, actively seeking partnerships with (MSPs). This collaboration empowers MSPs to resell Cebods premium white-label phone systems and services, allowing them to achieve enhanced profit margins. For more information or to register for MSP Expo, contact [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact Michelle Connolly. Companies interested in exhibiting, sponsorship or advertising packages for ITEXPO or MSP Expo should contact TMC's Joe Fabiano at 203-852-6800 x132 or Maureen Gambino at 203-852-6800 x109. For the latest MSP Expo news, updates and information follow the event on Twitter at @MSPExpo. About TMC Through our news and solutions-focused editorial platforms, live events, webinars, and online advertising, TMC provides global buyers with valuable insights for making informed technology purchase decisions and successfully navigating markets. In turn, leading technology vendors rely on TMC, TMCnet and our family of sites and events for exceptional branding, thought leadership, and lead generation opportunities. Our live events, including the ITEXPO #TECHSUPERSHOW, offer unparalleled visibility and sales prospects for all participants. With our customized lead generation programs, including a turnkey webinar program, we consistently deliver a steady stream of leads that translate into sales opportunities and database growth. In addition, display advertising on respected news sites and newsletters generates millions of impressions, bolstering brand reputations. TMC offers a comprehensive 360-degree marketing solution, with services such as event and road show management, as well as expertly crafted content creation including blogs, press releases, articles, and marketing collateral. These efforts contribute to SEO, branding, and overall marketing success. To discover more about how TMC can assist you in achieving your marketing goals through our events and online advertising, please visit www.tmcnet.com. Stay connected with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter by following @tmcnet. Media and Analyst Contact: Michelle Connolly Senior Marketing Manager TMC 203-852-6800 x 170 [email protected] Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Reddit Email 114 Shares ( Jordan Times ) Last week, the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People called for Israels immediate and unconditional pull out from East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Its annual report cited Israels breaches of key tenets of international law as proof that Israels forever occupation is illegal. These include annexation of portions of the occupied territories, mistreatment of Palestinian inhabitants, and imposing apartheid. This study, one of scores, concludes that Israel is in gross violation of these laws and that the administration of the occupation has become illegal, stated Michael Lynk, the UNs former special rapporteur on Palestine. He contended, Because the occupation is illegal, the consequences should be the immediate, unconditional complete withdrawal of Israels military forces, the withdrawal of colonial settlers, the repeal of all discriminatory laws and dismantling of the military administrative regime. The occupation could have ended, colonisation and the military regime pre-empted, and apartheid avoided if Israel had been compelled to abide by the French version of UN Security Council resolution of November 1967 which, after reaffirming the rejection of the acquisition of territory by force, called for the application of: Retrait des forces armees Israeliennes des territoires occupes lors du recent conflit. The French version is significant as it speaks of des territoires the territories while the watered down English text calls for Withdrawal of Israel armed forces from territories occupied in recent conflict. By leaving out the, Washington and its pals did not specify all the territories and weakened the resolution. Which Israel ignored in any case without facing sanctions. Words, words, words. No action from the international community. The new study will join others on dusty shelves in the UN archives while Israel continues colonising Palestinian territory, driving Palestinians from villages, hamlets and land, and tightens its grip on those living under Its everlasting occupation. Israel seeks to annex the entire West Bank by driving out 3 million native Palestinians. Article continues after bonus IC video MSNBC: Absolute Apartheid: Israeli general joins chorus of voices condemning persecution of Palestinians Israel is following a long-term strategy of disputing the very existence of the Palestinian people. According to the Zionists who built and established Israel, Palestine was a land without a people for a people without a land. Palestinians have been denied the right to national self-determination and destined to live forever in their country under Israeli occupation. Since occupying East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza n 1967, Israel has adopted the traditional colonial policy of divide-and-rule. Israel exerts remote control over besieged and blockaded Gaza by air, sea and land and treats it as an open prison for 2 million Palestinians, the majority of whom are trapped for life in the narrow coastal strip. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and adjacent territory and denied Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza unfettered entry, cutting them off from their historical cultural centre and its religious sites. Jerusalemites and West Bankers cannot go to Gaza without rare Israeli permits. The West Bank has been sub-divided into northern, central, southern regions and the Jordan Valley. Israel controls all Palestian movement in the West Bank. The UN reports 650 obstacles. These include permanent checkpoints, checkpoints staffed intermittently, roadblocks, earth mounds and gates, walls, barriers and trenches. Palestinians have to navigate these obstacles whenever they travel from one place to another. Israel controls all imports into and exports from Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians depend totally on Israel which uses this control a leverage to put pressure on the Palestinian Authority, Hamas in Gaza, and the Palestinian community in East Jerusalem. In East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Israel expropriates land and homes with the objective of encouraging Palestinians to emigrate. West Bank villagers are being forced to relocate to towns and cities where they have no property or housing, putting a strain on urban areas and the slender resources of the Palestinian Authority. This amounts to ethnic cleansing. Israeli analyst Oren Ziv reported on August 31 on the +972 Israeli website: There are almost no Palestinians remaining in a vast area [150 square kilometres] stretching from Ramallah to the outskirts of Jericho. Most Palestinians, many of them herders with sheep and goats, have fled for their lives in recent months as a result of intensifying Israeli settler violence and land seizures, backed by the Israeli army and state institutions. Israel imposes the internationally outlawed system of apartheid in the West Bank. While Israeli colonists live under laws governing Israel proper, Palestinians are administered by the Palestinian Authority while the area is ruled by Israels civil authority which is run by the military. Israel builds infrastructure for Israels illegal colonies, subsidises colonists and provides them with the means to live well. Many Palestinian communities are deprived of electricity, water, clinics, schools, roads, and infrastructure. Around 36 per cent of West Bank Palestinians live in poverty. The figure for Gaza is more than 50 per cent. Palestinian West Bankers and East Jerusalemites are the most physically and electronically surveilled people on the planet. Palestinians have no personal, familial or communal privacy or freedom. Israel justifies this system by claiming it saves Israeli lives. Israeli troops conduct daily raids into Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, terrorising families, arresting and shooting youths identified through monitoring devices as suspected members of the Palestinian resistance. At least three East Jerusalemites, 233 West Bankers, 37 Gazans, and 35 Israelis have been killed so far this year. Israel and its occupation exact a high price from the Palestinians. Reprinted from Jordan Times > The Jordan Times with the authors permission. HIGHLIGHTS Novo admitted to ASX under the ticker NVO listing 37.5 million CDIs following successful completion of dual ASX:TSX listing. Novo's IPO was oversubscribed raising the maximum of A$7.5 million at A$0.20 per CDI, with strong support from local institutional and sophisticated investors. ASX listing opens up a more ready accessible Australian capital base to Novo, with greater access to liquidity and increased exposure to Australian institutional investors. Novo welcomes key investors First Sentier Investors Ltd, Lazarus Securities Partners Ltd and Harmanis Holdings Pty Ltd to its loyal shareholder base which includes De Grey Mining Limited (ASX:DEG), Heritage Capital Management (IMC Holdings), Liatam Mining Pty Ltd and Yandal Investments Pty Ltd. Novo owns a highly prospective 10,500 sq km Pilbara, Western Australia, exploration portfolio, with a strong focus on the Nunyerry and Balla Balla Projects - both located in the East Pilbara. Novo has a strong balance sheet with no debt, cash and marketable securities of A$51.75 million and is focused on executing its growth strategy aiming to identify and define deposits with +1 Moz development potential. Egina JV partner De Grey planning ~39,000 m of aircore, RC and diamond drilling to commence this month, with a primary focus on the Becher Project. Exploration programs also set to commence at Nunyerry North in September 2023, Balla Balla in Q4 2023 and at the Belltopper Gold Project (Victoria) in October 2023. Belltopper is located ~50 km south of Agnico Eagles Fosterville Gold Mine in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone (which zone has seen 60 Moz AU historical production). VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (ASX: NVO, TSX: NVO, & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce the Company has successfully listed on the ASX, with trading in Novos securities having commenced on Monday, 11 September 2023 under the ticker NVO. Novos Initial ASX Public Offering (IPO) closed early and listing on the ASX followed completion of a A$7.5 million raise, before costs, through the issue of 37,500,000 shares (settled on the ASX in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests (or CDIs) at A$0.20 per CDI). The CDIs are issued in the ratio of 1 CDI for 1 Novo share. The IPO was led by Argonaut PCF. Novo is a leading Western Australian gold explorer which owns a 10,500 sq km Pilbara exploration portfolio and the Belltopper Gold Project in Victoria. The Company has a well-defined growth strategy of seeking to identify and define deposits with material development potential. Novos portfolio Includes key Pilbara, Western Australia, projects such as Becher, Nunyerry North and Balla Balla. Novo Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO Mike Spreadborough said this was an exciting milestone for Novo and the Company looks forward to continuing to deliver value to its new and existing shareholders through the ASX listing. We are delighted to be listed on the ASX and I would like to welcome all new shareholders to Novo, the future is very exciting. I would also like to extend my thanks to all the many people involved in getting us to this stage and acknowledge all the hard work that went into getting us ASX ready. The ASX listing is the logical next step for Novo and will facilitate our Australian growth plans, considering the local investor appetite for mining and exploration opportunities. We are focused on accelerating our exploration activities and seeking value accretive opportunities to grow long-term shareholder value. We have several exploration programs planned for the second half of 2023 and we look forward to getting boots on the ground and drill rigs spinning. We will be delivering regular updates as drilling progresses at Becher, Nunyerry North, Balla Balla and our Belltopper Project in Victoria. We also look forward to working with our Egina JV partner De Grey, as they take over all exploration efforts within the Egina JV, with a 39,000 m program set to commence at Becher in September. In June this year, De Grey agreed to invest up to A$25 million on exploration at the Companys Becher project and adjacent tenements within 4 years, to earn a 50% interest and form the Egina JV. De Grey also became Novos largest shareholder through a A$10 million cornerstone investment, with a ~10.3% shareholding (post ASX listing). De Grey is managing all exploration efforts at Becher and is set to commence drilling this month with a planned program of 39,000 m of aircore, RC and diamond drilling. At Nunyerry North, an initial 2,000 m RC drilling program is scheduled to commence in September 2023. At Balla Balla, a program of wide-spaced reconnaissance AC drilling is planned, while at East Pilbara, a 2,000m RC program in Q4 2023 will test recently identified intrusion relation targets. In Victoria, the Belltopper Project has a 2,000 m diamond program planned to commence in October 2023 to test key targets. Following the IPO capital raising, Novo has 342 million shares on issue (37.5 million of which currently take the form of CDIs on the ASX and with 304.5 million being shares on the TSX). At the IPO offer price of A$0.20, this implies a market capitalisation of ~ A$68.4 million (approximately C$60 million. Novo also currently has 6.5 million options and 30.5 million warrants on issue. The top 10 shareholders (including CDI holders) are as follows: Overall TSX/ASX Shareholding - Post IPO Rank Holder # of Securities % Holding 1 De Grey Mining Limited 35,273,786 10.3 2 Heritas Captial Management (Australia) - IMC 16,213,685 4.7 3 Liatam Mining Pty Ltd 12,820,512 3.7 4 Creasy Group Holdings 15,519,177 4.5 5 Citicorp Nominees Pty Ltd 10,550,000 3.1 6 Harmanis Holdings Pty Ltd 5,000,000 1.5 7 GBM Resources Ltd 4,037,872 1.2 8 Donald Smith Value Fund LP 3,594,500 1.1 9 SC Pilbara Gold Pty Ltd 3,382,550 1 10 M & G Munday 2,800,000 0.8 This announcement was authorised by Mike Spreadborough, Executive Co-Chairman. Contact Investors: Mike Spreadborough +61 419 329 987 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Media: Cameron Gilenko +61 466 984 953 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. About Novo Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, along with the 22 square kilometre Belltopper Project in the Bendigo Tectonic Zone of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders. FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and Australian corporations law) including, without limitation, references to the Companys exploration growth strategy. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Banyan Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Banyan") (TSX-V:BYN) (OTCQB:BYAGF) is pleased to announce Kai Woloshyn has joined the management team as Vice President, Project Development, and an update on the Company's 2023 exploration program at the AurMac Property, Yukon Territory. "With the AurMac Mineral Resource Estimate now at 6.2 million ounces of gold, Kai Woloshyn adds expertise to the team to de-risk AurMac as it progresses towards development. Kai brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from environmental assessments and permitting, to economic studies and First Nation agreements," stated Tara Christie, President and CEO. "We plan to focus on high-level evaluation of mining and processing scenarios which will guide future activities, both on the ground at AurMac, and also with regards to technical studies, baseline environmental work, First Nations engagement and community communications. The deposits at AurMac remain open and we can continue to add ounces in 2024 and beyond. We are confident and excited that AurMac and Nitra have the potential for additional mineralization, and we have extended property-wide exploration on both projects into the Fall. Banyan is funded for continued exploration and development of AurMac through 2024." Mr. Woloshyn is a registered Professional Chemist with nearly 20 years of experience in mining and environmental consulting. His extensive experience in mine development, environmental assessment, permitting and reclamation along with First Nation engagement provides a strategic perspective to the approach required to develop new mines in Canada's North. Mr. Woloshyn was the Environmental Manager for Alexco Resource Corp. (acquired by Hecla Mining in 2022) for over 10 years and was responsible for all environmental management and permitting matters for the Keno Hill Silver District Mining Operations. He was most recently the Vice President of Strategic Projects for Ensero Solutions, where he led Yukon exploration and mining projects through baseline data collection, environmental assessment and permitting processes. During his time with Alexco and Ensero, Mr. Woloshyn contributed to economic studies and advanced multiple projects towards operations. He has led First Nations and community consultation, including negotiation and implementation of several benefit agreements with various Yukon First Nations. Mr. Woloshyn holds a Bachelor of Science Combined Major in Chemistry and Earth & Ocean Sciences from University of Victoria. Mr. Woloshyn is a Yukoner based in Whitehorse. 2023 Exploration Program Update Banyan's planned $10 million 2023 drill program was successfully completed on budget with over 24,700 metres of diamond drilling from 107 holes. This program achieved the planned objectives to: connect mineralization between the Aurex Hill and Powerline Deposits; expand gold mineralization from areas within and proximal to the current mineral resource limits at Aurex Hill and Powerline; and extend gold mineralization to depth at Powerline within a zone of higher grade. See Company news releases dated July 19 and September 6, 2023. Results from 69 drill holes remain pending, with final processed core being shipped to the lab this week. In addition, the 2023 exploration program included property-wide exploration on both the AurMac and Nitra properties. Prospecting, geochemical soil surveys, geological mapping and rock sample collection work remains underway in both areas. Exploration areas were prioritized by utilizing structural and geochemical/geophysical anomalies, areas of historical/current placer operations, as well as areas with known surface expressions of Cretaceous aged intrusions. This work highlights the potential for discovery of additional deposits across the large AurMac and Nitra land packages. Over 3,000 soil geochemical samples have been collected on AurMac and over 4,000 on Nitra to date this season. Through the remainder of 2023, Banyan will utilize all data available to model and define targets that host potential higher-grade zones; continue the robust metallurgical program investigating potential mineral processing flowsheets; and interpret and incorporate the 2023 drill data as it is received. Additional studies on structural controls on grade distribution and heat flow directions during mineral deposit formation from crystallinity and minerology is also underway. This work will improve targeting and maximizing the value of future drilling. Ongoing work includes detailed compilation and gap analysis of the extensive background environmental data available to us from neighbouring operators (Victoria Gold Corp. and Hecla Mining) combined with the baseline data Banyan has collected since 2021. This is a low cost way to de-risk the project and will add significant value by ensuring AurMac is well advanced for entering the Yukon socio-economic assessment and permitting processes for exploration and future development. Stock Options Grant The Board of Directors of the Company have granted 500,000 stock options to purchase 500,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.32 per share with a vesting period of up to 18 months. The options are being granted with a five-year term. The stock options are being issued to officers, consultants, advisors and exploration staff of the Company. The options were granted under and are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's stock option plan. Upcoming Events Precious Metals Summit Beaver Creek - Sept 12 to 15, 2023 TakeStock Calgary Capital Event - Oct 4, 2023 New Tintina Gold Rush Breakfast, Vancouver - Panel Discussion - Oct 19, 2023 121 Mining Investment New York - Oct 23-34, 2023 New Orleans Investment Conference - Nov 1 to 4, 2023 Exhibitor Booth #325 Breakfast Presentation, Camp Room, 3 rd floor - Nov 4 th About Banyan Banyan's primary asset, the AurMac Project is adjacent to Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine, in Canada's Yukon Territory. The updated Mineral Resources Estimate ("MRE") for the AurMac Project of 6.2 million ounces has an effective date of May 18, 2023. The 173 square kilometres ("sq km") AurMac Project lies 30 kilometres ("km") from Victoria Gold's Eagle Project and adjacent to Hecla Mining's high grade Keno Hill Silver mine. The Project is transected by the main Yukon highway and access road to the Victoria Gold open-pit, heap leach Eagle Gold mine. The AurMac Project benefits from a 3-phase powerline, existing power station and cell phone coverage. Banyan has a right to earn up to a 100% interest, in both the Aurex and McQuesten Properties, subject to certain royalties. The Updated MRE for the AurMac Project was effective on May 18, 2023 and consisted of 6,181,000 ounces of gold (see Table 1 hosted within near-surface, road accessible pit constrained Mineral Resources contained in three near/on-surface deposits: the Airstrip, Aurex Hill and Powerline Deposits. Table 1: Pit-Constrained Inferred Mineral Resources - AurMac Project Deposit Gold Cut-Off (g/t) Tonnage (Mt) Average Gold Grade (g/t) Contained Gold (koz) Airstrip 0.25 41.2 0.68 897 Powerline 0.25 197.4 0.61 3,840 Aurex Hill 0.30 74.3 0.60 1,444 Total Combined 0.25 to 0.3 312.9 0.61 6,181 Notes: The effective date for the Mineral Resource is May 18, 2023. The updated Resource Estimate for the AurMac Project was prepared by Marc Jutras, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Principal, Ginto Consulting Inc., an independent Qualified Person in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101. The technical report supporting the Resource Estimate entitled "AurMac Property, Mayo Mining District, Yukon Territory, Canada" (the "Technical Report") has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com on July 7, 2023. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, changes in global gold markets or other relevant issues. The CIM Definition Standards were followed for classification of Mineral Resources. The quantity and grade of reported Inferred Mineral Resources in this estimation are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define these Inferred Mineral Resources as an Indicated Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading them to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource category. Mineral Resources are reported at a cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t gold for the Airstrip and Powerline and 0.3 g/t gold for the Aurex Hill deposits, using a US$/CAN$ exchange rate of 0.75 and constrained within an open pit shell optimized with the Lerchs-Grossman algorithm to constrain the Mineral Resources with the following estimated parameters: gold price of US$1,800/ounce, US$2.50/t mining cost, US$5.50/t processing cost, UD$2.00/t G+A, 80% heap leach recoveries, and 45 pit slope. The number of tonnes was rounded to the nearest hundred thousand. The number of ounces was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations as per NI 43-101. In addition to the AurMac Project, the Company holds the Hyland Gold Project, located 70 km Northeast of Watson Lake, Yukon, along the Southeast end of the Tintina Gold Belt (the "Hyland Project"). The Hyland Project represents a sediment hosted, structurally controlled, intrusion related gold deposit, within a large land package (over 125 sq km), accessible by a network of existing gravel access roads. Banyan trades on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the symbol "BYN" and is quoted on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol "BYAGF". For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.banyangold.com or contact the Company. Qualified Persons Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., is a "qualified person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), and has reviewed and approved the content of this news release. Mr. Gray has verified the data disclosed in this press release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information. For further information regarding the AurMac Project, please refer to the Technical Report. ON BEHALF OF BANYAN GOLD CORPORATION (signed) "Tara Christie" Tara Christie President & CEO For more information, please contact: Tara Christie 778 928 0556 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Jasmine Sangria 604 312 5610 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) nor OTCQB Venture Market accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts and is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend(s)", "believe", "potential" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's plans for exploration; and statements regarding exploration expectations, confidence in exploration potential and adding ounces, exploration or development plans and timelines; mineral resource estimates; mineral recoveries and anticipated exploration and development costs. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include uncertainties inherent in resource estimates, continuity and extent of mineralization, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, availability of personnel, seasonal considerations and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, enhanced risks inherent to conducting business in any jurisdiction, and those risks set out in Banyan's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Banyan believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Banyan disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. HIGHLIGHTS Property position expanded by 8,620 hectares. The new property ("Tyko II") is located 10 kilometers north of the main Tyko (now referred to as Tyko I) property and has been acquired through a combination of staking and two claim group purchases. Exploration potential: Historic grab samples suggest a strong potential for copper - nickel - PGE mineralization: 1.17% Cu, 0.73% Ni, 2.4 g/t Pd, 0.2 g/t Pt (Kejimalda Zone) 0.54% Cu, 0.11% Ni, 1.0 g/t Pd, 0.4 g/t Pt (Moshkinabi Zone) 2.46% Cu, 0.22% Ni (Gionet Zone) 6.70% Cu, 0.17% Ni (Faries Lake Zone) Multiple untested historic ElectroMagnetic ("EM") anomalies provide developed drill targets. Historic exploration has identified multiple copper - nickel - PGE showings which are associated with the Faries-Moshkinabi Mafic-Ultramafic complex and which share geological similarities to the Tyko I Property. Existing exploration drill permits and a network of logging roads allow for near term drilling. Palladium One Mining Inc. (TSXV: PDM) (OTCQB: NKORF) (FSE: 7N11) (the "Company" or "Palladium One") is pleased to announce the expansion of the Tyko Nickel - Copper District, with the acquisition of the highly prospective "Tyko II Copper - Nickel - PGE" property, located approximately 10 kilometers north of the Tyko I (formerly "Tyko") property, and 15 kilometres east of the town of Manitouwadge, Ontario, Canada. "This property expansion bolsters the Company's nickel - copper strategy in a premiere mining jurisdiction and specifically in a highly prospective, relatively unexplored region, where it now controls 38,130 hectares. Tyko II brings an additional pipeline of drill permitted magmatic copper - nickel sulphide targets. The Tyko II project has many geological similarities to Tyko I with several untested historic EM anomalies. Prior to our high-grade discovery, the Smoke Lake zone also began as a historic untested EM anomaly. Just like Tyko I, Tyko II has seen surprisingly little historic exploration or even government mapping. "Having completed the majority of the planned 2023 prospecting, mapping and soil sampling program, the Company is on track to begin drill testing new and existing targets in mid-October. "With $14.5 million of cash on hand as of the end of Q2 the Company is well financed for our planned activities," commented Derrick Weyrauch, President and CEO. Transaction Details The Tyko II Property was acquired through a combination of staking (47 claims, totalling 994 hectares) and claim purchases (307 claims totalling 7,627 hectares) from local prospectors. The claim purchases include aggregate consideration of: $100,000 cash, 2.3 million common shares of the Company as follows: 1.1 million common shares issued at Closing, 0.4 million shares issued 4 months from Closing, 0.4 million shares issued 8 months from Closing, and 0.4 million shares issued 12 months from Closing A Net Smelter Return Royalty ("NSR") in respect of 137 claims Completion of the transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Property Location and Description The Tyko II Property is located approximately 10 kilometers north of the main Tyko I Property and roughly 15 km east-southeast of the town of Manitouwadge, ON, (Figure 1). The claim block encompasses magnetic anomalies associated with the Faries-Moshkinabi Mafic-Ultramafic Complex. The property is accessible via a network of all season logging roads. Exploration History The Tyko II Property area has seen limited government reconnaissance mapping programs dating as far back as 1932. In 1953 the world class Geco Copper-Zinc mine was discovered in the nearby Manitouwadge greenstone belt, 15 km to the northwest. Early geological mapping and mineral exploration in the area was focused largely on the Manitouwadge greenstone belt, to the north of Moshkinabi Lake, whereas Tyko II lies south of the lake. The earliest organized exploration program in the Moshkinabi Lake area dates back to 1960's when Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd completed EM and Magnetic ("Mag") surveys, including seven reconnaissance drill holes. In the late 1980's Noranda Minerals Inc (Geco Division) ("Noranda") conducted further reconnaissance exploration consisting of 16 diamond drill along a northwest trend east of Faries Lake discovering substantial copper mineralization at the Faries Lake Zone. Noranda subsequently completed a large Digem airborne EM and Mag survey that covered the majority of the Tyko II and the northern half of the Tyko I properties, this EM survey also identified the anomaly which eventually resulted in the discovery of the high-grade Smoke Lake Nickel-Copper Zone on Tyko I, several EM conductors from this historic geophysical survey remain untested on the Tyko II property. Subsequent sporadic exploration south of Moshkinabi Lake identified multiple Cu-Ni-PGE mineral showings within the Faries-Moshkinabi mafic to ultramafic complex (Table 1, Figure 2). Table 1. Historic Copper-Nickel Showings on the Tyko II Property Name Location Discovery Description Results Faries Lake Cu Occurrence (Zone 16, 601073E, 5436356N, NAD83) M. and G. Gionet in 2004 Cu-Ni mineralization hosted in highly altered anorthositic metagabbro. Grab sample assays up to 6.7% Cu and 0.17% Ni (Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines ("MENDM") Mineral Deposit Index ("MDI") 42F04SE0009). Gionet Cu-Ni Occurrence (Zone 16, 599812E, 5439711N, NAD83) M. and G. Gionet in 1993 ~10% Pyrite ("Py")-Pyrrhotite ("Po")-chalcopyrite ("Cpy") mineralization in altered, and foliated gabbroic units within mafic metavolcanic schist. Grab sample assays up to 2.46% Cu, 0.22% Ni (ENDM MDI 42F04SE00012). Ice Cream Lake Road Cu Occurrence (Zone 16, 602573E, 5438953, NAD83) K. Preston and OGS in 1991 Rusty, very coarse-grained, melanogabbro with 1-3% patches of coarse Py+Cpy. Grab sample assays up to 0.58% Cu, 2.7 g/t Pd, 0.3 g/t Pt (MENDM MDI 42F04SE00008). McGraw Lake Cu Occurrence (Zone 16, 602802E, 5436550N, NAD83) A. Turner and OGS in 1992 Highly deformed, amphibolitic, mafic metavolcanic gneiss with up to 10% Po+Py+Cpy. Grab sample assays up to 0.36% Cu (MENDM MDI 42F04SE00010). Kejimalda Zone (Zone 16, 605604E, 5443014N, NAD83) Freewest Resources Inc. in 2001 Medium- to coarse-grained gabbro and pyroxenite with 1-7% disseminated Po+Cpy. Grab sample assays up to 1.17% Cu, 0.73% Ni, 2.4 g/t Pd, 0.2 g/t Pt (MENDM MDI 000000002357). Moshkinabi Zone (Zone 16, 607304E, 5442793N, NAD83) G. Gionet in 1999 Sheared and altered, medium- to coarse-grained pyroxenite and melanogabbro with disseminated to net-textured Po+Pn+Cpy. Grab sample assays up to 0.54% Cu, 0.11% Ni, 1.0 g/t Pd, 0.4 g/t Pt (MENDM MDI 0000000002358). Geology Overview The Faries-Moshkinabi Mafic-Ultramafic Complex is located along the southern edge of the Manitouwadge-Hornepayne Greenstone belt ("MHGB") (Figure 2). The Complex is part of the Wawa-Abitibi Terrane and lies at the northern boundary of the Wawa subprovince (Stott, 2011), it is intruded by tonalitic rocks associated with the Black-Pic batholith. The Ontario Department of Mines was the first to document the occurrence of mafic to ultramafic rocks east of Faries Lake (Milne, 1968). However, it was not until Williams and Breaks (1989, 1990) of the Ontario Geological Survey that reconnaissance mapping outlined the extent of mafic to ultramafic rocks in the vicinity of Faries Lake and south of Moshkinabi Lake that the Faries-Moshkinabi Mafic-Ultramafic Complex was defined. The Complex is described as consisting of a layered suite of gabbro, leucogabbro, anorthosite, and peridotite overlain by thin lens of amphibolitized mafic metavolcanic rocks (see Figure 2). The world class Geco ("Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide") VMS deposit is located along the western margin of the MHGB, approximately 15 km northwest of the Tyko II Property. From 1957 to 1995, the Geco Mine produced over 49.3 Mt of ore grading 1.85% Cu, 3.78% Zn, and 56.2 g/t Ag (Puumala et al., 2020); in addition, the satellite Willroy, Willecho, and Nama Creek Mines entered production of copper-zinc-lead-silver ore at various times during this period. The Tyko II property contains altered volcanics rocks with similarities to those which host the Geco Mine and thus is also prospective for VMS hosted copper - zinc as well and magmatic hosted nickel - copper mineralization. Future Work The Faries-Moshkinabi Mafic-Ultramafic Complex is associated with several Cu-Ni-PGE showings, making it a compelling target with similarities to the Company's Tyko I property. An airborne Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic airborne ("VTEM") survey and soil sampling of historic EM anomalies is planned to commence shortly. A majority of the Tyko II property is also covered by existing drill permits which will allow drill testing by year's end. Figure 1. Regional location map of the Company's Tyko Project and other nearby mineral properties Figure 2. Geological map of the Tyko II Property (in yellow) highlighting historic copper - nickel showings and EM anomalies Qualified Person The technical information in this release has been reviewed and verified by Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration and a director of the Company and the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. About Palladium One With a focus on climate change risks and opportunities, Palladium One Mining Inc.'s (TSXV: PDM) strategy is to discover and ultimately produce critical Green Transportation Metals, including but not limited to sulphide nickel, copper, palladium, platinum and cobalt. A Canadian mineral exploration and development company, Palladium One is advancing district scale deposits in Canada and Finland. The Lantinen Koillismaa (LK) Project in north-central Finland, is a PGE-copper-nickel project that has existing NI43-101 Mineral Resources, while both the Tyko and Canalask high-grade nickel-copper projects are located in Ontario and the Yukon, Canada respectively. Follow Palladium One on LinkedIn and Twitter. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Derrick Weyrauch" President & CEO, Director For further information contact: Derrick Weyrauch, President & CEO Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release is not an offer or a solicitation of an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America. The common shares of Palladium One Mining Inc. have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration. Information set forth in this press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; fluctuations in palladium and other commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume; and tax consequences to Canadian and U.S. Shareholders. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. MONTREAL, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troilus Gold Corp. (Troilus or the Company, TSX: TLG; OTCQX: CHXMF) announces the following leadership transitions. Blake Hylands has stepped down from his executive role as President, however, will continue to support and advise the exploration and technical teams through the end of the year on a part-time basis. Jacqueline Lerouxs current role as Vice President of Environment & Permitting has expanded to include oversight of all Quebec operations, which covers the management and logistics of the Troilus camp and community relations. Daniel Bergeron, who previously oversaw Quebec Operations, has been appointed Vice President Special Projects and will now be focusing on infrastructure development in collaboration with the Engineering team, as well as government relations. Kyle Frank, the Companys Exploration Manager, has been promoted to Vice President of Exploration; and Nicolas Guest has been promoted to Manager of Exploration. Justin Reid, CEO and Director of Troilus commented, "On behalf of everyone at Troilus, we would like to thank Blake Hylands for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Company during his tenure, and for his unwavering commitment towards the Projects success. Im confident that he will excel in his future endeavors, and I look forward to our continued future collaboration and partnerships. Jacqueline Leroux has been instrumental in the advancement of the project since 2018. Her technical background, intimate understanding of Quebecs regulatory framework and exemplary leadership and dedication make her the ideal candidate to oversee Quebec operations. Daniel Bergerons new role will allow us to leverage his expertise with infrastructure and government in Northern Quebec, working closely with the Engineering team to ensure we develop a Project that is sustainable and functional in a remote environment. I would also like to congratulate Kyle Frank and Nicolas Guest on their well-deserved promotions; they have both played instrumental roles in our exploration successes over the last few years and we look forward to their ongoing contributions and leadership as we continue to unlock value from this prospective district." Operational Update Troilus is pleased to provide an update on its current activities and upcoming milestones. While the junior mining market has proved tumultuous for some time, the Company remains in a good position with one of the largest permitting-stage gold/copper deposits in Canada. Recognizing Troilus favourable standing, the Company has proactively taken the decision to implement cost-cutting measures by carefully evaluating operational efficiencies and identifying non-essential expenditures. This decision will allow for the efficient allocation of capital resources, ensure sustained financial resilience and agility, and bolster the Companys long-term competitive edge. The exploration team has completed the last of the drilling this month, to be included in an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) expected for completion at the end of the 3rd quarter 2023. This slightly extended timing is a result of the prolonged duration of the forest fires in Quebec this summer which halted exploration activities for six weeks. With the completion of the remaining drill program, the Company will focus on mine development, permitting and project financing. Future exploration activities will proceed with a focused, detailed approach, to continue increasing the value of the mine site and surrounding regional targets. Troilus engineering team has continued to work diligently toward the completion of a Feasibility Study, anticipated for completion at the end of the 2023 calendar year or within the first weeks of 2024, aligning with the updated timing of the MRE. The Federal and Provincial permitting processes continue to progress. Most recently, as part of the planning phase in the Impact Assessment process, the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government conducted public consultations with the communities of Chibougamau, Mistissini and Chapais, inviting the public and Indigenous groups to review and provide feedback on the draft Tailored Impact Statement Guidelines and draft Public Participation Plan of the Troilus Project for the Federal Impact Assessment; additional consultations will take place in the coming months. Moreover, the Company recently engaged Stantec to complete its Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), anticipated for completion before the end of the 2024 calendar year, which will be supported by the comprehensive baseline studies already gathered at Troilus over the last few years and will outline the responsible development of the Troilus project. The Company has remained committed to the systematic advancement and de-risking of the Troilus project, supporting its overall strategy and primary goal of creating shareholder value. Since the inception of Troilus in 2018, major milestones have consistently been reached to enhance the quality of the asset, demonstrating its scale potential, economic potential, and underscoring a compelling opportunity for long-term value creation. Troilus looks forward to delivering on further major catalysts in the coming months, aligned with its development plan towards a producing asset. About Troilus Gold Corp. Troilus Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mining company focused on the systematic advancement and de-risking of the former gold and copper Troilus Mine towards production. From 1996 to 2010, the Troilus Mine produced +2 million ounces of gold and nearly 70,000 tonnes of copper. Troilus is located in the top-rated mining jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada, where it holds a land position of 435 km within the prospective Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt. Since acquiring the project in 2017, ongoing exploration success has demonstrated the tremendous scale potential of the gold system on the property with significant mineral resource growth. The Company is advancing engineering studies following the completion of a robust PEA in 2020, which demonstrated the potential for the Troilus project to become a top-ranked gold and copper producing asset in Canada. Led by an experienced team with a track-record of successful mine development, Troilus is positioned to become a cornerstone project in North America. For more information: Caroline Arsenault VP Corporate Communications +1 (647) 276-0050 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability; the estimate of Mineral Resources in the updated Mineral Resource statement may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. There is no certainty that the Indicated Mineral Resources will be converted to the Probable Mineral Reserve category, and there is no certainty that the updated Mineral Resource statement will be realized. The PEA is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The PEA is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. See below and the Companys latest technical report available on SEDAR for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the impact of management changes on the Company, the possible economics of the project and the Companys understanding of the project; the development potential and timetable of the project; the estimation of mineral resources; realization of mineral resource estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future exploration; the anticipated results of the Companys ongoing 2022 drill program and their possible impact on the potential size of the mineral resource estimate; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; the anticipated ability of investors to continue benefiting from the Companys low discovery costs, technical expertise and support from local communities. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, continue, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important facts that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Troilus will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates; the impact the COVID 19 pandemic may have on the Companys activities (including without limitation on its employees and suppliers) and the economy in general; the impact of the recovery post COVID 19 pandemic and its impact on gold and other metals; the receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future prices of mineral prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties discussed in the most recent Technical Report and in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Although Troilus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Troilus does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla Silver" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from 13 new drillholes targeting the recently discovered La Luisa Vein located ~700 metres west of the Napoleon Area resource, at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco") in Mexico. The new drill results at La Luisa have expanded the local high-grade footprint by approximately 350 metres to the south and confirmed shallow vein mineralization located 500 metres along strike to the north. Highlights NP-23-395 returned 764 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 11.20 metres true width (mTW) (229 g/t silver, 7.14 g/t gold, 0.34 % lead and 1.64 % zinc) Including, 10,485 g/t AgEq over 0.64 mTW (3,140 g/t silver, 102.00 g/t gold, 2.99 % lead and 16.30 % zinc) (229 g/t silver, 7.14 g/t gold, 0.34 % lead and 1.64 % zinc) NP-23-376 returned 415 g/t AgEq over 5.65 mTW (340 g/t silver, 1.23 g/t gold, 0.15 % lead and 0.34 % zinc) (340 g/t silver, 1.23 g/t gold, 0.15 % lead and 0.34 % zinc) NP-23-377 returned 342 g/t AgEq over 7.70 mTW (67 g/t silver, 1.80 g/t gold, 0.75 % lead and 3.74 % zinc) Including, 1,612 g/t AgEq over 0.54 mTW (250 g/t silver, 12.35 g/t gold, 5.65 % lead and 10.45 % zinc) (67 g/t silver, 1.80 g/t gold, 0.75 % lead and 3.74 % zinc) NP-23-381A returned 503 g/t AgEq over 5.00 mTW (155 g/t silver, 2.49 g/t gold, 0.91 % lead and 4.52 % zinc) Including, 1,194 g/t AgEq over 0.97 mTW (476 g/t silver, 9.29 g/t gold, 1.60 % lead and 2.11 % zinc) (155 g/t silver, 2.49 g/t gold, 0.91 % lead and 4.52 % zinc) "La Luisa continues to impress with very high precious metals grades over increasingly broader widths," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO. "We have now expanded the high-grade mineralized footprint at La Luisa to ~700 metres along strike by 400 metres down dip and it remains open in all directions. Moreover, new drilling approximately 500 meters along strike to the north has discovered shallow vein mineralization believed to be the continuation of La Luisa. Not only does this add significant strike potential to La Luisa, but it also supports our exploration model that the vein corridor has been tilted, with the southern extent being at the top of the mineralized horizon, near surface. Moving forward, we continue to explore La Luisa with two drill rigs." Figure 1: Plan map of recent drilling along the La Luisa vein. Details of the La Luisa vein discovery The La Luisa Vein is located approximately 700 metres to the west of Napoleon in the southwest portion of the Panuco district. The structure has been mapped on surface for approximately 1,500 metres with an average strike of N30W and dip of 70 - 80 to the northeast. La Luisa does not currently host any resources. To date including this release, Vizsla Silver has reported 33 holes from La Luisa outlining a mineralized footprint approximately 700 metres along strike by 400 metres down dip with a weighted average grade of 449 g/t AgEq (175 g/t silver, 3.40 g/t gold, 0.28 % lead and 1.33 % zinc) and average width 3.07 mTW. The upper level of the vein are hosted primarily by rhyolite tuffs (the upper part of the regional lower volcanic sequence), whereas deeper vein-intercepts occur in the more favourable diorite host rock. Initial shallow drilling at La Luisa returned significant gold concentrations with relatively low silver and base metals values. The higher gold to silver and base metals ratios observed are analogous to the previously reported shallow "gold rich" horizon at the southern end of Napoleon. Interpretations based on metal zonation and alteration at Napoleon suggest that the vein corridor has been tilted, with the southern extent being at the top of the mineralized horizon, near surface (see the Company's press releases dated December 16, 2021, and October 12, 2022, respectively). Deeper drilling at La Luisa, including holes NP-23-394 and NP-23-395 intercepted wider vein mineralization marked by an increase in lead and particularly zinc concentrations. Recent surface mapping and sampling along strike to the northwest at La Luisa has confirmed a wider vein expression with higher silver and gold anomalies at surface (see surface samples on figure 2). Surface sampling and mapping support the hypothesis that mineralization is tilted to the southeast in a similar fashion to Napoleon. Vizsla recently completed two shallow holes in the northwest, which intercepted the vein structure between 100 and 150 metres below surface (NP-23-399 and NP-23-401, assays pending), thus confirming our exploration model. Vizsla Silver is currently exploring La Luisa with two drill rigs, one continues in the south expanding the vein at depth and the second rig is in the north exploring for high-grade mineralization closer to surface. Figure 2: Longitudinal section of the La Luisa Vein. Figure 3: Cross section highlighting recent drill intercepts on La Luisa vein. Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) NP-23-375 467.35 468.20 0.85 0.75 57 8.13 0.12 0.26 614 La Luisa NP-23-375 492.00 494.45 2.45 1.40 593 0.78 2.05 1.91 734 FW splay NP-23-376 474.50 484.00 9.50 5.65 340 1.23 0.15 0.34 415 La Luisa NP-23-377 630.00 642.80 12.80 7.70 67 1.80 0.75 3.74 342 FW splay Includes 633.00 634.80 1.80 1.08 171 1.48 1.65 11.16 712 Includes 636.65 637.55 0.90 0.54 250 12.35 5.65 10.45 1,612 NP-23-377 705.80 708.80 3.00 1.26 76 1.52 0.43 2.85 289 La Luisa NP-23-379 577.15 587.60 10.45 6.50 45 1.29 0.24 1.07 175 La Luisa NP-23-379 597.25 599.75 2.50 1.70 84 1.21 0.08 0.20 170 FW splay NP-23-381A 578.55 583.80 5.25 3.55 41 0.96 0.14 1.20 150 La Luisa NP-23-381A 619.25 627.00 7.75 5.00 155 2.49 0.91 4.52 503 FW splay Includes 621.90 623.40 1.50 0.97 476 9.29 1.60 2.11 1,194 Includes 624.60 626.40 1.80 1.16 76 1.12 0.18 14.93 693 NP-23-382 608.35 610.30 1.95 1.70 119 3.70 0.98 6.41 622 La Luisa NP-23-382 618.25 619.70 1.45 1.04 24 1.82 0.07 0.86 178 FW splay NP-23-384 620.70 623.00 2.30 1.60 49 1.27 0.44 0.76 172 La Luisa NP-23-384 No significant values FW splay NP-23-385 No significant values La Luisa NP-23-387 No significant values HW splay NP-23-387 384.90 386.15 1.25 0.85 10 3.62 0.02 0.06 256 La Luisa NP-23-389 582.65 594.30 11.65 8.85 67 0.98 0.15 0.96 167 La Luisa Includes 585.65 586.40 0.75 0.57 205 1.04 0.63 3.78 416 Includes 592.80 594.30 1.50 1.14 99 2.39 0.41 1.69 327 NP-23-389 No significant values FW splay NP-23-390 No significant values HW splay NP-23-390 610.90 615.55 4.65 3.60 60 0.45 0.34 1.85 163 La Luisa NP-23-390 No significant values FW splay NP-23-394 604.55 615.00 10.45 8.90 61 2.85 0.14 2.22 333 La Luisa Includes 608.00 608.90 0.90 0.77 98 10.35 0.44 16.85 1,414 Includes 611.50 612.45 0.95 0.81 83 8.21 0.22 1.05 676 NP-23-394 No significant values FW splay NP-23-395 No significant values HW splay NP-23-395 657.10 669.30 12.20 11.20 229 7.14 0.34 1.64 764 La Luisa Includes 666.75 667.45 0.70 0.64 3,140 102.00 2.99 16.30 10,485 NP-23-395 No significant values FW splay Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from the holes completed along the La Luisa vein. Holes NP-23-399 and NP-23-401 were drilled over 500 metres north of the main high-grade zone, see Figures 1 and 2. Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022). *Previously reported March 20, reinterpreted and re-reported. Figure 4: Photo of NP-23-395 on La Luisa vein from 657.10 to 669.30 metres down the hole. Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth NP-23-375 403,149 2,586,445 442 245 -44.7 549.0 NP-23-376 403,149 2,586,445 442 245 -51.3 594.0 NP-23-377 402,392 2,586,307 424 74 -51.5 801.0 NP-23-379 403,078 2,586,547 480 241 -54.1 681.0 NP-23-381A 403,149 2,586,445 442 245 -57.2 732.0 NP-23-382 403,078 2,586,547 480 241 -60.0 702.0 NP-23-384 403,150 2,586,445 442 245 -63.5 810.0 NP-23-385 403,248 2,586,386 465 245 -43.0 561.0 NP-23-387 403,194 2,586,251 428 245 -51.2 516.0 NP-23-389 403,248 2,586,386 465 245 -50.9 646.5 NP-23-390 403,362 2,586,359 437 241 -44.1 730.0 NP-23-394 403,248 2,586,386 465 245 -57.5 747.0 NP-23-395 403,362 2,586,359 437 242 -50.9 794.0 Table 2: La Luisa vein drillhole details. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13 *Previously reported March 20, reinterpreted and re-reported. About the Panuco Project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services. About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla Silver has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla Silver has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., COO, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.ca Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS The information contained herein 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. "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, without limitation, planned exploration activities. 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 connotation thereof. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of public health crises; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect the Company's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of public health crises; the economic and financial implications of public health crises to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine; general economic facts; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's management discussion and analysis and other public disclosure documents. 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. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws. Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire - September 11, 2023: GSP Resource Corp. (TSXV:GSPR) (the Company or GSP) announces a detailed summary of the upcoming planned Fall 2023 exploration program at the Alwin Mine Project (the Alwin Property). The exploration program is being designed to drill test new exploration targets and advance the understanding of the structural controls of known copper zones at the Alwin Property located in the Highland Valley Copper Camp of British Columbia. 2023 Drill Program objectives: Drilling a minimum of 1,200 m and up to 1,500 m of diamond drilling to test 4 to 6 targets (200 to 300 m per drill hole, Figure 1), subject to available funds. Confirmation drilling of the 5 historic zones (Zone 2 to 6) to infill 2008, 2020 2021 drilling, testing down-dip and lateral extensions of mineralization. Drill test three new potential copper zones: Northwest, South and Deep zones (see the Companys news release dated August 24, 2023). Collect structural data using oriented drill core, and ground truthing of historic surface drill hole locations to continue to develop the 3D mineralization model. Advance the 3D mineralization model towards completion of a potential Mineral Resource Estimate for the Alwin Mine Project during 2024. Figure 1: Plan Map of Surface Expression of Alwin Mine 3D Compilation Showing >1.5% Copper Mineralization Vein Model and Potential 2023 Drill Targets GSPs President & CEO, Simon Dyakowski, commented: Our team is excited to be advancing the final planning for the proposed 2023 exploration program to drill test the Alwin 3D copper mineralization vein model for the high-grade past producing Alwin Copper-Silver-Gold Mine. The broad extent of polymetallic mineralization at Alwin represents a significant exploration upside and requires confirmation drilling of known zones and testing of potential new zones identified to the northwest, south and at depth of the historic mine area. We look forward to finalizing priority drill targets for our proposed upcoming diamond drill program in Fall 2023 over the coming weeks, with the potential for completing a possible Mineral Resource Estimate in 2024. During October 2022, GSP engaged APEX Geoscience Ltd. (APEX) to review and compile geological data from drill logs of more than 450 historic surface and underground diamond drill holes from the 1960s 1980s. The historic drilling along with more recent 2008, 2020 2021 drilling represents a final integrated geological dataset that represents drill holes covering an area over 500 m strike length, 100 m wide, to a depth of 300 m (see the Companys news releases dated March 14, 2023, April 17, 2023 and August 24, 2023). The integration of these results has resulted in the development of a 3D copper mineralization model that has resulted in identification of new drill targets and a comprehensive visualization of the geometry of 5 high grade copper-gold zones that were the subject of historic development and mining activities of the late 1960s early 1980s and mid 1990s. During Q2 and Q3 of 2023 GSP advanced exploration permitting by submitting its Multi-Year Area Based (MYAB) annual update and 2023 exploration plan for upcoming work for approval. Subsequently, the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines & Low Carbon Innovation (BC MEMLCI) completed two (2) site visits in May and August 2023 at the Alwin Mine project. The site visits resulted in the approval of the Companys 2023 drilling plans. In addition, the 2021 permit allows drilling at the Alwin Project until June 2026. About the Alwin Mine Project The Alwin Mine Copper-Silver-Gold property is approximately 575.72 hectares and is located on the semi-arid, interior plateau in south-central British Columbia. The historic underground mine was developed over 500 m long by 200 m wide by 300 m deep. Production took place between 1916 to 1981 from five major subvertical high-grade copper mineralization zones totaling 233,100 tonnes that milled 3,786 tonnes of copper, 2,729 kilograms of silver and 46.2 kilograms of gold. The average diluted head grade was 1.5% copper. The Alwin Property is adjacent with the western boundary of Teck Corporations Highland Valley Mine, the largest open-pit porphyry copper-molybdenum mine in western Canada. Alteration and mineralization of the Highland Valley hydrothermal system extends westward from the Highland Valley mine onto the Alwin property (see GSPs news release dated January 30, 2020). Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (B.C.), principal and consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a consultant to the Company and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle has verified the data disclosed, which includes a review of the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained herein. Mineralization hosted on nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the Alwin property. About GSP Resource Corp. GSP Resource Corp. is a mineral exploration & development company focused on projects located in Southwestern British Columbia. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest and title to the Alwin Mine Copper-Gold-Silver Property in the Kamloops Mining Division, as well as an option to acquire 100% interest and title to the Olivine Mountain Property in the Similkameen Mining Division, of which it has granted an option to earn a 60% interest to a third party. Contact Information - For more information, please contact: Simon Dyakowski, Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: (604) 619-7469 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forwardlooking information or statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, prospective drill program (including the size of the intended drill program) and potential drill targets and the objectives, future exploration work on the Companys projects, the potential completion of a mineral resource estimate in 2024, other statements relating to the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its projects and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of metals, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Companys views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, and those filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), decrease in the price of copper, gold, silver and other metals, increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. PA_RC23-123: 12m @ 122.2 g/t Au from 109m; including: 3m at 429.1 g/t Au from 109m Application for permits for Paloma Underground mine development initiated with filing of EIA and design works commenced Calandrias Norte Open Pit stripping underway Calandrias Sur Heap Leach project ramp up continues TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSX.V:CERT) (OTCQX:CRDOF) ("Cerrado" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the highest grade intercept ever reported at its Minera Don Nicolas operation in Santa Cruz, Argentina ("MDN"). RC Hole PA_RC23-123 intercepted outstanding results from 109m of 12m (apparent width) at 122.2 g/t gold, including 3m at 429.1 g/t from 109m. This intercept ranks within the top best metal content (linear grade: m* Au g/t) in MDN's all-time exploration drilling results. Additionally, 3 other relevant intercepts at 126m (2m at 2.9 g/t Au), 132m (1m at 2.4 g/t Au) and 142m (2m at 4.2 g/t Au) are interpreted as high grade cores along parallel structures. Hole PA_RC23-123 (Figures 1. and 2.) was collared approximately 150m to the west of MDN's operating high grade Chulengo pit. The hole was collared to target the extension of Chulengo's first order controlling structure. This West/Southwest trend can be traced on surface following intense hydrothermal alteration along a strike length of over 650m. The Chulengo high grade pit is located on the eastern edge of the trend, and the Baritina high grade pit sits 200m north of the western edge of the trend. The Company is immediately following up with additional holes in the area. Mark Brennan, CEO and Chairman commented, "Exceptional results like this validate the teams view that MDN is still in the discovery stage, and like other projects in the Deseado Massif, we see substantial potential to grow resources at depth and unlock additional high-grade ounces as exploration continues. We are also pleased with the ongoing development of the various projects at MDN, as this supports our longer-term goal of unlocking the full potential at MDN. " Figure 1. Conceptual cross Section of hole PA-RC23-123 Numbers in interpreted mineralized trends, correspond to relevant intercepts in Table 1. Figure 2. Plan View of Paula Andrea Block. The outstanding results from hole PA_RC23-123 are detailed in Table 1 meter by meter from 109m where the hole intercepted the mineralized zone. Following the Chulengo empirical model, besides the steep dipping structures, this area is permissive also to host sub horizontal shoots as conceptualized in the above cross section. From 109m to 144m hole PA_RC23-123 intersected pervasive silicification on a rhyodacitic ignimbrite flow. The alteration/mineralization assemblage includes dickite; abundant sulfides; and possible presence of gold telluride (aligned with ICP analysis). All these three mineralogical/geochemical features are diagnostic of the high-grade mineralization in Chulengo, providing additional confidence in this new discovery zone. Cerrado has mobilized a diamond rig to the target and will follow up aggressively to test shallower expression of this intersection, understand the geometry and outline the continuity of the newly discovered zone. Table 1. Assay Results and Relevant Intervals Hole_ID From To LENGTH AU_PPM AG_PPM Relevant Intercept PA-RC23-123 109 110 1 1015.1 81.8 12 m @ 122.17 ppm Au - 10 ppm Ag Including 3m @ 429.1 ppm Au 110 111 1 122.07 9.2 111 112 1 150.3 17.7 112 113 1 53.63 2.2 113 114 1 18.63 1 114 115 1 39.73 3 115 116 1 15.93 0.9 116 117 1 16.6 0.9 117 118 1 18.6 1.7 118 119 1 7.72 0.8 119 120 1 5.78 0.25 120 121 1 2 0.25 121 122 1 0.53 0.25 122 123 1 0.79 0.25 123 124 1 0.46 0.25 124 125 1 0.34 0.25 125 126 1 0.71 0.25 126 127 1 3.78 0.25 2 m @ 2.94 ppm Au 127 128 1 2.09 0.25 128 129 1 0.63 0.25 129 130 1 0.3 0.25 130 131 1 0.37 0.25 131 132 1 0.25 0.25 132 133 1 2.43 0.25 1 m @ 2.43 ppm Au 133 134 1 0.75 0.25 134 135 1 0.73 0.25 135 136 1 0.27 0.25 136 137 1 0.33 0.25 137 138 1 0.25 0.25 138 139 1 0.57 0.25 139 140 1 0.53 0.25 140 141 1 0.47 0.25 141 142 1 0.23 0.25 142 143 1 5.63 0.7 2 m @ 4.18 ppm Au 143 144 1 2.72 0.25 144 145 1 0.31 0.25 145 146 1 0.09 0.25 146 147 1 0.39 0.25 147 148 1 0.17 0.25 148 149 1 0.73 0.25 149 150 1 0.17 0.25 Additionally, the Company is pleased to provide an update on progress of its development projects and the MDN Minera Don Nicolas operation in Santa Cruz, Argentina. The Company has contracted a Chilean Company, B Mining Limitada, to complete studies and engineering designs for three additional development opportunities; namely: Calandrias Norte Open Pit and the Calandrias Norte Underground Project, located adjacent to the Company's operating Heap Leach Operation in the North of the MDN property; and Reviewing the Paloma Sur Underground potential, representing the continuation at depth of the high-grade Paloma open pit deposit. The Argentinian team has completed and submitted the necessary documents for an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") for the Paloma Sur Underground project. The final approval is expected to be awarded within the coming months. At the nearby Calandrias Norte deposit, waste stripping is accelerating, opening up a new source of high-grade ore to feed the CIL plant. Stripping is expected to be completed towards the end of October. Exploration work to upgrade and expand the underground mineral inventory is underway at both Paloma Sur and Calandrias Norte and preliminary results are encouraging. Contractors have been invited to tender development proposals and, most likely, the company will outsource all underground activities. At the new Calandrias heap leach project, mining and ore placement on the heap leach pad continues to ramp up to full capacity. To date, over 280,000 tonnes of ore have been placed on the pad and irrigation capacity continues to expand as the pad is developed. This is expected to result in a steady ramp up of gold production over the coming months. Despite some early operating challenges due to weather, the heap leach is currently producing at a rate of 25 ounces per day and is expected to ramp up to 100 ounces per day by October. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Analytical work was carried out Alex Stewart international, Argentina S.A. Labs (ASI). The facilities of the prep lab and assay lab are in San Julian, 184 Km from MDN mine operations. MDN sends routinely out samples to check at ALS international labs (ALS) with the prep lab located in Mendoza and assay labs in Lima, Peru and Vancouver, Canada. In the main laboratory ASI (Mendoza), the samples are systematically analyzed for gold (ppm) and silver (ppm) by fire assay (Au4-50 + AgICP-AR-39) regarding the over limits with fire assay results greater than 10 ppm, a second assay is applied including gravimetric finishing (FA50GRAV), with respect to silver, analyzes greater than 200ppm are carried out by AgFA50GRAV. ASI has routine quality control procedures which ensure that every batch of samples includes three sample repeats, two commercial standards and blanks. Cerrado used standard QA/QC procedures, when inserting reference standards and blanks, for the drilling program. The Reference material used are from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. Included in the batches following MDN internal protocols. Review of Technical Information The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Sergio Gelcich, P.Geo., Vice President, Exploration for Cerrado Gold Inc., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101. About Cerrado Cerrado Gold is a Toronto-based gold production, development, and exploration company focused on gold projects in South America. The Company is the 100% owner of both the producing Minera Don Nicolas and Las Calandrias mine in Santa Cruz province, Argentina, and the highly prospective Monte Do Carmo development project, located in Tocantins State, Brazil. In Canada, Cerrado Gold is developing it's 100% owned Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium project located outside of Chibougamou, Quebec. In Argentina, Cerrado is maximizing asset value at its Minera Don Nicolas operation through continued operational optimization and is growing production through its operations at the Las Calandrias Heap Leach project. An extensive campaign of exploration is ongoing to further unlock potential resources in our highly prospective land package in the heart of the Deseado Masiff. In Brazil, Cerrado is rapidly advancing the Serra Alta deposit at its Monte Do Carmo Project, through feasibility and into production. Serra Alta is expected to be a high-margin and high-return project with significant exploration potential on an extensive and highly prospective 82,542 hectare land package. In Canada, Cerrado holds a 100% interest in the Mont Sorcier Iron Ore and Vanadium Project, which has the potential to produce a premium iron ore concentrate over a long mine life at low operating costs and low capital intensity. Furthermore, its high grade and high purity product facilitates the migration of steel producers from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces contributing to the decarbonisation of the industry and the achievement of SDG goals. For more information about Cerrado please visit our website at: www.cerradogold.com. Mark Brennan CEO and Chairman Mike McAllister Vice President, Investor Relations Tel: +1-647-805-5662 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Disclaimer NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation, all statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, statements regarding the business and operations of Cerrado. In making the forward- looking statements contained in this press release, Cerrado has made certain assumptions, including, but not limited to the viability of new development opportunities at MDN, the likelihood of acceptance of the EIA and anticipated production at new sources of ore at Calandrias Norte the time required to reach production capacity at Las Calandrias, the future operating costs in Argentina, as well the timing of the feasibility study at Monte Do Carmo. Although Cerrado believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Cerrado disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lavras Gold Corp. (TSXV: LGC, OTCQB: LGCFF) is pleased to announce that it intends to complete a private placement offering (the Offering) of 8,000,000 common shares (each, a Common Share) in the capital of the Company at a price of CAD$1.35 per Common Share, for gross proceeds of CAD$10,800,000. The net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used primarily for exploration expenses on the Company's gold properties comprising its Lavras do Sul Project located in Rio Grande do Sul State of Brazil, and for general working capital purposes. The Offering will be conducted pursuant to available exemptions from the registration and prospectus requirements of applicable securities legislation, including sales to accredited investors and to close personal friends and business associates of directors and officers of the Company. The completion of the Offering is subject to the receipt of all regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy 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 as defined under applicable United States securities laws unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Lavras Gold Lavras Gold Corp. (TSXV: LGC, OTCQB: LGCFF) is a Canadian exploration company focused on realizing the potential of a multi-million-ounce gold district in southern Brazil. Its Lavras do Sul Project is located in Rio Grande do Sul State, and is primarily an intrusive hosted gold system of possible alkaline affinity. More than 23 gold prospects centred on historic gold workings have been identified on the property, which spans more than 22,000 hectares. Follow Lavras Gold on www.lavrasgold.com, as well as on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. Contact information Hemdat Sawh, CFO | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |+1-416-671-4966 DISCLAIMER AND FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, will, would, potential, proposed and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. These statements, including those on planned exploration activities and goals, are only objectives and predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information, including the risks and factors that generally affect exploration and the uncertainty of exploration results. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business, refer to the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis recently filed under the Companys profile on www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Prospecting grab samples assay up to 954 g/t Ag, 832 g/t Ag, and 347 g/t Ag Sampling at the ERT has significantly expanded the known mineralized footprint of this target area 3 new showings discovered in previously unsampled northeastern portion of the property, highlighting new prospective areas Polymetallic nature of mineralization is encouraging for a larger epithermal system Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") is pleased to provide an update regarding recent exploration work completed on its Pike Warden project ("the Property") located near Whitehorse, Yukon. The Company's exploration team, in conjunction with support provided by Archer, Cathro & Associates (1981) Limited, collected a total of 116 rock samples (grab and float samples) and 109 soil samples in July. In addition, remote sensing survey activities previously announced in a press release dated June 24, 2023, have been completed. Scott McLean, P.Geo, CEO of Transition Metals, expressed his enthusiasm regarding progress at Pike Warden this summer, stating "The latest assay results, which include values as high as 954 g/t Ag, 0.312 g/t Au, and 2.32% Cu continue to reward the dedication of our team for its efforts in the Yukon. We are encouraged that the numerous mineralized zones identified to date are indicative of a large epithermal mineralizing event and look forward to advancing the project this year." Sampling Results Four new showing areas, dubbed Artemis, Hyperion, Chronos and ERT West; have been identified though recent work (Figure 1). Sampling returned values up to 954 g/t Ag, 0.312 g/t Au, 2.32% Cu, 13.85% Pb, 0.42% Zn, and 0.72% Mo in zones of outcropping and scree mineralization (Table 1). These new zones bring the number of mineralized showings on the Property to a total of 22. Only the ERT Zone has been tested by a limited RC drill program (see Company news release dated January 16, 2023). The Artemis, Hyperion and Chronos showings are new discoveries located in the previously unsampled northeastern portion of the property. This recent sampling at ERT has greatly expanded the known footprint of silver mineralization exposed at surface in this target region. The continued identification of new mineralization further demonstrates the significant potential of a much larger polymetallic epithermal mineralizing system on the Property. Remote Sensing Surveys The LiDAR and orthophotography survey contracted to Pioneer Exploration Consultants Ltd., was successfully flown on August 10, 2023, with post-processing and QA-QC in progress. The Company expects delivery of the survey data shortly, when it will be reviewed to enhance the interpretation of pertinent contacts and structural trends which have been shown to be related to, and will help further delineate, the mineralizing system on the Property. Separately, the alteration mapping program, undertaken with PhotoSat, successfully collected multispectral data from the WorldView-3 satellite on August 27, 2023. Post-processing and QA-QC are currently underway, with the results expected in the coming weeks. PhotoSat utilizes high-resolution multispectral satellite imagery from optical satellites to recognize mineral system associated alteration through spectral mapping and deep learning technology. This approach distinguishes and maps various common alteration minerals that will allow the Company's exploration team to further analyze the collected data to delineate potential alteration and mineralization zones and refine future exploration targets. Next Steps Results from the sampling program have been integrated into the Company's growing data sets for this project. These data sets now include more than 750 soils, talus fines, and silt-fraction samples; over 1,200 mapping and sampling stations; along with high-resolution airborne magnetic and radiometric survey data. These data sets will be further complimented by the high-resolution LiDAR, orthophotography, and hyperspectral alteration mapping surveys. In all they will enhance the Company's understanding of the controls on mineralization and will assist refining priority targets for diamond drilling. Results from sampling at the Artemis, Hyperion, Chronos and ERT West zones have encouraged the Company to undertake a follow-up sampling program on the property in the coming weeks. About the Pike Warden Property The Pike Warden property is located approximately 65 kilometres southwest of Whitehorse, Yukon, and is composed of 185 contiguous mining claims totaling approximately 37 km. The property encompasses a combination of historic and recently discovered high-grade polymetallic gold, copper, and silver epithermal showings that are potentially indicative of a large epithermal-porphyry system in the vicinity of the Bennett Lake Volcanic Complex. In June 2022 Transition entered into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the property from the Vendor in exchange for cash, shares, and work expenditures over a four-year period (see Company news release dated June 28, 2022). Yukon Mineral Exploration Program Transition Metals Corp. would like to acknowledge financial support from the 2023-24 Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP). This program supports placer and hard rock exploration projects by reimbursing a percentage of approved exploration expenditures, with the intent to support early-stage projects and stimulate new mineral discoveries. It's important to note that the opinions and views expressed in this announcement are those of Transition Metals Corp., and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Yukon. Qualified Person The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Benjamin Williams, P.Geo. (PGO), who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. About Transition Metals Corp. Transition Metals Corp. (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity explorer. Its award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience which actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, often allowing the company to acquire properties inexpensively. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting: Scott McLean President and CEO Transition Metals Corp. Tel: (705) 669-1777 Figure 1: Pike Warden property scale map displaying new showings; Artemis, Hyperion, Chronos and ERT West Table 1: Notable Prospecting Grab Samples Note: the reader is cautioned that grab and scree samples are selective by nature and may not represent the overall grade or style of mineralization across the Property. Vancouver, British Columbia May 10, 2018 Solstice Gold Corp. (Solstice or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has been advised by the TSX Venture Exchange that the Companys common shares have been approved for listing on the Exchange as a Tier 2 Mining Issuer. Solstice shares will... Read More Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up Sunday a G20 summit that played down deep divisions over the war in Ukraine and climate change, but gave him a moment in the diplomatic spotlight. G20 nations have been riven over the Ukraine war since Moscow's invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the summit entirely to dodge political opprobrium. Leaders of the Group of 20, which brings together Russia and China as well as some of Ukraine's most ardent backers, have recently struggled to agree on much, in particular about the 18-month-old invasion. Facing a major diplomatic embarrassment, host India pressed members to agree a common statement on Saturday that denounced the use of force for territorial gain, but shied away from direct criticism of Russia. Kyiv said the G20 had "nothing to be proud of" but Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who stood in for Putin at the meeting, on Sunday claimed a diplomatic win. "We were able to prevent the West's attempts to 'Ukrainize' the summit agenda," the veteran diplomat said, dubbing the two-day gathering a "success". "The text doesn't mention Russia at all." On Sunday, Modi formally closed the summit by passing on a ceremonial gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, whose country will take the bloc's presidency in December. "We cannot let geopolitical issues sequester the G20 agenda of discussions," Lula said, an implicit reference to wrangling over the Ukraine war. "We have no interest in a divided G20. We need peace and cooperation instead of conflict." Indian civil servant Amitabh Kant wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the compromise text on Ukraine had involved "over 200 hours of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings (and) 15 drafts". But despite meeting in what the EU's climate monitor says is likely to be the hottest year in human history, the leaders failed to agree to a phase-out of fossil fuels, despite a UN report a day earlier deeming the drawdown "indispensable" to achieving net-zero emissions. Instead, they backed a target of tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, while committing only to a "phasedown" of coal "in line with national circumstances". G20 members Russia and Saudi Arabia are major oil exporters, while coal consumption is rising in China and India, already the world's biggest consumers of the dirty fuel. The climate outcomes were "insufficient", French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday, saying the world must "phase out coal very rapidly and much more quickly than today". - 'People's G20' - Modi, who painted the summit as India's diplomatic coming of age and is pushing for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, celebrated the accession of the 55-member African Union to the G20. As the G20, the grouping included 19 countries and the European Union, representing 85 percent of the world GDP, with South Africa its only member state from the continent. Modi has sought to position New Delhi as a voice for the Global South and the move turned the grouping into a "people's G20". He also proposed another G20 leaders' meeting in November by video-link, opening up the possibility of Putin joining -- along with China's Xi Jinping, who skipped the summit with the Asian giants at loggerheads over territorial and other issues. Lula said Putin would be free to attend next year's event in Rio de Janeiro, despite Brazil being a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued a warrant for the Russian leader's arrest for war crimes. "If I'm the president of Brazil and if he comes to Brazil, there's no way that he will be arrested," he told Indian news network Firstpost on Saturday. Others came together on the summit sidelines, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holding face-to-face talks with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Sunday following a decade-long rift between the two countries. World leaders had earlier joined Modi to pay their respects to revered Indian independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, taking off their shoes at the site of his cremation, where normal footwear is forbidden as a mark of respect. Like Modi, many walked barefoot at the rain-dampened site -- including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Macron -- while others including US President Joe Biden opted for slippers. After a rendition of a Hindu devotional hymn, they stood for a moment's silence before leaving wreaths at the marble plinth where an eternal flame commemorates Gandhi's memory. bur-pjm/arb/qan X At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured Sunday in air strikes in the south of Sudan's capital Khartoum, local activists said, as the war nears the end of its fifth month. The revised toll means the Sunday morning raid was one of the deadliest single attacks in the war that erupted in April between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. "At about 7:15 am (0515 GMT), military aircraft bombarded the Qouro market area," said the local resistance committee, one of many groups that used to organise pro-democracy protests and now provides assistance during the war. "The number of victims of the Quoro market massacre" had risen to 40 by the afternoon, the committee said, revising its previous toll of 30 killed. The committee said more deaths were expected, as casualties continued to pour into the nearby Bashair hospital. The hospital had issued an "urgent appeal" for all medical professionals in the area to come and help treat the "increasing number of injured people arriving". Nearly 7,500 people have been killed in the war that erupted on April 15, according to a conservative estimate from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project. The real death toll is presumed to be much higher, with many of those wounded and killed never reaching hospitals or morgues. Access to many areas has been cut off completely and the warring sides have not declared their losses. Nearly five months in, neither side has been able to seize a decisive advantage. The armed forces control the skies over Khartoum, while RSF fighters continue to dominate the city's streets. The army has been accused of repeated indiscriminate shelling of the residential areas where the paramilitaries have embedded themselves, including by evicting families and taking over homes. Over 2.8 million people have fled the Sudanese capital, whose pre-war population was around five million. Those who cannot or refuse to leave Khartoum remain trapped by air strikes, artillery fire and street battles, forced to ration precious water and electricity. In addition to the capital, the fighting has been mainly been concentrated in the western region of Darfur, where violence linked to the RSF and its allies has prompted the International Criminal Court to open a new investigation into alleged war crimes. A total of over five million people have been forced to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, one million of them across borders. In the early months of the war, multiple truces brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia were systematically violated before the two mediators adjourned talks in June. Recent moves by Burhan, including trips to Egypt, South Sudan and Qatar, signalled a potential return to diplomacy, though both he and Daglo continue to trade hostile statements. "Moving" unveils the highlights on episodes 16 and 17 as Han Hyo Joo, Ryu Seung Ryong, Kim Sung Kyun, and more start the final battle. Based on the webtoon of the same name, written by Kang Full, who also penned the 20-episode K-drama, the Disney+ series depicts the story of 3 high school students who inherited their superhuman powers from their parents. In order to protect them, the parents hide them from individuals who want to use them for their evil plans. However, these people managed to track down the whereabouts of the teenagers as well as their parents. 'Moving' Episodes 16 & 17 Teaser In the sneak peek of "Moving" episodes 16 and 17, the story continues at Jeongwon High School. The secrets begin to unravel after discovering that Kim Bong Seok (Lee Jung Ha), Jang Hee Soo (Go Yoon Jung), and Lee Kang Hoon (Kim Do Hoon) have the missing puzzle of the NIS for their plan to train a new breed of individuals with special abilities. Disney+ dropped a teaser showing that Lee Mi Hyun (Han Hyo Joo) and Jang Joo Won (Ryu Seung Ryong) are ready to protect their kids from abusive individuals. The upcoming episode might showcase the reunion of the duo, who last saw each other during Kim Doo Shik's incident at the agency. Moreover, the mysterious character begins to show up and unveil their purpose of chasing after the 3 high school kids. Among them is Park Hee Soon, who plays the role of Kim Deok Yoon. He arrives at the school together with the North Korean soldier Park Chan Il, whom Jang Joo Won encountered as an agent. On the other hand, class president Lee Kang Hoon gets caught up amid the chaos. Due to this, his father, Lee Jae Man, rushes to the campus to save his son. However, he is set to meet the villains, who also harbor the same power as him. Disney+ teased fans with thrilling episodes as "Moving" episodes 16 and 17 were set to air this week. Where to Watch 'Moving' Episodes 16 and 17? After a successful broadcast premiere, "Moving" continues to create a huge craze among viewers. Scheduled to broadcast on September 13, viewers will get to see the twists and turns as episodes 16 and 17 air. As for the "Moving" finale, Disney+ will broadcast all three episodes simultaneously on September 20. Viewers get to watch new episodes via Disney+ and Hulu. Will There Be 'Moving' Season 2? In a previous interview, Kang Full answered a question regarding the possibility of having "Moving" season 2. As mentioned in a report obtained by a news portal, the webtoon creator and writer said that nothing has been confirmed at the moment. However, he doesn't close the doors and is hopeful that there will be a sequel. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Moving' Craze Results in Disney+'s Boost in Subscriptions For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Dr. Osler was a physician who believed that dignified opinions in the medical profession created a destructive potential for the facts and truth about medical knowledge. The wisdom of his belief has traveled far beyond his time. In fact, his view of arrogant opinions has been dominating the medical profession far worse than one could imagine. A profound example of the ignorance of the medical school education structure and the omissions from that education that have caused the disintegration of the medical profession for the last century is ubiquitous. Consider the thousands of physicians in our nation whom the lack of business education has financially tortured. Or havent you recognized the extreme damage it has done to the medical profession? Can you admit that your financial education, which you never were taught from kindergarten through college, was never provided or advised about in medical school. How did you sail through all that, never thinking that business education had any value for your medical practice destiny? Such an issue seems almost unbelievableespecially when we are all part of an elite and highly intelligent professionand is something we all may regret later, in one way or another. Im one of those physicians. We can prove how disastrous that issue has become by counting the number of medical doctors who have lost their private medical practices for financial reasons. You may notice that no one keeps score on those physicians for some reason. Does anybody care? If you cater to an open mind, you might understand that those statistics are purposely not kept. Who would stop thinking that any physician might have lived on the poverty line all those years? And only hoping to be praised for practicing medicine simply because they love improving medical patients lives. The stigma and belief that we are in it only for the excitement and our self-esteem disappeared around 1900. When the living and professional environment changed then, medical education didnt. Physicians are increasingly being pushed to their tolerance level while practicing highly motivated health care and will soon disappear from the health care system, judging by the increasing attrition of physicians in our nation. If you doubt that, then ask yourself, why are American physicians disappearing faster than they can be replaced with foreign physicians? Why arent American males applying to medical schools anymore? College kids are smart. They see how much abuse physicians are subjected to and are aware of the consequences of that abuse. Their avoidance stems from knowing that the medical care system is going nowhere today. Whats missing? Whats the cure? The 20 years of research Ive done on the primary source of the disintegration of private medical practice have convinced me of the absolute necessity for business education to be added to every medical schools curriculum for medical students. That belief is further confirmed by studying what is universally understood worldwide by all business entities. For every business to reach its maximum potential, income, and value to the public, the two components of business education, management knowledge, and marketing education, are required. Medical practice is a business, so it requires the same tools. Or is that assumption too much of a stretch? Knowing these things offers a reasonable solution to nearly all the present issues physicians are forced to comply with, whether employed or in private practice. If money is the means to reach your ultimate success, then the solution must include knowing everything about making money and doing it persistently. And that requires a good business education. One could then assume that all USA medical schools have purposely refused to offer or provide a business education curriculumat least for the last century. Why? We all know that we need enough income to do what we want in our medical careers and livesit is impossible to reach that level of income unless the income can be increased at will. A business education provides the steps for doing that. The alternative that 98 percent of physicians have commonly chosen is that of letting their circumstances control their income and career destiny in practice. But other alternatives are available to every physician they dont know about. God forbid, nearly all physicians in our nation might suddenly be caught up in a whirlwind of business financial knowledge and education that would force every medical school education scholar to look for new employment. We, as physicians, are often confused about how quickly wealth arrives at our doorstep when we lean into prayerful thinking and acting. Even more curious is that a large portion of the Bible is dedicated to managing financial matters. Who would have thought that God thought it was that important? Have you ever witnessed a real miracle? One hot day working in my yard, an old fellow came limping up to me asking for a handout. I agreed to do that if he would agree to wash my pickup in the driveway. I handed him the equipment and water bucket. He began with the hood very slowly, stopped soon, and began walking away when my back was turned. I told him, Wait. I handed him the money we had agreed to and turned away. After about five steps in the opposite direction, I turned around to thank him (I had forgotten to do that), and he disappeared. I instantly checked to see where he was within 30 feet in all directions, and he wasnt anywhere. He couldnt have normally disappeared over six seconds out of my sight. It bothers me to this day. Was it God testing my compassion and response? I keep hoping for a miracle in the medical school education curriculums. Dr. Osler was right. Curtis G. Graham is a physician. In this episode of the VPN show, Ritah Kemigisa hosts Mr. Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Finance/Secretary to the Treasury, and Prof Maggie Kigozi to discuss the state of public investment in Uganda. Listen to the show below; The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has vowed to block the party delegates conference organized by the national chairman, Wasswa Birigwa on grounds that it was not authorized by the party organs. In an interview with KFM, FDC president, Mr. Patrick Amuriat said they will ask their delegates to shun the September 19th conference, threatening sanctions on those who go against the directive. He explains that the constitution stipulates action to be taken against errant leaders who go against the party rules. We are going to advise our delegates not to turn up for this conference. If they do, then they will be going against the constitution. The constitution stipulates what should be taken against errant leaders who go against the party rules. We have the power to take them to the disciplinary committee, he said. The FDC crisis which has rocked the party for months, deepened last month after the emergence of two upcoming and competing national delegates conferences, one called by Birigwa and the other by the chairperson of the partys electoral commission, Mr. Toterebuka Boniface. While the two conferences have different agendas, both require substantial budgets to accommodate more than 1,700 delegates from various parts of the country. By Priscilla Maloba & Andrew Bagala President Museveni has insisted that the electronic motor vehicle number plate venture must go on, but the disagreements among the government agencies that are part of the project should be resolved. President Museveni said the digital number plate would be a force multiplier in his effort to fight crime in the country. Now, I am insisting on the electronic number plates. That will be a very big blow to crime because most people move to and from the scene of crime by either a motor vehicle or a boda boda (motorcycle). If we close that gap, it will be very difficult for the criminals to do what they are doing because walking to and from the crime scene isnt easy, especially if you want to escape. And you are also seen by the cameras. The cameras will see you. I want that gap to be closed and all these arguments should come down and be done quietly and resolved, President Museveni said. Read more The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) is advocating for the return of federalism in Uganda. Speaking to the media at the partys headquarters in Rubaga on Monday, the party spokesperson, Mr. Moses Matovu alleged unfair distribution of resources in the country which he says has left majority of the regions behind. He has asked the Equal Opportunities Commission to task the ruling NRM government to ensure that all regions receive a piece of the national cake. Matovu said this will enable regional leaders decide what is good for their people in terms of social economic development. Meanwhile, he has also asked the Commission to task the government to rectify the mess in the various government departments and sectors including Education, Health, Executive, and armed forces where sectarianism is widespread. Police at Kira road station are investigating the murder of a 23-year-old man identified as Simon Kapalaga, a resident of Tuba zone, Nakawa division in Kampala district which occurred on Saturday. Addressing a weekly news conference, Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Oweyeisigire, says Kapalaga was allegedly murdered by a friend only identified as Hakhim whom he had given his motorcycle for a self-ride on the same evening. On 8th, the suspect came back to the deceased without the motorcycle and he claimed that he parked in in a parking yard in Kisaasi and also notified the deceased that his wife was not around with the keys to the place where he stayed. So he requested to spend the night at his place. A scuffle ensued amongst the two at night, probably the suspect had an intention to come back and kill the owner of the motorcycle, Oweyeisigire said. Oweyeisigire says while Hakhim is still on the run, one other suspect is in police custody and the deceaseds body which had deep cuts all over the chest is in the city mortuary. Police also managed to recover a knife presumed to have been used by the prime suspect to finish off Kapalaga as investigations continue. A suspected ADF collaborator in Rubirizi district has handed himself over to the joint security agencies of the Police and Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF). The said collaborator, who reportedly crossed from DR Congo has been identified as William Byaruhanga,30, and was previously a resident of Busunga trading center in Bundibugyo district. According to police spokesperson Mr. Fred Enanga, Byaruhanga surrendered to the UPDF 309th Brigade in Kafulo Kyanzaza parish in Kirugu Sub County, Rubirizi district yesterday. We have transferred him to Makenke army barracks in Mbarara for further management. What we want is to gather information from him that might be useful against some of the existing ADF threats in the country and any other enemies of Uganda, Enanga told journalists on Monday. In a separate incident, Enanga also reveals that a suspected M23 rebel was arrested by Police in Kisoro as he reportedly entered the country with a gun. A team from the World Bank has embarked on a 120-day mission to assess the progress of the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Entrepreneurs (GROW) project. According to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development permanent secretary, Mr. Aggrey Kibenge, the $217m World-Bank funded project is aimed at increasing access to entrepreneurial services to enable women expand their targeted locations, including host and refugee communities. He says the team is led by Margarita Puerto Gomez, a senior social development specialist, and Team Leader for the GROW project. The Banks delegation will also be accompanied by a team from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This development comes at a time when the government and the World Bank are in talks over the suspension of new loans to Uganda. By AFP A two-year transition before the free elections promised by Gabons new military rulers is a reasonable objective the new prime minister they appointed told AFP in an interview Sunday. Its good to set off with a reasonable objective by saying: we have the desire to see the process come to an end in 24 months so we can go back to elections, said Raymond Ndong Sima, prime minister during the transition. That period could end up being slightly longer or shorter, he added. Ndong Sima was appointed last week as head of the transitional government by General Brice Oligui Nguema, who led the August coup detat against president Ali Bongo Ondimba. The coup happened on August 30, moments after Bongo had been declared the winner of a presidential election which both the army and the opposition declared fraudulent. Nguema, proclaimed president for the transitional period, immediately promised to hand the country back to civilian rule with elections after a transitional period, the length of which he did not immediately specify. Ndong Sima, 68, is a Paris-educated economist who served as prime minister under Bongo from 2012 to 2014 before becoming a critic and competing against him in the 2016 and 2023 presidential campaigns. His appointment, announced on state TV, was made in a decree on Thursday by Oligui. Under the transitional charter, no member of this temporary government will be able to stand in the next presidential election. There does not, however, appear to be anything to prevent Oligui from taking part in that race. The general has also promised a new constitution, to be adopted by referendum, and a new electoral code. The principle announced by the military, said Ndong Sima, is that there is no longer either an opposition nor a majority, so we are taking people in all political families. Those drawing up the new texts for the country will discuss this aspect of things, that is to say the duration (of the transition) and who is really allowed to stand (for election) and not to stand, the prime minister added. It would not however be good for the military to stand, so they can be impartial and objective arbiters of the elections, he said. The new government that Ndong Sima announced on Saturday includes military figures and ex-ministers who served under ousted president Ali Bongo Ondimba, but none of the main opposition figures. The presence of military officers in his cabinet has raised questions about how much freedom Ndong Sima will have as prime minister as well as the real power of his government. Nguema has appointed senior officers to oversee many sectors that are also handled by members of Ndong Simas new government. Its not new to have, alongside the president, heads of departments who provide the interface between the president and the ministerial departments, said Ndong Sima. Will I have my hands free? That, I cannot know at the moment: well see, he added. It will depend on what the military want to obtain. If they want to obtain a satisfactory result, it will be in their interest to give a free hand to those they have called in, he argued all the more so because the military will be left with the legacy of what the government does. On that basis, he argued, its in the interest of the military to give, to those they called, the possibility of working to get results. Last week, days before he was named as prime minister, Ndong Dima told AFP that he was interested by the upcoming elections. The situation of the country requires everyone to make a small compromise on their own position, he said Sunday. 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. The Board of Directors of Carlow Kilkenny Homecare (CKHC) has announced that it has secured the long-term funding and governance of its Clinical Nurse Team with the full transfer of responsibility for this aspect of its operations to the HSE. The change means the guaranteed funding and continuation of the services provided by the team, which first began when Carlow Kilkenny Homecare was founded in 1989, as well as development of a range of new services by the voluntary organisation, which will see it provide new supports to the families and patients who have always been its priority. The voluntary organisation, which has operated the Carlow Kilkenny Homecare team over the last 34 years, is emphasising that its core mission of providing support for palliative care patients and their families remains the same and that the changes are extremely positive. The organisation will continue to fundraise and is always grateful for the donations and bequests it receives. The transfer has been the culmination of an extensive period of constructive consultation between the Board of Carlow Kilkenny Homecare, Management and Staff of the Team and the HSE. The change has been effective since May of this year. Service users are assured that staffing and day to day management of the service and the provision of care to families across Carlow Kilkenny will continue and are pleased to note that the HSE has confirmed they are increasing the number of nursing staff employed as part of the Team. The change simply means that the responsibility for the funding, management and operation of the front-line operations of the local Homecare service are now being fully assumed by the HSE. The Carlow Kilkenny Homecare organisation will remain in existence with its new focus being on provision and ongoing funding of specialist palliative care beds on a short-term basis in nursing homes, the extension of night nurse cover to patients requiring palliative care and support to carers of patients requiring palliative care. The Board of CKHC says that the change is a positive development in the context of the increasing complexity of treatments and technologies, as well as new requirements relating to regulation and governance of healthcare providers. Similar changes have taken place in relation to other voluntary Home Care providers in this region and around the country for the same reasons. The Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team was founded in 1989 by consultant Mr Ian Wilson and was at the time, the first Homecare team established in Ireland outside of Dublin and has been at the forefront of the development of the Homecare movement in the country. Since the retirement of Mr Wilson from medical practice, the voluntary organisation has been engaged in planning for the future and equipping its structure and governance to meet the needs of the changing medical environment. While Carlow Kilkenny Homecare will continue to co-operate with the HSE and the Nursing Team, it remains independent of HSE and has autonomy over the distribution of funding for new services which it says will always be directed towards the best interests of patients and their families at what is a difficult time of their lives. Speaking regarding the announcement, CKHC board member Catherine Quinlan, who worked as a Nurse with Carlow Kilkenny Homecare alongside Mr Ian Wilson when the service was first launched in 1989, and who was the Clinical Nurse Manager of the Service before her recent retirement, said that the development is extremely positive and will allow the organisation to expand its work to new areas: We would like to thank Mr Ian Wilson who had the vision and the skills to bring these valuable services to the people of Carlow and Kilkenny. We would also like to thank the thousands of individuals and families who have welcomed us into their homes over the years at what has invariably been a very difficult time for them. Through the support of countless more families, individuals and organisations, Carlow Kilkenny Home Care has become an intrinsic part of healthcare in this area. We look forward to continuing our work for patients and families in new and innovative ways. Carlow Kilkenny Homecare has been a unique service to the people across the two counties of Carlow and Kilkenny according to CKHC Director Breda O Mahony and the new services and supports being developed by the organisation will continue to be provided to patients in the area regardless of their location. It is particularly apt that this announcement is being made during Palliative Care Week (September 10th 16th 2023), according to Brian Kiely who is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Carlow Kilkenny Homecare. Thanks to the support of the community over the years, Carlow Kilkenny Homecare has provided a service to thousands of individuals and families and has been a ground-breaking service. We will continue to do so in line with our founding mission and this announcement marks an exciting and positive phase of development for the organisation. MURDER suspect Ian Bailey has maintained he is innocent after suffering from two heart attacks in a week. The 66-year-old man said that he feared that the stress of being wrongly associated with the crime of French filmmaker, Sophie Toscan Du Plantier in 1996, had finally taken a toll on his health. Mr Bailey confirmed he suffered two suspected heart attacks in a week. He is being treated in the cardiac unit of Bantry General Hospital, in Cork. My life has been a torture over recent years - I honestly dont know how I endured it. It felt at times like I was being bonfired, he said this week. "I am very ill and fear I am running out of time. The doctors have not been able to operate because of existing health issues I have. I have some kind of heart issue but at the moment they cant put stents in. The poet and journalist has constantly said he is innocent of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier in her holiday home. Mr Bailey was arrested twice by gardai in relation to the murder investigation but was released without charge in both 1997 and 1998. He was convicted in absentia by a court in Paris in 2019, however he has maintained his innocence. A new mental health office for Irish young people has been launched by the HSE for the first time. The office will provide for coordinated input across service, legislative and policy developments for all child and youth mental health areas, from prevention and early intervention to the specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). A new HSE National Clinical Lead for Youth Mental Health has already taken up post Dr Amanda Burke - with a new Assistant National Director for Child and Youth Mental Health starting later this month. They will be supported by additional and dedicated staff for the National Office. Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, made the announcement today (September 11) and said, "The development of a dedicated new HSE National Youth Mental Health Office has been a priority for me and I am really pleased to launch this significant new initiative, that will drive actual progress on the ground. "The new National Office is essential to tackling many acknowledged and evolving challenges facing youth mental health overall. Our specialist CAMHS service, in tandem with its Primary Care and NGO counterparts, have risen to unprecedented challenges in recent times, in light of increasing demand and case complexity, staffing vacancies, COVID-19 impacts and online safety issues to name but a few. I have championed this new National Office to fruition and will continue to support it to achieve its short and long-term potential." She added: "The new National Youth Mental Health Office will, for example, contribute to the comprehensive and complex update of the Mental Health Act 2001, which will benefit many young people in the future and which I am prioritising through the Oireachtas. "Key immediate priorities for the National Office will be to drive implementation of relevant recommendations of our national mental health policy Sharing the Vision, including transition care for those reaching age 18 and beyond. It will be key to delivering the record funding of 1.2 billion provided by this government for Mental Health in 2023 an increase of some 220 million since I became Minister and for additional investment envisaged for 2024 and beyond." Other priorities for the new National Office will include improved links to other care programmes such as primary care and disability services, as well as external agencies across the education, childcare and youth justice fields. It will also underpin current and planned initiatives arising from the recent Maskey and Mental Health Commission Reports on CAMHS, as well as the forthcoming HSE audits on the current CAMHS Operational Guidelines and Service User experience. The launch of the new National Youth Mental Health Office follows the launch last Thursday by Minister Butler of the new Model of Care for CAMHS Hubs nationally, with the HSE piloting new sites across five Community Health Organisations (CHOs). Irish TV presenter Laura Whitmore said it is important to support cancer charities because well all be touched by cancer somewhere in our life as she described losing someone to the terrible disease. The former Love Island presenter, 38, was among the returning celebrities at an annual event at brokerage firm BGC Group on Monday to raise millions of pounds in memory of the 658 BGC employees and 61 Eurobrokers employees who died during the September 11 terror attacks in 2001. Dublin-born Whitmore was pictured picking up the phone in support of Children With Cancer UK, sporting the charitys gold ribbon, in a bid to raise awareness during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. She told the PA news agency: I dont think theres anyone that wouldnt be connected to this charity in any way. I think cancer is a terrible, terrible disease anyway, no matter what age, but its something about when it affects children because every child deserves a childhood. I think its everyones responsibility to do something. Sadly I think well all be touched by cancer somewhere in our life. We had someone close to us ourselves and we just need to keep reducing the number of people who lose their lives. It comes weeks after Whitmore said her friend, photographer Jay McLaughlin, had died after being diagnosed with stage four cancer. At the time, she wrote on Instagram: Sadly we have lost Jay. We had been preparing ourselves for the worst but you never fully comprehend it. Hes been part of and taken photos of so many stages of my life shoots, BTS (behind the scenes), headshots, birthdays.. not to mention our shared love of Star Wars. I know he was in a lot of pain near the end so I hope he is free of the restraints that his body had on him. Rest in power, he was a force who I am eternally grateful to have known. On Monday, Whitmore described the BGC Charity Day as vital for the different charities and said it offers an opportunity for famous faces to do something positive, raise awareness and raise funds towards research. This is a big company that makes a lot of money for a lot of people, I think one day a year to use the profits they make to give to people who need it the most, she said. Theres a huge living crisis at the moment but theres also a massive divide the rich are getting richer and the poor are not able to maybe help as much as theyd like to. So lets have a day where this big company comes along and picks these great different charities every year, who need it the most. You have no idea how much its going to help all of these charities, all of the charities that are here are going to benefit and I just think its a wonderful thing and I just hope they continue doing it every year. Whitmore recently explored cyberstalking, the incel (involuntary celibacy) culture and rough sex in a new ITV documentary series and said she was cyberstalked 10 years ago. The star, who is married to Scottish comedian Iain Stirling and welcomed a baby in March 2021, announced she was stepping down as host of ITV2s Love Island last year after taking over in 2020 after the death of former host Caroline Flack. The Taoiseach insisted there are many ways to skin a cat as he made clear that the coalition has not yet agreed tax measures for the Budget. Leo Varadkar was commenting on suggestions that the Government could move to introduce a cut to the Universal Social Charge (USC). On Monday, Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin confirmed that changes to USC are being considered by ministers. The USC was introduced in 2010 amid the fallout from the financial crisis. Mr Varadkar was asked about the issue on a visit to Belfast. His Fine Gael party has previously pledged to abolish the charge entirely. I think weve made a lot of progress on tax reform and reducing income tax and USC in the past number of years, the Taoiseach said. Somebody earning 40,000 euros today pays 3,000 euros less in income tax and USC than they did in 2014 and thats because of decisions made in Budgets by Michael Noonan, by Paschal Donohoe to both reduce income tax and reduce USC. The basic principle that weve agreed in the Programme for Government all three parties have agreed to it is that we will index tax bands and tax credits to bring about tax reforms that makes sure that people who are getting a pay increase this year and most people will get a pay increase this year dont lose half or even more than half of that in income tax, USC and PRSI (pay-related social insurance). Exactly how we do that there are many ways to skin a cat and well agree that before Budget Day. CEO of Port of Waterford, David Sinnott, recently informed elected members of Piltown Municipal District about ambitious plans the port has to expand its impact in South Kilkenny and across the entire South-East Region. The CEO made a presentation about the Port of Waterford to councillors at the meeting, which was held at the Marine Point Building in Belview Port. The presentation outlined plans to bring the port, local people and local communities closer to the world through trade, economic development and sustainable growth. The CEO highlighted the port's commitment to unlocking the potential of the South-East Region by looking to connect companies with their desired trade destinations in the most efficient, effective and sustainable way. Another part of this expansion includes plans for a quay extension and a new laydown/transportation yard designed to accommodate the storage of shipping containers, along with a container repair area. It was put to the CEO by Cllr Fidelis Doherty that many people in South Kilkenny have little understanding of the day-to-day operations at the port and she asked if Port of Waterford could hold an open day for members of the public. CEO Sinnott told the councillor that he agreed, and that he would enquire about arranging such an event in 2024. TRP Kilkenny are seeking a full time Assistant Parts Manager to join their team located at Hebron Industrial Estate, Kilkenny, R95 K2PP. TRP Parts Ireland is the all-makes vehicle parts brand of DAF Trucks Ireland, providing parts, accessories & consumables for all commercial vehicles. This is an excellent opportunity to join a successful team representing a number of brands in the commercial vehicle industry. The Role: Assist with the management of the day-to-day operations of a busy parts store in Kilkenny Provide an efficient service to our customer base by accurately identifying vehicle parts using parts catalogues Communicating with customers via phone, email & online channels Identifying and sourcing commercial vehicle parts from our approved suppliers Supporting national sales activities through collaboration with the parts management team Assist with the implementation of programmes to optimise commercial vehicle parts sales for DAF, TRP & VDL through existing sales channels and identifying other channels to support our growth strategy Maintaining a safe working environment for staff and visitors Liaising with internal colleagues to deliver best in class service for our retail customers Supporting team efforts to deliver strong Customer Satisfaction scores Candidate Requirements Ideally, candidates will have: At least 4 years experience working in a related parts sales environment Knowledge of the Commercial Vehicle parts business Good communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills Self-motivation and being able to act on their own initiative Focus on team-work and good communication with internal teams Full clean driving Cat. B licence High levels of computer literacy Excellent package available to the right candidate, including a company van, mobile phone & a comprehensive training programme. DAF Trucks Ireland is part of the OHM Group of companies, one of Ireland's leading private businesses which is engaged in the distribution and sale of leading automotive brands and industrial equipment. Send CV to dfoley@trpstore.ie * Sponsored content Strengths Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the best performer for the week was Synthetix, rising 14.36%. A San Francisco-based technology firm that seeks to help content creators track and monetize their work in the age of generative AI, is bucking a venture capital drought. Story Protocol raised $54 million from a group of investors led by Andreeseen Horowitz that includes Hadhed, Endeavor, Samsung Next, TPG Capital founder David Bonderman and Paris Hilton's 11:11 media, writes Bloomberg. Ether appears stuck inside a consolidation, delineated by two important trendlines one drawn from the record highs seen in November 2021 and the other originating from the June lows last year. The latter has served as vital support all through the recovery and is being tested again, writes Bloomberg. Weaknesses Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the worst performer for the week was Gala, down 14.83%. Several Binance executives have left in recent days, including leaders overseeing its Russian business and its connections to the traditional financial system, writes Bloomberg, extending a period of rapid senior turnover at the cryptocurrency giant. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) brought enforcement actions against three decentralized finance firms and signaled that more may be coming. The CFTC alleged on Thursday that three DEX's broke the agency's rules by illegally allowing U.S. customers to trade digital-asset derivatives without registering, according to Bloomberg. Opportunities Riot Platforms, one of the largest Bitcoin miners in Texas, said it earned a record $31.7 million from power credits during the August heat wave. Bitcoin miners tend to pre-purchase power to lock in low prices for their energy intensive mining operations. They've made tens of millions of dollars by selling the power back to the grid during shortages that often take place during heat waves, writes Bloomberg. A group of cryptocurrency and Web3 venture investors have established a $20 million fund to invest in undervalued Web3 projects and companies focused on blockchain gaming and digital collectibles, reports Bloomberg. Pop star Justin Bieber's hit song from 2015 Company has been converted into an NFT by music tech platform AnotherBlock, reports CoinMarketCap. This allows fans to earn royalties from future streams of the track. Threats Former FTX executive Ryan Salame is planning to plead guilty to criminal charges on Thursday over the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange. Salame was the co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets before the crypto empire imploded and is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, writes Bloomberg. A crypto whale lost over $24 million worth of assets in a massive phishing scam. In this case the victim's address is regarded as a major liquidity provider on the Uniswap DEX, supplying over $1.6 million worth of liquidity to the exchange's WBTC/USDT pool, according to an article published by Bloomberg. The Estonian government has agreed to extradite Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin to U.S. authorities over cryptocurrency fraud charges, writes Bloomberg. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. BRUSSELS, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Europe's solar power industry warned on Monday of a "precarious" situation for European solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers as solar PV prices reached record lows. Industry trade group SolarPower Europe said in a letter sent to the European Commission that European companies risk bankruptcies, which they said would hurt the EU's goal of reshoring 30 GW of the solar PV supply chain. Prices of PV modules have dropped by more than a quarter since the beginning of the year, according to SolarPower. "This is creating concrete risks for companies to go into insolvency as their significant stock will need to be devalued," SolarPower Europe said. Strong demand, combined with large investments and fierce competition among Chinese suppliers led to overcapacities in the market and a price fall. The industry calls on the European Commission to buy up European companies' solar module stockpiles, to set up a Solar Manufacturing Bank at EU level and to boost demand for solar PV in Europe among others. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! Image courtesy of Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger (Kitco News) - It might just be rookie's luck, but an amateur Norwegian metal detectorist is celebrating his good fortune after unearthing what could be the nation's biggest ancient gold discovery in more than a century. Last week, the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger announced the discovery of a cache of nearly 100 grams of gold objects more than 1,500 years old, discovered on the island of Rennesy in southwestern Norway. "This is the gold find of the century in Norway. To find so much gold at the same time is extremely unusual," said director Ole Madsen at the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger, in the press release, which was translated from Norwegian. The gold hoard was discovered by Erlend Bore from Sola. According to the museum, the 51-year-old bought his metal detector a year ago and he sees it mostly as a hobby to get out of the house. Bore had spent much of the day scanning the beach on Rennesy and said that he didn't find much luck, so he moved to higher ground. He added that, at first, he didn't know what he found. "At first, I thought I had found chocolate money or Captain Sabertooth coins. It was completely unreal," Bore said. Although the gold disks looked like ancient coins, the museum said that they were, in fact, jewelry. The gold pendants are known as "bracteaters," and the museum said that they were not used to buy or sell goods with, but were decorations. Hakon Reiersen, associate professor at the museum, said that the jewelry dates back to around 500 AD. Round gold pearls were also discovered with the bracteaters. "The nine bracteates and gold pearls have formed a very showy necklace. The jewelry was made by skilled jewelers and was worn by society's most powerful. It is very rare to find so many bracteaters together. In Norway, no similar discovery has been made since the 19th century, and it is also a very unusual discovery in a Scandinavian context," said Reiersen. The museum said that the motif on the gold disks also makes this a unique discovery. The bracteaters feature designs of a horse. The Museum explained that traditionally, the symbols on the pendants usually show the god Odin healing the sick horse of his son Balder. However, these gold disks only shows the design of the horse. "None of the archaeologists in Rogaland County Municipality have experienced anything like this, and it is difficult to describe the excitement when we got to see these," said Marianne Enoksen, section manager for cultural heritage in Rogaland County Municipality. According to Norwegian law, all objects found dating back to 1537 and coins older than the year 1650 are considered state property and must be reported and handed to the authorities. However, the Cultural Heritage Act says that finders of loose cultural heritage can receive a finder's fee, which must be shared equally between the landowner and the finder. So far, the museum has not determined the value of the objects Bore found. Sept 11 (Reuters) - Qualcomm (QCOM.O) on Monday said it had signed a new deal with Apple (AAPL.O) to supply 5G chips to the iPhone maker until at least 2026. Qualcomm, whose shares rose 5% in early trading, is the leading designer of what are known as modem chips that connect phones to mobile data networks. The San Diego, California-based firm previously signed a supply deal with Apple in 2019, after the two companies settled a protracted legal battle. That chip supply agreement ends this year, meaning that the iPhones that Apple is expected to announce Tuesday would be the last phone debut under that agreement. Under the deal announced Monday, Qualcomm said it will supply Apple with chips for phones that will come out each year until 2026. Qualcomm did not disclose the value of the deal, saying only that the terms are "similar" to its previous agreement. Qualcomm also said that a patent licensing deal it signed with Apple in 2019 remains in place. That deal expires in 2025, but the companies have an option to extend it for two years. "At a time when Apple is running into increasing challenges in China, reinforcing its supply chains elsewhere is a priority, and it appears the company is rolling back or at least delaying plans to go at it alone in more areas with its own chip production," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. Apple is working on its own modem technology and spent $1 billion to buy Intel's (INTC.O) modem unit in 2019. Apple has not said how quickly it plans to ramp up the use of its own chips. Qualcomm on Tuesday said that its financial projections will assume that only a fifth of Apple's iPhones will use its chips by 2026. However, Qualcomm made a similar projection about its business with Apple in 2021 that turned out to be overly conservative, with iPhone 14 models released last year all using Qualcomm modems. About 50 people turned up to the event to pressure lawmakers to follow through on climate change promises. President Yoon Suk Yeol poses with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, left, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, second from right, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, during a summit between the 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Korea, Japan and China in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 6 (local time). Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hun By Lee Hyo-jin In recent months, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration has been increasingly using the term "Korea-Japan-China" instead of "Korea-China-Japan" to refer to trilateral relations between Korea and its two neighboring countries. During his attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related summits in Jakarta last week, President Yoon again stressed the importance of relations between the three countries while placing China in the third position. "The reactivation of cooperation among Korea, Japan and China will become a stepping stone for a new leap in ASEAN Plus Three cooperation," Yoon said during a summit with Chinese Premier Li Qiang held on the sidelines of the multilateral event as he called for a swift resumption of "Korea-Japan-China" talks. The order of Yoon's words drew speculation that his administration is putting a bigger emphasis on bilateral relations with Tokyo than Beijing. The Global Times, Beijing's English-language mouthpiece, linked Yoon's remarks to the Korean government's recent efforts to express friendly relations with Japan. Angola, IN (46703) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning will give way to occasional snow showers during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Some passing clouds. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Mr. President Excellencies Distinguished Delegates It gives me great pleasure to present to you the final position of the Government of Sri Lanka on the recommendations received during the 4th cycle of our UPR Report. The mechanism of the UPR marks the culmination of a long review process of the international human rights machinery. We value the fact that this mechanism provides an equal opportunity for all UN member States, without discrimination, to voluntarily share the progress made domestically to promote and protect human rights. This peer review process has contributed to reducing selectivity and politicization in our efforts to advance the cause of human rights. It enables constructive engagement on developments related to human rights with our international partners, national independent institutions, civil society, and the UN system. 2023 is the 75th anniversary year of Sri Lankas independence. The Government considers this on the one hand as a year of economic stabilization and reform, and on the other, of national reconciliation and unity. The Government is taking significant steps to address national reconciliation issues, while at the same time making every effort to pursue economic reforms to mitigate the recent challenges faced by the country. It is in this background that Sri Lanka engaged in the 4th Cycle of our UPR on 1st February this year. Let me at the outset thank all the delegations that took part in the Review, including those that provided advance questions. Sri Lanka received a total of 294 recommendations. All recommendations were carefully examined by the Government. In deciding our response, it was necessary to take into consideration Sri Lankas domestic, legal and constitutional framework and the scope of national policy priorities and plans. It was also important to consider whether these recommendations were in line with and consistent with the international obligations, commitments and positions Sri Lanka has voluntarily undertaken. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the lead Government Agency responsible for coordinating UPR related matters, held a series of consultations with all relevant Government authorities before formulating the position on the recommendations received during the 4th Cycle. Following this extensive process, Sri Lanka has decided to support 173 recommendations and take note of 115. Six recommendations that had a reference to HRC resolution 30/1, 46,/1 51/1 could not be considered and as such had to be rejected due to the Governments stated position on those resolutions. Mr. President, As a State Party to all 09 core human rights instruments Sri Lankas commitment to genuine dialogue and cooperation in human rights is manifest in our continuous and constructive engagement with the UN for decades. We have always participated actively in the regular Human Rights mechanisms. In March this year, Sri Lanka participated in the review of its 9th periodic report under the ICCPR. Sri Lanka has also extended a standing invitation to the UN Special Procedures, while the most recent visit undertaken to Sri Lanka was by the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery in December 2021. Two thirds of the recommendations received pertaining to the independence of the National Human Rights Commission is also supported, including those referring to the provision of adequate resources for it to carry out its tasks effectively in accordance with the Paris Principles. We also received a significant number of recommendations pertaining to the Prevention of Terrorism Act, (PTA). Given the changed circumstances in the country since the PTA was enacted, a Cabinet Sub Committee was appointed in September 2022 to develop new anti-terrorism laws that would balance national security concerns with international standards and best practices. Pursuant to the gazetting of the Bill, the Ministry of Justice has actively reached out to engage in further consultations and receive additional views. The Government has further undertaken to repeal the PTA as a voluntary pledge. Mr. President Sri Lanka remains committed to pursuing efforts to achieve tangible progress in national reconciliation through domestic mechanisms with the assistance of international partners. Measures already undertaken by the Government include, a participatory and inclusive process of constructive engagement with all parties, discussions held by the President with minority political parties, and the appointment of a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Reconciliation under the Presidents chairmanship to give policy guidelines on reconciliation matters. Discussions are being held on the contours of a truth and reconciliation mechanism that would suit Sri Lanka in keeping with its constitutional framework. The advisory committee appointed to work on this matter will continue consultations with relevant stakeholders with a view to facilitating the drafting of required legislation. Furthermore, Sri Lanka voluntarily pledges to ensure womens participation in all measures and mechanisms connected with national reconciliation. Another voluntary pledge undertaken by the Government is to continue supporting the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) and the Office for Reparations (OR) including through adequate funding, resources and capacity building. Mr. President, The Constitution of Sri Lanka guarantees the fundamental freedom of its citizens, irrespective of race, religion, language, caste, sex, political opinion, place of birth or any such ground. Thus, it is the duty of the Government to ensure that the fundamental freedoms of all citizens are protected, without distinction. The Government has further voluntarily pledged to take steps towards ensuring non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In guaranteeing fundamental freedoms, the Constitution of Sri Lanka also provides permissible restrictions to ensure that the freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and association are subject to such restrictions as may be prescribed by law in the interests of national security, racial and religious harmony. This is particularly important given the multicultural character of Sri Lankan society. In keeping with our focus on womens and childrens rights, Sri Lanka supports all recommendations received on trafficking in persons and commits to continue efforts towards combating all forms of trafficking in persons, including of women and children. Furthermore, we voluntarily undertake to safeguard and advance the rights of children through the National Child Protection Authority and the Ministry of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment. The Government will also increase efforts to strengthen the protection of children from child labor, domestic violence and sexual exploitation by strengthening all relevant legislation. Similarly, all recommendations relating to labour rights and the right to work, social security, and adequate standard of living are supported by Sri Lanka, an indication of our commitment to eliminating any disparities between men and women and other discriminatory laws and policies. Over two thirds of recommendations relating to health are supported in accordance with Sri Lankas legislative framework and cultural norms. Furthermore, the Government is focussing on health awareness and education in all aspects, including mental and reproductive health care. Children in Sri Lanka have access to free education in the public sector at all levels. The Government supports all recommendations on education, including those relating to human rights education, and access to education for persons with disabilities and in rural areas. Measures are being taken to address violence against women through the adoption of a national policy on Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment. In this regard, necessary measures will also be taken to amend the legislation on divorce, to include domestic violence and divorce by mutual consent, as valid grounds. An independent National Womens Commission proposed to be established, will include in its mandate, giving leadership on legal and policy reforms, and making recommendations to Parliament for interventions on issues of gender equity and equality. An independent Ombudswoman on gender issues is also to be appointed under the Office of the Ombudsperson to investigate and provide redress for injustices against individual women in the public sector. Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Sri Lanka values all comments and recommendations received from Member States, and will continue to work towards implementing those that are supported by the Government, as well as those undertaken during the previous Review cycles. The primary objective would be to ensure the protection from harm, and the well-being, of all Sri Lankans, without discrimination. In this exercise, Sri Lanka will continue its constructive engagement with all international partners, the United Nations and this Council, within the framework of our Constitution. Thank you View PDF Closing Remarks by Sri Lanka During the adoption of Sri Lankas 4th Universal Periodic Review Report, 10 July 2023 Hollywood actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, renowned for their roles on the popular TV series "That '70s Show," have come forward to address the controversy surrounding their prior support for their co-actor Danny Masterson ahead of his recent sentencing for rape, per CNN. Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after being found guilty of raping two women in 2003. He maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the verdict. In a heartfelt video posted on their Instagram account this Saturday, Kutcher expressed that they had been approached by Masterson's family to write character letters detailing their perspective of a man they had known for 25 years. The intention behind these letters was to give the judge a broader understanding of Masterson's character for consideration during sentencing. Speaking alongside Kutcher, Kunis clarified that the Masterson character letters were not intended to challenge the integrity of the judicial system or the verdict reached by the jury. READ NEXT: Danny Masterson, Guilty of Rape After Retrial Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Among 50 People Who Wrote Danny Masterson Character Letters Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, along with almost 50 of Danny Masterson's associates, family members, and close friends, penned Masterson character letters seeking leniency for the actor before his recent sentencing, according to CBS News. In his letter addressed to LA County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo, Kutcher described Masterson as a "role model" and an "exceptionally honest and conscientious individual" who had set high standards for interpersonal relationships. Kutcher further expressed his belief that Masterson does not continue to threaten society and even shared that he trusted Masterson enough to leave him alone with his own children. Meanwhile, Kunis wholeheartedly endorsed Masterson's character, saying she could genuinely vouch for his exceptional qualities. She said she had sensed his innate goodness from their first meeting. Despite these heartfelt character references, Judge Charlaine Olmedo handed down the harshest sentence permissible by law to Danny Masterson. Danny Masterson Sentencing Danny Masterson, recognized for his role in the popular TV series "That '70s Show," has been sentenced following a prolonged legal ordeal from crimes committed in the early 2000s. The actor, now 47, faced accusations that he leveraged his prominent status as a Scientologist to evade accountability for his actions, BBC noted. During the sentencing proceedings, Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo allowed the victims of Masterson's crimes to deliver impact statements, giving them a voice in court. Masterson, however, remained silent throughout the hearing. His conviction came in May after a re-trial, as the initial jury in 2022 failed to reach a verdict. Following his conviction, authorities deemed Masterson a flight risk, leading to his immediate incarceration. Masterson was found guilty of sexually assaulting three women at his Hollywood residence from 2001 to 2003, during the height of his television career. The jury heard testimony that he had administered drugs to his victims before the assaults. Two of the three accusers saw justice served. In contrast, the charges brought by the third accuser resulted in a mistrial, with prosecutors deciding against a re-trial. Notably, Danny Masterson faced initial accusations of rape in 2017 amidst the #MeToo movement's momentum. He consistently denied these allegations, asserting that all encounters were consensual. The case unfolded after a thorough three-year investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. However, charges were not filed in two additional cases due to insufficient evidence and the expiration of the statute of limitations. The sentencing hearing also saw the presence of Jessica Barth, the founder of Voices in Action, an organization born in the wake of the #MeToo movement, advocating for survivors of sexual assault. READ MORE: Joe Jonas-Sophie Turner Divorce This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Mila Kunis' & Ashton Kutcher's Letters Supporting Danny Masterson Released - From COURT TV In an alarming incident, a convoy of vehicles crossing into Mexico from the United States was attacked by gunmen in the early hours of Saturday. At least three individuals sustained gunshot wounds, according to Mexican authorities, AP reports. The attack unfolded on the international bridge that links the town of Miguel Aleman in Mexico with Roma, Texas, on the US side, as the Tamaulipas State Security Department reported. As the convoy entered the US-Mexico border via Miguel Aleman from Texas, it was suddenly targeted by assailants riding in an improvised armored truck, a type frequently associated with criminal cartels. Gunfire erupted, creating a perilous situation for those involved. The attackers swiftly fled the scene. Initially, the security department had reported nine individuals injured, but subsequent updates clarified that three had suffered gunshot wounds while the remaining six were dealing with panic attacks stemming from the traumatic incident. A state official, who spoke anonymously due to a lack of authorization to speak publicly, disclosed that Mexican nationals and Mexican Americans were among the injured. Following the attack, the injured people were transported to the international bridge and handed over to US authorities, as confirmed by Jorge Cuellar, the Tamaulipas state security spokesman. READ NEXT: Mexico: US Consulate Issues 'Shelter' Warning After Shootout with Marines Four Americans Are Among the Group The caravan involved in the recent attack consisted of a total of 20 individuals, as reported by the INM (National Migration Institute), with 16 of them being Mexican nationals and the remaining four being American citizens traveling in two separate trucks and that the caravan had initiated its journey in the United States. Among the injured are a woman who sustained two gunshot wounds to her back. A 62-year-old man was shot in the leg, while a 70-year-old man had his finger struck by a bullet, Reuters noted. Of the four US citizens in the caravan, three hailed from Dallas, while one came from Atlanta. The group comprised two adults, aged 23 and 21, and two minors, one 14 years old and the other a 19-month-old child. None of the American citizens were injured during the Mexico gunmen attack, according to information provided by the INM. A US government official informed Reuters that at approximately 5:30 on Saturday morning, US. Customs and Border Protection officials at the Roma Port of Entry processed seven individuals caught in the crossfire during the caravan attack. This group included American citizens, lawful US permanent residents, and one Mexican citizen. Mexican ambulances transported them to local hospitals for necessary medical treatment. Victims Are Traveling to Mexico To Seek Medical Attention Border Patrol agents confirmed that the victims of the recent attack crossed into Texas to receive necessary medical attention. However, they did not disclose specific details regarding the conditions of the injured individuals, KHOU said. On the Mexican side, the government has pledged to continue investigating the shooting incident, emphasizing its commitment to comprehensively addressing the matter. In response to the security challenges at the US-Mexico border, federal authorities in Tamaulipas have deployed hundreds of soldiers to reinforce security patrols in border cities. This move aims to enhance safety measures and provide a sense of security to residents and travelers in the region. The incident adds to a series of security concerns along the border. In July, the discovery of at least 27 bodies in Reynosa, situated directly across from the Texas town of Hidalgo, highlighted the ongoing security challenges US-Mexico border communities face. Similarly, in June, the bodies of at least eight young workers were found in Mexico after officials revealed they had attempted to resign from their jobs at a call center believed to be operated by a violent drug cartel. Authorities explained that these workers were involved in a real estate scam targeting Americans. Meanwhile, four Americans were abducted by Mexico gunmen in Matamoros in March, resulting in the death of two individuals. The group had traveled together from South Carolina, with one of them seeking a medical procedure -a tummy tuck- from a local doctor. READ MORE: Over 2,000 Migrants Kidnapped by Mexican Drug Cartels Last Year This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: US citizens among 7 injured in Mexico shooting, officials say - From ABC7 South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem made her endorsement of former President Donald Trump official in a public statement Friday evening. In her endorsement, she praised Trump as a significant leader and fighter the country needs, according to Florida Politics. "It is my honor to present the man in the arena to you," Noem stated. He has my full and complete endorsement for President of the United States of America. I will do everything I can to help him win and save this country. Ladies and gentlemen, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump." The endorsement did not come as a surprise, as Noem had previously expressed her support for Trump. Moreover, there have been indications that she is considered a potential running mate should Trump secure the GOP nomination. Governor Noem has proactively defended Trump against Ron DeSantis, another prominent Republican figure. In July, she asserted that DeSantis lacks the same appeal to "small donors" that Trump possesses. Additionally, earlier this year, her team criticized DeSantis for initially settling for a 15-week abortion ban in 2022, a move rectified by the Heartbeat Bill during the most recent Legislative Session. South Dakota's primary is scheduled for June, towards the end of the primary calendar. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Georgia Trial Donald Trump Holds First Rally After Mugshot Former President Donald Trump, facing 91 charges across four criminal cases, made a high-profile appearance in South Dakota on Friday, marking his first major event after being photographed for a mugshot in Georgia, said Vanity Fair. Speaking to an audience of approximately 7,000 gathered in Rapid City, Trump expressed concerns about the state of the country and the need to reclaim it. "They're just destroying our country. And if we don't take it back - if we don't take it back in '24, I believe we're not going to have a country left," the ex-POTUS said. He emphasized the situation's urgency and his intention to play a role in the 2024 presidential election. Furthermore, Trump addressed his legal challenges, asserting, "I'm being indicted for you. That's not part of the job description," highlighting his ongoing legal battles. During his extensive 110-minute speech, Trump singled out potential competitors in the 2024 presidential race. Notably, he referred to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a chief rival for the GOP nomination, as "Ron DeSanctimonious." Trump also criticized President Joe Biden, his likely opponent in the general election, characterizing him as "grossly incompetent and very dangerous" and "the most crooked president in history." South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Says She'd 'Absolutely' Consider Joining Trump Ticket Republican South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem revealed her willingness to entertain the idea of being former President Donald Trump's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, per the NY Post. During an interview with "Newsmax," when asked about the prospect of being on the Republican ticket alongside Trump, Noem responded enthusiastically. She stated, "Oh, absolutely. I would in a heartbeat," emphasizing her respect for both the position and the individual who extends such an invitation. "Just because you respect the position and the person who asks you to do something and then see if you really believe that you could make a difference," she added. Noem further conveyed her belief that she would be a formidable choice as Trump's vice presidential candidate. She argued that Trump would require a strong partner to regain the White House. Her background, encompassing business experience, being an employee, earning a paycheck, and fulfilling roles as a wife, mother, and grandmother, would provide a unique perspective on policy decisions. READ MORE: Donald Trump Loses Against E. Jean Carrol Again This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Trump Goes Off On Biden's Golf Game During Raucous South Dakota Rally - From Forbes Breaking News Top Countries With the Most Immigrant-Friendly Policies Relocating to another country is a thrilling and transformative choice, but it's far from a simple endeavor. It demands careful consideration, thorough assessment, and a well-defined course of action before taking the significant step. 11 Best Immigrant-Friendly Countries in the World Moving further let us explore which are the top immigration friendly countries or destinations for students and expats all around the world. 1. Canada Canada immigration is an ideal choice for those seeking comfort and safety when immigrating to an English-speaking country. Renowned for its immigrant-friendly environment Canada is all set to welcome 500,000 new permanent residents by 2025. With a welcoming immigration policy, Canada has consistently provided a secure haven for immigrants and intends to continue doing so while recognizing their role in the country's economic prosperity. Additionally, Canada boasts top-tier universities, low crime rates, minimal violence, and a high quality of life, making it a top-choice destination for immigration. 2. Germany Germany, boasting a strong economy and the EU's lowest unemployment rates, attracts immigrants with its vibrant cities like Berlin and Munich, picturesque landscapes, and rich culture. Germany houses over 9 million foreigners, enticed by its robust welfare system guaranteeing citizens' welfare. It extends unemployment benefits to even non-working individuals and enforces equality laws that grant immigrants equivalent rights as citizens.. Commonly issued visas cover family reunification, business investment, employment offers, and study, with a preference for skilled workers and financial stability proof in all cases. 3. Australia Australia, famous for its wildlife, beckons as an ideal place to settle. The rules concerning Australia PR are uncomplicated, along with offering high-quality education, living standards, and ample job prospects. While it can be pricey, generous salaries offset the cost, rendering Australia an accessible immigration destination. Adelaide, Melbourne, and Perth consistently rate among the world's most livable cities. 4. New Zealand Why love New Zealand? It's diverse and welcoming. Despite prosperity, it needs skilled people and offers well-paying jobs. New Zealand offers more than just a high quality of life. It consistently ranks in the top ten of the World Human Development Index, indicating excellent life expectancy, literacy, education, and living standards. It's also entrepreneur-friendly with an excellent public healthcare system, making it a top choice for families and immigrants. 5. Singapore Singapore, a highly developed Asian country, offers relatively lenient immigration and citizenship rules. It's a top choice for immigrants from Malaysia, China, India, and Indonesia, While it ranks well on the human development index, living costs are steep due to limited space and high population density. Eligibility for residency includes family ties, employment passes, student status, or investment. Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after two years, with students needing three years of residency and passing national exams. 6. United States The U.S. is a top immigration choice, especially for professionals. It boasts a high standard of living and above-average salaries. Immigration options vary, including Diversity Visas for low-immigration-rate countries, Work Visas for skilled individuals, Family Programs for those with U.S. connections, and Study Visas for students. The U.S. offers robust opportunities with its world-leading economy, hosting major companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google. Plus, its diverse landscapes, from sunny beaches to snowy mountains, make it an attractive destination for all. 7. Denmark Denmark offers immediate work and residency permits through the Positive List Scheme, targeting job shortages in fields like engineering, IT, healthcare, and more. This scheme provides a four-year initial stay, extendable with the same job. The Pay Limit Scheme, for jobs with specific salaries, also offers a four-year permit, extendable with continuous employment. Both schemes allow family members, including spouses and children under 18, to apply for residence permits, with spouses permitted to work during this period. 8. Spain Spain, a growing hotspot for travelers and remote workers, has introduced a digital nomad visa, permitting a year-long stay while working for any employer, extendable up to three years in specific cases. This initiative aims to boost social and economic activity in less-populated regions, including serene beach towns and charming villages, providing foreigners with a tranquil lifestyle away from crowded tourist destinations. 9. United Kingdom The United Kingdom boasts the world's largest job market, appealing to immigrants due to its lucrative incomes and research-driven education system. The UK actively invites skilled individuals for work and study to meet its demand for expertise. While British policies may experience periods of stricter controls and limitations, immigration will continue to hold a pivotal position in the realms of UK politics and economics. 10. France In 2017, France introduced the French tech visa, one of the EU's most accessible options for tech professionals. It grants a lengthy four-year residency to tech workers, investors, and entrepreneurs, boosting the nation's tech sector. Around the world, various countries are striving to become more immigration-friendly by offering attractive visa programs for international citizens, supporting work, study, and business opportunities. 11. Austria Austria holds the 18th position in global quality of life rankings, but its capital city claims the top spot as the most livable city. Every year, the Economist Intelligence Unit assesses 140 cities across five categories: stability, health, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. In 2018, Vienna surpassed Melbourne, which had held the top spot for seven consecutive years. To relocate to Austria and obtain legal residency, it typically takes 90 days through an investment program requiring a minimum investment of 100,000. What Factors Determine a Country to be Immigrant Friendly? Countries deemed most welcoming to immigrants typically combine accessible policies with societal acceptance to create a hospitable environment. These nations facilitate relatively straightforward legal entry, work permits, or even permanent residency. *However, it is important to note that not all countries grant citizenship rights to immigrants, like many Gulf nations. As per the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Report 2022, in 2019, approximately 67% of migrant workers, or around 113.9 million individuals, resided in high-income countries, while 29% lived in middle-income countries, and 3.6% were in low-income host countries. Therefore, when evaluating the best countries for immigrants, it makes sense to consider those with a combination of stable employment opportunities for foreign-born populations and a high quality of life. The prevalence of migrants in high-income countries aligns with this assessment. Quick Highlights of International Immigration Statistics Gallup's 2023 survey states that people's desire to migrate reached its highest point in a decade in 2021. The OECD's 2022 report offers the latest annual, long-term immigration data by country. In 2021, the number of permanent-type migrants, those planning to stay in their destination country, was lower than usual due to the pandemic's effects. However, these figures were more representative than the 2020 data, which showed even larger declines linked to COVID-19. In 2021, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries observed nearly 5 million new permanent immigrants. Although this marked a rebound from the drastic drop in migration in 2020, it was still over half a million short of 2019 levels. Which is Your Destination Choice Among the Immigrant Friendly Countries? Whether it's Canada's warmth, Germany's economic prowess, or New Zealand's high quality of life, these countries demonstrate the value of diversity and the benefits it brings to their societies and economies. The world is home to several immigrant-friendly nations, each with its own appeal and opportunities. Immigration remains a powerful force for progress and enrichment in these welcoming destinations. By day, hes just Dan English from Phillipsburg, the friendly manager of inventory control for St. Lukes Hospitals Anderson, Easton, Warren and Monroe campuses. But by night, hes Dan Champion, professional wrestler the 39-year-old, 6-foot-5, 275-pound title-winning hulking force who recently claimed the Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling tag-team title with his partner Havoc on June 17. The duo (nicknamed B1G) won against tag-team Primal Fear in the Slatington Street Fight, a no-rules match where Champion was even allowed to use a chair to beat back his opponents, he said. On Sept. 16, he plans to do it (win) again for charity. SteelStacks in Bethlehem is hosting the SteelStacks Smackdown II on Saturday as a benefit to raise money for New Bethany. The show will also feature former WWE wrestlers The Godfather and DLo Brown. Money raised will go toward supporting Southside Bethlehem-based New Bethanys mission to get resources and housing to local people experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness. Tickets can be purchased at steelstacks.org. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Showtime is 8 p.m. Champion said he always tries to include charity and volunteering in his wrestling career thats his softer nature. During COVID we raised $750 for the St. Lukes COVID-19 Response Fund, he said. I am excited to help New Bethany on Sept. 16. They are one of my favorite charities. But inside the ring, hes a beast The Champion inspired by childhood notions of wrestling glory. He said he first got into the sport after watching pro wrestlers on TV as a child, and even though he got older and bigger, he never outgrew his dreams of performing his own firemans carry or skull crush on stage. Photo of Dan English, inventory manager at St. Luke's who moonlights as a professional wrestler. SteelStacks will host Smackdown II in Bethlehem on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 as a benefit to raise money for New Bethany.Courtesy of St. Luke's Hospital In high school, he and several friends even built their own backyard ring and performed wrestling shows, he said. When he turned 18, he and those same friends went on to enroll in a now-defunct wrestling school to hone the craft. One of those friends still performs alongside Dan under the stage name Orange Cassidy. Hes a pro wrestler on the All Elite Wrestling circuit which tours around the world and gets broadcast on television. Champions wrestling career keeps him busy too, he said. Last year, he fought in 49 shows, he said. His longest trip for a show, so far, was one he took to Tampa, Florida. The most demanding, he said, was a show in Pittsburgh on a Sunday night when he had work at the hospital Monday morning. The long drives are the worst part, being in the car so long, Dan said, but those are also some of the best times because you get to be with friends in the car. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. Warren County officials held a memorial Sunday for county residents who died in the 9/11 attacks in New York City. The ceremony was at the Warren County Emergency Services and 9/11 Memorial at 1500 Route 57 in Franklin Township, according to a news release. It was held in part to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the memorial erected between the Warren County Technical School and Warren County Community College. The ceremony honored those who died terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as Warren County emergency service workers who died in the line of duty. Terrorist flew planes into the World Trade Center, killing more than 2,700 people when the towers collapsed. Warren County residents who died that day include: Greenwich Township resident Deepa K. Pakkala, who was in the North Tower Knowlton Township resident Bruce A. Reynolds, a Port Authority patrolman and Knowlton Township firefighter. He was in the South Tower Hackettstown resident Bruce E. Simmons, who was in the South Tower Belvidere resident Robert C. Miller Jr., who was in the South Tower Firefighters, law enforcement and emergency medical service personnel from across Warren County participated in the memorial. Warren County Commissioners Director Lori Ciesla was the keynote speaker. Deputy Director James R. Kern III and Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski were slated to participate. Scroll through the photos above for some views of the event. Lehighvalleylive.com has an online list of events planned for Monday, Sept. 11. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. A book of evidence was served on a man who is accused of opening post and stealing items from Portlaoise Mail Centre. Oluwaseyi Ogundre, 22, with an address at Clonroosk Abbey, Portlaoise, is charged with theft and interfering with mail at An Post Mail Centre, Father Brown Avenue, Portlaoise between September 7, 2021 and September 12, 2022. In total there are 115 charges in the book of evidence. The charges relate to items including St Vincent de Paul vouchers, iphones, cash in euro and sterling, one for all vouchers, debit cards and gift cards. Garda Sergeant Michael Tarpey said he served the book of evidence on the accused at Portlaosie District Court. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the DPP consents to the defendant being sent forward for trial to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court on October 24. Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald requested legal aid for two barristers for the defence due to the volume of charges in the book of evidence. It is allegedly a large amount of post. Removing cash and vouchers, said Sgt Kirby. Judge Andrew Cody assigned legal aid for a solicitor and two barristers and sent the case forward to the next sittings of Portlaoise Circuit Court on October 24. The heatwave in Laois has only just ended but Christmas is beckoning. The important job of being a Christmas elf is being advertised in the county. The Santa Experience in the Kyle Centre is seeking helpers for Santa, as well as a Christmas event manager to run the busy grotto. Elves will be starting work on November 25, right up to December 23. "Seeking Christmas Elves to help bring the North Pole alive in Dunnes Stores at The Kyle Centre. You will be in a full elf costume and will entertain children and their families in the queue and on their way to Santa's House. Christmas Elves will also assist Santa in his house. "Receptionist and photo sales roles also available. Must be enthusiastic, have a cheery and bright disposition, experience with children and the public, and a colourful imagination! Stage experience preferred. Experience in customer service, sales, and/or administration is required for receptionist and photo sales roles. The job would be in 8 hour day shifts, Monday to Friday. The Christmas manager role requires a multi-talented person willing to work up to 50 hours a week. "We require an organized, enthusiastic person to run a Santa's grotto. The most important duties include providing excellent customer service, managing staff, and creative problem solving. A positive attitude and staying calm under pressure is essential. "Admin work is also required daily and includes creating weekly rosters according to footfall, submitting daily reports, stock take, managing timesheets daily and submitting timesheets weekly for payroll. Must be comfortable with technology as our booking system and photo sales system relies on computers, printers and wifi. "Acting or stage experience and/or photography experience preferred as this will help you to manage elf actors and photographers," the job description states. The role starts on November 1 part time, increasing to up to 50 hours per week including weekends, ending on December 23. The salary is 16 to 22 per hour. The Alzheimers Annual Memory Walk takes place at over 30 locations across Ireland, including one area within County Kildare. The event gives families, friends and those living with dementia the opportunity to come together, honour, celebrate and raise funds for the vital support services that The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) provides. The Kildare Alzheimers Memory Walk will starts at 11am from the carpark of Moore Abbey Forest later this month, for a two kilometre leisurely walk. Local Champion for the Kildare Branch of the ASI, Annemarie Kett will lead the Kildare Alzheimers Memory Walk in Moore Abbey Forest. Commenting ahead of the event, she said, "I am thrilled to be a Local Champion for the 2023 Alzheimer's Memory Walk. I'm really looking forward to the Moore Abbey Forest Alzheimer's Memory Walk, which should attract large numbers. "I would encourage everyone around the county of Kildare to support Memory Walk and register now for their participation pack at www.memorywalk.ie." "Lets walk together for people living with dementia and their carers across Kildare, and lets also remember loved ones who are sadly no longer with us and lived with dementia," Annemarie added. Mairead Dillon, Head of Fundraising for the ASI, also said: "The Alzheimers Memory Walk for 2023 is set to be our biggest and best to date. "Id like to say a heartfelt thank you to our partners Payzone who are supporting the event and are in attendance today; with over 30 locations nationwide, there will be a Memory Walk in your locality, and it is the ideal event for the whole family to get together and walk to remember or support a loved one living with dementia. "We are really looking forward to the event this year in order to get people together supporting people with dementia," she added. Also commenting ahead of the event was Michele Ann Kelly of Payzone Ireland, who said: "Payzone is honoured to support the Memory Walk, The Alzheimer Society of Irelands flagship event. "This campaign is important to us, as it is to many. Every day in Ireland, 30 people develop dementia. "Unfortunately, many at Payzone have first-hand experience of the effects that Alzheimer's can have on families and loved ones, a reason." She continued: "The Alzheimer Society of Ireland was voted as one of Payzones charity partners by our employees. "We hope to support this wonderful event as best we can to play a small part as The Alzheimer Society of Ireland continues to provide vital dementia-specific services. "Funds raised from the Memory Walk will help to keep these services going. The team at Payzone are excited to come together this September, honour and celebrate those with dementia, and raise much-needed funds for continued support. "We encourage everyone in Ireland to join in on this great cause," Michele Ann concluded. According to organsiers, the Alzheimers Memory Walk is a family-friendly event suitable for all ages and walking abilities to unite friends, families and communities to raise awareness and funds for dementia supports. The ASI is aiming to secure over 3,000 walkers across Ireland to participate and help raise funds for vital services that support so many people living with dementia and those who care for them. These services include: Daycare, Daycare at Home, Family Carer Training, Social Clubs, Cafes, and a National Helpline. Organisers added: "An estimated 64,000 people live with dementia in Ireland, which according to leading dementia experts, will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045." Members of the public can sign up now to participate in the 2023 Alzheimers Memory Walk, which will officially take palce on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Registrations cost 5 for kids and 18 for adults and include a participation pack with a Memory Walk t-shirt. The closing date for registrations to receive your participation pack before the walk is 12 noon on Wednesday, September 20. For those who cannot walk on the day, they can still support the Memory Walk by donating at www.Alzheimer.ie. The green light has been given for a long-awaited second bridge to be constructed over the River Liffey in Newbridge. Back in October of 2022, it was estimated by Kildare County Council (KCC) officials in October that a second bridge which would dramatically ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity could cost more than 6 million to build. Despite this, a number of local politicians welcomed the prospect of the new bridge for Newbridge. Now, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon, has welcomed KCC's decision to grant permission for the second bridge. Deputy Heydon previously said in 2021 that he had held talks with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, on a proposed new bridge for Newbridge, which missed out on vital Government funding at the time. Commenting on the most recent news, Deputy Heydon said: "The granting of planning permission is an important step forward in the process of us improving traffic flows in the town and realising the significant economic development potential of the Great Connell area north of the river Liffey. Fine Gael TD for Kildare South, Martin Heydon. The current bridge in Newbridge can be seen in the background. Photo supplied by Deputy Heydon. "The granting of permission by Kildare County Council to Aston Limited for a five span bridge of 170m in length along with 790m of a distributor road creates great momentum for its delivery considering that a number of other important developments in the area are still awaiting decision from An Bord Pleanala." He continued: "In addition to the bridge and distributor road, permission has also been granted for a proposed River Park of approximately 9.2 hectares as a multi-use recreational amenity, including pedestrian and cycle routes connecting to existing public space network, and a multi-use games area. "The next steps in this project will be for Kildare County Council to engage with the developer who have been granted the permission. "Work can then proceed on the detailed design for the bridge as funding options are also considered." Deputy Heydon concluded his statement by saying: "This is one of the key investments and pieces of infrastructure needed to support the continued development of the town of Newbridge and I am delighted that today it moves forward with this important step." When asked by the Leinster Leader, KCC confirmed that planning permission has been granted for a second bridge in Newbridge. A total of 62 Clean Coast (CC) volunteers from Kildare are preparing for this year's Big Beach Clean. The volunteers will be joined by six groups, according to CC, which is is a charity programme run through the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce. Speaking ahead of the event, CC said: "Statistics show that 70 per cent of litter in our ocean comes from land-based activities. "Litter from towns and cities can get into our waterways and stream, or get caught on the wind and travel out the coast and become marine litter. "For this reason, wherever you are in the country, we can all have an incredibly positive effect on our natural environment and coast by cleaning up our local spaces." Supported by Cork-based business Cully and Sully, the Big Beach Clean is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organised by the Ocean Conservancy, and it entails an annual call-to-action for individuals, families, and communities to join forces to carry out a clean-up at the end of the bathing season and join a worldwide citizen science project. Cully and Sully describe themselves as 'renowned sea lovers and sustainability supporters', have said that they 'are thrilled to join Clean Coasts once again in supporting the Big Beach Clean.' PREVIOUS EVENTS In 2022, more than 500 clean-up events were organised, with participants removing an astounding 42 tonnes of litter from Irish coastal areas and inland locations. With CC celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, organisers have said tat the 2023 Big Beach Clean 'aims to surpass all expectations and make an even bigger impact.' They also pointed out that the results of the annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) have recently been released: "These results show that, for the first time since IBAL started its coastal surveys in 2017, no area was classified as a litter blackspot in 2023. "However, despite a summer marked by lower visitor numbers due to unsettled conditions, the study of 33 locations nationwide unveils that the majority of beaches still fall short of attaining a clean status. "Volunteers around Ireland who wish to get involved but didnt register, can still do so, by joining an existing public clean-up." Among the events organised, Maynooth Tidy Towns will be hosting a clean-up open to the public. A list of public clean-ups happening in County Kildare as part of the Big Beach Clean can be found on the official CC website. Joining forces with the An Taisce National Spring Clean programme, the Big Beach Clean encourages residents from all corners of Ireland to participate. CITIZEN SCIENTIST OPPORTUNITY In addition, CC is this year encouraging volunteers to focus on the importance of submitting information regarding litter removed "By recording the amount and types of litter collected, volunteers contribute to a comprehensive overview of the marine litter problem," organisers explained. They added that he information collected is used to shape CC's campaigns, events and resources for volunteers, initiating targeted actions against the top litter offenders: "For instance, in 2022, the top three items recorded during the Big Beach Clean weekend were cigarette butts, plastic food wrappers and plastic pieces. "These results were a starting point for the development of the Clean Coasts Anti-Smoking Litter campaign, as well as the creation of new resources for the Break Up With Plastic campaign. "Furthermore, data collected are shared with Ocean Conservancy, who will use the information received to create reports and advocate around the world to tackle ocean trash at a global scale." Moreover, in conjunction with Cully and Sully, CC will be hosting a flagship event on Friday, September 15 from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Youghal Redbarn Beach in Cork. The duo will be providing refreshments and kit for supporters who attend. Colum OSullivan, aka Sully, said: "As big fans of the sea, were thrilled to be sponsoring the Big Beach Clean for a fourth year. Its not just about giving our beaches a good combing over after the busy summer months." "As we clean the beaches and waterways, were all being reminded how important it is to dispose of and recycle our waste properly," he added. Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager, also commented: "Join us in the Big Beach Clean 2023 and be part of a powerful movement to protect our coastlines; together, we'll create a cleaner, healthier environment for all." The Mayor of Newbridge, as well as a Kildare-based Senator, have both welcomed the latest update surrounding the second bridge for Newbridge. It was announced earlier today that Kildare County Council granted planning permission for the project, which is being led by developer Aston Limited. The news was also welcomed earlier today by Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon. Expressing similar sentiments to Deputy Heydon, Mayor Noel Heavey, who is a member of Fianna Fail, said: "As Mayor of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal Area, I very much welcome the granting of full planning permission for the building of the 'second bridge' over the (River) Liffey, incorporating 790 metres of new road with modern sustainable transport cycle/ pedestrian ways linking Belin Woods with the road development of Great Connell as part of Southern Outer Orbital Relief Road. "My immediate response to this much anticipated grant of planning permission is positive and welcome news for the people of our rapidly developing town of Newbridge. " He added: "Its my wish that KCC can now secure funding to proceed forthwith with construction. "I wish to thank all the professionals of Aston Ltd who have worked fastidiously to bring this about." Mayor Heavey's party colleague, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, also weighed in on the update. She said that planning approval for a second bridge in Newbridge 'is an important milestone in the fight for a second bridge for Newbridge.' The Senator continued: "I have called for a second bridge in Newbridge repeatedly since my election to the Oireachtas in 2016, and before that as a member of Kildare County Council. "This issue has been knocked around for years and years and years. There is no doubt that it is time that this vital piece of infrastructure is delivered for the people of Newbridge. "I have been liaising with the Minister for Local Government Darragh OBrien TD and with Senior execs in Kildare County Council to ensure that National and Local Government are working in tandem to deliver this. "Today, planning was granted for the bridge, which is a significant and important milestone in our long fight for a second bridge. She continued: "Traffic and congestion is a major issue for everyone in Newbridge. "Our road and bridge infrastructure is simply not fit for purpose. "Everyday hundreds of commuters have to add at least 25 mins to their commute just to get through Newbridge. "Its just not acceptable anymore and this project must be delivered." Senator O'Loughlin concluded: "This new bridge which I have repeatedly called for, is not just for the benefit of Newbridge residents, although that is important, it is a vital aspect of the wider Newbridge South Orbital Relief Road (NSORR) project; a key infrastructural development for the whole county." Most vacant council-owned homes are empty for good reason, Leo Varadkar has insisted. Mr Varadkar was responding to criticism prompted by figures showing there are around 3,500 vacant council homes in Ireland. The figures were released to Aontu leader Peadar Toibin through Freedom of Information requests to local authorities. Mr Varadkar was asked about the issue as he spoke to reporters on a visit to Belfast on Monday. He rejected the suggestion the Government was not acting with enough urgency to address housing shortages in Ireland. The urgency I think thats been shown by government is demonstrated in the fact that we built more social housing last year than any year since the 1970s, he said. And we will do that again this year, probably add about 10,000 social homes to the housing stock and thats providing homes for thousands of families. In relation to vacancy, I looked at the figures. What that indicates that at any point in time about 2% or 3% of local authority houses are vacant. And theyre generally vacant for a reason. Sometimes theyre being refurbished; sometimes theyre being earmarked for demolition to be replaced by new complexes, youll see that all over Dublin; sometimes a tenant has moved out and a new tenant is about to move in. So youll always have a certain amount of vacancy. And if its in around 2% or 3% I think in the vast majority of cases, its vacancy for a good reason. Mr Toibin had a very different interpretation of the figures. It is incredible that in the jaws of a national emergency in terms of housing that well over 3,500 local authority homes are lying empty tonight, he said. According to Aontus findings, there are enough empty local authority homes in the state to house well over half the number of people who are homeless. Much of the focus of the political bubble has been on the large number of empty homes in private hands. However, we in Aontu believe that its unforgivable that state bodies themselves preside over empty homes. Thousands of homeless people are living in emergency accommodation throughout the country at great human cost to themselves and at great financial cost to the state. During the coup d'etat of September 13, 1973, in Santiago, Chile. TOPFOTO/ROGER-VIOLLET Born in Mexico in 1980, Veronica Estay Stange, who now lives in France, knew nothing about Chile other than what she was told by her parents, communist activists tortured and imprisoned under Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship before being forced into exile. But strong emotions run through her whenever she is plunged into this past. It was from this "post-memory" that this researcher in semiotics and literature decided to retrace her family history, in French. It is a complex story, since she is also the niece of Miguel Estay, known as "El Fanta," one of the most notorious torturers of that era. Both an autobiographical account sometimes fictionalized and an essay, this first book skillfully delves into the legacy left by the dictatorship on the younger generations. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes Politically divided Chile commemorates 50th anniversary of military coup Why did you decide to devote a book to your story? I wanted to understand why I felt I'd seen it all, experienced it all. Like with those photos of soldiers brutalizing civilians, which had such an impact on me that it was sometimes difficult to distinguish them from my own experience. The same goes for what my parents went through: I didn't live through it, but I feel it deeply. I needed to find my own voice. Before writing, my "I" was fragmented between the daughter of victims and the niece of an executioner. I had to bring these fragments together to give consistency to my own identity. This intimate approach took on a political dimension the day I began to publicly recount my family's experiences, wanting to form a community with others who had gone down similar paths. It was then that I became active in the Escritos Desobedientes collective ("Disobedient Stories: Stories of Daughters, Sons and Families of Torturers for Memory, Truth and Justice"), a movement born in Argentina in 2017, which enables the children of torturers to bear witness to the crimes of a relative. I am now president of its Chilean branch. In fact, I've tried to include in my book the story of a whole generation of children of political exiles and the disappeared. We have many similarities: nostalgia for our parents' homeland, awareness of the catastrophic potential of every situation, the desire to be worthy of our parents' heroic deeds and, in the case of the descendants of executioners, a sense of shame or guilt. The voice of your uncle, whom you describe visiting in the prison where he was incarcerated for crimes against humanity, appears in the book. Not that of your parents, who don't approve of your approach. Is telling the story necessarily a betrayal? You have 55% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. THE SECOND largest trade union in Ireland, Unite, is planning to open an office in the heart of Limerick. Bosses at the union, which represents staff in construction, manufacturing, transport and logistics are seeking permission from council to open at the former Amees Boutique unit, which closed in January 2022 after 67 years. A spokesperson for the union confirmed the move into the unit beside the city's general post office. They said: This office in the centre of Limerick will not only provide an important resource for Unite members in the south and Mid-West, but will also provide a platform for growth in the region. The general secretary of Unite in Britain and Ireland, Sharon Graham - who has relatives from Abbeyfeale - made the re-opening of a Limerick office a key pledge of her successful election campaign in 2021. Local Senator Paul Gavan, a trade unionist himself, has welcomed the application. I think it's an exciting time for trade unionists in Limerick. It's great to see Unite putting themselves in the heart of Limerick. What it means is working people now have a choice of doors open to them when they want to get organised. It's a sign we will hopefully see a resurgence of the trade union movement in our city, he said. A decision is due next month. UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick recorded 115 patients on trolleys on Monday as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation called for an urgent meeting of the Emergency Department Taskforce. Among the patients on trolleys at UHL today, 46 were in the Emergency Department and 69 were elsewhere in the hospital. After releasing the figures, the INMO called for the taskforce to meet urgently to discuss how the HSE plans to tackle the persistent overcrowding problem in Irish hospitals. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: "We are once again finding ourselves in a perilous situation when it comes to hospital overcrowding. "It is unacceptable that we are seeing such high levels of overcrowding before the usual onslaught of winter viruses and respiratory illnesses. We havent yet reached the midpoint of the month and we have already seen over 3,335 patients on trolleys, chairs or other inappropriate bed spaces so far in September. "The rising number of children under the age of sixteen on trolleys is becoming a matter of huge concern for our members. Over 64 children have been on trolleys so far this month, with schools only back in earnest in the last week. "Parents are sending their children to already overcrowded hospitals as a last resort as care options are not available in the community". The statement continued: "As Co-Chair of the Emergency Department Taskforce, I am calling on the HSE to convene an urgent meeting of the Taskforce this week to discuss what measures are going to be taken on a week-by-week basis from now until the end of the year so we do not see a repeat of the trolley figures we saw earlier this year where all overcrowding records were broken. "The Minister for Health has indicated that he will attend the Taskforce. The HSE should not delay in getting all stakeholders around the table to come up with short, medium and long-term solutions to what is now a year-round crisis. "Nurses are once again finding themselves of having to apologise to patients and their families because of the state of hospital overcrowding. "This is unacceptable. It is time for the health service and individual hospitals to be upfront with the public about the staffing and capacity shortfalls in our hospitals". INDIE rock band The Academic will make their return to Limerick for a gig that is not to be missed. The band will perform live at The Big Top in The Milk Market this December and the tickets will be on sale this Friday. Having toured across the world since releasing their hit laden debut album Tales From The Backseat in 2018, The Academics sophomore record, Sitting Pretty was released in February this year. Going straight to the top of the Irish album charts it gave the Westmeath quartet their second consecutive No.1 album. Adding to the already impressive catalogue of indie anthems such as Bear Claws, Different, Why Cant We Be Friends, Sitting Pretty, gives us even more big sing-alongs such as Dont Take It or Pushing Up Daisies, which have become some of their biggest festival songs this summer. Its been a busy year for the band having toured relentlessly across the world and the boys are now excited to be on home soil. Lead vocalist, Craig Fitzgerald, said: We are so excited to be bringing the Sitting Pretty Tour back to Ireland. Its been a whirlwind of a year, and we have got to play in so many new countries but coming back to Ireland to finish off the year is something that we are all really excited for. Announcing the news, Mick Dolan said: Delighted to welcome the band back to Limerick after an incredible year for the band. One not to be missed. Tickets will be on sale this Friday, September 15 from 10am via dolans.ie COMMUNITIES across Limerick have won prizes at the annual Tidy Towns awards, which were presented today for the Mid-West and South regions. Limerick TD and Minister of State Kieran O'Donnell was on hand to hand out the awards at a ceremony in Clonakilty. Leading the way were the Adare Tidy Towns volunteers who again won a gold medal for their efforts. Bronze medals were given to volunteers in Ardpatrick, Castleconnell, Galbally, Newcastle West and Limerick City. Adare's Tidy Towns group also won a county award, while the Ardpatrick community were highly commended, as were those in Galbally. There were also celebrations in Athea, with the west Limerick village's volunteers landing the 'Endeavour' award. This is a prize reserved for those communities which record the greatest percentage increase in judges scoring year-on-year. Outside Limerick, Shannon's Tidy Towns team won a bronze award, while those in Cratloe were given a best newcomers award. Labasheeda in Clare's Tidy Towns volunteers were recognised for their bat conservation efforts. Volunteers from the host town for the awards Clonakilty won the county and regional title, collected a gold medal. Their community was named as Irelands tidiest small town. Roscarberry in Cork was named Ireland's tidiest village, while the country's cleanest urban centre prize went to Ennis. There were more than 880 entries to this year's Tidy Towns contest, sponsored by Supervalu, which started back in 1958. Mr O'Donnell, who deputised for Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, said: "In recent years, thousands of individuals have volunteered with Tidy Towns groups and in doing so have made our country a place that we can all be proud of. I have such admiration for the volunteers here tonight from the four counties in the southwest and Mid-West region and for all the volunteers who have given of their time and skills so generously over the last 65 years." NINE IN 10 Irish people want to learn a new skill in the future, research has revealed. The Minister of Education, Simon Harris TD and the Minister of Skills, Niall Collins TD have welcomed the findings of Amarach, a Department commissioned initiative. The research also found that 90% of people said their new skill also improved their mental health, while only one in four people are confident that they have the skills to advance in their current jobs. The EU Year of Skills was launched by Ministers Harris and Collins in May, with a call to action for everyone in the country to put skills at the centre for this year and to take the opportunity to learn a new skill. We have an incredibly educated and highly skilled population in Ireland, but we can no longer treat knowledge as a fixed asset nor can we assume that what we learned in three or four years of study is sufficient to last a lifetime, Minister Harris said. Today is about telling people of all ages and all backgrounds that there are countless opportunities available in this country to learn a new skill. Learning a new skill, pursuing a passion, or taking on a course you always wanted to do improves for your self-confidence and mental well-being. The launch of the EU Year of Skills in May coincided with the publication of the OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Report, which found participation in lifelong learning here, while above the EU average, falls far behind the top performers. Self-development is the main motivation for learning a new skill with 62% reporting so, followed by interest in the subject (45%), and to improve health and wellbeing (39%). Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Collins said: Funding is available to support a wide range of upskilling and reskilling initiatives that meet the demands of a changing world, address skills shortages and contribute to the digital and green economy. We have also seen what learning a new skill can do for someones confidence and feeling of self-worth. So if its reskilling for a new career, upskilling for your current role, or simply pursuing a hobby that you were always passionate about, I would encourage everyone to take on a fresh challenge this year. Amarach was commissioned by the Department to carry out a nationwide online survey of 1,100 adults over the age of 18 examining attitudes to upskilling, reskilling and learning new skills. The survey was carried out over two days, September 4 and 5, and asked ten questions around the reasons people chose to learn a new skill, whether they were planning to learn a new skill, the motivation behind learning a new skill, and what the benefits of learning a new skill have been to them. This project was led in Ireland by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in partnership with the OECD. A NEW grant encouraging farmers aged 60 years and above to seek succession planning advice will potentially help many farm families avoid future financial hardship, says Eugene Higgins, Partner at IFAC Limerick. Welcoming the Succession Planning Advice Grant, Eugene urged older farmers to take up the incentive and seek professional advice on how to safeguard their own financial security best while also looking after the next generation and securing a viable future for their farm. Succession planning is important in every business, so it is worrying that it is neglected on so many Irish farms. Research conducted for IFAC's 2023 annual Farm Report found that 64% of farmers surveyed dont have a successor in place, and 90% have little or no understanding of the Fair Deal nursing home scheme. "While inheritance and succession can be a thorny subject, its crucial that farmers plan ahead, taking into account both their own aspirations and those of the next generation. The Succession Planning Advice Grant is a welcome initiative and an important support for older farmers. "Family circumstances differ, and every case is unique, which is why its so important to obtain professional advice. Getting the timing of a transfer of farm ownership wrong or failing to take advantage of relevant tax-saving opportunities can lead to significant hardship," said Eugene. Making a Will When planning for succession, it is also important that farmers make a Will. Once in place, Succession Plans and Wills then need to be reviewed at least once a year and updated when necessary. How to apply for the Succession Planning Advice Grant The Succession Planning Advice Grant opens for applications on 19 September 2023 and will cover up to 50% of vouched legal, accounting and advisory succession planning advice costs, subject to a maximum payment of 1,500. To apply, farmers must be aged 60 years and above, farming at least 3 hectares of land, and farming for a minimum of 2 years prior to making their application. The grant does not apply to farmers currently in a succession farm partnership. A free guide to Farm Succession is available for download from ifac.ie. For further information on succession and/or to discuss your individual situation, please get in touch with your local IFAC office on (061) 337 833. *Sponsored Content Panasonic Electric Works India, which is a subsidiary of Japans Panasonic Corp., seeks to double its solar module business within three years, and boost its exports. Solar contributes 6% to our overall business, comprising wiring devices, wires, cables and more. Our vision is that in the next three years, we want it to reach double-digit contribution. 10-12% of contribution should come from solar," Amit Barve, head of solar business, said in an interview. In distributed solar market we have 3-3.5% right now and we expect to touch 5% in two years. As the world continues to see India as +1 to China, we expect to achieve this," he said. The company plans to position India as an export hub and expects the share of exports to its entire business to increase from 25% as of 31 March 2023, to 30% this financial year. Out of the volumes, I would say 30% is what we are looking for in exports. 10-12% of export is happening for made-in-India models. Balance is happening through made-in-China. And with many countries preferring products from India, we are trying to capitalize on it," he said. ... Indian exports in solar have been multiplying. Especially, few countries such as the US, Canada and Europe, among others prefer made-in-India products as compared to made-in-China. We are actually exploring more and more markets. What we are looking at is a mandate for supplying modules beyond Japan." The company is set to invest 300 crore over 3-4 years to expand its Sri City manufacturing unit in Andhra Pradesh to achieve its exports targets, the companys management said in a press briefing. We have already invested 300 crore in our new Sri factory. We plan to invest a total of 600 crore in the five years bracket which is 2021 to 2025. In first tranche of investment, 300 crore has been already invested," said Rajesh Nandwani, director of power business unit, Panasonic Electric Works India. The company said India is in a strategic position, and it aims to establish it as an export hub. Nandwani said exports currently constitute 2% of overall revenue, and it aims to push it up to 10% of the targeted revenue by 2030. The development comes at a time the company is looking to triple its topline growth, said Yoshiyuki Kato, managing director, Panasonic Life Solutions India. In FY23, our business was at 5,000 crore-plus. We plan to increase it by three times in seven years." New Delhi: Scoot, Singapore Airliness low-cost carrier, is trying to tap into the rising demand for air travel from Indias non-metro cities as first-time flyers seek exotic destinations and new experiences, a top company executive said. These are new exotic travellers," Brian Torrey, general manager, India, Scoot said in an interview. People are looking beyond known destinations. We are seeing new beach travellers. Just the general enthusiasm for travel, experiences...to be documented and shared with family and friends on social media. This trend is fast catching up, and I am visiting tier-II cities and new regions with potential. I see all the way down to these cities...it is not just for metros." Sales channels are changing, and some people in tier-2 cities are resorting to interesting ways, Torrey said, like using ChatGPT to plan their itinerary, and then visiting travel agents to book their flights and holidays. Scoot currently flies to six destinations in India and plans to resume operations to Chennai from 5 November. It also seeks to tap the potential in other Indian international airports, such as the upcoming airports in Jewar and Navi Mumbai. It, however, should comply with certain restrictions under the air services agreement. The India-Singapore pact was last expanded in 2013, whereby the capacity entitlements for carriers for both sides were raised to 29,400 weekly passenger seats for domestic carriers and to 28,700 weekly seats from Singapore for airlines registered there. Also, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the two nations in 2006 that designated Indian and Singaporean airlines to have unlimited access between 18 Indian cities and Singapore. However, Scoot said the air service agreement needs to be reviewed to accommodate new airports as well. There is a golden age of new airports in India. But, the constraint is that these new airports are not being added to the air services agreements, these are generally government to government discussions...they dont move quickly...there is increasing demand from Chandigarh, Nagpur, and Indore, but we cannot consider them as it is not included in the air services agreement," he said. Addition of non-metro cities with robust demand makes sense for the airline as it has seen a new type of Indian traveller, who wants to explore new destinations, emerge since covid-related curbs eased. There was some change during covid, when people did not want to drive for 8-9 hours to reach an airport -- they wanted convenience. But the constraint is these new airports or opportunities are not being added to air services agreements. There are airports or opportunities that we will love to tap into, but, as a Singapore-based carrier, we cannot." Singapore Airlines caters to metropolitan cities in India, with bigger aircraft and different products. It may take up an over 25% stake in the Air India group, and has a 49% stake in full-service carrier Vistara. Despite a complex competitive structure, Scoot said it continues to generate demand on the back of its network offering beyond Singapore to Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines at competitive fares. Such competition is always there. We are also in the phase where the demand is quite high. Our flight timings are advantageous. It meets all itineraries. Some of our competitors schedules could be more compromised in one direction." The airlines air traffic has reached pre-covid levels in India. It ferried 228,415 passengers to and from India in April-June, compared with 229,746 during the corresponding quarter of 2019. New Delhi: Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has not only concealed several facts about previous investigations against Adani companies, but also tweaked the regulations to keep the groups regulatory contraventions and price manipulations undetected, one of the petitioners demanding investigation into allegations of accounting fraud and stock manipulation against Adani group companies by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, claimed in the Supreme Court. In an affidavit filed two days ago, Anamika Jaiswal alleged that the market regulator did not apprise the SC of an investigation initiated by the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) against the Adani group companies over alleged overvaluation of import of equipment and machinery by various entities of the group from a UAE-based subsidiary. In January 2014, DRI sent a letter to the then Sebi chairperson, UK Sinha, alerting him of a possible stock market manipulation by the Adani group, said Jaiswal in an affidavit, adding this letter was accompanied by a CD containing evidence of siphoning of 2,323 crore. The petitioner said Sinha chose to close the investigation instead of acting on DRIs inputs. Sinha, who retired as Sebi chairperson in March 2017, is a non-executive director of NDTV, which was acquired by Adani in 2022. Jaiswal further said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also had to shut its probe in the matter after the Maharashtra government did not grant sanction for prosecution. It is shocking that SEBI has not disclosed the receipt of the said letter (DRI letter) and evidence from the DRI till date before this Honble Court," stated the affidavit, citing Sebis previous statements to the court that it started investigation against the Adani group only in June-July 2020. The affidavit said that Sebis conduct amounts to perjury. Referring to the latest status report submitted by Sebi in the court earlier this month, Jaiswal said that though the market regulator claimed that 22 out of 24 investigations arising out of the Hindenburg report were final in in nature, outcomes of these investigations have been kept under wraps by Sebi. The affidavit also alleged a conflict of interest in Sebi conducting investigation into the matter. It said that Cyril Shroff, managing partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas law firm, has been a member of Sebis committee on corporate governance, which looks at offences like insider trading. Cyril Shroffs daughter is married to Karan Adani, son of Gautam Adani, showing clear conflict of interest," claimed Jaiswal, stressing that 5 of the 24 Sebi investigation reports are on insider trading allegations against the Adani group. HT reached out to Shroff and the law firm for a response to Jaiswals allegations, but the attempts remained unsuccessful. To be sure, the committee on corporate governance was constituted by Sebi in 2017 and it has 23 other members, which include bankers, entrepreneurs, chartered accountants, business executives, senior bureaucrats and corporate lawyers. Jaiswals affidavit also referred to certain new reports by international papers that reportedly incriminate the Adani group for contravening an array of regulations. It further maintained that Sebi brought amendments into the regulations relating to foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) and listing obligations and disclosure requirement (LODR) were in 2014 and 2015 respectively only to benefit the Adani group. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the matter on September 15. Hindenburgs report published in January claimed brazen accounting fraud" and stock manipulation" by the Gautam Adani-led group. Though the conglomerate rejected the report as unresearched" and maliciously mischievous", it triggered a massive rout of Adani group stocks, which lost over $140 billion in days and forced the cancellation of a 20,000 crore share sale in the groups flagship. Acting on a clutch of petitions demanding a probe into the matter, the Supreme Court on March 2 set up a six-member panel, led by retired Supreme Court judge AM Sapre, to look into regulatory failure by Sebi and alleged breach of laws by the Adani group. In its report submitted in May, the committee said the allegations of stock price manipulation or violation of MPS norms by Adani group companies cannot be proved at this stage". "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! New Delhi: SpiceJet paid 62.5 crore to Kalanithi Maran on Monday, and is planning to clear the remaining 37.5 crore within a day, to comply with a 24 August Delhi high court order in connection with the arbitral award. In a separate development earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ordered the debt laden airline to settle dues to Credit Suisse by 22 September. The SC also warned SpiceJet and its promoter Ajay Singh, for not complying with its order in the case of defaults to Credit Suisse. SpiceJet acknowledges the legal process and is committed to complying with all court directives and obligations in the Credit Suisse case and will make the payment of $1.5 million as per the court directive. Till date, SpiceJet has already paid a total of $8 million to Credit Suisse," the airline said in a statement. This liability is an old one and predates the current Promoter taking over the company In its earlier order on the arbitral award to Maran, former promoter of SpiceJet, the Delhi high court had asked the airline to clear dues of 100 crore by 10 September. However, SpiceJet told the court that it failed to meet the deadline due to bank holidays on 9 and 10 September. The airline also submitted a cheque of 37.5 crore in court towards settling the dues, but the counsel appearing for the Marans refused to accept it, and requested SpiceJet to transfer the amount via RTGS. Subsequently, the high court asked SpiceJet to comply with its earlier order, and pay the remaining amount by Tuesday. The case will come up for hearing on 3 October. At SpiceJets request, the court also asked the Marans to file an affidavit, committing to maintain the confidentiality of SpiceJets asset disclosure. Appearing for Maran, senior counsel Maninder Singh had questioned SpiceJets move to disclose the assets in a sealed cover, to which SpiceJet argued that it was not in a position to disclose the assets publicly as it would harm the companys interests. SpiceJet owes Maran 397 crore. Marans counsel also claimed SpiceJet had forfeited its right to be heard in court by wilfully disobeying the courts orders. He added the airline should also forfeit its entire profit of 204 crore, as well as future profits if the debt is not paid on time. Senior lawyer Amit Sibal, representing SpiceJet, argued in turn that demanding immediate payment may push the airline into insolvency and that wouldnt benefit the Marans as they would be termed as operational creditors. Sibal also attributed SpiceJets financial difficulties to various factors, including the grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, losses due to the pandemic, and increased fuel prices due to the Ukraine conflict. The Delhi high court, in its 31 July order, upheld the arbitration award and directed the low-cost carrier and its owner Ajay Singh to reimburse 579 crore, with interest to Maran. Maran had transferred his shareholding to Singh in 2015 when SpiceJet faced financial troubles. Singh took over SpiceJets full liabilities of 1,500 crore as part of the agreement. Subsequently, Maran moved the court seeking relief as the airline had failed to issue convertible warrants and preference shares, and asked it to pay up or return the money. In 2018, an arbitration panel awarded a refund of 579 crore plus interest to Maran, and in 2020, the high court ordered SpiceJet to deposit 243 crore as interest payment. The court, while issuing the verbal warning, cautioned Ajay Singh that he could face a jail sentence if he doesnt clear the monthly instalment of $50,000 along with an additional $1 million to Credit Suisse by the next hearing. The court is set to pass an order in the case on the 22nd of September. According to the terms of the settlement dated back in May, 2022, SpiceJet claims that it owes an outstanding due of $1 million to Credit Suisse, whereas Credit Suisse claims that SpiceJet owes them $4.5 million. On August 14th, the Supreme Court had already issued a notice to SpiceJet in response to the contempt plea filed by Credit Suisse, alleging willful and intentional non-compliance with the court order. In May 2022, SpiceJet and Credit Suisse entered into an agreement to resolve the issue of default payment after SpiceJet defaulted on a payment of $20 million to the Swiss-based company SR Technics, which provides maintenance services to SpiceJet. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Supreme Court on Monday issued an order instructing SpiceJet, the airline company, to settle a $1.5 million debt owed to Switzerland's Credit Suisse bank by September 15. The court also warned of "drastic action" if the payment is not made on time. As reported by Reuters, a third of the amount is part of a monthly settlement plan SpiceJet had previously agreed with Credit Suisse, and the rest are unpaid dues to the bank. In March, Credit Suisse filed a request with the Supreme Court to commence contempt proceedings against SpiceJet and its founder, Ajay Singh. This action was taken due to alleged deliberate and intentional non-compliance with court orders and failure to settle a $3.9 million debt as stipulated in a prior settlement agreement between the parties. This information is disclosed in a court document. Also Read: SpiceJet-Credit Suisse case: Supreme Court summons Ajay Singh for personal appearance Reuters reported that SpiceJet did not immediately respond to a request for comment. SpiceJet has contended that the outstanding debt in question is an older one that originated prior to the current management's tenure. The legal dispute between Credit Suisse and SpiceJet dates back to 2015, primarily revolving around Credit Suisse's assertion of unpaid dues amounting to approximately $24 million. This dispute eventually resulted in a court order from the Madras High Court in 2021, mandating the winding up of the airline. Upon appealing the High Court's order for winding-up, the Supreme Court temporarily halted the liquidation proceedings. This decision provided an opportunity for both Credit Suisse and SpiceJet to engage in discussions aimed at reaching a settlement. (With inputs from Reuters) CANARA BANK More Information "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Samhi Hotels has announced the price band of 119 to 126 per share of a face value of 1 each for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) which opens for public subscription on September 14 and closes on September 18. The bidding for the anchor investors of the initial share sale of Goldman Sachs-backed Samhi Hotels will open on September 13, according to the red herring prospectus (RHP). As Mint reported earlier, Samhi Hotels proposed an IPO comprising a fresh issue of equity shares worth 1,200 crore and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of 1.35 crore equity shares by existing shareholders. The IPO will open on 14 September and will remain open till 18 September. Anchor investors can place their bids on 13 September. Read more: Samhi Hotels IPO to open on 14 September, comprises of fresh issue of equity shares worth 1,200 crore The OFS consists of the sale of 84.28 lakh equity shares by Blue Chandra Pte Ltd, up to 49.31 lakh equity shares by Goldman Sachs Investments Holdings (Asia) Ltd, up to 1.4 lakh equity shares by GTI Capital Alpha Pvt Ltd. It is a partial exit by the existing shareholders to meet the listing regulations. Earlier, the company filed its IPO papers with Sebi in September 2019 and had obtained the markets regulator's approval in November 2019, to float the initial share sale but the company did not go ahead with the launch. The Gurguram-based company will utilise net proceeds of the fresh issue to the tune of 750 crore towards payment of debt and for general corporate purposes. Samhi has a portfolio of 3,839-key rooms spread across 25 operating hotels in 12 of India's major urban consumer hubs, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, National Capital Region (NCR), Pune, Chennai, and Ahmedabad, as of February 28, 2023. As of February 2023, it is the largest owner of Fairfield by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express brands in India. It operates under long-term management contracts with global hotel operators like Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG. Read all market-related news here Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Foreign Institutional Investors (FII) were the major driving force behind the stock market rally on Monday. AS FII and DII turned into buyers today, domestic stock markets set new records with Nify touching 20,008.15 level. On Monday, FII turned into buyers as they purchased shares worth 1,473.09 crore from the market. FII bought shares worth 11,469.51 crore and sold around 9,996.42 crore in the market. Maintaining a consistent streak, Domestic Institutional Investors (DII) pumped in shares worth 366.24 crore in the market. DII bought shares worth 8,522.40 crore and sold shares worth 8,156.16 crore. For investors, day ended with Sensex closing 528.17 points, or 0.79 per cent, higher at 67,127.08. The Nifty closed the day with a gain of 176.40 points, or 0.89 per cent, at 19,996.35. Fifteen minutes prior to the ending of the session, Nifty crossed its 20,000 mark and touched 20,008 level. Earlier, Nifty's last all time high was 19,991.85, which it hit on July 20, this year. Thus, it scaled a new record in 36 sessions. Nearly all the stocks ended green on Monday. Out of them, Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises and Axis Bank emerged as the top gainers of the day. Shares of Adani Ports jumped 7.10 per cent, ending as the top gainer in the index. They were followed by the shares of Adani Enterprises (up 3.68 per cent) and Axis Bank (up 2.32 per cent). One of the main reasons behind stock market rally could be the G20 declaration that emerged as a triunph for Indian diplomacy, suggested experts. The inclusion of the African Union in G20 and proposed India-Middle East-Europe Corridor have positive economic and market connotations. Inclusion of African Union in G20 served as a positive news for Bharti Airtel because of its huge presence in Africa, said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. The stock market sentiment was also supported by broadly positive globl cues. ADANI ENTERPRISES More Information "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Most of the sugar stocks today were trading in green following the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday at G20 Summit. Except for Ugar Sugar Works Ltd, which was down nearly 3%, others sugar stock traded in green. Uttam Sugar Mills Ltd, Mawana Sugars Ltd, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar, Avadh Sugar & Energy Ltd, and K M Sugars Mills Ltd gained 1% to 2%, while Dalmia Bharat Sugar & Industries Ltd, Sakthi Sugars Ltd, Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd, and Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd rose over 2.5% to 6%. Dalmia Bharat Sugar share price, Sakthi Sugars share price, Avadh Sugar share price, Triveni Engineering share price, and Mawana Sugars share price touched new 52-week high in today's session. Analysts believe that the G20 biofuel initiatives would improve the prospects for India's sugar industry. According to Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, since there is a global consensus on sustainability and renewable energy, the biofuel alliance proposed at the G20 summit is likely to be taken up in right earnest. Since India is the second largest producer of sugar, after Brazil, the Indian sugar industry stands to gain from the decision to increase ethanol blending with petroleum products. "Sugar prices have gone up by around 3 percent during the last one month, the prospects for sugar companies have improved. But the good news is already in the price with many sugar stocks trading at 52-week highs," added Vijayakumar. The prime minister launched the alliance in the presence of the US President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva, Argentinian President Alberto Angel Fernandez, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina among others. Apart from India, Brazil and the US, the other G20 member countries supporting the initiative are Argentina, Canada, Italy, and South Africa. Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, and the UAE are the G20 invitee countries. The three founding members of alliance, the US, India and Brazil contribute about 85% of the global production and the 81% of consumption of ethanol. Also Read: PM Modi launches Global Biofuels Alliance The price of sugar stocks increased last week as well due to a number of factors, including news reports that the government of Uttar Pradesh planned to raise the State Advisory Price (SAP) for sugarcane, rising crude oil prices, and a weaker rupee. Moreover by 2025, the government hopes to meet its 20% ethanol blend target. In such a scenario such stocks would benefit. Also Read: Sugar Stocks: Uttam Sugar, Avadh Sugar, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar, Triveni Engineering hit new 52-week high; here's why On the technical front, analysts are witnessing strong buying in sugar stocks , and this moves are expected to continue in the near term. We are likely to see strong uptrend in the sugar cycle and one can have a positive bet in them. Today we are seeing strong buying in Shree Renuka Sugars, Sakthi Sugar, Dalmia Sugar, Balrampur Chini Mills, and this counter may remain outperformer, expect 20 - 30% upmove in the near term," said Rajesh Bhosale - Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst, Angel One. GEOJIT FINANCIAL SERVICES More Information UTTAM SUGAR MILLS More Information MAWANA SUGARS More Information UGAR SUGAR WORKS More Information BAJAJ HINDUSTHAN SUGAR More Information SAKTHI SUGARS More Information K M SUGARS MILLS More Information BALRAMPUR CHINI MILLS More Information "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls due next year, INDIA alliance leaders are likely to invite Akali Dal and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to join the opposition bloc formed against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, according to a report published by Economic Times. The top leaders of the INDIA bloc including Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, and NC leader Farooq Abdullah will share a stage with BJP's former ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Haryana's Kaithal on September 25. They will participate in a rally to mark the birth anniversary of former PM Devi Lal. As per ET reports, Shiv Sena UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Trinamool Congress, SP leaders, and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are also expected to attend the event in Haryana later this month. Notably, Nitish Kumar had also appealed to Sukhbir Singh Badal to join the opposition parties to take on the ruling BJP for the 2024 general elections, ET reported. The INDIA bloc of the Opposition parties, coming together with an aim to defeat the ruling NDA government at the Cantre, has recently decided to contest the Lok Sabha election 2024 together as far as possible and decide on the seat-sharing arrangement in a collaborative spirit of give and take, to coordinate the respective communications and media strategies and campaigns. The opposition bloc also promised that the seat-sharing formula will be concluded as soon as possible, exuding confidence. The INDIA bloc also claimed that the alliance represents 60 per cent of the population and it will defeat the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Indian diplomats led more than 200 hours of non-stop negotiations" to reach a consensus on Saturday's G20 leaders' declaration. The group has struggled to find common ground on several issues recently including the Ukraine war and climate change . Extensive work by a brilliant team however allowed India to avoid a major diplomatic embarrassment. The most complex part of the entire G20 was to bring consensus on the geopolitical paragraphs (Russia-Ukraine). This was done over 200 hours of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings and 15 drafts. In this, I was greatly assisted by two brilliant officers - joint secretaries Eenam Gambhir and Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur," tweeted G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant. India managed to hammer out an unexpected consensus among the G20 countries on the contentious issue through a series of hectic negotiations with emerging economies such as Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia playing a leading role in reaching the breakthrough. According to a PTI report quoting sources these three countries also helped in drafting the text that drew every member nation's approval. World media has since dubbed the carefully worded declaration a coup" for host Prime Minister Narendra Modi though the final compromise statement reflected a stand far softer than those the US and its Western allies have adopted on Russia. (With inputs from agencies) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar Sunday said an all-party meeting has been convened in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the Maratha quota issue, reported PTI. Several people from the Maratha community were rich but many were poor and needed help, Ajit Pawar said while addressing a rally in Kolhapur nearly 380 km from Mumbai. "While giving the reservation to the Maratha community, it must be ensured that Other Backward Classes are not affected. Only discussions and meetings will solve this issue," PTI quoted Ajit Pawar as saying. Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has been on hunger strike for the last 13 days demanding Kunbi status, which effectively means OBC quota, for all Marathas. Earlier in Pune, Ajit Pawar had said that The government has taken all efforts to end the Jarange patils hunger strike. Various efforts have been made so far which include government representatives including minister Girish Mahajan and Arjun Khotkar meeting Jarange Patil. However, he has refused to end the fast. Now, the Chief Minister has convened an all-party meeting on the reservation issue on Monday." Meanwhile, Jarange Patil, at Antarwali Sarati, welcomed the decision to convene an all-party meeting although he clarified that hunger strike will continue. The Maratha reservation has become a very complex issue for the Maharashtra government as those agitating from the community are adamant for their inclusion in the OBC category, on the other hand OBCs have opposed the inclusion fearing that it might eat into their reservation. The Shinde government after several rounds of negotiations between Jarange Patil and the government appointed representatives last week issued a government resolution offering certificates to those Marathas in Marathwada who have records from Nizam era. However, Jarange Patil has rejected the state government resolution, saying he will not break his fast unto death until all Marathas be given Kunbi certificates by the Maharashtra government. He has also sought action against police personnel responsible for the lathi-charge against protesters. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! The Bharatiya Janata Party Monday slammed the Congress, alleging that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had "given away" the United Nations Security Council's permanent seat to China "on a platter", reported PTI. The BJP took to X (formally known as Twitter) to criticise the Congress and said Today, while India, under the leadership of PM Modi is shaping the world, and the world is backing the country's bid for a permanent UNSC seat, which Nehru gave away to China on a platter...The unpatriotic deeds of the Gandhi family haunt our history, to date." Making a fresh pitch for expansion of the UN Security Council and reforms in other global institutions, Prime Minister Modi had on Sunday said in order to take the world towards a better future, it is necessary that the global systems are according to the present realities. "Today, the United Nations Security Council is also an example of this. When the UN was established, the world was completely different from what it is today. At that time, there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200," Modi had said. "Despite this, the number of permanent members in the UNSC remains the same. The world has since changed a lot in every aspect. Be it transport, communication, health and education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should reflect in our new global structure," PM Modi had added. Today, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the next chair of the G21 bloc, also echoed similar views and called for reform of the UNSC to reflect contemporary realities. The Brazilian president said his country wants the equality issue to be the "core issue" during its presidency. Not only, US President Biden reaffirmed his support for a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member, but also Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye would be "proud" if a country like India becomes a permanent member of the of the Security Council. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! The Delhi government has re-imposed a ban on firecrackers ahead of the festive season. Members of the Arvind Kejriwal -led government have stressed the need to look after the environment and reduce pollution levels in winter. Under the new rules, the manufacturing, storage, sale, online delivery and bursting of any type of firecrackers would be wholly prohibited in the national capital. Chief Minister Kejriwal has decided that firecrackers should be banned on the occasion of Diwali to control pollution. Police have been directed to issue a circular on behalf of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee that no license is issued" said Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday. Delhi has imposed similar restrictions ahead of the festive season for the past three years. Last year, the government had announced that bursting firecrackers on Diwali in the city would attract a jail term up to six months and a fine of 200. "We have seen a considerable improvement in Delhi's air quality in the last five-six years but we have to improve it further. Therefore, we have decided to ban firecrackers this year too," Rai said. Intructions shared by the government last year said that the production, storage and sale of firecrackers in Delhi would be punishable with a fine of up to 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act. The Kejriwal government is yet to release any fresh update on the matter. (With inputs from agencies) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! The second day of the G20 Summit began on a controversial note with Opposition leaders raging over waterlogging at the venue. Members of the Congress, AAP and TMC were among the many politicians and critics that shared videos from Bharat Mandapam (as the newly inaugurated building is known) to underscore their point, eventually prompting a fact check from the Centre. A video claims that there is waterlogging at venue of G20 Summit. This claim is exaggerated and misleading. Minor water logging in open area was swiftly cleared as pumps were pressed into action after overnight rains. No water logging at venue presently," PIB tweeted from its official fact-checking handle. According to an update shared by Raj Niwas officials on Sunday, Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena had activated the rain contingency plan as it began to pour during the dinner for G20 leaders hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. "For waterlogging that occurred at certain sites prone to flooding, pumps were immediately put into action. The water was drained within 15 minutes during the night. Similarly, potted plants that tumbled due to the impact of rain and wind were replaced immediately and incidents of trees falling in the NDMC area was addressed," PTI quoted an official as saying. Opposition leaders meanwhile lashed out at the Central government over the now viral clips from the venue. Hollow development exposed. Bharat Mandapam was prepared for G20. 2,700 crore was spent. It was lost in one rain..." tweeted the Congress. Indian Air Force on Monday informed that the Bright Star-23 exercise has entered the culmination phase which will involve more complex joint missions involving assets of all participating forces. A 137 personnel contingent of the Indian Army had departed for Exercise Bright Star- 23 on August 29. Informing about the news on X (formerly Twitter), Indian Airforce wrote, Exercise #BrightStar 23 moves on to its culmination phase. The last phase follows a build up to more complex joint missions and will involve assets of all participating forces." According to a release by the Ministry of Defence, Exercise Bright Star-23 began on August 31 and it ends on September 14. Exercise Bright Star-23 is a tri-services joint military exercise that is led by US CENTCOM and the Egyptian Army. Exercise BRIGHT STAR- 23 will provide a unique opportunity to Indian Army to share best practices and experiences with other armies besides enhancing the defence cooperation. Indian Army looks forward to an enriching professional experience from the Exercise.", the Ministry of Defence had earlier said in a statement. What is Exercise Bright Star-23? Exercise Bright Star-23 was conceptualized as a training exercise between the US and Egypt during the Camp David Accord of 1977. The first edition of the exercise was conducted in Egypt in 1980 and it was expanded to include more nations in the year 1995. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! India hosted the two-day G20 Summit over the weekend with many dubbing the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration a coup for the Narendra Modi government. The Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with leading global leaders in attendance including US President Joe Biden during this time. We held substantial discussions on how to strengthen the partnership between India and the United StatesI raised the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role the civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with PM Modi," Biden said on Sunday while addressing a press conference in Vietnam. The POTUS also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership and hospitality. ALSO READ: The G20 summit is over but the hard work begins now Speaking about strained ties with China on Sunday, the POTUS insisted that he did not want to contain the other country. I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up and up, squared away. And one of the ways you do that is you make sure that we are talking about the same things. We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world, to maintain stability. That's what this trip was all about, having India cooperate much more with the United States, be closer with the United States, Vietnam being closer with the United States. It's not about containing China. It's about having a stable base, a stable base in Indo-Pacific..." he added. Biden arrived in New Delhi for his first visit since becoming President for the G20 Summit on Friday. He also held wide-ranging talks with Modi, with both leaders vowing to deepen and diversify" the bilateral major defence partnership while welcoming forward movement in India's procurement of 31 drones and joint development of jet engines. (With inputs from agencies)S "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! NEW DELHI : India and the UK have launched an infrastructure financing bridge to plan and implement major infrastructure projects, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday. The two countries have also agreed to conduct investment negotiations in parallel with the goods negotiations to conclude their free trade agreement (FTA) talks. The Indian government has also confirmed with the UK government its plans to consider allowing Indian companies to list on exchanges overseas, said UKs chancellor exchequer Jeremy Hunt, who along with Sitharaman addressed the media during the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. Indian businesses are currently not permitted to list directly on international exchanges. However, they can list on international exchanges using instruments like depository receipts. Sitharaman said India and the UK want to conclude the FTA talks as soon as possible." The infrastructure financing bridge, a collaboration between the Niti Aayog and City of London Corporation, aims to harness their expertise to implement major infrastructure projects. We remain committed to collaborate, deliberate and innovate to navigate the challenges, and seize the opportunities that lie ahead for both nations." She said the UK is also interested in increasing its presence in GIFT city. We are highly encouraged by the intensified collaboration between India and the UK in the area of financial services." UKs Hunt said that he viewed India as Asias Silicon Valley, and the UK as Europes Silicon Valley, and theres a huge amount of work we can do together." Sitharaman said there are ample opportunities for India and the UK to collaborate on frameworks for secure and inclusive financial intermediation especially in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning that are redefining financial services apart from Indias new Digital Personal Data Protection Act. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 recognises the rights of individuals to protect their personal data and the need to process personal data for lawful purposes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak on Saturday, during the latters first visit to India as PM, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Both leaders have also reviewed the progress of Free Trade Agreement negotiations and expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest. We are particularly pleased to make a big step forward to make a first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies," Hunt said.The new pension and insurance partnership will boost cross-market investments, Hunt added. A joint statement which has later released said: The primary objective of this collaboration is aimed at unlocking infrastructure investment and leveraging the City of Londons expertise in structuring and phasing major infrastructure projects." The statement said that both sides noted the critical role of a strong pensions sector in delivering safe retirement incomes and supporting economic growth through productive investment, including in green infrastructure. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor B D Mishra on Monday asserted that India's Defense Forces are prepared to give "a bloody nose" to anyone engaging in any misadventure, and that not even one square inch of Indian land has been occupied by China, a claim that has been reiterated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi , and satellite imagery. Rahul Gandhi who last month was on a six-day visit to Ladakh, said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Indian government is lying about the situation with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). MP Gandhi also said that China is occupying a large chunk of land in Ladakh. I spent a week in Ladakh. I went to Pangong Lake right in front of where the Chinese were. I had detailed discussions, probably the most detailed discussions that any politician outside Ladakh has had with the people of Ladakh. They categorically told me that the Chinese have taken Indian land. They categorically told me that the PM (Modi) is lying about the fact that the Chinese have not taken Indian land," Rahul Gandhi said. However, Lieutenant Governor B D Mishra on Monday said that not even an inch of land in Ladakh had been captured by China and that India is in occupation of their land till the last inch. Lieutenant Governor B D Mishra said, "I won't comment on anybody's statement. But I will say what is fact because I have seen myself on the ground that not even one square inch of land which the Chinese have occupied." "Whatsoever happened in 1962 that is immaterial. But today we are in occupation of our land to the last inch," he said. Mishra was in Jammu attending a three-day North Tech Symposium being organised by the Indian Army. Responding to reporters' queries on the side lines of the event, he said, Our armed forces are prepared for any eventuality, and God forbid if the balloon goes up, people will get a bloody nose from us." Further, China's move of including Arunachal Pradesh, and Aksai Chin in its 2023 version standard map has riled up the already broken diplomatic and military relations between India and China. Notably, satellite images have revealed that Beijing has ramped up construction of reinforced personnel bunkers and underground facilities in Aksai Chin. The Aksai Chin is the part China occupied during the 1962 Sino-Indian war. The satellite images show that the construction is being done in Aksai Chin region about 70km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! In an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Shashi Tharoor said, The Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. It's a good achievement because right until the G20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and, that, therefore, a joint communique might not be possible, and, that we might have to end up with a chairman's summary." Moreover, the Congress MP also praised the Modi govt for bringing all member states to a consensus on the New Delhi Declaration. The main reason (for lack of a consensus on the statement) was the big gulf between those who wanted a condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine and those, like Russia and China, who wanted no mention whatsoever of that subject. India was able to find a formula to bridge that gap and that is a significant diplomatic achievement because when there is a Summit without a joint communique, it is always seen as a setback for the chairman," Tharoor added as quoted by ANI. However, he also criticised the ruling party and said that it was also an attempt by the "ruling party" (BJP) to turn the mega huddle of world leaders into an "asset" for themselves. "But it was also an attempt by the ruling party to instrumentalize the G20 as something that would turn out to be an asset for them," Tharoor said. Things that were remarkable about the government's conduct of the presidency was that they did something that no previous G20 presidency has done. They actually made it a nationwide event, 200 meetings in 58 cities with huge amount of action, they converted the G20 into a sort of people G20. With public events, the university connect programmes, civil societies, all these things were done under our presidency. That is in some ways both a credit to India for taking a message of G20 to the entire people," he said. Speaking about PM Modi proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation, Tharoor said, They have every right to do that, they are the ruling party. Many countries have hosted the G20 event, but never a ruling party has celebrated its leadership in such a way, the whole Vishwaguru concept, the posters of Mr Modi every 50 meters in Delhi. All of these are advertising the G20 as if it was the personal achievement of Mr Modi and the BJP government and that I think has raised some eyebrows." Earlier on Sunday, Tharoor lauded Indias G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant for 200 hours of non-stop negotiations' to deliver a consensus on the G20 declaration that was adopted at the Leaders' Summit. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor wrote, "Well done @amitabhk87! Looks like the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS! "Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got a final draft," says India's G20 Sherpa on 'Delhi Declaration' consensus. A proud moment for India at G20!" Meanwhile, the G20 leaders, meeting in New Delhi unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration. The declaration that was announced by PM Modi during the Day 1 of G20 Summit which focused on war in Ukraine and geopolitical tensions, sustainable growth, creating an inclusive world among other points. This declaration, according to India's G20 Sherpa, places a strong emphasis on several key priorities. These include fostering robust and sustainable economic growth, expediting advancements towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals, establishing a green development pact to promote environmental sustainability, and revitalizing the spirit of multilateralism. Notably, the G20 Declaration is being hailed as both historic and groundbreaking. PREMIER More Information "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Indian Railways is expected to launch nine Vande Bharat Express trains soon on several routes, a report by Zee News has stated. Of the nine trains, the five routes where the semi-high speed trains will be launched are Indore - Jaipur, Jaipur-Udaipur, Jaipur-Chandigarh, Puri - Rourkela, and Patna-Howrah. Speaking about the other four routes, the report by the daily states that the name of three routes have not been decided yet, however, they have been given to Southern Railways while the details of the fourth train is not known yet. As per report, Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai will be working on developing rakes of these nine Vande Bharat trains. Odisha's second Vande Bharat Express train between Puri and Rourkela route is likely to be out by last week of September, New Indian Express had reported. The trial run of the train began today, a railway official told PTI. The train will run on the Puri-Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Dhenkanal-Angul-Rourkela route to cater to passengers between the coastal and western Odisha regions. Some media reports have also stated that the semi-high speed is likely to be flagged off by PM Modi on 30 September. Sources also told the daily that the semi-high speed train will cover the distance of 505 km in 7 hrs and 30 minutes from Puri-Rourkela and 7 hours and 45 minutes on the down line i.e. Rourkela to Puri. Earlier on 5 Spetember, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also said that Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch would soon get a Vande Bharat Express soon. While addressing the public at Neemuch on 4 September, the Railway Minister said, It is time for Vande Bharat to run on this route. Your Member of Parliament (MP) Sudhir Gupta has already requested for the same. Vande Bharat Express will run on your route soon," as quoted by ANI. Meanwhile, as per the press release by Central Railway, the total number of passengers who travelled in Vande Bharat trains in the Central Railway region from 15 August-8 September is 1.22 lakh. The total revenue earned by the Railways through these services in the above-mentioned time period is 10.72 crores. As per the press release, the Bilaspur-Nagpur Express saw the highest occupancy rate of 122.56 percent while GOA Madgaon- CSMT Express saw lowest occupancy rate of 75.50 percent. The occupancy rates for other trains running through the Central Railway include - Nagpur-Bilaspur Express (106.40 percent); CSMT Shirdi Express (81.33 percent); Shirdi-CSMT Express (81.88 percent); CSMT Solapur Express (93.71 percent); Solapur CSMT Express (105.09 percent); Madgaon Express (92.05 percent). Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high-speed, self-propelled train set. The train has state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Morocco's deadliest earthquake survivors are facing a desperate struggle for food, water, and shelter in more than six decades. The death toll from the powerful 6.8 magnitude quake, which struck late on September 8, has already exceeded 2,100 people, and this number could rise further as the search for the missing continues, reported Reuters. Many people spent three nights in the open, as reaching the worst-affected villages in the remote and rugged High Atlas mountains has proven to be a challenge for relief workers where many houses have been reduced to rubble. According to state TV, the death toll stands at 2,122, with 2,421 people injured. Morocco has indicated that it may accept relief offers from other countries and will coordinate them as needed. The earthquake has also caused significant damage to Morocco's cultural heritage. Reports from local media confirm the collapse of a historically important 12th-century mosque. Parts of Marrakech's old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has also been damaged. The earthquake's impact is exacerbated by the fact that many homes in the affected region are constructed from mud bricks, timber, cement, and breeze blocks, which are more susceptible to damage during seismic events. This is Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when an estimated 12,000 lives were lost. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with both Moroccan authorities and international teams working to locate survivors. Countries like Spain, the United Kingdom, Qatar, and the United States have dispatched search-and-rescue teams and resources to assist in the recovery efforts. In Hanoi, Vietnam, Biden told a news conference, "We stand ready to provide any necessary assistance to the Moroccan people," as reported by Reuters. The earthquake's epicentre was located 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city renowned for its historical and architectural treasures. The Moroccan government has set up a fund for those affected by the disaster and is providing relief in the form of water, food, tents, and blankets. The international community has also offered assistance, with countries such as Spain, the UK, the US, and France sending rescue teams. The World Health Organization reported that more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster. Morocco declared three days of mourning, and King Mohammed VI has called for prayers for the victims at mosques throughout the country. (With inputs from Reuters) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! September 9 attacks, also known as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of the United States. In 2001, the attacks including a series of airline hijacks and suicides against New York City and Washington DC caused extensive destruction as it took nearly 3,000 lives. It is believed that the key planner of the 9/11 attacks was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who was an active member of the Muslim Brotherhood. Some media reports revealed that Khalid's plan was to blow up more than a dozen American planes during the 1990s, but that failed and he joined hands with Osama bin Laden with whom he organized the 9/11 terrorist attack. After over two decades since the terrorist attacks, the remains of two people who died in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center have been identified, the latest positive identification in the decadeslong effort to return victims to their families, AP reported. Authorities confirmed the identification of the remains of a man and woman days ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the hijacked plane attack. Their names were withheld by city officials at the request of their families. New York Citys medical examiner has now been able to link remains to 1,649 World Trade Center victims, a painstaking process that relies on leading-edge DNA sequencing techniques to test body fragments recovered in the rubble, as per AP reports. Officials informed that advancements in sequencing technology, including increased test sensitivity and faster turnaround times, have allowed them to identify remains that had tested negative for identifiable DNA for decades. Similar efforts are used by the US military to identify missing service members and are currently underway to test body fragments from more than 100 people killed during the wildfires in Maui last month, according to AP reports. They said that the last identification was made in 2019. More than 1,000 human remains from the September 11, 2001, attacks have yet to be identified. They are currently being stored at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site. (With AP inputs) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! An Air China jetliner, an Airbus A320 carrying 146 passengers and nine crew members, experienced an engine fire during its landing in Singapore, resulting in nine passengers sustaining injuries. This incident led to the evacuation of the aircraft. As reported by AP, the emergency landing occurred around 4:15 p.m. on a Sunday, and the flight had originated from Chengdu in China's Sichuan province, according to a statement from Changi Airport posted on its Facebook page. Nine people had minor injuries related to smoke inhalation and abrasions during the evacuation", the statement said. The pilot declared an emergency after reporting smoke in the forward cargo hold and a lavatory. Smoke blurred the lights in the cabin and flight attendants told people to remain calm and stay in their seats after some stood up, a passenger told Chinese media, reported AP. The fire in the left engine was extinguished after the plane landed, Chinese media said. A preliminary investigation indicated a mechanical failure in the engine was the cause, Air China said in statement posted on social media early Monday. Air China Flight CA403 issued code 7700 when it was about to arrive in Singapore, indicating an emergency, reported The Global Times citing media reports. One passenger said on the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo that the fire occurred during the plane's descent and that it went on for about 40 minutes, ANI reported. In addition, passengers are seen sliding down an emergency slide and running away from the plane in another video posted online. A man evacuates with his luggage, prompting netizens on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu to call him out for doing so, according to ANI. After the plane was in danger, the crew handled the situation in accordance with procedures and organized passengers to implement timely evacuation. Changi Airport in Singapore also launched emergency procedures, according to Air China. (With inputs from agencies) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Monday expressed his wish for the Russia-Ukraine war to conclude and for a return to normalcy when the next G20 Summit in Brazil begins. As reported by ANI, Lula said, I do not know the reason why President Putin and Xi Jinping did not participate here but I will invite them and I hope that they will come to Brazil and participate in the Summit. I hope that when we open the Summit in Brazil, the war has ended and we are back to normal times." Luna further added, I would like to congratulate India for organising the Summit exceptionally well. We have received great warmth from the Indian people. Brazil has the conditions to be the host country of G20 next year. We want to use many cities in Brazil to organise a great number of events there." The G20 Summit in New Delhi concluded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over a ceremonial gavel to Brazil, signifying the transition of the bloc's presidency. "I want to congratulate Brazil's president and my friend Lula da Silva, and hand over the presidency's gavel to him," the PM said. Also Read: G20 Summit: India, US, Brazil, and South Africa issue joint statement; reaffirm shared commitments Earlier on Saturday, the Brazilian President said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin would not be arrested in Brazil if he attends the Group of 20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro next year, Reuters reported. Interviewed on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Delhi by news show Firstpost, Lula said Putin would be invited to next year's event, adding that he himself planned to attend a BRICS bloc of developing nations meeting due in Russia before the Rio meeting. "I believe that Putin can go easily to Brazil," Lula said. What I can say to you is that if I'm president of Brazil, and he comes to Brazil, there's no way he will be arrested." The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia has denied its forces have engaged in war crimes, or forcibly taken Ukrainian children. Brazil is part of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, there has been no immediate response from Lula's office when asked for a comment. Over the weekend, the G20 countries issued a joint statement that refrained from explicitly condemning Russia for its actions in the Ukraine conflict. Instead, the statement emphasized the importance of all nations refraining from using force to acquire territory. Also Read: Putin would not be arrested in 2024 Brazil G20 meeting, says Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, connecting him to the war crime of forcibly displacing hundreds of Ukrainian children to another country. Putin's indictment by the ICC while he is still in office marks only the third instance in which a sitting head of state has faced such charges, following Sudan's former president Omar al-Bashir and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi. However, if we look at the track record of his predecessors who faced similar accusations from the ICC, it appears that the arrest warrant is unlikely to yield immediate results. In the case of Muammar Gaddafi, the charges against him were dropped after he was ousted and killed in 2011. Similarly, Omar al-Bashir remained in power for another ten years following his indictment in 2009 for genocide in Darfur. (With inputs from agencies) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! After the conclusion of G20 Summit , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation are expected to depart from the national capital on Tuesday late afternoon. Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau was expected to leave India after the G20 Summit on Sunday. However, they are stranded in the national capital because of technical issues with their aircraft. It was found that a ferry aircraft is expected to fly them back to Canada. The aircraft is expected to land at the Delhi airport at around 10 pm on Monday, reported PTI citing sources. The Canadian Armed Forces are continuing their best efforts to get the delegation back home, Canadian Prime Minister's office told PTI in an e-mailed statement. "We will keep you updated regularly as the situation evolves. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid," Press Secretary Mohammad Hussain said in the statement. As per the backup plan, Justin Trudeau will either fly home on the backup plane or he will wait for the original plane to be repaired, reported Bloomberg citing sources. The Canadian Armed Forces continue their best efforts to get the Canadian delegation home," said a statement from Trudeaus office. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid." This is not the first time when Canadian PM's visit faced such issus. In 2018, it was found that a man who had been convicted of attempting to assassinate an Indian politician on Canadian soil somehow ended up on Canadas guest list for an event, reported Bloomberg. On this trip, Canadian PM had been publicly criticised by Indian PM Narendra Modi for allegedly allowing the anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada," a reference to Sikh groups that advocate for an independent homeland known as Khalistan. On the other hand, Trudeau's national security adviser, has said that India is a major source of foreign meddling in Canada's affairs. During this G20 summit, the two prime minister did not hold a formal bilateral meeting at the summit. Trudeau's travel delays also erupted debate on the crumbling nature of Canada's state infrastructure. PM Trudeau and other top officials of Canada generally travel via Airbus A310s and date back to 1980s. These aircraft are so old, that they recquired refuelling stops for Trudeau's trips to Asia, often with stopovers in Alasja and Japan, reported Bloomberg. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the India-Saudi Arabia partnership is crucial for the stability, and welfare of the region and world. PM Modi at the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting said, We are adding a new dimension to our ties in tune with changing times. For India, Saudi Arabia is one of our most important strategic partners." We have identified several initiatives to take our close partnership to the next level. Saudi Arabia is important for India. I once again thank His Royal Highness for his contribution to the success of the G20 Summit," said PM Modi during a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Hyderabad House. The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in Delhi on Friday for a three-day visit and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. Crown Prince and PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud said, There was no disagreement at all during the history of this (India-Saudi Arabia) relationship but there is cooperation to build the future of our country and create opportunities. Today we are working on future opportunities." US President Joe Biden during his Vietnam visit that took place right after the Group of 20 Summit (G20) concluded in Delhi, India, told reporters that he had raised the issue of respecting human rights and free press during his meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The claim by US President Biden is significant because, when PM Modi was on his maiden state visit to the United States in June this year, several human rights organisations had flagged the curbing of press freedom in India and had urged President Biden to talk about the same. In US, PM Modi and President Biden had conducted a rather rare press conference, Modi answered a questions from an US journalist about the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments record in treatment of minorities. Later, the ruling partys supporters had targeted the US journalist on social media platforms. The White House criticised the harassment as unacceptable" and antithetical to the very principles of democracy." On 8 September, Indian PM Modi had hosted US president Biden at the formers official residence in Delhi, on the eve of the G20 summit. "As I always do, I raised the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role the civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with Modi," President Biden said at Vietnam. Notably, the Indian government's readout of the meet between PM Modi and President Biden skipped the mention of a discussion on human rights. It said Modi conveyed his appreciation for President Bidens vision and commitment to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared democratic values, strategic convergences and strong people-to-people ties". Congress takes Na Karunga, Na Karne Dunga jibe at PM Modi Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Joe Biden addressed the media during his visit to Vietnam following his visit to India for the G20 Summit and said that the latter had talked about human rights and press freedom with PM Modi. Notably, no press was allowed for the 8 September meet between PM Modi and President Biden. Referring to Biden's address in Vietnam stating he spoke to the Prime Minister about human rights and free press, Ramesh said, Mr Modi saying to Mr Biden Na Press Conference karunga, Na karne doonga" (won't hold a press conference, won't let you hold one) has had no impact." An 8-year-old boy who was having dinner with his father lost his life during the Morocco earthquake. The boy Marouane Henna was telling his father Hamid Ben Henna about the items he would need for the upcoming school year when the earthquake struck. Ben Henna, his wife Amina, small daughter Meryem and other son Mouad made out of the house into the alleyway but Marouane could not make it. Morocco earthquake: Survivors struggle for food, water, shelter; seek aid as death toll rises passes 2,100 Body of the 8-year-old was recovered on the next day after the Ben Henna's arrived from Casablanca to help lift the rubble and the little boy was buried on Saturday morning. This is Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when an estimated 12,000 lives were lost. The earthquake's epicentre was located 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city renowned for its historical and architectural treasures. The Moroccan government has set up a fund for those affected by the disaster and is providing relief in the form of water, food, tents, and blankets. According to the Reuters report, the Henna family is not only grieving but also destitute with all their belongings lying in the wreckage of their fallen house. The family is sleeping outside in bitter cold for the third night in a row and their three-wheeler moped which served as the source of livelihood is buried in the fallen debris and no longer workss. The family still own a donkey and a goat but the animal was buried in a collapsed storeroom. Meanwhile, the animals can't be buried either since the meat cannot be refrigerated. (With inputs from Reuters) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! One security force personnel was killed and several other people were injured in a bomb blast in Pakistan's Peshawar on Monday. The bomb blast had targeted a vehicle of the security forces near a hospital complex. Rescue of injured people is still going on. The bomb blast also injured eight people, which included five paramilitary force personnel, a senior police official. The attack took place on personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) in front of Prime Hospital on Warsak Road in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Later, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The improvised explosive device went off near an FC van that was driving along the key Warsak Road in Peshawar. The blast was planned by the use of an improvised explosive device(IED), said Warsak Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Arshad Khan. He said that the attack had injured five FC officials and three civilians. The police have initiated the investigation in the matter and the nature of the blast is yet to be confirmed. According to the initial investigation reports, the attack was not the result of suicide blast, said Peshawar City Police Chief Ashfaq Anwar. He also agreed to the possibility of the attack being the result of explosive item. Rising attacks by TTP on Pakistani forces The wounded people were taken to the Peshawar military hospital for treatment. The outlawed Pakistani Taliban is also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. Over few days, there has been an increase in the number of attacks by the terror group on Pakistani security forces. The increase in the number of attacks was observed since pulling out of a unilateral cease-fire agreement with the government in November last year. TTP is a separate group, but are allied with the Afghan Taliban, who took over Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the country. The Afghanistan takeover gave an upper edge to TTP, who now began to carry out attacks near the Afghan border more frequently. On the other side, Pakistani military claims that it has cleared much of the northwest of militants. These claims fall short against the rising number of attacks by Pakistani Taliban. There is also concern about the regrouping of Pakistani Taliban in the area. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! In a bid to revitalise its struggling economy, Pakistan has unveiled a new visa policy designed to lure international business communities to invest in the nation. This significant decision was reached during a two-day consultation meeting convened under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a unique civil-military hybrid body initially established by the former Shehbaz Sharif government to tackle Pakistan's economic challenges. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, presiding over the fifth apex committee meeting of SIFC, announced this groundbreaking development via a recorded message. He revealed that Pakistan had approved a more accessible visa regime for foreign entrepreneurs eager to explore business opportunities within the country. What the new visa policy offers? Under this new policy, foreign businessmen will be granted visas based on a single document issued by their home countries or international business organisations. If Pakistans chambers of business or business organisations issue a document to a foreign businessman, easy visas will also be issued to them," the statement quoted caretaker Prime Minister Kakar as saying. He expressed hope that under this new visa regime, Pakistan would enter a new phase of business and economy. In a subsequent press conference held alongside other ministers, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani disclosed that the SIFC also deliberated on Pakistan's relationships with key global players, including China, the United States, and various Middle Eastern countries. Notably, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have expressed interest in engaging with the investment council. Meanwhile, Law Minister Ahmad Irfan Aslam, in an interview with Dawn newspaper, acknowledged that, unlike the significant investments from China in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Western nations had not yet made definitive commitments to the SIFC. He clarified that the SIFC and CPEC had distinct scopes and sectors for Chinese investments. While CPEC primarily focuses on infrastructure, roads, and energy projects, the SIFC opens doors for Chinese investments in minerals and other sectors beyond the corridor project. (With agency inputs) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! As the world lurches towards greater multi-polarity, there is an alphabet soup of plurilateral organizations vying for power and influence. The Group of 20 (G20) nations just concluded its summit meeting under Indias presidency. India, which had received the baton from Indonesia, will turn it over to Brazil this November. The G20, made up of 19 nations and the European Union (EU), is itself an expansion of the earlier Group of 7 developed nations (G7). The G7 was born in 1973 as a crisis management and coordination group following the first oil shock and reverberations caused by the end of the Bretton Woods fixed currency exchange system. Similarly, the G20 was born in response to the Asian Financial Crisis of 1998. Both the G7 and G20 are unofficial inter-governmental groups. It is by convention today that heads of state, finance ministers, central bank governors and other officials attend their summit meetings. Chinese President Xi Xinping and Russian President Vladmir Putin were conspicuous by their absence at this years G20 meeting in New Delhi. Xi has not missed a single G20 since he came to power in 2012. Whether Xis absence is a snub aimed at India or whether China is turning against the construct of the G20 itself, only time will tell. In contrast, his presence was obvious and large at the recently concluded BRICS summit in Johannesburg. Xi presided over that conclave where six new members, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, were admitted to the group. Any organization born for the cross-cutting purpose of crisis coordination works well so long as the crisis originates from a point exogenous to the group. The G7 is built on shared values of liberal democracy, freedom and open markets. Unlike the G7, the only unifying theme for the G20 is that it is made up of large, growing countries. Without shared values, the G20 cannot easily build consensus when the conflict is within itself. Russias war in Ukraine and the US-China standoff on hi-tech trade are proving to be litmus tests for the G20. The main reasons for the expanding nature of these plurilateral organizations is an attempt by China to mark and enhance its influence in new post-Bretton Woods groups. Keen to acquire a global following of its own, China seeks to foster institutions where its world view holds sway. Given that the origins of the G20 are rooted in the liberal democracies of the G7, it is unlikely that China will ever wield meaningful influence there. The Chinese attempt is therefore to expand BRICS and promote the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO started as a Eurasian organization of several stans, founded by China and Russia, that has since expanded to include India and Pakistan. All three groups, the G20, BRICS+ and SCO can legitimately claim to represent fully half of humanity, given the membership of India and China. The G7 represents a much smaller population of about 800 million, but more than half the worlds total wealth. The SCO is a regional formation and represents countries intersecting in Eurasia, BRICS+ is an attempt to empower developing countries of the Global South, and the G20 was created because the G7 came to realize that the world was much bigger and more heterogenous than just seven rich countries. While it is not absolute, the G7 is not expected to grow; the SCO, BRICS+ and the G20, however, might well see further increases in their membership. The African Union, for example, is joining the G20 as a bloc member (like the EU). A few strategic groups have also been renewed or created anew. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), which was seen as being in the midst of an existential crisis only a few years ago, has rallied awake around the conflict in Ukraine. The Quad group made up of the US, India, Japan and Australia is gradually getting its act together with a free and open" Indo-Pacific declared as a common commitment. An explicitly military alliance for the region called Aukus between Australia, the UK and US has already struck some deals for high-tech transfers to Australia. Since its founding, the Peoples Republic of China has eschewed alliances and has only ever concluded two arrangements: one with the Soviet Union in 1950 and another with North Korea in 1961. Only the North Korean alliance survives, though Beijing in 2022 announced a no limits" partnership with Moscow, which can be seen as a sign of strategic closeness. Otherwise, the broad Chinese rationale is that alliances entrap countries in unnecessary wars, that there are few viable allies which are militarily strong, that they are not very useful for non-traditional security threats, and that formal alliances would lead to increasing tensions. Only time will tell whether the Sino-Russian embrace of recent times will turn into a revival of their former alliance, this time with China acting as the senior partner. As things stand, the Western alliance, led by the US and expanding in a multi-pronged way, has a power advantage over a relatively isolated China. The proliferation of these economic, strategic, and military groups is an inevitable consequence of the world headed for multi-polarity while losing many elements of multilateralism. During the Cold War, the world was largely organized into three groups: the G7, Soviet bloc and the non-aligned group of nations. This pattern is now getting re- organized into theme- or purpose-based coalitions of countries; this, in some ways, is the very definition of multi-polarity. It seems rather likely that the world will be bar-belled between counter-parties of the G7 on one side and BRICS+ on the other, with the G20 acting as an occasional and increasingly weak bridge for matters that require global coordination. Watch for the soup to get thicker and murkier. P.S: If your enemy has alliances, the problem is grave", said Sun Tzu in The Art of War. Narayan Ramachandran is chairman, InKlude Labs. Read Narayans Mint columns at www.livemint.com/avisiblehand Indias G20 presidency came at a time when the world economy was beset with new challenges in meeting the sustainable development goals. The G20 Leaders Declaration under Prime Minister Narendra Modis astute navigation represents momentous progress, with the Indian presidency setting new benchmarks for global collaboration under the G20 India theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or One Earth, One Family, One Future. It was under the same theme that the Business 20 (B20) engagement group of the G20, representing global businesses, developed a wide range of recommendations to the G20 over the year. Hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the B20 platform brought together about 1,500 members from G20 and invitee countries, and numerous other stakeholders from across the globe. The sub-theme of RAISEResponsible, Accelerated, Innovative, Sustainable and Equitable Businessesarticulates the current and future priorities identified in B20 deliberations. The B20 task-forces focused on industry priorities aligned with larger G20 issues. In all, the B20 platform converged on 54 recommendations and 172 policy actions for G20 consideration. It is immensely gratifying to note the close synergy between B20 India proposals and the New Delhi declaration. One, for financing a global economic recovery, B20 has called for improving MSME access to finance and ensuring funds for sustainable and resilient infrastructure through alternative financing instruments, blended finance and the use of technology and digital platforms. The G20 trade ministers proposed strengthening of an MSME information portal. Two, on building resilient and inclusive global value chains, the forum asked for crisis mitigation and tech-enabled mechanisms for early risk detection. Services trade was forcefully taken up with recommendations related to superior data and better definitions and transparency in compliance information and procedures. Trade facilitation through technology at scale across borders can help enhance efficiency. All of these were well covered under the trade ministers outcome document, while the G20 declaration highlighted the need to create inclusive, sustainable and resilient global value chains as well as to promote ease of doing business. Three, the priority of financial inclusion was emphasized through ecosystem enablers, financial products, and legal and regulatory measures. Digital public infrastructure (DPI) can allow unique single-number digital identification of MSMEs and individuals that is recognized across countries, and help promote financial inclusion. DPI was a key item in the G20 document, with the Indian experience as a model. Four, the G20 can work on developing skills related to environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation, as well as needs of the care economy. Facilitating global workforce mobility necessitates the removal of policy hindrances and use of technology to enable cross-border labour movement. This was reflected in the leaders declaration on well-managed skills-based migration pathways and mapping of global skill gaps. Five, the energy, climate change and resource efficiency forum focused on driving the achievement of net-zero emissions across various industries and suggested industry-specific alliances. The G20 placed great emphasis on expanding the capacity of multilateral development banks to support energy transitions where concessional finance to emerging economies could work well. The documents focus on adaptability and resilience resonated with B20 perspectives on climate change, and differentiated country actions were strongly taken up. Six, the group accorded high priority to digital transformations, entailing moves to ensure high-quality, high speed and reliable access to the internet. Developing global minimum standards for digital literacy would enable international portability, while an internationally accepted digital toolkit and framework can support MSMEs in their digital transformation. Nations must also work together to promote digital trust by developing harmonized cybersecurity standards and frameworks. Seven, on tech, innovation and R&D, creating a rich repository of projects can help G20 countries learn, adopt, scale up and collaborate. The G20 could consider a common patent protection mechanism and also set up a centralized patent management mechanism with one application across all G20 countries. A G20 technology collaboration platform could be instituted to enable tech and R&D transfers across industry, institutes, startups and civil society. Eight, with ESG as an important future imperative, the B20 recommended a standard set of definitions/ taxonomies to ensure harmonized and transparent ESG frameworks for disclosures, reporting and rating. Nine, it was greatly heartening that India championed the inclusion of the African Union (AU), ensuring that it became a member of the G20. The B20 recommendations also covered support to education, agricultural transformation, industrialization and trade facilitation and infrastructure development. With the participation of the AU in G20 deliberations from now onwards, these causes would receive a huge impetus. Apart from inputs for the G20 to consider, B20 India brought forth key business actions to enhance the contribution of industry to global growth. First, B20 India has proposed a global institute to track recommendations and follow through on their implementation, which would provide continuity across B20 presidencies. Second, B20 India aims to align sector-specific decarbonization pathways for key sectors. Third, B20 India recommends the establishment of a Global SDG Acceleration Fund that will draw in private capital for projects towards achieving 2030 goals. This is proposed as a pure credit enhancement fund to help bridge the financing gap across developed and developing economies. Fourth, the forum compiled a compendium of best practices on innovation use cases to kick off an ongoing portal of technology use for development. The G20 leaders declaration has much to offer businesses, particularly in the Global South, and the B20 will continue to work with the G20 on shaping effective policies for inclusive development. Chandrajit Banerjee is director general of Confederation of Indian Industry and head of B20 India Secretariat Yes, I live in Bengaluru, and yes, my neighbourhood is the epicentre of Indias startup ecosystem. Still, I was struck by the manner in which the person at the adjacent table at Third Wave Coffee greeted his friend. Whats your hustle, man?" Over the past decade, the word hustle has made inroads into the vocabulary of the countrys tech industry. In a positive sense, it means different things: to move fast and get things done; to work hard and for long hours; to earn a second income; to do freelance work in the gig economy; or to start up a new business. In a not-so-positive (okay, negative) sense, it also means being sharp, pushy, unscrupulous, fake or downright scamming people. In an age when the meanings of words can be subjective depending on the identity of the person using them and the specific context of their usageit can be pretty difficult for a third person to understand what a hustle is. Having long associated hustling with pulling a fast one (or, in Indian parlance, putting a topi or cap on someones head) I am not comfortable with the word being used to describe entrepreneurship in our country. We have a long history of associating entrepreneurship (and business in general) with dubious practices, and it is only recentlyperhaps just in the past couple of decadesthat it has gained respectability. As Majrooh Sultanpuris lyrics for the 1956 Hindi film C.I.D. go, khud kaate gale sab ke, kahe iss ko business" (you cut throats and call it business). The problem with hustling in popular usage is that it can legitimize an amoral approach to business, investors, employees and customers. I decided to track down how hustle came to acquire its contemporary meaning. It turns out that for most of the past century, the word described what African-American people in the United States had to do to make a living in a world that was stacked against them. By the early 1990s, hip-hop artists in the US were using the term to describe their lifestyles that combined cultural and business entrepreneurship. From there, it travelled to the American tech industry, where it initially came to mean a hardworking, hard-selling approach to business. Tracing this history, NPRs Isabella Rosario writes that, Black rappers made hustling cool, weaving it into a narrative about Black resilience and self-empowerment. But importantly, their lyrics acknowledged that hustling was what Black people needed to do to survive in a rigged system. The work itselfselling drugs, working long hours, taking on multiple side-gigswas not glamorous. Instead, the strength and ingenuity needed to toil through this hard work was what was glorified." So we have hustle culture, which refers to a mode of life where one works long hours, is constantly responding to emails, is on calls at ungodly hours, postpones vacations and trades off leisure for business targets and higher valuations. This can be a good thing. Winning in a competitive marketplace requires dedicated, coordinated effort. As I wrote in a previous column about the misplaced outrage over 18-hour work days, Work-life balance is often misunderstood. There is no single point at which work, life responsibilities and leisure balance for everyone at every point in time... We all struggle to achieve this balance, if at all we ever do. The good news is that if you work hard and learn fast, you will be able get closer to your desired balance." But it can also be a bad thing, for instance when companies exploit employees and employees who engage in faking hard work in the name of hustle culture. Chinas tech industry leaders no longer valorize the 996 culture" (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) as they used to a few years ago. The backlash is taking many forms, one of which is tang ping ("lying flat"), a rejection of stress, overwork and the career treadmill. Then there is the side-hustle, a way of earning an extra second income while working on a full-time job. With the emergence of the gig economy, side-hustle opportunities became widely available and easily performable. Time and scruples are the only constraints. It is one thing for a software engineer to do graphic design for another client after office hours, but entirely another to freelance for a competitor. During the pandemic, the term moonlighting was erroneously used to describe what ought to be called two-timing, where people working from home for one company were doing similar work for another. Moonlighting can be cheating if there is conflict of interest or wilful dishonesty. It is difficult to build a thriving startup ecosystem by design. Many countries have tried, throwing large sums of money, people and real estate at such projects in bids to replicate the magic of Silicon Valley in California, US. Only a few have succeeded. Indiaespecially Bengaluruis among them. It is in Indias interests to reinforce the view that startups and entrepreneurship are about innovation, hard work and a scrupulous route to success. Words have power, because they create mental models that then drive behaviour. We should be careful with hustling. Nitin Pai is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy The G20 Sherpas seemed to be in a deadlock and a declaration of consensus by leaders of the group at their New Delhi summit looked unlikely. Yet, in a dramatic reversal, world leaders over the weekend did come together to declare a thorny issue resolved and issue a joint statement. That one materialized is a big win for India, whose G20 presidency has shown what the world may expect from a growing Indian voice at the global high table. The context was a world riven by the geopolitical wedge of war, with China and Russia ranged against the West over Ukraine. To the credit of Indias deft diplomacy, both sides softened their stance. Instead of war against Ukraine" in last years Bali G20 declaration, the 2023 language was changed to war in Ukraine." This pleased Russia, as also the fact that it got no mention as an aggressor, with only a general airing of the global need to uphold UN rules barring the use of force for territorial acquisition. If this was a climbdown on the Wests part, note that a rebuke with Moscow as its unstated target still found place in the text. Todays era must not be of war." This echoes the public advice given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russian President Vladimir Putin. For a substantive outcome, consider what the world gains from Russias own back-down. In unison, the G20 has called for a revival of the Black Sea grain deal. As a signatory, Moscow must ease its export blockade and end the shortage it had caused. In getting both sides to bend, New Delhi leveraged its neutrality and acted as a voice for the Global South, though its credentials of the latter were affirmed best by the African Unions inclusion as a permanent member of the group. The hug between Modi and the Unions chairperson Azali Assoumani was met with well deserved applause, as the 55-state regional grouping joins as a bloc, a privilege only the EU had. That India played the Global Souths champion was evident in much else that was agreed upon, such as the groups approach to debt relief, climate challenges and global governance, with a special G20 emphasis on reforms of multilateral institutions for better outcomes. How institutional power actually widens out under the current world order will be watched closely, but knobs set in that direction as a pledge are a start. The urgency of this exercise must not be lost. China has pitched for the same role with a string of big money moves. But Beijing has also signalled a will to reset the global order by the dictates of its own hegemony. If the appeal of BRICS as an anti-West forum is to diminish across the emerging world, as the West would surely want, a Western embrace of inclusion in its true global sense is a must. That America is back" was also in firmer evidence than before, as seen in plans for a trade corridor unveiled by India, the US, EU, Saudi Arabia and others, a Silk Route of the digital age from this subcontinent to Europe that could serve our supply chain ambitions and also counter Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. In all, the New Delhi Declaration spells hope for globalization in a shaken world thats facing economic headwinds. New Delhi has managed to prevent a split of the G20 and secured nods on a wide range of issues. Alas, the spirit of One Earth, One Family, One Future is easier said than practised in todays fractious world. How long it takes for reality to reflect G20 rhetoric is, at best, a guess. Its over, bar the shouting. The headline for Indias G20 presidency will undoubtedly be a consensus forged among fractious global leaders. This was in addition to successfully aligning the summit agenda with the Global Souths interests, which included, among other things, re-focusing attention on the indebtedness that has afflicted poor and developing nations after the pandemic. The Indian presidencys extraordinary achievements will now have to be followed up with equally exceptional steps to dispel doubts that G20 commitments rarely translate into action. The Indian presidencys crowning moment was the unexpected but unanimous acceptance of a Leaders Declaration, that too a day in advance. This was achieved with sophisticated, deft deployment of words that speak but do not tell. The Leopard-2 tank in the roomthe Russia-Ukraine warthreatened to derail consensus; however, the wording of the final text, which departs from the Bali declaration, not only had the Wests approval, but also assuaged Russian and Chinese concerns. The other big achievement was the inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent G20 member, which helps burnish Indias claim as a true representative of the Global South. This inclusion was overdue and its to the Indian leaderships credit for pushing it over the line. There are other notable commitments as well, including a new gas-to-digital supply chain spanning India, West Asia and Europe. Once the post-summit celebrations are over, it might be necessary to think about some of the challenges that might arise from the G20 declaration. This becomes even more pressing when considering the view of John James Kirton, professor emeritus and founder of the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto: Most of the commitments were weak, with G20 leaders promising to keep doing what they have already committed to do." Two issues need immediate attention. The first relates to the movement of people as part of trade agreements. The Declaration states: well-integrated and adequately skilled workers benefit origin and destination countries alike and (we) commit to working towards ensuring well-managed, regular and skills-based migration pathways." But people movement seems to be holding up the UK trade deal. Indias ambassador in London, Vikram Doraiswami, went public recently to pacify UKs anti-immigration lobbies (tied umbilically to the Rishi Sunak government) and to re-emphasize nuances in Indias demand for visas, intended to serve as a placatory gesture. Doraiswamis statement raises concerns whether India is walking back from its stated position on movement of professionals, which is now part of the New Delhi G20 Declaration also, in its eagerness to conclude the trade deal. India has been dogged in its opposition to the developed worlds barriers on movement of professionals, otherwise known as Mode-4 services exports under the General Agreement on Trade in Services. This might be Indias moment to take advantage of the G20 momentum. The second issue relates to the AUs admission to the club. It will be interesting to see how this plays out because it is individual countries, and not the AU, which are members of important global platforms such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO is important because Indias stand at the trade body, despite being frequently aligned with the interests of many African nations, has found few supporters. Often, African support for India was sacrificed at the altar of curious trade deals with the West. The AU inclusion now provides India with additional bragging rights in the continent. This becomes doubly urgent in the light of Chinas incursions in the continent and the sovereign indebtedness it has spawned in pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Michael Bennon and Francis Fukuyama write in Foreign Affairs that many African countries have been seeking loans from multilateral and bilateral lenders in their quest to wriggle out of the BRI-focused debt trap. This might be an opportune moment for India to revive its instrument for economic diplomacy: project-linked bilateral lines of credit, which are more recipient-friendly in design. Its performance has been underwhelming so far, but the AU platform should be able to provide India with a head-start. The G20 has time till the 2024 Brazil summit to follow up on the Delhi commitments, including operationalizing the new trade route. But beyond its global remit, the 2023 G20 summit also has a domestic fallout. The Indian presidency was able to take a staid, solemn (and usually boring) summit to the masses by holding over 200 meetings in 60 different towns and cities across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited this to his governments belief in bipartisanship and cooperative federalism. Many opposition leaders have, however, been accusing New Delhi of increasingly centralizing power. The veracity of the governments claims will be tested by November-end from two Constitution-mandated developments: who it appoints as chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission and the panels terms of reference. In the true spirit of cooperative federalism, if the states are to be genuinely treated as critical partners in the countrys growth regardless of their political disposition, a lot will depend on how the Commission finalizes the sharing of resources and revenues between the Centre and states. Rajrishi Singhal is a policy consultant and a senior journalist. His Twitter handle is @rajrishisinghal. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! New Delhi: The Maldives, a crucial ally for India in the Indian Ocean, completed its first round of pivotal presidential elections on Saturday. The results could mean a potential strategic shift for India. President Ibu Solih, a steadfast supporter of the India-Maldives partnership, trailed behind Mohamed Muizzu. Given Muizzu's clear reservations about India, this election could reshape the dynamics of the region. Here's a deep dive into the evolving situation. What is the background? An island nation located around 2,000 km from India, the Maldives is among Indias most important partners in the Indian Ocean. India's regional dominance is significantly bolstered by a robust bond with a geographically strategic partner like the Maldives. New Delhi has also been a significant provider of development aid to the country. Numerous Maldivian presidents have traditionally followed an India First" strategy, prioritizing strategic ties with India. This includes the incumbent President Ibu Solih. However, a section of Maldivian politicians, particularly the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has apprehensions about India's prominent role. What are the roots of such concerns? Abdulla Yameen, who led the PPM and served as President between 2013 and 2018, began a policy of cultivating partners other than India, especially China. Experts believe President Yameen saw India as a backer of the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), his political rivals. Yameen accused Indian defence personnel present in the Maldives in support roles of indulging in espionage". He also signed a free trade agreement with China even as debt to Beijing spiralled during his tenure. The PPM also led the India Out" campaign which attempted to cast suspicion on Indian investments and activities in the country. Why does this election matter? Incumbent President Ibu Solih, who took office in 2018, returned the countrys foreign policy to its India First" orientation. However, he faces a tough challenge from Mohamed Muizzu, the current mayor of Male, the countrys capital, and a candidate for the Progressive Alliance. The alliance includes the PPM and Muizzu is considered a close associate of former president Yameen, who has been disqualified from running for re-election. No president in Maldives has won a second term since the country's transition to democracy. Additionally, Solih's party has seen internal division as former president Mohammed Nasheed, who led the country between 2008 and 2012, left the party to form a new one. What has happened so far? In the first round of the presidential election, Muizzu got 46.06% of the votes with President Solih trailing with 39.05%. A candidate backed by Nasheed polled bagged 7%. The second round is expected to take place soon and will pit Solih against Muizzu. For Solih to bridge the gap, he will need significant support. At this time, he seems unlikely to receive it from Nasheed. This does not bode well for his re-election bid. Will a Muizzu victory spell trouble for India? Muizzu has previously questioned projects and contracts awarded to Indian companies. He also committed to a policy that would require foreign military personnel to leave the country, which would impact Indias presence there. Therefore, his victory in the second round could be a blow to India. However, Muizzu may require the support of former president Mohammed Nasheed to win office. The latter has been a strong advocate of closer ties with India and may be able to moderate Muizzus positions on relations with India. Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on Saturday and sent to 14 day judicial custody by a Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court. Chandrababu Naidu was brought to Central Prison in Rajamahendravaram. The TDP chief has been accused in in a multi-crore corruption Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Scam case. The septuagenarian politician has been granted provision of home-cooked food, medication and a special room, among other amenities. The former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh has also been provided with a separate accommodation inside the jail in view of the purported threat to his life. He is a Z-plus category security protectee. Naidu's son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh followed his father to the prison gates and waited outside for some time before leaving, reported PTI. Ahead of the Andhra Pradesh assembly polls, the pot-shots TDP threw at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on being a state chief out on bail, seems to have boomeranged on Chandrababu Naidu himself. Who is likely to lead TDP, if not for Chandrababu Naidu? The case has cast aspersions over heavy weights of the Telegu Desam Party, including Atchen Naidu, the president of the Andhra unit of the party and former education minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao. However, with either Atchen Naidu, or Ganta Srinivasa Rao, can TDP retain its charm ahead of the crucial polls? Further, Chandrababu Naidu's son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh is also likely to be investigated in the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development corruption case. A long drawn legal battle would mean taking the sheen off the TDP in the run-up to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections that is scheduled later this year, and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It would also mean confusion in the ranks with questions raised over the TDP's ability to stage a comeback in Andhra Pradesh, in the absence of Chandrababu Naidu. However, the Telegu Desam Party could decide to retain Naidu as their lead despite the former chief minister sitting in Rajamahendravaram central jail. The TDP, however, believes targeting a leader in his 70s would translate into a sympathy vote for him, re-attempt of the 2003 strategy wherein Naidu used the Naxalite attack on himself as a poll point, only to loose the election to YS Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress. What is the AP Skill Development corruption scam case? N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in the early hours of Saturday from a marriage hall outside which his caravan was parked. He was produced in the ACB Court in Vijayawada on Sunday morning around 6 am. According to officials, the case pertains to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of 300 crore. The agency officials also claimed that the alleged fraud has caused a huge loss to the state government in excess of 300 crores. As per CID, the investigation has revealed irregularities such as before any expenditure by private entities, the then state government provided an advance of 371 crores, representing the entire 10% commitment by the government. Most of the money advanced by the government was diverted to shell companies through fake invoices, with no actual delivery or sale of the items mentioned in the invoices, CID officials said. In its remand report, the CID has said that according to the investigation so far, the total amount spent by private entities on six skill development clusters is sourced exclusively from funds advanced by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and AP Skill Development Center, totalling 371 crores. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and urged him to "give away the Gandhi title". He said that the Gandhi family is the "Sardar of Duplicate" and further alleged that they committed too many scams. Assam CM said this while addressing the National Executive Meeting of BJP Mahila Morcha in Guwahati."Their first scam started with the title of Gandhi. They did only Parivarvad and worked on breaking the country. I request Rahul Gandhi to give away the Gandhi title," Sarma said. CM Sarma commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'Delhi Declaration' ratified at the G20 leaders' summit in Delhi, attributing its success solely to his leadership. Also Read: Congress uses India and Bharat as per its political convenience: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma "Kamakhya corridor will come into reality in the next two years. Only because of PM Modi, the Delhi declaration happened amid Ukraine, Russia war. Congress didn't celebrate 25 years, or 50 years of independence of the country. But, Modi ji celebrated 75 years of independence and everyone feels that we are Bharatiya. The great reformer Mahapurusha Sankaradeva wrote about Bharat Bhumi 500 years ago, this is our Bharat Bhumi," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. "Yesterday when I saw Modi ji talking with global leaders I felt that Bharat has now become Viswaguru. Women are now leading the country. PM Modi gives more focus on Nari Shakti, women empowerment. A few days ago we launched an operation against Child Marriage. Getting married at 9 years and giving birth at 12 years is common in a particular community in Assam. No Hindu endorse casteism, but one Tamil Nadu minister talked against Hindus," the Assam Chief Minister said. Also Read: Assam govt seeks withdrawal of Disturbed Areas Act, AFSPA from entire state. Know more He also announced that the state government intends to initiate a substantial campaign against child marriage within the upcoming 10 days. "Mahila Morcha should launch a campaign against child marriage and polygamy across the country. We will bring act against polygamy in December. The nation now again needs Modi ji. We will have to make Modi ji PM for 10 years. Modi government will be formed in Bharat," CM Sarma said. The CM also highlighted that the Northeast has changed in terms of development transformation. "We are trying to make the 40 lakh as Individual entrepreneur. 10,000 will be provided to their bank account, next year and 15,000 from government and 15,000 from bank in next and it will be gone upto 1 lakh. First year we will give 100 percent subsidy to 40 lakh women," Assam CM said. Also Read: Assam to table bill to ban polygamy in state assembly, CM Sarma says, 'Will include issue of love jihad' Further, he said, Today's North East has changed in terms of development transformation. 14 years ago North East has completely changed. Out of 25, BJP will win 22 seats in the north east." (With inputs from ANI) "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Apparently, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhury on Sunday questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees decision to attend the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, asking if that would not weaken her stance against the Narendra Modi government. The state Congress president also wondered whether there was any other reason" for the Trinamool Congress supremo to take part in the programme. "When many non-BJP CMs refrained from attending the dinner, Didi (Mamata Banerjee) went to Delhi a day in advance. She attended the occasion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the same room. I wonder what prompted her to rush all the way to Delhi to be in the dinner party along with these leaders," Choudhury told reporters here. Clarifying why Banerjee attended the dinner, TMC leader Saugata Roy said, Mamata Banerjee was invited as the chief minister of West Bengal to the G20 dinner by the President (Droupadi Murmu). She attended it as a matter of ample courtesy. There is no political significance to it and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury should not have commented on it." As Washington seeks to exploit cracks in Russias traditional sphere of influence, U.S. forces began joint military exercises with troops from Armenia, the small South Caucasus country that has been a close Russian ally for nearly 200 years. In a possible sign of the geopolitical realignment driven by Russias invasion in Ukraine, U.S. forces commenced on Monday 10 days of joint exercises with Armenian soldiers. About 175 Armenian soldiers will train with about 85 soldiers from U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command outside the capital of Yerevan. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Armenia has been an important security partner for Russia and houses one of a small handful of military bases the Kremlin maintains on foreign soil. The country has also remained a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a security alliance of former Soviet countries, which Moscow has developed as an answer to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But Armenia has increasingly worked to shrug off Russian influence, particularly in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan directly denied a Russian announcement that the CSTO would host exercises this year in Armenia. He also refused to send troops for those exercises, which were ultimately held in Belarus earlier this month. A senior State Department official acknowledged that the U.S. is looking to bolster its partnerships with countries that had traditionally leaned on Moscow for economic and military cooperation, although that official dismissed the notion that was the reason for the joint exercises with Armenia. Were always looking for an opportunity to deepen our bilateral ties with these countries," the official said. Armenia has hosted NATO forces previously for training. U.S. officials said the joint exercises with Armenia had been long in the works and would be focused on peacekeeping operations. Last week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed alarm" over the exercises. The exercises come amid growing regional tensions between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan as well as Yerevans growing frustration with Russias failure to enforce a 2020 cease-fire it brokered between the two countries while the Kremlin is mired in the Ukraine war. While part of Armenias turn to the West reflects a generational shift of younger people who see their future tied to Europe and the U.S., it is also driven by Armenias frustration with Russia. It says Moscow, distracted by Ukraine, has failed to fulfill security guarantees in Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory that lies inside Azerbaijan but has been disputed, often violently, between Azerbaijan and Armenia for three decades. The enclave, predominantly Armenian with a population of approximately 120,000, broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s. After heavy fighting with Armenia in 2020, Azerbaijan has since reasserted control around the territory. At the time, Russia brokered a cease-fire, promising to stop the violence and ensure freedom of movement for both sides through the Lachin Corridor, the main road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia and a critical route for the delivery of food, fuel and medicine to the enclave. But Azerbaijan has since imposed a de-facto blockade on that corridor. Last month, the United Nations urged Azerbaijan to lift the blockade to alleviate the suffering of thousands of people in Nagorno-Karabakh and allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population." Azerbaijan says it is preventing the import of weapons into the territory from Armenia, a claim Armenia has denied. Over the past week, Azerbaijan has built up troops around the enclave and on the border of Armenia, a move that Pashinyan said had aggravated the regional political and military situation. Previously, Moscow also failed to come to Armenias aid in 2021 through the CSTO when the country accused Azerbaijan of advancing inside Armenian territory. Armenia is overly dependent on Russia and that is our biggest strategic vulnerability and our biggest mistake, something we have to change with the West and other partners," said Areg Kochinyan, president of the Yerevan-based Research Center on Security Policy. Its not just that Armenians are no longer seeing Russia as a partner, its that theyre starting to call it a traitor," he added. So far, Armenia has been careful not to provoke Russia, which invaded Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine last year over the countries attempts to break out of its orbit. Nonetheless, Moscow has increasingly criticized pro-Western Armenian rhetoric and its expressions of frustration as bordering on rudeness." Russias Foreign Ministry also said last week that it summoned the Armenian ambassador to the ministry to protest increasingly anti-Russian rhetoric among Armenian officials. As tensions rise between Russia and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, the U.S. has played an increasingly active role in the region, condemning the humanitarian crisis inside Nagorno-Karabakh and calling for Azerbaijan to reopen the Lachin Corridor. Washington played a role in negotiating a cease-fire when hostilities flared up last year. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held meetings with Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev this year. The current military exercises in Armenia have raised concern in Azerbaijan that the U.S. cant be an honest broker in its conflict with Yerevan, despite repeated efforts by Blinken, as well as European and U.N. officials, to hold talks with both sides to ease tensions. A senior State Department official described the exercises as part of an ongoing partnership" with Armenia and dismissed claims that they signaled any type of bias, adding that transparency is the way to go on so many of these issues." Write to Vivian Salama at vivian.salama@wsj.com and Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! Daniel Zhang, the former CEO of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., has stepped down from his role as chairman of the companys cloud computing unit, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. The move comes as the Chinese e-commerce giant is facing increasing scrutiny from regulators. Zhangs resignation was announced in a statement by Alibaba. The company said that Zhang had decided to step down to focus on other priorities. Alibaba Cloud Intelligence is one of the largest cloud computing providers in the world. The unit has been growing rapidly in recent years, but it has also been under increasing scrutiny from Chinese regulators. In April, the Chinese government imposed its largest-ever fine of 18.2 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion) on Alibaba Cloud for antitrust violations. The regulatory scrutiny has weighed on Alibabas stock price. The companys shares have fallen by more than 50% since the beginning of the year. What does Zhangs resignation mean for Alibaba? Zhangs resignation is a sign of the challenges that Alibaba is facing. The company is under pressure from regulators to comply with new rules, and it is also facing competition from other Chinese tech giants. Alibaba Cloud is still a major growth driver for the company, but it is unclear how the regulatory scrutiny will affect its business. The company has declared its commitment to law compliance, but it remains unclear how it plans to achieve this without hindering its growth. The resignation of Zhang is a setback for Alibaba, but it is not the end of the company. Alibaba is still a major player in the Chinese e-commerce market, and it has a strong track record of innovation. The company will need to navigate the regulatory challenges, but it is still well-positioned for long-term growth. What does this mean for the cloud computing market? The resignation of Zhang is a blow to the cloud computing market in China. Alibaba Cloud is one of the leading players in the market, and its departure could create opportunities for other providers. However, it is also possible that the regulatory scrutiny of Alibaba Cloud will have a chilling effect on the entire cloud computing market in China. Companies may be less willing to invest in the cloud if they are worried about being fined by regulators. What are the implications for investors? The resignation of Zhang is a negative development for Alibaba investors. The company is facing increasing challenges, and it is unclear how it will navigate them. Investors should carefully monitor the situation and consider selling their shares if they are not comfortable with the risks. Whats next for Alibaba? Alibaba will need to find a new chairman for its cloud computing unit. The company will also need to address the regulatory challenges that it is facing. It is too early to say what the long-term impact of Zhangs resignation will be. However, it is clear that Alibaba is facing a difficult period. Laurence Graff is a British-South African jewellery designer and businessman. He is the founder and chairman of Graff Diamonds, a luxury jewellery brand that is known for its high-quality diamonds and its celebrity clientele. Laurence Graff treasures the clientele he has encountered; it is, he happily acknowledges, one of the bonuses of being in the business. I have become friends with a number of our clients, and this has now passed to the second generation, as my son Francois is inheriting those relationships. Graff is a family business and the people who enter our boutiques and buy our jewels become part of our family. They buy what we love: we love our jewels like we love our children; they are very, very special to us and we strive to offer jewellery pieces that will last forever. It is often quoted that Laurence Graff has handled more important diamonds than any other diamantaire of our time, possibly of any time. These include both noble, historic diamonds of the past, and astonishing new discoveries, destined to be the famous diamonds of the future. Six decades after he set out in the industry and with a host of prestigious honours to his name including four Queens Awards to Industry and an OBE in the Queens Birthday Honours List Laurence Graff still experiences the excitement he used to feel: I have the same passion and desire for diamonds as I did when I first established Graff. I truly believe I am the luckiest man in the world because I see diamonds every day. Laurence Graff honours the heritage of the diamond and, in the same way, shares the legacy he has built, for even as the business has diversified and extended its global reach the House of Graff remains a family business, operating at the very pinnacle of the industry. This legacy ensures that Graff jewels continue to be the most fabulous jewels in the world. Graff was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1938. He began his career in the jewellery trade at a young age, working for his fathers diamond cutting business. In 1960, he moved to London to set up his own jewellery business. Graff Diamonds quickly became one of the most successful jewellery brands in the world. The company is known for its high-quality diamonds, which are sourced from around the world. Graff Diamonds has also been known to purchase entire diamond mines, which gives the company a greater degree of control over the quality and supply of its diamonds. Graff Diamonds has a clientele of celebrities and other high-profile individuals. The company has designed jewellery for stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah Winfrey, and Elton John. Graff Diamonds has also been featured in films such as Titanic and The Wolf of Wall Street. Graff is a self-made billionaire. He is ranked as the 503rd richest person in the world by Forbes magazine. Graff is also a philanthropist and has donated money to a number of charitable causes. In 2019, Graff was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the jewellery industry. Here are some of the milestones in Laurence Graffs career: 1960: Sets up his own jewellery business in London. 1970s: Graff Diamonds becomes one of the most successful jewellery brands in the world. 1980s: Purchases entire diamond mines, giving the company greater control over the quality and supply of its diamonds. 1990s: Graff Diamonds becomes a global brand, with stores in major cities around the world. 2000s: Graff Diamonds designs jewellery for celebrities and other high-profile individuals. 2010s: Graff Diamonds is featured in films such as Titanic and The Wolf of Wall Street. 2019: Laurence Graff is awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the jewellery industry. Laurence Graff is a successful businessman and philanthropist. He is known for his passion for diamonds and his commitment to quality. Graff Diamonds is one of the most successful jewellery brands in the world, and it is a testament to Laurence Graffs vision and drive. Shayne Heffernan UPDATE: Chattanoogans showed up in droves to welcome home a local hero, and Medal of Honor recipient, Captain Larry Taylor with a parade and ceremony today. Almost one week ago, Taylor was presented the Medal of Honor at the White House by President Biden. Several groups showed up to support Taylor, and help with the city event. The parade kicked off at 11:30 a.m. near the Read House, and made its way down towards the river, to a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center that was attended by several dignitaries, including one of the four men Taylor rescued Retired Army Sgt. David Hill, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Chattanooga Mayor Kelly, and Hamilton Co. Mayor Wamp. Taylor is a resident of Signal Mountain. He grew up in St. Elmo and went to Chattanooga High School when it was on East 3rd, where CSAS is now. Taylor graduated in 1961 and then enrolled in UTC, graduating in 1966, and later serving in the Vietnam War. Captain Taylor previously received the Silver Star for action while engaged against a U.S. enemy or in military operations involving a conflict with an opposing force. An permanent exhibit dedicated to Taylor will be inside the Medal of Honor Museum, that will include a Vietnam era Cobra helicopter, like Taylor flew, and is scheduled to open within the next year. WATCH LIVE: Watch our live coverage, as the parade kicks off at 11:30 a.m. near the Read House, making its way down towards the Aquarium, to a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center starting at 1:00 p.m., attended by several dignitaries, including one of the four men Taylor rescued Retired Army Sgt. David Hill, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Chattanooga Mayor Kelly, and Hamilton Co. Mayor Wamp. PREVIOUS STORY: Last Tuesday, Taylor was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House. This morning, Chattanooga is preparing to welcome him home with a parade, beginning at the Read House at 11:30 a.m. He joins five others from our area who have claimed the most prestigious decoration offered to veterans by the United States military. Mayor Tim Kelly is encouraging everyone to line Market Street and display the city's spirit in welcoming home Army Captain Larry L. Taylor, who is a native of Signal Mountain. "Many, many times the Medal of Honor is awarded posthumous and we're lucky to still have Captain Taylor with us and we should celebrate him while we still do, says Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., high school bands, JROTC units, ROTC units, veteran organizations representing all branches of the military, and varying conflicts from the Vietnam War to the War on Terror will begin their march down Market Street in the parade. The parade will also feature a special flyover of multiple Vietnam era Cobra, like Taylor flew, and modern-day Apache Helicopters. All led by the grand marshal, Taylor himself, alongside the U.S. Armys 1st Infantry Division Mounted Color Guard and Band from Fort Riley, Kansas. The parade is estimated to last for 45 minutes. At 1 p.m., the parade will conclude with a ceremony at the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center. Local, state, and national representatives, including Mayor Kelly, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, General BB Bell of the National Advisory Board for the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, Brig. Gen. Niave Knell, the 1st Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General for Support, and Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Leroy Petry will all speak at the ceremony. Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp commented on Taylors character, saying, There is no greater role model to represent the values of Hamilton County than legendary Vietnam veteran Larry Taylor, whose valor as a Cobra pilot is finally being appropriately recognized. All residents of Hamilton County should take great pride in sharing this once-in-a-lifetime celebration with our hometown hero. CDOT is encouraging people to plan additional travel time before and after the parade, and to utilize alternative routes if they are not participating. Riverfront Parkway or Main Street are the routes being recommended to use as alternatives. Taylor is the sixth Medal of Honor recipient from the Chattanooga area. From Tennessee are Sequatchie Countys Raymond Cooley. Charles Coolidge of Signal Mountain, Ray Duke of Whitwell, and, Paul Huff of Cleveland. World War II hero Desmond Doss lived in Collegedale and in north Georgia for many years. He is buried at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. The parade will travel northbound through the downtown area on Market Street, and roads will be closed before and after the parade. Market St will be closed at Frazier Ave at 11:30 a.m., and all southbound traffic will need to detour via Manufacturers Rd and HWY 27. All eastbound and westbound traffic at 11th St, 10th St, Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, 8th St, 7th St, 6th St, 5th St, 4th St, 3rd St, Aquarium Way, and E 1st St will also be closed for an estimated duration of one hour. Due to the expected high turnout, Broad Street and Aquarium Way will close earlier than previously announced, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with street parking prohibited during this time. Maia, a dog that went missing at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport nearby three weeks ago, has been found, the airport said. The Government is coming under pressure to row back on a VAT rates hike for Longfords tourism and hospitality sector. From midnight last Thursday, August 31, the 9% Vat rate will revert to a pre-pandemic level of 13% in a move which has been met by much derision locally. The VAT rate for tourism and hospitality was cut to 9 per cent during the pandemic to protect businesses, and has since cost an estimated 300 million. However, a number of locally based cafes and restaurants have been quick to denounce the proposed increase. Krzysztof Kulisz from Longford delicatessen Dessert Mania said the plans were already forcing local businesses to make tough choices. That is the problem to pass onto the customers or the business, he said. Probably from the beginning we (will) take it because we dont want to increase prices. Fellow local eatery owner Mahdi Abdul of Coffee Corner said the decision to revert to a higher 13.5 per cent rate was 100 per cent the wrong move to impart on businesses already struggling to make ends meet. Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins said, The increase is wrong at a time when the country needs to reduce inflation, a vat increase only adds to inflation. Government needs to restore the 9% Vat for Food related Hospitality businesses in Budget 2024 and we will be making the case for this when we meet with the Minister for Finance next week. The increase in the vat rate is the final nail in the coffin for many small cafes, restaurants and food led pubs. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 Joe Nunez Was Found Guilty in May 2023 of Felony Drug and Weapon Possession After a Jury Trial. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the sentencing of Joe Nunez, 34, of Copiague, to 15 years in prison for felony drug and weapon possession charges stemming from a police response to two unrelated minor noise complaints in August 2022. In this defendants haste to evade law enforcement, he damaged property, threw a loaded illegal weapon onto a public street, and littered someones yard with dangerous and deadly drugs, said District Attorney Tierney. The prosecution of cases involving illegal drugs and guns is extremely important to my Office because their infiltration into our communities inevitably results in violence, addiction, and death. The evidence at trial established that on August 14, 2022, Suffolk County Police Department uniformed officers responded to the vicinity of Campagnoli Avenue in Copiague in response to unrelated noise complaints. Upon concluding addressing the noise complaints, the officers observed Nunez operating an unregistered dirt bike. When they attempted to approach him, Nunez fled on the dirt bike but struck a parked vehicle. Nunez then ran from the scene of the accident while an officer pursued him on foot. During the chase, the officer observed Nunez throw a black metal object under a vehicle that was parked on the corner of Campagnoli Avenue and Colombo Avenue. The officer continued to chase Nunez and saw him throw a clear plastic bag over a fence and into a residential yard located on Columbo Avenue. After apprehending and arresting Nunez, the officers returned to the two locations where Nunez discarded the items during the chase, and they recovered a loaded illegal firearm under the vehicle, as well as a clear plastic bag containing three separate bags containing substances that were later tested and determined to be fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine, respectively. Nunez has multiple prior felony convictions dating back to 2007. In 2015, Nunez was convicted of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony. In 2009, he was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, a Class D felony. In 2007, Nunez was convicted of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree. On May 23, 2023, Nunez was found guilty after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, for the charges of: Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, a Class B felony; One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony; Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony; and One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. On September 7, 2023, Nunez was sentenced by Judge Collins to 15 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Jonathan Manley, Esq. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Saam Jalayer of the Narcotics Bureau, with investigative assistance by Suffolk County Police Department Detective Kevin Gribbin of the First Squad, and Suffolk County Police Officers Peter Verhey and Michael Chimenti. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 Carlos Spielfogel-Lopez approached victims car, placed firearm to his ear, pulled the trigger and severed victims spinal cord. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an Elmont man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for a 2018 shooting in Hempstead that left the victim a quadriplegic. Carlos Spielfogel-Lopez, 36, was convicted after a jury trial on May 17, 2023, of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony) and Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony). He was acquitted of Gang Assault in the First Degree (a B felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The trial began on May 8, 2023, and the jury deliberated for less than a day before delivering their verdict. The defendant was sentenced today by Judge Terence Murphy to 25 years in prison and five years post-release supervision. Carlos Spielfogel-Lopez pointed a loaded gun at a young mans head and pulled the trigger, severing the victims spine and confining the victim to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, DA Donnelly said. The defendant fled the county after the shooting, but thanks to great detective work, he was arrested and brought to justice. I thank the Nassau County Police Department and my prosecutors for holding this dangerous defendant accountable for his actions. DA Donnelly said that on November 4, 2018, at approximately 2:57 a.m., the victim was in the front passenger seat of his friends Jeep Cherokee parked at a Goodyear Tires location at 101 N. Franklin Street in Hempstead. He and his friends had just returned to their parked car from El Pacifico bar around the corner from the Goodyear location. While the victim was seated in the vehicle, a Dodge Durango driven by the defendant, Carlos Spielfogel-Lopez, stopped directly in front of the Cherokee, preventing it from leaving the parking space. The defendant got out of the car, opened the victims car door, and placed a firearm to the victims right ear. He demanded the stuff from the victim, and just seconds later, fired the weapon once, striking the victim in his right ear. Spielfogel-Lopez then got back into his vehicle and drove away. The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital by his friends after the shooting, where it was determined that the gunshot wound caused a severance of his spinal cord, causing the victim to become quadriplegic. Spielfogel-Lopez believed that the victim stole items from his car several days before the shooting. The defendant fled the county immediately following the shooting. He was arrested in Worcester, Massachusetts, by local authorities on another unrelated charge on November 30, 2018. Spielfogel-Lopez received a three-year jail sentence and was released from a Massachusetts prison on November 3, 2021. The defendant was arrested immediately upon his release by detectives of the Nassau County Police Departments Third Precinct Squad. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 Nearly 800 students received free backpacks during the event. To help young students begin the 2023-24 school year on the right foot, Nassau County Legislator Siela A. Bynoe (D - Westbury), the Town of North Hempstead and Councilman Robert Troiano partnered with the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) to present The Road to Success back-to-school events at Westburys Martin Bunky Reid Park on Saturday, Aug. 19. Nearly 800 students received free backpacks during the event. Youngsters also received ice cream from trucks sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead, pizza provided by the PBA, and had the opportunity to take part in activities like tug-of-war, potato sack races, bouncy attractions, and more. The hundreds in attendance were also treated to a special helicopter flyover by the Nassau County Police Department Aviation unit. This years Road to Success back-to-school celebration was presented with support from the Nassau County Detectives Association (DAI), Nassau County Superior Officers Association (SOA), Nassau County Police Department Foundation and additional community partners. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 This Drug Take Back Day is a great opportunity to rid your medicine cabinet of old and unwanted prescription drugs, said Supervisor Joe Saladino. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Massapequa Village Mayor Danny Pearl announced a partnership with Drug Free Long Island and the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) to host a Shed the Meds Drug Take Back Day at Massapequa Park Village Hall on Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00am 1:00pm. This Drug Take Back Day is a great opportunity to rid your medicine cabinet of old and unwanted prescription drugs, said Supervisor Saladino. Through proper disposal of old medications, we can prevent them from contaminating the environment through improper disposal and also keep them out of the wrong hands and away from young people. In cooperation with Drug Free Long Island and the Nassau County Police Department, the Town and Village will host this event at Massapequa Park Village Hall, in the back parking lot. This program is anonymous. For those who cannot attend this Drug Take Back Day, disposal containers are located at all Police Precincts throughout the county for safe deposit. For those looking to turn in unused or expired medication, be sure to make sure of the following: If left in original container, please remove all personal information from label. Liquid medication will not be accepted Illicit substances are also not part of this initiative. Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and syringes will be accepted. For more information about the Shed the Meds Drug Take Back Day, please call Drug Free Long Island at (516) 639-2386 or email info@drugfreeli.org Local News By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 Nick Puzio, 25 of Farmingville, was struck and killed on March 12, 2023, by two separate hit and run drivers, while he was walking in a pedestrian crosswalk on Route 112 in Patchogue. NYS Senator Dean Murray, Assemblyman Doug Smith, Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa, and Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella along with the New York Blood Center sponsored a Blood Drive in Honor of Nick Puzio on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The blood drive yielded 92 units of blood which can potentially save 276 lives. Nick Puzio, 25 of Farmingville, was struck and killed on March 12, 2023, by two separate hit and run drivers, while he was walking in a pedestrian crosswalk on Route 112 in Patchogue. While Nick was in the hospital fighting for his life, he received blood in an attempt to save his life. Unfortunately, his condition was grave, and his injuries were too severe, and he succumbed to his injuries. Nick has been described as an extremely loving and generous individual who would do anything for anyone. That is why his family and friends wanted to hold this blood drive in memory of Nick, feeling that his loving memory will be kept alive with every life that is saved. Senator Murray, Assemblyman Smith, Legislator Caracappa and Councilman Manzella felt this was a fitting tribute to Nick, while spreading the importance of blood donation and the many lives it can save. It was Nicks story that led to the introduction of Nicks Law (S. 6051/A. 6520) earlier this year by NYS Senator Dean Murray and NYS Assemblyman Doug Smith. The bill will increase penalties for those convicted of leaving the scene of an accident involving a death. Unfortunately, neither bill made it to the floor of either chamber for a full vote during this years session. Which leads us too today. There have been thirteen deaths from hit and runs in Suffolk County since the beginning of 2023. From January 1 through August 30 of this year, eight of the fatalities have been in the Town of Brookhaven. Five of the thirteen deaths have taken place in the month of August alone. There must be serious consequences for such actions. Nicks Law will amend the vehicle and traffic law to increase the penalty and fines for hit and run crimes, from a Class D felony to a Class B felony when there is a death of a victim. It will also amend the criminal procedure law to provide that a hit and run accident resulting in the death of a victim, shall be class B felony crime for drivers of all ages. With the increase of hit and run accidents, Nicks Law needs to be in place to serve as a deterrent for such reckless and cowardly choices made by these drivers. We need to do all we can to prevent such atrocities from happening. It is important for the public to get behind this measure and to contact their state representatives to let them know that this important legislation can save lives, said NYS Senator Dean Murray, 3rd Senate District. "We gathered today to honor the memory of Nick Puzio, a bright young man taken from us too soon. Nick received the precious gift of blood during his fight for survival, a testament to the life-saving potential within each of us. 'Nick's Law', which I was honored to sponsor in the Assembly, seeks justice for those who flee the scene of a fatal accident. It aims to ensure that such heartless acts are met with significant consequences, with a minimum 10-15 years in jail. Let us come together in unity and remembrance, honoring Nick's legacy and working towards a safer community for all, said NYS Assemblyman Doug Smith, 5th Assembly District. I applaud Senator Murray and his colleagues for bringing forth this important piece of legislation in memoriam of Nick Puzio. We owe it to the victims families, loved ones, the residents of Suffolk County, and New York State to have strict measures in place to deter those from leaving the scene of an accident. Anyone leaving the scene of a hit and run accident, after due process, should and must face the fullest extent of the law, said Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa, 4th Legislative District. Senator Anthony Palumbo, 1st Senate District said, "Puzio's death is a terrible tragedy and a loss that might have been avoided had the drivers stopped to render him assistance. Nick's Law is an important part of our legislative initiatives to make our roads safer by enacting harsher punishments for reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and now, for drivers who flee the scene of an accident." People need to be held accountable for their actions. If either driver had stopped to help Nick, his life may have been saved. Increasing the penalty to a Class B felony will hopefully make drivers reconsider leaving the scene of an accident and save numerous lives, said NYS Senator Alexis Weik, 8th Senate District. I applaud my colleagues Senator Dean Murray and Assemblyman Doug Smith for bringing forth legislation to punish individuals that leave a scene of an accident which causes a death. What happened to Nick Puzio was a travesty, and hopefully the bill proposed by Senator Murray and Assemblyman Smith will prevent people from leaving a crime scene and punish those who take a life and flee without regard for the well-being of others, said NYS Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, 3rd Assembly District. As a father of five, I know that receiving a phone call telling me a reckless driver committed a horrific act, taking the life of an innocent child, is something no parent should have to experience. There are no words to explain the pain the Puzio family continues to bear each day without their son in their lives. It is my pleasure to support the family and join many of my colleagues in honor of what would have been Nicks 26th birthday. Together, we need to raise awareness of Nicks Law so we can crack down on hit-and-run incidents to protect our loved ones from such atrocious acts, said Assemblyman Ed Flood, 4th Assembly District. I wholeheartedly support the approval of Nick's Law, S6051. Public safety is the most important duty of any governmental administration. We must hold those responsible for leaving an accident, with firm consequences, said Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne, 7th Legislative District. Governor Kathy Hochul today signed five pieces of legislation in New York City to provide support to 9/11 victims, survivors and their loved ones. This support will help to remove barriers and delays from Victim Compensation Fund and workers' compensation claims. In addition, two bridges and a highway will be designated to honor brave individuals who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The Governor signed these pieces of legislation in New York City while honoring and remembering those lost during on September 11th, 2001. In addition, Governor Hochul was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other federal, state and local elected representatives during a visit to the World Trade Memorial Museum earlier today. On this solemn day of remembrance, let us not only honor the lives lost on 9/11, but also extend our support to the survivors, their loved ones and our first responders, Governor Hochul said. New York remains committed to honoring the legacy of those lost and providing resources for victims and their loved ones. Legislation (S. 2946B/A. 75-B) aims to ensure that individuals who were in the Lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn exposure zones between September 2001 and the end of May 2002 are made aware by employers of their rights to register for the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program, which provide monitoring and treatment for eligible individuals with WTC-related illnesses. The legislation would require businesses and institutions that had people return after the attack to notify them of their potential eligibility for the Victim Compensation Fund and World Trade Center Health Fund. The State's Economic Development agency and Department of Labor will coordinate a plan to provide adequate notice of the benefits available. State Senator Brian Kavanagh said, In addition to our heroic first responders, there are many workers, including retail employees, cleanup workers, office workers, building services staff, and others who were in the vicinity of the World Trade Center during and after the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks and who may experience WTC-related illnesses. The 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program have been a lifeline for many people for two decades, but many others are not aware that they may be eligible for these programs. This law will help remedy this by enlisting employers of those who worked in the area on or after 9/11 up until July 31, 2002 to notify each employee of these programs. I thank Assemblymember Nader Sayegh for championing this bill in the Assembly, all those who advocated for its passage, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law. Assemblymember Nader J. Sayegh said, In this pivotal moment where our nation stands at the crossroads of memory and responsibility, New Yorks 9/11 Notice Act shines as a beacon of recognition and justice. Governor Kathy Hochuls support activates the Go Find Me Movement to locate and help forgotten victims of 9/11. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Governor Kathy Hochul and all members of the New York State Legislature for recognizing the urgency of alerting those who returned to their daily lives in Lower Manhattan, that they too were exposed to the toxic aftermath of 9/11 and suffered for far too long in silence. With this legislation, we are ensuring that the forgotten victims, from downtown office workers to students, are not left behind, and they receive the support and care they rightfully deserve. Governor Hochul's commitment to the well-being of our community is a testament to her dedication to the people of New York." Legislation (S. 6462/A. 6732) designates a portion of the state highway system as the "Port Authority Police Officer Pavlos D. Pallas Memorial Bridge" located in the neighborhood of East Elmhurst, Queens County. The Port Authority PBA, Paul's former union, seeks to see Paul eternally remembered in his hometown for his service. State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation on 9 /11 as a tribute to those who lost their lives as a result of the attack on our nation. Officer Pallas deserves to be honored for his selfless service and sacrifice. It will be known as the Port Authority Police Officer Pavlos D. Pallas Memorial Bridge. Naming the bridge in his memory will serve as a constant reminder of Officer Pallas and all the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives to save others in the face of an indescribable act of terror. We are all indebted to these heroes. Assemblymember Jeffrion L. Aubry said, Pavlos (Paul) Pallas legacy will live on with the newly designated Port Authority Police Officer Pavlos D. Pallas Memorial Bridge. Paul passed away from cancer in 2011, at the age of 34. He developed his illness following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. It is my honor to have helped make this recognition a reality. Legislation (S. 5362-C/A. 5223-C) designates a portion of the state highway system as the "Zone Sergeant James G. Sweeney Memorial Bridge" located in the Town of East Fishkill. This legislation is a fitting commemoration of the service he provided to his community and his fellow State Troopers. State Senator Robert G. Rolison said, Zone Sergeant Sweeney's life was ordered and defined by service to his community and his state.As a former Town of Poughkeepsie police officer who knew Sergeant Sweeney, I am honored to carry this legislation designating a piece of our New York highway system in his memory, and I thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law. I will continue to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan way to address public safety and affirm those who have sacrificed to protect us." Assemblymember Anil Beephan said, I express my deepest gratitude to my fellow legislators, Governor Hochul, and all those who supported this bill. We recognize the profound impact that Zone Sergeant Sweeney had on countless lives. The Zone Sergeant James G. Sweeney Memorial Bridge stands as a lasting testament to the legacy of a true hero, inspiring future generations of public servants to uphold the highest standards of service and dedication." Legislation (S. 2519/A. 3052) allows Audra Lakeman, the widow of Trooper Lawrence Lakeman, a State Police officer deployed on 9/11 at the World Trade Center site and who subsequently died of pancreatic cancer, to receive an accidental death benefit. Trooper Lakeman was granted a disability retirement benefit in 2007, but because pancreatic cancer was not recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services as an eligible 9/11-connected disease, Ms. Lakeman had previously been denied the higher accidental death benefit. State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan said, Trooper Lakeman served our state and our nation in the weeks and months after 9-11 and ultimately lost his life because of his heroic work at Ground Zero. He is among the victims of the worst terrorist attack in our country's history and we honor his commitment and dedication. I was proud to sponsor this legislation and I hope it will provide some comfort for his grieving family." Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace said, Trooper Lakeman was a true hero who responded without hesitation to help with recovery efforts in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11. Like so many heroes that day, he developed cancer from exposure to the toxic fumes. Unfortunately, Trooper Lakeman passed before the cancer he developed was linked to his work on 9/11. This legislation fixes that by allowing his family to apply for the death benefits he should have received long ago. I thank Governor Hochul for signing this legislation and ensuring he and his family receive the recognition they deserve for his service and sacrifice. Legislation (S. 5971/A. 7410) designates a portion of the state highway system as the "Port Authority Police Officer Steven J. Tursellino Memorial Highway" which is located on State Route 111 between State Route 454 and State Route 347 in the Towns of Islip and Smithtown in Suffolk County. This renaming taking place in Officer Tursellino's hometown is a fitting honor and a way to recognize the supreme sacrifice he made on behalf of the residents of the Great State of New York. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: September 11 2023 The investigation resulted in three loaded handguns, one of them with a high-capacity magazine being recovered and a white substance believed to be crack cocaine. The Third Squad reports on the arrest of three individuals for the Criminal Possession of a Weapon that occurred on Friday, September 8, 2023 at 3:24 PM in Hempstead. According to Detectives, Hempstead Detectives observed a black Nissan Altima that stopped in the middle of the roadway on Terrace Avenue. Three individuals were seen entering the vehicle that had illegally tinted windows and an expired registration. Officers followed the vehicle and conducted a Vehicle and Traffic Law stop on Jackson Street near the vicinity of Station Plaza. As Officers approached the vehicle, all four suspects fled from the vehicle on foot. A short time later three of the defendants, Tyshawn Parsons, 19 of 32 Martin Luther King Drive, Hempstead, Shamar Jackson, 18 of 100 Terrace Avenue, Hempstead and a 17-year-old male juvenile were all placed under arrest without further incident. The fourth suspect was not apprehended at scene. Further investigation resulted in three loaded handguns, one of them with a high-capacity magazine being recovered from scene and a white substance believed to be crack cocaine. Investigation is ongoing. Defendant Tyshawn Parsons is charged with the Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree and the Criminal Possession of a Firearm. Defendant Shamar Jackson is charged with the Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm and the Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 5th degree. The 17-year-old Juvenile is charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3rd degree and the Criminal Possession of a Firearm. All three defendants were arraigned at First District Court, 99 Main Street in Hempstead on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Malis immediate and near future prospects for security are immensely bleak. France, and many of its international counter-terrorism partners, are long gone. The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, MINUSMA, is leaving. At the same time, jihadis, both from al-Qaedas Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic States Sahel Province (ISSP), remain on the offensive across much of the country. And the ruling junta in Bamako, backed by Russias shadowy Wagner Group, is threatening to re-open conflict with Tuareg rebels in the countrys north. What to many has seemed like a slow-motion train wreck of insecurity in Mali (and indeed much of the wider Sahel) over the last several years has now cascaded into increasingly turbulent chaos with little to no chance of being turned back in the near term. And for all intents and purposes, much of Mali is already out of Bamakos control with relatively little prospects of the junta ever re-gaining that lost territory. Without any robust policy to help stymie this bleak future within Mali, relevant policymakers and stakeholders must instead work to contain the regional fallout of a new public jihadi statelet and/or a renewed Tuareg rebellion in the midst of Malis other intensely complicated issues. Which in many respects, containing the fallout and regional spillover of jihadi violence has already been the de facto policy for many in both West Africa itself and the West. Jihadi Rampage After coming into power in 2021, Assimi Goitas government in Bamako has since taken severe actions to the detriment of the countrys security. In late 2021, Russias shadowy Wagner Group deployed inside the country. In mid-2022, France, as well as its European counter-terrorism partners, officially left Mali after being ousted by Goitas government. And in June 2023, Bamako requested that MINUSMA, the deadliest UN peacekeeping mission in the world, also leave the country. This request was then subsequently approved by the UN Security Council, which quickly began its exit from some of Malis most vulnerable communities. To be clear, Mali was already struggling to deal with severe levels of insecurity even with the presence of European and UN security partners. Despite the French-led Operation Barkhane succeeding in killing several major jihadi players in Mali, these surgical strikes did little to actually stymie the exponential growth of the tumor that is jihadism in the country. And similar to the pitfalls of other Western interventions, France and its allies paid more attention to a military-first or even military-only option while Malis political institutions deteriorated. This led to two successive coups leaving a junta in Bamako more worried about its own survival in power, willing to engage in ethnic warfare alongside a new state patron, Wagner Group, that is all too happy to partake in such atrocities. But since the junta first came into power, violence has exponentially increased. As stated by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, Mali is on pace to see over 1,000 violent events involving militant Islamist groups in 2023, eclipsing last years record levels of violence and a nearly three-fold increase from when the junta seized power in 2020. This drastic deterioration has only been made more apparent in recent weeks (and to an extent, months) by actions from both JNIM and ISSP. For instance, JNIM killed dozens of civilians and Malian soldiers in a series of large-scale attacks across northern Mali last week. On Sept. 7, JNIM militants targeted a civilian ferry along the Niger River in the Rharous area of the Timbuktu Region, which killed at least 49 civilians. That same day, JNIM also targeted a Malian military outpost in Bamba, in the Gao Region, which killed 15 soldiers. A day later, JNIM mounted a large suicide assault on the Malian military base in the city of Gao. Local reporting indicates that the jihadi group utilized two suicide car bombs in the assault. And less kinetically, the northern city of Timbuktu is now in its second month of being besieged by JNIM. Food, supplies, and aid have all been cut off to the city since mid-August according to local inhabitants. At least 30,000 people have fled the city, while those remaining are now facing shortages and a bloated cost of living. And this is not the first time the al-Qaeda branch has engaged in such a tactic. It has laid siege to several towns and villages in central Mali, which were only lifted after the local communities themselves negotiated with the jihadists. These negotiations often led to JNIM consolidating power and rule in return for the lifting of the siege. Further south in central Mali, JNIM is also responsible for killing at least 100 people and displacing tens of thousands more in the last month. In its own communiques, it has focused on reported clashes with the Wagner Group. For instance, on Sept. 8, it claimed it shot down a Wagner helicopter in the central region of Segou. This mirrors a previous claim of downing Wagner aircraft back in July. And though this trend is much older, JNIM has also been creating clear attack lines around Bamako since the beginning of the year. It continues to attack in neighboring communes and suburbs of Malis capital, providing a very clear warning to the junta of the groups capabilities and desires. Concurrently, the Islamic States men in Mali are now better positioned than its franchise has ever been inside Mali. Sounding the alarm, the United Nations Panel of Experts on Mali stated last month that the Islamic State nearly doubled its territory in the country. This warning comes after ISSP violently took over much of Malis extreme northern Menaka Region from JNIM and other Tuareg factions. Since April, ISSP has directly controlled or contested much of the region, though some areas have switched hands on occasion. And even in Gao, where JNIM also controls territory, ISSP is slowly increasing its reach according to the UN. JNIM has attempted to stop ISSPs growth, both head on and through alliances with local communities and Tuareg or other ethnic factions. For instance, the UN also notes that many communities in Menaka and Gao have sworn allegiance to JNIM, as it portrays itself as the last line of defense against the Islamic State. These allegiances were highlighted by JNIM itself earlier this year. Though in recent days, local reports have alleged that JNIM and ISSP have signed a temporary truce to halt attacking each other until after the UN leaves the country. The validity of such a truce, however, is suspect. That said, it does come after reports of mediation efforts between the two by members of both groups. Crumbling Northern Peace Deal Signed in 2015, the Algiers peace agreement between Bamako and the various warring parties in the north, largely Tuareg factions, was meant to close one chapter of the turmoil in Malis north, which would have theoretically allowed Bamako to focus on jihadis. Since the ruling junta came into power in 2020, however, many have questioned the future of the peace agreement. For instance, CMA withdrew its representatives from Bamako last month, citing extreme differences with the junta. In recent weeks, however, the peace deal looks more fragile than ever. Though nominally re-committing to the agreement in April, actions taken by Goitas government in recent days puts doubt on Bamakos willingness to continue to abide by the agreement. For instance, in late August as the UN handed over its base in Ber in the Timbuktu Region, the Coordination of Azawad Movements (Coordination des mouvements de lAzawad, or CMA), a coalition of pro-Tuareg independence and Arab nationalist armed groups, disagreed with the base being handed over the Malian military. These disagreements led to intense clashes between the CMA and the military in Ber. However, CMA also alleges that the Wagner Group was also present on the side of the military. Not long after, the Malian military also launched airstrikes against the CMA for two-days in Anefis, in Malis Kidal Region. Airstrikes against the rebel coalition have continued into recent days, with the CMA claiming to have shot down a Malian SU-25 jet yesterday. In a further ominous warning, Alghabass Ag Intalla, the leader of the CMA, issued a press statement warning civilians to stay away from military installations and stating that the coalition will make securing people and their property their priority against all kinds of threats. The statement reads as a clear implication of potential future attacks against Malian army bases, which further threaten additional conflict in the north. In the event that the 2015 agreement is annulled and war again erupts between Bamako and the northern rebel factions, it remains likely that JNIM would side with the rebels, much like it did in the initial stages of the 2012 rebellion. JNIM has fostered or maintains ties with many of the rebel factions (and indeed many of the pro-Bamako northern factions as well). And though CMA reportedly declined a JNIM offer to consolidate forces against the Islamic State, CMA is not stopping members or communities under its control from assisting JNIM in that endeavor. In the face of increased action taken by the Malian military, it seems plausible that JNIM would assist the CMA in the fight. At the same time, however, it is likely that CMA would want to keep JNIM at arms length given that JNIMs predecessor groups betrayed one of CMAs main constituent groups, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), in 2012. Regardless of any hypothetical alliance, or lack thereof, between JNIM and CMA in a post-2015 Algiers Accord reality in Mali, the full cancellation of such a peace agreement would have disastrous effects on Mali and compound one of the worlds already worst security dilemmas. And unless Bamako and the CMA can reign in the current violence, this sad future seems entirely possible. A Short Note on Wagners Role Much has been written on Wagners role inside Mali and how its presence has only exacerbated the conflict. As such, this article does not dive too deep into this subject but a short note should be made of Wagners role in Mali. Wagner has certainly only helped in deteriorating the situation further. For instance, Wagner has accelerated Bamakos targeting of certain communities it accuses of sheltering jihadis. In this capacity, Wagner helped oversee the massacre of at least 500 civilians in central Mali in early 2022. The UN has also found evidence that Wagner and Bamako have engaged in over 300 acts of human rights abuses. Independent analysts have found that Wagners role in assisting the Malian military has changed Malian targeting, with civilians now being one of the prime victims of joint-operations between Mali and Wagner. And as a result of helping Bamako engage in this ethnic or communal warfare, it has only played into jihadi hands and recruitment. Though Wagner has offered Bamako a so-called alternative to the Western approach to war, the paramilitary group is itself unlikely to actually help Mali out of this quagmire. But Wagner does not care. Much like in the Central African Republic where Wagner again contributes abhorrent human rights abuses its role in Mali is a money-making venture. Mali is reportedly paying Wagner exorbitant prices per month, in addition to allowing it access to several artisanal gold mines. Conclusion In reading the tea leaves, there is little to be optimistic about for Malis future. With little international support other than Russias favorite human rights abusers, Mali has little options to actually contain a catastrophe that is spiraling out of control faster and faster every day. JNIM continues to advance and position itself to consolidate more territory once the UN fully leaves Mali by the end of the year. Its rivals in the Islamic State also continue to stake out its own jihadi polity in Malis extreme north. And in a confusing move, Bamako is seemingly attempting to restart open warfare with the various rebel groups in the north. All of this has severe consequences for Malis neighbors, especially in Burkina Faso, which is also wrecked by jihadi violence and where JNIM also controls nearly 40% of Burkinabe territory. If the West is unwilling or unable to work with the junta in Bamako, the West must then provide Malis neighbors with the adequate support to contain the fallout of a worst-case scenario in Mali: a Bamako surrounded by two jihadi statelets and a new rebellion in the countys north. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Country had the second-lowest share of people in the EU struggling to keep homes warm last year, as government aid buffered against soaring energy costs Luxembourg had the second-lowest share of homes unable to stay adequately heated across the EU last year, after several government support packages aimed at helping households deal with soaring energy prices in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Just 2.1% of households in Luxembourg reported being unable to keep their homes adequately warm in 2022, a report from the bloc's official statistics agency Eurostat concluded on Monday, way below the EU average of 9.3%. Only in Finland, at 1.4%, did fewer people say they struggled to keep their homes heated. Unlike across the EU in general where the percentage homes which reported being inadequately heated increased by 2.4% from 2021 the situation in Luxembourg improved from the previous year, dropping from 2.5% twelve months earlier. Countries such as Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece had the highest share of residents unable to heat their homes, with around one in five households reporting difficulties in 2022. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted Luxembourg to unveil a series of support packages aimed at tackling soaring energy costs, as the EU countries wrangled over how to disentangle from their dependency on supplies from Moscow. The Grand Duchy's aid schemes, estimated to have cost around 2.4 billion since September 2021, were among the highest support per capita in Europe, according to an analysis by think-tank Bruegel in February. The measures included a price cap on increasing gas prices at 15%, with a total price freeze on electricity prices from January to December of 2023. Luxembourg said last year it would cover between 30% and 70% of a company's energy bill, if costs exceeded twice the usual amount, allocating 375 million for the aid scheme. EU ministers agreed to voluntarily cut their gas usage by 15% in July 2022, with only Hungary voting against the proposal, to counter the threat of shortages. Luxembourg's government proposed a series of measures, including asking households to take fewer hot showers and turn down the heating by one to two degrees. In a bid to decrease energy consumption during winter, temperatures inside schools and public buildings were reduced by one degree, swimming pool water became 1.5C colder, and ice rinks at the Christmas markets were scrapped. The government had prepared rules for mandatory rationing of energy, to safeguard against the voluntary scheme not producing the savings required. From Friday, scores of British residents in Spain will no longer be able to drive on a UK driving licence plus the licence exchange system is still flawed. The DGT Spanish traffic department is continuing to refuse to accept paper licences, despite assurances from the British Embassy that according to the latest agreement between the British and Spanish governments, paper licences are valid. Well they are not and the DGT in Palma has made that blatantly clear to the Bulletin and judging by comments on social media platforms, it is not just in Mallorca where traffic departments are adamant that paper licences are not valid. What is more, for British residents in Spain who no longer have a place of residence in the UK, they cannot exchange their paper licence for a new biometric one the DVLA has told the Bulletin. So, for those expatriates in Spain who have a paper licence, which are valid until they expire in the UK and other EU countries, as of Friday, the latest deadline in what will surely be the last window, they can no longer drive on a UK licence although they can drive a hire car. The Bulletin is aware of a number of cases in Mallorca of expatriates who are extremely frustrated and have no idea of what to do because being unable to drive is going to seriously disrupt their lives. The ambassador has been stressing the need for expats to exchange their licences but the trouble is for those who have paper ones, they cannot which means that the only solution is to take a Spanish driving test but that is easier said that done for Britons of a certain age, not to mention the cost. The embassy is aware of the problem, it has been for the past five months, but it does not appear to have been resolved and this is a crunch week for British residents in Spain. SEOULNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Uns train appears to have departed for Russia, possibly for a summit with President Vladimir Putin, multiple South Korean media outlets reported Monday, citing unidentified officials. US and other officials told The New York Times at the weekend that Kim, who rarely leaves North Korea, was soon likely to head by armored train to Vladivostok, on Russias Pacific coast, for arms talks with Putin. Intelligence authorities believe the train presumed to be carrying Kim Jong-un is moving to Vladivostok, an unidentified official told Yonhap new agency. Another senior official told Yonhap Kim appears to have left Pyongyang and was en route to Russia. Kim has not traveled outside North Korea since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Broadcaster YTN said Seoul expects that Chairman Kim will hold a meeting with President Putin of Russia around the day after tomorrow, meaning Wednesday. Moscow, a historical ally of Pyongyang, was a crucial backer of the isolated country for decades and their ties go back to the founding of North Korea 75 years ago. Kim has been steadfast in his support for Moscows invasion of Ukraine, including, Washington says, supplying rockets and missiles. In July, Putin hailed Pyongyangs firm support for special military operations against Ukraine. Experts suggest that Putin is seeking artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea, while Kim is reportedly in search of advanced technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, as well as food aid for his impoverished nation. Vladivostok will be hosting the Eastern Economic Forum until Wednesday. The Kremlin has refused to confirm any meeting between Putin and Kim on the sidelines of the summit, which was attended by 68 nations last year. The White House warned last week that Pyongyang would pay a price if it supplies Moscow with weaponry for its war in Ukraine. Washington said Russia could use weapons from North Korea to attack Ukrainian food supplies and heating infrastructure heading into winter to try to conquer territory that belongs to another sovereign nation. Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, told AFP that the possible Putin-Kim summit was part of gentle diplomatic blackmail by Moscow of Seoul because Russia did not want South Korea to supply weapons to Kyiv. Seoul is a major arms exporter and has sold tanks to Kyivs ally Poland, but longstanding domestic policy bars it from selling weapons into active conflicts. The major worry of the Russian government now is a possible shipment of the South Korean ammunition to Ukraine, not just one shipment but a lot of shipments, Lankov said. Cheong Seong-chang, researcher at the Sejong Institute, told AFP that, were North Korea to expand military cooperation with Russia, there is an increased likelihood of prolonged conflict in Ukraine. And Pyongyangs reward for aiding Moscow could mean that advancements in North Koreas nuclear submarine and reconnaissance satellite development might then progress at a faster pace, he said. Kim has become well-known for his preference for train travel when it comes to international trips. His father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, was famously scared of flying. The current leader reportedly lacks confidence in his private jet and harbors concerns about the potential for aerial bombing by Washington, said Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul. In 2019, he made the 60-hour return train trip from Hanoi to Pyongyang by train after a summit with then-US president Donald Trump collapsed, and reportedly hinted at physical fatigue from spending hours on the rails. TAIPEI Taiwan said Monday it had detected 39 Chinese warplanes and an aircraft carrier near the island after a US destroyer and a Canadian frigate transited through the Taiwan Strait over the weekend. Between Sunday and Monday morning, 26 aircraft and 13 warships were operating around the island, while another 13 planes were detected since the early hours of Monday, according to Taiwans defence ministry. Chinas Shandong carrier was also detected Monday around 60 nautical miles southeast of Taiwans southernmost tip Eluanbi, sailing eastward and entering the Western Pacific for training, the ministry added. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to take it one day by force if necessary. In recent years, Beijing has ratcheted up military and political pressure on Taiwan, often conducting naval exercises or sending warplanes buzzing overhead to coincide with any diplomatic engagements with Taipei. Taiwan said 22 of the 39 planes it had recently detected crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, a narrow waterway between the island and China. The military is closely monitoring the situation and has tasked aircraft, navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond, Taiwans defense ministry said in a statement. On Saturday, China said its troops were on constant high alert after the two ships belonging to the United States and Canada sailed through the Taiwan Strait. The US Navy said the ships were the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson and HMCS Ottawa, and that the transit demonstrates the commitment of the United States and our allies and partners to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The United States and Western allies have increased freedom of navigation crossings of both the Taiwan Strait and the disputed South China Sea to reinforce that both are international waterways, angering Beijing. In April, Beijing conducted military exercises to simulate the encirclement of the island in April after Tsai met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. BEIJING China said on Monday it resolutely opposes allegations that an espionage suspect arrested in the United Kingdom was gathering information for Beijing. The so-called claim that China is conducting espionage activities against the UK is pure fabrication, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference. China resolutely opposes this. UK police said at the weekend they had arrested a man in his twenties at his home in Edinburgh for spying, with the Sunday Times reporting he was a researcher in Britains parliament. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service arrested him in March, along with another man in his thirties, on suspicion of offenses under the Official Secrets Act and both have been bailed until October. Mao said: We urge the UK to stop spreading disinformation and stop its anti-China political manipulation and malicious slander. The incident follows allegations earlier this year that China flew a surveillance balloon over the United States, causing a diplomatic furor. Here are some of the ways China has worked to spy on the West in recent years: The United States warned in 2022 that the Asian giant represents the broadest, most active, and persistent cyber espionage threat to its government and private sector. According to researchers and Western intelligence officials, China has become adept at hacking rival nations digital systems to gather trade secrets. In 2021, the United States, NATO and other allies said China had employed contract hackers to exploit a breach in Microsoft email systems, giving state security agents access to sensitive information. Chinese spies have also hacked the US energy department, utility companies, telecommunications firms and universities, according to US government statements and media reports. The United States also has its own ways of spying on China, deploying surveillance and interception techniques as well as networks of informants. In the technology sector, there are concerns that Chinas state-linked firms would be obliged to share intel with their government. In 2019, the US Department of Justice charged tech giant Huawei with conspiring to steal US trade secrets, among other offenses. Washington has banned the firm from supplying US government systems and strongly discouraged the use of its equipment in the private sector over fears that it could be compromised. Huawei denies the charges. Similar anxiety over TikTok, developed by Chinas ByteDance, animates Western political debatewith some lawmakers calling for an outright ban on the app over data security fears. Beijing has leaned on Chinese citizens abroad to gather intelligence and steal sensitive technology, according to experts, US lawmakers and media reports. One of the most high-profile cases was that of Ji Chaoqun, who was in January sentenced to eight years in a US prison for sharing information on possible recruitment targets with Chinese intelligence. Ji was accused of supplying information about eight people to the Jiangsu province security ministry, an intelligence unit accused of engaging in the theft of US trade secrets. Last year, a US court sentenced a Chinese intelligence officer to 20 years in prison for stealing technology from US and French aerospace firms. The man, named Xu Yanjun, was found guilty of playing a leading role in a five-year Chinese state-backed scheme to steal commercial secrets from GE Aviation, one of the worlds leading aircraft engine manufacturers, and Frances Safran Group. In 2020, a US court jailed Raytheon engineer Wei Sun a Chinese national and naturalized US citizen for bringing sensitive information about an American missile system into China on a company laptop. Chinese operatives have allegedly courted political, social and business elites in Britain and the United States. According to the Sunday Times, the alleged British spy arrested Saturday had contacts with MPs from the ruling Conservative Party while working as a parliamentary researcher and has worked on international policy, including relations with Beijing. US news website Axios ran an investigation in 2020 claiming that a Chinese student enrolled at a university in California had developed ties with a range of US politicians under the auspices of Beijings main civilian spy agency. The student, named Fang Fang, used campaign financing, developed friendships and even initiated sexual relationships to target rising politicians between 2011 and 2015, according to the report. Another technique used by Chinese operatives is to tout insider knowledge about the Communist Partys opaque inner workings and dangle access to top leaders to lure high-profile Western targets, researchers say. The aim has been to mislead world leaders about (Beijings) ambitions and make them believe China would rise peacefully maybe even democratically author Alex Joske wrote in his book, Spies and Lies: How Chinas Greatest Covert Operations Fooled the World. Beijing has also exerted pressure on overseas Chinese communities and media organizations to back its policies on Taiwan, and to muzzle criticism of the Hong Kong and Xinjiang crackdowns. In September 2022, Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders said China had set up 54 overseas police stations around the world, allegedly to target Communist Party critics. Beijing has denied the claims. The Netherlands ordered China to close two police stations there in November. A month later, the Czech Republic said China had closed two such centers in Prague. CAGAYAN de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Monday urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to scrap partnership agreements recently signed between several Philippine and Chinese universities. The CHED, particularly chairman Prospero de Vera, should cancel those partnerships. While we have been protesting against continuous Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, here we have the CHED going the opposite direction by engaging with Chinese universities, he said. He said by initiating the engagements, De Vera and the CHED are sending the wrong signal that we, as a country and people, are not united in showing our dismay, disgust, disappointment, and even anger over Chinese harassment and bullying of our soldiers, Coast Guard and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. He said De Vera and the commission should take the cue from our military, which has stopped sending officers to China for education, training or social visits, and which has refused to conduct joint patrols with them within our maritime territory,. We cannot do what Mr. de Vera and several of our universities have done or we will be sleeping with the enemy. I support the actions taken by our military. We cannot have a frenemy and a bully joining us in watching over our own backyard, on which it has encroached and it does not want to leave despite our repeated protestations and arbitral victory, he stressed. He added that instead of Chinese higher education institutions, local universities should partner with their counterparts in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other Philippine allies. He pointed out that these countries have supported our sovereign rights over our 200-mile exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 international arbitral award. Rodriguez recently visited Seoul, South Korea together with members of the board of regents of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP). He said they signed a partnership agreement Korea University and Sogang University, which are among the biggest higher education institutions in South Korea. USTP president Butch Cultura signed the agreements for the state university, which has its main campus in Cagayan de Oro City. Rodriguez said the engagements aim to strengthen USTPs research and development programs, and training of USTP professors on research and development at Sogang University in Seoul. They will also provide opportunities for USTP students to study under scholarships in Sogang University for three- year diploma courses after passing an online Korean language proficiency course, he said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to fly to Singapore to discuss priority policies and programs in front of economic managers and business leaders at the 10th Asian Summit, the Palace said on Monday. Mr. Marcos will travel to Singapore on September 13, the same day as his 66th birthday celebration. According to the President Communications Office (PCO), the President will headline the 30-minute talk dubbed as A Conversation with the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Hosted by the Milken Institute, the Asia Summit holds a decade-long work that focuses on public health, environmentalism, economic policy, and globalization. It would be the first time a sitting Philippine President will address the Milken Institutes Asia Summit. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is also expected to be present at the annual gathering. Meanwhile, the PCO said that President Marcos will also meet with business leaders to forge possible partnerships between the Philippines and Singapore in various industries during his stay abroad. On the other hand, the President, upon the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will attend the finals of the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023, PCO said Last year, the Chief Executive and his family attended the same Grand Prix, months after he was inaugurated as the countrys 17th president. HANOIThe United States and Vietnam warned on Monday against the threat or use of force in the disputed South China Sea, days after the latest clash involving Chinese vessels. President Joe Biden and Vietnams Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong said the competing claims on the strategic waterway must be settled under international norms. Last week, the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard and militia boats of harassing two of its own coast guard vessels as they took supplies to Filipino troops on the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded an old ship on the shoal in 1999 to check Chinas advance in the waters. Beijing claims almost the entire sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually, and has ignored an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. The leaders underscored their unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, without the threat or use of force, Biden and Trong said in a joint statement. They also called for freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea. The statement came a day after Biden and Trong struck a deal to deepen cooperation, widely seen as a way to counter Chinas growing assertiveness in the region. Washington is at loggerheads with Beijing on a range of issues including trade, security, human rights, and climate change, and is looking to boost its network of allies to counter Chinese influence. Vietnam, which fought a war with China between 1979 and 1988, is wary of its giant northern neighbor and is one of a handful of countries with claims on the many islets and outcrops that dot the South China Sea. China deploys hundreds of vessels to patrol the South China Sea and swarm reefs. The Philippines, a longtime US ally, has outposts on nine reefs and islands in the Spratly Islands which Vietnam also claims along with the Paracel Islands. Manila says Chinese coast guard and navy ships routinely block or shadow Philippine boats in the contested waters. Tensions between Manila and Beijing flared last month when China Coast Guard vessels used water cannons against a Philippine resupply mission to the reef, preventing one of the boats from delivering its cargo. Philippine Navy (PN) Captain Aldrin Gacusan on Sunday assumed the post of new Armed Forces of the Philippines Senior National Representative (SNR) in Bahrain during a turn-over ceremony held at the Philippine Embassy in Manama. Captain Mateo Carido who assumed com mand of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 on August 21, formally relinquished his duties and responsibilities as SNR to Gacusan. This is the very first time that there are two Philippine Navy Captains posted here in Bahrain, one as an SNR and another one as the Commander of CTF 151. It is really challenging on our part but I know Capt. Gacusan is a very dedicated and professional officer in carrying out the tasks given to him. Carido said. Extending his appreciation, Gacusan said: Life is not about finding the right person. Its about creating the right relationship Rest assured of my utmost cooperation, you can rely on me in assisting people looking for their welfare and on matters of national security. The turnover ceremony was graced by Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis. Vince Lopez During her speech, she lauded Capt. Carido for his contributions and accomplishments during his tenure as SNR as well as being congratulated as the first Philippine Navy Officer designated as the Commander of CTF 151. She also welcomed Capt. Gacusan as the new SNR, wishing him well and good luck on his new assignment. The sending of PN officers to any deployment like this, will contribute to lasting international maritime peace and security while developing their regional leadership skills and establishing international partnership with other Navy officers from CMF member countries. Senior Philippine and US military officials are scheduled to meet in the coming days in Manila to discuss assistance programs and large-scale exercises, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said Monday. In her speech during the commissioning ceremony of two Philippine Navy patrol vessels, Carlson said the meeting is part of the annual Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) activity. The US ambassador said the meeting is intended to set a course of action through assistance programs, large-scale exercises, and hundreds of smaller exchanges between our two militaries. She said these engagements will help strengthen the US-Philippine alliance, build trust, and enhance interoperability for the protection of the two allied countries. As (United States) Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized in her meeting with [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] just last week in Jakarta, American support for the US-Philippine Alliance remains ironclad, she said. Marcos meeting with Harris took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia last week. The White House said the meeting would build on US President Joe Biden and Harris meetings with Marcos in Washington in May 2023 and the Vice Presidents visit to the Philippines in November 2022. The two leaders discussed the maritime security environment in the South China Sea, and reviewed opportunities to enhance bilateral maritime cooperation, including alongside like-minded partners, the White House said. Two refurbished American navy vessels that joined the Philippine fleet on Monday will bring real and strategic benefits not only to the country but also to its alliance with the United States and to the region, Carlson said. During the christening and commissioning of BRP Valentin Diaz and BRP Ladislao Diwa, both Alvarez-class patrol vessels, Carlson said the boats were entering into service at an important time when the maritime security environment in the Indo-Pacific is increasingly complex. She noted that amid Chinas aggression in the South China Sea, Manila and Washington have committed to upholding rules-based order and deterring actions that will undermine peace and stability in the region. Carlson said the mission that the vessels will undertake will not be easy as they will patrol the Philippine waters, protect legitimate economic activities, fight against illegal fishing, and deliver human assistance and disaster relief. I commend the brave sailors who serve aboard them. Their dedicated service and the missions they undertake are central to the shared US-Philippine goal of ensuring a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Carlson said. Carlson said the transfer of the ships from the US Navy to its Philippine counterpart has much more than symbolic value. The US diplomat stressed that it symbolized Americas continued support for the Philippine Navy, which is on the frontline of defending the countrys sovereign rights in the South China Sea, particularly over the West Philippine Sea. This commissioning is also the latest illustration of our continued collaboration in pursuit of the modernization goals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The Philippines is the largest recipient of US military assistance in the Indo-Pacific, merited by the ambitious agenda we have set together for our alliance, Carlson said. Valentin Diaz and Ladislao Diwa have been commissioned to join the Philippine Navys fleet through US military financing worth P780 million ($13.8 million). As the Philippines continues its courageous stand to uphold the international order and defend its rights in the West Philippine Sea, rest assured the United States stands with you in this all-important endeavor, Carlson said. Previously named USS Monsoon and USS Chinook, Valentin Diaz and Ladislao Diwa used to patrol the waters of the Arabian Gulf in support of operations in the Middle East, including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. These two vessels have a significant history of service at the forefront of operations for the United States Navy, Carlon said. After refurbishment through US funding, they are now ready to join the Philippine Navy Littoral Combat Fleet. The US envoy said Manila and Washington have now come together to reflect on the ways in which the BRP Valentin Diaz and BRP Ladislao Diwa will protect and defend the Philippines and strengthen our alliance. And that is something very much worth celebrating, she said. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro called the actions of China against Philippine vessels irresponsible during the recent resupply mission of the Philippines to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels were once again dangerously harassed, Teodoro said on the sidelines of the commissioning ceremony. This is to me irresponsible behavior on the part of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and I think that the world knows who is in the right here so it does need much more saying or talking about. The world has reacted before to the water cannoning, he added. While the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) did not use water against the Philippine vessels this time, Teodoro pointed out that the Chinese vessels performed more dangerous maneuvers. The actions of Chinese vessels were a violation of maritime safety, he added. On Friday, Chinese coast guard and military militia vessels again maneuvered dangerously against Philippine ships in the recent resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said. Beijing, on the other hand, expressed its firm opposition to the Philippines latest resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, which it claims and calls Renai Reef. The CCG said two replenishment ships and two PCG vessels entered the shoals vicinity waters without the permission of the Chinese government and transported construction materials to the BRP Sierra Madre. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including the Renai Reef, and its adjacent waters, and firmly opposes the illegal transportation of construction materials by the Philippines to the illegally grounded warship, it said. The CCG said it strictly warned, tracked, monitored, and effectively regulated the Philippine vessels. The CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the sea areas under Chinas jurisdiction according to law, it said. This was the third resupply mission after the Aug. 5 incident where the Chinese coast guard vessel used water cannons against the Philippine ship. Another resupply mission was conducted and completed on Aug. 22. The BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999, which since then is manned by more than a dozen marines and sailors, and has become a symbol of Philippine sovereignty in the offshore territory. Ayungin Shoal is part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is an integral part of the Philippines, as well as the countrys exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and private sector economists are in favor of seeing National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan lead the Department of Agriculture. Diokno, the head of the economic team, said it was a sound proposal. He [Balisacan] has heard it many times, and Arsis undergrad degree is in Agriculture Economics, Diokno said. At present, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the concurrent Agriculture secretary. Security Bank Corp. economist Robert Dan Roces said it would be advantageous should Balisacan take over the Agriculture portfolio in a concurrent position. The advantage of the co-termed (NEDA and Agriculture) is that there is faster coordination with NEDA, Roces said. As NEDA chief, Roces said Balisacan is well-versed on the need to have better output from agriculture, as well as the nuances of the supply, demand, and price effects of output. For his part, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told the Manila Standard that Balisacan could be one of the best choices to lead the agency. That is given his longtime expertise on Philippine agriculture which has been his specialization for many years, Ricafort said. Ricafort said the textbooks on agriculture economics written by Balisacan are prescribed in schools. Bank of the Philippine Islands lead economist Jun Neri said it would be good to have a full-time Agriculture Secretary. Sec. Arsi can do a great job in DA given his vast research background in poverty and how it relates to agri productivity, Neri said. Balisacan is an economist with extensive high-level policymaking practice and a well-recognized expert in Asia on economic development, inequality and poverty, antitrust (competition policy), and political economy of policy reforms. Prior to his Cabinet appointments, he was Dean of the UP School of Economics, director-chief executive of the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), and undersecretary for Policy and Planning of the Department of Agriculture. Before joining the UP faculty in 1987, he was a research fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu and Economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. He has authored and co-edited seven books and published, both locally and internationally, close to 100 academic papers and book chapters on various development issues, particularly in the Philippines and East Asia. His papers have appeared in Economics Letters, World Development, Review of World Economics, and Economic Development and Cultural Change, among others. He foundedand served as editor in 2004-2016 ofthe Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development. He is a lifetime Member-Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, the countrys peer-elected group of select individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science and technology. Balisacan pursued his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaii, MS in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines Los Banos, and BS in Agriculture from the Mariano Marcos State University. Kyiv, Ukraine Two aid workers, one Canadian and one Spanish, were killed in east Ukraine, said Kyiv on Sunday blaming Russian forces and calling their deaths near war-ravaged Bakhmut a painful, irreparable loss. The defence ministry said Moscows troops had killed Emma Igual, a Spanish citizen who studied at the University of California at Berkeley, and Anthony Ihnat, a Canadian citizen both working for the NGO Road to Relief. It said in a statement that two volunteers working for the aid group had been injured in the incident in the eastern Donetsk region. The industrial region has suffered the worst of the fighting of Russias invasion launched last February and Moscow claimed to have annexed the territory last year. Kyiv said the aid workers had dedicated themselves to limiting the harm to civilians caught in the conflict, including by carrying out evacuations and distributing humanitarian relief. Road to Relief said in a post on its Instagram account that the vehicle the four aid workers were travelling in came under Russian attack in Chasiv Yar in eastern Ukraine on Saturday morning. In a direct hit, the vehicle flipped over and (caught) fire, it said. The aid workers had left from Slovyansk and were headed to Bakhmut to assess the needs of civilians caught in crossfire in the town of Ivanivske. All necessary information is currently being gathered, and we are cooperating with both military and police to resolve all matters of concern, the NGO said. Determined to help Igual, 32, was the director of Road to Relief, which she co-founded with a Frenchman, Henri Camenen, in March 2022, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine. According to Spanish media, she grew up in Barcelona. In an interview with the Jewish Chronicle published in July, she said her Jewish grandmother escaped the Holocaust in Austria as a teenager and was adopted by a family in Spain after she lost her whole family in concentration camps. I grew up with that background, feeling what it must have been like to be a refugee, or to be an orphan, so I felt determined to help people in a similar situation to her, she told the newspaper. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to Iguals family and friends, saying in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, that humanitarian workers and civilians can never be a target of war. Spain stands with our aid workers, who through their dedication, put their lives at risk to help others, he added. Canadas foreign ministry confirmed the death of a citizen but gave no further details. Our hearts are with their family and loved ones during this very difficult time, it said. Road to Relief said a German medical volunteer, Ruben Mawick, and a Swedish volunteer, Johan Mathias Thyr, were badly injured with shrapnel wounds and burns but are now stable in separate hospitals far from the scene. Happened so fast Thyr, 34, told Swedish daily Expressen a suicide drone had attacked the vehicle. He said he believed the drone was probably targeting the driver, but the car was British and the drivers seat was therefore on the right side. We crashed and it burst into flames. We were helped by soldiers who drove us to the hospital, Thyr told the newspaper from his hospital bed in Dnipro where he was being treated for burns. It all happened so fast. It took only a minute from the time we crashed in the ditch until the car was enveloped in flames. The volunteers were on their way to assess the needs of civilians on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Road to Relief said. The battle for Bakhmut, which was captured by Russian forces in May, has remained one of the bloodiest of the invasion with Ukrainian forces now pushing back along the northern and southern flanks of the town. In February, 33-year-old US medic Pete Reed was killed near Bakhmut when his evacuation vehicle was hit by a missile. In May, AFP video journalist Arman Soldin was killed in Chasiv Yar near Bakhmut by missile fire. Bamako, Mali A coalition of armed groups, who are signatories to a major peace agreement in northern Mali, said Sunday they were preparing to defend themselves against the ruling junta, accusing it of violating mutual security commitments. The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP) coalition urged civilians to move away from military facilities in what appeared to be a prelude to conflict. The governorate of the eastern Gao region on Sunday said it had installed a 30-day overnight curfew between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am with only security vehicles exempted. The armed groups statement followed a suicide attack Friday on a military base in northern Mali, which itself came a day after deadly strikes on an army camp and a passenger boat by suspected jihadists killed 64 people. The region the cradle of a jihadist insurgency that has swept into three Sahel nations has seen a resurgence of tension in recent weeks, triggered in part by the pullout of UN peacekeeping troops from Mali. Plane downed The Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) a coalition of Tuareg independence and Arab nationalist groups which is one of the parties to the strategic Framework said late Saturday it had shot down an army plane in the Gao region after they came under attack. If confirmed, it would be the first time in many years that this has happened. The army referred to an incident without giving further details. The head of the airforce, General Alou Boi Diarra, said on state television that an aircraft had experienced some technical problems that had forced the crew to bail out and the plane had crashed. The crew had been recovered safely, he added. He did not specify what mission the plane was carrying out. The Framework (CSP) has in recent weeks denounced several violations of the 2014 ceasefire and the 2015 peace accord. It has also condemned what it termed the juntas current ceasefire strategy seeing that as designed to rupture it, and has warned it would have to resort to all measure of legitimate defence across the northern Azawad region. Pretext The Framework groups worry that the withdrawal of UN troops may give the junta a pretext to reoccupy zones which the 2014 and 2015 deals had ceded from central control. After the UN peacekeepers quit their base last month there were clashes between troops and jihadists, but also between the army and the CMA. The Framework says that after the base was vacated the army and Russian Wagner paramilitaries which it considers terrorists visited violence, including summary executions and abuses including arbitrary arrest and looting, on locals. The Framework was created in May 2021 by the main northern armed groups who inked the 2015 peace deal which is now generally considered moribund. The jihadists, who first fought the army alongside Tuareg and Arab rebels before turning against them, are not affected by the accord and have spread their operations to central Mali and Burkina Faso. Landlocked, impoverished Mali has been struggling with insecurity since 2012 when a revolt led by ethnic Tuaregs erupted in the north of the country. The northern rebellion was formally ended by a peace agreement signed between the regions rebels and the Malian government in 2015. However, the fragile deal came under strain after the civilian government was toppled in 2020 and replaced by a junta. Los Angeles, United States Hawaiis Kilauea volcano, one of the worlds most active, erupted again on Sunday, spewing fountains of lava more than 80 feet (24 meters) high. Kilauea began erupting at around 3:15 pm local time (0115 GMT Monday), the US Geological Surveys Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said. The eruption was preceded by a period of strong seismicity and rapid uplift of the summit, it said. It is the third time the volcano has erupted this year, after bursting to life in January and June. A USGS livestream from the rim of the caldera showed fountains of lava erupting from multiple fissures in the crater. Lava fountain heights have decreased since the eruption onset, but remain up to about 20-25 meters (65-82 feet) high, the volcano observatory said in an update at 0520 GMT Monday. The observatory raised the volcanos alert status from watch to warning and the aviation alert was increased to red. Kilauea is in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Big Island, well away from population centers, but Hawaii Emergency Management Agency warned that volcanic gases could be a problem for people exposed to them. At this time, lava at Kilauea is confined to the summit and does not pose a lava threat to communities. However, eruptions emit volcanic particles and gases which may create breathing problems for people exposed, it posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. Sulphur dioxide released during eruptions reacts in the atmosphere to create the visible haze known as vog (volcanic smog), which can create breathing difficulties for people and animals. Kilauea is much smaller than neighboring Mauna Loa but is far more active and regularly wows helicopter-riding tourists who come to see its red-hot shows. Kilauea is one of six active volcanoes on the Hawaiian islands. It erupted almost continuously between 1983 and 2019. One major failure under Aquino is the continued failure of the government to address human rights violations The constantly shifting national security environment in the Philippines requires ongoing assessment and adaptation of our approaches to ensure the preservation, advancement, and resilience of our nation. Given the intricacies and transformations we encounter, it is of utmost importance to develop a unified and all-encompassing strategy that can proficiently tackle emerging threats to our national security while concurrently advancing our well-established developmental objectives. In this four-part series, we shall examine the national security policy of the Philippines in three administrations, namely, 2011-2016 (Benigno Aquino), 2017-2022 (Rodrigo Duterte), 2018 (also by Duterte), and 2022-2028 (Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) During the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the NSP centered on the following main pillars, namely: 1.Governance: This element emphasizes the importance of effective and accountable governance as a foundation for national security. 2.Delivery of Basic Services: Ensuring the provision of essential services to citizens, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, is vital for national security and stability. 3.Economic Reconstruction; 4.Sustainable Development: Promoting economic growth and development while ensuring sustainability is a key aspect of national security, as it can reduce vulnerabilities and promote stability. 5. Security Sector Reform: This pillar highlights the need to reform and strengthen the security sector to better address internal and external threats to the nations security. Collectively, they shape the National Security Policys (circa 2011-2016) approach to safeguarding a nations security and well-being. The NSP during this period also recognized seven facets of our national security that enhanced our national interests. Each of these facet took into account the psychological and social dimensions of national security, including how people perceived and believed, social norms, and the character that impacted their understanding of government policies and initiatives. As mentioned, these are: Socio-Political Stability: pertained to achieving peace and unity among all Filipinos, irrespective of their beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, or social statuses. It involved both the government and the citizens participating in nation-building within the framework of the rule of law, constitutional democracy, and the full protection of human rights. Simultaneously, the government must be accountable to the people and, as such, ensure social and political stability through effective governance, clear roles, and efficient performance. Territorial Integrity: referred to maintaining the integrity of the countrys land and maritime territories under the effective control of the government. It involved ensuring the permanent inviolability of the national territory and its control by the government and the state, including safeguarding the Exclusive Economic Zone from illegal incursions and resource exploitation. Economic Solidarity: entailed collectively pursuing and strengthening the economy, making it capable of supporting national endeavors. It relied on the unity of the people, who have a vested interest in the economy through participation and ownership. This core national interest aimed to ensure Filipinos become stakeholders in economic and business enterprises, enabling them to collectively defend, protect, and enhance the economic system for themselves and future generations. Ecological Balance: focused on effectively conserving the natural environment amidst industrial and agricultural expansion and population growth. It seeks to support environmentally sustainable development for the benefit of the nation and its people. As the country experienced economic growth, it faced threats to ecological balance from natural disasters and human-made destructive activities. The responsibility for maintaining this balance fell on all Filipinos, as individuals, families, and communities. Cultural Cohesiveness: implied that Filipinos shared a collective commitment to principles of freedom and human dignity, as evidenced by historical figures like Lapu-Lapu, Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Andres Bonifacio, Jose Abad Santos, Senator Benigno Aquino Jr., and Corazon Aquino. It also signified the Filipino people were bound by a common set of values and beliefs derived from their cultural heritage, transcending differences in socioeconomic status, religion, ethnicity, and language. Moral-Spiritual Consensus: emphasized Filipinos must be motivated by a shared national vision rooted in patriotism, national pride, and the advancement of national goals and interests. National unity was pivotal for survival, where people took pride in their country, culture, traditions, and history. This consensus inspired citizens to actively engage in programs promoting the countrys security and development objectives. Peace and Harmony: As a democratic nation, the Philippines was dedicated to global peace and the maintenance of world order. National security thrives through harmonious relations with neighbors and allies. To achieve this, the country must cultivate positive relationships with all nations and people, free from external control, interference, or threats of aggression. This begins with fostering harmonious engagement with ASEAN member countries. The 2011-2016 NSP identified diverse challenges and concerns in the security environment, which included: A borderless world had emerged with an increasing flow of goods, services, capital, and human resources across national boundaries. The shift of focus by economies from ideological concerns to trade and technological priorities. The shift of demographics, economic and political centers of gravity, and attention from the US and Europe to Asia-Pacific countries. Meanwhile, new and more complex areas of security, as well as aspects of enduring problems, had become part of a much-expanded agenda of national security concerns, such as: Ethnic conflict and belligerent states that threatened domestic and regional stability. Organized crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction were global concerns that transcended national borders. Conventional arms races Environmental damage and ecological degradation that undermined economic prosperity and stability. Transnational crimes such as terrorism and the proliferation of illegal drugs. It was during the Benigno Noynoy Aquino Administration (2010-2016) that the Philippines obtained a favorable ruling against China in its territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines initiated arbitration proceedings against China under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in January 2013. The primary objective of this arbitration was to seek a legal resolution to the disputes and clarify the maritime entitlements of the parties involved. The administration also scored high on the good governance front. President Benigno Aquino III took a strong stance against corruption and initiated investigations into the pork barrel scam scandal. Several high-profile politicians, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, were implicated in the scam. Some were arrested, tried, and convicted for their involvement. Despite positive economic developments, challenges persisted during Aquinos presidency. Income inequality remained a concern, and poverty levels endured in certain parts of the country. Additionally, some critics contended economic growth did not equally benefit all segments of society. Overall, the Aquino government made earnest efforts at fiscal responsibility, infrastructure development, and efforts to enhance the Philippines economic stability and global competitiveness. One major failure under Aquino is the continued failure of the government to address human rights violations. That impunity would characterize every administration and haunts us up to today. The early years were a struggle to get customers through the door Bookworms, get your wallets ready the largest and longest-running book fair in the Philippines opens its doors once again starting Sept. 14! On hand will be thousands of books from a host of Philippine publishers. This is the publics chance to browse and buy Filipino-authored titles and, for many, to expand the range of their reading matter beyond Western books. There are also many activities slated during the event. Among those participating in MIBF is Milflores Publishing, which has been releasing many well-regarded books over the past years since the revival of the brand under Atty. Andrea Pasion-Flores. They have prepared a viewing party, book talk, book signings, a panel discussion, and book launch. Dr Wilfredo Liangco will talk about his humor-filled yet sensitive book of essays about hospital life, Even Ducks Get Liver Cancer. Katrina Martin, Charlson Ong, and Kannika Claudine Pena will discuss contemporary fiction, and retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna will sign copies of his memoir Silver is My Gold. The University of Santo Tomas Publishing House (UST PH), under its new director Ned Parfan and new deputy director Paul A. Castillo, will hold book signings featuring their many prizewinning authors, among them Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo, John Jack Wigley, Chuckberry J. Pascual, Joselito D. Delos Reyes, Dean Francis Alfar, Nikki Alfar, Dina Roma, and Maria Alexandra I. Chua. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee will also sign copies of his books at the UST PH booths and on the MIBF Main Stage on Sept. 14 and 17. UST PH, founded in 1593, is celebrating its 430th anniversary this year. Among the authors signing their books at the Ateneo University Press booth are film professor and critic Nick Deocampo, Edgar Calabia Samar, and Blaise Campo Gacoscos. Indie publishers will be at MIBF too, including Balangay Books featuring Beverly Wico Siy, whose groundbreaking Its a Mens World has been reissued with an attractive new cover. Another MIBF activity that mustnt be missed is the Book Development Association of the Philippines (BDAP) Gintong Aklat Awards 2022. The awarding ceremonies will be at the Main Stage on Sept. 14 at 3:00 p.m. Among the finalists in various genres are Paul A. Castillos Lunas sa Nabubuong Lubos (Poetry in Filipino), Joselito Delos Reyes #Pasahero: Mga Nakikisakay na Sanaysay (Creative Nonfiction in Filipino), and Cecilia Manguerra Brainards Selected Short Stories (Fiction in English) of UST PH, and Allan N. Derains Aswanglaut (Fiction in Filipino) and Charlie Samuya Verics Children of the Postcolony (Arts and Humanities) of Ateneo Press. Established in 1981, the Gintong Aklat Awards recognizes publishers for the quality of their bookmaking. The MIBF was first held in 1980 at the old Philcite. The event was then known as Bookfair Manila. The early years were a struggle to get customers through the door. As the years went by and support for the fair grew, special events and activities were added such as writing workshops, storytelling sessions, and book signings. The venues became bigger and bigger the Philippine Trade Training Center in 1990, Megatrade Hall in 1993, World Trade Center from 2004-2007, and SMX Convention Center starting in 2008. This years MIBF runs from Sept. 14 to 17, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the SMX Convention Center. Free admission tickets may be printed from online files check out the MIBFs Facebook page as well as those of publishing houses for more details. * * * The MIBF has certainly come a long way since its early days, when it ran for a month because there wasnt much support for a book fair back then. Most books sold at the events initial stagings were foreign books because the local book industry was not as vibrant and flourishing as it is now. Today, there is an explosion of Filipino-authored and -published books. Quite a few Filipinos are breaking into the international publishing scene. The Philippines has been invited to be the Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the worlds largest, in 2025, assuring global visibility for Philippine titles. All these gains are encouraging, but we mustnt lose sight of the fact that much more work is required to grow the industry and attract readers. In terms of funding, for instance, the Philippines book industry cooperates to get things done because a single entity cant do it alone. The Resil Mojares and Ambeth Ocampo talk at the recent Philippine Book Fair in Davao, organized by the governments National Book Development Board, was also sponsored by the Book Development Association of the Philippines and Vibal Publishing. This shows that costs still need to be spread around because of budget limitations. Hopefully the synergy among the industry stakeholders, as evinced by their sharing events costs and collaborating on other joint projects, will serve us well at Frankfurt and the other opportunities that Filipino authors and publishers can leverage for the growth of Philippine literature. * * FB and Twitter: @DrJennyO / Email: writerjennyo@gmail.com The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration decision opens the newest shots from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to most Americans even if theyve never had a coronavirus vaccination. Its part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot. Theres still another step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must sign off. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots. Vaccinations could begin later this week, and both the COVID-19 and flu shot can be given at the same visit. A third vaccine maker, Novavax, said its updated shot is still being reviewed by the FDA. COVID-19 hospitalizations have been rising since late summer although thanks to lasting immunity from prior vaccinations and infections not nearly as much as this time last year. But protection wanes over time and the coronavirus continually churns out new variants that can dodge prior immunity. Its been a year since the last time the vaccines were tweaked, and only about 20% of adults ever received that earlier update. Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said in a statement. We very much encourage those who are eligible to consider getting vaccinated. Just like earlier vaccinations, the fall round is cleared for adults and children as young as age 6 months. FDA said starting at age 5, most people can get a single dose even if theyve never had a prior COVID-19 shot. Younger children might need additional doses depending on their history of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations. The FDA pointedly isnt calling this latest round a booster but instead a vaccine updated to better match the currently circulating virus. The new recipe targets an omicron variant named XBB.1.5 replacing outdated combination vaccines that mixed protection against the original coronavirus strain and an older version of omicron. And while even the XBB.1.5 variant is no longer dominant, FDA determined that its close enough to coronavirus strains causing most COVID-19 illnesses today to offer good cross-protection. Like earlier versions, theyre expected to be most protective against COVID-19s worst consequences rather than mild infection. But while the FDAs decision allows for wide use of the updated shots, the CDC will decide how strongly different groups are urged to get them. Federal officials have said the shots still will be free to most Americans through private insurance or Medicare. But for the uninsured or underinsured, the CDC is working with health departments, clinics and certain pharmacies to temporarily provide free shots. (*This story was updated at 1:44 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 with additional reporting.) FILE An American flag is unfurled at the Pentagon, in Washington, Sept. 11, 2021, at sunrise on the morning of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) As the nation paused to remember the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania, Massachusetts elected officials paid tribute to the fallen and to the heroism of first responders who stepped into harms way. Here is a sampling of what they had to say. Gov. Maura Healey: [Twenty-two] years after nearly 3,000 lives were stolen from us on 9/11, we remember. Today and always, our hearts go out to the families changed forever, and the heroes who rushed forward to save lives that day, Healey wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 22 years after nearly 3,000 lives were stolen from us on 9/11, we remember. Today and always, our hearts go out to the families changed forever, and the heroes who rushed forward to save lives that day. pic.twitter.com/K4IrQkKtsf Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) September 11, 2023 Lt Gov. Kim Driscoll: We will never forget the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, the heroes who sprung into action, and the families who keep their memories alive, Driscoll wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Today, we say their names and recommit to building a better, more peaceful world in their memory. We will never forget the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001, the heroes who sprung into action, and the families who keep their memories alive. Today, we say their names and recommit to building a better, more peaceful world in their memory. pic.twitter.com/10vhTp6XYs Kim Driscoll (@MassLtGov) September 11, 2023 U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: On todays anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, we remember the lives lost, and we honor the brave first responders who put their lives on the line. We will never forget, Warren wrote on X, formerly Twitter. On todays anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, we remember the lives lost, and we honor the brave first responders who put their lives on the line. We will never forget. Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) September 11, 2023 U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.: [Twenty-two] years ago, we made a solemn promise to never forget the 3,000 lives lost on 9/11, including the more than 200 Massachusetts residents who never made it home. Today, we reflect on this tragedy, and also the bravery of the first responders who gave their lives to save others, Markey posted on X, formerly Twitter. 22 years ago, we made a solemn promise to never forget the 3,000 lives lost on 9/11, including the more than 200 Massachusetts residents who never made it home. Today, we reflect on this tragedy, and also the bravery of the first responders who gave their lives to save others. Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District: On September 11, 2001, all Americans came together in the face of terror. We are forever indebted to the first responders for their service and sacrifice, and we remain committed to remembering and honoring the memories of those who were taken too soon. pic.twitter.com/onJpE4ZRaa Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-2nd District: September 11, 2001 was an awful day of terror and tragedybut in one of our worst moments, we saw the best in our country as heroes rushed in to save lives. We will never forget the victims, just going about their daily lives, who were taken too soon. We will always remember. pic.twitter.com/rtf7ghvnAV Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District: Today marks 22 years since the horrific attacks of 9/11. We continue to stand together in remembrance and honor those we lost, their loved ones, survivors, and the heroes who helped save lives that day. #NeverForget Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-5th District: On 9/11, we remember the violent terrorist attack that forever changed America. We mourn the 3,000 lives lost. We honor the wounded families. We thank the brave heroes who sprung to action. We commit to a world grounded in peace and safety, and free from hate. #NeverForget Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District: Out of the horrible tragedy of 9/11 arose an unbreakable resilience - a sense that we are all stronger together. Today, we put differences aside to honor the lives lost & the sacrifices of so many other selfless Americans who helped put the pieces back together. #Neverforget Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Ayanna Presley, D-7th District: Holding space today for all those still carrying the trauma of 9/11 the loved ones of those we lost, first responders, community members, & survivors. Our Work to build a more peaceful, just, & trauma-free world continues. Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) September 11, 2023 U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-8th District: Editors note: This story first published Sept. 09, 2018. We are offering it again on the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. Linked throughout are other stories from the archives. Its my last first day of school for a while, 22-year-old Jessica Bram Murphy says from the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She is filled with enthusiasm as she begins her final year of college. Her studies in international development have spanned a broad spectrum - from Middle East policy and Arabic to the analysis of developing countries and how they approach poverty. Last fall, she spent a semester abroad, studying in an Arabic language immersion program in Amman, Jordan. "I'm not 100 percent sure of my future plans. I am really interested in the Middle East as a region, and I'm really interested in journalism. I can't guarantee that will be my aspiration forever, but I'd like to spend more time in the region, perhaps as a foreign correspondent for a news agency," she says. "I'm also interested in diplomacy and humanitarian work, so going into the nonprofit sector is something I can see myself doing, too." At Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, her sister, soon-to-be 21-year-old Leila Nicole Murphy, thinks law school may be in her future one day, although not immediately. Her two majors are ethics, politics and economics, and education studies, both focused in areas of social and political inequality. She also mentors New Haven high school students, leads outdoor trips for incoming students at Yale and teaches yoga. "I enjoy thinking and reading about the law. I think the law can be used to advocate for change in very powerful ways," Leila says. Seventeen years ago, the sisters were beginning kindergarten and nursery school, respectively. Each was in a classroom in schools in New York City on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 11 was flown by hijackers into the north tower of the World Trade Center shortly before 9 a.m., the first of the terror attacks to strike the U.S. that day. Their father, Brian Joseph Murphy, 41, was at work as a vice president with Cantor Fitzgerald Securities on the 104th floor of the north tower. His specialty was the then-new world of e-bond trading. By day's end, he would be one of three natives of Westfield, Massachusetts, to perish at the trade center. Tara Shea Creamer was aboard Flight 11, and Daniel P. Trant was also at work for Cantor Fitzgerald. "I don't really remember much. It was my second week of kindergarten," says Jessica. "Memory is an odd thing. I certainly have fabricated memories, imaginings of him, but I don't know if I have actual memories of my dad." Leila was just 3 years old and would turn 4 three weeks after the attack. She says she remembers nothing of the day, nor does she have any memories of their father. As they grew up in Manhattan, their mother, Judith Bram Murphy, and members of their extended family shared stories of their dad to help ensure they understood the man he had been. "My mom wanted his presence to be in our lives, so there have been lots of photos and the telling of stories," says Leila. Their mother is a clinical psychologist and thus, each sister shares, is acutely aware of how different the process of grief and trauma has been for each of them. Anniversaries of 9/11 during their early childhood would often see them participating in the ceremonies at Ground Zero and more recently at the national memorial built on the site of the trade center. As teenagers, they participated in a summer camp program that brought together children from around the globe whose lives had been touched by violence. It proved a touchstone for their exploration to learn more about 9/11, they say. "The peace building camp ... really opened our lives to the violence that exists in Afghanistan, Palestine and other places around the world. It was pretty impactful for both of us," says Jessica. "It's kind of what started my interest in the Middle East." For Leila, having a camp roommate from Palestine brought home for her that 9/11 was not an isolated event. "I think I realized there are a lot of places in the world where senseless violence happens all the time, whether it be because of terror, war or military intervention," she says. Neither was aware, though, of the events which have been unfolding over the past six years at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where five men accused of helping mastermind the 9/11 attacks are incarcerated and facing trial before a U.S. military tribunal. "I was a young child who grew up in the post-9/11 world," says Jessica. "There was never really a shift between the two for me, even though for the whole world, there was a dramatic shift. I've become aware of a lot of the history of what happened in Iraq five years later. As I learned more about this, it's made me increasingly confused and upset. I'm still in the process of reading, learning and understanding some of the many atrocities that happened in the wake of the attack." Then, last fall, they read an Op-Ed piece published in the New York Times, Guantanamo Is Delaying Justice for 9/11 Families, by Julia E. Rodriguez, a history professor at the University of New Hampshire who is a member of the organization September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. The authors brother, Greg Rodriguez, was among those killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11. In the piece, Rodriguez described her participation in a program that brings victim family members and first responders affected by the 9/11 attacks to Guantanamo to observe the pre-trial hearings. It sparked the Murphy sisters to contemplate following in Rodriguezs footsteps to Cuba. I didnt know the men accused were in Guantanamo Bay. I thought it was one and done with (the 2011 killing of) Osama Bin Laden, says Jessica. Leila took the lead, setting up a meeting for the two of them with Peaceful Tomorrows in New York City in January. "I think once we found out more about the program, because we are both intellectually interested in issues related to U.S. policy related to Middle East and international relations ... we thought it would be a great opportunity to learn a lot," she says. "I do want to see justice done, and it's important to know about it." There were reservations, Leila acknowledges. Their mother did not want to make the trip herself and had concerns about the impact it might have on each of them emotionally, she says. My sister and I were both very young when (9/11) happened. It was traumatic in different ways for each of us and (going to Guantanamo) could be retraumatizing, Leila says. I think for most of my childhood I did not want to be singled out. People can have very dramatic reactions. I didnt want to be pitied so I kept it hidden, even from close friends. I really detached the national tragedy from my personal tragedy. ... I was really focused on the loss of my father, (but) I was privileged in a lot of ways so did not have to deal with that loss. "It almost feels like there is a burden on me, not in a negative way, when your life starts with something so hateful and out of your control, all I can try to do is try to understand, extend love and respect, (and) to understand what I can and do what I can," Leila adds. It was a haphazard decision in some ways, remembers Jessica of how they agreed they wanted to visit Guantanamo. (My sister and I) have that in common. We like to take adventures, but I think it was more calculated than that underneath the impulsive act. Both were grateful, she notes, to learn there are members of other 9/11 families who share their politics, being opposed to the death penalty, advocating for peace and searching for non-violent responses to all forms of terrorism. Jessica also says she felt "a weird sort of responsibility" to take the trip "given the U.S. is acting on behalf of victims and family members." She adds, "It's a difficult place to be when you are personally impacted by such a public national event. Since I have a stake, I wanted to make sure I knew what is happening." Along with other NGOs (non-government observers), the sisters were part of a group who flew via military aircraft from Andrews Air Force Base in July and were then taken by boat to Guantanamo for what were to be five days of pre-trial hearings. Defense lawyers were among those on the trek. It wound up being only two days of hearings as two other days of proceedings were closed sessions and one was canceled, according to Leila. The down days involved sightseeing of the island, including a visit to Camp X-Ray, the first and most notorious of the facilities at Guantanamo where the first captives were brought and where incidents of torture and mistreatment were reported to have occurred. For the court proceedings, the sisters sat with other observers in a room, separated from the defendants by a wall of glass and listening via audio on a 40-second delay, making it disconcerting at times. "The hearings focused on torture and what the prosecution has released to the defense. I think some family members wonder why does this matter," Leila says. "While I think it does matter to talk about torture, I can have empathy for the CIA and military because no one really knew what to do. I think we should have accountability for the U.S. missteps post-9/11." "I am morally opposed to the death penalty, especially given the torture. I try to empathize with everyone, but I do think there should be justice done and some form of punishment," Leila shares. "I don't think this is the way we should be doing it." She suggests trying the defendants in federal court - a move the Obama administration sought in 2008 but which was blocked by Congress - might result in a far more expeditious and less costly judicial process for all. For her, the trip proved impactful in many ways. Healing is a long process. Ive definitely had to process a lot of emotions because I couldnt really process them at 3 years old. I am still processing it. Its been hard in the weeks in post-Guantanamo, (but) I think it was really a worthwhile trip. For Jessica, there were points during the trip in which she felt she was participating in some sort of charade as the reality of what was transpiring struck home. It also "made me think really, really deeply for both sides." "I was waiting to feel something. It's hard to explain," she says. "I don't think they're innocent nor that anyone thinks they are innocent. They are Islamic jihadists. ... I didn't feel anger. I felt a lot of confusion, curiosity and sadness. It's sad, and a reminder of how sad 9/11 was, and how many people were affected and how many lives lost. "That sadness isn't directly connected to these men, no matter the outcome," she adds. "There is no way they are going to be released." Like her sister, Jessica says she feels "there is significant evidence they are guilty (and) probably deserve life sentences." How each woman spends a particular 9/11 anniversary now depends on where she is. Says Leila, "I always talk to my mom and sister that day. I have very close friends so I definitely spend time with them. I try to take care of myself and remember my dad." For Jessica, last year's anniversary saw her in Jordan where the Arabic immersion program required students to speak only in that language. "I did feel pretty emotional, kind of confused. I don't want to associate Muslim or Arabic people with 9/11. It's a connection I feel vehemently against. I don't associate that culture or religion with 9/11. It was one of the reasons I started learning about it." Jessica remembers she mentioned to the mother of her host family "how I was kind of sad my dad died on this day. It was a struggle to explain." Then, the woman figured things out. "She was like, 'Oh my goodness, I so sorry,' (adding) that it was Arab people who did it. Even she made that connection, and I thought, 'How acceptable is that?' I didn't even know what to say." The following day, the mother circled back in their discussion and shared how there had been a terror attack in Amman on Nov. 9, 2005, one in which suicide bombers killed 60 people at a series of hotels. "She wanted to show me that we shared this common loss and took me to the memorial site," Jessica remembers of what she says was a particularly inspirational moment for her. As each anniversary comes to pass, Jessica says, "I try to think of my dad, and I do. It's hard to think of someone who you don't really know, but in a lot of ways I do feel connected with him. I have a lot of qualities I know I didn't get from my mom." Their aunt, Ann Murphy, says it's her nieces' curiosity and love of adventure and travel that most mirror the brother she misses to this day. Asked what he might think of his children, she doesn't miss a beat: "Oh, Brian would be tremendously proud of them. You do see Brian in them. It's unbelievable." She remembers with laughter his post-master's degree summer adventures, which took him and three friends off on a "grand vacation," first to California, then to Maui and on to New Zealand, Australia and Tahiti, from where he called home, asking his parents to change his flight reservation so he could extend the journey by an extra week. "I would not be going on those adventures," Ann Murphy says. "Brian loved to travel. He loved to meet people. He was very social, very adventurous and curious about the world. (Jessica and Leila) are the embodiment of his spirit." Retired as an English teacher from Southwick-Tolland Regional High School, she marvels at the women the two have become. "Given the fact their dad was killed in 9/11, they might have gone the other way where intolerance exists. (Instead) they want to improve the world," Ann Murphy says. She credits the guidance of her sister-in-law, who, she says, "did an excellent job in raising them, exposing them to opportunities which have led them to be dedicated in pursuing causes they believe in." I am very proud of the fact that they have pursued higher education with enthusiasm and exploration. They are not afraid to try new subjects, Ann Murphy says. They want to experience the world and, once they do, they want to improve the human condition, to make a difference in the world. Im convinced both of them will. Andover and North Andover Public Schools were closed Monday, Sept. 11, because of extensive power outages and debris left by a storm that passed through the region last Friday. Andover schools will be closed because of the damage, Superintendent Magda Parvey said in an announcement posted to the districts website on Sunday. Many of the districts schools are currently without power with an unclear timeline for restoration, Parvey wrote. Several National Grid vehicles are causing road closures or blockages which will make traveling for buses and families unsafe and sidewalk cleanup remains ongoing. These blockages have also prevented public works crews access to clean up roads and sidewalks. The same goes for North Andover, according to a statement from Superintendent Gregg Gilligan posted to the districts website. He said crews still need more time to clean up the debris from the storm. They have been working around the clock since the storm hit, Gilligan wrote. We will give them another day to continue the clean up and we will reassess conditions around town tomorrow. Until then, please stay safe. Andover residents still without power can head to Memorial Hall Library from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. or the Robb Senior from 5-10 p.m. or to stay cool and charge their phones, Parey added. About 1,500 people were still without power in the town as of 6:30 a.m. on Monday, according to a power outage map from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Roughly 61,000 customers lost power on Friday because of the storm, as previously reported by MassLive. That number has since gone down to 5,153 as of Monday morning. Andover was the community with the highest number of outages in Massachusetts, with 72% of the towns electricity users, more than 10,000 customers, going without power Saturday morning, MEMAs map showed. Police officers, firefighters and Department of Public Works employees responded to calls for service throughout the town Friday night, and residents were urged stay indoors until conditions improved. Please continue to limit your driving and walking to only what is necessary. Many of our roads are still impassable and dangerous, the Andover Police Department said in a Facebook post Saturday morning. During the overnight hours, the tree services started clearing branches/trees that were involved in wires, leaving the wires across the road. National Grid/Verizon/Comcast are now coming in to restore service, the post continued. This is a process, and staying off the road will help the utility crews (and us) greatly. In North Andover, many roads were closed as crews worked to remove downed trees and wires. People were urged by police to use extreme caution while driving and walking in the town and to avoid areas blocked off by cones or signs. Once again, Mother Nature has not been kind to this beautiful town! the North Andover Police Department said in a Facebook post Saturday morning. Rest assured, agencies are using all of their resources to get up and running again! Parvey said the district will keep an eye on restoration efforts and provide updates when they become available. Biologists at the University of Massachusetts have discovered evidence to help explain how tomatoes might have first evolved. The research, published in Plants People Planet and The American Journal of Botany, examined the entire tomato species, from little and terrible tasting specimens to the conventional juicy tomatoes many of us know and love. A Plymouth County grand jury has indicted a Bridgewater man accused of bludgeoning his neighbor to death in May 2023, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruzs office announced Monday. Dinis Moreira, 69, was indicted on charges by a Plymouth County grand jury on one count each of murder and assault and battery, Cruzs office said in a statement. Bridgewater police received a call on May 23, at around 12:34 a.m., from Moreiras son. He told police that his father called him about someone who had a fight with Moreira and was injured, Cruzs office said. The son went to his fathers home to find Valeria Oakhem, 58, injured on the kitchen floor. Police arrived soon after, with Oakhem taken to Good Samaritan Medical Center where she died from her injuries. After Bridgewater police reached out to Massachusetts State Police, an investigation followed, Cruzs office said. The results of the investigation claimed that Moreira bludgeoned Oakhem to death using a hammer, and that it was not random but deliberate. The Chief Medical Examiners office said Oakhem died from injuries to her head and torso, Cruzs office added. Moreira will be arraigned on the charges at a later date at Brockton Superior Court, the district attorneys office said. Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11, gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Commemorations stretch from the attack sites at New Yorks World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania to Alaska and beyond. President Joe Biden is due at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage. His visit, en route to Washington, D.C., from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. The hijacked plane attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives and reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. On that day, we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help, said Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginias Goochland County. Its more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the Pentagon and more than three times as far from New York. But a sense of connection is enshrined in a local memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Centers destroyed twin towers. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people holds not just one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service focused on first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all the victims. Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities. In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a Heroes Memorial includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents. Were just a little bitty community, said Mayor Joe Maurath, but its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free. New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations. As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans do volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris is due to join the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum plaza. The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead. James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Josephs name. If their name is spoken out loud, they dont disappear, James Giaccone said in a recent interview. The commemoration is crucial to him. I hope I never see the day when they minimize this, he said. Its a day that changed history. Biden, a Democrat, will be the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in Alaska, or anywhere in the western U.S. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Obama followed one of those observances by recognizing the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland. First lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend the ceremony. The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free National Day of Learning program, which will be available through the fall, organizers say. We need to get the word out to the next generation, said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger. A GoFundMe has been set up following the death of Joshua Przybycien, the Palmer resident who was killed by a fallen tree while camping with his fiance in Vermont on Friday, Sept. 8. Przybyciens fiance Kathryn Workman called Vermont State Police about the incident, at a campsite along Somerset Road in Somerset, Vermont. State police arrived to find Przybycien, 33, dead under the fallen tree, they said in a statement. Since his death, a GoFundMe was set up by Workman to pay for funeral expenses. Joshua died doing what he loved in a place that he loved, surrounded by nature, which he held in the highest regard, she wrote in the description of the GoFundMe page. He had an unquenchable thirst for adventure of all sorts from mountain biking to mosh pits to traveling to places such as his second home of Tobago, to finding his adventure curled up with a good book and a hot cup of tea that he brewed from the herbs he collected. Przybycien was remembered for his skill at storytelling, captivating a crowd from his closest friends and family to a stranger he met passing by (who inevitably stopped to compliment him on his luscious locks), the GoFundMe description read. He had a smile and a laugh that were contagious, it added, with a power and vitality that did not end with his death. His power was released into everything, into every animal, especially honeybees, into every plant with some extra love to the Tulsi basil, into nature with a deep connection to the oceans and into every idiosyncrasy between all that makes us human and our interactions with the world, the GoFundMe read. As of Monday, donors are approaching the $16,000 goal. So far, 171 donors have given a total of $11,140. The top two highest donors gave $500 each, while seven people each donated $200 and 35 people each donated $100. One of those donors who gave $100 was Dawn Davis, who commented below the fundraisers description. Josh went to school with my kids and everyone loved him, she wrote. He was a good human and I wish I had gotten to know him better. He had hair that every woman with straight hair was envious of. This loss is felt by all that knew and loved him. Commenter Brett Miller, who donated $20, wrote on the page, Rest easy man. Youre truly one with (the) world now. Przybyciens death was not considered suspicious and authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Sgt. Steven Gelder from the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven, Vermont at (802) 388-4919. Robert Harrington said he visits the West Springfield 9/11 monument every year, out of respect for his daughter. While the eternal flame on the West Springfield town green burns in memory of all the victims of that terrorist attack 22 years ago, a plaque on the monument focuses on one name in particular: Melissa Harrington-Hughes, Harringtons daughter, who grew up in the city. As the rain fell and before he placed a wreath at the monument, Harrington said, I compare it somewhat to Pearl Harbor. Its something that, as an American, you never want to forget. His daughter, then a resident of California, was visiting the World Trade Center that morning for a business conference. She was 31. Of the approximately 2,977 people who died in 9/11, Hughes-Harrington was one of 20 who had connections to the Pioneer Valley. Harrington remembered his daughters enthusiasm for travel and being a wonderful girl who just loved her parents and grandparents. Harrington encouraged the younger generation to participate in the annual memorial ceremony. Were a country and as a country, you want everybody to be unified, Harrington said. In short, you get the young kids involved in a cause or involved in something, they will get their own kids involved. Meanwhile, the citys 22nd remembrance ceremony was moved to Town Hall, where Police Chief Paul Connor, Fire Chief Christopher Bartone, Director of Veteran Services Jorge Santiago and Mayor William Reichelt offered remarks. Well never forget, Connor said. As we gathered today, I can say weve kept that promise and will continue to do so, but its our duty to share our feelings, what we experienced as a nation, to those that are learning in a classroom or online right now. Fire Chief Christopher Bartone said many watched the horror of the attacks unfold at 8:46 a.m. that morning. He said that on Sept. 11, 2001, the American people came together despite race or ethnicity as a nation with an immense amount of pride, united in that the nation would seek justice for those who committed these atrocities. We have a new generation of Americans that did not live through or experience that. ... Young children today learned 9/11 through history books and documentaries, Bartone said. I ask that we continue to remember those we lost, but take a moment to explain the events of that day (to) someone who didnt experience it. Santiago gave his deepest condolences to the families who lost a loved one on 9/11. Today, we feel your grief, remember your loss, share your sorrow, he said. I know there are no words that can ease the pain, and no matter how many years pass, we will always keep the memory of those lost that day. Reichelt issued a citation, proclaiming Sept. 11, 2023, as Remembrance Day in the city. While reading the proclamation, Reichelt said he and others will continue to offer support to the families and friends who lost loved ones in the attacks. He added that the town continues to mourn and remember Harrington-Hughes. Resident Joanne Burke, who said she has attended almost every remembrance ceremony in West Springfield, said its important for the younger generation to be taught. She wished her five teenage grandchildren and their school peers had attended the ceremony. Its very important, she said. I think that all the history classes should come down to this ceremony. They have to keep it alive. A 68-year-old man from Oregon was arrested at the beginning of the month in the 1979 killing and rape of a 24-year-old Boston woman, the Boston Police Department announced on Monday. John Michael Irmer, of Portland, Oregon, was arrested on a warrant from Boston Municipal Court for the aggravated rape and killing of Susan Marcia Rose on Oct. 30, 1979, the department said. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Monday, Sept. 11. The remains of two people who died in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center have been identified, the latest positive identification in the decadeslong effort to return victims to their families. Authorities confirmed the identification of the remains of a man and woman days ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the hijacked-plane attack that killed nearly 3,000 people in Lower Manhattan. Their names were withheld by city officials at the request of their families. New York Citys medical examiner has now been able to link remains to 1,649 World Trade Center victims, a painstaking process that relies on leading-edge DNA sequencing techniques to test body fragments recovered in the rubble. Advancements in the sequencing technology, including increased test sensitivity and faster turnaround times, have allowed officials to identify remains that had tested negative for identifiable DNA for decades, officials said. Similar efforts are used by the U.S. military to identify missing service members and are currently underway to test body fragments from more than 100 people killed during the wildfires in Maui last month. Despite forensic advancements, the effort to identify the remains of 9/11 victims has slowed in recent years. The two positive identifications are the first since September 2021, officials said. Before that, the last identification was made in 2019. More than 1,000 human remains from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have yet to be identified. They are currently being stored at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site. Dr. Jason Graham, the citys chief medical examiner, said officials were committed to fulfilling their solemn pledge to return the remains of all of the attacks victims. Faced with the largest and most complex forensic investigation in the history of our country, we stand undaunted in our mission to use the latest advances in science to serve this promise, Graham said. A 13-year-old riding in a UTV was injured Saturday after the driver did a doughnut and flipped the vehicle, said New Hampshire Fish and Game. Around 7 p.m., the UTV crashed on Success Pond Road in New Hampshire. The driver was Jason Cabral, 40, of New Bedford. Cabral was not injured but the 13-year-old was taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin for treatment of her injury that was determined to be non-life threatening, officials said. Between an interview with Cabral and witnesses, officials said Cabral had been doing a doughnut when the UTV flipped on its side. Alcohol and drugs were not involved, officials said. However, the 13-year-old was not wearing a helmet. Cabral was issued citations for operating an OHRV to endanger life or property and carrying a passenger less than 18 years old who was not wearing a helmet. A temperamental storm that has been brewing in the Atlantic Ocean all last week could send some dangerous beach weather to New England this week, according to weather officials. While it is too early to tell what impacts, if any, Hurricane Lee will have on Massachusetts, meteorologists are tracking the storms path as it heads north from the Caribbean. The Category 3 hurricane, with winds of up to 120 mph, is currently swirling near the Leewood Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, according to The Weather Channel. Meteorologist Domenica Davis said the storms intensity has fluctuated all week, and that will continue to be the case throughout the week. The storm has barely held onto its hurricane strength as it approached its fifth day in existence, according to WBZ-TVs Chief Meteorologist Eric Fisher on X, formerly known as Twitter. Cape Cod may enter the cone of uncertainty for Lee later today, Fisher said on Monday. Rough surf here is a given, but whether we get rain bands/strong gusts [is to be determined.] Lee will pass by the west of Bermuda later this week, Davis said, but it is too early to tell how close it will come to New England. This is mostly because the hurricane is expected to slow down as it heads north, according to the National Hurricane Centers (NHC) website. Whether Lee makes landfall or not, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along the East Coast starting Monday as the hurricanes wind field extends, Davis explained. Waves could reach heights of 10-15 feet, the meteorologist added, while the storm could bring winds of up to 39 mph to New England starting Friday morning at 8 a.m., according to the NHC. Fisher said the Lee will get its closest to Massachusetts on Saturday as it keeps chugging toward Nova Scotia. More information about Hurricane Lee can be found on the National Hurricane Centers website. WESTFIELD Mayor Michael McCabe welcomed everyone to the citys 9/11 Memorial on North Elm Street at 11 a.m. on Monday, and thanked the police and fire department representatives for being there for the families of three Westfield residents who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks. We want to remember and carry the memory forward, McCabe said. He said he had the distinction of dedicating the memorial on behalf of the Westfield Police Department along with former Fire Chief Mary Regan, who was also present at the ceremony on Monday. The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund approved a donation of US$5.3 million to the Central African Republic in Abidjan on 6 September 2023 to contribute to the implementation of the Resource Mobilisation and Transparency of Development Policies Support Project. The support comes from Pillar 1 of the African Development Funds Transition Support Facility, the African Development Bank Groups (www.AfDB.org/en) concessional financing window. It will support capacity building for mobilising and managing internal resources, and developing and implementing more efficient, transparent public development policies. The projects first component aims to support the tax authorities and debt department to modernize their working methods and tools. The goal is to increase resource mobilisation and make the administrative authorities more efficient in order to increase the tax base, but also to build capacity to develop a policy on debt and effective management of public debt. Its second component will focus on capacity building in external control bodies to create suitable conditions to reduce the risks of corruption, in particular through the adoption of an anti-corruption law. The project will also support efforts to monitor public finance and budget transparency reforms. It will support the participation of civil-society organisations in budget guidance discussions, which should lead to the development of more participatory national budgets. It will also help to build the analytical capacity of civil society and parliament, to minimise the risks of suspending budget support. The projects main beneficiaries are the state organisations responsible for collecting tax receipts (the tax authorities, customs authorities and the treasury) and for debt management. Other beneficiaries include the bodies responsible for overseeing and monitoring public policies and combating corruption and unlawful financial transactions. All these bodies will benefit from capacity building through high-level technical training and targeted training programmes. The earthquake that struck Morocco on the evening of Friday 8th September 2023 was devastating. With over two thousand people dead and hundreds injured, it has brought much sorrow and untold hardships to many families that lost their loved ones. It has thrown the nation and the people of Morocco in much grief. The distressing images emanating from Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal and Agadir, have touched the hearts of people around the world. I am shocked and profoundly distressed by the heavy loss of lives in this tragedy, which also left in its wake the enormous destruction of homes, offices, roads, hospitals, schools and infrastructure. On behalf of the African Development Bank Group, I extend my deepest condolences to his Majesty King Mohammed VI, the government of the Kingdom of Morocco, and every family mourning the loss of loved ones. Words can scarcely convey our shared sense of grief and loss. With our team on the ground, the African Development Bank stands in solidarity with the people of the Kingdom of Morocco and stands ready to provide much-needed support. Given the remoteness of the epicentre of the earthquake, the African Development Bank is prioritizing support for the protection of health facilities and the provision of clean drinking water, to prevent further hardships. I wish to assure his Majesty King Mohammed VI and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco that the African Development Bank Group stands ready to contribute resources and expertise to help rebuild the affected infrastructure in the communities. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. May God Almighty comfort all the families that have lost their loved ones and the nation in mourning. We wish a speedy recovery to all that have been injured. THE Chief Executive of Mayo County Council has denied deliberately misleading councillors on false information given at the July meeting and added what occurred won't happen again. Chief Executive Kevin Kelly admitted at yesterday's monthly meeting that information he gave to a question on whether income and expenditure from Ukrainian refugees staying in Lough Lannagh Holiday village in Castlebar was budgeted was incorrect. At the July meeting he informed Cllr Peter Flynn that the money was fully budgeted for but Cllr Flynn informed yesterday's meeting that he subsequently discovered it wasn't. He said the council had budgeted for 80,000 from Lough Lannagh in 2023 but it has now transpired that the council will make a 800,000 surplus from Ukrainian refugees staying in Lough Lannagh. The most worrying thing is we are wholly reliant on the executive to give us correct information. On two occasions you [Mr Kelly] clarified that it was fully budgeted for and it clearly wasn't. I really would question if this would have been made available for us if we didn't ask these questions a number of weeks ago. I am not sure if you deliberately set out to mislead us but you did mislead us at the time. I would like you to clarify the incorrect information at that council meeting in July in relation to the Ukrainian data which was not budgeted correctly and how we can avoid a scenario like this again. Ultimately as councillors, if we cannot rely on the information we receive from the executive we have a big issue between the executive and councillors and that will do any of us any favours, he told the meeting. 'Good faith' In response, Mr Kelly said he had answered the question from Cllr Flynn in good faith and denied deliberately misleading the chamber. Obviously there was no attempt from me to mislead the members and I always come into this chamber to answer questions in an open, frank and transparent manner. If I am going to be accused of misleading the chamber the only option for me is to say I will only answer questions I get advanced notice of so I can be sure I am giving the right answer. You cannot have it both ways, he said. Cllr Flynn rejected this, pointing out that the motion on Ukrainian accommodation was put before the council in March and did not agree that Mr Kelly was not aware of the issues. If you were not sure at the time it would have been a reasonable response that you will have to check it out. But you were absolutely clear on both occasions that it was budgeted in full. Given the constraints on all of us on budgets and getting money for anything here we have a scenario of a 710,000 windfall that we were never told about and then told it was fully budgeted for when it wasn't. That to me is a very serious issue given the constraints we are all working to, Cllr Flynn responded. Mr Kelly added that the information was provided to the best of his understanding of the approach to the budget and commented that 'it won't happen again'. Director of Finances, Peter Duggan said that when the 2023 budget was being prepared last September and October it was not clear how sustainable the additional income from the refugee accommodation would be and they made decisions on the best information they had at the time. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, September 8, 2023 Google on Friday filed a motion to dismiss a federal antitrust lawsuit from Gannett, one of the largest newspaper chains in the United States. Disagreeing with the claims, the motion Google filed aims to dismiss allegations in the Gannett lawsuit based on its advertising-technology business. It suggests that Gannetts case largely duplicates the same unfounded allegations as a case filed by the Texas Attorney General nearly three years ago. In 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Castel in New York partially sided with Google in a separate lawsuit that included some of the same claims raised by Gannett. Gannetts late-in-the-game lawsuit fails to break new ground. Their claims are a copy-cat of the Texas Attorney Generals baseless case, much of which was dismissed by a federal court a year ago, Dan Taylor, vice president of global ads at Google, wrote in an email to Media Daily News. We are proud that publishers choose Google alongside other partners to help monetize their content in todays incredibly competitive advertising industry, and we will continue to defend how our products work. advertisement advertisement Google argued in the filing that Gannett missed a "permissible period to bring suit" -- four years -- under a provision of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Its not surprising Google wants to retain their monopoly," said Polly Grunfeld Sack, Chief Legal Counsel at Gannett. "Gannett will continue seeking fair competition in the digital advertising marketplace to ensure the sustainability of essential content and journalism in the communities we serve across the country. Gannett had filed the federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, calling Googles ad-tech business a monopoly, and claimed that the company used deceptive commercial practices to gain dominance and undercut revenue for news publishers. The lawsuit aimed to restore competition in the digital advertising marketplace. Some of those allegations resulting in anti-competitive behavior included Googles tools and products such as exchange bidding, encrypting user IDs and its mobile format AMP. For Gannett, 60% of all buyers come through Google. The publisher noted that at the time Google controlled 90% of the market for publisher ad servers, which publishers use to offer ad space for sale. The publisher also estimated that Google at the time controlled more than 60% of the market for ad exchanges, which run auctions among advertisers bidding for ad space on publishers websites. There have been other similar cases. Penned by the same counsel as the case filed by the Daily Mail AC, the Gannett and Daily Mail complaints contain nearly identical allegations, Google asserts. For example, as in the Daily Mail case, many of Gannetts claims focus on Googles alleged campaign to kill header bidding, Google states. The filing, however, adds that Gannetts own allegations underscore that header bidding is alive and wellGannett admits in its Complaint that it has used client-side header bidding since 2016, and continues to use it to this day. Googles motion to dismiss focuses on three main areas: Previously dismissed claims, as many of Gannetts core allegations were dismissed in the state Attorneys Generals lawsuit led by Texas a year ago. Product design choices that are specifically built to benefit publishers and advertisers and promote competition, not to disadvantage competitors. Stale allegations, as Gannetts alleged injury due to some product features are not within the permissible period to bring claims. * This article was updated on Sept. 10 with additional reporting by Ray Schulz. by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, September 11, 2023 Despite economic concerns that slowed budget activations early this year, the number of advertisers investing in connected TV rose nearly 4% in Q1 2023 versus Q2 2022, shows the latest report from supply-side platform Beachfront Marketplace. By category, investment in business, travel and family/parenting saw significant increases compared with Q2 2022, and food/drink, health/fashion and style/fashion showed gains compared to Q1 2022. Beachfront attributes the growth in part to improving supply chain conditions and expansion of retail media networks. Law, government and politics saw a downtrend in Q1 versus Q2 2022, reflecting a drop-off in political advertising following the 2022 mid-term elections, and investment in technology/computing declined in comparison with Q1 2022. Looking at CTV platforms, while Roku is up against intensifying competition from the tech giants and leading TV manufacturers, and is now implementing its third round of layoffs since last November, it continues to heavily dominate in CTV ad impressions share. Its share barely ticked down in Q1 2023 (chart above), to 38.76% versus 39.22% in Q2 2022 (chart below). advertisement advertisement CTVs gain was cables loss, with the big shift coming in set-top boxes drop in share of impressions, to just 12.9% versus 19.03% in Q2 2022. Both Fire TV, which rose to 15.7% from 14.97%, and Samsung TV, which rose to 14.92% from 13.7%, surpassed STBs share in Q1 2023. LG, Vizio, Apple TV and other TV brands also saw bumps in share vs Q2 2022, when their shares were 3.94%, 3.33%, 3.14% and 0.63%, respectively. Beachfront rolled Chromecast into Google TV for the first time in Q1, which helped bump its share from 1.94% to 5.04%. Looking at impressions by programming genre, comedy saw a 22% lift in Q1 versus Q2 2022, for a 13.25% share; drama saw a 28% lift, for a 11.25% share; and documentary saw a 30% lift, for a 10.68% share. Beachfront notes that in Q1, it was able to capture a genre signal on more than 80% of delivered impressions, which represents a meaningful improvement in CTV content buying transparency compared with prior-year first halves. The SSP also expresses optimism for continuing CTV ad growth based on easier cost-effective access to CTV for midsized and smaller businesses, and CTVs expansion into a greater range of content genres, along with the continuing expansion of CTV adoption in U.S. homes. by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, September 11, 2023 Because of its ability to convey sight, sound and motion to the masses, television is often credited as being the most powerful communication medium ever conceived, at least so far. But there is a moment each year when soundless and near-motionless programming is TV at its best. It occurs at 8:45 AM every September 11 since 2001. There are other moments when television serves as an organizing medium where Americans gather collectively around a screen to share in an important unifying experience, but none of them are soundless. "The Eagle has landed." "Happy New Year." "Touch down." And none of them are as solemn as TV's moment of 9/11 silence. And yes, I know it can be experienced on a multitude of other screen-based platforms, but the inherent experience still is a TV one that will be enduring long after we no longer even call the medium television. advertisement advertisement That saddens me, not just because I'm a nostalgic Baby Boomer who grew up sucking on the tube, but because I think we are losing something with the erosion of television as a unifying medium. And it's not just the channel fragmentation that has given rise to alternate versions of collective consciousness -- not to mention realities. It's because the original broadcasting model was our go-to place to gather around moments of national -- even global and extra-planetary -- importance. And we are losing that. I've documented my own personal experiment to try and untether from the subscription television cord, and how it has largely failed, because of an inability to actually get a local broadcast TV signal. Why is that even important in this era of omnichannel connectivity? Aside from the unifying principle, which is something we need now more than ever before, I believe that access is important glue for other vital parts of society. I am sure many of you probably can't even recall hearing a television test of the Emergency Broadcast System, although you likely have experienced some kind of alert on you mobile phone. It's not the same, and I worry that it makes us more vulnerable and disconnected than in the days when we could all tune in simultaneously for moments of importance to, you know, all be on the same page. Whether it is national emergencies, moments of remembrance, or other things. The irony of experiencing 9/11 moments of silence on television is that TV actually played an important communications role -- both good and bad -- on September 11, 2001. The bad was that it helped enable the greatest terrorism experience ever in the history of terrorism that I can't imagine will ever be repeated in quite that telegenic a way. The good was that it enabled Americans to be informed in real-time about the gravity of the situation and to some extent, how to respond to it in real-time. When the primary broadcasting transmitters located on top of the Twin Towers went down, local New York stations quickly transitioned to back-up antennas located on the Empire State Building, and were able to keep us informed throughout the day when many New Yorkers lost access to their mobile and/or internet connections. I remember getting an email from a friend who lived in the shadows of the World Trade Center when asking me to call his mother in California to let her know he was alright, because he lost his ability to make phone calls. Watching the carnage unfold on TV and not being able to reach her son, his mother was relieved to hear from me that he was okay. I don't know how we'll respond the next time we experience that kind of national emergency in a moment of terror with a seriously decayed broadcast TV infrastructure. I just know it won't be the same. So on this 9/11, I'd also like to suggest a shared moment of silence for broadcast TV as our national connective tissue. by Erik Oster , September 11, 2023 Molson Coors clearly views The Rocks energy drink brand as a solid investment as it continues to build its brand portfolio beyond beer. The company increased its minority investment in ZOA Energy -- the energy drink company founded by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Dany Garcia, Dave Rienzi and John Shulman -- with the company earning a seat at the table of ZOA Energys board of directors through the investment. MolsonCoors will continue to act as ZOAs exclusive distribution partner. And besides allowing ZOA to widen its footprint and increase sales, including expanding into international markets, Molson Coors additional investment will allow ZOA to double its planned media spend for the year to come, according to Molson Coors Beer & Beyond blog. Speaking to Beer & Beyond, Molson Coors Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques characterized the investment as another meaningful step for Molson Coors and our transformation into a total-beverage company. advertisement advertisement After reporting over $100 million in sales and 138% growth in 2022, ZOA Energy introduced a brand refresh this year, including redesigned packaging and a new Fuel Something Bigger marketing platform supported by a series of campaign elements. In announcing the campaign, ZOA Energy said it would more than double its marketing investment for 2023, with a focus on the Fuel Something Bigger campaign, as well as shopper marketing across channels including OOH and social media. The brand also pointed to a partnership with the XFL -- another Dwayne Johnson venture -- as well as influencer marketing efforts and seasonal, social and experiential promotions. In its Q2 earnings report last month, Molson Coors noted ZOA Energy among a number of brands strengthening its beyond-beer portfolio. The company's Chief Financial Officer Tracey Joubert anticipated a $100 million increase in marketing spending for the second half of the year. St. Jacques told Beer & Beyond, We think ZOA has the potential to be the next big energy drink brand, and its a great example of investing in a brand thats disrupting a growing category. by Teresa Buyikian , September 11, 2023 Firehouse Subs, the fast-growing QSR founded by two former firefighters, today announced an exclusive agreement with Apparel Group to develop and open over 100 new Firehouse Subs restaurants across the United Arab Emirates and Oman in the next 10 years. Founded in 1994 and based in Jacksonville, Florida, Firehouse Subs operates more than 1,200 U.S. locations. The sandwich QSR is now focused on international expansion. The partnership is not Apparel Groups first deal with Restaurant Brands International, parent company of Firehouse Subs. Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate based in Dubai that operates over 2,025 retail stores for more than 80 brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Skechers, Nine West, Tim Hortons and Cold Stone Creamery. Apparel Group has been a strong partner operating the Tim Hortons brand in the Middle East/North Africa region (MENA) since 2013, and we believe their experience will bring numerous advantages to [Firehouse Subs] continued growth, said David Shear, president of international, Restaurant Brands International, in a release. advertisement advertisement The expanded partnership follows Firehouse Subs recent launch in Switzerland, which was the first store opening outside of North America, and an agreement to soon open stores in Mexico. Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group commented on the announcement, As the [MENA] region's culinary landscape continues its evolution, we see Firehouse Subs fitting into, and elevating, the .. food experiences here. Firehouse Subs is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc. (RBI), one of the largest quick service restaurant parent companies with over $40 billion in annual systemwide sales and 30,000+ restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI-owned brands include Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, September 11, 2023 Stagwells Assembly has added three managing partners in Europe, including James Appleby, Alex Boniface, and Bridget Hopkins. All three executives are based in London and will report to Matt Adams, Assembly Europe CEO; they will work with him and the rest of the agencys leadership team to set strategic priorities, drive innovation and help manage growth in the region. Appleby comes to Assembly with over 20 years of experience in the media sector. In his last role, he was Head of Client Success at Tailify, an influencer marketing company. Earlier he spent nearly five years as Managing Partner at PHD UK, leading media planning and buying for clients like Sainsburys, Nectar, Comparethemarket.com, Oatly, McVities, Peroni, and the UK Government. advertisement advertisement Boniface previously served as European Head of Digital at Rufus, an Amazon-focused agency within IPG Initiative. He oversaw the development and implementation of digital products for Amazons various business divisions, including Retail, Prime Video and Amazon Web Services. Hopkins established her media career in Australia, working at Mitchell & Partners, an agency later acquired by Dentsu. In 2010, she joined MEC/Wavemaker Worldwide in London where she was client lead across brands, including Vodafone, Huawei, Lombard Odier, BlackRock, and Xerox. NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland -- Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall blasted Sen. Tommy Tuberville's six-month hold on military promotions, marking some of the strongest rhetoric to date from the service secretary on the Alabama Republican's blockade. Kendall called out Tuberville, who opposes the Pentagon providing leave time for abortions, and blamed him for causing hardship for troops during his keynote address at an Air and Space Force Association conference at National Harbor, Maryland. "My message today for the one senator causing all this disruption and uncertainty is that all these men and women, and their units and their families, are having their readiness and their lives negatively impacted by your unprecedented actions," Kendall said. Read Next: Marine Crew Chief Who Died in Australia Osprey Crash Remembered at Hometown Vigil Tuberville's move has stopped the Pentagon from putting nearly 300 officers into new positions and duty stations, and has also delayed confirmation of service chiefs for the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. "On behalf of all the men and women serving their country honorably today, who cannot speak for themselves, I am asking you to lift the blanket hold you have on over 300 general officers awaiting Senate approval of their well-earned promotions," Kendall said to applause. Since late February, Tuberville has used a procedural tactic known as a hold to block confirmations of all general and flag officers over his opposition to the Pentagon's policy of covering leave and travel expenses for service members who need abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. In total, nearly 300 flag and general officers across the services are caught up in that delay. Nearly 100 Air Force officers' promotions are affected, as of last week, putting it above the Army, which has the next highest number at 91. The Air Force has 73 active-duty officers and 25 reserve officers caught in Tuberville's hold. While a hold cannot prevent the Senate from confirming nominees, it requires the chamber to take individual roll call votes on each nominee rather than confirming them in batches with voice votes as it usually does for noncontroversial military promotions. Pentagon officials expect about 650 nominees to be entangled in the hold by the end of the year. Kendall also took aim at Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The congressman told Military.com in July that he was holding up military reprogramming requests because of a delayed decision on where to base U.S. Space Command. A week later, Rogers reversed the move, which caused financial confusion for airmen and Guardians as personnel money related to duty station moves and bonuses was held up. "Do not hold all of our reprogramming requests because of disagreement of a basing decision," Kendall said. "We need the ability to reallocate that money to where it can meet our national security needs." Tuberville's hold is causing a logjam for the Air Force. Last week, Lt. Gen. Jim Slife was nominated to be vice chief of staff. But with the hold, Slife cannot replace Gen. David Allvin -- who was nominated as the next chief of staff of the Air Force in July. Allvin cannot take over for Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown, the current chief who was tapped as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs in May. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Air Force Has Most Delayed Promotions from Tuberville Hold as New Vice Chief Nominated NEW YORK Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with moments of silence, tearful words and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks 22 years ago. "For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on. And you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you," Edward Edelman said as he arrived at New York's World Trade Center to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley. President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. His visit, en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. "We know that on this day, every American's heart was wounded," Biden said. "Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal community American hands went up, ready to help where they could." Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. On that day, "we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be," Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia's Goochland County, said by phone before the anniversary. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people has a Sept. 11 memorial and holds two anniversary commemorations, one focused on first responders and another honoring all the victims. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries at the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza. Instead of remarks from political figures, the event features victims reading the names of the dead and delivering brief personal messages. Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked first responders and the military. One lauded the Navy SEALs who killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 "War on Terror." And many shared reflections on missing loved ones. "Though we never met, I am honored to carry your name and legacy with me," said Manuel Joao DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died. To Gabrielle Gabrielli, reading names "is the biggest honor of my life." She lost her uncle and godfather, Richard Gabrielle. "We have to keep the memory of everybody who died alive. This is their legacy," Gabrielli said, heading into the ceremony. Biden, a Democrat, became the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in the western U.S. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times, and Obama also visited Fort Meade in Maryland. Warning of a rise in extremism and political violence, Biden told service members and their families that that "every generation has to fight" to preserve U.S. democracy. "That's why the terrorists targeted us in the first place our freedom, our openness, our institutions. They failed. But we must remain vigilant," he said. First lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where a giant American flag hung over the side of the building. Earlier, bells tolled, and musicians played taps at 9:37 a.m., the time when one of the hijacked jets hit the military headquarters. "As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001," but the Defense Department will always remember, Secretary Lloyd Austin said. He deployed to Iraq in the war that followed the attack. Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, laid a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where another plane crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Earlier Monday at the memorial, a rabbi from Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, where a gunman killed 11 worshippers in 2018, called for ensuring that younger people know about 9/11. "With memory comes responsibility, the determination to share our stories with this next generation, so that through them, our loved ones continue to live," Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said. The memorial is offering a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for classroom use. Many Americans did volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Others gathered for anniversary events at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere. In Iowa, a march set off at 9:11 a.m. Monday from suburban Waukee to the state Capitol in Des Moines. In Columbus, Indiana, observances include a remembrance message sent to police, fire and EMS radios. New Jersey's Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, this year made Sept. 11 a holiday for county employees so they could attend commemorations. Pepperdine University's campus in Malibu, California, displayed one American flag for each victim, plus the flags of every other country that lost a citizen on 9/11. Reflecting the tragedy's scope, U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis exhorted world nations Monday to counter extremism, build tolerance, "join hands and say never again." Fenton, Missouri, is more than 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) from the attack sites. But the St. Louis suburb, population 4,000, holds an anniversary ceremony at a memorial that includes steel from the World Trade Center's fallen twin towers and a plaque honoring Jessica Leigh Sachs, a 9/11 victim with relatives in town. "We're just a little bitty community," Mayor Joe Maurath said ahead of the anniversary, but "it's important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free." ___ Associated Press journalists Julie Walker and Deepti Hajela in New York; Seung Min Kim in Anchorage, Alaska; Tara Copp in Washington and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. STOCKHOLM The Swedish government said Monday it wants to increase its defense budget by 28%, putting it on track to reach the military spending target 2% of gross domestic product set by the NATO alliance, which the Scandinavian country is preparing to join. We are in the most serious security policy situation since the end of World War II, which requires Sweden to have a defense that is ready to protect Swedish territory, defense minister Pal Jonson said. Unveiling a defense bill for 2024, Swedens center-right coalition government said military spending would increase by a total of 27 billion kronor ($2.4 billion). Of that amount, approximately 700 million kronor ($63 million) will be spent on Swedens future membership of NATO. Jonson said Sweden must adapt its preparedness and its military exercises to prepare for NATO membership but must also continue its support for Ukraine. In May last year, Sweden and neighboring Finland sought protection under NATO's security umbrella after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, Sweden, which abandoned a long history of military nonalignment, is still waiting to become the 32nd member of the alliance. Finland joined earlier this year. New entries must be approved by all existing members, but Turkey has so far refused to ratify Sweden's application. Ankara said this was because Sweden was refusing to extradite dozens of people suspected of links to Kurdish militant organizations. Turkey has also criticized a series of demonstrations in both Sweden and Denmark where the Quran, Islam's holy book, was burned. At a NATO summit in Vilnius in July, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would drop its objection to Sweden's membership, after more than a year of blocking it. However, the Turkish parliament must still ratify the application, as must Hungary. The three-party Swedish government consists of the conservative Moderates, the Christian Democrats and the Liberals. They have a majority in the Swedish parliament with the help of the Sweden Democrats, a far-right party that has entered the political mainstream after years of being treated as a pariah by the other parties. NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland -- The Air Force's top general is warning that China is recruiting the service's veterans and troops for their institutional military knowledge, and an official told Military.com that "hundreds" of allies and service members could be targeted. In a Sept. 5 memo sent out to the service late last week, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "C.Q." Brown warned airmen and allies that China's People's Liberation Army "wants to exploit your knowledge and skill to fill gaps in their military capability." The memo details that "foreign companies are targeting and recruiting U.S.- and NATO-trained military talent" and -- added in a subsequent Air Force press release -- the exploitation usually comes in the form of vague contracts or subcontract offers where China is the ultimate recipient of the military expertise. Read Next: Air Force Secretary Calls Tuberville's Hold on Military Promotions 'Unprecedented' While the exact number of airmen targeted is not known, a Department of the Air Force official told Military.com at the Air Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Monday that it likely numbers in the hundreds and extends to other service branches and allies overseas. One such example, according to the Air Force, came in June 2023 when "the government placed the Test Flying Academy of South Africa on an export control list based on its work to facilitate training and technical support for the PLA using a former U.S. military member." The warning comes as Department of the Air Force officials continue to highlight China as a national security threat and that commanders are preparing their strategies with the People's Liberation Army in mind. It also represents one of the strongest and most direct warnings from the service about China's bullish tactics. An Air Force Office of Special Investigations supervisory special agent said in a press release Friday that "multiple members of the U.S. military who span several specialties are currently being targeted for recruitment by PLA-associated companies." The OSI agent, who was not named in the Air Force's release, said contracts that "seem too good to be true" or lack info about who is receiving the service are a red flag. Brown also added in his memo that if service members choose to accept those problematic contracts, they could face legal consequences. "By essentially training the trainer, many of those who accept contracts with these foreign companies are eroding our national security, putting the very safety of their fellow service members and the country at risk, and may be violating the law," Brown wrote. The Air Force said in the press release that offers could come in the form of "seemingly innocuous business deals or tech partnerships" that could "gradually pull them into covert activities that serve the interests of the Chinese government." "These opportunities may be advertised on typical job listings or professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn or Indeed, and targeted headhunting emails are being sent directly to the inboxes of individuals with desired skill sets," according to the release. Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, when asked about the memo at a press gaggle Monday, told Military.com that he saw Brown's warning as a good reminder for veterans to be cautious of what jobs they take after they leave the ranks and not an indication of an increase in the threat that China poses. "As part of the training that we receive on operational security, and particularly as you retire from the military, you're required to receive briefings in terms of what you can and can't do when it comes to working for foreign governments," Ryder said. "So, I think Gen. Brown's point was, again, to just flag that you have to keep your head on a swivel in terms of who is asking you to do what in light of the threat that China poses as the pacing challenge." Other services have also faced issues with service members being allegedly compromised by Chinese agents. Last month, Military.com reported that two Navy sailors in California were indicted on espionage charges by the Justice Department in cases that allege they provided classified documents and information to Chinese agents in exchange for money. Additionally, last year, a Navy flight officer was sentenced to four years in prison after federal officials discovered he lied on his security clearance paperwork to hide his connections to China and the head of a Chinese defense contracting firm. The Air Force's sensitivity to China's access to insider military knowledge comes as the service still recovers from a high-profile intelligence leak from a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman earlier this year. It also comes as more alleged espionage efforts from China are revealed. Chinese nationals, sometimes under the guise of being tourists, accessed U.S. military bases and other installations around 100 times in recent years, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month. In his keynote address at the Air Force Association's conference Monday, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall underscored the threat from China. "Today, the intelligence couldn't be clearer," Kendall said. "China is preparing for a war, and specifically for a war with the United States." -- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Chinese Agents Allegedly Paid 2 US Sailors for Info on Ships, Facilities, Exercises SEOUL, South Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia, both countries said Monday, and he is expected to hold a highly anticipated meeting with President Vladimir Putin that has sparked Western concerns about a potential arms deal for Moscows war in Ukraine. A brief statement on the Kremlins website said the visit is at Putin's invitation and would take place in the coming days. It also was reported by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency, which said the leaders would meet without specifying when and where. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un will meet and have a talk with Comrade Putin during the visit, it said. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said delegations from both countries will meet, but he didn't confirm plans for a bilateral session between Putin and Kim, saying the leaders will meet one-on-one if necessary. The visit would be Kims first foreign trip since the COVID-19 pandemic, which had forced North Korea to enforce tight border controls for more than three years to shield its poor health care system. While Kim has shown to be more comfortable using planes than his famously flight-adverse father, he has also used his personal train for previoius meetings with Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Donald Trump, reviving a symbol of his family's dynastic rule. Associated Press journalists near the North Korea-Russia frontier saw a green train with yellow trim similar to one used by the reclusive Kim during previous foreign trips at a station on the North Korean side of a border river. It was unclear whether Kim was on the train, which was seen moving back and forth between the station and the approach to the bridge that connects the countries. It had not crossed the bridge as of 7 p.m. (1000 GMT). Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. Japans Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. South Koreas Presidential Office, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service didnt immediately confirm those details. U.S. officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting between their leaders that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russias TASS news agency. The city was also the site of Putins first meeting with Kim in 2019. According to U.S. officials, Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill declining reserves as he seeks to defuse a Ukrainian counteroffensive and show that hes capable of grinding out a long war of attrition. That could potentially put more pressure on the United States and its partners to pursue negotiations as concerns over a protracted conflict grow despite their huge shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine in the past 17 months. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. In exchange, Kim could seek badly needed energy and food aid and advanced weapons technologies, including those related to intercontinental ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable ballistic missile submarines and military reconnaissance satellites, analysts say. There are concerns that potential Russian technology transfers would increase the threat posed by Kims growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. After a complicated, hot-and-cold relationship for decades, Russia and North Korea have been drawing closer since Moscows invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The bond has been driven by Putins need for war help and Kims efforts to boost the visibility of his partnerships with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and have North Korea be part of a united front against Washington. While using the distraction caused by the Ukraine conflict to ramp up its weapons development, North Korea has repeatedly blamed Washington for the crisis in Ukraine, claiming the Wests hegemonic policy justified a Russian offensive in Ukraine to protect itself. North Korea is the only nation besides Russia and Syria to recognize the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk - and it has also hinted at an interest in sending construction workers to those areas to help with rebuilding efforts. Russia - along with China - have blocked U.S.-led efforts at the U.N. Security Council to strengthen sanctions on North Korea over its intensifying missile tests while accusing Washington of worsening tensions with Pyongyang by expanding military exercises with South Korea and Japan. The United States has been accusing North Korea since last year of providing Russia with arms, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims. But speculation about the countries military cooperation grew after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made a rare visit to North Korea in July, when Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a massive military parade in the capital where he showcased ICBMs designed to target the U.S. mainland. Following that visit, Kim toured North Koreas weapons factories, including a facility producing artillery systems where he urged workers to speed up the development and large-scale production of new kinds of ammunition. Experts say Kims visits to the factories likely had a dual goal of encouraging the modernization of North Korean weaponry and examining artillery and other supplies that could possibly be exported to Russia. Jon Finer, U.S. President Joe Bidens chief deputy national security adviser, told reporters Sunday that buying weapons from North Korea may be the best and may be the only option open to Moscow as it tries to keep its war effort going. We have serious concerns about the prospect of North Korea potentially selling weapons, additional weapons, to the Russian military. It is interesting to reflect for a minute on what it says that when Russia goes around the world looking for partners that can help it, it lands on North Korea, Finer said aboard a plane carrying Biden from India to Vietnam. Some analysts say a potential meeting between Kim and Putin would be more about symbolic gains than substantial military cooperation. Russia, which has always closely guarded its most important weapons technologies, even from key allies such as China, could be unwilling to make major technology transfers with North Korea for what is likely to be limited war supplies transported over a small rail link between the countries, they say. ___ Associated Press journalists Jim Heintz in Tallinn, Estonia, and Dake Kang and Ng Han Guan in Fangchuan, China, contributed. KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian military said Monday that it recaptured strategic gas and oil drilling platforms from Russia in the Black Sea and claimed gains in occupied areas near Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine left in ruins after the war's longest and deadliest fighting. The recapture of the so-called Boyko Towers platforms provides an energy source and takes back an asset that Russia seized in 2015 and used to launch helicopters, Ukraines Ministry of Defense said. Russia has been deprived of the ability to fully control the waters of the Black Sea, and this makes Ukraine many steps closer to regaining Crimea, the Main Intelligence Directorate said. The Russian Defense Ministry didn't make any immediate comment on the Ukrainian claim, but it has previously reported that Russian warplanes destroyed several Ukrainian speedboats in the area. Russian military bloggers posted that the platforms had been uninhabited for more than a year and a Ukrainian operation to briefly land troops there last month wasn't followed by a lasting military presence and came at a heavy cost for Ukraine, a claim that couldn't be independently verified. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to do all he can to bring back Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, and has urged international allies to support the effort. Ukraine's reported battlefront gains, which could not be independently confirmed, came as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was on a train headed for Russia for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting announced by the two leaders' countries could include discussions of North Korea providing arms to restock Russias dwindling arsenal. U.S. officials released intelligence last week indicating that North Korea and Russia were arranging a Putin-Kim meeting for some time this month as they expand cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the United States. In other developments, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. She promised support for Ukraines path toward European Union membership while calling for additional reforms in the country. With enormous courage and determination, Ukraine is also defending the freedom of all of us, Baerbock said in a statement released by her ministry. In the same way that Ukraine stands up for us, it can also count on us. Baerbock also pledged continued military, economic, and humanitarian support for the country and said the 22 billion euros ($23.6 million) provided so far now made Germany second to the U.S. in terms of total support. Baerbock said that while Ukraine had already made good progress reforming the judiciary and the media, it still had some way to go in combating corruption. In fighting, Ukrainian forces liberated part of the Donetsk province town of Optyne and advanced on the towns of Klishchiivka and Andriivka south of Bakhmut, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said. Combat has persisted on the outskirts of Bakhmut since Ukrainian troops pulled out of the city in May. Ukraine is trying to gain the high ground in Klishchiivka, to establish artillery control over Bakhmut. In southern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia province, Ukraine's primary counteroffensive forces were inching closer to overcoming Russian fortifications and dense minefields to take Tokmak, a critical logistics hub for Russian forces and a vital railway junction, Malyar said. Ukrainian forces liberated Robotyne, a town in the same province, last month. Russian forces also attacked the Dnipropetrovsk province city of Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy's birthplace, with drones overnight, Ukrainian authorities said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The retaking of the Black Sea platforms follows the U.K. Ministry of Defense reporting naval and air force skirmishes at sea two weeks ago. Ukraine has struck several Russian-controlled platforms in fighting during the war, and troops from both countries have occupied them periodically, the U.K. said in a military update on the war. Along with drilling, the platforms can be used to land helicopters, as deployment bases and to position long-range missile systems. Pro-Russia occupation authorities seized the platforms operated by the Chernomorneftegaz company following the annexation of Crimea, which most of the world regarded as illegal. The U.K. Foreign Office on Monday also cited intelligence showing that the Russian military allegedly targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in the Black Sea port of Odesa with multiple missiles on Aug. 24, an attack that followed Moscow's withdrawal in July from a landmark deal allowing Ukraine to export grain safely through the Black Sea. The Foreign Office said the missiles fired at Odesa were downed by Ukrainian forces. Putin is trying to win a war he will not win, and these attacks show just how desperate he is," U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. "In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world. After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than 18 months ago, Putin illegally annexed four provinces in September 2022: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. Voting for Kremlin-installed legislatures began in the occupied areas last week as Russian authorities attempt to tighten their grip on territories that Moscow still does not fully control. Russias Central Election Commission said Monday that the countrys ruling party, United Russia, placed first in the four Ukrainian regions and in Crimea. ___ Stephanie Liechtenstein in Vienna and Brian Melley in London contributed to this story. Anecdotal evidence and empirical data show that Americans are infatuated with true crime, from cold-case television shows to mystery books. An unresolved mystery can be like catnip for the imagination, leaving the consumer transfixed and hungry for more. The cases around which so much of the true-crime genre are based can remain open for years, even decades. But almost certainly none stretches back as far as the early years of the United States. This may be the greatest unsolved mystery of them all: What actually killed George Washington, the United States first president and a Revolutionary War hero? The saga of Washingtons death actually began on Dec. 12, 1799, two days before his final breath. Washington was supervising work in the snow at his Mount Vernon, Virginia, estate; the snow turned to rain, and after returning home, Washington, ever punctual, went straight to dinner while still wearing his damp clothes. The next day, Washington complained of a sore throat. His symptoms progressively worsened; he was coughing, his nose was running, his voice was becoming hoarse and he developed a fever. Washington was having difficulty swallowing and talking as well, and his breathing became so labored that, in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, he awoke clutching his chest with a profound shortness of breath, as PBS put it. George Washington is shown at the Battle of Trenton during the American Revolution in this painting by Percy Moran. (Wikimedia Commons) Three doctors were urgently summoned to Mount Vernon, including James Craik, who served under Washington during the American Revolution and was his longtime personal physician. Over the next 12 hours, at Washingtons request and against the pleading of his wife Martha, some of the presidents blood was removed during a process known as bloodletting, to reduce the massive inflammation of his windpipe and constrict the blood vessels in the region, per PBS. In all, Washington was bled four times, losing more than 80 ounces of his blood -- or roughly 40% of his bodys supply. It didnt work, causing the doctors to become increasingly desperate in their attempts to stymie Washingtons symptoms. They gave Washington a mix of molasses, butter and vinegar, which almost suffocated him; produced blisters on his throat to try to balance his bodily fluids; induced vomiting; gave him an enema; and had him gargle with sage tea and vinegar. As the hours passed, though, Washington became resigned to his fate, telling Craik: Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. I believed from my first attack that I should not survive it. My breath cannot last long. Washington thanked his doctors. He did not make it through the night. In the immediate aftermath of Washingtons death, his doctors considered four causes. The consensus was that Washington died of cynanche trachealis, also called the croup. That explanation has been highly debated, with various other theories -- a throat infection, quinsy, Ludwig Angina, Vincents Angina, diphtheria, strep throat and acute pneumonia -- put forth in the centuries since. Some questioned the doctors decisions. Why did they remove so much of Washingtons blood, and did that contribute to his death? And why wasnt a tracheotomy performed to help him breathe? The level of bloodletting performed on the 6-foot-3 Washington, however, likely would not have killed him, and the success rate of tracheotomies back then was spotty. From the 16th century to the 19th century, a tracheotomy was generally regarded by surgeons as dangerous with a low chance of success, and as a result, few surgeons were willing to perform the procedure, according to the News Medical website. Washington was old and sick by then, Washington biographer James Thomas Flexner told The New York Times in 1999. It was perfectly clear that he knew he was dying, and he was getting ready to die. The doctors did what they did in those days. To believe otherwise is moonshine. The most plausible explanation to emerge was that Washington died of acute epiglottitis -- a swelling of the lid of the windpipe that restricts airflow. Acute epiglottitis was first advanced as a cause of Washingtons death in the late 1830s, and it has been espoused more recently by both Dr. David Morens, a senior adviser at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Maryland, and Peter Henriques, author of He Died as He Lived: The Death of George Washington. While acute epiglottitis is uncommon today, Washington exhibited classic symptoms of the disorder. Its really quite a frightening disease, Henriques told The Washington Post in 1999. The epiglottis may swell to more than 10 times its normal size, gradually shutting off the patients ability to either breathe or swallow. As the circumstances surrounding Washingtons death recede further into the past, though, we likely never will know definitively what killed him. From accounts of his death, we can at least know that Washington did not fear dying, as these were his final words: I am just going! Have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault less than three days after I am dead. Do you understand me? Tis well! Washington was buried at Mount Vernon on Dec. 18, 1799. He was 67 years old. -- Stephen Ruiz can be reached at stephen.ruiz@military.com. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Rainy conditions across West Michigan also includes several warnings for Lake Michigan. The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued Do Not Swim warnings for most Lake Michigan beaches including Manistee, Ludington, Pentwater, Muskegon, Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, South Haven and St. Joseph. Waves between 3 to 5 feet and dangerous currents are expected throughout Tuesday, Sept. 12. RELATED: 3-day rain coming to Michigan: Heres where, when, how much Areas near north piers are especially hazardous with winds and currents from the north, the NWS said. Other hazards include a small chance of waterspouts with developing showers. Water temperatures may drop into the 50s as well, according to the NWS. MENOMINEE, MI -- Menominee County Prosecutor Jeff Rogg has charged a Florida man with one count of false report or threat of terrorism after the man allegedly threatened Rogg and several others at the Menominee County Courthouse. According to WLUC-6, Michael Egan, 53, of Gainesville, Fla is currently waiting to be extradited back to Michigan from a Wisconsin jail following his arrest on Sept. 5. Egan was wanted after a concerned citizen filed a report with the Menominee County Sheriffs Office claiming that a man later identified as Egan approached them in the parking lot. The citizen alleged the man was making claims about losing his wife, family and van before saying he was there to shoot everyone. The citizen also reported that Egan made a hand gesture simulating a gun and made mention of Rogg specifically. After the report was made, a deputy at the courthouse spotted Egan fleeing the parking lot in a white Dodge truck. Officers with the Marinette Police Department in Wisconsin eventually caught up to Egan and arrested him. Egan faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty. GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI -- A Kingsley man is in custody and facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly drove his car through the doors of several properties over the weekend. The Grand Traverse Sheriffs Office says the 33-year-old suspect was taken into custody following a short pursuit once officers were able to locate him on S. Airport Road near LaFranier Road. Police were called to a home in Long Lake Township around 11 p.m. Friday for reports of a man who drove his truck into an unoccupied parked car at the home, which was a violation of a personal protection order. The man then drove his truck to a business off of U.S. 31 in Garfield Township and crashed through the front doors of a business. Once police spotted the suspect and took him into custody, they learned he had driven into the front doors of business located on Silver Lake Road and Cass Road. UpNorthLive reports the suspect also drove his truck through a garage door at another home in Long Lake Township. The Munson Medical Center confirmed that someone drove through the front doors of its Traverse City location, as well as the doors at the Copper Ridge Surgery Center as part of an incident that spanned multiple locations across Traverse City. Police did not say if anyone was injured during the series of crashes or estimate how much damage was caused by the rampage. Police have not identified the suspect pending arraignment, but did say he is charged with six counts of felony malicious destruction of property, fleeing and eluding and violation of a personal protection order. It is unknown when he will be arraigned on those charges. FLINT, MI -- Less than a week before a threatened strike by the United Auto Workers, the unknowns are obvious. General Motors may or may not be singled out as a potential strike target when the current contract expires at midnight on Friday, Sept. 15. There may or may not be a work stoppage, and a tentative agreement could still be reached. And Flint -- the birthplace of the union -- may or may not be back in the spotlight if the UAW targets either GM or a single parts or assembly plant here for a limited shutdown, something thats happened before and still has the potential to cripple the automakers operations nationwide. Flint plays a critical role because of the plants that are there, said Harley Shaiken, professor emeritus at the University of California Berkley and an expert on organized labor. I think Flint is a part of this story. Like other labor historians watching the last two months of negotiations between the UAW and Ford, Stellantis and GM, Shaiken knows Flint not only for the Sit-Down Strike that established the union in 1937, but for its role in shutting down the flow of parts to nearly 30 GM assembly plants in North America during a 54-day strike in 1998. In that limited strike, 9,200 employees at the Flint Metal Center and Delphi Flint East stopped GM operations by walking off the job, eliminating essential parts the company needed and couldnt replace to continue building cars and trucks. GM was founded in Flint in 1908 and thrived here for decades, employing more than 82,000 workers at its peak in 1955 -- more than the citys entire population today. Despite decades of devastating plant closings, the city remains a company town -- home to Flint Assembly, Flint Engine Operations, the Flint Metal Center, and the North American Engineering and Tooling Center. It also operates Customer Care and Aftersales facilities in the Flint suburbs of Burton and Swartz Creek. More than 8,200 employees work at the six area facilities and GM has increased its employment here in the last 15 years, adding more than 1,000 jobs to its payroll. Flint Assembly, which builds highly profitable heavy-duty pickups, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, is the type of plant the UAW could target if it follows a bargaining strategy to inflict economic pain on GM by shutting off the supply of its most profitable vehicles. Workers at the truck plant are represented by UAW Local 598 and in its strike authorization vote last month, 96% of production and 95% of skilled trades workers voted to authorize a strike. Flint Assembly, GMs longest-running truck-building plant, was among 33 manufacturing plants in nine states across the U.S. where production workers took to the picket lines during a 40-day strike in 2019. Shaiken said with so many variables in the high-stakes contract negotiations this year, its impossible to predict whether any GM facilities become a strike target and whether the UAW will pursue a strategy of targeted strikes at plants like Flint Assembly or the Flint Metal Center, which produces sheet metal stampings for GMs heavy-duty and light-duty trucks, full-size SUVs, and crossovers. More than 96% of workers at the Metal Center also voted to authorize a strike in August and UAW Local 659, which represents hourly workers, has been advising union members to arrange for strike pay now in the event of a walkout. Picket-duty details are being developed, Local 659 said in a letter to members, and were made available on Sunday, Sept. 10, during unit meetings. The International Leadership has asked us to be strike-ready ..., the letter says in part. We anticipate that we will be using our Locals funds to be strike-ready. Workers at Flint Metal are credited by labor historians for their critical role in the 1998 national strike, which at the time was the longest walkout in GMs history. The strike produced a contract in which GM promised not to close several of the striking workers plants and to invest $180 million in new equipment at one of them. Workers agreed to changes in work rules, including a 15% increase in the required daily output of parts for some workers, and GM lost more than $2 billion in profits during the strike. Flints most significant role in past strikes against GM came during the Flint Sit-Down Strike when autoworkers seized control of the body plant where they worked nearly 87 years ago, refusing to leave for 44 days. The strike ended only after the company recognized the UAW as the workers bargaining representative. The strike, broadly recognized as a critical moment in the history of organized labor, began on Dec. 30, 1936, when about 50 men sat down on the production line inside GMs Fisher Body Plant 2, protesting the transfer of three inspectors who refused to quit their union and as rumors swirled that the company was planning to move machine dies from Flint to other plants in an effort to circumvent a possible work stoppage. The strike ended on Feb. 11, 1937, after GM recognized the right of hourly workers to unionize. The anniversary of the end of that strike is akin to a citywide holiday in Flint, where union boosters have gathered every year since 1948 for a simple bean soup lunch, wearing white shirts to demonstrate they have earned the right to the same respect as their management counterparts. Flints status within the UAW has also shown itself in previous contract negotiations, partly because of the presence of the late Cal Rapson, a former vice president of the union who became known as a guardian angel for Flint autoworkers. Rapson, who died in 2020, was a former shop worker at the old V-8 engine plant in Flint who handled national GM negotiations for the UAW. Hes often credited for adding language to past contracts that provided for increased production at Flint plants as well as the construction of Flint Engine, which opened in 2002. The stakes are different this year with union demands focused less on job protections and more on a 40% proposed pay increase, res-establishment of pensions, a reversal of past concessions made by the union during the 2008 recession such as cost-of-living adjustments, and erasing a tiered-pay system. The UAW represents about 150,000 workers across all of the Big 3 automakers and has been in negotiations with GM, Ford and Stellantis in the weeks leading up to the expiration of the current contract. GM this week released a counteroffer to the union, including a 10% increase in wages, which the UAW refused, calling the proposal insulting and not close to an equitable agreement. The union had filed a bad faith bargaining claim against both GM and Stellantis on Aug. 31. Shaiken said followers of the negotiations shouldnt assume any developments so far shed light on the UAWs strike strategy if bargainers dont reach a tentative agreement next week. It would be a mistake to look at the intensity of the rhetoric and draw conclusions about the unions plans, he said. Typically, the UAW has chosen a target company several days before its existing contract expires and workers strike against that company, leading to similar agreements with the other two automakers. In 2019, GM was the target and negotiations reached an impasse, leading to a 40-day strike, the first national strike by the UAW since a two-day walkout in 2007 that had little impact on the company. Shaiken said its very difficult to say what direction the union is headed this year. Although both the automakers and the union make their cases through carefully crafted messaging, neither the UAW nor the companies discuss negotiation strategies during contract talks. I suspect it wouldnt be GM because of the 40-day strike four years ago, Shaiken said, but there can be advantages to having been made the target company by the union. If you are targeted, you can shape the agreement that will become the new norm in the industry, he said. But there may be other tactical considerations that outweigh that (advantage). The analyst said there are reasons the UAW may target Ford, which he said appears to have the best relations with UAW counterparts, or Stellantis, the most profitable among the three companies. Although targeting all three automakers simultaneously is possible, Shaiken said its hard to see the strategic advantage of (the union) selecting all three for full conflict. UAW President Shawn Fain was part of a fresh slate of candidates who were elected by workers earlier this year. The new president has taken a more confrontational approach than previous leadership in his dealings with the auto companies. Fain may feel emboldened by record industry profits, workers who sense theyve not received a fair share of those profits, and the automakers urgent interest in maintaining market share in both electric-powered and internal combustion engines. For a company like GM, Shaiken said, a work stoppage would give car and truck buyers limited choices as inventories shrink, causing a potential Cadillac Lyriq buyer, for example, to try a Tesla and potentially change that buyers future preferences for the rest of their lives. A UAW strike against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis could result in an economic loss of more than $5 billion after 10 days, according to an analysis by Anderson Economic Group. Even a short strike would impact economies throughout Michigan and across the nation, Anderson Economic Group CEO Patrick Anderson has told MLive previously in a statement. Anderson noted Michigan experienced a single-quarter recession when the 2019 strike occurred, and the fallout was even greater in the short term in Flint with thousands of workers getting by on strike pay from the union. A rich UAW contract can also help provide an economic stimulus in areas like Flint if a strike is short or doesnt happen at all. In a place like Flint, not only autoworkers but people who work in the supermarket or at restaurants can benefit when autoworkers bring high-velocity purchasing power into the economy, Shaiken said. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: A UAW strike is looming, but how did we get here UAW votes to strike against Big Three 86 years ago today, Flint autoworkers started the Flint Sit-Down Strike FLINT, MI New charges will be filed against a Flushing Township man accused of killing his wife and fleeing to northern Michigan earlier this year. Prosecutors in the case of Jeramie Lee Edenburn said in court Monday, Sept. 11, they were dismissing the current case charging the 44-year-old man with one count of first-degree premeditated murder. Genesee County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Tracy Meyer told District Court Judge Jennifer J. Manley the case was being dismissed with the expectation that new charges would be issued Monday afternoon. Meyer declined to comment when asked what the new charges entailed. Related: Flushing Township homicide suspect arraigned on murder charge Edenburn is charged in the death of his wife, 39-year-old Jennifer Louise Edenburn. Jennifer Edenburn was reported missing on June 20 after she did not show up for her shift at work. Police were called to her home in the Meadowbrook Manor mobile home park in Flushing Township to investigate, but no one answered when authorities knocked on the door to her home. The next day, Edenburns vehicle was found near two dumpsters in the mobile home park. Police again responded to her home and entered the house where they found her body. Stab wounds were later determined to be the cause of death, according to court filings. No murder weapon was found at the scene, but a knife was missing from a knife block, records show. A search for Jeramie Edenburn led authorities to Alpena, where he was arrested without incident, police previously said. A knife matching the one missing from the knife block at the Edenburn home was found in his possession. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. More from the The Flint Journal: Flushing Township homicide victim identified, spouse remains in custody Flushing Township homicide suspect arrested near Alpena, police say Flushing Township man charged in wifes homicide FLINT, MI Authorities are offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in Flints most recent homicide. Marquis Deone Sanders, 44, was shot and killed outside of Continental Club Grill in the 3400 block of Industrial Avenue, near Pasadena Avenue, early on Sept. 2. Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest in Sanders death. Related: No suspects in custody following weekend homicide in Flint, police say The homicide was Flints 23rd and most recent of the year, according to the most recent data provided as of Aug. 27. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Flint Major Crimes Unit D/Tpr. Jason Baxter 810-237-6956, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers of Flint and Genesee County at 1-800-422-JAIL, on the P3TIPS mobile app, or online at CrimeStoppersofFlint.com. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. Read more at The Flint Journal: Testimony begins in case of Flint rapper, others accused in fatal 2021 shooting Threats against GM factory in Flint lands man on probation 3 accused in 2017 Flint homicide have charges re-upped in case GRAND RAPIDS, MI The ACLU of Michigan on Friday sued Grand Rapids on claims the city is violating state law by delaying a public records request for an unreasonable amount of time. In March, ACLU filed a request for public records from the Grand Rapids Police Department under Michigans Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) with the intention of understanding why a previous records request of ACLUs with the department took almost a year to complete. That request also sought records around other FOIA requests of GRPD in 2022 that took additional time to fulfill. The Grand Rapids Police Department responded saying it would take a little more than two hours of work to complete the request and cost ACLU about $74, according to ACLUs lawsuit. However, the department said it would be eight to 10 months before ACLU would receive copies of the requested records. In that response, GRPD officials noted the monthslong wait for the records request is due to the amount of FOIA requests were currently processing. GRPD fielded 2,230 FOIA requests in 2022, according to court documents. When asked for comment, city spokesperson Steve Guitar said the city doesnt comment on questions relating to pending litigation. ACLUs lawsuit filed Friday, Sept. 8, in Kent County Circuit Court seeks to have a judge expedite fulfillment of ACLUs records request and to declare that the city is violating the states FOIA law by taking an unreasonable amount of time to fulfill the request based on the few hours of work required. By delaying production of public records responsive to (ACLUs) FOIA request for eight-10 months, when fulfillment of the request will only take 2.25 hours, defendant has violated and continues to violate the FOIA by failing to furnish ACLU a reasonable opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records under the Act and/or constructively denying (ACLUs) request, attorneys for ACLU wrote in the lawsuit. The initial FOIA request by ACLU that took nearly a year to fulfill and in part prompted the latest FOIA request pertained to the GRPDs use of drones in the city. That request was submitted in December 2021. City leaders recently approved GRPD purchasing and using police drones. Attorney Peter Armstrong Sr., who is suing the city with ACLU, said the civil liberties organization believes the public records request delay from GRPD isnt just an issue for the ACLU but for others as well. Its a lack of resources, Armstrong said. The city and the department have simply not provided the resources necessary to accomplish the objectives and the transparency required by the statute. Armstrong said ACLU hopes the Grand Rapids City Commission and GRPD look into the issue and put more resources toward the fulfillment of FOIA requests. If a judge rules in favor of the ACLU and declares GRPD is taking an unreasonable amount of time to fulfill the organizations FOIA, others facing similar delays could cite that judgment in their appeals, Armstrong said. ACLU brought the concern about the delay before the citys Committee on FOIA Appeals on June 9. But the committee -- composed of three city commissioners -- determined they lacked jurisdiction as the FOIA hadnt been denied, so they denied the ACLUs appeal. Those same commissioners -- First Ward Commissioner Drew Robbins, Second Ward Commissioner Milinda Ysasi and Third Ward Commissioner Nathaniel Moody -- agreed to document the lengthy delay by GRPD in fulfilling FOIA requests and forward that concern to the citys Public Safety Committee, according to the Appeals Committee minutes. There have been three Public Safety Committee since then, and none of the agendas listed the adequacy of GRPDs FOIA response times as a topic of discussion. Sarah J. Hartman, an assistant city attorney, responded to ACLUs June appeal saying GRPD has made a good faith effort in responding to records request in as timely a manner as is reasonably possible. Read more on MLive: Michigan AG sues Grand Rapids airport over PFAS pollution State police investigate fatal crash on U.S. 131 Its bittersweet. Landmark Grand Rapids diner listed for sale at $1.5M GRAND RAPIDS, MI A former worker at Gun Lake Casino in Allegan County admitted stealing nearly $85,000 while clearing jams from cash-out machines. Jordan Lewis Cook pleaded guilty Friday, Sept. 8, in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids to theft from an Indian Tribal Organization, a five-year felony. No sentencing date has been set. The thefts occurred while he worked at Gun Lake Casino between Sept. 2021 and November 2022. Part of Cooks job was to clear jams from cash-out machines on the casino floor. He would use a card key to open the machine, take out cassettes holding various denominations of cash, remove jammed currency and put the bills back into the cassettes, a plea agreement said. Crinkled or misfed bills would cause jams. Specifically, Defendant admits that he stole various denominations of currency from Gun Lake Casino cash out machines on at least 32 separate occasions between September 2021 and November 2022, Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Lane wrote in the plea agreement. Cook admitted to taking $84,564, the agreement said. He will be ordered to pay restitution. As part of the agreement, the government will not oppose Cooks request for lower scoring of advisory sentencing guidelines based on his acceptance of responsibility. Cook remains free on bond after entering his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ray Kent. The government reported having recorded statements Cook gave to Gun Lake Tribal Police, bank records, employment records, a Cash-Out Kiosk audit and casino surveillance footage. The casino is off U.S. 131 in Allegan Countys Wayland Township and is owned and operated by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians. More on MLive: Your guide to ArtPrize 2023 A party bus that stops at thrift stores? Its next destination is West Michigan Here are the 10 highest rated Grand Rapids area high schools in the new U.S. News rankings BATTLE CREEK, MI A Battle Creek man was sentenced to a minimum of 17 years in prison Monday for the 2020 murder of his 8-month-old son. Kyle Kregling, 32, was charged nearly three years ago for the Nov. 4, 2020, death of his son Chris. He was sentenced Monday, Sept. 11, to serve between 17 and 50 years in prison for second degree murder in the death of his son, the Calhoun County Prosecutors Office confirmed. He was credited with 1,043 days served, Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said. Kregling was initially charged with open murder and first-degree child abuse, but accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to second degree murder. Gilbert said this case, like every child death case, was a very sad one. Just about every one of these child abuse death cases is preventable, he said. It can be very tough being a parent, but this is never acceptable. Police responded to Kreglings Battle Creek home, on West Territorial Road, on Nov. 2, 2020, after Kregling called 911. Kregling told dispatch that his child had fallen and was unresponsive. The infant died two days later in a Kalamazoo hospital. Battle Creek police said that Kregling initially told them that his son had fallen off a bed and stopped breathing soon after, according to court records. Kregling told police he called the childs mother, who is now his ex-girlfriend, and then called 911. According to a probable cause affidavit, the father later said he became frustrated that his son was crying and began shaking him. The child didnt stop crying and Kregling slammed him to the ground on the edge of a thin pillow, the affidavit said. He then tried pinching and biting his son to get a response but didnt get one. Also on MLive: 3 men wounded in Battle Creek shooting Shootings, parties, fights: Strip mall safety has turned the corner since Y Bar closed Police looking for hit-and-run driver in Kalamazoo crash Part of I-69, I-94 interchange to close for weeks for reconstruction LEXINGTON, MI Fans of classical musician Johann Sebastian Bach will gather here in mid-September to celebrate the 18th-century German composer. The 2023 Bach Festival now in its 23rd year will span Thursday to Sunday, Sept. 14-17, in Lexington and Port Huron. SAGINAW, MI Officials are investigating a suspicious fire of a Saginaw house, one that had previously been subjected to violence. Saginaw firefighters at 3:58 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, were dispatched to a house fire at 2724 Capehart Drive in the citys Sheridan Park neighborhood on its southeast side. They arrived to find flames coming through the roof and in the center of the single-story house, said Saginaw Fire Marshal Derron Suchodolski. The house was inhabited but its residents were not home then, Suchodolski said. Fire crews extinguished the blaze and cleared the scene at 5:48 a.m. However, the house is believed to be a total loss, with its roof having caved in, Suchodolski said. No firefighters were injured, nor was mutual aid requested from other departments. The fires origin appears suspicious, the marshal said. It had been targeted for violence in the past, having been the subject of a drive-by shooting in recent months, he added. Records show a man was wounded at a shooting there on the evening of March 23, 2022. Police responded to the scene after neighborhood residents called 911 to report hearing more than 40 gunshots. The house bore numerous bullet holes. Inside, police found 10 males between the ages of 16 and 20, including a 19-year-old who had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. Aftermath of a fire that occurred Sept. 8, 2023, at 2724 Capehart Drive in Saginaw. Detectives served a search warrant on the house and found about 10 guns, including AK- and AR-style rifles and pistols, along with high-capacity magazines, about $1,000 in cash, and drugs. The house is a rental, and its owner has a Tennessee address. Suchodolski said he does not believe the tenants had renters insurance. The house has an assessed value of $19,100. Officials are meeting at the scene Monday morning to investigate, Suchodolski said. Saginaw police recorded 34 arsons throughout 2022. As of Aug. 31, the city has recorded 23 such fires. SAGINAW, MI A Saginaw County mother accused of threatening violence against a local high school has accepted a plea deal. Megan M. Ferdon, 47, on Sept. 7 appeared before visiting Saginaw County Circuit Judge James T. Borchard and pleaded no contest to making an intentional threat against a school, employee, or student. The charge is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss a 20-year felony count of false report or threat of terrorism. Ferdon on Oct. 28 had a phone conversation with the vice principal of Birch Run High School, 12450 Church St. During the conversation, Ferdon made a verbal threat against the school, said Birch Run Police Chief Jason Leidel. The chief declined to get into the specifics of Ferdons threat. He added her call was not random, as she has or had at least one child attending the school. The school was placed on lockdown after Ferdon made her threat. Birch Run police arrested Ferdon the same evening. Record show Ferdon in 2018 pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of truancy, receiving a probation term as a result. In August 2018, the court discharged her from probation without success. Ferdon is currently free on bond from the jail. Borchard is to sentence Ferdon at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 9. Update, 9/13: EGLE says that free test kits are no longer available due to overwhelming demand. LANSING, MI More than 1 million Michiganders drink from a private well. Many of those wells havent been tested for contaminants since they were installed. If you own one, heres your chance to have it tested at no cost. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is offering free well testing this year using a special $5 million 2022 appropriation from the legislature. This is great opportunity to offer people who havent had their wells tested in decades, said Sara Pearson, source water unit supervisor in EGLEs drinking water division. Residents can go online to request a sample kit, which will include instructions on collecting a tap water sample, mailing to the lab and understanding the results. The lab will test for bacteria, nitrates and metals. The full testing list includes metals such as aluminum, antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, uranium, zinc, and chemistry such as nitrates chloride fluoride, sulfate, sodium, magnesium, calcium hardness and iron. Not included: PFAS, due to cost of testing. We only have $5 million and that money would be eaten up very quickly, Pearson said. Pearson said Michigan has more private wells than any other U.S. state, which means a sizable percentage of the population drinks groundwater from a source that isnt regularly tested. Thats worrisome to those who regulate water safety. Most wells are tested for bacteria when theyre first built and maybe again if the property changes hands. Some county health departments sanitary codes have stricter testing requirements, but most do not. Regular testing can determine if there has been any water quality changes since the well was installed. Groundwater moves over time and its quality isnt always static. That means those on a private well are at a higher risk for exposure to groundwater contaminants compared to people connected to a municipal supply. The risk for a regulated community supply is lower, in that that water thats coming out of that plant is rigorously tested and is required to meet standards and theyre watching it all the time, Pearson said. Whereas a private well does not have those rigors. The state will be reviewing test results and anticipates the statewide effort may help root out some previously undiscovered aquifer problems, Pearson said. That will help with permitting new wells in areas as well as helping residents understand what they might need to do, if they need to filter or take additional steps to ensure the safety of their water, she said. The local health department will make contact with residents if their well results show exposure to harmful contamination levels, Pearson said. To request a sample kit, visit www.michigan.gov/EGLEPrivateWells. GRAND RAPIDS, MI In 2018, residents in a neighborhood near Gerald R. Ford International Airport began to find toxic PFAS compounds in their well water. In 2020, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) determined the airport was liable for that contamination and began negotiating a cleanup order. This month, the state attorney general filed a lawsuit, claiming that the airport is refusing to accept responsibility for the PFAS entering drinking water wells and the nearby Thornapple River and wont comply with attempts to compel cleanup. The Airport Authority has had ample opportunity, over several years now, to step up and do the right thing, said Dana Nessel, state attorney general, in a statement. But as theyve shown a refusal to accept responsibility for their actions or meaningfully attempt to clean up the messes they have made, we must compel them to act responsibly. On Sept. 8, Nessel asked a Kent County Circuit Court judge to declare the airport liable for PFAS contamination in nearby wells, force a cleanup, reimburse state response and remediation costs and pay civil fines under the state Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The suit includes a request for natural resource damages. The lawsuit follows a years-long push-and-pull between the airport and regulators at EGLE, which says that PFAS from firefighting foam used at the facility has seeped into the groundwater that an adjacent neighborhood along the Thornapple River drinks from. Since the contaminants were discovered in 2018, the airport has disputed liability for the pollutants, pointing to other PFAS sources in the area as contributing factors. According to court documents, PFAS has been found above allowable levels in deep and shallow groundwater down-gradient of the airport, but the breadth and depth of the plume isnt known because the airport has refused to perform investigative work the state requires. Contaminated runoff is also entering the Thornapple River at concentrations above allowable levels, which is a violation of the airports discharge permit, according to the 21-page lawsuit. In 2020, EGLE said it had evidence that PFAS pollution in local drinking water was caused by the airports use of AFFF firefighting foam, which was federally required for years. Since then, the state and airport have met numerous times as EGLE issues violation notices and sought plans to clean up areas where the foam was used and prevent PFAS-laden runoff from leaving the property. The last of those meeting occurred in August. The impasse has forced taxpayers to pay the cost of delivering clean water to residents of the Trout Creek neighborhood in Cascade Township, which is in the middle of a $14 million municipal water extension project this year funded by a combination of state grants and a $7.2 million Congressional appropriation included in the federal Water Resources Development Act of 2022. The airport has not contributed financially to the safe water project, which is connecting more than 470 homes to the Grand Rapids water system. Homeowners in the area have been using in-home filtration for the past five years. More: Residents clamor for clean water amid liability standoff Our hope is that after two years of EGLE working towards a voluntary settlement to resolve this matter this civil action will motivate the airport to address the PFAS contamination, said new EGLE director Phil Roos, in a statement. Casey Ries, airport engineering director, said the airport authority was disappointed in the lawsuit filing despite the airports unwavering multi-year commitment to environmental stewardship on behalf of the community. The airport says its working in an unspecified way with Cascade Township on the water system project as well as conducting pilot research with institutions analyzing PFAS in soil and is also actively engaged in industry conversations related to developing PFAS-free firefighting foam. Its unfortunate discussions with the AGs office have come to an impasse despite years of environmental study and progress, Reis said. The airport will continue to follow its `True North in advancing environmental stewardship on behalf of the West Michigan community and the aviation industry, while providing a world-class travel experience. The lawsuit against the airport comes at an uncertain time for the states PFAS cleanup rules, which were struck down last year in response to a challenge by chemical manufacturer 3M by a state Court of Claims judge, who said EGLE didnt properly promulgate them. That ruling was upheld by a state appellate panel last month but the rules remain enforceable while EGLE and Nessels office pursue further appeals. Existence of such rules gives the state leverage to force cleanup or sue polluters at sites where the chemicals exceed the allowable levels in groundwater. The state has aggressively moved to search out PFAS contamination following the onset of statewide drinking water testing in 2018. There are more than 260 sites under investigation around Michigan where PFAS in the groundwater exceeds the states cleanup rules. Nessels office has used those rules to sue 3M and other chemical manufacturers and PFAS users in an effort to force cleanups and recoup public costs. The latest case was filed in December against a South Carolina company which owns a former paper mill that sent PFAS-laden waste to a composting facility which is leaching the chemicals into the St. Clair River. The Ghana Library Authority (GLA) is celebrating a momentous achievement as its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hayford Siaw, was honored with the Young Public Sector CEO of the Year award at the 4th Africa Public Sector Conference & Awards (APSCA) during the Africa Climate Week in Nairobi, Kenya. The APSCA Awards, which aim to acknowledge excellence in policy innovation and outstanding leadership across various levels of governance, recognized Mr. Siaw for his exceptional work in revitalizing Ghana's library system. His innovative approach included the establishment of libraries across regions of Ghana, the introduction of technology applications, and the successful implementation of the "Year of Reading Project." Under Mr. Siaw's visionary leadership, the Ghana Library Authority has achieved significant milestones in promoting literacy and access to information throughout the country. His dedication to expanding and modernizing Ghana's library network, as well as fostering a culture of reading, has had a lasting impact on numerous individuals and communities. The Young Public Sector CEO of the Year award serves as a testament to Mr. Siaw's remarkable leadership and innovation at the Ghana Library Authority. This prestigious accolade recognizes his unwavering commitment to improving the public sector, particularly in the field of education and literacy. Expressing his gratitude, Mr. Hayford Siaw stated, "It is truly an honor to be awarded the Young Public Sector CEO of the Year. This recognition validates the hard work and dedication of the Ghana Library Authority in enhancing the library system and promoting a reading culture in Ghana." He further extended his appreciation to the APSCA for the recognition and acknowledged the efforts of his team at the Ghana Library Authority in making their vision a reality. The Ghana Library Authority received the Most Promising Public Sector Agency of the Year award, further highlighting their commitment to excellence in public service. These esteemed accolades serve as a testament to Ghana's remarkable progress in the public sector, inspiring others to make positive impacts in their communities. The Ghana Library Authority's innovative initiatives, led by Mr. Hayford Siaw, are set to continue transforming the country's literary landscape and promoting a lifelong love for reading. 10.09.2023 LISTEN The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tolon in the Northern Region, Habib Iddrisu is likely to face an uphill task in his quest to lead the people of the constituency for a second term in 2024 general elections. His chances of retaining power seem very slimmer, as a former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and popular news publisher, Chief Akilu Sayibu is said to have declared his intention to face off with the Deputy Majority Chief Whip in the upcoming NPP parliamentary primaries in the Tolon Constituency. According to Mr. Hassan lddrisu, Press Aide to Chief Akilu Sayibu, the decision by his boss to join the contest was influenced by the huge endorsement Chief Akilu Sayibu had received from key party activists, his family, friends, former students and the residents of Tolon. He revealed that the majority of the people believe strongly in the ability and capabilities of Chief Akilu in ensuring the accelerated socio-economic development of the constituency. Mr. Iddrisu said most of the constituents believe it is now time for them to repay Chief Akilu's loyalty to the community and its development by supporting his political ambitions. Chief Akilu Sayibu in one of his recent engagements with his kinsmen in the Tolon Constituency, Mr. Iddrisu said, received heaps of commendations for the roles he had played in the lives of many young people to realize their potentials. He noted that, many of his former students, who currently hold positions in academia and the corporate world, have personally pledged their support to ensure he becomes the next parliamentary candidate and subsequently the MP for the Tolon Constituency. "Chief Akilu Sayibu's influence is not limited to academia and the corporate world. Some of his former students have become highly successful private sector players and are passionately enthusiastic about supporting his campaign. Their excitement and belief in the Tolon project further validate Chief Akilu Sayibu's ability to inspire and lead", Mr. Iddrisu added. Mr. Iddrisu noted that Chief Akilu Sayibu has confidence in his ability to build a strong network to drive the Tolon project forward. He emphasized on his unwavering availability and willingness to help others, which has endeared him to the people of the community. "The residents of Tolon eagerly await his campaign, as they believe he holds the brighter chances of uplifting the constituency from its long-standing lack of development and other opportunities," he emphasized. In a ground-breaking initiative aimed at fostering youth-driven economic growth and innovation, the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs (GCYE) has announced a 3 million Ghana Cedis Member Contribution-Based Young Entrepreneurs and Start-ups Support Fund. This pioneering venture is made possible through the support of the European Union-funded SNV GrEEn project. In his opening address, the CEO of GCYE, Mr. Sherif Ghali underscored the challenges faced by young innovators in accessing finance and stressed the urgent need for financial resources and support. He also highlighted the pivotal role played by the chamber in Ghana's entrepreneurship ecosystem, tracing the inception of the YESS Fund back to 2019 at the National Young Entrepreneurs Forum. Over three years, the chamber diligently worked to establish this fund, consulting extensively with industry experts and regulatory authorities, he said. The CEO commended the Bank of Ghana's regulated third-party Chango App, which streamlined their efforts. Members embraced this innovation and started contributing to the realization of the YESS Fund. YESS Fund is a tangible testament to the chamber's commitment to empowering Ghana's young entrepreneurs, rooted in values of unity, trust, innovation, and belief in their potential, he added. Expressing gratitude to the EU-backed SNV Green Project for their crucial 250,000 euros contribution, the CEO called on other partners, governments, and organizations to join their transformative journey. He emphasized the reasons for support, including expanding the fund's impact, nurturing sustainable entrepreneurship, aligning with global goals, and empowering Ghana's youth to shape their economic futures. He cited the proverb "Heaven helps those who help themselves," highlighting the fund's origin in the determination and resourcefulness of young entrepreneurs. "With collective support, the YESS Fund can make a profound difference in the lives of Ghana's youth." In her official statement, Marta Brignone, the Programme Officer at the EU Delegation to Ghana, highlighted that the YESS Fund was not originally included in the project plan at the outset of the green initiative. However, she added that the EU's implementing partner, SNV, proposed the YESS Fund, which was deemed a brilliant, innovative, and sustainable approach to leave a lasting impact as the project nears its conclusion. Madam Brignone underscored the EU's strong enthusiasm for innovation and its commitment to ensuring sustainability. "As a development partner, our role only extends to contributing to the fund. It now falls upon your shoulders to ensure the fund's long-term sustainability and growth, ensuring that future generations can reap its benefit,"she stated. Madam Bettina Schoop, the Component Manager at the GIZ AgriBiz project, extended her congratulations to the chamber for their commendable initiative. She noted that her project had collaborated with the chamber on five distinct initiatives and expressed unwavering confidence in the chamber's capacity to achieve the fund's objectives. Madam Schoop commended the European Union and SNV for their valuable support and financial assistance and expressed optimism that additional support would be forthcoming. During the fund's inauguration, the Country Director of the SNV Netherlands development organization, Madam Barbara White Nkoala, commended her green project team and the chamber for their pivotal contribution to the launch of the fund. She elaborated on the SNV GrEEn project, funded by the European Union, which centres on advancing green and inclusive growth while emphasizing the vital role of youth engagement in sustainable development. "This collaborative effort underscores the EU's dedication to nurturing youth entrepreneurship in Ghana and fostering economic resilience and sustainability," she stated. "I firmly believe that this fund represents a significant and enduring legacy for the green project. We hope that a decade from now, upon our return, the fund will have thrived, benefitting numerous businesses, particularly those in the green sector," she remarked. The fund's launch was a vibrant and memorable event, presided over by the SNV Country Director, with support from the EU representative, a representative from the Development Bank Ghana, and the CEO of the National Entrepreneurs and Innovation Programme. Moroccans on Sunday mourned the victims of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people, as rescue teams raced to find survivors trapped in the rubble of flattened villages. The strongest-ever quake to hit the country has killed at least 2,012 people and injured over 2,059, many of them critically, according to the latest official figures. Friday's 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh, wiping out entire villages in rural areas. "I've lost everything", said Lahcen, a resident of the mountain village of Moulay Brahim, whose wife and four children were killed. Rescue workers recovered the bodies of Lahcen's three daughters from the rubble of what was once their home, but have not yet found the bodies of his wife and son. "I can't do anything about it now, I just want to get away from the world and mourn." Troops and emergency services have scrambled to reach remote mountain villages where victims are still feared trapped. Al-Haouz province, where the epicentre of the earthquake was located, suffered the most deaths with 1,293, followed by the province of Taroudant with 452. First funerals Bouchra, another resident of Moulay Brahim, dried her tears with her scarf as she watched men digging graves to bury the victims. "My cousin's grandchildren are dead", she said in a knotted voice. "I saw the devastation of the earthquake live, and I'm still shaking. It's like a ball of fire that has swallowed up everything in its path," she said. "Everyone here has lost family, whether in our village or elsewhere in the region", she added. Fatema Satir, a resident in Marrakesh, told AFP many were sleeping in the street for fear of their houses collapsing. "Look where all these people are sleeping. There is no help for us, our houses have been cracked, others destroyed like my daughter's house, which was wiped out. We are in a chaotic state." Authorities declared three days of national mourning, while several countries, including Israel, France, Spain, Italy and the United States, have offered aid. Neighbouring Algeria, which has had rocky relations with Morocco, opened its airspace, which had been closed for two years, to flights carrying humanitarian aid and the injured.' Years of aid' The Red Cross warned that it could take years to repair the damage. "It won't be a matter of a week or two... We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years," Hossam Elsharkawi, the organisation's Middle East and North Africa director, said in a statement. The village of Tafeghaghte, 60 kilometres southwest of Marrakesh, was almost entirely destroyed by the quake, the epicentre of which was only about 50 kilometres away, an AFP team reported, with very few buildings still standing. "Three of my grandchildren and their mother are dead," said 72-year-old Omar Benhanna. "They're still under the debris. It wasn't so long ago that we were playing together." Residents buried around 70 victims in the nearby cemetary on Saturday, as the funeral rites were punctuated by cries and screams. In the evening, television channels broadcast aerial images showing entire villages of clay houses in the Al-Haouz region completely destroyed. "The public authorities are still mobilised to speed up rescue operations and evacuate the injured," the interior ministry said Saturday evening. The tremor was also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira, where many panicked residents took to the streets in the middle of the night, fearing that their homes would collapse. This earthquake is the deadliest in Morocco since the 1960 quake that destroyed Agadir, in which more than 12,000 people, about a third of the city's population at the time, died. (With newswires) Thousands of public employees in Lyon now have the option to work four days a week instead of five, without taking a pay cut. The south-eastern city, one of France's biggest, is experimenting with a shorter work week in the hope of reducing absenteeism and narrowing the gender gap. Since the start of September, employees of Lyon Metropole, the local authority responsible for running the city and its main suburbs, have had the choice of three alternatives to the traditional five-day week: working four days a week, or four and a half, or alternating weekly between four and five days. The idea is to ensure that all full-time staff continue to do the 35 hours that make up France's standard work week, while giving them more flexibility to decide how to fit them in. The scheme, which is getting a one-year trial run, is being offered to more than half the administration's 9,600 employees some 5,500 on a voluntary basis, though others on fixed schedules, such as waste collectors, are not eligible to take part. "It means you get a real Saturday and Sunday, instead of spending Saturday rushing around and having only Sunday to rest," Severine Bernard Barret, who works in the human resources department, told FranceInfo. Flexibility Now she takes every other Friday off, working the other weekdays from 8am to 5pm with 45 minutes for lunch. That makes for a longer work day than her colleagues who've stuck to the five-day week one hour and 15 minutes longer, to be exact, meaning an earlier start and shorter lunch break. And there are other trade-offs: employees who go down to four days earn back fewer rest days under France's RTT scheme, which compensates workers with paid time-off in exchange for overtime. Laurie-Lou Lebre, an executive assistant at Lyon Metropole, chose not to shorten her working week. As she explained to Franceinfo: "On a four-day week, even if you get around 50 days off a year, they're fixed and don't allow you to be flexible. And I needed to be flexible for my child." Gender gap Yet the scheme was introduced partly to benefit working mothers, who often take part-time positions in order to manage childcare. "They're part-time by obligation. We want to allow them to return to an equal level of income," said Zemorda Khelifi, councillor for human resources on Lyon's left-wing council run by the EELV green party, when the administration announced the trial back in May. According to its estimates, the option of a four-day week could enable some 900 female staff to return to full-time work and full-time pay. Lyon Metropole also hopes it will reduce avoidable absences and help recruit and keep staff who might otherwise be lured into the private sector, especially in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Future of work? Lyon's experiment, which could be expanded if it proves successful, is one of France's biggest trials yet of the four-day week. A handful of other public bodies have offered it on a smaller scale, including the national pension fund Cnav and a regional branch of the social security agency Urssaf in Picardie, northern France. In both cases uptake has been very limited, French newspaper Le Monde reported earlier this year, with some employees fearing that working for longer four days a week would end up more exhausting. By contrast, computer retailer LDLC opted to reduce the number of hours expected of its employees when it became one of the first French private companies to adopt a four-day work week for all staff in 2021. The Lyon-based group, which employs around 1,000 people, went down to 32 hours over four days in January that year. According to CEO Laurent de la Clergerie, the company saw its rate of absence decline, staff turnover drop and business flourish all without having to hire significantly more workers to make up for lost time. "This way of working is the future," de la Clergerie, who has written a book evangelising for the four-day week, told French news agency AFP in June. Research in other countries seems to back him up. A six-month trial involving 61 organisations in the UK found that reducing working hours by 20 percent while maintaining wages significantly cut burnout, stress, sick days and turnover, without hurting revenues. In Iceland, meanwhile, trials proved so successful that more than 85 percent of the working population now works less than the 40 hours a week that used to be standard 10 years ago, or has the right to do so. But while polls consistently show a large percentage of French workers favour shorter weeks, unions are more cautious: they warn that condensing the same number of hours into fewer days, like at Lyon Metropole, is counterproductive "a false good idea", as the prominent CGT union puts it. The administration and its unions will carry out a first assessment of the scheme in early 2024, says human resources councillor Khelifi. It is disheartening to witness the current events unfolding in our country Ghana, where President Akufo Addo is not only appointing his family members and party members into independent public institutions but is also attempting to limit citizens rights to acquire voter ID cards all to achieve his third term presidential bid through his vice president. As TEIN KNUST, the intellectual wing of the N DC, we wish to express our dissatisfaction and fully support the suit filed against the Electoral Commission of Ghana in the Supreme Court by I-he N DC, CPP, APC, LPG & CPP. We firmly believe that the ECs decision to restrict centers for the upcoming Limited Voter Registration exercise to their District Offices is both unlawful and unreasonable. In a thriving democracy like ours, it is imperative that we uphold the principles of equal participation. Restricting centers for the voter registration exercise will certainly marginalize certain segments of our society. Every eligible Ghanaian, regardless of their location, should have the unfettered opportunity to acquire a voter identification card. This decision by the EC has the potential to disenfranchise many Ghanaians who have attained 18 years old, their right to be registered as voters and to vote. As a result, we magnanimously support the Application for Interlocutory Injunction filed by the parties to restrain the EC from proceeding with the announced limited voter registration exercise pending the final determination of the substantive matter. We strongly believe that all eligible citizens should have access to the voter registration process in line with the Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, Regulation 2(1)(2) of C.1 91, and I-he ECs own time-tested practices. We commend the parties for taking this necessary action to ensure that all eligible Ghanaians are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote. We call upon all citizens of Ghana to support this cause and to ensure that our electoral system is fair, transparent, and accessible to all. We will continue to closely monitor this situation because building the Ghana we want can only happen when we have a stable democracy and a transparent electoral system. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that our democracy remains robust and that every eligible Ghanaian is empowered to participate without hindrance. Looking ahead, we want to emphasize that the 2024 election is of pivotal significance for the development of our nation. We strongly believe that our partys policies and vision align with the aspirations of the Ghanaian people, and we are prepared to work diligently to win power to fulfil that. Ghana needs to breathe. The youth need jobs, citizens need quality healthcare, quality education, and better living standards. We need to fight corruption, build more and better infrastructures and have economic stability, the NDC will do exactly that. We encourage all eligible Ghanaians without voter ID cards and those who have just attained 18 years old to go through the process to secure their voter ID cards even if the EC yet again breaches the injunction process as being served and get the opportunity to cast their votes for His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on 7th December, 2024 to help in Building The Ghana We Want Together. Statistically, one child out of 100 births has a heart or chest condition. Smoking, excessive drinking, long exposure to X-rays and poor eating habits by pregnant women are some of the causes of heart and chest conditions in children. The taking of drugs without a prescription and the failure of some expectant mothers to attend antenatal care are the other causes. On the average, heart surgery in Ghana costs between $6,000 and $13,000. With the cost of heart surgery out of the reach of most Ghanaians, many patients are left to wait for the benevolence of individuals and organisations and in some cases die before care would arrive. It is for this reason that, the Fifty 50 Club an Obuasi based non-profit association made up of employees of AngloGold Ashanti and its subsidiaries, as well as employees of other corporate organizations across the country and abroad has donated a total amount of GH25,000 to a 2-year old old Hole in heart patient, 42-year old man diagnosed with Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation, a 9-year old girl diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer) and a sickle cell patient. Founded in 2020, the Fifty 50 club with members totalling 245, make monthly contributions in support of the Clubs objectives. Blessing Ama Woode Kwamba, a 2-year-old girl from Obuasi diagnosed with Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD, or hole in heart) at the National Cardiothoracic Center, Korle-bu Teaching Hospital was given an amount of GHS10,000 towards a procedure/surgery to correct the defect. James Danquah, a 42-year-old man from Obuasi was diagnosed with an acquired heart disease called Severe Mitral Valve Regurgitation at the University of Ghana Medical Center. The condition as reported was seriously affecting his health and required an open heart surgery to replace the diseased valve with a mechanical prosthetic valve. Mr. Danquah was given GHS 10,000 by the Club towards the cost of his surgery. 9-year old Federica Owusu Yeboah on the hand was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer) at the AGA Health Foundation in 2022. She was referred to KATH in April 2022 where cycles of treatment were started on 5th May 2022 and completed on 27th May 2023. After her treatment, it was prudent to know if she had been completely cured of the cancer. As a result, she has to do a CT Scan of her neck and chest, costing GHS 3,440, an amount Fredericas family could no longer afford due to previous expenditure on her treatment. The foundation came to his aid with an amount of GHS3500 to pay for the cost of the CT Scan. Whiles Frederick Agyeman Duah a 6-year-old with a sickle cell disorder with increased susceptibility to infections, low blood levels, bone and joint pains was supported with an amount of GHS1,000. The President and Founder of the Club, Jacob Edmund-Acquah, lauded members of the Club for their generous contributions towards the objectives of the group. He was optimistic that the donations will go a long way to ease the plight of the beneficiaries. He appealed to Government to set up a national program that will help in the early detection of health-related diseases. " When some of these health related diseases are diagnosed earlier, I believe some deaths could be prevented". He further made an appeal to corporate institutions and individuals to consider joining the club or making a donation to support its activities. Dr. Kwadwo Anim, the Executive Director of AGA Health Foundation lauded the Fifty 50 club for the donation which he described as a swift intervention to help the beneficiaries undergo treatments. He said what has made the fight against the conditions an uphill task was the Socioeconomic background of the family of the beneficiaries in Ghana. "The Socio-economic background of the beneficiaries make it difficult for patients to undergo the right treatment in the short time hence some of them live with the conditions for a longer time thereby resulting in seeking advanced solutions to their plight". He said while there are advancements in technology for the treatment of heart conditions in particular, financing it has always been a challenge. He called on individuals and organisations to emulate the example of the Fifty 50 club to donate towards the treatment of such diseases. Awie Frey, Head of Operations, AngloGold Ashanti and a member of the Fifty 50 club in an interview said the club is making significant contributions towards the development of mankind. Gladys Adu, the mother of Blessing Ama Woode Kwamba, thanked the club for coming to the aid of her daughter. She said battling the disease has been a problem for the family putting huge burden on their finances. She said the intervention will go a long way to support the treatment of her daughter. She appealed to well meaning individuals and institutions to come to their aid. The Fifty 50 Club since 2020 has made several donations towards the cost of surgeries and/or medical treatments for kids and other individuals with various heart/medical conditions, supporting community clinics with medical equipment and supplies, providing scholarships to brilliant but needy students, and setting up many people with trading businesses. Board Chairman of Tullow PLC, Phuthuma Nhleko has commended Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh for the outstanding leadership he showed in efforts towards ensuring the realization of first oil from the Jubilee South East Area of the Greater Jubilee Field. According to Mr. Nhleko, Dr. Prempeh as Minister gave the needed briefing to President Akufo-Addo on the project, held dispassionate discussions with stakeholders and also approved the Greater Jubilee Plan of Development (PoD). He made these remarks when he addressed Ghanas upstream petroleum sector stakeholders at a commemorative lunch with His Excellency the President at the Best Western Plus Atlantic Hotel, Takoradi on Friday, 8th September, 2023. This was to celebrate the first oil from the area which is expected to produce an additional 30,000 bopd bringing production in the Greater Jubilee Field to over 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Production according to him began on 13th July, 2023. I want to commend the Energy Minister for his excellent role; approving the Greater Jubilee Plan of Development, he said. He assured that Tullow remained committed together with its partners for optimal production in the field in the spirit of sound investor relations with government. On his part, Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh said sustained discussions, which started in 2017, between the Energy Ministry, GNPC and the Jubilee partners, eventually led to the approval of the Greater Jubilee Full Field Development Plan. One thing was certain in all the engagements back then: that the Jubilee field was going to be an investment that would surely lead to increased production in a mature field and pave way for immense value and benefits for the country, he said. The Minister who is also a Member of Parliament for Manhyia South said the natural God-given hydrocarbon resource that Ghana has been blessed with as a country, is for the benefit of the citizens and therefore value from it continues to create jobs. 90% of the human resources working on the Jubilee South East project, he said are all Ghanaians and therefore he, together with stakeholders will continue to provide the necessary direction which will transform lives and ultimately, transform Ghana's economy. Our role as a Ministry is to work with the regulators and other stakeholders from the Government side, to formulate policies and strategies that will give the key sector players confidence and optimism to continue harnessing resources and investment to transform the industry, he remarked. He continued The Jubilee South East project is just a stepping stone to other successes to come for the country. As a Ministry, we remain committed to supporting the negotiation of the gas sales agreement to give a further boost to the oil and gas sector, especially the aspect of tapping into domestic natural gas to, among other benefits, power electricity delivery in the country. The Minister expressed gratitude to the President, for his presence in Takoradi to support in this celebration and extended same to the Board and leadership of Tullow Oil and their partners for their tenacity and relentlessness in making this possible. The commemorative launch was preceded by a visit to FPSO Kwame Nkrumah (KNK), offshore by His Excellency the President, the Energy Minister, senior officials of the Jubilee partners and other government officials. Reindorf Nana Kwadwo Oware 11.09.2023 LISTEN My greatest fear is when the youth of the nation who are to be the hope and future of the nation lose hope and faith in the nation and see no future for themselves in their country. Opportunities that are meant for the poor are now given to the rich who have been stealing the scarce resource. Scholarships meant for the poor cocoa farmers' children are been given to the rich corrupt politicians and public servants children. Now where the youth thought should have open opportunities security agencies the Army, police, fire service, customs, immigration, teaching, nursing, civil service, etc. are all reserved for those highly connected and can mostly pay bribes. When they want to leave the country to seek greener pastures and need a birth certificate to apply for passports, the hopeless unemployed Ghanaians have to pay bribes for these legitimate documents. If they want to start their business and need business certificates to start, until they pay bribes, they have nothing. Banks will never grant loans to people who want to start something on their own. When you ask the youth about their hope and trust in the security agencies and our judiciary, their answer will be negative. Are our leaders happy with the country we are building? Why are we joking with the future of this country? People given powers to serve are rather being served as masters, not the servant role they advocated for. The poor and hopeless youth will steal a tuber of yam due to hunger and will be given a jail term of over a decade. Meanwhile, the public servants, civil servants, and politicians who steal millions of cedis and dollars go scot-free. What country are we building? #MmerDane Like many an ardent Alan believer and supporter as the most suitable and competent personality for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and more importantly Ghanas choice for a leader, the past week has been a tensed one for me. I have had to sail through an intense turbulence of different spikes of emotions; some aroused by genuine inquisitions of well-wishers, some by mischievous and untutored men having a field day at what they perceive an automatic win for their preferred candidate(s), and some, just by regular impulses as a living being. Following the special delegates election held on the 26th of August 2023, the Honorable Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, upon sober reflections has withdrawn his candidature for the next phase of the NPPs internal processes towards the selection of a flagbearer for the 2024 general elections. This was contained in a press statement published on Tuesday, 5th September, 2023. A decision he said he took in light of the fact that the NPP has been long lost treading on a path of self-destruct with no end in sight. Consequently, Chief Alan has hinted that after ongoing consultations with his family, other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups, he will provide an indication of the role he will be playing in Ghanas Politics. In these lines I believe, remain some firm consolation for the legion he commands; even the distraught, that Chief Alan the vision bearer, is still arguably the most relevant personality and beacon of hope, in Ghanas politics at the current dispensation. This is evident in the height of anxiety, disappointment and feelings of despondence conveyed in various texts on social media from Ghanaians far and near, between the scheduled time for the press conference that was later cancelled and the minute his office released the all-important press statement conveying his intended message. Apparently he had to reserve that face to face press briefing for the fateful day he would lay out his plans towards the much anticipated role we yearn for and duly committed our lives to. Now for the well discerning Ghanaian, having expended a great deal of goodwill to naught in some of the now irrelevant names of duty bearers - past and present - to our plight as a nation, this growing anxiety and expectation of a good decision by a good man, especially not to shun his Presidential ambition by all means, is only natural. This makes his next line of action as hinted in the press statement, crucial to the fate of all manner of Ghanaians and international actors expectant of a more trustworthy leader and statesman, to restore Ghana onto the path of rapid growth with equal and thriving opportunities for all. Ghana faces dire leadership crisis! And Ghanaians have conspicuously earned some reputation of being peaceful and that to me, could be attributed chiefly to our penchant to find consolations even in the most absurd terms of every situation we face. So for instance, people would strive at length even when they do not have the financial muscle, to by all means, leave the shores of this country. Brain drain remains our bane due to this failed leadership regime. Almost every single Ghanaian can point to a number of close or distant relations that have either left, is leaving or aspire to leave Ghana. The sad thing is, most of the people leaving are professionals and very intelligent people with with skills and expertise in various fields any developing country like ours would and should so utilize for improved livelihood for all. For instance, on Wednesday 6th September 2023 at a press briefing, the Minister for Health indicated at least, some 2000 health workers have left the country to seek greener pastures. This is statistics from the health sector alone with nursing, a fraternity that is predominantly occupied by females, being the leading contributor! Now thats troubling for a developing country with high illiteracy rate among women. Of the about 8 million illiterate population, female illiterates according to the Ghana Statistical service are around 5 million with males numbering up to 3 million. This means a good proportion of our educated females are leaving this country. This massive exodus remains a sure bet for young adults seeking some respite, yet how long can we continue to send citizens in their best years away due to this same age long leadership crisis? A crisis I believe was partially alluded to by the President himself when he said in a recent interview that a new leader is expected to save the day. Well, that's an admission of failure because the man is still President! With growing incidence of domestic theft and highway robberies, a high rate of unemployment and an all-time high cost of living caused by the ever increasing utility charges and taxes on even unproductive ventures, the nation stands at crossroads with a good proportion of citizens living in despair. The current President Akufo-Addo was really the last hope but hes ruined hearts with an unfettered loyalty to people involved in dubious deeds, avarice and a brute and spiteful use of power! Ghana sadly has reached a point in history, where like never before, we cant afford to have just anybody toil with our fate as we chart a leeway into prosperity for the masses, if not for all. I think most Ghanaians would agree that tensions are rife for citizen uprising as a just recompense for the consistent abuse of political power and all it would take is for the next leader to fail. Now, that is most undesirable and this is where the very enviable traits of the honorable Alan Kyerematen places him on a higher pedestal than all of his competitors. A reason I would say, left and still do leave many distraught to assume he would hold back the good he can be as a leader in moving our nation forward with improved livelihood for all. For starters, he remains the first and only person to have presented to the nation, a solid roadmap in his Great Transformational Plan (GTP) out of the abyss of impoverishment especially for the youth. The GTP as anchored on the following principles; A Strong Macroeconomic Environment, A New Agricultural Revolution, Industrial Transformation, Accelerated Infrastructure Development, Digital Mainstreaming, Energy Security & Diversification and finally, De-carbonization & Climate Resilience, promises to be that light at the end of the tunnel for Ghana. It now behoves Chief Alan to as a matter of urgency, take that bold and decisive step as soon as possible, while there is Grace, to harness the goodwill of the masses in his favor now and make that public appearance with a decision to run for President even if not on the ticket of the NPP. He just cant fail! I believe any attempt to do otherwise would mean he subscribes to the Akufo-Addo tyranny that has so eroded the Ghanaian trust in the NPP. A trust the party under President Akufo-Addo can only covet, to break the 8. Withdrawing from the race though a bitter pill for most who are torn between a loyalty to the NPP and an Alan candidature outside of NPP, presents even a better opportunity for the A4P campaign. They would be able to channel all resources into advancing their cause and message to the hearts of Ghanaians as the ultimate task would be for all Presidential aspirants, rather than to wrestle with the establishment whose stiff-necked insistence on Dr Bawumia as President Akufo-Addos successor and the most workable option for their pension plan, would make them unleash brute forces and dive deep into electoral clientelism and patronage like never before. After all, it is the goal of Chief Alan to be President first, before yielding to internal processes he so deems fair and legitimate. Why continue to yield to deliberately skewed processes to kill his dream? Indeed, by withdrawing from the internal race, chief Alan saves the NPP and Ghana from our own version of the infamous Spendthrift election in Northamptonshire in the 18th century England. It was recorded for the first time in history, that three Earls each spent a whopping 100,000 pounds on their preferred candidate in dubious means to have them win. Just what Chief Alan has stopped the Arabian King Akufo-Addo and his assigns who have adopted polling stations from engaging in, just by avoiding that vain contest. A reason Chief Alan mentions a skewed structure to favour the establishments candidate. Accounting the fact that to the writing of many letters there can be no end, I would want to conclude my ntoatoa with a note to all Ghanaians who yearn for change. There is hope! Ghana will work again! Indeed, the successes chalked by successive regimes are often marred by the spiteful behaviors of duty bearers and if there is one thing we can be rest assured Chief Alan would bring to public service, it is in his ability to instill modesty in all who work with him. I believe he will be able to appoint and condition faithful men to run the affairs of this beautiful country far better than any of his compatriots. He is a Statesman whose meek and genteel temperament wins the admiration of local and international players in the development world. His contribution in the establishment of the Inter-Continental Free Trade Area and successful lobbying to have the headquarters situated here in Ghana speaks to how distinguished a diplomat he remains globally. His relevance in getting the necessary investments home cannot be overemphasized. You might want to visit the 1D1F secretariat for firsthand information on how successful he has been with a solid foundation for an Industrial regime for Ghana. We have a man who is not fashioned with noise and populism and hence, we must embrace his unique prospects however he chooses to utilize them for the good of mother Ghana! I will end here! Thanks for reading! A coalition of armed groups, who are signatories to a major peace agreement in northern Mali, said Sunday they were preparing to defend themselves against the ruling junta, accusing it of violating mutual security commitments. The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP) coalition urged civilians to move away from military facilities in what appeared to be a prelude to conflict. The governorate of the eastern Gao region on Sunday said it had installed a 30-day overnight curfew between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am with only security vehicles exempted. The armed groups' statement followed a suicide attack Friday on a military base in northern Mali, which itself came a day after deadly strikes on an army camp and a passenger boat by suspected jihadists killed 64 people. The region -- the cradle of a jihadist insurgency that has swept into three Sahel nations -- has seen a resurgence of tension in recent weeks, triggered in part by the pullout of UN peacekeeping troops from Mali. Plane downed The Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) -- a coalition of Tuareg independence and Arab nationalist groups which is one of the parties to the strategic Framework -- said late Saturday it had shot down an army plane in the Gao region after they came under attack. If confirmed, it would be the first time in many years that this has happened. The army referred to an "incident" without giving further details. The head of the airforce, General Alou Boi Diarra, said on state television that an aircraft had experienced "some technical problems" that had forced the crew to bail out and the plane had crashed. The crew had been recovered safely, he added. He did not specify what mission the plane was carrying out. The Framework (CSP) has in recent weeks denounced several violations of the 2014 ceasefire and the 2015 peace accord. It has also condemned what it termed the junta's "current ceasefire strategy" seeing that as designed to rupture it, and has warned it would have to resort to "all measure of legitimate defence" across the northern Azawad region. 'Pretext' The Framework groups worry that the withdrawal of UN troops may give the junta a "pretext" to reoccupy zones which the 2014 and 2015 deals had ceded from central control. After the UN peacekeepers quit their base last month there were clashes between troops and jihadists, but also between the army and the CMA. The Framework says that after the base was vacated the army and Russian Wagner paramilitaries which it considers terrorists visited violence, including summary executions and abuses including arbitrary arrest and looting, on locals. The Framework was created in May 2021 by the main northern armed groups who inked the 2015 peace deal which is now generally considered moribund. The jihadists, who first fought the army alongside Tuareg and Arab rebels before turning against them, are not affected by the accord and have spread their operations to central Mali and Burkina Faso. Landlocked, impoverished Mali has been struggling with insecurity since 2012 when a revolt led by ethnic Tuaregs erupted in the north of the country. The northern rebellion was formally ended by a peace agreement signed between the region's rebels and the Malian government in 2015. However, the fragile deal came under strain after the civilian government was toppled in 2020 and replaced by a junta. Rescuers on Monday faced a growing race against time to dig any survivors from the rubble of devastated villages in Morocco's Atlas mountains, three days after the country's strongest-ever earthquake. The 6.8-magnitude quake that struck late Friday southwest of the city of Marrakesh has claimed more than 2,100 lives and injured over 2,400, many seriously, according to official figures updated late on Sunday. Rabat on Sunday announced it had accepted aid offers from four foreign nations, while many other countries have also said they were willing to send assistance. A woman reacts by the rubble of destroyed buildings. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) Authorities have responded favourably "at this stage" to offers from Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates "to send search and rescue teams", the interior ministry said. It noted the foreign teams were in contact with Moroccan authorities to coordinate efforts, and said only four offers had been accepted because "a lack of coordination could be counterproductive". Other offers may be accepted in the future "if the needs evolve", according to the ministry. France was willing to provide aid "the second" Morocco requested it, President Emmanuel Macron said. A Qatari aid flight left from Al-Udeid air base outside Doha on Sunday evening. By - (X account of Qatar's Minister of Interior Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani/AFP) A Qatari aid flight left from Al-Udeid air base outside Doha on Sunday evening, an AFP journalist said. Spain has sent 86 rescuers and eight search dogs to Morocco to "help in the search and rescue of survivors of the devastating earthquake suffered in our neighbouring country", said a defence ministry statement. "We will send whatever is needed because everyone knows that these first hours are key, especially if there are people buried under rubble," Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles told public television. Villages flattened The earthquake wiped out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountain range, where civilian rescuers and members of Morocco's armed forces have searched for survivors and the bodies of the dead. The earthquake wiped out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountain range. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) Many houses in remote mountain villages were built from mud bricks. The remote village of Tafeghaghte, 60 kilometres (40 miles) from Marrakesh in Al-Haouz province, was almost entirely destroyed, an AFP team reported, with very few buildings still standing. "Everyone is gone! My heart is broken. I am inconsolable," cried Zahra Benbrik, 62, who said she had lost 18 relatives. Authorities recorded more than 1,300 deaths in Al-Haouz province alone. According to Moroccan public television, "more than 18,000 families have been affected" by the quake in Al-Haouz, site of its epicentre. The education ministry announced that classes in the worst-hit villages of Al-Haouz were "suspended", and schools would not be open from Monday. Earthquakes in Morocco since 1975 by date, depth and magnitude. By Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sophie RAMIS (AFP) Citizens on Sunday rushed to hospitals in Marrakesh to donate blood to help the injured while many mobilised to help those affected. Some parts of Marrakesh's historic medina and its network of alleyways saw significant damage, with mounds of rubble and crumpled buildings. The kingdom has declared three days of national mourning. The Red Cross warned it could take years to repair the damage caused by the quake. "It won't be a matter of a week or two... We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years," said Hossam Elsharkawi, its Middle East and North Africa director. The quake was the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir, killing more than 12,000 people. Ordinary citizens are stepping in to do their bit for victims of the deadly earthquake in Morocco, after some complained that the authorities were slow to act. Maria Boujdig lives in Agadir but is originally from Tafeghaghte, one of the villages hardest hit in mountainous Al-Haouz province, the epicentre of Friday's quake. She loaded her car with food and drove the more than 200 kilometres (125 miles) east to distribute it to needy villagers in the aftermath of the strongest earthquake ever to hit the North African country. The quake killed at least 2,122 people, injured more than 2,400 others, and flattened entire villages. Faced with the level of destruction, the insurance broker felt she had to act. "I got calls from families saying they had nothing to eat," Boujdig told AFP. "So I spent 10,000 dirhams ($980) on food to help in my own small way." "The tragedy of the dead is made worse by the terrible conditions faced by the survivors," she said. "It's catastrophic and serious to be hungry in these conditions. It was only natural for me to help." Tafeghaghte is around 60 kilometres from the tourist centre of Marrakesh and accessible only by a narrow dusty track. 'Something to eat' In a small warehouse spared by the quake, three villagers stored packs of water, sacks of flour, tea, canned goods and cakes that Boujdig and like-minded benefactors brought to the village. One of them, Mohammed, who asked that his last name not be used, lost his 16-year-old daughter in the tragedy. Mattresses given as aid lie on the ground in the Moroccan village of Tikht, near Adassil, after the 6.8-magnitude quake. By Fethi Belaid (AFP) "Twenty-four hours after it happened, we decided to take things into our own hands because there was no one else to help us," he said. "We made sure that everyone had something to eat." Mustapha El-Machmoum said: "There's no sign of the authorities for the moment. We're so isolated here. Without benefactors we would starve." The 34-year-old is barely holding it together: his mother, brother, grandfather, three cousins and the wives of two of his uncles all died in the quake. Forty-eight hours after the earth shook, the villagers were spending their third night put in the open. "We asked the authorities for tents yesterday, but nothing arrived," El-Machmoum told AFP. "We're sleeping on the ground in the cold. Adults can cope with this, but not the children." Official aid had reached the village of Tikht, near Adassil around 30 kilometres southwest of Tafeghaghte, where Moroccan authorities erected bright yellow tents for quake survivors. A volunteer, Mohamed Belkaid, drove from Marrakesh after filling his car with packs of water to distribute in the mountain villages. 'Needs are enormous' "I wanted to help people affected by the earthquake. On the way, many people asked me about the situation in Tafeghaghte, so I decided to go there," he said. Civilian donors delivered aid including water, sacks of flour, tea and canned goods to Tafeghaghte, one of the hardest-hit villages. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) "Everyone must mobilise," the 65-year-old said. "And that includes the authorities, but they seem to be absent." Help has also come from far away, from Al-Hoceima in northeast Morocco where a 2004 earthquake killed 628 people. A group of 13 people drove more than 790 kilometres from Al-Hoceima in two vans and two cars to bring food aid to the stricken Al-Haouz villages. "We lived through this in 2004, so it's completely normal that we step in to help," Said Ouael El-Haj from Beni Bouayach in Al-Hoceima province told AFP. The group took food to the villages of Sour Tahannaout, Moulay Brahim and Assif Imigdal. "It's the first aid we've received since the earthquake," said Mohamed Bakka, 65, from Sour Tahannaout. In a suburb of Marrakesh, a line of small trucks formed outside a supermarket to be filled with 10-kilogram (22-pound) bags of flour, water, milk, fruit juice and other food bought by residents and delivered in overflowing carts. Groups including Draw A Smile and Lions International have already stepped in to help victims in the devastated villages. "We're trying to do our best, but the needs are enormous," said Ilias Ghassani, 20, general secretary of the local section of Lions International Red City. French President Emmanuel Macron is in Bangladesh for a two-day visit, the first by a French President in 33 years. Macron visits Dhaka following his participation in the G20 summit in New Delhi, with his trip coinciding with US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam. France's Indo-Pacific strategy, climate change, the fight against poverty and Rohingya refugees topped the agenda during the meeting between Macron and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina according to a statement by the French embassy in Dhaka as well as trade and investment. The first-ever Bangladeshi satellite, Bangabandhu-1, was manufactured by the French company Thales and launched into space by Elon Musk's SpaceX in 2018. Bangladesh' Daily Star newspaper reports that during Macron's visit, discussions are expected also focus on a second satellite deal, with Thales responsible for both manufacturing and launching it. In June, Bangladesh's Biman Airlines said it would order 10 Airbus A350 widebody planes, including two cargo aircraft, from the Toulouse-based European multinational in which France holds a significant stake, decreasing its dependency on US airplane manufacturer Boeing. Bilateral trade between France and Bangladesh grew from 210 million in 1990 to 4.9 billion today. France is currently Bangladesh's fifth-largest export destination. Human rights concerns Ahead of Macron's visit, human rights watchdog Amnesty International urged him to "raise human rights concerns with the Bangladeshi government," saying that "human rights in Bangladesh have taken a turn for worse, as the country heads towards a general election next year." According to the NGO, repressive internet legislation, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances "still continue," while authorities "continue to crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," persecuting organizations such as Odhikar and activists who speak out on human rights violations. Meanwhile, Macron's visit fits into France's Indo-Pacific strategy, in tandem with US President Joe Biden's visit to Vietnam, aimed at strengthening a broader security alliance against what is perceived as a growing influence of China in the region. Reshaping relationships President Joe Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday, at a time that Hanoi is looking to dramatically ramp up trade with the United States a sign of how competition with China is reshaping relationships across Asia. The president has made it a point of pride that Vietnam is elevating the United States to the status of being a comprehensive strategic partner. Other countries that Vietnam has extended this designation to include China and Russia. Giving the US the same status suggests that Vietnam wants to hedge its friendships as US and European companies look for alternatives to Chinese factories. At a fundraising event in in Salt Lake City last month, Biden underlined that Vietnam doesn't want a defence alliance with the US, but they want relationships because they want China to know that they're not alone and can choose its own partners. Like Macron, Biden decided to tack a strategic visit to a country in the neighbourhood after they both visited the Group of 20 summit in New Delhi that ended Sunday. "Dire in all areas" Biden, too, has come under criticism for his visit to a state which, activists say, grossly violates human rights. Vietnam's rights record is "dire in virtually all areas," according to New York-based Human Rights Watch. Government critics face intimidation, harassment, restricted movement, arbitrary arrest, detention and imprisonment after unfair trials, and there are reports of police torture to extract confessions, HRW says. A crackdown on dissent has been escalating since 2016 under Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the government has largely succeeded in crushing opposition, activists say. Since 2022, five environmental campaigners have also been detained in a crackdown on civil society groups. (With newswires) 11.09.2023 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo is commiserating with the King Mohammed VI and to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco on the tragedy which has been occasioned by Fridays earthquake, and has claimed the lives of thousands. On behalf of Ghanaians, Nana Akufo-Addo extended his condolences to Moroccans. In a Facebook post, he prayed for the families of the victims, and wished the injured speedy recovery. He noted that Morocco has a friend in Ghana, and can count on Ghanas support in these difficult times. Morocco was tragically hit by an earthquake on Friday, 8 September 2023., More than 2,100 people have died and more than 2,421 are injured, many critically The desperate hunt for survivors continues, but response teams are struggling to bring in machinery to remote areas. Villagers have been digging by hand and shovel to find survivors. The 6.8-magnitude tremor left homes collapsed, roads blocked and entire villages destroyed. The Moroccan government says it has accepted emergency aid from the UK, Spain, Qatar and the UAE, and rescue teams from those countries are en route Source: Classfmonline.com with files from BBC A devastating fire ravaged the Ashaiman Main Market on Sunday, September 10 requiring the heroic efforts of firefighters from various stations to bring it under control. Firefighters from the Motorway, Tema Metro, and Tema Industrial Area Fire Stations, as well as two water tankers from Tema RHQ and GHAPOHA Fire Department, battled the inferno for an arduous 2 hours and 30 minutes. The fierce blaze engulfed approximately 40 shops and stalls, including metal containers used for the sale of herbal medicines, millet, maize, and various other merchandise. Despite the ferocity of the fire, the firefighters were able to save an undisclosed number of shops and goods after successfully confining, controlling, and extinguishing the flames. No casualties were reported as a result of the fire. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, although authorities have already taken precautionary measures. The Electricity Company of Ghana has disconnected the electrical service lines that were damaged during the incident to prevent any potential electrocution hazards to passersby. Source: classfmonline.com 11.09.2023 LISTEN Deputy Director of Communication of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Owusu-Bempah has criticized political science lecturers Professor Ransford Gyampo and Dr. Kobby Mensah over their assertions regarding the withdrawal of Alan Kyerematen from the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) primaries. According to Mr. Bempah, both lecturers are misinforming Ghanaians by engaging in cheap propaganda. He described both lecturers in a letter as scientifically illiterate. It is also an established fact that dozens of political scientists are limited by their reliance on existing data sets, which is why I find the rantings of Prof Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah relating to Alan Kyeremantens decision to step down from the NPP race as very disingenuous. These two political science lecturers along with a lack of clarity on basic questions and lack of commitment to scientific method have been at it for a while now, churning out misleading propaganda and dishing out half-baked political and dystopian views that Alan Kyeremanten is breaking away from the NPP, Owusu Bempah stated. He continued that both lecturers are selective in their criticisms. Consider the case of Dr Kwabena Duffuor when he stepped out of the NDC nomination race, did we hear the same ugly noises from these two talking heads who pretend theyre experts in political science? Why didnt they engage in this same public discourse hooliganism that they are engaging in when Duffuor quit the NDC race? The selective amnesia, blindness, prejudice, and shallow thinking that infects some of these so-called experts is a terrible problem and should be getting treatment like a physiological illness. These so-called academics need a second enlightenment, he emphasised. Below is the Statement by Owusu-Bempah: In politics and geopolitics, political scientists often research political ideas, analyze them and present their findings. Indeed, the record of the study of politics has been very good, with long-term impacts of political science in areas such as the study of elections, the reform of electoral systems, party funding, decentralisation, devolution, constitutional reform, public management reform, and so forth and so on. It is also an established fact that dozens of political scientists are limited by their reliance on existing data sets, which is why I find the rantings of Prof Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah relating to Alan Kyeremantens decision to step down from the NPP race as very disingenuous. These two political science lecturers along with a lack of clarity on basic questions and lack of commitment to scientific method have been at it for a while now, churning out misleading propaganda and dishing out half-baked political and dystopian views that Alan Kyeremanten is breaking away from the NPP. Why are they making the claim that Alan Kyeremantens decision to step down from the presidential race has anything to do with him going independent? In my view, these two ideologues epitomise the terrible errors that political scientists commonly make about politics. Gyampo and Kobby Mensah demonstrate on a boringly repetitive and regular basis that they are generally ignorant of and have no interest in political science in its true sense, except insofar as it is a useful tool with which to bamboozle and frighten their audience. And while their misdiagnosis of the Alan Kyeremantens decision remains a matter of concern, they keep ignoring the fact that political scientists need to examine their failings too. Shouldnt there be more to political science than running regression analysis on other peoples datasets? Consider the case of Dr Kwabena Duffuor when he stepped out of the NDC nomination race, did we hear the same ugly noises from these two talking heads who pretend theyre experts in political science? Why didnt they engage in this same public discourse hooliganism that they are engaging in when Duffuor quit the NDC race? The selective amnesia, blindness, prejudice, and shallow thinking that infects some of these so-called experts is a terrible problem and should be getting treatment like a physiological illness. These so-called academics need a second enlightenment. Is there, for example, a more deluded and scientifically illiterate political science lecturer than Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah? I mean, what makes them experts in political science, to begin with? Lets be clear here that being a university lecturer in political science doesnt make the Ransford Gyampos and Kobby Mensahs of this world an expert in politics. In the world of Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah, propaganda always takes precedence over the facts. It may have always been thus, but it is still intolerably disgraceful and deceitful. Their tendency to create controversy, the only purpose of which is to mislead in order to sell their influence, would be regarded as criminal in any other sphere of commerce. Its perfectly legitimate to condemn their ramblings as partial, partisan, and ignorant. They give the impression that one can just make up data as if it were a religion or another superstition. Over the years, the likes of Ransford Gyampo have failed to develop precision of thought and economy of expression, which means they mostly meander around with jaundiced and disjointed reasoning. These guys are no political scientists but a self-opinionated dogmatists with dystopian views. Their half-baked political views and ideological stances are everything that is wrong with politics. They are mercenaries by any political metric and the worst form of socio-political commentators. As a matter of fact, Gyampo and Kobby Mensah take their faith in political science into the realms of totalitarian paranoia. The facts and evidence are not so just because an authority says so, and even less because some self-important, woolly-minded lecturer with a humanities and political science degree says so. I find it really hard to take seriously any commentator who bandies around mere words and conspiratorial whispers. It wasnt for nothing that Aristotle is called the father of political science. He loves to elaborate on the topics and thinking of the political economy. Wouldnt it be nice to think these so-called academics gave a moments thought to the conventional wisdom? As a political scientist, youre oftentimes expected to be the expert and to speak with authority. And your responsibility is to tell the truth backed by data and analytics, and that means providing the public with all the facts you discover. Can we say the same of Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah? When we were young, we used to listen to the wisdom of Prof Bafour Agyemang Duah, Prof Gyimah-Boadi, Prof Mike Oquaye and the likes, These are real political scientists. And now, looking at the likes of Ransford Gyampo and Kobby Mensah in the gutters, I wonder if theres ever going to be a saving grace. Its even a dismal state of affairs when you consider the fact that these two individuals with staggeringly overt flaws are lecturers in an institution of higher learning. Well, the truth is Alan Kyeremantens decision has nothing to do with him breaking away from the NPP. Alan is a bona-fide party member whose loyalty to the NPP remains unflinching. As for the Gyampos and Kobby Mensahs of our world, it would serve them better to disengage from sheepishly throwing their professional credibility and intelligence away for the proverbial swines to trample upon, than to continue threading on that slippery road. Signed: Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu Deputy Director of Communications, NPP National Democratic Congress youth activist in the Western region, Mr. Thomas Dindiego has added his voice to calls for the limited voter registration exercise to be held at the electoral areas instead of limiting it to the district offices of the Electoral Commission. Mr. Dindiego insisted that the party will continue kicking against the Electoral Commission's call to conduct limited voter registration at the Commissions district offices. He accuses the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa of scheming to rig the 2024 elections for the NPP. Speaking to journalists in an interview on Sunday, September 10, the NDC Youth Activist narrated that this decision also has the potential to disenfranchise a significant number of Ghanaians who reside in hard-to-reach areas located in the districts. To this end, he has challenged the chairperson to consider first-time registrants in every deprived community in the country to register. According to him, Ghana is not only Greater Accra which is blessed with an accessible road network. Thomas Dindiego expressed concerns that many eligible voters might lack the means to travel from their villages to the ECs district offices for registration. This, Mr Thomas Dindiego said, would discourage a lot of people due to lack of transportation and money to move from distant locations. "See, there are communities in Wassa Amenfi East such as Wassa Mampong, Ajumako, Boykrom among others, you will need at least gh250 to travel to and from Wassa Akropong, the municipal capital just to register and the saddest part is that you would need to pay double if you failed to register for the first time due to overcrowding," he stressed. Notse, a town in the Republic of Togo, whose centuries-old walls have now become the object of a major festival, the Agbogboza. Successors to a relatively young chieftaincy, invented by the German administration in Togo over a century and half ago, have in the last 60 years championed a new ideology aimed at reinventing a lost kingdom. Ironically, it was the harsh measures imposed by the town's ancient monarchy on its subjects that led to its early demise. Though Notse's kingship still retains its distinctive validating emblems, the most visible testimony to its past misrule, the great wall monument, now provides the unifying symbol for disparate and dispersed Ewe people all over the world who see the town as their cradle, their ancestral home. The Agbogbo-Za festival in Notse stands as a remarkable testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Ewe people of Togo. This annual festival is not just a celebration but also a symbol of unity and a reminder of the historical journey that the Ewe ethnic group has undertaken over the centuries. The celebration of this festival reminds the people of Notse and the entire Ewe Ethnic Group globally to forge a new alliance for socio-economic development. The Importance of Agbogbo-Za: Agbogbo-Za is not just a festival; it is a cultural cornerstone for the Ewe people. It serves as a time for reflection on their heritage, a celebration of their identity, and an occasion to strengthen bonds among family and community members. Beyond its cultural significance, this festival plays a pivotal role in fostering unity and cooperation among the Ewe people, both locally and in the global diaspora. Historical Roots: The Ewe Migration: To understand the importance of Agbogbo-Za, we must delve into the history of the Ewe migration. The Ewe people are believed to have migrated from their ancestral home in Notse, a walled city in present-day Togo. This migration, which took place over several centuries, saw the Ewe people spread across the West African region. Archaeological records suggest that Notse served as a central hub during this migration, leaving behind invaluable traces of Ewe culture and history. The Walled City of Notse: Notse, once the epicenter of Ewe civilization, is a city steeped in history. Its defining feature is its ancient walls, which stand as a testament to the advanced architectural skills of the Ewe people. These walls served as protection, and within them, a vibrant culture thrived. King Agokoli I, a legendary ruler, is a central figure in the history of Notse. His reign is celebrated during the Agbogbo-Za festival, honoring his contributions to Ewe society. The Exodus of the Dogbowo and the Birth of the Anlo: The Ewe migration reached a pivotal moment when the Dogbowo, a group within the Ewe, decided to venture southward. This journey marked the birth of the Anlo people. The exact date of this exodus remains a subject of historical debate, but it is commemorated during the Agbogbo-Za festival. The breaking through the fenced wall at Notse represents the departure of the Dogbowo, symbolizing their determination to seek new horizons, new lands and new beginnings. Forging a New Alliance for Socio-Economic Development: In the 21st century, the Ewe community, both in Notse and the global diaspora, has a unique opportunity to come together and harness their collective strengths for socio-economic development. By preserving their cultural heritage through events like Agbogbo-Za and leveraging their shared history and values, the Ewe people can form powerful alliances aimed at addressing common challenges and pursuing economic prosperity. Conclusion: The Agbogbo-Za festival in Notse is more than just a celebration; it is a journey through time, a reminder of shared roots, and a call to unity. As the Ewe people honor their past, they also lay the foundation for a brighter future, one where cultural pride and cooperation lead to socio-economic development. Through the spirit of Agbogbo-Za, the Ewe community can forge new alliances and strengthen their global presence while preserving their rich heritage. Joel Degue Author, Writer, Blogger, Tourism Promoter, Certified Tour Guide. 11.09.2023 LISTEN Dear Dr Eric, Nkansah, Let me use this opportunity to welcome you officially to the office. May I repeat what I shared on Facebook when you were appointed in spite of the unnecessary strike that the teacher unions embarked on: "Congratulations, Eric Nkansah, PhD. This elevation requires hard work. Ghana education is at a crossroad. Too many problems that required simple solutions have been left to worsen. Stinking corruption at every level. There's a condensed aura of determination and excellence around you. We pray you execute your mandate fearlessly and creatively. Simple message: "Inject some dignity into our education."" In this piece, I decide not to discuss the issue of corruption and malfeasance in the service. Those issues will be up for discussion another day. I know you have all the briefing. Even as Deputy Director, you knew about the government policy that states that 30% of the Category A second-cycle schools should be reserved for students from the public schools. No sooner had the 2023 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) ended than your outfit issued a communique on the impending school selection and placement for the candidates. Parents are still waiting to make the selections. Heads of schools are waiting as well. However, as we wait, I want to draw your attention to the 30% quota. May I know what your views about this policy are? Could you honestly explain to Ghanaians how fair this policy is? Is there any plausible justification for this inequity? Could you make public the document that contains this policy? Many an official from the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) has continuously reiterated this position of government, insisting that it is due to the lack of proper and adequate infrastructure in the public schools. That most of the public schools do not have the requisite teaching and learning resources. That the students in the public schools do not have same ease of learning as provided for students in the private schools. We empathise and sympathise solemnly with government. We know that the burden of providing the public schools the needed resources is heavy. We acknowledge that the classrooms are overpopulated. And teachers are also overburdened with numerous tasks. Therefore, as operators of and industry players in the private schools sector, our contribution is to invest into establishing schools that will absorb the teeming number of school-age children. Many of the children who attend private schools currently would have had no choice than to attend public schools if there were no private schools. The right to education of every child enjoins government to be the principal provider of quality education in the country. And government must ensure that every child enjoys good education with all the appropriate resources. That said, let us reason that the private schools are assisting government to achieve its mandate. Of a truth, without the private schools, Ghana would never have been able to achieve the successes that it has chalked up over the years. The huge taxes the private schools pay to government. The many young men and women these schools employ. Income tax from these employees are also paid to government. What more should an institution do to show that it is supporting government on every side? After all these support, the government decides to use your institution to sabotage the private schools. You tell us that you will reserve a whopping 30% of all the category A schools for the students from the public schools. And the 70% is competed for by students from both the private and public schools. It is unfair. Today, many parents are withdrawing their children from the private schools and enroling them in the public schools in the final years. And the public school heads are not checking any records before admitting them. They register them for the BECE and thats it. Unfortunately, it is as if attending public schools makes the child more Ghanaian than attending the privately owned schools. It is no fault of some children to have the opportunity to attend the private school. So why try to justify this unjustifiable inequity? The 30% allocation is your way of telling Ghanaians that there is no way you can make the public schools any better. That the GES and the Ministry of Education cannot embark on creative projects to increase the number of schools, recruit highly-motivated teachers and provide them with the requisite resources to achieve excellence. Your appointment from a non-typical education background gave some of us educators hope to experience the presence of some excellence in your work. The kind of excellence drawn from other professional sectors to apply in our context. The kind of excellence that is a paradigm shift from the mediocre norm. The kind of excellence that is a departure from the lazy and lackadaisical ways of doing things that have stagnated the progress and success of the education sector. You can do it. In conclusion, I beseech you to get to work now to scrap this obnoxious policy, fix our public schools and make them competitive. Yours faithfully, Signed. Joseph Appah (Certified Educator, PGDE - UEW) The deadly explosion that occurred on Sunday, September 10 in Anto-Aboso in Shama of the Western Region has been condemned by the Corporate Affairs Unit of the Minerals Commission in Takoradi. According to the statement released by the Minerals Commission, Sta Addsams Enterprise lacked the permit to carry out its operations. During a routine monitoring visit by inspectors from the Takoradi Office of the Commission, it was revealed that the company engaged in site cleaning and preparatory work and had operated machinery and equipment on-site without obtaining the Commissions approval. The Commission, after the preliminary investigations can confirm that the site of the explosion is a subject of an application by a company with the name Sta Addsams Enterprise. The company has applied for a Restricted Mining Lease for granite commonly referred to as a quarry. The recommendation for the company to be considered for the grant of a formal lease was granted on 20th March 2023. At the time of the explosion, the company had not been issued a lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Below is the full statement by the Minerals Commission RE: EXPLOSION AT A QUARRY SITE IN ASSORKO IN THE SHAMA DISTRICT OF THE WESTERN REGION The Western Regional Head of the Minerals Commission at Takoradi (the Commission) was notified by the Assemblyman of the Anto-Abosso area in the Shama District at about 11.50pm on 9th September 2023, regarding an explosion at a quarry site. A team of Mine Inspectors from the Takoradi Office of the Commission arrived at the site of the explosion at about 6.45 am on 10th September 2023. The area of the explosion is about 1.5 km away from the nearest settlement, Kobenandohkrom. The inspectors were joined by officials from other State institutions comprising NADMO, Environmental Protection Agency, The Ghana Fire Service, Ambulance Service, the Ghana Police Service and officials from the Shama District Assembly to inspect the site. The Commission, after the preliminary investigations can confirm that the site of the explosion is a subject of an application by a company with the name Sta Addsams Enterprise. The company has applied for a Restricted Mining Lease for granite commonly referred to as a quarry. The recommendation for the company to be considered for the grant of a formal lease was granted on 20th March 2023. At the time of the explosion, the company has not issued a lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. Secondly, the site of the explosion is the residential facilities for the company. This included buildings and containerized structures. The inspectors also found at the site, empty drums believed to have contained diesel, other lubricants, cigarette pieces, oxy-acetylene cylinders were found at the scene. Additionally, all the facilities including light vehicles and equipment close to the residential structures on site were destroyed and five (5) persons are confirmed dead and some injured persons were sent to various hospitals within Sekondi-Takoradi for treatment. The administrator of the enterprise informed the inspectors that the company was working at night ostensibly to prevent them from being noticed by the inspectors of the Commission and the local task force comprising the police and members of the sand winners and quarry Association. A routine monitoring visit by the inspectors from the Takoradi Office to the site revealed that the enterprise was engaged in site cleaning and preparatory works and had conducted run of the machines and equipment on site without the approval of the Commission. The enterprise was therefore notified by the inspectors that such activities are illegal and was directed to cease any activity on the site until the lease is granted and all other permits and approvals for the storage, transportation and use of any substance to undertake operations are obtained. In this regard, pending the completion of a full investigation into the cause of the explosion, the enterprise had no lease, approval or permit to undertake any activity or operation at the site. Consequently, the activity of the enterprise was illegal. The Commission wishes to remind the media and the public that the Inspectorate Division is committed to ensuring that all quarry sites are licensed and all the requisite approvals and permits are obtained before operations are undertaken. SIGNED MANAGER CORPORATE AFFAIRS 11.09.2023 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama has criticized the recently announced increase in cocoa farmgate prices, calling it a "rip-off" of hardworking cocoa farmers. In a Facebook post on Monday, September 11, Mahama said the new price of GHS1,308 per bag, up from GHS800, is unfair to farmers given the current high prices of cocoa on the international market. "With the international market price surging to a 46-year record high of $3,600, the government should have given our cocoa farmers their fair share of the international FOB price," Mahama wrote. He noted that the new farmgate price only represents 52.7% of the free-on-board (FOB) price, compared to 66.06% that his government gave farmers in 2016. "This is unfair to our cocoa farmers, who have been worse off since the NPP took over the reins of government in 2017," the former president said. Mr. Mahama added that instead of building on his government's foundation, "They have rather increased the operational expenses of COCOBOD and reduced the international FOB share for the farmers." "Cocoa farmers certainly deserve better!" he concluded his post. President Akufo-Addo announced the new farm-gate price of GHS1,308 per bag on Saturday, September 9, at Tepa in the Ashanti region during the opening of the 2023/2024 cocoa season. 11.09.2023 LISTEN Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Accra to New York were reportedly stranded on an island in the Atlantic Ocean after the plane diverted due to reported issues with oxygen levels on board. The flight, Delta DL157 departing Kotoka International Airport on Friday night, did not reach its intended destination in New York. The plane made an emergency landing on Terceira Island in the Azores, according to Ghanaian tech executive Derek B Laryea, known well as HelicopterMan. In a tweet, Laryea said "This will only heighten folks' existing transatlantic anxieties, as a rep is alleged to have advised passengers to 'be grateful that they allowed us to be here and our plane didnt crash in the sea.'" He reported that the decades-old Boeing 767 aircraft carrying passengers to JFK Airport was grounded on the Portuguese island for nearly 14 hours before a replacement plane arrived to transport them onward. Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie was reportedly aboard the distressed flight. The frightening incident caused significant reputational damage and commercial losses, Laryea noted. Delta Air Lines is yet to issue an official statement on the emergency landing which sparked panic. "I am still looking for a public statement by Delta as I continue to wonder why Airlines are having a free accountability life operating at Kotoka," Laryea tweeted. President Akufo-Addo, on September 29 will declare the High-level Interactive Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament officially open in Winneba, Central Region after his keynote address as the Special Guest of Honour. The Parliamentary Seminar, to be held under the theme: The Challenges of Tenure Elongation and Unconstitutional Regime Change in West Africa The Critical Role of the ECOWAS Parliament, will be attended by all the Members (MPs) of the ECOWAS Parliament, officials of the ECOWAS Commission as well as other key stakeholders. The High-level Interactive Parliamentary Seminar would be followed by the Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, expected to end in the first week of October, also in Winneba, in the Effutu Constituency of the Central Region. This would be the second time the ECOWAS Parliament is agreeing on Winneba as the host town for such a high-level seminar and Extra-Ordinary Session. With barely two weeks to the event date and the expected arrival of the sub-regional guests, there is a high euphoria in the Effutu Constituency as traditional authorities, hotels and tourism sectors as well as residents are geared up to treat the guests to the best of Ghanaian hospitality. The Leader of Ghana's delegation at the ECOWAS Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who doubles as a Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency said preparations are complete for the Seminar. Yes I can confirm that myself as MP, our chief; President of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII and our traditional leaders, the Minister for Central Region, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan and all the good people of Effutu are welcoming the ECOWAS Parliament with both hands and would further serve as a spring board for other meetings of such international caliber. Every necessary arrangement hs been made and we are grateful for the support from every stakeholder that has helped in the planning and preparations so far. We wish our visiting team a happy stay and very fruitful deliberations, Afenyo-Markin noted. He explained that hosting the Seminar and Sessions outside Accra, the capital, would allow member states not only to connect to build consensus towards ECOWAS development but also an opportunity to travel outside the capital city to familiarise themselves with neighbouring countries. Afenyo-Markin continued: We cannot always over-concentrate in the capital cities, we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people. President Nana Akufo-Addo has strongly condemned former President John Mahama over recent remarks accusing him of packing the judiciary with NPP judges. Speaking at the 2023 Ghana Bar Conference on Monday, September 11, at Cape Coast, Akufo-Addo described Mahama's claims of "NPP" and "NDC" judges "extremely dangerous. He noted that the NDC flagbearers criticism represents "the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic." The president cited Mahama's judiciary accusations as "another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal." At a lawyers' conference, Mr Mahama first accused Akufo-Addo of appointing sympathetic judges to the Supreme Court in order to protect the government from accountability once it leaves office. He added that the President has made 80 to 100 appointments of NPP judges to the judiciary since he assumed office in 2017. The former President urged the NDC lawyers to build up their capacities to be appointed to the judiciary to balance the difference the composition of the bench. The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has kicked against the politicisation of the countrys judiciary. Speaking at the 2023 Ghana Bar Conference, the President said the concepts of NPP and NDC judges must not be entertained. He said while the concept is new, it is extremely dangerous and represents the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary. Not only are these concepts of NPP and NDC judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic, President Akufo-Addo said. He added, They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal. This appears to be a swipe at former President John Dramani Mahama who has been criticised in the past week after he urged NDC lawyers to improve their craft in order to receive appointments as judges when he becomes President after winning the 2024 General Election. This was after the flagbearer of the opposition party accused President Akufo-Addo of appointing NPP lawyers as Judges to ensure his government escaped accountability. "Currently, the judiciary is packed with NPP-inclined judges because this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting their people onto the bench. So, I encourage some of you to look at careers on the bench so that we can balance out what the current situation is. We must be prepared as NDC legal persons to also go onto the bench so that we can balance out the judiciary, John Dramani Mahama urged. Former Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has launched another attack on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. This time around, he has described the President as the most irresponsible Ghanaian leader in the history of the country. No Ghanaian leader has been as irresponsible in the destruction of our economy and institutions as you, the Mother Serpent of Corruption, have been. Ghanaians didnt have a difficulty electing you and they will have none electing John Dramani Mahama who is far better than you, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said in a post on Twitter. He was reacting to President Akufo-Addos address at the 2023 Ghana Bar Conference where he subtly jabbed former President John Dramani Mahama. In his address, the President said the concept of NPP and NDC judges which has been echoed by John Dramani Mahama recently is not only dangerous but represents the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary. He said this is why Ghanaians must not vote for a man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1 in the famous Airbus bribery scandal. Not only are these concepts of NPP and NDC judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal, President Akufo-Addo shared. The youth and traditional leaders in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region have called on two mining companies; Cardinal Mining Company and Earl International Limited to take the development and health of the people of the area seriously. According to the youth despite the presence of the two mining companies, the district has been grappling with rising challenges such as youth unemployment, a dearth of skill development opportunities, and escalating health-related challenges. They say one of the most pressing concerns was the upsurge in youth unemployment as job opportunities for the youth remain scarce in the area. The youth noted that health-related issues have also gained prominence in recent years as there has been a noticeable upswing in health problems among children and adults including respiratory issues and water contamination. The leader of the youth leader, Bismark Zumah who spoke to the media emphasised the need for immediate action to safeguard the health and well-being of the community members. We are not Doctors or Nurses but we have relatives and friends who are and we can say that there has been a noticeable uptick in health problems among our children, wives, and brothers, including respiratory issues and water contamination and the lack of access to quality healthcare facilities and services only compound these problems. Also, the absence of skill development programmes exacerbates this issue, leaving young people ill-equipped to participate in the mining sector or other emerging industries, the youth leader added. For their voices to be heard, Mr. Zumah indicated that they have formed a registered civil society group called Talensi Mining Communities Initiative that aimed at addressing the long-standing concerns of youth unemployment and its related challenges. The group he said has already drafted an employment agreement proposal with a proactive 9-member committee to be presented to one of the mining companies, Cardinal Mining Company for onward actions. This endeavour he indicated was aligned with the Local Content and Local Participation Regulations 2020 (L.I. 3421) and takes inspiration from Minerals and Mining Regulations (L.I. 2174 and L.I. 2175) and best practices observed in other mining communities across Ghana. -classfmonline.com IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare 11.09.2023 LISTEN These last few weeks have been somewhat challenging for the Ghana Police Service, the foremost internal security formation. Considering the formation's frontline place in the overall national security management of the country, it should be spared all manner of emotional roller coasters as being played out in the public space. We are not oblivious of the massive support that the Service earned from the public when the current IGP, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare assumed the reins of leadership of the law enforcement department. Enter the Bugri Naabu episode and things took a worrying nosedive in a manner which has left us wondering what the heck is happening. It is like a jinx has bedeviled the Police. All of a sudden, it would appear as if bad politicians are no longer the talk of the public but the Police whose leadership of course is a political appointment. Since the Bugri Naabu episode made landfall and eventually came under the microscope of Parliament and public opinion, sometimes influenced by ill-information about how the law enforcement department works, the image of the law enforcement arm of government has never endured such an image mess. The Bugrigate, if it is not managed with the cause of national security in mind, will not inure to our overall interest. For starters, Chief Bugri Naabu, the former Northern Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) was heard on tape with some Police officers; COP George Alex Mensah and two others plotting how to oust the police chief. It is their case that going into 2024 elections with Dr. Dampare as the IGP will be detrimental to the ruling party and government, since he will not aid them in manipulating the electoral process. Though these officers have admitted the content of the tape, their claim is that portions of the tape have been edited to suit whatever the intentions of the editors of the tape are. As issues unfold, there is a claim of the emergence of another tape, perhaps the last one on this matter. While at it, it is important for us all as a nation to be mindful of how the issues concerning the Police Service is being discussed in the public space. We are particularly worried how the committee that was set up to discuss the content of the leaked tape is now veering into other areas of the Police Service and how it operates. A few questions beg to be asked; what was the committee set up by Parliament to do? Are we ready to go the full course in the public space with the invitation of the IGP? Will the Police Service enjoy the massive public support as was the case prior to this Bugrigate? Is the parliamentary committee an avenue for peeping into the operations of the Ghana Police Service? We hope and pray that the invitation of the police chief by the committee will not be used as an avenue to try the whole Police Service in the public space at the expense of the substantive matter of plotting to oust the IGP. There are details in police operations which though somewhat bizarre in form, they constitute critical aspects of law enforcement intelligence gathering. The maintenance of a string of informants cannot be accomplished without funding. Many a crime conundrum have been resolved using such network of informants. Unfortunately, the lack of knowledge into the complex task of policing make us startle when such tidbits emerge as we are witnessing in the public space courtesy the Bugrigate. Let us be careful lest we destroy the informant network and other critical segments of policing which should be by and large kept outside the public domain. Source: Daily Guide The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to chiefs and other traditional leaders to make lands easily available for large scale agricultural activities in the country. As custodians of the land, the chiefs have responsibility to release lands to facilitate large-scale commercial farming under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) phase II project. President Akufo-Addo made the appeal at a round-table discussions with members of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi. The meeting with the traditional authorities was to discuss and deliberate on the active involvement of chiefs in the second phase of the PFJ II project. It was initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture headed by Mr Bryan Acheampong. The President indicated that agriculture remained the fuel that empowered all activities in Ghana, and it was important to position it firmly to play its leadership role in national development. He said despite the devastating effects of COVID-19 on global economies, the government had continued to strive hard to ensure economic sustainability through various interventions. Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the huge cost of paying for land upfront discouraged agriculture in the country and for this reason, the Government was moving away from the state land acquisition for agriculture purposes. He told the chiefs that unlike the past where governments acquired lands under the executive instrument for agricultural purposes, under the PFJ II, the government was going to look at a new policy direction to that effect. He explained that traditional authorities continued to serve as catalyst for development and played pivotal roles in the implementation of government programmes and policies. The President said through government policies and interventions in the agriculture sector, the fortunes of the country had begun to turn around systematically towards the micro -economic stability, despite the challenges of climate change. He stressed the need for the chieftaincy institution to continue to be indispensable and play an active part in the historic government project by releasing lands for the PFJ II farming activities. Present at the meeting were Mr Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr Kennedy Kankam, MCE for Asokore-Mampong, amongst others It was chaired by Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs. GNA The Chiefs and People of Notsie in Togo have celebrated their annual traditional festival Agbogboza, which was an occasion full of Ewe culture and tradition under the auspices of Togbi Agorkorli IV, Ewefiaga. The grand durbar, which was held on Saturday saw variety of ewe dance ensemble, people of Ewe descent from Benin, Nigeria and Ghana graced the event. Togbi Sri III, Awoamefia of Anlo State was special guest of honour at the grand durbar, Togbi Nyaho Tamekloe VI, Togbi Hatsu III of Dzita, Togbi Atieku II of Asadame, Togbi James-Ocloo V, Mama Kokui Deakor II, Mama Ewui Amegashie, Mama Fiaworsinu was among some Chiefs and Queens in his company to grace the occasion at their Ancestral home in Notsie, Togo. Togbi Sri, in his goodwill gesture made a donation of locally grown Anloga shallots, bags of Afiadenyigba salt, handwoven kente from Anlo and other assorted items to Ewefiaga. The Asogli state was also represented by some of their chiefs led by Togbe Kassa II, a Divisional Chief of Ho-Ahoe, who represented Togbe Afede XIV, whose Asafo traditional group performed some traditional dances. Togolese Prime Minister; Madam Victoria Tomegah Dogbe was the guest speaker at the durbar, she said; We the Ewe are great people and am happy we are joined by our siblings from Ghana, it's a nice experience. Let us use our festivals to reunite and concretize ourselves, she said. Togbi Agorkorli IV, Ewefiaga, in a welcoming address, read on his behalf called on Ewes across all artificial borders to continue to seek peace and development in member countries and urged them to Hold unto this rich Culture and tradition. He called for the education of children of Ewe stock in West Africa to love their culture and tradition values and norms, to shape their future. Mr. Selorm Klasu, former Togolese Prime Minister was also at the event with other political dignitaries. Agbogboza is the annual traditional festival of the people of Notsie in the Republic of Togo. The festival is believed to be for all Ewe descendants due to the history that connects Ewe communities, who migrated from Notsie under the rulership of King Agorkorli I. GNA France is insisting that the reluctance of Morocco to accept French offers of aid in the wake of Friday's devastating quake does not represent a snub, even if it comes at a time of growing tensions between Rabat and the former colonial power. Along with the United States, France was conspicuously absent from a list of four countries Morocco said on Sunday it would seek aid from -- Britain, Qatar, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. The apparent refusal of Rabat to call on Paris has sparked astonishment among some aid groups, given that widespread use of French in Morocco could ease distribution and also considering France's reputation for technical expertise in the sector. The earthquake killed nearly 2,500 people according to Moroccan authorities. Arnaud Fraisse, head of the Secouristes sans Frontieres (Emergency Responders Without Borders) organisation, told the France Inter broadcaster that aid workers had hoped to get on a flight to Morocco on Sunday. "Unfortunately we still don't have the go-ahead from the Moroccan government," he said, adding that he did not understand the reason for this "blockage". France's relationship with Morocco is not nearly as traumatic as with neighbouring Algeria. But as in any post-colonial relationship, Morocco, which won independence in 1956, has its grievances with France. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna told broadcaster BFM TV on Monday that Paris had pledged five million euros ($5.4 million) to aid organisations already on the ground in Morocco. Asked why Morocco had accepted additional aid and support to be flown in from the four other countries, but not France, Colonna said "this debate is inappropriate". Morocco is "sovereign" and "alone entitled to determine what its needs are", she said. "People are suffering. People need help," she said. 'King Mohammed VI's diplomacy' But for Pierre Vermeren, French historian and professor at the Sorbonne University, it is however a "clear political sign". "We know the diplomacy of King Mohammed VI," he told AFP. "He likes to send messages, make swipes, to indicate when he is angry". Mohammed VI was in France, a country he regularly visits, when the earthquake struck late on September 8, according to Le Monde daily, although by Saturday he was already back in the country to chair an emergency meeting. A planned visit by Macron to Morocco has still to be confirmed, and Morocco's ambassador post in France has been empty for months. The most immediate bone of contention has been a decision by France at the end of 2021 to halve the number of entry visas granted to Moroccans annually. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna insisted the refusal to seek aid was not a snub. By Ludovic MARIN (AFP) President Emmanuel Macron's decision to seek a rapprochement with Algeria has also alarmed Rabat, which has long seen its giant neighbour as its main regional rival. The conflict in Western Sahara -- that has pitted Morocco against the Sahrawi independence fighters of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, for more than 40 years -- has also fuelled tensions. 'Lasting build up of tensions' Rabat wants France to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, like the United States, but France's position has not budged -- to Rabat's chagrin. Morocco's King Mohammed VI chaired an emergency meeting after the quake. By FADEL SENNA (AFP) Former French foreign minister and prime minister Dominique de Villepin told Franceinfo radio that the earthquake had happened at a time of "strong tensions" between France and Morocco and that relations were "difficult". "We have never known such a lasting build-up of tensions," he said. "We have to be humble," he added. "It is important for France to put its flag in its pocket," he said, suggesting that French aid could go in via the European Union. Vermeren said that the earthquake tragedy could be a chance for Paris and Rabat to "find a common language", adding that the "quarrel cannot last another four years." An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two persons to 45 months imprisonment each for stealing bales of ladies' underwear valued at GHC129,600. Samsu Abdul, a trader, and Rashiru Yakubu, a businessman, charged with conspiracy to steal and stealing, unlawful entry, pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, however, found them guilty at the end of the trial. Kwame Arhin, Jabril Iddrisu, Zouberiru were however found not guilty, and the court therefore acquitted and discharged them. Enusah and one Zaraku, accomplices, are said to be at large. Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Benson Benneh said the complainant was Mathias Agbo, a businessman residing at Korle-Bu, Accra. Prosecution said On February 22, 2022, the complainant visited his warehouse at Kantamanto and realised that some goods kept in the warehouse were missing. It said the complainant therefore played the CCTV footage mounted at the warehouse and saw some young men opening the padlock to his warehouse with their keys and carrying three bales of ladies' underwear valued at GHC14,400 cedis. Prosecution said the complainant, who wanted to nab the thieves, decided not to change the padlocks to the warehouse. It said the same young men came to the warehouse and opened the padlocks with their own keys and carried four bales on March 3, 2022, and two bales on March 12, 2022. Prosecution said in all, nine bales, valued at GHC129,600 were stolen. According to the prosecutor, Abdul was arrested, and he admitted having stolen two bales of the ladies' underwear while his accomplices carried seven bales The Prosecutor said Abdul failed to lead the Police to the abode of his accomplices and the receiver of the items could also not be traced. On April 25, 2022, Yakubu was picked, following intelligence gathering. Yakubu mentioned Kwame Arhin, a key cutter, as the one who cut the master key used in opening the complainant's warehouse. It said Arhin was picked up at his shop. Yakubu mentioned Jabril Iddrisu as the person they sold the ladies underwear to, and he was also picked up. GNA 11.09.2023 LISTEN The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated government's resolve to strengthen Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country. He said TVET played a pivotal role in national development by equipping individuals with the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to enable them, participate effectively in national development agenda. There had, therefore, been a paradigm shift in the approach to TVET by the government through the review of the curriculum, provision of state-of-the-art infrastructure, strengthening industry collaboration, and quality assurance at shaping the public perception and mindset about TVET. The President stated these, in an address read for him by Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, at the centenary anniversary celebration of the College of Technical Education at Asante Mampong. The anniversary was on the theme: the role of technical and vocational education and training in the national development agenda. President Akufo-Addo, said the government had over the past few years endeavoured to position TVET efficiently in the changing world of work, adding that, the government was gradually winning the battle against challenges posed by TVET. He cited the cases of Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan as successes of TVET and said Ghana could chalk similar feats by adopting the model of the Asian tigers. The President said TVET was the surest way to address the current unemployment situation in the country, hence the need to give it prominence in education and training. He announced the construction of a 3,500-capacity auditorium project for the college to serve as a legacy for the school. Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, paramount chief of Asante Mampong traditional area, called on the government to consider establishing an autonomous university for the traditional area. He said the government could leverage the existence of several tertiary educational institutions in the area to establish one fully fledged university to help propel the speedy development of the area. GNA An Accra Circuit Court has remanded a 28-year-old man who allegedly stole USD37,000 meant to be used to set up a block factory. Michael Okai Afoakwa has denied the offence. He will be brought back to the Court presided over by Mrs Kizita on September 25, 2023. Police Inspector Bobie Ansah Da-Costa told the Court that the accused person was unemployed and a nephew of Madam Akosua Poku, the complainant who resided in the United States of America. He said at a point, the complainant wanted to establish a block factory at Nungua, where Okai lived, thus, she sent USD37,000 to that effect. Okai, after receiving the money, refused to use it for its intended purpose but had it for his personal use, Prosecution said. Inspector Ansah said to prove to the complainant abroad that he had used the money for the purpose intended, Okai took pictures of an unknown block factory and sent them to her. Later when Okai was exposed, a formal complaint was lodged with the Police which led to his arrest on September 1, 2023. In applying for bail, Mr Samuel Kyei Asante, said Okai, the accused, had never had a brush with the law, he was his familys bread winner and would be ready to stand trial if granted bail. He said his client had a business which was running but was under lock and key by police, adding that he was a trained teacher, awaiting posting. Mr Asante said Okai reminded the Court that the nature of the case is a family one and had to be handled with care. He said Okai had a fixed place of abode, had competent people to stand as sureties and above all, he had cooperated with police since his arrest and would not interfere with evidence. GNA 11.09.2023 LISTEN President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to reject John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 General Election. The former President has been elected by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as its flagbearer and will contest in the next general election in his bid to become leader of the country once more. Speaking on Monday, September 11, at the Ghana Bar Conference at the University of Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians must condemn the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1 in the controversial Airbus Bribery Scandal to a defeat in the 2024 General Election. This is a direct jab at former President John Dramani Mahama who in the past has been alleged to be Government official 1. Not only are these concepts of NPP and NDC judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal, President Akufo-Addo shared. In his address, the President assured Ghanaians that his government remains committed to fighting corruption. He said his government would provide resources relevant institutions and security services to be better placed to deal with corruption. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reassured cocoa farmers that the government will continue to adopt innovations to increase productivity and improve their well-being. "Through COCOBOD, the government will continue to implement innovations aimed at improving the welfare of Ghanaian farmers through the implementation of productivity enhancement programmes and remunerative producer pricing," he noted The President said this at Tepa in the Ashanti Region during the opening of the 2023/2024 cocoa season last Saturday. He announced a 63.6% increase in the farm gate price of cocoa beans for the new cocoa season, from GH800 to GH1,308 per bag. According to the president, is the highest producer price paid to Ghanaian cocoa farmers in over 50 years. The increase comes after cocoa farmers intensified their requests for an increase in cocoa prices to stop smuggling and the practice of leasing out their property to illegal miners. The President expressed the belief that the new regulations being implemented would benefit the cocoa industry. He expressed confidence that COCOBOD's initiatives will help Ghana achieve considerable self-sufficiency, encourage industrialization and offer a solid buffer against the negative consequences of price shocks. According to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), 150,000 metric tonnes of cocoa have been smuggled out of Ghana this year alone, a phenomenon they are putting stringent measures in place to address it. The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong assured farmers of the governments commitment to combat smuggling, which is a major problem in Ghana's cocoa business. He stated that practical actions have been taken to arrest people and organisations that facilitate smuggling, which deprives the country and Ghanaian farmers of due compensation for their toil and sweat. On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo urged cocoa farmers to continue to comply with COCOBOD's multiple productivity enhancement programmes, particularly those encouraging pruning and hand pollination to raise output and revenues. He reaffirmed COCOBOD's commitment to farmers welfare, including fair pricing comparable with global trends. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday commissioned five boats for the Ghana Navy Fleet and an oil spill response vessel for the Ghana Maritime Authority. This is the second time President Akufo-Addo has presented vessels to the Navy, following the presentation of four offshore security vessels for use by the Navy in February 2022. Amongst the vessels commissioned into service on Saturday are two 27-metre boats, that would be used for patrolling the countrys maritime borders to the East and West. Ghanas western maritime boundary with Cote dIvoire was delimited by the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in September 2017 and there are ongoing efforts to delimit Ghanas eastern maritime boundary with Togo. According to President Akufo-Addo, As we protect these maritime territories, there is a need to maintain significant Naval presence, to prevent criminals from exploiting any contested areas. He said the classification of these boats as Boundary Class Ships of the Ghana Navy is fitting, and their names apt, adding: Ghana Navy Ships HALF ASSINI and AFLAO are products of the co-operation between the governments of Ghana and the United States. We are grateful for the benevolence of the government and people of the United States, the President stated. The United States has supported Ghanas military revitalisation programme through capacity building and enhancement of our capabilities, with the support of the Navys Special Boat Squadron and other initiatives with the Army and Air Force. President Akufo-Addo emphasised that the current 5-year United States, Denmark and Ghana Trilateral Agreement is set to make the Navys Special Boat Squadron a tier-one Special Operations Force by 2026. The donation of these two 12-metre Defender Class Boats according to him would greatly enhance the operations of the Navy in dealing with sophisticated operations when the need arises. It is refreshing to see the Navy serving as a glue that is cementing international and local partnerships towards securing our interests at sea, the President noted. He was particularly glad that the Navy and the Ghana Maritime Authority are working together to operate the new flex-fighter, which has been procured for oil spill response. As you can see, different players with different expertise, need to come together to work at sea, unlike in other domains. The Petroleum Commission and Ghana National Petroleum Company, both under the Ministry of Energy, are regulators and national operators, respectively, in our upstream oil and gas industry. However, President Akufo-Addo said it is the Ghana Maritime Authority operating under the Ministry of Transport that has procured a vessel for oil spill response to be operated with the Navy. Having launched the National Integrated Maritime Strategy last week, President Akufo-Addo applauded the team from the Ghana Navy who have built Ghanas first indigenous landing craft. The NAVDOCK 1, which measures 11.5 metres in length, is designed to carry 30 personnel and one ton of cargo. Their effort embodies the ingenuity, determination and can-do spirit of the Ghanaian people. I have been reliably informed that the Ministry of Fisheries and the Naval Shipyard are partnering with some private actors to replace the wooden canoes, used for fishing, with improved aluminium boats, he added. President was hopeful that, in time, such collaboration would help develop the countrys shipbuilding industry and offer jobs to the youth of this country, while mitigating the environmental impact of wooden canoes. I charge you to collaborate with our academic institutions and the private sector so that this innovation is developed further to include other platforms for the safe transportation of passengers and goods on the Volta Lake and along our coasts, he added. President Akufo-Addo reminded Ghanaians of the arduous task ahead and the need to work together to guard the countrys maritime frontiers and protect its interests. These vessels symbolise our resolve to safeguard our maritime sovereignty, and I have, thus, no doubt that the crew would live up to the high standards and professionalism that the Ghana Navy embodies. I acknowledge the sacrifices of the families of our servicemen and women who make certain that these gallant sailors have the peace of mind to be at sea to ply their trade, he added. 11.09.2023 LISTEN The government has announced a new cocoa producer price of GHc1,308, the highest in the West African region, and has assured the countrys farmers that it will continue to honour them with good prices. Speaking at an event in Tepa in the Ashanti Region, President Akufo-Addo said until recently, international prices of cocoa had remained very low and made worse by COVID-19. However, the President indicated that despite that, COCOBOD and the government had been making the very hard decision to increase the producer price of cocoa. Cocoa prices have increased from GH7,600 per tonne in 2016, to GH12,800 per tonne in 2022, a significant increase of 68%. This has had an adverse impact on COCOBODs financial performance. President Akufo-Addo said the sustainability of the cocoa industry hinged on a well-remunerated producer, who would invest in the business only when the government paid the appropriate price. The President stated, that the government has kept its promise to cocoa farmers, hence the increase in producer price. He said the government has increased cocoa prices from GH12,800 per ton to GH20,943 per ton, or GH1,308 per bag. That price is 70.5 of the Gross FoB price, and is equivalent to $1,821 per ton. That, the President indicated, is the highest price to be paid to cocoa farmers across West Africa in 50 years, assuring that with the predicted stable prices above the US$2,600 threshold, the government would continue to honour the countrys farmers with good prices in the years ahead. The President described the cocoa landscape as witnessing an unprecedented transformation under his government, adding: The productivity enhancement programmes being implemented by COCOBOD are having a positive impact on productivity, incomes and climate resilience. COCOBOD, President Akufo-Addo indicated, would continue to undertake the rehabilitation of diseased farms free of charge through the programme. The programme, he explained, entailed a one-off payment of compensation to both the land owner and the tenant farmer and involves cutting, treatment and replanting of the affected farm, and the maintenance of the farm for two years before it is handed over to the farmer. In addition to the payment of compensation of GH1,000 per hectare, paid separately to both land owner and tenant, COCOBOD bears the entire cost of the cutting, treating, replanting and maintenance for two years before it is handed over to the farmer. Compensation paid to both landlords and farmers stands at GH112,686,040 as of September 2022. COCOBOD had also rolled out a Contributory Scheme, under the new Three-Tier Pension Scheme for cocoa farmers and would continue to make way for contributions from farmers and COCOBOD in the coming season. COCOBOD, the President stated, is expected to contribute some GH74.5million to the fund this year, adding: The scheme will enable cocoa farmers also save towards their retirement. President Akufo-Addo said this is the first successful attempt to give effect to section 26(1) of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984, PNDCL 84, which provides for the setting up of the Scheme. This has been made possible because of the implementation of the cocoa management system, which has provided the needed data and digital foundation for the Scheme to be successful. Co-operation between Ghana and Cote dIvoire, in the cocoa industry, the President noted, had already yielded good results for the industry, following the adoption and implementation of the Living Income Differential (LID). The LID is an additional amount of US$400 per ton on the price of cocoa, paid on every ton of cocoa purchased from Ghana and Cote dIvoire. The LID is paid fully to the farmers, as a cushion to adverse effects of low international prices of cocoa. The LID has increased the average farmers income by $700 per ton. It is the first successful attempt by producer countries to influence the incomes of cocoa farmers through an international pricing mechanism, he added. The government, the President emphasized, would soon roll out a digitisation programme to digitise all operations of the sector, and enhance traceability and efficient management of the domestic supply chain. President Akufo-Addo said the value addition in the cocoa industry had increased significantly, from thirty per cent (30%) of annual output in 2016 to 48% in 2022. The target of processing 50% of the production locally is within immediate reach. He emphasised that the promotion of domestic consumption is also beginning to yield results. Domestic enterprises, according to the President, have emerged strongly under the 1D1F initiative for the processing and manufacturing of various cocoa-based products across the Districts. He said COCOBOD had taken a giant step to support small-scale and artisanal chocolate manufacturing with business-friendly guidelines that provide access to premium Ghanaian beans, even at the district level. Through these innovations, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that some 130,000 jobs had been created, adding that, the government, through COCOBOD, would continue to adopt innovations aimed at improving the welfare of the Ghanaian farmer through the implementation of productivity enhancement programmes and remunerative producer pricing. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Friday inaugurated the First Oil from the Jubilee South East (JSE) Project, undertaken by Tullow, in collaboration with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Kosmos Energy, Jubilee Oil Holdings and Petro SA. The success of the project, according to President Akufo-Addo, aligns with the broader Jubilee field plan, aimed at bolstering gross production from the field's eastern side. With a collective investment of US$1 billion, Ghanas target of maintaining production above 100,000 barrels of oil per day from the field, by the end of 2024, is well within reach. With some 300 million barrels of oil estimated within the Jubilee field, this success augments the countrys confidence in other prospects across the nation. Addressing the gathering at the commissioning ceremony, the President emphasised that the success of the JSE Project reinforces the government's determination to encourage further investments from partners in the TEN field project. The expansion, he said, would consolidate the governments achievements in the oil and gas sector, adding: The TEN field, enriched with substantial gas reserves, is pivotal to our nation's natural gas production and the stability of our power sector in the coming years. President Akufo-Addo said he was well informed of the commentary, both in the media and other corridors, about the viability of making great use of Ghanas natural gas produced domestically to support the needs of the countrys power sector. Players in the oil and gas sector have been advocating for a commitment by the government to consider deploying more natural gas produced domestically to solve the challenges in providing sustainable electricity for individuals, households and businesses, he said. President Akufo-Addo said the government was committed to expediting discussions and agreeing on mutually acceptable terms for a combined gas sales agreement between Tullow and its Joint Venture Partners. That step, he explained, would pave the way for heightened success and revenue generation in the sector, fostering the use of natural gas for domestic purposes and creating allied industries. Such utilisation is especially critical in meeting approximately half of our power generation requirements, the President added. President Akufo-Addo said the governments position on local content and Ghanaian participation in upstream petroleum operations is not just about supplying ancillary services to the sector but also having a stake in the resources as well. He said Ghanaians needed to be trained to a level where they would have the capacity to be able to participate fully in the industry. The governments position, he maintained, was to strengthen all training vehicles in the various industries of the energy sector, such as the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity Building Programme, to ensure that Ghanaians have the relevant certification to become competitive and play a fuller role in the industry. That fuller role will be most effectively anchored when we ensure Ghanaian equity participation in the upstream development of our oil and gas resources, the President emphasised. Ghana being a signatory to the Paris Agreement and other international conventions, that require countries to reduce their carbon dioxide emission levels, President Akufo-Addo said it had become imperative for Ghana to develop plans and strategies toward the creation of a net-zero energy sector. He said while working to combat the effects of climate change, it was also important that the countrys development was protected by making sure the oil reserves did not become stranded assets, but, rather, a catalyst for our economic growth. Our position remains unchanged. Ghana, the President maintained, has everything going on well as an investment destination a stable political system, a robust legal framework, a viable fiscal regime, a good telecommunications system, a hardworking, skilled labour force, and warm, hospitable people. I wish to assure the investor community of our continued support to ensure that their investments are safe in law and in fact, that they can flourish in our country within the context of our relevant laws. "Our doors are always open for conversations on your presence in Ghana, and I hope the good, warm relations we have fostered over the years will continue to endure in the times ahead, he added. A team of 11 Chinese Medical Doctors from LEKMA Hospital, who form the 12th Batch of Chinese Doctors dispatched to Ghana every year, have successfully held a three-day free medical clinic for the people of Akuse near Akosombo in the Eastern Region. The Chinese Medical Team coming from the largest Guangdong Provincial Peoples Hospital, provided clinical services for over 100 local employees of China Power Sinohydro, a Chinese state-owned company as well as other community residents and members. The 3-day medical clinic which commenced Friday 8th September to Sunday 10th September was sponsored by China Power/Sinohydro in Ghana with FosunPharma that also donated free drugs and medications after the screening. Some of the health issues that were covered include general checks for health status, Malaria, Typhoid, Glaucoma, Cataract, Joint pains, waist pains and aging issues, Diabetes, High Cholesterol and Obesity, Stomach problems among several other cases. The event was on the theme "Care For Life, Care For Health, And Serve The Public." The exercise started from the Akuse EP Church Shalom Congregation on Friday through to the Akuse VRA Club House on Saturday and the Church of Pentecost on Sunday. The beneficiaries happily welcomed this timely initiative because most of them had been struggling to meet their medical needs and payment of medical bills. Mr. Alexander Chen Zhenrong, Chief Representative for Powerchina/Sinohydro in Ghana stated that the exercise was meant to deepen the China-Ghana Friendship and Diplomatic relations between the two countries and the company's Corporate Social Responsibility. "The LEKMA Hospital, also known as the Ghana-China Friendship Hospital, is a governmental health facility located at Teshie Tsui Bleoo in Accra built by the Chinese Government as a gift in 2010 to serve as a friendship hospital between Ghana and China while Sinohydro has also been a very good friend to Ghanaians because we built the Bui Dam and we have done a lot of other corporate social responsibilities in Ghana," he said. Mr. Chen continued "the LEKMA Hospital was built by the Chinese and they have Chinese doctors who visit the facility every year to undertake various medical operations to further boost medical support at the hospital with their highly trained professional medical officers well versed in their various capacities and field of expertise. The Chinese Medical Team have over the years worked with their Ghanaian counterparts offering successful medications in the area of Traditional and Alternative Medicines." Mr. Chen further indicated that the medical exercise was to assist the people of Akuse in helping to address some health challenges they had long encountered. He added that the Chinese Community loves Ghanaians and they will continue to do their best for the good people of Ghana. On his part, the Chief Medical Captain, Dr. Du Yushan, said the three-day free medical care was the seventh free outreach program by the team since their arrival in Ghana around March 2023. "We have been here almost half a year and see many Ghanaians who need better health care but do not get it. So our medical team aims to do our best and take full advantage of our experience and expertise to offer quality service to the country," Du said. Starting in the afternoon, you could see the temporary clinic was so crowded with local patients queuing up for consultations. Chinese doctors offered free medical checkups and treatment for malaria, and later donated a batch of medications to locals." A resident and a beneficiary of the free medical clinic, Mr. Michael Akuffo thanked the Chinese medical delegation for the gesture. Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) will register new voters onto the electoral roll ahead of the December 19 District Level Elections from Tuesday, September 12 to October 2. The Exercise, which is in accordance with Article 45 of the 1992 Constitution, will take place at the 268 District Offices of the Commission a departure from the old system where limited registration exercises were done at the electoral areas. The 21-days exercise would afford Ghanaians who have attained the voting age of 18 years since the last registration in 2020 and others who are more than 18 years but could not register during the last registration exercise, to do so. Following the rejection of the ECs draft Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) by Parliament in April this year, the EC said it would adopt the existing Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2016 (C.I. 91) (1) as Amended, for the upcoming registration exercise. The draft C.I. which was disapproved by Parliament recommended a continuous voters registration exercise and sought to make the Ghana card the sole identification document to establish an applicants citizenship. The adoption of C.I. 91 for the upcoming registration exercise means that eligible voters can use either the Ghana Card or the Ghana Passport to establish their identity as Ghanaians. In the absence of the two identification documents, applicants would be required to present two people who are already registered voters to vouch for their citizenship and age. In an interview, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, the Deputy Chair-in charge of Corporate Services at the EC, said the Commission was ready for the exercise. The EC initially targeted 1.35 million registrants but has revised it downwards to 800,000. The Commission said per its estimation not everyone who had turned 18 years since the last registration exercise in 2020 would actually register due to either personal reasons or non-availability. Nationwide, we are looking at an estimate of 1,350,000 and since voting is not compulsory in Ghana, we believe that a number of these people might have travelled, some might have moved on into other ventures even outside the country. So, the Commission is looking at about 800,000 registrants in 268 locations for the registration, Dr Asare said. Some political parties, including the National Democratic Congress have raised red flags about the EC's decision to hold the limited voter registration exercise at its district offices and not within electoral areas as it was done in pervious exercises. The parties expressed fear that new voters in remote communities, who may not be able to access the district offices, could be disenfranchised. Consequently, five political parties NDC, Convention Peoples Party (CPP), All Peoples Congress (APC); Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG); and the Great Consolidated Peoples Party (GCPP) sued the EC at the Supreme Court, demanding the apex Court to restrain the Commission from holding the registration only at its district offices. Meanwhile an Application for Interlocutory Injunction to restrain the EC from proceeding with the announced limited voter registration exercise did not materialise, which means that the exercise will take off on Tuesday as announced. Dr Asare told the Ghana News Agency that the EC appreciated the concerns about accessibility of its offices in some remote communities but it cannot vary its plans due to time constraints. He said persons who could not be able to register in the unlikely event would be offered another opportunity to do so after the District Assembly Elections. Currently because of the time, we cannot revise what we have. We recognise the challenges. We know there are some places in Nkwanta South, Afram Plains and in all the regions of our country, some of the places are so far away from the districts. In the unlikely event that people are not able to register, we will still be able to do it again after the District Assembly Elections, he said. The last voter registration exercise conducted by the EC ahead of the 2020 general elections (which was a new register) put 17.2 million voters on the electoral roll. The EC is seeking to make the registration of new voters a continuous process, which means that persons who turn 18 years could walk into any District Office of the Commission to get registered. But that window would only open when the proposed C.I. that was earlier rejected by Parliament is resubmitted and approved. GNA President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lashed out at former President John Dramani for accusing him of packing the courts with judges affiliated with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). He also slammed the perennial NDC Presidential Candidate for suggesting that he would neutralise the court with the appointment of National Democratic Congress affiliated judges he became President again. Speaking at the opening of the weeklong annual Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in Cape Coast, President Akufo-Addo denounced the remarks by the former President as an attack on the judiciary which should not be countenanced by the public. Not only is this concept of NPP and NDC judges new in our public discourse. They are also extremely dangerous and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by an allegedly responsible politician of the fourth republic. They provide another reason if more were needed why right-thinking citizen should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first special prosecutor identified as government official number in the still unresolved airbus bribery scandal, he added. President Akufo-Addo insisted that judicial appointments were conducted essentially on professional merit and suitability. He maintained that even though the political colours of judges were known and accepted in some jurisdictions like the USA, the situation was different in Ghana due to the critical controlling role of the Judicial Council in judicial appointments. Appointments to lower courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal are done by the President exclusively on the advice of the judicial council. In the case of appointment to the Supreme Court, because of its unique position in our judicial structure, there are additional requirements of consultation of the council of state and the approval of Parliament, he explained. This year's conference is on the Theme: Ensuring high standard and integrity in public life: The role of legal profession The conference has pulled hundreds of legal practitioners to the Central Regional Capital of Cape Coast to confer on how to position the legal profession to effectively serve the public good. President Akufo-Addo indicated that existing legislations on corruption relating to the conduct of public officers in Ghana were not adequate to deal extensively with public office accountability. He, therefore, stressed on the need to introduce effective regulations to ensure public officeholders conducted themselves diligently. In furtherance of that, he said the Attorney General was making efforts to enact the Conduct of Public Officers Act and was consulting various stakeholders including public sector organisations, civil society and other interest groups. He said the bill would provide a gamut of stringent administrative measures and sanctions to deal with the violation of the law, ranging from the bar against holding public office for limited and indefinite periods to penal sanctions and measures. He added that the Act would decisively deal with issues regarding financial portfolios held by public officers before assuming public office, links to family business, and improper enrichment. It would also take care of professional practices, property investment shareholdings and other asset, self-dealing, partiality in the performance of duty, use of public or confidential information to further private interest among others. President Akufo-Addo intimated the Act would strengthen the role of CHRAJ in the investigation of allegations of contravention of or noncompliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers including conflict of interest and non-declaration of interest and illicit enrichment. GNA Sir Nigel Boardman, a retired Senior Partner at Slaughter and May, a leading London law firm, has called on multinational companies investing in Africa to adjust culturally to the norms and traditions of the people. He said multinational companies need to learn the history and culture of their host country and its people to enable them to adapt better. Sir Boardman made the call when he delivered the 2nd Kojo Bentsi-Enchill Annual Memorial Lecture themed: Investment in African Natural and Other Resources: What Should Governments and Investors Do to Ensure Success? in Accra. The lecture hosted by Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah was in honour of its late founding partner, Kojo Bentsi-Enchill. Kojo Bentsi-Enchill was a well-known legal practitioner and pioneer of the digitization of law reports, journals, and other legal materials in Ghana. He founded Bentsi-Enchill, Letsa & Ankomah in 1988 with his law faculty colleague, Mr Divine Letsa, and led the firm to local and global prominence and recognition before he retired in 2020. Sir Boardman said multinational companies should treat their workforce well, which would serve as the best advocate for its presence in the community. Multinational companies should behave as good citizens and perform the social function expected of them in their investing countries, he added. The Retired Senior Partner at Slaughter and May encouraged companies to recognise the legitimate interest of governments because governments have the responsibility to oversee natural resources on behalf of their citizens. Investors should not be corrupt or be involved in corrupt activities while trying to invest in the natural resources of any country, he said. He said governments also needed to provide stability and certainty for multinational companies to invest, grow and develop their businesses. He said an investment of a multinational company in a country was a collaboration between the investor and the local communities. Sir Boardman said governments needed to balance long and short-term objectives as part of their decision-making and encouraged growth and expansion of business and markets. The government needs to have a team that looks at the legislative aspect of ease of doing business in future and this will make the country attractive to investors, he added. On the issue of the procurement power of the government, Sir Boardman called on the authorities to encourage the use of AI technology in procurement processes for bidding contracts. He said governments should consider more procurement legislative development for the future and they also must provide infrastructure development to encourage foreign investment. Dr Sulemanu Koney, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, and a panelist at the lecture, said there was a need to look further than procurement in considering government policy. He said value enhancement, value addition and value creation should be considered in partnership with the mining industry. Mr Benjamin Aryee, an advisor on Mining to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, and a panellist as well, said the government and industry players must understand that the sector needed partnerships and balancing of competing interests to grow and develop. He said the mining sector could be a critical sector that could link other sectors of the economy for growth. Unfortunately, we have not been able to link the mining sector to other crucial sectors of the economy, Mr Aryee said. GNA Cases of epilepsy are getting out of control in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region, Mr Stephen Awiti, the District Coordinator of Mental Health has stated. He said about 40 per cent of the more than 900 recorded mental health cases in the district were epilepsy with most of the patients from 15 to 35 years. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Busunya, the District capital, Mr Awiti said epilepsy and other mental health cases were common in Dromankese, Busunya, Kranka, Yefri and Bono-Manso, farming communities in the district. Mr Awiti expressed worry about what he described as the high stigmatisation and discrimination of people with mental health conditions in the area, saying the stigma was pushing some parents to hide their children with mental disorders, instead of taking them to health facilities. Another key challenge confronting people with mental health conditions such as bipolar, depression, suicide tendencies and related cases, he mentioned was intermittent shortages of mental health drugs, a situation which was worsening the conditions of some of the patients. Mr Awiti said the district had recorded 20 new cases of mental illness, and attributed some of the cases to substance abuse, marital problems and divorce. He said it was untrue that mental health cases were linked to witchcraft and wizardry because patients who strictly adhered to taking their drugs could possibly be cured. In another interview, Mr Thomas Tongzagli, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Coordinator of the Alliance for Mental Health, appealed to the government to do more to tackle the shortage of mental health drugs. The alliance is an umbrella organisation for people living with mental health conditions in the country. Mr Tonglazi, a farmer expressed worry that many of the mental health patients could not afford to buy drugs because they were unemployed and appealed to government to support them to engage in economic livelihood programmes to make money. He expressed appreciation to MIHOSO International Foundation, a health centred and development non-governmental organisation (NGO) and BasicNeed Ghana, another NGO for their support in helping the patients to access medication. Mr Tonglazi also bemoaned the societal discrimination of mental health patients and called for intensified public education to help bring the situation under control. GNA The Tema Cooperative Butchers Society has called on the President to intervene in what they describe as a forceful eviction of butchers from the slaughterhouse by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA). According to the butchers, Mr Yohane Amarh Ashitey, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive, held a meeting with them on August 29, 2023, announcing to them that they had 48 hours to vacate the premises. The slaughterhouse is located near the newly constructed Sentuo Oil Refinery on the Tema Industrial Area-VALCO Road. Mr. Alhassan Issah, the General Secretary of the Butchers, who presented the petition on behalf of the butchers, said the government must intervene to get them a replacement as the issue has caused serious worries among them and their families. The petition was received on behalf of the MCE by Mr. Albert Kraku, his special assistant, at the premises of the TMA. Mr. Issah said for over 60 years, the butchers have been operating from the slaughterhouse, which currently serves as the only recognized one serving Tema, Ashaiman, and its environs. He said the services of the butchers were important as they support the local economy as well as the food chain of residents, adding that abruptly evicting them without a proper replacement would not only interrupt their source of income but also access to the supply of livestock products in the metropolis and beyond. "We humbly ask that you get involved in this situation to prevent the butchers from being kicked out of the slaughterhouse. We think a solution may be found that respects both the butchers well-being and the need to preserve a viable local food supply chain," he added. Alhaji Shadu Musah, the Tema Chief Butcher, told newsmen that the eviction if carried out, would affect more than 1500 butchers who work at the slaughterhouse. Alhaji Musah added that at the slaughterhouse, the veterinary officers inspect the animals before they are killed and sent to the market to ensure food hygiene and the wholesomeness of the meat, adding that meat that was unwholesome was destroyed by the vet officers. He expressed worry that without a proper slaughterhouse, the butchers would resort to slaughtering their animals in unhygienic places and might even be tempted to sell unwholesome meat to the public, a situation that would jeopardize the health of the public. Alhaji Muhammed Gomda, the Deputy Chief Butcher for Ashaiman, also reiterated that not having a recognized slaughterhouse would be detrimental to all meat eaters as they slaughter all their animals at the place that they were being evicted from. -CDA Consult || Contributor Madagascar marked the official start of the electoral period on Monday after the courts cleared the way for President Andry Rajoelina to run for re-election despite his dual French nationality. At a packed event in the capital Antananarivo, election authorities assigned the 13 presidential candidates their ranking on the ballot voters will use to choose the next head of state on November 9. Rajoelina was handed number three but much of the political discourse in the Indian Ocean island focused on a weekend decision by the Constitutional Court to dismiss appeals seeking to void his candidacy. "Drawing number three is no coincidence. It's the trinity. It's the winning three, it is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit," Rajoelina told AFP at the electoral commission headquarters after the draw. Media reports in June revealed that Rajoelina had been naturalised as French in 2014. Under local law that meant he could lose Madagascan nationality and thus the ability to lead the country and run for office. This version of the facts was vigorously disputed by the ruling party. On Saturday the Constitutional Court rejected appeals filed by three opposition parties to have Rajoelina's name struck off the ballot as "unreceivable". The 49-year-old subsequently resigned as the constitution requires sitting heads of state to don before contesting a presidential election. 'Worried about democracy' The Senate President was supposed to take over but declined to do so for "personal reasons", handing the reins to a "collegial government" headed by a close ally of Rajoelina -- sparking further controversy. "We cannot have clear confidence in the neutrality of this collegiate government," said Alain Desire, a representative of the party of former President Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Presidential candidate Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko told AFP he was "worried about (the state of) democracy" in the country. Rajoelina had not waited for the court ruling to announce his candidacy, holding a grand campaign launch at a stadium in the capital last week. He first took power in 2009 on the back of a coup that ousted former president Marc Ravalomanana, who is also running in November. After not contesting in the 2013 election due to international pressure, Rajoelina was voted back into power in 2018. Madagascar is one of the poorest countries on the globe despite vast natural resources. Some 80 percent of the 28 million population live on less than 1.92 dollars per day. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, a run-off will take place on December 20. The Minority in Parliament has shared a letter to provide an update on its upcoming protest to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) head office in Accra. The Minority was originally scheduled to embark on the protest last Tuesday but could not proceed after the Ghana Police Service dragged the group to court over a disagreement on the selected route. Today, the Minority has announced that the new date for the protest on September 12 announced last will also not work. According to a letter shared by the Minority signed by its leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, it has indicated that the protest will now be held on October 3. We write pursuant to our meeting today on the new route and termination point for our intended #OccupyBoGProtest. After several discussions with you, our protest march has been scheduled for 3rd October 2023, between the hours of 8:00 am and 6pm, the Minority said in a letter to the Greater Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service. Next months protest will start at Obra Spot as the converging point. The purpose of the protest is for the Minority to express its revulsion against the illegal printing of money between 2021 and 2022 by BOG for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). The Minority says it is further protesting the many acts of financial malfeasance by the Governor, his Deputies, and Directors of the Bank of Ghana as contained in the 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Bank. Former President John Dramani Mahama has expressed anger over the Supreme Courts delay in scheduling a hearing for an injunction application filed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and four other political parties against the Electoral Commission (EC) on the limited voter registration. Five political parties filed the suit on September 7, challenging the ECs decision to restrict the upcoming voter registration exercise to its district offices. They argue that the decision will disenfranchise many eligible voters, especially those who live in remote areas. The Supreme Court was expected to have scheduled a hearing for the application within a few days of its filing, but it has yet to do so. The five parties are the NDC, the Convention People's Party (CPP), the All People's Congress, the Liberal Party of Ghana and the Great Consolidated Popular Party. The court was expected to have given a date for the application, but its yet to do so. Mr Mahama in a Facebook post stated that Contrary to the time-honoured practice of the Registrar of the Supreme Court giving dates for applications to be moved, the Registrar has, as of this afternoon, refused to give a date for the application for interlocutory injunction filed against the Electoral Commission (EC) in relation to the Commission's decision to limit the upcoming voter registration exercise to its district offices only. The writ and the injunction application were duly filed at the Registry of the Supreme Court on Thursday, 7th September 2023, at 2:50 p.m. The Registrar informed the applicants' representatives that they were awaiting the date to be given by the Chief Justice, who was outside the jurisdiction at the time. The Chief Justice returned and travelled to Cape Coast for the Bar Conference. As I write, the applicants' representatives are still waiting at the registry of the Supreme Court. Mr Mahama further chastised the court, saying, the action by the court does not augur well for public confidence in the justice delivery system. This is unprecedented and does not augur well for public confidence in the justice delivery system. In 2012, when a Ghanaian citizen decided to challenge the creation of the 45 new constituencies, the Supreme Court had a sole judge to decide the interlocutory injunction application in a timely manner. The EC starts the lopsided registration exercise tomorrow for which this process is being filed, and yet we all know the famous mantra, Justice delayed, is justice denied. -citinewsroom 11.09.2023 LISTEN An Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of three businessmen over an alleged GHC621,000.00 oil fraud. They are Alhaji Iddrisu Ibrahim, Alhaji Abdul Samed and Simon Muelenga. The accused persons will have to appear before the Court presided over by Mrs Ellen Ofei-Ayeh on September 27, 2023, to answer the conspiracy, fraud and issuing of dud cheque charges against them. The facts are that Mr Ebenezer Martei, the Complainant, is a businessman and the Proprietor of West Stream Dominion Enterprise and resides at Dansoman in Accra. Accused Ibrahim as well as Yusif and Simon Muelenga, both at large are all said to be businessmen. On August 2, 2021, Alhaji Ibrahim and Alhaji Yussif were introduced to the complainant as businessmen who wanted him to supply them with petrol and diesel. They made the necessary arrangements to that effect. In September 2021, Alhaji Ibrahim bargained with the complainant for the purchase of 54,000 liters of petrol and 54,000 liters of diesel all valued at GHC621,000.00 and after obtaining same, defaulted in the payment of the purchase price. Based on this, the complainant made several efforts for Alhaji Ibrahim to pay the purchase price but he failed. Later, Alhaji Ibrahim pleaded with the complainant that he had invested his money in a vessel that he secured hence he needed some time to pay the debt, the Court heard. After some time, Alhaji Ibrahim and Alhaji Yussif went to complainant that they had a business partner in South Africa, Muelenga, with whom he was having a Haulage business which Alhaji Ibrahim again invested the Complainants money and needed US$35,000 to complete it in two weeks time to enable him Alhaji Ibrahim to pay the complainant his money for the oil and also to refund the US$35,000. The Court heard that based on this, the accused persons succeeded in collecting US$35,000 from the complainant which turned out to be false. After the expiration of the two weeks, the complainant demanded his money. Alhaji Ibrahim issued him with the Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited Cheque from the Kasoa branch for an amount of GH621,000 in the name of West Stream Dominion Enterprise and when it was presented at the Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited Accra Main Branch, on April 20, 2022, it was dishonored on grounds that there was not adequate funds in the account to pay the amount specified on the cheque. The complainant made a report to the Police and accused persons were called on their phones to report at the station to assist in investigation, but they went into hiding until June 4, 2023, when Alhaji Ibrahim was arrested. Muelenga has so far refunded US$6,000. GNA A popular Sunyani-based radio presenter is in the grips of the Police for allegedly having anal sex with her own 11-year-old biological daughter. The suspect, Clement Oti, also a taxi driver, known in the media space as 'Shabatee' had purportedly had sex including anal sex, consistently with the victim for the past one year. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the mother of the victim explained she realized some abnormalities on victim's body and when she questioned her, the victim confirmed the immoral act between her and the suspect. Mrs. Ahensah said she reported the matter to the Sunyani District Police Command and subsequently the suspect was arrested and placed in Police custody. She said a medical report confirmed the act, and therefore appealed to the Police to be expeditious in their investigations. A reliable Police source that confirmed the story told the GNA the Bono Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) was handling the matter. GNA The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has indicated that it will not allow anyone to use its platform to campaign for or against anyone ahead of the 2024 General Election. This comes after President Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to vote against John Dramani Mahama when he delivered an address at the 2023 Ghana Bar Conference on Monday, September 11. Not only are these concepts of NPP and NDC judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal, President Akufo-Addo said as he replied Mahamas allegation that he has packed the various courts with NPP-inclined judges. Speaking to Citi News this evening, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Bar Association, Saviour Kudze stressed that the GBA condemns such comments from the President. He said the Presidents linking of former President John Dramani Mahama to the Airbus Scandal at the GBAs Conference is unfortunate and not acceptable. What the president said today was rather unfortunate and we condemn it. The aspect we condemn has to do with his appeal to Ghanaians by way of campaigning of a sort to vote against President Mahama just because he made a comment that President Akufo-Addo has allegedly packed the court with NPP-aligned judges as described as President Mahama. And also bringing up the issue of the investigation allegedly linking former President Mahama to the Airbus Scandal. Our platform is not supposed to be used for that and we condemn that leg of President Akufo-Addos comments. We are not going to allow anybody to use our platform to campaign politically for or against the opponent, Saviour Kudze said. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) pays an annual dividend of $0.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.17%. The company does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 9.43%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, BYD will have a dividend payout ratio of 10.46% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for BYD. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2023. All rights reserved. 2023 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see Barchart's disclaimer. you are here: Siddharth Upasani is a Special Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He has been covering the Indian economy, economic data, and monetary and fiscal policies for nine years. He tweets at @SiddharthUbiWan. Contact: siddharth.upasani@nw18.com Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Daily and weekly insights bundled and sent to your inbox to keep you ahead in the race. Exclusive access to live webinars from market experts on trading and investment strategies Have a Global edge with access to content from world renowned experts and journalist Access to 230+ exclusive stories per month from our editorial and Experts Limited Period offer on Moneycontrol PRO. Subscribe to PRO and get up to Access the exclusive stories, weekly investment ideas and daily technical calls in an Ad free experience In this edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: How Cipla built a billion-dollar business in US, Indias economic ascent explained... Highlights Joe Biden announced the India, Middle East, and Europe Economic Corridor on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi With Indias rising influence, the West may consider supporting Indias candidature for membership of the UN Security Council This is a weak moment for BRI which is being scaled down However, making and implementing a grandiose plan are two different things. A lot of coordinated effort will be involved The US and European nations demonstrated over the weekend that they would go... USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Ashwani Mahajan is a professor at PGDAV College, University of Delhi, and the national co-convener of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Karishma Vaswani is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. In todays Money Morning, find out why my own position on renewable energy has shifted. Its fast becoming apparent to me that the renewable energy transition has some gaping holes in it. Whats worse, no one seems to be too keen on addressing them, preferring to shout down or demonise any pushback. Read on for the full story. PLUS we share a special, enlightening interview on this energy transition that you wont want to miss For a long time I was a big supporter of renewable energy. As a strong advocate for self-sovereignty, I like the idea of having control of my own energy supply. Solar panels on my roof to tap into abundant and almost free sunlight? You beauty! I also trusted the general narrative on climate change. I took the Pascals Wager view that, in the face of uncertainty, it was better to do something over nothing. In Pascals case, the 17th century French philosopher reasoned it was better to choose to believe in God, than not. Because if He did exist, then youd pay an eternal price for non-belief if you were wrong! Using this reasoning, if theres any chance man-made climate change is real no matter how probable or improbable you might think it then we should act. We owe it to our kids and grandkids. However, my position on a lot of this has shiftedperhaps radically so. Why? Well, as famous economist John Maynard Keynes apparently once quipped When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? Its fast becoming apparent to me that the renewable energy transition has some gaping holes in it. Whats worse, no one seems to be too keen on addressing them, preferring to shout down or demonise any pushback. This is a red flag in itself. And unfortunately, its already leading to perverse real-world outcomes. Many of these outcomes even fly in the face of the whole endeavour! Namely, reducing CO 2 emissions. The way I see it, were in danger of going down a Kafka-esque route that sacrifices a lot, for very little gain. It could even be a net negative for the world. What should we do then? First of all, we need to leave our ideologies at the door and debate the implications of these important decisions properly before its too late. Because one country is showing exactly what can go wrong if you dont. Let me explain. Red flags from Germany Germany has been the poster child for a renewable driven economy for a long time. Theyve very advanced plans to have an 80% renewables grid by 2030. But this plan is now coming apart at the seams. Because of it, theyve gone from being the powerhouse economy of Europe to being dubbed the new sick man. As CNBC reported last week: The sick man of Europe moniker has resurfaced in recent weeks as manufacturing output continues to stutter in the regions largest economy and the country grapples with high energy prices. Germany could lose 2% to 3% of its current industrial capacity as companies move operations to countries where gas and electricity are cheaper, such as the U.S. or Saudi Arabia, according to a research note released in August by Berenberg. This is the real economic consequence of moving to a more unpredictable and higher cost energy system. As national broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported last week, the problems Germany are facing are complex: Germany wants out of fossil fuels: no coal, no gas, no nuclear power plants. Instead, the country wants to commit fully to renewables. But does this bring with it the threat of a major power blackout? Germany is gradually realizing where the sticking points are. Take grid security: This is much easier to guarantee in a power network with just a few dozen large power stations than in a decentralized network with multiple small-scale electricity producers such as rooftops with solar panels or wind turbines. Its now a matter of having to intervene several times almost every day to guarantee grid security, says the spokesperson for one major network operator. If grid security can no longer be maintained, the threat of a nationwide blackout suddenly becomes very real. Another problem is reliability. Because the sun doesnt always shine and the wind doesnt always blow, there might be too little power available on particular days and at particular times of the year. This also raises the possibility of unforeseen power failures. One potential remedy could be power storage. There are many different ideas about how to securely store energy in order to bridge power gaps in the renewables supply: pumped-storage power plants, hydrogen storage, gigantic batteries. But, if these technologies exist at all, they do so only on a very small scale: Current storage capacity in Germany is 40 gigawatt hours enough to supply the country for up to 60 minutes. And if theres still no wind and the sun still isnt shining? The sad truth is all of this was perfectly predictable. So why did Germany commit to going down such a route without a proper plan? Beats me But it gets worse. No winnersexcept the grifters As I said at the start, these decisions are actually hindering the supposed environmental benefits too! Get this Germany has shut down their remaining carbon-free nuclear plants and are now ramping up coal-generated electricity in the face of their energy crisis instead. A double whammy of incompetence. (Editors Note: Our Editorial Director Greg Canavan uncovers the viability of nuclear as an alternative energy source in his interview with Rob Parker from Nuclear for Climate Australia. Scroll down to the end of this article to watch now.) As the old saying goes the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Its never enough to be well meaning. You also need to have your facts right, especially in an industry as important as energy. Beyond Germany, there are more clues things arent going to plan. Heres a headline from the Wall Street Journal last week: Despite already being heavily subsidised, renewable power operators are already clamouring for more cash from the tax payer. And yet were always told renewables are cheaper? It doesnt make any sense Were getting an early taste of such future incompetence in Australia too. Im talking about the unbelievable blow out in costs of the government funded Snowy 2.0 hydro scheme. This is a key plank of our own energy transition. It was supposed to cost $2 billion but is now estimated to cost $13 billion and will be finished later than expected, in 2028 (hopefully!). In short, I think we need to seriously think about all this, before we leap into the great unknown. A final thought I came across a good rebuttal of Pascals famous wager recently. It came from another French philosopher, the 20th century existentialist Albert Camus. Camus who didnt believe in God reasoned that in Pascals world, killing babies would be a sound and virtuous decision. The reason being that babies wouldnt have a chance to commit sin and thus would go straight to heaven. The lesson? Second order effects matter too. And decisions rooted not in facts, but in ideology can have terrible consequences for real life. Do we still need to make a transition to less carbon-intensive energy sources? Perhaps. Im no expert on that. But if we do decide we need to do that, we need to do it in full knowledge of the facts, no matter how uncomfortable they are. And we need to do it without ideological agendas against things like nuclear or Bitcoin mining either. Incidentally, Bitcoin mining an industry that is demonised by the media and green groups alike could be one of the most important actions we can take to combat harmful methane emissions in the short term. See here for more on that. Simply put, we need to let the facts dictate our decisions, not the politics. Fooling people into believing a Utopian energy transition is possible isnt a solution. And as Germany is showing us, it could lead to outcomes worse than the problems theyre supposedly trying to solve. Good investing, Ryan Dinse, Editor, Money Morning PS: Our controversial research report, NOT ZERO, drops this week. Keep an eye on your inbox and be ready to stream the video. No doubt this ones going to rattle a few cagesbut we reveal a seriously compelling investment opportunity for those who can handle being called heretics. In the meantime, we have something else for you to watch Nuclear: The Only Sound Energy Future Interview with Rob Parker Our Editorial Director Greg Canavan has been looking into the cost and implications of Australias energy transition to renewables from both an economic and political perspective. In this video a bonus episode of our podcast series Whats Not Priced In Greg talks to Rob Parker, founder of Nuclear for Climate Australia. Rob uses the example of Ontario, Canada, as a model for Australia. The province has significant nuclear energy, no coal, and lower retail electricity costs than Australia. Its an enlightening conversation and one you certainly wont hear in the mainstream media. Check it out here. Reporter Andrew Roberto was raised his whole life on Saipan. He graduated from Saipan Southern High School, holds a degree from Northern Marianas College, and a BA in English from the University of Guam. He once worked for KUAM, UNO Magazine, and the Guam Daily Post. The Guam/Micronesia Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program of the University of Guam School of Health is offering caregivers and community members virtual training on dementia and elderly abuse prevention with the opportunity to enroll in the CARES Elder Abuse Awareness and Prevention virtual training and certification program. Zimbabwe Awaits Mnangagwas Cabinet Appointments President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe is expected to appoint new Cabinet ministers in the coming days. He is tasked with choosing 22 ministers and their deputies from the 136 members of parliament elected last month. Sources within the ruling Zanu-PF party indicate the presidents discretion in these appointments is final. While some claim to be lobbying the presidents office for positions, one source dismissed this as meaningless. Appointment of the Cabinet is at the Presidents sole discretion, they said. A few names are being discussed as possibilities. Former State Security minister Owen Ncube may return, with reports he has proved himself disciplined enough. In Manicaland province, Joshua Sacco and former minister Supa Mandiwanzira are tipped as strong contender choices. Angelina Gata is also mentioned as potentially replacing the outgoing provincial minister. Incumbents like Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka, whom Mnangagwa publicly praised, are expected to retain their roles. Information Minister Jenfan Muswere could also be reappointed. There is said to be some uncertainty around the position currently held by Monica Mutsvangwa. Forming the Cabinet requires balancing representation from across Zimbabwes provinces. While speculation abounds, a Zanu-PF spokesman reiterated the selection process is at the presidents discretion alone. Zimbabweans now await Mnangagwas decisions to establish the new direction of the government. Breaking News via Email Mothers Grieve as Baby Graves are Disturbed in Zimbabwe Village On Friday, grieving mothers in Zimbiru Village, Domboshava, Zimbabwe went to the village cemetery reserved for babies only to make a tragic discovery. Six of the baby graves had been disturbed, with the small caskets and remains removed. The mothers were overcome with grief at the gravesides. Relatives tried to console them as they wept. One 43-year-old mother, Theresa Mashaya, who had buried her seven-month-old baby in July, took a shovel and tried to re-close the disturbed grave herself through her tears. Another father whose ten-day-old baby was buried on July 19th also re-closed the grave with a shovel, clearly distraught. Villagers said some families had resorted to burying their babies at night. However, one villager told the newspaper H-Metro that night burials were against tradition and were a taboo. He had even questioned a family burying their baby at night just days before the graves were found opened. When graves, especially new ones, were discovered violated with just the scattered remains left behind, it seemed like a terrible case of ritual activity. Breaking News via Email Three people lost their lives and seven others sustained injuries in a traffic accident outside Masvingo, Zimbabwe on Friday. A Nissan Caravan transporting 10 passengers burst its front tyre while travelling along the Masvingo-Mbalabala Road, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the roadway before rolling multiple times and coming to rest on its left side. The three deceased victims could not be saved and were taken to Masvingo Provincial Hospitals morgue. The seven injured passengers were also rushed to the hospital for medical attention. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi informed local media about the incident. In a separate accident in Harare on the same day, a Toyota Hiace minivan traveling in the wrong direction on a one-way street overturned after the driver lost control. The minivan landed upside down along Robert Mugabe Road at around 1:30pm, leaving 12 people hurt. Local police are investigating the circumstances surrounding both traffic collisions that occurred in Zimbabwe on Friday. Breaking News via Email The City of Harare has selected new leadership for the next five years. Councillor Ian Makone of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) was elected as the new Mayor. He will take over responsibilities for managing the citys operations and development initiatives. Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe from Ward 41 will serve as Makones deputy. Both Councillors Makone and Kadzombe prevailed in competitive votes against their rivals from the ruling ZANU-PF party. Councillor Temany Utete and Councillor Susan Chuma had sought the mayoral and deputy positions, respectively, on ZANU-PFs ticket. As Mayor, Councillor Makone inherits leadership of one of Zimbabwes largest cities during a challenging time. Harare faces issues like inadequate infrastructure, water shortages, and economic uncertainty. Many hope the new administration will work to improve living standards and revive urban development. Councillor Kadzombes role as Deputy Mayor will be to support these efforts under Makones direction. Breaking News via Email In a meeting held today at Bulawayos city council chambers, the municipalitys councillors voted David Coltart into the position of Mayor. Donaldson Mabutho was chosen as the new Deputy Mayor. The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) councillors, Coltart and Mabutho will now serve as the top leadership for the city, succeeding the previous Mayor and Deputy. The local representatives cast their ballots to determine who would fill these key roles overseeing the administration of Bulawayo. As Mayor, Coltart will be tasked with chairing council meetings and acting as the public face of the city government. Mabutho will assist Coltart in his duties while also focusing on specific portfolios. Together, the new Mayor and Deputy will undertake the work of managing Bulawayos resources, public services, development projects and more and advocate for the citys needs at higher levels of government. Breaking News via Email By Lambert Strether of Corrente. Fifteen, you say. Here at Naked Capitalism, we pay close attention to the Wall Street Journal, and so when I saw the headline A Groan-Up Daughter Makes a Lot of Cents Telling Dad Jokes I sat up and paid attention: The king of Dad jokes is a 19-year-old sophomore at Utah State University. From her social-media stage, [Neve] Pratt has aired hundreds of original and recycled jokes with a cringey delivery that has drawn more than 650,000 TikTok followers and millions of eye rolls. Punchlines are followed by awkward, fumbling silences that, to great effect, last a couple of beats too long. So what if I cant spell Armageddon? she says in one video. Its not like its the end of the world. Tick. Tick. Sadly, however, I have not yet advanced to TikTok; YouTubes pale imitation, Shorts, is the closest I can come. But I couldnt find examples of Pratts work there, nor does Pratt have a Twitter account (which should tell platform mavens something, I suppose). What then a Dad joke? My own fathers favorite, and possibly best, joke was: A horse walks into a bar and the bartender says Why the long face? But can we discern any unifying principle? What is a Dad joke? If, as some would say, a Dad joke is an instance of humor, what is humor, and why do we have a sense of it? So I decided to look into the matter, even if investigations of the funny are notoriously unfunny, and to work from the bottom up, by first collecting some jokes, and then by bloviating theorizing asking questions about them. My only selection criterion was that the joke had to make me smile, although in one or two cases I laughed out loud. Perhaps they will make you smile too, not such a bad thing on a Monday. Here, then, is my corpus of Dad jokes. They are in no particular order, and in fact, when I tried to order and juxtapose them, no ordering was better than any other (although I numbered them for ready reference). Here they are: My friend was showing me his tool shed and pointed to a ladder. Thats my stepladder, he said. I never knew my real ladder. A duck walks into a pharmacy and says, Give me some lip balm and put it on my bill. What did the janitor say when he jumped out of the closet? Supplies! This years Fibonacci convention is going to be really special. Apparently its as big as the last two put together. What has five toes and isnt your foot? My foot. Where do Dads store their Dad jokes? In the Dad-a-base. Two sheep walk into a b-a-a-a. What did the fisherman say to the magician? Pick a cod, any cod. Can February March? No, but April May! What did one hat say to the other? Wait here, Im going on ahead! A magician was walking down the street then he turned into a store. I ordered a chicken and an egg from Amazon. Ill let you know. I was going to tell a time-traveling joke, but you guys didnt like it. What do you call a lazy baby kangaroo? A pouch potato! I love telling Dad jokes. Sometimes, he even laughs. Before ascending to the theoretical plane, let me expose my sourcing. The clickbait article titles make for grim reading: What fascinates me is that the lists themselves are copypasta; they are extremely duplicative, even within themselves; the sense of closed-in-ness reminds me of list of jokes on a wrinkled piece of paper passed surruptitiously from student to student in grade school. Although kids these days have cellphones, and all these articles were published on the Intertubes and probably assembled by bots. Even more fascinating is the picture of American life presented by the authors (or the bots). Under what circumstances does the whole family chuckle? Are there kids who dont love to laugh? Do the kids who love to laugh laugh all the time? Like at night? Actually funny winks at the reader, but what does the wink convey? And what kind of Dad seeks a guarantee of laughter from his children? The entire enterprise seems forbiddingly wholesome and family-friendly and, in fact, humorless. Let me now ascent rapidly to the 30,000-foot level. Why do we have a sense of humor? Like everything else thats truly important as I pointed out yesterday, sleep, consciousness, sex, death we dont know. From Scientific American: [S]cientists still struggle to explain exactly what makes people laugh. Indeed, the concept of humor is itself elusive. Although everyone understands intuitively what humor is, and dictionaries may define it simply as the quality of being amusing, it is difficult to define in a way that encompasses all its aspects. It may evoke the merest smile or explosive laughter; it can be conveyed by words, images or actions and through photos, films, skits or plays; and it can take a wide range of forms, from innocent jokes to biting sarcasm and from physical gags and slapstick to a cerebral double entendre. Even so, progress has been made MR SUBLIMINAL More funding needed!. We dont know why animals have a sense of humor, either, but they do. From the Guardian, skipping over primates, dolphins, rats. and the ketamine-loving crayfish: The playfighting and tickling we see in animals are harmless attacks which serve a very social function, says Peter McGraw, a psychologist at the University of Colorado. Some of it is bonding and some of it can be learning to fight. But what you always see is that the animal thats being attacked is the one making these vocalizations which we interpret as laughter. I believe that through evolution, laughter developed as way of showing that something which would otherwise be wrong, is actually ok. The World Economic Forum [tick, tick] regards humor as an essential life skill: Researchers have found that people who score highly in certain types of humor have better self-esteem, more positive affect, greater self-competency, more control over anxiety, and better performance in social interactions Research has shown that humor can actually improve your physical immune system. Laughter can also improve cardiovascular health and lowers heart rates, blood pressure, and muscular tension. And of course the truly essential arena, the workplace: Aside from improving your health, laughter can be a productivity tool as well. A study from Northeastern University found that volunteers who watched a comedy were measurably better at solving a word association puzzle that relied on creative thinking as compared to control groups that watched horror films or quantum physics lectures. This is because laughter lights up the anterior cingulate cortex, an area of the brain associated with attention and decision-making. Another study measured peoples performance on a brainstorming task and found that participants who were asked to come up with a New Yorker-style caption generated 20% more ideas than those who did not. Amazingly, then, humor has a bad reputation among philosophers. From the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophys entry on Philosophy of Humor: Philosophers are concerned with what is important in life, so two things are surprising about what they have said about humor. The first is how little they have said. From ancient times to the 20th century, the most that any notable philosopher wrote about laughter or humor was an essay, and only a few lesser-known thinkers such as Frances Hutcheson and James Beattie wrote that much.. Martian anthropologists comparing the amount of philosophical writing on humor with what has been written on, say, justice, or even on Rawls Veil of Ignorance, might well conclude that humor could be left out of human life without much loss. The second surprising thing is how negative most philosophers have been in their assessments of humor. From ancient Greece until the 20th century, the vast majority of philosophical comments on laughter and humor focused on scornful or mocking laughter, or on laughter that overpowers people, rather than on comedy, wit, or joking. Plato, the most influential critic of laughter, treated laughter as an emotion that overrides rational self-control. Especially disturbing to Plato were the passages in the Iliad and the Odyssey where Mount Olympus was said to ring with the laughter of the gods. He protested that if anyone represents men of worth as overpowered by laughter we must not accept it, much less if gods. If so, Plato would be good with the Dad joke. Assuming all Dads to be men of worth, they are not the ones overpowered by laughter; and in any case, a Dad joke typically induces groans, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy also summarized three theories about why we have humor: The Superiority Theory, the Relief Theory, and the Incongruity Theory. Here is Superiority Theory of humor: [W]e have a sketchy psychological theory articulating the view of laughter that started in Plato and the Bible and dominated Western thinking about laughter for two millennia. In the 20th century, this idea was called the Superiority Theory. Simply put, our laughter expresses feelings of superiority over other people or over a former state of ourselves. A contemporary proponent of this theory is Roger Scruton, who analyses amusement as an attentive demolition of a person or something connected with a person. If people dislike being laughed at, Scruton says, it is surely because laughter devalues its object in the subjects eyes. The Relief Theory of humor: The Relief Theory is an hydraulic explanation in which laughter does in the nervous system what a pressure-relief valve does in a steam boiler. The theory was sketched in Lord Shaftesburys 1709 essay An Essay on the Freedom of Wit and Humor, the first publication in which humor is used in its modern sense of funniness. Scientists at the time knew that nerves connect the brain with the sense organs and muscles, but they thought that nerves carried animal spiritsgases and liquids such as air and blood. Shaftesburys explanation of laughter is that it releases animal spirits that have built up pressure inside the nerves. Over the next two centuries, as the nervous system came to be better understood, thinkers such as Herbert Spencer and Sigmund Freud revised the biology behind the Relief Theory but kept the idea that laughter relieves pent-up nervous energy. And the Incongruity Theory: While the Superiority Theory says that the cause of laughter is feelings of superiority, and the Relief Theory says that it is the release of nervous energy, the Incongruity Theory says that it is the perception of something incongruoussomething that violates our mental patterns and expectations. This approach was taken by James Beattie, Immanuel Kant, Arthur Schopenhauer, Sren Kierkegaard, and many later philosophers and psychologists. It is now the dominant theory of humor in philosophy and psychology. The core meaning of incongruity in various versions of the Incongruity Theory, then, is that some thing or event we perceive or think about violates our standard mental patterns and normal expectations. (If we are listening to a joke for the second time, of course, there is a sense in which we expect the incongruous punch line, but it still violates our ordinary expectations.) Lets look at Dad jokes from each of these three angles. Superiority. As Sren Kierkegaard, writing in Mens Health opines: If it evokes a reaction somewhere between cringing and earnest laughter, and you simultaneously want to tell the person sharing the joke to tell you more and also shut up because theyre embarrassing you in front of your friends, congratulations, youre in the presence of a Dad joke. Paradoxically, the Dad is both superior and inferior: Superior because he is, after all, the Dad, and hes telling the joke; inferior because the joke is, well, a Dad joke. Similarly, you are superior since you are groaning at the badness, but inferior because you are cringing (possibly in the presence of your friends. Relief. From Good Housekeeping: [D]ad jokes are more of a vibe. Theyre good for a laugh, but theyre mostly going for an eye-roll. And they can be told by anyone. Theres not much pent-up nervous energy released by an eye-roll, surely? Even a teen-age eyeroll? Incongruity. From Southern Living: Dad jokes are both beloved and despisedlike corny puns, theyre funny because theyre so not funny. But what makes a dad joke different from a regular pun? The signature of a dad joke is that its utterly uncool. Grandma may be the queen of nonsensical sayings, but Dad is certainly the king of cheesy jokes. Whether were willing to admit it or not, sometimes these jokes are actually funny. Add these brilliant one-liners and puns to your repertoire, and youll be on your way to matching dads pun-king status in no time. Once again, we see paradox. The incongruity of the Dad joke is that its funny because its not funny. The Dad joke is, then, meta: Its about what is funny and what is not funny. But there is a second level of incongruity: Dad is telling a joke thats not funny, why? And at the third level: Thats whats funny. Dry, very dry. * * * Since this is the stupidest timeline, a mastery of Dad jokes can only be highly adaptive, and so I hope readers will file this article under News You Can Use. And my favorites are #1 and #12. NOTES [1] Good Housekeeping is the flagship here, top of the line, since it actually sorts Dad jokes into genres: One-Liners, Corny, I Have a Joke About jokes, To The Person Who Stole My jokes, and so on. There are a lot. I just hope all the jokes arent being churned out by ill-paid gig workers somewhere in the Third World. This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 676 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card or PayPal or our new payment processor, Clover. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year,, and our current goal, continuing our expanded news coverage. Yves here. International tax sounds dull and complicated. The experts would like to keep it that way since a lot of money is made, just as in finance, via complexity and opacity. African countries have been pushing for a very long time for tax reforms that would bar or at least impede the way multinational corporations cheat them on tax receipts. The fact that these reforms are finally moving forward and most important, critically important advanced economy organization are getting on board looks to be a sign that the Global South refusing to bend to the Collective Wests will on denouncing Russia and falling in line with Western sanctions has focused a few minds. At a minimum, the rich countries seem willing to not just throw a few bones to the poorer parts of the world, but also make sure they have some meat on them. One of the big tax issues that afflicts African countries is that most have corporate tax as their biggest source of tax revenues. But big international companies shift income out of these high tax countries, leaving African countries budget-starved. The transfer pricing games can also have the effect of shifting other revenues out of Africa. Nicholas Shaxxon, in his landmark book Treasure Islands, pointed out that Africa was a capital exporter, when one would expect low income developing countries to be capital importers. Now this is probably be entirely due to multinational extraction; no doubt a lot of Big Men are engaged in a lot of extraction and move money to international tax havens. Well find out in due course if theses proposed changes are implemented in a serious enough manner to make a real difference. But at least this is a step in the right direction. By Jomo Kwame Sundaram, former UN Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development, and Nazihah Noor, a public policy researcher. Originally published at Jomos website After decades of resistance by rich nations, African governments successfully pushed for the United Nations to lead on international tax cooperation. All developing countries and fair-minded governments must rally behind this initiative. UN Leadership The official UN Secretary-Generals Report (SGR) was mandated by a UN General Assembly resolution, unusually adopted by consensus in late 2022. All countries must now work to ensure progress on financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate justice after major setbacks due to the pandemic, war and illegal sanctions. Rich countries had blocked an earlier tax cooperation initiative at the Addis Ababa Financing for Development (FfD) summit in mid-2015. With grossly inadequate funding, the SDGs were condemned to a still birth. The SGR on options to strengthen international tax cooperation is, arguably, the most important recent proposal remarkably, from a beleaguered and much ignored UN to enhance FfD for SDG progress. It proposes three options: a multilateral tax convention, an international tax cooperation framework convention, and an international tax cooperation framework. The first two would be legally binding, while the third would be voluntary in nature. Eurodad Proposal In response, the European Network on Debt and Development (Eurodad) has made a proposal supported by the Global Alliance for Tax Justice (GATJ) noting: It is time for governments to deliver [and] cooperate internationally to put an end to tax havens and ensure that tax systems become fair and effective. International tax dodging is costing public budgets hundreds of billions of Euros in lost tax income every year, and we need an urgent, ambitious and truly international response to stop this devastating problem. We believe the right instrument for the job is a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and we call on all governments to support this option For the last half century, the OECD has been leading the international decision-making on international tax rules and the result is an international tax system that is deeply ineffective, complex and full of loopholes, as well as biased in the interest of richer countries and tax havens. Furthermore, the OECD process has never been international. Developing countries have not been able to participate on an equal footing, and the negotiations have been deeply opaque and closed to the public. We need international tax negotiations to be transparent, fair and lead by a body where all countries participate as equals. The UN is the only place that can deliver that. A Big Step Forward? Strengthening international tax cooperation is expected to be the major issue at the one-day UN High-level FfD Dialogue on 20 September 2023. A UN resolution on international tax cooperation for General Assembly debate after September 2023 should plan a UN-led inter-governmental process. After all, developing such solutions is a key purpose of the multilateral UN. The Africa Group at the UN had appealed for a Convention on Tax in 2019, to help curb illicit financial outflows. After all, such tax-related flows are international problems, requiring multilateral solutions. International tax cooperation should be inclusive, effective and fair. The EURODAD-GATJ proposals deserve consideration by all Member States negotiating a UN tax convention. The outcome should include: Create an inclusive international tax body. The Convention should create international tax governance arrangements, using a Conference of Parties (CoP) approach, with all countries participating as equals. Currently, international tax rules are decided in various bodies where developing countries never participate as equals. Enable an incremental approach to achieve other intergovernmental agreements. The outcome should be a framework convention, with basic structures, commitments and agreements enabling further updating and improvements later. Incorporate developing countries interests, concerns and needs to achieve tax justice. The Convention should address developing countries interests, concerns and needs, replacing current tax standards and rules favouring wealthier nations. Enhance international coherence. The Convention should develop a coherent system for all nations, including developing countries. It should eventually replace the plethora of existing bilateral and plurilateral tax treaties and agreements with a coherent overall framework. This should improve effectiveness and cut tax dodging. Strengthen international efforts against illicit financial flows, especially involving tax avoidance and evasion, with simpler, more coherent and straightforward rules and standards to improve transparency and cooperation among governments. Eliminate transfer pricing. The Convention should eliminate transfer pricing by replacing existing rules enabling such abusive practices. Tax transnational corporations globally. Transnational corporations consolidated profits should be taxed on a global basis. Tax revenue should be distributed among governments with a minimum effective corporate income tax rate based on a fair and principled agreed formula recognizing developing countries contributions as producers. End coerced acceptance of biased dispute resolution processes. The Convention should not require countries to accept biased processes, such as binding arbitration, favouring those who can afford costly legal resources. Effective dispute prevention would reduce the need for dispute resolution. Alternative mechanisms for resolving disputes could also be negotiated using inclusive and transparent decision-making processes under the Convention. Enhance sustainable development and justice. The Convention should promote progressive taxation at national and international levels. It should ensure improved international tax governance supports government commitments and duties, especially relating to the UN Charter and Sustainable Development Goals. Improve government accountability. The Convention should ensure transparent and participatory tax decision-making, with governments held accountable to national publics. Ensure transparency. The Eurodad proposal emphasizes the ABC of tax transparency, i.e., Automatic Information Exchange, Beneficial Ownership Transparency, and Country-by-Country reporting. Actual progress will not come easily, especially after the strong-arm tactics used by the G-7 group of the biggest rich economies and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to impose its tax proposals at the expense of developing countries. This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 677 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card or PayPal or our new payment processor, Clover. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year,, and our current goal, continuing our expanded news coverage. Alert reader diptherio was the first to report a typo in the Naked Capitalism Songbook: That means will we have to issue a new, corrected edition, which will turn to current edition into a collectors item. So download your copy today! * * * Can We Talk to Whales? Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker. Interesting, but also a classic in a distinctively New Yorker genre: The writer, accompanied by a native guide, seeks an elusive animal in an untamed environment but fails in the quest. The oracle problem and the future of DeFi (PDF) Bank of International Settlements. There is little clarity on legal recourse if a smart contract were triggered by false information (BIS (2022)), especially in jurisdictions where crypto activities are not regulated or forbidden. Well, its not as if we have technology that generates false information at scale. Oh, wait. Climate How Scientists Discovered the Staggering Complexity of Human Evolution Scientific American Scientists say they have pinpointed the moment humanity almost went extinct CNN. 1,280 reproducing individuals 900,000 years ago. #COVID19 China? Myanmar Myanmar militia repatriates 1,200 China nationals allegedly involved in online scams Channel News Asia G20 Africa European Disunion Writing Like a Partisan The New Enquiry Dear Old Blighty Nothing works anymore: Tories accused of having broken Britain with public services in crisis Sky News. Thats only the TUC. What does the PLP think? New Not-So-Cold War The Supremes Healthcare Digital Watch Spook Country Supply Chain Lithium discovery in US volcano could be biggest deposit ever found Chemistry World (KS). Excellent. Now we dont have to invade other controls for our supply. The Final Frontier Zeitgeist Watch San Francisco hires tourism boss to battle ongoing narrative about surging crime, rampant druge use NY Post. But no copy editors on the East Coast, apparently. So Id call the rivalry a draw. Imperial Collapse Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour ( via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Ukrainian Nazi BoneFace threatens Laura Loomer for outing him as U.S. intel asset on social media Populist commentator Laura Loomer bravely dodged all threats thrown at her by Kent "BoneFace" McLellan after she exposed the latter to be collaborating with the U.S. intel agencies "I am really not scared of you and you should be in prison," she directly addressed McLellan on X, formerly Twitter. She called him a felon and further exposed him after being arrested for domestic terrorism in Florida in 2012. "You were picked up by the [Central Intelligence Agency] CIA in 2014 to join Right Sector. Felons can't get licensed to use HAM radios," she said pointing out that BoneFace could only get away with his actions that he is broadcasting publicly now in an effort to threaten her, is "if you're a protected intelligence asset." She also tagged the CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) saying both are enabling Nazi assets to threaten Jewish investigative journalists and instigate violence domestically and internationally. .@BoneFaceTheMC I am really not scared of you. I drew you out into the public as a Nazi CIA asset and you have only just confirmed what I reported. You are a felon. You were arrested for DOMESTIC TERRORISM in Florida in 2012, and you were picked up by the CIA in 2014 to join https://t.co/UaWDd9YOcA pic.twitter.com/3KPZzSWzlx Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 4, 2023 Moreover, she mentioned President Joe Biden in another X post, saying that his administration is working with and funding Nazis and Ukrainian spies to create a color revolution in the United States and interfere in the U.S. elections. "@joeBiden's administration is working with and protecting violent Nazis for the purpose of committing war crimes in Ukraine and instigating Nazi movements in the U.S. during an election year as part of a color revolution to keep President Trump out of the White House by blaming @realDonaldTrump for Nazi and white supremacist movements in the U.S.," she stated. The independent investigative reporter also just released the bombshell report with video evidence and police body camera footage of a police officer in Escambia County, Florida. The cop was Deputy K. Haley, with badge number 614272, and he was interacting with Azov Battalion fighter BoneFace. ???MUST WATCH???? EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: I have exclusively obtained Video evidence and police body camera footage of a police officer in Escambia County, FL by the name of Deputy K. Haley, badge number 614272 interacting with CIA/FBI Nazi Asset and Azov Battalion fighter https://t.co/LcPsWQ3L8Y pic.twitter.com/6uwzK6JyPz Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 4, 2023 In the video, the police officer asks McLellan to spell his last name, and the officer verbally admits on video that McLellan is in their and the FBI's database as a "terrorist organization member." In his file, it said to "contact the screening center" and the FBI. Haley is seen and heard looking at BoneFace's lengthy criminal record on his computer in his police car and says "armed, dangerous, violent tendencies." The cop then asks him, "Are you Ukrainian?" McLellan replies "I just got back from Ukraine." The officer was heard in the police body cam video saying "It says to contact the FBI. I've never seen this before. They have border patrol's number on this." "This is undeniable and irrefutable evidence that @BoneFaceTheMC Kent "BoneFace" McLellan, a Nazi domestic terrorist and violent criminal is an FBI/CIA asset who has been flown back and forth to Ukraine with the help of the U.S. government and the @JoeBiden administration to fight the Russians as a U.S. backed intelligence asset," Loomer emphasized in a separate tweet, adding that McLellan was also recently given a Ukrainian passport. Deep state America wants to recruit white supremacists Over the weekend, Loomer also revealed that on Jan 6, 2021, a known Ukraine spy was identified in front of the U.S. Capitol. He was also confirmed to be one by the FBI in an interview with J6 defendant Jacob Chansley, also known as the Q-Anon Shaman. "I personally spoke to Jacob and he confirmed to me that the FBI told him during an interview with him and his lawyer that the person he was pictured with at the Capitol on Jan 6th was in fact a known Ukrainian spy. The FBI asked Chansley if he knew the Ukrainian spy. Jacob didn't know who he was, and said the man approached him and asked for a photo," she tweeted. She further divulged that the FBI knew about the spy outside of the Capitol on J6 but it was never mentioned to the J6 Committee. According to her, this same Ukrainian spy has also been identified via facial recognition technology, as Sergai Dybynyn, a neo-Nazi who works in Ukraine. Loomer also cited that despite the picture with Chansley being taken at the front door of the Capitol, the FBI has never placed Dybynyn on the J6 most wanted list. Chansley was arrested and incarcerated, meanwhile, "Dybynyn still runs free with the help of the FBI," she alleged. "Interestingly enough, Sergei Dybynyn was also once photographed with John McCain and @LindseyGrahamSC," she added in the damning report posted on X. Conservative alternative news outlet Liberty Daily's contributor J.D. Rucker summed up the issue and called for prayers for Loomer. "Two things are crystal clear from Loomer's report. First, any doubts that the Deep State is engaged in destroying America from within can be dismissed. Second, Laura Loomer needs prayers and burly men with guns to protect her because the deep state will target her now." (Related: Conservative journalist Laura Loomer wins appeal in censorship case against tech giants Facebook, Google, Twitter and Apple.) DeepState.news has more stories similar to this. Sources include: TheLibertyDaily.com 1 TheLiberyDaily.com 2 Gun safes Bud Light: Liberty Safe receives massive backlash for providing customers safe code to FBI A prominent gun safe manufacturing company now faces massive backlash because it provided the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with the password to a customer's safe at the law enforcement agency's request. Outrage against the Utah-based safe manufacturer started September 4, when Keith and Kevin Hodge, commentators known as the Hodge Twins, posted the revelation on X, formerly known as Twitter, revealing that their friend was raided by the feds over J6. "His name is Nathan Hughes and he's from Fayetteville, Arkansas. The feds called the manufacturer of his Liberty Gun Safe and got the passcode to get into it too. All for protesting at the Capitol over 2 1/2 years ago,' the post stated." ? Last week, a friend of ours was raided by the feds over J6, his name is Nathan Hughes and hes from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Nate was raided by the FBI and arrested at gun point. His girlfriend (who just had a miscarriage) was held at gun point and put in handcuffs. The FBI pic.twitter.com/LOpMQ28eUJ Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) September 5, 2023 Hughes confirmed the story the next day, saying in a video that the gun safe manufacturer gave the FBI "a master code to get into my gun safe." He said: "Pretty crazy, didn't know safe companies would do that, so I feel like a lot of our gun safes are not actually safe." Moreover, the FBI also allegedly turned off his security cameras and held his girlfriend at gunpoint. Meanwhile, the company released a statement confirming they gave the FBI Hughes' code. "Liberty Safe was contacted by the FBI [on Aug. 30.] requesting the access code to the safe of an individual for whom they had the warrant to search their property." It claimed it did so because it is devoted to protecting the personal property and second amendment rights of its customers and "has repeatedly denied requests for access codes without a warrant in the past," the statement read. "We do not give out combinations without proper legal documentation being provided by authorities." The company also said in its statement that it "has long adhered to industry standards by maintaining a secure database of factory-set combinations" as a courtesy to customers who might need them for various reasons. However, effective immediately, existing customers may visit the website and double-check. They can "fill out the form to have records of their access codes expunged," it said. But Liberty's X account continued to be bombarded with angry messages from users as it announced changes to its policies. As criticism erupted online, the company opted to disable comments on its social media posts. Collin Rugg, the co-owner of alternative news site Trending Politics, together with other conservative influencers, is now calling for boycotting and canceling orders from Liberty Safe. "We have officially found the Bud Light of gun safes. Enjoy going out of business, @libertysafeinc," referring to the controversial beer brand that experienced a sad demise after pushing its "woke LGBTQIA ideologies" to the public. NEW: Americas top gun safe manufacturer, Liberty Safe, gave the FBI an access code to a safe owned by someone who was present at the J6 protest. We have officially found the Bud Light of gun safes. Enjoy going out of business, @libertysafeinc. The situation gets even worse: On pic.twitter.com/MY7jSlJoyK Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 6, 2023 Bud Light suffered substantial losses in sales after the Anheuser-Busch InBev brand partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney earlier this year in a marketing effort that caused many beer drinkers to stop patronizing the alcoholic drink. (Related: Bud Light's parent company loses $390M after Dylan Mulvaney ad controversy.) Sean Davis, co-founder of the Federalist, replied in response to Liberty's initial statement: "Absent a court order, you weren't required to give them anything. You voluntarily gave out a combination over a warrant, per your own release, that didn't apply to you or your property. Maybe start marketing your stuff as Bud Light storage." Michael Seifert, founder of conservative online marketplace PublicSq., agreed, saying no safe company should ever have access to the property of their customers, let alone sell them out to the feds. "It's an unbelievable breach of privacy. Give them the Bud Light treatment," he said. Moreover, Charlie Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA, a conservative educational non-profit, did not mince words, stating, "Liberty Safe is an enemy to gun owners. They could have fought the warrant like Apple did instead, they buckled and bent over. Your guns are not safe with the @libertysafeinc. Boycott. Ridicule. Ruin their company." Visit FBICorruption.news for stories related to deeply rooted corruption in the law enforcement agency. Watch the video below that talks about how unsafe it is now to deal with Liberty Safe, following the incident involving the U.S. intel agency. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: FoxBusiness.com HindustanTimes.com Brighteon.com THE IRONY: Elon Musk threatens to file defamation case against Anti-Defamation League for waging advertiser boycotts against X (Twitter) Tech magnate and X CEO Elon Musk started the week by exposing the international Jewish non-governmental organization Anti-Defamation League (ADL), its pressure campaigns and how it used advertiser boycotts on the microblogging platform formerly called Twitter, to " secretly suspend or shadow ban any account they don't like." The pro-Israel lobbying group capitalized on the fact that advertisers steer clear of controversies. So, ADL used this to crush the U.S. and European ad revenue and made unfounded accusations, Musk said Monday night on X, adding that the group has much less power in Asia, so the ad revenue in the continent is still strong. "This 'controversy' causes advertisers to 'pause', but that pause is permanent until ADL gives the green light, which they will not do without us agreeing to secretly suspend or shadow ban any account they don't like," he revealed. "That is the relationship they've had with X/Twitter for many years. Presumably, they have that with all Western search or social media organizations." Advertisers avoid controversy, so all that is needed for ADL to crush our US & European ad revenue is to make unfounded accusations. They have much less power in Asia, so our ad revenue there is still strong. This controversy causes advertisers to pause, but that pause is Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 4, 2023 The tech giant chief said he would not ban ADL "unless they break the law" but it looks like he'll have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League. "Oh the irony!" he added. He also vowed to start releasing a giant data dump of ADL's shadowy pressure campaigns in the coming days and weeks to clear the air. (Related: Undercover journalist exposes ADL for dark and nefarious social media censorship plot.) "ADL has pushed hard for us to shut down accounts like [LibsOfTikTok founder Chaya Raichik's], even though it has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, which is their supposed charter!" Musk revealed in another tweet. Meanwhile, despite the gravity of the organization's interference in Musk's businesses, not a single congressman has come out to signify interest in probing or even just to criticize the incident. On the other hand, the Israeli government already signified support of the ADL immediately after Musk exposed it and condemned its critics as Jew-hating conspiracy theorists and white supremacists. Due to the recent developments, Musk's father Errol told the Sun that he fears his son could be in deep trouble for going up against powerful forces in the U.S. government. The older Musk reacted to a recent New Yorker piece by journalist Ronan Farrow titled "Elon Musk's Shadow Rule," saying: "It's a hit job, a shadow government-sponsored opening salvo on Elon. The artillery-like softening up of the enemy before the actual attack and preparing of the ever-submissive people for the attack." He answered the question of whether he worries that the "shadow government" will try to assassinate his son, he replied: "Yes." He already previously warned his son to beef up his security and confirmed Elon shared the same fear. The Musks' fear is not "unfounded" as the ADL was accused in the past of being involved in the Jewish Defense League's firebombing assassination of Alex Odeh at his office in Santa Ana, California. Odeh was a Palestinian-American who founded his own ADL-like group he dubbed the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) to fight against the ADL's agenda. Meanwhile, suspected Israeli intelligence agents are getting exposed for trying to influence the anti-ADL campaign on Twitter/X. ADL almost killed X: Musk In the lawsuit that he is going to file, Musk will ask for roughly $22 billion in damages due to their advertiser boycotts. He added that U.S. advertising revenue is "still down 60 percent, primarily due to pressure on advertisers by @ADL (that's what advertisers tell us), so they almost succeeded in killing X/Twitter!" The Big Tech top executive also claimed that since he took over the platform in October 2022, the ADL has been trying to kill the platform by falsely accusing it and him of being anti-Semitic. "To be super clear, I'm pro-free speech, but against anti-Semitism of any kind," Musk posted in a separate tweet. ADL responded to this matter that as per policy, it does not comment on legal threats. But the organization noted that it recently met with X leadership, including CEO Linda Yaccarino, who was hired by Musk to help regain ad revenue. Yaccarino thanked ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt following the meeting last week, saying in a post on the site that: "A strong and productive partnership is built on good intentions and candor." Despite the claimed partnership formed, a #BanTheADL campaign came out on Musk's social media platform, prompting ADL to accuse the South Africa-born entrepreneur of "lifting" the campaign. "ADL is unsurprised yet undeterred that antisemites, white supremacists, conspiracy theorists, and other trolls have launched a coordinated attack on our organization. This type of thing is nothing new," an ADL spokesperson said. Check out Censorship.news to read more news on speech suppression measures pushed on social media and tech giant firms. Sources for this article include: InformationLiberation.com The-Sun.com Edition.CNN.com NBCNews.com CCP TAKEOVER: Real estate mogul sold over 130,000 acres of Texas farmland to a Chinese billionaire and former PLA captain Texas real estate mogul David Frankens is facing intense scrutiny for allegedly selling more than 130,000 acres of local farmland to Chinese billionaire Sun Guangxin for an estimated $110 million over a span of two years. Sun, a former captain of the People's Liberation Army, acquired around seven percent of all land in Val Verde County in southern Texas between 2016 and 2018 when Frankens sold him the land. The Chinese businessman has since then planned to build a 46-turbine wind farm on one 15,000-acre ranch. (Related: Michigan residents successfully block a CCP-subsidiary corporation from purchasing 80 acres of farmland.) James King, a local realtor and landowner in the county spoke about the business practices of Frankens after other locals were puzzled how Chinese nationals acquired land in their area. "The Chinese weren't smart, but it's buyer beware. That's how Texas real estate is," said King. He added that Frankens was even purchasing properties from other landholders in the county to sell them at a high markup to GH America, a subsidiary of Sun's investment company the Guanghui Group. In at least one instance, Frankens even sold a parcel of land to Sun on the very same day that he acquired it. King even stated that Frankens might have used the profits from his initial deals with GH America to purchase more land, effectively concealing his gains. A source familiar with the relationship between Frankens and Sun claimed that it was Frankens who proposed the idea of a wind farm in Val Verde County. Now, local landowners described Frankens as "treacherous." Frankens quickly denied the allegations, telling Forbes that he only stumbled upon his first deal with GH America by chance. He sold the property through a broker and didn't even know who the buyer was until the contract came in. But Frankens refused to talk about the later deals and even defended Sun. "In my dealings with [Sun], he has always done exactly what he said he would do and has shown himself to be a generous, hospitable man," said Frankens. "I have visited the property on several occasions and have never seen any indication of any nefarious or questionable activities. I consider him a friend." Sun has close ties to the CCP Amid the controversy of land grabbing, Sun could be considered a national security risk by authorities due to his extensive connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Sun's extensive ties to the CCP have been documented in academic literature, notably in the book "Eurasian Crossings: A History of Xinjiang" by Georgetown University professor James Millward. The book details how Sun established a branch of the CCP within his own company during the 1990s. He also reportedly poached a party secretary from a state-owned firm to lead this branch. These political connections not only facilitated Sun's acquisition of state-owned enterprises but have also triggered warnings about his potential threat to national security, including concerns voiced by Texas Senator Ted Cruz. The involvement of the businessman with the CCP has generated unease in Val Verde County, where locals have reacted with increasing apprehension. Kyle Bass, a Val Verde County ranch owner, described Sun's deep ties to the CCP as "concerning" in light of his substantial land holdings in the area. King shared the dismay of the community, saying: "It's, you know, 'how dare you bring this man into our neighborhood of really solid landowners who care about the land and where some families have spent six generations out here.'" Critics argue that the project could provide Sun, and by extension China, access to the state electric grid. In response, Gov. Greg Abbott passed the Lone Star Infrastructure Act in 2021, prohibiting businesses from "hostile nations," including China, from accessing state infrastructure. Learn more about Chinese activities in the United States at CommunistChina.news. Watch this clip from "The Stew Peters Show" discussing how Chinese millionaires are also buying up land in Canada. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: LAND GRAB: Hawaii government to confiscate lands burned by deadly Maui wildfires. Carbon capture storage systems are a severe danger to communities and a veiled government-incentivized land grab. Dr. Lee Merritt and Trent Loos discuss LAND GRABS in America Brighteon.TV. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk The-Express.com Brighteon.com Twitter, now referred to as X, is facing a revised civil lawsuit accusing the company of helping Saudi Arabia commit grave human rights abuses by disclosing confidential user data at the request of the kingdom's authorities. The lawsuit, initially filed in May, delved into a series of alarming events between 2014 and 2015 when three Saudi agents infiltrated the social media company. Two of these agents pretended to work at the company, leading to the alleged kidnapping, torture and imprisonment of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, a Saudi aid worker who disappeared and was later sentenced to 20 years in prison, and many anonymous Twitter users. (Related: Ex-Twitter employee sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for serving as SPY for Saudi Arabia.) In the revised civil lawsuit, Jim Walden, the lawyer representing Areej al-Sadhan, the sister of Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, includes new allegations against X under the ownership of then-CEO Jack Dorsey. Based on the allegations, Twitter helped the kingdom suppress its critics by disclosing confidential information about its users due to the serious financial consideration that it is more important to maintain close ties with the Saudi government, which is a top investor in the Big Tech company. "Twitter gave my brother's identifying information to the government of Saudi Arabia, which blatantly violates its terms and conditions," alleged Areej. "As a result, Saudi Arabia kidnapped, imprisoned and through a sham trial sentenced my brother to 20 years in prison, simply for criticizing Saudi repression on his Twitter account." "The Saudi government has since denied him contact with his family or access to his attorney," she continued. "I am not sure if he is alive. After I began to speak out against Saudi repression, my own life became a living hell." Ukrainian armed forces failed to achieve goals in three months of counteroffensive effort, Russian defense minister reports Reporting on the progress of the special military operations on Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Ukrainian armed forces have failed to achieve any of their goals in three months of counteroffensive with the Eurasian nation. "The Kyiv regime, despite their huge losses, has been trying to conduct the so-called counteroffensive for the third month already. The armed forces of Ukraine did not achieve their goals on any part of the front line," the minister told senior defense officials. He also said that the Russian troops are active "along the entire line of contact." Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in June to reclaim territory seized by Russia but has struggled to break through entrenched Russian lines and has faced growing criticism in Western media for concentrating forces in the wrong places. (Related: U.S. proxy war: Kyivs counteroffensive kills or wounds 800 Ukrainians per day, Russia reports.) According to the defense chief, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's troops are "desperately trying to demonstrate" at least some military success to the West. This is to make the Western allies believe that the country is still worthy of receiving heaps of artillery and economic support. "And in an attempt to hide the failure of the offensive, Ukrainian militants attack civilian targets and pass them off as military victories," the minister said. Shoigu also told senior defense officials during their meeting that Ukraine has lost more than 66,000 militaries and 7,600 weapons since it launched the counteroffensive. Furthermore, Moscow's air defense systems have shot down 159 HIMARS rockets, over 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles, and 13 cruise missiles over the past month. "The Russian armed forces continue to destroy the military infrastructure of Ukraine with precision strikes. Over the past month alone, 34 command posts of the Ukrainian armed forces ... were hit," Shoigu added, pointing out that the Ukrainian armed forces have suffered significant losses in the Zaporizhzhia area, where the situation is the most tense. He said that the Ukrainian armed forces brought brigades into battle from their strategic reserve, whose personnel were trained under the guidance of Western instructors. "Thanks to the selfless actions of [Russian] soldiers ... significant damage was done to Ukrainian units," Shoigu said referring to the Zaporizhzhia direction. Assuring further obstacles in Kyiv's counteroffensive operations, Russia's top general reported that Russian troops are yet to receive four new Tu-160M, which is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber and airborne missile platform. This year, six modernized four-engine turbofan strategic airlifter Il-76 are also set to augment Russian President Vladimir Putin's military. Shoigu: NATO weapons and military standards are not really superior Moscow's 18-month-old war with Kyiv proved that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other Western allies' military technology is actually not all it is chalked up to be. "The Russian army debunked many myths about the superiority of Western military standards," Shoigu said at a security conference attended by Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu earlier in August, adding that it was now obvious that NATO weaponry, modern war doctrine, and training "cannot ensure superiority on the battlefield," per a transcript posted by Russia's Defense Ministry. "In many cases, even Soviet-made equipment surpasses Western models in its combat qualities," Shoigu claimed and said that he is ready to share assessments of the weaknesses of Western technology with partners. According to the New York Times, Ukraine lost around 20 percent of its U.S.-provided equipment in its summer counteroffensive as pointed out in July when reports showed that nearly a third of the Bradley armored vehicles sent by Washington to Kyiv have either been damaged or destroyed. In June, Russia claimed to have shot a separate video of a Leopard tank being destroyed and in July, it said it managed to seize a downed U.K.-provided Storm Shadow missile, as its bases behind the frontlines received repeated strikes from such munitions. Visit RussiaReport.news for more updates on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. More related stories: Military experts insist Ukraine's counteroffensive is not failing, "just off to a slow start" tell that to the Marines. ALL BARK, NO BITE: Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive SLOWED by vast minefield. All those armored fighting vehicles the U.S. sent to Ukraine? One third of them have already been destroyed by Russia. FALSE BRAVADO: UK is hoping to fight a war with Russia with only 40 TANKS. Sources for this article include: SputnikGlobe.com NYTimes.com Ukraine pays huge rewards to Russian DEFECTORS who turn over military equipment Ukraine is reportedly paying huge rewards to Russian defectors who surrender their military equipment to Kyiv. Remix News recounted one such instance involving a Russian helicopter pilot turning over the aircraft for a significant sum of money. Under Ukraine's Operation Sinai, Russian soldiers are promised $1 million for a plane; $500,000 for a helicopter; and $100,000 for a tank. In return, Kyiv obtains not only equipment from Moscow, but valuable information about its military. The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), which is under the country's Ministry of Defense, released an interview featuring Mi-8 military transport helicopter pilot Maxim Kuzminov, who defected in August. Kuzminov recounted: "I contacted Ukrainian intelligence [and] explained my situation. They offered me this possibility: 'Come, we guarantee your safety, we guarantee you new documents, we guarantee you financial compensation.'" He later worked out the other details, including his planned flight path, with Ukrainian intelligence agents culminating in his Aug. 23 defection that Ukrainian media outlets reported. "I realized that I was near the border. I relayed my position and said, 'Let's try, I'm not far away.' Nobody understood at all what was going on with me. I flew [to Ukraine], I landed, they met me [and] they explained everything." Following his final decision to defect, Kuzminov flew at an extremely low altitude and maintained complete radio silence. He also urged other Russians to defect to Kyiv, saying: "You will be entertained, for the rest of your life. You will be offered a job, no matter what you do. You will simply discover a world in color." The independent Russian Telegram channel Agenstvo claims to have found Kuzminov's social media profile. According to the outlet, the defector was an attack pilot with the 319th Helicopter Regiment in the Russian Armed Forces' Eastern Military District. Seized equipment could be sold for a hefty amount on the black market Remix News pointed out that "for Ukraine, such operations are quite profitable even in a purely commercial sense." This is because military equipment such as the Mi-8 helicopter handed over by Kuzminov can be sold on the black market for a hefty amount, with criminal elements as ready and willing buyers. The same can be applied to equipment sent by the U.S. and other countries to aid Kyiv in its battle against Moscow. One clear example of this was outlined in a Russia Today article. According to the piece, the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) disclosed in a report that some of the military equipment Washington supplied to Kyiv "have fallen into the hands of criminal groups, volunteer fighters and traffickers." (Related: Pentagon report: Huge amount of U.S. military aid to Ukraine has been stolen by criminal organizations and arms traffickers.) The October 2022 report outlined "challenges" in tracking U.S.-provided military equipment being shipped to Ukraine, including the "inability of DoD personnel to visit areas where equipment provided to Ukraine was being used or stored." The DoD report recounted that in June of that year, an organized crime group allegedly overseen by an "unspecified Russian official" infiltrated a volunteer battalion. The group stole various weapons, including a grenade launcher and a machine gun, as well as more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. That same month, a group of Ukrainian criminals posing as aid workers stole $17,000 worth of bulletproof vests. Another incident in August 2022 involved members of a volunteer battalion. The suspects stole 60 rifles and almost 1,000 rounds of ammunition, "presumably for sale on the black market." All three plots were foiled by the Security Service of Ukraine, and the stolen items were recovered. Visit UkraineWitness.com for more stories about the war in Ukraine. Watch this video of a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter being shot down. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Weapons donated to Ukraine are being used by terrorists in Africa, Nigerian president warns. Wrong shipping address? Ukraine-bound anti-tank launcher found in Mexican drug cartel possession. Billions of dollars' worth of American arms and aid disappear into a black hole once they enter Ukraine. Black Hole: as billions in American arms and aid enter Ukraine, US officials receive hand written receipts. Mexican drug cartel caught with military-grade ROCKET LAUNCHERS the same weapons being sent to Ukraine. Sources include: RMX.news RT.com Brighteon.com Zelenskys billionaire backer jailed, now facing $13.5 million in fraud and money laundering charges One of Ukraine's top five richest citizens, who is behind President Volodymyr Zelensky's rise to fame and power was arrested recently by the nation's authorities on an array of fraud and money laundering charges , a statement from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) indicated. Amid Zelensky's drive to take down deeply rooted corruption in his government, his top supporter Ihor Kolomoyskyi referred to as the "de facto owner of a large financial and industrial group," has been slapped with allegations of siphoning off over 500 million Ukrainian hryvnias ($13.5 million) by "transferring it abroad while using the infrastructure of banking institutions controlled by him." Kolomoyskyi was ordered by a Kyiv court to undergo pretrial detention for two months amid an ongoing investigation, with bail having been set at $14 million. The New York Times, which covered Kolomoyskyi's September 5 arrest, pointed out that the investor was an early major backer of the Ukrainian president. He had a hand in bringing him to power and was widely believed to have funded extremist private militia armies at various times. "His business interests have included oil and banking, and he was once considered a patron of Mr. Zelensky, a former comedian whose popular shows were broadcast on Mr. Kolomoyskyi's television channel before he successfully ran for the presidency," the news outlet wrote, further revealing that there have been suspicions of corruption and embezzlement dogging Kolomoyskyi for several years now. Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky faces charges related to fraud and the laundering of unlawfully acquired assets, according to reports from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The SBU's findings indicate that during the period spanning 2013 to 2020, Igor Kolomoisky pic.twitter.com/uHUOPPp1P1 Zlatti71 (@djuric_zlatko) September 2, 2023 Reports detailed that in 2017, he left Ukraine for Switzerland and Israel after then-President Petro O. Poroshenko seized a bank Kolomoyskyi co-owned, accusing the billionaire of a large-scale fraud that threatened to destabilize the nation's economy. "Kolomoyskyi burst onto the political scene in 2014 when he was appointed governor of the southeastern Dnepropetrovsk Region following a Western-backed coup in Kyiv. A year later, however, he was dismissed from his post over a conflict with then-Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko amid a struggle for control of Ukrnafta and state-owned oil pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta," an article on RT read. He eventually returned in 2019 when Zelensky took over the government, bringing in speculations of his close ties to the new president that would help him regain his economic and political clout. Furthermore, Kolomoyskyi is also widely considered to have played a major role in the rise to power of Zelensky. Before launching his political campaign, Zelensky was a comedian, whose show was hosted by a Kolomoyskyi-controlled media holding. The magnate himself said he "wanted" Zelensky to become president, but denied close contacts with him. (Related: George Soros helped Zelensky become president of Ukraine through massive propaganda campaign; now he backs puppet regime he installed.) In 2021, the U.S. State Department sanctioned both Kolomoyskyi and his family members, citing his involvement "in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and the Ukrainian public's faith in their government's democratic institutions." In July 2022, media in Ukraine reported that he was stripped of his Ukrainian passport. However, while the news was confirmed by several officials in Kyiv, the relevant presidential decree is classified while the oligarch himself dismissed the reports as "nonsense." A report, meanwhile, disclosed that U.S. presidential son Hunter Biden, who sat on the board of the Burisma energy giant, also did business with Kolomoyskyi's bank. Ukraine's government is drenched in corrupt bureaucratic practices What is more interesting is this came in at the time when Zelensky just fired his own defense minister, an announcement which came the same weekend as billionaire Kolomoyskyi's arrest. "This week, parliament will be asked to make a personnel decision I have decided to replace the minister of defense of Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war," Zelensky announced earlier in September. Reznikov was at the center of an anti-graft probe into the military's paying inflated prices for imported items, the profits of which are believed to have been pocketed by top military officials. Ukraine is so corrupt the USA just made them fire their DEFENSE MINISTER for stealing. All the untold thousands youve paid the IRS over your lifetime of hard work is equal to what they piss away on coke and whores in a night. Scott Horton (@scotthortonshow) September 5, 2023 Moreover, the Zelensky administration is also facing a recruiting scandal, where top military recruiters were given large bribes to allow individuals to avoid conscription. According to analysts, Ukraine is among the most corrupt societies in Europe and will continue to overcome the major hurdle in its application to join the European Union in the years to come. Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said it had frozen more than three billion hryvnia in assets in addition to nearly 1,000 properties and more than 1,600 vehicles and vessels from the former owner of lender PrivatBank. The NABU statement did not name Kolomoysky, however, it is a fact that he was a former owner of PrivatBank, which was nationalized in late 2016 as part of a clean-up of the Ukrainian banking system. Visit UkraineWitness.com for more updates on happenings in Ukraine. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NYTimes.com RT.com Reuters.com The human population has reached an overwhelming increase over the past several decades. Currently, the world population stands at 8 billion people, according to the United Nations, and this figure is expected to increase in the coming months and years. What is seemingly a global dominance of human presence now was once on the brink of extinction when the ancient human population was almost wiped out due to a severe ancestral bottleneck, scientists found in a new study. Scientists from the new research theorized that the population of our human ancestors decreased by 90% almost 1 million years ago. While it is evident that such decline eventually bounced back until the appearance of Homo sapiens first appeared approximately between 350,000 and 260,000 years ago, the findings that there are environmental factors and even anthropogenic elements that could lead to a population or genetic bottleneck. Global Human Population According to the United Nations, the global human population as of November 2022 reached 8 million people from approximately 2.5 billion in 1950, adding 1 billion people since the year 2010 and 2 billion since 1998. Statistically, the current figure is three times larger than it was by the middle of the 20th century. In a national level, the future population growth could vary per country. At this rate, the world's population is expected to spike by almost 2 billion in the next three decades, from the current 8 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050, increasing as high as 10.4 billion in the middle of the 2080s, the UN projected. The population growth is reportedly driven by higher survival rate, urbanization, migration, and other factors related to modern civilization, including healthcare. In particular, the advancement of medicine, including treatment and vaccines, for previously uncurable disease has allowed prolonged human lifespan. Also Read: With that Population at 8 Billion, What Does this Mean for the Environment? Severe Ancestral Bottleneck While global human population seems to have increased dramatically as of the early 21st century, ancient humans once struggled to populate long before H. sapiens walked the Earth. In the said study published in the journal Science on August 31, an international team of researchers, including from China, Italy, and the United States, discovered that ancient humans experienced a severe ancestral bottleneck that resulted in a decrease from 100,000 to 1,000 individuals approximately between 800,000 and 900,000 years ago. The findings show a decrease by 90% in the ancient human population that persisted for about 100,000 years during the early to the middle Pleistocene transition. The said discovery was made possible by developing a coalescent model to predict ancient human population sizes from over 3,000 present-day human genomes. What is a Human Bottleneck? Human bottleneck, generally called population bottleneck or genetic bottleneck, is the significant decrease in population size. In a 2004 study cited by the National Institutes of Health, researchers acknowledged that there has been evidence of genetic bottlenecks in the past, affecting multiple biological systems that range from mammals to viruses. Related Article: Human Population Growth Likely Led to Mass Extinction of Giant Animals That Once Roamed Madagascar 2,000 Years Ago [Study] A content creator's backyard was the claimed location of a meranoplus bicolor ant sighting from India. Now recognized as a new geographic site for the species is the Philippines. A red and black ant that had peach fuzz as well as spines on its back was something Mikey Bustos, a Filipino-Canadian video creator and performer, found two years ago and said he had never seen before. Bustos claimed that after sending samples to Dr. Dave General, an ant taxonomist at the University of the Philippines Los Banos, and a friend in the myrmecology field, they were both shocked to learn that it was Meranoplus bicolor, a species of ant that had not before been known to exist in the Philippines. Where do Meranoplus bicolor live? According to Surekha Chate and Ramrao Chavan, researchers for a prior study, this ant species, also known as bicolored shield ant, species moves slowly while foraging on the ground. These ants prefer less disturbed areas with bare ground, grassland, sparse forest, and other habitats. The species feeds on nectar from flowers and harvested grass seed. Many Asian nations are home to Meranoplus bicolor, a species of ant belonging to the Myrmicinae subfamily. Its habitats vary from open grasslands to open-canopied woods. They build a basic hole-shaped nest in the ground, typically at the foot of plants. Sometimes a nest will have several entrances. The species' worker ants feed both on the ground and on plants, where they make use of extrafloral nectaries and care for aphids. Who discovered Meranoplus bicolor? The geographical scientific finding of the ants was attributed to Bustos in 2021. The content creator recently stated that he was shocked to see that he has been given credit for the geographical scientific discovery of the ant species, which he is currently rearing a colony of for the Philippines, as he was doing additional research on the species. He designated it Species #555 since it was the 555th ant species discovered in the Philippines. Also Read: Invasive Pest Oriental Fruit Fly Puts California County Under Quarantine Following Reports of Smuggled Dangerous Fruit What is the common name for Meranoplus bicolor? Meranoplus bicolor is also known as shield ants. Bustos subsequently said that, if more people had the time to look, they could be surprised by what they might discover in their own backyards. Bustos is an ant enthusiast and the creator of AntsCanada, an organization that advocates for ant awareness and habitat preservation. A recent "Amazing Earth" broadcast showcased his ant farm. Nine different varieties of ants can commonly be seen in backyards or public spaces in the Philippines. These species include the fire ant, pavement ant, weaver ant, carpenter ant, ghost ant, pharaoh ant, black house ant, and ghost ant. With the inclusion of Meranoplus bicolor, or as Bustos refers to it, Species #555, there are now a total of 10 species of ants that are typically seen in backyards in the Philippines. Related Article: Atlas Moth Disguise: An Insect That 'Transforms' Into a Cobra to Scare Off Predators Concerns have been raised regarding the status of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) throughout South Africa due to significant decreases in the species' presence in the region. Skilled shark spotters in Cape Town recorded a peak of more than 300 great white shark sightings across eight beaches in 2011; however, no sightings have been reported since 2019. These declines have raised alarm among scientists about the overall conservation status of the species. Read Also: Genetic Analysis of Great White Shark Reveals Surprises Changes location To understand the decline of shark sightings in the area, the distribution of sharks in the waters off the coast of South Africa has been the subject of a thorough investigation of the data gathered by researchers, tour operators, and shore anglers. According to the data, there are notable variations in abundance at key gathering sites as well as reductions in some areas. Some locations experienced decreases, while others experienced growth or stability. There seems to be a consistent tendency overall. This shows that since receiving protection in 1991, the number of white sharks has remained stable. Shark sightings at Seal Island in False Bay (Western Cape) decreased from 2.5 per hour in 2005 to 0.6 in 2017. In 2013, beach anglers in Algoa Bay to the east captured just six individual sharks. This number had increased to 59 by 2019. Scientists described the changes at each site as complex, and understanding the pattern remains a challenge. The study noted that the changes in geographical distribution need to be closely monitored due to their socioeconomic impact on cage diving activities, tourism and risk of human-shark incidents, as well as ecosystem effects on fish community structure. Researchers, however, said that it remains a concern that there had been no evidence of population increase following protection in 1991 and that the mean size of female white sharks caught in the KZNSB bather protection program has declined. Conservation of sharks The risk environment for white sharks is intricate. According to a report published in 2022, white sharks and longline and gillnet fisheries share 25% of South Africa's Exclusive Economic Zone. 15% of the sharks' time was spent near these fisheries. KwaZulu-Natal reported the most white shark catches, with an average of about 32 per year. This highlighted the requirement to evaluate efforts to protect shark populations by combining shark mobility with trustworthy catch records. Shark migration patterns are shifting eastward, and the possible change in risk needs to be taken into account. The likelihood of captures may rise as there is more overlap among white sharks, shark nets, drumlines (baited hooks), and gillnets. The researchers suggest that to comprehend the causes of shark movements and their effects on distribution through area and time, more research is needed. The study also highlights the value of standardized data collection procedures to produce accurate abundance figures over their entire range. The issue also affects other nations. Furthermore, creating long-term monitoring programs along the Eastern Cape and carrying on with efforts to lessen shark fatalities is also important. Related Article: Group of Great White Sharks Spotted Hunting Together in a 'Kill Zone' Related Video: An effort to push for global action to phase out fossil fuels is gaining momentum ahead of a critical United Nations climate meeting in November. According to the UN's first global stocktake of progress on the treaty, the world is dangerously off track in reaching the Paris climate deal's goals of decreasing carbon pollution and increasing financing for developing countries. The 2015 Paris Agreement successfully drove climate action, but "much more is required now on all fronts," according to the report released on Friday, which will serve as the foundation for a major climate meeting in Dubai at the end of the year. Read Also: Many Countries Including US Halts Fossil Fuel Project Funding Abroad and Invest in Clean Energy Meeting the goal Meeting the targets will necessitate "phasing out all unabated fossil fuels," according to the report, an admission that some oil-producing countries may find difficult to accept. The UN has not formally endorsed the need to phase out fossil fuels in previous rounds of climate talks, and rhetoric about "phasing out" or "phasing down" fossil fuels has sparked debate at the annual UN climate conference. The report also stated that there is a "rapidly narrowing window" for countries to move faster, as global greenhouse gas emissions must peak by 2025 at the latest and then be rapidly decreased to limit temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, emissions continue to rise, and there is a 20 to 23 gigatonne gap. The global situation is characterized in broad and generic terms that were essentially predicted, as it has been evident for some time that the world is way off track to meet the more stringent of the Paris goals, which is to restrict temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Ani Dasgupta, head of the World Resources Institute think tank, highlighted that the report's bland tone concealed a catastrophic failure. "The UN's polite prose glosses over what is a truly damning report card for global climate efforts," he added. An attempt last year to add language on the phase-out of fossil fuels to the outcome of COP27 in Egypt failed. New efforts have been undertaken this year, although the UAE has so far avoided inserting language on phasing out fossil fuel emissions in any COP28 discussions. G20 actions UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that G20 leaders have the ability to restart a "spinning out of control" climate disaster. He said that the G20 countries are in control as they are responsible for 80 percent of the global emissions. China, the United States, the European Union, and India alone account for more than half of all emissions. "The climate crisis is worsening dramatically - but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility, and urgency," Guterres said in the Indian capital New Delhi, which chaired the G20 summit this weekend. The report also emphasized the need to immediately and dramatically increase financial assistance to developing countries so that they can adjust to climate-exacerbated weather events that are already wreaking havoc on their economies. Many African governments are attempting to move away from fossil fuels as their budgets are being drained by worsening droughts, floods, heatwaves, and storms. Related Article: G7 Countries Offer New 'Pledge' to Stop Fossil Fuels, Urge Other Countries to Follow Related Video: ??| El B.A.P. Union, Embajada itinerante del Peru, llego a Busan, Corea! Travesia que fortalece nuestros lazos de amistad y celebra el 60 aniversario de relaciones diplomaticas entre nuestros paises. ??????????. pic.twitter.com/fjeC5hArGo The use of data processing units (DPU) is beginning to grow in large enterprises as AI, security and networking applications demand greater system performance. Much DPU development to date has been aimed at hyperscalers. Looking ahead, DPU use in the data center and elsewhere in the enterprise network is expected to grow. One way that could happen is the melding of DPU technology with networking switches a technology combination AMD Pensando calls a smartswitch. An early entrant in that category is HPE Arubas CX 10000, which combines DPU technology from AMD Pensando with high-end switching capabilities. Available since early 2022, the CX 10000 is a top-of-rack, L2/3 data-center box with 3.6Tbps of switching capacity. The box eliminates the need for separate appliances to handle low latency traffic, security and load balancing, for example. We think smartswitches are the easiest way for enterprises to absorb DPU technology because it lets them retire old appliances and bring significant technology and scale to their networks, said Soni Jiandani, chief business officer with AMD Pensandos networking technologies and solutions group. It lowers the barrier to entry for a lot of businesses as well if we look at the 300-plus installations of the CX 10000 so far, you see a mix of very large to mid-sized customers looking to take advantage of DPU assets just like cloud customers. The smartswitch and DPU integration follows core enterprise initiatives such as consolidation, modernization and security, Jiandani said. On day one of implementation, it lets them take advantage of great visibility, telemetry and performance. While the CX 10000 is the only switch on the market currently to support blended DPU technology, more are expected, experts say. During 2022 and in 1Q23, we saw robust growth in the Smartswitch line from HPE Aruba and the CX 10000 platform. We expect to see more vendor partnerships productizing Smartswitch platforms over the next couple of years, with the most prominent western vendors (Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Dell) to explore and most to release this product class in the 2024 time frame, stated Alan Weckel, founding technology analyst for the 650 Group, in a recent report. By the end of the forecast period, over half the ports in the 650 Groups forecast will be smart or programmable, coming from DPU-based solutions and direct programmability in the ASIC itself, according to Weckel. As the data center market moves beyond traditional workloads to AI/ML, the network will need to evolve and become more than just speeds and feeds providing connectivity between compute appliances and the end-user, Weckel stated. Traditional switching ASICs dont have the processing capacity, sufficient hardware memory resources, or flexible programmable data planes to allow them to implement stateful network functions or services, Weckel stated. Networking will become more powerful, and stateful network functions for network virtualization, enhanced security (e.g., stateful firewalls), load balancing, QoS, and cost metering will migrate from costly appliances into Ethernet switches. Customers will get increased performance, cost savings, and better agility from their network with DPUs embedded in it, Weckel stated. In virtual environments, putting functions like network-traffic encryption and firewalling onto DPUs is also expected to drive use of the technology. The processing required to enforce microsegmentation policies that divide networks into firewalled zones can also be handled by smartNICs, experts say. The ability to deliver east-west security and microsegmentation and firewall capabilities on every server and to protect the applications through a distributed policy-based model will be a core teak of the DPU, Jiandani said. Currently customers see anywhere from a 30% to a 60% total cost of ownership reduction within the DPU environment. Enterprise organizations can utilize DPUs for other core applications as well. Storage offloads include accelerators for inline encryption and support for NVMe-oF. The hypervisor can be also moved from the CPU to the SmartNIC, as in the case of Project Monterey from VMWare, potentially improving utilization without significant customizations, said Dell Oro Groups senior director Baron Fung in a recent SmartNIC Summit presentation. As part of its Project Monterey, VMware developed a feature called DPU-based Acceleration for NSX, which lets customers move networking, load balancing, and security functions to a DPU, freeing up server CPU capacity. The system can support distributed firewalls on the DPU, or large database servers that could securely handle tons of traffic without impacting their server environment, according to VMware. While Project Monterey is expected to spur enterprise Smart NIC adoption and is supported by the major vendors such as AMD, Intel, and Nvidia, traction has been slow this year to date as end-users are still accessing the total cost of ownership (TCO) of Smart NICs, Fung stated. While growth of the standard network interface card market is stagnating to low-single-digit growth in the next five years, Dell'Oro projects growth of the SmartNIC market, which include other variants such as data processing unit (DPU) or infrastructure processing units (IPU), to surpass 30%, Fung said. Another major application is to help large enterprise customers support AI applications. In its most recent five-year data center forecast, DellOro Group stated that 20% of Ethernet data center switch ports will be connected to accelerated servers to support AI workloads by 2027. The rise of new generative AI applications will help fuel more growth in an already robust data center switch market, which is projected to exceed $100 billion in cumulative sales over the next five years, said Sameh Boujelbene, vice president at DellOro. In another recent report, the 650 Group stated that AI/ML puts a tremendous amount of bandwidth performance requirements on the network, and AI/ML is one of the major growth drivers for data center switching over the next five years. With bandwidth in AI growing, the portion of Ethernet switching attached to AI/ML and accelerated computing will migrate from a niche today to a significant portion of the market by 2027, the 650 Group stated. Innovations in Ethernet technologies will be constant to meet the growing requirements of AI networking, Jiandani said. Speaking about AMD Pensandos DPU technology, Jiandani said the advantage is that its programmable, so customers will be able to build customizable AI pipelines with their own congestion management capabilities. Supporting efforts like the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC) is one such development. AMD, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Eviden, HPE, Intel, Meta and Microsoft recently announced the UEC, a group hosted by the Linux Foundation thats working to develop physical, link, transport and software layer Ethernet advances. The idea is to augment current Ethernet technology in order to handle the scale and speed required by AI. We have the ability to accommodate for the essential services that we need to deliver for AI networks and the applications that run on top of it, Jiandani said. We're going to build out a broad ecosystem of partners, which will help lower the cost of AI networking and give customers the freedom of picking best-of-breed networking technologies. We want customers to be able to accommodate AI in a highly programmable way. Looking at the market for AI, Nvidia vice president of enterprise computing Manuvir Das said at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Tech Conference that the total addressable market for AI will consist of $300 billion in chips and systems, $150 billion in generative AI software, and $150 billion in omniverse enterprise software. These figures represent growth over the long term, Das said, though he did not specify a target date, according to a Yahoo Finance story. Nvidia is capitalizing in a monster way on AI and its use of its GPU technology, largely in hyperscaler networks at this point. The companys second-quarter revenue came in at $13.51 billion, a 101% jump year-over-year that it credited largely to AI development. Weeks after Intels proposed $5.4 billion acquisition of Israel-based Tower Semiconductor fell apart, the two firms announced plans for Intel to provide foundry services to its former acquisition target. As part of the deal, Tower will invest up to $300 million to acquire and own equipment and other fixed assets at Intels New Mexico fabrication plant. Tower will eventually have a capacity of over 600,000 photo layers per month to manufacture its analog CMOS chips. Tower already owns fabs in Israel, the U.S., and Japan, and it plans to launch in Italy soon. But the existing fabs create 200 mm wafers. The New Mexico facility will create 300 mm wafers, increasing production quantity. "We are excited to continue working with Intel," Tower CEO Russell Ellwanger said in a statement. "This collaboration with Intel allows us to fulfill our customers demand roadmaps, with a particular focus on advanced power management and radio frequency silicon on insulator (RF SOI) solutions, with full process flow qualification planned in 2024. We see this as a first step towards multiple unique synergistic solutions with Intel. Intel was unable score the acquisition, but this is the next best thing, says Glenn ODonnell, vice president and research director with Forrester Research. I do think the deal Intel and Tower consummated is a good move to save face after the failure of the acquisition. Both parties still get to enjoy the fruits of their original plan, he said. Is this the next best thing for Intel? It's clearly a Plan B where both companies benefit, said Steve Leibson, analyst with Tirias Research. Intel is getting Tower's CMOS manufacturing, and Tower is footing all or most of the cost for the equipment needed to make it happen. Tower gets access to an operational, state-of the-art, 300mm fab without the expense and hassle of building one. Plus, Intel has access to Towers highly specialized sales force that Intel does not have, nor will it need to hire at this point. Intel and Tower first announced the proposed $5.4 billion acquisition in February 2022, and the deadline for completing the acquisition was extended twice as they waited for approval from China for the purchase. Finally, with no approval coming, the deal was scuttled last month. YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The risk of a military escalation in South Caucasus is always present, Armenias Deputy Minister of Defense Arman Sargsyan said Monday. Sargsyan said that Azerbaijan has amassed troops and military equipment along the border with Armenia. He said that even videos posted only clearly show the Azeri military amassing artillery and other kind of weapons. This has been reported. I wouldnt want to speak about this again. Id only urge you to follow our reports, we regularly issue information. Within its jurisdiction, the Defense Ministry is naturally taking steps in terms of not destabilizing the situation in the region and not having any negative impact on the general situation. Our region is such that theres always a risk of escalation, but we, as a state, must take steps in order for this not to turn into escalation or overall major military actions, Sargsyan told reporters. Monika Yadav By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India would explore the possibility of direct listing of Indian companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), according to a joint statement issued on Monday after the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in New Delhi. #WATCH | Delhi | UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt says, "We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian pic.twitter.com/o3s3MLeVtW ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, expressed his satisfaction with the development, stating, We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was present alongside Hunt at the joint press conference, explained that India intends to introduce a proposal allowing both listed and unlisted Indian companies to directly list their shares on the exchanges at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Sitharaman clarified, At this stage, we have said very clearly we are looking at listing on IFSC first, indicating that other exchanges would be considered later. India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to expeditiously finalise a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Sitharaman emphasised the significance of promptly concluding the FTA, stating, There is definitely some discussion on the FTA...the key on both sides is to conclude it as soon as possible. Hunt highlighted the establishment of the Pensions and Insurance Partnership, initiatives for knowledge and expertise-sharing, the new UK Infrastructure Financing Bridge, and the deepened partnership on Indias developmental GIFT City. We can really support each others plans to strengthen the relationship, and the next step of this is a comprehensive FTA and Bilateral Investment Treaty, Hunt added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: India would explore the possibility of direct listing of Indian companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), according to a joint statement issued on Monday after the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in New Delhi. #WATCH | Delhi | UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt says, "We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian pic.twitter.com/o3s3MLeVtW ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, expressed his satisfaction with the development, stating, We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was present alongside Hunt at the joint press conference, explained that India intends to introduce a proposal allowing both listed and unlisted Indian companies to directly list their shares on the exchanges at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). Sitharaman clarified, At this stage, we have said very clearly we are looking at listing on IFSC first, indicating that other exchanges would be considered later. India and the UK have reaffirmed their commitment to expeditiously finalise a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Sitharaman emphasised the significance of promptly concluding the FTA, stating, There is definitely some discussion on the FTA...the key on both sides is to conclude it as soon as possible. Hunt highlighted the establishment of the Pensions and Insurance Partnership, initiatives for knowledge and expertise-sharing, the new UK Infrastructure Financing Bridge, and the deepened partnership on Indias developmental GIFT City. We can really support each others plans to strengthen the relationship, and the next step of this is a comprehensive FTA and Bilateral Investment Treaty, Hunt added. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service BHOPAL: An alert Railways employee on Sunday prevented a train accident by timely red-flagging a massive rain cut (soil erosion) under the tracks at the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border witnessing heavy rainfall. At around 6:11 a.m. Rajendra Kumar, working with the civil engineering and track maintenance section, spotted the rain cut under the tracks between Hetampur and Dholpur railway stations on the Delhi-Chennai route, North Central Railway (Jhansi Division) official spokesperson Manoj Singh told this newspaper. Delhi-bound (12627) Bengaluru City-Hazrat Nizamuddin Karnataka Express, which was just a few hundred meters away from the site at that time, was red-flagged and immediately stopped by the authorities who were informed by Kumar. A rake was immediately pressed into service to repair the site and it took over four hours and forty minutes to normalise the traffic. While one short-distance train connecting Agra and Jhansi was short-terminated at Gwalior, three to four other trains were diverted, the spokesperson said. In August 2015, more than 30 lives were killed in a twin rain mishap due to heavy rainfall. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: An alert Railways employee on Sunday prevented a train accident by timely red-flagging a massive rain cut (soil erosion) under the tracks at the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border witnessing heavy rainfall. At around 6:11 a.m. Rajendra Kumar, working with the civil engineering and track maintenance section, spotted the rain cut under the tracks between Hetampur and Dholpur railway stations on the Delhi-Chennai route, North Central Railway (Jhansi Division) official spokesperson Manoj Singh told this newspaper. Delhi-bound (12627) Bengaluru City-Hazrat Nizamuddin Karnataka Express, which was just a few hundred meters away from the site at that time, was red-flagged and immediately stopped by the authorities who were informed by Kumar.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A rake was immediately pressed into service to repair the site and it took over four hours and forty minutes to normalise the traffic. While one short-distance train connecting Agra and Jhansi was short-terminated at Gwalior, three to four other trains were diverted, the spokesperson said. In August 2015, more than 30 lives were killed in a twin rain mishap due to heavy rainfall. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI ITANAGAR: A village in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district has become a part of Assam in a proposal to resolve the decades-long boundary dispute between the two northeastern neighbours, and the villagers are not happy. The people of Durpai village under Kangku circle want to stay in Arunachal Pradesh and have threatened to launch an agitation if their demand is not met soon. The villagers under the aegis of Durpai Village Development Committee (DVDC) demanded immediate rectification of the looping system and keeping Durpai where it is now. Though the proposals have not yet been made public, the villagers said they have come to know about it from some officials. On April 20 this year, Assam and the Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an MoU at New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve their border disputes. Regional committees were formed to look after the inter-state boundary issue. DVDC President Reli Kena said, "According to the MoU, Durpai has been clubbed with another village in such a way that it will automatically fall in Assam." He claimed that the villagers had got assurance from various quarters that their village would remain in Arunachal Pradesh. "But now, it seems that every single assurance was an eyewash. The state government should know that such acts will only create chaos in the area. How can the Durpai area have two owners, as stated under the looping system? Every single infrastructure in Durpai is built by the Arunachal Pradesh government," Kena said. The locals of Durpai are the real owners of the land and they will not go to Assam, he said. "If our concern is not addressed, the villagers will write a letter with their blood to the chief minister but will never accept Durpai as part of Assam," Kena said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed the MoU. DVDC General Secretary Regi Bui said the villagers would not allow the regional committee members to visit the place for the second round of ground verification. "Durpai is one of the oldest villages of the undivided Siang district. We have sufficient evidence to claim our rights. Therefore, we cannot give an inch of land from the area to Assam," he said. It is stated that Kompek, Mingmang and Ruti villages were already marked for Assam during the Namsai Declaration. Chief ministers of the two states signed an agreement to end border issues on July 15 last year too and decided to 'restrict' the number of disputed villages to 86 instead of 123. It was called Namsai Declaration after the name of the place where their meeting was held. Bui asserted that the villagers will not allow the proposed construction of a hydropower plant in the district if their demand is not met. An out-of-court settlement should benefit both sides without impacting anyone, he said. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, has been maintaining that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities and these were 'unilaterally' transferred to Assam earlier. After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed, which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter was in the Supreme Court for a long time. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp ITANAGAR: A village in Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Siang district has become a part of Assam in a proposal to resolve the decades-long boundary dispute between the two northeastern neighbours, and the villagers are not happy. The people of Durpai village under Kangku circle want to stay in Arunachal Pradesh and have threatened to launch an agitation if their demand is not met soon. The villagers under the aegis of Durpai Village Development Committee (DVDC) demanded immediate rectification of the looping system and keeping Durpai where it is now.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Though the proposals have not yet been made public, the villagers said they have come to know about it from some officials. On April 20 this year, Assam and the Arunachal Pradesh governments signed an MoU at New Delhi in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve their border disputes. Regional committees were formed to look after the inter-state boundary issue. DVDC President Reli Kena said, "According to the MoU, Durpai has been clubbed with another village in such a way that it will automatically fall in Assam." He claimed that the villagers had got assurance from various quarters that their village would remain in Arunachal Pradesh. "But now, it seems that every single assurance was an eyewash. The state government should know that such acts will only create chaos in the area. How can the Durpai area have two owners, as stated under the looping system? Every single infrastructure in Durpai is built by the Arunachal Pradesh government," Kena said. The locals of Durpai are the real owners of the land and they will not go to Assam, he said. "If our concern is not addressed, the villagers will write a letter with their blood to the chief minister but will never accept Durpai as part of Assam," Kena said. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu signed the MoU. DVDC General Secretary Regi Bui said the villagers would not allow the regional committee members to visit the place for the second round of ground verification. "Durpai is one of the oldest villages of the undivided Siang district. We have sufficient evidence to claim our rights. Therefore, we cannot give an inch of land from the area to Assam," he said. It is stated that Kompek, Mingmang and Ruti villages were already marked for Assam during the Namsai Declaration. Chief ministers of the two states signed an agreement to end border issues on July 15 last year too and decided to 'restrict' the number of disputed villages to 86 instead of 123. It was called Namsai Declaration after the name of the place where their meeting was held. Bui asserted that the villagers will not allow the proposed construction of a hydropower plant in the district if their demand is not met. An out-of-court settlement should benefit both sides without impacting anyone, he said. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh share an 804.1-km-long border. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a union territory in 1972, has been maintaining that several forested tracts in the plains traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities and these were 'unilaterally' transferred to Assam earlier. After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed, which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter was in the Supreme Court for a long time. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: With the aim of luring more tourists to Jammu and Kashmir, the government is planning to develop 300 new tourist destinations in the picturesque UT to provide a variety of gateway options for domestic and foreign tourists. Around 300 new destinations, including heritage sites, offbeat, adventure and spiritual destinations are being developed to provide a variety of gateway options filled with activities, festivals, natural scenery, shopping and B&B (Bed & Breakfast) homestay in picturesque and calm villages, Lt Governor Manjor Sinha said after inaugurating the Bangus Adventure Festival in the border district of Kupwara. He said several offbeat destinations of J&K are ideal escape for travellers seeking leisure adventures and enchanting experiences. They offer everything from adventure, exquisite cuisine, pilgrimage and traditional handicrafts to serene mountains. According to officials, after holding the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar in May this year, there has been an increase in footfall of foreign tourists in Jammu Kashmir. Today, tourists in record numbers are visiting J&K, the Lt Governor said. He said about 1.58 crore tourists visited J&K this year so far. It is not just a number, rather it is a new beginning for the region, he added. An all-time high of 2.5 million tourists, including 3.65 lakh Amarnath yatris, visited the militancy-hit Kashmir in 2022. It was the highest-ever footfall of tourists in Kashmir. This year, the officials are expecting a further increase in the tourist inflow to the Valley due to the drop in militancy violence and considerable improvement in the law and order situation. The Lt Governor administration is also mulling holding a national-level tourism summit in the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. The tourism summit is likely to be held by the end of this year or early 2024. No restrictions on traffic during VVIP movement Police have decided to allow civilian traffic during VVIP movement at the Srinagar-Jammu highway while mulling to phase out curbs on public transport during convoy movement due to a drop in militant violence and improvement in ground situation, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. The restrictions were imposed in the aftermath of the Pulwama militant suicide attack on a convoy in February 2019 that killed 40 paramilitary personnel. The public and the political parties have been urging officials to ease restrictions for the smooth plying of civilian vehicles. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp SRINAGAR: With the aim of luring more tourists to Jammu and Kashmir, the government is planning to develop 300 new tourist destinations in the picturesque UT to provide a variety of gateway options for domestic and foreign tourists. Around 300 new destinations, including heritage sites, offbeat, adventure and spiritual destinations are being developed to provide a variety of gateway options filled with activities, festivals, natural scenery, shopping and B&B (Bed & Breakfast) homestay in picturesque and calm villages, Lt Governor Manjor Sinha said after inaugurating the Bangus Adventure Festival in the border district of Kupwara. He said several offbeat destinations of J&K are ideal escape for travellers seeking leisure adventures and enchanting experiences. They offer everything from adventure, exquisite cuisine, pilgrimage and traditional handicrafts to serene mountains.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to officials, after holding the G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar in May this year, there has been an increase in footfall of foreign tourists in Jammu Kashmir. Today, tourists in record numbers are visiting J&K, the Lt Governor said. He said about 1.58 crore tourists visited J&K this year so far. It is not just a number, rather it is a new beginning for the region, he added. An all-time high of 2.5 million tourists, including 3.65 lakh Amarnath yatris, visited the militancy-hit Kashmir in 2022. It was the highest-ever footfall of tourists in Kashmir. This year, the officials are expecting a further increase in the tourist inflow to the Valley due to the drop in militancy violence and considerable improvement in the law and order situation. The Lt Governor administration is also mulling holding a national-level tourism summit in the twin capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu. The tourism summit is likely to be held by the end of this year or early 2024. No restrictions on traffic during VVIP movement Police have decided to allow civilian traffic during VVIP movement at the Srinagar-Jammu highway while mulling to phase out curbs on public transport during convoy movement due to a drop in militant violence and improvement in ground situation, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. The restrictions were imposed in the aftermath of the Pulwama militant suicide attack on a convoy in February 2019 that killed 40 paramilitary personnel. The public and the political parties have been urging officials to ease restrictions for the smooth plying of civilian vehicles. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be the last G20 leader to leave Delhi. Not because he had anything lined up but because his aircraft developed a technical snag. A replacement aircraft is scheduled to fly him back. Sources say that he is likely to depart on Tuesday afternoon. Trudeau, it is learnt, didn't step out of the hotel the entire day. "These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made," a statement from Trudeaus office said. In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India raised the issue of Khalistani extremists in Canada who were attacking places of worship and threatening Indian diplomats. PM Modi conveyed "strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada". Trudeau said that while he doesnt support violence, he believed in freedom of speech and wouldnt stop people from protesting. ALSO READ | G20 Summit: An undisputed success for Indias Presidency Obviously Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, peaceful protest. Thats something thats extremely important to us. At the same time as we are always there to prevent violence, to push back against hatred. Its important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau had said in a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Before he left for India, he had voiced his unhappiness over Volodomyr Zelenskky not being invited for the G20, which Russia is a part of. Trudeau, government staff and journalists travelling with the Prime Minister were set to leave India on Sunday night after the G20 summit. Separatist groups seeking a homeland for Sikhs have organised a referendum in Canada asking the diaspora there whether regions of India in which their community is in the majority should be independent. India has characterised a June protest outside its High Commission in Ottawa the equivalent of an embassy as an attack and its anti-terror agency is investigating the incident. Last week, Canada launched a public inquiry into foreign interference in recent national elections, focusing on China, Russia and other state and non-state actors. Trudeaus national security adviser Jody Thomas has said India is a major source of foreign meddling in Canada. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be the last G20 leader to leave Delhi. Not because he had anything lined up but because his aircraft developed a technical snag. A replacement aircraft is scheduled to fly him back. Sources say that he is likely to depart on Tuesday afternoon. Trudeau, it is learnt, didn't step out of the hotel the entire day.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made," a statement from Trudeaus office said. In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India raised the issue of Khalistani extremists in Canada who were attacking places of worship and threatening Indian diplomats. PM Modi conveyed "strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada". Trudeau said that while he doesnt support violence, he believed in freedom of speech and wouldnt stop people from protesting. ALSO READ | G20 Summit: An undisputed success for Indias Presidency Obviously Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, peaceful protest. Thats something thats extremely important to us. At the same time as we are always there to prevent violence, to push back against hatred. Its important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau had said in a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Before he left for India, he had voiced his unhappiness over Volodomyr Zelenskky not being invited for the G20, which Russia is a part of. Trudeau, government staff and journalists travelling with the Prime Minister were set to leave India on Sunday night after the G20 summit. Separatist groups seeking a homeland for Sikhs have organised a referendum in Canada asking the diaspora there whether regions of India in which their community is in the majority should be independent. India has characterised a June protest outside its High Commission in Ottawa the equivalent of an embassy as an attack and its anti-terror agency is investigating the incident. Last week, Canada launched a public inquiry into foreign interference in recent national elections, focusing on China, Russia and other state and non-state actors. Trudeaus national security adviser Jody Thomas has said India is a major source of foreign meddling in Canada. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Monday signed a memorandum of cooperation to strengthen partnership. The academies will develop cooperation in joint research, exchange of researchers, participation in scientific meetings, organizing joint forums and seminars and exchange of information and scientific publications. The agreement was signed by National Academy of Sciences President Ashot Saghyan and Chinese Academy of Sciences Vice President Yaping Zhang. Saghyan, noting that he has over 20 years of experience in cooperating with his Chinese colleagues, said that there is great potential to enhance partnership. China attaches great importance to cooperation with other countries, particularly Armenia, and we attach importance to the signing of this agreement, Yaping Zhang said. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Modi ki guarantee and Modi ka magic helped in bringing about the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration, said a source who witnessed the deliberations at the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi. India managed to hammer out an unexpected consensus among the G20 countries on the contentious Ukraine conflict through a series of hectic negotiations. The consensus document had 10 broad themes and 37 sub-heads. But nearly all of this was accepted by the leaders of the G20 nations. The text relating to the Ukraine conflict saw a convergent consensus and not a divisive consensus. The sentiment in the room was buoyant, the source said, adding that the Prime Minister was a junction box of democratic values. Refusing to draw any comparison with the Bali Declaration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a media briefing, Bali was Bali and New Delhi is New Delhi. I mean, Bali was a year ago. It was wrong to draw any inferences, he said. The declaration issued at the G20s Bali Summit last November had deplored in the strongest terms the Russian aggression against Ukraine while most members strongly condemned the war. The New Delhi declaration does not feature these formulations. Meanwhile, Russia is rather happy with the declaration. The summit is an unconditional success for the Indian Presidency and for all of us. The G20 is undergoing internal reform. This was reflected in the significant activation of G20 members representing the Global South, said Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov also spoke of Moscows growing economic ties with Delhi and that the two countries were making efforts to come up with an alternative mechanism to the SWIFT financial system. On the UN resolutions on Ukraine, 16 members of the G20 voted for all the resolutions condemning Russia, while three members abstained and one voted against it. There was a consensus on the language of the document that was put up for the declaration. At the same time, I would like to reiterate that G20 is a forum that talks about economic reforms and development, and should not be used for geopolitics, said French President Emmanuel Macron in response to a query from this newspaper. Similar views were expressed by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I would like to compliment Prime Minister Modi on the New Delhi Leaders Declaration. There was consensus on it and we are happy to see this document, said Erdogan, adding that he would be happy if there was a way for the conflict in Ukraine to come to an end. And they take time off to British PM Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murthy visited the Akshardham temple in the capital on Sunday. Despite the rain, the couple walked barefoot and spent close to an hour in the premises, admiring its history and architecture, offering prayers and performing aartis and puja. This is not only a place of worship but a landmark that also portrays Indias culture, Sunak said. The temple authorities gifted them a marble elephant, a marble peacock and a special replica of the Akshardham temple. Sukhu only Cong CM at Prez dinner Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was the only CM from the Congress-ruled states to attend the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for G20 leaders on Saturday. He took the opportunity to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the rain-caused calamity in the hill state a national disaster. An official statement said Sukhu has conveyed the gravity of the damage suffered by Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon to the PM and also told him that the state requires substantial assistance in the form of a special relief package from the Union government to chart a path towards recovery. Sukhu had earlier said that Himachal Pradesh had suffered losses to the tune of `12,000 crore due to rain-related incidents. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Modi ki guarantee and Modi ka magic helped in bringing about the G20 New Delhi Leaders Declaration, said a source who witnessed the deliberations at the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi. India managed to hammer out an unexpected consensus among the G20 countries on the contentious Ukraine conflict through a series of hectic negotiations. The consensus document had 10 broad themes and 37 sub-heads. But nearly all of this was accepted by the leaders of the G20 nations. The text relating to the Ukraine conflict saw a convergent consensus and not a divisive consensus. The sentiment in the room was buoyant, the source said, adding that the Prime Minister was a junction box of democratic values. Refusing to draw any comparison with the Bali Declaration, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said at a media briefing, Bali was Bali and New Delhi is New Delhi. I mean, Bali was a year ago. It was wrong to draw any inferences, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The declaration issued at the G20s Bali Summit last November had deplored in the strongest terms the Russian aggression against Ukraine while most members strongly condemned the war. The New Delhi declaration does not feature these formulations. Meanwhile, Russia is rather happy with the declaration. The summit is an unconditional success for the Indian Presidency and for all of us. The G20 is undergoing internal reform. This was reflected in the significant activation of G20 members representing the Global South, said Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov also spoke of Moscows growing economic ties with Delhi and that the two countries were making efforts to come up with an alternative mechanism to the SWIFT financial system. On the UN resolutions on Ukraine, 16 members of the G20 voted for all the resolutions condemning Russia, while three members abstained and one voted against it. There was a consensus on the language of the document that was put up for the declaration. At the same time, I would like to reiterate that G20 is a forum that talks about economic reforms and development, and should not be used for geopolitics, said French President Emmanuel Macron in response to a query from this newspaper. Similar views were expressed by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I would like to compliment Prime Minister Modi on the New Delhi Leaders Declaration. There was consensus on it and we are happy to see this document, said Erdogan, adding that he would be happy if there was a way for the conflict in Ukraine to come to an end. And they take time off to British PM Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murthy visited the Akshardham temple in the capital on Sunday. Despite the rain, the couple walked barefoot and spent close to an hour in the premises, admiring its history and architecture, offering prayers and performing aartis and puja. This is not only a place of worship but a landmark that also portrays Indias culture, Sunak said. The temple authorities gifted them a marble elephant, a marble peacock and a special replica of the Akshardham temple. Sukhu only Cong CM at Prez dinner Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was the only CM from the Congress-ruled states to attend the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for G20 leaders on Saturday. He took the opportunity to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the rain-caused calamity in the hill state a national disaster. An official statement said Sukhu has conveyed the gravity of the damage suffered by Himachal Pradesh during the monsoon to the PM and also told him that the state requires substantial assistance in the form of a special relief package from the Union government to chart a path towards recovery. Sukhu had earlier said that Himachal Pradesh had suffered losses to the tune of `12,000 crore due to rain-related incidents. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI PUNE: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said his government is committed to giving reservations to the Maratha community by proving its social and educational backwardness. He was speaking to reporters at Pune's Bhimashankar Temple, one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' in the country. "It is our clear stand to give reservations to the Maratha community. When Devendra Fadnavis was chief minister (between 2014 and 2019), we had given reservations to the Maratha community but it was set aside by the Supreme Court," he said. ALSO READ | Activist Jarange threatens to continue hunger strike till Marathas get Kunbi certificates "It is our priority to prove that the Maratha community is backward on social and educational grounds. We are giving first preference to it and dedicated committees are working on it. Time should be given to the government," the chief minister said. Shinde said he had assured Manoj Jharange Patil, who has been on hunger strike in Jalna district for the past several days, that the Maharashtra government was fully with the Maratha community. "We do not want to cheat anyone by taking any (weak) decision. A decision which we take must stand the legal test. The government's stand is that reservations given to the Maratha community must be foolproof," he said. Asserting that reservations must be given to the Maratha community without affecting such facilities of other groups, Shinde asked opposition parties to cooperate with his government. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PUNE: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said his government is committed to giving reservations to the Maratha community by proving its social and educational backwardness. He was speaking to reporters at Pune's Bhimashankar Temple, one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' in the country. "It is our clear stand to give reservations to the Maratha community. When Devendra Fadnavis was chief minister (between 2014 and 2019), we had given reservations to the Maratha community but it was set aside by the Supreme Court," he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Activist Jarange threatens to continue hunger strike till Marathas get Kunbi certificates "It is our priority to prove that the Maratha community is backward on social and educational grounds. We are giving first preference to it and dedicated committees are working on it. Time should be given to the government," the chief minister said. Shinde said he had assured Manoj Jharange Patil, who has been on hunger strike in Jalna district for the past several days, that the Maharashtra government was fully with the Maratha community. "We do not want to cheat anyone by taking any (weak) decision. A decision which we take must stand the legal test. The government's stand is that reservations given to the Maratha community must be foolproof," he said. Asserting that reservations must be given to the Maratha community without affecting such facilities of other groups, Shinde asked opposition parties to cooperate with his government. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Online Desk A Hyderabad-based cloud computing company has secured a key win against global enterprise IT services provider Hewlett Packard Enterprises or HPE after the Indian firm took the global giant to court over alleged overbilling and failure to adhere to processes. The US District Court for the Southern District of Texas has ruled that HPE cannot wriggle out of its responsibility to investigate the actions of its associates and vendors in India, and has allowed a case filed by Hyderabad-based Pi Data Centers to proceed. The case relates to a contract entered by Pi Data in 2018 for HP India to provide cloud computing infrastructure to the Andhra Pradesh government. Later, Pi Data seems to have come to the conclusion that HP India and associates had given an inflated estimate of Andhra Pradesh government's cloud computing requirements, going by the allegations leveled by them as per US court documents. At this point, the Hyderabad-based company approached HP India with a request to have a relook at the contract. However, soon after these developments, one of HP India's local partners took Pi Data to court, claiming unpaid arrears. This forced the Hyderabad-based company to settle the demands under protest. After settling the dues, the Hyderabad-based company sent a request to the US-based HPE, alleging that HP India had misled it about the quantum of computing resources needed by AP Government. The Indian company said that this was a violation of HPE's Code of Conduct. HPE responded saying that it had conducted an investigation, but refused to give further details. This forced Pi Data to approach the Texas court. According to the case documents, the petition alleges that HPE and its affiliates in India deliberately provided false information about the AP Government's cloud computing needs, failed to maintain accurate books and records, failed to invoice properly or overcharged for their services, and made false demands and claims. Broadly, the petition alleged negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation. 'Not merely aspirational' HPE then filed a motion to dismiss the petition in front of the same court using several arguments, including that the HPE's global code of conduct was only aspirational and only for employees. The US court has dismissed most of HPE's objections, including the one that the code of conduct was merely aspirational and not legally enforceable. "..the language in the Partner Code of Conduct..is not merely aspirational," the court observed in its order, "it sets specific requirements that must be followed, or the parnter will be in breach of contract...the issue is Hewlett Packard's failure to investigate (after saying ti would do so).." the court observed. While allowing Pi Data to continue to seek legal remedy, the court struck down one charge from the list of charges -- that of negligent misrepresentation. The court has, therefore, allowed Pi Data to file an amended complaint against HP Enterprise on or before Oct 25. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp A Hyderabad-based cloud computing company has secured a key win against global enterprise IT services provider Hewlett Packard Enterprises or HPE after the Indian firm took the global giant to court over alleged overbilling and failure to adhere to processes. The US District Court for the Southern District of Texas has ruled that HPE cannot wriggle out of its responsibility to investigate the actions of its associates and vendors in India, and has allowed a case filed by Hyderabad-based Pi Data Centers to proceed. The case relates to a contract entered by Pi Data in 2018 for HP India to provide cloud computing infrastructure to the Andhra Pradesh government.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Later, Pi Data seems to have come to the conclusion that HP India and associates had given an inflated estimate of Andhra Pradesh government's cloud computing requirements, going by the allegations leveled by them as per US court documents. At this point, the Hyderabad-based company approached HP India with a request to have a relook at the contract. However, soon after these developments, one of HP India's local partners took Pi Data to court, claiming unpaid arrears. This forced the Hyderabad-based company to settle the demands under protest. After settling the dues, the Hyderabad-based company sent a request to the US-based HPE, alleging that HP India had misled it about the quantum of computing resources needed by AP Government. The Indian company said that this was a violation of HPE's Code of Conduct. HPE responded saying that it had conducted an investigation, but refused to give further details. This forced Pi Data to approach the Texas court. According to the case documents, the petition alleges that HPE and its affiliates in India deliberately provided false information about the AP Government's cloud computing needs, failed to maintain accurate books and records, failed to invoice properly or overcharged for their services, and made false demands and claims. Broadly, the petition alleged negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and negligent misrepresentation. 'Not merely aspirational' HPE then filed a motion to dismiss the petition in front of the same court using several arguments, including that the HPE's global code of conduct was only aspirational and only for employees. The US court has dismissed most of HPE's objections, including the one that the code of conduct was merely aspirational and not legally enforceable. "..the language in the Partner Code of Conduct..is not merely aspirational," the court observed in its order, "it sets specific requirements that must be followed, or the parnter will be in breach of contract...the issue is Hewlett Packard's failure to investigate (after saying ti would do so).." the court observed. While allowing Pi Data to continue to seek legal remedy, the court struck down one charge from the list of charges -- that of negligent misrepresentation. The court has, therefore, allowed Pi Data to file an amended complaint against HP Enterprise on or before Oct 25. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Man's best friend was in for some biting criticism in the Supreme Court on Monday when a lawyer told Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud about how he was hounded and attacked by a pack of dogs in his neighbourhood. Known for having a keen eye for finer points of law, the bandaged arm of lawyer Kunal Chatterjee could not escape Chandrachud's notice and he inquired about the reason. Chatterjee said he got injured after being "hounded and attacked" by five stray dogs in his neighbourhood. Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria urged the court to take suo motu (on its own) notice of the "stray dog menace" in the country. "We will see what can be done," the CJI told Hansaria, turning his attention to Chatterjee. The CJI offered him help, asking, "Do you need any medical attention? I can ask the registry to take you right now." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to a viral video from Uttar Pradesh and spoke of the plight of a man whose son was bitten by a rabid dog and died a painful death in his lap. "This is a serious menace. Recently a video surfaced. A child was bitten by dogs in Uttar Pradesh. Usually we do not take much care. Once rabies developed, he was taken to hospital. The doctors said nothing can be done, the child was dying in his father's lap," the law officer said. "Two years ago, my law clerk was parking his car and he was also attacked by street dogs," the CJI said. After dogged pursuit by some lawyers seeking the court's intervention to tackle the stray dog menance, the bench proceeded to take up its listed work. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Man's best friend was in for some biting criticism in the Supreme Court on Monday when a lawyer told Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud about how he was hounded and attacked by a pack of dogs in his neighbourhood. Known for having a keen eye for finer points of law, the bandaged arm of lawyer Kunal Chatterjee could not escape Chandrachud's notice and he inquired about the reason. Chatterjee said he got injured after being "hounded and attacked" by five stray dogs in his neighbourhood.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria urged the court to take suo motu (on its own) notice of the "stray dog menace" in the country. "We will see what can be done," the CJI told Hansaria, turning his attention to Chatterjee. The CJI offered him help, asking, "Do you need any medical attention? I can ask the registry to take you right now." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta referred to a viral video from Uttar Pradesh and spoke of the plight of a man whose son was bitten by a rabid dog and died a painful death in his lap. "This is a serious menace. Recently a video surfaced. A child was bitten by dogs in Uttar Pradesh. Usually we do not take much care. Once rabies developed, he was taken to hospital. The doctors said nothing can be done, the child was dying in his father's lap," the law officer said. "Two years ago, my law clerk was parking his car and he was also attacked by street dogs," the CJI said. After dogged pursuit by some lawyers seeking the court's intervention to tackle the stray dog menance, the bench proceeded to take up its listed work. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India and France on Sunday decided to strengthen defence cooperation through partnerships in the design, development, testing and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms, and expanding production in India. The decisions were arrived during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. We discussed a series of topics and look forward to ensuring India-France relations scale new heights of progress, said Modi, who had nine bilateral meetings on Sunday. The other bilateral meetings Modi had were with Canada, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, Comoros and South Korea. India and Saudi Arabia will have a bilateral meeting on Monday. During his talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Modi raised concerns about the anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. The extremists are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada. Trudeau said Canada believes in freedom of expression and peaceful protests but doesnt condone violence. During his talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Modi spoke about enhancing trade, and continuous collaboration on clean energy. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed Indias G20 Presidency and complimented PM Modi on the Delhi Declaration. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: India and France on Sunday decided to strengthen defence cooperation through partnerships in the design, development, testing and manufacture of advanced defence technologies and platforms, and expanding production in India. The decisions were arrived during bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. We discussed a series of topics and look forward to ensuring India-France relations scale new heights of progress, said Modi, who had nine bilateral meetings on Sunday. The other bilateral meetings Modi had were with Canada, Germany, South Korea, Turkey, Comoros and South Korea. India and Saudi Arabia will have a bilateral meeting on Monday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); During his talks with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Modi raised concerns about the anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. The extremists are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada. Trudeau said Canada believes in freedom of expression and peaceful protests but doesnt condone violence. During his talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Prime Minister Modi spoke about enhancing trade, and continuous collaboration on clean energy. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed Indias G20 Presidency and complimented PM Modi on the Delhi Declaration. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Assam will arrest 2,000 to 3,000 men in the next 10 days in the second phase of the drive against child marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced. Speaking at the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha on Sunday, he expressed deep concern over the exploitation of girls. We got 5,000 people arrested in child marriage cases five months ago. In the next 10 days, another 2,000 to 3,000 men will be arrested. This (child marriage) has to be stopped, Sarma said. Stating that there is a law against child marriage in the state, he said if the menace continues, girls could never march forward and would continue to be exploited. Some people say I am anti-Muslim. However, I feel that Congress has not done the amount of work I have done to end child marriage and polygamy. You (Congress) made the Muslim society your vote banks. But we want women to get freedom from exploitation, the Assam CM said. He told the state Assembly on Monday that altogether 3,907 people (and not 5,000) were arrested in last five years in child marriage cases. He said 3,319 of them were arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and 62 were punished by the court following conviction. A majority of those arrested were Muslims. Hindus and people from other communities were also arrested. Alongside the drive against child marriage, the state government is trying to end polygamy. It has constituted a three-member committee with Advocate General, Legal Remembrancer and Director General of Police to draft the proposed anti-polygamy law. Sarma is hopeful that the law could be enacted by December this year. Earlier, the government sought the views of the public. Altogether 149 individuals and organisations responded and 146 of them supported the proposed law while the remaining three opposed it. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp GUWAHATI: Assam will arrest 2,000 to 3,000 men in the next 10 days in the second phase of the drive against child marriage, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced. Speaking at the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha on Sunday, he expressed deep concern over the exploitation of girls. We got 5,000 people arrested in child marriage cases five months ago. In the next 10 days, another 2,000 to 3,000 men will be arrested. This (child marriage) has to be stopped, Sarma said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Stating that there is a law against child marriage in the state, he said if the menace continues, girls could never march forward and would continue to be exploited. Some people say I am anti-Muslim. However, I feel that Congress has not done the amount of work I have done to end child marriage and polygamy. You (Congress) made the Muslim society your vote banks. But we want women to get freedom from exploitation, the Assam CM said. He told the state Assembly on Monday that altogether 3,907 people (and not 5,000) were arrested in last five years in child marriage cases. He said 3,319 of them were arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and 62 were punished by the court following conviction. A majority of those arrested were Muslims. Hindus and people from other communities were also arrested. Alongside the drive against child marriage, the state government is trying to end polygamy. It has constituted a three-member committee with Advocate General, Legal Remembrancer and Director General of Police to draft the proposed anti-polygamy law. Sarma is hopeful that the law could be enacted by December this year. Earlier, the government sought the views of the public. Altogether 149 individuals and organisations responded and 146 of them supported the proposed law while the remaining three opposed it. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, focussing on shoring up bilateral trade and defence ties. Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit," Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. "We will work together to create a great future for both countries," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by the head of the 1. 3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been a series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, focussing on shoring up bilateral trade and defence ties. Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit," Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. "We will work together to create a great future for both countries," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle East. The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by the head of the 1. 3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been a series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called the Enforcement Directorate's move of summoning her nephew and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee 'a political vendetta' by the BJP and said that this may turn out to be a boomerang. The central agency summoned the TMC leader for questioning on September 13--- on the same day the 14-member coordination committee meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA was scheduled in Delhi --- in connection with irregularities in recruitment to state-aided schools This is a political vendetta. In a democracy, few political parties have an understanding with other outfits. There should be courtesy in politics. Summoning Abhishek is unnecessarily harassment. This may turn out to be a boomerang. There is nothing against me. They want to damage the power of our youth wing. But the youth in Bengal will not tolerate it, said Mamata. Mamata, on several recent occasions, expressed her fear that the central agency might put Abhishek, also the second-in-command in the TMC, behind bars. Abhishek described the EDs move as an example of the timidity and vacuousness of the 56-inch chest model hinting that the action reflected the Centres fear of the opposition bloc. One cant help but marvel at the TIMIDITY & VACUOSNESS of the 56-inch chest model. #FearofINDIA, Abhishek said in his post on a social media handle. The 56-inch chest was an obvious jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to Twitter, Abhishek further said, FIRST meet of INDIAs coordination comm is on 13th Sept in Delhi, where Im a member. But@dir_ed conveniently served me a notice just now to appear before them on the VERY SAME DAY (sic)! Senior ED officials said they wanted to question Abhishek in connection with irregularities in recruitment to state-aided schools after one of the accused, who is presently in judicial custody, had said he worked for the TMC leader. Summoning Abhishek on the day of the first meeting of INDIAs coordination committee at the Delhi residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar on September 13 appears to be politically significant as the event is to plan the alliances wider strategies for the immediate future. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called the Enforcement Directorate's move of summoning her nephew and TMC's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee 'a political vendetta' by the BJP and said that this may turn out to be a boomerang. The central agency summoned the TMC leader for questioning on September 13--- on the same day the 14-member coordination committee meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA was scheduled in Delhi --- in connection with irregularities in recruitment to state-aided schools This is a political vendetta. In a democracy, few political parties have an understanding with other outfits. There should be courtesy in politics. Summoning Abhishek is unnecessarily harassment. This may turn out to be a boomerang. There is nothing against me. They want to damage the power of our youth wing. But the youth in Bengal will not tolerate it, said Mamata. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mamata, on several recent occasions, expressed her fear that the central agency might put Abhishek, also the second-in-command in the TMC, behind bars. Abhishek described the EDs move as an example of the timidity and vacuousness of the 56-inch chest model hinting that the action reflected the Centres fear of the opposition bloc. One cant help but marvel at the TIMIDITY & VACUOSNESS of the 56-inch chest model. #FearofINDIA, Abhishek said in his post on a social media handle. The 56-inch chest was an obvious jab at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Taking to Twitter, Abhishek further said, FIRST meet of INDIAs coordination comm is on 13th Sept in Delhi, where Im a member. But@dir_ed conveniently served me a notice just now to appear before them on the VERY SAME DAY (sic)! Senior ED officials said they wanted to question Abhishek in connection with irregularities in recruitment to state-aided schools after one of the accused, who is presently in judicial custody, had said he worked for the TMC leader. Summoning Abhishek on the day of the first meeting of INDIAs coordination committee at the Delhi residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar on September 13 appears to be politically significant as the event is to plan the alliances wider strategies for the immediate future. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Shahid Faridi By Express News Service Message from Mandapam India shields Russia and counters Chinas hegemony The G20 Summit reached a historic consensus on the joint Delhi declaration. One of Indias big achievements was getting the Western bloc to avoid condemnation of Russia over its attack on Ukraine. Russia had said it would block a joint G20 resolution that does not reflect its position. Indian diplomats worked hard to evolve a consensus on the drafts language. As a result, Russia was let off with a light rap on the knuckles. China, however, appeared to be at the receiving end of its hegemonistic moves. The announcement of the new economic corridor linking India with West Asia and Europe is a direct challenge to Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to achieve similar objectives. With the US firmly behind the new corridor, its close ally Italy opted out of Chinas BRI at the G20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also helped break the ice between the US and Saudi Arabia by bringing President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman together for an impromptu hug and chat. The Saudi prince had been drifting away from the US. The emerging US-EU-West Asia-India alliance is being watched closely by the China-Russia bloc. Prime Minister Modi made no bones about securing Indias interest vis-a-vis the growing Chinese influence in the region by having bilateral meetings with his Bangladesh and Mauritian counterparts. India seeks a closer engagement with Indian Ocean nations and its neighbours to counter Chinas increasing presence. The cherry on the cake, however, was the bilateral with the US President. The meeting has sent an unmistakable signal of where India stands in the US-China tussle. Special Session of Parliament New bills likely to maintain G20, moon momentum All eyes are now on the five-day special session of parliament starting next week. The government has not announced the sessions agenda, leading to wild speculations about what surprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi might spring. Sources said the One Nation One Poll bill is unlikely in the special session. But a beginning could be made with the Election Commission of India deciding to put off elections in the five states and advance elections in five other states whose term would expire next year and hold all ten state elections along with that of Lok Sabha next year. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha are due for elections next year. Sources said the Election Commissions extraordinary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution are being examined for pushing back the December elections. The Prime Minister may use the special session to compliment his government on the successful moon mission and the G20 summit, sources said it is highly unlikely that he would rest on his laurels and not take steps to keep the momentum going till the likely inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya early next year. The government may, therefore, push the implementation of womens reservation, bring in the Uniform Civil Code, and even decide to drop the name India from the Constitution. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Message from Mandapam India shields Russia and counters Chinas hegemony The G20 Summit reached a historic consensus on the joint Delhi declaration. One of Indias big achievements was getting the Western bloc to avoid condemnation of Russia over its attack on Ukraine. Russia had said it would block a joint G20 resolution that does not reflect its position. Indian diplomats worked hard to evolve a consensus on the drafts language. As a result, Russia was let off with a light rap on the knuckles.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); China, however, appeared to be at the receiving end of its hegemonistic moves. The announcement of the new economic corridor linking India with West Asia and Europe is a direct challenge to Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to achieve similar objectives. With the US firmly behind the new corridor, its close ally Italy opted out of Chinas BRI at the G20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also helped break the ice between the US and Saudi Arabia by bringing President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman together for an impromptu hug and chat. The Saudi prince had been drifting away from the US. The emerging US-EU-West Asia-India alliance is being watched closely by the China-Russia bloc. Prime Minister Modi made no bones about securing Indias interest vis-a-vis the growing Chinese influence in the region by having bilateral meetings with his Bangladesh and Mauritian counterparts. India seeks a closer engagement with Indian Ocean nations and its neighbours to counter Chinas increasing presence. The cherry on the cake, however, was the bilateral with the US President. The meeting has sent an unmistakable signal of where India stands in the US-China tussle. Special Session of Parliament New bills likely to maintain G20, moon momentum All eyes are now on the five-day special session of parliament starting next week. The government has not announced the sessions agenda, leading to wild speculations about what surprise Prime Minister Narendra Modi might spring. Sources said the One Nation One Poll bill is unlikely in the special session. But a beginning could be made with the Election Commission of India deciding to put off elections in the five states and advance elections in five other states whose term would expire next year and hold all ten state elections along with that of Lok Sabha next year. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra and Odisha are due for elections next year. Sources said the Election Commissions extraordinary powers under Article 324 of the Constitution are being examined for pushing back the December elections. The Prime Minister may use the special session to compliment his government on the successful moon mission and the G20 summit, sources said it is highly unlikely that he would rest on his laurels and not take steps to keep the momentum going till the likely inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya early next year. The government may, therefore, push the implementation of womens reservation, bring in the Uniform Civil Code, and even decide to drop the name India from the Constitution. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Praveena S A By Express News Service TIRUPATTUR: At least seven women died and 10 others were injured in Tirupattur district on Monday when a minibus halted on the Bangalore-Chennai National Highway for repair fell on them after being hit by a lorry from behind, police said. The victims, all passengers of the minibus, were sitting on the road median when the accident happened, sources said. According to police, around 40 people from Pernampet in Vellore district went on a tour to Dharmasthala in Karnataka on September 8. The accident took place early on Monday when they were returning to their hometown in two minibuses. A tyre of one of the minibuses with around 13 passengers went flat stranding the passengers at Natrampalli on the national highway. The damaged lorry that rammed the stationary bus near Natrampalli They had been saving up for years for the trip The driver had asked the passengers to disembark to change the tyre. The passengers were sitting on the road median when the lorry hit the van from behind. The van overturned in the impact of the collision and crushed the seven women dead, police said. The deceased were identified as Selvi (55), Meera (51), Devaki (50), Kalavathy (50), Savithri (42), Geethanjali (35), and Deivanai (32). The bodies of three of the victims were sent to Vaniyambadi GH, four bodies were sent to Tirupattur GH. While nine of the injured were admitted to Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital for treatment, one child was discharged after outpatient care, police said. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Prime Minister Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. All the victims are MGNREGA workers. Gunasekar, the brother of Meera who died in the accident, said, They have been saving small amounts for the past two to three years for the trip. Inspector Malar of Natrampalli police station said, Usually, vehicles undergoing repair would be parked on the left side of the road. However, this bus was parked on the right side, near the median. The lorry driver too failed to notice the bus. If road rules were followed, the accident would not have happened. A case has been registered against lorry driver P Arunachalam (34) under IPC Sections 279, 337 and 338A. A probe is on, police said. Tirupattur Collector D Bhaskara Pandian, Vellore Collector P Kumaravel Pandian, and Krishnagiri Collector K M Sarayu visited the injured at hospitals and met the relatives of the dead. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp TIRUPATTUR: At least seven women died and 10 others were injured in Tirupattur district on Monday when a minibus halted on the Bangalore-Chennai National Highway for repair fell on them after being hit by a lorry from behind, police said. The victims, all passengers of the minibus, were sitting on the road median when the accident happened, sources said. According to police, around 40 people from Pernampet in Vellore district went on a tour to Dharmasthala in Karnataka on September 8. The accident took place early on Monday when they were returning to their hometown in two minibuses. A tyre of one of the minibuses with around 13 passengers went flat stranding the passengers at Natrampalli on the national highway. The damaged lorry that rammed the stationary bus near Natrampalli They had been saving up for years for the tripgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The driver had asked the passengers to disembark to change the tyre. The passengers were sitting on the road median when the lorry hit the van from behind. The van overturned in the impact of the collision and crushed the seven women dead, police said. The deceased were identified as Selvi (55), Meera (51), Devaki (50), Kalavathy (50), Savithri (42), Geethanjali (35), and Deivanai (32). The bodies of three of the victims were sent to Vaniyambadi GH, four bodies were sent to Tirupattur GH. While nine of the injured were admitted to Krishnagiri Government Medical College Hospital for treatment, one child was discharged after outpatient care, police said. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. Prime Minister Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 each for the injured. All the victims are MGNREGA workers. Gunasekar, the brother of Meera who died in the accident, said, They have been saving small amounts for the past two to three years for the trip. Inspector Malar of Natrampalli police station said, Usually, vehicles undergoing repair would be parked on the left side of the road. However, this bus was parked on the right side, near the median. The lorry driver too failed to notice the bus. If road rules were followed, the accident would not have happened. A case has been registered against lorry driver P Arunachalam (34) under IPC Sections 279, 337 and 338A. A probe is on, police said. Tirupattur Collector D Bhaskara Pandian, Vellore Collector P Kumaravel Pandian, and Krishnagiri Collector K M Sarayu visited the injured at hospitals and met the relatives of the dead. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BRUSSELS, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Member of the European Parliament Francois-Xavier Bellamy is convinced that a strong package of sanctions against Azerbaijan will make its President Aliyev understand that he must stop the aggression against Armenians. In an interview with ARMENPRESS Brussels correspondent Lilit Gasparyan, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, the member of the EP-Armenia Friendship Group, said that Europe must not remain silent and contradict its own principles when human lives are in danger. He said that Aliyev needs a reality check to understand that Azerbaijan is the one who needs Europe, and not vice versa. The MEP said EUs policy of urging both Azerbaijan and Armenia to de-escalate instead of calling out Azerbaijan is unacceptable. Francois-Xavier Bellamy , who personally visited the entrance to the blocked Lachin Corridor, blamed the impunity of the Aliyev regime on the lack of political will. Its because of the lack of political will. Unfortunately, European countries view the situation in a very simple manner. They focus on the Ukraine war, which is certainly the main topic, they forget if we want to be consistent then we cant not impose sanctions against the Aliyev regime, which is guilty of very serious violations of international law. In this case the humanitarian law is violated. Few months ago, I presented amendments to the European Parliament to demand sanctions against Mr. Aliyev, and it was adopted, and now we are waiting for the Commission to finally act, in order for us to be able to take measures. Human lives are in danger today. In the last few days, Armenian soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of an absolutely unprovoked aggression. I repeat, human lives are in danger, and we dont have the right to remain silent, the MEP said when asked why the Aliyev regime isnt being held to account. Calling upon the both sides is unacceptable, he said on the latest EU statement. Viewing both sides on the same level is the same as equating the aggressor, the attackers, the criminal with the victim. Just like we are able to condemn the aggression when Russia is attacking Ukraine, and we are not asking for the two sides to agree, thats how we must clarify that there is only one perpetrator here, who is plotting and bearing the responsibility for the aggression. While on the other side there is a country and innocent people, who wants to live peacefully in its homeland, the MEP said, adding that the reason of the EU not calling out Azerbaijan could be because some European leaders want to avoid disrupting dialogue with one of the parties while mediating. Asked to comment on Azerbaijan snubbing any French mediation involvement because of what Baku describes is the pro-Armenian stance of Paris, the MEP said that Azerbaijan needs a reality check. First of all, Azerbaijan needs a reality check. Today Azerbaijan is speaking about European leaders in a way as if its the one controlling them. But despite what many MEPs believed, Europe doesnt need Azerbaijan, it is Azerbaijan that needs Europe, Francois-Xavier Bellamy said. He added that in case of Europe decisively implementing the first strong package of sanctions, Mr. Aliyev will immediately understand that he must end this all. Asked whether or not the EU labelling Azerbaijan as a reliable energy partner is what was viewed in Baku as a greenlight to do whatever it wants, the MEP said. Certainly. But first of all, this is a lie. What we are buying from Azerbaijan are mostly Russian hydrocarbons, and therefore we are bypassing our own sanctions against Russia, with very concerning double standards. But first of all, the volumes supplied by Azerbaijan are very low, and these volumes will be absolutely unnecessary in the context of the upcoming growth of imports. And it is Mr. Aliyev who must be worried, who must realize that he needs Europe. But the last thing Id want to say is that we very well see dictators like Aliyev are never satisfied with the compromises we are trying to do with them. If tomorrow Azerbaijan takes Karabakh, the next step would be an attack on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, like it did several months earlier. Everyone must understand that by turning a blind eye on Azerbaijans action, they are giving a license and permission to advance, to kill, to violate international law. He added that he hopes that France will introduce a resolution in the UN Security Council. Yes, I hope that these initiatives will be implemented in the UNSC, he said when asked to comment on media reports that France plans to introduce a UNSC resolution. Thats definitely an important lever to act and also to push our American friends to make a decision on a simple and decisive common stance. I believe that important milestones are ahead. But it is horrible that this didnt take place earlier. A UNSC resolution will be needed despite the difficulties with Russia. In any case, nothing stands in Europes way to act now, to impose sanctions. The parliament has a clear position, now the council must be proactive, and France is asking the council for these sanctions to be imposed against the Aliyev regime, the MEP said. Sindhiya By Online Desk The Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken everyone by surprise by convening a special session of the Parliament. The Centre has so far revealed no information about its intent behind calling for the special session. However, this has not put a stop to speculation on what the session could be all about. Among the various bills that are being talked about as possible to be discussed in the special session are the rumoured " One Nation One Election " bill, a bill to introduce a uniform civil code, and the women's reservation bill. ALSO READ | Why 'One Nation, One Election' won't work The UCC has been among the oldest election promises of the BJP. For the same reason, it has been one that has sat the longest on the backburner for the party. Has Modi finally decided to bite the bullet in an effort to consolidate his formations political support ahead of the 2024 general elections? We will have to wait for a week to find out. The Womens Reservation Bill too has been in the ice-box for a long time, but not as long as the UCC. In 2008, the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government tabled the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and it was passed with 186-1 votes on March 9, 2010. However, the Bill was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. At the time, the RJD, the JD(U) and the SP were its most vocal opponents. They demanded 33% reservation for backward groups within the 33% quota for women. In 2014, the BJP promised 33% reservation for women in its manifesto and repeated the promise in its 2019 agenda. But there has been no movement from the government in this regard. Passing of this bill now could win Modi crucial support in the female electorate, while also catching his rivals by surprise. There is also speculation that the session may have been called and celebrate India's recent moon landing and perhaps the hosting of the annual G-20 summit this weekend. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi tweeted the surprise announcement about the special sitting of both Houses. Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from September 18-22 having 5 sittings, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi announced on micro-blogging site X. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament, added Joshi. Meanwhile, politically speaking the panel set up by the Central government, headed by Former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of the one nation, one election (ONOE) plan has not even been met yet. Political analysts say it is unlikely the special session will discuss ONOE. If the government tables the Womens Reservation Bill, it would cause much disharmony in the newly formed I.N.D.I.A alliance, as some of its members, such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party, have publicly opposed it in its current form, while the Congress Party is in known to be in favor. This is only the seventh time that such a special session has been called. Here are the five previous occasions when such a session has been called: The first-ever special session of the Parliament was convened on 14 and 15 August, to mark India's independence. The second time was in the year 1962, amidst the India- China war. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called on a special session on 8 and 9 November. On 15 August 1972, a special session was called to mark the silver jubilee of India's Independence. In August 1992, A midnight session was called to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the 'Quit India Movement'. On 30 June 2017, the Modi government called for a joint midnight session of both houses to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is important to note that all the previous special parliament sessions were convened for not more than two days. September 2023 session will be the first to gather for five days. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The Government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken everyone by surprise by convening a special session of the Parliament. The Centre has so far revealed no information about its intent behind calling for the special session. However, this has not put a stop to speculation on what the session could be all about. Among the various bills that are being talked about as possible to be discussed in the special session are the rumoured " One Nation One Election " bill, a bill to introduce a uniform civil code, and the women's reservation bill.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Why 'One Nation, One Election' won't work The UCC has been among the oldest election promises of the BJP. For the same reason, it has been one that has sat the longest on the backburner for the party. Has Modi finally decided to bite the bullet in an effort to consolidate his formations political support ahead of the 2024 general elections? We will have to wait for a week to find out. The Womens Reservation Bill too has been in the ice-box for a long time, but not as long as the UCC. In 2008, the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government tabled the Bill in the Rajya Sabha and it was passed with 186-1 votes on March 9, 2010. However, the Bill was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha and lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha. At the time, the RJD, the JD(U) and the SP were its most vocal opponents. They demanded 33% reservation for backward groups within the 33% quota for women. In 2014, the BJP promised 33% reservation for women in its manifesto and repeated the promise in its 2019 agenda. But there has been no movement from the government in this regard. Passing of this bill now could win Modi crucial support in the female electorate, while also catching his rivals by surprise. There is also speculation that the session may have been called and celebrate India's recent moon landing and perhaps the hosting of the annual G-20 summit this weekend. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi tweeted the surprise announcement about the special sitting of both Houses. Special Session of Parliament (13th Session of 17th Lok Sabha and 261st Session of Rajya Sabha) is being called from September 18-22 having 5 sittings, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi announced on micro-blogging site X. Amid Amrit Kaal looking forward to having fruitful discussions and debate in Parliament, added Joshi. Meanwhile, politically speaking the panel set up by the Central government, headed by Former President Ram Nath Kovind to explore the feasibility of the one nation, one election (ONOE) plan has not even been met yet. Political analysts say it is unlikely the special session will discuss ONOE. If the government tables the Womens Reservation Bill, it would cause much disharmony in the newly formed I.N.D.I.A alliance, as some of its members, such as the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party, have publicly opposed it in its current form, while the Congress Party is in known to be in favor. This is only the seventh time that such a special session has been called. Here are the five previous occasions when such a session has been called: The first-ever special session of the Parliament was convened on 14 and 15 August, to mark India's independence. The second time was in the year 1962, amidst the India- China war. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru called on a special session on 8 and 9 November. On 15 August 1972, a special session was called to mark the silver jubilee of India's Independence. In August 1992, A midnight session was called to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the 'Quit India Movement'. On 30 June 2017, the Modi government called for a joint midnight session of both houses to roll out the Goods and Services Tax (GST). It is important to note that all the previous special parliament sessions were convened for not more than two days. September 2023 session will be the first to gather for five days. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Nineteen people have been killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the state relief commissioner's office said Monday evening. The central region of the state comprising districts like Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Hardoi, and Sitapur faced the rain fury the most forcing the district administrations to shut the schools for a day. While four deaths were reported from Hardoi, three from Barabanki, two each from Pratapgarh and Kannauj, and one each from Amethi, Deoria, Jalaun, Kanpur, Unnao, Sambhal, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar districts, it said. While 13 persons died due to heavy rains, four lost their lives after coming under lightning, and two persons died of drowning. In Kannauj, two brothers -- Kallu (13) and Avnish (17) -- died after the thatched roof of their house in Lalkiyapur village in Tirwa area collapsed following overnight rains. In Muzaffarnagar district, Deepika (28) died when the roof of her house in Rahmatpur village collapsed on Sunday night, while her mother-in-law sustained serious injuries. Similarly, in Deoria, Divya Chauhan (9) drowned while taking a bath in a swollen rivulet in the district. In all 22 districts of the state, including Moradabad, Sambhal, Kannauj, Rampur, Hathras, Barabanki, Kasganj, Bijnor, Amroha, Bahraich, Lucknow, Badaun, Mainpuri, Hardoi, Firozabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur, Sitapur Farrukhabad, Lakhimpur Kheri and Fatehpur, received over 40 mm rain during the last 24 hours. Taking cognisance of incessant rains lashing the state for the last 24 hours, UP CM Yogi Adityanath issued directives to the authorities concerned to react to the situation with promptness while speeding up the relief work in affected districts. He asked the officials to distribute the sanctioned financial relief promptly without losing time. According to the MET department forecast, heavy rains are likely in the eastern region till September 14 while light rains will continue till September 17, the official of the relief commissioner office said. The western region of the state is also likely to get showers till September 17, though there is an alert for lightning over the state till September 15. In Barabanki, the movement of trains was hit as water came on the railway tracks. A passenger train was halted at the outer for some time but later the trains were allowed to pass at a very slow pace, a railway official said. In the state capital Lucknow, which had received 99.9 mm rainfall till 8 a.m. on Monday, schools remained closed and an advisory was issued for the people not to venture out unnecessarily in view of the possibility of severe lightning. The 52nd statue of 60 elephants installed in the famous sprawling Ambedkar Park at the centre of the city got damaged due to lightning. In Unnao, lightning struck at many places leaving 140 sheep dead in Hasanganj tehsil, SDM Hasanganj Naveen Chandra said. The official of the relief commissioner's office said as many as 19 tehsils of 10 districts were affected by flood in Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kasganj, Kheri, Kushinagar, Mau, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. According to the official, 173 villages and a population of 55,982 were badly hit by the rains. However, no river is presently flowing above the danger level in the state, but Ganga in Bijnor and Son in Mirzapur (Bansagar dam) are showing a rising trend. Amid several urban and rural areas witnessing waterlogging on the main routes and approach roads due to incessant rains since Sunday night, the Nipun Assessment Test (NAT) scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday among all government-run primary and upper primary schools had to be postponed, Lakhimpur Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Pravin Tiwari said. "The NAT examination in all basic schools would remain suspended on September 11," the BSA said In Unnao, lightning struck at many places leaving 140 sheep dead in Hasanganj tehsil, SDM Hasanganj Naveen Chandra said. The official of the relief commissioner's office said as many as 19 tehsils of 10 districts have been affected by flood in Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kasganj, Kheri, Kushinagar, Mau, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. According to the official, 173 villages and a population of 55,982 have been affected. Shelter homes have been set up but no one has been shifted there and the NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in some districts and have been put on high alert, the official said. Lunch packets and foodgrains are being distributed and vaccination of animals and medical camps are functional, the official said. Agriculture losses, if any, are being evaluated, the official said, adding that water logging in urban areas has also been reported and efforts are on to clear the water. No river is presently flowing above the danger level in the state as of now, but Ganga in Bijnor and Son river in Mirzapur (Bansagar dam) have seen a rising trend. (With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp LUCKNOW: Nineteen people have been killed in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the state relief commissioner's office said Monday evening. The central region of the state comprising districts like Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Hardoi, and Sitapur faced the rain fury the most forcing the district administrations to shut the schools for a day. While four deaths were reported from Hardoi, three from Barabanki, two each from Pratapgarh and Kannauj, and one each from Amethi, Deoria, Jalaun, Kanpur, Unnao, Sambhal, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar districts, it said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While 13 persons died due to heavy rains, four lost their lives after coming under lightning, and two persons died of drowning. In Kannauj, two brothers -- Kallu (13) and Avnish (17) -- died after the thatched roof of their house in Lalkiyapur village in Tirwa area collapsed following overnight rains. In Muzaffarnagar district, Deepika (28) died when the roof of her house in Rahmatpur village collapsed on Sunday night, while her mother-in-law sustained serious injuries. Similarly, in Deoria, Divya Chauhan (9) drowned while taking a bath in a swollen rivulet in the district. In all 22 districts of the state, including Moradabad, Sambhal, Kannauj, Rampur, Hathras, Barabanki, Kasganj, Bijnor, Amroha, Bahraich, Lucknow, Badaun, Mainpuri, Hardoi, Firozabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur, Sitapur Farrukhabad, Lakhimpur Kheri and Fatehpur, received over 40 mm rain during the last 24 hours. Taking cognisance of incessant rains lashing the state for the last 24 hours, UP CM Yogi Adityanath issued directives to the authorities concerned to react to the situation with promptness while speeding up the relief work in affected districts. He asked the officials to distribute the sanctioned financial relief promptly without losing time. According to the MET department forecast, heavy rains are likely in the eastern region till September 14 while light rains will continue till September 17, the official of the relief commissioner office said. The western region of the state is also likely to get showers till September 17, though there is an alert for lightning over the state till September 15. In Barabanki, the movement of trains was hit as water came on the railway tracks. A passenger train was halted at the outer for some time but later the trains were allowed to pass at a very slow pace, a railway official said. In the state capital Lucknow, which had received 99.9 mm rainfall till 8 a.m. on Monday, schools remained closed and an advisory was issued for the people not to venture out unnecessarily in view of the possibility of severe lightning. The 52nd statue of 60 elephants installed in the famous sprawling Ambedkar Park at the centre of the city got damaged due to lightning. In Unnao, lightning struck at many places leaving 140 sheep dead in Hasanganj tehsil, SDM Hasanganj Naveen Chandra said. The official of the relief commissioner's office said as many as 19 tehsils of 10 districts were affected by flood in Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kasganj, Kheri, Kushinagar, Mau, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. According to the official, 173 villages and a population of 55,982 were badly hit by the rains. However, no river is presently flowing above the danger level in the state, but Ganga in Bijnor and Son in Mirzapur (Bansagar dam) are showing a rising trend. Amid several urban and rural areas witnessing waterlogging on the main routes and approach roads due to incessant rains since Sunday night, the Nipun Assessment Test (NAT) scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday among all government-run primary and upper primary schools had to be postponed, Lakhimpur Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Pravin Tiwari said. "The NAT examination in all basic schools would remain suspended on September 11," the BSA said In Unnao, lightning struck at many places leaving 140 sheep dead in Hasanganj tehsil, SDM Hasanganj Naveen Chandra said. The official of the relief commissioner's office said as many as 19 tehsils of 10 districts have been affected by flood in Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kasganj, Kheri, Kushinagar, Mau, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. According to the official, 173 villages and a population of 55,982 have been affected. Shelter homes have been set up but no one has been shifted there and the NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in some districts and have been put on high alert, the official said. Lunch packets and foodgrains are being distributed and vaccination of animals and medical camps are functional, the official said. Agriculture losses, if any, are being evaluated, the official said, adding that water logging in urban areas has also been reported and efforts are on to clear the water. No river is presently flowing above the danger level in the state as of now, but Ganga in Bijnor and Son river in Mirzapur (Bansagar dam) have seen a rising trend. (With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The OBCs constitute around 52% of the countrys total population with a higher rate of voting percentage of around 60-70 % in every election. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has focussed its electoral politics on garnering maximum electoral gain from the issue-based polarisation of OBCs especially in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 election, is working to hold a mahakumbh (mega gathering) of OBCs in November at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad). The proposed mahakumbh of OBCs at Prayagraj would be aimed at taking PM Modis works done for the OBCs forward across the countrys districts ahead of the next 2024 general elections. The consultation on it is in progress. The OBC Morcha of BJP, led by its national president and Rajya Sabha MP Dr K Laxman, would organise the OBCs Mahakumbh at Prayagraj for brainstorming on various issues related to OBCs. Upon being asked by this newspaper, Dr K Laxman confirmed that the OBCs-Mahakumbh is being discussed with the central leadership of the party. He said that the proposed Mahakumbh of OBCs will get the final shape soon after the consultation of the party's central leadership. We are working on the participation of central leadership at the OBC Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. This will be a historical one with an aim to take the works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government done for the welfare of OBCs in the last 9 years, he said. He said that the BJP-led government at the centre is the first such government that has given wider representations of OBCs in the government and within the party organisation. The Modi government has launched more welfare works than the previous anti-OBC UPA government. The Congress has badly cheated the OBCs for the sake of political benefits. The previous UPA government by Congress had never done anything for the welfare of OBCs. They still insult the people of these communities, he alleged. He said that the final date for this OBC Mahakumbh will soon be finalised. Besides this, Dr K Laxman further said the BJP leaders of OBCs will take forward the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojna Program at the district level after it is launched by the PM on September 17. He said a virtual meeting with the office-bearers of OBC Mocha was held on Monday with him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The OBCs constitute around 52% of the countrys total population with a higher rate of voting percentage of around 60-70 % in every election. The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has focussed its electoral politics on garnering maximum electoral gain from the issue-based polarisation of OBCs especially in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 election, is working to hold a mahakumbh (mega gathering) of OBCs in November at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad). The proposed mahakumbh of OBCs at Prayagraj would be aimed at taking PM Modis works done for the OBCs forward across the countrys districts ahead of the next 2024 general elections. The consultation on it is in progress.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The OBC Morcha of BJP, led by its national president and Rajya Sabha MP Dr K Laxman, would organise the OBCs Mahakumbh at Prayagraj for brainstorming on various issues related to OBCs. Upon being asked by this newspaper, Dr K Laxman confirmed that the OBCs-Mahakumbh is being discussed with the central leadership of the party. He said that the proposed Mahakumbh of OBCs will get the final shape soon after the consultation of the party's central leadership. We are working on the participation of central leadership at the OBC Mahakumbh in Prayagraj. This will be a historical one with an aim to take the works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government done for the welfare of OBCs in the last 9 years, he said. He said that the BJP-led government at the centre is the first such government that has given wider representations of OBCs in the government and within the party organisation. The Modi government has launched more welfare works than the previous anti-OBC UPA government. The Congress has badly cheated the OBCs for the sake of political benefits. The previous UPA government by Congress had never done anything for the welfare of OBCs. They still insult the people of these communities, he alleged. He said that the final date for this OBC Mahakumbh will soon be finalised. Besides this, Dr K Laxman further said the BJP leaders of OBCs will take forward the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojna Program at the district level after it is launched by the PM on September 17. He said a virtual meeting with the office-bearers of OBC Mocha was held on Monday with him. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Richard Chen By On 29 August, China published its so-called 2023 standard map showing all of Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin and other parts of Indian territories within its border. The map was released just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping had met with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing resolving the boundary situation during the BRICS summit in South Africa. Indias Ministry of External Affairs has lodged a strong protest over the Chinese territorial claims through diplomatic channels. Chinas map also lays claim to the entire South China Sea, which has no doubt drawn strong protests from Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Chinas Foreign Ministry said that its a routine practice in Chinas exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law and hoped that relevant sides could stay objective and calm and refrain themselves from over-interpreting the issue. It would be easy for China to say so; however, China itself has never remained calm with respect to the territorial disputes with other countries. China not only includes the above disputed territories in its map, but also resorts to military tactics, escalating tensions at the China-India border and in the South China Sea. Thats what China means by remaining calm. Apart from the aforesaid territories in India and the South China Sea, China also claims Taiwan as its territory, vowing to take control of Taiwan and refusing to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan. For decades, the people of Taiwan have remained calm in safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, as Chinas economic and military might has grown stronger, it becomes increasingly aggressive in flexing its military muscle to intimidate Taiwan, thereby threatening Taiwanese peoples democratic way of life. This includes sending warplanes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and encroaching into Taiwans air defense identification zones. It has also intensified gray-zone tactics, such as disinformation and economic coercion, in an attempt to wear down the Taiwanese peoples will to fight. ALSO READ | The new map of borders and areas around China Chinas expansionism does not stop at Taiwan. Chinas use of gray-zone activities in the East and South China Seas are designed to expand its power and substantiate its hawkish territorial claims. In addition to signing a security agreement with Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, China has been securing ports for future military use in the Indian Ocean. Chinas frequent use of military and economic tactics to intimidate Taiwan and other neighbouring countries in recent years has posed a formidable threat and challenge to security across the Taiwan Strait, in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyones best interest. Half of the worlds commercial container traffic passes through the Taiwan Strait each day. Taiwan produces the majority of the worlds semiconductors and plays a key role in the global supply chains. Any conflict in the area would have disastrous consequences for the global economy. The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) issued a joint communique from their summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on 20 May, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community. They also called for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and expressed firm opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. G7 countries have taken concrete steps to express high regard for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for the third consecutive year. While we can all agree that the war must be avoided, how to best do so requires inclusion, dialogue, and, most of all, unity. The United Nations remains the best platform for global discourse. UN officials speak often of joint solutions, solidarity, and inclusion in tackling the pressing issues of our time. Taiwan is more than willing and able to take part in these efforts. However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN due to Chinas distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies. In fact, the resolution only determines who represents the member state China, a fact that the international community and China itself recognized following the relevant vote in 1971. The subsequent misrepresentation of Resolution 2758 contradicts the basic principles upheld by the UN Charter and must be rectified. As a truly global institution, the UN can serve as a champion of progress. We call on the UN to uphold its principle of leaving no one behind by allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system, rather than excluding it from discussions on issues requiring global cooperation. A good first step would be to allow Taiwanese individuals and journalists to attend or cover relevant meetings, as well as ensure Taiwans meaningful participation in meetings and mechanisms. Allowing Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system would benefit the worlds efforts to address pressing global issues and demonstrate the UNs determination to unite for global peace at a critical juncture when the future of the world is at stake. We are stronger together. Now is the time to act on this fundamental principle by including Taiwan. (Richard Chen is Director-General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center, Chennai. Views are his own.) ALSO SEE: China's map mischief: What India must do now Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp On 29 August, China published its so-called 2023 standard map showing all of Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin and other parts of Indian territories within its border. The map was released just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping had met with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussing resolving the boundary situation during the BRICS summit in South Africa. Indias Ministry of External Affairs has lodged a strong protest over the Chinese territorial claims through diplomatic channels. Chinas map also lays claim to the entire South China Sea, which has no doubt drawn strong protests from Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Chinas Foreign Ministry said that its a routine practice in Chinas exercise of sovereignty in accordance with the law and hoped that relevant sides could stay objective and calm and refrain themselves from over-interpreting the issue. It would be easy for China to say so; however, China itself has never remained calm with respect to the territorial disputes with other countries. China not only includes the above disputed territories in its map, but also resorts to military tactics, escalating tensions at the China-India border and in the South China Sea. Thats what China means by remaining calm. Apart from the aforesaid territories in India and the South China Sea, China also claims Taiwan as its territory, vowing to take control of Taiwan and refusing to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan. For decades, the people of Taiwan have remained calm in safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, as Chinas economic and military might has grown stronger, it becomes increasingly aggressive in flexing its military muscle to intimidate Taiwan, thereby threatening Taiwanese peoples democratic way of life. This includes sending warplanes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and encroaching into Taiwans air defense identification zones. It has also intensified gray-zone tactics, such as disinformation and economic coercion, in an attempt to wear down the Taiwanese peoples will to fight.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | The new map of borders and areas around China Chinas expansionism does not stop at Taiwan. Chinas use of gray-zone activities in the East and South China Seas are designed to expand its power and substantiate its hawkish territorial claims. In addition to signing a security agreement with Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, China has been securing ports for future military use in the Indian Ocean. Chinas frequent use of military and economic tactics to intimidate Taiwan and other neighbouring countries in recent years has posed a formidable threat and challenge to security across the Taiwan Strait, in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. Ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyones best interest. Half of the worlds commercial container traffic passes through the Taiwan Strait each day. Taiwan produces the majority of the worlds semiconductors and plays a key role in the global supply chains. Any conflict in the area would have disastrous consequences for the global economy. The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) issued a joint communique from their summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on 20 May, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community. They also called for a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues and expressed firm opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. G7 countries have taken concrete steps to express high regard for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait for the third consecutive year. While we can all agree that the war must be avoided, how to best do so requires inclusion, dialogue, and, most of all, unity. The United Nations remains the best platform for global discourse. UN officials speak often of joint solutions, solidarity, and inclusion in tackling the pressing issues of our time. Taiwan is more than willing and able to take part in these efforts. However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN due to Chinas distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies. In fact, the resolution only determines who represents the member state China, a fact that the international community and China itself recognized following the relevant vote in 1971. The subsequent misrepresentation of Resolution 2758 contradicts the basic principles upheld by the UN Charter and must be rectified. As a truly global institution, the UN can serve as a champion of progress. We call on the UN to uphold its principle of leaving no one behind by allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system, rather than excluding it from discussions on issues requiring global cooperation. A good first step would be to allow Taiwanese individuals and journalists to attend or cover relevant meetings, as well as ensure Taiwans meaningful participation in meetings and mechanisms. Allowing Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system would benefit the worlds efforts to address pressing global issues and demonstrate the UNs determination to unite for global peace at a critical juncture when the future of the world is at stake. We are stronger together. Now is the time to act on this fundamental principle by including Taiwan. (Richard Chen is Director-General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center, Chennai. Views are his own.) ALSO SEE: China's map mischief: What India must do now Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI SINGAPORE: Kuala Lumpur-based Capital A, which owns AirAsia, is "very bullish about the Indian market" and wants to bring in more tourists to that country, the company's chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said on Monday. Capital A (formerly known as AirAsia Group) sold its Indian airline subsidiary to Tata Group last year. "We are working with the Tata Group and hope to do a lot of work with the conglomerate," he said on the sidelines of the 21st Forbes Global CEO Conference. Last year, Tata Group-owned Air India signed agreements to acquire a 100 per cent stake in AirAsia India and has commenced the process of merging with Air India Express to form a single Indian low-cost carrier. The merger is expected to take around 12 months and is likely to be concluded by the end of 2023. "We are just flying in and bringing tourists into the country and flying Indian tourists out to other destinations," he told PTI. AirAsia has about 15 landing points in India, the latest being Amritsar which is connected to the Malaysian capital city. "We very much want to open up with other destinations in India linking with secondary and tertiary airports or T2 and T3," he said. "We will continue to provide more connectivity to India," he said, noting that India is setting up more airports. Fernandes said AirAsia was also getting a lot of traffic out of India. In fact, 60 per cent of his airline's passengers on the Indian routes are from out of India and 40 per cent are diaspora and tourists visiting India. "Indian market has been profitable," he added, staying confident about the airline's profit and revenue. Capital A is an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses that leverage data and technology, including AirAsia. Meanwhile, some 450 prominent business leaders from around the world are attending the two-day Forbes conference themed "Sea Change". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp SINGAPORE: Kuala Lumpur-based Capital A, which owns AirAsia, is "very bullish about the Indian market" and wants to bring in more tourists to that country, the company's chief executive officer Tony Fernandes said on Monday. Capital A (formerly known as AirAsia Group) sold its Indian airline subsidiary to Tata Group last year. "We are working with the Tata Group and hope to do a lot of work with the conglomerate," he said on the sidelines of the 21st Forbes Global CEO Conference.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Last year, Tata Group-owned Air India signed agreements to acquire a 100 per cent stake in AirAsia India and has commenced the process of merging with Air India Express to form a single Indian low-cost carrier. The merger is expected to take around 12 months and is likely to be concluded by the end of 2023. "We are just flying in and bringing tourists into the country and flying Indian tourists out to other destinations," he told PTI. AirAsia has about 15 landing points in India, the latest being Amritsar which is connected to the Malaysian capital city. "We very much want to open up with other destinations in India linking with secondary and tertiary airports or T2 and T3," he said. "We will continue to provide more connectivity to India," he said, noting that India is setting up more airports. Fernandes said AirAsia was also getting a lot of traffic out of India. In fact, 60 per cent of his airline's passengers on the Indian routes are from out of India and 40 per cent are diaspora and tourists visiting India. "Indian market has been profitable," he added, staying confident about the airline's profit and revenue. Capital A is an investment holding company with a portfolio of synergistic travel and lifestyle businesses that leverage data and technology, including AirAsia. Meanwhile, some 450 prominent business leaders from around the world are attending the two-day Forbes conference themed "Sea Change". Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service It's that time of the year when Indian students, in a quest to pursue higher education abroad, are frantically looking at universities, countries and more. An unavoidable element of this journey is an English proficiency test. If IELTS is your choice, as it was for over 1.2 million people last financial year, then the test-conducting body, IDP Education, is here to banish any question or query you might have about the exam. IELTS or, the International English Language Testing System, was inducted more than 30 years ago and today, has established itself as THE proficiency test. Not only that, it is internationally accepted by several countries including the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. When the future is at stake, one can easily get hounded by rueful questions. Hence, Edex-Live spoke to Piyush Kumar, Regional Director - South Asia and Mauritius, IDP Education, who currently oversees the IELTS examinations in India, seeking answers to the many queries that might haunt an aspirant. Excerpts from an interview How does IELTS differentiate itself from other English proficiency tests? IELTS is the most widely recognised English language proficiency test. This is primarily due to its unique features, such as a strong global reputation. Another remarkable feature of IELTS is its adaptability. It is available in both paper and computer formats that accommodate diverse test takers' preferences. A noteworthy distinction also lies in its assessment process which includes a combination of computerised marking and human expertise. Certified English experts evaluate IELTS tests (Writing and Speaking) by following global marking standards. For non-native English speakers or those who did not study English as their first language, how equitable is the IELTS? IELTS provides a fair and accurate representation of a test taker's English language abilities. The test is developed using a comprehensive and rigorous process that involves language assessment experts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. The test content reflects real-life situations and maintains impartiality and fairness for all test takers, regardless of their background. One of the sections in IELTS is Speaking. Many non-native English speakers may have a mother-tongue influence on their language when speaking in English. When trained professionals examine the IELTS Speaking test, they ensure that a person is marked on the correct English usage and not on the n a t i v e a c c e n t influence. IDP mails the test preparation book to the candidates once they have booked the test. https://ielts.cambridgeconnect. org/ provides free test prep material and paid packages at nominal prices. IELTS has been evolving with the changing times. What other changes are in the offing in the near future? IELTS is a dynamic test constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users. With its constant endeavour to make the test more convenient for the candidates, it has developed One Skill Retake (OSR). OSR will allow the candidate to retake any one section of the test if they are not satisfied with the score of that skill rather than taking the entire test. OSR has received an extremely positive response in Australia and will be soon launched in India as well. Considering the increasing globalisation where English serves as the de facto lingua franca, what is the role of proficiency tests in the future? How can these tests evolve to maintain their relevance in such a context? In the context of growing global interconnectedness, where English has become the universal means of communication, the role of proficiency tests holds great significance for the future. These tests must evolve to maintain their relevance in this changing landscape. IELTS continues to evaluate itself and make necessary changes as per the changing times. The IELTS test emphasises four key test qualities: validity, reliability, impact, and practicality. Over more than 30 years, a collaborative effort involving academics, administrators, educators, and practitioners worldwide has refined these qualities through extensive research. The IELTS research programme, jointly funded by IELTS partners- IDP: IELTS Australia and the British Council, ensures an ongoing relationship with the broader linguistics and language testing community. THREE MODULES FOR IELTS IELTS Academic: It is designed to help those who want to pursue an undergraduate or higher course. It assesses a candidates ability to understand and use complex academic language, such as those used in academic lectures, textbooks, and research papers. General Training: One should opt for this module if one seeks employment abroad or wants to migrate to any 150+ countries IELTS is accepted, including Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. It assesses a candidates ability to communicate effectively in various social and workplace contexts, such as conversations with colleagues, written correspondence, and simple reports. IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): UKVI is a test for those candidates who plan to move to the UK. It has the same test format, content, scoring, and level of difficulty as the IELTS. The only difference is that an IELTS for UKVI test is approved by the UK Home Office for work, study, and migration purposes IELTS, over 30 years of making a mark: Tips for non-native English speakers: Consistent practice across the language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking IELTS is time-bound, so improve time management skills by taking practice tests Understanding the test format by familiarising yourself with the various sections Focusing on expanding ones vocabulary will be beneficial Official IELTS materials from IDP offer sample test papers and study guides, use them Regularly engaging in full-length practice tests under timed conditions Beware of fraudulent test centres, Follow these steps: Visit https://ielts.idp.com/book to access an up-to-date list of authorised test centres Cross-reference the details of a chosen test centre with the official list The presence of the official IELTS logo or accreditation seal on the test centres materials or premises can serve as an indicator of legitimacy Online reviews from past test-takers can shed light on the centres reputation and credibility Always use secure payment methods Find all resources for prep online An aspirant can find a wealth of free online preparation material available on the ielts.org website and https://www.ieltsidpindia.com, the official website. IDP provides a helpful guidebook that will assist a candidate in becoming familiar with the structure and content of the exam. These websites provide comprehensive resources, practice tests, and expert guidance to help an aspirant succeed in the examination https://ielts.cambridgeconnect.org offers free prep materials and paid packages at nominal prices Paper-based IELTS vs Computer-based IELTS What is better for you? The IELTS exam can be given either on a computer or on paper. We break down the differences between both versions and the pros and cons each version has to offer Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp It's that time of the year when Indian students, in a quest to pursue higher education abroad, are frantically looking at universities, countries and more. An unavoidable element of this journey is an English proficiency test. If IELTS is your choice, as it was for over 1.2 million people last financial year, then the test-conducting body, IDP Education, is here to banish any question or query you might have about the exam. IELTS or, the International English Language Testing System, was inducted more than 30 years ago and today, has established itself as THE proficiency test. Not only that, it is internationally accepted by several countries including the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. When the future is at stake, one can easily get hounded by rueful questions. Hence, Edex-Live spoke to Piyush Kumar, Regional Director - South Asia and Mauritius, IDP Education, who currently oversees the IELTS examinations in India, seeking answers to the many queries that might haunt an aspirant. Excerpts from an interviewgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); How does IELTS differentiate itself from other English proficiency tests? IELTS is the most widely recognised English language proficiency test. This is primarily due to its unique features, such as a strong global reputation. Another remarkable feature of IELTS is its adaptability. It is available in both paper and computer formats that accommodate diverse test takers' preferences. A noteworthy distinction also lies in its assessment process which includes a combination of computerised marking and human expertise. Certified English experts evaluate IELTS tests (Writing and Speaking) by following global marking standards. For non-native English speakers or those who did not study English as their first language, how equitable is the IELTS? IELTS provides a fair and accurate representation of a test taker's English language abilities. The test is developed using a comprehensive and rigorous process that involves language assessment experts from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA. The test content reflects real-life situations and maintains impartiality and fairness for all test takers, regardless of their background. One of the sections in IELTS is Speaking. Many non-native English speakers may have a mother-tongue influence on their language when speaking in English. When trained professionals examine the IELTS Speaking test, they ensure that a person is marked on the correct English usage and not on the n a t i v e a c c e n t influence. IDP mails the test preparation book to the candidates once they have booked the test. https://ielts.cambridgeconnect. org/ provides free test prep material and paid packages at nominal prices. IELTS has been evolving with the changing times. What other changes are in the offing in the near future? IELTS is a dynamic test constantly evolving to meet the needs of its users. With its constant endeavour to make the test more convenient for the candidates, it has developed One Skill Retake (OSR). OSR will allow the candidate to retake any one section of the test if they are not satisfied with the score of that skill rather than taking the entire test. OSR has received an extremely positive response in Australia and will be soon launched in India as well. Considering the increasing globalisation where English serves as the de facto lingua franca, what is the role of proficiency tests in the future? How can these tests evolve to maintain their relevance in such a context? In the context of growing global interconnectedness, where English has become the universal means of communication, the role of proficiency tests holds great significance for the future. These tests must evolve to maintain their relevance in this changing landscape. IELTS continues to evaluate itself and make necessary changes as per the changing times. The IELTS test emphasises four key test qualities: validity, reliability, impact, and practicality. Over more than 30 years, a collaborative effort involving academics, administrators, educators, and practitioners worldwide has refined these qualities through extensive research. The IELTS research programme, jointly funded by IELTS partners- IDP: IELTS Australia and the British Council, ensures an ongoing relationship with the broader linguistics and language testing community. THREE MODULES FOR IELTS IELTS Academic: It is designed to help those who want to pursue an undergraduate or higher course. It assesses a candidates ability to understand and use complex academic language, such as those used in academic lectures, textbooks, and research papers. General Training: One should opt for this module if one seeks employment abroad or wants to migrate to any 150+ countries IELTS is accepted, including Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. It assesses a candidates ability to communicate effectively in various social and workplace contexts, such as conversations with colleagues, written correspondence, and simple reports. IELTS for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI): UKVI is a test for those candidates who plan to move to the UK. It has the same test format, content, scoring, and level of difficulty as the IELTS. The only difference is that an IELTS for UKVI test is approved by the UK Home Office for work, study, and migration purposes IELTS, over 30 years of making a mark: Tips for non-native English speakers: Consistent practice across the language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking IELTS is time-bound, so improve time management skills by taking practice tests Understanding the test format by familiarising yourself with the various sections Focusing on expanding ones vocabulary will be beneficial Official IELTS materials from IDP offer sample test papers and study guides, use them Regularly engaging in full-length practice tests under timed conditions Beware of fraudulent test centres, Follow these steps: Visit https://ielts.idp.com/book to access an up-to-date list of authorised test centres Cross-reference the details of a chosen test centre with the official list The presence of the official IELTS logo or accreditation seal on the test centres materials or premises can serve as an indicator of legitimacy Online reviews from past test-takers can shed light on the centres reputation and credibility Always use secure payment methods Find all resources for prep online An aspirant can find a wealth of free online preparation material available on the ielts.org website and https://www.ieltsidpindia.com, the official website. IDP provides a helpful guidebook that will assist a candidate in becoming familiar with the structure and content of the exam. These websites provide comprehensive resources, practice tests, and expert guidance to help an aspirant succeed in the examination https://ielts.cambridgeconnect.org offers free prep materials and paid packages at nominal prices Paper-based IELTS vs Computer-based IELTS What is better for you? The IELTS exam can be given either on a computer or on paper. We break down the differences between both versions and the pros and cons each version has to offer Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Director General of Ucom conducted a site visit to one of the Yerevan-based teams overseeing the modernization of the mobile network. The purpose of the visit was to gain firsthand insights into the ongoing network upgrade. Over the past week, Ucom's team of technical specialists has been actively engaged in modernization efforts within the Kentron and Arabkir administrative regions of Yerevan, a development that the company communicated in advance to its subscribers. Our dear and beloved customers, we are actively working to provide an extraordinary, unique, and excellent network throughout Armenia. We had previously announced the commencement of network re-equipment, modernization, and expansion. We've shown the equipment arriving at our central warehouse, and we want to emphasize that there is more equipment on its way. This work is ongoing. Today, I am in the heart of Yerevan to witness this modernization process firsthand. We understand that when a station is dismantled, there might be a temporary drop in connection quality and service stability. This is a challenging but necessary process as we transition to a new, powerful and, yes, unmatched modern infrastructure. Our goal is to provide you with a seamless experience and access to better, more affordable, and more engaging services. I want to assure you that such visits and updates will be continuous. We are committed to keeping you informed not only about the modernization of the mobile network but also about the ongoing expansion of our fixed network. Thank you for your understanding and continued support, said Ralph Yirikian, Director General of Ucom. In the beginning of August, the Director General stated that one of the Ucom's 5-year strategy pillars is the modernization and expansion of both the mobile and fixed networks throughout Armenia. He personally observed the unloading process of the equipment from one of the global giants in the supply of modern ICT products, solutions, software, and services that arrived in Armenia. To date, the arrival of such equipment in Armenia has been conducted in three stages. By the end of the year, the latest equipment will be delivered in several more stages. New Delhi, September 10 I n an endorsement of India's bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said his nation would be "proud" if a country like India became a full member of the UNSC. Referring to the five permanent members of the Security Council -- US, UK, China, France and Russia -- that are vested with the veto power, the Turkish President said the world is bigger and larger than five. He proposed that all 195 member countries of the United Nations should get an opportunity to become a member of the Security Council by rotation. Addressing a press conference on the concluding day of the 18th G20 Leaders' Summit on Sunday, Erdogan said, "We would be proud if a country like India became a permanent member of the UN Security Council. As you know, the world is bigger and larger than five . And when we say the world is larger than five, what we mean is that it's not only about the US, UK, France, China and Russia. We don't want to have just these five countries on the Security Council." Making a strong case for a rotational system for the members of the UNSC, the Turkish President said, "Right now, there are 15 members in the UNSC -- 5 permanent and 10 by rotation. What we propose is that all of them should be permanent members. All nations should have an opportunity to be a member of the UN body by rotation. As of now, the UN has 195 member countries. So, we propose a rotational mechanism whereby each and every member, every single one of the 195 member countries, can potentially become a member . This is what we propose." Erdogan said only five permanent UNSC members cannot be the combined voice of the whole world. "What the five members say should not determine the voice of the whole world. All 195 member countries, without making any distinction between permanent and non-permanent, should potentially be able to become a member of the Security Council. Only then will the whole world be happy," the Turkish President added. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, with the discussions focused on ways to strengthen trade relations and boost connectivity and infrastructure. The Turkish President said India is the country's greatest trade partner in South Asia and there was great potential for the two nations to take economic and commercial ties forward. "India is our greatest trade partner in South Asia and we have great potential to deepen our partnership in the sphere of economy and other sectors," Erdogan said on Sunday. The Turkish President thanked India for "a gracious and very successful term of the presidency". "I would like to thank PM Modi for the gracious hospitality that was shown to me, my spouse and my entire Turkish delegation," he said. World bigger and larger than five: Turkish President Erdogan endorses India's bid for permanent seat at UNSC Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Sep 10 P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the sidelines of the G20 summit, during which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council including its expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories. They emphasised on increased representation of developing countries in both, to improve its efficiency, effectiveness, representativeness, and legitimacy in order to better meet contemporary challenges in international peace and security, according to a joint statement issued the meeting. Modi and Lula, as the Brazilian leader is popularly known, met hours after India formally handed over the G20 presidency to Brazil at the closing ceremony of the Delhi summit. Both the leaders reiterated their mutual support for their countries' permanent membership in an expanded UNSC. They stated that Brazil and India will continue to work closely together in the framework of G-4 and the L.69. The two leaders also agreed on having regular bilateral coordination meetings on Security Council Reform. Both Modi and Lula expressed disappointment at the paralysis created at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform, which have not produced tangible progress. They agreed that time has come to move towards a result-oriented process that aims to achieve concrete outcomes in a fixed time frame, the statement said. Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and India, celebrated in 2023, both leaders emphasised that bilateral ties have flourished based on common values and shared objectives, including the pursuit of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development. They reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering the Brazil-India Strategic Partnership and to sustaining their distinctive roles in global affairs. Lula congratulated Modi for India's successful G20 presidency and pledged to collaborate closely with India during Brazil's G20 tenure, commencing in December 2023. Both leaders welcomed the consecutive presidencies of developing countries in the G20, which elevates the Global South's influence in world governance. They noted with satisfaction the formation of a G20 troika comprising the three IBSA countries during Brazil's presidency. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved under various institutional dialogue mechanisms. PM Modi welcomed President Lula's announcement of Brazils support to the Indian candidature for non-permanent seat of the UNSC for the 2028-2029 term. Both leaders acknowledged the urgency of a fair and equitable energy transition. They noted the vital role of biofuels and flex-fuel vehicles in decarbonising the transport sector, especially in developing nations. The two commended bilateral initiatives in bioenergy, involving both governmental and private sectors, and celebrated the establishment during India's G20 presidency of the Global Biofuels Alliance, of which both countries are founding members. Both leaders recognised that climate change represents one of the greatest challenges of our time that needs to be addressed in the context of sustainable development and of efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger. The two countries commit to broadening, deepening and diversifying their bilateral cooperation on climate, as well as their joint efforts towards a strengthened global governance under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), its Kyoto Protocol and its Paris Agreement, said the statement. They also pledge to work together to ensure that the UNFCCC multilateral process from COP28 to COP30 paves the way for a course-correction on climate, while uniting the international community around the ultimate objective of the Convention and the goals of its Paris Agreement, in the light of equity and the best available science, taking into consideration the gravity and sense of urgency emanated from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). They reiterated their determination to enhance the multilateral response to climate change in a way that also tackle inequalities within and among countries, including by working closer together within the Group of 77 and China and the BASIC Group of countries. "India welcomes Brazil's presidency of BASIC and fully supports the Brazilian prospective presidency of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP30), in 2025," the statement said. Both countries also agreed to increase joint projects in partnership with ISA (International Solar Alliance) and CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) in third countries. Highlighting their roles as major global food producers, the leaders reaffirmed their resolve to increase cooperation in sustainable agriculture and rural development, including at the multilateral level, with the aim of safeguarding food and nutritional security of both countries and of the world. They underscored the need for open, unimpeded and reliable food supply chains and called upon the international community to ensure that agricultural trade is not affected by unilateral restrictions and protectionist measures, duly taking into consideration the multilateral trade rules. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the formation of Joint Technical Committees to facilitate trade in agriculture and animal husbandry products. Acknowledging the recent increase in bilateral trade and investment, the leaders agreed that economic exchanges between Brazil and India have the potential for further growth, taking advantage of the scale of their respective economies and the potential for forging industrial partnerships. Expressing satisfaction over the growing trade between India and Mercosur, both leaders agreed to work together for the expansion of India-Mercosur PTA during Brazil's Mercosur Presidency, to leverage the full potential of this economic partnership. They welcomed the establishment of the India-Brazil Business Forum as a dedicated platform for private sector collaboration. The leaders welcomed the increased defence cooperation between India and Brazil including participation in military exercises, exchange of high-level defence delegations, and substantive industry presence in each other's defence expositions. They encouraged the defence industries from both sides to explore new collaboration avenues and commence joint projects to co-produce technologically advanced defence products and build supply chain resilience. The leaders noted with satisfaction the conclusion of domestic procedures for the entry into force of the India-Brazil Social Security Agreement. President Lula congratulated PM Modi and India for the historic achievement of Chandrayaan-3's landing in the south polar region of the Moon, as well as the successful launch of India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, both important feats which mark remarkable milestones in space exploration. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the IBSA Forum, the leaders vowed to foster higher-level dialogues among the three IBSA partners and affirmed the strategic significance of IBSA in safeguarding and advancing the interests of the Global South on the global stage, including at the multilateral and plurilateral bodies. Modi extended full support to Brazil's IBSA Chairship. Regarding the recent BRICS summit in South Africa, both leaders acknowledged its positive outcomes, particularly the renewed and strengthened support for the reform of the United Nations Security Council and the invitations extended to six countries to become full members of BRICS. Modi, Brazilian President Lula reiterate commitment towards UN Security Council reforms Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani authorities have again generated disinformation and falsely accused the Armenian military of cross-border shooting, the Armenian Ministry of Defense warned Monday. The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan as if on September 11, at around 1:30 p.m. the units of the Armenian Armed Forces fired against the Azerbaijani combat outposts in the eastern part of the border, does not correspond to reality, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Private church service conducted for Biden during his visit for G20 Summit New Delhi, Sep 10 A private church service was conducted here for visiting US President Joe Biden ahead of the G20 Summit on Saturday. The private service was provided by Father Nicholas Dias, Secretary of the Liturgy Commission, Delhi Archdiocese, for Biden, who is Roman Catholic, during his visit for the G20 Summit. Dias was contacted by the US Embassy in Delhi, with a request that President Biden wished to hold a private mass while in the country's capital. He said was gifted memorabilia by the US President, which has number 261st encrypted on it. Dias said that it was a special moment for him as he was chosen to pray with the US President. Biden arrived in Delhi on Friday and on Sunday, he left for Vietnam. Private church service conducted for Biden during his visit for G20 Summit Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 10 P rime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reviewed progress on various areas of bilateral Special Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, and EV battery technology. PM Modi and South Korean President met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in the national capital. According to the statement, released by the Ministry of External Affairs. both leaders noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. They reviewed progress on various areas of bilateral Special Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, defence production, semiconductors and EV battery technology. As per the statement, Yoon congratulated the Prime Minister on India's G20 Presidency and also on the success of the Chandrayaan mission. "They also exchanged views on regional and global issues," the statement read. In a post shared on social media X, PM Modi said that the meeting was "extensive." "The deliberations with @President_KR Yoon Suk Yeol were extensive. Reviewing the complete spectrum of bilateral relations, we agreed to further boost commercial and cultural ties between India and the Republic of Korea," PM Modi said in a tweet. Notably, India and South Korea celebrated the 50 anniversary of diplomatic relations. On Friday, Yoon arrived in India along with his wife and attended the three sessions of the G20 Summit at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. On the second day of the Summit, the South Korean President visited the Rajghat memorial with other world leaders. Earlier, on Saturday, a picture of India and South Korean friendship was seen in New Delhi as an ambient advertising campaign titled '50 Years of friendship and Trust to the Shining Future of Korea and India' caught everyone's attention. In anticipation of President Yoon Suk Yeol's participation in the India G20 Summit beginning on September 9 and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and India, the Office of the Overseas Public Relations Secretary organized an ambient advertising campaign titled "50 Years of friendship and trust, to the shining future of Korea and India', according to a statement issued by Korean Embassy. This promotion campaign, emphasizing the longstanding friendship and trust between the two nations, was installed in two locations in New Delhi on Wednesday last during the presidential visit. The campaign features the commemorative slogan for the 50th anniversary of Korea-India diplomatic relations: "50 years of friendship and trust, to the shining future of Korea and India" It carries a message of moving toward a bright future based on the 50 years of friendship and trust between both countries Ambient advertising leverages the characteristics of specific locations or environments for advertising. The campaign utilized the architectural and environmental features of the South Korean Embassy in India's main entrance and exterior walls, as well as the exterior walls and rooftop of the Korean Cultural Center India. After completing its presidency, India passed the ceremonial gavel of the G20 presidency to Brazil on Sunday. "India passes the gavel to Brazil. We have unwavering faith that they will lead with dedication, vision and will further global unity as well as prosperity. India assures all possible cooperation to Brazil during their upcoming G20 Presidency. @LulaOficial," wrote PM Modi on X. "I congratulate Brazilian President and my friend Lula da Silva and hand over the gavel of Presidency," PM Modi said minutes before the New Delhi G20 Summit concluded. PM Modi, South Korean President review progress on trade and investment Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is reality of new world order: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher praise PM Modi for success of G20 summit Mumbai, September 10 S everal Bollywood celebrities heaped praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his "leadership" after the successful conduct of the G20 Leaders' Summit in the national capital. The summit, hosted under India's presidency of the G20, was attended by heads of state and delegates from across the world. The event, for which the city was decked up over days, was held at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam at Delhi's Pragati Maidan. Taking to his official handle on X, formerly Twitter, actor Akshay Kumar commended PM Modi while sharing his "discussion video" at the G20 summit. https//twitter.com/akshaykumar/status/1700884969902809103 "One Earth, One Family, One Future. What a splendid way to mark a historic #G20Summit. Bharat's leadership has proved that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the reality of the new world order. As proud Indians, we hold our heads high today. Thank you Modi ji...thanks everyone who made us feel on top of the world. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat," he posted. Veteran actor Anupam Kher posted in Hindi, "Respected Prime Minister @narendramodi sir! Many congratulations to the Government of India and, especially, to you for the successful organization of #G20BharatSummit . You have made 140 crore Indians proud! With simplicity, determination and humility, you showed everyone how India has the potential to lead the world. The two-day event was conducted with dignity, grace and precision! Thank you for making us feel so proud. Jai Bharat!" https//twitter.com/AnupamPKher/status/1700887619746591112 Filmmaker Karan Johar also took to his Instagram story to post, "Many congratulations to the honourable PM @narendramodi ji for a remarkable feat & success of the G2o presidency. A significant milestone in leading by example & fostering the values of unity for a better future. A moment of honour for all Indians under your leadership and the hope for - One Earth, One Family, One Future." Announcing the closing of the G20 summit on Sunday, PM Modi proposed a virtual session of the bloc in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. "As you all know, India has the responsibility of G20 presidency till November 2023. In these two days, all of you gave a lot of suggestions and mooted proposals. It is our duty to see how progress could be achieved on these suggestions," PM Modi said. "I propose that at the end of November, we hold a virtual session of the G20. We can review the topics decided in this summit in that virtual session. I hope you will connect with us during the virtual session. With this, I declare the conclusion of the G20 summit," he added. Before declaring that the summit closed, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the G20 presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "I congratulate Brazilian President and my friend Lula da Silva and hand over the gavel of Presidency," PM Modi said. While Indonesia held the G20 presidency last year, Brazil will assume the mantle after India. India took over the G20 presidency on December 1 last year at the summit in Bali and will continue to hold it till the end of November. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by G20 leaders on Saturday, the first day of the summit. Notably, throughout India's presidency, raising the voice of Global South and the developing nations was at the forefront of New Delhi's agenda. India's theme for the G20 Presidency was 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', which translates to 'One Earth One Family One Future'. PM Modi stated that India's G20 Presidency has become a symbol of inclusion both inside and outside the country, adding that it became "People's G20" and crores of Indians were connected with it. A major and historic takeaway of India's presidency of the G20 Summit was the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the grouping. Akshay is flying high on the success of his recently released drama 'OMG 2', with Pankaj Tripathi and Yami Gautam also featuring in lead roles. The actor, on his 56th birthday, treated his fans to the first poster of his upcoming comedy 'Welcome To The Jungle'. He will be next seen in 'Mission Raniganj The Grand Bharat Rescue' alongside Parineeti Chopra. The film is all set to hit the theatres on October 6. Apart from this, Akshay will also be seen in the Hindi remake of the Tamil drama 'Soorarai Pottru', which is all set to hit the theatres on February 16, 2024. He also has an action-thriller, 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', alongside Tiger Shroff and 'Housefull 5' in his kitty. Kher, on the other hand, was recently seen in the Extraction series, 'The Freelancer'. He will be next seen in 'The Vaccine War'. The first look posters of 'The Vaccine War' cast were unveiled on Saturday and the film will be released on September 28. Kher also shared the look of his character from his 528th film, Telugu drama, 'Tiger Nageswara Rao'. 'Tiger Nageswara Rao' is a period film set in the 1970s based on real incidents around notorious and courageous thief and the people of Stuartpuram. Written and directed by Vamsee, the film is produced by Abhishek Agarwal under the Abhishek Agarwal Arts banner and presented by Tej Narayan Agarwal. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is reality of new world order: Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher praise PM Modi for success of G20 summit Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 10 P rime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Summit and discussed wide-ranging issues including defence, agriculture, millets, trade and investment. On his social media account X, PM Modi said that their talks were fruitful. "It was a delight to meet President Bola Tinubu earlier today. Our talks were fruitful and will surely add momentum to the strong relations between India and Nigeria. Our key focus areas are trade and cultural exchanges," PM Modi said. According to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, both leaders "held productive talks on various areas of wide-ranging bilateral cooperation, including in trade and investment, defence, agriculture, millets, financial technology and capacity building." President Tinubu congratulated the Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. He also thanked Prime Minister for ensuring the permanent membership of the African Union in the G20, and for promoting the interests of the Global South. The Nigerian President arrived in India on Tuesday. During his stay in India, the Nigerian President participated in the Nigeria-India Presidential Roundtable and the Nigeria-India Business Conference on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is the first head of state who arrived in the national capital for the G20 summit. On Saturday, the Nigerian president congratulated the African Union on becoming a permanent member of the G20. He further said that we look forward to further advancing our aspirations on the global stage using the G20 platform. "Congratulations to the @_AfricanUnion on becoming a permanent member of the #G20. As a continent, we look forward to further advancing our aspirations on the global stage using the G20 platform. Pic Indian PM @narendramodi and African Union Chairperson @PR_AZALI President Azali Assoumani of Comoros at the G20 Summit in Dehli, India #G20India, the Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu tweeted. This came after the African Union was made a permanent member of the Group of 20 countries on Saturday. In his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders' Summit, PM Modi invited the AU, represented by Chairperson Azali Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member. India organised the G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday and Sunday at the newly inaugurated Bharat Mandapam in the national capital. PM Modi, Nigerian President discusses defence, agriculture Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 10 P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, during his address on the second day of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, reaffirmed his call for global institutional reforms, including the expansion of the United Nations Security Council. He also highlighted several ideas and initiatives being advanced during India's G20 presidency, such as the development of Digital Public Infrastructure and the formation of the Startup 20 engagement group. He also called out the countries to come together for a framework against burning issues like cybersecurity, cryptocurrency, and framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance. Addressing session 3 'One future' of the G20 Summit on Sunday, PM Modi said, "Yesterday, we had extensive discussions in the One Earth and One Family sessions. I am satisfied that today the G-20 has become a platform for optimistic efforts regarding the vision of One Earth, One Family, One Future. I have continuously drawn your attention to Human Centric Vision instead of GDP Centric Approach". Prime Minister reiterated his stance of making global systems in accordance with the "realities of the present" and took the example of the United Nations Security Council. "When the UN was established, the world at that time was completely different from today. At that time there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200. Despite this, the permanent members in UNSC are still the same," he said. The Prime Minister said that a lot has changed in the world since that time, be it transport, communication, health, education, every sector has been transformed. "These new realities should be reflected in our new global structure. It is a law of nature that individuals and organizations that fail to adapt to changing times inevitably lose their relevance. We must think with an open mind as to what is the reason that many regional forums have come into existence in the past years, and they are also proving to be effective," he further said. While making a pitch for the reformation of global institutions, PM Modi also gave the example of making African Union a permanent member of the G20. "Today, it is necessary for every global organization to reform to increase its relevance. With this in mind, yesterday we have taken the historic initiative of making the African Union a permanent member of the G-20. Similarly, we will also have to expand the mandate of Multilateral Development Banks. Our decisions in this direction should be immediate and also effective," he added. Notably, the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member of the G20 was a major takeaway of India's Presidency. African Union's inclusion in G20 was among India's key priorities in the G20 summit under its presidency. African Union's inclusion in the G20 grouping was proposed by PM Modi in June this year. PM Modi further stated that India has so many ideas, that it has a lot to share with the whole world. "Today many countries like India have so much that we are sharing with the whole world. India has talked about sharing the data of the Chandrayaan Mission with everyone in the interest of humanity. This is also proof of our commitment towards Human Centric Growth. India has harnessed technology to foster inclusive development and facilitate last-mile delivery. Even in our most remote villages, the small-scale traders are using digital payments," PM Modi said. He added, "I am happy that under India's chairmanship, a strong framework for Digital Public Infrastructure has been agreed upon. Similarly, 'G20 Principles on Harnessing Data for Development' have also been accepted. It has also been decided to launch the 'Data for Development Capacity Building Initiative' for the development of Global South. Formation of Startup 20 engagement group during the Presidency of India is also a big step". Prime Minister Modi also raised the unprecedented scale and speed of new-generation technologies including Artificial Intelligence, and proposed a framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance. "Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented scale and speed in new-generation technologies. Artificial Intelligence is such example in front of us. In 2019, the we adopted the "Principles on AI". Today, we need to take one step further. I propose that we establish a framework for Responsible Human-Centric AI governance. India will also give its suggestions in this regard. It will be our endeavor that all countries get the benefits of AI in areas like Socio-Economic Development, Global Workforce and R&D," PM Modi said. PM Modi further raised concern over the burning issues like cyber security and crypto-currency, which are facing both the present as well as the future generations. "Today, our world is also facing some other burning problems, which are affecting both the present and future of all our countries. We are familiar with the challenges of cyber security and crypto-currency. The field of crypto-currency has emerged as a new topic for everyone i.e social order, monetary and financial stability. Therefore, we have to develop global standards to regulate crypto-currencies. We have the Basel standards on bank regulation in front of us as a model," the Prime Minister said. He added, "It is imperative that we take concrete steps in this direction as soon as possible. Likewise, global cooperation and a framework for cybersecurity are essential. Terrorism is exploiting new channels and new funding methods from the cyber world, making it a critical issue for the security and prosperity of every nation. Only when we take care of the security of every country and the sensitivity of every country, the feeling of One Future will be strengthened". He added that in a rapidly changing world market, not just transformation, but sustainability and stability are also needed. "Come! Let us pledge that we will take our resolutions of Green Development Pact, Action Plan on SDGs, High-level Principles on Anti-corruption, Digital Public Infrastructure, and MDB Reforms to fruition," PM Modi said while concluding his address at the Session 3. Earlier in the day, PM Modi announced the conclusion of the G20 Summit and proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. "As you all know India has the responsibility of G20 presidency till November 2023. In these two days, all of you gave a lot of suggestions and placed proposals. It is our duty to see how faster progress can be achieved on these," PM Modi said. He added, "I propose that at the end of November, we hold a virtual session of G20. We can review the topics decided in this Summit, in that virtual session. I hope you all will connect in the virtual session. With this, I declare the conclusion of the G20 Summit," he added. Before declaring that the summit had ended, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "I congratulate Brazilian President and my friend Lula da Silva and hand over the gavel of Presidency," PM Modi said. Earlier Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed over saplings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Session 3 of the G20 Summit. While Indonesia held the G20 presidency last year, Brazil will hold the presidency after India. India took over the G20 presidency on December 1 last year at the G20 Summit in Bali and will continue to hold it till the end of November. India' theme for the G20 Presidency was also 'One Earth One Family One Future', whose Sanskrit translation goes as 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. Notably, throughout India's presidency, raising the voice of Global South and the developing nations was at the forefront of New Delhi's agenda. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by G20 leaders on Saturday, the first day of the Summit, with full consensus, giving a show of India's diplomatic ability at the global level. AI, cybersecurity, reformation of multilateral forums: Key points from PM Modi's address at G20 Day-2 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 10 U nion Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday met Director General of World Trade Organisation Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in New Delhi. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night to participate in the G20 Summit on September 9, 10. Notably, India has been a WTO member since 1995, and a member of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade since 1948. In August this year, India and the US mutually resolved two separate disputes at WTO with regard to certain measures on steel and aluminium products, and additional duties on certain products from the US. Earlier, India and the US mutually resolved all six trade disputes pending at the WTO. This came in line with the commitment affirmed by the two leaders -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden -- during the former's state visit to the US. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organized in 60 cities across the country. Meanwhile, PM Modi on Sunday announced the conclusion of the G20 Summit and proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. "As you all know India has the responsibility of G20 presidency till November 2023. In these two days, all of you gave a lot of suggestions and placed proposals. It is our duty to see how faster progress can be achieved on these," PM Modi said. "I propose that at the end of November, we hold a virtual session of G20. We can review the topics decided in this Summit, in that virtual session. I hope you all will connect in the virtual session. With this, I declare the conclusion of the G20 Summit," he added. Before declaring that the summit had ended, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. "I congratulate the Brazilian President and my friend Lula da Silva and hand over the gavel of Presidency," PM Modi said. Earlier Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva handed over saplings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Session 3 of the G20 Summit. While Indonesia held the G20 presidency last year, Brazil will hold the presidency after India. India took over the G20 presidency on December 1 last year at the G20 Summit in Bali and will continue to hold it till the end of November. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by G20 leaders on Saturday, the first day of the Summit. The G20 leaders visited Rajghat on Sunday morning to pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Union Minister Piyush Goyal meets WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in New Delhi Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Comoros President thanks PM Modi for his efforts in making African Union permanent member of G20 New Delhi, September 10 P resident of Comoros and chairperson of the African Union, Azali Assoumani on Sunday thanked PM Modi for his initiative and efforts in making the African Union a permanent member of the G20. The two leaders on Sunday held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The President of the Union of Comoros shared his particular pleasure that this had occurred during India's G20 Presidency, considering India's role and links with Africa. He felt this would also give a boost to India-Comoros relations. He further congratulated the Prime Minister for the success of India's G20 Presidency, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs . During the meeting, PM Modi congratulated the African Union and Comoros on joining the G20 and highlighted India's efforts to articulate the Voice of Global South and recalled the Voice of Global South Summit convened by India in January 2023. Both leaders also had an opportunity to discuss their bilateral partnership. They expressed satisfaction at the numerous initiatives underway, and discussed opportunities for cooperation in areas like maritime security, capacity building and development partnership, as per the release. Assoumani, on Sunday, said India is a superpower in terms of "inhabitance" and "ahead of China now". Assoumani said as the fifth superpower in the world, there was enough room for India in Africa. "India is the 5th superpower in the world so there is enough room for India in Africa. We also know that India is so powerful that it went to space. So we just need to coordinate...India is a superpower in terms of inhabitance, India is ahead of China now," the AU chairperson said. He also praised India for advancements in space research. Opening up on the moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged him after formally inducting the African Union into the G20 family, the AU Chairperson said it was an emotional one for him. He added that he thought there would be a debate before a decision is arrived at but the African Union was announced as part of the G20 family at the very outset of the two-day summit on Sunday. "I was about to cry. It was a great emotion for me. Because actually, we thought that there was going to be a debate and then a decision would be taken but at the very beginning of the Summit it was announced that we were a member," he said. In his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders' Summit on Saturday, PM Modi invited the African Union, represented by Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member. The African Union chairperson expressed his gratitude to the G20 member countries for the historic inclusion of the bloc in the G20 family. Assoumani took to his official handle on 'X' to post, "The G20 has just ratified, through the voice of the Prime Minister of India, @narendramodi, the admission of the @_AfricanUnion into its fold. On behalf of the African continent, I sincerely thank all the member countries of @g20org for this historic admission." Earlier on Sunday, PM Modi called the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 a "significant stride" towards a more inclusive global dialogue. He stated that India was looking forward to collaborative efforts that benefit the entire world. African Union is a union consisting of 55 member states in Africa. The move to include the African Union in the G20 grouping was proposed by PM Modi earlier this June. Comoros President thanks PM Modi for his efforts in making African Union permanent member of G20 Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New York, Sep 11 A mid ongoing debate by countries to legalise psychedelic drugs, researchers in a new study discussed the therapeutic use of psychedelics -- focusing on the use of psilocybin for treatment of depression. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in so-called "magic mushrooms." Many recent clinical trials have reported positive effects of psilocybin in treating psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, many challenges remain in defining their clinical benefits and overcoming the complex regulatory obstacles to their use. "At a time of growing excitement regarding the potential use of psychedelic agents to improve outcomes of otherwise intractable disorders, psychiatrists and patients alike need perspective on the current state of the evidence and the prospects moving forward," said lead author Amir Garakani, from the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, in Connecticut, US. Evidence suggests that therapeutic responses to psilocybin "stem from, or at least go hand-in-hand with, an intense emotional or mystical experience," Garakani said in the paper published in the September issue of Journal of Psychiatric Practice. Studies suggest that psilocybin leads to increased "openness to experience" and psychological flexibility -- enabling patients to "reconsider stereotyped perspectives and move beyond accustomed patterns of thinking." Research into psilocybin's biological effects suggest increased activity between brain networks, without corresponding increases within single networks. Greater changes in brain network flexibility have been linked to lasting reductions in depression symptoms six months later. Clinical trial registries show a "multitude" of studies planned or in progress, targeting MDD, TRD, and other conditions such as cancer-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. "The large number and wide-ranging scope of ongoing and future psilocybin trials not only show the interest in this drug in the scientific community but also the potential therapeutic role of psychedelics across diagnoses and clinical domains," the researchers said. Overall, "psilocybin has demonstrated promise as a novel therapeutic and offers new perspectives on the function and dysfunction of the brain," to the researchers. However, they added: "(I)t remains to be seen if the current clinical, legal, and research landscapes will allow delivery on that promise." Earlier this year, Australia became the first country to announce approval for psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin treatment for TRD. In the US, psilocybin has been designated as a "breakthrough therapy" for TRD and MDD. While two states have legalised or decriminalised psilocybin (Oregon and Colorado, respectively), it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law. An official American Psychiatric Association position states that there is "currently inadequate scientific evidence" to endorse the use of psychedelics for treatment of any psychiatric disorder, outside of approved research studies. Nevertheless, "the research evidence presented here offers further support for the potential of psychedelics in mental health care," Dr Garakani said. Will magic mushrooms help against treatment-resistant depression? Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 B razil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday expressed his delight on the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance and said that this is the happiest decision for Brazil as they have been fighting for it. While addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Lula emphasized that Brazil will continue to improve ethanol production. "We continue to improve the ethanol production in Brazil. Everybody knows what role Brazil plays in ethanol as an alternative to oil. This is the happiest decision for Brazil as we have been fighting for it," Lula said. PM Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the Global Biofuels Alliance in the presence of US President Joe Biden, President of Brazil Luiz Inacio, President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni. Brazil's President further said that the country has tech control on biofuels. "Brazil has tech control on biofuels and this initiative is important for our future," he said. Lula also appreciated that the world is now perceiving that biofuel could solve the issues of greenhouse gas effects and emissions. "Finally, the world is now perceiving that biofuel could solve the major issue which is the greenhouse gas effects, and emissions...," he added. The Global Biofuel Alliance was one of the priorities under India's G20 Presidency. This Alliance will place emphasis on strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuels trade, developing concrete policy lesson-sharing and providing technical support for national biofuels programs worldwide. "The launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance marks a watershed moment in our quest towards sustainability and clean energy. I thank the member nations who have joined this Alliance," PM Modi wrote on 'X' formerly Twitter on Saturday. The alliance will work towards enhancing global collaboration and cooperation for the accelerated adoption of biofuels by identifying global best practices for the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels and bio-products. Nineteen countries agreed to stand with India as initiating members of the Global Biofuels Alliance. The International Energy Agency estimates in a July report that global sustainable biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put the world's energy system on track towards net zero emissions by 2050. India is targeting to become carbon neutral by 2070 and is expanding the use of biofuel in its transport sector. It has advanced the deadline by five years to 2025 for doubling nationwide ethanol blending in gasoline to 20 per cent. The alliance will help by encouraging global biofuels trade, developing concrete policies on lesson-sharing and promoting the provision of technical support for national biofuels programmes worldwide. At the press conference on Monday, Brazil President Lula also spoke about the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council . "We also want to discuss permanent membership of the UN Security Council which is important for us to change the geography of 1945 and put on the new map of 2024 which is the year when we are going to have the discussion, the G20 in Brazil," Lula said. Happiest decision for Brazil: Brazil President Lula on Global Biofuels Alliance Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 P rime Minister Narendra Modi and and the visiting Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman held the first leaders' meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council on Monday. The agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others, the External Affairs Ministry said. The Crown Prince is currently on a state-visit to India. He had arrived on September 9 to attend the G20 Summit and will be departing for Riyadh on Monday. During the meeting, both the leaders reviewed the progress made under the two Ministerial Committees of the Strategic Partnership Council -- the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation and the Committee on Economy and Investments Cooperation. India and Saudi Arabia have historically close and friendly relations with extensive people-to-people contacts. The trade between both countries reached all time high of $52.75 billion in 2022-23. India is Saudi Arabia's second largest trading partner whereas Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner. Both countries also have a strong partnership in the area of energy. Modi holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince, reviews wide range of bilateral issues Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday spoke by phone with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Prime Minister's Office reported. The Prime Ministers Office said in a readout that Pashinyan and Erdogan discussed Armenian-Turkish relations and regional issues. During the conversation Armenian-Turkish relations and regional issues were discussed. Both leaders underlined that achieving a lasting peace and stability in the region will contribute to the development and prosperity of all countries of the region, and stated that they shall continue diplomatic efforts to this end, the Prime Ministers Office said. London, Sep 11 U K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he raised the case of a Scottish Sikh detained in India since 2017 during his talks with counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a BBC report said. While the UK Foreign Office ruled out intervening in the Jagtar Singh Johal's case on September 8, Sunak, under pressure to highlight the issue, said he raised it along with other consular issues. He did not provide details, but said "The Foreign Office is continuing to provide support to Mr Johal's family and will continue to do so." In response to the development, campaigners for Johal said the UK government should declare Modi's response to Sunak on the issue, and that it is "meaningless" if the Prime Minister didn't call for "immediate release", the BBC reported on Sunday. "What did Rishi Sunak say to Narendra Modi about the case and how did he respond? Without answers to these questions, the prime minister's talk is meaningless," Maya Foa, Director of human rights group Reprieve, told the BBC. The UK Sikh Federation said Sunak had appeared "very reluctant" to press Johal's case since entering No 10, and "has demonstrated his weakness and lack of leadership by shamefully failing to stand up for the rights of a British citizen". "Rishi Sunak and his Foreign Office ministers are now talking utter nonsense in terms of Jagtar's best interests and justice. They appear scared and clueless on how best to apply diplomatic pressure on India and are leaving it to the corrupt Indian judicial system," Dabinderjit Singh, the principal adviser to the Sikh Federation, told the BBC. Sunak's action came after a group of more than 70 MPs called on him last week to urge Prime Minister Modi to secure the 36-year-old Sikh campaigner's "immediate release". En route New Delhi for the G20 Summit on September 9-10, Sunak, on being asked whether he would be raising the case, said that he would be "raising a range of things with Prime Minister Modi -- this (Johal's case) is something that, just so people are reassured, has already been raised on multiple levels on multiple occasions". Johal's brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, a lawyer and Labour councillor, said he is "pleased" that Sunak has raised the case with Modi but it is "not enough". "Raising (the case) is not enough unless he has called for Jagtar's release in line with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's findings. I fear that this is just more talk from the UK government and no action," Gurpreet told the BBC. Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton was in Punjab for his wedding when he was arrested from Jalandhar on November 4, 2017, over his alleged role in killings by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terrorist organisation. His family claims that he was tortured, including through electric shocks, before being made to sign a blank confession document -- allegations that have been denied by the Indian authorities. In May 2022, the UN working group on arbitrary detention concluded that he had been arbitrarily detained and that his detention breached international human rights law. He is currently being held at the Tihar Jail in Delhi and faces a possible death penalty over eight charges of conspiracy to murder, linked to political violence in India. Denying all the charges against him, Jagtar Singh Johal says his arrest and trial are political. Sunak confirms raising British Sikh's detention with Modi: Report Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 A s the G20 Summit successfully concluded with 100 per cent consensus on New Delhi Declaration, most of the international media have praised India and spoken of its rising clout as the voice of the Global South. The Washington Post lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in addressing global concerns and receiving 100 per cent consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The post lead with a story titled, "India forges compromise among divided world powers at the G20 summit in a diplomatic win for Modi." Dubai based media organisation, Gulf News emphasized on the aspect of how the 18th G20 Summit shaped the world in harmony and diversity and shared their story with the headline, "18th G20 Summit Shaping a world of diversity and harmony." Australian news outlet ABC news however saw the Delhi declaration as being watered down in its language on the conflict in Ukraine. ABC news wrote "Anthony Albanese hails watered down agreement as G20 summit wraps." Albanese on Saturday termed the G20 Summit hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "successful" and also stated that the New Delhi Summit was followed by a good bilateral discussion between the two leaders. As the G20 Summit culminated with productive initiatives, British daily broadsheet, The Telegraph spoke about India's move to become the highlight of the New World Order. Their story read "Why India is poised to become the centre of the New World Order." At the G20 Summit, India's presidency gave importance to global multi stakeholder collaboration as a means to tackle common challenges like the climate crisis and shows the path of global harmony and green finance. Qatar based Al Jazeera highlighted that Russia had applauded the balanced declaration as the G20 Summit successfully comes to an end. "Russia praises 'balanced' declaration as summit concludes" Al Jazeera a story stated as their headline. South China Morning Post story read "US, Russia praise G20 summit declaration as India meeting closes." US President Joe Biden on Sunday had said that this year's G20 summit has proved that the group can still drive solutions to the most pressing issues of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict. Taking to X, US President said, "At a moment when the global economy is suffering from the overlapping shocks of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict, this year's Summit proved that the G20 can still drive solutions to our most pressing issues." Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday described the New Delhi G20 Summit as "a milestone" and said the active role of the Indian presidency "has genuinely consolidated" the G20 countries from the Global South for the first time in history. Earlier, Chief Coordinator of India's G20 Presidency, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that the G20 Summit has provided India with an opportunity to showcase its diversity, legacy and digital public infrastructure. After G20 Summit success, World media hails India's presidency Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New York, September 11 I n the chilly waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, scientists have long speculated that two kinds of sea stars--commonly known as starfish--found along the rocky coastlines of Europe and North America may have interbred. Hybrid starfish are already present and prospering along the coasts of New England and the Canadian Maritimes, according to freshly analysed genomic data. A new study, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, presents genomic evidence of hybridization between two closely related species of sea stars- Asterias rubens, the common starfish, and Asterias forbesi, known as Forbes' sea star. "It is the first genome-wide evidence of extensive hybridization in an ecologically important coastal species," said corresponding author Melina Giakoumis, who is a PhD candidate with the Graduate Center's Biology program and associate director of the Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History. The biologists set out to find whether the sea stars were crossbreeding in the wild, and if so, what environmental factors influenced its occurrence. The researchers took DNA samples from both species at 33 sites in the North Atlantic and then conducted DNA sequencing that included samples from Asterias amurensis, the Northern Pacific sea star, used as a control group. Through the genomic data, the scientists found that widespread hybridization had occurred between the two species of sea stars from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. The sea stars were shown to have different environmental preferences A forbesi has a limited geographic range with adaption to local environments, and A rubens have a wider range that extends all the way to Western Europe. These preferences are also apparent in their genomes, the researchers said. The study's species distribution models accurately predicted hybrid zones to occur where these ranges overlapped -- the Gulf of Maine being at the centre of hybridization -- suggesting that environmental selection played an important role in the preservation of hybrid zones. Additionally, the results indicate that A. forbesi has a higher tolerance for warmer temperatures, while A rubens prefers colder habitats, and hybrids are found in areas with temperatures that are tolerable by both species. The study highlights the ecological importance of both sea stars, considered to be "keystone species" with significant impacts on surrounding marine communities. When they're removed from their intertidal communities--the coastal zones between high and low tide--diversity among those entire ecosystems has been shown to collapse, Giakoumis said. "Two questions arise from this study," said Michael Hickerson, a biology professor with the CUNY Graduate Center and City College of New York, and Giakoumis' advisor. "Will the hybrids' move to follow the changes in sea surface temperatures accelerate to the point of one species replacing the other? Or will they rescue the two species by being a source of gene combinations that allow greater resilience to climatic changes due to increased adaptive variation? "Since sea stars preferentially eat dominant competitors, they provide stability to the ecosystem," the biologist explained. "These species are therefore crucial to study for marine conservation, as they have rippling effects throughout the rest of the community." Giakoumis notes that the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99 per cent of the global ocean. "Our results imply that the distribution of genomic variation in North Atlantic sea stars is influenced by the environment, which will be crucial to consider as the climate changes," she adds. Hybridization is believed to be common in nature, Giakoumis points out, and it has been observed more often as genomic data expands. As the first study to offer genome-wide proof of hybridization in these sea star species, the research supports the work of evolutionary biologists and other scientists who study intertidal ecology, the authors said, with possible implications for wildlife management and protection of intertidal zones in the North Atlantic. Scientists detect sea star hybridization in North Atlantic Ocean Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Mumbai, September 11 A ctor Vijay Sethupathi who is currently getting a lot of praise for his performance in the action thriller 'Jawan' on Monday unveiled the first look poster of his next film 'Maharaja'. Taking to Instagram, Vijay shared a couple of pictures which he captioned, "#MaharajaFirstLook." https//www.instagram.com/p/CxA2IKYJmzF/?img_index=1 In the intriguing poster, Vijay could be seen sitting on a chair with a wounded ear, holding a sickle with blood stains on it. Soon after he dropped the first look poster, fans swamped down the comment section and dropped red hearts and fire emoticons. "Mass vijay anaa..," a fan commented. Another fan wrote, "Best wishes..." Written and directed by Nithilan Saminathan, 'Maharaja' marks Vijay's 50th project. Meanwhile, Vijay is currently basking in the success of this recently released Pan-India film 'Jawan'. Helmed by Atlee, the film also starred Shah Rukh Khan and Nayanthara in the lead roles. On Sunday, the SRK- Vijay starrer minted a whopping Rs 71.63 crores which took the film's total collection to Rs 252.08 crores. This is the highest single-day collection for any Hindi film ever. Taking to Instagram, trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared a post and wrote, "#Jawan is BEYOND HISTORIC... Rewrites RECORD BOOKS... HIGHEST *single day* AND *extended opening weekend* EVER ... Smashes *ALL* records... Thu 65.50 cr, Fri 46.23 cr, Sat 68.72 cr, Sun 71.63 cr. Total ? 252.08 cr. #Hindi. #India biz. #Boxoffice #JawanCreatesHistory. #Jawan Thu 9.50 cr, Fri 7 cr, Sat 9.11 cr, Sun 8.47 cr. Total ? 34.08 cr. OUTSTANDING." Vijay will be next seen in director Sriram Raghavan's next 'Merry Christmas' opposite actor Katrina Kaif. 'Merry Christmas' is all set to hit the theatres on December 15. Vijay Sethupathi unveils 'Maharaja' first look poster Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 M inistry of External Affairs Secretary, Ausaf Sayeed informed that India and Saudi have begun discussions on trading between both countries in national currencies and added that for this the proposals and consultations have been exchanged on Monday. "The two sides have started discussing this. It is only at a discussion stage, proposals and concept notes have been exchanged. The Saudi side is aware that we have worked out similar arrangements with other countries in the region. So, the discussions will be beginning or have already begun," Secretary Sayeed said. In recent times, India has taken substantial steps to promote the usage of its national currency, the Indian rupee, in international transactions. Collaborating with banks from 22 different countries, India has established special rupee vostro accounts in domestic banks, facilitating trading in national currencies. As India continues to expand its footprint in the global trade arena, the adoption of the LCS system with the UAE sets a precedent for innovative trade practices that can reshape the course of international commerce. Banks from 18 countries have been permitted by the Reserve Bank of India to open Special Vostro Rupee Accounts for settling payments in Indian rupees, the government told the Rajya Sabha. In response to a question from BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi, Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said SVRAs could be set up by banks of partner countries by approaching Authorised Dealer banks in India that may get permission from the RBI after the due procedure. Earlier after the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said that discussions on trade settlements in national currency have been very positive within the BRICS framework. India has recently started taking strong steps in trying to put structures in place before trade settlements in national currencies. Secretary Kwatra also spoke on the India-Dirham rupee trade settlement mechanism with the United Arab Emirates. "Most recently, a couple of months ago, we signed the India-Dirham rupee trade settlement mechanism with UAE. Now, India's trade with UAE is roughly 90 billion dollars, more or less balanced. It opens up a good opportunity for both India and the UAE to explore that space," he said. Earlier, the President of the UAE and PM Modi on July 15 witnessed the exchange of MoUs between the Reserve Bank of India and UAE Central Bank for the establishment of a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions and another one for the bilateral cooperation on interlinking their payment and messaging systems. The signing of the Local currency settlement agreement took place during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE. India-Saudi start discussions on trading in national currencies: MEA Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 I ndia and Saudi Arabia have signed as many as eight agreements during the State visit of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, said Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. Addressing a press briefing on the State visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Secretary Ausaf Sayeed said, "I am happy to share with you that during this visit as many as eight agreements have been signed." The agreements signed are in the field of energy, in the field of digitalization and electronic manufacturing, and cooperation between India's Central Vigilance Commission and Saudi Anti-corruption. There was an agreement between the two investment entities, India and Saudi counterparts Exim banks, Small and Medium Enterprises Banks and an agreement on desalination. An agreement was also signed on renewable energy. "One is the field of energy which was signed by the Saudi Minister of Energy and our Minister of New and Renewable Energy," said Sayeed. "Then there was an agreement between the agreement in the field of digitalisation and electronic manufacturing between the IT ministries of both sides," he said. Another agreement was between Central Vigilance Commission of India and its counterpart the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority. "And the fourth agreement was between the National Archives. Then there was an agreement between the two investment entities, that is Invest India on the Indian side and the Ministry of Investment on Saudi side," said Sayeed. "There was another agreement between the two EXIM banks and there was also another agreement between the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank banks of two sides, that is SIDBI and the SME Bank of Saudi Arabia," the Secretary said, adding, "And the last one was in the field of Desalination." Over two dozen Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Saudi Arabia companies, ranging from Information Technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources, among other sectors. "The Crown Prince congratulated India for a very successful G20 meeting with a lot of major outcomes in the meeting...The two sides expressed their happiness at the launching of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor...PM also congratulated the Kingdom on becoming a full member of the BRICS...," said the MEA Secretary. These MoUs were signed between private companies of both countries, including Serum Institute of India, HP, VFS Global, and ICICI Bank. The signing of the MoUs was facilitated by Invest India and Saudi Arabia's investment ministry. The signing of the agreements happened as Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud began his State visit after having participated in the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit on Saturday and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. In a brief statement, Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. "Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries" he said. Earlier today, the Saudi Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremonial welcome was followed by a bilateral between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. India, Saudi Arabia inked 8 agreements during State visit of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Bengaluru, September 11 P rime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte while speaking at the CEO Round Table Meeting organised at Vidhana Soudha said on Monday that the Dutch nation is keen to enhance economic cooperation with Karnataka. PM Rutte stated that the Netherlands aims to provide Dutch companies operating in Karnataka with an opportunity to engage in discussions on strategic matters of mutual interest, focusing on economic growth and investment prospects. The meeting deliberated prominently on investment climate, regulatory and legislative procedures, and collaborations in the areas of agriculture and horticulture among other things. Mark Rutte stated that Karnataka is home to 9pc of Dutch investments in India with a presence of over 25 Dutch companies. Karnataka is also home to Global house Centres of Shell and Philips, he added. Deputy DK Shivakumar, Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge were among those who represented the Karnataka government. Speaking about the meeting, DK Shivakumar said, "The Netherlands delegation has discussed several matters. It has also sought implementation of a transparent and fair excise policy. A meeting would be soon held to sort out issues for facilitating Dutch investments in the state." Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil said that the government of Karnataka looks forward to increased investments from the Netherlands across various industries like food processing, biotech, pharma, Innovation and R&D among others. There is also enough scope for investments in the tourism sector, he said. Patil informed the Dutch delegation that the government would set up KHIR City on 1,000 acres near Bengaluru International Airport. Radovan Sikorsky, CFO, Board Member Heineken expressed that being the largest MNC investor in Karnataka for marketing and brewing of premium beer under the Kingfisher & Heineken brands, Heineken is looking for a fair and transparent regulatory regime that promotes the growth of the beer category in the State and offers premium products to its consumers. Peter Lochbihler, Senior Director of Global Public Affairs, Booking.com, wanted to know Karnataka's views on the Indian government's efforts to draft a new Digital India Act, to introduce amendments to the Competition law and new liability on intermediary platforms across numerous sectors. Arvind Vaishnav, Head of Philips Innovation Campus from Philips India Limited stated that the Company will be shifting the campus this year to a new campus on the upcoming IT corridor located en route to Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. Given this, Philips expects support from the government in ensuring the employees around 5,000 to have easy access to BMTC's Volvo buses to and from the Embassy Business Hub in Yelahanka, he said. Besides, he sought the government's intervention in extending industrial tariffs or a 20pc subsidy on the power expenses to remain competitive in its operations in Bengaluru. Additionally, Philips would like help from Karnataka to facilitate the ease of GST refunds. Philips would also require support in getting hassle-free import of used healthcare equipment, he explained. Christiaan van de Koppel, Commercial Director KLM, Indian Sub-continent, said that the KLM would be interested to hear the vision the go for further developing SEZs in Karnataka. Chairman, Shell Group of Companies in India, said that there exist opportunities to create meaningful pathways for 2G Biofuels in India . He wanted to know about the support/incentives the government would extend for the same. Maurice Geraets, Co-CEO NXP Netherlands, Country Manager NXP India opined that there is a need to explore how can the Netherlands and Karnataka better team up R&D for Al, and automotive with academia and startups. Marc Broskij, COO and Member of the Executive Board of KPMG Netherlands, Venkata Chunduru, Director and Head India Operations, Arcadis, Viswanath Pudukkod, CEO Randstad India, Dilip Rajan, COO of East-West Seed Group Henri Oosthoek, Chairman and Advisory Board of Koppert, Harendra Singh, Managing Director, and Rijk Zwaan India were among the Netherlands business delegation. Chief Secretary to the government Vandita Sharma, Silva Kumar, ACS, Department of Industries and others were present. Keen to enhance economic cooperation with Karnataka, says Netherlands PM Mark Rutte Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, September 11 P resident Droupadi Murmu and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Monday met at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NSA Ajit Doval, Union Ministers and other delegates from Saudi Arabia were also present at the gathering which was addressed by President Murmu and the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. President Murmu said "I have faith that your meeting with PM Modi on strategic partnership and your participation in G20 summit have strengthened the ties between two countries further..." The President further said "While discussing with you today, I am happy to note that over the years our bilateral partnership has expanded significantly in all areas ranging from politics, defence, security, trade and investment, energy, culture and people-to-people ties." "Saudi Arabia has accepted a large number of immigrants from India and given them an opportunity to flourish," she said. Meanwhile, the Saudi Crown Prince extended his gratitude to India for the warm welcome and hospitality during his visit to India. "We the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia value the historical relationship between the two countries, and we look forward to deepening cooperation in all areas," he said. The Saudi Crown Prince on Saturday arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and PM Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and others were present in the meeting. Prior to his meeting with PM Modi, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu welcomed the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Saudi Crown Prince then inspected a combined defence services Guard of Honour. In a brief statement, Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. Speaking to reporters, he said, "Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries." Meanwhile, India and Saudi Arabia have signed as many as eight agreements during the Saudi Crown Prince's India visit, said Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. Addressing a press briefing on the State visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Secretary Ausaf Sayeed said, "I am happy to share with you that during this visit as many as eight agreements have been signed." The agreements signed are in the field of energy, in the field of digitalization and electronic manufacturing, and cooperation between India's Central Vigilance Commission and Saudi Anti-corruption. There was an agreement between the two investment entities, India and Saudi counterparts Exim banks, Small and Medium Enterprises Banks and an agreement on desalination. An agreement was also signed on renewable energy. "One is the field of energy which was signed by the Saudi Minister of Energy and our Minister of New and Renewable Energy," said Sayeed. "Then there was an agreement between the agreement in the field of digitalisation and electronic manufacturing between the IT ministries of both sides," he said. Another agreement was between Central Vigilance Commission of India and its counterpart the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority. "And the fourth agreement was between the National Archives. Then there was an agreement between the two investment entities, that is Invest India on the Indian side and the Ministry of Investment on Saudi side," said Sayeed. "There was another agreement between the two EXIM banks and there was also another agreement between the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank banks of two sides, that is SIDBI and the SME Bank of Saudi Arabia," the Secretary said, adding, "And the last one was in the field of Desalination." Over two dozen Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Saudi Arabia companies, ranging from Information Technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources, among other sectors. President Murmu meets Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Delhi Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Sep 11 A s many as 50 MoUs were signed on Monday between India and Saudi Arabia in the fields of ICT, entrepreneurship, chemicals, energy and advanced manufacturing, during the India-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum held here. The forum coincided with the state visit of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and followed the G20 Leaders meeting, where the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was announced. Some of the key pacts inked during the forum were an MoU in energy between Al Jomaih Energy and Water and Avaada Energy Private Ltd, in collaboration for EPC and co-development of solar, wind, hybrid, and battery energy storage solutions projects in Middle East. An agreement with the goal of establishing Petromin Express service centres in HPCL-operated fuel stations throughout India, between Petromin and HPCL was also signed on the occasion. An MoU to cooperate in energy technology between Desert Technologies and Goldi Solar was inked. Also a pact in human resources between ARCO and Indian Personal Export Promotion Council and the Association of Overseas Recruiting Agents, was signed during the forum. The India-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum was attended by Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Invest India Managing Director and CEO Nivruti Rai. 50 MoUs signed at India-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! October 27, 2023 11:33 Mijatovic: Azerbaijan must guarantee Armenians human rights, including to return to their homes in safety Human rights violations have again marked the last chapter of the long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in and around the Karabakh region. Full respect for human rights of all and strict adherence to relevant international standards should be now placed at the centre of the path towards reconciliation and durable peace between the two countries, said the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, at the end of her visit to Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region, which took place from 16 to 23 October 2023. Champaign, IL (61820) Today A mix of clouds and sun, with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 38F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low around 25F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Sara Sharif was found dead in Woking (PA) Ten close relatives of the father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif have been detained for questioning by police in Pakistan. Saras father, Urfan Sharif, 41, and his partner Beinash Batool, 29, fled the UK for Pakistan after Sara was found dead and alone at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. A post-mortem examination found she had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period of time. A police spokesman in Jehlum, 108 miles north-west of Lahore, said the girls father and his wife were in hiding and 10 close relatives have been taken into custody for questioning and an investigation. Among those detained include Mohammad Sharif, the father of Urfan Sharif, his brothers and cousins, the spokesman said. Police in Pakistan often detain the close relatives of wanted suspects. However, they are not kept in jail to avoid the intervention of a court. On Wednesday, Saras stepmother spoke publicly for the first time since the little girl was found dead. In a clip of the footage posted online by Sky, Batool shows no emotion as she describes Saras death as an incident and says that she and Sharif are willing to co-operate with UK authorities over the case. Sharif and Batool left Britain with five children aged between one and 13, and Surrey Police want to question them over Saras death. Saras mother Olga Sharif gave an interview to the Polish television programme Uwaga! in which she spoke of the harrowing experience of going to view her daughters body. She said: One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised. Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like. Ms Sharif separated from her husband in 2015 and Sara and her older brother had been living with her until 2019, when the family court ruled they should live with their father. Ms Sharif still had equal rights to see the children and said while that was easy to maintain initially, it became increasingly harder over time. Story continues Saras grandfather has told the BBC the girls death was an accident and three family members who left the UK for Pakistan will ultimately return to face police questioning. Muhammad Sharif said he saw Saras father soon after he arrived in the city of Jhelum, in the South Asian country, and said his son had fled the UK out of fear. Surrey Police are appealing for information to help them gain a picture of Saras life. Safety-net hospitals have a common mission to provide care for Medicaid beneficiaries and those who are uninsured, but there's no universal definition for these hospitals-;complicating efforts to allocate funding. In a new analysis published in JAMA Network Open and led by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health, the research team looked at five established definitions for safety-net hospitals and found that different criteria captured varying hospitals and characteristics. As a result, when the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) use one definition to allocate funding, some hospitals are excluded and may not receive the necessary funding to continue providing care. In an effort to characterize the safety net and inform hospital funding decisions, policymakers and researchers have developed a range of definitions for safety-net hospitals, taking into account factors such as uncompensated care costs, hospital ownership, and patients covered by Medicaid. One such definition, Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, was developed by CMS to allocate funding to safety-net hospitals. DSH payments are calculated based on the share of care provided to patients receiving social security payments, Medicare coverage, and Medicaid coverage. In their analysis, the researchers looked at the characteristics of 5,955 U.S. hospitals captured in the 2020 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. They applied five different definitions of safety-net hospitals: those with the most DSH payments, Medicaid inpatient days, Medicaid inpatient days or public hospitals, public hospitals or teaching hospitals, and public hospitals. They also looked at different characteristics of the hospitals, including whether they were rural, for profit or nonprofit, number of beds, whether they were in a Medicaid expansion state, and the clinical complexity of their patients. The analysis found that each safety-net definition encompassed a considerably different set of hospitals with varying characteristics. For instance, defining safety-net hospitals using only DSH payments accounted for 11.4% of U.S. hospitals and included the fewest rural and public facilities, while defining safety-net hospitals as public or teaching hospitals encompassed more than half (55.2%) of hospitals. The researchers recommend the adoption of a universal definition or safety-net hospital index to create a more precise tool to identify hospitals for funding. This index should incorporate characteristics beyond financial expenditures to include community and service characteristics that can better capture which hospitals care for vulnerable populations." Elizabeth McNeill, doctoral candidate at the NYU School of Global Public Health and study's first author They also note the risk of allocating funding based on Medicaid care in light of uneven Medicaid coverage across the country. States that have not expanded Medicaid coverage may increase the proportion of uninsured individuals who need care from safety-net hospitals, driving up their costs for uncompensated care. "Employing a definition for safety-net hospitals based on Medicaid days will underestimate the needs of hospitals in non-expansion states," said Ji Chang, assistant professor of public health policy and management at NYU School of Global Public Health and the study's senior author. "A universal definition or index that includes hospital services in addition to Medicaid care would identify more facilities as safety-net hospitals in these states." Additional study authors include Diana Silver of NYU School of Global Public Health, Cory Cronin and Berkeley Franz of Ohio University, and Neeraj Puro of Florida Atlantic University. The study was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R34 DA055228). Recently, Autobios Automated Mass Spectrometry Microbial Identification System, Autof MS Series, has obtained the EU IVDR (In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation) Class C registration certificate from the EU Notified Body. Since May 26, 2022, the EU has fully implemented the new In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation EU 2017/746 (IVDR). The new regulation imposes stricter requirements on technical documentation review, clinical evaluation, and post-market surveillance, among other aspects. In-vitro diagnostic products of Class B, C, and D all require certification from a Notified Body. These regulatory changes demand manufacturers to ensure higher product quality and traceability throughout the supply chain to the end-users. Autobio's Autof MS Series is independently developed and manufactured, with multiple proprietary patents in hardware, software, databases, and supporting reagent kits. Compared to traditional identification methods, mass spectrometry detection offers advantages such as simplicity, speed, and accuracy, significantly enhancing laboratory work efficiency. Its main advantages include: - Long-life laser for stable excitation, leading to faster, more accurate detection, and increased scalability. - Innovative optical shaping system greatly enhances sample ionization efficiency and improves spectral peak quality. - Titanium mass analyzer reduces ion flight interference for more accurate results. - Immediate detection after injection, completing the analysis of 96 samples in just a few minutes. - Comprehensive database with over 5,000 microbial species and more than 16,000 strains, regularly updated for users, with additional valuable information and resources for gene, biochemical, and drug sensitivity analysis. - Calibration and quality control reagent kits available, providing convenience, time-saving, and no biological safety risks, supporting ISO 15189 accreditation for laboratories. In 2019, Autof Ms Series entered the overseas market and has been sold to more than ten countries, including Poland, Greece, Italy, and France. Its performance and reliability have been widely recognized by international customers. Cerba HealthCare, a leading global player in medical diagnosis, today announced it has acquired CIRION BIOPHARMA RESEARCH INC (CIRION), a Canadian-controlled private company highly recognized for its integrated bioanalytical and global central laboratory services. CIRION, a leading contract research organization has been operating global clinical trials over 30 years. Besides its bioanalytical capabilities highly specialized in Biosimilars/Biologics development including PKPD and Immunogenicity testing, it offers central lab full solutions with fast start-up capabilities for managing international multi-center clinical studies and supports specimen management for complex development projects. The company has a workforce of over 80 employees comprised of PhD holders, medical specialists and a network of renowned university researchers. Cerba HealthCare appreciates CIRIONs reputation for its deep expertise with Large Molecules development and, high-quality services being fully GLP compliant, with an impressive client base including some of the worlds top 10 global pharmaceutical companies. Being CAP (College of American Pathologists) and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) accredited assures that their lab is scientifically endorsed to regulatory standards in the North American market. CIRION offers a full range of services, from the development of specialized assays to laboratory testing required for clinical studies, allowing the company to meet the complex needs of their reputable clients. Furthermore, the company provides R&D services from preclinical drug discovery to phase IV clinical stage drug development. Within Cerba HealthCares comprehensive Group offering, and ranking under the Cerba Research brand, clinical laboratory and diagnostic solutions for clinical and IVD trials have grown considerably over the past years, demonstrating a strong track record in patient recruitment and clinical trial sample testing, as well as in white-glove logistics solutions for immuno-oncology, anti-infectives, cell & gene therapies and metabolic disorders. Over the years, Cerba Research has evolved to become the precision medicine partner to CROs, the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, and non-profit organizations with growing needs for global complex clinical research programs. I see CIRION as a true strategic step in improving our offering both geographically and scientifically. It deepens our North American presence while featuring sound expertise in PKPD assay development and testing, which is instrumental knowledge for our customers as it relates drug concentration to drug effect. Their extensive knowledge and unrivalled reputation will naturally make CIRION the Cerba Research center of excellence in bioanalytics across the globe, helping us accelerate fulfill our clients needs in the development of personalized medicine. We are proud to welcome CIRIONs renowned high-quality scientists and very much looking forward to onboarding the team. Mario Papillon, Cerba Research CEO The color of the phlegm from patients with the lung disease bronchiectasis can indicate the degree of inflammation in their lungs and predict their future outcomes, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy. The study of nearly 20,000 patients from 31 countries is the first time that the color of phlegm (also known as sputum) has been shown to provide clinically relevant information that reflects prognoses and, therefore, can aid decisions about treatment. Bronchiectasis is a long-term condition for which there is no cure. One or more of the tiny branching airways, known as bronchi, widen and this leads to a build-up of excess mucus that can make lungs more vulnerable to infection. Over time, this can lead to gradually worsening damage to the lungs. Causes can include having a lung infection such as pneumonia or whooping cough, cystic fibrosis, underlying problems with the body's immune system that make the bronchi more vulnerable to infection, or aspergillosis an allergy to a certain type of fungi that causes the bronchi to become inflamed if fungi spores are inhaled. Bronchiectasis is one of the three most common chronic inflammatory airway diseases (along with asthma and COPD); it is prevalent in between 67 to 566 per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe, North America, the UK and the USA, and it can affect people of any age, although symptoms do not normally develop until middle age. Dr Megan Crichton, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Dundee, UK, who presented the research, said: "One of the main characteristics of bronchiectasis is a productive cough, with almost three quarters of bronchiectasis patients producing sputum daily. When patients develop chest infections, their sputum colour darkens, and this color change is due to a protein called myeloperoxidase or MPO, which is released from the inflamed cells; hence sputum color can be used as a biomarker for inflammation. "We know that the level of lung inflammation is important for long term health in bronchiectasis, so we wanted to know whether the sputum color, when assessed when the patient is healthy with no chest infection, had any relationship to long-term outcomes such as lung function and frequency and severity of exacerbations." Dr Critchton and her colleagues recorded the sputum color in 13,484 out of 19,324 patients who regularly coughed up sputum and who were enrolled in the pan-European bronchiectasis registry, EMBARC. They followed the patients for up to five years to look at the number of exacerbations they had, their severity and how many people died. Sputum is classified into four levels: mucoid, which looks clear, frothy and grey-colored; mucopurulent, which begins to show a creamy yellow color; purulent, where the color darkens into a dirtier yellow or green and the texture thickens; and severe purulent, which is the most severe and is a darker green turning into brown, sometimes including streaks of blood [see color chart at note 3]. Forty percent of the sputum-producing patients (5541) had mucoid sputum, 40% (5380) had mucopurulent, 18% (2486) had purulent, and 1% (177) had severe purulent sputum. We found an increased risk of exacerbations, hospitalizations and death with more purulent sputum. For each 1-point increase in sputum purulence, there was a 12% increased risk of death." Dr Megan Crichton, postdoctoral researcher, University of Dundee, UK She continued: "As this is a large study conducted across multiple countries and with five years of follow-up data, it provides the evidence that sputum color reflects prognosis. Sputum samples can be easily collected from most patients, and the color has shown to be a useful indicator, thereby making sputum a readily available and easy-to-interpret clinical biomarker for disease progression. We believe that implementation of this biomarker into clinical practice will improve treatment and monitoring of bronchiectasis patients. "Sputum sampling is non-invasive for patients, and they are actively encouraged to cough up sputum whenever possible to improve their lung function. Knowing that by looking at their sputum color as a means of self-monitoring and self-management can empower patients and gives them some control over their condition, which we know is important for improving patient quality of life." The researchers are investigating introducing the sputum color chart into clinical practice and the best way of helping patients to use it to monitor their own disease severity. They will be reporting these further findings in order make patients, clinicians and researchers aware of them. Professor Carlos Robalo Cordeiro is President of the European Respiratory Society, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Coimbra and Head of the Pneumology Department at Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal, and was not involved with the research. He said: "The findings from this study offer doctors and patients an easy, non-invasive way of monitoring their symptoms. If this is rolled out into clinical practice, it could make a real difference to managing this disease, and allow clinicians to intervene at an earlier stage if it becomes clear from the change in sputum color that patients' symptoms are worsening." In a recent study published in the JAMA Network Open Journal, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the impacts of cannabis legalization on traffic injury in Ontario, Canada. Study: Cannabis-Involved Traffic Injury Emergency Department Visits After Cannabis Legalization and Commercialization. Image Credit: Yarygin/Shutterstock.com Background The recent study captured 426 cannabis-related traffic mishaps resulting in hospital emergency department (ED) admissions over the last 13 years. They report an increase of 475.3% in cannabis-involved road injury but emphasize that market commercialization, not legalization, is responsible for this four-fold increase. While this increase is significant, the overall proportion of road injuries involving recreational use is still minuscule and pales in comparison to the far more prevalent alcohol-involved traffic mishaps. Impacts of cannabis legalization Cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from plants of the genus Cannabaceae. Native to Central and South Asia, this drug has been used for recreational, medicinal, and entheogenic purposes for centuries. Consumed predominately via smoking, cannabis use, especially recreational, has been mostly legally banned, with hitherto only eight countries legalizing adult recreational cannabis use. Following Uruguay, Canada became the second country globally to legalize the licensed sale of cannabis for adult recreational consumption on the 17th of October, 2018. Cannabis consumption, however, leads to intoxication symptoms, presenting an immediate risk of motor vehicle collisions, with risk duration dependent on dosage and drug acclimatization. To counter this, the Canadian government imposed limits on blood tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, allowing a maximum of 2 ng/mL, exceeding which criminal charges would be enforced on intoxicated drivers. The impacts of cannabis legalization on traffic mishaps remain poorly understood, with only a few studies investigating the phenomenon. Most of these studies focus on the United States (US) context, with only two studies conducted in Canada. Results from this research are confounding, with some studies reporting increases in fatal motor vehicle accidents, while others report no change in baseline vehicle mishap trends following cannabis legalization. Notably, most data on cannabis-involved road accidents, especially in Canada, overlap with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, during which vehicle movement was largely restricted. Therefore, a need exists to compare trends in cannabis-involved vehicle collisions before and after legalization while accounting for reductions in accidents overall during the pandemic. About the study In the present study, researchers aimed to investigate population-level changes in traffic injury ED admissions pre- and post-nonmedical cannabis legalization in Ontario, Canadas most populous province (14.3 million individuals in 2018). Their repeated cross-sectional study design followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, with data acquired from a database that captured 100% of ED visits. Researchers included motor vehicle, cyclist, and pedestrian ED visit data from January 2010 to December 2021, excluding individuals below 16 (legal Canadian driving age). Data was divided into three exposure periods: before legalization (January 2010-September 2018), after legalization but with restricted retail stores and cannabis products (hereafter, legalization) (October 2018-March 2020), and after legalization with unlimited retail stores and expanded products (hereafter, commercialization), which overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020-December 2021). The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), was used to identify and classify ED visits that involved cannabis use. Along with alcohol use (the study control condition), cannabis use was coded as Hospital Stays for Harm Caused by Substance Use. Research compiled additional covariate data comprising neighborhood rurality and income quantile, age, sex, and preexisting mental health or substance abuse histories. Finally, quasi-Poisson models generated rate ratios (number of individuals per 100,000 and 1,000 traffic injury ED visits). Collision time was included as a linear variable and used to create two independent models, one accounting for seasonality alone and the other for seasonality and time trends. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify predictors of cannabis-, alcohol-, or both as responsible for ED admissions. Study findings Between January 2010 and December 2021, 947,604 traffic injury-related ED visits were recorded, 426 (0.04%) of which involved cannabis use. Four hundred eighteen individuals with cannabis-influenced traffic injuries were identified (eight incidents of the same individuals involvement in more than one traffic collision). Individuals were, on average, 30.6 years (range 18.6 to 42.6) and predominantly male (78.9%). Notably, 33% of individuals belonged to the lowest income quintile, with poorer neighborhoods having a greater likelihood of study exposure than their more affluent counterparts. The most common cause of cannabis-involved traffic ED visits was harmful cannabis use (n = 175, 41.1%), followed by acute intoxication (n = 141, 33.1%) and cannabis dependence or withdrawal (n = 41, 9.6%) Analyses revealed that over the 13-year study period, cannabis-involved ED admissions increased from 0.18 per 1,000 individuals (2010) to 1.01 in 2021 (an increase of 475.3%). Per capita, ED visitation for cannabis was observed to increase from 0.13 per 100,000 individuals (2010) to 0.54 per 100,000 individuals (2021; 326.6%), while alcohol-involved ED visitation decreased from 5.83 to 4.73 over the same duration (18.9%). After adjusting for season and time trends, the increase in cannabis-involved total traffic injury ED visits was no longer significant during the restricted legalization period and was reduced in magnitude during the commercialization/COVID-19 period. The time and seasonally adjusted increase (a st RR) in substance-involved visits per motor vehicle traffic injuries during the commercialization/COVID-19 period remained greater for cannabis (a st RR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.03-2.96) than alcohol (a st RR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.53) Conclusions The present study investigated the impacts of cannabis legalization and commercial sale for adult recreational use on traffic collision-related ED visits between 2010 and 2021 in Ontario, Canada. Analyses of the 947,604 traffic injury-related ED visits recorded during that time revealed a four-fold increase in cannabis-related traffic collisions despite Canadian surveys finding no increase in driving following cannabis use in the province before- and after legalization. The same period saw a 19% reduction in alcohol-related incidents. Results revealed that young male adults were most likely to cause or be involved in cannabis-involved traffic collisions, with lower-income communities at higher risk than their more affluent counterparts. Despite the alarming increase reported, cannabis use remains a minor contributor to traffic collisions (1.01%) compared to 8.79% involving alcohol use. In summary, this study highlights individuals at the highest risk of cannabis-involved traffic mishaps, which must be the targets for interventions using a combination of education and legislative policy to ensure that future cannabis use remains safe, both for users and those exposed to individuals enjoying the effects of the weed. In a recent study published in PLoS ONE, researchers examined the workplace masking experiences of neurotypical, autistic, and neurodivergent non-autistic adults. Background Masking is the concept of concealing traits during social interaction. Research has suggested that it is a common strategy among autistic individuals and that it is particularly prevalent in workplaces to avoid negative social evaluations and improve quality of life. This practice, also known as camouflaging, involves suppressing natural responses and adopting alternative ones. While the literature identifies the motivations and consequences of masking, evidence on the social context of masking is limited. About the study In the present cross-sectional study, researchers explored the motivations, core experiences, consequences, and contextual differences of workplace masking compared to other social contexts. The researchers compared first-hand experiences of autistic, neurotypical, and neurodivergent adults to identify unique experiences and establish ways in which masking in workplaces might differ from that in other contexts. The Diverse Minds Survey, conducted from February 2019 to October 2021, explored job-related experiences among United Kingdom residents. Participants completed modules and questionnaires related to various job-related aspects, including masking at workplaces. Workplace masking was described in the survey modules as a concept that defines the tactics people adopt to fit in at work. Respondents received inquiries on workplace masking, accompanied by open questions about anticipated motivations for masking and the benefits and drawbacks of masking at work. The questionnaires comprised questions related to demographics such as age, sex, ethnicity, educational attainment, and employment, such as employment status, annual income, job satisfaction, and the number of employers. To participate in the survey, individuals were required to be 18 years and older, with experience of a job or job-seeking in the United Kingdom. Individuals were recruited via social media callouts, the Autistica network, and organizations with registered interest in improving their understanding of employment and neurodiversity. In total, 581 individuals participated in the survey and were classified according to their diagnoses (by self/clinicians) as 300 autistic individuals, 109 neurodivergent individuals, and 172 neurotypical individuals with no psychiatric or neurodevelopmental conditions. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed, and an inductive method was used wherein the team generated codes, themes, and sub-themes based on the data content. Individuals who did not provide responses to the workplace masking-related questions were excluded from the analysis. Results Workplace masking was a common practice among neurotypical individuals, neurodivergent individuals, and neurotypical individuals. The findings indicated that masking strategies are employed widely within the workplace by both groups, with some participants experiencing unique pressures to mask due to a limited understanding of neurodiversity among society members and workplaces. Neurotypical individuals had a significantly higher power to earn than the other two groups, and non-neurodivergent individuals had a higher power to earn than autistic individuals. Employment status satisfaction was satisfied by 45% of autistic, 54% of neurodivergent, and 85% of neurotypical individuals, respectively. Most autistic participants suffered from co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, unique sensory processing, and ADHD. Eight themes were identified with considerable overlapping between the groups, including the value of openness, a desire to socially integrate, avoiding disciplinary and prejudicial treatment, better employment outcomes, detrimental effects on well-being, presenting an inauthentic self, a unique situation, and a widespread phenomenon. The findings indicated that masking strategies were used widely within the workplace by neurodivergent and neurotypical employees and that masking might be more accurately defined as a common experience among many neurodivergent and, to some extent, neurotypical individuals. Two key motivators for masking in workplaces were identified: fitting in and making social connections with colleagues and the urge to gain and sustain fruitful and meaningful employment. Masking was viewed as an adaptive reaction to a variety of job issues, and it was utilized to protect against the risk of bad social and career consequences. Workplace masking may be related to a variety of undesirable outcomes, including excessive weariness, worry, and detachment from one's identity. Although there were some phenomenological distinctions between individuals' experiences of job masking and concealing in other settings, the findings also revealed occasions where higher intensity and frequency of workplace masking led to more intense weariness and quicker burnout. Implications Overall, the study findings showed that workplace masking is a common issue for neurodivergent employees, affecting their mental health due to a lack of neurodiversity awareness in the societal and work environments. Employers should prioritize employees mental well-being by offering adequate support, such as employment benefits and reasonable adjustments. Creating a culture that embraces differences and supports employees regardless of their diagnosis is crucial. To improve experiences, organizations should foster an accepting working environment, provide frequent training on neurodiversity and masking, and provide clear mental health support for all employees. Chandigarhs Tricity Metro Project Awaits Haryanas Funding as RITES Seeks DPR Approval The Chandigarh administration has been waiting for Haryana to fulfill its financial commitment towards the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Tricity Metro project. The Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), responsible for constructing the comprehensive mobility plan for Tricity, has formally requested written consent from the administration to initiate the DPR process. According to information reported by The Indian Express, the commencement of DPR work is contingent on the full settlement of outstanding dues. Officials have clarified that while Punjab has already submitted its financial contribution in August, Haryana has been reminded to do the same. A senior Chandigarh administration officer told Indian Express, We are waiting for Haryanas contribution. RITES is seeking permission to begin the preparation of DPR. In fact, we have been informed that Haryana is facing an issue regarding under which head they have to pay this amount it has to come either from the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikarant (HSVP) or they have to generate a new head. Punjab has deposited the fund from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA). In August, the Punjab government contributed Rs 1.37 crore towards its share for the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Metro project, and Haryana is expected to release a similar amount to fulfill its commitment. Back in July, the Chandigarh administration had made the decision to involve all stakeholders, including Haryana and Punjab, in the creation of the Alternative Analysis Report (AAR) and the DPR for the metro rail, aligning with the guidelines of the Government of India. According to RITES, the estimated cost for the DPR preparation stands at Rs 6.54 crore, with an anticipated completion date of March 2024, followed by subsequent approvals. In terms of financing the entire Metro project, it was agreed that the states would contribute 20 percent, the Center 20 percent, and the remaining 60% would be sourced from a lending agency. The tentative budget for the Metro project is approximately Rs 10,570 crore. In the revised Metro plan, phase 1 of the project for the Chandigarh Tricity region is set to encompass approximately 77 km of the metro rail network. The majority of this network is expected to be constructed above ground, although the final decision on this matter will be made during the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation. Out of the 77 km stretch, 35 km will be located in Chandigarh, 11 km in Panchkula, and 31 km in Mohali/New Chandigarh. The development of the first phase is scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2037. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that building on India-UK partnership, the countries are exploring new fields. She said India and the UK are highly encouraged by the intensified collaboration in the area of financial services. The UK expressed willingness to further extend its footprint in the GIFT City IFSC and foster a robust fintech partnership, she said at the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue in New Delhi on September 11. Also, India will explore the possibility of direct listing of Indian companies at the London Stock Exchange (LSE), as per the joint statement issued following the conclusion of the dialogue. We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the London Stock Exchange as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said. Hunt, who addressed the press alongside Sitharaman, said there is a new pensions and insurance partnerships, the establishment of knowledge and expertise sharing mechanism, and launch of the new UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge. Hunt stressed that the two countries are moving towards the inking of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that would further cement their bilateral trade ties. The statement comes two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, in their bilateral meeting at sidelines of the G20 summit, agreed to work at pace towards signing the much-anticipated FTA.UKs minister said that G20 was a remarkable summit and India has a clear road map to become a developed nation by 2047. The meeting between the two leaders was held at the Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Maidan, the venue of the Summit. Talks between the two leaders followed their meeting held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May this year in which they had discussed the India-UK free trade agreement, innovation, and science along with ways to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The two countries are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement, talks for which had begun in 2022. The 12th round of negotiations for the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) took place from August 8 to 31 this year. (With agency inputs) Shares of railway related stocks moved in an upward trajectory, the stocks jumped 2-15 per cent on September 11 on brighter outlook after the G20 Summit in New Delhi unveiled a multinational rail and port deal connecting the Middle East and South Asia. The plan is to counter Chinas Belt and Road global infrastructure push with a US backup. Among the stocks, Ircon International hit a new high of Rs 153.65, surging 15 per cent on the BSE in Mondays intraday trade. The counter saw huge trading volumes with nearly 26 million equity shares cumulatively changing hands in the first 11 minutes of trade on the NSE and BSE. Ircon is a leading turnkey construction company in the public sector (under Ministry of Railways). The company has executed projects operated in the areas of railway construction including ballast less track, electrification, tunneling, signal & telecommunication as well as leasing of locos, construction of roads, highways, commercial, industrial & residential buildings and complexes, airport runway and hangars, metro, and mass rapid transit system, etc. Meanwhile, shares of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), too, hit a new high of Rs 84.50, rising 10 per cent in the intraday trade. In the past seven trading days, it has zoomed 68 per cent. A sharp rally in the stock price of the company has taken the market capitalisation of IRFC above Rs 1 trillion. Currently, IRFCs market cap stands at Rs 1.11 trillion, BSE data shows. Shares of Rail Vikas Nigam also soared 10 per cent to Rs 178.90, while RITES gained 6 per cent to Rs 583.45 on the BSE in intraday trade. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 0.35 per cent at 66,834 at 9:35 AM. A new shipping and rail route connecting countries in the Middle East, South Asia and Europe was revealed at the G20 Summit. The US, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, EU, and other G20 partners plan to explore a transport corridor for trade, energy, and data from India through the Middle East to Europe. However, these are just announcements and no company has directly been awarded any specific contract for this corridor. Railway stocks have been experiencing a strong upward trend in the past few days backed by fundamental triggers. Currently there is a huge momentum as far as the defence and railway companies are concerned. However, as far as investors and valuations are concerned, maybe we have run ahead of the curve, Krishna Kumar Karwa of Emkay Global told CNBC-TV18. So, maybe there could be some consolidation, some price correction and so investors should be careful about investing in this segment of the market. I am not saying that opportunities are not there. I agree that the valuations, possibly are discounting maybe not even FY25-FY26, and my rule of thumb is that if you believe that the best discounted three years forward, then you should take some money off the table, he added. The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations in Bengaluru has called for a strike or Bengaluru Bandh today, September 11, which would result in a disruption of operations for all private commercial vehicles operating in Karnatakas capital city. Private transportation services are anticipated to be disrupted by this strike, which is likely to cause inconvenience for a wide range of commuters, including those going to work, school, and major transit hubs like railway stations and airports. The strike in Bengaluru today will have an impact on an array of private transport services, including auto-rickshaws, cab aggregators and school buses. Several reports indicate that schools have decided to give students the day off on September 11 as a result of the strike. There has been no official confirmation of widespread school closures, therefore its critical to remember that these decisions have been taken independently by individual schools. In a statement to MoneyControl, the Associated Managements of English Medium Schools acknowledged that certain schools that rely upon private school buses and vans as a form of student transport had declared a holiday for today. As a result, it is highly recommended that parents and children get in touch with their individual schools to get more details about the holiday. In order to congregate in Freedom Park this afternoon, the Federation has planned a number of private vehicle processions from various entry and exit points of Bengaluru. It is projected that the majority of private transport services will stay inactive today. Private transportation players have requested a bandh in Bengaluru to express their objection to the Shakti scheme, one of the five promises made by the government of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In accordance with the Shakti scheme, women who reside in Karnataka are permitted to ride for free on non-premium buses throughout the state for an additional few months without the usage of smart cards. The Federations discontent with the State transport departments failure to fulfil their 28 requests by the deadline of August 31 is another reason for the Bengaluru Bandh. Emergency service vehicles which include ambulances, pharmaceutical delivery services, and vital goods-carrying trucks would keep running despite the Bengaluru Bandh. All modes of public transport, including BMTC buses and metro trains, will run as usual all through the strike. For the last two years, the world has been restricted to homes. Daily activities that couldnt be managed without stepping out, came indoors all at once from office to grocery shopping and schools. As the world accepts the new normal, News18 launches weekly classes for school children, explaining key chapters with examples from happenings around the world. While we try to simplify your subjects, a request to break down a topic can be posted @news18dotcom Foreign affairs experts have pointed out that, India- US relations are at their peak. The G-20 Summit hosted by India holds a testament to this. Pictures and videos of US President Joe Biden with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are viral on social media and have become one of the many highlights of the meeting. Both India and US define their relations as a strategic partnership. US Department of State mentions that The U.S.-India strategic partnership is founded on shared values including a commitment to democracy and upholding the rules-based international system. The United States and India have shared interests in promoting global security, stability, and economic prosperity through trade, investment, and connectivity. India in its foreign relations brief states that The emphasis placed by the Government in India on development and good governance has created an opportunity to reinvigorate bilateral ties and enhance cooperation under the motto Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go, and SanjhaPrayas, Sab ka Vikas (Shared Effort, Progress for All) was adopted during the first two summits of Prime Minister Modi and President Obama in September 2014 and January 2015 respectively. TRACING INDIA- US RELATION HISTORY When India was struggling to get independence, the then US President Harry S Truman fervently backed its quest. After independence, India and the US found each other on different pages in various geopolitical concerns. History narrates that during the Cold War era, the US wanted India to join its camp while India was not reluctant owing to its Non-Alignment Movement. When the US sided with Pakistan during the war of 1971 and even on the Jammu and Kashmir issue at the UN Security Council (UNSC), India paid a high price for it. The US disregarded Indias plea for food aid, especially wheat when widespread famines struck the country. The PL-480 statute passed in 2006, was used by the US to entrap other countries into its camp. It was in 2006 when the historic Indo-US nuclear pact was signed and solidified their alliance. Since then, India and US relations have been on an upswing with regular engagements across departments and the introduction of various dialogue architecture. India in its foreign relation brief states that, today the India-U.S. bilateral cooperation is broad-based and multi-sectoral, covering trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, high-technology, civil nuclear energy, space technology and applications, clean energy, environment, agriculture, and health. Vibrant people-to-people interaction and support across the political spectrum in both countries nurture the bilateral relationship claims the Indian brief. DEFENCE CORPORATIONS With the signing of the New Framework for India-US Defense Relations in 2005 and the ensuing intensification of defense trade, joint exercises, personnel exchanges, collaboration and cooperation in maritime security and counter-piracy, as well as exchanges between each of the three services, the defense relationship has emerged as a key pillar of the India-U.S. strategic partnership. In June 2015, the Defence Framework Agreement was amended and extended for an additional ten years. The Indian brief mentions that India- US aggregate worth of defence acquisition from the US side has crossed over US$ 13 billion. ECONOMIC RELATIONS India-US bilateral trade in goods and services increased from $104 billion in 2014 to $114 billion in 2016. The two-way merchandise trade stood at $66.7 billion. Of this, Indias exports of goods to the US were valued at $46 billion and Indias imports of goods from the US were valued at $21.7 billion. India-US trade in services stood at $47.2 billion. Of this, Indias exports of services to the US were valued at $26.8 billion and Indias imports of services from the US were valued at $20.3 billion states Indian Brief. On the other hand, in 2021, U.S.-India bilateral trade in goods and services reached a record $157 billion claims the report from the US Department of State. The nearly 2,00,000 Indian students in the United States contribute $7.7 billion annually to the U.S. economy. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION At global institutions like the United Nations, G-20, ASEAN Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization, India and the United States work closely together. The United States supported a restructured UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member and welcomed Indias two-year membership in 2021. The United States joined the International Solar Alliance, which has its headquarters in India, in 2021. WAY FORWARD Both parties are beginning to understand that India may be a reliable friend of the US rather than a conventional ally and vice versa. The relationship would be mature if neither party allowed their differences to cloud their view of a bigger picture where there are common national interests. In the twenty-first century, the relationship between India and the US is still crucial for determining the global order. Explore other career options with us: Career in Sound Designing, Sound Engineering | Sustainability Professional | Yoga & Naturopathy | Software Testing | Medical Coding | Cloud Developer & Cloud Architect | 3D Technology | Garment Technologist |AI & Robotics |Fashion Designing |Supply Chain Finance |Animal Welfare | Public Relations | Gaming Industry | Functional Nutrition | Delhi University will release the Round 3 Post Graduation Seat Allotment list today. Students can check and download the seat allotment results from the official website, admission.uod.ac.in. As per the schedule, the DU PG seat allotment results will be released today at 5 PM. Earlier, the PG list was scheduled to release on September 4, 2023. DU PG 3ND MERIT LIST 2023: HOW TO DOWNLOAD Candidates can follow the step-by-step guide provided below to download the DU PG third merit list for 2023: Step 1: Go to the official websites at admission.uod.ac.in Step 2: Then on the homepage, click on the PG admission tab. Step 3: Enter the required login credentials and then click on the submit button. Step 4: Your DU PG 3rd seat allotment result 2023 will show up on the screen. Step 5: Download the allotment result and take its printout for future use. Candidates can promptly access their seat allotment status by following this procedure and getting clarity on their placement in Delhi Universitys PG courses. This step-by-step approach ensures that candidates conveniently verify their allocation and proceed with the necessary actions according to the specified timeline. From September 11 at 5 p.m. until September 15, departments, colleges, and centers will review these admissions and approve the online applications. Those who receive DU PG seat allotments in the third round must confirm their chosen course and department from 5 PM on September 11 until 4:59 PM on September 13. The verification of candidates documents and online applications by centres, colleges, and departments will take place from September 11 to September 13. As for candidates seeking these seats, the fee must be submitted by September 15. Meanwhile, DU has started the mid entry registration from September 7, 2023. The DU PG registration period remained active until 4:59 PM on September 9. Subsequently, the PG Counselling third-round seat allocation list will be published by the university at 5 PM on September 11. According to the Delhi University, the ongoing phase of postgraduate (PG) admissions constitutes the second round. As stated by CSAS, a total of 7,226 candidates have completed the fee payment, leading to the approval of 2,820 admissions. University of Delhi has released the UG, BTech spot round admission results. Students registered for the courses can check and apply their results from the official website, admission.uod.ac.in. Both the results were results at 11 AM by the University. After then, between September 11 and September 13 (4:59 pm), candidates must accept the position that has been offered to them. By September 14, 2023, colleges will evaluate and approve online applications. DU UG SPOT ADMISSION 2023 ROUND 2: STEPS TO APPLY Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps for a smooth process to participate in the DU spot round admission 2023. Step 1: Navigate to the official site of DU Admission at admission.uod.ac.in. Step 2: Now tap on DU vacant seats for round 2 spot admission link available on the home page. Step 3: Check the number of seats available in the preferred DU college. Step 4: Go to the candidate site dashboard and choose the spot round option. Step 5: Add choices in the order of preference. Step 6: After reviewing the form, submit it. The deadline for online entry fee payments is September 15 at 5:00 p.m. The second round of admission was open to those who had previously applied but had not been accepted by a college or faculty by 5 p.m. on September 7. According to DU, those who were given a seat in the previous round but did not finish the admissions process are ineligible for this round of spot admissions. Incase of vacant seats, DU can announce more spot rounds for the students. Its important for candidates to be aware that once the spot admission round is initiated, students who have already secured admission will not have the option to withdraw or cancel their admissions. Additionally, candidates who were previously offered a spot in a prior round but failed to complete the admission process will not be eligible to participate in subsequent spot admission rounds. For admission to the UG and BTech degrees, DU has made it mandatory for applicants to accept the seat that was assigned in the spot admission round. The Upgrade and Withdraw choices will not be available during the DU UG and BTech spot admission rounds. The college added that the seat assigned during the spot admission process will be the only available one. The Himachal Pradesh unit of CPI (M) on Sunday sought resignation and unconditional apology from the director of IIT-Mandi, Dr Laxmidhar Behera, for his comments that landslides and cloudbursts are effects of cruelty on animals by people who eat meat. In a letter to the IIT Mandi director, CPI (M) state secretary Onkar Shad said that his views on meat-eating have proved beyond doubt that there is no guarantee that one being in an elite technology institute has scientific vision. Terming Beheras views as unscientific and contradictory to professional values and ethics, the CPI (M) leader said that it was an act of unprofessional conduct to force personal views on students and ask them to not eat meat. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the Union minister and the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister. Behera stirred a controversy after he asked students to take a pledge not to eat meat while claiming that landslides and cloudbursts in Himachal Pradesh are happening because of cruelty on animals. Himachal Pradesh will have a significant downfallif we do not stop butchering animals. You are butchering animals there innocent animals. It has a symbiotic relationship with the degradation of the environment as well which you cannot see right now but is there It is having landslides, cloudbursts and many other things again and again, these are all effects of cruelty on animalspeople eat meat, Behera said addressing the students. A video of his address surfaced online after the incident was reported on Thursday. To become good human beings, what do you have to do? No to meat eating, he further said and then went on to ask the students to vow not to eat meat. The letter said that the people of Himachal Pradesh have been eating meat for ages, asking the IIT-Mandi director why cloudbursts and landslides of the present magnitude did not happen for centuries. The director has willfully skirted the issue of climate change, unimaginable rainfall, fragile nature of Himalayas, and anthropogenic causes behind this recent disaster, the letter said. Do you not see blunders of reckless hill cutting for four-laning of roads, adverse impact of hydroelectric dams and depleted carrying capacity of the hills due to undue expansion and unplanned growth of hill towns, Shad added in the letter. Attacking peoples food habits, cultural values, lifestyles, and hurting their sentiments is an insult to the people of the state, Shad said, demanding that the director issue an unconditional apology to the 80 lakh people of Himachal Pradesh. The CPI (M) leader also asked Behera whether he would abandon the projects on curbing natural disasters and return the grant money to funding agencies and fight the natural disasters with his unscientific views. Studying abroad can be financially challenging for many meritorious students who often opt out due to the expensive course fee, visa charges, accommodation and food expenses. Therefore, scholarships help many to pursue their dreams. News18 Scholarship Guide brings the best and most prestigious grants for Indian students to study abroad, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fee; and some also providing stipend. IIT JEE or JEE Advanced is the toughest exam in India, and was ranked second after Chinas Gaokao in terms of difficulty level, according to Erudera Top Toughest Exams in World Report 2023. The report also said IIT JEE or JEE Advanced needs continuous efforts through two-long years, and has only 1% success rate. To appear for JEE Advanced, students need to crack JEE Mains first. Among around 7 lakh students, who take the exam every year, nearly top 2.5 lakh are eligible to apply for JEE Advanced, however, among those eligible, usually no more than 1.5 lakh apply. Thus, students look for alternative options after Main. However, many students seek out for admission at top universities in India and abroad based on the Main score. It is not known to many students that some of the foreign universities including the National University of Singapore, Queens University Belfast, and many German Universities including RWTH accept JEE score. Students who do not make a cut to JEE Advanced can also directly apply for these foreign universities along with IITs, NITs and other Indian colleges. Scholarships available for any international students are also available to these Indian students. Between Main and Advanced For students who passed the Main exam, several Indian colleges also offer concessions on direct admissions. Universities including Lovely Professional University, Bennett University offer concessions in fee based on percentile score obtained in JEE. Those who want to bypass JEE Advanced or have a back-up option can consider these colleges. Further, many private universities in India have their own exams. For instance, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) accepts students based on VITEEE. BITSAT is a standardised exam for all campuses of BITS. Many exams including AP EAMCET, TS EAMCET, COMEDK etc also accept students for state-level government and private colleges in engineering. Is JEE Enough for Foreign Universities? Amit Saneja, CEO of Educate Online India, suggested that not only for students who score low marks in JEE but the (limited) number of seats available make it tough despite great scores too. Thus, students should consider overseas education as a backup option. While a strong JEE score can surely enhance your scholarship prospects, it is essential to recognise that most international scholarship programmes take a holistic approach. They look at a range of factors beyond just test scores. For instance, academic scholarships are common, and they consider academic achievements, which may include standardised test scores such as the JEE. However, they also weigh other elements like high school grades, recommendation letters, and the quality of application essays Saneja said, adding that a high JEE score can showcase your academic excellence, making you a strong candidate for merit-based scholarships while JEE scores would not guarantee your ticket abroad, they can definitely boost your application by showcasing your academic excellence and dedication to your field. Top Scholarships for Engineering Aspirants Many top colleges in the world not only offer admission but scholarships including maintenance allowance and stipend to students who have a passion for science and technology. Students can apply for these scholarships despite their performance in JEE. Tata Scholarship at Cornell Tata Group offers scholarships to nearly 20 students at any point in time in a year to study at the Cornell University in the US. The scholarships are available for all courses in the field of science and technology except of the five-year programme in architecture, which requires 10 semesters of full-time enrolment. As part of the scholarship, Cornell offers scholarships to Indian students for up to eight semesters. Who can apply: Any Indian citizen who has attended secondary school in India and is offered admission to Cornell as an undergraduate student can apply for the scholarship. The student needs to be eligible for need-based financial aid. Selection Process: Students will be shortlisted based on their need and merit. They will have to provide their academic documents as well as income and language proficiency proofs. Students also need to meet admission criteria for the course they are applying for separately. Where to apply: admissions.cornell.edu British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM British Council offers opportunities for female candidates to study masters in science and technology, engineering or mathematics at a leading UK university under the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM. The scholarship is available to students in India and other countries including the US, other South Asian and East Asian countries, western Balkans, central Asia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, and Turkey. The scholarship covers tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees. Students also get support for English language as well as mothers are encouraged and offered support to continue education under the scholarship. Who can apply: Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in STEM can apply. Students who have completed a PhD in STEM-related in the last three years can apply for a scholarship for an Early Academic Fellowship. The student should be a female. Selection Process: Candidates need to submit an application with British Council. Shortlisted candidates will be called by one of the 21 partnered universities. Other requirements including academic performance, wholistic profile of candidate and work in STEM field will also be considered. Where to apply: Students can apply for the scholarship at www.britishcouncil.in Merit-Cum-Means-Based Scholarships The Merit-cum-Means Scholarship is offered by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in India for equal opportunities to students who do not have the financial and social means to pursue higher education. As part of the scholarship, nearly 60,000 students from the minority communities receive financial assistance to pursue graduate and post-graduate courses from a recognised institution. Selected students will receive stipend for the course fee or Rs 20,000 per annum or whichever is less. They will also get a maintenance of Rs 10,000 for hostel and Rs 5,000 for day boarding. Who can apply: Students who have scored 50% or more marks and belong to the economically or socially backward family with income less than Rs 2.5 lakh can apply for the scholarship. Students need to pursue a technical or professional course. Those who get admission to a college to pursue technical/professional courses on the basis of a competitive examination such as JEE, CUET can apply. Selection Process: Students will be selected based on their merit as well as need. They need to share documents related to academics as well as finances. The details will be verified with the educational institutions also. Where to apply: Students can apply at www.scholarships.gov.in. Norman and Tess Reid Family Graduate scholarship in Engineering The University of Alberta, Canada, is offering CAD 3,800 to students who wish to study engineering at the varsity. The scholarship supports those who have high academic calibre, and is offered at the postgraduate level. Since the grant is open to all nationalities, it is highly competitive. Preference is given to candidates conducting research in Structural Engineering. Who can apply: Students who have completed undergraduate degree and wish to pursue higher education in civil or environmental engineering can apply. Students need to have a GPA of 3.5 or above to be eligible. Selection Process: Students will be selected based on merit. Students can only be nominated by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the varsity. The applications received by the department will be then assessed by the Graduate Scholarship Committee of the university. Where to apply: www.ualberta.ca Arkwright Engineering Scholarship One of the most prestigious scholarships, Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are offered by institutes, communities, and corporates to students from different walks of life. These are aimed at 16-year-old students who wish to pursue engineering in UK-based institutes. Selected candidates will receive 600 to purchase course materials and a financial award of 400 from the school. Who can apply: Students in the school year equivalent to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Standards can apply. Applicants must commit to studying either Maths, Physics, Computer Science, or Engineering Science in one of the following courses at A level (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) or Advanced Higher (Scotland) unless studying for a BTEC Level 3 in engineering. Selection Process: Candidates will have to be clear in the aptitude test followed by an interview. The scholarship is only open to students who are studying in schools partnered with Arkwright Engineering scholarships. Where to apply: www.arkwright.org.uk Apart from these, students can apply for country-specific scholarships including Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD and commonwealth scholarship. These are highly competitive scholarships and are open to several streams. Students can also apply for scholarship offered by corporations including Reliance, FAEA BHEL Scholarship, Indian Oil among others. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed Indias strongest concerns to Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the anti-India activities by pro-Khalistani elements in the country during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The Indo-Canadian ties have hit a new low with India highlighting the anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada while the country has remained adamant on the concept of Freedom of Expression" for the communities. In the recently concluded G20 Summit on Sunday, Justin Trudeau skipped the Presidents reception for the G20 leaders. As per reports, Trudeau also was not present at the announcement of the India-Middle East Corridor as well as the declaration on biofuels. What PM Modi Told Trudeau PM Modi conveyed to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau New Delhis strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada as they are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats and threatening the Indian community there. In his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust" is essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship. He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship," a government statement said. The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats," the statement added. What Prompted India to take the hard stance? PM Modi is deeply concerned about the role of Canada in anti-India propaganda, top government sources have told News18. They said that India agencies have briefed Trudeau time to time about the terror networks in Canada working deep in Punjab and engaged in supari killing and anti-India rhetoric on social media. The government have also showed video proofs where arm training was being given in a Gurudwara of Canada. Top Khalistani leaders based in Canada have been working against India and spoiling the youths born after 1984. There has been a spate of attacks against Hindu temples in Canada by pro-Khalistani supporters. In August this year, a Hindu temple in Canadas British Columbia was vandalised with Khalistan referendum posters on the main door of the temple. In January, another prominent Hindu temple in Brampton was vandalised with anti-India graffiti. In April, another Hindu temple in Ontario was vandalised with similar anti-India graffiti. In June, a video emerged on social media that showed a float depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It was reportedly part of a parade that was organised by some Khalistani elements in Brampton. Attack on Indian High Commission in Canada Canada has the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab in India, and the country has been the site of many protests that have irked India. Earlier this year, there were violent protests by Khalistan supporters who attacked the Indian High Commission in Ottawa and hurled grenades at the mission in March. The Indian agencies found that pro-Khalistan protesters were behind the attack on the high commission building. There were also demonstrations at the Indian consulate in Toronto against the alleged murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, pro-Khalistani leader, in the Vancouver area. In July, India summoned the Canadian envoy and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada, days after posters featuring names of Indias senior diplomats serving in Canada featured in some posters in certain areas in that country. India has raised grave concerns on the attacks on Indian diplomats and missions from time to time. However, the Canadian government never supported on the advance information about the protest near Indian missions. What Has Trudeau Said in Response Justin Trudeau, when asked about Indias concerns on increasing Khalistani activities, said his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us," Trudeau said. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred. I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," he added. There has been a recent debate over whether India should be renamed Bharat amid speculations that the countrys name would be changed in a special session of the parliament scheduled this month. Recently, the official notice regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Indonesia for the 20th ASEAN-India and the 18th East Asia summits referred him as the Prime Minister of Bharat. Then, during the G20 Summit on Saturday, the countrys nameplate in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi read Bharat. The debate over the use of Bharat or India to refer to India is not new. The constituent assembly that framed the constitution of India debated on the issue at length after Independence. There have been several court rulings in the issue. Court Rulings on India Vs Bharat In May 2016, the Supreme Court bench headed by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur rejected a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to change the name of country from India to Bharat. The bench taking a strong exception to the plea admonished the petitioner for wasting the courts time. While rejecting the PIL the bench observed, Bharat or India? You want to call it Bharat, go right ahead. Someone wants to call it India, let him call it India. A year ago, a similar PIL was filed before the apex court in 2015 that sought direction to restrain the Centre from using the name India for any government purposes and in official papers. The PIL said that in the Constituent Assembly, suggestions were made for naming the country as Bharat, Hindustan, Hind and Bharatbhumi or Bharatvarsh. The country has one principal name, which is historically significant, that is Bharat. The first Article of the Constitution of India states that India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States, implicitly codifying Bharat name for the Republic of India, read the petition. Similarly in June 2020, a Delhi-based person filed a plea before the Supreme Court that sought amendment to Article 1 of the Constitution to retain only Bharat and exclude India from the countrys name. The court while rejecting the petition allowed the petitioner to make a representation to the government and also highlighted the fact that India is already called Bharat in the Constitution itself. The petitioner had argued that The removal of the English name though appears symbolic, will instil a sense of pride in our own nationality, especially for the future generations to come. In fact, the word India being replaced with Bharat would justify the hard-fought freedom by our ancestors. Apart from the 2016 case, where the court issued notices to Centre and State governments seeking their response, not much headway has been made in this direction. What the Constituent Assembly Said Article 1 of the Indian Constitution says India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States and the Preamble of the Constitution reads, We, the people of India having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. The constituent assembly debated at length whether to name India as Bharat and the topic was deliberated upon in the Constituent Assembly. KV Kamath, one of the most prominent members of the constituent assembly proposed the amendment in Article 1. He suggested two amendments. He suggested that instead of India, that is Bharat, Bharat or, in the English language, India, shall be a Union of States should be used. Or, alternatively, Hind, or, in the English language, India, shall be a Union of States, should be used to define the Indian state. While explaining the reason behind moving the amendment Kamath said, I only wish to refer to the Irish Constitution which was adopted twelve years ago. There the construction of the sentence is different from what has been proposed in clause (1) of this article. I feel that the expression India, that is, Bharat-I suppose it means India, that is to say, Bharat-I feel that in a constitution it is somewhat clumsy; it would be much better if this expression, this construction was modified in a constitutionally more acceptable form and may I say in a more aesthetic from. Batting for the adoption of the name Bharat another member of the constituent assembly Seth Govind Das reasoned that the word India does not occur in our ancient books. it began to be used when the Greeks came to India. They named our Sindhu River as Indus and India was derived from Indus. There is a mention of this in Encyclopaedia Britannica. On the contrary, if we look up the Vedas, the Upanishads the Brahmanas and our great and ancient book the Mahabharat, we find a mention of the name Bharat. We find a mention of Bharat in Vishnu Purana also. In Brahma Purana too we find this country mentioned as Bharat, said Seth Govind Das. Some members put forward an argument that naming India as Bharat would not be forward-looking. Seth Govind Das had put forward a very evocative defense against this presumption. He said, A Chinese traveler named Hiuen-Tsang came to India and he has referred to this country as Bharat in his travel book. He added By my reminding the House of these ancient matters it should not be understood, as our Prime Minister and other Honourable Members say, that I am looking backward. I want to look forward and I also want that there should be scientific inventions in this country. But by naming our country as Bharat we are not doing anything which will prevent us from marching forward. We should indeed give such a name to our country as may be befitting our history and out culture. The members who favoured retaining the name India reasoned that it ensured continuity. Dr BR Ambedkar said that India has been known as India throughout history and throughout all these past years and he argued that India was internationally recognized as India and should be retained as the official name. There were strong and prominent voices in the constituent assembly who favoured Bharat over India but after much debate and deliberations both voices were accommodated and Article 1 of the constitution defined India as India, that is Bharat. During his visit to New Delhi for the G20 Summit, Indian-origin British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the Akshardham Temple on Sunday. Sunak, dressed in trousers and a white shirt and his wife donned a brown kurta with a red palazzo set, reached the temple Sunday morning and offered prayers before heading to Rajghat. During his visit, the British PM was given an overview of Swaminarayan Akshardham, a 100-acre spiritual and cultural complex that portrays the traditions and ancient architecture of India and promotes the timeless Hindu spiritual messages of faith, devotion and harmony. It was Rishi Sunaks first visit to India after he became the prime minister last year. Interestingly, his parents had also visited a temple during their visit to India last year, months before Sunak became the Prime Minister. Rishi Sunaks Indian Roots Rishi Sunaks grandparents originated from British India but their birthplace Gujranwala lies in modern day Pakistans Punjab province. According to reports, Ramdas Sunak, Rishis paternal grandfather, left Gujranwala to work as a clerk in Nairobi in 1935. Ramdas wife, Suhag Rani Sunak, had moved to Delhi first from Gujranwala, along with her mother-in-law, before travelling to Kenya in 1937. However, when the trouble started in the region amid widespread sentiments against Indians, his grandfather shifted base to Britain. Sunaks wife Akshata Murty is the daughter of Indias billionaire and Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and philanthropist and educator Sudha Murty. Sunak and Murty got married in August 2009 and the couple has two daughters together. Rishi Sunaks Parents Rishi Sunaks parents Yashvir Sunak and Usha Sunak were among thousands of Indians living in Africa who moved to the UK as British subjects in the 1960s. Many Indians in the 60s left Uganda, Kenya, and other African nations after they attained independence from European colonies. Many left Uganda as they were forced to migrate due to troubles caused by the Idi Amin dictatorship. Rishis mother Usha Sunak is a pharmacist and was born in Tanzania. She used to run her own pharmacy in Southampton. Usha. Rishis father Yashvir Sunak worked as a general practitioner in Southampton and was born in Kenya. He worked as a General Physician after studying medicine at the University of Liverpool. Usha and Yashvir married in 1977, in Leicester, while Sunak was born on 12 May 1980 in Southampton. Yashvir Sunak and Usha Sunak visited the Vaishno Devi shrine in June 2022, months before the Conservative Party leader was chosen as the UK Prime Minister. Proud of Hindu Roots Rishi Sunak has often said that he is proud of his Indian ancestry and Hindu roots. He has also said that faith is something very important as it gives strength and resilience during stress. I am a proud Hindu. Thats how I was raised, thats how I am. Hopefully, I can visit the Mandir while I am here for the next couple of days. We just had Rakshabandhan, so from my sister and my cousin, I have all my Rakhis, he said in an interview to ANI during his visit to New Delhi. I am hugely proud of my Indian roots and my connections to India. As you know, my wife is Indian and being a proud Hindu means I will always have a connection to India and the people of India, he had said before coming to India. The one day-long Bengaluru Bandh, called by the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Association was called of after the state government agreed to 27 of 30 demands made by them. This comes after the State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy met the union leaders at the Freedom Park and spoke to them. The decision has been conveyed by S Nataraj Sharma, president of the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations. Owing to bandh, about nine lakhs of private vehicles including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles and corporate buses were affected. Who called the bandh? The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations called the bandh, and it comprises of 32 private transport association. Why has the bandh been called? The Federation called the bandh to seek a ban on bike taxis and to urge the government to extend the Shakti scheme (that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses) to private buses as well, among other demands. How has the state government responded? Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah called some demands made by them impossible, adding that they cannot be met. He also said that although they cannot put restrictions on protests or bands, they should be peaceful. State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy also said that the Union was demanding Rs 1,000 crores as compensation and that every issue was not in the hands of the government. Some issues are in the High Court and Supreme CourtThings which I can solve, I have taken actions on that, he said, news agency ANI reported. How did authorities prepare for it? Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda told news agency PTI that adequate security arrangements were made across the city as a precautionary measure. The emergency services and daily essential transportation services also remained uninterrupted during bandh. All our officials including senior officers are on patrolling and we have also used sufficient number of tracking forces at all the strategic locations. We have also spoken to the associations who are participating in the strike. They would be assembling at Freedom Park where the protest will be held, he said. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) also said that it will run more bus trips and services in the city and also to Kempegowda International Airport due to this. How were people affected by Bandh? As private cabs are the main mode of transport for school children, some institutions in the city declared holiday on Monday, news agency PTI said. The Bengaluru Airport Authority advised passengers to make necessary arrangements to reach the airport on time in view of bandh. In what is turning out to be a longer than anticipated delay, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who is stuck in Delhi due to an aircraft issue may not be able to fly back home till Tuesday afternoon. Trudeau and the Canadian delegation, that landed in New Delhi on Friday, to attend the two-day G20 Summit were scheduled to leave at 8 PM on Sunday. However, the 34-year-old aircraft developed a technical slag and the entire Canadian delegation has been stranded in the national capital ever since. Canada on Monday said that earliest possible departure of Trudeau will be no before Tuesday late afternoon and that the countrys armed forces are continuing with their best efforts to bring them back home. A ferry aircraft, most probably a a CF002 is expected to fly them back and it will reach Delhi at 10 pm on Monday. We will keep you updated regularly as the situation evolves. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid, Press Secretary Mohammad Hussain said in the statement The Flying Taj Mahal Aircraft This is not the first time that this old aircraft has developed a technical snag, causing an inconvenience to the prime minister. In 2016, the same aircraft had developed a similar snag that had forced Trudeau at that time to return 30 mins after his scheduled departure. The aircraft called flying taj mahal got its name in the early 1990s, after its interiors got a lavish upgrade. Trudeau at G20 Summit While in the national capital, Trudeau met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the sidelines of the Summit, and congratulated him on the success of Indias G2O Presidency. Prime Minister highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties. PM Modi also conveyed strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs said. The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats, it added. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Group sold a total of 196,761 new vehicles in August 2023, representing a 4% month-on-month rise, but still marking a 9.68% year-on-year decrease, according to the monthly sales results it issued last Friday. The year-on-year sliding trend in August sales mainly resulted from the two-digit decline that confronted the sales of two major Sino-Japanese joint ventures. To be specific, GAC Honda's August sales plunged 40.22% over a year ago to 42,469 units, while GAC Toyota recorded a 16.56% year-on-year drop with 70,600 vehicles sold last month. Despite the downturn in overall monthly sales, GAC Group still saw its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in August surge 62.68% from the previous year to 49,526 units. Of them, 45,026 units were contributed by GAC AION, indicating a 66.63% spike over the year-ago period. In addition, GAC Motor, the wholly-owned passenger vehicle maker of GAC Group, sold 37,585 vehicles last month, which jumped 25.47% over the prior-year period. AION S; photo credit: GAC AION As for the performance of main products, GAC Group said it had six models in total whose respective August sales all exceeded 10,000 units, namely, the AION S (22,896 units), the Frontlander series (19,756 units), the AION Y (18,224 units), the Camry series (15,719 units), the Wildlander series (11,576 units), and the Accord series (10,238 units). For the first eight months of this year, GAC Group sold 1,550,665 vehicles, which edged down 2.34% from a year earlier. Notably, its year-to-date NEV sales still soared 96.64% year on year to 335,939 units. What's more, GAC Group also reported an export volume of 6,048 vehicles (+232.9% YoY) for the month of August, resulting in a year-to-date volume of 32,116 units (+55.2% YoY). To meet the chronic challenge of lethal air pollution during the winter months in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party government has decided to completely ban the production, storage, sale, online delivery, and bursting of firecrackers. The day after Diwali is shrouded with smoke and when the smoke from stubble burning is added to it, the pollution levels in Delhi inch towards the danger mark," Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said. The government has taken a decision, the chief minister has taken the decision, and according to that, we are directing the DPCC to completely ban the production, storage, sale, online delivery, and bursting of crackers. The decision was taken today as every year, the police issue licences for all these activities. The police will be directed that they do not issue any licence for production, storage, sale, or online delivery of crackers to anyone." This is the fourth year in a row that there will be a complete ban on firecrackers in the national capital. The minister said, The Supreme Court. on 23.10.2018 had given a verdict allowing only the bursting of green crackers. However, it was seen that under the cover of green crackers, all kinds of firecrackers were being burst. And that year too, the level of pollution was quite high. On 1.11.2020, the NGT passed an order that in Delhi-NCR, wherever the air quality levels were in the poor category, there would be a total ban on bursting crackers. DPCC, on 28 09.2021, completely banned the production, storage, and sale of crackers. In 2022 also, there was a complete ban on the bursting of crackers. Since 2020, green crackers have also been banned in Delhi. And the same will continue this year." The minister stressed that even though there has been a steady decline in the PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels, the air quality is still not conducive to the good health of citizens. If we look at PM 10 levels of 2014, it was 324, and in 2023, it was 188. Similarly, there has been a steady decline in the levels of PM 2.5. If you look at the percentage, between 2014 and 2022, there has been a 42% drop in PM 10 levels and a 46% drop in PM 2.5 levels. However, even these levels are not conducive to good health," he said. Rai also appealed to neighbouring states in NCR to enforce a similar ban. We hope that those regions in Delhi NCR which suffer from poor air quality also enforce a complete ban. We saw last time that in spite of a total ban, crackers are smuggled into Delhi from neighbouring areas and some people also try to burst them. I appeal to all NCR states not to issue any kind of licences," he said. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), if the level is between 0 and 50, it is good", between 51-100 is satisfactory", 101 to 200 is moderate", and 201 to 300 is poor". The minister added that if there is a complete ban on firecrackers in all the NCR states, then we will be successful in containing the pollution due to crackers. We will write to states to implement a ban on crackers." Asked what AAP is doing in order to contain stubble burning in Punjab where it is also in power, Rai told News18 that all kinds of efforts were being made by the government, whether it is containing pollution due to crop waste burning, dust, or vehicle fumes, and that collective efforts have led to lower levels of pollution in Delhi. However, there is a need to push it down further, he said. Even last year, a lot of efforts were made. This year too we are making efforts. We hope that compared to last year, this year there will be a drop in stubble burning," he said. The Delhi government is in the process of preparing its winter action plan", which will be unveiled by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the first week of October. This week, there will be separate meetings with environmental experts and various departments over this. Ahead of the festival season, the Delhi government has imposed a complete ban on the sale, purchase, and use of all types of firecrackers, including green crackers citing air pollution in the national capital. The move is part of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments winter action plan, said Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday. We all know that the pollution level increases in Delhi during the winter. To tackle this, the Delhi government has started working on the winter action plan. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has also decided to implement a complete ban on all kinds of crackers in the city, Rai said. As per the order, the Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government has taken the decision to ban the production, storage, sale (including online sale), and bursting of crackers. Rai has also asked Delhi police not to allow licenses for the same. The air quality in Delhi and neighbouring areas starts worsening in October due to unfavourable meteorological factors such as low temperatures and wind speed, which do not allow dispersion of pollutants. To combat this, the Delhi government has been imposing a complete ban on firecrackers in the city for the past two years. As per last years order, bursting crackers in Delhi, while the ban is imposed, can lead to a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 200. Along with this, the production, storage, and sale of firecrackers in the capital could attract a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and imprisonment for three years under Section 9B of the Explosives Act. G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, in an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of G20 summit in New Delhi, saying he could pull it off because of the PMs credibility". ALSO READ | Behind the Ukraine Consensus at G20: 200 Hours of Negotiations, 300 Meetings, 15 Drafts and 4 Diplomats As a team we managed it and it was possible because of Indias great stature today. PM Modis credibility in democracy is so highWe had good negotiators. Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and India, when we get together, we bring a lot of power. As we went along, Saudi, Turkey, Argentina, Mexico joined us to say that G20 will be a voice of consensus. In the final stages, it went up and down at least 15 times. I give a lot of credit to the stature of India and PM Modi. His personal credibility was so high, I could pull it off." When asked if there were last-minute negotiations, he said, We got into negotiations till 11.30pm the previous night of the summit. We took it to brinkmanship. But the important thing is we are all working for the country. We are working essentially to ensure that India wins." Well done @amitabhk87! Looks lile the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS! "Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got final draft," says India's G20 Sherpa on 'Delhi Declaration' consensus. A proud moment for India at G20! https://t.co/9M0ki7appY Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 9, 2023 Lauding his team, Kant said, We had Joint Secretary K Nagraj Naidu, who has world-class drafting ability. Joint Secretary Enam Gambhirs ability, enthusiasm and ability is top class. Brazilian, South African and Indonesian Sherpas, we all worked together." He concluded: All four PMs stature comes into play. We made sure it was a G20 of consensus. It is a big win for developing countries. It is a win for multilateralism. It is a voice of the global south. It is a call for peace in many ways." Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the G20 summit will prove to be a milestone in the realisation of the One Earth, One Family, One Future as envisaged by the current dispensation at the Centre. In a statement issued by the state government here on Sunday, Adityanath said, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the G20 Summit successfully concluded today and has moved forward strongly towards achieving its targeted objectives. This summit will prove to be a milestone in the realisation of the spirit of One Earth, One Family, One Future. Yogi said that due to the special efforts of India, the African Union got permanent membership of the G20 group, which was a success of the all-inclusive call for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas of Modi. Permanent solutions to many problems like food, water, education, medicine, terrorism, unstable economy, unrest, distrust etc are also inherent in this mantra, he said. Integrated School Education, in Tamil Nadus Namakkal, organised an art and culture festival competition with a focus on five significant themes. The primary goal was to nurture creativity in students of Classes 9 to 12 while simultaneously upholding our traditional arts. The district-level arts and cultural festival competitions included a drawing segment that garnered the attention of students. Students were enthralled as they sketched pictures, almost as if they were witnessing a live competition unfold before them. Integrated School Education hosted an arts and culture festival competition including five central themes: music, instrumental music, dance, drama, and painting. Several students from Namakkal and neighbouring regions joined the competition, showcasing their exceptional skills. The highlight of the event was the remarkable display of various paintings from picturesque landscapes and Madurai Meenakshi Amman to honey bees, depictions of freedom fighters, Bharatham-inspired art and charming cartoons. The students artistic creations left the audience mesmerised, while teachers diligently assessed and scored their impressive artworks. Last year, in Namakkal district, students exhibited remarkable enthusiasm by participating in the inter-school district-level art festival competition. The Department of School Education announced its intention to conduct taluka, district and state-level programs, all geared towards fostering the artistic talents of students, particularly benefiting those enrolled in government schools. 3D art, or three-dimensional art, is a genre of artistic expression that optimises diverse techniques and tools to craft an illusion of depth, volume and space. Unlike conventional 2D art forms like painting and drawing, 3D art empowers artists to craft immersive and interactive visual encounters that invite exploration from various angles. The origins of 3D street painting can be traced to the 16th century when Italian Renaissance artists pioneered the creation of expansive anamorphic illusions on public surfaces. In the Namakkal district, the Kalaitruvizha competition was also organised. The competition was held in three distinct categories: one for students in Classes 6 to 8, another for those in Classes 9 and 10, and a third for students in Classes 11 and 12. Additionally, students in the 6th to 8th standard have the opportunity to participate in a competition across six different categories, including fine arts, music, instrumental music, dance, drama and language ability. Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, told Zakka Jacob, Managing Editor of CNN-News18, exclusively that the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor will create new export opportunities for India. ALSO READ | India-Middle East-Europe Corridor: Why It is Significant for Delhi & Where Did The Idea Come From | Explained In one of the highlights of the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor, an ambitious project aimed at fostering economic growth and countering Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The new economic corridor was jointly announced by the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union on the sidelines of the summit. The corridor will have an eastern corridor connecting India to the Gulf region and a northern corridor connecting the Gulf region to Europe. It would also include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport routes. Elaborating on the genesis of the idea, Vaishnaw said, Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear vision that India, the Middle-East and Europe have a common thinking and good alignment. The time has come for us to look at an economic corridor which is a combination of shipping and rail, so we can send goods from the west coast ports of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala to the ports of the Middle-East. From there, the goods can be transported via railway corridor, all the way to Europe." ALSO READ | India, UAE, US, Saudi and EU Announce Connectivity Corridor Joining West Asia, Europe to South Asia On what the corridor means for India, he said, This will reduce the distance between India and Europe by thousands of kilometres. It will create a new corridor around which many industries will get developed. India will get new export opportunities. We will also get the opportunity to export our technology. E.g. In telecom, we are exporting equipment to more than 40 countries. In one of the bilaterals, Indias telecom equipment has been accepted as part of the programme in the US. Similarly, India will be able to find opportunities to design the projects, execute and export railway locomotives, coaches and wheels to the Middle-East and Europe through this corridor." He said, Communication is an integral part of this corridor. There will be a major optical fibre corridor all along this transportation corridor. Gas pipeline can also become part of it." The BJP-Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra has called for an all-party meeting in Mumbai on Monday to address the Maratha reservation issue, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Meanwhile, the Sakal Maratha Morcha backed by Sambhaji Brigade called for a bandh in Maharashtras Thane city to condemn police lathi-charge action against the Maratha quota agitators in Jalna district. Local leaders from the opposition parties in the state have declared support to the bandh. Pawar, while addressing a rally in Maharashtras Kolhapur said that several people from the Maratha community were rich but many were poor and needed help. While giving the reservation to the Maratha community, it must be ensured that Other Backward Classes are not affected. Only discussions and meetings will solve this issue, he said. An all-party meeting is called in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the quota issue, Pawar noted. According to a Hindustan Times report, the face of the protest, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange who has been on a hunger strike for the last 13 days has given up on water and intravenous (IV) fluids. He has been on the strike demanding Kunbi status, which effectively means OBC quota, for all Marathas. Latest Updates Maha CM Appeals to Activist Jarange to End Protest Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has appealed to face of the protest Manoj Jarange to end the protest. The government is by the side of the Marathas, Shinde emphasised. We want a permanent solution to the issue. A solution that will stand the test of time, the chief minister said. He added that this is a curative petition to the Supreme Court and that the state government is working on the issue. OBC Reservation to Remain Untouched: Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government will not take any steps to impinge on the reservation of OBCs, adding that, the OBC reservation will remain untouched. Todays meeting is to build consensus on the Maratha reservation, Fadnavis said. He added that there is no intention to pit two communities against each other. Police Detains Some Protestors, Latter Claims Even BJP Supports Bandh The police have detained some of the protestors and have taken them to the Thane police station. Meanwhile, the protestors have claimed that all leaders from NCP, Shiv Sena (UT) and even BJP are supporting the bandh, it is only the Eknath Shinde faction that has not supported them. Protestors Demand Shutting of Shops, Ask Auto Drivers to Stay Off Road Protestors have asked shops to be shut for the bandh today in Thane while also asking auto drivers to stay off the road. Police personnel have been deployed at different locations. All Party Meeting Called by State Govt Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that an all party meeting has been called in Mumbai to address the Maratha quota row. He said that several people from the Maratha community were rich but many were poor and needed help. Sakal Maratha Morcha Calls for Thane Bandh Today Sakal Maratha Morcha backed by Sambhaji Brigade called for a bandh in Maharashtras Thane city to condemn police lathi-charge action against the Maratha quota agitators in Jalna district. Local leaders from the opposition parties in the state have declared support to the bandh. At a meeting of the opposition parties on Saturday, local leaders declared their support for the bandh and appealed to citizens of Thane to participate in it. The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) city unit president Suhas Desai, his Shiv Sena (UBT) counterpart Pradeep Shinde, MNS leaders Ravindra More, Avinash Jadhav, Maratha Kranti Morchas city chief Ramesh Ambre and Congress city president Vikrant Chavan attended the meeting. Five-Member Delegation to Hold Talks With Maha CM In the meantime, a five-member delegation left for Mumbai to hold talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The five-member delegation which included Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Arjun Khotkar, divisional commissioner Madhukar Rajeardad, the sarpanch of Antarwali Sarati village and two quota activists flew to Mumbai from Aurangabad airport in the evening, Khotkar told PTI. The state government on Thursday issued a Government Resolution (GR) saying that Kunbi caste certificates would be issued only after the Maratha community members from the Marathwada region provide genealogical records from the Nizam era. The region was once a part of the Nizam-ruled Hyderabad state What Happened? Whats The Protest About? | All You Need to Know The protestors, spearheaded by Manoj Jarange, had been staging a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community at Jalna since August 29. The reservation in jobs and education provided by the state government to the Maratha community was quashed by the Supreme Court in May 2021, citing the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations among other grounds. Following this on September 1, the protest turned violent as protestors resorted to stone-pelting, leaving at least over 40 police officers injured. Police used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd and even fired teargas shells at a mob at Antarwali village in Dhule-Solapur. Police had booked over 360 persons in the matter. A senior police official said, An offence was registered at Gondi police station in Jalna against 16 agitators, who have been identified, and around 350 others for their involvement in violence. The case was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and others, he said, PTI reports. In the protest violence other than the injured police officer some private vehicles and at least 15 state transport buses were vandalised and torched in the violence that broke out during the protest. (With inputs from Yesha Kotak) A 38-year-old man allegedly died on board a Muscat-to-Chennai flight in a suspected cardiac arrest on Sunday. The deceased identified as K Dhanasekaran was a resident of Sivagangas Ilayankudi. Employed in Muskat, Dhanasekaran was coming back home for vacation, a Times of India report quoted the police as saying. The cabin crew went to check on him when all the passengers deboarded the plan after landing in Chennai except Dhanasekaran. The crew thought that he had fallen asleep and attempted to wake him, only to find him unconscious. Soon after they alerted the ground authorities. A medical team took Dhanasekaran to the airports emergency medical centre and checked his vitals, following which the doctors declared him dead. The airport police recovered his corpse and sent it for post mortem. Dhanasekarans family members have been informed, said police. Previous Cases- Previously, on August 22, a 62-year-old passenger on board a Mumbai-Ranchi IndiGo flight started vomiting blood mid-flight following which the plane made an emergency landing at Nagpurs Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport. The deceased, Devanand Tiwari, was rushed to a medical college in Nagpur where he was declared brought dead. He was suffering from CKD and tuberculosis and vomited blood on board, said, Aejaz Shami, DGM, Branding and Communications of KIMS Hospital. Earlier, on August 17, the pilot of an IndiGo flight collapsed and died at the Nagpur boarding gate, just before he was about to operate a flight to Pune. At approximately 12 noon, the 40-year-old pilot, scheduled to operate the airlines Nagpur-Pune flight, experienced a collapse while seated within the security hold area, as per reports. Initial findings suggest that his demise resulted from a sudden cardiac arrest, as indicated by KIMS-Kingsway Hospital, where he was swiftly transported. Aejaz Shami, the hospitals spokesperson told PTI that their emergency team administered CPR, albeit with no positive response. The pilot was pronounced brought dead upon his arrival at the hospital. In March this year, an IndiGo airline plane made an emergency landing at Karachi airport in Pakistan after one of its passengers felt unwell. The passenger, a Nigerian, was declared dead on arrival by the airport medical team, IndiGo Airline said. The passenger on IndiGo Airline flight 6E-1736 felt unwell mid-flight, after which the captain of the plane contacted the Karachi Air Traffic Control and relayed the information regarding medical emergency. The pilot of the IndiGo flight sought emergency landing permission due to a medical emergency, which was granted by the Air Traffic Controller at the Karachi airport. IndiGo airline, in a statement, said: IndiGo flight 6E-1736, operating from Delhi to Doha was diverted to Karachi due to a medical emergency on board. Unfortunately, on arrival, the passenger was declared dead by the airport medical team. Two suspected cases of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) have been reported in Keralas Calicut, after two people died with fever. The deaths took place in a private hospital, and a relative of one of the deceased is also reported to be in critical condition. This patients test result will be out tomorrow. Nipah is a zoonotic virus, which means it first originated in animals and then jumped to humans, among whom it causes a serious respiratory infection and encephalitis, or brain fever. In keeping with the unofficial tradition of naming a virus after the place where it was first detected something that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has sought to change by coming up with Greek letter names for Covid-19 variants Nipah was named after the village in Malaysia where the first cases of the then unknown disease were detected in 1998-99. Singapore, too, was identifed as having been affected by the first detected cases of Nipah virus. The natural host of the Nipah virus is considered to be the fruit bat also known as flying foxes of the Pteropodidae family. These bats live in trees and are found commonly throughout South and Southeast Asia in close proximity to markets, places of worship, schools and tourist spots. HOW DOES THE DISEASE INFECT AN INDIVIDUAL? There are various ways that Nipah virus can spread. It is primarily believed to infect humans when they consume fruits or drink raw date palm juice the date palm tree is seen as being a favourite of the fruit bat contaminated by the saliva or urine of an infected fruit bat. Cases of Nipah infection have also been seen among people who climb trees occupied by bats. Then, there is transmission via an intermediate host. The outbreak of 1998-99 in Malaysia-Singapore is believed to have been seeded via contact of humans with sick pigs or their contaminated tissues. Transmission is thought to have occurred via unprotected exposure to secretions from the pigs, or unprotected contact with the tissue of a sick animal, WHO said. Uttar Pradesh police on Monday arrested the husband of a 61-year-old Supreme Court lawyer for allegedly murdering her at their house in Noida. The deceased, identified as Renu Sinha was found in a bathroom of her house in the posh Sector 30 of Noida on Sunday. After the womans dead body was recovered, her brother accused his brother-in-law, who was absconding, of killing his sister. Police later tracked down his phone location to the bungalows store room, where he hid for more than 36 hours, and arrested him, according to a report by NDTV. As per the report, the motive behind the murder was a disagreement between the couple over selling off their bungalow. According to police, the husband wanted to sell off the property and had even taken a token sum from a prospective buyer. However, the lawyer was not ready for it, which led to frequent fights between the couple. The Case Sinhas dead body was found after her brother Amit informed the local police station that she had not answered her phone calls for the last two days. Amit has raised suspicion that his sisters husband is behind the act and claimed that his number was not reachable. A police team, along with the womans brother, reached the house and broke open the door. Upon searching the house, Renu Sinha was found dead inside a bathroom. There were traces of blood in her ear. The womans brother claimed that the couple had frequent fights, DCP Harish Chander told reporters. Senior police officers, forensic experts, and a dog squad are at the spot, police said in a statement. (With Inputs from News18s Chandan Singh) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In a declaration of its commitment to innovation and global expansion, Great Wall Motor showcased its GWM brand and introduced the Haval H6 HEV model in Mexico City on September 7th. This event, themed "Hello Tomorrow," represents a significant milestone for the Chinese automaker, following its strategic partnership with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria ("BBVA"), one of Mexico's foremost players in the automotive finance sector, just a week prior. It serves as the official commencement of GWM's operations in the Mexican market. Photo credit: Great Wall Motor The spotlight of the event fell upon the grand debut of the Haval H6 HEV, GWM's inaugural offering tailored for Mexican consumers. Globally renowned as one of GWM's star models, the Haval H6 has already surpassed the remarkable sales milestone of 4 million units worldwide, boasting market-leading sales figures in countries as diverse as Brazil, Chile, and Thailand. With a focus on customer-centric strategies and delivering an innovative consumer experience, the company is joining forces with 24 local dealer groups to have a minimum of 40 retail outlets operational in Mexico by the end of the year, with a cumulative target of 100 by 2025. This move is set to provide Mexican customers with a formidable sales network and top-notch after-sales service. Notably, GWM is also stepping up its game when it comes to providing financial support for potential buyers. On August 31st, it forged a strategic partnership with BBVA Bank, aiming to offer local users a more convenient and innovative financial solution for new energy vehicles. On a political warpath with the BJP over the Sanatan Dharma controversy, the MK Stalin government is a laggard in the 5G rollout project with the maximum pendency of applications for allowing setting up of 5G infrastructure in the state of Tamil Nadu. As per the latest details with News18, as many as 11,146 applications for Right of Way were pending in Tamil Nadu as of May 19, 2023, with 7,292 of those applications pending for over 90 days. This was almost triple that of the following state with the highest pendency, Rajasthan with 3804 applications, a government report says. With 11,146 pending applications, Tamil Nadu accounts for almost half of the total ROW applications pending across India. The situation has not changed much since. Tamil Nadus pendency has come down from nearly 18,000 applications as of last year but those pending for over three months have increased. This is hampering progress of 5G rollout, a senior official said. As per the report, the Tamil Nadu government is still to give its nod to a Right of Way policy in accordance with Indian Telegraph Right of Way (Amendment) Rules 2022, and no timeline has been given for the same by the state. Tamil Nadu is also still to activate the 5G Form on its online portal for 5G rollout, an essential requirement as well. Uttar Pradesh on Fast Track The Centre has also asked states to map assets which can be used and retrofitted as street infrastructure for the 5G rollout, like electric poles, government buildings, bus terminals and traffic lights. The report says Uttar Pradesh is in the lead here by mapping 24.6 lakh electric poles in the state. Jharkhand has mapped 245 government buildings, 4.01 lakh electric poles, 53 bus terminals, 70 traffic lights, and 97 bus shelters while 595 bus terminals of Maharashtra have been mapped, as per the report. Fiberization Project The Centre is also pressing for fiberization of BTS (base trans receiver stations) which connects BTS with optical fibre so that BTS can handle more voice and data traffic. This is expected to lead to better quality of service for mobile coverage, higher internet speeds, attract more investments from industry in areas with better coverage and good internet speeds in public institutions like hospitals, government offices and schools etc. So far, Telangana has performed the best on this count with 41 per cent BTSs connected on fibre while Tamil Nadu has done better on the count with nearly 40.87 per cent coverage as of March 31 this year. The target of the Centre is to achieve 65 per cent fiberization by March 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House in Delhi on Monday, a day after the G20 Summit concluded. The two leaders co-chaired the First Leaders Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. As a part of the meetings agenda, PM Modi and the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince reviewed the progress made under the two Ministerial Committees of the Strategic Partnership Council, the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation and the Committee on Economy and Investments Cooperation. All aspects of bilateral relations, including defence, political, security, trade and economic, cultural and people-to-people ties is said to have been discussed in the bilateral meet. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/QEiLHbIgQY ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Both the leaders also discussed regional and international issues that are of mutual interest. Prior to his meeting with PM Modi, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi. Before leaving the national capital at around 8:30 pm today, the Crown Prince is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan around 6:30 pm. #WATCH | Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attends a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.He also met President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers during the pic.twitter.com/HWET5vsmB1 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Addressing a press conference after his meeting with the Saudi crown prince, PM Modi said that the two countries have initiated economic order. He further said, I Thank you again to contribute in the success participation in G20. PM Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud later also signed the minutes of the first meeting of India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sign the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council held at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/DB9B3MBZOA ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 MoU signed between India and Saudi Arabia for Grid Interconnection between the two countries The MoU confirms an under sea Grid connection and focusses on encouraging bilateral investment in renewable energy, hydrogen and storage, oil and gas. Aims on promoting digital transformation,innovation and cyber-security and artificial intelligence in the field of Energy. Working on developing qualitative partnerships between the two parties in order to localize materials, products and services related to all sectors of energy, supply chains and audits technologies. Look into strengthening the cooperation with companies specialized in the field of energy. The Saudi Crown Prince was in Delhi for a three-day tour that started with the G20 Summit that was being hosted here on September 9 and 10. He was received by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the airport. Before this, the Crown Prince of Saudi had come to India on a state visit in February 2019. This was his second state visit where he was accompanied by a high-level delegation which included ministers and senior officials. Earlier, Modi had visited Saudi Arabia in October 2019 during which the two countries established the Strategic Partnership Council, a bilateral mechanism. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the Skill Development Corporation scam. The CID arrested Naidu in Nandyal, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said on Saturday. Naidu has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the Vijayawada ACB court. The court further reserved an order on the plea seeking house arrest of the TDP chief. Meanwhile, Naidus party called for a bandh in Andhra Pradesh on Monday. TRACK LATEST UPDATES Black Day in the History of AP, Says TDP Spokesperson Reacting to former chief minister Chandrababu Naidus arrest, Telugu Desam Party spokesperson Pattabhi Ram said, It is a black day in the history of Andhra Pradesh. Chandrababu Naidu was illegally arrested and sent to jail yesterday without producing any kind of evidence in court. I have with me a copy of the remand report submitted by Jagan Mohan Reddys government. There is not even a single line in this report to prove that Chandrababu Naidu had committed any kind of corruption. It is purely a political vendetta. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy with the help of his police department had cooked up a false case without producing any kind of evidence, Ram added. TDP Workers Burn Tires, Vandalise Buses in Protest The TDP workers have burnt tires and vandalised public buses and vehicles amid protest against Naidus arrest. #WATCH | Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh: TDP workers hold protest against the arrest and judicial custody of former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu.Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/o19O36w5JQ ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 TDP Worker Hold Protest Across Andhra Pradesh The TDP workers are holding protests across the state in West Godavari, Nellore, Chittoor, etc., against the arrest and judicial custody of former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case. #WATCH | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: TDP workers hold protest against the arrest and judicial custody of former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu.Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/IHOILhp2g3 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Naidu is Prisoner Number 7691 at Rajahmundry Prison The former chief minister is prisoner number 7691 at the Rajahmundry central prison and is lodged in a special room in Sneha block in the prison. Other than that, Naidu enjoys Z plus category security, however, the NSG commandos were not allowed inside the jail. Chandrababu Naidu Enters Rajamahendravaram Central Prison TDP Chief N Chandrababu naidu reached the central prison in the wee hours of Monday after he was sent to a 14 days judicial custody. #WATCH | Andhra Pradesh former CM N Chandrababu Naidu brought to Rajahmundry Central Prison.CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/tM3L0dEdw7 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 He reached the jail after a nearly 200-km journey to Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari district from Vijayawada. Chandrababu Naidu went in the prison around 1:20 am, East Godavari district Superintendent of Police P Jagadish. Court Grants Naidu Separate Accommodation, Home-cooked Food & Other Things The Vijayawada ACB court granted Naidu the facility of home-cooked food, medication and a special room among other things. The 73-year-old former chief minister has been provided with a separate accommodation inside the jail in view of the purported threat to his life. He is a Z-plus category security protectee. Naidus son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh trailed his father to the prison gates and waited outside for some time before leaving. JSP Chief Pawan Kalyan Extends Support Actor-politician Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party (JSP) has extended its support to the state bandh call by TDP. Kalyan also accused the ruling YSR Congress Party of resorting to anti-social activities in Andhra Pradesh. He alleged that the YSRCP government is harassing the opposition parties. Kalyan urged the JSP workers to participate peacefully in the bandh. TDP Andhra Pradesh Chief Requests Party Cadre, Citizens to Participate in Agitation The TDP Andhra Pradesh President K Atchannaidu requested the party cadre, citizens and the civil society to take part in the agitation and make it a success TDP Calls for Andhra Bandh Today Chandrababu Naidus Telugu Desam Party has called for Andhra bandh today in protest against the arrest of the former chief minister. #WATCH | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh: TDP called for a statewide bandh after TDP chief and ex-CM Chandrababu Naidu was sent for 14 days of custody.Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/nGsrnJK627 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 The Telugu Desam Party has called for a statewide bandh tomorrow, Monday (September 11) in protest against the illegal arrest of Nara Chandrababu Naidu, atrocities on the party cadre, and vengeful politics, a press release from the party said. A local court in Vijayawada remanded Chandrababu Naidu in judicial custody for 14 days in an alleged multi-crore corruption scam on Sunday. Court Sends TDP Chief to 14-Day Judicial Remand Vijayawada ACB court on Sunday sent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the alleged skill development scam. The court further reserved an order on the plea seeking house arrest of the TDP chief. The order on house arrest will be pronounced by the ACB court tomorrow. A judge had earlier dismissed Naidus bail plea calling the non-bailable section as untenable. TDP Chief Non-cooperative During Questioning, Claims AP Police The Crime Investigation Department which arrested TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu in the skill development corporation scam case has said the former Chief Minister was non-cooperative during questioning and replied vaguely saying he did not remember certain issues. He was asked questions based on the note files, which form part of the evidence in this case diary. But to all the questions he was non-cooperative and replied vaguely that he could not recollect the facts. In this regard, the report was drafted in the presence of the mediators and duly attested by him, the report said. Naidus First Arrest on Corruption Charges in His 40 years Career This is the first time that the TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has been arrested on corruption charges in his political career spanning over 40 years. Analysts said the development could leave a dent on the clean image of the party projected by his supporters. Naidu was arrested in a pre-dawn operation on Saturday at Nandyal for his alleged role in a multi-crore Skill Development Corporation scam, which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping. (With inputs from PTI) A man on board a Mumbai-Guwahati IndiGo flight was handed over to the Guwahati police on arrival after a complaint was received against him from another passenger for alleged sexual harassment, the airliner said on Sunday. A woman had accused that the man lifted the armrest and groped her while the cabin lights were dimmed on the late-night flight. Following the incident, the airline said that a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the man and he was handed over to the police in Guwahati. The IndiGo flight 6E-5319 departed from Mumbai at around 9 pm and reached the destination around 15 minutes post- midnight. This is the fourth case of sexual harassment reported in the last two months, involving passengers on-board flights. Speaking to Times of India, the woman said that she was seated on an aisle seat in the flight and had fallen asleep after the cabin lights were dimmed. She had lowered the armrests before dozing off but woke up to find the armrest up and her male co-passenger leaning close to her. She said, I found it weird because I distinctly remembered putting the hand down. Half-asleep, I didnt think too much about it, put the armrest down again and went back to sleep. On waking up after some time, she found the male passengers hands on her but since his eyes were shut she said that she did not want to jump to conclusions. Thereby, she waited while keeping his eyes half-closed and pretending to be asleep. On finding the co-passenger groping her and touching her inappropriately in a couple of minutes, the woman said that she wanted to scream but couldnt as she froze. While narrating the incident, she said that she gathered courage and when the man tried to grope her again she pulled his hand away and screamed. She then turned the seat lights on and called the cabin crew. The woman added, He started apologising for what he did, while I was shouting, crying and narrating the incident. IndiGo released a statement claiming that the male passenger was handed over to the police in Guwahati after the arrival of the flight, as the female passenger had filed a complaint for sexual harassment. The airline extended their assistance and said that an FIR was registered with the local police against the accused. The female passenger eventually thanked the CISF, the airline and the airport authorities and the people who helped her to register the case at the police station. A woman and her two minor sons were killed, and one person was injured when a container truck collided with their autorickshaw in Maharashtras Beed district, police said on Monday. The accident took place in a ghat section near Ghatsavli village in Beed taluka around 8 pm on Sunday, an official said. A speeding container truck collided with the three-wheeler, killing three of its occupants and seriously injuring one, he said. The deceased have been identified as Nasreen Azim Sheikh (35) and her sons Numan (12) and Adnan (10), the official said. The victims were residents of Islampura in Beed city, and were travelling towards their home from Dharur taluka, he said. The truck that crashed fell on the side of the road. Personnel from the Pimpalner police station rushed to the spot following the accident, the official added. The world media has hailed Indias successful organisation of the G-20 Summit, describing its outcome as a diplomatic victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is pushing to increase the countrys influence on the world stage and pressing for reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations. India managed to hammer out the unexpected consensus among the G20 countries on the contentious Ukraine conflict through a series of hectic negotiations with emerging economies such as Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia playing a leading role in reaching the agreement on the declaration on the first day of the summit. The New Delhi summit declaration also called for reforming international financial institutions, managing debt vulnerabilities of low and middle-income countries and the start of the exchange of tax-relevant information on crypto assets by 2027. Some experts saw the agreement as a win for Russia, while others read it as an achievement for the West. But most concurred it was a foreign policy triumph for Modi as he pushes to increase Indias influence on the world stage, Associated Press wrote in an article titled India forges compromise among divided world powers at the G20 summit in a diplomatic win for Modi. Bloomberg said that the G-20 has consolidated the rise of Indias prime minister to world leader status in its article And The Winner of This Years G-20 is. I think this was an unadulterated win, both for India and for Modi personally, journalist John Reed was quoted as saying in the Financial Times in an article titled India shines at G20 summit. Modis decision to parlay his rotating G20 presidency into a year-long platform to promote Indias culture, foreign policy goals, and ambition to serve as a leader of the so-called Global South developing countries has paid off, the London-based business newspaper quoted analysts as saying. Swiss French-language daily newspaper Le Temps article The African Union becomes a permanent member of the G20 says the African Unions entry into the G20 is a notable diplomatic victory for Modi, who carried the initiative and thus restores the image of the Indian leader abroad before he seeks a new mandate next year. What the G20 presidency for India has underlined is the countrys growing role in multilateral diplomacy and emerging as a voice which must be heard, said an article in the Gulf News. In an article Who are the G20s bad guys now? Politico said this is Indias moment in the sun. Modis government has used its stint in the chair to show it can play a more assertive role in the global order. Indias self-confidence as it hosts the global shindig signals a deeper geopolitical shift. An opinion piece by an Indian professor published in the China Daily titled The Global South should have a bigger voice said India has set several new benchmarks during its G20 presidency. To begin with, never before has any country holding the G20 presidency witnessed so many meetings in so many cities preceding the summit, the article in the state-run English-language newspaper said. The Guardian article Watered-down G20 statement on Ukraine is a sign of Indias growing influence said that softening of the language of the declaration was out of deference to Modis need for a clear diplomatic win that the US did not push the Ukraine issue to deadlock. It is hard to underestimate how important the Democrat administration sees India, a powerful rival to China, according to the leading British newspaper. The Lowy Institute article by Ian Hall India pushes China to the margins of the G20 said that Indias marginalisation of China at the G20 follows on from these efforts to curtail Beijings influence. For the moment, they might be working, the article says. Some interpret Chinese President Xi Jinpings refusal to attend the G20 summit as a tacit acknowledgement that the forum no longer serves Chinas interests. If that is so, it will be partly due to New Delhis hard work, as well as Chinas mishandling of a crucial bilateral relationship, the article in the Sydney-based think tank website says. The Newsweek article China Blindsided by Historic Challenge To Belt and Road Project at G20 said the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor is a historic initiative. It poses a direct challenge to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by providing countries in the region with an alternative for infrastructure development and economic cooperation. Over the last three days, the capital state of Delhi had been bustling with foreign dignitaries who had come to attend the G20 Meet from far and wide. Britains Prime Minister Rishi Sunak too attended the event with his wife Akshata Murty who gave the world some stellar fashion moments each time she was spotted out and about in public during the event. Murty, a venture capitalist and designer sported some thoroughly impressive looks throughout but it was her saree look that left an undeniable mark on the hearts of everyone around. From fashion critics to fashion enthusiasts everybody gasped as Akshata Murty bid adieu to her homeland, India on Sunday. Time stood still as the First Lady of Britain made an appearance in the most ethereal saree. In case, you have missed out on her look, check it out here- Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/nOSAaC2x2f#India #UKFirstLady #AkshataMurty #UK #G20India2023 pic.twitter.com/d1a6RRjIFh ANI Digital (@ani_digital) September 10, 2023 The 43-year-old was seen donning a beautiful silk saree from the shelves of the celebrated homegrown brand Raw Mango. Draped in six yards of sheer elegance Akshatas choice of outfit seemed like the perfect wear to mark the last day of her visit to India. Her innate grace and charm most definitely were her biggest accessories that took the look a notch higher making her a true fashion icon as she walked up the steps of the aeroplane to jet off to the UK. Coming back to her look, the saree she had draped on featured aari embroidery and peacock motifs both of which were subtle yet extremely striking. The shades of gold and pink looked absolutely heavenly on her as she went on to pair the saree with a matching blouse of the same colour. What has struck fashion lovers across the globe is Akshatas appreciation and love for Indian handloom and her wise decision to choose a rather sustainable Indian fashion brand. Every bit of the look reflected her humble upbringing and beliefs and showed the world that simplicity is always the key. Akshata went ahead and chose gold and diamond danglers to pair with the saree and completed the magnificent look with a small bindi. She had her hair tied up in a neat bun and the choice of going bare face without an iota of makeup on was yet phenomenal choice, a choice that smelt of sheer confidence and self-love. Every year, Mumbai celebrates the Mount Mary Festival, popularly known as the Bandra Fair, to pay homage to Mother Mary (mother of Jesus Christ) who was born on September 8. The festival is held at the Mount Mary Church, also called the Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, located in Bandra. People of various faiths attend the fair, which has become an essential part of Mumbais cultural fabric over the years. This festival is a lively and colourful event that attracts a large number of visitors. The Mount Mary Festival is a grand annual event that spans about a week. Mount Mary Festival 2023: Date Every year, the festival begins on the first Sunday after September 8. Mount Mary Fair will be held this year from September 10 to September 17. The fair is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those who wish to attend should consult the notice board in the church or keep an eye out for activities taking place throughout the day. Mount Mary Festival 2023: History and Significance According to folktales, the fair began when a statue of St. Mary was discovered floating in the Arabian Sea, which borders the cathedral. It had been a dream of a Koli fisherman a few years before. Many devotees seek blessings from this holy statue. The festival takes place in the Mount Mary Church complex and the alleys around the church. The celebrations are similar to a funfair which includes games, concerts, and amusement rides. During the event, there are kiosks selling Goan and Maharashtrian cuisine. They also sell sweets, handcrafted cakes and fudges, chikki, and other delectable treats. The Mount Mary Church is in Bandra, Mumbai. Its history dates back to the 16th century, when the Portuguese initially built a small church on this hill. Over the years, the church has undergone several changes and renovations, evolving into the magnificent structure that stands today. This site holds immense importance for Christians and is considered one of the holiest places. The Koli community in Bandra affectionately call this statue Moti Mauli in Marathi, which means Pearl Mother. Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has finally broken his silence over fans complaining of overcrowding and a stampede-like situation at his concert, titled Marakuma Nenjam, in Chennais Paniyur on Sunday evening. After the organisers of the concert issued a public apology on social media, Rahman spoke to The Hindu at length about what happened on Sunday evening, which led to the massive outrage. It was tsunami of people and love that we were unable to handle, the music composer said. As a composer, my job was to give a terrific show, and I thought everything else would be taken care of. I was just thinking it shouldnt rain, and was happily performing inside, without any idea of what was happening outside. Our intentions were good, but I think the response was beyond our expectations. Rahman further said that he was terribly disturbed by how things turned out at the venue. Right now, we are just terribly disturbed. Safety was the primary issue, especially because there were women and kids. I dont want to point fingers at anyone, but we have to realise that the city is expanding, and the passion to consume music and art is also expanding. Meanwhile, taking to X (previously known as Twitter), ACTC Events issued a statement thanking Rahman for his performance while apologising to fans who couldnt make their way to the concert. Grateful to Chennai and the legendary @arrahman Sir! The incredible response, the overwhelming crowd made our show a massive success. Those who couldnt attend on overcrowding, Our sincere apologies. We take full responsibility and accountable. We are with you. #MarakkumaNenjam, the organisers posted. The highly anticipated new-age thriller Ulajh has completed its shooting and wrapped up the final schedule of the film in Mumbai. The makers of the film shared a video on the wrap of the film, expressing gratitude and their heartfelt emotions. Starring Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah, and Roshan Mathew, the stylized international thriller, Ulajh, is helmed by the National Award Winning Director Sudhanshu Saria. Ulajh also stars Rajesh Tailang, Meiyang Chang, Adil Hussain, Rajendra Gupta and Jitendra Joshi in pivotal roles. Speaking about it, Janhvi Kapoor said, I have learned so much through this experience, I wake up every day and feel so inspired seeing each one involved in the film, giving their heart and soul to everything. It was amazing to see how passionate everyone was, how high the energies were, and how fun everything was. She also took to social media and shared a heartfelt message on her experience on shooting Ulajh. A part of her note read, Each film has been a lesson, and its story deeply and coincidently intertwined with things happening in my life. And through Suhanas journey, and the journey of making this film- my biggest learning has been to allow yourself to love what you do, to identify if youre doing it for the right reasons, to let go of baggage and external pressures and opinions. Janhvis co-star Roshan Mathew added, Since day one I used to joke saying that I have come here to just shoot the film and not make any friends but fortunately now I can say there will be people I will definitely miss a lot, from Junglee Pictures, all the other actors and everyone involved in the film. Actor Gulshan Devaiah jokingly said, Ulajhs India schedule was nice but the London shoot was amazing. Lastly, director Sudhanshu Saria expressed, I feel so grateful, I received more than I asked for, I always keep thanking the amazing cast and everyone in Junglee Pictures. Beijing (Gasgoo)- On September 9, FAW Toyota held an event to celebrate its 20th anniversary in Tianjin. The Sino-Japanese collaboration between Toyota Motor and FAW Group, reaffirmed its commitment to enduring passion and customer-centricity. Photo credit: FAW Toyota Looking ahead, FAW Toyota aims to lead the automotive industry into a new era of intelligent interaction and green, low-carbon new energy vehicles. With a focus on its entire industry chain and upstream-downstream partners, the company is poised to introduce five powertrain technologies. In an era marked by unprecedented changes in the global automotive industry, FAW Toyota, in the prime of its success, is embarking on a transformative journey for the next 20 years. FAW Toyota will tailor its driving technology and product evolution to meet the diverse needs of all customers, considering China's varying road conditions and infrastructure development. This strategy includes a dual-track approach, simultaneously advancing fuel technology and comprehensive electrification technologies. Based on its existing front-line power technologies, such as gasoline, pure electric, intelligent electric hybrid, intelligent plug-in hybrid, and intelligent hydrogen fuel cell, the company will continuously expand its range of innovative driving technologies. Simultaneously, while enhancing self-reliant R&D capabilities, FAW Toyota will collaborate with Chinese partners under the Intelligent ElectroMobility R&D Center by TOYOTA (China) CO.,Ltd. The automaker aims to break barriers, attract valuable resources, and gather cutting-edge expertise for a comprehensive, multidimensional product layout. This effort includes the return of classic models like the new Crown sedan and the off-road legend, Land Cruiser Prado. The company is committed to launching higher-quality new energy products, including a soon-to-be-released intelligent crossover electric vehicle, as it optimizes its vehicle lineup for Chinese customers and families. In terms of product quality, FAW Toyota will elevate the standard by enhancing the universality and intelligence of its production platform - the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA). By integrating the latest electrification technologies and advanced craftsmanship into the production process, FAW Toyota aims to combine two decades of manufacturing experience with intelligent manufacturing techniques. Jatt & Juliet 3 is officially happening. On Monday, Diljit Dosanjh took to Instagram and confirmed that the hit Punjabi film franchise is set to make a comeback after 10 long years. The Punjabi superstar revealed that not only will he returned as the Jatt aka Fateh Singh and he will be joined by Neeru Bajwa, who is likely to reprise her role as Pooja in the movie. The on-screen couple was seen in Jatt & Juliet (2012) and Jatt & Juliet 2 (2013), both the films were hits. Diljit shared the news with the poster in which a caricature of him and Neeru was seen. Also spotted were the films iconic elements a police pistol and a stick. Sharing the poster, Diljit wrote, OYE SHOTU.. HATT PICHE.. PUNJAB POLICE DI KOI REES NI AA OYE.. JATT & JULIET 3 Releasing Worldwide 28 JUNE 2024. Jatt & Juliet revolved around a police officer named Fateh Singh from Punjab who lands up in Canada and falls in love with Pooja, who is also a police officer in Canada. The film revolves around a series of hilarious unfortunate events which eventually results in Fateh and Pooja falling in love. Both films features numerous funny scenes and popular songs. While Jatt & Juliet 3 is coming after a decade, Neeru is reuniting with Diljit after four years. They were last seen in 2019s Shadaa. Besides this, the popular on-screen duo have also been seen in films like Sardaar Ji in 2015 and Jihne Mera Dil Luteya (2011). While fans are excited to see them team up, Neeru and Diljit have their individual projects as well that have kept them busy. Neeru will be seen in Buhe Bariyan, a Punjabi film. She not only stars in the movie but also is the producer. She will then be seen in Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi with Gippy Grewal. On the other hand, Diljit has Jodi in 2023 in Punjabi, and Chamkila and The Crew in Bollywood. Shah Rukh Khan is currently basking in the success of his recently released film Jawan. The film has minted over Rs 206 crores at the national ticket window. Now, Shah Rukh Khans friend and actor Akshay Kumar took to his social media handle to congratulate the superstar for the films success. Taking to the microblogging site X, Akshay wrote, What massive success!!Congratulations my Jawan Pathaan @iamsrk Our films are back and how. Shah Rukh has now responded to the same saying, Aap ne Dua maangi na hum sab ke liye toh kaise khaali jayegi. All the best and stay healthy Khiladi! Love u. Aap ne Dua maangi na hum sab ke liye toh kaise khaali jayegi. All the best and stay healthy Khiladi! Love u https://t.co/vP4s1Qvlhk Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) September 11, 2023 On the 4th day of Jawans release the film has registered the highest single day collection on Sunday. As per early estimates, Jawan collected Rs 85 Cr and that too only in India. News18 Showshas review of Jawan read: Shah Rukh Khan takes the maximum screen time and rightly so. He struts around with perfectly kept hair (unlike his unkempt look in Pathaan). He is charming, and sexy but also works with his piercing eyes, menacing voice, and showing off his action avatar. He is the heart of Jawan who serves as a continual reminder of why we love watching him on the big screen. He charms you into buying the most absurd story twists. His charisma is intact and on full display in virtually every frame of the film. Jawan promises loads of action and fun-filled moments that any ardent fan of SRK could ask for and the star does not miss a trick. His fans would be in a double treat watching him in a dual role. Talking about the love Jawan is receiving, in an exclusive conversation with CNN News18, Atlee thanked audiences for showering immense love on his film and said, The movie is amazing. Let the movie speak. Dont want to talk much. Thank you all. Love you. Vicky Kaushal is currently gearing up for his next release The Great Indian Family. The family entertainer is set to release on September 22. Well, the actor has been promoting it on all platforms. Amid this today he shared a video on his Instagram in which we can see him vibing to a Punjabi song. His love for Punjabi songs is not a secret. He is often seen dancing on them. In the video, Vicky can be seen fully dressed in formal and heading for a photoshoot when he suddenly starts dancing. He is in full mood as his steps are also matching. The actor looks in love with music. The only way I know how to do photoshoots. What a banger by @karanaujila_official veerey, his caption read. His dance moves are surely going to make fans go crazy. Recently, he was also seen at Dahi Handi celebration in Mumbai city. He even recalled his childhood memories. Take a look at the photos here: The Great Indian Family, is a family entertainer directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya. The makers recently unveiled the films first teaser, offering a sneak peek into the comical family drama. Set in rural India, the storyline revolves around the chaos that unfolds within Vickys characters family due to unexpected events beyond their control. In the teaser, the actor passionately discusses the importance of family bonds until he becomes emotional about his eccentric family members. He even refers to his family as a snake that can turn his aspirations to ashes. Then, multiple voices call him out for speaking negatively about his loved ones. He swiftly changes his tone, explaining that he wants to warn the audience about The Great Indian Family. Vicky Kaushal is set to star in Meghna Gulzars biopic on Sam Maneckshaw, with aims at a December release. Former Miss World Manushi Chillar made her debut last year in Akshay Kumars Prithviraj. Following the success of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, Vicky Kaushal is set to star in another family drama. Bankrolled by Yash Raj Films, The Great Indian Family also features Manushi Chillar in the lead role. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, the film is scheduled to hit theaters on September 22. As the teaser of the film has hyped the fans already, the makers are looking forward to unveiling the trailer of the film. The director of the film Vijay Krishna Acharya gave an exciting update about the film. As quoted by Bollywood Hungama, he shared that the trailer will go live on September 12, The Great Indian Family is a family entertainer that is aimed at evoking a community-watching experience like no other. We are set the release the trailer of the film tomorrow! TGIF is a film about the special, unbreakable bond that family members have for each other in India. Im excited to see the reaction of the people to our trailer. I hope they love it and engage with the film and have a conversation about the message of our movie, he informed. Meanwhile, the teaser gave a sneak peek into the comical family drama. Set in rural India, the storyline revolves around the chaos that unfolds within Vickys characters family due to unexpected events beyond their control. In the teaser, the actor passionately discusses the importance of family bonds until he becomes emotional about his eccentric family members. He even refers to his family as a snake that can turn his aspirations to ashes. Then, multiple voices call him out for speaking negatively about his loved ones. He swiftly changes his tone, explaining that he wants to warn the audience about The Great Indian Family. Sharing her excitement, Manushi Said, Im super excited and thrilled that two of my films have been announced today. Operation Valentine and The Great Indian Family. Two films on the very same day! Both drastically different genres. Operation Valentine is an action drama, its an air force action which is very different from The Great Indian Family which is a family entertainer, a very light hearted, sweet story. Two roles, two shades, two announcements only Gratitude. In both the films people will get to see me in completely different roles. I have absolutely enjoyed shooting for both the films and Im very excited for their release. Vicky Kaushal is set to star in Meghna Gulzars biopic on Sam Maneckshaw, with aims at a December release. Former Miss World Manushi Chillar made her debut last year in Akshay Kumars Prithviraj. Xi Jinpings conspicuous absence from the G20 summit, which seemed aimed at undermining Indias role as the host, actually led to a more effective counterstrategy by the G20. This was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as President Joe Biden of the United States, in countering Chinas global influence. Other G20 member nations applauded Indias accomplishment in reaching a consensus on a joint communique. Just 12 hours before, when Amitabh Kant addressed the international media on Friday evening, there was no sign of a consensus on the joint statement. Beyond finding common ground on the challenging issue of Russias war in Ukraine, the summit also elevated the African Union to full G20 membership and took actions on critical matters like climate change and debt sustainability, aligning with the priorities of emerging markets. While the final outcome may have disappointed Ukraine, which perceived the compromise regarding the war as weaker than what had been produced just 10 months earlier in Bali, Indonesia, for the US and its allies, this was a small price to pay. The reason is simple: it provided PM Modi with a significant win that enhances Indias status as a rising power capable of countering Chinas global influence. US President Biden played a leading role in championing this approach, recognising India as the best opportunity to isolate China and Russia while strengthening the US-led world order. The result demonstrated that Washington has finally become more adept at engaging with the language and priorities of the Global South, with India serving as its principal guide. While some commentators have noted the softened language in the communique regarding Russia-Ukraine as a climbdown, by the West, there is an alternative perspective: The West was equally invested in ensuring Indias success. A failure to reach consensus would have been a significant disappointment for India. In this context, the Wests willingness to compromise on certain issues was a strategic move to bolster Indias position on the global stage. A pivotal moment underscored the dynamics of the summit. President Biden had a photograph alongside World Bank President Ajay Banga, Prime Minister Modi, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, and Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa key members of the BRICS coalition, excluding China and Russia. The recent expansion of this bloc posed a challenge to the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies. America was going the extra mile to engage with the Global South. The G20 didnt limit its efforts there. It separately unveiled an agreement with India, the European Union, Saudi Arabia, the US and other Middle Eastern nations to develop an ambitious rail and maritime network across the region. President Biden hailed this as a game-changing investment. The picture of Modi bang in the middle of Biden and Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) captured the mood of the room. There was a three-way handshake involving Biden, Modi and MBS. Biden had previously called MBS a pariah leading up to the last American election. Such agreements like the corridor are more likely to resonate with Middle East interests compared to focusing solely on human rights concerns. While the United States denied that the initiative aimed to counter Chinas growing influence in the Gulf, it was quite obvious that this was designed to provide competition for Xi Jinpings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).I want to see China succeed economically, President Biden emphasised to reporters during his visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, following the G20 summit. But I want to see them succeed by the rules. Xi Jinpings decision to skip the G20 summit, the first such absence since he assumed the presidency in 2013, marked a notable shift in behaviour compared to his stance in the previous G20 when he emphasised the need to get along with other countries. Chinas negotiators appeared petty by taking a stand on seemingly minor issues, such as Prime Minister Modis use of the phrase Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Americas bid to host the G20 in 2026. Adding to Beijings challenges, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reportedly informed Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the summit about Italys intentions to withdraw from the BRI while still seeking to maintain friendly relations. India received accolades from various quarters for its adept role in brokering a compromise. Foreign Minister Jaishankar disclosed that the breakthrough emerged when India, Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa collaboratively presented a proposal regarding the language used to describe the war. The consensus achieved in this manner underscores Indias growing reputation as a reliable and trustworthy mediator in a world often marked by sharp divisions on geopolitical matters, most notably the conflict in Ukraine. All in all, the Delhi summit will go down in history for rescuing the G20 from going the way of the United Nations which has become a toothless body. The Delhi G20 also ensured that the current world order remains the way it is, for however long it can be preserved. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally got a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the final hours of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. While the Canadian leader failed to clinch a bilateral sit-down with India, a brief last-minute pull-aside with PM Modi was the best outcome he could have hoped for as ties between India and Canada remain in a slump. It did not end well though. Instead of a breakthrough, a rekindling of ties, or even a slight ray of hope not only did the Canadian Prime Minister receive a stinging rebuke from India over Khalistani extremism, but Trudeau remained defiant and frankly, unhinged. In a press conference after the meeting, armed with climate and gender, completely out-of-touch buzzwords in the context of Indo-Canadian ties, Trudeau played down the brutal castigation that he received at the hands of the Indian leadership. In a statement that seemed to put Indo-Canadian ties in the league of rock-bottom relations with Pakistan, India raised the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, the statement went on. Finally, India called for mutual respect and trust in Indo-Canadian relations a bare minimum ask reflecting just how severely ties have been afflicted by Trudeaus mollycoddling of Khalistani extremists under the garb of freedom of speech. To further add to his woes, just as the Canadian leader was ready to fly out of India, his airplane hit a technical snag leaving him stuck in New Delhi for another night. These few hours may have hopefully served as a moment for Justin Trudeau to reflect. This was his first visit to India since the disastrous trip in February 2018, where he was snubbed royally by the Indian government for his links with Khalistani extremists. All he had to do this time around was prevent another such disaster. After all, he had five years to prepare! But he was anything but prepared. In fact, he made some last-minute efforts not to ease tensions with India, but to seek leverage only he grossly misread his fate as he did not have the luxury to pull off any power moves. Ahead of his visit, Trudeau spoke to Ukrainian President Zelensky, expressing his disappointment that Ukraine was not invited to the G20 summit by the host nation, India. The Canadian government has also abruptly put fast-moving trade talks with India on hold, with no reason supplied whatsoever. He further hinted that he would be bringing up foreign interference with Indias leadership essentially reiterating the Canadian intelligence communitys claim that India, apart from Russia, China and Iran interferes in Canadas internal affairs. The stage was set for another diplomatic catastrophe for Trudeau who seems to have vowed to engage in self-sabotage when it comes to international diplomacy. At the G20 Summit, the Canadian Prime Ministers performance at this high-stakes diplomatic forum was lacklustre. His body language exuded discomfort, especially when interacting with PM Modi. He did not have major bilateral meetings with any leader during the summit. Suffice it to say that Justin Trudeau had a tough time in New Delhi. It is not just India that snubbed the Canadian leader, but also most other powers of the G20. To add to the injury, he remained missing in all the major announcements, far away from the limelight. One of the greatest highlights of the first day of the two-day G20 Summit in New Delhi was the announcement of an India-Middle East-Europe transport corridor, by PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission leader Ursula von Der Leyen. Missing on stage was the Canadian Prime Minister, confirming that Canada had not only missed the bus, but it was not even missed by those on the bus. The picture was similar when BRICS leaders minus Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin got together for a photo-op with Biden and World Bank CEO Ajay Banga. Canada, firmly under the USAs umbrella, failed to make the cut here as well. This comes against the backdrop of Biden pushing to secure support for expanding the World Banks lending capacity as geo-economic competition with China grows. Canadas ties with China remain strained, but it fails to secure a seat at the table with its allies to combat Beijings global influence. There used to be a time when Canada and the US stood together in international diplomacy. It was clear, however, that Canada was an insignificant player on the global stage when it was not invited by its allies to join the AUKUS a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. More significantly, India seems to stick to the tradition of royally snubbing Justin Trudeau for the Canadian leaders link with Khalistani extremists. Trudeaus tryst with climate action also remained dull as the Canadian Prime Minister was missing from the photo-op on the launch of the Bio-Fuels Alliance founded by India, the US and Brazil. Trudeaus absence from all of the main highlights of the G20 summit shows just how poorly he has been managing Canadas diplomatic affairs. At a time when his opponent Pierre Poilievres political assault intensifies, Trudeau is making appearances just for the sake of it, lackadaisically catering to his audience back home. As far as foreign policy goes, the incumbent Canadian Prime Minister has thrown in the towel. History has been created with the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders Declaration. United in consensus and spirit, we pledge to work collaboratively for a better, more prosperous, and harmonious future. My gratitude to all fellow G20 members for their support and cooperation Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Steered by the vision of PM Modi, Bharats G20 presidency has delivered phenomenal action on high ambitions for the world. With 83 paras and absolutely no dissent, no footnotes and no chair summaries, the New Delhi Leaders Declaration symbolises unparalleled global consensus. The most important aspect of this declaration is that there is not a single footnote. Last year in the Bali declaration also there was a paragraph but there were some footnotes to that. With the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration and the success of the G20 summit, it has really raised Indias international profile very high, former diplomat, Veena Sikri said. It was initially unclear whether G20 member countries would be able to agree to a joint communique, due to highly publicised differences between different camps on the issue of how the Ukraine War would be referred to in the joint declaration. Bharat has so far been releasing an Outcome Document and Chairs Summary statement in place of a joint declaration at the end of major G20 meetings as a result of this. Addressing a press conference ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit on 9-10 September, Amitabh Kant said he would reveal more about the declaration, also referred to as a joint communique, after it has been accepted by the leaders. However, he said the declaration will include the voice of the Global South and developing countries. And indeed, the Delhi declaration under the aegis of PM Modi will be etched in history as a turning point for a more vocal Global South. French President Emmanuel Macron summarised the ethos of the G20 summit, based on shared partnerships and dialogue, when he said, I think we (India-France) have a strong bilateral partnership. We had a very strong defence partnership and we strengthened this partnership, especially during the past 2 years. The visit of your PM during our Bastille day was a very critical moment. French people were very proud and they felt the friendship and respect for your country. We will follow up on defence, we will develop and deploy on all the different parts of our defence roadmap, additional contracts and procurements in the months and years to come. Bharat and Bangladesh also signed three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs), including one on cooperation in digital payment mechanisms. India is among our greatest trade partners in Asia and there is huge potential to this partnership, said Turkiye President Erdogan, once again showcasing the power of Modiplomacy. Similarly, with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, the issue of Khalistani extremism was discussed and thereafter Trudeau made a statement that while free speech is essential, the rule of law has to be adhered to and accepted by all. Also, Bharat and Netherlands and Bharat and Germany, on the sidelines of the G20, reiterated their commitment to continue working together for clean energy, innovation, semiconductors, agriculture, technology and towards a better planet. Interestingly, Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni privately signalled to Chinese Premier Li Qiang that Italy is planning to exit from Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) pact, marking a blow to those who have been singing paeans about a decadent BRI. Remember, due to PM Modis foresight, Bharat refused to join the BRI despite repeated pressure from various vested interests, over the years. The African Union formally took its seat as a new member of the G20 at the invitation of the summit host Prime Minister Modi. The focus areas of the New Delhi G20 declaration are- Strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth Accelerating progress on SDGs Green development pact for a sustainable future Multilateral institutions for the 21 st century century Reinvigorating multilateralism The important decisions taken on the first day of the G20 summit included not only the adoption of the New Delhi Leadership Declaration, but announcement of a mega India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor and induction of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the Group of 20. The inclusion of the 55-country-strong contingent, AU, was a significant move for Bharat, which has rightfully projected itself as a voice of the Global South. Amitabh Kant, the sherpa of G20, in a series of posts on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), underscored the importance of the current era as one that should be celebrated as a golden age of human-centric globalisation. US President Joe Biden and PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Delhi summit reinforced their commitment to boost investments in high-quality infrastructure through the partnership for global infrastructure and investment (PGI). US PGI is committed to mobilizing $200 billion for developing countries by 2027, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a post. Similarly, Bharat and Italys conversation covered various sectors including trade, defence, emerging technologies and much more. Bharat and Italy will continue to work together for global prosperity. Also, on the margins of the G20 Leaders Summit, President Biden joined PM Modi and leaders from Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Mauritius and the UAE to launch the Global Biofuels Alliance, a partnership to make progress in our shared commitment to deploy cleaner, greener fuels around the world that help meet our decarbonisation goals. Leaders from Bangladesh and Singapore also attended as observer countries to the alliance. This alliance is focused on securing the supply of biofuels, ensuring these biofuels remain affordable and are produced sustainably. Founding members of the alliance will continue outreach to other countries committed to these shared values, with the goal of adding more countries to this effort. A total of 19 countries and 12 international organisations have got together to form the International Biofuels Alliance. The launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) marks a watershed moment in the quest towards sustainability and clean energy. PM Modi was at the forefront of forging the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2015 along with France and the GBA is yet another instance of how climate action is an issue that Modiplimacy has always fervently worked for. The goal of GBA is to take an initiative at a global level to take ethanol blending in petrol up to 20 per cent. Note that ethanol blending is something PM Modi has been passionately advocating in the last 9.5 years, with Bharat making rapid strides on this count. A shared commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation to deliver solutions for our shared world was a theme that resonated with all member countries. The decision to build on the historic progress of Bharats G20 presidency to address global challenges going forward was agreed upon. In this spirit, together with the World Bank President, G20s commitment to building better, bigger, and more effective multilateral development banks was highlighted. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar credited emerging economies for helping the G20 break a geopolitical deadlock over the Ukraine War. On the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Bharat worked very closely with Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. I want to say that it was the emerging markets which played a very key role. There were very tough, very ruthless negotiations for several days non-stop, Amitabh Kant said during a press briefing. During the G20 Summit, global leaders, without naming Russia, decried the use of force in Ukraine for territorial gain in a summit statement. Referencing the war in Ukraine, the New Delhi Leaders Summit Declaration said that all States should refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any State. But unlike in a G20 statement in Bali last year, there was no explicit reference to Russia in the Delhi Declaration. The lack of any specific reference to Russia should be seen as a major diplomatic coup for Bharat, which managed to put forth its stand on this issue clearly, without harming its partnership with Russia, with whom Bharat shares an excellent and long-standing diplomatic relationship. Interestingly, despite his disappointment with the overall G20 text, Oleg Nikolenko, Ukraines foreign ministry spokesman, thanked Ukraines allies for doing their part to advance its position in the declaration. Ukraine is grateful to the partners who tried to include strong formulations in the text, he said. Brazil will hold the Presidency of the G20 in 2024 and South Africa will take on the role in 2025. Bharat, the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union Commission have signed the memorandum of understanding to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEE EC). This will encourage and provide impetus to economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, West Asia/Middle East and Europe. Together, the United States, India, Brazil, and South Africa reaffirm our shared commitment to the G20 delivering solutions for our shared world, US President Joe Biden said in a post. Japan is delivering various transport infrastructure development projects including the construction of the Delhi metro here in the city to support the economic development of countries. Going forward, we want to take this effort a step further to expand the scope of cooperation to wider areas including supply chains to link people together by strengthening connectivity. We also intend to work on building industrial value chains in the whole of Bay of Bengal, said Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, reinforcing how under PM Modi, our bilateral relations with global superpowers have moved from strength to strength. Japan is constructing a deep sea port in Bangladesh that would link NE India with SE Asia via the Bay of Bengal. The G20 Leaders Declaration stressed on the need for a diversified, sustainable and responsible supply chain for energy transition, including for critical minerals. The declaration said that the G20 countries support strong international and national enabling environments to foster innovation, voluntary and mutually agreed technology transfer, and access to low-cost financing. It said that the member countries support reliable, diversified, sustainable and responsible supply chains for energy transitions, including for critical minerals and materials beneficiated at source, semiconductors and technologies. In the final analysis, it can be concluded that Bharats G20 Presidency had Modiplomacy stamped all over it. Consensus on Ukraine was achieved, defining Bharats strong stewardship of the G20 under PM Narendra Modi. While Russia and China wanted to avoid discussion on Ukraine, Western nations wanted to condemn Russia. Eventually, a compromise was brokered that significantly toned down criticism of Russia, with Russia not even being named directly. Had Delhi failed to achieve consensus and release a joint declaration, the G20 summit would have come under criticism from anti-national Bharat-hating no-gooders like Rahul Gandhi and the leftist, Soros-loving cabal, who are always waiting in the wings for any opportunity to bring down Bharat. But thanks to PM Modi, Delhi managed to get a joint declaration which will go down as the biggest takeaway from this hugely successful summit, which tremendously enhanced Bharats diplomatic reputation. New Delhi can now concretely point to its record of pushing developing countries concerns. Two major things stand out on this count debt relief and reform of international institutions. Poor countries have been struggling with high debt levels since the COVID-19 pandemic. Bharat managed to speed up the process of helping and bailing out some of them by getting consensus to help new countries like Ghana, Zambia and Ethiopia. The major buzz at G20 was also to reform institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. This will allow them to spend billions on global priorities over the next decade. Besides this, progress in discussions on highly complex global tax reforms also took place. Member countries agreed to consider regulations on cryptocurrencies given the threat they pose to the stability of the financial system. Bharat successfully pushed digital public infrastructure (Aadhaar, UPI) as a means of financial inclusion. This is expected to help Bharat to export its homemade tech solutions across the developing world and is a masterstroke, as mentioned by the noted Shashank Mattoo, in a brilliantly written series of posts on the platform X. This further boosts Bharats international reputation as a provider of global solutions. One Earth, One Family, One Future was the focus of the hugely successful G20 Summit that concluded in New Delhi under the splendid leadership of the visionary Prime Minister Modi. Building resilient supply chains, making quality infrastructure investments, and creating a better future that represents greater opportunity, dignity, and prosperity for everyone, with a sharp focus away from a GDP-centric to a human-centric approach, have been the resounding themes of this summit. The G20 Summit 2023, hosted by Bharat, will forever be remembered as one of the most important events in the modern history of contemporary times. The motto of Bharats G20 Presidency, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam reflected the core values of the ancient culture of our great land, combining both innovation and spirituality in a seamless, modern blend. As the President of the G20, Bharat has touched upon prominent challenges and come up with much-needed solutions. The induction of the African Union as a permanent member, reaching a consensus on the Delhi Declaration, the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance, and the announcement of the economic corridors between Bharat, Middle-East and Europe, will pave the way for the prosperity of the G20/G21 members, going forward. A strong partnership with India is paramount for Europe, said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, reflecting again, how Modiplomacy has raised Bharats stock globally. Today, the world is our oyster and the man who has made that possible is none other than Karmayogi, Prime Minister of Bharat, Narendra Modi, whose tryst with history has been etched on the footprints of time. Sanju Verma is an Economist, National Spokesperson for BJP and Bestselling Author of The Modi Gambit. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was a wandering sage whose heart was deeply captivated by the spiritual call of Varanasi. While he did not reside in Varanasi for an extended period, the mysticism that permeated this ancient city resonated profoundly with the great visionary, revered ascetic of India, and advocate for humanity. The experiences, knowledge, and wisdom he acquired during his visits to Varanasi remained an indelible part of his teachings throughout his life. Varanasis spiritual heritage and hermitic traditions exerted an irresistible pull on Swami Vivekananda. As he embarked on his pilgrimage of self-discovery, following the Maha-Nirvana of his Guru, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he always held Varanasi in high regard. His initial visit to Varanasi occurred in 1890, during his itinerant phase before his historic appearance at the Parliament of the Worlds Religions in Chicago in 1893. He returned to Varanasi once more in 1902, the same year he attained Mahasamadhi. Volume 1 of the book written on the Great Swami titled The Life of Swami Vivekananda: By His Eastern and Western Disciples, published by the Advaita Ashrama, beautifully encapsulates his sentiments: Coming now to such details as we have of his extended pilgrimages, the first of these was Varanasi, the home of monks, the center of learning, and the Seat of Shiva. He set out from the Baranagore Math, accompanied by Premananda and Fakirbabu, a lay devotee of the Master. The sacred Ganga, the devout worshippers, the myriad temples, especially Vishwanath, Annapurna, and Durga, the sanctified atmosphere, and the awareness that it was here that Buddha and Shri Sankara had preached all these left an indelible impression on him. Swami Vivekanandas thought process for Varanasi is unmistakable in his writings. He regarded Varanasi as the holy city of Hinduism, the spiritual capital of India, and the eternal centre of Indian civilization. In one of his letters, he expressed his desire to spend time in Varanasi, saying, My idea is to remain there (Varanasi) for some time and to watch how Vishwanath and Annapurna deal it out to my lot. And my resolve is something like either to lay down my life or realize my ideal so help me, Lord of Kashi. The book says, Often he would resolve to go to Varanasi and spend time in the sacred city of Vishwanath. During his pilgrimage through northern India in 1889 with his brother monks, he decided to go Varanasi, alone, adopting the name Swami Vividishananda. Here, the ascetic within him found kindred spirits during his stay at the Dwarkadas Ashrama. He engaged in profound discussions and meditations with scholars like Pandit and writer Bhudev Mukhopadhyay and the revered Saint Trailanga Swami, exploring spiritual questions and the deep mysteries of existence. In 1902, after his second journey to the West, Swami Vivekananda returned to Varanasi again. By this time, he had transformed from an obscure monk into a globally renowned spiritual luminary and a source of pride for India. During this visit, he inspired young people to show selfless commitment to humanity. Three young men, who considered Swamijis teaching as a life defining mantra, had started Poor Mens Relief Association in Varanasi in 1900. The association helped poor people get treatment at government hospitals or at a dispensary started by it. During his visit to the city two years later, Swamiji re-named the association as The Ramakrishna Home of Service (Sevashrama). Through this change, he emphasized the importance of selfless service to others as a means of manifesting the divine, highlighting the significance of genuine service over mere compassionate assistance. Today, Sevashrama is a big charitable association in the city with a modern 230-bed multidisciplinary hospital, popularly known to the public as Kaudia Hospital, to help needy people. The OPD charges a nominal registration fee of just Rs 10 and that too is waived for very poor patients. Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song recently unleashed a tirade against India. While addressing a gathering on September 2, at an event in Kathmandu (Nepal), his aggressive comments caught the audience by surprise as they appeared to be out of context. These remarks should be seen in the context of the forthcoming visit of Nepals Prime Minister to China in the fourth week of September. Chen Song tried to establish that Indian foreign policy is not conducive to Nepal and that the Indo-Nepali trade relations are loaded against Kathmandu. He projected China as the only viable alternative for Nepals better future. This is a classic Chinese ploy to have a dominant influence over Indias traditional partners in this part of the world. It did the same with Sri Lanka and the results are quite visible as the world witnessed the economic collapse of Sri Lanka and political chaos. This was the result of the growing Chinese influence in Sri Lanka. Now, it is targeting Nepal. Let us analyse Songs statements or claims in the context of available data, facts and figures. Claim No. 1: Indian policies are not conducive to its neighbour and specifically to Nepal. Fact: This statement comes from the diplomat of a country that has boundary disputes with at least 17 countries including Nepal. Chinas disdain for international laws is well-known and documented. The Chinese continue to make false claims on territories. These claims are generally based on distorted historical records. A glaring example of the same is the UNCLOS 2016 Arbitral Award that refuted Chinese claims on the South China Sea. The United States which had supported Communist Chinas economic expansion for the last four decades is now revisiting its ties with it. Most of the European countries now see China as a threat to global peace and order and a large number of African and Latin American countries are trying to resist the Chinese plunder of their natural resources. The Chinese hegemony in the entire Indo-Pacific region is not hidden from anyone. The perils of dealing with China are evident. The Chinese debt trap viciously pushes various emerging and underdeveloped economies to crash and ultimately compromise their sovereignty. Taking a cue from what happened with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, other South Asian countries like Nepal and Bangladesh are exercising necessary caution while dealing with any Chinese trade prepositions under the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) or bilateral agreements. Claim No. 2: Nepal last year exported electricity worth $10 billion to India and imported worth $19 billion. Song cited these figures to highlight the glaring trade deficit between India and Nepal and portrayed it in a negative manner. Fact: To better understand the issue one has to understand the geography of Nepal. Why is Nepal facing a power deficit trade despite its higher potential? The Kathmandu Post discussed this in an article titled Hydropower and South Asian Integration. The article mentioned that Nepals hydropower potential ranks among the highest globally in terms of per capita and unit of GDP. The installed capacity of hydropower production in Nepal has increased from 1050 MW in 2012 to 2700 MW in 2023. This will increase to 9000 MW in the next 10 years as 235 hydropower plants are still under construction. With Nepals national peak demand of 1700 MW surplus energy of around 900 MW could be exported. The reason for the power deficit equation lies in the design of the hydroelectric projects. Most of these projects are run-of-the-river type i.e. they dont have reservoirs and thus rely on seasonal flow of rivers. So, while in summers/wet seasons, Nepal has been able to export electricity, during winters, Nepal finds it difficult to meet its domestic requirements. The reason why Nepal has resorted to a run-of-the-river design is because constructing reservoirs needs large investments. It also requires larger space and hence, will require displacing the population from the adjacent areas. Given the past record of violent protests on such issues, authorities in Nepal have been reluctant to do something that could cause a major political flare-up. Chen Song failed to highlight the fact that the Indian purchase of Nepals power is helping the latter to reduce the power import bill to almost half. In case India had not bought electricity, Nepal would have faced a major challenge to meet the enormous expenditure to meet its power requirement. Given Nepals geography and Indias rising per capita electricity consumption (Per Capita Consumption, Nepal: 325 KwH; India: 1,255 KwH), India is the natural ally and trade partner that can buy surplus Nepalese energy further supporting the Nepalese economy. On the other hand, the geography to the north of Nepal is not conducive enough to lay out transmission lines to Tibet so even if China opts to buy the Nepalese electricity (though that seems a remote possibility as Tibet doesnt require additional electricity due to sparse civil population along the border and lack of industries), the mountainous geography will put a cap on how much of power could be feasibly exported. In fact, Nepal has been negotiating with China since 2018 to develop the Kerung Rasuwagadhi-Galchhi-Ratmate cross-border 400 KV Transmission line (located West of Kathmandu) but, there has been no progress on the project. On the other hand, laying transmission lines to India is very easy as these lines would traverse largely plains, also known commonly as the Terai region. On September 5 this year, the Modi government granted approval to purchase an additional 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal to meet its target of Green Energy. Claim No. 3: Nepalese imports of cereals and agricultural products from India is not conducive to the Nepalese economy and Nepal should emulate the Chinese model. Fact: Nepal is a mountainous country hence; large tracts of fertile agricultural land are not available. This restricts its agricultural production resulting in an unavoidable trade deficit in agricultural products. However, to minimise this deficit, India has become the largest importer of Nepalese agricultural products. The cost of imports for Nepal is much lower when it comes to importing from India. The Chinese imports would cost much more, further burdening the Nepalese economy. What Chinese diplomats hide from the common Nepalese is that while Nepal has been getting unabated access to cheaper air corridor, ports and road connectivity through India, China has kept all the crossing/trading points with Nepal closed since the advent of Covid-19. It opened up Tatopani Crossing in August 2023 but the operations at all the trading points continue to be very unreliable as the Chinese government has been shutting down these points through unilateral decisions without consulting the Nepalese government. In April 2022, China had agreed to provide duty-free treatment to goods of Nepali origin covering 98 per cent tariff lines, interestingly China had also barred any import from Nepal for over two years citing Covid restrictions. In fact, the China-Nepal trade data shows that the bulk of the items listed under the agreement are hardly bought by China from Nepal. On the other hand, India remains the largest importer (more than 61 per cent of Nepals exports) of Nepalese goods. Claim No. 4: Chen Song called Nepal to emulate the Chinese Social Structure to build a sound base for economic prosperity. Fact: The claim came from a diplomat of the country known for suppression of human rights, crushing religious and cultural freedom in many of its provinces, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet. The vast network of surveillance and censorship being carried out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), across China, is well-known to the whole world. The suppression of dissent in Hong Kong and crackdown on overseas activists of Chinese, Tibetan and Uighur origins is part of its State Policy. Conclusion China has been trying to create a wedge between India and Nepal. The Chinese deep state has been manipulating the narrative in Nepal in this context. Chinese diplomats have indulged openly in anti-India activities in Nepal. However, the common masses of Nepal are wary of Chinese imperialist designs. That is why the Nepalese authorities are also treading with caution. This is bound to frustrate China. The outburst of Chinese diplomats against India should be seen in this context also. However, one shouldnt estimate the Chinese influence in the Nepalese political establishment. So, India needs to watch the situation in Nepal more closely than ever. The writer, an author and columnist has written several books. He tweets @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. While the BJP plans to showcase the G20 success politically and project it as yet another example of Prime Minister Narendra Modis statesmanship, the summit has left the INDIA alliance divided on its response. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor termed the Delhi declaration of the G20 Leaders Summit to be a diplomatic triumph for India, but criticised the government on not inviting Leader of the Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge or other MPs from the Opposition. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress leader Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, however, was present at the Presidents dinner after an invite was sent to all CMs. Sukhu later said he had used the occasion to ask Prime Minister Modi for a special package for his flood-hit state. On the other hand, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for attending the G20 dinner. Congress Chief Ministers Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and Siddaramaiah (Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka, respectively) skipped the G20 dinner. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also gave it a miss. Mamata Banerjee was present at the G20 dinner along with Chief Ministers from other Opposition parties and INDIA allies like MK Stalin, Nitish Kumar and Hemant Soren. The DMK, JD(U) and JMM apparently decided not to mix politics with the Presidents invitation. A senior BJP leader accused the Congress of never respecting courtesies involved with such events. The Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, did not attend the Independence Day function at the Red Fort despite an invitation. During the summit, Rahul Gandhi was abroad and as usual castigating India on foreign soil. BJP president JP Nadda was also not invited to the G20 dinner as this was not a political event only former PMs, Chief Ministers and Union Ministers were invited. The venue had limited capacity, the leader said. BJPs Political Pitch The BJP is now planning a major push to project the G20 success politically and it would also feature in the special session of Parliament being held in the new building. The government would highlight the major takeaways from the G20 summit like achieving a joint declaration, giving the African Union a place in the G20, the new economic corridor from India to the Middle East to Europe, the climate change fund push that has set the agenda for the COP later this year in UAE, and how Modi led from the front to make the summit a big success for India. The Congress reaction to the G20 Summit will also be put under the scanner by the BJP as Rahul Gandhi was abroad at the time of the summit and criticized the condition of democracy in India on foreign soil. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra used the term Inka G20 (their G20) while referring to the summit. Priyanka Vadra & her party are entitled to be bitter & crib but look at what Priyanka ji says INKA G20 Are such programs inka unka or Bharat Ka? This is the mindset problem of a family that has always believed Jo Desh Ka woh inke parivar kashe is only manifesting that! (sic) BJP spokesperson Shehzaad Poonawalla posted on X (formerly Twitter). With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Apollo Future Mobility forgoes acquisition of WM Motor On the evening of September 8, Hong Kong-listed company Apollo Future Mobility Group Limited released a statement announcing the termination of its acquisition of Chinese new energy vehicle maker WM Motor. The announcement cited several factors for the decision, including global market turbulence, geopolitical conflicts, ongoing financial market uncertainties, and the short-term economic recovery post-pandemic. WM Motor's W6; photo credit: WM Motor HYCAN V09 commences pre-sales, with deliveries set for October 13 On September 10th, HYCAN, a Chinese new energy vehicle maker, officially initiated pre-sales for its first-ever all-electric premium MPV, the HYCAN V09. Alongside the pre-sales launch, the company revealed the price range for the models five different trim levels: 320,000 yuan to 460,000 yuan. The new model is scheduled to hit the market on October 13, 2023, with deliveries commencing simultaneously. HYCAN V09; photo credit: HYCAN Guangdong province optimizes car purchase policies in Guangzhou, Shenzhen cities The Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province recently issued a notice outlining the implementation plan for expanding domestic demand in Guangdong Province. The notice emphasizes the exploration of potential in automobile consumption and the promotion of new energy vehicle adoption. This includes streamlining and enhancing car purchase policies in Guangzhou and Shenzhen cities, refining qualification requirements, and shifting the focus from car acquisition management to car usage management. China's domestic auto sales, export volume both jump YoY in August 2023 In August 2023, driven by factors such as national consumption promotion policies and promotional efforts by automakers, the demand for automobiles continued to grow. The Chinese automotive market defied the traditional off-season trend, achieving both month-on-month and year-on-year increases in sales. Geely Galaxy L6's first mass-produced unit rolls off line On September 10, Geely saw the first mass-produced unit of the inaugural plug-in hybrid electric sedan under its Galaxy new energy vehicle (NEV) product range, the Galaxy L6, roll off the production line at Geely's manufacturing base in Linhai city, Zhejiang province. China's power battery installed capacity in August rise 25.7% YoY, 8.2% MoM In August, the installation volume of power batteries in complete vehicles in China reached 34.9GWh, showing a year-on-year increase of 25.7% and a month-on-month rise of 8.2%. Ternary-lithium batteries accounted for 10.8GWh of the total installation volume, representing a year-on-year increase of 2.7% and a month-on-month growth of 2.3%. Meanwhile, the installation volume of LFP batteries reached 24.1GWh, indicating a year-on-year jump of 39.7% and a month-on-month growth of 11%. FAW Toyota celebrates 20th anniversary with new energy vehicle-dedicated future plans On September 9, FAW Toyota held an event to celebrate its 20th anniversary in Tianjin. The Sino-Japanese collaboration between Toyota Motor and FAW Group, reaffirmed its commitment to enduring passion and customer-centricity. Great Wall Motor announces entry into Mexican market In a declaration of its commitment to innovation and global expansion, Great Wall Motor showcased its GWM brand and introduced the Haval H6 HEV model in Mexico City on September 7th. Lynk & Co 08 hits market, starting at 208,800 yuan On September 8, Lynk & Co, the premium automotive brand jointly owned by Geely and Volvo Cars, officially put the Lynk & Co 08 plug-in hybrid electric SUV onto the market. The new model comes with five trim levels, which are priced between 208,800 yuan and 288,000 yuan. JAC Group posts 19.55% YoY surge in August sales In August 2023, JAC Group posted a remarkable sales figure of 53,870 vehicles, marking a 19.55% increase compared to the same period last year. Impressively, this marks the seventh consecutive month for the company to achieve a year-on-year growth in sales. GAC Group faces YoY dip in Aug. auto sales, but scores YoY surge in both NEV sales, export volume GAC Group sold a total of 196,761 new vehicles in August 2023, representing a 4% month-on-month rise, but still marking a 9.68% year-on-year decrease, according to the monthly sales results it issued last Friday. Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her decision to attend the G20 gala dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, asking if that would not weaken her position against the Narendra Modi-led government. The West Bengal Congress president was also curious whether there was any other reason behind the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo taking part in the G20 dinner. Meanwhile, the TMC took a swing back at Chowdhury saying Banerjee is one among the prime movers behind the INDIA bloc he did not need to chide her about protocols that are to be followed from the administrative point of view. When many non-BJP CMs refrained from attending the dinner, Didi (Mamata Banerjee) went to Delhi a day in advance. She attended the occasion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the same room, the Congress leader said. Taking a jibe at her presence at the dinner, the Congress leader as quoted by India Today said, Nothing would have happened if she hadnt attended the dinner. The sky would not fall. Mahabharata would not have become impure. The Quran would not have been impure. I wonder what prompted her to rush all the way to Delhi to be in the dinner party along with these leaders, added Chowdhury. The TMC chief arrived in Delhi on Friday for the dinner party that was scheduled for Saturday. Is there any other reason behind her attending the occasion? questioned Chowdhury. In response to his statements, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen said that everyone knows Mamata Banerjee is one of the architects behind INDIA and no one can question her commitment. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that the Congress and CPI(M) joined hands with the Banerjee-led TMC in Delhi against the saffron camp, deceiving the states people who were victims of the TMCs terror. You were seen with BJP State President in one award ceremony , does it mean that you were trying to go for understanding ? You first have to think that, Sen slammed Chowdhury. Reacting to Adhirs comments, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on X saying, Congress & I-N-D-I alliance. Priyanka Vadra slams G20, Shashi Tharoor hails it. Adhir Ranjan slams Mamata for attending G20 dinner, Congress CM Sukhvinder Sukhu himself was there! This is what happens when you have no Vision or Mission. Just contradictions & mindless opposition. The Congress itself has joined hands with the corrupt TMC in Delhi. It is the BJP which has remained vocal against the corruption of TMC leaders. ED and CBI are raiding against them. The BJP is with the people of Bengal. So, people like Adhir Chowdhury should explain who is actually cosying up to TMC and doing a disservice to the people of the state, Bhattacharya said. However, Banerjees flight originally scheduled for Saturday was rescheduled to Friday after the flight plans were regularised in view of the security measures taken for the G20 Summit in the national capital. Meanwhile, the Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said that Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge not being invited to the G20 dinner was wrong. He (Kharge) is not only the Congress President, he is the leader of opposition in the upper house (Rajya Sabha). According to me he should have been invited, not inviting him is wrong, Siddaramaiah told reporters in Hubballi. He further said that he would not attend the dinner either citing other commitments. Though Kharge and other opposition leaders were not invited to the dinner, Union Ministers and Chief Ministers, including that of states ruled by opposition parties, received invites for the dinner hosted by President Murmu. The G20 Summit successfully concluded on Sunday in the national capital after prime minister Narendra Modi handed over the G20 presidency to the Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (With inputs from PTI) Amid criticism by the BJP on law and order in Rajasthan, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Monday said the Congress government has reacted swiftly to incidents of crime and the situation was better than in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Reacting to BJP leaders questioning Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who held a public meeting in Niwai, Tonk on Sunday, for not visiting Rajasthan after incidents of crime against women, Pilot said the opposition party is trying to make law and order an issue as Assembly elections are approaching in Rajasthan. Whenever any incident has taken place, action has been taken and the accused have been arrested within hours. The incident can happen anywhere but we have taken immediate action, Pilot told reporters in Dausa. We try our best to curb such incidents. What is happening in other states also has to be seen. The graph of crime is high in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but the BJP leaders are making an issue here as Assembly elections are coming up, he added. Pilot said the BJP leaders who are raising a hue and cry over the law and order situation in Rajasthan were not visible for the last five years. Now they have started misleading people as elections are due, he claimed. Pilot also said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge should have been invited to the G20 gala dinner. If Kharge was invited, the world would have seen that the country is united, he said. President Droupadi Murmu hosted the G20 gala dinner on Saturday at Bharat Mandapam, the venue for the G20 Summit of world leaders. Calling Senior all participating nations consensus on Delhi Declaration a proud moment for India at G20, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has hailed Indias G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant for his efforts. However, the Congress leader hit out at the Centre and said the diplomatic triumph makes it all the more a pity that the government does not bring the same attitude of conciliation and cooperation to bear in its domestic dealings. Tharoor claimed that it was a pity that the spirit of accommodation that prevailed at G20 remains absent within Indian politics. Tagging Kants interview, where the Indian Sherpa explained how the consensus was achieved on the paragraphs on Russia-Ukraine, Tharoor congratulated him for his efforts. India on Saturday pulled off a big diplomatic win after the G20 Summit adopted a consensus declaration overcoming major differences on the Russia-Ukraine war. Well done @amitabhk87! Looks like the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS! Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got final draft, says Indias G20 Sherpa on Delhi Declaration consensus. A proud moment for India at G20! Tharoor, a former under-secretary-general, said in his post on X (formally Twitter), late on Saturday night. Later on Sunday, tagging his earlier post, the diplomat-turned-politician said on X, that this diplomatic triumph makes it all the more a pity that the government does not bring the same attitude of conciliation and cooperation to bear in its domestic dealings. The failure to invite the Leader of the Opposition, and indeed any Opposition MP, to any of the G20 events, receptions, dinner etc underscores my point. No other democracy would snub its own Parliamentary colleagues on a global stage like this, he said. A pity that the spirit of accommodation that prevailed at G20 is absent within Indian politics! he added. On Sunday, Kant said it took more than 200 hours of non-stop negotiations by a team of Indian diplomats to deliver a consensus on the G20 Declaration that was adopted at the Leaders Summit in New Delhi. Sada Sarvankar, MLA of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction from Mumbai, on Sunday said that Sanjay Raut, executive editor of Shiv Sena UBT mouthpiece Saamana, had asked him to set the house of then Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on fire, if he wanted to a ticket for the Legislative Assembly. Sarvankar also alleged that Raut demanded Rs 10 crore from him in lieu for the candidature. Despite repeated attempts, Raut was unavailable for a comment. Joshis residence in Mumbais Shivaji Park area was attacked by a few Shiv Sena workers in September 2009, ahead of the state assembly elections, when Sarvankar was denied a ticket. Later, Sarvankar joined the Congress before returning to the Sena fold after a few years. Speaking at an event in Kolhapur, Sarvankar said, When Manohar Joshi was the Chief Minister, I was not given a ticket for the assembly elections. When I asked Joshi about it, he told me to visit Matoshree (residence of the Thackeray family) and ask for a ticket. When I went to Matoshree, I was told that my ticket was cut by Joshi. Milind Narvekar, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, told me that you should attack Joshis house. Meanwhile, I got a call from Raut, who told me to set Joshis house on fire using petrol. We followed the orders of Matoshree and attacked Joshis house. As I could not pay Rs 10 crore, all attempts were made to give the ticket to the other leader of the party, Adesh Bandekar. Such acts never happened when Balasaheb was there. After forming the government with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, Uddhav Thackeray wanted to make his son Aaditya a bigger leader. That was the time when Thackeray didnt even give time and never even looked at his own MLAs. Thats why Shiv Sainiks supported Eknath Shinde and his leadership. Reacting to the claims, Ambadas Danve, Shiv Sena leader and leader of opposition in legislative council of Maharashtra, said, Sarvankar is making these allegations after 20-25 years. He joined the Congress and then again came to Shiv Sena. Now, he is with the traitors. It would have been better if he had told this then itself. Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent a notice to him to appear before it on September 13, the day the first meeting of the coordination committee of the opposition bloc INDIA will be held in the national capital. Banerjee is a member of the coordination panel of the opposition bloc. FIRST meet of INDIAs coordination comm is on 13th Sept in Delhi, where Im a member. But, @dir_ed conveniently served me a notice just now to appear before thm (them) on the very same day! One cant help but marvel at the timidity & vacuousness of the 56-inch chest model, Banerjee posted on X on Sunday in a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The first meeting of the 14-member coordination committee of the opposition bloc INDIA will be held in the national capital on September 13, leaders said on Sunday. The meet, to be held at the residence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, will chalk out the coalitions strategies and future programmes, they said. Notably, Banerjee had earlier been summoned by the ED several times in connection with a cattle smuggling case. Reacting to the allegation of TMCs Diamond Harbour MP, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, Abhishek, as an accused in the case, cannot expect any special treatment from the central agency. With the grand success of G20 Summit in New Delhi where the country got all stakeholders to sign a joint statement, India handed over the presidency to Brazil on Sunday. Away from the intricacies of foreign policy, now its time for the BJP to focus back on domestic politics. This week onwards, the BJP will slowly mount an aggressive political attack on not just Stalin Junior but the INDIA bloc particularly the Congress for the Sanatan Dharma remark, say sources. BJPs top brass will start raising the issue on campaign trail in poll-bound states from this week. BJP leaders will question the silence of INDIA bloc over the comment of Udhayanidhi Stalin, which kicked off a massive row that has since been supported by DMKs A Raja, and Priyank Kharge, Congress leader and son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. In the coming week, the BJP as a party and its leaders will raise this issue on various social media platforms highlighting the duplicity of the opposition. Watch out for the big rallies in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, a BJP leader told News18 requesting anonymity. Sharing a short video comprising the pictures of UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wifes visit to Akshardham temple in Delhi on Sunday where they offered Puja, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla used the song Jai Siya Ram in the background while posting on X, They set out to destroy Hindus and Sanatan? Now, the flag of Sanatan waves proudly in the entire universe. Interestingly, Rishi Sunaks speech delivered this August during a Ram Katha event at Cambridge University on the Indian Independence Day mentioned Jai Siya Ram, which received massive traction. When Sunak reached New Delhi to attend the G20 event, Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey greeted the dignitary with the same phrase. Sources in the government indicate it was a careful decision. However, Poonawalla insisted that his post on X should not be linked to anything else. All I am saying is that attempts to attack Sanatan Dharma and Hindus have been made by invaders and perhaps in the modern day by the political, ideological progenies of those invaders or those who champion the causes of those invaders but Sanatan Dharm continues to flourish, Poonawalla told News 18, adding that the Congress justifies it and goes a step further and questions the very birth of Hinduism. Poonawalla reminded how the Congress denied the existence of Lord Ram and coined the term Hindu terror and even compared Hindutva to ISIS. Despite that, today you have the Shiv Shakti point on the moon, a prime minister of Britain who is proud to wear his Hindu faith on his sleeve, a majestic display of Nataraj at Bharat Mandapam, the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam becoming the central theme of global consensus, he quipped. Although the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday night in New Delhi saw Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, father of Udhayanidhi, sources say that doesnt change the BJPs strategy which stems from a clear instruction from the very top on the Sanatan Dharma issue. On Wednesday, before flying off for the ASEAN meet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informally met his ministerial colleagues whom he categorically asked to give a befitting reply to those who are targeting Sanatan Dharma. He asked his ministers to stick to facts and convey their retort while speaking to people. Likening Sanatan Dharma to coronavirus, malaria, fever caused by dengue virus and mosquitoes, Udhayanidhi reportedly said, Sanatan (Sanatana Dharma) should not be opposed but eradicated. Later, while speaking exclusively to News18, he said, I will always stick to whatever I said, and I will say it again and again. 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Its hard to find better free people search sites than this one. What PeopleFinders Can Uncover: With the help of PeopleFinders, you may learn a great deal about a person, including Relatives and associates: PeopleFinders may give information on an individuals relatives and acquaintances, including their names and contact information. Background Information: Information like this may include a persons career history, educational background, and even criminal or arrest histories. Contact Information: With the help of PeopleFinders, you may learn a great deal about a person, including the individuals name, current and previous addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Property Records: A persons ownership details, such as their location, property type, and name, may be included. Public Record: This may contain information such as marriage, divorce, and bankruptcy records. Social Media Profiles: PeopleFinders may search for an individuals social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Its important to remember that not all information available on people search sites is accessible to everyone and some of the information may not be accurate or up-to-date. Also, some information may be sensitive and should not be publicly accessible. Pricing: PeopleFinders offers paid solutions: Monthly subscription $24.95 Individual reports $1.95 PeopleFinders is among the top people searches, although it does come with a few warning flags. First, its openness in data acquisition is a bit doubtful. Also, theres little to no information you can obtain about a persons social network data. But. You have the option to buy specific reports, something most organizations dont provide. Thats a thumbs up if youre on a budget and simply performing single searches. FCRA Disclaimer PeopleFinders does not provide Consumer Reports and is not a Consumer Reporting Agency under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not use this information for consumer credit, employment, or tenant screening Try Out PeopleFinders People Search Site >> Spokeo : Cheapest People Finder Site Pros: Search results are automatically updated Price-friendly and fast A PDF report may be downloaded An easy-to-navigate UI Cons: Restrictions may apply based on past convictions Need an affordable people finder service? You may have just stumbled across it. Spokeo seems to be the best choice among people search sites for consumers looking for casual information about a person since it provides a balance between price and broad searches. Approximately 12 billion records are said to be encrypted and safe on people search sites. You could look for endorsements from credible sources like Forbes and the New York Times to substantiate their claims. Usability: 4.9/5 Spokeo has all the hallmarks of a top-notch website, including a clean design that makes good use of white space. To sum up, even if youve never used a search engine before, you wont have any problem getting about Spokeo. The sites customer care and search assistance staff are committed to resolving any concerns as quickly as possible. Features 4.7/5 Spokeo doesnt have a ton of bells and whistles, but it performs everything a good background check service should. Using a name, phone number, email address, and even physical location, Spokeo can locate a broad variety of information about someone. Matter of fact, considering the mainly good customer evaluations, the reverse address check is proven to be a terrific approach to finding out more about a property. Spokeo has a lot of great features, but its ability to automatically update itself has to be at the top of the list. Spokeo will notify you of any changes to your report so you always have the most up-to-date information on your friend, family member, or business partner. What Spokeo Can Uncover: 4.7/5 Spokeo is one of many people search sites and has a much friendlier sound to it. Its a great resource for discovering detailed information about individuals. This is what you can anticipate happening: Location history Personal details Criminal records Contact information Family associates Social media accounts Wealth records Pricing: 4.8/5 We must state that Spokeo is quite rewarding for its pricing. Being the cheapest people search service online, the site is devoted to offering you excellent reports and value for your investment. Price Summary: 1-month membership $19.95 2-month membership $14.95 Try Out Spokeo People Search Site >> US Search : Oldest People Search Engine Pros: In operation for almost 25 years Affordable basic information searches Fast results Cons: Limited criminal records Expensive summaries available Launched in 1993, US Search is the veteran of people search sites. Working best for persons looking to find acquaintances, US Search searches through local, state, and federal information to discover mostly vague, fundamental facts about people. Even so, you may still utilize the site to discover information on a property. Usability: 4.5/5 US Search is one of the oldest people search sites, with a modern and intuitive user interface that guides users through each stage of a search by simply entering a name, phone number, or address. Features: 4.3/5 US Search is best known for its lightning-fast reports; in just a few minutes, youll have access to comprehensive search results along with full contact information. The website keeps your reports for a whole year, so you can easily go back and look at them. What US Search can uncover: 4.3/5 A prominent resource for sifting through primary information on individuals and property, heres what you may uncover from a US Search report: Contact information, namely, phone numbers Personal information Occupation & education history Social profiles Property ownership & worth Pricing: 4.4/5 The one-time report fee at US Search is among the lowest in the industry, but more comprehensive reports come at a higher cost. Total Cost Breakdown: 1-month unlimited searches $19.86 Reverse Phone Lookup $1.99 Try Out US Search >> Ranking Methodology for the Best People Search Sites There are a number of aspects that should be taken into account while determining the finest people search sites, including Quality of Information : The most essential aspect when evaluating people search sites is the quality of the information they supply. This encompasses the correctness, completeness, and timeliness of the information. Search Capabilities : The capacity to search for persons by name, address, phone number, and other parameters is vital. The more search possibilities are offered, the more probable it is that the site will be able to deliver accurate results. Privacy and Security : The people search sites should have clear procedures in place to safeguard the privacy of individuals and to guarantee that the information is utilized properly. Support : The people search sites should provide a solid customer support service to aid customers with any inquiries or concerns they may have. Ease-of-use: The design and style of a website are crucial in making sure the material is legible and, of course, that the site as a whole is simple to use. As such, people search sites with an aesthetically beautiful user interface, clear layout, and mobile-friendly design scored better on our ranking. Features : Companies who offered a variety of useful features and online tools as well as delivered on their promises scored better on this ranking. Pricing : Another key part of any service is pricing. Regardless of features, quality, and usefulness, if the price point is much beyond anyones means, buyers will be dissatisfied. As such, value for money was taken into account and influenced the rating granted to each search engine. Database : A characteristic peculiar to people search sites, online background check services , and other search engines purporting to uncover hidden information is the size of their online database. The greater the database, the more information may be revealed. Accuracy : Building on the preceding principle, accuracy is non-negotiable. The quantity of data found will be useless if the information is erroneous or out of the current. Accordingly, we considered precision while determining the following top choices. Try Out BeenVerified People Search Site >> What Is a People Search Website Service? You may be looking for family relatives you never realized you had, or merely investigating a future date with the help of people search sites. Simply use a people-finding service and a few mouse clicks to accomplish your goal. If you know their name, phone number, or address, you may use an online persons search database to simply locate them. Best People Search Sites Engines Buying Guide What Is the Best Site To Find Someone? Using BeenVerified to track out a missing person is the greatest option. You may get in-depth reports by searching through over 20 billion records on the internet. You may find a long-lost friend or family member with reasonable ease thanks to Intelius since the service provides some of the most comprehensive contact and personal data of any such service. Are There Any Free People Search Sites? Yes, there are a few places online where you may do a free person search. People search sites like Google and Bing need payment for access to their more advanced features since they must pay for the data they get from reputable sources. How To Find Out Where Someone Lives? Name, phone number, social network username, and even email address may often be used to uncover a persons basic information on people search sites. People search sites may be used to find someones residence, as these reports often include an address and a history of where theyve been. Most reports will also include names of prospective family and acquaintances, which might serve as further leads in your search for the persons whereabouts. Can I Find Someone Just by Using Their Name? Its true that a person can be found using just their name using people finder sites. Of course, if you happen to have a particularly common name, youll get a lot more hits. If youre looking for someone by name but are having trouble, knowing the state or city they last resided in will help immensely. Try Out BeenVerified People Search Site >> Tips on Choosing the Best People Search Site The most reputable people search sites provide the finest chances at useful and reliable information about someone. Here are ideas you might use to find the greatest people search app: Reputation Its no secret that evaluations from satisfied customers are a hallmark of the greatest people search sites. If you want to know which people search sites provide the most accurate insight into a persons reputation, you should start by reading user reviews on social media and question and answer sites like Quora, Reddit, Facebook, and more. Site Database People search sites can reveal how much information theyre able to collect about a person or property through their database. Selecting a site that draws its data from a large pool of sources is crucial; the sites discussed above, for example, collect their information from millions upon billions of public records. User Experience The best people search sites should have a straightforward user interface to allow for a pleasant experience utilizing the site. Above that, people search sites should also be straightforward and quick to allow everyone experienced or not an easy time discovering what theyre searching for. Pricing Generally, most people search sites that provide somewhat comparable rates for their services. But additionally, more costly people discovery sites will likely give more complete reports. On the other hand, you shouldnt assume that this is useful information for you. Considering this, your best choice would be to look for sites that provide costs around the average of what most sites charge for affordability and accurate searches. Try Out BeenVerified People Search Site >> Benefits of Using People Search Sites The truth is that its not a good idea to depend on conventional methods of investigation. Most likely, youll only wind up empty-handed or with restricted resources within your limits. A people-finding service is useful for this purpose. Fast Search Finding someones contact information and address no longer requires a trip to the library or municipal offices. With the help of people search sites, results can be provided at any time. Bulk Search Searching for people on people search sites can save you four cups of coffee and a throbbing headache if youre looking for a large group of individuals. In its place is a people search engine, which will quickly provide relevant results. Accurate Results If youre looking for accurate information, you dont need to put in the hard work because people search sites that can do the job for you. The content on these websites is more recent than anything youd find in a book. Background Checks People search sites are useful not just for locating individuals, but also for researching their past, criminal records, and other relevant information. Try Out BeenVerified People Search Site >> Are There Any Free People Search Sites I was wondering if there were any completely free people search sites? True, they do. Some excellent instances are as follows: Google Its the granddaddy of people-finding services, so you can use it to track down anybody you want. Nonetheless, being a fully-featured engine, Google person search will lead you to a plethora of landing sites and search results. Youll have to spend some time searching in vain for specific information since its dispersed everywhere. LinkedIn Linkedin displays professional profiles. You dont even need an account to view peoples career histories. However, the site isnt the ideal place to browse if youre looking for anything more intimate. Facebook Given that these days almost everyone has a Facebook account, it may easily pass as one of the people search sites. There are far too many profiles with the same or similar names on this social media platform. TruePeopleSearch Finding someone by their complete name and address is easy with TruePeopleSearch, a free people search site. Similar to other people search sites, its useful, but only up to a point. In order to locate someone, you must use one of the sites common American names. What Is the Best Site To Search for a Person? All the top people search sites and background check sites in one convenient place, where you can quickly and easily get detailed information on anybody, even yourself. BeenVerified is one of the best people search sites to use when beginning your search, as it offers access to billions of public data, has flexible search options, and returns results quickly and accurately. Intelius and Instant Checkmate are two popular people search sites that provide thorough searches and in-depth reports. Theyre not far behind in terms of offering quality services. NOTE: Only utilize people search sites that comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) for the purposes of the employee, renter, and consumer credit screening. This is a Partnered Post. Looking for a trustworthy registered agent service to ensure your business runs smoothly and stays compliant? Look no further! In todays fast-paced business world, selecting the right registered agent is crucial. Thats why weve extensively evaluated Northwest Registered Agent, one of the top contenders in the industry. In this detailed review, well delve into their service offerings, pricing plans, customer reviews, and more. Stay tuned as we uncover the distinctive qualities that set Northwest Registered Agent apart, making it the ideal solution for all your registered agent requirements. Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today! >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: What Is Northwest Registered Agent? Owned by a family, this company operates across the country with offices in every state. Their team of knowledgeable Corporate Guides assists individuals in setting up an LLC in their respective states. Northwest Registered Agent offers a comprehensive package for Northwest LLC formation priced at $100, excluding state fees. This package is specifically designed to cater to the needs of small businesses. In addition, they provide separate services that can be purchased, such as registered agents, annual reports, foreign registration, and Certificates of Good Standing. Moreover, the company offers various free services for Northwest LLC formation, including downloadable forms and a free account that provides step-by-step guidance for those who prefer a do-it-yourself approach. Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: Our Verdict Northwest Registered Agent is a well-known company that specializes in registered agent services and business formation services. Their main goal is to provide excellent customer support through their extensive network of agents nationwide. Ensuring the security of customer data is their top priority, and they have a strict policy against selling customer information. In contrast to other companies in the industry that offer multiple paid plans with extra features like EIN filing and operating agreements, Northwest Registered Agent takes a unique approach. They offer a single-paid plan that includes both registered agent service and LLC filing. Any additional services needed can be added as optional extras. Northwest Registered Agent Review: Northwest Registered Agent At a Glance Northwest Registered Agent prides itself on being a family-owned and operated company that sets itself apart from both startups and well-established businesses. Their top priority is to provide you with a personalized experience, ensuring that you always have access to a real person who can assist you. Even if you need to leave a message, you can expect a call back within two hours at the latest. When it comes to meeting your basic needs, Northwest Registered Agent offers excellent value. The initial cost for filing an LLC is $39, and any additional fees specific to your state will be your responsibility. If you decide to choose their Pay In Full option, you will be charged $225 to file for your LLC in your state, and you will receive one year of registered agent services. Please note that certain states require a separate fee during the LLC process. Although it may appear as an additional charge from Northwest Registered Agent, these filing fees are actually paid directly to the state (e.g., FL 4-Day Filing Time costs $125). If you opt for their VIP Service, you have the flexibility to pay on a monthly basis for a year, with the option to renew. Their VIP Service includes business formation and state filing fees, registered agent service, an EIN, and any necessary services. Northwest Registered Agent Review: Where Is It Available? Northwest Registered Agent offers Northwest LLC formation services nationwide, including in the District of Columbia. Their business management services are limited to specific states, but they do provide mail forwarding and virtual office services in ten states. Furthermore, their exclusive Law on Call service is exclusively available in Utah. Who Should Use Northwest Registered Agent? Northwest Registered Agent is a well-known company that specializes in providing Northwest LLC formation services throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia. With their extensive knowledge in registered agent services, Northwest Registered Agent caters to businesses of all sizes and industries. Whether you are a small startup, a growing mid-sized company, or an established corporation, they can customize their services to meet your specific needs. At Northwest Registered Agent, they place a strong emphasis on privacy, which makes their services particularly valuable for individuals who value confidentiality. Moreover, their team of experts is always on hand to offer personalized and efficient customer support. For businesses looking to comply with regulations and focus on their core operations, Northwest Registered Agent is the perfect partner. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including Northwest LLC formation, annual report filing, and document organization, to help navigate the complexities of the business world. Start Your Business With Northwest Registered Agent >> Northwest Registered Agent Pricing Northwest Registered Agent offers a range of options for businesses looking to establish an LLC, including two free choices. They also provide a wide range of services that can be enhanced with additional standalone business management solutions. These services include registered agent service, annual reports, phone service, virtual office, and payment processing. What Plans Are Available From Northwest Registered Agent? Northwest Registered Agent have developed a complete Northwest LLC formation package tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. This package covers all the necessary components, including an EIN, which is mandatory for businesses with staff members. Please be aware that certain services, such as registered agents, are not included in the package and need to be purchased separately. However, its worth noting that other vendors offering similar pricing options may include these services in their plans. Their LLC formation service has a $100 minimum price and comes with many useful extras. Bank resolutions Membership certificates Articles of organization EIN Custom operating agreement For the unique needs of LLCs, Northwest Registered Agent provides a range of pricing choices. Registered agent service For just $125, our service offers a variety of advantages to enhance your experience. These include helpful annual report reminders, convenient document scanning and storage, and pre-filled state forms for your convenience. Annual report filings: Their complete service package includes the observation of state records, along with the state fees. You can access this all-inclusive service for a payment of $100. Foreign qualifications, or Certificates of Good Standing , If youre looking to expand your business beyond its original state, youll have to register it in a different state. The price for this service will differ depending on which state you choose. Obtaining an EIN: The price for American individuals to use this service is $50, while non-US individuals are charged $200. Its worth mentioning that the companys $100 service for creating an LLC includes an EIN. Corporate books: Discover the GoBook and classic binder options for organizing your important papers, available at $40 and $80, respectively. Corporate seals: Enhance your brands image by personalizing your company name with our cost-effective embossing and stamping service, available at just $30. Northwest Registered Agent provides a wide range of business management solutions to support different types of LLCs and other organizations. Trademark registration: The price for this service is $249, in addition to the $250 fee imposed by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Mail forwarding: This service is priced at $20 per month and is currently accessible in ten states: California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, New York, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. VoIP phone service: Experience worry-free enjoyment of our subscription service for the low price of $9 per month . Additionally, benefit from our generous 60-day refund policy for complete peace of mind. $9 per month Virtual office service: The price for this service is $29 per month, and its offered in the same ten states as Northwests mail forwarding service. Credit card payment processing: Following a free consultation, they will furnish you with a personalized estimate tailored to your individual requirements. Certified copies of business documents: The cost of our services varies depending on the state where you reside. Our prices range from no charge to $55. In some states, there may be additional charges per page, along with a set fee. Law on Call legal service: At Northwest Registered Agent, our clients in Utah can take advantage of our Law on Call legal service. For just $9 per month , you can have access to this valuable service, and the best part is that the first two months are absolutely free. Northwest Registered Agent simplifies the LLC setup process for small business owners by offering a wide range of services. They provide an easy-to-use platform that allows owners to efficiently organize their company on their own. Northwest stands out from other LLC formation services by offering a $100 package that includes everything needed, with no additional costs. This comprehensive package includes a registered agent, annual report filing, and organizational minutes. In contrast, some competing services charge $149 or more for a plan that includes an EIN, which is a crucial requirement for many new LLCs. Start Your Business With Northwest Registered Agent >> Northwest Registered Agent Pros and Cons Pros The benefits of dealing with Northwest Registered Agent are as follows: Data from customers is never sold Since they have offices in convenient places, such as Arizona, New York, and Nebraska, their economical LLC publishers may enable you to save money Very good customer service Running for about 20 years No other company does what they do, they keep your address private Cons Northwest Registered Agent values your investment by providing top-quality services, even though they may not have the lowest prices. Our thorough evaluation of Northwest, in comparison to other companies offering LLC filing services, revealed no drawbacks. Without exception, Northwest has consistently emerged as the optimal choice. Northwest Registered Agent Customer Service Northwest Registered Agent is well-known for its exceptional customer support. The companys team of business experts, known as Corporate Guides, has extensive experience and is always available to address any questions or concerns. What makes them stand out from other support teams is that Northwest guarantees that your call wont be transferred to multiple departments. They have simplified their phone system, getting rid of the need for a complicated phone tree. Instead, the person who answers your call is knowledgeable and capable of helping you with any problems you may come across. As a family-owned business, Northwest values the personal touch and strives to provide it to every customer. They continue to be devoted to the following Within 24 hours, email responses come through Clients get no emails with a no-reply option Voicemails are responded to in two hours Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today >> Northwest Registered Agent Reviews from Real Users How Legit is it? Weve done extensive research on the online reviews of Northwest Registered Agent, so you dont have to. Their goal was to collect feedback from real users to provide a trustworthy evaluation of its credibility and effectiveness. We carefully examined user reviews on Trustpilot. Northwest Registered Agent has a star rating of 3.0 out of the total reviews posted on Trustpilot, which indicates that most customers are satisfied with the service. Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: Alternatives Northwest Registered Agent Review: ZenBusiness ZenBusiness is an online platform that focuses on helping people create limited liability companies (LLCs). It offers a range of solutions specifically designed to support entrepreneurs and small business owners in starting and expanding their ventures. By offering affordable packages that include registered agent services, annual report filing, and other useful features, ZenBusiness provides a complete solution for forming an LLC. Moreover, ZenBusiness offers continuous support and valuable resources to ensure that businesses stay compliant and achieve their goals. Start Your Business With ZenBusiness >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: Swyft Filings Swyft Filings specializes in assisting businesses in the seamless and efficient establishment of LLCs. Their range of services includes incorporation, compliance, and registered agent services. Additionally, Swyft Filings offers personalized assistance to navigate the process of creating an LLC and ensures adherence to state and federal regulations. Start Your Business With Swyft Filings >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: Tailor Brands Tailor Brands is an online platform that focuses on branding and design services, specifically designed for businesses aiming to establish a powerful and cohesive brand identity. They provide a variety of branding packages, including logo design, business card design, and social media branding. Moreover, Tailor Brands offers a wide array of design tools and resources that allow businesses to effortlessly create and customize their own branded materials. Start Your Business With Tailor Brands Northwest Registered Agent Review Frequently Asked Questions To enhance your experience, we have gathered a collection of frequently asked questions about Northwest Registered Agent. This will provide you with the answers you may still be seeking. Northwest Registered Agent Review: Can Northwest Registered Agent Get My Business an EIN or State Tax ID Number? At Northwest Registered Agent, you have two options for obtaining an EIN for your LLC. If you have a Social Security Number, it will cost you $50. For non-U.S. citizens or those without an SSN, the fee is $200. In addition, we offer a comprehensive package priced at $275. This package includes an incorporation service, an EIN, a registered agent service, business forms, and state fees. Please note that we do not assist new businesses in obtaining a state tax ID, which is necessary for collecting sales tax within a specific state. However, our state-specific LLC formation guides provide guidance on how to apply for a tax ID in each state. Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today >> Northwest Registered Agent Review: Does Northwest Registered Agent Have an App? Currently, Northwest Registered Agent does not offer a mobile app for LLC formation services. However, they do have the Corporate Phone mobile app designed for their VoIP phone service, which is ideal for businesses. This app works on both iOS and Android devices. Northwest Registered Agent Review: Does Northwest Registered Agent Have a Refund Policy? You can choose to get a refund within 90 days. However, keep in mind that the company may change the refund or credit amount unless its required by law. Please remember that state filing fees cannot be refunded. Bottom Line on Northwest Registered Agent Review After a thorough assessment of various LLC services, its evident that Northwest Registered Agent rightfully secures a leading position among the finest options. A key differentiation for them is how much better their customer service performs than that of their competitors. However, there are still other compelling reasons to choose them. Northwest Registered Agent is a trustworthy option for anybody wishing to form an LLC due to a proven track record spanning more than two decades and a lot of favorable comments from satisfied customers. Additionally, they provide transparent and straightforward pricing, making them an attractive choice, especially for those interested in package solutions for LLC establishment and registered agent service. Choose Northwest Registered Agent Today >> This is a Partnered Post. In the ever-changing world of business, an Operating Agreement for an LLC serves as a valuable tool, guiding entrepreneurs as they navigate the complexities of running a Limited Liability Company. Think of it as a personalized roadmap that outlines the rules, rights, and responsibilities of LLC members. This document acts as a legally binding contract that promotes harmony, safeguards individual interests, and mitigates potential disputes. Join us as we dive into the details of an LLC Operating Agreement, uncovering its role in shaping the future of businesses and facilitating seamless collaboration. Whether youre a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the world of business, this blog post will serve as your introduction to the pivotal importance of an LLC Operating Agreement. Get ready to explore the mysterious aspects of this essential legal document, empowering you to confidently navigate the exciting yet uncertain realm of business. Make an LLC With ZenBusiness >> What Is an LLC Operating Agreement? The Limited Liability Company, more often abbreviated as an LLC, is a form of organization recommended for use by small enterprises in the United States. It was primarily created to provide small businesses the same liability protection as corporate shareholders. An LLC operating agreement is a document that outlines important details about the company, such as ownership, member responsibilities, and other structural elements. It contains fundamental details regarding the LLC and its owners (referred to as members), the tax treatment chosen, and instructions for important operations. Although operating agreements are normally utilized for multi-member LLCs, theyre also beneficial for single-member LLCs. In most circumstances, LLCs arent needed to provide operating agreements or to show that they exist. The agreement can be kept confidential among the members if desired. It may be revised as necessary and provides instructions for carrying out daily tasks and addressing any conflicts that could occur. Which States Require an LLC Operating Agreement? Suppose youre setting up or have already established an LLC in certain states such as California, New York, Missouri, Maine, or Delaware. Its legally necessary to create an LLC Operating Agreement. Although not all states explicitly require LLCs to have operating agreements, its highly advisable to have one in place to establish the internal structure, rules, and regulations that govern the operations of the LLC and the relationships among its members. Operating agreements define ownership rights, responsibilities, profit sharing, decision-making processes, and other important aspects of running an LLC. Its essential to consult the specific laws and regulations of the state or seek legal advice to determine the exact requirements for operating agreements in your state. Start Your LLC With ZenBusiness >> Whats Included in an LLC Operating Agreement? LLC operating agreements can differ in structure and content, but they typically encompass the following details. Basic Information About the Business The articles of organization, another critical document in forming an LLC, might also encompass the key choices and principles of the business, but an operational agreement amplifies these provisions. These decisions typically encompass the official name, primary location, duration, management structure, statement of purpose, and identification of the registered agent. Tax Treatment Preference LLCs typically enjoy what is known as a single layer of taxation. As a result, theyre free from corporate taxes by default, and members only pay individual taxes on earnings when they record their respective shares of income and costs on their personal tax returns. LLCs also have the flexibility to choose their tax treatment. According to the business, LLCs may find it helpful to elect corporate status by filing as either a C-corp or an S-corp. This may be stated in the LLC operating agreement, which can also describe how to change the tax category in the future. Member Information An operating agreement LLC is crucial in determining how a businesss profits and responsibilities are divided among its members. It typically includes important details about the members, such as their names, addresses, and roles within the company. The agreement outlines the amount and type of contributions made by each member, which are often financial but can vary. Expectations regarding compensation, which are often based on the evaluation of member contributions, are also included, as well as ownership percentages. Management Structure There are two possible management arrangements for an LLC. In a member-managed LLC, the members themselves act as agents and handle the day-to-day operations of the company. This structure is ideal for smaller LLCs with limited members and is more commonly chosen. In a manager-managed LLC, a smaller group of individuals is elected by the members to manage the company. Members continue to have the power to vote and indirect ownership of significant decisions. The option of structure usually depends on the size of the LLCs membership and its willingness to involve outside investment in management. Operating Procedures Successfully managing an LLC requires a number of fundamental business practices, including voting, holding member meetings, authorizing management activities, introducing new members, enabling member departures, and, if required, dissolving the LLC. These procedures, which can vary depending on the business, can be handled in different ways. A Liability Statement A number of the primary advantages of selecting an LLC as a company model is the evident separation it establishes between the firm and its individual members. Sole owners or partners in a partnership are not legally separated from their firm and take full personal responsibility for any risks associated, in contrast to corporation stockholders, who are shielded from personal accountability. LLCs blend the finest aspects of both structures, offering limited liability similar to a corporation while avoiding the same level of tax and regulatory burdens. To ensure the maintenance of limited liability status, its crucial for LLCs to clearly state their liability status, which can be done in an operating agreement LLC, for example. Additional Provisions Operating agreements are designed to anticipate and tackle potential challenges that may arise in the future. They typically contain provisions that outline how to handle unexpected events like the death of a member, a member leaving the business, disagreements between members, the need to modify the operating agreement LLC, and other industry-specific issues. Many contracts have a severability provision that guarantees the validity of the other terms even if a particular clause is found to be illegal or unenforceable. Visit ZenBusiness >> Five Ways an Operating Agreement Benefits Your Business 1. It Strengthens Your Corporate Veil If a business doesnt have an operating agreement LLC, the limited liability status it claims may not be taken seriously by courts. Its essential to reduce personal culpability that there be a legal separation, often known as a veil, between a firm and its members or owners. Including a liability statement in an LLC operating agreement further strengthens this separation. 2. It Solidifies Central Agreements Between Members When establishing a business as an LLC, its crucial for the members to come to an agreement regarding the allocation of rights, responsibilities, ownership, compensation, and other important aspects. In the future, LLCs may have limited options when it comes to enforcing these initial guidelines, with an operating agreement LLC being the primary means. Members may not have any legal protection from subsequently violating the companys founding agreements without the required paperwork. Therefore, an operating agreement LLC is essential as it addresses the ownership percentages of the company. 3. It Defines Key Business Procedures The official formation of an LLC is determined by filing the articles of organization (also known as a certificate of organization) with the state. These documents provide limited information about how the company operates. To delve into the specific procedures of an LLC, such as voting, meetings, communication, conflict resolution, and more, an operating agreement LLC is essential. Clearly defining internal procedures through an operating agreement proves beneficial for businesses, especially those in their early stages, as it facilitates adherence to these processes by all members. 4. It Keeps State Default Laws at Bay In the absence of an operating agreement for an LLC, most states have default laws that dictate how an LLC should function and be legally treated. However, by creating its agreement, an LLC can avoid these general rules and have more control over its own definition and regulation. 5. It Adds Legitimacy to Your Business Many entities consider a professional operating agreement LLC as a reliable indicator of a trustworthy business. While forming an LLC is relatively easy compared to establishing a corporation, having a functional and efficient operating agreement LLC demonstrates that a company is proactive in getting organized and operating legitimately. It signifies that the LLC is aware of its legal standing, intentional in its organizational structure, and ready for future challenges. Lending institutions, such as banks, are particularly interested in verifying a companys trustworthiness and competence. In some cases, they may even require an operating agreement before opening a business account. Make an LLC With ZenBusiness >> Affordable Ways to Create an LLC Operating Agreement According to legal norms, drafting an LLC operating agreement is uncomplicated. However, these agreements often contain complex legal language and can span multiple pages. Its not advisable to attempt writing one from scratch without a legal background. Given that an operating agreement LLC is legally binding, its crucial to avoid any errors. Fortunately, there are various alternatives available. Do It (Almost) Yourself If youre not an expert in the law, one way to create an operating agreement LLC for free is by using a blank template or step-by-step instructions. You can easily find various versions of these online through legal help sites and law libraries. The only challenge you might face is finding directions suitable for your particular business. Interactive Services Numerous websites like LegalZoom or RocketLawyer provide services specifically designed for LLCs. These services provide you with interactive templates that, after asking you several questions about your company, will compile all the information to create a complete operating agreement LLC. A majority of these services are provided at no cost. Although these automated tools may provide an easier means to draft a contract specific to your company, they might not always generate the best outcomes, especially for companies with unique situations like foreign transactions or members who are already a part of another company rather than an individual. Professional Services If you have a unique LLC with specific needs, a high level of complexity, or multiple members, its worth considering hiring professional legal assistance. There are many attorneys and legal businesses that concentrate on work like drafting LLC operating agreements and charge by the document rather than by the hour. Users may publish projects on certain websites, which allows various attorneys to submit bids. Before committing to anything, its essential to clarify whether youll be consulting with a lawyer who can answer questions and make revisions or if youre simply paying for someone to draft a document based on the information you provide. If youre working with an online lawyer, ensure theyre certified to work within the scope of your states laws and regulations and have a good understanding of its LLC laws. Operating Agreement Costs Legal expertise can be quite costly, but the expenses associated with legal problems resulting from a poorly drafted operating agreement LLC can be just as significant. One of the major expenses when setting up an LLC is creating a professionally drafted operating agreement, besides filing fees. While a simple agreement may be created by a legal professional for a few hundred dollars or even less, some organizations choose to spend several thousand dollars on a unique agreement. Numerous attorneys and other suppliers of legal services make consultations and price estimates available free of charge. Make an LLC With ZenBusiness >> Member-Managed vs Manager-Managed LLC Frequently Asked Questions Can You Make Changes to an LLC Operating Agreement? To ensure that your LLCs operating agreement is always current, its essential to make amendments whenever there are any changes within your LLC. These changes may involve membership, managers, the LLCs name, address, financial information, or operational procedures. You can create these amendments and, once approved by the LLCs members, file the updated documentation with the secretary of state. These amendments need to become part of the official record of the LLC. Is It Possible to Set up an LLC for Free? Although the registration cost for an LLC differs from state to state, a registration fee is applicable in every state. Therefore, when certain companies claim to offer free LLC formation, they will assist you in completing the paperwork with no charge. However, its important to note that you will still need to pay the filing fee required by the state. Does My Single-Member LLC Really Need an Operating Agreement? Its highly advisable to have an operating agreement for single-member LLCs, despite their simplicity. Operating agreements not only enhance the credibility of the business but also ensure the LLCs legal status. Without proper documentation of key details, proving the distinction between an LLC and its sole member can be difficult in case of any legal disputes. Its important to note that all LLCs, regardless of their size, are legally obligated to have an operating agreement in California, Delaware, Maine, Missouri, and New York. Start an LLC With ZenBusiness >> Bottom Line on What is an Operating Agreement LLC? An LLC Operating Agreement acts as the core of a Limited Liability Company, providing structure, protection, and clarity to its members. By outlining ownership, management, and decision-making procedures, it promotes successful collaborations and minimizes disputes. This crucial document lays a strong foundation for the smooth functioning of the business, protecting individual interests and delineating the path to growth. Whether embarking on a new venture or aiming to strengthen an existing LLC, dedicating time to creating a comprehensive Operating Agreement LLC is a valuable investment. Its not only a legal requirement but also a powerful tool that empowers entrepreneurs to establish prospering businesses while ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term prosperity. Try ZenBusiness >> This is a Partnered Post. Beijing (Gasgoo)- In August 2023, driven by factors such as national consumption promotion policies and promotional efforts by automakers, the demand for automobiles continued to grow. The Chinese automotive market defied the traditional off-season trend, achieving both month-on-month and year-on-year increases in sales. Specifically, both passenger car and commercial vehicle production and sales in China grew, and the performance of new energy vehicles and automobile exports remained strong. The government has recently implemented multiple measures to stimulate automobile consumption and stabilize industry growth. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other departments jointly released a work plan for stabilizing growth in the automobile industry, emphasizing a coordinated approach to ensure sustainable development in the automotive sector. In the past month, China produced a total of 2.575 million vehicles, representing a 7.2% hike over the previous month and a 7.5% rise over the previous year, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Meanwhile, China's monthly auto sales came in at 2.582 million vehicles in August, which also climbed 8.2% month over month and 8.4% year over year. Cumulatively, there were 18.225 million and 18.21 million vehicles produced and sold in the first eight months of this year, representing a 7.4% and 8% year-on-year increase, respectively. ZEEKR 001; photo credit: ZEEKR On top of the robust overall sales figures in August, Chinas new energy vehicle (NEV) market again sustained its strong performance. With about 843,000 and 846,000 NEVs produced and sold by automakers in China in the past month, the market boasted a respective surge of 22% and 27% year on year, which meant that NEVs secured a 32.8% share of the country's total auto sales last month. In first eight months of this year, Chinas total NEV output and sales stood at 5.434 million and 5.374 million units respectively, leaping 36.9% and 39.2% over the previous year. NEVs accounted for 29.5% of Chinas year-to-date auto sales in that span. Automakers in China sent off approximately 408,000 vehicles to overseas markets in August, which rose 3.9% month on month while hiking up 32.1% year over year. Of the vehicles shipped overseas in the past month, about 90,000 units were NEVs, down 11.2% from the previous month but up 8.1% from the previous year. In the Jan.-Aug. period of this year, there had been a total of 2.941 million vehicles exported outside of the country by automakers in China, shooting up 61.9% from a year ago. Within these figures, exports of NEVs in the period amounted to roughly 727,000 units, doubling from that of the same span last year. According to rankings compiled by the CAAM, SAIC Motor maintained its leading position as the largest exporter of automobiles in China last month, with approximately 96,000 vehicles shipped overseas. Meanwhile, Chery, the constant second-place automaker, sent off about 87,000 vehicles outside of China. In the meantime, such NEV manufacturers as the Chinese giant BYD and the US player Tesla, ranked fifth and seventh on the list, with roughly 25,000 and 19,000 NEVs exported last month. The CAAM stressed that BYDs monthly export volume surged to 3.7 times higher than that of a year ago. As to the performance of Chinas commercial vehicle market, production and sales volumes of commercial vehicles came in at 300,000 units and 310,000 units in the eighth month of this year, indicating a respective 26.2% and 20% jump compared to the previous year. In the Jan.-Aug. period, there were a total of 2.553 million and 2.568 million commercial vehicles produced and sold by companies in China, growing 18% and 16.4% from the earlier year. As to the market performance for the following months, the CAAM mentioned it is expected that as the effects of Chinas automobile-dedicated promotion policies become increasingly evident and with the automotive industry entering the peak sales season of "Golden September and Silver October," major automakers continuously introducing new products will further stimulate market demand. This is anticipated to help achieve the expected economic development goals for the automotive industry. WhatsApp is working on bringing the ability to receive texts from third-party applications in a bid to comply with new EU guidelines, WABetaInfo has reported. Per the report, WhatsApp for Android version 2.23.19.8 was found to contain a new blank screen labeled third-party chatswhich could be an indication that Meta is working on bringing cross-platform support for WhatsApp to comply with EU norms. For those uninitiated, the European Union has now enforced the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This means that tech companies such as Meta must allow their users to communicate with different chat apps. And this is why WhatsApp is working on developing this new feature. However, per WABetaInfo, the feature is not ready and appears empty, and it is not available to users currently. But what this does indicate is that users will be able to engage in cross-platform chats in the future. WhatsApp reportedly has 6 months to comply with this regulation in the EU. And once the chat app does roll out this functionality in full, it would mean that this interoperability will allow users who dont have a WhatsApp account to connect with users on WhatsApp. For instancein theorypeople using WeChat would be able to text users on WhatsApp. Third-party chat support is under development, and it will be available in a future update of the app, WABeta said. In related news, WhatsApp is rolling out is rolling out improvements to its calling interface. These improvements not only give more information on the screen but also show that the Meta-owned app wants to make it easier for users to handle their calls. A couple from Wellington, New Zealand, is seeking a refund from Singapore Airlines after facing an unpleasant flight experience. Gill and Warren Press had purchased premium economy seats for their 13-hour flight from Paris to Singapore but ended up moving to the economy due to their fellow passengers emotional support dog, which was drooling, farting and making noises throughout the journey. They are now requesting a refund from the airline, claiming that they were not informed in advance that they would be seated next to a dog during the flight. In a conversation with local media, Gill recalled, I heard this noise, a heavy snorting. I thought it was my husbands phone, but we looked down and realised it was the dog breathing. I said, Im not having this sitting next to us the whole trip. Gill Press recounted that she overheard the dogs owner explaining to another passenger that the dog had anxiety issues, which is why the animal was allowed in the cabin. However, Press and her husband observed that it was the dog who appeared to be in a distressed condition during the flight. The situation became increasingly uncomfortable for the New Zealand-based couple as the flight continued. Despite raising their discomfort with crew members, they were informed that the only available seats were in the back row of economy class, but they opted to remain in their assigned seats. Halfway through the flight, the dogs presence became intolerable. The dog was not only farting but was also occupying a major portion of her husbands legroom. The passenger couldnt have the dog out in the aisle because they couldnt get the trolleys through, so it had to come in further, which meant his head was under my husbands feet. My husband was in shorts, and was getting the dogs saliva goo on his leg, she added. After finally deciding to change seats, Gill and Warren Press were assured that an incident report had been filed and that they would be contacted by Singapore Airlines regarding the matter. However, as a week passed without any communication, Press took the initiative to send an email to the airlines customer service team to express their dissatisfaction with the experience. Meanwhile, it took two weeks for the airline to respond and they issued an apology for the unpleasant incident. To compensate for the experience, Singapore Airlines offered the couple SG$100 (approximately Rs 6,000) gift vouchers each, however, the couple remained dissatisfied with the resolution. She further clarified that their discomfort wasnt due to the dog, but they felt that they should have been informed in advance about the dogs presence on the flight and were disappointed about how the airline handled the situation. In response to the incident, Singapore Airlines has announced that they will now inform customers who may be seated next to an assistance dog before boarding the flight. As of April 1, the airline no longer permits emotional support dogs on its flights. However, theyll still allow passengers and their dogs who had made requests and submitted the necessary documentation before the rule was implemented. We are all familiar with the concept of fusion food. It involves the amalgamation of unique ingredients to come up with a bizarre recipe. But who would have thought of grilled ice as a dish? Yes, you read that right. According to reports, Chinese social media is full of videos of people grilling ice and then seasoning it with various sauces. This bizarre combination is not just a new trend among people but has also become a popular dish in China. As per a report by The Sun, one TikTok user explained the new craze in his post. He said The snack is made by grilling ice over fire and covering it in sauce and spices. The form of ice can range from conventional ice cube to frozen water bottle, or even icicle. It can be eaten both hot and cold as long as its done before it melts. The dish is now popular in Northern China and he explained it as a gimmick for tourists. Also Read: Chaat Vendor Gets Offended By Food Vloggers Question, Video of Heated Argument is Now Viral X page Yup That Exists also uploaded a video of the same. In the video, you can see ice cubes being spread on a grill. Once removed, the chef quickly pours some sauces over them. Further, he garnishes it with some seasonings. The cubes which then become slightly smaller are covered in heavy spices. The final dish is then served on a tray. Here is a video of the bizarre dish: Grilled ice cubes are now the most popular street food in Nanchang, China. pic.twitter.com/zKFNlmHeHb Yup That Exists (@yupthtexists) September 4, 2023 Also Read: Maharashtra Man Hangs Stray Dog to Death After it Tears His Tractors Seat, Video Sparks Outrage This is not the first time that a bizarre dish is being served in China. Earlier, the internet found that stir-fried pebbles were being sold at a food stall at a night market in China. According to the South China Morning Post, the video shared on Chinese social media showed a vendor in the central Chinese province of Hunan selling stir-fried small river rocks with chilli, garlic, purple perilla and rosemary. The dish was being sold for 16 Yuan (Rs 184) per serving. There is no greater joy than taking some time out of our busy schedules and embarking on a vacation. Exploring newer locations, delving into the varied cultures of a place, and simply soaking in the beauty of the destination are some cherished memories in the life of a globetrotter. Although a majority of us wish to travel the world, more often than not it is a distant dream for many. But not for YouTuber and travel vlogger Dhruv Rathee. The 28-year-old has offered numerous glimpses of his travel escapades giving viewers a virtual tour of the destinations. Recently Dhruvs visit to the worlds most empty country Mongolia grabbed the eyeballs online. Dhruv Rathee dropped a video of him visiting Mongolia on YouTube on September 7. The video is a visual delight for travel enthusiasts who are ardent lovers of lush greenery and pristine natural beauty. The video caption states that Mongolia is called the emptiest country because of its lowest population density. The video opens to show sandy terrains and scattered, vibrant blue waterbodies, encircled by emerald-green hills. Dhruv starts his journey from Mongolias capital Ulaanbaatar where half of the countrys population lives." Dhruv Rathee then goes on to explain that fewer than 3.5 million people live in Mongolia which makes the population density of only 2 people per square kilometre." Travelling via a helicopter, the YouTuber reached his first location Khukh Nuur Lake, the beauty of which he compared to Ladakhs Pangong Tso Lake. Theres no one else here except for the people who came in this helicopter," he says, before adding that there are only grasshoppers interrupting the silence. Dhruv then visits the Otgontenger Sacred Mountain at about 4000 meters above sea level, worshipped by the people here. Greeted by the locals with handmade Mongolian cheese, the YouTuber reveals that there are no farms in the particular place indicating zero scope for growing vegetables. Most people make ends meet with meat and dairy," says Dhruv Rathee. Another unique feature of the country as shared by Dhruv is that there are about 4 million horses in Mongolia, which means there are more horses than humans in the destination. Post the visit to the snow-capped sacred mountain, Dhruv and his travel partners enjoyed a scrumptious vegetarian dish, containing potato, rice, bread, tofu, and salad. The video however ends abruptly with Dhruv and the others departing the premises owing to an upcoming storm. So far, the video has garnered 1.24 million views on YouTube and counting. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday said Brazil will put the issue of inequality at its core when it assumes the presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) on December 1. It is a lot of responsibility for Brazil to host the G20 Summit next year. We will put the inequality issue as the core issue during the Summit, Lula said while addressing the press in New Delhi. India passes the gavel to Brazil. We have unwavering faith that they will lead with dedication, vision and will further global unity as well as prosperity. India assures all possible cooperation to Brazil during their upcoming G20 Presidency. @LulaOficial pic.twitter.com/twaN577XZv Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 10, 2023 Brazil is likely to use the G20 presidency to attract global attention to the economic, social, political and environmental problems afflicting South America, Central America and the Caribbean. According to the Worlds Bank these regions have seen rising income inequality which has taken a toll on the governance due to massive protests and clampdown on those protests. Inequality in Latin America remains the highest in the world and such high levels of inequality are both intrinsically repugnant and instrumentally pernicious, the World Bank said in 2020. Lula, as G20 President, will try to address these issues and cast global spotlight on the issues plaguing the region often known for popular uprisings and sudden fall and rise of popular leaders. In Latin America, the richest 10% of people capture 54% of the national income, a separate blog post by the London School of Economics said. Lula said another core area of focus for Brazil will be clean energy transition. Brazil, home to a large part of one of the worlds largest rainforests, Amazon, is facing a race against time to curb deforestation and ousting of native tribes from the Amazon forest. Time will only tell if he will be able to mobilise consensus for its conservation and protect it from biodiversity loss. Another issue that we are going to discuss is the energy transition. Brazil has extraordinary potential in the production of clean energy, Lula said. Lula also said that he will prioritise reform of the multilateral institutions and discuss permanent membership of Brazil in the UN Security Council. We are also going to discuss the reform of the multilateral institutions. We also want to discuss permanent membership of the UN Security Council, Lula said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the current G20 President handed over the G20 Presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday in New Delhi. India passes the gavel to Brazil. We have unwavering faith that they will lead with dedication, vision and will further global unity as well as prosperity. India assures all possible cooperation to Brazil during their upcoming G20 Presidency, PM Modi said. Members of the Indian-American community held a peaceful protest rally in Californias capital city Sacramento urging California governor Gavin Newsom to veto the anti-caste discrimination bill. We hope you heard us outside in #Sacramento @GavinNewsom.We hope that you heard the many Dalit voices amongst us @APNADB_NA asking you to #VetoSB403.@aishabbwahab tells you SB403 is for them.well, listen to them. They #SayNoToSB403 #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/GlhYFShxOi Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 10, 2023 The bill was recently passed by the California state assembly. The participants at the rally taken out by the Indian American community said that the bill is discriminatory and targets the Indians in general and Hindus in particular. The Governor will evaluate the bill on its merits when it reaches his desk, Newsoms office said last week. Caste system is an ancient system which is prevalent in India and many other South Asian and Southeast Asian societies which regulates peoples social status based on their birth. #SB403 #FinalCount:-Of 62 Democrats: 55 voted Yes, 0 No, Abstain 12. Bonta, Carrillo, Irwin, Petrie-Norris & Wilson, who initially abstained, later changed their vote to Yes without explanation -Of 18 Republicans: 0 voted Yes, 3 No, Abstain 15 #WeWillRemember #VetoSB403 https://t.co/9RkszegUkl Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) September 1, 2023 If Gavin Newsom, seen by many as a progressive Democrat, signs the bill into law then California would become the first state in the United States and the first jurisdiction outside India to outlaw discrimination based on caste. The legislation revises Californias Unruh Civil Rights Act by adding caste as a protected category under ancestry, news agency PTI said. We ask Governor Newsom to veto SB403 so history remembers that you said no to discrimination against Indian Americans and said no to racially profiling our community! Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) told the gathering of Indian Americans in front of the State Capitol in Sacramento on Saturday, the news report said.. The protesters were carrying posters and banners calling for the vetoing of SB403. They came from across the state and claimed that if signed into law the Hindu community would face discrimination. The protesters said the bill amounts to racial profiling of the Hindu community. The bill was introduced by Senator Aisha Wahab, the first Muslim and Afghan-American woman elected to the state legislature, and after its presentation it led to an uproar in the South Asian community. The more our communities become more and more diverse, we need to go further and deeper to protect more people even when certain issues are more invisible to the mainstream public, Wahab said. Last week, the California state senate voted 31-5 to approve the bill but many were reminded of the intense response from the states South Asian community this summer during a public hearing on the bill which lasted for hours as hundreds lined up at the state capitol to testify for and against the bill. The HAF says it is exploring every option to protect the rights of Hindu Californians and is planning to file a lawsuit against the bill. After facing some tough talk from Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau is now facing a backlash at home over being snubbed at the G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi. On Sunday, Canadas leading newspaper Toronto Sun published a front page with the headline This Way Out, with Modi gesturing to Trudeau to move ahead after a customary handshake at Raj Ghat. The newspaper said Trudeau finds he has few friends at the G20 summit in India. Putting partisanship aside, no one likes to see a Canadian prime minister repeatedly humiliated & trampled upon by the rest of the world. pic.twitter.com/TOR3p4gKgn Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) September 10, 2023 In another report by the same newspaper, it was mentioned that Trudeau skipped Modis leaders dinner the night before, with the Prime Ministers Office refusing to say why. It added that Trudeau also missed the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance, a partnership to make progress on rolling out cleaner, greener fuels. Trudeau said he had other work, the news report further said. Compounding his problems, Trudeaus plane also failed to take off, stranding the Canadian delegation in Delhi for 24 hours, and a replacement aircraft is now on its way to take them home. Canadas opposition leader who is in the running to be the PM, Pierre Poilievre posted the Toronto Sun front page on social media site X and said: Putting partisanship aside, no one likes to see a Canadian prime minister repeatedly humiliated and trampled upon by the rest of the world. News18 had earlier reported how Trudeau was not granted a bilateral meeting by India despite his request and he only got a pull-aside chat with the Indian Prime Minister. Foreign news agencies like Reuters and Bloomberg reported that Trudeau got a scolding and criticism from Prime Minister Modi during their talks, which was also carried by Canadian newspapers. PM Modi did not post any welcome note like for other leaders after the Canadian PM landed in India. This was following tensions in diplomatic relations between India and Canada over the Khalistani issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked tough in his meeting with Trudeau, telling him in clear terms that continuing anti-India activities in Canada are an issue of strong concern. Canada continued to maintain that it would protect the right of peaceful protests in its territory by the Indian diaspora. The Canadian PM later upped the ante saying he raised the issue of interference of India in Canadas affairs with PM Modi during their pull-aside meet. The Indian statement said Modi conveyed Indias strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, Indias statement said. China said on Monday that it welcomes the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit so long it doesnt become a geopolitical tool, even as it downplayed Italys plan to pull out of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China welcomes all initiatives that truly help developing countries build infrastructure and sincere efforts to promote connectivity and common development, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. At the same time, we advocate that various connectivity initiatives should be open, inclusive, and form synergy, and should not become geopolitical tools, the ministry said in a written response to PTI to a question on Chinas reaction to the new corridor. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to launch the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor which includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US. Today we all have reached an important and historic partnership. In the coming times, it will be a major medium of economic integration between India, West Asia and Europe, Modi said. The corridor will give a new direction to connectivity and sustainable development of the entire world, he said. This is a big deal. This is a real big deal, US President Joe Biden said while announcing the pact, aimed at promoting clean energy and better communities. As we work to address infrastructure gaps across low- and middle-income countries, we need to maximise the impacts of our investments, he said. Analysts say the new corridor is the first global connectivity project to rival Chinas BRI which drew criticism for its debt sustainability, especially of smaller countries. The ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 envisions connecting China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes rebuilding the old Silk Road trade route. But with the decade-old BRI running into billions of dollars of investment, China faces a major challenge as Italy has announced its plans to quit the initiative, which according to the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, did not bring the results we expected and many Italian parties were against Italys participation. Italys decision comes at a time when China announced plans to hold the third conference of BRI in Beijing next month. If Italy pulls out, it will be regarded as an embarrassment for President Xis pet project. BRI reportedly figured in the talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday. Asked whether the BRI issue figured in the Li-Meloni talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing in Beijing that both leaders had exchanged views on important issues in bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in joint pursuit of prosperity and development. On the BRI, she said, Ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, more than 150 countries and cooperation partners in a wide range of areas have joined the initiative, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people of participating countries. It serves the interests of all partner countries to further tap into its potential for cooperation, she said. Skirting a direct response on BRI, she said China and Italy are both ancient civilizations on either end of the ancient Silk Road. We can further deepen practical cooperation in various fields and work for further growth of our comprehensive strategic partnership, she said. Pakistan is in a state of meltdown following the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit and Pakistani citizens are angered that Pakistans major politicians are not acknowledging the magnitude of this ambitious project. ALSO READ | Pak on Sale, Saudi One of the Buyers: Crown Prince MBS to Visit Pakistan before India Trip Pakistanis took to social media site, X, formerly known as Twitter, to vent out their frustrations. One user said that being a Pakistani citizen he feels ashamed because the leadership in Islamabad is not accountable and has not done anything of significance to develop Pakistan. As a Paki, I can't help but feel a deep sense of shame today. Our nation deserves better leadership, accountability, and a brighter future. It's time for change and a renewed commitment to the values that truly represent us. #G20India2023 @OfficialDGISPR @ForeignOfficePk https://t.co/0eSvf24tXy Mustaqim Ahmed (@MustaqimAhmex) September 9, 2023 As a Paki, I cant help but feel a deep sense of shame today. Our nation deserves better leadership, accountability, and a brighter future. Its time for change and a renewed commitment to the values that truly represent us, the user posted on X. I compliment India to achieve the historic announcement of India, Middle East, Europe & USA corridor. If after Saudi Arabia & UAEs inclusion this is not seen as something to be noted then we are blind. We should be a part. If we join it can be land route also. Rethink! SyedShabbarZaidi (@SShabbarZaidi) September 9, 2023 A Pakistani businessman took to X to say that Pakistan should rethink its stance on India and try to join the land route. I compliment India for the historic announcement of the India, Middle East, Europe and US corridor. If after Saudi Arabia & UAEs inclusion this is not seen as something to be noted then we are blind. We should be a part. If we join it can be a land route also. Rethink!, the businessman said. That will never happen, even if the Pakistani people want it. The Pakistan army will never allow it, and the army will not have the significance that it has now. Sam (@RebelHeartChe) September 9, 2023 However, other users were quick to point out that the Pakistani army would not let that happen as they run the country. The amount of corruption we do. I highly doubt it. Ali Hadi (@hadtaj) September 10, 2023 Some also said that Pakistan could not join the project even if it wanted to due to rampant corruption in the country. Dates Not Yet Confirmed Pakistan is pinning all its hopes on Saudi Arabia Prime Minister Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans visit as they hope this will result in multiple deals in the agriculture, mining, energy and IT sectors. However, the Saudi Arabian delegation has not yet confirmed the dates of Mohammad bin Salmans, aka MBS, visit, throwing the caretaker government in a state of uncertainty. It was reported that MBS would visit Pakistan on a very short trip to Pakistan and people familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that he would visit Pakistan first but there was a change of plans as MBS attend the G20 summit and signed the MoU on the mega infrastructure deal before visiting Islamabad. Saudi Arabia has always been there for Pakistan, and since the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the involvement has only intensified. So we have high hopes from the visit and were pretty positive that well get some MoUs signed, caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in a highly anticipated meeting with President Vladimir Putin, sparking concerns of a potential arms deal that amid the Ukraine war. Kims visit is coming at Putins invitation and it would take place in the coming days, a statement on Kremlins website said. This was confirmed by official KCNA news agency. Citing unidentified South Korean government sources that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday. AP journalists near the North Korean-Russia border spotted a green train with yellow trim similar to the train used by Kim Jong Un during his previous foreign trips. This comes as South Korean government sources said that a trian likely left Pyongyang on Sunday evening. The Yonhap news agency and some other media published similar reports. Japans Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying that Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. South Koreas Presidential Office, Defence Ministry and National Intelligence Service did not immediately confirm these details. This comes after US officials released intelligence last week that North Korea and Russia were arranging a meeting that would take place within this month as they expand their cooperation in the face of deepening confrontations with the states, according to AP. Possible Venue for Kim-Putin Meeting A possible venue for the meeting is the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where Putin arrived Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday, according to Russias TASS news agency. This is also the site of Putins first meeting with Kim in 2019. According to US officials, Putin could focus on securing more supplies of North Korean artillery and other ammunition to refill declining reserves as he seeks to defuse a Ukrainian counteroffensive and show that hes capable of grinding out a long war of attrition. That could potentially put more pressure on the United States and its partners to pursue negotiations as concerns about a protracted conflict grow despite their huge shipments of advanced weaponry to Ukraine over the past 17 months. North Korea has possibly tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets based on Soviet designs that could potentially give a huge boost to the Russian army, analysts say. With agency inputs A 55-year-old Virginia man died hiking in the Grand Canyon this weekend. Park spokesperson Joelle Baird told the Arizona Daily Sun that Ranjith Varma of Manassas, Virginia had been hiking with a group of about six others on September 9 when the incident occurred. The group had been attempting to hike from the South Rim of the canyon to the canyons North Rim in a single day. At approximately 1:55 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received an emergency call of a hiker in distress on the North Kaibab Trail approximately one mile south of Cottonwood Campground. Soon after that, the hiker became unresponsive and members of the hiking group and bystanders initiated CPR. National Park Service (NPS) search and rescue personnel responded to the call via helicopter. Baird said given the steep and rocky terrain where the hiker was, rescue personnel were not able to fully land the helicopter and had to use specialized helicopter maneuvers to get rescuers on scene. Attempts to resuscitate Varma were unsuccessful and he was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiners Office in Flagstaff. Although the precise cause of death is not yet known, Baird said it is likely that heat was a factor. Temperatures within the inner canyon that day were over 100 degrees. In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120F (49 C) in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Rangers also warn that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather. This incident represents the third death of a hiker within Grand Canyon National Park this year. In May, an Indiana woman died while attempting to hike the Bright Angle Trail from the rim to the river and back in a single day. In July, a woman hiking in the remote Tuweep area also perished. Grand Canyon National Park averages between 15 and 20 deaths each year, Baird said. That's everything from people experiencing medical cardiac arrest here on the rim to these types of incidents in the Inner Canyon, she said. So there's a lot that's encompassing that statistic. I will say, on average for Inner Canyon type of fatalities, we see typically one to two per year. We typically see the highest instances as a result of heat as a contributing factor to those fatalities. Before heading down trail, hikers are strongly encouraged to read the Hiking Tips page and check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on inner canyon conditions. An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the NPS in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. In a sign of increasing tension between the two neighbours, Pakistan has reacted strongly to Talibans statement on the closure of Torkham border, saying no structure will be allowed in their territory and that unprovoked fire was initiated by the Afghan side". It has also asked the Taliban to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as launching pad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan. ALSO READ | Pakistan Shuts Key Border Crossing with Afghanistan After Guards Exchange Fire Pakistani authorities closed the key border crossing with landlocked Afghanistan on Wednesday after border guards from the two sides exchanged fire. Also, a mortar hit a house near the Afghan border, killing five Pakistanis a mother and her four children. The border closure came two days after caretaker Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said the U.S. military equipment left behind during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan had fallen into militant hands and made its way to the Pakistani Taliban. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in her statement, said: The statement of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs comes as a surprise as the Interim Afghan authorities know fully well the reasons for the temporary closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham." The ministry further added: Pakistan cannot accept the construction of any structures by IAG inside its territory since these violate its sovereignty. On the 6th of September, instead of a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistan military posts, damaging the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and putting the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk, when they were stopped from erecting such unlawful structures." Such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances. The unprovoked firing by Afghan border security forces invariably emboldens the terrorist elements. These elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan as confirmed by the UN Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report," the statement read. We have always said that we wish the border with Afghanistan to be a border of peace and amity between the two countries. We have welcomed our Afghan brothers and sisters with open arms for decades. Pakistan has continued to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue in the face of persistent unwarranted provocations by Afghan troops deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. Temporary closures take place only in extreme cases such as the 6th September 2023 incident on the border or when Afghan soil is used to launch terror attacks inside Pakistan," it said. ALSO READ | Opinion | Pakistan Gets a Taste of Its Own Medicine from Taliban The statement of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also includes some irrelevant comments and unsolicited advice about Pakistans economy and foreign trade. For the last several decades, Pakistan has facilitated Afghan transit trade and will continue to do so. However, Pakistan cannot allow the misuse of the transit trade agreement. Pakistan stands ready to resolve all bilateral issues and concerns through constructive dialogue so that both countries can reap the dividends of economic connectivity and resultant prosperity. We expect the Afghan interim authorities to be mindful of Pakistans concerns, respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan and ensure that the Afghan territory is not used as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan," the ministry said. With Agency Inputs Pakistans state-run airline, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), grounded several aircraft as it struggles to keep itself afloat. It only has limited funds to run operations for the next few months and the core functions as well as the non-core assets will be put up for sale by PIA authorities. The Pakistan aviation ministry warned the interim government that the PIA is undergoing a severe cash flow crisis. It owes large sums of money to creditors, aircraft lessors, fuel suppliers, insurers, international and domestic airport operators, and even the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Pakistani newspaper the Dawn reported. PIA grounded five of its 13 leased aircraft and four more planes are expected to join the grounded fleet. The aviation ministry also told the government that Boeing and Airbus are on the verge of discontinuing the supply of spare parts by mid-September. The aviation ministry urged to secure funding worth PKR 23 billion while suspending duties, taxes and service charges to domestic agencies, the newspaper further added. The report pointed out that the aviation ministry did not present a viable plan to back its proposal. The ministry said the entire restructuring process could take more months but during the process it is vital to keep the airlines operational. The state of PIA has also led many to question why the state-run carrier is sucking away a large amount of public funds while catering to only less than 3% citizens while power companies face harsh criticism from the citizens despite supplying 80% of the population with electricity while making significant losses. The Pakistan government holds 92% share in the PIA. PIA has accrued debts worth PKR 745 billion, which according to the Dawn is five times more than the total value of its assets, the Pakistan aviation ministry said. If the situation continues as such, PIAs debt and liabilities will rise to Rs1,977bn and its annual losses will rise to Rs259bn per annum by 2030, the aviation ministry warned. Pakistans aircrafts have also been impounded in airports for non-payment of dues and even Saudi Arabian airport authority told PIA to pay the outstanding amount of 8.2 million riyals accrued due to non-payment of liabilities. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday told lawmakers that he had "warm and productive" discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as he updated the UK Parliament on his recent visit to New Delhi for the India-led G20 Summit. Addressing the House of Commons after his first visit to India as British Prime Minister, the 43-year-old leader began by flagging his and his wife Akshata Murtys Indian connections and financial interests in India. An important trip to India for the G20, delivering for the UK on the world stage pic.twitter.com/H3MvrCJ7zg Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 11, 2023 In his detailed parliamentary statement, Sunak went on to highlight his three key aims of the India visit, which included increasing diplomatic pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the conflict in Ukraine, climate action, and strengthening ties with India. "I held warm and productive discussions with Prime Minister Modi on strengthening our relationship in defence, technology, and a free trade deal between our nations, Sunak said. India and the UK have concluded 12 negotiating rounds towards an FTA, which both sides believe will significantly enhance the GBP 36 billion bilateral trade partnership. While in India, Sunak told reporters that things aren't quite agreed on the pact and that he "won't rush things". "For the record, let me declare that as is a matter of public record, I and my family are of Indian origin. My wife and her family are Indian citizens with financial interests in India, Sunak told the Commons with reference to Murtys shares in Infosys the software major co-founded by her father Narayana Murthy. Sunak pointed out that even as most G20 leaders came together in Delhi in a spirit of cooperation, one leader was missing from the summit. "Putin has lacked the courage to face his G20 peers day after day. His actions cause horrendous suffering in Ukraine, violating the UN Charter, threatening European security and disrupting global energy supplies Leaders united in calling out the human suffering caused by Putin's war, he said. On his other key priority at the summit, he stressed that the UK is seen as a global leader on climate issues. "At the G20, I made a record commitment of over 1.6 billion pounds for the Green Climate Fund, the single biggest international climate pledge the UK has ever made, he said. Against the backdrop of UK media revelations over the weekend of the arrest of a parliamentary researcher on suspicion of spying for China, Sunak told MPs that he met Premier Li Qiang on the margins of the summit in New Delhi to condemn such actions. "I was emphatic with Premier Li that actions that seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable and will never be tolerated. I also emphasised the UKs unyielding commitment to human rights, and I was clear on the importance of maintaining stability and international law as the basis for stable relations, he said. During questions raised by members of Parliament, Sunak was asked about the case of British Sikh activist Jagtar Johal who is lodged in an Indian jail on serious charges. The British prime minister confirmed that he had raised the matter during his talks with the Indian counterpart and that the UK "remains committed to seeing a resolution to the case. The COVID-19 air travel doldrums in Omaha may finally be over. About 468,000 travelers passed through Eppley Airfield in July, 2,000 or 0.4% more than in the same month in 2019. Thats the first time traffic has exceeded levels from before the pandemic, said Steve McCoy, chief information and development officer for the Omaha Airport Authority. The terminal and the parking garage feel more like they did before the pandemic, McCoy said. Its really an indication that travel is back. The nationwide shutdown that followed the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 inflicted a massive shock on the entire airline industry. At Eppley, air traffic dropped to near zero that month, and recovered slowly. Even in early 2021, after the introduction of COVID vaccines, the number of departing passengers numbered about 80,000, less than half of pre-pandemic levels. The number of total passengers (arriving and departing) dropped from 5 million in 2019 to 2.1 million in 2020. The figure rose to 3.7 million in 2021 and 4.5 million in 2022, according to the Airport Authority. Its coming back quicker than a lot of people thought it would back in 2020, said Steve Vlasek, director of the Aviation Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. People want to be out there flying, whether its for pleasure or work. Eppleys traffic follows trends that are being seen across the airline industry, both nationally and internationally. North American travel was up 2% in June over the level four years earlier based on revenue passenger kilometers, an international travel metric, said Perry Flint, a U.S. spokesperson for the International Airline Transport Association, an industry trade group. July and August figures havent yet been compiled. It certainly aligns with what were seeing, Flint said. The flights are fuller. The airports are fuller. You cant miss it. McCoy said the announced addition of two new nonstop Sun Belt destinations from Eppley reflects the post-pandemic bounce back, especially in holiday travel. Allegiant an airline geared toward vacationers in June added twice-weekly seasonal flights to Austin, Texas, through November. And Southwest Airlines plans to begin winter-season flights to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in January. Leisure travel has rebounded quicker than business travel, McCoy said. These are indicators of that strong leisure demand. The resurgence in traffic has happened even though the number of daily flights at Eppley is less than before the pandemic. McCoy said the airlines have managed that by flying larger planes in and out of Omaha. For example, Southwest Airlines, Eppleys largest carrier, has replaced some older 737-700 jets, which carry 143 passengers, with newer 737-800 and 737 MAX aircraft, with a capacity of 175. Overall, he said, the average number of seats per Eppley departure has risen from 108 to 134 since July 2019, a 20% increase. Were seeing more types of larger aircraft, McCoy said. Omaha-area travelers returning to Eppley for the first time since the pre-COVID days may see some differences at their hometown airport, which is now embarked on a modernization plan that is expected to run through at least 2027. In 2019, the Airport Authority opened the new North Parking Garage, the beginning of a major overhaul and expansion of airport parking facilities. Then last year, the airport wrapped up the expansion of the terminal entrance road and the construction of a new ramp to the South Parking Garage, which was also refurbished. Earlier this summer, work began on a $65 million project to cover the passenger drop-off area with a glass canopy. Still ahead: construction next year of a new $92.5 million power plant, and a $600 million terminal expansion that will merge the two concourses into one, move ticket counters upstairs, and nearly double the size of the terminal. The project is now in the design phase. All this will accommodate a return to what McCoy describes as slow, steady growth at Nebraskas largest airport. The return to pre-pandemic traffic is considered a milestone in that comeback. For Eppley to be back to its pre-pandemic mark is tremendous, Vlasek said. Things are getting back to normal-ish. Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante showed up at the homes of two of his former colleagues Saturday night, police say. The convicted killer, who escaped from Pennsylvania's Chester County Prison on August 31, first went to the East Pikeland Township home of someone he worked with several years ago, the AP reports. That was a little before 10pm and the person was not home; Cavalcante then went to the Phoenixville home of another former work associate shortly after 10pm, but that person was also not home. Police got images of Cavalcante's changed appearance from doorbell videos at those homes. Police say he got to that area, more than 20 miles from the original search area, by stealing a delivery van that was unlocked with the keys inside at Baily's Dairy, about three-quarters of a mile outside the northern perimeter of that search area. Police acknowledged that due to underground tunnels and drainage ditches in the area, it was impossible to fully secure the original search perimeter. By Sunday morning, the van had been abandoned in a field about 15 miles west of Phoenixville, and authorities warned that he would likely try to steal another vehicle, CNN reports. Locals were being asked to secure their houses and vehicles. Meanwhile, the prison guard who was on duty when Cavalcante escaped and somehow failed to notice it has been fired. (Read more Pennsylvania stories.) Naloxone, the opioid overdose-reversing drug, was used not on a human but on a puppy in southern California last week. Irvine police officers say the pit bull puppy appeared to have been exposed to fentanyl and recovered quickly after the drug, also known as Narcan, was administered via nasal spray, ABC7 reports. During what began as a "consensual" encounter with a couple in a Walmart parking lot Wednesday, a police spokesperson says, "Then the female said, 'Oh, I think my dog is overdosing.' She knew the symptoms because it was the second time the dog had overdosed." The 8-week-old pup was in the backseat of the couple's car, and police say fentanyl was discovered there and the pair was arrested, the Los Angeles Times reports. Police drove them and their dog to the station, where the naloxone was administered, and the dog was also checked out by a vet. As for where the fentanyl came from, "Maybe it was a baggie on the ground of the car; we really don't know," the spokesperson says. "If they're using drugs in their car, we can only speculate." The couple is expected to be charged with felony animal cruelty and possession of narcotics. As for whether they'll get their dog back, the pup, which is fully recovered, remains in city custody and a hearing on the matter will be held. (Read more California stories.) An Australian man trying to help a friend who was being attacked by a snake ended up dead when the snake bit him. Authorities say the two men were at Koumala State School in Queensland, for an event celebrating the school's 100th anniversary Saturday night, when the snake coiled around one man's leg. The second man attempted to remove it and ended up getting bit on the arm in the process, 9News reports. "There was a rapid call for an ambulance and bystanders performed CPR immediately as the man collapsed," an official with the Queensland Ambulance Service says, but the second man, age 69, was already in cardiac arrest by the time paramedics arrived, the Guardian reports. Somewhere in Germany, a Russian by the name of Vadim Krasikov is serving out his life sentence for the brazen execution of a man in a Berlin park crowded with families in 2019. As the Wall Street Journal reports, after Krasikov calmly shot his victim multiple times, he bicycled away, removed his wig by a nearby river, shaved his beard, changed his clothes, threw his gun into the water, and rode off on an electric scooter planted there by accomplicesa scene straight out of a spy thriller. It's no wonder: Before his capture and conviction, Krasikov worked as an assassin for Russia, and the man he shot had been been on a Kremlin wanted list because he was a Chechen insurgent leader. And now, as the headline on the story by Bojan Pancevski and Alan Cullison puts it, "Putin wants his hit man back." Drew Barrymore was one of the first actors to make headlines when the Writers Guild of America went on strike, dropping out as host of the MTV Movie & TV Awards in solidarity with the striking screenwriters. But now she's explaining a controversial decision: Despite the fact that not only the WGA but the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is now also on strike, her talk show, which was on its summer hiatus when the strikes began, will launch its fourth season as planned. "I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind," Barrymore posted on Instagram. "We launched live in a global pandemic. Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time." More details, and the fallout, below: UPDATE Sep 12, 2023 2:31 AM CDT North Korea's Kim Jong Un arrived in Russia on Tuesday for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin where they are expected to offer each other increased support in their escalating standoffs with the West, the AP reports. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim boarded his personal train bound for Russia on Sunday afternoon, accompanied by members of the ruling party, government, and military. Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as confirming Kim had entered Russia, and reported that his train had crossed the Razdolnaya River, north of Vladivostok. Putin arrived in Vladivostok Monday to attend an international forum that runs through Wednesday; Peskov said Putin and Kim will meet after the Vladivostok forum, but the reports didn't specify when or where. Sep 11, 2023 6:43 AM CDT A North Korean train presumably carrying leader Kim Jong Un has departed for Russia for a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Korean media said Monday. Citing unidentified South Korean government sources, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that the train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening, and that a Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday, per the AP. The Yonhap news agency and other media published similar reports. Japan's Kyodo news agency cited Russian officials as saying that Kim was possibly heading for Russia in his personal train. South Korea's presidential office, Defense Ministry, and National Intelligence Service didn't immediately confirm those details. Ian Wilmut, the cloning pioneer whose work was critical to the creation of Dolly the sheep in 1996, has died at age 79. The University of Edinburgh in Scotland said Wilmut died Sunday of Parkinson's disease, per the AP . Wilmut ignited a global discussion about the ethics of cloning when he announced that his team at the university's Roslin Institute for animal biosciences had cloned a lamb using the nucleus of a cell from an adult sheep. Initially referred to as "6LL3" in the academic paper describing the work, the lamb was later named Dolly, after the singer Dolly Parton. The lamb's cloning was the first time scientists were able to coax a mature adult cell into behaving like a cell from a newly fertilized embryo in order to create a genetically identical animal. While Dolly's creation was heralded as a revolution by some scientists, it unnerved many, with critics calling such experiments unethical. The year after Dolly's creation, US President Bill Clinton imposed a ban on the use of federal funds for human cloning but stopped short of banning all cloning research. Dolly's creation prompted other scientists to clone animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and bulls. Dolly also spurred questions about the potential cloning of humans and extinct species. In recent years, scientists have proposed bringing back the woolly mammoth by using a mix of gene editing and cloning. Dolly's creation was part of a broader project by scientists to create genetically modified sheep that could produce therapeutic proteins in their milk. About six years after Dolly's birth, the sheep was euthanized by scientists after she developed an incurable lung tumor. Wilmut, a trained embryologist, later focused on using cloning techniques to make stem cells that could be used in regenerative medicine. His work was critical to research that aims to treat genetic and degenerative diseases by helping the body repair damaged tissue. The Roslin Institute said Wilmut was knighted in 2008 and retired from the university in 2012. He later researched Parkinson's disease after he was diagnosed with the condition, it said. (Read more Ian Wilmut stories.) Police in Las Vegas say a local rapper made their murder investigation easier by essentially confessing to the crime in one of his songs, reports the Washington Post . Kenjuan McDaniel, 25, has been charged with murder in the 2021 shooting of 32-year-old Randall Wallace, says the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a news release . "I be the reason why he's dead, we still taunt him when he die, not the reason he's dead, so celebrate the reason why his mama cry," raps McDaniel under his name of "TheBiggestFinn 4800" on the song "Fadee Free" on YouTube. As 8NewsNow reports, the rap video is just one piece of evidence against McDaniel. But it was remarkable enough that police cited it in the arrest report. "Kenjuan re-enacted Randall's murder, which was consistent with evidence at the scene," it reads. Police also noted that McDaniel referred to the victim as "Midget," which was Wallace's nickname. One section of the song goes, "... parked the car, doubled back on feet, the smartest way to slide, Drove in, double lock yo man ..." The song came out July 19 of this year, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and investigators say it includes details of the killing that were not made public. McDaniel already had been a person of interest in the case because his car matches the description of one seen on surveillance video. He is currently being held in the Clark County Detention Center. "The facts gathered during the investigation were obtained separately from the music video," said police in the warrant. "The music video further validated the results of the investigation." (Read more Las Vegas stories.) This story has been updated with Biden's remarks. From ground zero to small towns, Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with moments of silence, tearful words, and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks 22 years before. President Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. "We know that on this day, every American's heart was wounded," Biden said. "Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal communityAmerican hands went up, ready to help where they could." Biden, who was en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, became the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in the western US. Biden and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though George W. Bush and Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Warning of a rise in extremism and political violence, Biden told service members and their families that that "every generation has to fight" to preserve US democracy. "That's why the terrorists targeted us in the first placeour freedom, our openness, our institutions. They failed. But we must remain vigilant," he said. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined New York politicians and mourners at a memorial ceremony Monday. Ground zero has long been off-limits for politics on Sept. 11 and instead of remarks from political figures, the event featured victims reading the names of the dead and delivering brief personal messages, the AP reports. Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked first responders and the military. One lauded the Navy SEALs who killed al-Qaeda leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. story continues below Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 "War on Terror." And many shared reflections on missing loved ones. "Though we never met, I am honored to carry your name and legacy with me," said Manuel Joao DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died. Across the country, many Americans did volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Others gathered for anniversary events at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses, and elsewhere. (Read more 9/11 anniversary stories.) Sports betting website DraftKings has apologized for a 9/11-themed parlay it promoted on the eve of the 22nd anniversary of the attacks. The parlay "Never Forget: Bet these New York teams to win tonight on 9/11" appeared in a tweet Sunday night and remained up for hours, the Boston Globe reports. Screenshots on Awful Announcing showed commenters slamming the "absolutely INSANE" parlay and wondering when it would be taken down. The parlay involved the New York Mets, New York Giants, and New York Yankees. The Mets are playing in New York City on Monday, while the Yankees are playing in Boston, where two of the planes hijacked on 9/11 had taken off, the Globe notes. The Giants are playing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, close to Newark International Airport, which another hijacked plane departed. "We sincerely apologize for the featured parlay that was shared briefly in commemoration of 9/11," DraftKings said in a statement after the tweet was taken down. "We respect the significance of this day for our country and especially for the families of those who were directly affected." Bret Eagleson, who runs the 9/11 Justice organization for families and first responders, tells the AP that the promotion was "tone-deaf." "It is shameful to use the national tragedy of 9/11 to promote a business," says Eagleson, whose father was killed in the World Trade Center. "We need accountability, justice, and closure, not self-interest and shameless promotion." (Read more 9/11 anniversary stories.) More and more people want to eat clean and green - and Amy's Kitchen is so here for it. According to the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic food in the U.S. have more than doubled in the past decade. Hungry Americans are "voting with their dollar and every time they pick a company that's doing something a little bit better for the world and their community and for their environment, they are changing the world through that action," said Amy's Kitchen President Paul Schiefer on an episode of the "Responsibly Different" podcast. Amy's mantra is "Organic before organic was cool." But the vegetarian frozen food enterprise is ready to rock as the world catches up. It makes sense for a brand born more than three decades ago with a simple vegetarian potpie that grew into an empire sold in 11 countries and produces 1 million meals a day. But back when Amy's Kitchen started, organic foods were not only challenging to find, but there was no national standard for "organic." My, how times have changed. Amy's Kitchen landed its B Corp certification in 2020 - it's only awarded to companies demonstrating the highest standards of social and environmental performance. But even in 2023, not everyone understands the nuances between traditional agriculture and organic agriculture. Amy's Kitchen's Schiefer explained that the distinctions are significant. "In its most basic sense, organic [is] really avoiding the use of over 700 toxic chemicals that are traditionally used in farming or the production of food. It's a regulated system," Schiefer said on "Responsibly Different." Amy's Kitchen is part of the history of organic growth in the States. Says its website, "We were organic before it was a national certification. So when the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to create standards for organic, they looked to us for guidance. Together with other industry leaders, we helped pioneer the organic food industry and, more importantly, we helped make organic food available to more people." Amy's Kitchen currently offers 124 vegan meals, 140 gluten-free options, 28 light-in-sodium foods, and more than 200 kosher-certified products. All of its products are non-GMO. Amy's Kitchen was also one of the initial brands to hit store shelves with non-BPA lined cans. According to the Mayo Clinic, BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used in plastics and resins since the 1950s. Exposure to BPA could cause possible health effects in the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children and is linked to other health concerns. Schiefer said Amy's Kitchen made a commitment to choosing what's best for its customers. He added that back in 1987, the team got together and decided to forge a new path. "We said, 'We believe in a different form of agriculture, but we want a standard and we want something that we can look to that's objective, that we can communicate about, that we can use as we try to transition our supply chain to this vision that we all had.'" Farming Freshness: Amy's Kitchen Keeps Standards High Schiefer pointed out that the company noticed this form of farming was happening in a variety of smaller-scale localized ways in different communities and different pockets of the country. "We, together with a bunch of certifiers and other food companies, came together and we helped create this national organic program which created the organic seal and created the rules of the road about how you farm without the use of all these chemicals," Schiefer said. "And those could be pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers." Still confused? Schiefer laid it out in simpler terms as a nature-based system. "When you don't have that chemical arsenal to take out all the bugs and create a monoculture system to farming, you have to look at soil health, you have to look at non chemical techniques like crop rotation and selecting really highly resistant varieties of plants using nutrient waste management in effective ways," Schiefer said. "In some ways, while traditional ag might try to just get rid of any living thing, that's not what the plant wants, we actually want living things. We want the enemies of our pests in the field. If you're just taking it all out, you take it all out. So we're trying to create a nature-based system, something that's actually biologically complete as much as possible. It's also GMO-free, which is something I think a lot of consumers are looking for." Schiefer said the organic certification process can also be complex. "I don't know if the broader world understands how accountable organic is," he said. "Every farm, every process or every step goes through annual third-party certifications where their practices are looked at in depth, their paperwork, how they actually operate and keep policies, and it's being done at scale." While he acknowledged there are some interesting small-scale ideas out there, none of them are working on a national or global level in the way that organic is. "I think it's something that really works," Schiefer shared. "For us, is it perfect? No. Is there room to improve it? Yes. But I think in terms of something that you can go out and guarantee is doing a certain set of things, there's nothing else like organic out there in the ag space today." Sowing the Seeds of Change Much like the art of farming, the standards surrounding organic certification don't remain stagnant. "It's designed to be evolving and forever changing," Schiefer said. "The world is changing. The climate's changing. What we know about ag science is changing. So it's very much designed to allow for accountable continuous improvement." Schiefer said the foundation for organic certification is set through the National Organic Standards Board. "Most of the rules around organic come through this board and this board is made up of academic stakeholders, farming stakeholders, brands," Schiefer explained. "Any standards board, they assess the evidence on both sides of a particular suggestion or idea. And if it has merit, if it fits the founding values and intention of organic, then they'll pass it forward and then the National Organic Program, which sits within the [U.S. Department of Agriculture], will look at those recommendations and if they do their job the way they're supposed to, they will turn those into rules." Schiefer admitted the road to organic could move more quickly and involve more accountability. "A lot of what we're asking for is actually to make organic more robust and a more difficult standard because we think that's really what it needs to fully live up to the value system that we're all behind," Schiefer said. "So, the process is there, but I think we would appreciate as an industry a little quicker use of the process that is supposed to be helping us with this evolution." 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. A motorcycle crash on a deserted road. A cardiac arrest at a far-flung farm in a rural county. A farming equipment accident. A pregnant woman goes into unexpected labor at a small hamlet away from population centers. When these emergency medical scenarios happen in rural communities across North Dakota, local volunteer first responders are often the first on the scene, the first to provide medical attention, and the first to get patients to a hospital. Many of these services are in trouble, however. A lack of volunteers and younger staff willing to commit the time and energy needed to the profession, the challenge of recruiting and retaining paramedics, and a constant uncertainty about funding at a time of increasing costs threatens the sustainability of many services. Legislation was recently approved for mandating and funding ambulance districts, but it is too early to understand how much of an impact the rules will have. Andrew Berkey, operations manager of Jamestown Area Ambulance Ringdahl EMS, said hes been short-staffed for at least the past six months. Costs have also continued to skyrocket. Thats led to increased workload both for himself and his remaining staff and threatens the operability of the service. Were in a really scary place, Berkey said. Staffing plus equipment costs for a service of two people operating an ambulance available 24 hours a day, seven days a week ranges from between $700,000 to around $1 million annually, according to a study led by Yvonne Jonk at the University of Southern Maine. Its very hard to pay paramedics and EMTs what theyre worth and keep your doors open, Berkey said. Costs for a new ambulance have also doubled in the past several years from around $100,000 to over $200,000, Berkey said. Ambulance deserts Jonk, who also recently released a study looking at what are called ambulance deserts -- or areas where it takes 25 minutes or longer for an ambulance to arrive on scene -- said North Dakota has one of the lowest rates for ambulances per square mile, but one of the highest rates of ambulances per 100,000 residents. The problem is that theyre so danged spread out that its hard to provide adequate coverage in a state thats so sparsely populated, Jonk said. All counties across the state have at least one area that would be considered an ambulance desert, according to the study. North Dakota also joins other Western states of Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming as states where there are fewer than three ambulances per 1,000 square miles. Jonk said the low volume, high cost operations predominately in rural areas are under threat due to increasing costs. She said her study found the breakeven amount for a response can range from $1,000 to $41,000. You know, it's like, there's no way they're going to be reimbursed $41,000 to bring somebody to the hospital and they're only reimbursed if they bring somebody to the hospital, Jonk said. Jonk is working on another study that looks at the numbers of paramedics available in rural areas and survival rates related to cardiac arrest, and expects those numbers are also going to show a widespread shortage. If youre having a heart attack you want a paramedic, as opposed to an EMT, because they all know what to do, Jonk said. Survival rates will definitely be higher amongst those services that have a paramedic on board. Chasity Dixon, who works as a paramedic with the Community Ambulance Service Rolla, said that rural services that dont have paramedics lose out on revenue generated from transferring patients between hospitals. It helps fix staffing problems and helps with revenue so you can pay people to be available, Dixon said of the need of having a paramedic on staff. Essential services While most would consider ambulance services as essential for community health, they are not staffed and funded like other services -- police, many fire departments, garbage collection, road plowing and maintenance. They can sometimes go a week without a call. Other weeks theyll have calls daily. Ambulance services are not considered essential services, Dixon said. Even when its the cops that are down, it is us that are coming to take care of them so youd think that wed be essential services, but were not. James Owen, president and an EMT at Gackle Ambulance Service, said the service has been running with a skeleton crew for years and is in constant need for EMTs and drivers, but accessing that workforce has been problematic. Long term we need to recruit and get younger individuals involved in serving and volunteering, Owen said. Cory Schwarz, vice president of the Gackle service, said there appears to be an erosion of values and community service among the younger generation that remains in the area. I think the biggest issue with trying to get younger people is they're just not interested, Schwarz said. They think, well, somebody else will take care of it. Somebody else will do it. So I don't have to worry about it. Lindsey Narloch, a project manager at the North Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association (NDEMSA), said that while rural ambulance services have long been built on the backs of volunteers, this has been changing as society changes. Now most households have two people working. Farms have become bigger, leaving fewer people. Many work in other cities and live in rural or frontier cities so there may be no one to cover during the work week hours, where before an employer in town would let the EMT leave, she said. Other ambulance crew members also mentioned challenges from their regular employers not allowing as much flexibility as they had in the past as well as petty local politics that disrupts continuity of services. Promise of 1365 Potential exists, however, for beefing up rural ambulance services and making them more essential in the state. Rural ambulance services are compensated through medical insurance claims, some mill levy proceeds and by fundraising and donations. House Bill 1365, passed by legislators earlier this year, will require areas to form rural ambulance districts and give them the ability to levy a local tax after approval from voters to help support that service, practitioners say. Adam Parker, advocacy chair for NDEMSA, said the measure could dramatically change the landscape for rural emergency medical services by mandating the formation of ambulance districts. These districts will be able to levy taxes to support the districts, if approved by the local voters, to support a sustainable EMS program for the district, Parker said. There is a lot of work to be done over the next two years to establish districts across the state and solidify an infrastructure that will serve North Dakotans long into the future. Sean Roed, a paramedic and director of operations at the Lake Region Ambulance Service, said his team has already started working on formulating a tax district board. He said he hopes the bill can make ambulance services in the state more of a profession and an essential service. So by June of next year well be on the ballot, and then, if things are voted right and in our favor, by January 2025 well have additional funding. Filling training gaps Another aspect of rural ambulance services that often takes additional time and energy from volunteers and essential workers is the need to constantly refresh skills and meet certification requirements. This was something that didnt exist a few decades ago when most ambulance services were tasked simply with transferring people to a medical facility without rendering life-saving aid. Not only is some of the training time consuming, rural ambulance workers often have to travel distances to attend classes if theyre not available online. One service that has helped fill this gap is Simulation in Motion or SIM-ND mobile labs, administered through a project at the University of North Dakota. Mobile labs provide free certification training on lifelike mannequins transported throughout the state to critical access hospitals, rural ambulance services and others such as law enforcement. These mobile labs provide crying, breathing, talking mannequins ranging from adults, to children and infants, as well as soon-to-be mothers on the verge of labor. This was based on work that we did that showed needs such as taking care of heart attack patients, precipitous deliveries when they usually dont do many deliveries, farm accidents and that kind of thing, said Jon Allen, director of the UND SMHS Sim Center & SIM-ND Mobile Simulation. Jessi Nicola, administrator of the program, said a primary goal of the program is to provide free training to medical personnel where they are due to a variety of challenges faced in rural areas. A lot of those places dont have a lot of people, so you cant really give up your only ambulance driver or your only EMT in that area just to go to training, Nicola said. So we try to come to them and give them up to date training with staff who are experienced. FARGO North Dakota is positioning to play a role in bringing back long-extinct species like the woolly mammoth and dodo bird as a company on a mission makes plans to come to the state. Colossal Biosciences is planning to establish a presence in North Dakota, drawn by its "business-friendly environment," emerging biotechnology sector and a northern climate that offers suitable habitat for species like the woolly mammoth. The North Dakota Development Fund, an investment vehicle for the North Dakota Department of Commerce to promote economic development, has made a $3 million equity investment in Texas-based Colossal Biosciences. "North Dakota is really interesting for our future," Ben Lamm, Colossal Biosciences' CEO, told The Forum. "There's a lot of really great reasons why North Dakota should be a hub for us." North Dakota's northern latitude and comparatively chilly climate is a big draw, Lamm said. "We don't plan to do any animal husbandry around Dallas or Boston," two cities where the company has a major presence, he said, whereas North Dakota has ample grassland and favorable weather. "Our long-term goal is rewilding species," a term for reintroducing extinct species to their native habitats, Lamm said. "We want to make North Dakota part of our framework of states that can be helpful with that." Welcome back, woolly mammoth Of particular interest to the company are a woolly mammoth tusk and bones recently found at a lignite mine in North Dakota owned by North American Coal. The fossils are in the paleontology laboratory at the North Dakota Heritage Center for restoration and preservation work. Lamm viewed the specimens while in Bismarck, which he said include a well-preserved tusk, some ribs, a femur and shoulder bones. "There was some tissue that was found with them, as I understand it," he said. "It's in great condition." He credited the crew from North American Coal's Coteau Mine, which found the five-foot tusk while digging in predawn darkness and immediately stopped work so the specimen could be excavated and preserved. Teams were immediately dispatched to evaluate the discovery, which Lamm said was "awesome." North American Coal wasn't immediately available to comment on the find, which was confirmed by Josh Teigen, North Dakota's commerce commissioner. DNA can be collected from teeth and certain bones, as well as well-preserved tissue. "We aren't going to raise mammoths in Texas," Lamm said. "We have to have other locations." Colossal Biosciences is working with the University of Alaska in Fairbanks on mammoth education. DNA specimens from mammoths come predominantly from Siberia. "There hasn't been enough research, in my opinion, in North America," Lamm said, including a population genome map that perhaps could include specimens from North Dakota. Millions on hand North Dakota is a "super business-friendly state," Lamm said, adding, "There's a lot that the state has to offer." The North Dakota Development Fund, whose board unanimously approved the $3 million investment on Aug. 22, joined investors that include major venture capital firms, as well as celebrities. Celebrity investors include Paris Hilton, Tony Robbins and actor-brothers Chris, Liam and Luke Hemsworth. The CIA's venture capital arm, In-Q-Tel, also is an investor. As of January, the most recent public figures available, Colossal Biosciences had raised at least $225 million from investors. Last year, Colossal invested $30 million to spin off an independent company, Form Bio, which combines software specialists, life scientists and data scientists. The technologies Colossal Biosciences is using to bring back extinct species also can be used for species preservation and applied to genetic medicine, Lamm said. "We are expanding and pushing the boundaries on genetic engineering and synthetic biology, and a lot of that has implications for human health care," he said. Although Lamm said he is optimistic humans will do a better job of ensuring the survival of threatened species, he said Colossal Biosciences is working with collaborators to step in, if necessary. "Right now, we're on a path to lose 50% of all biodiversity between now and 2050," he said. As part of its species preservation "backup plan," Colossal is collecting cell lines, tissue samples, sperm and eggs and performing full genetic sequencing and population studies of endangered species. 'Most unusual, most unique' The deal with Colossal Biosciences gives North Dakota an exciting opportunity to be involved in resurrecting extinct species and helping to restore ecosystems, Teigen said. "We also like the return potential and economic potential to the state," he said. "I think it's hard to say what the future will look like." The partnership with Colossal Biosciences stands out among companies North Dakota has recruited to the state, he said. "I think it's the most unusual, most unique," Teigen said, adding it will help draw attention to what North Dakota has to offer. "Any time you're at the cutting edge of innovation, there's going to be some curiosity there." Colossal Biosciences' presence in North Dakota will help to highlight the state's emerging biotechnology sector, which includes firms such as Aldevron, Genovac and Agothos, all based in Fargo, he said. "There's an incredible biotech sector here," Lamm said. Investor Kevin O'Leary of "Shark Tank" fame played the role of matchmaker by putting the North Dakota Department of Commerce in touch with Colossal Biosciences, Teigen said. O'Leary oversees Wonder Fund North Dakota, a program that consists of $45 million in taxpayer dollars to invest in growing businesses based in the state. Lamm, an entrepreneur who has a background in computer technology including artificial intelligence, joined forces with co-founder George Church, a pioneer in using what's called the CRISPR cell- and gene-editing tool, to form Colossal Biosciences, based in Dallas. After launching in 2021, Colossal Biosciences announced plans to bring back the extinct woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger. The pair launched the venture after Lamm met with Church, a geneticist at Harvard University's Wyss Institute, where he leads synthetic biology research. Church is a professor at both Harvard and MIT, as well as a member of the National Academy of Sciences. "Methods for reading and writing DNA are helping make Earth a healthier place to live, medically and environmentally," Church said in a statement earlier this year. "Genetic technologies are already protecting us and our food sources from infectious and inherited diseases," he said. "A society embracing endangered and extinct gene variants is one poised to address many practical obstacles and opportunities in carbon sequestration, nutrition and new materials. I am pleased with our company's progress across multiple vertebrate species." Church is credited with creating the first direct genomic sequencing method in the 1980s and later helped launch the Human Genome Project. That project identified, mapped and sequenced all the genes of the human genome and is widely regarded as one of the greatest scientific feats in history. Teigen first met Church a decade ago, visiting him in his office, where he said it was scientifically possible at the time to resurrect the woolly mammoth. "I sat in his office at Harvard a decade ago and talked about this," Teigen said. Lamm, who traveled around North Dakota this week with a team, said the firm is evaluating North Dakota for a possible laboratory site. Colossal Biosciences has two labs each in Dallas and Boston, as well as one in Melbourne, Australia. While in Fargo, Lamm met with officials at North Dakota State University. "We're very collaborative," he said, adding that Colossal is working with expats at Harvard, Cornell, the University of Melbourne, University of California Santa Cruz, Stockholm University and the University of Potsdam. In addition to its 114 employees, Colossal is funding 30 scholars doing post-doctoral research, Lamm said. He also met with Tex Hall, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation. Colossal is interested in Native American oral tradition and perspectives. "We're looking for their guidance," he said. To carry out its ambitious "de-extinction" mission for the woolly mammoth, Colossal has assembled a team of more than 40 scientists and three laboratories engaged in fields including computational biology, cell and genome engineering, stem cell biology, embryology, protein engineering and "assistive" reproductive technologies. The company's goal is to bring the woolly mammoth back to life sometime in 2028, Lamm said. "We're still very confident," he said. Date: October 20, 2023 - January 7, 2024 Venue: Lee-Chin Family Gallery, Art Gallery of Burlington Opening Reception: Member, Media, and VIP: Friday, October 20, 5:30 6:30 pm Public Opening: Friday, October 20, 6:30 8:00 pm Burlington, ON, Sept. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - The Art Gallery of Burlington is thrilled to announce the unveiling of a hidden gem within the city's vibrant art scene. Sybil Atteck (1911-1975), an iconic Trinidadian artist whose legacy has left an indelible mark on the world of art, will be featured in an extraordinary exhibition from October 20, 2023, to January 7, 2024. Sybil Atteck Exhibit, Art Gallery of Burlington, 2023 (CNW Group/Art Gallery of Burlington) Bringing together the life's work of Sybil Atteck for the first time in Canada, this exhibition is made possible through the generous contribution of her nephew Keith Atteck, who has meticulously researched and amassed a diverse collection of her work and archives, and Suzanne Carte, the AGB's Senior Curator. The exhibition is a journey through time, exploring the profound impact of Atteck's artistic prowess across family, history, and aesthetics. Sybil Atteck's story is one of art, dedication, and perseverance. Her artistic journey began with an early appreciation for various creative forms, from music and embroidery to Carnival costume design. Over the course of her life, she mastered a range of artistic techniques, from Realism to Expressionism, and worked across media such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, crayons, ink, and sculpture. Atteck's artistic journey took her across continents, studying under renowned artists like Max Beckmann and leaving her mark on prestigious institutions. She played a crucial role in the founding of the Trinidad Art Society and exhibited internationally, all while breaking barriers for women in the art world during an era of significant societal change. The exhibition showcases rarely seen works from Atteck's collection, including paintings, drawings, and archival materials spanning from the 1930s to the 1970s. Her rich and diverse body of work tells the story of her evolving artistic style and the profound impact she had on the art community. The Art Gallery of Burlington shares a strong connection with Sybil Atteck's commitment to art education. The gallery's dedication to fostering artistic development resonates with Atteck's values, making it an ideal venue for this remarkable exhibition. Through classes, workshops, and tours, the AGB continues to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and artistic exploration. Keith Atteck's tireless efforts to preserve and celebrate his aunt's legacy have culminated in this extraordinary exhibition. As an archivist and detective, he has unearthed a treasure trove of previously unknown and undocumented works, reviews, catalogues, and photographs. His dedication has provided invaluable insights into Sybil Atteck's life and career, shedding light on the breadth of her contributions to the art world. The Art Gallery of Burlington invites art enthusiasts, historians, and the public to experience the captivating journey of Sybil Atteck's artistry, from October 20, 2023, to January 7, 2024. The opening reception, held on Friday, October 20, will be a celebration of artistic achievement, community, and the enduring legacy of an extraordinary artist. The exhibition is supported by a chorus of compelling talks, lectures, and tours as well as courses, workshops, and outreach programs for all ages exploring narrative construction through painting, drawing, and printmaking. Visit our website for more information, and to learn how to take part. Registration is required for all public programs, visit www.agb.life to reserve your spot. For exhibition details and visitor information, please visit: agb.life About Art Gallery of Burlington: The Art Gallery of Burlington is a premier cultural institution dedicated to fostering artistic growth, education, and appreciation within the community. With a commitment to nurturing diverse talents and promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration, the AGB is a vibrant hub for artistic engagement and exploration. Through exhibitions, classes, and events, the AGB strives to enrich lives through the power of art. The AGB is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and the Canada Council for the Arts.AGB's learning programming has been generously supported by The Burlington Foundation and the incite Foundation for the Arts. The AGB is proud to acknowledge that the land where it is located is part of the ancient Dish With One Spoon Treaty and is part of the Brant Tract Purchase, Treaty No. 3 3/4 of 1795, and we are grateful to the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River for sharing this territory. The Art Gallery of Burlington is located at 1333 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, Ontario. SOURCE Art Gallery of Burlington For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Genevieve Wright, Head of Digital Marketing, [email protected], 905-632-7796 x 304 SAUGEEN FIRST NATION, ON, Sept. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - eSupply Canada, a national Indigenous-owned distributor specializing in business and industrial supplies, is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its mission to enhance Indigenous economic development. The company has received a non-dilutive investment of more than $1 million from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). This strategic investment will help drive job creation and the development of an innovative revenue generation platform for Indigenous communities to address economic leakage and participate in local supply chains and national procurement. Established in 2020, eSupply Canada was founded with the vision of providing Indigenous communities, industries, governments and Canadians with an Indigenous alternative to big-box retailers. With the support from FedDev Ontario, eSupply Canada will launch a tech-enabled revenue generation platform tailored for Indigenous communities, offering access to an extensive catalogue of over 1.2 million products spanning office supplies, janitorial supplies, technology, and industrial suppliesall the supplies communities, businesses and governments need to operate. "Today's announcement celebrates the incredible potential of an Indigenous-led business, eSupply Canada. This support helps them grow and enables them to provide meaningful opportunities for Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs. The Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous businesses and communities so they can reach their potential and create new possibilities," said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. This platform will offer communities their own branded portal that can be used to recoup revenue from internal purchases while simultaneously driving sales revenue through direct and online sales and national procurement efforts, thereby addressing both economic leakage and reconciliation. Notably, the platform's dropship model eliminates the need for communities to hold inventory or warehouse products, as everything is fulfilled through eSupply Canada and its supply chain. Steven Vanloffeld, CEO of eSupply Canada, expressed his enthusiasm for the project at the funding announcement. "This investment arrives at a pivotal moment when industry, governments, and Canadians are actively seeking ways to participate in reconciliation," said Vanloffeld. "Through our platform, we create a digital bridge for Indigenous communities and Canadians to join forces and drive economic reconciliation forward. The platform is slated to launch in the fall of 2023. " With this Government of Canada investment, eSupply Canada will offer the base subscription of the platform free of charge to all Indigenous communities across Canada. Additionally, the Government of Canada investment will support the creation of eight new jobs to manage the company's growth and ensure Indigenous communities receive the necessary support to successfully operate their portals. About eSupply eSupply Canada is a national Indigenous-owned distributor of business and industrial supplies. We streamline the purchase of goods across multiple product categories through a convenient one-stop-shop e-commerce portal, providing industries, governments and Canadians with an Indigenous alternative to big-box retailers. About FedDev Ontario For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada's most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario's Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE eSupply Canada For further information: For media inquiries or additional information, please contact: Ana Fernandez, eSupply Canada, [email protected], (866) 559-2233 x 1002; Edward Hutchinson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, [email protected] There are many people who have the opinion about interstellar travel being impossible. They are looking at our current immature economy and immature space capability. They then extrapolate about some one off interstellar mission. We need to look at how humanity broke out of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea with a fleet of exploration ships. There is the current Breakthrough Starshot program to make actual hardware for the actual first missions. There is work to improve the critical hardware and systems for a tiny but capable unmanned flyby mission to Alpha or Proxima Centauri. These would be using laser arrays to send 1 gram but 1 square meter sails at up to 20% of light speed. There is not enough economic scaling and not enough economic benefits from this. I would equate this to a system of messages in a bottle on earth. Messages in a bottle are able to cross the oceans on Earth but this does not make the successful backers of the mission more economically capable. Messages in a bottle are not activities that can scale up economically. The people and nations around the Mediterranean Sea had developed active and advanced commerce in the 1300s and 1400s. The Vikings had a maximum force of 700 ships and 40,000 Viking warriors. A more conservative estimate of 300 ships with an average of 50 men each puts the expected number at 15,000 soldiers. This sizable force was still just 3% to 8% of the population of Denmark at the time. They did travel to North America around 1000 AD. According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, Leifs brother Thorvald made first contact with the natives. Thorvald and his crew were exploring the coast, likely in the Markland area, and found nine natives asleep under boats. They attacked the natives, killing eight of them, while one escaped. Shortly after, in an apparent reprisal, Thorvald was killed by a natives arrow. Later, Thorfinn Karlsefni led a group to colonize Vinland and encountered natives, who they initially traded with, but relations soured when a native was killed attempting to steal weapons from the Norse. In retaliation, the natives attacked and Karlsefni decided to abandon the colony. How do I interpret this? There needed to be a critical mass of ships. Ocean crossings seemed to need hundreds of large ships actively performing local trade or economic activity. Those large ships needed a large local economy that sustained the ships. There was a need for sustainable economic activity at the other end that brought benefits to the groups sending out the longer missions. The ocean going fleet was about 1-10% of the overall local merchant fleet. The overall merchant fleet was about 5-10% of the overall economy. Some Other Details of the State of the World 1300-1650 Around 1300, Venice began to develop the great galley of commerce, the galea grossa. It grew to carry a crew of more than 200 and weighed as much as 250 tons. These galleys took passengers and goods to Constantinople (now Istanbul), and to Alexandria in Egypt, and returned to Venice carrying luxury items. A sea route to the Indies discovered by Portugal signaled an end to the glory days of Venices merchant galleys and spice trade, but the war galleys (or fighting galleys) lived on. The war galleys were mostly manned by prisoners of war or convicts, who were chained to benches, usually three to six per oar. More than 3,000 Venetian merchant ships were in operation by the year 1450. The Portuguese caravel was a small, maneuverable sailing ship used in the 15th century. The caravel was invented by Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal for long distance trade. The caravel was used by the Portuguese to explore the West African coast and the Atlantic Ocean. The caravels main advantage was its ability to sail into the wind. The caravels rounded bottom made it faster than other vessels of its time. The caravels top speed was about 8 knots, but its average speed was 4 knots. The Age of Exploration, also known as the Age of Discovery, lasted from the early 15th century to the early 17th century. The economic factors that drove Europeans to explore were: * Improving their economy * Getting additional spices * the fur trade * Searching for minerals * Developing the European nation through cheap labor from slaves in their colonies The Age of Exploration led to the growth of capitalism. In this system, merchants gained great wealth by trading and selling goods from around the world. They could then use their profits to finance other voyages and to start trading companies. Chinas Ming Dynasty had a great treasure fleet of 300 large ships and 28000 sailors. This fleet made seven trips around Asia and collected ambassadors, projected Chinas power. However, there was not enough economic and political benefit to sustain the activity. Creating a Massive in Solar System Space Economy As I previously concluded, there needs to be large local economy that sustain a large number of ocean going capable ships. For large scale interstellar travel, there needs to be a massive in solar system space economy. There needs to be an overall large human economy. The ocean going fleet was about 1-10% of the overall local merchant fleet. The overall merchant fleet was about 5-10% of the overall economy. How would this apply to interstellar space economics? If a robust interstellar space program needs the equivalent of $10 trillion per year, then the in-solar system space economy needs to be $100 trillion to 1000 trillion per year. The overall human economy needs to be 10 to 100 times larger than the space economy or the space economy has become the majority of the overall human economy. The overall economy would need to be 100 to 10,000 times larger than it is today. The world economy did grow by 200 times from 1820 to today and it grew by 100 times from 1870 to today. The size of our GDP economy is the number of transactions times the average size of transactions we all have in a year. Moving and making things faster and cheaper means more transactions and thus more wealth. This will be a bigger impact than the internet and it is a special extension of computers. The internet and digital economies are on top of the physical world of moving and making things. Expanding and speeding the physical world expands the physical foundation of the digital world. I believe this will be the decade that starts replacing the industrial age with an exponential industrial age. Transportation will become two to three times cheaper and faster and labor will become vastly cheaper, faster and abundant. This will because of robotaxi (Tesla FSD) and humanoid robots (teslabot). The 1836-1845 rail boom and the 1911-1921 car booms were not the end of the story for rail and cars but they were clearly the strong beginning where change was established. 2023 to 2032 self-driving car and humanoid bot booms will establish the beginning of the biggest transformation in human history. [1/3] THE Decade of CHANGE https://t.co/1FHOEQxBFn via @YouTube 1836-1845 was the decade that established rail. 1911-1921 was the decade of the car and mass production. 2023-2032 will be bigger than either of those decades $TSLA #future @elonmusk @ARKInvest nextbigfuture (@nextbigfuture) August 17, 2022 Space development will explode with the Super Heavy Starship and Mechazilla launch towers. This will enable thousands of Starships flying around the world every day and every week and to orbit delivering cargo and putting up communication and other satellites. 20-30% of all global communication revenue will be provided through Starlink satellites. This will be high speed internet communication and low bandwidth satellite to cellphone communication. The global telecommunications market is estimated to be worth $3 trillion in 2023. Plasma Magnets could use variations in the structure of the solar wind to reach 2% of light speed. There is other technology that can enable fast travel around the solar system. Those technologies would need to be leveraged into a robust in solar system economy. There would need to trillions of dollars made each year from development and activities around orbit, the moon, Mars, the asteroid belts and the gravitational lensing points. The overall economic growth from 1820 to 2023 can and should be replicated. This would enable an overall human economy to be 1000 times what it is today. After establishing the SpaceX Starship economy and space activity, we would then need to go next level with affordable in solar system and near solar system travel at 2% or more of light speed. I have videos explaining how it could be possible for this (2024-2034) to be the decade of change. The decade where the true space age starts. The importance of the launch tower rocket catching to get to near airplane like operations. The ramping of SpaceX revenue. I describe how this can lead to the economic development of the solar system. Economic Model for Interstellar Exploration There needs to be sustainable economic activity at the other end that brought benefits to the groups sending out the longer missions. This might depend upon a very large human economy have the curiousity and desire to spend 0.1% or so of the overall economy getting the videos, pictures and information from a robust interstellar space development and exploration program. There are estimates that the Creator economy is $20-100 billion today. This is the Instagram, youtuber and other social media sharing of experiences. This could be on the edge of about 0.1% of the overall economy. John Gibb (aka Dr Know it All) predicted the in 2020 Cybertruck like design elements of the Tesla Next Generation car. Yesterday, the Elon Musk Biography by Walter Isaacson revealed that the Tesla executive and engineering teams have designed a cybertruck like robotaxi and next generation vehicle. John Gibb went to a first principles design for the next generation vehicle and came up with a small, inexpensive electric car. Axios has excerpts from the Elon Musk biography about the robotaxi decisions. In November 2021, Musk gathered his top five lieutenants for dinner in Austin to start brainstorming a basic, high-volume robotaxi. There is no amount that we could possibly build that will be enough, Musk said, per Isaacson. Someday we want to be at 20 million a year. For nearly a year, they debated whether to play it safe and build the car with a steering wheel and pedals, or make it truly autonomous. The gamble: Regulators might not approve an autonomous car without traditional controls. Most of Musks engineers pushed for the safer, conventional option. They had a more realistic outlook on how long it would take for Teslas Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology to be ready, Isaacson writes. A central challenge was figuring out how to design a [robotaxi] car with no steering wheel or pedals that could meet government safety standards and handle special situations. Week after week, Musk weighed in on every detail. What if someone forgets to shut the door of the Robotaxi when they get out? he asked. We have to make sure it can shut its own doors. How would a Robotaxi get into a gated community or parking garage? Maybe it needs an arm that can punch a button or take a ticket, he said. At times the conversations were so earnest and detailed they belied how wild the entire concept was. For years they had talked about what should be Teslas next-generation offering: a small, inexpensive, mass-market car selling for around $25,000. Musk himself had teased the possibility in 2020, but then he put a hold on those plans, and over the next two years he repeatedly vetoed the idea, saying that the Robotaxi would make the other car unnecessary. Nevertheless, von Holzhausen had quietly kept it alive as a shadow project in his design studio. Late on a Wednesday evening in September 2022, Musk ensconced himself in his longtime haunt, the windowless main conference room of the Fremont factory. Moravy and von Holzhausen led a few top members of the Tesla team in for a secretive meeting. They presented data showing that in order for Tesla to grow at 50 percent a year, it needed to have an inexpensive small car. The U.S. Department of Justice is the latest party to get involved in an ongoing lawsuit that seeks to restrict mail-in voting in North Dakota. The suit targets ballots that are mailed in accordance with the states current deadline which requires that all mail ballots must be postmarked by the day before Election Day but that arent received by election officials until after Election Day. The Department of Justice's argument is largely in line with other opponents of the suit, pushing back on the idea of an alleged tension between state and federal law regarding these ballots. Burleigh County Auditor Mark Splonskowski and the Public Interest Legal Foundation, which bills itself as a nonprofit dedicated to election integrity, filed the initial suit in early July against state Election Director Erika White. Splonskowski and the foundation argue that Splonskowski is forced to decide whether he follows state or federal law, because the state law allows for ballots to be counted up to 13 days after Election Day, while federal law assigns one day as Election Day. In doing so, the suit argues, he is opened up to criminal penalties because counting ballots received after Election Day would go against the notion that there is a singular day for elections. However, in a Statement of Interest filed Monday, the Department of Justice indicated that it doesnt see a conflict between federal and state laws. The U.S. Attorney Generals office is allowed to address issues that pertain to the issues of the United States in a suit pending in a court of the United States, according to the filing. The offices argument is twofold: First, that counting ballots postmarked on or before Election Day is not in violation of federal law, and second, that an absentee ballot deadline like the one North Dakota has in place, which allows for counting after Election Day, protects the rights of overseas Americans and military personnel. There is a difference between casting a ballot and counting it, the office argues, and ballots that are mailed ahead of or on Election Day constitute as being cast according to North Dakota law. The plaintiffs suit doesnt contend that there should be a deadline for counting ballots if they were received on or before Election Day, meaning they are making the incorrect assumption that North Dakota cannot include postmarking a ballot under the definition of casting a vote, according to the offices filing. The U.S. Department of Justices argument is, at its most base level, making the same claim that both the state Attorney Generals office and the North Dakota League of Women Voters have argued in previous filings, albeit following different legal approaches. When the state filed its response to the suit, it also argued that a conflict between federal and state election laws was nonexistent, instead claiming that the plaintiffs "true aim in this lawsuit is not adjudication of a true conflict, but the improper overthrow of North Dakota law." And the League, in partnership with the Campaign Legal Center, filed a motion to intervene in the suit, calling for its dismissal on similar grounds. However, the Leagues filing faced opposition from the state, which moved to dismiss the intervention on the basis that all of the Leagues concerns are covered by the states filing, as its defense is crafted with all voters in the state in mind. In response, the League pushed back Friday in a filing arguing that the state doesn't represent its interests as a voter education organization andconcerns about the suit's potential impact on its operation. As a result, the League argued, it should meet the threshold for intervention. The suit comes amid ongoing discussions about election security and integrity in North Dakota. Last week, the state Emergency Commission approved the use of over $460,000 in federal funds for ballot security moves focusing on integrity for overseas ballots, as well as accessibility for voters with disabilities. That allocation will be reviewed by the Legislative Budget Section for final approval. In addition, a group of residents is attempting to jump-start a ballot measure that looks to overhaul the states election process, most notably by severely restricting mail-in voting, eliminating the use of voting machines and eliminating the state Legislatures power to add amendments to the North Dakota constitution to a ballot. The group pulled its petition Friday due to complaints about the proposed title the Secretary of States office provided for the ballot measure, but intends to resubmit. The Public Interest Legal Foundation, which partnered with Splonskowski to file his suit, also filed voting-related suits in the wake of the 2020 election, including in Pennsylvania and Arizona, amid former President Donald Trumps unfounded claims of election fraud. The plaintiffs have until Friday to respond to the states response to their suit, as well as the League and Department of Justices filings. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers. The ban, which was imposed 10 months ago had affected activities of Nigerians who were regular visitors to the Middle East country for businesses, tourism and leisure. But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rekindled the hope of many recently when he vowed to do everything within his power to resolve the diplomatic row between the two countries. Tinubu had directed the immediate resolutions of the issue when Ambassador Designate, Amb Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi presented his Letter of Credence, to him at Aso Rock. Recall that Tinubu proceeded to Abu Dahbi, UAE capital, from India, where he attended the G-20 Summit. In a statement on Monday, Presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, announced that the meeting with the UAE authorities was fruitful. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, have finalized a historic agreement, which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travelers. Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay. As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government. In recognition of President Tinubus economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two Governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks. In conclusion, the President wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries. Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for bringing an end to the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Since 2021, UAE and Nigeria have been engaging in a diplomatic row over issues involving flight allocations and travel bans. In December 2021, the UAE banned airlines from airlifting Nigerian passengers into the Emirates. The UAE had claimed that the ban was due to the surge in COVID-19 cases. Before the travel ban, UAEs General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) had approved a slot of three weekly flights from Nigeria to Sharjah Airport. The single flight was approved for Air Peace. In retaliation to the UAEs treatment of Air Peace, the federal government dropped the Emirates slots from 21 to one. The move made the Dubai-based airline suspend all its flights to Nigeria. In October 2022, the UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians after a diplomatic row. On Monday, the UAE lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers. The decision was reached after President Bola Tinubu met with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE president, in Abu Dhabi. Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement that Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria without any further delay. Reacting to the development, Keyamo in a post on his X page said Tinubus Midas touch has made his job easier. Special thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu @officialABAT for personally leading our delegation to end this impasse with the UAE, Keyamo said. All credit goes to him. His Midas touch during the discussion was crucial. He just made my job easier! In line with the Firearms Act and other extant laws, in the interest of public safety and general security, the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has announced the establishment of an ad hoc committee tasked with the comprehensive review of firearms licensing and regulations by the Nigeria Police Force. Egbetokun, on Monday, revealed that the committees mandate will encompass a thorough assessment of current firearms licensing procedures and regulations, with the aim of enhancing their effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. The Force Headquarters also said the police will engage with relevant stakeholders, including legal experts, civil society organisations, and experts in the field, to ensure a holistic and well-informed review. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed in an official correspondence on Monday. Adejobi said, Similarly, in furtherance of his zeal to tackle all forms of insecurity in the country, the IG has issued a stern warning to all individuals involved in the wrongful possession of arms and light weapons, reiterated that illegal proliferation of firearms and light weapons poses a significant threat to the peace and stability of our nation. In light of this, the Nigeria Police Force is resolutely determined to combat the illegal fabrication, sales, possession and use of arms emphasising that possessing firearms without the appropriate licenses and permits is not only a violation of the law but also a grave danger to society. He assured that the Nigeria Police Force will spare no effort in pursuing and prosecuting those engaged in these illegal activities to the full extent of the law. The Inspector General of Police has charged all State Commissioners of Police and supervising Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Commands, and tactical squads to commence a total clampdown on the illegal fabrication, sale, possession, and use of prohibited firearms in the country. He equally urged all Nigerians to report suspicious activities related to firearms to their local police divisions or via the various NPF social media platforms for prompt response. Earlier, it was reported that the IG, noting that gun licencing may aggravate insecurity in the country, reiterated the police ban on gun license issuance, while adding that the police might review or revert the ban in the future. The Force Headquarters announced that the NPF had stopped the issuance of licenses for small arms due to the high rate of illegal arms proliferation in the country. Egbetokun disclosed while responding to a question by our correspondent during his (IGs) meeting with members of the Police Management Team including Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police, and Commissioners of Police at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja. We are mopping up arms in circulation. There are too many arms in circulation and if we continue to issue licenses on arms, we may continue to aggravate the problems we are trying to solve, Egbetokun said. However, he further noted that the police might review the ban in the future. For now, there is a temporary ban on the issuance of firearms. We May review it later, but we are not issuing firearms licenses nationwide now. It was reported that the Firearm Act has been responsible for the control of firearms in Nigeria for the past years. The Act provides that no person shall have in his possession or under his control, any firearm or ammunition except such person has a license from the President or the Inspector General of Police. India has formally handed over the G20 presidency to Brazil at the closing ceremony of the annual summit held in New Delhi this weekend. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed the transition by handing over the ceremonial gavel of the presidency to Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India had the presidency of the G20 since Dec. 1, when it took over from Indonesia, and will continue to hold the position until Nov. 30. During the two-day summit, the bloc adopted a consensus declaration that made commitments on several issues, including food and energy security, climate change, and global debt vulnerabilities. Modi, on Sunday, also proposed a virtual summit of the grouping at the end of November to assess the status of the suggestions and proposals put forth by members and determine how their progress can be accelerated. In that session, we can review the topics decided during this summit, Modi said, adding that details would be shared with members. (Reuters/NAN) Aaron Olson is North Dakota's new State Hospital superintendent, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Monday. Olson has years of experience in health care operations and leadership, most recently serving as the senior director of infrastructure and operations for multiple treatment sites at Great Lakes Behavioral Partners in Chicago. Before his time in Chicago, Olson served as the vice president of home medical equipment, Covid-19 donations and supply chain for Children's Minnesota. He has also served as a vice president with CentraCare, which was then known as Carris Health. Health and Human Services Commissioner Chris Jones appointed Olson, after consulting the ND State Hospital Governing Body. His appointment takes effect Tuesday. Aarons knowledge and expertise in health care administration and operations will be a clear advantage in ensuring modern, future-ready State Hospital operations that fully enable our hard-working teams to care for North Dakotans, Jones said in a news release. Emirates and Etihad Airlines are expected to resume flight operations in Nigeria immediately. The development is the result of a meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mohamed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates. The agreement was reached on Monday in Abu Dhabi, according to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the president, on media and publicity. In November 2022, Emirates suspended flight operations to Nigeria over its inability to repatriate its $85 million revenue trapped in the country. The move was the second time the airline halted flights to the country after it took a similar decision in August last year. According to the statement, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also lifted its visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers at the meeting with Tinubu. Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay, the statement reads. As negotiated between the two heads of state, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government. The statement added that in recognition of the proposals presented by Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which would involve several billions of U.S. dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the government of the United Arab Emirates. The Enugu State government has commended the United Kingdom government for setting up a visa centre in the State to facilitate visa applications by residents in the state, the South-East zone, and the country at large. In a statement, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, recalled that the visa centre was part of Governor Peter Mbahs earlier requests during the visit to the Government House, Enugu, by the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, in June this year. The statement said the government received the news of the visa centre with delight and satisfaction, stressing that it would further enhance economic partnership and cultural exchanges between Enugu State and the United Kingdom. The Enugu State Government therefore looks forward to a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the UK, as the visa centre would help cement the relationship, the statement added. The government called on the people, especially those residing in the South-East to avail themselves of the opportunity provided to file their visa applications in the State, saying the government would ensure improved security both to residents and visitors carrying on business in the State. It reiterated that the State was open for business and investment more than ever before. A video has emerged indicating that the Niger republics coupists have started deploying military along its border with neighbouring country, Benin, amidst imminent military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. The development was disclosed by a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama. Recall that ECOWAS had threatened a possible military action against the junta who seized power in Niger and suspended the constitution. Last month, ECOWAS ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. The order followed the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup after its extraordinary meeting in Abuja. However, the regional blocs army is yet to invade Niger. Makama on his social media platform X, on Monday, posted a video that showed Nigers military were deploying at Beninese border in preparation against the military intervention by the ECOWAS. Niger deploys Military to the Niger- Beninese Border amidst eminent Military intervention plans of ECOWAS, he wrote. NigerianEye sighted the video showing movement of military vehicles in a convoy as they were being hailed by the people. The Ogun government has demolished Datkem Plaza, a building owned by Olufunke Daniel, wife of Gbenga Daniel, former governor of the state. The building, which is situated in the Ijebu Ode area of the state, was demolished early Sunday morning. In a statement issued through Adeyinka Kotoye, her counsel, Olufunke expressed shock over the demolition of the building by the state government despite a notice from the court to halt the process. We were shocked and miffed that the Ogun State government ignored court papers served on its agents on Thursday, September 7, asking them to stop all actions on the building, the statement reads. This matter began when the Ogun State Planning and Development Authority sealed the building on August 1, without any prior notice. Interestingly, a quit notice was only served on August 31 by the same Planning and Development Authority asking the owner to vacate the premises within three days. Meanwhile, Datkem applied for the unsealing and regularization of the building on August 2, and paid the mandatory fee of N500,000 to the Ogun State government. We have evidence of this payment. However, we were shocked and astonished that the Ogun State government ignored the ongoing legal process and went ahead to demolish the complex in the early hours of Sunday. We want to believe the State Attorney Generals advice was ignored on this matter. Olufunke accused Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun, of illegality adding that despite suffering unimaginable and huge losses as a result of the demolition, she will continue to seek redress from court. OGUN: ITS AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE Meanwhile, Ogun state government has defended the demolition of the building, saying it is an illegal structure. In a statement issued by Olayiwola Abiodun, permanent secretary of urban development ministry, the government said the building contravened the states physical planning laws. Abiodun said several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on the site were ignored. The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback, he said. In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density. Abiodun said any illegal building constructed in any part of the state will be demolished to safeguard the lives of the people. Mohammed Idris, the minister of information, says the federal government will continue the disbursement of palliatives across the country until the hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy is addressed. The minister who spoke at a reception organised by the Niger state government, on Saturday, assured Nigerians that the federal government will continue to develop policies that promote national values and orientation among the citizens. He noted that state governments should support the federal government in the project of reorienting Nigerians. The minister also said the President Bola Tinubu administration is conscious of the peoples needs, and its agenda has been designed to address the leading socio-economic challenges and create jobs for the youth. On August 23, the minister had said the new administration will not rely on propaganda to propagate government programmes and policies. He said the administration will strive to restore peoples confidence and trust in the government by implementing tangible and credible policies. Speaking at the event, Mohammed Bago, governor of Niger State, congratulated those who secured political positions at both the federal and state levels and urged them to be good ambassadors of the state. He commended the federal government on the plans to ameliorate the suffering of the citizens, promising that the state governors would play their part in ensuring that the palliatives reach those for whom they were intended. Bago noted that Niger state provides opportunities for agriculture with its mass arable land, saying it can play a huge role in the federal governments desire to create more prosperity for Nigerians. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, SAN, has said that nothing will come out of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obis appeal to the Supreme Court. Recall that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, on Wednesday, upheld the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but his challengers have vowed to proceed to the Supreme Court. Tinubus victory is being challenged by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came second in the election, and third-placed Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Appearing on Channels Television on Sunday, Clarke noted that all the matters presented by Atiku and Obi at the tribunal have already been adjudged at the Supreme Court. In my personal view, and I believe my personal view is enriched with my past experience in the dispensation of justice at the bar. I have every belief and I seriously believe that the unanimous judgement of the Court of Appeal is unassailable, it is as fixed as you can fix anything and I can assure that if there is an appeal, I doubt if anything can come out of the appeal. Let us be clear to ourselves. All the matters, based on law that were brought before the tribunal, had already been adjudged by the apex court in this country. Former Aviation minister, Femi Fani Kayode has aired his views on claims that the legal team of Tinubu/Shettima wrote the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court which was delivered last Wednesday. It was also alleged that the Presidents legal team received a copy of the judgment before it was formally delivered. The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain described the claims as simply absurd. According to him, this is surely the most insidious, savage, blatant and vicious attack on the integrity of the countrys judiciary. Fani-Kayode, also noted that the coordinator of the Tinubus legal team, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, has already explained why the inscription and wording that made reference to the Presidents lawyers at the top of a copy of the judgement came about. According to him, those asking various questions and scrutinising the judgement were doing so in an attempt to provoke anger, disorder, violent protests, anarchy and chaos in the land. He said that such people were doing this in an attempt to engender an Arab spring/EndSARS type of operation in our country, annul the election and justify a military takeover and the formation of an Interim National Government. Simply put, that is their plan and agenda but they will surely fail, the former minister wrote on social media platform, X. A social rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, has explained why President Bola Tinubu will never be her president. Yesufu, a supporter of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi in the just-concluded General Election made this known in a Mic On podcast titled, The PEPC Judgment: Hopes met or dashed hosted by Channels TV presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, on Saturday night. Yesufu was quoted as saying that Tinubu allegedly rigged his way into the presidency and on that basis will never be seen as her president. Tinubu did not win the 2023 presidential election and will never be my president because he rigged his way to be declared the one with the majority votes. And as for me, that is a political coup. That is a civilian coup and it is the mandate of the people that was stolen. My focus and other Nigerians now is to ensure getting the mandate back. She added that even the Presidential Election Petition Court that gave the verdict that President Tinubu lawfully won the election held on February 25 was wrong, adding, I stayed for over 13 hours in the court and I heard all the judgement read by the Supreme Court justices. It was all a movie. And there was a trailer before the movie, it began when the former Supreme Court justice, Mary Odili spoke. It already preempted what we expected. She further said that the whole process began getting fishy when PEPC declined that the proceedings be aired live from the beginning until the judgment day and failed to show the faces of the justices. There was a need for people to see how it has been going rather than just hearing the judgment only. The joy in the faces of the judges showed that they were biased. They acted more like counsels to the respondents (President Tinubu, All Progressives Congress and VP Kashim Shettima), she alleged. Yesufu said she believed that the judiciary is compromised while making reference to the issues of card readers not being admissible in the court while espousing Nyesom Wike and Peter Dakukus case in Rivers State. The politicians always believe that they control the court that is why they are quick to tell people to go to court if they are satisfied with the results of elections. Speaking on the Eyes on the Judiciary being productive on the judgment, Aisha said it was, adding that Nigerians have taken it upon themselves to tell the court that they would not allow nefarious acts in the court. Recall that a five-member panel of the Tribunal took turns to dismiss the petitions presented by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar; the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi; against the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election on Wednesday. The judgment was delivered by the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel-Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo and Abba Mohammed. Delivering the death knell to Atikus petition on Wednesday night, Tsammani stated, This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost. The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal in Jos, Plateau State, has declared Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong winner of the Plateau South senatorial district. Chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Mahmoud Tukur, who declared the judgement on Monday, stated that the votes scored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Napoleon Bali in the February 25 election were wasted. The judge held that the PDP candidate was invalidly nominated, declaring Lalong, the immediate past governor of the state, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, winner of the poll. According to the judges, as of the time of the nomination, the PDP had no valid structure in the state. The panel also ruled that candidates who petitioned the court on the ground of over-voting and non-compliance with the electoral laws could not prove the allegations. In another judgement, the court also stacked the PDP member representing the Barkin-Ladi/Riyom Federal Constituency and declared the Labour Party (LP) candidate Dalyop Chollom winner. The tribunal ruled that Peter Gyenden of the PDP was not validly nominated at the time of his nomination due to his partys lack of a valid structure in the state. US President Joe Biden has commended President Bola Tinubu for his effort towards preserving the rule of law and democracy in Niger Republic. On July 26, the Nigerien military, led by Amadou Abdramane, toppled the democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The military leadership also announced the dissolution of the nations constitution, suspension of all institutions, and closure of the countrys borders. Tinubu in his capacity as chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) a sub-regional group to which the Niger Republic belongs had swiftly condemned the coup and imposed sanctions on the new regime. ECOWAS had also dispatched a series of delegations, including the one led by Abdulsalami Abubakar, former military head of state, to negotiate with the countrys military junta. In a statement released by the White House during the second day of the G20 summit in India, the US president appreciated Tinubu for preserving the rule of law in Niger and also acknowledged his national economic policies in Nigeria. The US president added that America is committed to reinforcing its longstanding relationship with Nigeria. Biden acknowledged the steps taken by Tinubus administration to reform Nigerias economy. He also thanked the Nigerian president for his strong leadership as the chair of ECOWAS, towards defending democracy and preserving the rule of law in Niger and the broader region. Nigerias invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigerias important global role as Africas largest democracy and economy Republic amid military takeover, Biden said. TINUBU ON NIGERS CRISIS On August 26, in a meeting with Molly Phee, US assistant secretary of state for African affairs, Tinubu revealed that the crisis in Niger is detrimental to the economic reforms in Nigeria. The president maintained that although he is holding ECOWAS from military intervention in Niger Republic, defending democracy in the region is sacrosanct, adding that the consensus is that we will not allow anyone to insincerely buy time. We are deep in our attempts to peacefully settle the issue in Niger by leveraging on our diplomatic tools. I continue to hold ECOWAS back, despite its readiness for all options, in order to exhaust all other remedial mechanisms, Tinubu said. War is not ideal for my economic reforms, nor for the region, but the defence of democracy is sacrosanct. The North Dakota Department of Commerce has launched a Rural Food Sustainability Grant Program. It aims to boost food access, sustainability and economic development in rural communities. It supports sustainable grocery services, food access and the growth of rural food cooperatives, according to Emma Cook, community development liaison for Commerce. The program provides grants of up to $20,000 for feasibility studies, and grants of up to $300,000 for sustainable food access projects. Applications for feasibility studies close Oct. 13. Applications for projects will open early next year. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, local entities, economic development organizations and tribal entities. The program focuses on communities with a population of less than 10,000 and encourages but does not require matching funds. For more information go to bit.ly/3Pxngpg. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the admission by President Bola Tinubus legal team that it inscribed Tinubu Presidential Legal Team (TPLT) on the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) judgement currently in circulation as self indicting. In a statement issued on Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, PDP described the explanation as a desperate attempt to dispel public scrutiny and ward off the possibility of more revelations regarding the issue. The PDP added that the knee-jerk admission by Tinubus legal team that it scanned and watermarked its copy of the judgement lends credence to widespread public insinuation of pre-determined manipulation of the tribunals verdict by the All Progressives Congress, APC. The President Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, recently released a copy of its judgement to the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, respectively. The development followed the tribunals judgement affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu. The judgement was on the petitions brought by Atiku and Obi, challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. However, images circulating online show the inscription Tinubu Presidential Legal Team (TPLT) on the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) judgement. While Tinubus legal team clarified that the inscription was a watermark it made on its own copies of the court judgment, PDP is saying otherwise. According to the PDP, majority of Nigerians were not satisfied with the claims by the Tinubus legal team. The opposition party is insisting that further examination and expert analysis showed that the documents were not scanned and that the TPLT inscriptions were not watermarks but computer default header. The PDP challenged Tinubus legal team to should explain how what is obviouslya default header on its computer system should be accepted as a watermark. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has meticulously examined the scandalous inscription of the Header of Tinubu Presidential Legal Team (TPLT) on the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) judgement currently in circulation. The knee-jerk admission by the Tinubu Legal Team that it scanned and watermarked its copy of the judgment with the inscription, Tinubu Presidential Legal Team TPLT is self-indicting and lends credence to widespread public insinuation of pre-determined manipulation by the APC. The rush by the TPLT in admitting that it imprinted on the CTC of the judgment smacks of a desperate attempt to dispel public scrutiny and ward off the possibility of more revelations regarding the issue. The PDP demands that the Tinubu Legal Team should explains how what obviously is a default header on its computer system should be accepted as a watermark, parts of the statement read. President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates by 5 pm UAE time, in a bid to resolve the Emirates Airline flight suspension to Nigeria, visa ban and other diplomatic issues today. The Minister for Aviation and Aerospace management, Festus Keyamo, had on Sunday night travelled to the Middle-East country to meet with the President who had a stopover after exiting the G20 summit in India. Speaking with our correspondent, the Aviation and Aerospace Management Minister, Festus Keyamo, SAN confirmed that he travelled on Sunday night and that officials of the two countries will meet by 5 pm Today. I am in Abu Dhabi to join Mr President to sort out the twin issues of Dubai visas and Emirates flights to Nigeria. Both leaders are meeting by 5 pm Today, the minister said in a chat with our correspondent. Recall that in October 2022, the UAE imposed a visa ban on Nigerians shortly after Emirates Airlines suspended flights to Nigeria. The move was reportedly in response to Nigerias failure to repatriate billions of dollars in trapped funds. Nigerian carrier, Air Peace, which was also operating in Dubai similarly suspended its flight as the UAE stopped the issuance of visas to prospective travellers. When he hosted Salem Saeed Al-Shamsi, UAE Ambassador to Nigeria at Aso Rock last month, the President had directed that issues affecting relations with the Emirates Airline, and issuance of visas to Nigerians should be immediately resolved, emphasizing that he stands prepared to personally intervene. We are a family in the UAE, we only live in separate rooms, but we are in the same house. We should look at the issues as a family problem, and resolve it amicably. As you know in every family, there are peculiarities. You can have an erring son or daughter, but we must work together. We need to agree on core aviation and immigration issues, the President had said. On Sunday, the Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced that Tinubu would meet UAE authorities over the issue. Details later President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sideline of the G-20 summit in India, met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to boost Nigerias car manufacturing sector. Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. Tinubu noted that expanding Nigerias economic partnership is vital to his administration. He called on the German government to explore new incentives for foreign investments in Nigeria. It is not, for us, only a matter of designing the financial architecture for an expanded economic partnership. It is also about the practicality of aligning the perspectives of your large-scale manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and others, with the reality of the new incentives my government is putting in place for them to come and prosper across multiple value chains and sectors inside our country. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged the mutually beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Nigeria. Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique, and our companies have a history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business-friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives, the German leader stated. After the end of the G20 Summit, Tinubu headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The United States President, Joe Biden, who met with President Bola Tinubu, Sunday, on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India, said the meeting was to reaffirm the countrys commitment to the US-Nigeria relationship. Biden said his administration was committed to the longstanding friendship between both countries and peoples. This was contained in a statement published on the official White House website. Biden praised the efforts made by the Tinubu administration to bring about economic reforms in Nigeria. The statement reads, President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administrations steps to reform Nigerias economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region. On Nigerias invitation to the G20 summit, the statement reads, Nigerias invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigerias important global role as Africas largest democracy and economy. Tinubu attended the two-day summit on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Tinubu was accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite. Tinubu also held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Germany, South Korea and India. Tinubu conveyed to the German helmsman, Olaf Scholz, the importance of not just focusing on creating a financial framework for a broader economic alliance. In a bid to boost economic growth, Tinubu said the government is introducing new incentives to attract large-scale manufacturers like Volkswagen to establish a presence in the country. Responding to the economic focus of Tinubus proposal, the German Chancellor acknowledged the mutually beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Nigeria. He said, Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique, and our companies have a history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business-friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives, the German leader confided. Meanwhile, the President will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital, after his departure from New Delhi, India A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Pedro Obaseki, has accused the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, of plotting to weaken the structures of the party to make it easier for him to run on its platform for the 2027 presidency. Obaseki who worked as Director of Planning and Strategy for the PDP 2023 Presidential Campaign Council also described Wike as a nobody who rode on the structures of the party and the goodwill of some of its chieftains to power only to betray them when he got to the top. He stated this on Monday in an interactive session with a handful of journalists in Abuja against the backdrop of a call by the FCT minister to suspend Atiku from the PDP. Speaking as a guest on the Channels Television programme, Politics Today on Thursday, Wike was quoted as saying, Look at the areas that the PDP did not win because of high-handedness, because of greed, because of impunity. If the PDP had done what they were supposed to do, then you could have talked about that. There should be equity, there should be justice, there should be fairness and that is why I am calling on the National Working Committee to suspend the presidential candidate (Atiku Abubakar) and people like Aminu Tambuwal so that they can rebuild the party. Reacting to Wikes television outing, however, Obaseki said, It is not hidden that the only thing Wike is interested in is becoming the President of our country, and anything that seems to stand wittingly or otherwise in his achieving that quest will be flushed away and that is what he has been doing. What we are seeing now is that he is fighting to decimate the PDP, so that he can also decimate the All Progressives Congress to create a vehicle for himself to run in 2027, but we are not stupid. It is important that we caution Wike. There is a limit to the continued brigandage of a man who should be grateful to God. Chinua Achebe in his book, Things Fall Apart, warned us that Those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble. But someone like Wike has continued to overstretch his luck. Who is Wike? He is a nobody. He rode on the back of the electorate of Rivers State to national prominence and betrayed everybody along the way. From being a Local Government chairman, a Minister of State, became Governor of Rivers State and now minister of the FCT. He noted that the former Rivers State governor had been in the business of championing a personal cause for long noting that he fought for the removal of his friend and political ally, Uche Secondus, as the PDP chairman because he considered him an obstacle to his presidential aspiration in 2023. Obaseki continued, Wike plotted a graph from the time he supported Prince Uche Secondus to arrest the structures of the PDP. He then forced the removal of Secondus because he knew that as chairman of the party, his own local government and senatorial district, its goodbye to his running for the presidency. But he ran for that same presidency and lost. He swore to support whoever won and reneged on every point along the way. Time has come for the PDP and those who want to strengthen democracy in Nigeria to see Wike for what he really is. He is brave enough to come to the public space to say that he is the sole financier of the PDP, a party founded in 1998. This is a party where he became governor in a state where (Peter) Odili was already a governor for eight years on the platform of the party; where Rotimi Amaechi had been governor for seven years before defecting to the APC. While noting that it is Wike who ought to be suspended from the PDP, Obaseki narrated what he called a number of misdeeds by the former Rivers State governor, which prompted other leaders of the PDP to defect to other parties. Wike should tell us why Atiku should be suspended from the party. The person who deserves to be suspended from the party is the man who is calling for the expulsion of others from the party. Wike is the one who created a cult within the party and called it the G-5. Against the will, constitution and structures of the party, he campaigned against the party. If anybody had done anything anti-party, it is Wike. He has fought every known person within the party. If you remember, Bello Matawalle, former Governor of Zamfara State, cited him as the reason for leaving the party. David Umahi cited him as the reason for leaving the party. Prof Ben Ayade cited him as the reason for leaving the party. He has become the proverbial tortoise featuring in every bad story. A Cumberland County high school senior charged in a fatal shooting in June has been indicted on murder and other charges in the case. Millville police responded around 5 a.m. June 12 to Rieck Avenue Elementary School to a report of an unresponsive man in a parked car. Officers found Mark Hoffman Jr., 20, of Millville, in the drivers seat of the car, dead of a gunshot wound to the head. After reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses, authorities charged Emmanuel B. Doivilus, 18, of Vineland, in the killing, according to his criminal complaint. A witness identified Doivilus as the shooter, authorities said in an affidavit of probable cause. In addition, a vehicle allegedly driven by Doivilus was seen on surveillance cameras at the school, according to the affidavit. With the assistance of automated license plate reader technology, investigators said they were able to track that vehicle from the school to the defendants residence. A Cumberland County grand jury recently indicted Doivilus on counts of first-degree murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon without a permit, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and third-degree unlawful possession of weapons. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on Monday. Doivilus remains in Cumberland County Jail and is scheduled to return to court Sept. 22 for a post-indictment arraignment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Leer en Espanol Red Bank Regional High School is implementing a new cell phone ban this year. Freshmen must store their mobile devices in special cell phone towers during class. The new policy in the 1,200-student Monmouth County school is designed keep students focused and to help stop kids from using their phones to bully classmates. It is one of several initiatives and programs New Jersey schools are implementing this year amid calls for more efforts to prevent bullying and improve the mental health of students nationwide. Kids are feeling very isolated right now. Its a rough time, said Suzanne Keller, supervisor of The Source, a school-based youth services program at Red Bank Regional High School. Were all going through a rough time, globally, not just as a nation, but globally. New Jersey drew headlines last school year after two teen suicides and several bullying incidents in schools. Many school districts are enacting new policies this year to try to combat bullying and focus on student mental health. Some of the measures, including the new cell phone ban at Red Bank Regional High School, are controversial. Administrators say the rule is meant to curb distraction and cyberbullying in school, but some students and parents say it is unfair and unnecessary. Parents in other districts have pushed back on similar cell phone bans out of concern students would be without their cell phones in an emergency. Some school administrators and counselors say they need to do whatever they can to address the mental health emergency among New Jersey teens. Officials and experts say the U.S. is facing an acute mental health crisis made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, 22% of Black and Hispanic high school students seriously considered attempting suicide, according to a report released in February by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During the same year, 23% of white students and 18% of Asian students also seriously considered attempting suicide. Additionally, 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, according to a survey from The Trevor Project. Adriana Kuch, 14, and Felicia LoAlbo-Melendez, 11, died by suicide after they both claimed they were bullied in school. Many in New Jersey were shaken by several youth suicides last school year. In February, the suicide of 14-year-old Central Regional High School student Adriana Kuch drew national headlines and resulted in the arrest of four of her classmates. The students were charged in connection with a filmed hallway attack on Kuch that occurred days before her death. Video of the attack was circulated on social media, Kuchs family said. The same month, 11-year-old Felicia LoAlbo-Melendez died by suicide at a Mount Holly middle school after being bullied in school and online, her mother said. School districts in New Jersey reported 30,568 incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons, substance use, and harassment, intimidation and bullying in the 2021-22 school year, according to the latest data from the state Department of Education. READ MORE: Fights, weapons, and unruly kids. Inside the mounting misbehavior crisis at N.J. schools. Mental health experts say suicide is a complex topic and research shows bullying alone is not thought to directly cause people to take their own lives. But, bullying can be a contributing factor in suicides, experts say. The two teen deaths in New Jersey put a spotlight on how schools are handling bullying allegations and school fights. The Central Regional School District which serves students in grades 9 to 12 from Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park announced a series of initiatives to evaluate and improve the districts approach to bullying in response to outrage over Kuchs death and other allegations of school violence. The initiatives included: organizing a steering committee of parents and community leaders to evaluate and update the schools approach to bullying and other issues; bringing in an outside group to examine district policies and response to crises; and reviewing the districts cell phone policy. Additional initiatives that were planned included: establishing a toll-free hotline operated by an outside party for students to call anonymously; arranging guest speakers for student assemblies focused on avoiding and preventing risky behaviors; and arranging for education and information sessions for parents to help them better understand bullying, harassment and other issues impacting students. The Central Regional school district also planned to continue training staff and parents to recognize potential problems and to improve communications with the community. When asked to provide an update on the districts new anti-bullying and mental health initiatives, Central Regional Acting Superintendent Douglas Corbett said the district was busy preparing for the new school year. In August, Central Regionals school board officially adopted a new policy for cell phones and electronic devices stating the district reserves the right to search a students phone if there is reasonable suspicion that district or Board policies, rules or regulations have been violated, as well as if there is a reasonable suspicion that the electronic mobile device contains information that may be pertinent to a school investigation. Although school officials do have the authority to search and seize a cell phone, laptop or other personal property for evidence that a student is violating school rules, the New Jersey School Boards Association advises officials exercise discretion in deciding to conduct a search. Search and seizure are intrusive acts and care should be taken to evaluate whether or not the circumstances of the policy violation make it necessary, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. The cases of Kuch and LoAlbo-Melendez helped put a spotlight on cyberbullying. In 2021, 16% of high school students said they were electronically bullied, including through texting, Instagram, Facebook or other social media, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Theres a lot of bullying going on, on the phones. We call them keyboard warriors and what they can say on their cell phone, when theyre not talking to somebody face-to-face, can be very nasty, said Keller, who offers mental health, well-being and educational programs through The Source at Red Bank Regional High School. The new policy requiring Red Bank Regional High School students to put their phones in a cell phone tower upon entering class only affects freshmen this year. Incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors will not be required to turn over their phones. But, the policy will be carried forward with each grade, meaning eventually all students in the school will be impacted. Other schools have similar policies. Maxson Middle School in Plainfield first gained attention back in 2019 when it asked students to lock their phones away in pouches from the first to the last bell. In December 2021, Middle Township Middle School in Cape May County announced it would require students to lock cell phones away before the start of classes in response to events related to social media within the middle school and TikTok trends nationwide. We understand the need for students to have cell phones to go to and from school, but the ongoing situations we are handling are disruptive to the educational process, Middle Township Middle School Principal Jeffrey Ortman said in a letter announcing the policy. A student at Maxson Middle School in Plainfield puts his cellphone into a Yondr pouch. The school gained attention in 2019 when it asked students to lock their phones away from the first to the last bell. When asked how Red Bank students might contact adults in case of emergency, Keller said Red Bank Regional School District would work to accommodate student needs. If it is a true emergency, were always going to assist the student and make sure that we help them call home or we get a hold of somebody for them, Keller said. Theres enough support in the building between the teacher and our program and guidance counselors and the administrative team. Coming back after COVID-19, Keller said faculty and staff also noticed students increasingly struggling with self-regulating anxiety. So, the district dedicated funds to educate students on social and emotional learning skills and strategies. One of the first things we did was just teach kids how to breathe and not react. And we came out with pause, breathe, before you respond, Keller said. All the teachers have this sign in the classroom and we said it every day after morning announcements, so it became pervasive throughout the school. In the spring, the state announced a new support network to help school districts get mental health help for students, starting on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year. Fifteen organizations were awarded contracts to run mental health services through the states new regional hub program, state officials said. The New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services network, or NJ4S, will be overseen by the state Department of Children and Families. Gov. Phil Murphys administration also announced the state Department of Education is working with the Rutgers University Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health to provide three years of training to staff in 50 selected schools to improve the ways they identify struggling students, address their needs in school and refer them to proper services if they need more help. The school board of Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District in Bergen County recently walked back plans to cancel all mental health programs for the coming school year. The board initially voted 4-4 to approve the cuts in July. But, following backlash from community members, the school board held an emergency vote in early August to renew its contracts for mental health services. Rest assured, along with my fellow board members, I will continue to prioritize the mental health and wellbeing of this districts students, Ramapo Indian Hills Regional School Board President Judith Sullivan said in a statement addressing the recent development. Some districts, including West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, have found success partnering with outside agencies to provide services. Since 2019, West Windsor-Plainsboro has run a program which puts mental health clinicians in schools. Through a partnership with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, the districts roughly 9,000 students can visit clinicians located on-site at the middle and high schools for mental health concerns, crisis intervention and screenings. The Mercer County district did 100 screenings during the 2022-23 school year for mental health and suicidal ideation. The program also helped some students in trouble get admitted to hospitals, rather than waiting for days in emergency rooms, which can be traumatizing and keep them from seeking help during future crises, officials said. That is definitely a great assistance to the family, to the student ultimately, in getting them access to care, said West Windsor-Plainsboro Deputy Superintendent Lee McDonald. That could be something as little as one-to one-outside counseling and therapy with a licensed professional counselor. That could be full hospitalization, that can be a partial program theres a lot of different levels. The district also pays for Gaggle, a tool that monitors student internet activities for signs that they are a risk to themselves or others. It also hired four behavioral health counselors for its schools, though it could use eight if allowed to spend more, officials said. West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District spent time fostering student-led and parent-led groups about to mental health awareness. You can do all the right things and theres still other factors that you cannot control, that will have influence. But, I think as a school district were doing everything that we can to be there for our students, said McDonald. Is there room to improve? Always, thats why we have constant conversations about this topic, McDonald said. Thats important. Editors note: NJ Advance Media typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in crowded public places, involve public figures or, in special circumstances, where there is a larger public impact. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Get the best of our education coverage each week. Sign up for NJ Schools News with your email: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. From North Bergen to the tip of Bayonne, residents and leaders across Hudson County took time Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks on the World Trade Centers Twin Towers, the Pentagon and Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. As communities have done for the past 21 years, events were held across Hudson County at the sites of memorials to the victims. The day of the terrorist attacks, we were in shock, Jersey City Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Gorman, one of the many emergency workers who responded to Ground Zero, said Monday at Jersey Citys annual 9/11 ceremony on the Hudson River waterfront. In the days that followed, we watched as the spirit of the United States came alive like never before. We remember every day, and we come together every year on this day to revive that spirit. Gorman was joined by Mayor Steve Fulop, Hudson County dignitaries, city council members, friends and family who lost loved ones and members of the community at the citys memorial twisted steel beams from Ground Zero against the backdrop of the World Trade Center, and the names of the Jersey City residents who died etched on the memorial. First responders read the names of each Jersey City resident lost on that fateful day. It is important that we commemorate September 11 every year to remember the lives lost on that tragic day and ensure that history does not repeat itself, Fulop said. Jersey City played an important role in supporting the first responders 22 years ago, and I want to thank our first responders and the community for being here today. We must never forget. HUDSONS 9/11 VICTIMS U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez spoke at Essex Countys annual 9/11 event at the Eagle Rock Reservation in West Orange. As we come together to honor the lives lost, I am reminded of the cascading emotions we felt on that fateful morning, he said. ... Despite the fear that initially gripped us and the loss we subsequently grappled with, I reflect on the resolve and uncommon heroism that was on display by Americans of all backgrounds on that day. The firefighters, police officers, EMTs and Port Authority officials who raced toward burning buildings as others fought through ash and dust toward safety. ... As weve done for the past two decades, today and every day, we honor their sacrifice and the void left behind through our enduring commitment to never forget. 8 1 / 8 North Bergen honors 9/11 victims at ceremony, Sept. 11, 2023 Joyce Watterman, Jersey City Council president called the annual remembrance a reminder to stay vigilant. We do this every year because we want to remember what happened on our land, which is important considering what America stands for, she said. We want to remind those who invaded us that we will not quit. We will not give up. North Bergen held its annual ceremony at the new Hudson County 9/11 memorial at Boulevard East and 79th Street. Bayonne planned to honor its victims Monday night in an interfaith memorial service and candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. at the 9/11 memorial in Harbor View Memorial Park, at the former Military Ocean Terminal. The service will also honor the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center on Feb. 26, 1993. The city of Hoboken will honor the victims at its own interfaith memorial service at 5 p.m. on Pier A Park next to the citys 9/11 memorial in the northwest area of the park. Tributes were also conducted in Harrison Guttenberg, Secaucus, Union City, Weehawken and West New York. A worker at a high-rise construction site in Jersey City where multiple complaints have been registered was seriously injured Monday morning, police said in radio transmissions. The incident occurred at approximately 8:20 a.m. at 425 Summit Ave., a 26-story residential building near Sip Avenue in Journal Square. The victim, who is employed by L&W Supply, was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center in critical condition after suffering a head injury, police said in the transmissions. It may be the most widely debated and commented upon newspaper slogan since . . . well, has there ever been a widely debated newspaper slogan? The Washington Post added a new phrase beneath its online masthead this week "Democracy Dies in Darkness" and the commentary flowed immediately. The slogan quickly trended on Twitter, drawing tweets even from the People's Daily newspaper in China. It was fodder for a few late-night cracks from Stephen Colbert, who suggested some of the rejected phrases included "No, You Shut Up," "Come at Me, Bro" and "We Took Down Nixon Who Wants Next?" The addition of the dramatic and alliterative phrase was generally misinterpreted as an indirect reply to President Trump's phrasemaking about the news media ("dishonest," "the enemy of the American people," etc.). But that's not the case. The Post decided to come up with a slogan nearly a year ago, long before Trump was the Republican presidential nominee, senior executives said. The paper hasnt had an official slogan in its 140-year existence, although it did get some mileage with a long-running advertising tagline, If you dont get it, you dont get it. The paper's owner, Amazon.com founder Jeffrey P. Bezos, used the phrase in an interview with The Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, at a tech forum at The Post last May. "I think a lot of us believe this, that democracy dies in darkness, that certain institutions have a very important role in making sure that there is light," he said at the time, speaking of his reasons for buying the paper. Bezos apparently heard the phrase from legendary investigative reporter Bob Woodward, a Post associate editor. Woodward said he referenced it during a presentation at a conference that Bezos attended in 2015 in which Woodward talked about "The Last of the President's Men," his most recent book about the Watergate scandal. But Woodward, who has used the phrase in reference to President Nixon for years, said he didnt coin it; he read it some years earlier in a judicial opinion in a First Amendment case. He couldnt recall the specifics of the case or the name of the judge who wrote the opinion. It goes way back, he said. Its definitely not directed at Trump. Its about the dangers of secrecy in government, which is what I worry about most. The judge who said it got it right. Woodward's source appears to be Judge Damon J. Keith, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, who ruled in a pre-Watergate era case that the government couldn't wiretap individuals without a warrant. In his decision, Keith apparently coined a variation on The Post's motto, writing that "Democracy dies in the dark." In any case, the phrase was at the center of discussions when a small group of Post employees, including Baron and Publisher Fred Ryan, began meeting last year to develop a slogan. One planning document for the group suggested finding a positive variation on the early contender Democracy Dies in Darkness. The goal of the papers slogan, the document said, would be to communicate that The Post has a long-standing reputation for providing news and information with unparalleled analysis and insight. . . . Our position must be conveyed disruptively so we can shake consumers out of their news-as-commodity mindset. It added that any slogan must be memorable and may be slightly uncomfortable for us at first. It also had to be lofty, positive [and] not bossy and pithy enough to fit on a T-shirt. The group brainstormed more than 500 would-be slogans. The choices ranged from the heroic (Dauntless Defenders of the Truth) to the clunky (American democracy lives down the street. No one keeps closer watch.) to the Zen-like (Yes. Know.). The group ultimately ended up where it started with Democracy Dies in Darkness. Which means that the slogan, which will be added to print copies of the paper next week, could be among the most famous four words that Woodward has ever contributed to The Post. In time, the phrase might even rival "All the President's Men," the memorable title of the bestseller Woodward wrote with Carl Bernstein about Nixon's fall. A 29-year-old New Jersey woman admitted she paid a teenage boy $5,000 to shoot a woman who had stabbed her months earlier, authorities said. Rashanah Camper, of Atlantic City, pleaded guilty Friday to attempted murder and endangering the welfare of a child, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Monday. Camper is expected to be sentenced to eight years in state prison at a hearing scheduled for Oct. 19. The victim suffered a collapsed lung but survived the April 24, 2019 shooting in the area of Atlantic and Tennessee Avenues in Atlantic City. Rashanah Camper is wanted for her role in a shooting. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Camper is urged to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at 609-347-5788. Information can be text to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD. All texts are anonymous. pic.twitter.com/XFouystQSE AtlanticCityPD (@AtlanticCityPD) June 12, 2019 Camper provided the 16-year-old boy a gun and drove him around Atlantic City until they located the target, officials said. When Camper spotted the woman, she told the teen to get out of her vehicle and shoot. A gunshot struck the victims upper torso, prosecutors said. Camper hired the teen to shoot the 25-year-old woman as payback for being previously stabbed, according to BreakingAC.com. Both were charged in June 2019. The teenager Naim T. Madison was charged as an adult and previously pleaded guilty to attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 19 and receive seven years in state prison. Camper also previously pleaded guilty to possessing and selling drugs and was free on pre-trial release pending the outcome of the attempted murder case. Her five-year sentence in the drug case will run concurrently, the prosecutors office said. Both Madison and Camper must serve 85% of their prison terms before each is eligible for parole. Your journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. The Seaside Heights boardwalk was evacuated Monday morning after a series of hoax bomb threats claiming explosives had been planted in businesses, according to Ocean County authorities. Seaside Heights police received four calls shortly before 9 a.m. in what was later deemed to be a swatting incident. The calls also falsely claimed armed people were on the boardwalk, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said. The boardwalk was evacuated, but reopened about 10:30 a.m. Based on what we know now, these threats are swatting incidents, Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. We will continue to investigate this incident with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. Prosecutors have not announced any arrests in the case. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. A New Jersey man convicted in June of sexually assaulting a woman in a park in Middlesex County has admitted he committed two other sexual assaults at parks in Somerset County. Rogelio Calyeca Postrero pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of aggravated sexual assault for attacking a woman July 2021 in Bridgewater and another in May 2022 in Franklin, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said. Postrero, 38, is expected to receive 16 years in state prison at his scheduled Dec. 8 sentencing. He will have to serve at least 13 1/2 years before he is eligible for parole. Postrero was arrested in August 2022 on a lewdness charge after authorities said he was caught masturbating near a bridge in Raritan Borough. That arrest led investigators to link him to the sexual assaults in parks, authorities said. He was charged in Somerset County with two counts of aggravated sexual assault, lewdness and knowingly exhibiting false government documents in connection with separate attacks that occurred in Bridgewater on July 18, 2021, and Franklin Township on May 16, 2022. During the Bridgewater assault at Duke Island Park, he held a knife to a womans throat after she briefly stopped while riding her bicycle around 8:45 p.m., the Somerset County Prosecutors Office previously said. Postrero took the womans money and sexually assaulted her in nearby bushes before fleeing on a bike, authorities said. In the Franklin Township assault, he is accused of tackling a woman while she was running around 6 p.m. on a park trail near Blackwells Mills Road and Canal Road. The woman fought off Postrero as he tried to sexually assault her in bushes before he rode off on a bicycle, authorities said. When Postrero was arrested on the lewdness charge, investigators searched his home and found a bicycle that matched a description provided by the woman in the Franklin attack, authorities said. He was charged with the aggravated sexual assaults the next day. Postrero was convicted in June of sexually assaulting a woman at knifepoint in Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park on the border of Plainsboro and South Brunswick in September 2021. He dragged a woman into the woods at knifepoint, demanded money and sexually assaulted her, authorities said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Watertown, NY (13601) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High around 45F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain and snow showers this evening transitioning to snow showers overnight. Low 31F. Winds light and variable. Chance of precip 60%. Snowfall around one inch. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. If Jiri Barta is not a household name to animation fans, thats the fault of the marketplace much more than the filmmaker. It took more than two decades for Barta to gain the support to produce two stop-motion feature films, 1986s The Pied Piper and 2009s Toys in the Attic. He is reportedly at work on the third, a long-gestating version of the Golem of Prague story. Bartas feature debut, The Pied Piper is newly restored and released on Blu-ray by Deaf Crocodile and Comeback Company, and it is an utterly original, meticulously crafted, and grimly adult take on the classic folktale. Based specifically on Czech author Viktor Dyks 1915 retelling, the film casts a wary eye at the greed and cruelty of the townsfolk of Hamelin. An early sequence shows greedy merchants and stingy customers bartering over goods to the point it becomes grotesque and their faces grow gradually monstrous. A rat sneaks in to steal the goods and is swiftly and bloodily beaten to death by the people of the marketplace. In the films first half, the rats gradually infest the money-mad town. They steal food, but they also steal coins and jewelry. One rat amusingly builds a nest of stolen pearl necklaces and bejeweled pendants and proceeds to guard the nest jealously. Its tempting to cheer on the rats, if only because they get the better of the awful townsfolk. Bartas design of the town is full of odd angles that evoke the nightmarish perspectives of German expressionism (think The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari). Its bleakly rendered in textures of wood and rusted metal. Certain settings and images evoke medieval wood carvings, where the characters step out of and back into the relief. The characters themselves are wooden puppets with cubist features that dont move with the fluidity of The Nightmare Before Christmas or the Laika films. The style is meant as a visual echo of the storys Germanic origins, but it never feels overly studied and bristles with energy. The use of real rats for brief actions and taxidermied versions for more complex choreography also creates an interesting textural contrast with the hardness of the other elements in the frame. In the films second half, the Piper shows up with the solution to the towns rat infestation problem. He plays his tune and the hypnotized rats are possessed to follow him to their doom. As anyone familiar with the story knows, the townsfolk quickly ignore their promise to pay the Piper for his rodent removal. In this film, the miserly town elders are rendered even more grotesquely than the commoners, with scraggly teeth and screechy voices. (The film features no discernible dialogue, although the characters talk to each other in a German-sounding melodic babble. Some of the town elders voices reminded me, for better or worse, of the Neimoidians from The Phantom Menace.) Worse than stiffing the Piper, a few of the drunken town elders decide to have their way with Agnes, the Pipers new love. The Blu-ray commentary includes an anecdote about how the films German co-producers were initially hoping to sell this film to television as a family Christmas program, but the inclusion of Agnes (mostly offscreen) rape and murder put an end to that abruptly. This plot point comes straight from Dyks writing, but admittedly its a bit frustrating to modern eyes that the story fridges Agnes to spur the Piper to his final revenge. That revenge is also different from the best-known version of the Pied Piper story. This films take is a nice twist if you dont already know it, so Ill refrain from laying it out here. Barta ends the film on a quietly hopeful note that there is a better life beyond the avaricious confines of Hamelin, if the characters can manage to leave. Fans of Jan Svankmajer and the Quay Brothers should really check this film out. It delves into similarly dark, imaginative places and dazzles with its ingenuity and grace. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray The Pied Piper comes calling to Blu-ray from Deaf Crocodile and OCN Distribution. The film is pressed on a BD-25 disc and is housed in a standard keepcase with double-sided cover art. A booklet is enclosed, including some stills and an essay by Irena Kovarova. Vinegar Syndromes limited edition slipcover has already sold out. The disc loads directly to the full-motion main menu. A Terrytown man accused of gunning down a 17-year-old has pleaded not guilty in the case. Tyree O'Quinn, 18, was indicted Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of Jordan Butler. He entered his plea on Friday. O'Quinn and Jordan had been communicating with one another shortly before Jordan was shot and killed during the early morning hours of May 16, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. The two made plans to meet up that night near the 900 block of Monterey Court in Terrytown to exchange an item, though authorities did not say what. Author Yvvette Edwards is coming to Barnstaple Library to support aspiring North Devon writers. Yvvettes first novel A Cupboard Full of Coats was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2011. Its a family drama set over a weekend in East London and rich with voices from the West Indies. Shell be hosting the creative writing workshop on Thursday, September 21, at 2pm. After that Yvvette will be In Conversation at 6pm with Natasha Vigille from Barnstaple-based Afrocentric retail store Black Wall Street London. Jane Petch, Senior Supervisor at Barnstaple Library, said: Welcoming an author of Yvvette Edwards calibre to Barnstaple is extremely exciting for us. Were delighted Yvvette wont just be talking about her work, but supporting local writers in theirs. Were also really pleased that Natasha will be taking part and doing what promises to be an entertaining and thought-provoking interview with Yvvette. The writers visit to Barnstaple is part of a tour of diverse authors and creative practitioners to 20 libraries across the South West of England. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the tour is organised by South Western Regional Library Services CIO (SWRLS) in partnership with South West literature development agency, Literature Works. The 20 libraries on the tour include public, university, college, school and NHS hospital libraries, and theyll be hosting a wide variety of novelists, poets, playwrights and spoken word artists drawn from different backgrounds and cultures, both resident in the South West and new to the area. Each library has chosen the audience it most wants to reach, ranging from refugees and new arrivals, to young adults, to LGBTQ+, to neuro-divergent members of the local community as well as a broad and general public. Phil Gibby, Arts Council England, South West, Area Director, commented: As the national development agency for culture and creativity, we strive to ensure that every person has access to the remarkable creativity and culture on their doorsteps. This collaboration between South Western Regional Library Services and regularly funded organisation, Literature Works, helps us to achieve that mission. Further events in this programme will be hosted by Libraries Unlimited at Paignton and Exeter later this year. Tickets available to book: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/south-western-regional-library-services-cio A new Canadian study suggesting a link between the legalization of recreational marijuana and a spike in severe traffic injuries does not surprise Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield. "I have not had an opportunity to read the entire study, but the Indiana State Police has always maintained the importance of sober driving," Fifeld said. "A study that shows that driving after consuming any type of marijuana, THC product, alcohol, prescription drugs, or any illegal substance, to be highly dangerous would not be surprising to our agency," he said. "We witness the effects of impaired driving on a daily basis throughout our state." The Ottawa-based study looking at 426 cannabis-involved traffic injury emergency department visits found annual rates increased by 475.3% over 13 years. Trio reminded the hard way that pot is not legal in Indiana like its neighboring states All three men face a felony count of dealing marijuana due to the quantity of the drug discovered, police said. "These findings suggest that cannabis-involved traffic injuries have increased over time and that the commercialization of cannabis markets may result in further increases," according to the study. "Legalization of nonmedical cannabis with widespread retail access and increased cannabis product variety may have further increased these visits despite laws specifically aimed at deterring cannabis-impaired driving." "Younger adults and males appear to be at particularly increased risk of cannabis-involved traffic injuries," researchers found. "There is a potential need for greater interventions, including education on cannabis-impaired driving, enforcement activities, and policies to regulate access to commercial retail markets." Region facing influx of pot legal in neighboring states While all marijuana use remains illegal in Indiana, police across the northwest section of the state have been left to grapple with an influx of commercial and particularly potent pot products pouring in from neighboring Michigan and Illinois, where recreational sale and use of the drug are legal. The recent Canadian study echoes past findings by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which reported that in the 10 years between 2009 and 2018, the presence of marijuana had nearly doubled among drivers killed in crashes who were tested for the substance. State representative arrested for OWI following I-65 crash, police say An outspoken Hoosier lawmaker representing a portion of southeastern Indiana was arrested Wednesday following a vehicle crash near his hometown of Seymour, records show. "More recently, data from a 2021 NHTSA study shows that 56% of drivers involved in serious injury and fatal crashes tested positive for at least one drug, based on trauma centers studied last year." Drug-impaired driving is increasing enough across Indiana and the nation that it is beginning to outpace drunken driving, Devon McDonald, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute told The Times in April. This includes drivers impaired on a single drug, multiple drugs or a combination of drugs and alcohol, he said, which could be a contributing factor in what appears to be a growing frequency of motorists found passed out behind the wheel of running vehicles dangerously positioned on Region roads. Just more than a week ago, Portage police reported that a driver seen swerving into the oncoming lanes of U.S. 20 before passing out at the intersection of Willowcreek Road was nearly four times the legal limit for drinking alcohol and was believed to have been overdosing on drugs. Driver Darian Gibbons, 42, of Michigan City had to be revived using a dose of the opiate-neutralizing drug Narcan before being hauled off to jail on various charges of driving while intoxicated, police said. Debate over legalizing pot in Indiana "Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs, whether legal or illegal, is against the law," said LaPorte County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Derek Allen. "As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs can impair the ability to drive because they slow coordination, judgement and reaction times," he said. "Irresponsible motorists who operate while impaired create a danger to themselves, their passengers and the motoring public." Pot smoking driver can't hide that scent, Portage police say "The driver rolled down his driver side window and I smelled an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana emitting from the vehicle," police said. State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, has voiced his commitment to seek the legalization of marijuana for adult use in Indiana, perhaps with fewer barriers and taxes than those imposed by Illinois and Michigan to spur a more robust marketplace with lower prices. "Its one of those things in looking at some of these other states we see that theres still an illegal market, or an underground market, for cannabis, and most folks will tell you its likely due to the fact that it costs more at these dispensaries," Pol has said. Porter County Sheriff Jeff Balon is among those who remain opposed to the outright legalization of marijuana in Indiana, but is open to the potential of allowing limited use for medical reasons. "We do believe the amount of operating while intoxicated arrests will increase if marijuana is legalized and commercialized in our state," he said. He referred anyone considering the issue to take a look at the negative impacts of marijuana spelled out by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which describes itself as the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. VALPARAISO A 25-year-old Valparaiso man, who claimed to be a military veteran, faces two felony counts of child solicitation after being nabbed on video by a local vigilante group allegedly trying to meet a 13-year-old girl for sex, records show. A representative of the group NWI Predator Catchers is seen in a video confronting who they say is Zachary Crohan along the 1300 block of Lincolnway in Valparaiso at what police say was around 12:30 a.m. Friday. Crohan, with cell phone in hand, initially says in the video he was just out "walking around, playing Pokemon GO." "Not meeting a 13-year old?" he's asked. "Nope. Nope," Crohan immediately responds. When told by the group representative that he has several photos of Crohan from interactions on the Grindr hook-up app, Crohan denies it's him. When told police are going to be called, Crohan changes his story and says as a former soldier, he too was out hunting down child predators. "Catching guys like you," the group representative says in response. "No, not like me," Crohan says, adding he is married and has children of his own. Apparent vigilante video targets possible sex offenders; Portage cops investigate A local vigilante YouTube channel, which is targeting child sex offenders, has caught the attention of police, who say the are investigating alleged predators and channel organizers. A group representative, who called Valparaiso police to the scene, said he and his girlfriend had set up a decoy account on Grindr portraying themselves as a 13-year-old named Victoria, according to a charging document. He said Crohan contacted their decoy post and when asked what was going on, responded, "hopefully find some fun." Crohan then sent a photo of himself and asked who he thought was a 13-year-old girl if she would perform a sex act on him, police said. They agreed to meet along Lincolnway where the video confrontation took place. Police arrived and took Crohan to the nearby station where he conceded that he did respond to the post in question, according to a charging document. "Crohan admitted that he did not make the connection with 'Victoria' on Grindr to prevent a juvenile from being harmed or to catch a predator," police said. "Crohan stated that he wasn't thinking, and that he had a lot of stress in his life," police said. "He advised he thought 'Victoria' was attractive, and he admitted he had a moment of weakness that caused him to make a poor decision in continuing his communication with 'Victoria,' who he confirmed did tell him she was 13 years old." Crohan remained behind bars at the Porter County Jail Monday and his case has been assigned to Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer. New study linking legal pot with spike in severe traffic injuries does not surprise Region police While all marijuana use remains illegal in Indiana, police across the northwest section of the state have been left to grapple with an influx of commercial and particularly potent pot products pouring in from neighboring Michigan and Illinois, where recreational sale and use of the drug are legal. A representative of NWI Predator Catchers declined Monday to go on record with a comment, saying they prefer to remain anonymous. "Predator Catcher's mission is to intercept these dangerous individuals in the Northwest Indiana area and stop them connecting with minors," the group posted on social media. "Our team of law-abiding individuals utilize techniques and tools to help spot and track suspicious users and when prompted (by user) to meet/be solicited, we do so in a public manner as to not put ourselves or decoys in any danger." "Upon meet up, we record live and question their motives to the meet up and if laws were verifiably broken by said individual, we contact and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies to ensure that these predators are dealt with accordingly." While such vigilante efforts have gained popularity online, Portage police warned several years ago against the practice upon learning of another area vigilante group shooting a similar video of a confrontation. "People who do that are taking a huge risk," Portage police Sgt. Rob Maynard said the time. "This could have went poorly for that young man out there." While the outcome of these cases can result in criminal charges against those confronted, there also could be legal consequences for those posting the video, Maynard said. Six individuals received full tuition scholarships during the Northwest Indiana Teachers Scholarship dinner Saturday night at Calumet College of St. Joseph. According to a statement released by the college, Jillian Borozan, Anastacia Gomez, Isaac Kendall, Tyrah Kohut, Pollyanna Lopez and Araceli Martinez received the award. The scholarships are intended to address the need for qualified educators in the region, recruit and retain Catholic school teachers, and provide mentoring and support for current teachers, according to the statement. The scholarships are part of the college's Transition to Teaching program, which allows those with a bachelor's degree to receive their teaching certificate in two to three semesters. Recipients of the award commit to teaching for three years at a Catholic school funded by Big Shoulders Fund Northwest Indiana. The scholarships are funded by The Catholic Diocese of Gary Schools, Big Shoulders Fund and CCSJ. PHOTOS: New sand volleyball courts in Hammond Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts Ribbon cutting ceremony for new sand volleyball courts A moment changes everything. Just like that, he's gone, Tayell Leftridge told me just after her husbands death. Last month, Leftridge and her husband, Jamie, visited their son in Tennessee. Her husband collapsed in a hotel lobby while getting breakfast. Unconscious but breathing, he woke up unaware of his whereabouts. Emergency responders placed him into an ambulance, where he suffered a seizure. Shortly after arriving in a hospital he stopped breathing. Jamie Leftridge could not be revived. This was sudden and unexpected, his wife told her Facebook friends. I never saw him to say good morning or I love you. Life is a tapestry of moments woven together through years of otherwise unremarkable days. Most of our days are filled with mundane, predictable and largely forgettable tasks. And then it all gets tossed upside down in the flash of a second. We look back wishing we could relive those unremarkable yet remarkably content days. A moment changes everything. This is what Tayell Leftridge is experiencing. You never know how much you really love someone until they are taken away from you. My heart is in pieces. I will never recover, she said. If I had the choice right now, I would choose James over anything else in this world. They got on each other's nerves. They made each other mad. They both felt like they could get more love from each other, and that they could appreciate each other more. In other words, they were deeply in love. And all that comes with it. We deserved more time. This is just not fair. It's not right, she told friends. Just after Jamies death, his wife held his hand one last time. This time you didn't hold mine back, she said. There were no more jokes. No more smooches. No more exchanges of I love you. Death has a way of shutting a door we never knew existed. If I had known, I would have hugged you tighter. Told you I loved you one more time so you would know without a doubt that I loved you. I would have stayed up all night laughing and digging at each other as we often did. There would have been pillow talk. I would have rubbed your achy leg or back, Tayell said. I met Jamie only a couple of times. We exchanged only smiles and fist bumps. His family operates Enamele Soul to Soul BBQ and Cuisine, a pop-up food vendor and caterer based in Valparaiso. Let us feed your soul, its webpage tells customers. The Leftridge family fed my soul a few times since I first stumbled onto their food booth this summer at a festival in downtown Valparaiso. Their honey barbecued chicken enticed me. Their corn pudding converted me. After my first visit, I made a video and shared it on my social media sites. The next time I returned to their booth, James gave me an appreciative smile and fist bump as his son took my order and his wife prepared my meal. The experience reminded me of my familys food vendor booths and catering trucks. I shared this with Tayell as I ordered a second meal to eat later that day. (Watch a video and view more photos at the online version of this column.) The only thing I miss about my family business is working together with my family every day, I told Tayell, who shared a megawatt smile as she watched her family in action. Her smile has been dimmed since her husbands death. He did know his time was near, she said. Jamie suffered from a back injury, cervical spine fusion, diabetes, a previous heart attack and other health problems. He suffered in silence, as many men do. He had no clue that blood clots would make it to his heart and lungs, and it would take him away, his wife said. He kept telling her that his time in life may be short. She kept telling him that God promised them a long life together. Evidently, God felt that was no longer a viable option, she said. When Tayell returned home from Tennessee, she expected to be immediately overwhelmed by grief and despair as soon as she walked through the door. But the reality was that it felt like her husband was simply away with their sons or visiting family in Indianapolis. I know he's no longer here but I am expecting him to show up any minute, she said. That moment will never walk though the door. Her husbands wake will take place this Thursday at Valparaiso Nazarene Church, followed by a funeral on Saturday in Indianapolis. (Friends and loved ones opened a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses, at https://gofund.me/84455c2a.) I miss your laughter. I watch videos over and over just to hear it, Tayell said after his funeral. This is the silver lining to living in the digital age. We have the ability to capture moments that once upon a time took place only once. This is why I often drift away at family gatherings, private exchanges or public events. I have one foot in the present, another foot in the future, because all of this will immediately be our past. Some moments can be relived endless times. Other moments are captured only by memory, especially the painful ones. We forget this truth until this kind of moment intrudes on our life, our plans and our promises. Every moment is precious, Tayell said. Love, hug and kiss those you love. Time is way too short. Like I said, a moment changes everything. Donald J. Trump said Saturday that he would order surveillance of certain mosques to combat terrorism after the Paris attacks and claimed to have watched as thousands and thousands of people were cheering while the World Trade Center towers fell on Sept. 11, 2001. In a rally at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala., Mr. Trump, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, dismissed accounts of his apparent support for creating a registry of Muslims in the United States as an effort by the news media to entrap him. He then seemed to clarify that idea on Saturday, saying he wanted a database of refugees entering the country from Syria and adding, to cheers, I want surveillance of certain mosques, O.K.? Weve had it before and well have it again, he added. Mr. Trump has recently spoken of the New York Police Departments use of informants in mosques after the Sept. 11 attacks. Hillary Clinton is being treated for pneumonia and dehydration, her doctor said on Sunday, hours after she abruptly left a ceremony in New York honoring the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and had to be helped into a van by Secret Service agents. The incident, which occurred after months of questions about her health from her Republican opponent, Donald J. Trump, and his campaign, is likely to increase pressure on Mrs. Clinton to address the issue and release detailed medical records, which she has so far declined to do. Mrs. Clinton was taken from the morning event at ground zero to the Manhattan apartment of her daughter, Chelsea. About 90 minutes after arriving there, Mrs. Clinton emerged from the apartment in New Yorks Flatiron district. She waved to onlookers and posed for pictures with a little girl on the sidewalk. Im feeling great, Mrs. Clinton said. Its a beautiful day in New York. Mrs. Clinton left in her motorcade without the group of reporters that is designated to travel with her in public. A campaign spokesman, Nick Merrill, indicated that she had returned to her Chappaqua, N.Y., residence sometime after 1 p.m., and Mrs. Clinton was not seen publicly the rest of the day. Britain's top ballet schools have a "toxic culture," say former students, who are speaking out in a BBC expose on the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School. If you imagined such places to be largely about weird old people shouting at, bullying and manipulating girls into unhealthy weight loss, you would be right. Former dancers who attended the schools over the past two decades have made a series of claims about their treatment including: -Being regularly body shamed by teachers -"Coded" language being used to encourage weight loss -Being congratulated by teachers on losing weight, causing eating disorders to spiral -Experiencing bullying from teachers One retired ballerina the BBC spoke to has begun legal action against the Royal Ballet School for the treatment she says she suffered there. Lawyer Dino Nocivelli, who is representing Ellen and a number of other ballet dancers from another school, said his clients have come forward for different reasons. He says some want "an admission that the abuse took place, to hold these schools accountable". The two ballet schools told the BBC they were "working hard to change the culture." If that registers to you as "we'll think about it, but there's nothing you can do about it and it's really none of your business," you'd be right. It's an example of the general British mode of fatalism and contempt which defines public discussion of everything from social media policy to the country's status as a legal paradise for rapists. This article is part of our Design special section about new interpretations of antique design styles. In 1868, the designer Charles Eastlake published Hints on Household Taste, a popular guide to outfitting the home in good taste, from the street front to the china cupboard and all the rooms in between. In his introduction, rather than taking a supportive tone, he chastises the reader. When did people first adopt the monstrous notion that the last pattern out must be the best? Is good taste so rapidly progressive that every mug which leaves the potters hands surpasses in shape the last which he moulded? He blames it on the housewife, said Jennifer Kaufmann-Buhler, the author of Open Plan: A Design History of the American Office and an associate professor at Purdue University. The message is, Women have terrible taste, and we need to correct them, Professor Kaufmann-Buhler said, adding that she does a very lively reading of the passage for her students, annotating it in real-time in an over-the-top British accent. Despite Mr. Eastlakes seeming disdain for the clutter-mad housewives of the Victorian era, his Hints did provide a template for 150 years of house books. Every season brings out more manuals of household taste, from glossy-page inspirational books suitable for coffee-table display to chart-heavy how-to guides, with diagrams of immaculate closets and formulas for D.I.Y. cleaning products. In 2006, Ms. Martin established her namesake brand, which is focused on opulent, sculptural, genderless pieces in gold. Since then, she has weathered the expensive business of operating a fine jewelry business through recessions, lockdowns and other challenges to run a self-funded business with a showroom in a former grain warehouse in the Clerkenwell neighborhood of London. She is a walking advertisement for her latest venture, HMp (or Hannah Martin Pierced), a line of piercing jewelry and a piercing service. Overall, she hopes it will transform what is often a back-alley tattoo parlor-style experience to one that is elevated through handcrafted gold jewelry and premium customer care. She started researching the collection during lockdown when she was shopping for an industrial bar, a 1.5-inch piece of metal that pierces the upper cartilage of the ear at two separate points, creating holes that she said could take as long as 12 months to heal. I couldnt find one that wasnt really ugly, so I thought Id better make one, Ms. Martin, 43, said during a recent interview at her Brutalist-inspired studio. It just made sense to me as everything I try to do in jewelry is about waking up peoples senses and making people feel alive, she said. We live in a world that numbs you, whether it be from alcohol or stress or whatever, and piercing is the ultimate sensation. Creating wire from precious metal is not unlike making fresh pasta: Using a hand-cranked machine called a draw bench, the maker repeatedly forces the metal through the holes in a steel plate until the desired thinness is achieved, a technique called wire drawing. In the past, such fine wire was used to produce gold cloth for kings and to embroider gowns for queens. More recently it has been used for highly detailed jewelry that appears to have been twisted, woven, braided and even stitched from metal. Such pieces will be among the more than 200 items displayed in Treasures of Gold and Silver Wire, scheduled to open Sept. 29 at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London and run through Nov. 12. The exhibition has been planned to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, which continues to use the medieval spelling of wire. The company, as members refer to it, is one of the City of Londons more than 100 livery companies, some of which date to the 12th century. People think livery and they think uniforms. The better word would be guild, said Karen Watts, the exhibitions curator and a curator emeritus at the Royal Armouries. Theyre trade guilds. They were set up in order to protect and control a trade, take apprentices and guide them to becoming masters. Sweetie, the 59-year-old woman called out to her son. Can you take a day off from work and take me to the emergency room at Penn? She had been having fevers off and on for nearly a year, and she was fed up and a little scared. The first one only lasted a day. A month later another fever hit her, but again it was one day of feeling lousy. When it happened a third time, she made an appointment to see her doctor in Bridgeton, N.J., about 10 miles from the small Jersey town she called home for much of her life. Her doctor was concerned. This was a woman who was never sick, despite the fact that she was born with a bad heart and had a valve donated from a pig for the past 25 years. It had never slowed her down. The doctor sent her to the lab for blood tests. The results were puzzling: Everything was totally normal. Her white-blood-cell count gave no hint of an infection. Her blood cultures grew no organisms. Her doctor wasnt sure what to make of it. She told the worried patient to let her know if it happened again. She didnt have long to wait. A week later, over the Fourth of July weekend, shaking chills racked her body. The thermometer spiked to 103 and just stayed there. Four days in she was scared enough to go to the emergency room. But when she got to the E.R., her temperature was normal. They took some blood for tests, and when those didnt show anything wrong, she was sent home. Too Sick to Work After that, the fevers came faster: from monthly to every two weeks, then every week, and by the time she had to head back to the elementary school where she was a teacher, they came almost every day. Sometimes her temperature was 99 or 100. But soon it regularly got up over 101. Her primary-care physician sent her to see a specialist in infectious diseases. She went to her cardiologist. There were more tests, more blood cultures. She had a chest X-ray and an echocardiogram an ultrasound of her heart. She knew artificial valves were prone to infection, but all her tests, even the echo, were normal. It isnt unusual for a passer-by to mistake the home of the British artist Sarah Kaye Rodden for a shop. The 15th-century house sits on a bustling high street in the English village of Brasted, in rural Kent, and people are often lured inside by the distinctive objects she keeps near the entrance:a 1930s Belgian oak drawing board, a slatted chair by the Danish Modernist designer Grete Jalk and several of the artists own minimalist constructions made from paper, rubber and leather. I have to tell them that this is my home, and then they back away sheepishly, says Kaye Rodden, 48. Completed in 1430, the original timber-frame building, which once served as a medieval meeting hall, was in fact repurposed as an antiques store in the 19th century, and its large Victorian front window still seems to promise that rare treasures might be found inside. Kaye Rodden bought the three-story 2,200-square-foot home nine years ago with her husband, John Rodden, 49, an executive at the film production company Studio Canal UK. They had been looking to move from their one-bedroom maisonette in Londons Battersea district to somewhere with enough room for their two children, Aoife, 12, and Naoise, 8, to run around. Kaye Rodden, who comes from several long lines of makers her paternal great-great-grandfather was a tanner and harness maker; her maternal grandfather was a carpenter also wanted to set up a studio. In 2012, after working for years alongside acclaimed British designers including Thomas Heatherwick, Ilse Crawford and Faye Toogood, she began focusing on her own multidisciplinary art practice. She envisioned a space where she could experiment without restraint. Jump to: Todays Theme | Tricky Clues MONDAY PUZZLE It is tempting to approach the theme of todays crossword, which was constructed by Hoang-Kim Vu, with a certain degree of gravitas, since the revealer cites a Classic Maya Angelou poem (10D). Ill admit that I have never thought of Ms. Angelou, with her legacy of scholarship, art and civil rights activism, as having a whimsical streak. But as I watched her perform the lines from the cited poem see the video below I was reminded of another of Mr. Vus clues: What catches more flies than vinegar, in a saying (49D). Sometimes, doom and gloom isnt needed to carry the weight of a powerful message. You can kill them with kindness instead. Todays Theme The key to appreciating whats going on here lies in the title of the poem clued at 10-Down: Classic Maya Angelou poem or a hint to the answers to the starred clues and the circled letters, in two different ways. Everyone needs an editor. Writers, directors, cooks, choreographers and designers all need a ruthless eye internal or external for their work to find its form; the sculpture within the block of stone. You might even define a great artist by the ability to pitilessly remove the inessential, no matter how clever the sentence or brilliant the movement composition. There is plenty of fascinating movement in Boris Charmatzs first new work, Liberte Cathedrale, for the Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany, which opened on Friday night at the spectacular Mariendom church in Neviges, a 20-minute drive from Wuppertal. But the five-part piece is a capacious, messy, meandering grab-bag of ideas, inspirations and associations that havent benefited from uncompromising and focused decision-making. Charmatz became the director of Tanztheater Wuppertal last September, its fifth leader since the sudden death of its founder, Pina Bausch, in 2009. The troupe, the regions most prominent cultural institution, has struggled to find its identity since Bauschs death; the Charmatz premiere, attended by a considerable number of politicians, journalists and programmers, has been presented by the company and the media as the start of a new era. (There are also plans for a Pina Bausch Center, a major new cultural building for the city.) Charmatz is an ambitious and interesting choice for this company. A well-known choreographer, he has never formed his own troupe or accepted commissions from existing companies. His pieces have often been conceived for museums, public and unconventional spaces; he has collaborated with other choreographers and written books about dance. The Metropolitan Opera announced Monday that it had commissioned a new opera about Russias abduction and deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children, the latest action by the company to show support for war-torn Ukraine. The work, which will be written by the Ukrainian composer Maxim Kolomiiets, with a libretto by the American playwright George Brant, tells the story of a mother who makes a long and perilous trip to rescue her daughter, who is being held at a camp inside Crimea. While the characters in the opera are fictional, the story is based on real-life accounts by Ukrainian mothers who have described making the harrowing 3,000-mile journey from Ukraine into Russian-occupied territory, and back again, to recover their children from the custody of the Russian authorities. Peter Gelb, the Mets general manager, said the aim was to support Ukraine culturally in its fight for freedom. Also present was the cynical frontier moralism, balanced by sentimentality, that runs through most of Sheridans shows (including Yellowstone and its Old West spinoffs). The targets of judgment ranged from the worlds leaders, a feckless and incompetent bunch, to the Hamptons, where Cruz was drugged by a random sleazebag in a scene that, for this show, served as comic relief. When Joe told her bosses that she would be willing to sacrifice Cruz by calling in a missile strike, her cleareyed brutality was meant to both shock and thrill; of course, we knew that she would do whatever it took to save the soldier who had become her surrogate daughter. But Sheridans tics were easier to take in Special Ops, which felt more relaxed but also more tightly constructed than his previous shows (with the exception of the droll gangster drama Tulsa King, which is overseen by Terence Winter). Maybe its just practice across his six dramas, Sheridan has written or co-written close to 80 episodes of television over the last five years. Some of the credit certainly goes to the directors, Anthony Byrne, Paul Cameron and John Hillcoat, who had not worked on earlier Sheridan shows, and an excellent cast including Saldana, Nur, De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman as Joes C.I.A. supervisor and Morgan Freeman, in a few scenes, as the querulous secretary of state. If I had to guess, though, I would say that the real difference was that Sheridan found a form, the action thriller, that suits him better than the western soap operas and contemporary crime dramas that he has produced up to now. The faster pace and broader canvas helped to dissipate the pretentious, mythic quality of the dysfunctional-family melodrama that sits at the center of all of his shows. And Sheridans celebration of stoic American strength, with its of-the-moment undertones of exasperation and paranoia, was a comfortable fit in the context of clandestine counterterrorism operations on foreign soil, as long as you went along for the ride and didnt think too hard about what the show has to say about American imperialism and predatory capitalism. The problem with Sheridans other shows is that they give you too much time to think; in Special Ops, you could just focus on the mission. The show prompts viewers to wonder: Whats more chilling? The uncanny notion of a supernatural office-wide conspiracy? Or the very real knowledge that you can never know whom to trust because racism, either casual or systemic, could be lurking around the next cubicle corner? We really wanted for it to be unclear what is the actual scary part, Harris said in a late-August phone interview. Obviously, theres the twist thats happening, but also, its being gaslit in your office! A lifelong fan of true-crime and horror, the novelist was eager to make her first foray into TV writing (she co-wrote the pilot and wrote the penultimate episode) by channeling some of her eerie faves, including The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror. She and Rashida Jones the pilot co-writer and an executive producer also took cues from their mutual must-watch, Severance. The way that they nailed office life the mundane parts of it, but also the quirky parts of it that was something that excited me, Harris said of the Apple TV+ drama. She said she prefers creepiness that starts off in a very everyday kind of place, but then slowly, it becomes more and more clear that theres something off. Three weeks ago, Delta Air Lines passenger Paula Rodriguez's dog Maia went missing at Atlanta's Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Fortunately, Maia was found over the weekend. "ATL's Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities," the airport posted. "Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon." The ordeal began after Rodriguez and Maia, on their way from their home in the Dominican Republic to California, were denied entry by border patrol staff because her visa reportedly was not up to snuff. She was forced to hand Maia off to a Delta agent and spend the night in a detention center. When she arrived at the gate for her flight home the next morning, Maia didn't arrive and Rodriguez had no choice but to get on the plane without her. From CNN: THE POLE, by J.M. Coetzee The South African writer J.M. Coetzees novels are slim, and so, by and large, are his characters theyre Modiglianis, not Boteros. The most wraithlike, a saintly hunger artist, is the protagonist of his novel The Life and Times of Michael K, which won the Booker Prize in 1983. When an ample person does show up in Coetzees work, moral stigma is often attached. Take the hapless plump boyfriend in Diary of a Bad Year, from 2007, or the lesbian daughter of the canceled professor John Lurie, in the riveting novel Disgrace (1999). Shes a farmer. Lurie takes her fleshiness as a sign shes fled the strictures of civilized intellectual life. Coetzee isnt known for his humor, but Lurie takes a parched stab at a joke: Sapphic love: an excuse for putting on weight. Coetzees gravid new novel, The Pole, presents readers with another of his rawboned and priapic older men, unable to dampen the lust that plagues and shames them. This time he is Witold Walczykiewicz, a concert pianist from Warsaw whose name has so many ws and zs and cs in it that many people simply call him the Pole, as if he were a talking erection. (Coetzees name is similarly hard to pronounce. I discovered last week, even though I had my intonation from a good source, that Ive been saying it wrong for years. Its koot-SEE, not koot-SEE-uh.) Witold is 70, with a mane of silver hair. Hes craggy, severe, cadaverous. He records for Deutsche Grammophon. Hulked over his piano, he is said to resemble both an enormous spider and Max von Sydow. The Pole is about what happens when he travels to give a concert in Barcelona. There he becomes besotted with Beatriz, a name out of Dante. Shes a wealthy, graceful and married arts patron. He begins to pursue her, from near and far. She thinks: An old man in love. Foolish. And a danger to himself. She does not need him in her life. Or does she? Moroccos quake toll climbs as aid trickles in As the death toll from the earthquake rose to at least 2,862 and many settlements waited desperately for help, a senior Moroccan official insisted that the authorities had promptly addressed the disaster amid public criticism over the pace of aid. Government rescue workers began to reach some devastated mountain villages yesterday, three days after the country was hit by the strongest earthquake in the area in more than a century. Many were without power and phone service, fueling criticism on social media of the governments response. In the town of Amizmiz, at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains in Al Haouz province, more ambulances and uniformed emergency personnel were on the streets than on Sunday, and more survivors appeared to be sheltering in disaster relief tents than in makeshift structures. In some villages where the homes are made of mud bricks, as many as half of the houses were flattened. With official aid slow to arrive and the government offering little information about rescue efforts, many Moroccan citizens have stepped in to fill in the gaps themselves. Some residents, desperate for basic supplies, said that they felt abandoned. Who would have first claim? The bondholders from whom the city had borrowed? Or the police officers, firefighters, sanitation workers and teachers on whom New Yorkers depended every day? Or the beneficiaries of public assistance who depended on the city? And who would bear the blame? Former Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, whose worthies conceived of moral obligation bonds to enable more borrowing for good causes? Former Mayor Robert F. Wagner, who was re-elected in 1961 after granting the unions collective bargaining rights? His successor, John V. Lindsay, undone by the cost of good intentions? Or his successor, Abraham D. Beame, who had warned against fiscal gimmickry when he was the citys comptroller but sanctioned it anyway by voting for the unbalanced budgets, only to find that the buck stopped with him when he was elected mayor? And who should bear the brunt of the sacrifice? Public officials had long maintained low mass transit fares, free tuition at City University and other services, and had granted organized labor generous benefits not only to get re-elected, but to preserve the citys legacy as a global beacon of opportunity. Bankers should have known that the city was selling tax anticipation notes without having the slightest notion of how much tax revenue was anticipated, even as they reaped hefty commissions on each borrowing that sent the city deeper into debt. They made the accounting sexy, Burns said of the filmmakers. They made the people who get dismissed human and dimensional. The headline became the haiku of the fiscal crisis. Hundreds of films were submitted to the Better Angels Society, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to educate Americans about their history through documentaries. It winnowed the submissions to six and presented two to Burns and to Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. The runner-up was The Disappearance of Miss Scott, directed by Nicole London, which recounts the story of the jazz pianist and civil rights pioneer Hazel Scott, who went into exile during the Red Scare of the 1950s. The mid-1970s evoked by Drop Dead City are even more distant from todays audiences than the ancient history of the 1929 stock market crash was from New Yorkers who lived through the citys fiscal crisis. But, as Hayden explained, what gives the film vitality and relevance is that it puts history at the forefront. Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos legal fight to preserve the proceeds of a $5.1 million book deal took a stunning turn on Monday when a state judge essentially invalidated New Yorks new ethics commission, which was investigating the book deal. Justice Thomas Marcelle of State Supreme Court in Albany agreed with Mr. Cuomos lawyers that the new Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government was created unconstitutionally, removing enforcement powers from the governor. If the decision stands, it would seemingly render the 11-member panel obsolete; Gov. Kathy Hochul has vowed to appeal, which would result in an automatic stay. We respectfully disagree with the courts result and are reviewing all options, including, if appropriate, interim legislation, Frederick Davie and Sanford Berland, the commissions chair and executive director, said in a joint statement, adding that state ethics and lobbying laws remained intact. The ruling is Mr. Cuomos latest victory in his quest to restore his reputation since he resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and under threat of impeachment. Five district attorneys had opened investigations into his behavior but declined to pursue them or dropped charges. Mourners gathered in grief in Lower Manhattan on Monday, hugging each other and fighting back tears as they commemorated their lost loved ones on the 22nd anniversary of Sept. 11. Attendees of the ceremony honoring the victims of the worst terrorist attack on American soil sat in folding chairs and leaned against trees. Flute music filled the air while relatives of those who died read their names aloud, in a ritual that has been repeated for more than two decades. Some wore T-shirts emblazoned with photos of their family members; others carried posters or framed pictures. Many brought flowers and flags. Alfredo Martinez lived on New York Citys margins, a squatter who shook off one eviction after another. He was an artist who usually lacked a gallery and sometimes put on exhibits in a storage locker. Yet Mr. Martinez was also a player in the world capital of culture and media. He mastered a few artistic techniques. He had the chutzpah to break the rules. He saw that criminality could be a neighbor of fame. And he talked in the colorful manner that makes journalists listen. Mr. Martinez synthesized those qualities into an idiosyncratic strategy as a bohemian provocateur: Use prison to supercharge an art career. He did that in the early 2000s, after he pleaded guilty to art forgery. And with his guidance, Anna Sorokin transformed herself from a celebrity scammer being held in an immigration detention facility into an artist selling pencil and acrylic drawings for $10,000 a pop. Bret Stephens: Hi, Gail. Democratic mayors and governors are warning the Biden administration that the migrants crossing our southern border are straining their cities and states to the breaking point. New York City alone is sheltering and feeding an average of 59,000 migrants a day. Whats your advice to the White House? Gail Collins: Easy stuff first, Bret. There are job openings many newcomers could fill in areas like food service, if theyre given the ability to work. And the federal government needs to give stressed-out regions particularly New York City a whole lot more help when it comes to housing. Bret: Im definitely in favor of handing out work permits, if thats what you mean. Please go on. Gail: Making more housing available has to include building new accommodations and transforming existing city buildings, both residential and those with unneeded office space. Over the long run, we absolutely have to open up options for multifamily housing in suburban areas that have long resisted it. As to the border itself, Biden is trying to tighten up the whole immigration process, but a lot of his initiatives have been challenged in court. The administration has expanded federal border resources in an effort to make processing families faster. Although of course theres still more that should be done. One of the most influential books of the Trump years was How Democracies Die by the Harvard government professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. Published in 2018, it served as a guide to our unfolding ordeal. Over the past two years, we have watched politicians say and do things that are unprecedented in the United States but that we recognize as having been the precursors of democratic crisis in other places, they wrote. Because that volume was prescient about how Donald Trump would try to rule, I was surprised to learn, in Levitsky and Ziblatts new book, Tyranny of the Minority, that they were shocked by Jan. 6. Though theyve studied violent insurrections all over the world, they write in this new book, we never imagined wed see them here. Nor did we ever imagine that one of Americas two major parties would turn away from democracy in the 21st century. What astonished them the most, Levitsky told me in an interview last week, was the speed and the degree to which the Republican Party Trumpized. In How Democracies Die, he and Ziblatt had reproved Republicans for failing to stop Trumps rise to power. But at the time, he said, we didnt consider or call the Republican Party an authoritarian party. We did not expect it to transform so quickly and so thoroughly. Tyranny of the Minority is their attempt to make sense of how American democracy eroded so fast. Societal diversity, cultural backlash and extreme-right parties are ubiquitous across established Western democracies, they write. But in recent years, only in America has a defeated leader attempted a coup. And only in America is the coup leader likely to once again be the nominee of a major party. Why did America, alone among rich established democracies, come to the brink? they ask. Elon Musk, one of the worlds richest men who is now most famous for running the website X, formerly known as Twitter, has a new excuse for the companys shaky performance since he bought it last year. The problem, according to Mr. Musk, is the Jews. In an outburst on his platform on Monday, Mr. Musk claimed without presenting any evidence that ad revenues on Twitter are down 60 percent primarily due to pressure on advertisers by @ADL the Anti-Defamation League which he said has been trying to kill this platform by falsely accusing it & me of being anti-Semitic. While the website has long had a reputation as a cesspool for lies, hate speech and a significant neo-Nazi user base, under a former chief executive officer, Jack Dorsey, Twitter had begun to take steps to ban the most provocative and openly racist and antisemitic users. A 2018 report by the ADL noted that 4.2 million antisemitic tweets had been shared or re-shared on the platform in the previous year, before Twitters ban on extremist accounts took effect. Mr. Musk largely reversed those policies under the aegis of free speech. Thanks to the reinstatement of extremist accounts and a new algorithm which prioritizes posts from verified users who have forked over $8 a month to the company X/Twitter now functions as a bullhorn for the most toxic elements of the white nationalist right. Mr. Musk also blamed a collapse in the companys value estimates place the companys current worth at roughly one-third the $44 billion Mr. Musk paid for it on the ADL, saying that he was considering legal action against the ADL and signaling that he supported banning the organization from X. In April a pregnant woman died at a hospital in Kandy, Sri Lanka, of complications blamed on an anesthetic manufactured in India. A few months earlier, Indian-made cough syrups were linked to the deaths of children in Gambia and Uzbekistan. Substandard medicines also were found this year in the Marshall Islands and Micronesia before they could do any harm. These deaths in far-flung corners of the world reveal the contours of a global crisis of unsafe drugs that inordinately affects poor countries. Over the past two decades, India emerged as the pharmacy of the developing world, the leading manufacturer of generic drugs and medicines, producing more than 20 percent of the worlds supply. This has helped to make a range of medicines available to poor patients around the world who previously had to do without. Today, however, India stands accused of distributing death, as its regulators fail to prevent the manufacture and export of substandard medicines. But this isnt entirely a made-in-India problem. There is a dirty secret in global health: Rich countries get quality medicines; the poor sometimes get poison. The problem lies mainly in regulatory inequities between rich and poor nations. Developed countries have well-funded regulators keeping an eye on the safety and quality of drugs. Indias output, however, is overseen by its Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, an opaque agency that has long faced allegations of mismanagement and corruption. Many developing nations dont have the resources to properly vet imported medicines. Ron DeSantis has turned Florida into a nightmare of Christian fascist wackos stumbling over one another to see who can ban books faster. Christian, The Hugging Lion, a story of a lion raised by two men in a London apartment who remembers them years later, has been banned because someone in Florida thought the men might be gay. The story has nothing to do with gender identity; This is simply a book. Florida bans books. Raw Story: The Biden administration is working overtime to consolidate what is arguably Washingtons most significant advantage over its great power rivals, especially China. That advantage lies in the Middle East. More specifically, the United States has been pushing hard to forge a deal in which Washington would give formal security guarantees to Saudi Arabia and, in return, the Saudis would establish diplomatic ties with Israel, with Israeli concessions to the Palestinians. At the Group of 20 gathering in New Delhi, President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia exchanged a warm handshake. Last week, a high-level U.S. delegation visited Riyadh to pursue the potential agreement, following two separate trips this summer by the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Ian Wilmut, the British scientist who led the project that cloned a mammal for the first time, Dolly the sheep, shocking scientists who had thought that such a procedure was impossible, died on Sunday. He was 79. The Roslin Institute, a research center near Edinburgh where Dr. Wilmut had worked for decades, said in a statement that the cause was complications of Parkinsons disease. It did not say where he died. Dr. Wilmut and his team were catapulted into headlines worldwide in February 1997, when they announced their ovine subjects remarkable birth in the journal Nature. Cloning from embryonic cells was already known to work; in 1995, Dr. Wilmut and his research partner, Keith Campbell, had swapped out the nuclei of two sheep embryos with those of two others, producing two identical ewes, Megan and Morag. (Dr. Campbell died in 2012.) But most scientists had thought it would be impossible to clone an animal using adult cells. A riddle haunts the Titan disaster. Its the presence on the doomed craft of Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77. The Frenchman was one of the worlds great submariners. So why was he, of all people, diving repeatedly to the Titanic on a submersible that many experts saw as a catastrophe waiting to happen? Its a source of great puzzlement, said Victor L. Vescovo, a sea explorer who hired Mr. Nargeolet to oversee a series of unusually deep dives. Weeks before the loss of the Titan and its crew in June, Alfred S. McLaren, president emeritus of the Explorers Club, was hosting a dinner party at the Harvard Club of New York City for Mr. Nargeolet and eight other guests when he learned of his friends repeated dives aboard the experimental craft. I was speechless, Dr. McLaren, a retired Navy submariner, recalled. I wanted to say, What the hell are you doing? IN FEBRUARY OF 1969, by a first-floor window that looked out on 53rd Street, the Museum of Modern Art in New York installed a work by a then-34-year-old artist named Sheila Hicks called The Evolving Tapestry: He/She (1967-68). Made of more than 3,000 ponytails of linen thread, as the artist called them, stitched together and piled atop one another, it looked at first glance like something one might encounter in a commercial fabric store. Neither traditional sculpture nor painting, it conjured both, a monumental object made from the humblest materials. The show that featured Hickss work, Wall Hangings, was a rare American institutional endorsement of artists who make ambitious work out of fiber and broadened the idea of what art could be. Most of the artists included were women. But the exhibition received only one major review, in the niche publication Craft Horizons, by the sculptor Louise Bourgeois. At the time, Bourgeois, who also had work on display at MoMA in 1969, was making bulbous bronze, plaster and marble sculptures that referenced the human body. Though shed grown up working in her parents tapestry restoration studio outside of Paris, she wrote that, unlike a painting or sculpture, which makes great demand on the onlooker at the same time that it is independent of him, these works seem more engaging and less demanding. If they must be classified, they would fall somewhere between fine and applied art. They rarely liberate themselves from decoration, she concluded, deploying what might be arts most insulting critical term. But to conspiracy theorists and right-wing influencers online, each uptick is an opportunity to sow fear and rile up their supporters, according to disinformation experts. The use of plandemic and scamdemic two terms describing Covid-19 as a ruse rose sharply in August on right-wing websites, according to data from Pyrra, a company that monitors threats and misinformation on alternative social networks. I would almost call it an obsession for the Covid denier, anti-vax community, said Welton Chang, the co-founder and chief executive of Pyrra. They just make mountains out of molehills for every little thing. Misinformation about Covid-19 is as old as the virus itself. Much of it is about vaccines: One-third of Americans said they believed that the Covid-19 vaccines caused thousands of sudden deaths in otherwise healthy people, according to a survey published in August by the KFF, a nonprofit research group. While there is no link between Covid-19 vaccines and sudden deaths, conspiracy theorists have often circulated the idea as celebrities and athletes fall ill from unrelated causes. In many right-wing spaces online, users still claim without evidence that the virus is a planned bioweapon, that vaccines contain microchips or that unproven medicines offer simple cures for the viruss symptoms. The Justice Department also claims Googles practice of preloading its services on devices that use its Android software illegally helped the internet company maintain a monopoly. What does Google say? Google says that its business practices are legal and commonplace, and that when it pays to appear on Apples Safari browser or Mozillas Firefox, the agreement is akin to a maker of cereals paying supermarkets to stock its boxes at eye level. The search giant has also repeatedly argued that it has numerous successful competitors in online search. The company points to companies like Amazon and TikTok as thriving competitors. Even though they do not operate general-purpose search engines, Google argues that they are rival destinations where consumers go to find products or content that bypasses Google entirely. Google has also said that the government is using a flawed argument to target the company because of its popularity. The company believes it is successful because it makes the best search engine. Consumers have a choice to use other search engines, it argues, but choose Google because they find it most helpful. What does the government need to prove to win its case? The government has to show that Google has monopoly power over the areas of the economy at issue in the case. The government will try to convince the judge to take a relatively strict view of what a search engine is and to reject Googles argument that e-commerce sites like Amazon and social media services like TikTok or Instagram are in the same market as Googles search engine. The wider the market, the easier it is for Google to argue that it does not have monopoly power. The Justice Department argues in a federal antitrust suit that Google is a dominant tech company that has abused its market power to bully industry partners, protect its monopoly and thwart competition. That has a familiar ring. As U.S. et al. v. Google goes to trial this week, the echoes of the landmark federal suit against Microsoft, a quarter-century ago, are unmistakable. In the Google case, as with Microsoft then, a tech giant is accused of using its overwhelming market power to unfairly cut competitors off from potential customers. But on the eve of the Google trial, it seems unimaginable that the case could command the widespread attention that the Microsoft proceedings did. Microsoft in the late 1990s was a singular tech titan and its leader, Bill Gates, was a national icon. The Microsoft trial, which began in October 1998, spanned 76 days of testimony over more than eight months. Every major news organization covered it. The New York Times reported on the proceedings daily. The early polls show Donald J. Trump and President Biden tied nationwide. Does that mean Mr. Trump has a clear advantage in the battleground states that decide the Electoral College? Its a reasonable question, and one I see quite often. In his first two presidential campaigns, Mr. Trump fared far better in the battleground states than he did nationwide, allowing him to win the presidency while losing the national vote in 2016 and nearly doing it again in 2020. But theres a case that his Electoral College advantage has faded. In the midterm elections last fall, Democrats fared about the same in the crucial battleground states as they did nationwide. And over the last year, state polls and a compilation of New York Times/Siena College surveys have shown Mr. Biden running as well or better in the battlegrounds as nationwide, with the results by state broadly mirroring the midterms. The patterns in recent polling and election results are consistent with the trends in national surveys, which suggest that the demographic foundations of Mr. Trumps Electoral College advantage might be fading. Hes faring unusually well among nonwhite voters, who represent a larger share of the electorate in noncompetitive than competitive states. As a consequence, Mr. Trumps gains have probably done more to improve his standing in the national vote than in relatively white Northern states likeliest to decide the presidency, like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The blood supply in the United States has dropped to critically low levels, in part because of back-to-back months of worsening climate-related disasters, the American Red Cross said on Monday. The national supply has fallen nearly 25 percent since early August, and Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida late last month, caused more than 700 units of blood and platelets to go uncollected, the organization said in a news release. The distribution of blood was outpacing the number of donations, officials said, adding that 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers rely on the Red Cross to collect 12,500 blood donations each day. Donor turnout last month also dropped after one of the busiest travel seasons on record, along with back-to-school activities, contributing to a shortfall of 30,000 donations. It was just after midnight on a Saturday. A light rain was starting to fall in the mostly empty town square by the church. Evaldo Alves Feitosa was flipping his last burger of the night when he heard the gunshots outside his snack stand. I thought it was a firecracker from a party at the club over there, Mr. Feitosa said. When he looked out, he saw Danelo Cavalcante jumping into a silver car and speeding away. Left behind was Valter Junior Moreira dos Reis, lying in a pool of blood after being shot six times. Senator Dianne Feinstein has died at 90. Read the latest updates here. A judge in San Francisco on Monday ordered the two factions of Senator Dianne Feinsteins family fighting over the estate of her late husband, the wealthy financier Richard C. Blum, to try to settle the case through mediation. The order, which both sides agreed to, came as the lawyers in the case appeared in a courtroom for the first time after trading hostile accusations in legal filings over the summer. On one side is Senator Feinstein, who at 90 is in declining health and has faced questions about her ability to carry out the duties of her job, and her daughter, Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge. On the other side are the three daughters of Mr. Blum from a previous marriage, and his former business partners who are the trustees of his estate. In three separate lawsuits, Senator Feinstein, with her daughter serving as her legal representative, is fighting to sell a multimillion-dollar vacation home in Stinson Beach, north of San Francisco; seeking proceeds from the estate, including from Mr. Blums life insurance policy, to pay for her medical expenses; and asking the court to allow her to appoint Katherine Feinstein as a trustee of the estate. For months, Beth Levine, an attorney in New York, grew worried about developments in Israel, where the far-right government has sought to diminish the judicial branchs independence. Its efforts provoked massive protests in Israel and smaller ones in the United States, including most Sundays in Manhattans Washington Square Park. Though sympathetic to the cause, Ms. Levine, who lives in the Bronx, never attended. Then two things happened:Israels government passed the first of its judicial changes in July, a move supportive ministers said would eliminate an obstacle to the popular will. And Israeli expatriates in New York, loosely organized under a grassroots group called UnXeptable, planned a rally this summer across the street from Israels consulate in Midtown to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Tisha BAv, which commemorates the destruction of the ancient temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies. The timing resonated with Ms. Levine, and, for the first time, she came. It seemed to me very significant, she said. Many of the worst things that happened on that holiday happened because of sinat chinam, or baseless hate, among Jews. This month promises a flurry of activity. Organizers staged rallies in dozens of cities globally Sunday, two days before Israels Supreme Court considers an appeal of the first overhaul law, including one in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. Protesters in New York plan to greet Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sept. 21 when he is scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly. And a democracy prayer co-authored by a prominent American rabbi will be read at synagogues across the country for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year festival, which begins Friday evening. With stubbornly subterranean approval numbers, President Biden is taking early steps to shore up his re-election candidacy with a multipronged strategy that includes a costly advertising campaign and leveraging the powers of the bully pulpit. During his recent trip to India and Vietnam, Mr. Bidens aides aggressively pushed back on suggestions that he has lost a step, highlighting his busy schedule as a sign of his vigor. Back home, his campaign broadcast a television ad depicting a previous overseas trip a secret journey to Ukraine in February that the White House has trumpeted as a triumph of daring and a foreign policy tour de force. That ad comes three weeks into a $25 million battleground state campaign to promote Mr. Bidens economic record to a public that remains skeptical of the so-called Bidenomics pitch he began making this summer. Such an ad blitz is notably early for an incumbent, in the face of concerns that Mr. Biden is struggling to maintain support among young, Black and Latino voters key parts of the coalition that lifted him to office in 2020. While Mr. Bidens TV ads do not frontally address a central concern raised by Democratic voters his age they showcase his vitality and stamina. In three days of diplomacy in Asia, President Biden rallied world leaders to help finance poor nations, fortified the coalition backing Ukraine and struck a deal with Vietnam to counter Chinese aggression. But even before he left Vietnam on Sunday night, the president was hammered with a very different narrative. By Monday morning, as the 80-year-old president was flying home on Air Force One, conservative media outlets had seized on his end-of-trip news conference as the latest evidence that he is too old to perform on the world stage. It is a pattern that infuriates the White House, where Mr. Bidens top aides believe that stories about the presidents age and health are stoked by his enemies in an effort to undermine his accomplishments. When wildfires swept across Maui last month with destructive fury, Chinas increasingly resourceful information warriors pounced. The disaster was not natural, they said in a flurry of false posts that spread across the internet, but was the result of a secret weather weapon being tested by the United States. To bolster the plausibility, the posts carried photographs that appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence programs, making them among the first to use these new tools to bolster the aura of authenticity of a disinformation campaign. For China which largely stood on the sidelines of the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections while Russia ran hacking operations and disinformation campaigns the effort to cast the wildfires as a deliberate act by American intelligence agencies and the military was a rapid change of tactics. Until now, Chinas influence campaigns have been focused on amplifying propaganda defending its policies on Taiwan and other subjects. The most recent effort, revealed by researchers from Microsoft and a range of other organizations, suggests that Beijing is making more direct attempts to sow discord in the United States. Mr. Lemmas connection to Ethiopia, a country that is a significant recipient of aid from the United States, is unusual. Many of the recent espionage cases the Justice Department has pursued involve Chinas multifaceted efforts to infiltrate American companies and government agencies, like by stealing trade secrets and economic intelligence, or by recruiting people in the United States to serve as spies or to intimidate dissidents. Last month, two members of the U.S. Navy were charged with spying for China, accused of filching military secrets and other sensitive information. The United States and Ethiopia have a longstanding partnership, and it remains unclear what sensitive information Mr. Lemma, a graduate of the University of Baltimore, had obtained or how long he had been helping that country. But it is not uncommon for friendly powers to seek information inside the United States to provide their leaders with up-to-the-minute political, economic or military information, according to current and former U.S. officials. It also works the other way around. The trove of sensitive government documents that Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, is accused of posting to an online gaming platform illustrated the broad reach of U.S. spy agencies, including into the capitals of friendly countries such as Egypt, South Korea, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. Prosecutors have issued a new deadline Sept. 18 for four detainees at the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to show their willingness to plead guilty to plotting the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and receive a maximum punishment of life in prison. The fifth defendant in the case has been found incompetent to stand trial and is likely to be removed from the case. In a series of recent communications, prosecutors in the Sept. 11 case notified the judge that they will not call witnesses to contest a mental health panels finding last month that Ramzi bin al-Shibh is not sane enough to stand trial. Without a challenge, the judge is expected to sever him from the case when hearings resume next week after a 22-month hiatus. Prosecutors also notified defense lawyers that they have until the hearings start next week to submit signed agreements if Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, accused of masterminding the attacks, or any of the other defendants will agree to plead guilty. They describe the deadline as driven by the scheduled Oct. 7 departure of the current overseer of the case, Jeffrey D. Wood. In March 2022, Mr. Wood authorized prosecutors to pursue guilty pleas that would spare the defendants a capital trial to resolve the long-running case. Lawyers for former President Donald J. Trump on Monday asked the federal judge overseeing his looming trial on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election to recuse herself, claiming that she has shown a bias against Mr. Trump in public statements made from the bench in other cases. The recusal motion was a risky gambit by Mr. Trumps legal team given that the judge, Tanya S. Chutkan, will have the initial say about whether or not to grant it. Mr. Trumps lawyers have tried this strategy before, attempting and failing to have the judge overseeing his state felony trial in Manhattan step aside. In a motion filed in Federal District Court in Washington, John F. Lauro, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, cited statements Judge Chutkan had made about the former president at hearings for two defendants facing sentencing for crimes they committed at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. At one of the hearings, in October 2022, Judge Chutkan told the defendant, Christine Priola, a former occupational therapist in the Cleveland school system, that the people who mobbed the Capitol on Jan. 6 showed blind loyalty to one person who, by the way, remains free to this day. In a case that became a national flashpoint over transgender rights in schools, Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has pardoned a father who was arrested during a contentious school board meeting in Loudoun County. Mr. Youngkins office released a statement Sunday announcing the pardon of Scott Smith, who was charged after he rose to announce during a 2021 school board meeting that his daughter had been assaulted in a high school restroom by a boy wearing a skirt. The Loudoun County School Board was debating the subject of restroom use by transgender students at the meeting. Mr. Smith was arrested after he clenched his fist and leaned toward a woman during an argument. Deputies dragged him to the ground as he continued struggling and arguing with them, an encounter seen in video that flew across the internet. Mr. Smith was convicted of two misdemeanors in connection with the episode, but one of the charges obstruction of justice was later thrown out, and Mr. Smith was scheduled for trial on Sept. 25 in an appeal of the remaining charge disorderly conduct. Deadly floods swept through northeastern Libya over the weekend, with the top official in the region warning that the toll could exceed 2,000 dead as rescue teams searched for survivors. The Libyan Red Crescent, a nonprofit aid group whose volunteers had helped evacuate residents, said late on Monday that more than 300 people had died in the floods in the port city of Derna in eastern Libya. And more than 5,000 to 6,000 were missing because of floods in the city, apparently caused by the collapse of dams above Derna, said a spokesman for the Libyan National Army that controls eastern Libya, according to The Associated Press. Exact figures on the scale of fatalities were difficult because of ongoing search efforts on Monday, a spokesman for authorities in that region said on Monday evening. Libya has been divided between an internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and a separately administered region in the east. Government rescue workers began to reach some devastated mountain villages in Morocco on Monday, but many more settlements were waiting desperately for help, three days after the country was hit by the strongest earthquake in the area in more than a century. In the town of Amizmiz at the foot of the High Atlas Mountains in the province of Al Haouz, more ambulances and uniformed emergency personnel were on the streets than on Sunday, and more survivors appeared to be sheltering in disaster relief tents rather than in makeshift structures. But some roads in the Atlas Mountains near the ancient southern city of Marrakesh remained blocked by landslides caused by Fridays earthquake, which killed at least 2,862 people and injured at least 2,562, according to the latest figures released by the Interior Ministry on Monday. Nelia Sancho was a 22-year-old student at the University of the Philippines when she witnessed something no student should see: Two of her professors were shot point-blank by government agents in front of her. They had been considered enemies of the state by the despotic regime of President Ferdinand Marcos for their involvement in the Communist Party. The incident would have a lasting impact. Ms. Sancho was catapulted into a lifetime of activism protesting the Marcos regime, as well as fighting for womens rights. It was an unconventional role for her. Until then, she was better known as a beauty queen traveling the world to compete in pageants. It was her first experience with that kind of violence, her daughter, Anna Liao-Balanquit, said in a phone interview. And she said thats how her awakening started. When North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, visited President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia four years ago, it was mostly for diplomatic show. But this week he will visit Mr. Putin a second time with the ability to supply something the Kremlin desperately needs: munitions that could help Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. The meeting, announced by both governments, comes as Mr. Putin is courting support for his standoff against the United States and NATO from other leaders opposed to Western dominance. Some, like Iran, have provided direct military assistance to Russia for its war in Ukraine, while others, like India, have resolutely declined to condemn Russian aggression. In a brief statement, the Kremlin said Mr. Kim would pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days at Mr. Putins invitation. On Tuesday, North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said that Mr. Kim had left Pyongyang, the capital, for Russia by train on Sunday. Photos showed that he was accompanied by the Norths foreign minister and its two highest-ranking military commanders. Ukrainian investigators in a makeshift prison and torture chamber in the bottom floor of an office building, in Kherson, Ukraine, in November. Torture perpetrated by Russian officers against Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war has reached such a level that it is clearly a systematic, state-endorsed policy, a United Nations expert on torture said Saturday. Witnesses shared accounts that were credible, said Alice Jill Edwards, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture, and that confirmed a consistent pattern of torture, including rape and beatings, in different detention facilities under Russian occupation and among Ukrainian soldiers captured by Russian forces. She spoke in an interview on Saturday as she wrapped up a seven-day visit to Ukraine. This is not random, aberrant behavior, Ms. Edwards said. This is orchestrated as part of state policy to intimidate, instill fear or punish to extract information and confessions. Her comments were one of the strongest condemnations implicating the Russian leadership by an independent expert since Russias full-scale invasion last year. She said she had reached out to Russian authorities at least seven times since receiving her mandate a year ago, drawing attention to the behavior of its troops and personnel in its detention facilities, but had received no response. Moscow has denied it practices torture, she said, but its refusal to address the issue, and the accumulating cases, amounted to tacit approval of its use. Russian authorities have failed so far to send a directive to their soldiers and the military command informing them that torture and such types of detentions and interrogations are not acceptable, she said. They deny they do it, but show me the military directive where torture is prohibited. Moscow had failed to respond even to her recent offer to visit and report on the conditions of Russian prisoners of war held in Ukraine, she added. An Australian lawyer and academic, Ms. Edwards said she had twice been obliged to postpone visits to Ukraine for security reasons, but the buildup of evidence had made a visit in person imperative. Last week she made public details of four individuals who had told her they were tortured while detained under Russian occupation in the region of Izium in northeastern Ukraine last year. Ukraine has opened 103,000 general cases for prosecution related to the conflict, she said. Of hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia and released in exchanges, Ukrainian officials have said 90 percent suffered torture, including sexual violence, she said. The scale is neither random nor incidental, she said. Former prisoners of war held by Russia suffered a dangerous level of weight loss from starvation during their detention, she said. One former prisoner told her he had lost 40 kilograms almost 90 pounds during incarceration, and his hair had turned gray. Some described fellow prisoners dying in custody from beatings or poor conditions. She also met a woman who described suffering two heart attacks while in detention after enduring torture and being forced to watch her son being tortured. This was so distressing to her that she was ready to sign any document that there was, Ms. Edwards recounted. Even after signing a confession, the woman was held for an additional 300 days, she added. There is a structure to it, she concluded. Someone is supervising it, someone is perpetrating it, and someone is interrogating and has this role to do that. Ms. Edwards is well known for her work on sexual violence, in particular during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for her breakthrough legal argument, now accepted globally, that rape and sexual violence are forms of torture and persecution. Yet she expressed frustration that during her visit she was not able to advance far with cases of sexual violence against women in the Ukrainian conflict. Relatively few Ukrainian women have come forward to prosecutors with complaints of sexual torture or crimes, she said. Especially in rural areas, women suffer from the stigma of sexual abuse and are deterred by the added threat of accusation of collaboration. At least one rape victim has been charged with collaboration, she said. Men, who also suffered sexual torture in detention, have come forward in larger numbers, she said. There is evidence that it is a larger problem for women. One nonprofit organization found increased demand for the morning-after pill from women in areas that were recaptured from Russian forces, she said. Ms. Edwards said that the coercive environment of the conflict zone was enough to establish lack of consent in cases of sexual violence. But she added that Ukraine needed more female investigators and more training in investigation and interviewing techniques to establish rapport and allow women to open up. Women and men need to feel safe that this is something they can speak about, she said, and of course necessarily get all the treatment they need and get the help to be able to recover from it. An American cave expert who became ill while he was more than 3,000 feet underground in a cave in Turkey, prompting an international rescue effort, was pulled safely from the cave soon after midnight Tuesday morning local time and immediately brought to a medical tent, the Speleological Federation of Turkey announced in a statement. While he was deep underground, the caver, Mark Dickey, 40, who is himself an expert cave rescuer, suffered gastrointestinal bleeding and lost three liters of blood. He was part of an expedition that was exploring the Morca cave, which he entered on Aug. 30. After he became ill, a member of his party made the harrowing, hourslong climb to the surface and alerted authorities on Sept. 2. That brought more than 180 people from eight countries, including Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Poland and the United States, to help rescue him. Many of them camped out in the cave or near its opening in a remote part of the Taurus Mountains in Turkey. The rescuers began moving Mr. Dickey up the cave on Saturday afternoon, according to the Speleological Federation of Turkey. The teams had to navigate some narrow passages, said Yaman Ozakin, a spokesman affiliated with the Turkish cave rescuers. When the earth seized his house and shook it late Friday night, Mohamed Abarada ran outside with his 9-month-old daughter in his arms. His mother, his wife and his 9-year-old daughter were still inside, trapped. Mr. Abarada started digging with his bare hands. He dug by day with the help of neighbors and relatives, and by night with the flashlight on his phone. The two older women were pulled out lifeless, joining the roster of the dead in Douar Tnirt, a village of a few hundred people a long way down a narrow winding road high in the Atlas Mountains. But on Monday, his daughter Chaima had yet to be found. With Mr. Abaradas shoulder injured, his fellow searchers urged him to rest while they kept sifting through what had been his house broken bricks mingled with broken wood, bamboo roofing, couch cushions, a satellite dish and teakettles, all the flotsam of family life. He ignored them. He had an exact idea of where Chaima had been on the stairs, trying to flee and he and the others worked at the hole they had made with shovels, picks and their bare, untrained hands. Even by the prolific standards of Chinas foreign influence operations, it would represent a sensational case of infiltration. A 28-year-old British man who worked as a researcher deep inside Britains Parliament was arrested in March on suspicion of working for the Chinese government. The man, who denies being a spy, worked with prominent lawmakers on China policy, raising fears of possible security breaches and widening a rift within the governing Conservative Party over how London should engage with an increasingly assertive Beijing. The Chinese are infiltrating across the board; they go for anything and everything, said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London. What is new is how effective they are, and how far they have managed to go. The Metropolitan Police said two men were arrested under the Official Secrets Act and were released on bail until October. The men, whose identities were not released by police, have yet to be charged, and lawmakers were asked not to prejudice the investigation by naming them. (News organizations have also not done so, aside from The Sunday Times, which first reported the news of the researchers arrest on Saturday and has since named him.) Little has been disclosed about the second man, except that he is reported to be in his 30s. When Ana Lavi neared the gates of her village in southern Israel late one night in July, a small group of men appeared in the road, surrounded her car and blocked its path. The men had gathered half in celebration, half in vengeance. Hours earlier, Israels ultranationalist and religiously conservative governing coalition had passed the first part of its deeply contentious effort to weaken the Supreme Court. To mark the moment, some of the governments supporters had rushed to what they saw as the nearest symbol of Israels opposition: Ms. Lavis village, Kibbutz Hatzerim, one of the collective farms that have long been associated with the countrys secular and left-leaning elite. Ms. Lavi phoned for help. The kibbutz security guard hurried to the scene, accompanied by other residents. A scuffle broke out, and the guard drew his pistol. Since Walaa Ali first fled her home in central Syria nearly 10 years ago, she has moved around the country four times, seeking safety for her family. Each time she settled in a new place, she spread the word about mate. Every morning, Ms. Ali, 27, carefully sets out a gold-mirrored tray with a matching teakettle, a sugar bowl that she fills with ground ginger, her tea glass and a metal straw for her morning mate (pronounced MAH-teh) the strong, bitter tea native to South America. Ive been displaced from one place to another, and in every place, I got to know neighbors and I would introduce them to mate, she said recently as she sipped from her cup, filled with hot water and a generous helping of mate leaves, which floated on top. They know if they are going to come to Walaas home, they are going to drink mate. The drink, made from a leaf called yerba mate and hugely popular in countries like Argentina and Brazil, has a large and fervent following in Syria, one that has grown over the decades. Syrians have increasingly taken to the social and communal ritual surrounding its consumption, not unlike a hookah shared among friends or family. Explore How Income Influences Attendance at 139 Top Colleges At many selective private colleges, being very rich is a door to entry students with parents earning in the top 1 percent attend at much higher rates than other similarly qualified students, new data shows. At most flagship public colleges, on the other hand, there is no such difference, and in-state students from across the income spectrum attend at roughly similar rates. The data comes from an expansive new research project on college admissions. It combines college attendance records with federal income tax data to show the share of all college-bound students who attend a given college, by parental income. And it shows the chances that similarly qualified students those with the same standardized test scores have at attending a college based on their parents income. The data is available for 139 colleges, including the top private colleges according to Barrons and many of the top public and private colleges in U.S. News & World Report. (It leaves out some large public universities, as the researchers did not have separate attendance data for individual campuses.) Look up colleges here: The new data comes from Opportunity Insights, a group of economists led by Raj Chetty of Harvard. It was behind a large study, published in July, that combined tax and attendance data for nearly all college students from 1999 to 2015 with applicants' standardized test scores. The researchers also had access to internal admissions data for several of the most elite private colleges. The data shows that students from higher-income families are far more likely to attend top colleges. At many selective colleges, both public and private, over half of students come from families earning in the top 20 percent, and fewer than one in 20 students have parents earning in the bottom 20 percent. Look up colleges: Dartmouth College Family income of Dartmouth students Estimated as of 2015 Source: Opportunity Insights and Chetty, Deming, Friedman (2023) Figures are rounded. Incomes are measured from the parent income tax records of college attendees who took standardized tests and were on track to graduate high school in 2011, 2013 or 2015. Here's how the student body at Dartmouth compared with that of other top colleges in the data: Top 1% share, by college At the most elite private colleges, like those in the Ivy League, students from rich families have an even greater advantage, getting in at much higher rates than other similarly qualified students. Take two students with the same test score. At Harvard, those from the top 1 percent attended at 1.5 times the rate of a typical student with that score. The poorest students with that score, those from the bottom 20 percent, also attended at a higher rate, but there were far fewer of them. Attendance rates at Ivy League schools Among students with the same test scores The advantage for the very rich at these highly selective colleges is driven by legacy admissions, the recruitment of athletes, and a preference for students from private "feeder" high schools, found the new paper, by Professor Chetty, John N. Friedman of Brown and David J. Deming of Harvard. In much of the next tier of elite private colleges, rich students have a similar advantage. But at some, theres even less socioeconomic diversity poor students, even with the same test scores, have a lower chance of attending than the typical applicant with that score. Considering students with the same score, at Georgetown, someone from the top 1 percent was 2.7 times as likely to attend as a typical student with that score, while a student from the bottom 20 percent was about half as likely to attend. Attendance rates at selective private colleges Among students with the same test scores Attendance rates at top liberal arts colleges Among students with the same test scores This is partly because these colleges tend to have fewer resources to recruit high-achieving students from low-income families, and smaller financial aid funds to pay their way. Ivy League colleges often promise a full ride to any admitted student whose parents earn below a certain amount. You dont have to move too far outside the top schools before they cant meet your need, said Jesse Rothstein, a professor of economics and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies education. And hows a kid going to know to apply? At many public flagship colleges, in-state students from the richest families are no more likely to attend and often less likely to do so. At the University of California, Los Angeles, for instance, students from the bottom 20 percent attended at 1.5 times the average rate of students with the same test score, while the very richest students were 0.8 times as likely to attend. Attendance rates at some flagship state schools Among students with the same test scores Public universities have different mandates to educate a certain number of students from their state and different admissions processes. The University of California schools, for instance, forbid giving preference to children of alumni or donors. Attendance rates at California state colleges Among students with the same test scores And even when public flagships give recruited athletes an admissions advantage, they are so much larger than selective private colleges that it makes little difference in overall admissions. For out-of-state students, who pay more, attendance is less equitable. Professor Chetty said, The key lever there is to what extent are you actually state-financed as an in-state institution? Some less selective state universities in the data set are even more socioeconomically diverse. Students from the richest families attend at much lower rates, while students from poor families attend at higher rates than average. Among other reasons, the richest families are more likely to choose to pay for private college instead, researchers said. At Stony Brook University, for example, students from the 20th percentile and below attended at nearly 2.5 times the rate of the average student with the same test score, while the richest students with that test score attended at well below the typical rate. Attendance rates at other state schools Among students with the same test scores In all these groups, there are exceptions to the patterns. Admissions priorities and policies vary. At tech-focused colleges, like M.I.T. and Carnegie Mellon, students with the same test scores from low-income and high-income families attended at roughly similar rates. Certain private liberal arts colleges, like Swarthmore and Wellesley, had also achieved this. Also, attendance rates are based on data through 2015, and some colleges have changed their policies since then. Even though college attendance rises with parental income, when it comes to educating the majority of Americas four-year college students, public universities play a vital role regardless of how much their parents make. Theyre not undoing those disparities, but its pretty remarkable that theyre not making it worse, Professor Deming said. The schools that educate the vast majority of students are pretty fair in who gets in. After a trial lasting over three months, judges presiding at a vacation sitting of the Special Criminal Court have today acquitted two men of carrying out the 2013 credit union robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was murdered. Concluding the five-hour judgement at the Special Criminal Court today, presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt said the evidence established beyond a reasonable doubt that Armagh man James Flynn was an active member of the gang that carried out the robbery and that he was intimately involved with garda murderer Aaron Brady and another man involved in the theft of the getaway car. "The evidence establishes that he participated with Brady in conducting two surveillance instances on the day of and the night before," he added. The judge said Flynn lied about his whereabouts at the time of the robbery and that he was involved with Brady and others in the planning and execution of the crime. He said Flynn drove his BMW to the site where the getaway car was burned out and removed the culprits from the burn site. He said therefore that Flynn was an accessory before and after the event. Mr Justice Hunt said the State's case was that Flynn was one of the four men directly involved in the robbery. "There is no doubt at all as to the general complicity of Aaron Brady and James Flynn in this matter but ultimately we are not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that James Flynn was one of the direct participants in the robbery." Earlier today however, the non-jury court did find Flynn guilty of conspiring with garda killer Aaron Brady to steal a car that was used in the robbery of Lordship Credit Union. Flynn's co-accused Brendan Treanor was also acquitted this evening by the Special Criminal Court of the charge of robbery, with the three-judge court finding that there was no direct evidence to link him to the scene of the credit union and insufficient evidence to convict him of the count. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, said whatever about Mr Treanor's involvement with members of the gang who carried out the robbery, the prosecution had not excluded the reasonable possibility that the defendant was in fact at home at the time of the robbery. The judge added: "The case was not opened or closed by reference to joint enterprise or common design, his presence at the car park is a central plank of the case. There is no other overt evidence to link Mr Treanor to the scene or the destruction of the getaway car". It was the prosecution case that Mr Treanor was one of four people who jumped over the wall of the credit union as a convoy of cars carrying cash and gardai was blocked into the car park by the stolen Volkswagen Passat. Mr Justice Hunt said although the court was satisfied from call data records that Mr Treanor was closely associated with the criminal gang that robbed the credit union and had approved of its activities, it could only consider the indictment presented to them and said the court could not convict with a sufficient degree of certainty. "We have no option but to enter a not guilty verdict," he said. Referring to Mr Treanor's phone on the night, the judge said its pattern of communication was entirely consistent with some involvement in the robbery but did not serve to put him at the scene. Other strands of evidence, he said, showed Mr Treanor's potential involvement but fell short of "a compelling conclusion" that he was present at the scene of the robbery. "He was party in some way to the events that evening but they do not unequivocally lend to the extension of him being an active participant in the robbery," added the judge. Mr Justice Hunt referenced a tattoo on Mr Treanor's back as being "the most intriguing, striking and colourful part" of the case. It was the State's contention that the tattoo was a "pictorial admission" of Mr Treanor's involvement in the robbery of the Dundalk credit union during which Det Gda Donohoe was shot dead. A close-up photograph of the large tattoo drawn across Mr Treanor's upper back, which was taken by gardai upon his arrest in April 2021, was displayed on screens in the courtroom during the trial. In his closing speech, Lorcan Staines SC alongside senior counsel Brendan Grehan, prosecuting, called it "extraordinary" that Mr Treanor had chosen in 2018 to get a tattoo on his back that had a number of elements which had "striking" coincidences to what happened at Lordship.The tattoo depicted four males with hats, including one holding a long barrelled firearm, along with a woman wearing a balaclava with a gun to her lips, a large BMW car, a pistol, rounds of ammunition, a knuckle duster and wads of money. Counsel said Mr Treanor had the large tattoo printed on his back "perhaps at a time when the defendant felt long enough had gone by and he had gotten away with what he had done". The prosecution called it an "act of hubris" on the defendant's part. Mr Justice Hunt said today that the court did not accept defence counsel's suggestion that the tattoo was irrelevant and called it "plainly relevant and not just an unhappy coincidence". He said the truth of the matter was as suggested by the prosecution that Mr Treanor had applied the tattoo as a sense of impunity based on the passage of time. "Whereas this tattoo can be regarded as a pictorial admission that he profoundly approved of these crimes, that he was a member in the broad sense of the gang and highlighted the self-serving mendacity of his protests of innocence, it does not prove he was one of the four in the carpark [of the credit union] or resolve the other doubts," he said. In his closing address last May, senior counsel Sean Guerin, for Mr Treanor, said there was no case against his client, who was accused of participation in the credit union robbery that resulted in the death of Det Gda Donohoe. The barrister also argued that there was no evidence Mr Treanor left his home on the evening of the robbery and that the prosecution relied on speculation and theories that "make no sense". There was, the lawyer said, a more convincing case to be made against at least two others who were not before the courts and he accused the prosecution of "desperation" in how it had put forward its evidence. Mr Treanor was also acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of a charge of conspiracy to commit burglaries, with the three-judge court finding that there was insufficient evidence to convict him. Brendan Treanor (34), previously of Emer Terrace, Castletown Road, Dundalk, Co Louth, and James Flynn (32) from South Armagh were charged with the robbery of 7,000 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Both men were also charged that between September 11, 2012, and January 23 2013, they conspired with convicted garda murderer Aaron Brady and others to enter residential premises with the intention of stealing car keys. Both accused had pleaded not guilty to all charges. Aaron Brady (32) previously of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum having been found guilty of murdering Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and of the robbery at Lordship. He denied any involvement in the robbery and is awaiting an appeal against his conviction next month. Aaron Brady's father Tony Brady was excluded from court in May by the judges after he posted a video online accusing a garda who gave evidence during the trial of committing perjury. Before beginning the judgment today, Mr Justice Hunt said he had received a note on behalf of Mr Brady. The judge said Mr Brady had been excluded because he "abused the facility of being here by publishing scandalous material which was not a fair reflection of anything said in court." He said Mr Brady was "excluded on that basis and remains excluded". The trial of the two defendants finished on May 19 this year, following 55 days of evidence, legal argument and closing speeches for the prosecution and defence. A sentencing hearing for Flynn will be held on November 13 next after he was earlier found guilty of conspiring with Brady to steal a car that was used in the robbery of the credit union. Will It Rain Today In Chennai, Bengaluru? Get Latest Weather Report Watch: Massive Fire Breaks Out At Depot In Veerbhadra Nagar, Bengaluru, Over 21 Buses Gutted Bengaluru: How Forest Dept Trying To Capture The Leopard? Bengaluru Bandh: How Sudden Declaration Of Holiday Created Inconvenience To Students Bengaluru oi-Prakash KL The sudden declaration of a holiday in some schools in Bengaluru created a lot of inconvenience for students in Bengaluru on Tuesday. According to a report in Oneindia Kannada, many parents had missed the late-night message sent by the private school management announcing a holiday on Monday. They were shocked and surprised when they came to schools to drop their kids to know that the schools had declared a holiday today. Why There Is A Bandh In Bengaluru Today? 5 Things To Know There are over 6,000 schools in Bengaluru. Considering that many parents send their children to schools from a far distance, the schools took a sudden the call to declare a holiday and the messages were delivered to the parents' cellphones last night. On the other hand, college students from remote places had also face difficulties in reaching their institutions. As the private buses are off the roads, they depend on fully-crowded government buses. Traffic Advisory The Bengaluru traffic police have issued a traffic advisory in response to the call for a 'Bengaluru Bandh' by the Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Association. The police urged the public to avoid travelling on KG Road, Sheshadri Road, GT Road, and the roads surrounding Freedom Park and Majestic Bus Stand. Instead, commuters are encouraged to consider the following alternative routes: For vehicles heading from RR Junction to Khodays Circle: Divert towards Krishna Flour Mill and continue towards Malleshwaram. For vehicles travelling from Goodshed Road: Proceed towards G T Road via Sangolli Rayanna Circle, leading to Okalipuram, and further towards Sujatha Theatre. Bengaluru Bandh: Cabs, Private Buses Off Road Today, Govt on Alert; Traffic Advisory Issued For vehicles approaching from Ananda Rao Circle: Navigate towards the Old JDS Office Road and reach Sheshadripuram Road. For vehicles arriving from Mysuru Bank Circle: Head towards Palace Road, which leads to the Maharani Junction underpass, and then proceed towards Basaveshwara Circle. These alternative routes should help commuters navigate the city more smoothly during the specified period. The Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Association has called for a bandh seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging the government to extend the Shakti scheme -- that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses -- to private buses as well, among other demands. Moog Inc.s new CEO, Pat Roche, isnt a U.S. citizen and thats a problem for the Elma manufacturers defense business. A federal agency has notified Moog Inc. that it cant enter into new contracts that require a facility security clearance, due to the fact its CEO, Pat Roche, is not a U.S. citizen. Roche, an Irish citizen, took the reins as the Elma-based manufacturers CEO in February. He is a legal permanent U.S. resident. In a regulatory filing, Moog said it has been working on a mitigation plan with the U.S. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. The DCSA notified Moog on Friday that the companys facility security clearance had been invalidated. Moog can continue to work on existing contracts that require a facility security clearance, subject to the approval of the government contracting activity responsible for each respective contract, according to Moog. And Moog can still enter into new contracts that do not require facility security clearances. Moog said only about 2% of its revenues from the past fiscal year were generated from contracts requiring a facility security clearance. The company had about $3 billion in sales in fiscal 2022. And the company said the invalidation will not impact its financial guidance for the current fiscal year. The DCSA is part of the Department of Defense. One of its roles its to oversee the protection of classified U.S. government and foreign government information, technologies, and material entrusted to cleared industry, according to the agencys website. A senior team at Moog is working on resolving the issue as soon as possible, said Aaron Astrachan, Moogs director of investor relations. The company expects to establish a subsidiary with an organizational structure and procedures to ensure the protection of classified information, he said. We have been and are continuing to work the details with the DCSA. Roche joined Moog over two decades ago. At the end of 2021, he was named chief operating officer and moved to the United States. He took over as CEO after John Scannell retired. Moog, a maker of motion control equipment, is one of the regions largest manufacturers. The company is working on a number of high-profile projects involving the federal government, including development of a helicopter for the Army, and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Big Cat On The Loose: Leopard Spotted Yet Again Near IT Park In Kudlu, Residents Panic KIA Terminal 2 To Commence International Operations On September 12 Bengaluru oi-Sushmita Halder Kampegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru is all set to commence its international operations from Terminal 2 from Tuesday, September 12. Along with the international operations, domestic flight operations will also continue from terminal 2. Earlier all the domestic and international flights used to operate from terminal 1 of the KIA. However, with the inauguration of the terminal 2, the international operations have been shifted from terminal 1 to terminal 2. While Terminal 1 will continue with its domestic operations, Terminal 2 will continue running international operations along with domestic flights. Airport authorities of KIA have decided to operate 29 airlines, including IndiGo and Air India that would operate to and from Terminal 2. As the domestic and international operations continue to work in both the terminals, Terminal 1 will be going through a renovation process to ensure it is in better conditions for future travel. International flights which were earlier scheduled to and from Bengaluru from Terminal 1 will now resume its functions from Terminal 2. Jeddah, a Saudi Airlines flight will be the first international flight to depart from the newly constructed terminal of KIA on September 12 at 11.50am. While the first flight to arrive at the Terminal 2 will be an Oman Air flight from Muscat at 14.05pm. However, the airport suggests the passengers to keep an eye for delay in flight timings due to the shift in terminal and weather conditions. Airlines such as IndiGo (domestic flights only), Akasa Air, Alliance Air and SpiceJet will continue operating from Terminal 1, while the domestic services of AirAsia, Vistara, Air India and Star Air will still remain in Terminal 2. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 19:00 [IST] Big Cat On The Loose: Leopard Spotted Yet Again Near IT Park In Kudlu, Residents Panic Why There Is A Bandh In Bengaluru Today? 5 Things To Know Bengaluru oi-Prakash KL Lakhs of private vehicles including autos, taxis, maxi cabs, goods vehicles and corporate buses could stay off the roads on Monday, making commuting difficult for school students and office-goers, among others, as the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Associations has called for a 'bandh' on Monday. The federation comprises a total of 32 private transport associations, and most of the private transport services are available starting from midnight today to midnight on Monday. 5 Things To Know Why Bandh? The federation has called for bandh seeking a ban on bike taxis, and urging the government to extend the Shakti scheme -- that offers free bus rides to women on state-run transport buses -- to private buses as well, among other demands. Bengaluru Bandh: Cabs, Private Buses Off Road Today, Govt on Alert; Traffic Advisory Issued The private transporters have claimed that they have been negatively impacted by the Shakti scheme and that the state government has not fulfilled their demands despite repeated discussions. Is it a holiday for schools in Bengaluru today? No, the schools and educational institutions will function like usual. However, some private schools have declared a holiday. What about government offices and business establishments? It is a working day for government offices, banks and all the business establishments. Emergency service-related vehicles ambulances, pharma vehicles and crucial goods-carrying vehicles will continue to function. What will be closed? Since the protest is called by the Federation of the Karnataka State Private Transport Association, all private commercial vehicles will cease its services today including private cabs and buses. What are the alternatives? Public transport including the BMTC buses and metro trains will be operational. In fact, the state government has arranged special buses to avoid inconvenience for the commuters. "We have arranged BMTC (Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation) buses for school-going children, office-going people and for those who're going to hospitals. BMTC has arranged around 500 extra buses. Nothing will happen. They (private transport) are going for a strike, let them, they have the right to do so," Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said. Even Namma Metro services will be available every five minutes during the peak hours: 8 am and 11.30 am and 5 pm to 8.30 pm today, as per the authorities. During the normal hours, instead of every 10 minute, Namma Metro trains will be operated at a frequency of 6-8 minutes. Bengaluru Bandh On Sep 11: Will Schools, Namma Metro Be Closed? Will Cabs Be Available? What Are Protestors Demanding? Autorickshaw unions demand monthly financial assistance of Rs 10,000. Auto-rickshaw associations demand for the creation of a regulatory body to support drivers, prohibition of illegal bike taxis, and licenses for electric auto-rickshaws, among various other demands. In contrast, taxi associations are advocating for a standardized fare system for airport taxis, measures taken against individuals employing personal vehicles for commercial purposes, and the development of a state government-operated mobile application to offer auto-rickshaw and taxi services akin to platforms like Ola and Uber. #MarakkumaNenjamScam Trends: AR Rahman's Concert Turns Out To Be Disaster In Chennai: Netizens Complain Chennai oi-Prakash KL Two-time Oscar Award winning musician AR Rahman's concert in Chennai has come under attack from netizens over poor management. The concert called 'Marakuma Nenjam' was held at Adityaram Palace in Chennai's Paniyur on September 10. Reportedly, over 50 thousand people attended the event. Many people who attended the concert took X (formerly known as Twitter) to vent out the poor management of the event. From audio issues to seating arrangements, people are highlighting the issues that they faced at the venue. They had sold more tickets than the venue could accommodate. This had resulted in a proper chaos. Hundreds (not one bit of exaggeration) were stranded outside, unable to step inside the venue after walking miles inside the premises because there was NO SPACE to enter. Ranjitha (@ranjitha2) September 11, 2023 Some users on X alleged that they were not allowed to get into the venue despite buying expensive tickets. "Paid 15k for this shit view. Almost died in the stampede. People were overflowing from every f****ng corner. No chairs for anyone. No audio for anyone. Well orchestrated shitshow @arrahman. Never ever attending your concert. Ever," a user said. Very badly organised concert. Waste of money. Energy. Felt a huge sense of betrayal. I was feeling so stressed than good vibes because of so many fights and shit that was going around! Unfair max was No proper sound !#actcevents #MarakkumaNenjam #ARRConcert @arrahman pic.twitter.com/8a6LFvb6ms Charulatha Rangarajan (@charuturfo) September 10, 2023 "Fans who paid 2000 rupees tickets were unable to even enter the ARR concert place @arrahman," a user on X posted, along with a video of the entry gates packed with fans. "Very badly organised concert. Waste of money. Energy. Felt a huge sense of betrayal. I was feeling so stressed over good vibes because of so many fights and shit that was going around! Unfair max was No proper sound!" added another. My first concert, after a pathetic traffic of 5 hours I reached. Denied parking. Thousands of people going back home even without entering the concert venue. Oversold tickets. Responsible organisers should be penalised.@arrahman @actcevents #MarakkumaNenjam #ARRahman pic.twitter.com/uMyfWlT7Un Shankar Munuswamy (@ShankarMunuswa1) September 10, 2023 "It was the worst concert ever in History #ARRahman #Scam2023 by #ACTC. Respect Humanity. 30 Years of the Fan in me died today Mr. #ARRAHMAN. #MarakkumaNenjam Marakkavey Mudiyathu. A performer on the stage can't even see what's happening in other areas just watch it," third user commented. It is said that the organisers booked more ticket than the venue could accomodate. Netizens also complained about poor audio. Film trade analyst shared a fan video and wrote, "Disappointed #ARRahman fan tore #MarakkumaNenjam concert tickets and says this is indeed an unforgettable event and a worst gift from A R Rahman to the people." As more and people vented out their frustation, #MarakkumaNenjamScam topic trended on Twitter. However, neither the organisers nor AR Rahman have responded to the complains. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 11:00 [IST] Akasa Air Adds 20th Aircraft To Its Fleet; Now Eligible For International Operations Air Asia Flight Returns To Kochi After Take-Off Due To Suspected Hydraulic Failure India oi-PTI An Air Asia flight carrying 168 passengers and six crew members air returned just minutes after taking off from the Cochin International Airport here, airport sources said on Monday. The Kochi-Bengaluru flight, which left for Bengaluru late Sunday night, suffered a technical problem soon after take off at 11.15 PM. A full emergency was declared at the airport after the flight returned to Kochi due to a suspected hydraulic failure. It landed at the airport safely at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported, sources said. Bangladeshi Man Tries To Kiss Air Hostess On Board Muscat-Dhaka Flight; Arrested The emergency was withdrawn immediately after the safe landing of the the aircraft, they added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 11:50 [IST] US Delegation Office at G20 Summit Highlights Strong India-US Relations The Bharat Mandapam complex, hosting the offices for the G20 summit, showcased pictures in the US delegation office that reflected strong ties between India and America. The display included an image of a woman performing traditional Indian dance. India -Krishna Kripa The Bharat Mandapam complex in New Delhi recently played host to the G20 Summit, housing delegation offices for all participating nations and international organizations. This grand event took place from September 9th to 10th, and saw a unique representation of each country's shared ties with India through carefully selected photographs adorning the walls of these offices. A striking image of the iconic Statue of Liberty graced one wall in America's G20 delegation office. On an opposing wall was a photograph capturing a woman performing traditional Indian dance. These images are symbolic representations of the shared cultural ties between India and the United States, as explained by a senior official on Monday. US President Bidens Visit US President Joe Biden also spent some time at his country's delegation office set up at Hall No. 14 within this complex. The American office space featured additional images reflecting US culture and heritage including pictures of Capitol Hill and Grand Canyon alongside that of Indian tradition. Symbolism in UK Delegation Office In much the same way, Britain's delegation office displayed an image showcasing London Bridge along with another featuring Ajanta caves an archaeological site in India renowned for its stunning rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments dating back to second century BCE. The choice of these specific images aimed to mirror the long-standing ties between India and UK. Fully Equipped Offices Beyond their aesthetic appeal, these offices were well-equipped with multiple facilities such as laptops, photocopiers, seating arrangements among others ensuring smooth functioning during this high-level international summit. As stated by G20 India Special Secretary Muktesh Pardeshi, every detail was meticulously planned out with great care towards reinforcing mutual respect and understanding amongst all participating countries. In conclusion, it is evident that through thoughtful selection and placement of photographs, the Bharat Mandapam complex managed to reflect and celebrate India's shared ties with each of the G20 member countries. This visual representation served not only as an aesthetic appeal but also a subtle reminder of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation that form the foundation of these international relationships. The successful hosting of this summit marks another significant step in strengthening India's diplomatic relations on a global stage. Indian PM Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Boost Cooperation in Energy Sector In an effort to boost cooperation in energy, defense and other sectors, India and Saudi Arabia have decided to expedite the implementation of a $50 billion West Coast refinery project. The decision was made during talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. India -Krishna Kripa The strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia took a significant leap forward on Monday, as the two nations agreed to expedite the implementation of a $50 billion West Coast refinery project. The decision was announced during talks held between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. The meeting marked the first instance of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of this bilateral relationship, stating that it is crucial for regional and global stability. He highlighted that this alliance goes beyond mere economic cooperation, having profound implications for geopolitical dynamics in both regions. Comprehensive Energy Partnership In addition to accelerating progress on the refinery project, both sides committed to diversifying their hydrocarbons relationship into a comprehensive energy partnership. This move signifies an intensified focus on broadening avenues of energy cooperation beyond traditional oil trade. It also aligns with India's sustainable development goals by exploring alternative sources of energy. Boosting Cooperation in Various Sectors Beyond energy, several other sectors were identified as areas for enhanced cooperation including defence, semiconductor technology and space exploration. Eight pacts were signed between the two countries aimed at boosting collaboration in these areas along with digitisation and investment. Tackling Terrorism Together A joint statement issued after the talks stressed both nations' commitment to strengthening security cooperation specifically targeting terrorism and its financing mechanisms. Recognising terrorism as one of humanity's gravest threats, they unanimously agreed that no act of terror can be justified under any circumstances whatsoever. The Crown Prince was on an official state visit to India following his participation in the G20 Summit. His visit is seen as part of Saudi Arabias ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with key Asian economies amid shifting geopolitical landscapes. Rejecting Linkages to Terrorism A significant highlight of the joint statement was the categorical rejection of any attempts to link terrorism with any religion, race, culture or society. This reflects a shared understanding between India and Saudi Arabia that terrorism is a global menace that transcends national boundaries and cultural identities. In conclusion, this meeting marks a new chapter in India-Saudi relations as they consolidate their strategic partnership across multiple sectors. The emphasis on comprehensive energy cooperation and tackling terrorism collectively are particularly noteworthy. These developments not only strengthen bilateral ties but also have far-reaching implications for regional stability and global geopolitics. As both nations continue to navigate complex international dynamics, such partnerships offer an avenue for mutual growth and security. Jyoti Mirdha Joins BJP: Who Is She? India oi-Prakash KL In a blow to Congress ahead of Assembly polls, two leaders from Rajasthan quit the party to join the BJP on Monday. Jyoti Mirdha along with Sawai Singh Chaudhary joined the saffron party in the presence of Rajasthan BJP state president CP Joshi in Delhi. Who Is Jyoti Mirdha? Jyoti Mirdha Gehlaut is the daughter of Ram Prakash Mirdha and Veena Mirdha and also the granddaughter of Nathuram Mirdha, a prominent politician. Jyoti Mirdha represented the Nagaur parliamentary constituency in the 15th Lok Sabha and is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC). She won the seat by a margin of 1.55-lakh votes in 2009. She has had a meaningful impact on several issues as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, and has debated on issues concerning generic drugs, bringing more drugs under the price control regime, low expenditure on research and development by pharmaceutical companies, organ donation legislation, and the HPV vaccine. Congress Leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Speak at Public Meeting in Rajasthan's Tonk District In 2010, Mirdha raised an issue of considerable concern, pointing out that pharmaceutical companies were influencing doctors through gifts and travel incentives. She presented evidence to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, alleging that as many as 11 doctors and 30 of their family members were being reimbursed by pharmaceutical companies for summer trips to destinations like England and Scotland. In her letter, she highlighted a legal loophole intended to prevent doctors from accepting favors from pharmaceutical firms, which, in practice, did not effectively prevent these companies from offering such gifts. However, she had lost her seat in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. According to a report, there were protests from within her party over giving the ticket to her in 2019 as she had failed to nurse her constituency after losing the poll in 2014. In the end, she had lost to RLP's Hanuman Beniwal, an ally of BJP, by over 1.8 lakh votes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 13:33 [IST] Maharashtra CM Announces Suspension Of Police Officials, Withdrawal Of Cases Against Maratha Reservation Protesters Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the withdrawal of cases against pro-Maratha reservation protestors and the suspension of three police officials involved in a lathi-charge. The decision came after an all-party meeting amidst ongoing protests led by activist Manoj Jarange who has been on a hunger strike since August 29. The protest demands reservations for the Maratha community under the OBC category. India -Krishna Kripa In a significant development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Monday the withdrawal of police cases filed against pro-Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna district. The region has been the focal point of recent protests demanding reservations for the Maratha community. This announcement came after an all-party meeting in Mumbai, which was held to address the ongoing Maratha quota agitation led by activist Manoj Jarange. Appeal to End Hunger Strike The Chief Minister appealed to Manoj Jarange, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, to end his protest. Jarange's demand is for reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category for the Maratha community. In order to pacify the situation and resolve this issue amicably, Shinde made this conciliatory gesture towards those involved in these demonstrations. Withdrawal of Cases Against Protesters "The state government has decided to withdraw police cases filed against Maratha quota protesters. Necessary instructions have been given to officials as well," Shinde told reporters during a press conference. This move is seen as a major step toward appeasing protestors and addressing their grievances regarding caste-based reservations. Action Against Police Officials Furthering his commitment towards ensuring justice and fair treatment for all citizens, Shinde also announced punitive action against law enforcement officials involved in handling these protests heavy-handedly. "The state government has decided to suspend three police officials who were involved in lathi- charge on Maratha quota protesters," said the CM during his address. The police had previously resorted to baton charging and lobbing tear gas shells at Antarwali Sarati when protesters refused orders from authorities seeking dispersal due to escalating tensions. This aggressive action by the police had sparked widespread criticism, leading to demands for accountability and justice. Conclusion The recent announcements by Chief Minister Shinde signify a move towards reconciliation and resolution of the Maratha quota agitation that has been ongoing in Maharashtra. By withdrawing cases against protestors and suspending officials involved in violent actions, the government is showing its intent to address grievances constructively. However, it remains to be seen how these decisions will be implemented on ground and whether they will lead to an end of protests or not. Furthermore, while these moves may pacify some sections of the agitating community, it raises questions about long-term solutions for caste-based reservations in education and employment sectors. The state government's approach towards resolving this contentious issue would be keenly watched by all stakeholders involved. What Makes Maharashtra CM, Eknath Shinde Say That Uddhav Thackeray 'Can Form Alliance Even With Hamas' Maharashtra: Violence in Satara Over Objectionable Social Media Post, One Person Killed India pti-PTI At least one person was killed while 10 others suffered injuries when members of two communities clashed at a village in Maharashtra's Satara district on Monday following an "objectionable" post on social media. The incident, which took place at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil on Sunday night, led to tension between the two communities, prompting the police administration to suspend internet services in the district as a precautionary measure, they said. Some houses were damaged after being set on fire, a senior district administration official was quoted as saying. "Some objectionable posts were exhibited on a social media platform and police were questioning a youth over it at an outpost in the village on Sunday. At that time, some persons from another community created ruckus outside the police post," Kolhapur Range Inspector General Sunil Phulari was quoted saying. He further added, "They torched some vehicles, damaged property in some bylanes. Ten persons were injured and one died during treatment." A case has been registered under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) as well as those related to rioting, and 23 persons have been arrested. The IG said that a case has been registered in connection with the objectionable postunder IPC section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and the youth who allegedly uploaded it was arrested. The official said internet service in the district had been suspended as a precautionary measure and appealed to people to maintain calm and not fall prey to rumours. Superintendent of Police Sameer Shaikh said police managed to take control of the situation immediately. PM Modi Holds Talks With Saudi Crown Prince India oi-PTI PM, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud To Hold Talks At India-Saudi Strategic Meet Today Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, focussing on shoring up bilateral trade and defence ties. Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit," Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. "We will work together to create a great future for both the countries," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle-East. 'Swasti Astu Vishwa': PM Modi Calls For Peace In Closing G20 Speech Amid Ukraine War The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 12:01 [IST] A Buffalo priest has been put on administrative leave after being accused of inappropriate conduct with an adult. The Buffalo Diocese announced Monday afternoon that the Rev. Joseph Rogliano, pastor of a family of inner-city Buffalo parishes, was placed on leave by Bishop Michael W. Fisher. The diocese has started an investigation into the claim. Rogliano is temporarily relieved of his pastoral and administrative duties as pastor of the family of parishes that includes Blessed Trinity, SS. Columba-Brigid, St. Lawrence and St. Martin de Porres churches, according to a diocese news release. His responsibilities will be distributed among other priests serving within the family of parishes. Rogliano also was removed from his role as coordinator of the Priests Personnel Board. Ordained to the priesthood in 1985, Rogliano has served at parishes in South Buffalo, Amherst, Lockport and North Buffalo. The release said that the leave is for the purpose of investigation and does not imply any determination as to the truth or falsity of the complaint. It also referred anyone with information about clergy sexual abuse to diocese Victim Assistance Coordinator Jackie Joy at 716 895-3010. - Jay Tokasz Turkish President Erdogan Bats For India's Permanent Seat At UNSC India oi-PTI Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey would be "proud" if a country like India becomes a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). At the same time, Erdogan said all non-P5 members should have an opportunity to become members of the Security Council by rotation. He was responding to question at a media briefing In a reference to the P5 or five permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, Erdogan said the "world is bigger and larger than five". EAM Jaishankar Calls On BRICS Nations To Demonstrate Sincerity In Reforming UNSC "We would be proud if a country like India became a permanent member of the UN Security Council. As you know, the world is bigger and larger than five," he said. "What we mean is that it's not only about the US, the UK, France, China and Russia. We don't want to have just these five countries in the Security Council," he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 10:13 [IST] International news brief: Ian makes landfall in southwest Florida as Category 4 storm and more Cyclone Sitrang: Low-pressure area over Bay of Bengal intensifies into depression, storm likely by Oct 24 At least 18 die as monster storm brings rain, snow, cold across US 'This is not the end yet': Winter storm kills 60 across US; Buffalo area worst hit 2000 People Killed After Deadly Storm, Heavy Floods Hit Libya International oi-Sushmita Halder A deadly storm and heavy floods in the eastern Libya has led to the death of over 2000 people while thousands of persons went missing. A deadly storm named 'Daniel' hit the Mediterranean on Sunday, causing huge destruction of buildings and washing out the roads in Derna. Another major city 'Benghazi' was also highly affected by the deadly storm that hit along the coast of Libya. Disaster unfolding in Libya on the back of Storm Daniel (linked to the system which recently flooded Greece). This footage is from Derna on the north coast of Libya. More than 2,000 people in Libya are feared dead. Details are still emerging.pic.twitter.com/ukbPKFgGS5 Scott Duncan (@ScottDuncanWX) September 11, 2023 The head of the government of eastern Libya Osama Hamad claimed that more than 2000 people have lost their lives due to the deadly storm while several others were missing in the heavy floods. "The missing are in the thousands, and the dead exceed 2,000. Entire neighbourhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents, swept away by water," Osama Hamad told al-Masar TV. Hamad heads a government that is not internationally recognised, and which operates in eastern areas of Libya that are controlled by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). Meanwhile, spokesman of the government Ahmad Mismari further said that thousands of persons including seven members of Libya National Army (LNA) were missing due to the deadly storm and heavy floods. The death toll resulting from the storm 'Daniel' was expected to be 250, however, the disaster led to the death toll exceed 2000. According to a local resident of Derna, he had managed to escape the storm with his family, though houses in a valley near the city had collapsed. "People were asleep and woke up and found their homes surrounded by water," he was quoted saying to Reuters. Another resident Ahmed Mohamed said, "We were asleep, and when we woke up, we found water besieging the house. We are inside and trying to get out. Reportedly, the water level had reached three metres (10 feet) in Derna followed by the heavy floods caused by the storm. Libya's eastern-based parliament declared three days of mourning. Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, prime minister of the interim government in Tripoli, also declared three days of mourning in all the affected cities, calling them "disaster areas". Search-and-rescue operations of the missing persons is underway. a state of extreme emergency has been declared by the authorities. Schools and stores have been closed after a curfew has been imposed in the area. The United Nations in Libya said it was following the storm closely and would provide urgent relief assistance in support of response efforts at local and national levels For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 0:50 [IST] US: At Least 22 Dead In Maine Shooting, Dozens Injured As Gunman Goes On Rampage Massive Manhunt Unfolds In Maine, U.S.; Who Is Robert Card And What Else Is Going On Joint Military Exercise by Armenia and US Sparks Russian Ire 'Eagle Partner', a joint military exercise between Armenia and the United States has caused diplomatic tension with Russia. This move is perceived as an attempt by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to strengthen relations with Western allies amidst ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan. Moscow has lodged a formal protest against these exercises. International -Sathish Raman On Monday, Armenia initiated a joint military exercise with the United States, a move that has caused significant tension with its main ally, Russia. The "Eagle Partner" war games are set to run until September 20 and include participation from 175 Armenian and 85 U.S troops. This exercise is reflective of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's efforts to establish stronger ties with the United States and other Western allies amidst ongoing tensions with neighbouring Azerbaijan. Rationale Behind the Joint Exercise The Armenian Defense Ministry has stated that these drills aim at enhancing the interoperability of units participating in international peacekeeping missions as well as fostering an exchange of tactical skills. In recent years, Armenia has been progressively deepening its relationship with Western nations while maintaining a careful balance between them and Russia. Russia's Reaction This development hasn't gone unnoticed by Moscow which reacted strongly against it. On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Armenias ambassador to lodge a formal protest over these exercises along with other actions taken by Armenia which they perceive as "unfriendly". Since the Soviet collapse in 1991, Russia has remained Armenia's principal economic partner and ally. Landlocked Armenia houses a Russian military base and is part of Moscow-led security alliance consisting of former Soviet nations known as Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). Armenia Leaning Westward? Nikol Pashinyan's administration appears to be increasingly critical of Moscows role in regional affairs. He emphasizes Russia's failure to assist in lifting the blockade on Nagorno-Karabakh - an Armenian-populated region within Azerbaijan that declared independence but isn't recognized internationally - arguing instead for greater engagement with Western powers for securing national interests. Implications for Regional Stability This shift in Armenia's foreign policy could potentially have significant implications for regional stability. The simmering tensions with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, coupled with the recent military exercises, may heighten geo-political uncertainties in the Caucasus region. In conclusion, while Armenias move towards closer ties with Western allies represents a strategic shift in its foreign policy orientation, it also exposes the nation to potential backlash from Russia. With this joint military exercise serving as a clear indication of Armenia's intent to diversify its alliances and reduce dependence on any single power bloc, it remains to be seen how this will impact the delicate balance of power within the region and beyond. Putin's Health In Question As Unverified Reports Claim He Was Found Lying On Floor After Cardiac Arrest 'Absurd Hoax', Says Kremlin On Reports Of Putin Being Unwell, Using Body Doubles Kim John Un To Meet Russian President Vladimir Putin Amid Ukraine War International oi-Sushmita Halder The Kremlin on Monday confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is all set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on latter's invitation. In a statement issued by the Kremlin, it was stated "At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in the coming days." However, the Kremlin has not cleared about the agenda of the meeting. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin arrived in Vladivostok on Monday while Kim appears to be on a train heading to Russia as per a South Korean government official. According to various media reports, the North Korean leader has left Pyongyang late on Sunday and is expected to meet Putin by Tuesday. Recent overtures have signalled closer military between the nuclear-armed North Korea and Russia amid Ukraine war. North Korea is one of those countries who has extended their support for Russia since the advent of the Ukraine War last year. However, the Russian president decided to expand bilateral ties in a planned way by pooling efforts. Kim Jong Un's last trip abroad in 2019 was also to Vladivostok for his first summit with Vladimir Putin after the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former US president Donald Trump. According to the US officials, Putin and Kim would likely have a summit over military cooperation and a possible deal to supply arms to Russia amid the Ukraine War. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 22:40 [IST] Amit Shah appeals for votes in MP, says BJP ensured development in all sectors PM Modi Inaugurates Gujarat's First Heritage Train Amid Other Projects On His Two Day Visit On The Day PM Modi Raised Khalistani Issue With Trudeau, SFJ Holds A Khalistan Referendum In Canada International oi-Prakash KL As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the Khalistan issue with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau at the G20 Leaders' Summit, secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), the vote to gauge backing for Khalistan, an independent Sikh homeland within India, took place on Sunday at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in the Canadian province of Surrey. It is the same location where former SFJ president Hardeep Singh Nijjar was fatally shot dead in June. The group has claimed that over 1 lakh people attended the event, according to The Global News channel. "The turnout tells us, and the wider community, that the issue of Khalistan is not an issue for a fringe group of people but rather... this is a deep-rooted issue that touches the hearts and minds of many Sikhs," DNA quoted Jatinder Grewal, a Sikh for Justice director, as telling the Vancouver-based news channel. 'Actions Of Few Don't Represent Entire Community': Canada PM Trudeau On Khalistan Extremism The outlawed Pro-Khalistani group had scheduled to conduct the voting process at the Tamanawis Secondary School, but a week prior to its planned date, the Surrey District School Board decided to cancel it "due to a breach of our rental agreement." Recommended Video SFJ holds referendum in Canada's British Columbia as PM Modi,Trudeau,discuss Khalistani extremism The reason provided was that the poster displayed images of the school alongside a depiction of an AK-47 rifle and a kirpan. "Despite repeated attempts to address the issue, the event organisers failed to remove these concerning images, and materials continued to be posted throughout Surrey and on social media," the release noted. On the other hand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau India's strong concerns about the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada that were promoting secessionism, inciting violence against its diplomats and threatening the Indian community, according to a PTI report. In his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on "mutual respect and trust" is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "The Prime Minister highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties," it said. "He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship," it said. G20 Summit: Justin Trudeau To Raise Foreign Interference Issue With PM Modi Asked about India's concerns over the increasing activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada, Trudeau said at a press conference that his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. "Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us," he said. "At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred. I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 12:20 [IST] Biden On Hamas Attack: They Knew I Was About To Sit Down With The Saudis Raised Importance Of Human Rights, Free Press With PM Modi At G20: Biden In Vietnam International oi-PTI US President Joe Biden on Sunday said he held "substantial discussions" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ways to strengthen the Indo-US partnership and thanked him for his leadership and hosting the G20 Summit in New Delhi. Joe Biden said that he also raised the importance of respecting human rights with PM Modi. President Biden, who arrived in Delhi on his first visit to India as the US President, held wide-ranging talks with PM Modi and they vowed to "deepen and diversify" the bilateral major defence partnership while welcoming forward movement in India's procurement of 31 drones and joint development of jet engines. Strengthening US, Vietnam Ties For Global Stability, Not Containing China: US Prez Biden "I want to once again thank Prime Minister Modi for his leadership and his hospitality and for hosting the G20. He and I have had substantial discussions about how we're going to continue to strengthen the partnership between India and the US building on the Prime Minister's visit to the White House last June," Joe Biden said during a press conference in Vietnam's Hanoi "As I always do, I raised the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role the civil society and a free press have in building a strong and prosperous country with PM Modi," he said. According to the joint statement issued on Friday after PM Modi and Biden held bilateral talks, "The leaders re-emphasised that the shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, inclusion, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all citizens are critical to the success of our countries enjoy and that these values strengthen our relationship." Joe Biden also talked about the "significant business" he had done in India during the G20 Summit. "This was an important moment for the United States to demonstrate our global leadership and our commitment to solving the challenges that matter most to people around the world. Investing in inclusive growth and sustainable development, addressing the climate crisis, strengthening food security and education, advancing global health and health security," he said. "We showed the world the United States is a partner with a positive vision for our shared future," he added. On the corridor connecting India to Europe with the Middle East and Israel, he said that are going to open up untold opportunities for transformative economic investment. India-US Friendship to Continue to Play Great Role in Furthering Global Good: PM Modi After Talks With Biden He said the "illegal war in Ukraine" was also discussed at the summit and there was sufficient agreement on the need for just and lasting peace. Responding to questions, President Biden said his goal is to provide stability around the world by building America's ties with Vietnam and other Asian countries as he insisted that he is not trying to start a "cold war" with China. "It's not about containing China. It's about having a stable base," said Biden. Joe Biden also said that he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 in Delhi and "talked about stability." "It wasn't confrontational at all," he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 10:29 [IST] Strengthening US, Vietnam Ties For Global Stability, Not Containing China: US Prez Biden International oi-PTI President Joe Biden said Sunday his visit to Vietnam to showcase stronger ties with Hanoi was not about trying to start a "cold war" with China, but rather was part of a broader effort to provide global stability by building US relationships throughout Asia at a time of tensions with Beijing. "It's not about containing China," Biden said at a news conference in Vietnam's capital after attending the Group of 20 summit in India. "It's about having a stable base." The American president came to Hanoi as Vietnam was elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. That is evidence of how far the relationship has evolved from what Biden referred to as the "bitter past" of the Vietnam War. The expanded partnership reflects a broader effort across Asia to counter China's influence. Biden has said Vietnam wants to flex a degree of independence, and U.S. companies are seeking an alternative to imports from Chinese factories. He is pursuing possible allies while also trying to soothe tensions with China. "I think we think too much in ... cold war terms," Biden said at his news conference. "It's not about that. It's about generating economic growth and stability in all parts of the world. And that's what we're trying to do." He added: "We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. That's what this trip is all about." Biden opened his news conference by saying he had "traveled around the world in five days," from Washington to New Delhi and now Hanoi, showcasing efforts by his administration to forge alliances. The president will stop in Alaska on the way home Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. China Questions US's Bid To Chair G20 Again In response to one question, Biden told reporters he had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while in India. The contact is the highest-level interaction between U.S. and Chinese officials since Biden and China's president, Xi Jinping, held talks at last year's G20 in Indonesia. Xi skipped the India talks and sent Li in his place. "We talked about stability. ... It wasn't confrontational at all," Biden said. The exchange, between G20 sessions Saturday, was brief, according to a senior Biden administration official. It was not clear who approached whom, but Biden was interested in seeing Li and underscoring his desire to stabilize the up-and-down relationship between the two countries, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden went into meetings with Vietnam's leaders after his arrival in the country. He welcomed the new partnership and said he hoped for progress on climate, the economy and other issues during his 24-hour stop in Hanoi. "We can trace a 50-year arc of progress between our nations from conflict to normalization to this new elevated status," Biden said with Nguy?n Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at party headquarters. Biden has described himself as being part of the "Vietnam generation" although he did not serve in a war. He was given five draft deferments and was exempted from military service because he had asthma as a teenager. Biden called Vietnam "a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community." He noted that veterans such as John Kerry, his climate czar, and the late John McCain, a Vietnam POW and Republican senator from Arizona, found ways to build a relationship with Vietnam after the war. "Both men saw so clearly, as I and so many others did, how much we had to gain by working together to overcome a bitter past," he said. Trong pledged that his country will work hard to implement the agreement. "Only then can we say it is a success," he pledged. Biden described the U.S. and Vietnam as "critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time." Neither leader specifically discussed how China's economic and geopolitical rise had contributed to their countries' expanded partnership, yet it was hard to explain the mutual embrace without Beijing's growing influence. India-US Friendship to Continue to Play Great Role in Furthering Global Good: PM Modi After Talks With Biden Vietnam previously bestowed the same level of relations on China and Russia. Elevating the U.S. suggests that Vietnam wants to hedge its friendships as U.S. and European companies look for alternatives to Chinese factories. With China's economic slowdown and Xi's consolidation of political power, Biden sees an opportunity to bring more nations, including Vietnam and Cambodia, into America's orbit. Biden was welcomed upon his arrival in Vietnam with a pomp-filled ceremony outside the mustard-colored Presidential Palace. Schoolchildren lined the steps and waved American and Vietnam flags. Biden watched from an elevated review stand as high-stepping members of the military marched past. Biden and Trong both expressed happiness over seeing each other again after last meeting some eight years ago in Washington. Biden was vice president at that time. Trong had some flattering words for Biden, who is running for reelection next year and faces persistent questions at home about his age. "You have nary aged a day, and I would say you look even better than before," Trong said. "I would say every feature of you, Mr. President, is complimenting your image." Biden chuckled at that. But the packed schedule and jet lag appeared to take a toll on the 80-year-old president, who wrapped up his news conference saying "I'm going to go to bed." Jon Finer, Biden's principal deputy national security adviser, addressed reports that Vietnam was pursuing a deal to buy weapons from Russia, even as Hanoi is seeking stronger relations with the U.S. Finer acknowledged Vietnam's lengthy military relationship with Russia. He said the U.S. continues to work with Vietnam and other countries that have similar ties to Russia to try to limit their interactions with Moscow, which Washington accuses of committing war crimes and violating international law with its aggression in Ukraine. U.S. trade with Vietnam has already accelerated but there are limits to how much further it can grow without improvements to the country's infrastructure, its workers' skills and its governance. Nor has increased trade automatically put the Vietnamese economy on an upward trajectory. Modi-Biden Meet Ahead Of G20 Meet: 6 Deals On The Table U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that the CEOs she talks with rank Vietnam highly as a place to diversify supply chains that, before the coronavirus pandemic, had been overly dependent on China. American imports of Vietnamese goods have nearly doubled since 2019 to $127 billion annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But it is unlikely that Vietnam, with its population of 100 million, can match the scale of Chinese manufacturing. In 2022, China, with 1.4 billion people, exported four times as many goods to the U.S. as did Vietnam. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, September 11, 2023, 9:43 [IST] Germany's foreign minister has praised Ukraine's "courage and determination" during an unannounced visit to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian troops are making progress at the front. Follow DW for more. The UK has sent support to Morocco after a deadly earthquake obliterated part of the country leaving more than 2,100 dead. Upworthy 29 Sep 2023 The fact that some congressional Republicans are opposed to additional U.S. aid for Ukraine is not new. What is new, however, is.. David Lettieri faces anywhere from 10 years to life in prison now that a jury in Buffalo has convicted him of enticement of a minor. But the convicted sex offender currently in a Youngstown, Ohio, prison awaiting sentencing has another issue that he wants the federal courts to examine: the nutritional information on mustard and ketchup packets. In separate lawsuits he filed recently in Ohio and New York, Lettieri, 36, complained that the ketchup and mustard packets he was given for his prison meals did not include sodium amounts or other nutritional information. And in a third lawsuit, the Broome County man said he couldnt tell from the packaging what spices are in a bag of Whole Shabang potato chips. The new lawsuits come on top of dozens of others Lettieri has filed this summer, most of them in federal court in Buffalo connected to his criminal case. He has filed 34 lawsuits since July, naming the FBI, prosecutors, his own defense lawyers, the New York State Police, the Department of Justice and the Federal Marshals Office, among others, as defendants. In all, Lettieri has filed 51 lawsuits in two states since November. Nine have been dismissed so far. In his mustard lawsuit, he accuses the mustard supplier of an unconscionable act by withholding information from a consumer. Because of being stuck in the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, it had made (me) unable to have substantial benefit from research, which the supplier knew because of supplying to a correctional facility, Lettieri said in his lawsuit. Because of no nutritional facts on the package, it is a form of deceptive acts that would be considered unlawful. While few of his cases have proceeded beyond the paperwork he filed, he is trying the courts patience. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo himself sued three times by Lettieri expressed frustration in an order he issued Tuesday seeking to rein in the lawsuits. It seems that as soon as one is reviewed and administratively closed, several more are filed, Vilardo wrote. Upon examining this courts docket, it is clear that David C. Lettieri has engaged in a pattern of abuse of the judicial process. Lettieri does not have a lawyer for his lawsuits. He fills out forms and then mails them to the courthouse to initiate the legal actions. He also files in forma pauperis, shortened to IFP in court filings. That means that, as a poor person, he doesnt have to prepay the $402 court filing cost for each lawsuit. Instead, the fee is to be paid to the court in installments by automatic deduction from his prison trust fund. But the prospects that his accumulating court fees will be paid seem unlikely. As of mid-August, he had 7 cents in his prison fund. His average account balance was $16.04 over the last six months, according to an Aug. 8 document that Lettieri filed. In his order, Vilardo said the inmate should be prohibited from filing any more cases without prepaying the filing and administrative fees or submitting a complete motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis that includes a certification of his inmate trust account and a signed authorization. Vilardo said he will give Lettieri an opportunity to show why that restriction should not be imposed upon him. Vilardo noted that the court has repeatedly warned Lettieri that if he continues to file complaints with insufficient IFP applications, he may be subject to sanctions. But the warnings havent stopped Lettieri from filing fresh lawsuits. The court cannot continue to allow Lettieri to file case after case with inadequate IFP motions and thereby waste valuable court resources, harming the constitutionally mandated functions of this court, Vilardo said. Therefore, the court will take the minimal step of preventing Lettieri from filing new actions without a properly supported IFP motion with a prison certification and a signed authorization unless Lettieri shows cause why the court should not do so. Vilardo said district courts may, in their discretion, impose sanctions against those who abuse the judicial process. In sum, given Lettieris propensity for filing case after case in this court and his obvious intent to continue filing cases without paying the filing fee or submitting a properly supported IFP motion, the court plans to direct the clerk of the court to immediately close any new cases filed by Lettieri if he does not prepay the filing fee or submit a prison certification and signed authorization form with his IFP motion, Vilardo said in his ruling. Lettieri has 14 days to reply in writing why he should not be so restricted. In addition, Lettieri is reminded that for each case in which he is granted IFP status, the filing fee for that case will be deducted from his inmate trust fund account over time, the judge said. Lettieri was convicted of traveling in October 2020 to a park in Wyoming County to meet a 13-year-old girl, with the intent of having sexual intercourse. He did not have sexual contact. Two others who know the girl confronted him at the park. The investigation by the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office and the FBI uncovered communications between Lettieri and the then-eighth grade student, including photos of her on Lettieris phone. The girl told police she communicated with Lettieri for three to four weeks. Investigators searched Lettieris Facebook account and recovered conversations between Lettieri, the girl and the girls sister, which were sexual in nature. He was arrested in November 2020 and filed his first federal lawsuit two years later while in pretrial custody. By the time his trial started in June, he had filed 17 suits. Since the jurys guilty verdict on June 14, he has filed nearly three dozen lawsuits. The lawsuits have piled up, and among them are claims that: His former defense lawyer provided ineffective counsel and threatened and scared away an alibi witness from testifying. Two FBI agents who investigated him destroyed phone records that he said would have proved his innocence. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Bonanno and Maeve Huggins, whose case against him prompted jurors to convict him after less than an hour of deliberations, violated his due-process rights. The Broome County Humane Society killed his pet rat. Vilardo did not give jurors proper instructions. U.S. marshals did not allow him to bring his legal papers during a jail transfer. The University of Rochester employee who conducted a competency exam disregarded his major medical condition. Filing the lawsuits required Lettieri only to fill out a seven-page form, mostly checking boxes about whether he has filed previous cases, filling out identifying information and providing short answers about the constitutional basis. Generally, he wrote a one- or two-page letter for each case outlining how he was reportedly wronged. He typically asked for millions of dollars in damages for each of the lawsuits. Civil actions such as the ones Lettieri has brought are generally not available for criminal matters except in certain circumstances. An appeal has not yet been filed challenging his June 14 conviction. Oral argument was held Thursday before Vilardo on his motion for post-verdict judgment of acquittal on the assertion that the evidence at trial was insufficient. Vilardo reserved decision. Missouri is, once again, about to execute an innocent man. His name is Marcellus Williams. Ive written about Marcellus before,.. Eurasia Review 26 Sep 2023 Pakistan has played pivotal role in supporting Afghanistan on humanitarian grounds, especially during periods of conflict and instability in the war-torn country. Both countries share a long border and historical, cultural, and ethnic ties. Pakistan has provided various forms of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan over the... New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau New Delhi's strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada as they are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats and threatening the Indian community there. In his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on "mutual respect and trust" is essential for the progress of India-Canada relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "The Prime Minister highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties," it said. "He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship," it said. "The nexus of such forces with organized crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats," the MEA said in a statement. In July, India summoned the Canadian envoy and issued a demarche over the increasing activities by pro-Khalistani elements in Canada, days after posters featuring names of India's senior diplomats serving in Canada featured in some posters in certain areas in that country. In June, a video emerged on social media that showed a float depicting the assassination of Indira Gandhi. It was reportedly part of a parade that was organised by some Khalistani elements in Brampton. Asked about India's concerns over the increasing activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada, Trudeau said at a press conference that his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. "Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us," he said. "At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred. I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada," Trudeau said. There were instances of India complaining to Canadian authorities over incidents of security lapse at the Indian consulate in Vancouver. A Canadian readout said Trudeau and Modi spoke about inclusive economic growth, support for low-and middle-income countries, and access to concessional finance for sustainable development. "They noted the importance of welcoming the African Union as a member of the G20. Prime Minister Trudeau raised the importance of respecting the rule of law, democratic principles, and national sovereignty," it said. In his comments to the media, the Canadian prime minister said India is an extraordinarily important economy and an important partner of Canada on a range of sectors including fighting climate change and creating economic growth. "India is an extraordinarily important economy in the world and an important partner to Canada on everything from fighting climate change to creating growth and prosperity for the citizens," he said. The Canadian prime minister said both sides will continue to look at expansion of existing cooperation. In a post on 'X', Modi said he and Trudeau discussed the full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors. Kerala-based backpacker Arunima has travelled across India and visited 12 foreign countries so far. While many in today's generation love travelling, not many girls in our society enjoy the freedom to explore the world to their heart's content. In such a scenario, Arunima is someone who stunned many with her daring expeditions and the courage to experience cultural practices as they are. She is currently on an African tour, pedalling through the continent and its remote hamlets on her bicycle all alone. The globetrotter finds exploring lands the biggest joy of her life. On one such expedition to Kenya, she opens up to us about her rich experiences and thoughts... A girl who loves solo travelling Arunimas family, based in Ottapalam in Palakkad, consists of her father, mother, brother, and grandmother. Its not that she ventured on the expeditions one fine morning out of an intense desire. Apparently, she used to undertake a lot of trips with her family and friends, right from her childhood days. However, the first solo trip that she embarked on was to Goa when she travelled by bus and train. That was the beginning, she says. Arunima says, I like to travel alone. As a solo traveller, there wont be anyone to accompany me on 99% of my journeys. I have no issues if someone travels along with me. But nothing matches the joy that I derive from my solo expeditions. Now Im touring Africa on my bicycle all alone. She says that many have enquired through social media whether they could accompany her. She says, Ive no problem if I meet some people en route and they accompany me for one or two days. Because those are people whom we dont know. They are people like me who travel around. Whenever I was back home from my solo trips, I used to travel with my friends, on and off. Regardless, I like solo travelling the most. My life, my decision Arunima says her family doesn't object to her decisions. She recalls, Even from my childhood days, I was not the one to seek permission if I wanted to go somewhere. My family was naturally concerned when they learned it was Africa where I intended to go. But I told them there was nothing to worry about. Thats all. I never faced any difficulties from their side. They never opposed my going anywhere. It was in the middle of 2020 that she began to travel full time and now, her ambition is to spend the rest of her life, travelling. Im not interested in staying anywhere permanently, says Arunima, who was a working woman until a few years ago. My studies were based on the Civil Aviation sector. However, the jobs I did had no connection with my field of study. You need some money if you want to embark on journeys like this. So, I did all the jobs that came my way. Interestingly, she used to do part-time jobs from her Plus Two days. I worked as a Junior Artist, Receptionist, Telecaller and the like. I have also done administrative occupations. However, it was my family who paid my college fees. They also used to give me money to go on trips and indulge in celebrations. Regardless, I used to earn money to lead an independent life. It was the money that I saved that helped me embark on full-time expeditions. Initially, I travelled across India. Then I started a YouTube channel. Now I have earnings from that, explains the traveller. From India to Nepal, and touring the rest of the world The various promotional videos that she posted on social media helped her improve her income, reveals Arunima. Currently, I dont have any other source of Income. I travelled the length and breadth of the country for the first one-and-a-half years. Nepal was the first country that I visited outside India. After that, I toured various countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Oman, the UAE, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia. Presently Im visiting Kenya, the 12th country on that list, she reveals. Support of a progressive family While many Malayali families restrict women from making their own independent decisions, Arunima's folks were different, she says. My brother and I could decide on matters such as which course to pursue, what job to do, whom to marry, and the like. We enjoyed the full freedom for all that after we turned 18. They will express their opinion, that's all. It is not them who should decide our lives, isnt it? My family never said no to any of the decisions that I took in my life. They have always accorded importance to my tastes and passions. While many would air discouraging opinions when you say you want to travel, if you truly wish to explore the world, you are prepared to face the objections, says Arunima. You may face a lot of hurdles; it may be financial constraints or the pressure from your house and the like. If you have a burning desire to travel, then you can find and do any jobs for that. We have to convince our households that we are fully competent to make our own decisions upon attaining 18 years of age, she explains. Planning is required but sometimes wont work Travelling requires a certain amount of planning and preparation. But initially, Arunima embarked on journeys without them. Back then, I used to fly carrying my stuff in a small bag. I used to seek 'lifts' aka free rides too to reach my destinations. However, ever since I embarked on globe-trotting on my bicycle, I decided not to fly anymore. I couldnt meet the heavy flight expenses that I was incurring occasionally. That forced me to pre-plan the routes I had to take with the maximum details available, she says. Initially, she wanted to visit nearly 20 countries. I drew a route map just to know whether I could travel to all those countries and cross the borders by road. Still, I was forced to make many changes during the travel. We couldnt cross the road in Sudan. The cops would continue to take money from you if you are pedalling a cycle there. It was sweltering heat in Saudi when I reached there and hence could not ride the cycle. I couldnt also make it to Jordan. So I didnt travel to the four countries that had featured in my initial plan. Even if you plan everything in advance, you have to make changes to that. Thats only natural, says Arunima. Carried nothing with me to ensure safety Safety is a big concern when women undertake solo expeditions. But, Arunima says she doesn't carry any weapon to ensure her safety. I had taken with me a pocket knife and pepper spray while travelling in India. But all these are not allowed on flights. Hence, I couldnt often carry them while visiting foreign countries. Also, there is no way you can get these items at the place where Im currently in Africa. And it will burn a hole in my pocket if I purchase them online, she says. Upon revealing her plan to visit Africa, apparently, many people discouraged her. They sarcastically asked me whether I was mad, riding a bicycle to Africa. Its okay, at least if it was a bike, they told me. Many said it was foolishness to travel around in a country like Africa on a bicycle. But then, I had the belief that all would be fine. Except for one or two friends who asked me to enjoy the expedition to the fullest, the rest tried to dissuade me from undertaking the trip, she remembers. Not bogged down by unpleasant responses While visiting a village in the interior of Africa, Arunima found that the women there do not cover their upper body portion, primarily due to the extremely hot climate. She clicked a photo in the same style of dressing and shared it on her Instagram page, following community guidelines. Although the photo was posted by covering modesty using emojis, it did not go down well with many people on the platform. She recalls, Alongside comments appreciating the picture, there were also several distasteful remarks. The post generated over 3,000 comments, but I read only a few of them. While a few fake IDs posted negative comments, about 99 per cent of people who saw the picture appreciated it and responded that they were proud of me. Some even advised me not to get bogged down by the bad responses. As far as Im concerned, I want to explore a destination to its fullest, including its mountains, coastlines, city life, and parties. At times, I may get a bit more fascinated by some of these. I was keen to learn more about the tribes of Africa and this was precisely why I always pursued the dream of visiting that continent. I wanted to spend time with them and learn about their life from close quarters. I have achieved that as well, says the happy traveller. Some of the comments on the picture were shocking, she admits. The first thought that crossed my mind was whether the thought process of people reflected in them. Thats why I posted a photo elaborating on the sexual frustration experienced by Keralites. That too became a hot topic of discussion. Thus, I have learned about the vast gulf between real life and social media, explains Arunima. A food enthusiast The traveller is apparently a food enthusiast as well. At times, I feel that I live to eat. Upon reaching a new place, the first thing I enquire about is the local food delicacies. I love to taste new cuisines. If you attempt to have Indian food upon reaching a foreign land, it will only burn a hole in your pocket. Its so costly there. In Kenya, you will get local food delicacies cheaply. For instance, you will be able to buy one chapati, which is almost identical to the local parotta in Kerala, at just Rs.50, while the price back home is way cheaper. The same food will get costlier in posh restaurants. Arunima says she always successfully finds cheap yet good restaurants to dine at. If possible, I also try my hand at cooking. I always focus on my health while taking in food. Hence, I mostly prepare continental recipes like muesli, ragi, pasta, oats, salad, etc. They can be made very quickly too, she says. Africa is not that scary Before kicking off her African visit, Arunima got in touch with several people living on the continent. Many described it as an unsafe place, she confesses. I was told that I would be required to keep a huge amount in my hand and that I couldnt camp there. Also pedalling around through the country would be so difficult that the cops would demand bribes. I guess those people I spoke to were concerned about my safety and thus, wanted to dissuade me, understands the brave explorer. Apparently, she was also warned about the possibility of strangers taking tourists at gunpoint and how someone was apparently gunned down for asking for a cigarette! Worse still, people kept repeating such things even after my arrival in Africa. But my personal experience proved otherwise. Africa is such an impressive place to visit. I never had to encounter any frightening or bad experience as warned about. I was never scared of being attacked by people. I, however, had that feeling while travelling alone at night through India, she says. In Africa, people wont stare at you, no matter what you wear. Neither do they regard women as just materials. Even those who are not well educated behave politely and respectfully towards you. I was told the policemen in Africa were very corrupt and misbehaving. But I happened to stay at several police quarters around here. Not only did they were gentlemanly with me, but they also offered me free food and accommodation. In my experience, Africa is a safe place. Im looking forward to visiting 14 more African countries, she says. That scary night During these trips, she also had a fair share of unforgettable and scary experiences. While entering Kenya through the border areas of Moyale in Ethiopia, I was forced to keep pedalling even as darkness set in. Usually, I wind up my journey by 6 or 7 in the evening. That day, I could not find any villages en route. It was 9.30 in the night and I was still riding my bicycle. The light on my bicycle was soon set to die out, and I was so scared, she remembers. Thick woods lined up on both sides of the road and apparently, no houses could be spotted. The road was completely empty, and I kept on moving ahead for kilometres on end without a break. That was the moment when I got scared the most. I kept on travelling for some two or two-and-a-half hours, so frightened and exhausted. Thankfully, the phone was yet to run out of battery charge and I kept talking to one of my friends. Once the light of the bicycle goes off, it will be all darkness around. There are no streetlights. Its a forest with wild animals. Some of them, like hyenas, are extremely dangerous. Looking on either side, the shadows of trees frightened me. Having heard that extortion is so common in these parts of the world, I feared that something like that would happen. My thoughts wandered, 'What would I do if I lost my phone and the like... Fortunately, I spotted a vehicle soon, she says. As soon as she saw its light from a distance, Arunima stood in the middle of the road and waved her hands, pleading with the driver to stop the vehicle. It was a van that operated as a taxi. I put my bicycle into the vehicle and we went to a township nearby. This was my lone frightening experience in Africa. Earlier, I had encountered similar situations in Nagaland, she says. The hearsay stories Even though she never had a first-hand experience, some of the stories she heard were frightening, says Arunima. Learning about the superstitious practices of people in a village called Keyfar in Ethiopia was one such experience, she says. The villagers here apparently believe that newborn babies should develop their primary teeth on their lower gum or else it spells doom for the family. Hence, the infants who develop their baby teeth otherwise are taken to a hilltop by the village chieftain and are killed by throwing them down from a cliff. As these settlements are surrounded by dense forests, the police will not dare to enter these locations and initiate actions. At first, this story appeared as fiction but as I inquired about it, people confirmed the story as true and pleaded with me not to keep asking around. Although most people know about it, they dare not speak out. I was so shocked to hear this. For, the children are given so much care back home, irrespective of any problems they have, she says. Arunima continues to travel, experiencing new places, beliefs, rituals, and cultures particular to each of the regions. The youngster says, Never take the opinion of others too seriously. Had that been the case, I would not have been able to give this interview from Kenya. Fujiyoshida/Japan: On a grey, rainy Saturday a steady stream of tour buses arrive at a base station of Japan's Mount Fuji depositing dozens of lightly dressed foreign tourists in front of souvenir shops and restaurants. The scene evokes a theme park image, not the veneration most Japanese would expect below the 3,776-metre (12,388 ft) mountain worshipped as sacred by the Japanese, and a source of pride for its perfectly symmetrical form. "Hey, no smoking here!" a souvenir store attendant barked, addressing a man dressed in shorts and holding a can of beer in front of the red 'torii' gate symbolising the entrance to the Shinto shrine up ahead. Extreme pollution Mt Fuji, which straddles Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in eastern Japan, has always been popular with local and overseas tourists. But a recent surge in inbound tourists to Japan has led to extreme levels of pollution and other strains, authorities say, adding they may be forced to take drastic measures such as restricting the number of visitors by making the mountain only accessible by a yet-to-be-built tram system. "Fuji faces a real crisis," Masatake Izumi, a Yamanashi prefecture official told reporters during a tour for foreign media on Saturday, the last weekend before the trails close for the year. "It's uncontrollable and we fear that Mt Fuji will soon become so unattractive, nobody would want to climb it," he said. A World Heritage site Mt Fuji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 10 years ago, further boosting its popularity. However, the distinction came with conditions that Japan reduce overcrowding, and environmental harm from visitors and fix the artificial landscape, such as the large parking lots constructed to accommodate tourists. However, overcrowding has worsened. "Subaru", the fifth and largest base station, had about 4 million visitors this summer, a 50% jump from 2013. Despite the frenetic pace of cleaning by janitors, businesses, and volunteers, social media is rife with posts about soiled bathrooms and mounds of litter along the climbing path. Izumi worries that the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which advises the World Heritage Committee, could come knocking any day to ask for an update. Bullet climbing "Bullet climbing", where climbers attempt to scale Japan's tallest peak for sunrise and descend on the same day, is also a growing headache, authorities say. Rescue requests totalled 61 this year, up 50% from last year, with non-Japanese tourists accounting for a quarter, according to Shizuoka prefecture police. An official said most were poorly equipped, suffering hypothermia or altitude sickness. Yamanashi police had no comparable data. One local visitor said restrictions may be inevitable. "Any Japanese person would want to climb Mt Fuji at least once in their life," said 62-year-old Jun Shibazaki, who arrived on a tour. "But it's so crowded. Limited entry might be something we have to live with." Stephen Eric Bronner* Germany's "Iron Chancellor", Otto von Bismarck, coined the famous phrase that "politics is the art of the possible". Political realism rests on that assumption. But the possible is not always self-evident. As with the Russo-Ukraine War, clarifying it requires a bit of imagination. Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive has produced only modest territorial gains at considerable expense. Its military has been depleted by 14%, 70,000 soldiers have been killed, 100-120,000 have been wounded, and 10,000 civilians have died (Click Here). Russian losses amount to roughly 120,000 dead and 170-180,000 wounded (Click Here). Billions have been lost on military hardware, and economic and environmental costs on both sides. Drones are bombing cities in both nations and ferocious trench-warfare is taking place in which fighting results in only a few yards gained and lost. The drain on soldiers and material resources is inestimable. Nevertheless, peace between Ukraine and Russia will not automatically result from "exhaustion" or a "stalemate": things don't work that way. President Joe Biden is surely correct in believing that only negotiations can end the war. However, initiating them is complicated. Back-channel talks are already being held between various political participants of the conflict. None of the combatants will admit that, however. President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine have staked their reputations on winning this war, not securing a tie, and certainly not by admitting military collapse. It is a mistake to assume that their interests, and that of their governments, are identical with those of civil society and the citizenry. Both leaders have made serious strategic blunders. Russia underestimated Ukraine's resilience, and the resolve of its Western benefactors. NATO and the EU poked the bear by opening their doors to Ukraine, but Russia clumsily tried to use that incitement as a justification for invading its neighbor. Most of the world correctly saw it as a pretext for an attempt to annex territory and restore Russian control over its former sphere of influence. Ukraine underestimated Russia's economy, overestimated the likelihood of economic collapse, and misjudged the level of disillusionment it would produce among the citizenry. Putin's popular support remains strong and the destabilizing impact of the failed coup led by "Wagner" mercenaries was vastly exaggerated. Moreover, Russia did not become the international pariah that Ukraine and the West thought it would; it is instead supported by well over 30 nations. Black-and-white presentations of the conflict by mass media have contributed to the mess. Russia has undoubtedly turned into a neo-fascist state. For all his charisma, Zelenskyy is no saint. Western media have been irresponsible in essentially ignoring the repression of dissidents, squandering of resources, disarray among military leaders, and rank corruption that characterize his illiberal regime. Ukraine is currently under martial law. Its president's statement that elections planned for 2024 might be suspended unless allies extend "help", to the tune of $5 billion, amounts to an extortion that plays on loyalty (Click Here). On both sides: critics feel threatened, innovative proposals are dismissed, compromise is made more difficult, and the cause of peace is being hindered. Some in the United States insist that solving the crisis rests on inviting the two presidents to just "sit down at a table and negotiate", which is worse than naive. Official negotiations without prior back-channel agreements usually result in endless squabbling over details, and they can actually prolong the conflict. Talks prove fruitful only if they are carried on in good faith. Besides, Zelenskyy and Putin have already expressed their willingness to talk--but with preconditions. The Ukrainian president has stated that he must first verify that all Russian troops have been withdrawn from Ukrainian soil. As for the Russian leader, he first needs assurances that all Russian territorial and security concerns have been met. In other words, the two leaders are ready to negotiate once their mutually exclusive demands have been met. Negotiations only make sense if there is prior consensus on their outcome. This means that both Putin and Zelensky need an "exit strategy" that will leave them with their honor, more or less, intact as they agree to the compromises that come with peace. Securing an exit strategy and the necessary consensus prior to official talks taking place calls for deft diplomacy by allies of both nations. Any future peace will call upon Ukraine to cede Crimea, which is 82% Russian, and explore options on the fate of the Donbass. Addressing the security needs of both nations would probably call upon Ukraine to withdraw its applications to join NATO in exchange for accelerated admission to the European Union. These are complex matters that require allies to use the carrot and the stick and negotiate with one another. Ex-President Donald Trump's claims that he could end the war in a day are absurd. But his threat to withdraw from NATO, should he again become president, creates a looming threat. There is a chance that he will win; polls suggest that Trump and Biden are virtually tied for the lead in the election of 2024. His obviously pro-Putin stance has been embraced by his extremist followers in Congress and the Senate. In favor of ending aid to Ukraine, insisting that it is not in America's national interest, they are echoed by many on the Left. Of course, there are also radical "hawks" in both of America's major parties intent on challenging Russia, and reigniting the Cold War, by providing Ukraine with ever more lethal military hardware. Shipping "cluster bombs" to Ukraine illustrates their political influence. It is a mistake. Not only does this type of "aid" violate certain international conventions, raise the possibility of being charged with war crimes, but contradicts the purported humanitarian purposes of America's role in the conflict. The United States has supplied $135 billion, and Europe $77 billion, in aid to Ukraine since the war began (Click Here). Such amounts cannot continue indefinitely. Nor are Russia's resources infinite. It is a mistake to rely on unstinting support from allies, such as China or Iran, whose interests are purely geo-political. Whatever the short-run benefits, Ukraine and Russia stand in danger of compromising their sovereignty by incurring colossal financial and military debts from other, more powerful, nations. The United States and Europe must exploit that eventuality in forging a third path, based neither on maintaining outrageous levels of aid, and sending ever more lethal military hardware, nor simply leaving Ukraine to its own devices. Casting a plague on both houses, and standing above the fray, is not a policy. The war is becoming an ever-more-lethal global crisis that requires an orchestrated response by its foreign participants. North Korea's new agreements on military trade with Russia might serve as a point of departure. China and the West have a common interest in limiting North Korea's nuclear capabilities and its geo-political role in East Asia. Greater cooperation between the superpowers could lead them to exercise equitable pressure on Ukraine and Russia to negotiate in earnest. Rekindling talks on the nuclear treaty between Iran and the United States, previously dismantled by Donald Trump, might contribute to setting the stage for tying aid and easing sanctions to tempering hostilities, compromising on issues, and furthering peace. True: there is a sense in which this means indirectly imposing peace. However, given the global dangers and the immaturity of the Ukrainian and Russian governments, there may be no other choice. *Stephen Eric Bronner is Co-Director of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue and Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). All my life I have disagreed with Henry David Thoreau: Unlike him, I think it is "worthwhile to go around the world to count the cats in Zanzibar." That's why inveterate travelers find the return to post-pandemic travel an exhilarating experience. This spring my husband and I were excited to resurrect an aborted trip abroad that was planned almost four years ago. We were so excited you might have thought it was something we'd never done before. The truth is travel is in our DNA so having to stay close to home for so long was hard. View of skyline as seen from Toronto Bay. Toronto, Canada. Postcard postmarked Nov. 3, 1943. (Image by Public Domain) Details DMCA The joy of travel began when I was a child, and the high point of summer was a family trip to Toronto to visit my father's relatives. On the eve of the journey my sister and I laid out new shorts, T-shirts, and sandals to be ready when the alarm rang at 6:00 a.m. Teeth brushed and hair combed, we skipped to the back of the black Buick and didn't argue with our brother for the window seat. We were too busy savoring breakfast at Howard Johnson's, part of the annual ritual that always began our trip to another country. Every year we took a different route to enjoy the scenery. Pre-interstate and Holiday Inns, we drove through Pennsylvania Dutch country or New England or New York State, where we visited Ithaca's gorges, the 1,000 islands, and of course, Niagara Falls. Every night, we looked for AAA-approved cabins in which to sleep, with their worn linoleum floors, chenille bedspreads, and inevitable spiders. We thought it was pure heaven (except for the spiders.) View of Niagara Falls from the Maid of the Mist IMG 1352.JPG (Image by Unknown Owner) Details DMCA Crossing the border was like going to a forbidden country. We had to answer questions about where we were going, why, and for how long, and reassure customs officials that we had nothing illegal with us. Once cleared to proceed we headed to the Falls to ride in the Maid of the Mist boat that went behind the Falls spraying us with water. In Toronto we checked into the Royal York Hotel where a little man in a maroon uniform roamed the lobby every day calling out, "Call for Mr. Smith!" "Call for Mr. Jones!" The next morning, before heading to my grandfather's cottage, we ate breakfast in The Honeydew Restaurant. Only then were we ready for the obligatory visits that lay ahead. Later, in my early twenties, I took my first solo trip to Europe. I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven as I experienced Amsterdam, London, Paris, Rome, and the Swiss landscape, relying on travel books that promised you could do this kind of thing economically. Relishing every moment and every conversation with fellow travelers from different cultures, I thought I'd go mad with the pleasure of it all. Michelangelo%27s David - right view 2. (Image by Unknown Owner) Details DMCA I marveled at the sight of Michelangelo's David, wept in San Marco Square, thrilled at the pageantry of the Changing of the Guard, sat in cafes on the Champs Elysee and smiled back at Mona Lisa. I even fell in love twice. More importantly I knew that my life had changed and that I would never stop traveling. Luckily, I married a Brit who loves traveling as much as I do and with whom I was able to travel internationally because of his work, then mine. We even lived for a year in Thailand when I got a teaching gig there. We traveled like cockroaches then, scurrying around Southeast Asia, discovering new foods, new art and music, new friends, beautiful rituals, and other ways of living. Wat Phra That Hariphunchai %28II%29. (Image by Unknown Owner) Details DMCA Travel also offers a diverse and sometimes dramatic education. History, art, literature, religious beliefs all come alive as we are exposed to other cultures, rituals, and norms. We become more curious, learn new ways of thinking or expressing ourselves, and grow in ways we never imagined. Traveling also offers challenges. Before there was a single currency in Europe, I had to learn how to convert currencies, to communicate without a common language and to know the difference between the Alps and the Pyrenees. It was instructive and fun. I also had to develop bargaining skills and to know how to deal with dangerous situations. Luckily, in my experience, there is always someone to help. Travel, if it's possible, can be simply a pleasurable experience or a profound life-altering event. For me it was both, and I view it as a great blessing. That's why I continue to agree with Mark Twain who claimed that travel is enticing, not least because it is "fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." Like Twain, whose account of one trip gave us Innocents Abroad, I think "it would be well if such an excursion could be got up every year and the system regularly inaugurated." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. A Global Maui Moment Ready, Aim, Fire! By Tom Engelhardt From the earliest kingdoms to late last night, history has been the story not just of the rise of great powers but of their decline and fall. So, normally, there would be nothing particularly out of the ordinary about the aging America of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, a classic imperial power distinctly in decline and threatening to split into pieces. As it happens, though, there's something all too new about the twenty-first-century decline and fall of that other great power of the Cold War era you know, not the Soviet Union. After all, the present downhill slide of this country is happening on a planet that itself is distinctly in trouble in terms of what's always passed for a decent human life and that, believe me, is something new under the sun. In fact, in some fashion, the scenario all of us, each in our own fashion, are now living through may be the least known ever. Think of it, if you will, as the orange-sky scenario. I'm sure you remember when New York City's skyline went orange thanks to the smoke from hundreds of wildfires then burning across Canada that drifted our way. And though it's hardly even considered news anymore, as of August 25th, nearly three months later, there were still 1,033 active wildfires scorching that country, 656 of them "out of control." Consider that and then try to get your mind around a planet capable of producing such a phenomenon! What's different today is that, while those particular orange skies may have been over parts of the eastern United States, what lay behind them wasn't just an all-American but a global story of decline. Nature's War of Revenge Let me imagine for a moment that I was on Maui in early August as that first hint of smoke entered my house (not, of course, that I have a house on that island). What followed was a fire of unprecedented severity, fueled by fierce winds from a relatively distant hurricane and invasive grasses dried by a "severe drought." That fire then burst into the town of Lahaina and burnt it to the ground, a catastrophe that caused more than 100 known deaths and left hundreds more missing. I want to say that it was a fire "beyond compare," especially in Hawaii where, for most of its history, as Elizabeth Kolbert recently reminded us, "fire simply wasn't part of the islands' ecology." But honestly, when it comes to climate disasters, you can't say "beyond compare" about much of anything anymore. Not on this planet, not now. Yes, climate change the heat and lack of moisture had dried out that island's largely alien greenery, making it ever more combustible. There was also that hurricane, admittedly hundreds of miles away but directing brutal fire-spreading winds Maui's way. And for context, consider that, since the 1950s, the average temperature of Hawaii has risen by about two degrees and summers have become increasingly brutal in terms of heat. Still, the fire that destroyed Lahaina 2,700 structures simply wiped out was the deadliest in the United States in more than a century. But count on one thing: 100 years from now, if there still is a United States and another terrible fire occurs, no one will be saying that it was the deadliest in "more than a century." However sad it may be to write, ever more horrific fires are now the definition of our future. In the end, in fact, it doesn't matter whether we're talking about Hawaii or Iran, Algeria or Greece, China or Spain, Phoenix, Arizona, or the island of Sardinia. Across the planet, horrifying "natural" (though under the circumstances, they should be considered distinctly unnatural) fire, flood, and heat records were set this summer. Both June and July were the hottest versions of those months ever and 2023 is clearly rushing toward its own global heat record. So, mourn for Maui now. After all, a decade, no less a century, from now, nothing that happened this summer will be remembered as the planet's ongoing crisis only breaks yet more records and grows ever more severe. Even today, when it comes to heat, nothing not even emperor penguins in Antarctica is unaffected. And it's not just on land (or ice) either. Don't forget the water. As Bill McKibben noted recently, "In the past hundred and fifty years, we've made the ocean soak up, on average, the heat equivalent of a Hiroshima-size nuclear bomb every second and a half; in recent years, that's increased to five or six Hiroshimas a second." Imagine that! In other words, Hurricane Idalia, the first (and undoubtedly anything but last) hurricane of Florida's present storm season, crossed startlingly heated waters that had only recently set records, gaining power from them as it hit the state as a category 4 storm. War? It was once hell on Earth and see the conflict in the Ukraine, where there are already almost 500,000 casualties with no end in sight in so many ways it still is. However, in the end, our wars, barring the use of nuclear weapons, could prove to be next to nothing compared to nature's war of revenge on humanity. And yet, perhaps the most striking thing about us is that, from the Ukraine to Taiwan, we're proving remarkably unable to focus on what's truly new and horrific about life on this planet. I was born 79 years ago on an Earth plunged into a global war, the second of that century. It would conclude just over a year later after my country discovered a way to end it all. I hardly need to tell you that I'm thinking about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and, in the decades that followed, the vast atomic arsenals built up by the two superpowers of that era, the Soviet Union and the United States. As it happens, Russia still has a humongous nuclear arsenal and the U.S., with the second largest on the planet, is planning to put up to $2 trillion into "modernizing" it over the next three decades. Meanwhile, nine countries now possess nuclear weapons with the capacity of doing to the planet what had once been done to those two Japanese cities. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Atlanta, Georgia - Get ready to groove and elevate your musical experience with the latest release from renowned artist K.M.R. Announced today, K.M.R. is set to drop two scintillating house music instrumentals, Away On Vaca and Off Keys, on Spotify. These tracks promise to be the ultimate soundtracks for anyone seeking euphoric vibes and rhythmic excellence. Away On Vaca: Vibrant Tunes for Euphoric Vibes "Dive into a musical journey like no ALBANY Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo won a lawsuit on Monday imperiling the future of New Yorks ethics and lobbying oversight body. In a written decision, Albany County State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle ruled that aspects of a 2022 state law creating the oversight board, the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (COELIG), were illegal. Marcelles ruling granted attorneys for the state government 10 days to make a request that the entire 2022 state law creating the commission not be struck down; otherwise, the judge ruled, the law will be no more. The commission will appeal the ruling, however, and the case could ultimately be decided by the states highest court, the Court of Appeals. While its being decided, the appeal will prevent the commission from being disbanded. But in the meantime, the commissions ability to investigate corruption in state government including an ongoing case related to Cuomo will likely be curtailed. Already, the agency had been off to a slow start, which the agency attributed to a staffing transition. Cuomo filed a lawsuit seeking to disband the ethics agency because Cuomo was trying to avoid potentially repaying millions of dollars. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Cuomo wrote a book detailing his highly publicized efforts to respond, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic, which netted him a $5.1 million publishing deal. But evidence later emerged that Cuomo had used state government staffers to assist him on the private venture, a potential violation of state ethics law. And the states prior ethics oversight body allowed Cuomo to write the book under a Cuomo attorneys assurance that he would not use state employees a promise that was not kept. Cuomo contends the staff work was voluntary. The ethics commission, which came into being in July 2022, had been preparing to hold a hearing to determine whether Cuomo had violated the law by using government employees. Cuomo was facing the prospect of repaying the millions he had earned from the book. In a statement Monday, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi called the ethics agencys actions nothing more than an attack by those who abused their government positions unethically and as the judge ruled today unconstitutionally for political purposes. Those in Albany who created this farce of a commission may not care about or know the law ... The states prior ethics body, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, was for years criticized for lacking independence from Cuomo, who appointed nearly half its members. After Cuomo resigned from office in August 2021, his replacement, Gov. Kathy Hochul, vowed to disband JCOPE. During her first state budget negotiation in 2022, Hochul struck a compromise with the Legislature to create COELIG, which she touted as being substantially more independent from the state lawmakers it would regulate. The new law created a structure where statewide elected officials and leaders of the Legislature would still appoint the groups 11 commissioners, who were charged with voting on whether to pursue investigations into state lawmakers and imposing penalties. But in a new wrinkle, a panel consisting of the deans of the states 15 law schools now had the power to review the appointments of those 11 people, and veto appointees the deans found problematic. The deans review process was secretive under the state law, however, and its reasons for vetoing several initial appointees were not publicly disclosed. In his ruling, Marcelle wrote that a group of unelected law school deans could not be delegated the power to veto appointments. In short, the deans exercise power immune from review and judgment, Marcelle wrote. Thus, the deans allegiance lies solely with their respective academic institution and to each other they are neither responsible to the voters nor their elected representatives. The exercise of governmental power unbounded by government oversight may seem like an innovative idea, but it is one unmentioned in the Constitution. Instead, Marcelle wrote that under the current state constitution, the power to enforce ethics law existed within the states executive branch. If so, that raises the question of whether under the current state constitution, an ethics enforcement body could ever be truly independent of the governor. Successive state ethics commissions, dating back decades, have been viewed by government reform groups as lacking independence under the structure Marcelle described as legal. In his ruling, Marcelle said that for a different type of ethics commission to exist, voters must pass a constitutional amendment. If the people should choose to be governed by those who are not politically accountable to them or their Governor, who swear no oath of allegiance to them, and who come as a class composed of urban academics and who are not reflective of the cross-section of the people whom they govern, the people may do so, Marcelle wrote. But it is for the people to decide and only the people. Such an outcome may be unlikely. Reformers in the State Legislature for years have proposed such a constitutional amendment. But leaders in the Legislature have been reluctant to fully give up sway over ethics enforcement, which is enabled by their making appointments to the body. For a constitutional amendment to be voted upon in a statewide referendum, the Legislature must first vote to pass the proposal in consecutive years. Upon taking office following the controversies that felled Cuomo, Hochul wanted to quickly pass a law disbanding JCOPE, rather than engage in the lengthier process of a constitutional amendment. That resulted in the creation of COELIG. The 2022 law created other reforms that Marcelle did not find illegal, but could also be imperiled by the ruling. For instance, a process that existed under JCOPE allowing a small minority of commissioners to veto any investigation no longer governed the new body. Taking office in the midst of scandal and a crisis in State government, Governor Hochul worked with the Legislature to craft a new, truly independent ethics body that could begin to restore New Yorkers faith in their public officials, Hochul spokesman Avi Small said Monday. Todays decision undermines the independent ethics commission created by Governor Hochul and we will work with the Commission to support an appeal. COELIG executive director Sanford Berland and chairman Frederick Davie said in a joint statement that New Yorkers have the right to an ethics commission that is truly independent and fully empowered to administer and enforce the states ethics and lobbying laws objectively and without interference from any branch of government. The commission, they said, intends to move forward deliberately and with zeal even as it pursues relief from Mondays ruling through the appellate and legislative processes. Q. I took Xyzal nightly for months and noticed my weight creeping up, so I stopped cold turkey. Within 48 hours, my whole body started itching. Another few tries showed me I needed a better plan. To taper off this medicine SLOWLY without discontinuation symptoms, I bought the liquid form of Xyzal. This allowed me to measure out smaller and smaller doses. The first month, I cut my dose in half to 1/2 teaspoon nightly. After that, I took a 1/2 teaspoon every other night for a few weeks. Then I cut the dose to 1/4 teaspoon every night. Several weeks later, I went to 1/4 teaspoon every other night for two weeks. Last, 1/8 teaspoon every night for two weeks then 1/8 teaspoon every other night. At that point, I was able to stop completely with no itching. This took forever, but going slowly and getting my body used to smaller and smaller doses made it tolerable. A. Thank you for sharing your creative solution to this unpleasant problem. We have heard from many readers who experienced unrelenting itching after stopping levocetirizine (Xyzal) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). After we prodded the Food and Drug Administration, it investigated this discontinuation syndrome. The agency reviewed its database of adverse events and found an association. It was written up in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, July 5, 2019. The authors concluded: Patients and prescribers should have knowledge of this adverse event, given the widespread use and availability of cetirizine and potential impact on patient quality of life. Neither the FDA nor the drug company provides helpful information on how to taper off such antihistamines without itching. Your protocol could be helpful for others. Q. I have been on lisinopril for at least five years and had no problems until today. I took my medicine around 2 p.m., and by 2:30 p.m., my tongue had swollen so much that I had to hold it down with my finger to get a breath. When I called my sister, she rushed me to the emergency room. As soon as I said I was on lisinopril, the ER doctor knew exactly what it was and administered an IV medication to stop the swelling. Before starting the IV, the doctor asked me if I would agree to being intubated if the med did not work. I said yes, as a tear rolled down my cheek and I asked my sister to call my son. I was very scared and will forever be grateful to the ER team that quickly diagnosed the problem and got it under control. I was discharged within four hours, more than a little shaken. No more lisinopril for me. A. What you experienced is called angioedema. It involves the buildup of fluid in the lips, tongue or throat and can lead to life-threatening blockage of the airways. What makes this adverse reaction so challenging is that it can occur even after taking the drug safely for years. One class of medications that is especially likely to trigger this reaction is called ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors. This includes drugs like benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Zestril) and quinapril (Accupril). Although angioedema is considered a relatively rare side effect, 40 million Americans take an ACE inhibitor blood pressure medicine. It can also affect the intestines, a complication that is difficult to diagnose. To learn more about this dangerous condition as well as other hypertension treatments, you may wish to consult our eGuide to Blood Pressure Solutions. This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. * * * In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email them via their website: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Their newest book is Top Screwups Doctors Make and How to Avoid Them. No. 16 Oregon State has opened as a 21-point favorite (courtesy of FanDuel) over San Diego State for Saturdays game at Reser Stadium. The 21-point margin is the Beavers largest spread since they were a 22-point favorite against Colorado last October. Oregon State (2-0) has won six consecutive games dating back to last season, and, according to covers.com, has covered nine straight against the point spread. The last time the Beavers didnt cover the spread was Oct. 8, 2022, a 28-27 win over Stanford where OSU was a 3-point favorite. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Beavers are 13-2 against the spread. Saturdays game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. and is Oregon States final non-conference contest this season. -- Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel By November 2020, Shine Distillery had already been seen its opening delayed by a federal government shutdown, then faced a lengthy closure during Oregons first indoor dining ban. But when then-Gov. Kate Browns ordered a second dining freeze at the end of the year, Shine owner Jon Poteet decided to take those lemons and make limoncello, metaphorically speaking, turning the sidewalk outside the distillery into a takeout line, then inviting out-of-work drag performers to put on a show. Its a nice way to help people forget about the storm of insanity were all dealing with right now, Poteet told The Oregonian/OregonLive of the Drag-Thru concept at the time. And if I can reach out and help support some of my fellow members of the LGBTQ community, why not? But as of last month, Shines unusual distillery-restaurant model is no more, the victim of those shutdowns, slow sales and persistent staffing shortages. Shines restaurant has closed for good, and while Poteet hopes to carry on distilling, the spirits brands future is also in flux. Remember when they said there was all this pent up demand, and all you had to do was make it through another year and all these people will come back? Poteet said. That has not solidified. People have changed their habits. Everyone learned how to stay at home and order off of Uber Eats. A right to possession notice placed in the door last week indicated that Shines lease had been terminated as of Aug. 31 due to a material default by Shine Spirits, LLC, and that lessor Ruben J. Menashe, Inc. has claimed a lien on all property of Shine Spirits, LLC located on the premises. But Poteet said the sign was just one of the legal hoops Menashe has to jump through, and that the two entities are still working together to find a new tenant for the restaurant space and hopefully keep the distillery running, potentially under new ownership. I have nothing but admiration and respect for how Ruben J. Menashe runs their buisness, Poteet said. He has worked with us through good times and bad times. Delayed months by a federal government shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019, Shine finally opened its swanky split-level restaurant and distillery at the corner of North Williams Avenue and Skidmore Street in July 2019. Though Oregon is no stranger to brewpubs, Poteet believes Shine was the first full restaurant attached to a distillery in the state, a hybrid model first deployed by Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery in Boise, Idaho. Including distilling equipment, Shines buildout cost just shy of $2 million, Poteet said. In addition to the Drag-Thru performances in 2020 and 2021, Shine spent the early part of the pandemic producing hand sanitizer and, once indoor dining resumed, quickly became known for its drag bingo, drag brunch buffets and other LGBTQ+-friendly events. But those events didnt always translate to more customers in seats, Poteet said. Between staffing issues, internal and external forces, one of the problems is we got well known for stunts, the drag queen drive-thru, cocktails to go, Poteet said. People had heard of us but they had never had dinner there. The last straw came a few weeks ago, when Shine lost a pair of cooks at a time when hiring kitchen staff continues to bedevil local restaurants. I only had four cooks total to run the entire place, Poteet said. You cant do a six-day operation with just two cooks. Unless you want really, really, really angry cooks. Poteet asks anyone hoping to support the Shine brand to buy its spirits at the liquor store and ask for them at your local bar. We need local support now more than ever, Poteet said. It never ceases to amaze me how people in Portland will say they love to buy local and then they order Titos and send their money off to Texas. Read more At Portlands new Drag Thru takeout line, performers bring joy during Gov. Kate Browns latest dining shutdown Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Teachers in Vancouvers Evergreen Public Schools reached a tentative agreement Sunday to end the 12-day strike that delayed the start of the 2023-24 academic year. The districts 22,000 students returned to classrooms Monday after a two-hour delay during which teachers ratified the agreement. The district is the largest in Southwest Washington. The three-year agreement provides for cost-of-living increases of 6.6% in the first year and 5.8% in the second year, according to information provided by the Evergreen Education Association, which represents about 1,500 teachers. In the third year, the increase will be based on Seattles consumer price index, but will be between 4.65% and 5.05%. The district has also agreed to hire up to 10 new special education support teachers in the current school year, and up to another dozen the following two years. District administrators say that the district would extend the school year by seven days to make up for those lost during the strike. On Friday, students in the smaller Camas School District returned to buildings after missing several days due to their teachers strike. In Oregon, leaders with Portland Public Schools say its teachers may strike this fall if mediation fails. Beth Slovic; bslovic@oregonian.com; 503-221-8551 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Alanna Kieffer was just a teen when she discovered her passion for marine biology and the desire to educate others. But it took COVID and the loss of her job for Kieffer to discover that if she wanted to teach people about the ocean, the way to their brain was through their stomach. Now, Kieffer, founder of Shifting Tides, a company dedicated to coastal exploration and education, leads foraging tours that even come with a personal chef. The fun thing I discovered is that there are all these people who wont pay to get educated about something, but the second you make it about food, and they know they are going to get to take something home with them, they are way more interested, Kieffer said. Kieffers taste for teaching people about the ocean began in high school when her family moved to the Oregon coast and she went to work for the Haystack Rock Awareness Program in Cannon Beach. Later, she studied at Oregon State University and James Cook University in Australia, earning a bachelors degree in marine biology. She eventually landed on Catalina Island leading outdoor summer camps, but when COVID hit, Kieffer had little choice but to return home to the Oregon coast. There, she took a job with Oregon Seaweed in Garibaldi and soon discovered that little sweetens an opportunity to learn like the promise of food. HERE IS OREGON: HereisOregon.com | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok While teaching people about seaweed it was the segue into conversations about conservation and what people are doing to protect coastline, she said. It got me more focused on the food and culinary world. Last February she founded Shifting Tides on the north Oregon coast with the goal of helping people gain a better appreciation for the worlds oceans and all they provide. We protect the things we love, and we love the things we have a connection to, she said. So simply connecting people to the coastline is my underlying mission. Kieffer offers a variety of workshops March through October in Tillamook and Clatsop counties, with limited offerings November through January. The classes generally center on intertidal and coastal forest exploration, foraging and nutrition, all with a focus on sustainability. I do just tide pooling workshops, where we go out at low tide and people learn about the ecology of our coast and get an overall picture of what our intertidal zones are, she said. I do a foraging workshop where they learn the ecology and oceanography of the Oregon coast, with a focus on how to forage mussels in a sustainable way. We go clamming in the mudflats. I may add a crabbing workshop this winter. And then there are the way more in-depth workshops where we have a foraging excursion, and we have a chef with us cook on the beach or go back to a restaurant and have a meal with food that we have foraged. Kieffer operates Shifting Tides alone, but partners with other local businesses, including The Salmonberry Restaurant and Carola Wines, both in Wheeler. The workshop on mussels and intertidal foraging also focuses on other Oregon coast edibles, including gooseneck and acorn barnacles. Often, participants in the workshops have never heard of goosenecks, considered a delicacy in other parts of the world. The gooseneck is one of the best seafoods out there, and our coastline is covered in them, Kieffer said. People in Europe risk their lives to harvest these things. Its not as easy on our coast where they are just on the rocks. In Europe, they have to repel down cliffsides to harvest them at low tide. There is a very specific way you have to process them. They are attached to the rock with their neck and you cut them off the rock. I steam them whole, and then you have to clean them. They have the chewy texture of clam with the taste of lobster. They look bizarre. People are a little squeamish as they are processing them. But everyone Ive ever given them to loves them. Acorn barnacles are related to crabs and taste similar, Kieffer said. But theyre tiny so theres little meat. Acorn barnacles grow all over the rocks, sometimes, on mussels. There is a very specific way you have to harvest them. You cant just rip it off a rock. So far, the workshops have appealed to a wide range of participants, including families, couples and others just looking for a different experience at the beach. Makoto Furuya and a friend traveled from Portland for Kieffers tide pooling workshop in Cannon Beach. She got me curious about nudibranches, sea slugs, and more interested in the variety of things you can see in tide pooling, Furuya said. Ive always liked tide pools. I just didnt have the in-depth knowledge of what is going on in tide pools. It really helped to have marine biologist expertise to learn about each animal in there. Its super fascinating and its fun to have an activity like that on the coast. Kieffer is also available to lead private workshops. Maria Koshy of Cannon Beach booked a tour with Shifting Tides for a group of five friends from Utah. We went out with a lot of questions and really into kind of an unknown realm because none of us had ever gathered mussels before, said Koshy, who met Kieffer on a tour of Oregon Seaweed. There is a lot of information about sustainable practices. She was so passionate about the subjects. She puts you at ease right away and makes you feel really excited about what you are participating in. Details: For a full schedule of upcoming workshops and booking information, visit shiftingtidesnw.com The AP-NORC poll on whether U.S. laws and policies reflect public opinion is misleading, (American Democracy is cracking. These forces help explain why, Sept. 4). The poll largely shows that over 60% of Americans think government is not doing too well reflecting public opinion on six of eight points, including gun policy, immigration, gender identity, government spending, the economy and abortion. The other two points environment and health care - were at 55%. Lets think about why. Considering the divisiveness of our voting public, you will not find 60% of Americans who agree on any of those policies. People who believe we should do more feel the same dissatisfaction as people who think that we are doing too much. Consider the diverse potential responses to these commonly stated opinions: Climate change is a hoax. Legalize all firearms. Legalize abortion. Limit government spending. Increase government spending to fund education and health care. Protect the rights of all people, regardless of gender identity, religion or race. Abolish firearms sales. Its become hard to conduct a public opinion poll in this country. John Vavrek, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. After calling it one of his favorite places to visit in the country earlier this year, actor and comedian Will Ferrell returned to Portland over the weekend. Ferrell was posted to the Timbers Instagram, where he could be seen chatting and posing with Timber Joey ahead of Saturdays match against LAFC. Hes heard asking about Joeys chainsaw and appears to lightheartedly decline an offer to hold it himself. The former Saturday Night Live cast member chose a good night to visit Providence Park. He was part of the packed house that watched the Timbers beat the defending MLS Cup champions 2-0. This is the second Portland sporting event Will Ferrell has been spotted at in 2023. He drew attention back on Jan. 28 when he was sitting courtside at a Trail Blazers game, where the Anchorman and Elf star seemed to enjoy himself. After his January trip, Ferrell named the Rose City while listing his favorite places to visit in the United States during an episode of the Office Ladies podcast. He told hosts Angela Kinsey and Jenna Fischer that Portland is a little hidden gem. Well, maybe not so hidden now, but Portlands great. Jim Corbran and Kevin Greiner never met each other until about a month ago, but for decades, they both pursued the same mysterious question: Who was Robert C. Greiner? Greiner, a South Park High School graduate, was an Army infantryman who died in France in August 1944, in the waning days of World War II. He had been a shadowy presence in the lives of Corbran and Kevin Greiner for a long time. When I was 10, my sister and I found an old news article saying Robert Greiner was married to our mother, before we were born, said Corbran, 70, of the City of Tonawanda. But he was like this dark family secret that nobody would tell us anything about. Kevin Greiner, 71, of West Seneca, has known for decades that he had two uncles Robert Greiner and his brother, Edward who grew up in Buffalos First Ward and were killed in combat seven weeks apart in 1944. But my dad and other people in the family never wanted to talk about it, Kevin Greiner told The Buffalo News. I guess the memory was just too painful for them to discuss it. On Thursday afternoon, Corbran spent a couple of hours with Kevin Greiner and his wife, Sandra, in Gene McCarthys historic First Ward tavern. And this time, there was plenty of conversation about Robert Greiner. What made the gathering special was the small but meaningful gift that Corbran gave to Kevin Greiner the Purple Heart medal that the Army gave to Robert Greiners family after Nazi soldiers killed him 79 years ago. Corbran said the Purple Heart had been hidden away by his family since the 1940s. He said he and his sister, Patricia Hamilton, found it in the home of their father, Henry Corbran, after he died in 2005. Ever since we found it, weve wanted to give this Purple Heart to Robert Greiners family and Im really glad we were able to turn it over to Kevin, Corbran said. This means the world to us, an emotional Kevin Greiner said as he and Corbran sat behind their beers at Gene McCarthys. This is huge. Corbran and Kevin Greiner never met Robert Greiner. Military records show he died near Normandy, France, of shrapnel wounds years before they were born. Corbrans mom was the late Marie Quinn Corbran, who married Robert Greiner in 1943, not long before he shipped off to France after enlisting in the Army. Four years after her first husband died in combat, Marie married Henry Corbran. Marie died of an illness in 1979. My mother would never tell us about her first marriage, and would never explain why, Corbran said. My godmother once told me that it was just too painful for my mother to talk about, because of the way she lost him. And my father would never talk about him, either. While he wishes they had told him more, Corbran said he could only imagine how painful it was for his mother, as a young woman in the First Ward, to get the news that her husband had died in combat. Kevin Greiner told a strangely similar story about his father, Colton Greiner, who died in 2003. We grew up knowing that he had two brothers who died in the war, but my dad and other people in the family wouldnt tell us any details, Kevin Greiner said. I can only guess that it was incredibly painful for my dad to discuss, losing his two older brothers in the war, seven weeks apart. Corbran said he spent years contacting museums and veterans organizations in search of someone related to Robert Greiner. Finally, someone associated with a First Ward Facebook group put him in touch with Kevin Greiner. Aided by his wife, Kevin Greiner had also been doing some research, trying to find out more details about the lives and deaths of his two heroic uncles. The sacrifices made by the two uncles he never met inspired Kevin Greiner to volunteer for the military during the Vietnam War. During that war, he spent three years on active duty at American missile sites operated by Army Air Defense units. Kevin Greiner credits Matt Parsons, a retired Buffalo Police detective and historian, with helping him track down information about his uncles. He said Parsons who wrote a book about South Park graduates killed in wars also helped him obtain a Medal for Conspicuous Military Service for Robert Greiner. What happened to the two Greiner brothers unfortunately happened to many Buffalo families during wartime, Parsons told The News. Two brothers go off to war to serve their country, and neither one comes back. Kevin Greiner said he was thrilled when Corbran called him last month and spoke of his plans to deliver his uncles Purple Heart to him. Kevin is his uncles closest living relative and Im really glad this medal is in his hands now, Corbran said during the gathering at McCarthys. Getting this is a really big step for my family, Kevin Greiner said, looking back at the beautiful old medal. But this isnt the end of it. My wife and I still want to find out everything we can about both of my uncles. After dying for their country, the two Greiner brothers were initially buried in France. Their bodies were later moved to Buffalo. They now rest steps away from each other in a veterans section at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Kevin Griener makes sure they arent forgotten there. I visit their graves every time I pass through Buffalo, he said. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - At an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers in Tripoli on Monday, the Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid al Dbaiba, announced a three-day national mourning period, ordering all officials and ministers, without exception, to monitor the situation in the country's eastern region Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The deputy Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Moussa al-Kouni, has urged the Executive Secretary of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), Ado el Hadji Abou, to work towards finding effective solutions to the crises that the countries in the community have been experiencing recently Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - At an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers in Tripoli on Monday, the Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid al Dbeiba, announced a three-day national mourning period, ordering all officials and ministers, without exception, to monitor the situation in the country's eastern region Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - To advance development, States must reject authoritarianism and protect civic space and fundamental rights, UN rights chief Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council on Monday Switching Off: Sweden Says Back-To-Basics Schooling Works on Paper The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden's hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills. The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden's hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills. Sept. 11, 2023 - Since young children went back to school across Sweden recently, many of their teachers have been putting a new emphasis on printed books, quiet reading time and handwriting practice, and devoting less time to tablets, independent online research and keyboarding skills. The return to more traditional ways of learning is a response to politicians and experts questioning whether Sweden's hyper-digitalised approach to education, including the introduction of tablets in nursery schools, had led to a decline in basic skills. Sweden's minister for schools, Lotta Edholm, who took office 11 months ago as part of a centre-right coalition government, was one of the biggest critics of the all-out embrace of technology. "Sweden's students need more textbooks," Edholm said in March. "Physical books are important for student learning." The minister announced in August that the government wanted to reverse the decision by the national agency for education to make digital devices mandatory in preschools. It plans to go further and to completely end digital learning for children under age six, the ministry has told the Associated Press. Although Sweden's students score above the European average for reading ability, an international assessment of fourth-grade reading levels, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), highlighted a decline among Sweden's children between 2016 and 2021. In 2021, Swedish fourth graders averaged 544 points, a drop from the 555 average in 2016. However, their performance still placed the country in a tie with Taiwan for the seventh-highest overall test score. In comparison, Singapore which topped the rankings improved its PIRLS reading scores from 576 to 587 during the same period, and England's average reading achievement score fell only slightly, from 559 in 2016 to 558 in 2021. Some learning deficits may have resulted from the coronavirus pandemic or reflect a growing number of immigrant students who don't speak Swedish as their first language, but an overuse of screens during school lessons may cause youngsters to fall behind in core subjects, education experts say. "There's clear scientific evidence that digital tools impair rather than enhance student learning," Sweden's Karolinska Institute, a highly respected medical school focused on research, said in a statement in August on the country's national digitalisation strategy in education. "We believe the focus should return to acquiring knowledge through printed textbooks and teacher expertise, rather than acquiring knowledge primarily from freely available digital sources that have not been vetted for accuracy." Read the full article at: The Guardian. SOURCE: The Guardian Photo: (Photo : Chris Yang on Unsplash) A 25-year-old international student was arrested last Friday in Norway on charges of espionage and unauthorized electronic surveillance, igniting concerns over national security and foreign interference. The individual, whose identity and nationality remain undisclosed, was formally charged in court this past Sunday. Suspect Pleads Not Guilty, Case Complexity Highlighted The suspect pleaded not guilty during the initial police interrogation. Thomas Blom, a lawyer representing Norway's domestic security agency (PST), stated to the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, "We are in a critical, initial, and vulnerable phase of the investigation. The remark reflects the inherent complexities and uncertainties surrounding this high-profile case. Authorities allege that the suspect utilized "technical installations for illegal signal intelligence. Several data-carrying electronic devices were confiscated from him for further analysis. Notably, the man, although labeled as a student, is not currently enrolled at any educational institution in Norway. He has also only been a resident of the country for a brief period, raising questions about the purpose of his stay. According to information disclosed by NRK, the arrest occurred while the suspect was allegedly conducting unauthorized electronic surveillance from a rental car. The vehicle was parked near strategic government locations, including the offices of the Norwegian Prime Minister and the Defense Ministry. This revelation amplifies the already serious nature of the charges against him. The court has ruled that the individual will remain in pretrial custody for four weeks, during which he will not be allowed to receive letters or visits. Security officials have also indicated that the suspect was not acting alone, raising additional concerns about a potentially larger, coordinated espionage operation. In previous evaluations, Norway's PST has flagged Russia, China, and North Korea as state actors constituting significant intelligence risks to the country. Although the nationality of the arrested individual has yet to be revealed, the incident has heightened ongoing concerns about foreign espionage activities targeted against Norway. The arrest serves as a pivotal moment for the country, which has largely been perceived as politically stable but is not insulated from the global escalation of espionage and cyber threats. As the investigation proceeds, international attention is likely to intensify, especially if evidence suggests a state-backed operation designed to compromise Norwegian national security. It's worth noting that Norway, a member of the NATO alliance and a key player in various international agreements, possesses strategic importance. The country's rich natural resources, advanced technological infrastructure, and geopolitical significance make it a likely target for intelligence gathering by foreign states. Read Also: Retiring Dyslexic Spy Taking Down The Feds? Former CIA Analyst Wants To Sell Classified Information For Cash International Ramifications and Norway's Strategic Importance As this sensitive case moves forward, Norwegian authorities are adopting a rigorous approach. The stringent restrictions placed on the suspect during his pretrial detention and the ongoing investigative efforts demonstrate the high stakes involved. Depending on the findings, the case could have far-reaching implications, affecting not only Norway's internal security measures but also its diplomatic relations with other countries. For now, the spotlight remains on the unfolding investigation as both domestic and international communities await more details. With multiple layers of complexity and potential ramifications on a global scale, this arrest is undeniably a focal point in discussions concerning national and international security. The comprehensive investigation led by PST is expected to unveil more details in the weeks to come, offering a clearer picture of the alleged espionage activities and their intended objectives. Norway's approach to this case will likely serve as a benchmark for how democratic nations address the increasingly complicated issue of foreign interference in the digital age. Related Article: Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville Thinks His Late Mom Was A Spy The EKAJ Education Fund has distributed close to 5,000 customized exercise books to all eight (8) Senior High Schools in the Asante Akim South Municipality to support needy students in the beneficiary schools. The distribution of the books is the first major activity being undertaken by the EKAJ Education Fund to support all Senior High Schools (SHS) in the Municipality including private secondary schools in its operational area. The beneficiary Senior High Schools were the Juaso Senior High and Technical School, Banka Community Day Senior High School, Morso Community Senior High School, Dampong Senior High School, Bompata Presbyterian Senior High School, Ofoase Senior High School, Krofa Senior High School and the Oduro Apenteng Senior High School. At separate ceremonies to present the exercise books to the beneficiary schools, the Founder of the EKAJ Education Fund, Mr. Eric Kofi Amofa Junior who is also the Managing Director of Seabiege Ghana Limited producers of Safare Tissues indicated that the distribution of the book was just one of the numerous activities lined up by the Foundation to ensuring quality education and human resource development in the area. The ceremonies were attended by the various chiefs, queen mothers, community leaders, parents, teachers and students who are the direct beneficiaries of the learning materials. Mr. Eric Amofa said that his decision to distribute the exercise books was a testament of how he struggled at the basic and secondary school levels to acquire even basic necessities like exercise books for his studies. I cannot forget my bitter experience in secondary school where my parents could only afford one exercise book for all seven subjects. So, I divided the book by pages for the various subjects, and I remember how I jealously guarded the book from being stolen or missing because that was very crucial for my revisions during exams. Accompanied by some of the Trustee Board members of the Fund, Mr. Eric Amofa took the opportunity to encourage and inspire the senior high school students in the Asante Akim South Municipality to aspire to become great and impactful members of society. He further encouraged them to take their studies seriously and desist from any activities such as alcoholism, smoking, homosexuality and other social vices that would jeopardize their future. Mr. Eric Amofa pledged the commitment of the EKAJ Education Fund to support more needy but brilliant students in the Asante Akim area who want to pursue tertiary or vocational education. Receiving the exercise books on behalf of their schools, the various heads of the beneficiary schools expressed their profound gratitude to Mr. Eric Amofa and his EKAJ Education Fund for the kind gesture. Some of the heads asserted that many of their students sit in classrooms without exercise books to copy notes or do class exercises. The Queen Mother of the Morso Traditional Area, Obaahema Acheampomaa Anima Kotoka II, who graced the presentation of the exercise books to the Morso Senior High School with all his cabinet members applauded the EKAJ Foundation for such a massive donation. She also applauded the Founder, Mr. Eric Amofa for touching many lives in the Municipality in recent years. The Queen Mother who pledged her readiness to support the EKAJ Education Fund, challenged other influential people in the Asante Akim South to emulate the shining examples of Mr. Eric Amofa and also contribute to the Fund to ensure more needy students are supported. The EKAJ Education Fund was established in early 2023 by Mr Eric Amofa with a seed capital of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC100,000.00) to give educational scholarships to needy but brilliant students in the Asante Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The Fund is governed and managed by some prominent personalities in the area as Trustee Board members and patrons. 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 Member of Parliament (MP) of Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro constituency, Sylvester Tetteh has mocked the Police administration for suspending the interdiction of three senior officers currently facing a parliamentary probe into their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to remove the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr George Alex Mensah, Superintendent Mr. Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Superintendent Mr George Lysander Asare were placed on interdiction pending further disciplinary proceedings in accordance with Police Service regulations. According to an earlier statement from the Service, "the action was to make way for disciplinary proceedings into their conduct in line with police service regulations". But the Police administration, in a letter dated 7th September, 2023, has suspended the interdiction of the three officers. Following the interdiction of COP/Mr George Alex Mensah, Supt/Mr Emmanuel Eric Gyebi and Supt/Mr George Lysander Asare in connection with the leaked audio tape, the Police Administration would commence disciplinary proceedings into their conduct upon completion of the ongoing probe by Parliament. In order not to prejudice the ongoing probe, the Police administration has suspended their interdiction, the statement signed by ACP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs said. Reacting to the two statements in a panel discussion on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Hon. Sylvester Tetteh questioned the management of the Police for interdicting the officers in the first place. He wondered what wrong or crime the officers had committed to merit an interdiction. "I didn't ever know that it is now a crime for someone to lobby somebody for a position or discuss somebody not doing his work well," he said in defence of the embattled senior officers. "I am glad that the Police administration or Police Council has issued another statement to interdict the earlier interdiction. The letter that interdicted the three officers, the letter has been interdicted...I was wondering the basis on which they did that interdiction," he ridiculed the Police. 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 LOS ANGELES (AP) Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis apologized Saturday for character letters the celebrity couple wrote on behalf of fellow That 70s Show actor Danny Masterson before he was sentenced for rape this week. A judge in Los Angeles on Thursday sentenced Masterson to 30 years to life in prison for raping two women in 2003. In a video posted on Instagram, Kutcher and Kunis said they were sorry for the pain they may have caused with the letters, which were made public Friday. Kutcher said the letters that asked for leniency were intended for the judge to read and not to undermine the testimony of the victims or retraumatize them in any way. We would never want to do that and we're sorry if that has taken place. Kutcher said Mastersons family approached them after the actor was convicted in the rapes in May and asked them to write character letters describing the person that we knew for 25 years. The letters were posted online by The Hollywood Reporter and other digital publications. Masterson starred with Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace in That 70s Show from 1998 until 2006. He had reunited with Kutcher on the 2016 Netflix comedy The Ranch, but was written off the show when the Los Angeles Police Department investigation was revealed the following year. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo handed down the sentence to Masterson, 47, after hearing statements from the women, and pleas for fairness from defense attorneys. Kutcher described Masterson as a man who treated people "with decency, equality, and generosity, he wrote in his letter dated July 27, 2023. Kunis in her letter to Olmedo called Masterson an outstanding role model and friend and an exceptional older brother figure." Both rapes took place in Mastersons Hollywood-area home in 2003 when he was at the height of his fame on the Fox network sitcom That 70s Show. The victims testified that Masterson drugged them before violently raping them. Kunis said in the apology video that their letters did not mean to undermine the testimony of victims. Our heart goes out to every single person whos ever been a victim of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape, she said. Photos: Danny Masterson Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson Danny Masterson, Sam Elliott, Ashton Kutcher Danny Masterson, Ashton Kutcher Danny Masterson Danny Masterson Danny Masterson Danny Masterson Danny Masterson, Bijou Phillips Danny Masterson Kenyans and Tanzanians on social media have engaged in a playful spat over their presidents remarks on whose citizens are better at speaking Swahili. Swahili is the primary language spoken across the two East African nations, but Kenyans have often been teased for their perceived inability in standard Swahili while Tanzanians are similarly mocked for their English skills. At a recent agriculture and food summit in Tanzania, President Samia Hassan chided her Kenyan counterpart William Ruto for not using proper greetings in Swahili. The other day [Mr] Ruto came here and taught us to say 'jambo', but the real thing is 'habari ya mchana'. These Kenyanswe need to put them for Swahili lessons, she said in Swahili. But CNN correspondent Larry Madowo, who is also Kenyan and was hosting the forum, came to the defence of his president "I must defend my president... because Kenyans and Tanzanians are brothers, we talk to Tanzanians in bad Swahili and Tanzanians respond to us in bad English, we go on like that, like its the gospel, he said in Swahili, to an uproarious audience. The exchange highlighted the amicable relationship and shared culture between the neighbouring countries. 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 Officials gathering at the G20 summit in Delhi say they expect the African Union to become the latest member of the organisation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the pan-African organisation to become a permanent member of the G20, arguing that developing nations need a greater say in global decision-making. The proposal has also won backing of the United States. The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he looked forward to welcoming the AU to the bloc. South Africa is currently the only representative of the organisation from the continent. 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 Truck drivers in Tema are threatening to boycott transporting goods from Tema Port in protest of the abandonment of stranded colleagues at the border town between Benin and Niger, following the borders closure. This move is in solidarity with over 200 Ghanaians who became stranded after the borders were closed on orders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in opposition to the military takeover in Niger. These drivers were carrying transit goods primarily from Tema Port to Niger, while others were transporting onions from Niger to Ghana. In a video made available to B&FT, the stranded drivers who have been there for more than a month are seen appealing for government to intervene and get them out of harms way. Some drivers at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authoritys (GPHA) truck park in Tema mentioned that families of these Ghanaians visit the park daily to inquire about developments, and beg for alms to meet their daily needs. We must raise funds and support the wives and children of our brothers who are stranded at the border. We have seen videos of them pleading with government to come to their aid, but little has been done, one of the drivers told B&FT. Commenting on the situation, Ibrahim Musah, the Executive Secretary of the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU) Ghana, lamented the predicament some of the drivers, conductors, and truck owners find themselves in. All the money they had on them is exhausted and they are struggling to survive. They cannot even feed themselves, let alone send money to their relatives. Some have resorted to working as farmhands in the border town just to sustain themselves and stay alive. I receive calls from truck owners inquiring about the situation; I have no positive news for them. He urged government to swiftly intervene and facilitate safe crossing for the stranded drivers and their trucks over the borders to their respective destinations. He also expressed concern that Ghanas decision to support an ECOWAS military action against the military takeover in Niger has put Ghanaian nationals who are stranded in danger. It was reported that following the intervention of Ghanas Ambassador to Benin, the border was briefly opened for just two hours and then closed again. According to the truck drivers, this action was insufficient as many more drivers remain abandoned. If government does not take prompt action, we will send them a strong message through a boycott of the port. This situation could have happened to any of us, and we need to show our solidarity. When you see the videos they are sending to us, its truly heartbreaking. We even heard that one of our brothers was seriously injured, and things are getting more difficult by the day, another driver told B&FT. I think its inhumane. ECOWAS should lift the sanctions. Similar situations have occurred elsewhere but the sanctions were not as severe. ECOWAS was initially established to facilitate the free movement of goods and people. This means that ECOWAS is for the people. In times of crisis, there must be no double standards, said the representative, who pleaded anonymity. Checks at the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) revealed that, already, several measures have been taken to address the stranded drivers plight. A meeting has been held with stakeholders and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on the development; the drivers have also been sensitised to the dos and donts during such circumstances, and have been encouraged to offer peer advice. The ministry conferred with the Burkina Faso Shippers Council to develop interim trade guidelines that will help in re-routing trucks through Benin. On 26 July 2023, a coup detat occurred in the Republic of the Niger when the countrys presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, and presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta shortly after declaring the coup a success. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Appointed Time, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, has donated laboratory equipment worth over 27,000 ( equivalent to GHS 317,000.00) to the Pentecost Hospital at Madina in the Greater Accra Region. The donation was to fulfil a request by the management of the hospital to meet the demand for services from the growing number of patients who visit the facility daily. Presenting the equipment to the hospital on behalf of GIZ and Jospong Group, the Chief Corporate Communication Officer at Jospong Group of Companies, Madam Sophia Kudjordji, said the donation was to help management address the pressure on the facility. Madam Kudjordji said some philanthropists personally brought 20 thermometers to the Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong, which he added to the other items presented. This afternoon, we are here with our colleagues from GIZ to do this presentation and we hope this will help management in taking care of their portion of the numerous challenges many hospitals are facing because of lack of resources, Madam Kudjordj stated We believe this our widows mite will help solve some of your challenges," she added. Some of the equipment donated are ph meter, urine analyzer, water bath, water distiller, vein finder, Coombs machine and microscope-eyepieces. The rest are centrifuged, roller haematology 5 part, micropipette and glassware kits. Receiving the items on behalf of the facility, it's Medical Director, Apostle Dr. Edward Arko Kwarteng, said the equipment was going to complement management efforts in handling basic laboratory stuff. We are happy to receive these items and assure you and GIZ that management are going to put them to the best of use. We also trust that there will be post-donation maintenance relationship, including the supply of reagents so that these machines can enjoy their life span and serve the community, Dr. Kwarteng stated. On behalf of the management and the Board of the hospital, Apostle Dr. Kwarteng thanked GIZ and the Jospong Group for the gift and asked for future collaboration. Present at the ceremony were Pastor Daniel Danso, Chaplain of the Group, Thomas Korley, Head of Zoomlion Foundation and other executives of the Jospong Group. Before the donation to the Pentecost Hospital, GIZ and the Jospong Group had made similar gestures in Yilo Krobo District in the Eastern Region, with both donations costing 70,000, equivalent to GHS 860,116.99. 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 Chiefs in the Oti Region have praised the Akufo-Addo-led Administration's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure in their region through the Agenda 111 projects. At a government impact forum on the hospital projects held in Kpassa in the Oti region on Monday 11th September 2023, the local chiefs lauded the President for his vision and dedication to enhancing healthcare services. Speaking on behalf of the Paramount Chief, Ubor Konja Tassun VI, the local chiefs stated, "we are immensely grateful to President Akufo-Addo for the Agenda 111 projects, particularly the one here in Kpassa. These projects will bring a significant transformation to our region, and we commend the President for his laudable efforts." President Akufo-Addo's administration initiated the Agenda 111 project, also known as the Ghana Health Infrastructure Project, to address gaps in healthcare infrastructure across the country. It includes the construction of 101 district hospitals in areas lacking such facilities, two psychiatric hospitals, seven regional hospitals, and the rehabilitation of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. The region is a recipient of 4 Agenda 111 project hospitals; 1 at Kpassa, 1 in Kejebi, 1 in Chenderi, and the last 1 in Jasikan. The Kpassa project 1 of 4 in the region is progressing steadily, with most physical structures already in place. Local leaders expressed their optimism about the positive impact the completed hospital would have on the health and well-being of the community. "This hospital will not only provide better healthcare but also create jobs for our people. We believe it will improve the quality of life for our residents," said one of the traditional leaders during the visit. The traditional leaders also pledged their support for the project and called upon the local community to collaborate with the government and stakeholders to ensure the seamless integration and optimal functionality of the health facility upon completion. Present during the visit were the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Regional Minister, Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, Presidential Advisor on Health, Dr. Nsia Asare, Project Consultant, Paul Osei, Traditional and Religious Heads, Officials of the Monitoring and Evaluation Secretariat at the Presidency as well as other well-known dignitaries. On his part, Dr. Asare highlighted the socioeconomic and health impacts of the projects for the locals in the Region. With regard to its socioeconomic impacts, Mr. Asare said it will lead to the creation of numerous jobs for indigenes along the health value chain. On healthcare delivery, Mr. Asare said the projects will help the country achieve Universal Health Coverage which is the third goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The family of a 21-year-old nursing mother, Regina Asamoah, killed by an unknown assailant at Koforidua Asokore are calling for Justice. Regina was stabbed multiple times in broad daylight while with her three-month-old daughter in a room. Regina who completed Senior High School a year ago died at the Eastern Regional Hospital. Francis Antwi, widower said the incident came as a shock as they were planning towards naming ceremony of their baby. Esther Osaebea, mother-in-law called on the Ghana Police Service to speed up the investigation to arrest the assailants. Meanwhile, the family of 54-year-old trader, Gloria Asare, allegedly robbed and killed by unknown assailant(s) on her way to buy cowhide meat in the same Asokore community are also calling for Justice. Source: kasapaonline 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 NPP Member of Parliament(MP) of Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh has called for unity within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as they gear up for the 2024 elections. Hon. Sylvester Tetteh, an ardent supporter of Alan Kyerematen who has bowed out of the NPP November 4 presidential election, advised the members and supporters of the party to unite with a common goal of clinching victory in the next general election. He noted that though his allegiances are with Alan Kyerematen, the NPP comes first and his candidate exiting the race doesn't mean he will not support the candidate that the delegates elect in November to be their flagbearer. "The interest of the party should be paramount and we should rally around the flag for the good of our party," he said during Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' show Friday morning. Alan Kyerematen, on Tuesday, September 5, announced his decision to withdraw from the election accusing the party of disregarding the pockets of violence and intimidation that characterized their Special Delegates Conference on Saturday, August 26."After having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant. The pronouncements made by some leading Members of our Party both before and after the elections, also lend weight to my observations," he said in a press statement.He noted, "the level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly unleashed on a significant number of Delegates at various Voting Centers across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our Party"." . . the fact that my Polling Agent in the North East region has suffered severe damage to his eye sight, arising from his bold and courageous effort to ensure compliance with the very rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections as approved by the Presidential Elections Committee, will forever remain a dark spot in the history of internal elections within the Party. This incident and various acts of violence and collusion, reported in other Voting Centers, are appalling, unconscionable, and despicable," he added and in view of this, stated "I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November 2023". 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 Sylvester Tetteh, the Member of Parliament of Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro constituency, has dispelled speculations that the former Trade Minister and presidential aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has left the New Patriotic Party or contemplating forming his own political party. Speaking to Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, he noted that social media is flooded with posters of Alan Kyerematen suggesting he has splintered from the NPP to run for President on his own, but stated emphatically these are false. According to him, Alan's silence after withdrawing from the NPP's upcoming presidential race is not indicative of his readiness to contest the 2024 election whether as independent candidate or by forming his own party. "As I speak to you, Alan Kyerematen remains a member of the NPP. He hasn't spoken; he is silent. People must allow sleeping dogs to lie," he intimated. Alan Kyerematen, on Tuesday, withdrawn from the upcoming presidential election of the New Patriotic Party despite coming third on the list of the top five candidates to contest the flagbearership on November 4th.He said in a press statement that "after having carefully analysed the results of the said elections, it is absolutely clear to me from events leading to, during and after the elections, that the Special Delegates Conference was strategically and tactically skewed in favour of one particular Aspirant", adding "the level of intimidation of varying intensity, directly and indirectly unleashed on a significant number of Delegates at various Voting Centers across the sixteen regions, is unprecedented in the history of our Party".He added; "The fact that my Polling Agent in the North East region has suffered severe damage to his eye sight, arising from his bold and courageous effort to ensure compliance with the very rules and regulations for the conduct of the elections as approved by the Presidential Elections Committee, will forever remain a dark spot in the history of internal elections within the Party. This incident and various acts of violence and collusion, reported in other Voting Centers, are appalling, unconscionable, and despicable."He therefore emphasized he is "honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November 2023". 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 In a surprising turn of events, the camp of former flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has denied endorsing Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia ahead of the November 4, 2023 Presidential election. The team described publications on social as well as traditional media platforms as fake news. Despite claims on various news portals and social media platforms, a member of Alan Kyerematens campaign team, Solomon Owusu, clarified that Kyerematen has not endorsed the Vice President and will not do so for any reason. Owusu went on to state that the rumors of endorsement were attempts by Nana Akufo-Addo and Bawumia to gain sympathy after their actions had allegedly caused harm to the party. He also mentioned that Alan Kyerematen would soon address the nation and reveal his plans for Ghanaian politics. It should be noted that Alan Kyerematen announced his withdrawal from the NPP Flagbearership race on September 5, 2023. The former Trade and Industry Minister cited the intimidation of his agents as the reason behind his decision. Additionally, Kyerematen expressed concern over the Special Delegates Conference, claiming that it was unfairly biased towards a specific aspirant. As the November 4, 2023 Presidential election approaches, these developments will certainly impact the dynamics within the NPP. Voters and party members will be closely watching to see how the candidates navigate these circumstances and whether any further endorsements or withdrawals will occur in the coming days. Source: dailyguidenetwork.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 WASHINGTON One of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together was sentenced on Monday to probation and 279 hours of community service one hour for every Marine who was killed or wounded fighting in the Civil War. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said she cant fathom why Dodge Hellonen violated his oath to protect the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic and risked his career by joining the Jan. 6, 2021, riot that disrupted Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. I really urge you to think about why it happened so you can address it and ensure it never happens again, Reyes said. Dodge Hellonen, now 24, was the first of the three Marines to be punished for participating in the Capitol siege. Reyes also is scheduled to sentence co-defendants Micah Coomer on Tuesday and Joshua Abate on Wednesday. The three Marines friends from the same unit drove together from a military post in Virginia to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, when then-President Donald Trump spoke at his Stop the Steal rally near the White House. They joined the crowd that stormed the Capitol after Trump urged his supporters to fight like hell. Before imposing Hellonens sentence, Reyes described how Marines fought and died in some of the fiercest battles in American history. She recited the number of casualties from some of the bloodiest wars. Prosecutors recommended short terms of incarceration 30 days for Coomer and 21 days for Hellonen and Abate along with 60 hours of community service. A prosecutor wrote in a court filing that their military service, while laudable, makes their conduct all the more troubling. Reyes said she agreed with prosecutors that Hellonens status as an active-duty Marine does not weigh in favor of a more lenient sentence. But she ultimately decided to spare him from a prison term, sentencing him to four years of probation. Reyes said it carried a great deal of weight to learn that Hellonen maintained a positive attitude and stellar work ethic when he was effectively demoted after the Jan. 6 attack. He went from working as a signals analyst to a job that few Marines want, inventorying military gear. The only person who can give you a second chance is yourself, she told him. I take full responsibility for my actions and Ill carry this with me for the rest of my life, Hellonen told the judge. Hellonen, Coomer and Abate pleaded guilty earlier this year to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of six months behind bars. Hundreds of Capitol rioters have pleaded guilty to the same charge, which is akin to trespassing. Hellonen was carrying a yellow Dont Tread on Me flag when they entered the Capitol through a door that other rioters had breached about seven minutes earlier. After walking to the Rotunda, they placed a red Make America Great Again hat on a statute and took photos of it. They remained inside the Capitol for nearly an hour, joining other rioters in chanting Stop the Steal! and Four More Years! None of them is accused of engaging in any violence or destruction on Jan. 6. But prosecutors said none of them has expressed sincere remorse for their crimes. Coomer bragged on social media about taking part in history, called for a fresh start and said he was waiting for the boogaloo, a slang term for a second civil war in the U.S. Coomers statement that he was hoping for a second civil war to topple what he viewed as a corrupt government was deeply ominous, given that his military training and access to military weapons would make him a particularly effective participant in such a war against the government, the prosecutor wrote. More than 600 people have been sentenced for Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Over 100 of them have served in the U.S. military. according to an Associated Press review of court records. Only a few were active-duty military or law enforcement personnel on Jan. 6. On Jan. 18, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Coomer at a military office in Oceanside, California; Abate at his home in Fort Meade, Maryland; and Hellonen at his residence in Jacksonville, North Carolina. As of Friday, all three Marines were still on active-duty status, according to the Marine Corps. But all three could be separated from the Marine Corps on less than honorable conditions, prosecutors said. FILE- In this image from U.S. Capitol Police video, released and annotated by the Justice Department in the Statement of Facts supporting an arrest warrant, Joshua Abate, circled in green, Micah Coomer, circled in red, and Dodge Dale Hellonen, circled in blue, appear inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Hellonen, one of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together, has been sentenced to probation instead of prison time. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, ordered Hellonen to perform 279 hours of community service. (Justice Department via AP, File)AP Hellonen received separation paperwork in July, while Coomer awaited a decision last Friday on his possible separation, according to prosecutors. They said Abate was still enlisted in the Marine Corps as of Sept. 1. Under other circumstances, that service would be incredibly laudable, a prosecutor, Madison Mumma, told the judge. At best, it shouldnt be credited at all. Hellonen, a Michigan native, was stationed at the military base in Quantico, Virginia, on Jan. 6. He worked at the Marine Corps Information Operations Center as a signals intelligence analyst and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in August 2021, said his attorney, Halerie Costello. Hellonen moved to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina in February 2022 and was waiting to be deployed when he was arrested, according to Costello. Hellonen knows he shouldnt have entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, Costello wrote in a sentencing memo. Michael Kunzelman of The Associated Press wrote this story. Associated Press reporter Lolita Baldor contributed from Washington. More: Proud Boys leader gets 22 years in prison, longest for Jan. 6 attack Proud Boy who smashed Capitol window on Jan. 6 gets 10 years in prison, then declares, Trump won! PHOENIX (AP) How hot is it in Phoenix? In what has been the hottest summer ever measured, the sizzling city in the Sonoran Desert broke yet another record Saturday when temperatures topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius). It was the 54th day this year that the official reading at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport made the mark, eclipsing the previous record of 53 days set in 2020. Matt Salerno, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the hot streak could reach 55 days. We do have one more day, he said. An extreme heat warning remained in effect, with temperatures forecast at 111 F (43.9 C) on Sunday and 106 F (41.1 C) on Monday. Salerno said Phoenix experienced the hottest three months since record-keeping began in 1895, including the hottest July and the second-hottest August. The daily average temperature of 97 F (36.1 C) in June, July and August passed the previous record of 96.7 F (35.9 C) set three years ago. The average daily temperature was 102.7 F (39.3 C) in July, Salerno said, and the daily average in August was 98.8 F (37.1 C). In July, Phoenix also set a record with a 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 F (43.3 C). The previous record of 18 straight days was set in 1974. The sweltering summer of 2023 has seen a historic heat wave stretching from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into Californias desert. Worldwide, last month was the hottest August ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023. Scientists blame human-caused climate change with an extra push from a natural El Nino, which is a temporary warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that changes weather around the globe. As of Saturday, Phoenix has tallied 104 days this year with temperatures over 100 F (37.7 C), Salerno said. Thats in line with the average of 111 triple-digit days every year between 1991 and 2020. Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the most populous county in Arizona, also appears headed toward an annual record for heat-associated deaths. County public health officials have confirmed 194 heat-associated deaths this year as of Sept. 2. An additional 351 cases are under investigation. Maricopa County confirmed 425 heat-related deaths in 2022. Work gets underway this week on crafting a funding formula for Pennsylvanias public schools that addresses shortcomings in the current funding system that the courts found to be unconstitutional. The 15-member Basic Education Funding Commission will begin a series of 10 hearings to begin collecting input from education experts and advocates about ways to fix the flaws the court found in the current funding system. Nonna Ilva Authentic Kitchen is bringing Italian food straight from grandmas kitchen to the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center. By the end of the month, the former Broad Street Market vendor will replace Zacharys BBQ Catering at the live music venue at 1110 N. Third St. We are busy on the music side of things. Having the pizza and the lunch, it will be a great fit, said John Traynor, HMAC founder, who is now the facilitys consultant. Nonnas is owned by a husband-and-wife team, Mattia Cappella and Hannah Houtz, who opened a restaurant in May under the same name at 204 N. Hanover St. in Carlisle. They operated a stand at the market until a fire in July destroyed the facilitys brick building and displaced nearly two dozen vendors. Cappella said the market decided not to renew Nonnas lease for a temporary tent the city is erecting for vendors. He emphasized while they are disappointed, the space at HMAC is an opportunity to continue to serve the Harrisburg community. Nonna Ilva Authentic Kitchen is opening at HMAC at 1110 N. Third St. in Harrisburg. Pizzas are among the specialties. It was a nice idea to be close to the market where we had a lot of customers, he said. Cappella, who grew up about two hours from Rome and arrived in the United States three years ago, said Nonnas specializes in authentic dishes. It will serve appetizers such as fried calamari, meatballs and bruschetta along with pizzas, panini sandwiches and pastas such as rigatoni pesto burrata and lasagna. Nonnas pizza dough is made from imported Italian flour and left to rise for 24 to 48 hours. They also use imported ingredients such as ham, cheese and tomato sauce. Pizza choices will feature an Amatriciana made with Italian smoked bacon, chili oil, caramelized onion, parmesan and black pepper; pepperoni diavola with mozzarella, pepperoni, jalapeno and hot honey; and a Funghi with mozzarella, mushrooms, ham ricotta and truffle oil. (Gluten-free crust available.) The Carlisle restaurant is mostly grab-and-go foods, but at HMAC the couple will oversee the dining room and catering operations. Traynor said it will be a place for customers to grab pizza and a beer. He added that he reached out to the couple, knowing they were likely eyeing another location. HMACs barbecue restaurant was founded by Keith Taylor, a notable Philadelphia chef who was injured in a horrific car crash in 2022. Taylor has undergone extensive therapy and continues to improve, Traynor said. I heard Mattia lost his spot (at the market), so I reached out to him and asked if hed like to take over the kitchen at HMAC and do pizzas, Traynor added. Theyve purchased a pizza oven and aim for a soft opening on Sept. 28. Nonnas will operate from 11 a.m.-midnight, daily. READ MORE: Is that the ominous notes of a piano in the distance? It must be, because the house from the original 1978 Halloween film is now up for sale. Nestled in South Pasadena, Calif., the house is listed by eXP Realty for the cool price of nearly $1.8 million. History, charm, and income! Welcome to this character-filled, three-unit property on Fairview Avenue in South Pasadena, reads the listing. The description goes on to rave about the amount of things to do in the area surrounding the house as well as how the location is a walkers paradise before, toward the bottom of the description, the Hollywood-manufactured bloodied history comes out. Yes, this was a filming location for the 1978 Halloween film as the house of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), the listing admits. If you watch the film, youll recognize the infamous stoop that Jamie Lee Curtis sat on, holding a pumpkin. The John Carpenter-directed film has remained a mainstay in the horror genre since it made its debut over four decades ago, eventually spurring a franchise thats seen the ever-silent, hulking serial killer, Mike Meyers, terrorizing people well into the modern age. In fact, the latest film Halloween Ends hit theaters last year, supposedly drawing the entire story of Mike Meyers and his vicious killings to a close. Then again...you never know. Dont worry, though Mikes too busy still going after Laurie and her family to drop by and bother the houses new residents. Editors note: Welcome to the world of Paranormal PA, a PennLive series that delves into Pennsylvania-grown stories of spirits (like the ghost of a murdered girl whose cries can be heard in one of Penn States libraries); cryptids (the squonk); oddities and legends (Pennsylvanias very own witch trials); and the unexplained (was this thing that flew over Kecksburg a meteor or a UFO?). Sign up here to get our Paranormal PA newsletter delivered to your inbox. Its quite the honor if you happen to be among the walking dead. A Pennsylvania man has been crowned the ultimate zombie of Pittsburgh. The Tribune-Review reports how those hanging out at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Tarentum a couple of weeks ago may have noticed a number of zombies moaning and shuffling around the area. That was because, says the Tribune-Review, the ScareHouse which touts itself as Pittsburghs ultimate haunted house was hosting an Ultimate Zombie showdown at that time, during which folks dressed up in their best resurrected corpse get-up. Each was judged by a panel of well-known judges such as former WTAE-TV anchor Sally Wiggin who put their heads together to determine who would receive the gruesome title. It was 32-year-old Jarrod Joos of Monroeville that took home the (decaying) crown, effectively scaring the judges with his zombie-like prowess while dressed as a long-dead doctor. A separate Tribune-Review article explains how those who participate in the contest will receive one voucher for the haunted house. The winner, however, gets an RIP season pass. The ScareHouse is now open to give visitors various scary delights throughout the Halloween season. A dog owner is now at ease after her pet, which had been missing for nearly a month, was found safely in Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson Airport last Saturday. Announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, the airport operations team located the small 6-year-old dog, Maia, hiding near the North Cargo facilities. She was tired but appeared to be in good health. Fortunately, the dog was taken to the vet and will return home soon. The whole ordeal took on a life of its own when Maia got lost on Aug. 18 at the airport when traveling with its owner, Delta Airlines passenger Paula Rodriguez, from their home in the Dominican Republic to California for a two-week vacation. When Rodriguez landed in Atlanta for a layover, she was informed by border patrol staff that her tourist visa didnt meet the necessary requirements. Her visa was then canceled, and she was told she would need to return home on the next flight. Rodriguez had to spend the night alone in a detention center and was separated from her dog. They called a Delta agent, who took Maia from me, Rodriguez said to CNN. The dog was in a pet carrier and was placed under the seat in front of Rodriguez, but customs have a policy of turning away those flying into the country if a cabin pet is present, WSBTV reported. The next day, Rodriguez arrived at her flight gate early and expected to be reunited with her dog, but Maia was never there. Due to Rodriguez not being able to remain in the U.S. without a visa, she was faced with the agonizing decision of having to travel back to the Dominican Republic without her dog. Everyone who knows me knows what she means to me, Rodriguez told CNN of her pet. I dont go anywhere without her. Shes so well-behaved that I take her to restaurants, literally everywhere. Shes my partner in everything. Two days after Maia vanished, Rodriguez was contacted by a Delta representative who told her that while the dog was being transported to the plane, she escaped when staff opened the cage, running into the middle of the runway, WSBTV and CNN reported. Rodriguez placed multiple calls to Delta for possible updates but was left wondering for weeks on end. Meanwhile, to ease some of the anxiety, Rodriguez and her family set up a GoFundMe, which raised $6,808 as of Monday morning. The goal was to raise $15,000. At the time, a Delta spokesperson sent a statement to CNN, stating, Delta teams have been working to locate and reunite this pet with the customer and we remain in touch with the customer to provide updates. Delta people feel deeply concerned for the customer and the dog and were committed to ongoing search efforts, working closely with the City of Atlanta Department of Aviation and other stakeholders. Delta Airlines and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals both worked to help reunite Rodriguez with her small dog and PETA even offered a $5,000 reward for whoever found her, WSBTV reported. After a hellish search of the 4,000-acres of Hartsfield-Jackson airport, which Rodriguezs mother flew to be part of, Maia was finally found three weeks after her disappearance, safe and sound. Right now, its unclear whether the reward was or will be paid out. Read More: UPDATE: Weekend death toll in Dauphin County from drug overdoses rises to 8 Harrisburg police are investigating two additional overdose deaths in the city Sunday morning, bring the weekend total number of deaths to six. Both victims were men. City spokesman Matt Maisel said the first man was in his 20s, found in the 700 block of North 16th Street in Allison Hill. The age for the second man was unknown. He was found in the 2600 block of North 6th Street in uptown. Police issued a warning Saturday morning after receiving reports of 18 overdoses within 12 hours from Friday night into Saturday morning. Four of them were fatal, all of the victims found dead within one mile of each other along North 2nd Street downtown. Three of them were in the same home in a retirement community. In all, five men and one woman died in overdoses this weekend that police suspect could be connected to fentanyl laced within illegal drugs that the victims werent expecting. The city typically records an average of less than six overdose deaths per month. The majority of this weekends victims were between their early 40s and early 60s, police said. The majority of the 63 people who died in drug overdoses last year in the city also were older than 40. Police have not said whether they had connected the recent victims to a single dealer or certain number of dealers. They describe the situation as an active and ongoing investigation. The types of drugs involved in Sundays overdose deaths were not known. On Saturday, county officials said fentanyl was detected in initial tests connected to crack cocaine and synthetic drugs. Mayor Wanda Williams held a news conference Saturday night to update residents on the series of overdoses as well as an ongoing manhunt after a neighborhood shooting. Harrisburg were in a crisis, Williams said, to open the news conference. We were inundated with a lethal batch of drugs. She implored anyone considering drug use to be incredibly careful knowing there are drugs laced with powerful fentanyl likely still circulating in the city. We do not want to see any more danger, any more deaths to the residents of Harrisburg, she said. Anyone with information on the recent increase in overdoses may contact the Harrisburg Police Bureau, at 717-558-6900. Tips and information can also be submitted via the CrimeWatch website. Individuals seeking to enter treatment or access services can call Dauphin County Drug & Alcohol Services 24 hours a day at 717-635-2254. READ MORE: Man charged in fatal beating of businesswoman at Harrisburg Hilton had violent past: police Pennsylvania State Police on Monday canceled a missing person alert for an 8-year-old boy from Franklin County after he was found safe. The update came about 9:15 a.m., six hours after Owen Lake, 8, was last seen in the 800 block of Mickey Inn Lane in Greene Township. Police did not provide any other information about how or where the boy was found or whether anyone was charged. In their initial release, police said they thought the boy could be at risk of harm or injury and was last seen traveling with a woman named Julie Lake, 34. READ MORE: Harrisburg womans death on I-83 bridge in front of police raises questions 2 more men die in drug overdoses in Harrisburg, bringing weekend toll to 6 Dozens of firefighters from across Lebanon and Dauphin counties responded Sunday to a reported fire at the H.B. Reese Candy Co. factory in Derry Township. The initial call for a fire at the chocolate plant at 925 Reese Ave. came in at 4:42 p.m., according to Dauphin County dispatch. Hershey Fire Department Chief Pat Leonard confirmed that no firefighters or factory employees were injured, but deferred any further questions about the fire to The Hershey Company, of which Reeses is a brand. As of 7:30 p.m., fire crews were still using fans to clear out the building and had opened several roof hatches in the factory for ventilation. More: Pa. prison escapee remains at large after stealing van, trying to contact ex-co-workers We are in crisis: Harrisburg mayor addresses deadly ODs, triple shooting Central Pa. home destroyed by overnight fire In 2020, then-president Donald Trump stunned and horrified civilized and patriotic Americans when during an interview, he directed the white supremacist instigators of Proud Boys not to cease and desist, but to stand back and stand by. The group soon thereafter activated in order to play a key role in bringing about a low point in American history: the attack on the Capitol and the riot that inflicted grievous physical and emotional wounds on the brave and valorous law enforcement officers who defended the building and those within it. In Trumps twisted world, what occurred on that day should not have triggered arrests, indictments, convictions, and lengthy jail sentences for his anti-American pals, but thankfully, that is precisely what has happened as one by one, those with a prominent role in attempting to overthrow the government have been dispensed life-shattering sentences. Justice has triumphed despite the former president whining that his insurrectionist criminals had been treated very badly. It will all have been for naught if God forbid, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump should be elected again to finish the job of destroying American institutions and our democratic system of governance. He has made it quite clear that the perpetrators of the attack, which he disgracefully referred to as a beautiful day, would be pardoned if he should again be president. That must not be allowed to happen. I have to hope and believe that a sufficient number of Americans of honor and integrity will act in a manner befitting our country and its ideals when they cast their ballots in one of the most, if not the most important election of our lives. Oren Spiegler, Peters Township, Pa. By Sitawa Wafula On Monday, August 28, 2023, a graduate student at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill Campus shot and killed his professor. This incident sent the university into lock down for three hours and added to the growing number of gun related deaths and trauma. Though alarming and traumatizing, this is not a unique occurrence in the United States. Over the last couple of years, reports of shootings in schools and other public spaces have been on the rise. These reports have always been followed by partisan debates on gun control and footnote mentions of mental health. While these important debates help to gauge attitudes and subsequently advise lawmakers on policies to help reduce future incidents, they fail to look at gun violence in its entirety. An important and urgent aspect of this conversation that remains in the shadows is violence to self, or gun suicide as is popularly known. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that of the 48,117 lives lost to gun violence in 2022, 55%, 26,993 deaths, were due to gun suicide. Homicides, legal interventions, unintentional and undetermined cases accounted for the remaining 45%. Leaving gun suicide out of public discussions increases fatalities and widens the service provision gap for those feeling suicidal, those left behind, and those who survive suicide attempts. It is, therefore, necessary to not only expand the current operating definition of gun violence to increase discussions but to also incorporate the effects of violence to self in conversations about gun violence and trauma to help improve service provision. On one hand, the taboo around suicide makes it hard for those left behind and those who survive to speak about their experiences. A literature review of 108 research papers that examined the impact of media stories on suicide concluded that the media can be both a risk and preventative factor for suicide. The review, published by the National Library of Medicine, also noted the risk presented by regular reporting and coverage of celebrity suicides and the role positive reporting played in risk reduction. Another reason why suicide is left out of public discourse is the view that it is a personal problem caused by individual weakness, instead of a complex public health issue with multifactorial causes. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, of the 48,183 people who died of suicide in United States in 2022, 26,328 died of firearm suicides while 12,431 and 5,568 died of suffocation suicides and poisoning suicides respectively. This data shows the relationship between guns and suicide,and the need to not only look at why people are attempting suicide but how they are doing it. Though guns do not cause suicide, they make it easier and increase the chances of success in comparison to other methods. A recent study found that the time between the first current thought of suicide and the actual attempt is 10 minutes or less. Further studies have shown that 85% of those who attempted suicide using a firearm were successful. These studies show that the presence of a firearm increases the chance of one attempting suicide and being successful. These findings also show that the onus to prevent suicide is not just on mental health professionals and individuals but also to multisectoral stakeholders including gun manufacturers, retailers and both proponents and opponents of gun control. As the world prepares for World Suicide Prevention Day, advocates, survivors and the bereaved should not be the only ones speaking up about suicide and how to prevent it. To get ahead of this pressing issue public health issues, immediate and concerted multis-ectoral efforts are needed. These efforts should start with reframing how society speaks about suicide and looking at the methods people opt for. Current studies clearly show that guns are chosen by most people in the United States, and unlike other methods, they make attempts easier and successful. Efforts should therefore be made to reduce this ease and success rate. The Gun Shop Project is an example of a multi-sectoral approach that is working on this. Though studies of the impact of this project, which is currently operating in 21 states, are still underway, it shows the role gun shops can play in suicide prevention. The project, which began in 2009 when three people in New Hampshire, with no connection to each other, bought a firearm each from the same store and killed themselves within hours of purchase, brings together firearm retails, firearm rights advocates, mental health practitioners and members of the community to collaboratively prevent suicide by developing suicide prevention materials and guidelines on how to avoid selling firearms to people who are suicidal. Gun suicide prevention not only helps the adults who are able to buy guns, but alsothe children and teens can access those guns. The latest data from the CDC shows that the number of Black teens dying of gun suicide is going up. Instead of wondering what is wrong with them, society needs to interrogate itself to understand how it is driving Black teens to take their lives, the methods they are using, and the multi-sectoral initiatives that can avert what could be a new versiono f deaths of despair. Sitawa Wafula is a global mental health advocate and Psychology student at Millersville University. News / National by Staff reporter Police in Kwekwe have arrested a gay couple after one of them approached the police demanding that his partner be arrested for initially lying to him that he was a woman.Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko said police, however, arrested both men after investigations revealed that the two have been staying together since July while engaging in sodomy.They are now facing sodomy charges.Insp Mahoko said: "It is alleged that during the month of July, on an unkown date, one of the suspects, James Mapawu (40) of Narrans Building in Kwekwe met with Praise Mapawu (25) in a night club who pretended to be a woman while dressed like a woman."Mpofu proposed love to Mapawu and the two started to stay together since then while engaging in sodomy."Insp Mahoko said the two then had an argument after Mapawu got erect as they were cuddling in preparation for intimacy recently."Mpofu reported Mapawu to the police and the two were arrested." WASHINGTON Even before he launches an anticipated second campaign for the U.S. Senate, Republican David McCormick has faced a steady stream of attacks from Democrats and other critics. The former hedge fund CEO, who narrowly lost last years Pennsylvania Republican Senate primary, has come under fire for previous business ties to China, his stance on abortion and questions about his residency. Coming off a razor-thin primary loss last year to Mehmet Oz following broadsides from former President Donald Trump who called McCormick a liberal Wall Street Republican these attacks are just the tip of what he can expect if he enters a race that will help determine which party controls the Senate in 2025. While both parties await McCormicks decision, the early attacks have played no role in his timing or decision on a campaign, his spokeswoman Elizabeth Gregory said. And Republican consultants say efforts to malign McCormick before he even enters the race show how concerned Democrats are about his candidacy for the seat held by three-term incumbent Sen. Bob Casey. RELATED: Pa. Republicans have the candidate they want for U.S. Senate. They just need him to run Democrats are not attacking because hes a weak candidate, said Christopher Nicholas, a Harrisburg-based Republican consultant. Theyre attacking him because they fear him. An Army veteran and former George W. Bush administration official, McCormick has spent the last several months giving interviews, promoting his book, and meeting with donors and GOP officials at events across the state. A political action committee launched by McCormick raised almost $1 million this spring with help from a donation from GOP megadonor Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvanias richest man. Caseys campaign, which raised $4 million between April and June, the best quarterly haul of his tenure, repeatedly has warned potential donors that Republicans are gunning for his seat. The Cook Political Report gives Casey just a slight edge, and the campaign warned in a recent email that it was expecting a LOT of dark money and extreme Republican attacks to come our way soon. You dont take incoming fire until youre right over the target, said Charlie Gerow, a Harrisburg-based Republican consultant. McCormick has hit some raw nerves and the Democrats are frightened by his candidacy, lobbing everything they can at him early. Thats an advantage to Dave McCormick. The Casey campaign did not respond to a message seeking comment. J.J. Balaban, a Philadelphia-based Democratic strategist and ad maker, said its poppycock to argue that landing punches on Dave McCormick is a sign of his strength. Pennsylvania is a purple state that is competitive for both parties, he said. Typically these races are close and that means the parties are going to be aggressive no matter who is running and no matter what they think the chances are of beating them. He added, though, that Caseys last re-election win was not close. The senator beat former Republican congressman Lou Barletta by about 13 percentage points in 2018. Experts in both parties say McCormicks name recognition and wealth he spent $14 million in last years Senate primary have given him breathing room in terms of timing a campaign announcement. Balaban said that unlike U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who entered last years race early, McCormick can be more patient and work to get the party in line without as much early fundraising. Nicholas said the chance to bring back balance to the states Senate delegation after Fetterman beat Oz last year should galvanize Republican voters and donors in the business community. He said Casey has had a lot of perfect political luck, having run in solid election cycles for Democrats since 2006. Republicans are eager to see how he does in a political climate like next year, which seems even-Steven, Nicholas said. Republicans and McCormicks campaign have tried to paint Casey as a decades-long professional politician and Washington insider. Earlier this year, the GOPs Senate campaign arm said Caseys brother, Patrick Casey, registered as a lobbyist for a chipmaking company with ties to China. The senator has said his brother will not lobby his office, in accordance with Senate rules. In 2007, Casey voted in favor of a law that prohibits family members from lobbying Senate offices. The top of the ticket also is a concern for both men. President Joe Biden remains unpopular in Pennsylvania, and was in a statistical dead heat with Trump in the latest Franklin & Marshall Poll. In May, after state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, said he wasnt running for Caseys seat, McCormick issued a statement knocking the incumbent for voting with Bidens liberal agenda 98% of the time. But Casey has increasingly broken with the president on votes this year, siding with Bidens positions on legislation about 79% of the time, compared to more than 99% during Bidens first two years in office, according to a report by the data news website FiveThirtyEight. And McCormick could find himself in the uneasy position of sharing a ticket with Trump, who blasted him as he endorsed Oz last year and who has remained the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination even after a series of federal and state criminal indictments. Trump also was viewed negatively by Pennsylvania voters, with 64% negative and 34% positive ratings in the Franklin & Marshall poll, taken before last months GOP presidential debate. Even so, he widened his lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 39% to 21%. No other candidate reached double digits. Vince Galko, a GOP strategist from Northeastern Pennsylvania, said McCormick is facing a two-headed beast: a longtime swing state incumbent in Casey and a potential presidential nominee who sucks all the oxygen out of the room. [McCormicks] a very smart guy and probably watching to see what happens with the presidential [race], Galko said. I think hell run either way... but I know a lot of people who would love to see a DeSantis-McCormick ticket. Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon (left) walks with Tamara Lich as they make their way to the courthouse on the first day of trial, in Ottawa, Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. The lawyers defending two of the most prominent organizers of the "Freedom Convoy" are expected to make their case today to block nine Ottawa residents and business representatives from taking the stand. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa was accused of nepotism on Monday after naming his son as deputy finance minister in a new cabinet following his controversial re-election.David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa will deputise finance minister Mthuli Ncube while the president's nephew, Tongai Mnangagwa, was named deputy minister of tourism and hospitality.The cabinet has 26 ministries.Citizens Coalition for Change lawmaker Fadzayi Mahere said Mnangagwa's cabinet was "indefensible.""It's a toxic mix of illegitimacy, corruption, violence, nepotism, incompetence and sex scandals everything but the ethical leadership Zimbabweans want and deserve. No wonder the national mood is so funereal," Mahere said.Mnangagwa also named a husband and wife team - Christopher and Monica Mutsvangwa - as ministers. Mutsvangwa will head a new ministry of Veterans of Liberation while his wife is the new minister of Women's Affairs and SMEs. Rounders 25th Anniversary: Johnny Chan Reflects on Cameo, Meeting Matt Damon & More September 10, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. Rounders, considered by many to be the best poker movie of all time, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The film, which was written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien and released by Miramax, starred Matt Damon and Edward Norton. The former portrayed the main character Mike McDermott, who famously bluffed two-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Johnny Chan, who had a big cameo in the film. PokerNews recently spoke with the Poker Hall of Famer to reminisce about his brief Hollywood stint two and a half decades ago. 5 Things You Didnt Know About the Poker Movie Rounders How He Came to Be in Rounders Johnny Chan on the commentary track of Rounders. Not only did Chan make a cameo in the film, but he also appeared via real-life footage of the WSOP Main Event, specifically the 1988 WSOP Main Event when he defeated Erik Seidel heads-up to win the title for the second year in a row. The producers came to me and wanted me to release my footage of 1988 when I beat Erik Seidel. So, I was just going to sign them and let them do it, and then my daughter found out Matt Damon was going to be in the movie, Chan told PokerNews. She wanted to meet Matt Damon, so I thought ok, Im not going to sign it unless I can either be in the movie or meet Matt Damon. So, they added that to the script for me, I wasnt supposed to be in the movie at all, but they added that extra scene for me and we had the opportunity to meet Matt. As for filming his scene against Damon, that took place at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. We were at the Taj Mahal. He doesnt know anything about poker back then, so we get to know each other, we party a little bit, and I teach him a thing or two about poker basically. The next day were shooting at the Taj and the rest is history Old School vs New School: Negreanu Breaks Down 'Rounders' Final Hand Vegas, the Boom, and a Movie Premiere Matt Damon players the 1998 WSOP Main Event. Before the film was released, both Norton and Damon traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the 1998 WSOP Main Event, something Chan remembers fondly. We took pictures together. They were both in the WSOP. They got to meet a lot of poker players. They loved it. They met a lot of good poker players. They came by and said hello, took pictures, they were cool guys, they were really nice guys. A few months later, Chan traveled east for Rounders official premiere. We went to the premiere in New York. We went there and met all the actors, actresses, producers. Everyone had a great time. We had dinner, talked a little bit, and just wished the best for the movie. While the film wasnt a huge hit, it did manage to nearly double its budget. Whats more, it would go on to gain a cult following and helped contribute to the Poker Boom. We opened the gate for poker. A lot of young kids saw that movie and started to learn poker, said Chan. Next thing you know online poker is coming, WPT is on TV, and then the Poker Superstars started shooting the shows. The rest is history, thats why poker has gotten so big today. Edward Norton players the 1998 WSOP Main Event. When was the last time Chan watched Rounders and what did he think of it as a feature film? Probably a year ago maybe. They have the reruns everywhere around the world. I was in Macau and they had the reruns, he shared. [The movie] was accurate of the old days, not only in New York but also in Texas. People traveled from town to town, home game to home game, and thats how it was in the good old days. For those who want to hear more from Chan on Rounders, they can listen to him alongside, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, and Chris Ferguson on the Poker Pros commentary track available on both DVD and Blu-Ray. Sharelines Two-time WSOP champ Johnny Chan spoke with PokerNews about appearing in the 1998 poker film Rounders. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Vice President Harris said that Republicans attack and make her a campaign issue because they are scared that she and Joe Biden are going to win. Transcript via Face The Nation: MARGARET BRENNAN: what you would do as president as being a risk. Theyre honing in on you. Why do you think that is? How do you respond to those attacks? Thats not about policy. Thats about you. VICE PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: Listen, this is not new. Theres nothing new about that. I mean, listen, I am in my career, I was a career prosecutor. I was the first woman elected district attorney of San Francisco, a major city in this country, and reelected. I was the first woman attorney general of the second largest Department of Justice in the United States and reelected. I was a United States senator. I represented one in eight Americans, and Im now vice president of the United States. They feel the need to attack because theyre scared that we will win, based on the merit of the work that Joe Biden and I and our administration has done. Video: Vice President Harris was correct. The Republican attacks are about fear. They are scared that the Biden administration will win a second term, and they are playing into the partys racism and sexism by using Vice President Harris as their threat to their voters of what could be coming in the future. Republicans are scared. They will nominate the least popular politician in America, who is also facing 91 felony charges. Democrats are in a good position to win in 2024, which is the biggest reason why Republicans are so scared. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mostly cloudy early then periods of showers this afternoon. Much cooler. High 68F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 37F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. One of the nation's largest retailers is using its South Carolina distribution center to kickstart a nationwide campaign to automate delivery of goods to individual stores in an effort to overcome supply-chain troubles. Dollar General which has more than 19,000 locations nationwide, including 644 in South Carolina has spent roughly $45 million to add the technology and other improvements to its warehouse in Jonesville, located less than a one-hour drive from the Port of Charleston's inland port in Greer. The company recently completed a 250,000-square-foot expansion of the site, bringing it to more than 1.35 million square feet of space. The new technology will enable the center to replenish thousands of products for more than 1,000 stores in the Southeast region while making better use of warehouse space and lowering costs, CEO Jeffery Owen told investors during an Aug. 31 conference call. "We are excited about this opportunity to support our growth more effectively and efficiently and look forward to adding automated functionality to more facilities moving forward," Owen said. The automation is part of the retailer's effort to streamline the way it transports merchandise to stores. The company plans to roll out automation at its other distribution centers, open new sites and expand its in-house truck fleet from 1,800 to 2,000 by the end of this year. "We think we're well-positioned on supply-chain efficiencies with structural improvements on the horizon," Kelly Dilts, chief financial officer for Dollar General, said during the call. That will lead to improvements at individual stores, Owen said. "When you have stability in the supply chain, that leads to stability inside the store," he told analysts. "And so now that we're seeing our supply chain which, quite frankly, we've had some significant challenges over the last couple of years, stabilizing, we're seeing that show up in more stability inside the store." The president of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians stepped down after the state superintendent of education cut ties with the group and criticized it as having a lack of discernment concerning parents efforts to reclassify or ban library books. Michelle Spires began her term as president of the organization representing about 1,000 school librarians in July. She told the groups membership via email Sept. 6 she needed to prioritize family obligations. "While the decision to step down as president of SCASL has not been easy, it is a decision that I have made to put the well-being of my family and myself first, she said. Spires said she is still committed to supporting her fellow librarians. However, I am unable to fulfill the role that is needed as the leader of the organization, said Spires, a public school librarian in Laurens County named school librarian of the year in 2021. Tamara Cox, the past president of the association, will serve as interim president. The resignation was first reported by the Carolina News and Reporter, a student publication at the University of South Carolina. On Aug. 28, state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, a Republican elected last November, announced in a letter that the Department of Education was cutting ties because the association has shown a lack of discernment" in its response to efforts by some parents to have library materials restricted from younger children or excluded. Weaver said that parent concerns about the appropriateness of library materials are valid questions. When SCASL labels those efforts as bans, censorship or a violation of educators intellectual freedom, the result is a more hostile environment which does not serve the needs of students, she wrote. Weaver pointed to testimony Cox gave to a state taskforce about threats and harassment school librarians have received in recent months, as well as a letter the group sent to the South Carolina School Boards Association expressing alarm at the rise in attempts to ban or censor library books. In a letter of response sent to Weaver, the association's board described the groups long and fruitful cooperation with the Department of Education over the past 50 years. The letter stated that the association "avidly encourages" parent engagement and requested to meet with Weaver to discuss her concerns. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! The rift comes during a surge in efforts to require parental consent, restrict access to or ban books in school libraries. In South Carolina, many efforts have often focused on restricting access to books with graphic sexual content. But others have gone beyond that, seeking to sweep books about racism and gay or transgender people from library shelves. Weaver's letter took the association by surprise, Cox told The Post and Courier on Sept. 11. The department had not communicated any of the concerns from the letter with them before publishing it, she said. The last communication they'd had directly from Weaver was a "very nice" welcome video she filmed for their state convention in March, Cox said. The association had been working with Weaver's staff to plan the fall regional professional development workshops, she said. After the letter, Department of Education staff said they would run the regional workshops without the association, which were then consolidated to one in Columbia; Weaver has not responded to the association's request to meet, Cox said. The association will host a webinar to allow the speakers it had planned for the workshops to give their remarks, according to the Sept. 6 email. Since the exchange of letters, the association has seen an uptick in interest, with 150 new members joining or existing members renewing their memberships, according to the Sept. 6 email. In a statement Sept. 11, department spokeswoman Laura Bayne did not directly address Spires' resignation, but reiterated that Weaver's goal is to ensure that students have access to age-appropriate content aligned with state curriculum and that the school librarians were presenting a "false choice" between student well-being and parental satisfaction. "As Superintendent Weaver stated in her letter, she continues to value the role of school librarians, and going forward the Department will communicate directly with them," Bayne said. "Superintendent Weavers letter made clear the high value she places on librarians and schools being constructive partners with parents." Cox expressed disappointment at Weaver's use of the testimony about harassment of librarians as an example of the association's "lack of discernment." "What couldve been a conversation with us was instead a public announcement that actually reignited some of that harassment, especially online," she said. Insults or personal attacks on social media are not constructive from any viewpoint, said Bayne, the department spokeswoman. The reason for bringing up the Israeli-Hamas war and the dysfunction in Congress is not to comment on the political scene. My point is that this distinction between guerrilla-fighting and governing is absolutely relevant to those growing into old age. Read moreAging for Amateurs: Become the governor of your life When Charleston artist Scot Rittenbaum lost his eldest daughter in 2018, he had not touched a paintbrush in nearly a year. Leann Rittenbaum Ott passed away from complications with cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs. Prior to her death, she underwent a double lung transplant. But within eight months , she developed a severe infection that led to her death. For the next two years, Scot painted five to seven days a week. "I needed it as part of my therapy," Rittenbaum said. "It was critical." Now, Rittenbaum is preparing to showcase his paintings in his first solo exhibition beginning Sept. 28 at The Barbara Pearlstine Social Hall at the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue in Charleston. The event will be hosted by The Miller Gallery. Many of the paintings are inspired by his late daughter. "There hasn't been a moment within the last four years that I've been painting where I wasn't thinking about Leann," Rittenbaum said. One of his early paintings after her death depicts a public boat landing he would go to often for peace and refuge. The dock looks out on a huge marsh with creeks running through it. When he goes there, he thinks about Leann and his family, which now includes his daughter, Emma, her husband and two small grandchildren. The waterways he painted unconsciously took on an L shape during the process to represent Leann. Now he incorporates L shapes, hearts, and even birds as an ode to her. "Art is a lifesaver for me," he said. Kayla Twomey Flamman, owner and curator of The Miller Gallery in Charleston, said Rittenbaum's collection is "full of color, movement and texture". Editors note: Candidates running opposed races for Summerville mayor and the Summerville Town Council District 2 seat were all asked to respond to the following questions. All candidates received the same set of questions and were asked to limit their responses to around 1,000 words total. Read moreQUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES: Tiffany Johnson-Wilson Bank of America The US is importing more goods from Mexico than China for the first time since 2003. The reversal in trend comes as economic tensions between the US and China remain heightened. US companies have been diversifying their production out of China amid geopolitical tensions. Our Chart of the Day is from Bank of America, which shows that the US is importing more goods from Mexico than China for the first time since 2003. The reversal of a decades long trend comes amid heightened economic tensions between the US and China, and as geopolitical tensions flare. Amid those tensions, US companies have been quick to diversify their supply chain and production capabilities out of China and into other countries. Over the summer, computer maker HP said it would shift its production of millions of laptops to Thailand and Mexico from China. Even Apple, which makes most of its products in China, is starting to diversify its supply chain out of the country and into a number of others throughout Asia. Also helping boost Mexico's share of US imports are American car companies that have increasingly shifted production to Mexico over the past decade. Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Kia Motors, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Mercedes-Benz are just a few car companies that have a manufacturing presence in Mexico. The ultimate concern for US companies that have manufacturing exposure to China is the potential for a conflict between China and Taiwan, which if it happens could lead to a significant shutdown in economic relations between the US and China, similar to what happened between the US and Russia after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Read the original article on Business Insider Protesters from Defense of Democracy lined the easement along Dorchester Road in front of St. Theresa the Little Flower Catholic Church in Summerville on Saturday, Oct. 21, to protest a conference at the church hosted by Concerned Citizens for Education. Read moreProtesters show up at education conference Im not quite sure what my latest sins are, but they must be legion. Read moreAre those frogs I hear? This East Cooper Outboard Motor Clubs (ECOMC) 60th annual Turkey Shoot fundraiser is back and its all for charity. Read moreMotor Club hosts 60th annual Turkey Shoot Five finalists have been named in the search for Charleston's next police chief. Three applicants come from within the department's ranks and the other two work in Florida and Wisconsin. The finalists were chosen from a group of 34 top candidates who applied from across the country. The Police Executive Research Forum, or PERF, conducted the search and narrowed down the candidates on the city's behalf. At 8:30 a.m. Sept. 18, the candidates will meet with City Council at the Charleston Gaillard Center, downtown. Council members will enter an executive session to speak with each candidate individually beginning at 9:30 a.m. Each candidate will then be invited to answer questions from the media. Later, city leaders will assemble a panel of community members to conduct private interviews. Dates for those interviews are not set yet. Ultimately, Mayor John Tecklenburg will choose one candidate from the final five and City Council will vote on the nominee. The process is following the same steps that were taken to select former Charleston Police Department Chief Luther Reynolds, who died from cancer in May. Since his diagnosis, three deputy police chiefs helped lead the department. Those were Chito Walker, Dustin Thompson and Jack Weiss. After Reynolds' death, Walker was tapped as interim chief. Thompson was the only one of the three deputy chiefs who did not apply for the top cop position. The third internal department candidate was Capt. Jason Bruder, who oversees CPD's community policing division. Below is information about all five finalists: Interim Chief Chito Walker, Charleston Walker has held various positions with the Charleston Police Department since 2000, beginning as a patrolman and later serving as a detective, SWAT team operator and supervisor. He was promoted to deputy chief in March 2020 and tapped as interim chief in July. He most recently served as the deputy chief of the departments Procedural Justice and Community Policing Bureau. PAMPLICO Hannah-Pamplico High School teacher Jill Ard has been selected by the Palmetto State Teachers Association to attend the Strategies for Teacher Advancement and Renewal seminar. Ard is a ninth through 12th-grade teacher at Hannah-Pamplico High School. The STAR award is given to outstanding veteran teachers in South Carolina. Ard is one of 10 to be selected in the state. She has spent 21 years as an educator and is the chairwoman for the Social Studies department at her school. She teaches government, economics and world history. She said she jokes with her students but makes sure they understand the voting and electoral process. My goal is to make these new or almost-new voters informed citizens she said, I tease them and tell them that I am going to make sure they can argue accurately on Facebook. She also is yearbook adviser for the school, and the 2023-2024 Hannah-Pamplico High School Teacher of the Year. Ards approach to teaching has had to adapt with changes in technology, like school-issued computers. She might not be teaching with paper and pencil, but her mission to love and make her students feel at home has remained unchanged. The STAR seminar is a five-day event where the selected teachers will have a platform to discuss education-related topics. The seminar will be completely funded by the Foundation for Professional Development and the Palmetto State Teachers Association. Ard has made a tremendous positive impact on her students, as shown by the STAR award. The students also remind her to have an open mind and to be her own person. Teenagers often get a bad rep, but I love helping them find their voice, she said. The 2023 STAR seminar will be held at Seabrook Island from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. I first wrote about Rick Rescorla in 2003 after finishing James Stewarts Heart of a Soldier, the book based on Stewarts New Yorker article The real heroes are dead. (The real heroes are dead is what Rescorla would say in response to recognition of his heroism on the battlefield in Vietnam.) Its a good book that touches on profound themes in a thought-provoking way: life and death, love and friendship, heroism and sacrifice, destiny and fate, mans search for meaning, all fall within the books compass. Rescorla was a British native who moved to the United States to join the Army and fight the Communists in Vietnam. Rescorla was inspired to move to the United States in part by his friendship with Dan Hill. Their friendship is the one constant theme of the book. Hill and Rescorla had become friends in Rhodesia; they consciously modeled themselves on the characters of Peachy and Dravot in Kiplings story The Man Who Would Be King. Later they both served as officers in Vietnam, where in 1965 Rescorla saw harrowing combat in the Ia Drang Valley. In April 2001, thanks to Hills efforts, Rescorla was inducted into the Armys Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame for his service in Vietnam. The famous photo at the left (taken by UPI reporter Joe Galloway) depicts Rescorla in action in the Ia Drang Valley It is moving to read of the officers who sought Rescorla out to shake his hand and have him autograph their copies of We Were Soldiers Onceand Young, in which Rescorla plays a key role. Rescorla died a heros death saving his charges at Morgan Stanley in the south tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. Rescorla was head of security for the company; he directed the evacuation in which he had long drilled the companys WTC employees. He knew that a terrorist attack on the WTC was coming and he knew what had happened as soon as the building was hit. His message was one of resolve. Using a bullhorn, he shepherded his charges into the towers one usable fire escape and exhorted them that it was a day to be proud to be an American. The book closes with the words of Hill, the man who remained Rescorlas best friend until his death. His haunting words pay tribute to Rescorla: One of my lifes biggest regrets is that I couldnt have been with Rick at the moment of his great challenge and crisis of his life. Then again, maybe it was so destined, because if I didnt survive, there would be nobody left to tell the story. Kipling wrote that all men should count with you, but none too much. I failed there. Rick counted as the world to me. Somebody cautioned that if a person or thing means the world to you, and you lose that person or thing, then you have lost the world. I lost the world when Rick died. First posted 9/11/2005. UPDATE 9/11/2011: The San Francisco Opera debuted Heart of a Soldier, an opera composed by Christopher Theofanidis to a libretto by Donna DiNovelli, based on Stewarts book. Cori Ellison provided a preview in the New York Times article Opera recalls a heros life, love and song. The Daily Mail recounted Rescorlas story in an article full of good photos. One final note. You may want to take the time to check out the 10-minute American Veterans Center video on Rescorla (below). CALGARY, AB, Sept. 10, 2023 /CNW/ - Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is proud to have helped raise over $90,000 for the Libin Cardiovascular Institute at the Spruce Meadows CPKC International Grand Prix held Sept. 10. Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei jumped three clear rounds to win the $3 million CPKC International Grand Prix. (c) Spruce Meadows Media/Mark Sturk (CNW Group/CPKC) CPKC's Clear Rounds for Heart, an initiative of the CPKC Has Heart community investment program to support the heart health of people across North America, donates $10,000 for each clear round jumped, including those with time faults. Since its inception in 2014, CPKC's Spruce Meadows program has helped raise more than $2.6 million for heart health research and care. Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei jumped three clear rounds to win the $3 million CPKC International Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows on Sunday. "Congratulations to Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei, every rider and the tremendous fans at Spruce Meadows for their contribution to our CPKC Has Heart program," said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. "CPKC has a proud history of working with Spruce Meadows to support the important work the team at the Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta does every day. We are pleased to make this donation to advance the heart health of Albertans." "We are grateful to CPKC for helping us to advance our Institute's mission with their ongoing support," said Dr. Paul Fedak, Director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute, an entity of the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services. "Proceeds from today's event will support critical infrastructure needed to advance our Precision Medicine Initiative, which aims to advance personalized and precise cardiovascular health therapies that harness the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Together, we can achieve tomorrow's healthcare today." In addition, during the CPKC International at The Masters, CPKC donated to the Libin Cardiovascular Institute for each of those who participated in CPKC Has Heart activities, including Interactive Heart Model Building and hands-only CPR. Story continues About CPKC With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and Mexico, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC. About CPKC Has Heart At CPKC, we know that a railroad may serve as the arteries of a nation, but at its heart is community. CPKC Has Heart focuses on improving the heart health of adults and children across North America through partnerships, sponsorships, activities and contributions that fund cardiovascular research and the best equipment and care for cardiac patients. Since 2014, CPKC Has Heart has helped raise more than $36 million to heart health initiatives in communities across North America. And along the way, we're showing heart whenever we can. About Libin Cardiovascular Institute The Libin Cardiovascular Institute is a joint entity of Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary that connects world-class cardiovascular research, first-rate patient care and education in Southern Alberta, serving a population of about two million. Our more than 1,500 members include physicians, clinicians and other health professionals, researchers and trainees. SOURCE CPKC Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2023/10/c6074.html A CBS News/YouGov poll found that 48% of adults under the age of 30 support sending U.S. troops to defend Ukraine. Im rather struck by such a high number given that the military is failing to reach recruitment goals among this very demographic. Perhaps they feel its a good idea as long as it isnt them being sent to the front lines. The numbers drop off sharply among older age groups. Among those between the ages of 30 and 44, the total falls to 28%; among those between 45 and 64, 17%; and for those over 65, 8%. Of those who describe themselves as liberals, 33% support sending troops to Ukraine. That number falls to 20% for moderates and to 19% for conservatives. By gender, 23% of males and 26% of females support the idea. The survey of 2,335 U.S. adults was conducted between September 5-8 and released on Sunday. The margin of error is 2.7 points. Democratic registered voters were asked about their enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris being on the ticket. Thirty percent said they were enthusiastic, 54% satisfied, and 16% replied they were dissatisfied or angry. These responses may not seem all that bad until one sees that in August 2020, the numbers were 58%, 34%, and 8%, respectively. CBS notes that, unsurprisingly, black Democrats have the most enthusiasm for Harris. Five percent of participants believe the economy is doing very well and another 23% thinks its doing somewhat well, compared to 34% who think its somewhat bad and 38% who believe its very bad. The complete results can be viewed in the Scribd document below. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 15:17:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 316 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Aflac IncorporatedPhoto: Daniel Teague and brother, Austin, get a taste of astronaut life during their trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Originally published on Aflac NewsroomSix-year-old Daniel Teague loves everything about outer space and has his sights set on becoming an astronaut. He is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia but will not let that slow him down in his pursuit to blast off to the stars in a few years. In the meantime, Daniel and his family recently visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida to learn what it takes to be an astronaut, thanks to Aflac and Make-A-Wish South Carolina.Getting ready for takeoff On Aug. 1, Aflac granted Daniel's wish at a surprise celebration hosted at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Gen. Charles "Charlie" Duke, a retired S.C. astronaut, who walked the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, shared a special video message to get Daniel ready for takeoff. Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits, helped deliver Daniel's wish and give him a few travel essentials - Aflac luggage, an Aflac plush duck, packing cubes, a water bottle and a blanket."Making this wish come true for Daniel is another way for Aflac to celebrate his strength and courage - and to give him extra joy and hope," said Ruff. "Aflac is happy to work with Make-A-Wish South Carolina, as we continue our 28-year commitment to supporting children with cancer, their families and health care teams." Make-A-Wish South Carolina grants wishes that bring hope, joy and support to local children with critical illnesses. Since 2018, Aflac has donated nearly $50,000 to grant seven wishes.AGC2300900View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Aflac IncorporatedWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporatedEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 14:34:02 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 721 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 The global assistive robotics market report is a comprehensive report that provides a detailed analysis of the current status and future trends of the assistive robotics market worldwide. This report provides valuable information to industry stakeholders by offering an in-depth perspective on market dynamics, competitive landscape, growth opportunities, and key challenges faced by industry participants.From the perspective of market dynamics, this report explores the factors driving the growth of the assistive robotics market. This includes the increasing demand for assistive robotics products due to changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the demand for more efficient and sustainable solutions. Additionally, government regulations and initiatives to promote the adoption of assistive robotics products also contribute to market growth. On the other hand, this report identifies and analyzes factors that may hinder market growth, such as economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition in the market.Request for Sample Report:The competitive landscape section of the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the leading companies operating in the assistive robotics market. It introduces the major companies, their business strategy, product portfolio, recent trends, and financial performance. This analysis provides valuable insights for market stakeholders to understand the intensity of competition in the market and gain an insightful view of the strategies adopted by major market players to maintain their position.Some of the major companies in the Assistive Robotics market are as follows: Barrett Technology (US), Blue Frog Robotics (France), CT Asia Robotics (Thailand), Cyberdyne (Japan), Double Robotics (US), DreamFace Technologies (US), Ekso Bionics (US), F&P Robotics (Switzerland), Focal Meditech (Netherlands), Fourier Intelligence (China), Hanson Robotics (China), Hocoma (Switzerland), Intuitive Surgical (US), Kinova Robotics (Canada), ReWalk Robotics (Israel), Rex Bionics (New Zealand), SoftBank Robotics (Japan), Ubtech Robotics (China)By segmenting the market, the report provides a detailed understanding of each segment by analyzing market size, growth potential, and key trends within each segment. Through this detailed analysis, industry participants can identify profitable opportunities, develop strategies tailored to specific customer segments, and allocate resources effectively.Market Segmentation:Type: Physically Assistive Robots, Mixed Assistive Robots, OtherApplication: Elderly Assistance, Handicap Assistance, Surgery Assistance, OthersIdentifying growth opportunities is crucial for companies operating in the assistive robotics market. This report focuses on highlighting these opportunities by analyzing emerging technologies, market trends, and changing customer needs that have the potential to shape the future of the market. By identifying untapped market segments, geographies with high growth potential, and innovative product development strategies, this report supports stakeholders in harnessing these opportunities and leading business growth.In addition, this report addresses the key challenges faced by industry participants. It provides insightful information on challenges such as intense market competition, price pressure, regulatory compliance, and technological confusion. By understanding these challenges, companies can develop effective mitigation strategies and adapt to a constantly changing market environment. This enables them to ensure sustainable growth.The regional analysis section of the global assistive robotics market report thoroughly evaluates the market in various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. This section provides valuable information on market size, growth potential, and key market trends specific to each region.Market by Regions:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaThis report provides a comprehensive assessment of the assistive robotics market in these specific regions, enabling stakeholders to understand regional differences, market potential, and growth prospects. This provides valuable insights that help make informed decisions related to market entry, expansion strategies, and resource allocation. Additionally, understanding the regulatory landscape and market dynamics in each region is useful for companies to comply with regulatory requirements and adjust their business strategies to fit specific markets.Overall, the global assistive robotics market report strives to provide comprehensive and practical information to industry stakeholders. By offering a deep understanding of market trends, competitive dynamics, growth opportunities, and potential risks, this report plays a valuable role as a tool for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Through this information, they are able to make informed business decisions and execute successful strategies in the dynamic and evolving assistive robotics market. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 12:00:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 992 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Banyan Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Banyan") (TSX-V:BYN)(OTCQB:BYAGF) is pleased to announce Kai Woloshyn has joined the management team as Vice President, Project Development, and an update on the Company's 2023 exploration program at the AurMac Property, Yukon Territory."With the AurMac Mineral Resource Estimate now at 6.2 million ounces of gold, Kai Woloshyn adds expertise to the team to de-risk AurMac as it progresses towards development. Kai brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from environmental assessments and permitting, to economic studies and First Nation agreements," stated Tara Christie, President and CEO. "We plan to focus on high-level evaluation of mining and processing scenarios which will guide future activities, both on the ground at AurMac, and also with regards to technical studies, baseline environmental work, First Nations engagement and community communications. The deposits at AurMac remain open and we can continue to add ounces in 2024 and beyond. We are confident and excited that AurMac and Nitra have the potential for additional mineralization, and we have extended property-wide exploration on both projects into the Fall. Banyan is funded for continued exploration and development of AurMac through 2024."Mr. Woloshyn is a registered Professional Chemist with nearly 20 years of experience in mining and environmental consulting. His extensive experience in mine development, environmental assessment, permitting and reclamation along with First Nation engagement provides a strategic perspective to the approach required to develop new mines in Canada's North. Mr. Woloshyn was the Environmental Manager for Alexco Resource Corp. (acquired by Hecla Mining in 2022) for over 10 years and was responsible for all environmental management and permitting matters for the Keno Hill Silver District Mining Operations. He was most recently the Vice President of Strategic Projects for Ensero Solutions, where he led Yukon exploration and mining projects through baseline data collection, environmental assessment and permitting processes. During his time with Alexco and Ensero, Mr. Woloshyn contributed to economic studies and advanced multiple projects towards operations. He has led First Nations and community consultation, including negotiation and implementation of several benefit agreements with various Yukon First Nations. Mr. Woloshyn holds a Bachelor of Science Combined Major in Chemistry and Earth & Ocean Sciences from University of Victoria. Mr. Woloshyn is a Yukoner based in Whitehorse.2023 Exploration Program UpdateBanyan's planned $10 million 2023 drill program was successfully completed on budget with over 24,700 metres of diamond drilling from 107 holes. This program achieved the planned objectives to:connect mineralization between the Aurex Hill and Powerline Deposits;expand gold mineralization from areas within and proximal to the current mineral resource limits at Aurex Hill and Powerline; andextend gold mineralization to depth at Powerline within a zone of higher grade.See Company news releases dated July 19 and September 6, 2023. Results from 69 drill holes remain pending, with final processed core being shipped to the lab this week.In addition, the 2023 exploration program included property-wide exploration on both the AurMac and Nitra properties. Prospecting, geochemical soil surveys, geological mapping and rock sample collection work remains underway in both areas. Exploration areas were prioritized by utilizing structural and geochemical/geophysical anomalies, areas of historical/current placer operations, as well as areas with known surface expressions of Cretaceous aged intrusions. This work highlights the potential for discovery of additional deposits across the large AurMac and Nitra land packages. Over 3,000 soil geochemical samples have been collected on AurMac and over 4,000 on Nitra to date this season.Through the remainder of 2023, Banyan will utilize all data available to model and define targets that host potential higher-grade zones; continue the robust metallurgical program investigating potential mineral processing flowsheets; and interpret and incorporate the 2023 drill data as it is received. Additional studies on structural controls on grade distribution and heat flow directions during mineral deposit formation from crystallinity and minerology is also underway. This work will improve targeting and maximizing the value of future drilling.Ongoing work includes detailed compilation and gap analysis of the extensive background environmental data available to us from neighbouring operators (Victoria Gold Corp. and Hecla Mining) combined with the baseline data Banyan has collected since 2021. This is a low cost way to de-risk the project and will add significant value by ensuring AurMac is well advanced for entering the Yukon socio-economic assessment and permitting processes for exploration and future development.Stock Options GrantThe Board of Directors of the Company have granted 500,000 stock options to purchase 500,000 shares at an exercise price of $0.32 per share with a vesting period of up to 18 months. The options are being granted with a five-year term.The stock options are being issued to officers, consultants, advisors and exploration staff of the Company. The options were granted under and are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's stock option plan.Upcoming EventsPrecious Metals Summit Beaver Creek - Sept 12 to 15, 2023TakeStock Calgary Capital Event - Oct 4, 2023New Tintina Gold Rush Breakfast, Vancouver - Panel Discussion - Oct 19, 2023121 Mining Investment New York - Oct 23-34, 2023New Orleans Investment Conference - Nov 1 to 4, 2023Exhibitor Booth #325Breakfast Presentation, Camp Room, 3rd floor - Nov 4thAbout BanyanBanyan's primary asset, the AurMac Project is adjacent to Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine, in Canada's Yukon Territory. The updated Mineral Resources Estimate ("MRE") for the AurMac Project of 6.2 million ounces has an effective date of May 18, 2023.The 173 square kilometres ("sq km") AurMac Project lies 30 kilometres ("km") from Victoria Gold's Eagle Project and adjacent to Hecla Mining's high grade Keno Hill Silver mine. The Project is transected by the main Yukon highway and access road to the Victoria Gold open-pit, heap leach Eagle Gold mine. The AurMac Project benefits from a 3-phase powerline, existing power station and cell phone coverage. Banyan has a right to earn up to a 100% interest, in both the Aurex and McQuesten Properties, subject to certain royalties.The Updated MRE for the AurMac Project was effective on May 18, 2023 and consisted of 6,181,000 ounces of gold (see Table 1 hosted withi PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 15:29:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 827 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOULDER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc. ("BlackStar") (OTC PINK:BEGI) BlackStar continues to move forward with our plans to enable trading of our common shares on a blockchain with our revolutionary software called BlackStar Digital Trading Platform TM "BDTPTM", a peer-to-peer digital trading platform of electronic fungible shares based on the blockchain. The Platform is designed to function in the existing Broker Dealer back-office operations within the confines of existing rules or regulations. A Blockchain FirstTM sample transaction is as follows: an investor holding book-entry shares of BlackStar on account at the Broker Dealer enters orders for those common shares through BDTPTM, which then records the transactions on a centralized private blockchain; the Broker Dealer or ATS hosting BDTPTM clears and settles all trades generated through them. Other Broker Dealers with Blackstar book-entry share can send orders from their customers over a secure link to the ATS/BD that hosts the blockchain trading system, BDPT. The clearing of the trade may be the responsibility of the broker-dealer that introduces their customer to trade on the B.D.T.P. platform.We believe that if we are able to secure a contract to host our platform in the next three to six months, that the BDTPTM will be well-timed in the industry; in May 2023, for instance, FINRA approved OTC Markets to permit digital asset securities to be traded by broker-dealers on OTC Link ATS. We currently intend to seek a contractual arrangement such as a license with an existing ATS for a quoting service, similar to the current listing of our common stock with OTC Markets Group. At this time, no ATS has committed to an arrangement. We intend to continue having discussions with various ATS's until we have secured an arrangement that will allow the BDTP platform to operate.Once the BDTP platform is live and formal arrangements have been finalized with an existing ATS to execute and reports trades, the Company intends to license the platform to other publicly traded companies as a subscription service with a company specific customizable interface operation through a substantially similar license with the existing ATS. This subscription service, Blackstar's "Blockchain Equity Trading" or B.E.T., would enable each subscribing company to have access to their own trading platform, based upon our core platform, where shares of their common stock could be traded, without markup or markdown in true "spot transactions" and without shorting. Additional features of the platform include the indication of interest feature for future offerings, and a corporate governance feature. All transactions, customer data and corporate governance information would be recorded immutably on an Amazon Web Services-based blockchain. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority would have complete and transparent access to the data recorded by the BDTP TM, offering a single data interface and consolidated history of transactions; the SEC and FINRA would only become Certificate Holders if they approve and agree to participate in viewing the data, and only if the platform is approved at a future date. BlackStar hopes that this increased transparency will mitigate many of the risks of investing in OTC-listed stocks and restore investor confidence in trading shares of OTC companies.Other Info:BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc. (OTC:BEGI)WEBSITE: blackstarenterprisegroup.comEMAIL: info@ blackstarenterprisegroup.com CONTACTBryan P Hemphill.559-359-1480 http://www.blackstarenterprisegroup.com/investor-relations/ More information can be found in the Company's recently filings at the SEC web site: https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=BlackStar+Enterprise&match=&filenum=&State=&Country=&SIC=&myowner=exclude&action=getcompany SEC DisclaimerThis press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States or elsewhere. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected in BlackStar's ("the Company's") business plan. The creation of subsidiaries and expansion of services into new sectors should not be construed as an indication in any way whatsoever of the future value of the Company's common stock or its present or future financial condition. The Company's filings may be accessed at the SEC's Edgar system at www.sec.gov . Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date. The Company cautions readers not to place reliance on such statements. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, we do not undertake, and we specifically disclaim any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.SOURCE: BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 15:02:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 721 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Fast Growing Franchise Sets New Industry Standard with Approach to Personal Care ServicesNORTH NEW HYDE PARK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 8, 2023 / CareBuilders at Home, a leading national in-home care franchise, is setting a new industry standard with its innovative approach to personal care services. Unlike most home care companies that impose a four-hour minimum service requirement, CareBuilders at Home allows clients to pay only for the services they need."CareBuilders at Home is committed to providing compassionate, discreet, and highly customizable care," said Lori Yount, Vice President of Operations for CareBuilders at Home. "We understand that every individual's needs are unique, and our services reflect that understanding." A New Paradigm in Personal CareCareBuilders at Home offers a wide range of personal care services, including mobility assistance, hygiene assistance, medication reminders, and personal assistant services. These services can be tailored to meet the specific needs of each client, offering a level of flexibility that is unparalleled in the industry."In a market where most companies impose rigid service requirements, we're proud to offer a solution that is as flexible as our clients' needs," Lori Yount added. "Choosing personal assistant services through CareBuilders at Home is a great option for those who need help with their daily tasks but do not want to commit to a four-hour minimum service requirement imposed by most home care companies. CareBuilders at Home is the only in-home care company to offer this flexibility. "Personal Assistant Services: What You Can ExpectService TypeDescriptionDuration OptionsPersonal Care VisitsAssistance with personal hygiene including, but not limited to bathing, dressing, shaving, nail filing, lotion application, and oral care.45 minutes; Additional time is billed in 15-minute increments.Housekeeping VisitsLight housekeeping services to client areas, two loads of laundry.Up to 90 minutes; Additional time is billed in 15-minute increments.Transportation VisitsAssistance with transportation to/from physician appointments, run errands, or go shopping. Services can be provided in a client or personal assistant's car.Up to 1 hour; Additional time is billed in 15-minute increments.Wellness ChecksFace-to-face check-ins designed to ensure client safety and provide social engagement. Includes medication reminder and preparation of a meal or snack.30 minutes; Additional time is billed in 15-minute increments.Cost-Effective AlternativeThe Personal Assistant Services offered at CareBuilders at Home are short, task-specific services with no minimum hourly requirement. This allows clients the ability to get only the services they need without having to pay for what they don't. Visits can be as short as 30 minutes for a Wellness Check, 45 minutes for a personal care/bathing visit, to 90 minutes for housekeeping visits that include laundry. This creates a cost-effective alternative to traditional hourly home care and allows those who may be resistant to the idea of a caregiver in their homes for long periods to still have access to essential services. These visits can be scheduled as a single one-time visit or in a monthly package, allowing clients to build a package that works for them.Holistic Wellness and MoreIn addition to its core services, CareBuilders at Home also offers a holistic wellness program designed to promote safety, independence, and engagement. This program is geared toward combating loneliness and making aging in place a stress-free experience.To learn more about CareBuilders at Home, visit www.carebuildersathome.com About CareBuilders at HomeCareBuilders at Home is a fast-growing national franchise which provides comprehensive non-medical home health care solutions to enhance the lives of individuals across the nation. The company provides a wide range of services individualized to meet the needs of clients, including support with activities of daily living, errands, light housekeeping, and medication compliance. In addition to the support given to older Americans, the company also assists those who are physically or developmentally disabled, recovering from illness or surgery, and new moms.The CareBuilders at Home franchise opportunity allows entrepreneurs to be a part of the lucrative home care industry, while being able to give back and help clients. CareBuilders at Home franchise partners have access to the company's exclusive Virtual Caregiver platform. The company is the only home care franchise that handles all back-office services for franchise partners including payroll, billing, and collections.For more information on the CareBuilders at Home franchise opportunity, visit https://www.carebuildersathome.com/franchise/ ContactMandy ClineMCline@919 Marketing.com919-377-9587 SOURCE: CareBuilders at Home PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 14:29:37 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 713 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 The global chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market report is a comprehensive report that provides a detailed analysis of the current status and future trends of the chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market worldwide. This report provides valuable information to industry stakeholders by offering an in-depth perspective on market dynamics, competitive landscape, growth opportunities, and key challenges faced by industry participants.From the perspective of market dynamics, this report explores the factors driving the growth of the chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market. This includes the increasing demand for chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe products due to changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the demand for more efficient and sustainable solutions. Additionally, government regulations and initiatives to promote the adoption of chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe products also contribute to market growth. On the other hand, this report identifies and analyzes factors that may hinder market growth, such as economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition in the market.Request for Sample Report:The competitive landscape section of the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the leading companies operating in the chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market. It introduces the major companies, their business strategy, product portfolio, recent trends, and financial performance. This analysis provides valuable insights for market stakeholders to understand the intensity of competition in the market and gain an insightful view of the strategies adopted by major market players to maintain their position.Some of the major companies in the Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Wipe market are as follows: 3M (US), BD, Cardinal Health (US), Carenow Medical Pvt. Ltd (India), GAMA Healthcare Ltd (UK), Lernapharm Inc. (Canada), PDI Limited (US), Pal International (UK)By segmenting the market, the report provides a detailed understanding of each segment by analyzing market size, growth potential, and key trends within each segment. Through this detailed analysis, industry participants can identify profitable opportunities, develop strategies tailored to specific customer segments, and allocate resources effectively.Market Segmentation:Type: Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Bath Wipes, Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Alcohol-Based WipesApplication: Offline Sales, Online SalesIdentifying growth opportunities is crucial for companies operating in the chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market. This report focuses on highlighting these opportunities by analyzing emerging technologies, market trends, and changing customer needs that have the potential to shape the future of the market. By identifying untapped market segments, geographies with high growth potential, and innovative product development strategies, this report supports stakeholders in harnessing these opportunities and leading business growth.In addition, this report addresses the key challenges faced by industry participants. It provides insightful information on challenges such as intense market competition, price pressure, regulatory compliance, and technological confusion. By understanding these challenges, companies can develop effective mitigation strategies and adapt to a constantly changing market environment. This enables them to ensure sustainable growth.The regional analysis section of the global chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market report thoroughly evaluates the market in various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. This section provides valuable information on market size, growth potential, and key market trends specific to each region.Market by Regions:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaThis report provides a comprehensive assessment of the chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market in these specific regions, enabling stakeholders to understand regional differences, market potential, and growth prospects. This provides valuable insights that help make informed decisions related to market entry, expansion strategies, and resource allocation. Additionally, understanding the regulatory landscape and market dynamics in each region is useful for companies to comply with regulatory requirements and adjust their business strategies to fit specific markets.Overall, the global chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market report strives to provide comprehensive and practical information to industry stakeholders. By offering a deep understanding of market trends, competitive dynamics, growth opportunities, and potential risks, this report plays a valuable role as a tool for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Through this information, they are able to make informed business decisions and execute successful strategies in the dynamic and evolving chlorhexidine gluconate (chg) wipe market. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 23:19:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1025 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Under Geingob's leadership, Namibia has earned a reputation for good governance, which has contributed to continued investment and exploration since the 2022 discoveriesCAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Shortly after massive hydrocarbon discoveries were announced in Namibia in 2022 - the first major finds to take place in that country - Namibian President Hage Gottfried Geingob was a picture of cautious optimism. Geingob understood the economic and energy security benefits oil and gas could deliver, but he also recognized that they weren't guaranteed. It would be up to Namibia's leadership to ensure Namibians realized those benefits.The president has not hesitated to step up to the challenge. Under Geingob's leadership, Namibia has earned a reputation for good governance, which has contributed to continued investment and exploration since the 2022 discoveries. The country has also committed to using a portion of its natural gas resources to meet domestic needs, which will bolster Namibia's energy security, paving the way for economic growth and industrialization.At the same time, Namibia has been building a green hydrogen sector that will lead to even more jobs, business opportunities, and access to electricity for Namibians.These are some of the reasons the African Energy Chamber's Board (AEC) has selected Geingob to receive our 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award this October during African Energy Week 2023 in Cape Town.The award recognizes African leaders who have taken bold steps to improve the socioeconomic development and the well-being of Africans by accelerating energy sector growth in our continent.President Geingob, without question, fits that description.Dedication to ServiceGeingob has been Namibia's president since March 2015. He is also the president of Namibia's ruling SWAPO Party (The South West Africa People's Organisation), which formed as a liberation movement in 1960 when Namibia (then known as South-West Africa) was under the administration of South Africa.Geingob received his early education in Otavi before attending the Augustineum College, where he completed training as a teacher in 1961. He has a bachelor's degree from Fordham University, a master's degree in international relations from the New School for Social Research in New York, and a doctorate from the University of Leeds.In 1964, Geingob was the SWAPO representative at the United Nations and to the Americas. He went on to be the founding director of the UN Institute for Namibia, an educational body set up by the United Nations Council for Namibia in 1976. Later, Geingob was elected chairman of the constituent assembly that was responsible for drafting the Namibian constitution.Geingob became the first Prime Minister of Namibia in 1990, when the country gained independence from South Africa, and served until 2002. In 2007 and 2012 he was appointed vice-president of SWAPO. He also served as Namibia's minister of trade and industry. In 2012, Geingob was re-elected as prime minister and served in that role until 2015.In Geingob's run for president, he received more than 86% of the votes, a tangible sign of the respect and confidence he earned from his fellow Namibians.Namibian Energy: Leaving Nothing to ChanceOne thing that sets Namibia apart from other African states with petroleum resources is how quickly the country went from a country with minimal oil and gas activity to a major exploration hot spot.Prior to the country's recent discoveries, only about 15 wells had been drilled, and none of them yielded commercial quantities of oil or gas.Then, between 2022 and 2023, five major offshore discoveries were announced. They were Venus-1X in PEL 56, made by TotalEnergies EP Namibia and its associates, along with Graff-1, Jonker-1X, La Rona-1, and Lesedi-1X in PEL 39, jointly made by Shell Namibia Upstream BV and its collaborators.Certainly, Namibia's strategic location on the southwest coast of Africa and the sheer volume of the discoveries -at least 11 billion barrels of light oil and as much as 8.7 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas - contributed to the immense interest in Namibian exploration that followed.But, again, there was no guarantee that everything would go smoothly after the discoveries. There was still the risk that negotiations and project development would stall, that red tape or negative experiences would erode oil companies' interest in ongoing exploration, or that Namibia would fail to capitalize fully on its newly discovered resources.Geingob has taken a proactive approach to avoiding these stumbling blocks, greatly increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes for his country and his people. In fact, one of the first things he did after the discoveries was to talk with other African oil and gas-producing states in hopes of learning from their experiences.Also important, Namibia has made it a priority to offer a business-friendly fiscal regime and legal framework. In its 2022 Investment Climate Statement for Namibia, the U.S. State Department notes that Namibia is known for maintaining a positive investment climate that includes political stability, an independent judicial system, protection of property and contractual rights, good telecommunications infrastructure, and an expanding transportation infrastructure."I would add that, by concentrating on market-focused policy, partnerships with regional and global players, and a commitment to local content and beneficiation, Namibia and its president have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to leveraging the country's energy resources for economic growth and a sustainable future for the region". Stated NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chair of the African Energy Chamber.Those efforts have been yielding fruit. Namibia has attracted such major international investors as ReconAfrica, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Woodside, and Galp, among others.Geingob announced in March that foreign direct investment (FID) in Namibia was expected to reach N2.5 billion (approximately USD133.1 million) this year. The country saw N13.2 billion (USD703.1 million) in FID during the first nine months of 2022, the president added.Geingob also should be lauded for Namibia's natural gas agenda. He recognizes that natural gas has the potential to help African countries eradicate energy poverty through gas-to-power projects and that it can be monetized to help build infrastructure and grow the economy. Namibia is making significant strides in these areas. One example is the country's plans for the offshore Kudo gas field in the northern Orange sub-basin. Namibia plans to build a floating platform there and a pipeline to move the gas from Kudu Field to Elizabeth Bay, where it will construct a gas-powere PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 22:44:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 852 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Senegalese President Macky Sall is a respected leader, both in his country and globally. He has served as chairman of the African Union and championed African issues in and out of Africa.But one of the first things that comes to mind when we think of Macky Sall is that he is a champion for our continent's energy industry. In an era when the foreign voices urging Africa to accept energy transition timetables not in their best interest are loud and insistent, Sall has unapologetically stood up for what's right for our continent. Most recently, he has done so at the 2022 G20 summit and the COP27 climate conference.President Sall's well-informed and eloquent voice is needed more than ever.This October, during the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) 2023 African Energy Week in Cape Town, we are looking forward to seeing the AEC recognize Sall for his perseverance in making Africa's energy needs known to the global community.Bold Advocate for African PrioritiesPresident Sall has advocated repeatedly for equitable African representation at international energy forums where decisions are being made that profoundly affect Africans' daily lives.As he communicated to the United Nations General Assembly in 2022, African nations will not settle for remaining on the sidelines while decision-making bodies meet to discuss energy policy. Representatives of those nations must be brought into the center of deliberations.Permanent seats on the UN Security Council, Sall noted, would give 1.4 billion Africans representation in decisions that impact them every day.As Chairman of the African Union in 2022, Sall was also outspoken, insisting that international energy-related partnerships listen to African voices with respect. Along the same lines, he has called for a greater African presence in the G20, where South Africa alone currently represents the continent.Sall has boldly proclaimed that continued extraction and capitalization of African oil and gas resources is necessary to fuel economic development, energy security, and industrialization. He has made it clear that Africa will transition to renewables at its own pace - one that is best for its people and economies.He also has pointed out the lack of logic in wealthy countries attempting to deny Africa the same fossil fuels they used to become industrialized, while over 600 million Africans remain without electricity.At an MSBC (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Guinea-Conakry) Oil, Gas, and Power conference held in Dakar, Senegal last year, Sall stated, "While remaining committed to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement, we must continue to defend the interests of our countries in the run-up to COP27." Speaking later in 2022 in Egypt at COP27, Sall emphasized the need to continue producing natural gas, the cleanest of the fossil fuels, in Africa. This, he said, would lower carbon dioxide output while allowing the continent to grow, both economically and in electrification.Stage Set for a Just Energy Transition in SenegalAs we have stated before, Senegal's energy sector has been an encouraging example of transformative growth under Sall's leadership.In large part, this is due to his visionary collaboration with leaders of other nations. Among these is German Chancellor Olaf Schultz, who met with Sall in May of 2022 and then announced he was discussing gas development and LNG projects with Dakar.Like other EU member nations, Germany is seeking freedom from dependence on Russian supply, and Senegal, along with Mauritania, is ready to be part of the answer. BP and Kosmos Energy's Greater Tortue/Ahmeyim (GTA) natural gas project is set to begin in 2024. GTA holds 15 trillion cubic feet of gas resources, which along with two other Senegalese projects, the Yakaar-Teranga Development and the Banda Gas Field, have spurred investment and exploration in the MSGBC Region.President Sall has leveraged this regional partnership to his country's benefit, and the effect is expected to raise regional GDP, a foundational factor for achieving a just energy transition.In line with making that transition and as part of its goal to reach universal access to electricity by 2025, Senegal is pursuing renewable energy production through the Senergy 2 solar project and the 158 MW Taiba N'Diaye wind farm.In addition, President Sall has led the PES (Plan for an Emerging Senegal), which encompasses economics, human capital, and good governance through 27 flagship projects in construction, logistics, and mining. The plan is also an attraction for the global investment needed to catalyze energy independence for the country.Senegal's energy industry serves as a model for every African nation that wishes to use its oil and gas resources to achieve a better economy, a better quality of life, and a just transition to renewables.Keynote Speaker for Africa Energy Week 2023The African Energy Chamber will proudly welcome President Sall as its much-anticipated opening keynote speaker for Africa Energy Week 2023, to be held in Cape Town October 16-20.President Sall's keynote address is expected to set the tone for the discussions, deal-making, and initiatives that follow, much as his leadership has set the tone for his country's energy progress.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Download image: https://apo-opa.info/466rR7e SOURCE: African Energy Chamber PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 21:16:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 687 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Enbridge acquires trio of U.S. companies from Dominion Energy Inc., creating North America's largest natural gas utility franchiseAbout 7,000 employees.Delivering more than 9 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas.Destination? About 7 million customers.That's about the size of it-North America's largest natural gas utility franchise, that is-following a trio of transactions announced today between Enbridge and Dominion Energy, Inc.From Dominion Energy, for an aggregate purchase price of US$14 billion (C$19 billion), Enbridge is acquiring:The East Ohio Gas Company, also known as Dominion East Ohio, which serves more than 1.2 million customers across more than 400 communities and 27 counties in Ohio.Questar Gas, which serves about 1.2 million customers across Utah-that's about 97% of households in the state-as well as regions in southwestern Wyoming and Idaho, in addition to its related Wexpro companies.The Public Service Company of North Carolina, also known as PSNC Energy, which serves more than 600,000 customers across 28 counties in North Carolina.With the delivery of 9.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of gas to customers in the U.S. and Canada, upon closing, Enbridge's gas utility business will be the largest by volume in North America."Adding natural gas utilities of this scale and quality, at a historically attractive multiple, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The transaction also reinforces our position as the first-choice energy delivery company in North America," says Greg Ebel, Enbridge's President and CEO."The assets we are acquiring have long, useful lives-and natural gas utilities are must-have' infrastructure for providing safe, reliable and affordable energy," adds Mr. Ebel. "The entire Enbridge team is committed to working with the EOG, Questar and PSNC teams, and to investing in the communities they serve. We look forward to serving our customers with dedication, and to providing them with safe, reliable and affordable energy service for years to come." With the addition of these gas utility operations in Ohio, Utah, North Carolina, Wyoming and Idaho, Enbridge now has a significant presence in the U.S. utility sector.Enbridge's primary gas utility, Enbridge Gas Inc., has a storied 175-year history, and serves about 75% of residents in the Canadian province of Ontario. Enbridge Gas and its affiliate, Gazifere, presently provide safe, reliable service through 3.9 million residential, commercial, institutional and industrial meter connections in Ontario and Quebec.Among the details of today's acquisitions:East Ohio Gas, which serves the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown, has about 22,000 miles of transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines, as well as 60 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas storage.Questar , which serves the Utah cities of Salt Lake City, Provo and St. George, has about 21,000 miles of transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines, and enjoys a unique regulated supply agreement with Wexpro, which can supply up to 65% of Questar's gas needs without commodity exposure.The Public Service Company of North Carolina, which serves the cities of Raleigh, Durham and Asheville, has about 13,000 miles of transmission, gathering and distribution pipelines."Today , and for the long-term, natural gas will remain essential for achieving North America's energy security, affordability and sustainability goals," says Michele Harradence, Enbridge Executive Vice President and the President of our gas utility business. "We are excited to welcome more than 3,000 new employees into the Enbridge family. In addition, we intend to continue the robust social, community and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that each gas utility has committed to." Like Enbridge, all three of these companies have well-developed emission reduction plans, have committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, and are already exploring leveraging the critical energy infrastructure they operate to transport low-carbon energy sources such as renewable natural gas and hydrogen."These gas utilities have each committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and are expected to play a critical role in enabling a sustainable energy transition," notes Mr. Ebel.The acquisition of each gas utility is expected to close in 2024.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Enbridge on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: EnbridgeWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/enbridgeEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Enbridge prepared spices for ethiopian tea - MarieKaz/Shutterstock Most people associate Ethiopia with coffee. After all, aside from being the world's sixth-largest producer of coffee beans, the country is also famous for its delicious and robust specialty coffee blends. But did you know the country also has a vibrant tea culture? The lush landscapes of the Ethiopian highlands are home to many tea plantations that produce some of the world's finest tea leaves. And if you're curious about Ethiopian tea, their spiced tea will make for a perfect first taste. As its name suggests, Ethiopian spiced tea is a mixture of black tea leaves with an assortment of scented herbs and flavoring fruit peels. Unwrap a sachet, and you'll uncover hints of cardamom, citrus peels, cloves, cinnamon, and rosehip, all mingling with the dried tea leaves. Once steeped in hot water, the resulting brew has all the best qualities of a perfect cup of tea full of flavor, aromatic, and wonderfully comforting and warming. While you can find ready-made Ethiopian spiced tea sachets from various brands, mixing this tea brew at home is also quite easy. All you need is Ethiopian black tea (any brand will do, as long as it's sourced from Ethiopia) and a small amount of herbs and fruit peels. Boil them in hot water, mix them with freshly brewed black tea from a separate pot, and voila! Read more: 20 Tea Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best How Is Ethiopian Spiced Tea Usually Enjoyed? black tea and herb assortment - Simarik/Getty Images Ethiopian spiced tea is integral to the country and its people's culture. As such, you should enjoy it like locals do if you're determined to have a taste. Traditionally, families gather around a pot of this tea to kickstart their day. The tea can be quite bold in flavor, so if you like your tea a touch lighter, adding a spoonful of honey or sugar can help mellow it out. However, adding milk is not recommended. In Ethiopia, milk isn't commonly mixed with tea. Plus, the milk would dilute the unique herbal flavors of this tea, which is the exact opposite of what you'd want if you want to experience this tea blend to the fullest. Once the tea's prepped, you should also have a plate of sweet buns by your side, too. In Ethiopian tradition, tea is often accompanied by sweets. Remember, the chosen black tea is robust in nature. Pairing it with some nice pastries, like cakes and tarts, will create a more delightful and balanced tasting experience, especially if you don't add extra sweeteners to the tea. Read the original article on Tasting Table. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 21:56:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 570 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Expanded Class Period: Nov. 2, 2018 - July 26, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 26, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/tContact An Attorney Now: T@ hbsslaw.com844-916-0895 AT&T Inc. (T) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges AT&T made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose that AT&T: (1) owns cables around the U.S. that are highly toxic due to their being wrapped in lead, and which harm company employees and non-employees alike; (2) faces potentially significant litigation risk, regulatory risk, and reputational harm as a result of its ownership of these lead-covered cables and the health risks stemming from their presence around the U.S; and (3) was warned about the damage and risks presented by these cables but did not disclose them as a potential threat to employee safety or to everyday people and communities.Investors began to learn the truth after the Wall Street Journal published a series of articles spanning July 9 - July 26, 2023.These articles revealed that AT&T and others left behind toxic lead cables that they laid years ago. The WSJ also reported that independently tested samples from underwater cable sites revealed lead on the banks of the Mississippi, Willamette, and Passaic Rivers as well as in parts of Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere.The WSJ further reported that AT&T officials have known for decades that lead in its networks was a possible health risk to its workers, some workers have illnesses that can be linked to lead, and lead could leach into the environment.Finally, on July 26, 2023, the WSJ reported that the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency are investigating whether telecom companies knew of the potential risks posed by the abandoned lead cables.As a result, AT&T's stock has been downgraded by analysts and its price was inflated over the past five years."We're focused on investors' losses, AT&T's knowledge of potential liability stemming from its sprawling network of toxic lead-sheathed cables across the U.S., and whether the company historically understated its expenses," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in AT&T and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding AT&T should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email T@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 21:40:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 761 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Green Mountain Energy and IDEA Public Schools hosted a ribbon-cutting last week for a new hydroponic farm and upcoming outdoor classroom at IDEA Achieve Academy and College Preparatory in Haltom City, Texas. The new shipping container facility, named Freight Farm,' was made possible thanks to a grant of more than $178,000 from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club.For students at IDEA Achieve, the new hydroponic farm offers unique opportunities to explore concepts in engineering, chemistry, physics, and biology, through its use of specialized lighting, pH-controlled fertilizer injectors, computerized controls, and a controlled climate to support plant growth and development. The new hydroponic farm program will also be used in the school curriculum to teach these concepts, as well as all the practical skills associated with them. Outside of the curriculum, students will experience additional learning opportunities on campus farm operations, taste tests, composting, and more."This is our first and only hydroponic farm in the Tarrant County region, and thanks to Sun Club, over 1,000 students at IDEA Achieve will have access to hyperlocal produce that is sustainably produced year-round using only 5 gallons of water per day," said Deborah Ray, the Child Nutrition Program Director of Farms for IDEA Public Schools. "This supports not only their physical nutrition but increases the diversity of academic and technical learning experiences for our students. The hydroponic farm will have lasting effects in the community, and we couldn't be more excited to officially launch this program with the help of our partners, Sun Club." This project marks the second time IDEA has received a Sun Club grant. In 2018, the organization received $100,000 for a solar array to power the district headquarters building. Freight Farm will be used to expand IDEA Achieve's existing farm program and will be considered the first hydroponic farm for the IDEA Tarrant County region. Eliminating seasonal and logistical barriers to sourcing fresh food, Freight Farm will produce nearly 500 heads of lettuce weekly for students to eat in the lunchroom."There's something so fulfilling about contributing to the education of young students and teaching them how vital it is to take care of our planet," said Mark Parsons, Vice President and General Manager of Green Mountain Energy. "With the addition of this hydroponic farm, we trust that IDEA Public Schools will continue to encourage students to incorporate sustainability into their lives at school and at home." Sun Club, since its founding in 2002, has empowered local communities and donated over $13 million for sustainability projects with 156 nonprofit organizations, including 34 schools, across Texas and the Northeast. The charitable program supports projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship. Sun Club is funded by Green Mountain Energy, its customers, and its employees.The Freight Farm is set to open in early September, more details to come. To learn more about the farm programming at IDEA Public Schools, please visit ideapublicschools.org/farm ###About Green Mountain Energy Sun ClubGreen Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $13 million to 156 nonprofit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit greenmountain.com/sunclub About IDEA Public SchoolsIDEA Public Schools believes that each child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a network of tuition-free, K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas and its affiliates. IDEA has been recognized in national rankings for The Washington Post, The U.S. Department of Education's list of Blue Ribbon Schools, and U.S. News & World Report's Top High Schools lists. For the last 16 years, IDEA has sent nearly 100% of its graduates to college and remains on track to uphold that legacy.GME Media Contact Estefania Joy 713-537-5735 media@ greenmountain.com Twitter: @GreenMtnEnergyIDEA Media Contact Lynnette Montemayor 512-317-7864 lynnette.montemayor@ideapublicschools.org Freight Farm will produce nearly 500 heads of lettuce weekly for students to eat in the lunchroom.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Green Mountain Energy on 3 blmedia.com.Contact Info:Spokesperson: Green Mountain EnergyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/green-mountain-energyEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Green Mountain Energy PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 16:31:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 686 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SHANGHAI, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / The 2023 INCLUSIONConference on the Bund officially concluded on September 9, 2023 at the Huangpu World Expo Park in Shanghai. The premier three-day event focused on the theme of "Technology for a Sustainable Future". The event brought together industry leaders, global experts, and thought pioneers who gathered to exchange insights, ideas, and approaches to foster inclusivity and sustainability while advancing finance and technology.The main forum of the conference discussed the latest technological advancements such as generative AI, the importance of leveraging technology to support global industrial innovation and building a sustainable future. The conference also featured 36 insight forums on industrial vitality, technological innovation and sustainable development.Generative AI was one of the focal points of discussion in the main forum. Michael I. Jordan, Academician of the NAS, the NAE, explained the challenge of uncertainty quantification. Renhe Zhang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice President of Fudan University, elaborated on AI's role in scientific research, while Jifeng He, Academician of CAS, addressed safety issues in the era of large-scale models.Other esteemed global speakers included Razan Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature; Joe Ngai, Chairman of McKinsey Greater China; Michael Sheren, Senior Advisor to the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub and Director of Lujiazui Financial City Green Finance Development Center; Eric Jing, Chairman and CEO of Ant Group; Hongjiang Zhang, International Academician of the NAE; Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services, American Express; Monsinee Nakapanant, Co-President of Ascend Money and Timothy Utama, Information Technology Director at Bank Mandiri. They deliberated on the subjects of industrial innovation and sustainable development.The 36 insights forums, which extended over three days, covered a wide range of topics from industry, technology and sustainability. For example, Joseph Sifakis, Founder and Emeritus Research Director at Verimag Laboratory and 2007 Turing Award Winner, gave a keynote speech on AI and the innovation of the digital economy, while other forums addressed the ethics of AI and safety issues.During the insight form, "Expanding digital technology cooperation to unlock new growth opportunities worldwide", Roberto Chade, CEO and Co-founder of Dotz, Shaozhang Ding, Vice President of Digital Sales, DFS Group and Tim Huang, Deputy CEO, JPMorgan Chase Bank (China) Company Limited joined a lively discussion with Douglas Feagin, Head of Alipay+ Cross-Border Mobile Payment Services, Ant Group to discuss how the global payment community can help merchants unlock the future of growth with digital tools.The insight forums were designed to discuss the progress of technology, as well as to address challenges and propose solutions. Esteemed guests from international organizations and regulatory agencies shared their perspectives on the importance of public-private partnerships in safeguarding the financial system. Notable guests included Mingyou Bao, Deputy Director General of Anti-Money Laundering Bureau of the People's Bank of China; Beju Shah, Head of Innovation Hub Nordic Centre, Bank of International Settlements; Stewart McGlynn, Head of Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crime Risk, Hong Kong Monetary Authority; and Yuchen Gu, AML Specialist Leader in AML Risk Solutions, Monetary Authority of Singapore. The guest speakers deliberated on the essential role of new technologies and advanced data analytics in driving faster and more effective risk management across the financial industry.2023 INCLUSIONConference on the Bund included a 8,000 square meter technology exhibition and 3,000 square meter green market place for conference goers from around the world.About the ConferenceThe 2023 INCLUSIONConference on the Bund is organized by a consortium of institutions and organizations, including Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tongji University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai United Media Group, Shanghai Bund Investment Group, and Ant Group.The inaugural INCLUSIONConference on the Bund successfully concluded on September 26, 2020, with the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the support of the Shanghai Municipal Financial Regulatory Bureau and People's Government of Huangpu District, Shanghai.For comprehensive information on the 2023 INCLUSIONConference on the Bund, including schedules, speakers, and registration details, please visit the official website at www.inclusionconf.com Media Contact:The Organizing Committee of INCLUSIONConference on the BundEmail: media@ inclusionconf.com SOURCE: The Organizing Committee of INCLUSIONConference on the Bund PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 19:00:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 979 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Leading the Future: KCooper Brands Appoints John Inwright, David Cox, and Jim Green to Drive Innovation from the BoardroomDENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / In a strategic move designed to catapult the company into its next phase of expansion and innovation, KCooper Brands, Inc., a trailblazer in sustainable supply chain solutions, announced today the addition of John Inwright, David Cox, and Jim Green to its Board of Directors.KCooper Brands Elevates Board With Strategic Appointments, Signaling Ambitious Next Phase of Growth Leading the Future: KCooper Brands Appoints John Inwright, David Cox, and Jim Green to Drive Innovation from the Boardroom These distinguished appointments come as part of a broader initiative to bolster KCooper's leading market presence and Performance Through Technology Platform while continuing to expand its innovative offering of goods and services across its four divisions.Board Appointments to Reinforce Market Leadership and ExpansionA seasoned restaurant industry executive, John Inwright brings to the Board a proven track record of leadership across multiple industries. As the former CEO of Wendy's Quality Supply Chain Cooperative, where he oversaw almost $4 billion in spend annually for Wendy's restaurants in North America, Inwright's experience reaches into the core of supply chain development, distribution, and procurement.His holistic view of market dynamics and trends sets a high bar for strategic planning, innovation, and industry relationships. Inwright has also been instrumental in building powerful partnerships with big box retailers and distributors that go beyond foodservice."I am thrilled to join KCooper Brands, Inc. at this critical juncture. My aim is to work closely with George Dempsey and his team to refine company strategy, drive market expansion, and foster a culture of innovation. The Performance Through Technology Platform is the future, and I'm eager to help shape it," said John Inwright.David Cox comes with more than 30 years of exceptional leadership in supply chain development, having converted a small purchasing group at Arby's into a top-tier supply chain cooperative, ARCOP, where he managed an annual expenditure of $1.4 billion as president; additionally, Cox served as past Chairman and current Board Member of the National Restaurant Association Supply Chain Management Expert Exchange.Prior to ARCOP, his roles at Darden Restaurants cemented his reputation as a comprehensive strategist who covers every angle-from procurement to distribution to logistics. Cox brings a multifaceted approach to supply chain leadership that extends well beyond foodservice, and proven acumen in strategic planning, relationship management, and organizational culture development.David Cox commented, "It's an honor to join the KCooper Brands Board and work alongside professionals who are equally committed to driving innovation and sustainability. With its Performance Through Technology Platform, the company is uniquely positioned to lead in multiple market sectors, and I'm eager to add my experience to that forward momentum." With a career spanning over four decades, Jim Green's history of driving transformational change aligns perfectly with KCooper's ambitious growth trajectory. As Vice President of Strategy and Member Value at the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), he steered, through strategy and execution, a remarkable turnaround, positioning IFMA as a leading figure in the $900 billion foodservice industry. Additionally, at Rich Products Corporation, he managed a billion-dollar business unit as Vice President of Bakery, overseeing strategic planning through execution.Jim's extensive background is underscored by his deep understanding of the foodservice industry's intricacies and ecosystem. His roles have always placed him at the nexus of strategy, innovation, and execution, enabling businesses to thrive in a dynamic landscape. His knowledge and experience position him to provide invaluable insights as KCooper Brands seeks to innovate and solidify its leadership in the market."This is an era where innovation and strategic acumen can redefine industries, and I believe KCooper is poised at the cusp of such transformation. Leveraging the vast expertise and market insights from the Board, I'm confident that together we can further scale KCooper's Performance Through Technology Platform. It's an honor to be part of this journey, and I look forward to contributing to the brand's expansive vision," said Jim Green.KCooper Brands, Inc., A Legacy of InnovationFounded in 2016 by George and Kathi Dempsey, KCooper Brands, Inc. is revolutionizing sectors from rigid packaging to substrate through its Performance Through Technology Platform. The organization is poised to extend its innovative footprint under the guidance of its enhanced board structure.George W. Dempsey, Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, shared, "We are honored to have professionals of John, David, and Jim's caliber join our Board. They bring a treasure trove of real-world experience, incredible expertise, and unparalleled market access that can help steer KCooper Brands through its next phase of growth. With their counsel, we look forward to further solidifying our market leadership and embarking on new avenues of expansion that will redefine what it means to be an innovator in our field."It's not just about what we're planning next; it's about setting a new standard for the entire industry." Focused on the Future: A Strengthened Board for Strategic ReadinessKCooper Brands, Inc. is strategically expanding its Board to harness world-class talent, experience, and market access. The expertise and industry relationships that John Inwright, David Cox, and Jim Green bring to KCooper Brands, Inc. are not mere additions; they are multipliers as KCooper Brands focuses on market expansion and leadership.Further profiles of each board member, including exclusive interviews, will be released in the coming weeks.About KCooper Brands, Inc.Founded in 2016 by George and Kathi Dempsey, KCooper Brands, Inc. stands at the forefront of providing innovative solutions in the rigid packaging, substrate, e-commerce, and marketing sectors. With a customer-centric approach, the company offers a broad range of opportunities through its four business units-Dempsey International Packaging, KCooper Substrate, Raptor Packaging, and KC Media-all unified under its unique Performance Through Technology Platform. Visit www.kcooperbrands.com to learn more.Contact InformationNate Calvert VP of Marketing press@kcooperbra PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-12 00:00:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 953 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX); (OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of up to $500,000 (the "Offering"). The Offering will consist of the sale of units (the "Units") of the Company at a price of $0.03 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.05 for a period of five yearsfrom the initial closing date of the Offering. The Company intends to use the gross proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes, including land maintenance costs.The Offering is subject to customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSX-V. The closing of the Offering may occur in one or more tranches, with the initial closing date of the Offering expected to occur on or around September 25th, 2023 and is not subject to receipt of a minimum amount of gross proceeds. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws and TSX-V policies. The Offering is open to participation by insiders.The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.About PelangioPelangio acquires and explores prospective land packages located in world-class gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is focused on its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo property, the site of eight near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the newly optioned Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario at its newly acquired gold, silver, zinc polymetallic Kenogaming project, located 63 km southwest of Timmins, its Dome West property, situated some 800 meters from the Dome Mine in Timmins; and at its Gowan polymetallic project, located 16 km east of the Kidd Creek Mine. See www.pelangio.com for further detail on all Pelangio's properties.For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com , or contact:Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEOTel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@ pelangio.com Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Offering generally, the proceeds that may be raised in connection with the Offering, the proposed use of proceeds and the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about our ability to close additional tranches of the Offering in a timely manner, if at all, and the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the ability of the Company to meet the conditions of closing, our ability to conduct our exploration programs as planned, changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.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.SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 20:01:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 468 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Qbedding, a bedding brand founded by the couple Annie and Jerry Qu, is set to inaugurate its first concept store at The Shops at Skyview Mall in Queens, New York on September 9th, 2023.After 15 years of dedicated exploration, Qbedding has evolved into an independent brand with an extensive product lineup and a robust supply chain. With five stores already established in New York, New Jersey, and California, Qbedding has firmly established itself as a leading brand in the U.S. bedding industry.The grand opening of the concept store will be marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Skyview Concept Store on the morning of September 9th. Qbedding, committed to providing comfort to families and communities day and night, is embarking on a rebranding journey after 15 years with an advanced product concept. The event is expected to draw nearly 100 guests, including Mr. Craig and Mr. Trent Dickey - Vice Presidents of JLL, Mr. Ken Guan - President of Miracle Curtain, and Mr. Yulong Zhang - President of Reiko Wireless. Additionally, renowned celebrities such as Audrey Mora and Leia will also grace the occasion.Mr. Jerry Qu, the CEO and founder of Qbedding, stated in his speech at the grand opening ceremony: "Qbedding began with a single, powerful idea: to redefine the meaning of comfort in the bedding industry. From Main Street in Flushing to our brand-new location at Skyview, our journey was nothing short of incredible. This morning isn't just about a new store opening; it's a celebration of 15 enriching years marked by comfort, commitment, and confidence. Here is another 15 years ahead of us. "Qbedding's primary focus is on forging a connection between premium cotton and living spaces, with premium cotton bedding as its flagship product. Premium cotton, characterized by its softness, long fibers, high textile count, and comfort and durability, takes center stage in their offerings. During the opening of the Skyview Concept Store, Qbedding will unveil its Premium Cotton A La Carte Collection. This collection draws inspiration from nature, showcasing original texture patterns that represent four natural elements: sunlight, water, air, and earth. The new collection breaks away from the constraints of traditional "bedding sets," offering guests greater freedom for combination and matching, thus enabling premium cotton fabrics to find their way into more American homes.Furthermore, from September 2nd to September 16th, Qbedding's products will be on display at the entrance of The Shops at Skyview Mall. This marks the first time Qbedding will engage consumers through a pop-up store, giving guests the opportunity to experience the latest premium cotton collection firsthand, learn about the excellence of premium cotton fabrics, and participate in an exciting grand opening raffle.Media Contact:Website: https://www.qbedding.comEmail: help@ qbedding.comAddress: 40-24 College Point Blvd, Queens, NY 11354SOURCE: Qbedding PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 17:01:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 865 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ESG100, the first ever large-scale assessment of ESG disclosure compliance ahead of European Sustainability Reporting Standards - indicates significant implementation challenges ahead.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Position Green, the Nordic region's largest, independent pure-play sustainability firm, has published its sixth annual ESG100 report. This study represents an industry first in its assessment of how well-prepared listed companies are for the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), expected to become EU law and implemented on 1 January 2024. In this study, those assessed represent the largest 300 companies from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden and some of Europe's most recognizable names, including Volvo, Maersk, Carlsberg, and Scatec.Position Green LogoBased on the 2022 disclosures from companies assessed, the ESG100 reveals a significant overall shortfall in reporting standards, with companies on average making just 54% of the core ESRS disclosures. Scandinavian companies are typically more advanced in ESG disclosures, so data suggests other European companies will have major implementation challenges ahead. With many investors already calling on the EU to tighten mandatory disclosures on emissions and climate risk in the current ESRS draft, the additional gap in compliance may undermine investor confidence at a time when private capital is required to drive net zero.With the increased requirements and scope of companies required to report ESG information under ESRS, an estimated 10,300 non-EU-domiciled firms will be affected, including 31% from the United States and 11% from the United Kingdom. With the major expansion of social issues on which companies must disclose, including workforce, workers in the value chain, affected communities, and consumers, there is potential to inflame existing anti-ESG rhetoric in the U.S., specifically with regard to policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This report should therefore serve as an insight into what companies outside of the EU need to address in the lead up to the rules becoming law.The ESG100 finds that the majority of companies now have clear net zero commitments in place, with 62% of firms committing to achieving zero emissions by 2050. However, the majority of climate targets are not matched by credible transition plans - with just 41% of firms having one in place, and only 33% have targets verified by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), a key indicator of credibility. Only three firms, namely Danish clean energy specialists Vestas and building technology firm FLSmidth, and Swedish construction giant Skanska, included the key elements of a robust plan.More companies than ever have reported linking executive remuneration to ESG targets, with 34% disclosing the link, compared to 25% last year. Pressure on boards to incorporate ESG measures in executive pay is clearly driving the move, but this still falls well short of meeting investor expectations. Climate is the area of ESG commanding the strongest investor attention, but only 15% of companies reported the link between executive remuneration and emissions reduction targets, and only 6% provided a detailed description of the KPIs used for performance-related pay, indicating a misalignment in expectations.Data in the report indicates that the majority of companies are now prepared to report on emissions, but gaps do remain, with 15% of firms failing to report even their Scope 1, 25% their Scope 2, and 31% their Scope 3 emissions. Accurate reporting of emissions is critical in providing investors data needed for decisions based on climate impact, risk, and opportunity. With Scope 3 emissions estimated to be up to 11 times larger than a company's direct (Scope 1) operations, to truly decarbonize, the accurate reporting of all three Scopes is critical.Joachim Nahem, Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Position Green, added: "Never before has this report been more timely. There is turbulent political rhetoric surrounding the very nature of ESG, and a key objective of ESRS and the SFDR is to avoid greenwashing, requiring that companies provide investment-grade disclosures. Our findings show that Nordic corporates are not quite there yet, though it remains to be seen if the reporting requirements themselves are too onerous."In our deepest-yet assessment of the Nordic regions' largest public companies, this report serves as a clear indicator to corporates, shareholders and would-be investors both in and outside of Europe of the challenges ahead. The ESRS will be the deepest, broadest, and most forensic set of ESG rules ever introduced, and so preparing for this is absolutely critical. Position Green looks forward to supporting its partners, current and future clients through this next challenge, and helping drive onwards to a sustainable future." About Position GreenPosition Green is the largest independent sustainability firm in the Nordic region and a pioneer in ESG transformation. As a pure-play sustainability partner supporting organizations to accelerate their sustainability journey, it provides proprietary ESG reporting software solutions, advisory services, assurance, and a learning and academy offering.Position Green is a member of the UN Global Compact and a partner of GRESB and the SASB Consulting Program, having contributed to the development of the SASB Marine Transportation standards. Position Green is also a certified GRI Training Partner and a CDP Accredited solutions provider. As of July 2023, Position Green has over 600 clients worldwide, including more than 50 GP/LPs, and more than 270 employees across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the UK, the U.S., and Belgium.Contact InformationSandro Pardo Marketing Manager sandro.pardo@positiongreen.com +1 6463279412Related FilesSOURCE: Position Green PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 12:00:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1029 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Roscan Gold Corporation ("Roscan" or the "Company") (TSX-V:ROS)(FSE:2OJ)(OTCQB:RCGCF) is pleased to announce that it has identified a new high-grade zone of gold mineralization at Mankouke West (Figures 3, 4 and 5) as a result of its systematic regional exploration activities. Discovery holes include RCMAW23-0009 with 3.44 gpt over 31m, including 9.23 gpt over 3m, 8.46 gpt over 3m, 3.75 gpt over 7m, RCMAW23-0001 with 1.72 gpt over 28m, including 5.28 gpt over 6m and RCMAW23-0017 with 1.14 gpt over 50m including 4.08 gpt over 2m (Table 1).The new discovery is located 2km NW from Mankouke South, close to the area which holds over two thirds of Roscan's maiden resource. This new zone has been traced so far over an area with a strike length of 450m, 50m wide, and 125m vertical depth, and it is open toward NE and SW and at depth. This gold occurrence lies in a large footprint of about 2km long and 500m wide outlined by saprolite geochemistry with arsenic and antimony pathfinders providing expectation for substantial extensions (Figure 6).This discovery demonstrates the additional gold potential along the Siribaya-Mankouke-Kabaya-Seko regional structural corridor, which stretches over 20Km through Roscan's land package. Further drill holes are planned to develop this new gold target, with extensive RC holes, followed by deeper Diamond drill holes.Nana Sangmuah, President and CEO, stated, "This high-grade discovery remains open on strike for about 2km and at depth and highlights the excellent prospectivity of our tenement package. This points to further resource growth potential outside the limits of known resources. The proximity of this new zone to the main Mankouke South resource area could enhance ore feed to a potential central processing facility. Since December 2022 we have completed about 10,000m RC and 5,600 meters of auger drilling to expand the footprint of current resources and results should be available in the coming weeks".RC Holes - Drill Highlights 2023:3.44 gpt gold over 31m from drill hole RCMAW23-0009 from 50mIncluding 9.23 gpt gold over 3m from 50mIncluding 8.46 gpt gold over 3m from 62mIncluding 3.75 gpt gold over 7m from 72 m1.72 gpt gold over 28m from drill hole RCMAW23-0001 from 88mIncluding 5.28 gpt gold over 6m from 111 m1.14 gpt gold over 50m from drill hole RCMAW23-0017 from 81mIncluding 5.27 gpt gold over 2m from 97 m1.49 gpt gold over 15m from drill hole RCMAW23-0011b from 85mIncluding 4.08 gpt gold over 2m from 102mNotes: 1: True width yet to be determined, 2: Table 1 - Assay Highlights, 3: 0.5gpt used as cut-off with 2m internal dilution for drill holes, and 4: No top-cut.Figure 1: Mankouke West location in Roscan land package.Figure 2: Mankouke West, Roscan Airborne Geophysics, Saprolite Geochemistry, and gold envelope of the new discoveryFigure 3: Mankouke West, drill plan and mineralized envelopeFigure 4: Mankouke West section 1377750 NFigure 5: Mankouke West section 1377800 NExplorationThe new Mankouke West mineralization is located along an NNE-SSW portion (Figure 2) of the NE-SW regional structural corridor as shown in Roscan Airborne Geophysics survey. This corridor extends from Siribaya (IAMGOLD/MANAGEM) to Seko (B2GOLD) passing through Roscan's land package (Mankouke South, Kandiole, Kabaya and Moussala targets) (Figure 1).This discovery follows a saprolite geochemistry that initially provided low gold results but strong arsenic and antimony signatures, defining an anomaly over 2km long and 500m wide tested by several scissor Air Core fence lines (80m holes length), which returned a significant 2.12g/t over 12m intercept. The RC holes reported in this press release confirmed the gold occurrence and allowed us to interpret its geometry.The mineralization occurs mainly in the saprolite horizon. The host rock is clastic sediments rich in quartz veins fragments and iron oxide from sulfides.The gold mineralization at both Mankouke South and Mankouke West is located on the edge or in the vicinity of an intrusive pluton which is probably cutting the main mineralized body (MS1) with its NW extension contouring it (MS3) as shown in the Electromagnetic Airborne geophysics interpretation (Figure 2). This acid intrusive likely played a role in the hydrothermal activities, carrying gold in the more porous or brittle host rock.Figure 6: Plan View of Mankouke WestDrilling and Analytical ProtocolRoscan uses Geodrill Reverse Circulation (RC) to drill until maximum 170m to reach the target. In 2021, (Air Core holes ACMAW22-1158-1162), the samples were sent for preparation to Bureau Veritas' Bamako laboratory and 1 kg Bottle Roll with atomic absorption finish analysed in BV lab, Abidjan. Since January 2022, the samples are sent to the ALS Laboratories in Bamako, Mali and assayed at their analytical facilities in Ouagadougou for 2 kg Bottle Roll with atomic absorption finish including tail analysis by fire assays for results more than 0.05ppm. Roscan applied industry-standard QA/QC procedures to the program using reference materials, blanks, standards, and duplicates.Table 1: Drillhole Dataset at Mankouke WestTable 2: Mankouke West Drillhole Dataset at Collars, Azimuth and DipQualified Person (QP) and NI 43-101 DisclosureGreg Isenor, P. Geo., Non-Executive Director for the Company, is the designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and verified that the technical information contained herein is accurate and approves of the written disclosure of same.About RoscanRoscan Gold Corporation is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on the exploration and acquisition of gold properties in West Africa. The Company has assembled a significant land position of 100%-owned permits in an area of producing gold mines (including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine which lies in a contiguous property to the west of Kandiole), and major gold deposits, located both north and south of its Kandiole Project in West Mali.For further information, please contact:Nana SangmuahPresident & CEOTel: (902) 832-5555Email: info@ Roscan.ca Forward Looking StatementsThis news release contains forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied b PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 17:47:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1007 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Shift4 Payments, Inc. ("Shift4" or the "Company") (NYSE:FOUR) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and docketed under 23-cv-03206, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Shift4 securities between November 10, 2021 and April 18, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Shift4 securities during the Class Period, you have until October 19, 2023 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Shift4 provides software and payment processing solutions in the United States. The Company provides, among other products and services, integrated and mobile point-of-sale ("POS") solutions.In Shift4's third quarter of 2022, the Company completed its so-called "mass strategic buyout program" as part of a purported strategic initiative to insource its sales distribution network.According to Shift4, because the Company is not a "member bank" as defined in certain payment network rules, the Company is not eligible for primary membership in certain payment networks and is therefore unable to directly access them. Accordingly, Shift4's payment networks require the Company to be sponsored by a member bank as a service provider, which the Company has accomplished through a sponsorship agreement with its sponsor bank. To cover overdraft obligations at the sponsor bank, prior to December 2022, Shift4 had funds deposited in a sponsor bank merchant settlement account to facilitate gross card transaction deposits for those customers the Company bills on a monthly, as opposed to a daily, basis.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Shift4 had inadequate disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting; (ii) as a result, Shift4 failed to properly account for customer acquisition costs, thereby artificially inflating its net cash provided by operating activities; (iii) accordingly, Shift4 would likely be forced to restate one or more of its previously issued financial statements; (iv) Shift4 employed accounting maneuvers in connection with, among other things, its mass strategic buyout program and sponsor bank merchant settlement account, that were designed to present an inaccurate picture of, inter alia, the Company's performance, its underlying business quality, and its earnings power; (v) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to negatively impact Shift4's reputation and business; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On October 21, 2022, Shift4 disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the Company's third quarter 2021, full year 2021, first quarter 2022, and second quarter 2022 financial statements should no longer be relied upon and would need to be restated because of a material weakness in the Company's financial controls, which had caused it to incorrectly treat "customer acquisition costs" as cash used in investing activities rather than cash used in operating activities in its Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. As a result, Shift4 was forced to negatively revise its net cash provided by operating activities to $3 million (down from its originally reported $29.2 million), $30.8 million (down from its originally reported $37.1 million), and $70.8 million (down from its originally reported $85 million) for the year ended December 31, 2021, the three months ended March 31, 2022, and the six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively.On this news, Shift4's stock price fell $1.21 per share, or 2.67%, to close at $44.16 per share on October 24, 2022.On April 19, 2023, Blue Orca Capital published a report addressing Shift4 (the "Blue Orca Report"). The Blue Orca Report alleged, among other things, that "Shift4 [is], in reality, a roll-up of low-tech POS systems and payment processors which is substantially less profitable, generates far less cash, and is materially more levered than investors are led to believe." The Blue Orca Report further alleged that in 2022, "Shift4 engaged in a string of highly questionable and hyper-aggressive accounting maneuvers seemingly designed to keep the stock afloat, from cash flow manipulation to inexplicable distributor acquisitions that enabled it to capitalize a major component of COGS [cost of goods sold]." For example, the Blue Orca Report alleged, inter alia, that Shift4's "buyout of 50% of its independent distributors"-i.e., in connection with its mass strategic buyout program-"and Q4 2022 cash account withdrawal" from its sponsor bank merchant settlement account "together inflated operating cash flow by 61%."On this news, Shift4's stock price fell $5.95 per share, or 8.68%, to close at $62.59 per share on April 19, 2023.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See w PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 21:16:38 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 795 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / The Watchlist by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Ciscom Corp and Tantalex Lithium Resources discussing their latest news.The Watchlist by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.CISCOM CORP (CISC) Technology UpdateCiscom Corp. (CISC) ("Ciscom" or "the Company") an ICT roll-up corporation, is pleased to announce that its subsidiaries are moving forward with their technology initiatives.For the full interview with Michel Pepin and to learn about Ciscom Corp, click here.Tantalex Lithium (CSE:TTX) agrees to term sheet with Glencore for lithium marketing and CAPEX financingTantalex Lithium Resources Corp. (CSE:TTX)(FSE:DW8)(OTC:TTLXF) ("Tantalex" or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce it has received and executed a term sheet from Glencore International AG ("Glencore") on September 8th for a marketing offtake agreement for the lithium to be produced from its Manono Lithium Tailings Project.For the full interview with Eric Allard and to learn about Tantalex Lithium, click here.Interviews for The Watchlist by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Watchlist or to explore our other interviews visit The Watchlist by The Market Herald.About The Market HeraldThe Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. 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While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.CONTACT:The Market Heraldmarketing@ themarketherald.cathemarketherald.ca SOURCE: The Market Herald [ great outdoors ] 09.11.23 Ponies A fter the funeral we lie on the hood of Mikes Audi passing sips of wine from a giant Rex Goliath bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. I hardly know my cousins anymore, Mike and Audrey, but I never really knew them well. We share family and thats it. We share Maryland, too. A time I dont often think about, when our respective parents tried to introduce us to nature, as if it wasnt already all around us, constantly trying to break into the weak barriers we humans had so meticulously erected over millennia. At Assateague, the bugs were the worst, but the beauty beat the bugs. Wax myrtles, loblolly pine and bayberry. Salt marsh grasses and eastern prickly pear. The landscape alien to us northern New Yorkers who knew dramatic glacial rock formations and expansive lakes, but not the salty rush of a windy day, and the boom of waves, or the soft blink of a far-off lighthouse. The tents were hell. As able-bodied teens we were tasked to help, but we didnt know how to put tents up, so we took cues from the exhausted adults, well on their way to drunk after having to circumvent New York City and drive through any of New Jersey. Put the pole in the pocket. Stick the end of it in there. What pocket? There is a little pocket at the bottom. The pole end goes in there. Not there, dummy. Yes, now take that mallet and pound the stakes into the ground. We had to stay in the tent because the mosquitos and biting flies wanted to kill us. When one of the many famous wild ponies wandered through our site, our parents called us out to see it, but we only stuck our heads out, already having been bit numerous times while eating dinner at the picnic table. They called us soft. Babies. As we watched the pony wander through, flicking its tail, the bugs bit our faces. There was no escaping it, except to leave. You arent supposed to feed the ponies or go near them at all, but our respective parents were dumbshits and did both. Mostly it was my dad, whod bought a bag of Cheetos at a store outside the park. He said it was for all of us to eat, but I knew what the hell he was planning. The ponies were majestic, their movements perfect and practiced. There is something so peaceful about them that likely lead stupid people to think they can go near them as if theyre house cats. There are signs everywhere warning people that ponies bite, kick and charge, but people like our parents think they can bend nature to their will. So, my dad walked up to one of the ponies with his Cheetos and held his hand out flat like he knew what he was doing, because even though he didnt grow up around horses, he watched a lot of Westerns. A group of hikers saw this and, thinking about their own self-preservation, said nothing to us and walked on. Though I did catch the eye of one of the women. I gave her a small, helpless shrug. When the pony bit down on the Cheetos, it also bit my dad, breaking skin between the back of his hand and the fleshy part of his thumb. He screamed, and the ponies freaked. One ran off while the others pounded their hooves into the ground. Dad ran back to us, abandoning the Cheetos bag on the otherwise pristine forested floor. He held his hand, his eyes watering, blood filling the bitemarks and drawing lines down his fingers and into the sandy earth. We all acted shocked, but none of us were. The trip ended shortly after a visit to the hospital. We were kicked out of the park, which is not a thing we ever talked about at family gatherings. All we said was that we went to Assateague once and the ponies were majestic. Dad blamed the scar on some random dog that never existed, and that was the end of it. My cousins and I never talked much after that, mostly because they lived in Plattsburg, and we were a few hours south. But here we are in our funeral attire in the driveway of my old family house, a place I rarely visit, thinking about the things we stopped thinking about. Mike and Audrey are high achievers, which I could have predicted. Mike runs a small, obscure Internet start-up out of Philadelphia, and Audrey owns a bicycle shop in Burlington, and has won many races. Both do very well for themselves. My dad fell off the roof trying to put up a bat box. He always appreciated nature, even if he often challenged it. When my mom called and told me he was in the hospital with a broken neck, I stripped off my barista apron and walked out of Starbucks with no warning. My co-workers thought I was doing a walk out because of poor wages, and left with me. It started this whole thing. Ive been dodging calls from the manager these last couple of weeks. I dont have the heart to tell them I have no principles, but I do have a dead dad. When I got in the car to drive home, it hit me that we hadnt spoken in weeks. Maybe a month. We werent big talkers, but instead opted to exist together in an activity whenever we met. Putting up birdhouses, changing oil, cutting tree branches. Sometimes hed ask me how I was doing, and Id always say that I was good even though I was scared most of the time. When my girlfriend left me because I lacked ambition, I didnt tell my parents. My dad died thinking I was still with someone. He wasnt drinking, Mom was quick to tell me when I met her in the waiting area. I said okay, and hugged her, and that was when the doctor walked out looking the way the vet looked when our cat had a sudden heart attack at home, out of nowhere. I held her tighter then, hoping maybe if I held on, shed never have to turn around and I could keep her hopeful forever. Bats are cool as hell, Mike says, passing me the wine. He plays with his tie, which he had loosened after the wake. Dad read this thing in some magazine about them. How theyre threatened or something. Losing their habitat. He wanted to help. Thats beautiful, Audrey says. She stretches out on the hood and even though shes wearing dress pants I can tell she has incredibly strong legs. Strong enough to kick me right through the sternum. I imagine her foot exploding my spine like a shotgun blast, and feel strangely comforted. Do you remember Assateague and the bugs? Mike says. I wasnt at all surprised he was thinking about Maryland too. It was the one real memory we shared. Of course, I say. I never got bit. Not once. Really? I say. Mike shakes his head. Whyd you say you did? Mike shrugs. After the pony bit my dad, I caught him outside the restrooms looking at his hand, bewildered. I was fourteen and angry that hed do something so stupid and was sick of sharing a tent with Mike who snored all night, and I hated so much that we were that family you always hear about who fuck up in national parks. We all knew, any minute, the rangers would find us, and wed shamefully roll up our sleeping bags and head north. How you doing, kid? he said, forgetting about his hand. You embarrass me. Dad cocked his head, confused at first. But then, before he could say anything, I walked away. An extra knife twist. He was quiet for the rest of the trip, and I was gentler to him. All the way home I sat in the car with a festering lump in my chest that made me feel ugly and tainted. It was the first time Id ever felt true hatred toward myself. Like an ancient glacier tearing across the land, my words cut deep wounds in our relationship. And though lakes formed after, and trees grew, time only disguised the open wounds as scars. Instead of using my words, Id spent the rest of my life apologizing through helping him out around the property, knowing it was never enough. Mike goes into the house to pee, and Audrey gazes at the stars and I stare at the soft yellow lights emanating from the quiet house. My aunt and uncle are there with my mom, and my one living grandma. A family friend and neighbor I hardly know, but who apparently always let my dad borrow his mower. Im not saying I want anything bad to happen to me, but I want something to happen. All I ever do is wake up, go to work, and go home. I go to the gym. CrossFit. But for what? I never walked into trouble the way my dad did. Long ago, I had the guts to hurt him, but I never had the guts to tell him I was sorry. How strong are your legs? I ask Audrey. What? Would you kick me if I asked? No, Casey. I slip off the hood of the car and face her, my feet slightly apart as if about to perform a box jump. I uncinch my tie and throw it to the ground. Over her shoulder I catch the moon washing a pale gray glow against the mossy roof. Please, I say. I hit myself in the chest. My voice is steady, and I wish I could cry right now, but nothing is happening. Nothing ever happens. When I got the call about my dad, I didnt cry. I just jumped in the car and drove. When the doctor told us he didnt make it, I didnt cry. I went to the vending machine and got some bad coffee and brought it to my mom, who wanted nothing but her husband. But before I did, I stared at the coffee optionshazelnut, regular, decaffeeling like Id just spent my whole life polishing a stone that through carelessness, Id lost in the ocean. I bet you could kick clean through me, I say. Like a bullet. I bet you could. Youre drunk, Audrey says, sitting up. Mike comes out, hearing all this, and I can see it in his eyes, this kid who never got bit. He wants it too. Maybe we all do. Maybe after me, well just start taking turns until we tear open that overgrown thicket on our hearts, and bleed. In charge: Gareth Southgate (Getty Images) Gareth Southgate has played down the chances of a much-changed England XI for Tuesday's friendly with Scotland, saying it would be "ridiculous" to "overly experiment" at Hampden Park. England's meeting with their oldest and fiercest rival - which is being played to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first international between the nations on 30 November 1872 - is their first friendly in 18 months, since the back-to-back wins over Switzerland and the Ivory Coast in March 2022. Southgate faced criticism for his sticking with senior players Jordan Henderson, who is now playing in Saudi Arabia, and out-of-favour Manchester United defender Harry Maguire in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying but he was expected to make changes against the Scots. But the England manager says he "can't fiddle around" with the team against Steve Clarke's in-form side, who could become the first nation to reach next summer's Euros if other results go their way on Tuesday. Jordan Henderson could keep his place. (Action Images via Reuters) "We've got to find the right balance of physical freshness - we've had a day less preparation - experience, finding out about some players, winning, playing well: the usual things that are expected of us with England, really," Southgate said. "But the first thing is we can't fiddle around with the team because we're playing a top-level side who will be at full-tilt and giving us a really high-level challenge. You can't overly experiment because that would be ridiculous." However, Southgate acknowledged that the occasion would give him the opportunity to "find out a bit more" about the characters of some of his less experienced players, raising the possibility that the likes of Levi Colwill or Eberechi Eze could feature. Southgate added: "We see it as a really good test of us as a team. We'll learn a lot about the group and individuals within it. We're playing a really high-level opponent in an intimidating atmosphere and they're the sorts of nights that have been an important part of our progress. Story continues "Some players will have experienced that, some won't. It's going to be great to find out a bit more about them. We've got to compete, we'll get rolled over if we don't compete." England had breezed through qualifying with four wins from as many games, including against Italy in Naples, before being held by Ukraine in Wroclaw. The result has led to familiar criticism of Southgate's tactics and selections but he brushed aside the questions and said the scrutiny on him will never end. "We weren't as happy coming away with a point as we might have been," Southgate said. "It's still a really good result and we saw what happened in our group later in the night. "When we beat North Macedonia, people were questioning the quality they had and the standard of the opposition but Italy went there and couldn't get a win so we we kind of know the cycle frankly with England. "I've been in the job long enough now. It's constant, it's never-ending. But we have to really focus internally on what's important for us, review to our own standards and know what we're working towards and comparing ourselves to, really." PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 14:37:18 Press Information Dhirtek Business Research and Consulting Private Limited +91 7580990088 email www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com Published by Parmeet Singh 7580990088 e-mail https://www.dhirtekbusinessresearch.com/ # 722 Words +91 7580990088Parmeet Singh7580990088 The global threat intelligence platform market report is a comprehensive report that provides a detailed analysis of the current status and future trends of the threat intelligence platform market worldwide. This report provides valuable information to industry stakeholders by offering an in-depth perspective on market dynamics, competitive landscape, growth opportunities, and key challenges faced by industry participants.From the perspective of market dynamics, this report explores the factors driving the growth of the threat intelligence platform market. This includes the increasing demand for threat intelligence platform products due to changes in consumer preferences, technological advancements, and the demand for more efficient and sustainable solutions. Additionally, government regulations and initiatives to promote the adoption of threat intelligence platform products also contribute to market growth. On the other hand, this report identifies and analyzes factors that may hinder market growth, such as economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and intense competition in the market.Request for Sample Report:The competitive landscape section of the report provides a comprehensive analysis of the leading companies operating in the threat intelligence platform market. It introduces the major companies, their business strategy, product portfolio, recent trends, and financial performance. This analysis provides valuable insights for market stakeholders to understand the intensity of competition in the market and gain an insightful view of the strategies adopted by major market players to maintain their position.Some of the major companies in the Threat Intelligence Platform market are as follows: AO Kaspersky Lab (Russia), AT&T (US), Check Point Software Technologies Ltd (Israel), Dell Inc. (US), FireEye Inc. (US), Flashpoint (US), IBM Corporation (US), Intel 471 (US), LogRhythm Inc. (US), McAfee LLC (US), Optiv Security Inc. (US), PhishLabs (US), Symantec Corporation (US), Trend Micro Incorporated (Japan), Webroot Inc. (US)By segmenting the market, the report provides a detailed understanding of each segment by analyzing market size, growth potential, and key trends within each segment. Through this detailed analysis, industry participants can identify profitable opportunities, develop strategies tailored to specific customer segments, and allocate resources effectively.Market Segmentation:Type: Hardware, Software, ServiceApplication: IT and Telecommunications, Government, Energy Industry, BFSI, OtherIdentifying growth opportunities is crucial for companies operating in the threat intelligence platform market. This report focuses on highlighting these opportunities by analyzing emerging technologies, market trends, and changing customer needs that have the potential to shape the future of the market. By identifying untapped market segments, geographies with high growth potential, and innovative product development strategies, this report supports stakeholders in harnessing these opportunities and leading business growth.In addition, this report addresses the key challenges faced by industry participants. It provides insightful information on challenges such as intense market competition, price pressure, regulatory compliance, and technological confusion. By understanding these challenges, companies can develop effective mitigation strategies and adapt to a constantly changing market environment. This enables them to ensure sustainable growth.The regional analysis section of the global threat intelligence platform market report thoroughly evaluates the market in various regions, including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. This section provides valuable information on market size, growth potential, and key market trends specific to each region.Market by Regions:North AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaIndiaJapanRest of Asia PacificMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & AfricaLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaThis report provides a comprehensive assessment of the threat intelligence platform market in these specific regions, enabling stakeholders to understand regional differences, market potential, and growth prospects. This provides valuable insights that help make informed decisions related to market entry, expansion strategies, and resource allocation. Additionally, understanding the regulatory landscape and market dynamics in each region is useful for companies to comply with regulatory requirements and adjust their business strategies to fit specific markets.Overall, the global threat intelligence platform market report strives to provide comprehensive and practical information to industry stakeholders. By offering a deep understanding of market trends, competitive dynamics, growth opportunities, and potential risks, this report plays a valuable role as a tool for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and investors. Through this information, they are able to make informed business decisions and execute successful strategies in the dynamic and evolving threat intelligence platform market. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 14:31:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 743 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / TUT Fitness Group Inc. (TSXV:GYM)(Frankfurt:7PG) ("TUT'' or the "Company''), a leading provider of high-performance and affordable Microgyms, is pleased to announce that it has appointed David Croom as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of the Company.David Croom is a seasoned CFO with over 25 years of experience at both public and private companies including Cannex Capital, Cray Supercomputers, Microsoft, Amazon and Chevron where he held senior roles in capital markets, M&A, tax and finance, and comptroller functions. He is an experienced financial executive who has led revenue, profitability and growth initiatives to deliver shareholder value."Dave's skills, industry knowledge and network will be invaluable as we grow our business across multiple verticals generating complementary revenue streams," said Rob Smith. TUT CEO. "His background in the fitness industry will be invaluable and his appointment is timely as we prepare to expand our North American operations and capitalize on the growing opportunities in the health and wellness sector.As well as owning a Seattle fitness facility and Tier 2 Washington cannabis cultivation and processing business, Dave has significant early stage and high growth experience as an advisor, board member and investor in Seattle's vibrant technology and start up community. He previously held senior accounting, finance and comptroller positions at Cray Supercomputers, Microsoft, Amazon and Chevron and completed his Accounting Degree at Washington State University.The Company has granted incentive stock options to directors, officers, employees and contractors of the Company to purchase up to 3,440,000 common shares of the Company at a price of $0.10 per share. The stock options are exercisable on or before September 8, 2028 and vest in stages with 25% vesting immediately and the remainder to vest 25% every six months from the grant date. Of the total options granted, 1,550,000 were awarded to directors and officers of the Company. The stock options were granted pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock option plan and are subject to regulatory approval.The Company would also like to announce that it has accepted the resignation of Praveen Varshney as a director of the Company. TUT Fitness would like to thank Mr. Varshney for his guidance and contributions to the Company in its formative stages and wishes him the best in his future endeavors.ABOUT TUT FITNESS GROUPTUT Fitness is a Vancouver-based designer and Canadian manufacturer of high-performance and affordable fitness products, targeting the rapidly growing US$16.5 billion global home fitness equipment market. TUT's industry-first patented resistance band technology (stackable TUT Plates) is the backbone of the TUT Trainer Microgym, a high-performance and versatile alternative to bulky exercise machines and free weights. Weighing only 11.6 lbs, the TUT Trainer differs from traditional machines by allowing progressive resistance to be added to any rep or movement. The TUT Trainer replicates a full gym experience with more than 350 exercises delivering all-in-one functional strength, prehab/rehab and cardio training in less than 2 square feet of space.For further information please contact:Rob SmithCEO, TUT Fitness Group Inc.robs@tutfitnessgroup.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSCertain statements in this release are forward-looking statements or information and may include statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information may be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted and such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Forward-looking statements in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.SOURCE: TUT Fitness Group Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 15:48:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 787 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / IlluminaOriginally published on Illumina News CenterAccording to the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for students to develop STEM skills, the United Kingdom is experiencing a shortage of 170,000 or more STEM workers, impairing innovation and growth.EDT is working to remedy this through its Industrial Cadets programs, which facilitate age-appropriate STEM projects. Students can start participating in grade school and continue through high school graduation.A recent collaboration with Illumina in Cambridge, England, targeted local students age 14 to 16. Volunteers from Illumina worked with them on biodiversity assessments to learn about genomics applications in ecological conservation."We are here to connect industry and young people," says Amy Adamthwaite, head of Programme Development and Delivery at EDT. "We want to help them see potential career pathways and understand what is available for them." The program applied skills-building exercises to environmental challenges. These projects gave students opportunities to study biodiversity in their own backyards and highlighted genomics' unique ability to support sustainability."This project was a collaborative effort between Illumina and EDT from the start," says Vanessa Light, CSR STEM lead at Illumina. "The program was designed and implemented in partnership with Illumina staff, and directly connecting employees with students has been a key aspect to students finding personal connections and seeing themselves in the career journeys of our employees." The 15-week project paired 60 students with Illumina mentors. Students received master classes on project management, STEM career opportunities, and other topics. While all the projects had one goal-investigate local biodiversity-the approaches varied by team. One studied a pond on school grounds."They have this pond, which is quite pretty, but their science department had never done any experiments with the young people there," says Adamthwaite. "They look at this pond every day, but they didn't know anything about it, and this gave them the nudge to actually investigate. Now the students are asking their school to incorporate the pond into their lessons so they can learn more about the natural environment around them." Concerned about climate change and other environmental issues, the students were highly motivated. After their project was completed, one team wrote their member of parliament, asking the government to dial back grass mowing, as it was damaging biodiversity."We could see the impact it was making on the students," says Adamthwaite. "It wasn't just doing a project-their passion really shone through." Illumina mentors feel the impact Senior Information Security Engineer Rob Williams was one of the Illumina mentors."One of the big drivers for me to volunteer was that I never had anyone come to my school and tell me I could achieve like that," he says. "I think I really missed that kind of support and role model exposure." His team's project researched biodiversity in the school's playing fields, which had been affected by development, pollution, and other issues. The goal was to catalog existing plants and wildlife and envision alternative ecosystems."We wanted to identify which plants were growing and the wildlife they attract," says Williams, "as well as explore plants that could attract different species. The students were passionate about identifying issues and enhancing the biodiversity. They photographed and cataloged plants, cross-referenced them online, categorized seasonals and annuals, and looked up the Latin names and the wildlife each one attracts. They were really switched on." The project culminated in an awards ceremony at the Illumina Centre in Cambridge. One of Williams' groups was honored for Best Overall Assessment, as well as for their report and oral presentation. It was an emotional moment for Williams, who had become far more engaged than he expected."I felt a real sense of achievement that we had made a positive contribution to their education," he says. "But it also helped me develop as a professional and as a human being. I was not expecting that. I honestly did not anticipate the profound impact this would have on me." Illumina is committed to inspiring the next generation of genomic leaders, and we are working to nurture a diverse and inclusive STEM workforce for the future. To do this, we collaborate with community partners like Engineering Development Trust that are empowering learners and engage employees like Rob Williams to reach and inspire students of all backgrounds.Click here to learn more about Illumina's commitment to STEM education and our goal of reaching 5 million learners by 2030.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Illumina on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: IlluminaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/illuminaEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Illumina PR-Inside.com: 2023-09-11 21:58:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 543 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VZ) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Expanded Class Period: Oct. 30, 2018 - July 26, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 2, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/VZ Contact An Attorney Now: VZ@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Verizon Communications, Inc. (VZ) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges Verizon made false or misleading statements and failed to disclose that Verizon: (1) owns cables around the U.S. that are highly toxic due to their being wrapped in lead, and which harm company employees and non-employees alike; (2) faces potentially significant litigation risk, regulatory risk, and reputational harm as a result of its ownership of these lead-covered cables and the health risks stemming from their presence around the U.S; and (3) was warned about the damage and risks presented by these cables but did not disclose them as a potential threat to employee safety or to everyday people and communities.Investors began to learn the truth after the Wall Street Journal published a series of articles spanning July 9 - July 26, 2023.These articles revealed that Verizon and others left behind toxic lead cables that they laid years ago. The WSJ also reported that independently tested samples from underwater cable sites revealed lead on the banks of the Mississippi, Willamette, and Passaic Rivers as well as in parts of Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere.The WSJ further reported that Verizon officials have known for decades that lead in its networks was a possible health risk to its workers, some workers have illnesses that can be linked to lead, and lead could leach into the environment.Finally, on July 26, 2023, the WSJ reported that the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency are investigating whether telecom companies knew of the potential risks posed by the abandoned lead cables."We're focused on investors' losses, Verizon's knowledge of potential liability stemming from its sprawling network of toxic lead-sheathed cables across the U.S., and whether the company historically understated its expenses," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Verizon and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding VZ should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email VZ@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP The Miyetti Allah Association has appealed to the federal government and states to consider its members in the distribution of palliatives to cushion the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy. The Chairman of the Kwara Chapter of the association, Bello Abubakar, made the call on Monday while speaking with journalists in Ilorin. Mr Abubakar described the herders as the most affected people during this period. He explained that the majority of herders have no bank account where they can easily access funds when in need. According to him, whenever herdsmen take their livestock to the market for sale, transportation fares take a larger part of the money. READ ALSO: He expressed worry over the high cost of food items in the market. He appealed to the government to release food items from the nations reserve and sell them at a subsidised rate to ordinary Nigerians. Mr Abubakar also urged the government to assist his members with vaccines to prevent the death of their livestock from strange diseases. He warned criminal elements among the Fulanis to discard crime and other social vices in their own interest. He advised herders and farmers to adopt dialogue in resolving their differences and ensure peaceful coexistence in their various communities. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A Magistrates Court in Calabar on Monday ordered that nine men be remanded for allegedly abducting Ekanem Ephraim, a professor and lead consultant of neurology at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH). The suspects are Effiom Asuquo, 60; Ndifreke Akpan, 29; Effiom Edet, 20; Asuquo Edet, 45 and Okon Okon, 37. They were charged with four unlawful possession of dangerous weapons and kidnapping. Other suspects are Emmanuel Bassey, 35; Bassey Edet, 20; Effiong Edet, 35 and Patience Etim, 21. Magistrate Mercy Ene did not take the plea of the suspects for want in jurisdiction. The magistrate said that the suspects were charged under Section 4(1)(2), Section 2(b) and Section 5(1) of the Kidnapping (prohibition) Law of Cross River State 2015. She noted that by section 12 of the law, only the state high court has jurisdiction to try any offence charged under this law. The magistrate subsequently granted the exparte motion for the suspects to be remanded in prison custody brought before the court by the prosecutor, Edosa Ufumwen, a superintendent of police. Mr Ufumwen had argued that the exparte motion was according to Section 290 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of the state for the suspects to be remanded pending their arraignment before a high court. This position was, however, challenged by the counsel to the defendant, Mustapha Igweshi who argued that his clients were entitled to bail. Mr Igweshi said that by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, defendants are still presumed to be innocent and therefore entitled to bail. The prosecutor while arguing against granting bail to the defendants, said, The defence counsel has no right of audience as the application before the court was made exparte. Secondly, since Section 12 of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of the state has stripped the court of the jurisdiction to entertain this charge, the court can not grant bail but remand as enshrined under Section 290 of ACJL of Cross River State. The magistrate subsequently ordered the suspects to be remanded in Correctional Service and adjourned the matter to September 25, 2023, for a ruling on the bail application. It would be recalled that Ms Ekanems abduction on 13 July 13 around the Atimbo area of Calabar attracted public outrage. The state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association recently suspended a 40-days strike over her abduction. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has named Eseme Eyiboh, a former spokesperson of the House of Representatives, as his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs. Mr Akpabio made the announcement in Abuja on Sunday, describing Mr Eyiboh as an astute politician, experienced media manager, public affairs expert and communications guru. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Eyibo, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, was in the Green Chamber from 2007 to 2011 and was re-elected in 2011. He was the spokesperson and chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs between 2007 and 2011 under the speakership of Dimeji Bankole. In 2011, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Donor Agencies by former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Mr Eyibo is the immediate past Chairman, Governing Board of the Cross River Basins Development Authority and is a former Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission. He is a former Director, Akwa Palm Industries Ltd, former Speaker, WAIFEM forum for Regional Parliamentarians, Accra, and former Corporate Affairs Consultant, Socfinco Indufina of Brussel. The new special adviser is also the Dean of the Faculty, Board of the Initiatives, an agenda-setting caucus of former and serving members of the National Assembly. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has threatened to go after traditional rulers who are linked to cultism in the state. Any traditional ruler, even if hes from my place, whos supporting cultism, I assure you that as I have started with Ahoada, I will come after you, Mr Fubara said on Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Mr Fubaras remark is an apparent reaction to the recent killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Bako Angbashim, in the state. Mr Angbashim, a superintendent of police, was attacked and beheaded on Friday by people suspected to be cultists while he was returning from an operation, alongside other police operatives. The incident happened in Odemude, a community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The governor on Saturday named Gift Okpara (otherwise known as 2-Baba) as a prime suspect in the killing and announced a N100 million reward for anyone who would volunteer information that could lead to his arrest and prosecution. He also announced the indefinite suspension of a traditional ruler in the area, Eze Igbu Akoh II, whom he accused of ceding control of his territory to the notorious David Gift and his gang to freely operate and carry out their criminal activities. The police, meanwhile, said they had made some arrests over the killing of the DPO. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A middle-aged man who allegedly impersonated the commissioner of police in Lagos has been arrested, a police official has said. Emmanuel Nwagu was caught at the police headquarters when he came to facilitate the release of a suspect, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the police in Lagos said on Monday during the parade of 13 suspects. The suspects were paraded at the police headquarters in the state for various crimes bordering on alleged impersonation, defilement, car theft, illicit drug trading, robbery, and unlawful possession of arms. Mr Hundeyin said the command recovered four firearms, two live cartridges, one expended cartridge, two wristwatches, 11 live ammunition and one vehicle from the culprits. He said that other items recovered were five mobile phones, some quantities of weed, suspected to be variants of drugs, a walkie-talkie, police warrant cards and a police camouflage cap with a singlet. Impersonation The fake police commissioner was arrested on 2 September and at his residence, a deputy commissioner of police warrant card, an assistant commissioner of Police warrant card, a Kenwood walkie-talkie, a police camouflage singlet and a face cap were recovered. He came into the police headquarters and was about to facilitate or request the release of a hardened criminal in our custody, Mr Hundeyin told journalists. He introduced himself as commissioner of police and that was as far as he could convince us. Upon further questioning to know where he was serving and some other things he gave himself away and he has been arrested. Investigation reveals that he has been doing this for quite some time and only God knows how many civilians he has been able to convince of that and get away with some unscrupulous things. Mr Hundeyin said the alleged impersonator will be arraigned immediately. In another case of impersonation, the police also arrested a fake lawyer. The matter was reported to the police by the Nigerian Bar Association, Epe chapter, Mr Hundeyin said. For many years Ibrahim Bello has been parading himself as a lawyer, he said. He would always appear in court, wear the robe and unsuspecting Nigerians would always approach him for whatever legal advice or services they need. He was arrested in a court premises. Illicit drug trader Ganiyat Oni, 40, a female suspected illicit drug trader, was arrested with 97 wraps of colos, 22 wraps of loud, some mixture of loud and Arizona and some other hard drugs. The police also found in her possession the sum of N271,600 which was the sales she had made that day before she was arrested. Illegal drug possession The police at an uncompleted building found a biscuit carton containing a semi-automatic Wesson pistol with the capacity for 14 ammunition. READ ALSO: Mr Hundeyin said the discovery was made after the community informed the police of suspicious activities at the uncompleted building. It was found with 11 live ammunition, thats a deadly weapon. Investigation has commenced, he said. We have a reason to believe that its connected to cultism. He also said that they are making efforts to arrest the suspects. Defilement On 24 August, operatives of the Command arrested one Eze John, of Maruwa Getto Area of Lekki Phase 1, Lagos for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old daughter of his neighbour. Investigation is in progress, Mr Hundeyin said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has restated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians in his programmes and policies. The vice president stated this on Monday at the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of palliatives worth N5.1 billion by the Sokoto State Government. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a compassionate leader who sleeps and wakes up each day with thoughts of how to alleviate the plight of Nigerians especially the vulnerable among us. He is committed to promoting the welfare of citizens of this country, that is why he will soon introduce robust programmes that will help improve the living conditions of citizens, Mr Shettima said. Commenting on the distribution of palliatives by the Sokoto State government, the VP said, This is a very laudable initiative by the governor worthy of emulation by other state governments. On the donation of operational vehicles to security agencies by the state government, the VP said, The federal government is very appreciative of the support the state government is giving security agencies operating in the state. The vehicles you have purchased for them will help a lot in maintaining peace and order in Sokoto because there can be no development without peace. The vice president also praised BUA Group a cement production company based in the state, for donating 10 patrol vehicles to security agencies. Mr Shettima then called on other private organisations in the state to emulate the BUA Group and support our security agencies. Vice President Shettima also commissioned the Rijiyar Doruwa flyover, constructed by the state government at the cost of N5.3 billion. READ ALSO: Earlier in his remarks, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, said the distribution of palliatives was to address the plight of our people especially the poor among us. We have also decided to assist our security agencies so as to tackle security challenges in the state. Mr Aliyu further disclosed that N5.1 billion was spent on the procurement of grains for distribution, free of charge, to our people no matter their religion or party affiliation. The event also featured the unveiling of a transportation scheme by the state government, comprising the provision of 20 Toyota Camry cars, exclusively for use by women, as well as 50 mass transit buses for inter-city transportation service at affordable rates. Also present at the occasion were former Governor of Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, among others. Olusola Abiola Director Information Office of the Vice President 11th September, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print WINDSOR, ON, Sept. 11, 2023 /CNW/ - The Governments of Canada and Ontario are celebrating the opening of a 145-unit affordable housing project by the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (WECHC), in Windsor. Government of Canada Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) The federal government has provided $33.8 million, $13.3 million of which is a contribution, through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) for this project. This is in addition to the just over $5 million in funding announced for the project in September 2020 by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF), the Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) program, and the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). Meadowbrook Place, located at 3100 Meadowbrook Lane, is Ontario's largest "passive house" multi-residential building and features 145 units of much needed housing for those of all income levels as well as small families and seniors. The complex features 46 accessible units, and includes both indoor and outdoor shared spaces, and outdoor fitness equipment. Construction on the project began in late November 2019 and began welcoming residents in the Summer of 2023. Quotes: "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, small families, individuals, and seniors in Windsor now have access to more housing options to raise their families or access to critical support services at a time of need. Meadowbrook Place will help increase the availability of affordable homes and support those in need in Windsor." The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities "Building affordable housing today is more important than ever, and that is exactly what we are doing for residents of WindsorTecumseh through our National Housing Co-Investment Fund. This historic project the first public housing project in our community in thirty years is possible because of strong partnerships and strong federal leadership on housing." Irek Kusmierczyk, Member of Parliament for WindsorTecumseh and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Story continues "I'm so pleased to see the incredible progress that has been made by the Windsor-Essex Community Housing Corporation here at Meadowbrook Place, which our government is proud to support. It's great to see all levels of government coming together to address Windsor's housing needs and support our communities most vulnerable, including those at risk of homelessness." The Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing "Our government's historic investments in affordable and supportive housing in our community are a clear sign of our commitment to Windsor and all of southwestern Ontario. We're going to keep fighting to get shovels in the ground and build the homes our residents need and deserve." - Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament for WindsorTecumseh "Today is a day of celebration, Meadowbrook Place represents the accomplishments of so many people and organizations, from our amazing community partners to the senior levels of government. The most important thing to celebrate today is that Meadowbrook has become an integral part of our neighbourhood - a vibrant and welcoming community that our tenants and their families now proudly get to call home." Cynthia Summers, CEO of Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation Quick facts: The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest more than $82 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a $13.2 billion program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults. Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units. The Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) and Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) Program helped service managers build, renovate, and provide critical affordable housing. Service managers had the flexibility to select which program components to participate in such as new rental construction, home repair, housing allowances, rent supplements or home ownership based on local housing needs in their communities. 2019-2020 was the last year of the IAH program. The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) is a program under the CMHC-Ontario Bilateral Agreement. This 10-year agreement provides more than $5.75 billion to protect, renew and expand community housing; support Ontario's priorities related to housing repair, construction, and affordability; and deliver direct affordability support to Ontarians who need housing. OPHI provides flexible funding to address local housing priorities and improve access to affordable housing options. The initiative helps to increase the affordable housing supply and improve the state of repair of community housing stock. Beginning in 2023-24, the Province of Ontario is investing an additional $202 million annually in the Homelessness Prevention Program and the Indigenous Supportive Housing Program bringing our total yearly investment to close to $700 million. This includes $16.7 million for the City of Windsor - an increase of 34 per cent compared to last year. Related links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada. For more information on Government of Canada housing initiatives: Housing Canada Ontario's most recent housing supply action plan Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants is the latest in a series of steps taken by the province to help more people find a home they can afford. Ontario is committed to addressing the housing crisis and has set an ambitious goal of building at least 1.5 million new homes by 2031 and is committing to advancing its housing supply action plan, every year for four years, to help address new challenges, meet unique needs, and adapt to the current environment and future outlook. For more information on affordable housing in Ontario, visit ontario.ca/affordablehousing or follow us on Twitter . Government of Ontario Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2023/11/c6924.html Daily Trust, an arm of Media Trust Limited, on Monday called for nominations of exemplary personalities for the coveted African of the Year 2023 award. Nominations are open from 11 September to midnight of 16 October, a statement signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Media Trust Group, Mounir Gwarzo, said. Mr Gwarzo said ideal nominees should be ordinary Africans who have made extraordinary contributions to humanity in any field from any part of the continent. The award consists of three components, namely, a permanent plaque, a certificate of merit and a cash reward in aid of the awardee or his/her chosen charity project, the statement said. Valid entries for the 2023 award will be for works, events or activities undertaken by the nominee between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, and nominations are to be made online at award.dailytrust.com. The eventual winner will be selected by a six-member prize committee chaired by His Excellency, Mr Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana. Other members of the Committee who represent Africas regional blocs are: Ambassador Mona Omar (North Africa), Mr Amadou Mahtar Ba (West Africa), Ms Gwen Lister (Southern Africa), and Pastor Rigobert MINANI BIHUZO (Central Africa). The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Media Trust Group, Mr Kabiru Yusuf, represents the award promoters. READ ALSO: Mr Gwarzo added that a winner will emerge strictly based on the selection criteria and not the number of entries submitted on his/her behalf. The presentation ceremony for the 2023 edition of the African of the Year Award is slated for January 2024 in Abuja. Now in its 15th edition, the African of the Year Award was inaugurated in 2008 by Daily Trust in fulfilment of the newspapers commitment to African unity and sustainable development across the continent. With this annual award, Mr Gwarzo said, the newspaper hopes to entrench the culture of selflessness among Africans with the aim of creating a pool of role models for others to emulate. The maiden award was presented to a Congolese gynaecologist, Denis Mukwege, in recognition of his exemplary humanitarian offer of free reconstructive surgery to victims of rape in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He also won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018, which was 10 years after Daily Trust had recognised his remarkable humanitarian gesture. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Ohaneye, has given an award to the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) following its contribution to the development and launching of the womens economic empowerment policy in the country. At the award ceremony on Monday in Cross River State, the Minister noted that dRPC has equally supported the ministry through the launch of the Womens Economic Empowerment policy, released shortly before the end of the former administration. The recognition bestowed upon the dRPC-PAWED by the National Council on Womens Affairs is a testament to their exceptional dedication and impact. It highlights the pivotal role of civil society organizations in driving positive change and transforming womens lives in Nigeria. This recognition will undoubtedly inspire other organizations and stakeholders to support womens economic empowerment initiatives nationwide, Mrs Ohaneye said. Responding, dRPCs Director of Projects, Stanley Ukpai, who represented the Executive Director, Judith-Ann Walker, at the event, indicated the importance of womens empowerment as an agenda in Nigerias development landscape. He said that the policy will address disparities, promote gender-inclusive economic growth, and foster an enabling environment for women-owned businesses to thrive. Amidst the formulation and implementation of the Womens Economic Empowerment policy, the dRPC and PAWED WECs played a pivotal role in supporting the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. This demonstrated its commitment to gender equality and womens rights by actively engaging in advocacy to raise awareness about the importance of womens economic empowerment among policymakers, civil society, and focus groups. To strengthen the evidence base for policy formulation, PAWED provided its research on various aspects of womens economic empowerment, analysing the barriers women face in accessing credit, markets, and entrepreneurship opportunities and providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, he said. About the WEE Policy On May 25, the federal executive council (FEC) approved the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy to drive female participation in nation-building. Former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who facilitated the launch of the policy, noted that it would recognise cross-cutting enablers such as womens financial inclusion (WFI), literacy, digital innovation, literacy, access, household, workplace, and community support structures. Mrs Tallen also said the policy was initiated to get women into the mainstream of the countrys financial plans and it will drive gender equality, women empowerment, and poverty reduction. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias President Bola Tinubu met with leaders of the US, Germany and South Korea on the sidelines of the just concluded G20 summit. The summit which was held in New Delhi, India, saw Nigeria attend as a guest. It also witnessed the conferment of permanent member title on the African Union. Announcing the meeting with Mr Tinubu, the White House in a release said President Joe Biden met with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu today on the sidelines of the G20 in New Delhi, India to reinforce our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Nigeria relationship and to the longstanding friendship between our two countries and peoples. While commending Mr Tinubus economic reforms in Nigeria and strong leadership in ECOWAS, Mr Biden said Nigerias invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigerias important global role as Africas largest democracy and economy. According to a separate statement shared by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngalale, Mr Tinubu also met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz with whom he discussed economic partnership between Nigeria and Germany. During the meeting, Mr Scholz notified the Nigerian president of his desire to visit Nigeria in October. Mr Tinubu also met with South Koreas President, Yoon Suk Yeol, to discuss similar kinds of partnerships. Read the full statement by Mr Ngelale below. PRESIDENT TINUBU FORMALLY MEETS WITH THREE MAJOR COUNTERPARTS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIPLOMACY; ADVANCES TO PRACTICAL NEXT STEPS IN BILATERAL RELATIONS In the hustle and bustle of off-camera activity in the siderooms of the G-20 Summit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was unwilling to stay away from the action. The President met with the Heads of State of three nations which have been identified as key partners in his economic development diplomacy drive for local investment and wealth creation. For the Leader of Africas largest economy, a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Europes largest economy, Germany, presented a unique opportunity to expand ties of prosperity for the people of Nigeria, but with a pragmatic approach toward ensuring the effective execution of agreements struck. It is not, for us, only a matter of designing the financial architecture for an expanded economic partnership. It is also about the practicality of aligning the perspectives of your large-scale manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and others, with the reality of the new incentives my government is putting in place for them to come and prosper across multiple value chains and sectors inside of our country, the President implored. Apparently intrigued by the specific economic focus of the Presidents proposal, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, responded by acknowledging the mutually-beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Africas largest economy. Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I can appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique and our companies have history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives, the German leader confided. Following President Tinubus acceptance of the German Chancellors request to visit, the President proceeded to sit down with the Leader of Asias fourth largest economy, South Korea, during which, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, commended the Presidents regional leadership in upholding democratic tenets and norms. I wish to commend your strong leadership, following the peaceful transfer of power to you from your predecessor and we see a stable country in West Africa that is growing in stature, he said. President Tinubu responded by swiftly steering the discussion toward his economic focus as he immediately advanced proposals for an enhanced South Korean presence in Nigerias local manufacturing sector. We will leave nothing hanging. We will finalise what we agree to and we will execute. We will work point by point with you to secure rapidly implementable MoUs across sectors of partnership that will involve the active presence of your biggest firms, not just in terms of Nigerian consumption, but in local Nigerian production, from telecommunications to technology, and oil & gas, the Nigerian leader affirmed. The South Korean President responded in agreement, noting specifically that Nigerias education, technology and energy sectors are of utmost interest to South Korean investors and that he will mobilize his business community to take advantage of new Nigerian incentives for local industry. Offering an invitation to visit Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu would conclude formal discussions at the G-20 with the Asian giant and host nation, which had invited Nigeria to the G-20 Summit, as he met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. There are many lessons our nation can learn from the rapid progress that India has made under your leadership. We see fantastic opportunity between our nations across sectors, such as agricultural development, but specifically, there is more we can do to advance ICT innovation and the emergence of Blue-Chip FinTech growth in Africa. Nigeria has the local players who can drive it from the front, the Nigerian leader confidently asserted. The hosting Head of State responded in the affirmative to the economic partnership proposal, even as he expressed gratitude for the Nigerian leaders invitation to visit. Our teams must now stay close in touch to detail our priority areas of upscaled cooperation with respect to agriculture, defense industries capacity building, and even FinTech growth. I see your commitment. We believe there are immense prospects for Nigeria in the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and we will ensure that we come together and make progress on these fronts very rapidly, the Indian leader concluded. During the G-20 sideline meetings, President Tinubu also had substantive, informal exchanges of views with U.S. President Joe R. Biden; European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen; and World Bank President, Ajay Banga, amongst many others. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) September 10, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has reassured that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu will fulfill all its promises made to Nigerians. Mr Shettima also said the federal government had obtained a $163 million dollar loan from the African Development Bank to support wheat production. Mr Shettima said this on Sunday in Argungu, Kebbi State while on a condolence visit to the family of late Abubakar Giro, a Sheikh. The vice president, who visited the family of the late Islamic scholar on behalf of President Tinubu, said this is a great loss to the state, nation and West Africa. I am here on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, who called me from India and directed that I should come to Argungu to commiserate with the family of the respected Sheikh, government and people of Kebbi State and the north in general. Continuing, the VP noted that Late Sheikh Abubakar Giro was a respected scholar. He worked for God, he didnt bother about things of the world he lived a humble life. May God forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternity. Speaking at the palace of the Emir of Argungu, Sumaila Mohammed, the vice president re-affirmed the determination of the Tinubu administration to fulfill its promises, particularly in the agricultural sector, adding that food security would receive serious attention from government. According to him, We have obtained a $163 million dollar loan from the African Development Bank to support wheat production. The scheme would be launched soon. We need 10,000 hectares of land in Kebbi State. But the scheme would be well executed in Jigawa State with a cultivation of 50,000 hectares of land to boost wheat production. In his remarks, the Emir, Mr Mohammed stated that the emirate was proud of the achievements of late Sheikh Giro. He prayed for the unity and progress of Nigeria, as he also thanked President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their support. On his part, the National Leader of the Izala Sect, Bala Lau, who received the vice president on behalf of the family in company of other national executives, thanked Messrs Tinubu and Shettima for their show of love. Earlier on arrival, the vice president was received at the Sir Ahmadu Bello Airport in Birnin Kebbi by the State Governor, Nasir Idris, who accompanied him on the visit. Also on the vice presidents entourage were the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Umar Tafida; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, and members of the Kebbi State Executive Council among others. Mr Giro, a renowned cleric, who died recently has since been buried according to Islamic rites in his hometown , Argungu. *Olusola Abiola* *Director Information* *Office of the Vice President* *10th September, 2023* Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has issued another order to the police to either charge or immediately release Chike Ibezim, who has been in month-long detention over an alleged malicious publication posted online against the immediate-past Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. The court issued the fresh order on Friday (9 September), restating the one it earlier issued on 30 August for the release of the detainee. The order dated 30 August 2023 is explicit; it is unambiguous and very clear in its terms, the judge, Olueymisi Adelaja, sitting in the Kubwa division of the court, declared on Friday. She frowned on what she described as the polices act of disobedience of the order of this court. The judge noted that the police acted in disobedience by varying the bail conditions, adding that the act of disobedience of the express orders of the court is unacceptable. The said bail conditions are therefore unacceptable to this court, the orders of this court are for either the immediate release of the applicant from custody or for the respondent to charge the applicant to court for any offence disclosed against him, the judge declared. Arrest and detention Mr Ibezim has been in the custody of the police in Abuja for over a month. The police arrested him at his office in Maitama, Abuja, on 10 August over an alleged malicious publication shared via the X, formerly known as Twitter, handle of a blogging platform, @ReporteraNews, on 5 August. The post in question alleged that Mr Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and top member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, was involved in the drafting of the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). It added that soldiers had been deployed to restrict movements around Mr Fasholas residence ahead of the judgement which the PEPC, would deliver about a month later on 4 September. While being paraded by the police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja recently, Mr Ibezim said the blogging site and its X handle were owned and run by his brother, Nnamdi Ibezim, whom he described as a journalist. But the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the investigation confirmed that the phone line with which the post was made on X was registered by Mr Ibezim. Mr Ibezim, who described himself as the owner of a startup company and a software engineer, confirmed the phone number to be his companys official line, but denied knowledge of it being used to make the controversial post. In response to a question by Mr Adejobi, Mr Ibezim said that having been in detention for 26 days, he could not tell his brothers whereabouts. He also said his office in Abuja was only being used by his brother as a correspondence address. Mr Adejobi confirmed that the police had completed his investigation and would soon charge him in court. In a press statement, he said the police investigation had established a prima facie case of malicious publication, cyberbullying, and other related offences against the suspect. He also said the police launched their investigations following a petition from Priory Terrace Solicitors on behalf of Mr Fashola. The police spokesperson said the social media post linked to Mr Ibezim was meant to cast aspersion on the person of the former Minister, contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015, which has the potential to cause harm, distress, and damage to his reputation, as well as posing great threats to national security and stability of our dear country. Court orders Ruling on a suit filed by Mr Ibezim to secure his release from police detention, Ms Adelaja, a judge of the FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, on 30 August, ordered the police to either release him or charge him in court immediately. The Inspector General of Police, the Force Investigation Bureau (FIB), and a police inspector, Ikemba Cyprian, were sued as respondents in the suit. On 3 September, four days after the court issued the order for the release of Mr Ibezim, Mr Adejobi insisted via his X handle that the suspect was being kept in lawful custody based on a court order, details of which he did not reveal. CHIKE'S DETENTION NOT ILLEGAL, HE HAS A CASE TO ANSWER.. NPF The Nigeria Police Force wishes to address recent concerns and malicious reports surrounding the detention of Mr. Chike Ibezim. Contrary to speculations, we affirm that Mr. Chike is in lawful custody pic.twitter.com/oG58McBDh1 Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi (@Princemoye1) September 3, 2023 Following the refusal of the police to comply with the 30 August order of the court, the detainees lawyer, K. Okafor, appeared before the judge on 9 September to inform her of the development. Ruling, Ms Adelaja held that she had made the earlier order in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria with particular reference to Section 35(4) and 35(5) of that Constitution. She said the respondents being law enforcement agents, it is absurd that the respondents are the ones disobeying the express provisions of the Constitution and even the order of a court of competent jurisdiction. She therefore ordered: The respondents are mandated to obey the order of this court granted on 30 August 2023. She added that in the event they failed to comply with the order, Mr Ibezims lawyer is free to take the necessary enforcement procedural steps. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Business Day Newspaper and Premium Times are thrilled to announce a strategic editorial partnership that will see the two prominent media organizations joining forces to deliver insightful, impactful, and comprehensive content to their readership. The collaboration between Business Day Newspaper, a leading daily business publication, and Premium Times, an award-winning online news platform, is a testament to the commitment of both organizations to elevate the quality of journalism in Nigeria and beyond. Combining Strengths for Greater Impact: The partnership will leverage the unique strengths of Business Day Newspaper and Premium Times to create in-depth and well-researched articles, investigative reports, and analyses across a wide range of topics. By pooling resources, expertise, and access to sources, the two media entities aim to enhance their ability to provide accurate, relevant, and timely information to their audiences. Unparalleled Insights and Coverage: Readers can look forward to an array of collaborative projects that cover business, politics, economy, social issues, and more. The combined knowledge and reach of Business Day Newspaper and Premium Times will enable readers to gain deeper insights into key events and trends shaping Nigeria and the world. Shared Commitment to Ethical Journalism: Business Day Newspaper and Premium Times share a strong commitment to ethical journalism that upholds transparency, accuracy, and the public interest. The partnership will focus on producing content that educates, informs, and engages readers while adhering to the highest journalistic standards. To kickstart the partnership, both publications will produce a comprehensive report on the state of the banking sector in Nigeria in 2022. The report will explore the industrys performance, trends and challenges in 2022 as well as conduct a ranking of the banks using key performance metrics from profitability to return on shareholders equity. We are excited to partner with Premium Times to produce the Nigeria Banking Report, said Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, BusinessDay. READ ALSO: This report will provide a timely and authoritative analysis of the Nigerian banking sector, and we are confident that it will be a valuable resource for our readers, Mr Aigbogun said. BusinessDay is a natural partner for Premium Times in the journey to give value and consequence to Nigerias economic development through a keen understanding of the deepest questions constraining our countrys progress, and through the formulation of cogent arguments and analyses on how to regain the institutional promises of that progress, as is evident through the proposed Nigeria Banking Report, said Dapo Olorunyomi, CEO of Premium Times. About Business Day Newspaper: Business Day Newspaper is a reputable daily publication known for its authoritative reporting on business, finance, and economic matters. With a dedicated team of journalists and analysts, Business Day Newspaper has established itself as a trusted source of information for professionals, decision-makers, and the general public. About Premium Times: Premium Times is a leading online news platform recognized for its fearless and impactful investigative journalism. Covering a wide range of topics, Premium Times has consistently pushed the boundaries of journalism, uncovering truths and highlighting stories that matter to the public. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Following the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and the call to action by African Heads of State in Nairobi, Kenya, several climate activists and advocates who participated in the summit have expressed mixed concerns over the adoption of the new pact and the organisation of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit. Some of the activists and environmentalists from different African countries who shared their views with PREMIUM TIMES, during the summit, applauded the willingness and proactiveness of the African leaders to upscale climate actions across the continent. However, others expressed concern about the proposed climate solutions captured in the climate pact adopted at the end of the summit. Africa Climate Summit/ Week With less than three months to the 28th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties COP28, Heads of State from Africa and other global leaders converged in Nairobi between 4 and 8 September for the inaugural Africa Climate Summit (ACS) and Africa Climate Week (ACW) to collectively advance global action in resource mobilisation for Africas green growth, adaptation and mitigation projects. The organisation of the summit, themed: Driving Green Growth and Finance Solutions for Africa and the World, was led by Kenyas President William Ruto, the African Union and other partners. It focused on delivering climate-positive growth and finance solutions for Africa and the world. Leaders at the event made several commitments to the tune of $23 billion for Africas green growth and they repeatedly challenged the global community to honour its climate commitments in order to help reverse the existential threats of climate change in Africa and the world. After three days of extensive deliberations, the African leaders adopted the Nairobi Declaration which, among several demands, calls for a just multilateral development finance architecture to liberate Africas economies from odious debt and onerous barriers to necessary financial resources. The summit, according to the organisers, also realised many other outcomes including a pathway to a new global financial deal that includes at-scale and fit-for-purpose financing instruments and products; investment commitments across all sectors like energy, nature, and water and the announcements on tangible progress on ongoing African and global initiatives. Other milestones achieved are a clear roadmap between the Summit and COP 28 which will take place in the United Arab Emirates later this year. The ACS/ACW which officially concluded on Friday brought together about 30,000 participants, representing over 130 countries. Over 400 side events encouraging greater climate ambition in all sectors of Africas society were held, with over 200 events engaging around 1000 speakers, organisers said. Perception of the Summit During the events, some climate advocates commended the proactive move made by the African leaders and organisers of the inaugural summit, describing the event as the right step in the right direction towards achieving climate justice for the continent. Others registered concerns over some of the solutions such as the carbon market and pledges made by the leaders at the summit. On her part, the Executive Director of Climate Action Africa, Grace Mbah, said she is excited about the summit and that to the best of her knowledge, it was a success. I like the fact that it was not an African global North discussion but it was an Africa-African discussion. This means that it will ensure our African leaders and the youth rise up to their responsibility and also stop pushing the bill to some other person, she told PREMIUM TIMES. She said it was good to hear some of the announcements made by the Kenyan President and the head of the Africa Development Bank, Akinwunmi Adesina, adding that it would be great to see them come to fruition. Again it is good to be here because our sovereignty is respected, she said, adding that she does not think African voices were drowned out by a lot of foreign governments and development partners in attendance. She described the summit as something for us which she cherished. Mohamed Jahazi, who hails from Kenya and works with Clean Cooking Alliance, said the summit is a good building block and a good foundation for Africa. He said he knows that promoting sustainable climate action is a big job and that is why they are trying to help reduce emissions by promoting clean cooking appliances all over the world. Mohamed Jahazi, a staff of Clean Cooking Stoves based in Kenya Concerns Some environmentalists also registered their concerns about the Nairobi declarations adopted at the Summit. The Climate and Energy Justice campaign Lead at Friends of the Earth South Africa, Yegeshni Moodley, described some commitments as greenwashing and false solutions. I see political leaders being captured by the narrative of the global North and we need to protect our people, our land and our natural resources. They are not for sale and they are not a market that people can use to create a green economy and green growth, she said. She said the leaders should focus on protecting people and protecting communities. Regarding the ACW, Ms Moodley said she observed that the climate week was missing the local voices that are most impacted by climate change. Their stories of hope, perseverance, suffering, and disaster were glaringly absent, hidden away behind security barriers and military armament, she said. The South Africa-based environmentalist lamented that the use of top-down, technocratic false solutions negates the value of local knowledge and traditional practices that have sustained generations on their land. READ ALSO: We must decry and lament the situation Africa has been placed into, where her lands and riches are once again being sold away to the distress and poverty of her people, she said. Ms Moodley said she is not surprised that the declaration falls short of the expectations of civil society organisations because some dangerous clauses embedded in the document have revealed the truth about these concerns. She noted that the summits sessions brought forward the multiple ways to institutionalise carbon markets on the continent but it is a dangerous distraction from the much-needed rapid transition away from fossil fuels if Africa stays below 1.5 degrees. Carbon Credits One of the important deliberations at the summit was the drive to develop Africas carbon market through carbon credits to boost incentives and improve climate action financing across the continent. Mfoniso Antia, who works with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), expressed concerns about the restriction of participants at some of the events at the summit and the drive for the carbon market and carbon credits. The whole drive for carbon market and carbon credits is something that Africa should outrightly reject, she said, adding that it is going to be another platform to plunder Africa and drive Africa back to recolonisation. It is a summit that has been hijacked by the global North Tyler Booth, it is a summit that has been hijacked by the corporations and it is not fair to Africans because this is supposed to be our space, she said. Similarly, Mozambique-based climate activist, Alberto Tovele, said there is a concerted effort by the leaders to ensure that the carbon market operates in Africa but rather than bring in solutions, leaders simply plan to change how the model operates without changing its essence. He expressed concerns that the carbon market will escalate land grabbing across communities in Africa. We know that the minerals that are needed for these transactions are in Africa and that will lead to resettlements, displacement, land right issues and impoverishment of the African people, he told PREMIUM TIMES. The Executive Director of the International Climate Change Department Initiative, Olumide Idowu, expressed worry over the carbon credit initiative due to the existing knowledge gap of how the initiative works among Africans. The way they are pushing carbon credits at us, are we ready for it? There is a need to critically look into this and devise a means to inwardly drive resources so that this declaration will not only be on paper but be a reflection that will support the development of Africa on environmental issues, he said. Africa is not in charge While commending the summit organisers for hosting the event ahead of COP28, Sulaiman Arigbabu, executive secretary of HEDA Resource Centre, said Africa was not in charge of the summit. Africa is not in charge of this whole conversation because Africa is not holding the purse, and they are not in charge of the technology that is required to deal with climate change and they are not part of the economy that climate change has brought forth, he told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Arigbabu expressed worry that Africa is just a consumer of climate change technology and African countries are not taking full knowledge and benefits of what the market of the technology commands. These, he said, are dynamics that could change if initiatives taken by national entities, civil society organisations, research institutions and private companies are properly harnessed. With the right enablement and opportunities, Africa can develop and contribute significantly to the knowledge content around Climate Change, Mr Arigbabu said. Unfortunately, he said, Africa is not the one holding the pockets and climate pledges such as the Green Climate fund of $100 billion pledged over a decade ago have not been fulfilled. The climate justice advocate lamented that beyond the fact that developed countries are not paying their climate debt, they are responsible for historical emissions and current per capita emissions, and that they have made money and built their economies, yet Africa is the most vulnerable frontline of climate impact. Despite all of these, Africa is still being hand-tied by global trade practices and loss. Unfair international global trade practices. Trade is dollarized which is affecting many African countries development, he said. Way forward In the face of the concerns, Mr Arigbabu said illicit financial flows out of Africa, tax evasion by global companies and trade imbalance, have to stop. We need trade to be fair. Dont buy our cocoa and bring back chocolates that we cannot afford. Dont take our cobalt away and bring back phones that our local people cant afford. Dont destroy Africas environment in the name of mining and exploring resources, he said. In his reaction, Maimoni Mariere Ubrei-Joe, coordinator of the Climate Justice and Energy Program for FoEI, said existing policies in Africa can be effective if they are backed by concrete actions. What should be Africas focus now is to stop the contributors to climate change at source and not look for shortcuts to keep extracting using the smokescreen of the carbon market, geoengineering, and other false solutions, he noted. Tyler Booth, CJE International Programme Coordinator of FoEI, said Africa urgently needs to scale up real climate finance solutions to enact a fair and just transition away from fossil fuels towards sustainable renewable energy. She said at the forefront of Africas just transition must be the need to increase energy access and sufficiency across the continent. The dash for Africas transition minerals cannot replicate the extractivist dirty energy model that puts profits over the people and planet. Nor can this extraction be led by neocolonial pursuits by the Global North, Ms Booth said. She stated that any exploitation of Africas critical mineral resources needs to recognize the rights of Africas indigenous people and local communities and ensure that their energy needs are a priority in the transition. Africa does not need carbon markets; it needs real climate finance, she said. On her part, Mariann Bassey FoEI Africas Food Sovereignty coordinator said: We call on our African leaders to meet their human rights obligations and to listen to the requests of the affected communities and people. She urged governments and intergovernmental organisations to immediately stop any policies that lead to violations of the human right to food. We demand public policies in favour of farmers seed systems. The Nairobi Declaration must prohibit monopolies, and favour instead agroecology, access to land, and good care of the soil, she added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias first indigenous chartered accountant, Akintola Williams, is dead. His death was confirmed Monday afternoon by the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, who described it as the end of an era. According to the Ogun government, Mr Williams, who is from the state, died on Monday at his residence in Lagos at the age of 104. In a statement he personally signed, the governor eulogised the contributions of the late accountant to the field of accountancy, noting that his impacts in the profession will continue to be remembered and celebrated. READ ALSO: On behalf of the government and the good people of Ogun State, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the family of the doyen of Accounting, Late Chief Akintola Williams, who passed on to glory today. While we are going to miss his priceless contributions for over seven decades in the field of accounting, our solace lies in the profound legacies he left behind and his indelible footprints. May God Almighty rest his soul and continue to strengthen his family, numerous mentees and all his admirers all over the world, the statement read. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday in Abu Dhabi, finalized a historic agreement which has resulted in the immediate cessation of the visa ban placed on Nigerian travellers. Furthermore, by this historic agreement, both Etihad Airlines and Emirates Airlines are to immediately resume flight schedules into and out of Nigeria, without any further delay. As negotiated between the two Heads of State, this immediate restoration of flight activity, through these two airlines and between the two countries, does not involve any immediate payment by the Nigerian government. In recognition of President Tinubus economic development diplomacy drive and proposals today presented by President Tinubu to his counterpart, an agreed framework has been established, which will involve several billions of US dollars worth of new investments into the Nigerian economy across multiple sectors, including defence, agriculture and others, by the investment arms of the Government of the United Arab Emirates. READ ALSO: Additionally, President Tinubu is pleased to have successfully negotiated a joint, new foreign exchange liquidity programme between the two governments, which will be announced in detail in the coming weeks. In conclusion, the president wishes to commend the UAE President, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his unalloyed friendship and his determined effort to join hands with him to fully normalize and reset to excellence, the standard of relations between the two important countries. Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Scholars have called for the adoption of languages of the immediate environment and the inculcation of indigenous systems into the education curriculum as part of a decolonisation process for Africans. Sola Olorunyomi, a professor at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, spoke at the inaugural lecture of the Lawani Series on Decolonisation, organised by the Uyi and Rachel Lawani Foundation and the West African Transitional Justice Centre. The lecture was moderated by Eric Usifoh, a professor of Philosophy at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Colonisation is deeply rooted Speaking on the topic: Talking Decolonisation Beyond Symbolism, Mr Olorunyomi said indigenous systems and cultures are an integral part of peoples lives, noting that one of the steps in decolonisation is the acknowledgement of colonialisms deeply-rooted impact on the people. According to him, the effect of colonialism on the very fabric of African society is evident in the educational systems, culture, legal frameworks and economics. Colonialisms impact is deeply rooted, and colonisation has influenced our educational systems, our legal frameworks, economics, and our cultural narratives, he said. Therefore, decolonisation is not confined to a single aspect of society; it is multi-faceted. It is that motivated endeavour that demands our unwavering commitment. Theres a sense in which we all know most or at least part of these problems. Decolonisation Mr Olorunyomi, therefore, advocated the inclusion of diverse perspectives, voices and narratives from indigenous systems. This, he said, would help to elevate marginalised histories and challenge Eurocentric curriculum. He said: In our journey towards decolonisation, it is essential that we move beyond symbolism and shallow gestures and instead focus on meaningful, substantive changes. Mr Olorunyomi said the trend of Africans refusing children the opportunity to learn indigenous languages is doing greater damage to society. He said: Many will not speak their languages to their children and when you ask them why, indeed this is not substantiated by science they will say it would confuse the children. They would then go on and sign up the child for another foreign but European language which is French or German. Now, while all of this may be self-satisfying to the parents, it does damage not just to the child but to the future of the nation. Beyond education, Mr Olorunyomi noted that decolonisation must extend to our legal and governance structures and many laws and policies that were enacted during the colonial era. READ ALSO: He said the fact that a language is more global than another on account of historical reasons doesnt mean that it should be abandoned. Your own will always be the most significant language in life foreverthere was a period where it was Latin; before Latin, it was Greek, and before Greek, it was Arabic, he said. Also speaking, Eric Usifoh, a professor of Philosophy at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, called for the practical application of the theories shared by the lecturer. He said: What is the hallmark of the ideas? It should stimulate practical action. Even the most abstract intellectual philosophy would say that philosophy that does not bear relevance to social reality doesnt ask some fundamental questions. So we have people seeing the need to bring philosophy to the human context. So usually, theory comes first, but outside theory, we need to build institutions whereby those theoretical postulations would be needed for practical actions. Look at all the developed countries of the world; which developed nation uses another mans language. I think that summarises my view, he added. About organisers The Uyi and Rachel Lawani (URL) Foundation was formed in 2023 to promote self-awareness among African youths which in turn triggers a renaissance on the African continent. The foundation also focuses on youth mobilisation for social development through (re)orientation, education, and promotion of African human and material resourcefulness. Meanwhile, the West African Transitional Justice Centre (WATJCentre) is a not-for-profit organisation established as a centre for research and programming on transitional justice within the West Africa corridor, with the aim to influence policy and learning on the African Continent and globally. The organisation is designed to proffer technical solutions to governments in the region regarding the design and implementation of transitional justice mechanisms to influence good governance and sustainable development in the region. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ttc-0911-ph New licence conditions come into effect Sept. 11 that will force Rogers Communications Inc. to facilitate infrastructure access for other carriers to the wireless network across Torontos subway system, the federal industry minister announced in Toronto on Monday. Under the new conditions, all passengers on the Toronto Transit Commission subway system, regardless of carrier, must have cellular connectivity by Oct. 3. It is simply unacceptable that so many subway riders still do not have access to wireless services, Industry minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in a press conference in Toronto Sept.11. What Im here today to tell you that those days are over. Time is up. Champagne is requiring all carriers offering service in the city to have commercial agreements for service on the TTC within the next 100 days. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, headed by Champagne, said it expected carriers to work together to meet those deadlines. Make no mistake. Should mobile carriers fail to meet these conditions, I will not shy away from taking further action as appropriate, Champagne said. The announcement comes after Rogers launched 5G service for its own customers on parts of Torontos subway system on Aug. 23, skirting an ongoing dispute with other telecom providers that are seeking access to the network for their customers as well. Currently, wireless service in parts of the underground system is limited to customers of Rogers, Freedom Mobile and Videotron Ltd., which acquired Freedom Mobile earlier this year. With the federal government now forcing Rogers to finally work with other carriers, we look forward to providing our customers with underground wireless coverage in the coming weeks, Bell said in an email statement. A Rogers spokesperson, however, attributed the delays in reaching commercial arrangements with the other telecoms to its rivals. This approach reflects what weve been proposing all along to bring 5G services to all riders as quickly as possible, the spokerperson said following the Sept. 11 announcement. Bell and Telus have been dragging their heels and the federal government is now forcing them to work with us in earnest to make connectivity possible for all riders. Story continues The spokesperson added that Rogers network team anticipated it would take three weeks for other carriers to install their equipment. Weve been upgrading the legacy cellular infrastructure to support all wireless operators, have shared engineering and technical information with Bell and Telus, and provided technical assistance, the spokesperson said. Debate over the TTC contract was sparked when Rogers announced on April 11 that it was acquiring BAI Communications Canada, which has held the exclusive rights to build cellular and Wi-Fi networks across the subway system since 2012. Rivals Telus Corp. and Bell later called for the network to be a joint build between the major telecom players and said both Bell and Telus would be willing to buy the contract if Rogers wasnt willing to implement such an approach. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the current proposal between BAI and Rogers is a private business transaction which Bell or others could have entered into at any time over the past 12 years. To suggest, as this letter does, we tear up the contract reached after an open and public bidding process and instead award our wireless services to another consortium without a public tender is a non-starter for the TTC, Green said in response to Bell and Telus. Amid the dispute, Champagne vowed to step in if the telecom providers didnt reach an agreement to ensure wireless service is available for all riders on the subway system. When no agreement was reached, the minister launched a consultation process in July in a bid to speed up negotiations among major carriers. The carriers had until Aug. 8 to submit responses and until Aug. 28 to respond to each others submissions. In a letter to the Minister in early August, Rogers argued it should be allowed to add cellular service for its own customers in the Toronto subway network without waiting for an ongoing dispute with its rival carriers to be resolved. Since launching 5G service in parts of the subway system, Rogers has touted its service in ads across the TTC and on social media. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said the Sept. 11 announcement should allow residents to breathe a sigh of relief. We hope that the companies will get the message and they will cooperate and get together so that Torontonians get the service they deserve and they need, Chow said. Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Monday launched an application platform to monitor power disruption across the country. The commission launched the app at its headquarters in Abuja. The app Power Outage Reporting System (PORS), according to the commission, is an online initiative to make the complaint resolution process easier and faster for its customers. Speaking at the launch Monday, Aisha Mahmud, NERCs commissioner of consumer affairs, said the launch using Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) as a pilot was in partnership with the distribution companies (DisCos). She said the intention of commissioning the app was within a few months ago but unfortunately due to a few bottlenecks that the commission faced around the way, it couldnt commission it earlier than Monday. But today, Im super excited that its happening today. When this project was constituted, the initial idea was to make it a 100 per cent NERC project, she said. For the project to be developed, managed, operated, implemented, maintained and monitored by the commission but somewhere along the way, we believe that even though we have the technical expertise and the competent to run this project and implement it, we did hope that the distribution companies own the customers and when it comes to the issue of outages, the DisCos will be able to manage the issue of outages more than the commission, so based on that we decided to tag them along the project. READ ALSO: We handed it over to the distribution companies for implementation and operation. She said NERC will continue to carry out the oversight function of the app and will continue to monitor it and make sure that it works properly and appropriately. So, as all of you know, the commission over the years has developed and come up with several initiatives all to make sure that customers are satisfied, get value for money and get the services that they truly deserve from the distribution company. The power outage reporting system is one of those initiatives developed by the commission just to make sure that our customers are well-protected, she added. She explained that the PORS has a multi-channel approach to obtain a lot of data from customers in outages as well as hours of supply given to customers on each service band. It utilises a multi-channel approach. A lot of hard work and effort went into developing this app. We liaised with the different distribution companies and obtained a lot of data on their customers. So if you are a customer of a DisCo and you are being supplied by the DisCo, your information is already stored in that app. If you have a complaint on any outage, there are multiple channels. There is a web app and a mobile app, so you can download it on your phone through Apple or Google store. You just need your meter number, she added. How the app works She said if there is a complaint on any outage there are multiple channels that can be used to report the outage. If you have a complaint, what you need to do is download the app, input your meter number and then after that, log in with your complaint, The app will automatically send a confirmation to the customer on that particular feeder of yours by notifying if there is really an outage. If there is, then we need about two to three customers to confirm that theres an outage on that particular feeder. As soon as they confirm that, the App will send the confirmation to the DisCos with a resolution timeline and as soon as the DisCo resolves this complaint, then the DisCo will update the app saying Weve resolved this complaint and the app will automatically send another confirmation request to those customers on that particular feeder, she said. She said what the commission has done is to make the work of the DisCos much easier. Now, the customer can easily reach out to the DisCos and of course, we are trying to fulfil our regulatory obligation here to make sure that customers get the best service that they need. With this App that we are launching today, customers dont have to walk or drive down to the distribution company to report an outage, she added. As of today we are starting with pilot Abuja as pilot and we intend to extend it to all other DisCos within the next couple of months. I urge all customers of AEDC to please utilize this opportunity, make use of this App and report any case of outage if there is any. And know that the commission is here to protect you to make sure you get value for your money and get the services that you truly deserve from the distribution company, she said. Data Source Also speaking, Sanusi Garba, the commission chairman, said the app development is in line with the commissions pledge to improve service delivery to customers. I think a lot of you can recall that we recently launched a new consumer protection regulation that provides timelines within which public utilities, and especially distribution companies (DisCos), are required to resolve complaints by customers. So, this particular app that we have launched today is supposed to assist the commission in monitoring that DisCos are complying with the standards set out in that regulation, Mr Garba said. He explained that the app was originally designed for crowdsourcing data for service-based tariffs. Crowdsourcing, he said, is like sampling the level of quality of supply that customers are experiencing. He added that the commission decided that it was better to put smart intensity on all feeders to have 100 per cent live data to ensure that DisCos are truly complying with service obligations that are prescribed in the tariff order. Mr Garba encouraged citizens to channel their complaints through the app, assuring that prompt responses will increase their confidence in the commission and the DisCos. We are encouraging customers to go to the Google Play Store and Apple Store to download this application to help customers report disruption and supply in their area. We decided to start this launch with Abuja and there will be a national rollout for all the distribution companies. Such a massive application would require some test runs and so on. So, AEDC is like a guinea pig for the app but well quickly extradite the rollout to other distribution companies but obviously the DisCos where we are having the highest level of complaints will be ranked higher in terms of the rollout. I encourage everybody to download the App and lay your complaint and somebody in the commission will be monitoring to see that the distribution company has attended to the complaint, he added. In his remark, Christopher Ezeafulukwe, AEDC managing director, applauded the commission for the app launch, saying it was a product of collaboration that would ensure a win-win scenario for all citizens. I dare say feedback from our customers is actually for the distribution company, what I would call our feedstock. It is the raw material that we need to be able to deliver the services that we contract to provide to our customers. We are happy that the App that we are about to launch today is a product of collaboration and because its a product of collaboration within the commission, the distribution companies and eventually the customers it then implies that its going to be a win-win for all of us, Mr Ezeafulukwe said. On the part of the regulator, he said its already been said that greater oversight to ensure that value is not just created but sustained and protected. On the part of the distribution company, you cant over-emphasize the fact that this will help actualise more database decisions on our part and we are looking forward to using this App to interact, engage and hear more from the customers and then, more importantly, use as a raw material to serve our customers better. On the part of the customers, it is also a win-win because as it has been said the features of this App are so user-friendly, he said. The platform has been created and it is now for us to use it properly. There is a need for proper usage so that information and feedback that is being given is correct to optimism resources in addressing feedback through this App, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), on Monday, launched the Zero Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) as part of its effort to increase immunisation coverage in the country. Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said the hub would provide a framework for the country to promptly generate evidence strategies. Mr Shuaib said these strategies can be leveraged to successfully identify, measure, monitor and reach zero-dose children and missed communities in which they live. This hub embodies our shared vision of a world where every child receives the vaccines they need to thrive, he said. It is a symbol of our commitment to equity, to inclusivity, and to leaving no one behind. About ZDLH Mr Shuaib said the hub is not just a platform but a beacon of possibility and a testament to the agencys dedication to reaching every child. He said the hub represents a promise that no child will be left behind, no matter their circumstances or where they are born. He said: Behind every zero dose child lies a story, a story of potential, of dreams, and of the bright future they deserve. Today, we take a bold step towards making those dreams a reality. Our aspiration is that this hub will offer an extensive platform for all individuals engaged in the administration of immunisation services at both national and sub-national levels. The initiative is being implemented by the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), working as a consortium with the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN ), with support from Gavi through the NPHCDA. Immunisation coverage Mr Shuaib said in 2017, Nigeria took a significant step by declaring an emergency concerning routine immunisation. He said this is in response to the alarming findings of the 2016 Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), which revealed a distressing Penta 3 coverage rate of only 33 per cent. He said the National Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (NERICC) was established to lead the country in its efforts to improve immunisation coverage. Since the inception of NERICC, the transformation has been remarkable, reflecting substantial improvements in immunisation coverage throughout the country, he said. This positive shift is underscored by the 2021 NICS report, which now indicates a notable increase, with Penta 3 coverage standing at 57 per cent. He said although the country is yet to attain its designated goal, It has made great improvements. Challenges Mr Shuaib said there are a multitude of challenges and obstacles that have hindered the countrys efforts to establish an effective routine immunisation system. He said these challenges include the scarcity of human resources, suboptimal capacity, insufficient funding, inadequate drugs and commodities and others. Consequently, a significant portion of our eligible population, particularly children, remains susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases, often referred to as zero dose individuals. He said the government has implemented a range of strategic interventions to address these challenges and obstacles. These initiatives include Optimised Outreach Sessions (OOS), Optimised Integrated Routine Immunisation Sessions (OIRIS), Routine Immunisation Intensification, Quarterly Lot Quality Assurance Survey (LQAS) to access their progress, and other strategies that are gradually yielding positive outcomes. In his remarks, the Regional Technical Coordinator, AFENET, Patrick Nguku, noted that Nigeria is leading the list of countries with the highest number of zero-dose children globally Mr Nguku said the hub is an innovative approach to advance the uptake of research and evidence to improve immunisation policies and programming in the country. Nigeria so far is the fourth country to implement the zero dose hub joining the likes of Mali, Uganda and Bangladesh, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano has upheld the election of Kawu Sumaila of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Kano South Senatorial District. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Sumaila the winner of the Kano South senatorial election conducted on 25 February. Mr Kawu won the senatorial election with 319,557 votes. He defeated Kabiru Gaya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 192,518 votes. The APC candidate, Mr Gaya, challenged Mr Sumailas victory at the election petition tribunal. On Monday, the tribunal dismissed the petition by Mr Gaya for being grossly incompetent and fined him N200,000. The chairman of the tribunal, R. Odogu, held that the petitioner failed to discharge the burden of proof against the respondent. We find no merit in this petitioner and accordingly hereby dismissed. READ ALSO: Tribunal sacks another NNPP federal lawmaker over certificate forgery We similarly affirmed the declaration of Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila of NNPP as the winner of the Kano South Senatorial District election, held on 25th Feb. 2023. The sum of N200,000 cost is hereby awarded in favour of the respondents against the petitioner, the judge ruled. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigeria, often hailed as the Giant of Africa holds a reservoir of untapped potential and a plethora of opportunities captivating the interest of investors and visionaries worldwide. Amidst discussions about technology, mineral wealth and export potential, the power sector, an underestimated cornerstone of advancement, often remains in the shadows. As someone who has navigated the realm of financing large-scale infrastructure projects, I find myself drawn to view Nigerias prospects through a financial lens. The inevitable question surfaces: What truly entices energy investments in our land of promise? Beyond Population and Mineral Wealth: The Power Sectors Pivotal Role While the appeal of technology, Nigerias demographic dividend, and its mineral wealth are evident, the significance of the power sector often fades into the background. Yet, this sector forms the foundation of progress and deserves greater attention. Historically, advanced nations didnt solely rely on technological advancements, skilled labour, or mineral resources for their development. Prioritising the consistent and reliable supply of power to industries was the true catalyst for their growth. Navigating Complex Challenges: A Financial Perspective Drawing from my experience of financing large infrastructure projects, embarking on grid-based power initiatives in Nigeria involves navigating a complex web of challenges, financial limitations, infrastructural gaps, bureaucratic intricacies, and technical hurdles that converge to create significant obstacles. For power investors seeking to secure support from financiersbanks or private equity firms demonstrating a projects bankability becomes crucial. This involves a detailed evaluation of factors consumer tariffs, collection currency, and the purchasing power of the end user. Mitigating Risks: Sovereign Guarantees and Innovations Prevailing wisdom dictates that bolstering Nigerias energy output through robust national grids will drive economic growth and pave the way for equitable development and industrialisation. However, the stark contrast between the nations energy demand a staggering 600 terawatt-hours ( equivalent of power for 216,000,000 million homes) and the reality of numerous signed Independent Power Projects (IPPs) that remain unrealised, highlights a critical issue. The conventional on-grid solutions, once hailed as the panacea for Nigerias energy challenges, appear to be faltering under the weight of a myriad of complex obstacles. Investments into Nigeria are often in dollars, introducing the spectre of currency risk, purchasing power discrepancies, and political volatility. The fact remains most Nigerian retail consumers presently are unable to afford the cost of power and in turn Nigeria is often unable to meet debt obligations linked to on-grid power projects funded in foreign currency. Risk mitigation tools, including sovereign guarantees and Power Contract offtake Agreements (PCOAs) aim to alleviate these concerns. However, a sovereign guarantee or a PCOA goes on the balance sheet of a nation, and at times can affect the credit rating of the country. Given the complications with bankability, a recent trend sees Nigeria and other developing nations cautiously managing their financial obligations to avoid unsustainable burdens. A Paradigm Shift: Igniting the Commercial and Industrial Sector Notably these challenges are not unforeseen. Industrialised nations didnt achieve development by solely focusing on supplying retail power. Sustainable provision of power to industry drove industrialisation, generated employment, increased purchasing power, thereby bolstering affordability of power, paving the way for widespread electrification and development. The inability to ensure reliable power for industry, in particular, acts as a brake on economic growth. The time is ripe for an innovative shift, one that ensures economic empowerment and fortifies the foundation for a resilient future channelling efforts to fulfil the energy demands of the commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. This sector, characterised by its steady energy needs and robust purchasing power, emerges as a catalyst for transformative energy strategies. New power projects sprucing up in industrial clusters will fuel phenomenal growth. By delivering consistent power to these sectors, Nigeria can spur industrialisation, facilitate long-term job creation, and foster sustainable economic autonomy. Short-term Impact, Long-term Vision In a most recent trip to India, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR gained a commitment from a consortium of investors to put $1.6 billion into power. Channelling that pledge towards C&I energy provisioning yields immediate benefits. An influx of economic vigour, encouragement for local industries, and an inviting atmosphere for both local and foreign investments set the stage for rapid growth. However, this strategic pivot carries implications beyond immediate wattage gains. A flourishing C&I sector paves the way for a resilient grid-based power system, stimulating infrastructure development. Meeting the ambitious demand for 708 terawatt-hours by 2030 isnt just a goal; its a catalyst for job creation, economic vitality, and increased income. As industries flourish and energy demands continue to grow, the impetus and capacity for further infrastructure development becomes undeniable. This strategic shift not only addresses the immediate need for energy to spur industrialisation but also sets the stage for robust economic growth. A Bright Future Beckons: Pioneering Prosperity The commercial and industrial pathway, marked by its innovation and strategic focus, offering a promising route to unlock the nations true potential is where Nigerias energy resurgence resides. Ploughing the route successfully necessitates collaboration. The private sector should leverage expertise and drive innovation. Government entities and appointees must be proactive following Mr Presidents lead, streamline processes, provide clarity, efficiency and ease of procedure, thereby communicating that Nigeria is ready for business. Our collective will and innovative spirit fuel Nigerias potential. With the renewal of hope comes the awakening of the Giant of Africa together, we forge a path of progress. Olu Olufemi-White;Instagram: @oluwhite; Twitter: @oluwhite_ Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print It is indeed overdue for France to cut its losses whatever it envisages they are and step back from its permanent colonies to allow the people of Francophone Africa to decide on their preferred paths to the future. After nearly 200 years of take, the people have good reasons to say France should leave. The restlessness and the coups that have become commonplace in the region are symptoms of deeper underlying social, economic and political problems France ruined Haiti, the first black country to become independent in 1804. France is on the course to ruining all its former African colonies. It is no coincidence that the recent spate of coups in Africa has manifested in former French African colonies (so-called Francophone Africa), once again redirecting the global spotlight on Frances activities in the region. And that the commentaries, especially amongst Africans, have been most critical of France and its continued interference in the region. This is coming in the backdrop of Frances continuous meddling in the economic and political affairs of independent Francophone countries, an involvement which has seen it embroiled, both directly and indirectly, in a series of unrests, corruption controversies, and assassinations that have bedevilled the region since independence. Unlike Britain and other European countries with colonial possessions in Africa, France never left at least not in the sense of the traditional distance observed since independence by the other erstwhile colonial overlords. Instead, it has, under the cover of a policy of cooperation (cooperation) within the framework of an extended French Community, continued to maintain a perceptible cultural, economic, political and military presence in Africa. On the surface, the promise of cooperation between France and its former colonies in Africa which presupposes a relationship of mutual benefit between politically independent nations where the former would, through the provision of technical and military assistance, lead the development/advancement of its erstwhile colonial family, is both commendable and perhaps even worthy of emulation. However, when this carefully scripted facade is juxtaposed with the reality that has unfolded over the decades, what is revealed is an extensive conspiracy involving individuals at the highest levels of the French government. Along with other influential business interests also domiciled in France they have worked with a select coteries of African elites to orchestrate the most considerable and heinous crimes against the people of todays Francophone Africa. A people who, even today, continue to strain under the weight of Frances insatiable greed. The greed and covetousness that drove European nations to abandon trade for colonialisation in Africa, is alive today as it was in the 1950s and 1980s. The decision to give in to African demands for independence was not the outcome of any benevolence or civilised reason on the part of Europe but for economic and political expedience. Thus, when the then President of France, Charles de Gaulle who nurtured an ambition to see France maintain its status as a world power agreed to independence for his countrys African colonies, it was only a pre-emptive measure to check the further loss of French influence in the continent. In other words, the political liberation offered on a platter of gold, as a means to avoid the development of other costly wars of independence which, as World War II depleted, France was already fighting in Indochina and Algeria. In pursuit of its interests in Africa, France has made little secret of its contempt for all independent and populist reasons, while upholding puppet regimes. In Guinea in 1958, De Gaulle embarked on a ruthless agenda to undermine the government of Ahmed Sekou Toure destroying infrastructure and flooding the economy with fake currency in the process for voting to stay out of the French Community. Independence was, thus, only the first step in ensuring the survival of French interests in Africa and, more importantly, its prioritisation. Pursuant to this objective, De Gaulle also proposed a French Community delivered on the same golden platter as a caveat to continued French patronage. As such, the over ninety-eight per cent of its colonies which agreed to be part of this community, were roped into signing cooperation accords covering economic, political, military and cultural sectors by Jacques Foccart, a former intelligence member of the French Resistance in the Second World War, handpicked by De Gaulle. This signing of cooperation accords between France and the colonies, which opted to be part of its post-independence French Community marked the beginning of Frances neo-colonial regime in Africa, where Africans got teachers and despotic leaders in exchange for their natural resources and French military installations. Commonly referred to as Francafrique a pejorative derivation from Felix Houphouet Boignys France-Afrique, describing the close ties between France and Africa, Frances neo-colonial footprint in Africa has been characterised by allegations of corruption and other covert activities perpetrated through various Franco-African economic, political and military networks. An essential feature of Francafrique is the crookish, mafia-like relations between French leaders and their African counterparts, which has been reinforced by a dense web of personal networks. On the French side, African ties, which had been the domaine reserve (sole responsibility) of French presidents since 1958, was run by an African cell founded and managed by Jacques Foccart. Comprising French presidents, powerful influential members of the French business community and the French secret service, this cell operated outside the purview of the French parliament, its civil society organisation, and non-governmental organisations. This created a window for corruption, as politicians and state officials took part in business arrangements, which amounted to state racketeering. Whereas pro-French sentiments in Africa, and without, still argue for Frances continuous presence and contributions, particularly in the areas of military intervention and economic aid, which they say have been critical to security, political stability and economic survival in the region, such arguments intentionally play down the historical consequences of French interests in the region. Enjoying a free reign in the region backed mainly by the United States and Britain since the Cold War, France used the opportunity to strengthen its hold on its former colonies. This translated into the development of a franc zone a restrictive monetary policy tying the economies of Francophone countries to France, as well as the adoption of an active interventionist approach, which has produced over 120 military interventions across fourteen dependent states between 1960 and the 1990s. These interventions, which were either to rescue stranded French citizens, put down rebellions, prevent coups, restore order, or uphold French-favoured regimes, have rarely been about improving the fortunes of the general population of Francophone Africa. French interventions have maintained undemocratic regimes in Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Gabon, and Niger. At the same time, its joint military action in Libya was responsible for unleashing the Islamic terrorism that is threatening to engulf countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. In pursuit of its interests in Africa, France has made little secret of its contempt for all independent and populist reasons, while upholding puppet regimes. In Guinea in 1958, De Gaulle embarked on a ruthless agenda to undermine the government of Ahmed Sekou Toure destroying infrastructure and flooding the economy with fake currency in the process for voting to stay out of the French Community. This behaviour was again replicated in Togo, where that countrys first president, Sylvio Olympio, was overthrown and gruesomely murdered for daring to establish a central bank for the country outside the Franc CFA Zone. Subsequently, his killer, Gnassingbe Eyadema, assumed office and ruled from 1967 till his death in 2005 after which he was succeeded by his son, who still rules. as we call on France to do the honourable thing and withdraw, we should also rebuke Africas leaders who have not only put their interests above those of their people but have also turned the instruments of regional intervention and development (like the AU and ECOWAS) into tools for ensuring their own political survival. In Gabon, you had the Bongo family, who ran a regime of corruption and oppression, with the open support of France, throughout 56 years of unproductive rule. As for Camerouns most promising, pan-Africanist, pro-independence leader, Felix Moumie, he died under mysterious circumstances in Switzerland, paving the way for the likes of Paul Biya, who has been president since 1982. France also backs a Senegalese government, which today holds over 1,500 political prisoners, and had singlehandedly installed Alhassan Ouattara as president of Cote dIvoire. Therefore, the widespread anti-France sentiment spreading through the populations of Francophone Africa and beyond is not unfounded, as it has become apparent to all and sundry that these countries have not fared well under the shadow of France. In Niger, where France carried out one of the bloodiest campaigns of colonial pacification in Africa murdering and pillaging entire villages and which is Frances most important source of uranium, the income per capita was 59 per cent lower in 2022 than it was in 1965. In Cote dIvoire, the largest producer of cocoa in the world, the income per capita was 25 per cent lower in 2022 than in 1975. Outside the rampant unemployment, systematic disenfranchisement and infrastructural deficits that characterise these Francophone countries, theres also the frustration and anger of sitting back to watch helplessly. In contrast, the wealth of your country is being carted away to nations whose people feed fat on your birth right and then turn around to make judgements and other disparaging comments on your humanity and conditions of existence. The people are tired of being poor, helpless and judged as third-world citizens! France is a dangerous country. It is indeed overdue for France to cut its losses whatever it envisages they are and step back from its permanent colonies to allow the people of Francophone Africa to decide on their preferred paths to the future. After nearly 200 years of take, the people have good reasons to say France should leave. The restlessness and the coups that have become commonplace in the region are symptoms of deeper underlying social, economic and political problems, including weak institutions, systematic disenfranchisement, poverty, corruption and/or misappropriation of national wealth. And as we call on France to do the honourable thing and withdraw, we should also rebuke Africas leaders who have not only put their interests above those of their people but have also turned the instruments of regional intervention and development (like the AU and ECOWAS) into tools for ensuring their own political survival. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In a maniacal display of their capacity for evil against Nigeria, terrorists ambushed and killed soldiers in Niger State last month. And adding insult to injury, they shot down a military helicopter on a rescue operation. About 36 officers lost their lives in the double tragedy. This is not the first time Nigerian soldiers would perish in this sort of circumstance. The saga is heart-wrenching and should be an eye opener to the new administration on the challenges ahead. The victims were on a special military assignment in Kundu, Rafi Local Government Area of the state to neutralise a band of bandits but they were waylaid, perhaps due to the activities of fifth columnists in the military. Fourteen soldiers and seven injured others, were casualties in the first incident. A military helicopter that had evacuated the dead and the wounded was then brought down, with a terror kingpin, Abdullahi Abubakar, alias Dogo Gide, claiming responsibility for this in a viral video. This cretinous felon has boasted of being the overlord of the zones underworld. He and his allies should be routed immediately to defang their burgeoning criminal networks. Facing superior fire power with increased aerial assaults in the North-East from the military, Boko Haram jihadists and their affiliates in ISWAP, gradually and steadily, have re-established a stronghold in Niger State, lured by its heavily under-policed and huge land mass the largest in Nigeria. The states contiguity with Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto states in the North-West, which also provide fertile furrows for bandits to dig in and operate, makes it a haven for insurgents in North-Central region. From the state, they marauded locations in Abuja, killing seven soldiers of the elite Brigade of Guards on patrol in July 2022, in the process. The terrorists that stormed Kuje prison, amidst the presence of 65 security personnel, and successfully released 60 Boko Haram members and 800 other inmates, had Niger State as their groove. President Bola Tinubu will be indulging in a grand delusion of routing these non-state actors if he adopts the previous Buhari regimes double standards. This provided oxygen to the terrorists to sustain their nefarious activities. At every turn, former President Buhari sought help from the US, European Union and other countries. Countless military support came in tow, in terms of the procurement of military equipment, especially the hitherto forbidden sales of 12 Super Tucano fighter jets by the US; intelligence sharing; the training of military personnel; and mutual legal assistance. Intelligence from the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and the US led Nigeria to identify 400 terror financiers in April 2021. It was a breakthrough. The then Minister of Information gleefully talked of how the anti-fraud unit had uncovered 123 companies and 33 Bureau de Change linked to terrorists. The erstwhile Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, spoke of the Federal Governments identification of high profile Nigerian suspects who were supporting the evil crusade. A media statement from his office said, government would soon resuscitate and reinvigorate the existing special terrorism prosecution courts in the country for the purpose of bringing those found culpable to book. Curiously, this never happened until Buharis tenure expired on the 29th of May. While the regime dithered over the issue, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, excoriated the then AGF: The suspects have been shielded from prosecution and exculpated by the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, in spite of the overwhelming evidence already assembled against them by the team of investigators. No serious country in the throes of terrorism does this. On the contrary, in far away UAE, Abubakar Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Mohammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhasan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad were arrested promptly, put on trial and convicted. The UAE and US found these agents of terror guilty of establishing Boko Haram cells in the UAE to raise funds and provide material assistance to their confederates in Nigeria. In one fell swoop, they had transferred $782,000 from Dubai to Nigeria. While Salihu Adamu received a life sentence, Surajo and others were slammed with 10-year jail terms each. Now, under a new political dispensation, the whole mess should be properly cleaned up and contained. The president should debrief all the appropriate government agencies, especially the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), for prosecution to be initiated against the identified suspects. If some were released from arrests by the last regime, as it is being alleged, then the law should take its course against those found to be complicit. Double-standards in fighting terrorism for which Nigeria has spent billions of dollars in procuring military equipment; lost more than 100,000 civilian and military lives; and with about two million citizens scattered across Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps since 2010 is treasonable. Plainly, the fight against terrorism cannot be won with recurrent pleas for global support, a favourite pastime of the Buhari government, which Tinubu echoed a fortnight ago, when he received the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov, in audience in Abuja, while the state itself undermines the war by shielding conflict entrepreneurs from prosecution. This hypocrisy and paradox put Nigerian soldiers to the sword and weakens the military that are already weary in this endless warfare. The failure to effectively deal with the phenomenon of fifth columnists in the military is another immolation affecting our counter-insurgency campaign. It must be squarely dealt with too. A former Chief of Defence Staff, the late Alex Bade, first confirmed the scourge in 2015, as leaked sensitive information and operational plans to terrorists triggered a series of surprised attacks, in which many generals met their untimely deaths. The recent carnages of soldiers in Niger State were preceded by the 18 July downing of a Nigerian Airforce jet along the Kaduna-Katsina border; the ambush in Marti, a town in Borno, in which seven soldiers were killed, in May 2021; and the killing of at least 30 soldiers on a miners rescue mission in Shiroro, Niger State in July 2020. As Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka once warned former President Buhari that security was still a frontline responsibility, it is even more so for Tinubu, with the economy absolutely in shambles and hunger prowling in most families. Having noted that terrorism is an effective danger to democracy, development, growth and prosperity, when the UN envoy visited, President Tinubu should avoid the absurdity of fighting terrorism with Buharis kind of deception, while embroiled in a seemingly Sisyphean task of pulling the messy economy he inherited out of the woods, at the same time. Cutting the sources of funding to terrorists kills their lifeline. By doing so, the influx of arms into the country is addressed too. This is a touchstone approach deployed globally in such a conflict. The political and military authorities, therefore, should wean themselves off Buharis legacies, reset the security architecture, and learn from other jurisdictions that have faced even more herculean insurgencies and triumphed over them. It is worth repeating that no nation wins the war against terrorism of the magnitude savaging Nigeria with a single, centralised policing system. It is not for nothing that the US has 18,000 police forces; Germany, 22; and the UK, 43 regular outfits. In other words, decentralising policing will reduce Nigerias territories that are under the control of non-state actors and inject a new life into the strategy that will protect lives and properties. The country, under Tinubus leadership, must be leery of soldiers doing the work of policing and at the same time being involved in an asymmetrical warfare they are not trained for. An Anti-Terrorism Taskforce, which Buhari promised, but failed to establish, should be set up now. Thats what countries with hands-on approaches to fighting terrorism do. In the US, its Navy SEAL tracked and killed Osama bin Laden in 2011; the Israeli Sayeret MATKAL and M15 of UK, which are deployed for anti-terror engagements, are different from the regular forces. At PREMIUM TIMES, we believe that Nigeria has had enough of putting its military personnel in harms way. The time to reclaim our security landscape seized by Boko Haram, ISWAP, bandits and kidnappers is now! Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print An election petition tribunal in Jos has sacked the senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, Napoleon Bali, and the member representing Barikin Ladi/ Riyom federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Peter Gyendeng. The tribunal subsequently declared the immediate past governor of the state, Simon Lalong, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the validly elected senator of the Plateau South district. The tribunal also declared Fom Dalyop of the Labour Party (LP) as the validly elected representative of the Barikin Ladi/ Riyom federal constituency. The electoral commission, INEC, had declared that Messrs Lalong and Dalyop came second in their respective elections held on 25 February. Both the APC and LP candidates asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Mr Bali (PDP) and Mr Gyendeng (PDP) on the ground that the PDP did not have a proper party structure and, therefore, could not file candidates for the elections. They added that INEC did not comply with the new Electoral Act and guidelines as of the time of conducting the election. In their separate rulings at the court, Omaka Elekwo (for the Senate election) and Muhammad Tukur (for the Reps election) nullified the election of the two PDP candidates because of the partys refusal to respect the order of a Jos High court to conduct ward congresses before the last general elections. The judges further said the evidences presented by the APC and LP candidates were relevant and admissible, adding that all the votes cast for the PDP candidates were invalid. The sacked lawmakers are, however, expected to appeal the tribunals ruling and will remain in office until the conclusion of the appeals. Mr Lalong is now a minister in President Bola Tinubus administration and is expected to continue in that office despite Mondays ruling. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, said they have killed a suspected kidnapper in Umuota village, Obosi, a community in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state. The suspect, Ikenna Nwasu, hailed from the community. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement on Sunday morning, said the suspect was killed on Saturday when police operatives raided a hideout in the community. Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the operatives also rescued a kidnap victim during the operation. The police spokesperson said the operation was in response to a tip-off that a gang of kidnappers had kidnapped the victim at about 7:30 p.m. and headed in a particular direction in the community. Police then trailed the kidnappers to an uncompleted building surrounded by bush in Umuota village, Obosi where a gunfire exchange with the kidnappers ensued, he said. The police said one of the hoodlums was shot and then arrested while others escaped with some bullet wounds during the shoot-out. He added that the arrested suspect identified those who escaped as Ebuka, otherwise known as Big, Chinedu Emmanuel and Chukwu Ojoto all males. READ ALSO: Police arraign 33 suspected cultists in Anambra The hoodlum, who identified Ebuka as the leader of the gang, gave up the ghost on the way to hospital for treatment. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, has commended the operatives for their gallantry, Mr Ikenga said. Mr Adeoye consequently directed that the fleeing suspects be declared wanted and tracked down by the officers. The police commissioner assured residents of the community and state that the police would not relent in their onslaught against criminals in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Months of high-level political intrigues and tension came to a temporary stop in Ondo State last week as Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu returned on Thursday from a three-month medical treatment in Germany. Mr Akeredolus long absence and the perceived severity of his ailment had led to a power struggle in his cabinet as his officials sought vintage positions ahead of next years governorship election in the state. There was a vacuum at the driving seat of the state government until the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was formally named acting governor by the state House of Assembly after Governor Akeredolu had transmitted a letter to the lawmakers informing them of his medical leave. Some opportunistic individuals had seized the vacuum to pursue their political ambitions, thereby creating tension within and outside the government in the state. Emblematic of the crisis was a pervasive rumour in the state of a rift between the deputy governor and the family of the governor, with Mr Akeredolus wife, Betty, said to have illegally made herself a proxy governor. This was believed to be connected to the sudden emergence of reports on social media accusing Mr Aiyedatiwa of brutal domestic violence against his wife. Mr Aiyedatiwa grappled with his new role as acting governor while also fighting to deflect the obvious smear campaign aimed at destroying his political career. Much as he denied the allegation of wife battery, the reports persisted for weeks in the news channels. The development created factions in the Akeredolu cabinet, fuelled by the lack of clarity over the governors illness. It was a case of when the cat was away, the mice playing and dancing around the house, creating all manners of mess. Mr Akeredolus return on Thursday, at least, temporarily calmed the storms in his government. Alex Ajipe, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed his joy over the governors return. After the uncertainties, we are grateful to God that Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has returned from his medical leave abroad, he said when speaking with PREMIUM TIMES Now that the governor is back, Mr Ajipe said We can look forward to his leadership and guidance in finishing what he has started. We trust that his experience and dedication will help us navigate any remaining storms and bring about a peaceful and prosperous future for Ondo State. While the governor was on his sick bed, different groups held prayer sessions for his full recovery, including the ruling APC, the state government, traditional rulers, religious groups and labour unions. READ ALSO: With his return in one piece on Thursday, the insinuations and bickering were suspended, as his officials and political factions joined the other various groups in celebrating the event. But his presence may only have taken the competition for power and advantage in his government and the APC into a new phase. The governor upon his arrival immediately wrote to notify the state House of Assembly of his readiness to resume his duties. I am back, he declared as he officially reclaimed the rein of authority. He thanked residents of the state and members of his cabinet for their love, support and prayers for him. Leaders of organised labour, including the NLC and the TUC, visited the governor to express their joy on his return to the state. Leaders of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) described his return as a heartwarming development. In a statement by its state chairman, Segun Ajiboye, and secretary, Steve Modupe, the union said the governors recovery from his ill-health is a manifestation of spiritual intervention of God and answering of unprecedented prayers offered by the people for him. The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) also expressed joy at the return of the governor. On Sunday, the chairman of the association, Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, and secretary, Adeayo Omotehinse, in a statement said the association also prayed for his recovery while he was away. Traditional rulers, pensioners and other unions in the state also said they were elated to have Mr Akeredolu back in the state. The traditional institutions in the state, especially the traditional council of Owo, the governors home town, were effusive in welcoming the governor back. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been the only discordant tune, as it immediately took issues with how the governor made his return. Kennedy Peretei, the spokesperson of the party, said the governor was disrespectful to the Ondo people by moving into his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he has been meeting with members of his cabinet and the state House of Assembly. While Akeredolu was in Germany attending to his health, Ondo suffered multidimensional setbacks from in-fighting to huge sums of money siphoned from the state treasury as medical expenses, he said. The PDP had earlier faulted how the government handled issues regarding the health of the governor. But the ruling APC had defended the government and accused the PDP of politicising the health condition of the governor. Noisemakers Now that the governor has returned, the noisemakers in his party will be silent again. Those with governorship ambitions ahead of the transition next year will speak in hushed tones, careful not to irritate the governor who will play a key role in the succession process The deputy governor is from the southern senatorial district of the state and is expected to run in 2024. His capacity to lead was tested in the last three months. Despite the challenges and the intrigues that surrounded him, however, Mr Aiyedatiwa gave a good account of himself. Despite the current jolly mood, there is an uneasy calm within the government concerning Mr Aiyedatiwas governorship ambition. His rivals are questioning his loyalty to the governor. Some have even claimed that the deputy governor has shown less loyalty than his predecessor, Agboola Ajayi. It will be recalled that Mr Ajayi narrowly avoided impeachment in Mr Akeredolus first term over his move to challenge the governor in the 2020 APC primary. He eventually left the ruling party to run against Mr Akeredolu on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party. Mr Ajayi is back in the PDP where he ran as the senatorial candidate for Ondo South in the 2023 general elections but lost to Jimoh Ibrahim of the APC. Luckys disloyalty was evident in greater measure, a source in the administration told PREMIUM TIMES. It is something everyone around is aware of. Mr Aiyedatiwa was accused of rejecting the decision of the governor on important issues and not protecting his interest while Mr Akeredolu was away. He was also accused of wishing the governor did not return so that he could serve out the remainder of his tenure. However, the source indicated that the governor is not in the mood at the moment for a fight with anybody. If the governor wanted to penalise him, he would not have allowed him to visit him in Ibadan on Friday, he would have just asked him to stay away. You know the governor does not know how to pretend, he said. However, a public commentator, Kunle Adeyeri, dismissed the criticisms as unfair and unwarranted. He said Mr Aiyedatiwa comported himself very well as acting governor. Aiyedatiwa has proven to be honest and loyal despite the tide of criticism, Mr Adeyeri said. When he was acting governor, the Sunshine State was at peace. The state was not in the news for negative reasons. The controversies surrounding the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) was stemmed with amicable resolutions. He did well by encouraging Omoyeni Joy who performed well in the last WASSCE. Even the ruling APC was at peace with many activities going on in the party. There is just over a year of the administration left before the next election. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the governor, Richard Olatunde, said he has fully settled down to work. As you can see, we are fully settled and work has started, and the governor is set to attend to his duties as the days roll on, Mr Olatunde added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print King Charles has sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jongun congratulating him on the anniversary of the countrys founding, according to a report. As the people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future, read the message, according to a report by Reuters which cited North Koreas state-run news agency KCNA. Queen Elizabeth II sent a message with very similar wording to North Korea in 2021. At the time, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that it was standard practice for national days across the world and has been done before. As in previous years, HM The Queen has sent a message to the people of the DPRK on the occasion of their National Day, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson had said at the time. According to the Rodong Simnun, a North Korean state newspaper, Mr Kim received messages marking the 75th anniversary from a number of heads of state, with countries and territories listed including Singapore, Nepal, Bahrain and Mozambique. The newspaper said Mr Kim also received congratulations from Carl a a Gustaf, the king of Sweden, which said: On the occasion of the Anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) I wish to convey to Your Excellency my best wishes for the future and for the welfare of the people of the [DPRK]. North Korea invited Chinese delegates and Russian artists to a midnight paramilitary parade in Pyongyang to mark the countrys founding anniversary on Saturday. China has sent a delegation led by vice premier Liu Guozhong to the celebrations, while Russia sent a military song and dance group. South Korean media speculated that the lack of Russian government officials at the festivities in Pyongyang could be related to preparations for a summit between Mr Kim and Russian president Vladimir Putin, which Washington expects within the month. According to some US reports, it could happen as early as this week. Story continues Mr Putin is expected to attend an international forum that began on Sunday and runs until Wednesday in the eastern city of Vladivostok, which was also the site of his first summit with Mr Kim in 2019 and is now seen as a possible venue for their meeting. South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing last Thursday that North Korea and Russia could also be arranging an unexpected surprise route for Mr Kims visit to avoid potential venues reported by the media. North Korea has so far not confirmed any plans for Mr Kim to visit Russia. KCNA said Mr Kim received letters from Mr Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping on the anniversary, where both leaders said that their countries strengthening ties with North Korea would contribute to the regions peace and stability. Saturdays parade showcased paramilitary organisations and public security forces protecting Pyongyang, rather than the military units that handle his nuclear-capable weapons systems, which have been the focus of other parades this year. Photos showed Mr Kim smiling and talking with his young daughter, believed to be named Ju Ae, as they watched the parade from leather chairs set up at Mr Kims balcony in Kim Il Sung Square named after his state-founding grandfather. Additional reporting by agencies The growth of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market is driven by increasing penetration of smartphones, rise in adoption of cloud-based OPTs and AI integration is boosting, and growing preference to non-cash transactions. PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Outdoor payment terminal (OPT) Market by Type (Contact Payment, and Contactless Payment), and Application (Refuel, Carwash, Malls, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032". According to the report, the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) Market was valued at $1,593.82 million in 2022 and is estimated to reach $4,753.02 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 11.8% from 2023 to 2032. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/15725 Outdoor payment terminal (OPT) is extremly essential for businesses that focus on serving their customers in outdoor environments. It offers quick and secure self-service transaction choices to customers using contactless or contact payment methods. Prime determinants of growth Increasing penetration of smartphones and rise in adoption of cloud-based OPTs and AI integration is boosting the growth of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market. In addition, growing preference to non-cash transactions is positively impacts growth of the outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market. However, security issues and privacy concerns and high deployment and maintenance cost is hampering the outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market growth. On the contrary, rising adoption of OPT solutions among SMEs is expected to offer remunerative opportunities for expansion of the outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market during the forecast period. Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $ 1,593.82 million Market Size in 2032 $ 4,753.02 million CAGR 11.8 % No. of Pages in Report 210 Segments covered Type, Application, and Region. Drivers Rise in need to track and manage income. Increase in dependency on the internet Increase in use of digital transformation technology Opportunities Increased adoption of personal finance software among developing economies Restraints Increasing security concerns High implementation cost Covid-19 Scenario The outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market has witnessed stable growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to the rising dependency on contactless payments. The reliance of customers and vendors on contactless payment modes to contain the spread of the virus is anticipated to provide opportunities for the market. Moreover, with the implementation of OPTs retail merchants ensure to provide a secure platform to their customers owing to the rising concerns of payment security. Buy This Report (210 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/481QSSG The contactless payment segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on the type, the contact payment segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market revenue, owing to increasing adoption of outdoor payment terminal (OPT) by various businesses across the globe as the preferred way of payment for bulk payouts. However, the contactless payment segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 13.8% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the increased adoption of digitalization in banking activity. The malls segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on application, the refuel segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market revenue, owing to increase in demand for personalization and self-service on services and products. However, the malls segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 14.5% from 2023 to 2032, owing to a rising adoption of smartphones, alternative payment methods, and sustainable approaches. Asia-Pacific maintain its dominance by 2032 Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market revenue, owing to increase in demand for the type of payment methods such as credit, debit, prepaid cards, and others is growing among people in the countries such as the U.S. and Canada. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 14.8% from 2023 to 2032 and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to owing to the rising deployment of OPTs, predominantly in developing countries like China and India. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/15725 Leading Market Players: - Apple Inc., Capgemini SE, Dover fueling solutions, Finastra Group Holdings Limited, Gilbarco Inc, Invenco Group Ltd., Scheidt & Bachmann GmbH, Temenos AG, NCR Corporation, Verifone, Inc, The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global outdoor payment terminal (OPT) market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Regional Trending Reports: U.S. Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) Market : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032 Canada Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) Market : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032 UK Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) Market : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032 Japan Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) Market : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022-2032 Trending Reports in BFSI Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Personal Loans Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Alternative Finance Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Investment Banking Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 Mobile Payment Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Digital Business Card Market : Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: United States 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the past 16 years, the Pujiang Innovation Forum has steadily increased its global influence, thanks to broad support. It has played a pivotal role in advancing China's innovation-driven development strategy, scientific self-reliance, and self-improvement, and the transformation of Shanghai into a technological innovation hub. The 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum, themed "Fostering an Open Innovation Environment: Innovation and Global Connections", was held on Sept.9-11 and it featured over 300 guests from 31 countries and regions, with nearly 40% coming from abroad. Additionally, it debuted the Global Entrepreneurship Investment Conference, aimed at establishing Shanghai as the premier global destination for technology entrepreneurship investment by facilitating connections between projects and capital, according to Shanghai Center for Pujiang Innovation Forum. 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai Another notable forum event is the Global Technology Transfer Conference, which centers on three core elements: innovation demand, talent support, and capital strength. By utilizing the InnoMatch global supply and demand platform, the conference included an expansive 10,000-square-meter offline exhibition area, showcasing over 3,000 technology requirements and more than 20,000 job opportunities for scientific and technological talents across the nation. As an influential innovation forum, the Pujiang Innovation Forum, positioned at a new juncture, aspires to become a national-level platform for global scientific and technological innovation exchange and cooperation. It is firmly committed to three core missions: establishing an innovation network, staying attuned to future trends, and nurturing young talent. Its five key roles encompass serving as a wellspring of cutting-edge innovation thinking, a global benchmark for scientific and technological advancement, an accelerator for international scientific and technological collaboration, a magnet for global innovation talent, and a hub for global technology transfer. All of these efforts align with Shanghai's vision of evolving into an international epicenter for science and innovation and achieving the goal of becoming a world leader in technology. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=442135 Caption: 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum in Shanghai SOURCE Shanghai Center for Pujiang Innovation Forum Hosted by Petaluma Tattoo in Commemoration of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month PETALUMA, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all tattoo aficionados! Buckelew Programs is thrilled to announce the third annual Tattoo for Buckelew. Hosted by Petaluma Tattoo, the popular fundraiser promoting Suicide Prevention awareness will take place on Friday, September 15, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Renowned tattoo artists from the Bay Area, Portland, and Philadelphia are generously volunteering their time to lend a hand to the cause. 100% of the day's tattoo proceeds will be donated to Buckelew Programs to support their suicide prevention program. Buckelew's Suicide Prevention Program operates one of California's 12 call centers that are part of the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Last year, Buckelew responded to more than 15,000 calls from Marin, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino counties. The life-saving resource is free and available 24/7 to anyone experiencing any level of distress or their loved ones. The program also provides suicide education to schools and community organizations and peer-to-peer support for anyone who's lost a loved one to suicide. "Buckelew's mission revolves around positively impacting the lives of those affected by mental health challenges, and suicide awareness is at the heart of that mission," said Chris Kughn, CEO of Buckelew Programs. "Tattoo for Buckelew is not just about raising money money invested in saving lives it's also about destigmatizing mental health challenges and creating compassion and conversation around suicide." For Nick Rodin, the owner of Petaluma Tattoo and founder of the event, promoting Suicide Awareness is a responsibility. Having lost his younger brother and a close friend to suicide in 2009 and having difficulty talking about what happened for nearly a decade, organizing the fundraiser was a chance to speak with others about his experience. "I always knew that when I opened my own shop, I wanted to do this every year to honor my brother," says Nick Rodin, owner of Petaluma Tattoo. "I lost my brother in September. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The timing made perfect sense to me." For those not wanting to get inked, there are plenty of local businesses, artists, food vendors and organizations to check out, a true community event! Event Details What: Tattoo for Buckelew Where: Petaluma Tattoo, 406 Petaluma Blvd South, Petaluma, CA When: Friday, September 15, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Interview Opportunities Chris Kughn , LMFT and CEO of Buckelew Programs , LMFT and CEO of Buckelew Programs Nick Rodin , Tattoo for Buckelew founder, Petaluma Tattoo owner and artist, lost his brother to suicide in 2009. , Tattoo for Buckelew founder, Petaluma Tattoo owner and artist, lost his brother to suicide in 2009. Dave Rodin , Nick's father, lost his son to suicide in 2009. , Nick's father, lost his son to suicide in 2009. Buckelew Suicide Prevention Counselors offering expertise and data. Fundraiser participants those getting tattoos and those there to lend support. Buckelew Programs has been empowering North Bay individuals to shape healthy, strong, purposeful lives for over 50 years by providing vital care to those experiencing mental health and substance use challenges. Buckelew's wide range of services for adults and children includes Counseling, Recovery, Service Navigation, Suicide Prevention and Supported Housing. Learn more at Buckelew.org . Artists: Freddy Corbin, gracie CT, Jesse Haney, Doug Hardy, Ross Jones, Annelise Kinney, Cody Miller, Bryan Randolph, Kahlil Rintye, Nick Rodin, Greg Rojas, Adrian Sanchez, and Laurent Trelaun. Sponsors include Strauss Family Creamery, Trader Joe's, Guayaki, Hog Island Oyster Co., Lagunitas Brewing Co., and many more! SOURCE Buckelew Programs Thirteen scholars will receive financial awards for research in physician well-being, quality improvement, and diversity, equity, and innovations in assessment CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has selected thirteen outstanding individuals to participate in its 2023-2024 Visiting Scholars Program. Established in 2014, the one-year, part-time program supports early-career physicians and researchers in scholarship and leadership development focusing on initial and continuing board certification. Each Visiting Scholar receives a $15,000 financial award. "We are pleased to support a record number of ABMS Visiting Scholars this year," stated Greg Ogrinc, MD, MS, ABMS Senior Vice President, Certification Standards and Programs. "This new cohort of scholars will advance research and scholarship in high-priority areas for the certification community, including physician well-being, quality improvement, and diversity, equity and innovations in assessment." ABMS Visiting Scholars are selected based on the quality of their proposed research project, the relevance of their research to the ABMS mission and the certification community, and demonstration of making significant progress on the project during the scholar year. Program participants remain at their home institutions, collaborate with self-selected mentors, and participate in monthly virtual sessions with research project-in-progress updates to peers, mentors, and subject matter experts. The 2023-2024 Visiting Scholars and their co-sponsoring organization are: ABMS Research and Education Foundation Fei Chen , PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North CarolinaChapel Hill , PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North CarolinaChapel Hill Attila Nemeth, MD, Physician, VA Northeast Ohio Health Care System Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation James P. Bowen , MD, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , MD, Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Tina Motazedi , MD, Physician, Houston Methodist Hospital American Board of Dermatology Gillian Heinecke , MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, SSM Health/ Saint Louis University American Board of Ophthalmology Matthew R. Starr , MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic , MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic Fasika Woreta , MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute/ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Jenny Chen , MD, EdM, Neurotology Fellow, Johns Hopkins University American Board of Plastic Surgery Yadira Villalvazo , MD, MS, Resident, Research Fellow, University of Pittsburgh Department of Plastic Surgery American Board of Radiology Leslie Chang , MD, Resident, Johns Hopkins University , MD, Resident, Francis Deng , MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University , MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science, Ria Mulherkar , MD, Resident Physician, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center American Board of Thoracic Surgery Ammara Watkins , MD, MPH, Thoracic Surgeon / Assistant Professor of Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center/ Tufts Medical School About ABMS Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is responsible for the creation of standards overseeing physician certification in the United States. Dedicated to improving the quality of care to the patients, families and communities they serve, the 24 ABMS Member Boards develop educational and professional standards and programs of assessment to certify physicians and medical specialists. More than 975,000 physicians and medical specialists are certified by one or more of the ABMS Member Boards in one or more of 40 specialties and 89 subspecialties. For more information about ABMS, visit abms.org or call (312) 436-2600. SOURCE American Board of Medical Specialties AKRON, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Akron Children's Hospital and GlobalCastMD will co-host the Second World Congress on Cardioneuroablation, a live, virtual conference, on Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. EDT, 8 a.m. PDT. Moderated by Drs. Jose Carlos Pachon and John Clark, both pioneers in cardioneuroablation (CNA), they will discuss their successes in treating patients with slow heart rhythms and conditions such as vasovagal syncope, intermittent heart block, and sinus node dysfunction. Dr. Pachon is director of the Sao Paulo Heart Hospital Arrhythmia Service in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Clark is director of electrophysiology at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. "CNA was discovered in the late 1990s when cardiologists were first learning how to do ablations on atrial fibrillations," said Dr. Clark. "Some took note that, in certain areas where they were trying to ablate the atrial fibrillation, they would alter the patient's heart rate. In later investigations, we learned those areas have heavy input from the vagus nerve the nerve that tells the heart to slow down. Dr. Pachon put this together - that we could use the same procedure to help patients whose heart rates are too slow." After several trips to Brazil to train under Dr. Pachon, Dr. Clark added his own expertise to the collaboration: That most all of the CNA procedures can be performed without fluoroscopy, thus eliminating the patient's exposure to radiation. During the conference, Drs. Pachon and Clark will review outcome data from the past 20 years and present case studies of patients who were good candidates for CNA, patients whose lives had previously been upended by uncontrolled fainting and seizures. Participants will also get to "virtually" shadow them at work in their cardiac catheterization labs. This conference is suggested for not only electrophysiologists and cardiologists, but also neurologists, general medicine practitioners, emergency medicine physicians, pediatricians, and allied health professionals. For more information, go to https://globalcastmd.com. To register, go to GCMD.CO/EPCONFERENCE. About Akron Children's Akron Children's is an independent, nonprofit pediatric health care system that has been caring for children in northeast Ohio since 1890. With two hospital campuses, six regional health centers and more than 50 primary and specialty care locations throughout Ohio, we are making it easier for today's busy families to find the high-quality care they need. We also operate neonatal and pediatric units in the hospitals of our regional health care partners. In 2022, our health care system provided more than 1.3 million patient encounters. Every year, our Akron Children's Home Care nurses provide thousands of in-home visits, and our School-Based Health Center nurses manage clinic visits for students from preschool through high school. With our Quick Care Online virtual visits and Akron Children's Anywhere app, we are here for families whenever and wherever they need us. Learn more at akronchildrens.org. SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital MEET THE PRESS California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared on NBCs Meet the Press that while he believes that GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is functionally authoritarian, he feels that the vengeance in Donald Trump's heart right now is more of a threat to democracy in the United States. Addressing speculation that he is considering a 2024 White House run if President Joe Biden decides to step aside, the Democratic governor said that we need to move past this notion that he's not going to run. He also added that he could not imagine ever running against Vice President Kamala Harris for president. In his wide-ranging conversation with NBC anchor Chuck Todd that aired on Sunday, Newsom seemed intent to tamp down the rumors that hes positioning himself to replace Biden on the Democratic ticket amid growing concerns over the presidents age and sagging poll numbers. Besides heaping praise on Bidens record as commander-in-chief, Newsom also sought to frame the upcoming election as a referendum on the existence of democracy itself. Filing deadlines haven't passed. [If] President Biden doesnt run, why shouldnt we consider you a likely candidate? Todd wondered. WATCH: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) says Democrats need to move past their worries about whether President Biden is really running for re-election.@chucktodd: What do you tell donors who are handwringing over this?@GavinNewsom: Time to move on. Lets go. pic.twitter.com/T97LFl21MA Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 10, 2023 Well, I think the vice president is naturally the one lined up and the filing deadlines are quickly coming to pass, and I think we need to move past this notion that hes not going to run, Newsom responded. President Biden is going to run, and looking forward to getting him reelected. I think there's been so much wallowing in the last few months, and handwringing in this respect. But we're gearing up for the campaign. Were looking forward to it. Story continues Calling himself old-fashioned, the governor said that if for any reason Biden didnt seek re-election, the vice president would be the natural replacement and he wouldnt look to supersede her. He also insisted that there was no bad blood between him and Harris, though he did concede that she and her staff could be upset about his proposed Fox News debate with DeSantis, which some have interpreted as a potential precursor to a 2024 campaign launch. Apparently someone in her office is because I read some off-the-record quotes, he told Todd. I wish I knew who that was. But I don't hear it from her soand Im certainly not hearing it from the White House itself. Outside of calling for Democrats to be more muscular in promoting Bidens accomplishments as president, Newsom said the unique dangers that Trumpism and the quadruply indicted ex-president pose should also be on the top of the partys mind. WATCH: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) tells @chucktodd that he thinks Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is functionally authoritarian, but hes more worried about former President Trump.@GavinNewsom: I think the vengeance in Donald Trumps heart right now is more of a threat. pic.twitter.com/FDw4QjKPlS Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 10, 2023 Do you think another four years of Donald Trump will break us? Todd asked. I hope we don't have to experience that. But I worry about democracy. I worry about the fetishness for autocracy that we're seeing not just from Trump, but around the world, and notably across this country, Newsom responded. Ive made the point about DeSantis that I think hes functionally authoritarian. I'm worried more, in many respects, about Trumpism which transcends well beyond his term and time in tenure. Pressed on whether he felt the twice-impeached former president, who recently called Newsom a friend, or the ultra-conservative Florida governor represented a greater threat to democracy, Newsom said he was concerned about democracy fundamentally before eventually naming Trump. I think the vengeance in Donald Trumps heart right now is more of a threat, he concluded. In the wake of his 91 criminal charges over four separate cases, Trump has essentially made the focus of his 2024 presidential campaign on seeking revenge against Biden and other prominent Democrats. Do you regret not locking [Hillary Clinton] up? And if youre president again, will you lock people up? right-wing pundit Glenn Beck asked Trump last month. The answer is you have no choice, because theyre doing it to us, Trump replied. 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. NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The antiemetic drug market size is expected to grow by USD 1.63 billion from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the growth of the market will progress at a CAGR of 6.47% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market has been segmented by Application (Chemotherapy, Surgery, Gastroenteritis, and Others), the drug Class (5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT 3) receptor antagonist, dopamine antagonist, neurokinin-1 (NK 1) receptor antagonist, cannabinoid receptor antagonist, and others), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). North America will contribute 37% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The US, Canada, and Mexico are major contributors to the market growth in the region. It represents a key region for the development, manufacturing, and consumption of antiemetic drugs. Furthermore, various leading pharmaceuticals are based in North America, developing and manufacturing antiepileptic medicines. Hence, such factors drive the antiemetic drug market in the North American region during the forecast period. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read PDF Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Antiemetic Drug Market 2023-2027 Company Profile: Algen Healthcare Ltd., Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Bristol Laboratories Ltd., Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Cipla Ltd., Eagle Pharmaceuticals Inc., Fresenius SE and Co. KGaA, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Heron Therapeutics Inc., Lupin Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., RedHill Biopharma Ltd., Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Viatris Inc. Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH - The company offers an antiemetic drug, namely OFEV. To gain access to more vendor profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Antiemetic Drug Market: Segmentation Analysis By Segment - The chemotherapy segment will be significant during the forecast period. These drugs are effective at removing cancer cells, but they can also be harmful to normal cell types, such as those in the gut and vomiting centers of the brain. Furthermore, the management of CINV typically involves a combination of antiemetic medications targeting multiple pathways involved in the development of nausea and vomiting. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a PDF Sample Report "Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio Antiemetic Drug Market: Driver & Trend: Drivers Rising geriatric population globally Growing prevalence of nausea and vomiting Increasing healthcare expenditure The increasing healthcare expenditure drives the growth of the antiemetic drug market. Factors like population growth, aging demographics, technological progress, and the prevalence of chronic diseases drive the growth of health expenditures across the world. Also, the growth of the worldwide market for antiepileptic drugs is underpinned by increasing access to healthcare and coverage. Since more individuals gain access to healthcare services, the demand for various medications, including antiemetic drugs, increases. Hence, such factors drive the growth of the antiemetic drug market during the forecast period. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download sample to gain access to this information. Related Reports: The Antibacterial Drugs Market size is estimated to grow by USD 9,908.11 million at a CAGR of 4.21% between 2022 and 2027. Technavio has segmented the market into Route Of Administration, Drug Class, and Geography. One of the key factors driving the antibacterial drugs market growth is the rising aging population globally. The global large molecule injectable drugs market size is estimated to grow by USD 191.45 billion at a CAGR of 7.86% between 2022 and 2027. Technavio has segmented the market into End-user, Type, and Geography. The increased focus on precision medicine and personalized therapies is a key trend in the market. What are the key data covered in this antiemetic drug market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the antiemetic drug market between 2022 and 2027. Precise estimation of the antiemetic drug market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the antiemetic drug market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of antiemetic drug market vendors. ToC: Excustive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Application Market Segmentation by Drug Class Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Awarded work will be delivered at various U.S. military installations and sites around the world HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis U.S. Inc , a leading global design and consultancy organization for natural and built assets, is pleased to announce its selection to perform environmental and remediation services for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Huntsville District. Arcadis is one of nine firms to be selected as part of an $800 million shared capacity framework contract. During the contract's five-year performance period, companies will compete for projects under a competitive bidding process. The scope of services under the framework includes the removal, transport and disposal of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) containing Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from fire suppression systems. PFAS are a widely used group of chemicals that do not break down in the environment and are therefore difficult to treat. Arcadis will be employing innovative techniques including creating an AFFF foam transition digital tool to collect, organize and report data gathered by field personnel during foam transition activities, as well as replacing firefighting foams with equivalent substances that do not contain PFAS. These AFFF support services will be delivered at various U.S. Department of Defense commands and installations and other federal agencies located across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, the U.S. territories and outlying areas. Tom Rose, Federal Sector Leader for Arcadis, said: "We're honored to provide long-term clients like USACE with our proven solutions and leading technical expertise that not only address and limit the environmental impacts of PFAS, but also support global efforts around sustainability." Frank Goossensen, Global Resilience Growth Leader for Arcadis, added: "PFAS and other emerging contaminants are a big issue around the globe and, as we grow our understanding of their impact on the environment, we are also making huge strides in learning how to contain or treat them so as to minimize future harm. Rapidly evolving regulations make this an increasingly important issue and I'm pleased that, by working with clients such as USACE, we can apply our technical innovation to tackle one of the biggest remediation challenges of today." ABOUT ARCADIS Arcadis is the leading global design & consultancy organization for natural and built assets. We maximize impact for our clients and the communities they serve by providing effective solutions through sustainable outcomes, focus and scale, and digitalization. We are 36,000 people, active in more than 70 countries that generate 4.0 billion in gross revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1838726/Arcadis_Logo.jpg SOURCE Arcadis NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The autoclave market is expected to grow by USD 571.78 million from 2022 to 2027. In addition, the momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 6.14% during the forecast period, according to Technavio Research. The market has been segmented by type (vertical autoclaves, horizontal autoclaves, and others), end-user (healthcare facilities and diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device companies, and academic and research institutes), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). North America is estimated to contribute 34% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The growing number of surgical procedures, coupled with the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, the presence of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies, and the increasing investment in research activities public and private research and development (R&D), as the main drivers of growth. of the autoclave market in North America. In addition, increasing healthcare costs and the presence of prominent providers are driving market growth in the region. The prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases has increased across North America. Heart disease is one of the most diagnosed diseases of all ages in North America. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth in the region during the forecast period. This report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Read PDF Sample Report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Autoclave Market 2023-2027 Company Profile: ANTONIO MATACHANA SA, Azbil Corp., Celitron Medical Technologies Kft., De Lama Spa, Fedegari Autoclavi Spa, Getinge AB, Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., LTE Scientific Ltd., MELAG Medizintechnik GmbH and Co. KG, Metall Zug AG, PHC Holdings Corp., Rodwell Engineering Group Ltd., Sakura Global Holding Co. Ltd., STERIS Corp., Tuttnauer Israel Ltd., Yamato Scientific Co. Ltd., ZIRBUS technology GmbH, Astell Scientific, Benchmark Scientific Inc., and Stahlbau engineering gmbh ANTONIO MATACHANA SA - The company offers autoclave products such as medical autoclave S2000. To gain access to more company profiles available with Technavio, buy the report! Autoclave Market: Segmentation Analysis The market share growth by the vertical autoclaves segment will be significant during the forecast period. They provide solutions for hospitals and clinics where reliable sterilization is critical. Other advantages of vertical autoclaves include greater portability and ease of use, making them very popular and practical. Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a PDF Sample Report "Besides analyzing the current market scenario, our report examines historic data from 2017 to 2021"- Technavio Autoclave Market: Drivers: Increasing need for waste management in healthcare facilities Increasing surgical procedures coupled with the sterilization of medical devices Growing demand for autoclave equipment to prevent HAIs The increasing need for waste management in healthcare facilities is a key factor driving market growth. Hospital waste is generated as a by-product of various diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in healthcare facilities. These may include radioactive waste, infectious waste, hazardous waste, or common hospital waste. Medical waste disposal methods are used by healthcare providers to deal with the huge amount of biohazardous waste generated. Autoclaving, chemical sterilization, and packaging are the main solutions used by healthcare providers prior to medical waste disposal. The autoclave is mainly used as a heat treatment device to kill microorganisms before the waste is further treated or destroyed in a conventional landfill. Providers such as Celitron Medical Technologies Kft. (Celitron Medical Technologies) and Tuttnauer offers a wide range of autoclaves for the treatment of medical waste generated by healthcare facilities by sterilization. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market. Download to gain access to this information. Related Reports: The companion diagnostics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.59% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 11,029.63 million. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by end-user (life science, health centers, and others), indication (oncology, neurology, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The rising use of personalized medicine is a key factor driving market growth during the forecast period. The cancer diagnostics market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.3% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 12,626.21 million. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by end-user (hospitals and clinics, and diagnostic laboratories), type (IVD, imaging, and IDT), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The high prevalence of cancer is a key factor driving market growth during the forecast period. What are the key data covered in this autoclave market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the autoclave market between 2022 and 2027. Precise estimation of the autoclave market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the market across North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about companies Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of autoclave market companies. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by End-User Market Segmentation by Type Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive slack adjuster market size is expected to grow by USD 639.33 million from 2022 to 2027, progressing at a CAGR of 6.37% as per the latest Technavio market research report. The report has been segmented by type (Automatic slack adjuster and Manual slack adjuster), vehicle type (heavy commercial vehicle segment, light commercial vehicles, passenger cars), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). Rising emphasis on road safety and the need to reduce accidents is notably driving the market growth. Automotive slack adjusters are installed in commercial vehicles to mitigate collisions. The surge in road fatalities aligns with the increasing vehicle count, with developing nations like India and China experiencing a steeper rise in road accidents due to their accelerated automotive sector growth. Notably, accidents stem from lane deviations, loss of vehicle control due to speeding, and rear-end collisions within the same lane. These collisions can be attributed to factors including driver misjudgments, vehicle malfunctions, and environmental circumstances. Consequently, the imperative to curtail accidents linked to commercial vehicles underscores the augmented requirement for commercial vehicle automotive slack adjusters. This demand is poised to drive the expansion of the automotive slack adjuster market during the forecast period. Discover insights on market size before buying the full report- Download the sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Slack Adjuster Market 2023-2027 Automotive Slack Adjuster Market: Segment Overview This market research report segments the automotive slack adjuster market by type (Automatic slack adjuster and Manual slack adjuster), (heavy commercial vehicle segment, light commercial vehicles, passenger cars), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The automatic slack adjuster segment is estimated to grow significantly during the forecast period. The automatic slack adjuster is designed to autonomously regulate brake shoes with deteriorated linings, ensuring optimal clearance between the brake shoes and the brake drum surface. In operation, when the brake pedal is engaged, air enters the brake chamber, propelling the pushrod outward. This action triggers the movement of the automatic slack adjuster, ultimately leading to the vehicle's cessation. These factors collectively contribute to elevating the growth of the automatic slack adjusters segment within the global automotive slack adjuster market during the forecast period. Geography Overview: APAC is estimated to contribute 44% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Anticipated growth in the automotive slack adjuster market within the region is attributed to the significant prevalence of rear-end collisions, particularly in the burgeoning economies of China and India . The escalating safety consciousness among regional consumers further bolsters this market's expansion. Established nations such as Japan , Australia , and China are progressively integrating automatic emergency braking systems. Notably, Japan leads in the adoption of automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems, with numerous brands incorporating such systems across their vehicle lineup. This trend is poised to serve as a driving force for the APAC automotive slack adjuster market during the forecast period. For now, get a snapshot of the comprehensive report Download Sample Recent trends influencing the market Integration of advanced safety technologies in passenger vehicles to gain higher safety ratings is the key trend shaping the growth of the global automotive slack adjuster market. Major challenges hindering the market growth Increasing cost pressures on OEMs is the significant challenge that hinders the growth of the global automotive slack adjuster market. Driver, Trend and challenges are the factor of market dynamics which states about consequences & sustainability of the businesses, Find more insights from a sample report! What are the key data covered in the Automotive Slack Adjuster Market reports: Historic Market size Company landscape and analysis including Accuride Corp., Alon Automotive SL, Aydinsan, Cummins Inc., EnPro Industries Inc., Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG, Knorr-Bremse AG, Longzhong Holding Group Co. Ltd., MarkLines Co Ltd., MEI Brakes Ltd., Ningbo Heli Brake Systems Co Ltd., SAF HOLLAND SE , TSE Brakes Inc., Wabtec Corp., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Zhejiang Aodi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Lujie Machinery Co Ltd., ZHEJIANG ROADAGE MACHINERY CO. LTD., Zhejiang VIE Science and Technology, and Zhejiang VOB Technology Co Ltd. , TSE Brakes Inc., Wabtec Corp., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Zhejiang Aodi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Lujie Machinery Co Ltd., ROADAGE MACHINERY CO. LTD., Zhejiang VIE Science and Technology, and Zhejiang VOB Technology Co Ltd. Access for a trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: Automotive Paintless Dent Removal Tools Market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.24% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 398.73 million. The growth of the market depends on several factors such as the Low cost of PDR tools, the benefits associated with PDR tools to increase aftermarket value of in-vehicle, and the increase in average age of vehicles leads to increasing dent and repairing services. The automotive e-compressor market share is expected to increase by USD 7.45 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 25.65%. This report extensively covers automotive e-compressor market segmentation by application (passenger cars and commercial vehicles) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing adoption of automotive electric HVAC compressors is one of the key drivers supporting the automotive e-compressor market growth. Automotive Slack Adjuster Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.37% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 639.33 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 5.29 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 44% Key countries US, Canada, China, Japan, and India Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Accuride Corp., Alon Automotive SL, Aydinsan, Cummins Inc., EnPro Industries Inc., Ferdinand Bilstein GmbH + Co. KG, Knorr-Bremse AG, Longzhong Holding Group Co. Ltd., MarkLines Co Ltd., MEI Brakes Ltd., Ningbo Heli Brake Systems Co Ltd., SAF HOLLAND SE, TSE Brakes Inc., Wabtec Corp., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Zhejiang Aodi Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Lujie Machinery Co Ltd., ZHEJIANG ROADAGE MACHINERY CO. LTD., Zhejiang VIE Science and Technology, and Zhejiang VOB Technology Co Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation by Type 7 Market Segmentation by Geography 8 Customer Landscape 9 Geographic Landscape 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 11 Vendor Landscape 12 Vendor Analysis 13 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Kelli Mehrens, Paypal's Most Recent Vice President of Risk and Compliance Planning, Governance and Reporting Joins Avior to Oversee the Integration of Their Wealth And Accounting Operations OMAHA, Neb., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Avior Wealth Management prepares for its next phase of growth by redefining some leadership roles and strengthening its core management structure. On September 5th, Avior announced the appointment of Kelli Mehrens as the firm's first Chief Operating Officer (COO). Kelli brings a wealth of experience in project management, process design, organizational integration, governance, and team leadership. Her mission is to unite Avior's wealth and tax operations into a cohesive and efficient unit. With an impressive career history centered around building and leading teams, Kelli's most recent role at PayPal as the head of their Risk and Compliance Governance program demonstrates her expertise in managing complex operations. As Avior's COO, Kelli will leverage her skills to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the company. Kelli is excited to join Avior Wealth Management and contribute her extensive knowledge to the firm. Avior Wealth prepares for its next phase of growth by redefining and strengthening its core management team. Post this "I am delighted to welcome Kelli Mehrens as Avior's first Chief Operating Officer. Kelli's exceptional track record in project management, process design, and team leadership makes her the ideal candidate to unite and strengthen our operations. Her appointment reflects our commitment to enhancing client experience and operational excellence at Avior Wealth Management." Britt Campbell, Managing Director of Avior Wealth Interested in partnering with Avior? Learn more here: https://meetaviorwealth.com/ Additionally, Cindi Bohrer will transition from Director of Operations, overseeing all of Avior's wealth and tax operations in addition to its human resources, to the role of Avior's first Director of Human Resources. This shift will bring a deeper focus to Avior's HR department. Starting on January 1st, Scott Cavey will be promoted from Director of Wealth Advisors to serve as Avior's first President of the wealth management business. Additionally, Britt Campbell will move from Managing Director to take on the role of Avior's first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Britt's responsibilities will include the continued development and implementation of core values, senior leadership team oversight, ownership group management, and the execution of the firm's companywide goals. Avior Wealth Management is confident that these strategic appointments will drive the firm's growth and success, further enhancing the services provided to their valued clients. They look forward to the positive impact Kelli Mehrens, Cindi Bohrer, Scott Cavey, and Britt Campbell will bring to Avior as they assume their new roles. About Avior Wealth Management, LLC: Avior Wealth Management, LLC, formerly Nelson, Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group, LLC, is a SEC Registered Investment Advisor that offers financial planning and investment management services to retail and institutional clients across the United States. Avior Wealth Management, LLC and its predecessor was formed in 2011 to offer clients a holistic approach to their investments, financial planning and wealth management. With office currently located in seven states, we offer clients a team approach to their financial needs. Avior Wealth Management has a wholly owned subsidiary, Avior Tax and Accounting, that offers accounting services to individuals and entities. Please note, investments are not guaranteed and subject to risk, including loss of principal invested. Investment management and financial planning services offered through Avior Wealth Management, LLC a registered investment advisor. Investments involve varying degrees of risk and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any investment or investment strategy will be profitable or equal past performance results. All investments subject to loss including the loss of principle. Nothing contained herein should be construed as tax or legal advice. Specific, individual tax questions should be asked of your CPA or accountant and legal advice should be asked of your lawyer or legal advisor. CONTACT: Audrey M. Keel, Marketing Manager AVIOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT 210.822.5252 [email protected] SOURCE Avior Wealth Management BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing Friday, honoring foreign friends who have promoted humanity's shared values, and facilitated cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world and mutual learning among global civilizations. The Orchid Awards is spearheaded by China International Communications Group, and the Orchid Awards Secretariat is located at the China Center for International Communication Development. The inaugural Orchid Awards ceremony was held in Beijing Friday, honoring foreign friends who have promoted humanity's shared values, and facilitated cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world and mutual learning among global civilizations. 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, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Among the ten foreign awardees were Joseph W. Polisi from the United States, Essam Sharaf from Egypt, Flora Botton Beja from Mexico, and David Ferguson from the United Kingdom. The awardees agreed that fostering deeper people-to-people exchanges and cultivating mutual understanding represented a shared global aspiration. In light of this, they called for more cultural envoys to promote exchanges and mutual learning among diverse civilizations. Regarding their roles in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, the awardees pledged more contributions to enhancing consensus among societies and promoting closer people-to-people ties. Over 300 people from relevant central departments, international organizations, diplomatic envoys in China, representatives of Chinese and foreign think tanks and media organizations attended the ceremony. An international cultural forum was held after the award ceremony. Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206269/Orchid_Awards.mp4 SOURCE China International Communications Group SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 9th, 2023, Biosyngen Pte Ltd (hereafter as "Biosyngen") announced that the U.S. FDA has cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Phase I/II clinical trial of BRL03 for the treatment of lung cancer, gastric cancer and other advanced solid tumors. The approval granted to BRL03, the company's third first-in-class therapy, marks another breakthrough Biosyngen made in the CGT field. Notably, BRL03 is also the first TCR-T product developed by Biosyngen to enter clinical trials. This significant achievement is attributed to the company's cutting-edge technology and extensive accumulation of capabilities and resources over the years. IDENTIFIER, independently developed technology platform by Biosyngen, provides solid support for discovery and identification of antigen, antibody and TCR. Currently, utilizing the TCR and tumor proteome databases of thousands of individuals, Biosyngen can go from screening to optimization in two weeks to discover the optimal development for different therapeutic needs. With IDENTIFIER, Biosyngen selected TCRs with high specificity and affinity for a wide range of solid tumors, targeting a broad patient base. In addition, the company's MSE-T technology platform allows T cells to be less easily depleted in the microenvironment in solid tumors and to exert tumor suppressing effects more persistently through additional functional module components. Looking back, in December 2022, BRG01, an EBV-targeted CAR-T cell therapy developed by Biosyngen for nasopharyngeal cancer, received IND approval from NMPA. In February 2023, BRG01 obtained U.S. FDA approval for the same indication to commence Phase I/II clinical trials. It is expected that the Phase I clinical trial of BRG01 will be completed by the end of 2023. The IND application of BRG01 for the treatment of EBV-positive lymphoma has also been approved by NMPA and U.S. FDA earlier this year in April. The successful filing of BRL03 marks a significant milestone for the company's strategy featuring diverse pipelines. Alongside CAR-T therapies, BRL03 will become Biosyngen's flagship asset in the TCR-T field, with ongoing progress in clinical studies and regulatory consultation. Biosyngen is currently in the process of filing the IND application for BST02, its fourth in the company's pipeline. With the addition of this TIL therapy, the company solidifies its position as a promising biopharmaceutical company with global ambitions, boasting assets in all three major T-cell therapy types, namely, CAR-T, TCR-T, and TIL. Biosyngen remains committed to its mission of addressing unmet clinical needs of patients and pursuing its goal to be a global leader in the development of innovation drugs. About BRL03 Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with 2.21 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths in 2020. As a heterogeneous disease, lung cancer is categorized into two main groups: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gastric cancer has about 1.27 million new cases and 957,000 deaths globally every year, accounting for the 3rd most deadly of all malignant tumors. Gastric cancer is also one of the more common malignant solid tumors in China, with incidence and deaths accounting for 42.6% and 45.0% worldwide. BRL03 developed by Biosyngen is an engineered T cell therapy, also known as a type of adoptive immune cell therapy for lung cancer, gastric cancer and other solid tumors. Patients' T cells were isolated and genetically modified in a GMP-compliant facility to enhance their ability to recognize and attack specific antigens on cancer cells. The modified T cells are expanded ex vivo and infused back into the patient. The infused T cells would bind to specific antigen on the cancer cells to mediate tumor killing. The preliminary safety and efficacy of BRL03 have been demonstrated in data from exploratory clinical trials. About Biosyngen Biosyngen is a cell and gene therapy biotechnology company, focusing on R&D in immunotherapy and drug development; to achieve the best outcome for cancer patients. The company's R&D team consists of multinationals from Singapore, China, Germany, Australia, France and the US, many of whom received their Phd. from renowned universities. Biosyngen's strategy of dual R&D centres and dual GMP facilities in Singapore and China, firmly anchors it as an Asian company towards a global ambition. The company's product pipeline potentially addresses an estimated value of 50 billion USD in the global oncology market. Biosyngen possesses exclusive licenses and patented therapies targeting multiple solid tumors and hematological malignancies including nasopharyngeal cancer, gastric cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and EBV-positive hematological malignancies. The company's first-in-class product BRG01 was granted IND approval by US FDA and CN NMPA for Phase I/II clinical trial. BRG01 indicated for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma has also been granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) and Fast Track Designation (FTD) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Biosyngen is also one of a few biopharmaceutical companies that possess a portfolio consisting of CAR-T, TCR-T, TIL and other advanced cell therapies. Based in Singapore and Guangzhou, Biosyngen collaborate closely with the world's leading biomedical research and clinical institutes including A*STAR, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, Hannover Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center and a network of hospitals to advance R&D, develop products and conduct clinical trials in Singapore, Australia and China. Through our R&D capability and translational medicine platform, Biosyngen have been able to engage the end-to-end cycle in drug development from lead identification, preclinical studies, cell production, quality control, regulatory filing, to clinical studies - integrating the entire chain of R&D, clinical trial, GMP manufacturing and commercialization. SOURCE Biosyngen NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation ("BNY Mellon") (NYSE: BK) today announced the tender offer consideration (the "Total Consideration") payable in connection with the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Offer") by BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC ("BNYMCM"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of BNY Mellon, which commenced on September 5, 2023, to purchase any and all of the securities of BNY Mellon listed in the table below (the "Securities"). The Offer will expire today, September 11, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, unless extended (such date and time, as it may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). The Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, each dated September 5, 2023, the terms and conditions of which remain unchanged. The Offer to Purchase contains detailed information regarding the terms of the Offer, including the manner in which the Total Consideration was calculated. The table below sets forth the Total Consideration for each series of Securities. Each Reference Yield listed in the table below is based on the bid-side price of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security as quoted on the applicable Bloomberg Reference Page, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, today, as described in the Offer to Purchase. Title of Securities CUSIP Number ISIN Coupon Outstanding Principal Amount (millions) Maturity Date First Par Call Date Workout Date(1) Reference U.S. Treasury Security Bloomberg Reference Page Reference Yield Fixed Spread (Basis Points) Total Consideration(2) 0.350% Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series J due 2023 06406 RAP2 US06406 RAP29 0.350 % $750 12/07/2023 11/07/2023 Maturity 0.50% due 11/30/2023 FIT3 5.639 % +0 bps $987.95 3.350% Senior Medium-Term Notes, Series J due 2025 06406 RBC0 US06406 RBC07 3.350 % $950 04/25/2025 03/25/2025 Maturity 2.625% due 04/15/2025 FIT4 5.186 % +15 bps $969.64 3.430% Fixed/Floating Rate Callable Senior Medium- Term Notes, Series J due 2025 06406 RBF3 US06406 RBF38 3.430 % $700 06/13/2025 06/13/2024 Par Call 2.50% due 05/31/2024 FIT3 5.494 % +15 bps $983.96 (1) The workout date for a Security is the date on which such Security is assumed to be paid down for purposes of calculating the Total Consideration in connection with such Security. (2) Per $1,000 principal amount of Securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase. In addition to the Total Consideration, holders whose Securities are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer, including Securities tendered by guaranteed delivery, will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on their purchased Securities from the last interest payment date for the Securities to, but excluding, the Settlement Date (as defined below). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, the settlement date is expected to be September 14, 2023, or promptly thereafter (the "Settlement Date"). On the Settlement Date, BNYMCM expects to accept for payment Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn before the Expiration Date and Securities validly tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures and to pay the Total Consideration for those Securities. Tenders of Securities pursuant to the Offer may be validly withdrawn at any time before the Expiration Date. Securities subject to the Offer may also be validly withdrawn at any time after the 60th business day after commencement of the Offer if for any reason the Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days after commencement. The Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain customary conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, but is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of Securities being tendered. Subject to applicable law, BNYMCM may, at its sole discretion, waive any condition applicable to the Offer and may extend the Offer. Under certain conditions and as more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, BNYMCM may terminate the Offer before the Expiration Date. The complete terms and conditions of the Offer are set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, which holders are urged to read carefully before making any decision with respect to the Offer. The Offer is open to all registered holders of Securities. A beneficial owner of Securities that are held of record by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee (each, a "Custodian") must instruct such Custodian to tender such Securities on the beneficial owner's behalf in a timely manner. Beneficial owners should be aware that a Custodian may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in an Offer. D.F. King & Co., Inc. is serving as the tender agent and information agent. Requests for documents may be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. by telephone at +1 (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers) or Toll-Free at +1 (800) 814-2879 or email at [email protected]. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are available at the following web address: www.dfking.com/bnymellon. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as Joint Dealer Managers (the "Joint Dealer Managers") for the Offer. Questions regarding the Offer may also be directed to the Joint Dealer Managers as set forth below: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 388 Greenwich Street, Trading 4th Floor New York, New York 10013 Attn: Liability Management Group Collect: +1 (212) 723-6106 Toll-Free: +1 (800) 558-3745 Email: [email protected] Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC 200 West Street New York, New York 10282 Attn: Liability Management Group Collect: +1 (212) 357-1452 Toll-Free: +1 (800) 828-3182 This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase nor the solicitation of an offer to sell any Securities. The Offer is being made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. The Offer is not being made to holders of Securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where the laws require a tender offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the tender offers are made by the Joint Dealer Managers on behalf of BNYMCM. None of BNY Mellon, BNYMCM, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, D.F. King & Co., Inc., or the trustee or security registrar with respect to the Securities, nor any affiliate of any of the foregoing, has made any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Securities in response to the Offer. ABOUT BNY MELLON Established in 1784, BNY Mellon is America's oldest bank and the first company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BK). Today, BNY Mellon powers capital markets around the world through comprehensive solutions that help clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment life cycle. BNY Mellon had $46.9 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $1.9 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2023. BNY Mellon has been named among Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies and Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on LinkedIn or visit our Newsroom for the latest company news. Contacts: Media Garrett Marquis +1 949 683 1503 garrett[email protected] Analysts Marius Merz +1 212 298 1480 [email protected] SOURCE BNY Mellon TAKING INSPIRATION FROM ICONIC GIN COCKTAILS LIKE THE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE FRENCH 75, MARTINI, AND COLLINS, THE COLLECTION DEBUTED FRIDAY AT CHRISTIAN SIRIANO'S NYFW SHOW. HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BOMBAY SAPPHIRE announces the continuation of the brand's 'Saw This, Made This' campaign by partnering with legendary fashion designer and creative visionary Christian Siriano to create a cocktail couture collection. Renowned for his boundary-pushing designs and inclusive approach to fashion, Siriano took inspiration from iconic BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin cocktails to create a French 75-inspired haute couture gown, which took center stage at the brand's Spring/Summer 2024 NYFW show Friday at The Pierre Hotel in New York City, as well as a gin cocktail attire capsule collection to release in time for the holiday season. COURTESY OF BOMBAY SAPPHIRE / Stephanie Pistel COURTESY OF BOMBAY SAPPHIRE / SANSHO SCOTT Siriano's French 75-inspired gown was designed with flourishes that transmute the celebratory cocktail's zip of bubbles, tang of lemon juice, and bright notes of gin. Created from champagne-tinged accents and with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE's iconic, blue-tinged bottle in mind, the gown is infused with custom BOMBAY SAPPHIRE-dyed fabrics and harkens back to the color profile and effervescence of the BOMBAY French 75. To bring the ethos of the collection to everyone and inspire people to experiment with their own creativity and style, Siriano will be releasing a limited-edition capsule collection to follow the French 75-inspired gown. Literally and figuratively embodying cocktail party couture, the capsule collection will take inspiration from three iconic gin cocktails - the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin & Tonic, Martini, and Collins - and be available just in time for the holiday season. The perfect gift for fashion and spirits lovers alike, the collection will be available to purchase this autumn on ChristianSiriano.com. Marking the continuation of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE 'Saw This, Made This' campaign launched by acclaimed film director Baz Luhrmann last year, the cocktail-inspired collection is designed to push the boundaries of fashion and encourage people to see the creative inspiration that exists all around them. As the newly appointed creative catalyst of the campaign, Siriano said "As a designer, I find endless excitement in exploring disruptive ways to construct garments and challenge myself creatively. Partnering with Bombay Sapphire for the 'Saw This, Made This' campaign has allowed me to design a collection that transforms classic cocktail culture into fashion. By continuing to explore my creative boundaries and find inspiration in the unexpected, in this case, the silhouette of a French 75 cocktail, I hope to inspire others to discover uncharted territories of their imagination." "As a brand who has always championed all forms of artistic expression, we've loved working with Christian to unlock a new form of creative inspiration for his designs," said Jaime Keller, Brand Director of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE. "Saw This, Made This has always been about finding new and unique points of inspiration and Christian has shown that imagination shows no limits and that visual prompts can turn into tangible, beautiful creations. With the release of this partnership, we hope that audiences will tap into their own creativity and uncover the inspiration that permeates the world around them." Share your creative inspiration using #SawThisMadeThis. Visit BOMBAY SAPPHIRE social channels to find out more. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE French 75 2 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE 3 oz MARTINI Prosecco oz freshly squeezed lemon juice oz sugar syrup Lemon twist to garnish Method: Shake all of the ingredients (except Prosecco) briefly with cubed ice for around 10 seconds. Fine strain the mixture into a chilled, straight sided wine glass including 3oz of Prosecco. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin & Tonic 1 part BOMBAY SAPPHIRE 3 parts FEVER-TREE Indian Tonic Water Lime Method: Fill balloon glass with ice, stir well to chill your glass, and strain out the extra liquid. Add gin and tonic and stir well. Garnish with lime and enjoy. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Martini 3 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE oz MARTINI Dry Vermouth Garnish with lemon twist or olives Method: Chill coupe or Martini glass in the freezer. Build the contents of the cocktail in a mixing glass with ice. Stir well for 45 seconds and serve into the chilled coupe or Martini glass. Garnish with lemon twist or olives. Sip & Enjoy! BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Collins 1 oz BOMBAY SAPPHIRE oz freshly squeezed lemon juice oz sugar syrup 2 oz soda water 1 lemon wedge Method: Measure all ingredients (except the soda) into a cocktail shaker. Shake with cubed ice for 5 seconds, then pour entire contents into a balloon glass. Top with chilled & freshly opened soda water. Garnish with a fresh lemon wedge. ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE: Based on a 1761 recipe, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin is created by perfectly balancing a unique combination of 10 hand-selected exotic botanicals from around the world. The design of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE distillery at Laverstoke Mill has won a BREEAM award for sustainability and is the home of the unique Vapour Infusion process, where the natural flavours of the botanicals are skillfully captured, resulting in the fresh and vibrant taste with which BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is synonymous. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is on a mission to be the world's most sustainable international gin, with all 10 botanicals certified sustainably sourced. The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND CREATIVITY: With its 'Stir Creativity' campaign, launched in 2018, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is leading a global mission - a call to arms for everyone to engage with their creativity and unlock their creative potential. From advocacy programmes including the World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition, which has run in the US for over a decade, to hosting The Glasshouse Project, which brings together the world's top bartenders in a series of creative workshops designed to push the boundaries of cocktail creativity. For eight years, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ran The Artisan Series, an art competition created by the brand to provide emerging artists with an international platform. About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter. About Christian Siriano Award-winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano has established himself as a tour de force in the fashion world since launching his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Siriano's designs have been worn by today's biggest stars including current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Cardi B, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Coolidge, to name but a few. With nearly two decades of fashion experience under his belt, the Siriano design studio continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in this ever-changing fashion industry. As a result, Christian's work has been featured in a multitude of prestigious museum exhibits including his first ever solo work retrospective titled "Christian Siriano: People Are People" at SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) from October 2021-2022, Kensington Palace's largest exhibition to date (currently on view) titled "Crown to Couture," and The MET Costume Institute where he broke a Met Gala record for having three separate looks featured in the 2021 exhibit "In America: A Lexicon." Christian himself was also named among Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2018 for his leading contributions to body diversity on the runway and red carpet, was a member of Forbes' 30 Under 30 class of 2015, and was the youngest person to ever appear on Crain's "40 Under 40" list at age 24. Apart from his thriving fashion empire, Christian added interior designer (Siriano Interiors) and best-selling author (Dresses to Dream About and Dresses to Dream About: Deluxe Edition) to his impressive list of credits in 2021 and 2017, respectively. He's also currently serving as host and mentor for Season 20 of the iconic Bravo hit series, Project Runway. This Fall will mark a milestone for the brand as it celebrates its 15-year anniversary. www.bombaysapphire.com www.instagram.com/bombaysapphire www.facebook.com/BombaySapphire ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2023 BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND BOMBAY CITRON PRESSE ARE TRADEMARKS IMPORTED BY THE BOMBAY SPIRITS COMPANY U.S.A., CORAL GABLES, FL. GIN - 47% ALC. BY VOL. For more information, please contact [email protected] SOURCE BOMBAY SAPPHIRE SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Boqii Holding Limited ("Boqii," "we" or the "Company") (NYSE: BQ), a leading pet-focused platform in China, today announced the results of its extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held in Shanghai on September 11, 2023 (the "EGM"). At the meeting, the shareholders of the Company approved the following resolutions: AS AN ORDINARY RESOLUTION, in accordance with Article 59 of the Twelfth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect, that the shareholders of the Company hereby authorize, approve, and confirm with immediate effect that the authorized share capital of the Company be increased from US$200,000 divided into 200,000,000 shares of par value of US$0.001 each; comprising (a) 129,500,000 Class A ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; (b) 15,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; and (c) 55,500,000 shares of US$0.001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with its currently effective memorandum and articles of association to US$20,000,000 divided into 20,000,000,000 shares of par value of US$0.001 each, comprising (a) 15,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; (b) 2,000,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; and (c) 3,000,000,000 shares of US$0.001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors of the Company may determine in accordance with its currently effective memorandum and articles of association by the creation of: (i) additional authorized but unissued 14,870,500,000 Class A ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; (ii) additional authorized but unissued 1,985,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each; and (iii) additional authorized but unissued 2,944,500,000 shares of par value of US$0.001 each. AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION, in accordance with Article 61 of the Twelfth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect, that the shareholders of the Company hereby authorize, approve, and confirm with immediate effect that Article 75 of the Twelfth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company currently in effect be amended (the "Amendment") and Thirteenth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association in the form uploaded to the Investor Relations section of the Company's website on the date of the Notice of the EGM be adopted in substitution. About Boqii Holding Limited Boqii Holding Limited (NYSE: BQ) is a leading pet-focused platform in China. We are the leading online destination for pet products and supplies in China with our broad selection of high-quality products including global leading brands, local emerging brands, and our own private label, Yoken, Mocare and D-cat, offered at competitive prices. Our online sales platforms, including Boqii Mall and our flagship stores on third-party e-commerce platforms, provide customers with convenient access to a wide selection of high-quality pet products and an engaging and personalized shopping experience. Our Boqii Community provides an informative and interactive content platform for users to share their knowledge and love for pets. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Boqii Holding Limited Investor Relations Tel: +86-21-6882-6051 Email: [email protected] DLK Advisory Limited Tel: +852-2857-7101 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Boqii Holding Limited Cape Breton Regional Police Chief Robert Walsh, right, says the community is law-abiding, but he credits the local police force for crime stats that are better than the provincial and national averages. (Tom Ayers/CBC - image credit) Cape Breton regional police dealt with fewer crimes last year compared to the previous year and the ones it did investigate were less severe. At the same time, the force was able to solve more crimes, known as the clearance rate. That's all counter to the trends experienced elsewhere, according to Statistics Canada data presented at a Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) police commission meeting on Monday. Those numbers show crime rates and severity went up across Nova Scotia and the rest of the country, while clearance rates generally went down. Chief Robert Walsh said residents are mostly law-abiding, but he also credited the police force for achieving positive results. "I'm very pleased with the efforts that our officers are putting forward," he said. "We do have a very good community, but we have an effective police service." Compares favourably with other cities According to the stats, CBRM's police-reported crime rate per 100,000 population dropped by about 3.5 per cent last year and its crime severity index fell 6.7 per cent. At the same time, the force's overall case clearance rate climbed 9.27 per cent. In addition to besting provincial and national averages, CBRM compared favourably to Halifax, St. John's, N.L., three cities in New Brunswick and Thunder Bay, Ont. Saint John, N.B., was the only one on the list to have a better overall crime rate and a better severity index and Thunder Bay's clearance rate was the only one that beat CBRM. In 2019, a study found the Cape Breton police service had lower crime stats and more officers per capita than other similar jurisdictions. On Monday, Walsh said the service is supposed to have 200 officers, but still has 23 vacancies and he'd like to see those filled. "I'm proud of ... the efforts that have been done and where our crime stats are, but there's always things that we could do better and improve on and I would love to see us reach full complement and the more proactive work that we could do if we were back at close to full staff," he said. Story continues Walsh says thanks to an agressive recruiting strategy, Cape Breton regional police could cut its 23 staff vacancies in half by the end of the year. Walsh says thanks to an agressive recruiting strategy, Cape Breton regional police could cut its 23 staff vacancies in half by the end of the year. (Matthew Moore/CBC) With more officers, Cape Breton police could do more public education and more crime prevention, Walsh said. With an aggressive recruiting strategy this year, the service recently hired two new officers who came from other police agencies and five recruits are expected to graduate and start work in CBRM in the next week or so, he said. Other potential hires are in the works and if they are successful, the force could cut its staff vacancies in half by the end of the year, Walsh said. MORE TOP STORIES Interim interdict prohibits the trophy hunting of African elephants in South Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Humane Society International has learned about a male elephant who was killed in a deeply distressing and tragic trophy hunt at a local game reserve on September 3, 2023, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The elephant suffered through eight gunshots over an extended period of time before finally succumbing to his injuries. This tragic episode contradicts the prevailing South Africa High Court interim interdict, a court order issued after a successful legal challenge brought by Humane Society International/Africa in 2022 against the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and others. The court order explicitly prohibits the allocation of permits for trophy hunting of African elephants, leopard and black rhino in South Africa. Elephant was shot eight times during unlawful hunt in South Africa Post this The elephant was killed at the Maseke Game Reserve, situated within the Balule Nature Reserve, by a hunting party consisting of a client, a hunting guide, a reserve representative and a backup rifleman. According to a publicly released letter issued by Balule Nature Reserve, the client discharged the initial gunshot, wounding the elephant. The reserve representative and the hunting guide fired subsequent shots to bring the elephant down, however these efforts also proved ineffective. The injured elephant sought to escape into the neighbouring Grietjie Game Reserve, an ecotourism reserve, where trophy hunting is prohibited. The injured animal was followed on foot and a helicopter was called to the scene. The elephant was eventually located and was chased back into Maseke Game Reserve by the helicopter where he was finally killed by more gunfire. It is reported that approximately eight shots were discharged into the elephant before the harrowing ordeal was over. Tony Gerrans, executive director for Humane Society International/Africa said, "We are horrified by this unnecessary tragedy. Given the High Court's interdict prohibiting the permitting of elephant hunts, the letter's conclusion that this hunt was lawful is incorrect. Furthermore, no animal should ever experience the pain and suffering that this elephant endured. The practice of trophy hunting is not only profoundly inhumane, but also poses a grave threat to our biodiversity and tarnishes South Africa's global reputation as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination. To injure, chase and kill any animal in this way, is unacceptable." Balule Nature Reserve is a member of the Associated Private Nature Reserves, a group of privately owned nature reserves bordering Kruger National Park. Animals can move freely across the borders of neighbouring reserves. Within the APNR there are some reserves that allow trophy hunting and others that do not, which means that protected animals from one reserve, or even the Kruger National Park, could possibly be killed by trophy hunters within another reserve. Sarah Veatch, director of wildlife policy for Humane Society International, said, "This incident is a serious cause for concern beyond South Africa: it calls attention to the rampant mismanagement, lack of oversight, and cruel nature in the global trophy hunting industry. This is a harsh reminder of Cecil the lion's tragedy in Zimbabwe who suffered from arrow wounds for over 10 hours before he was killed by a trophy hunter, and it happens far more often than these two instances. Permit violations and documented instances of suffering like for this elephant and Cecil, are manifestations of the industry's much larger, dangerous culture of wilful disregard for animals and the law." "This incident once again demonstrates the inhumanity of hunting sentient animals merely for bragging rights and to display parts of their bodies as trophies on a wall. Too many endangered and threatened animals continue to suffer and die within so called 'nature conservation reserves' in what is best described as a blood sport, Gerrans continued. "HSI/Africa has challenged the way this horrifying activity is permitted by the government, and we call on all South African wildlife administrators to abide by the High Court order which prohibits the permitting of elephant, leopard and black rhino hunts until such time as the court can rule on the merits of the permitting process." SOURCE Humane Society International Broadridge rises 7 places in rankings, again earns recognition as a "Fast Track FinTech," and tops capital markets and lending Real Results categories and is the overall Real Results winner NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) was ranked #3 on the 2023 IDC FinTech Rankings Top 100, rising seven spots from its place on the 2022 list. The 2023 rankings mark the ninth consecutive year that Broadridge has been ranked among FinTech leaders. In addition, Broadridge was named alongside clients The Bancorp and Societe Generale as the winner of three 2023 IDC FinTech Rankings Real Results Awards: Lending Transformation, Capital Markets Transformation, and Overall Transformation Project Winner. Broadridge has also been named among a select group of companies as a "Fast Track FinTech," an accolade given only to firms that continue to demonstrate consistent year-over-year financial growth. "We are honored to hold such a prominent position in IDC's rankings. We are especially pleased to lead in three of six Real Results categories including overall winner," said Tim Gokey, CEO of Broadridge. "The financial industry is fiercely competitive, and our clients look to us to help them deliver results. This recognition is testament to the innovation and collaboration Broadridge is driving with our clients as we help them address important new challenges." The Fortune 500-style ranking categorizes and evaluates the top global providers of financial technology. Rankings are based on calendar year revenues from financial institutions for hardware, software and/or services. The providers supply the technological backbone of the financial services industry, which IDC forecasts will spend $590 billion (USD) on IT by 2025. To view the list in its entirety, please visit http://www.idc-fi.com. "IDC has been producing the IDC FinTech Rankings for twenty years and has expanded the program to now include the top 150 solutions providers to ensure we get the most accurate representation of the largest FinTechs in the world," said Marc DeCastro, research director at IDC. "The technology companies on this list provide the innovation necessary to keep the financial services at the forefront of providing modern digital experiences across all aspects of a customer's financial journey." The IDC FinTech Rankings Real Results program is part of the broader IDC FinTech Rankings program, which recognizes IT providers that have enabled a genuine, measurable, and future-enabling change at a client financial institution. Broadridge has been recognized as a winner in the Real Results Lending Transformation category alongside its client, The Bancorp, for its application of machine learning in Broadridge's Securities Based Lending solution. Broadridge has also won in the Capital Markets Transformation category alongside its client, Societe Generale, for its application of Broadridge's Distributed Ledger Repo solution. Broadridge and The Bancorp are the winners of the Overall Transformation Project, which is reserved for the case study that earned the highest scores across all those evaluated. To thrive in a digital economy, financial services organizations must embrace and integrate innovative technologies effectively to enhance the customer experience and achieve operational excellence. Broadridge and the companies featured on the IDC FinTech Rankings represent providers that are committed to helping financial institutions successfully execute their digital transformation initiatives, better serving their global customers. Broadridge provides technology-driven solutions to banks, broker-dealers, portfolio managers, and public companies. The company's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub for thousands of mutual funds and millions of institutional investors. For more information about the IDC rankings, visit http://www.idc-fi.com and follow them on Twitter @IDC and look for #IDCFinTechRankings. About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader with over $6 billion in revenues, provides the critical infrastructure that powers investing, corporate governance, and communications to enable better financial lives. We deliver technology-driven solutions that drive business transformation for banks, broker-dealers, asset and wealth managers and public companies. Broadridge's infrastructure serves as a global communications hub enabling corporate governance by linking thousands of public companies and mutual funds to tens of millions of individual and institutional investors around the world. Our technology and operations platforms underpin the daily trading of more than $10 trillion of equities, fixed income and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500 Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information about us and what we can do for you, please visit www.broadridge.com . Contacts: Investors: W. Edings Thibault Investor Relations + 1 516-472-5129 [email protected] Media: Gregg Rosenberg Corporate Communications +1 212-918-6966 [email protected] SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. 'Our kids deserve more than just adequate, so we're changing the school funding game by building spaces that foster opportunities' DENVER, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- School-budget crowdfunding champion, Unfunded, continues to challenge the status quo by redefining how schools should feel: spaces that are inviting, welcoming, and ripe for intellectual curiosity. Vaishali McCarthy, the founder of Unfunded, likens the situation to the difference between Walmart and Target: unfunded unfunded "While both Walmart and Target offer similar products, it's the atmosphere that sets them apart: One does not have a ceiling, the other does, one has concrete floors, the other has vinyl tile. One space makes you want to stay and enjoy yourself while the other treats you like a commodity. When our schools were first built, they felt like a Target, but as time goes by, with no funding to make improvements, they don't feel like the inviting community hubs that enable effective learning." In a nation where the average public school building is 42 years old, and funding often only covers basic maintenance, Unfunded serves as a conduit for change. The platform not only funds essential works but also important design initiatives that aim to transform the "feel" of educational spaces. "We want to put our kids in makerspaces and creative workshops," McCarthy said. "Imagine walking into a school that feels as inviting as your favorite store, or playground, creative lab, or community building. That's what we're aiming for. Our children deserve to learn in environments that are not just functional but also welcoming and conducive," McCarthy adds. For many districts, the responsibility of financial upkeep falls heavily on overly burdened taxpayers, forcing schools into a cycle of neglect and outdated facilities. Unfunded shifts this narrative by offering an alternative pathway to school improvement. Through story-driven campaigns, the platform highlights the often-overlooked disparities in educational environments, like moving from antiquated chalkboards to cutting-edge interactive whiteboards. "It's high time we addressed the inequities in our educational infrastructure. It should be obvious that an educationally conducive environment significantly influences our children's learning experiences so why aren't we aiming for that?" asks McCarthy. Unfunded's mission goes beyond short-term fixes. By focusing on the long game, the platform envisions a future where learning spaces are equitable, inviting, and effective. The organization partners with charities like No Kid Hungry and others that support mental health and fight homelessness among students furthering Unfunded's commitment to holistic educational betterment. Learn more about Unfunded projects by signing up for the newsletter. And follow them on social media: Facebook, Instagram. About Unfunded Founded by Vaishali McCarthy, licensed architect and board member of the Colorado Department of Education, Unfunded is an innovative online platform dedicated to addressing the chronic underfunding of U.S. public school infrastructure. Unfunded unites communities in need and connects schools with donors, facilitating impactful change in educational environments across the nation. Learn more at: www.un-funded.com. Media Contact: Vaishali McCarthy, Founder 1-303-801-0079 364640@email4pr.com SOURCE unfunded DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "VR Content Creation: Global Strategic Business Report" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The VR industry is undergoing a significant metamorphosis, evident from the tremendous projected growth in the global market for VR Content Creation. According to the latest VR Content Creation Report, the market value that stood at a notable $1.9 Billion in 2022, is gearing up to touch a staggering $288.9 Billion by 2030. Key findings from the report underscore the potential of the Software/Application segment, which is poised to register an exceptional CAGR of 88.3%. The shift is credited to the wave of innovative technologies and advanced software applications shaping the VR landscape. Geographic analysis highlights two major players - the US, with a market evaluation of $567.6 Million in 2022, and China, projected to grow at an 81.5% CAGR, affirming its position as a significant VR hub in the coming years. Japan, Canada, and Germany too are predicted to witness robust growth rates in the VR Content Creation domain. With vital competitor insights and an access to vast digital archives, this report serves as an indispensable tool to comprehend the evolving VR Content Creation market. With complimentary updates for a year, you will always stay one step ahead. The report profiles key players including: 360 Labs LLC Blippar Elysian Studio Private Limited Koncept VR Matterport, Inc. MATTERVR Panedia Pty Ltd. Subvrsive, Inc. Vizor Voxelus WeMakeVR Wevr Intriguing insights and comprehensive market statistics from 2014 to 2030, coupled with details on the post-pandemic recovery, are available in the report. As the VR realm expands its horizons, those interested in leveraging this burgeoning market can access the full report by visiting https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/8spz3u About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets HOUSTON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CITGO Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), today announced the expiration and final results of its previously announced offer to purchase (the "Offer") for cash up to $192.356 million in aggregate principal amount (the "Excess Cash Flow Offer Amount") of its 9.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the "Notes") at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the settlement date, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 10, 2023 (the "Offer to Purchase"). The Offer expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 8, 2023 (the "Expiration Time"). As of the Expiration Time, $51.122 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Time. Because the aggregate principal amount for all Notes tendered in the Offer did not exceed the Excess Cash Flow Offer Amount of $192.356 million, the Company will purchase $51.122 million aggregate principal amount of Notes pursuant to the Offer. Payment for such accepted Notes will be made on September 15, 2023. After giving effect to the purchase of the tendered and accepted Notes, approximately $1.234 billion in aggregate principal amount of the Notes will remain outstanding. The Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of August 1, 2019 (the "Indenture"), by and among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and TMI Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company is obligated to offer to purchase for cash an aggregate principal amount of up to the Excess Cash Flow Offer Amount of its outstanding Notes at the price described above. The Offer was made to satisfy this requirement. The Excess Cash Flow Offer Amount is equal to 50% of the Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries for the Excess Cash Flow Period (as defined in the Indenture). After the commencement of the Offer, the Company issued a conditional notice of redemption for the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof (the "Redemption Price"), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, September 20, 2023 (the "Redemption Date"). The redemption of the Notes on the Redemption Date is conditioned on the completion by the Company or one of its subsidiaries on or prior to the Redemption Date of one or more debt financings, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Company or one of its subsidiaries, as applicable, in its sole and absolute discretion, that, collectively, provide net proceeds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price in full and all fees and expenses related to such debt financings and the redemption (the "Financing Condition"). In the Company's discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until the Financing Condition has been satisfied, or the redemption of the Notes may not occur and the redemption notice may be rescinded in the event that the Financing Condition has not been satisfied by the Redemption Date. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell any securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. About CITGO Holding, Inc. CITGO Holding, Inc. ("CITGO Holding" or the "Company") is the direct parent of CITGO Petroleum Corporation ("CITGO"). CITGO Holding is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PDV Holding, Inc. ("PDV Holding"), a Delaware corporation and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. ("PDVSA" or "ultimate parent"), which is a Venezuelan corporation 100% owned and controlled by the Government of Venezuela. CITGO manufactures or refines and markets transportation fuels as well as petrochemicals, other industrial products and lubricants. We own and operate three large-scale, highly complex petroleum refineries with a total rated crude oil refining capacity of approximately 807,000 barrels per day, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Corpus Christi, Texas and Lemont, Illinois. Our refining operations are supported by an extensive distribution network, which provides reliable access to our refined product end-markets. We own 30 active refined product terminals with a total storage capacity of 7.8 million barrels and have equity ownership of an additional 3.5 million barrels of refined product storage capacity through our joint ownership of an additional eight terminals, spread across 21 states. We own or have an equity interest in four additional terminals, consisting of approximately 1 million barrels of refined storage capacity, which are currently inactive or only utilized to store feedstocks used in refining operations. We also have access to more than 150 active third-party and related-party terminals through exchange, terminalling and similar arrangements. Our retail network consists of approximately 4,200 independently owned and operated CITGO-branded retail outlets located east of the Rocky Mountains. We and our predecessors have had a recognized brand presence in the U.S. for over 100 years. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "will," "would," "should," the negative of these terms and similar terms and phrases. These statements relate to, among other things, expectations regarding revenues, costs and expenses, refining and other margins, profitability, cash flows, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, our working capital requirements and other financial and operating items. These statements also relate to our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position and future operations. Any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Although we believe the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of these assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and the forward-looking statements based on these assumptions could be incorrect. In addition, our business and operations involve numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could result in our expectations not being realized or could otherwise materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We caution readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results that are projected, expressed or implied. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. SOURCE CITGO Petroleum Corporation NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The commercial aircraft leasing market size is expected to grow by USD 15.50 billion between 2021 and 2026. However, the growth momentum of the market will progress at a CAGR of 8.66% during the forecast period. The market is segmented by Product (Narrow-body aircraft, Wide-body aircraft, and Regional aircraft), Type (Wet lease and Dry lease), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The strong market position of Irish and Chinese lessors is one of the primary factors driving the commercial aircraft leasing market growth. Favorable policies of the Irish government contributed to the growth of the market. More than 40% of the leased aircraft in the market are leased by Irish lessors, and this proportion is expected to rise to 50% in the next few years. More than 4,000 aircraft leased worldwide are owned by Irish companies, and these Irish-based lessors have assets of over USD 140 million. Furthermore, China's leasing industry has grown rapidly over the past decade due to favorable regulatory and political support. Chinese leasing companies are increasingly turning to acquisitions to expand their business in aircraft. Hence, these factors are expected to contribute to boosting the growth of the aircraft leasing market during the forecast period. The report analyses the market size and growth and provides accurate predictions on the growth of the market. View a PDF Sample Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Commercial Aircraft Leasing Market 2022- 2026 Key Highlights: The report recognizes the following as some of the key players in the commercial aircraft leasing market: AerCap Holdings N.V., Air Lease Corp., Aircastle Ltd., ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co., Avolon Aerospace Leasing Ltd., Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., BBAM US LP, BOC Aviation Ltd., China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd., Deucalion Aviation Ltd., Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd., Macquarie Group Ltd., Orix Corp., Saab AB, and Tokyo Century Corp. Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd., Macquarie Group Ltd., Orix Corp., Saab AB, and Tokyo Century Corp. Commercial Aircraft Leasing Market is fragmented in nature. Market to observe 6.97% YOY growth in 2022. Market Dynamics: Trend The influence of taxes on leasing is the leading trend driving the growth of the commercial aircraft leasing market during the forecast period. This tax exemption gives aircraft lessors peace of mind. Many countries are encouraging the development of policies in these areas to have a positive impact on the aircraft leasing market. Furthermore, Norway and Switzerland offer some conditional VAT exemptions. The European Union member states (under the European Union Directive 148) provide VAT exemptions with regard to the purchase of Jet A-1 fuel. and offer some conditional VAT exemptions. The European Union member states (under the European Union Directive 148) provide VAT exemptions with regard to the purchase of Jet A-1 fuel. For instance, in 2015, Cyprus introduced novel VAT guidelines concerning the registration of private aircraft. In addition, to avail of VAT exemption, other countries such as Belgium and France operate more than 80% of the flights on international routes. introduced novel VAT guidelines concerning the registration of private aircraft. In addition, to avail of VAT exemption, other countries such as and France operate more than 80% of the flights on international routes. Thus, such initiatives of countries to reduce taxes for airlines will boost the growth of the commercial aircraft leasing market during the forecast period. Challenge The fall in the price of crude oil will be a major challenge impeding the commercial aircraft leasing market during the forecast period. The report also covers information on upcoming trends and challenges. Explore detailed information by purchasing a report Keg Segments: The wet-lease segment is expected to generate maximum revenue in the market throughout the forecast period. Wet leasing enables airline operators to extend their operations into regions where airlines do not have legal permission to operate under their own name. Also, in the wet-lease agreement, the company that owns and manages the aircraft fleet provides aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance services (ACMI) to the lessee. Such benefits are driving the growth of the segment. Get a glance at the market contribution of the segments, Request a Sample Related Reports: The Global Commercial Aircraft Aviation Fuel Market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.65% between 2022 and 2027, and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 49.5 billion. This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft), type (air turbine fuel (ATF), aviation biofuel, and others), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The global commercial aircraft aviation fuel market is propelled by the escalating demand for air travel. The commercial aircraft passenger service unit (PSU) market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.35% between 2022 and 2027, and the size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 319.97 million. This report extensively covers market segmentation by application (narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, and regional aircraft), component (AC vents, loud speakers, automatically deployable oxygen masks, lighting system components, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The development of sleek and attractive PSUs that increase the safety and comfort level in aircraft is notably driving the commercial aircraft PSU market growth. Commercial Aircraft Leasing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.66% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 15.50 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.97 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution APAC at 43% Key countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AerCap Holdings N.V., Air Lease Corp., Aircastle Ltd., ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Co., Avolon Aerospace Leasing Ltd., Bank of Communications Co. Ltd., BBAM US LP, BOC Aviation Ltd., China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd., Deucalion Aviation Ltd., Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd., Macquarie Group Ltd., Orix Corp., Saab AB, and Tokyo Century Corp. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Type Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Combined Offering to Benefit Senior Living Residents and Operators in Commonwealth AUSTIN, Texas and KANSAS CITY, Mo., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Curana Health, a provider of high quality clinical care through value-based programs that benefit residents and senior living organizations, and Serviam, a movement of senior living operators transforming the way America cares for seniors, have launched the Value-Based Care Alliance in Virginiaa coalition that advances the tenants of value-based care among senior living by providing the infrastructure, services, and scale that operators need to effectively succeed in value-based care. The rollout of the Alliance in Virginia is the next step in the partnership between the two organizations, first announced in May. By providing support at the local level, the Alliance is bringing the best in technology, resources, and expertise to senior living operators, and working with them side-by-side to operationalize and deliver value-based care in their communities. At the core of the Alliance is Serviam's HigherPath model of care, an approach that helps seniors maintain the highest possible level of wellness, instead of waiting until they get sick to provide care, which is often more complex and expensive, while providing hands on support at the local level. Essential to unlocking the HigherPath is Curana's proactive, team-based approach to highly coordinated patient care that is proven to enhance the care experience for senior living residents, improve clinical outcomes, and reduce unnecessary and often harmful health care spending. "Bickford Senior Living saw a tremendous improvement in hospital rates, emergency room visits, falls and length of staysthe most common impediments in senior healthby employing Serviam's HigherPath model of care at Bickford's Virginia communities," said Alan Fairbanks, President, Serviam Care Alliance, and former Executive Vice President of Bickford Senior Living. "Through its partnership with Curana Health, Serviam can now take this model of care and replicate it across multiple locations, to encourage better health outcomes through value-based care at even more communities." By making on the ground, local support available at both the provider and operational level, Serviam and Curana have created an innovative way for Assisted Living/Memory Care communities to benefit from the health and financial rewards of value-based care by both reducing barriers that may otherwise prevent them from being involved and providing access to Curana Health's Accountable Care Organization models and Medicare Advantage plans. "Serviam and Curana are making it possible for communities to improve outcomes at the organization level, by creating a unique Alliance that will focus on better health for residents, and better financial health for operators by paying for outcomes produced. It's a winning combination to expediting the promise of delivering high quality, personalized care to seniors," said Chris Dawe, President of Curana Health Medical Group, and member of Serviam's Board of Directors. Fairbanks, who recently transitioned from Bickford Senior Living to Serviam to head up the Alliance, believes accessibility will be key to the adoption of value-based care in the future. "Bickford has been the petri dish for Serviam's HigherPath model of care, with a focus on resources at the local level, being a key driver in better outcomes. By hiring folks in local markets, we can hold the hands of communities and teach them how to integrate this model of care which has proven effective in delivering on the promise of value-based care. No one else is doing that and it is incredibly exciting to see the potential of this Alliance in benefiting our nation's seniors. Greg Corns, formerly with Solterra Companies, has been hired as Vice President of Serviam Care Alliance of Virginia, to provide support to Alliance communities at the local level, with additional hires planned in the coming year. About Curana Health Curana Health is on a mission to improve the health, happiness, and dignity of senior living residents. With a presence in 26 states and partnerships with well over 1,000 senior living communities, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and life plan communities, Curana Health innovates solutions for senior care delivery with a unique focus on prevention and care coordination. Curana Health includes a medical group (Curana Health Medical Group), an operator of Medicare Advantage health plans (AllyAlign Health), and an accountable care organization (Curana Health ACO). To learn more, visit www.curanahealth.com. About Serviam Serviam was created to serve a coalition of senior living providers whose purpose is to transform how America cares for seniors. The rapidly growing Network currently includes 25 operators across 40 states, in more than 700 communities, and more than 60,000 lives. For more information about Serviam Care Network, PBC visit www.via.serviam.org. SOURCE Curana Health NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dental CAD-CAM Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the dental CAD-CAM market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 921.8 million. The high demand for dental cosmetic surgeries is a factor driving the growth of global dental computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). The global cosmetic dentistry market is projected to expand due to the rising demand for tooth whitening, veneers, inlays, onlays, crowns, and bonding that are made of natural-looking materials. Additionally, consumers in developing nations have seen an increase in disposable money, which has lowered the cost of CAD-CAM-assisted dental operations. Furthermore, dental businesses are growing their clientele by promoting their goods and services. The need for dental cosmetic procedures has been driven by a combination of these factors, which are fueling the dental CAD-CAM market during the forecast period. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dental CAD-CAM Market 2023-2027 Market Challenge - The high maintenance and implementation cost for CAD-CAM systems is a major challenge to the global dental CAD-CAM market growth. Dental labs and clinics need to make a large investment to establish dental CAD-CAM systems and related accessories. Additionally, these systems need routine maintenance, which dramatically raises the overall cost of ownership. The high price of CAD-CAM systems and software is a significant element that restricts the market's expansion. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read a Sample PDF Report Now The dental CAD-CAM market is segmented by Product (Dental practice CAD-CAM systems and Dental laboratory CAD-CAM systems), End-user (Dental clinics, Dental laboratories, and Dental milling centers), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). The dental practices CAD-CAM systems segment will gain considerable market share. Factors driving market growth include an increase in the global edentulous population, an increase in cases of dental caries among all age groups, increased awareness of the importance of oral health, and an increase in demand for customized solutions tailored to specific end-use applications in a short time frame. The rise in the number of dental service organizations (DSOs) is increasing this segment's dental CAD-CAM industry. will gain considerable market share. Factors driving market growth include an increase in the global edentulous population, an increase in cases of dental caries among all age groups, increased awareness of the importance of oral health, and an increase in demand for customized solutions tailored to specific end-use applications in a short time frame. The rise in the number of dental service organizations (DSOs) is increasing this segment's dental CAD-CAM industry. Geographical Segment - North America will account for 37% of the market's growth during the forecast period. View a Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the dental CAD-CAM market: 3Shape AS, Align Technology Inc., Amann Girrbach AG, Carestream Dental LLC, Cimsystem Srl, Danaher Corp., Datron AG, Dentsply Sirona Inc., EGS Srl, Hexagon AB, Institut Straumann AG, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Jensen Dental, Kelkar Dynamics LLP, Planmeca Oy, Roland DGA Corp., Schutz Dental GmbH, Yenadent Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., Zirkonzahn Srl Related Reports: The global dental sutures market size is estimated to grow by USD 102.95 million at a CAGR of 6.72% between 2022 and 2027. Technavio has segmented the market into Product, Material, and Geography. North America is estimated to contribute 33% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. The dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) market size is estimated to grow by USD 322.95 million at a CAGR of 7.15% between 2022 and 2027. Technavio has segmented the market into Application, End-user, and Geography.North America is estimated to contribute 38% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Dental CAD-CAM Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.08% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 921.8 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 7.12 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled 3Shape AS, Align Technology Inc., Amann Girrbach AG, Carestream Dental LLC, Cimsystem Srl, Danaher Corp., Datron AG, Dentsply Sirona Inc., EGS Srl, Hexagon AB, Institut Straumann AG, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Jensen Dental, Kelkar Dynamics LLP, Planmeca Oy, Roland DGA Corp., Schutz Dental GmbH, Yenadent Ltd., Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc., and Zirkonzahn Srl Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by End-user Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio The portfolio of 28 community solar projects will provide local solar energy to more than 12,000 customers across four states, including low-and-moderate income households. ATLANTA, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimension Renewable Energy (Dimension), a leading developer and operator of community solar projects, has announced the closing of a $237 million financing to support the construction of a 120 MWdc distributed generation portfolio. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, acted as lead debt syndicator, with NT Solar and Advantage Capital arranging the tax equity. Dimensions 3.9 megawatt (MW) community solar project in Cortlandt, New York currently powers over 900 households in the Consolidated Edison service area. The financing announced today will bring local solar energy to an additional 12,000 customers across four states. (PRNewsfoto/Dimension Renewable Energy) The portfolio comprises 28 solar projects located across New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and California. Dimension's projects will provide local solar energy to more than 12,000 residential and commercial customers, with over half of the portfolio dedicated to serving low-and-moderate income households. "We are pleased to partner with leading solar lenders and tax equity institutions as we accelerate the growth of community solar across the United States," said Rafael Dobrzynski, Co-Founder and CEO of Dimension. "Our strong capital position demonstrates Dimension's leadership in building the country's leading community solar IPP, as we lead the way in making the benefits of solar energy accessible to all." Dimension is a portfolio company of Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, acting on behalf of its clients. Dimension fits within Partners Group's global thematic focus on investments within the decarbonization sector. Community solar is an important regulatory tool for expanding renewable energy access by allowing utility customers to adopt solar energy without installing panels at home. Households and small businesses can subscribe to a share of a local community solar project and receive energy-saving credits on their utility bill every month. Dimension's projects also deliver workforce development and education programs that bring capacity-building investments to local communities. Dimension and its financing partners tailored a capital structure best suited to its unique portfolio of assets. With its expertise in community solar financing, SVB was the ideal partner for Dimension on this portfolio. Bret Turner, Head of Project Finance Business Development and Innovation for Silicon Valley Bank, said, "We are thrilled to have led and structured Dimension's inaugural project financing for this important portfolio of community solar projects for the company. Silicon Valley Bank is excited to support Dimension as they help to make clean energy affordable, accessible, equitable and flexible for residents and businesses." CohnReznick Capital acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Dimension. Stoel Rives acted as counsel for Dimension and Milbank acted as counsel for SVB and lenders. About Dimension Renewable Energy Dimension is a leading developer and operator of community solar solutions. For the communities in which we invest, our fleet of solar projects delivers clean energy, local jobs, tax revenue, and savings, alongside other benefits including workforce development and educational opportunities. We are a turnkey provider of these solutions: from site acquisition and development to construction and operation, we are a steady and reliable presence in our communities. About Silicon Valley Bank Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a division of First Citizens Bank, is the bank of some of the world's most innovative companies and investors. SVB provides commercial and private banking to individuals and companies in the technology, life science and healthcare, private equity, venture capital and premium wine industries. SVB operates in centers of innovation throughout the United States, serving the unique needs of its dynamic clients with deep sector expertise, insights and connections. SVB's parent company, First Citizens BancShares, Inc., is a top 20 U.S. financial institution with more than $200 billion in assets. First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Member FDIC. Learn more at svb.com About NT Solar NT Solar, a subsidiary of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, raises and manages solar investments that create meaningful community impact and cost-effective energy options nationwide. Since its inception in 2010, NT Solar has provided tax credit financing of over $500 million in capital for transactions nationwide, with a focus on the growing Community Solar market. Our varied network of partners and extensive experience in diligence and structuring provide our developers with competitive pricing and stable returns for our investors. About Advantage Capital Advantage Capital provides financing to established and emerging companies located in communities underserved by conventional sources of capital. Since 1992, the firm has invested more than $4.1 billion in companies from a diverse array of industry sectors and has helped support more than 66,000 jobs. Learn more at www.advantagecap.com or LinkedIn. About CohnReznick Capital CohnReznick Capital is a renewable energy investment bank providing industry-leading financial services to the sustainability sector. Since 2008, the firm has executed over 270 project and corporate transactions for renewable energy assets, valued at over $42.2 billion in aggregate. CohnReznick Capital is wholly committed to the clean energy transition and delivers innovative solutions to financial institutions, infrastructure funds, strategic participants (IPPs and utilities), and global clean energy developers. CohnReznick Capital helps clients break through the dynamic and evolving sustainability sector by simplifying project finance, M&A, capital raising, and special situations. To learn more, please visit https://www.cohnreznickcapital.com. Contact David Ganske DG+ for Dimension Renewable Energy (424) 209-2394 [email protected] SOURCE Dimension Renewable Energy BOGOTA, Colombia, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol issues the following response in relation to the statement on September 8, 2023 by McDermott International regarding its intention to start financial restructuring proceedings for its CB&I subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, in the aftermath of the arbitral award issued by the International Arbitration Tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce against them and in favor of Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. On June 7, 2023, Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. was notified of the decision of the international arbitration tribunal, which ruled in favor of Refineria de Cartagena in the dispute against CB&I regarding the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contract for the expansion and modernization of the refinery. In a unanimous decision, the arbitration tribunal ordered CB&I to pay Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. USD 1,008 million plus interest accrued from December 31, 2015, for breach of its project planning and cost obligations under the EPC Contract. In addition to its gross negligence during the execution of the EPC contract, by starting restructuring proceedings, CB&I seeks to disregard the effects of the arbitral award issued by the International Arbitration Tribunal, to which they voluntarily submitted and in which they actively participated with the assistance of international law firms and technical experts of their choice. In that regard, Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. condemns McDermott International's statements, which obstructs compliance with the the award issued by the highest commercial arbitration tribunal. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. confirms its intention to exhaust all instances to defend its interests and uphold the arbitral award, as it did during the execution of the EPC contract and the arbitration proceedings. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. has been closely monitoring the measures taken by McDermott International in response to the decision of the international arbitration tribunal, including the annulment request filed by CB&I the day after its issuance, and is confident that the decision issued by the arbitral tribunal will be declared valid by the federal judge handling the request. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. has set in motion, in conjunction with a global team of lawyers and experts in the field, all relevant actions to obtain the recognition and payment of the arbitral award in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Simultaneously, it will actively participate in McDermott International's corporate restructuring processes in these countries to defend its interests. Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and Mexico, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Diego Nicolas Lopez Reina (a) Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Marcela Ulloa Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. Chelsea relief as Mykhailo Mudryk trains with Ukraine after latest injury scare Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk appears to have avoided an injury setback after taking part in Ukraines latest training session. The 22-year-old was substituted in the 90th minute of his countrys 1-1 Euro 2024 qualifying draw against England in Poland on Saturday after signalling that he felt pain in his calf. Mudryk fell awkwardly as he attempted to change direction under pressure from Three Lions defender Kyle Walker. However, on Sunday Mudryk took part in Ukraines recovery session which featured some running on grass at the Fair Play Arena just outside Wroclaw. Injury concern: Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk was hurt in Ukraines draw with England (REUTERS) He is listed in manager Serhiy Rebrovs group who are due to fly to Milan on Monday ahead of a pivotal match against Italy at the San Siro on Tuesday. Ukraine and Italy are increasingly battling for second place in Group C, with England still strong favourites to qualify for Euro 2024 as group winners. Gareth Southgates unbeaten side currently top the group with 13 points from five matches, with Ukraine second on seven points having played a game more than Italy, who are on four. Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino will hope that Mudryk returns to Cobham fully fit with up to 11 first-team players currently out injured ahead of the Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Sunday. New signing Romeo Lavia is currently being assessed after an ankle injury sustained in training on Thursday, joining the likes of Reece James, Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana in the treatment room. Chelsea are also without Benoit Badiashile, Carney Chukwuemeka, Armando Broja and Marcus Bettinelli at present. VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Flowfinity, a leading no-code platform for business process automation, is excited to introduce 'Fast Track IO' industrial IoT monitoring capability, featuring a scan time at least 50 times faster than a typical Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for high frequency measurement and processing. Flowfinity IoT Solutions The speed, scalability, and integration potential of Flowfinity's natively compatible no-code software and IoT hardware empowers organizations to unlock value through operational efficiency, real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance. Fast Track IO is a new feature within the Flowfinity M1 Controller that greatly increases sampling frequency to allow for more precise control of high-speed physical processes. Industrial IoT is revolutionizing digital transformation as IT leaders tasked with process improvement are increasingly deploying IoT solutions for 24/7 asset monitoring and situational awareness in industries including manufacturing, utilities, and agribusiness. Yet even though 88% of process improvers recently surveyed believe that IoT expertise is 'critical' to their success, many projects either fail to advance beyond proof-of-concept or encounter deployment hurdles. Challenges still persist when it comes to performance, scalability, and the ability to integrate with existing equipment and systems. That's why Flowfinity has been focused on addressing these challenges by helping process improvers ensure successful deployments and adoption. "After consulting with our clients, we identified some key problems that process improvers face when deploying and scaling IoT for automated machine data collection," said Larry Wilson, Vice President of Flowfinity. "In use cases requiring high frequency sensor readings, there just weren't PLCs capable of sub-millisecond accuracy. Now you can deploy Flowfinity controllers with Fast Track IO so you can scale essentially without limit by retrofitting your existing equipment with this technology. Plus, it's compatible with our Streams data management service which is optimized to rapidly ingest millions of IoT sensor data records with a highly efficient storage structure so historical data is available for interactive visualization and analysis." If you need to have precise tracking, timing, and coordination of any movement-related processes you can achieve this by connecting the relevant sensors directly to your Flowfinity M1 controller. Fast Track IO then allows you to measure this sensor activity with sub-millisecond accuracy and react to sensor inputs via discrete outputs with a near-instantaneous response time. It's this incredibly fast performance that sets Flowfinity solutions apart from existing IoT controllers that simply don't have the accuracy needed to automate corrective responses for fast moving machinery in time to save materials and prevent downtime if they detect operations outside of optimal thresholds. To provide the scalability you need Flowfinity also offers Streams, a cutting-edge database optimized for high volume sensor data to process and store hundreds of millions of records using substantially less space than traditional relational storage models, which means your solutions are almost infinitely scalable to grow with your business. It can be very expensive to re-tool facilities with 'smart' machinery, that's why Flowfinity M1 Controllers allow you to retrofit existing equipment with hardware and software that's natively compatible from end-to-end out of the box to save cost. All while integrating seamlessly with your core IT systems and legacy Operational Technology (OT). Deploy quickly and know you have the flexibility to future-proof your organization as needs evolve because with Flowfinity there is no need to write and maintain custom code. If you're striving to elevate your organizations process management and real-time situational awareness capabilities at scale, with the ability retrofit existing equipment and integrate with core systems, Flowfinity IoT solutions featuring Fast Track IO are ideal. About Flowfinity Flowfinity is a no-code development platform used by people closest to their real-work business processes to create, automate, and integrate custom applications independently. For over 20 years, Flowfinity has empowered business analysts and IT professionals to build flexible, scalable field data collection apps and workflow automations without committing the resources required to write and maintain code. Our powerful toolset combines a web-based app editor, central SQL database, advanced mobile data collection, process automation, interactive dashboards, reliable system integration and IoT data streaming and storage capability. For more information about Fast Track IO, please visit: https://www.flowfinity.com/blog/industrial-iot-devices.aspx Media Contact: Alex Puttonen 604-878-0008 ext. 2125 [email protected] SOURCE Flowfinity Inc. The award-winning Agtech startup takes top spot at global competition for novel and breakthrough technologies for early pest detection RIVERSIDE, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, agtech startup FarmSense , announces that it has been awarded the top prize in Bayer's global Grants4Tech Pest Monitor Challenge. The FarmSense team recently spent multiple days demonstrating the capabilities of their FlightSensor technology during the finalists' event at Bayer's headquarters in Germany. The panel of judges were impressed by FarmSense's real-time pest monitoring technology and its promising potential to revolutionize pest monitoring efforts in commercial agriculture resulting in the top prize of 10,000 and possible future collaboration with Bayer. FarmSense Inc. Logo Bayer described the goal of the competition as a search for "novel technologies to detect and identify above and/or below ground pests in crops at an early infestation stage, enabling an optimized application of crop protection solutions," [ source ]. Finalists were scored on four categories: novelty of hardware design, sensitivity (spatial and temporal resolution), scalability (robustness, affordability, ease of use), and testability. "FarmSense is honored to receive the top prize in the Bayer Grants4Tech Pest Monitor Challenge. Technological advances in real-time pest monitoring and classification, like FarmSense's FlightSensor provides, are essential to support the continued growth of commercial agriculture in a sustainable manner. We are enthusiastic about the future of FarmSense," said Dr. Shailendra Singh, FarmSense co-founder and CTO. FarmSense's award-winning FlightSensor utilizes patented technology, computational entomology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time analytics to improve insect monitoring and crop management efforts. The FlightSensor is a revolutionary step forward in pest management, saving growers time, labor, money, and reducing the need for pesticide use while improving crop yield. To learn more about FarmSense and their FlightSensor technology, visit https://www.FarmSense.io . About FarmSense: Founded in 2016, FarmSense helps farmers simplify pest management and take the guesswork out of insect monitoring. The company's patented technology, using their FlightSensor, provides real-time insect counts and classifications, giving immediate access for farmers to make mission-critical decisions on crop and pest control. As an award-winning startup, FarmSense has been awarded over $2 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to date with potential funding expansion that would raise this total to over $4 million. Since its original launch as an incubator business at the University of California, Riverside, FarmSense has also garnered numerous media features, participated in several notable agriculture and climate focused conferences, and received awards and grants from entities such as Microsoft, Google, US Department of Defense, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture, National Institutes of Health, and more. Media Contact: Grady Moore [email protected] (949) 264-2347 SOURCE FarmSense Inc. NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonardo Fifth Avenue (L5A) returned to New York Fashion Week for its second consecutive year, this time showing in The Mezzanine at Spring Studios, the official NYFW location. The San Juan-Orlando based brand also hosted in-person Watch Parties at its retail locations in Florida, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Leonardo Fifth Avenue (L5A) returned to New York Fashion Week for its second consecutive year on Saturday, Sept. 9. The only father-and-daughter design duo to show at NYFW, Leonardo Cordero Suria, 54, and Ana Sofia Cordero, 28, introduced Unfiltered, a collection that aims to provide a sense of balance in an unpredictable world. The only father-and-daughter design duo to show at NYFW, Leonardo Cordero Suria, 54, and Ana Sofia Cordero, 28, introduced Unfiltered, a collection that aims to provide a sense of balance in an unpredictable world. Nature itself is the essence of the collection, seen in raw and beautiful earthy pigments depicting a range of softened clay-like surfaces, along with deep, dark tones. The texture is a key element driving the beauty behind these looks, from contrasting matte to shiny and uneven surfaces made with premium fabrics that blend seamlessly together. Raw edges and asymmetrical details create a contrast between polished and edgy. "To be able to present at the NYFS is a great honor and a testament to the evolution and longevity of L5A," Cordero Suria said. "What began as a formalwear brand for men decades ago, it is now redefining elegance by taking a streetwear approach to some pieces, reinventing jackets, being more playful with textures and color palettes, and defying perceived gender norms with female suits that are as empowering as they are feminine." Cordero Suria designs together with daughter Ana Sofia, who brings the trends and urban influence of her generation to the process. "We are two generations, two styles, and one brand," said Ana Sofia, who trained in Milan. "We are both very passionate, and that passion can run high at times, but the outcome of that dynamic is an explosion of creativity that results in daring and unique pieces." The collection includes various styles such as single-breasted coats using different textures and colors, as well as statement tuxedos showcasing an elegant yet modern expression. Details such as patch pockets, appliques, and fringe form part of the collection. Pockets are the standout finishing touch inspired by an elevated streetwear style. In each design, L5A redefines the conversation on tailoring and focuses on breathable, summer-weight suiting fabrics while maintaining the brand's formal essence. Suits and smart separates are less structured, making them a proposition for a gender-inclusive alternative. The runway show included Chinese celebrity model Lu Xianren , known as "The Village Super Model," who went viral on social media after making videos of himself against stunning countryside backdrops while wearing designs he created with items collected in nature. Other VIP guests included famous TikTok star Rami Zein (16 million+ followers), actor Jayson Aaron, famous tattoo artist Miryam Lumpini and Actor Eric West. ABOUT L5A Based in San Juan and Orlando, Leonardo 5th Avenue, has a 50+ year track record of elegance and sophistication in the luxury menswear industry. A highly skilled team of around 100 associates collaborate with their talents to offer our customers the latest trends, fabrics, and designs. Seasons collections and high-end customer experience consolidate its value proposition. The company offerings include formalwear, tailored clothing, business-casual attire and sportswear, and has10 store-studio designer spaces in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Website: L5A.com IG: @leonardofifthavenue SOURCE Leonardo's 5th Ave CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The flexographic printing market is projected to grow from USD 8.7 billion in 2023 and reach USD 10.6 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 4.1% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of the packaging industry is continually evolving with growing trends such as the booming e-commerce industry and online shopping, due to which there has been a surge in demand for packaging material for the protection and delivery of the products. As flexographic printing is a commonly used technology for packaging printing, this factor also leads to the growth of the flexographic printing market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=153468364 Browse in-depth TOC on "Flexographic Printing Market" 120 Tables 60 Figures 230 Pages Flexographic Printing Market Report Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $ 8.7 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $ 10.6 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% Market Size Available for 20192028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million) and Volume (Thousand Units) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Offering, Application, Automation Type and Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Shift in market demand Key Market Opportunities Customization and personalization packaging Key Market Drivers Growth of the packaging industry Corrugated packaging application to hold the largest share of the flexographic printing market during the forecast period. The corrugated packaging application is expected to hold the largest share of the flexographic printing market during the forecast period. Corrugated boxes are commonly used for shipping and storing products. Applying flexographic printing to these boxes allows manufacturers and retailers to directly print branding elements, product information, logos, barcodes, and other relevant details onto the packaging. It also enables high levels of customization by providing the manufacturers with the feasibility to tailor and design the colors, and graphics to match their brand identity or the specific product being packaged. Market for wide web flexographic printing machine is expected to account for largest market share during the forecast period. Wide web flexographic printing involves using flexographic technology to print on substrates of significant width. This segment of the market is known for its capability to produce large-scale packaging materials and printed products efficiently. Wide web printing is chosen for its ability to produce a significant amount of printed material in a relatively short amount of time, making it ideal for industrial-scale applications such as producing packaging materials for bulk items (grains, cement, and other industrial goods). It is cost-effective for large print runs, where the benefits of scale contribute to lower costs per unit. Moreover, it can also be integrated with digital printing technologies for variable data and customization. Flexible packaging application is expected to be the fastest growing market of the flexographic printing market during the forecast period. Flexible packaging refers to a type of packaging that is made from flexible materials that can be easily molded, folded, or bent. This packaging type offers various benefits in terms of convenience, preservation, and sustainability. Flexible packaging serves a wide range of industries and sectors such as food, beverages, personal care items, pharmaceuticals among others. The materials used in flexible packaging are plastic films, aluminum foil, paper, and laminates which combine to create structures that provide barrier properties to protect the contents from moisture, oxygen, light, and other external factors. It provides its manufacturers with the versatility to design packaging that fits the specific requirements of their products, whether the need is to be resealable, portioned, or easily dispensed. Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=153468364 Asia Pacific to have the largest share of flexographic printing market in during the forecast period. Asia Pacific region is expected to have the largest market share of the flexographic printing industry during the forecast period. China, Japan, South Korea, and India are among the key countries in the Asia Pacific flexographic printing market. The growth of the flexographic printing market in this region is mainly attributed to the growing demand for quality, efficiency, and innovation, which the packaging industry demands. The availability of cheap and abundant labor, low energy prices, and relaxed environmental norms have aided the growth of packaging printing companies. Leading players in the flexographic printing companies include Bobst (Switzerland), Mark Andy Inc. (US), Nilpeter A/S (US), Amcor Plc (Australia), Windmoller & Holscher (Germany), Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (Germany), (MPS Systems B.V. (Netherlands), Aim Machinetechnik Pvt. Ltd (India), Rotatek (Spain), Koenig & Bauer AG (Germany) and Comexi (Spain), Uteco (Italy), Codimag (France), Gaullus (Switzerland), Tresu Group (Denmark), Komori Corporation (Japan), Nuova Gidue (Italy), Omet Group (Italy) are few other key companies operating in the flexographic printing market. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=153468364 Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting Related Reports: 3D Printing Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Offering (Printer, Material, Software, Service), Process (Binder Jetting, Direct Energy Deposition, Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion), Application, Vertical, Technology and Region - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2028 Digital Printing Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Ink (UV-cured, Aqueous, Solvent, Latex, and Dye Sublimation), Printheads (Inkjet and Laser), Substrate (Plastic Film or Foil, Release Liner, Glass, Textile, Paper, Ceramic), and Geography - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2026 Large Format Printer Market by Offering, Connectivity (Wired, Wireless), Printing Material (Porous, Non-porous), Technology (Ink-based, Toner-based), Print Width, Ink Type, Application, and Geography (2021-2026) Production Printer Market by Type (Monochrome, Color), Technology (Inkjet, Toner), Production Method (Cut Sheet, Continuous Feed, Sheet Fed, and Web Based), Application and Geography - Global Trends & Forecast to 2022 Digital Textile Printing Market by Printing Process (Roll to Roll, DTG), Ink Type (Sublimation, Pigment, Reactive, Acid), Application (Textile & Decor, Industrial, Soft Signage, Direct to Garment), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/flexographic-printing-market.asp Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/flexographic-printing.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Three Innovations From a Legacy Source, Plus a New Name: Integris BRISTOL, England, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If you will be attending the DSEI defense and security event in London, Sept. 1215, consider visiting Stand H4-467. You will discover the quality armor company known for a quarter century as TenCate Advanced Armour under its new name, Integris Composites, displaying innovations that extend its legacy and pioneer the frontier of armor. "The company known for providing the world's military and law enforcement with protective armor for more than 25 years has changed its name and broadened its mission," says CEO John W. Mercer. Three New Things "At DSEI, Defence and Security Equipment International, we are showcasing three achievements that project the traditional role of armor particularly composite armor into the future," says Steve Wilde, the Integris representative based in Bristol. "Visit Integris at our DSEI stand, and we will show you recent triumphs of ballistic and survivability design, engineering, and manufacturing," adds Wilde. 1. Optronics: Technology to Protect Technology. Integris is demonstrating an optronics housing that illuminates the company's ability to produce an emerging category of dual-role composites providing protection as well as a structure that serves as the housing for optronic technologies. These composites offer outstanding ballistic and spall protection combined with structural integrity and environmental durability. "The Ukraine conflict has triggered a rapid and remarkable transformation and acceleration of defense industry innovation. Our dual-role composites for UK and European defense projects in conjunction with Thales, General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin are a part of the industry's response to the changing environment," explains Wilde. 2. Mind the Gap. As anyone riding the Tube in London knows, there's danger between the platform and the train. The same has been true in armor, especially naval armor applications, where the ballistic protection within compartments are vulnerable at the abutment of one plate with another. At DSEI, Integris is showing new solutions that provide up to 97 percent ballistic cover protection to entire compartments or individual bulkheads. "Even better is the Integris Full Installation Process, a proprietary capability we have developed to deliver complete survivability solutions. Starting with our templating process, Integris performs a 3D scan of the compartment, then moves to design, engineering, manufacturing and final installation of the ballistic solution," adds Wilde. 3. The Cat's Meow Ballistic Carrier. Responding to the need for a covert, minimalistic, ballistic carrier for diplomats and security principals that's capable of defeating high-threat rounds (5.56x45 mm and SS109 bullets), Integris developed the CX-503-SA ballistic plate. The overall solution, including the carrier and front and back plates, is less than 5 kilograms (11 pounds) comparable to that of a household cat. "We will demonstrate the plate technology at our stand H4-467, and you can see this remarkable HAVOC vest ensemble at the C2R-FAST stand, H1-228," said Wilde. Unique Capability Effective armor not only stops bullets but incorporates considerable other properties as well," adds Jan Grimberg, Sr. VP Marketing & Sales EMEA. "We are working with leading shipyards, naval design companies as well as OEM's of military vehicles. Through modeling and simulation, Integris regularly helps Ministry of Defense officials move from the initial conversations about emerging needs to defining precision specifications and ultimately proving a ready to be installed armor system," adds Grimberg. "This is a unique capability." "Our name has changed, but not our company, nor our dedication to customers and innovation, nor our commitment to creating cutting-edge composite solutions," says CEO Mercer. "Integris maintains the ability to develop, test and manufacture armor solutions in its Danish, French and U.S. facilities." Contact: Jonas Holck, Group Vice President Strategy [email protected] +1 404 293-0887 Photos: https://www.prlog.org/12983385 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Integris Composites Choosing not to invest in pilot workforce continues to decimate Fractional's reputation COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NetJets, the global leader in private air transportation, continues its freefall from career destination to industry steppingstone as executives steadfastly refuse to acknowledge the reality of the worsening pilot labor crisis. This theme connects sentiments shared in a long-form video published to the pilot union's YouTube channel earlier this week. An independent labor advocate, NJASAP represents the professional interests of the 3,100-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary (NYSE: BRK.A). NetJets continues its sad decline from career destination to industry steppingstone. Post this As the pilot labor market continues to tighten, NetJets refuses to acknowledge the realities of the sustained crisis - even as both recently hired and long tenured aviators exit the Fractional for far more lucrative opportunities elsewhere in the industry. Once a career destination carrier, NetJets has slowly transitioned into the industry training ground for the next generation of aviators. A place to build time - not a career ... #OnlyNetJets In support of NJASAP's Aug. 31, Coast-to-Coast Informational Picket, NJASAP members and their families traveled to Dallas to urge NetJets executives to reverse the companys sad decline from status carrier to steppingstone. The Labor Day event drew more than 500 members and their families to 10 cities across the U.S. More than 50 pilots and their family members traveled to Bedford, Mass., to send a message: NetJets is not competitive for top talent as the pilot labor crisis drags on. Pilots picketed outside Signature Flight Support on Aug. 31 in support of the 2023 NJASAP Coast-to-Coast Informational Picket that spanned 10 cities and drew 500-plus supporters. "Historically, airline management teams have been quick to dismiss the pilot advocate's concerns, insisting the union is making much ado about nothing. NetJets is no different in that regard," NJASAP President Capt. Pedro Leroux explained. "Our newest video tells 'The Pilots' Story,' reaffirming NJASAP is, in fact, speaking on behalf and with the full support of its members." To its detriment, NetJets has buried its head in the sand to the realities of the sustained pilot labor crisis. In a puzzling turn of events, management has minimized the essential role talented aviators play in delivering the peace of mind for which its high-end clientele pays a premium. "Considering the complex nature of our unscheduled operation and the 5,000-plus airports to which we provide service, NetJets clients want and deserve experienced pilots on the flight deck," NJASAP Vice President Capt. Paulette Gilbert said. "Talented aviators will not stay at NetJets where they will make 60% of what their peers will earn elsewhere across a 30-year career," Leroux explained. "Pilot compensation at NetJets not only trails that of the legacy carriers, but also low-cost carriers like JetBlue, ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit and regional airlines such as SkyWest." The Union president added the NetJets pilot contract continues to lose ground in wages, benefits and working conditions as regional and mainline carriers ratify amended contracts or exercise wage snap-up provisions. "Watching NetJets once a career destination for professional aviators transition into the industry's steppingstone is disheartening. Long-tenured aviators are moving on, and more and more new aviators are coming to NetJets to build time, rather than a career," Gilbert remarked, explaining that, year to date, 62% of pilots who have separated from NetJets have been in their first three years of employment. In recent weeks, NJASAP has published a series of advertisements in The Wall Street Journal that shares departing pilots' observations about their experience at NetJets and their motivation for moving on. The content is available at GenuineQS.com. In early February, NJASAP and NetJets convened a voluntary bargaining measure to negotiate what NJASAP thought would be competitive adjustments to its current agreement. That, however, has been far from the case. "Our most recent bargaining session clocked in at 32 minutes, dashing any remaining hope we had that NetJets was committed to good faith bargaining," Gilbert said, adding management remains resolute in its belief that the pilot group is content to make approximately half of what their peers at mainline and regional carriers will earn across a career. "In short, management's head-in-the-sand posture remains fully intact." NJASAP discusses the Fractional's continued, but entirely avoidable and reversible decline in its September 2023 Aero Crew News Digital Takeover. Moreover, NJASAP members and their families will travel to New York City next Thursday, Sept. 14 to engage in informational picketing outside the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York City, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. "Wall Street is the perfect venue for an informational picket: It is filled with financial professionals who understand the importance of investing in an entity's most valuable resource," Leroux said. "NJASAP members will be standing outside the Stock Exchange to remind NetJets and Berkshire Hathaway of the essential role the pilots play in ensuring the company is positioned to meet its lofty promises to owners and customers." About NJASAP Founded in 2008 as an independent labor advocate, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) represents the professional interests of the 3,100-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary. For more information, please visit our websites, www.njasap.com and www.genuineqs.com, or find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/njasap, Instagram, www.instagram.com/njasap, and Twitter, @njasap. SOURCE NJASAP SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 11, 2023, the Financial Times released the list of Top 100 Masters in Management (MiM) programs in the world. Antai College of Economics and Management (ACEM) of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) ranks 12th in the world and 2nd in China, which has been ranked among the top 50 for 15 consecutive years. The sub-indicators are outstanding, with "Employed at three months" ranking 1st in the world; "Careers Service" 2nd (top 10 for 6 years); "Salary Percentage Increase" 5th (top 10 for 7 years); "Overall Satisfaction" 4th. Antai College of Economics and Management Ranked 12th in FT ranking The FT MiM ranking focuses on the evaluation of graduates' career development, college internationalization, overall strength and social responsibility. In 2023, the ranking index system has been adjusted according to the latest development of global business schools, SJTU ACEM's Alumni Network ranked 9th in the world for the first time, and ranked 1st in the Carbon Footprint ranking in Chinese mainland. Graduates continue to lead in global career development competitiveness, ranking fifth in salary increase and 14th in weighted salary. The Alumni Network index assesses the supporting effect of alumni network in employment, startup and career development, ranking 9th. Over the past three years, Careers Service Rank has remained stable among the top 5 globally. Graduates are favored by employers, such as McKinsey, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Orient Securities, E-Fund, Alibaba, ByteDance, etc. The curriculum system is fully aligned with the international first-class institutions, based on the knowledge and technology of management theory and system science, mathematics, computer application, etc., and integrated with the latest research in related fields. Lectures are delivered by Chinese and international top-tier faculties. ACEM has also finetuned the frontier courses of management and attached importance to cultivating students' technological capabilities, such as big data, deep machine learning. In recent years, ACEM has probed into China's practice, taken industry research as the starting point, captured the context of China's economic development. ESG and carbon neutralization have become increasingly important. ACEM has actively invested intellectual elements in these initiatives. In terms of scientific research and education, the industry research institute covers 8 domains, including new energy, in which more than 30 teams are active in key national industry fields, and the faculty teams have invested in corresponding research and offered ESG-related courses. In 2021 and 2022, ACEM conducted greenhouse gas emission audit according to international standards, issued Greenhouse Gas Report and Climate Action, and made net zero commitment. SOURCE Antai College of Economics and Management, Shanghai Jiao Tong University GEM HEALTH is a nationwide virtual clinic providing timely, convenient, and insurance-accessible specialty care services GEM SLEEP provides a focused and simplified end-to-end solution, from diagnosis through treatment and support, for those who may have obstructive sleep apnea GEM secured a Seed round of financing led by HealthTrend Capital, with participation from Base10 Partners and Mairs & Power Venture Capital MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gem Specialty Health, Inc. ( GEM HEALTH ), a nationwide digital specialty care clinic, announced today it has successfully raised a Seed financing round led by HealthTrend Capital , with participation from existing investor Base10 Partners and new investor Mairs & Power Venture Capital. GEM HEALTH has now raised over $5 million to date. GEM HEALTH develops innovative specialty care models to remove the complexity and accessibility gaps that cause millions to forego essential care each year. The company's first offering, GEM SLEEP , is tackling the fragmented path to getting diagnosis, treatment, and support for sleep conditions including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Thirty million Americans live with OSA today, but five out of six individuals are not adequately treated. Instead, they get stuck navigating the diagnosis process or struggle to start treatment without support. With this funding, GEM is expanding coverage through more health plans, making convenient care affordable to millions. Post this GEM SLEEP removes these barriers with a comprehensive digital solution that is simple to use, is available on demand, and provides personalized support. This approach gets patients to care in days, rather than weeks or months, while lowering costs for patients and insurers. GEM's patients also stick with their care and get better: 70% of GEM's patients continue with their treatment beyond 30 days, compared to the national average of 40%-50%. "We started in obstructive sleep apnea because we witnessed firsthand the tradeoff many patients were making with regards to their care trying to decide if they should go to traditional providers and wait 3-4 months for care or try an online option that does not accept insurance and may not have clinical rigor. Millions of patients just give up and continue to live with OSA," said Brian Sauer, Founder and CEO, GEM HEALTH. "Patients do not want to have to choose between convenient, clinically sound, and insurance-covered. They want all those things in a single experience. We are proud to say that GEM has built this model and will be rapidly scaling it with the support of our latest investment." GEM HEALTH was founded in 2022 by Brian Sauer. Prior to starting GEM, Sauer was the CEO at Sanvello, a leading mental health application for health plans and businesses looking to provide mental health and wellness services to members and employees. The business grew to 3M+ users and $10M in annualized revenue and was sold in 2021. With this funding, GEM is expanding payment options by offering insurance coverage through more local and national health plans, making convenient care affordable to millions. In conjunction with the financing, HealthTrend Capital's Managing Partner, Bill Brinkman, and Sam Meckey, CEO of UpHealth (NYSE: UPH) joined GEM HEALTH's Board of Directors. "I am excited to partner with GEM in its mission to improve the sleep care experience. The company's comprehensive approach streamlines the journey for patients navigating complex conditions, ultimately improving outcomes and reducing costs," said Brinkman. "I look forward to working with Brian and the broader GEM team to support their growth and success." OSA sufferers and their bed partners can get started with GEM SLEEP at www.mygemsleep.com . Health plans or employers that want to offer GEM SLEEP to their members can email [email protected] . About GEM HEALTH GEM HEALTH helps people live healthier, happier lives by addressing their specialty conditions from end to end. GEM HEALTH removes the confusion and frustration of not knowing where to start or the next steps when navigating a new condition. GEM's first product, GEM SLEEP, helps the estimated 30 million people with obstructive sleep apnea find relief. GEM SLEEP provides a simple guided experience through diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support, reducing the time to relief from months to weeks. GEM SLEEP treats patients in 48 states + DC and is actively expanding reimbursement options through health plans and employers to ensure broad access to care. To learn more about GEM HEALTH's approach to obstructive sleep apnea, visit www.mygemsleep.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About HealthTrend Capital HealthTrend Capital is a healthcare-focused, stage-agnostic venture growth equity firm. It makes investments in healthcare software and services companies through a flexible model that allows it to lead deals or co-invest alongside leading venture capital and private equity firms in the pursuit of driving growth. HealthTrend provides deep healthcare expertise and relationships, advisory and operational networks of highly-specialized talent, experience in both investing and company-building, and a genuinely collaborative culture. Learn more at www.healthtrendcap.com. SOURCE GEM HEALTH Karim Hyatt joins Generix Group, a global provider of collaborative SaaS Software solutions for the Supply Chain, industrial, and retail ecosystems as Chief Product & Innovation Officer. Karim takes charge of the Software Product & Innovation department and joins the Executive Committee. As part of the implementation of the Boost Together 2028 strategic plan and the Group's transformation, his mission is to develop the Group's offering by accelerating innovation, with the ambition of making Generix Group the world leader in supply chain digitalization. MONTREAL, Sept. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Generix Group is stepping up the deployment of its Boost Together 2028 strategic plan and investments in its supply chain digitalization solutions. The company is placing innovation at the core of its strategy, in order to confirm its leadership in the management of information, administrative and physical flows for its 6,000 or so customers worldwide. Karim Hyatt (CNW Group/Generix Group) One of Karim Hyatt's priorities is to develop the group's offering with products that are increasingly standardized, 100% SaaS, and easily integrable thanks to a rich API catalog capable of creating highly configurable solutions. To carry out his mission, Karim relies on expert teams based in Europe and North America, and on a software engineering center based in Cluj, Romania. All these teams are brought together within an international organization, Software Product & Innovation, where new investments in equipment and industrialization are at work serving the operational excellence of the entity and, above all, Generix Group's products. Karim Hyatt's motto? To anticipate the business needs of Generix Group's customers as early as possible, in particular by making the most of available data. With a team of analysts and data scientists, brought together in Generix Group's Datalab, Generix will combine the best data analysis capabilities with the power of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new Resource Management System (RMS) solution for warehouse resource planning and optimization, announced in April 2023, is the first example of this new generation of products. "Our ambition: to become the world leader in Supply Chain software. In an environment where immediacy is the new norm, we need to be able to anticipate the needs of our customers and markets, and respond with innovative products that provide concrete, rapid answers to these challenges. I'm proud to be leading this transformation and to open this new path to innovation, by designing high-performance, resilient, scalable products that benefit from a strong dynamic of continuous improvement, using the very latest technologies.", says Karim Hyatt. Karim Hyatt has over 20 years' experience in transforming innovative IT companies. He has held various technical, operations and general management positions at leading international technology companies such as Reuters, Cogneum, Emnos Analytics, Sierra Atlantic and Smiths Detection. He holds a Bachelor's of Science Computer Studies from the University of East London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIOD) in London. About Generix Group Generix Group is an expert in the Collaborative Supply Chain with presence in 60 countries thanks to its subsidiaries and network of partners. More than 6,000 companies around the world use its SaaS solutions. The group's 850 employees provide daily assistance to clients such as Carrefour, Danone, FM Logistic, Fnac-Darty, Essilor, and Ferrero in the digital transformation of their Supply Chains. Its collaborative platform, Generix Supply Chain Hub, helps companies keep their promises to their customers. It connects companies to all their partners so together they can operate physical flows, digitize information flows, and collaboratively manage processes in real time. Generix Supply Chain Hub is intended for all actors in the supply chain: manufacturers, logistic service providers (3PL/4PL), and distributors. Pour en savoir plus : www.generixgroup.com SOURCE Generix Group DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Courier, Express and Parcel Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global courier, express and parcel (CEP) market size reached US$ 415.3 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 540.8 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during 2023-2028. The current surge in Courier, Express, and Parcel (CEP) services is a global phenomenon driven by the appeal of secure delivery options, cost-efficiency, and the convenience of parcel tracking. Factors such as rapid urbanization, globalization, and the substantial growth in cross-border trade routes are key drivers behind this market's positive trajectory. Furthermore, the increasing disposable income of individuals and the flourishing e-commerce sector, fueled by changing consumer preferences toward online shopping, are pivotal contributors to market expansion. E-commerce companies are actively forging strategic partnerships with CEP providers to facilitate product deliveries both domestically and internationally, further enhancing the market's prospects. CEP providers are also enhancing their offerings with value-added services, including mobile product tracking, SMS and email notifications, and recorded call capabilities. The growing reliance on smartphones, laptops, tablets, and personal computers (PCs), coupled with expanding internet accessibility, is fostering a favorable market environment. In addition to these factors, CEP service providers' adoption of advanced digital technologies, such as delivery lockers, autonomous vehicles, and drone deliveries, is propelling market growth. These technological innovations enable providers to enhance operational efficiency and effectively meet customer demands. Moreover, the significant growth of the manufacturing industry is another positive influence on the market. Additionally, the rising trend of sending online gifts for special occasions and the widespread adoption of the work-from-home (WFH) policy by various organizations are driving market expansion. Key Questions Answered in This Report: What was the size of the global courier, express and parcel market in 2022? What is the expected growth rate of the global courier, express and parcel market during 2023-2028? What are the key factors driving the global courier, express and parcel market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global courier, express and parcel market? What is the breakup of the global courier, express and parcel market based on the service type? What is the breakup of the global courier, express and parcel market based on the destination? What is the breakup of the global courier, express and parcel market based on type? What is the breakup of the global courier, express and parcel market based on the end-use sector? What are the key regions in the global courier, express and parcel market? Who are the key players/companies in the global courier, express and parcel market? Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Aramex PJSC Deutsche Post AG Fedex Corporation La Poste SA Pos Malaysia Berhad Poste Italiane SpA. PostNL NV Qantas Courier Limited Royal Mail Group Plc SF Express Co. Ltd. SG Holdings Co. Ltd. Singapore Post Ltd. United Parcel Service Inc. Yamato Transport Co. Key Market Segmentation: Breakup by Service Type: B2B (Business-to-Business) B2C (Business-to-Consumer) C2C (Customer-to-Customer) Breakup by Destination: Domestic International Breakup by Type: Air Ship Subway Road Breakup by End-Use Sector: Services (BFSI- Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) Wholesale and Retail Trade (E-commerce) Manufacturing, Construction and Utilities Others Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cxdtiq About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Sara Sharif was found dead at her family home in Woking last month (PA Media) Five of Sara Sharifs siblings who travelled from the UK to Pakistan with their father should be sent to a state childcare facility temporarily, a Pakistani court has ordered. The ruling was made after the children were taken from Saras grandfathers house, where they had been staying since August, in a police raid. Pakistan police, along with help from Surrey Police, are on the hunt for Saras father Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik after Sara, aged 10, was found dead and alone at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. The couple fled the UK for Pakistan with five children aged between one and 13 shortly after Saras death and police there have questioned a number of Sharif family members. A post-mortem examination found that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period of time. The group of children were found by police on Monday evening at the home of Saras grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, in the northeastern city of Jhelum. Neighbours said dozens of officers raided the grandfathers house, where the children had been staying since August 10, but the children had been returned to him just hours later. Muhammad Sharif confirmed to the BBC that police had raided his home. Since they came from the UK, I didnt let them go, he said. I told Urfan and Beinash that they can go wherever they want to, but I will not let the children go with you. Until today, no one had asked me about the children. His son and his partner had not phoned him, he told the BBC, adding that maybe it was because if the police found out they would have been hard on me. Eyewitnesses told the broadcaster that officers had searched the property about 4.30pm local time on Monday, halting traffic and asking passersby not to film the police operation on their phones. The BBC also spoke to sisters of Urfan Sharif, who said the children were crying when they were dragged away from Saras grandfathers home. Story continues Police officer Nasir Mahmood Bajwa said the children have been in safe custody since their recovery. They were produced before the court on Tuesday under high security. The court ordered the children to be shifted to the custody of the Child Protection Bureau in Rawalpindi city, close to Islamabad. Police are continuing to search for Saras father as well as her stepmother and uncle Faisal Mailk, who all travelled to Islamabad the day before the girls body was discovered. On Saturday, police said that Mr Sharif and Ms Batool were still in hiding and 10 close relatives have been taken into custody for questioning and an investigation. Police in Pakistan often detain the close relatives of wanted suspects. However, they are not kept in jail to avoid the intervention of a court. Last week, Ms Batool spoke publicly for the first time since the little girl was found dead. In a clip of the footage posted online by Sky, Batool showed no emotion as she describes Saras death as an incident and said she and her husband were willing to co-operate with UK authorities over the case. Saras mother Olga Sharif gave an interview to the Polish television programme Uwaga! in which she spoke of the harrowing experience of going to view her daughters body. She said: One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised. Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like. Surrey Police are appealing for information to help them gain a picture of Saras life. DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Electronic Design Automation Market Size and Share Analysis by Type, Application - Global Industry Demand Forecast to 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global electronic design automation market is set for a remarkable trajectory, showcasing a total value of USD 14,109.5 million in 2022, with a projected growth rate exceeding 10.4% throughout the next decade, culminating in a substantial valuation of USD 31,121.1 million by 2030. This exceptional growth is primarily attributed to the increasing intricacy of electronic systems and the imperative demand for efficient design tools to address these challenges. Multiple industries have played a pivotal role in driving the expansion of the electronic design automation market, each contributing unique design specifications. Notable sectors such as healthcare, telecommunications, consumer electronics, and automotive have generated a robust demand for tailored design solutions to meet their evolving needs. The semiconductor industry has demonstrated notable advancements in contracting procedure nodes, paving the way for the development of smaller, power-efficient integrated circuits (ICs). The pursuit of reducing power consumption and heat dissipation while maintaining signal integrity presents design complexities. Electronic design automation tools equip designers with essential capabilities to tackle these challenges and optimize IC design for compact interaction nodes. The escalating intricacy of electronic design automation necessitates specialized expertise to create and enhance such intricate systems. Professionals equipped with the necessary skills and capabilities to manage complex designs are in high demand across industries. This demand for skilled specialists is anticipated to intensify competition for top talent in the field. In 2022, the consumer electronics application category secured the largest market share, approximately 30%, within the electronic design automation industry, and this trend is expected to persist. The proliferation of sophisticated electronics, driven by the rising demand for innovative smartphones, smartwatches, and smart TVs, contributes significantly to this dominance. With global per-capita income on the rise, the category's growth is poised to continue at a robust pace throughout the projection period. Geographically, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region takes the lead with a substantial 40% market share, and this dominance is projected to endure. The region's commanding position is attributed to its growing appetite for electronic devices, increasing adoption of transformative technologies like AI, IoT, and 5G, and its robust focus on innovation and research and development. The APAC region serves as a major consumer of electronic design automation solutions, driven by the intricate semiconductor chips that demand sophisticated tools for design and development. The APAC region, particularly countries such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan, has long stood as significant hubs for electronics manufacturing. With a strong presence of semiconductor foundries, consumer electronics industries, and electronic component creators for larger systems, the demand for electronic design automation solutions is propelled by the region's manufacturing prowess. In essence, the growing complexity of electronic systems and the indispensable need for effective design tools stand as the pivotal drivers propelling the electronic design automation market's expansion. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 240 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $14109.5 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $31121.1 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 10.4 % Regions Covered Global Industry Outlook Global Market Overview Market Revenue by Type (2017-2030) Market Revenue by Application (2017-2030) Market Revenue by Region (2017-2030) Market Dynamics Trends Drivers Restraints/challenges Impact of COVID-19 Porter's Five Forces Analysis Company Profiles Cadence Design Systems Inc. Synopsys Inc. Keysight Technologies Inc. ANSYS Inc. Altium Limited Advanced Micro Devices Inc. National Instruments Corporation Silvaco Inc. Zuken Inc. Dassault Systemes MathWorks Inc. Aldec Inc. Siemens AG eInfochips Private Limited EnSilica plc For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wxbqbh About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- C. F. Martin & Co. (Martin Guitar) hosted its 8th Wood Summit at its headquarters in Nazareth. PA, with the purpose of bringing like-minded organizations together to discuss the current and future state of tonewoods. This year's summit focused on Tonewood Species Under Pressure and included representatives from US Fish and Wildlife, the World Resources Institute, Forest Based Solutions, Preferred by Nature, the International Wood Products Association, and the Environmental Investigation Agency. Attendees came far and wide to provide a multifaceted view of the current state of responsible and sustainable sourcing of raw materials, specifically the exotic woods from which Martin Guitar crafts its acoustic guitars. "The future of tone woods, especially exotic tone woods, is in question and the time to act is now," said Ripsam Post this The day began with factory tours for attendees before the morning session was kicked off by Martin's Procurement Manager Albert Germick and Sourcing Specialist Michael Dickinson, followed by commentary from Martin's President & CEO, Thomas Ripsam and Executive Chairman, Chris Martin IV. Mr. Ripsam presented Martin's sustainability program and discussed how it is the foundation of Martin Guitar's strategic plans. Ripsam also talked about how environmental concerns make up the majority of the challenges facing the world and the guitar industry is no exception. "The future of tonewoods, especially exotic tonewoods, is in question and the time to act is now," said Ripsam. "At Martin we are acting, and we hope the rest of the industry will follow." Chris Martin focused on the use of rare and exotic hardwoods, stating "You would think as Mr. Martin I would be the first person to argue to only use traditional rare exotic hardwoods for Martin Guitars. And yes, if there were enough rare exotic hardwoods to make all the Martin guitars the world demands I would be a champion of that idea. Unfortunately, traditional rare and exotic hardwoods are getting rarer, so it is incumbent on us, a multi-generational family business, that we embrace sustainability and alternative materials. I have been a fan of alternative materials for guitar building my whole career. And I'm doubling down on that as we celebrate our 190th anniversary." After an onsite lunch break, everyone gathered for a special dedication and tree planting ceremony in honor of Diane Martin, former Martin Board Member and late wife of Chris Martin. The afternoon session included a presentation by Ashley Amidon, Executive Director of the International Wood Products Association which covered the expansion of their Wood Trade Compliance Training Courses and perspectives on initiatives to combat deforestation. The training course material, which has been adapted and expanded over the years, is designed to be as accessible as possible to those seeking to understand complicated regulations. Amidon also emphasized the importance of the association's assistance to businesses of all sizes and of keeping all members informed of activity around the globe. Charles Barber, Director of Natural Resources Governance & Policy for the World Resources Institute, gave the audience his perspective on global deforestation trends and global tree cover loss in 2022. Barber shared that with the global loss of tree cover, we are losing one of our most effective tools for fighting climate change, protecting biodiversity, and supporting the livelihoods and health of millions of people. The institute uses research-based approaches, working globally and in focus countries to meet people's essential needs; to protect and restore nature; and to stabilize the climate and build more resilient communities. Other speakers included: Mitchell Nollman - Vice President Sales & Customer Engagement, C.F. Martin & Co. - Vice President Sales & Customer Engagement, C.F. Martin & Co. Rob Garner - Forest Based Solutions - Forest Based Solutions Cindy McAllister - Director, Intellectual Property, Community and Government Relations, C.F. Martin & Co. - Director, Intellectual Property, Community and Government Relations, C.F. Martin & Co. Angus McAuslan - Regional Manager, Preferred by Nature - Regional Manager, Preferred by Nature Ankit Yogi - Overseas Traders Anne St. John - Senior Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife - Senior Biologist, US Fish and Wildlife Syrena Johnson - Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority, US Fish and Wildlife - Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority, US Fish and Wildlife Susanne Breitkopf - Forest Campaign Deputy Director, Environmental Investigation Agency The next Martin Guitar Wood Summit is planned for 2025. ABOUT MARTIN GUITAR C. F. Martin & Co. has been making the finest handcrafted acoustic guitars since 1833. For the biggest names and the most revered musical legends. For the pioneers, the rebels, and the dreamers. For anyone who cares about music and loves making it. Yes. We've got history and pedigree as long as your arm. And we're proud of it. But you know what really matters to us? Making Martin guitars, ukuleles, and strings so great that they help anyone and everyone's creativity fly. Whoever plays them, whatever they want to say, wherever they want to go. There's a passion that runs through this organization. From our employees to our loyal customers to our business partners across the globe. This passion fuels our ambition to give you the very best tools to share your music with the world for generations to come. You don't need to be the next Bob Dylan or Joan Baez to appreciate the unbeatable tone of a Martin. Though, who knows? You just might be. Let's find out together. Nearly 200 years of making great music. Want to come with us? Visit martinguitar.com. SOURCE C.F. Martin & Co. Data collected by OceanX will help inform the Regional Government of the Azores' decision-making to protect rich marine biodiversity and ecosystems in Azorean waters NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This August, ocean exploration nonprofit OceanX returned to the Azores to research the seafloor's topography and ecosystem. This marked OceanX's second mission in the region in collaboration with the Okeanos Marine Research Institute at the University of the Azores. The mission ran from August 24 to September 8, 2023, and focused on data collection of the Azores' deep-sea ecosystems and wildlife. OceanX's mission in the Azores leveraged the cutting-edge scientific research, media production, and exploration vessel, OceanXplorer, to survey unexplored seamounts and ridges. The structure of seamounts generates upwelling, which transports nutrients from the deep sea to the surface, drawing in marine megafauna and diverse fish groups, while also providing a habitat for distinctive deep-sea coral and sponge communities due to their structural complexity. By studying the seamounts in this region, OceanX can uncover their significance to ocean life in this seascape. The data gathered during the mission will serve to inform the Regional Government of the Azores in its decision-making to protect critical areas with high marine biodiversity and support its goal to designate 30% of the Azores Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as marine protected areas (MPA). "We were excited to be invited back to the Azores to support and facilitate scientific research of the region's vital deep-sea marine ecosystems and further advance environmental policies to protect these waters," said Vincent Pieribone, Co-CEO of OceanX. "We hope exploration and documentation of the Azores' uncharted and biodiverse waters will raise awareness for and support conservation efforts in the region." In addition to exploring seamounts and ridges, OceanX supported the university's research team in its investigation of hydrothermal vents, deep-sea coral communities, sponge aggregations, mobula rays, blue sharks, and whale sharks, using the state-of-the-art equipment aboard the OceanXplorer. The 286-foot vessel features two manned Triton submersibles, each of which can dive below 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) for up to eight hours, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) that can operate to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) below the surface, a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), sonar array, and eDNA and genetic sequencing systems all of which allow humans to safely explore the depths of the ocean with unparalleled precision. In 2021, OceanX led multiple research projects in the Azores with scientists from Okeanos that included multidisciplinary scientific research, collection and distribution of data related to seafloor mapping, water column and current profiling, eDNA sampling, and marine ecology and biology in both shallow and deep-water habitats to build a three-dimensional understanding of the ecosystem. OceanX has made significant strides in ocean research in the Azores, supporting local scientists and organizations and facilitating a deeper understanding of oceans across the European Union and globally. This mission underscores OceanX's commitment to gathering novel scientific research that benefits governments and policy-making entities in their ocean conservation decision making. For media inquiries regarding OceanX, please contact Rida Bint Fozi at [email protected]. About OceanX OceanX is a mission to support scientists to explore the ocean and to bring it back to the world through captivating media. Uniting leading media, science, and philanthropy partners, OceanX utilizes next-gen technology, fearless science, compelling storytelling, and immersive experiences to educate, inspire, and connect the world with the ocean and build a global community deeply engaged with understanding, enjoying, and protecting our oceans. OceanX is an initiative of Dalio Philanthropies, which furthers the diverse philanthropic interests of Dalio family members. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Contact: Rida Bint Fozi Phone: 212-337-8870 Email: [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/700667/OceanX__Logo.jpg SOURCE OceanX NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A latest research report [115+] pages with 360-Degree visibility, titled "Power Monitoring Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Component (Hardware, Software, Services); By End User; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" published by Polaris Market Research in its research repository. "According to research report, the global power monitoring market size/share was valued at USD 3.99 Billion in 2022 and is expected to touch USD 6.93 Billion By 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period." Global Power Monitoring Market: Report Overview Power monitoring is a system that is connected to the Internet in order to support energy-saving activities. A power monitoring system is used to monitor, analyze, and manage energy consumption and environmental conditions of businesses. The system intends to collect information on power usage throughout a facility and provide it to consumers. The owners and service providers can spot possible issues with the electrical systems by using an online software system that receives data from the meters. All electrical machinery in your building is connected to the meter. Power monitoring system is equipped with power monitors, sensors, and meters such as uninterruptable power supply (UPS) units and power distribution units (PDUs). In addition, utility feeds, generators, and branch circuits are also used. Ensured availability, improved efficiency, lower total cost of ownership, and accurately allocated power usage are key advantages of a power monitoring system. Rising focus on efficient utilization of power resources is driving the power monitoring market size growth. Request Sample Copy of Power Monitoring Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-monitoring-market/request-for-sample (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, Table of Contents, Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report May Includes: 2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request. 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends. Includes Updated List of table & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Some of the Top Market Players Covered Are: ABB Eaton Emerson Electric General Electric Honeywell International Mitsubishi Electric Rockwell Automation Schneider Electric Siemens Socomec. Yokogawa Electric For Additional Information on Key Players, Request to Download Sample Pages Here: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-monitoring-market/request-for-sample OR Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC Here: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/buy/2656/2 Power Monitoring Market: Report Scope Report Attribute Details Revenue forecast in 2032 USD 6.93 Billion Market size value in 2023 USD 4.21 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 5.7% from 2023 - 2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 - 2032 Top Market Players Schneider Electric, Siemens, ABB, Eaton, General Electric, Emerson Electric, Yokogawa Electric, Honeywell International, Rockwell Automation Mitsubishi Electric & Socomec Segments Covered By Component, By End User, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options Prominent Growth Driving Factors Rising prosperity and growing commercial activity: Increasing prosperity & rising commercial activity globally, resulting in approximately a 15 percent rise in energy demand, is propelling the power monitoring market growth. Increasing prosperity & rising commercial activity globally, resulting in approximately a 15 percent rise in energy demand, is propelling the power monitoring market growth. Growth of the middle class: Another factor boosting the market growth is the robust growth of the middle class in developing countries, which has led to a surge in energy demand of about 35%. Another factor boosting the market growth is the robust growth of the middle class in developing countries, which has led to a surge in energy demand of about 35%. Focus on growing building efficiency: It is anticipated that by 2050, energy consumption will have decreased by about 15% as a result of a greater emphasis on increasing building efficiency in wealthy nations. It is anticipated that by 2050, energy consumption will have decreased by about 15% as a result of a greater emphasis on increasing building efficiency in wealthy nations. Worldwide electricity demand: An annual growth rate of 1.8% shows that there is a rise in demand for power worldwide. As per estimates, due to the reduction in demand for traditional biomass, coal, and oil, electricity will make up almost 50% of the energy sector by 2050. This electricity demand fuels a requirement for effective power monitoring systems to ensure effective electricity distribution and use. These factors are enhancing the power monitoring market demand. Recent Trends Influencing the Market Adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT): Rising adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in office automation systems is further expected to augment the market growth. This is because IoT creates an interconnected network that provides power monitoring capabilities, enabling the monitoring of electrical appliances and sensor data. Rising adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) in office automation systems is further expected to augment the market growth. This is because IoT creates an interconnected network that provides power monitoring capabilities, enabling the monitoring of electrical appliances and sensor data. R&D activities: Researchers and developers together focus on R&D activities such as improving algorithms, enhancing data analysis methods, and investigating novel predictive maintenance strategies, which are accelerating the power monitoring market growth. Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-monitoring-market/request-for-discount-pricing Segmental Analysis Software segment is anticipated to show faster growth over the forecast period By component analysis power monitoring market segmentation, software segment is predicted to grow at the fastest rate in the coming years as the power monitoring software provides advanced analytics capabilities that enable businesses to process and analyze huge amounts of information obtained from power monitoring devices. Real-time monitoring, data visualization, and reporting are made possible by these software solutions, offering important information about equipment performance, patterns of energy usage, and power quality. Its ability to derive actionable insights from data boosts the segment demand. The software enables businesses to monitor energy consumption in real time, understand inefficiencies, and build energy-saving measures. It provides advantages, including load profiling, demand response, and energy benchmarking, that allow organizations to cut costs and optimize their energy use. Utilities & renewables segment held the largest power monitoring market share in 2022 By end user, utilities & renewables dominate the market as this is at the leading edge of incorporating renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the electrical system. Power monitoring systems are essential for monitoring the production, distribution, and use of renewable energy and will help you manage the integration of renewable energy effectively. These systems allow businesses to monitor the performance of renewable energy resources, raise their output, and balance supply and demand rapidly. The requirement for management and incorporation of renewable energy sources propels the demand for advanced power monitoring solutions. Power monitoring systems are crucial for building sophisticated grid management strategies like predictive maintenance, fault detection, and outage management. The demand for power monitoring systems in utilities and renewables grows with the increasing adoption of smart grid solutions. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-monitoring-market/inquire-before-buying (Inquire a report quote OR available discount offers to the sales team before purchase.) Geographic Overview Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the largest growth rate Based on geography, power monitoring market in APAC is expected to register a major growth rate owing to the significant renewable energy plans and goals established by nations such as China, India, and Indonesia. China has planned to raise its renewable power capacity to over 50% of the total initiated capacity by 2025. Effective power monitoring systems are required to effectively integrate and manage renewable sources like solar and wind power due to this commitment to renewable energy. China's renewable energy plan scope drives the demand for power monitoring solutions, thereby fostering market expansion. Furthermore, North America is estimated to register a high market share throughout the study period as the region is now implementing smart grid initiatives to update the aging power infrastructure. Smart grids constitute advanced technologies, including power monitoring systems, to allow monitoring, regulating, and improving power production, transmission, and distribution in real-time. Implementation of power monitoring solutions is an important aspect of smart grid initiatives, fueling the regional power monitoring market growth. Browse the Detail Report "Power Monitoring Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Component (Hardware, Software, Services); By End User; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023 - 2032" with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/power-monitoring-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: [email protected] Recent Developments In June 2023 , ABB acquired Eve Systems, a prominent smart home products company headquartered in Munich . With operations in Europe and the United States , Eve Systems specializes in offering innovative smart home solutions. , ABB acquired Eve Systems, a prominent smart home products company headquartered in . With operations in and , Eve Systems specializes in offering innovative smart home solutions. In May 2023 , Siemens announced its plans to acquire the EV division of Mass-Tech Controls, a move that will significantly expand its eMobility offering in India . This acquisition is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the country. Key Offerings of This Report Market size and share assessment for regional and country-level segments Business opportunities, drivers, and success factors Current trends and the future potential of the market Market segment analysis by types, applications, and regions The competitive status of key players within the projection timeline Value chain analysis with price analysis and market forecast Region-specific growth and development in the market Polaris Market Research has segmented the power monitoring market report based on component, end user and region: By Component Outlook Hardware Software Services By End User Outlook Manufacturing & Process Industry Data centers Public Infrastructure Utilities & Renewables Electric Vehicle Charging Station By Region Outlook North America (U.S., Canada ) (U.S., ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Italy , Netherlands , Spain , Russia ) ( , , UK, , , , ) Asia Pacific ( Japan , China , India , Malaysia , Indonesia . South Korea ) ( , , , , . ) Latin America ( Brazil , Mexico , Argentina ) ( , , ) Middle East & Africa ( Saudi Arabia , UAE, Israel , South Africa ) About Polaris Market Research: Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMR's clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMR's diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMR's customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMR's customers. Contact: Likhil G 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Phone: +1-929 297-9727 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | twitter Blog: https://www.polarisnewsblog.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1316207/Polaris_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Polaris Market Research DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Primary Cells Market by Type (Hematopoietic, Dermatocytes, Hepatocytes, Gastrointestinal, Lung, Renal, Heart, Musculoskeletal), Origin (Human Primary Cells, Animal Primary Cells), End User (Pharma Biotech, CROs, Academia), Region - Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global primary cells market is projected to reach USD 2.8 billion by 2028 from USD 1.7 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 10.5% The report analyzes the primary cells market and aims to estimate the market size and future growth potential. The report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key players in this market, along with their company profiles, product offerings, and recent developments. On the basis of origin, the primary cells market is divided into animal and human primary cells. In 2022, the human primary cells segment accounted for the largest share of the primary cells market. Human primary cells are used for the development of novel cancer therapies, for studying human cancerous cell models and toxicology studies, and in the cosmetic industry. Factors driving the growth of the primary cells market include increasing cancer research, the advantages of primary human cells over cell lines, the rising demand for monoclonal antibodies, and rapid growth in the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. On the other hand, concerns regarding primary cell culture contamination may restrain market growth to a certain extent. The prominent players in the global primary cells market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Merck KGaA (Germany), Corning Incorporated (US), Lonza (Switzerland), Cell Biologics, Inc. (US), PromoCell GmbH (Germany), ZenBio, Inc. (US), STEMCELL Technologies, Inc. (Canada), AllCells (US), American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), and Axol Bioscience Ltd. (UK), among others. Hematopoietic cells segment accounted for the largest share in the primary cells market, by type in 2022. Based on type, the primary cells market is segmented into hematopoietic cells, dermatophytes, gastrointestinal cells, hepatocytes, lung cells, renal cells, heart cells, musculoskeletal cells, and other primary cells. In 2022, the hematopoietic cells segment accounted for the largest market share. Hematopoietic cell transplants are frequently and constantly used to develop novel cancer therapies to treat blood cancers and other disorders of the immune system. Hematopoietic cells are also used to understand the biochemical pathways of tumor cells and the efficacy of different drugs. As a result, this segment accounts for the largest market share of the market. In 2022, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and CROs segment accounted for the largest share of the global primary cells market, by the end user. On the basis of end users, the primary cells market is segmented into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and CROs, academic & research institutes, and other end users. In 2022, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies and CROs accounted for the largest share of the primary cells market, mainly due to the high adoption of primary cells in cell-based experiments and cancer research in pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies and CROs; and the increasing number of R&D facilities globally. Asia Pacific, primary cells market, is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. In 2022, North America accounted for the largest share of the primary cells market, followed by Europe. North America and Europe are the preferred locations for drug discovery due to established clusters in these regions, resulting in the largest market for primary cells. The Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Growth in this region is expected to be centered on China and Japan. Factors such as the presence of a large population and the rising incidence of cancer, increasing R&D spending on biopharmaceutical projects, and the growth of the biotechnology industry in developing countries are the major factors contributing to the growth of the Asia Pacific market are driving the growth of the primary cells market in this region. Market Segment Highlights Hematopoietic cells segment is driven by increasing cancer research and funding, with various types of these cells being identified. Dermatocytes market growth is propelled by the rising prevalence of melanoma, with regional breakdowns showcasing its significance. Gastrointestinal cells demand is bolstered by the growing incidence of stomach cancer, reflected in regional market analysis. Hepatocytes segment is fueled by the high incidence of liver disorders, further divided into cryopreserved and fresh hepatocytes subtypes. Cryopreserved hepatocytes are preferred due to their longer lifespan compared to fresh hepatocytes, whereas stringent regulations affect the fresh subtype. Lung cells market growth is influenced by the increasing rates of lung cancer and COPD, evident from regional market variations. Renal cells demand is driven by the lack of effective renal therapies, demonstrated in regional market breakdowns. Heart cells segment is supported by the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, indicated by regional analysis. Musculoskeletal cells demand is boosted by the rising incidence of musculoskeletal disorders, with regional market implications. The primary cells market is segmented by origin, including human and animal primary cells, each showcasing distinct regional trends. Human primary cells demand is spurred by the increasing prevalence of cancer, with detailed regional breakdowns presented. Animal primary cells segment growth is linked to rising investments in animal cell research, with regional implications discussed. The end-user segment covers pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic and research institutes, and other end-users. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies experience growth due to increasing investments in cell-based research, with regional variations. Academic and research institutes segment growth is driven by government funding and a high prevalence of cancer, with regional implications. The primary cells market's regional analysis includes North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and the rest of the world. , , , and the rest of the world. North America's dominance is attributed to high R&D spending and growing support for stem cell research, with the US and Canada analyzed separately. dominance is attributed to high R&D spending and growing support for stem cell research, with the US and analyzed separately. Europe's role is prominent, driven by robust biotechnology infrastructure and increasing life science research activities, with UK, Germany , France , Italy , and the rest of Europe discussed individually. role is prominent, driven by robust biotechnology infrastructure and increasing life science research activities, with UK, , , , and the rest of discussed individually. Asia-Pacific region's growth is influenced by the focus on cancer therapeutics-related research in China and government initiatives in Japan , along with the rest of Asia-Pacific being analyzed separately. region's growth is influenced by the focus on cancer therapeutics-related research in and government initiatives in , along with the rest of being analyzed separately. Rest of the World's impact on the primary cells market is detailed by region, origin, and end-user, with implications explored. Premium Insights Growing Global Incidence of Cancer to Drive Market Growth Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies and Cros Dominated North American Market in 2022 Hematopoietic Cells Segment to Dominate Market in 2028 Human Primary Cells Segment Dominated Market in 2022 Asia-Pacific Countries to Register High Growth Rates from 2023 to 2028 Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing Cancer Research Advantages of Primary Human Cells Over Cell Lines Increasing Demand for Monoclonal Antibodies Rapid Growth in Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical Industries Growing Focus on Personalized Medicine Government Investments for Cell-based Research Restraints Concerns Regarding Primary Cell Culture Contamination Ethical Concerns Regarding Research in Cell Biology Opportunities Advancing Biomedical Research Using Primary Cells in 3D Cultures Challenges Sourcing and Availability of Primary Cells Company Profiles Major Players Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Merck KGaA Corning Incorporated Lonza Group Charles River Laboratories, Inc. Promocell GmbH American Type Culture Collection (Atcc) Cell Biologics, Inc. Zenbio, Inc. Stemcell Technologies, Inc. Allcells Ixcells Biotechnologies Neuromics Other Companies Axol Bioscience Ltd. Stemexpress Bioivt Sciencell Research Laboratories, Inc. Amsbio Promab Biotechnologies, Inc. Creative Bioarray Bps Bioscience, Inc. Epithelix Reachbio Research Labs Accegen Kosheeka For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/anjf7w About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Synthetic Aperture Radar Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global synthetic aperture radar market size reached US$ 3.8 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is set to reach US$ 7.0 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6% during 2023-2028. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology is versatile, finding applications in various fields such as environmental monitoring, disaster assessment, and agriculture. It plays a crucial role in studying icebergs, tracking oil spill paths, and mapping wetlands. Even in challenging environmental conditions, SAR can detect changes in habitat, water levels, and moisture, making it valuable for analyzing the impact of natural or human disturbances like earthquakes or sinkholes. Scientists, geologists, and researchers rely on SAR to remotely map and study different objects or environments with high spatial resolution using electromagnetic signals. As concerns about climate change, environmental degradation, and disaster monitoring grow, SAR becomes a pivotal tool for assessing ecological impacts. In agriculture, SAR aids in identifying surface roughness differences, improving plowing, soil tillage, and crop harvesting. Additionally, government agencies worldwide are promoting modern agricultural practices, further propelling the SAR market's growth. SAR instruments outshine conventional optical imaging technology and observation satellites as they offer detailed Earth surface information. Moreover, SAR satellites are in high demand for surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision targeting by defense organizations globally, driven by increasing security concerns and geopolitical tensions. Key Questions Answered in This Report What was the size of the global synthetic aperture radar market in 2022? What is the expected growth rate of the global synthetic aperture radar market during 2023-2028? What are the key factors driving the global synthetic aperture radar market? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global synthetic aperture radar market? What is the breakup of the global synthetic aperture radar market based on the component? What is the breakup of the global synthetic aperture radar market based on the mode? What is the breakup of the global synthetic aperture radar market based on the platform? What is the breakup of the global synthetic aperture radar market based on the application? What are the key regions in the global synthetic aperture radar market? Who are the key players/companies in the global synthetic aperture radar market? Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players Airbus SE Aselsan A. BAE Systems plc Cobham Limited General Atomics Israel Aerospace Industries L3Harris Technologies Inc. Leonardo S.p.A. Lockheed Martin Corporation Northrop Grumman Corporation Raytheon Technologies Corporation Saab AB Thales Group. Key Market Segmentation: Breakup by Component: Antenna Receiver Transmitter Breakup by Mode: Single Mode Multi-Mode Breakup by Frequency Band: X Band L Band C Band S Band K, Ku, Ka Band VHF/UHF Band Others Breakup by Platform: Airborne Ground Breakup by Application: Defense Commercial Breakup by Region: North America United States Canada Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Indonesia Others Europe Germany France United Kingdom Italy Spain Russia Others Latin America Brazil Mexico Others Middle East and Africa For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g42lb4 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --For ten years, China and Central Asian countries have been more tightly bonded together through cooperation in the traditional energy section under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). However, the rise of Chinese companies specializing in renewable energy and scientific institutes equipped with technology on ecological preservation has been greening the BRI in the past decade. By using Chinese technology and experience to monitor and improve the ecology of Central Asia countries, imparting local people the expertise to build a hydropower station, and kick starting a cutting-edge photovoltaic power plant to help generate substantial renewable energy in the region, Chinese institutes and companies are helping turn the dream of a "Green Silk Road" into reality, while also making China-Central Asia cooperation in the green sector a paragon for other countries. Ecological cooperation The Aral Sea, located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was once the world's fourth-largest lake. Farmland expansion, rising temperatures and a lack of water-saving technology caused the sea to shrink to just 10 percent of its original surface by the end of the 1990s. Large areas of the lake bed have become bare and covered with salt or salt crust. The health of local residents has also been affected, with a significant increase in the proportion of people suffering from leukemia, kidney disease, bronchitis, and asthma. In recent years, scientists from the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG) with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Uzbekistan have been actively cooperating on the treatment of the Aral Sea. "The Aral Sea crisis is essentially a problem of an inland lake drying up due to excessive water extraction for agricultural irrigation," Li Yaoming, the director of the Research Center for Green Development of Silk Road at XIEG, told the Global Times. "China's Xinjiang region has also faced similar problems in the past, such as the management of the Tarim River. China has been implementing ecological water transfer from the Tarim River for many years and has relatively mature water resource management techniques, which can provide a reference for Uzbekistan," said Li. In the suburb of Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, stood a 5-hectare demonstration field for drip irrigation water-saving technology. XIEG participated in the project, established an observation station for plants, brought cotton and wheat seeds from China and used drip irrigation to improve plant productivity. The drip irrigation technology equipment and supporting farming machinery here are all from China, Shakhzod Saitjanov, a research fellow from the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology of the Academy of Science of Uzbekistan, told the Global Times. He believes this project will elevate the quality of Uzbekistan's agriculture and boost the country's economy. "Traditionally, Uzbeks tended to use flood irrigation in cotton cultivation, which requires the use of a large amount of water to wash away the salt content in the soil. We have introduced new drip irrigation technology, which will help save a significant amount of water resources," said Li. In addition, Chinese scientists also helped in improving and managing saline-alkali land. They use salt-tolerant plants to reduce the salt content in the soil, creating conditions for growing other crops. Artificial forests are also planted on the sandy desert that formed after the drying up of part of the Aral Sea. All of these efforts play an important role in the protection of the Aral Sea. Since the launch of the BRI, XIEG has conducted vast fundamental cooperation with regional countries in terms of improving the region's ecology. For example, the institute helped developed an integrated water-saving irrigation system for cotton in the Aral Sea region and a 25-hectare technology demonstration base has been established. The technology has been across a 200-hectare area. In 2021 and 2022, Uzbekistan found out that yields reached 404 kilograms and 414 kilograms per mu (0.06 hectare), respectively, while the water-saving rate reached 70 percent. Both yield and water-saving efficiency were more than double that of local cotton fields. In Kazakhstan, XIEG introduced 32 species of plants with a total of 15,600 plants, and conducted training on planting techniques and irrigation measures. The institute completed the establishment of a 20-hectare protective forest belt demonstration zone, established a comprehensive health assessment system for man-made forests, and evaluated the ecological service functions of ecological barriers. As the Earth is becoming hotter from global warming, inland and hydropenic Central Asian countries are facing severe environmental challenges. Such challenges are pushing China and Central Asia closer in cooperation in improving the region's ecological problems after the BRI was launched. Ten years ago, people in Central Asia had little understanding of China's in water-saving and ecological protection technology. However, climate change has made them feel the urgency of environmental protection in recent years, said Li, noting that more and more research institutes and government departments in Central Asian countries have been approaching them, seeking cooperation. He said that ecological protection has been gradually emphasized under the framework of the BRI and that he expects the governments of Central Asian countries to endow more support to relevant projects. Environmental protection was highlighted during the Xi'an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Summit, which concluded in Xi'an in May. As noted in the declaration, the Parties reaffirm the need for concerted efforts to ensure food security in a changing climate, and also note the importance of farming in the most environmentally friendly ways that support biodiversity, with the optimal use of water and land resources. Li believes that the summit, as well as development of the BRI will be a turning point for China's environmental cooperation with Central Asian countries, as "collaboration in this field has been put in a higher position ever since." Teach a man to fish The Tuyabuguz Hydropower Plant in Uzbekistan was the first project completed after leaders of China and Uzbekistan signed government-to-government energy cooperation during the Belt and Road Forum held in 2017 in Beijing. The project, contracted by Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC), was completed within 14 months and put into operation in April 2019. As of August, a total of 109 million kilowatt-hours of electricity has been generated by the project. The station can achieve uninterrupted power generation for 11 months in a year, with an annual electricity output sufficient to meet the power needs of 1,600 households in Uzbekistan. It will become profitable within four years. Sun Jianfeng, a DEC project manager in charge of the station, told the Global Times on August 18 that "all power generation equipment in the project was manufactured in China, and the key technologies for the water turbines and generators were independently developed using Chinese intellectual property rights." Sun introduced that the project was located downstream from the Akhangaran River's Tuyabuguz reservoir in the Tashkent region, which was originally used for irrigation. It was built at the location with the highest potential energy, which it fully utilizes to generate electricity, making it highly economical. "The hydropower station maximized the utilization of energy during the irrigation process. Moreover, the project takes measures to prevent the flow of water from damaging crops or facilities," said Sun. The project's environmental friendliness not only embodies the generation of green energy, it also does not cause environmental problems like the construction of traditional dams, as it was built under an existing reservoir, introduced Sun. Uzbekistan has shown enormous interest in renewable energy in recent years. The country has set an ambitious goal - generate 30 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030. Sun said that Uzbekistan government has been encouraging foreign investment into the renewable energy sector in recent years, which has created a friendly environment for Chinese companies. Meanwhile, Chinese companies' advanced technology in green energy also made them highly competitive in Uzbekistan. Thus, Sun believes cooperation between the two countries has great potential. In May 2022, Uzbekistan's investment committee and China's Ministry of Commerce reached an agreement to build a series of small and medium-sized hydroelectric power facilities worth a total of $2.7 billion, media reported. Apart from exporting equipment, DEC is devoted to training local experts in the hydropower industry. Sun said his company held large-scale training sessions in 2018 and 2019. More than 60 Uzbeks took part in the sessions. "We taught them how to operate and maintain our equipment. The locals completed installation and debugging of our facilities during the final stage. The equipment has been functioning well and been well maintained during the past three years of operation," said Sun. "We did not send our people to the site for maintenance, we just provided guidance online. We sold our equipment and offered them our technology at the same time. There's an old idiom called 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' We taught them how to keep the project running for the next four or five decades, so the Uzbeks are going to operate it independently in the future," said Sun. Meet local demands Aziz, who works at the Zarafshan 500MW Wind Power Project, is always enthusiastic about her work. Whenever she encounters a problem, she relentlessly seeks answers from her Chinese colleagues. Aziz considers herself fortunate to have witnessed the installation of the first wind turbine at the Zarafshan wind power project in early June. This marks the first-ever wind turbine installation in Uzbekistan. Constructed and run by SEPCOIII Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd. (SEPCOIII) in Zarafshan, Navoi Region, Uzbekistan, the Zarafshan wind power project is the first megawatt-scale wind power project implemented in Uzbekistan. With a total installed capacity of 500MW, it will also be the largest operational wind power project in Central Asia upon completion. Currently, the project is in its peak construction phase. Once completed, the project will provide sufficient green electricity for 500,000 households and save 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, making a significant contribution to Uzbekistan's energy transition and sustainable economic development goals. Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has implemented a series of reforms since taking office, of which new energy reform is an important part. According to the government plan, by 2030, the share of renewables in Uzbekistan's energy will reach 25 percent of the energy mix. Aziz still vividly remembers the nationwide power shortage that occurred in early 2023. Despite the overall stability of the political situation and the upward trajectory of the economy in Uzbekistan, the country still faces challenges in meeting its growing electricity demand. However, Aziz feels optimistic about the future of energy development in Uzbekistan. Aziz's confidence in the future of energy development in Uzbekistan is shared by many. The government's commitment to addressing the power shortage issue and its efforts to attract investments in the energy sector have instilled hope among the population. "Uzbekistan is an important country along the BRI route, and the production and construction of photovoltaic, wind power and other new energy fields are the strengths of Chinese enterprises, so the prospects for cooperation between the two sides are promising," Ji Jun, manager of the project from SEPCOIII, told the Global Times. 'Green Silk Road' realized A power station located in Kapchagay, Kazakhstan, co-invested and constructed by Universal Energy, a Chinese renewable energy company based in Shanghai and its Kazakhstan partners, marked the largest single photovoltaic power plant in Kazakhstan. Starting operation in 2019, the station is also the region's first large-scale new energy power station. With the model of "100 percent Made in China, 100 percent Construction in Kazakhstan," the project is able to generate electricity at a much lower cost than other similar power stations, and has substantially reduced carbon emissions. Wu Xiaoliang, deputy manager of the Universal Energy told the Global Times that "the station can generate 160 million kilowatt-hours on annual basis, equivalent to the electricity consumption of 50,000 households in Kazakhstan for one year. The project can reduce carbon emissions by 160,000 tons annually." Wu also pointed out that in 2023, the company completed an international green certificate transaction with a large international trader, selling carbon assets generated from the 7,000 megawatt-hours of electricity generated by the Kapchagay power station, offsetting approximately 5,950 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. "The company has six newly built renewable energy power stations in Kazakhstan that have provided a total of 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours of green electricity to the local area, reducing carbon emissions by a total of 1.7 million tons." In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have accelerated cooperation in the field of new energy such as wind power, solar power, and hydropower. According to data from China Power International (Kazakhstan) Investment Limited, by the end of 2022, the total installed capacity of a series of renewable energy projects invested and constructed by Chinese companies in Kazakhstan, including the Zhanatas wind power station and Turgusun hydropower plant, has exceeded 1,000 megawatts. The accelerated cooperation is also aimed to cater for Central Asian countries' rising ambition in exploring usage of new energy. For example, Kazakhstan has made ambitious commitments to reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below their 1990 levels by 2030 and of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. Wu explained that Kazakhstan can realize self-sufficiency in providing electricity at the current stage, yet the country is facing the problem of an outmoded electricity infrastructure. "Most of the electricity-generation infrastructure was built during the Soviet era, which means their service time is reaching the limit. Insufficient maintenance and reinvestment in certain facilities are also evident. This means that if investment in the power sector is not increased soon, Kazakhstan may face significant power shortages in the coming years," said Wu. Chinese companies' advantages are visible: Its leading photovoltaic technology, its deep connection with Central Asian countries and China-Europe freight train services have given such cooperation a better edge. Wu said that the Kapchagay power station alone has more than 300,000 photovoltaic modules that were transported from China through China-Europe freight trains. The time and cost advantages brought by the China-Europe freight trains enabled the project to be completed and connected to the grid within only nine months. China-Europe freight train services are helping China-invested wind power and photovoltaic power stations successfully land in Kazakhstan, which has accelerated exports of relevant Chinese equipment, and broken Europe's monopoly over Kazakhstan's new energy equipment, said Wu. "The 'Green Silk Road' is becoming a reality," he said. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- "To have such a successful neighbor and not learn from them is like starving in a wheat field." This is how a Tajik scholar describes the desire of Central Asia to expand cooperation with China in the field of talent training. From the professional construction of vocational education systems, to local teacher training, to cultivating the local social development need for talent ... In recent years, China and Central Asian countries in the cooperation of training professional personnel have been pressing the "accelerator button" under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Recently, Global Times reporters visited the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (Silk Road University) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and the Kazakh Luban Workshop project to see how China is helping Central Asia cultivate professional and technical talent, and building an important bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two sides. New university on ancient Silk Road On September 2, the opening ceremony of the China-Uzbekistan Belt and Road International Laboratory, a joint archaeological and scientific laboratory for the technical protection of cultural heritage, was held at the Silk Road University. This was a major event that Zou Tongqian, the first Chinese vice president of the university, who came from Beijing International Studies University, attached great importance to. The initiative to open the Silk Road University was proposed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit in 2018. China has provided strong support for the establishment and construction of the university. For a long time, the university has closely cooperated with Chinese universities such as Beijing International Studies University and Northwest University. In late August, Global Times reporters visited the Silk Road University and found that although the campus is not large, every detail is carefully arranged. On the walls of the main teaching building, there is a map of the ancient Silk Road and silhouettes of camel caravans, evoking the prosperity of the Silk Road in the past. In the corridor, there are paintings by students from various countries, depicting their understanding of the Silk Road. Alysher Shamshidinov, a teacher at Silk Road University, told the Global Times that there are about 2,000 students at the university, mainly studying majors such as hotel management and logistics. It is worth mentioning that there are 85 international students, including 10 Chinese students pursuing master's degrees, as well as a number of renowned professors from world-famous universities. In the past few years, China has played an important role in the construction of Silk Road University and the cultivation of local talent. In the library of Silk Road University, the Global Times saw a "China Corner" filled with Chinese books. In 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan donated more than 550 books and audiovisual materials in Chinese, English and Russian, covering topics such as Chinese culture, art, literature, history, tourism and Chinese language learning. Since Zou took office as vice president in 2022, he and other Chinese colleagues have helped the university introduce a series of scientific research platforms, including the "One Belt and One Road" International Laboratory. They have also applied for the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Heritage Tourism, invited globally renowned professors, and organized scholars from China, Central Asia, India, ASEAN and other countries and regions to conduct important research projects. Cultivating more 'Lubans' of New Era In August, during the summer vacation, the campus of Tianjin Vocational Institute is quiet and peaceful. However, one classroom is filled with lively discussions, sometimes interspersed with applause and laughter. In this classroom, 15 professional teachers from the East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) are earnestly seeking advice from their Chinese counterparts on automotive repair techniques. These foreigners are the first group of Kazakh teachers to come to China for training at the newly established Kazakh Luban Workshop. During the China-Central Asia Summit in May this year, Tianjin Municipality signed a cooperation agreement with East Kazakhstan Region to establish the Luban Workshop in Kazakhstan, officially launching the project. "Can anyone tell me the different methods for replacing brake fluid in a car?" Guo Jianying, professor at the Automotive College of Tianjin Vocational Institute, vividly asked and demonstrated to the Kazakh teachers at the Luban Workshop how to replace brake fluid in a car. He also mentioned the management standards and procedures for waste oil in China. For this lesson, Guo prepared meticulously for a long time. In the classroom, everyone eagerly raised their hands, expressing their opinions and engaging in lively interactions. They didn't even want to take a tea break. "We are very interested in the Luban Workshop training. Chinese teachers have a high level of expertise!" Murat Muzdybayev, a leading researcher at the School of Mechanical Engineering at EKTU, excitedly told the Global Times. Muzdybayev noted that Kazakhstan has a great demand for automotive repair technicians, and they believe that the cooperation of the Luban Workshop, training equipment and resource sharing from China will greatly enhance the vocational training level of relevant majors at EKTU and promote the development of the local automotive repair industry. The Luban Workshop is an international brand of vocational education created and led by Tianjin Municipality under the guidance of the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is named after Lu Ban, a legendary craftsman and inventor who lived 2,500 years ago in China. It combines academic education with vocational training, aiming to help countries along the BRI cultivate professional technical talent. The Global Times learned that the specialties taught in the Luban Workshop are the most needed technologies for local industrial development, aiming to cultivate the most useful technical and skilled talent for local economic and social development. Taking the Luban Workshop project in Kazakhstan as an example, Kazakhstan is a typical landlocked country with a high demand for land transportation. However, the country lacks a complete industrial chain in the automotive field, and there is a shortage of corresponding technical and skilled talent. In recent years, the Kazakh government has also increased its new-energy vehicle (NEV) development plans, creating an urgent need for NEV maintenance technology and related talent. They hope to strengthen talent training in this area with China to "take the lead" in the field of NEVs, observers noted. The curriculum of the Luban Workshop training for Kazakhstan has fully considered these factors. The training includes three modules: fuel vehicles, NEVs and intelligent connected vehicles, with a total of 20 training courses. During the training, the Tianjin Vocational Institute also arranges for teachers from EKTU to visit Chinese NEV and intelligent connected vehicle companies. Samat Baigereyev, deputy dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering at EKTU, told the Global Times that the visit to Chinese car manufacturers such as Great Wall left a deep impression on him. He is very interested in China's technology in the field of NEVs and hopes to pass on these technologies to more Kazakh students. Unlike many other international vocational training projects, in the Luban Workshop, Chinese teachers do not directly teach local students but train local teachers. Through such a flexible and down-to-earth form, the rich teaching resources, high-quality technical standards and more advanced experimental equipment in China's vocational education system can be more efficiently integrated into the national academic education system of the partner country in a more localized way. Attractive talent training cooperation models In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have witnessed rapid development in their cooperation in the field of talent cultivation, with the Luban Workshop and the Silk Road University serving as representative programs. At a recent seminar held in Beijing, Abdukhalil Gafurzoda, Director of the Centre for Friendship and Cooperation in Tajikistan expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation with Chinese educational and research institutions, citing several key reasons. First, Chinese universities are highly attractive to students from Central Asia, as Chinese diplomas are considered to be of high value. The number of Tajikistani students studying in Chinese universities has increased nearly 20 times in the past 15 years, reaching close to 4,000. This is not a coincidence, said Gafurzoda. Second, the rapid expansion of economic cooperation between China and Central Asia in recent years has created a significant demand for local talent. Gafurzoda revealed that there are about 500 Chinese companies operating in Tajikistan, and Chinese enterprises have also participated in the implementation of 14 major investment projects in the country. Chinese investment accounted for 34 percent of Tajikistan's total foreign investment over the past decade. "The establishment of the Luban Workshop in Dushanbe a year ago was, to some extent, aimed at addressing this issue," said the Tajikistani scholar. With three projects already underway in Central Asia in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, where the Luban Workshop's talent cultivation standards and professional construction quality have gained wide recognition. Currently, 14 international professional teaching standards have been approved by the education ministries of cooperating countries and incorporated into their national education systems. Why have the Luban Workshop and other personnel training cooperation projects?been able to make such good and fast progress in Central Asia? "Our cooperation with another party does not come with any political conditions. We genuinely want to cooperate with Central Asian countries in the field of vocational education, help them improve their professional skills education level, and promote local industrial development. Through these collaborations, our teaching staff's capabilities and the internationalization level of our school can also be enhanced. It is a win-win situation," Meng Zheng, deputy director of the International Exchange Department of Tianjin Vocational Institute, told the Global Times. Meng also noted that China's vocational education system is very complete and powerful, which includes technology, standards, resources, equipment and facilities, "There are more than 1,300 vocational education institutions in China, and the improvement in scale and quality has been rapid. I believe that the level of vocational education in China is not inferior to internationally renowned vocational education models such as Germany and Australia. This creates a strong attraction for countries in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan," he said. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- East China's Fujian Province-based international shipping association "Silk Road Maritime" on Friday announced 16 new international ship routes, bringing the total routes to 116 as it celebrates its 5th anniversary, further securing the maritime supply chain under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In addition, 13 international organizations and enterprises including Piraeus Port Authority, Ghana Ports & Harbors Authority, and Aliyun announced their intention to join the association during the opening ceremony of the 5th "Silk Road Maritime" International Cooperation Forum held on Thursday, lifting the total number of association members to 317. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Chairman of Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial People's Congress, said during the ceremony that Fujian Province is the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road with thousands of years of history, and is also the Core Area of the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Zhou emphasized that the "Silk Road Maritime" will make effort to contribute to the construction of the BRI, and he vowed to further upgrade the cooperation platforms and implement more supportive policies. Chen Zhiping, chairman of Fujian Provincial Port Group Co, said during the opening ceremony that 2023 marks the fifth anniversary of the "Silk Road Maritime," witnessing remarkable progress the association had made over the past five years. "The 'Silk Road Maritime' has been positioned as a major project under the BRI in accordance with China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), which means the association is being upgraded from a trial project to a global cooperation platform," Chen said. In the past five years, the total number of "Silk Road Maritime" members has risen to 317. The number of ship routes operated by the association hit 116, reaching 131 harbors in 43 countries. As of August 31 this year, shipping routes making up the "Silk Road Maritime" have operated 12,096 freight vessels, facilitating over 14 million standard containers, the association said. In June 2022, the "Silk Road Maritime" launched China's first e-commerce special ship routes connecting Xiamen and Manila, the Philippines, which can facilitate 30,000 standard containers per year with value over 11 billion yuan ($1.52 billion). The blue book for "Silk Road Maritime" construction was unveiled during the forum, which summarized that achievements have been made in the past 5 years, and provided detailed international business information for association members to refer. The "Silk Road Maritime" also signed a cooperation agreement with China Meteorological Administration at the forum. The administration will deploy its advancing monitor system to provide precise weather forecasting and relevant services for association members covering more than 2,000 harbors worldwide. During the two-day-forum, more than 1,000 representatives from domestic and overseas enterprises spanning the maritime transport sector and related industries discussed topics in four major sub-sessions, exchanging points of view on how to boost the development of the global shipping industry. Chen pledged that the "Silk Road Maritime" will continue to cooperate with all association members, in a bid to further upgrade cooperation throughout the association, to accelerate shipping industry development. SOURCE Global Times BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gravitas Education Holdings Inc. (" GEHI " or the " Company ") (NYSE: GEHI), a leading early childhood education service provider in China, today announced the results of the Company's extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the " EGM ") held in Beijing today. 14,085,317 Class A ordinary shares of the Company (including Class A ordinary shares represented by the Company's American depositary shares, or the " ADSs ") and 6,949,141 Class B ordinary shares of the Company entitled to vote at the EGM were present at the EGM in person or by proxy. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to ten votes. These shares represented approximately 92.7% of the total outstanding votes represented by the Company's total Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of the record date on August 7, 2023. At the EGM, shareholders approved, through a special resolution, the agreement and plan of merger, dated as of April 18, 2023, as it may be amended from time to time (the " Merger Agreement ") by and among the Company, Bright Sunlight Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (" Merger Sub "), Best Assistant Education Online Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (" Best Assistant ") and a controlled subsidiary of NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited (HKEX: 0777, " NetDragon "), a Cayman Islands exempted company, and solely for purposes of certain named sections thereof, NetDragon, pursuant to which Best Assistant will form a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares (" eLMTree ") as its wholly owned subsidiary and transfer the education business of NetDragon outside of the PRC to eLMTree, and Merger Sub will merge with and into eLMTree with eLMTree continuing as the surviving company and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the " Merger "), and any and all transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger (the " Merger Proposal "). As of the date hereof, Best Assistant has formed eLMTree and eLMTree has executed and delivered a joinder to the Merger Agreement. At the EGM, shareholders also approved certain additional Merger-related proposals, including: through a special resolution, that, subject to and conditional upon the Merger becoming effective, the fifth amended and restated memorandum and article of association of the Company be amended and restated by their deletion in their entirety and the substitution of in their place of the sixth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company (the " A&R MAA ") effective immediately prior to the effective time (the " Effective Time ") of the Merger (the " Amendment Proposal "); through a special resolution, that, subject to and conditional upon the Merger becoming effective, the name of the Company be changed from "Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc." to "Mynd.ai, Inc." effective immediately prior to the Effective Time (the " Name Change ") (the " Name Change Proposal "); through a special resolution, that, subject to and conditional upon the Merger becoming effective, immediately prior to the Effective Time, the authorized share capital of the Company be varied as follows (the " Variation of Share Capital "): (a) the authorized share capital of the Company shall be varied to US$1,000,000 divided into 1,000,000,000 shares comprising of (i) 990,000,000 ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.001 each (each an " Ordinary Share ") and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with the A&R MAA, and (b) all Class A ordinary shares of the Company prior to the adoption of the A&R MAA, par value US$0.001 per share (" Class A Ordinary Shares ") and all Class B ordinary shares of the Company prior to the adoption of the A&R MAA, par value US$0.001 per share (" Class B Ordinary Shares ") in the authorized share capital of the Company (including all issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, and all authorized but unissued Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares) shall be re-designated as Ordinary Shares (the " Variation of Share Capital Proposal "); through an ordinary resolution, that the issuance of Merger Consideration (as defined below) at the Effective Time be authorized and approved: at the Effective Time, each ordinary share of eLMTree issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive a number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Ordinary Shares equal to (a) the eLMTree per share value (which is in turn calculated by (i) the eLMTree Equity Value (being US$750,000,000 assuming a normalized level of working capital of no less than US$25,000,000 at the closing of the Merger (the " Closing ")) divided by (ii) the number of ordinary shares of eLMTree that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time), divided by (b) the GEHI per share value (which is in turn calculated by (i) the GEHI Equity Value (being US$50,000,000 assuming the net cash of the Company will be US$15,000,000 at the Closing), divided by (ii) the number of all Class A Ordinary Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time on a fully-diluted basis) (the " Per Share Merger Consideration ", and the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company, the " Merger Consideration "), except for (x) all ordinary shares of eLMTree that are owned by the Company, eLMTree, Merger Sub or any wholly owned subsidiary of eLMTree immediately prior to the Effective Time (the " Excluded Shares ") which shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and (y) ordinary shares of eLMTree issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time held by holders who have validly exercised, or have not otherwise lost, their dissenters' rights for such ordinary shares of eLMTree in accordance with Section 238 of the Companies Act (as revised) of the Cayman Islands (the " Cayman Islands Companies Act ") (such ordinary shares of eLMTree being referred to collectively as the " Dissenting Shares ", and holders of the Dissenting Shares collectively, the " Dissenting Shareholders ") shall be cancelled and cease to exist at the Effective Time and the Dissenting Shareholders shall not be entitled to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled only to receive the payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares held by them determined in accordance with Section 238 of the Cayman Islands Companies Act (the " Issuance of Merger Consideration Proposal "); and through an ordinary resolution, that each of the directors and officers of the Company be authorized to do all things necessary to give effect to the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder including the Merger, the issuance of the Merger Consideration, the adoption of the A&R MAA, the Name Change and the Variation of Share Capital (the " General Authorization Proposal "). Since each of the above proposals was duly passed, the proposal regarding adjournment as set forth in the Company's proxy statement dated July 31, 2023 was no longer necessary and not voted upon at the EGM. The voting results were as follows: VOTES FOR VOTES AGAINST VOTES ABSTAINED Merger Proposal 82,065,527 149,700 1,361,500 Amendment Proposal 82,065,507 149,720 1,361,500 Name Change Proposal 82,065,507 149,700 1,361,520 Variation of Share Capital Proposal 82,065,507 149,720 1,361,500 Issuance of Merger Consideration Proposal 82,065,507 149,720 1,361,500 General Authorization Proposal 82,065,507 149,720 1,361,500 Completion of the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, among other things, certain regulatory approvals. The Company will work with the other parties to the Merger Agreement towards satisfying all other conditions precedent to the completion of the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement and complete the Merger as quickly as possible. About Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. Founded on the core values of "Care" and "Responsibility," "Inspire" and "Innovate," Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. (formerly known as RYB Education, Inc.) is a leading early childhood education service provider in China. Since opening its first play-and-learn center in 1998, the Company has grown and flourished with the mission to provide high-quality, individualized and age-appropriate care and education to nurture and inspire each child for his or her betterment in life. During its two decades of operating history, the Company has built itself into a well-recognized education brand and helped bring about many new educational practices in China's early childhood education industry. GEHI's comprehensive early childhood education solutions meet the needs of children from infancy to 6 years old through structured courses at kindergartens and play-and-learn centers, as well as at-home educational products and services. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements." These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the pending transactions described herein, and the parties' perspectives and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Merger, including the equity values, the benefits of the Merger, expected revenue opportunities, anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth, the expected management and governance of the combined company, and the expected timing of the transactions. The words "will," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and shareholders and other potential investors must recognize that actual results may differ materially from the expectations as a result of a variety of factors. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are hard to predict or control, that may cause the actual results, performance, or plans to differ materially from any future results, performance or plans expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) risks related to the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the Merger, including the risk that the transaction may not close due to one or more closing conditions to the transaction not being satisfied or waived, such as regulatory approvals not being obtained, on a timely basis or otherwise, or that a governmental entity prohibited, delayed or refused to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction or required certain conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the applicable transaction agreements; (iii) the risk that there may be a material adverse change with respect to the financial position, performance, operations or prospects of the Company or eLMTree; (iv) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the Merger; (v) the risk that any announcements relating to the Merger could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company's securities; (vi) the risk that the Merger and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of eLMTree to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers and customers and on their operating results and businesses generally; (vii) any changes in the business or operating prospects of eLMTree or its businesses; (viii) changes in applicable laws and regulations; and (ix) risks relating to the combined company's ability to enhance its services and products, execute its business strategy, expand its customer base and maintain stable relationship with its business partners. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the proxy statement that will be filed with the SEC by the Company in connection with the Merger, and other documents that the parties may file with or furnish to the SEC, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and eLMTree, the Company and their subsidiaries and affiliates undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Gravitas Education Holdings, Inc. Investor Relations Tel: 86-10-8767-5752 E-mail: [email protected].cn SOURCE Gravitas Education Holdings Inc. MILAN After initiating a new strategy last year, the Balestra brand is now fully committed to expanding internationally, starting with a big focus on the U.S. The American market has been pivotal in marking the success, and therefore the growth, of Balestra since the 60s, when we were present in more than 70 department stores. So it was almost our duty to go back and restart from there, said Sofia Bertolli Balestra, granddaughter of the late Italian couturier Renato Balestra and recently appointed artistic director of the brand. More from WWD To propel its expansion Stateside, the company has inked a distribution agreement with The FNA Group, a multidisciplinary agency focused on wholesale and marketing initiatives. The goal is to boost distribution in the market and kickstart a series of activities, including creating exclusive items in partnership with indie multibrand stores with the goal to support these boutiques by providing them with something unique, while treating customers, too, said Bertolli Balestra. The move marks a return to the companys roots, since the founder who died last year had already designed exclusive collections for the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Foleys, Neiman Marcus and Lord & Taylor, as well as for Isetan in Tokyo, throughout his career. Bertolli Balestra believes the companys Made in Italy production could attract shoppers Stateside, as well as the companys collaborations with celebrity stylists, such as a sequined cape in the signature Balestra Blue color recently worn by Jared Leto on stage during a concert. Again, resuming its ties with the world of international celebrities mirrors the work of the founder himself, who opened his first atelier in 1959 in Rome where the company is still based and designed costumes for the likes of Ava Gardner in The Barefoot Contessa and The Sun Also Rises; for Gina Lollobrigida in Beautiful but Dangerous; for Sophia Loren in Lucky to Be a Woman, and for Candice Bergen in The Adventurers, among others, becoming a favorite of movie stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Claudia Cardinale and Carroll Baker, to name a few. Story continues While custom-made creations for VIPs and private clients are part of the brands DNA, Bertolli Balestra underscored that the strategic changes set in motion last year were aimed at instilling the couture ethos of the label into ready-to-wear collections that could be accessible to a wider community. We felt the need to open up to the public and get in touch with a larger audience and with consumers that are more interested and curious than ever, she said about updating the brands heritage for the times. Sofia Bertolli Balestra The label presented its first ready-to-wear collection during Milan Fashion Week in February last year to coincide with the companys reload, as Bertolli Balestra defined the new course. As reported, this was marked by a rename of the brand to only the founders last name, a new logo and a new positioning, with collections integrating a daytime offering to flank the more eveningwear pieces. The new spring 2024 collection that the brand is presenting to buyers in New York this week before holding sales campaigns in Paris comes with prices between 800 euros and 1,800 euros. Conceived with a versatile approach, the lineup is rich in separates designed to be mixed and matched and that play with the feminine-masculine duality, as seen in oversize poplin shirts enriched with degrade effects and meant to be worn over denim pants or sequined culottes. The mannish attitude of slender tailoring and oversize suits is offset by hyper-feminine frocks mixing draping, transparencies and lingerie details, as well as sensual gowns featuring cutouts and embroidered details. Allover sequined looks also abound and convey the brands sense for glamour with new ease, thanks to their uncomplicated silhouettes encompassing miniskirts, micro bralettes and liquid column dresses. Elsewhere, cropped volumes, bare midriff and ribbons wrapping around the body telegraph a seductive, youthful attitude targeting a new generation of consumers. Balestra RTW Spring 2024 Overall, fabrications range from printed jersey and tulle to delicate lace and eco fil coupe, as Bertolli Balestra pointed during a preview in Milan. For us the promotion of the Made in Italy craftsmanship remains the main focus, she reiterated. We also recently found great ateliers and laboratories in the Lazio region [where the company is headquartered] which ensure a sort of zero-kilometer production and even more control on quality. Over the past 12 months, such a feature particularly resonated with European and Middle Eastern customers, as Bertolli Balestra said distribution was mainly concentrated in these markets. The positive feedback received from the first two ready-to-wear collections contributed to Bertolli Balestras appointment as artistic director of the brand. In her new role, she is tasked with overseeing the creative vision of the label across the board, with the goal to turn Balestra into a lifestyle company with extensions beyond womenswear. The brand remains privately owned by the family, with the founders daughters Fabiana Sofias mother and Federica Balestra still at the head of the fashion house, retaining roles as chief executive officer and president of the company, respectively. Balestra RTW Spring 2024 Bertolli Balestra joined the family business in 2010, after graduating in Letters and Journalism at Universita la Sapienza in Rome, specializing in contemporary art and piling up experiences in the art and fashion fields across Rome, London and New York. At the company, she started promoting the couture collections of the label in the American market via events and trunk shows. During these years, she has built the brands impressive archive, which includes more than 40,000 sketches and drawings, hundreds of gowns, videos and newspaper articles. Through the help of the archives, she knows who the Balestra woman is and, she said, and now I want to go beyond that: I want to democratize the brand and reach out to women who are more similar to myself. Balestra RTW Spring 2024 Launch Gallery: Balestra RTW Spring 2024 Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. ST. LOUIS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, has named Bill Seddon as District Vice President for the company's Atlanta District. Seddon joined Graybar in 1997 and successfully advanced through roles in sales, technology, product management, business management and operations. He most recently served as Director of Operations in Atlanta. As District Vice President, he will lead Graybar's business operations in a territory that includes Georgia and Alabama, along with portions of Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. "We congratulate Bill on his promotion," said Graybar Senior Vice President and General Manager Dennis DeSousa. "During his 26 years with Graybar, Bill has demonstrated a passion for our customers, a focus on growth, and a remarkable ability to achieve results. I am confident that he will provide strong leadership as we seek to expand our business and serve our customers in this region." Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of more than 325 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network, automate and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 [email protected] SOURCE Graybar Leading Wealth Management Communications Agency Recognized for Exemplary Support of Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad-A) Distinction Marks Fast-Growing Agency's Second "Wealthies" PR Campaign of the Year Award in Past Three Years LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Haven Tower Group LLC ("Haven Tower" or "the firm") the leading strategic communications agency for the wealth management space today announced it has been honored in the annual WealthManagement.com Industry Awards for PR Campaign of the Year. The award recognizes Haven Tower's development and implementation of a comprehensive PR and marketing communications program on behalf of the Association of African American Financial Advisors (Quad-A), a non-profit membership organization dedicated to expanding the community of successful Black financial professionals and executives in the wealth management industry. The PR campaign has been widely recognized across the industry for achieving multiple key strategic goals, including raising Quad-A's brand awareness, increasing member engagement and deepening corporate sponsor relations. The account team was co-led by Haven Tower's Donald Cutler, Senior Principal, and Elizabeth Shim, Principal. A multiple award-winning firm established in 2011, Haven Tower combines a singular focus on serving wealth management enterprises with a high-touch service model that encompasses full-service public relations, marketing communications and brand strategy capabilities. Award Underscores Haven Tower's Industry Leadership Joseph Kuo, CEO & Founder of Haven Tower, said, "We're thrilled to accept this prestigious award, and we thank WealthManagement.com for recognizing both the results we have generated for Quad-A, as well as the importance of its broader industry mission. We take pride in being at the forefront of innovative and compelling storytelling, combined with our commitment to delivering an exceptional service experience and high-impact results to our clients throughout the country." "We thank all our clients, including Quad-A, for their ongoing partnership. At the same time, we also express our deep gratitude to our incredible bench of employees across Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, all of whom bring a remarkable level of dedication and passion to our mission of client service above all else," continued Mr. Kuo. Larry Roth, Managing Partner of RLR Strategic Partners and Chairman of Haven Tower's Board of Advisors, said, "On behalf of Haven Tower's Board, we congratulate the firm on this very well-deserved recognition. This award underscores Haven Tower's commanding lead as the communications agency partner of choice to wealth management enterprises that are serious about driving growth and who recognize the pivotal role of brand elevation and strategic positioning in that process. I look forward to supporting Haven Tower's continued expansion in the years to come, and I'm excited about all that we will achieve together." In its ninth year, the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards honor outstanding achievements by companies, organizations and individuals that support financial advisor success. The annual gala took place in New York City on September 7, 2023. Second PR Campaign of the Year Award in Past Three Years Alone This marks the second time in the past three years Haven Tower has been honored with a "Wealthie" in the category of PR Campaign of the Year. In 2021, the firm was recognized in connection with a media relations and communications program developed and executed Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management's next gen financial advisor diversity, equity and inclusivity initiative. That campaign was envisioned, developed and executed by Michael Dugan, Haven Tower's President & Managing Partner, together with Mitch Manning, Partner & Head of National Media. Mr. Dugan concluded, "Not only does this award reflect Haven Tower's commitment to delivering meaningful support to the organizations and companies we partner with, but it's a testament to our entire team's desire to elevate causes important to the broader industry. We are gratified that WealthManagement.com chose us for this honor." "Finally, while it is gratifying to be recognized in major industry awards such as the Wealthies, we are even more excited by how such distinctions spotlight our commitment to our clients and the success of our service model, which emphasizes respect, hard work and team-based collaboration." About Haven Tower Group LLC Haven Tower Group LLC is an award-winning and full-service strategic communications agency that delivers public relations, marketing communications and brand strategy to wealth management, wealthtech, asset management and insurance clients. Haven Tower's team of professionals develops and executes ongoing brand elevation and public visibility programs, as well as PR and communications support for transactional, regulatory, crisis and other special situations on behalf of the firm's clients across the country. For more information, please visit www.haventower.com. Media Contacts: Lorene Yue or Julian Arenzon Haven Tower Group 424 317 4854 or 424 317 4865 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Haven Tower Group New collaboration will help usher in a more sustainable future of aviation PHOENIX, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Swedish electric airplane maker Heart Aerospace and Honeywell, a leader in aerospace technology, have announced a collaboration to integrate Honeywell's next-generation flight control system into the new ES-30 regional electric airplane. Honeywell was selected by Heart Aerospace for the Joint Definition Phase of Heart's ES-30 airplane, and the goal, once the phase has been completed successfully, is to fully integrate Honeywell's compact Fly-by-Wire system into development for production. Heart Aerospace X Honeywell Aerospace "We are thrilled to welcome Honeywell to the ES-30 program. With its long track record in flight controls, they are an ideal collaboration partner for Heart Aerospace as we strive to decarbonize air travel before the end of this decade," said Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. Honeywell's next-generation compact Fly-by-Wire system is in an advanced stage of development on multiple aircraft, and its functions are adaptable to the ES-30, allowing Heart to bring its airplane to market quickly and cost-effectively. "Honeywell's flight controls provide the ideal solution for Heart's mission to revitalize and electrify the regional transport market," said Vipul Gupta, President, Electronic Solutions, Honeywell Aerospace. "Honeywell's all-electric compact Fly-by-Wire is a ready-now solution based on decades of flight control experience in all aircraft types, and that reduces development time and risk for Heart." The ES-30 is a regional electric airplane with a 30-passenger standard seating capacity and is driven by electric motors powered by batteries. It will have a fully electric zero-emissions range of 200 kilometers, an extended hybrid range of 400 kilometers with 30 passengers, and flexibility to fly up to 800 kilometers with 25 passengers, all with typical airline reserves. Heart Aerospace has 250 firm orders for the ES-30, with options and purchase rights for an additional 120 planes. About Heart Aerospace At Heart Aerospace we work at the cutting edge of technology while contributing towards a sustainable future. Heart's mission is to create the world's greenest, most affordable, and most accessible form of transport. This mission is grounded in the outlook that electric air travel will become the new normal for regional flights and can be transformational in addressing the industry's key sustainability challenges. www.heartaerospace.com About Honeywell Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft. The Aerospace business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more. Its hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights, and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit www.honeywell.com or follow us at @Honeywell_Aero. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. Contacts: Media Heart Aerospace Christina Zander +46 728 889 610 [email protected] Media Honeywell Adam Kress 602-760-6252 [email protected] SOURCE Honeywell PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Patient safety strides have been achieved by Horizon Services, Inc., a nonprofit entity dedicated to substance-use disorder treatment. Spearheading these accomplishments is Eliseo Becerra, Chief Compliance Officer, who formed a partnership with InvisALERT Solutions-ObservSMART, a trusted rounding technology, known for increasing patient safety, enhancing quality of care, and improving regulatory adherence within diverse healthcare settings. The adoption of ObservSMART marked a significant improvement in patient monitoring, resulting in improved patient safety Post this Horizon Service's partnership with ObservSMART increases patient safety. Eliseo Becerra, a driven healthcare compliance professional and CCO of Horizon Services, Inc., has been instrumental in driving systematic enhancements within his organization. With his understanding of industry regulations and a passion for elevating patient care standards, Becerra adopted the ObservSMART rounding solution into the workflow at Palm Ave Detox in San Mateo, CA, after searching for a safer, more modernized way of client monitoring. ObservSMART redefines how healthcare professionals conduct their patient rounds. By introducing a proximity-based monitoring approach, ObservSMART ensures that staff are physically present with patients during required checks. This unique feature eliminates uncertainty and significantly reduces the risk of adverse safety events. Additionally, there are built-in alerts for staff and leadership, allowing for proactive intervention and risk mitigation. Regulatory standards necessitate rigorous patient monitoring and documentation, a requirement that Horizon Services initially sought to meet through manual tracking logs. In 2020, the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) initiated a large regulatory change for agencies like Horizon Services that required meeting guidelines for patient monitoring in a detoxification setting. In response to the evolving substance-use disorder industry, Horizon Services revamped their governance and patient care practices under new leadership. The formation of a dedicated Compliance Department signaled a critical shift in the organization's approach to measuring compliance and improving patient care. "The adoption of ObservSMART marked a significant improvement in patient monitoring, resulting in improved patient safety. Mandatory training ensured staff proficiency, while regular audits encouraged adherence to protocols and timely identification of potential issues. These initiatives led to a considerable cultural shift, positioning quality of care and patient safety as the foundation of all organizational activities." With ObservSMART's help, the improvements introduced by Eliseo Becerra have resulted in a stronger culture of safety, empowering crucial staff with easy-to-use and effective tool for patient care. The ObservSMART solution is not limited to a specific healthcare organization or patient population. Its adaptability and applicability to various behavioral healthcare settings make it a valuable tool for organizations across the healthcare spectrum. To read further on how Eliseo Becerra has strategized Horizon Services Inc's achievements with ObservSMART, learn more here. SOURCE InvisALERT Solutions NASHVILLE, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Writerly, a leader in AI-enabled software for marketing and e-commerce, proudly announces its groundbreaking partnership with Northwestern University's MBAi (Master of Business Administration, Artificial Intelligence) program. This strategic collaboration underscores Writerly's commitment to fostering forward-thinking innovation and developing future leaders in the generative AI space. Innovative Collaboration Between Writerly/EKOM and Northwestern University's MBAi Program Unveils AI Capstone Partnership Innovative Collaboration Between Writerly/EKOM and Northwestern University's MBAi Program Unveils AI Capstone Partnership As part of this collaboration, capstone graduate students from Northwestern's joint program between McCormick School of Engineering and Kellogg School of Management will join members of Writerly's leadership for an intensive semester-long engagement. These students, selected from diverse backgrounds in science, engineering, and business, will gain exposure to real-world applications of AI technology, hands-on mentoring, and the opportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing startup pioneering generative AI's frontier. The MBAi capstone students will benefit from direct access to Writerly's cutting-edge natural language AI platform as they tackle complex challenges at the intersection of business and technology. By actively collaborating with Writerly's experienced data scientists and engineers, students will acquire in-demand skills and have the chance to implement innovative AI solutions with measurable business impact. "We are excited to embark on this journey with Northwestern's MBAi program," said Jon Ricketts, CEO of Writerly, the parent company of EKOM. "This partnership not only showcases our commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI, but also exemplifies our dedication to providing meaningful experiences that empower our organization as well as students who will be leading AI initiatives of their own in the future." The selected capstone students will work closely with EKOM's team to research and model novel use cases for generative AI needs at the enterprise level. Writerly's technical expertise, combined with the students' unique perspectives, promises to catalyze innovation that creates unique value for everyone involved. The partnership resonates deeply with Writerly/EKOM's ethos of growth and substantiates its status as a formidable player in the AI landscape. "The opportunity to work with startups like Writerly at the leading edge of generative AI is exactly the kind of experience we aspire to provide for our students," stated the Program Director of MBAi, Andy Fano. The collaborative endeavor will unfold through a series of planned phases, commencing with the Fall 2023 Capstone Kickoff. This multifaceted journey will encompass introductions, project work, presentations, and culminate in a grand showcase event hosted at the Kellogg Global Hub. Media Contact: Bob Hutchins (615) 994-7696 [email protected] SOURCE Writerly AI NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The InsurTech Market by deployment (On-premise and Cloud), management (marketing and distribution, IT support, policy administration and management, claim management, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America) - Forecast and Analysis 2023-2027" report has been added to technavio offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the insurtech market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 61.75 billion. The need to improve business efficiency is notably driving the global insurtech market growth. The expansion of connected devices within the financial industry has resulted in the generation of vast volumes of data. Insurance companies have recognized the potential of this data to optimize their expenses, enhance service delivery, and increase their revenues. Nevertheless, as the insurance sector undergoes digitization and embraces innovative financial technologies, collecting and analyzing consumer data through the InsurTech platform has become a straightforward process. Leading insurance firms are facing intense competition as they strive to establish a dominant position and expand their market presence. Additionally, the widespread availability of application programming interfaces (APIs), improved online information resources, and adherence to financial standards like eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) have enabled companies to create solutions catering to diverse and niche markets. Consequently, InsurTech has emerged as a strategic priority for numerous insurance organizations. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy full report here Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global InsurTech Market 2023-2027 Market Challenge The high cost of investments is a major challenge impeding the global insurtech market growth. Selling insurance products using cutting-edge technology poses a new and complex challenge for insurance companies. Specialized training is essential for their employees to effectively utilize advanced technology, and ongoing retraining is necessary to gain a deep understanding of insurance products, enabling the staff to offer tailored solutions to clients. Consequently, insurance firms must allocate resources to hire trainers who can educate their staff and brokers. Many insurance companies are now integrating a variety of products and services with advanced technologies, often partnering with banks and brokers/agents to do so. For startups or vendors, it's crucial to have a clear vision of the expected outcomes of their research projects before making investments. However, it's often challenging to predict both the results and the path to success at the project's outset. Furthermore, a significant hurdle lies in the commercialization of technology. Despite having advanced technology and perfect product plans, many companies struggle to meet customer demand, which can impede market growth in the forecasted period. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read Sample PDF Report Now The insurtech market has segmented by deployment (On-premise and Cloud), management (marketing and distribution, IT support, policy administration and management, claim management, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The market share growth by the marketing and distribution segment will be significant during the forecast period. The marketing and distribution segment is poised for exponential growth, surpassing the global average growth rate in the forecast period. This surge is primarily driven by the widespread adoption of smartphones and the easy accessibility of the internet through these devices, which have propelled digital marketing and the digital distribution of insurance policies through advanced technologies. Mobile point-of-sale solutions are gaining increasing acceptance within the e-retail sector, enabling insurance companies to identify significant opportunities to cater to the needs of a large customer base with busy lifestyles, tailoring their offerings to suit their preferences and behaviours. Europe is estimated to contribute 50% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the InsurTech Market: Acko General Insurance Ltd., Alan SA, Anywhere 2 go Co. Ltd., Clover Health, Cytora Ltd., Damco Group, DXC Technology Co., Friendsurance, Haven Life Insurance Agency LLC, iCarbonX, Insurance Technology Services, Jetty National Inc., Kin Insurance Technology Hub LLC, Milvik AB, Oscar Insurance Corp., Quantemplate Technologies Inc., Shift Technology, simplesurance GmbH, Slice Insurance Technologies Inc., and ZhongAn Online Property Insurance Co. Ltd. Related Reports: The insurance market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2022 and 2027. The insurance market size is forecast to increase by USD 1,429.64 billion. This report extensively covers market segmentation by distribution channel (sales personnel and insurance agencies), type (life and non-life), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The increasing government regulations on mandatory insurance coverage in developing countries is the key factor driving the growth of the global insurance market. The insurtech market share in the UK is expected to increase by USD 4.20 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 43.74%. This report extensively covers insurtech market in the UK segmentation by deployment (on-premises and cloud) and value chain positioning (marketing and distribution, IT support, policy administration and management, claim management, and others). The need to improve business efficiency is one of the key drivers supporting the insurtech market growth in the UK. InsurTech Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 44.05% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 61.75 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 41.01 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution Europe at 50% Key countries US, Japan, China, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Acko General Insurance Ltd., Alan SA, Anywhere 2 go Co. Ltd., Clover Health, Cytora Ltd., Damco Group, DXC Technology Co., Friendsurance, Haven Life Insurance Agency LLC, iCarbonX, Insurance Technology Services, Jetty National Inc., Kin Insurance Technology Hub LLC, Milvik AB, Oscar Insurance Corp., Quantemplate Technologies Inc., Shift Technology, simplesurance GmbH, Slice Insurance Technologies Inc., and ZhongAn Online Property Insurance Co. Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Deployment Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing Vinalia, the epitome of exploration in the world of wine. This pioneering wine brand and subscription club embarks on a remarkable journey to celebrate the underrepresented within the realm of viniculture. With a staggering 10,000 grape varieties existing worldwide, it's shocking that a mere 33 commandeer 50% of global vineyard space. At Vinalia, we're determined to change that narrative. Our mission is to introduce wine enthusiasts to the remaining 9,967 varieties that languish in obscurity. Vinalia stands as a beacon of diversity, collaborating with small-scale producers across the globe, from Uruguay to Romania. Our focus extends to women and minority winegrowers, emerging economies, and champions of sustainability and biodiversity. Through these partnerships, we're nurturing and preserving a tapestry of grapes and cultures that have long been overshadowed. At Vinalia, we are steadfast in our belief that each pour encapsulates a tale yearning to be shared. Our ardor lies in revealing these narratives, from the rich history of Slovenian winemaking to the innovative spirit of Armenian vineyards. Join us as we unveil Vinalia and raise a toast to a new era of vinicultural storytelling. Every glass is an opportunity to discover, learn, and celebrate the rich heritage that flows within every drop. The leadership team, consisting of Bryce Wiatrak (Co-Founder and CEO) and Mary Collineau (Co-Founder and CMO), met at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Bryce brings over a decade of wine journalism experience, having been a staff writer at GuildSomm, a leading academic trade journal, contributor to Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, AFAR and others as well as a Master of Wine candidate. Prior to Vinalia, Mary worked across various brand management roles within leading luxury wine brands and is a candidate for a WSET Diploma. The team has also enlisted a powerhouse group of advisors across wine, spirits, hospitality, consulting and journalism - Andre Mack, Founder of Maison Noir and & Sons Hospitality Group - Brook Smith, seasoned entrepreneur and owner of Napa winery Post Parade - Dr. Jose Vouillamoz, world's foremost grape geneticist - Lindsey Lyman, professor of entrepreneurship at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business - Taylor Foxman, Founder & CEO of The Industry Collective, advisor and investor in beverage and CPG "In the exciting world of wine, it's all about evolving with consumer preferences. Today's consumers are driven less by bottle scores and more by what those bottles represent," states Mary Collineau, Co-Founder and CMO of Vinalia. Collineau continues, "At Vinalia, we are devoted to preserving heritage, embracing ingenuity, and defying conventions, casting aside the notion that extraordinary vintages are solely confined to the usual suspects. As we share these hidden gems and their accompanying tales, our aspiration isn't just to ignite a spirit of adventure but also to empower individuals to continue their personal exploration of the rich and diverse world we live in." Customers across the country are already embracing the Vinalia way, as beautifully captured below via one of our customers, Stephen L "I've always been a big wine fan, loving wines from Napa and Tuscany. But Vinalia shook things up for me they've got these crazy good, unheard-of wines that don't break the bank. And the best part is they come right to my door. Now, when I hang out with friends over a glass, I've got cool stories to share about winemaking in the Balkan Peninsula, too. Vinalia, you've definitely added some novelty to my wine nights!" The exciting launch comes on the heels of Vinalia's first formalized capital raise, in which we are looking to secure $1.2 million to support customer acquisition and growth, transition from DTC to omnichannel distribution, technology developments for our website and product recommendations and inventory. About Vinalia Vinalia is a groundbreaking wine brand that curates a diverse collection of rare and esoteric wines from small-scale producers globally. With a dedication to underrepresented voices and sustainable practices, Vinalia offers a gateway to unexplored flavors and cultural narratives within the world of wine. Each month, members embark on a tasting journey that transcends boundaries and embraces the art of viniculture and storytelling. https://vinaliawine.com About the Range Each month we release 4 new wines featuring 2-3 new producers with a monthly subscription option of $98/month (shipping included) for 4 bottles as well as the ability to purchase individual bottles ranging from $24-34. Communications Contact Taylor Foxman The Industry Collective 609-432-2237 [email protected] Company Contact (Investor/Marketing Inquiries) Bryce Wiatrak Vinalia Wine [email protected] SOURCE Vinalia GREENWICH, Conn., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Addtronics, LLC ("Addtronics"), a mission-driven holding company dedicated to acquiring, empowering, and growing leading robotic automation solution providers, announced today the appointment of Janet Ceddia as Chief Operating Officer effective September 11th, 2023. In her new role, Ms. Ceddia will oversee operations, focusing on driving value-creation, fostering continuous improvement, and leading integration efforts. Addtronics announces appointment of Janet Ceddia as new Chief Operating Officer. Post this Janet Ceddia Ms. Ceddia brings over two decades of invaluable experience building high-performing teams and enhancing profitability at multiple industrial service businesses. She is a seasoned business builder and a proven executive of both founder-owned and private equity-backed companies. She is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded and grown multiple companies. Ms. Ceddia was most recently the Chief Integration Officer at private equity-backed 3Phase Elevator Corp, where she led the integration of over 18 acquisitions. Prior to this, she held positions at McKinsey & Company, Security Construction Services, and Altair Construction. Ms. Ceddia is a distinguished alumna of the Harvard Business School, and she earned her BA with honors from Colby College. On her appointment, Ms. Ceddia said, "I am thrilled to join Kaho Partners and the entire Addtronics leadership team in the important work of transforming the U.S. manufacturing sector. I am humbled as well by this opportunity to build on the many successes of Addtronics' leading brands Dynamic Design Solutions, Missouri Tooling & Automation, and Bow Robotics and continue to increase access to and support for robotic automation solutions." Max Katzenstein, Executive Chairman of Addtronics, commented, "We are incredibly excited to welcome Janet to our team. I have no doubt that she will make Addtronics a stronger company and help us achieve our mission to strengthen American manufacturing." In conjunction with Ms. Ceddia's appointment, Max Katzenstein has assumed the role of Executive Chairman, and Jerry Osborn has been appointed as Vice Chairman. In addition to investing in its leadership team, Addtronics continues to acquire great robotic automation solutions providers and add them to their family of brands. About Addtronics: Addtronics is a mission-driven holding company dedicated to acquiring, empowering, and growing leading robotic automation solution providers. Addtronics is strengthening the domestic manufacturing sector by increasing access to robotic automation solutions. Addtronics seeks to be the acquirer of choice in this space by allowing its brands to retain their autonomy, identities, and brands. For more information on Addtronics, please visit www.addtronics.com. About Kaho Partners: Kaho is a thesis-driven private equity firm exclusively focused on building market-leading companies through aggressive organic and inorganic growth. Kaho is singularly focused on building a select few companies and maintains a long-term time horizon. Kaho is based in New York, NY and Greenwich, CT. For more information on Kaho Partners, please visit www.kahopartners.com. SOURCE Addtronics Investment will accelerate sustainable solar development in core market of NY, while empowering expansion into other states NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimmeridge, an alternative asset manager focused on the energy sector, today announced an investment of $15 million in US Light Energy, a distributed generation solar developer, specializing in community solar projects across the United States. The investment was made through Kimmeridge Carbon Solutions, a dedicated fund focused on investments at the front end of the carbon abatement cost curve. Kimmeridge's investment in US Light Energy underscores the tremendous potential of the solar energy sector, and the strong returns available to project developers that can assemble early-stage projects. As the renewable energy market continues to evolve, the United States is poised for significant growth in community solar energy generation, with new markets opening up in California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Kimmeridge will be at the forefront of this transformative industry by partnering with and accelerating the company's growth trajectory. Mark Richardson, CEO of US Light Energy, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration with Kimmeridge: "We couldn't be more excited to partner with Kimmeridge. Kimmeridge's reputation as a proven, value-oriented investor with strong knowledge of the energy sector aligns seamlessly with our vision. The partnership will advance our mission of providing clean, community-driven solar energy solutions in New York, while empowering expansion into other states with burgeoning community solar programs." Henry Makansi, Managing Partner at Kimmeridge, commended the quality of the US Light Energy team and portfolio, stating, "US Light Energy is ideally situated, with a talented team, deep expertise and a robust portfolio of community solar projects. We are excited to partner with them on this journey, leveraging their expertise in distributed generation solar to create long-term value for all stakeholders." About US Light Energy: U.S. Light Energy is a New York-based distributed generation energy development company specializing in Community Solar and Utility scale solar generating and energy storage facilities. U.S. Light Energy also offers renewable energy offtake solutions for residential, small and large commercial, industrial, and municipal customers. With thirty years of experience, U.S. Light Energy has developed a unique feasibility process in which to analyze multiple aspects of every property to drive the most value per acre while positioning a project for success. For more information about US Light Energy, please visit uslightenergy.com. About Kimmeridge: Founded in 2012 by Ben Dell, Dr. Neil McMahon, and Henry Makansi, Kimmeridge is an alternative asset manager specializing in the energy sector. Kimmeridge's direct investment approach, deep technical knowledge, active portfolio management, and proprietary research and data gathering set the firm apart in the industry. The Kimmeridge Carbon Solutions fund focuses on sustainable and value-driven investments in the energy sector, and has a made a series of targeted investments, including Chestnut Carbon, Landgate, and Common Energy. For more information about Kimmeridge, please visit kimmeridge.com. Media Contacts US Light Energy: Gina Marie Cannistraro [email protected] 518-288-7800 ext. 108 Kimmeridge: Daniel Yunger / Hallie Wolff / Emma Cloyd [email protected] 917.574.8582 / 917.842.1127 / 646.629.1191 SOURCE Kimmeridge SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Korea Energy Agency, led by President Lee Sang Hoon, holds a global renewable energy online business meeting from October 4 to 5. The purpose of this meeting is to provide support for key Korean companies in the field of new renewable energy sector. The meeting is hosted by Korea Energy Agency and organized by Korea New and Renewable Energy Association. The event will bring together 11 prominent companies from the new renewable energy industry, along with 30 buyers from 10 countries in East Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Utilizing Zoom, the meeting will provide one-on-one online business matchmaking sessions, with dedicated interpreters assigned to each participating company to ensure smooth communication. Korea Energy Agency has been carrying out various support initiatives to assist Korean companies in opening overseas markets. This online meeting event is held as a part of such ongoing efforts. Kim Sung-Hoon, the Director General of the International Climate Cooperation Division at Korean Energy Agency, stated, "We expect that this upcoming online business meeting in October will serve as a platform for fostering exchanges within the new renewable energy sector. In addition, we hope it will offer practical assistance to Korean companies in the new renewable energy field, aiding their expansion in the global market." SOURCE Korea Energy Agency Chris Evans and Alba Baptista were reportedly married each other in an intimate ceremony over the weekend. The two actors exchanged vows in front of their friends and family at a private residence in Massachusetts, according to multiple reports. According to People, the wedding was attended by Hollywood actors such as Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and Jeremy Renner. An insider told Page Six that the wedding was locked down tight, as guests were made to sign non-disclosure agreements. The Independent has contacted Evans and Baptistas representatives for comment. The Avengers and the Warrior Nun star first sparked romance rumours in November 2022, when they were spotted walking together in New York City. In January this year, Evans made his relationship with Baptista official by posting a video montage of the duo pranking each other. The clip began with Evanss back turned away from the camera as hes doing laundry before Baptista screamed while filming him. In response, he jumped up and shouted before laughing at the camera. The next clip then showed Evans scaring Baptista as she walked through a living room, causing her to drop her phone. (chrisevans / Instagram) The news of Evanss rumoured relationship also came days after he was named People magazines 2022 Sexiest Man Alive. During an accompanying interview with the publication, he opened up about his dating life and how he became a much better romantic partner over the years. You spend a lot of time learning whats been helpful and what hasnt been, Evans said. We all have patterns, hang-ups or baggage that repeat and echo, so Ive really been able to kind of identify where I need improvement and what works. He also revealed that when the time comes, he absolutely wants to start a family of his own. Wife, kids, building a family, The Lightyear star said. When you read about most of the best artists, whether its actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasnt the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships, the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared. So its also something through my long 41 years that also rings true. Those things are the most important. I love the idea of tradition and ceremony, I had a lot of that in my life so the idea of creating that, I cant think of anything better. STONY BROOK, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National Food Poisoning Lawyer Jory Lange is investigating the Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse Food Poisoning Outbreak. The restaurant was issued 15 violations after 28 people got food poisoning on Saturday. 12 people were rushed to the Emergency Room at Stony Brook University Hospital. "The scary thing about this outbreak is, as a consumer, there's nothing you can do to tell whether the food that you are buying is safe. You can't taste, smell, or see food poisoning. Food that is contaminated may look, smell, and taste just like any other food. This is why it's critical that restaurants who make and sell our food, ensure the food is safe before they sell it," said Food Poisoning Lawyer Jory Lange. About the Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse Food Poisoning Outbreak The Suffolk Department of Health Services is investigating Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse. The food poisoning outbreak may have been caused by "mishandled and improperly stored cooked rice that was served" on Saturday afternoon, said Marykate Guilfoyle, Suffolk County's spokesperson. The health department issued 15 violations to the restaurant on Nesconset Highway, said Guilfoyle, including eight violations for foodborne illness risk factors. "Twelve people were taken to Stony Brook Hospital," Guilfoyle said. Record-Breaking Food Poisoning Lawyer Jory Lange is one of the nation's leading Food Poisoning Lawyers. Jory recently won a $10 million settlement on behalf of a family who got Shigella food poisoning after eating at a restaurant. The $10 million settlement is believed to be the largest Shigella settlement in US history on behalf of a person who developed Reactive Arthritis from Shigella food poisoning. How The Lange Law Firm Can Help Our mission is to help families who have been harmed by severe food poisoning. When restaurants give their customers food poisoning, we use the law to hold them accountable. The Lange Law Firm is the only law firm in the nation solely focused on representing families in food poisoning lawsuits and contaminated water lawsuits. If you got food poisoning from Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse and are interested in making a legal claim for compensation, we can help. Our food safety lawyer can help you pursue compensation for food poisoning. Call us for a free no obligation legal consultation at (833) 330-3663 or send us an e-mail here. About the legal team: Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is one of the United States' leading Food Poisoning Lawyers, successfully representing clients across the United States in food poisoning cases from E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Vibrio Food Poisoning. Contacts The Lange Law Firm, PLLC Jory D. Lange Jr. www.MakeFoodSafe.com Candess Zona Mendola 833.330.3663 [email protected] SOURCE The Lange Law Firm "Lakewood offers beautifully built homes that provide a cozy and convenient lifestyle, with plenty of trees and greenspaces surrounding the neighborhood," said Stephanie Delgado, Assistant Property Manager at Lakewood Manor. "The unique layout of the homes really gives the community an exclusive feel," said Kristina Mireles, also an Assistant Property Manager at the location. Single-family rentals have been on the rise as a practical housing solution for families & couples in today's dynamic real estate market. Renting offers the best parts of owning a home, without the financial strain of unforeseen maintenance expenses and fluctuating property values. Many single-family rental properties come equipped with modern amenities, providing renters with comfortable and contemporary living spaces without the commitment of purchasing a property. At Lakewood, residents will experience the ideal suburban lifestyle amidst Lake Jackson's rich vegetation, nature trails, parks and more. Seaside Beach in Galveston, only 50 minutes away, offers Lakewood residents the perfect beach vacation getaway anytime. Lakewood Manor is a great place for adventurous families & couples looking for their own slice of paradise in suburban South Texas. Each new-construction home features premium amenities, including quartz countertops, luxury vinyl flooring and walk-in closets. The homes are also equipped with smart-home technology including wifi-connected, programmable thermostats and smart locks for residents' added protection and peace of mind. Three and four-bedroom homes are available for lease now. For more information on the community, amenities, and virtual tours or to schedule an appointment, visit www.lakewoodmanorhomes.com. About Bridge Tower Properties Bridge Tower was founded in 2013 to provide high-quality homes and communities for families and individuals. We want to change how people think about leasing by creating exceptional homes and communities that meet the needs of renters today and tomorrow. We are committed to providing services that take all the hassles out of living in a home and help our residents focus on what matters most to them. Chris McCowan Bridge Tower Properties 469-963-1982 [email protected] SOURCE Bridge Tower Properties Modal title PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing! Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive. 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VADUZ, Liechtenstein, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lirium, a leading licensed European provider of B2B2C digital asset access solutions, will begin powering digital access to NFTs using the Polygon network for Galicia, the largest private bank in Argentina based on market value. Lirium already partners with financial services companies in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama, Nigeria and Kenya. Lirium's white label solution will give Galicia clients quick and easy access to NFTs using the Polygon network, the most proven way to build and scale apps on Ethereum. Lirium first launched its turnkey digital assets access solution in Argentina a year ago with Grupo Galicia as its first client. Argentina is a country with significant potential for the adoption of alternative digital asset products. Lirium founder and CEO Federico Murrone said, "We are extremely proud and pleased to partner with Grupo Galicia, to provide the clients of its bank with easy and convenient access to the world of NFTs, using our regulated platform. Latin America is ready for the adoption of mainstream cryptocurrencies, and Lirium provides simple, fast and safe channels to support the next wave of adoption by a broader demographic." In turn, Ariel Sanchez, Director of the Investment Portfolio at Banco Galicia said, "We are pleased to generate and deliver the first Banco Galicia NFTs to our clients. It is in our DNA to learn and innovate, and we are proudly bringing the Blockchain technology to our clients to provide new and better solutions for their everyday transactions. Digital tools allow for new possibilities, and we want to accompany our clients in the adoption of this technology. We want to express our thanks to Lirium's team for supporting us in this new challenge and helping us make these ideas become reality." With local settlement as a priority, Lirium has entered into agreements with partners in the region to provide a B2B solution for various cryptocurrency use cases. Additional countries can be added rapidly for local currency settlement, as Lirium has already developed the tech and regulatory rails needed for swift new market rollout, while US Dollar, EUR and GBP settlement is immediately available after API integration with its client. The company provides bank-level oversight of digital asset transactions, including license controls, stringent risk management and security, with fund safeguarding, data protection and fraud prevention as priorities. Lirium's back-end plug-and-play, fully adaptable API, allows financial entities to retain full control of end-customer experience without adding any additional regulatory or operational complexities. Lirium extends its full license functionalities to clients, providing treasury, liquidity, custodial, insurance, and full operational and regulatory compliance coverage. Lirium AG owns three international licenses: exchange services, qualified custodian and pricing services, enabling it to provide crypto-as-a-service regulated and compliant services globally. Lirium's current focus and expertise is in cryptocurrencies in Latin America. However, it intends to further expand regionally and build the legal and tech rails for local provision, transaction and settlement of current and future locally relevant digital asset ecosystem (DAE) products and services. Founded in 2020 by former Xapo, Lemon Wallet and Patagon teams, Lirium's founders and senior management have a proven track record in fast-scaling crypto, large volume operations and secure administration, having built one of the most relevant and well-respected bitcoin wallets in the world. Latin America has significant smartphone and digital wallet penetration, as well as crypto awareness with considerable latent demand. Users in the region understand the advantages of a digital asset refuge. At least one in three Latin Americans have purchased crypto and almost one fifth1 does so regularly. About Lirium Lirium is a registered digital asset technology and infrastructure company with a European license which leverages its founders' proven fast-scaling track record to provide a full-coverage turnkey infrastructure solution for local provision, transaction and settlement of digital financial, tokenized and other DAE assets. The company, registered in Liechtenstein, holds FMA (Financial Market Authority) issued licenses to provide three types of services including crypto buy/sell, custody and pricing, allowing it to be a market maker that can supply best pricing and liquidity to an existing financial institution customer base globally. Lirium's initial focus is Latin America, where it is building the regional infrastructure and local settlement rails for local provision, transaction and settlement of current and future locally relevant DAE products and services. It is also developing an accretive presence in other high growth potential Emerging Markets. Its low-cost, rapidly scalable business model optimizes gains through a pricing structure that mitigates risk related to crypto asset price fluctuation exposure. This enables traditional banks, digital wallets and native digital crypto players to quickly and safely offer their clients local, compliant and low risk access to cryptocurrencies and locally relevant financial products while retaining full control of the end-customer experience. 1. Source: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, survey N=520, 90% confidence at country level, Aug 2022, AMI, Americas Market Intelligence To learn more, please visit www.lirium.com. SOURCE Lirium AG ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Speech-language pathologist and Black family literacy advocate Dr. Kelly M. Byrd of Supplemental Health Care has been named the 2024 National Staffing Employee of the Year, the American Staffing Association announced today. The announcement marks the beginning of National Staffing Employee Week, which runs this year from Sept. 11 to 17 and highlights the achievements of the millions of temporary and contract employees hired by U.S. staffing agencies each year. 2024 National Staffing Employee of the Year, Supplemental Health Care's Dr. Kelly M. Byrd ASA's National Staffing Employee Week honors U.S. temporary and contract workers (PRNewsfoto/American Staffing Association) "Dr. Byrd's story is a testament to the power of staffing in fostering both personal and professional growth," said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer of ASA. "Each year, the National Staffing Employee of the Year and Staffing All-Star awards provide us with an outstanding opportunity to spotlight individuals whose journeys exemplify the transformative impact of staffing. "As we enter National Staffing Employee Week, we are excited to celebrate the millions of temporary and contract employees who contribute their talents to industries across the nation." Sponsored by StaffPro3, a division of PMC Insurance, the National Staffing Employee of the Year and All-Star awards honor current or former temporary or contract employees whose extraordinary stories of staffing success best exemplify one or more of the industry's key messages of bridging and flexibility. Byrd will be honored during a ceremony at Staffing World, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 3-5 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC. National Staffing Employee of the Year Health Care Sector All-Star Kelly M. Byrd Supplemental Health Care Dr. Kelly M. Byrd always knew she wanted to work with kids and ensure they had their voices heard. As a child, she wanted to see characters in books that looked like her. As an adult, she turned to Supplemental Health Care, where her contract assignments provided her with the flexibility to go back to school and complete her doctorate degree. She also founded the nonprofit organization Love for Literacy, which promotes Black family literacy in her community, and wrote the children's book Sunshine On an Otherwise Miserable Day. In November 2022, Byrd partnered with SHC to create family literacy resources for Family Literacy Day that were shared with SHC speech-language pathologists, students, and school districts across the country. SHC has also donated hundreds of copies of her children's books to school districts across the country. Byrd used staffing to grow her career and give back to her community, showing what can happen when talented people partner with staffing. Engineering, Information Technology, and Scientific Sector All-Star Meisha Millwee Harvey Nash Meisha Millwee helped make a difference in her community during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. After moving from Dallas to Nashville, Millwee turned to Harvey Nash to help her find a role in her new town. Just months into her contract as the project coordinator for communicable and environmental diseases and emergency preparedness at the Tennessee Department of Health, Covid-19 swept the nation. In the ensuing months, she oversaw efforts to help skilled nursing and assisted living facilities adjust to an online program that tracked available beds, services, and assets in the Volunteer State. Now, Millwee is a liaison to the White House Task Force for Communicable and Environmental Diseases team to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Covid-19 reporting. Millwee's talents are changing the lives of others thanks to the opportunity she gained in staffing. Millwee was also recently awarded the first ever Harvey Nash Global Contractor of the Year among 11,000 active highly talented and passionate contractors from around the world. Industrial Sector All-Star Kathy Stanifer EmployBridge Kathy Stanifer is using the flexibility staffing provides to help people (and animals) in need. Affectionately known as "Granny" by her coworkers, Stanifer currently works as a CDL driver for Gleaner's Food Bank in the Indianapolis area. After finishing her daily route in the afternoon, she cares for homebound patients by cleaning their homes and helping them with meals. Stanifer also rescues injured and neglected horses, rehabilitating them with her own money and then giving them to people within her community. Stanifer is an exceptional person who's using staffing to improve the lives of everyone around her. OfficeClerical and Administrative Sector Cassandra Hughes Express Employment Professionals For Cassandra Hughes, staffing provided the flexibility she needed to deal with a major life change. After starting a role as a customer service agent, her world changed when she was granted custody of her five nieces and nephewsall of whom were under the age of 10. Hughes worked closely with the team at Express Employment Professionals to adjust her schedule so she could maintain a full-time weekly paycheck. A year after starting, Hughes was offered a full-time role with the client company. Professional-Managerial Sector All-Star Carla Monroe, PMP, CSM, CSPO, CSSGB, CMQOE, ITIL Kelly Services Staffing has allowed Carla Monroe to work remotely while spending time with her daughter. Through Kelly Services, Monroe is able to pursue her career as a technical project manager for a West Coast transit agency while spending time with her daughter in South Carolina. Her flexible schedule also allows her to regularly attend meetings of her local Project Management Institute chapter so she can further develop her leadership skills. About the American Staffing Association The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net . Contact Megan Sweeney American Staffing Association 703-253-1151 [email protected] SOURCE American Staffing Association Iconic companies across industries rise together to the urgent challenge of mobilizing suppliers on climate change WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting and managed services to commercial and public sector clients, today announced the addition of three of the world's most iconic brands: McDonald's, Post Holdings, and PUMA to the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT), a collaborative program launched in 2021 to accelerate progress towards science-based greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets across supply chains. Twenty-four partner companies are now members of the diverse partnership, which provides organizations with a scalable, cost-effective solution to the challenge of addressing supply chain or Scope 3 emissions. "Accelerating climate action requires stronger collaboration," said Jan Vrins, Partner and Sustainability Lead at Guidehouse. "Supplier LOCT is a one-of-a-kind program that offers the world's leading brands a chance to come together in partnership and drive rapid supply chain decarbonization as we transition to a clean and more sustainable ecosystem. We are all in this together, and must take collective action to protect our planet for future generations." In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that global warming must not exceed 1.5C to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change. To achieve this, GHG emissions must halve by 2030 and drop to net-zero by 2050. According to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), organizations with these targets are already cutting emissions at scale. A key measure for gauging a company's commitment to climate transition is SBTi-alignment. Supplier LOCT supports the climate goals and efforts of the partners' suppliers by training them on how to set and reach these targets. One of the first major climate milestones that place companies on the climate progress map is when they commit to, or formally set an approved science-based target. A recent Supplier LOCT survey shows that of the 119 commitments that have been set by Supplier LOCT participants, 87% were submitted for approval after participating in the program. "McDonald's is proud to be supporting our suppliers in their climate action efforts," said Bob Stewart, SVP and North America Chief Supply Chain Officer at McDonald's. "We have the privilege and responsibility to drive progress on issues that matter in the communities we serve, and protecting our planet for generations to come is the most globally urgent and locally impactful issue we could address. Partnership through our supply chains and across the industry is essential so that we may all effectively do our parts to limit global warming to 1.5C." "At PUMA, we work closely with our supply chain partners on decarbonization including data collection, training and capacity-building, financial support for feasibility studies or support in setting their own SBT," said Veronique Rochet, Senior Head of Sustainability at PUMA. "Currently PUMA has identified 20 supplier groups, representing 40-50% of our sourcing volume, for which we have rolled out the SBT setting process. We are looking forward to further enhancing these efforts through our participation in the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition program. Supplier LOCT works within the supply chain, helping suppliers become part of the climate solution. Partners in Supplier LOCT sponsor the participation of their suppliers in a seasonal series of six instructional seminars on developing a GHG footprint, setting a science-based target, adopting GHG abatement measures, and disclosing progress and renewable energy options. Guidehouse subject matter experts provide supplier participants with direct mentoring and actionable steps on how to build internal capacity. Supplier LOCT is a global movement of leading brands to advance supplier action by 2025. "The Supplier LOCT program gives our organization the ability to provide meaningful support to our strategic suppliers and significantly accelerate their climate journey," said Nick Martin, Senior Director of ESG at Post Holdings. "Leveraging the collective experience of partner companies, we can provide effective tools, guidance, and technical support to suppliers tailored to the current stage of their journey." In addition to these new brand members, Supplier LOCT Partners include Ocean Spray, DS Smith, Neiman Marcus Group, MHI, Atlantic Packaging, The Clorox Company, The Coca-Cola Company, The Estee Lauder Companies, General Mills, Guidehouse, Keurig Dr Pepper, Mars, Incorporated, McCormick & Company, Mondelez International, Nestle, PepsiCo, Restaurant Brands International, and Yum! Brands. For further information, please visit: www.supplierloct.com. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has over 16,500 professionals in over 55 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. Media Contact: Guidehouse Cecile Fradkin [email protected] SOURCE Guidehouse SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI, a company committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science, today announced the DCS Lab Initiative to help facilitate large-scale leading multi-omics laboratories and spur critical scientific research. Under the initiative, the company will provide its cutting-edge DNA sequencing, cell omics and spatial omics technologies to selected research organizations around the world. "We are proud that through the DCS Lab Initiative, MGI technology and innovation will empower researchers and scientists in achieving their next breakthrough," said Duncan Yu, President of MGI. "Our broad range of capabilities and full-process engineering expertise have made a difference to many and accommodated different needs and requirements. We look forward to making our technologies ever more accessible and affordable, enabling all to experience a new level of convenience, accuracy, and efficiency." With its name taken from the first letter of MGI's three core technologies, the DCS Lab Initiative is MGI's first initiative targeting international laboratories with focus on frontier science and represents the company's unique capability within the industry in providing end-to-end products for applications ranging from DNA genomics to cell omics and spatial omics. It also aligns with the company's vision to enhance access to omics worldwide for the development of life science and healthcare. The DCS Lab can support a minimum of 10,000 high-depth WGS (Whole Genome Sequencing) per year, or 3,000 cell reactions per year, or 480 spatial-temporal transcriptomic chips. A standard lab of DCSLab requires only 100-150 square meters of space. The mini lab can be kept within 100 square meters, while the super lab occupies an area of over 300 square meters. From DNA data conversion, sequencing to analysis and data storage, MGI provides an efficient workflow with accurate results through a comprehensive range of clinical ultra-high, high, and medium-throughput sequencers powered by DNBSEQ technology, as well as lab automation systems and BIT platforms. To date, DNBSEQ technology has enabled multiple National Genome Projects in UAE, Thailand, Indonesia and Brazil. With the release of the fully automated DNBSEQ-T202* sequencer earlier this year, MGI introduced a sub-$100 human genome era, which will accelerate the progress of the human genome understanding and change the course of the global genomics landscape, particularly in areas such as population genomics. In the field of cell omics, MGI supports single-cell library prep and sequencing via a one-stop platform. The portable, power-free DNBelab C Series High-throughput Single-cell RNA Series Library Preparation Set V2.0 enables the entire process of single-cell RNA sequencing and data analysis for single-cell transcriptome research and application of more than 30 biological species, such as human, mouse, monkey, pig and plant, including blood, organ and nuclei. As of February 2023, MGI's one-stop platform, which incorporates its cell preparation product, automation library preparation and sequencing platforms, and data analysis tools, has been adopted by more than 100 research institutes and sequencing service providers with excellent results. Based on the single-cell sequencing platform, MGI has accumulated over 50 papers, including two papers in Nature and one paper in Cell. Among them, 21 papers have an IF (Impact Factor) of 10 or greater, which thoroughly demonstrates the superior performance of the MGI' single-cell platform. Lastly, MGI offers spatiotemporal multi-omics solutions by way of Stereo-Seq technology. Built on DNA Nanoball (DNB) technology, Stereo-Seq empowers scientists to detect thousands of genes simultaneously, complete spatiotemporal maps and understand how genes interact and change over time all with unprecedented precision, centimeter level panoramic field-of-view and subcellular resolution. It has been widely adapted in development, organ, evolution, disease research and more. In November 2022, DNBelab C4 helped scientists create the world's first three-dimensional single-cell atlas of the cerebral cortex of macaques, setting a new milestone for the development of brain science and providing a new foundation for the research of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In June 2023, in collaboration with Fudan University Affiliated High School and Zhongshan Hospital, researchers used Stereo-seq technology for the first time to decoded the process of tumor cells invading normal liver cells, thereby contributing to the development of liver cancer treatment strategies. With the goal of making MGI's innovative technologies more accessible and affordable for all, the DCS Lab helps researchers and scientists overcome technical and funding challenges that are standing in the way of new discoveries and advances. By harnessing its extensive capacity for omics research, the DCS Lab empowers researchers to swiftly and easily employ advanced technologies. About MGI MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its affiliates, "MGI"), headquartered in Shenzhen, is committed to building core tools and technology to lead life science through intelligent innovation. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI focuses on research & development, production, and sales of sequencing instruments*, reagents*, and related products to support life science research, agriculture, precision medicine and healthcare. As of June 30, 2023, MGI has more than 2,800 employees, and 35.2% of whom are R&D personnel. Founded in 2016, MGI operates in more than 90 countries and regions, serving more than 2,400 customers. For more information, please visit the MGI website or connect on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube. *For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. SOURCE MGI Tech Co., Ltd. CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The microfluidics industry is poised for remarkable growth in the near future, driven by its diverse applications across healthcare, biotechnology, and materials science. Miniaturized fluid-handling systems are revolutionizing diagnostics, drug development, and personalized medicine, offering unprecedented levels of precision and efficiency. With the ongoing development of lab-on-a-chip technologies, point-of-care devices, and microfluidic-based organ-on-a-chip models, we can expect rapid advancements in disease diagnosis, drug screening, and tissue engineering. Furthermore, the convergence of microfluidics with artificial intelligence and automation is paving the way for highly integrated, high-throughput solutions, promising to reshape industries and improve the overall quality of healthcare and scientific research in the coming years. Microfluidics Market in terms of revenue was estimated to be worth $22.3 billion in 2023 and is poised to reach $41.1 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 13.0% from 2023 to 2028 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Microfluidics technologies help lower the overall cost of the drug development process by offering quick analysis, reduced reagent consumption, as well as accurate outcomes from tests. Besides all of these factors, the demand for microfluidics technology is rising as a result of the growing usage and adoption of point-of-care diagnostics tools like glucose monitors and pregnancy test kits. Download an Illustrative overview: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1305 Browse in-depth TOC on "Microfluidics Market" 300 - Tables 66 - Figures 335 - Pages Microfluidics Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $22.3 billion Estimated Value by 2028 $41.1 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 13.0% Market Size Available for 20212028 Forecast Period 20232028 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By product, application, end user and region. Geographies Covered North America US Canada Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Japan China India Australia South Korea Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of LATAM Middle East and Africa Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Expanding applications of drug delivery technologies using microfluidics Key Market Drivers Rising technological advancement The microfluidics market is further segmented based on the product, application, end-user, and region. The microfluidic-based devices segment holds the largest market share during the forecast period. The microfluidics market can be generally divided into components and devices that use microfluidic technology. The microfluidics market by product will be significantly dominated by the segment of microfluidic-based devices in 2022. The highest rate in this market can be largely attributed to the growing use of technologically advanced microfluidic-based devices in pharmaceutical and life science research, the growing demand for laboratory equipment miniaturization, the rising demand for microfluidic-based PoC testing, and the growing use of microfluidic technology for drug discovery. The in-vitro diagnostic segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. In vitro diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, life science research and manufacturing, and therapeutics are the three major application segments in which the microfluidics market is widely categorized in this study. The market for microfluidics in 2022 was dominated by the in vitro diagnostics segment. The significant share of this market can be largely attributed to the increase in target disease prevalence and the demand for PoC testing. The implementation of these devices in IVD applications has also been influenced by the advantages of microfluidics devices over conventional devices (such as portability, compact size, increased testing frequency, and accurate & rapid analysis). In the end-user segment, hospitals & diagnostic centers are expected to grow at the highest share in the microfluidics market. According to end users, the microfluidics market can be classified into three categories: academic & research institutes, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, and hospitals & diagnostic centers. The end users market in 2022 was dominated by the hospitals and diagnostic centers sector. The growing implementation of microfluidics technology for rapid identification of a wide range of chronic diseases, in addition to rising technological improvements, are factors contributing to the significant share of the market. North America will continue to dominate the adhesion barriers market in 2028. On the basis of region, the microfluidics market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. North America has various advantagesan advanced healthcare system, high public and private healthcare spending rise in the geriatric population, rising prevalence of chronic and lifestyle diseases, and the significant presence of prominent players in the region are the major factors contributing to the growth of North America and the largest share of the microfluidics market APAC is known to grow at the highest rate. The growth in the market can be attributed to increasing R&D activities, rising government funding for drug discovery research, and high growth in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=1305 Microfluidics Market Dynamics: Drivers: Rising technological advancement Restraints: Incorporation of microfluidics into existing workflows Opportunities: Expanding applications of drug delivery technologies using microfluidics Challenge: Standardization/ commercialization of microfluidic devices Key Market Players: The microfluidics market is a highly fragmented market with the presence of several multinational and local market players. Some of the prominent players include The prominent players in the global microfluidic components market include Parker-Hannifin Corporation (US), Danaher Corporation (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Fluigent SA (France), Agilent Technologies (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Becton, Dickinson and Company (US), F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Switzerland), IDEX Corporation (US), Dolomite Microfluidics (UK), Cellix Ltd. (Ireland), Elveflow (France), PerkinElmer Inc. (US), Camozzi Automation Spa Societa Unipersonale (Italy), Fortive Corporation (US), Aignep S.P.A. (Italy), SMC Corporation (Japan), Illumina, Inc. (US), Micronit Microtechnologies (Netherlands), and MicroLiquid (Spain). Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=1305 Microfluidics Market Advantages: Miniaturization: Microfluidic devices enable the manipulation of tiny volumes of fluids on a microscale, allowing for precise control and reduced sample and reagent consumption, which can be cost-effective and environmentally friendly. High Throughput: Despite their small size, microfluidic systems can handle multiple samples simultaneously, leading to high-throughput capabilities. This is especially valuable in applications like genomics and drug discovery. Accuracy and Precision: Microfluidics provides exceptional control over fluid flow and mixing, leading to highly accurate and reproducible results, critical in fields like diagnostics and lab research. Reduced Contamination: Microfluidic systems minimize the risk of contamination as they use sealed channels, reducing the chances of cross-contamination between samples. Speed and Efficiency: Microfluidic devices can perform complex assays and experiments quickly due to their small dimensions and efficient fluid handling. This makes them ideal for point-of-care diagnostics and rapid screening applications. Integration: Microfluidics can integrate multiple functions into a single device, such as sample preparation, analysis, and detection, streamlining workflows and reducing the need for extensive laboratory equipment. Portability: The compact size and low power requirements of microfluidic devices make them suitable for portable and field-deployable applications, enhancing accessibility to healthcare and research in remote or resource-limited areas. Customization: Microfluidic devices can be tailored to specific applications, allowing researchers and companies to design and fabricate custom solutions to address unique challenges. Multidisciplinary Applications: Microfluidics finds applications across various fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, fostering collaboration and innovation at the intersection of these disciplines. Emerging Technologies: Ongoing advancements in microfabrication techniques, materials science, and automation are driving the development of novel microfluidic platforms, expanding their potential impact across industries. These advantages make the microfluidics market a promising arena for innovation and growth, with applications spanning from healthcare and life sciences to environmental monitoring and beyond. Recent Developments: In July 2021 , Abbott launched the Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test in India for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in adults and children with or without symptoms. , Abbott launched the Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test in for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in adults and children with or without symptoms. In June 2021 , Danaher's Life science segment acquired Precision Nanosystems (PNI) to complement the former vaccines and therapeutics development business. , Danaher's Life science segment acquired Precision Nanosystems (PNI) to complement the former vaccines and therapeutics development business. In February 2021 , Thermofisher acquired the point-of-care molecular diagnostic company Mesa Biotech, Inc. This is expected to raise Thermofisher's revenue by approximately USD 200 million . Related Reports: Mass Spectrometry Market - Global Forecasts to 2028 Lateral Flow Assays Market - Global Forecasts to 2027 Point of Care Diagnostics Market- Global Forecasts to 2027 Hearing Aids Market - Global Forecasts to 2026 Biomaterials Market - Global Forecasts to 2025 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/microfluidics-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/microfluidics.asp Logo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Melissa Reinhardt invites community to Sept. 15 Grand Opening BALTIMORE, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Monkee's Franchising is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest store in Baltimore, which will take place on September 15th, 2023. The festivities will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00 AM, marking the official introduction of Monkee's to the Baltimore community. Monkee's is known for its selection of high-quality women's clothing, shoes, and accessories. With a focus on creating an inviting shopping experience, Monkee's has become a go-to destination for women seeking unique and stylish pieces. Owner Melissa Reinhardt excited to make shoppers feel as if in their "girlfriends' closet" Melissa Reinhardt, the owner and operator, is exhilarated for the grand opening and her mission is for new shoppers to feel as if they are in their "girlfriends' closet." "Stepping foot in the Monkee's of Ocean City location, I was blown away with the clothes, but mostly, the shopping experience. After learning more about the Monkee's Franchise, I knew Baltimore would be the perfect fit! It has always been my dream to be an entrepreneur and show my daughters what it is like to be a Girl Boss. I cannot wait to open our lives to the Baltimore community and expand our already growing family," said Reinhardt. The new Baltimore location offers a collection of the latest fashion trends, timeless classics, and one-of-a-kind pieces that cater to a wide range of preferences. Whether you are looking for the perfect outfit for a special occasion or simply want to elevate your everyday style, Monkee's has something for every woman of every age. Reinhardt states, "The Monkee's Franchise has been a supportive community of females that has encouraged and supported me throughout the process. The franchise owner community is one-of- a-kind and has become a true sisterhood." The community is invited to attend a trunk show from Addison Bay during the opening weekend, along with a $250 Monkee's gift card raffle. "I want my customers to feel this same sense of love and passion when they are shopping in our store. It's more than just the purchase, it's about the experience and relationships along that way that make it a fun and unique experience," said Reinhardt. The store will be located at 6243 Falls Rd. Suite 101, Baltimore, Maryland in Bluestem Shopping Center and will be open Monday-Saturday from 10am-6pm. SOURCE Monkee's Franchising LLC FINDLAY, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) today announced that the company's 2022 Schedule K-3 investor tax packages reflecting items of international tax relevance are now available on its website, https://www.mplx.com. Investors may select the Taxation link under the Investors tab or use the following link: https://www.taxpackagesupport.com/mplx. A limited number of investors (primarily foreign unitholders, unitholders computing a foreign tax credit on their tax return and certain corporate and/or partnership unitholders) may need the detailed information disclosed on the Schedule K-3 for their specific reporting requirements. To the extent the Schedule K-3 is applicable to unitholders' tax return filing needs, MPLX encourages them to review the information contained on the Schedule K-3 and refer to the appropriate federal laws and guidance or consult with their tax advisor. MPLX does not plan to mail K-3 tax packages to investors. For additional information or to receive an electronic copy of the Schedule K-3 via email, unitholders may call 1-800-232-0011 (toll free). About MPLX LP MPLX is a diversified, large-cap master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets and provides fuels distribution services. MPLX's assets include a network of crude oil and refined product pipelines; an inland marine business; light-product terminals; storage caverns; refinery tanks, docks, loading racks, and associated piping; and crude and light-product marine terminals. The company also owns crude oil and natural gas gathering systems and pipelines as well as natural gas and NGL processing and fractionation facilities in key U.S. supply basins. More information is available at www.MPLX.com. Investor Relations Contact: (419) 421-2071 Kristina Kazarian, Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations Brian Worthington, Director, Investor Relations Isaac Feeney, Supervisor, Investor Relations Media Contact: (419) 421-3577 Jamal Kheiry, Communications Manager SOURCE MPLX LP MUNICH, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagarro's Supervisory Board decides to propose the election of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft as auditor of the Nagarro group for the year 2024 to the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting in 2024. On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board of Nagarro SE has resolved in its meeting of September 07, 2023, to propose the election of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft as the auditor for the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements of Nagarro SE for the financial year 2024, to the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting in 2024. This recommendation is the result of several consultations between the Supervisory Board, the Audit Committee, Nagarro's internal project team, and the Management Board of Nagarro SE, as well as a comprehensive public and non-discriminatory tender procedure in accordance with the relevant provisions of the EU Audit Regulation. In the Annual Shareholders' Meeting of Nagarro SE held in June 2023, LOHR + COMPANY GmbH was re-appointed as auditor of Nagarro SE for the audit of the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2023. Subsequent to this, Nagarro has shortlisted globally recognized audit firms that will conduct the fit for consolidation audits based on instructions provided by LOHR + COMPANY or statutory audits of several legal group entities for the year 2023, which in 2022 together accounted for approximately 60% of the consolidated revenues of the Nagarro group. "We initiated the selection process early on to ensure a smooth transition of the engagement in line with the requirements of auditor independence," said Christian Bacherl, chairperson of the Audit Committee. Manas Human, Custodian of Entrepreneurship in the Organization, added: "Every investor is important to us. Still, we would like to make Nagarro even more attractive for large international institutional investors who are familiar with our peer group. Nagarro has taken several steps in this direction, like expanding our Supervisory Board with independent directors and adding US representation. Globally recognized audit firms are already auditing some key Nagarro legal entities, and this move towards appointing a global audit firm at the group level further demonstrates our commitment towards the highest levels of corporate governance and transparency." About Nagarro Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, helps clients become innovative, digital-first companies and thus win in their markets. The company is distinguished by its entrepreneurial, agile, and global character, its CARING mindset, and its approach of thinking breakthroughs. Nagarro employs over 19,500 people in 35 countries. or more information, visit, www.nagarro.com FRA: NA9 (SDAX/TecDAX, ISIN DE000A3H2200, WKN A3H220) Media contact: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844192/Nagarro_Logo.jpg SOURCE Nagarro PH not a proxy war tool vs China - Tolentino MANILA - Senator Francis 'TOL' N. Tolentino dismissed what could be deceptive chronologies that the Philippines is being used as a 'proxy war' tool by other nations against China. In an interview with GMA Super Radyo DZBB on Sunday, Tolentino stressed that there is no way the Philippine government will allow itself to become a tool for surrogate conflict amid the continuing rising tensions between claimant Southeast Asian countries and China along the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). "Hindi po proxy war kasi hindi lang naman United States ang kaalyado natin dito eh. Kaalyado rin natin ang Japan, kaalyado natin ang Australia, kaalyado natin ang United Kingdom, kaalyado natin ang Europe... nabanggit ko rin in the recent weeks, lumantad ng (kaalyado) ang India. So halos lahat," said Tolentino, vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. During the 43rd summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has rejected "misleading narratives that frame the disputes in the South China Sea solely through the lens of strategic competition between two powerful countries"--China and the United States. According to Tolentino, with the latest development on China's aggression through the unilateral assailment of the 10-dash line, other ASEAN neighbors like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei may became vocal too against the belligerence acts being shown by the Asian superpower. "Hindi ito proxy war. Kasi kung proxy war ito, proxy war din tayo ng Japan. Proxy war din tayo ng UK. Proxy war din tayo ng Australia. Proxy war din tayo ng New Zealand," he added. Sen. Tol stressed that the international community's outburst against China's aggression only shows that "there is a need to abide by a treaty called 'United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea' or UNCLOS, and China is a signatory to that treaty." Ex-Home and Away star Sophie Dillman has shared her next role following her exit from the soap. In her column for Yahoo Lifestyle Australia, the actress revealed that she has swapped Summer Bay for East London after landing a role in a production of Breakfast with Johnny Wilkinson with Wanstead Theatre Company. Dillman added that she'd always enjoyed in working in theatre, feeling both excited and nervous to get stuck into a new role, writing: "When I was offered this role I was ecstatic and petrified all at once. "Ecstatic because the character is so much fun, the story is hilarious, and the director, cast and producers are lovely. The feeling of being petrified, however, is definitely overriding the elation at this point in time." Channel 5 Related: Ex Home and Away star calls out insensitive questions over babies She continued: "I haven't played anyone except Ziggy for the last seven years... All of a sudden, I am throwing myself into a totally different character, surrounded by total strangers." Dillman had played Ziggy Astoni on the Australian soap since 2017, leaving earlier this year after six years in the role. She exited the soap alongside her partner Patrick O'Connor, who played Ziggy's boyfriend Dean Thompson, with the two characters relocating to Queensland following an emotional baby storyline. Sean Foster - Getty Images Related: Home and Away's Patrick O'Connor posts tribute to girlfriend Sophie Dillman Initially meeting on the set of Home and Away, Dillman and O'Connor's relationship has gone from strength to strength, with the couple moving to London together. Earlier this month, the actress opened up about the body shaming she'd received while the soap, revealing she was one of the only cast members who received questions over wearing a bikini. "None of the straight-sized actors/actresses have their confidence questioned or value put up for debate," she said, adding that she often "hated" wearing a bikini on the job. Story continues Home and Away airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Channel 5 and 6pm on 5STAR. First-look screenings air at 6.30pm on 5STAR and the show also streams on My5. In Australia, the show airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and streams on 7plus.Selected classic episodes are available via Prime Video in the UK. Read more Home and Away spoilers on our dedicated homepage You Might Also Like MOORESTOWN, N.J., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nividous is thrilled to announce its participation in the Accounts Payable Leadership Conference from September 19th to 20th, 2023, right in the heart of vibrant Philadelphia at the prestigious Marriott Hotel. The Accounts Payable Leadership Conference is a premier event bringing together finance and accounts payable professionals, thought leaders, and solution providers across the industry. This conference serves as a platform for networking, sharing best practices, and exploring the latest trends in accounts payable. The Nividous team is excited to meet forward-thinking business leaders and engage in insightful discussions revolving around cutting-edge automation technologies revolutionizing accounts payable operations at scale. At Nividous, we're all about intelligent automation, and we've got something special up our sleeves for this conference. Nividous has developed a comprehensive AP automation solution powered by its cutting-edge intelligent automation platform. This solution has been a game-changer for finance pros across various industries. We're talking about leveling up your accounts payable game like never before. We will demonstrate the solution and talk about incredible customer success stories as a testament to the automated workflows that boost process efficiency and accuracy and save you thousands of man-hours. That's not all; our customers have seen an astounding 85% reduction in the time needed for accounts payable. We're turning those long invoice cycles into mere minutes. Erik Galardi, our Director of Channel Partnerships, who plans to attend the conference, will show you how the Nividous platform's AI-powered data extraction capabilities handle even the trickiest unstructured invoices from multiple sources and formats. Let your finance team focus on strategic activities and data-driven decisions while Nividous takes care of the nitty-gritty, like invoice processing, vendor communication, and payment reconciliation. Erik Galardi says, "We are excited to showcase how Nividous can help organizations transform their accounts payable processes. Our solution reduces operational costs and enhances accuracy and compliance, ultimately improving supplier relationships and greater profitability. Meet me at the event, and I'll happily demonstrate the Nividous AP Automation solution. We'll dish out the best practices and tailor the solution to your needs, and you can even pre-book a meeting with me here: https://calendly.com/erik-galardi." You can also reach us at [email protected] or +1 (442) 444 2767. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. About Nividous Nividous, a global intelligent automation company, is passionate about enabling organizations to work at their peak efficiency. The Nividous leadership team has decades of experience delivering hundreds of digital process automation solutions to companies and organizations of various sizes worldwide. Leveraging its tremendous domain expertise, the Nividous team offers vertical solutions that are RPA and AI-enabled and built on configurable process automation capabilities to empower businesses to operate with flexibility and agility. Nividous also provides end-to-end professional services that include process discovery, implementation, support, and building Centers of Excellence (CoE). Contact Erik Galardi Director of Channel Partnerships Nividous Software Solutions Call: 442.444.2767 Email: [email protected] Book a meeting: https://calendly.com/erik-galardi SOURCE Nividous OSLO, Norway, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OnTime Networks today announced it has been awarded a 5-year firm-fixed-price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Webster Outlying Field (WOLF) Special Communications Missions Solutions Division. Under the multi-year program, with a maximum potential value of approximately $2.5 million, OnTime Networks will deliver a fully rugged Managed Ethernet Switch running the Machete Router from Architecture Technology Corporation. The NIAP approved solution was selected because the platform meets the unique combination of requirements for flight clearance, cybersecurity approvals, and compatibility with the existing TacView Portable Mission Display (PMD), the Federated System Processor (FSP), and the aircraft federated data transfer unit. supporting the replacement of the legacy sub-systems across U.S. Navy and Marine Corps bases. "As a leading global supplier of fully rugged Ethernet Networking Solutions, OnTime Networks is excited to work with NAWCAD on this important technology upgrade," said Scott Killian, VP of Sales at OnTime Networks. "We look forward to future opportunities to provide our proven and reliable solutions in support of the US Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division." OnTime Networks AS will be manufacturing the hardware at the Oslo location with support from OnTime Networks North American Headquarters in Latham, NY and from Architecture Technology Corporation's Eden Prairie, MN facility. About OnTime Networks OnTime Networks is a technology leader for rugged, time synchronized, fully managed, modular Gigabit Ethernet switches, specifically designed to operate reliably in the harsh and climatically demanding environments of the Aerospace and Defense Industry. Recognized for innovation and excellence, OnTime focuses on precise time over Ethernet according to IEEE 1588 (PTP) as core technology. For more information, please visit www.ontimenet.com SOURCE OnTime Networks DENVER, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE: OVV) (TSX: OVV) (the "Company" or "Ovintiv") today announced that NMB Stock Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Selling Stockholder"), intends to offer for sale 15,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to the Company's shelf registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Offering"). The Offering consists entirely of secondary shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder will receive all of the net proceeds from the Offering. Ovintiv is not offering any shares of common stock in the Offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in the Offering. Ovintiv issued the shares to the Selling Stockholder on June 12, 2023 as part of the consideration for its acquisition of certain upstream oil and gas assets located in the Permian Basin from portfolio companies of funds managed by EnCap Investments L.P. The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed. In addition, the Company announced that the Company intends to repurchase from the underwriter, out of the 15,000,000 shares of common stock that are subject to the Offering, 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a price per share equal to the price at which the underwriter will purchase the shares from the Selling Stockholder in the Offering. The Offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the repurchase, but the repurchase is conditioned upon the closing of the Offering. J.P. Morgan will act as the underwriter for this Offering. The shares will be sold in a registered offering pursuant to an effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement. A copy of the prospectus relating to the securities can be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, via Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, Telephone: (866) 803-9204, email: [email protected]. The documents may also be accessed by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. ADVISORY REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS - This news release contains forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, except for statements of historical fact, that relate to the anticipated future activities, plans, strategies, objectives or expectations of the Company are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned against unduly relying on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and, by their nature, involve numerous assumptions that are subject to both known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond our control) that may cause such statements not to occur, or actual results to differ materially and/or adversely from those expressed or implied. Risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's financial or operating performance include those described in "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q; and other risks and uncertainties impacting the Company's business as described from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC or Canadian securities regulators. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions, risks and uncertainties referenced above are not exhaustive. Although the Company believes the expectations represented by its forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available to it as of the date such statements are made, forward-looking statements are only predictions and statements of our current beliefs and there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Unless otherwise stated herein, all statements, including forward looking statements, contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly, revise or keep current any such statements The forward-looking statements contained in this news release and all subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to the Company, whether written or oral, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. Further information on Ovintiv Inc. is available by contacting: Investor contact: (888) 525-0304 [email protected] Media contact: (403) 645-2252 SOURCE Ovintiv Inc. LONDON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Distinguished guests joined students and staff at Oxford International College (OIC) Brighton last week (8 September) to celebrate the opening of the new independent day and boarding school for students aged 13 - 18. Leading the celebrations was His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Andrew Blackman, who hosted a special tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the school. The Ligustrum lucidum tree, planted during the ceremony, symbolises strength, resilience, and endurance, all attributes that OIC Brighton students will develop. Following the tree-planting event, the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Ms Jackie O'Quinn, officially opened the new building before attendees enjoyed tours of the school campus. The school, which will expand to accommodate a maximum of 400 boarding and 100 day students over the coming years, builds upon the successful model of its sister school Oxford International College in Oxford, which was ranked the number one performing independent school for A Levels in England in 2023 (the Telegraph). OIC Brighton, which offers pre-GCSE, GCSE and A level courses for both British and international students, has welcomed more than 160 students from across the globe to start their academic journey at the school this September. Tess St Clair-Ford, Founding Principal of OIC Brighton, said: "We are thrilled to welcome our first cohort of students to our newly renovated Brighton campus as they embark on their learning journey with us. Following extensive investment, all of our students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities thoughtfully designed to support their learning, while our enviable location in the British countryside, close to the city of Brighton and the coast, provides our students with many opportunities to relax, study and stay fit." The College's curriculum will prepare students for entry into their university or career of choice with emphasis on academic excellence, and career and personal development, to ensure that students achieve their full potential. Students will undertake OIC's unique Super Curricular Programme, which goes further than traditional extra-curricular programmes and offers students career-related activities alongside sports, charity work, and arts clubs. Principal St Clair-Ford continued: "Our passionate teachers, who are leaders in their fields, will guide our students to stand out as pioneers, original thinkers, and highly skilled learners. By matching the ambition we see in our students with an equally ambitious and motivated teaching team, we will build a culture of dynamism, making our College an inspiring place for both learning and teaching." As the College is part of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools, its students will also reap the benefits of the group's collaborations with renowned global institutions, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Commenting on the opening, Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Nord Anglia Education, said: "OIC Brighton will be an outstanding school, focused on high-quality teaching and learning, academic excellence, and wellbeing. Our new school is an international place of learning dedicated to nurturing students' global citizenship, confidence, resilience, and team spirit." St Clair-Ford added: "We are a school community with wellbeing at its heart. I truly believe that there is a deep connection between academic progress and strong mental health and wellbeing. This focus on wellbeing is at the core of everything that we do as a school; creating an environment where all our students feel fully supported and ready to take on any challenge." Discover more about OIC Brighton at its Open House on 16 September. Register to attend: https://oicbrighton.com/open-house/ For further information or high-res images, please contact: Sophie Baillie - [email protected] Hanna Garrett - [email protected] Tel: 01223 421 831 About Oxford International College (OIC) Brighton Part of Nord Anglia Education, OIC Brighton is an independent day and boarding school in Brighton for academically aspirational British and international students aged 13 - 18. Nord Anglia Education has 85 schools worldwide and OIC Brighton is its fourth school to open in the UK. Located on a stunning 20-acre campus in Brighton, the centrepiece is the grade II listed Ovingdean Hall. OIC Brighton opens with over 160 students and will be expanding its capacity to 220 students by January 2024, and then to a maximum capacity of 400 boarding and 100 day students over the coming years. OIC Brighton builds on the successful model of Oxford International College in Oxford, ranked by the Telegraph as the number one performing independent school for A levels in England in 2023. The curriculum model focuses on three pillars: Academic Excellence, Personal Development and Career Preparation, all delivered by inspiring teachers and realised through an extensive Super Curriculum with an integrated focus on well-being and the promotion of mental and physical health. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503193/3645357/Nord_Anglia_Education_Logo.jpg SOURCE Nord Anglia Education HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An of China Asset Management (Hong Kong) Company Limited ("PAAMC HK"), the offshore asset management platform of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd., is proud to announce that for the 3rd consecutive year, we have been honored to be included in "IAMAC Recommendations - Most Highly Regarded Insurance Asset Management Investment Partners 2022", with 3 recommendations this year. PAAMC HK was included in 3 recommendations in the Overseas Business Partners category "Outstanding Overseas Business Partners of China's Insurance Asset Management", "Outstanding Overseas Trustees of China's Insurance Asset Management", and "Outstanding Overseas Business Partners of China's Insurance Asset Management Open Market Operations"[i]. Participants include 104 securities companies, public fund managers, futures companies as well as overseas institutions. Announced on 6 September 2023, the IAMAC recommendations are based on a survey of 154 large insurance companies and insurance asset managers in China, regarding the participants' investment business and their services provided to insurance companies. The recommendations uphold the principle of "Fairness, Justice and Non-profit", with participation on a voluntary basis, and insurance companies complete the survey independently. The recommendations are weighted and calculated in multiple dimensions based on the survey results combined with relevant data. It has been held for 9 consecutive years and is widely recognized as the most prestigious recommendations in the industry. PAAMC HK was also included in the recommendations in the past two years. Albert Wang, Head of Capital Markets and CIO of PAAMC HK, said, "We are thrilled to receive the prestigious recommendations for the third consecutive year. We would like to thank IAMAC for the recognition and thank all our insurer partners for their unwavering confidence in us. This endorsement validates our team's continuous dedication and the resilience we have demonstrated amidst a year filled with challenges. We are excited about the investment opportunities that lie ahead and remain committed to delivering exceptional returns and creating sustainable value for our esteemed insurer partners." With strong capabilities in investment research and portfolio management capabilities, PAAMC HK is a leading provider of global investment management solutions in equities, fixed income, ETFs, structured products and alternative assets. Attesting to the investment strength of our team and strategic efforts, we have been recognized with numerous esteemed accolades. With a solid client base and a close tie with China insurer partners, PAAMC HK sees significant opportunities for further synergistic collaboration in various aspects. [i] Source: Insurance Asset Management Association of China SOURCE Ping An of China Asset Management (Hong Kong) Company Limited Industry Webinar in partnership with Ubiety Technologies Addresses False Alarm Reduction DALLAS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Parks Associates and presence detection company Ubiety Technologies will host the webinar AI Moving Security Forward: Solving False Alarms on September 12 at 11:00 AM CT, featuring insights from industry leaders Ubiety, Rapid Response Monitoring, and ADT. Parks Associates This webinar explores the latest technologies, strategies, and best practices to minimize false alarms, enhance the accuracy of security systems, and improve overall effectiveness. False alarms have long posed real challenges for security system owners, local communities, and responders Parks Associates research shows that about 50% of system owners say their security system triggers too many false alarms, notifications, or alerts. Webinar speakers will examine new automated solutions, including AI innovations, to overcome these challenges. In addition, speakers will address the new AVS-01 standard and its implementation: Keith Puckett, Founder and CEO, Ubiety Technologies Morgan Hertel, VP, Technology & Innovation, Rapid Response Monitoring Don Young, EVP and COO, ADT "Alarms, alerts, and notifications are all of critical importance to anyone using monitored security these days," said Elizabeth Parks, President and CMO, Parks Associates. "As technology advances, the integration of AI is a game changer and enables new context as well as real-time communications that can impact all sorts of things, including the user experience, response times, and the value of the service." The webinar provides insight into the changing relationship between consumers and security providers, including the impact of false alerts and alarms, new solutions coming to market, and factors that contribute to false alarms. Parks Associates will present key research and insights from the new white paper Solving False Alarms: Bringing New Context for Monitoring , which highlights the evolution of alarm technologies and the impact of the new Alarm Validation Standard AVS-01. "The security ecosystem has historically only had access to binary, blind alerts - things like motion sensors, door/window contact sensors, glass break detection, or video camera technology," said Keith Puckett, CEO, Ubiety. "All of these input methods can be extremely valuable, but often lack crucial context about what is actually happening, and do not generate situational awareness in an automated, scalable manner. For example, video cameras are terrific tools but still often require a human in the loop or heavy video processing algorithms for interpretation - both of which are subject to error and bias. AI allows us to use digital signals with no biological markers for a safer, more innovative solution." The complimentary webinar is free to the industry. For data requests or to speak with an analyst, contact Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein at [email protected] About Parks Associates Parks Associates, a woman-founded and certified business, is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides business intelligence and research services through its proprietary methodologies developed over decades, including quarterly surveys of 10,000 internet households. The company's expertise crosses many industries: home security and smart home, streaming video, broadband and pay-TV services, digital media and platforms, gaming, Wi-Fi and home networks, connected health, support, consumer electronics, home control systems, energy management, and tech solutions for the multi-dwelling (MDU), small-to-medium business (SMB), and commercial building markets. Each year, Parks Associates brings thousands of leaders together for its webinars and annual events. The firm hosts the annual executive research and strategy conferences CONNECTIONS, Connected Health Summit, Smart Energy Summit, Smart Spaces, and Future of Video. http://www.parksassociates.com Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein Parks Associates 972.490.1113 [email protected] SOURCE Parks Associates MUNICH, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The IAA MOBILITY (International Automobile and Mobility Exhibition) 2023 (referred to as "Munich Auto Show" for short) kicked off at Munich Exhibition Center on Sept. 5, and is scheduled to last until Sept. 10. As the most important industry conference for the global mobility sector, it is a platform to promote the sustainability and showcase the diversity of the mobility sector. At this grand event, PATEO CONNECT+ has joined hands with strategic partners including Tencent, BlackBerry, Amazon, and Qualcomm to highlight the success of these cooperative efforts to Munich Auto Show visitors. PATEO has prepared a total of three special "magic weapons" for the auto show, namely the PATEO smart cockpit platform, PATEO cloud platform, and 5G T-Box hardware product, embodying its years of hard work and fruitful achievements in the field of smart mobility, and epitomizing its insistence on original innovation along the way. This time, two series of PATEO smart cockpit platform products are respectively powered by Snapdragon SA8155P the 3rd generation processor, and Snapdragon SA8295P the 4th generation processor, are exhibited as core products of PATEO. Among them, the SA8155P-based smart cockpit integrating the BlackBerry IVY feature is a highlight. Based on the advantages of the third-generation SA8155P powered cockpit, including among others those related to HMI application and AI , PATEO has joined BlackBerry to create a customized smart cockpit based on the QNX Neutrino Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and QNX Hypervisor, providing a more personalized and interactive intelligent driving experience, and achieving breakthrough innovations like secure access to data across multiple vehicle domains and edge-side deployment computing + remote updates. Additionally, both sides have also joined R&D personnel to adopt Electra's exclusive battery management solution to provide real-time and personalized recommendations for battery range management of electric vehicles, with a view to increasing range and relieving the "range anxiety" of the driver. To date, it has been nominated for mass production projects of more than ten vehicle models of five automakers. , PATEO has joined BlackBerry to create a customized smart cockpit based on the QNX Neutrino Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and QNX Hypervisor, providing a more personalized and interactive intelligent driving experience, and achieving breakthrough innovations like secure access to data across multiple vehicle domains and edge-side deployment computing + remote updates. Additionally, both sides have also joined R&D personnel to adopt Electra's exclusive battery management solution to provide real-time and personalized recommendations for battery range management of electric vehicles, with a view to increasing range and relieving the "range anxiety" of the driver. To date, it has been nominated for mass production projects of more than ten vehicle models of five automakers. The PATEO - (SA8295P-powered) 4th Generation Snapdragon Cockpit Platforms are a new upgrade based on the 3rd Generation. By virtue of the ultra-high computing power and rich interface capabilities, it realizes the integration of multiple ECU features in the car. The partnership between PATEO and Tencent this time will integrate the capabilities of TAI (Tencent Auto Intelligence), Tencent's intelligent cockpit product, in the smart cockpit and service operation sectors, to co-build a reassuring, efficient and pleasant user experience, and at the same time, based on Tencent's rich pan-mobility service ecosystem and SaaS platform to explore innovative models and solutions in segments like mobile-phone-vehicle connectivity and scenario-based user operation. The PATEO cloud platform demonstrates the remarkable achievements of the company in integrating ecosystems inside and outside the industry, including Amazon Music, and an intelligent call center empowered by ChatGPT. PATEO's overseas eco platform integrates the features and services of App Store , enabling the end client to obtain flexible cloud management and precise application control services, and provide OEMs with richer application resources through a unified application market. , enabling the end client to obtain flexible cloud management and precise application control services, and provide OEMs with richer application resources through a unified application market. As one of Amazon's core partners in the Chinese domestic auto industry, PATEO has teamed up with it to help OEMs to equip Amazon's unique eco services such as Amazon Music and Alexa in vehicles; so far, a number of OEM cases on Amazon Music have been accumulated. With the help of the online content and service ecosystems of AWS, massive music resources, a diversified sound experience, and customizable & personalized UI experience are realized. PATEO cloud platform has worked with Amazon to build E-Call and B-Call services that conform to the European standards for E-Call on the basis of the Amazon Connect product. By integrating the capabilities of ChatGPT, an intelligent customer service pilot based on the large model can be realized, able to generate responses that meet service standards in real time based on its exchange with the user, and assist the agent in completing the automatic filling of the ticket, thus improving rescue efficiency and service quality. Alongside software, PATEO has also showcased innovative mobility hardware like: 5G V2X T-Box: Jointly developed with Qualcomm using the SA515M chipset, this terminal integrates key capabilities to enable intelligent vehicle data processing; AR Creator: Adopting NXP's high-power automotive SoC, this system renders HD maps for augmented reality navigation, enhancing the autonomous driving experience; VOYAH Dreamer T-Box: PATEO's tailored T-Box solution equips the VOYAH Dreamer EV with intelligent services. By exhibiting this cutting-edge mobility hardware, PATEO demonstrates its extensive capabilities in developing specialized solutions for next-generation transportation. The extensive range of innovations demonstrates the importance the company has placed on this high-profile industry event, and it can be seen that PATEO is well positioned to expand internationally. Positioned as an automotive intelligence eco platform company: Since entering the IoV field in 2009, PATEO has grown into an industry-leading smart cockpit solution provider, offering comprehensive capabilities across hardware, software, cloud services and integrated operations. By covering the entire smart cockpit value chain, PATEO has achieved a top position in vertically integrated intelligent cockpit development. Since entering the IoV field in 2009, PATEO has grown into an industry-leading smart cockpit solution provider, offering comprehensive capabilities across hardware, software, cloud services and integrated operations. By covering the entire smart cockpit value chain, PATEO has achieved a top position in vertically integrated intelligent cockpit development. PATEO possesses strong independent R&D capabilities and provides flexible full-stack delivery solutions tailored to automaker needs, ranging from hardware OEM to complete platforms integrating hardware, software, middleware and algorithms, and satisfying the OEM needs for diversified one-stop cooperation. ranging from hardware OEM to complete platforms integrating hardware, software, middleware and algorithms, and satisfying the OEM needs for diversified one-stop cooperation. The many global layouts of PATEO will also provide more assistance for OEMs to make preparations for entry into overseas markets. To assist automakers in expanding overseas, PATEO has prepared compliance frameworks, secured global patents, and partnered with AWS for worldwide infrastructure and support. With strategic global initiatives, PATEO helps partners to enter new markets abroad with leading intelligent mobility technologies. PATEO currently provides overseas R&D, ecosystem cooperation, compliance, and operation services. Moving forward, PATEO will establish main hubs in key regions like Southeast Asia and the EU to offer localized intelligent mobility solutions. It will also set up sites in specific markets to meet legal requirements. Based on its core competencies in areas like cloud infrastructure, IoV platforms, and eco services, PATEO is poised to expand worldwide, aiming to bring leading Chinese mobility innovations to the global arena. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2205383/image_1.jpg SOURCE PATEO COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Path Robotics, the market leader of truly autonomous welding robotic systems, today announced their next chapter in delivering fully autonomous manufacturing systems with their new Autonomous Fit-up robotic system ("AF-1"), a ground-breaking robotic cell capable of performing both fit-up and welding of metal parts. This historic release marks a significant leap forward in the metal fabrication industry and will take center stage at FABTECH, North America's premier metal forming and fabrication tradeshow. "We are excited to publicly unveil a system we have been developing for years that we know will change the landscape of manufacturing for years to come." Post this Path Robotics FABTECH AF-1 cell demonstrating pick, fit-up, and weld process AF-1 releasing a finish welded part AF-1 enables manufacturers to increase production throughput without the need for hiring fitters, welders, and programmers. Path leverages proprietary computer vision and AI to autonomously pick, fit-up, and weld small parts. Manufacturers simply load in raw components, hit go, and come back to a batch of welded parts. AF-1 cells run autonomously for hours with zero human intervention. As part of Path's RaaS (Robots-as-a-Service) offering, Path provides manufacturers with 24/7 production assistance via its Mission Control command center. "Today marks a significant milestone in the advancement of American manufacturing. We are excited to publicly unveil a system we have been developing for years that we know will change the landscape of manufacturing for years to come," said Andy Lonsberry, Co-Founder and CEO of Path Robotics. Hutchens Industries, Inc., a leader in the design and manufacturing of spring suspensions and sliding subframes for the trailer industry, was one of the early partners for Path during the development of AF-1. "We see the AF-1 cells as a way to continue to grow our company and to alleviate our labor gaps currently and into the future," said Ty Hutchens EVP/COO Hutchens Industries. Path is live with this offering with customers with a backlog into late 2023, and actively signing more innovative manufacturers to the platform. About Path Robotics Path Robotics creates robotic systems that leverage state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision systems. Path offers American manufacturers the flexibility and resilience of intelligent robotics. Our mission is to transform the ability of local manufacturers to thrive. For media inquiries or questions please reach out to Mike Renn, VP of Sales and Marketing at [email protected] SOURCE Path Robotics Appoints Experienced Consumer Packaged Goods Executive Catherine "Triona" Schmelter as EVP and President, Consumer Self-Care Americas (CSCA) and Global Portfolio Optimization DUBLIN, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO), a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products, today announced the appointment of Catherine "Triona" Schmelter as Executive Vice President and President, Consumer Self-Care Americas (CSCA) and Global Portfolio Optimization. In this role, Ms. Schmelter will lead the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of the CSCA business in addition to overseeing the global portfolio evolution process to consistently deliver Perrigo's long-term growth algorithm. Ms. Schmelter will report to President and CEO Patrick Lockwood-Taylor. Mr. Lockwood-Taylor commented, "We are delighted to welcome Triona to the Perrigo team as EVP & President of CSCA and head of Global Portfolio Optimization, a newly created position. Triona joins at an exciting time to lead the CSCA business and evolve Perrigo's global self-care portfolio to achieve our sustainable and value accretive growth objectives. She brings an important set of skills to this position through her experience in leading both branded and private label businesses. I am confident that her fresh perspectives and deep consumer insights will further leverage CSCA's scale assets and position our global self-care portfolio to win with consumers." Prior to joining Perrigo, Ms. Schmelter was most recently at Treehouse Foods, where she served as Chief Transformation Officer, responsible for growth acceleration and capability building initiatives. Prior to this role, Ms. Schmelter led the Meal Solutions business, where she drove improvements in pricing realization and customer service leading to category margin expansion. Previously, Ms. Schmelter led the successful turnaround of both the Meals and Condiments divisions at Treehouse Foods by reshaping the portfolio around premium categories, reorganizing teams around strategic priorities and improving relationships with top customers. Prior to Treehouse Foods, Ms. Schmelter spent 10 years at Kraft Foods in various leadership roles, including Vice President of Meals, after beginning her CPG career at General Mills. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and art history from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration in marketing and finance from the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School. Ms. Schmelter also serves as a Non-Executive Director with Steelcase Inc., a publicly traded company headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan. James E. Dillard III will be departing the Company to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Lockwood-Taylor noted, "We thank Jim for his many contributions to Perrigo in his initial role as EVP and Chief Scientific Officer in 2019 and as EVP and President, CSCA, since October 2021. We wish him continued success." About Perrigo Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO) is a leading provider of Consumer Self-Care Products and over-the-counter (OTC) health and wellness solutions that enhance individual well-being by empowering consumers to proactively prevent or treat conditions that can be self-managed. Visit Perrigo online at www.perrigo.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements." These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "forecast," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including: supply chain impacts on the Company's business, including those caused or exacerbated by armed conflict, trade and other economic sanctions and/or disease; general economic, credit, and market conditions; the impact of the war in Ukraine and any escalation thereof, including the effects of economic and political sanctions imposed by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and other countries related thereto; the outbreak or escalation of conflict in other regions where we do business; future impairment charges, if we determine that the carrying amount of specific assets may not be recoverable from the expected future cash flows of such assets; customer acceptance of new products; competition from other industry participants, some of whom have greater marketing resources or larger market shares in certain product categories than the Company does; pricing pressures from customers and consumers; resolution of uncertain tax positions and any litigation relating thereto, ongoing or future government investigations and regulatory initiatives; uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to obtain and maintain its regulatory approvals; potential costs and reputational impact of product recalls or sales halts; potential adverse changes to U.S. and foreign tax, healthcare and other government policy; the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its variants; the timing, amount and cost of any share repurchases (or the absence thereof); fluctuations in currency exchange rates and interest rates; the Company's ability to achieve the benefits expected from the sale of its Rx business and the risk that potential costs or liabilities incurred or retained in connection with that transaction may exceed the Company's estimates or adversely affect the Company's business or operations; the Company's ability to achieve the benefits expected from the acquisitions of Hera SAS ("HRA Pharma") and Nestle's Gateway infant formula plant along with the U.S. and Canadian rights to the GoodStart infant formula brand and other related formula brands ("Gateway") and/or the risks that the Company's synergy estimates are inaccurate or that the Company faces higher than anticipated integration or other costs in connection with the acquisitions; risks associated with the integration of HRA Pharma and Gateway, including the risk that growth rates are adversely affected by any delay in the integration of sales and distribution networks; the consummation and success of other announced and unannounced acquisitions or dispositions, and the Company's ability to realize the desired benefits thereof; and the Company's ability to execute and achieve the desired benefits of announced cost-reduction efforts and other strategic initiatives and investments, including the Company's ability to achieve the expected benefits from its Supply Chain Reinvention Program. Adverse results with respect to pending litigation could have a material adverse impact on the Company's operating results, cash flows and liquidity, and could ultimately require the use of corporate assets to pay damages, reducing assets that would otherwise be available for other corporate purposes. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. SOURCE Perrigo Company plc The Business Research Company's global market reports are now updated with the latest market sizing information for the year 2023 and forecasted to 2032 LONDON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As per The Business Research Company's analysis, the pharmaceuticals market is poised for substantial growth in the coming years, with projections indicating a remarkable trajectory. It is anticipated that the market will surge to $2,050 billion by 2025 and further escalate to a staggering $3,206 billion by the year 2030. This dynamic expansion is attributed to various factors, including advancements in healthcare technologies, increasing global healthcare expenditures, and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, all of which drive demand for pharmaceutical products and services. In this thriving pharmaceutical landscape, business intelligence and market insights play a pivotal role in guiding companies towards informed decision-making. Reports from The Business Research Company (TBRC) offer invaluable assistance to businesses within the pharmaceuticals industry. These reports provide comprehensive analyses of market trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging opportunities, allowing pharmaceutical companies to stay ahead of the curve. By leveraging TBRC's reports, businesses can strategize effectively, identify untapped markets, and make well-informed investments, ensuring they remain competitive and successful in this rapidly evolving sector. Explore The Business Research Company's top eleven market reports in the pharmaceuticals industry: 1. Antibody Drug Conjugates Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/antibody-drug-conjugates-global-market-report The global antibody drug conjugates market is projected to expand from $16.15 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.4%. This growth is fueled by the increasing prevalence of cancer on a worldwide scale. 2. Erythropoietin (EPO) Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/erythropoietins-global-market-report The erythropoietin market is forecasted to experience a growth in market size, rising from $24.2 billion in 2027, with a CAGR of 11.7%. This expected expansion in the erythropoietin market is attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney diseases, which is expected to drive demand in the years ahead. 3. G-CSF (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factors) Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/gastrointestinal-devices-global-market-report The global gastrointestinal devices market is projected to expand from $13.7 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. This growth can be attributed to the rising incidence of gastrointestinal diseases, which has played a significant role in driving the demand for gastrointestinal devices. 4. HP (High Potency) APIs Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/hp-high-potency-api-global-market-report The global market for high potency APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) is anticipated to increase from $36.14 billion in 2027, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%. This growth is fueled by the growing incidence of cancer cases and the rising sales of cancer drugs, which have played a pivotal role in driving the high potency APIs market. 5. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Inhibitor Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-inhibitors-global-market-report The market size for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors is projected to increase from $12.11 billion in 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. This growth is primarily attributed to the rising prevalence of cancer and macular degeneration diseases, which are expected to be the key drivers of the VEGF inhibitor market. 6. Anesthetics Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/anesthetics-global-market-report An emerging trend in the anesthetics market is the growing consolidation through acquisitions. This trend is primarily driven by the substantial investments required for research and development (R&D) as well as intellectual property (IP) development to establish companies engaged in the production of anesthetic drugs. Consequently, mergers and acquisitions are being recognized as efficient and cost-effective approaches in this regard. 7. Antacids Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/antacids-global-market-report An emerging trend in the antacid market is the introduction of mouth-melting antacids. While antacids were traditionally available in tablet, liquid, and powder forms, researchers have now developed mouth-melting antacids composed of micro-granules that rapidly dissolve in the mouth. These granules within the antacids function in an effervescent manner, providing consumers with a convenient and quick-dissolving option for relief from acidity and heartburn. 8. Antiemetics And Antinauseants Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/antiemetics-and-antinauseants-global-market-report Manufacturers in the antiemetics and antinauseants market are leveraging nanotechnology to administer therapeutic agents with precision to specific sites in a controlled manner, employing nanomedicine and nano delivery systems. There is a growing inclination among antiemetic and antinauseant drug manufacturers to utilize nanomedicine or nano drugs to enhance the effectiveness of their medications and boost their revenue streams. 9. Anti-Thyroid Drugs Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/anti-thyroid-drugs-global-market-report The global market for anti-thyroid drugs market is projected to reach $2.78 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5%. One of the primary factors contributing to this growth is the rising incidence of Graves' disease, a direct cause of hyperthyroidism. 10. Antivirals Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/antivirals-global-market-report Companies operating in the anti-viral drug therapy market are consistently driving innovation through technological advancements to create treatments for various viral infections. Biopharmaceutical firms are actively engaged in the development of vaccines for combating novel coronaviruses. Notable technological progress in the pharmaceutical sector encompasses the formulation of nucleic acid vaccines that utilize DNA and RNA-based platforms, allowing the human body to generate vaccine antigens. 11. Bladder Cancer Drugs Global Market Report 2023 https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/bladder-cancer-drugs-global-market-report Prominent entities within the bladder cancer drugs market are channeling significant investments into research focused on harnessing nano-technology for drug delivery into the human body. This approach holds the promise of providing healthcare professionals with a straightforward and efficient means of treating bladder cancer in patients. By utilizing nanoparticles in treatment, doctors can directly target cancerous cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy cells, enhancing the overall effectiveness and precision of bladder cancer treatment. Interested to know more about The Business Research Company? The Business Research Company has published over 6500+ detailed industry reports, spanning over 3000+ market segments and 60 geographies. The reports draw on 1,500,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. Contact Information The Business Research Company Europe: +44 207 1930 708 Asia: +91 8897263534 Americas: +1 315 623 0293 Email: [email protected] Follow Us On: LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/the-business-research-company Twitter: https://twitter.com/tbrc_info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBusinessResearchCompany YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC24_fI0rV8cR5DxlCpgmyFQ Blog: https://blog.tbrc.info/ Healthcare Blog: https://healthcareresearchreports.com/ Global Market Model: https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/global-market-model Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751581/tbrc_logo.jpg SOURCE The Business Research Company LAKE MARY, Fla., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Exciting news from VITREUS, the trailblazing AI startup set to revolutionize Regulatory Compliance through Artificial Intelligence, as they welcome another Web3 celebrity into their core team. Vitreus not only has recently been accepted into the WebSummit ALPHA program as a "startup of extreme innovation", but they're also making waves across numerous fields. Fresh on the heels of appointing the esteemed Brian Harrel of AVANGRID, VITREUS is also adding another prominent name to their roster. COMPLiQ (spoken Comply Q) is the proprietary, patent pending Artificial Intelligence Neural Network of VITREUS. It is being developed for the needs of businesses operating in highly regulated industries like BFSI, Energy and Real Estate. VITREUS ONE is a Corporate Command Center Application connecting both COMPLiQ and the VITREUS Smartchain with the already existing industry standard applications within a company. Brian Evans, a prolific entrepreneur and influential figure in the Web3 technology arena is welcomed as the newest member of the VITREUS board of directors. Mr. Evans, alongside VITREUS' CEO Chad Justice, is a battle-tested entrepreneur. Diverse tech industries, Mr. Evans brings innovative strategies, disruptive business models, and an extensive network honed over a lifetime of digital marketing expertise. Undoubtedly, the combination of VITREUS' product offering around artificial intelligence via their patent pending COMPLiQ system and numerous large partnerships has paved the way for unprecedented impact. While the appointment of Mr. Harrel was a momentous step for VITREUS' exposure to the prestigious Energy & Critical Infrastructure sector, Mr. Evans is an appointment from a different angle, rounding out the team behind the VITREUS platform. As a renowned Inc. 500 Entrepreneur and recipient of the prestigious "40 Under 40" accolade in 2023, has consistently showcased his expertise across various domains. His visionary contributions to the Web3 space have left an indelible mark, earning him a coveted spot on the Forbes Crypto Top 40 list. Mr. Evan's extensive insights, featured in top-tier publications like Rolling Stone, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc., Forbes, and Influencive, have captivated over 32 million readers worldwide. His digital publication, boasting 100 million readers, underscores his remarkable ability to engage audiences. Brian D. Evans to serve both on the Board of Directors of Vitreus' parent company and the Vitreus core team Featured also as a judge in "The Next Crypto Gem", a TV series combining the excitement of American Idol with the investment drama of Shark Tank, Mr. Evans is at the forefront of mainstream media as it pertains to the adoption of new age technologies, such as cryptocurrencies. This inclusion marks an opportunity to amplify VITREUS' exposure within a multitude of technical communities. With other esteemed partners like Red Hat, Cloudflare, and Western Digital, VITREUS has set the stage for its platform to have outstanding global impact as it moves forward towards capitalizing on the rising demand for automation within regulatory compliance. If you're in the area, be sure to interact with the present team members as the Lisbon WebSummit this coming November at their booth and engage within the social media platforms to learn more information. As the VITREUS platform edges closer towards its expected Q4 2023 launch it will have its accomplishments and outreach amplified by Mr Evan's impressive track record, influence, and expertise. The board of directors being assembled by VITREUS as well as the heavy hitter corporate partners already in league with the platform, is positioning VITREUS to be a critical new technology on the forefront of release. Contact: Jaren Holmes +1-936-443-1393 [email protected] SOURCE VITREUS MORRISVILLE, N.C., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pyxus International, Inc. (OTC Pink: PYYX), a global value-added agricultural company, announced a new partnership between its subsidiary Pyxus Agriculture Limited (Malawi) (PAM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The partnership launched Sept. 7, 2023, during a signing ceremony at PAM's state-of-the-art groundnut processing facility in Lilongwe, Malawi. Pyxus Agriculture Limited (Malawi) contracted farmer Mchichizana Bekelani harvests her groundnut crop. Pyxus Agriculture Limited (Malawi) Managing Director Ron Ngwira (bottom left) and USAID Malawi Mission Director Pamela Fessenden (bottom right) during the recent signing ceremony at PAM's groundnut processing factory. USAID will award PAM $14.6 million over the next five years, which will support the company in maximizing its operational effectiveness and minimizing its exposure to financial risk as it continues to drive sustainable agriculture developments in Malawi. This award compliments PAM's investment to date and offsets certain company expenditures going forward as both entities work to increase the availability of high-quality, climate-smart groundnut seed varieties, boost groundnut production and processing, support improved farmer livelihood and counteract the nation's high rate of deforestation. "Our company has a 30-year history of operating in Malawi and has one of the largest networks of smallholder farmers most operating on two hectares of land or less in the country. We have worked diligently to help our contracted farmers successfully grow and market high-quality, sustainable crops, thus improving the livelihood of the farmer, their families, their communities and the country as a whole," said Pyxus President and CEO Pieter Sikkel. "Pyxus is honored to receive this $14.6 million award from USAID, which helps our company to further build capacity, expand impact throughout the legume and forestry value chains, and unlock value for Malawi and its farmers," added Sikkel. The agreement aligns with Pyxus' global environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and identifies five focus areas to achieve success: Improve Malawi's legume seed production system through the acceleration of PAM's current research, breeding and distribution of new high-yielding, climate-resilient, market-demanded and more nutritious legume seed varieties. Increase farmer access to high-quality crop inputs and hands-on training of good agricultural practices while simultaneously working to diversify PAM's contracted farmer base. These efforts enable farmers to increase yields, sales and incomes, driving the development of the country's commercial agriculture sector. Help address smallholder farmer financing roadblocks, which currently put a significant limitation on crop production and overall market success, through fair and affordable crop input financing. Minimizing financial roadblocks can help farmers increase yields and improve their overall livelihood. Enhance the quality and value of Malawi groundnuts through increased processing capacity of PAM's groundnut facility, driving job growth, the country's export opportunities and value addition, resulting in a more impactful private sector contribution to Malawi's economic growth. Combat deforestation and forest and soil degradation by further developing PAM's sustainable forestry operation and the introduction of new, innovative energy solutions and soil health amendments to the farmer. USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman, who was present for the signing ceremony, expressed her enthusiasm for the joint project, stating, "The partnership we've launched today, with USAID and Pyxus, will invest in Malawians to accelerate opportunities for more sustainable, inclusive and resilient economic growth." Coleman added the partnership contributes to soil health improvements, utilization of clean energy generated from recycled agricultural waste and increasing availability of nutritious food for the Malawian people. The PAM operation was founded in 2019 under Pyxus' Value-Added Agricultural Products division. Since its inception, PAM has opened one of the largest groundnut processing facilities in Africa, gained government approval to commercialize five new legume seed varieties, cultivated and maintained more than 7,000 hectares of forestry, and unlocked additional income potential for over 20,000 smallholder farmers. About Pyxus International, Inc. Pyxus International, Inc. is a global agricultural company with 150 years' experience delivering value-added products and services to businesses and customers. Driven by a united purposeto transform people's lives, so that together we can grow a better worldPyxus International, its subsidiaries and affiliates, are trusted providers of responsibly sourced, independently verified, sustainable and traceable products and ingredients. For more information, visit www.pyxus.com. About Pyxus Agriculture Limited (Malawi) (PAM) Pyxus Agriculture Limited (Malawi) (PAM), a subsidiary of Pyxus International, Inc., is dedicated to the responsible and sustainable production of value-added agricultural products. Headquartered in Lilongwe, Malawi, PAM provides agronomic support to smallholder growers and promotes crop diversification efforts, helping create new market opportunities to enhance farmer livelihoods. SOURCE Pyxus International, Inc. SAN DIEGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Apple Inc. to supply Snapdragon 5G ModemRF Systems for smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This agreement reinforces Qualcomm's track record of sustained leadership across 5G technologies and products. Additional information is available on Qualcomm's Investor Relations website. About Qualcomm Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. Our one technology roadmap allows us to efficiently scale the technologies that launched the mobile revolution including advanced connectivity, high-performance, low-power compute, on-device intelligence and more to the next generation of connected smart devices across industries. Innovations from Qualcomm and our family of Snapdragon platforms will help enable cloud-edge convergence, transform industries, accelerate the digital economy, and revolutionize how we experience the world, for the greater good. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Contacts: Clare Conley, Corporate Communications Phone: 1-858-845-5959 Email: [email protected] Mauricio Lopez-Hodoyan, Investor Relations Phone: 1-858-658-4813 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. A multi-million-pound subcontract has been awarded to HUBER+SUHNER, to supply radio frequency and low frequency cable harnesses for the British Army's Boxer MIV Programme. HERISAU, Switzerland, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The contract ensures the Boxer vehicles will be equipped with cable harnesses that will provide safe, reliable and mission-critical operation for British Army Boxer crews. With a global presence across 80 countries, HUBER+SUHNER will carry out the work at its Oxfordshire and Staffordshire facilities, to ensure UK skilled manufacturing roles for the Boxer programme. The contract will also support growth, including recruitment of additional roles in engineering and operations, with further recruitment planned over the coming years. HUBER+SUHNER will deliver the first batch of cables in Q3 2023, providing a range of common electrical parts, as well as cables specific to meet the UK MOD's most stringent performance requirements. Reto Bolt, Chief Operating Officer for the industry segment of HUBER+SUHNER, said: "We are very proud to be playing an integral role in this project. Our engineering and manufacturing capabilities in cable connectivity over the past 50 years has been the core of our success. "The Boxer UK contract will help us expand capacities and resources at our UK facilities over the next eight years to support this project, generating both an upskilled workforce and additional UK manufacturing positions." Colin McClean, Managing Director at RBSL added: "This contract is the latest in a series of UK supplier contracts awarded by RBSL for Boxer, ensuring the programme benefits from the best of British engineering and manufacturing whilst also sustaining valuable skills across the country. "We are very pleased to welcome HUBER+SUHNER to the team and we look forward to working with them as the programme progresses." Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) RBSL is a UK-based, joint venture business between Rheinmetall and BAE Systems. RBSL has a long-standing relationship with the British Army having designed and delivered many of the Army's existing combat vehicles under different business names. RBSL continues to provide in-service support for British Army vehicle fleets and, in addition to the Challenger 3 programme, is one of the major manufacturers of the Boxer Armoured Fighting Vehicle under the UK MOD's Mechanised Infantry Vehicle programme. HUBER+SUHNER AG The globally active Swiss company HUBER+SUHNER develops and produces components and system solutions for electrical and optical connectivity. The company serves the three main markets Industry, Communication and Transportation with applications from the three technologies of radio frequency, fiber optics and low frequency. HUBER+SUHNER products excel in excellent performance, quality, reliability, and long service lives - even under the most demanding conditions. Through a global production network, combined with subsidiaries and representatives in over 80 countries, the company is close to its customers worldwide. The MIV programme The overall 2.3bn Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) contract was announced in November 2019 between the UK MOD and ARTEC a joint venture between Rheinmetall Landsysteme, Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V, and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann. The contract will deliver over 600 Boxer vehicles to the British Army. Vehicle production is subcontracted equally between RBSL and KNDS. The companies will undertake the fabrication of the armoured vehicle structures together with the assembly, integration and test of the complete vehicles at their respective facilities in Telford and Stockport, with support from the UK supply chain. This media release can also be found under https://www.hubersuhner.com/en/company/media/news Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2005031/4066445/HUBER_SUHNER_AG_Logo.jpg Contact: Rachel Hoher Number: +41 71 353 41 11 Email: pressoffice@hubersuhner.com SOURCE HUBER+SUHNER AG Blood donations urgently needed for hospital patients in wake of back-to-back climate disasters and critical summer shortfall WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross national blood supply has fallen to critically low levelsdropping nearly 25%-- since early August, and potentially threatening the medical care of patients with an emergency need for blood, or those living with critical conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease and who depend on lifesaving blood transfusions. Back-to-back months of worsening climate-driven disasters have further strained the blood supply, resulting in blood drive cancelations and reducing much needed blood and platelet donations in affected areas. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care. To make an appointment to give blood or platelets, donors can use the Red Cross Blood App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross is closely monitoring Hurricane Lee and its potential impact to communities in the Northeast later this weekwhich may further hamstring the organization's ability to collect lifesaving blood products during this critical time. Just a couple weeks ago, Hurricane Idalia slammed into the southeastern U.S. causing more than 700 units of blood and platelets to go uncollected. This compounds other challenges experienced by the organization this summer to collect a sufficient number of blood products. Donor turnout in August dropped on the heels of one of the busiest travel seasons on record and back-to-school activities, contributing to a 30,000-donation shortfall in August alone. "For so many patients living with urgent medical care needs, crises don't stop with natural disasters," said Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross. "In fact, in some instances the stress of a disaster can lead to a medical crisis for some individuals battling sickle cell disease. The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood---an often-invisible emergency that the rest of the world doesn't see behind closed hospital doors. Now, that urgency has only heightened." Right now, blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations. Approximately 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country rely on the Red Cross to collect 12,5000 blood donations each day to meet the needs of their patients. SICKLE CELL AWARENESS MONTH September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness about the more than 100,000 individuals with sickle cell disease in the U.S. Most people with the disease are of African descent and require regular blood transfusions to help manage their disease. For students with sickle cell disease, the challenges of missing school due to sickle cell pain crises, hospitalizations and medical appointments can create social isolation. This is why in September and October the Red Cross is launching Joined by Blood and teaming up with partners in the Black community such as 100 Black Men of America, Inc., Kier's Hope Foundation, Inc. and others to host blood drives and encourage blood donors who are Black to support the blood transfusion needs of patients with sickle cell disease. Joined by Blood is a fall activation of the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative which represents the powerful connection between blood donors and patients, since 1 in 3 African American blood donors are a match for people with sickle cell disease. In thanks for helping to replenish the blood supply this month, all who come to give blood, platelets or plasma Sept. 1-18 will receive a limited-edition Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. The Red Cross is also offering free sickle cell trait screening for people who self-identify as African American or multiracial. Those who come to give throughout September will also receive a coupon for a free haircut by email, thanks to Sport Clips Haircuts. Plus, they'll be automatically entered for a chance to a win a VIP NASCAR racing experience. Details are available at rcblood.org/racetogive. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. SOURCE American Red Cross TrackerIQ enables fast detection and response to the abuse and misuse of trusted identities in enterprise applications RAMAT GAN, Israel, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RevealSecurity, a leader in application detection and response, today announced it has been named a SINET16 Innovator Award winner for 2023. The annual SINET16 awards recognize the most innovative and compelling technologies that address cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. RevealSecurity was selected from a pool of 195 applications from 13 countries. Applicants were evaluated in a series of two rounds by the SINET Judging Committee composed of 115 private and government security professionals including leading risk executives, experts in government intelligence and defense agencies, venture capitalists, and investment bankers. Detecting attacks leveraging trusted identities is one of the biggest problems facing security teams today. Whether it's external attackers using stolen credentials, internal users, partners and suppliers, or even APIs security teams are struggling to correctly identify malicious behavior post authentication. This challenge is exacerbated as traditional rules-based detection and response systems require significant resources to onboard and maintain, and result in a large number of false positives. An Innovative Approach to Application Detection and Response RevealSecurity has developed a unique and innovative approach to application detection and response, with its flagship product, TrackerIQ. TrackerIQ is the only solution to be built on patented User Journey Analytics to provide accurate behavior-based user analytics without requiring rules. This enables organizations to cost effectively detect, alert and quickly respond to the abuse and misuse of trusted identities. TrackerIQ effectively defends any enterprise application from insider threats, whether malicious, accidental, or credential compromise, effectively reducing TCO, Mean Time to Detection (MTTD) and preventing data loss. "Winning the coveted SINET16 Innovator Award is a great honor," said Doron Hendler, CEO of RevealSecurity. "It is especially gratifying to be recognized for our innovative approach to application detection and response by such a great organization like SINET and an esteemed panel of judges that represent the top risk executives and experts in the cybersecurity industry." "Congratulations to RevealSecurity for being selected as one of this year's SINET16 Innovators," said Robert D. Rodriguez, Chairman of SINET. "We are proud to play a role in accelerating innovation into a global marketplace by increasing awareness of value-add companies." About RevealSecurity RevealSecurity is the only company that delivers accurate behavior-based user analytics without rules, enabling organizations to cost effectively detect, alert and quickly respond to the abuse and misuse of trusted identities operating inside and across the mission-critical applications that drive their business. For more information go to www.revael.security Contact: Dave Burton CMO RevealSecurity [email protected] SOURCE RevealSecurity SAN DIEGO, and ULYSSES, Kan., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rivulis and Dragon-Line, leaders in micro-irrigation and mobile drip irrigation pivots, respectively, are pleased to announce their exclusive partnership in USA, Mexico, and Canada; with this partnership, Dragon Line is launching a new Dragon Line Mobile Drip Irrigation System based upon a newly developed Rivulis drip line product for this application. This innovative system enables the transition of Center Pivots from Sprinkler Systems to Mobile Drip Irrigation. With this new system, farmers can achieve improved yields while utilizing significantly less water and reducing input costs such as fertilizers and diseases. Dragon Line is launching a new Dragon Line Mobile Drip Irrigation System based upon a newly developed Rivulis drip line product for this application. "Our collaboration with Dragon-Line represents Rivulis' commitment to developing field-trusted innovation that meets the evolving needs of farmers," stated John Vikupitz, President of Rivulis North America. "This collaboration is further reinforced by the recent merger between Rivulis and Jain USA. With our enhanced in-the-field presence, additional engineering resources and expanded production capacity, we can quickly translate the demands of the market into solutions that were previously unavailable in our portfolio." Monty Teeter, founder of Dragon-Line, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are excited to lead the transformation of pivot irrigation via mobile drip irrigation. This proprietary cost-effective solution provides an excellent entry point for commodity crop farmers who have long been interested in exploring water savings technologies such as drip irrigation. Our remarkable water-saving results with a low upfront investment will enable farmers in North America to continue to thrive for years to come." Both companies are confident that this collaboration will drive positive change within the industry as Dragon-Line's systems are accessible and easy to install, contributing to a more sustainable future. Dragon-Line is an approved vendor for some of the largest and leading multinational agribusinesses worldwide. About Rivulis Rivulis is a global micro irrigation leader focused on promoting a sustainable agri-food supply chain both to feed our planet and save it from the perils of climate change. Rivulis offers the most innovative irrigation solutions for seasonal, permanent, and protected crop environments, through its multiple product and service portfolio brands: Rivulis, NaanDanJain, Jain, Eurodrip and Manna. With 80 years of field-trusted innovation, Rivulis has 22 large-scale manufacturing sites in 15 countries and 3,000 employees located in 35 countries, three R&D Centers (Israel, California, and Greece) and multiple Irrigation Project Design Centers around the globe. Leading the mass adoption of micro irrigation globally, Rivulis is committed to increasing accessibility to all growers everywhere through simple, affordable, and smart technology covering the full cycle from design to harvest. To learn how Rivulis can help you GROW BEYOND your highest expectations season after season, visit www.rivulis.com. About Dragon-Line Dragon-Line, LLC. is a global Mobile Drip Irrigation (MDI) company that revolutionizes center pivot and linear mechanized systems with its precise drip technology. The company manufactures a customizable manifold system that seamlessly integrates with the grower's row spacing and cropping. This system connects to the existing piping of drop hoses, delivering water and nutrients to the soil surface through specially designed surface drip tubing. These high-volume, pressure compensating, and self-flushing emitters are manufactured by Rivulis, and together they form the innovative "Dragon-Line" solution. With Dragon-Line, operators can water, plant, and germinate in pre-determined strips. The tubing can be easily adjusted using a new, patented winch system, ensuring that new plants and foliage are not directly watered. By eliminating wasteful evaporative losses, soil compaction and crusting, as well as costly wheel track issues, Dragon-Line not only saves 20-50% of water, energy, and labor but also improves soil and plant health. Dragon-Line aims to expand exponentially worldwide, by partnering with companies like Rivulis to achieve this goal. For more information and distribution channels, please visit www.dragonline.net. Dragon-Line is a "Sustainable Water Saving Solution!" Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206637/Rivulis_Dragon_Line.jpg SOURCE Rivulis Scala develops algorithms that dramatically improve the activity, stability, and cost of proteins TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala Biodesign exited stealth today, revealing $5.5M of funding for their solution to dramatically improve and speed up the development of proteins into biotech products. The seed round was led by TLV Partners. Custom antibody therapies, vaccines, food products, and clean production of chemicals: proteins are revolutionizing multiple industries. But developing and mass-producing custom proteins is a long, expensive, and uncertain process because natural proteins are almost never suitable for industry they are often unstable, costly to manufacture, and insufficiently active. Protein engineering can modify a protein into an industrial-grade product, but current engineering methods rely on iterative trial-and-error testing of thousands and often millions of versions in the lab. This process can take years, cost millions, and often fails. Scala makes it possible to engineer and improve proteins immediately and in one shot. Fusing physics-based modeling, AI, and biological data analysis, Scala enables companies to develop new medicines, green production processes, and foods radically faster and cheaper, allowing the creation of entirely new applications of biotechnology that weren't possible using traditional methods. Scala was founded by Dr. Ravit Netzer (CEO) and Dr. Adi Goldenzweig (CTO), who researched the challenges of protein engineering in Prof. Sarel Fleishman's laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science. The team developed algorithms for protein design that became the state-of-the-art among academic protein engineers, with over 100 peer-reviewed papers based on the team's technology. "Researchers, students, and companies, everyone wanted to use our technology," said Dr. Goldenzweig, CTO and co-founder of Scala. "We realized that there was a huge need. Quickly optimizing vaccine immunogens, enzymes, antibodies, and more, opens so many doors for advancing technology and the wellbeing of humanity and the environment". As one example, Dr. Goldenzweig used her method to improve a malaria vaccine that is now in Phase II clinical trials in W. Africa. Another application of the technology generated wood-degrading enzymes for biofuel production. Dr. Netzer and Dr. Goldenzweig founded Scala with Prof. Fleishman as Chief Scientist in order to address the demand from major pharma and biotech companies. The team's mission is to provide a one-stop shop for efficient and economical protein engineering. They named the company Scala to highlight that protein engineering can now be applied at scale to solve myriads of biotechnology challenges. "The answers to some of the greatest challenges that modern society faces are out there in nature, but until now it was extremely difficult to apply these answers at global, industrial scales," said Dr. Ravit Netzer, co-founder and CEO of Scala. "Scala makes the impossible easy, and will lead to the next wave of innovation in biotech." Shahar Tzafrir, Managing Partner at TLV Partners, said "Alphafold's impact on biology was profound, catalyzing science and startups. The next complex challenge translating protein structure into function and determining which properties can be 'edited' for a specific desired outcome is beyond the reach of AI alone. It requires a unique blend of AI, physics, biology, and chemistry. Scala's founders successfully tackled this in academia, where scientists and the industry widely and enthusiastically embraced their breakthroughs. Recognizing the tremendous potential, they're now pivoting their academic success into a company, set to redefine how proteins are designed with purpose." Scala is now working with a small group of early customers, including top-tier pharmaceutical companies, taking part in some of the most exciting protein engineering projects in the world. Media Contact Lazer Cohen [email protected] 347-753-8256 SOURCE Scala Biodesign TROY, Mich., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global motion technology company Schaeffler is demonstrating its vision for the future of personal transportation at two Detroit-area trade shows: the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech Expo, hosted at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi from Sept. 12 to 14; and the Detroit Auto Show, held Sept. 13 and 14 at Huntington Place in Detroit. At both shows, Schaeffler will be hosting booths, offering product demonstrations, and delivering presentations focusing on the trends and technologies that are transforming today's automotive industry. Schaeffler at the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech Expo At its Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech Expo booth (#1011), Schaeffler will be offering products covering the total spectrum of electrification options from 48-volt hybridization to plug-in hybrid technologies to all-electric vehicle drives. Demonstrating its broad portfolio of electrification options, the company will showcase its range of electric axles, thermal management modules with integrated cooling system, fuel cell stacks, battery systems, and more. On Thursday, September 14, at 1:45 p.m., Dr. Rashid Farahati, director of engineering at Schaeffler, will present "Challenges of the Solid-State Battery Manufacturing for Electric Vehicles." In addition to discussing why solid-state batteries represent the next generation of EV battery development, Dr. Farahati will identify the most challenging obstacles in solid-state battery manufacturing, along with strategies to overcome them. Schaeffler at the Detroit Auto Show Schaeffler will highlight its chassis and e-mobility innovations, present at the Mobility Forum, and have three demonstrator vehicles on display at the 2023 Detroit Auto Show. Under the theme, "driving connections, steering innovations," Schaeffler will demonstrate its comprehensive understanding of systems at the vehicle level that has enabled the development of solutions for conventional ICEs, hybrid powertrains and fully electric drives. At its technology display in the Ambassador Ballroom (room 360), Schaeffler will present an array of chassis, e-mobility and bearing innovations, including the company's intelligent ride height actuator (iRHA), steer-by-wire technologies, electric beam axle, electric motors, actuator cooling, decoupling units, TriFinity wheel bearing as well as other bearing solutions for electric mobility applications. Schaeffler will also have three vehicle demonstrators on display: A medium duty truck showcasing Schaeffler's electric motor, battery packs, thermal management module and electric beam axle; A midsize SUV showcasing Schaeffler's rear-wheel steering and roll control technologies; and A light duty truck showcasing Schaeffler's electromechanical ride height adjuster. Also during the show, Schaeffler Americas CTO Jeff Hemphill will present "Electric Vehicles Are Here to Stay and Present Us with Challenges and Opportunities" on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at noon. Schaeffler Group We pioneer motion The Schaeffler Group has been driving forward groundbreaking inventions and developments in the field of motion technology for over 75 years. With innovative technologies, products, and services for electric mobility, CO-efficient drives, chassis solutions, Industry 4.0, digitalization, and renewable energies, the company is a reliable partner for making motion more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable over the entire life cycle. The motion technology company manufactures high-precision components and systems for drive train and chassis applications as well as rolling and plain bearing solutions for a large number of industrial applications. The Schaeffler Group generated sales of EUR 15.8 billion in 2022. With around 84,000 employees, the Schaeffler Group is one of the world's largest family-owned companies. With more than 1,250 patent applications in 2022, Schaeffler is Germany's fourth most innovative company according to the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office). SOURCE Schaeffler Workforce Readiness University of Tulsa Forms Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute with Focus on Cybersecurity With the global cost of cybercrime set to top $10.5 trillion by 2025, according to Rose Gamble, vice president for research and economic development at the University of Tulsa (TU), the university has announced plans for the new Oklahoma Cyber Innovation Institute (OCII), which will identify, test and deploy solutions to meet the threat and train personnel to fill the need for expertise in this and other areas. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified that "33% of home computers are infected with malicious software, 47% of American adults have had their personal information exposed by cyber criminals, and 44% of millennials fall victim to cybercrime," the university said. Cybersecurity job vacancies have already reached 3.5 million in 2023, the agency noted. The new institute is being funded initially by a $24 million investment from the university and $12 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, with matching funds from the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Goals for this initial funding are to: Attract high-level cyber professionals; Initiate workforce development from various sectors in Oklahoma; Renovate or build major facilities; Institute research and commercialization programs; and Establish intellectual property development, tech transfer, and commercialization infrastructure in Oklahoma. In addition, TU expects to receive $50 million-plus over five years from public and private sources. "We are looking for corporate and public sector partners who want access to the best minds in the business," said Brad R. Carson, TU president. "Opportunities for sponsored cyber research, talent pipeline partnerships, facility development and/or entrepreneurial ecosystem support are all crucial." According to the university, TU's Cyber Corps program has trained professionals for two decades to defend businesses and individuals from attacks. TU has Centers of Academic Excellence designations in research and in cyber defense by the National Security Agency. Since 2008, the campus has had the National Computer Forensics Institute lab, a federally funded center dedicated to training law enforcement in cybercrime investigations. Visit this page to read the full release. SHANGHAI, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shanghai Guijiu, a rapidly growing Chinese baijiu brand, took center stage on September 8th at the iconic Shanghai Tower as the 2023 Global Partners Summit was held. In alignment with China's strategic focus on expanding domestic demand and fostering dual circulation, the responsible listed liquor company brought together leaders from nearly 50 global partners to create a shared development platform and lay the foundation for a sustainable future. The summit brought together companies from various sectors like Hurun Report, Sinochem Modern Agriculture, and Boston Consulting Group to discuss Shanghai Guijiu's corporate strategy and brand ecosystem in fields such as agricultural standardization, warehousing logistics, supply chain management, intelligent technology, and eco-friendly packaging, aiming to promote high-quality development of the baijiu industry and its industrial chain. Han Xiao, Chairman of Shanghai Guijiu Co., Ltd., in appreciation of the partners' support, presented commemorative trophies to Shanghai Guijiu's long-term partners. He reaffirmed the company's commitment to long-termism, noting, "Shanghai Guijiu firmly anchors itself in long-term thinking, motivated to deepen its efforts, fortify core competencies, and create value for stakeholders. Meanwhile, aligned with like-minded partners, Shanghai Guijiu aspires to foster clean, legal, and compliant collaborations, culminating in a value-centric ecosystem and a mutually beneficial future." As a dedicated advocate of long-termism, Shanghai Guijiu embraces the mission of "brewing a better life." President Alan Yan highlighted the goal, saying, "Shanghai Guijiu leverages its global perspective to infuse innovative concepts of China while promoting a closed-loop exchange of value for all stakeholders and effectively navigating uncertainty." At the summit, Gui Xiaomei, Shanghai Guijiu's first AI brand ambassador, conducted insightful interviews with overseas supplier representatives around topics like enhancing green and intelligent manufacturing within the liquor industry, establishing zero-carbon factories, and globalizing baijiu. With its soaring influence ranking and stellar earnings performance, Shanghai Guijiu is advancing towards realizing the "Shanghai Influence Project," aiming towards positioning the brand as a symbol of Shanghai both domestically and internationally. In doing so, it transforms baijiu into a symbol of Shanghai culture's internationalization while accentuating the unique qualities that set Shanghai Guijiu apart. SOURCE Shanghai Guijiu Veteran global leader in nuclear medicine will oversee business and go to market strategies for therapeutic and diagnostic isotopes JANESVILLE, Wis., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SHINE Technologies, LLC, a next-generation fusion technology company, today announced that Harrie Buurlage has been named Chief Commercial Officer of Isotopes. Buurlage, who has been the General Manager of SHINE Europe since 2019, will now oversee all commercial aspects of SHINE's therapeutic and diagnostic medical isotope divisions. Supporting Buurlage in driving the growth of SHINE's medical isotope business will be Magdalena Brzezowska, a proven leader with extensive commercial experience in radiopharmaceuticals, who has been named Vice President of Sales and Business Development. "SHINE is well-positioned to provide increased access to life-saving medicine," said Harrie Buurlage Post this Harrie Buurlage - Chief Commercial Officer of Isotopes Buurlage's experience includes three decades in the nuclear medicine industry, encompassing management and marketing roles. He was the Chief Operating Officer at NRG in the Netherlands, overseeing key nuclear installations, and the global director for nuclear manufacturing at Covidien USA, now Curium Pharma. With 15 years at Mallinckrodt and an applied physics background from the University of Groningen, he also holds Europe's highest certification, the senior radiation safety officer from the University of Leiden, qualifying him to supervise complex nuclear sites. ["We are on the cusp of dramatically altering the global medical isotope supply chain , so it only makes sense to have one of the world's more experienced business leaders in nuclear medicine at the helm," said Greg Piefer, founder and CEO of SHINE. "Harrie has been a key member of my team over the past four years, and we're excited to leverage his growth experience and industry expertise as we bring North America's largest lutetium-177 production facility online."] Lu-177 is a radioactive agent that, when paired with a cancer-seeking molecule, delivers highly targeted radiation to cancer metastases, killing cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy cells. The new facility at SHINE's headquarters in Janesville, Wisconsin, is expected to have an initial production capacity of 100,000 doses of life-saving medicine per year, with expanded capacity to 200,000 doses per year in the future. "SHINE is well-positioned to provide increased access to life-saving medicine, and I look forward to helping usher in the next era of medical isotope production," Buurlage said. "What we are doing is vitally important to patients needing diagnosis and treatment of cancer and illnesses around the globe." SHINE plans to become the world's first vertically integrated supplier of Lu-177. Along with producing its own ytterbium-176, the company plans to be able to use its fusion-driven neutron source, The Chrysalis, for irradiation in the production of Lu-177. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its Final Safety Evaluation Report related to the Operating License Application for that facility earlier this year. About SHINE Technologies Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, SHINE deploys its safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly fusion technology in a stepwise approach. Its systems are used to inspect industrial components in aerospace, defense, energy and other sectors. SHINE's proprietary medical isotope production processes create non-carrier-added lutetium-177 and are expected to create molybdenum-99. In the future, SHINE plans to scale its fusion technology to help solve one of energy's toughest hurdles by recycling nuclear waste. Through a purpose-driven and phased approach, SHINE aims to generate fusion power to deliver clean, abundant energy that could transform life on Earth. Want to learn more about SHINE? Visit www.shinefusion.com and follow us @shinefusion. SOURCE SHINE Technologies, LLC 56.0 m of 1.23 g/t Au from 134.0 m including: 9.7 m of 2.81 g/t Au from 168.0 m and; of 1.23 g/t Au from including: 38.2 m of 4.15 g/t Au from 320.8 m including: 4.3 m of 33.10 g/t Au from 326.1 m including: 1.2 m of 108.00 g/t Au from 327.8 m . from including: "Drill hole DDRCCC-23-046 has produced our highest grade intercept to date with a remarkable 108.00 grams per tonne gold over 1.2 metres within 4.3 metres of 33.10 grams per tonne gold," commented Cor Coe, Director and CEO of Sitka Gold. "Grades of this nature are quite exceptional for a reduced intrusion-related gold system and, along with several other high-grade drill intercepts and outcrop rock samples received to date, appear to indicate that there is a high-grade component to the gold system present at the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex (see Figure 1). Hole 46 confirms that persistent gold mineralization continues to the east of the current resource boundary and highlights the potential for mineralization to extend at least 550 metres through to the Saddle Zone where limited previous test drilling has returned some very encouraging numbers, such as 18.8 metres of 1.34 g/t gold. Results from Hole 46 further demonstrate the discovery potential that is still very present around our existing gold deposits and elsewhere within the northern extent of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex. We eagerly await the many additional analytical results still to come from our ongoing diamond drilling campaign at RC Gold while we continue to grow our current gold resource, potentially identify consistent zones of high-grade mineralization and test additional high-priority targets within the northern extent of the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex." DDRCCC-23-046 Drill hole DDRCCC-23-046 was located just outside the eastern margin of the current resource 60 metres east of the nearest previous drill hole DDRCCC-20-002 and drilled to the southeast at an azimuth of 155 degrees and a dip of 55 degrees (Figure 2). The hole consisted dominantly of metasediments locally intruded by metre scale dykes of megacrystic quartz monzonite (MQZM). Two lamprophyre dykes, known marker units within the Blackjack deposit that are generally associated with zones of increased gold mineralization, were intersected at 267 m and 365 m. Quartz veins +/- arsenopyrite occurred throughout all units, with increasing concentrations generally associated with the intrusive dykes and quartzite and psammite phases of the meta intrusive. DDRCCC-23-046 intersected significant gold mineralization where multiple occurrences of visible gold were observed (Figure 4), with the thickest interval returning 56.0 m of 1.23 g/t Au from 134.0 m on (Figure 3). The hole also intersected the highest gold grade returned from drilling on the property to date, with 4.3 m of 33.10 g/t Au from 326.1 m including 1.2 m of 108.00 g/t Au. Gold mineralization is associated with quartz sulphide veins that occur both within the metasedimentary rocks and the MQZM dykes, with higher grade multi gram gold values more commonly occurring with the MQZM. Table 1 Assay Highlights for DDRCCC-23-046 HoleID Azimuth () Dip () From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) DDRCCC-23-046 155 -55 134.0 190.0 56.0 1.23 including 141.2 147.4 6.2 2.50 including 168.0 177.6 9.6 2.81 and 320.8 359.0 38.2 4.15 including 326.1 330.5 4.4 33.10 including 327.8 329.0 1.2 108.00 *Intervals are drilled core length, as insufficient drilling has been completed at this time to determine true widths The Company has completed 14 drill holes totaling approximately 6,000 metres as part of its ongoing 2023 diamond drill program at RC Gold where up to 10,000 metres of drilling is planned. Analytical results for remaining 8 drill holes completed to date will be released once they have been received and compiled. About the RC Gold Project The RC Gold Project (RC Gold) consists of a 376 square kilometre contiguous district-scale land package located in the newly road accessible Clear Creek, Big Creek, and Sprague Creek districts in the heart of Yukon's Tombstone Gold Belt. The project is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Dawson City and is accessed via a secondary gravel road from the Klondike Highway an approximate 2 hour drive from Dawson. It is the largest consolidated land package strategically positioned mid-way between Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold Mine - Yukon's newest gold mine which reached commercial production in the summer of 2020 - and Sabre Gold Mine's Brewery Creek Gold Mine. The RC Gold Project land package comprises five underlying properties, namely, the RC, Bee Bop, Mahtin, Clear Creek, and Barney Ridge properties*. The planned 10,000 metre drill program for 2023 is currently underway and is focused on expanding the Blackjack and Eiger gold deposits, both of which remain open in all directions, and drill testing the newly discovered intrusion related gold drill target at Josephine (see news release dated September 7, 2023). On January 19, 2023 Sitka Gold announced an Initial Mineral Resource Estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") guidelines for the RC Gold Property of 1,340,000 ounces of gold(1). The road accessible, pit constrained Mineral Resource is classified as inferred and is contained in two near/on-surface zones: The Blackjack and Eiger deposits. The Mineral Resource estimate is presented in the following table at a base case cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au: RC Gold Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate COG g/t Au Blackjack Zone Eiger Zone Combined Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's Tonnes 000's Au g/t 0z Au 000's 0.20 35,798 0.80 921 32,523 0.45 471 68,321 0.63 1,391 0.25 33,743 0.83 900 27,362 0.50 440 61,105 0.68 1,340 0.30 31,282 0.88 885 22,253 0.55 393 53,535 0.74 1,279 0.35 29,065 0.92 860 17,817 0.60 344 46,882 0.80 1,203 0.40 26,975 0.96 833 14,506 0.66 308 41,481 0.86 1,140 Notes Mineral resource estimate prepared by Ronald G. Simpson of GeoSim Services Inc. with an effective date of January 19, 2023. Mineral Resources are classified using the 2014 CIM Definition Standards. The cut-off grade of 0.25 g/t Au is believed to provide a reasonable margin over operating and sustaining costs for open-pit mining and processing Mineral resources are constrained by an optimised pit shell using the following assumptions: US$1800/oz Au price; a 45 pit slope; assumed metallurgical recovery of 85%; mining costs of US$2.00 per tonne; processing costs of US$8.00 per tonne; G&A of US$1.50/t. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Totals may not sum due to rounding. The Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,340,000 ounces of gold at the RC Gold Project is comprised of two deposits: the Blackjack deposit containing 900,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 0.83 g/t gold and the Eiger deposit containing 440,000 ounces of gold at a grade of 0.50 g/t gold (see news release dated January 19, 2023). Both of these deposits are at/near surface, are potentially open pit minable and amenable to heap leaching, with initial bottle roll tests indicating that the gold is not refractory and has high gold recoveries of up to 94% with minimal NaCN consumption (see News Release July 13, 2022). The Blackjack and Eiger deposits are in close proximity to highway and power infrastructure, are road accessible year-round, remain open in all directions and are located within the Clear Creek Intrusive Complex. The deposits are located with a large, 500 metre by 5 kilometre intrusion related gold system that was recently discovered on the Property. To date, 52 diamond drill holes have been drilled into this system for a total of approximately 18,275 metres with results of up to 201.0 m of 1.26 g/t gold from surface, including 82.0 m of 2.04 g/t gold and 19.5 m of 4.87 g/t gold at Blackjack (drill hole DDRCCC-22-040; see news release dated January 11, 2023) and 72 m of 0.72 g/t gold at Eiger (drill hole DDRCCC-21-09; see news release date August 19, 2021). Several high priority intrusion related gold targets exist at RC Gold with nine outcropped intrusions identified to date over the 376 sq km property, however Sitka's main focus at the RC Gold Project has been on the underlying Clear Creek Property where a large 500 metre by 2000 metre corridor hosting an intrusion related gold system covering the area over the Blackjack, Saddle and Eiger zones was identified. Additional surface work has extended the gold corridor an additional 3000 metres east and now encompasses the Josephine intrusion. Prior to the onset of the 2023 winter drilling program, the Company had drilled 38 diamond drill holes into this system for a total of approximately 13,000 metres. This drilling culminated in the discovery of the Blackjack and Eiger deposits with an initial inferred mineral resource estimate of 1,340,000 gold ounces(1). Sitka Gold inherited a wealth of historical and current data from these properties from work spanning the last 40 years. Recent exploration work and the compilation of historical data have defined several mineralized zones with both bulk tonnage, intrusion-related gold deposit targets and high-grade, vein- and breccia-hosted gold targets. The RC Gold Project also has a common border with Victoria Gold's Clear Creek property at its western boundary and Florin Resources' Florin Gold property at its northern boundary. (1) Simpson, R. January 19, 2023. Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory. *For more detailed information on the underlying properties please visit our website at www.sitkagoldcorp.com. Deposit Model Exploration on the Property has mainly focused on identifying an intrusion-related gold system ("IRGS"). The property is part of the Tombstone Gold Belt which is the prominent host to IRGS deposits within the Tintina Gold Province in Yukon and Alaska. Notable deposits from the belt include: Fort Knox Mine in Alaska with current Proven and Probable Reserves of 230 million tonnes at 0.3 g/t Au (2.471 million ounces; Sims 2018)(1); Eagle Gold Mine with current Measured and Indicated Resources of 233 million tonnes at a grade of 0.57 g/t Au at the Eagle Main Zone (4.303 million ounces; Harvey et al, 2022)(2); the Brewery Creek deposit with current Indicated Mineral Resource of 22.2 million tonnes at a gold grade of 1.11 g/t (0.789 million ounces; Hulse et al. 2020)(3); the Florin Gold deposit, located adjacent to Sitka's RC Gold project, with a current Inferred Mineral Resource of 170.99 million tonnes grading 0.45 g/t (2.47 million ounces; Simpson 2021)(4) and the AurMac Project with an Inferred Mineral Resource of 312.90 million tonnes grading 0.61 gram per tonne gold (6.18 million ounces; Jutras 2023)(5). (1) Sims J. Fort Knox Mine Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, USA National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report. June 11, 2018. https://s2.q4cdn.com/496390694/files/doc_downloads/2018/Fort-Knox-June-2018-Technical-Report.pdf (2) Harvey N., Gray P., Winterton J., Jutras M., Levy M.,Technical Report for the Eagle Gold Mine, Yukon Territory, Canada. Victoria Gold Corp. December 31, 2022. https://vgcx.com/site/assets/files/6534/vgcx_-_2023_eagle_mine_technical_report_final.pdf (3) Hulse D, Emanuel C, Cook C. NI43-101 Technical Report on Mineral Resources. Gustavson Associates. May 31, 2020. https://www.goldenpredator.com/_resources/Brewery-Creek_NI-43-101-05OCT2020-File.pdf (4) Simpson R. Florin Gold Project NI43-101 Technical Report. Geosim Services Inc. April 21, 2021. https://sedar.com/GetFile.do?lang=EN&docClass=24&issuerNo=00005795&issuerType=03&projectNo=03236138&docI d=4984158 (5) Banyan Gold News Release Dated May 24,, 2023 (Technical Report to be filed within 45 days of news release) https://banyangold.com/news-releases/2023/banyan-announces-6.2-million-ounce-gold-resource-estimate-for-the-aurmac-property-yukon-canada/ About Sitka Gold Corp. Sitka Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka currently has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the RC, Barney Ridge, Clear Creek and OGI properties in the Yukon and the Burro Creek Gold property in Arizona. Sitka owns a 100% interest in its Alpha Gold property in Nevada, its Mahtin Gold property in the Yukon and its Coppermine River project in Nunavut. The Company recently announced an NI 43-101 compliant Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of 1,340,000 ounces of gold(1) beginning at surface and grading 0.68 g/t at its RC Gold Project in Yukon (see news release dated January 19, 2023). A diamond drilling program of up to 10,000 metres is currently underway at RC Gold. The Company is also planning additional drilling at its Alpha Gold Property in Nevada where a new Carlin-type gold system was recently discovered. The Company is focused on vectoring towards the high-grade core of this system, which is located on the Cortez Trend just 40 km southeast of the Cortez Mine Complex of Barrick/Newmont. (1) Simpson, R. January 19, 2023. Clear Creek Property, RC Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Dawson Mining District, Yukon Territory. Upcoming Events Sitka Gold will be attending and/or presenting at the following events: Precious Metals Summit, Beaver Creek, Colorado : September 12 - 15, 2023 : Yukon Geoscience Forum, Whitehorse , Yukon : November 19 - 22, 2023 All events are subject to change. The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Cor Coe, P.Geo., Director and CEO of the Company, and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SITKA GOLD CORP. "Donald Penner" President and Director Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and terms of the private placement, use of proceeds, anticipated work program, required approvals in connection with the work program and the ability to obtain such approvals. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the CSE. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. SOURCE Sitka Gold Corp. Results highlighted in oral presentation show linsitinib significantly limited disease severity in early- and late-stage TED mouse models and prevented development of autoimmune response Company currently evaluating linsitinib in ongoing global Phase 2b LIDS clinical trial in patients living with active, moderate to severe TED ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sling Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on late-stage development of an oral small molecule for the treatment of thyroid eye disease (TED), today announced the presentation of preclinical data demonstrating that treatment with linsitinib, an investigational small molecule insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, significantly limited disease severity in TED mouse models in early and late stages of the disease as well as prevented the development of autoimmune responses. The data are being highlighted today in an oral presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Thyroid Association (ETA) being held September 9-12, 2023, in Milan, Italy. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to highlight the latest data from our linsitinib development program at the ETA Annual Meeting, which add to a growing body of evidence indicating its potential to be an effective, novel first-line oral treatment for people suffering from TED at all stages," said Ryan Zeidan, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Sling Therapeutics. "We look forward to further assessments of linsitinib as we continue to enroll people living with TED in our ongoing global Phase 2b LIDS clinical trial." In the preclinical study, researchers evaluated mice immunized with a plasmid encoding the A-subunit of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) that were orally administered linsitinib for four weeks. An autoimmune response against TSHR induces Graves' disease, of which TED is a common manifestation. Results showed that treatment of immunized mice with linsitinib after disease onset significantly limited the severity of the disease in both early and late stages of the disease. Treatment with linsitinib also prevented development of an autoimmune response including autoimmune hyperthyroidism, morphological changes, formation of brown adipose tissue in the orbita, and orbital immune cell infiltration into the orbit in all stages of TED in mouse models. Sling Therapeutics is currently enrolling participants in the ongoing Phase 2b LIDS clinical trial, a global, randomized, double-mask, placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of linsitinib in patients with active, moderate to severe TED over 24 weeks of treatment. Participants are being enrolled at trial sites in the United States, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the UK. For more information about the Phase 2b LIDS trial, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05276063. About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) TED is a debilitating autoimmune disease that affects about 20,000 people in the U.S. per year and has a similar prevalence in Europe. TED is characterized by excess fibrous tissue growth behind the eyes, and this inflammation can push the eyes forward or cause the eyes and eyelids to become red and swollen. As the disease progresses it can lead to pain, eye bulging, and double vision. TED predominantly affects women, and most frequently affects people with hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease. About Sling Therapeutics Sling Therapeutics, Inc., is a biopharmaceutical company focused on late-stage development of an oral small molecule for the treatment of TED. The company is advancing the evaluation of its lead product candidate, linsitinib, in a Phase 2b clinical trial based on extensive preclinical and clinical data. Linsitinib offers the potential of a convenient oral small molecule that could significantly reduce the treatment burden for people living with TED. For more information visit https://slingtx.com/. Investor Contact Jessica Vo Gilmartin Group, LLC [email protected] Media Contact Adam Daley Berry & Company Public Relations 212.253.8881 [email protected] SOURCE Sling Therapeutics Enters a Restructuring Support Agreement Facilitated Sale of the Assets to Coldwater Creek Reorganizes Debt to Support Sale and Continuation ST. LOUIS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Soft Surroundings (the "Company") today announced that it has entered into a Restructuring Support Agreement ("RSA") pursuant to which Coldwater Creek under the ownership of Newtimes Group, will continue ongoing direct-to-consumer and e-commerce operations. To implement the RSA, the Company has filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (Houston Division). Soft Surroundings has secured $18 million in debtor-in-possession ("DIP") financing from Gordon Brothers, subject to court approval, to enable business continuity. The DIP will enable the Company to continue to operate the business and meet its financial obligations, including the timely payment of employee wages and benefits without interruption, vendor payment for goods and services received on or after the filing date and other commitments during the restructuring. The Company will also begin taking steps to reorganize around its direct-to-consumer and e-commerce operations. "Over the past year, we have taken significant steps to fortify our financial standing including rightsizing our business to better match current market conditions. Our commitment to our stakeholders has never wavered as we meticulously evaluated the best path forward and are welcoming this next step to financially secure a bright future for Soft Surroundings. This will allow us to adapt, restructure and emerge more resilient, ensuring the longevity of the beloved Soft Surroundings brand for our customers and partners," states Bridgit Lombard, Executive Chair. About Soft Surroundings Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., Soft Surroundings is a thoughtfully curated retailer of women's apparel, home, shoe and accessories merchandise. Releasing its first catalog in 1999, Soft Surroundings has since been dedicated to empowering women to look and feel their best. Soft Surroundings meets the needs of its many devoted customers through its e-commerce channel, SoftSurroundings.com (http://softsurroundings.com/). About Coldwater Creek Founded in Sandpoint, Idaho in 1984, Coldwater Creek (www.coldwatercreek.com) is a lifestyle brand and Ecommerce retailer of women's apparel, shoes and accessories. Inspired by the splendor of the great Northwest, Coldwater Creek's unique fashion aesthetic embraces the simplicity, artistry and beauty of nature. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Coldwater Creek is committed to creating meaningful customer relationships, a seamless shopping experience and trusted style advice. About Gordon Brothers Since 1903, Gordon Brothers (www.gordonbrothers.com) has helped lenders, management teams, advisors and investors move forward through change. The firm brings a powerful combination of expertise and capital to clients, developing customized solutions on an integrated or standalone basis across four services areas: valuations, dispositions, financing and investment. Whether to fuel growth or facilitate strategic consolidation, Gordon Brothers partners with companies in the retail, commercial and industrial sectors to provide maximum liquidity, put assets to their highest and best use and mitigate liabilities. The firm conducts more than $100 billion worth of dispositions and appraisals annually and provides both short- and long-term capital to clients undergoing transformation. Gordon Brothers lends against and invests in brands, real estate, inventory, receivables, machinery, equipment and other assets, both together and individually, to provide clients liquidity solutions beyond its market-leading disposition and appraisal services. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with over 30 offices across five continents. SOURCE Soft Surroundings STANS, Switzerland, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SoftwareOne Holding AG, a leading global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions, today announced that it has been positioned by Gartner as a Leader in the 2023 Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management (SAM) Managed Services. The evaluation was based on specific criteria that analyzed the company's overall completeness of vision and ability to execute. The company continues to make ongoing investments in its global ITAM and FinOps operations, as well as its IP and sustainable solutions which contribute to its continued success. Shadi Khoshab, Global Director, ITAM & Software Portfolio Management, SoftwareOne comments: "Being recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for the fourth consecutive year, we feel, is a testament to our daily dedication to providing first-class services. SAM is evolving into a strategic business intelligence function, extending beyond traditional asset management". Khoshab adds: "Organisations' SAM teams need to step up and excel in supporting diverse areas such as SaaS management, FinOps, Security, Sustainability, and more. At SoftwareOne, we're thrilled to offer unmatched expertise, innovation, and customer-centric service to support and bring value to our clients." According to the report: "By 2026, growth in spend and complexity will drive 40% of organizations to utilize continuous software asset management (SAM) managed services from expert third parties, up from 20% in 2023." "Through 2026, organizations that deploy a cloud financial operations discipline (FinOps) will generate 30% more savings on their cloud infrastructure and platform services (CIPS) costs than those who did not." Bernd Schlotter, President of Services, SoftwareOne says: "Gartner remains a trusted advisor for many organisations undergoing the due diligence of selecting a partner to manage their software and cloud estates. When these organizations research who they should partner with on their ITAM and Cloud journeys, we believe SoftwareOne will be an Ideal choice amongst its peers." Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Software Asset Management Managed Services, By Yoann Bianic, Stephen White, Yolanda Harris, Jaswant Kalay, 5 September 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. To read the report, click here. Gartner disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About SoftwareOne SoftwareOne is a leading global software and cloud solutions provider that is redefining how organizations build, buy and manage everything in the cloud. By helping clients to migrate and modernize their workloads and applications and in parallel, to navigate and optimize the resulting software and cloud changes SoftwareOne unlocks the value of technology. The company's ~9,000 employees are driven to deliver a portfolio of 7,500 software brands with sales and delivery capabilities in 90 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com SoftwareOne Holding AG, Riedenmatt 4, CH-6370 Stans CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This media release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the group's future business, development and economic performance. Such statements may be subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, such as but not limited to force majeure, competitive pressures, legislative and regulatory developments, global, macroeconomic and political trends, the group's ability to attract and retain the employees that are necessary to generate revenues and to manage its businesses, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and general financial market conditions, changes in accounting standards or policies, delay or inability in obtaining approvals from authorities, technical developments, litigation or adverse publicity and news coverage, each of which could cause actual development and results to differ materially from the statements made in this media release. SoftwareONE assumes no obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE SoftwareOne Holding AG After a successful rollout across Germany , Spain , France , Italy , Netherlands , the UK, and Australia , Splitit has enabled 'Pay After Delivery' option to AliExpress Shoppers in the US. , , , , , the UK, and , Splitit has enabled 'Pay After Delivery' option to AliExpress Shoppers in the US. In Spain and Germany , we have implemented our white-label installment solution offering pay over 3 or 6 months for AliExpress. ATLANTA, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Splitit Payments Limited ("Splitit" or the "Company") (ASX:SPT, OTCQX:SPTTY), the only embedded white-label platform that allows customers to pay by installments using their existing credit on their bank issued payment card at checkout and AliExpress have announced that after a successful rollout on AliExpress across Europe including Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, the UK and Australia, they have now expanded the 'Pay After Delivery' service to customers in the US. Splitit's installment service is now also being offered in addition to Pay After Delivery in Spain and Germany. Splitit and AliExpress are expanding their 'Pay After Delivery' service to the United States Post this "We are thrilled with the results seen from the rollout of our Pay After Delivery and installments service with AliExpress, whilst further strengthening our partnership with Checkout.com. The demand from shoppers has been very positive, proving there is demand for a modern, simple way to allow consumers to pay only after the product has been delivered, improving the customer experience and building merchant loyalty," says Splitit CEO Nandan Sheth. Pay After Delivery is Splitit's latest service that allows consumers to pay for goods after delivery via a custom-branded experience embedded in the AliExpress checkout flow. Splitit's flexible technology platform, coupled with Checkout.com's payment-acquiring capabilities, enables AliExpress shoppers to pay after delivery with their existing credit card. Alipay is AliExpress' global payment solution partner. About Splitit Splitit powers the next generation of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) through its merchant-branded Instalments-as-a-Service platform. Splitit is solving the challenges businesses face with legacy BNPL while unlocking BNPL at the point of sale for card networks, issuers and acquirers all through a single network API. Splitit's Instalments-as-a-Service platform mitigates issues with legacy BNPL like the declining conversion funnel, clutter at the checkout and a lack of control of the merchant's customer experience while putting the power back in the hands of merchants to nurture and retain customers, drive conversion and increase average order value. Splitit's white-label BNPL is the easiest installment option for merchants to adopt, integrate and operate while delivering an uncluttered, simplified experience embedded into their existing purchase flow. Headquartered in Atlanta, Splitit has an R&D center in Israel and offices in London and Australia. Splitit is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) under ticker code SPT and also trades on the US OTCQX under ticker SPTTY (ADRs) and STTTF (ordinary shares). Contact Information: US Media Contact Information Lyndal Newman Global Marketing Director, Splitit [email protected] Michael McMullan Berns Communications Group [email protected] SOURCE Splitit USA, Inc. GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Outlets (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale, open-air shopping centers, announced today the appointment of Jessica K. Norman as the company's Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, effective September 12, 2023. In this role, Ms. Norman will lead Tanger's legal organization, including its corporate governance and compliance functions. Ms. Norman will report to Stephen Yalof, President and Chief Executive Officer, and will sit on the executive leadership team. Jessica K. Norman has been appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, for Tanger Outlets, effective September 12, 2023. "We are very pleased to welcome Jessica Norman to the Tanger executive team and legal group," said Yalof. "Jessica has a wide range of public company experience in the real estate industry across multiple legal functions, from securities filings and corporate governance to transaction financing, M&A, and regulatory compliance. Her experience and leadership capabilities will immediately add value as we continue to grow our portfolio and develop our legal and compliance team." Ms. Norman will bring to Tanger nearly two decades of legal and regulatory experience in both the public and private sectors, focused primarily within the commercial real estate industry. Most recently, she served as Chief Legal Officer of Independence Realty Trust ("IRT"), a publicly traded REIT that owns and operates multifamily apartment properties across non-gateway U.S. markets. "I am excited to join a strong and driven leadership team that is implementing change to drive shareholder value, and I look forward to using my experience in the REIT industry and commercial real estate expertise to enhance the capabilities of the legal department," said Ms. Norman. Ms. Norman spent several years early in her career in private practice with various prominent law firms. Prior to joining IRT in 2016 in connection with the company's internalization, she served for two years as Managing Director, Corporate Counsel for IRT's external advisor, RAIT Financial Trust, where she was primarily responsible for overseeing legal matters affecting IRT. Since 2021, Ms. Norman has also served as a board member and co-chair for the Nominating and Governance Committee for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philadelphia Region, which supports families on their children's medical journeys with a community of comfort and hope. Ms. Norman holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Business Administration from Temple University. About Tanger Outlets Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, fully or partially owns and/or manages a portfolio of 37 centers, including one center under development. Tanger's operating centers, which comprise approximately 14 million square feet, are located in 20 states and in Canada and are leased to over 2,700 stores operated by more than 600 different brand name companies. Tanger has more than 42 years of experience in the outlet industry and has been a publicly traded REIT since 1993. For more information on Tanger, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit tanger.com. Media Contact Kasie Wilson KWT Global [email protected] Investor Relations Contact Doug McDonald SVP, Finance and Capital Markets (336) 856-6066 [email protected] SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. Only One is Enough! SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TerraMaster, a professional brand focusing on providing innovative storage products for families and businesses, released a new TNAS Mobile 3 application. This super APP enables users to easily backup photos and videos of mobile phones, remote access, multimedia playback, manage TerraMaster NAS devices. Whether you need to access important business files on the go, or a home user who wants to share photos with family and friends, it can easily meet the needs. TNAS Mobile 3 Key Features TerraMaster TNAS Mobile 3 TNAS Remote Access All In One and Intuitive UI Design TerraMaster integrates all functions into one TNAS Mobile 3 application, which adopts stylish and intuitive page style, providing users with a clear overview of NAS system status, storage usage and connected devices. Easily Back Up Phone Data to TNAS TNAS Mobile 3 can be set to automatically or manually back up photos and videos in the mobile phone album to TNAS to free up valuable storage space. In addition, the automatic sorting and retrieval functions allow users to access photos, videos and files conveniently and quickly. Powerful Media Streaming Enjoy seamless media streaming directly from TerraMaster NAS to mobile devices. Whether it's music, video or photos, TNAS Mobile 3 ensures the media is available on demand. Fast Remote Access Safe and convenient access to files, photos, videos and documents stored on TerraMaster NAS from anywhere in the world. Say goodbye to tedious VPN settings and complicated network configurations. Easier Sharing Easily organize and manage files in your TNAS through functions such as file upload, download and sharing. Collaborate with colleagues or share memories with friends and family without the need for third-party services. Safe for Sensitive Data With a customized secret key and AES 256 hardware encryption level, the photos and videos stored in the safe can completely prevent brute force cracking, and truly guarantee the absolute security of your important data. OTP Enhanced Security TNAS user management can enable the OTP secondary verification function. Whether your TNAS is online or not, you can use the dynamic OTP (one-time password) randomly generated by TNAS Mobile for secondary login verification to protect user password from being cracked. Availability TNAS Mobile 3 is now available for download and installation through Google Play Store and Apple App Store, providing users with a super tool to easily manage TerraMaster NAS systems. More information, please visit https://www.terra-master.com/global/tnas-mobile3/. Contact: Yuki Shi +86 755 81798272 365069@email4pr.com SOURCE TerraMaster WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Charles Barron Roth is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for his contributions to the fields of Agricultural Studies and Agronomy. Dr. Roth attended the University of Missouri where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Chemistry and a Master's degree in Soils. He then attended the University of Wisconsin where received a Doctor of Philosophy. Charles Barron Roth Inspired to pursue a career as an educator by his father, Dr. Roth is a specialist in agricultural studies and agronomy serving as a professor of agronomy at Purdue University from 1968 to 2001. While he has retired from that post, he maintains the title of professor emeritus at the university. When considering his successful career, the doctor attributes his drive and inquisitive attitude as major factors to his accomplishments. He asserts that he is most proud to have guided many students in their academic and professional endeavors. A testament to his mastery of the fields, Dr. Roth has published more than 50 articles and participated both nationally and internationally in public speaking events pertaining to his field. Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Roth has served as the chair of the State Vision Services Committee of the Lions Club in Indiana for many years and is a member of his local United Methodist Church. He would like to dedicate this honor with special thanks to his wife, Roberta Jean Roth, to whom he has been married 58 years. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle DALLAS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Dennis K. Burns is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for his contributions to the field of Neuropathology. Dennis K. Burns, MD Dr. Burns launched his pursuit of higher education at Baylor University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1974. He then attended Texas Southwestern Medical School where he received an MD in 1978. Always seeking knowledge, the doctor was in the middle of his residency when he changed his focus to anatomic and clinical pathology which he completed at Parkland Hospital and the Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center. The doctor capped his formal education with fellowships in surgical pathology and neuropathology completed at the University of Texas Southwestern from 1978 to 1985. Board-certified in anatomic, clinical, and neuropathology by the American Board of Pathology (ABPath), Dr. Burns explained that the mission of the ABPath is to promote the health of the public and advance the practice and science of pathology by establishing voluntary certification standards and assessing the qualifications of those seeking to practice the specialty of pathology. The doctor said that pathology is a branch of medical science that involves the study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of surgically removed organs, tissues, bodily fluids, and in some cases, the whole body. Pathologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and management of diseases by laboratory methods. Highly revered for his mastery of pathology, the doctor is currently the Distinguished Teaching Professor (Emeritus) within the Department of Pathology at UT Southwestern Medical Center where he has been teaching both undergraduate and graduate medical education collaborative research with numerous UT Southwestern laboratories and clinical neuropathology with special emphasis on neuromuscular pathology since 1984. The doctor explained that "teaching has always been a source of deep satisfaction and inspiration to me. It is a privilege to be able to share knowledge and, perhaps more importantly, to inspire others to actively engage in the learning process. This takes on special significance for me when I remember that those individuals that I have the privilege of teaching are those who will provide medical care for other human beings. The benefits of teaching are reciprocal in that teaching, more than any other activity, inspires me to remain a life-long learner." Demonstrating his passion for teaching, Dr. Burns has received multiple teaching awards including the Texas Super Doctors Hall of Fame (2020); Minnie Stevens Piper Professor (2016); University of Texas Regents Outstanding Teaching Award (2016); Texas Super Doctors (2015-2020); UT Southwestern Medical School Academic Marshal (2010-2018); Best Doctors in America (2009-2020); Pre-Clinical Distinguished Educator Award (2006); Alpha Omega Alpha (1977); State of Texas Merit Scholarship (1975;) Robert A. Welch Foundation Merit Scholarship (1972-1974); Medical Student Faculty Teaching Awards (1984 1985 1994 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2014 2016 2017); and Vernie A. Stembridge Faculty Teaching Award (1993 2015). Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Burns cherishes time with his family and is an avid fly fisherman, fly tyer, and student of history. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle ATLANTA, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, J. Hudson Garrett, Jr. is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Professional for his contributions to the field of Health Care Administration and Policy. J. Hudson Garrett Jr Dr. Garrett Jr. pursued graduate education at Georgia State University where he earned a Ph.D. in Health Care Administration and Policy after earning a Master's degree in Business, Nursing, and Public Health. He also holds numerous certifications including AHVAP; TeamSTEPS; Patient Safety; Healthcare Quality; Patient Experience; Vascular Access; Antibiotic Stewardship; Prehospital Emergency Medicine; Tactical Medicine; Designated Infection Control Officer; Infection Control; Long-Term Care Infection Control in Flexible Endoscope Reprocessing; Critical Care Fundamentals; Healthcare Risk Management; Dental Infection Control; Healthcare Materials Management; Healthcare Value Analysis; Healthcare Management; Director of Nursing in Post-Acute Care and Infection Prevention and Control; Value Analysis Specialist, awarded by the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals; and Certified Materials & Resource Professional certification, granted by the American Hospital Association. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, Dr. Garrett Jr. established Community Health Associates in 2005 to bring healthcare professionals lifesaving emergency care and safety training. He explained that in the last few years, the company's scope has dramatically increased, and it now partners with medical and pharma partners to clinically innovate people, processes, and products. The primary service the company offers is consulting to the healthcare industry, including providers, leaders, medical device companies, pharmaceutical companies, and others. He has been in his current position since 2008 and has served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Louisville School of Medicine since January 2018. He was also named Professor of Emergency Medical Services and Allied Health at the Phoenix Institute in 2023. A consummate professional, Dr. Garrett Jr. maintains affiliations with more than 75 professional organizations including the Neurocritical Care Society; the Society of Critical Care Medicine; the American College of Physicians, and the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, Inc. He has also achieved the status of Fellow in prestigious organizations such as the American College of Healthcare Executives; the American College of Health Care Executives; the Infectious Diseases Society of America; and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Dr. Garrett Jr. is also an academic author who has published many peer-reviewed articles, including a paper titled "The Hopeful End of the Pandemic, and the Beginning of the Endemic" in Healthcare Hygiene Magazine; and "Knowledge and confidence gains after a COVID-19 vaccine continuing education program developed for nurse practitioners" in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. His favorite publication is the Harvard Business Review and he has been recognized with many awards, including the Above and Beyond Impact Award; and the Honorary Lifetime Member Award from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration/LTC. When considering his extraordinary success, Dr. Garrett Jr. asserts that he takes immense pride in the significant impact on healthcare he has had. He believes the keys to his success lie in his strategic approach; steadfast commitment to avoiding silos; fostering collaboration and integration across various domains; and his dedication to lifelong learning and leadership development. Looking to the future, he said that his goal is to continue to expand his various brands which reach thousands of healthcare professionals, executives, and leaders across the world. Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Garrett Jr. enjoys vacationing in Destin, Florida. SOURCE The Inner Circle CHICAGO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketsandMarkets has released 360 Quadrant for Top 14 Methanol Companies, Worldwide 2023 to help businesses make quicker and more informed decisions. Companies' market presence and product footprint are used to build quadrants, which will be revised annually. According to projections, the methanol market would increase from USD 309 billion in 2023 to USD 380 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 4.2% during that period. The availability of methanol refueling infrastructure, government fuel standards and regulations, and laws governing emissions all have an effect on the demand for methanol in automotive applications. Methanol is more and more in demand from the building and automobile industries. When compared to other fuels, methanol exhibits comparable efficiency in automobile and aviation engines. Methanol and methanol blends were first employed in the car sector in China. Biodiesel and MTBE, a gasoline derivative, are both produced using methanol. Methanol is used to make the chemical formaldehyde, which is utilized to make a variety of building materials. Download PDF Sample @ https://www.360quadrants.com/chemicals/methanol-market Unveiling the Market Leaders: Honoring Excellence in Methanol Markets Methanex Corporation Methanol is produced and supplied by Methanex Corporation. Asia Pacific , North America , Europe , and South America are all parts of the company's vast worldwide supply chain and distribution network, which also includes terminals and storage facilities. The yearly operating capacity of Methanex Corporation is 9.2 million tons, which comprises Methanex's stakes in jointly owned plants in Canada , the US, Trinidad , Chile , Egypt , and New Zealand . The company's main goal is to add value by taking the lead in the global manufacturing, marketing, and customer delivery of methanol. It has a clearly defined strategy of low cost, operational excellence, and global leadership. Methanol is produced and supplied by Methanex Corporation. , , , and are all parts of the company's vast worldwide supply chain and distribution network, which also includes terminals and storage facilities. The yearly operating capacity of Methanex Corporation is 9.2 million tons, which comprises Methanex's stakes in jointly owned plants in , the US, , , , and . The company's main goal is to add value by taking the lead in the global manufacturing, marketing, and customer delivery of methanol. It has a clearly defined strategy of low cost, operational excellence, and global leadership. Valenz (Helm Proman) Helm Proman Methanol changed its name to Valenz in 2023 in response to the sharp increase in methanol demand and the substance's expanding promise as a cleaner fuel in a world with fewer emissions. Wollerau, Switzerland serves as the company's main office, and Houston, Texas , and Singapore serve as its other two key locations. Helm Proman Methanol changed its name to Valenz in 2023 in response to the sharp increase in methanol demand and the substance's expanding promise as a cleaner fuel in a world with fewer emissions. Wollerau, serves as the company's main office, and , and serve as its other two key locations. Methanol AG Methanol is produced and distributed globally by HELM Proman Methanol AG. It is a partnership between HELM AG, Proman, SCC, and its affiliates. More than 10 million metric tons of production capacity are installed annually for the company. It is active in a number of nations in Europe , the Americas, Asia , and Africa . The corporation also oversees and runs production facilities in the US, Trinidad and Tobago , Germany , Oman , Argentina , and Oman . Methanol is produced and distributed globally by HELM Proman Methanol AG. It is a partnership between HELM AG, Proman, SCC, and its affiliates. More than 10 million metric tons of production capacity are installed annually for the company. It is active in a number of nations in , the Americas, , and . The corporation also oversees and runs production facilities in the US, , , , , and . SABlC , which is the third-largest participant in the methanol market, produces, markets, and distributes petrochemicals, polymers and plastics, and agricultural nutrients. The business operates 68 manufacturing facilities and 20 technological hubs in more than 100 nations. It has 9,946 patents in its portfolio. Customer focus, market focus, operational excellence, innovation and technology, portfolio management, transformation, localization engine, and environmental, social, and governance are the eight areas on which the company's strategic goals are centered. , which is the third-largest participant in the methanol market, produces, markets, and distributes petrochemicals, polymers and plastics, and agricultural nutrients. The business operates 68 manufacturing facilities and 20 technological hubs in more than 100 nations. It has 9,946 patents in its portfolio. Customer focus, market focus, operational excellence, innovation and technology, portfolio management, transformation, localization engine, and environmental, social, and governance are the eight areas on which the company's strategic goals are centered. Yankuang Energy Group Company Limited Chinese company, the fourth-largest player in the methanol industry, has an edge in terms of location and accessibility. In the marketplaces of South China , East China, and Northeast Asia , it faces fierce competition. Chinese company, the fourth-largest player in the methanol industry, has an edge in terms of location and accessibility. In the marketplaces of , East China, and , it faces fierce competition. Zagros Petrochemical Company Methanol is shipped around the world by Zagros Petrochemical Company. The business owns a number of ocean-going ships with specialized chemical tankers for sending chemicals in a variety of quantities to locations in the Asia Pacific , North Africa , and Eastern, Western, and North-Western Europe. In Iran's Asaluyeh, the business has two plants with a combined annual production capacity of 1,650,000 tons. Access Research Report @ https://www.360quadrants.com/chemicals/methanol-market Categorization Of Methanol Companies On 360 Quadrants Methanol Companies' evaluation was conducted for 50 companies, of which the top 14 were categorized and placed in a quadrant under Market Leaders, Contenders, Innovators, and Emerging Companies. All the companies in the market leader segment demonstrated strong offerings and the ability to influence the market's direction with their deep expertise. These companies include Methanex, Valenz(Helm Proman), SABIC, Yankuang(Yanzhou Coal), and Zagros. OCI NV and Petronas have been recognized as contenders in the methanol quadrant. The contenders are companies with a strong market presence, excelling in specific niches. While not offering the full range of market leaders, they wield significant influence and impact. These companies focus on specific technologies and aim to establish leadership within their chosen segment. In the quadrant, innovators are highly innovative companies with a strong product portfolio, but a smaller market presence compared to leaders. They push industry boundaries with forward-thinking approaches and have the potential to become major players despite lower corporate growth strategies. Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and BASF Methanol have been identified as the innovators in the quadrant. The 360 Quadrants effectively evaluates emerging companies in the Methanol industry. They focus on specific areas and offer specialized knowledge, targeted support, flexible terms, and competitive prices. While they may have limited capabilities, they are preferred for specific use cases. These companies employ strategies to expand sales and reach a broader client base. This segment of the quadrant has identified Mitsui, Celanese, Lyondellbasell, Sipchem and Metafrax as emerging companies. Evaluation Criteria The vendor evaluation was conducted on over 50 companies of which the top 14 were categorized and recognized as the quadrant leaders. Factors such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, channels of demand, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Methanol quadrant. While the top criteria for product footprint evaluation included Methanol Market by Feedstock (Natural Gas and Coal), Derivative (Formaldehyde, MTO/MTP, Gasoline, MTBE, MMA, Acetic Acid, DME and Biodiesel), Sub-Derivative and End-User Industry. Claim Your Free Marketing Kit @ https://www.360quadrants.com/chemicals/methanol-market 360 Quadrants Scoring Methodology 360 Quadrants employs a comprehensive and transparent scoring methodology to evaluate companies. It identifies relevant evaluation criteria, collects, and validates data from multiple sources, and employs an algorithm that considers parameter weights to generate scores. Normalization ensures fair comparisons, and the aggregated scores categorize solutions into quadrants such as Market Leaders, Contenders, Innovators, and Emerging Companies. This unbiased approach equips users with accurate information, empowering them to make well-informed decisions and select solutions that best suit their needs and objectives. See Also: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research and facilitates analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. 360 Quadrants will also be launching 100 quadrants in Chemicals and Materials, Packaging, Energy & Power, and Healthcare. Visit https://www.360quadrants.com to access our interactive quadrants. For media inquiries, please contact: Mr. Agney Sugla MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road, Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, August 4, 2023, TradeZero USA Inc., a subsidiary of TradeZero Holding Corp. ("TradeZero") which operates broker-dealer subsidiaries in the United States, the Bahamas and Canada providing next-generation online trading platforms for active retail traders, completed its acquisition of Koonce Securities LLC ("Koonce Securities"). The acquisition will enable Koonce Securities to clear securities trades for the TradeZero group of broker dealers. "The Koonce acquisition will eventually allow the TradeZero broker dealers to receive dedicated treatment and service from our in-house clearing team, resulting in a better client experience for end user TradeZero clients," stated Daniel Pipitone, CEO of TradeZero Holding Corp. The Koonce acquisition will eventually allow the TradeZero broker dealers to receive dedicated treatment and service... Post this TradeZero was founded in 2015 by a team that leveraged decades of collective operating and trading experience to build a next-generation trading platform tailored to the needs of the ever-growing community of active retail traders. Through its broker dealer subsidiaries, TradeZero offers retail traders commission-free stock trading and direct market center access to U.S. equities and equity options trading. Active retail traders choose the TradeZero for its suite of advanced desktop, web-based and mobile platforms; professional-grade market access; sophisticated trading tools; and 24x7 live customer service. TradeZero also offers robust short selling capability with its proprietary, patent pending Short Locate Services, which allow clients to source locates and pre-borrows in non-easy to borrow securities. In 2020, 2021, and 2022, TradeZero was named Best Broker for Short Selling by the Benzinga Global Fintech Awards. TradeZero also offers extended trading hours of 4 am to 8 pm ET. About TradeZero TradeZero Holding Corp. owns TradeZero America, Inc., a U.S. broker-dealer that is a member of The New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Arca, Inc., NYSE American LLC, Nasdaq, Nasdaq BX, Cboe EDGX Exchange, Inc. and FINRA. TradeZero Holding Corp. also owns TradeZero Canada Securities ULC, a CIRO registered dealer in Ontario and TradeZero, Inc., a Bahamas based broker-dealer registered with the SCB. TradeZero's innovative features and capabilities for stock shorting accommodate all types of retail traders, especially the active trader. Visit https://www.tradezero.com for more information. SOURCE TradeZero USA Inc. LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UCL Financial Group is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking a historic achievement for the Memphis-based agency. Throughout its history, the UCL Financial Group has had an impact on its clients' lives and continues as a business that can be reliable for generations. From working with farmers in the Mississippi Delta during the Great Depression to helping 21st century entrepreneurs, UCL Financial Group continues to prioritize their clients above all. "It starts with a relationship. It's the unwavering focus on knowing who you serve. We serve the client," said Bob Brown, partner and financial advisor with the agency. "We work with others who embrace that philosophy such as Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and United Wealth Advisors Group, LLC (UWAG). We are dedicated to client-focused outcomes and that vision has been our guide for over 100 years." UCL Financial Group is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking a historic achievement for the agency. Post this Beginning as an agency with Union Central Life Insurance Company, UCL Financial Group has been a source of industry leaders with regards to the financial and insurance services sector. "We have been the cradle of leadership in the industry, and it is something that continues today," says Brown. Many past leaders of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and other major organizations have come from this agency and from Memphis, highlighting the influence the agency and region has had on the industry. The late Lester Rosen, an industry icon, spent his entire career with Union Central and UCL Financial Group. Bob Brown recalls that he "was Lester's paper boy as a kid. Lester embodied everything that UCL Financial Group is." The Lester A. Rosen Humanitarian and Achievement Award was created by Ameritas as an annual recognition bestowed upon upstanding professionals in the industry. The recipient of this award demonstrates the philanthropic and humanitarian spirit Rosen embodied. As UCL Financial Group ushers in this new century of business, Bob Brown adds "we are proud of our history and look forward to the next 100 years continuing to live up to our slogan of being reliable for generations." About UCL Financial Group UCL Financial Group is a full-service financial services firm committed to helping individuals & businesses improve their long-term financial success. Our firm has been in the Memphis area for over 100 years and has a legacy of leadership not only in the Memphis area, but on a national level in the insurance industry. About Ameritas Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; and retirement plans. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC), Member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through affiliate Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC (AAS). AIC and AAS are not affiliated with UCL Financial Group or UWAG. For more information, visit ameritas.com. Contact: Derek Rayment, Sr. Media Relations Specialist Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. Phone: 402-467-7850 [email protected] SOURCE Ameritas The Company will build a Scope 3 emissions reduction roadmap, targeting net-zero emission by 2050, outside of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) scope, while still being committed to existing near-term Scope 1 and Scope 2 goals. DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions Inc. ("Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, today announced an update to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) journey in regard to its alignment with net-zero emissions target setting. While remaining committed to our Scope 1 and Scope 2 targets, Univar Solutions will measure Scope 3 emissions reduction goals outside of the SBTi scope, opting to instead build a robust roadmap through close collaboration with its supply chain. The Scope 3 roadmap and in-development near-term goal will be published on the Univar Solutions ESG website and updated through the annual ESG report, ensuring credibility, and transparency as well as industry comparability. "We look forward to working even closer within industry to progress our collective climate action commitments." - Jen McIntyre Post this Univar Solutions Provides Science Based Targets Initiative Update "As a company with a value where 'We Do What We Say', this next step in our journey was necessary to better focus our efforts on climate action and emissions reduction in a way that enables us to partner with our suppliers on their emission reduction journeys," said Jen McIntyre, chief people & culture officer and executive ESG lead at Univar Solutions. "We look forward to working even closer within industry to progress our collective climate action commitments." Originally announced in 2019, Univar Solutions will continue its pledge to the 'Business Ambition for 1.5C' campaign supported by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), of which the company is a signatory member. Through its pledge to the campaign, the Company had set a target to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050, in support of the campaign's goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. "With ~95 percent of our combined emissions being associated with the products and services we source, our ability to reduce our Scope 3 and total emissions is heavily weighted by the actions of our suppliers and our ability to work with others to drive lower emissions," said Liam McCarroll, global sustainability director for Univar Solutions. "Building a roadmap with our supply chain partners will allow us to achieve challenging yet impactful targets as we continue our push to reach net carbon neutrality by 2050." For more information about Univar Solutions' progress to a more sustainable future, please visit: https://www.univarsolutions.com/sustainability About Univar Solutions Univar Solutions is a leading global specialty chemical and ingredient distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world's leading producers. With the industry's largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, the Company is well-positioned to offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries, and applications. While fulfilling its purpose to help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe, Univar Solutions is committed to helping customers and suppliers innovate and focus on Growing Together. Learn more at univarsolutions.com. Forward-Looking Statements and Information This communication contains "forward-looking statements" under applicable law regarding financial and operating items relating to the Company's business. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or other comparable terms. All forward-looking statements made in this communication are qualified by this cautionary language. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond the Company's control, that could result in expectations not being realized or could otherwise materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Although the forward-looking statements are based on what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, we caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this communication is not a guarantee of future events or results, and that actual events or results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this communication. For additional information regarding factors that could affect the Company, please see the Company's most recent annual report and other financial reports, including the information set forth under the caption "Risk Factors." Any forward-looking statements represent the Company's views only as of the date of this communication and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any subsequent date, and the Company undertakes no obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update any forward-looking statement. SOURCE Univar Solutions Inc. WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in empowering informed decisions through news, rankings and advice, is pleased to announce that Dafna Linzer has joined the company as its editorial director and executive vice president. In this role, Linzer will be responsible for editorial and business strategies that further engage consumers, increase synergy between editorial products, and elevate the company's brand. Linzer has spent much of the last two decades as a reporter, editor and news executive leading coverage of Washington, politics and policy, national security and diplomacy at a number of decorated institutions including The Washington Post, NBC News and POLITICO. While at POLITICO, Linzer oversaw publication of the Dobbs draft opinion and led the publication's 2022 award-winning series on the Supreme Court. Linzer's journalism has garnered many accolades. Her work on race disparities in presidential pardons which resulted in a book she co-authored, Shades of Mercy led to clemency and pardons for two of the featured subjects and was recognized by the American Bar Association. In addition, Linzer's reporting on Guantanamo during the Obama presidency was honored by the Overseas Press Club. Linzer also has deep experience in foreign policy, having served as a correspondent and senior editor for The Associated Press for nearly a decade, reporting from more than a dozen countries across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. "Dafna's esteemed news leadership and understanding of Washington politics will be essential for the continued evolution of U.S. News," said Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO. "Consumers have relied on our trustworthy journalism to help make their important life decisions for the last 90 years. As we look to build upon the services and information we provide to them, Dafna's varied and deep experiences in journalism and the products, partnerships and events that support quality content will serve to truly enhance our readers' journeys." "I am thrilled to join U.S. News and an environment that is committed to rigorous journalism," said Linzer. "U.S. News' storied history and commitment to providing balanced, data-driven news and service journalism, led by such talented editorial and business teams, is indispensable in today's media landscape." With this appointment, Brian Kelly will serve as editor-at-large and executive vice president, creating strategic partnerships locally and globally. The role is based in New York. About U.S. News & World Report U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P. DETROIT, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vehya , the leading marketplace dedicated to assisting individuals and businesses in achieving their goals through the sales, installation, and servicing of electrification products, officially announces its entry into the European market. Vehya Expands Operations to Europe. William McCoy CEO of Vehya signing docs of incorporation in Amsterdam. Vehya is at the forefront of simplifying the transition to electrification in Europe with its innovative marketplace. Vehya's marketplace offers a comprehensive selection of electrification solutions such as EV chargers, solar, and battery storage, making it easy for businesses and individuals to access the tools they need to embrace clean energy practices. Whether it's electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, or energy-efficient appliances, Vehya provides a one-stop-shop that streamlines the adoption of electrification technologies. Vehya's strategic placement of its new headquarters in Amsterdam positions the company favorably to drive this shift, particularly in Europe's swiftly expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. Supported by the Russell Advocate Office and a dedicated commitment to expedite the embrace of clean energy, Vehya stands ready to assume a leading role in advancing sustainability and environmental responsibility throughout the continent. "We are very excited about our entrance into Europe. The Netherlands has set an amazing goal of 100% EV sales rate by 2030. Their current new sales of EVs are one of the most accelerated outside of Norway. This is representative of Europe's market adoption rate in general. So Vehya's marketplace solution in the Netherlands provides us the ability to support current Auto and EVSE partnerships in the region and create new ones," explains William McCoy , CEO of Vehya. The EV market is certainly alive and well in Europe. Recent data shows a remarkable 25% year-over-year surge in plug-in vehicle registrations in Europe, with April recording 197,000 new registrations. These EVs now constitute a substantial 21% of the European auto market, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for 13% of this share. BEVs also experienced an impressive 50% year-over-year growth in April. Pure electric vehicles now overwhelmingly dominate Europe, representing 64% of plug-in registrations. In June 2022, the European Parliament took a groundbreaking step, mandating that all new cars and vans sold within the European Union must be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 . This promising move comes amidst the electric mobility market's meteoric rise, projected to reach an estimated 906.7 billion U.S. dollars globally by 2028. Between 2021 and 2022, the European plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market experienced a notable 15% year-over-year increase. Europe boasts the second-largest electric vehicle market globally, trailing only China and surpassing the United States. Several European nations are swiftly implementing policies aimed at phasing out non-electric vehicles by 2035 . Norway stands out as a notable example, with an astonishing 54% of new vehicle sales in 2020 being fully battery-powered vehicles, largely due to the effectiveness of tax incentives. Vehya's move into the European market is happening at a pivotal moment, coinciding with the continent's rapid shift towards more eco-friendly transportation. Vehya's goals perfectly match Europe's dedication to cleaner and more environmentally friendly mobility options. The company is proud to be a key player in driving this transformative shift forward. For media inquiries, please contact: Daniela Garcia +1 (313) 284-3590 [email protected] SOURCE Vehya Inc. Agreed transaction will provide Wheel Pros with liquidity and reduce total debt to strengthen its financial profile DENVER, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wheel Pros, Inc. ("Wheel Pros" or the "Company") today announced that it reached an agreement with a majority of its lenders for a comprehensive transaction that includes a "new money" term loan, a refinancing and/or exchange of existing debt and a maturity extension of its ABL facility, the result of which will provide the Company with liquidity and reduce total debt. All existing lenders will be offered the opportunity to participate in the transaction. Wheel Pros is a leading vertically integrated omnichannel platform for aftermarket automotive enhancements across a wide range of vehicles with a portfolio of proprietary brands. The Company designs, manufactures and distributes custom wheels, tires, and other proprietary branded aftermarket vehicle enhancements for light trucks, SUVs, passenger cars and powersports. Wheel Pros operates across 16,500+ retailer relationships, 40+ distribution centers, 45+ retail locations, and approximately 2,300 employees globally. "We are excited about this outcome, as this transaction allows the Company to reduce total debt and fortify its balance sheet with additional cash to operate the business and continue delivering the best quality products and services to our customers," said Randy White, CEO, at Wheel Pros. "We would like to thank everyone involved for their continued partnership and agreement to execute this transaction, which we believe will allow us to continue developing Wheel Pros as the leading aftermarket platform for auto enthusiasts." Houlihan Lokey, Inc. served as an exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as exclusive legal advisor to the Company. PJT Partners, Inc. served as exclusive financial advisor and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP served as exclusive legal advisor to the ad hoc group of lenders. About Wheel Pros Founded in 1994, Wheel Pros serves the automotive enthusiast industry with a wide selection of vehicle enhancements from its portfolio of lifestyle brands, including Fuel-Off-Road, American Racing, KMC, Rotiform and Black Rhino. Utilizing its expanding global network of distribution centers spanning North America, Australia and Europe, Wheel Pros serves over 16,500 retailers and has a growing ecommerce presence to provide enthusiast consumers with access to the products they desire. More information is available at www.wheelpros.com. Media Contacts For Wheel Pros: Max Krapff Backbone Media 970.658.5252 ext. 1174 [email protected] SOURCE Wheel Pros MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the holiday season nears, travelers are gearing up to make bookings and reservations for one of the busiest travel times of the year. Yonder Travel Insurance advises travelers to purchase travel insurance early. The advantages include access to time-sensitive benefits like Cancel for Any Reason coverage, Pre-Existing Condition Waivers, and Travel Supplier Bankruptcy coverage. One of the key advantages of purchasing travel insurance early is the availability of Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) coverage. This benefit allows travelers to cancel their trip for reasons not typically covered by standard policies. However, CFAR coverage must be purchased within a specific time period of making your first trip payment or deposit. "CFAR offers the most flexible cancellation terms on the market and is still highly requested by many customers," says Terry Boynton, co-founder, and president of Yonder Travel Insurance. Pre-Existing Condition Waivers are another critical consideration for travelers with underlying health conditions. Most travel insurance policies exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions unless the policy is purchased within a specified window, typically within 14 days of the initial trip deposit. "You may also be required to insure all nonrefundable trip costs under your insurance and must be medically able to travel at the time of purchase," says Boynton. Travel Supplier Bankruptcy coverage is highly relevant in today's travel landscape, with companies facing financial challenges. If purchased soon after booking a trip, travelers can ensure they're covered if their airline, cruise line, or tour operator goes bankrupt. This saves them from potential financial loss and disruption of their travel plans. Life is unpredictable, and circumstances such as sudden illness, family emergencies, or adverse weather can force travelers to cancel or interrupt their trips. Purchasing travel insurance early can also protect travelers' trip costs from being forfeited, offering reimbursement for non-refundable expenses like airfare, accommodation, and tours. "Thousands of users on Yonder's site are getting quotes for time-sensitive benefits," says Boynton. "Yonder's filters, comparison tools, and friendly team of travel insurance experts make it easy to get your trip insured in just minutes." The experts at Yonder Travel Insurance have poured over hundreds of policies from the best travel insurance providers in the US to provide the best travel insurance recommendation for how YOU travel. Contact: Meagan Palmer, Marketing Director (952-358-6459) meagan@insureyonder.com SOURCE Yonder Travel Insurance NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientology Network's DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE, the weekly series providing a platform for independent filmmakers to air films on important social, cultural and environmental issues, presents the broadcast debut of Man In Red Bandana on September 11, 2023. DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE regularly airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Scientology Network. Man In Red Bandana retraces the final hours of a mysterious American hero who gave his life on 9/11 to save others. Post this Documentary Showcase presents an Inside Look at Man In Red Bandana with filmmaker Matthew J. Weiss Man In Red Bandana retraces the final hours of a mysterious American hero who gave his life in the South Tower on 9/11 to save others. Man In Red Bandana retraces the final hours of a mysterious American hero who gave his life in the South Tower on 9/11 to save others. Man In Red Bandana retraces the final hours of a mysterious American hero who gave his life in the South Tower on 9/11 to save others. Firsthand accounts from those he rescued speak of a man wearing a red bandana, the only clue that would lead to the reveal of his true identity: Welles Remy Crowther. Written and directed by Matthew J. Weiss and narrated by Gwyneth Paltrow, Man In Red Bandana documents the selfless courage and inspiring legacy of Welles Remy Crowther, a 24-year-old equities trader who worked on the 104th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Described by those he saved as a kind of guardian angel, Welles guided injured, disoriented and panic-stricken victims to safety via an escape route he had located. But instead of taking the opportunity to save himself, he climbed back up the stairway to rescue still more. Once his identity was discovered, his legend grew to include numerous honors, as well as recognition by President Obama at the dedication ceremony for the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Man In Red Bandana won the Humanitarian Award at the Rhode Island International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Niagara Falls International Film Festival. ABOUT MATTHEW J. WEISS Man In Red Bandana is Matthew J. Weiss's first full-length documentary and directorial debut. Additional credits by the New York-based attorney turned award-winning filmmaker include producing the feature film Vault and the documentary My Father Muhammad Ali. In an interview with Scientology Media Productions for DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE, Matthew said: "I made this film to encourage others to be better and to personify Welles's values. And now with this platform, literally thousands and thousands more people are going to be able to be inspired and impacted by Welles and his story. So I'm very grateful for this opportunity and super excited that it has been accepted on such a prestigious platform." ABOUT DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE Fundamental to Scientology is a humanitarian mission that extends to some 200 nations with programs for human rights, human decency, literacy, morality, drug prevention and disaster relief. For this reason, the Scientology Network provides a platform for independent filmmakers who embrace a vision of building a better world. DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASE debuts films weekly from award-winning Independent filmmakers whose goal is to improve society by raising awareness of social, cultural and environmental issues. For more information, visit Scientology.tv/docs. The Scientology Network debuted on March 12, 2018. Since launching, the Scientology Network has been viewed in over 240 countries and territories worldwide in 17 languages. Satisfying the curiosity of people about Scientology and Founder L. Ron Hubbard, the network takes viewers across six continents, spotlighting the everyday lives of Scientologists, showing the Church as a global organization, and presenting its social betterment programs that have touched the lives of millions worldwide. Scientology Network's innovative content has been recognized with more than 125 industry awards, including Tellys, Communitas and Hermes Creative Awards. Broadcast from Scientology Media Productions, the Church's global media center in Los Angeles, the Scientology Network is available on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse and can be streamed at Scientology.tv, on mobile apps and via the Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV platforms. SOURCE Church of Scientology International StenTech Invests in State-of-the-Art Laser LPKF Technology for its Mexico Operations Published: 11 September 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes DALLAS, TX StenTech Inc., the leading multinational SMT Printing Solutions company, is pleased to announce the installation of a brand-new, state-of-the-art laser system at its facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. This investment in the latest iteration of the StencilLaser G6080, manufactured by Germany-based LPKF Laser & Electronics, marks a significant milestone for the SMT industry in Mexico and underscores StenTech's commitment to its valued local customer base in Jalisco. The StencilLaser G6080 is a flagship laser system, renowned for its best-in-class technology, serving the most demanding stencil users in the SMT industry. The system features a custom carbon fiber architecture, ensuring superior positioning accuracy and sidewall quality while maximizing productivity. Capable of cutting both stainless steel and nickel stencils with material thicknesses ranging from 20 um to 1 mm (0.8 to 40 mil), this cutting-edge laser technology empowers StenTech to deliver exceptional stencil solutions that meet the highest industry standards. "We are excited to introduce the latest LPKF StencilLaser to our Mexico operations," said Brent Nolan, CEO of StenTech. "This cutting-edge laser system represents the newest and most advanced technology deployed in the country, reaffirming our dedication to providing our valued customers in Jalisco with the best solutions available in the market." LPKF's North American President, Stephan Schmidt, expressed his enthusiasm for the global partnership with StenTech, stating, "We truly value the collaboration with StenTech and its commitment to elevating quality standards in the SMT industry. The StencilLaser G6080 is a testament to the continuous pursuit of excellence shared by both companies." In addition to its latest investment in industry leading technology, StenTech's Guadalajara facility also offers an array of cutting-edge capabilities, including Advanced Nano Coating, tooling solutions, and unparalleled customer service. The combination of these advanced offerings positions StenTech as a trusted partner for the most demanding stencil projects, meeting the unique needs of its customers across various industries. StenTech's continued commitment to deploying LPKF technology ensures that its customers benefit from the most innovative and reliable stencil solutions in the market. The investment in the StencilLaser G6080 further strengthens StenTech's position as the leader in the stencil industry, dedicated to delivering superior quality and customer satisfaction. Watch and share the video, visit: https://www.stentech.media/tech To learn more, visit www.StenTech.com If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Kanpur, Sep 11 : Distressed over the alleged grabbing of his agricultural land, a farmer committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur. Police have booked six persons on charges of abetment to suicide and cheating on a complaint filed by the wife of the deceased on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Babu Singh Yadav, a resident of Chakeri in Kanpur. In his suicide note addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Babu has accused a local BJP leader and his aides of grabbing his land. He alleged that BJP leader Priya Ranjan Diwakar had grabbed his 6.5 bigha agricultural land by giving him a bogus cheque of Rs 6.29 crore. "When I complained to the police, they did not listen. Hurt by this injustice, I am committing suicide. If possible, please get justice for my children," Babu wrote in the note. "Honourable Yogi ji, my complaint is that in your state, your own party members do not follow your own laws," the note read. The police complaint was filed by Babu's widow Bittan at Chakeri police station. A case has been registered against Priya Ranjan Diwakar, his nephew Jitendra, driver Bablu, Noida businessman Rahul Jain, Madhur Pandey and Shivam Singh Chauhan, said Chakeri police station in-charge Ashok Dubey. "We have recovered the suicide note from the railway track where Babu died. Further action will be taken on the basis of the probe," said Dubey. Maharajganj, Sep 11 : Five policemen, including a sub-inspector, have been suspended and 14 others have been sent to the police line in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj for "negligence" in a rape and murder case against a local BJP leader. The action came after accused BJP leader Masoom Raza Rahi, the district president of the BJP's minority morcha, went absconding. Superintendent of Police (SP) Kaustubh said that police outpost in-charge Sadar Praveen Singh, constables Abid Ali, Akhilesh Yadav, Akhilesh Chaudhary and Priyanka Singh have been suspended for alleged negligence and mishandling the case. He added that 14 policemen, including the SHO, have been sent to the police line for the same. A case was lodged on September 5 against Rahi for the alleged rape of a 17-year-old Dalit girl and killing of her father. The accused was detained following the FIR. However, he was allowed to go after the victim retracted the rape allegations in her statements before a magistrate on September 6. The SP said that Rahi has been missing since September 7 even though the case against him, which also includes a murder charge, is still under investigation. He added that police have formed a team to arrest the accused and investigations into the matter are underway. In her complaint to police, the girl alleged that the BJP leader raped her on August 28 and when her father, Raju, protested on seeing the incident, the accused thrashed him, grievously injuring him. The father of the girl subsequently died during treatment. The complainant said that after her mother's death, she lived in Rahi's house as a tenant along with her father, three sisters and a younger brother. Based on her complaint, an FIR under sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC as well as under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against the BJP leader. Khartoum, Sep 11 : At least 40 civilians were killed and dozens injured in an airstrike "carried out by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)" on a market in southern Khartoum, a volunteer group has said. However, the SAF has denied responsibility for the attack. The resistance committee of South Khartoum said in a statement on Sunday that "40 civilians were killed in an air strike by the SAF warplanes on a market in Mayo area, south of Khartoum", Xinhua news agency reported. The committee also published photos showing large numbers of injured and corpses covered with cloths. On the same day, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) also accused the SAF of shelling civilian neighbourhoods in the Mayo area. "The SAF carried out aerial bombardments this morning on residents in Mayo neighbourhood," the RSF said in a statement, adding dozens of injuries were transferred to the nearby hospital. The SAF, however, rejected the rebel militia's claims as misleading and false, saying it had never targeted any civilian gatherings, according to a statement by its spokesman's office. "The armed forces confirm that they only launch their strikes against rebel gatherings, crowds, sites and bases as legitimate military targets, while fully adhering to international humanitarian law and the rules of engagement as a professional army, far from innocent citizens," said the statement. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which have left at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. Sam Bankman-Frieds Legal Team Seeks Pre-Trial Release Due to Poor Prison Internet Source: Video Screenshot, YouTube / CBS News Sam Bankman-Frieds legal team has once again requested a pre-trial release for their client due to poor internet access in the federal jail. In a filing submitted to a federal judge on Friday, Bankman-Frieds lawyers argued that their client does not have access to adequate internet access to review documents as part of his defense. The lawyers claimed that they have lost time to effectively prepare for trial due to conditions at the jail that hamper the defenses preparations. According to his lawyers, the government assured them that SBF would have access to a laptop on weekdays from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m., but those hours have not been granted in practice. In one instance on September 1, Bankman-Fried was called back to his cell at 2:30 p.m. for a headcount, costing him four hours of preparation. In another instance on September 6, the lawyers said SBF was not released from his cell until 11 a.m. They also claimed that SBF could hardly access the internet and lost more time just trying to upload a single document to their database for discovery material. Despite the governments efforts, there does not appear to be a way to solve the internet access problem in the cellblock. The defendant cannot prepare for trial with these kinds of limitations, wrote SBFs lawyers. Bankman-Frieds Defense Preparation Becomes Hard The defenses preparation has proven to be a logistical nightmare due to the sheer volume of material in the FTX case. On August 28, federal prosecutors shared approximately four million pages in documents, a load the defense lamented would be too much to review, even if they had unlimited review time ahead of the first expected trial on October 3. Initially, Bankman-Fried was allowed to prepare for his defense from his parents home in Palo Alto, California, albeit with some restrictions on his internet access. However, he was taken into custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Manhattan on August 11 over concerns about possible witness tampering. In late August, his lawyers asked for a temporary release from jail in order to work on his defense with his lawyers at the federal courthouse in Manhattan. They cited poor internet connectivity and limited battery life as significant hindrances to their efforts, emphasizing the need for his release from jail for effective defense preparation. However, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York declined to grant the release during a hearing. The lawyers once again filed a request for pre-trial release on September 5, citing various obstacles created by conditions in the correctional facility. In response, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) claimed that the disgraced founder of FTX has sufficient access to a laptop computer for his defense. The prosecutors claimed that the internet speed fluctuated between 7.5 megabits per second (Mbps) and 34 Mbps throughout the day, adding that it is sufficient for most internet-related review activities. Honolulu, Sep 11 : After a lengthy period of elevated seismic activity, Hawaii's Kilauea volcano has started erupting again at the summit crater, prompting the the US Geological Survey (USGS) to elevate the alert level to warning. The eruption started at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) said, adding that there was no immediate danger from the eruption to downslope communities, reports the Hawaii News Now. Lava was remaining along a dropped down block of the caldera and the edge of Halemaumau crater, but authorities stressed that hazards were being assessed and the eruption was "dynamic". "HVO will continue to monitor this activity closely and report any significant changes in future notices," Hawaii News Now quoted officials as saying. They added that all activity was confined to Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. Webcam images showed fountains of lava shooting into the air. Kilauea is the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. It is also one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Mainpuri, Sep 11 : Four policemen have been suspended for allegedly stripping a 30-year-old man and brutally beating him at a police outpost in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri. The cops had allegedly demanded ransom from Adesh Katheria's family for his release. Superintendent of Police (SP) (Mainpuri) Vinod Kumar had ordered a probe after the family posted their complaint on social media and tagged the DGP's office. DSP, Sunil Kumar, who was tasked with the investigation, found a sub-inspector posted as in-charge of Naviganj outpost, and three constables guilty of "misconduct". Based on the probe report, the SP issued orders for their "suspension". SP Vinod Kumar said, "Proceedings related to departmental action have been initiated." Adesh, a resident of Nayiganj under Bhogaon police limits, and others were involved in a neighbourhood brawl. Police detained four persons, including Adesh, on August 26. In the complaint, Adesh's family alleged, "Cops demanded Rs 40,000 for his release. Unable to pay, he was stripped naked and beaten with belts and sticks at the police outpost." New Delhi: World leaders during the closing session of the G20 Summit 2023 on 'One Future'. Image Source: IANS News Washington, Sep 11 : A US think tank said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has delivered practically everything he wanted at the just-concluded G20 Summit in New Delhi, albeit with compromises that primarily includes a joint declaration not mentioning Russia in the war in Ukraine, admitting African Union as a permanent member and sustained efforts to deal with climate change -- no hard commitments in phasing out fossil fuels. The Washington D.C.-based Atlantic Council, a non-partisan organisation that galvanises US leadership and engagement in the world in partnership with allies shaping solutions to global challenges, said theG20 Summit, even without the Chinese and Russian Presidents, has delivered practically everything Modi had wanted. Hailing Modi's diplomatic skills aided by his foreign office team secured support for climate financing to assist developing countries (but no hard targets except extending the 2010 pledges by developed countries to transfer $100 billion a year to developing countries by 2025). The G20 also took on reforms to the multilateral development banks (MDB) to include climate financing in their core missions (no capital increases now but optimising the MDB balance sheets so they can lend $200 billion more over the next decade) and support for the improvement of the Common Framework for Debt Treatment to facilitate the restructuring of low-income countriesa debt. Hung Tran, a former deputy director of the IMF and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Councilas GeoEconomics Center, said the Common Framework still remains vague without a roadmap specifying a sequence and timeline of steps to be taken once a debtor country asks for a restructuring. He pointed out that the group adopted several concrete and potentially helpful initiatives such as mapping the global value chain to help countries identify risks, the digitalisation of trade documents to expedite trade transactions, and the development of public digital infrastructures to promote financial inclusion and productivity. Also notable is the launch of an India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor connected by railways and portsa"in direct competition with Chinaas Belt and Road Initiative, he said in a statement put up on the council's website today. Overall, the outcomes of the G20 Summit will bolster Indiaas claim to be the voice of the Global South -- being able to articulate the demands of developing countries and to engage in negotiations with developed countries to produce useful, if not spectacular, results. This is a good template for Brazil to take up the G20 presidency in 2024 and South Africa in 2025, Trang said. In a statement, the Atlantic Council said that in August, India had successfully landed its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon. "This weekend, at a futuristic convention center, in New Delhi that looks like a flying saucer, another landmark landing was achieved." The G20 nations approved an 83-paragraph leaders consensus covering issues ranging from plastic pollution to terrorism. While consensus among the worldas wealthiest countries is always difficult, and the absence of China's Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladmir Putin, lowered expectations of the outcomes. But Prime Minister Modi guided home the declaration, which welcomed the African Union as a new member to the group, among other important points. The G20 summit at Delhi saw India launching a new form of inclusive diplomacy, Kapil Sharma, the councilas senior director in charge of South Asia said. The lead-up to the Summit was fraught with the possibility of Putin and Xi not physically participating in the summit. Observers believed that their absence was a direct affront to India and would ultimately overshadow Indiaas presidency and its G20 objectives. But as the summit came to an end, it was clear that Indiaas objectives were not derailed, and three key themes emerged: consensus, inclusiveness, solutions. AsRussiaas war in Ukraine loomed large over Indiaas presidency dividing G20 countries, it was unclear as to how the ongoing invasion would be addressed and whether it would derail the agreement of a final communique. However, after 300 bilateral meetings, 200 hours of negotiations, and 15 drafts, Modi and his foreign office team brought a consensus to the table on the Russia-Ukraine paragraphs in the final G20 communique. While Russia has applauded the final draft, Ukraine fumed over the declaration. Ukraine was not invited to the summit. Inclusiveness:Indiaas positioning as the voice of the Global South, it shepherded the African Unionas inclusion as a permanent member of the G20. India also pushed for, and countries agreed to, major reforms at global institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The major initiative came from the US President Joe Biden who wanted the World Bank to raise additional funding from member countries to those in peril so that the endangered countries came out of the debt trap into which China had landed them with its coercive lending methods. The US is providing $18.5 as additional funding to the multilateral financing institution. India successfully promoted its Digital Public Infrastructure plan as an exportable tech solution for financial inclusion. While itas unclear whether other countries are capable of replicating Indiaas digital plan, it has found a niche that goes above and beyond simple capital financing, Sharma said. With more than 200 meetings in over 60 Indian cities, India was determined to make its presidency the pivot of representing marginalized voices and the Global South. While India was disappointed not to have Putin and Xi present, this G20 Summit was not about how diplomacy has been done, but rather how diplomacy can be done, Sharma said. In the end, Indiaas diplomacy demonstrated its ability to take on current geopolitical disagreements and represent those countries who have felt marginalised for decades. Rajahmundry : , Sep 11 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is remand prisoner number 7691 at the Rajahmundry Central Jail. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo was brought to the jail in the early hours of Monday after a court in Vijayawada sent him to judicial custody for 14 days in alleged skill development scam. The 73-year-old is lodged in a special room in aSnehaa block in the central prison. On the direction of the court, the jail authorities were providing him special amenities, including a special room, home-cooked food, medicines and sufficient security in view of threat perception. Naidu enjoys Z plus category security. However, the NSG commandos were not allowed inside the jail. The TDP leaderas lawyers have moved a petition in Vijayawada ACB court to permit house arrest in view of Z plus security. This petition along with the plea of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) for Naiduas police custody is likely to come up for hearing on Monday. Athens, Sep 11 : Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced the first package of relief measures for the massive floods that have so far killed 15 people, national broadcaster ERT reported. "The state will stand by the side of people with no delays," Xinhua news agency quoted Mitsotakis as saying on Sunday during his second visit to the flood-hit Thessaly region within three days. Procedures for the support of households and businesses will start on Monday and people who saw their homes, farms or fields submerged in mud waters will immediately receive financial aid to cover urgent needs, he said. Further compensations and funding to restore their properties and rebuild destroyed infrastructure will follow, he added. The storm dubbed "Daniel" lashed Greece for two days starting from September 4. The floodwaters started receding on September 7 evening. Entire villages in some areas can be approached only by boats and helicopters, and dozens of people receive food, water and medicines by drones, Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Sunday. A total of 4,486 people have been evacuated to safety since September 5, the Fire Brigade said on Sunday evening. More than 70,000 hectares of land were submerged by water and mud, according to estimates of the National Observatory of Athens. With thousands of farm animals drowned, the protection of public health is a top priority, Mitsotakis said. Authorities advised people to drink only bottled water and avoid contacting dead animals, as crews have started removing them. A large part of cultivations of the Thessaly plain, which is a key agricultural production area for Greece, was also washed away. According to experts and local producers, it will take up to five years to get back to normalcy and grow produce in fertile soil again. New Delhi, Sep 11 : Two persons were arrested at the Bengaluru Airport by the Customs officers for allegedly smuggling 2.8 kg gold worth Rs 1.20 crore, officials said on Monday. A senior customs official said that the accused were nabbed based on their profiling. The official said that the two arrived at the airport on September 9. "During the search, we recovered gold paste wrapped in insulation tapes concealed under their waist belt. On melting paste, 2.8 kg gold was recovered," said the official. The official further explained that the recovered gold was confiscated under the provisions of section 110 of the Customs Act. The passengers were arrested under section 104 of the Act. Both the passengers were produced before a local court which remanded them to 14 days of judicial custody. --IANSatk/dpb New Delhi, Sep 11 : A massive fire broke out at a plastic granules factory on Monday in the outer Delhi area, a fire department official said. According to the Director, Delhi Fire Service (DFS), Atul Garg, the call regarding the blaze at H Block, DSIDC in Bhorgarh was received at 6:10 a.m. "Total 15 fire tenders were rushed to the site. The flames have been doused and cooling operation is going on," said Garg. As per initial reports, the fire was in a plastic granules factory on the first and second floor of the three-storey building and no injuries have been reported. Washington, Sep 11 : A group of lawmakers, including Indian-American Pramila Jayapal, has introduced a Congressional resolution condemning hatred, xenophobia, and racism against South Asian, Sikh, Arab, Muslim and Mid-Eastern communities in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Introduced on September 9 ahead of the 22nd anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of the US, the resolution recognised the tragedy and put forward a series of recommendations to support those affected by the hateful profiling after the attack. "This day irrevocably changed our country and its impact is still felt. As we mark this tragic day, we must also reflect on the lasting damages faced by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the aftermath," Congresswoman Jayapal said. "The murders of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan, and Adel Karas in the days following the attack were shocking displays of hatred. Xenophobia and racism have no place in this country, and today we recognise the shared trauma that these communities faced as they experienced stigma, discrimination, and losses of liberty," she added. The resolution called for the creation of an interagency task force to work with community-based organisations to review government policies, investigate and document their impact, and dismantle those policies that continue to profile and unfairly target these communities. It also called for hearings by congressional and civil rights bodies to explore the findings and recommendations of this interagency task force in consultation with and centering community-based organisations. The resolution supported allocating resources to community-based organisations outside and independent of law enforcement that center the experiences and demands of these communities to both support hate crime prevention and the needs of victims of hate and state violence. "In the wake of these attacks... Muslim, Arab, Sikh and South Asian Americans across the country were viewed with suspicion, harassed, and even detained based solely on their identity," Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said, introducing the resolution along with Jayapal. "As we mark the anniversary of these horrific attacks, we must learn from these mistakes... This resolution is a critical first step to acknowledging these past harms and beginning to heal," Omar added. Creating alternatives to law enforcement and transformative justice programs that are culturally and linguistically accessible and focus on vulnerable populations within these communities were some of the other things the resolution called for. In addition, the resolution urged the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health, and the National Science Foundation to work together to study the impact of hate, government targeting, political rhetoric, and profiling on physical and mental health. The Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have long experienced discrimination and violence in the US, which reportedly intensified after the attacks. During the first month after the attack, community organisations documented 945 incidents of bias and hate against Americans perceived to be of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent. This climate of hate also led to bullying and violence in their everyday lives and in their workplaces, businesses, community centers, and houses of worship, the resolution said. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and immigration authorities arrested and detained as many as 1,200 Muslims immediately after the September 11 attack, and none of these "special interest" detained people were ultimately indicted for terrorist activity, the resolution stated. "This hate and government targeting impacted the ability of these communities to exercise their constitutionally protected rights including to organise, speak, travel, and worship freely. Along with Jayapal and Omar, representatives Rashida Tlaib, Judy Chu, Andre Carson, Shri Thanedar and Henry Calvin Johnson introduced the resolution. --IANS mi/ksk Potchefstroom, Sep 11 : South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the third ODI against Australia, scheduled for Tuesday at the JB Marks Oval, here. The 29-year-old left the field after bowling five overs during the second ODI in Bloemfontein on Saturday due to lower back spasms, a statement read. He returned to bat during the chase but still requires further assessment and will undergo scans in Johannesburg on Monday. An update will follow in due course, it added. New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice on Sweden-based professor of Indian-origin, Ashok Swain's plea challenging a fresh order issued by the Centre cancelling his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Swain moved the plea on the issue again after the high court on July 10 set aside the Centre's order cancelling the OCI Card of the faculty member of peace and conflict research at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Sweden's Uppsala University. Swain, observing that other than repeating Sections, no proper reason has been given in the order as to why his registration has been removed. The plea was listed before the bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad, who sought response of the Centre and listed the matter for hearing next on November 9. Swain has contended that he cannot be witch-hunted for his views on current government or its policies. He has said that despite specific and unequivocal directions of the court to pass a detailed order, the Embassy of India to Sweden & Latvia passed the fresh order in a "callous manner" by merely para-phrasing the provisions of law. "The Petitioner has an ailing mother aged about 78 years who is suffering from various medical ailments including Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and other age-related ailments. The Petitioner is the only son, and has not been to India in the past 3 years. Thus, there is an extreme urgency for him to visit India and attend to his ailing mother," the plea said. Swain has also said that he is a well-known academic and researcher, and that being an academician, he analyses and criticises certain policies of the present government. "He cannot be made to suffer for his views on the policies of the government. As a scholar it his role in the society to discuss and critique the policies of government through his work. The petitioner cannot be witch-hunted for his views on the political dispensation of the current government or their policies. "Criticism of certain policies of the government would not amount to being an inflammatory speech or an Anti-India activity," the plea added. Earlier, he had mentioned in his plea that his OCI card was cancelled in February 2022 as he criticised the current Indian government, adding that he has not delivered any inflammatory speech. An OCI card is issued to a foreign national of Indian origin, who is allowed to live and work in India for an indefinite period. "The respondents are directed to pass a detailed order giving the reason for exercising its power under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act. The impugned order is set aside. The respondents are directed to complete the exercise in a period of three weeks from today," the court had said. "This hardly is an order, doesn't give any reasonsThis hardly gives any indication of the application of mind on the matter. Pass a detailed order with reasons for cancellation," a single-judge bench of Justice Prasad had said as he perused the impugned order. "It is submitted that the petitioner has never engaged in any inflammatory speeches or Anti-India activities. As a scholar it is his role in society to discuss and criticise the policies of government through his work," Swain's petition read. "Being an Academician, he analyses and criticises certain policies of the present government, mere criticism of the policies of the current ruling dispensation shall not tantamount to anti-India activities under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955." --IANS spr/ksk After losing by a margin of just 27 votes four years ago, Page Higginbotham is making another run for Orange County commonwealths attorney against 2019 victor Diana OConnell. This time, he enters the arena with a pair of endorsements from a pair of high-ranking Republicans: Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and Del. Nick Freitas, who represents part of Orange County in the General Assembly. I hope these endorsements will show people that people in positions to know about law enforcement, particularly with the attorney generals office, believe that Im the right man for the job, Higginbotham told The Daily Progress. Im the right person to run for Orange County commonwealths attorneys office. Higginbotham, who despite the Republican backing is running as an independent, recently opened up his own law practice. But he said he will give that up if he wins in November, claiming that Orange County Office of the Commonwealths Attorney needs an injection of new blood. Four years ago I said that my opponent had been in office too long and she was no longer running her shop effectively, he said. She no longer seemed to have the drive to make sure everything was getting done correctly. Its his view that OConnells office is losing cases it should not lose. Everyone loses cases, but you shouldnt lose cases because youre unprepared, he said. The public has become more aware of that ,and Im more aware of what it takes to win. OConnell denied the accusation in a statement, defending her record and attacking Higginbothams. I have a 90% conviction rate. My opponent has tried 10 circuit court criminal cases in the last four years and won one, she told The Daily Progress in an email. I win cases, and he has no record to stand on. The last time these two squared off, the race was so close that Higginbotham asked for a recount. Come November, voters will have another chance to determine if theyre comfortable with OConnell and her conviction rate or if they have more faith in Higginbotham backed by his new endorsements. Asked for an explanation on his choice to make an endorsement in the race, Miyares office sent The Daily Progress the following statement: The AG was happy to join Delegate Nick Freitas in endorsing Page Higginbotham, after hearing countless complaints from victims about the current CA of Orange County. It was the same point that Higginbotham alluded to in an interview; in addition to what he called a broken relationship with law enforcement, he claims his opponents office is not doing enough to communicate with victims. Theres a duty to communicate with victims they represent, he said. Victims need to know that the people representing them care about them. Asked to be more specific about what he considers unforced errors, the candidate said that the current office sometimes doesnt provide the discovery that they owe to the defense attorney or doesnt have the witness list or plea agreement owed to the opposing side. Thats what I see on the regular as a defense attorney that practices in that court, he said. OConnell is standing by her conviction rate, playing down the potential impact of Miyares and Freitas siding with her opponent. This race is not about endorsements. It is about results, she wrote. It is about who has the successful record. The voters of Orange County understand this. Bengaluru, Sep 11 : The bandh call given by the Federation of Private Transporters in Karnataka on Monday against the free travel scheme for women -- the Shakthi scheme -- and also other demands, has evoked a good response across the state, especially in Bengaluru. More than 30 private transport organisations and farmersa associations have extended their support to the bandh call. Private buses, taxis, autos, and goods vehicles have remained off the roads, causing inconvenience to commuters. Many of the schools remained closed due to the protests in Bengaluru. As school buses, and private transport were not available, parents had to take their children to the schools themselves. The office-goers and public, who depended on taxis and autos to commute to places, had to walk or depend on government buses. The passengers travelling to Bengaluru International Airport were worst affected as most of them prefer to travel by taxis. A driver of a taxi, who was commuting a passenger to the Bengaluru airport was stopped, beaten up and spat upon by the protesters. They also hit him and the vehicles with eggs. The auto drivers, who were found taking people, were also waylaid and beaten up. The glass of the autos were broken and the vehicles damaged. The jurisdictional S.J. Park police in Bengaluru took three accused into custody in connection with an incident. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Transport Corporation (BMRCL) has increased the frequency of the trains. The gap between each train was reduced to 5 minutes from 10 minutes early morning as people thronged Metro stations in the absence of private transport. The private transporters are claiming that after the implementation of the free travel scheme, their business has dropped drastically. The unions had submitted a slew of demands to the Congress government earlier. The prominent demands included financial aid of Rs 10,000 for each driver and ban on bike taxis. --IANS mkia/dpb Patna, Sep 11 : An eight-year-old boy died after he was shot during celebratory firing in Bihar's Nalanda district, police said. On Sunday night, a party was organised in the house of one Kamlesh Paswan in Vishnupur village under the Manpur police station to celebrate a newborn baby. The minor victim, Uttam Kumar, was serving water to the guests during dinner when four drunk men came and started firing in the air, according to investigation. One of the bullets hit Uttam on his head, killing him on the spot. Although the accused managed to escape from the spot, two were detained later, while two remains at large. Following the incident, tthe villagers staged a protest and gave the names of the accused to the local police. "We have detained two of the accused and an investigation is underway. A firearm was also recovered from their possession. We are making efforts to arrest the rest," said the SHO of Manpur police station. "The body has been sent for the postmortem. An FIR of murder has been registered against the four accused," he said. New York, Sep 11 : Amid ongoing debate by countries to legalise psychedelic drugs, researchers in a new study discussed the therapeutic use of psychedelics -- focusing on the use of psilocybin for treatment of depression. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance found in so-called "magic mushrooms." Many recent clinical trials have reported positive effects of psilocybin in treating psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). However, many challenges remain in defining their clinical benefits and overcoming the complex regulatory obstacles to their use. "At a time of growing excitement regarding the potential use of psychedelic agents to improve outcomes of otherwise intractable disorders, psychiatrists and patients alike need perspective on the current state of the evidence and the prospects moving forward," said lead author Amir Garakani, from the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, in Connecticut, US. Evidence suggests that therapeutic responses to psilocybin "stem from, or at least go hand-in-hand with, an intense emotional or mystical experience," Garakani said in the paper published in the September issue of Journal of Psychiatric Practice. Studies suggest that psilocybin leads to increased "openness to experience" and psychological flexibility -- enabling patients to "reconsider stereotyped perspectives and move beyond accustomed patterns of thinking." Research into psilocybin's biological effects suggest increased activity between brain networks, without corresponding increases within single networks. Greater changes in brain network flexibility have been linked to lasting reductions in depression symptoms six months later. Clinical trial registries show a "multitude" of studies planned or in progress, targeting MDD, TRD, and other conditions such as cancer-related anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. "The large number and wide-ranging scope of ongoing and future psilocybin trials not only show the interest in this drug in the scientific community but also the potential therapeutic role of psychedelics across diagnoses and clinical domains," the researchers said. Overall, "psilocybin has demonstrated promise as a novel therapeutic and offers new perspectives on the function and dysfunction of the brain," to the researchers. However, they added: "(I)t remains to be seen if the current clinical, legal, and research landscapes will allow delivery on that promise." Earlier this year, Australia became the first country to announce approval for psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin treatment for TRD. In the US, psilocybin has been designated as a "breakthrough therapy" for TRD and MDD. While two states have legalised or decriminalised psilocybin (Oregon and Colorado, respectively), it remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law. An official American Psychiatric Association position states that there is "currently inadequate scientific evidence" to endorse the use of psychedelics for treatment of any psychiatric disorder, outside of approved research studies. Nevertheless, "the research evidence presented here offers further support for the potential of psychedelics in mental health care," Dr Garakani said. New Delhi, Sep 11 : A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Monday held that its earlier judgment striking down the immunity given to senior public officials against arrest in corruption cases will have retrospective application. The unanimous verdict, authored by Justice Vikram Nath, laid down that the struck down provision, which mandated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to obtain mandatory approval from Centre to arrest officers of the level of Joint Secretary and above who are booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was a part of the procedure only and did not constitute any new offence. The Constitution Bench, also comprising Justices S.K. Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, Abhay S. Oka and J.K. Maheshwari, said that Article 20 of the Constitution will have no bearing on its earlier decision reading down section 6A (1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. Article 20(1) of the Constitution provides that a person cannot be convicted of any offence except for violation of the law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence. In simple terms, it means that if an act is not an offence at the date of its commission, it cannot be an offence at a later date subsequent to its commission. In 2014, a five-judge Constitution Bench had struck down this section 6A (1) for offending the right to equality. The judgment did not explicitly lay down as to whether the decision of the Supreme Court will extend to those cases of corruption which were registered by the CBI against senior officials before the provision granting immunity was struck down. In 2016, a reference was made to a larger bench by a two-judge bench to examine if the judgment of the Supreme Court taking away the immunity given to officers of the level of Joint Secretary and above against arrest in relation to corruption charges will have retrospective application. Now, the Constitution Bench laid down that the Section 6A(1) of the Delhi Police Special Establishment Act, 1946 is held to be not in force from the very time it was inserted in the statute back in 2003. Kolkata, Sep 11 : The CBI on Monday approached the Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha challenging a lower court order for joint probe in letters of Kuntal Ghosh. Recently, a special court of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata ordered a joint probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI and Kolkata Police on Kuntal Ghosh's letters accusing the central agencies which he forwarded to the judge of the same special court as well as to a local police station. Now CBI has challenged that order of the special court in Calcutta High Court. In the petition CBI has argued when already central agencies like CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are investigating the matter of Kuntal Ghosh's letters following a clear order of the Calcutta High Court on this count, what was justification of the order of joint probe by the special court? Ghosh, an accused in the cash-for-school-job case, had charged the central agencies of pressurizing him to name Trinamool Congress' national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the case. CBI's petition has been admitted and the matter will come up for hearing on September 14 at the bench of Justice Sinha. CBI has already questionedthe superintendent of Presidency Central Correctional Home in Kolkata Debasish Chakraborty in connection with the "prisoner's petition" filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an expelled youth Trinamool Congress leader. The CBI sleuths questioned Chakraborty on whether proper procedures were followed and his approval was sought by Ghosh before making this "prisoner's petition". The central agency sleuths also sought information about the jail employee who performed the task of delivering the letters from Ghosh to the local police station and the office of the judge of the special court. UK not to call for release of British Sikh detained in India: Report. Image Source: IANS News London, Sep 11 : UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he raised the case of a Scottish Sikh detained in India since 2017 during his talks with counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, a BBC report said. While the UK Foreign Office ruled out intervening in the Jagtar Singh Johal's case on September 8, Sunak, under pressure to highlight the issue, said he raised it along with other consular issues. He did not provide details, but said: "The Foreign Office is continuing to provide support to Mr Johal's family and will continue to do so." In response to the development, campaigners for Johal said the UK government should declare Modi's response to Sunak on the issue, and that it is "meaningless" if the Prime Minister didn't call for "immediate release", the BBC reported on Sunday. "What did Rishi Sunak say to Narendra Modi about the case and how did he respond? Without answers to these questions, the prime minister's talk is meaningless," Maya Foa, Director of human rights group Reprieve, told the BBC. The UK Sikh Federation said Sunak had appeared "very reluctant" to press Johal's case since entering No 10, and "has demonstrated his weakness and lack of leadership by shamefully failing to stand up for the rights of a British citizen". "Rishi Sunak and his Foreign Office ministers are now talking utter nonsense in terms of Jagtar's best interests and justice. They appear scared and clueless on how best to apply diplomatic pressure on India and are leaving it to the corrupt Indian judicial system," Dabinderjit Singh, the principal adviser to the Sikh Federation, told the BBC. Sunak's action came after a group of more than 70 MPs called on him last week to urge Prime Minister Modi to secure the 36-year-old Sikh campaigner's "immediate release". En route New Delhi for the G20 Summit on September 9-10, Sunak, on being asked whether he would be raising the case, said that he would be "raising a range of things with Prime Minister Modi -- this (Johal's case) is something that, just so people are reassured, has already been raised on multiple levels on multiple occasions". Johal's brother Gurpreet Singh Johal, a lawyer and Labour councillor, said he is "pleased" that Sunak has raised the case with Modi but it is "not enough". "Raising (the case) is not enough unless he has called for Jagtar's release in line with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's findings. I fear that this is just more talk from the UK government and no action," Gurpreet told the BBC. Jagtar Singh Johal from Dumbarton was in Punjab for his wedding when he was arrested from Jalandhar on November 4, 2017, over his alleged role in killings by the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a banned terrorist organisation. His family claims that he was tortured, including through electric shocks, before being made to sign a blank confession document -- allegations that have been denied by the Indian authorities. In May 2022, the UN working group on arbitrary detention concluded that he had been arbitrarily detained and that his detention breached international human rights law. He is currently being held at the Tihar Jail in Delhi and faces a possible death penalty over eight charges of conspiracy to murder, linked to political violence in India. Denying all the charges against him, Jagtar Singh Johal says his arrest and trial are political. --IANS mi/ksk Ayodhya : , Sep 11 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will make all grand arrangements for the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, to be held from January 21 to January 23 next year. The management team will be led by senior RSS leaders Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and Dattatreya Hosabole. VHP international working president Alok Kumar, who is in Ayodhya, said that in the runup to the consecration ceremony, Bajrang Dal will take out Shaurya Yatras between September 30 and October 15. He said that before the consecration ceremony, Bajrang Dal will take out 2,281 Shaurya Yatras to connect with more than five lakh villages of the country. "During these yatras, religious meetings will also be organised on the routes. This great campaign of youth power will create unity and resolve in the form of social coordination in the Hindu society to face the internal and external challenges," he said. On that day of the consecration ceremony, he said 'puja', 'yagya' and 'aarti' will be performed in the monasteries and temples across the country. "Ram devotees in every house will light five lamps in the night and 'prasad' will also be distributed among crores of devotees," he said. Alok Kumar said the VHP plans to make the event a festival in which people living in India and abroad can participate. "During the Diwali fortnight, seers of the country will take out foot marches and hold meetings in villages and cities to mobilise people for the event. The collective power of our temples, maths, ascetics and priests will make the event memorable," the VHP chief said. All the VHP leaders present in the meeting decided to give this movement a comprehensive format. --IANSamita/dpb Noida, Sep 11 : A woman practising as lawyer at Delhi High Court was found dead inside her house in Sector 30, Noida on Sunday, police said. When the woman did not pick up the phone for two days, her brother feared something untoward might happen and informed the police. Thereafter, the woman's body was recovered from the bathroom by breaking four locks of the house. When the police searched the house on Sunday after the incident, the husband was found absconding. The police kept investigating this matter till late night and the husband's phone was also put on surveillance. The police finally found the woman's husband at 3:00 p.m. in the store room of the house. The husband was hiding in this store room. At present the husband is being interrogated. The 61-year-old woman, Renu Sinha, lived here with her husband Nitin Nath Sinha. His son lives in America, who comes to India -- once or twice a year, said the police. Renu's brother has alleged that his brother-in-law Nitin used to harass his sister. He suspects his brother-in-law might have killed his sister. According to the information received from the locals, there was often discord between the husband and wife and due to this, they used to fight. Despite living in the same house, the husband and wife lived separately. At present, the police are investigating the matter. Bengaluru, Sept 11 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made an appeal on Monday to the public stressing on the need to maintain hygiene at the house and surroundings in the backdrop of a spike in the number of dengue cases in Karnataka and state capital Bengaluru. "Across the state, in the recent past, more than 7,000 dengue cases have been reported. Among these, more than 4,000 dengue cases are reported in Bengaluru city alone," CM Siddaramaiah stated. "I have directed the concerned department officials to initiate all precautionary measures. The steps have already been taken to spray chemicals to contain the mosquito menace. The water clogging points will be identified and effective measures are taken to contain the disease," he explained. "I appeal to the public to give priority to the cleanliness of the surroundings of the house. Beware about mosquito bites. Do not fear dengue, be aware," Siddaramaiah stated. Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had stated last week that 4,427 dengue cases have been detected till date this year in Bengaluru alone, adding that the cases will now be monitored through an app developed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). In Bengaluru, 1,649 dengue cases were reported in July, 1,589 in August, while 416 cases have been reported till last week in September. The disease is spreading due to stagnant rainwater, To contain dengue surge in Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, the state government has inaugurated a disease surveillance dashboard and mobile application. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurated earlier the disease surveillance dashboard at the ARTPARK office in the premises of Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of Karnataka (DHFW-GoK) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have partnered with the AI and Robotics Technology Park at the Indian Institute of Science (ARTPARK@IISc) to develop predictive analytics and assist policymakers and public health officials in preparing for outbreaks and managing disease control activities, an official statement for state's health ministry said. The disease surveillance dashboard will provide a map of outbreaks across Karnataka at the district and sub-district levels along with case trends across years. Rajkot, Sep 11 : At least one person was killed and two others were injured on Monday after a decrepit crematoriumin Rajot while being dismantled suddenly collapsed, trapping the workers. The incident occurred at around 1 p.m. in Khirasara village, Lodhika taluka. The victim was identified as Dinesh Vagadiya ( 47), while the injured were named as Hasmukh Vagadiya and Ravi Makwana. As the three men were engaged in the process of dismantling the crematorium's roof, the entire structure crumbled and came crashing down, burying Dinesh under the debris. Police Sub-Inspector Kuldipsinh Gohil said Dinesh was rushed to a government hospital but was declared dead on arrival. A case of accidental death has been registered at the Metoda GIDC police station. A case pitting two mothers against each other over the parenthood of a baby was resolved without harm to the child, but one Honduran immigrant has spent the summer in jail, lost his lucrative painting job and could face deportation as a result of the incident. Wilson Canan-Cruz, 25, pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and filing a false police report and was sentenced to six months active plus 2 1/2 additional years in suspended jail time. It was an extreme family situation, Pamela Johnson, Canan-Cruzs attorney, told The Daily Progress after the hearing in Albemarle County Circuit Court. In court, Canan-Cruz was described as both an uncle and an alleged abductor to a baby girl that he and his girlfriend were supposed to temporarily keep at their Wilton Farm Road apartment. County police were dispatched there on April 23 after Canan-Cruz and his girlfriend, 34-year-old Catherine Ortiz-Caridad, reported that a woman was trying to take their child. As it turned out, a DNA test showed the babys real mother was a woman described in court by the initials M.S.O., who had given birth in Honduras and paid $4,000 to have the baby brought across the border while she established herself in Pennsylvania. After getting settled, according to prosecutor Alicia Milligan, M.S.O. began contacting the Albemarle couple to arrange pickup. But over the course of about a month, Milligan said, M.S.O. would receive ominous text messages containing excuses delaying her quest to retrieve her little girl, named in court papers only as E.M.S. The messages were threatening in nature, according to a detectives report. The messages further conveyed that if [M.S.O.] tried to take E.M.S. back, Catherine and Wilson would call the police on her. They followed through on that with one report to police by Ortiz-Caridad on April 19 and then another when M.S.O. showed up in person to retrieve her child, the prosecutor said. They told M.S.O. that the baby was no longer hers, said Milligan. Officers placed the then 11-month-old in the custody of a foster family while DNA testing was undertaken. On the afternoon of May 15, the couple was arrested and charged with kidnapping and filing false police reports. While her young boyfriends prior experience with the courts consists solely of roadway infractions including driving without a license and a reckless conviction for going 95 in a 65 mph zone the older girlfriend has a longer record. Court documents indicate that Ortiz-Caridad has an array of criminal convictions including assault, forgery, domestic battery and six parole violations. Many of her answers follow a long pause, as if shes considering how to answer, wrote the magistrate processing her kidnapping arrest. Considering the nature and circumstance of the crime alleged, I dont trust that she will go to court. Ortiz-Caridad was held without bail until mid-July, at which point she was permitted to wear an ankle monitor for whats called home electronic incarceration. She was not present in court Friday, but court records indicate that she is slated to offer a plea of her own next month. During Fridays hearing, Johnson the defense attorney suggested that her client Canan-Cruz was not the instigator in this case but conceded that he participated in keeping a baby from her mother. Yes, he did make a false story to the police, said Johnson. He does admit that the child is not his. She added that unlike the conventional notion of a kidnapping case, there was neither ransom nor any physical harm to the child. They just wanted to keep the baby, said Johnson. An interpreter was present to translate the English courtroom proceedings into Spanish, but Canan-Cruz seemed to understand things his lawyer said in English, and the judge asked about his English comprehension Im working toward learning, Canan-Cruz answered in English. Court papers indicate that he was working more than 60 hours per week as a painter at a rate of $20 per hour and taking home about $1,000 per week at the time of his arrest. But, he reported, his current incarceration at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail put his income on hold. The plea agreement puts all six months of active jail time on his misdemeanor conviction, a 12-month sentence for filing a false police report. The agreement calls for two years of jail time on the kidnapping charge, a felony, with all time suspended. And it demands 10 years of good behavior plus a two-year protective order against contacting the real mom. She continues to suffer nightmares and lives in fear of the defendant and Ms. Ortiz, Milligan told the court. While the judge promised to issue credit for time served, which might lead to an autumn release for the man standing before him in a jail-issue jumpsuit, Worrell mentioned several times during the sentencing hearing that a felony conviction could lead to deportation. And while Canan-Cruzs citizenship status was not specified in court, his attorney Johnson expressed afterwards that while he may not yet have citizenship, he does have a right to be in the United States due to a green card. I hope it goes well for him, Johnson said. Gandhinagar, Sep 11 : Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday inaugurated Gujarat's inaugural 'Vanpal Memorial' at Van Chetna Kendra in Gandhinagar marking 'National Forest Martyr' Day on September 11. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Forest Minister Mulu Bera and other dignitaries. The Chief Minister paid homage to the eight forest martyrs of Gujarat, who made the sacrifice in the pursuit of forest and wildlife protection. A two-minute silence was also observed in their honor. To honor and remember these valiant forest workers, a aForester Memoriala has been erected at Van Chetna Kendra in Sector-30 of Gandhinagar. Since 2013, National Forest Martyrs Day has been an annual occasion to commemorate the courage and dedication of the forest department's frontline personnel, including forest guards, forest rangers, district forest officers, and other officers who lost their lives while safeguarding the state's forests and wildlife. New Delhi, Sep 11 : Doctors at a Delhi hospital have treated a man from The Netherlands, suffering from a rare form of tinnitus, which affected his daily life and activities. Tinnitus is the perception of an abnormal sound in the ear, and may be a constant or an intermittent mush or an annoying ringing or hissing sound. But the middle-aged Dutch man suffered from pulsatile tinnitus where he had been enduring a constant, non-stop, loud whoosh present throughout the day and night for over two years. It would coincide with each of his heartbeats. He became very irritable, lost appetite and weight. He could not sleep despite taking sleeping pills regularly. An MRI scan of the brain revealed gross compression of the hearing nerve by arteries, which were more than twice the normal size. While there is no cure to the disease, doctors at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi suggested microvascular neurosurgery. "The patientas MRI scan had revealed a pretty complex anatomy. The auditory nerve had multiple levels of compression. At one point, it was being tightly strangulated by one of the arteries. It was quite a challenging and demanding surgery," said Dr. Pranav Kumar, Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery at the hospital, in a statement. The surgery is not entirely new but it is exceptionally challenging and carries considerable risk and a high failure rate. Following the surgery, the patient is experiencing almost 90 per cent improvement in his tinnitus, the doctor said. "We are happy our efforts have led to a significant improvement in the patientas life. In the patientas own words, he is a different man now, sleeping and eating like a normal human being. He does not need sleeping pills anymore," Kumar said. "We are glad to have provided a solution to this rare form of tinnitus, enhancing the patient's quality of life," added Dr. (Prof) Ameet Kishore, Senior Consultant, ENT and Neurotology Surgeon at the hospital. --IANS ya/rvt/vd September 11 : Actor Jashn Agnihotri is on cloud 9 as her just released music video '6 Ekkey' is being quite appreciated and she is being heaped with lots of praise. It seldom happens that one of your work is released and within hours it becomes the talk of the town but the same has happened with Jashn Agnihotri as her new song got released today at 12 noon and it is instantly gaining popularity among music lovers. Apart from Jashn Agnihotri, the music video also features Shreyas Talpade as the lead actor. The sizzling chemistry between Jashn Agnihotri and Shreyas Talpade is quite evident throughout the song. '6 Ekkey' has been produced under the banner of Sarvapriya Films, by veteran producer Shahid Anwar and it has been brilliantly directed by Rajiv S Ruia. The song has been beautifully sung by Swati Sharma, Rukhshar Bandhukia and B Show, lyrics has been penned by Aarif Khan and Salim Khan whereas Sameer Sen and B Show has impressively composed the groovy and enchanting song which has instantly captured millions heart.& the meticulous post production is done by Santosh Valaboj & its edited by Arun D Yadav.The song also features Raj Nostrum in a pivotal role. Jashn Agnihotri has acted in many music videos previously but she never witnessed the craze she is witnessing for her newly launched music video. Says Jashn Agnihotri, "I am so overwhelmed with the kind of response my new song is garnering. It is so gratifying to know that people are loving my song so much. The outpouring of love is immense and I am thankful to each and everyone who has loved the song and appreciated my work." It is interesting to know that Jashn Agnihotri began her film career with director Madhur Bhandarkar's film 'Indu Sarkar' (2017-18) where she acted in the song titled 'Yeh Pal' and in the film she can be seen as a crooner. Later she got the chance to act in multiple films like 'Genius' and 'India Lockdown' etc. Even though her roles in the films were cameos, but she played significant parts in these movies. Later she was seen in many hit Hindi as well as Punjabi music videos. But for her the experience of working in ' 6 Ekkey' was something else. Talking about her song Jashn Agnihotri said, "Acting in '6 Ekkey' was like working in a movie. It's a full package and that's what made me to say yes to work in this music video. It is not just a dance based song or a romantic number but there is a lot of drama, action and suspense in it which makes this song very unique. It's a mix of everything and while working for the song felt as if I am not acting in a music video but for a full length feature film itself. There is so much happening in the song that for me it became a memorable experience to work in it. You will be surprised to know that even before working in '6 Ekkey', I knew that this song is going to be superhit. Everyone has worked very hard to make this song worth listening and worth watching." Actor, model and an television host, Jashn Agnihotri has previously worked with Ayushmaan Khurana in Axe Deo music video and has also starred opposite Prince Narula in a popular Punjabi music video. She also played a double role in her debut Punjabi movie titled 'Chan Tara' (2018). She also featured in a film named 'Jagga Jagravan Joga' which directly got released on Amazon Prime. She also played the lead in the movie 'Kutte Fail' (2021) which was a theatrical release and where she was again seen in a double role. In her recently released horror comedy film 'Thappa' on Zee5, she can be seen in the character of a possessive girlfriend which brought a lot of critical acclaim for her. But even after working in various kinds of projects and so many different actors, Jashn Agnihotri says that working with Shreyas Talpade for '6 Ekkey' was a very grounding and magical experience for her. She says, "Despite being a star, Shreyas Talpade was very kind to me and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. It was a great learning experience working with him. It is just amazing to see how he works and conducts himself on the set. He is so good at what he does, and that is what makes him a good actor and a great co-star. He is so genuine and humble. Working with him was an awe-inspiring experience for me." Presented by Zee Music, Jashn Agnihotri & Shreyas Talpade starrer , '6 Ekkey' is a unique music video which has lyrics in three languages : Hindi, Telugu, Tamil. It is surely a great visual treat for the music lovers. New Delhi, Sep 11 : A delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) led by Election Commissioner Arun Goel has arrived in Maldives to oversee the the ongoing presidential elections. ECI said that the three-member delegation includes Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Deputy Election Commissioner Ajay Bhadoo, and Principal Secretary Pramod Kumar Sharma. It said that the delegation arrived in Maldives on the invitation of the Maldives Election Commission. The first round of the election was conducted on September 9. There are eight candidates in the fray. The election was held as per the Constitution of Maldives, 2008, Election (General) Act, 2008, Presidential Elections Act, 2008 and Presidential Elections Rules and Regulations, 2008. "The delegation visited 22 polling booths located in Male and Hulhumale and observed the polling process, the system and procedure of voter registration and identification, the arrangements of booths for polling and noted many initiatives taken by the EC of Maldives. International Observers from other countries and organisations also participated in the election observation programme," the poll panel said. It said that the counting of the votes was done on the same day that is on September 9 and as per the result none of the candidates got over 50 per cent of votes. It said that according to Maldives election laws, there will be a second round of elections on September 30 to be contested only by the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the first election. Singapore, Sep 11 : A 39-year-old Indian-origin man was charged on Monday for allegedly attacking another man with a knife, leaving a deep cut on the victim's shoulder, the police said. Michael Nganasekaran, who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly attacking 40-year-old Shanmugam Vegatachalam, was charged in court with one count of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. Police said they were alerted to a case of a fight at the vicinity of Jalan Besar on September 9 . According to preliminary investigations, Nganasekaran was believed to have been involved in a dispute with Vegatachalam, and allegedly used a knife to attack him. Through ground enquiries and with the aid of images from police cameras, officers from Central Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him within eight hours, a Singapore Police statement read. Two knives and the victimas shirt were seized as case exhibits, police said, adding that Nganasekaran was charged under Section 324 of the Penal Code, 1871. Vegatachalam allegedly suffered a 2 cm cut on his left shoulder, according to The Straits Times. In a statement, the Singapore police said it has "zero tolerance for such brazen acts of violence and (it) will not hesitate to take action against those who blatantly disregard the law". "The Police would also like to remind members of the public that it is an offence to carry an offensive and/or scheduled weapon in a public place," the statement read. The offence of voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon carries an imprisonment term of up to seven years, a fine, caning, or any combination of such punishments. Speaking via a Tamil interpreter in court on Monday, Nganasekaran said that he did not intentionally cause hurt to the victim, who also had a knife in his hand, The Times reported. He told the court that he was running a company, and claimed there was a third person involved in the incident, and that the other two men were armed with a knife each. The court granted permission for Nganasekaran to be remanded for investigations, and he will return to court next Monday. --IANS mi/vd New Delhi: A view of the Supreme Court in New Delhi on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Supreme Court on Monday was urged to take cognizance of rising menace of street dogs nuisance after CJI DY Chandrachud took notice of the dressing wrapped around the injured hand of a lawyer who was attacked by stray dogs. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra expressed concern and enquired if the lawyer with the injured hand would require any immediate medical attention. The lawyer said that he was fine and said that he was recently hounded by five dogs during a morning walk in his neighbourhood resulting in injury to his hand. In a short exchange, CJI Chandrachud recalled that two years back, one of his law clerks was attacked by street dogs when he was parking his car. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned about a viral video from Uttar Pradeshas Ghaziabad where a 14-year-old boy, who was allegedly bitten by a neighbouras dog a month ago and had hidden the incident from his family, succumbed to death. Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria, who was also present during the hearing in the Chief Justiceas courtroom, urged the top court to take suo cognizance of this menace to protect the safety of citizens. Notably, a batch of petitions relating to street dogs is pending for consideration before another bench of the Supreme Court. Recently, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has filed an intervention application before the apex court, seeking directions to state authorities to captivate and euthanise suspected rabid dogs and extremely dangerous dogs, and also a direction to state authorities to take strict actions against irresponsible abandonment. New Delhi, Sep 11 : Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) office on Monday said that the L-G perused the proposal put forth by the Health Department, endorsed by the Health Minister and the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, regarding constitution of State Mental Health Authority (SMHA), with ex-officio members only. aIt is underlined at the outset that, in light of the severity, prevalence and neglect hitherto, the Mental Health Care Act was enacted in 2017 and to effectively address issues related to Mental Health, provided for an SMHA to be constituted in every State. It has been brought on file that Sections 45-46 of the Mental Health Care Act 2017 mandates establishment of a State Mental Health Authority (SMHA) by every State Government within nine months from the date the Act receives the President's assent," said the L-G office. The Mental Health Care Act 2017 specifically provides that apart from ex-officio members who are government employees, the SMHA shall have an psychiatrist who is not in government service, one mental health professional, one psychiatrist social worker, one clinical psychologist, one mental health nurse (all with 15 yearsa experience), two persons representing those who have or have had Mental Illness, two persons representing care givers and two persons representing NGOs, which provide services to people with mental illness. "In the light of the above, it is surprising that the proposal for constitution of SMHA, after a lapse of more than five years since the enactment of the Act in 2017 has been put up now and that too, comprising only of ex-officio members. This cavalier approach exhibited by the Department in the constitution of such an important statutory authority is deeply disconcerting," the L-G office said. It said that what was more concerning was that it took the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, requesting to take early actions in establishing SMHA, for the Delhi government to be shaken out of its inertia. Even then GNCTD did not care to expedite such statutorily warranted action, and the proposal kept pending before the Health Minister for almost four and half months. "I am constrained to flag this lackadaisicalness and expect that the Honable Chief Minister will ensure appropriate measures to address such concerns in the future," L-G V.K Saxena said. aHowever, considering the interest of the public at large, the proposal of the Health Department be advised to refer the proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India for seeking approval of President of India, in accordance with the provisions under Section 45D of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023. aAdditionally, Health Department may also be advised to concurrently initiate the process for selection of the non-official members as per guidelines laid down in the Mental Health Care Act 2017 and Mental Health Care (State Mental Health Authority) Rules, 2018," the L-G office said. Mumbai, Sep 11 : Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition in Council Ambadas Danve on Monday accused the state government of not inviting his Shiv Sena-UBT for the all-party meeting this evening to discuss the vexed issue of Maratha quotas. Slamming the government of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for being "mean-minded" and "playing politics", Danve said that he has been invited in his capacity as the Leader of Opposition in the Council, but his partyas name does not figure in the invite list. "Many big and small parties have been invited for this meeting. But the government has not officially invited the Shiv Sena-UBT. I have been invited as the Leader of Opposition," said a peeved Danve. He also pointed out that Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chandrakant Patil, who is heading a panel for Maratha reservations, has been invited as a Minister for the meeting and wondered "what is the government trying to achieve by this". However, Danve said several other ministers have also been called for the meeting and asked how they are concerned in the matter. Danve said that when the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi CM Uddhav Thackeray had convened a similar meeting, he had also invited some five dozen organisations, but today not a single organisation figures in the list of invitees. He also questioned whether the government had appointed an official representative to meet or hold talks with the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil who is on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 14 days for Maratha quotas. On September 2, NCP President Sharad Pawar and ex-CM Thackeray were among the first to reach Jalnaas Antarvali-Sarati village which witnessed a major police clampdown on Maratha protestors a day earlier, and later protests spread across the state. Meanwhile, as many as 32 representatives of the ruling coalition of Shiv Sena-BJP-Nationalist Congress Party-AP, Congressa Leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, the Congress, NCP-Sharad Pawar, other big and small parties and officials have been invited to join the aall-partya meet to be addressed by the CM later this evening. Chandigarh, Sep 11 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday announced the development of the state as the most preferred global tourist destination. Addressing the gathering during the inaugural function of first Tourism Summit and Travel Mart in Mohali, near here, the Chief Minister said he firmly believes that governments will come and go but the works of public welfare must be given topmost priority so that you get good wishes and prayers from the public. Mann said he wanted to hand over tiffin in the hands of youth by giving them employment so that they shun the syringes and menace of other drugs. He envisioned that promotion of tourism can act as a catalyst in this sacred work as it will open new vistas of employment for the youth. Welcoming the dignitaries from the country and across the globe, the Chief Minister said "this is not a political function, but it is one which is related with the heart, soil and soul of the state". He said from day one after assuming charge of office "it is his dream to showcase hidden aspects of vibrant and blessed Punjab to people". Mann said it will attract a large number of tourists in the state, adding none of the previous state governments had worked towards it. The Chief Minister said the geographically also Punjab is blessed land and the government "intends to take the tourism sector to a new zenith". He said Amritsar has a footfall of 1 lakh devotees daily and now the focus of the government is to highlight the salient features of tourism in other parts of Punjab too. Every village has an imprint of the martyrs who had laid down their life for the sake of the country both in pre-and post-independence times, which needs to be showcased duly. Likewise, the Chief Minister said every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saint, seers, martyrs and poets. He said Punjabis are global citizens who have proved their mettle across the globe with their hard work and dedication. Mann said Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience due to which they carve out space for themselves. The Chief Minister said the state has rich cultural heritage due to which Punjabis excel in every sphere. He said Punjabis are great philanthropists who are ever ready to serve the people in hour of crisis. Mann said Punjabis have a rich and glorious culture which has attracted the people since ages. Striking a direct chord with investors, the Chief Minister said he is grateful that all investors and entrepreneurs have come all the way to attend this event. The Chief Minister said due to concerted efforts of the government investment worth Rs 50,840 crore has been roped in for the state. He said Tata Steels has made the biggest investment in the state after Jamshedpur, adding other companies like Jindal Steel, Virbio, Class, Tafe and Hindustan Liver are making investments in the state. Mann said with this initiative more than 2.25 lakh youth will get employment in the state. The Chief Minister announced to set up a celebration point in Amritsar over an area of 50-100 acre. He said banquet halls for celebrating various events of happiness will be constructed at this celebration point. Mann said that this first-of-its-kind celebration point will be instrumental in boosting tourism in the state. Likewise, the Chief Minister said that eco-tourism is being promoted in the state as the state is blessed with a bounty of natural resources. Sites like Chamrod Pattan and others will be promoted. He said a Filmcity will be established in Punjab for shooting, post-production and release of movies. In her address, Tourism Minister Anmol Gagan Mann said for the first time the state is opening its door in the various sectors of tourism. She said apart from religious tourism, there are other sectors in the tourism sector which will be developed and opened for people. Chandigarh, Sep 11 : Union Minister of State of Commerce and Industry Som Parkash on Monday said that India is growing at a rate of seven per cent, adding the current growth rate will continue. The Minister said that in a few years, India will become a premium economy. "Today, the Indian rupee has become a global currency and I am happy to share that 22 countries are doing businesses in rupees, a matter of great pride for us," he said. He was speaking at a conference on demystifying trade and investment. The event, organised by the CII Northern Region, brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and experts to deliberate on the pivotal role that standards play in enhancing India's exports and the essential preparations required by the industry to integrate into global supply chains seamlessly. Keeping in view India's vision of becoming Atmanirbhar, production linked incentive schemes for 14 key sectors have been announced. Talking about ease-of-doing business, the minister shared that the government of India has reduced 39,000 compliances. The Centre's initiatives such as the PM Gatishakti and National Logistics Policy aim to reduce the logistics cost from 40 to 10 per cent. More than 24 sectors will be selected for successful implementation of the logistics policy. Patrick Hebert, Consul General, Chandigarh, Consulate General of Canada, said India and Canada are now among the top nine trading partners for each other. "Our two-way bilateral trade in goods and services has bounced back from the Covid pandemic and is now approaching $23 billion. This is a record high for India-Canada relations." Negotiations are going on between India and Canada for the successful conclusion of Early Progress Trade Agreement, said Hebert. Canada's Trade Commissioner Service and Trade Promotion Service have been set up to help companies do business abroad. Vrindaba Gohil, Commissioner of Customs, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh, encouraged businesses to leverage the Manufacturing and Other Operations in a Customs Bonded Warehouse (MOOWR) scheme. She highlighted the benefits of the Authorised Economic Operator Scheme, which streamlines customs procedures and is currently undergoing changes to enhance the efficiency of the supply chain further. Utpal Kumar Acharya, Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, shared insights into India's ongoing discussions with Canada for Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and highlighted the issuance of Certificate of Origin without any fees by the DGFT to facilitate trade and exports. He also discussed the Amnesty Scheme, a government initiative aimed at supporting exporters. Additionally, he announced that post offices would serve as export centres for transactions up to Rs 5 lakh, with plans for future expansion, and urged industry stakeholders to communicate their concerns to government officials and monitor government websites for updates. During the welcome address, Amit Thapar, Chairman, CII Northern Region Task Force on Exports, emphasized the need for the manufacturing sector to produce world-class products at world-class prices. The northern region has immense potential to grow in agro-based products. MSMEs also have a great potential to grow, added Thapar. Anurag Gupta, Vice Chairman, CII Chandigarh, concluded the event by expressing the continued benefits of WTO-compatible schemes for exporters. Press Release September 10, 2023 SP ZUBIRI: SENATE TO BAT FOR INCREASE IN INTEL FUNDS FOR WPS DEFENDERS Vows to push for realignment of CIF to PCG, Navy September 10, 2023 As defenders of Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy (PN) should be entitled to full logistical and operational support from the government, including an increase in their confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) in the 2024 national budget. This was the declaration made by Senate President Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri, who vowed to fight for the augmentation of the CIF allocations of the two agencies responsible for patrolling and protecting Philippine territory from China's illegal activities and encroachment. "Dahil sa nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea, gusto po namin dagdagan ang budget ng ating mga sundalo at Navy personnel, lalo na sa Navy at coast guard, to strengthen our external defense capabilities para magkaroon po tayo ng credible defensive posture," Zubiri said in a radio interview last Saturday. Zubiri talked about the recent decision of the Senate to revive the Select Oversight Committee on CIFs (SOCCIF), which will review the use of CIFs of some 30 agencies and determine if there is a need to realign some of the funds to better use. The Senate chief lamented that the CIFs of the PCG and PN, tasked to protect the national territory in the WPS from China's aggressions, are at a measly P10 million and P39.74 million, respectively. "Imagine, yung Coast Guard ay P10 million lang yung confidential fund nila. Yung ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, hundreds of millions. So, I would suggest na pwede nating ilipat doon sa mga kailangan talaga ng inteligence funds at madagdgan ang intelligence funds to protect us both internally and externally," Zubiri said. He assured that once the Senate receives the 2024 national budget from the House of Representatives, they will push for realignments or changes in the CIFs to boost the intelligence capabilities of the PCG and PN. "Iyan po ang pangako namin sa inyo, may maiiba pagdating po sa intelligence funds at confidential funds. And I think it will be reflected in the outcome of the Senate hearings of the budget," the Senate leader said. The PCG's intel funds remained at P10 million since 2022, though the agency's proposed total allocation in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) increased to P24.01 billion from P21.92 billion in 2023. In reviving the SOCCIF to review the CIFs of 30 government agencies, Zubiri said they will be determining if their respective funds were properly used in the past. "Kung sa tingin po natin ay okay naman po ang paghingi nila ng mga budget allocations na ito, then we will approve it. Pero kung hindi at sa tingin namin may pagkukulang, eh di either dagdagan namin or tanggalin naman kung may problema," he expressed. The Senate President added that if the committee finds out that the use of the CIFs can be allocated in an agency's regular budget in a line item, then they will move to recommend it during the budget deliberations. "Magbibigay po tayo ng rekomendasyon sa plenaryo. We have to vote in the committee kung ito bang ahensya na ito dapat bang tapyasan o tanggalin o liitan ang kanilang intelligence funds," Zubiri explained. The Albemarle County teachers union has suspended talks with the school division over a collective bargaining agreement after fight for a contract for years. While Albemarle County Public Schools says it was blindsided by union members abruptly walking out of long-sought negotiations, members of the Albemarle Education Association say the school division has provided false promises and negotiated on terms that were antithetical to collective bargaining. We need to make sure the public realizes what the school board was offering is literally one of the worst resolutions possible in the state of Virginia right now, and we dont think the public wants the school board to do that, Vernon Liechti, the unions president and a teacher at Albemarle High School, told The Daily progress. The school board originally rejected the unions collective bargaining resolution submitted last year, citing inadequate research and guidance on how to proceed with collecting bargaining, seeing as how the General Assembly had only repealed the resolution prohibiting public employee unions in 2020. After denying the first union resolution last year, the Albemarle school board voted to direct Superintendent Matthew Haas to investigate alternatives to collective bargaining and come back with a report in 90 days. The report resulted in the Employee Voice and Action Committee, an open-enrollment group consisting of school staff, a professional mediator and up to two school board members. The school board members on the committee change based on who is available at the time. Only school staff are voting members of the committee. The committee can ask for changes and make recommendations but lacks bargaining power. Basically a meet-and-confirm process, which allows them to listen, or not listen, to what employees want them to do, but they can always rescind that later, Liechti said. We were not the biggest fans of that process, because its not a contract. The union went back to the school board with a new resolution earlier this year, and the board agreed in March to collaborate with the union on an agreement. The resolution mimicked a chief rival workforces resolution in hopes to better incentivize candidates, Liechti said. The rival workforce: neighboring Charlottesville City Schools. While they were thinking it over, the school board, instead of adopting our new resolution, which is very closely modeled after Charlottesville City Schools resolution which the city school board did pass they instead authorized Dr. Haas to write his own resolution for collective bargaining, Liechti said. The resolution said to be written by schools Superintendent Matthew Haas didnt include input from the teachers union, according to Liechti. Haas chairs the negotiations between the school board and the teachers union, according to school district spokesman Phil Giaramita. However, Giaramita emphasized, he is a neutral party in the negotiations, meaning he is not working on a collective bargaining agreement and certainly did not create one. He only is serving as the chair, taking no sides. Charlottesvilles teachers became some of the first to win collective bargaining rights in the commonwealth earlier this year. They are allowed to negotiate two topics from a list including wages, benefits, discipline procedures and health and safety conditions. While the Albemarle Education Association has seen its efforts stall, the Charlottesville Education Association is moving ahead; city teachers are preparing for elections for employee representation later this year. When we have that example right next door of what it looks like to have a school board that actually works with their educators, its dangerous that theyre going to lose more educators from here, Liz Koenig, secretary of the Albemarle union and a preschool teacher at Agnor-Hurt Elementary School, told The Daily Progress. The Albemarle teachers union met with the school divisions committee for collective bargaining in August during which the two came to an impasse, according to Liechti. While the negotiations at that meeting were agreed to be confidential, according to Giaramita, Liechti shared at least two non-negotiable issues that arose there. The first issue was the election participation threshold. The election determines an individual to represent union members in contract negotiations, according to Koenig. The board tried negotiating terms that set the participation threshold for the election to be valid at 66% of voters. Setting the threshold that high goes against democratic principles, Koenig said. Its not something that we are willing to agree to at all under no circumstances, because its obviously set up as a barrier instead of actually trying to get this done, Koenig said. Other school divisions in Virginia do not have thresholds similar to what Albemarle was asking for, said Liechti and Koenig. The second issue was the division refused to recognize authorization cards that were signed to verify that enough people wanted to engage in the collective bargaining process, Liechti said. Liechti said he believes the school division simply doesnt trust the teachers union. Some board members have publicly stated at school board meetings they dont trust the cards, but thats whats frustrating me, because if they dont trust the cards, why didnt they take steps to validate them, Liechti said. Liechti said the school division could verify the cards by allowing an independent and impartial individual to validate the signatures. You did not take the steps to validate them in March of 2022, you did not take steps to validate them in February of 2023, how are we to believe that you will do anything for this next batch? Liechti asked. How am I supposed to tell someone that they ignored it the first few times, but this time theyll change their minds? In addition to Liechtis two non-negotiables, Koenig added two more one of which is the divisions push to not include certain groups of employees in collective bargaining. Those groups include some office associates who they say have access to confidential information and they [school division] say shouldnt be a part of bargaining admins, principals and assistant principals who are a part of our union and have signed cards to support collective bargaining. The division also tried carving out two loopholes for themselves, according to Koenig. If collective bargaining should come to pass, they have this clause that reserves under emergency powers the board could do something that was against the contract or if the board wants to enact a policy then it could go against the contract, which basically invalidates the entire idea of collective bargaining, Koenig said. The whole point of a bargains contract is that that is the scope of the agreement between the employees and the school board, and theyre trying to carve out this backdoor thats antithetical to collective bargaining. At a Thursday meeting between the negotiating parties, both stood firm and refused to budge ont heir positions, Liechti said. When we engaged in our meeting, he said, we were told by the representatives of the board that they were still unanimous in their position about that specific election threshold and that they would not recognize the authorization cards we had previously gathered from Albemarle County Public Schools workers and the division. Teachers are beginning to worry. When Ive listened to these school board meetings, Ive heard over and over again how important retention and recruitment is and how this pervasive issue means that we need to keep the most talented staff that already exists in our schools and attract new teachers to fill vacancies, and Im just worried that without collective bargaining, were going lose our ability to do that, Amanda Vogel, a union member and a reading specialist at Journey Middle School, told The Daily Progress. The Albemarle Education Association has submitted a statement to the school board suspending negotiations. The union is tired of the long line of broken promises that began when the division decided to negotiate in March, after many supporters and union members showed at that months school board meeting, said Koenig. They promised to those people there that they supported it and wanted to work with us, and theyre breaking that promise now, Koenig said. People didnt get paid for their summer school bonuses on time, theres constantly issues with payroll, parents are not getting the bus rides to school that they thought they were going to have when they get their letters over the summer. Its just a long line of that. The negotiators closed their last meeting before the suspension following guidelines and protocols, Liechti said, even shaking hands before departing. However, Giaramita recalls the union abruptly walking out. Our reaction as a school division is both disappointing and discouraging that AEA representatives chose to interrupt the negotiation session yesterday afternoon, Giaramita said. Liechti said he doesnt know why the division is behaving in this manner. He has reached out to school board members and said he feels as if the board does not want to discuss things publicly with the union. I would like to talk with other school board members wondering why they feel they need these particular things in their resolution when it would make us a much worse resolution than what our city counterparts are offering, Liechti said. It doesnt make any sense to me. The groups have been making progress, according to Giaramita. There are far more topics which they have agreed upon than not. The unions decisions took the division by surprise. Willingness to engage in talks and consider all points of views is the pathway to success. The decision to suspend talks took us off that pathway, Giaramita said. There were no indications ahead of time that this kind of action was planned or contemplated. Next steps are in the unions hands, according to Giaramita. Liechti encourages the public to attend the upcoming Thursday school board meeting. He said he hopes to give the board a deeper understanding of the unions needs. The point is were not going away, Koenig said. Were going to continue to fight for this, and were going to continue to fight for it to be done right and respectfully, and so well be there. Were going to show up. You cant just stonewall us and expect us to roll over and get tired. Izmir : , Sep 11 (IANS) Harith Noah, the Indian rider representing TVS Factory Racing Team, triumphed in the gruelling seven days of TransAnatolia Rally in the B1 class (bikes under 450cc), to pep up his preparation for the Dakar Rally 2024. "It is nice to be on the top of the podium again. I am very happy as this is the first time I am winning an international rally-raid event," said the Red Bull athlete over the phone from Turkey. The veteran of four Dakar rallies chose TransAnatolia as preparation for the Dakar 2024 and put his Sherco TVS 450RTR on top in the B1 Motorcycles class for the single-cylinder bikes of 450cc. Representing India, Harith Noah created history becoming the fastest rider at the almighty Dakar Rally, finishing in the Top 20 in his second attempt in 2021. The TransAnatolia race started at Samsun and finished at Izmir after seven days of tough action that saw many ups and downs. With the incessant rhythm of his navigational notes of very precise Road Books, Harith Noah conquered the rally-raid, finishing fourth overall clocking a cumulative time of 17 hours, 09 minutes and 55 seconds and winning his class with confidence. "Coming back from wrist surgery, the goal was to finish and learn as much as possible as it was a rally raid with navigation. I was riding this bike for the first time with a new suspension setup the team had worked on. Overall, I was confident on the bike and the stages went well. I will be going to Morocco to test this bike again in the desert," said Harith Noah, from TVS Racing, who was also supported by Stanley Tools. On Day 5, he was 6th overall despite facing some technical problems but completed the two Special Stages and a Super Special on the Turkey Motocross GP circuit. Earlier, on Day 4, Noah had some drama in store. The small 25-km SS7 taught him some lessons. "If you ain't focused you will lose. Yes, I lost a lot of time searching for the correct way. But in SS8 I pushed hard to make up some time which I did," Harith Noah was quoted as saying by his team in a release on Monday. After starting on Day 1 with a lot of rain, Harith Noah opened Stage 2, as Stage 1 was cancelled. Day 2 and 3, he made some mistakes but recovered with grit and determination to stay in the hunt for the podium. "The new suspension on the bike is really good. Blessed to be here doing what I love," said the five-time Indian Supercross champion from Turkey after Day 1. The Dakar 2024, the fifth edition in Saudi Arabia will be held from January 5 to 19, 2024. Mumbai, Sep 11 : Moving ahead in the investigations, the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has frozen another 11 banks accounts and five prime properties purportedly owned by absconding scamster couple Ashesh Mehta and his wife Shivangi Lad-Mehta, officials said on Monday. The five residential properties, worth an estimated Rs 16 crore, are in Kandivali, Goregaon, and Santacruz, while 11 bank accounts of the Mehta couple and their companies have also been frozen. "The Mumbai Police EOW has taken prompt cognisance of my complaints and so far they have frozen around Rs 175 crores siphoned off by the Mehta couple by cheating over 4,000 investors all over India and then disappearing," ruling Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde said. Official sources said that the EOW has also started questioning the relatives, friends, business associates and others in the entire scam and attempt to trace out the missing couple, now off radar for nearly four months. Hegde urged the Mumbai Police to now expedite the necessary legal formalities to liquidate the properties and release the monies lying in these frozen bank accounts that can be disbursed among the needy investors who were gypped of their hard-earned cash. Last month, the Mumbai Police cracked the whip on the Mehtas after Hegde demanded a probe into a staggering withdrawal-transfers of some Rs 180 crore to various associates or entities of the scamster couple. IANS had highlighted the matter in June-July after it came to the fore when the Madhya Pradesh Police were probing a drug case which was linked to the Mehta couple. Besides a NDPS case in MP, the couple is accused of money-laundering, running illegal ponzi schemes, cheating gullible investors and other frauds totally estimated at over Rs 1,000 crore, before decamping. The MP and Maharashtra Police have probed the homes and offices of the Mehtas in Mumbai in the past few months, but they have not been able to trace the couple. After getting many grievances from the people, Hegde moved Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in July who directed the issue of a Look Out Circular for the couple and the Mumbaia Special Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and Joint Commissioner Nishith Mishra to intensify the probe. Jaipur, Sep 11 : Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways retired general V.K Singh on Monday said that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will automatically merge with India after some time. "Wait for some time, the PoK will automatically merge with India," Singh in Dausa, Rajasthan responded after he was asked about the demands of PoK Shia Muslims to open the roads to India. On the success of the G20, the minister said: "The G-20 event has been successful. Such an organised event has never happened before. Around 200 meetings were organised in 60 cities of the country." He said that other countries too have praised India for organising such a successful event. "India has achieved a big victory in the collective manifesto issued in the conference. The world was divided on many issues including Ukraine, but with the wisdom of Prime Minister Modi, we all together have found a way out that no country had any objection to," the minister said while addressing a press conference at BJP's Parivartan Sankalp Yatra in Dausa. He said that the formation of the Biofuel Alliance and the corridor from India to Europe will pave the way for India's economic progress. "Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has also welcomed the joint declaration of G-20," he said. On the question about the BJP's chief minister face in the state, he said that wherever elections are held, BJP does not declare the chief minister face but contests elections only on the charisma of the Prime Minister. "Everyone should assume that the party will give opportunity to such leaders who are good, useful and on whom the public has confidence," he said. Delhi court overturns JJB's order, two juveniles to be tried as adults in murder case. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 11 : A Delhi court on Monday said that offences against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, an accused in the Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots here, are exclusively triable by the sessions court and committed the file to Principal District and Sessions Judge of Rouse Avenue Court. "Let the file be put up before Ld. Principal District & Sessions Judge cum-Special Judge (PC Act), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Rouse Avenue District Courts on September 19," Additional Sessions Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vidhi Gupta Anand said. Anand noted that record reveals that the charge sheet among other things has been filed under Section 302 (titled as Punishment for murder) and 436 (titled as Mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and these offences are exclusively triable by the court of Sessions. The court issued notice with regard to committal of matter to Public Prosecutor Amit Jindal for CBI, and directed Tytler to be present before the Sessions court on the set date for next hearing. ACMM on Monday noted that Jindal has also provided a list of unrelied documents by the CBI to Tytler's counsel. Anand retained a copy of the same on record. On the previous date of hearing, legible copies of dim/illegible documents listed by Tytler were provided by the CBI's counsel to Tytler's. Jindal had, during the last hearing, also filed a copy of judgement passed by the Delhi High Court in a case titled 'Dheeraj Wadhawan vs. Central Bureau of Investigation' dated July 26, in support of his submissions. Relying on the same case, the court said that since the copies of relied upon documents have already been provided to Tytler and a list of unrelied documents has also been provided, Section 207 Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) stands duly complied with. The court also granted liberty to Tytler to move necessary application before the Sessions court for seeking any further documents as deemed necessary. On September 6, Anand had adjourned the hearing on Tytler's application filed under Section 207 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) seeking court records from the year 1984 till 2023. After Tytler's counsel had sought adjournment stating that he had to rush to the high court to attend some other urgent matter, Anand allowed it in the interest of justice. On August 29, the CBI had filed its reply before the court on Tytler's application. Anand had noted that the counsel for CBI has supplied a copy of reply with copies of certain documents to Tytler's counsel. Tytler's counsel had sought time for advancing submissions, stating that some time is required to go through the reply as well as the documents. The ACMM had on August 11 given 10 days to Tytler to review the documents provided by the CBI, including the charge sheet. Later on August 21, he adjourned the matter after the probe agency sought time to advance arguments on Tytler's application seeking certain documents. The court had approved the request of Tytler's counsel, who initially asked for two weeks to go through the materials. Tytler had on August 10 filed a request with the court to be allowed to attend proceedings through video conferencing. The plea was presented in the court on the grounds of security concerns. Tytler's advocate had appealed for the court's authorisation for his client to participate remotely, citing a recent protest by the Sikh community during Tytler's in-person appearance on August 5. Ambala, Sep 11 : Veteran Congress leader and former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Monday said the state's BJP-JJP government "is deliberately delaying the paddy procurement as it wants to deprive the farmers of minimum support price (MSP)". He said paddy has started arriving in the market and farmers have been forced to sell the crop at low rates. "The government has become a mute spectator and watching the losses being incurred by the farmers. Paddy is being sold below the MSP, so is bajra. The government is shirking from its responsibility of providing the MSP to the farmers," he said. "The government has also left flood-affected farmers to fend for themselves. Even after so many days, the farmers have not been compensated yet. Instead of giving compensation, the government has kept the farmers entangled in the web of portals," the two-time Chief Minister said. "At some places the public is being harassed in the name of compensation portal, somewhere in the name of Meri Fasal Mera Byora, somewhere in the name of property ID and somewhere in the name of family identity card. When the Congress government is formed, the public will be freed from the hassle of all these unnecessary portals," he assured. Hooda participated in social programmes during his visit to Ambala, including one organised by former MLA Jasbir Malaur. Talking to the media, he said the Congress is getting tremendous support across the state. "From Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh program, Hath Se Hath Jodo campaign to public meetings, record breaking participation of the public is seen in every Congress event. Seeing the enthusiasm and enthusiasm of the people, it's clear that the Congress government is going to come in the next election," he said. Every section including farmers, workers, employees, traders, rural and urban people is fed up with the government. "The coalition government has pushed Haryana into the quagmire of debt, unemployment, corruption and drugs. The public now wants to bring the state out of the darkness of destruction, and back onto the track of development," Hooda added. New Delhi, Sep 11 : US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has denied that the joint statement adopted at the recently-concluded G20 leaders summit in New Delhi has not "explicitly" condemned Russia's actions in Ukraine, saying all "stood up very clearly" for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said that Ukrainians would be open to a negotiated settlement to the conflict but on "just and durable terms" in connection with their sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Well, the leaders here all stood up very clearly, including in the statement, for Ukraineas sovereignty, for its territorial integrity. I think the statementas a very strong one. And what I heard in the room as well makes very clear that virtually every member of the G20 a" perhaps minus one a" is intent on making sure that there is a just and durable end to this Russian aggression. And leader after leader in the room made clear that, for the rest of the world too, the consequences of what Russia has done are having a terrible, terrible impact..," he said in an interview to ABC before leaving New Delhi, as per the US State Department. Blinken, who was in Kiev before flying to India, said that he found both "President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy and every Ukrainian that I met a" whether it was folks in the government or whether it was many other Ukrainians that we had a chance to engage with over the course of two days a" incredibly resilient, incredibly courageous, incredibly resolute". "And ultimately, thatas really whatas at the heart of this and the reason that I remain very confident in Ukraineas ultimate success, which is that theyare fighting for their country, for their future, for their freedom..," he said "Now, where exactly this settles, where lines are drawn, that is going to be up to Ukrainians. But Iave found a strong determination to continue to work to get their territory back thatas been seized by Russia," he said. Asked if the Ukrainians were ready to negotiate, the US Secretary of State said that "it takes two to tango". "And thus far, we see no indication that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin has any interest in meaningful diplomacy. If he does, I think the Ukrainians will be the first to engage, and weall be right behind them. Everyone wants this war to end, but it has to end on just terms and on durable terms that reflect Ukraineas sovereignty and territorial integrity," he stressed. Vijayawada, Sep 11 : Vijayawada ACB Court has posted to Tuesday orders on 'house custody' petition of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is in judicial custody in alleged Skill Development scam. After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court adjourned the case to Tuesday. Naiduas counsel Sidharth Luthra sought orders for ahouse custodya of Chandrababu Naidu on the ground that he is Z plus category protectee and faces threat in jail. He expressed doubts over the measures taken for his security in the jail. He pointed out that convicts in serious crimes are lodged in the jail. Luthdra cited Supreme Court judgments for house custody in various six cases in supported of his arguments Additional Advocate General P. Sudhakar Reddy argued the case on behalf of the government. He told the judge that Naidu will have more security in jail than at his house. He explained to the court the steps taken for Naiduas security and food. A letter from the Director General of Prisons, listing out the steps taken by Rajahmundry jail authorities, was submitted to the court The court was told that the prison walls are 50 feet high. Police are on round-the-clock security both inside and outside the jail. The AAG also told the court that Naidu has a sound health and necessary facilities can be provided in the jail. The court had Sunday sent Naidu to judicial custody for 14 days. He was subsequently shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail. Chennai, Sep 11 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will hand over the keys of free houses to Sri Lankan Tamils at the rehabilitation camp at Melmanavoor village in Vellore on September 17, an official said on Monday. Stalin will participate in a public meeting to mark the birth centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi in Kandaneri Village. A total of 3,510 beneficiaries were identified in the state for the free housing scheme for Sri Lankan Tamils. The project is being implemented by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). The Chief Minister launched the initiative at a public function in Vellore on November 2021. According to the Tamil Nadu government, a total of 2,239 Tamil Sri Lankan families have been living in Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts of the state since 1990. In the rehabilitation project, each house measures 300 sq ft and has a living room, a bedroom, an attached washroom, and a kitchen. Free water supply and power supply will be provided to the residents of these houses. Each colony will have a community centre, a common children's centre for reading and tuition and a fair-price shop. Satara, Sep 11 : At least one person was killed and eight others injured when group clashes erupted here on Sunday-Monday to protest against certain offensive social media posts yesterday even as police clamped prohibitory orders and suspended Internet services, officials said. A person from Pusesvali allegedly made some objectionable posts on the social media which sparked ire and led to the group clashes with stone-pelting and stone-throwing incidents, leading to a tense situation here since last night. One person was killed and eight more hurt in the violence which included stone-pelting and attacks with sticks and rods. Although the offensive post was not directly linked with the ongoing Maratha stir, it was reportedly posted by a community member participating in the agitation and allegedly cast a slur on another community. The violence came even as the Maharashtra government was preparing to host an all-party meeting in Mumbai this evening to work out a solution to the vexed issue of Maratha reservations. "On September 10, a person posted an offensive post on social media at Pusesavali. The post was misunderstood by the people and it gave rise to a law and order problem. The Satara Police immediately responded to the situation and brought it under control," said Superintendent of Police Samir Shaikh. He said that adequate police forces have been deployed wherever required and the situation is now peaceful, and urged the people to be alert and vigilant. "People should not believe in rumours. Messages that spread discord in society should not be disseminated through social media to avoid any law and order problem. Be alert, vigilant and if any untoward incident is noticed, contact the authorities immediately," Shaikh appealed in a statement on Monday. Nationalist Congress Party MP from Satara termed the happenings in Pusesavali as "very sad and unfortunate" and appealed to the people to maintain restraint and cooperate with the government without giving credence to rumour-mongering. He sought to know who was indulging in such mischief, why were people forwarding without verifying and demanding action against such elements. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale has urged people to maintain peace and not be trapped by such false messages. Terming the incidents as tragic, NCP Working President Supriya Sule urged people to refrain from falling prey to rumours, and help maintain harmony in the society. Kolkata, Sep 11 : A Kolkata court on Monday ruled that the actress-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan will have to present at the court in the case related to her association as a director with a shady financial entity which duped senior citizens of several crores of rupees by promising them residential flats at reasonable rates. Already, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Nusrat Jahan to its office in the CGO Complex at Salt Lake on Tuesday for questioning on her connection with the said entity 7 Sense Infrastructure Private Ltd. A separate case was also filed at the lower court in Kolkata in the matter and it was learnt that she had sought exemption from physically appearing at the court. The contention of her counsel was that she would be unable to appear physically at the curt because of her family engagements. However, on Tuesday, the judge of the lower court rejected the contention and said that Nusrat Jahan will have to be physically present at the court in the matter. The next hearing in the matter will be on December 4. The ED sleuths have already filed an enforcement case information report (ECIR) in the matter. As per the complaints filed at the ED, the said corporate entity collected several crores of rupees from the duped investors promising them residential flats at reasonable rates within four years. However, though they had not received those residential flats as yet, the directors of the said entity including Nusrat Jahan used that money to construct their own flats. A couple of days after the matter surfaced in the media in the beginning of August, Nusrat Jahan told media persons that she resigned from the corporate entity in March 2017. She also claimed that she took a loan of around Rs 1.16 crore from the said corporate entity and repaid the loan along with interest amounting to over Rs 1.40 crore in March 2017 only. Till the filing of the report, there was no reaction from Nusrat Jahan on whether she will be appearing at the ED office on Tuesday. There had not been any reaction from any Trinamool Congress leader either. Families, first responders and city and state officials, including Oregon's governor, gathered outside the Linn County Courthouse on Monday, to honor the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Remembering those tragic events, now two-plus decades later, is more critical than ever according to Gov. Tina Kotek, pointing to an "entire generation" born after 9/11 without a collective memory of the attacks. "On that morning, Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of individuals started their day on a beautiful Tuesday, just like this, never to make it home," she told those gathered outside the courthouse just as the sun was breaking through a cloudy Monday morning. She highlighted the "unmatched bravery" of first responders over 20 years ago, after terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington D.C. A fourth plane, reportedly aiming for the nation's Capitol, crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought their hijackers. "Today and every day, we must remember and honor that remarkable courage and selflessness shown by many," she said. She also highlighted Oregon's efforts to support those impacted by the attacks. "In the weeks following the horrific tragedy, thousands of Oregonians, coordinated to make 60 flights to New York City to support New Yorkers in their time of need," she said. Like past commemorations, this event was organized by the American Legion Post 10 in Albany. The Post 10 commander, David Solomon, introduced each speaker, and briefly shared his own experience as an EMT captain in New York City on 9/11. Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Department of Veteran's Affairs, also shared her recollections from that day and warned of letting Sept. 11, 2001, fade from the nation's memory. "We're at risk of forgetting the importance of that day and all that followed from it," she said. She recounted speaking over the phone with a significant other who worked at the Defense Department in a high rise across the street from the Pentagon during the Sept. 11 attacks. Fitzpatrick, then a retired army veteran attending law school, decided to return to national service as a civilian in the intelligence community after graduating, she told those gathered at the commemoration. While Sept. 11 is a day of remembrance for the lives lost, it's also a day to remember how communities came together to serve others despite differences, according to Linn Country Sheriff Michelle Duncan. She was a deputy and a young mother in 2001 who feared for her child's safety and future after the attacks, Duncan told the crowd Monday. She also described how the county had been mourning the loss of two local law enforcement officials, including an Albany police officer, after a deadly crash on Interstate 5 earlier in September of 2001. But Duncan also drew parallels from the political tension plaguing the country after the divisive 2000 election to the nation's current pollical turmoil, remarking on how citizens set aside differences to respond to the attacks. "Americans on both political sides, came together and put patriotism and the protection of this country ahead of political agendas," she said. Duncan hopes the nation can come together again, she said without being prompted by a devastating tragedy. "We should remember what 9/11 taught us: We are strongest when we unite as one country," she said. Albany's city manager, Peter Troedsson, also spoke of the importance of community action, invoking Pres. John F. Kennedy's famous inaugural speech that implored Americans to serve their country. "Our strength depends on what we can do for our country and our community," he said. Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist said the annual commemoration was a continual source of pride for the county, while Mayor Alex Johnson II was pleased to see the respect shown for first responders. "As a county seat, I think Albany participating being engaged in this is really important for our community," he said. Other Albany residents took to remembering Sept. 11, 2001, in their own ways. Rick Campbell, who was born in New York and moved to the West Coast in the late 1990s, was in Salem on Sept. 11, 2001. Now, he puts up a large flag display each year to honor the nearly 3,000 civilians and first responders who perished on 9/11. This year, American flags, as well as a memorial flag depicting the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, line his fence at his house, across from Calapooia Middle School. "Wherever I am, I put up the flags," he said, adding that lots of people will honk their horns when they drive by. Some people, however, won't know what the display is commemorating. "Nowadays, people ask, 'Why the flags?' So, I remind them," he said. Editor's note: This article has been edited to reflect the number of planes hijacked by terrorists. Kolkata, Sep 11 : Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday failed to submit its progress report in Calcutta High Court over its probe in the multi-crore cash-for-school-job case in West Bengal. Suspense and inquisitiveness over the contents was mounting since the CBI counsel last week claimed at the court that the progress report to be submitted on Monday will reveal a conspiracy that is equivalent to that of 9/11 attack on USA's World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001 and that is why they have chosen Monday as the date for submission of the report. However, CBI counsel on Monday afternoon informed Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay that they are unable to present that report on Monday afternoon. Instead, the CBI counsel informed the court that on Tuesday the central agency will submit an abridged report and not the main report. The CBI council also gave his argument in favour of the agency's decision on not submitting the crucial report on Monday. "9/11 is not just a day of destruction. On this day Swami Vivekananda also delivered his historical speech at World's Parliament of Religions at Chicago," the CBI counsel said. However, his argument could not satisfy Justice Gangopadhyay. "You will have to do something. As it is, the progress of the investigation has slowed down because of cases pending at the Supreme Court of India. Questions are being raised by common people. Everyone is waiting for the final outcome," Justice Gangopadhyay observed. Washington, Sep 11 : US President Joe Biden went on the defend the G20 joint declaration in Delhi as most Republicans called it a "slap" in the face of Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy thus putting his (Biden) proposal to fund the war torn country with $20.6 billion in military and humanitarian relief aid as Congress resumes its session on September 12 after the summer recess. Biden defended the G20 statement strongly when he told a news conference in Vietnam after the summit the Russia-Ukraine war is not a "wedge" issue with most G20 nations -- it was a problem with Russia and China, which had high-ranking representatives at the summit. China was represented by its Premier Li Qiang and Russia by its premier Sergei Lavrov. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told a CNN programme on state of the union that it was "very important that the G20 spoke as one". That presented a complication because Russia is part of the group. "I think, if you are on the receiving end of what so many of them said, if you were in the Russian seat, it's pretty clear where the rest of the world stands," Blinken said. Republican critics held Biden responsible as having failed at the weekend summit in India to unite world leaders around a condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine, which drew a rebuke from Kiev, thus putting him on the defensive as he wrapped up his trip abroad to India and Vietnam and flies to Alaska to commemorate the 9/11 WTC attack ceremony, USA today reported. Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, told a TV programme that the G20 New Delhi declaration was "a major departure from last year and a real slap in the face to Zelenskyy as they're conducting the counter-offensive". GOP presidential hopeful and former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said Russia and China had a scored a major victory despite their leaders being absent at the summit and held Biden for his failure not to push the G20 to stick to a tougher language. "China is gloating, because they're looking at Taiwan as this is happening, and it's a shame," Haley said. Biden pressed Ukraine's case in Zelenskyy's absence to little avail. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the New Delhi summit even as leaders of the world's most powerful economies did. But even in their absence, Russia and China notched a win against the US when it came to huddling the international community against Russia in the War on Ukraine that began more than a year and a half ago, US media reports said. Group of 20 nations declined to explicitly chide Russia for the invasion, saying instead that countries must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition" and lamented "the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war". While Ukraine rebuked the declaration, Russia lauded the G20 declaration as a permanent member though its President Putin absented himself from the summit. But the declaration did say that countries must refrain from using nuclear threats against nations in an indirect reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin's threat to resort to his powerful nuclear arsenal as a deterrent against US and NATO allies, should they choose to intervene militarily in the war in Ukraine. India did not invite Ukraine to the G20 summit even though US officials argued that Ukrainian officials should have their say at the forum to rebut Russia's narrative about the war. India had abstained from voting on the UN resolution sponsored by the US to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's foreign affairs ministry said G20 has "nothing to be proud of" in avoiding any mention of Russia as the aggressor. The ministry voiced disappointment on social media with the G20 statement, sharing a mock-up of changes it would have liked to have seen that would have blamed Russia as the aggressor nation, USA today said. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended last year's G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, he was not present at the Delhi gathering. In Vietnam, Biden spent quite some time outlining his vision for the US relationship with China. Biden said he did not want to harm China, viewed as its economic competitor. Instead, he wanted China to play by established international norms. Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 11 : The Kerala Assembly on Monday witnessed a verbal battle between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan over the CBI clearing the late former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the case by the solar scam alleging that she was sexually exploited by him. Soon after late Chandyas son Chandy Oommen was sworn in as a legislator, the Congress-led Opposition moved an adjournment motion seeking a probe into the criminal conspiracy hatched by the CPI-M against Oommen Chandy using the solar scam accused. The motion was moved by three-time legislator and Youth Congress state President Shafi Parambil who read out the media reports citing contents of the CBI report, as per which there was no merit in the allegations of the victim and it was part of a conspiracy hatched by a few from the Left with "middleman" Nandakumar who brought the "victim: before Vijayan few days after he assumed office in 2016. "The CBI report says of a criminal conspiracy and hence the Vijayan government should apologise to the people of Kerala for haunting Oommen Chandy. It reports that there is no direct link or even circumstantial evidence linking our leader in the allegation," said Parambil. Satheesan said: "Now that the CBI report has exonerated Chandy, hence, we would like to hear from you if you are prepared to order a CBI report into the criminal conspiracy as reported by the CBI." In response, Vijayan denied meeting Nandakumar and said that he was one who showed the door to Nandakumar when he came to meet him long time back at Kerala House in Delhi. "About the CBI report that is now being discussed, the state government has not got it and hence cannot comment on what you (Opposition) are saying. Once the report comes and we go through it, you are free to come up with your need and the government will take appropriate steps at that time," he said. Meanwhile, the house also witnessed an interesting speech from K.B. Ganesh Kumar who was in the cabinet of Chandy but had to resign due to personal issues just before the solar scam surfaced. As per accounts, the CBI report has held that Ganesh Kumar had played a crucial role in the letters reportedly written by the solar scam accused of how she was sexually exploited and that had created a furore then. In his speech on Monday, he said: "I had testified before the CBI and I have mentioned in that letter the name of Chandy was not there and I even told Chandy what I had testified before the CBI. I also want to make it very clear I have had no contacts with the victim at all." Now all eyes are on what action will Vijayan take once the government gets a copy of the CBI report. --IANS sg/vd Bengaluru, Sep 11 : Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Monday that the Dutch nation is keen to enhance economic cooperation with Karnataka. Speaking at the CEO Round Table Meeting organised at Vidhana Soudha on the occasion of his visit, he stated that the Netherlands aims to provide Dutch companies operating in Karnataka with an opportunity to engage in discussions on strategic matters of mutual interest, focusing on economic growth and investment prospects. The meeting deliberated prominently on investment climate, regulatory and legislative procedures, and collaborations in the areas of agriculture and horticulture among other things. Mark Rutte stated that Karnataka is home to 9 per cent of Dutch investments in India with a presence of over 25 Dutch companies. Karnataka is also home to Global house Centres of Shell and Philips, he added. Dy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge were among those who represented the Karnataka government. Speaking about the meeting, D.K. Shivakumar said, "The Netherlands delegation has discussed several matters. It has also sought for implementation of a transparent and fair excise policy. A meeting would be soon held to sort out the issues about facilitating the Dutch investments in the state." Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil said that the government of Karnataka looks forward to increased investmentsfrom the Netherlands across various industries like food processing, biotech, pharma, Innovation and R&D among others. There is also enough scope for investments in the tourism sector, he opined. Patil informed the Dutch delegation that the government would set up KHIR City (Knowledge Health Innovation-Research City) on 1,000 acres near Bengaluru international airport. Radovan Sikorsky, CFO, Board Member Heineken, expressed that being the largest MNC investor in Karnataka for marketing and brewing of premium beer under the Kingfisher and Heineken brands, Heineken is looking for a fair and transparent regulatory regime that promotes the growth of the beer category in the State and offers premium products to its consumers. Peter Lochbihler, Senior Director of Global Public Affairs, Booking.com, wanted to know Karnataka's views on the Indian government's efforts to draft a new Digital India Act, to introduce amendments to the Competition law and new liability on intermediary platforms across numerous sectors. Arvind Vaishnav, Head of Philips Innovation Campus from Philips India Limited, stated that the company will be shifting the campus this year to a new campus on the upcoming IT corridor located en route to Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. Given this,Philips expects support from the government in ensuring the employees -- around 5000 -- to have easy access to BMTC's Volvo buses to and from the Embassy Business Hub in Yelahanka, he said. Besides, he sought the government's intervention in extending industrial tariffs or a 20 per cent subsidy on the power expenses to remain competitive in its operations in Bengaluru. Additionally, Philips would like help from Karnataka to facilitate the ease of GST refunds. Philips would also require support in getting hassle-free import of used healthcare equipment, he explained. Christiaan van de Koppel, Commercial Director Indian Sub-continent said that the KLM would be interested to hear the vision for further developing SEZs in Karnataka. Chairman, Shell Group of Companies in India, said that there exist opportunities to create meaningful pathways for 2G Biofuels in India (and Karnataka in particular). He wanted to know about the support/incentives the government would extend for the same. Maurice Geraets, Co-CEO NXP Netherlands, Country Manager NXP India, opined that there is a need to explore how can the Netherlands and Karnataka better team up R&D for Al, and automotive with academia and startups. Marc Broskij, COO and Member of the Executive Board of KPMG Netherlands, Venkata Chunduru, Director and Head India Operations, Arcadis, Viswanath Pudukkod, CEO Randstad India, Dilip Rajan, COO of East-West Seed Group, Henri Oosthoek, Chairman and Advisory Board of Koppert, Harendra (Harry) Singh, Managing Director, Rijk Zwaan India, were among the Netherlands business delegation. Chief Secretary to the government Vandita Sharma, Silva Kumar, ACS, Department of Industries and others were present. New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Adani Group, the port to power conglomerate, added a massive Rs 47,050 crore in shareholder's wealth as investors showed renewed confidence in the group's stock portfolio. Adani Groupas market capitalisation shot up to INR 11.5 trillion on Monday, a seven-month high. On Fridayas close, the groupas market capitalisation stood at Rs 11.02 trillion. The move has come after the promotersa increased stakes in the two leading companiesa"the flagship incubator, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). This has been perceived by the market as the vote of confidence in the companyas future prospects. At the same time, it also means that the promotersa interests are more aligned with the shareholders and is a sign of highest standards of governance, especially when the promoter holding are as high. In AEL, the promoter's stake has been bolstered from 69.87 per cent to 71.93 per cent. Likewise, in APSEZ, the stake has risen from 63.06 per cent to 65.23 per cent. The promoter buying in the two companies is worth more than Rs 15,000 crore. This amount also includes the share purchase done by the promoters last month in AEL. This is not only viewed as the group's commitment to its core businesses and long-term growth vision, but also as the strong financial situation at the promoter level. As a result, all the 10 stocks in the Adani Portfolio showed strong gains led by Adani Power which gained 7.92 per cent over Fridayas close. Adani Ports and SEZ (6.96 per cent), NDTV (5.4 per cent), Adani Energy Solutions (5.03 per cent), and Adani Enterprises (3.8 per cent). Market experts cite the Adani Group's recent strides in share price as a reflection of its successful confidence-building measures and renewed interest from global and domestic investors. "The Adani Group's rebound is no mere coincidence. It's the outcome of a series of strategic decisions and transparency in their operations. Investors have had the time to dissect the developments and react positively to emerging indicators. The promoters have been continuously renewing investor confidence raising stakes and liquidity at the group level. Those who were previously apprehensive are now slowly coming back on due to the groupas resilience and adaptability. aThe group's unwavering focus on core infrastructure investments, complemented by consistent EBITDA growth, projects a clear trajectory of sustainable success. aMoreover, with fundraising efforts being robust at the group level and impeccable project execution, the group has not only reinstated but also amplified investor trust in its operational direction going forward. The momentum we're witnessing now is just the tip of the iceberg, with more promising returns anticipated in the long haul," commented a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm. The other Adani Group stocks also clocked decent gains among them were Adani Wilmar (2.59per cent), Adani Green Energy Solutions (1.34per cent), Ambuja Cements (2.66 per cent), and ACC (1.32 per cent). The Adani Groupas confidence building measures have been further bolstered by investments from GQG Partners which invested over $4 billion in several group companies since March. Investment of $500 million by QIA, one of the worldas largest sovereign funds has also been taken positively by the markets. Adani has also been continuing to make investments tying up with global majors to bolster its investments in the energy and utilities space. The Group recently announced a joint venture agreement with Kowa Holdings Asia, also headquartered in Singapore. The 50-50 partnership aims to bolster the sales and marketing of green ammonia, green hydrogen, and other related products produced and provided by the Adani Group. New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Delhi High Court has directed the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to tell what steps have been taken to rehabilitate children after they were rescued from begging on the streets. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chnadra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula was hearing a petition by Ajay Gautam seeking direction to take steps to eradicate begging by children and related problems in and around the national capital. The bench also asked the Delhi government to file a status report informing about children in conflict with law rescued by the authorities and housed in various rehabilitation centres. It said: "The Government of NCT of Delhi is also directed to file a detailed status report within six weeks providing information regarding children in conflict with law rescued by the government and housed in various rehabilitation centres, steps taken by the government for rehabilitation of such children and an assessment of long-term impact of such centres upon children in its care." The petitioner argued that the issue of child begging remains widespread in Delhi even after the implementation of various schemes and programmes undertaken by various agencies, commissions and government bodies. The high court said it becomes crucial to examine the impact of various rehabilitation measures in light of the persistence of this grave social issue, and listed the case for hearing next on October 13. Earlier, the high court had rapped the Delhi government for not submitting the status report on the petition. "The government either doesn't file the response, doesn't provide a copy to the respondents or files a defective one, to delay the proceedings," a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad had said. The bench had issued notices to the Centre, Delhi government and the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR). Gautam has filed a petition asking whether the state is bound to perform its duties as per Section 13 (E) and (F) of The Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005. He has also requested the court to direct the Delhi Police to identify and arrest the mafias/gangs involved in the organised sexual exploitation and forcing women to use their children for begging and other related crimes. Gautam has complained that child beggars can be seen everywhere at Delhi traffic signals, shopping places, railway stations and more, and the concerned department has still not stepped forward to stop these practices. The begging mafia is not only actively involved in the begging by the children, but they also kidnap, train, force and torture innocent children for that. San Francisco, Sep 11 : Chip-maker Qualcomm on Monday announced that it has entered into an agreement with Apple to supply Snapdragon 5G ModemaRF Systems for its iPhones in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The previous agreement between the two companies was set to expire later this year. The news came after reports speculating that Apple will move to its own in-house 5G modem solution by 2025. The chip-maker said the agreement "reinforces Qualcomm's track record of sustained leadership across 5G technologies and products". Apple will continue to use Qualcomm 5G modems for at least three more years now with the new agreement between the two companies. Apple remains Qualcomm's largest customer, accounting for nearly a quarter of the chipmaker's revenue. Earlier reports mentioned that Apple may move into making in-house 5G modem chips for its 2024 iPhones. Although Apple's most recent iPhone 14 models use Qualcomm modems, the company has been attempting to go it solo in the wireless connectivity market for several years, reports CNBC. Apple bought Intel's modem business in 2019, and there had been speculation it would begin using in-house parts this year. The Cupertino-based tech giant is currently working on its own 5G chip for future iPhones but it may not debut until 2025. Is it a Cold or the Flu?.(photo:IANSLIFE). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 11 : City doctors on Monday said that they are seeing an increase in cases of viral fever, dengue in the national capital region. Recent floods have doubled cases of dengue over the last three weeks and is the highest reported in the last six years, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said in its latest statement. Cases of swine flu and typhoid are also being reported. Speaking to IANS, Ajay Aggarwal, Director of Internal Medicine at Fortis Hospital in Noida, said that there is an increase in the number of acute febrile illness cases. "Viral cases like influenza and dengue have been on the rise. Patients coming in with low platelet counts are seen with an increased frequency since the last month. However, not all cases of low platelet are dengue," Aggarwal said. "Patients generally present with high grade fever with chills along with generalised malaise, weakness, joint pains, cough, vomiting or loose stools -- all of which are included in the viral prodrome syndrome, the doctor said. In addition, there is also swine flu (H1N1). Aggarwal said "10-15 cases of H1N1 flu have been detected in our hospital". However, no cases of Covid have been reported yet, he noted. "There has been a 20-25 per cent rise in people coming with flu-like symptoms," Tushar Tayal, Lead Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS. "Some elderly patients have also required hospital admissions, and consequently developed pneumonia and bronchitis," he added. Tayal said that dengue cases have reduced slightly, compared to the last two weeks. But certain patients are showing overlap in symptoms, who present flu-like symptoms which upon tests are turning positive for dengue, the doctor noted. In addition, there have been multiple cases of hepatitis and typhoid. This was also confirmed by online community platform LocalCircles in its recent survey which showed that one in two households in Delhi-NCR now has one or more individuals with viral symptoms. Households impacted have more than doubled in the last month. The survey, which included over 9,000 residents from Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida and Ghaziabad, revealed a sizable jump in people who are unwell with 50 per cent of households surveyed being affected now than last month. "Blood investigations like CBC are usually done on the third day of fever onset which may reveal low platelet count and neutropenia (low TLC)," Aggarwal said. Also, since dengue causes decreased immunity, it may be complicated by secondary bacterial infections as well, he said. "Treatment of viral febrile illness involves symptomatic management of fever along with adequate hydration. Patients are advised to seek doctor advice in case of very high grade fever, persistent vomiting, bleeding, severe loose motions or respiratory distress," the doctor noted. Patna, Sep 11 : RJD national President Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday said that he is taking the blessings of various gods and goddess before going to the "war" of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife Rabri Devi were in Jharkhand's Deoghar where they offered prayers to Lord Shiva at Baba Baidyanath Dham. "We have visited the temple of Baba and taken the blessings before going into the war of 2024 Lok Sabha poll. We will visit some more temples and take the blessings of god and goddess," he said. Lalu Prasad Yadav and his wife are visiting various temples these days. They had recently visited the Durga temple in Thave block in his home district Gopalganj, then the Harihar Nath temple in Sonepur town of Saran district and Banke Bihari temple in Patna on Janamasthami. On the political scene, he said: "We have formed the opposition alliance called INDIA having 28 parties and its coordination committee meeting will start from September 12. Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and other 13 members who are part of this committee will meet in New Delhi for three days and discuss the seat sharing formula. They will finalise the seat sharing about which candidate will contest from which constituency in the country. "It is going to be a very important meeting for INDIA. Following that meeting, we will decide the future course of action to combat the BJP and the NDA. I will soon start the political campaign in different districts of Bihar." Asked about who will be the "bridegroom" INDIA, the RJD chief said that there are 28 parties in the alliance and they will choose the bridegroom after the 2024 polls. On the G20 summit, he asked what benefit did it have for the poor people of the country. "They (the Modi government) have spent crores of money on it but can they describe what kind of benefit common poor people have with such an event? They are just doing hypocrisy and making tall claims but this time people of the country understand your hypocrisy. You will face definite whitewash in 2024. No one will defeat INDIA this time," he said. "(Prime Minister) Narendra Modi is cheating the people of the country. In by-elections, the NDA was defeated in Jharkhand, West Bengal and other places. Unemployment, price rise, poverty is increasing in the country and they are trying to finish the Constitution of the country. We will not allow them to do that. They will be defeated and we will save the constitution of the country written by Baba Sahab Bhim Rao Ambedkar," he added. Jalgaon : , Sep 11 (IANS) A man in Maharashtra's Jalgaon brutally killed a stray dog for damaging the seat of his tractor, as per a video going viral on social media, and evoking disgust and outrage from viewers. he disturbing footage shows an elderly man tying a rope around the dog's neck and hanging it from his tractor for damaging his tractor's seat cover. The video was initially shared on Instagram by Fight Against Animal Cruelties (FAAC), shedding light on this heart-wrenching incident. The caption accompanying the video posed a question, questioning whether the life of a dog was considered less valuable than a mere seat cover. The post gained attention and outrage on social media, prompting a response from individuals and animal rights advocates. SAS India Founder & National President Nitesh Anil Khare pledged to take action in the case. He confirmed that the accused was in police custody, as reported by local police, and he intended to visit the location to investigate further. Many users expressed their outrage over the incident, calling for justice and harsh punishment for the perpetrator. Mumbai, Sep 11 : An all-party meeting, presided over by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Monday decided to appoint a committee to decide on the Maratha reservations in education and jobs sector within a month, belying expectations that a final decision would be taken on the issue to end the stalemate. The all-party meet also unanimously passed a resolution urging the Shivba Sanghatana leader Manoj Jarange-Patil to give time to the committee to submit its report in one month and call off his hunger strike immediately, the CM told media persons after the discussions. "We all the leaders are extremely concerned about Jarange-Patilas healtha We are fully committed to give the Maratha quotas and the committee will decide. It can also have representatives of the Maratha community including Jarange-Patil," he said. In Jalna, in a brief initial reaction, an adamant Jarange-Patil told media persons that he would take a decision on ending his 14-day-long hunger-strike after discussing with his team members on Tuesday. Besides, the government has decided to withdraw all the police cases filed against the protesting Marathas who were subjected to a crackdown in Jalna on September 1, sparking off a huge political furore. "We have directed the police to forthwith withdraw all the cases filed against the protestors. We have also decided to suspend three senior officers who were responsible for the police baton charge that day in Antaravli-Sarati village," said Shinde, referring to the demands of Jarange-Patil. He mentioned that earlier Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio has already tendered an apology for the police action, and now all the other demands of the community have been accepted, and now the Jarange-Patil should break his fast in the interest of law and order. The CM added that representatives of all the parties were unanimous over giving the reservations to the Maratha community but without affecting the existing quotas of any other community or groups or meting injustice to any section. "We are committed to the reservations and the panel will now decide how it is to be done as there are several legal issues involved. I personally appeal to Jarange-Patil and on behalf of all the state leaders to call off his hunger strike right away," said Shinde. The all-party meeting was attended by Shinde, Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Ministers, government officials, Leaders of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar (Assembly) and Ambadas Danve (Council), senior leaders of Congress, both factions of Nationalist Congress Party, the ruling alliance of Shiv Sena-BJP, all other big and small parties, the descendants of the Chhatrapati clan and others, though the Shiv Sena-UBT led by ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray was not invited. Jarange-Patil welcomed the move to withdraw cases against the Maratha protestors and the action on the police personnel but ruled out the possibility of joining the newly-formed government panel. New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday said that the Indian Navy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber. The MoU aims to provide reliable, convenient, safe and economical mobility solutions for naval personal and families across the country. It said that the Uber will also extend certain benefits to Indian Naval personnel and their families. "It will include a personalised profile on the Uber App. Premier Executive Cab Category providing surge price protection during peak office hours. Availability of Top-rated drivers. Zero cancellation fee on all Uber rides. It will also provide 24x7 Premium business support," it said. It said that the MoU was signed in the presence of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, Kala Hari Kumar, President NWWA and Abhinav Mittoo, Senior Country Manager, Uber for Business, Under India South Asia and Egypt. "This MoU aligns with CNS's vision of 'Happy Personnel' under 'SHIPS FIRST' and is a maiden initiative in the Armed Forces. It is also in furtherance of Govt. of India's 'Digital India' vision of embracing technology for transformative change," the MoD said. Kohima, Sep 11 : After all members of the Nagaland Assembly on Monday unanimously opposed the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio demanded that the state should be exempted from the UCC as a single law which deals with all matters relating to marriage and divorce, succession and inheritance, and adoption, including personal laws and practices. Participating in the discussion on the UCC in the first day of the three-day Assembly session, he said that the state should be exempted on the grounds of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, 9-Point Agreement, 1947 and 16-Point Agreement, 1960. Under the BEFR, the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system was introduced in Nagaland and other northeastern states while the 9-Point Agreement granted judicial, executive and legislative powers, as well as autonomy in land-related matters in Nagaland and under the 16-Point Agreement 1960, the Centre recognised the formation of Nagaland as a full-fledged state. Participating in the discussion, MLA Imkong L. Imchen highlighted that the implementation of UCC could potentially lead to inconvenience for the people of Nagaland. He further noted that the verbal assurance from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to exempt Nagaland from the UCC. The Naga Peopleas Front legislature party leader, Kuzholuzo Nienu said that any attempt to enforce UCC on the diverse communities across the country would be futile and counterproductive and that it would be a direct threat to the fabric of a communitarian tribal ethos and values. Imposing UCC is betraying the hope and trust of the minorities, especially the tribal communities, for whom constitutional provisions, like Article 371 (A), has been provided to protect and promote the customs, values and practices, he said. Noting that though the Union Home Minister has given verbal assurance to Nagaland Chief Minister, Nienu urged the members of the house not to rely on verbal assurances and called upon the MLAs to pass a resolution seeking an exemption in toto. Power and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, K.G. Kenye stated that Article 371(A) was left unused for the past few decades and has been in the limelight only a few years back. He said that Article 371(A) safeguards social and religious practices and provides constitutional guarantee. MLA Achumbemo Kikon said that the UCC governs matters including marriage and divorce, succession and inheritance, adoption including other personal laws, though it is not enforceable in the court of law. "Therefore, UCC should not come to our land for whatsoever reasons," he stated. MLA Neisato Mero said the idea of UCC is "One nation One vote". "It is also a threat to our social, religious, customary laws, and direct indulgence to our personal laws besides contradicting Article 371 (A)," he added. MLA Jwenga Seb said that UCC would have negative implications on their personal laws and traditions though its protection is clearly incorporated in the Constitution of India, and therefore, the state be exempted for the state by passing a resolution in the Assembly. --IANS sc/vd New Delhi, Sep 11 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to release the Dominican Republic passport of Unitech promoter Sanjay Chandra's wife Preeti Chandra which was earlier seized by the anti-money laundering agency during the investigation. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, directed the return of passport pursuant to her undertaking that she will submit it to the authorities for renouncing the citizenship of Dominica and for no other purpose. Senior advocate Siddharth Aggarwal apprised the bench that Preeti Chandra has applied for grant of Indian citizenship and has also placed an advertisement in newspaper seeking to relinquish her citizenship of the Caribbean nation. Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for Centre, stated that he has no objection to the return of the passport in view of her undertaking. On August 4, the Supreme Court affirmed the bail granted to Preeti Chandra by the Delhi High Court after noting that she has already undergone over 620 days in custody. It had directed her to unconditionally undertake to relinquish her Dominican citizenship and to apply for Indian citizenship. In addition to the terms and conditions which have been imposed by the High Court, the top directed that Preeti Chandra will not leave the limits of the NCR region. It added that she will report once every two weeks to the Investigating Officer and will not dispose of any property without specific permission of the special court. Hyderabad, Sep 11 : When a wallet is found lying on road or any other public place, the passersby get tempted to pick it up. It gets more tempting if a currency note is seen peeping out of the wallet. This is what a few people in Hyderabad did but soon realised that someone had played a prank. However, this prank was played by no one other than the Cyberabad police to create awareness on cybercrimes. It is not a wallet with Rs.500 currency note. It is a creative pamphlet to make people aware of cyber crimes. On picking up the awalleta and opening it, one realises that it is a flyer. It reads: "Real vs Rogue, Just like this wallet, online fakes abound. If you are a cyber victim and lost money call 1930 Stay vigilant Stay secure." The Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TSCSB) came up with this innovative idea to create awareness. Headed by Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Raveendra, the TSCSB was launched in March to combat cybercrime. --IANS ms/vd Kolkata, Sep 11 : A Class 11 student of a reputed English medium school in south Kolkata was abducted from in front of broad daylight on Monday afternoon. Police have started investigating the matter while the event has posed serious questions about the safety and security of the city where the student had been abducted in broad daylight during the busy hours of a crowded locality in the busy afternoon hours. Eye-witnesses told the police officials that on Monday afternoon after the end of the school hours, the student had walked out from the school premises, when suddenly the group of miscreants came in motorcycles and grabbed him. "The student tried to resist but the miscreants overpowered him because of their numerical supremacy. Then they forced him to sit on one of the motorcycles and vanished from the scene," said an eye-witness. The cops from the local Lake Police station immediately rushed to the spot and first they checked the CCTV cameras that were installed in the locality. The cops suspect that the abduction was an outcome of some old enmity either with the student or with any of his family members. All the police stations in the city have been alerted and copies of photographs of the abducted student being sent there. Special checking has started at the exit points of the city. New Delhi, Sep 11 : India and Saudi Arabia on Monday praised the bilateral burgeoning trade ties and noted that it has increased to more than $52 billion in 2022-23, marking a growth of more than 23 per cent. Both sides also noted that India is the second largest trade partner of Saudi Arabia, while Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest trade partner of India and thus agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the area of trade remedies. A joint statement issued during the state visit of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to India on September 11, said that while praising the growth achieved in trade between the two friendly countries, both sides stressed the importance of continuing joint work to enhance and diversify bilateral trade. Both sides also supported the early India-GCC free trade agreement negotiation commencement, the statement added. It said that the India and Saudi Arabia agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in the area of payment systems including the acceptance of RuPAY card in Saudi Arabia for the benefit of Indian community in general and more particularly the Hajj/Umrah pilgrims. They also agreed to further discuss fintech cooperation. It said that the two sides highlighted the importance of energy cooperation as an important pillar of the strategic partnership between the two countries, and stressed the importance of supporting the stability of the world's oil markets by encouraging dialogue and cooperation between producing and consuming countries, and ensuring the security of energy supply sources in the world markets. It said that the Saudi side affirmed the Kingdom's commitment to be a reliable partner and exporter of crude oil supplies to India. The two sides look forward to boost joint cooperation in the fields of electricity and grid interconnection between the two countries, in addition to cooperating in the field of hydrogen and its derivatives. "They agreed to develop joint projects to transform oil into petrochemicals in the two countries, and providing the necessary support, requirements and enablers to accelerate the project of West Coast Refinery. The two sides agreed to explore investment opportunities in the field of fertilisers and intermediate, transformative and specialised petrochemicals in both countries," the statement said. It said that the two sides agreed to explore cooperation in fields of promoting the utilisation of sustainable advanced hydrocarbon materials, energy efficiency and rationalisation of its consumption in the sectors of buildings, industry and transportation, and raising awareness of its importance. The Saudi side expressed gratitude for India's support for invitation extended to Saudi Arabia to join BRICS. It said that several MoUs were signed and exchanged, which included a pact in the field of energy between Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India and Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia. An agreement between Ministry of Communication and IT of Saudi Arabia and MEITY of India in the field of Digitisation and Electronic manufacturing was also signed. An MOU between CVC of India and Saudi Oversight and Anti Corruption Authority was inked. Another pact between National Archives of India and King Abdulaziz Foundation of Saudi Arabia in the area of archival cooperation too was signed. A framework of cooperation on enhancing bilateral investment between Invest India and Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia was signed. An MoU between Saudi EXIM Bank and EXIM Bank of India was also inked. Also a pact for cooperation in the Technical Field & Establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank between SIDBI and SME Bank of Saudi Arabia was also signed. Another pact on seawater desalination between National Institute of Technology of India and Saline Water Conversion Corporation of Saudi Arabia was also signed. The two sides affirmed their full support for the international and regional efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Yemen. The Indian side appreciated Saudi Arabia's many initiatives aimed at encouraging dialogue between the Yemeni parties, and its role in providing and facilitating access of humanitarian aid to all regions of Yemen. The Saudi side also appreciated the Indian effort in providing humanitarian aid to Yemen. The two sides stressed the importance of supporting the Presidential Leadership Council in the Republic of Yemen. The two sides also appreciated the international efforts to reinforce commitment to the armistice, and stressed the importance of the positive engagements by all Yemeni parties with international efforts aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis and dealing positively with peace initiatives and efforts. They expressed their hope for achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant UN resolutions, to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The two sides stressed the importance of achieving security and stability in Afghanistan and forming an inclusive government that represents all spectrums of the Afghan people, and not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a platform or safe haven for terrorist and extremist groups. They also emphasised the importance of a concerted international efforts to combat drug trafficking and provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, and the necessity of its continuation, and facilitating humanitarian aid access to the Afghan people. The two sides praised the cooperation achieved in security fields, and affirmed their desire to open new horizons to enhance this cooperation in order to achieve security and stability for the two friendly countries. They also emphasised the importance of furthering cooperation between both sides in the areas of cyber security, maritime security, combating transnational crime, narcotics and drug trafficking. The two sides agreed on the importance of cooperation to promote ways to ensure the security and safety of waterways and freedom of navigation in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The two sides also stressed the importance of strengthening security cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and its financing. Both sides emphasised that terrorism, in all its forms, remains one of the gravest threats to humanity. They agreed that there cannot be any justification for any act of terror for any reason whatsoever. They rejected any attempt to link terrorism to any particular race, religion or culture. Both sides called on all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructure where it exists and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice swiftly. They also stressed the need to prevent access to weapons including missiles and drones to commit terrorist acts against other countries. New Delhi: Congress MP B. K. Hariprasad talks to the media at Parliament, in New Delhi on Aug 9, 2018. B.K. Hariprasad was fielded by opposition parties as UPA's candidate in the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson's election where he was defeated by NDA . Image Source: IANS News Bengaluru, Sep 12 : Congress infighting is continuing in Karnataka with Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil on Monday warning party MLC B.K. Hariprasad against targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. "Hariprasad is a senior party leader. He had been General Secretary of AICC, member of Rajya Sabha. He had also worked in the Legislative Council and he should not have made those statements. The national leaders will not sit quiet over them," Patil said. "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Singh Surjewala, K.C. Venugopal are close to Hariprasad. In this background, he should have discussed all matters within the party forum. But, he had gone to the streets and this is not good. He will face consequences," he added. He also maintained that there is no internal strife in Congress. Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara has stated that the high command has taken note of the statements by Hariprasad. "Those are his personal comments. He had made comments on me and I thank him for that. Everything will be discussed at the level of High Command," he maintained. Hariprasad had stated that Dalits and OBC leaders like Parameshwara are snubbed bySiddaramaiah. He is holding public events one after the other and launching an offensive against CM Siddaramaiah. Hariprasad was a cabinet post aspirant but sources explain that Siddaramaiah ensured he is not included. Hariprasad belongs to DyCM D.K. Shivakumar camp, according to party sources. Meanwhile, sources said that Kharge spoke to Hariprasad and asked him to wait for an appropriate time for his demands to be fulfilled. He had spoken to him on issuing public statements against Siddaramaiah and challenging the Congress government. Hyderabad, Sep 12 : Hyderabad police on Monday arrested five employees of a hotel for allegedly beating a customer to death after an argument over extra curd for biryani. Two policemen have also been suspended for negligence. The shocking incident occurred at Meridian restaurant at Panjagutta in the heart of the city on Sunday night. Mohammed Liyaqat, 31, and his friends, who were having dinner at the restaurant, asked the waiter for extra curd (Raita) with biryani. This led to an argument. Soon other employees of the hotel came forward in support of the waiter. A fight broke between the two sides. Police from Panjagutta Police Station also reached the hotel. Liyaqat, a resident of Chandrayangutta in the old city and his friends, were taken to the police station, where he collapsed. The police shifted him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. The victimas body was shifted to Gandhi Hospital for autopsy. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) MLC Mirza Rahmat Baig Quadri reached there and demanded justice for the victimas family. Police registered a case on a complaint by Saleem Khan, a friend of Liyaqat. It booked hotel staff and also the owner. Five hotel employees were arrested. They were identified as Krishna Surya Prakash, Malavath Pandu, Alamdar, Abdul Nazeer, and Moin. Meanwhile, two policemen have also been suspended for negligence in discharging their duties. Panjagutta Inspector of Police suspended Sub-Inspector Shiva Shankar and constable Ramesh. --IANS ms/vd Ahmedabad, Sep 12 : The Gujarat High Court has expressed apprehension over a situation where "protectors become perpetrators". This concern arose during a hearing related to two traffic police constables and a traffic brigade jawan accused of extorting money from a couple travelling in a cab at night in Ahmedabad. The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee, requested a report to determine if similar incidents had occurred in other cities across Gujarat. Additionally, the court directed authorities to ensure that helpline numbers are prominently displayed in taxis, facilitating easy access for individuals in crisis. "People are safe, no doubt. But if perpetrators are protectors... the issue here is not about criminals. Protectors are perpetrators, we are worried about this situation," said the chief justice. The court initiated the suo motu case following a news report highlighting an incident involving two traffic police jawans and a TRB jawan. The incident involved forcibly entering a cab during a late-night checking drive and threatening a couple returning from Ahmedabad airport after an overseas trip with legal action for violating the police commissioner's notification. During the incident, one policeman took the male passenger to a police van, while the other two remained in the cab, where the woman and her one-year-old son were present. The couple was subjected to a terrifying ordeal as it transpired in an isolated location. The constables initially demanded Rs 2 lakh to release the couple but eventually settled for Rs 60,000 as the victims did not have sufficient cash. The accused also compelled the male passenger to withdraw cash from an ATM nearby, as detailed in the court's report. Government pleader Manisha Lavkumar Shah informed the bench that an FIR had been filed against the implicated traffic officials and the TRB jawan. Subsequently, they were arrested, with the two constables being suspended, while the TRB jawan, employed on an honorarium basis, had service terminated. An investigation has been initiated against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the police commissioner issued a circular to prevent harassment of citizens arriving from stations during late-night hours. All in-charge officers of police stations received strict instructions to conduct roll calls of officers and home guard jawans during night rounds. The government pleader emphasised that all police officers and home guard jawans in night duty "must wear nameplates on their uniforms, and stringent action will be taken against those found missing". The high court directed the "police to expedite the departmental inquiry against the suspended constables" and scheduled the next hearing for September 20. Smoke rises from the Crater Creek (K52125) wildfire near Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada, 15 August 2023. BC Wildfire Service / REUTERS By Susanna Twidale and Sarah Mcfarlane 1 September 2023 LONDON (Reuters) Voluntary carbon markets have shrunk for the first time in at least seven years, as companies including food giant Nestle and fashion house Gucci reduced buying and studies found several forest protection projects did not deliver promised emissions savings. Preserving forests is crucial to meeting international goals to limit global temperature increases to prevent the most extreme consequences of global warming. The decline is also bad news for poorer nations that stand to lose if the flow of funds from multinational companies to fund climate mitigation projects slows. Kenya, for instance, is seeking to become a hub for trading in carbon offsets, which are based on projects such as tree planting to mitigate greenhouse gases a company generates. Demand for carbon credits is on track to fall in 2023, according to two of the top data providers. The number of credits used by companies fell 6% in the first half of the year, the first dip in at least seven years, data from BloombergNEF shows. Data from consultancy Ecosystem Marketplace showed a sharper fall of 8% over the same period. Both providers data may be updated retroactively as offsets registries are revised. Gucci did not give financial detail on its carbon offset stake or comment on why it deleted claims from its website earlier this year that it is entirely carbon neutral. Gucci is in the process of reviewing its climate strategy and commitments with a view to achieving the most positive overall impact, a spokesperson for the company said in an emailed statement. Nestle, which has also not disclosed its spending on offsets, said it would stop using carbon offsets and was seeking other routes to net zero. In addition it has scrapped plans to make products including its KitKat wafer snacks carbon neutral. We are moving away from investing in carbon offsets for our brands to invest in programmes and practices that help reduce GHG emissions in our own supply-chain and operations, where it makes the most difference to reach our net zero ambition, it said in an emailed statement. Three people, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, said Gucci had stopped buying carbon offsets from South Pole. South Pole CEO Renat Heuberger told Reuters the company had followed the approved methodology for the project at all times. There is no other way to do deforestation projects. You cannot know ten years in advance what the deforestation rates will be, he said. THE PRICE OF QUALITY Ecosystem Marketplace said the quality of schemes was an issue. A number of negative studies on carbon credits caused enough concern for some companies to pause purchasing and wait for more guidance on what sort of credits they should buy, Stephen Donofrio, managing director of Ecosystem Marketplace said. Companies are moving in the right direction, in that there is growing preference for higher quality, more expensive, credits. Studies published in January and March by news organisations showed that the large project developer South Pole, along with carbon credit certifier Verra, were linked to forest protection credits that did not deliver the promised carbon savings. Until this year, the voluntary carbon market had grown as more companies came under shareholder pressure to adopt net zero policies. The market was worth around $2 billion in 2021 and Shell and Boston Consulting Group jointly forecast in January that it could reach between $10 billion and $40 billion by 2030. But carbon credits have long struggled to inspire confidence. Environmental groups say they allow companies to appear to take climate action when in reality they are not cutting emissions. PRICE SLIDE As demand slowed, prices of carbon offsets traded via Xpansiv market CBL, the worlds largest spot carbon exchange, fell by more than 80% over the last 18-20 months. Its Global Emission Offset (GEO) contract, which includes projects eligible under the airlines CORSIA offsetting scheme, was around $1.60 per tonne in July, down from a peak of $8.85 per tonne in November 2021. Its Nature-based-GEO at $2.60 per tonne, was down from a high of $11.75 per tonne in January 2022. Companies use voluntary carbon markets, where they trade carbon offset credits representing the avoidance or removal of carbon emissions, to mitigate any greenhouse gases they generate. But measuring carbon savings is difficult. Analysts say most projects overestimate benefits that may be short-lived given trees for instance are easily destroyed. Airline EasyJet said last September it would wind down its offsetting programme to focus on cutting emissions from its operations. Theres no denying that its an area that theres been a fair amount of media discussion and uncertainty about, said Jane Ashton, sustainability director at EasyJet. EasyJet had purchased forest protection offsets certified by Verra. Ashton said the company had been reassured by third party assessments that it had delivered promised carbon savings. Verra says it will publish updated rules for forest protection projects in the third quarter. Naomi Swickard, senior director at Verra, said negative press had unfortunately driven some companies to ask: why would I do this and invest in something that might just result with being attacked in the press? In some cases, that is undermining corporate willingness to act on climate at all, she said. One of the projects criticised for overestimating carbon savings and certified by Verra was Zimbabwes Kariba, which has not made a sale since October, Steve Wentzel, director of Carbon Green Investments, which set up the Kariba project told Reuters. Wentzel said that the project was financed for a couple of years but after that, the outlook was uncertain. SECOND THOUGHTS For the carbon markets, another issue is that regulators and carbon market advisory bodies are limiting the scope of their use by companies. The United Nations, and the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI) say companies should not be over-reliant on them. The EU Parliament plans to ban the use of environmental claims based solely on carbon offsetting schemes from next year, while the blocs draft carbon reporting standards require companies to report their carbon footprint before subtracting any carbon credits or avoided emissions. Stockholm-based consultancy Normative, which helps companies to calculate their carbon footprint, says clients are becoming wary of using credits and understand that without proper due diligence of what they are buying, they risk being accused of greenwashing. They (companies) dont see carbon credits as a supplement to actually reducing their emissions, said Kristian Ronn, co-founder of Normative. You need to reduce emissions and thats how you will be judged in the market when youre disclosing your carbon emissions. Possible legal action is a further deterrent. The airline KLM faces a civil suit in a Dutch court, brought by environmental groups in relation to commercials that allegedly misled consumers about the airlines environmental credentials, including its use of offsets. KLM said it looked forward to arguing its case and would continue to seek to improve communication with customers. Companies such as Tullow Oil are opting to develop their own projects rather than rely on external providers. It is working on a forest conservation project in Ghana, and expects to take a final investment decision this year. Having closer involvement ensures we are set up for success from the start. On the downside, investing in our own project, as opposed to buying existing offsets from the market, gives an added reputational risk, which is why we have the governance role in it, Rob Hayward, Tullows climate change lead, said. Carbon credit market confidence ebbs as big names retreat Patna, Sep 12 : A rape victim of Bihar's Nawada district on Monday threatened to self-immolate herself in front of the District Magistrate's office if police do not arrest the accused in the next 8 days. The victim has filed a complaint with the SDO office of Nawada seeking immediate action against the accused. She claimed that she was sexually brutalised two and half months ago but police have not arrested the accused so far. As a result, he is roaming freely in the village and threatening dire consequences and blackmailing her, she said. The victim claimed that an FIR had been registered on June 24 this year in Dhamaul police station but police have not taken any action against the accused. She claimed that if district police would not arrest the accused till September 15, she will do a dharna at DM office on September 16 and 17. Then she will do a hunger strike for a day on September 18 and will immolate herself on September 19 at 12 noon and the district administration will be held guilty for her death. Patna, Sep 11 : A 15 year-old student committed suicide in hostel of a private school in Bihar's Rajgir city on Monday. The victim's family alleged that the school-cum-hostel operator was harassing him for the last few days after a theft incident took place inside the hostel premises. The incident occurred at Gyan Sidha Public School located at Tera katari Mor in Rajgir in Nalanda district. The victim, identified as Shiv Shankar Kumar, allegedly had stolen Rs 2,000 from a fellow student. As a result of the humiliation, the victim went under depression. The police said that the victim has shared his ordeal with the parents. Shiv Shankar, after attending the class, reached the hostel early and hanged himself from the ceiling fan. His younger brother Uma Shankar Kumar, also studying in the same school, informed about the incident to the parents. Following the incident, all school operators, teachers and other staff have fled from the spot. "We have received a written complaint against the school operator. Raids are going on to nab the accused," said an officer of Rajgir police station. New Delhi, Sep 12 : The Delhi High Court has upheld trial court's order acquitting a man accused of forcibly keeping a minor girl in his house and repeatedly raping her. A division bench ofJustices Suresh Kumar Kait amd Neena Krishna Bansal said that while the testimony of the victim alone can establish guilt in a rape case, it must consider the overall facts and circumstances of the case to arrive at a just decision. The State had filed an appeal against the trial court's order. It was dimissed by the bench. The court stated that the prosecution not only failed to provide the exact age of the prosecutrix but also couldn't prove that the accused had forcibly engaged in physical relations with her. The court made observations regarding the victim's behaviour, noting that she had visited the accused's native village, claiming to be his wife, and did not raise any alarm on earlier occasions. This led the court to suggest that a "false accusation" could not be ruled out. The accused had faced criminal proceedings based on an FIR for alleged offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO). The court also upheld the acquittal of the accused's father in the matter, granting him the "benefit of doubt." Furthermore, the bench found it highly unbelievable that the victim claimed the accused had sexual relations with her on three occasions in a public park, yet she neither raised an alarm nor did anyone in the public notice the incidents. The court also pointed out that the house had two doors, windows, and ventilators at her height level, but she did not make any effort to escape, suggesting that she willingly continued to live in the accused's house for 27 days. The court said that the prosecution had not presented any document to establish the correct age of the prosecutrix, who initially claimed to be 17 years old and later stated in court that she was 19. Her complainant brother claimed she was 12 years old. The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. New Delhi : Jagdeep Dhankhar administered oath to newly elected Members of Rajya Sabha in Parliament House. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 11 : Praveen Sinha, former chief of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday gave a detailed presentation on the three criminal justice bills with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, sources said. The source said that in the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on these bills, former CBI Director presented a comparative study of the old laws and changes in the new bills. Besides Sinha, Joint Secretary of Legal Affairs Department Padmini Singh and BPR&D officer Anupama Nilekar Chandra also presented their views. The source said that during the meeting the experts gave presentations on the three bills -- the criminal justice laws through the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Bill and Bharatiya Sakshya Bill. He said that the committee members asked the experts questions to understand some of the issues. BJP MP Brijlal is the chairman of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Home, while Congress MPs P Chidambaram, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Trinamool Congress's Derek O'Brien, Bharatiya Janata Party's Rakesh Sinha, Neeraj Shekhar, Satyapal Singh etc. were present in the committee meeting held on Monday. The Parliamentary Standing Committee will also again meet on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, Vikarm Singh, former Director General of Police and Keshav Kumar, former Director General of Police & Director Anti-Corruption Bureau Gujarat will participate in the meeting in the first half, while Professor Naveen Chaudhary, National Forensic Sciences, University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat will join the meeting in the second half. On Wednesday, the details of the domain experts will be intimated in due course. Last month, the standing committee, chaired by Rajya Sabha MP Brijlal, had held its first set of meetings to examine the three bills. The meetings, held from August 24 to 26, saw home secretary A K Bhalla making a detailed presentation to the MPs on the provisions of the three bills. Many opposition MPs, particularly from the DMK, objected to Hindi nomenclatures of the bills and questioned the short 15-day window granted to the committee members to study the bills and submit their views. Congress MP Digvijaya Singh accused the government of "bulldozing" through the consultation process. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien wondered why the committee's first meeting was held days before it was due to be reconstituted. Home Minister Amit Shah on August 11 in Lok Sabha introduced three bills saying these Bills will completely overhaul the British-era Indian criminal laws, the Indian Penal Code (1860), Code of Criminal Procedure (1898), and the Indian Evidence Act (1872). Shah introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 which seeks to replace the IPC, the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita Bill which seeks to replace the CrPC and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 which seeks to replace the Indian Evidence Act, in Lok Sabha on the last day of the monsoon session. Referring to the three bills for consideration of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on home affairs, Shah said that the earlier laws strengthened British rule, while the proposed laws will protect the rights of the citizens and give speedy justice to the people. New Delhi: A view of the Supreme Court in New Delhi on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 12 : The Supreme Court has said that it is the duty of the police authorities to produce an accused lodged in prison before the trial court. A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Prashant Kumar Mishra made the observation in a recent order, adding that an accused cannot be blamed for the negligence on behalf of the police authorities. It directed the release of the petitioner on bail taking note of the fact that he is behind the bars from a period of one year and four months and the charge sheet has already been filed. The special leave petition seeking bail was opposed on the ground that the petitioner did not appear before the trial court and as such, warrants came to be issued. "The petitioner is directed to be released on bail in connection with Case Crime No. 351 of 2021 registered at Police Station Bhamora, District Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, to the satisfaction of the trial court," ordered the Supreme Court, saying that he will cooperate with the expeditious disposal of the trial. --IANS puneet/vd K'taka: Two hotel owners arrested for serving beef instead of mutton. Image Source: IANS News Guwahati, Sep 12 : The Assam Police have nabbed a CBI official who has been suspected of attempting to extort money from a trader in the state's Nagaon district. Nabaneet Mahanta, Superintendent of Police, Nagaon district, said they looked into the allegations after a local resident apprised them about the matter. "After obtaining sufficient proof against CBI employees, we apprehended him and turned him over to the CBI's higher authorities. The CBI will take more measures, and they might file a case against him," Mahanta said. The arrested individual was identified as Ananta Bharali, a CBI Constable, allegedly sought Rs 10,000 in order to end a businessman's case in Nagaon's Kachua neighbourhood. On Monday, the merchant who goes by the name Abul Malek reported the suspected extortion to a top police officer in Nagaon. "Malek told the police that on Monday morning, Ananta Bharali showed up at his house and introduced himself as a CBI officer. He discussed a matter with Malek and requested money from him if he wanted the situation to be resolved," according to an official. Malek claimed to have received a call from an unknown number, and the caller identified himself as a CBI employee. "He informed me that if I give him Rs 10,000, he can halt the ongoing case. I asked him to show me the paperwork, but he was unable to do so," Malek told the reporters on Monday. There is no official statement from the CBI yet on this matter. Patna, Sep 12 : A Special NIA court in Bihar has sentenced a convict in the East Champaran fake currency case to 10 years rigorous imprisonment. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on convict Munna Singh, the sixth accused in the case. Singh was held guilty on September 5 under various sections of the IPC. A total of 10 accused were involved in the case relating to the seizure of high quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs) of face value of Rs 5,94,000 from Afroz Ansari. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had nabbed him near Ramgarhwa, Motihari, East Champaran, while he was carrying the fake currency consignment to Raxaul, near the Indo-Nepal border, for further delivery in Nepal. During investigations in the case, the NIA arrested and charge-sheeted a total of eight persons between 2016 and 2023. Four of the accused, namely Ansari, Sunny Kumar alias Kabir Khan, Ashraful Alam, and Alomgir Seikh, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 30,000, by the NIA special court in October 2018. Another accused, Raisuddin, was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs 5,000 last month. The case was originally registered on September 19, 2015 and taken over by the NIA on December 23 of the same year. --IANS atk/vd Guwahati, Sep 12 : In yet another crackdown on drug smuggling, the Assam police arrested three persons hailing from Manipur for allegedly trying to smuggle in narcotics, an official said on Monday. The market value of the seized drugs is estimated at around Rs 21 crore, the police said. This is the second case in the last couple of weeks wherein a consignment of narcotics was seized by the Assam Police which was brought from Manipur. A senior police officer said: "The car carrying narcotic substances has origin in Manipur and traveled via Mizoram, the Barak Valley region of Assam, and Meghalaya before arriving in Guwahati and continuing on to West Bengal." Three suspected drug dealers were arrested by police are residents of Thoubal district of Manipur. Police claimed that the drugs were concealed in a vehicle's hidden chambers. At least 198 soap boxes were recovered from the vehicle which contained narcotic substances. The police claimed that the market value of the seized drugs must be around Rs 21 crore. The seizure happened in Jorabat area near Guwahati at the Assam-Meghalaya border on late Sunday night. Earlier, on September 1, the Assam Police seized narcotics worth Rs 7 crore in Cachar district and arrested one woman on charges of drug peddling. Superintendent of Police in Cachar district, Numal Mahatta, said that the consignment of drugs was transported from Churachandpur district of Manipur. "Based on secret information, a police team conducted a special operation against the transportation of narcotic substances at Labok village, in the district. While police raided in the house of a 38-year-old woman, Meena Kumari Sarma, drugs hidden in 100 soap boxes were recovered," the police officer said. A total of 1.30 kg of narcotic substances suspected to be heroin were seized by the police. Meena Kumari Sarma was also arrested. Bengaluru, Sep 12 : Transport strike on Monday affected commuters across Karnataka, especially in the country's Silicon Valley Bengaluru. The Outer Ring Road Companies Association (ORRCA), an association for all companies located between Bengaluru's Central Silk Board Junction and Krishnarajapuram in Outer Ring Road and Arterial Roads, has expressed concerns over "unruly behaviour" of protesters on the streets in broad daylight. The protesters allegedly pelted stones, eggs at several vehicles and cabs for "defying the strike call" made by the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association. The videos of protesters slapping, manhandling and abusing drivers for defying strike have also surfaced online. The ORRCA, sharing purported videos of some protesters engaged in hooliganism, wrote on its social media handle: "FIRs should be filed and these culprits damaging property should be arrested and some action is required else such behaviours will go unabated and will continue." Majority of IT companies had declared work from home on Monday as the bandh call was given in advance. Though the work and commute did not affect the IT companies, the core team which had to reach office were ferried early in the morning and the employees had to use their own vehicles. Many techies reached offices in public transport especially Metro. Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association had called for a bandh against the implementation of free travel for women scheme under which women are allowed to travel free in state-owned buses across the state. As many as 37 private transport associations including auto rickshaw drivers, taxi, maxi cab and private bus operators extended their support to the bandh call. State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the bandh was observed by 37 organisations. "The free travel for women scheme and hike in taxes are done during Congress government rule while the remaining decisions were taken during previous governments. I have been assured that most of their demands would be fulfilled. A development corporation for drivers would be established," Reddy said. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to declined to fulfill the major demand of the protesting transporters. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said: "The private transporters are making unrealistic demands." Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar dubbed the bandh call an attempt to "blackmail the government and play politics". "It is not a good to blackmail the government and put passengers into inconvenience. Women are benefited by the free travel Shakti scheme," Shivakumar added. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said that the owners of private buses are in crisis in the backdrop of implementation of the free travel scheme. "We will take action in this regard. Even if auto drivers are in trouble, we will look into it as we are aware of the situation," he asserted. Satcoms company Astranis is partnering with Mexican ISP Apco Networks on what it describes as a two-satellite programme to bring affordable broadband internet to five million people. Astranis was founded in 2015 with the aim of connecting the world by reducing the cost of internet services in rural and remote areas with small, powerful satellites for geostationary orbit. These are much smaller than traditional GEO machines, which can weigh multiple tons. Astranis says the satellites, launching in 2024, will become the first Ka-band satellites ever dedicated to Mexico. Apco Networks has 19 years of experience providing end-to-end satellite connectivity solutions in Mexico under the brand name Aitelecom. Astranis points out that Apco has the local expertise that is necessary to successfully roll out connectivity services in a market as diverse as Mexico. It also has an innovative, long-term partnership with a ground solutions provider that will enable Apco to serve a unique role in the Mexican connectivity ecosystem. Astranis says its satellites will allow Apco to provide a managed service for many different kinds of connectivity Wi-Fi sites, direct-to-enterprise, and backhaul for rural cell sites. Apco is said to be eager to partner with other internet service providers in Mexico, a strategy that helps supply local solutions that fit local demand. This agreement comes only a few months after Astranis announced plans to launch and operate a new small broadband GEO satellite in 2024 that will provide connectivity over the Philippines. The website Data Centre Dynamics adds that US-based mobile satellite connectivity specialist Anuvu and Peruvian cellular backhaul provider Andesat have also ordered satellites from Astranis. Philippines operator Globe Telecom partnered with insurance technology company Bolttech to launch a mobile phone trade-in programme to spur post-paid subscriber upgrades. In a statement, Singapore-headquartered Bolttech revealed the companies are launching the Gadget Xchange mobile device programme which enables not only device replacements but also repairs across multiple smartphone brands. The service is for post-paid subscribers and starts at PHP89 per month for entry-level phones and a maximum of PHP499 for top-tier devices, both plans coming with protection for up to two years. Globe head of consumer mobile business Darius Delgado said: This offer is another first and exclusive from Globe Postpaid, with the convenience of switching mobile devices, no questions asked. With Gadget Xchange, Globe Postpaid customers no longer have to wait for their contract renewal to change their devices, and they get to easily ensure device protection. If you want to go fast, the African proverb says, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. That spirit of community is at the heart of many classrooms and libraries. We spoke with three educators about the hows and whys of their collaborative efforts and the far-reaching effects. Aside from Lisa in Corduroy and Peter in the The Snowy Day, Becky Guerrero Clesen doesnt recall other characters who looked like her in the library or schoolbooks she read as a child. Thats why Clesen, a former ESL/Dual educator and current library program specialist at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library in Arlington Heights, Ill., researches, discovers, and delivers a diverse lineup of cultural and recreational presenters and programs for toddlers to tweens, and collaborates with teachers to help them find books and resources that match their students backgrounds, interests, and needs. Clesens help often takes different shapes, from sharing about the librarys school outreach program, where teachers can fill out forms to get curated book bags delivered to their schools; and setting up library tours for local schools or homeschool students; to using her ESL/Dual Language teaching background and library experience to give book recommendations for classroom instruction or to supplement school and classroom libraries. Recently, we had preschool teachers come in who were working on a unit about life cycles, and they wanted to know about the best and latest fiction picture books and informational books, Clesen said. Sometimes we pull the books right then and there, or do this later, and then let them know when they can pick them up at the drive-through. Clesen believes these personal interactions fuel a valuable collaboration with lasting results. While she learns what the teachers specific students needs are, the teachers learn about the right books for their students, the latest resources, and relevant library programming that will benefit their students academic needs, and help them find books that will change their reading lives. Together, we discover that we cant do this alone. No one has all the pieces or the answers, Clesen said, And, when we work together, we can help peel the onion and get the resources educators need to teach their students, to help them love reading! Elaine Vickers, a childrens author and a chemistry professor at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, knows the elements of successful collaborations. She and her colleagues make conscious efforts to collaborate throughout the year. These projects begin as early as their first back-to-school gathering. Its always nice to come together at the beginning of the school year and to get back to work! Vickers said. This work includes developing courses, planning labs, and refining lessons. We may be teaching different sections of the same lab, but were doing some of the same experiments, Vickers said, so, were always communicating throughout the year [about] whether we need more of this or that solution, sharing if a part of an experiment didnt work, or if we tried something different and it worked better. Vickers finds that their collaboration works even better when students see it in action. She says that its not unusual for her to ask questions or seek the advice of a colleague in front her students during a lab if its not going as expected. This shows my students that learning isnt a binary thing where professors have all of the answers and students are the only ones learning, Vickers said, but that were figuring out things altogether. While she hasnt seen students directly respond to these interactions, shes hopeful that they will sink in, open up lines of communication, and help adjust her students expectations and mindsets. I want them to expect that things arent always going to go perfectly, Vickers said, and, if/when there are others who are doing the same experiment or working toward the same answer, then why dont we collaborate and work for the best outcome for everyone? Vickers asks her students to read a book of their own choicenot a textbookand make an appointment to talk with her about the chemistry they have found in their book. I want kids to discover on their own that chemistry is everywhere, she said, and to encourage them to use the library if they dont already. Thats the hope. Margarita Margie Longoria has always loved reading, books, and the library. She spent countless hours as a child in her local library reading books and talking to librarians while her mother studied to become a teacher. This passion continued as she taught English, earned her library degree, and took over the librarian position at her school, Mission High School, in Mission, Tex. Being both a teacher and a librarian, Longoria knows the importance of teachers and librarians working together to lift each other up and to create a community of learners. As an English teacher, Longoria was known for creating literature study lessons across the curriculumfor the math, science, history, and gym teachersso they could help enhance their students reading and learning experiences and join the fun. The first book I did this with was Twilight, Longoria said, I realized early on while teaching English that it can be hard to get kids to readespecially when they are experiencing problems at home. Reading wasnt always at the top of their lists. So, Id pick books that I loved and that I knew I could make them want to read. Longoria also wants all of her students to want to come into the library, so, my main goaland the thing that I must dois to make sure that everyone feels welcome, she said. She does this in a variety of ways, which includes collaborating with her ninth grade teachers to develop a Welcome to the Library orientation program for their new students each year. Prior to school opening, we meet to discuss what we will address for the new school year, Longoria said. Its different every year because the world is changing so fast. During the orientation, Longoria and her teachers outline desired behaviors, from entering the school and the library properly to following the rules, and also discuss what students might expect in the next four years. The faculty also talk about what the library offers, and preview critical lessons where students will learn more about digital literacy and internet safety and etiquette. Some of these lessons we didnt have a few years ago! As the school year marches on, Longoria is available year-round for all manner of collaborations to enrich curriculum and increase student success. One area of special interest for Longoria and her English and history teachers is developing best practices for students researching and writing papers, such as proper notetaking, accurate citing of resources, and discerning between truth and misinformation. Another interest of Longorias is helping teachers get the books they need for instruction and their classroom librariesand offering reading advisory to students. Its all about having your teachers feel supported, knowing that youre a friendand an advocatefor what theyre doing in their classrooms, Longoria said. Ultimately, its about supporting teachers so they can help their students have meaningful learning experiences and go on to live successful lives. Indigo Books & Music, Canadas dominant bookstore chain, continues to have a tumultuous 2023. Late last week, Indigo announced the resignation of CEO Peter Ruis. Ruis had been CEO for little more than a year and joined the company in early 2021 before being promoted. CFO Craig Loudon and senior v-p and general counsel Damien Liddle will lead the company while the board of directors searches for a new CEO. The news comes shortly after company founder Heather Reisman retired as executive chair and director of Indigo. Her exit followed the June announcement that four board members had abruptly resigned, including Frank Clegg, Howard Grosfield, Anne Marie O'Donovan and Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa. Dr. Oruwa said she was stepping down because of her loss of confidence in board leadership and because of mistreatment; no reason was given for the departure of the other three board members. New board members, who were formally elected to the board in late August, include former Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle; Joel Silver, previously an Indigo president who has also served as president and CEO of DavidsTea Inc.; Donald Lewtas, a former executive with Onex Corp.; and Wendy Evans, founder, president and CEO of Evans & Company Consulting Inc., a retail consulting business. The management shake-up comes as Indigo continues to deal with sales declines. For the first quarter ended July 1, 2023, Indigo reported a 12% drop in revenue, with sales falling to C$179.2 million compared to C$204.6 million in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was a loss of $21.4 million, compared to a loss of $19.2 million in the prior year. Print sales softened due to a lack of blockbuster titles, the retailer said. Sales in the retail channel decreased 10%, to C$130 million, for the quarter compared to $144 million for the same period last year. Comparable retail store fell 10% at superstores and 3% in small format stores. Online revenue, Indigo said, dropped 26%, to C$38 million. The company blamed the poor performance on the lingering aftermath of the cyberattack that crippled Indigos website earlier in the year. Inventory replenishment capabilities were challenged as a result of the attack, which impacted the assortment available in both the retail and online sales channels for the quarter. Furthermore, the ransomware attack impacted Indigos search engine optimization, which led to a weaker online presence and a decrease in online traffic, the company said in a press release. In late August, the company re-launched its website with a new design. The digital glow-up promises a much improved online shopping experience, Ruis, then CEO, said at the time. Overall, the ransomware attack left numerous members of the Canadian publishing industry in a state of mild shock, with numerous small and medium-sized publishers concerned that they are missing as much as two months of sales data and that status reports about Indigos inventory are unreliable. Its a real mess for us we dont know what they sold and what they have in their stores and no one has rectified the situation just yet, said one independent publisher, who did not want to be named. Kristin Cochrane, CEO of Penguin Random House Canada, feels that the situation has been handled appropriately by the bookseller and is sanguine that the lingering challenges can be overcome. The cyberattack on Indigo has been extremely difficult for them and the impact has been felt throughout the entire Canadian book industry," Cochrane said. We worked closely with them at every level, every day, to serve readers across Canada and support their return to regular business. Each month since the attack weve seen improvements in many key areas like backlist inventory, online sales, with their teams support of many important authors. And we share their optimism for a robust fall season and lots of momentum for books going into the holidays. Following the initial publication of this article Indigo contacted PW and said, "Although reporting to our vendors was delayed because of the ransomware attack, weve partnered with our publishers throughout the incident, and accurate reporting from that time period has been shared. We encourage any publishers with concerns to reach out to their direct Indigo contact to ensure we understand and can address their concerns." This article was updated on September 15, 2023. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources honored five individuals for their career achievements at an awards ceremony held at Purdue University on Sept. 8. David Case (BS forestry 80) received the departments Lifetime Achievement Award, Trent Osmon (BS forestry 99) was named the FNR Distinguished Alumnus, and Adam Janke (BS wildlife 09) was selected as the FNR Outstanding Young Alumnus for 2023. John Jack Seifert was honored with the Chase S. Osborn Award in Wildlife Conservation, and Emily McCallen (PhD 18) received the Chase S. Osborn Early Career Award. Lifetime Achievement Award David Case made his impact on the natural resources field as the founder, president and owner of D.J. Case & Associates. The private communications and public relations firm helps agencies and organizations distill complex issues and technical research findings into language that is easily understood by the public, better informing them about critically important conservation issues. Over the last 37 years, Case and his staff have worked on projects ranging from a Yupik Eskimo education program assessment in Alaska to key deer in the Florida Keys. The place where you have the most impact potential is at the spearpoint where the tough decisions are being made or people are being persuaded or not by how effective you are. At D.J. Case & Associates, weve been fortunate to be involved in projects that have some aspect like that. I would never have been in those positions if it werent for the building blocks that were laid at Purdue, Case said. FNR Distinguished Alumnus Award Trent Osmon got a head start toward his career as part of the co-op program, which allowed students to alternate semesters between the field and classroom. Osmon worked 40 hours a week in the public works division at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, in southern Indiana for three years. There he received hands-on training in forest management and environmental assessments before earning his bachelors degree in forestry in 1999. After graduation, the Odon native accepted a full-time position as a forester at Crane, a position he held until 2010, when he was promoted to forestry program team lead. Osmon is now the environmental division supervisor on the naval installation, overseeing environmental compliance programs and cultural resources management. I always knew I wanted to work outdoors, but Purdue FNR was where I realized who I was, Osmon said. Purdue holds an extremely special place in my heart and is one of the most important pieces of my life in terms of education and experience, and it got me where Im at now. FNR Outstanding Young Alumnus Award Adam Janke, a Monticello native who earned his bachelors degree in wildlife from Purdue in 2009, gained hands-on career experience through summer undergraduate positions. He worked as an intern biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a wildlife technician with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and a research technician for both the Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. In 2011, he earned a masters degree in fisheries and wildlife at Ohio State University, and in 2016 he completed a PhD at South Dakota State University. Janke then accepted his current position on the faculty at Iowa State University. Over the last seven years, he has studied wetland birds, songbirds and game birds, and applied findings of his research to aid the conservation and preservation of wildlife across agricultural landscapes. I wanted to be a wildlife biologist even before I knew I could do it professionally, Janke said. When I found out there was a major at Purdue, I knew I wanted to study wildlife at Purdue, and the rest is history. Wildlife biology is a really accessible form of science. You dont need a fancy analytical machine in a lab you just need a pair of binoculars and patience. Chase S. Osborn Award in Wildlife Conservation John Jack R. Seifert, a St. Louis native, has contributed to wildlife conservation in Indiana throughout his 45-year career in forestry. Seifert was hired as an Extension forester in the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at the Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center. In that role, he educated and promoted professional forest management to landowners and provided professional education to foresters for 27 years. Seifert later accepted his current position as the Indiana state forester and the director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry. He has been vital in supporting the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood state forests, a research study conducted by Purdue and other universities, which evaluates the responses of plants and animals to forest management treatments. I started my conservation career when I was very young, and hunting was near and dear to my life, Seifert said. As I look back on my time at Purdue, it was the best experience I could have ever had. Purdue presented the ability to grow professionally and to educate those willing to be educated in natural resource science, which was a pretty rewarding experience. Chase S. Osborn Early Career Award Emily McCallen took an untraditional path to her career in natural resources. After a year in liberal arts college, she took time off to reassess her goals and work. She returned, took her first biology class and was hooked. In 2018, McCallen completed a PhD in forestry and natural resources at Purdue, researching the state-endangered eastern hellbender salamander. That same year, she was hired as a wildlife biometrician for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife. Over the last five years, she has collaborated with biologists and wildlife managers to turn data and statistics into applied science and find unique ways to present that information to the public. My time at Purdue was amazing, McCallen said. I got to work with a lot of people while I was there as a grad student, and I feel really lucky that I get to work with those people now here in my capacity as a biometrician. At the DNR, we have an awesome collaborative environment with great people who are always pushing each other to improve. To have the work that I'm doing here in Indiana acknowledged and honored by the same people I worked with in FNR feels like a huge honor and a bit overwhelming, but I am so grateful. Writer and media contact: Wendy Mayer, wendymayer@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page The Enterprise Lions Club was honored to have State Sen. Josh Carnley as a guest speaker at a recent meeting. Carnley said that since he is new to the State House and the legislative process, he had to learn the rules, the senators and representatives, and a lot of background on the issues that came before both houses. Carnley represents Coffee, Covington, Dale, and Pike counties. He serves on a number of committees, including the Judiciary, County and Municipal Government, Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Banking and Insurance, Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Development, Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety committees. These areas are the ones he believes his district is most concerned with, and with his background as a county commissioner, a cattle rancher, and an insurance executive, the areas he felt he had the most experience with. Carnley reported that the Senate had fewer bills to address than the House, and that the Senate passed 154 bills while the House passed 246. He noted that some of the bills addressed local issues, while others dealt with statewide concerns. The first special session in the spring dealt with spending the $1 billion, one-time allotment from the federal government that has to be spent within the next two years. During the regular session, the Senate addressed a number of issues. Carnley stated that it was a very busy session with many three-day-a-week work sessions. Among the topics addressed was renewing the JOBS Act, which offers incentives to companies to locate in Alabama. These incentives usually include some type of tax incentive and encourage companies to hire local employees. The Senate also removed the income tax requirement for overtime pay. Many employees are working overtime to fill in where there are shortages of workers, and this move puts money back in their pockets. Carnley also reported that the Senate passed legislation that states that Alabama will not participate in digital currency and will not accept payment from the Central Bank of Digital Currency. It is only the second state to do so. Given the uncertainty of dealing with such currency, the Senate took this step to protect Alabamas financial status. A familys right to visit loved ones in the hospital or nursing home became a significant issue during the 2020 Covid pandemic. The Senate ruled that a family can choose a caregiver to stay with a family member so that the patients have someone they know caring for them and communicating with the family. The Literacy Task Force also received some attention from the Senate. Carnley reported that there were some issues and concerns with this task force, primarily that no one knew who is on the task force and it has no accountability to anyone. New guidelines outlined by the Senate and the House allow for someone from the Senate and the House to have a seat on the task force, and it has to answer to the House and Senate for any decisions it makes regarding reading materials used in schools. The task force must now publish the names of its members and publish its meeting dates, so that anyone who wishes to may attend. You may be surprised to learn that Alabama is No. 3 on the list of states with foreign land ownership. The Senate felt compelled to address a concern that comes with this ranking. Anyone on a list of U.S. adversaries is prohibited from purchasing land in Alabama. While there is no specified limit on the land a foreign country or entity can purchase, the intent is to protect the infrastructure, dams, power grids, military sites, etc. The bill passed by the Senate does not allow a foreign principal to own agricultural or forest property or property within 10 miles of a military base. Carnley reported that most of the land owned by foreign entities, of which the Netherlands is the frontrunner, is timber land. Of particular interest among the military community is the Senates passage of the Military Family Jobs Opportunity Act in 2018. This bill allows for licensing reciprocity which enables military spouses with professional licenses from other states to transfer their qualifications to an Alabama license. The original bill addressed cosmetologists but has since been expanded to include a number of other professions which require state licensing. Finally, Carnley asked if anyone knew who would succeed a county sheriff if he/she was no longer able to perform the duties of their office. Most of us knew the answer was the coroner since the Coffee County Coroner had recently spoken to the club. However, the Senate has changed that requirement so that now the second in command to the sheriff will assume the office. Following Senator Carnleys talk, Lion President Warren Bowron presented him with a Lions Club challenge coin and invited him to visit any time. The Enterprise Lions Club meets weekly on Wednesdays at the Enterprise Farmers Market. A catered lunch is served at 11:30 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting and a guest speaker. Led by Pascal Breton, CEO, and Lionel Uzan, MD, Federation Studios says it heralds a new breed of independent European studios, focusing on the creation, production, financing and distribution of high-quality original productions for the global marketplace.After completing her studies at Parisian film school La Femis, Viau has worked as a television screenwriter, on many hit French series for CANAL+ and France Televisions, TF1. In 2011, she joined TF1 as artistic advisor and in 2018, she was appointed Head of Drama and her responsibilities involved promoting the broadcasters premium prime-time offerings with flagship event series such as The Bonfire of Destiny or Women at War, launching new recurring series HPI, Balthazar, One of Us and introducing two daily series, Tommorow is Ours and Ici Tout Commence.The Federation Studios and Quelle Aventure! partnership will be effective as of 1 October. Commenting on the move, Viau said: Following a career in screenwriting and broadcasting, this alliance and launch of the company marks a new chapter of my professional life. I am delighted to partner with Federation as I have long admired the groups dynamism, creativity and ambition. This venture also allows me to return to my first love, which is writing and which is central to my new role as a producer, alongside attracting key talent and sourcing great stories. Quelle aventure!s main goal is to create popular, compelling, high-quality fiction, for traditional broadcasters as well as platforms.Breton added: Anne has already had two successful professional lives: first as a screenwriter, then as TF1's head of drama. Along with the Federation teams, we're eager to help Anne succeed in her third life as a producer, at a time when the need for fiction has reached unprecedented levels with French broadcasters. Not so long ago, following French President Emmanuel Macrons Beijing visit, many in the U.S. reacted to his expressed desire to avoid confrontation with China with indignation, labeling the leader a fool and a puppet. Evidently, the backlash didnt phase Macron. He doubled-down, saying that being an ally does not mean being a vassal [or] mean that we don't have the right to think for ourselves. When it comes to responding to fluctuating China-U.S. tensions, Macron believes that for Europe no response is the best response. And as much as some Americans might wish he was wrong, he is not. Macron is not witless. He is making a case that prioritizes his countrys tangible interests, not the U.S.s. These include focusing on his region, avoiding conflict with a major global power, and remaining a relevant actor in world affairs. Critics like The Spectator Worlds John Pietro may label Macrons call for European strategic autonomy fantastical and unpopular, but reality is not on their side. In fact, Macrons view is very popular. According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, close to three-quarters of Europeans believe that the Continent should pursue increased independence vis-a-vis American military power. Additionally, the report shows that majorities in all surveyed countries believe that Europe should remain neutral in any conflict between China and the U.S. over Taiwan. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has repeatedly advocated for strategic autonomy too, as he publicly emphasizes his desire to strengthen relations between China and the EU. Three years ago, for instance, Borrell made the case for the framework exalted by Macron. [T]he world has changed. It is difficult to claim to be a political union able to act as a global player [] without being autonomous, Borrell explains. [T]he weight of Europe in the world is shrinking, he acknowledges, claiming that [t]he next two decades are going to be crucial because China will use them to become the first global power. With this in mind, the EU official concludes that traditional alliances remain essential but insufficient, and relations between countries will become more transactional as the power balance shifts. Borrell looks at the changing world, and sees an opportunity to build a relationship with a powerful China, just like Macron does. For him, as for most Europeans, Russia poses a far more perilous threat than China. Much to some American neoconservatives disappointment, he sees no value in taking strong stances against China. If the U.S. were to publicly and strongly reject Europes openness to China, Borrell may reconsider. But that has not happened. Hence, with precaution and measured language, Borrell and Europe writ large will likely continue to dance with both China and the U.S. With eyes on Russia, it may seem like Europe and the U.S. have a phenomenal bond. When it comes to China though, that bond is not quite clear. So, while Americans gut reaction to Macrons philosophy might be indignation, still, the U.S. must take Macrons signals and framework seriously. Pretending hes a lunatic simply wont cut it. Juan P. Villasmil is a foreign policy specialist. His work has been featured on The Wilson Centers New Security Beat, The National Interest, RealClearWorld, and others. He is also a Young Voices contributor. Property details: GREAT NATURE WILDERNESS MODOC COUNTY This property is inside a Mobil Home Park in CALIFORNIA PINES in Modoc County; It is a beautiful community surrounded by 2 million acres of the Modoc National Forest in Northern California. California Pines is a peaceful and uncrowded retreat... with green meadows, towering pines and trickling streams. It's a place to get away from the stress of the big city. If you want to get back to nature, if you want to escape and become part of a tranquil and laid-back ... Price: $ 1,500 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Residential State/Province: California Location: 928**, Anaheim, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Property details: Bow Mine Track Page Views With Auctiva's Counter... 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Price: $ 918 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: Faye Dr Brandon MS Zip/Postal Code: 39042 Zoning: Residential City: Brandon State/Province: Mississippi Location: 390**, Brandon, Mississippi You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Mississippi AUBURN UNIVERSITYThe arrival of fall generally signifies the end of honey harvest for most beekeepers in the United States. Always a popular sweetener, honey has made a comeback as consumers shift their preference toward local products. September is National Honey Month, which makes it a great time to think about the contributions of pollinators near and far, as well as the apiculturists who care for them. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System recognizes the value of the work that pollinators do in the statein the backyard, on the farm and all of the places in between. Members of the Alabama Extension beekeeping team, Allyson Shabel and Jack Rowe, work together to provide resources, training and community for beekeepers in Alabama. Local honeyRowe, an Alabama Extension regional agent, said honey can be used in cooking, for medicinal purposes, as a preservative and a sweetener. Honey is good for cooking, preserving foods and even just for sweetening, Rowe said. It is the sweetener of the whole past ages of humanity. He said one of the best ways to support communities and local people is by purchasing locally grown and produced products. Local honey is available at most farm stands or farmers markets. Local honey is one of those joys in our culinary lives, Rowe said. It is fragrant, tasty, supports local people and keeps the ideals of local life and food alive. Rowe said while honey is a favorite of many, there is a common misconception about its health benefits. Many believe that honey from local hives prevents seasonal allergies. However, this is not supported by scientific evidence. The plants the bees feed from are not the ones releasing airborne pollen, Rowe said. Also, honey never contacts any of our nasal membranes. Beekeeping benefitsA beekeeper holding a frame from a bee hive.Shabel, an Alabama Extension urban regional agent, said beekeeping is a great hobby to help you connect to the environment around you. Beekeepers also play a key role in protecting and caring for local pollinators. Bees pollinate local crops for farmers, while also producing honey for communities. Protecting pollinator populations in your local environment is important, Shabel said. Many flowering plants in your landscape rely on pollinators to produce the next generation of seeds. Beekeeping also provides an opportunity to stay active. From lifting heavy boxes to wearing protective suits in hot weather, beekeeping requires physical endurance and disciplined time management to make sure the colony survives. 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Mexico Year Built: 2019 For Sale by: Owner Property Type: House Number of Bedrooms: 5 Sale Type: Existing Homes Number of Bathrooms: 5+ Zip/Postal Code: 71966 Location: 197**, New Castle, Delaware You will be redirected to eBay Nearby 71966 Property details: ... Price: $ 1,825 Seller State of Residence: Montana State/Province: Florida Location: , Multi You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida Property details: Great location, across the street from the beach. Enjoy a great, last-minute getaway at the beach. A 7-night stay, October 7 - 14, 2023 in a Studio unit. Sleeps 2 - 4 with queen bed and pull-out sofa sleeper. Unit has a kitchenette. Club Wyndham Santa Barbara 1301 S Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL 33062 Message for questions or additional details about the resort.... Price: $ 100 Seller State of Residence: Illinois Type: Beach/Ocean Property Address: 1301 S Ocean Blvd, Pompano Beach, FL Number of Bathrooms: 1 Zip/Postal Code: 33062 City: Kankakee State/Province: Illinois Location: 609**, Bourbonnais, Illinois You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Illinois For decades, if you were an AR shooter who wanted to run a rimfire version of your rifle for training, you had multiple options, ranging from drop-in bolt conversions to dedicated rifles or upper receivers made for .22LR. AK-47 shooters, on the other hand, were left by the side of the road with cheap versions of their prized Kalashnikovs that were barely a step above airsoft with their polymer or pot metal receivers. This may have been because, traditionally, AKs were half the price or less than an AR. The same was true for centerfire ammo. This dynamic completely shifted over the past 10 years, and the reverse is now mostly true for a quality AK variant. Yet, building a trainer for a sub $300 rifle in the past seemed like a wasted effort, especially when surplus centerfire ammunition was cheap and plentiful. Ammunition availability in recent years has only compounded the problem with AKs because 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm ammunition jumped significantly in price reducing meaningful training time for a lot of shooters who didnt stock up when prices were low. Long gone are the days when you could grab a 1,400-round battle pack for $69. A company called Pioneer Arms decided to change all that with their new AK-47 .22 Military Style Trainer Rifle. HISTORY U.S.-made AKs can be hit or miss; when theyre good, theyre great when theyre bad, youre wasting money. Rimfire versions can be absolute garbage in many cases, with poor construction, not even suitable for use as toys. Even though Pioneer is a U.S.-based manufacturer for certain things, they have a European division: Pioneer Arms Poland. Nearly 20 years ago, Pioneer Arms Poland bought the facilities of the famed Circle 11 plant in Radom, Poland. They currently own two buildings at that site, totaling over 46,000 square feet. All of Pioneers AK-manufacturing uses the same facilities, equipment, and many of the original employees from that plant when it was Circle 11. They have all the technical documentation of the Kalashnikov firearms produced by Circle 11: AK-47, AKM-47, AKMS-47, Tantal (AKM variant in 5.4539 caliber), Beryl 5.5645, PPS-43, PM63, and this new release, the AK-47.22 Military Style Trainer Rifle. This is a true semi-automatic, .22LR AK-47, an exact 1:1 replica of the standard AK-47 rifle that they sell to their military contracts, with wood furniture and a plastic pistol grip, but chambered in .22LR. With an all-steel construction and Polish laminated wood furniture, it has the exact look and feel of a true AK-47, because it is. The only difference is that its chambered in .22LR like a classic military training rifle. As for its lineage, all of the major manufacturing and heavy lifting for this rifle is performed in Poland and then theyre finished and brought into compliance with U.S. import laws by Pioneer Arms USA. While the gun looks the same, the mags are a significant deviation. This is not at all like the various rimfire-type AKs seen in the past that consist of some rando semi auto rimfire wearing the firearm equivalent of a Buffalo Bill AK-47 skin suit. This one is all AK-47 through and through, indistinguishable when sitting on the rack next to a centerfire version. BREAKDOWN As you might imagine, field-stripping this rifle is very close to field-stripping an AK-47, with some minor tweaks. Because its a blowback-operated rimfire, the gas tube is only there for appearances. The bolt and carrier are somewhat different due to the nature of the rimfire rounds, and the charging handle sits slightly farther forward. The slant brake attaches just like a typical AK brake with the detent, and the thread pattern is metric, 14x1LH. Sights are standard AK-pattern and perfectly aligned with no cant. They appeared very crisp, probably because it wasnt a former military gun rebuilt into a civilian rifle. This is a brand-new, purpose-built firearm from the ground up. Quick! Which one is real? Due to it being an exact replica of an AK-47 externally, standard AKM furniture will fit, allowing for customization with an endless supply of options. If your go-to AK uses Magpul furniture, for example, you can fit that same furniture to the AK-47 Military Style Trainer. The magazine has a last-round bolt hold-open (BHO) feature, and the selector is cut for this slot as well when the safety is engaged. Some purists dont like the idea of a BHO on AKs unless theyre Yugo, Serb, or Croat guns, but it makes sense for a rimfire. Theres a different barrel, bolt system, and recoil spring lurking beneath the stamped sheet metal dust cover and a modified trigger group for the .22LR bolt. Its barrel and receiver are made from 4140 steel with a twist rate of 1:16, optimized for .22LR. These rifles come standard with enhanced safety selectors with manipulation shelves a nice touch. The 25-round .22LR magazines were designed by Pioneer Arms to be reliable and practical and show the remaining round count via an open window in the middle of the magazine. The bayonet lug is absent, but we dont think anyone is going to storm the beach at Normandy with a .22 trainer anytime soon. ON THE RANGE After unpacking, slight clean up, and a little bit of oil, a range trip was in order. Pioneer and their dealer network have certainly talked this one up, but those impressions often change when the first rounds are fired downrange. Thankfully, the rifle didnt disappoint. It fed everything, including plated and lead bullets and showed no signs of letting up. The rugged qualities that AK-47s are known for with regard to reliability rings true in the AK-47 .22 Military Style Trainer Rifle. Pioneer Arms recommends using high-velocity .22LR, but we had no problems at all using lead match-grade or subsonic ammunition. After all, AK-47s are prized for their reliability, so throwing everything from Norma subsonic match and Gemtech subsonic, CCI Stingers, and Federal Punch only made sense. At 50 yards and rested on a bench, the average group size was within 2 inches, making this a 3 to 4 MOA rifle, just like its daddy. The high- velocity rounds appeared to group better than the rounds with unplated lead projectiles, which was surprising as the subsonic and match tend to be more accurate in other .22LR rifles. Sure, there are more accurate rimfire rifles out there, but none of them have the look and feel of an AK. However, if you want to fire it true AK-style, standing away from a bench and just blasting away at targets in rapid fire mode, this rifle runs like a typewriter and about as fast. The only thing that can improve its fun factor could be adding a binary trigger or an SOT building a full-auto from this. The rifle is equipped with an AK-style cleaning rod, which came in handy as rimfire ammunition, especially subsonic, is notoriously dirty. The bolt did seem to slow down after 500 or so rounds without cleaning, but spraying the chamber with Ballistol and punching the bore quickly resolved this. LOOSE ROUNDS The Pioneer Arms is accurate enough to have fun, and the zero recoil impulse combined with the cheap cost of .22LR make it even more so. The one main gripe for a lot of us will be that the thread pattern on the muzzle being 14x1M LH instead of x28. Maybe thats the lone ranting of a silencer nerd, but its a detail manufacturers should consider for the U.S. market. In the meantime, there are thread adapters out there thatll serve in a pinch. At the time of writing, spare magazines seem hard to come by, and 10 rounders for folks in communist states dont seem to be available. Pioneer says these will be coming shortly, perhaps by the time we go to press with this article. All of the classic looks but with some enhancement like a safety selector you can lock the bolt with. Like a full-fledged AK-47, options for mounting a scope are limited. This would probably be fun with a reflex type of sight mounted on it, and as the gas system is non-functional, sticking a red dot on a gas tube mount wouldnt entail the electronics-roasting temperatures found on centerfire AKs. An interesting configuration might be with a Draganov-type stock and a good scope mounted via a side rail. Hopefully, some of these will be available by the time of publication. If youre an AK-47 shooter, collector, or just a fan of the platform, this is a very interesting variant thats well-made and functions like its bigger brother. Its a great way to introduce new shooters or young shooters to the AK world, and besides, .22s are just plain fun. Pioneer Arms AK-47.22 Military Style Trainer Rifle Type: Rifle Action: Semi-automatic, blow-back Caliber: .22 LR Capacity: 25 rounds Barrel Twist: 1:16 Barrel Length: 16.3 inches Overall length: 34 inches Weight: 6.9 pounds Finish: Black nitride Furniture: Laminated wood Muzzle Thread Pattern: 14X1M LH Muzzle Device: Traditional slant compensator Magazine Capacity: 25 rounds MSRP: $700 Porterville, CA (93257) Today Mostly sunny. High 78F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds light and variable. The Salute to First Responders event was organized by the Clarke County Republican Party and hosted by the Beech Haven Baptist Church on Monday. An auditorium of first responders, ACC officials and residents thanked the fellow first responders for their service and honored the lives lost 22 years ago. If you are new to Athens or just want to take a look around, there are a variety of tours available, each concentrating on different aspects of the town. With something for everyone, these Athens tours encapsulate what the city is all about. Market regulator Sebi suppressed important facts from the Supreme Court and "slept over" Directorate of Revenue Intelligence's letter on alleged stock manipulation by the Adani firms, one of the PIL petitioners in the Adani-Hindenburg row has alleged in the top court in an affidavit. IMAGE: Congress activists hold placards featuring Gautam Adani at a protest in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters The apex court is seized of four PILs on the Adani-Hindenburg controversy including those by lawyers M L Sharma and Vishal Tiwari, Congress leader Jaya Thakur and law student Anamika Jaiswal. On August 25, SEBI had informed the apex court it has completed the probe in all but two allegations against the Adani group, and is still awaiting information from five tax havens on the actual owners behind the foreign entities that have invested in the conglomerate. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in a status report to the Supreme Court, said out of the 24 matters it was probing, findings in as many as 22 are final. In an affidavit filed before the top court, Anamika Jaiswal has said while the investigation against the Adani group was going on in the over invoicing case, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sent a letter to the then Sebi chairperson in 2014 alerting him that the group may be committing stock market manipulation using the money allegedly siphoned off using the modus operandi of over-valuation in the import of power equipment. The letter was accompanied by a CD containing evidence of siphoning off Rs 2,323 crore and two notes on the case being investigated by the DRI, the affidavit claimed. The letter, the affidavit said, also stated that more documents may be obtained from the Mumbai Zonal Unit of the DRI. "The petitioner herein submits that not only has the SEBI suppressed important facts from this court and slept over DRI alerts, but there is also an apparent conflict of interest in Sebi conducting Adani investigation. "Mr Cyril Shroff managing partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas has been a member of Sebi's Committee on Corporate Governance, which looks at offences like insider trading," the affidavit said, adding his daughter is married to Gautam Adani's son. This, the affidavit said, shows a clear conflict of interest. The petitioner submitted that five out of the 24 Sebi investigation reports are on insider trading allegations against the Adani group companies. Referring to documents that have been unearthed during investigation by a journalist consortium 'Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project', the affidavit said two Mauritius based companies- Emerging India Focus Fund (EIFF) and the EM Resurgent Fund (EMRF)- had invested and traded in a large volume of shares of four Adani companies between 2013 and 2018. "The names of these two companies figure in SEBI's list of 13 suspected Foreign Portfolio Investments /overseas entities but Sebi has been unable to trace their ultimate beneficial owners or economic interest shareholders," Jaiswal has claimed in the affidavit. The petitioner said frequent amendments brought in by SEBI to the regulations and definitions have benefitted Adani Group. "These amendments have in fact provided a shield and an excuse to the Adani Group, due to which their regulatory contraventions and price manipulations remained undetected. "Even now, the expert committee has cited the said amendments as an excuse to declare that the investigation with regard to issues as mentioned in Hindenburg Report may be a journey without a destination," the affidavit said. Hindenburg Research, in a January 24 report, had alleged accounting fraud, stock price manipulation and improper use of tax havens, triggering a stock market rout of the Adani group shares that erased close to $150 billion in market value at its lowest point. Following this, the Supreme Court asked Sebi to look into the allegations and submit its findings. In March, a separate six-member expert panel was formed which included a retired judge and veteran bankers, to go into regulatory aspects of the allegations. That panel said in May the Sebi has so far drawn a blank in its investigations and its ongoing pursuit of the case is a "journey without a destination". The apex court set August 14 as the deadline for Sebi to conclude its probe and submit the report. The regulator sought a 15-day extension to conclude the investigation. It has now submitted a status report on its probe. On its part, the Adani group has rejected all allegations. UK overtakes France to become 8th largest manufacturer The UK has overtaken France to become the worlds eighth-largest manufacturer, according to the manufacturers organisation, Make UK. Its analysis of the latest official data also reveals that manufacturing jobs in the UK pay better than both the services sector and the economy as a whole. According to Make UK, in 2021 the latest year for which global comparisons are available UK manufacturing output was worth $272bn, compared to $262bn for France. Both were behind Italy on $314bn. China was the worlds largest manufacturer with sales worth $4.9tn, followed by the US on $2.5tn and Japan on $995bn. Germany was the worlds fourth-biggest manufacturer, and Europes largest, with 2021 sales worth $803bn. The figures are contained in the latest edition of Make UKs annual Manufacturing The Facts publication, which contains data on the contribution of manufacturing to the UK economy including exports, as well as a sectoral breakdown, and a comparison with other countries. While Make UK regards the rise in the export rankings as encouraging, it cautions that this is only the third time since 2002 that the UK has been ranked higher than France and cannot be attributed to a post-Brexit bounce or other specific factors. Separate 2022 data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) values the UKs manufacturing output at 224bn. Make UK believes that, if the Government commits to expanding manufacturing to 15% of the UKs GDP which would add an estimated 142bn to the UK economy then the sector could reach the same size as seventh-ranked Italy. The Make UK analysis also shows that, contrary to popular opinion, manufacturing jobs are better paid than jobs in the services sector and the economy as a whole. According to ONS data, the average salary in manufacturing during 2022 was 36,488 almost 10% higher than the national average pay of 33,402, and well ahead of the 32,676 average for the services sector. The analysis shows that the US remains the UKs main export market, worth 56.7bn in 2022. While the Netherlands (on 33.3bn) has overtaken Germany (on 37bn), to become the UKs second-biggest export market, Make UK warns that trade with the Netherlands could be inflated artificially by goods that are routed via Rotterdam for onward travel to other destinations. The top ten export desitinations for UK manufactured goods, excluding food and beverage Source: Make UK Ireland is the UKs fourth-largest export market (30.3bn). Six of the countrys top ten export markets are in the EU and are together worth around 150bn almost three times as much as exports to the US, and around four times higher than sales to China. According to Make UK, this highlights the continued importance of the EU for UK goods and the need to smooth trade barriers with what remains its dominant market. The food and drink sector is the UKs biggest exporter, sending 12.4% of its goods abroad in 2022. The sector expanded its exports by almost a quarter (23%) compared to 2021. Exports by the aerospace and transport sector increased by 27.9% during the same period, highlighting its importance to high-value manufacturing. The North West remains the UKs leading manufacturing area, with an output worth 28.2bn and employing 314,000 people. Manufacturing accounts for almost 15% of the North Wests economic output, and 8% of its employment. Manufacturing accounts for almost a fifth (17.3%) of the Welsh economy, compared to a national average of just under 10%. With many competitor nations having their own industrial strategies, Make UK is repeating its calls for a long-term, modern, and robust strategy for the UK which could help turn the Governments 15% ambition into a reality. Make UK: Twitter LinkedIn Global investment firm KKR will invest Rs 2,069.50 crore in Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd for a 0.25 per cent additional stake of the retailer at a valuation of about Rs 8.36 lakh crore, Reliance Industries Ltd said on Monday. IMAGE: Isha Ambani's Reliance Retail Ventures signed a joint venture with Bollywood actor Alia Bhatts conscious clothing brand of kids and maternity-wear, Ed-a-Mamma for a 51% majority stake. Photograph: ANI Photo After this investment, KKR's shareholding in Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), the holding company of the retail business of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led RIL, will increase to 1.42 per cent from 1.17 per cent. The investment is at "a pre-money equity value of Rs 8.361 lakh crore (around $100.87 billion)", said a joint statement. The deal placed RRVL "among the top four companies by equity value in the country," it added. Last week, RIL received Rs 8,278 crore from Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for around 1 per cent stake in Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) at a valuation of Rs 8.278 lakh crore ($100 billion). Now, KKR's follow-on investment through an affiliate will translate into an additional equity stake of 0.25 per cent in RRVL on a fully diluted basis. "This, combined with its stake from its investment of Rs 5,550 crore in RRVL in 2020, will take its total equity stake in RRVL to 1.42 per cent on a fully diluted basis," it added. RRVL director Isha Mukesh Ambani said: "We highly value our deepening partnership with KKR, and their latest investment in RRVL after their previous investment further reinforces their strong belief in RRVL's vision and capabilities." "We look forward to continued engagement with KKR and to benefit from their global platform, industry knowledge and operational expertise in our journey towards driving the transformation of the Indian retail sector," she added. KKR's investment comes primarily from its Asian Fund IV, and the transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals. KKR Co-CEO Joe Bae said: "We are pleased to extend our relationship with RRVL. "Throughout our investment period in Reliance Retail, we have been impressed by the company's vision and extensive work to empower retailers across India through digitalisation as well as by its resilience and performance in spite of the pandemic and other disruptions." Earlier in 2020, RRVL had raised Rs 47,265 crore (around $6.4 billion) from global private equity funds for a 10.09 per cent stake, valuing the company at more than Rs 4.2 lakh crore. This was the largest fundraising exercise in the sector at that time. The company had raised funds from Silver Lake, KKR, Mubadala, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, GIC, TPG, General Atlantic and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund at a valuation of around $57 billion at that time. RRVL is aggressively expanding its business by acquiring companies and getting the franchise rights of leading international brands for India. Besides, it is investing in scaling up infrastructure and also acquired the India business of German retail major Metro Cash and Carry. Last month in the AGM of Reliance Industries, its chairman Mukesh Ambani had said several marquee global strategic and financial investors have shown strong interest in Reliance Retail. Addressing shareholders, he had said if RRVL was listed on stock exchanges, then based on the current valuation, it would be among the top four listed entities in the country. In less than three years, the valuation of Reliance Retail has doubled and the pace of this value creation is "unmatched globally", Ambani had said. In its latest annual report, RIL said Reliance Retail had achieved a significant milestone of crossing a billion transactions and its registered user base has grown to 249 million. It operates a network of over 18,500 stores and digital commerce platforms across grocery, consumer electronics, fashion & lifestyle, and pharma consumption baskets. In FY23, Reliance Retail's digital commerce and new commerce businesses contributed to 18 per cent of its revenue, which stood at Rs 2.60 lakh crore. Founded in 1976, KKR has approximately $519 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2023. Back to Hogwarts Day is an annual event where thousands of Harry Potter fans gather at the Kings Cross Station in London to listen to the announcement of the Hogwarts Express which leaves at 11 am for Hogsmeade from the nine and three quarters platform. IMAGE: Harry Potter fan Maxime Bouillot, 8, from London, holds a wand during Back to Hogwarts Day. All photographs: Hollie Adams/Reuters IMAGE: Maxime with his parent. IMAGE: Harry Potter fan Nysha, 6, and her friend Nikum, 6, at Kings Cross Station. IMAGE: Harry Potter fan Emil Valkov, 7, from Bulgaria, who travelled to Britain with his family to attend Back to Hogwarts Day for his older sister's birthday, poses for a photo at 'Platform 9 3/4'. IMAGE: A Harry Potter fan, dressed as 'Dobby'. IMAGE: Harry Potter fans dressed as students of the fictional 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' and 'Dobby'. IMAGE: A Harry Potter fan wears a Crocs with 'Platform 9 3/4' and 'the Golden Snitch' embeded on them. IMAGE: Harry Potter fans at the Back to Hogwarts Day. IMAGE: Harry Potter fans pose for photos. IMAGE: Elated Harry Potter fans try to catch the glimpse of their favourite character on their mobile phone. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com IMAGE: Alba Baptista and Chris Evans. Photographs: Axel Schmidt/Pool RC2G0O98DP2S/Reuters. Maja Smiejkowska/Reuters Captain America: The First Avenger actor Chris Evans has tied the knot with Portuguese actor Alba Baptista, People reported. According to a source who spoke to People magazine, the actor wed Baptista, 26, on Saturday, Seltember 9, 2023, in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The wedding was attended by several of the couple's friends including Chris Hemsworth (who plays Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) and his wife Elsa Pataky, Robert Downey Jr (Iron Man in the MCU) and Susan Downey, Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye in the MCU), John Krasinski and his wife Emily Blunt. Hemsworth, Downey, their wives, and Renner were seen conversing and dining at the Contessa restaurant within the five-star Newbury Boston hotel. Soon after midnight on Saturday, Krasinski and Blunt were seen leaving the celebrations. According to People, the Portuguese actor -- best known for her drama series Warrior Nun -- hails from Sudbury, Massachusetts, and has been dating Chris for over a year. A source added at the time, 'They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends adore her.' On Valentine's Day earlier this year, Evans posted a collage of pictures of himself and his girlfriend. He also featured pictures of the couple enjoying some PDA, going on vacation and hiking together, as well as spending time with his dog Dodger. Earlier, Evans posted a video collection of himself and Baptista scaring each other while doing laundry, passing through doorways, or just walking past each other on his Instagram Story, as per People. India's dream to be in the forefront of international politics has come true. India has placed itself firmly as a major player in the shaping of a new world order, observes Ambassador T P Sreenivasan. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi delivers his remarks during Session 3 of the G20 Summit, September 10, 2023. All photographs: ANI Photo Never before has a major international conference held in India fulfilled every aspiration of the host country without any glitch on the way. India shaped the meetings and the agenda in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's vision and no one except China challenged the motto given to the conference (Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam). That phrase was included in the Leaders' Declaration even though Sanskrit is not one of the official languages of the United Nations, Even PM Modi's words to President Putin, 'Today's era must not be of war' have become part of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. India's imprint is everywhere, in the agenda, in the various decisions on economic matters and also in the paragraphs on geopolitics. The inescapability of dealing with the war was recognised by India at the very beginning and contributed to it without shying away from criticising Russia without naming it. IMAGE: World leaders gather in New Delhi during the G20 Summit. The fact that the Declaration was approved on the first day itself was a master stroke as it removed the uncertainty of the outcome of the discussions. On most occasions, such agreements are reached in the wee hours of the morning when the delegates become exhausted enough to agree to anything to catch some sleep. There have been cases when the clock was stopped not to extend the conference for another day for technical reasons. With clear statements on the real agenda of the summit, the atmosphere became relaxed and the heads of delegations were able to do their bilateral work in a calm atmosphere. IMAGE: Modi with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, second from left, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, second from right, US President Joe Biden, right, and World Bank President Ajay Banga, left at the G20 Summit. The consensus on the war was obtained by an intelligent selection of words and sentences from the UN Charter, which nobody could object to. That method worked very well and the Russians got a better formulation than what they got in Bali. It was very evident as to who was meant when all nations were asked to follow the principles of the Charter. But it appears that the Russians accepted the exhortations because the drafters offered them a reiteration of the national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the General Assembly and a statement that 'There were different views and assessments of the situation.' As President Macron stated, the Declaration is not a victory for Russia, but by stating general principles rather than demanding action, the summit made it possible for Russia to join the consensus. IMAGE: Biden and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman shake hands encouraged by Modi. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Reuters The Delhi Declaration was more favourable to Russia than the Bali Declaration, as expected because of the Indian position. The Delhi Declaration will have no impact on the situation on the ground in Ukraine and both sides have not even refrained from attacks even during the summit and after. The higher level of support that the US has pledged to Ukraine flies in the face of the desire of the summit to end the war, particularly for the sake of the Global South, which has taken the brunt of the war. The other parts of the Declaration on various measures to improve connectivity and human-centred developments based on 'One Earth, One Family and One Future' would have been weaker without taking a position on the war. As has been asserted in the Declaration, G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, but without a consensus on the war situation, the summit would have lost its credibility and relevance. IMAGE: Modi greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who represented his country in President Vladimir Putin's absence.... Photograph: Evan Vucci/Pool via Reuters The emergence of a Global South with a voice of its own was the most significant achievement of the summit. The Nonaligned Movement and G 77 worked in their own exclusive environments, but here, the decisions of the summit were taken with the participation of the North. It is an anomaly that Russia and China are now part of the Global South and we can expect that China will make a determined effort to take its leadership by giving generous assistance to the member States. But President Xi Jinping's absence and India's diplomatic victory have given us the lead for the present. China might concentrate on BRICS as representing the Global South as it has a dominating presence there. However, a brick has been built to form the foundation of a new global order and what remains is to find the mortar to stabilise it. IMAGE: Modi embraces African Union President and Comoros President Azali Assouman and invites him to join other G20 leaders as the African Union becomes a permanent member of the G20 during the G20 Summit. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Getting the African Union as a member of G20 on the strength of the European Union being there is an emotional gesture to the African continent. It has made G20 more populous and broad. India took the lead as part of our effort to reestablish India's bonds with Africa. But its participation in G20 will be effective if only it becomes a unified force, which speaks with one voice. The membership of G20 will hopefully provide the incentive for the African Union to have a cohesive voice in world affairs without being exploited by external powers. The urgent need to revive the pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals, the need to address the hopeless state of affairs of climate finance and the inequities of the world belong to the old agenda and these have been reiterated forcefully by G20. In addition, new initiatives like digital public infrastructure, India, Middle East Europe Connectivity Corridor, biofuel initiative, strengthening the global health architecture, closing of gender gaps and reform of the UN and international financial institutions are a wish list, whose implementation will depend on the influence of the proposers and availability of resources. They are valuable in identifying the needs and indicating the way forward, but, without a monitoring mechanism or a permanent secretariat, systematic review and implementation are not likely. India's proposal to have a virtual summit to review progress before Brazil takes over is a good idea, but many may not be enthusiastic about it. IMAGE: Modi explains what the Konark Sun temple wheel is to Biden on his arrival at the Bharat Mandapam. Photograph: Evan Vucci/Pool via Reuters Given the Western preoccupation with the internal situation in India and its human rights record, it was expected that some voices would be heard by way of criticism and advice on these matters. But no such voices were heard in the bustle of the activities in the Bharat Mandapam. Subsequently, President Biden made it known that he had raised the human rights issues with PM Modi. But curiously, a paragraph from one of the United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on religious tolerance and freedom found its way as paragraph 78 of the Leaders' Declaration. It is not clear as to who proposed it and how it was adopted. The Indian delegation may have treated it as an accepted language, which applies to different situations and not specific to India. But it may be quoted on occasions by vested interests as a criticism of India. IMAGE: Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Rashtrapati's dinner for visiting G20 leaders and others attending the summit at the Bharat Mandapam. Photograph: ANI Photo The way India turned G20 into a year-long activity with innumerable meetings in different parts of India and abroad and managed to reach valuable conclusions on difficult issues has greatly enhanced India's prestige and stature. India has also showcased its remarkable achievements from reducing poverty to bringing light to the dark side of the moon. Prime Minister Modi's stellar performance and indefatigable energy were unanimously applauded by all. India's dream to be in the forefront of international politics has come true. India has placed itself firmly as a major player in the shaping of a new world order. Ambassador T P Sreenivasan is a frequent contributor to Rediff.com. You can read his earlier columns here. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com 'Since September 1, a senior cabinet minister has been to-ing and fro-ing between Jalna and Mumbai by chartered flight every single day with messages from the two deputy chief ministers and the chief minister to get Manoj Jarange-Patil to back down from his agitation.' IMAGE: Maratha quota agitator Manoj Jarange-Patil during his hunger strike. News21 founder-editor and senior political observer from Maharashtra Vivek Bhavsar in conversation with Prasanna D Zore/Rediff.com discusses the reasons that catapulted a 41-year-old, unassuming, protester named Manoj Jarange-Patil as the face of Marathas fighting for reservations for the community in the state. "Jarange-Patil's rise to fame closely resembles the rise of Hardik Patel," says Bhavsar comparing the Maratha agitator with the the young leader from the Patidar community in Gujarat who had launched an agitation against the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Gujarat demanding reservations for the Patel community in government jobs and educational institutions. 'He was never an aggressive agitator' His agitations have been non-political and he did not have any link with any political party. He was active with a Maratha organisation headed by Purushottam Khedekar and actively worked for the Maratha Sanghatna before starting his own organisation, Shivba. Since 2011 he was actively involved with various agitations including reservations for Marathas in government jobs and educational institutions. He would launch an agitation, but would soon call it off after meeting political leaders. Recently, he had started an agitation in Yeola in Nashik district when one of the top influential ministers in the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar-government warned the district collector to not accept his petition. Since Jarange-Patil was gaining popularity this was a useless ploy to sideline him. He got the whiff of this minister's move and hugely upset with this slight, Jarange-Patil vowed at a public meeting in Yeola that despite peaceful protests if the government was being obstinate in accepting even a written petition then he would soon have the entire Cabinet at his feet. True to his word he began a hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Ambad taluka of Jalna district on August 29. Just 10 days before he started this agitation he had petitioned the Eknath Shinde government to accept his demand to accept Marathas from Marathwada, who were documented as Kunbis (an OBC caste that currently gets reservations in government jobs and educational institutions) during the reign of Nizam of Hyderabad be given the status of Kunbis too. This agitation by Jarange-Patil had not made any explicit demand for reservations for Marathas, but only asked for incorporation of Marathas from the Marathwada region as Kunbis. But the Shinde government took him lightly and ignored his demand even as they kept assuring him that his demand will be considered. Originally hailing from Beed district, the lanky 41 year old, sporting a salt-and-pepper beard and a thick crop of hair had moved to Jalna in search of better livelihood opportunities. This time as he began his hunger strike he got significant support from neighbouring villages. Interestingly, the district police decided to take him on and attempted to forcibly evict him to a hospital as four days (from August 29 to September 1) of hunger strike was taking a toll on his health. What happened on September 1? While Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut is claiming that 'someone from Mantralaya (the state secretariat)' called the Jalna SP to play hardball with Jarange-Patil, the counter conspiracy theorists point at Sharad Pawar's hand in fomenting trouble in Jalna. A video has surfaced where a policeman could be seen dragging a young Maratha agitator by his collar and beating him up in front of Jarange-Patil's supporters at the site of the agitation. This action was unwarranted as the agitators were protesting peacefully. Earlier, the district administration had suddenly asked for extra reinforcements from neighbouring villages laced with lathis and protective shields raising many an eyebrows about the intention of the district administration. Under these circumstances the young Maratha agitators got angry when they saw one of theirs being roughed up by a cop. The situation soon turned scary as cops used more aggression to control the situation. And then the forcible eviction of Jarange-Patil on the pretext of taking him to a hospital for medical care set the cat among the pigeons as the situation soon snowballed into a fierce street fight between the cops and protesters leading to stone pelting and arson. Intelligence failure? It is now public that the home ministry's intelligence machinery -- headed by Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis -- failed to comprehend how the agitators would react if force were used upon them. Neither did they comprehend that attempting to take custody of Jarange-Patil and escorting him to a hospital would incite his supporters to resort to the kind of violence against the cops that was witnessed on the evening of Friday, September 1. But then did the cops deal aggressively with the Maratha agitators on the orders of Devendra Fadnavis? Definitely not. Having been a full-term chief minister he would definitely know the political repercussions of such aggression against the Marathas. Then who would benefit from such aggression? The protesters were so violent that stones pelted by them could even be found near the stage where Jarange-Patil was sitting on a hunger strike demanding inclusion of Marathas from Marathwada as Kunbis. Had even one stone hit Jarange-Patil the agitation would have spread across Maharashtra like wildfire; in fact, that's what BJP sources claim were the intention of those who instigated the violence that evening. The arson that took place at isolated places in Jalna, Kolhapur and Solapur would have spread across the state in no time. Jarange-Patil's rise to fame IMAGE: Maratha quota agitator Manoj Jarange-Patil. Photograph: Kind courtesy Manoj Jarange Patil Since Jarange-Patil's Jalna agitation was for inclusion of Marathas from Marathwadas as Kunbis, not one prominent leader from the Maratha community who has been in the forefront of this agitation like Sambhaji Patil and Suresh Patil came to meet him at Jalna. They didn't even offer any comments on Jarange-Patil's protest. But as soon as the news of police using violence against protesters spread like wildfire major leaders from Maharashtra, from the Opposition and the government -- Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Raj Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje, Shiv Sena's Arjun Khotkar, Industries Minister Uday Samant -- made a beeline to get an audience with Jarange-Patil. While the Opposition will hope to encash the anger of the Maratha community against the Shinde-Pawar-Fadnavis government, the ministers from the government met Jarange-Patil to placate him in the hope of winning sympathies of the agitating Maratha community. That is when Jarange-Patil catapulted to fame which closely resembles the rise of Hardik Patel -- the young leader from the Patidar community in Gujarat who had also launched an agitation against the BJP government in Gujarat demanding reservations for the Patel community in government jobs and educational institutions. The man who had no solid identity or fame before September 1, someone who was considered a lightweight and amenable agitator who could be easily placated to tone down his agitation after just a meeting with a minister, has suddenly shot into media and public limelight and became the darling of the Maratha community just because a collector in Nashik did not accept his written petition and today, as he had only recently vowed at a public meeting in Nashik's Yeola, today has the entire Maharashtra cabinet at his feet. Since September 1, a senior cabinet minister has been to-ing and fro-ing between Jalna and Mumbai by chartered flight every single day with messages from the two deputy chief ministers and the chief minister to get Jarange-Patil to back down from his agitation. It was the result of this minister's nocturnal chartered flights to Aurangabad and from there to Jalna and back to Mumbai that Eknath Shinde finally, after a hurriedly called cabinet meeting, issued a government resolution that would help Marathas from the region get caste certificates as Kunbis. The government even constituted a five-member committee headed by retired high court judge Sandeep Shinde to look into Jarange-Patil's demand. As things stand today, an emboldened Jarange-Patil has refused to withdraw his hunger strike unless the government withdraws the condition that those seeking a Kunbi caste certificate produce Nizam-era documentation proving themselves as Kunbis. Marathas: The haves and have-nots IMAGE: Maratha community members stage a demonstration in Mumbai against the Maharashtra government over the Jalna lathi charge. Photograph: ANI Photo While the issue of reservation for Marathas in government jobs and quotas in educational institutions is still pending in the Supreme Court, Jarange-Patil's agitation is striving to find a middle path that strives to get Marathas declared as Kunbis so that they could get the other backward class status. But this could lead to another headache for the government with those castes already under the OBC umbrella opposing the inclusion of Marathas as Kunbis, which would ultimately eat into their pie as more people would then be eligible for getting reservations and quotas as OBCs. The other OBC castes fear that the inclusion of Marathas as Kunbis would shrink their pie. If this formula finds acceptance, then it would definitely benefit the Marathas at the cost of other OBC castes. A clear division among the Marathas -- the haves and have-nots -- is clearly emerging in Maharashtra and this will further weaken the political strength of the Marathas in the state. The anger of the Maratha have-nots against Maratha leaders like Sharad Pawar, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan -- all former chief ministers from different geographies in the state -- will soon come to the fore and that is what the present government will heavily bank upon during the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. Who benefits from action against the Marathas? The anger against the Maratha chief minister (Eknath Shinde), Maratha deputy chief minister (Ajit Pawar) and aBrahmin deputy chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) is likely to dissipate before the assembly election in Maharashtra next year. Looking at the videos of protesters against all the political dignitaries who went to seek an audience with Jarange-Patil one can easily say that their anger is directed not just at Fadnavis but also against Sharad Pawar and other Maratha leaders who have only paid lip service to their demand for reservations. If you remember, when Devendra Fadnavis was Maharashtra's chief minister three major agitations -- 52 agitations by the Marathi Kranti Morcha demanding reservations for Marathas, the long march started by farmers demanding minimum support price for their crops and the third led by the tribals demanding ownership of forest land where they have dwelled since centuries -- were launched to weaken him. When I asked Fadnavis what troubled him the most during his five-year term he said that these three agitations were his biggest headaches. He had sensed that being a Brahmin in a state dominated by the Marathas would not be an easy task. Even Manohar Joshi (the undivided Shiv Sena's first chief minister appointed in 1995 and a Brahmin) was made to quit six months before his tenure ended. The Maratha agitation was launched to weaken Fadnavis as he was considered as astute an administrator as Sharad Pawar and that was not acceptable to the Maratha lobby in the state which had always enjoyed the perks of power in Maharashtra. When Uddhav Thackeray was the state's CM for two-and-a-half years there was no major Maratha agitation against his government. Soon after Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis came together to form the government, which was recently joined by some NCP leaders led by Sharad Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar, the Maratha agitations also began to rear their head. Many political analysts see this as a conspiracy to defame Devendra Fadnavis. The Marathas versus Brahmins tussle is once again coming to the fore and is likely to help the Opposition which has spent no time to take on the government. At least 7 women returning from Karnataka were killed in a freak accident in this district on Monday when a stationary van crushed them after being hit from the rear by a lorry, the police said. Photograph: Saahil Salvi for Rediff.com IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. The victims were seated on the side of the road when the accident happened, they said. About 13 persons who were injured in the mishap involving the two vehicles were admitted to local government hospitals. According to a senior police official, the victims were part of a group from Onanguttai village, near Ambur in Vellore district, who had embarked on a trip to Dharmasala in Karnataka on September 8. While they were returning home in two vans, the tyre of one of the vehicle burst, stranding the passengers at Natrampalli on the Bengaluru-Chennai national highway. "The van driver was attending to the repair work after asking the tourists to disembark. Suddenly, a speeding lorry coming from Bengaluru hit the van from behind, and due to the impact the van overturned crushing seven women," he said. The deceased have been identified as Meera, Deivanai, Sithammal alias Selvi, Devaki, Savithri, Kalavathi and Geethanjali, the police said. Ten others who had travelled in the ill-fated van and three persons from the lorry have been admitted to the Tirupathur and Vaniyambadi government hospitals. The Natrampalli police have registered a case. Expressing heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced a solatium of Rs 1 lakh to each of the affected family. Also, Rs 50,000 will be paid through the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund to the injured undergoing treatment, he said in a statement. The Maharashtra government wants to give quota to the Maratha community which will be foolproof and stands legal scrutiny but it won't take any hasty decision, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Monday ahead of the all-party meeting. IMAGE: Maratha community members stage a demonstration against state government over Jalna lathi charge. Photograph: ANI Photo Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government will try for broad consensus on how to move forward on issues raised by Marathas and other communities at the meeting. The state government wants to give the Maratha community a reservation that will be foolproof and which will pass legal test. We are not taking any decision in haste. The state does not want to cheat anybody, Shinde told reporters in Mumbai. He said the government needs to establish that the Maratha community is socially and educationally backward and also assure other communities that their quotas will not be affected. The demand for Maratha quota is a social issue and not a political one. I hope opposition parties will come up with some suggestions and avoid politicising the issue, the chief minister said when asked about his expectations from the all-party meeting, scheduled to be held in Mumbai this evening. He pointed out that the state government is parallelly giving out several facilities and financial assistance to students from the Maratha community on par with the other backward communities. Fadnavis said the government would address the demands of various communities without politicising the quota issue and would try to arrive at a decision suitable to the interests of the state. As the head of the state, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called the all-party meeting today. The agenda is to create a broad consensus over the Maratha quota issue. Several organisations have also raised their demands regarding reservations," he said. Queried about the decision of Manoj Jarange, the quota activist who has been on hunger strike for the last 14 days, to stop drinking water, Fadnavis said, The government needs to take a decision which will pass the legal test, otherwise, the community will blame us for misleading them. He said the state government won't take any decision which would bring two communities (OBCs and Marathas) face to face. Jarange has demanded that all Marathas be given the Kunbi status, which effectively means the OBC quota. The rounds of talks held between the state government and the quota activist from Jalna district have remained inconclusive so far. "We will not allow any injustice to happen to OBCs. The state government will not take any decision which will bring two communities (OBCs and Marathas) face to face," Fadnavis said in Nagpur. He hoped that leaders of all communities would avoid giving statements that hurt the sentiments of any community. "I want to assure OBCs that no injustice would be done to them," the Deputy CM added. Meanwhile, Jarange on Monday said the community in Maharashtra has waited for 70 years to get justice and appealed to the ruling and opposition parties to make their stand clear on the issue of reservation for Marathas. Asked by reporters about his declining health and the requirement for intravenous fluids, Jarange dismissed the need of being administered saline. Instead, he expressed that he required the "saline of Maratha reservation" to be administered, underscoring the urgency of the issue. He said the Maratha community has waited for 70 years and it cannot afford to wait any longer for justice. Jarange on Saturday hardened his position saying his fast will go on till Marathas in Maharashtra get Kunbi certificates under the OBC category. He has been on hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district demanding reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education. Speaking to mediapersons in Jalna on Monday, Jarange said the Maratha community is vigilant in observing the actions of both the opposition and ruling parties. He appealed to the parties to make their stand clear on the issue of quota for Marathas. Over the past seven decades, the community members have supported various political parties through their votes, and they now expect justice for the cause of Marathas, he said. "The Maratha community wants to know who supports their cause," he said. Responding to allegations of emotional manipulation and unreasonable demands, Jarange said his actions are driven by the desire to secure justice for his community. He defended his unwavering stance, emphasising that the government has had ample time to address the issue. The Maratha quota matter snowballed into a major challenge for the state government after the police earlier this month baton-charged a violent mob at Antarwali Sarati when protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift Jarange to hospital. Several persons, including 40 police personnel, were injured and more than 15 state transport buses were set ablaze in the violence. The police action in Jalna triggered more protests by the community across the state and a war of words between the ruling dispensation and the opposition. Amid the developments, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week said the government regretted the use of force. An army officer allegedly killed a 30-year-old woman with whom he was in an extramarital relationship after she started pressuring him to marry her, the police said on Monday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Ramendu Upadhyay, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, was arrested on Monday for the murder of the woman whose body with injury marks on the head was found on the outskirts of Dehradun the previous day, SP (City) Sarita Dobhal said. Upadhyay, who was posted in Clement Town in Dehradun, had alcohol with the woman, identified as Shreya Sharma, in a restaurant on Saturday night and offered to take her on a long drive to which she agreed. However, after reaching a desolate place on the outskirts of the city he parked the car and hit the woman repeatedly on the head with a hammer until she died, Dobhal said. After killing Shreya, Upadhyay dumped her body along the roadside and drove away, the SP said, adding that the army officer was already married and was under pressure from the woman to marry her. The army officer has confessed to the crime, she said. The murder weapon, the car used for the crime and the clothes Upadhyay was wearing at the time of committing the crime have been recovered, the SP said. The army officer, in his 40s, had been transferred recently to Dehradun from Siliguri where he met Shreya, a woman of Nepali origin, for the first time in a dance bar. Their friendship soon grew into a relationship, police said. Upadhyay told the police that after being transferred to Dehradun, he had rented a separate flat for Shreya there. They used to meet in her flat and she would often complain that he was not giving her the status of a wife, the police said. Terrorists belonging to banned groups United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) were allegedly part of the mob from which gunshots were fired at an army officer that left him severely injured in Manipur, officials said Monday. IMAGE: Indian Army soldiers in Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo Central security agencies have now warned about the possibility of terrorists mingling with crowds during any protest to stoke tensions in the restive Manipur state, they said. The warning has come after a Lt Colonel of the army was injured last week during a standoff with a group of people, including Meira Paibis (women vigilantes), who attempted to attack tribals at Molnoi village near Pallel in Tengnoupal district but were stopped by the army and Assam Rifles. During the stand-off, a bullet hit Lt Col Raman Tyagi in his hand, an incident that led to a crackdown on the protesters who were determined to march towards the tribal village. Lt Col Tyagi had to be airlifted from Manipur to Guwahati where he underwent surgery, the officials said. He was earlier evacuated to a military hospital in Leimakhong by a helicopter, after which he was shifted to neighbouring Assam for specialised treatment. The investigation into the incident led the security agencies to conclude that the terrorists of the banned groups were part of the crowd, they said. The officials said they had been warning for the past few weeks about the resurgence of near dormant banned groups like UNLF, PLA, Kanglei Yawol Kanba Lup (KYKL) and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) in the state. They said that at present UNLF had a cadre strength of 330 followed by PLA with 300 and KYKL with 25 who were active within the groups of the majority community. The overwhelming support being extended to cadres of these banned organisations was witnessed on June 24, when Army and Assam Rifles, based on specific intelligence, nabbed 12 members of KYKL in East Imphal including self-styled 'Lt Colonel' Moirangthem Tamba alias Uttam. Uttam was one of the masterminds of the ambush on 6 Dogra regiment in 2015 that left 18 army soldiers dead. The UNLF has in the past been largely involved in extortion targeting contractors and businessmen. The PLA, which initially took shape under the name of 'Polei', the ancient name of Manipur, had an aim to liberate Manipur and establish an independent Meitei land in Imphal Valley. The KYKL, which runs on extortion and openly supports other terror groups, is considered a mercenary group with no ideology and cadres mainly drawn from criminals and drug addicts. The PREPAK, which has been banned by the government for its secessionist ideology of so-called liberation of Manipur and whose funding mainly comes from extortion of businessmen especially pharmacies, indulged mainly in drug trafficking and smuggling. This terror group is also involved in extortion on behalf of PLA and UNLF and passes the amount after retaining a share. The officials said that there were apprehensions that the arms and ammunition looted from the Manipur police armoury could have landed with these terror groups. Among the arms looted included .303 rifles, Medium Machine Guns (MMG) and AK assault rifles, carbines, Insas Light Machine Guns (LMG), Insas rifles, M-16 and MP5 rifles. Besides these, around 6 lakh bullets have been found missing during the waves of attacks carried out on police and other security officials from May 3 when the ethnic clashes began in the state with two dominant communities targeting each other. These attacks have so far claimed over 160 lives. The officials said around 4,537 arms and 6.32 lakh rounds of ammunition were missing mainly from Manipur Police Training Centre (MTPC) at Pangei in East Imphal, 7th India Reserve battalion and 8th Manipur Rifles, both located at Khabeisoi in Imphal city. According to the officials, out of the stolen weapons, 2,900 fell in the lethal category whereas others comprised teargas and mini flare guns. The looted arms and ammunition were mainly with the rioters in the valley, while those in the hills had only 5.31 per cent of such weapons, they said. China said on Monday that it welcomes the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced on the sidelines of the G20 summit so long it doesn't become a 'geopolitical tool', even as it downplayed Italy's plan to pull out of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the United States President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabia Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other world leaders during the PGII and India Middle East Europe connectivity corridor launch event on the sidelines of G20 Summit, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo China welcomes all initiatives that truly help developing countries build infrastructure and sincere efforts to promote connectivity and common development, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. "At the same time, we advocate that various connectivity initiatives should be open, inclusive, and form synergy, and should not become geopolitical tools," the ministry said in a written response to PTI to a question on China's reaction to the new corridor. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to launch the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor which includes India, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the United States. "Today we all have reached an important and historic partnership. In the coming times, it will be a major medium of economic integration between India, West Asia and Europe," Modi said. The corridor will give a new direction to connectivity and sustainable development of the entire world, he said. "This is a big deal. This is a real big deal, US President Joe Biden said while announcing the pact, aimed at promoting clean energy and better communities. As we work to address infrastructure gaps across low- and middle-income countries, we need to maximise the impacts of our investments," he said. Analysts say the new corridor is the first global connectivity project to rival China's BRI which drew criticism for its debt sustainability, especially of smaller countries. The ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 envisions connecting China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes rebuilding the old Silk Road trade route. But with the decade-old BRI running into billions of dollars of investment, China faces a major challenge as Italy has announced its plans to quit the initiative, which according to the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, did not bring the results we expected and many Italian parties were against Italy's participation. Italy's decision comes at a time when China announced plans to hold the third conference of BRI in Beijing next month. If Italy pulls out, it will be regarded as an embarrassment for President Xi's pet project. BRI reportedly figured in the talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday. Asked whether the BRI issue figured in the Li-Meloni talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing in Beijing that both leaders had exchanged views on important issues in bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in joint pursuit of prosperity and development. On the BRI, she said, "Ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, more than 150 countries and cooperation partners in a wide range of areas have joined the initiative, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people of participating countries." "It serves the interests of all partner countries to further tap into its potential for cooperation," she said. Skirting a direct response on BRI, she said China and Italy are both ancient civilizations on either end of the ancient Silk Road. "We can further deepen practical cooperation in various fields and work for further growth of our comprehensive strategic partnership," she said. As privacy awareness and concern surge among Australian small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), fuelled by recent high-profile attacks on companies like Optus and Medibank, a concerning gap persists between awareness and action. Shockingly, one in four local SMBs would be unable to weather the financial or reputational storm caused by a privacy breach. Equally alarming, another one in four SMBs remains unclear about their obligations amid recent changes to the Privacy Act. New research by the global technology platform Zoho highlights the vulnerability of Australias small and medium businesses (SMBs) to privacy breaches. Based on a survey of 784 SMBs across various sectors, the study found that a quarter of these businesses (24%) believe they would not survive the financial impact of a privacy breach, while nearly a quarter (23.7%) feel they could not recover from the reputational damage caused by such an incident. Although awareness of cybersecurity issues is increasing among Australian SMBs, many remain unprepared and ill-equipped to handle privacy breaches. Nearly half of the respondents (45.4%) ranked data privacy as a top business priority, with an additional 30% considering it important. The influence of major breaches on their perceptions is evident, as almost 80% acknowledged that these incidents had shaped their concerns about privacy. However, while understanding and awareness are high, action is lacking, with one-third (35.2%) expressing increased concern but failing to take action. Moreover, less than half of the surveyed businesses (44.4%) have a well-defined, documented, and applied customer privacy policy, and some either lack a data privacy policy or have not updated or reviewed it (18.4%). The recent privacy act changes Vijay Sundaram, Chief Strategy Officer at Zoho, stated, Data privacy has become a paramount concern in todays landscape, and it is encouraging to see policymakers taking steps to enhance awareness, incentivize action, and reinforce safeguards. The Australian government is currently deliberating substantial reforms to The Privacy Act 1988, a statute that presently grants small businesses an exemption. However, these proposed reforms would eliminate this exemption, potentially subjecting them to fines and penalties for privacy breaches or non-compliance. While any policy aimed at safeguarding businesses, consumers, and data online is commendable, it is imperative that small businesses receive the necessary time, guidance, and resources to achieve compliance. According to Zohos research, just 51.8% of respondents believe their businesses understand their obligations under The Privacy Act 1988, and an additional 22.9% acknowledged a lack of comprehension regarding the legislations privacy requirements. Without adequate support and education to facilitate compliance, these businesses may bear a disproportionate burden. Vijay emphasized the need for the technology industry and policymakers to incentivize action among small businesses to protect themselves and their customers. He highlighted the potential catastrophic impact of a privacy breach, especially as regulatory changes loom, and penalties become more severe. Privacy breaches have been on the rise in recent years, with the Australian Cyber Security Centre receiving over 76,000 cybercrime reports in the 2021-22 financial year, representing a 13% increase from the previous year. Proposed reforms could remove the exemption currently enjoyed by small businesses under The Privacy Act 1988, making them liable for fines and penalties for non-compliance. However, Zohos research indicates that many SMBs are not fully aware of their obligations under the existing legislation. Only 51.8% believe their business understands the requirements outlined in The Privacy Act 1988, while 22.9% admit to not understanding these requirements. This legislation governs the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of personal information. Notably, a significant portion of small businesses collect customer data (64.5%) and communicate with clients about data collection (58.6%), but some are unaware of their responsibilities in this regard (19.7%). When it comes to responding to a privacy breach, fewer than half (46.2%) of respondents claim to know exactly what to do, while 13.5% have no idea. In terms of data privacy practices, over half (57.5%) of respondents collect or use cookies on their business websites, with a majority (56.7%) demonstrating a solid understanding of cookies role. However, some are still in the process of learning (11.2%). We work with SMBs in various industries like healthcare, defence contractors, human intelligence, refugee resettlement programs, political organisations and more. Data privacy is a significant focus for them and their customers, and a responsibility they take very seriously. There are also many SMBs who think theyre too small to be at risk, and so arent making any efforts to protect their business or their customers, commented Matt Koopmans, CEO and Founder of Aurelian Group, a Zoho channel partner. Its promising to see an increase in awareness in Zohos research, which we recognise in our clients. Awareness is the first step, it is time to put it into action. The threat to small business is real, and is exacerbated by complacency. Regardless of upcoming legislation and consumers becoming more concerned about their data privacy, small businesses should ask themselves: Does the data I collect have value for my business and my customers?. If it doesnt add value, it adds cost and risk. What you dont keep, cannot be stolen. Only if the answer is yes, this information is of value to my business operations, small businesses must reduce risk for both them and their customers; have a clear policy outlining what client data is to be retained, what software or services are sanctioned to be used that can access that data. Businesses shouldnt use software that they dont trust, be vigilant in vetting the vendors they do engage, educate their staff about best practice, communicate openly with their customers and put in place plans and policies to guide their response to a breach. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on Monday said the G20 New Delhi declaration was clearly a compromise, which is always the case with such a multilateral forum, but he was happy with the fact that there were some key elements in it, and that India was able to broker it. IMAGE: Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte meets Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, at Vidhana Soudha, in Bengaluru on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo Rutte, who participated in the G20 summit hosted by India in New Delhi on September 9 and 10, visited Bengaluru as part of an economic mission. "It was a compromise clearly, and that's always the case when you come together with multilateral teams like the G20. But I was happy with the fact that there were some key elements in the declaration, which were important. But obviously if I would have written it myself, it would have been different, but I wasn't the only one; we were with a whole bunch of people. And it is good that India was able to broker a declaration," Rutte said. He was responding to a question by reporters on whether he was happy with the New Delhi declaration, specifically the paragraphs on Ukraine, or whether he thinks it is a compromise, during an informal press meet. Rutte also stressed on the need to elevate the India-Netherlands relationship to a more strategic level and not only on the economic side. "Yesterday, I had a meeting with the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). We know each other very well, we discussed how to basically elevate our relationship to a more strategic level and not only on the economic side, but also clearly on the security side...this is clearly a broad-based relationship," he said. Saying that India is going through a rapid development and will be the third biggest economy in four or five years, he added, "That being said, we really are very proud to be part of that journey." During his visit to Bengaluru, the Netherlands Prime Minister met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar , Ministers M B Patil and Priyank Kharge, and top government officials. Ahead of his visit to see a mural art piece created by Indian and Dutch artists on Church street here to mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between the Netherlands and India, he is said to have purchased a cup of coffee using the UPI payment system, and was asked to comment on it. "It looks very simple and easy, but I have no idea about its ramifications, so I cannot claim I'm an expert on this. But it was fascinating to go through the experience...," he said. Asked if there were any conversations going on to link Netherlands' own fast payment system with India's UPI, he said, "It is clearly something we are discussing. Not so much linking, but to understand better what you guys (India) are doing. But obviously there are many issues on privacy, banking system, in terms of currency stability. We really have to work through all those issues, but it is clearly a development which we have to take seriously." Speaking about his meeting with representatives of the Karnataka government, Rutte said the state is as big as Germany in terms of population, and the administration is being practical and action-oriented here. "I was really impressed that the ministers and the deputy chief minister are really focusing on how to solve the issues, and not just restating the policies, but making it practical. It makes a big impression on the Dutch business community," he said. During the Bengaluru visit, Rutte also held discussions with Indian companies engaged in business with the Netherlands, and participated in a roundtable discussion with Dutch companies operating in Karnataka, Consulate officials said. Asked about investment proposals and sectors, he said, "One of the things of course we are discussing with the central government is how we can have this whole semiconductor industry here in Bengaluru. We have (Netherlands-headquartered) NXP for example." Pointing out that there are huge Indian companies like Wipro and others who are very successful in the Netherlands too, he said, "I had the opportunity today to speak to a couple of them, including Infosys. You (India) really have a very rich network of ICT (Information and Communications Technology) companies and you are big in chip design. "The next step India clearly wants to take is on semiconductor production and chips production, it will take time, and we find it really exciting to be part of that journey." The ground shook with a force few had ever felt, thundering through remote villages in Morocco at the dark of night. When the earthquake ended late on Friday, September 8, 2023, villages and towns carved into the Atlas Mountains lay devastated, with hundreds dead, countless homes ruined beyond repair. A village of fewer than 3,000 people, Moulay Brahim attracted tourists and outdoor enthusiasts with its stunning vistas and proximity to Marrakech. Streets brimmed with small hotels and cafes overlooking gorges and green valleys. But after the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 across Morocco, the scene in the village is bleak. People in the poor rural community about 45 kilometres (28 miles) northeast of the quake epicentre live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block, many of which are no longer standing or safe to inhabit. CAUTION! UPSETTING IMAGES AHEAD. VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. IMAGE: Emergency workers search for life in the rubble in Amizmiz nearly 48 hours after the deadly earthquake in Morocco. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: A damaged hotel in Moulay Brahim. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: Hussein Adnaie carries belongings out of his damaged house in Moulay Brahim. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: Humanity survives the catastrophe in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Emergency crews inspect a damaged building in Ouirgane. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: Rescue workers attend to a survivor of the earthquake in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Survivors in an ambulance in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Survivors camp by the roadside in Imgdal. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: A man walks on the rubble left by the earthquake in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Mohamed Sebbagh, 66, stands in front of his destroyed house in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Rescue workers recover a body from the rubble in Ouirgane. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: Emergency workers place a body in a vehicle in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: A relative faints as rescue workers recover a body from the rubble in Ouirgane. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: A search and rescue operation in Ouirgane. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters IMAGE: Emergency crews cover a body in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Emergency workers carry a victim of the deadly earthquake in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Emergency workers carry an earthquake victim's body in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: Fatima Boujdig, an earthquake survivor, with her husband and a neighbour sit next to their truck in Tafeghaghte, a remote village in the High Atlas mountains, in this still image taken from a video. Photograph: Reuters TV/via Reuters IMAGE: Neighbours take pictures of emergency workers carrying a dead body in Amizmiz. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters IMAGE: The funeral of two victims of the deadly earthquake in Moulay Brahim. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Mahipal Soni/Rediff.com China finally broke its silence on the New Delhi G20 summit saying that the Declaration adopted by the member nations has sent a positive signal that the influential grouping is working together to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the G20 Leaders' Summit, at the Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo India on Saturday pulled off a big diplomatic win after the G20 summit held under its presidency adopted a consensus declaration overcoming major differences on the Russia-Ukraine war, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for ending the 'global trust deficit'. In its first comment on the outcome of the two-day summit, which concluded Sunday, the Chinese foreign ministry spoke highly of its outcome. The summit adopted a leaders' declaration, which reflects China's proposition and states that the G20 would act in concrete ways through partnerships, sending a positive signal of the G20 working together to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery and global development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said. Asked for her comment on the summit outcome, Mao said, In the process of preparing for this New Delhi summit, China played a constructive role and always supported the summit in attaching importance to the concerns of developing countries and reaching fruitful outcomes in support of common development. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the summit, deputising for President Xi Jinping. Asked whether China supports the absence of direct criticism of Russia in the G20 statement and whether softer language would help end the conflict in Ukraine, Mao said China's stance on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. The G20 leaders' declaration is the result of consensus reached through consultation and reflects the common understanding of all members. The New Delhi Summit reaffirms that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues. We always believe that the key to the final resolution of the Ukraine crisis lies in discarding the Cold War mentality, attaching importance to and respecting all sides' legitimate security concerns, and seeking a political solution through dialogue and negotiation, she said. The spokesperson said China will remain committed to promoting peace talks and working together with the international community for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Mao said China has always attached importance to and actively supported the work of the G20 and believes that it's important for the grouping to stand in solidarity and cooperate to address various risks and challenges in the world economy and development. During his attendance at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Premier Li Qiang elaborated on China's views and propositions on G20 cooperation, calling on all parties to stick to the original aspiration of solidarity and cooperation, live up to the responsibility for peace and development as required by our times, and be partners in promoting the world economic recovery, open cooperation and global sustainable development, she said. The G20 member countries represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union. On Saturday, the African Union was admitted as G20's permanent member. Nineteen people were killed in the past 24 hours as rain lashed Uttar Pradesh, disrupting normal life, particularly in the state's central region and forcing schools in some places to shut for a day, authorities said Monday evening. IMAGE: A man with his bicycle wades through a waterlogged street in the Triveni Nagar area following heavy rainfall, in Lucknow on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo Roof collapses, cases of drowning and deaths due to lightning were reported in parts of the state. Some localities in the capital Lucknow faced waterlogging. In Barabanki, rail tracks were flooded. Four deaths were reported from Hardoi, three from Barabanki, two each from Pratapgarh and Kannauj, and one each from Amethi, Deoria, Jalaun, Kanpur, Unnao, Sambhal, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar districts, it said. In Kannauj, two brothers -- Kallu (13) and Avnish (17) -- died after the thatched roof of their house in Lalkiyapur village in Tirwa area collapsed on Sunday following overnight rains, Naib Tehsildar (revenue official) Ratnesh Kumar said. In Muzaffarnagar district, Deepika (28) died after the roof of her house in Rahmatpur village in the Bhopa area collapsed last night, while her mother-in-law sustained serious injuries, Sub-Divisional Magistrate Subodh Kumar told PTI on Monday. In Deoria, Divya Chauhan (9) drowned while taking a bath in a swollen rivulet in the district, police said on Monday. In 22 districts of the state, there have been over 40 mm rain in the last 24 hours including Moradabad, Sambhal, Kannauj, Rampur, Hathras, Barabanki, Kasganj, Bijnor, Amroha, Bahraich, Lucknow, Badaun, Mainpuri, Hardoi, Firozabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Kanpur, Sitapur Farrukhabad, Lakhimpur Kheri and Fatehpur. Alleging corruption in the budget meant for 'smart cities', Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said waterlogging in Lucknow has exposed the blank promises of the BJP government. "The BJP has betrayed the people of the state in the name of smart cities. There was corruption and loot in the budget for the scheme due to which the situation is palpable," he said. "The state capital Lucknow and other cities are facing waterlogging and many colonies are submerged in water and drains are overflowing," Yadav said in a statement issued in Lucknow. According to the MET department forecast, heavy rains are likely in the eastern region till September 14 while light rains will continue till September 17, the official of the relief commissioner office said. The western region of the state is also likely to get rains and showers till September 17, though there is an alert for lightning over the state till September 15. In Barabanki, the movement of trains was hit as water came on the railway tracks. A passenger train was halted at the outer for some time but later the trains were allowed to pass at a very slow pace, a railway official said. Schools in the state capital remain closed on the order of the authorities. In Lucknow, District Magistrate Surya Pal Gangwar ordered the closure of schools and issued an advisory for the people not to venture out unnecessarily in view of the possibility of severe lightning. All the district-level officers in Lucknow are in the field and taking stock of the problems caused due to rain. The problem emanating from water logging is being looked into on an urgent basis in different parts of the state capital, the DM said, adding that in the past 24 hours till 8 am Monday, 99.9 mm rainfall has been recorded. Municipal Corporation teams in urban areas and sub-divisional magistrate-led teams in rural areas are in the field and solving people's problems, a district official said, adding that besides visiting these areas, cow shelters are also being inspected and arrangements are being reviewed to ensure their security. Senior officials rushed to the spot to make arrangements for diverting the traffic in the busy Gomti Nagar area where a part of a major road collapsed following incessant rains and the traffic diversion was brought into effect to facilitate smooth movement of vehicles, a district official said. In Lakhimpur Kheri, heavy downpours lashed all eight tehsil areas following which District Magistrate Mahendra Bahadur Singh ordered closure of all the schools up to class 8. Amid several urban and rural areas witnessing waterlogging on the main routes and approach roads due to incessant rains since Sunday night, the Nipun Assessment Test (NAT) scheduled to be held on Monday and Tuesday among all government-run primary and upper primary schools had to be postponed, Lakhimpur Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) Pravin Tiwari said. "The NAT examination in all basic schools would remain suspended on September 11," the BSA said In Unnao, lightning struck at many places leaving 140 sheep dead in Hasanganj tehsil, SDM Hasanganj Naveen Chandra said. The official of the relief commissioner's office said as many as 19 tehsils of 10 districts have been affected by flood in Ballia, Barabanki, Badaun, Farrukhabad, Kasganj, Kheri, Kushinagar, Mau, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar districts. According to the official, 173 villages and a population of 55,982 have been affected. No river is presently flowing above the danger level in the state as of now, but Ganga in Bijnor and Son river in Mirzapur (Bansagar dam) have seen a rising trend. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the officials of the affected districts to undertake relief works with full promptness, according to an official spokesperson. The damage caused to crops should be assessed and the report should be made available to the government so that compensation amount can be provided to the affected farmers as per rules, the official said quoting the CM. Shelter homes have been set up but no one has been shifted there and the NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in some districts and have been put on high alert, the official said. Lunch packets and foodgrains are being distributed and vaccination of animals and medical camps are functional, the official said. Agriculture losses, if any, are being evaluated, the official said, adding that water logging in urban areas has also been reported and efforts are on to clear the water. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday announced the withdrawal of police cases filed against pro-Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna district, the epicentre of the latest round of stir on the issue, and urged quota activist Manoj Jarange to end his indefinite fast. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and others during the all-party meeting to discuss the Maratha reservation issue, Mumbai, September 11, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo He also announced the suspension of three police officials involved in lathi-charge on quota agitators in central Maharashtra's Jalna district in the first week of September. The CM made the announcements after presiding over an all-party meeting in Mumbai held against the backdrop of the ongoing Maratha quota agitation led by Jarange. The activist is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district demanding reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category for the Maratha community. The state government has decided to withdraw police cases filed against Maratha quota protesters. Necessary instructions have been given to officials as well, Shinde told reporters. The state government has decided to suspend three police officials who were involved in lathi- charge on Maratha quota protesters, said the CM. The police had baton charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarati after protesters refused to let authorities shift Jarange to hospital on September 1. The police had filed cases against more than 360 people for their alleged involvement in the violence. Shinde said all parties attending the meeting passed a resolution requesting Jarange to withdraw his fast. Maharashtra is a progressive state. We want harmony and peace among all communities. All parties passed a resolution requesting Manoj Jarange to withdraw his fast. I personally request him to call off his fast. The state government needs time to complete procedure to make decisions (on the quota issue), he said. A five-member panel headed by Judge Sandeep Shinde (retired) has been set up to determine the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), including legal and administrative framework, for giving caste certificates to Maratha community members referred to as Kunbis (part of OBCs now) in Nizam-era documents. This will allow Marathas from the Marathwada region to avail quota benefits under the OBC category. The committee formed by the state government has got down to work and it needs some time to complete its task, said the CM. He said, The Justice Shinde Committee has held its first meeting and has been given one month to submit a report. The government has also agreed to most of the demands made by Jarange. I appeal to protesting people to end their agitation. Jarange is not making any personal demands... he is doing it for his community, but it will take some time for the (quota) issue to be resolved." Fasting Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Monday said he will take a decision on Tuesday afternoon on continuing his hunger strike, a development coming in the backdrop of the Maharashtra government holding an all-party on the reservation issue. IMAGE: Manoj Jarange. Photograph: Courtesy Manoj Jarange on X Addressing the media, Jarange, on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district in central Maharashtra demanding reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha community, asserted he would not succumb to pressure from either the government or the opposition on the quota issue. He emphasised his paramount concern was to listen to the voices of villagers and his community. "I will decide (at 2 pm) tomorrow (on continuing fast)," said the activist. The all-party meeting, convened by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday night in Mumbai, brought together representatives from all major political parties. The primary agenda of the gathering was to deliberate upon the ongoing Maratha reservation matter. Political leaders at the meeting collectively appealed to Jarange to end his hunger strike, citing that many of their demands had already been acknowledged and accepted by the government. Meanwhile, he has stopped taking intravenous (IV) fluids, liquid and he may face health problems due to dehydration, said a civil surgeon on Monday. Jarange's serum creatinine and bilirubin levels are on the higher side, potentially indicating his kidneys are not working well and possibility of a liver ailment, Jalna district's acting civil surgeon Pratap Ghodke said. The activist, aged around 40, has stopped taking IV fluids and liquid since Sunday evening, Ghodke told PTI. The family doctor of Jarange has been told to persuade him to undergo treatment and take medicines, said the surgeon. "The health of Manoj Jarange is a matter of concern for us. He is not taking liquid intake or IV fluids since Sunday. His serum creatinine was slightly on the higher side (1.5) two days back. His bilirubin was also on the higher side," Ghodke said. "In the evening (on Monday), we sent another team of doctors to examine Manoj Jarange. We have also told his family doctor and near and dear ones to talk to Jarange and persuade him to take medical treatment," Ghodke said. "Our team of doctors went to see Jarange yesterday (Sunday evening). But he refused to get himself checked," said the civil surgeon. Jarange, speaking to Marathi news channel ABP Majha earlier in the day, urged all political parties in Maharashtra to stand with the community on the quota issue. "The Maratha community has taken care of all political parties in the last 70 years...now it is their turn to stand with the Maratha community. Community members will be able to see which party stands where with them," he said. Asked if he was willing to give more time to the state government to settle the reservation issue, Jarange said quota supporters are ready to listen if an official delegation comes to hold talks with them. "We have given them ample time....70 years. But if they are willing to listen to our demands, and if a delegation comes to hold talk we will surely listen to them," said the activist. 'After Chandrababu Naidu's arrest on Saturday, Pawan Sir's protest is not a random happening.' IMAGE: Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan stages a protest after his convoy of vehicles was blocked by the Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday, September 9, 2023, here and below. Photographs: ANI Photo Now that former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has been arrested, Telugu movie star Pawan Kalyan may give up his acting career to immerse in a career in politics. For long now, Pawan Kalyan has been seen to be sailing in two boats, as an actor and an emergent politician. But with Naidu's controversial arrest Pawan Kalyan has apparently taken a decision to go the whole hog in his political career. "Pawan Kalyan has taken the plunge," an actor in Hyderabad who knows Pawan well reveals. "After Chandrababu Naidu's arrest on Saturday, Pawan Sir's protest is not a random happening. His Jana Sena Party will now galvanise into active political action with the next elections being their target," the actor adds. "From what I know he will now wrap up his pending film assignments and plunge completely into a political career." Fasting Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has stopped taking intravenous (IV) fluids and liquid, intensifying his agitation as he on Monday appealed to all political parties in Maharashtra to stand with the community on the reservation issue. IMAGE: Manoj Jarange, the politician-turned activist. Photograph: Courtesy Manoj Jarange on X Jarange, aged around 40, is on an indefinite hunger strike since August 29 at Antarwali Sarati village in adjoining Jalna district in central Maharashtra demanding reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category for the Maratha community. The quota activist has stopped intake of IV fluids and liquid since Sunday evening, a health official told PTI. "Our team of doctors went to see Jarange yesterday (Sunday evening). But he refused to get himself checked. He has stopped taking IV fluids and liquid intake," Jalna civil surgeon Pratap Ghodke said. Meanwhile, Jarange, speaking to Marathi news channel ABP Majha on Monday, urged all political parties in Maharashtra to stand with the community on the quota issue. "The Maratha community has taken care of all political parties in the last 70 years... now it is their turn to stand with the Maratha community. Community members will be able to see which party stands where with them," he said. Asked if he was willing to give more time to the state government to settle the reservation issue, Jarange said quota supporters are ready to listen if an official delegation comes to hold talks with them. "We have given them ample time....70 years. But if they are willing to listen to our demands, and if a delegation comes to hold talk we will surely listen to them," said the activist. The Supreme Court on Monday extended till September 15 the protection from coercive action it has granted to four members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) in connection with two FIRs lodged against them, and sought the view of the Manipur government on whether to transfer their plea for quashing the FIRs and other relief to the Delhi high court for adjudication. IMAGE: People take out a candlelight march demanding peace in violence-hit Manipur, at DDSC Stadium, Dimapur, Nagaland, September 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra observed orally as to how FIRs were lodged on the basis of a report of the fact-finding committee of the EGI when the four were not involved in criminal activities on the ground. The top court said it was not inclined to quash the FIRs and was mulling whether their plea can be transferred to the Delhi high court or the Manipur high court should take it up. The court decided to hear the matter on September 15. The journalists have sought the quashing of the FIRs against them and protection from any coercive action by the Manipur police. The bench also took note of the submissions of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan, appearing for the journalists' body, that the EGI members had undertaken the fact-finding study in pursuance of a letter written by the Army on July 12. It is a report, after all. The basic question is, what they are arguing is that they prepared a report and this is a matter of their subjective opinion...This is not one of the cases where somebody was there on the ground and committed some offence, the bench said. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, said the EGI members may be protected for some more time and the matter be sent to the Manipur high court as done in other cases. The counsel for the EGI opposed the submission and said the matter be heard either in the top court or be transferred to the Delhi high court, contending that FIRs cannot be lodged on the basis of a fact-finding report. Sibal said the EGI did not volunteer to go to Manipur and went there after the Army wrote to them. It was the Army which wanted an objective assessment of the media coverage on the ground, he said. We did not volunteer to go there. It is the Army which requested us. This is a very serious matter. Please see the letter of the Army to the Editors Guild. This is an invitation by the Army to the Editors Guild saying see what is happening there -- unethical, ex-parte reporting by the vernacular media. It is at their invitation that we went," Sibal said. The Editors Guild and its members cannot be prosecuted under the IPC for giving the report, he asserted. The solicitor general said the Manipur high court is functional and the EGI and its members can move there and even appear virtually. Moreover, he said, such matters should not be filed in the top court directly. Sibal referred to alleged incidents of attack on lawyers in Manipur and said, It is hazardous to go there at this point in time." The senior lawyer even referred to the statements made by the Manipur chief minister about the FIRs in a media briefing. If you want to make it political at a national level, we can also. Otherwise, the Manipur high court can deal with it... I just do not want this to be a national political issue which possibly seems to be the intention, the solicitor general said. The bench said it was not going to quash the FIRs as it will need appreciation of facts at this stage and observed that it will deliberate upon whether the EGI can be asked to move the Manipur high court or the matter can be transferred to the Delhi high court. On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said a police case had been filed on the basis of a complaint against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India, and accused them of trying to "provoke clashes" in the state. A second FIR was also registered against the four, with the additional charge of defamation. The initial complaint against the EGI president and its three members was filed by Ngangom Sarat Singh, a retired engineer who had worked for the state government. The second FIR was lodged by Sorokhaibam Thoudam Sangita of Khurai in Imphal East district. Besides EGI president Seema Mustafa, those who have been booked are senior journalists Seema Guha, Bharat Bhushan and Sanjay Kapoor. They visited the state between August 7 and 10 to study media reporting on the ethnic violence. The Editors Guild, in a report published on September 2, slammed the internet ban in the state as being detrimental to media reportage, criticised what it termed as one-sided reporting by some media outlets and claimed there were indications that the state leadership had "turned partisan" during the conflict. "They are anti-state, anti-national and anti-establishment (people) who came to pour venom. Had I known it before, I would not have allowed them to enter," the chief minister had said. The EGI said in its report it received several representations about the media in Manipur playing a partisan role in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Chin communities. "There are clear indications that the leadership of the state became partisan during the conflict. It should have avoided taking sides in the ethnic conflict but it failed to do its duty as a democratic government which should have represented the entire state," the report said. In normal circumstances, the EGI said, reports filed by journalists are cross-checked and monitored by their editors or chiefs of bureau with the local administration, police and security forces, but this was not possible during the conflict. "The internet ban made matters worse. Communication blockade by the government had a deleterious effect on journalism as it directly impacted the ability of journalists to communicate with each other, their editors and their sources. It also impacted the media because local news gathered without any communication links was not sufficient to give a balanced view of the situation," the report said. With the internet suspended, and communication and transport in disarray, the media had to rely almost entirely on the narrative of the state government, it said. The EGI said members of the state leadership labelled sections of the Kuki-Zo tribals as "illegal immigrants" and "foreigners" without any reliable data or evidence. "This despite the fact that the decadal census from 1901 to 2011 has not shown any unusual growth of the non-Naga (the other minority tribal community) tribal population," the report said. The Editors' Guild members were booked under various sections of the IPC including 153A (promoting enmity between two communities), 200 (using false declaration as true), 298 (deliberate intent to wound religious feelings), and under provisions of the Information Technology Act and Press Council Act. The second FIR, besides these charges, also has Section 499 (defamation) of IPC added to it. More than 160 people have lost their lives and several hundreds injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'tribal solidarity march' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute a little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a provision of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, which made the Centre's approval mandatory before launching a probe in corruption cases against officers of the rank of joint secretary and above in the central government, will stand nullified since the date of its insertion on September 11, 2003. IMAGE: Huge amount of cash recovered from the residence of Arpita Mukherjee, considered a close associate of arrested West Bengal industry minister Partha Chatterjee, at Belgharia Town Club in Kolkata. Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul ruled that the apex court's May 6, 2014 verdict, which had struck down section 6-A (1) of the DSPE Act, 1946, providing immunity to such officers in graft cases, will have retrospective effect. The bench noted that Parliament amended the law and inserted section 17A in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 with effect from July 26, 2018 providing for the statutory need for sanction to prosecute but without any classification of government servants. In a way, the protection to the government officials in cases under the anti-graft law was revived by the Centre through an amendment in 2018 and this provision has continued to remain in the statute book. The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Abhay S Oka, Vikram Nath and J K Maheshwari, delivered its verdict on the issue whether the declaration made by a Constitution bench on May 6, 2014, that section 6A of the DSPE Act being unconstitutional, can be applied retrospectively in context with Article 20 of the Constitution. Article 20 of the Constitution provides for protection in respect of conviction for offences. The apex court, in its May 2014 judgment, had held as invalid section 6A(1) of the Act, observing that protection in section 6A has the "propensity of shielding the corrupt". In its judgment delivered on Monday, the bench held it is crystal clear that once a law has been declared unconstitutional, being violative of Part-III of the Constitution, then it would be held to be "void ab initio (from the very beginning)... unenforceable and non est (orders that can be ignored altogether) in view of Article 13(2) of the Constitution and its interpretation by authoritative pronouncements." "Thus, the declaration made by the constitution bench in the case of Subramanian Swamy (on May 6, 2014) will have retrospective operation. Section 6A of the DSPE Act is held to be not in force from the date of its insertion, ie, September 11, 2003," the bench said in its 106-page verdict. The apex court said while pronouncing its May 2014 verdict, the Constitution bench had not decided whether the declaration of section 6A(1) of the Act as violative of Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution would have retrospective effect or it will apply prospectively. It noted three questions that required consideration in the matter which included -- whether section 6A of the DSPE Act is part of procedure or it introduces a conviction or sentence, whether Article 20(1) of the Constitution will have any bearing or relevance in the context of declaration of section 6A as unconstitutional. "The declaration of section 6A of the DSPE Act as unconstitutional and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution would have a retrospective effect or would apply prospectively from the date of its declaration as unconstitutional?" read the third question. The top court held that section 6A of the Act is a part of the procedure only in the form of a protection to senior government servants and it does not introduce any new offence nor it enhances the punishment or sentence. The bench said, "...it can be safely concluded that Article 20(1) of the Constitution has no applicability either to the validity or invalidity of section 6A of the DSPE Act." It noted that in 1969, the central government had issued "single directive" which was a consolidated set of instructions issued to the CBI by various ministries or departments and has been amended from time to time. The bench said the directive number 4.7(3) contained instructions regarding modalities of initiating an enquiry or registering a case against certain categories of civil servants and provided for a prior sanction of the designated authority to initiate investigation against officers of the government and public sector undertakings and nationalised banks above a certain level. It said the validity of the Single Directive number 4.7(3) was considered by the apex court which had in December 1997 said such directive could not be held to be valid and struck it down. The bench noted the requirement of sanction similar to the single directive number 4.7(3) was introduced by way of an Ordinance with effect from August 25, 1998, and the same lasted till October 27, 1998, when it lapsed. It said in 2003, section 6A, which was "akin" to single directive number 4.7(3), was inserted in the DSPE Act with effect from September 11, 2003. "From the above, we notice that there are small windows of couple of years on two occasions when there was no such protection available, otherwise, right from 1969 the protection regarding sanction before prosecution has remained in force and continues as such even now," the bench said. The bench noted that sub-article (1) of Article 20 of the Constitution consists of two parts and the first part prohibits any law that prescribes judicial punishment for violation of law with retrospective effect. "The right under first part of sub-article (1) to Article 20 of the Constitution is a very valuable right, which must be safeguarded and protected by the courts as it is a constitutional mandate," it said. The bench said it has not delved into other issues and arguments not germane to the reference order and the matters may be placed before the appropriate bench to be heard and decided on merits. The matter was referred to a larger bench by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court in 2016. "The provisions of section 6A(1) do indicate that for officers of the level of joint secretary and above a kind of immunity has been provided for. Whether there can be a deprivation of such immunity by a retrospective operation of a judgment of the court, in the context of Article 20 of the Constitution of India, is the moot question that arises for determination in the present case," a two-judge bench had said in its March 2016 order while referring the matter to a larger bench. The question had cropped up when the top court was dealing with an appeal filed by the CBI in 2007 against an order of the Delhi high court. The CBI had registered an FIR in December 2004 for offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and laid a trap in which a man, who was the chief district medical officer, was accused of accepting bribe. The man had applied for discharge on the ground that the trap was laid without the previous approval of the central government as provided under section 6A of the DSPE Act. The matter later went to the high court which said if the approval is accorded, then the matter shall be reinvestigated as per the prescribed procedure. Press Release September 11, 2023 Bong Go provides support to recovering typhoon victims in Bugasong, Patnongon, and Belison in Antique Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, in coordination with various government agencies, continues to help calamity victims recover and rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Go deployed his team to Bugasong, Patnongon, and Belison in Antique on Wednesday, September 6, to assist recovering Typhoon Paeng victims. Go's team organized the distribution activities at Bugasong Evacuation Center and Patnongon municipal covered court for 74 typhoon victims. Aside from shirts and snacks from Go's office, the beneficiaries also qualified for negosyo kits through the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). "Ang programang ito ay ating isinulong noong administrasyon ni dating pangulong Duterte at patuloy na sinusuportahan ngayon para maipagpatuloy ang pagtulong sa ating maliliit na negosyante na naapektuhan ng sakuna at krisis," Go said. "Tuturuan ang mga benepisyaryo na magnegosyo at bibigyan ng tulong para palaguin ito. Masarap sa pakiramdam kapag pinaghirapan at pinagpawisan mo ang iyong negosyo at napalago mo ito. Ang maayos na kabuhayan ang isa sa mga magiging susi sa pagginhawa ng pamumuhay ng iyong pamilya," he explained further. Go also highlighted Republic Act No. 11960, or the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Act, which was recently enacted into law. Authored and co-sponsored by Go, the OTOP Philippines Program is a government-led initiative that allows each town or city in the country to capitalize on a unique product or service that embodies its identity, culture, and traditions. "Sa tulong ng batas na ito, ating pinapalakas ang mga lokal na negosyo sa bawat bayan at siyudad sa bansa. Ipinapaabot natin sa kanila ang suporta na kinakailangan nila upang mapanatili ang kanilang operasyon at maabot ang mas malawak na merkado," Go said. "By leveraging local resources, the program not only invigorates economic activities but also fosters cultural preservation," he added. The lawmaker then reiterated his push for the passage of his filed measure, Senate Bill No. 188, which seeks to establish the Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR). The proposed measure aims to create a new Cabinet-level department that would focus on holistic approaches to enhance disaster preparedness. Go added that the DDR shall concentrate on three significant areas such as disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness and response, and recovery and building forward better. Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also highlighted the presence of a Malasakit Center at the Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista, offering government medical assistance for those in need. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support poor and indigent patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. According to DOH, the Malasakit Centers program has already benefitted over seven million Filipinos, with 158 Malasakit Centers established all over the country. He then shared that Super Health Centers will be established in key areas in Antique such as in the towns of Sibalom, Culasi and San Jose de Buenavista. A Super Health Center is a facility designed to prioritize primary care, consultations, and early detection of health issues. It aims to fortify the healthcare sector, especially in underserved communities. Through the collective efforts of fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 Super Health Centers in 2023. DOH, as the lead implementing agency, identifies strategic areas where these centers will be built. The senator also mentioned that he principally sponsored and is one of the authors of the recently enacted Regional Specialty Centers law. These specialty centers will be placed in existing DOH regional hospitals, ensuring that patients receive the specialized medical services they need without the need to travel long distances to urban centers. "Ensuring that every Filipino has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, is a significant step towards achieving universal healthcare," Go said. "Ipagpatuloy natin na ilapit ang serbisyong medikal sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap na walang ibang matakbuhan. The more we should invest in strengthening our healthcare system," he stressed. As part of his efforts to contribute to the province's development, Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, supported several projects in Antique. Among these projects are the acquisition of a motor vehicle in Sibalom, multicabs in Laua-an, and an ambulance unit in San Jose. The senator likewise supported the expansion of a water system in Libertad, improvement of the Tobias Fornier Municipal Hall, flood control projects in Hamtic, San Jose and Laua-an, construction of solar streetlights in various barangays in Barbaza, improvement of a public park in Belison, construction of a covered court in San Remigio, construction of a bridge in Patnongon, and road improvements in Laua-an, San Remigio, Sebaste, Sibalom, and Valderrama. Last August 25, Go's team provided assistance to agricultural workers in Sibalom. Travelers walk with their luggage at the Changi Airport in Singapore, March 30, 2022. Photo by Reuters An Air China flight made an emergency landing in Singapore on Sunday after its left engine caught fire, leaving nine of the 155 people on board with minor injuries, authorities said. Flight CA403 from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu "encountered smoke in the forward cargo hold and lavatory" while on its way to the city-state, Changi Airport said in a statement on Facebook. The plane landed at around 4:15 p.m. (0815 GMT) and "all passengers and crew have evacuated safely," the statement said. "The fire in the left engine has been put out," it said. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said there were 146 passengers and nine crew on board. "Nine passengers sustained minor injuries related to smoke inhalation and abrasions during the evacuation process. They have since been attended to," it said. A video clip posted on X, formerly Twitter, showed passengers exiting what appeared to be the stricken aircraft down an emergency slide onto the tarmac. The runway was closed briefly and one aircraft was diverted to the nearby island of Batam in Indonesia, CAAS said. It said the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau was investigating the incident and has contacted its Chinese counterpart to help. Air China did not respond immediately to an AFP query. One person was killed and 10 others suffered injuries when members of two communities clashed at a village in Maharashtra's Satara district following an 'objectionable' post on social media, police said on Monday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: PTI Photo from Rediff archives The incident, which took place at Pusesawali village in Khatao tehsil on Sunday night, led to tension between the two communities, prompting the police administration to suspend Internet services in the district as a precautionary measure, they said. Some houses were damaged after being set on fire, a senior district administration official said. "Some objectionable posts were exhibited on a social media platform and police were questioning a youth over it at an outpost in the village on Sunday. At that time, some persons from another community created ruckus outside the police post," Kolhapur Range Inspector General Sunil Phulari said. "They torched some vehicles, damaged property in some bylanes. Ten persons were injured and one died during treatment," he said. A case was registered under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) as well as those related to rioting, and 23 persons have been arrested, he said. In connection with the objectionable post, a case was registered under IPC section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and the youth who allegedly uploaded it was arrested, the IG informed. The official said internet service in the district had been suspended as a precautionary measure and appealed to people to maintain calm and not fall prey to rumours. Superintendent of Police Sameer Shaikh said police managed to take control of the situation immediately. Canada on Monday said the earliest possible departure of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his delegation from the national capital is Tuesday late afternoon and that the country's armed forces are continuing with their best efforts to bring them back home. IMAGE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau leaves the International Media Centre after addressing a press conference regarding the G20 Leaders' Summit, in New Delhi on Sunday, September 11, 2023. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo The prime minister and his delegation, who were to leave Delhi after the G20 summit on Sunday, are stranded due to technical issues with their aircraft. Earlier in the day, a source in the know said that a ferry aircraft to fly them back is expected to land on Monday night. In an e-mailed statement to PTI, the Canadian Prime Minister's office said the Canadian Armed Forces continue their best efforts to get the delegation home. 'We will keep you updated regularly as the situation evolves. Their latest update shows an earliest possible departure of Tuesday late afternoon. The situation remains fluid,' Press Secretary Mohammad Hussain said in the statement. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey would be "proud" if a country like India becomes a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanges greetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the G20 Leaders' Summit, at the Bharat Mandapam, in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo At the same time, Erdogan said all non-P5 members should have an opportunity to become members of the Security Council by rotation. He was responding to question at a media briefing. In a reference to the P5 or five permanent members of the Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US, Erdogan said the "world is bigger and larger than five". "We would be proud if a country like India became a permanent member of the UN Security Council. As you know, the world is bigger and larger than five," he said. "What we mean is that it's not only about the US, the UK, France, China and Russia. We don't want to have just these five countries in the Security Council," he said. Rajasthan Congress leaders Jyoti Mirdha and Sawai Singh Chaudhary switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jaipur on Monday ahead of assembly elections due later this year. IMAGE: Former Congress leader Jyoti Mirdha and Sawai Singh Choudhary join BJP in the presence of party general secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh during a ceremony in New Delhi on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo While the BJP claimed that the development reflected a wave in its favour in Rajasthan, the Congress downplayed it saying leaders leaving or joining any party is a usual occurrence before any election and the departure of the two will not impact the ruling party in the state. Mirdha, a former MP from Nagaur in Rajasthan, and Chaudhary joined the BJP in the presence of senior leaders including Rajasthan BJP chief C P Joshi at the party headquarters in Delhi. The granddaughter of Nathuram Mirdha, who was a prominent farmer leader and a Congress heavyweight in Rajasthan, said she quit the Congress as party workers were being ignored. Chaudhary, a former IPS officer, had contested the 2018 assembly elections from the Khinvsar seat on a Congress ticket. "The BJP family has been strengthened further...Jyoti Mirdha is a very popular leader," party general secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Arun Singh told reporters. Singh trained his guns at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan and said that at least 40 leaders, including those from the Congress, have joined the BJP so far, amidst rising crime against women in the state. "And the number of people coming to the BJP fold is continuously increasing," he said, adding, "This gives a clear message that there is a wave for change in Rajasthan. There is a wave against the ruling Congress. There is a wave in favour of the BJP." However, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra said that Mirdha was not seen in any of the party activities for the last four and a half years. "So it is obvious that she did not make up her mind today to join the BJP. She must have made up her mind long ago," Dotasra said. Rajasthan minister Pratap Singh Khachariya also said Mirdha may be from a political family background, but she is not an active personality in politics and her leaving the party will not affect its poll prospects. "As elections are coming, some are joining BJP, some are joining Congress. This will go on," Khachariyawas told reporters in Jaipur. "These people were not active... Jyoti Mirdha won the elections on the Congress banner... if you change parties at the time of elections, it does not have much impact," the Congress leader said and claimed that the state would again vote the Congress to power. Mirdha said there was also a lack of opportunity to contribute to 'nation building' as the Congress was moving in the opposite direction. "Sometimes, we were heard (in the party), sometimes not. And then a time came when it (Congress) started moving in the opposite direction," she told reporters. Mirdha said that India's goodwill has increased in the world due to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The trust that the central leadership has reposed in me, I want to assure that we will do our best to strengthen the BJP in view of the assembly polls in Rajasthan and see that it comes back to power at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024," she added. Dotasra asserted that Congress is strong in Nagaur and entire Rajasthan. "Her (Mirdha) in-laws are from a BJP background so there must be some pressure on her or what made her change her mind, I do not want to comment on it. She has joined the BJP, congratulations to her, we have no problem. We are strong in Nagaur and Rajasthan," he said. Without naming anyone, Dotasra said that those who are joining the BJP must be doing so out of fear of the ED and Income Tax department. "They are going to BJP not to win in elections but to save their skin for whatever they have done in their life," he said. Disaster management relief minister and chairman of Congress campaign committee Govind Ram Meghwal said that Mirdha has boarded a sinking ship. He also targeted retired bureaucrats joining the BJP, saying that they are doing so under a 'false impression' that the BJP was coming to power. Govind Ram Meghwal, who is from Bikaner district, also took potshots at Union minister and Bikaner MP Arjun Ram Meghwal, saying 'he did not know 'ABCD' of politics till the age of 60 and then joined politics and keeps praising the prime minister'. BJP Rajasthan Unit president C P Joshi welcomed Mirdha and Choudhary to the party fold and said they joined the BJP due to 'lack of leadership, policy and intent in the Congress'. "They have joined the BJP as it has a strong leadership and a clear policy," he said, adding, "I understand that they have joined the BJP as they are upset with the kind of situations prevailing in Rajasthan where women are not safe." The Mirdha family has been at the centre of politics in the Marwar region of Rajasthan for decades. Jyoti Mirdha's grandfather Nathuram Mirdha had influence in Congress and state politics. Nathuram was MP and MLA many times. Jyoti Mirdha is a doctor by profession. She contested and won the Lok Sabha elections from Nagaur in 2009 but lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Nagaur is a Jat-dominated area. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) has tried to gain a hold in this area in the last few years. In the 2018 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party left the Nagaur seat for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally RLP. RLP convener Hanuman Beniwal emerged victorious from this seat against Congress candidate Mirdha. Beniwal later parted ways with the NDA over the farmers' law issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, focussing on shoring up bilateral trade and defence ties. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud at Hyderabad House. Photograph: @MEAIndia/X Bin Salman is currently on a State visit to India following end of the G20 Summit. Ahead of the talks, the Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "I am very glad to be here in India. I want to congratulate India for the G20 Summit," Bin Salman told reporters after the ceremonial welcome. IMAGE: Ahead of the talks, President Droupadi Murmu accorded a ceremonial welcome to MBS. Photograph: @rashtrapatibhvn/X The Saudi leader said the announcements made at the summit will benefit the world. "We will work together to create a great future for both the countries," he said. Saudi Arabia is one of India's key strategic partners in the Middle-East. IMAGE: The Crown Prince inspects the guard of honour at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Photograph: @rashtrapatibhvn/X The overall relations between the two countries have witnessed a significant upward trajectory in the last few years. The two sides have also been focusing on strengthening their defence and security partnership. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane visited Saudi Arabia in December 2020 in the first-ever visit by a head of the 1.3 million-strong Army to the important Gulf nation. Since then, there have been series of visits of high-ranking military officials between the two sides. Bob Thies, director of Rock Voices in Brattleboro and Keene, N.H., addresses the audience at a concert in Brattleboro. Lt. Kyle Rideout, with Rescue Inc. in Brattleboro, goes over supplies in one of the ambulances on April 11, 2022. You are the owner of this article. On Germany's celebration of the World Children's Day (20th of September), our MEP Helmut Geuking- a member of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee- will host a discussion and examination of the European Child Guarantee. Mr. Geuking is also co-chair of the Intergroup on the Demographic Challenges, Family-Work Balance and Youth Transitions. In 2019, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a European Child Guarantee, an initiative which aims to ensure that every child in Europe at risk of poverty or social exclusion has access to the most basic of rights like healthcare and education. The objective of the European Child Guarantee is to prevent and combat social exclusion by guaranteeing effective access of children in need to a set of key services: - free early childhood education and care - free education (including school-based activities and at least one healthy meal each school day) - free healthcare - healthy nutrition - adequate housing Phase I of the program assessed the efficiency and benefits and made suggestions. The next step was a detailed study exploring the economic costs and impact. Finally, for Phase III, the Commission partnered with UNICEF in order to test how the European Child Guarantee would work in real life. We wish to evaluate whether the goals of the program are being met, the challenges at national level, and to explore suggestions for better results. Before the conference, participants are invited to attend a religious service (mass) focused on children starting at 14:00, in the Meditation Room of the European Parliament. The event is free and open to the public. Please register at the link below, before 15 September. Event date and location: 20 September 2023, European Parliament Brussels, Room 5 E3, 15hrs00- 17hrs00. Host : MEP Helmut Geuking Speakers : Chiara Piccolo- Managing Director, Alliance for Childhood Rev. Dr. Joebarth Abba Rev. Hans Schmeinck Maarten van de Fliert- ECPM General Director When it comes to the effects of climate change, of the 20 most impacted countries in the world, 17 are in Africa, said United States Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Speaking at the Africa Climate Summit 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, he said that This problem that we are facing is human made. It's about pollution. Indeed, Africa is on the forefront of the climate crisis, one that is generated by the unabated burning of fossil fuel. 20 countries produce 80 percent of all the emissions, said Mr. Kerry. It is critical for all of those 20 countries to immediately take steps to get on the path to the Paris Agreement. If justice is to mean anything, it certainly has to mean that if there's going to be a transition, everybody has to be able to share in the benefits of that transition, he said. Right now, it is clear that you can't talk about a trust transition, about a just transition, when [for] some people there's no transition at all, or when [for] some people there is acute, unfair debt that swallows and drowns the choices that those countries have to make. Adaptation is key to survival. Every 18 days, we have a 1-billion-dollar climate event somewhere on this planet. So, adaptation is critical, said John Kerry. President Biden has now launched a program called Prepare, the President's Emergency Program for Adaptation, and he has committed that we are going to help at least a half a billion people in developing countries, especially in Africa, to be able to adapt to the worst impacts of this crisis. Mr. Kerry announced that the United States will provide an additional 20 million dollars to the African Adaptation Initiative for the Food Security Accelerator, which will invest in agricultural businesses. Another 10 million dollars will go to the Climate Resilient Adaptation, Finance and Technology Transfer Facility for scaling technologies to advance adaptation such as cold chain food storage. We learn that adaptation saves lives, creates jobs, and obviously it's just plain old common sense. Roads and bridges that are built today can only spur growth and curb poverty if they're still standing tomorrow, he said. Africa suffers to a great degree the worst impacts of the climate crisis, said Special Envoy Kerry. It is essential that every country step up to help other nations, and particularly Africa at this point, in order to be able to adapt to the climate impacts. NRC Names New Senior Resident Inspector at Catawba Nuclear Station The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has selected David Rivard as the new senior resident inspector at the Catawba nuclear power plant. The plant, operated by Duke Energy, is located in York, South Carolina. Rivard joined the agency in 2020 as a project engineer in the Division of Reactor Projects in the Region II office in Atlanta, after working for more than 30 years in various nuclear engineering and compliance roles in the private sector. Most recently, he was the resident inspector at the Catawba nuclear plant. He earned a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Virginia and a master's degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. "David Rivard brings over 30 years of expertise and a proven track record of ensuring nuclear safety to his new role as the senior resident inspector at Catawba. He is well-positioned to uphold the high standards set by the agency for the plant," said NRC Region II Administrator Laura Dudes. Each U.S. commercial nuclear power plant has at least two NRC resident inspectors. They serve as the agency's eyes and ears at the facility, conduct regular inspections, monitor plant operations and significant work projects, and interact with plant workers and the public. Contact: Dave Gasperson, 404-997-4417 Entergy Mississippi has named Russell Bennett as its director, government affairs to lead the company's government and legislative affairs activities, effective September 10. He has more than a decade of experience with the company. "Russell is extremely knowledgeable about the utility industry and the needs of our customers," said Haley Fisackerly, president and CEO of Entergy Mississippi. "He has represented the company well at the State Capitol. He has been a strong advocate for our customers and a trusted voice with policymakers on energy issues important to Mississippi. I have no doubt he will continue to excel as he takes on increased responsibility in this new role." Based in Jackson, Mississippi, Bennett will be responsible for government relations and serve as the company's liaison with elected officials and their staff. He will also work closely with regulatory and federal affairs groups to engage and achieve positive outcomes for all our stakeholders. Bennett will sit on the Entergy Mississippi leadership team and will report to Jeremy Vanderloo, vice president, regulatory and public affairs. In this new appointment, Vanderloo will be responsible for Entergy Mississippi's public affairs strategy in addition to leading regulatory affairs. These teams already work closely together, and the structure will enhance the company's ability to continuously drive performance improvement and innovation for its customers. The changes follow the departure of John Arledge, formerly the vice president of public affairs for Entergy Mississippi, after he was tapped to serve in a corporate communications role as vice president, strategic communications for Entergy Corporation. Bennett joined Entergy Mississippi in 2012, serving as a governmental affairs executive before being promoted to manager, public affairs in 2022. In these roles, he has represented the company at the State Capitol, worked with Entergy leadership to develop and coordinate stakeholder outreach efforts and managed Entergy Mississippi's Political Action Committee. Previously, Bennett supported government affairs efforts for a variety of organizations, including the Mississippi Bankers Association, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the National Center for Policy Analysis. A 2014 graduate of Leadership Mississippi, Bennett holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Mississippi. About Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. The show features a teapot 'escaping' amid calls for the repatriation of ancient artifacts to China. The three-part drama "Escape from the British Museum" features a green-clad "teapot" personified as a young woman who seeks the help of a Chinese man. Chinese state media and netizens have piled onto social media in recent days to sing the praises of a homegrown web drama about a jade teapot that escapes from the British Museum and tries to get home to China. The three-part drama, "Escape from the British Museum," shows the green-clad "teapot" personified as a young woman accost a Chinese man in the street, asking for help. "I've been wandering around out here for ages, cousin," she tells him. "I'm lost, and can't find my way home." The nationalistic drama has proved a hit with the online army of nationalist little pinks, and was released around the same time as a Global Times editorial calling for the return of Chinese artifacts from the scandal-hit British Museum, which fired a staff member last month after some of its collection was found for sale on eBay. Never mind that the explanatory text about the teapot referenced in the film states it was actually made in 2011 by Suzhou master jade carver Yu Ting, who sent it to be displayed in the museum. The British Museum jade teapot [pictured Friday] referenced in "Escape from the British Museum" was made in 2011 by Suzhou master jade carver Yu Ting, who sent it to be displayed in the museum. Credit: Shi Shi "While the British Museum proudly displays over 23,000 Chinese artifacts, most of which were obtained through improper channels, even dirty and sinful means, questions loom over their acquisition history and the larger issue of repatriation," Global Times said in an infographic on Sept. 4. Bloody, ugly and shameful Earlier, the paper published an editorial calling the museum "the world's largest receiver of stolen goods." "The UK, which has a bloody, ugly, and shameful colonial history, has always had a strong sense of moral superiority over others," it said. "We really do not know where their sense of moral superiority comes from." In the web drama, the young man takes the eccentric teapot woman home to his elegant apartment, sleeping on the sofa and taking her on a whistle-stop tour of U.K. tourist spots including the white cliffs of Dover, before eventually telling her "Come on, we're going back to China." The couple then take in a military parade complete with goose-stepping soldiers on Beijing's Tiananmen Square. "Thank you, Yong An," she tells the young man, whose character takes his name from a ceramic pillow emblazoned with the words "eternal peace for family and country" on display in the British Museum. "This has been the happiest and brightest time in my tiny world." No. 1 robber The young producers, who also act in the film, told ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper, The People's Daily, in an audio interview posted to Weibo on Sept. 8 that they decided to release the show early after seeing the news last month that the British Museum had sacked a member of staff and reported around 2,000 cultural relics missing to Scotland Yard. This is about the emotions we felt after a visit to the British Museum," one co-actor and producer who gave only the pseudonym Xiatian Meimei told the paper. "While we were filming at the British Museum, we ran into a lot of foreigners [sic] who didn't understand much about our cultural artifacts," director Zhang Jiajun, a Douyin blogger and film school graduate said. "They are Chinese treasures that carry a lot of Chinese culture." "When they are overseas, people don't really understand them, because they lack the cultural genes to do so," he said, using a buzzword that has become popular under Chinese leader Xi Jinping. "We hope people will pay more attention to the issue of cultural artifacts overseas." The drama drew a large number of nationalistic comments, with one comment saying "I'm going to cry myself to death," and another saying: "We must take back what belongs to China." "The British Museum is the world's No. 1 robber," said another. Returning relics? Another article in the Global Times called on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary James Cleverly, who was visiting China at the time, to change the law preventing the return of artifacts in the museum. The British Museum was established by an Act of Parliament in 1753 and is currently governed by the British Museum Act 1963. The young producers, who also act in "Escape from the British Museum," told ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper the People's Daily that they decided to release the show early after seeing the news that the British Museum had sacked a member of staff and reported around 2,000 cultural relics missing to Scotland Yard. Credit: Screenshot from "Escape from the British Museum" trailer It has so far refused to return the Elgin Marbles from the temple of Athena to Greece, ceremonial items and other artifacts taken during 19th century military action to Ethiopia, the 900 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria or gold items belonging to the Asante people of Ghana, according to the BBC. U.K.-based commentator Chen Liangshi said much of the anger over Chinese artifacts ignores the mass destruction of cultural items during the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, and that many of the items now in overseas museums could have been destroyed if they had stayed in China. He added that many of the artifacts in the British museum were bought rather than looted, or donated by collectors after changing hands several times. U.K.-based Hong Kong historian Hans Yeung agreed, also citing the widespread destruction of the Cultural Revolution and the whipping up of nationalistic sentiment online. "They went after the United States, then they went after Japan," he said. "Now they're done with Japan, they're going after the U.K." U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has accused China of meddling in Britains democracy as he faces a government split at home over whether to formally designate China a threat to national security. Meanwhile, a brief survey of publicly available information by Radio Free Asia found that more than 100 Chinese cultural artifacts came from the donated collection of Irish physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloan, while thousands more were donated from the collection of antiquarian Sir Augustus W. Franks. Many more were sold by Chinese aristocrats, officials and scholars for cash around the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Against the flow Not all Chinese media played along with the nationalistic angle. The Guangzhou-based newspaper Southern Weekend published an article titled: "Is it really a good idea to mix up cultural relics with handicrafts to generate patriotic traffic?" However, links to the article resulted in a 404 error message on Monday, and the article was criticized by at least two nationalistic commentators on social media. The nationalistic drama "Escape from the British Museum" has proved a hit with the online army of so-called little pinks. Credit: Screenshot from "Escape from the British Museum" trailer British Chinese author Ma Jian said there are also question marks around the ownership of cultural artifacts from imperial China. "The government may think it's all great fun when internet influencers stir up trouble like this, but Chinese officials won't really do anything, because it's not in their interest," Ma said. "Returning items calls for expertise, and you have to ask them to specify which item they want ... then trace the provenance, and find out who the original seller was, and then decide who the item should be returned to," he said. "This is a huge job, one that will take 10, 20 or hundreds of years, not just something that can happen because some online influencers casually call for it." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. A man is silhouetted against the sky as he walks past the Houses of Parliament in central London, Britain October 26, 2015. United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has accused China of meddling in Britains democracy as he faces a government split at home over whether to formally designate China a threat to national security. Sunak confronted Chinese premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the G20 summit in its final session on Sunday morning. Speaking afterwards, Sunak told broadcasters in New Delhi that he had raised his very strong concern about interference with parliamentary democracy, which he said was obviously unacceptable. It was the right approach to talk face-to-face with China's premier, he said. The accusation, made to Li on Sunday, comes in the wake of a Sunday Times report that a parliamentary researcher had been arrested on spying charges. Police have confirmed that two men, one in his 20s and another in his 30s, were arrested under the Official Secrets Act in March, according to British media reports. The arrests underscore heightened concerns in Western democracies over Chinas infiltrating espionage maneuvers in leading Western economies such as the U.S., Canada and Australia, as the rift between the two sides widened. China has denied such claims. Earlier this year Sunak was accused of being too soft on China for failing to shut down Communist Party-backed Confucius Institutes on university campuses and as concerns mounted over Chinese Communist Party infiltration of all aspects of British life. Last year the British government pledged to be more vigilant against creeping Chinese infiltration amid a global investigation into Chinese police-run "overseas service centers," some of which have been ordered to shut down by foreign governments for operating outside of diplomatic channels Chinese Communist Party aggression is global, U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher warned earlier this year while leading a bipartisan congressional delegation in London. The United States and United Kingdom face common economic, military and ideological threats posed by the CCP, according to comments retweeted by the official X account of the Select Committee on the CCP, which he chairs. Everywhere and at the same time In August, Chinese spies used LinkedIn to infiltrate targets in the U.K., prompting calls for Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to cancel a trip to China. It went ahead anyway. After the Times of London reported a Chinese agent had been offering cash and contracts to British government employees via the professional social media network LinkedIn, former ruling Conservative Party leader Ian Duncan Smith commented via his account on X, Our policy towards China is like a front door mat Australia has issued warnings about Chinese espionage, as has New Zealand, which called Chinese spying and influence operations a complex intelligence concern, prompting calls for new laws to protect the country's democracy against foreign interference. An online seminar run by the Hudson Institute earlier this year said, The Chinese Communist Party will again be indoctrinating and spying on students on American college campuses this academic year in an organized effort known as cognitive warfare." In July Taiwan arrested five people accused of spying for China and in the biggest espionage event of the year and kicking parlous China-U.S. relations to an unprecedented low a Chinese spy balloon floated over the U.S. before being shot down at sea. A spy in the ranks In Londons latest espionage shakeup, the Sunday Times reported that one of those arrested for spying was a parliamentary researcher with links to several senior Tory MPs, including the foreign affairs committee chair Alicia Kearns. I am aware of the Sunday Times report, Kearns said on X, adding, I will not be commenting. While I recognise the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure any work of the Authorities is not jeopardized. The parliamentary researcher, who is in his 20s, was arrested on March 13 in Edinburgh, and the other man whom the Times has not named was arrested on the same date in Oxfordshire. He is in his 30s. The parliamentary researcher is believed to have pushed the line that China hawks lack nuance, which some are now concerned may have actually had some impact on policy. An alleged spy for China infiltrates the U.K. parliament as a staff expert claiming that China hawks lack nuance, which helped convince back-benchers into soft-on-China positions, Anders Corr, publisher at the Journal of Political Risk and Principal at Corr Analytics, said on social media. On Monday, the Times reported that Sunak was likely to return from the New Delhi G20 to a divided parliament, with Suella Braverman, the home secretary, and Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, pushing for China to be categorized as a threat to Britains safety and interests. According to possible new state security laws, anyone working at the direction of China or state-linked Chinese companies will have to register with the government. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China claimed to be appalled at reports of the infiltration of the U.K. parliament by someone allegedly acting on behalf of the Peoples Republic of China. IPAC has in the past acted as a pressure group on the U.K. government to adopt a more hawkish stance toward Beijing. Since its inception, IPAC has insisted that democratic governments must take seriously the threat of foreign interference from Beijing. This case adds sad urgency to our call, the alliance said in a statement. A Whitehall source told the Times, This is a major escalation by China. We have never seen anything like this before. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. Even though Africa accounts for almost 20% of the world's population and has ample resources, it is the destination for around just 2% of global clean energy spending. Overall energy investment on the continent has struggled in recent years, while to meet African development ambitions, as well as international energy access and climate goals, it needs to more than double by 2030, with nearly two-thirds going to clean energy. A range of real and perceived risks affecting projects in Africa, as well as higher borrowing costs following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, mean there is a limited pool of affordable capital that energy developers in Africa can tap. According to the report, Financing Clean Energy in Africa, the cost of capital for utility-scale clean energy projects on the continent is at least two to three times higher than in advanced economies. This prevents developers from pursuing commercially viable projects that can deliver affordable energy solutions. The report explores innovative ways to address this challenge based on a review of more than 85 case studies across Africa and more than 40 interviews with key stakeholders. Lowering the cost of capital and supporting the creation of investable projects will require scaling up a range of instruments. These include the provision of more early-stage financing and greater use of tools that can reduce perceived investment risks in order to attract private capital. This will require strong engagement from both the public and private sectors, as well the support of foreign and domestic institutions. "Urgent action is needed to dramatically increase clean energy investment in Africa, which has fallen short despite the immense opportunities," President William Ruto of Kenya said. "Yet this report is not simply a catalogue of Africa's challenges. Instead, it is an inspiring testament to the innovative spirit of our continent, with a vast array of solutions emerging from Africa's entrepreneurial minds." "The African continent has huge clean energy potential, including a massive amount of high-quality renewable resources. But the difficult backdrop for financing means many transformative projects can't get off the ground," said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. "This report, which builds on the IEA's landmark Africa Energy Outlook 2022, shows what is needed to lower barriers to investment, allowing African countries to tap accessible and affordable solutions to match their clean energy ambitions." "The current shortfall in clean energy investment in Africa puts at risk the achievement of a host of sustainable development goals and could open new dividing lines in energy and climate as clean energy transitions gather speed in advanced economies," said AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina. "This report, which makes a compelling case for Africa to receive a bigger share of global climate financing, serves as an informative tool for policymakers in Africa, while best practice cases from the African Development Bank provide valuable insights for developers and capital providers." The report's analysis is based on the Sustainable Africa Scenario developed in the IEA's Africa Energy Outlook 2022 report. This scenario considers the diverse needs of different African countries and sectors and lays out a pathway to achieve all African energy-related development objectives. This includes those under the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as universal access to modern energy by 2030, as well as fulfilling all announced climate pledges in full and on time. Delivering modern energy to all Africans will require nearly USD 25 billion in spending per year to 2030, the report finds. This is a small amount in the context of global energy spending - equivalent to the investment needed to build one new LNG terminal a year. But it requires a very different type of finance, given the need for small-scale projects, often in rural areas and for consumers with limited ability to pay. The international community has a major role to play in scaling up clean energy investment in Africa. Concessional finance - or funding from development finance institutions and donors - can serve as a crucial catalyst, according to the report. It finds that concessional capital of around USD 28 billion per year is needed to mobilise USD 90 billion of private sector investment by 2030, a more than tenfold increase from today. The report also highlights the vital role of local financial institutions for sustainable development in Africa over the long term. To meet energy and climate goals, finance originating from or disbursed through local channels must increase nearly threefold by the end of the decade. Financing Clean Energy in Africa reflects the IEA's longstanding and expanding commitment to African energy issues. There are now five African members of the IEA Family: Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa, with Kenya and Senegal joining earlier this year. Updated Sept. 11, 2023, 2:42 p.m. ET Four years ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a symbolic journey southwards, crossing the border with his armored train to engage with the leaders of the democratic world. A similar image was in the making Monday, only this time, his train has headed in the opposite direction towards a deepening bromance with his fellow leader of the authoritarian world, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kim had already departed the North Korean capital, a person familiar with the matter told Radio Free Asia, but did not say exactly when. Kim will soon visit the Russian Federation at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, Comrade Vladimir Putin, North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency said late Monday. Simultaneously, the Kremlin also confirmed the visit, according to Russias official news agency, Tass. The Kremlin added that the visit will be made in the coming days. The reports confirm days of speculation of an impending summit between North Korea and Russia in Vladivostok. The increased bilateral diplomatic exchanges the most recent being the Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus visit to Pyongyang in July have also served to signal that preparations for a major visit are underway. Japanese media including ANN reported that Russia is preparing for what appears to be a welcome ceremony at its border station of Khasan, where a red carpet will be rolled out. While the reports stopped short on saying where Kim and Putin will meet, an earlier report from Tass said Putin is on a two-day work trip to Vladivostok to attend the Eastern Economic Forum, coinciding with information from multiple South Korean diplomatic sources who told RFA that Kim will be traveling to Russia during the period of the forum. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un leaves a train carriage after arriving at the border station of Khasan, Primorsky Krai region, Russia, on April 24, 2019. Credit: Press Office of the Primorye Territory Administration via AP, File Kim and Putins last summit in April 2019 also took place in Vladivostok, where the two reinforced their diplomatic ties. The meeting came a mere two months after Kims high-stakes nuclear negotiation with the United States collapsed in Hanoi. After the summit, where Putin reiterated Russias role as a regime backer, Kim returned to his brinkmanship diplomacy, firing multiple missiles. Experts said this weeks summit between the two authoritarian leaders could exacerbate the precarious geopolitical dynamics and inflict further consequences to global and regional security, not only posing new threats to the U.S. and its allies spectrum of policies from Europe to Asia, but also affecting Pyongyangs relations with its other backer, China. 'Hat in hand' The Kim-Putin summit could change security-related dynamics in Europe, as arms trade is likely to dominate the agenda. As we have warned publicly, arms negotiations between Russia and the DPRK are actively advancing, U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said last week, referring to North Korea by its formal name. We have information that Kim Jong Un expects these discussions to continue, to include leader-level diplomatic engagement in Russia." Any ammunition supplies to Russia would prolong its aggression against Ukraine and drag the war into a long-term conflict that further destabilizes Europe. Strained ammunition supplies are currently holding Russia back to advance deeper into Ukrainian territories. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing Monday that Russia's turning to North Korean for weapons support shows that Western sanctions are working. "A year and a half ago, President Putin launched this war against Ukraine with his full-scale aggression, with a dream of restoring the glory of the Russian Empire. That hope, that expectation of his, has failed. It will continue to fail," Miller said. "There's no better evidence of that than now a year-and-a-half later, not only has he failed to achieve his goals on the battlefield, but you see him traveling across his own country hat-in-hand to beg Kim Jong Un for military assistance." Miller also pointed out that the meeting is happening on the heels of this past weekend's Group of 20 summit in India -- which Putin skipped, underlining what he called Russia's "pariah status" in the eyes of many. "It means that he is having trouble sustaining the military effort," he said. "So he's looking for help from North Korea." Stronger ties between North Korea and Russia is a worrying development for countries backing Ukraine, said said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Professor of International Relations at Kings College London and the KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance of Vrije Universiteit Brussel. This means that Putin will be able to continue his war longer," Pacheco Pardo said. "It also means that there are countries that think that they can support Russia openly without suffering any serious consequences. The talks would be aimed primarily at enhancing the bilateral military cooperation, said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul who had advised the South Korean government over the years. Especially from Russias point of view, it desperately needs conventional weapons from North Korea, in the form of artillery shells, drones and missiles, as it continues its war with Ukraine. A view of a multiple rocket launcher during an exercise in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang July 15, 2014. Credit: Reuters/KCNA Wang Son-taek, director of the Global Policy Center at the Han Pyeong Peace Institute, agreed. It wouldnt be a bad idea from Russias perspective to cooperate with North Korea as leverage to break the U.S.-led order and create a neo-Cold War-like confrontational security climate, Wang said. Denuclearization of North Korea The summit would also set the U.S. back in its denuclearization efforts in the Korean peninsula. North Koreas acquisition of hi-tech Russian weapons would inevitably boost the countrys deterrence capability against the U.S. and its regional allies. Some of those technologies may include satellite launch technology, advanced inter continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and nuclear-powered submarines. It is possible that North Korea could demand a gradual and phased transfer of technology from Russia, Yang said. The North could first request technology transfer for its spy satellite, as it has already announced that it will launch one in October. Then, it could ask for ICBM re-entry technology, followed by nuclear-powered submarine technology, and so on. Pacheco Pardo also raised the possibility that the bilateral military cooperation may not be a one-time political stunt. More generally, I think this means that Russia and North Korea will have strong ties as long as Putin is in office, and will provide diplomatic and military support for each other, he said. This undated picture released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on August 21, 2023 shows North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) watching a strategic cruise missile being launched from a guard ship marine of the 2nd Surface Ship Squadron of the East Sea fleet. Credit: STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP Any economic support from Russia may also undermine and water down the effects of the international communitys imposed sanctions to force North Korea to denuclearize. On the other hand, a bolstered alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang would reshape the regions geopolitical dynamics, pulling it further away from the pressure to disarm and non-proliferation. Still, Pyongyangs indignance to international condemnation comes at the expense of a crippling domestic economy. Almost half of the North Korean people were undernourished between 2020 and 2022, a World Food Program report published in July found. The food shortage in North Korea appears to be spreading, with sources inside the country telling RFA that as many as 30% of farmers in two northern provinces are unable to work on collective farms because theyre weak from hunger. "In the case of North Korea and Russia, they are already under economic sanctions under the U.S.-led world order, Wang said. And they may have believed that it may prove difficult for them to remain in compliance with the current order. China on the fence Would the burgeoning Kim-Putin bromance create an opportunity for the United States to thaw the ice with China? China, which wants to elevate its bargaining power against the U.S. and degrade Washingtons global leadership over time, is unlikely to prematurely collide directly with the U.S. However, Beijing could be compelled to reassess its relations with its authoritarian neighbors, as well as with Washington. Equally, Washington may use the summit as a means to strengthen cooperation among allies, Wang pointed out. It could strengthen liberal-democratic alliances and provide an opportunity for the U.S. to align with the democracies, which would put pressure on China to conform more to the rule-based-order. For Beijing, the two authoritarian regimes are valued as a strategic asset against the U.S., but cuddling too close with them may jeopardize its relations with the U.S. and its regional allies, which are crucial to improving its economic situation. It needs to maintain access to international markets and foreign investment in order to prevent a further deterioration of its economy. Chinas position is to continue its cooperation with North Korea and Russia, but not to confront the U.S. head-on, Wang said. In fact, there are fundamental constraints when it comes to North Korea-Russia relations, which arguably question its sustainability. Historically, North Korea has harbored resentment towards Russian imperialism, while Russia perceives North Korea as a demanding friend, often making challenging requests. A long-lasting friendship between them might seem elusive. This dynamic may explain Chinas fence-sitting, as it appears Beijing is carefully assessing the situation, by neither actively participating nor intervening, gauging the sustainability of these relationships. Updates with U.S. State Department spokesman's comments, attribution in graf 8. Additional reporting by Alex Willemyns in Washington. Edited by Elaine Chan, Mike Firn and Malcolm Foster. Screenshot from Speak in the Language of News ver.8/Facebook In this screenshot from a video posted Aug. 17, 2023, villagers in Laos Luang Prabang province are seen locked in a 16-square-meter (26-square-foot) room after a Chinese mining company detained them for illegally digging for gold on the companys land concession. A Chinese mining company in northern Laos has released to police about 50 villagers it detained in August for illegally digging gold on its land concession, Lao officials said. Employees at Tianjin Huakan Mining Investment Co., Ltd., which operates in Pak Ou district in Luang Prabang province, allegedly beat some of the detainees who were unable to pay 10-15 million kip (US$500-760) each for their freedom. Radio Free Asia reported earlier that the companys demands for ransom for the villagers release sparked criticism on social media. Now that local police have negotiated their release, the villagers are in their custody, Lao officials from Pak Ou district said. We dont know details about the release, a district official said. The police didnt send us the report yet, they are still in the investigation with them right now. RFA contacted the district military office and police department, but both refused to comment. Attempts to reach the Chinese company were unsuccessful. Laos economy depends heavily on land concessions granted to China, Thailand and Vietnam for natural resources, including minerals, timber, agricultural produce and hydropower energy. Tianjin Huakan Mining Investment began excavating gold from the mine in the provinces Pak Ou district in 2015 under a 13-year concession from the Lao government. The concession covers 600 hectares (1,480 acres) of land, some of which is used by villagers to grow crops. In 2021, the company mined about 90,000 tons of rock containing gold and 358 kilograms (800 lbs.) of other minerals. Accusations of exploitation Residents often accuse foreign companies with concessions of shortchanging them on compensation for lost land and for polluting the environment, though they usually remain silent because they fear retaliation. Illegal gold digging happens a lot because people dont have enough food or ways to earn a living, said a local resident who declined to be identified for safety reasons. Even though some are detained or jailed, they usually return to the activity, he said. Villagers are poor and live hand-to-mouth, he said. They came to dig gold over here from other provinces as far as Houaphanh province. They need money to buy food for their families due to the high cost of living. If they are arrested, after they are released, they will come back again. Most Laotians who illegally mine gold do it at nighttime when officials are not around, said another resident. They then sell what they find to gold stores in Luang Prabang and the capital Vientiane, or to middlemen who pay high prices for it, he said. During daytime, they hide in a cave, he said. But if soldiers find them, they pay money to the soldiers. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya for RFA Lao. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Pro-junta media say his social media posts were the reason. Stalls selling books in Yangon, in a file photo taken on March 15, 2022. Myanmars junta has revoked the license of a publishing house run by a man involved in the countrys civil disobedience movement, junta-controlled newspapers said. The revocation is seen as a warning that the junta is closely watching the publishing industry for any dissent. Saturdays reports said Dr. Phyo Thiha lost the license for his company, Piti Eain Literature, due to his social media posts criticizing the junta. They said his writing was a threat to national security, the rule of law and public order but did not say what was problematic about the books Piti Eain publishes. The medical doctor said the proceeds of his companys book sales went to help victims of the fighting in Myanmar. Now that the publishing license has been revoked it means we can no longer publish anything under the name of this book house, Phyo Thiha told Radio Free Asia. I have been quietly selling old books that I have published before. I live here on that income and donate to war-torn IDPs [internally displaced persons]. Piti Eain Literature mostly published books on psychology and Buddhist teachings and nothing that could be deemed anti-junta, the doctor said, calling the decision personal. Another publisher, who wished to remain anonymous, said the revocation of Piti Eains license set a dangerous precedent. This means [the junta] is monitoring both the publication of books and social media, they said. If something is wrong they will ban it. It is a warning and threat to the entire publishing community. The junta has revoked the licenses of four publishers and two printing houses since the February 2021 coup. Some 14 media outlets including Democratic Voice of Burma, Mizzima and The Irrawaddy have also lost their licenses. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. The Ithaca, New York, facility holds the works of current and previous Tibetan spiritual leaders. The newly opened His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center in Ithaca, New York., has red, yellow and white exterior colors that are reminiscent of the colors of Potala Palace The first library and learning center dedicated to the Dalai Lama in the United States has opened in upstate New York to preserve the teachings of the leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The center, officially named His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center, opened on Friday, Sept. 8. It includes a digital audio archive with 40,000 hours of the Dalai Lamas teachings, about 4,000 books with translations of ancient texts on the evolution of Buddhist thought, and Buddhist artifacts from India and Tibet. Its been more than 60 years since His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in exile and he has contributed immensely in promoting the basic human values of compassion, forgiveness and tolerance to this world, said Ven. Thamthog Rinpoche, abbot of the Namgyal Monastery in Dharamsala, India, who attended the inauguration. So, this learning center will serve across all ages, faiths, and education levels to understand His Holinesss teachings on secular ethics and human values. The centers opening comes at a time of intensified suppression of Tibetan Buddhism, culture and language by Chinese authorities, who view them as a threat and are trying to erode Tibetans beliefs and way of life. Authorities have restricted Tibetans access to religious sites, banned religious gatherings, destroyed Buddhist places and symbols, and subjected monks and nuns to political reeducation, according to the 2023 annual report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Ithaca College, hosted the opening ceremony. Founded in 1992, the institute serves as the North American seat of the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama and offers Westerners the opportunity to study authentic Tibetan Buddhism in a monastic setting. The institute chose Ithaca, about 282 kilometers (175 miles) northwest of New York City and where Cornell University is located, in 2016 as the location of the new center, approved by the Dalai Lama. The new His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama Library and Learning Center in Ithaca, New York, includes a digital audio archive with 40,000 hours of the Dalai Lamas teachings and about 4,000 books with translations of ancient texts on the evolution of Buddhist thought. Credit: Screenshot from RFA video 'Peacemaking center' Ven. Tenzin Choesang, president of the Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, said the learning center will be a physical space and virtual repository of all the works of the current and previous Dalai Lamas. It will also offer free and low-cost classes, meditations, and talks, he said. The Dalai Lama, who resides in exile in Dharamsala, did not attend the opening ceremony but sent a recorded message. Buddhism is not just a matter of routinely reciting prayers, he said. It has to do with using intelligence and wisdom to bring about a transformation in the way we think based on the three types of understanding drawn from study of scriptures, that conviction comes about through reflecting on the meaning of what you have learned and experienced of that gained through meditation. HOLT Architects of upstate New York designed the two-story, 9,230-square-foot library and learning center. Its exterior colors of red, yellow and white are reminiscent of the colors of Potala Palace, the traditional winter home of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century and a symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. We started working on this in 2016 and it has been a long and interesting process, Steve Hugo, principal architect and the companys vice president told RFA. I am overwhelmed, and I think the building was always a combination of reflecting Tibetan culture, but also recognizing that it was built in the United States. Speaking at the opening ceremony, donor Diane Brandenburg said she and her late husband first met the Dalai Lama in California in 2009 and that he turned our lives around in so many ways. His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, has taken a huge step to create this sacred space, a meditation and peacemaking center, a teaching center for anyone who wants to come and study to learn about Buddhism and other religions, she said. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFA Tibet. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. The deal is about stability, not containing China, Biden says. U.S. President Joe Biden participates in a welcome ceremony hosted by Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023. Updated September 11, 2023, 04:25 p.m. ET The United States and Vietnam have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting Washingtons engagement with Hanoi on a par with that of Beijings and Moscows. The move came during a two-day visit by Joe Biden, the first U.S. president to be invited to the country by a leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Biden met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Sunday, flying straight to Hanoi from the G20 summit in Delhi. Vietnam and the U.S. are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time, Biden told Trong, at the start of their meeting at communist party headquarters. The upgrade comes 10 years after the two countries agreed a comprehensive partnership, and as the U.S. seeks to diversify its supply chain; de-risking not de-linking as the White House puts it. U.S. President Joe Biden holds a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, September 10, 2023. Credit: Reuters In a news conference on Sunday night, Biden said the elevated relationship with Vietnam was about building a stable base in the region and not about containing China. Some analysts suggest that may not be the case. Hanoi-based Vietnamese scholar Nguyen Quang A told RFA Vietnamese that both sides are seeking a hedge against Chinese influence in the region. China is becoming more and more aggressive in the South China Sea and Vietnam is a neighboring country affected by China's aggression, he said. The move also works for the Biden administration because the U.S. tries every way to have as many allies as possible, or parties that are not allies yet fall in the same direction in the confrontation with China. In a joint statement Monday, Biden and Trong called for a peaceful solution to any disputes in the region and "freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea," which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. Even so, Vietnam watcher Carl Thayer said raising the relationship with the U.S. to a comprehensive strategic partnership does not signal a Vietnamese shift away from Beijing towards Washington. Vietnam will manage the new relations by not aligning with either China or the United States, said the emeritus professor at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra. Trongs legacy Attorney Nguyen Van Dai from Germany said the upgrade in the bilateral relationship may also be a move by Trong to ensure a positive legacy as his tenure as Vietnams party chief draws to an end. Upgrading this relationship represents Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong's clearest personal ambition, while bringing an economic benefit to save the Party and the regime while Vietnam's economy is struggling, he told RFA Vietnamese. Vietnams exports have been hit by global trade headwinds with GDP growth slowing to 3.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2023, after an 8% growth in 2022. However, the U.S. is still Vietnams largest export market with the value of exports nearly doubling since 2019 to an annual US$127 billion last year according to Americas Census Bureau. US and Vietnam national flags fly on a street light in Hanoi on September 10, 2023, as US President Joe Biden visits Vietnam. Credit: AFP On Monday Biden and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with business leaders, including executives from Google, Intel and Boeing as well as Nasdaq listed Vietnamese EV maker VinFast. Biden told the forum the two sides had pledged to work more closely together on semiconductors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Thats likely to have gone down well with some of the American executives there. For a growing number of U.S. firms Vietnam offers lower cost manufacturing without some of the political and economic uncertainties of a Chinese operation. The U.S. is de-risking its dependence on China, said Carl Thayer. Some U.S. companies are relocating to Vietnam. The U.S. needs alternate sources of semiconductors. To achieve that the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation on semiconductor supply chains. The White House also announced that Amkor Technology will commence operations at a US$1.6 billion factory in Vietnams Bac Ninh Province in October while Synopsys and Marvell will set up semiconductor design centers in Ho Chi Minh City. Arms deal not on the cards Bidens arrival in Hanoi came a day after the New York Times reported that Vietnam was making a clandestine plan to buy an arsenal of weapons from Russia in contravention of American sanctions. U.S. Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer told reporters on Sunday the U.S. did not have an arms deal to offer Vietnam but wanted to help it diversify away from Russian supplies, Reuters reported. Attorney Dai told RFA he thinks an arms deal with the United States may still happen in coming months. There is an urgent need for Vietnam to protect national sovereignty and security when they are clearly aware that the weapons they bought from Russia are backward and do not have enough ability to help Vietnam protect its national sovereignty, he said. They need a variety of weapons, especially from the U.S. as well as from [other] Western countries. The visit comes amid calls by rights organizations in Vietnam and abroad for the U.S. to exert more pressure on Vietnam over its human rights record. Vietnam is holding at least 159 political prisoners, according to Human Rights Watch, with at least 22 others in detention pending trial. Pro-democracy group Viet Tan said an improvement in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam is only meaningful if these concerns are addressed. The Vietnamese Communist Party must commit to ending the arbitrary use of laws to arrest activists and suppress basic rights, it said just ahead of Bidens visit. Vietnam will truly contribute to a free and open Indo-Pacific when it has a free and open society. Several activists and relatives of prisoners of conscience, particularly in Hanoi, told RFA they were placed under surveillance at their homes during Bidens visit. Biden told a news conference he had raised the issue of human rights. The White House said the president had what it termed an enhanced commitment to meaningful dialogue, building on the annual U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue as a way of raising concerns over human and labor rights. Updated to include details of Biden and Trongs joint statement, the U.S. presidents comments at a business forum, and comments from activists. Edited by Elaine Chan. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe for free, click here. I'm Frud Bezhan, regional desk editor for Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead. The Key Issue Several powerful earthquakes and aftershocks have killed at least 2,400 people and injured thousands more in western Afghanistan, with hundreds of others still missing. Entire villages have been flattened in the past week in the western province of Herat, in the deadliest temblors to hit Afghanistan in around 25 years. At least 17,000 people have been affected by the earthquakes on October 7 and October 11, according to the United Nations. Many have lost their homes and been forced to sleep out in the open. Another earthquake was reported on October 13 in the neighboring province of Badghis. There were no immediate reports of casualties and damage. The UN children's agency UNICEF said that 90 percent of those killed in the earthquakes in Herat were children and women. Many men in Zindah Jan district, the epicenter of the first and deadliest tremor, work in neighboring Iran and send remittances to their families. Foreign aid agencies said they have sent supplies to the region, including food, medical kits, and tents. But some survivors said they have yet to receive any assistance and have been forced to fend for themselves. "We have no shelter and no food, Juma Gul, a resident of Zindah Jan, told RFE/RLs Radio Azadi. We have nothing left." Local charities and volunteers have accused the Taliban of preventing them from independently collecting and distributing aid to survivors of the earthquakes. Why It's Important: The earthquakes have exacerbated the devastating humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the worlds largest. An estimated 15 million people -- out of a population of around 40 million -- are going hungry. Another 6 million are on the verge of starvation, according to the UN. The World Food Program (WFP) has called the recent earthquakes a disaster on top of a disaster. The UN body said it could only afford to support 3 million people due to a massive shortfall in international funding. Aid agencies have appealed for more funds to deal with the fallout from the deadly earthquakes. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in an October 12 statement called for immediate international support. What's Next: Many survivors, having lost their homes and possessions, fear the harsh winter months ahead. The nights are getting very cold, Mohammad Aref, a resident of Zindah Jan, told Radio Azadi. If it continues like this, we will not be able to live in a tent. We need proper shelter. Abdul Razzaq, a medical worker in Herat, told Radio Azadi that hunger and disease are spreading in communities affected by the earthquakes. "People have stomach problems, pneumonia, and sore throats. Some people live in tents. Others dont even have tents. What To Keep An Eye On The Pakistani authorities have demolished two makeshift settlements housing mostly Afghan refugees and migrants outside the capital, Islamabad. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) said the illegal settlements located on government land were bulldozed on October 11. The settlements were believed to be decades old and consisted of dozens of houses and farms. Why It's Important: The demolition of the settlements comes as Islamabad intensifies its crackdown on the estimated 1.7 million undocumented Afghan migrants living in the South Asian country. Pakistans Interior Ministry announced on October 3 that illegal migrants living without legal status in Pakistan had until November 1 to leave voluntarily or face deportation. The announcement has triggered an increase in police abuse against Afghans, including harassment, assault, and arbitrary detention, according to Human Rights Watch. In an October 12 statement, the human rights group urged Pakistan to drop its threat to deport Afghans, saying many were at grave risk of being returned to persecution and other abuse in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org. Until next time, Frud Bezhan If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe for free here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. Armenia and the United States have begun joint military exercises that have angered Moscow and come as tensions rise between Yerevan and neighboring Azerbaijan over the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Armenian Defense Ministry said in a statement the Eagle Partner 2023 exercises began on September 11 with the purpose of preparing Armenian forces to take part in international peacekeeping missions. Colonel Martin O'Donnell, spokesman for the U.S. command, said the exercises are "a vital opportunity for our soldiers from our two nations to build new relationships at the tactical level and to increase interoperability for peacekeeping operations." The drills are being held at the Zar and Armavir Training Areas near Yerevan and will end on September 20. The U.S military said 85 U.S. soldiers and 175 Armenians would take part. The Americans -- including members of the Kansas National Guard, which has a 20-year-old training partnership with Armenia -- will not be using heavy weaponry, it added. Russia, which leads the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that includes Armenia, has expressed concern about the joint exercises at a time when relations between Moscow and Yerevan have shown signs of weakening. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on September 10 expressed regret over "the actions of the Armenian leadership," saying he does not expected "anything good" to come of the exercises, while Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will "monitor the situation." The Russian Foreign Ministry on September 8 summoned the Armenian ambassador to protest what it termed unfriendly steps taken by Yerevan, including the military exercises. In Yerevan, meanwhile, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has accused Russia of failing to protect Armenia against what he called continued aggression by Azerbaijan. Russia maintains a peacekeeping force in the region to uphold an agreement that ended a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020, the second they have fought since the collapse of the Soviet Union. But Yerevan has accused Russian peacekeepers of failing to protect the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but is populated by around 120,000 ethnic Armenians. Tigran Grigorian, political analyst and head of the Regional Center for Democracy and Security in Yerevan, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service that the military exercises show Armenia is trying to distance itself from Russia. "All recent steps of Armenia can be considered as an attempt to show that Armenia is not in the Russian camp," Grigorian said. Olesya Vartanian, senior South Caucasus analyst at the nonprofit conflict prevention organization Crisis Group, told Reuters on September 6 that Armenia was sending a signal to Moscow that "your distraction and the fact that you are so inactive plays toward our enemy," a reference to Azerbaijan. Yerevan has accused Azerbaijan of allowing a blockade of the highway linking Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh for the past nine months. The blockade has left the local population with shortages of fuel, medicine, and food. Azerbaijan has justified its action by saying Armenia was using the road to supply weapons to Nagorno-Karabakh, which Armenia denies. In a recent development, Armenia accused Azerbaijan of concentrating forces near the border between the two countries, which Baku denies. With reporting by AP and Reuters Imprisoned Russian politicians -- including Kremlin critics Aleksei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza -- along with other activists are holding a one-day hunger strike on October 30 to honor political prisoners as residents of towns and cities in several Russian regions marked the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression. The hunger strike was initiated earlier in October by Navalny, Kara-Murza, and others including Lilia Chanysheva, Daniel Kholodny, Vadim Ostanin, and Mikhail Kriger, all of whom have been recognized as political prisoners by Russian human rights groups. Under Stalin, millions of Soviet citizens were killed, tortured, imprisoned, or exiled by the Soviet state. Nostalgia for Stalin and for the Soviet Union has flourished under President Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer who has praised the dictator as an effective manager. October 30 was chosen to honor gulag inmates in the Russian regions of Mordovia and Perm who started a mass hunger strike on that day in 1974, protesting political persecution in the Soviet Union. "In this situation, we think it is right for us to turn to our roots and traditions," the group of activists said when announcing the hunger strike. Navalny's website said on October 30 that a book based on the answers of Russian political prisoners to questions by noted Russian writer Boris Akunin (Grigori Chkhartishvili), who currently resides in London, was issued to mark the day. "The inaction of good people is enough for evil's triumph.... The hypocrisy of neutrality, indifference to politics, withdrawing to cover up laziness, cowardness, and turpitude are major reasons why a small group of well-organized wrongdoers have mistreated millions in the course of humankind's history," Navalny told Akunin, adding that "in the current dramatic times, I love Russia not less than always, as I know how to differentiate the government from the people." In the Far Eastern city of Magadan, local residents gathered near the Mask of Sorrow monument close to the city and held an action called Not To Be Forgotten. The participants read aloud the names, ages, occupations, dates of trials or executions of their relatives during the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's Great Terror campaign in the 1930s-1950s. The Mask of Sorrow monument designed by late Russian-American sculptor Ernst Neizvestny, whose parents were victims of the Stalinist repressions in the 1930s, is located on the Krutaya hill near Magadan, where the gulag's major transit prison was once located. In the city of Birobidzhan, local authorities and residents laid flowers at a monument honoring Soviet repression victims. It is believed that about 6,000 residents of the surrounding Jewish Autonomous Region were persecuted during Stalin's purge. Meanwhile, in the capital of the Siberian region of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, a makeshift memorial appeared near a monument commemorating victims of Soviet-era repression to honor 59 victims from the Ukrainian village of Hroza who were killed by a Russian missile strike on October 5. The makeshift memorial consisted of flowers and posters, saying " Village of Hroza," and "Stop Putin -- Stop the War." Authorities in two major Siberian cities, Novosibirsk and Tomsk, canceled events without explanation but dozens of local residents in the two cities laid flowers to monuments commemorating victims of Soviet repression. Police in Yoshkar-Ola, the capital of Russia's Mari El region in the Volga Federal District, detained local resident Kirill Voitovich, who came to the event to honor victims of Soviet-era repression on October 30 with a poster in Belarusian saying "The Night of Poets or Black Night, October 29-30. Eternal memory of the Bolshevik terror's victims. Live on forever." Voitovich was marking October 29-30, 1937, when the Soviet security service, the NKVD, executed at least 132 Belarusian and Jewish intellectuals. The mass executions are known as the Night of Poets or Black Night. A day earlier, hundreds of people in Moscow honored the memory of thousands of men and women executed by the Soviet authorities. The event held near the former KGB headquarters in the Russian capital was attended by foreign diplomats. Similar events were held in several other towns and cities across Russia on October 29. Armita Garavand, the 17-year-old girl fatally injured in an alleged confrontation with Iran's morality police over a head-scarf violation, was buried amid tight security in Tehran on October 29. Unconfirmed reports say several people, including two of Garavands relatives, were arrested during the ceremony at the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in southern Tehran. Civil rights activist Reza Khandan told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that his wife, prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, was beaten and detained at the funeral. "A number of participants were arrested and beaten up. Nasrin was among them," Khandan said by phone from Tehran. WATCH: Scores of mourners attended the burial of Iranian teenager Armita Garavand on October 29 in Tehran. Amateur video obtained by RFE/RL shows raw emotions on display at the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery and at a separate funeral ceremony in the Jaberi mosque. A heavy police presence was observed at both places. He added that a number of those detained had been released, although others, including Sotoudeh, remained in detention. He said he hasn't been able to contact her. Irans semiofficial Fars news agency later confirmed that Sotoudeh had been detained, charged with violating the conservative Islamic nation's head-scarf law. Sotoudeh has previously been arrested and jailed after representing opposition activists, including women prosecuted for removing their mandatory headscarves. Video clips published on social media showed a large crowds of people -- both men and women -- attending the burial ceremony. Irans state media had reported Garavands death on October 28, nearly a month after she fell and went into a coma in the Tehran subway. Garavand was reportedly confronted by the morality police in the subway at the start of October for failing to wear a hijab. The news of Garavand's death came just over a year after the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest by Irans morality police for an alleged head-scarf violation sparked nationwide protests and international condemnation. A relative told Radio Farda that security agents had told the family they would be given Garavand's body under the condition that the burial be held in Tehran and not in their native village in the western province of Kermanshah. "We live in Tehran, but we don't bury our dead [here]. We hope to receive Armita's body, the family member had said. Shortly after the subway incident, authorities isolated Garavand family members and attempted to prevent journalists from reaching them. Security measures were still being enforced as of October 28, fueling speculation that authorities were worried about renewed protests in the country. Rights groups and journalists say Garavand and two of her friends were confronted on October 1 by police officers for not wearing the mandatory hijab as they tried to enter a Tehran subway station. One of the friends has said the officers physically assaulted Garavand, who later fell unconscious after entering a subway carriage. Officials have said Garavand suffered a sudden drop in blood pressure, fainted, and fell to the floor, hitting her head. A source at Fajr Hospital, who spoke to Radio Farda on condition of anonymity due to security reasons, said shortly after the incident that Garavand suffered internal bleeding in the brain. "Unfortunately, she went into a coma for some time after suffering from brain damage. She died a few minutes ago," the official government news agency IRNA said on October 28. Garavand's condition triggered concerns in the West and among international rights groups after a purported video of the incident circulated on social media. The video shows Garavand entering the subway car, but it does not show what exactly transpired in the seconds before her body is shown being carried back out of it. Amnesty International has issued a statement saying authorities should allow an independent international delegation, including UN experts, to investigate the circumstances leading up to Garavand's hospitalization. Tehran has left the request unanswered. The United States on October 29 said it was deeply saddened by the death of Garavand after she was beaten by Iran's morality police for not wearing a hijab in public." Iran's state-sponsored violence against its own people is appalling and underscores the fragility of the regime, White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote on social media. Garavands case, and suggestions of a cover-up by the authorities, has drawn parallels with the events leading up to the death of 22-year-old Amini last year. Aminis death soon after she was arrested for allegedly violating Irans hijab law triggered the greatest threat to the Islamic republic's leadership since the 1979 revolution. State media has shown Garavand's parents speaking of various potential causes for their daughter's fall and injury. It is not clear if the statements were made under duress, but the Hengaw human rights group, which first reported the incident, said on October 5 that Garavand's mother, Shahin Ahmadi, had been detained temporarily by Iranian government security forces. Earlier this month, Amini and the Women, Life, Freedom movement in Iran that was triggered by her death were awarded this year's Sakharov Prize, the European Parliaments top rights award, the second honor bestowed upon Iranian women this month for their sometimes deadly struggle for human rights after activist Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize. With reporting by dpa Survivors of the tornadoes that devastated the Mississippi Delta in March can receive free legal help from Entergy employees. Trained employee volunteers are available to help homeowners and renters in Carroll, Humphreys, Monroe and Sharkey counties file Federal Emergency Management Agency appeals. Entergy has partnered with SBP, a national disaster recovery organization, to train more than 150 employees on the FEMA appeal process. Employee volunteers from across Entergy's four-state service area will guide families who have applied for FEMA assistance and have been denied or received less than what they need to recover. SBP's FEMA Appeals Program helps disaster survivors access more funding to fulfill their immediate and long-term recovery needs, and Entergy is supporting the efforts through a grant and hands-on service. The assistance is provided through one-on-one phone or video consultations. Survivors are eligible to file an appeal if they: Applied for FEMA assistance and received an initial award or response letter. Were denied an SBA loan, are still awaiting a response from SBA, or were not requested by FEMA to apply for a loan. Did not have homeowners/flood insurance, or the coverage was less than $36,000. Owned and occupied their home at the time of the disaster. Renters can qualify for appeals. "We know that seeking assistance from governmental agencies after a disaster can sometimes be a frustrating and confusing process. This effort is just one way we're showing our extended commitment to our customers after the storm," said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. "We're humbled by Rolling Fork's resilience, and grateful to our employee volunteers and SBP for helping the community receive this vital assistance." Customers can sign up to receive assistance by calling 800-276-9511. For more information, visit sbpusa.org/our-mission/advocate/fema-appeals-program. About SBP USA SBP is a national social impact organization dedicated to shrinking the time between disaster and recovery by reducing risk, increasing preparedness and resilience, and improving disaster recovery systems, policies, and programs to better serve the needs of all Americans. Since its founding in 2006 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, SBP has rebuilt homes for more than 4,000 families, with the help of 150,000 volunteers in 16 communities across the U.S. and the Bahamas. About Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We're investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than 100 years, Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. Following weeks of talks, Montenegro's parliament on October 31 approved a new coalition government headed by economist Milojko Spajic of the Europe Now Movement (PES). The new government will have 18 ministries and five deputy prime ministers representing the pro-European Democrats, the pro-Serbian Socialist Peoples Party, and five small parties representing the country's Albanian minority. In his address to deputies, Spajic said "full membership" in the European Union, "active, credible" membership in NATO, improving regional ties, and taking a more active role in multilateral organizations would be his cabinets four main priorities. The centrist PES coalition won early parliamentary elections in June but did not pick up enough mandates to form a government on its own. After an all-night session, 46 deputies in the 81-mandate chamber voted to approve the government. The vote came after the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian alliance For the Future of Montenegro, led by Andrija Mandic, agreed to support Spajic's proposal in exchange for Mandic being named parliament speaker. During the election campaign, Mandic, one of the leaders of the recently disbanded pro-Russian Democratic Front, called for closer ties with Russia, criticized Montenegro's NATO membership, and spoke against the 2006 referendum that led to the country's split from Serbia. After being elected speaker on October 30, Mandic pledged to "reconcile the divisions." Critics said his elevation to speaker would hinder the countrys EU ambitions. His election was a part of a coalition agreement under which Mandic's For the Future of Montenegro, which was part of the Democratic Front until elections in June, must support Spajic's minority government. In exchange, For the Future of Montenegro can enter the government next year. Spajic was nominated in August after the PES won the June parliamentary elections. Deputies of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) protested Mandic's election as speaker by tying a black ribbon to the party's microphone to denote what they said was a black day for democracy in Montenegro and leaving the chamber. Mandic is known for his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, for lifting sanctions against Moscow, withdrawing the recognition of Kosovo's independence, and opposing Montenegro's membership in NATO. He has close ties with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The president of the opposition DPS, Danijel Zivkovic, pointed to Mandic's ideological profile, saying that his election as speaker changed the foreign policy orientation of Montenegro. Mandic did not answer Zivkovic's questions about whether he would ask the government to withdraw from NATO and the other political goals of his party. The opposition party protested in front of the parliament, saying Mandic was not acceptable because of his anti-NATO, pro-Russian stance. Mandic's association with Putin dates back to a meeting in Belgrade in 2019, when he and close political ally Milan Knezevic told Putin that "the majority of Montenegro sees him (Putin) as their president." Putin in turn described them as "true heroes." The meeting in the Serbian capital was organized while Mandic and Knezevic were being tried for their part in a failed coup in Montenegro. A court in Montenegro in May 2019 sentenced Mandic and Knezevic and two alleged Russian military intelligence agents to jail terms over an alleged 2016 attempt to organize a coup in the country and prevent it from joining NATO. The Appeals Court annulled the verdicts and ordered the High Court to retry the case. The demonstrators also noted that Mandic holds the title "Chetnik duke," a reference to collaborators with the Nazis during World War II in the former Yugoslavia. A Chetnik paramilitary group gained notoriety in the 1990s when their units committed atrocities against non-Serbs in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Decades later, modern Chetnik movements of Serbian nationalists are especially strong in Serbia and in Republika Srpska and are also present among Serbian extremists in Montenegro. Montenegro joined NATO in 2017 and has been working toward EU membership. The country adopted the euro as its de facto currency in 2002, although it is not part of the eurozone. After Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Montenegro joined EU sanctions against Moscow, expelled some Russian diplomats, and provided aid to Kyiv. Moscow has added Montenegro to its list of "unfriendly countries." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to meet with Spajic on October 31 in Podgorica. Pakistani authorities say a roadside bomb blast killed a security officer and wounded several people, including civilians, in the northwestern city of Peshawar. The improvised explosive device targeted a passing vehicle on September 11 belonging to a paramilitary corps deployed to patrol an area bordering Afghanistan. The Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an extremist group linked to the Taliban in Afghanistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Ukrainian forces have regained more territory from the invading Russian forces in the eastern and southern fronts, Kyiv said on September 11, as German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a surprise visit to the capital, promising unwavering support for Ukraine. "In the direction of Bakhmut, the defense forces have partial success in the Klishchiyivka area of the Donetsk region, they dislodge the enemy from their occupied positions. Fierce battles continue," the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported in its daily bulletin on September 11. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. The military said that more than 30 clashes between the Ukrainian forces and the invading Russian troops took place in the previous day. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Ukraines forces had recaptured nearly 2 square kilometers of land -- including part of the village of Opytne in the Donetsk region -- over the past week. She also reported some "success" near the villages of Novomayorske, Andriyivka, and Klishchiyivka in the east. Kyiv's troops have retaken 49 square kilometers near Bakhmut since Ukraine launched its counteroffensive in June, Malyar told Ukrainian television on September 11. Malyar claimed Kyiv had recaptured 1.5 square kilometers in the south, where Ukrainian troops are trying to advance toward the Sea of Azov. She also reported some progress near the rural settlements of Robotyne and Verbove in the Zaporizhzhya region. Kyiv also announced on September 11 that its forces had retaken the "Boyko Towers" oil- and gas-drilling platforms in the Black Sea that had been controlled by Russia since 2015. The platforms are located roughly halfway between the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula and the coast of Ukraine's southwestern Odesa region. "During one phase of the operation [to recapture the platform], a battle took place between Ukrainian special forces on boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter jet," Kyiv's military intelligence said. Moscow's plane was "hit and forced to retreat," it claimed. Crimea and much of the surrounding waters were illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. Russia claimed to have annexed Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and two other Ukrainian regions in September last year, despite not having full military control over the regions. Russias election authorities said the pro-Kremlin United Russia party won local elections in those regions over the weekend, in polls denounced by Kyiv and the West as a sham and a breach of international law. Baerbock announced that Germany will provide an additional $21.4 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which would bring Germanys total to $407.6 million this year. The German Foreign Ministry also said Berlin wants to help Ukraine, which applied last year for EU membership, make progress in strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption, and aligning itself with EU standards. Ukraine can "rely on us and on our understanding of EU enlargement as a necessary geopolitical consequence of Russia's war," she said upon arrival in Kyiv for her fourth visit since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Baerbock said Ukraine has achieved impressive results on judicial reform and media legislation. But it still has a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption, she added. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak and this week I'm drilling down on two issues: How the EU sanctions on Russia survived a big legal hurdle and whether Georgia's EU dreams are slipping away. Brief #1: A Big Day In Court For EU Sanctions What You Need To Know: Last week, the European Union's sanctions regime against Russia -- and, to a lesser extent, its more minor measures targeting Belarus -- cleared one of the greatest hurdles: the question of their own legality. Since the full scale-invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the bloc has imposed asset freezes and visa bans on 1,800 individuals and entities for what the EU calls "actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Ukraine." The Belarus sanctions, which are a response to several incidents in recent years, cover nearly 300 people and companies linked to Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime, which has supported the Russian attack on Ukraine, and continues to crack down on Belarusian opposition and civil society since a flawed presidential election in 2020. The inclusion of most of those blacklisted people is seemingly defensible -- EU diplomats have told me that it is relatively straightforward to present a good legal case for them. These include politicians and officials who have taken decisions that support the war on Ukraine or the crackdown against the opposition, military leaders who have committed alleged atrocities such as the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and judges and prosecutors who have rubber-stamped the oppression of individuals. However, EU diplomats know that the public officials targeted in Russia and Belarus, apart from "big fish" such as Presidents Vladimir Putin and Lukashenka and their closest entourages, are unlikely to travel to the EU or maintain considerable bank assets inside the bloc. It is, in other words, symbolic without much real political impact. Deep Background: What matters more, however, are sanctions against businessmen, oligarchs, and their family members who are believed to be close to the Russian and Belarusian regimes. And it apparently matters to them, too -- as European lawyers have challenged their inclusion on the blacklists in the EU's own court, the European Court of Justice (ECJ). Many of those individuals were slapped with sanctions in the spring of 2022 and have since had hearings before the Luxembourg-based ECJ. This fall, a number of verdicts will be issued. This is a real challenge for the Brussels machinery, notably its legal services. Not only is the EU up against well-paid private-sector lawyers with rich clients, it must also present enough evidence linking these people to the regimes in question and, crucially, demonstrate that their support has contributed to the war in Ukraine or the crackdown in Belarus. Essentially, the credibility and effectiveness of the EU's entire sanctions regime are on the line. Few EU officials want to repeat the embarrassment of the bloc's sanctions against former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his inner circle, which have been eroded every year since 2014 by successful challenges before the ECJ. Judging by the slew of verdicts delivered by the ECJ on September 7, the EU is hoping they are on firmer legal ground. Drilling Down: The biggest decision against Belarus concerned sanctions against steel magnate Dmitry Pumpyansky and his spouse, Galina Pumpyanskaya. The bloc targeted Pumpyansky for his role as chairman of PJSC Pipe Metallurgic Company and as president of the Sinara Group -- roles in which he had contributed with crucial supplies to state-owned enterprises, including Russian Railways and energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft. When sanctioning Pumpyansky, the bloc pointed out that he had attended Putin's meeting with 36 businesspeople shortly after the February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine began "to discuss the impact of the course of action in the wake of Western sanctions," adding that "the fact that he was invited to attend this meeting shows that he is a member of the closest circle of Vladimir Putin." Pumpyanskaya was sanctioned by virtue of being the chairwoman of the board of trustees at Sinara, a foundation involved in the charitable activities of large companies including PJSC Pipe Metallurgical Company. EU lawyers also reasoned that her marriage to Pumpyansky made her "a natural person associated with a leading businessperson involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the government of the Russian Federation." In its verdict, the ECJ upheld the EU sanctions against the pair and noted that "although Mr. Pumpyansky has not played a direct role in [the] military offensive in Ukraine, he is involved in economic sectors which constitute a substantial source of revenue for the government of the Russian Federation." The evidence the EU gave linking him to the Russian oil and gas industry was also described by the court as "well-founded." Pumpyanskaya's appeal was also dismissed due to her clear family and business ties to Pumpyansky. Being a family member of a sanctioned oligarch is not enough to be targeted per se, but a case can be built on evidence that a sanctioned person has potentially spread wealth to circumvent sanctions. In a similar fashion, and on the same day, the court also dismissed the appeals of another Russian oligarch, Gennady Timchenko, and his wife, Yelena Timchenko. The former executive director of Russian tech giant Yandex, Tigran Khudaverdyan, also lost his appeal against the EU's assertion that the company is a "key element in hiding information" about the war in Ukraine from Russians. With respect to the Belarus sanctions, Mikhail Gutseriev, a Russian national with considerable energy and potash businesses in Belarus, also failed in his attempt to get delisted. The court didn't contest the EU assertion that he is a longtime Lukashenka acquaintance "and thanks to this association has accumulated significant wealth and influence among the political elite in Belarus." All of these decisions appear to uphold two major pillars of the EU sanctions policy: You don't have to be directly involved in the political decision-making process regarding the attack on Ukraine to be sanctioned, and family members of tycoons and oligarchs can very much be targeted. This doesnt mean that any and all attempts to get delisted are destined to fail. Two more rulings are expected this week, and many more will be issued this fall. A number of oligarchs are likely willing and able to have another go at trying to pick apart the EU's legal reasoning. Brussels didn't have it all its own way last week. Aleksandr Shulgin, a former CEO of e-commerce company Ozon, won his appeal when the court concluded there was insufficient evidence that his actions at Ozon undermined Kyiv. As reported in an earlier briefing, EU ambassadors had already decided in July to lift sanctions against Shulgin, Farkhad Akhmedov, and Grigory Berezkin later in September after EU lawyers indicated the bloc was likely to lose those cases on appeal. Brief #2: Will Georgia Miss Out On EU Candidate Status? What You Need To Know: It is fair to say that Brussels reacted with incredulity at the latest move by the Georgian government to commence impeachment proceedings against that Caucasus country's president, Salome Zurabishvili, for visiting foreign countries without government approval. It follows her visits to Brussels for talks with the European Council President Charles Michel on September 1 and then going on to meet with other state and government heads in the bloc. Several diplomats I spoke to on background said they didn't quite understand why a president of a country aspiring to join the EU and traveling on their own budget to lobby for their country was regarded as a bad thing. With her perfect grasp of French and English, Zurabishvili is well respected in Brussels -- and elsewhere in the EU. Her traveling to various member states this fall to drum up support for Georgia getting one step closer to EU membership is something Brussels officials regard as absolutely normal and to be expected. Or, as one EU official asked me with a slight air of despair: "This is sort of her main job, isn't it?" Deep Background: The big question for now is what consequences the impeachment proceedings will have on Georgia's EU aspirations. Later in October, the European Commission will issue its annual enlargement report with recommendations on how to proceed with Georgia, as well as Moldova and Ukraine. In December, the 27 EU member states will vote either to endorse or reject those recommendations. (To endorse, according to the EU rule of unanimity, all members states have to agree.) All indications so far from Brussels suggest Ukraine and Moldova, who are already candidate countries, will be recommended to proceed to the next phase -- the start of EU accession talks. From talking to a number of EU officials on background, their impression is that all the EU member states appear to be on board, so it could happen by the end of the year. Both countries are progressing well with the conditions they received in the summer of 2022 and, crucially, there is domestic political will to move forward. For Georgia, things have always been a bit vaguer. It is already one step behind Kyiv and Chisinau, as just a "potential" candidate country. Brussels hasn't seen the same political enthusiasm for EU integration from Tbilisi as with the other two Eastern European hopefuls. Controversial moves earlier this year -- such as attempts to enact a foreign agent law, which was compared to a draconian Kremlin law, and the resumption of flights to and from Russia -- have raised eyebrows in Brussels, as have comments from top government officials that it was NATO enlargement that triggered Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While not happy with what was sometimes perceived as a pro-Russian stance and not particularly receptive to the argument from Tbilisi that certain moves from Georgia might "open up a second front for Russia," there was still an understanding among EU officials and diplomats that pressure from Moscow is keenly felt in the South Caucasus country. Besides, foreign policy alignment with the EU was never one of the 12 recommendations given by Brussels in 2022 when it spelled out how the country should proceed on its EU path. Drilling Down: The latest drama surrounding Zurabishvili raises further questions as to whether Georgia is ripe for candidate status. "The bar for Georgia to proceed to candidate status is so low, yet they might not clear it in the end," was one comment from an EU diplomat who has worked on the Georgia file for many years but wanted to remain anonymous because they aren't allowed to speak on the record. Another Georgia-watcher in Brussels wondered aloud: "How many more own goals can they afford?" In Brussels, several times I heard the claims -- which so far have been mostly aired by opposition forces in Tbilisi -- that the Georgian government actually wants to be denied EU candidate status so that it can blame Brussels and show to its voters that the EU is unreliable and never wanted Georgia onboard anyway. The uncertainty over EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's trip to Georgia on September 7-8 -- his first to the country in this capacity -- was also interesting to note. Normally these trips are announced well over a week in advance, but Brussels refrained from confirming the journey even after Zurabishvili's supposed transgression. That sort of hesitancy could well speak volumes. Despite all those misgivings, I still think it more likely than not that Georgia will get candidate status. Some diplomats have referred positively to the current momentum when it comes to EU enlargement, with the bloc seriously considering how a bigger group of members states might look. This window of opportunity exists now but might not next year when the EU is busy with European parliamentary elections and selecting new commission and council presidents. Another consideration is that candidate status is low-hanging fruit. Bosnia-Herzegovina got the same status last year, without making much progress or significant reforms. Then there is the argument (and still the most likely outcome) that in order to move to the next step -- the opening of accession talks -- Georgia will be offered candidate status but with conditions attached. These conditions could just be the continued implementation of what remains to be completed following the original 12 recommendations from 2022. After meeting with Zurabishvili, Michel posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, about Georgia's need to focus on "justice, de-polarization, de-oligarchization" as well as "building inclusive political culture" -- all recommendations highlighted a year ago. What's clear is that the recommendations for Georgia are ambiguous, and it's hard to categorically say whether they have been successfully followed. This gives the EU plenty of leeway. It wouldn't be surprising if other conditions could be thrown in at the request of various member states, such as well-run parliamentary elections in the fall of 2024, for example, or the release for medical treatment of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is serving a six-year sentence for abuse of power, a charge he and his supporters say was politically motivated. Ultimately, Georgia's status can also end up being subject to inevitable political horse-trading. According to two European Commission officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, the EU enlargement commissioner, Oliver Varhelyi -- a Hungarian with close links to the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban -- is keen to give Georgia a positive recommendation in October. In the end, it's up to the entire college of European commissioners to decide, although they tend to be more enlargement-friendly. Among member states, it's also possible that Hungary, which has growing political links with Georgia, will push for Tbilisi's candidate status as quid pro quo for agreeing to give Ukraine the green light to start EU accession talks. Budapest has used its veto extensively in recent months on various political issues, often related to Ukraine -- so don't rule out that this could happen again. Looking Ahead The big highlight of this week will be European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's State of the European Union address (known as "SOTEU" in Brussels-speak) to the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg on September 13. The speech, which is meant to mimic the U.S president's State of the Union address to the American Congress at the start of each year, is seen as the opening of the fall political season in Brussels. This SOTEU is being eagerly anticipated, as it is the last one before the European Commission gets a new president and the European Parliamentary elections, both in June 2024. In many ways, the SOTEU address can be seen as part of Von der Leyen's campaign to secure another five-year term. Expect a lot of bold proposals on further support for Ukraine and ideas of how the EU should enlarge, maybe even with concrete timelines. Later, on September 13, Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya will address the European Parliament. It's uncommon for a non-EU politician addresses the chamber, and it is even rarer that someone who isn't a de facto head of state or government gets the honor. The same day, the European Parliament is expected to pass a nonbinding resolution on Belarus, urging the EU -- among other things -- to adopt more sanctions against the Lukashenka regime, allow Tsikhanouskaya to take up empty seats previously occupied by representatives of the Belarusian authorities in EU-sponsored forums such as the Eastern Partnership, and provide support for those politically exiled Belarusians residing in the EU whose identity documents are about to expire and who have no means of renewing them outside Belarus. That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. Highlights The project will deliver 28 MWe through a brine recovery ORC unit to ramp up the capacity of the existing steam power plant With this second repeated order following the Mindanao 3 project Exergy strengthens its partnership with EDC and support the company's decarbonization goals EXERGY INTERNATIONAL, a global provider of clean energy technology, leader in new generation geothermal ORC power plants, has signed a new contract with Energy Development Corporation (EDC) for the supply of a 28 MWe binary system in Leyte, Eastern Visayas, Philippines. The project will be an expansion of the Mahanagdong 180 MWe single flash power plant, exploiting the available unused brine to produce additional electricity without requiring any geothermal field development. The new power plant will utilize Exergy's advanced ORC technology equipped with Radial Outflow Turbine providing high efficiency and reliability, thus maximizing geothermal resource exploitation. Exergy is in charge of the design and supply of the complete technological solution and relative equipment. The ORC design consists of a two-pressure level cycle with 2 turbines coupled to a single generator and a water-cooled condensing system with cooling towers. It includes a brine acid dosing system to guarantee its appropriate exploitation without risks on the resource, and a DCS control system which will control the whole new power plant and will be integrated in the EDC control system architecture. The construction will be executed by JGC Philippines Inc. acting as EPC contractor in partnership with Exergy. JGC Philippines has been providing EPC and operation and maintenance services in the Philippines for over 30 years. With a remarkable track record and strong execution capabilities they will be a key partner to Exergy in the project. Once in operation the power plant will contribute to significantly reduce CO2 emissions by delivering clean, reliable and stable geothermal energy, available 24/7 to local communities and industries. This is the second order awarded to Exergy by EDC after the successful completion of the Mindanao brine recovery project in 2022. It is an important confirmation of a valuable business partnership started between the companies, as Luca Pozzoni, General Manager of Exergy International underlines: "We are honored we have been once again preferred by EDC for the Mahanagdong power plant execution. This new order gives us the opportunity to continue a fruitful collaboration, contributing to EDC's mission for a decarbonized future." He continues: "I want to congratulate my team on their commitment and hard work for the achievement of this target project, and Marco Frassinetti, who personally led the development of all the activities since the beginning. This is an important reference in our portfolio that will help us to expand our business in the Asia Pacific region, an area with a significant geothermal potential still unexploited, where Exergy is investing resources and efforts to further develop its presence". About Energy Development Corporation EDC is a global diversified renewable power company. As the world's largest vertically integrated geothermal company and a leader in the Philippines renewable energy industry, EDC has a portfolio of geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind power assets totaling almost 1,5 GW of installed capacity. With geothermal as its primary source of power, EDC's 1,185.40 MW provides around 61% of the country's total installed geothermal capacity. ABOUT EXERGY INTERNATIONAL SRL EXERGY INTERNATIONAL Srl is a leading provider of clean energy technologies. We are experts in the design, engineering and manufacturing of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems with the pioneering Radial Outflow Turbine. EXERGY's proprietary technologies, covered by several patents, allow for highly efficient energy production via the exploitation of heat sources from geothermal, waste heat from industry, biomass and concentrated solar power. The EXERGY portfolio accounts for over 500 MWe and the second largest geothermal binary fleet worldwide. EXERGY is a part of the Chinese TICA Group, a leading integrated system and service provider in HVAC. From the headquarters in the north of Italy (Milan), EXERGY exports and implements its technology worldwide with a particular focus on high growth potential markets. Website: https://exergy-orc.com/ PRESS CONTACT EXERGY INTERNATIONAL Sara Milanesi Marketing & Communications Manager Ph: +39 0331 1817620 Mobile:+39 3666012588 s.milanesi@exergy.it Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, has been awarded a new contract worth around 630 million by Terna Rete Italia S.p.A., a company fully owned by Terna S.p.A., the Italian power grid operator (TSO). The Adriatic Link project includes the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of a HVDC submarine interconnection which will contribute to de-carbonise Italy's energy system, thus reinforcing Italy's role as the Mediterranean energy hub. The High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) bipolar cable line will allow a transmission capacity of up to 1,000 MW and will increase the exchange of energy between the central-southern and central-northern areas of Italy, increasing the safety, efficiency, and resilience of the entire national electricity transmission grid. The route, running for a total of approximately 250 km, will be made up of two submarine cables with a length of approximately 210 km across the Adriatic Sea. Prysmian will also provide two underground cables of approximately 40 km connecting each landing point to the regional's substation. All submarine cables with XLPE insulation will be produced at the Group's centre of excellence located in Arco Felice, Italy, while the underground cables with P-laser insulation will be manufactured at the centre of excellence in Gron, France. The Group has made major investments in Arco Felice to strengthen its production capacity, transforming the plant as a technology hub for submarine power transmission cables in Europe. The installation will be carried out by Prysmian Group's new record-setting cable-laying vessels, the Leonardo da Vinci and the Monna Lisa. The conclusion of cables laying operations will take place within the first half of 2028. "This award confirms the mutual trust and long-standing relationship between Terna and Prysmian Group, as this is the latest of several projects we are working on with the Italian TSO" stated H. Ozmen, EVP Projects BU. "We are proud to have the opportunity to play our role in the development of such a strategic infrastructure for our country, by making available the best "Made in Italy" submarine cable technology, contributing to the enhancement of power transmission in the centre of mainland Italy and, in line with the goals set out in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), to further support Italy's role as an electricity hub for Europe and the whole Mediterranean region." With this important project, Prysmian Group's Projects BU order intake exceeds 10 billion year to date, including preferred bidder agreements. The Group has already secured several submarine grid connection projects in the Mediterranean region such as the Tyrrhenian Link, the submarine cable link between Capri and Sorrento, and the submarine cable connection between the island of Elba and the Italian mainland (Piombino). PM Modi Calls for Expansion of UN Security Council and Addressing Cryptocurrency Concerns NEW-DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly pressed for reforms within international organizations, emphasizing the need for an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and adjustments to adapt to the "new realities" of the world. He asserted that these shifts are essential to align international structures with the evolving global landscape, as natural laws remain constant, but their relevance evolves over time. During the closing session of the G20 Summit, PM Modi proposed convening a virtual session in late November to evaluate the progress made on the decisions made during the summit. He symbolically passed on the G-20 presidency to Brazil, which will assume leadership on December 1 this year. Advertisement -- Cybersecurity & Cryptocurrency In his address, PM Modi underscored the significance of cybersecurity and cryptocurrency in shaping the present and future world. He described cryptocurrency as a new frontier impacting social order, monetary and financial stability, and called for the development of international standards to regulate it. PM Modi expressed concerns about cryptocurrency serving as a source of funding for terrorism, emphasizing the need for global cooperation and infrastructure to secure cyberspace. -- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advertisement The Indian Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing a human-centric approach rather than a purely GDP-centric one. He expressed India's willingness to share lunar mission data for the benefit of humanity, showcasing their commitment to human-centric development. -- Globat Organisation Reforms Furthermore, Modi's call for global organization reforms found support from Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who echoed the need for new developing countries to become permanent and non-permanent members of the UNSC to enhance political representation. Dr. Silva also advocated for increased representation of emerging countries in institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Advertisement During the G20 Summit, India secured unanimous consensus on developmental and geopolitical issues in the declaration, which emphasized respecting each country's territorial integrity and the principle of sovereignty, avoiding explicit mention of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the 'One Future Session' of the G20 Summit, PM Modi renewed his emphasis on global organization reforms, emphasizing the importance of aligning these institutions with the contemporary world's realities. He pointed out that the UNSC's composition, with its five permanent members (United States, China, France, Britain, and Russia), has remained unchanged despite evolving global dynamics. The G20 Summit received praise from world leaders, with US President Joe Biden commending the group's ability to address critical issues and French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging India's successful presidency in a challenging global environment. Advertisement PM Narendra Modi with French President Emmanuel Macron Meeting with French President Macron Highlights India-France Relations NEW-DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a series of productive bilateral discussions with world leaders, enhancing diplomatic ties and exploring avenues of cooperation. His meetings included high-profile talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. -- Deepening India-France Partnership for Progress Advertisement Following the conclusion of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Modi took to the social media platform 'X' (Formerly called as Twitter) to express the significance of his lunch meeting with President Emmanuel Macron. He described it as "a very meaningful lunch meeting," during which the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics and expressed their commitment to elevating India-France relations to new heights of progress. President Macron, in his post-summit media interaction, underscored the strategic nature of India-France relations, emphasizing that they extend beyond bilateral ties. He asserted that both countries are moving towards opposing the division of the world and stressed the need for collaborative efforts. While details about India-France defense relations were not disclosed, Macron hinted at upcoming agreements and defense equipment procurement. A joint statement issued by India and France highlighted their commitment to strengthening cooperation through advanced technologies, platform design, development, and manufacturing. This collaboration extends to third countries in the Indo-Pacific region and aims to bolster the security industry. Advertisement Furthermore, the leaders discussed areas such as digital innovation, science, technology, education, culture, health, and environmental cooperation. They agreed to establish an 'Indo-French Campus' model for the Indo-Pacific region and explored opportunities to enhance institutional relations in these domains. -- Exploring Trade & Infrastructure Expansion with Turkey In addition to his meeting with President Macron, Prime Minister Modi also engaged in discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, focusing on reinforcing trade and infrastructure ties between India and Turkey. The Prime Minister expressed their shared commitment to advancing these crucial aspects of their bilateral relationship. Advertisement Addressing the press, President Erdogan expressed confidence in harnessing the vast potential for cooperation between the two nations. He highlighted that India is Turkey's largest trading partner in South Asia and underscored the significant economic and multifaceted collaboration opportunities that have emerged, particularly following the recent elections in Turkey. Both leaders shared a common vision of enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, paving the way for mutually beneficial partnerships in the near future. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau with Indian PM Narendra Modi Canadian Delegation Stays Grounded in India as Plane Repair Continues NEW-DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's visit to India has been momentarily prolonged due to a technical issue with his plane. The Canadian delegation will remain in India until the necessary repairs are completed. Currently, aviation engineers are diligently working to rectify the problem. An airport official confirmed that the Canadian team will stay in India until their aircraft is deemed airworthy once again. PM Trudeau, accompanied by his son Xavier, arrived in India on Friday to participate in the G-20 summit. During his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart on Sunday, September 10. During this meeting, PM Modi expressed deep concerns about the promotion of radical separatism in Canada, the incitement of violence against diplomats, and the safety of the Indian community residing in Canada. Advertisement According to the Ministry of External Affairs, On the sidelines of G20 Summit, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the India-Canada relationship is founded on shared democratic values, a mutual respect for the rule of law, and robust people-to-people connections. Sunil Jakhar Sunil Jakhar Awaits High Command's Decision on Alliance CHANDIGARH: Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar, who recently assumed the role to bolster the party's presence in the state, has clarified that no discussions have taken place regarding a potential alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Speaking during an interview with PTC, Jakhar indicated that he would offer his perspective when the party's high command initiates such discussions. -- Jakhar's Departure from Congress & Views on Hindu Rashtra Advertisement Reflecting on his departure from the Indian National Congress (INC), where he held significant positions, Jakhar mentioned that he left the party due to unilateral decisions made by the high command, which he found unacceptable. He acknowledged the presence of like-minded Congress members who shared his sentiments. Commenting on the topic of a Hindu Rashtra, Sunil Jakhar noted that fanaticism exists in various religions, including the BJP, where some individuals advocate for Sanatan Dharma. -- Jakhar's Perspective on Law Enforcement & the Impact of Political Alliances Advertisement Discussing law enforcement, Sunil Jakhar highlighted that Punjab holds a unique position as a circular state in India. Regarding political alliances and the impact on Congress, he expressed concerns that such alliances, like the one with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), could potentially weaken the party's presence, especially in states like Punjab and Rajasthan. He drew a vivid analogy, likening the alliance to a situation where "police and thieves are going to mix." Jakhar also commented on the evolving landscape of Punjab politics, observing that some Congress leaders who once stood tall have faced setbacks, while prominent leaders who capitulated to the government still maintain their positions. Despite speculation regarding a possible Akali-BJP alliance, Jakhar focused on the purpose of his appearance on the PTC program, "Vichar Taqrar." He emphasized that his primary goal is to contribute constructively to the discussion rather than engage in speculation. Advertisement Road Accident Hit-and-Run Incident Sparks Heated Confrontation Between Grieving Family & Police AMRISTAR: In a devastating incident late at night on the Amritsar-Lahore road, Harpreet Singh, a resident of Gumanpura, lost his life in a tragic road accident. The heart-wrenching incident unfolded as the driver of a car involved in the accident abandoned the scene, prompting a swift response from law enforcement authorities. The local police have initiated an investigation into the incident, while tensions ran high as the deceased's family confronted the police at the scene. Subsequently, the deceased's brother resorted to vandalizing the involved vehicle. According to an eyewitness, Ravinder Singh, who was present at the scene, the Innova car was hurtling down the road at an alarming speed. Simultaneously, the motorcyclist was also traveling in the same direction. The collision was of such magnitude that the motorcyclist was propelled several feet into the air before landing in a forward motion. Adding to the distressing circumstances, the car occupants appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, with four individuals inside the vehicle. Advertisement Prompt response from fellow motorcyclists saw the injured young man being swiftly transported to a nearby hospital. Tragically, doctors at the hospital declared Harpreet Singh deceased due to the severity of his injuries. Upon learning of the accident, the parents and brother of the deceased, Gurpreet Singh, arrived at the scene during the late hours of the night. However, their interaction with the police took a heated turn as the grieving family voiced concerns over the adequacy of the ongoing investigation. The Family alleges that the police failed to conduct a proper examination of the accident and that the car's documents were not adequately verified. Tensions escalated further when the family accused the police of allowing the driver of the car to escape. In response to these allegations, the aggrieved brother resorted to vandalizing the Innova car involved in the accident. Notably, Law enforcement officials later arrived at the scene to take possession of the vehicle and calm the situation. The police, at this stage of the investigation, have reported that no eyewitnesses have come forward to provide an account of how the tragic accident occurred. They refute the family's allegations of misconduct and stress that the car's occupants had fled the scene before their arrival. Following a postmortem examination, the body of Harpreet Singh will be released to the grieving family for final rites. Peshawar Explosion Targets Paramilitary Forces Near Hospital in Pakistan's Peshawar PESHAWAR: A Bomb Blast targeting a security forces vehicle near a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Monday has resulted in the tragic death of one paramilitary jawan and left several others injured, including four personnel. The incident occurred in front of the Prime Hospital on Warsak Road in Peshawar, the capital of the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. According to a statement from a senior police officer, the attack specifically targeted Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel. The explosion resulted in the destruction of five FC vehicles and caused injuries to the officer and three civilians. Initial assessments suggest that the attack was carried out using an improvised explosive device (IED), though a comprehensive investigation into the incident is currently underway. Advertisement This unsettling incident follows a wave of violence in the region, as just last week, four Pakistani soldiers lost their lives, with seven others sustaining injuries in an attack by Taliban militants on two border posts located in the Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Notably, The Recent surge in violence highlights the ongoing security challenges faced by the province and underscores the need for heightened vigilance and security measures to safeguard both civilian and military personnel operating in the area. Sudan Drone Attack in the Midst of Ongoing Civil Conflict Raises Concerns KHARTOUM: Sudan's already dire situation has taken a tragic turn as a drone airstrike rocked the capital city of Khartoum on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 civilians and leaving more than 36 individuals seriously injured. The incident, whose perpetrators remain unknown, has intensified the atmosphere of fear and insecurity prevailing in the region. In the midst of an ongoing civil conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces vying for control of the country, the civilian population finds itself caught in the crossfire, enduring escalating violence that has persisted since the outbreak of the conflict on April 5. Advertisement The Attack, which took place in a market in Khartoum, was marked by its brutality, with innocent civilians becoming unintended casualties. Health workers swiftly responded to the crisis, rushing the injured to Bashir University Hospital for critical medical attention. Notably, The drone strike has raised serious concerns among both Sudanese citizens and international observers, who are now demanding answers about the responsible party behind this devastating attack. Further investigation in the matter is underway. Boat Overturn in Nigeria Majority of Victims are Women and Children in Mokwa Tragedy NIGERIA: A Devastating incident unfolded in Nigeria on Sunday when a boat capsized, leading to the loss of at least 26 lives, with numerous individuals still missing in the aftermath. Reports indicate that the majority of the deceased are women and children who met their untimely fate while aboard a boat in Mokwa, located in Niger state, Nigeria. According to Zainab Sulaiman, the regional head of Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency, the ill-fated boat was carrying over 100 passengers, and concerns linger over the possibility of the death toll rising further. Sulaiman disclosed that thus far, 24 bodies have been recovered from the scene, while a total of 30 individuals were rescued during the ongoing search and rescue operation. Advertisement The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed that the boat was ferrying over 100 people, hailing from the Gbajibo, Ekwa, and Yankyade communities, situated along the River Niger (Old Gbajibo). The passengers were en route to their farmlands on the opposite bank of the river when the tragic incident occurred. As per the reports, rescue efforts are underway. PM Modi with US President Joe Biden Biden Highlights the Importance of Civil Society & Free Press in Strengthening India-US Partnership WASHINGTON: United States President Joe Biden emphasized the significance of respecting human rights and the pivotal role of civil society and a free press during his recent bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the G20 summit in India, where several critical issues, including the establishment of a rail-air economic corridor from India to Europe, were addressed. In a traditional news conference held in Hanoi as part of his tour of India and Vietnam, President Biden acknowledged the fruitful outcomes of the G20 summit and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for hosting the event. However, he shed light on the less-publicized yet crucial aspect of his visit his one-on-one interaction with the Indian leader. Advertisement President Biden highlighted the extensive discussions held between him and Prime Minister Modi, emphasizing their commitment to further strengthening the partnership between India and the United States. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in June the previous year as a foundational moment for their cooperation. "As I always do," President Biden remarked, "I raised with PM Modi, the importance of respecting human rights and the vital role of civil society and a free press in building a strong and prosperous nation." The acknowledgment of these fundamental principles underscores the United States' commitment to upholding democratic values and human rights on the global stage. During their meeting, President Biden commended India's acquisition of 31 drones and the collaborative efforts in developing jet engines. He expressed his determination to "deepen and systematize" the major security partnership between the two nations, emphasizing the strategic importance of their alliance. Advertisement While addressing questions about China and President Xi Jinping's absence from the G20 meeting, as well as the ongoing situation in Ukraine, President Biden's emphasis on human rights and a free press serves as a reminder of the United States' unwavering commitment to these core principles in its diplomatic engagements. The bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi reinforce the value placed on these principles in international relations and cooperation. Japan will on Monday release August figures for its money stock, headlining a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The M2 money stock is expected to rise 2.5 percent on year, up from 2.4 percent in July. Japan also will see July numbers for machine tool orders; in June, orders were down 19.8 percent on year. Malaysia will provide July data for industrial production, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.3 percent on year following the 2.2 percent decline in June. China will see August figures for new loans, which are expected to come in at $1,150.0 billion - up from $345.9 billion a month earlier. The M2 money stock (10.7 percent) and outstanding loan growth (11.1 percent) are called unchanged. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. ELKO Great Basin College Theatre, in a collaboration with the University of Nevada Department of Theatre, will present An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis OHare, based on Homers The Iliad, Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. on stage in the Great Basin College Theatre. Following the performance, a monologue writing workshop will be held for military veterans in the Elko community. An Iliad is a one-actor adaptation of Homers The Iliad. It is essentially a soldiers story, an epic poem set during the Trojan War. The story takes place during the battles and events of the final weeks of the war and covers the complete and fascinating tale of the 10-year siege of the city of Troy. An Iliad is not an exact adaptation of Homers text. It is a version of the story told by a modern narrator who is just as familiar with current events as they are with ancient history. It provides an understanding of the Trojan War by providing present-day context. Conversely, it provides an understanding of our current world through the telling of an important history. The 90-minute play will be performed in one act by Rosie Brownlow-Calkin, an accomplished actor and professor of acting at UNR. Following the performance UNRs Dr. Jacqueline Viskup will conduct a 90-minute monologue writing workshop for veterans. The workshop will guide veterans through the process of writing their own monologue stories, combining creative expression with their own experiences, and being loosely inspired by An Iliad. The project is a partnership between GBC Theatre, GBC Humanities and the University of Nevada Department of Theatre. For more information on the project, contact Dr. John Patrick Rice at john.rice@gbcnv.edu or call 775-327-2249. Restaurant Brands International Inc. is teaming with Dubai's fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate Apparel Group to develop and open more than 100 restaurants under its Firehouse Subs brand across UAE and Oman over the next 10 years. The agreement marks the global expansion of Firehouse Subs, a strong and growing player within the Quick Service Restaurant or QSR sandwich category in the United States. With the partnership, Apparel Group expects to support Firehouse Subs' growth strategy across the world with its extensive experience and expertise. Apparel Group is already operating Restaurant Brands' Tim Hortons brand in the Middle East/North Africa region since 2013. Florida -based Firehouse Subs is a restaurant chain, offering hearty sandwiches with flavorful meats, cheeses & delicious bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Firehouse Subs operates over 1,200 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada recently launched its restaurants in Switzerland, which is the first opening outside of North America. The barnd is also in agreement to open in Mexico. Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group said, "Firehouse Subs embodies a blend of authentic food and community spirit, and Apparel Group is honored to steer this iconic brand's heritage into the thriving Middle Eastern market. As the region's culinary landscape continues its dynamic evolution, we see Firehouse Subs seamlessly fitting into, and elevating, the tapestry of food experiences here. Our proven track record in growing international brands in MENA, combined with the distinctiveness of Firehouse Subs, promises a synergy that is bound to set new benchmarks." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Kellogg Co. (K) announced Monday that its Board of Directors formally approved the previously announced separation into two independent, publicly traded companies, Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co. Upon completion of the separation on October 2, 2023, Kellogg will be renamed Kellanova, and will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "K", while WK Kellogg Co is expected to begin trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "KLG". At 12:01am EDT on October 2, 2023, Kellogg shareowners of record as of September 21, 2023, will receive 1 share of WK Kellogg Co (KLG) for every 4 shares of Kellogg Company (K) owned. Kellanova will feature a growth-oriented portfolio that is weighted toward snacks and emerging , while WK Kellogg Co. will carry iconic brands and have a leading share position in North American cereal. Kellanova is projected to generate net sales of approximately $13.4 billion to $13.6 billion and expects to deliver long-term annual growth rates of 3 to 5 percent for net sales on organic basis. Meanwhile, WK Kellogg Co projects net sales of approximately $2.7 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The J. M. Smucker Co. (SJM), a maker of food and beverage products, said on Monday that it has signed a deal to acquire Hostess Brands, Inc. (TWNK), a bakery company, for $34.25 per share in a cash and share transaction, representing a total value of around $5.6 billion, including a debt of $900 million. Following the news, SJM was trading down by 7.30 percent at $131.38 per share on the New York Stock Exchange. Post transaction, SJM expects net sales contribution of around $1.5 billion, with an estimated mid-single digit percentage annual growth rate. In addition, the company projects the acquisition to add to its adjusted earnings per share of the first fiscal year. Mark Smucker, CEO of SJM, said: "We are excited to announce the acquisition of Hostess Brands, which represents a compelling expansion of our family of brands and a unique opportunity to accelerate our focus on delighting consumers with convenient solutions across different meal and snacking occasions" The transaction is expected to be closed in the third quarter of the fiscal year to April 30, 2024. As part of the transaction, SJM, through its wholly owned unit SSF Holdings, Inc., will begin an exchange offer to buy all shares of Hostess at a price of $34.25 per share, consisting of $30 of cash and .03002 of a SJM's share, to be exchanged for each Hostess share. The cash portion of the transaction is expected to be funded through a combination of cash on hand, a bank term loan, and long-term public bonds. SJM has secured $5.2 billion in a fully committed bridge financing from Bank of America, N.A. and RBC Capital Markets LLC. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Shares of Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC) are gaining over 6% on Monday morning. The company didn't release any stock-related news statement. LAC is currently trading at $19.03, up $1.21 or 6.79%, on the NYSE. The stock opened its trading at $18.42 after closing Friday's trading at $17.82. The stock has traded between $16.07 and $32.17 in the past-52-week period. Lithium Americas operates as a resource company in the United States and Argentina. The company explores for lithium deposits. It owns interests in the Cauchari-Olaroz project located in Jujuy province of Argentina; Thacker Pass project located in north-western Nevada; and Pastos Grandes project located in the Salta province of Argentina. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The 399cc In-line 4-cylinder engine on Kawasaki ZX-4R develops a healthy 74.4 bhp of power and 39 Nm of torque After a bunch of teasers, Kawasaki has launched its newest super-sport machine in India. The much-awaited Ninja ZX-4R is here and is now the most affordable 4-cylinder motorcycle in India. Kawasaki ZX-4R costs Rs. 8.49 lakh (ex-sh) and undercuts the current most affordable faired 4-cylinder bike, Honda CBR650R, by Rs. 86,000. Kawasaki ZX-4R Launched The only sub 500cc 4-cylinder bike in India New Ninja ZX-4R bears family genes and has semblance with other ZX motorcycles. The fairing is aggressive, yet has an understated hint of beauty to it. The proposition of a sub 500cc 4-cylinder motorcycle is rather exciting and Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R is the only bike of its kind in the Asian subcontinent. Ninja ZX-4R offers exhilarating and high-revving engine characteristics of a 4-cylinder motorcycle and ditches the added weight that is associated with middle-weights and lower-tier liter-class motorcycles. For reference, Honda CBR650R weighs 211 kg as it is a bigger capacity motorcycle. This takes power-to-weight ratio to the higher side. Speaking of power, Kawasaki ZX-4R packs a 399cc 4-cylinder engine with 74.4 bhp of power at 14,500 RPM and 39 Nm of torque at 13,000 RPM. This is a lot of engine speed for this displacement category, hence falling in screamer category. General thumb rule is that the smaller the pistons are, higher they revv. There is a 6-speed gearbox along with a slip and assist clutch. Kawasaki Traction Control (KTRC) gets three modes of selectable traction. Kawasaki calls Ninja ZX-4R as Indias first 399cc In-line 4 beast. The handsome fairing allows rider to tuck behind it with relative ease, offering optimum wind protection. Indias first 399cc In-line 4 Beast Riders triangle is fairly committed with low-set clip-on handlebars and rear-set footpegs. The split seat option offers decent wiggle room for rider to move about. Componentry includes USD telescopic front forks, rear mono-shock suspension, dual disc brake setup at the front and a single disc brake at the rear, dual-channel ABS and more. All of these components are mounted on a trellis frame that should allow spirited riding and sharp corner carving. Features list is pretty high as well. Kawasaki is offering a TFT instrument cluster that supports Bluetooth connectivity that enables music control, notification alert and turn-by-turn navigation. There is a Circuit Mode too, for track aficionados. Kawasaki ZX-4R goes up against Honda CBR650R, priced at Rs. 9.35 lakh (ex-sh). Similarly priced street naked Kawasaki Z900 could be a potential rival too. But Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R only weighs 188 kg, which is among its primary strengths. The 200 km/h indicated top speed in Mahindras teaser could be from the aerodynamically slippery XUV.e9 with dual motor layout Mahindra has re-entered EV space with XUV400. However, the company is working on a slew of new EVs as part of their next-gen lineup. In a recent teaser from Mahindra, we can see BE.05, XUV.e8 and XUV.e9 hitting 200 km/h on Mahindras SUV Proving Track in Chennai. Mahindra Next-gen EVs Touch 200 Km/h For starters, this is the first time we are seeing an XUV.e9 prototype in India. This vehicle is a coupe version of XUV.e8, which has been spotted multiple times. Also, XUV.e9 looks significantly sleeker and more attractive than XUV.e8, and looks like it has export potential for Mahindra. Mahindra seems to be benchmarking a Tesla Model Y for XUV.e9s aerodynamics and coupe profile, thus optimising the platform for a better range. Apart from XUV.e9, we can see XUV.e8 and BE.05 as well. All three vehicles are demonstrating their prowess on Mahindras SUV Proving Track in Chennai. In the recent teaser, one of Mahindras next-gen EVs touched 200 km/h on the speedometer, which is an impressive speed envelope for an electric vehicle. However, this is a speedo-indicated reading and there might be a small deviation from actual speed. Also, Mahindra didnt show which of these three vehicles hit this impressive speed. Next Gen Mahindra Electric SUVs Mahindra has revealed that it will launch its next-gen EVs in a phase-wise manner. XUV.e8 will see the light of day first, sometime around December 2024. XUV.e9 will launch in April 2025, BE.05 in October 2025 and BE.07 in April 2026. Mahindra has partnered up with BYD to source the cells for battery packs, instead of Volkswagen. As revealed in Thar.e unveiling at Cape Town, South Africa, Mahindra will be sourcing the motors from Volkswagen. Front motor from VW is rated for 107 bhp and 135 Nm and seems to be common between all vehicles. Rear motor packs more performance and depending on the vehicle or trim level, Mahindra offers varied performance. These rear motors are a 228 bhp and 380 Nm motor sourced from Valeo and a 282 bhp and 535 Nm motor sourced from VW. The 200 km/h top speed seen in the teaser is likely to be a best-case-scenario. Extracted from the XUV.e9 prototype with 107 bhp and 135 Nm front motor and 282 bhp and 535 Nm rear motor. Press Release September 11, 2023 Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on Secretary Diokno's disclosure that administration's economic team was not consulted on price cap on rice implementation Hindi na kagulat-gulat na nagulat si Secretary Diokno sa implementasyon ng price ceiling sa bigas. The NFA's announcement of having less than two days of buffer stock, despite having the budget to buy more, along with actions like shutting down alleged hoarders, implementing rice price caps, and providing subsidies to retailers, all appear to have been strategically planned to generate chaos in the industry, dominate the news for an extended period, and get the public ready for more emergency measures. Dahil kung pamumukhaing may "emergency" at "rice calamity", pinapayagan ng Rice Tariffication Law ang government-to-government deal. Sana mali ang akala ko -- but such G-to-G deals in the past have been the favored options for people who were seeking to make money out of the deals. Sa kabilang banda, nalugi na ang retailers, nawawala ang supplies sa maraming palengke at nawindang ang importers na nag-aangkat ng pampuno -- pati na para sa panahon ng El Nino. U.S. Bureau of Land Managements Battle Mountain District has released the final environmental impact statement on Nevada Vanadiums proposed Gibellini mining operation in Eureka County that would produce the critical mineral vanadium. Were proud that Nevada can be a leader in efficiently permitting the development of critical minerals, said BLM Nevada State Director Jon Raby in the announcement of the documents release. While supporting local jobs and the economy, this mine would strengthen the supply chain while safely developing vanadium, a necessary component in aerospace, defense, technology and clean energy, he said. Ron Espell, president of Nevada Vanadium LLC, which is the company seeking the permitting, and chief executive officer of Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp., said the Biden administration is passionate about getting production of critical minerals in the U.S. There is a lot of momentum in D.C. He said by phone that he is trying to obtain money for the project from the U.S. Department of Defense because of that momentum for what has been reported would be the first primary vanadium operation in this country. Espell said the worst case date for the BLM to release a record of decision for Gibellini is Dec. 15, after the comment period for the final EIS ends, and that decision and completion of a feasibility study for the project are key to obtaining financing for the mine. We still have a lot of work to do, finishing the feasibility study and some state permitting to get through, he said. Nevada Vanadium is proposing an open pit mining operation that would use renewable energy for the project, and the final EIS states that this could include a solar field and large-scale battery storage. Ive been working on the power supply with Hitachi Energy, and thats going really well, Espell said. The Gibellini Mine about 27 miles southeast of the town of Eureka would employ 120 people during construction and roughly 110 people during operations. The mine would be an open pit operation producing 10 million pounds of vanadium a year. In addition to the vanadium production, Nevada Vanadium would be producing uranium yellowcake because of the naturally occurring uranium on site. The yellowcake would be packaged in lined and sealed drums. The expected yellowcake production is around 50,000 pounds per year. The yellowcake would be shipped by truck, Espell said last year, and he said on Sept. 7 that project plans reported earlier havent changed. According to the BLMs final EIS, the mine would operate two 10-hour or 12-hour shifts per day 365 days a year and require a staff of 113. The staff would include crusher, agglomerator, and conveyor operators, as well as plant workers, laboratory managers and technicians. The document states that the 113 workers would include seven contractors. Along with the open pit, the project would include a waste rock disposal area, crushing facilities and stockpile, a heap leach pad, process facility and make-up water ponds, borrow areas, mine and access roads, water and power supply lines and ancillary facilities, the document states. Leaching would use sulfuric acid, and earlier reports stated that the sulfuric acid would come by rail to Carlin. The EIS also says that the estimated mine life will involve a year and a half of construction, seven years of operation, four years of active reclamation and closure and up to 30 years of post-closure monitoring, but the document states that there will be continued exploration. Gibellini wont require dewatering, so there will be no pit lake after mining ends. Looking at impacts, the final EIS states that project-related noise level changes with mining would be less than thresholds thought to affect sage grouse lekking behavior, but all mine activities would be limited to ensure noise levels do not exceed 10 decibels above ambient sound levels at least 0.25 mile from active and pending leks, from two hours before and after sunrise during the breeding season. Nevada Vanadium will be required to install a noise monitor near the lek. The document additionally states that radioactive levels at the site are lower than levels that would require regulation by the state and lower than federal action levels, but the project will be regulated under the Nevada Department of Health. The company plans will include occupational health monitoring of all workers during and after operations to ensure exposure levels are within acceptable limits, the final EIS states, so no elevated risk of radiological exposure from material handling is expected. The project area consists of 6,456 acres of BLM-administered lands with roughly 839 acres of surface disturbance anticipated, the BLM reported. Prudence Crampton, deputy district manager of the Battle Mountain BLM office, said in an email that the BLM received 13 comment letters on the draft EIS containing a total of 93 unique comments. All comments were responded to and clarifying text was added to the final EIS, where appropriate. She said there were no major changes between the draft and final documents, however. The final EIS will be made available for a 30-day public review period prior to the BLM issuing a Record of Decision. The 30-day period is not a formal comment period; however, the public may submit comments. The 30-day period will begin once the notice of availability is published in the Federal Register, Crampton wrote. The final EIS can be found at the projects website on BLMs national NEPA register, and the BLMs Gibellini project manager is Scott Distel, who can be reached at 775-635-4093. Rad Revenue Is there a case where you are constantly feeling tired, or a situation where your anxiety level is always high? Maybe you barely sleep a night when you are supposed to, and you have probably used a lot of medicine to try to fix the situation, yet it persists. If you are in any of these situations and you are staying in need of a solution, delta 8 gummies are one of the best solutions on the market. Many people have this preconceived idea that marijuana is bad for the body. As a result, they refused to be educated on other aspects of cannabis that can be enjoyed. One of the potential benefits of cannabis is that it acts as a depressant for many mental issues. It may also be effective in suppressing body pain. These gummies have created a safe zone for people to consume cannabis and suppress their issues without being noticed. These products do not harm the body, and you can consume them discreetly. They help the body in various ways, such as relieving body pain, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and others. Our main aim with this article is to recommend five different brands of the best delta 8 gummies to customers so they can be guaranteed to enjoy legit products. The research process we employed was in-depth and well-detailed. We refused to give some brands slack and ensured every one recommended to you underwent the whole process. 5 Best Delta 8 Gummies (Updated List) Exhale Wellness Overall Best Delta 8 Gummies on the Market BudPop Strongest Delta 8 THC Gummies With Variety Of Flavors Hollyweed CBD Premium Quality Delta 8 Gummies Cheef Botanicals Recommended For Delta 8 THC Gummies 3Chi Affordable Weed Brand To Buy Delta 8 Edibles #1. Exhale Wellness Overall Best Delta 8 Gummies on the Market Exhale Wellness is regarded as one of the best brands in the industry, and they are arguably the best. The brand has been in the industry for a while, and they have been able to build a reputation as being one of the most reliable brands available. They are highly committed to offering customers the best-quality products to enable them to live their best lives. The team behind the brands operations is committed to conducting further research on how they can improve the quality of their products to satisfy customers needs further. Highlights This brand ensures their delta 8 gummies are created using natural and organic ingredients. Their delta 8 gummies are free of any form of GMOs and do not contain any artificial ingredients, including preservatives, coloring, or flavoring agents. The brand ensures its products are suitable for vegans and others. Furthermore, they endeavor to maintain the 0.3% THC concentration level so their products can remain within the confines of the law. There are two varieties of delta 8 gummies offered by this brand. The 750mg jar has a THC concentration level of 25mg per gummy. The 1,500mg jar has a THC concentration level of 50mg per gummy. This brand offers customers a 30-day money-back guarantee in case they are unsatisfied. Customers who want their refund can contact the brands customer service, and the refund process will be initiated. Pros 100% natural and organic ingredients Suitable for vegetarians and vegans Transparent brand Variety of product types 30-day money-back guarantee Cons Only available on the official website Customer Reviews The customers that have used the products of Exhale Wellness have praised them for the quality they offer. In addition, the potency and effectiveness of the products have been a point of high praise. => Click here to visit the official website Exhale Wellness #2. BudPop Strongest Delta 8 THC Gummies With Variety Of Flavors BudPop has built its reputation as a reliable brand in the industry. They have been successful in their bid to consistently produce quality products to satisfy the needs of various customers. The team behind the brands operation has a combined 30 years of experience in the cannabis industry, and they are committed to providing customers with products that manage their health issues. BudPop ensures the quality of its products remains regardless. Highlights This brand offers its customers varieties of products to choose from. Their delta 8 gummies come in strawberry, watermelon, and blueberry flavors. All of those flavors are obtained naturally and organically from plants or fruits. The ingredients used in making these products, in their entirety, are obtained naturally and organically. The brand makes sure they do not use any ingredients related to animal gelatin so the products can be suitable for vegans. One of the best parts of this brands products is that they are affordable while the quality remains top-notch. Also, customers get to enjoy various discounts when they purchase from this brand. As a new customer, you will enjoy 20% of the total cost of your first purchase. Pros U.S.-grown hemp No artificial ingredients Highly potent Various discounts available Cons Only available online Customer Reviews BudPop has managed to become one of the best. As a result, customers can rely on the potency and effectiveness of their product. => Click here to visit the official website BudPop #3. Hollyweed CBD Premium Quality Delta 8 Gummies Usually, it would be considered a mistake if we did not include HollyweedCBD in our list. All of this brands operations are conducted by experienced teams of experts, and they are charged with producing quality products that will satisfy the needs of various customers. The products from this brand have a fast-acting effect on the body, and customers have been noted to say that the effect is felt within two hours of using the product. All ingredients used in producing their delta 8 THC gummies are obtained naturally and organically from farms in the United States. Hollyweed CBD ensures the safety of their product is guaranteed, as well as the quality of the product. Highlights This brand offers customers varieties of different flavors to choose from. They have created their delta 8 gummies in different flavors and maintain high quality. They do not employ the use of artificial flavoring or coloring agents. Also, their gummies are easy to take, and they come in fun shapes. The brand invests resources to ensure delivery does not exceed five to seven days. They also have their team process orders within 48 hours of initiation. Unsatisfied customers can return the product and ask for a refund under the brands 30-day money-back guarantee. This product is the most expensive on our list; however, it provides excellent value for your money. It is essential, effective, and enjoyable. Pros Vegan-friendly Made in the U.S. Variety of flavors Monthly subscribers enjoy 25% discounts Cons Pricey Customer Reviews Hollyweed CBD has been praised for its effectiveness in relieving body pain. Customers have also praised the varieties of flavors available and the products effectiveness. => Click here to visit the official website Hollyweed CBD #4. Cheef Botanicals Recommended For Delta 8 THC Gummies Cheef Botanicals was one of the few brands that first started the production of delta 8 gummies in the industry. They are committed to providing customers with various means of obtaining solutions to their health issues. This brand is concerned and focused on building a loyal relationship with its customers. The team behind the operation of this brand is filled with scientists, doctors, chemists, and farmers. The quality of the products manufactured by those teams cannot be questioned. They consistently research ways to improve their products quality. The makers of Cheef Botanicals believe there are still lots of benefits to be discovered from using cannabis. Highlights This brands product is one of the most potent in the industry, and their delta 8 gummies are made with a mixture of THC and CBD. This is one of the most transparent brands in the industry. As we said, they believe that high demand can only be generated when you have a loyal relationship with your customers. As such, they are open about their operations with customers, including the results of their third-party lab testing. The brand only offers free shipping on products that cost $100 and above, and the delivery time is within two days. They also offer a refund policy of 30 days after purchase. Pros Balanced level of flavor and quality All products undergo third-party lab testing Amazing customer service agents Committed to guaranteeing customer satisfaction Cons Products are often sold out Customer Reviews This brand was able to build its popularity in the industry due to its Chill Plus Delta-8 Square Gummies. Their delta 8 gummies were very effective in treating insomnia, according to customers. => Click here to visit the official website Cheef Botanicals #5. 3Chi Affordable Weed Brand To Buy Delta 8 Edibles This is one of the first brands to begin the production of delta 8 gummies. 3Chis founder was a biochemist with 15 years of experience in the cannabis industry, and he channeled that experience into producing quality products that would satisfy customers needs. The brands method of extracting the delta-8 compound from hemp plants was coined by their founder in 2019. It is regarded as one of the best extraction methods in the industry. Highlights This company is committed to sourcing its hemp plants from farms in the United States. The farms they work with cultivating hemp using organic and natural methods. The gummies are primarily made for people who experience constant insomnia and tiredness. Their gummies are a mixture of CBD and THC. The brand ensures its products undergo third-party lab testing at ISO-approved labs so customers can rest assured of the safety and quality of their products. Pros Affordable pricing Cruelty-free Gluten-free Amazing flavor options Uses U.S.-grown hemp Cons Products tend to be unavailable quickly Customer Reviews 3Chis products are some of the industrys most potent products, which is why users recommend first-timers only consume half of a gummy to start. How We Chose These Top Brands Selling High-Quality Delta 8 Gummies One of the first things we did before we started our selection process in full was to set up factors that we felt made up a top brand. All of these factors were grouped into one to act as our committee of judges, which helped us streamline our list of brands to the top five. Throughout our selection process, we refused to go easy on any brand. The same factors judged all of the brands we recommended above. But, it is important that you only consume a legit product. With the wealth of brands in the market, it is difficult for customers to differentiate legit brands from scams. This has led to various online complaints about how ineffective so many products are. Our selection process results from the five brands we have recommended above, and our research leads us to believe that these brands are the best in the industry. In addition, customers who have patronized these brands have spoken generously about the quality of their products. The factors we used in judging those brands are explained in detail below: What We Looked For: Quality: The only way your health situation will be settled or solved without any other complication is if you use a high-quality product. This is why this factor was our first focus during our selection process. We understand the customers needs and aim to ensure the brands selected could satisfy that with the quality of their products. First, we invested a lot of time into finding brands committed to consistently offering high-quality products. A significant factor contributing to the quality of the product is the hemp used in making the product. The best way to judge the quality of the hemp is to know where it was sourced from. There are farms located in some regions in the United States that are well-known for their natural and organic cultivation skills. A brand committed to serving its customers with quality must obtain its hemp from any of these farms. According to the Farm Bill of 2018, all farms must be committed to using natural cultivation methods to grow their hemp. One of the significant parts of all this is that the hemp is obtained from farms in the United States. That way, there is some assurance that hemp has a high percentage of being cultivated naturally. Obtaining hemp from other regions will doubt the plants quality. Also, one of the main reasons we believe the farms in the United States are superior to others is the clean soil available to farm this plant. Another factor contributing to the products quality is the extraction method used in obtaining the delta-8 compound from the hemp plant. Currently, the best extraction method known in the industry is the CO2 extraction method. So, we ensured every brand recommended to you uses this method to extract their delta-8 compound. This extraction method is the best because it extracts the compound, ensuring substances or chemicals do not contaminate it. That way, the safety of the product is guaranteed. Third-Party Lab Testing Results: These are a significant factor in our selection process. No matter how highly advertised a product is, the only way to verify all of the benefits stated by its manufacturer is through third-party lab testing results. These results make it easier for customers to verify the authenticity of a product and to be sure the product will satisfy their needs accordingly. They also use these results to verify the safety of the products and to know how potent the product can be. These labs that carry out the third-party testing make sure to check every aspect of the product so they can offer an accurate and fair opinion. Transparency also plays a part in the results of third-party lab testing. Only transparent brands will post their results on their website for customers to see. If the results cannot be easily accessed online by customers, then they cannot be fully trusted to be true. The results issued by the third-party lab testing are called Certificates of Analysis. Customer Satisfaction: This is one of the major players in deciding if a product is suitable to be used by a customer. If the customer does not see value in the product, they may refuse to pay any amount for the product. We could only ascertain if customers would be satisfied with the products by checking various customer reviews posted online. The best places to check for those reviews were the official website of each brand and third-party review sites. However, we also sourced customer reviews from social media pages and handles. The brands capable of having a high positive-to-negative review ratio were selected to move on to the next factor. At the same time, the others were trashed immediately. We expect that once customers have decided on any of the products above, they will continue to patronize that brand because they offer them services and products that satisfy their needs. That way, you can stick to one brand without having to source for others. Ingredients: One of the significant factors that contribute to the quality of the product is the ingredients used in making the products. If there are less active ingredients in a product or if they are less concentrated than they are supposed to be, customers will experience a low potency level. Before we recommended any of the brands above, we cross-checked their ingredient list to ensure all ingredients needed to make quality delta 8 gummies were present. Also, our focus remained on ensuring the brands only used natural and organic ingredients. Brands that had an atom of artificial ingredients in their products were trashed immediately. We have nothing against artificial ingredients; however, it does not guarantee the safety of our customers. As expected and stated by the Farm Bill of 2018, all brands that produce delta 8 gummies must ensure they do not contain more than 0.3% THC concentration. It will be considered an illegal product if it contains more than that. Also, a brand committed to satisfying its customers needs would avoid using artificial preservatives, colorings, or flavoring agents. Services Being Offered: The central part of a brands service is its customer service system. The brand must not conclude that all of its customers would have prior knowledge of the industry or the product. Therefore, it is essential that their customer service agents are available at all times to answer all inquiries that might be asked of them. The first thing we considered as part of this factor was the brand with easy-to-understand website features. Brands should know that not all of their customers would be technically knowledgeable, so the features of their website should be easy to understand by laypeople. Also, the tab to contact customer care service should be visibly available. The other services we checked were the delivery service and return policy. We believe these services contribute to the brands quality and play a part in determining if a customer would patronize the brand or not. Certain brands refuse to charge their customers for the shipping fee, so products are shipped to customers for free. However, if you need the products in a quicker time than the free delivery service will take, you can pay for expedited shipping. All the brands we have recommended above walk in the same light as everything we just discussed. They ship products to customers for free and offer a suitable return policy. Beginners Guide: All You Need to Know Before Buying Delta 8 Gummies & Weed Edibles One of the worst parts of being a customer in this industry is being a beginner. All of the scams in the industry target beginners because they have no prior knowledge of purchasing a product. They feel they can corner you to believe all of their advertised benefits. Before purchasing your product in the industry, you will be required to conduct in-depth research. That way, you can gain full knowledge before you purchase a product from any brand. Certain factors make your research easy because there are things to look for in a top brand. We have taken our time to explain all of those factors below, and if you follow them accordingly, you should arrive at one of the legit brands. The factors are: Brand Reputation One of the worst parts of the research process is that you might end up with zero legitimate brands. However, one of the factors that can easily lead you to a brand that offers quality products is the reputation of the brand. Certain brands are well-known among market enthusiasts and previous customers, and these brands will always stand out in the market. For example, you should find a brand that has been in the industry for several years and has been able to maintain its position as one of the best in the industry. But, it could have only done so by consistently providing customers with quality products. You can find out about a brands reputation by asking around your neighbors or friends and reading the customer reviews posted by previous customers. Therefore, you must consider this factor during your selection process to give yourself the best chance of selecting a brand that will offer you quality products without change. Third-Party Lab Testing One of the first factors we thought about when considering the ones that would help your selection process was third-party lab testing. We want to believe that every quality brand should allow their products to undergo testing by a third-party lab, and the testing results should be posted on their website clearly for customers to see. However, before a customer can understand the content of third-party lab results, they must have been well educated on the terms that will be used. One of the easiest ways to end your research is to review the results posted online and select any brands you feel will satisfy you. For a brand to be comfortable posting its Certificates of Analysis on its website, its products must be of the highest quality. These third-party labs ensure they check for the products safety, potency, and effectiveness. The third-party lab results clearly state if a product contains artificial ingredients, chemicals, or harmful substances. Also, if the THC gummy contains more than 0.3% delta-9 THC concentration, the results state that. As we have said before, if you plan to stay on the right side of the law, you should avoid delta-8 gummies that contain more than 0.3% THC. .As we have said, a top-level brand will make its Certificates of Analysis available via its official website. However, if they are unavailable on the brands website, you can decide to request it. Variety This is one of the mistakes that most brands in the industry make. They expect that any products they provide to customers should satisfy everybody. One of the best parts of brands that are committed to satisfying the needs of their customers is that they consider everyone. Customers always love product variety so they can choose the one they feel more comfortable with. Some brands recognize these factors and maximize the benefits they tend to gain from them. The ability to provide customers with various products and maintain the same high quality can only be achieved by brands that employ the best manufacturing methods. The best type of products will offer you a high level of quality and potency and still give you variety to choose from. Customers that find it hard to decide on one type of product can continue to test run the different types until they find the one they are comfortable with. The variety available makes it easier for customers to select something that will satisfy their needs and provide them with the taste and color they want. Ingredients One of the first parts of your research should be to look at the ingredient list of the products. Educating yourself on the types of ingredients expected to be used in making a best delta 8 gummies is essential. That way, when considering your selection process, you will have a preconceived idea of the types of ingredients we expect from a brand committed to satisfying its customers. In addition, your focus should be that the ingredients should not be artificial. Everything concerning the ingredients used in making the products, including the preservatives, colorings, or flavoring agents, should be obtained naturally and organically. The best delta 8 gummies are usually made without animal gelatin. That makes them suitable for everyone, including vegans. For those that have various types of allergies, you should endeavor to cross-check the ingredients correctly to ensure there is nothing to trigger your allergy. Also, when considering this factor, you should put the safety of your health first. Customer Reviews We have heard people say that this factor is entirely unnecessary, but we beg to differ. This particular factor is one of the best ways for beginners to get in-depth knowledge of the industry. Considering that many people must have used delta 8 gummies before, it is essential to hear their side of the story to gauge if the product will satisfy your needs. These reviews are available on the official website of each brand or through third-party review sites. You can also check on social media to see customers conversations about the brands online. Also, you can watch YouTube review videos to see how well the product works. You must refuse to trust the advertised benefits of a product. Instead, you should trust your research, which is an endeavor to gain knowledge from previous customers. These reviews are critical, as they can help you decide on your brand without going further. You will read reviews from verified customers who have purchased the product. Price Some people think that when you purchase a less expensive product, you purchase a product of less quality. Sometimes this can be true, but it does not apply to every situation. This factor plays a significant part in the customers decision process. For example, customers who need the strongest delta 8 gummies to relieve their health issues usually look for affordable products. It is only the wealthy that would be out searching for expensive products. However, we advise customers to avoid purchasing products that are too cheap. The cost of obtaining high-quality hemp cultivated naturally and organically is high. So, for a product to be cheap means the manufacturer must have used lesser quality hemp in making the product. But, this does not mean you cannot get an affordable, high-quality product. Several brands are committed to providing cost-effective products and maintaining high quality. The best thing you can do to help yourself is to curate a list of various brands so you can decide on your options. Also, you should try to patronize a brand that provides you with a product with excellent value for money. Extraction Method One of the most significant factors to consider during your research process is the method that the delta-8 compound was obtained from the hemp plant. The best extraction method to use is the CO2 extraction method. However, you must recognize that if a brand uses an extraction method that is not of the best quality, the delta-8 compound cannot be purely extracted. So, whichever brand you patronize, you should ensure the extraction method employed is the CO2 extraction method. FAQs Related To Delta 8 Gummies Q What Is the Timeframe for the Effect to Be Felt? A. This depends on a variety of factors. However, the forecast is within two hours of consumption. Q Are There Side Effects to Using Gummies? A. Yes. However, the side effects are not severe when you consume gummies made from natural ingredients and in the correct dosages. Q What Is the Correct Dosage for Using Gummies? A. The correct dosage depends on the manufacturer and the ingredients used in making the product. Therefore, we advise you to stick to the recommended dosage from the manufacturer. Q Are delta 9 gummies stronger than delta 8 gummies? Delta 9 gummies are typically stronger than delta 8 gummies, delivering a more potent psychoactive effect. When it comes to most potent delta 9 THC gummy brands, popular names like Exhale, Budpop, and Cheefs are known for their quality and variety, catering to users seeking a powerful cannabis experience. What Are The Best Brands Of Delta 8 Gummies? It is important to note that all the delta 8 gummy brands recommended above were selected using the highest quality selection process. Therefore, we believe that if you decide to patronize any of the delta 8 gummy brandswe have recommended, you can rest assured of being satisfied with the product. DENVER Newmont Corp. has announced a special virtual meeting of stockholders for Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. Mountain time in connection with the companys proposed acquisition of Newcrest Mining Ltd. Shareholders will be asked to vote on issuance of shares of Newmont common stock in connection with the scheme of arrangement for the acquisition that the Newmont board has already recommended. Newcrests shareholder vote online and in person will be Oct. 13 in Australia, where the company is based. Once approved, Newmont and Newcrest shareholders will own an unmatched portfolio of gold and copper assets, including 10 Tier 1 operations, each with the scale, mine life and cost profile to sustain profitable production and best-in-class sustainability performance for decades into the future, said Newmonts president and chief executive officer, Tom Palmer. Under the May 14 definitive agreement to acquire Newcrest, Newmont is offering Newcrest shareholders 0.4 Newmont shares for every Newcrest share. The deal was valued at $17.5 billion at that time, but the value fluctuates with share prices. In a recent speech at Minerals week in Australia, Palmer said that almost 60 years ago, Newmont established an Australian subsidiary that operated until the early 1990s when we merged our assets with BHPs gold assets to create Newcrest Mining. Newmont then returned to Australia with our acquisition of Normandy in 2002, adding two assets that we have developed to become Tier 1 and core to our portfolio today Boddington in Western Australia and Tanami in the Northern Territory. Newmont also reported on Sept. 8 that it has filed its definitive proxy statement regarding the proposed merger, and reported that the Federal Court of Australia, where Newcrest is based, issued orders that Newcrest convene a meeting of shareholders to vote on the scheme and approve an explanatory statement about the scheme. Newmont is the worlds largest gold producer and already has operations in Australia. The company also is a partner with Barrick Gold Corp. in Nevada Gold Mines, holding 38.5%, as well as a joint venture with Barrick for the Pueblo Vejo Mine in the Dominican Republic. Newmont also operates the Cripple Creek & Victor Mine in Colorado, and mines in Canada, South America, and Africa. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have announced that they will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for an economic corridor project that will connect India with the Middle East and Europe. The project aims to enhance economic connectivity between the three regions by developing and upgrading infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and ports. It also aims to boost trade between the three regions by removing barriers to trade and investment. The Crown Prince stated: The project is built on principles that serve the common interests of our countries by enhancing economic connectivity and positively impacting our partners in other countries and the global economy as a whole. The Crown Prince said that the MoU will also support clean energy development efforts and create new jobs for all involved parties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe connectivity corridor, which is a first-of-its-kind initiative on cooperation on connectivity and infrastructure between India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, EU, France, Italy, Germany, and the US. The bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) provides a framework for developing a plan to establish intercontinental green transit corridors through Saudi Arabia, connecting Asia and Europe. The project aims to facilitate the transmission of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen via transmission cables and pipelines, as well as the construction of rail linkages. If you need to escape from the citys hustle-bustle, KSA Moments suggests you give a visit to one or all of these charming locations where you can enjoy the ultimate beauty of nature. Here are some of the must-visit wonderful places in Saudi Arabia: Al Bahah Beautiful Al Bahah is located in southwest Saudi Arabia. More than 40 forests, including Raghdan, Al-Zaraeb, and Baidan, surround the city, which is renowned for its pleasant temperature. Locals frequently refer to Al Bahah as the "Pearl of Resorts" because of its beautiful surroundings, tall mountains, and Tehama beach region. Al Baha is most picturesque in the spring and summer, when the city's temperatures climb, making it the ideal destination for a getaway this time of year. Visitors can look forward to days spent bathing in nature at Al Baha's numerous green parks. The city's mountainside is frequently covered in a layer of dense fog in the summer, which keeps the heat away inviting visitors to enjoy the fruitful lands that produce an array of fruit and vegetable crops. Al Soudah Prepare yourself for gorgeous vistas, long drives, and more in the hilly area of Al Soudah, which is situated in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia. Farasan Islands The Farasan Islands are a well-kept secret in Saudi Arabia. The small group of coral islands are 40 kilometers off Jizan's coast in the Red Sea. The hot months of April through October are followed by a brief colder season from November through March. Rijal Almaa You must visit Rijal Almaa, the adorable gingerbread village located in Saudi Arabia, if you haven't heard of it already. The roughly 900-year-old village, which made the UN's list of the world's best tourist destinations, is situated 45 minutes from Abha in the Asir region. If you're lucky, you could even be able to attend one of the well-known events or festivals. Thuwal Thuwal is a stunning beachfront village in Saudi Arabia's Makkah. Thuwal is perfectly positioned along the Red Sea coast in the Hejaz region, 30 kilometers south of King Abdullah Economic City and 80 kilometers north of Jeddah. Families and solo travelers can enjoy a variety of activities, such as strolling along the walking route surrounded by palm palms or jogging along the sand beach, as well as swimming in the clear waters. Umluj Umluj, also known as the Maldives of Saudi Arabia, is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in the kingdom. Umluj is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and coral reefs. It is one of the governorates in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia. The nearest airport to Umluj is Al Wajh Domestic Airport. "I remember when I was still a student, few universities in China had Italian majors, but now many universities offer Italian programs," Chen Ying, an Italian language professor in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, told Xinhua. In Milan, Giovanni Goffredo, a Chinese language teacher has lately shared his observations on the trend of Italians learning Chinese in recent years. They are of the same opinion that language can be a bridge for communication and exchanges between China and Italy in various fields, and over the past years the two languages and cultures have shown increasing appeal for their respective peoples. Click here to watch the video. Vietnam is increasing the export of tuna to the UK (Photo: daidoanket.vn) These products shipped to the UK rose 98% compared to the same period last year, said VASEP, adding the export of processed and canned tuna products experienced a considerable fall. Vietnam is the 13th largest tuna product supplier to the UK, after Ecuador, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. However, droughts due to the impact of the El Nino phenomenon this year have made it difficult to transport goods from South American countries, including Ecuador, to European countries through the Panama Canal. The difficulty has forced suppliers to seek another transshipment route that fuels transportation costs. This is an opportunity for Asian countries, including Vietnam, to increase tuna exports to European countries, including the UK, said Nguyen Ha, a VASEP expert in the tuna market. Tuna processed for export (Photo: VNA) In addition, the UK on July 16 signed a document to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The accession is expected to boost trade between the UK and members of the CPTPP bloc, including Vietnam. Along with the trade agreement between the UK and Vietnam (UKVFTA), incentives from the CPTPP will open up opportunities for Vietnamese seafood products, including tuna, to enter the UK market. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, after a sharp drop of 51% in May 2023, the export of Vietnamese tuna to the UK continued to increase in the following two months. This growth has raised Vietnams total tuna export turnover to the UK in the first seven months of 2023 to more than US$4.5 million, representing a year on year rise of 77%. No Vietnamese killed in Morocco deadly earthquake No Vietnamese deaths have been reported following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that shook Morocco on September 8, killing more than 2,000 to date, Radio the Voice of Vietnam reported. The information was confirmed by Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco Dang Thi Thu Ha. There are currently four delegations of Vietnamese officials working in the city of Marrakesh, near the epicenter of the earthquake, along with some Vietnamese citizens traveling and working in Morocco, said Ha. Local people stay outside a square folowing a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Marrakech city, killing more than 2,000. (Photo: AFP) There have been no reports of Vietnamese citizens injured or killed by the earthquake, but some people were forced to leave the hotel due to cracked walls, added the ambassador. According to the diplomat, the Embassys delegation on September 9 arrived in Marrakesh city to carry out citizen protection work. The Embassy has contacted the Vietnamese community in Morocco, and maintained contact with local authorities to deploy a citizen protection plan in case of emergency. Morocco said 2,012 people have been killed and 2,059 injured, including 1,404 in critical condition. The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.8 with an epicentre some 72 km southwest of Marrakech. This is the deadliest earthquake recorded in Morocco in the past six decades. Vietnam hosts first mock parliamentary session of children The first childrens parliament session was held in Hanoi on September 10 to promote childrens right to get involved in relevant issues and raise their awareness of the legislature, said Radio the Voice of Vietnam. Among distinguished guests present at the gathering were National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and First Secretary of the Vietnam Youth Union Bui Quang Huy, along with other leaders of ministries in charge of labour, public security, education, health care and justice. Child delegates debate issues in group on September 9 before pressing the button to approve related documents at the plenary session on September 10. (Photo: quochoi.vn) The mock session was attended by 263 child delegates representing children of all 63 cities and provinces across the country. The delegates were given the chance to debate a range of relevant issues, including preventing accidents, injuries, violence, and child abuse; improving childrens safe interaction skills in cyberspace; improving physical conditions for children to apply information technology; and promoting the role of all social strata in child care and protection. The meeting is of great significance in promoting childrens right to participate in children-related issues, and encouraging authorities to raise the sense of responsibility in the care, protection and education of children the future masters of the nation. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is scheduled to deliver a speech at the gathering. Vietnam attends Eastern Economic Forum 2023 in Russia The eighth Eastern Economic Forum opened in the Russian city of Vladivostok on September 10, bringing together approximately 7,000 politicians, business leaders, and public figures from 50 countries worldwide. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung. Themed The Path to Partnership, Peace and Prosperity this years forum reflects Russias desire to build constructive relations and engage in inclusive dialogue with foreign partners in the Asia-Pacific region. In a congratulatory letter to the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that the forum with high international reputation creates important opportunities for politicians, business leaders, public figures and experts from all over the world to engage in direct dialogues. An overview of a panel discussion of the eighth Eastern Economic Forum on September 10. (Photo: VNA) The forum seeks to address the most pressing issues facing socio-economic and infrastructure development of the Russian Far East and its integration into the vast Asia-Pacific region. Discussions will focus on prospects for expanding cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, identifying ways to create new, highly efficient production and logistics chains, modernizing transportation and energy systems, and ensuring food and environmental security in the region. President Putin is scheduled to attend the plenary session with Vice President of Laos Pani Yathotou, on September 12./. Mylene Mathieu (L) tosses chilies in Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province, Aug. 8, 2023. (Xinhua) NANCHANG, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- On a scenic platform offering panoramic vistas of traditional grey-and-white Chinese buildings nestled among lush trees, Mylene Mathieu, who is from France, extended her arms, grasping a broad bamboo sieve with hands, tossing red chili peppers up and down. Tossing is a procedure aimed at properly drying agricultural products, such as chili, corn, and peanuts, for longer preservation. The common rural practice is also part of Mathieu's myriad countryside experiences on her trip to Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province. Mathieu, who moved to Beijing earlier this year after more than seven years of studying Chinese, shares her daily life experiences on social media, and has gained tens of thousands of followers in just months. Her trip to Huangling turned out to be a unique experience. "This is my first time coming to a Chinese village, and I didn't expect to meet such a beautiful one," Mathieu said. She posted a video about the chili-tossing on her TikTok-like Douyin account, with a Chinese profile name translated as "French wife xiaobengbeng," alluding to her status as the spouse of a Chinese man. Before coming to Huangling, Mathieu did not have high expectations. "I had this image of Chinese rural areas as old and remote," she said. However, upon entering Huangling, she was immediately captivated by the village's blend of ancient charm and modern convenience. Traditional architecture intricately adorned the landscape, and wide, flat stone paths connected every corner of the village. Mathieu was especially impressed with a local light festival showcasing folk customs. "I had only seen light festivals in big cities before, but Huangling combines traditional folk parades with lights, preserving tradition while showcasing the charm of modern technology," she said. This photo shows a light festival held in Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province, July 9, 2023. (Xinhua) She was also captivated by the village's operating model. Local villagers found meaningful employment within the scenic area, leading to a shared sense of happiness and prosperity. "You can feel their happiness radiating from within. Under the village leadership, everyone shares the consensus to pursue happiness together in this picturesque place," she said. In just a few years, Huangling transformed from a poverty-stricken village into a rural tourism hotspot. Villagers can rake in tourism-related income from sectors such as accommodation, catering, and transportation. The average annual income per villager increased from 3,500 yuan (486.1 U.S. dollars) before tourism development to over 50,000 yuan currently, with some families earning over a million yuan annually through their involvement in the tourism industry. Today, Huangling is gradually gaining global recognition. It had hosted international summits featuring rural tourism and formed alliances with tourist villages from around the world. Editor: GSY Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech when inspecting the 78th Group Army, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang) HARBIN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensively enhancing the troops' combat readiness during an inspection of a group army headquartered in the country's northeast. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when inspecting the 78th Group Army on Friday. Xi met with representatives of the group army and had photos taken with them. He praised the military and armed police forces for their prompt and brave participation in the disaster relief work when floods struck the country's northern and northeastern regions. Xi urged efforts to improve the level of combat preparedness, strengthen the training of key and difficult subjects, and build new combat capabilities. Xi also stressed the importance of strengthening Party building, maintaining a high level of integrity and unity of the armed forces, and ensuring the military stays stable and secure. Zhang Youxia and other senior military officers were present during the inspection. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of the 78th Group Army during an inspection of the group army, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Editor: GSY On September 7, 2023, 1,171 college students from Dezhou University in Shandong set off for their teaching internships, marking the commencement of their practical teaching experience for the semester. Under the guidance of 29 supervising teachers, the students will engage in a 4-month teaching internship at primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens in eight cities and counties, including Leling and Linyi. (Photo by Xu Wenhao/Guangming Online) On September 7, 2023, 1,171 college students from Dezhou University in Shandong set off for their teaching internships, marking the commencement of their practical teaching experience for the semester. Under the guidance of 29 supervising teachers, the students will engage in a 4-month teaching internship at primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens in eight cities and counties, including Leling and Linyi. (Photo by Xu Wenhao/Guangming Online) Editor: WRX Transport information systems specialist Journeo announced on Monday that it had been selected by Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) for a new project. The AIM-traded firm said the deal, worth 2.25m, would entail providing advanced real-time passenger information systems for Hertfordshire's bus shelters and key on-street locations. Hertfordshire county, with a network of more than 4,200 bus stops serving a population of 1.2 million, had been actively working towards enhancing public transportation services, the company explained. The local authority backed the Bus Back Better strategy, aiming to provide a significant boost to public transport services throughout the county. It said the systems and software from Journeo were expected to play a pivotal role in that regard, aligning with HCCs outlined Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). The process of planning, designing, and manufacturing the systems was currently underway, with the lion's share of the revenue from the deal expected to be realised by March 2024. Journeo said the new orders aligned with its anticipated performance metrics for the 2023 financial year, and 2024. Additionally, it added substantial weight to Journeo's already robust order book. We have been working with HCC for many years and are delighted they have chosen our latest display systems and software as we work closely with them to deliver their BSIPs, said chief executive officer Russ Singleton. The UK government set out clear objectives with local authorities to deliver BSIPs of which providing the accurate and up-to-date information is key to encouraging a modal shift towards the use of public transport. At 1113 BST, shares in Journeo were up 0.93% at 190.75p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Heathrow Airport reported strong growth in Augusts passenger numbers on Monday, as well as heightened passenger satisfaction, making for a stark contrast to the travel chaos of summer 2022. A total of 7.5 million passengers passed through Londons primary air hub in August, with the rise in passenger numbers evident across various destinations. UK terminal passengers saw an increase of 45.9%, while travellers to Asia-Pacific destinations witnessed a staggering growth of 71%. Total passenger growth for August stood at 25.1% year-on-year. Heathrow also saw a surge in the amount of luggage it was handling, but the airport said its own baggage support team offered significant support to airline handlers in an apparent bid to ensure the chaotic scenes of last year were not repeated. Heathrow, and the UK aviation sector in general, was marred by post-pandemic understaffing, thousands of lost bags and delays of many multiples of hours due to handling delays in the summer of 2022. The airport said the measures it had taken to enhance the passenger experience seemed to have paid off, with satisfaction levels rising higher than the pre-pandemic era. It said that over the last two years, investments in recruitment and training had led to the induction of more than 25,000 new staff members. That staffing augmentation ensured resilience in operations, the company explained, especially during the UK-wide air traffic restrictions experienced in August. As a result, even when faced with disruptions, Heathrow said it was more able to resume normal operations swiftly. August also saw security checks averaging just 1.5 minutes, resulting in a surge in sales at its terminal eateries including Pret A Manger, which reported the sale of nearly one million sandwiches, and high demand in retail with a pair of sunglasses apparently being purchased every two minutes. On the international front, Heathrow expanded its global reach, adding more flight routes as travel restrictions eased, notably to China, making it the European hub with the most direct flights to the worlds second economy. Moreover, Latin American airline LATAM confirmed the start of the UK's only direct service to Peru, scheduled to begin from Heathrow on 1 December. The growth wasnt limited to passenger movement alone, with total air transport movements in August rising 17.6%, and significant growth in regions such as the Asia-Pacific, which saw a 46.9% increase. Cargo transport also saw a rise with a total increment of 12.7%, although cargo movements from the European Union specifically were down 3.9% year-on-year in terms of metric tonnage. I am very proud of the way colleagues across team Heathrow made sure that passengers had a super start to their summer holidays, with record levels of passenger satisfaction and average security queue times of less than two minutes, said chief executive officer John Holland-Kaye. Heathrow is back to its best. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Having completed his Mechanical Engineering degree from PES College of Engineering, Mandya, Sudarshan boasts of close to a three decade long career during which he has been associated with ISRO, Geometric and 3DPLM Software Solutions, prior to establishing Dassault in 2012. In a recent conversation with Siliconindia, Sudarshan Mogasale, CEO, Dassault Systemes Solutions Lab shared his insights on various aspects pertaining to the current startup ecosystem in India. Below are a few key extracts from the exclusive interview How do you see the startup ecosystem reshape itself in India post the covid pandemic? While covid did have an adverse effect on all industries and their functions, it also accelerated the digital transformation across almost all industries. This has in turn created humongous opportunities for startups in our country and also given rise two classes of startups pre-covid and post-covid startups. While many early stage startups collapsed during the pandemic due to the ensuing nationwide lockdown and lack of business, those who successfully managed to stay afloat amidst the crisis grew to become more resilient and successful. One of the biggest shifts post covid the diversification of domains. While most of the startups before covid were from the usual regular verticals such as finance, edtech and e-Commerce, posy covid era led to rise in number of startups across many other industries such as healthcare and agritech that have become mainstream post the pandemic. Also, unlike the pre-covid era where startups majorly took birth in metros and tier-I cities, there has been a significant increase in the number of startups being established in many towns and smaller cities post the pandemic, which is a very good development for Indian economy. Throw some light on the various challenges that Indian startups are currently facing, and ways in which they can be overcome. While all startup challenges remain the same worldwide, they are of a more serious nature in India. Usually, Indian startups operate in a constrained environment due to lack of adequate resources, limited human capital, very short time-to-market and a lot more. These factors pose a bigger challenge to product startups since creating a physical offering demands many critical resource requirements. To overcome these challenges more efficiently, startups need to adopt modern day digital technologies, especially virtual twins, which enable them to optimize their entire process cycle and offer improved customer experience. Poor execution is the second biggest challenge that startups today are facing globally. The success of every startup irrespective of the industry it is in depends 10 percent on the idea and 90 percent on the execution of that idea. This is one of the major reasons why many startups fail despite having an out-of-the-box idea. For successful execution every idea, it is paramount for organizations to adopt latest technologies, have tight governance, and most importantly, carry a positive mindset. Thirdly, access to target customers is another critical challenge startups in India are currently facing. Technology acts as a true enabler in this regard by enabling companies to analyze customer data, derive valuable insights, and accordingly build a prototype/MVP. This way, startups are able to save-up on a lot of time and resources, while simultaneously catering to all customer needs. What are some of the factors every startup founder must keep in mind while pitching for investors and VCs? Firstly, you must have a clear understanding of every aspect of your product while approaching investors. The way in which you present your MVP to the investors/VCs will have a very big impact on whether your request for funding is accepted or rejected. Thus, it is paramount for the entrepreneur to clearly explain critical aspects such as target customers, differential factors and profit model to the investors. Another key factor that every investor looks in a startup seeking funding is the experience that its team members and the management bring to the table. What role are the government and policymakers playing in nourishing the startup ecosystem in the country? These are very encouraging times for startups in India, wherein both state and central governments are leaving no stone unturned to support and nourish startups in the country. Some of the steps they have taken in this regard are the launch of various initiatives like Startup India, offering tax benefits to the startups, easing policy regulations pertaining to business setup, giving them access to CoEs for hassle-free innovation, setting-up startup incubators & accelerators and many others. Atal Incubation Mission is another key enabler by the government to assist startups across the country, wherein there are over 10,00o Atal Tinkering Labs at school levels and 100+ incubation centers across India. Some of the other prominent programs from the government include MeitYs Startup Hub, Krishi Vigyan Kendras to support agri startups, NITI Aayog supporting women entrepreneurship and many more. In your opinion, how do you expect the Indian startup ecosystem to evolve in the near future? Being the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, the Indian startup landscape is maturing at an unprecedented rate. We are seeing that increasing number of startups are coming-up with serious ideas & concepts that are IP driven, especially in the deeptech space. Going forward, Indian startups are expected to start investing hefty monies on cutting-edge technologies and put an end to the jugaad mindset. This, I strongly believe that deeptech startups in India will create massive ripples in the global technology landscape However, since deeptech startups require a significantly high capital and carry high risk levels, the entire tech ecosystem will carry a mature approach toward every function. Some of the key tech areas that will no doubt make big in India are satellite technology, rocket propulsion systems, flying electric taxis and many others. The World Bank and the finance ministry agreed to work closely to create a market structure from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) demand side for maximising social impact. World Bank President Ajay Banga, who was in Delhi to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit, met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two leaders during the bilateral meeting discussed the outcomes of the G20 India Presidency, the evolution of the World Bank Group and their engagement with India through knowledge exchange and financial assistance for developmental projects, among other issues. "During the meeting, Banga agreed to work closely with the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance @FinMinIndia to create a market structure from the Corporate Social Responsibility CSR demand side for maximising social impact," the ministry said in a post on X. The finance minister stated that she looks forward to the leadership of the World Bank President in taking on the recommendations on the triple agenda contained in Volume 1 of the Independent Experts Group on Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). The Independent Experts Group, chaired by Harvard University President Emeritus, Lawrence Summers and co-chaired by N K Singh former Chairperson, Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, submitted Volume I in July suggesting a triple agenda to harness the potential of MDBs. These include efforts to tackle global challenges, alongside their core mission of poverty reduction and shared prosperity; to triple their sustainable lending level by 2030 and to enhance their financial strength to capital adequacy improvements and general capital increases. The Finance Minister and the World Bank President said that they look forward to Volume 2 of the report that will be submitted during the 4th Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors FMCBG Meeting in Morocco in October. During the meeting, the World Bank team apprised the ministry of the developments and progress in sectors of Municipal Financing, Logistics, Skilling, Knowledge Partnership, and Solar energy in the Agriculture sector, among others. Speaking at the G20 Leaders' Summit earlier in the day, Banga said challenges don't respect lines on a map. "And if we fail to work together we all lose. To respond, under the umbrella of our Evolution Roadmap, we are becoming a better Bank. We are becoming more efficient in incentivising output, not input. Keeping focus on how many girls are in school, jobs created, and private sector dollars mobilised," Banga said. The World Bank is working to expand concessional financing to help more low-income countries achieve their goals while thinking creatively about how to encourage cooperation across borders and tackle shared challenges, he said. "After we deliver a better bank, we will need a bigger Bank. Bigger than what the capital adequacy framework will produce by itself. As we face a new era in development, we remain committed to creating a world free of poverty on a livable planet," he said. India and Brazil have joined forces to expand the India-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), aiming to strengthen their economic ties, according to an official statement. Mercosur, a Latin American trading bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, was at the centre of discussions during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Both leaders expressed their satisfaction with the growing trade between India and Mercosur and committed to collaborating on the expansion of the India-Mercosur PTA during Brazil's Mercosur Presidency. "Expressing satisfaction over the growing trade between India and Mercosur, both leaders agreed to work together for the expansion of India-Mercosur PTA during Brazil's Mercosur Presidency, to realise the full potential of this economic partnership," a joint statement issued after the meeting said. Additionally, the two nations welcomed the establishment of the India-Brazil Business Forum as a dedicated platform for private-sector collaboration. Furthermore, it was noted that the domestic procedures required for the India-Brazil Social Security Agreement to come into effect have been completed. The India-Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) has been in effect since June 1, 2009. These agreements involve the reduction or elimination of customs duties on specific goods agreed upon by the participating countries. Expanding the agreement would entail increasing the number of goods covered and establishing negotiation norms to boost trade in services and investment. Currently, the PTA encompasses a limited range of products, consisting of only 450 tariff lines. India's exports to Latin America reached $17.7 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year, compared to $15 billion in the previous year. Imports also saw an increase, rising to $22 billion in the last fiscal year from $21.74 billion in 2021-22. Bilateral trade between India and Brazil has experienced notable growth, reaching $16.6 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year, up from $12.2 billion in 2021-22. On September 7, 2023, China Post issued a set of commemorative stamps to mark the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road Initiative." The stamp features the design "10th Anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative" and has a face value of 1.20 yuan. In the photo, employees of the Hebei Branch of China Post Group Co., Ltd. in Xinle City showcase the commemorative stamp. (Photo by Jia Minjie/Guangming Online) Editor: WRX Mad honey, a rare variant of honey found in specific regions of the world, has long been coveted for its unique psychoactive properties. Nepal, a country of varied terrains and deep-rooted traditions, is one of the few places where this honey is harvested, bringing with it a rich tapestry of stories, practices, and of course, a distinctive palette of potency and flavor. Origin of Nepal's Mad Honey At the heart of Nepal's mad honey is the rhododendron flower. In the hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal, these flowers bloom in abundance, painting the landscape with hues of red, pink, and white. But the beauty of these flowers hides a secret - they contain grayanotoxins, a group of toxins that, when consumed by bees, infuse the resulting honey with psychoactive properties. This toxin, while dangerous in large quantities, is what gives mad honey its distinctive character. Traditional Harvesting: A Dance with Danger Harvesting mad honey in Nepal is no ordinary task. It's a treacherous and skilled undertaking. Local harvesters, known as honey hunters, scale dizzying heights on the sheer cliffs of the Himalayas, braving swarms of bees to collect the honeycombs. This practice, which dates back centuries, has been passed down through generations, with each honey hunter learning the ropes, quite literally, from their elders Flavor Profile: Beyond the Potency While the psychoactive properties of mad honey are often its most talked-about feature, its flavor profile is equally captivating. Mad honey from Nepal has a deeper, richer taste compared to regular honey, often described as earthy with a slight bitter undertone. This unique flavor is a result of the diverse flora in the Himalayan region, with the rhododendron's nectar playing a central role. Variations in Strength The potency of mad honey can vary significantly based on several factors: Altitude: The altitude at which the rhododendron flowers grow can influence the concentration of grayanotoxins in their nectar. Typically, flowers at higher altitudes produce more potent nectar. The altitude at which the rhododendron flowers grow can influence the concentration of grayanotoxins in their nectar. Typically, flowers at higher altitudes produce more potent nectar. Season: The time of the year when the honey is harvested can also affect its strength. Spring harvests, for instance, tend to yield more potent mad honey compared to those in the autumn. The time of the year when the honey is harvested can also affect its strength. Spring harvests, for instance, tend to yield more potent mad honey compared to those in the autumn. Rhododendron Species: While there are over 700 species of rhododendron, only a few produce the grayanotoxin-rich nectar. In Nepal, the potency of mad honey can vary based on the species predominantly present in a region. Medicinal Uses and Precautions In local Nepali communities, mad honey has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes. It is believed to treat conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and stomach issues. Some also consider it an aphrodisiac. However, it's crucial to consume mad honey in moderation. Excessive intake can lead to a range of symptoms like vomiting, dizziness, and in severe cases, cardiac complications. A Legacy to Preserve Mad honey is more than just a commodity in Nepal; it's a testament to the country's rich cultural and natural heritage. With increasing demand and the challenges posed by modernization, there's a pressing need to preserve the traditional practices of honey hunting while ensuring the sustainable harvest of this precious resource. In conclusion, Nepal's mad honey offers a fascinating blend of taste, tradition, and intrigue. From its unique flavor profile to its varied potency and the ancient art of its harvest, it remains one of nature's most enigmatic gifts. Whether consumed for its medicinal benefits or merely for the thrill of its effects, it's a treat that carries with it the essence of the Himalayas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visiting Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman held the first leaders meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. The agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others, the External Affairs Ministry said. The Crown Prince is currently on a state-visit to India. He had arrived on September 9 to attend the G20 Summit. During the meeting, both the leaders reviewed the progress made under the two Ministerial Committees of the Strategic Partnership Council the Committee on Political, Security, Social and Cultural Cooperation and the Committee on Economy and Investments Cooperation. India and Saudi Arabia have historically close and friendly relations with extensive people-to-people contacts. The trade between both countries reached all time high of $52.75 billion in 2022-23. India is Saudi Arabias second largest trading partner whereas Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth largest trading partner. Both countries also have a strong partnership in the area of energy. The G20 leaders, during their recent meeting, emphasized the importance of international cooperation and discussions regarding global governance for artificial intelligence (AI). They called for the establishment of a secure, trusted, accountable, and inclusive digital public infrastructure (DPI) to support service delivery and innovation. The G20 Declaration acknowledged the significance of the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure and recognized DPIs role in providing services on a societal scale. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating on international AI governance. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar described the Declaration as a tremendous achievement. Indias G20 Presidency is going to leave an indelible impression on the world order as we move forward, Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for IT and Electronics, said in a post on X. The G20 Declaration underscored the importance of DPIs role in service delivery and endorsed the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure. This framework offers voluntary guidelines for the development, deployment, and governance of DPI. The Declaration stressed that a safe, secure, trusted, accountable, and inclusive DPI, respecting human rights, personal data, privacy, and intellectual property rights, can enhance resilience, service delivery, and innovation. The New Delhi Declaration is considered a significant accomplishment for Indias G20 Presidency, demonstrating consensus among member nations despite tensions and differing views related to the Ukraine conflict. The Declaration focused on building safety, security, resilience, and trust in the digital economy, highlighting the voluntary framework for DPI development and governance. To this end we welcome the G20 Framework for Systems of Digital Public Infrastructure, a voluntary and suggested framework for the development, deployment, and governance of DPI, it said. The declaration talks of building safety, security, resilience, and trust in the Digital Economy, fostering digital ecosystems, and harnessing AI responsibly for Good and for All. To unlock the full potential of AI, equitably share its benefits, and mitigate risks, we will work together to promote international cooperation and further discussions on international governance for AI, it said. It welcomed Indias plan to establish and maintain a Global Digital Public Infrastructure Repository (GDPIR), a virtual repository of DPI voluntarily shared by G20 members and beyond. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Months after police responded to a shots-fired incident that quickly dispersed a crowd in New Brighton, a 26-year-old man has accepted responsibility for his actions. Isiah McDuffie of St. George pleaded guilty Friday in state Supreme Court, St. George, to second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the April 10 incident that authorities say unfolded in broad daylight near Jersey Street and Hendricks Avenue. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As the second week of the 2023-2024 academic year begins, New York City students are still receiving school bus service but a bus strike is still on the table and could impact thousands of students, according to a recent report. City Schools Chancellor David C. Banks told media outlets on Friday that students would start school on Monday without the threat of a school bus strike. As negotiations continue between the school bus drivers union and school bus companies, ABC7 reported that city officials also dont expect a school bus strike this week. If we were to have a strike, it probably would not be for several weeks from now, Banks stated after an unrelated event on Friday, according to ABC7. Banks added that the union, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1181, which represents about half the bus drivers and attendants who serve the citys students, is committed to negotiating and that parents shouldnt be concerned about a bus strike in the near future. However, Local 1181 released a statement to ABC7 that there is no commitment not to strike as negotiations are ongoing, but that time is running out. City officials released a plan to assist families if there is a strike, which could affect approximately 4,400 routes across all five boroughs potentially impacting 80,000 students, of which 25,000 are special education students, the city has previously warned. There will be several alternative transportation options for families, according to the city Department of Education (DOE). All impacted students and families will be eligible to receive emergency MetroCards valid on MTA buses and subways (excluding express bus service) that will provide a total of four trips and transfers daily from Monday through Friday between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Some impacted families will be eligible for additional services, including: Reimbursement for alternative transportation The DOE is establishing a reimbursement system for families who must resort to taxis, rideshares, or personal vehicles due to the strike. A reimbursement rate of 58 cents per mile has been set, with a maximum reimbursement of $200 ($100 each way) per day. Rideshare for affected students and families Currently, the DOE is planning to provide rideshare to some impacted families. Students using the rideshare option would need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Additionally, parents or guardians can use the service to travel to work or a destination of choice within the five boroughs and be picked up from that location in the afternoon in order to pick up a child from school. Other transportation options continue to be explored. The DOE said it will frequently update families of developments and available alternatives if a strike is called. The city said it remains hopeful a resolution can be reached. For further information or inquiries, contact the city DOEs transportation Customer Service Unit at 718-392-8855. The last time there was a school bus strike was in January 2013, when workers demanded better job security. At the time, dozens of school bus drivers and matrons, who were members of Local 1181, walked the picket line outside the Pioneer Bus yard on Arthur Kill Road in Rossville. Inside the lot, more than 380 yellow buses sat idle. That walkout in 2013 lasted more than four weeks. YOU MIGHT LIKE: Are your kids in one of our 211 back-to-school photos? These New York schools spend the most per student, new report says First day of school 2023: Best 30 photos of the day 2023-2024 academic year: New York State to make COVID test kits and face masks available to schools With over 12 million passengers annually, the Staten Island Ferry delivers captive audiences into a variety of terminal-based restaurants. For almost three years, the sheer volume of travelers also has attracted illegal fresh fruit peddlers to areas just outside the Whitehall Ferry terminal. This summer, the hucksters have upped their game, expanding into soft drinks and widening their sales throughout The Battery area. Lenny Linar of Lens Papaya in the Whitehall Terminal calls the situation anarchy. A well-organized group of fruit hawkers sell fruit and beverages on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 at a fraction of price compared to the licensed vendors in the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. The competition has put a dent in sales. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) He said, I do speak for most of the vendors at least on my side. Were all united in the fact that we feel the same way. We pay rent. We have permits. Were licensed by the City of New York, pay taxes and follow the health codes. Simultaneously, illegal peddlers sell prepared edibles at a sharp discount, compared to product of the vicinitys legit operators. Competition recently amped up when the dealers began selling water and soda. Linar said this new development deeply cut into this summers sales. As per the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) regulations for licensed operations, food must be covered at all times from its origin in refrigeration to its prep area to safeguard against dripping liquids, insects and other residue. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) ARE THE FRUIT VENDORS SANITARY? Based on observations outside the Whitehall Ferry Terminal from Sunday, Aug. 27 through Wednesday, Sept. 7, starting around noon, crews of women cut and pack fruit in the open air. As part of the routine, the womens gloved hands touch multiple surfaces including metal stanchions, handle money and prep food. No hand-wash sinks are located in the vicinity. In some setups, workers toil under umbrellas or without cover near the Whitehall Street-South Ferry subway entrance. Fruit juices, rinds and other debris typically spill on the sidewalk or fall onto sidewalks. Un-prepped, whole fruits are stored on the ground or in push carts. When asked to see permits on several occasions, the women ignore the question or shrug. As for the brick-and-mortar restaurant or food cart, the NYC Health Code is very specific about food handling and garbage disposal. In the interest of public health, the agency prohibits conditions that foster cross contamination of surfaces, filth and flies. As per the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) regulations for licensed operations, food must be covered at all times from its origin in refrigeration to its prep area to safeguard against dripping liquids, bird droppings, residue and insects. The peddlers hold no food licenses or handling permits, matters that would bring a recognized business owner heavy fines, a reduced letter grade or altogether failed inspection. When asked for comment, the DOHMH maintained, The Health Department conducts routine inspections, and inspections in response to complaints, of food vending units to ensure they are permitted and operating safely and according to regulations. The rep continued, The Health Department works to ensure food safety standards are met. If anyone suspects a vendor does not have proper credentials, they can call 311 to make a complaint. When pressed further about illegal vendors and the flagrant lack of sanitation, a spokesperson for DOHMH said, The Health Department requires mobile food vendors to have a license and to be working from a permitted vehicle or cart. The fine for un-permitted activity, from a restaurant or mobile food vending unit, is $1,000. After several additional requests for comment on the situation, reps both from the DOHMH and City Hall said they were aware of the Advance/SILive.coms contact between various other city departments. A DOHMH rep ended discussions by saying they had nothing further to add as places of inquiry fall under jurisdictions like Parks and the Department of Sanitation. Food vendors in a conglomerate greet Staten Island Ferry riders on the Manhattan side. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) FRUSTRATING, CIRCULAR SITUATION Linar has called 311 numerous times over illicit fruit vendor activity he calls well-orchestrated from sophisticated display setups rolled around on wheels. The Battery Conservancy COO Hope Cohen said many of those 311 complaints direct callers to her office, a 501-C3 non profit. The charitable organization maintains the Peter Minuit Plaza outside of the Whitehall terminal in partnership with the Parks Department. I want to emphasize that we are a charitable organization. Weve advocated vigorously for years along with local politicians, the Community Board and the Alliance for Downtown New York to assign more police. All of those people together have lobbied for attention to this, said Cohen. While aggressive ticket hawkers have been around for over a decade, the fruit vendors are fairly new, said Cohen. This summer, she confirmed their expansion throughout The Battery to capture sales from travelers to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. They now sell on national monuments and use their shady locations for backup inventory. Cohen added, Its very frustrating for all of us. The fruit vendors are pretty peaceful. I dont even know if they know what theyre doing is illegal as they seem new to the country. But the lawbreaking is real, she said. Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) can issue summonses, said Cohen. Thats about it. If theres an occasional sweep by NYPD the fruit sellers return a week or two later. Linar laughed and said, They go a few feet away and start selling again. If theyre forced to leave the area, they go to the other side of the park. They have it so well organized that they wrap it up in five minutes and go 20 feet out of site. Theyll sit there for 10 or 15 minutes. They know this is a cat and mouse-shoo game. They know. He explained, Ive heard the police refer to them as ghosts. It means they dont exist. Fruit vendors set up on the World War II Memorial at The Battery on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) WHOS DOMAIN IS IT? The Department of Transportation (DOT) operates the Whitehall Ferry Terminal and concrete apron just outside of the building. The landlord for terminal eateries is the NYC Economic Development Corp (EDC). Parks territory runs from the stanchions to the street. The Battery Conservancy is responsible for the Peter Minuit Plaza in partnership with Parks. But we do not have any role in enforcement, said Cohen. Under The Conservancys supervision, new concession Wafles and Dinges takes care of a section known as the sandy area inside Peter Minuit Plaza. The National Parks Service reigns over the Batterys waterside sections. A city Parks representative said, We are aware of complaints regarding fruit vendors near the Staten Island Ferrys Whitehall terminal. We will conduct an inspection of conditions at this location and take enforcement action as necessary. The spokesperson invoked the The Battery Conservancy in efforts to maintain the plaza. An EDC spokesperson said, This is a DOT related matter. Please reach out to them. Although it was pointed out to DOT that the illegal vendors physically sold on the street near the Governors Island ferry launch, a DOT spokesperson said to reach out to NYPD. The representative additionally maintained the DOT was not an enforcement agency. Near the SeaGlass Carousel at The Battery, fruit hawkers have spread their operations throughout the area. Left unchecked by the Department of Health, the workers prep food in the open air. Here is an example of yet-to-be cut produce specimens left uncovered and on the ground, allowing fruit surfaces to be vulnerable to rodents, bird droppings and other residue. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) The NYPDs Deputy Commission of Public Information (DCPI) spokesperson said, Though not primarily responsible for vendor enforcement, the NYPD still maintains its authority to address all violations of law occurring within New York City, including those relating to street vendors. The representative noted further, Police officers use discretion and sensitivity when addressing vendor conditions, issuing warnings as a first response, where appropriate and consistent with safety. Enforcement tools such as civil summonses can be issued as a last resort. We will coordinate with our partner agencies in the city to address these conditions. Additionally, the Department of Sanitation coordinates with Parks for street vending enforcement. A spokesman for Sanitation said, This area is part of Battery Park. As such, vending enforcement and primary cleaning are handled by NYC Parks. DSNY will continue to monitor conditions. As for vending near the subway entrance, an MTA spokeswoman pointed to NYPD and DOHMH, the latter who has jurisdiction over food sales anywhere in NYC, above and below ground. Cohen concluded, Its obviously a lot of different fingers in the pot. PEPs resources are limited. I would think unsafe food handling would come under the Health Departments jurisdiction. These problems are the flip-side of an area that attracts so many visitors from around the world. We hope both to welcome and protect them. Linar wants action. He said, Unless Sanitation and the police join forces until they confiscate the carts theyre going to be here. Every day you need to get a Sanitation truck and get the police and Health Department to throw all their stuff out. Although Ive never seen the Health Department down there sorry. Pamela Silvestri is Advance/SILive.com Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Amid an intense, demanding 9/11 anniversary schedule packed with emotional ceremonies, lengthy memorial events and a host of media interviews, Frank Siller finds time to pray. Before the sun rises, Siller, chairman and CEO of the Staten Island-based Tunnel to Towers Foundation, arrives at Ground Zero. There, he very privately reflects on the heroism of his fallen brother, Stephen, who lost his life at the site on Sept. 11, 2001, after running through the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, now known as the Huge Carey Tunnel, just after the World Trade Center was struck. I am there, praying, said Siller, 70. Im fortunate enough to be able to go to the site and see my brothers name. I think exactly about what he did and how courageous it was. Later in the day, after the television interviews and public speeches imploring Americans to never forget the bravery displayed that day and also in the days, weeks and months following the attacks, Siller joins with some of his 65-member clan to again remember his baby brother, Stephen, his outrageous personality, and the heroism he displayed on the day he lost his life. NO SURPRISE Him running through that tunnel and running up those stairs was no surprise to us, Siller explained. Its something someone with his personality would do. In between dawn and dusk, its all business for Siller, whose Tunnel to Towers foundation, created by himself and his family to honor their brothers memory, has raised more than $500 million in support of Gold Star and first responder families, as well as catastrophically injured veterans. Along the way, it has provided more than 1,000 mortgage-free homes to surviving families and specially adapted smart homes to those very special veteran heroes, he said. Twenty two new mortgage payoffs were recently announced in honor of the 9/11 22nd anniversary, including one on Staten Island for the widow and children of a New York City transit police officer who died of a 9/11-related cancer. Siller maintains the same frenzied 9/11-anniversary pace most days of the year, he admitted with a laugh. But hes not complaining. SO MANY ACTS OF HEROISM I spend a lot of time (that day and throughout the year) talking about what (Stephen) did, and it helps in the recovery process of learning how to deal with the great loss, Siller said. There were so many acts of heroism that day. The more he speaks, the more awareness is spread about the risks responders take every day, Siller said. Its an honor to do it, said the father of three and grandfather of six. If Im out there doing different interviews, its helping to remember my brother. And not just my brother, so many others who made this sacrifice. In this 2021 file photo, FDNY firefighters walk north on West Street toward the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero after the last runner completed the 20th Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk. (Staten Island Advance)Staten Island Advance Its a promise his family made in the year following Stephens death, when the siblings planned the first Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk -- a promise to never forget. The race began with 1,500 people in 2002 and is now considered to be one of the top 5K runs in America, with more than 35,000 people participating in 2022. And more than 80 similar events are now held in the United States annually. As the foundation grows, his days get busier, Siller admitted, adding he considers it his duty. A RESPONSIBILITY Its busy, because theres so many other families and so many other people who made a supreme sacrifice, and we at the foundation feel an honor and duty to tell the stories of these great heroes, Siller said. I have a responsibility, and we made a promise as a family to take care of these other families in the way that we do. In addition to the mortgage-free homes for heroes, the foundation also has launched a homeless veterans program, helping more than 500 homeless veterans last year and expecting to provide more than 2,000 this year with homes and a wide range of services. Current projects are underway in: Houston, Texas; West Los Angeles, Calif., and Phoenix, Ariz. Future building locations are planned cities across the country, including: New York City; Portland, Ore.; Seattle, Wash., and Colorado Springs, Colo. As he prepares for the frenzied pace of the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 on Monday, Siller stressed that its imperative that the names of the fallen be read aloud each year. Hell keep up a chaotic pace until he returns to Staten Island to reflect and remember with his family. And, yeah, its not convenient, but so what? he said when asked if his foundation obligations interfere with his private mourning. How many firefighters and cops are working that day?, he asked. Would they like to be with their families? How many members of the military are working that day? Wouldnt they like to be with their families? GOODNESS TRIUMPHS The good works delivered by the foundation in the years since that tragic day heavily outweigh any inconvenience, he said, shirking off any difficulty. Evil is not going to rule the day, he said emphatically. Goodness triumphs over evil. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) paid tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks with a ceremony in front of the West Brighton hospitals 9/11 memorial. Hospital staffers, members of the NYPD and FDNY, and community leaders participated along with members the Blue Knights law enforcement motorcycle organization, the FDNY motorcycle organization, and Rolling Thunder military veterans motorcycle chapter. EDITORS NOTE: Best of Staten Island 2023 is sponsored by Empire State Bank, N.A., Staten Islands only headquartered bank, a member of the FDIC Equal Housing Lender. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. For our latest Best of Staten Island category of 2023, we asked our readers to tell us where we could find their favorite wings on Staten Island. We were given dozens of restaurants and bars that serve up the best wings and flats in town. Now, its time to narrow down our list of 28, and vote for our top three winners! So whether you like barbecue, spicy, or sweet wings, pick your favorite place to get em from our poll. Readers have until 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 18 to vote for their favorite wing spot in the poll below. Only the top three from our list will receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance. In case you missed it, this year, Best of Staten Island has a brand new sponsor. Empire State Bank may even join the Advance/SILive.com along the way as it explores Staten Islanders favorite businesses. Theyll even be providing the winners with their very own swag bags. VOTE HERE! HOW BEST OF STATEN ISLAND WORKS We like to keep it pretty simple for Best of Staten Island. Over the course of the year, we will feature eight different Best Of categories. For each category, there will be one week of nominations, one week of voting and two weeks that will focus on the top winners as chosen by our readers. Only brick-and-mortar businesses are considered, unless otherwise noted. The top three Best of Staten Island winners in each category receive individual coverage on the Advance/SILive.coms social media platforms and a collective feature in the Staten Island Advance, all brought to you by Empire State Bank. In case you missed it, we already featured the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, best dance schools, best sushi spots, best nails salons and best margaritas on the Island. Take a look at our ultimate guides for a closer look at each of these establishments. In 2022, readers voted on their top three dance schools, their favorite al fresco dining spots, their favorite places to grab tacos, their top diners and their favorite Chinese restaurants. We also stopped by their favorite Staten Island spots for the best burgers, the best calamari and the best grandma pie. 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! Liu Cixin (4th row, C) poses for photos with children during a science fiction cultural week event in Yangquan, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Hao) TAIYUAN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Beijing-based editor Bi Yumin traveled 400 km by train to a mountainous small city, only to meet her idol Liu Cixin. In a week's stay in Yangquan, north China's Shanxi Province, she went to the newly-built Liu Cixin Studio in the downtown area, visited the Niangziguan Power Plant where Liu used to work as an engineer, and paid a visit to a gymnasium in the early morning, hoping to make an encounter with him. "I heard from locals that Liu had a habit of running here in the morning, so I tried my luck here," Bi said with a smile. Yangquan, an old industrial base in the Taihang Mountains, was little known to the outside world until Liu from the small city won the Hugo Award for his sci-fi saga the "Three-Body" trilogy. Now, the Niangziguan Power Plant, which has been shut down in a move to cut emissions, has become "a resort" for sci-fi fans. The plant's outer wall, stretching about 1,000 meters, is painted with the stunning scenes of "Three-Body" and "The Wandering Earth," another novel written by Liu that was adapted into movies. Residents and tourists passing by would slow down their cars or pause to look at these imaginative wall paintings. "The sci-fi elements that Liu brings here have revived this power plant in another way," said Shuai Xuefeng, a former plant worker who still lives in the dormitory of the power plant. Since 1999, when Liu started his creation, he has published seven novels and some 40 short stories, with his works translated into dozens of languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese and Korean. Luo Xiangdong, an executive of the provincial writers' association, said Liu had built a vast universe with his works, and the movie and TV drama adaptations of his works have, to a large extent, ignited the sci-fi craze among young people and promoted the development of Chinese sci-fi movies and TV dramas. In a cultural park in the urban area of Yangquan, a sci-fi cultural week was held last month, where many experts and scholars, including Liu, gathered to discuss the present and future of science fiction literature. The event also included sci-fi literature and fine arts contests, drawing contestants from across China to send their works. Many of the contestants are youths. Kou Miaoqi, the first prize winner of the sci-fi literature competition, said that she has always loved writing, but this is the first time that she has written a sci-fi work -- a 15,000-character piece called "A Guide to Facing the Sea." "The contest has given me much confidence, and I hope I can make some achievement in the field of science fiction in the future," said the 34-year-old. "Science fiction has the power that enables readers, especially young readers, to have a strong interest in nature, the universe and the relationships among man, nature and the universe, igniting their passion for exploring a new world," Liu Cixin told Xinhua. This photo taken on Aug. 17, 2023 shows the Niangziguan Power Plant, where Chinese science fiction writer Liu Cixin used to work as an engineer, in Yangquan, north China's Shanxi Province. (Xinhua/Wang Hao) Visitors view science fiction artworks at a cultural park in Yangquan, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Hao) Editor: ZAD Apple was a major beneficiary of the US sanctions on Huawei. Before the sanctions were imposed, Apple had a global market share of about 15 per cent. Today that share is almost 20 per cent, with most of the increase attributable to its sales in China, where the lack of access to advanced semiconductors caused Huaweis smartphones business, once the global market leader, to shrivel. Revenues from Huaweis consumer businesses halved and its domestic market share slumped to less than 10 per cent as it was cut out of the market for high-end devices. The Biden administration and its allies are trying to throttle Chinas access to technology. Credit: AP The excitement within China ignited by last weeks launch of the Huawei Mate 60 Pro (and hints at a Mate 60 Pro+ with even more features) would almost inevitably have led to Huawei recapturing domestic market share from Apple even without the central governments bans. Thats a double threat to Apple. Not only does it risk losing volumes in its biggest and fastest-growing market, its China sales are also its highest margin. It has a dominant and completely disproportionate share of the profit pool for smartphones in the Chinese market, with margins significantly larger than those it enjoys elsewhere. Apple does have some offsetting leverage that will presumably deter Beijing from actively advocating consumers switching to Huaweis products. It employs millions of urban Chinese workers in its iPhone supply chain, with China the core manufacturing platform for its global business. Loading At a time of high urban unemployment, particularly for younger workers, and dwindling export revenues, the authorities probably dont want Apples presence within China to shrink too quickly. Given the so-far limited production volumes of Huaweis device its first run sold out almost immediately it is unclear whether Huawei has the capacity (or the advanced chips in sufficient volumes) to ramp up production and displace Apples consumer sales in the near term. Nevertheless, confronted by the ever-tightening US-led sanctions on its access to advanced technologies and semiconductors in particular, the launch of the Huawei device and the ban do signal to the US and its allies that China does have the ability to retaliate. For Apple, the developments underscore the risks it has created for itself in this post-pandemic environment of concern about the resilience of supply chains and heightened geopolitical tensions. The de-risking of the supply chains between China and the West started pre-pandemic with Donald Trumps trade wars but has accelerated since the pandemic revealed the vulnerabilities associated with overdependence on one major supplier of critical goods. At a time of high urban unemployment, particularly for younger workers, and dwindling export revenues, the authorities probably dont want Apples presence within China to shrink too quickly. The Biden administration has added to layers to the sanctions on Chinas access to technology and enlisted the support of its allies to reinforce their effectiveness. Apple, which probably thought its deep relationships with the Chinese authorities and the sheer scale of its business in China would insulate it from the intensifying tensions between the two geopolitical and economic giants, may be forced to expand its efforts to diversify its own supply chains, although its Chinese production base is too vast to do that quickly. In the past couple of years it has been investing in Vietnam and India and expanding its domestic production base, and has announced plans to spend $US430 billion in the US over the next five years. It may have to do more. The so-far limited ban on Apples phones has come amid a series of actions by Beijing that demonstrate increased sensitivity to perceived national security issues, including shutting down foreigners access to data, the crackdowns on its biggest digital businesses, and the strengthening and more aggressive enforcement of its espionage laws, including raids on foreign business consultancies. Chinese giant Huawei released its new smartphone ahead of schedule last week. Credit: Bloomberg It has previously directed its agencies and state-owned corporations not to use foreign-manufactured personal computers and foreign-developed software and operating systems for work, so the action against Apple isnt unprecedented, and indeed, is analogous to the actions the US has taken against Huawei and other Chinese companies, albeit so far more limited. The head of Qantas information division has resigned, as the business grapples with the fallout after a torrid three weeks which culminated with the shock departure of Alan Joyce on Tuesday. Sam Charmand had worked at Qantas for nearly 16 years and is the second senior leader to quit the embattled airline business since it became embroiled in legal action launched by the consumer watchdog over allegations it falsely advertised and sold tickets on cancelled flights. Qantas Airways is waiting to learn its fate after a last-ditch appeal in the High Court over its 2020 outsourcing. Credit: James Davies Qantas on Monday confirmed the resignation, which was first reported in the Australian Financial Review. The Qantas group was forced to unwind the expiry dates on refunds for flights affected by COVID-19 last week, following backlash from consumers, politicians and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. By delivering positive impacts on various fronts, such as healthcare, aged care, independent living, access to financial certainty and more, Australian Unity continues to fulfil its original purpose of contributing to the wellbeing of individuals and the broader community, ensuring relevance and sustainability in a changing world. Vise says his idea of nirvana would be if all organisations not just mutuals like Australian Unity thought about their purpose, not just about profit. Once organisations also prioritise impact, you actually start to have the community and enterprises working hard to create the social glue that is wellbeing, says Vise. Its about aligning organisational goals with the betterment of society. As governments focus on outcomes that matter, and organisations recognise their broader purpose, a paradigm shift takes place and the pursuit of social impact becomes an important driving force behind positive change. This commitment is evident in Australian Unitys approach. Australian Unity, in partnership with Deakin University, has been monitoring the nations wellbeing for over 20 years as it relates to our overall quality of life and our personal satisfaction with areas such as health, finances and safety. Informed by the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index, Australian Unitys focus extends beyond profit to vital areas of impact lifelong wellness, economic empowerment, and strong communities. Vise says the significance of lifelong wellness including tailored solutions, like aiding people in maintaining mobility for cooking, helping them with counselling when they are depressed, can also translate into combating loneliness and fostering a sense of community. When it comes to financial wellbeing an area that resonates across generations Vise underscores the importance of creating tax-effective methods of saving for lifes uncertainties beyond retirement. Australian Unitys product 10Invest is an innovation Vise says reflects the organisations commitment to helping individuals build financial resilience for different pivotal life stages, such as education, retirement, or a home deposit. This is in addition to Australian Unitys role in investing in social infrastructure, including hospitals, medical centres, aged care facilities, and retirement villages. This commitment extends to specialised areas like childcare and disability accommodation. By investing in these areas, Australian Unity not only supports its members but contributes to the broader community wellbeing. Australian Unitys commitment to positive impact influences its commercial partnership decisions evident in its partnership with Ramsay Health Care, the largest operator of private hospitals in the country. Together, Australian Unity and Ramsay Health Care deliver Ramsay Connect, a service designed to support patients to leave hospital sooner and receive care at home. Ramsay Connect CEO, Ian Galvin, says the joint venture places a strong emphasis on delivering a positive impact to its patients and the families it supports through both virtual and in-person care. Ramsay Connect is focused on supporting people to access healthcare in their own homes and communities, reducing many of the financial and time-related costs associated with traditional healthcare, says Galvin. All program participants receive ongoing healthcare plans and links to community-based services to support the management of their long-term health and social needs. We utilise technology to enable greater access to our services, particularly for people who may otherwise have not been able to access such specialised care, says Galvin. Delivering some care virtually also helps reduce the need for travel and therefore the overall carbon footprint of our services and that of consumers who would otherwise access traditional healthcare. The rewards include the chance to form part of the solution to Australias growing health and aged care challenges by improving the efficiency and accessibility of healthcare, he says. Theres also the opportunity to translate a range of services to benefit members of our society who have traditionally been underserviced by our system and the ability to work towards reducing the challenges associated with accessing equitable health and social care across Australia. The wellbeing of Australians everywhere has been a priority for Australian Unity for over 180 years. If youd like to know more about the positive social community impact of the work Australian Unity does, and its commitment to tackling the social challenges our nation faces, read the 2023 Impact Report at australianunity.com.au/impact A multimillion-dollar calamity that devastated small businesses in Sydney for five years is playing out again in a picturesque rural valley 400 kilometres away. Weeks after Transport for NSW lost a court case over losses that small businesses suffered during construction of the Sydney light rail, the owner of a popular microbrewery in the Snowy Valleys says the transport department has also brought him to his knees. Tumut River Brewing Company owner Tim Martin says 18 months of roadworks out of the front of his business has cost him about $1 million in lost trade. TIm Martin at the Tumut River Brewing Company. [The work] blocked both access driveways to our business and closed one of the roads completely, he said. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Until late last year, bus driver Eamonn Murrays days began before 5am. Hed wake, shower, dress and drive to Mona Vale Bus Depot, on Sydneys northern beaches. Hed begin work at 5.17am exactly: thats when his shift journal, that little white sheet of paper that sits next to a bus driver and dictates their every move by the minute, told him to power up the vehicle. And then hed drive: often to the beginning of the 190X route, the express service from the top of Avalon to Wynyard, now operated by private multinational transport group Keolis Downer starting at precisely 5.30am. And hed wind up and down the beaches, switching to the 199 Palm Beach to Manly service or the 155 to Northern Beaches Hospital. Hed stop at 9.30am, return his bus to the depot (or have a colleague take over his route) and return home. Because, like almost every public bus driver in Sydney, Murrays days were split: four hours during the early morning rush, five hours of free time in the middle, and four more hours of driving in the afternoon and evening. Hed jump back behind the wheel at 2.30 and drive until 6.30pm a 13-hour day, in which he was paid for eight. His days no longer stretch so long because, like so many of his colleagues, Murray last year called time on driving buses for the public: lured by the promise of more reasonable hours, better pay and secure work, the 47-year-old moved to a tourism company, and spends his days driving visitors to the Blue Mountains. Former public bus driver Eamonn Murray says the bus driver shortage has made working difficult. Credit: Flavio Branceleone The single biggest reason buses are late and the reason Murray left are the same: Bus driver shortages, without a doubt. In ditching the public buses relied on by Sydneysiders who collectively make 20 million trips a month, Murray contributed to the growing number of city drivers leaving the industry, weighed down by hours, pay issues and poor onboard security. Advertisement And in a period of high employment, cost of living pressures, and people slowly returning to offices, the apparent rise of cancelled or late buses has been pinned down to one key problem: our city doesnt have enough people to drive buses. Why is it so hard to find them? The perks and the split shifts With the bus network privatised, Transport for NSW and the nine companies responsible for operating Sydneys buses have spent much of the years since the pandemic attempting to stem the hemorrhage of departing drivers. Amidst the hiring war, companies are offering $6000 sign-on bonuses, flexible hours and salaries of up to $100,000 (although this number could only be reached by achieving a slew of overtime and other allowances such as driving the bendy or double-decker vehicles). Last month, the government announced drivers would have free travel on public transport with new Opal cards. A bus depot in Tempe. Most contracts pay drivers more for driving bendy or double-decker buses. Credit: Edwina Pickles Unemployment in NSW has been at historic lows for most of 2023. And despite the challenges of a tight labour market and the fact bus drivers tend toward retirement age (leaving some in the job for only a few years), the campaign has been working slowly. From more than 500 vacancies in April, Transport for NSW now reports 370 openings. But among the drivers who spoke to the Herald, the experience of split shifts remains a turn-off. Advertisement Karyn, who took a career break from Keolis Downer Northern Beaches in June after driving for 21 years, experienced the brunt of them: driving, most days, from 5.30am to 9.30am, having a break until 2.30pm, and getting back behind the wheel until 6.30pm. Shed do that for 11 days straight, then get three days off, drive 10 more days, and get a four-day weekend before the cycle repeated. It makes it impossible to have a life outside [work], have a social life, have a family life, she said of the shift structure. Its not suitable for young family people. Theres not much lifestyle choice. Split shifts are necessary, drivers accept, because most passengers travel in the peaks. David Babineau, tram and bus division secretary of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, said it was a volume thing. But for that work, Karyn says her income last year totalled about $86,000. In June, she joined a private bus company, where she works more regular hours, four days a week, for $84,000. I will take a $2000 a year pay cut to have a life, she said. Bus delays are leaving commuters without ways to travel. Credit: Louise Kennerley/Supplied Advertisement The impact of privatisation Drivers who worked for the State Transit Authority (the agency before Transport for NSW was inaugurated by the OFarrell Liberal government in 2011) say they are still scarred by the process of privatisation. While some bus routes outside of Sydneys centre were always run by private companies, most were run by State Transit. The way they handled and bungled the transition from State Transit to the private operators was appalling, said one current bus driver. All drivers the Herald approached were unable to speak on the record because of their conditions of employment. Transport for NSW also denied this mastheads requests to speak with drivers. They left a lot of drivers, and junior management, dirty with the way they handled it, they said. Its rare you would find a driver who went through that experience to have something positive to say. Advertisement Transport Minister Jo Haylen said some drivers were still being paid differently for the same work because of a two-tier system created as the result of privatised services. [The former Liberal government] left the bus industry with substandard toilets and rest areas, a two-tiered wages system and an unnecessary amount of red tape that discouraged people from becoming bus drivers, she said. There are a sizeable number of drivers in training but we will not be able to fix this problem overnight. Private companies have also been incentivised to cut services, she said. Loading New contracts between the government and companies include penalties for not meeting On Time Running targets. But the same contracts let [operators] off if they just cancelled the bus rather than let it be late, Haylen said. Other performance measurements in the contracts are commercial in confidence (a 2022 parliamentary inquiry recommended, among other measures, the publishing of these measurements). Advertisement She was well-connected in both Sydney and Canberra, and encouraged letters from people of knowledge as well as ordinary readers, to stimulate a wider range of views. She helped them sharpen their points and their penmanship. Her fondness and respect for the readers permeated her pages. They knew she was on their side and she fiercely defended them. Geraldine Walsh with her father, James Lawler, graduating from Sydney University in the 1960s. Walsh landed the letters job just as technological change began sweeping through newspapers and communications systems. Previously, post office delays and moribund printing practices condemned letters to many days journey between being sent and publication. Nothing about it was hurried, unlike the urgency of the news pages, she told a Sydney Institute audience in an evocative speech in March 1999, titled I was appalled when I read: Reflections of a Letters Editor. I confess before taking the job, I wasnt a reader of the Letters pages. Id tried, but found it irrelevant. Too many pompous letters from self-important people saying exactly what [British model] Mandy Rice Davies would expect of them. Geraldine Walsh. But then along came the fax, and a new editor, Max Prisk, who decided letters should be a part of the news cycle. Slowly faxes outstripped the posted mail, then came email, and with both, new cohorts of letter writers. At first email came from universities and what a shock that was. Until then, Id doubted politicians claims that the standard of English in schools had been declining. The university emails proved that English was of little importance in academe. Streams of consciousness spilled across the screen. Phrases instead of sentences verbs seemed to have lost their appeal - but barrel loads of buzzwords and paradigms galore. Fax and emails gave the letters page a whole new lease on life, said Walsh. When I arrived, it was obvious the letter writers, and presumably the Herald readership, was ageing fast. I began to fear theyd all die out. At first it was middle-aged business people writing faxes from their offices, however, it is email which is the saviour. It has delivered to letters that previously elusive object: the young reader. Choosing and vetting letters was tight under Walshs editorship. Letters were carefully checked against electoral rolls, phone books and other sources, and the writers spoken with to ensure they were who they said they were, and to negotiate suggested changes or necessary cuts. For some letter writers, news theyd been chosen was like winning the lottery, and having seen their name in lights, letter-writing became an addiction. Loading I was appalled when I read... was the familiar opening line from the tub-thumpers in the daily letters bag. Along with the firebrands, the caustic, the insightful, the witty, the mischievous, and, on a good day, the scintillating, they all had one thing in common: they were desperate to get published in the Heralds letters pages. The more serious in our midst would write to complain of unnecessary levity or triviality being a waste of space, which should be devoted to all the suffering in the world, she said. Others thought the page should be all wit and no wisdom. One man castigated me for too many reasonable letters, that the page should be a coliseum for blood sport where readers went for each others throats. Its easily done, but scarcely illuminating. One fellow, whose frequent, long and tedious letters were rarely published, threatened copyright action on the grounds I was clearly passing over his letters to the editor who was stealing his ideas for editorials. She once piqued the ire of radio broadcaster Alan Jones for publishing letters which, he claimed, incited two burglaries, were critical of Princess Diana, John Howard, and that she had failed to publish three letters about Sir Garfield Barwick. Former SMH letters editor Geraldine Walsh and broadcaster Alan Jones settled a lawsuit out of court. Credit: Janie Barrett He campaigned vigorously for her dismissal on 11 occasions in his programs in September and October of 1997, without success. Walsh sued him for defamation, which was eventually settled out of court in her favour in April 2000, with the payment of a substantial sum of money. Getting the mix right was the most difficult thing to achieve in letters, said Walsh. To have something for everyone those of a serious bent, those who want information, the word pedants, the lovers of wit and whimsy all have to be catered for over time, but you cant publish what you dont have. The readers are in charge of the copy flow. At times you almost try to will the readers to send in points of view that would counter the prevailing one thats being received by the mail bagful. Walsh believed the ordinary reader was the newspapers most valuable VIP. He/she is the lifeblood of the newspaper, and its a foolish newspaper editor who doesnt listen to the feedback they provide. Politicians, by contrast, were the kiss of death on the letters page. It is difficult to exaggerate the anger and resentment their letters produce in readers. Letters editor Geraldine Walsh in India. Former Fairfax editorial director, Max Suich, long an admirer of Walshs sharp intellect and commercial acumen, first brought her into the Fairfax editorial stable in the mid-1980s, where she worked on various editorial projects. When she took over the Letters editorship, within months, he said, She changed the content, tone and intelligence of the letters. The turnaround at the Herald was dramatic. The letters page was quickly contributing coherently to political, economic and social argument and controversy, but more importantly was interesting on a range of subjects, way outside those barren fields. Walshs sharp wit often detected irony in letters that the author had not, and published them to the satisfaction of the next mornings readers. Loading Geraldine Margaret Lloyd Walsh (nee Lawler) was born in Burwood on April 11, 1940, to James Benjamin Lawler, then a book-keeper, and Dorothy Alma Lawler (nee Lloyd). She was their second child, her brother, Jim, having been born 16 years earlier. When the child Geraldine was almost six years old, a strange man walked into the Strathfield home she shared with her mother. It was her father, whom she was meeting for the first time, returning from war. She was just three weeks old when he enlisted in May 1940. James Lawler fought in both world wars and was a Major in the 8th Division of the Australian Army Service Corp at the fall of Singapore in 1942. His final years of army war service were spent as a prisoner of the Japanese in Changi and Sandakan. At first the young Geraldine was frightened of her father, this man who was all skin and bones, who would only sleep on a floor, and who thought he could tell her what to do in her mothers house. But the bond between the two grew tight, then even tighter when Geraldines mother died when she was a teenager. Father and daughter were thereafter devoted to each other. Geraldine Walsh was educated at Presbyterian Ladies College, Croydon, before studying Arts at the University of Sydney. She chose teaching as her first profession. James Ruse High School, when it was a school for boys, was one of her first postings and she was only three or four years older than the senior boys she taught. In December 1963, she married the journalist, Maximilian Sean Walsh, at the Presbyterian Scots Church, in Mosman. Geraldine Walsh was part of the team in the 1970s who helped set up Medibank, the predecessor to todays Medicare. Credit: April Lombardo In 1966 the couple moved to Canberra where Maxs stellar and influential career as an economics commentator and strategist took off, first as chief political correspondent of The Australian Financial Review, then returning to Sydney to edit the paper from 1973. The couples two daughters, Felicity (Flicc) and Sophie, were born while they lived in Canberra. In 1974, she joined the senior national team tasked with setting up the new universal health system, Medibank (now Medicare) which had to be rolled out at breakneck public service speed to operate from July 1, 1975. They would ultimately co-found the influential jail gang, Prisoners of War. Preston alluded to having inside knowledge of the Williams killing and that his demise had come because he had broken an unwritten rule. Warning: The video below shows highly confronting scenes. The footage has been edited to exclude some moments. He would not reveal who the outside man behind the brutal bashing of Williams had been. But he boasted that a man jailed with Williams, Tommy Ivanovic, had been given a dire warning. Ivanovic was told he was living with a dog (criminal slang for a police informer). The dog was Williams. Carl Williams was murdered in jail. Credit: Jason South This prison phone conversation was months before April 19, 2010, when Johnson, the third man in the prison unit with Ivanovic, while gripping the stem of an exercise bike seat, beat Williams to death. Preston added that there had been secret hearings about the prison calls. It all seemed routine to the quietly spoken gangland figure. His physique and demeanour spoke volumes. Preston had served jail stints in Victoria and NSW and was working for a demolition company. In the months after Preston and I first met, Mitchell, a Bandidos enforcer, would be ambushed by two masked hitmen outside Dohertys Gym in Brunswick (next to the Bandidos bikie clubhouse). Preston was a key suspect along with the criminal wild man, Nabil Maghnie. There are two theories about the shooting, in which Mitchell was riddled with bullets. At the time, Preston was associating with Bandidos and talks were under way about him joining, but he was resisting donning colours. Christopher Dean Badness Binse. Credit: Fairfax A sticking point was Mitchells long-time mate, Christopher Badness Binse, who was Prestons long-time enemy. Badmouthing may have renewed tensions between Binse and Preston, who were both raised in Sunshine, in Melbournes west. After Mitchells ambush in November, 2011, Binse vowed revenge. A tracking device was attached to Prestons car and Binse began stalking him like prey, even taking photos of Prestons then girlfriend, as Mitchell fought for his life in hospital. His alleged plan was to fit explosives to Prestons vehicle and blow him up. After Johnson was convicted of Williams murder, a newspaper headline led to another tense meeting with me at a pub. Johnson was labelled a coward for bashing Williams from behind. Preston, angered, was determined to set the record straight. Gavin Preston, with his nickname Capable tattooed on his neck. Credit: Facebook I picked a very public setting for this meeting Young & Jackson. Preston, who arrived minutes after me via the Swanston Street door, was initially calm. Over the course of half an hour, he raised the tension incrementally. Preston wanted it known that Johnson had sacrificed himself by committing the killing in the knowledge he would spend the rest of his life in prison. The hulking Preston pressed upon me how close I was to being bundled into the boot of a car and taken to a remote location. He was also prepared to assault an editor, graphically describing what he would do to him. Weeks later, Preston and Maghnie were randomly intercepted by police as they drove a Mercedes-Benz along Collins St in the CBD. A gun was found in the car. It has strongly been suggested that the pair were headed to a city restaurant to shoot Gatto. Preston was given bail and police surveilled him. Carl Williams and Matthew Johnson. Credit: Fairfax Media But on the night he headed to North Melbournes Canning Street, where drug dealer Adam Khoury lived, the police team tailing him had knocked off. Within 30 minutes, Khoury was dead, shot multiple times including in the head. Preston argued that he had wrestled the gun from Khoury, and later successfully had the charge reduced to defensive homicide. It was an implausible, but not impossible scenario. It also emerged in 2012, soon after Prestons arrest, that lawyer-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo told police she was on a hit list alongside Khoury, Gatto and Mitchell. The allegation was that the hit list was Prestons. Veteran drug criminal John Higgs was another name on the purported list. Police documents revealed it was raised with then-top cop Graham Ashton. Preston, in court, openly mocked Purana taskforce investigators as he was sentenced to 11 years in jail for killing Khoury over an alleged drug debt. Over time, Preston would fall out with Johnson and the Prisoners of War gang he co-founded. In 2015, a group of PoW-aligned inmates attacked Preston with shivs and other edged weapons inside the Eucalypt unit of Barwon Prison. Nabil Maghnie in 2016. Credit: It was speculated the attack was payback from Johnson who remained dissatisfied over being short-changed for killing Williams, for which he is serving a 32-year sentence. Victorias clubs lobby is pushing for a beefed-up self-exclusion program that would allow problem gamblers to block themselves from all poker machines across the state. Earlier this year, Gaming Minister Melissa Horne announced plans for new poker machine laws that would limit player losses, introduce a mandatory pre-commitment system and force players to use a card to sign up and play. Clubs are pushing for an improved self-exclusion scheme in Victoria. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone The state is now consulting about the final details of these changes, and The Age can reveal the government has also added a review of self-exclusion to the process. Self-exclusion registers allow problem gamblers to voluntarily ban themselves from gaming areas at venues to reduce their exposure to pokies. Minister of Finance of Ukraine Serhiy Marchenko expressed concern about the strengthening of the hryvnia and expects the exchange rate to weaken to UAH 41.40/$1. "We are concerned about the strengthening of the hryvnia... For next year we project an exchange rate of UAH 41.40/$1," he said at an event of the European Business Association entitled "EBA Global Outlook: 'New Economy' of Ukraine" in Kyiv on Monday. The minister said that it is the forecast of the Ministry of Economy and other authorized structures that the Ministry of Finance is guided by. An Eastern European crime syndicate is behind a major meth distribution ring recently operating in Western Australia, police allege. Officers charged two men and seized firearms, $2.2 million in cash and 52.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, following raids across Perth, police revealed on Monday. The men are Estonian nationals, aged 31 and 28, and initially travelled to Perth on student visas. Police will allege the men were sent to Australia to oversee distribution of the drugs at the direction of a transnational organised crime group. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rebuffed a proposal to cancel the October 14 referendum on an Indigenous Voice in a fiery exchange in parliament about a slump in support for the change. Albanese said he would stick to the timetable for the crucial vote to give voters a chance to have their say as the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) opens postal voting on the question. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during question time on Monday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Voice campaigners admitted they had a tough battle ahead after this masthead reported the Yes vote had fallen from 46 to 43 per cent over the past month, sparking a debate on whether to change the date. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton asked Albanese whether he would withdraw the proposal before it was too late. The NSW governments plans to allow third-party contributors to spend up to $226,000 in every electorate 10 times the previous cap has been criticised by the Coalition and the Greens, who say it could have an insidious impact on democracy. The proposed Electoral Funding Amendment Bill lifting the cap for third-party contributors such as unions, GetUp! or the gambling lobby from $24,700 to $225,900 has raised fears it could spark American-style political spending in the state. Unions NSW, led by secretary Mark Morey, has argued that the election spending cap impinged on its rights. Credit: James Brickwood In January, the High Court handed down a unanimous decision in favour of the argument made by Unions NSW that the previous $24,700 cap impinged on implied freedom of political communication as laid out in the nations Constitution. The proposed figure is set at 75 per cent of the $301,200 candidates in NSW can spend in by-elections and general elections. The High Courts decision means there is currently no cap in place. With a vibe that feels more Mediterranean than classically Viennese, the Naschmarkt throbs where the 4th district meets the 6th, a short walk from the UNESCO-protected Innere Stadt (the first of the Austrian capitals 23 districts). As the name suggests, a market forms the Naschmarkts centrepiece, with around 120 produce stands, watering holes and eateries, including Lebanese, Turkish and Greek delis, and fish and seafood specialists. Many establishments have outdoor seating and covered heated terraces. Some lure night owls with cocktails and live DJs. Theres also a weekly Saturday flea market here. See wien.info Neubau is flanked by the Museums Quarter. North of Mariahilferstrasse, Viennas longest shopping drag, Neubau, in the 7th district, is often compared with the bohemian enclaves of Berlin thanks to its mash-up of street art, eclectic boutiques and cool subterranean bars. Quaint and mural-brightened side streets have hip retro takes on traditional Viennese coffeehouses, some doubling as galleries and thrift stores, while old-stagers like Schnitzelwirt tempt punters with gigantic schnitzels. Peppered with Asian options including Indian, Vietnamese, Korean and Filipino Neubau is flanked by the MuseumsQuartier, where modern and contemporary art is displayed in and around the former stables of the Habsburg imperial dynasty. See mqw.at Grinzing Heuriger Wolff serves carafes from the last grape harvest with cheeseboards, cold cuts, salads, pickles and home-made bread. Some of the wine poured at Viennas bars and restaurants is made within the city limits. In Grinzing, a village in the norths 19th district, you can hike in forested, vineyard-carpeted hills and refuel at rustic, family-run heurigen (wine taverns). Characterised by its wood-panelled decor, nostalgic photographs and viticultural paraphernalia, Heuriger Wolff serves carafes from the last grape harvest with cheeseboards, cold cuts, salads, pickles and home-made bread. If the weathers good, seek out a table in the garden. Sometimes folk musicians add to the ambience, playing guitars, accordions and toe-tapping tunes such as The Blue Danube waltz by Johann Strauss. See wienerheuriger.at Seoul: Weapons deals are expected to be top of the agenda as North Korean leader Jong-un is set to arrive in Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, while Moscow looks to replenish its depleted stockpiles in its war against Ukraine. Kim was invited by Putin to arrive in the coming days, according to Russias Tass news agency and North Koreas state media. South Korean media reported on Monday that Kim had departed for the Russian port city of Vladivostok, citing unnamed officials. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un in Vladivostok in 2019. They will meet again this week. Credit: AP The meeting is likely to fuel concerns in Washington and like-minded capitals about increased military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang at a critical juncture in Russias war in Ukraine. US and South Korean officials also have warned that North Korea may seek critical technologies from Russia to boost Pyongyangs nuclear and weapons ambitions. The two leaders are increasingly finding their perceived interests aligning in their efforts to reduce US influence in the region. Santiago: Viola remembers the terror of being naked in front of her captors, the blows to her body and the pain. Carlos recounts being barely able to breathe amid beatings that left his ribs broken. For Alejandra, some horrors she would rather not put into words. Fifty years after a 1973 coup in Chile that ushered in 17 years of brutal military rule and saw some 40,000 people imprisoned, disappeared, tortured or killed, Reuters went with five former political prisoners to the sites of their confinement. The testimonies of three are included here. Protesters are hit by a police water cannon during clashes at a march marking the 50th anniversary of the military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet, in Santiago, Chile. Credit: AP These places have become focal points of shared memory as victims and their families look to gain more control over the past, find out still hidden truths, and seek accountability for what took place during the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. Carlos Gonzalez was arrested and tortured by Pinochets secret police in 1976 at the age of 28. For months he was held in detention centres, including the Tres Alamos and Cuatro Alamos political prison camps in Santiago. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- On Friday, September 8, 2023, a meeting was held between the Presidium of Parliament and the Council of Ministers (CoM). The meeting opened with introductory remarks by the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs, Silveria E. Jacobs, and the President of Parliament, Sidharth M. Bijlani. The primary discussion points included the budgetary process and the communication protocols between Parliament and the Government, particularly concerning correspondence between entities and the legislative processes. While arrangements will be made for subsequent discussions to follow up on the issues, the meeting was successful in identifying areas for improvement and establishing solutions to enhance efficiency. All parties involved regarded the meeting as productive. PHILIPSBURG:--- Sint Maartens healthcare sector will receive significant investment in the coming years through the Improving Mental Health Services Project with a goal to sustainably improve the entire mental healthcare chain. The project will seek to improve access and quality in service delivery and contribute to the construction of a new mental health facility geared towards future demand. Recognizing the urgent need for more effective and accessible mental healthcare, Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA) Omar Ottley is pleased that this project is well on its way to successful implementation. Mental health is a critical aspect of our overall well-being, and it is imperative that the national mental health system is robust and adequately resourced to meet the growing demand for mental health services. By advocating for policies that promote accountability, coordination, and collaboration among stakeholders, the project will seek to establish a framework that fosters innovation, efficiency, and best practices in mental healthcare, said VSA Minister Ottley. The Government of Sint Maarten, and specifically the Ministry of VSA, is dedicated to working collaboratively with stakeholders, including government agencies, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups, to address the current gaps in the system and create lasting improvements. The project is based on the Ministry of VSA's strategic goals and is in line with current mental health-related reforms. The Ministry aims for better governance, building capacity, offering quality care in communities, promoting preventive programs, and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders. The project will strengthen the mental care system involving various health and social sector stakeholders to improve services. The project also supports the development of a new facility for the Mental Health Foundation, Sint Maarten's only mental health facility, to meet future needs. Improving mental health services is crucial for Sint Maarten's resilience and disaster response, and the Government considers investing in psychosocial support and mental health a top priority. This involves ensuring that mental health services are available and accessible to individuals in need, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. By advocating for increased funding, improved infrastructure, and workforce development, this project aims to strengthen the capacity of mental health providers to deliver quality care and support. With the support of our own National Recovery Program Bureau, Sint Maarten is set to launch this much-needed mental health project. It focuses on strengthening our national mental health system, updating the financing system, and constructing a new mental health care facility. By addressing mental health and psychosocial issues, we align with SDG 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. This transformative project reflects our commitment to leaving no one behind on the path to progress, fostering a healthier and happier Sint Maarten for generations to come. It is my hope that through this collaboration, we can begin to build a more resilient and compassionate nation, one that cherishes the wellbeing of all, said Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs. The Steering Committee of the Sint Maarten Trust Fund approved the project earlier this year, after months of preparatory work by the Ministry and the stakeholders. The legal agreement was signed on August 4, 2023. Over the next six (6) months, the project team will work out the project activities more in detail and consult with stakeholders in the healthcare field to further streamline how the project will be implemented in the coming years. The Sint Maarten Trust Fund is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, managed by the World Bank, and implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. For more information, the public is invited to visit www.nrpbsxm.org/mentalhealth PHILIPSBURG:---MP Wescot: On Monday, September 11, we close the 2022-2023 parliamentary year and as customary, Members of Parliament are given the opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and provide some thoughts for the coming year. On Tuesday, Governor Ajamu Baly will present the Governments Statement for the coming year. In MP Wescots view, this presentation comes at a peculiar time, with elections scheduled for January 2024; no budget for 2024, and the usual behavior of the ministers towards parliament. Of course, the absence of an amended 2023 budget and the tardiness in submitting the 2024 draft budget do not faze this government one bit. Nevertheless our constitution prescribes this presentation. With so many questions left unanswered and ministers acting opposite to one another, the question is what will be different this time around?, MP Wescot surmised. MP Wescot posed a few rhetorical questions to illustrate her point: Will we hear about the governments solution for the refinancing of the loans from the Netherlands? Or is that topic secret too? Will we hear about the governments plan for the Economic Development Corporation and its new management? Or is that top secret too? Will we finally learn what is behind the Grid market agreement? Will they supply residents with solar panels and a new metering system? Will that agreement help the many persons who in one way or another are jeopardized by the situation at our utility company? And do we have the whole picture of the situation at GEBE? I have given up seeking answers through the appropriate channels, namely the parliamentary route. By the time answers are provided, new facts have surfaced, and answers are constantly given in a roundabout way. This government is a living facade. Behind that facade, however, is the reality of the St. Maarten people. The everyday hard-working or retired persons and the youngsters, most of whom want better for St. Maarten. Lets admit that living, working or doing business on St. Maarten is not easy and that a divisive and openly contradictive government only exacerbates these challenges. That is the foremost picture of the past parliamentary year. Its easy to say, get your hurricane supplies, when for many getting their normal daily necessities is already a hardship. Its easy to say, pay up to GEBE, when a large percentage of our people live from month to month. Does the government understand this? Our democracy is one of coalition and opposition. Yet, if you listen to some members of the coalition, one would think opposition members are to show up, sit down and shut up, the MP stated with a clear reference to some of her colleagues in parliament. In the past year, as the government and its coalition members did everything to hold on to power, this ridicule against members of the opposition was especially evident. Inuendos and insinuations with unproven statements are the order of the day. MP Wescots solution for this behavior is the code of conduct for parliament, which has been on the books for some time. Where is Parliaments code of conduct? Why are we reluctant to hold each other accountable for the things we say and do? The dynamics of our system are often misunderstood, the MP explained. Unless there is a link with those in the executive branch (the ministers), opposition MPs are often lone voices. I have experienced this first hand with the law on Timeshare, the plastic bag ban, the changes to the Labor Law, the tax reform, banning the harmful vaping, electoral reform, healthcare reform, pension indexation, and others. So what are this governments priorities and what are their parties priorities? It is difficult to tell with the constant flip-flopping on critical issues. Therefore I have little hope that we will hear more than the usual window-dressing in the Governors presentation, the MP bluntly stated. Everything is put on the country package. Yet, after more than 15 management summaries by the body charged with the country package, only 5 reports have been commissioned and even fewer have been executed. The country reform package is not working, regretfully. On the topic of electoral reform, the MP stated: Finally it seems as if the Prime Minister has put in motion the change to the Election Ordinance to eliminate the black curtains in voting booths, but in the meantime has put the electoral reform project in doubt with her sudden statements regarding radio charges for political announcements and voting by non-Dutch residents. We see contradictions in the approach to utility company GEBE. Why must GEBEs assistance to the population, whether in payment schedules or senior relief be made political, when the government is the shareholder and has a special representative in place at the company? The Trust Fund, that is the achilles heel of this government, has suddenly become its most treasured achievement. Suddenly, we must believe that the ills with the hospital and with the airport, etc. have been righted by the very ones who were vehemently opposed to the entire Trust Fund to start with. I have sounded the alarm with regard to the national health insurance which is on the books to be introduced in January 2024. It does not appear that actual consultation has taken place on the governments decisions regarding this national health scheme. The concerns expressed have not been taken seriously. By the time, the package reaches parliament, it will be expected to be take it or leave it. My advice to the government will be to take it in stages and not to lose the health aspect to the financial aspect. The onus should be on healthcare for all. As we close the 2022-2023 parliamentary year, more issues remain unsolved than have been solved, more questions remain unanswered than have been answered and answers given evoked more questions in the minds of the members of parliament and of the people, MP Wescot concluded. PONITE BLANCHE:--- Royal Caribbeans 5th Oasis Class, Wonder of the Seas, has canceled its port call for Thursday, September 14 due to Hurricane Lee which is influencing weather conditions throughout the Caribbean. Royal Caribbean International has been forced to alternate the itineraries of four different ships operating out of four different US homeports ahead of Hurricane Lee as a precautionary measure ensuring a safe and comfortable cruising experience for guests onboard. Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) 2023 Atlantic hurricane season response plan is in effect. PSG is maintaining communication with all key stakeholders and hopes that there will be no further systems that will impact port operations going forward. The ship is 1,188 feet long, 210 feet wide, and has a gross tonnage of 236,857. The cruise ship has a passenger capacity of over 6,000 guests at double occupancy. The vessel has 17 decks and costs US$1.35 billion to construct. Sister ships are Allure, Harmony, Oasis, and Symphony of the Seas. Press Release September 11, 2023 Statement of Senator Risa Hontiveros on DOF's proposal to reduce rice import tariff rates Wala ba silang group chat? Nagkakagulatan ba sila o nag-aaway na? We hope that Secretary Diokno will not be "surprised" that the wet season harvests are already starting to happen. Ang pagpapatupad ng zero-tariff importation sa panahon ng anihan ay disaster na sasalanta sa ating mga lokal na magsasaka. Alam ito ng Department of Agriculture, baka bukas kay Undersecretary for Rice Sebastian naman tayo makarinig. Never open the import floodgates during harvest season or the local farmers would be on the losing end again. Even worse, the proposal doesn't mention a national calamity that would authorize a role for the government in the importation. The Diokno proposal also does not say that the importation will only be for the National Food Authority's buffer stock, which means that the importation will be done by the private sector. Magulo because this goes against the administration's goal of importing rice from Vietnam through government-to-government trade. Ano ba talaga? Mas mainam na ibasura ang planong government-to-government rice importation na pwedeng magtulak sa maraming rice importers na tumigil na sa negosyo --kasalungat naman ng layon ng zero-tariff proposal na engganyuhin silang mag-negosyo. Dapat pagtuunan din ng pansin na tulungan ang National Food Authority na sundin ang batas at gastusin nito ang P7-billion na budget para bumili ng buffer stock mula sa mga lokal na magsasaka at para sapat ang suplay pagtama ng El Nino hanggang susunod na lean season. I will file a resolution to shed light on these contradicting policies and to give the executive branches of government, which don't work together, a chance to talk to each other. Ukraine's Ministry of Finance hopes to receive $3.3 bln from USA in 2023, $12-14 billion in 2024 minister Ukraine's Ministry of Finance hopes that the interim U.S. budget is approved shortly and Ukraine would receive another $3.3 billion by the end of this year to cover the Ukrainian state budget deficit, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko has said. On the sidelines of the meeting of the European Business Association "EBA Global Outlook: 'New Economy' of Ukraine" in Kyiv on Monday, he said that in 2024, the Ministry of Finance would like to receive funding from the United States for the state budget at the level of this year. "No less than this year: somewhere from $12 billion to $14 billion. This is what we are developing," the minister said. However, according to him, there is still a lot of uncertainty on this issue. "We hope that, both in 2023 and in 2024, the United States will be with us," said Marchenko, speaking to the association. He reiterated that the 2024 state budget expenses will not be lower than this year, including on defense, which means that external financing is needed at a level not lower than this year $42 billion. The minister of finance recalled that, in addition to the United States, there would be assistance from the EU, the IMF, and individual countries Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and possibly Norway. "All this gives us the right to say that we can potentially finance next year's budget," Marchenko said. As reported, this year, the United States provided $8.5 billion in grants to Ukraine, while last year it was $12 billion. Total state budget funding this year reached $29.7 billion as of September 5, compared to $32.1 billion for the entire year of 2022. WILLEMSTAD:--- Some former students repay a higher monthly amount than is actually needed to repay their study debts. That is why Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs (DUO) will place extra emphasis on this during a visit to the Caribbean region this autumn. Between the end of September and the start of November, visits have been planned to Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Temporary service offices will be opened on all islands during the visit, and DUO will also be organizing information sessions about study financing on several of the islands. Inhabitants of the Caribbean region that repay study debts to DUO often repay a higher monthly amount than is actually necessary. This is normally because DUO does not know the income of the repaying person, which means it cannot be taken into account when calculating the monthly amount. Many people who repay their debts do not realize that they must personally request a reduction in their monthly amount, and must also personally mention their income when doing so. In addition, the monthly amount after re-calculation will never be higher than the original monthly amount. People who have not yet asked for their monthly amount to be reduced will receive an e-mail from DUO in September. The e-mail will mention what they can do. They are also welcome to visit one of DUO's temporary service offices to request a reduction or ask any questions they may have about this matter. Temporary service offices People can visit one of the temporary service offices if they have questions about study financing or repaying study debts to DUO. Staff can also help people if they need help to fill in forms or if they are no longer able to access Mijn DUO. Former students who are repaying their study debts can visit the service office to ask for their monthly amount to be reduced. It would be useful if they could also bring their tax authority income declaration for 2021 and 2022 so that DUO staff can immediately provide the required support. It is not necessary to make an appointment when visiting one of the service offices. However, valid proof of identity is needed. Online information via webinars DUO has used the Repaying from the Caribbean region: How does it work? webinar to explain how people can request a lower monthly amount and share their income, as well as the benefits of repaying locally. There is also a special webinar for future students who are unable to attend the information sessions about requesting study financing (more information about these sessions can be found below) or who live in Saba or St. Eustatius. Both free webinars are available with English subtitles. Information sessions for future students On all islands (except Saba and St. Eustatius), future students and their parents can register for the information session called Requesting study financing from the Caribbean region: How does it work? During the sessions, DUO will explain what study financing entails, how and when students must request study financing, and what else students must arrange. Naturally, they will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Alternative means of contact? If people still have questions after visiting a service office, attending the information sessions or watching the webinars, they can video call with DUO or ask DUO to call them. Visit duo.nl/antillen for all the contact possibilities. More information DUO will visit Saba on 25 and 26 September, and St. Eustatius on 27 and 28 September. They will then visit St. Maarten from 2 to 6 October, Aruba from 10 to 20 October, Bonaire from 16 to 20 October, and Curacao from 23 October to 3 November. More information about the temporary service offices, the information sessions, and the webinars can be found at duo.nl/bezoekantillen. Crushing Testwork Confirms Significant Upgrading Effect for Both High-grade and Low-grade Mineralisation at Taronga Tin Project First Tin PLC (aFirst Tina https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/millennial-potash-corp/ ), a tin development company with advanced, low capex projects in Germany and Australia, is pleased to report that results of the crushing pre-concentration testwork on bulk samples from ita?s Australian Taronga project from an adit through the North Pit mineralisation have now been received and assessed.A The results confirm First Tina?s hypothesis that due to the selective breakage along veins (Figures 1 to 4), liberation of cassiterite can be achieved simply by coarse crushing to 12mm and screening at 2.8mm. A The plus 2.8mm fraction is a discard while the minus 2.8mm fraction goes through the processing plant, thus the mass going through the plant is significantly decreased and the tin grade significantly increased. Two samples have now been tested, one grading 0.18% Sn (high grade) the other grading 0.10% Sn (low grade).A Results are: High grade sample (0.18% Sn) Sub 2.8mm size fraction contains 85.3% of the tin in 53.8% of the mass This fraction has been upgraded from 0.18% Sn to 0.30%Sn Plus 2.8mm size fraction contains 14.7% of the tin in 46.2% of the mass Low grade sample (0.10% Sn) Sub 2.8mm size fraction contains 84.2% of the tin in 57.5% of the mass This fraction has been upgraded from 0.10% Sn to 0.15% Sn Plus 2.8mm size fraction contains 15.8% of the tin in 42.5% of the mass The samples were initially jaw crushed on site to around 45mm and were subsequently re-crushed in the ALS Metallurgy laboratory in Perth to 12mm using a simulated conventional three stage crushing circuit.A This crushed sample was screened at 2.8mm with the oversize then put through a single pass vertical impact crusher (VSI) to scavenge any tin (cassiterite) not already liberated.A This product was again screened at 2.8mm and the minus 2.8mm fraction re-combined with the minus 2.8mm fraction from the conventional crushing.A The plus 2.8mm material is considered as waste and is sent directly to a waste rock emplacement facility. The results confirm the premise that the cassiterite (SnO2 tin ore mineral) is easily liberated at a coarse crush size.A The grade of material is increased by 50-67% and the mass is reduced to 54-58% of the original mass, making the rest of the processing facility smaller than would otherwise be required and the starting grade higher. After the crush stage, the remainder of the plant involves simple gravity separation.A Gravity separation testwork on the -2.8mm product of the crushing is currently underway and overall results will be announced shortly. A The first stage of the gravity separation involves screening at 0.4mm with the oversize (60%) going to jigs and the undersize (40%) to spirals.A Results for jigging of the high grade sample show that 27% of the total mined ore can be rejected, with the accepts being upgraded to a 1.21% Sn concentrate.A Results for rougher spiral separation of the high grade sample show that 20% of the total mined ore can be separated to a middling product grading 0.17% Sn for further treatment, with the accepts being upgraded to a 4.57% Sn concentrate.A Putting this data together from the crush, jig and spiral testwork from the 0.18% S sample then, prior to any grinding or additional gravity separation testwork: 73% of the mass containing 21% of the tin can be rejected 7% of the mass containing 64% of the tin can be concentrated to a product grading 1.94% Sn (pre-concentrate) 20% of the mass containing 15% of the tin grading 0.17% Sn reports to a middling product requiring further processing via grinding and gravity concentration to produce a pre-concentrate This simple front end upgrading means that the capital and operating costs of any processing plant will be relatively low for size of operation under consideration. This front end and low cost beneficiation shows why the Taronga deposit is unique, and why the initial low grades can be handled economically. First Tin CEO Thomas Buenger said: aWe are very pleased that we have now confirmed our previous hypothesis that the mineralisation at Taronga can be simply and cheaply upgraded at a very early stage in the processing circuit using a simple coarse crushing and screening technique followed by simple jigs and spirals.A It is particularly encouraging that even toward the lower end of the grades we are likely to mine, this large upgrading effect still works at the coarse crushing stage ..A The significant increase in the grade of material after simple crushing, jigging and rougher spirals is a major milestone in turning the Taronga deposit into a viable mining proposition, as is the significant reduction in tonnage which will mean lower opex and capex.a The project is owned by First Tina?s 100% owned Australian subsidiary, Taronga Mines Pty Ltd (aTMPLa). Enquiries: First TinA Via SEC Newgate below Thomas Buenger Chief Executive Officer Arlington Group Asset Management Limited (Financial Advisor and Joint Broker) Simon Catt 020 7389 5016 WH Ireland Limited (Joint Broker) Harry Ansell 020 7220 1670 SEC Newgate (Financial Communications) Elisabeth Cowell / Molly Gretton FirstTin@secnewgate.co.uk In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch A www.resource-capital.ch Notes to Editors First Tin is an ethical, reliable, and sustainable tin production company led by a team of renowned tin specialists. The Company is focused on becoming a tin supplier in conflict-free, low political risk jurisdictions through the rapid development of high value, low capex tin assets in Germany and Australia. Tin is a critical metal, vital in any plan to decarbonise and electrify the world, yet Europe has very little supply. Rising demand, together with shortages, is expected to lead tin to experience sustained deficit markets for the foreseeable future. Its assets have been de-risked significantly, with extensive work undertaken to date. First Tin\-s goal is to use best-in-class environmental standards to bring two tin mines into production in three years, providing provenance of supply to support the current global clean energy and technological revolutions. National Nuclear Generating Company Energoatom and U.S. Westinghouse have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation to implement small modular reactors SMR 300 in Ukraine, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported from the scene. According to Westinghouse President Patrick Fragman, the SMR 300 could serve as a good complement to the larger AP 1000 reactors. Similar memorandums have already been signed by Westinghouse with Slovakia and Finland. Energoatom and Westinghouse also signed a memorandum to extend the period of exclusivity of cooperation in building AP1000 units in Ukraine. "Certain equipment for building AP1000 in Ukraine has already been produced in the United States. Thus, we will speed up the process of delivery and building of a reactor," he said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock arrived on an unannounced visit to Kyiv, this is her fourth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, the newspaper Die Welt said. "...The politician arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Monday morning for a visit that was initially kept secret for security reasons. A week before the start of the UN General Assembly in New York, the visit was also likely intended as a sign of solidarity," the newspaper said in the statement on Monday. According to the publication, the head of the Foreign Ministry arrived in Kyiv from Poland at night on a special train. She was met and greeted on the platform by German Ambassador Martin Jaeger. "Upon arrival, Baerbock promised Ukraine further support on its way to the European Union, but at the same time insisted on continuing reforms, for example, in the fight against corruption," according to the publication. The minister said Ukraine "protects the freedom of all of us." Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: BMW Groups investment is another shining example of how the UK is the best place to build the cars of the future. By backing out car manufacturing industry we are securing thousands of jobs and growing our economy right across the country. Is she ruminating about a second start-up? No! I know what it takes now to start a business and theres no way I have the energy to do it again we started making one breakfast cereal at our kitchen, now 18 years later we are in all the major supermarkets, 20% of our business is international, alternative milks are normal, people want to eat healthily to feel good, and thats the essence of Rude Health. I feel like the world is now on our side and theres lots we still have to do. The Standards front page reports at least 13 high-end hotels are scheduled to open by 2025, many from world-renowned operators launching in the capital for the first time, while others get major refurbishments to tempt elite customers from their cash. It is therefore welcome, if not also long overdue, that 10 of Britains largest retailers are coming together to fund a new police operation to crack down on shoplifting, as part of a wider effort to show zero tolerance towards this brazen crime. The partnership, Project Pegasus, will see the police process CCTV images of an offender through the national database, which includes facial recognition technology. An interesting fact gleaned from Net-A-Porter is that their EIPs (extremely important customers who spend over 10,000 a year) account for three per cent of the customer base, yet deliver over 40 per cent of sales. It is this fashion three per cent then which their buy caters to or, as they spin it, basic elements delivered in the most luxurious fashion. You might be tired of hearing about stealth wealth, but rich people cant get enough of Valentino jeans at over 700, or 1,000 Alaia ballet flats, or Prada trench coats just shy of 3,000. Which means that the high street will be trickling dupes of these to your browser window, too. Fantasy house hunting became reality in late 2015, and the couple agreed their perfect destination was Sheffield. Jordan, 41, had spent time in the city and loved it and Jonathan, 48, was able to transfer his job with the NHS to its Sheffield office. It was definitely something we were going to do at some point we just didnt expect it to happen so quickly, said Jordan. Rosss first taste of fame came at age 10, when she appeared as a baby goth bride on the cover of Ozzy Osbournes No Rest For The Wicked album in 1987. She was scouted by Corinne Day on Portobello Road at age 13, but resisted the modelling world until she had finished at Holland Park School . Thats when Mario [Testino] put me in Vogue, she recalls. While the clothes of that era might be back, that sense of serendipity that came with discovering new faces is different. What I can see in all kinds of businesses is this [obsession] with Instagram following, which I find really depressing, muses Ross. The girls today, they [all] look the same whereas in my day, it was all about looking different. You would shoot something and look completely different in seven campaigns, even if they all came out at the same time. Today its like boom, lets use this one because this is how she looks and she looks the same in every single campaign. In a statement Burton, who was awarded an OBE in 2012, said that I am so proud of everything Ive done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen. They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years. I want to thank Francois-Henri Pinault for believing in me and offering me this amazing opportunity. Above all I want to thank Lee Alexander McQueen. He taught me so much and I am eternally grateful to him. I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with me. Prosecutor General: Council of Europe experience to be invaluable in return of deported Ukrainian children, release of civilians from captivity The support of the Council of Europe in ensuring the responsibility of Russia for war crimes and continuing the reform of the prosecutor's office is an important component of the process of restoring justice, Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin siad. The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) said on its Telegram channel of the reported on Monday that during an official visit to Latvia, Kostin held meetings with Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic-Buric, and Head of the Directorate General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe Christos Giakoumopoulos. "The Prosecutor General thanked for the support of the Council of Europe in ensuring the responsibility of Russia for war crimes and the continuation of the reform of the prosecutor's office. This support is an important component of the process of restoring justice," the PGO said. "We highly value the strategic consultations of Council of Europe experts. Their experience would be invaluable in strengthening our work in priority areas: the return of Ukrainian children forcibly deported by the aggressor and the release of civilians illegally detained in Russia," Kostin's words are quoted in the statement during a conversation with the Secretary General of the Council Europe. According to the statement, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General spoke about Ukraine's willingness not only to ensure an appropriate response in the legal sector, but also to develop international legal mechanisms that guarantee the safe return of Ukrainian citizens. The department said Kostin thanked Giakoumopoulos for supporting the creation of the War Crimes Victims Register, assuring that protecting the rights of victims and witnesses of war crimes is an ongoing priority. "We continue to work on introducing an approach focused on the interests of victims of Russian crimes. We have initiated the specialization of prosecutors, and the Coordination Center for Support of Victims and Witnesses has already started work. We will be very grateful for your assistance in strengthening the Ukrainian justice system in this important area," Kostin said. It was obvious from the start that he has enormous respect for the designer. Hed done his research and some: a poem penned by Dos friend, Vietnamese-American poet Ocean Vuong was written across the floor, calling to mind the work Lang had done with neo-conceptual artist Jenny Holzer. Other signals were there: the limited palette, the straps, the taxi print, the typographic T-shirts. But lets not get bogged down in the Spot the Langism game, and instead consider the clothes on their own merit. There is a clear intention on Dos part to propel a disruptive minimalism to the front of the agenda (read: not quiet luxury. Loud quietness, perhaps?). It is interesting to know that the prices of the new Lang are going to be, by high fashion standards, accessible. Smart, as Dos goal must be to make Lang not just relevant once more, but agenda-setting. I hope he is given the time and freedom to do that. Knowler told police she had offered to let the dogs out two or three times a day, but had no further involvement in their care. The judge found Knowler should have been aware of the danger that Spike posed when off the lead, as the dog had previously attacked her own cat. But he accepted she was unaware of the animals years of maltreatment. Ive always been clear that police officers must be held to a higher standard of behaviour than ordinary people, Sir Mark said. We are being more robust in doing so than has bene done for at least 50 years. We must come down hard on those who do not meet our standards, but we must also recognise the toll the current system has on honest officers doing their utmost to protect the public. London is not expected to be affected by storms, with the week remaining largely dry, with the exception of Tuesday, where there is a chance of showers during the afternoon. We don't know enough to be able to tell you how concerned you should be. It's a very different situation than we have been in in 2020 and 2021. We have all got pre existing immunity at this point, through vaccines or infection. Tracks such as Beasley St and Evidently Chickentown featured on the hit album SnapCrackle and Bop, which was one of four big selling original album releases in the late 70s and early 80s. They established Cooper Clarke as one of the most prolific artists of the punk years; the albums were big sellers worldwide and firmly placed him as a major talent. Ms Williams said: I welcome this decision and hope this opens the door for the Met to start being more honest and reflective about the culture of racism which is undoubtedly still a reality within the organisation. Campaigners are calling for an annual league table to be published. Frank Young and Daniel Lilley from Civitas, authors of the report, said: Education league tables are always fraught with imperfections and the cause of much discussion, but they perform a useful role. This is the first ever league table looking exclusively at care leavers and it shouldnt be the last. Every year a league table should be produced to demonstrate how well we are doing as a country. One startling feature of many of the new openings is nightly room rates that start at more than 1,000. Cristina Balekjian, director of hospitality analytics, UK, at CoStar Group, said: This is unprecedented. We have never seen this in London before. But that is the way with luxury hotels, they always surprise on the upside. Ten years ago hotels in this category were achieving 500, now it is 1,000. But operators are very optimistic about the luxury sector and so there is potential for all these extra rooms to be absorbed. What discussions have gone on between ministers and Chinese officials to haul them up over this one? Because the prime minister took it up with the premier from China at the G20 summit, as if this is something that had just happened. and its not, Mr Loughton said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv and held talks with her on the development of bilateral relations, increasing the coalition in support of the Peace Formula, new ways of exporting grain and providing weapons, including long-range Taurus missiles. We discussed in detail the provision of German Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. Today we have a better understanding of the specifics of the German government's final decision-making process. For its part, Ukraine is ready to do everything necessary to speed it up. As a result of the negotiations, I can say that the option of providing these missiles remains open, and the decisionmaking process inside Germany is moving forward, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine quoted Kuleba as saying. The Minister expressed gratitude to the German side for the powerful defense support that the German government provides to Ukraine, in particular, in creating an air shield and strengthening the tank power of the Ukrainian army. He particularly noted the effectiveness of the German Gepard systems, which have demonstrated good results in protecting Ukrainian cities and towns from Russian terror. Kuleba stressed that the talks were about an additional strengthening of Ukraine's air defense on the eve of the new winter season and possible attacks against the energy system from Russia. The parties also discussed the promotion of Ukrainian grain exports, preparations for the International Summit on Food Security, the humanitarian program of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Grain From Ukraine and the German side's support for Ukraine on the path to EU membership. The Ministers emphasized the agreement to work together for the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia to Ukraine. Kuleba expressed his personal gratitude to Baerbock for her efforts to return Ukrainian children. Conservative former minister Tim Loughton, who has been sanctioned by China, bemoaned the lack of briefings on the case as he told MPs: I found out more about this character involved from my son, who just happened to be at university with him, than anything Ive been told formally. Theresa was not going to go, that was very clear. And I certainly never made any suggestion to her or made any move against her. I would not have done so. Sir Iain noted: The problem lies in the mess weve got into over what we define China as in respect to us. Are they a threat or are they not? If they are a threat, why dont we call them a threat and take the relative action that is necessary to deal with them on that basis and sanction some people? Speaking ahead of the trip, the Foreign Secretary said: The UK and Israel work closely together to keep our people safe. Ill be using my first visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories as Foreign Secretary to renew our close security partnership, in the face of unacceptable threats from the Iranian regime. Asked how he plans to keep unions on side, Sir Keir said: The Labour Party and the trade unions have had a long relationship together and we had a big session at the beginning of the summer where we agreed policy going forward. I think if it is advancing at all (efforts to bring Stormont back), its advancing at a snails pace, and I know from talking to all five main parties here that confidence is starting to wane about whether it is going to be possible to get the Assembly and the Executive up and running. There are cultural clashes with some countries where they believe that they are buying a degree rather than having to work for one and I think that is something we all need to have our eyes wide open (about). But it is still the main source of legal protection in the UK against espionage more than a century after it was first drawn up. In February for example, security guard David Ballantyne Smith was jailed for spying for Russia while he worked at the British embassy in Berlin, contrary to the 1911 legislation. He added: The G20 is a collection of a large group of countries that do not all share the same perspective on global affairs, or indeed the same values, and to assume that it can reflect the unanimity that we have in the G7 is simply to just misunderstand how foreign affairs actually works. Ukraine has retaken control of the so-called Boyko Rigs, gas and oil drilling platforms off the coast of temporarily occupied Crimea in the Black Sea, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine. "Russia occupied them [the Boyko Rigs] in 2015 and, when the full-scale invasion started, it used them for military purpose. In particular, [they were used] as helipads and for the deployment of radars," it said on the Telegram channel on Monday. The Ukrainian forces recaptured the Petro Hodovanets and Ukraine drilling platforms, as well as the Tavryda and Sivash jack-up rigs. The operation to take back the Boyko Rigs was conducted by the personnel of the Main Intelligence Directorate. "During the operation, the special forces managed to seize precious trophies: a stock of helicopter-type unguided rockets and a Neva radar system that can monitor the movement of vessels in the Black Sea," it said. Also, during one of the phases of the operation, a battle occurred between Ukrainian special forces on boats and the occupiers' Su-30 fighter jet. The enemy aircraft was damaged and had to retreat. Despite Conservative hopes that Mr Sunak would bring Tory polling numbers up into line with his own popularity, the Prime Minister has seen his standing decline, with the proportion of people saying he is an asset to his party falling from 39% to 29% in the four months since May. She added: Police Scotland have operational independence and it has been of the utmost importance to me to ensure that Police Scotland retain the ability to effectively police the facility and ensure that the wider community, those operating the site and those using the facility can be kept safe. She told ITVs Good Morning Britain: She said it the first time and I just couldnt believe it. I thought I have got to get it on camera, because she sometimes doesnt always do things a second time. I asked her to do it again and she did it straight away. After their 20-minute discussion, Mr Sunak said: I obviously cant comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation but, with regard to my meeting with Premier Li, what I said very specifically is that I raised a range of different concerns that we have in areas of disagreement and, in particular, my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable. Aside from helping people hone their skills and gain the knowledge to pursue their dream careers, universities are also where you can make new friends, try out new hobbies, and take more responsibility. During his visit, Mr Varadkar will also have a bilateral meeting with Mr Heaton-Harris to discuss the importance the Irish government attaches to the restoration of the powersharing institutions and to the British/Irish partnership, as well as the Irish governments concerns relating to the UK Governments Legacy Bill. We have a whole generation of leaders, the worst of which are bullies, who basically treat people that they should be told what to do, and they should be inspired through fear and not respect. That is their culture, that is their heritage, and we in the south need to talk a lot more about what we would do to make sure they feel included, feel wanted, would put their effort behind a united Ireland and not seek to oppose it. He argued the conditions have led to multiple bouts of Covid-19, substantially failing health, and 24/7 solitary confinement for the past eight years, adding that they were in contravention of the representations made by the United States to obtain his extradition from the United Kingdom. On behalf of the government, the German defense concern Rheinmetall AG will supply Ukraine with another 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, the companys press service reports. The German government has ordered Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. The order was placed in August 2023 and is estimated at a double-digit amount. Rheinmetall continues work on the existing vehicles at full speed so that a new batch of Marder vehicles can be delivered in accordance with the contract, starting from 2023, reads the text posted on the Rheinmetall website. It is noted that the total number of Marder infantry fighting vehicles that Rheinmetall will supply to Ukraine will reach 80. The company recalls that the first 20 infantry fighting vehicles ordered by the German government for Ukraine were launched on March 21, 2023. Also, 20 more infantry fighting vehicles were ordered in June 2023 and were recently delivered. The delivered infantry fighting vehicles are overhauled Marder 1A3, which Rheinmetall had previously adopted for service with the Bundeswehr (the German Armed Forces). Already in the spring of 2022, Rheinmetall, at its own expense, began repairing infantry fighting vehicles so that they were ready for immediate deployment," the report reads. Currently, Marder infantry fighting vehicles are being created at Rheinmetall factories in Unterlus and Kassel. Up to ten such machines can be delivered per month. It is noted that this combat vehicle is one of the most proven weapons systems of this kind in the world. The partnership with Vietnam is part of the Biden administration's push to demonstrate to our our Indo-Pacific partners and to the world, the United States is a Pacific nation and we're not going anywhere, Mr Biden told reporters after the meeting in Hanoi. Last week, the regime claimed to have launched a new nuclear-capable attack submarine, in a move it said was designed to strike fear into the hearts of South Korea and the US. The confirmed death toll from the weekend flooding stood at 61 as of late Monday, according to health authorities. But the tally did not include Derna, which had become inaccessible, and many of the thousands missing there were believed carried away by waters. This Russian shelling once again confirms how close the war against Ukraine is for everyone in the world who truly values human life and who considers it a common moral duty of humanity to stop terror and defeat evil," he said. They have made a lifes work of sharing Ukrainian food and drink with the world, and since war broke out in Ukraine, have both worked tirelessly to raise awareness and money for the people who desperately need it. It will be an honour to have them on board. Entirely self-taught, the chef who entered the profession late at aged 37 having spent his early life in the oil and gas industry. He went on to achieve the pinnacle in British gastronomy, as the first self-taught chef to win three Michelin stars in Britain and the first to do so of British-Cypriot heritage. He released two highly influential books; My Gastronomy in 1987 was followed by 1996s Nico was part memoir and part kitchen psychology book. Born in Tanganyikan and of Greek descent, Ladenis had never trained as hed never planned to cook. Armed with an economics degree, and with a few years in the gas and oil industry in him, the gig he was gunning for was one with Shell. They told him he wasnt a company man given his incandescent temper, perhaps they were right and so Ladenis, having helped a pal open a restaurant, headed to France with his wife Dinah-Jane. They lived for a year dining out for lunch and supper. That was 1972; in 73, aged 37, he opened Chez Nico on Lordship Lane, Dulwich. It was far more expensive than anything else around; it was also immediately full. If youre yet to try Uniqlos Airism range, youre in for a treat. From the t-shirts to the underwear, the fabrics are super lightweight and extremely comfortable - and youll never want to take them off. Not only will you stay cool and dry, but theyll also keep any unwanted whiffs at bay thanks to the built-in deodorizing technology. When I was at school, I had very limited friends; I just did not fit in at all..." he told the publication. Thats why I went to the dance classes; people were telling me I was good at it, and it was the first thing Id ever been good at. Both she and her husband contracted Covid-19 in the early stages of the pandemic, but while her experience was mild, Drapers condition was so severe he was hospitalised for a year, placed in a medically-induced coma and is now in a wheelchair. As of the beginning of 78% of the polled Ukrainians said that it is the president of Ukraine who is directly responsible for corruption in the government and military administrations, according to a survey conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, jointly with Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, on July 3-17, 2023. According to the survey, which was published on the official website of the Foundation on Monday, only 18% of the polled Ukrainians disagree with such a claim. "Ukrainians of senior age are more demanding to the president than the youth. While among respondents aged from 18 to 29 years old, 70% agree with the thesis that the head of state is responsible for corruption, the share of criticism among people aged over 60 years old rises to 81%. There are no other significant differences in terms of financial position or a region of residence," the Foundation said. The poll was conducted using the face-to-face method among 2,011 respondents older than 18 in all regions of Ukraine, except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kherson region. The survey was conducted in Zaporizhia and Kharkiv regions only in the territories that are controlled by the government of Ukraine and where no hostilities take place. BMW is set to announce itll make the new electric Mini in the UK, engineers from the University of Exeter are working on ways to switch diesel vehicles to greener alternatives, and Tim Burton hits out at AI-generated art. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday, announced that Germany will allocate another EUR 20 million ($21.4 million) for humanitarian aid for Ukraine. We are once again increasing our humanitarian aid. And this year it is already EUR 380 million, she told a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. Baerbock stressed that it is impossible to get used to Russian atrocities, which is why Germany supports Ukraine. We in Europe know: you are also defending our European freedom here. We are forever grateful to Ukrainians for this, she said. The German Foreign Minister also expressed confidence that in the autumn and winter, the Russian Federation will again strike at Ukraine's energy facilities in order to cause the greatest harm to people. She stressed that Germany will support Ukraine as much as necessary. Baerbock has visited Ukraine for the fourth time since February 2022 - since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. 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"The issue of 'nullifying' sanctions cannot be on agenda in principle. Because if we 'nullify' anything right now, then tomorrow Russia will bombard another port and start to blackmail the world with other demands," he said at a joint press conference with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv on Monday. Kuleba also said that he has discussed with Baerbock the sanctions against Russia and the grain deal. "I know that some forces support such concessions to Russia. I am not saying that Annalena supports them, but there are such forces. I said clearly that if someone wants to allow the family of [Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai] Patrushev, who hates the West and wants to destroy it, to earn a couple of hundreds of million dollars on Rosselkhozbank, then you can connect it to the SWIFT system. What kind of respect will these people have for themselves after that it is hard for me to imagine," the Ukrainian minister said. Earlier, Bild reported that the UN is in "secret talks" with Russia on a deal under which the main sanctions introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine will be canceled. The Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, stated, on Monday, at a meeting with the head of the National Guard of the U.S. state of Alabama, that Romania is considering measures to strengthen the monitoring and security of the country's airspace and, implicitly, of NATO, both through efforts at the national level and through cooperation with the allies, the maximum priority being the safety of the citizens, especially of the communities in the vicinity of the brutal attacks of the Russian Federation on Ukrainian civilian ports. The Minister of National Defense, Angel Tilvar, and the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, met, on Monday, at the Defense Ministry (MApN) headquarters, with the head of the National Guard of the American state of Alabama, Mrs. Major General Sheryl E. Gordon. According to a press release from the Ministry of Defense, the agenda of the meeting included security in the Black Sea, the impact of the Russian Federation's war of aggression in Ukraine on Euro-Atlantic security, aspects of Romanian-American cooperation in the field of defense, within the framework of the Romania-USA Strategic Partnership and the State Partnership Program (SPP) with the National Guard of the State of Alabama, launched three decades ago, as well as the measures to strengthen security in the border area with Ukraine, after the identification on Romanian territory of "drone fragments similar to those used by the Russian army". On this occasion, the implications of the attacks of the Russian Federation on the port infrastructure of Ukraine, from the proximity of Romania's borders, as well as the effects on global food security, were analyzed, the cited source states. Minister Tilvar emphasized, in the context, the measures to strengthen the security in the border area with Ukraine, especially in the conditions generated by the identification on the national territory, in areas close to the Ukrainian port infrastructure attacked by the forces of the Russian Federation, of fragments of a similar drone those used by the Russian army. Also, Angel Tilvar appreciated the commitment of the US forces deployed in our country and the excellent military cooperation with the Romanian armed forces in order to ensure interoperability and the contribution to strengthening the security of the Euro-Atlantic space on the eastern flank. The Romanian official mentioned the importance of strengthening air police missions in Romania, expressing his appreciation for the US decision to deploy F-16 aircraft in this regard. It was also highlighted the role that the State Partnership Program with the USA can have on the operationalization of the F-16 Training Center in Romania. General Petrescu supported the importance of the program of joint activities for the development of the capabilities of the Romanian Army. The military delegation led by Major General Sheryl E. Gordon is paying a working visit to Romania between September 10-16, the program including meetings with representatives of some units and large units from the Bucharest, Sibiu, Targu Mures and Sighisoara garrisons EduMin: School year, new beginning for education system, desired change, starting to happen Minister of Education Ligia Deca said on Monday that this school year represents a new beginning for the entire education system, mentioning that the law on pre-university education has come into force, gradually putting into effect the "Educated Romania" project, initiated by President Klaus Iohannis, and the desired change is starting to happen, told Agerpres. "Both the President of Romania and the Romanian Government have constantly reiterated that education is a national priority. I have dedicated a good part of my career to improving the education system in Romania and that is why I am happy to say that the change we all wanted is finally starting to happen. (...) But we need to do more and provide more. We have proposed that in every school in Romania there should be adequate educational infrastructure. This is already being put into practice through the provision of furniture, teaching materials and digital equipment to educational units, through the largest investment in the last three decades. More than one billion euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan are being contracted and the first results will be visible in the coming months. More than 2,000 contracts have already been signed, and by the end of this month all of them will be ready to be launched in order to have the material basis that our children deserve," Ligia Deca added. The Education minister also said that solving some of the system's "recurring challenges" is a priority of her mandate. "Since the beginning of my mandate, the Ministry of Education has launched calls for projects funded by the PNRR worth almost 3 billion euros. This includes the implementation of a pilot network of green schools, programmes to reduce school dropout, the purchase of green minibuses for students and the equipping of high schools in Romania with intelligent laboratories. Solving recurrent challenges of the system is a priority of my mandate," added Deca, highlighting in this regard the hot meals for a million pupils programme, increasing access to nurseries and kindergartens, financing educational units that still have non-compliant sanitary facilities. The minister also said that the package of legislation is meant to meet teachers' needs and it represents a proof that teachers need to be valued, mentioning last year's salary increases, which "were the highest in three decades." "The Government has committed that salaries will increase gradually in the coming years, in relation to the average gross salary on the economy as a salary of the newcomer. The average salary increase for teaching staff this year was more than 25% and for auxiliary teaching staff more than 30%. The Romanian Government has committed that from January 1, 2024, teachers and education staff will benefit from a further increase, as agreed with the representatives of the education staff," the minister added. She referred to school principals, mentioning the salary inequalities and the discussions that the Ministry of Education has held with the Ministry of Labour and inside the Government to remedy them. "Distinguished teachers, I appreciate the efforts you make every day and congratulate you for your work and invite you to continue to be true role models for your students. Dear pupils, enjoy every moment, together with your teachers and colleagues, always stay in competition with yourselves first and foremost and be open to knowledge. Dear parents, I have always supported honest communication between school and family. The efforts made here in school have better results if they are matched by the efforts made at home, I invite you to continue to be reliable partners of the school," the minister also said. Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that Romania also needs an administrative reform, starting with localities with up to 1,500-2,000 inhabitants, when asked when the number of schools with toilets in the yard will reach zero. "We hope to finalise it. I think an administrative reform is also needed in Romania, if you want a personal opinion, and it should start with localities that have up to 1,500-2,000 inhabitants. This signal must be given, maybe not from these elections (2024 local election, ed. n.), to future elections, but in Romania an administrative reform is also needed. We must do it and assume it," Ciolacu said, agerpres reports. Asked what he will do to ensure that next year education will receive more money from the budget, to EU standards, the prime minister said: "First of all, let me make sure that there is no waste. Come with me to this college and when you want me to have free time too, we go to a college in Belgium. It's the same standard, the children get food, they have workshops, the classes are impeccable. Romania is a member of the EU and we've almost reached the standards... really in Bucharest, in the big cities. That's why, I repeat, we also need an administrative reform. (...) I prefer to invest in drivers, in minibuses and gather children in areas where quality education is provided at a certain level. All children must have the same chance," the premier stressed, at the Anghel Saligny Technical College in Bucharest on Monday. More than 200 soldiers from seven states, including Ukraine, are participating in the 4-day Sea Breeze 23.3 multinational drill, starting on Monday, by the Romanian and United States Naval Forces, on the Black Sea and in the Danube Delta. According to the General Staff of the Romanian Naval Forces, the main objective of the exercise is to develop operational and tactical interoperability between the participating countries, in the field of combating explosive devices, in particular, drifting sea mines, in order to ensure freedom of navigation. In the Sea Breeze 23.3 exercise, led by the Naval Component Command Vice Admiral Ioan Georgescu, forces and capabilities intended to fight against explosive devices from Bulgaria, France, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Romania, the United States of America, Turkey and Ukraine are participating. "The exercise takes place in maritime and fluvial districts, they are delimited, first of all, by the specifics of the actions. Concretely, near the port of Constanta are the districts where actions are carried out for EOD divers, in maritime districts in the territorial waters of Romania actions specific to ships with mine fighting capabilities take place and also in the north of the Danube Delta are actions of the River Flotilla represented by ships from the River Flotilla and personnel and military equipment from the Marine Infantry Regiment," said Commander Adrian Dinca, from the Romanian Naval Forces. He was asked by journalists if the organizers of the exercise expect a surveillance from Russia during the military maneuvers. "The exercise takes place in the territorial waters of Romania, but there is also this possibility. The Romanian personnel participating in the activity have clear procedures regarding the mode of action in such situations. (...) Depending on the specifics of the actions, the procedures are also adapted to these activities," Dinca said. According to him, 227 soldiers are taking part in the Sea Breeze drill, of which 164 are from the Romanian Naval Forces and 63, representatives of the other participating countries NATO's Geoana: There are no indications that Russia has any intention of attacking a NATO state NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana says that there are no indications of the Russian Federation having an intention of attacking a NATO member state, but that the worries of the Romanians living near the Danube border with Ukraine are understandable, told Agerpres. "There are no indications that the Russian Federation has any intention of attacking a NATO member state, be it Romania or any other state. And that is a result of the power and strength of our alliance. We are the first element of deterrence (... ).Obviously, when a few hundred metres or a few kilometres away from your home, from your workplace you hear the noise of war, obviously it creates excitement for you and obviously it creates anxiety and anguish. I understand that. But there is no risk against Romania in the sense of being dragged into this conflict or the conflict having an extension towards Romania," Geoana said on Monday in the town of Racari, Dambovita County. The NATO official also announced his intention to visit the areas in Tulcea County in the vicinity of the Ukrainian ports constantly attacked by drones of the Russian Federation. "What would have happened had we not been in NATO? And maybe this would be additional confidence in the fact that we belong to the strongest alliance in the history of humankind. And I even intend to visit soon and (...) maybe my presence and my message will be a message of peace, trust and calm," said Geoana. No drone parts confirmed in areas other than those previously investigated (official) The Romanian Defence Ministry (MApN) announces that the presence of drone fragments in an area other than those previously investigated has not been confirmed, as the surveillance of areas on the national soil near Ukrainian ports continue, told Agerpres. "Following the information received on September 9 after-noon from the local public officials of Ceatalchioi, who signalled the possible existence of some drone fragments in a different area than the ones investigated so far located approximately 3.5 kilometres west of Plauru, forces of the Marine Infantry Regiment carried out on Saturday, September 9, in the second part of the day, and on the morning of Sunday, September 10, search missions in the field, as a result of which it was not confirmed the existence of the reported elements. MApN forces remain on the alert and will continue investigations in the areas of the national soil located in the vicinity of the locations where Russian forces carry out attacks on the Ukrainian Danube port infrastructure," MApN reported on Sunday. In the last 48 hours, MApN, the Romanian Navy and the Land Forces deployed search teams in the field with aerial surveillance devices that covered over 80 square kilometres in the areas of the towns of Ceatalchioi, Plauru and Chilia Veche in Tulcea County, and in Galati County, on the Romanian bank of the Danube, near the port of Reni in Ukraine. Also, the Navy carried out patrol and monitoring missions on the Chilia branch of the Danube using inland vessels. "The Defence Ministry strongly condemns the attacks carried out by the Russian Federation on facilities and elements of civil infrastructure in the Ukrainian Danube ports. The attacks are unjustified and in serious violation of the rules of international humanitarian law, being war crimes. Also, MApN remains in permanent contact with NATO, which is informed in real time.' Over 164,000 people enter Romania on September 10, including 13,833 Ukrainian citizens As many as 164,800 people, including 13,833 Ukrainian citizens, entered Romania on Sunday, September 10, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) reported on Monday, told Agerpres. According to IGPF, at the border points nationwide on Wednesday, nearly 344,000 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, were checked both on the way in and on the way out of Romania, as well as more than 83,600 means of transport. Starting February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict time) 5,995,507 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania. The border police detected 63 illegal acts (28 crimes and 35 misdemeanors) in the areas under their jurisdiction - the crossing points and the green border - committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, levying about RON 32,400 in fines in the process. Assets of an estimated value of RON 273,900 were impounded. Eighteen foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided by the law were denied entry. Also on Sunday, 28 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons. President Iohannis says still supports increase in teachers' salaries as of January 1, 2024 President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday that he continues to support the increase in teachers' salaries starting January 1, 2024, and gave assurances that he remains firm in supporting all steps to make the commitments made by the Government in this area a reality. "My message to you remains the same: you are indispensable to the future of this country. This year's pay rises are a step in the right direction, but you certainly deserve more. The average 25% increase in salaries for teaching staff became a reality after you brought the importance of the teaching profession to society's attention. I continue to support the increase in salaries from January 1, 2024, and I assure you that I remain firm in supporting all the steps that will make the commitments made by the Government in this area a reality," Iohannis said at the opening of the school year at secondary school No. 162 in the Capital. He said that as of this year there have already been serious investments in the infrastructure of the education system, financed both from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and from the state budget. "We are talking about more than one billion euros for new, modern furniture, state-of-the-art IT equipment and new laboratories and teaching materials. Thus, more than 5,600 schools will benefit from a modern educational environment," the head of state explained. President Iohannis pointed out that the new education legislation revalues the teaching career. "We encourage tenure in educational units in disadvantaged areas, and a number of elements have been introduced that will generate predictability in terms of the teaching norm. All these changes have been made because we need teachers with vocation," added Iohannis. Minister of Education Ligia Deca and Bucharest District 1 Mayor Clotilde Armand also attended the opening of the school year at secondary school No. 162. Romania's natural population growth, negative in July 2023 Romania's natural population growth was negative in July this year, with 4,659 people, while the number of marriages decreased by 2,114 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), published on Monday, told Agerpres. According to the cited source, the number of registered births was 982 lower and the number of deaths decreased by 2,026 in July 2023 compared to July 2022. After the top three leading causes of death, there were 1,333 fewer such events caused by diseases of the circulatory system, while 68 fewer deaths had tumours as the leading cause and 433 fewer deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory system. The natural growth was negative in both July 2023 (4,659 persons) and July 2022 (5,703 persons). In context, the number of deaths of children under the age of 1 was lower by 4 in July this year than in July 2022. INS data show that in urban areas, there were 9,564 deaths (4,930 men and 4,634 women), while in rural areas there were 9,382 deaths (4,974 men and 4,408 women). Compared to the same month in 2022, the number of deaths decreased by 1,048 (607 men and 441 women) in urban areas and by 978 (428 men and 550 women) in rural areas. At the same time, the number of marriages decreased by 2,114, year on year, and in July 2023, ten fewer divorces were pronounced by final court decisions and by agreement of the spouses through administrative or notarial procedures than in July of the previous year. Scheduled events for September 11 EDUCATION: - Opening of the school year 2023 - 2024 * President Klaus Iohannis and Minister of Education Ligia Deca attend the ceremony organised at Secondary School No. 162 * Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the Mayor of District 3, Robert Negoita, attend the ceremony organized at the Technical College "Anghel Saligny" DIPLOMACY: - Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu receives the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Romania, Willemijn Van Haaften, on the occasion of the presentation of copies of letters of accreditation CULTURE: - Bucharest International Poetry Festival, 13th edition - George Enescu International Festival, 26th edition ECONOMICS: - National Institute of Statistics (INS) releases data on natural population movement in July 2023, livestock and poultry slaughterings and meat production in July 2023, housing starts in Q2 and H1 2023 (provisional data), net investment in the national economy in Q2 and H1 2023 (preliminary), Romania's international trade in goods in July 2023 (estimates) MANIFESTATION OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE APPROVAL OF THE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM September 11, 2023 Salamat kaayo, Mr. President, I voted YES to the proposed "Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act," and I thank the principal author and sponsor, the good gentleman from Valenzuela, to allow this representation to be made co-author and co-sponsor. Buo po ang paniniwala ko na itong panukalang batas na pinasa natin for third reading ngayon would complement and further strengthen our existing Mental Health Act o RA 11036 na atin ding isinabatas five years ago. Malaking tulong para sa ating mga mag-aaral, at kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, ang pagkakaroon ng accessible school-based mental health services upang tugunan ang iba't-ibang mental health problems mula academic stress hanggang self-injurious and harmful behaviors, gaya ng insidente ng suicide. Kung seryoso ang pamunuan ng Department of Education na siguraduhin ang safety and security of our schools and learners, there is no doubt, Mr. President, that accelerating the mainstreaming of a school-based mental health program would contribute not only to ensuring the physical but also the psychological safety of our learning environment. Ito dapat ang prayoridad na pag-ukulan ng pondo hindi ang mga counter-productive at redundant na surveillance activities sa mga paaralan. Lalo't ang mga surveillance activities, whether done by civilian or uniformed personnels, ay nakakapagpalala lalo ng psychological distress sa ating mga mag-aaral at kaguruan. And at the same time, nagtitiwala po ako, Mr. President, na sa kabila ng paghahangad nating bigyang buhay ang mga school-based mental health programs sa ating mga paaralan, hindi makakalimot ang ating mga education authorities --mula DepEd hanggang sa mga mababang paaralan -- na patuloy na kilalanin, galangin at itaguyod ang mga karapatan ng ating mga service users, na pawang menor de edad, their family members and carers, at maging ang mga itatalagang mental health professionals. I do hope that our education authorities will be up to the challenge of institutionalizing and sustaining mental health programs in our schools. Maraming salamat, Mr. President. In August 2023, 52.5% of Ukrainians surveyed agreed that it is possible to criticize the government for corruption and this does not reduce the trust of foreign partners. This is evidenced by a survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation together with the sociological service of the Razumkov Center from August 9 to August 15, 2023. "In August 2023, more than half (52.5%) of respondents expressed the opinion that it is now possible to criticize the government for corruption and do not agree that such criticism destabilizes the country and reduces the trust of foreign partners," the report posted on the official website of the Foundation on Monday says. According to the results of the study, only 35.4% of respondents believe that during the war such criticism destabilizes the situation in the country and undermines the trust of partners, with 48.3% in the west of Ukraine, 33% in the center, 30.2% in the south, and 32.1% in the east. The survey was conducted with the support of the MATRA program, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine. The study was conducted in all regions of Ukraine, except Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhia and Kharkiv regions, the survey was conducted in territories controlled by the Government of Ukraine and where there are no active hostilities. Some 2,019 respondents aged 18 and over were surveyed. The minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, announced on Monday that six hospitals were removed from the list of investments supported by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan as a result of the reduction of the allocation for Component 12 "Health" by 26% (740 million euros ), but will receive financing from the European Investment Bank, starting from October. Rafila mentioned, in a press conference, that his statement is aimed at "clarifying some aspects related to the financing of investments from the health sector in NRRP", because "in the last few days there have been a series of statements, controversies in the public space". Minister Rafila also said that the reductions affected, in addition to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Education. Minister Alexandru Rafila emphasized on Sunday, in a post on his Facebook page, that no investment objective from those initially selected for financing through the NRRP was lost or put at risk by this decrease in funds, considering that there are financing with funds from the EIB. Some of her fellow teens think writing poetry is old-fashioned, Shangri-La Hou says. My peers think its an archaic form of art, but its not at all. In fact its so not archaic that Shangri-La has won $5,000, an invitation to the White House and the chance to share her writing with other students in the St. Louis area. The John Burroughs senior was chosen last month as one of only five National Student Poets who will spend a year as poetry ambassadors. I was pretty shocked about it, the 17-year-old from Lake Saint Louis says. The program looks for high school poets whose work exhibits exceptional creativity, dedication to craft, and promise. The Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers partner in the program, which urges applications from students who have already won gold or silver medals in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Shangri-La will head to Washington late this month and believes she may meet first lady Jill Biden. In the meantime, shes brainstorming how to spread poetry among young people in a community service project. Poetry is an inspiring medium for art and emotion, she says. I think its important to spread awareness about it and to get more people writing. She says she mostly writes free-form poetry, often focusing on her own identity or the natural world. Although shes always liked to write, she became more serious about poetry as a sophomore and now listens to the podcast Poetry Unbound to learn about other writers. Pursuing artistic endeavors is an outlet that helps Shangri-La figure out what her own viewpoint and feelings are. She acknowledges a drive to learn and curiosity about various subjects. Among other interests are drawing, digital artwork and birdwatching another pastime she describes as sometimes seen as an old person thing. Like poetry, birding is something more young people should be involved in, Shangri-La says. People just dont appreciate birds and wildlife enough. She also enjoys math and science, saying I like watching math videos in my free time. Over the summer, she had a research internship in microbiology at Washington University that was really fun. Her family moved here from New Mexico a few years ago, and Shangri-La says she misses the mountains and desert. The daughter of immigrants (her father came to America from China and her mother from Hong Kong), she was born in Florida, where the family lived before New Mexico. Her father, Feng Hou, moved the family here when he got a new job. Hes now chief information officer at St. Louis Community College. Her mother, Michelle (Yu) Peh, is a stay-at-home mom who runs the blockchain business Whitefish.one, and her sister, Meona, 14, also attends John Burroughs. Feng Hou calls being named one of five National Student Poets a great honor for Shangri-La. Its a really interesting journey for her. Although Shangri-La hasnt decided what shell study in college, she says medicine is one possibility. Her father notes shes practical about college, leaving unsaid that most parents wouldnt call poetry a lucrative career path. But Shangri-La doesnt want to totally give up creative writing, and she hopes to publish poems or short stories one day. For the new poetry ambassador, the process of writing and rewriting poetry is a way to unearth a lot of things I didnt know before, both internally and externally. Maybe getting my poetry out there will help people go through the same process. 'Cardinal Direction' By Shangri-La Hou Im no ornithologist. But when youre wading through shin-deep snow with no jacket, no manufactured layer differentiating you from your wildness, you become the same as all of the other animals in the last reaches of winter: waiting out that singular purpose of survival. If some other Bible-bound man saw you running out, eyes widened upward, hed say you were looking for God in that infinite and thawing sky. Could you prove him wrong? Your eyes dart from red to red on coniferous green, the searching like a drawl the tongue holds against the hungry cave of its mouth, or the patient pushing, every year, of bird song against silence. WEBSTER GROVES Even as Webster University was losing tens of millions of dollars a year, its top leaders received five-figure raises, boosting their pay to among the St. Louis regions highest-paid college leaders. Newly obtained financial records show that the university lost more than $128 million over the past decade, including $25 million in each of the past two reported years. Documents also show that university Chancellor Beth Stroble now makes just under $1 million a year, more than double what she made a decade ago as president. University President Julian Schuster, who oversees the local campuses, makes more than $850,000 a year, more than double what he made as provost a decade ago. Sign up for the Brick City newsletter Steph Kukuljan and other business reporters bring you insights into St. Louis-area real estate and development. In January, the university acknowledged financial struggles and a downgrade in its credit rating, and said it had a plan to recover. But just days ago, the university was sued in federal court for failing to pay rent this year at its downtown St. Louis satellite campus. And newly released financial disclosures show that Websters financial and enrollment losses are the worst of comparable private colleges in the metro area. But Stroble, in an interview last week, insisted again that Webster has improved. The historically liberal arts college now is focusing on STEM and health sciences programs that she said has led to Websters highest fall enrollment since 2018. Why didnt Webster do that 20 years ago? All I can say is were doing it now, Stroble said. And we have put the pieces in place in a very strong way with strong buildings, strong faculty, strong programs and strong students. She referred questions about her pay to the universitys board of trustees, which has fiduciary oversight of the university. But 16 of the universitys 17 independent board members either declined or didnt respond to a request for an interview. The 17th could not be located. Experts said higher education in the United States is especially competitive now. There are fewer college-age students, and fewer of them are going to college. Were at a fairly unprecedented moment in time in terms of trends that are affecting higher ed, said Mark Krafft, a higher education analyst and partner at global consultancy firm Bain & Co. This is the most challenging time weve seen in the last 20-30 years, potentially ever. Webster University, nestled in Webster Groves in St. Louis County, has faced financial pitfalls before. During a 1970s budget crunch, it began to target nontraditional students by offering evening programs in St. Louis and across the country at satellite campuses in other cities. It launched programs and classes at U.S. military bases, where it was one of the few universities allowed access. And it was an early adopter of online education. For many faculty and staff, it was the golden era of Webster. But by the early 2000s, cracks emerged. Canary in the mine In 2006, then-Webster faculty senate President Jim Brasfield circulated a paper he wrote that warned Websters revenue was slowing. The college faced more competition online and was becoming too dependent on tuition dollars from satellite, military and international campuses, which had started to see costs rise but enrollment fall. The current modest budget problem is the canary in the mine, Brasfield wrote in 2006. It signals a warning that our 30-plus year fiscal strategy may not be viable a decade into the future. But the university carried on. Webster moved its downtown campus twice in 10 years. It bought and renovated a former palace in Vienna, Austria, to better serve students there, Stroble said. And it opened other international campuses in Ghana in West Africa and, recently, in the former Soviet bloc countries of Uzbekistan and Georgia. Enrollment hit a peak in fall 2009 with 21,317 students, the same year Stroble was hired to lead the university as president. That same year, Webster began a years-long decline in enrollment. By the fall of 2021, the count was 10,014, the lowest it had been in 30 years. Meanwhile, compensation swelled for Stroble and Schuster, who was hired in 2010 as provost. Total compensation for Stroble and Schuster each rose by more than a third in 2019, the year that Stroble was promoted to chancellor, earning $799,000, and Schuster to president, earning $578,000. Enrollment that fall dropped 8% to 12,179 students over the previous year. In the 2021-22 school year, Stroble and Schuster received $992,000 and $858,000 in total compensation a 5% and 18% increase, respectively, over the prior year, according to the latest available data. Only the chancellor of Washington University, who made $1.6 million, and the president of Maryville University, who made $1.7 million, earned more money that year. Enrollment at Webster fell 8% that year to 10,014, according to the school. The school hasnt turned a profit since 2013, according to audits from Websters federal bond disclosures. In 2020 and 2021, the school lost $25 million each year. Making a splash The Post-Dispatch reached out to several current and former Webster employees for this story. Those interviewed did not want their names published for fear of retribution, but they said morale among faculty and staff has plummeted. Theres a culture of blaming others across some departments when benchmarks arent met. And employees said it wasnt clear whether the administration had seriously considered suggestions from faculty and staff about how to improve financially. Various departments within the university have cut their budgets to accommodate overall losses. The administration made cuts, too, but some didnt make sense to employees, they said, such as eliminating academic subscriptions or the staff barbecue. There are also fewer tenured professors, who enjoy guaranteed employment and other benefits, and more adjunct professors, who are paid less and have fewer benefits. And while the school avoided layoffs, it didnt fill jobs when staffers retired or resigned, so workloads went up and student services declined, employees said. Brasfield, who wrote the 2006 paper, credited Webster for innovating 50 years ago but said in an email to the Post-Dispatch last week the university would again have to reinvent itself. Fifty years ago Webster emerged from a precarious financial position by taking an innovative approach to higher education, he said. But the environment has shifted over the past decade and undermined Websters basic financial position. Faculty and administration need to once again find inventive adjustments for a changing world of higher education. Stroble said it has done so. In recent years, especially since the pandemic, Webster has closed campuses in Thailand and Ghana, as well as several around the country and at military bases. Its campuses in Orlando and San Antonio, Texas, remain open. Its new campus in Uzbekistan had just a few hundred when it opened in 2019 and now has more than 4,000 students, Stroble said. At its main campus in Webster, the university built new health sciences and business school buildings as part of its focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The pivot, Stroble said, targets subjects in which todays students are interested. And for this school year, Webster is projecting global enrollment to reach 12,600 a 20% increase over the previous year. We knew that it would take some time to get back to the pre-pandemic numbers, Stroble said. And this year, weve done it. Krafft, the higher ed analyst, said many universities are now turning to STEM fields to bolster enrollment. But it takes years to build a brand, and switching to new programs could jeopardize the student base schools traditionally have drawn from while not luring new students, he said. A big new program and new facilities creates a splash. But are you able to sustain that over time? Krafft said. Thats the question. UNIVERSITY CITY Police were chasing a car moments before it crashed into a vacant house here last week, killing all three teen boys inside, authorities said Monday. The crash happened about 2:30 a.m., four hours earlier than originally reported. But it wasnt until 6:30 a.m. that a bystander came upon the crash scene and called police. Im surprised no one heard (the crash), said Cpl. Dallas Thompson, spokesperson for the Missouri Highway Patrol. But at 2:30 in the morning, I really dont know. Being that the house was vacant, there were no skid marks youd think there still would have been a loud pop in the area, but weve talked to all the neighbors and no one seemed to have heard anything. The University City officer who attempted to pull the teens over for traffic violations lost sight of the car just moments before the crash. Police dashcam footage released Monday shows the officer driving by the scene, but the crashed car is not visible because the area is so dark. Johnnie Ursery, Demetrius Ingram and Deion Robinson, all 15, were killed early Wednesday when their car failed to make a curve in the 1000 block of Groby Road and crashed into the vacant home. The boys, all students at Ladue Horton Watkins High School, had taken a car belonging to one of their mothers. Police showed the boys families the two minutes of dashcam footage that captured the pursuit before releasing it to media on Monday. The families could not be immediately be reached for comment. The footage shows a University City police officer following the speeding Hyundai from a distance beginning around 2:23 a.m. The car is seen turning left from the right lane, then driving in the wrong lane before turning off its headlights and continuing to drive. The officer turns on his emergency lights about a minute into the two-minute chase, and the Hyundai does not slow down. Less than 30 seconds after the officer turns on the cars emergency lights, a sergeant tells the officer not to pursue further, according to a release from University City police. That was seconds before 2:25 a.m. Capt. Fredrick Lemons II told the Post-Dispatch on Monday the pursuit was not a chase under department guidelines because the officer was not closely following the teens car. After the officer turns the cars lights off near Old Bonhomme Road, he continues east on Groby Road and passes the crash site about a half-mile later. You can see the officer passing, and you cant see the crash, Lemons said of the video, noting the alignment of the trees may have also muffled the sound of the crash. Lemons said the first call police received about the crash was around 6:30 a.m. A man who did not want to be identified told the Post-Dispatch at the scene last week that he was walking his dog when he happened upon the scene and called police. Thompson said the Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating the crash because University City police wanted it handled by an independent agency. Lemons said his department is still investigating both the failure to yield and the crash itself. Photos: Three Ladue High School teens, all age 15, die in University City car crash Hundreds of classmates, family and community members attended a balloon release on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Stacy Park in Olivette for the three Ladue sophomores, who died in a car crash last week. Deion Robinson, 15, Demetrius Ingram, 15, and Johnnie Ursery, 15, died when the 2016 Hyundai Accent they were speeding in crashed into a vacant home in the 1000 block of Groby Road in University City. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com JEFFERSON CITY Abortion-rights advocates asked a judge on Monday to rewrite what they call misleading descriptions of several constitutional amendments on abortion that voters could see on Missouris 2024 ballot. Missouri is among several states, including Ohio, where abortion opponents are fighting efforts to ensure or restore access to the procedure following the fall of Roe v. Wade last year. In part, one of the Missouri petitions would amend the states constitution to ban government infringement on the fundamental right to reproductive freedom, which entails the right to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care. Decisions on abortion, birth control and childbirth are some examples of reproductive care protected under the proposed amendments. In Missouri, summaries of proposed constitutional amendments are provided on ballots to help voters understand what the measures would do. Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is running for governor in 2024, summarized the amendments as allowing dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions, from conception to live birth, without requiring a medical license or potentially being subject to medical malpractice. It is the secretarys duty to set aside his personal bias against the proposals and craft a neutral statement, Missouri ACLU attorney Tony Rothert told the judge during Mondays hearing. Instead, the secretary acted as if he were playing the political-spin and manipulation-edition of mad libs. Assistant Attorney General Jason Krol Lewis defended Ashcrofts summaries. He said the plaintiffs argument for a rewrite of the summaries hides the ball about what these initiative petitions would do. Under current Missouri law, almost all abortions are banned. But Lewis said the measures could also mean the fall of laws requiring abortion providers to have relationships with local hospitals, which he said is aimed at improving patient health. The secretarys summaries actually do summarize and convey to voters the massive loopholes in the initiative petition that would bring access to effectively unregulated and unrestricted abortion in Missouri, Lewis said. Rothert said restrictions on abortions would still be allowed under the amendments, which include exceptions for government regulations for health and safety. He added that current rules on abortion could be upheld in court even if the amendment passes. The legal, legislative and ballot battles on abortion have been playing out at the state level since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade and ended a nationwide right to abortion. A measure to ensure abortion access is on the November ballot in Ohio after withstanding legal challenges from opponents. That states voters in August rejected a measure that would have required at least 60% of the vote to amend the state constitution, an approach supported by abortion opponents that would have made it harder to adopt the November ballot question. Ballot measures on abortion could also be put before voters in 2024 in states including Arizona, Maryland, New York and South Dakota. But in conservative Oklahoma, an initiative petition to legalize abortion was withdrawn soon after it started last year. Conservatives challenges to the ballot questions have been so intense partly because of the way the votes have been going. After the ruling last year, the issue appeared on the ballot in six states. In all of them, including generally conservative Kansas and Kentucky, the abortion-rights side prevailed. Efforts to restore abortion rights in Missouri hit a snag in April when Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey refused to sign off on fellow Republican Auditor Scott Fitzpatricks cost estimates for the petitions, claiming that Fitzpatrick did not account for loss in tax revenue because of a lower birth rate and fewer taxpayers as a result of greater access to abortions. The Missouri Supreme Court later ordered Bailey to approve Fitzpatricks price tags, which then allowed Ashcrofts office to craft summaries of the proposals. The Missouri judge can approve Ashcrofts summaries or rewrite the descriptions for voters. In either case, a resolution would allow the petitioners to begin collecting voters signatures that are needed to get the measures on the ballot. Also on Monday, a lawyer for abortion opponents revived arguments that the state auditors cost estimates for the measures were misleadingly low because they did not account for a potential loss in property and sales tax revenue as a result of lower birth rates. The abortion opponents also said restoring abortion rights could prompt the federal government to pull all of Missouris federal Medicaid funding, although both opponents and proponents agreed that the federal government has never before revoked all of a states Medicaid funding because of abortion access. The auditors office has said there is no evidence Missouri is at risk of losing all Medicaid funding if the amendment passes. The judge is expected to rule on both lawsuits next week. Associated Press reporter Geoff Mulvihill contributed to this report from Cherry Hill, N.J. ST. LOUIS Mayor Tishaura O. Jones is defending her jail commissioner in the wake of inmate deaths, a hostage situation and ongoing fights with independent watchdogs. In a letter to the jails civilian oversight board, Jones pushed back on the boards complaints that Commissioner Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah is blocking efforts to investigate problems at the jail. She has done good work over the past two years, Jones wrote, to make the City Justice Center safer and improve meals and educational programming for its residents. She continues to have my full confidence in her current role, Jones wrote. The letter, dated Friday, marked the first time Jones has personally responded to the boards complaints and calls for Clemons-Abdullahs resignation. The response amounted to a broad defense of Jones efforts to clean up the citys jail system three years after she made it a key plank in her campaign platform. She said that she, too, has been deeply troubled by the inmate deaths, and that conditions at the downtown jail must improve. But she gave no indication she thinks her approach needs to change. Jail board members bristled some on Monday at Jones letter. Shes telling us, in a very subtle way, to stay in our place, said the Rev. Darryl Gray. He said the board would continue its work to make the jail safer and more respectful of its residents civil rights. Pamela Walker, a board member and former city health director, said it was kind of amazing to see the mayor sticking by Clemons-Abdullah. Anyone who thinks their commissioner is doing a good job after nine deaths in two years must be confused, she said. The concept of a civilian oversight board for jails dates back to early 2021, shortly after Jones swept into office pledging to transform the citys jail system. She was emptying the Workhouse, the old northside jail long criticized by activists as a sweltering disgrace, and transferring its inmates to the newer jail downtown. But violent disturbances at the new jail were raising concerns, and she backed the creation of a new oversight board to look into detainee complaints of inhumane conditions there, too. The board, however, has struggled so far to do much of anything. For most of last year, litigation stalled efforts to investigate the deaths of six inmates attributed to overdoses, suicide and natural causes. And when a judge finally cleared that up, oversight board members said they faced new obstacles from the administration itself and accused Clemons-Abdullah of blocking access to the jail, its staff, inmates and important records, like those documenting use of force. In May, Matthew Brummund, an ex-FBI agent hired to staff the jail oversight board, was so frustrated he resigned, and the oversight board called for Clemons-Abdullahs ouster. But the Jones administration brushed off the concerns then, saying board members needed to complete training on confidentiality, federal and state laws and other topics before beginning investigations. The standoff came to a head late last month, when two inmates died in the span of two weeks and a group of inmates took a guard hostage for several hours before police SWAT officers intervened. Janis Mensah, the boards vice chair, went to the jail the day the second inmate died to investigate the deaths and was arrested in the lobby. Aldermen usually supportive of the administration lashed out, saying the boards impotence was leaving abuse and excessive force reports unchecked. They implored city officials to be more transparent. We must prioritize human life over bureaucracy, a statement from the boards Public Safety Committee read. Aldermanic President Megan Green said it was time for Clemons-Abdullah to go. Nine deaths in two years two within two weeks is appalling, Green said in a statement. This level of neglect and misconduct requires an immediate change in leadership at the City Justice Center (CJC) and greater oversight of our correctional facilities. She later moderated that statement, saying a change in leadership could include hiring experts to help the commissioner. The administration said little until Jones response Friday. In her letter, the mayor acknowledged ongoing problems at the jail. She said the inmate deaths weigh heavily on her heart. She said officials could have communicated better about the events of recent weeks. And she said the city is working to improve health care at the jail by cutting ties with its current provider and giving the city health department increased oversight of the next one. But she backed Clemons-Abdullah and said change wont happen overnight. She reiterated that board members must complete their training before doing their jobs, and said her administration stands ready to help board members get that done by the end of the October. But she also noted that the boards job is to investigate detainee complaints, not to run the jail. That is the responsibility of the Commissioner and the Director of Public Safety, Jones wrote. The jail board met Monday evening. It approved a motion requesting that the mayor allow it to hire an attorney to represent it, independent of the city counselors office. One member, Barbara Baker, announced her resignation. Baker spent more than a decade in prison and now runs a nonprofit helping recently released women reenter society; she said she didnt have the energy keep fighting the city. The board hit obstacle after obstacle in investigating the jail, she said. But she said she was rooting for the others to continue the work. This is a very important board with very important work that needs to be done, said Baker, with very important work that needs to be done. Taylor Tiamoyo Harris of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. JEFFERSON CITY Citing unacceptable legal liability, Washington University officials announced Monday the schools physicians will stop providing gender-affirming medications to minors who are technically eligible for those treatments under a new Missouri law. While the new law bars puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors who werent receiving care prior to Aug. 28, the law also exempted patients who were receiving medications before the law took effect. But in announcing its decision, university officials pointed to a new legal claim in the law patients can make if they received puberty blockers or hormone therapy as minors. Washington University physicians will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to minors for purposes of gender transition, said a statement from the university, adding that patients will be referred elsewhere. The Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital will continue to offer education and mental health services to transgender youths, which is still allowed under the law, the university said. Transgender adults will also still be able to receive medications from Washington University physicians. The announcement closes a chapter in a monthslong fight by conservative Republicans in Jefferson City to end puberty blockers and hormone treatment, which health providers describe as components of gender-affirming care for minors. We are disheartened to have to take this step. However, Missouris newly enacted law regarding transgender care has created a new legal claim for patients who received these medications as minors, Washington University said. Officials said the claim creates unsustainable liability for health care professionals and makes it untenable for us to continue to provide comprehensive transgender care for minor patients without subjecting the university and our providers to an unacceptable level of liability. The Washington University Transgender Center became a focus in a broader debate over transgender medical care in February when Jamie Reed, a former case manager, claimed families were rushed to treatment, mental health issues were ignored and side effects of hormone therapy glossed over. Reeds claims added momentum to the push for the new Missouri law this spring. They were the subject of a recent investigation in the New York Times, which prompted a call this month for a fresh evaluation of clinic practices by U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. In response to Reeds allegations, first published by The Free Press, an online magazine, Hawley announced in February his office would conduct an investigation of the transgender center. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey also announced his own probe at the time. Washington University defended its practices on Monday. Our medical practitioners have cared for these patients with skill and dedication, the statement said. They have continually provided treatment in accordance with the standard of care and with informed consent of patients and their parents or guardians. Almost two dozen parents of children seen at the clinic said in a March article that their experiences at the transgender center sharply contradicted examples supplied by Reed. Kim Hutton, whose now-adult son received treatment at the Washington University Transgender Center, said Monday this is all being driven by Missouri politicians. I hope that theyre very pleased with the harm that theyre doing to transgender children, Hutton said Monday. Obviously our children are not worthy of care. Hawley called the action good news on Monday but said Washington University officials werent cooperating with his ongoing investigation. Good news for parents and children, and basic common sense, Hawley said on X, formerly Twitter. But we still need answers about what happened at WashU, and why university officials wont cooperate with investigators. Bailey also applauded the Washington University announcement on X, calling it a big win for Missouris kids and a step in the right direction to properly addressing gender dysphoria and taking woke ideology out of health care. Reed said Monday that Washington University made the difficult, but nonetheless right decision considering the impacts and harm these drugs have on minor children, coupled with the recently affirmed new state law, referencing a recent court decision allowing the law to take effect. Washington Universitys statement Monday followed an announcement last month by University of Missouri Health Care that it also would stop providing hormone therapy and puberty blockers to all of its minor patients. Christian Basi, spokesman for the university system, said continuing posed a significant legal risk. One provision in the new law allows a patient to sue within 15 years of turning 21, or 15 years after the patient ceases treatment of the injury at issue, whichever is later. The law includes a minimum liability of $500,000 with a judgment that would be three times the amount of damages assessed. Additionally, the judge could award the plaintiff attorney fees, and health care providers may be liable for damages even if they did not do anything wrong or unreasonable, Basi said. He added, The decision was only made after a thorough review and involved several administrators and medical professionals within MU Health Care. Updated Tuesday with a statement from Jamie Reed. DECATUR, Ill. An explosion and fire at a soybean processing facility in Illinois injured eight employees over the weekend and sent a tower of smoke into the air, officials said Monday. The explosion occurred at the east plant in the Archer Daniels Midland processing complex shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday in Decatur, about 120 miles northeast of St. Louis, the agricultural company said in a statement on its website. Six of the eight injured workers were taken from the scene by ambulance with the extent of injuries unknown, Battalion Chief Wade Watson with the Decatur Fire Department said in a statement Monday morning. ADM said in a statement early Monday afternoon that five employees remained in hospitalized receiving treatment for their injuries and added that the companys priority is providing our injured colleagues and their families support. The explosion was followed by a large plume of dark smoke high above the facility in a video posted by WCIA-TV. ADM plant explosion/fire caught on our weather camera in Decatur, IL. pic.twitter.com/Q2cifRRlnp Kevin Lighty - WCIA 3 Chief Meteorologist (@KevinLighty) September 11, 2023 The Chicago-based company said the plant where the explosion occurred produces soybean oil and white flake for soybean protein production. That plant is currently idle, and ADMs adjacent corn processing plant is also temporarily down until we can safely resume operations, the company said. The main fire was extinguished overnight, and we are continuing to closely monitor and assess the extent of the damage to the complex as we investigate the cause of the incident, ADM said. The Decatur Fire Department said a fire crew remains on the scene monitoring hot spots and the cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation. The explosion is the second episode at the plant in less than a month, the (Decatur) Herald & Review reported. On Aug. 28, two Decatur firefighters required hospital treatment after they battled a large fire at the plant. In that instance, crews found heavy fire in a processing tank that was spreading into adjacent tanks. Updated at 1:30 p.m. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday, announced the intention of the German side to build a wind farm in the exclusion zone. We support the construction of renewable energy sources. One of these projects is the construction of a wind farm in the exclusion zone near the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, she said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. Baerbock stressed that work is underway to ensure that the European energy system is even more connected to the Ukrainian one. According to the German TV channel ARD, at a meeting at the Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine, Baerbock signed a corresponding declaration of intent. President Joe Biden has completed a whirlwind trip to India and Vietnam for a series of high-profile meetings aimed at countering Chinas influence in the developing world. At the G20 in New Delhi and again in Hanoi, Biden used his swing through Asia to make the case that the US is a more reliable and trustworthy partner than Beijing, though he emphasized that he did not want a new Cold War with the Chinese. I dont want to contain China, I just want to make sure we have a relationship with China that is on the up-and-up squared away, and everyone knows what its all about, Biden said. We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. Thats what this trip is all about, having India cooperate much more with United States, be closer to the United States, Vietnam being closer with the United States. Its not about containing China. Its about having a stable base a stable base in Indo-Pacific. In speaking to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Sunday, Biden underscored this point. I think we have an enormous opportunity, he said, adding: Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time. Im not saying that to be polite. Im saying it because I mean it from the bottom of my heart. He referenced supply chains and climate change and hailed aspirations for a future of greater peace, greater security and greater prosperity. Im convinced we can achieve it, he said, adding: This can be the beginning of even a greater era of cooperation. But despite Bidens hopes, there were still signs of the fractures that are coursing through current geopolitics, both at the G20 summit and in Hanoi. Here are five takeaways from the presidents trip to New Delhi and Hanoi. 1. US praises G20 statement on Ukraine, even if its softer than hoped Leaders managed to agree on a joint statement laying out shared views on climate change and economic development but showed the fractures within the group by stopping short of explicitly condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine. Diplomats had been working furiously to draft a final joint statement in the lead-up to the summit but hit snags on language to describe the Ukraine war. Officials said they worked through 300 hours of meetings and went through 15 drafts to arrive at an eventual consensus. The eventual compromise statement amounted to a coup for the summits host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but still reflected a position far softer than those the United States and its Western allies have adopted individually. All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition, the declaration read, without explicitly singling out Russia for its invasion. The document also stated opposition to the use of nuclear weapons and highlighted the economic effects of the war. In a reflection of the deep fractures among the G20 nations, the statement acknowledged there were different views and assessments of the situation. The declaration earned the praise of the United States. National security adviser Jake Sullivan called the statement a significant milestone for Indias chairmanship and a vote of confidence that the G20 can come together to address a pressing range of issues. The G20 statement includes a set of consequential paragraphs on the war in Ukraine. And from our perspective, it does a very good job of standing up for the principle that states cannot use force to seek territorial acquisition, Sullivan said. Still, the language differed from last years G20 declaration, which stated most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine. Russia, as a member of the G20, would have to agree on any consensus statement on Ukraine. Russia and China had resisted stronger language in a final statement, making any kind of agreement difficult. No G20 summit has concluded without a joint declaration of some type. Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticized the declaration. Ukraine is grateful to its partners who tried to include strong wording in the text, he wrote on Facebook. At the same time, the G20 has nothing to be proud of in the part about Russias aggression against Ukraine. Obviously, the participation of the Ukrainian side would have allowed the participants to better understand the situation. The principle of nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine remains as key as ever. 2. Biden offers an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Biden hoped to use new announcements on new infrastructure and investments as demonstration of US commitment to the developing world, and a better option for partnership than China. He announced the launch of a new economic corridor that will connect India, the Middle East and Europe on Saturday. The plans could potentially transform global trade and directly challenge Chinas own sprawling overseas development initiative, known as the Belt and Road, which has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure projects each year. While the project will include building integrated infrastructure, the president said it was far from just laying tracks, speaking with a group of global leaders that included the United Kingdom, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. Its about creating jobs, increasing trade, strengthening supply chains, boosting connectivity, laying foundations that will strengthen commerce and food security for people across multiple countries, Biden said. This is a game changing regional investment and huge steps forward. The US says the Belt and Road initiative uses coercive lending practices for infrastructure projects in developing countries, an accusation Beijing has repeatedly denied. Bidens proposals on World Bank reform similarly aim to offer a better deal to emerging economies. 3. G20 hosts disappointed at Xi and Putins absence White House officials called it a disappointment to India that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not participate in the summit, but added that the United States intended to use it as an opportunity to strengthen relationships with the rest of the nations that attended. I will say that I think for our Indian partners, there is substantial disappointment that theyre not here and gratitude that we are, deputy assistant to the president and coordinator for the Indo-Pacific Kurt Campbell told reporters shortly after Bidens meeting with Modi. It was the first time Xi missed a G20 since taking office in 2012. While that was a lost opportunity in some ways Biden and Xi met for hours at last years G20 in Bali it also freed the stage for the US to make its argument for American partnerships. At a moment when the very fragile state of Chinas economy is causing deep concern about global ripple effects, Biden hoped to use the relative strength of the American market to make his pitch. Campbell said there were undeniable opportunities for the US at the summit given the leaders who were attending and those who didnt. I think we fully intend to strengthen and deepen our relationship, and we leave it to China in particular to discuss and explain why they are not here. Its really their business, he said. 4. Biden tries to pull Vietnam closer to US Bidens trip to Hanoi was his latest attempt to pull another one of Chinas neighbors closer to the United States. In just the last five months, Biden has hosted the Philippines president at the White House for the first time in over a decade; he has feted the Indian prime minister with a lavish state dinner; and he has hosted his Japanese and South Korean counterparts for a summit ripe with symbolism at the storied Camp David presidential retreat. The latest page in the USs Indo-Pacific playbook will come via the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership that will put the US on par with Vietnams highest tier of partners, including China, according to US officials familiar with the matter. In Vietnam, its not only China whose influence Biden is competing with. As he arrived, reports suggested Hanoi was preparing a secret purchase of weapons from Russia, its longtime arms supplier. On Monday, Biden plans to announce steps to help Vietnam diversify away from an over-reliance on Russian arms, a senior administration official said. The upgrading of the US-Vietnam relationship carries huge significance given Washingtons complicated history with Hanoi. The two countries have gone from mortal enemies that fought a devastating war to increasingly close partners, even with Vietnam still run by the same Communist forces that ultimately prevailed and sent the US military packing. As Chinas economy slows down and its leader ratchets up military aggressions, Biden hopes to make the United States appear a more attractive and reliable partner. In New Delhi, he did so by wielding proposals to boost global infrastructure and development programs as a counterweight to China. Vietnam has also sought to maintain good ties with China. Its Communist Party chief was the first foreign leader to call on Xi in Beijing after the Chinese leader secured an unprecedented third term last October. In June, Vietnams prime minister met Xi during a state visit to China. But even as it seeks to avoid Chinas wrath, Vietnam is increasingly pulled toward the US out of economic self-interest its trade with the US has ballooned in recent years and it is eager to benefit from American efforts to diversify supply chains outside of China as well as concern over Chinas military build-up in the South China Sea. 5. Awkward moment at press conference White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Sunday abruptly ended a news conference with Biden in Hanoi, at one point taking a microphone and announcing the event was concluded even as the president was still answering questions from reporters in the room. As the president was responding to shouted questions from the press, the press secretary took to the microphone to announce, Thank you everybody this ends the press conference. Biden remained on stage briefly following Jean-Pierres announcement, responding to one additional question, though his full answer was inaudible. Biden had, at that point, taken the five questions from reporters in the room that he said he would, before announcing, I tell you what, I dont know about you, but Im going to bed. The White House announced at the start of the press conference that Biden planned to take questions from five reporters. However, the president lingered on stage, responding to additional questions about what he said to Chinese Premier Li Qiang before he was interrupted by the press secretary. Throughout the presser, Biden acknowledged the demands of the whirlwind trip, joking at one point, These five-day trips around the world are no problem. Minutes before Jean-Pierre ended the press conference, Biden had delivered a lengthy answer that involved a rambling explanation of why he uses the phrase lying dog-faced pony soldier in an attempt to explain his feelings about politicians who deny the existence of climate change The moment comes days after a CNN poll showed about three-quarters of Americans say they are concerned Bidens age might negatively affect his current level of physical and mental competence and his ability to serve another full term if reelected. Bidens defenders brushed off concerns about his age and the White House has frequently pointed to his energy levels on grueling international trips such as the current one as proof that his age is not an issue. Photos: President Biden at the G20 and in Vietnam Hostess, the maker of snack classics like Twinkies and HoHos, is being sold to J.M. Smucker in a cash-and-stock deal worth about $5.6 billion. Smucker, which makes everything from coffee to peanut butter and jelly, will pay $34.25 per share in cash and stock, and it will also pick up approximately $900 million in net debt. Hostess Brands Inc. shareholders will receive $30 in cash and 0.03002 shares of The J.M. Smucker Co. stock for each share of stock that they own. We believe this is the right partnership to accelerate growth and create meaningful value for consumers, customers and shareholders. Our companies share highly complementary go-to market strategies, and we are very similar in our core business principles and operations, Hostess President and CEO Andy Callahan said in a statement Monday. Twinkies went big when Hostess put them on shelves in 1930, and it followed up with a string of sweet concoctions like DingDongs, Zingers and Sno Balls. Earlier this year, Callahan talked about how the company managed some of the most well-known brands in America, and also how balance was needed as Americans tastes changed. The company motored along for decades, but its struggles began to grow this century, with workers blaming mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The Lenexa, Kansas, company said that it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees werent unionized. By 2012, the company with roots dating back to 1925, began selling off its brands in chunks to different buyers. Wonder was sold to Flowers Foods. McKee Foods, which makes Little Debbie snack cakes, snapped up Drakes Cake, which includes Devil Dogs and Yodels. The rest, including Twinkies and other Hostess cakes, was acquired by Metropoulos & Co. and Apollo for $410 million. Apollo Global Management, founded by Leon Black, buys troubled brands and tries to turn them around before selling them. Its done so with fast-food chains Carls Jr. and Hardees. Metropoulos & Co., which has revamped then sold off brands including Chef Boyardee and Bumble Bee, also owns Pabst Brewing Co. Hostess reemerged in 2013 with a far less costly operating structure than its predecessor company and was no longer unionized. Morgan Stanleys Pam Kaufman said that Hostess offered attractive revenue growth through its U.S. sweet snacks business and opportunities for international expansion. She anticipates merger and acquisition activity ramping up in the packaged food sector due to slowing revenue growth and strong balance sheets. The boards of The J.M. Smucker Co. and Hostess have both approved the deal, which is expected to close in Smuckers fiscal third quarter. Smuckers stock dropped 8% at the opening bell, while shares of Hostess surged 19%. TAMPA, Fla. When police arrived at his house to investigate a hit-and-run, Joseph Ruddy, one of the nations most prolific federal narcotics prosecutors, looked so drunk he could barely stand up straight, leaning on the tailgate of his pickup to keep his balance. But he apparently was under control enough to be waiting with his U.S. Justice Department business card in hand. What are you trying to hand me? an officer asked. You realize when they pull my body-worn camera footage and they see this, this is going to go really bad." That footage obtained by The Associated Press showed Ruddy apparently attempting to leverage his position to blunt the fallout from a Fourth of July crash in which he is accused of drunkenly striking another vehicle and leaving the scene. But despite being charged, the 59-year-old Ruddy remained on the job for two months, representing the United States in court as recently as last week to notch another win for the sprawling task force he helped create two decades ago targeting cocaine smuggling at sea. On Wednesday, a day after the Justice Department was asked about Ruddy's status, the veteran prosecutor was pulled off three pending criminal cases. A Justice Department spokesman would not say whether he had been suspended but said that Ruddy, while still employed, was removed July 11 from his supervisory role at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Tampa. The case also has been referred to the Office of the Inspector General. The Department of Justice holds all personnel, including its assistant U.S. attorneys, to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct, the spokesman said. Such an inspector general's probe would likely focus on whether Ruddy was trying to use his public office for private gain, said Kathleen Clark, a legal ethics professor at Washington University in St. Louis who reviewed the footage. Its hard to see what this could be other than an attempt to improperly influence the police officer to go easy on him, Clark said. What could possibly be his purpose in handing over his U.S. Attorneys Office business card? Ruddy, whose blood-alcohol level tested at 0.17%, twice the legal limit, was charged with driving under the influence with property damage a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. Despite his own admissions and witness testimony, he was not charged with leaving the scene of an accident. Ruddy is known in law enforcement circles as one of the architects of Operation Panama Express, or PANEX a task force launched in 2000 to target cocaine smuggling at sea, combining resources from the U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Historically, PANEX-generated intelligence contributes to more than 90% of U.S. Coast Guard drug interdictions at sea. Between 2018 and 2022, the Coast Guard removed or destroyed 888 metric tons of cocaine worth an estimated $26 billion and detained 2,776 suspected smugglers, a senior Coast Guard official said in congressional testimony in March. The bulk of those cases were handled by Ruddy and his colleagues in Tampa, where PANEX is headquartered. A former Ironman triathlete, Ruddy enjoys a reputation among attorneys for hard work and toughness in the courtroom. Among his biggest cases were some of the early extraditions from Colombia of top smugglers for the feared Cali cartel. But the majority of cases handled out of his office involve mostly poor fishermen from Central and South America who make up the drug trades lowest rungs. Often, the drugs arent even bound for American shores and the constitutional guarantees of due process that normally apply in criminal cases inside the U.S. are only loosely observed. Ruddy is at the heart of a costly and aggressive prosecutor-led dragnet that every year pulls hundreds of low-level cocaine traffickers off the oceans and incarcerates them in the U.S., said Kendra McSweeney, an Ohio State University geographer who is part of a team studying maritime interdiction policies. Last Friday, nearly two months after his arrest, Ruddy was in court to ratify a plea deal in the case of a Brazilian man, Flavio Fontes Pereira, who in February was found by the U.S. Coast Guard with more than 3.3 tons of cocaine aboard a sailboat off Guinea, in West Africa. Ruddy is next due to appear in court in his own case Sept. 27. He's accused of sideswiping an SUV whose driver had been waiting to turn at a red light, clipping a side mirror and tearing off another piece of the vehicle that lodged in the fender of Ruddys pickup. He never even hit brakes, a witness told police. "He just kept going and he was swerving all the way up the road. Im like, No, hes going to hurt somebody. So I just followed him until I got the tag number and just called and reported it. When officers arrived at Ruddys home in the suburb of Temple Terrace, they found him hunched over his pickup, holding his keys and using the vehicle for support, the report said. Officers noted that he had urinated on himself, was unable to walk without help and failed a field sobriety test. I understand we might be having a better night, Tampa police patrolman Taylor Grant said before looking at the business card. Why didnt you stop? the officer asked. I didnt realize it was that serious, Ruddy said in a slurred response. WASHINGTON The founder of North Koreas ruling dynasty, an isolationist totalitarian leader named Kim Il Sung, was still building some of the countrys first nuclear facilities when Syd Seiler arrived on the Korean Peninsula as a young U.S. military intelligence officer. Over the four decades since, Seiler has watched closely as Kim, his son and now his grandson have clung to their nuclear program and developed the potential to lob nuclear warheads at the U.S. and its allies if they choose. Now Seiler is freshly retired after decades of advising presidents, military commanders and diplomats, making reported secret trips to North Korea and serving as a lead negotiator on talks to contain its nuclear program. And he has a parting message to American leaders: Dont be discouraged. North Koreas fiery rounds of missile test launches are no reason to give up on the international sanctions and pressure, or to simply accept that the ruling Kim family is now a nuclear-armed power, Seiler said. Thats a failure of deterrence? he asked, rhetorically. Thats nonsense. Were deterring an attack. Seiler helped shape the U.S. policy of deterrence, diplomacy and international pressure to deal with the nuclear threat. He sees a strategy and a rhythm to the single-minded nuclear and missile expansion, the rounds of U.S. and South Korean military exercises and North Korean test launches, and the blustery threats, as when the government of Kim Jong Un grandson of the founding ruler threatens a deluge of fire on neighboring South Korea. But the Kim familys worry is not so much about an attack from outside, Seiler argues. He said in sticking to the nuclear program even at the expense of North Koreas economy, Kim Jong Un has taken a lesson from deposed Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. A firing squad abruptly ended the communist leaders rule in 1989 when his people rose up against him. Having cut North Koreans off from most contact with the outside world, Kim Jong Un, his father and his grandfather before him have seen their regimes survival as lying in convincing their people the country is a workers paradise under threat from the outside world, and only the Kim family and its nuclear weapons can protect them, the former intelligence officer said. Actions prioritizing the nuclear program over the feeding of your people seem irrational, Seiler said. But in terms of the logic of North Korea, they make sense. Kim Jong Un plans to travel to Russia for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, who they say is looking to North Korea to supply ammunition for Russias war in Ukraine. Kim probably sees in this meeting an opportunity to join hands with a like-minded fellow anti-U.S. leader, Seiler said. Worrisome possible outcomes include Russia helping North Korea beef up its pretty antiquated museum-ready conventional forces or its weapons of mass destruction, Seiler said. And of course, the worst-case scenario is that Kim Jong Un is watching a leader seeking to achieve strategic objectives through the use of force, Seiler said, referring to Putins invasion of Ukraine. And suddenly whether Kim, either directly signaled or indirectly signaled by the new relationship with Vladimir Putin, sees a flashing yellow light or green light to engage in similar military actions against enemy South Korea, he said. That would be the worst-of-all fears scenarios, he said. But thats much less likely, he said. I dont think what Russia wants to do is to seek a relationship with North Korea in any way that significantly leads to instability in the region. Even this year, one U.S. intelligence assessment has been that Kim Jong Un would continue to be a bellicose neighbor for South Korea and an unpleasant member of the global community but was unlikely to actually wage nuclear war at least through 2030. But Seiler and others see growing reasons to worry now about what Kim may have planned for South Korea, its democratically governed and U.S.-allied neighbor. As Kim expands and improves his nuclear arsenal beyond what he would need for deterrence, he has sharpened his threats toward the south in the past 1 years while honing ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S., South Koreas protector, Seiler noted. North Korea was clearly developing capabilities that would enhance its position vis-a-vis South Korea. And so going forward, this is where the room for concern is, Seiler said. Coupled with growing domestic debate in South Korea about how much the country should rely on the United States protection, theres kind of an awakening of a North Korea threat that, frankly, we should have caught on to a couple of decades ago, he said. Denial or wishful thinking may have led some in the West to overlook the implications of the growing threat for a time, he said, although the intelligence community was well aware. Meanwhile, Putin is battling in Ukraine to reclaim what he maintains is Russias historical territory, and the U.S. and its allies are paying growing attention to Chinas stated openness to reclaiming Taiwan by force if need be. Its all helped create an environment where this issue of what Kim Jong Un might choose to do in the use of force domain, backed by his nuclear weapons, is a greater subject of debate than it was even a year ago, Seiler noted. How strong is that risk right now? Well, I think right now Kim is deterred, Seiler said. Photos: Kim Jong Un's public appearances through the years The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran and will release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Iran recently announced it had developed a new long range UAV called Mohajer-10. This comes two years after the similar but smaller Mohajer-6 was offered for export. Mojaher-6 entered service in 2017 and an upgraded model entered service in 2021. Mojaher-6 weighs 670 kg (1,477 pounds) with a payload of 150 kg and max endurance of 12 hours. Max ceiling is 5,600 meters (18,000 feet) and cruise speed is 130 kilometers an hour. Max operator controlled range is 500 kilometers from a GSC (Ground Control Station). On a one way mission (as a cruise missile) max range is 2,400 kilometers with a 100 kg payload. This is not a large enough payload to do much damage to the target. Thats one reason the larger Mohajer-10 was introduced in 2023. This version can carry a 300 kg explosive payload on a one way cruise missile mission to targets over 2,000 kilometers away. Iran pointed out that this puts the Israeli nuclear reactor near Dimona as well as several other Israeli cities and military bases. Not mentioned was the fact that Israeli air defenses have long been capable of detecting and destroying such attacks. Iran has been trying to fly smaller surveillance UAVs from southern Lebanon into Israel without success. A larger Mohajer-10 coming from Iran to hit Dimona in southeast Israel has to get past Israeli air defenses built to stop attacks by aircraft and ballistic missiles. These defenses failed earlier to stop a Syrian anti-aircraft missile that missed its target and kept flying for another 200 kilometers until it exploded in the air near Dimona. The Dimona air defenses failed to intercept the missile, which exploded in the air as anti-aircraft missiles are designed to do when they miss. This incident led to the Dimona air defenses being upgraded. The 2021 era air defenses probably would have destroyed a slower UAV, but Israel was taking no chances when it upgraded those air defenses. Iran claims Mohajer-10 is equipped with countermeasures to defeat air defenses but those have never been tested against Israeli air defenses. A UAV attack against the Dimona reactor or an Israeli city would trigger retaliation whether it succeeded or not. The Israelis have ballistic missiles carrying conventional warheads that can reach Iranian targets and Iran does not want to see how effective those would be against Iranian air defenses. The Mohajer-6 has been in use since 2017 against Kurdish separatists and Syrian rebels, is thus combat tested and that is used to attract export customers. Mohajer-10 has not been offered for export yet and if it was it would be more expensive than Mohajer-6 because of the longer range and larger explosive payload. Iran has long been an exporter of weapons, usually cheaper versions of Chinese and Russian assault rifles, mortars and RPGs. Iran has long had a trading relationship with North Korea in ballistic missile technology. Both nations are banned from exporting that sort of thing but desperation will find a way. After World War II, the U.S. Army adopted several new personnel policies. One of the most unpopular of these was the requirement that officers move to a new unit or job every two or three years. This was not a problem for junior officers who were in the reserves and only serving a few years on active duty before spending the rest of their career in an often permanent peacetime reserve assignment. But for career officers and their families, the constant moves were unpopular and one reason why career officers and NCOs retired after twenty years so they and their families could finally settle down in one place. The main justification for the moves was to provide more experience, especially in overseas bases. The army and other military services could ignore such complaints during the Cold War when there were more troops overseas, and that was one of the justifications for the frequent moves. The Cold War ended in 1991 but soon there was a lot more Islamic terrorism, which led to American troops being sent to Afghanistan, Iraq and a few other places. Few of these overseas war zones allowed families to accompany the troops. This lasted until 2008, when the main hotspots of Afghanistan and Iraq were declared pacified and most of the troops came home. This caused some unique problems. For example, so many army troops had been overseas, usually on one-year tours of duty, that when most were brought home the army found that there were not enough barracks and officer housing for that many troops to live in. That was fixed by building more barracks in a hurry, as well as reducing the size of the army. That army had not done that since World War II, when existing army bases were flooded with millions of new troops. A lot of these buildings were useful when the Cold War with Russia began in the late 1940s and by the 1959s the army was adding personnel again. In the 1969s the Vietnam War tripled the size of the army so many of those old World War II barracks were refurbished and repopulated. By the early 1970s the Vietnam War was over and the army once more shrank to about 750,ooon troops. For the next two decades there were no major wars to fight and the peacetime routine of frequent base moves for career personnel and their families resumed. The army did not lose all its wartime strength levels at once. The Vietnam War expansion reached its peak in 1968 with 1.6 million troops. By 1973 that had been reduced by half, and stabilized at that until the Soviet Union collapsed immediately after the 1990-91 Gulf War, after which it was slowly reduced again until a record low of 461,000 was reached in 1996. The War on Terror bumped that up to 565,000 by 2010 but that has slowly declined ever since to 473,000 active duty troops in 2023. The army budget didnt decline along with personnel reductions. The spending per active duty soldier increased because the tools of war have rapidly changed since the 1990s. The army required large quantities of new weapons and equipment to replace the aging Cold War equipment. For the last two decades the army has been spending more on developing and purchasing new weapons. The war time impact of all these new weapons was discovered when many were sent to Ukraine after Russia invaded in early 2022. Over $50 billion worth of weapons from the United States and other NATO nations were sent to Ukraine and performed spectacularly against the Russians. Some additional army troops were sent to Europe to help move the weapons to the Ukrainian border, where the Ukrainians moved them into Ukraine where fighting was going on. The aid to Ukraine was expensive for the army, which now had to find money to replace those weapons. In some respects, that turned out to be an opportunity because one of the money-saving proposals was to sharply reduce the frequent movements to new bases by career personnel and their families. This was welcomed by the veteran troops and their families and there is now an effort by the troops and army budget experts to permanently reduce the frequent moves. This would improve morale and save the army a lot of money it needs for procurement. Currently the army spends nearly two billion dollars a year on these moves. That is significant when you realize that the army budget for 2023 is $178 billion. Nothing like necessity to justify needed changes so the army can spend nearly five billion a year on new weapons and equipment. Recipients were selected by a distinguished panel of executives and editorial board members following a nationwide search and evaluation of over 200 nominations, selecting those who exemplify admirable leadership. AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / IntelliClear today announced, Founder and CEO Eric Shuster has been selected by Pinnacle TechInsights (PTI) as one of its Top 10 Admired Leaders for 2023. Described as having a "willing heart and driven mindset," the editorial board of PTI announced its selection and will feature an article on Mr. Shuster in its magazine's September issue, which boasts 342,000 digital subscribers. Eric Shuster, Founder and CEO of IntelliClear Inc. Eric Shuster, Founder and CEO of IntelliClear Inc. The process of selecting the PTI Top 10 Admired Leaders began with an extensive search to identify over 200 leaders, nominated by a panel of executives and the PTI editorial board. A seasoned research team tracked the pioneering leaders in the marketplace, accumulating market data, industry news, social media, and surveys with individuals within the industries they work, focusing on vision, results, experience, and leadership in their professional and community endeavors. Those 200+ candidates were short-listed and then further evaluated over two additional rounds to determine the final 10 leaders for the award, which in 2023 includes Eric Shuster of IntelliClear. "The Pinnacle TechInsights' Top 10 series recognizes the diamonds in the rough, those whose names may be relatively unknown to the masses but because of their impact on those with whom they work and the communities they reside in, have been selected using a rigorous process," says John Kennedy, Editor at PTI. "Eric Shuster demonstrates you don't have to generate billions in revenue and manage thousands of people to be selected among the most admired leaders in business, his professional, personal and community-related contributions have earned him a distinguished position as one of the Top Ten Admired Leaders in 2023," adds Kristian Reigns, Managing Editor of PTI. Mr. Shuster is recognized as a compassionate and capable researcher and leader among those within IntelliClear's global network. Abby Goodell, President of Fieldwork Inc.'s International Team, commented, "Fieldwork has partnered with IntelliClear for nearly 20 years, successfully completing dozens of projects led by Eric Shuster. Eric has always provided exemplary leadership and research expertise to our teams around the globe, accented by a positive attitude that inspires and lifts others." About Pinnacle TechInsights (www.pinnacletechinsights.com) Pinnacle TechInsights is a key tool for a company's marketing mix. With more than 125,000 qualified subscribers globally and approximately 342,000 digital subscribers, Pinnacle TechInsights showcases products and solutions across major industries, helping companies grow their client base worldwide. About IntelliClear (www.intelliclear.com) IntelliClear is a market research and business consulting firm committed to the delivery of actionable market intelligence to the global IT community. IntelliClear's mission is to bring clarity to IT market intelligence by delivering results-oriented research, responsive industry experience, and effective data synthesis - leading to confident go-to-market plans. Contact Information: Eric Shuster Founder and CEO [email protected] 5128623083 SOURCE: IntelliClear Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the press service of the head of state reports. The President spoke in detail about the urgent needs of Ukraine's defense forces on the battlefield. Particular attention was paid to further strengthening the Ukrainian air defense system, in particular to protect the south of Ukraine and the "grain corridor". The President emphasized the importance of attracting additional assistance from partners to bolster the artillery of our defenders, in particular through 155 mm caliber systems and long-range missiles, the message says. In addition, the parties exchanged views on Ukraine's European integration and the progress made by our country in implementing the recommendations of the European Commission on the status of a candidate for EU membership. The Head of State emphasized Ukraine's readiness to cooperate closely with Germany in the preparation for the next international conference on the recovery of our country to be held in Berlin in the summer of 2024. "It is important to ensure the most concrete practical results of the onference," Zelenskyy emphasized. Zelenskyy praised the fact that Baerbock began her visit to Ukraine with a visit to one of the energy infrastructure facilities in Kyiv region. In this context, it was emphasized that strengthening the resilience of the energy sector is one of the priorities for our country on the eve of the winter period. The Head of State thanked Germany for its significant support for Ukraine, particularly military and financial. The President emphasized a new package of defense assistance from Germany and a significant contribution to bolstering Ukraine's air defense. "I am grateful to Chancellor Scholz, his team and the entire German people. During my visit to Germany, we felt strong support from your society," he emphasized. Capital increase with pre-emptive subscription rights ("PSR") for an initial amount of 6.0 million, which may be increased to 6.9 million if the Extension Clause is fully exercised. Subscription price: 2.41 per share, i.e. a 27.4% discount on the face value Subscription ratio: 1 new share per 4 existing shares Subscription commitments of 4.6 million, by Bpifrance, Cemag Invest and Promontoires, representing over 75% of the planned capital increase. PSR detachment on September 13, 2023, and subscription period from September 15 to 27, 2023 Eligibility of Advicenne shares for FIP, FCPI, the PEA, the PEA-PME and the 150-0 B ter scheme of the French General Tax Code (reinvesting capital gains) PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: This press release must not be distributed directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Australia, or Japan. Advicenne (Euronext Growth - FR0013296746 - ALDVI), a pharmaceutical company specializing in the development and marketing of innovative treatments for people suffering from rare kidney diseases (the "Company"), announces the launch of a capital increase through the issuance of new ordinary shares (the "New Shares") with shareholders preferential subscription rights (PSR), for an initial amount of 6.0 million (the "Capital Increase"), which may be increased to 6.9 million in the event of the fully exercise of the extension clause representing 15% of the initial amount of the Capital Increase (the "Extension Clause"). The capital increase will involve the issue of 2,489,287 New Shares at a unit price of 2.41, representing a 27.4% discount to the closing price of Advicenne shares on September 8, 2023 (3.32), which may be increased to 2,862,680 New Shares if the Extension Clause is fully exercised. Prospectus In accordance with the provisions of Article L.411-2-1 1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and Article 211-2 of the General Regulations of the Autorite des Marches Financiers (the "AMF"), the Capital Increase will not give rise to a prospectus subject to approval by the AMF, as the total amount of the offering calculated over a twelve-month period does not exceed 8,000,000. Purpose of the Capital Increase The Capital Increase is part of the financing of Advicennes growth in order to achieve operational breakeven. The funds will be allocated as follows: - around 40% for the commercial development of Sibnayal, particularly in France and the UK, where Advicenne has direct sales operations ; - around 40% to optimize the industrial and clinical development of ADV7103; - 20% to finance the Company's ongoing operations. The Capital Increase will ensure the financing of Advicenne's anticipated cash requirements at least until mid-2025 if the Capital Increase is completed at 100%, and at least until the first quarter of 2025 if it is completed at 75%. As of the date of this press release, the financial resources available to date cover the Company's needs until the first quarter of 2024. Didier Laurens, Chief Executive Officer of Advicenne, said: "Our half-year results show that Advicenne is well on the way to growth. To enable us to pursue our development, and thus give us sufficient means to achieve operational profitability, we need to strengthen our cash position, and a capital increase became necessary. I am particularly pleased to be able to do this through a rights issue. It's the only way to preserve the rights of all the shareholders who have placed their trust in us over the years. I would like to thank Bpifrance Investissement and Cemag Invest, whose commitment has made this operation possible. In the continuity of their constant support on the Board of Directors, they are expressing their confidence in the company's continued development. It is also recognition of the work accomplished over the past 2 years by the entire team around me, and their day-to-day involvement in the transformation of Advicenne into a commercial biopharmaceutical company". Main terms and conditions of the Capital Increase with PSR Share capital prior to the Capital Increase At the date of launch of the Capital Increase, Advicenne's share capital comprised 9,957,151 fully subscribed and paid-up shares with a par value of 0.20 each, listed on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. Shares details : Name: ADVICENNE ISIN code: FR0013296746 Symbol: ALDVI Stock market: Euronext Growth in Paris Legal framework of the Capital Increase On 11 September 2023, Advicenne's Board of Directors, making use of the authorization granted by the 12th and 18th resolutions of the Combined General Meeting of June 8, 2023, decided to implement the authorization granted to it, decided to launch a capital increase with pre-emptive subscription rights and delegated full powers to the Chief Executive Officer to carry it out. Nature of Offering and number of New Shares Advicenne is launching a capital increase with shareholders' preferential subscription rights (PSR), on the basis of 1 New Share for 4 existing shares with a par value of 0.20 each. Extension clause Depending on the level of demand, Advicenne reserves the right to exercise the extension clause, up to a maximum of 15% of the initial issue amount, i.e. additional issue proceeds of 0.9 million, bringing the total amount of the Capital Increase to 6.9 million, in order to serve all or part of the reducible subscription orders. Thus, the initial number of 2,489,287 New Shares could be increased by an additional 373,393 New Shares, bringing the total number of New Shares to be issued to a maximum of 2,862,680 New Shares. Characteristics of the New Shares The New Shares will carry dividend rights and will be assimilated to the Company's existing shares. Application will be made for the New Shares to be admitted to trading on Euronext Growth in Paris. Their admission is scheduled for October 4, 2023, on the same quotation line as the existing shares (ISIN code FR0013296746). Subscription period The subscription period begins on September 15, 2023 and ends on September 27, 2023. Subscription price of the New Shares 2.41 per new share (including a par value of 0.20 and a share premium of 2.21), representing a 27.4% discount to Advicenne's closing share price on September 8, 2023 (3.32), and a 23.2% discount to the theoretical value of the share ex-rights (3.14, taking into account the theoretical value of the PSR which amounts to 0.182). Gross amount of the capital increase The total gross amount of the issue is 5,999,181.67, corresponding to the number of New Shares issued, i.e. 2,489,287 New Shares, multiplied by the subscription price of one New Share (2.41). This amount could be increased to 6,899,058.80 if the Extension Clause is exercised in full. Net amount of the Capital Increase Assuming a 100% subscription to the Capital Increase (i.e. an amount of 6.0 M), the total net amount of the Capital Increase (corresponding to the gross amount less all financial, legal and communication costs relating to the Capital Increase) would amount to approximately 5.7 M. Subscription commitments The FPS Innovation 1 fund, managed by Bpifrance Investissement, which also manages the Innobio fund, the Company's reference shareholder, has irrevocably undertaken to subscribe to the capital increase on an unrestricted basis, or, as the case may be, on a reducible or irreducible basis in proportion to the preferential subscription rights potentially acquired by the FPS Innovation 1 fund, for a maximum total amount of 1,000,0001. CEMAG INVEST, the Company's reference shareholder, has irrevocably undertaken to subscribe to the capital increase on an irreducible basis in proportion to the preferential subscription rights that will be detached from the existing shares held in the Company, and on a reducible basis for the balance insofar as possible, for a maximum total amount of 3,500,000.2 Promontoires3 has irrevocably undertaken to subscribe to the capital increase on an unrestricted basis, or, as the case may be, on a reducible or irreducible basis in proportion to the preferential subscription rights potentially acquired by Promontoires, for a maximum total amount of 100,000. The Company is not aware of the intentions of its other shareholders. As a result, the threshold of 75% of the capital increase provided for in article L.225-134 of the French Commercial Code will have been reached. Preferential subscription rights on an irreducible and reducible basis Subscription for the New Shares will be reserved, by preference, for (i) holders of existing shares registered in their securities account at the close of business on September 12, 2023, who will be allocated one preferential subscription right per existing share held on September 12, 2023, and (ii) transferees of the preferential subscription rights. Holders of preferential subscription rights will be able to subscribe: by irrevocable entitlement, on the basis of 1 New Share for every 4 existing shares held, so that 4 preferential subscription rights will entitle holders to subscribe to 1 New Share at a price of 2.41 per New Share; on a reducible basis, the number of New Shares they would like in addition to that to which they would be entitled by exercising their irreducible preferential subscription rights. The PSRs may only be exercised up to the number of PSRs required to subscribe for a whole number of New Shares. Holders of preferential subscription rights who do not hold a sufficient number of existing shares to subscribe for a whole number of New Shares by irrevocable entitlement will be required to purchase the number of preferential subscription rights required to subscribe for a whole number of New Shares on the Euronext Growth market in Paris. Fractional PSRs may be sold on the Euronext Growth market in Paris during the PSRs listing period. Only the New Shares that may not have been subscribed for by irrevocable entitlement will be allocated among the reducible entitlement subscribers, within the limit of their requests and in proportion to the number of existing shares whose preferential subscription rights will have been used to support their irrevocable entitlement subscriptions. In the event that the same subscriber submits several separate subscriptions, the number of shares to which he or she is entitled on a reducible basis will be calculated on the basis of all his or her subscription rights only if he or she expressly makes a special request to this effect in writing, no later than the closing date for subscriptions. This special request must be attached to one of the subscriptions and must give all the information required for the aggregation of rights, specifying the number of subscriptions made and the authorized institution(s) or intermediary(ies) with which these subscriptions have been deposited. Subscriptions in the name of separate subscribers may not be grouped together to obtain New Shares on a reducible basis. A notice published by Euronext will make known, where applicable, the allocation scale for subscriptions subject to reduction (on a reducible basis) Amounts paid for subscriptions subject to reduction (on a reducible basis) and remaining available after the allocation will be reimbursed without interest to subscribers by the authorized intermediaries who have received them. For information purposes, the Company held 36,546 of its own shares at September 8, 2023. The preferential subscription rights detached from the Company's treasury shares at September 12, 2023 will be sold on the market before the end of the subscription period, in accordance with Article L. 225-210 of the French Commercial Code. Exercise of preferential subscription rights To exercise their preferential subscription rights, shareholders must submit a request to their authorized financial intermediary at any time between September 15, 2023 and September 27, 2023 inclusive, and pay the corresponding subscription price. Subscriptions that have not been paid up in full will be cancelled ipso jure, without the need for formal notice. Unexercised preferential subscription rights will automatically lapse at the end of the subscription period, i.e. at the close of trading on September 27, 2023. Listing of preferential subscription rights (PSR) At the close of trading on September 12, 2023, 1 preferential subscription right (PSR) will be recorded in the securities account of Advicenne shares for each share held (i.e. a total of 9,957,151 PSRs issued). Each shareholder holding 4 PSRs (and multiples thereof) will be entitled to subscribe to 1 New Share (and multiples thereof) at a unit price of 2.41. The preferential subscription rights may be acquired or sold on the market during their listing period, between September 13, 2023 and September 25, 2023 inclusive, under ISIN code FR001400KMM8. In the absence of subscription before September 27, 2023 or sale of these preferential subscription rights before September 25, 2023, they will become null and void. Free subscription requests In addition to the possibility of subscribing on an irreducible and reducible basis in accordance with the specified terms and conditions, any individual or legal entity, whether or not holding preferential subscription rights, may subscribe to the Capital Increase on a voluntary basis. Persons wishing to subscribe on a voluntary basis must submit their request to their authorized financial intermediary at any time during the subscription period, and pay the corresponding subscription price. In accordance with the provisions of article L.225-134 of the French Commercial Code, subscriptions made on a voluntary basis will only be taken into account if the subscriptions made on an irreducible basis and on a reducible basis have not absorbed the entire Capital Increase, it being specified that the Board of Directors (with the option of sub-delegation) will have the power to freely allocate the unsubscribed New Shares, in whole or in part, among the persons (shareholders or third parties) of its choice who have made requests for subscriptions on a voluntary basis. Guarantee The issue is not subject to a performance guarantee. It is however specified that the Company has received commitments to subscribe (i) on an irreducible and reducible basis, and (ii) on an unrestricted basis, the total amount of which represents over 75% of the Capital Increase, making it possible to reach the issue completion threshold. Re-allocation by the Board of Directors of New Shares not subscribed by the exercise of irreducible preferential subscription rights and, where applicable, of reducible preferential subscription rights In the event that subscriptions for New Shares do not reach the entire issue, the Board of Directors may make use, in whole or in part, of the options available to it under Article L. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, and in the order it shall determine. Limitation of the capital increase Pursuant to Article L. 225-134 of the French Commercial Code, in the event that irreducible and reducible subscriptions, as well as unrestricted subscriptions, do not absorb the entire issue, the Board of Directors may limit the Capital Increase to the amount of subscriptions received, provided that this amount reaches at least 75% of the amount initially set, it being specified, however, that the Company has already received commitments to subscribe representing at least 75% of the amount of the Capital Increase. Indicative timetable for the Capital Increase 11 September 2023 Decision by the Board of Directors to launch the Capital Increase Press release announcing the Capital Increase 12 September 2023 Accounting day at the end of which holders of existing shares recorded in their securities accounts will be allocated preferential subscription rights 13 September 2023 Detachment of the PSRs - Start of trading of the PSRs on Euronext Growth Paris at the start of trading 15 September 2023 Opening of the subscription period - Start of exercise period for stock subscription rights 16 September 2023 Suspension of the right to exercise BSPCEs issued by the Company 25 September 2023 (inclusive) End of listing of the PSRs on Euronext Growth Paris 27 September 2023 (inclusive) Closing of the subscription period End of the PSRs exercise period 2 October 2023 Meeting of the Board of Directors or decision of the Chief Executive Officer deciding the issue of the New Shares, and, where applicable, the limitation of the Capital Increase, the reallocation of the Capital Increase or the exercise of the Clause of Extension Publication of the press release announcing the final amount of the Capital Increase 4 October 2023 Settlement-delivery of the New Shares 4 October 2023 Resumption of the right to exercise BSPCEs issued by the Company Undertakings to abstain from trading and to retain shares The Company has entered into a 6-month lock-up commitment in connection with the Capital Increase. Impact of the issue on shareholders' equity per share For information purposes, the impact of the Capital Increase on consolidated shareholders' equity per share (calculated on the basis of consolidated shareholders' equity at June 30, 2023 and the number of shares comprising the Company's share capital at September 11, 2023) would be as follows: Share of equity per share (in ) Undiluted basis * Diluted basis ** Before issuance of the New Shares via the Offering -1.41 -0.61 After issuance of 2,489,287 New Shares via the Offering (completion of the capital increase to 100%) -0.64 -0.04 After issuance of 1,866,966 New Shares (completion of the capital increase to 75%) -0.80 -0.16 After issuance of 2,862,680 New Shares (realization of the capital increase to 115% in the event of exercise of the extension clause) -0.55 0.02 * on the basis of 9,957,151 existing shares at September 11, 2023 ** if all BSPCEs are exercised, representing a total number of shares of 906,000. Impact of the issue on the shareholder's situation (for non-subscribing shareholders) For information purposes, the impact of the Capital Increase on the shareholding of a shareholder holding 1.00% of the Company's share capital prior to the Capital Increase and not subscribing to it (calculated on the basis of the number of shares making up the Company's share capital at September 11, 2023) would be as follows: Shareholder participation (%) Undiluted basis ** Diluted basis ** Before issuance of the New Shares via the Offering 1.00 % 0.92 % After issuance of 2,489,287 New Shares via the Offering (completion of the capital increase to 100%) 0.80 % 0.73 % After issuance of 1,866,966 New Shares (completion of the capital increase to 75%) 0.84 % 0.77 % After issuance of 2,862,680 New Shares (realization of the capital increase to 115% in the event of exercise of the extension clause) 0.78 % 0.71 % * on the basis of 9,957,151 existing shares at September 11, 2023 ** if all BSPCEs are exercised, representing a total number of shares of 906,000. Suspension of the right to exercise the Company's BSPCE warrants Holders of BSPCE warrants allocated by the Company have been informed of the suspension of their right to the allocation of new shares in the Company with effect from September 16, 2023 (0:01 a.m., Paris time) by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, for a maximum period of three months, i.e. until December 16, 2023 (11:59 p.m., Paris time) at the latest, unless the period is shortened. The rights of holders of warrants allocated or issued by the Company who have not exercised their right to the allocation of shares in the Company by September 16, 2023 (00:00 Paris time) will be preserved in accordance with legal and regulatory provisions. Subscription terms You have PSRs attached to your Advicenne shares, which allow you to subscribe in priority to the New Shares by applying the ratio 1 New Share for 4 PSRs (1 old share giving right to 1 PSR). Either you have an exact and sufficient number of old shares to be able to subscribe via your PSRs to a whole number of New Shares (for example, if you have 400 Advicenne shares, you will be able to subscribe by priority to 100 New Shares). Or you do not hold a sufficient number of existing shares to obtain a whole number of New Shares: you may then buy or sell the number of PSRs needed to reach the ratio leading to a whole number of new shares (1 New Share for 4 PSRs). In addition to the subscriptions made by means of your existing preferential subscription rights, you may also subscribe on a voluntary basis before September 27, 2023, inclusive (your subscription will only be considered if the transaction has not already been fully subscribed by the holders of preferential subscription rights). Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price. Paying agents - Subscription payments Subscriptions for the New Shares and payments of funds by subscribers whose shares are held in bearer or administered registered form, or by their authorized agent acting in their name and on their behalf, will be received until September 27, 2023, inclusive by the authorized financial intermediaries. Subscriptions and payments by subscribers whose shares are held in a pure registered account will be received free of charge until September 27, 2023, inclusive by Uptevia - Les Grands Moulins de Pantin - 9, rue du Debarcadere - 93500 Pantin. Each subscription must be accompanied by payment of the subscription price in cash. Funds paid in support of subscriptions will be centralized by Uptevia - Les Grands Moulins de Pantin - 9, rue du Debarcadere - 93500 Pantin, which will be responsible for drawing up the certificate of deposit of funds recording the completion of the capital increase and the issue of the New Shares. Subscriptions for which payments have not been made will be cancelled ipso jure, without the need for formal notice. Risk factors Risk factors relating to the Company and its business are set out in its 2022 universal registration document and in the 2023 half-year report,, available in the Investor Relations section of its website (https://advicenne.com/). The occurrence of any or all these risks could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial situation, results, development or prospects. In addition, investors are invited to consider the following risks specific to the Capital Increase: the preferential subscription rights market could offer only limited liquidity and be subject to high volatility; shareholders who do not exercise their preferential subscription rights will see their stake in the Company's capital diluted; the market price of the shares could fluctuate and fall below the subscription price of the shares issued as part of the Capital Increase; in the event of a fall in the market price of the Company's shares, preferential subscription rights could lose their value; the volatility and liquidity of the Company's shares could fluctuate significantly; sales of the Company's shares could occur on the market and adversely affect the Company's share price; the Company's shareholders could suffer potentially significant dilution because of any future capital increases. All information and documentation relating to the Capital Increase can be found at https://advicenne.com/fr/login-augmentation-de-capital/ Capital Increase Partners TP ICAP Global Coordinator, Lead Manager and Bookrunner Bird&Bird Legal advice About Advicenne Advicenne (Euronext: ALDVI) is a specialty pharmaceutical company founded in 2007, specializing in the development of innovative treatments in Nephrology. Its lead product Sibnayal (ADV7103) has received its Marketing Approval for distal renal tubular acidosis in EU and GB. ADV7103 is currently in late-stage development in cystinuria in Europe and in dRTA and cystinuria in the US and in Canada. Headquartered in Paris, Advicenne, listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange since 2017, has now been listed on Euronext Growth Paris since its transfer on March 30, 2022. For additional information, see: https://advicenne.com/. Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Advicenne's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond Advicenne's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include in particular those inherent in the marketing and commercialization of drugs developed by Advicenne as well as those developed or identified in the public documents filed by Advicenne with the Autorite des marches financiers, including those listed in chapter 3 "Risk Factors" of Advicenne's universal registration document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers on April 28, 2023 and in the 2023 half-year report, available free of charge on the website of the Company (https://advicenne.com/). Subject to applicable regulations, in particular articles 223-1 et seq. of the general regulations of the Autorite des marches financiers, Advicenne does not undertake to update any forward-looking information or statements. Disclaimer This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of common shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful in the absence of registration or approval under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The distribution of this press release may be subject to specific regulations in certain countries. Persons in possession of this document are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such local restrictions. This press release constitutes a promotional communication and not a prospectus within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 (as amended the "Prospectus Regulation"). With respect to member states of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities that would require the publication of a prospectus in any of these Member States. Consequently, the securities cannot and will not be offered in any Member State (other than France), except in accordance with the exemptions provided for in Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, or in other cases not requiring the publication by Advicenne of a prospectus under the Prospectus Regulation and/or the regulations applicable in those Member States. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. This press release may not be published, distributed or disseminated in the United States (including its territories and possessions). This press release does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or subscribe for any securities in the United States. The securities mentioned in this press release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any applicable state or federal securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, registration under the Securities Act. Advicenne does not intend to register the offering in whole or in part in the United States under or pursuant to the Securities Act or to conduct a public offering in the United States. This press release may not be distributed directly or indirectly in the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. Lastly, this press release may be drafted in either French or English. In the event of any discrepancies between the two texts, the French version shall prevail. 1 In the hypothesis of the completion of 100% of the Capital Increase and the fully execution of the subscription undertaking on a voluntary basis of FPS Innovation 1, the shareholding of all of the funds managed by BPI France would represent 21.41% of the share capital 7 and 23.46% of the voting rights. 2 In the hypothesis of the completion of 100% of the Capital Increase and the fully execution of the subscription undertaking of CEMAG Invest, the shareholding of CEMAG INVEST would increase from 7.69% (10.42% of voting rights) to 17.82% of the share capital and 17.44% of the voting rights. 3 The company Promontoires is managed by Mrs Catherine Dunand, who represents CEMAG Invest as member of the Board of Direcotors of the Company. There is no capitalistic link between CEMAG INVEST and Promontoires. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911707880/en/ Advicenne Didier Laurens, Directeur General +33 (0) 1 87 44 40 17 Email: [email protected] Ulysse Communication Media relations Bruno Arabian +33 (0)6 87 88 47 26 Email: [email protected] Source: Advicenne HAMILTON, Bermuda--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) is pleased to announce that BermudAir is the official airline partner of the Bermuda Tech Summit 2023. As a result, BermudAir will provide special delegate pricing for those who book with them to attend the conference. Adam Scott, BermudAir Founder and CEO said, "BermudAir is delighted to support the Bermuda Tech Summit 2023. The value that this event brings in terms of key learning and thought leadership for business innovation is immense. Innovation is also central to our own business, so we look forward to discovering the latest technological trends applicable to our partners in this market. We're very happy to help industry leaders and innovators come together in our global business hub here in Bermuda for this important event." David Hart, CEO, BDA said It has been a privilege to work with the team at BermudAir along their exciting journey to launch a new airline from Bermuda and we could not be more pleased to have them as our official airline partner for our fifth annual Bermuda Tech Summit. We strongly encourage all delegates travelling from the US east coast to take advantage of these great rates and enjoy a truly Bermudian experience both in transit to and upon arrival in, our beautiful island home. Delegates will receive the discount information directly from the BDA. The BDA is also pleased to announce a one-time, final extension to our hotel room special rate through to September 15. From September 16, hotel room rates will increase significantly, or may be completely sold out, due to limited availability. Delegates travelling from overseas are strongly encouraged to book their hotel rooms now with our special rates. The Bermuda Tech Summit, held from October 8-10 at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, is the signature event of Bermuda Tech Week, being held across multiple locations from October 7-13. The 2023 Bermuda Tech Summit will kick off on October 9, with a keynote conversation between The Hon. E. David Burt, JP, MP, Premier of Bermuda, and Sandra Ro, CEO, Global Blockchain Business Council. This years agenda highlights Bermudas world-leading digital asset framework, showcases our ongoing work to establish blue and green investment facilities, and raises awareness of Bermudas innovation sandbox and option to beta test CleanTech solutions. Panels will include: The Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence, FinTechs New Wave (Buy, Build or Modernise), and Insuring Continuity Safeguarding the Future of Digital Assets. Additional topics will include data privacy, carbon credit trading platforms, and pioneering digital assets. The BDAs promotion of these activities aligns with the Business Attraction and Investment Promotion strategic priority outlined in Bermudas Economic Development Strategy. In addition to cutting-edge content, we are pleased to offer delegates C-suite networking opportunities during our opening reception on Sunday night sponsored by BermudAir and wrap party Tuesday night sponsored by RELM. Click here to register. Click here to see the full agenda and event description. The BDA simply could not put on our signature events without the generous support of our sponsors, Mr. Hart said. We are just so pleased to have Carey Olsen and RELM as diamond sponsors; Appleby, CCS Group Limited and XBTO as platinum sponsors; Hub Culture, KPMG, and One Communications as gold sponsors; Chainproof, Clarien, Paradise Mobile, and Walkers as silver sponsors; and Coinbase as supporting sponsor. Our airline partner is BermudAir, and our spirits partner is Goslings. If you are interested in sponsoring the Bermuda Tech Summit, click here or email [email protected]. CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate, or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911139632/en/ Stuart Roberts, Director of Marketing & Communications [email protected] | +1 441 292 7774 Source: Bermuda Business Development Agency SHANGHAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Shanghai office of international law firm Dorsey & Whitney has moved to a new address: CITIC Square, Suite 3707-3708, 1168 Nan Jing West Road, Shanghai 200041, P.R. China. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230910771314/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The revamped CITIC Square where our new home is located offers a diversified and engaging space, which is perfect for a people-oriented business like ours, said Karen Yiqin Fan, the Head of Dorseys Shanghai office. Dorseys first office in Mainland China opened in 2001. It delivers top-notch legal offerings across a variety of areas including multinational general corporate, cross-border M&A and asset reorganization, PE/VC, and capital markets services. Aligning with Dorseys commitment to highest-quality service, its lawyers help clients navigate through complex cross-border transactions. Dorsey & Whitney is one of the rare international law firms awarded an associate membership to the Shanghai Bar Association. The office also received a China Business Law Journal Deal of the Year Award for 2022 and 2021, and is named a Notable Firm: M&A by IFLR1000 APAC Rankings 2022-2023 and by ALB M&A Rankings 2022. Additionally, Partner and Shanghai Office Head Karen Yiqin Fan was recognized by China Business Law Journals 2023 Rising Stars awards, honoring Chinas up-and-coming legal achievers, as well as a Rising Star Partner by IFLR1000 APAC Rankings 2023. Located in Shanghais business district, CITIC Square is home to the worlds most successful multinational companies, delivering an international standard of commercial accommodation in the heart of Shanghais business district. Guests can access the Shanghai Metro system within a short walking distance. About Dorsey & Whitney LLP Clients have relied on Dorsey as a valued business partner since 1912. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides results-oriented, grounded counsel for its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including banking & financial institutions; development & infrastructure; energy & natural resources; food, beverage & agribusiness; healthcare & life sciences; and technology. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230910771314/en/ Carmen Ramson-Herzing 612.492.5194 [email protected] Source: Dorsey & Whitney LLP MCKINNEY, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Heritage Landscape Supply Group (Heritage) announced today that it has acquired The Urban Farmer Store (UFS or the Company), a full-service distributor of irrigation, lighting, and other landscaping products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911696807/en/ Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, UFS was founded in 1981 by Tom Bressan and is owned and operated today by Matt Fay and Adrian Smith. The Company operates out of 4 facilities, 3 in the Bay Area and 1 in Honolulu, and currently employs a team of 30 people. Matt & Adrian will continue to lead the Companys dedicated team, ensuring continuity and consistency for customers, suppliers, and employees. Chris McMurrough, COO of Heritage, commented, We are truly excited to welcome The Urban Farmer Store to the Heritage family. The Companys inimitable branch footprint in metro San Francisco and newest location in Hawaii, the first in the state for Heritage, make this a very compelling partnership. UFS has garnered an extremely loyal customer base over the years due to its fanatical service and product expertise, and we cant wait to see what the future holds for our combined operation. Matt Fay and Adrian Smith, owners of the Company, commented, The Urban Farmer Store has flourished over its 40+ year history by developing and retaining the industrys most knowledgeable staff and offering only the highest-grade professional products. We are thrilled to be joining the growing Heritage family of companies and firmly believe that their entrepreneurial business model and commitment to taking care of their people make Heritage the ideal steward for the next chapter of UFS future. About Heritage Landscape Supply Group Heritage Landscape Supply Groups vision is to grow by forming a network of the best independent distributors to provide exceptional customer service while increasing our value as a trusted growth partner to top manufacturers in the industry. Our mission is to help our family of companies achieve new heights and provide opportunities for all employees to grow, thrive, and advance with the company for decades to come. We currently operate under a family of distinct local brands encompassing more than 210 locations across 35 states. Heritage Landscape Supply Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of SRS Distribution Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing privately held wholesale distributors in the United States. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911696807/en/ Chris McMurrough Chief Operations Officer Heritage Landscape Supply Group, Inc. Phone: (214) 491-4149 Fax: (214) 491-4156 Source: Heritage Landscape Supply Group SYDNEY & SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (Hollard) and Guidewire (NYSE: GWRE) announce that Hollard, one of Australias top five general insurers, has implemented Guidewire ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud to power its claims management system, which supports its intention of offering a seamless omnichannel digital experience to brokers and customers. ClaimCenter replaces multiple legacy claims processing platforms and will enable Hollard to quickly adapt to changing market demands and simplify its IT operations, by leveraging ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud. In addition, Guidewire Cloud Data Access, ProducerEngage, CustomerEngage, and the Australia Goods and Services Tax for Claims capability have also been implemented. These systems combined provide Hollard with near real time access to data. We want to be the insurance partner of choice for Australias iconic brands, said Hollard Chief Executive Officer Paul Fahey. In order to move forward, we realised we needed to optimise our digital capability, and improve scalability, and efficiency. We looked for an elite partner to work with to build our single claims platform, enabling the experiences we want to deliver to our brokers and customers. Guidewire was the solution of choice and is helping us get there quickly. Hollard Chief Transformation Officer Jamie Smith said, Guidewire provides us with a solid foundation that allows us to devote less time to system maintenance and focus on offering our people, brokers, and customers a much better user experience to retain and grow our business. Within the first four weeks of rolling out Release 2 to our direct partners, we have seen a significant reduction in the time to lodge a claim. This is a phenomenal result on a new system, with the teams still learning the full capabilities of ClaimCenter, said Hollard Chief Operating Officer Paige Vincent. We have seen the continued benefits in our broker book, with customer experience improving significantly over the last 12 months since launching our first release. Our teams are excited about the ongoing opportunities that come with using an elite claims platform like ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud to support our brokers and customers when they need us most. We congratulate Hollard on transforming its claims operations with Guidewire Cloud and are thrilled to be their strategic partner, said Guidewire Chief Customer Officer Christina Colby. We look forward to continuing to play an expanded role in enabling Hollard to continue its commitment to innovation and to delivering great insurance solutions to meet Australians dynamic insurance needs. Hollard initially implemented ClaimCenter on Guidewire Cloud in July 2022 across its personal lines broker business. The move to ClaimCenter is part of a broader business transformation that was recognised by a 2022 Guidewire Innovation Award; learn more about it here. About Hollard Established in 1999, The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd (Hollard) and its related entities are part of the Hollard International Group of companies, operating in Australia and New Zealand. Hollard Insurance Partners Limited (formerly Commonwealth Insurance Limited) became part of the Group from October 2022. Hollard underwrites a broad range of general insurance products, including motor, home, contents, business, bicycle and pet; both directly and through partnerships. It is a top five insurer in Australia and is independent and privately owned. Hollard works in proud partnership with a range of leading direct insurance brands as well as broker businesses to bring to market an innovative range of insurance products to serve a wide range of customer needs. Hollard prides itself on the calibre and capability of its people, on being a positive business with an unrelenting focus on diversity and inclusion, and on building collaborative partnerships. About Guidewire Software Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We combine digital, core, analytics, and machine learning to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 540 insurers in 40 countries, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world, run on Guidewire. As a partner to our customers, we continually evolve to enable their success. We are proud of our unparalleled implementation track record, with 1,600+ successful projects, supported by the largest R&D team and partner ecosystem in the industry. Our marketplace provides hundreds of applications that accelerate integration, localization, and innovation. For more information, please visit http://www.guidewire.com/ and follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) and LinkedIn. NOTE: For information about Guidewires trademarks, visit https://www.guidewire.com/legal-notices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911836648/en/ Diana Stott Director, Communications Guidewire Software, Inc. +1.650.781.9955 [email protected] Craig Badings Senate SHJ 0413946703 [email protected] Source: Guidewire Software, Inc. PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: IRT) (IRT) today announced that Jim Sebra, IRTs Chief Financial Officer and Mike Daley, IRTs Executive Vice President, Operations and People are scheduled to host meetings with investors at the Bank of America Securities 2023 Global Real Estate Conference in New York City on September 12th. The company has posted its September Investor Presentation on its website at www.irtliving.com in the Investor Relations section under Presentations. About Independence Realty Trust, Inc. Independence Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: IRT) is a real estate investment trust that owns and operates multifamily communities, across non-gateway U.S. markets including Atlanta, GA, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Oklahoma City, OK, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, and Tampa, FL. IRTs investment strategy is focused on gaining scale near major employment centers within key amenity rich submarkets that offer good school districts and high-quality retail. IRT aims to provide stockholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns through diligent portfolio management, strong operational performance, and a consistent return on capital through distributions and capital appreciation. More information may be found on the Companys website www.irtliving.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911076832/en/ Independence Realty Trust, Inc. Edelman Smithfield Lauren Torres 917-365-7979 [email protected] Source: Independence Realty Trust, Inc. Dean Rogers to Oversee Growth After Integration of Recent Compliance Learning Acquisition from Thomson Reuters TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- LRN Corporation, the leader in ethics and compliance solutions that enable organizations to inspire principled performance, has announced the appointment of Dean Rogers as Senior Vice President for the Asia-Pacific region. Based out of LRNs Tokyo office, Dean will be leading LRNs business development and client success operations in Japan and across the Asia-Pacific region, with responsibility for overseeing teams in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. He joins LRN at an exciting time for growth and development across Asia-Pacific and will play a significant role in the companys continued global expansion, building upon its 400+ client base in the region. In December 2022, LRN acquired the Compliance Learning business unit from Thomson Reuters, which substantially expanded the businesss footprint in Asia and further enhanced its global reach, solution offerings, and international client base. Dean joins LRN with more than two decades of executive leadership and investor relations experience across a range of industries. Most recently, he served on the board of Link Global Solutions and as Global institutional investor relations director for the Japan-based publicly traded consultancy firm Link and Motivation Group, where he drove global institutional investor growth. As well as holding multiple board positions in Japan, Dean has founded several businesses in the country. In 2004, he founded and served as the CEO of a chain of language learning centers called Dean Morgan Academies, later rebranded to Rosetta Stone Learning Center after acquiring Rosetta Stones brand rights in Japan. In 2017 after selling the language learning business to a tier one public company, he continued to serve as its Chief Executive Officer for four more years. Dean brings many years of entrepreneurial and executive management experience - both in the public and private sectors to LRN with specific strengths in the Japan and APAC regions. Deans experience, network and insight are a valuable addition to the LRN business in Japan and across Asia, as we continue our journey of growth and expansion across the region, said Kevin Michielsen, Chief Executive Officer at LRN. His successful track record in building scalable, high-growth businesses makes him the perfect person to spearhead our Asia-Pacific expansion. Ethics and compliance are the backbone of every truly successful business worldwide, and LRNs mission to help companies create cultures that inspire principled performance has become all the more critical in todays rapidly changing business environment, added Dean Rogers, Senior Vice President, APAC at LRN. I look forward to working with the team in Tokyo and across the region to continue this exciting trajectory of growth for LRNs business. ABOUT LRN LRN's mission and purpose is to inspire principled performance and help people around the world do the right thing. Since 1994, LRN has worked to propel organizations forward with the partnership, knowledge, and tools to build ethical culture. Learn more at https://lrn.com and follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230910419315/en/ Scott Addison or Charlotte Hole, Infinite Global [email protected] Source: LRN Corporation Releasing on 2LP Vinyl, 2CD Deluxe, & Digital Includes 13 Bonus Tracks LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GRAMMY Award-winning trailblazing hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa will celebrate three decades of their classic fourth full-length album, Very Necessary, with the release of Very Necessary (30TH Anniversary Edition), out October 20, 2023 via UMe. Various configurations include a Limited-Edition Deluxe Double LP and 2CD Deluxe as well as a Digital Deluxe version. This stands out as the first time the album will be pressed on 2LP black vinyl and 2CD Deluxe. Plus, the 2CD Deluxe will also feature liner notes on the making of their massive hit, Shoop. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911561933/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Pre-order/Pre-save HERE. With audio remastered in HD, the Limited-Edition Deluxe Double LP features four bonus tracks on blue vinyl, including Emphatically No, a Remix of Shoop, and two fresh Remixes of Whatta Man. In addition to the latter, the 2CD Deluxe and Digital Deluxe Edition boasts a total of 13 bonus tracks. These range from the new original Lets Talk About AIDS and I Am The Body Beautiful to various alternate mixes, acapellas, and instrumental tracks. Not to mention, this marks the first time all of the bonus tracks, with the exception of I Am the Body Beautiful, will be available on DSPs. See the full track listing below. Very Necessary initially arrived on October 12, 1993. It climbed to the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 and eventually moved over 5 million copies in the U.S., going quintuple-platinum. Shoop popped off as the groups first Top 5 entry on the Hot 100, and Whatta Man cracked the Top 3. None of Your Business notched a GRAMMY Awardthe groups firstin the category of Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. In a retrospective review, Pitchfork professed, Salt-N-Pepa laid out their best music and bravest activism on Very Necessary, an album about love, agency, and take-no-shit femininity from the Queens rap group. Meanwhile, EMMY Award-nominated Insecure creator Issae Rae sat down with the group for a New York Times interview earlier this year and stated, I grew up on Salt-N-Pepa. Ive always admired their collaboration as partners and the way they complement each other. Stay tuned for more news and announcements coming soon. VERY NECESSARY (30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) TRACKLISTING 2LP Disc 1 Groove Me (Side A) No One Does it Better (Side A) Somebody's Gettin' On My Nerves (Side A) Whatta Man (Side B) None Of Your Business (Side B) Step (Side B) 2LP Disc 2 Shoop (Side A) Heaven Or Hell (Side A) Big Shot (Side A) Sexy Noises Turn Me On (Side B) Somma Time Man (Side B) Break Of Dawn (Side B) Ive Got Aids (PSA) (Side B) 2LP Deluxe Disc 1 Groove Me (Side A) No One Does it Better (Side A) Somebody's Gettin' On My Nerves (Side A) Whatta Man (Side A) None Of Your Business (Side B) Step (Side B) Shoop (Side B) Heaven Or Hell (Side B) Big Shot (Side B) 2LP Deluxe Disc 2 Sexy Noises Turn Me On (Side A) Somma Time Man (Side A) Break Of Dawn (Side A) Ive Got AIDS (PSA) (Side A) Emphatically No (Side B)** Whatta Man (Video Remix) (Side B)** Whatta Man (Golden Girls Mix) (Side B)** Shoop (Danny Ds RnB Remix) (Side B)** 2CD Deluxe CD 1 Groove Me No One Does It Better Somebodys Gettin On My Nerves Whatta Man None Of Your Business Step Shoop Heaven Or Hell Big Shot Sexy Noises Turn Me On Somma Time Man Break Of Dawn Ive Got AIDS (PSA) 2CD Deluxe CD 2 Emphatically No** Whatta Man (Video Remix)** Whatta Man (Golden Girls Mix)** Whatta Man (12 Danny D Mix)** None Of Your Business (Perfecto Mix)** Shoop (Danny Ds RNB Mix)** Shoop (Gurus Mix)** Shoop (Acapella)** Shoop (Instrumental)** Shoop (Ben Liebrand European Mix)** Heaven N Hell (Carron Hall Mix)** Lets Talk About AIDS** I Am The Body Beautiful** Digital Deluxe Groove Me No One Does It Better Somebodys Gettin On My Nerves Whatta Man None Of Your Business Step Shoop Heaven Or Hell Big Shot Sexy Noises Turn Me On Somma Time Man Break Of Dawn Ive Got AIDS (PSA) Emphatically No** Whatta Man (Video Remix)** Whatta Man (Golden Girls Mix)** Whatta Man (12 Danny D Mix)** None Of Your Business (Perfecto Mix)** Shoop (Danny Ds RNB Mix)** Shoop (Gurus Mix)** Shoop (Acapella)** Shoop (Instrumental)** Shoop (Ben Liebrand European Mix)** Heaven N Hell (Carron Hall Mix)** Lets Talk About AIDS** I Am The Body Beautiful** **Bonus Tracks View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911561933/en/ For Press Inquiries: Richie Abbott at Juggernaut Sound [email protected] Sujata Murthy at UMe [email protected] Source: Universal Music Enterprises SCU is the first Jesuit University to partner with Posse, and the third in California. SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Santa Clara University (SCU) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with The Posse Foundation, a nationwide college access and youth leadership development program, to offer full-tuition scholarships to select students with diverse backgrounds in/from the Los Angeles area. The partnership with The Posse Foundation is an important part of our mission-based commitment to facilitating greater social mobility in our world, said President Julie Sullivan. The Posse program's unique approach to identifying, nurturing, and supporting talented students aligns seamlessly with our Jesuit values of inclusivity and educating the whole person. Universities Supporting Posse Santa Clara joins 64 other nationally prominent colleges and universities, such as Cornell University, Northwestern University, and University of Michigan, that have partnered with The Posse Foundation. Santa Clara University is the first Jesuit university to become a Posse partner and one of only three universities in California, joining Pomona College and Pepperdine University. I am thrilled to welcome Santa Clara University, whose vision to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion, so closely aligns with the Posse mission, as our latest university partner, said Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation. Together, we are embarking on a journey that will not only transform the lives of these remarkable scholars but also enrich the campus community with their unique perspectives and talents. The future is brighter with partners like Santa Clara University who are dedicated to creating a more inclusive educational landscape. Generous Donor Support Scholarships for the first members of the Los Angeles Posse to attend Santa Clara University are possible thanks to a gift from James (Jim) and Heather Pigott, longtime supporters of The Posse Foundation and parents to two SCU Broncos. Supporting SCU and the Posse Foundation helps us to invest in the future of individual students and their potential to become leaders in their communities. We are excited to witness the positive impact that this collaboration will have on the lives of these talented scholars and the broader community, said Jim Pigott. We are grateful for the Pigott family's generosity in making this important partnership possible, said Sullivan, who noted that Santa Clara University will fund student recipients with additional scholarships and donor support. The Posse Process In the coming months, the Posse Los Angeles office will work to identify academically qualified students who demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and personal motivation skills. Typically, more than half (57 percent) of the Posse scholars are first-generation, meaning they are the first in their families to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. Students from L.A. area high schools are not only driven and diverse, but they also dream big, said Eva Blanco Masias, Vice President for Enrollment Management. Given our commitment to innovation and our location in Silicon Valley, we can be an excellent choice to these bright minds, serving as a conduit and transforming their aspirations into tangible personal and professional growth. Its a win-win. Through a three-part assessment process that includes large group and individual interviews, 10 students will be welcomed into the Bronco community, in fall 2024, as members of the Class of 2028. Following selection, The Posse Foundation leads the students through an eight-month pre-collegiate training program, supports them through all four years of college, and helps them secure competitive internships and leadership-track jobs upon graduation. As part of the partnership, Posse also provides yearly mentorship training for staff leaders and for a Santa Clara faculty member who will meet frequently with the Posse Scholars on campus, both as a group and individually. Since Posses founding in 1989, more than 12,000 students have been awarded over $2 billion in scholarships from Posse partner colleges and universities. Other SCU Initiatives Santa Clara University is also a founding member of the "California Private College is Possible" initiative, an Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities program that provides students, families, and counselors with easy access to the information and resources necessary when applying to Independent California Colleges and Universities. The program also creates a path for historically underserved students to help them gain access to Californias top schools in more significant numbers. Last December, SCU joined the American Talent Initiative, a collective whose members aim to enroll 50,000 additional talented low- and moderate-income students at colleges and universities with strong graduation rates by 2025. About The Posse Foundation Posse was founded in 1989 by Deborah Bialinspired by a student who said, I never wouldve dropped out of college if Id had my posse with me. The simple idea of sending a group of students together to college so they could back each other up became the impetus for a program that today has identified, recruited, and trained more than 12,000 students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential. Since opening its doors 30 years ago, Posse has received many significant acknowledgments. Notably, Bial was awarded a MacArthur Genius Fellowship in 2007, and in 2010 President Barack Obama honored Posse with a portion of his Nobel Peace Prize grant. To learn more, visit www.possefoundation.org. About Santa Clara University Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valleythe worlds most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The Universitys stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911875740/en/ SCU Media Contact: Deepa Arora | Senior Director, Communications and Media| [email protected] | (408) 554-5125 Lisa Robinson | Associate Director, Communications | [email protected] | (408) 551-3601 Source: Santa Clara University PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, today announced that James Bahrenburg has joined the company as chief technology officer. Bahrenburg will report directly to Sprouts chief executive officer, Jack Sinclair, and will oversee the strategic direction and management of all aspects of Sprouts technology. We are pleased to add Jim Bahrenburg to the Sprouts executive leadership team, said Sinclair. Jims deep experience in retail technology leadership will be an invaluable resource as we enhance our platforms to support the continued execution of our long-term growth strategy. Bahrenburg brings more than 35 years of experience in building high-performing information technology organizations. Bahrenburg most recently served as chief information officer of Good Food Holdings, LLC, the holding company for five food retailing brands Bristol Farms, Lazy Acres Natural Market, Metropolitan Market, New Seasons Market, and New Leaf Community Markets from 2019 to August 2023. Prior to joining Good Food Holdings, Bahrenburg served 99 Cents Only Stores, a premier deep-discount retailer, for over 12 years, including as senior vice president chief information officer from 2016 to 2019 and vice president business process and IT planning from 2010 to 2015. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in economics from Dartmouth College. Im thrilled to join Sprouts at this point in its growth trajectory, said Bahrenburg. I look forward to working with the team to execute on the companys strategic technology initiatives to enhance and elevate digital platforms for Sprouts customers and team members. Corporate Profile True to its farm-stand heritage, Sprouts offers a unique grocery experience featuring an open layout with fresh produce at the heart of the store. Sprouts inspires wellness naturally with a carefully curated assortment of better-for-you products paired with purpose-driven people. The healthy grocer continues to bring the latest in wholesome, innovative products made with lifestyle-friendly ingredients such as organic, plant-based and gluten-free. Headquartered in Phoenix, and one of the largest and fastest growing specialty retailers of fresh, natural and organic food in the United States, Sprouts employs approximately 31,000 team members and operates nearly 400 stores in 23 states nationwide. To learn more about Sprouts, and the good it brings communities, visit about.sprouts.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911522401/en/ Investor Contact: Susannah Livingston (602) 682-1584 [email protected] Media Contact: [email protected] Source: Sprouts Farmers Market German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Kyiv on Monday, noted the importance of strengthening the fight against corruption in Ukraine on the path to EU membership. One of the important topics is Ukraine's accession to the EU. Now we are talking about the beginning of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. It is very important. Ukraine has already passed a very significant way on the way to accession, in particular in the issue of legislation. But it is very important to strengthen the fight against corruption. But there are already successes here. The Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has started working, and 100 people have already faced it, she said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv. Baerbock also assured of Germany's support for Ukraine on its way to the EU. Chairman Ric Campo delivers annual address HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Wednesday, Sept. 6, Port Houston Chairman Ric Campo delivered the State of the Port address to the Greater Houston Partnership and guests, and declared the "State of Port Houston is awesome, and its future is in good hands," as he addressed a sold-out audience of business, industry, community leaders, and elected officials at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Houston. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911074083/en/ Chairman of the Port of Houston Authority Commission Ric Campo delivers the 2023 State of the Port Address to the Greater Houston Partnership sold-out audience of business, industry, community leaders, and elected officials. (Photo: Business Wire) He emphasized that Port Houston cargo volumes remain steady, waterside and landside infrastructure investments remain steadfast, industry and labor partnerships are good, and Port Houston's commitment to the community and sustainability stands untethered, during his remarks at the annual event. Chairman Campo also shared the stage with three Port Houston employees he recognized as future leaders of Port Houston, whose careers have "long runways" ahead of them. As part of a panel discussion, the group described and highlighted Port Houston's achievements this past year, and its plans for the future. Chairman Campo focused on the Houston Ship Channel Expansion - Project 11, underscoring the importance of widening the federal waterway to help navigational safety, national energy security, Texas exports, and jobs. He also emphasized Port Houston's commitment to sustainability, highlighting support from state legislation to accommodate cleaner and more efficient dredge equipment for the project including Tier 4 engines, the highest emissions standard in the industry, and sound mitigation, to reduce impacts to communities neighboring Galveston Bay. Chairman Campo and these upcoming leaders also stressed Port Houston's commitment to future investments and the community, highlighting its community grants program, and maritime education and workforce development, business equity and small and minority and women-owned business procurement, and greenspace initiatives. Other discussion highlights included details on the upcoming move of Port Houston's administrative offices to Houston's historic Fifth Ward community, helping stimulate economic development, providing greater accessibility and visibility to the community, and opening up job-generating cargo space at the Turning Basin Terminal. Finally, Port Houston's new Wharf 6 at Bayport Terminal, which garnered a visit from Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June, is scheduled to be fully operational in October. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the areas largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nations largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911074083/en/ Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: [email protected] Source: Port Houston VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vecima Networks Inc. (the Company or Vecima) (TSX: VCM) today announced that it has entered into a warrant agreement with Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC (Charter). The warrants issued as part of the agreement provide Charter with the opportunity to purchase an aggregate of up to 361,050 common shares in the capital of Vecima at an exercise price equal to C$17.09 per warrant (the Warrants) until January 1, 2031. The Warrants are subject to vesting conditions based on the achievement of significant multi-year spending targets by Charter. Issuance of the Warrants remains subject to the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. Our partnership with Charter has continued to expand as the 10G cable and fiber access networks of tomorrow are being built," said Sumit Kumar, Vecima President and CEO. This agreement further underscores the growth of that relationship as we together continue to execute a broad network evolution strategy. About Vecima Networks Vecima Networks Inc. (TSX: VCM) is leading the global evolution to the multi-gigabit, content-rich networks of the future. Our talented people deliver future-ready software, services, and integrated platforms that power broadband and video streaming networks, monitor and manage transportation, and transform experiences in homes, businesses, and everywhere people connect. We help our customers evolve their networks with cloud-based solutions that deliver ground-breaking speed, superior video quality, and exciting new services to their subscribers. Learn more at vecima.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is generally identifiable by use of the words believes, may, plans, will, anticipates, intends, could, estimates, expects, forecasts, projects and similar expressions, and the negative of such expressions. Forward looking information in this news release includes the following statements: the achievement of the vesting conditions of the Warrants and the exercise of such Warrants by Charter. The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Vecima and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statement. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Forward-looking statements reflect material expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, expectations, and assumptions relating to the purchase of products from Vecima by Charter. A more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing Vecima is disclosed under the heading Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Information Form dated September 22, 2022, as well as the Companys continuous disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and Vecima disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911142602/en/ Investor Relations: 250-881-1982, [email protected] Media Relations: [email protected] Source: Vecima Networks Inc. BMW revealed Monday that the German automaker will invest 600 million pounds ($750 million) into its UK plants with the goal of fully electrifying their Mini brand by 2030. Starting in 2026, BMWs Mini brand will make two electric models at its plant in Oxford - the Mini Cooper 3-door and the compact crossover Mini Aceman. According to BMW production chief Milan Nedeljkovic, the Mini plant will be dedicated solely to EV production starting in 2030. Many of those vehicles will be exported to markets around the world. Addressing reporters in Oxford, Nedeljkovic expressed the company's intention to incorporate European-manufactured batteries into the upcoming Oxford-produced models. However, he refrained from specifying whether these batteries would be sourced from the UK, emphasizing that the decision hinges on the market appeal for their suppliers. Also speaking in Oxford, British business minister Kemi Badenoch said: "We want auto manufacturing not just to stay in the UK, but to be the best in the world, and this is part of that story". Nedeljkovic also revealed that BMW will be investing in its Swindon plant, responsible for producing parts for Mini models. As for the engine plant located near Birmingham in Hams Hall, Nedeljkovic mentioned that it's too early to determine its future direction. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Vietnam Airlines announced today the carrier has selected the 737 MAX family to expand its single-aisle fleet, with a commitment to order 50 737-8 airplanes. With enhanced fuel efficiency and environmental performance, the 737 MAX will provide best-in-class flexibility for Vietnam's growing aviation market. The commitment was announced during a signing ceremony with President Joe Biden , Secretary of State Antony Blinken , White House officials and Vietnamese government leaders on Monday, Sept. 11 . U.S. and Vietnam officials said the commitment will bolster jobs in both countries and strengthen the bilateral economic partnership. Building on Boeing's long history of collaboration with Vietnam's civil aviation industry, the carrier's 737 MAX fleet will support the country's goal of becoming a leading aviation hub. "In line with Vietnam Airlines' 2025-2030 fleet strategy and a vision to 2035, aircraft investment is a crucial project that underpins positive recovery momentum and prosperous outlook for the airline, said Dang Ngoc Hoa , Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines. "The new narrow-body fleet will allow us to foster our overall development and extend our high-quality service on Vietnam Airlines' domestic and Asian routes, as well as modernize our fuel-efficient fleet." " Southeast Asia is one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets, and the 737 MAX is the perfect airplane for Vietnam Airlines to efficiently meet that regional demand," said Brad McMullen , Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "We value our historic partnership with Vietnam Airlines, dating back to 1995 when the airline first leased 767s." Since the launch, more than 100 customers around the world have placed firm orders for more than 5,600 737 MAX airplanes. The 737 MAX reduces fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% and has a smaller noise footprint than airplanes it replaces. The jets offer increased comfort and relaxation for passengers, with modern sculpted sidewalls, LED lighting that enhances the sense of spaciousness and larger pivoting overhead storage bins. The 737 MAX family will allow Vietnam Airlines to fly up to 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km) to serve increasingly popular international and regional routes. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 15 787 Dreamliner jets and serves over 50 destinations in 17 countries. A member of the SkyTeam Alliance, passengers flying on Vietnam Airlines or any of its 18 partners can earn and redeem miles for travel to 1,000 destinations worldwide. Boeing is committed to its strong relationships with Vietnamese suppliers and partnering to create a strong, efficient and resilient global supply chain to deliver the highest quality products and services for our customers. Today, Boeing has a corporate office in Hanoi and Field Service Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City . USI Insurance Services (USI or the Company), a leader in risk management, employee benefits and retirement consulting, today announced that existing shareholder KKR (NYSE: KKR) is making a new equity investment of more than $1 billion in the Company. KKR and CDPQ acquired USI in 2017 in partnership with USIs management and employees. Over the past six years, USI has successfully executed numerous growth initiatives and transformative acquisitions to extend its leadership position in insurance brokerage and consulting with a broad range of technology-enabled property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk and retirement solutions. The USI team has more than doubled in size to over 10,000 team members across more than 200 offices. USIs management and employees will retain their significant ownership in the Company going forward. Under the terms of the agreement, KKR and USI will purchase shares of USI held by CDPQ and certain other investors; more than 50% of the shares held by CDPQ will be purchased in the transaction. Following the closing of the transaction, KKR will be USIs largest single shareholder. When we embarked on our journey with KKR and CDPQ, we shared a vision about the forces impacting our industry and a plan for USI to be a leading innovator in that transformation, combining world-class sponsorship and investment with our team of experts, differentiated solutions and technology, said Michael Sicard, Chairman and CEO of USI. The power of this strategic partnership has exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to be continuing our journey with the support of our long-term shareholders. Alongside KKR, a tremendous strategic partner in this investment journey, we have supported the growth of USI since 2017 a unique and resilient company with an outstanding management team committed to offering best-in-class services to its clients, said Martin Longchamps, Executive Vice-President and Head of Private Equity at CDPQ. Our dynamic partnership has unlocked multiple opportunities and USI is well positioned to capitalize on its strengths and to continue creating value for all stakeholders. We are enormously proud of everything the USI team has accomplished and we have a high conviction in the opportunity ahead for this winning team and operating model as USI continues to innovate and scale, said Chris Harrington, Partner at KKR. Together with CDPQ we have supported significant investments in USIs platform and technology that position USI for long-term growth. We are pleased to reach this agreement to increase our ownership with a substantial investment of additional long-term capital. KKR is making the additional investment commitment of more than $1 billion in USI through its core investments strategy. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About USI USI is one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the United States, delivering property and casualty, employee benefits, personal risk, program and retirement solutions to its clients nationwide. Headquartered in Valhalla, New York, USI connects over 10,000 industry-leading professionals from more than 200 offices to serve clients needs. USI has become a premier insurance brokerage and consulting firm by leveraging the USI ONE Advantage, an interactive platform that integrates proprietary and innovative client solutions, networked local resources and enterprise-wide collaboration to deliver customized results with positive, bottom-line impact. USI attracts best-in-class industry talent with a long history of deep and continuing investment in our local communities. For more information, visit usi.com or follow us on LinkedIn. About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKRs investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com. About CDPQ At CDPQ, we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public pension and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at June 30, 2023, CDPQs net assets totalled CAD 424 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, consult our LinkedIn or Instagram pages, or follow us on X. CDPQ is a registered trademark owned by Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec and licensed for use by its subsidiaries. ### Ovintiv Inc. (NYSE: OVV) today announced that NMB Stock Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Selling Stockholder"), intends to offer for sale 15,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, pursuant to the Company's shelf registration statement previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Offering"). The Offering consists entirely of secondary shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder will receive all of the net proceeds from the Offering. Ovintiv is not offering any shares of common stock in the Offering and will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in the Offering. Ovintiv issued the shares to the Selling Stockholder on June 12, 2023 as part of the consideration for its acquisition of certain upstream oil and gas assets located in the Permian Basin from portfolio companies of funds managed by EnCap Investments L.P. The Offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed. In addition, the Company announced that the Company intends to repurchase from the underwriter, out of the 15,000,000 shares of common stock that are subject to the Offering, 1,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock at a price per share equal to the price at which the underwriter will purchase the shares from the Selling Stockholder in the Offering. The Offering is not conditioned upon the closing of the repurchase, but the repurchase is conditioned upon the closing of the Offering. J.P. Morgan will act as the underwriter for this Offering. The shares will be sold in a registered offering pursuant to an effective automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement. A copy of the prospectus relating to the securities can be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, via Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue , Edgewood, New York 11717, Telephone: (866) 803-9204, email: [email protected]. The documents may also be accessed by visiting the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor will there be any sale of any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. (Updated - September 11, 2023 7:34 AM EDT) Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Apple Inc. to supply Snapdragon 5G ModemRF Systems for smartphone launches in 2024, 2025 and 2026. This agreement reinforces Qualcomm's track record of sustained leadership across 5G technologies and products. Additional information is available on Qualcomm's Investor Relations website. Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (NYSE American: SBEV) (Splash or the Company), a portfolio company of leading beverage brands, today announced it has executed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire JEM Beverage Management Company, LLC, owners of the brand Western Son Vodka. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed as they are subject to reaching a definitive agreement. Western Son Vodka, founded in 2011 is headquartered in Pilot Point, Texas, with a production and distribution campus spanning more than 150,000 square feet. Over the last twelve months Western Son Vodka has sold approximately 309,000 9-liter cases of vodka. Distilled 10X and made with 100% American corn, the award-winning portfolio includes a Best-in-Class Original Vodka and is a four-time winner of Impacts Spirits Hot Brand Award. Speaking of the acquisition, Robert Nistico, Chief Executive Officer of Splash Beverage Group, said, This acquisition is a significant step forward in our growth strategy. Led by our president & CMO Bill Meissner, we began speaking with Western Son in 2022, familiarizing ourselves with the organization to best strategize the integration with Splash. When the transaction is complete, this will be our largest acquisition to date, and it falls withing the range of acquisition targets we outlined in our recent acquisition Credit Facility announcement as we move down the acquisition path. Splash Beverage will bring sales and marketing support to Western Son and Westerns distillery and the shipping campus will establish a centralized production and distribution hub for Splashs existing brands, Pulpoloco and SALT Tequila in addition to any future acquisitions, creating logistics cost savings in favorable shipping lanes, reducing freight out expense and ultimately increasing margins. We believe this acquisition will help accelerate both the depth and breadth of distribution for all the brands involved. On a personal note, I would like to take one moment to remember and honor all Americans and our friends who lost or sacrificed their lives on this day in 2001. We will never forget. Carlos Guillem, President of Western Son Vodka, commented, The agreement between Splash and Western Son represents an exciting opportunity for the brand and the entire team. Our focus has been on creating and delivering the highest quality vodka to the market, and this represents a major step in our journey. The leadership, expertise, and capital that Splash Beverage can bring to the table, will allow Western Son to expand its reach to more consumers. A new story by Chinese media, jiemian.com reports Monday that Xpeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV) has reduced its sales areas by half and will gradually replace the companys existing direct sales model and instead move to a dealership model of distribution. On September 11th, Jiemian News received information from several sources well-acquainted with the situation, indicating that Xpeng Motors has recently downsized its original 24 nationwide sales areas, established in March, to just 12. Furthermore, the company is gradually closing down underperforming company-owned stores while simultaneously increasing the number of dealer-operated outlets, with a focus on expanding the size of these stores. During an early September channel dealer meeting, Xpeng Motors unveiled a strategy known as the "Jupiter Plan." Exclusive information obtained by Jiemian News from a source closely connected to Xpeng Motors indicates that this plan is spearheaded by Wang Fengying, the President of Xpeng Motors, who oversees the sales division. The central objective of the plan is to gradually transition from the previous direct operation model to a dealer-based model. Shares of XPEV are up 6.22% near end of day trading Monday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] EDMONTON, Alberta, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Park Centre Place in Sherwood Park is proud to announce the opening of its brand-new pet-friendly building featuring spacious air-conditioned suites, luxurious finishes, and first-class amenities. Located in a growing, vibrant neighborhood steps away from local transportation, grocery stores, restaurants, and parks, Park Centre Place is just minutes from Downtown Edmonton, offering city convenience without sacrificing the comfort of a close-knit community. At Park Centre Place, residents can enjoy a fun and vibrant atmosphere where culture, wellness, and nature intertwine. With 177 units for rent, Park Centre Place has something for everyone. Ayrshire Group has engaged Zen Residential Ltd. as their preferred Property Management Company, leveraging their 30-plus years of experience in the industry and their state-of-the-art online portal. This platform will facilitate seamless communication, prompt response times, and innovative technology for its residents. "We are thrilled to be launching Park Centre Place," said Ayrshire Groups VP of Investments, Mike Winnitoy. "We saw an opportunity to redevelop an under-utilized property and provide an institutional quality rental community to the Sherwood Park market. With strong community input, were excited about what weve been able to provide. Zen Residential Ltd. President, AJ Slivinski, echoed Winnitoys sentiments. "We are excited to be partnering with Ayrshire Group to provide our advanced technology solutions and upscale customer service to Park Centre Place," said AJ. "We look forward to make this rental community a success." Park Centre Place is now open for leasing, and tenants can apply online or in person. For more information about Park Centre Place, please visit the website at www.liveparkcentre.ca Contact:AJ Slivinski [email protected] Source: Zen Residential Ltd. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said on Monday he expects to hold high-level talks with Russia and Ukraine on the situation at Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in the near future. "I hope to continue my discussions with both sides, maybe soon at a high level," Grossi said at a press conference in Vienna. IAEA inspectors are closely monitoring the situation at Zaporizhia NPP, he said. However, in terms of the situation at the plant, "there are a number of technical issues that are starting to arise, like a long-term shutdown of the plant, many issues that have nuclear safety implications as well," he added. "We will have to be discussing [the issues], of course, with the Ukrainian regulator, but in particular with the management of the plant," Grossi said. At the same time, the IAEA head noted that he was concerned about the attacks near Zaporizhia NPP, but assured that there were no heavy weapons near the plant. The IAEA has previously requested access to several sections of Zaporizhia NPP, and access was partially granted, he said. Zaporizhia NPP, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, operates six VVER-1000 power units. The plant has not produced electricity since September 11, 2022. Two of its power units are undergoing maintenance, three are in a cold shutdown, and one in a hot shutdown to provide for Zaporizhia NPP's own needs. Several IAEA experts have been deployed at the NPP on a rotating basis since September 1, 2022. Singapore, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BlockTrust, a pioneer in Web3Commerce solutions, will unveil the latest ID3 utility at Token2049 in Singapore, an on-chain creator and influencer rewards and commerce engine, designed specifically for growing and major global brands. ID3, the custodial wallet infrastructure used by brands scaling to 100s of thousands of concurrent on-chain transactions across millions of consumers, will shortly release its Creator Engine for Brands, decentralising the $137 billion annual paid and earned media market. Key Features of the ID3 Creator Engine: Proof of Influence: ID3 empowers brands to drive and reward brand advocacy across all social platforms via its customers, automatically paying User-Generated Content (UGC) (by likes, views, shares etc) with stable coins that can be used for future FIAT purchases. Proof of Influence provides brands with an alternative and more effective use of advertising budget, directly to the customer. Proof of Influence transforms followers into influencers and back to customers on a continuously scaling loop. ID3 empowers brands to drive and reward brand advocacy across all social platforms via its customers, automatically paying User-Generated Content (UGC) (by likes, views, shares etc) with stable coins that can be used for future FIAT purchases. Proof of Influence provides brands with an alternative and more effective use of advertising budget, directly to the customer. Proof of Influence transforms followers into influencers and back to customers on a continuously scaling loop. Proof of Purchase: ID3 captures big retail purchases by consumers in real life, rewarding stable coins when product barcodes are scanned, capturing all meta-data required to enable future consumer purchases directly from the brands online ecommerce with 1 click. ID3 captures big retail purchases by consumers in real life, rewarding stable coins when product barcodes are scanned, capturing all meta-data required to enable future consumer purchases directly from the brands online ecommerce with 1 click. Apple and Google wallet: Consumers access their favourite brands web3 Commerce environments, and their influencer coin balance, directly via a branded card in their apple or Google wallet, enabling permissionless login, direct notifications and messaging. Consumers access their favourite brands web3 Commerce environments, and their influencer coin balance, directly via a branded card in their apple or Google wallet, enabling permissionless login, direct notifications and messaging. Proof of Attendance: Consumers' Apple or Google Brand Card can be used to authenticate their attendance at events and on-premise venues, swap contacts with fellow consumers, providing further stable coin rewards, digital drops, and status recognition. With this feature, brands are able to activate their followers, on masse, through direct communication via WhatsApp or notifications. Meet BlockTrust at Token2049:BlockTrust's executives attending the event include: Mike Alexander , Co-Founder , Co-Founder Mike Haywood , Co-Founder , Co-Founder Andrew Stedman , Chief Operating Officer , Chief Operating Officer Stephane Zermatten, Director of Product Strategy & Marketing Michael Alexander, Former CEO of Jefferies Bank in Asia, Former CEO of the $1bn EOS VC and now Co-Founder of BlockTrust explains: Having been in the Blockchain space since 2016, we founded BlockTrust to help educate major global brands on the opportunities and threats that Web3 poses. In doing this we have reached over 300 C-level and board level executives to truly understand the needs of their customers and design products which enable their journey into Web3Commerce. Dr Michael Haywood, Founder of LiveHire.com, a decentralised talent ecosystem managing $billions in recruitment spend globally each year, Board Member of National Museum of Australia and now Co-Founder of BlockTrust adds: Since the inception of Web3, major global brands have recognised the opportunity the technologies provide, but have struggled to identify applications that deliver genuine improvements in customer experience, product growth, and brand value. At BlockTrust we have been laser focused on developing products with real world use cases and utility for major brands, as they will be the ones to help bring the next 1 billion customers across to web3. If you're keen to discover more about ID3 or delve into BlockTrust's Web3Commerce suite, don't hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected] and arrange a demonstration for your Brand and Community. About BlockTrustBlockTrust is a leading Blockchain and web3 infrastructure group, providing comprehensive solutions for major brands. Through innovative technologies like Proof of Influence, Smart Escrow Contracts, and ID3, BlockTrust empowers brands to build loyal communities, generate new revenue streams, and protect customer data in a secure environment. By seamlessly integrating web3 technology into brand strategies, BlockTrust revolutionises the way brands engage with their customers in the evolving digital landscape. Find out more on www.block-trust.io and www.id3wallet.ioFollow us on Twitter @BlockTrust_io and @joinID3. For media inquiries, please contact: Andrew Stedman, COO - [email protected] , Telegram @andrewbthk Source: BlockTrust Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend in person or online at VirtualInvestorConferences.com LODI, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCQX: FMCB), the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California (the Bank or F&M Bank) announced today that Kent Steinwert, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and Bart Olson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer will present live at the Financial Services Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on September 21st , 2023. DATE: September 21st TIME: 11:30 EST LINK: https://bit.ly/3DBQ7Sy Available for 1x1 meetings: September 21st 1:00-5:00 EST and September 26th 11:00-5:00 EST This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . Recent Company Highlights Reported record earnings for the first half of 2023 of $44.8 million on July 19, 2023 Return on average assets of 1.73% for the first half of 2023 Return on average equity of 17.75% for the first half of 2023 Recently named by Bank Directors Magazine as the #1 best performing bank in the nation across all asset categories in their annual Ranking Banking study of the top performing banks for 2022. Recently named by Sure Dividend as the #4 top-ranked Dividend King based on expected returns over the next 5 years. To be a Dividend King a company needs to have raised dividends for 50+ consecutive years. About Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, trades on the OTCQX under the symbol FMCB, is the parent company of Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California, also known as F&M Bank. Founded in 1916, F&M Bank is a locally owned and operated community bank, which proudly serves California through 32 convenient locations. F&M Bank is financially strong, with over $5.3 billion in assets, and is consistently recognized as one of the nation's safest banks by national bank rating firms. The Bank has maintained a 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial for 31 consecutive years, longer than any other commercial bank in the State of California. F&M Bank is the 14th largest bank lender to agriculture in the United States. F&M Bank operates in the mid-Central Valley of California including, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, and Merced counties and the east region of the San Francisco Bay Area, including Napa, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. F&M Bank offers a full complement of loan, deposit, equipment leasing and treasury management products to businesses, as well as a full suite of consumer banking products. About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Bart R. Olson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Phone: 209-367-2485 Email: [email protected] Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 [email protected] With an investment of over 44 million euros, the site will be equipped with advanced automation to minimize environmental impact SILIUS, Italy, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mineraria Gerrei, the new mining company based in Sardinia, has secured exclusive exploration rights for the prestigious Silius mine, located approximately 50 km from Cagliari. This remarkable achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for the mine, which is set to resume fluorspar production following an extensive overhaul of its infrastructure and production processes after a prolonged period of dormancy. With an investment of more than 44 million euros, Mineraria Gerrei intends to restart the mine and revitalise the entire area by investing in advanced technology and extraction methods. The use of innovative and modern production systems will help ensure minimal impact on the surrounding environment. It is also an opportunity to bring employment to the local communities in the area where the mine will be operational. Silius mine is projected to yield an impressive annual production of approximately 70,000 tonnes of fluorspar, boasting a purity of 97.5%. It is also expected to produce 6,800 tonnes of galena. These estimates are significant as they address the widening gap between the growing demand and limited supply of these critical resources. Global fluorspar demand is estimated to reach 10 million tonnes per annum in 2030 and over 18 million tonnes per annum in 2050, compared to production of between 6 and 7 million tonnes over the past decade, with a limited number of new extraction sites under development. With the mining concession granted by the Region of Sardinia, Mineraria Gerrei is poised to make a vital contribution to Italy and Europe, as Fluorspar is classified as a strategic mineral by the European Union and the world's leading economic powers. The availability of this crucial raw material will bolster national independence in terms of resource supply, and foster economic stability and resilience. Fluorspar is an essential mineral for a number of industries crucial to global electrification, including the battery, superconductor and photovoltaic panel production sectors, but also for other hi-tech sectors such as fluoropolymers. In addition, fluorspar is a key resource used in steel and aluminium production, pharmaceuticals, optics, ceramics, fireproofing materials and refrigerants. Resuming the Silius mine is a fundamentally important step for the rebirth of the area and for the induced activities it can generate, commented Umberto Gioia, Managing Director of Mineraria Gerrei. Together with our partners, we aim to relaunch the mining industry, which has been at a standstill for a long time in that area, with the utmost attention to the community and the environment. "The approved project applies the principles of the circular economy to the mining industry, added Alessandro Murroni, the company's General Manager, foreseeing the complete re-use of processing by-products, the saving of essential resources such as water through the introduction of advanced recirculation and purification systems in production processes, the progressive electrification of mining equipment and plants, the environmental recovery of areas, and the self-production of energy from renewable sources. Matteo Maccabelli, Managing Director of Edilmac and shareholder of Mineraria Gerrei, concludes, Particular attention will also be paid to all aspects of training and safety at work, through refresher and permanent training programmes for personnel, the use of the latest technologies for the mechanisation and remote control of extraction processes, and the adoption of advanced systems for the detection and management of vehicles and personnel both underground and on the surface. The restart of Mineraria Gerrei will also bring new recruits to the area: the plan is to employ around 100 specialised roles, with specific skills in the management of state-of-the-art plants and machinery and in mining-related processes in general, from the electrification of processes to mining with innovative methods. For further information, please visit: https://www.minerariagerrei.com/ For those who are interested in the fluorine market, Mineraria Gerrei will take part in the Fluorine Forum 2023 on 16-18 October in Cannes with a speech by the Managing Director Umberto Gioia Rejuvenating the Silius fluorspar mine, Sardinia, Italy. Further details on: https://imformed.com/get-imformed/forums/fluorine-forum-2023/ Mineraria Gerrei Founded in Silius (South Sardinia) in 2018, Mineraria Gerrei is active in the fluorspar production market, is specialised in the extraction of raw materials through the use of modern methodologies, has active research projects with leading Italian universities and works according to cardinal principles of environmental, economic and social sustainability. The company, which holds the exclusive concession for the fluorspar deposit in Silius, intends to make a significant contribution to the EU's strategy of reshoring the production of critical raw materials, and in particular to the resumption of national production of fluorspar and other minerals essential for new technologies. Media contact: Swati Mehta Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 403 804 0768 SEOUL, KOREA, Sept. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ten designer brands in Seoul have landed in New York for the colorful and diverse fashion festival "New York Fashion Week." At the event organized by KOREA CREATIVE CONTENT AGENCY, a total of 10 brands are showcasing their brands at 'The Selects Showroom'. Each brands encompasses variety of elements to resonate with diverse consumers ranging from captivating original ideas, sophisticated styles in line with the latest trend, and sustainable vegan materials for the environment. 'The Selects Showroom' is a specialized fashion multi-showroom dedicated to Korean designer brands, unveiling pop-up showrooms in New York and Paris every season. The brands featured for the 2024 Spring/Summer season include a total of 10 brands: BMUET(TE), CAHIERS, D-ANTIDOTE, DOUCAN, EN OR, JULY COLUMN, MAISON NICA, MMAM, SEOKWOON YOON, and VEGAN TIGER. 'BMUET(TE)' is a brand that showcases a rebellious yet refined aesthetic, offering a range of items inspired by punk, including quirky items, voluminous dresses, structured jackets, and shirts. These elements constitute the brand's signature style. 'CAHIERS', specialized brand for elegant women's clothing, presents dresses, blouses, and skirts that blend restrained practicality and originality through couture-like detailing using beautiful and elaborate frills, trimmings, appliques, and more. 'D-ANTIDOTE', a brand rooted in Seoul's street sensibilities, draws inspiration from various of youth cultures from the past and present. With a witty crossover concept, it offers a casual daily wear collection that transcends gender and age boundaries, providing a range of styles suitable for anyone. 'DOUCAN' is a premium designer brand that reinterprets nature, light, and oriental fantasies about eras through graphic artwork. The designer's unique print works shine each season, creating a fresh sensibility that blends traditional and contemporary aesthetics. 'EN OR', women's casual clothing brand, reinterprets retro moods with a modern sensibility. It offers comfortable and practical yet non-cliched new styles, presenting a fresh approach. 'JULY COLUMN' is a boutique brand focused on made-to-order creations, showcasing beautiful bespoke clothing for special clients. It is built on a foundation of respect for craftsmanship and a deep understanding of the modern woman's lifestyle. 'MAISON NICA' is characterized by a combination of diverse colors, materials, vibrant patterns, and intricate details. With a genderless concept, it presents a spirited couture collection under the slogan 'Understand and love everyone,' embracing a lively and inclusive approach. 'MMAM' representing Korean deconstructivism, is a contemporary brand that adds doodle elements to classic design, presenting bold deconstruction elements with silhouettes leaning towards minimalism. The label 'SEOKWOON YOON' is inspired by a wide blend of history and modern art, combines art with ready-to-wear collections, showcasing uniquely altered details, oversized fits, and creative draping. 'VEGAN TIGER' stands as South Korea's first vegan fashion brand, aiming to end animal suffering and provide consumers with broader choices. It presents a collection that combines conceptual design with street-inspired youth sensibilities. All these 10 brands can be experienced from September 12th to 14th at 394 Broadway NY 10013. Media Contact Company: Korea Creative Content Agency Contact: Baek Seung-hyeok Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.kocca.kr SOURCE: Korea Creative Content Agency Source: Korea Creative Content Agency Vancouver, BC, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rockridge Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: ROCK) (OTCQB: RRRLF) (Frankfurt: RR0) (Rockridge) (the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed eight diamond drill holes in a 2,000-metre diamond drilling program at its Raney Gold Project located southwest of Timmins, Ontario, Canada (the Raney Gold Project or Property). Samples have been sent to the laboratory for assaying and the Company expects to receive the results in the near future. Raney Gold Project Location Map: http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/maps/location_map_may2020a.jpg Highlights: The recently completed drill program was designed to evaluate the strike, depth and expansion potential of the high-grade zones of gold mineralization discovered from previous drilling The drilling program entailed 2,000 metres in eight diamond drill holes; logging and sampling of the core is being completed, and assay results are expected soon Numerous drill holes contained visual indications of mineralization in the drill core The Company successfully tested the eastward and westward continuity of the Main Raney Gold Zone Property has excellent access and infrastructure; accessible by paved and forestry roads Rockridges CEO Jon Wiesblatt commented: The most recent exploration program at Raney was completed on time and on budget. The accessibility of the Project, availability of services and excellent infrastructure in the area made for a very smooth operation over the summer. All of the drill core has been collected and sent to the assay lab. We are excited to have intersected mineralization in several holes and remain confident about continuing to test the potential extension of the main trend to the east and west. The Raney Gold Project is strategically located within the highly prospective west extension of the Abitibi Greenstone belt, proximal to several regional deposits. Newmonts operating Borden Gold Mine (reserves of 4.17 MT @ 6.38 g/t Au for ~860k oz. Au reported in 2015) is located 35 km west of Raney. IAMGOLD and JV partner Sumitomo Metals Mining recently decided to proceed with construction of their Cote gold project located 75 km southeast of Raney. The Cote project, estimated to contain gold reserves of ~7 million ounces (~236MT @ 0.96 g/t Au), is noted as a world-class deposit by IAMGOLD. Drill Program Summary: The 2023 drill program continued to expand the central Raney Gold Zone and tested the extension of the Raney Zone in the east and the west directions. Alteration associated with the gold mineralization is coincident with a distinct magnetic low signature. Notably, numerous holes including the step out holes intersected mineralization. Assays are pending from the program and will be released once collected and analyzed. Raney Gold Project History and Previous Diamond Drilling: In 2020, Rockridge completed just over 5,000m of drilling in twenty drill holes. The drilling focused on the main mineralized zone over a strike extent of approximately 225 metres that produced the best historic intercept of 6.5 g/t Au over 8.0 metres in 2010. Rockridges drilling in 2020 returned a high-grade intercept of 27.9 g/t Au over 6.0 metres near the 100-metre depth level in hole RAN-20-06. The broad structural corridor that hosts the mineralization is up to 125 metres wide and extends well beyond the area tested by drilling. Other results from the drilling included hole RN 20-13 which returned 2.5 g/t Au over 13.0m, including 9.6 g/t Au over 2.0m, as well as hole RN 20-18 which was a significant step out hole along strike 250m to the west of the main zone and returned 1.36 g/t Au over 9.0m including 2.1 g/t Au over 4.0m. Mag Survey Plan Map Showing Exploration Hole Collars: http://www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/Raney-Gold-Project-Summer-2020-Drill-Targets.jpg Prior to Rockridges drilling, historical drilling at the Raney Gold Project focused on identifying near-surface gold mineralization. Previous exploration on the Property from 1972 to 1991 consisted of prospecting, mapping, sampling, trenching, winkie drilling, ground geophysics, stripping, and some limited diamond drilling. This was followed by exploration work during the 2009 to 2010 period. The Property is underlain by mafic volcanics to the north, and felsic to intermediate volcaniclastics to the south. The felsic volcaniclastics are host to the gold zones. Quartz feldspar porphyry dykes and sills and minor mafic intrusives occur throughout the Property. The porphyries are generally massive but may be sheared and hydrothermally altered and veined in places. A 100 metre-wide intensely sheared and altered quartz-feldspar porphyry body is located just to the south of the main Raney gold showing. Gold mineralization exposed on the surface and intersected in drill holes on the property is typical of the lode gold class of gold deposit which is the dominant gold deposit type in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. Gold mineralization on the property is associated with the intensely sheared and altered zones within the felsic tuffs, and higher grades tend to occur where quartz veining is present. The Property is in the Archean Swayze Greenstone Belt, considered to be the southeast extension of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which hosts the world-class Timmins and Kirkland Lake gold districts. Numerous gold occurrences occur throughout the district and several world-class mines have been developed. These deposits are responsible for a significant portion of the worlds cumulative gold production and are often characterized by gold enriched quartz vein systems associated with supracrustal belts in low to medium grade metamorphic terranes. Gold mineralization at the Property is typical of the mesothermal lode gold deposit model. Rockridge owns a 100% interest in the Raney Gold Project. Qualified Person: Todd Keast, P.Geo., a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and the Raney Gold Project Manager for Rockridge Resources Ltd., has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. About Rockridge Resources Ltd.: Rockridge Resources is a public mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral resource properties in Canada, specifically copper and gold. The Companys 100% owned Knife Lake Project is located in Saskatchewan which is ranked as a top mining jurisdiction in the world by the Fraser Institute. The project hosts the Knife Lake Deposit, which is a VMS, near-surface Cu-Co-Au-Ag-Zn deposit open along strike and at depth. There is strong discovery potential in and around the deposit area as well as at regional targets on the large property package. The Company's gold asset is its 100% owned Raney Gold Project, which is a high-grade gold exploration project located in the same greenstone belt that hosts the world class Timmins and Kirkland Lake lode gold mining camps. Recently reported drill hole RN 20-06 intersected 28.0 g/t gold over 6.0 metres at a shallow vertical level of 95 metres, which is the best result from the project thus far. Rockridges goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favourable jurisdictions. Raney Gold Project Regional Geology Map: https://rockridgeresourcesltd.com/_resources/images/Rockridge-RandyGold-RegionalGeo.jpg Additional information about Rockridge Resources and its project portfolio can be found on the Companys website at www.rockridgeresourcesltd.com. Rockridge Resources Ltd. Jonathan Wiesblatt Jonathan Wiesblatt CEO For further information contact myself or: Jordan Trimble, President or Nicholas Coltura, Corporate Communications Rockridge Resources Ltd. Telephone: 604-558-5847 Toll Free: 800-567-8181 Facsimile: 604-687-3119 Email: [email protected] NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. The securities offered 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 U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor in any other jurisdiction. (Reuters) -Financial advisor Cetera Financial Group will take wealth management solutions provider Avantax private after agreeing to acquire all of its issued and outstanding equity in an all-cash deal, valuing it at about $1.2 billion including net debt, the companies said on Monday. Shareholders of Avantax common stock will receive $26.00 in cash per share, representing a 30.3% premium from the closing price on September 8. Shares of Avantax surged 27.8% to $25.49 in premarket trading. After the deal closure, Avantax will be a standalone business unit within the Cetera group, the statement added. In June, investor Engine Capital LP had asked Avantax to explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale. Engine had said Avantax was worth much more to a larger firm than as a standalone entity, considering the company's cost structure, pressures on profitability and tough competition. Avantax had $83.8 billion in total client assets, as of June 30, 2023. (Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) Hostess Brands "Twinkies" are displayed in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S. July 5, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/file photo By Anirban Sen, Greg Roumeliotis and Ananya Mariam Rajesh (Reuters) -J.M. Smucker on Monday agreed to buy Twinkies maker Hostess Brands for $5.6 billion including debt in a deal that unites two major American snack makers. The deal was worth about $4.6 billion excluding debt, with Jif peanut butter maker Smucker paying Hostess shareholders $34.25 per share. The cash-and-stock offer represents a premium of 54% on the stock since the day Reuters reported the company was exploring a sale. Hostess shares have surged 27% since the report about the sale process and were up 19% at $33.49 in early trading on Monday, while Smucker's shares were down 7% as investors viewed the deal as too expensive. Smucker said the deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of its current fiscal year, represents adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of about 17.2 times based on its estimate of Hostess Brands' 2023 results. Campbell Soup's recent acquisition of Rao's sauce maker Sovos Brands represented an adjusted EBITDA multiple of 14.6 times, including run rate savings, and 19.8 times excluding those. The food and tobacco sector currently trades at a 14.4 projected 12-month EBITDA on average, LSEG data shows. "We cant say we love this transaction from SJMs perspective. First, the price is high; we are very surprised that SJM (or anyone) is paying this amount," JPMorgan analysts said in a note on Monday. Smucker's bet on Hostess comes as major U.S. packaged food companies look to expand their brand portfolios with pandemic-era fortunes dwindling. In recent months, the U.S. packaged food industry has seen an uptick in mergers as most of the companies seek to improve volumes by rebranding portfolios after benefits from price hikes started wavering. CULMINATION OF TURNAROUND Hostess Brands became an acquisition target after its price hikes boosted revenue but fueled investor concerns over its prospects with its volume growth consistently declining. The tie-up between Smucker and Hostess follows a spate of other deals in the sector, including Campbell Soup's $2.7 billion deal for Sovos Brands and Unilever's purchase of premium frozen yogurt brand Yasso in North America. Based in Lenexa, Kansas, Hostess was founded in 1930 and is behind several iconic household brands, including Ho-Hos, Ding Dongs, Zingers, and Voortman cookies and wafers. The deal with Smucker represents a major turnaround for Hostess, which has filed for bankruptcy twice, in 2004 and 2012, due to a combination of private equity owners saddling it with debt and failing to come up with new snacks that appealed to consumers. Entrepreneur Dean Metropoulos and private equity firm Apollo Global Management Inc returned Hostess to the stock market in 2016 through a deal with a special purpose acquisition company backed by the private equity firm founded by Alec Gores. By the end of 2020, Hostess had revamped its portfolio and was generating revenue of over $1 billion, an important landmark in its turnaround efforts. It has managed to keep its revenue growing, sometimes by raising prices as sales volumes weakened. Smucker, which also houses coffee and pet food brands, has a market valuation of over $14 billion and had raised prices of its jams and jellies, which helped boost its profit forecast for the year. (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru and Anirban Sen and Abigail Summerville in New York; additional reporting by Dimpal Gulwani in Bengaluru; editing by Savio D'Souza, Shinjini Ganguli and Jason Neely) Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM) ("Deveron" or the "Company"), a leading agriculture service and data company in North America, today announced, that Carmelo Marrelli has resigned as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") of Deveron Corp, effective immediately. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Akshay Shirodker, as CFO of Deveron Corp. Akshay is a seasoned finance executive with proven ability to drive financial excellence and operational efficiency. To date his career has spanned various leadership roles, with his most recent position being, the Head of Finance and Operations at Opencare, a revenue generation technology platform for dental practices across North America, where he guided the company to profitability and helped double the platform's patient marketplace revenue. Prior to this, he played a pivotal role in the successful M&A efforts at UXP Systems, an identity management platform transforming how consumers interact with tier-1 telecommunications providers, culminating in its acquisition by Amdocs. Akshay is a Chartered Professional Accountant earning his CPA designation during his tenure at KPMG. "I am very excited to join the team at Deveron," said Akshay Shirodker, CFO of Deveron Corp. "The team has built and consolidated an impressive organization in the agriculture services and data space. I look forward to utilizing my expertise in finance and technology to further develop and execute the company's growth strategies for years to come." "To begin, I would like to thank Carmelo Marrelli, for his years of service, and his contribution to the growth of Deveron," stated David MacMillan, President, and CEO of Deveron. "We are thrilled to welcome Akshay to our executive team. With Akshay's background in finance and operations, we believe he is prepared to leverage his extensive expertise and strategic insight in his role as CFO at Deveron. His commitment to innovation, financial discipline, and mentorship positions him as a valuable asset and a leader within the company. We anticipate that his contributions will drive financial growth and operational excellence, furthering our organization's ongoing success." In addition, the Company announced that it has granted an aggregate of 500,000 stock options (the "Options") to purchase common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company exercisable at a price of $0.34 per Common Share and expiring on September 11th, 2029, as part of the appointment. The common shares issuable upon exercise of the options are subject to a four-month hold period from the original date of grant and vest a third each year with the first vesting period being September 10th, 2024. About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs, and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use. Our team of agronomists and data scientists build products that recommend ways to manage fertilizer, seed, fungicide and other farm inputs better. Additionally, we have a national network of data technicians that are deployed to collect various types of farm data, from soil to drone, that build a basis of our best-in-class data layers. Our focus is the US and Canada where 1 billion acres are actively farmed annually. For more information and to join our community, please visit www.deveron.com/investors or reach us on Twitter @Deveron. Phil Linton VP Corporate Development Deveron Corp. [email protected] Tel: 647-622-0076 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward-looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180264 Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - In its relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to enhancing client service, ICEBERG Financial is proud to announce the grand opening of its "Concierge Office" located in the heart of Dubai. This development comes on the heels of the successful inauguration of its administrative office in the Barsha zone of Dubai in May 2023. Sama Tower To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9959/179603_sama_tower.jpg Situated at Sama Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road, the new state-of-the-art facility signifies ICEBERG Financial's continuous growth trajectory and its unwavering dedication to its clients. The concierge office is uniquely positioned to serve over 20 clients daily, showcasing the brand's robust capability to cater to the burgeoning demand for its top-tier financial consultancy services. "We recognized the need to provide our clients with a comprehensive, one-stop solution, and our Concierge Office is precisely that. This space allows us to interact more closely with our clients, understand their financial aspirations better, and deliver solutions tailored to their unique needs," said Sarah Travis, Public Relation Manager at ICEBERG Financial. As an added convenience for its esteemed clientele, ICEBERG Financial has integrated an effortless appointment-booking system on its website. Clients can now secure a slot with a financial consultant at the touch of a button, ensuring a seamless and efficient service experience when they visit the Concierge Office. The launch of the Concierge Office stands as a testament to ICEBERG Financial's strategic vision. Having recently expanded its footprint with the Barsha zone office just a few months ago, this new addition further solidifies its position as a market leader. It underscores the firm's ambition and capability, not just in terms of physical presence, but also in its capacity to serve more clients and bolster its reputation as a dependable investment consultancy firm in Dubai. "Our recent expansions, especially the Concierge Office, highlight our proactive approach to growth and client service. We are more than just a financial service provider; we are partners in our clients' financial journeys, and our aim is to be the most reliable at every step," remarked Ivan Jovalek, Head Of Operation at ICEBERG Financial. ICEBERG Financial invites clients, partners, and members of the press to visit its new Concierge Office. Witness firsthand the embodiment of commitment, innovation, and excellence that ICEBERG Financial brings to the investment consultancy landscape of Dubai. For appointments and more information, visit Https://ICEBERG.Financial. For further information, press inquiries, or to schedule interviews, please contact: Media Contacts: Name: Public Relation (Sarah Travis) Website: https://iceberg.financial/ Business email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/179603 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - Onyx Gold Corp.(TSXV: ONYX) ("Onyx" or the "Company")is pleased to provide an update on its ongoing exploration program at the King Tut Property located in Yukon, Canada (Figure 1). A fully funded drill program consisting of 8-10 diamond drill holes for a planned 2,500 meters is underway and is expected to continue until mid to late September. Results are expected in mid-to-late October and will be issued regularly throughout the remainder of the year. Exploration Update: Completion of Seven diamond drill holes (1,661 m) at the Main Tut and Golden Mask targets, with drilling ongoing; Collection of Over 1,350 soil samples looking to expand known gold-in-soil anomalies to identify new targets for follow-up; Completion of High-resolution LiDAR topographic surveying of the entire property; Completion of 1,500 line-km of drone-based magnetic geophysical surveying, with preliminary data generating several prospective targets to help guide current drilling; and Mapping, prospecting, and geochemical sampling is ongoing. "We are excited to be the first team drilling this prospective property," said Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO. "We believe we are on the ground floor in this emerging Canadian gold district in the eastern Tombstone belt, as well as being part of the larger Tintina Gold Province hosting many large bulk tonnage gold systems with predictable exploration models (Figure 2). This year's work is progressing well, with our first core delivered for assaying with results expected in mid to late October." Yukon Properties Onyx controls a portfolio of greenfield gold properties in eastern Yukon, totaling 210 km2. The King Tut Property is Onyx's most advanced and compelling property, located in the heart of an emerging reduced intrusive-related gold district in Yukon's Selwyn Basin. Previous fieldwork identified large-scale undrilled gold-in-soil anomalies in a comparable geological setting 50 km from Snowline Gold's Rogue/Valley Discovery, one of Canada's most significant new gold discoveries. Onyx commenced the first-ever drill program on the King Tut Property in late July of this year. Phase 1 drilling focused on testing the Main Tut and Golden Mask gold-in-soil anomalies which are associated with two separate intrusion-related gold systems. Two drill holes were completed at the Main Tut target (639 m), and five drill holes (1,022 m) have been completed at the Golden Mask target. Results are pending. In addition to drilling, Onyx has undertaken extensive geophysical and geochemistry surveys and mapping and prospecting programs that have generated prospective targets for future drilling and other exploration work. Preliminary data from the drone-based magnetic geophysical survey has been processed and interpreted, and the results are helping guide current drilling and future exploration plans, highlighting the significant upside potential of the King Tut Property. Figure 1 - Tombstone Belt Gold Belt To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/180176_33d014fae4268854_002full.jpg Figure 2 - Reduced Intrusive Related Gold Systems (Red Dots) Within The Tombstone Gold Belt (Pink) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9800/180176_33d014fae4268854_003full.jpg About Onyx Gold Onyx Gold is an exploration company focused on well-established Canadian mining jurisdictions, with assets in Timmins, Ontario, and Yukon Territory. The Company's extensive portfolio of quality gold projects in the greater Timmins gold camp includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, renowned for its high-grade mineralization, plus two additional earlier-stage large exploration properties, Golden Mile and Timmins South. Onyx Gold also controls four properties in the Selwyn Basin area of Yukon Territory, which is currently gaining significance due to recent discoveries in the area. Onyx Gold's experienced board and senior management team are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration. On Behalf of Onyx Gold Corp. "Brock Colterjohn" President & CEO For further information, please visit the Onyx Gold Corp. website at www.onyxgold.com or contact: Brock Colterjohn, President & CEO or Nicole Hoeller, VP of Corporate Communications Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]. Website: www.onyxgold.com Twitter: @OnyxGoldCorp Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward looking information: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180176 Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is confident that Germany will provide Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles, and it's just a matter of time. Answering questions after a press conference with German colleague Annalena Baerbock in Kyiv, Kuleba said: "You asked Annalena if she gave me hope for Taurus. No, I would not say that Annalena went beyond the official position of the German government, but, you know, you will do it anyway. It's just a matter of time, and I don't understand why we're wasting time. And we could have achieved more and saved more lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians if we already had Taurus. The Minister stressed that Ukraine respects the discussions and procedures within the German government of Germany, but there is not a single objective argument against the transfer of Taurus to Kyiv. If you have any questions, we are ready to answer them positively. Let's do it. The sooner it happens, the more valuable it will be. It's very simple," Kuleba urged. Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2023) - Zephyr Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: ZFR) ("Zephyr" or the "Company") announces that it has closed the final tranche (the "Final Tranche") of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") through the issuance of 296,000 (the "Units") at a price of $0.09 per Unit. In aggregate, the Company issued a total of 4,000,000 Units for gross proceeds of $360,000. Loren Komperdo, President and CEO stated, "We are pleased to have completed this tranche which fulfills the announced $360,000 capital raise. The company is now in a position to execute on its exploration plans in Zimbabwe, consisting of geophysics and drilling." Each Unit consists of one (1) common share (each, a "Share") and one (1) transferable Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one (1) additional Share of the Company at a price of $0.13 per Share for a period of twelve (12) months. The expiry date of the Warrants may be accelerated by Zephyr at any time if the volume-weighted average trading price of the common shares is greater than or equal to $0.26 for any twenty (20) consecutive trading days. If this occurs, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the warrants by issuing a news release announcing the reduced Warrant term whereupon the Warrants will expire on the 30th calendar day after the date of such news release. Net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for mineral exploration programs in Zimbabwe (see news release July 26, 2023) and for general corporate purposes. The Private Placement is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval and acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period of four (4) months and a day expiring on January 12, 2024. About Zephyr Minerals Ltd. Zephyr Minerals Ltd. is conducting ongoing evaluations of gold properties for potential acquisition and/or joint venture throughout Zimbabwe. The Company is concentrating on projects with obvious gold potential as demonstrated through active, shallow, small scale mining operations or previous exploration work and favorable geology. In addition, the property should be of sufficient areal extent to host a target potential of at least one million ounces of gold. To this extent, the Company has signed multiple property joint venture agreements and has applied for two Exclusive Prospecting Orders covering 124,000 hectares. The Company is also actively reviewing lithium opportunities generated through in house research and property submittals by third parties. Zimbabwe boasts favorable foreign ownership rules for mineral properties as well as prospective, underexplored Archean greenstone belts. In Colorado Zephyr has been focused on mine permitting activities at its 100% owned Dawson gold property, which is presently in hiatus pending the collection and submission of additional water well data and satisfying certain other environmental related questions. The additional required water wells are still in the planning stage and will be drilled once available funds are in hand. Upon collection of the additional data the Company plans to reapply for a mining permit at Dawson. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Zephyr Minerals Ltd. David Felderhof, Chief Financial Officer [email protected] T: 902 706-0222 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/180223 JAKARTA, Sept 11, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - - Artroniq Berhad, a key contender on the ACE Market, is thrilled to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Artronic Itech Sdn. Bhd. ("AiTech" or "Distributor"), has entered into a transformative Distribution Agreement with PT. Terang Dunia Internusa, the parent company of Indonesia's renowned United Motors. This landmark deal aims to propel Artroniq and PT. Terang to the forefront of the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) market while enhancing their reach across the ASEAN economic community. United Motors, a subsidiary of PT. Terang Dunia Internusa, has been an industrial stalwart in Indonesia since its inception in 1971. Transitioning from a spare parts importer to an electric mobility pioneer, the company has launched a diverse line of electric motor products under the United E-Motor brand. Their commitment to electric mobility was further solidified with the opening of a dedicated electric vehicle and bike factory in Curug, Tangerang. Under this Distribution Agreement, Artronic Itech Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Artroniq, is appointed by PT. Terang Dunia Internusa as the exclusive distributor for electric motor products in Malaysia. Products will be purchased in a Completely Knocked Down (CKD) state and assembled at Artronic Itech's factory in Malaysia. The signing of the Distribution Agreement was witnessed by Dr. Ir. Budi Karya Sumadi, the Indonesian Minister of Transportation; Dr. Jerry Sambuaga, the Deputy Minister of Trade of Indonesia; Drs Hendro Sugiatno, Director General of Land Transportation of Indonesia; and Mr. Budiharjo Iduansjah, General Chairman of HIPPINDO (Himpunan Peritel & Penyewa Perbelanjaan Indonesia/Association of Indonesian Shopping Centres, Retailers and Tenants). Marcus Chin Choon Wei, Chief Financial Officer of Artroniq (Link) Mr. Marcus Chin Choon Wei, CFO of Artroniq, commented, "This Distribution Agreement marks a momentous leap forward for Artroniq, a pivotal step in our relentless pursuit of excellence in sustainable transportation and technological innovation. We are committed to not only meeting but exceeding the evolving needs of our customers and partners. This agreement perfectly aligns with our core values of sustainability, quality, and progress. It fortifies our position as a key player in the ASEAN region's electric mobility sector and underscores our unwavering dedication to reducing environmental impact while driving progress." Hendry Mulyadi, Director of PT. Terang Dunia Internusa (United Motors) added, "Artroniq's unwavering dedication to innovation and sustainability seamlessly complements our strategic vision at PT. Terang Dunia Internusa. We are embarking on a journey that goes beyond mere collaboration; it is a synergistic partnership aimed at shaping the future of sustainable transportation across ASEAN. Together, we will harness the power of technology, innovation, and shared values to drive positive change. This agreement is not just a milestone; it is a testament to our collective commitment to creating a greener, more connected, and sustainable future for the ASEAN region and beyond." As at 11 September 2023, the share price of Artroniq is RM0.82, representing a market capitalisation of RM323 million. Artroniq Bhd: 0038 [BURSA: ARTRONIQ] [RIC: ARTR.KL] [BBG: ARTRONIQ:MK], https://www.artroniq.com/ Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Firehouse Subs and Apparel Group to open more than 100 restaurants over the next 10 years across UAE and Oman ZUG, SWITZERLAND , Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Today, the Firehouse Subs brand and the Apparel Group are excited to announce new plans to develop and open more than 100 Firehouse Subs restaurants across UAE and Oman in the next decade as part of an exclusive agreement. Firehouse Subs was founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994 by two brothers and former firefighters. The founders brought the culture of the US firehouse to their food and guest experience. Now, in partnership with the esteemed Apparel Group, Firehouse Subs is set to elevate this experience even further on an international scale. Firehouse Subs is all about hearty portions, premium ingredients, and heartfelt service with a commitment to public safety. The brand offers hearty sandwiches that have been perfected by our chefs using time honored recipes. Our chefs start by selecting flavorful meats, cheeses & delicious bread that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They then take the meats, add cheese, and steam it using our unique steam ovens to lock in the juices, preserving the authentic flavors and textures. "We are very excited to continue our path to expand the Firehouse Subs brand across the world. Apparel Group has been a strong partner operating the Tim Hortons brand in the Middle East / North Africa region (MENA) since 2013 and we believe their extensive experience and expertise will bring numerous advantages to the brand's continued growth" said David Shear , President of International, Restaurant Brands International. Neeraj Teckchandani , CEO of Apparel Group said, "Firehouse Subs embodies a blend of authentic food and community spirit, and Apparel Group is honored to steer this iconic brand's heritage into the thriving Middle Eastern market. As the region's culinary landscape continues its dynamic evolution, we see Firehouse Subs seamlessly fitting into, and elevating, the tapestry of food experiences here. Our proven track record in growing international brands in MENA, combined with the distinctiveness of Firehouse Subs, promises a synergy that is bound to set new benchmarks." Today's announcement, with Apparel Group marks a pivotal moment in Firehouse Subs' growth strategy across the world. This partnership follows the brands recent successful launch in Switzerland , which is the first opening outside of North America , and agreement to open in Mexico . Under the visionary guidance of Apparel Group, Firehouse Subs is poised to further solidify its reputation in the global arena. The brand is a strong and growing player within the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) sandwich category in the United States and has experienced significant growth in the last decade, boasting over 1,200 restaurants across the U.S. and Canada . About Firehouse Subs Firehouse Subs is a restaurant chain with a passion for hearty and flavorful food, heartfelt service, and public safety. Founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1994 by two brothers and former firefighters, Firehouse Subs is a brand built on decades of fire and police service, hot and hearty subs piled high with the highest quality meats and cheeses and its commitment to saving lives through the establishment of the non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. Firehouse Subs is a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI"), one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with over $40 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands BURGER KING, TIM HORTONS, POPEYES, and FIREHOUSE SUBS. Enjoy more subs. Save more lives. To learn more, visit http://www.firehousesubs.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About Apparel Group LLC Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate residing at the crossroads of the modern economy Dubai , United Arab Emirates . Today, Apparel Group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its 2025+ retail stores and 80+ brands on all platforms while employing over 20,000+ multicultural staff. Apparel Group has carved its strong presence in the GCC and expanded thriving gateways to market in India , South Africa , Singapore , Indonesia , Thailand , Malaysia , Pakistan , and Egypt . Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary and Philippines . Apparel Group has created an omni-channel experience, operating brands originating from the USA , Canada , Europe , Australia , and Asia . The brands include leading names in fashion, footwear, and lifestyles such as Tommy Hilfiger, Charles & Keith, Skechers, Aldo, Nine West, Aeropostale, Jamie's Italian, Tim Hortons, Cold Stone Creamery, Inglot, and Rituals. Apparel Group owes its amazing growth to the vision and guidance of its dynamic Founder and Chairwoman, Mrs. Sima Ganwani Ved , who has taken the company from strength to strength since its inception in the last two decades. To learn more, visit https://apparelglobal.com/en/. Forward looking statement This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which reflect management's current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, initiatives and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about our expectations regarding the ability of the Apparel Group to open more than 100 Firehouse Subs restaurants across UAE and Oman over the next 10 years. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RBI's expectations are detailed in filings of RBI with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada , such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K and include the following risks: risk related to our ability to successfully implement our domestic and international growth strategy and risks related to our international operations; risks related to our ability to compete domestically and internationally in an intensely competitive industry; global economic or other business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products; our relationship with, and the success of, our franchisees and risks related to our fully franchised business model; and the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs and franchisee support of these programs. Other than as required under applicable laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, change in expectations or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/apparel-group-and-firehouse-subs-join-forces-and-announce-new-expansion-plans-in-the-middle-east-301922715.html SOURCE Restaurant Brands International Inc. BOGOTA, Colombia , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol issues the following response in relation to the statement on September 8, 2023 by McDermott International regarding its intention to start financial restructuring proceedings for its CB&I subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands , in the aftermath of the arbitral award issued by the International Arbitration Tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce against them and in favor of Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. On June 7, 2023 , Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. was notified of the decision of the international arbitration tribunal, which ruled in favor of Refineria de Cartagena in the dispute against CB&I regarding the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contract for the expansion and modernization of the refinery. In a unanimous decision, the arbitration tribunal ordered CB&I to pay Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. USD 1,008 million plus interest accrued from December 31, 2015 , for breach of its project planning and cost obligations under the EPC Contract. In addition to its gross negligence during the execution of the EPC contract, by starting restructuring proceedings, CB&I seeks to disregard the effects of the arbitral award issued by the International Arbitration Tribunal, to which they voluntarily submitted and in which they actively participated with the assistance of international law firms and technical experts of their choice. In that regard, Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. condemns McDermott International's statements, which obstructs compliance with the the award issued by the highest commercial arbitration tribunal. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. confirms its intention to exhaust all instances to defend its interests and uphold the arbitral award, as it did during the execution of the EPC contract and the arbitration proceedings. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. has been closely monitoring the measures taken by McDermott International in response to the decision of the international arbitration tribunal, including the annulment request filed by CB&I the day after its issuance, and is confident that the decision issued by the arbitral tribunal will be declared valid by the federal judge handling the request. Refineria de Cartagena S.A.S. has set in motion, in conjunction with a global team of lawyers and experts in the field, all relevant actions to obtain the recognition and payment of the arbitral award in the United States , the United Kingdom , and the Netherlands . Simultaneously, it will actively participate in McDermott International's corporate restructuring processes in these countries to defend its interests. Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 18,000 employees. In Colombia , it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico ), Brazil , and Mexico , and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil , Chile , Peru , and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile , and the telecommunications sector. This press release contains business prospect statements, operating and financial result estimates, and statements related to Ecopetrol's growth prospects. These are all projections and, as such, they are based solely on the expectations of the managers regarding the future of the company and their continued access to capital to finance the company's business plan. The realization of said estimates in the future depends on the behavior of market conditions, regulations, competition, and the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, and are consequently subject to change without prior notice. This release contains statements that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases, or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration, and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Diego Nicolas Lopez Reina (a) Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Marcela Ulloa Email: [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ecopetrol-issues-statement-regarding-the-restructuring-of-mcdermott-international-counterparty-to-refineria-de-cartagena-sas-in-arbitration-proceeding-301923672.html SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. NEW YORK , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leonardo Fifth Avenue (L5A) returned to New York Fashion Week for its second consecutive year, this time showing in The Mezzanine at Spring Studios, the official NYFW location. The San Juan - Orlando based brand also hosted in-person Watch Parties at its retail locations in Florida , Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic . The only father-and-daughter design duo to show at NYFW, Leonardo Cordero Suria , 54, and Ana Sofia Cordero , 28, introduced Unfiltered, a collection that aims to provide a sense of balance in an unpredictable world. Nature itself is the essence of the collection, seen in raw and beautiful earthy pigments depicting a range of softened clay-like surfaces, along with deep, dark tones. The texture is a key element driving the beauty behind these looks, from contrasting matte to shiny and uneven surfaces made with premium fabrics that blend seamlessly together. Raw edges and asymmetrical details create a contrast between polished and edgy. "To be able to present at the NYFS is a great honor and a testament to the evolution and longevity of L5A," Cordero Suria said. "What began as a formalwear brand for men decades ago, it is now redefining elegance by taking a streetwear approach to some pieces, reinventing jackets, being more playful with textures and color palettes, and defying perceived gender norms with female suits that are as empowering as they are feminine." Cordero Suria designs together with daughter Ana Sofia , who brings the trends and urban influence of her generation to the process. "We are two generations, two styles, and one brand," said Ana Sofia , who trained in Milan . "We are both very passionate, and that passion can run high at times, but the outcome of that dynamic is an explosion of creativity that results in daring and unique pieces." The collection includes various styles such as single-breasted coats using different textures and colors, as well as statement tuxedos showcasing an elegant yet modern expression. Details such as patch pockets, appliques, and fringe form part of the collection. Pockets are the standout finishing touch inspired by an elevated streetwear style. In each design, L5A redefines the conversation on tailoring and focuses on breathable, summer-weight suiting fabrics while maintaining the brand's formal essence. Suits and smart separates are less structured, making them a proposition for a gender-inclusive alternative. The runway show included Chinese celebrity model Lu Xianren , known as "The Village Super Model," who went viral on social media after making videos of himself against stunning countryside backdrops while wearing designs he created with items collected in nature. Other VIP guests included famous TikTok star Rami Zein (16 million+ followers), actor Jayson Aaron , famous tattoo artist Miryam Lumpini and Actor Eric West . ABOUT L5A Based in San Juan and Orlando , Leonardo 5th Avenue, has a 50+ year track record of elegance and sophistication in the luxury menswear industry. A highly skilled team of around 100 associates collaborate with their talents to offer our customers the latest trends, fabrics, and designs. Seasons collections and high-end customer experience consolidate its value proposition. The company offerings include formalwear, tailored clothing, business-casual attire and sportswear, and has10 store-studio designer spaces in Florida , Puerto Rico , and the Dominican Republic . Website: L5A.com IG: @leonardofifthavenue View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/father-and-daughter-design-team-behind-leonardo-returns-to-new-york-fashion-week-for-the-ss24-season-with-a-coveted-spot-at-the-official-nyfw-venue-301923618.html Choosing not to invest in pilot workforce continues to decimate Fractional's reputation COLUMBUS, Ohio , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NetJets, the global leader in private air transportation, continues its freefall from career destination to industry steppingstone as executives steadfastly refuse to acknowledge the reality of the worsening pilot labor crisis. This theme connects sentiments shared in a long-form video published to the pilot union's YouTube channel earlier this week. An independent labor advocate, NJASAP represents the professional interests of the 3,100-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary (NYSE: BRK.A). NetJets continues its sad decline from career destination to industry steppingstone. "Historically, airline management teams have been quick to dismiss the pilot advocate's concerns, insisting the union is making much ado about nothing. NetJets is no different in that regard," NJASAP President Capt. Pedro Leroux explained. "Our newest video tells 'The Pilots' Story,' reaffirming NJASAP is, in fact, speaking on behalf and with the full support of its members." To its detriment, NetJets has buried its head in the sand to the realities of the sustained pilot labor crisis. In a puzzling turn of events, management has minimized the essential role talented aviators play in delivering the peace of mind for which its high-end clientele pays a premium. "Considering the complex nature of our unscheduled operation and the 5,000-plus airports to which we provide service, NetJets clients want and deserve experienced pilots on the flight deck," NJASAP Vice President Capt. Paulette Gilbert said. "Talented aviators will not stay at NetJets where they will make 60% of what their peers will earn elsewhere across a 30-year career," Leroux explained. "Pilot compensation at NetJets not only trails that of the legacy carriers, but also low-cost carriers like JetBlue, ultra low-cost carriers like Spirit and regional airlines such as SkyWest." The Union president added the NetJets pilot contract continues to lose ground in wages, benefits and working conditions as regional and mainline carriers ratify amended contracts or exercise wage snap-up provisions. "Watching NetJets once a career destination for professional aviators transition into the industry's steppingstone is disheartening. Long-tenured aviators are moving on, and more and more new aviators are coming to NetJets to build time, rather than a career," Gilbert remarked, explaining that, year to date, 62% of pilots who have separated from NetJets have been in their first three years of employment. In recent weeks, NJASAP has published a series of advertisements in The Wall Street Journal that shares departing pilots' observations about their experience at NetJets and their motivation for moving on. The content is available at GenuineQS.com. In early February, NJASAP and NetJets convened a voluntary bargaining measure to negotiate what NJASAP thought would be competitive adjustments to its current agreement. That, however, has been far from the case. "Our most recent bargaining session clocked in at 32 minutes, dashing any remaining hope we had that NetJets was committed to good faith bargaining," Gilbert said, adding management remains resolute in its belief that the pilot group is content to make approximately half of what their peers at mainline and regional carriers will earn across a career. "In short, management's head-in-the-sand posture remains fully intact." NJASAP discusses the Fractional's continued, but entirely avoidable and reversible decline in its September 2023 Aero Crew News Digital Takeover. Moreover, NJASAP members and their families will travel to New York City next Thursday, Sept. 14 to engage in informational picketing outside the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street , New York City , from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. " Wall Street is the perfect venue for an informational picket: It is filled with financial professionals who understand the importance of investing in an entity's most valuable resource," Leroux said. "NJASAP members will be standing outside the Stock Exchange to remind NetJets and Berkshire Hathaway of the essential role the pilots play in ensuring the company is positioned to meet its lofty promises to owners and customers." About NJASAP Founded in 2008 as an independent labor advocate, the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) represents the professional interests of the 3,100-plus pilots who fly in the service of NetJets Aviation, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary. For more information, please visit our websites, www.njasap.com and www.genuineqs.com, or find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/njasap, Instagram, www.instagram.com/njasap, and Twitter, @njasap. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/from-status-carrier-to-steppingstone-netjets-continues-freefall-301922277.html SOURCE NJASAP ALEXANDRIA, Va. , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Speech-language pathologist and Black family literacy advocate Dr. Kelly M. Byrd of Supplemental Health Care has been named the 2024 National Staffing Employee of the Year, the American Staffing Association announced today. The announcement marks the beginning of National Staffing Employee Week, which runs this year from Sept. 11 to 17 and highlights the achievements of the millions of temporary and contract employees hired by U.S. staffing agencies each year. " Dr. Byrd's story is a testament to the power of staffing in fostering both personal and professional growth," said Richard Wahlquist , chief executive officer of ASA. "Each year, the National Staffing Employee of the Year and Staffing All-Star awards provide us with an outstanding opportunity to spotlight individuals whose journeys exemplify the transformative impact of staffing. "As we enter National Staffing Employee Week, we are excited to celebrate the millions of temporary and contract employees who contribute their talents to industries across the nation." Sponsored by StaffPro3, a division of PMC Insurance, the National Staffing Employee of the Year and All-Star awards honor current or former temporary or contract employees whose extraordinary stories of staffing success best exemplify one or more of the industry's key messages of bridging and flexibility. Byrd will be honored during a ceremony at Staffing World, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 3-5 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC . National Staffing Employee of the Year Health Care Sector All-Star Kelly M. Byrd Supplemental Health Care Dr. Kelly M. Byrd always knew she wanted to work with kids and ensure they had their voices heard. As a child, she wanted to see characters in books that looked like her. As an adult, she turned to Supplemental Health Care, where her contract assignments provided her with the flexibility to go back to school and complete her doctorate degree. She also founded the nonprofit organization Love for Literacy, which promotes Black family literacy in her community, and wrote the children's book Sunshine On an Otherwise Miserable Day. In November 2022 , Byrd partnered with SHC to create family literacy resources for Family Literacy Day that were shared with SHC speech-language pathologists, students, and school districts across the country. SHC has also donated hundreds of copies of her children's books to school districts across the country. Byrd used staffing to grow her career and give back to her community, showing what can happen when talented people partner with staffing. Engineering, Information Technology, and Scientific Sector All-Star Meisha Millwee Harvey Nash Meisha Millwee helped make a difference in her community during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. After moving from Dallas to Nashville , Millwee turned to Harvey Nash to help her find a role in her new town. Just months into her contract as the project coordinator for communicable and environmental diseases and emergency preparedness at the Tennessee Department of Health, Covid-19 swept the nation. In the ensuing months, she oversaw efforts to help skilled nursing and assisted living facilities adjust to an online program that tracked available beds, services, and assets in the Volunteer State. Now, Millwee is a liaison to the White House Task Force for Communicable and Environmental Diseases team to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Covid-19 reporting. Millwee's talents are changing the lives of others thanks to the opportunity she gained in staffing. Millwee was also recently awarded the first ever Harvey Nash Global Contractor of the Year among 11,000 active highly talented and passionate contractors from around the world. Industrial Sector All-Star Kathy Stanifer EmployBridge Kathy Stanifer is using the flexibility staffing provides to help people (and animals) in need. Affectionately known as "Granny" by her coworkers, Stanifer currently works as a CDL driver for Gleaner's Food Bank in the Indianapolis area. After finishing her daily route in the afternoon, she cares for homebound patients by cleaning their homes and helping them with meals. Stanifer also rescues injured and neglected horses, rehabilitating them with her own money and then giving them to people within her community. Stanifer is an exceptional person who's using staffing to improve the lives of everyone around her. OfficeClerical and Administrative Sector Cassandra Hughes Express Employment Professionals For Cassandra Hughes , staffing provided the flexibility she needed to deal with a major life change. After starting a role as a customer service agent, her world changed when she was granted custody of her five nieces and nephewsall of whom were under the age of 10. Hughes worked closely with the team at Express Employment Professionals to adjust her schedule so she could maintain a full-time weekly paycheck. A year after starting, Hughes was offered a full-time role with the client company. Professional-Managerial Sector All-Star Carla Monroe , PMP, CSM, CSPO, CSSGB, CMQOE, ITIL Kelly Services Staffing has allowed Carla Monroe to work remotely while spending time with her daughter. Through Kelly Services, Monroe is able to pursue her career as a technical project manager for a West Coast transit agency while spending time with her daughter in South Carolina . Her flexible schedule also allows her to regularly attend meetings of her local Project Management Institute chapter so she can further develop her leadership skills. About the American Staffing Association The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net . Contact Megan Sweeney American Staffing Association 703-253-1151 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/literacy-advocate-named--2024-national-staffing-employee-of-the-year-301923401.html SOURCE American Staffing Association SHANGHAI , Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WEPACK ASEAN 2023, a key industry event for the Southeast Asian packaging and printing market, will be held at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur from November 22-24.2023. The expo combines six exhibitions, each covering an important segment of the sector: Corrugated ASEAN 2023, FoldingCarton ASEAN 2023, DPrint ASEAN 2023, Paper ASEAN 2023, Food Pack & Tech ASEAN 2023, and PACKCON ASEAN 2023. Six premier exhibitions unite global leaders for packaging industry collaboration With a strategic shift in global manufacturing, the expanding consumer base in Southeast Asia is driving significant growth in manufacturing across the region. Today, Southeast Asia stands as one of the globe's most vibrant and promising economic hubs. As a result, there is a soaring demand throughout the region for packaging technology, equipment, and skilled personnel. Strategic foresight, focusing on efficiency and quality, is paramount. WEPACK ASEAN 2023 is set to provide a premier trade matching platform for 200+ worldwide renowned exhibitors and 4,000+ professional visitors from Malaysia , Vietnam , Thailand , Indonesia , India , the Philippines , Myanmar , Laos , Cambodia , Singapore , and beyond. . 20 Years of Global Packaging Industry Resources, Gathering 200+ Worldwide Renowned Exhibitors RX boasts more than 20 years of experience organizing professional exhibitions in the global packaging market. Recognizing burgeoning opportunities in Southeast Asia , they debuted their premier exhibition, WEPACK ASEAN, in the region this year. The move aims to cater to the Southeast Asian packaging processors' demand for top-tier packaging equipment and materials and to bridge the existing gap for a comprehensive procurement platform in the area. The event's division into six segments allows for a curated showcase of cutting-edge product developments, tailored to the distinct nuances of the Southeast Asian packaging and printing industry. A highlight, the Corrugated ASEAN, draws inspiration from SinoCorrugated, an event with a legacy of over 20 years in amalgamating resources and expertise in the corrugated and paper packaging sector. In this Malaysian edition, more than 100 renowned international corrugated, color box, and raw paper equipment makers will display their products, positioning WPACK ASEAN as an indispensable industry event for stakeholders in Southeast Asia's printing and packaging realm. Showcasing Parallel Events: Facilitating Business Connections In tandem with WEPACK ASEAN, the organizers will host an industry summit forum. The agenda spans cutting-edge technology and development trends in the packaging sector, specifically regarding cartons and color boxes. Attendees will gain insights from successful packaging case studies across Asia and globally, as well as a comprehensive overview of business management practices, from cost control and operations to R&D and marketing strategies. This summit promises to draw leaders from prominent Southeast Asian firms, alongside representatives from mid-sized and small packaging companies and industry associations, all eager to stay abreast of global industry advancements and discern the latest market trends. WEPACK ASEAN Tour: Visit Local Outstanding Packaging Companies While attending WEPACK ASEAN, you will have the opportunity to tour leading packaging companies and factories in Malaysia . You will be able to gain comprehensive insights into the management philosophies, market operation and development perspectives of local paper packaging companies. It's a prime chance for extensive knowledge sharing and experience exchange. See you in Malaysia WEPACK ASEAN 2023 will take place at the MITEC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , from November 22-24, 2023 . Pre-registration is now open on the website , please secure your free tickets in advance. CONTACT: Oliver Zhang , [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/malaysia-to-host-wepack-asean-2023-this-november-301920289.html SOURCE RX (China) Investment Co., Ltd. BARRINGTON, Ill. , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Motor Werks Cadillac, a member of one of the largest luxury auto groups in the country, has announced their recent move from their long-term home in downtown Barrington to a brand-new facility at 18 East Dundee Road in Barrington . Motor Werks Auto Group was recently purchased by Murgado Automotive Group, a leading automotive retailer with dealership locations in Illinois , Florida , and New Jersey . This represents the first facility relocation by Murgado Automotive Group and part of an overall strategic plan to expand and upgrade their facilities. "The downtown Barrington Cadillac location was legendary, but it was time to move and consolidate within our Barrington [Motor Werks] Campus, and, most importantly, provide a better sales and service experience for our loyal customers," said Mario Murgado , President and CEO of Murgado Auto Group. The new facility features a spacious contemporary showroom with comfortable and individual Client Advisor stations, as well as a relaxing customer lounge with complimentary beverages and Wi-Fi. "Motor Werks Cadillac is proud to offer our ONE & ONLY program to provide an unsurpassed shopping experience," said Murgado. "Clients will only work with one, non-commissioned Client Advisor, we offer one market competitive price up front to eliminate all of the back and forth negotiating and can complete the entire sales process in one hour. No other Cadillac dealer offers this type of hassle-free experience." Most impressive is the World Class service center boasting a total of 20 service bays. "We have tripled our service capacity," continued Murgado. We offer same day service appointments, factory trained technicians, service loaners with qualifying service repairs, and pick-up and delivery within 20 miles of the dealership." Murgado Auto Group, founded in Miami, Florida in 2001 is a family-owned automotive retailer with 24 dealer franchises in Illinois , Florida and New Jersey . They have been recognized as one of the top automotive retailers in the United States . Contact: Andrew McClure Phone: 312-636-3505 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/motor-werks-cadillac-moves-to-new-location-in-barrington-301923614.html SOURCE Motor Werks Cadillac MUNICH , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nagarro's Supervisory Board decides to propose the election of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft as auditor of the Nagarro group for the year 2024 to the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting in 2024. On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board of Nagarro SE has resolved in its meeting of September 07, 2023 , to propose the election of KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft as the auditor for the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements of Nagarro SE for the financial year 2024, to the upcoming Annual Shareholders' Meeting in 2024. This recommendation is the result of several consultations between the Supervisory Board, the Audit Committee, Nagarro's internal project team, and the Management Board of Nagarro SE, as well as a comprehensive public and non-discriminatory tender procedure in accordance with the relevant provisions of the EU Audit Regulation. In the Annual Shareholders' Meeting of Nagarro SE held in June 2023 , LOHR + COMPANY GmbH was re-appointed as auditor of Nagarro SE for the audit of the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2023. Subsequent to this, Nagarro has shortlisted globally recognized audit firms that will conduct the fit for consolidation audits based on instructions provided by LOHR + COMPANY or statutory audits of several legal group entities for the year 2023, which in 2022 together accounted for approximately 60% of the consolidated revenues of the Nagarro group. "We initiated the selection process early on to ensure a smooth transition of the engagement in line with the requirements of auditor independence," said Christian Bacherl , chairperson of the Audit Committee. Manas Human , Custodian of Entrepreneurship in the Organization, added: "Every investor is important to us. Still, we would like to make Nagarro even more attractive for large international institutional investors who are familiar with our peer group. Nagarro has taken several steps in this direction, like expanding our Supervisory Board with independent directors and adding US representation. Globally recognized audit firms are already auditing some key Nagarro legal entities, and this move towards appointing a global audit firm at the group level further demonstrates our commitment towards the highest levels of corporate governance and transparency." About Nagarro Nagarro, a global digital engineering leader, helps clients become innovative, digital-first companies and thus win in their markets. The company is distinguished by its entrepreneurial, agile, and global character, its CARING mindset, and its approach of thinking breakthroughs. Nagarro employs over 19,500 people in 35 countries. or more information, visit, www.nagarro.com FRA: NA9 (SDAX/TecDAX, ISIN DE000A3H2200, WKN A3H220) Media contact: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844192/Nagarro_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nagarro-initiates-change-of-group-auditor-301923084.html SOURCE Nagarro Newly appointed Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin, discussed the urgent needs of Ukraine and the upcoming meeting in the Ramstein format. Had substantive conversation with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Discussed Ukraines urgent needs and the upcoming Ramstein meeting. Briefed my colleague on the recent developments at the frontline. Grateful to USA for their support and contribution to Ukraines victory, Umerov said on X (formerly Twitter). NEW YORK , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- POIC e dintorni APS and Dante Genomics , a global leader in genomics and precision medicine, have embarked on a pioneering collaboration to accelerate whole genome sequencing solutions to patients with ACTG2 mediated Megacystis Microcolon Intestinal Hypoperistalsis Syndrome (MMIHS) and Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO). This strategic partnership is set to make significant strides in understanding and managing these complex and rare disorders, with a prominent showcase at the 2nd World Congress of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility, September 7-9, 2023 , in Columbus, Ohio , USA. This innovative partnership is poised to achieve three core objectives: Utilize the power and clinical utility of the genome for the treatment of MMIHS: By leveraging Dante Genomics' advanced genomic analysis technologies and POIC e dintorni's extensive expertise in pediatric gastrointestinal motility conditions, the collaboration aims to utilize the power of the genome to identify genomic solutions for ACTG2 mediated MMIHS. This breakthrough research could pave the way for groundbreaking treatments and interventions. Enabling Partially Subsidized Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Access: POIC and Dante Genomics are committed to providing patients of the POIC e dintorni's advocacy organization and their parents with access to partially subsidized Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS). This initiative will empower affected families with comprehensive genetic insights, fostering informed decision-making and tailored medical approaches. Elevating Awareness through collaboration at the 2nd World Congress : In tandem with the partnership, both entities are dedicated to enhancing awareness about MMIHS and CIPO. The collaborative efforts extend to engaging regulatory bodies, governments, clinicians, and the general audience. The 2nd World Congress of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility provides a prime platform to spotlight this collaboration and raise global awareness about these rare conditions. The 2nd World Congress of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility serves as a fitting stage for the partnership's unveiling. This international event gathers leading experts, researchers, and medical professionals in the field to share insights, advancements, and innovations. POIC e dintorni and Dante Genomics will present their collaborative efforts through presentations, interactive sessions, and informational booths, facilitating meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange. "As a mother of a daughter affected by CIPO since her birth and as President of a patient organization that supports the advocacy of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, I am very excited about the potential that this alliance with Dante Genomics offers us. It clearly shows the joint-commitment to improve patients' quality of life. Together, we are poised to make significant breakthroughs," said Ornella Spada, President and co-founder of Poic e dintorni APS. "Starting today, the word hope has a new and encouraging meaning for families, caregivers and patients affected by CIPO." "This partnership reflects our shared commitment to push the boundaries of personalized medicine with genomic solutions," said Andrea Riposati, Co-founder and CEO of Dante Genomics. "By showcasing our efforts at the 2nd World Congress, we aim to rally support and foster relationships with leaders in genomics and pediatric medicine to harness the clinic utility of the genome for rare disease patients around the world." About POIC Associazione Poic e Dintorni APS - a Patient Advocacy Organization, is a leading organization dedicated to advancing the care and well-being of children with ostomy and incontinence conditions. POIC fosters collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and families to drive innovation in pediatric healthcare. About Dante Genomics Dante Genomics is a global genomic information company building and commercializing a new class of transformative health and longevity applications based on whole genome sequencing and software. The Company uses its platform to deliver better patient outcomes, prevention, enhanced diagnostics and personalized medicine. The Company's assets include one of the largest private genome databases with research consent, proprietary software designed to unleash the power of genomic data at scale and proprietary processes which enable an industrial approach to genomic sequencing. About the 2nd World Congress of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility The 2nd World Congress of Pediatric Neurogastroenterology and Motility is a premier international event dedicated to advancing research, collaboration, and clinical care in the field of pediatric neurogastroenterology and motility. The congress gathers leading experts and professionals to share insights and innovations. Contact: Laura D'Angelo VP of Investor Relations [email protected] +39 0862 191 0671 www.dantegenomics.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patient-advocacy-organization-poic-e-dintorni-aps-and-dante-genomics-forge-alliance-to-bring-whole-genome-sequencing-solutions-to-rare-disease-patients-partnership-showcased-at-2nd-world-congress-of-pediatric-neurogastroenterolog-301923419.html SOURCE Dante Genomics BEIJING , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway: The clip you just watched is from a rap song, composed by Indonesian rapper Akbar Fernando specifically for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. Since the day it was posted, the rap has gone viral in Indonesia , resonating enormously with its people. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway is built to link Jakarta , the capital of Indonesia , and Bandung, the country's fourth biggest city, meandering for about 142 kilometers. It also marks a flagship project between the two countries under the "Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)." Why has the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway received so much attention and welcome? I found the answer in some of the comments from Indonesian people. The project will surely bring convenience. When the railway is officially open, travel between Jakarta and Bandung will only take 40 minutes. That means, about 40 million inhabitants in that area will basically live in the same city. A citizen of Jakarta said it once took her eight hours to arrive in Bandung for a vacation, due to the lousy traffic. Limited by the distance, an aerial ladder truck driver working on the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway project could only return home once a month. But he said, once the railway is available, it would be so much easier for him to get together with family. The project will also bring economic benefits. The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway has created plenty of job opportunities directly or indirectly for Indonesia , especially for people living in the en-route areas. During its construction, a total of 51,000 jobs were created. What's more, the "economic growth belt" along the railway is also thriving as the railway's construction progresses, which boosts economic development and tourism in the en-route areas. The project bears profound influence beyond the railway itself. During construction, China has trained about 45,000 Indonesian employees. A netizen commented: "With China's technology support, I hope Indonesia will one day build its own high-speed railway." Moreover, as the economy develops, many long-existing problems like unbalanced development within regions and big city malaises, which were caused by an over-concentrated population and uneven economic development, will also be relieved. There are more projects like this. From infrastructure cooperation like the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and China-Laos Railway, and international capacity collaboration like the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project, to the continuous breakthrough in China -ASEAN bilateral trade volume The concerted efforts of China and Southeastern Asian countries under the BRI have not only become an exemplary model for international cooperation, but also contributed to the stability and harmony of Asia and the world, injecting robust vitality for the high-quality development of the related countries and the global economy. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm Pilot launch of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway: High-quality development for all http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-09/11/content_115196281.htm View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pilot-launch-of-the-jakarta-bandung-high-speed-railway-high-quality-development-for-all-301923010.html SOURCE China.org.cn WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle , Charles Barron Roth is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Life Member for his contributions to the fields of Agricultural Studies and Agronomy. Dr. Roth attended the University of Missouri where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Chemistry and a Master's degree in Soils. He then attended the University of Wisconsin where received a Doctor of Philosophy. Inspired to pursue a career as an educator by his father, Dr. Roth is a specialist in agricultural studies and agronomy serving as a professor of agronomy at Purdue University from 1968 to 2001. While he has retired from that post, he maintains the title of professor emeritus at the university. When considering his successful career, the doctor attributes his drive and inquisitive attitude as major factors to his accomplishments. He asserts that he is most proud to have guided many students in their academic and professional endeavors. A testament to his mastery of the fields, Dr. Roth has published more than 50 articles and participated both nationally and internationally in public speaking events pertaining to his field. Aside from his professional pursuits, Dr. Roth has served as the chair of the State Vision Services Committee of the Lions Club in Indiana for many years and is a member of his local United Methodist Church. He would like to dedicate this honor with special thanks to his wife, Roberta Jean Roth , to whom he has been married 58 years. Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inner-circle-acknowledges-charles-barron-roth-as-a-pinnacle-life-member-for-his-contributions-to-the-fields-of-agricultural-studies-and-agronomy-301923780.html FILE PHOTO: British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London, Britain, July 12, 2023. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS By Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is exploring designating its genomics sector as critical national infrastructure, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said on Monday, amid pressure from lawmakers concerned at China's activity in the field. Genomics is the study of the genome - the complete set of DNA contained within a single cell. A Reuters investigation in 2021 found that China's BGI Group had developed prenatal tests in collaboration with the Chinese military and used them to collect genetic data from women around the world for research on the traits of populations. BGI says it has never shared data for national security purposes and has never been asked to. Earlier this year, UK lawmakers wrote to the country's data regulator asking it to probe BGI, citing the Reuters investigation, while campaigners have also written to the government to ask for an inquiry into its links with British universities. Asked by one of those lawmakers if Britain would designate the genomics sector as critical national infrastructure, Dowden said it was a legitimate point which he was considering. "It's not currently designated as such, but in my role in the cabinet office, I keep the register of critical national infrastructure under review, and it's something which I am exploring," he told lawmakers. Critical national infrastructure (CNI) is infrastructure that, if compromised, could have a major detrimental impact on essential services or a significant impact on national security. A CNI designation can see greater scrutiny of how contracts and research are handled in a sector. Dowden defended the government's broader record on CNI, citing steps such as the passage of the National Security and Investment Act, which has seen the government intervene to block takeovers in sensitive sectors by Chinese firms. (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Mark Potter) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -China's economic problems are more likely to affect the region than the United States, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said on Monday, a day after President Joe Biden called China's economic situation a "crisis." Beijing has the resources to deal with its economy short-term but must face longer-term structural economic issues such as demographics and high debt, Adeyemo said in television interviews. "Those are going to be far harder for them to deal with over time," he told CNN. Fears of an economic slowdown have gripped China, whose leader skipped the G20 summit this past weekend. Biden on Sunday said China's growth was slowing due to a weak global economy as well as Chinese policies, although he did not cite specific policies. Biden, ending his Asia trip for the summit and a visit to Vietnam to shore up ties, noted China's issues with real estate and high youth unemployment. Adeyemo, on CNN, said China's economy faces "significant headwinds," adding: "a slowing Chinese economy is going to have an impact, but mostly on their neighbors." Asked about the potential for China to sell its holdings in U.S. Treasuries, Adeyemo told CNBC: "I am more concerned about what China's slowdown means for their neighbors and for Europe, than what it means for the United Sates given how strong our economy is." "The United States is well-positioned to withstand the Chinese headwinds, but the places where you have to be concerned about are their neighbors, countries in Asia, but also a number of countries that have borrowed from China," Adeyemo told a separate event at the Economic Club of New York. He said the U.S. government was paying close attention to the developments. While some of China's particular decisions will affect specific companies, "when you look at the economy, the United States has some exposure but it's limited," he told CNBC. Adeyemo urged China to open up its economy to the private sector, saying that could boost its economy by creating competition. "Chinese businesses are able to do business here, sell things to American consumers. We want American businesses to be able to do the same in China on a level playing field," as well as European businesses, he told CNBC. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Chizu Nomiyama) FILE PHOTO: People walk in the Goldman Sachs global headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., November 15, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The Dutch financial markets watchdog said on Monday an investigation had revealed that Goldman Sachs held a large gross short position in healthcare equipment maker Philips on Aug. 14, counterbalancing a previously disclosed long position. There was no suggestion of any wrongdoing. The additional disclosure is part of a review by the Financial Markets Authority (AFM) into how investment firm Exor NV managed to acquire a 15% stake in Philips in a surprise move on Aug. 14 without triggering disclosures that it had been building a stake. Goldman Sachs, which acted on behalf of Exor, declined comment. The review "has led to the additional disclosures of gross short positions by Goldman Sachs in the AFM register", the agency said in an e-mailed statement. Dutch newspaper FD first reported on the new disclosures, which were added to the register on Friday. While Philips and most shareholders welcomed Exor's investment, shareholder groups questioned how the stake had been acquired so quickly. Dutch market rules require disclosures when an investor passes ownership thresholds of more than 3%, 5% and 10% in a public company. Philips said at the time a bank had acted on behalf of Exor and built much of the stake using a derivatives structure, but it could not comment further. A Philips spokesperson said on Monday the company had no additional comment. A spokesperson for Exor on Tuesday repeated that the Aug. 14 acquisition had respected all market rules. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings showed Exor had obtained a 2.99% stake in Philips by June 30, just below the Dutch disclosure threshold. An AFM filing first published on Aug. 17 had showed Goldman Sachs holding a long position of 12.17% in Philips as of Aug. 14, mostly in call options. That filing has now been revised to show Goldman also was holding an indirect short position of 12.04% on Aug. 14. That would set the investment bank up to execute either side of the trade, in this case the "buy" side, on behalf of its client, although it is not certain what Goldman did. The AFM said it was now in talks with "market parties and relevant stakeholders" to see where guidance, or perhaps new rules, are needed about transaction structures by which large stakes can be taken in publicly listed companies in a very short period of time." (Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Jamie Freed and David Holmes) FILE PHOTO: Israeli and American flags stand during the final rehearsal for the ceremony to welcome U.S. President Joe Biden ahead of his visit to Israel, at Ben Gurion International airport, in Lod near Tel Aviv, Israel July 12, 2022. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/ By Dan Williams and Nidal al-Mughrabi JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) -Israel eased travel for Palestinian Americans from the Gaza Strip on Monday as part of final preparations for a deal enabling Israelis to enter the United States without visas, Israeli and U.S. officials said. As a condition for its accession to the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), Israel has since July 20 loosened access through its borders, and in and out of the occupied West Bank, for Palestinian Americans in a pilot period. The deadline for Israel to show compliance with the U.S. conditions is Sept 30. If successful, it expects to be incorporated in the VWP by November - a respite for relations strained by disputes over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms and policies on the Palestinians. Gaza, whose ruling Hamas Islamists are on Israeli and U.S. terrorism blacklists and whose borders are blockaded by Israel and Egypt, had been excluded from the pilot. That stirred protests by Palestinian Americans and U.S. calls for a change in policy. Israel's Interior Ministry said that, as of Monday, Palestinian Americans living in Gaza and who are not deemed security threats are able to enter Israel on "B2" tourist visas, which also gives them the option of flying out of its airports. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem confirmed the new policy. Palestinian Americans from abroad are still largely precluded from visiting Gaza. As a stop-gap, Israel has said it would allow those who have first-degree relatives there to apply for permission to make once-yearly visits of up to 90 days. "This is an improvement that doesn't really add any value," Hani Almadhoun, a Palestinian American from the Washington, DC area, told Reuters. He said he felt like he was being told: "You may come and have a picnic in Israel, but you might not be able to go see your family which is really just minutes (away)." Under the pilot, more than 5,400 Palestinian Americans have entered Israel or crossed its boundary with the West Bank, according to Interior Ministry figures. It said 51 Palestinian Americans have been refused entry, 49 on suspicion of planning to overstay their visas and two as potential security threats. The U.S. Embassy says some Palestinian Americans have complained of being barred from travelling between Israel and the West Bank by car. On Monday, it said a joint U.S.-Israeli team begin talks "to develop solutions over the coming months". Between 45,000 and 60,000 Palestinian Americans live in the West Bank, a U.S. official estimated. An Israeli official gave lower figures, saying that of 70,000 to 90,000 Palestinian Americans worldwide, 15,000 to 20,000 are West Bank residents. Israel previously said it intended to include Palestinian Americans living in Gaza - whose number it puts at between 100 and 130 - on Sept 15 but would try to bring the date forward. Palestinian and U.S. officials have assessed that the number of dual U.S. nationals in Gaza may be several hundred. Asked about the apparent discrepancy in the figures, an Israeli official said most of those are not full-time Gaza residents. (Writing by Dan Williams, Editing by William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Airplane model is placed on displayed Spirit Airlines and jetBlue Airways logos in this illustration taken, June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustrations/File Photo By David Shepardson (Reuters) - JetBlue Airways Corp said Monday it had agreed to sell all of Spirit Airlines assets at Boston and Newark Liberty airports to Allegiant, as it works to win approval for its tie-up with Spirit. JetBlue said it had agreed to transfer two gates in Boston, two gates in Newark, and 43 takeoff and landing authorizations in Newark to Allegiant. In addition, it has agreed to relinquish up to five gates at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to the Broward County Aviation Department, and will work closely with the department to facilitate Allegiant's growth at that airport using these gates, JetBlue said. The Justice Department, joined by Massachusetts and other state attorneys general, sued in March seeking to block JetBlue's $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit, alleging the deal was "presumptively illegal" and would "lead to higher fares and fewer seats, harming millions of consumers on hundreds of routes." Trial is set to begin Oct. 16. The deal would be the biggest in the U.S. airline industry since American Airlines and US Airways merged in 2013. On June 1, JetBlue said it would divest all of Spirits holdings at New York LaGuardia to Frontier. Both the Allegiant and Frontier agreements are conditioned on the completion of the JetBlue-Spirit transaction and must get approvals from regulatory and airport authorities. JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said the "divestiture commitment, while not needed to ensure the continued growth of the vibrant ultra-low-cost carrier segment, is aimed at removing any doubt of our commitment to promoting competition." JetBlue said in July it would not challenge a U.S. judge's May order that it end an alliance with American Airlines. The decision terminated the three-year-old "Northeast Alliance," which allowed the two carriers to coordinate flights and pool revenue. JetBlue argued terminating its alliance with American renders "entirely moot" the government's objections to its deal to buy Spirit. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Mehr Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Mark Potter) OpenAI logo is seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Blake Brittain (Reuters) - A group of U.S. authors, including Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon, has sued OpenAI in federal court in San Francisco, accusing the Microsoft-backed program of misusing their writing to train its popular artificial intelligence-powered chatbot ChatGPT. Chabon, playwright David Henry Hwang and authors Matthew Klam, Rachel Louise Snyder and Ayelet Waldman said in their lawsuit on Friday that OpenAI copied their works without permission to teach ChatGPT to respond to human text prompts. Chabon's representatives referred queries about the lawsuit to the writers' lawyers. Those lawyers and representatives for OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday. The lawsuit is at least the third proposed copyright-infringement class action filed by authors against Microsoft-backed OpenAI. Companies, including Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Stability AI, have also been sued by copyright owners over the use of their work in AI training. OpenAI and other companies have argued that AI training makes fair use of copyrighted material scraped from the internet. ChatGPT became the fastest-growing consumer application in history earlier this year, reaching 100 million monthly active users in January, before being supplanted by Meta's Threads app. The new San Francisco lawsuit said that works like books, plays and articles are particularly valuable for ChatGPT's training as the "best examples of high-quality, long form writing." The authors alleged that their writing was included in ChatGPT's training dataset without their permission, arguing that the system can accurately summarize their works and generate text that mimics their styles. The lawsuit requested an unspecified amount of money damages and an order blocking OpenAI's "unlawful and unfair business practices." (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David Bario and Aurora Ellis) FILE PHOTO: Leader of Poland's main opposition party Civic Platform (PO) Donald Tusk delivers his speech during the Civic Platform party convention in Tarnow, Poland September 9, 2023. Jakub Porzycki/Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS/File Photo WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's ruling nationalists unveiled a humorous ad on Monday showing the German embassy trying to order Warsaw to raise the retirement age, a sign of how claims of foreign influence have become central to the campaign for elections next month. Anti-German sentiment has featured prominently in the Law and Justice (PiS) party's campaign to win a third term in office. It has repeatedly sought to portray former Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the leader of Poland's largest opposition grouping Civic Coalition (KO), as a German puppet. The advert released on Monday depicts a call being placed to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski from the German embassy. The sound of the phone ringing turns the head of a cat in the famously feline-loving leader's office, as the sound of Wagner's 'Ride of The Valkyries' builds an atmosphere of tension. "Guten Tag," the caller says, before continuing in heavily accented Polish. "I am calling from the German embassy and I would like to speak to the Chancellor about your 'Rentenalter', that is the retirement age in Poland. We believe it should be the same as it was under Prime Minister Tusk." A stony-faced Kaczynski responds: "Please apologise to the Chancellor, but it is the Polish people who will decide about this issue in a referendum," he says. "Tusk isn't here any more and those habits are finished." As prime minister, Tusk raised the retirement age to 67, from 65 for men and 60 for women, saying the move was needed to keep the pensions system afloat. PiS reversed the move, and Tusk says he has no intention of trying to raise it again. The KO did not reply to a request for comment on the advert. Poland is holding a referendum on the day of the election with questions on four issues: the retirement age, privatisation, hardening the border with Belarus and rejecting migrants under an EU deal. The opposition calls the referendum a campaign exercise designed to energise government supporters and demonize opponents with a series of loaded questions. A spokesperson for the German foreign office said it does not comment on domestic political debates in Poland, including the commercial. "Germany and Poland, as partners in central Europe, have a shared responsibility for good neighbourly relations and successful cross-border and European cooperation," the spokesperson added. (Reporting by Alan Charlish; Additional reporting by Adreas Rinke in Berlin; Editing by Peter Graff) The National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine is organizing a forum in Kyiv on "Inclusion and Participation: Persons with Disabilities at the Center of Humanitarian Response Policy in Time of War". September 12-13, 2023 Online / offline Premier Hotel Rus . Kyiv, 4 Hospitalna str. The forum aims to bring together more than 70 representatives of organizations of people with disabilities, activists representing the interests of people with various disabilities, parents raising children with disabilities, older people, civilians and military from different regions of Ukraine who have suffered and acquired disabilities to: Discuss the participation and contribution of organizations of persons with disabilities to the humanitarian response over the 1.5 years of the full-scale invasion; share experiences and discuss existing challenges in humanitarian response; develop joint recommendations for including disability issues in the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. The forum is a unique opportunity for representatives of public organizations of people with disabilities, international institutions, UN agencies, clusters, government agencies and the media to discuss the provision of humanitarian assistance to people with disabilities and the elderly during martial law. Partners. International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES); European Disability Forum (EDF). Program of the event September 13 (online / offline) 9:30 Registration 10:00 - 10:15 Welcome speech 10:15 - 12:00 Closing discussion panel: "Humanitarian Response Priorities 2024: Inclusion and Contribution of Persons with Disabilities" (summarizing the thematic discussions). 12:00 Free communication *Thematic discussions: Improving access to essential community-based services for people with disabilities, functional impairments, and older persons during war and emergencies (education, social protection, healthcare, administrative services, shelters, monitoring and evaluation, recommendations, etc.) Multipurpose financial assistance: experience, problems, coordination, monitoring of the situation, recommendations, etc. Involvement and contribution of organizations of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian response (institutional support for public organizations of persons with disabilities, advocacy for the protection of rights, feedback, improvement of communication for effective humanitarian response to the problems of persons with disabilities, recommendations, etc.) The National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine invites interested institutions to actively participate in the Forum, which is an open platform for communication in solving specific problems. The number of participants in the offline event is limited. For media: for accreditation and additional information, please contact the press service of the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine at +380 66 292 14 39. You can follow the updates and news of the NAPDU on the Facebook page and on the organization's website. The National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine has more than a hundred organizations representing the interests of people with various disabilities. Since the first days of the war, organizations have been providing humanitarian aid to people with disabilities and the elderly from different regions of Ukraine: food, hygiene products, assistive technologies, medicines, and non-food essentials. The organizations have created shelters (5 regions), spaces for children (various locations in 18 regions), and provide counseling and psychological support. The NAIU works with civilians and military personnel who have acquired disabilities as a result of the war, advocates for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities in various areas, and more. The event is organized by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine with the support of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) as part of an international technical assistance project aimed at increasing the accessibility of political and public life, as well as the full inclusion of all citizens in the democratic process. Any opinions expressed during the event are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IFES. By Karl Plume CHICAGO (Reuters) -Several employees were hospitalized after an explosion and fire late on Sunday at a massive Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) facility in Decatur, Illinois, that severely damaged crop processing operations, the company and the local fire department said. Eight workers were injured at the ADM East processing plant and six were taken to hospital via ambulance, the Decatur Fire Department said in a statement on Monday. Five remained hospitalized on Monday morning, ADM said. The company said it was evaluating the extent of the damage and investigating the cause of the incident. Several structures were severely damaged in the blast, including a 10-story building and adjacent buildings, the fire department said. A plant that crushes soybeans into soybean oil and white flake for soy protein production was down on Monday, ADM said. An adjacent corn processing plant was also "temporarily down until we can safely resume operations," the company said. A prolonged outage at the massive processing facility in the heart of the U.S. Corn Belt would put downward pressure on crop prices just as Midwest farmers are preparing to harvest their corn and soybeans. U.S. crop prices, especially for corn, have declined as export demand has slumped. The Decatur site, ADM's North American headquarters and its largest facility globally, houses soybean crushing facilities and one of the largest corn wet mills in the world. It has the capacity to produce 375 million gallons (1.42 billion liters) of ethanol biofuel annually, making it the largest in the country, according to the Renewable Fuels Association. "Coming into harvest, if it is down for a week or more, that would really cripple the cash basis," said Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics. Spot basis bids for corn at ADM's Decatur location tumbled by 35 cents a bushel from late bids on Friday while soybean bids were flat. Bids have been dropping across the Midwest in recent weeks as buyers await newly harvested grain. (Reporting by Karl Plume and Julie Ingwersen in Chicago, Evelyn Nikhila S and Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Gerry Doyle, David Holmes, Susan Fenton and Sandra Maler) STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden has again boosted its planned defence budget for 2024, taking the total planned increase for the year to 27 billion crowns ($2.44 billion) and exceeding the NATO threshold of 2% of GDP, the government said on Monday. The defence minister announced that Sweden would add 700 million to the defence in its upcoming autumn budget, lifting the overall defence spending to 119 billion crowns in 2024, almost double that of 2020. The spending is expected to be equivalent to 2.1% of Swedish GDP, he said. "We are in the most serious security policy situation since the end of the Second World War," Minister of Defence Pal Jonson told a news conference. Sweden is scrambling to boost its defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Sweden was invited to join NATO in 2023 but is waiting for Turkey and Hungary to approve its application. ($1 = 11.0737 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Johan Ahlander, editing by Essi Lehto and Louise Rasmussen) (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Sather Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 14, 2011: Senior Airman Stephen Hanks, a dog handler with the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, does a training exercise with his dog Geri. September is National Service Dog Month. In the last two decades, more than 4,000 military working dogs were injured in combat. In January 2022 the Department of Defense launched the Military Working Dog Trauma Registry, recognizing the importance of tracking injuries of the MWDs so it could be used to improve treatments, recovery and development of protective equipment. Read about the inception of the registry here. Heath Potter at work at his shoe repair business with the Tennessee state flag on the wall. Heath and his brother Trenton co-own the business as well as a sandal brand, Southern Polished, in Tennessee. (Photo for The Washington Post by Stacy Kranitz) In shoe making, theres an old, proud tradition of crafting stacked leather heels, a meticulous process that involves laying strips of leather on top of one another until they hit the desired height. But when a pair of luxury Saint Laurent boots arrived at Trenton and Heath Potters shoe repair business, the brothers saw evidence of a different technique: The boots block heel, which looked like stacked leather, was in fact made of hollow plastic, disguised by a thin veneer. Trenton Potter, a Nashville-based cobbler who co-owns the business and a sandal brand with his brother, says this sleight of hand is not uncommon for brands. There are a number of very high-end designer brands that will charge you $800 or $1,000 for a pair of shoes, and theyre all just glued together, he says. Its almost like wallpaper. Theyre not great quality. Youre just paying for that designer brand. Potter has long observed a decline in quality among popular shoe brands as companies continue to outsource manufacturing, cut costs and churn out new styles. A good pair of shoes should come at a cost Potter puts the minimum price for high-quality mens shoes in a traditional style at $300 but they should also last at least a decade with proper maintenance. Those numbers will sound alien to many of todays shoppers, judging by a survey by the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America that found the majority of people say that for shoes to be considered durable, they need to hold up only for two years. For women, finding good shoes is even tougher because, experts say, brands operate on the assumption that women buy many pairs and will prioritize style over durability or comfort although its impossible to say whether brands have deprioritized quality to meet customers low expectations or if customers have adjusted their expectations in response to declining quality. The process becomes more complicated when buying shoes online, without the benefit of trying them on or even examining them up close. Assuming that customers do indeed want a well-made shoe, how would they even go about finding one? Putting aside sneakers, experts offer tips on what to look for in common styles such as dress shoes, boots and heels: Shoes in the Potters repair workshop in Tennessee. Co-owner Trenton Potter has long observed a decline in quality among popular shoe brands as companies continue to outsource manufacturing, cut costs and churn out new styles. (Photo for The Washington Post by Stacy Kranitz) Construction Shoes have three basic elements: the sole, which touches the ground; the insole, which you step in; and the upper, which is the part that wraps around your foot. How these elements are held together has a big influence on how the shoe will perform. Gluing is a cheaper and easier method than stitching, but glue also comes apart more easily, especially when exposed to high heat. I cannot begin to tell you how many people bring ladies sandals into our shop after one of the straps has come unglued, Potter says. The overwhelming majority of womens footwear is made using only glue, says Potter, with some exceptions, such as the Office of Angela Scott, which stitches its shoes with methods mostly only used in mens shoes (although this is reflected in the price tag, with most styles starting at $400). Higher-quality mens dress shoes are often stitched together with the Goodyear welt. This method allows a pair of shoes to be resoled multiple times without damaging the upper portion of the shoes. Shoes made this way are durable and water-resistant, although they may take longer to break in. Another method, the Blake stitch, uses a special machine to stitch the upper and lining straight through the sole. These may be a bit easier to break in, but they wont be quite as water-resistant. While it is hard to tell exactly how a shoe is constructed just by looking at it, Potter advises examining the sole and insole. If you cant see any stitching, its probably glued together. You could also ask the salesperson about the make, or read the product notes online for details. Meghan Cleary, a writer and shoe expert, advises that when shopping online, you pay less attention to social media influencers who might have been paid to promote a brand and spend more time reading customer reviews. Digging a bit deeper and scrolling down can help you home in on specifics and potential problems, she says. Look for comments that are detail-oriented, like, the material felt amazing on my foot, or I walked all day and didnt get a blister, or, on the negative side, these were too tight. When buying shoes in person, experts say, you should examine them for imperfections: glue coming off between the heel and the upper, ragged edges that are not trimmed neatly, or stitching that is a little untidy. Susannah Davda, a shoe consultant in London, advises placing high heels on a flat surface to see if they wobble. If you tap the side of the shoe and it does quite a lot of wobbling, thats exactly what your body is going to do when wearing them, Davda says. She says that its common for companies to put padding in high-heeled shoes so they seem more comfortable but that shoppers should be skeptical: Not all padding is made the same. Some padding compresses very easily, so its more of a marketing tool than it is something thats going to give you long-term comfort. At the same time, some thin padding is still effective. You can test this by pressing your thumb inside the shoe to see whether theres resistance. If you can easily push down and feel the sole underneath, thats not a great sign. Rolls of leather for making sandals at Southern Polished in Tennessee. Natural leather is associated with high quality because it is pliable, breathable and molds to the foot. However, leather soles are generally less durable than synthetic ones. (Photo for The Washington Post by Stacy Kranitz) Materials Natural leather is associated with high quality because it is pliable, breathable and molds to the foot. If you want nice leather shoes without doing a lot of research, you can be pretty confident in opting for a Made in Italy label with Vero Cuoio (meaning real or true leather) printed on the sole, says David Ulan, a senior instructor at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. But leather soles are generally less durable than synthetic ones, Ulan says, so your personal preferences play a role in which material is superior. If you want more cushion or grip in a sole, you might opt for something made of rubber, Cleary says. For those with ethical qualms about animal products, there are synthetic alternatives such as polyurethane (PU). However, if sustainable production is your priority, note that PU is primarily derived from fossil fuels. If youre not married to the aesthetic of leather, you can look to fiber materials. Cleary points to brands such as Vivaia, which sells pairs for under $100 that are made from various synthetic materials, including hemp and recycled plastic bottles. For a sustainable, high-quality leather alternative, Nicoline van Enter, the chief executive and a founder at Footwearlogy LAB, recommends shoes made with MIRUM a plant-based, plastic-free material.. Fit Of course, it doesnt matter how well-designed a shoe is if it doesnt fit. Tacey Powers, the executive vice president and general merchandise manager for shoes at Nordstrom, urges shoppers to get fitted by a salesperson. Have them measure both of your feet, Powers says. She says its not uncommon to find that one foot is slightly larger than the other. If so, you may want to buy a split-sized pair, which Nordstrom offers, in which one shoe is a half-size larger than the other. And if your feet measure wide, look for a size marked as such. Fit starts early in the design process with a last a three-dimensional form around which a shoe is constructed. Lasts are unique to a particular company and often are used for many styles, even those that look very different to shoppers, Powers says. Sticking with the same brand doesnt necessarily mean youll be getting shoes made with the same last. But Powers shares an insider tip: Brands often give shoes a name (think Beverly or Bianca), and styles whose name start with the same letter are often made with the same last. If you find one pair within a brand that fits you well, look for other styles with names that share the same letter. Selecting and caring for the right pair Potter suggests sticking with shoemakers that have been around for a century or more, or finding a vintage pair from a legacy brand. Potter has seen customers find great pairs on eBay or at thrift stores and bring them to their shop for restoration. No matter where you get your shoes, taking good care of them will make them last much longer. Potter thinks of it as maintaining a car: If you never fix it or get your oil changed, itll be much more likely to break down. Condition the leather to keep it supple, place cedar shoe trees in shoes to absorb moisture and take shoes to a cobbler when you see signs of wear. Ultimately, van Ender says, when it comes to buying shoes that youll keep, the challenge has more to do with knowing yourself. She works with companies that recycle footwear and says that at least 80% of the shoes they receive look almost new suggesting that people are getting rid of them not because theyve fallen apart but simply because they dont end up wearing them. She advises scrutinizing the pairs you own and asking yourself why you do or dont wear them before buying your next pair. Is there a pattern with poor fit in parts of your foot? Do you need to acknowledge that certain styles just arent conducive to your lifestyle? While buying shoes may seem fairly inconsequential, Cleary says its not something people should take lightly. Shoes have a profound physiological effect on your body, from the moment you put them on, she says. They change the way you walk, the way you carry yourself and the way you relate to the world. People pay their respects before the statues of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il as North Korea marks its 75th founding anniversary at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang on Sept. 9, 2023. (KIM WON JIN/TNS) (Tribune News Service) North Korean weaponry could allow Russia to prolong the storm of steel it has rained down on Ukraine but probably isnt advanced enough to alter the course of the Kremlins war on its neighbor, now well into its second year. Leader Kim Jong Un is expected to cross into Russia this week for his first trip outside the peninsula in four years for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. has said the meeting would focus on supplying munitions to Moscow. While Pyongyang and Moscow have denied U.S. accusations of arms transfers, North Korea sits on some of the largest stockpiles of artillery and unguided rockets that could be used in the Soviet-era weaponry Russia is using to launch indiscriminate attacks on Ukraine. Supplies of ammunition from North Korea are unlikely to be decisive in the short term but will make it easier for Russia to continue a war of attrition, said Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College. A significant part of Putins strategy is an assessment that Russia can outlast Ukraine and the Wests support that is essential to Ukraines survival. More ammunition allows Putin to continue this strategy, he said. Seeking military aid from North Korea would mark a reversal for the two states. The Soviet Union was the biggest backer for Pyongyang after it was formed 75 years ago and supplied it with weapons that were essential in its invasion of South Korea at the start of the 1950-1953 Korean War. Munitions from North Korea could buy time for Russia, giving its domestic industry a chance to catch up with demand. Adding North Korea to the list of arms suppliers in the war would aid in gap filling munitions and other weapons systems that Russias own arms producers are having a hard time filling, said David Schmerler, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. He added the move to turn to North Korea for military aid might be indicative of struggles to maintain production at home. Wish list Some North Korean items likely on Putins wish list would be 122 mm and 152 mm artillery rounds as well as 122 mm rockets. Heavily sanctioned North Korea doesnt have access to technology that would allow it to mass produce any sort of precision guided weapons. It does have stocks of anti-tank missiles and surface-to-air missiles, but its arms may not be much of a match to some of the newest weapons the U.S. and its NATO partners have been sending to Ukraine. North Korea is also one of the few countries with ample stocks of Soviet-era tanks of the sort Moscow has deployed in Ukraine, such as the T-54 and T-62, and it could supply spare parts, according to weapons expert Joost Oliemans, who co-authored the book The Armed Forces of North Korea. Some North Korean weapons may have already been seen on the battlefield. Ukrainian artillery crews have been firing rockets made in North Korea against Russian positions, the Financial Times reported in July. The weapons made in the 1980s and 1990s were seized from a ship by a friendly country, it cited Ukrainian soldiers as saying. Ukraines defense ministry suggested the rockets were taken from Russian forces. The New York Times reported Kim may be seeking technology from Russia that would help him build a nuclear-powered submarine and deploy spy satellites. North Korea may also be trying to procure sensitive data on arms by hacking its Russian partner, according to a report this month from Microsofts Threat Intelligence unit. The report said hacking groups, such as one named Ruby Sleet (CERIUM), breached an aerospace research institute in Russia in March. A separate report last month by Sentinel Labs said North Korean hackers tried to get information from a leading Russian manufacturer of missiles and military spacecraft. While both countries oppose the current rules-based international order, their immediate security concerns are quite different, according to Naoko Aoki, an associate political scientist at the Rand Corp. in Washington. For Russia, the biggest focus right now is of course the war in Ukraine, she said. North Korea is focused on what it views as the need to deter regime-changing actions by the United States, while also maintaining the more ambitious goal of unifying the Korean Peninsula on its own terms. 2023 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Seoul police arrested an unidentified U.S. soldier on suspicion of driving a Hyundai Staria, like this one, on Sept. 10, 2023. (Wikimedia Commons) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea Police in Seoul arrested an American soldier on suspicion of driving drunk in a stolen minivan in the city early Sunday. The minivans owner reported his Hyundai Staria had disappeared around 4:10 a.m. from its streetside parking spot in the Jongno district, a detective from the districts police station told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. South Korean officials regularly speak to the media on the customary condition of anonymity. Seoul police pulled the vehicle over less than a half-mile from its parking spot, the detective said. The driver, a U.S. soldier in his 30s under the influence of alcohol, told police he found the keys to the minivan and accidentally took the car, the detective said. No injuries or damage were reported. A police breath test measured the soldiers blood alcohol level at 0.08%, higher by 0.05% than the legal limit for drivers in South Korea, the detective said. By comparison, all 50 U.S. states have set 0.08% as the legal limit for driving under the influence or while impaired. The detective declined to identify the soldier or the base where hes stationed, citing South Korean privacy laws covering people suspected of a crime. The soldier was handed over to U.S. Forces Korea military police, the detective said. U.S. Forces Korea, the command responsible for approximately 28,500 troops in the country, maintains custody of its personnel in criminal matters unless they are accused of serious crimes. Police are still investigating the incident and plan to request an interview; no charges against the soldier were filed as of Monday, according to the detective. Two married couples, Team Spinstra, from left, Air Force Staff Sgt. Mark Williams, Senior Master Sgt. Manuel Campos, Marina Williams and Christine Campos, took part in a 9/11 stair climb at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Sept. 11, 2023. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan A vacant nine-story residential tower provided the setting Monday for a memorial stair climb at this airlift hub in western Tokyo, an event thats become synonymous with 9/11 commemorations in the U.S. and beyond. About 100 people gathered at Yokota for the event, part of a widespread tradition 22 years after the terrorist attacks that brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and killed hundreds more at the Pentagon and in a downed airliner in Pennsylvania. In New York alone, 2,753 people died when terrorists linked to al-Qaida flew two hijacked airliners into the towers. Among the dead were 60 New York police officers and 343 firefighters and paramedics, whose deeds that day climbing the towers stairwells to find survivors are remembered in the stair climbs. It is good to be out to commemorate the tragedy and keep the memory alive, Staff Sgt. Douglas Martin, an event organizer, said Monday at Yokota. Air Force 2nd. Lt. Shyo Yamamoto of San Francisco struggled to finish the event last year, he said Monday while waiting for the event to begin. This year, he was part of the team from the 374th Civil Engineering Squadron, one of 15 teams and 14 individuals participating. I think well have a pretty decent time, Im not sure about winning or not, Yamamoto said. In the Yokota event, individuals make 12.2 laps up and down the residential tower, with each team member taking three laps of six floors. The distance covered by each individual or team equals the 110 floors of the original towers that stood in Manhattan. More than 70 people took part in a stair climb Sept. 11, 2023, at Yokota Air Base, Japan, to remember more than 340 first responders who died in New York City on 9/11 helping others escape the twin towers. (Juan King/Stars and Stripes) Along with more somber ceremonies, hundreds of memorial stair climbs are held close to the 9/11 anniversary across the United States. Many are sponsored by fire departments. Some are simple memorial feats of endurance, some are fundraisers. Japanese fire departments in nearby Fussa and Akishima sent teams to the event at Yokota; the Akishima firefighters won the team event, according to Martin. To make the memorial climbs, firefighters often donned their full firefighting gear, a reminder of the conditions the doomed New York responders faced. However, the International Fallen Firefighters Foundation, whose website lists 38 stair climbs this year, advises firefighters to wear their gear only when it is necessary for protection over concerns that its manufactured with PFAS, a toxic chemical used as a protective coating. The Yokota participants wore fitness clothing and breathing apparatus, a vestige of firefighting gear. From the first floor, each runner picked up dog tags with the names of first responders who died during the attack, carried them to the succeeding floors and dropped them inside firefighter helmets, said Ulises Meija, a base firefighter. At Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, participants in its stair climb Friday each carried a photo of a fallen New York firefighter, according to the bases official Facebook page. At Yokota, Tetsuya Hayashi, a civilian employee of the civil engineering squadron, won the mens individual competition; Tech. Sgt. Alexandrea Vidato was the top female finisher, Martin said.. Competitor Zach Webster, a member of the civil engineering squadron, said he looked forward to the event with some trepidation. He trained on the stairs of a vacant tower a week before the event. With a chuckle before the start, Webster said he anticipated a lot of pain, exhaustion, maybe nausea. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Kazakhstan plans to build a terminal in Baku port, said Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel at a roundtable discussion on "Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations: regional cooperation", Trend reports. "The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) is capable of loading Kazakh exports under appropriate conditions. Kazakhstan is ready to build its own terminal in the port of Baku. Now we are negotiating on this issue," he emphasized. According to him, the transport and logistics sector will become the "backbone" of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. "The current geopolitical situation is very complicated, but it has provided us with unique opportunities. Both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have a politically sound and correct view of things. We need to act promptly, quickly," the ambassador added. Currently, the TITR, which links China and Central Asian countries with Europe via the Caspian sea, the countries of the South Caucasus and Turkiye, has become one of the key points of growth and is attracting more and more attention from other countries. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called this route "the main link" that contributes to a fuller realization of Kazakhstan's transit and export opportunities. Russian President Vladimir Putin, center right, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday, April 25, 2019. U.S. officials expect Kim to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions as Moscow seeks to replenish its military machine by tapping Pyongyangs huge arsenal. (Yuri Kadobnov/pool photo via AP) SEOUL North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in Vladivostok this week, their first summit since 2019, amid warming relations between the two countries. The encounter is expected to take place on the sidelines of the annual Eastern Economic Forum, which continues through Wednesday in the Russian port city. Putins summit with Kim is likely to take place that day, according to South Korean analysts. This will be Kims first known international trip since imposing a strict pandemic border closure in early 2020. The two leaders are expected to discuss weapons, laborers and food transfers as both countries mutual interests align in their efforts to reduce U.S. influence in the region. Heres what to know. Why are they meeting now? The summit comes after months of U.S. intelligence assessments that North Korea is selling weapons to Russia to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Kim and Putin are expected to discuss possible weapons deals to bolster Russias fighting forces, according to senior U.S. officials. White House officials have urged Kim not to go ahead with the trip or sell more weapons to Moscow. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has said Russia and North Korea are negotiating a possible agreement to deepen cooperation under which Russia would receive significant quantities and multiple types of munitions from North Korea for use in Ukraine. Kim is the leader of one of the most isolated countries in the world and rarely travels internationally. Still, such a trip would have been highly unlikely only a few months ago, before North Korea began gradually easing its strict pandemic border lockdown. Now, worsening economic conditions have pushed the Kim regime to seek external relief and to partially resume trade. Russia, meanwhile, has helped enable North Koreas nuclear and weapons advancements since the 2019 collapse of U.S.-North Korea diplomatic talks. The upcoming summit underscores how the two isolated leaders see their interests overlapping, especially their respective standoffs with the United States. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, Kim has been openly supportive of Moscow. North Korea is one of five countries that declined to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine, and it has expressed support for Russias illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine. It has taken this position largely for security reasons, said Atsuhito Isozaki, a professor of North Korean studies at Keio University in Japan. There have been differences in opinion over the development of nuclear weapons with its ally China, so it became increasingly dangerous to rely entirely on their relationship with China, Isozaki said. Russia will serve as a counterbalance to China, he said. The evolving security relationship was evident in July, when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang. Shoigu, who is overseeing the invasion of Ukraine, became the first Russian defense minister to visit North Korea since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Kim guided Shoigu through a defense exhibition featuring ballistic missiles that are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions originally adopted with support from Russia. What does Putin want? The Kremlin wants more ammunition from North Koreas stockpiles, as Russias reserves run low, unable to keep pace with the volume being expended in its war against Ukraine. Russia most of all needs munitions, said Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected political analyst. No one expected there would be such a huge expenditure of shells. And the war in Ukraine has shown that we need high-tech weapons far less than a large amount of very cheap weaponry. Very serious negotiations are going on, and if Kim arrives, then this will mean they have already agreed, he said. Russias defense industry has increased artillery production this year and is on track to produce 2.5 million shells, an increase from 1.7 million the year before. But it is also set to fire 7 million rounds of artillery ammunition this year, said Jack Watling, senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. There is a significant delta between demand versus supply, he said, noting that Russia is also turning to other producers of cheap and compatible ammunition, such as Iran. For Russia, he said, it is important to gain access not just to North Koreas considerable stockpiles of ammunition but also its production capacity. The Russians are already getting assistance [from North Korea]. But the question is whether this is limited amounts or a reliable, consistent supply that would give Moscow more assurance and planning, Watling said. North Korea has long held a stockpile of munitions that are compatible with Russias weapons. Fighting in the Korean War, between 1950 and 1953, ended with a cease-fire, and both Koreas have maintained a huge arsenal of artillery and other conventional weapons in case of war. Of particular interest to Russia are artillery platforms such as the 152mm system and rocket launchers such as the 122mm and perhaps the 107mm systems, said Bruce Bechtol, an expert in North Korean military and counter-proliferation issues at Angelo State University in Texas. There are also other small arms and even tanks and armored personnel carriers that are patterned on Soviet designs, Bechtol wrote in 19FortyFive, a national security analysis website. The systems and ammo the North Koreans have supplied are all old, 1960s-era Soviet weaponry, Bechtol wrote. But the Russian army is a blunt instrument, not a force using precision weapons for the most part. That means these systems are very useful for Russian forces slogging it out on battlefields, particularly in Eastern Ukraine. And what does Kim want? Kim is likely to seek economic aid and technical assistance to expand his weapons arsenal, experts say. North Koreas pandemic isolation has deepened its economic hardship and food insecurity. North Korea imported thousands of tons of wheat flour from Russia this year, and more could reach the North after the summit. Russia could help North Korea alleviate food shortages by sending more wheat flour and other food items like powdered milk, said Kang Dong-wan, a North Korea expert at Dong-A University in Busan, South Korea. Kim will also want to talk about sending more North Korean workers to Russia, where they earn much-needed foreign currency for the regime. Almost all of them work in manual jobs like construction or forestry. According to the Kremlin-connected analyst Markov, this is a key area of mutual interest for Russia since its economy is suffering a huge shortage of workers thanks to ramped-up defense production and hundreds of thousands of Russians on the front lines in Ukraine or who fled to escape the war. A study by the Gaidar Institute in Moscow found that 42 percent of enterprises surveyed complained of a lack of workers in July. Russia is practically in economic turmoil right now because there are not enough workers. We need workers, but if North Korea is ready to send soldiers, too, this is even better, Markov said. Thousands of North Koreans are still thought to be in Russia in violation of U.N. sanctions that required all of the Norths workers abroad to return home by the end of 2019. The Kim regime wants to raise the number of North Korean workers in Russia from thousands to [the] pre-sanctions level of tens of thousands, Kang said. Russia has long used North Korean workers as a cheap and reliable source of labor. Russian officials have publicly endorsed a possible dispatch of North Korean workers to Moscow-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Kim also could seek technological support from Russia to help develop new weapons systems, according to South Korean lawmaker Yoo Sang-bum, citing a briefing by the Souths National Intelligence Service last month. North Korea has developed missiles in the past that bear strong resemblance to Russias. The Norths recent test of its new intercontinental ballistic missile raised questions about possible Russian technological support. North Koreas Hwasong-18 and Russias Topol-M have nearly identical physical dimensions and flight trajectory data, suggesting a technical cooperation sourced to Russia, according to a report published last month by the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank based in Washington. This potential transfer of the Topol-M missile or its technology would take cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang against the U.S. and Indo-Pacific allies to a new and more dangerous level, according to the report. Markov said Russia could consider lifting sanctions against North Korea. But Watling said such a move would be unlikely, as Moscow must guard certain know-how for itself. The Russians want to keep sanctions so they have an excuse for not providing certain technology, he said, especially in the area of satellites, in which North Korea is seeking further assistance. Julia Mio Inuma in Tokyo contributed to this report. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian officials have begun discussions with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia about what concessions they might get from any normalization of ties between the kingdom and Israel. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg) Palestinian officials have begun discussions with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia about what concessions they might get from any normalization of ties between the kingdom and Israel. Its a changed tack from the Palestinian leadership, which spurned involvement in talks three years ago that saw Israel establish formal relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Aides to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have laid out a series of requests in meetings with U.S. and Saudi officials, according to several people with knowledge of the talks. These include a freeze on Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the reopening of the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington, full membership in the United Nations and Saudi financial support, according to the people. The talks are happening as the U.S. and Israeli governments push for what would be a historic deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, potentially reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics. Washington is in negotiations with the Saudis that may eventually see them recognize Israel in exchange for U.S. security commitments and American help with the construction of nuclear power plants. Riyadh has also sought concessions to the Palestinians from Israels government. The talks are fraught with complications and a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia is far from certain. The U.S. recently said theres a long way to go. The U.S. State Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg. The National Security Council said it would not negotiate in public, adding, While we have engaged constructively to see whats possible, theres a long way to travel on this set of issues. On Monday, Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said the Palestinians had been very proactive. They are talking to the Americans, to us, to the Saudis, he said at a conference in Israel on security. Israel is very much in favor of there being a significant Palestinian component within the clear boundaries that the prime minister set, he added, without explaining further. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will do nothing that may harm its security, and many members of his far-right coalition are against any concessions to the Palestinians. U.S. officials have urged the Palestinians to be realistic, according to several of the people with knowledge of the talks. At the same time, the administration of President Joe Biden hopes a Saudi deal will yield real benefits for the Palestinians, they said. The internal analysis of the Palestinians is that the likelihood of this happening is not high, said Ghassan Khatib, a political scientist and former Palestinian government minister. They dont want to lower their demands for nothing. The best might be to stand aside, avoid criticizing it, but not be part of it. The Palestinians requests are preliminary and informal, and many of their officials remain skeptical, several of the people said. Their public stance is that they will accept nothing less than a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, in keeping with the two-decade-old Arab Peace Initiative. Still, as one Palestinian official put it after this weekends Group of 20 summit, where plans were announced for a rail-and-maritime corridor from India to Europe via Saudi Arabia and Israel, everyone must find a place in the new world order. The Palestinians are no exception, the official said. Saudi Arabia is different from the Arab states that Israel signed accords with in 2020. Its the Middle Easts biggest economy and Netanyahu has consistently talked of how normalization with the kingdom would bolster his countrys security, including by discouraging Iranian aggression against Israel. The Saudis are also the originators of the Arab Peace Initiative from 2002, and theyve shown sympathy for the Palestinian national cause for years. One Palestinian request thats been met is the assigning of a Saudi diplomat. Last month, the Saudi ambassador to Jordan, Nayef al-Sudairi, expanded his portfolio to include the Palestinians. Hes been meeting regularly with Palestinian officials and business leaders. The biggest Palestinian need is a substantial Saudi injection of funds. The Saudis began cutting their aid to the Palestinian Authority in 2016 over allegations of incompetence and corruption and stopped entirely in 2021. The Palestinian Authority and the U.N. agency running Palestinian refugee camps are running out of cash. There have been strikes by teachers, court employees and doctors, including over unpaid salaries. The Saudis have expressed willingness to restore substantial aid. Many other requests such as moving beyond observer status at the U.N. to full membership have been played down by U.S. officials, according to the people with knowledge of their talks with the Palestinians. One complicated factor is that the U.S. Congress bars American funding for any U.N. agency that grants the PLO the standing of a member state. Its also far from clear whether Israel would consider curbs on settlements or any land transfers, which is another Palestinian request. Netanyahu has, moreover, said Israeli-Saudi relations will deepen even if the two dont recognize each other formally. He told Bloomberg last month that the Palestinian issue was a mere check box. You have to check it to say youre doing it, he said. Is that whats being said in corridors? Is that whats being said in discreet negotiations? The answer is a lot less than you think. Marissa Newman contributed to this report. American Airlines ramp workers wear hats to protect themselves from the sun while loading bags onto an aircraft on the tarmac at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport during a record heat wave in Phoenix on July 18, 2023. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP) Record-breaking heat and troubling airline delays are combining to create nightmares for some travelers who have been stuck in airplanes for hours this summer waiting to take off, leaving them feeling helpless and angry as temperatures spike and patience wears thin. Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Newark to Rome faced a seven-hour wait on the airport apron on July 2, prompting Christine Ieronimo, the woman in a viral TikTok video, to share harsh words with a United Airlines gate agent after she and others were let off the plane after midnight. Airlines are facing increased scrutiny from aviation regulators and travelers on social media for leaving passengers on planes on takeoff and landing for hours, adding to the stresses of a hectic summer for travel where prices have spiked and demand has hit record levels. In the video shared on the social media platform, Ieronimo claims she and other passengers, including babies, seniors and pregnant women, were, treated like animals, and not given water or snacks during the delay, even in uncomfortable heat. Scott Rosnov, another passenger, told Business Insider that the flight was delayed due to an air conditioning malfunction and that the flight crew was uncommunicative. The incident, known as a tarmac delay, triggered a media frenzy, eventually prompting United to release a statement, saying, On July 3, United flight 40 returned to the gate at Newark Liberty to address a temperature issue. Once there, we offered customers the opportunity to deplane and later provided snacks and beverages. Ieronimos son, who was traveling with her, posted a response video on August 21 that gained over 20 million views on TikTok, 10-fold the reach of the original video. In it, he says Uniteds statement was false, and that United was unhelpful in rebooking their trip and compensating them for their experience. It was a nightmare scenario for any traveler, and its not limited to United. In May, an American Airlines flight bound for Phoenix was stranded at DFW Airport for just over three hours. It was one of three flights with tarmac delays surpassing three hours that month according to the Department of Transportations May 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report, released Thursday. In July, a Delta Flight intended for Las Vegas sat on the tarmac in Las Vegas for just under three hours while outside temperatures reached 111 degrees. The plane only returned to the gate once passengers began to faint. So, can airlines do that? Strand passengers on a tarmac for hours with no food or water and limited communication while the temperature rises? No, they cant. The DOT launched investigations into both the United flight and the American flight, as is standard for any tarmac delay more than three hours, as well as the Delta flight. If wrongdoing is found on the part of the airline, it can be fined. On Aug. 28, the DOT fined American a record $4.1 million for tarmac delay violations after an investigation found that between 2018 and 2021 43 domestic flights sat on the tarmac for extended periods of time without allowing passengers off. Most of those delays occurred at DFW. Americans total revenue in 2022 was nearly $50 billion, according to its most recent annual report. United was fined $1.9 million in 2021 for a series of then-recent delays and British Airways was fined $135,000 for one tarmac delay in 2017. What youre entitled to and what you can do In accordance with federal law, the DOT has rules around what airlines must do in the event of lengthy tarmac delays. According to the regulation, all airlines must create an emergency contingency plan that includes the provision of the following: The opportunity to deplane before the tarmac delay exceeds three hours for domestic flights and four for international flights. Adequate food and potable water no more than two hours after the delay starts. Functioning lavatories, comfortable cabin temperatures and adequate medical attention if needed. An update to passengers of the delay once it exceeds 30 minutes, and subsequent updates thereafter at the discretion of the crew. Timely notice to passengers each time the opportunity to deplane exists. What counts as a comfortable cabin temperature, the variable that can turn a tarmac delay from an uncomfortable inconvenience to a medical emergency, may be hotter than you think. Because of how airplanes air conditioning systems are designed, according to The Points Guy, it is hard to maintain what we would think of as room temperature, around 75 degrees, for extended periods of time on the ground, especially with more than 50 days over 100 degrees this summer in North Texas. The DOT doesnt provide an exact temperature range that airlines must maintain, even though the DOT inspector general recommended guidelines be put in place 2014. Internal documents reviewed by POLITICO showed that American will tolerate cabin temperatures up to 90 degrees while JetBlue will tolerate 85 degrees. Almost all airlines have similar contingency plans that meet the DOTs standards, according to Brett Snyder, airline expert and founder of the blog Cranky Flier. That means that your experience in a tarmac delay shouldnt vary much from airline to airline. If you find yourself stuck in a tarmac delay, you can demand what the law says you are entitled to, and if your needs are not met, you can file a complaint with the DOT, he says. Its also never a bad idea to bring your own snacks and fill up a water bottle at the airport, just in case. What you can do after the flight to get rebooked or compensated is lightly regulated and varies greatly by airline. Reaching out to customer service may help you get more compensation. The DOT also has a dashboard all the major airlines and what they are committed to doing in the event of controllable delays and cancellations. Rest assured though, that tarmac delays do not appear to be getting more frequent, especially given the 45,000 flights that happen every day in the U.S., according to the FAA and consumer report data. WASHINGTON First lady Jill Biden and the top two leaders at the Pentagon took time Monday to pause and honor the nearly 200 people who were killed 22 years ago at the building in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and promised always to remember them as that day moves further into the past. As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on, or even forgetting what happened here, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday morning during a ceremony at the Pentagons 9/11 memorial. But please know this: The men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember. The ceremony was one of three at the Pentagon in recent days. On Friday, a 9/11 ceremony was held specifically for department employees in the buildings center courtyard. Another took place Monday afternoon and included a wreath-laying ceremony with Biden. Twenty-two years ago, the horror of 9/11 changed us all, she said. We must always remember those lost that day and in the aftermath. We will keep their families always in our hearts. We stand with them today and every day. The attack at the Pentagon killed 184 people 59 people on American Airlines Flight 77 and 125 people on the ground. Pentagon officials unfurled an American flag over the side of the Pentagon on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, at sunrise at an observance ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial to honor the 184 lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attack on the Pentagon. (Cesar J. Navarro/U.S. Air Force) September 11th reminds us that the American spirit still shines in times of testing. After the attacks, amid the horror and the grief, many Americans felt a deeper sense of duty to their communities and to their country, Austin said. September 11th made America a nation at war, and hundreds of thousands stepped up to serve our country in uniform. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have come to a close, but we remain relentlessly focused on combating terrorist threats to America. The Pentagons 9/11 memorial, opened in 2008, features 184 cantilevered benches one for each person who died on the southwestern side of the building near the spot where the hijacked airliner hit. Each bench is made of stainless steel and inlaid with smooth granite, and each one contains a pool of water that reflects light in the evenings. The benches for those killed on the ground are arranged so their names and the Pentagon are aligned. For those who died aboard Flight 77, their names are aligned with the direction that the plane was traveling when it crashed. Army Gen. Mark Milley, who will retire later this month as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Americans showed unequivocally that they will not be defeated by terrorism. Those terrorists hated America, he said. They hated our Constitution and the values that bind us together as a nation. Those terrorists wanted to destroy our country, but on that day and every day since, the United States has demonstrated that we would never bow to fear and hatred, Milley said. Almost 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks mostly at the World Trade Center in New York, where the towers were struck by planes that had been hijacked in Boston. The plane that hit the Pentagon was hijacked after leaving Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, and the final hijacked flight, United Airlines Flight 93 out of New Jersey, crashed near Pittsburgh after a passenger revolt prevented the terrorists from reaching their target, which was believed to be the U.S. Capitol. Also in attendance Monday at the ceremony were Tu and An Nguyen, the wife and son of a Navy systems administrator who died in the attack at the Pentagon. An, who was just 4 at the time, is now 26. Twenty-two years later, Tu and An are incredibly close, and their tie has only grown stronger from the loss that theyve endured, Austin said. I want to thank them, and all of the families of the fallen. In so many ways, you turned grief into grit and sorrow into strength, he added. So, it is our duty to carry out the missions that your loved ones chose. It is our duty to live up to the goodness that they embodied. And it is our duty to defend the democracy that they loved so much. President Joe Biden made public remarks on the anniversary of 9/11 from Anchorage, Alaska, while on his way back to Washington from a G20 summit in India and a trip to Vietnam. I join you on this solemn day to renew our sacred vow: Never forget we never forget, Biden said at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Each of those precious lives [were] stolen too soon when evil attacked. I remember standing there [at Ground Zero in New York] the next day I felt like I was looking through the gates of hell, said Biden, who was the senior senator from Delaware at the time of the attacks. Its more important than ever that we come together around the principle of American democracy, regardless of our political backgrounds. Also commemorating the 22nd anniversary of the attacks, the Smithsonian Institution has placed a fire truck the first to respond at the Pentagon on display at the National Air and Space Museums Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. The crash truck, known as Foam 331, later was stationed at Dulles International Airport until its retirement in 2016. After being used by a Canadian company for a few years, it was returned to its manufacturer and restored to its 2001 appearance. We are really honored to be able to present the vehicle, Roger Connor, the Smithsonians curator of aeronautics, said. The ability to tell a more comprehensive 9/11 story is essential for acknowledging and commemorating one of the most traumatic moments in our nations history. The museum said it will hold a formal dedication for the truck in 2026 at about the time of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. Foreign Office has asked interim Afghan authorities to ensure that their territory is not used as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan. In response to media queries regarding the statement by the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the closure of Torkham border, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said we expect the Afghan authorities to be mindful of Pakistan's concerns and respect its territorial integrity. Expressing surprise over the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement, she said Interim Afghan authorities know fully well the reasons for the temporary closure of Torkham border. The spokesperson said Pakistan cannot accept the construction of any structures by Interim Afghan government inside its territory since these violate its sovereignty. She pointed out that on the 6th of September, instead of a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistan military posts, damaging the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and putting the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk, when they were stopped from erecting such unlawful structures. She said such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances. The unprovoked firing by Afghan border security forces invariably emboldens the terrorist elements. These elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan as confirmed by the UN Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report. The spokesperson said Pakistan has welcomed Afghan brothers and sisters with open arms for decades. She said Pakistan has continued to exercise restraint and prioritize dialogue in the face of persistent unwarranted provocations by Afghan troops deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. Temporary closures take place only in extreme cases such as the 6th September 2023 incident on the border or when Afghan soil is used to launch terror attacks inside Pakistan. The Spokesperson said the statement of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also includes some irrelevant comments and unsolicited advice about Pakistan's economy and foreign trade. For the last several decades, Pakistan has facilitated Afghan transit trade and will continue to do so. However, she said Pakistan cannot allow the misuse of the transit trade agreement. She said Pakistan stands ready to resolve all bilateral issues and concerns through constructive dialogue so that both countries can reap the dividends of economic connectivity and resultant prosperity. Id throw him 300 quid every week. I used to give it to Traynor to give to him and then I put it up to five hundred a week and he really appreciated that. Bragging thug John Gilligan boasted he doled out weekly handouts to infamous criminal Martin The General Cahill and scoffed at his crimes. He claims in the latest episode of Confessions of a Crime Boss that Cahill robbed things he couldnt sell and only made up to 28,000 from the 2.2 million OConnors jewellery robbery. Deluded Gilligan, whose self-serving interviews have been blasted this week by the family of murdered journalist Veronica Guerin, continues to talk up his criminal past. Bizarrely he claims he first came to hear of the journalist when Paul The Tosser Meehan was sent by Cahill and Gerry The Monk Hutch asking him to an interview with her. He said they wanted him to tell the murdered journalist about garda dirty tricks. Talking about his relationship to with Cahill in interview with Jason OToole he said he used to throw him a few quid. Id throw him 300 quid every week. I used to give it to Traynor to give to him and then I put it up to five hundred a week and he really appreciated that. He said youd always help a good criminal out because if his luck was down hed do the same. John Gilligan in 'Confessions of a Crime Boss'. Photo: Virgin Media He then went onto say that Cahill made very little money from his headline-making crimes which included the 1993 National Irish Bank heist and the 1986 Beit art robbery. He robbed things he couldnt sell. He robbed things that there were too many shares on. Talking about the OConnors jewellery depot robbery he said: I heard people only got 24 to 26 grand for their share out of that. Its not a lot of money. He insisted Cahill, who was shot dead in 1994, had no money and scoffed at the idea The General had lent him the seed capital to set up his drugs business. He said Cahills family like others had to struggle but that he wasnt talking bad about the guy and respected him. During the interview he also said I hate Meehan but denied that Meehan, the only person convicted of Veronica Guerins murder, had anything to do with the killing. Gilligan was tried with the murder and acquitted at the Special Criminal but found guilty of drugs importation and sentenced to 28 years which was reduced on appeal to 20. In the documentary Gilligan doesnt explain why he now hates Meehan who had been a key member of his drugs gang. The pair spectacularly fell out while doing their time in Portlaoise Prison in 2008. At the time, Gilligan looking forward to finishing his prison sentence, gave an interview to the same journalist Jason OToole which was published in Hot Press magazine. Shortly afterwards, as previously reported in the Sunday World, sources said Gilligan was punched in a brutal assault by a future Kinahan Cartel thug Trevor Byrne at the behest of Meehan. Gilligan subsequently lost his status as the top dog on the gangland E1 corridor in the high-security prison as Meehan broke his self-imposed vow of silence and went back onto the landing from The Basement where he had been detained. Until his release in October 2013, Gilligan lost his prison swagger and rarely ventured from his cell according to sources at the time, and was even suspected of deliberately allowing himself to be caught with contraband to get sent to solitary confinement. In Monday nights documentary episode, Gilligan continues to peddle lies about Veronica Guerin who was shot dead in 1996. He suggested that an incident before her murder in which the campaigning journalist was shot in leg was staged to sensationalise her career and she had shot herself. He also claimed she lied about him assaulting her at Jessbrook in a bid to further boost her career even though he had been charged with attack and was facing trial for it when she was murdered. Gilligan admits that the subsequent killing of Ms Guerin was the beginning of the end for me. The former gang boss, who avoided prison in Spain this week on drugs charges, has been roundly condemned for his self-serving take on events. In a letter to the politicians last Thursday, Jimmy Guerin asked they "publicly support" calls from the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton for Virgin Media to reconsider its decision to broadcast the programmes. He said they have been "most upsetting" to the Guerin family and have caused "unnecessary pain". Mr Guerin describes Gilligan as an "amoral individual" who has been given a platform to "peddle his lies and tarnish Veronica's reputation and legacy". The man, aged in his 40s, was arrested on Sunday after the drugs were discovered at a home in the north inner city. A man (40s) and woman (30s) have been arrested as part of this investigation. Photo: An Garda Siochana A man has been charged following the seizure of 500,000 worth of cannabis in Dublin on Sunday. The man, aged in his 40s, was arrested on Sunday after the drugs were discovered at a home in the north inner city. Gardai attached to the Dublin Crime Response Team along with local gardai carried out the raid and arrested the man alongside a woman, aged in her 30s. Both were detained at garda stations in the north Dublin area. The suspect is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice this morning at 10.30am. The woman who was also arrested in relation to the investigation has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The drugs will undergo further analysis by Forensic Science Ireland. The Digital Silk Way project, which envisages the formation of a digital telecommunication corridor linking Europe to Central and South Asia, was presented at GCCM 2023 event in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 5th and 6th of September. The event brings together companies from more than 40 countries to explore innovative solutions, share ideas and establish business relationships in various telecom segments. During the GCCM event, AzerTelecom presented the Digital Silk Way project, which aims to create the modern telecommunications infrastructure between continents. Passing the territories of Georgia, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and other countries, Digital Silk Way will expand the horizons of digital communication and provide connectivity services even in the most remote areas. Sergey Nazarenko, Chief Operating Officer of AzerTelecom along with other company representatives, held meetings with various telecommunications companies international operators from Asian and European countries. The strategic importance of Azerbaijan in building a strong digital infrastructure to improve regional connectivity, implementation of the Digital Silk Way project were the main subjects of productive discussions. The project's objectives and advantages captured the attention of event attendees. As one of the major components of the Digital Silk Way project the Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic cable line project, implemented through a strategic collaboration between AzerTelecom and Kazakhtelecom was also presented to peer telecom operators. It was mentioned that Trans-Caspian Fiber Optic cable line, spanning 380 km, will provide data transmission with capacity up to 400 terabits/s. Along with connecting the various segments of the Digital Silk Way route, this multi-terabit capacity fiber-optic backbone network will also contribute to the growth of the telecommunications industry in the region and further development of international economic relations. AzerTelecom is a leading wholesale telecommunications operator in Azerbaijan and is part of NEQSOL Holding, an international group of companies operating in various countries across the energy, telecommunications, hi-tech, and construction industries. Treanor (34) had denied carrying out the raid at Lordship credit union on January 25, 2013 A man has been found not guilty of carrying out the armed robbery ten years ago during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. The Special Criminal Court today ruled that, while there was evidence consistent with "some involvement" by Brendan Treanor, it did not place him at the scene or support the idea that he made an "overt contribution" to the raid. He was also found not guilty of conspiracy to commit burglary. The three judges are continuing to give their verdict this afternoon in relation to the robbery charge against James Flynn (32). He was earlier convicted of conspiring to commit burglary relating to the theft of the getaway car used in the credit union raid. Read more Man convicted of stealing car allegedly used in robbery during which garda was shot dead Treanor (34), of Emer Terrace in Dundalk, Co Louth had denied carrying out the raid at Lordship credit union on January 25, 2013. Detective Garda Donohoe (41) was on an armed cash escort when their convoy was ambushed by a four-man gang, who fled the scene in a Volkswagen Passat driven by a fifth person. In 2020 a jury convicted Aaron Brady of capital murder after finding that he was the masked gunman who fired the fatal shot, and he is currently serving the mandatory minimum 40-year sentence for capital murder. The case against Treanor relied on CCTV evidence, a series of phone calls he made to other suspects including Aaron Brady (32) before the robbery, and his own voluntary statement. The investigation was the largest murder inquiry in the history of the state generating over 6,000 lines of inquiry, 3,300 statements and 3,300 reports, while spanning lines of inquiry in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and America. Giving its judgement the three judges said that evidence given by his then girlfriend Charlene O'Callaghan stated that he was likely at home from 9.45pm that night and that he would have had time to make his way from the credit union to his house. However, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said it was "difficult to see" how he had time to clean up, change his clothes and dispose of the clothes allegedly worn in the commission of a crime during which a firearm was discharged. The court also found that phone contacts between Brendan Treanor and Aaron Brady before and after the murder "reek of suspicion". While the court said this was consistent with "some involvement by Brendan Treanor in this matter", it did not put him at the scene or resolve the narrow window of time to put him there. The court said it was more "consistent with anxious inquiries" made by Treanor in his home about how matters were progressing in his absence. Mr Justice Tony Hunt also said that a scoping exercise on the afternoon of the robbery, involving Flynn, Treanor and Brady driving by the credit union, was "evidence of joint criminal activity by all concerned". However, the court said that this doesn't advance the case that Brendan Treanor was present some hours later for the robbery, nor that it supports the idea that he made an "overt contribution" to the crime by joint enterprise. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, also said in his closing speech that a tattoo Brendan Treanor had drawn on his back in 2018 was "an act of hubris" and glorified his position within the credit union raid. A picture of the tattoo was shown to the court which the prosecution alleged showed four gangsters, one of whom is holding a long-barrel firearm, as well as a woman in a balaclava with a firearm, a BMW car, and cash. However, counsel for Treanor said in his closing remarks that there was no evidence his client was at a credit union during a fatal armed raid. Mr Justice Hunt said that this was the "most striking and colourful" part of the prosecution evidence against Treanor, and disagreed with the defence that it was irrelevant. He said it signifies his approval of these crimes and is a "despicable declaration by him to that affect", but did not imply he was one of the four gangsters in the tattoo or in the car park. The court said it was satisfied that he was closely associated with the criminal gang involved, but could only consider the indictment in the case and found him not guilty. Flynn, of Ravensglen in Newry, Co Down, was earlier convicted of conspiring to commit burglary by stealing the car keys of the Volkswagen Passat used in the credit union robbery. The non-jury court found beyond reasonable doubt that James Flynn's car was the BMW seen on CCTV driving close to where the Volkswagen Passat was stolen in Clogherhead in the early hours of January 23. Catherine Lambert (48) clocked up her latest criminal conviction for taking the purse while the victim was distracted A serial thief with 505 prior convictions who stole from a womans handbag in a coffee shop has been jailed for four months. Mother-of-one Catherine Lambert (48) clocked up her latest criminal conviction for taking the purse while the victim was distracted in a Dublin city centre Starbucks. Lambert, a chronic drug addict, with an address at a city centre hotel, pleaded guilty to theft on December 10 last year. Dublin District Court heard she went to Starbucks on North Earl Street, sat beside the victim and when the woman was distracted, slid her handbag away from her and removed the purse. Lambert stole the contents worth 370 and was later identified on CCTV footage. She had previous convictions for offences including theft and deception. The latest charge was only brought in March this year and Lambert would have pleaded earlier if she could have, her solicitor Yvonne Bambury said. She was already in custody when she appeared in court, with a release date in November. The accused had been attending drug rehabilitation while in prison, had health issues and was due to go for major surgery soon. Lambert had been in addiction since the age of 14, after her parents separated, Ms Bambury said. She had lived with various people who did not all act in her best interests, she said. Lambert had been struggling ever since and her addiction had escalated. She was now doing her best in prison. Judge Bryan Smyth said the accused had a significant number of previous convictions and noted that the victims property had not been recovered. Joseph McDermid (70) was communicating with five different girls A pervert pensioner today confessed his guilt to a raft of sex offences after he was snared in a so-called paedo hunter sting. As Joseph McDermid stood in the dock of Antrim Crown Court, defence counsel Damien Halleron asked for the 70-year-old to be re-arraigned on 11 of the 14 charges he faced. Dressed in a dark suit, shirt and tie McDermid, from Victoria Court in Whitehead, entered guilty pleas to five counts of attempting to cause or incite the girls to engage in sexual activity and three counts of attempting to sexually communicate with children on dates between 21 April 2021 and 31 January last year. He also admitted single charges of causing a child to watch a sexual act, attempting to possess an indecent image of a child and attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. Joseph McDermid Mr Halleron confirmed that on an earlier occasion, McDermid had already pleaded guilty to two further charges of attempted sexual communication with a child. While the full facts of the case have not been opened, the particulars of the offences reveal that McDermid was communicating with five different girls but previous courts have heard that in actual facts, they were decoys working for a so-called paedophile hunter group. In court today Mr Halleron asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report from the probation board and also a report on McDermids health difficulties. Freeing McDermid on bail, Judge Roseanne McCormick KC said she would deal with the case on 10 November. The 54-year-old, who was known as Tony, was stabbed in his home and it is understood he was in a relationship with Maksymowicz at the time A woman has been ordered to stand trial accused of her partners murder at a hearing on Monday Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates Court by videolink and with her alleged victims daughters watching on, 34-year-old Wiktoria Maksymowicz confirmed she was aware of the four charges against her and that she had no objections to the Preliminary enquiry, the legal step necessary to elevate any criminal case to the Crown Court. Maksymowicz, with an address at Woodside Park in Dunmurry, is in custody accused of the murder of Anthony Browne on 14 October last year and with possessing a knife with intent to commit murder on the same date, with both offences said to be aggravated by domestic abuse. The alleged killer was also charged with two further offences alleged to have been committed the preceding day, including possessing a bladed article on a Glider bus and common assault or Mr Browne. The 54-year-old, who was known as Tony, was stabbed in his home and it is understood he was in a relationship with Maksymowicz at the time. While none of the facts surrounding the death were opened in court today, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a prima facie case against the alleged killer which was conceded by defence counsel Michael Boyd. Maksymowicz, wearing a blue polo shirt and with her hair tied up, declined to exercise her rights to call evidence to the court or comment on the charges. Remanding her back into custody, District Judge Rosie Watters returned the case to the Crown Court for trial, scheduling her arraignment to be heard on 20 October. Alleged tarmac gang members palatial home goes on offer at a bargain-basement starting price The home has high-end fittings and flooring in all the rooms The home has high-end fittings and flooring in all the rooms The home has high-end fittings and flooring in all the rooms Anfield Manor was once the home of alleged gang member Patrick Coffey Anfield Manor was once the home of alleged gang member Patrick Coffey A palatial Killarney home seized by CAB from alleged tarmac gang member Patrick Coffey is to be sold by public auction with a starting price of just 200,000 later this month, The last-ditch attempt to sell the property, called Anfield Manor, comes more than two-and-a-half years after it was first put on the market by agents acting for the Criminal Assets Bureau at a price of 425,000. In what is being viewed as the potential deal of a lifetime for prospective buyers, bids will be accepted both in person at the Kingswood Interchange on the Naas Road, Dublin, and online, when it goes under the hammer at 4pm on September 27. Anfield Manor was first placed on the open market at a price of 425,000 in May 2021 two weeks after the High Court signed off on its transfer to the Bureau. The home boast a dramatic staircase. Seven months later it had failed to sell and CAB was forced to reduce the asking price by a whopping 100,000 in a bid to draw out potential buyers. But, even priced at a knock-down 325,000, the 2,690 square foot property still wasnt being snapped up. At the time, a local source told the Sunday World that the propertys recent history was a major factor in its failure to attract a buyer in a year when property prices nationally had risen by 12.4 per cent. A lot of people would be reluctant to become involved with a property in these circumstances, the source said. Of course, if the price drops enough, that can change. In the normal run of events, in a town like Killarney, that house would have been snapped up as soon as it went on the market. The palatial Co. Kerry home was given to CAB on April 22, 2021, after the High Court heard Liverpool-mad Coffey (36) was a member of an organised crime gang. The property belonged to Patrick Coffey The Bureau claimed in the High Court that the gang targeted vulnerable people in Ireland, Britain and on the continent with work that was considered to be of a poor standard. The propertys seizure marked the final stage of a five-year investigation into the activities of the gang. Dubbed Operation Tarmac, it began after the lavish lifestyle, enjoyed by a small number of local people without any apparent legitimate basis, aroused suspicions. Pictures of Coffey taken from social media showed him enjoying holidays with family and friends in Europe and America. In November 2017, following extensive profiling and investigations, assets including luxury cars, the house, high-end watches and cash were seized by CAB and local gardai in one of the biggest such operations ever to take place in Kerry. The home has high-end fittings and flooring in all the rooms At the time, 130 gardai were involved in raids on several houses. The inquiry focused on what local profilers and gardai suspected were bogus home improvement operations. The bogus home repairs were being conducted nationally but also in Europe with the gang headquartered in Killarney. Its understood CAB investigators believe the gang made more than 3.7 million from their operations. The home has high-end fittings and flooring in all the rooms Authorities in several European countries, including France and Italy, repeatedly warned people to be on the lookout for so-called tarmac scammers. Other items confiscated by CAB arising from the long-running probe included nine high-end cars, including a Mercedes, 12 watches, including Cartier and Rolex, and the contents of four bank and credit union accounts totalling almost 178,000. An outbuilding on the property Cash totalling over 126,000 was also granted to CAB in the order under the Proceeds of Crime Act by the High Court. The value of the haul was estimated to have been in the region of 1.2 million. The sale of Anfield Manor is in the hands of a Dublin-based auction company who describe it as an outstanding four-bedroom detached house in a prime location within the town. The advertisement describes the property as being in pristine condition throughout and having the added benefit of a detached garage. This property provides a wonderful opportunity to acquire a family home on large private, mature grounds while still being within minutes of Killarney, it adds. Louis Edwards was arrested in Spain before he could pay back a 20 million debt to the Kinahan Cartel A British drug baron arrested in Spain before he could pay back a 20 million debt to the Kinahan Cartel has been jailed this week for 18 years in the UK. Guardia Civil officer arrested Louis Edwards last year in Benidorm where he had fled after his multi-million cocaine dealing operation in Portsmouth was targeted by police. His arrest meant a 20 million hole in the Kinahan finances wasnt filled last year as the Cartels finances and money laundering networks were being squeezed by international police agencies. Described as one of the most wanted men in the UK until his arrest last Edwards he had been distributing drugs throughout southern England. Working with the UKs National Crime Agency, Guardia Civil officers nabbed Edwards when they followed a relative who had arrived to visit the area and led them to the hotel where he was arrested. A video of arrest showed him being led barefoot through a Benidorm square by two officers in shorts and a T-shirt. Last Tuesday he was jailed for 18 years and 5 months at Winchester Crown Court on Tuesday 5 September following the five-year police investigation. Drug boss Louis Edwards It the latest blow to the Kinahan Cartels UK operation where their No1 man Thomas Bomber Kavanagh is serving a 21-year sentence and Liam Byrne is facing extradition from Spain to the UK on gun charges. Edwards previously admitted conspiring to supply cocaine in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas and conspiring to transfer criminal property, relating to 3.5million cash. A total of 12 other people who were involved were convicted and got sentences from between three months to five years. Edwards, however, was the head of the organised crime group which is estimated to have sold 60kg of cocaine in Portsmouth. The gang used encrypted EncroChat mobile phones which were cracked by Dutch and French police and Edwards was found to have ordered multiple kilos of Cocaine in April and May 2020. Couriers used vehicles with professionally built hidden compartments to move drugs to customers, according to Hampshire Police. Edwards fled to Spain in October 2020 where he realised his gang had been compromised, but was located hiding out in Benidorm in June 2022 before being extradited to the UK. Before he fled the UK he splashed his ill-gotten gains, on a new car, a four-bedroom house, a holiday to Dubai and spent thousands on designer goods from Harrods in London. During the investigation by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit, police seized around st300,000 in cash, more than 70kg of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding 7million, and 20kg of amphetamine. Daniel Kinahan Judge Angela Morris told Edwards: There is no dispute that you were the person at the head of this OCG and in charge of recruitment, training and direction of operatives. This was a highly sophisticated operation involving the wholesale acquisition of importation grade cocaine which was then distributed to others. I am satisfied that you were involved in the sale of more than 60 kilograms of cocaine and at a rate of more than 1 kilogram of cocaine per week. As the leader of this OCG you were sourcing import grade cocaine from a major national supplier, and given the quantities and purity of the drug, this had to be either the importer of it or someone very close to the importer with whom you were dealing. The truth is that your motivation was purely financial and you enjoyed the fruits of that operation for a lengthy period of time without any regard for the consequences to others. Eastern Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Clare Jenkins, said: This was a significant piece of work by a dedicated team of investigators, whose efforts have ensured that a sophisticated organised crime group has been disrupted. Our communities are safer now because of this. The sentences passed illustrate the consequences of becoming involved in drug supply in the first place. Truly one of the sweetest angels I have ever known. Longford will be a different place without her. A midlands town has been left absolutely heartbroken following the sudden passing of a young woman who was loved by everyone who met her. Twenty-year-old Ciara McKenna, from Longford town, died suddenly yesterday afternoon sparking a huge outpouring of heart-rending tributes on social media. The former Scoil Mhuire student was a much loved and respected member of staff at local restaurant Take Two. As a mark of respect, the popular Earl Street premises remains closed in the wake of the young Longford womans untimely passing. It is with a very heavy heart that we bring you the heart-breaking news of the sudden passing of our cherished member of staff, Ciara McKenna, RIP, read the post. Our restaurant will remain closed on Monday 11th as a mark of respect. The news prompted a flood of equally poignant tributes and messages of support online from close friends and wider members of the public. One of the sweetest girls I have ever had the pleasure of growing up with, one person wrote. Truly one of the sweetest angels I have ever known. Longford will be a different place without her. Those sentiments were echoed by umpteen others, many of which singled out the young womans good-natured and gracious persona. A beautiful lady, inside and out, wrote one person. Ciara will be missed, her laughter, her smile was one of a kind. The bubbly and outgoing Longford woman had earlier this year enjoyed a short break to London barely 12 months after celebrating her Leaving Cert results. RIP Ciara McKenna, read another tribute. What a lovely girl who always had a smile on your face and a good word for everyone. Its not going to be the same without you. This time last year we were celebrating your results and it was one of the great nights. Sleep well our angel, you will be missed so much. James Keenaghan ran Kitty Kiernans bar in Brooklyn, which is proudly described as the first Irish pub on 3rd Avenue. Tributes are pouring in for a Dublin man who owned a popular Irish pub in New York City. James Keenaghan ran Kitty Kiernans bar in Brooklyn, which is proudly described as the first Irish pub on 3rd Avenue. Mr Keenaghan passed away on Friday just three weeks before his 60th birthday. Kitty Kiernans closed its doors on Saturday night following Mr Kennaghans death, with the pub leading tributes to its owner on social media and encouraging patrons to pay their respects when the establishment reopened the following day. The outpouring of condolences and sympathy has been overwhelming. Thank you all so much, they said in a Facebook post. We reopen tomorrow at the usual time if youd like to come in and do some remembrance. So long, James. You were an absolute b*****d but thats why we loved you. The bar also shared details on Mr Keenaghans wake and funeral mass. The Dublin mans funeral service will take place on Friday morning at St Patricks Roman Catholic Church, Brooklyn, followed by a burial in Greenwood Cemetery. Thank you all for your continued love and support. Its been an unbelievable source of comfort through these difficult times, and its humbling to know just how many people out there loved James as much as we did, the pub added. Locals have been extending their condolences to Mr Keenaghans loved ones and sharing their fond memories of the publican online. One person said: So sorry to hear this news. This is a great loss to the neighborhood. Rest easy, sir, and raise a pint for us all. His brother Hughie wrote: So long brother. Hopefully you'll join mam, dad, Patrick, Desmond and Declan. May you all rest in peace together. No fighting you. Another pal said: Such a lovely man, always had a great welcome when we met up, sending love and hugs to James family. And a former employee added: My deepest condolences to the Keenaghan family on the loss of James. James gave me a shot in Summer 2013 on my J1 and I was so lucky to have the Kitty's Family during my first period away from home. He had a 6th sense when it came to hangovers, greeting me on my 10 am shifts by throwing a cream cheese bagel across the bar. A kind man with a wonderful sense of humour. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. New York-based Irish trad musicians The Brooklyn Brds also paid tribute, saying: "RIP James Keenaghan, owner of Kitty Kiernans in Bay Ridge, shocked to hear of his unexpected passing yesterday. Thanks for always supporting us, you will be greatly missed." The 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced. New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealands biodiversity crisis, says Prime. More than 4000 of our native species are currently threatened, with some at risk of extinction. A new Act will help to address threats they face, including impacts from climate change, invasive species and habitat loss. Sunday's announcement follows a Department of Conservation review which determined that the current Act lacked a clear purpose and didnt effectively protect at-risk or threatened species. As one example, not all native species are currently covered by the Act. Repealing and replacing the existing Act will follow a standard legislative process during the next parliamentary term. The DOC review reinforced strong support for reforming the Wildlife Act and a shared vision for native species and their habitats, says Prime. This is something the community has been calling for, and we are committed to ensuring taonga are taken care of for future generations. An independent Strategic Oversight Group also provided advice and valuable input into the DOC review. Group members have diverse skills and expertise in te ao Maori, conservation, law, environmental policy, tourism, science, game animal management and governance. Their expert advice and DOCs analysis of the Wildlife Act identified that replacement of the Act would achieve greater protection of species and improved biodiversity outcomes. I thank all those who have participated so far and provided perspectives that have informed the review of the Wildlife Act. The next steps are as follows: The Governments announcement that more disabled people and tangata whaikaha Maori will be able to access more flexible support is a move in the right direction, says Kaihautu Tika Hauatanga Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. The Government says that Enabling Good Lives will be extended to two new sites benefiting 1000 people in underserved communities over four years, and another 5400 people will experience change over four years through transforming existing disability support services. While we welcome the funding focus and priorities, the scale and pace for change is a bit disappointing given how long disabled people have been waiting for transformation," says Prudence. The Government has confirmed $73.7 million over the next four years and a further $40.5m in outyears to continue to transform the disability support system, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced. The Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach is a framework which guides positive change for disabled people, families, communities and governance structures, says Radhakrishnan. The funding allocated was initially set aside as contingency funding prior to the establishment of Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People. Im delighted it can now go towards making a real difference in the lives of thousands of Disabled New Zealanders. This Government is continuing to transform the disability system, ensuring that disabled people, tangata whaikaha Maori and their whanau all benefit from the EGL approach, which increases self-determination. This funding strengthens protections for disabled people, will extend EGL to new regions, transform existing disability support services and build community capability and leadership opportunities for disabled people. Disabled people should be able to have more choice and control over the decisions they make for their own lives and be able to pursue their goals like everyone else." Prudence says she is pleased to see investment in capacity building and the priority for underserved communities as this is critical to the success of transformation. Te Kahui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission welcomes the commitment to work in partnership with Whanau Ora which will provide tangata whaikaha Maori with more culturally appropriate options for support. She says she hopes more disability support organisations commit to working in flexible and responsive ways to provide disabled people with better choice and control without waiting for a specific roll-out of the EGL approach in their area. Prudence says changes to existing disability support services should be designed with, and led by, disabled people. We were also pleased to see the Budget 2023 investment in improving safeguarding for disabled people and adults at risk and that this focus has been maintained in the announcement. I am proud that our Government has made a record investment in disability communities from the establishment of Whaikaha in 2022, to committing $863.6m through Budget 2023 to help ease cost pressures on disability support services, to ending the discriminatory Minimum Wage Exemption and so much more," says Radhakrishnan. While this funding will make a significant difference to many, I acknowledge there is still more to be done. The drawdown of this funding is another significant step towards a national rollout of the EGL approach and transformation of our disability system." The need to strengthen Safeguarding systems was recommended in the Commissions 2021 reports on violence and abuse experienced by disabled people: Acting now for a violence and abuse free future and Whakamanahia te Tiriti, whakahaumarutia te tangata Honour the Treaty, protect the person. Press Release September 11, 2023 Legarda bats for PH active role in biodiversity conservation Recognizing the crucial contributions of the Philippines in maintaining a thriving biodiversity in the Southeast Asian region, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda underscored the importance of sustaining partnerships and collaborations within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community amidst environmental challenges. Legarda made these remarks during the 18th Founding Anniversary of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB), where she highlighted the country's commitment to addressing various biodiversity issues in the regional bloc, including increased funding support over the years. "Since ASEAN countries host some of the highest biodiversity and endemic species on the planet, it is crucial to have the necessary resources to protect and conserve these unique ecosystems," Legarda stressed. As a champion of the environment, the senator urged ACB to enhance deeper partnerships with various organizations that are instrumental in advancing its mission of responding to the challenges of biodiversity loss in the ASEAN region. "These partners recognize the importance and criticality of the ACB's work, not only for the region but also for the multiple endangered species that rely on the protected habitats," the four-term senator noted, adding that more programs should also be considered to safeguard the rich biodiversity of ASEAN. "The ASEAN Green Initiative, Access and Benefit Sharing, Business and Biodiversity, the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, and other programs are all proof that ACB refuses to be boxed into a mere discipline that only a silver of attention by a handful of experts must pay attention to," she added. Considered an advocate and a game-changer in protecting the Philippine environment and natural resources, Legarda was recognized as an ASEAN Biodiversity Hero in 2022 for her active role in championing green development in the country through initiatives and pieces of legislation that benefited many Filipinos. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Azerbaijan and Hungary have discussed mutual investments growth, Zoltan Kovacs, Hungary's Secretary of State for International Communication, wrote on his page on X (Twitter), Trend reports. The issue was discussed at the meeting between Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayl Jabbarov and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Kovacs noted that the sides primarily discussed energy cooperation. "They highlighted the importance of the Azerbaijani energy company starting gas storage in Hungarian facilities, creating a physical gas transport connection between the two countries. They also discussed successful Hungarian company expansions in Azerbaijan and potential future Hungarian investments," In relation to the reconstruction process in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, an Azerbaijani town has been designated for potential reconstruction by Hungarian companies, he added. Earlier, Minister Jabbarov has met with Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs. "During the meeting, we shared perspectives on the extensive collaboration across different sectors between our nations, discussed initiatives aimed at strengthening our trade and economic ties and explored the potential for partnering on green energy projects," the minister said. Following a successful first year, Tauranga City Council is inviting applications for its second intake of the council-controlled organisation Board Intern programme. This years opportunity is for an aspiring director to become a board intern with Bay Venues Limited, the kaitiaki of 24 community facilities in Tauranga Moana. The programme aims to increase diversity on CCO boards and provide a pipeline of prospective board members in the Bay of Plenty. This voluntary role offers a range of benefits including the opportunity for aspiring board members to start their governance careers in a supportive environment, receive mentoring and professional development training, and the chance to build their networks within the organisation and wider community. The intern must demonstrate a strong commitment, motivation and desire to pursue directorship opportunities. For further information about the TCC-CCO Board Intern Programme and for a full job spec, visit www.tauranga.govt.nz/cco. Applications close on Thursday, September 28, and interviews will be held in Tauranga on Tuesday, October 3, with the internship commencing on Wednesday, November 1 2023 for a 12-month term. Learn more about the programme from the three inaugural board interns below: Moroccans living in New Zealand are frantically checking friends and family back home are okay, and are looking for ways to help their country in the wake of the deadly earthquake. Morocco was struck by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake centred about 70km south of the city of Marrakesh, just after 10pm local time on Friday night. More than 2000 people were killed, and more than 2000 were injured in the quake - with very high numbers of critically injured people and the expectation the death toll to climb - the BBC reported Morocco's Interior Ministry has said. About 380,000 people live within 50km of the epicentre of the earthquake, which was centred in a mountainous and hard to access area in the High Atlas Mountains on Friday night, the UN said. The country has declared three days of mourning, as rescuers and neighbours continue to work in rubble from collapsed buildings, trying to find survivors. Auckland chef Khalid Bouladam told RNZ the local expat community was keen to help in any way possible. They are investigating the best ways to assist from afar, and hope to talk with representatives at the Moroccan embassy in Australia tomorrow. Bouladam says it had been difficult getting information and contacting people who were outside the main cities in Morocco, and the community here had been frantically trying to phone their friends and family back home. "[We're] very anxious. We've been on the calls to all friends and family all night, and also this morning as well, trying to check on everybody." Hassan El Kour, Wellington-based owner of Zaaffran, a catering company and food truck, says his whanau back home were frightened by the earthquake. They live in the port city Essaouira, about 100km from the quake's epicentre which was in a mountainous area south-west of Marrakesh. El Kour says he had managed to make contact with his siblings and friends, either by phone or messaging, and was relieved they were all okay. Everyone he spoke to, including his elderly parents, had slept outdoors after the earthquake, in case of more tremors or building collapses. "They all had to get out and just hang out in the squares, it's just a suburban square, so they just had to hang together for the whole night and just keep out of the houses," says El Kour. Crowds of people continued to sleep in the streets at night, days after the quake. El Kour was touched by how many of his New Zealand friends had texted him, and how many customers at Wellington's Harbourside Market offered messages of support this weekend: "They all said ... it was amazing - a lot of people." Auckland-based Moroccan tour operator Adil Bennani was watching a live debate from Morocco on YouTube when the quake struck, and he watched as the room being shown in the video shook. There had not been a major earthquake in Morocco for decades, so it was very unexpected, he says. "Morocco is a beautiful country, and the people are very very nice - the letters and messages of support coming from worldwide, from all countries, make us feel very good." A Wellington-based expert in earthquakes says this one was the largest to have struck in this part of Morocco since 1900. Victoria University geophysics professor Martha Savage says the towns and buildings in the area were not built to withstand this level of shaking, and poor building quality had contributed to the high death toll. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) spokesperson says officials in New Zealand were monitoring the humanitarian impacts of the earthquake on the region. While MFAT says it had not received a request to help with relief efforts, staff were assessing possible ways New Zealand could support the response if needed. New Zealanders in Morocco MFAT says at least 25 New Zealanders were registered on the Safe Travel website as being in Morocco. It asked all New Zealanders in Morocco to register their details. New Zealanders in the affected areas should follow the advice of local authorities, keep updated on news and developments and keep their families at home updated, MFAT said. The 24/7 emergency consular line was available if they need urgent help, on +64 9920 2020. -RNZ. Europa Press Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram More than fifteen provinces in a dozen regions of Spain will be at risk (yellow) of rain or storms this Monday, 11 September, according to the state weather agency (Aemet). These include three Andalusian regions: Almeria, Granada and Jaen. Burgos, Soria, Guadalajara, Navarra, Alava, Guipuzcoa, Vizcaya and La Rioja, as well as Asturias, Murcia, Huesca, Teruel and Zaragoza will also be affected. In the case of the Andalucia region, the Aemet warning will be active from 1pm and will last throughout the day. In parts of the region, showers accompanied by thunderstorms are forecast in the eastern mountain ranges, which may be locally heavy. Areas covered by weather warnings this Monday, 11 September. Aemet Today, cloudy skies and rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms are expected over most of the northern third of the Spanish mainland, although it is not ruled out that they may also occur in the inland southeast and in other areas of the northern half of the country. Ths rain could be locally heavy in the Cantabrian Sea area, while cloudy intervals are expected in the rest of the country, without ruling out some light showers. There is also a probability of morning mist or fog in inland Galicia, western parts of Andalucia and inland Alicante and Murcia, and the presence of haze in the Mediterranean area is not ruled out. Temperatures, meanwhile, will fall in the case of maximum temperatures, except in the Mediterranean area, where they could rise slightly. Meanwhile, minimum temperatures will show little change. In addition, this Monday a south-westerly wind is expected on the coast of Galicia, a westerly wind in the Strait of Gibraltar, a southerly wind in the Emporda and variable winds, predominantly easterly in the Balearic Islands, where Menorca will be on yellow alert for gusts. Eugenio Cabezas Torre del Mar Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram More than 300,000 people flocked to Torre del Mar on the eastern strip of Costa del Sol at the weekend to watch the spectacle of pilots pirouetting through the air over the ocean at the seaside town's annual international air festival. In its seventh year - and with the main event on Sunday 10 September after a sunset display on Saturday - beach bars were packed and the promenade full as festival-goers looked to the skies in sheer amazement at the displays performed by more than 40 aircraft from Spain and Switzerland that took part. David Martin and Estela Garcia are two "crazy" aviation enthusiasts who never miss the event. "We come every year, it's amazing, we love the planes and taking pictures of them", said Martin, 50, from Madrid, together with his partner. Sunday's three-hour spectacular was opened by the aerial advertising planes flying banners with messages from Malaga associations such as Asamma, dedicated to the care of women who have undergone breast cancer surgery. The first highlight of the day was then provided by the Patrulla Plus Ultra team and its spectacular aerobatics. The National Police and Guardia Civil aerial resources joined in with their helicopters and aircraft, and emotions ran high when the local aerobatic pilot from Malaga, Jorge Macias, took to the skies, leaving people on the ground speechless at his skill in the sky. Another pilot from Malaga, Francis Gimenez, impressed the audience with his gyroplane, with which he has been proclaimed world champion several times. The skies over the Torre del Mar beach were then taken over by the Yakstars display formation, who were followed by Ramon Alonso with his light aircraft. The programme's main highlights included the Aspa display team of the Spanish Air Force in their helicopters and the beast of the skies, the Eurofighter, the combat fighter, which unleashed some of the loudest cheers of the day. In the final part of the day, the Patrouille Suisse display team from Switzerland, which was making its debut at the event, also delighted the crowds. The finishing touch was provided by the Air Force's 'Eagle' formation display team, with its 12 aircraft that left a trail of smoke in the colours of Spain's national flag in the sky. The event brought in about three million euros to local coffers, according to estimates from Velez-Malaga town hall sources. Eugenio Cabezas Axarquia Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram A foreign man has been arrested in connection with investigations following the violent death of a German individual inside a cave in the Barranco de Maro ravine area in Nerja. Guardia Civil officers from Nerja arrested a middle-aged man for the alleged fatal attack which took place on Friday 8 September. Several witnesses alerted authorities after they found the body with severe head injuries. Police then detaineed a man, who had been living inside one of the numerous inhabited caves in the area for several months. It is the second violent death in the same area in less than a year after a Czech citizen was allegedly murdered in March. In that case, the incident happened in the area of the road that connects Maro with the beach, approximately one kilometre away from Friday's incident. For this first homicide, a person of Czech nationality was arrested in July. Friday's incident is said to have been sparked after several months of disputes and fights between the alleged perpetrator and the victim. Antonio Contreras Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The father of one of the two Argentinian paddleboarders who have been missing out at sea since 27 August saaid he will travel to Morocco to try to find them. Jorge Ludvik, the father of Maxi, said: "I'm determined to see what I can do to go to Morocco this week. I don't know a word of Moroccan, but I want to go and see what we can do, because we can't stay here waiting for someone to call us and tell us if they've found something". Noticia Relacionada Missing persons Families of missing Argentinian paddleboarders on Costa del Sol tell SUR: 'We can still believe in miracles' Irene Quirante It comes after the family held a public rally on Saturday 9 September, pleading with the authorities not to scale down the search. Rescue teams have only located a paddleboard since Emanuel, 34, and Maxi, 29, set off from Malaga's Misericordia beach to watch the sunrise at about 7.20am on 27 August. The board was spotted by a sailing boat on 28 August about 15 nautical miles southeast of Malaga and was picked up by a passing vessel. But there was no sign of the two friends. "We gathered here to receive the support of the people, the media and for the government to listen to us. We need them to reactivate the aerial search, which is the most effective. We are going to move heaven, earth and sea. We are not going to leave Malaga without them," said Francisco Soria, Emmanuel's brother. "Currently I know that there is a boat searching the area in the morning and another one in the afternoon. Before, I think I remember there were three boats, as well as a plane and a helicopter," said Ignacio Soria, another brother of Emmanuel. Join NY Cannabis Insider for our next full-day conference on Sept. 21 at the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery in Buffalo. Holly Hager is the co-founder and COO of House of Puff, a NYC-based boutique that makes luxury smoking accessories for the modern woman. In the newest entry of NYs women in cannabis, Hager shares her favorite tools and resources within the industry, and talks about the ongoing work of de-stigmatization. Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the states social and economic equity plan. NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing and balanced representation in articles. This series will last for as long as submissions come in. Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it? I owe my move into the cannabis industry to my amazing business partner, Kristina Lopez Adduci. Like her, I came to cannabis late I didnt start consuming until I was in my 30s. But even when I got on the NY medical program to treat my autoimmune disease, I didnt share my cannabis consumption with anyone other than my husband. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: Meanwhile, Kristina and I worked together for two years without ever revealing that cannabis was part of our daily lives. Then, I saw her post a gorgeous House of Puff rolling tray on her personal Instagram, and I became a customer. By that time, I was looking for a way to bring inclusive art to a wider audience, and she was working to scale House of Puff. The niche she had created for destigmatizing cannabis with chic, art-inspired consumption devices inspired me to make the leap into the industry. What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry? Capital is the most significant barrier to women in cannabis leadership. I could share tons of anecdotes about the barriers to raising capital as a woman. (For instance, on our first call, one potential investor offered to help Kristina and I find husbands.) But, while anecdotes can be rationalized away, you cant argue with data. According to TechCrunch, in 2022 only 1.9% of VC funding went to all-women teams in any industry, and thats not a flash in the pan. It aligns with a decade-long trend. As far as other barriers go, theyre not qualitatively different in cannabis. Over my career, Ive worked in diverse sectors including law, education, HR, finance, fashion, and fine art. While things have certainly improved overall, women and minorities in every industry are still held to higher standards consistently in order to obtain the same opportunities that are open to white men. Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis? There are several reasons for underrepresentation. First, cannabis is a capital-intensive business. Since women have such limited access to capital, that hamstrings female founders. Plus, theres the enormous cannabis stigma. As of 2022, the Women in Cannabis Study found that 66% of survey respondents were still being shamed for their cannabis use and their work in the industry. So, understandably, many women still hide their cannabis use. That resonates with me, personally. For the first two years Kristina and I worked together, we shared cocktails, but we never even talked about our cannabis consumption let alone sparked up a joint together. Plus, as mothers, women in many states still face dire consequences for cannabis use. Those factors magnify the overall barriers to leadership positions that women face in any career. Thats why were so committed at House of Puff to eliminating stigma via elevated consumption and education. What are some ways in which companies can support gender diversity at senior levels? The best ways to support diversity seem simple. In practice, theyre really complex. The obvious answers are to hire women, pay them what theyre worth, take their analyses seriously, and provide reasonable accommodations for work/life balance. Given how ingrained gender stereotypes are, though, many men (and some women) arent even aware when theyre not being supportive. That takes me back to the numbers. Counting is one of the strongest strategies that feminists use in academia. Women make up 51% of the population. That holds across cultures since time immemorial (unless the sex ratio is skewed by abortion or infanticide). So, if your percentage of C-suite women is less than that, youve still got work to do. First, consciously foster an egalitarian culture and institute DEI best practices. But dont stop there. Also, consistently analyze your employee population and your compensation stats to learn where youre not making the grade. Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry. Im a huge fan of the Cannabis Media Council (CMC) led by incredible women like Amy Deneson and Lulu Tsui. Like House of Puff, theyre doing ground-breaking work to destigmatize cannabis. Their Im High Right Now campaign, in tandem with Hearst Media, is a great example of how to mainstream cannabis. Not that theres anything wrong with legacy culture but its preaching to the choir. Instead, CMC campaigns feature people who arent typically associated with the plant especially seniors in a responsible cannabis context. Considering how much time the War on Drugs spent demonizing cannabis, there cant be enough consumer re-education based on science, not culture wars. Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry? The Cannabis Collective is an amazing resource for C-suite members of the New York cannabis community. Every event they hold is more than just great for camaraderie. Their programming also creates incredible networking opportunities with the people who are building New Yorks new legal cannabis industry from the ground up. And their bi-weekly Coffee with the Collective calls are phenomenally educational. They offer the opportunity to learn from cannabis experts of all types. Then, theres On the Revel. They consistently produce unmatched industry events, many of which are open to the public. Their educational events are immensely informative especially for people who want to transition into cannabis. And their Buyers Clubs, in which they bring together NY industry producers and retailers, are the best bang for buck of any trade show weve participated in. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders? My advice would be to own your own greatness. Ive always had a really strong work ethic. But when I was young and the compliments were being handed out, unlike my male counterparts, I would deflect. In fact, I still battle that inclination, and I see it a ton in my women colleagues. Instead, take credit where credit is due to you. And, if youre not valued in your current environment, find or make a position where you are. If youd like people to connect with you, please share your favorite methods of contact. Im old school. So, shoot me an email at holly@houseofpuff.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. US doesn't recognize so-called "presidential elections" in Karabakh, US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said during a briefing on September 11, Trend reports. "As we have said in the past, we do not recognize Karabakh as an "independent" and "sovereign state" and therefore we do not recognize the "results" of those so-called "presidential elections" that were announced over the last few days," he said. Miller noted that the United States will continue to strongly support efforts by Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve outstanding issues through direct dialogue. Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn the so-called "elections". As noted in the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the holding of the so-called "elections" once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime created by it, which has taken steps to preserve the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, on the contrary, have taken the path of provocations and escalating the situation. New Lebanon, N.Y. Two people were killed after being hit by an SUV outside of a racetrack Saturday evening in Upstate New York. Two racing fans were walking in the crosswalk outside of the Lebanon Valley Speedway on U.S. Highway 20 in New Lebanon at 8:21 p.m. when they were hit by an eastbound 2019 Subaru Crosstrek, said the New York State Police. It was the final night of the 2023 racing season at the Lebanon Valley Speedway. The pair Gary J. Sheldon, 74, and Patricia Peck, 77, both of Clarksburg, Massachusetts were attending the race together, troopers told the Times Union. Troopers and EMS workers attempted life-saving measures, but could not revive Sheldon or Peck, troopers said. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Erica C. Florin, 36, of Lee, Massachusetts, was driving the Crosstrek that hit Sheldon and Peck, troopers said. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Florin has cooperated with investigators, troopers told the Times Union, and no charges have been filed. READ MORE Another chance for heavy rain in Upstate NY this week; Hurricane Lee remains a wild card 16-year-old charged with shooting high school security guard at Utica football game, police say See dramatic drone video of Central New York house destroyed by gas explosion FOCUS Greater Syracuse, Inc., in partnership with The Gifford Foundation, will host a free, hybrid, FOCUS forum later this month. The forum will provide information on youth violence in Syracuse and the impact it has on everyone. It will focus on solutions and highlight what is currently being done, and what needs to be done to make a difference. Panelists will challenge participants on what more we can do as a community to help address violence among our youth and young adults. The hybrid forum will take place Friday, Sept. 22, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the SALTSpace, 103 Wyoming St. on Syracuses Near West Side. Participants can also join virtually via Zoom. The Gifford Foundation will provide box lunches for those attending in person who register in advance. Attendees are asked to arrive at 11:30 a.m. to collect their lunches. The forum will be moderated by Sheena Solomon, executive director of The Gifford Foundation. Panelists include Rasheada Caldwell, a Syracuse Common Councilor at Large and director of youth and community partnerships at the Allyn Family Foundation; Lateef Johnson-Kinsey, senior pastor, the Well of Hope Church and director of the mayors office to reduce gun violence; Damian Pratt, director of juvenile justice and detention services for the Onondaga County Department of Children & Family Services; and Azariah A-Z Yemma, owner and president of Yemma Estates, LLC. We are excited to host this forum and bring the community together to discuss the crisis of youth violence among our youth, said FOCUS Greater Syracuse Board Member Nancy Smith. This forum will inform us about what is already being done and hopefully inspire new ideas and solutions. Those interested can register at focussyracuse.org, or click the link here. Services were held Monday for JoAnn B. (Dillabough) DiFulvio, 75, who died Sept. 6. She was born in Syracuse and was a 1966 graduate of Cato-Meridian schools. Even before graduation, she had begun working to help support her family due to her fathers long-term illness, her obituary said. DiFulvio worked in sales and marketing. According to her obituary, in the 1980s she worked for a tool and die company, blazing a trail for other women to go into what was a traditionally male-dominated industry. She went to work for Thomas Publishing out of New York City. While with the company, she was promoted to a position managing the North Texas/Oklahoma territory. She eventually returned to Central New York and completed her career working for Syracuse.com at Advance Media NY. DiFulvio found a partner when she returned to the Syracuse area. Here, she met her husband Vinnie, with whom she had spent the last 25 years of her life. They would host parties, go boating and be snowbirds in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. DiFulvio actively sought to improve the world around her, her obituary said. For the holidays, she would sponsor a family in need or purchase socks for all of the residents of an assisted living facility. She was a volunteer in the Just Say No campaign to bring awareness of the dangers of substance abuse to public school students. DiFulvio loved being with her family and would light up around her grandchildren, according to her obituary. Though she faced many health changes throughout the years, she persevered through them. DiFulvio enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, traveling, baking and a sweet with a cup of tea. Contributions may be made to the Kidney Cancer Research Alliance (KCCure), 2800 Eisenhower Ave., Suite 220 #C18, Alexandria, VA 22314. Contact Sharon Dellinger by phone at 315-470-2265 or by email. By Lauren Stanforth | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. New York is poised to add a law on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that addresses the hundreds of thousands of people who likely arent aware they are entitled to compensation and free health care after being exposed to the pulverized remnants of the fallen World Trade Center towers. The legislation, called the 9/11 Notice Act, requires large employers to reach out to current and former workers who were present in the exposure zones of lower Manhattan and northern Brooklyn between Sept. 11, 2001 and the end of May 2002 about their rights to register for the federal 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and the World Trade Center Health Program. The 9/11 fund also assists relatives of those who were exposed and have since died. The federal World Trade Center Health Program said it has more than 125,000 members who have received treatment; the program offers free health care for life. The Compensation Fund provides monies for any individual (or relative of a deceased individual) who suffered harm or was killed as a result of the attacks or the debris removal efforts. Michael Barasch, managing partner at Barasch & McGarry, a lower Manhattan law firm that represents more than 35,000 people impacted by Sept. 11, also said anyone who volunteered at the World Trade Center site ground zero from all over the nation and world is entitled to receive compensation and free U.S. health care if they develop symptoms related to 69 illnesses that include cancers, mental illness and respiratory diseases. He said there are about 500,000 people impacted by Sept. 11 who likely qualify. His own firm told employees to come back to work after the Environmental Protection Agency told the public five days after the attack that the air was safe to breathe; some members of his firm ultimately died from cancer. Less than 10 percent of downtown office workers, students, teachers and residents are enrolled and thats heartbreaking, Barasch told the Times Union Sunday. Theyre entitled to the same benefits as the firefighters and cops. Meanwhile, about 85 percent of first responders have enrolled in the federal compensation and health care programs, he said. Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, who co-sponsored the bill, said the act also requires that the states Economic Development agency and Department of Labor work with businesses and institutions that had individuals work in the aftermath of the attack to inform them about eligibility for the federal programs. The bill requires all businesses and trade associations with more than 50 employees that operated below Canal Street in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11 to alert all eligible current and former employees of their rights to health care and compensation. Barasch said if a business is no longer operating, however, there is no requirement for communication. The Never Forget the Heroes, James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act was signed into federal law in July 2019, and extended the claim filing deadline to 2090 roughly the lifespan of a baby who was born around Sept. 11. The compensation not only includes those exposed in New York City, but also at the sites of the terrorist attacks at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed other Sept. 11-related pieces of legislation into law, including extending the deadline for filing disability claims for qualifying World Trade Center conditions, and establishing a simplified alternative method for Victim Compensation Fund awards that involve noneconomic losses such as emotional damage. The state Legislature passed the 9/11 Notice Act in June, and its expected to be signed by Hochul on Monday. Hochul also plans to attend the ground zero memorial ceremonies in New York City Monday. Barasch said it is important for people even if they feel and appear healthy to go through the process of enrolling in the federal Sept. 11 programs because the evidence one needs to prove they were in the World Trade Center area such as from an employer or witness statements might no longer be available if and when one is diagnosed with a Sept. 11-related illness. He said the notifications likely to number in the hundreds of thousands is something he has been pushing for over the last decade, ever since the first Compensation Fund was established. The cost to employers should be minimal, he said. This will save lives, Barasch said. Advocates are also noting that this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added uterine cancer to the list of possible 9/11-related health impacts. And the CDC on this 22nd anniversary has also opened an exhibition called Health Effects of 9/11 at its headquarters in Atlanta. A virtual tour of it can be found here. ___ (c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com By Kathleen Moore | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. A multi-year error at the state agency that provides tuition assistance has left some college students without the money they expected just weeks after the new academic year began. But the State University of New York is now pledging to make up for the lost funds. Each SUNY campus will create a scholarship to match the funds lost by each of the more than 3,000 affected students. SUNY Central will then reimburse the campus for the scholarship. The details were announced by memo to each SUNY campus president late Friday evening. At issue is up to $5,665 per year for independent students who do not have children of their own. An independent student, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education, means the student is at least 24 years old, a member of the military, or a foster child. That group found out last week that they are getting much less than they were told they would receive in state aid for college, due to an error by the Higher Education Services Corporation. The corporation is New Yorks higher education student financial aid agency. The corporation told financial aid offices Wednesday that it had discovered the error, immediately reduced students awards for this year and that it must be paid back for the money it erroneously gave out in the previous two school years. The payments were made directly to the colleges where the students in question are enrolled. The next day, SUNY Chancellor John King told SUNY campus presidents to take no action. Then on Friday night, he and Gov. Kathy Hochul said they were going to ensure the students were not penalized for HESCs error. Hochul directed all SUNY and CUNY schools to hold all impacted students harmless, said Hochuls spokesperson Katy Zielinski. King explained the reasoning in his letter to campus presidents. New York State and SUNYs priority is to ensure that our students are given the highest and best chance to succeed, and their success should never be curtailed due to a technical error, King said. In coordination with Governor Hochuls Office and the Division of Budget, SUNY will not let a single student be impacted by the recent technical issues at HESC. In addition to creating individual scholarships, each campus will retroactively apply a scholarship for students who were given the wrong amount of aid in the previous two years. King also sent a message to the students, in which he said, We will do everything in our power to support your success at SUNY. Students who are residents of New York and attend in-state private colleges can also get TAP but it is not clear how many of them are affected and how their situations may be resolved. The error solely involved independent students who do not have dependents. The Tuition Assistance Program, known as TAP, was incorrectly calculated for the past three years for that group of students, HESC announced Wednesday in a message to colleges. The corporation called it a programming error and said it was immediately reducing the amount of TAP this semester for those students. Consequently, some students will see a significant decrease in their TAP award determinations, HESC wrote in its message to colleges. Across all three academic years, a total of 3,274 individual students had 3,514 awards impacted by the programming error, totaling $5.1 million in overpayments. The corporation awarded $700 million in TAP funds for the 2020-2021 school year, the most recent year for which data was available. Independent students without dependents are supposed to get far less TAP funding than those who have dependents. The error incorrectly categorized independent students without dependents on the same award schedule as independent students with dependents. This error resulted in an overpayment of TAP awards to these recipients during this time, HESC said in the message. HESC also directed each college to repay HESC the amount of TAP that had been wrongly paid to colleges on behalf of the students in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years. TAP is described by the state as a grant that does not have to be paid back by students. Students can receive up to $5,665 per year. But there is a narrow set of criteria for independent students to be eligible for the grant and the amount of the grant is determined by certain factors. An unmarried independent student with no dependents is not eligible for any TAP unless the student has an annual income of $10,000 or less. Such unmarried students who qualify would be allowed a maximum of $3,025 a year, far less than dependent students or independent students with children. A married independent student is also eligible for up to $3,025 if the household income is no more than $40,000. But independent students who have dependents can make up to $80,000 and still be eligible for the full TAP amount of $5,665. HESC has not fully explained the error. However, college financial aid officials said its possible that many of the affected students fall into two categories: those who were not eligible for any TAP funds, due to their income, or those who were given too much TAP because they were awarded the full amount instead of the limited amount allowed for independent students without dependents. HESC found the error after inquiries received from New York state colleges, HESC spokesperson Angela Liotta said. As part of our role to administer programs in accordance with NYS Education law, HESC notified colleges of the error on September 6, 2023, and is continuing to work on addressing this issue. The agency has taken the steps to help ensure that this does not occur in the future, she said. The announcement at first seemed to mean that students would quickly have to find another way to get the money they were expecting in TAP. A financial aid expert said that college financial aid offices are accustomed to assisting students when a source of funds falls through. He advised students to immediately seek help from their financial aid office. SUNYs pledge to make up for the gap in funding is likely a relief to affected students because it is already too late for them to drop out and escape their fall tuition bills. At the University at Albany, for instance, if students were to drop out by Sunday, Sept. 10, they would still owe 50 percent of this semesters costs. The last day to drop out without any financial costs was Aug. 27, one week after classes began. ___ (c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com AGHDAM, Azerbaijan, September 11. A truck from Russia, which was supposed to deliver food cargo along Aghdam-Khankendi road to Armenian residents of Azerbaijan's Karabakh, has been standing in Barda (city in Azerbaijan) for the second day already, Trend reports. The delay in the passage of the truck is due to refusal of the separatists in Karabakh to accept this cargo. At the same time, a truck of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) stands ready on the territory of Armenia near the Lachin border crossing point. Although the Azerbaijani side is ready to ensure its passage across the border in accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan, the separatists don't accept this cargo either, since in this case an ICRC truck would have to drive parallel to the Aghdam road towards Askeran (a settlement near Khankendi), and they don't want this. This indicates a completely inadequate behavior of the separatists. They don't accept cargo from either Russia or the ICRC. Besides, the Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society organized the delivery of food on August 29 to meet the needs of people of Armenian origin living in the Karabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan. A food convoy sent from Baku has been waiting for 14 days on the Aghdam-Khankendi road. Two trucks with 40 tons of flour are waiting in front of the post of Russian peacekeepers [temporarily stationed in Azerbaijan under the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war] on the Aghdam-Khankendi road. Employees and volunteers of the Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society spend the night in tents set up on the territory. SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,087 Thanked: 26,207 Times View My Garage Re: The National Automobile Museum of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia The 1970 Chrysler Valiant VG Pacer had a 4.0L 6-cylinder Hemi engine, and could reach 180 km/h. Chrysler built it as a low-cost competition for the V8-powered Ford Monaro & Falcon GT, aimed at the young buyers - at A$2798, it cost A$400 less than its competition in those days. This 1973 Ford Falcon XA GT, with 300hp, a 4-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential, still has its original numberplate. This 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO was the undisputed king of Australian muscle cars, with present prices for original survivor cars exceeding A$1,000,000. The Falcon GT was built for one specific purpose, to lap Mount Panorama at Bathurst quicker than anything Holden or Chrysler could produce. The car on display has a 5.8 litre V8 engine. Only 300 GTHO Phase IIIs were built from May to November 1971. 1973 Holden Torana LJ GTR. Holden and went in search of ways to bring the small body big performance model to Australian buyers to capture the growing "youth" market Holden needed a smaller cheaper performance package than the Monaro. It was released in October 1969 as part of the 6-cylinder Torana range. January 1972 brought the restyled LJ Torana range. Externally the changes were minimal, but the chunky new grill and triple element tail lamps lent a 'mini-Camaro' look to the compact Holden. 1976 Holden Torana LX SS. This was a specially ordered car in Papaya Orange with Chamois interiors, with a 308 cu.in. engine & 4-speed gearbox. Some more interesting cars on display in the museum: 1956 Austin Healey 100/M with high-compression head and 110 bhp output. Donald Healey and his son Geoffrey designed the car and showcased a prototype at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show. Sir Leonard Lord, Chairman of Austin, was so impressed by it that he proposed it to be manufactured at the Austin factories, hence the name. 1967 Austin Healey 6000 LS2. The classic Austin Healey shape disguises the fact that it is powered by a 6.0 litre LS2 V 8. The car is fitted with 8-inch-wide front & 9-inch-wide rear wheels, and sticky performance tyres. 1956 AC Ace Bristol. The vehicle on display was shown by AC Cars Limited at the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show. It was then purchased by the wealthy owner of a prosperous rubber plantation in Malaya. Once his car had arrived, it was raced in the Macau Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix, as reported by motoring magazines at the time. He then sent the vehicle back to the United Kingdom for performance enhancements. The car passed through several hands throughout Asia before ending up with an Australian Navy sailor who allegedly transported the vehicle to Australia on the HMAS Melbourne. The current owner purchased the car in 1985 in a state of disrepair. It was restored by Geoff Smedley, the founder of the museum, and has been enjoyed since the Bristol badge denotes the two litre, six cylinder power plant from Bristol cars of the era. 1974 Holden Monaro GTR. The Monaro was produced between 1968 and 1977, and later between 2001 and 2005. At the launch, Holden described it as the first sports machine to be designed and engineered in Australia. This body design is often now considered one of the best-looking body designs to come from an Australian product. The car on display is finished in its original Aquamarine colour and features gloss blackouts as per original. 2007 Holden Commodore V8 Supercar, built by Gary Rogers Motorsport. This car ran in the Supercars Championship in 2007 as the #34 Dean Canto car. It was then used at the Sandown and Bathurst Endurance races by Greg Ritter and Cameron Mclean. The car finished 9th at Bathurst in 2007. It also ran in the 2008 Endure Races at Phillip Island and Bathurst. The car was retained as a spare in 2009 and 2010 before being fitted with a back seat and used as a ride car. 1977 Ford Falcon XC Cobra (Bathurst Cobra). In December 1977, Ford built 13 special-order modified XC hard tops for race customers, to compete in the 1978 Australian Touring Car Championship. The modifications to the 13 hardtops form the foundation of the 30 special and extremely rare Option-97 (nicknamed Bathurst Cobra) Hardtops, with build plates 002 to 031. The Bathurst Cobras featured a larger radiator, driver-switchable twin thermofans, a gearbox oil cooler, additional suspension bracing and reworked wheel housing to accept the massive racing rubber. Distinguishing the 30 Bathurst Cobras is the large, functional rear opening bonnet scoop. The car on display is cobra #009, and presents in largely original condition. 1960 Chevrolet Bel Air. The vehicle on display is a 4th generation Bel Air produced from 1958 to 1961. In Australia, Chevrolet competed directly with premium European brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar. A large fleet of Chevrolet Bel Air sedans were also used by the Australian government, including by some prime ministers during the 1960s! Australian market Chevrolets were either locally assembled or built in Canada and then imported, depending on the model. 1963 Ford Galaxie Sportsroof. Produced between 1958 and 1974, the Galaxie was offered by Ford, with a variety of powerplants throughout the production run, ranging from economy 6 cylinders to behemoth V8 engines with capacities up to seven litres. To improve the performance of the Galax[e in NASCAR, Ford put in production in mid-1963 the Sportsroof, which featured a roof two inches lower than usual, improving aerodynamics. This led to Ford winning the 23 Grand National NASCAR races in that year alone. The ultimate offering of the Galaxie in the early 1960s was a limited production run of around 210 lightweight sports roof cars. They featured seripped interiors, lightweight bucket sheets, fiberglass body panels and a high-output 425 horsepower engine, making the car a sensation in street racing and on the drag strip in the United States. Alongside the Galaxie is a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am. The Trans-Am was produced between 1969 and 2002 as an enhanced version of the Firebird. The F-body platform was shared with the Camaro, and this same platform continued to be used in pretty early 2000s. The car on display was auctioned new with the 400 cubic inch (6.5 litre) Pontiac V8. This car has travelled just 54,000 miles (86,000 km) since new, remaining in the original left-hand drive configuration, even after being imported to Australia. A couple of more contemporary muscle cars: 2021 Shelby Mustang GT500 Golden Ticket. This is equipped with a handbuilt 5.2 litre supercharged Predator cross-plane crank V8. Producing 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheel through a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. From a standstill, the GT500 can reach 60MPH (100 kph) in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h). 2018 Shelby Mustang Super Snake White Body. Power is rated at over 800 hp (600 kW). Shelby claims the car will accelerate to 60mph (100km/h) in just 3.5 seconds. The power plant is based on Ford's Coyote, 5.0L V8. The Super Snake is equipped with a supercharger. The wide body package includes new body panels that add approximately 4" to the track in the rear, and 2.5" to the front. 1973 Alpine A110 (Dinalpin). Alpine was founded in the mid 1950s by a garage proprietor named Jean Redele, who began achieving success with lightweight aluminium bodies with Renault 4CV underpinnings, in the Mille Miglia and Coupe des Alpes (aka the Alpine Rally). The first Alpine model was the A106, a fibreglass-bodied car based on 4CV mechanicals. The car achieved a number of racing victories throughout the 1950s, later evolving into the A108. By 1963 this model had evolved into the iconic A 110, using parts from the new Renault R8 including the 1100 cc Major engine, or an optional Gordini power plant producing 95HP. Later, the 125hp R16-TS engine boosted top speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Notable performances of the A110 include a victory in the 1971 Monte Carlo rally. Driven by Swedish driver Ove Andersson. The Alpine, a 110 was also built under licence by Mexican company DINA, a bus and truck manufacturer. These cars were branded 'Dinalpin'. The vehicle on display was produced in Mexico and was imported privately to Australia. Mundane cars like the 1965 Nissan Cedric 1500 Deluxe sedan also find a place here. A four-speed manual transmission with the top three gears synchronized was standard, with a three-speed manual fitted to 1900 versions. The Cedric replaced the Austin A50 Nissan was building under licence from Austin Motor Company of England, which was called the Nissan Austin, and also benefited from earlier vehicles built by Nissan, called the Datsun DB Series. All models were equipped with white-wall tyres. 1977 Holden Gemini TC A part of the museum's collection, consisting of Australian muscle cars, was displayed in the appropriately named Hall of Muscle, with cars ranging from the 1960s to the present day.The 1970 Chrysler Valiant VG Pacer had a 4.0L 6-cylinder Hemi engine, and could reach 180 km/h. Chrysler built it as a low-cost competition for the V8-powered Ford Monaro & Falcon GT, aimed at the young buyers - at A$2798, it cost A$400 less than its competition in those days.This 1973 Ford Falcon XA GT, with 300hp, a 4-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential, still has its original numberplate.This 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO was the undisputed king of Australian muscle cars, with present prices for original survivor cars exceeding A$1,000,000. The Falcon GT was built for one specific purpose, to lap Mount Panorama at Bathurst quicker than anything Holden or Chrysler could produce. The car on display has a 5.8 litre V8 engine. Only 300 GTHO Phase IIIs were built from May to November 1971.1973 Holden Torana LJ GTR. Holden and went in search of ways to bring the small body big performance model to Australian buyers to capture the growing "youth" market Holden needed a smaller cheaper performance package than the Monaro. It was released in October 1969 as part of the 6-cylinder Torana range. January 1972 brought the restyled LJ Torana range. Externally the changes were minimal, but the chunky new grill and triple element tail lamps lent a 'mini-Camaro' look to the compact Holden.1976 Holden Torana LX SS. This was a specially ordered car in Papaya Orange with Chamois interiors, with a 308 cu.in. engine & 4-speed gearbox.1956 Austin Healey 100/M with high-compression head and 110 bhp output. Donald Healey and his son Geoffrey designed the car and showcased a prototype at the 1952 Earls Court Motor Show. Sir Leonard Lord, Chairman of Austin, was so impressed by it that he proposed it to be manufactured at the Austin factories, hence the name.1967 Austin Healey 6000 LS2. The classic Austin Healey shape disguises the fact that it is powered by a 6.0 litre LS2 V 8. The car is fitted with 8-inch-wide front & 9-inch-wide rear wheels, and sticky performance tyres.1956 AC Ace Bristol. The vehicle on display was shown by AC Cars Limited at the 1956 Earls Court Motor Show. It was then purchased by the wealthy owner of a prosperous rubber plantation in Malaya. Once his car had arrived, it was raced in the Macau Grand Prix and the Singapore Grand Prix, as reported by motoring magazines at the time. He then sent the vehicle back to the United Kingdom for performance enhancements. The car passed through several hands throughout Asia before ending up with an Australian Navy sailor who allegedly transported the vehicle to Australia on the HMAS Melbourne. The current owner purchased the car in 1985 in a state of disrepair. It was restored by Geoff Smedley, the founder of the museum, and has been enjoyed since the Bristol badge denotes the two litre, six cylinder power plant from Bristol cars of the era.1974 Holden Monaro GTR. The Monaro was produced between 1968 and 1977, and later between 2001 and 2005. At the launch, Holden described it as the first sports machine to be designed and engineered in Australia. This body design is often now considered one of the best-looking body designs to come from an Australian product. The car on display is finished in its original Aquamarine colour and features gloss blackouts as per original.2007 Holden Commodore V8 Supercar, built by Gary Rogers Motorsport. This car ran in the Supercars Championship in 2007 as the #34 Dean Canto car. It was then used at the Sandown and Bathurst Endurance races by Greg Ritter and Cameron Mclean. The car finished 9th at Bathurst in 2007. It also ran in the 2008 Endure Races at Phillip Island and Bathurst. The car was retained as a spare in 2009 and 2010 before being fitted with a back seat and used as a ride car.1977 Ford Falcon XC Cobra (Bathurst Cobra). In December 1977, Ford built 13 special-order modified XC hard tops for race customers, to compete in the 1978 Australian Touring Car Championship. The modifications to the 13 hardtops form the foundation of the 30 special and extremely rare Option-97 (nicknamed Bathurst Cobra) Hardtops, with build plates 002 to 031. The Bathurst Cobras featured a larger radiator, driver-switchable twin thermofans, a gearbox oil cooler, additional suspension bracing and reworked wheel housing to accept the massive racing rubber. Distinguishing the 30 Bathurst Cobras is the large, functional rear opening bonnet scoop. The car on display is cobra #009, and presents in largely original condition.1960 Chevrolet Bel Air. The vehicle on display is a 4th generation Bel Air produced from 1958 to 1961. In Australia, Chevrolet competed directly with premium European brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar. A large fleet of Chevrolet Bel Air sedans were also used by the Australian government, including by some prime ministers during the 1960s! Australian market Chevrolets were either locally assembled or built in Canada and then imported, depending on the model.1963 Ford Galaxie Sportsroof. Produced between 1958 and 1974, the Galaxie was offered by Ford, with a variety of powerplants throughout the production run, ranging from economy 6 cylinders to behemoth V8 engines with capacities up to seven litres. To improve the performance of the Galax[e in NASCAR, Ford put in production in mid-1963 the Sportsroof, which featured a roof two inches lower than usual, improving aerodynamics. This led to Ford winning the 23 Grand National NASCAR races in that year alone. The ultimate offering of the Galaxie in the early 1960s was a limited production run of around 210 lightweight sports roof cars. They featured seripped interiors, lightweight bucket sheets, fiberglass body panels and a high-output 425 horsepower engine, making the car a sensation in street racing and on the drag strip in the United States.Alongside the Galaxie is a 1976 Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am. The Trans-Am was produced between 1969 and 2002 as an enhanced version of the Firebird. The F-body platform was shared with the Camaro, and this same platform continued to be used in pretty early 2000s. The car on display was auctioned new with the 400 cubic inch (6.5 litre) Pontiac V8. This car has travelled just 54,000 miles (86,000 km) since new, remaining in the original left-hand drive configuration, even after being imported to Australia.2021 Shelby Mustang GT500 Golden Ticket. This is equipped with a handbuilt 5.2 litre supercharged Predator cross-plane crank V8. Producing 760 horsepower and 625 lb-ft of torque, sent to the rear wheel through a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. From a standstill, the GT500 can reach 60MPH (100 kph) in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).2018 Shelby Mustang Super Snake White Body. Power is rated at over 800 hp (600 kW). Shelby claims the car will accelerate to 60mph (100km/h) in just 3.5 seconds. The power plant is based on Ford's Coyote, 5.0L V8. The Super Snake is equipped with a supercharger. The wide body package includes new body panels that add approximately 4" to the track in the rear, and 2.5" to the front.1973 Alpine A110 (Dinalpin). Alpine was founded in the mid 1950s by a garage proprietor named Jean Redele, who began achieving success with lightweight aluminium bodies with Renault 4CV underpinnings, in the Mille Miglia and Coupe des Alpes (aka the Alpine Rally). The first Alpine model was the A106, a fibreglass-bodied car based on 4CV mechanicals. The car achieved a number of racing victories throughout the 1950s, later evolving into the A108. By 1963 this model had evolved into the iconic A 110, using parts from the new Renault R8 including the 1100 cc Major engine, or an optional Gordini power plant producing 95HP. Later, the 125hp R16-TS engine boosted top speed to 130 mph (209 km/h). Notable performances of the A110 include a victory in the 1971 Monte Carlo rally. Driven by Swedish driver Ove Andersson. The Alpine, a 110 was also built under licence by Mexican company DINA, a bus and truck manufacturer. These cars were branded 'Dinalpin'. The vehicle on display was produced in Mexico and was imported privately to Australia.Mundane cars like the 1965 Nissan Cedric 1500 Deluxe sedan also find a place here. A four-speed manual transmission with the top three gears synchronized was standard, with a three-speed manual fitted to 1900 versions. The Cedric replaced the Austin A50 Nissan was building under licence from Austin Motor Company of England, which was called the Nissan Austin, and also benefited from earlier vehicles built by Nissan, called the Datsun DB Series. All models were equipped with white-wall tyres.1977 Holden Gemini TC Last edited by SS-Traveller : 9th September 2023 at 21:50 . What just happened? A milestone in the long-term plan for bases on Mars was passed recently when NASA announced it had generated breathable oxygen from the planet's thin atmosphere. It's not a lot - enough to keep a small dog alive for over ten hours - but the hope is that similar technology could eventually allow astronauts to breathe and provide rocket propellant to get them home. When the Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in February 2021, one of the instruments it carried was a 40-pound, microwave-sized device called the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment, aka MOXIE. MOXIE has been working over the last 2.5 years to extract the trace amounts of oxygen from Mars' atmosphere, which is mostly carbon dioxide (95%) and nitrogen (3%). On its 16th and final run on August 7, the instrument made 9.8 grams of oxygen, bringing the total to 122 grams. NASA writes that the amount is enough for a small dog to breathe for ten hours. It might not sound like a lot, but it's still an amazing achievement and more than double the amount of oxygen - which is at least 98% pure - that scientists had expected MOXIE to make. When pushed to its limits at maximum production levels, MOXIE generated 12 grams of oxygen per hour. MOXIE works by pulling in Martian air via a pump and using an electrochemical process that separates one oxygen atom from each molecule of carbon dioxide. As the gases flow through the system, they're analyzed to check the purity and quantity of the oxygen produced. The aim is to scale up the technology so it can be used for future missions to Mars, enough for humans to breathe and for fuel to make the return journey back to Earth. This would allow astronauts to live off the land, using materials they find on the Red Planet's surface to survive, and make travelling to Mars more feasible as there would be less cargo to carry when making the trip of over 34 million miles. "When the first astronauts land on Mars, they may have the descendants of a microwave-oven-size device to thank for the air they breathe and the rocket propellant that gets them home," NASA officials wrote. "By proving this technology in real-world conditions, we've come one step closer to a future in which astronauts 'live off the land' on the Red Planet," said Trust Kortes, director of technology demonstrations at NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. The next step from the MOXIE pilot program would be to design a more efficient version of the instrument. Rather than MOXIE 2.0, NASA suggests a full-scale system that includes an oxygen generator like MOXIE and a way to liquefy and store that oxygen. Facepalm: It's looking pretty bleak for ruined FTX founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. Another executive in his crushed cryptocurrency empire has pled guilty to charges related to the collapse. It's the fourth co-conspirator to take a plea deal and turn state's evidence against the cryptopreneur. It's a good bet that SBF regrets not pursuing a plea deal himself. On Friday, another conspirator in the FTX collapse pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make unlawful political contributions and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Ryan Salame faces up to 10 years in prison and $1.56 billion in fines and restitution. Salame signed a plea agreement, so his fate is known pertaining to the monetary assessment. It stipulates that the defendant must surrender two properties, one business, and his 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S. He must also pay $6 million in fines to the US and $5.6 million in restitution to FTX victims and creditors. If he fails to meet these arrangements or if it's found that he lied on his financial affidavit, the penalty will default to the $1.56 billion judgment. The court will assign jail time of up to five years for each offense in a hearing next March. Starting in 2019, Salame worked for about a year at FTX subsidiary Alameda Research under another co-conspirator, Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison. He became co-CEO of FTX's Bahamian branch, FTX Digital Markets, in October 2021. CoinDesk notes that Salame admitted to trying to defraud the Federal Election Commission with illegal donations but fingered Sam Bankman-Fried in the transaction, claiming SBF ordered them. "I made political contributions in my name that were funded by transfers from an Alameda subsidiary," he told Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan. "[The donations] were for the benefit of initiatives introduced by others but supported by Sam Bankman-Fried." Salame said the plan was to support specific pro-crypto legislators in select elections to replace those looking to implement cryptocurrency regulations. These transfers were categorized as loans, but he said he was led to believe he did not have to pay them back and that the debt "would eventually be forgiven." Prosecutors allege that the transactions were a concerted effort to influence cryptocurrency regulations from lawmakers by buying off up-and-coming Democrats and Republicans with illegal campaign donations. The second charge is a process crime involving Alameda and FTX affiliates never filing the licensing paperwork with the Federal Trade Commission to transfer money to and from customer accounts. "[Mr. Salame] conspired to operate Alameda and its affiliates on behalf of FTX as a means for transmitting funds on behalf of FTX customers, even though Salame and his co-conspirators never obtained the required federal money transmitting licenses for Alameda and the relevant affiliates," read the indictment. During his employment at FTX, Salame made several large property and business investments in Lenox, Massachusetts. One of the properties he must relinquish hosts a restaurant called Olde Heritage Tavern. He also forfeits equity interest in the business to the federal government. The Olde Heritage Tavern has been a Lenox hangout since 1969, frequently compared to the fictional television bar Cheers. Its fate is unclear. The Berkshire Eagle reported that when Salame purchased the restaurant in 2021, he kept all the staff and rehired the manager from another restaurant he owned that became a victim of Covid lockdowns. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11.President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel Avi Dichter, who is on a visit to the country, through a video conference, Trend reports. The reason for holding the meeting in the format of a video conference is that the members of the Israeli delegation tested positive for COVID-19. Touching on the bilateral relations, they noted that President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog`s official visit to Azerbaijan this May contributed to the expansion of bilateral ties. The sides pointed out a visit of the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan to Israel a few days ago, and stressed the importance of opening the embassy of Azerbaijan in Israel. They hailed the development of cooperation in the field of agriculture and the exchange of experience in this regard, adding that there is good potential for expanding relations in this area even further. The sides expressed confidence that Avi Dichter`s visit would contribute to the deepening of cooperation in the field of agriculture. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of IC 1776, a barred spiral galaxy located 150 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces that is believed to have recently experienced a supernova. Supernova: A Host to a Dramatic and Cataclysmic Event The galaxy IC 1776 recently played host to a dramatic and explosive event - a supernova. Discovered in 2015 by the vigilant Lick Observatory Supernova Search, a global network of automated robotic telescopes, this event marked a transient, albeit powerful, moment in the cosmos. These robotic telescopes, which are run by a collaboration of professional and amateur astronomers, monitor the skies for short-lived astronomical occurrences, including supernovae, wandering asteroids, and gravitational microlensing. While the supernova, dubbed SN 2015ap, is not visible in this particular image, the Hubble Space Telescope turned its gaze towards the aftermath of this cosmic explosion. Through two separate observational endeavors, Hubble sought to dissect the remnants left behind by the supernova. This investigative effort aims to deepen our comprehension of the intricate processes underlying these energetic phenomena. IC 1776 is a spiral galaxy exhibiting an irregular shape with spiral arms that are somewhat challenging to delineate. The galaxy's periphery is subtly defined, while its core emits a gentle, golden radiance. Throughout the galaxy, the faint, wispy, and azure regions mark the birthplaces of new stars. Several stars and diminutive galaxies are scattered across the scene, adding a warm palette of colors to the tableau. Read Also: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Sees a Window to the Early Universe Through a Strange Dwarf Galaxy Named 'Peekaboo' NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope Captures Splendid Isolation of Supernova In its splendid isolation, IC 1776 offers a glimpse into the vast, enigmatic tapestry of the universe. The dance of galaxies, the fiery birth of stars, and the explosive demise of supernovae are all threads woven into the cosmic fabric, painting a portrait of the ceaseless dynamism that characterizes our universe. This captivating image serves as a testament to the tireless efforts of astronomers and the capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope to provide us with windows into realms far beyond our terrestrial confines. In related news, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope recently explored one of the most celebrated supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Situated 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A has captivated scientists for nearly four decades. Since its discovery in February 1987, it has been subjected to extensive observations across a broad spectrum, from gamma rays to radio waves. New observations by Webb's NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) are shedding light on the development of this supernova and its remnant. Learn more about this iconic supernova by clicking on this story. Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Captures 'Butterfly Nebula' In Stunning Motion | Fun Facts About This Beautiful Space Butterfly 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new Pixel bug appeared for smartphone owners with a persistent pop-up that asks to set up Assistant quick phrases for voice commands, a feature that would let them skip using "Hey Google" for the device to adhere. Here, the system shows a pop-up bug that will give users the bypass to say the company's name despite being turned on or set up before and not disappearing despite already being used. Quick phrases have been a significant addition to Google, allowing users to experience a smarter AI assistant that no longer needs a prompt to take effect. Pixel Bug Pesters Users to Set-Up Quick Phrase Have you come across this annoying bug on the Pixel already? The "Hey Google" Quick Phrase prompt appears on the user's notification panel via the Google app. According to 9to5 Google, it has been sending users this notice to turn it on, with reported cases stretching to devices as old as the Pixel 6, and it is an annoying occurrence for the Android 13 and 14 builds. Reported cases claimed that this feature appears daily on the users' notifications window and would appear some time again, even after swiping it away or heading to the settings of the smartphone. However, it differs for each user, as some reports claimed that on Pixel 7 running Android 13, it has only appeared once and never came back. Read Also: Google Pixel 8 Series Rumor: No Massive Changes on Battery, Charging Rates 'Hey Google': Will This Get a Fix? According to 9to5 Google, the bug is prominent on the Google app, which is in beta version 14.36, with the company not yet addressing anything regarding the issue. For now, it is expected that Google will fix it in future updates of its app, but currently, the Mountain View-based tech giant has yet to acknowledge the issue. Google's Pixel Development Pixel is now on its way to delivering its eight-generation release with the Pixel 8, which was unveiled ahead of the iPhone 15 after a massive leak by its team due to a marketing incident in the past two weeks. Afterward, Google officially introduced the new Pixel smartphone to the world, with almost the same looks as the previous version, but promises massive improvements. Some leaks claimed this Pixel 8 series would be more expensive than last year's release, with a French leaker reporting about the prices they spotted. Google will reportedly offer the Pixel for as much as $200 more than its 2022 price, but the report did not indicate why there are price hikes for the Pixel 8 and only said that this was the expected price for the European regions. Google is expected to improve more of the Android operating system now as the Pixel 8 was already confirmed and coming soon for all. However, this recent bug on the Pixel smartphones is plaguing users, with the Hey Google bypass popping up despite using it already. Related Article: Google Unveils Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and Pixel Watch 2-Should This be Your Next Phone? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Artificial intelligence has been said to potentially replace many types of jobs in the market, especially when it comes to creating content. A new AI tool could revolutionize the news industry as it aims to effectively create content from updates, which is something journalists do. Infobot Launches Industry-Changing AI Tool that Creates News Content by Synthesizing Updates According to the story by Axios, there are many AI businesses that have popped up recently but one of them specifically stood out when it came to the Demo Day presentations of Y Combinator. The specific startup that really caught people's attention was Infobot, which was said to perform as an AI-generated news network. During the Y Combinator Demo Day, Infobot specifically stood out due to its artificial intelligence capabilities that are aimed toward news content production. The article noted that the reason why this is important is to understand which parts of news content would be affected or which news jobs would be replaced. It was noted that the Infobot comes with a unique concept, which is to use AI in order to synthesize information that is already publicly available. This means getting direct content from local government updates, which a lot of the news revolves on. The Difference When It Comes to Human Journalists and AI When It Comes to Creating News The article highlighted that although human journalists are still capable of creating more complex reporting when it comes to writing updates discovering non-public information and even conducting interviews, Infobot comes with a different approach. As for Infobot, it uses AI systems to create updates on, for example, new bills passed or announcements given by local governments. This would help automate update creation of news pieces that directly stem from updates. The Website Uses 'Channels' for Its AI to Track Certain Topics It was also noted that its website allows users to create "channels" that come with their own specific topics or allow users to create their own custom topics. The channels focus on specific topics, with the AI producing content that's only relevant to their specific topics. Despite its revolutionary approach when it comes to news, Infobot notes that it won't be replacing newspapers. Instead, they want to expand the market when it comes to news through the help of AI. According to Justin Harvey, the co-founder, and CEO of Infobot, in an email to Axios, it was noted that they want to use AI in order to cover hyper-niche topics, adding that their service remains in the early stages as the company is still going through experimentation. Read Also: No More Grammar Errors as the New AI-Powered Google Gboard Feature Will Proofread Your Text The AI Tool Aims to Generate Revenue in the Future It was also noted that it plans to generate revenue in the future through a subscription model, sharing how the use of its service has evolved. The CEO shared that initially, a lot of users used their service in order to track investments. It was noted that the types of users it once had have evolved as they now serve more customers, including business executives, startup founders, and even community leaders. Related Article: Elon Musk's 'Superpowers' Boosted OpenAI Despite Being a 'Jerk,' Reveals CEO Sam Altman 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new generation of European climate activists is urging Greenpeace to reconsider its stance on nuclear power, which they view as outdated. (Photo : TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images) Greenpeace activists hold up a poster reading "10 billions for new nuclear bombers: Are you serious, SPD and Greens?" as they demonstrate against defence plans of the government to buy F-35 combat jets, in front of Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, on December 14, 2022. 'Dear Greenpeace' Campaign: Combating Climate Change Through the "Dear Greenpeace" campaign, Interesting Engineering reported that activists from five EU nations are asking the respected environmental organization to support what they see as a crucial tool in combating climate change. Ia Aanstoot, an 18-year-old climate activist, expressed a profound sense of urgency during a recent interview with "As It Happens" host Nil Koksal. Aanstoot passionately conveyed the need for Greenpeace to join the fight against fossil fuels but emphasized that its opposition to nuclear power was "outdated." "We are really, really desperate to have them in the struggle against fossil fuels. And it feels like a betrayal for them to be going up against nuclear power," Aanstoot noted. Nuclear energy stands out as a low-carbon energy source with minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. However, it carries substantial environmental and safety concerns that cannot be ignored. One of the most pressing challenges associated with nuclear energy is the managing and disposing of radioactive waste. Amid these concerns and additional factors, Greenpeace and other skeptics persist in their argument that nuclear energy presents too many drawbacks in terms of risk, environmental impact, and cost to be considered a practical solution to combat the climate crisis. The byproducts, including spent fuel and other radioactive materials produced by nuclear reactors, pose significant threats to both human beings and the environment for thousands of years. Safeguarding against contamination requires intricate and precise storage procedures. In addition to the waste issue, the extraction of uranium, used as fuel in nuclear reactors, involves mining and milling operations. CBC reported that these activities often lead to habitat disruption, soil and water contamination, and health risks to miners and nearby communities, underscoring the complex environmental and social impacts associated with nuclear energy. In the nuclear energy industry, power plants have a considerable demand for water to facilitate their cooling processes. That entails the extraction of water from nearby rivers or lakes, a practice that carries the risk of disrupting aquatic ecosystems and causing harm to marine life. Though nuclear accidents are relatively infrequent, their potential impact is profoundly significant. Events such as the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011 and the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986 involved the release of radioactive materials, resulting in immediate and enduring contamination of the surrounding environment. Read Also: US Scientists Hit Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough, Higher Energy Output Recorded in Experiment Greenpeace on Nuclear Power Amid these concerns and additional factors, Greenpeace and other skeptics persist in their argument that nuclear energy presents too many drawbacks in terms of risk, environmental impact, and cost to be considered a practical solution to combat the climate crisis. Ariadna Rodrigo, leading Greenpeace's EU sustainable finance campaign, argued against the viability of new nuclear power plants. She emphasized the importance of swiftly reducing carbon emissions and achieving this goal cost-effectively. Rodrigo expressed concerns that nuclear energy does not align with these critical objectives. Moreover, she asserted that nuclear energy is no longer a prerequisite in the current energy landscape. Modern energy storage solutions have made it entirely feasible to transition to 100 percent renewable systems. Rodrigo argued that solar and wind technologies offer significantly more cost-effective and expedited routes to curb emissions than nuclear power. "We have the greatest respect for folks who are worried about the climate crisis and want to throw everything we have at the problem, but building new nuclear plants just isn't a viable solution. The top priority is to cut carbon emissions as fast and, ideally, as cheaply as possible, and nuclear fails on both scores," Rodrigo told CBC. Related Article: US Scientists Hit Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough, Higher Energy Output Recorded in Experiment It is true that artificial intelligence brought massive wonders to the world, but Adobe took this opportunity to survey participants in the UK to know their perception of Generative AI in tech. In their discussion, Adobe found that Gen Zs and Millennials hold a high regard for generative AI, with some calling it as far as a "miracle" technology for what it has to bring. Personal uses and businesses alike have been benefitting from the top AI developments now, with many considering that AI will live on and see more integration in the future. Adobe: Gen Zs, Millennials Impressed with AI Tech (Photo : Photo by Onur Binay on Unsplash) Tech Radar reported that Adobe recently conducted a survey in the UK among 2,000 consumers, as well as 498 customer experience and marketing professionals, centering on the topic of AI technology for businesses. Here, the company saw a positive result for the generative and advanced technology, with the respondents giving it a high regard. As much as 52 percent have claimed that AI brought a "positive impact" on their lives, with the Gen Zs and Millennials representing the generation who are most impressed with the technology. Furthermore, as much as seven percent of these respondents claimed that AI is a "miracle" technology for them, adding more to the good praises for the tech. Read Also: Artists Make an Unusual Move, Defend Generative AI in Open Letter AI is 'Miracle' Tech, More Future Integrations? With the present generation holding AI in high regard, it only shows how artificial intelligence will be a massive part of the future for businesses. Adobe Firefly is one of the most popular techs in the world, and with the company seeing this positive insight from the public, there are more to come soon, from various companies as well. Artificial Intelligence Development The world has seen the wonders of artificial intelligence and its capabilities to help improve different industries in their content, with various types including AI chatbots, image and video generators, and more. However, the question now is how government agencies and regulators will move towards this, with California looking into the risks and benefits of AI. Different companies have introduced their machine-learning technology to the world, including the likes of OpenAI, Adobe, Midjourney, and more. And there are still massive developments in place now from different AI tech aspirants, and interestingly, a new model has the capability to change a person's age in images but keeps their unique features present. AI has the capabilities to change the world's perception, as it is something that can make humans trust what it has to bring to the mass media industry which we have now. The power of AI is incredible, and this was seen by Adobe in its recent survey among the public, with different generations considering it a 'miracle' technology, that can be a powerful tool for business in the future. Related Article: How to Use AI to Improve Customer Experience, According to the US Chamber of Commerce 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Meta is now set to develop WhatsApp to bring a new beta version that would feature cross-platform messaging, and this means that the instant communications app could soon send messages to other apps. Instant messaging apps now are centered on app-to-app communications, but that is soon to change because of a sweeping action from the European Union. The Digital Markets Act is set to abolish massive capitalism and monopoly on tech, with many companies widely affected by this including Meta, Google, Apple, and more. Meta to Develop Cross-Platform Messaging for WhatsApp (Photo : Dimitri Karastelev from Unsplash) As the European Commission named Meta as a "gatekeeper" last week, a new change on WhatsApp is coming, one that would revolutionize what the app has to offer. According to WABetaInfo, a renowned insider and analyst of the app, Meta is working on developing WhatsApp to bring cross-platform messaging to its systems. This feature is seen in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.19.8, with the analyst sharing a screenshot of the instant messaging app's "Third-party chats" window. This centers on the support that WhatsApp will soon bring for chat interoperability, soon available to the future versions of the app. Read Also: Meta Finally Brings a WhatsApp Mac App with Video Calling for Up to 8 People-E2E Also Available Chat Interoperability for WhatsApp in Beta With Meta being part of the "gatekeepers" list, the European Commission and the DMA's goal is to keep these companies "from imposing unfair conditions" among its users. This means that the apps under the companies from the list should have messaging apps that could connect with other services, including an alternative app store, a.k.a. the third-party ones. The European Commission further claimed that this law aims to "ensure the openness of important digital services." EU's Digital Markets Act One of the most significant rulings on technology now is the European Union's famed "DMA," also known as the Digital Markets Act, with the regulation looking to revamp the antitrust regime. This would highly affect massive tech companies from around the world and in the US, including the likes of Apple, Google, Meta, ByteDance, and more, with massive sanctions and rulings in place. The EU's DMA will force many apps in the tech industry to change the way they operate, with Apple seeing massive effects on the likes of Siri, iMessage, and more. However, Apple is standing firm on its decision to focus on its iMessage operations and not adopt RCS, the universal messaging system that is widely used by Google's Messages app. Now, another massive company is making the necessary changes to adhere to the EU's DMA, with Meta looking to change a massive feature for WhatsApp's future iterations. For now, the information centers on an analyst's claims, saying that it is available on the beta version of the app, with Meta looking to develop it further in compliance with the European Union. Related Article: UK Government Backs Down in Pursuing Messaging Apps Encryption Rules After Threats From Apple, WhatsApp 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hermes has removed all mentions of Apple Watch and its compatible bands from its website. This move hints at a potential shift away from leather materials in Apple Watch bands and raises questions about the future of their partnership. (Photo : Stephen Lam/Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: An Apple Watch Hermes is seen during a launch event on September 7, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Removing Apple Watch in Hermes Six days after a prediction that Apple might shift away from leather in its Apple Watch bands, Hermes has made a significant move by removing all Apple Watch-related items from its website, 9to5Mac reported. Hermes, a longstanding partner of Apple Watch, has taken a bold step by removing all references to the wearable and its compatible bands from its website. This development raises questions about the Apple Watch's transition away from leather materials. Furthermore, it raises the possibility of a significant shift in the luxury design house's partnership with Apple, signaling a departure from their traditional collaborations. Apple's website continues hosting the Hermes landing page, where a limited number of Apple Watch Hermes models are still in stock and can be purchased. Apple also offers its employees substantial discounts of up to 90% on the remaining Apple Watch Hermes models. As Hermes removes all Apple Watch-related content from its website, the question arises: Could this signify the end of the partnership between Hermes and Apple? While Hermes has primarily offered luxurious leather bands for the Apple Watch, they have also introduced the "Casaque Single Tour" with woven nylon. One possibility is that Hermes may have considered creating non-leather options, but Apple's decision to move away from leather could have been a decisive factor for the luxury brand. Conversely, it's plausible that Hermes has removed all Apple Watch content from its site in anticipation of a refreshed leather-free lineup. This could include a range of new luxury watch bands and new Apple Watch Hermes models, aligning with the launch of Series 9. Read Also: Apple WatchOS 10 Third Beta Seeded: Developer Testing Begins Apple Removing Leather Bands Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported about Apple's plans to shift away from leather for its Apple Watch bands and iPhone 15 cases. These are among the intriguing developments revealed ahead of Apple's upcoming iPhone and Apple Watch event on September 12. "I am expecting Apple to begin moving away from leather on its Apple Watch bands as well, but unclear how this impacts the Hermes partnership (I would assume it does not)," Gurman wrote on X. A sample/replica of the new leather-free iPhone 15 case. I am expecting Apple to begin moving away from leather on its Apple Watch bands as well, but unclear how this impacts the Hermes partnership (I would assume it does not). https://t.co/dUA36mX2BL Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 5, 2023 Gurman also said: "I'm told that Apple last month started offering employees its Hermes leather accessories (and leather link bands) at up to 90% off." The Apple insider reported that the discounts offered to Apple employees are notably substantial. For instance, a Hermes band, typically priced at approximately $850, is now available to Apple employees for just $85, according to Gurman. While such significant discounts to employees often indicate a product line clearance or discontinuation, it appears unlikely that Apple would entirely sever its ties with a premium brand like Hermes, given its history of complementary collaborations. Related Article: Apple's September Event: iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9, and More Unveilings to Watch For 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Personal robots are purpose-built machines designed to assist with a multitude of everyday tasks. These adaptable devices come in various forms and are capable of performing diverse functions, including automating household chores or offering companionship and aid to individuals. (Photo : Gretchen Ertl) Sharifa Alghowinem, a research scientist in the Media Labs Personal Robots Group, poses with Jibo, a friendly robot companion developed by Professor Cynthia Breazeal. A Robot that Can Explain Emotions One noteworthy personal robot is Jibo, created by MIT Professor and Dean for Digital Learning and the founder of MIT's Media Lab Personal Robots Group (PRG) Cynthia Breazeal. Interesting Engineering reported that Jibo stands out for its unique ability to do something that not all humans can: explain emotions. It accomplishes this feat in multiple languages, including English and Arabic. Breazeal's research delves into the potential evolution of companion robots beyond mere transactional assistants, capable of more than just completing tasks like checking the weather, managing to-do lists, or adjusting lighting. The MIT Media Lab's PRG team developed Jibo with the aspiration of transforming it into a knowledgeable mentor and a friend, thereby advancing the field of social robotics technology. Presently, Sharifa Alghowinem, a research scientist at PRG, is taking Jibo to the next level by training it for mental health care and educational roles. Through her efforts, Jibo is now equipped to employ principles of positive psychology to provide guidance and support to individuals in need of emotional assistance. In one notable study, Jibo demonstrated its ability to adapt its interactions with patients based on their responses. The robot effectively utilized a combination of verbal and non-verbal cues, including extended pauses and self-hugging motions, to discern the true emotions and needs of the participants. What's Her Purpose? In her upcoming project, Sharifa Alghowinem aims to support Syrian refugee children by creating a team of social robots. As per MIT News, these robots will help children learn English, develop social skills, and maintain their cultural heritage and Arabic language. While this project is still in the funding stage, Alghowinem is determined to bring it to life soon."We've laid the groundwork by making sure Jibo can speak Arabic as well as several other languages," Alghowinem stated. Alghowinem's mission is to harness the power of personal robots to assist Syrian refugee children. She envisions a team of social robots that can teach these children English, impart crucial social-emotional skills, and preserve their cultural heritage and Arabic language. Also Read: This 'Brainless' Soft Robot Can Navigate Mazes Without Human Direction-How? While her project is currently in the funding phase, Alghowinem is determined to turn this vision into reality. However it's worth noting that personal robots, while offering convenience, also bring forth privacy and ethical considerations. Issues like data security, obtaining user consent, and the potential for technology dependence are essential aspects that demand careful thought and attention. With the continuous advancement of technology, the prospect of more affordable, capable, and seamlessly integrated personal robots into our daily routines becomes increasingly likely. Consequently, it is imperative that these robots are crafted with meticulous attention to detail and a strong sense of responsibility. Related Article: South Korea Tops Global Rankings in Industrial Robot Adoption 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A team of Beijing scientists has unveiled a revolutionary gene-editing tool known as CyDENT. This novel technology promises greater efficiency than the well-known CRISPR method, a significant advancement for China's biotech sector, which faces potential US export restrictions. Game-Changer in Gene Editing Unlike CRISPR/Cas9, which relies on cutting double-strand DNA to make edits, CyDENT takes a different approach. According to the South China Morning Post, it enables strand-specific gene editing without any cuts, ensuring greater precision in genetic alterations. This eliminates the risk of imprecise editing and undesirable mutations. CyDENT utilizes a modular system for different phases of the editing process. This innovative design empowers researchers to tailor their approach for specific variations that arise during genetic editing, offering unparalleled flexibility. CyDENT's breakthrough lies in its ability to edit DNA in challenging environments, such as within human mitochondria or plant chloroplasts. While CRISPR relies on guide RNA, accessing these locations proved difficult due to the single-stranded nature of RNA. CyDENT employs a "protein-based approach" using a protein signal for transportation, bypassing the need for guide RNA. Related Article: This New AI Tool Could Accelerate the Development of Gene-Editing on a Large-Scale CyDENT Has Therapeutic Potential Within mitochondria, single-nucleotide variations linked to diseases have been identified. CyDENT's precise single-strand editing capability offers therapeutic potential through precise base conversion. In chloroplasts, critical for photosynthesis, improving energy conversion efficiency in crops becomes possible with CyDENT's precision. CyDENT's precision in editing one strand of DNA at a time opens new possibilities for controlled and efficient research into cell genomes. This precision can accelerate breakthroughs in understanding and harnessing genetic potential. Biotech Sector Restrictions in the US As China's biotech sector faces potential US restrictions, the development of tools like CyDENT may encounter challenges, as they partly rely on imports. However, China is actively investing in biotech development and research, positioning itself as a global biotechnology leader. While CyDENT does not depend on independent intellectual property, further research is required to optimize its modular elements for superior editing results. Safety and efficiency remain paramount considerations for human therapeutics. Nevertheless, CyDENT holds immense promise for exploring previously un-editable DNA. What's The Catch With CyDENT? According to another report by Interesting Engineering, Chinese researchers said that there are risks and issues that can emerge when CyDENT is used. One of the main problems that is observed in this genome editing tool is the off-target effects. There are some cases in which it could "unintentionally" cut DNA similar to the target sequence. Aside from that, off-target mutations can bring out adverse effects on the individual. For instance, this risk could introduce new diseases to the body of a person. Back in March 2023, another group of Chinese scientists said that the new CRISPR-based genome editing technique can restore vision in blind mice. As Tech Times reported at that time, this versatile method known as PESpRY can correct the mutation in an enzyme responsible for vision: the PDE6. Read Also: Sony Rolls Out Aibo Foster Parent Program for Robot Dogs 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A closed-door gathering, convened by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, will bring together influential figures in Big Tech to brainstorm strategies for regulating the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. This historic event is expected to have profound consequences for humanity, as the tech world and the public prepare for a week of public hearings on artificial intelligence. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) U.S. President Joe Biden gives remarks on Artificial Intelligence in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on July 21, 2023, in Washington, DC. Tech Billionaire Gathering All 100 senators will convene on Wednesday morning to hear from a group of tech luminaries, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Sam Altman. The program will be the focus of heated talks throughout the autumn, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has given it the moniker "AI Insight Forum." Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine intends to attend, but Republican James Lankford predicts "a lot of drama" because of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's well-reported feud. It is anticipated that workers, lobbyists, and media will attend the conference of tech billionaires, which would need stricter security measures to protect the guests. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is one of the attendees. Read Also: Instagram Blocks Canadian News Outlets as Tech Giants Clash with Government Over Online News Act AI Discussions The Senate will hold two hearings on AI businesses' openness and public confidence, while the House Oversight subcommittee, chaired by Representative Nancy Mace, will host a hearing on the use of AI by government agencies. Leaders from Microsoft and Nvidia will testify at a hearing on AI supervision and rules held by the Judiciary's subcommittee on technology and privacy. The expanding use of AI across numerous industries is the focus of these events. U.S. AI Act Senators Blumenthal and Hawley, who are leading the U.S. Senate, have presented the U.S. Bipartisan legislation known as the AI Act imposes transparency standards for AI training data and model correctness as well as registration requirements for AI enterprises with an independent monitoring body. This is consistent with Senate Majority Leader Schumer's AI effort, which seeks to address the difficulties brought on by AI. Schumer has not previously focused on AI policy, but he has established a bipartisan working group with Senators Todd Young, Martin Heinrich, and Mike Rounds to weigh the potential advantages of AI with the dangers it poses, such as job displacement, election interference, disinformation, and national security concerns. Necessary Discussions In order to tackle the difficult task of drafting AI legislation across several congressional committees, Schumer is dedicated to participating in AI forums. The objective is to gather data to aid committee heads in determining how AI will affect their respective fields. The impact of AI is felt in a variety of industries, including copyright infringement and the development of new AI standards by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While the path to AI legislation remains uncertain, Congress is in the "learning phase" and will likely continue for a considerable time. Senator Cynthia Lummis emphasizes the importance of regulations that don't stifle innovation, especially from smaller inventors. Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans have voiced concerns about the overregulation of AI due to its complexity and limited understanding among lawmakers. Related Article: Tech Giants Apple, Microsoft, and Google to Build Support for Passwordless Sign-In Across All Platforms 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Negotiations of the trilateral working group on unblocking transportation links in the South Caucasus continue, but the aggravation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has a negative impact on this activity. Russian Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk told reporters at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Trend reports. "Of course, any aggravations always have a negative impact on our work, hold back, delay, and time passes before we come back again, sit down and start working further," he said. "Negotiations have not been suspended, they are continuing." According to Overchuk, the next meeting of Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Ministers on unblocking transportation ties in the region will take place when conditions are right. Earlier, he noted the significant progress in the coordination of unblocking of transport communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia following the results of the last meeting of the working group. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai has affirmed the enduring partnership between Google and chipmaker Nvidia. With over a decade of collaboration, Pichai expects this relationship to continue for the next 10 years. He praised Nvidia's remarkable achievements in AI innovation. Google and Nvidia to Continue Partnership For the Next Decade Google's close collaboration with Nvidia spans numerous initiatives, including their significant contributions to Android. This long-standing partnership has been characterized by deep technological integration and a shared vision for innovation. In a report by Wired, Pichai acknowledges Nvidia's impressive track record in AI innovation. Nvidia has been a frontrunner in the AI landscape, with its powerful GPUs sought after by a range of entities, including cloud companies, government agencies, and startups. These GPUs play a pivotal role in training and deploying generative AI models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. "Look, the semiconductor industry is a very dynamic, cooperative industry. It's an industry that needs deep, long-term R&D and investments. I feel comfortable about our relationship with Nvidia and that we are going to be working closely with them 10 years from now," Pichai said. Google's Pursuit of AI Excellence In the competitive arena of AI, Google is vying with industry leaders like OpenAI and Microsoft to establish itself as a pioneer in AI innovation. Google has introduced a series of AI solutions, including Bard, its chatbot, across various business units. For Pichai, the company should leave a profound impact in the field of AI, He describes it as one of the most transformative technologies in the company's portfolio. Related Article: Google Employees Sign Petition, Calling CEO Pichai for Better Treatment During Layoffs Nvidia is Benefiting From the Partnership Nvidia's business has witnessed remarkable growth, reflected in its soaring stock price, which has surged by nearly 212% year-to-date. This surge is a testament to the increasing demand for Nvidia's powerful GPUs in the cloud computing sector and other industries. According to CNBC, the semiconductor company announced that its quarterly revenue had doubled compared to its 2022 revenue during the 2nd quarter earnings report. Furthermore, Nvidia forecasts that a 170% sales growth is projected to happen for the current quarter. Sundar Pichai's Public Memo at 25 As per The Verge, Pichai penned a 2,400-word public memo about Google's vision. The tech publication wrote some of the few lines that the CEO mentioned. "It was a platform that appealed to small businesses in particular, like the mail-order business selling lobsters that was the first to sign up," Pichai said when asked what he said in his Google interview. He also mentioned in the memo that the presence of AI is a symbol of success. By 2048, he expects that a teen will look at all AI-infused technologies, and from here, he knows that the world has succeeded. Beyond Google's tools, he added that the company is more than just an advertising platform. With Search and other features, it can boost business sales and leave a "transformational impact" on the millions of businesses thriving in the digital economy. Read Also: Google, Microsoft Shift Focus to AI in Q1 Earnings Boost; Who Impressed Investors the Most? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Samsung might have earlier teased the fans with one of its Fan Edition devices. The user manual of the Galaxy Buds FE appears to have been leaked "unintentionally" by the company. However, some people believe that it's Samsung's way of showing the amazing features of the earbuds. Well-Kept Secret by Samsung But Not Anymore Samsung managed to keep one of its Fan Edition offerings a well-guarded secret until recently. While the Galaxy S23 FE, Tab S9 FE, and Tab S9 FE+ were widely anticipated, the Galaxy Buds FE took the tech world by surprise with its unique positioning. As spotted by Galaxy Club, the Galaxy Buds FE, as the name suggests, are tailored for those seeking budget-friendly yet feature-packed earbuds. They're set to bring top-notch active noise cancellation and ambient sound support to the masses, redefining affordability in the premium audio market. Related Article: Must-Purchase Samsung Galaxy S23 Accessories of 2023 How Much is the Galaxy Buds FE? While exact pricing remains a mystery, we can anticipate a competitive range, possibly around $120 to $130 in the US. This positions them as strong contenders against Apple's AirPods 3 and Sony's LinkBuds S, offering more bang for your buck. When it comes to its components, Samsung's official German support website unintentionally spilled the beans on the Galaxy Buds FE's design and some key features. The site inadvertently revealed that the upcoming wearable has a nice touchpad area which makes it more unique than the rest. Unfortunately, details like battery life, water resistance, sound tech, and color options are yet to be revealed. Samsung S23 FE Leak Back in August, Tech Times told us that there were rumors pointing to the arrival of two Fan Edition smartphones in Q4 2023. According to the popular tech leaker Max Jambor, the Galaxy S23 FE will be water and dust-resistant thanks to its impressive IP68 rating. Since it's FE, it's expected to be cheaper than the standard S23 models. This could be the right pick for those who can't buy the typical Galaxy handsets upon launch. Will We Have More Fan Edition Devices in the Future? Fan Edition devices are poised for a comeback, blending premium features with budget-friendly pricinga smart strategy in today's tech landscape. While the Galaxy Buds FE awaits its official debut, Samsung fans can also look forward to the Galaxy S23 FE, Tab S9 FE, and Tab S9 FE+, with sequels to the higher-end earbuds potentially on the horizon for 2024. According to Phone Arena, there's no assurance that the foldable phone dubbed "Galaxy Z FE" will be launched in the coming months. If its release is timed appropriately with Galaxy Buds FE, it could be one of its best companion items. As of writing, it's still not safe to say that we can see this item by year-end. If not, we could probably witness its debut by early 2024, but still, this appears improbable. Read Also: This Garmin Venu 2 Is Cheaper Alternative Than Apple Watch Series 9: Save $150 With This Deal 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva released a statement about Azerbaijani soldier Khayyam Eminov blowing up on a mine, the Ombudsman's Office told Trend. According to the statement, mines laid on the lands of Azerbaijan by the Armenian armed forces and Armenian illegal armed groups [which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war] continue to pose a threat to people's lives. "On September 10, at about 13:30 (GMT +4), the Azerbaijan Army serviceman, Khayyam Eminov blew up on an anti-personnel mine buried on the supply road of the Azerbaijan Army Units in the Aghdam district by a reconnaissance-sabotage group of illegal Armenian armed detachments," the statement said. "Unfortunately, despite repeated requests, the Armenian side still refuses to provide Azerbaijan with accurate maps of the mined areas," the statement noted. "The lack of influence of the international community, authoritative international organizations on Armenia in connection with mine terrorism leads to the fact that the Armenian side continues to commit such provocations, as a result of which people die or get seriously injured," the statement pointed out. "I strongly condemn these provocations of Armenia and call on the international community to put pressure on Armenia in order to prevent mine terror that threatens the lives of our military personnel, as well as civilians, and to provide our country with accurate mine maps," the statement added. The wounded serviceman was immediately provided with first aid and evacuated to a military medical facility. Currently, the engineer-sapper units are conducting work on clearing this area. Since the end of second Karabakh war, 306 Azerbaijanis have become victims of landmines and unexploded ordnance. Rogelio Enriquez: "It seems that all famous chefs are men, but in the kitchens of Madrid there are a lot of women who do not appear in the photos and we want to bring them to light" BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. First Deputy Minister of Defense Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev has started official visit to the Republic of Turkiye on September 11, Trend reports via Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense He is scheduled to hold a number of meetings with the military leadership of Turkiye as part of the visit held at the invitation of the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Army General Metin Gurak. Issues of cooperation in military, military-technical, military education and a number of other fields to be discussed as part of the visit. Metin Gurak previously visited Azerbaijan in the end of August. This was his first official visit to the country. He noted the importance of the joint events planned to be held in 2024 with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish servicemen. In a meeting with Azerbaijani military officials, he discussed the results of the work carried out in the direction of further expansion of cooperation in military, military-technical, military-educational, and other fields, as well as the importance of implementing these activities more intensively. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Heads of working groups on inter-parliamentary relations of Milli Majlis (Parliament) and heads of Azerbaijani delegations in international parliamentary organizations have addressed the heads of international parliamentary organizations and parliaments of foreign countries on the so-called "elections" of the separatist regime established by Armenia on the territory of Azerbaijan in Karabakh, informed the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports. The appeal states that the illegal activities of the so-called "presidential elections" of the separatist regime established by Armenia in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region grossly violate the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan, as well as the norms and principles of international law. It is stressed that the separatist regime is a direct consequence of the policy of aggression and ethnic cleansing conducted by Armenia in the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan for almost 30 years, and its existence was possible due to the military, political, financial, and other support of Armenia. It is noted that against the backdrop of the peace initiative firmly launched by Azerbaijan after the end of the conflict in 2020, Armenia's latest provocative activities are a serious blow to the efforts of normalization in the region and the reintegration of ethnic Armenian residents into the constitutional framework of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The appeal states that the holding of the so-called "elections" once again clearly demonstrates that Armenia and the separatist regime it created are not interested in the peace process. In addition, Armenia's obstruction of Azerbaijan's dialog with ethnic Armenians living on Azerbaijan's sovereign territory is a gross interference in the internal affairs of the country and a serious threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity. At the end of the appeal, the Azerbaijani deputies called on their colleagues to give a correct political assessment of the steps directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and strongly condemn the illegal so-called "election" activities. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined New York politicians and mourners at a 9/11 memorial ceremony at ground zero Monday. The bipartisan group of politicians was not scheduled to speak at the ceremony, marking the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. The solemn ceremony in lower Manhattan was instead focused on the hourslong reading of the names of the dead. The hijacked plane attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives and upended American foreign policy and national security also created a sense of national unity across the political spectrum rarely seen in today's U.S. politics. Monday's ceremony brought political opponents to the same hallowed ground, though they did not appear to be interacting. Harris, who arrived with New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, passed not far from where DeSantis and his wife stood. Along with Harris were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Not far away was Giuliani, who was once hailed as America's Mayor for leading New York City through the wake of the attacks but has in recent years become tied to former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Joe Biden in the presidential election. Ground zero has long been off-limits for politics on Sept. 11, and for many years Republicans and Democrats would stand side-by-side to hear the ringing of the bells and the reading of the victims names Trump, a former New Yorker, did not attend Monday's ceremony but instead released a brief video statement talking about the attacks and honoring first responders. Biden was scheduled to mark the day of remembrance at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way back to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in New York City on Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks as President Joe Biden heads to Alaska amid some right-wing criticism. Ms Harris arrived in LaGuardia Airport in Queens on Monday to commemorate the terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda on the World Trade Center that caused the two buildings in New York City to collapse. The vice president will head to the National September 11th Memorial in Manhattan and will join a variety of New York elected officials including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former mayor Michael Bloomberg. The visit comes as some right-wing media figures criticised Mr Biden, who is in Asia, for choosing to commemorate the anniversary at a US military base in Anchorage, Alaska where more than 11,000 US servicemembers are stationed. Almost all officials in the exeuctive branch will commemorate the terrorist attacks that claimed almost 3,000 lives. First Lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Ms Harriss husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, will visit Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where passengers on Flight 93 downed a plane that terrorists had hoped to use to attack Washington, DC. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who served as commander of US Central Command responsible for all US military operations in Afghanistan, will hold an observance ceremony at National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, which commemorates the area of the Pentagon where terrorists attacked on that same day. Unlike Mr Biden, Ms Harris was not in national politics at the time of the attacks and would not be elected to her first prominent role, district attorney for San Francisco, until three years later. Mr Biden at the time served as a US Senator from Delaware who spent years as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The US Embassy in Azerbaijan paid tribute to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Trend reports. "Today our Embassy, led by Charge dAffaires Hugo Guevara, marked the anniversary of the 9-11 attacks and remembered those who lost their lives. We will never forget how Azerbaijan stood with the United States during this tragic time," the embassy wrote on its page on X (Twitter). The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the al-Qaeda terrorist group against the US on September 11, 2001. The attacks killed nearly 3,000 people and injured up to 25,000. John Martorana, in uniform, a retired 39-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York City explains what is on display at the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Exhibit to, from left, Barry, Knox, Gay and Hale Sterker. The family was among visitors to the exhibit located in Veterans Park in Downtown Ponchatoula the weekend of April 14-16. The travelling exhibit tells the story of the heroism demonstrated by firemen, policemen and first responders the day the Twin Towers was attacked by extremists on Sept. 11, 2001. Loading The Commonwealth understands well the issues around security. It was fined $700 million in 2018 for breaching money-laundering and anti-terrorism financing laws for failing to report tens of thousands of potentially illegal transactions worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Since the September 11 terror attacks there has been an explosion in security-related laws. At first, they were directed specifically at bomb-carrying terrorists aimed at ending our way of life. Australias federal government, understandably, threw all manner of resources at dealing with the issues raised by September 11. That included legislation. About a decade after the Howard government first developed terrorism-related laws, I printed out every piece of security-related legislation dealt with by the House of Representatives. At that point, the pile was more than two metres tall. Its still growing. Then the world dealt with the global financial crisis when financial regulators discovered to their horror that a bloke in a motorcycle helmet was not nearly as dangerous to the economy as people in suits finding adventurous ways to squeeze profits out of the US property market. The global financial crisis prompted new waves of regulation that, in Australias case, was amplified by the activities uncovered by the banking royal commission, which tabled its report in 2019, that itself led to new laws (some of which are still coming into the parliament). Beneath all of this has been the revolution in the IT sector that has delivered us great benefits the reason bank branches are closing is that so many of us are moving money around via a laptop or smartphone. But that revolution has made it much easier for criminals, non-state actors and governments to target everything from your bank loan to the water treatment system. Thats required a huge investment in security measures. Cybersecurity is being promoted as an emerging industry, but the cost of it is weighing on businesses and individuals. Credit: Getty The federal government is part-way through a new cybersecurity strategy that would run until 2030. The discussion paper notes that the current cyber market is worth around $2.4 billion with revenues likely to reach $6 billion a year by 2026. Thats $6 billion a year that could be spent on something else. Its no coincidence that as all of us from governments to businesses to the person at home maintaining an Instagram account spend vast sums of money and time on extra security in all its forms that global productivity growth has slipped. Productivity growth, the ability to get more out of a set number of inputs, slowed in the wake of the September 11 attacks and has slumped following the global financial crisis. Loading While productivity itself can seem an abstruse subject, what it means is anything but. Our living standards are based on our ability to do and produce far more than our parents who enjoyed better living standards than their parents because of productivity improvements they oversaw. Put it this way: a person today in a single hour produces at least seven times more than someone working an hour in 1900. Technical and educational breakthroughs have been the drivers of that productivity surge. The recent intergenerational report, which itself was based on downgraded outlook for productivity growth in recognition of how it has slowed over the past two decades, noted that if productivity slowed even further then every Australian would be about $10,000 a year worse off in coming decades. Vested interests and lobby groups are a dime a dozen when it comes to ideas they claim will boost productivity. Be it tax reform to technology to better educated workers, everyone has an idea. Loading But you never hear people talking about the productivity impost of security-related measures. Yet, the cost of that security, from being held up at the airport by full-body scans to the Norton subscription on your home PC, is there and growing. As we as a community spend more time and money protecting ourselves from a growing number of risks, there is an enormous economic cost. And we are just accepting that cost as part of our day-to-day lives without a thought to its long-term implications. Google has amassed 90 per cent of the search engine market in the United States and 91 per cent globally, according to Similarweb, a data analysis firm. Fireworks are expected at the trial, which is scheduled to last 10 weeks. Googles CEO, Sundar Pichai, as well as executives from Apple and other tech companies, will probably be called as witnesses. Judge Amit P. Mehta, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2014, is presiding over the trial, which will not have a jury, and he will issue the final ruling. Kenneth Dintzer, a 30-year veteran litigator for the Justice Department, will lead the governments arguments in the courtroom, while John E. Schmidtlein, a partner at the law firm Williams & Connolly, will do the same for Google. Founded in 1998, Google has grown into a $US1.7 trillion giant by becoming the first place people turned to online to search the web. Credit: Bloomberg The jockeying over the trial has already been intense. The Justice Department and Google have deposed more than 150 people for the case and produced more than 5 million pages of documents. Google has argued that Jonathan Kanter, the Justice Departments head of antitrust, is biased because of his earlier work as a private lawyer representing Microsoft and News Corp. The Justice Department has accused Google of destroying employees instant messages that could have contained relevant information for the case. Kent Walker, Googles president of global affairs, said in an interview last month that the companys tactics were completely lawful and that its success comes down to the quality of our products. Its frustrating maybe its ironic that were seeing this backward-looking case and really unprecedented, forward-looking innovation, he said. Loading The Justice Department declined to comment. Googles search engine was created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page when they were students at Stanford University in the 1990s. Their technology was widely praised for serving up more relevant results than other web search tools. Google eventually parlayed that success into new business lines including online advertising, video streaming, maps, office apps, driverless cars and artificial intelligence. Rivals have long accused Google of brandishing its power in search to suppress competitors links to travel, restaurant reviews and maps, while giving greater prominence to its own content. Those complaints brought scrutiny from regulators, although little action was taken. In 2019, under President Donald Trump, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission decided to mount new antitrust investigations into tech companies as part of a broad crackdown. The Justice Department agreed to oversee inquiries into Apple and Google. In October 2020, the government sued Google for abusing its dominance in online search. In its lawsuit, the government accused Google of hurting rivals like Microsofts Bing and DuckDuckGo by employing agreements with Apple and other smartphone makers to become the default search engine on their web browsers or be preinstalled on their devices. Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy start-up with an innovative way to search the emerging internet, the Justice Department said in its lawsuit. That Google is long gone. Googles actions had harmed consumers and stifled competition, the agency said, and could affect the future technological landscape as the company positioned itself to control emerging channels for search distribution. The agency added that Google had behaved similarly to Microsoft in the 1990s, when the software giant made its own web browser the default on the Windows operating system, crushing competitors. A group of 35 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia also filed a lawsuit in 2020 accusing Google of abusing its monopoly in search and search advertising to illegally wedge out competitors. That case will be tried alongside the Justice Department lawsuit, although Mehta threw out many of the states key arguments in a ruling last month. In January, the Justice Department filed a separate antitrust suit against Google, accusing it of abusing its monopoly power in advertising technology. The company faces two other lawsuits from states that accused it of abusing monopolies in ad tech and for blocking competition in its Google Play app store. Google and the states said in a Tuesday night court filing that they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the case. Kent Walker, Googles president of global affairs, said in an interview last month that the companys tactics were completely lawful and that its success comes down to the quality of our products. Credit: James Brickwood For decades, judges have generally ruled against companies in antitrust cases only when their conduct hurts consumers, particularly if they have raised prices. Critics have said that lets companies like Google which provides internet search for free off the hook. Googles Walker said the case was a moment for the court to double down on that standard. American law should be about promoting benefits for consumers, he said. If we move away from that and make it harder for companies to provide great goods and services for consumers, thats going to be bad for everyone. Monopoly trials can change the direction of industries. In 1984, under pressure from the Justice Department, AT&T split itself into seven regional telecom companies. The breakup transformed the telecommunications industry by making it more competitive at the dawn of the mobile phone era. But the effects of the governments antitrust battle with Microsoft in the early 2000s were less clear cut. The two sides eventually settled after Microsoft agreed to end certain contracts with PC makers that blocked rival software makers. Some tech executives said the Justice Departments actions made Microsoft more cautious, clearing the way for startups like Google to compete in the next era of computing. Bill Gates, a Microsoft founder, has blamed the hangover from the antitrust suit for the companys slow entry into mobile technology and the failure of its Windows phone. But others have argued that the settlement did little to increase competition. Ultimately, the Google trial will test whether antitrust laws written in 1890 to break up sugar, steel and railroad monopolies can still work in todays economy, said Rebecca Allensworth, a professor at Vanderbilt Universitys law school. FICTION The Fraud Zadie Smith Hamish Hamilton, $34.99 In 1871, the most famous man in London was a ruddy-faced butcher from Wagga Wagga. His name was Tom Castro or perhaps Arthur Orton but he claimed to be Roger Tichborne, the heir to a venerable English fortune. It was a brazen deception, a great Aussie swindle. Young Roger had disappeared decades earlier, lost in a shipwreck off the coast of Brazil. But his heartsick mother, Lady Tichborne, kept up the search, buoyed by the rumour that Roger had survived the wreck and made his way to Australia (a rumour started by an enterprising psychic). Zadie Smith has a lot of fun in her historical novel, The Fraud. Credit: Getty When Castro got wind of the search, he spun a tale of stormy rescue and memory loss, the rollicking stuff of adventure novels. But the discrepancies were glaring. Roger was educated; Castro barely literate. Roger spoke fluent French; Castro not a word. Roger was a slight and willowy fellow; Castro rotund and jowly. Roger had an elaborate tattoo; Castro not a mark. But the elderly Lady Tichborne was adamant her son was home. When she died, the matter landed in court: first as an inheritance dispute and then as a criminal trial for perjury. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Precisely one year before I visit the set of the soon-to-relaunch Neighbours, an actor tells me the Nunawading studios in which it was filmed had become a ghost town just seven people in the whole building. But today, its heaving with hundreds of actors, crew and office staff; the queue for the lunchroom stretching down a corridor bearing cast portraits of Prisoner, Young Talent Time and other well-known programs filmed inside this 1960s orange brick monolith. Most of these people are here for Neighbours, a program whose return, after its controversial axing last year, seems almost as improbable as one of its presumed-to-be-dead characters making a shock reappearance on Ramsay Street in the fictional suburb of Erinsborough. It was the best plot twist ever, says executive producer Jason Herbison, who began working on the series as a storyliner in 1992. Sitting in his green-walled office, adorned with Neighbours cast photos from various eras, Herbison explains the shows axing in terms of simple economics: its UK broadcaster, Channel 5, wanted to divert more money into local programming. Without 5s substantial investment and despite the best efforts of production company Fremantle to find a financial white knight the soap that once had a UK audience bigger than Australias entire population was doomed. In an emotional finale that aired in July (featuring cameos from former stars Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce), more than 1.4 million Australians bade farewell to a series that, at some point in their lives, had been part of their nightly routine. It means so much to people to see themselves in our show and feel like theyre being noticed, actor Alan Fletcher says of the cast. Credit: Paramount ANZ Less than four months later, global streaming giant Amazon announced a deal with Fremantle to resurrect Neighbours. (Because Amazon is unrestrained by traditional broadcast schedules and can deliver the series to multiple countries, it can leverage Neighbours in a way that overseas broadcasters cant.) From September 18 in Australia, Neighbours will air at 4.30pm on Tens main channel and again at 6.30pm on 10Peach. All episodes can be viewed free for one week on the 10Play website before moving to Amazons Prime Video subscription service. In the UK and US, episodes will stream daily on Amazons non-paywalled Freevee platform and it will be available on Prime Video in Canada, Ireland and South Africa. We always knew we had a show that was still very popular and had a lot of life left in it, Herbison says. And I think the finale played a huge role in its return. Advertisement Alan Fletcher, who has played Dr Karl Kennedy since 1994, agrees. The head of Amazon in the UK took complete notice of the fact that 5.5 million viewers watched the last episode cumulatively, he says, referring to those who saw the finale or a repeat within 28 days of its initial broadcast. Not to mention there were so many petitions and so much social media activity. It was huge. I nearly broke my wrist running away from people who were chasing me down the street. Stefan Dennis on the height of Neighbours mania in the UK Fletcher is sitting at a table inside Erinsboroughs pub, The Waterhole. Beside him is Stefan Dennis, who plays the scheming Paul Robinson: the only current cast member to have appeared in Neighbours short-lived stint on Seven in 1985 before the broadcaster axed the show and destroyed the sets, lest a rival network try to poach it. Undeterred, Ten built replica interiors and re-launched Neighbours in 1986. I do remember our first night to air we had a commercial share of seven, says Rick Maier, head of drama and executive production at Tens parent company, Paramount ANZ. Thats an abysmal number. Cancellation was a very real possibility. Crowds gathered at Melbournes Federation Square in July 2022 to watch the final episode together. Credit: Aaron Francis Both Maier and Dennis credit Tens then-publicity team, including late industry legend Brian Walsh, with turning the show around. Before long, it was a runaway smash in Australia and the UK. Advertisement The UK success took everyone by surprise, Maier admits. At that time, local dramas werent really in demand internationally, possibly with the exception of Skippy. Dennis had no idea what he was in for during his first promotional tour of the UK. I nearly broke my wrist running away from people who were chasing me down the street, he says. I know it sounds ridiculous but I can only compare it to Beatlemania. Guy Pearce (left), Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue became major stars in Australia and the UK during Neighbours 1980s ratings peak. Later, I watch a scene being filmed no spoilers inside The Waterhole, involving an argument between a married couple. In the background, extras mime conversations while sipping fake beer (soda water with a splash of cola) and imitation red wine (blackcurrant juice). This isnt some daggy suburban pub; instead, its the kind of trendy venue that wouldnt look out of place on Melbournes Chapel Street. Advances in sound recording technology have banished the need for slightly shouty dialogue and better cameras have rendered harsh lighting obsolete. Anyone who hasnt watched it for a long time may be surprised, Herbison says. The sets dont wobble any more, the acting is real and naturalistic and the storytelling is contemporary and progressive. Advertisement One advantage of reviving a cancelled show is the opportunity to refresh it: in this case, with several new characters including Reece Sinclair (played by American actor Mischa Barton, who starred in teen hit The O.C.); gay couple Cara and Remi Varga-Murphy (Sara West and Naomi Rukavina) and their children JJ and Dex (Riley Bryant and Marley Williams); as well as Haz Devkar, portrayed by Shiv Palekar. Palekar, a graduate of NIDA, had grown weary of working in hospitality between acting gigs. To his amusement, he was cast as the manager of Harolds Cafe in his first regular television role. People use soap as a derogatory term but Ive seen high-end dramas that are a lot more soapy than Neighbours. Stefan Dennis Its a bit triggering in some ways but its actually less stressful than real cafe work, he says, taking a seat inside his fictional workplace. Growing up in India, he wasnt familiar with Neighbours until he moved to Australia almost 12 years ago (he is yet to receive residency or citizenship, despite many gruelling attempts). When I was auditioning, I just went on YouTube and found whatever I could. I saw the final episode, including Susan Kennedys monologue at the end, and it was so beautiful that I shed a tear and connected to it instantly. Thats when I realised this is something special and I wanted to be part of this new push. Its actually less stressful than real cafe work, says former hospitality worker Shiv Palekar, who plays Harolds Cafe manager Haz Devkar. Credit: Parmount ANZ Over the decades, Neighbours has received outsized attention for its high-drama plots including Harold Bishop (Ian Smith) being swept out to sea, leaving his beloved wife Madge (Anne Charleston) rasping in anguish on a rocky coastline. A few years later, it emerged that Harold, long thought to have perished, had actually been rescued by a passing fishing trawler and dropped off in Tasmania, where he lived with amnesia and worked for the Salvation Army. As luck would have it, he was dispatched to Erinsboroughs very own Salvos store before unwittingly visiting the home he once lived in, much to the amazement of Ramsay Streets long-term residents. But for veteran cast, the series enduring appeal is located in its relatability. Advertisement People use soap as a derogatory term but Ive seen high-end dramas that are a lot more soapy than Neighbours, Dennis says. I think the characters of Paul and Karl are an interesting example because as much as they might hate each other, theyre not two-dimensional; weve actually seen them come together as fathers and chew the fat when they need to. Fletcher adds: When we have characters with disabilities or illnesses, it means so much to people to see themselves in our show and feel like theyre being noticed. In some shows, every character is just there to service the plot whereas in Neighbours, every character has their own life and we find people saying, I relate to this character or I have a mate just like Joe Mangel. Loading In 2021, 17-year-old aspiring actor Henrietta Graham, who has Down syndrome, told The Age shed love a role on Neighbours. Fremantles publicist Kelly Davis showed that article to producer Andrew Thompson, who cast Graham as Sam Young, an assistant at Lassiters Hotel. (She was later revealed to be the daughter of Guy Pearces character, Mike Young). The first day was very nerve-racking, Graham says, but Im part of the team and I love [that the cast and crew] include me. Working on Neighbours has changed me; I feel more confident and independent in everything I do. Since joining Neighbours, Palekar has observed storylines that reflect many different generations and backgrounds; sometimes there are dark things but there are also moments of comedy and silliness and light. I think its worth repeating what Ian Smith said: that Neighbours is a show that teaches us, whether we realise it or not, how to live with each other and get along. WHAT: Neighbours WHEN: Weekdays at 4.30pm on Ten and 6.30pm on 10 Peach. Advertisement Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. In a further sign that Kew is having a moment, High Street restaurant Mister Bianco is moving to the site most famously formerly known as Hellenic Republic. On the eve of its 13th birthday, chef Joseph Vargetto has suddenly closed his southern Italian restaurant Mister Bianco in High Street, Kew, and sent his staff on holiday. Next month, he will reopen an expanded Mister Bianco in Cotham Road, closer to Kew Junction, in the premises occupied until recently by Sardinian restaurant Vita, Cotham Dining, and Turkish bar Nazar. Many patrons will remember the building better as George Calombaris Hellenic Republic. All of a sudden sleepy Kew is waking up. Joseph Vargetto, chef The 300-seat two-level building is a big step up from the old Mister Bianco, which had 80 seats across two atmospheric but cramped dining floors. Ive been looking for something that would allow us to grow, says Vargetto. My first thoughts were to renovate where we were on Kew hill, but our lease was coming up and then this opportunity down the road came before me. Its the right time. Advertisement Review Eating outGlebe Theres only one thing thats predictable about this new regional Mexican restaurant in Glebe You dont need to go to Mexico to taste Oaxacan food and mezcal. The flavours of the Pacific-facing region are now as close as Glebe at Nuu by Nativo. Terry Durack September 12, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The best venues to see and be seen at this October. See all stories . 1 / 9 The go-to dish: Enmolada, two corn tortillas rolled around marinated, grilled and shredded chicken. Edwina Pickles 2 / 9 Toloache, a sharply dressed ceviche of diced prawn, barra and snapper. Edwina Pickles 3 / 9 Pork belly with mole, grilled drunk peaches and mezcal molasses. Edwina Pickles 4 / 9 Memela del mercado, a tower of marrow beans and pork shoulder on a grilled maize flatbread. Edwina Pickles 5 / 9 Gaznate, a crisp pastry cornetto filled with sweet guava puree, meringue, quince and Oaxacan cheese. Edwina Pickles 6 / 9 The open kitchen takes up most of the space at Nuu by Nativo in Glebe. Edwina Pickles 7 / 9 Chef Manuel Diaz (left) and mezcologist Diana Farrera. Nick de Lorenzo 8 / 9 Each of the Mezcalina cocktails is designed to highlight a different species of maguey (agave). Nick de Lorenzo 9 / 9 Mezcologist Diana Farrera. Nick de Lorenzo Previous Slide Next Slide 13 / 20 How we score Mexican$$$ Kiss me. Kiss me a lot. Besame Mucho, composed by Consuelo Velazquez in 1941, is one of the most popular boleros (love songs) in the world. It is, of course, playing at the newly opened Nuu restaurant and mezcal bar in Glebe. It is playing at every Mexican restaurant, lets face it. But that is the one and only predictable thing about Nuu. Because Nuu isnt just Mexican, its Oaxacan (pronounced wahacan). Any cuisine in the world will get more interesting when you drill down to its regions and their specialities, especially when its a lesser-known, Pacific-facing southern Mexican region such as this. The open kitchen takes up most of the space at Nuu by Nativo in Glebe. Edwina Pickles Advertisement Normally, we can hum along to a Mexican menu with its classic and staple dishes, but these are new melodies to many of us: tetela, toloache, memela and enmolada. Executive chef Manuel Diaz, who is co-owner with his wife Diana Farrera, grew up in Oaxaca and cheffed at both Santa Catarina and Bar Patron since arriving in Australia. Hes proud of his rich and nutty and almost chocolatey moles, blending dried chillies, nuts, seeds and plantains into thick, nicely balanced sauces that beat an ancient drum. They are a natural fit with mezcal, the smoky agave spirit that fuels Oaxacan culture. If straight-up is too much of a challenge, start on one of Farreras Mezcalina cocktails, each designed to highlight the flavour profile of a different species of maguey (agave), and named for remarkable Oaxacan women. The super-smoky Maria Sabina ($23), for instance, named for a famous healer, brings together cucumber, ginger, basil and lemon with smoked rosemary in a very restorative way. Normally, we can hum along to a Mexican menu with its classic and staple dishes, but these are new melodies to many of us. Having already opened Nativo, a little taqueria in Pyrmont in 2022, the pair decided it was time to get serious about the food of their native state. The modest fit-out shows smart use of a compact space, with the kitchen taking up most of the ground floor, a little terrace out back, and narrow stairs leading to a first floor dining room with balcony. Diaz has a nice touch with presentation, building dishes on moles, grating queso fresco on top, and strewing them with flor de calabaza (in this case, zucchini flowers). An enmolada ($19) of two corn tortillas rolled around marinated, grilled and shredded chicken is thick, chewy and satisfying, with its caramelised onion, dark mole sauce and watercress. Advertisement Toloache, Nuu by Nativos prawn, barra and snapper ceviche in a cucumber-green dressing. Edwina Pickles The toloache ($26) ceviche is as wonderfully sharp as sucking a lime, the cucumber-green dressing refreshing a rubble of diced prawn, barra and snapper. A small square of rich, fatty pork belly with admirably crisp crackling ($26), is accented with grilled well, charred peaches, and an underpinning of cured mole. Better is the signature dish of memela del mercado ($22) in which marrow beans and pulled pork shoulder sit as a tower on a thick round of grilled, moulded maize dough sporting leafy greens, zucchini flowers, and quesa fresca. But whoever sends out the ensalada del huerto ($12) needs to check the cos leaf ends for browning first. The cleanest flavours come in a plate of ejotes ($12), snappy, lightly smoked green beans tossed with crumbled house-made chorizo sausage, which is pretty good in its own right. It sings. Gaznate, a Mexican street-inspired cornetto filled with meringue, quince and Oaxacan cheese. Edwina Pickles Advertisement Desserts are simple enough. A humble market-inspired gaznate ($18) is a crisp pastry cornetto filled with sweet guava puree, meringue, quince and Oaxacan cheese. Things to like include the mezcalinas, well-made and balanced introductions to the richly diverse world of mezcal; and the way in which everything is made by hand, the old way. Things to hope for include the service settling into a better rhythm (Im asked for an order before seeing a menu, and need to request napkins, cutlery and plates). And that every meal could finish as it did here, with a tiny carved bowl (jicara) of mezcal. We have a saying in Oaxaca, that you dont drink the mezcal, you kiss it, they say. Ha! Besame mucho. The low-down Vibe: Cosy and casual Mexican with a proud regional focus Go-to dish: Enmolada, marinated grilled chicken in rolled tortillas with queso fresco and watercress, $19 Drinks: Mexican beers, mezcal cocktails, and four wines Cost: About $125 for two, plus drinks Mexican food, but not as you know it: How Mexican chefs are taking risks in Sydney Agave ahoy: Mezcal takes off in Australia plus six ways to try it Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Review Eating outSt Leonards Dont miss the spectacular choc-rippled pastries at this destination croissanterie This croissant-centric bakery on Sydneys lower north shore has inspired a devoted and far-flung following for its creative takes on classic pastries. Lee Tran Lam September 11, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share The best venues to see and be seen at this October. See all stories . 1 / 8 The counter dazzles at Layers Sydney. Dominic Lorrimer 2 / 8 Frances Song with a chocolate croissant. Janie Barrett 3 / 8 Tiramisu croissant. Dominic Lorrimer 4 / 8 Layers signature chocolate bar. Dominic Lorrimer 5 / 8 Kimchi triple cheese pastry. Dominic Lorrimer 6 / 8 Triple-choc hazelnut croissant. Dominic Lorrimer 7 / 8 Coconut and almond cube. Dominic Lorrimer 8 / 8 Black sesame cube. Dominic Lorrimer Previous Slide Next Slide Cafe$$$ You cant rush the croissants at Layers Sydney each buttery pastry here takes five days to make. Theyre not ordinary baked goods, either, as a glimpse at the dazzling counter reveals. Many begin with the blueprints of a plain croissant and then bloom into something spectacular. Take the tiramisu flavour, created by co-owner Frances Song and pastry chef Coco Lam. Its a sculptural wonder: chocolate sails are cushioned with thick chantilly mascarpone ribbons and sprinkled with chocolate shavings and coffee jelly cubes. If architect Frank Gehry designed a croissant, it might look like this. But this is a pastry with a payload of oozing coffee-infused cream inside. To give this a signal boost, crushed coffee beans are added to the croissant amplifying the pastrys smoky, espresso-like power. Tiramisu croissant. Dominic Lorrimer Advertisement This isnt just an inspired take on tiramisu, it also reveals Layers Sydneys back story. The coffee that fuels this flavoured croissant is a signature blend by co-owner Jiyoon Song, a roaster at Headlands and Frances husband. They first met in Seoul and had originally planned to open a cafe in South Korea. But circumstances instead led to them launching Layers Sydney in April with Lam (whose CV includes hatted restaurants Nomad and Alpha) and baker Elwin Ung, Frances classmate at Meadowbank TAFE. During their patisserie studies, they dreamed theyd open a bakery one day. Theyve quickly gained an enthusiastic fan club for the St Leonards cafe: one group of visitors travelled from Newcastle two weekends in a row, enduring four-hour round trips for each pastry run. Another guest learnt of Layers while scrolling through social media in Dubai and made it a priority stop after Sydney Airport. The one-of-a-kind menu inspires such dedication. (Another bonus is that the pastries are designed to taste good when reheated: they dont become moistureless husks.) Triple-choc hazelnut croissant. Dominic Lorrimer So whats on this menu that inspires such devotion? Theres the signature chocolate bar croissant, an update on the classic pain au chocolat. Frances thinks the traditional pastry chocolate ratio is off balance, where the chocolate all clumps together and theres too much dough in other bites. Thats not really pleasant, she says. And Jiyoon doesnt enjoy the typical dark chocolate thats used. At Layers Sydney, theyve wrapped their croissants with bands of cocoa crisps and tucked a well-measured dose of milk chocolate inside. Advertisement To dial up your cacao intake even further, theres the triple-choc hazelnut croissant. It tastes like a fancy Ferrero Rocher, thanks to the toasted nuts and praline. The pastry is also richly pinstriped with cocoa ribbons and its packed with chocolate in dark, milk and custard forms. Theres more than chocolate; the kimchi triple cheese pastry has a shaving of gruyere atop the melted mix of tasty, parmesan and mozzarella thats encased with stir-fried kimchi. Its one of many Korean-inspired treats at Layers Sydney, such as the bulgogi beef and gochujang-spiced pork tarts. Then theres the bestselling truffle cheese and caramelised onion tart and sausage bread with tomato sauce and corn mayo salad imagine a pizza merged with a hot dog, Asian remix edition. Its the childhood bread that local bakeries have in Korea, says Frances. Layers signature chocolate bar croissant. Dominic Lorrimer The coconut and black sesame bread cubes are another highlight: instead of nursing sourdough during Sydneys initial COVID lockdown, Frances experimented with the milk bread that led to these refreshingly sweet loaves. The pastry counter might empty long before closing time, but you can still order macarons flavoured with black sesame, Earl Grey and mocha infused with Headlands custom blend. Created with roasting champion Takumi Sakamoto, the coffee is meant to evoke peanut butter and cinnamon. You can drink it with maple syrup inspired by Korean drinks. Advertisement Layers Sydney is an excellent addition to the citys baking scene and joins the gold rush of patisseries smartly reimagining what you can feature in a pastry counter (see Tenacious Croissants Korean-dumpling remix of a sausage roll, or Home Croissanteries genius potato-chip-like pastry). Were hoping in the future one day well be able to open one in Seoul, says Frances. But before they go global, Im grateful our city is the ground zero for their brilliant and unique pastries. The low-down Layers Sydney Vibe: A laneway patisserie offering inventive chocolate-rippled croissants, Korean-influenced pastries and other baked treats. Go-to dish: The tiramisu croissant, which features Callebaut chocolate shards implanted in elegant squiggles of chantilly mascarpone. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up A fake letter deceptively telling landholders to seek legal advice to protect their properties from re-acquisition by Aboriginal traditional owner groups purporting to be written by a member of the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria has been distributed to letterboxes in the states north-west. A spokesperson for the assembly said the letter which includes a reproduction of an assembly logo and has an upbeat tone conveyed misinformation designed to create confusion and unfounded fear about the re-acquisition of land titles. We recommend you seek legal advice, as new Lease Holds may be negotiated as existing Land Titles come under review, one part of the fake letter reads. In the lead up to the finalizing of Treaty Negotiations, Land Holders will be offered a one year amnesty, during which time they can explore their options with regards to legal advice. It also fraudulently claims: We are at the next phase of reacquiring land, with the assistance and support of the Indigenous Affairs Minister of Victoria, the Honorable Gabrielle Williams, and the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians the Honorable Linda Burney. The letter was delivered to addresses in the town of Boort, about 100 kilometres north-west of Bendigo. Read the full story here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. A delegation led by the Azerbaijani Parliament's Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova has arrived in Sofia on an official visit, Trend reports citing the parliament's press and public relations department. The delegation includes the MPs - Head of the Working Group on Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Bulgaria Rauf Aliyev, Agil Mammadov, Anatoly Rafaelov, the Chief of the Parliament's Staff Farid Hajiyev, and other officials. At Sofia International Airport, the delegation was welcomed by Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Filiz Hyusmenova, the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Azerbaijan Hamid Hamid, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Bulgaria Huseyn Huseynov, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ruslan Stoyanov, and other officials. During the visit, a series of meetings between the Chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliament and the leadership of Bulgaria are planned. Bilateral relations exist between the two countries in political, socio-economic, cultural and other spheres. Cooperation is carried out in such areas as transport and transit of goods, tourism, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, science and high technologies, education, military equipment, and others. A Sydney counsellor used by Vision Australia has been temporarily barred from working after telling two primary school-aged clients he would help get some petrol to burn down their school, and after starting a sexual relationship with their mother. Martin Francis Virgara, who runs Caring Conversations Counselling in Sydneys west, was handed an interim prohibition order in March after the boys school made a complaint to the Health Care Complaints Commission. Martin Francis Virgara was handed an interim prohibition order in March. Credit: Facebook Virgara attended the school in July last year with the family to discuss the boys behaviour and was described as unprofessional by school staff an accusation he denied. The school cannot be named for legal reasons. Virgara took the matter to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which last week revealed in its findings that he was in a sexual relationship with the boys mother, to whom he had also provided counselling sessions. CCTV footage of three men sprinting down a street in Sydneys inner city has been released by detectives who believe it could help find those responsible for allegedly attempting to murder a man outside a nightclub on Oxford Street this year. Emergency services were called to the Noir nightclub in Darlinghurst, about 3am on July 29, following reports of a stabbing. New CCTV footage has been released as police investigate the alleged attempted murder of a man outside a Sydney nightclub earlier this year. Credit: NSW Police Police were told a 25-year-old man was approached by a group of men armed with knives, including a machete. He was stabbed along with a 34-year-old man who went to help him. Ben Roberts-Smith is fighting moves by the Australian Federal Police and war crimes investigators to access restricted documents in his failed defamation case, amid dozens of active investigations into allegations Australian soldiers broke the rules of engagement in Afghanistan. The Commonwealth has applied for changes to national security orders to enable the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator to apply for access to sensitive documents on the Federal Court file in his defamation case. The OSI is the agency investigating war crimes allegations against Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in 2021. Credit: Dylan Coker On September 27, the Federal Court will hear the Commonwealths application for changes to national security orders, which were made in Roberts-Smiths case in 2020, and the related application for access to the documents. Luke Livingston, SC, acting for Roberts-Smith, told the Federal Court in Sydney on Monday that his client opposed access being granted to certain categories of information thats on the sensitive court file. The latest deadly car crash in Melbournes CBD has stirred up traumatic memories of the 2017 Bourke Street rampage for local traders, who fear people will avoid the city. Many businesses in Chinatown experienced a significant drop in weekend trade after a car hit pedestrians and two other vehicles on Friday. Zain Khan has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and other offences over the fatal Bourke Street collision on Friday night. Credit: The Age/Jamie Brown A 76-year-old Brunswick man died and five other people were injured in the carnage when a white Toyota sedan hit pedestrians and two cars. The 26-year-old driver of the Toyota, Zain Khan, has been charged with one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder and other offences. The comments prompted a sharp rebuke, with experts claiming they were wrong and Labor accusing Walsh of confusing the issue to weaken the case for the federal Voice to parliament. Native title legal expert and former director of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council Matthew Storey said the Coalition deputy leaders statement was simply wrong. There are no cultural heritage overlays. Heritage overlays in planning law relate to built (non-Aboriginal) heritage, Storey said. Walshs article, either through ignorance or mischievousness, confuses matters dealt with in agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act and cultural heritage management [under the] Aboriginal Heritage Act . Either way, it is fairly damning for a shadow Aboriginal affairs minister to get this wrong. Not only does he confuse these two important pieces of legislation, it appears he simply doesnt understand them. Treaty and First Peoples Minister Gabrielle Williams said Walshs statements were dangerous and part of a campaign of misinformation linked to the looming federal referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Gabrielle Williams. Credit: Paul Jeffers This misinformation has far more to do with an unrelated national discussion (the Indigenous Voice referendum) currently taking place, Williams said in a statement. Walsh has backed the federal Nationals party position to oppose the Voice. Last week, state Opposition Leader John Pesutto announced that he did not personally support the Indigenous Voice, but would not be campaigning on either a Yes or a No vote. Loading Walsh, in his piece, likened the agreement to the Indigenous Voice and the recently scrapped Western Australia cultural heritage protection laws, collectively labelling them as overreactions that exacerbate the sense of division in community. The WA Indigenous cultural heritage laws were withdrawn by Premier Roger Cook early last month after months of intense pressure from the states mining, farming and pastoralist interests. The overhauled protections were prompted by the destruction of Juukan Gorge in 2020, where rock shelters blasted by mining giant Rio Tinto contained artefacts and sacred objects that proved 46,000 years of continuous Aboriginal occupation. The legislation is considered by some groups as a practical alternative to the more lengthy native title recognition process. It allows the Victorian state government and traditional owner groups to make formal agreements that recognise traditional owners relationship to land and provides them with limited rights on Crown land. Williams noted the Barengi Gadjin agreement was the fourth signed by the state government and traditional owners. The agreement does not place any legal obligations on local government. It does not impact current council laws and regulations. Local governments are independent of the Victorian government and will determine their own commitments under the agreement, she said. Victorian Nationals leader Peter Walsh criticised a recent agreement between the Barengi Gadjin Land Council and the state under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act. Credit: Eddie Jim The Napthine Coalition government, in which Walsh sat as minister for water, agriculture and food security, signed the states second agreement in 2013. Barengi Gadjin Land Council chairperson Dylan Clarke said Walshs comments feel like a bunch of random complaints being lumped together and then blamed on First Peoples and traditional owners. Clarke, who also sits in the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria, urged Walsh and other politicians to engage with the council in a proper conversation. If the politicians have questions, were always up for a yarn. Its in everyones interests to get this right, so our door is always open, he said. The First Peoples Assembly of Victoria at Parliament House in July. Credit: Justin McManus Storey said that under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act agreements, a group like the Barengi Gadjin Land Council can only refuse a cultural heritage management plan to undertake activities if the plan does not effectively avoid or minimise harm to Aboriginal cultural heritage. Cultural heritage management plans were required only where an activity would have a significant impact upon an area of high cultural sensitivity, and where that area has not already been the subject of significant ground disturbance. Loading If the Recognised Aboriginal Party doesnt approve the plan, the proponent can seek review at VCAT. If there is no RAP, the (department) secretary approves the plan. The department may insist that a developer consults with identified traditional owners, but it is only a requirement to consult. There are no enormous intangible powers, Storey said. Asked to respond to the criticism, Walsh said he had met with a co-chair and the chief executive of the First Peoples Assembly after the publication of the piece. I raised issues of cultural heritage that need to be addressed, and it was a productive and respectful discussion, he said. Whats in place now has gone further than what was originally signed off on by the Baillieu government. First Peoples Assembly co-chair Ngarra Murray said conversations about giving Aboriginal people more authority in decisions about cultural heritage protection and caring for Country were not easy, but very worthwhile and long overdue. A workaholic father with no time for his wife and kids sounds fairly grim, but thats precisely the storyline of the Mary Poppins musical. Opening in Perth on Wednesday night, the stage show about the stern but loving nanny who helps a dysfunctional family is a timeless classic, according to composer George Stiles. Composer George Stiles and Stefanie Jones, who plays Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins the musical. Credit: Nic Walker Stiles argues the story is even more poignant now than when it was when written by Australian author P.L. Travers in the 1930s. Who doesnt love the idea that your life and your childrens lives can be fixed by a magical nanny who blows in on the east wind, who tidies everything up and leaves you a lot happier than you were? he told WAtoday. The genius of Mary Poppins is she simply holds a mirror up to all of that and allows them to see what theyre doing wrong. It is certainly universal, families get into pickles like that because people get their priorities messed up and children fall through the cracks and relationships fall through the cracks. Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, with a script by the Academy Award-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes of Downton Abbey fame, the show is produced by Disney. The original music is by the Sherman Brothers from the 1964 Disney movie, with additional songs by UK musical theatre team Stiles and lyricist Anthony Drewe. Labors signature $10 billion housing promise is expected to pass parliament this week after the federal government and the Greens agreed to a deal following months of protracted negotiations and delays. An extra $1 billion for a separate public housing fund ended the fiery tussle between Labor and the Greens to get the governments Housing Australia Future Fund up and running to deliver more social and affordable housing to the country. Greens leader Adam Bandt and spokesperson for housing and homelessness Max Chandler-Mather in parliament on Monday. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was pleased Labors core election promise to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund now has majority support in the Senate. With the Australian Labor Party, the Australian Greens and all the crossbenchers from the Jacqui Lambie party as well as Senator [David] Pocock, [are] all declaring their support for social and community housing to be built in this country, he said in question time. A clear majority of the public wants politicians to turn down free club membership from Qantas amid a political storm over the companys influence over government decisions, while 64 per cent also believe more foreign airlines should gain the right to fly to Australia to boost competition. An exclusive survey shows 70 per cent of voters think it is unacceptable for political leaders to accept the free membership of elite clubs such as the Qantas Chairmans Lounge, while only 16 per cent back the widespread practice among all major parties. Qantas likeability ratings have plummeted. Credit: AAP/ Alex Ellinghausen Only 15 per cent of voters want the government to limit flights by foreign airlines, highlighting the public mood after a contentious federal ruling to block more flights by Qatar Airways. The exclusive findings come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists the ruling on Qatar was a routine decision and hits back at claims that he was too close to former Qantas chief Alan Joyce. The case for the Voice is nearing disaster at the very point when Yes campaigners were assuming a surge of goodwill would carry them to a narrow victory at the referendum. The campaigners risk being swept away by a surge in scepticism when they were hoping for enthusiasm. That is the clear finding from the latest Resolve Political Monitor, which shows the No vote has climbed from 54 to 57 per cent over the past month. The latest Resolve Political Monitor shows the No vote has climbed from 54 to 57 per cent over the past month. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Weve got an absolute battle on our hands, said Yes 23 campaign director Dean Parkin on Monday morning. He is right. Only one core group remains strongly positive about the Voice: the younger voters aged from 18 to 34, who are 58 per cent in favour on the yes or no question that is akin to the referendum. But their eagerness for change is not powerful enough to determine this referendum. Healthcare students will be offered 12,000 scholarships worth $4000 a year as the state government attempts to halt the troubling exodus of nurses, doctors and paramedics from the public system each year, but experts warn it is not the solution to the system in crisis. Up to 850 new nursing students, 400 medical students and 150 people studying midwifery will be eligible to receive the $4000 grant. Students of paramedicine, Aboriginal health, physiotherapy and occupational therapy will also be eligible to apply. NSW Premier Chris Minns (right) and NSW Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park (left). Credit: Kate Geraghty Existing students can access a one-off payment of $8000, with a total budget commitment of $121.9 million being set aside for the study subsidies in next weeks state budget. But the grants come with a caveat: recipients must be willing to make a five-year commitment to the NSW public health system. Health Minister Ryan Park conceded that retaining healthcare workers had been made more difficult by competitive remuneration and better employment conditions interstate and in the private sector, but hoped the scholarships would shore up the public workforce. Press Release September 11, 2023 Sponsorship Speech of Senator Cynthia Villar On Senate Bill No. 1086/ Committee Report No. 12 ("Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act") Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, good afternoon. I rise to sponsor this substitute bill, Senate Bill No. 2432 or the "Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act", under Committee Report No. 118 of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform and the Committees on Justice and Human Rights; Finance; and Ways and Means taking into consideration bills introduced by Senators JV Ejercito (1688), Lito Lapid (1812), Ramon "Bong" Revilla (1891), yours truly (1962), Senators Joel Villanueva, (2127), Riza Hontiveros, (2205), Robinhood Padilla, (2214), Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, (2413), and Raffy Tulfo (2298); taking into consideration Senate Resolution 206 by Senator Imee Marcos and House Bill No. 3917 introduced by Representatives Marcos, Nograles, Luistro, et.al., which seeks to define and propose stiff penalties for agriculture economic sabotage to include not only smuggling but also hoarding, profiteering and cartel. The measure would repeal the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 or Republic Act No. 10845. With no conviction made seven years after the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act the, law as "a failure" at the hands of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which as provided for in SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations of the existing law was mandated to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations of the existing law within thirty (30) days upon its effectivity. It's been seven years and there is not a single conviction. Mr. President, according to the Samahang Industiya ng Agrikultura or SINAG, the Philippine government is losing at least P200-billion revenues a year due to smuggling. Smuggling brings about unfair competition for locally produced goods because it floods the market of cheaper agricultural products; it puts undue risk to our consumer's health, deprives the government of revenues from uncollected taxes and customs duties, encourages corruption and threatens the rule of law. Smuggling is one of the reasons why many of our farmers continue to live in poverty. The illegal entry of agricultural products threatens their livelihood and the welfare of two-thirds of our population who depend on agriculture. Illicit trade exposes consumers to unregulated products often manufactured in unsanitary conditions. Farm commodities being smuggled into the country include sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables as per data cited by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture. Smuggling of Tobacco has been included in the measure, with the estimated revenue loss from excise tax alone amounts to around P24.7 billion. According to Euromonitor reports, it is estimated that 16.7 percent or about 9.52 billion sticks of the total cigarette volumes sold in the Philippines will come from illegal sources in 2022. Most illicit cigarettes are shipped from Cambodia, Vietnam, and China, and enter through Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. In 2022, the National Tobacco Authority (NTA) recorded a total of 43.81 million kilograms of tobacco produced by the local farmers, of which 53 percent or 23.21 million kilograms were exported and 47 percent or 20.59 million kilograms were supplied to the local tobacco manufacturers. Tobacco is produced by farmers in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, La Union, Pangasinan, Isabela, Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Tarlac and Occidental Mindoro. To date, the tobacco industry employs at least 2.1 million people, including more than 430,000 farmers, farm workers and their family members. The increased tax made the smuggling of cigarettes an even more lucrative business. It may worsen the country's problem on smuggling. Illicit tobacco trade reduces the effectiveness of public health policies designed to discourage smoking, with unregulated, substandard quality and non-compliant products, it makes it easier for minors to access tobacco products and undermines the legitimate industry's business. Suggested provisions in the proposed law are the following: Economic sabotage shall refer to any act or activity that disrupts the economy by creating artificial shortage, promoting excessive importation, manipulating prices and supply, evading payment or underpayment of tariffs and custom duties, threatening local production and food security, gaining excessive or exorbitant profits by exploiting situations, creating scarcity, and entering into agreements that defeat fair competition to the prejudice of the public. The creation/establishment of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council which shall be under and chaired by the president with 15 members. Whose powers include the formulation of a national plan to address and counter the agricultural smuggling crimes enumerated. (In the proper time we will amend to state that majority to constitute a quorum shall one third or six members). The Department of Justice DOJ is mandated to constitute a special team of prosecutors all over the country, which shall evaluate evidence submitted, consolidate criminal complaints apply for the issuance of warrant, initiate the conduct of preliminary investigation. Create an Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Enforcement Group composed of seven government law enforcement agencies and representative (s) of concerned agricultural sector whose participation shall be defined by the Council, who shall effect searches and seizures, arrests and filing of cases before the prosecutor and appropriate agencies. Custody and disposition of confiscated, seized agricultural products and properties used in the commission of the crime: for highly perishables goods a video recording or photograph with the presence of the accused or his counsel with an elected public official and a representative of the National Prosecution Service or the media, shall within 24 hours after a video is taken shall destroy the same. For non-perishable goods, an inventory shall be taken in the presence of the presence of the accused or his counsel with an elected public official and a representative of the National Prosecution Service or the media, within 24 hours upon confiscation, store the same in a designated place by the Council. Once the case is filed, the Court may within seventy-two hours (72hours), conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated, seized or surrendered Agri and fisheries products, and direct the Enforcement Group within 24 hours destroy the same with the presence of any public official, a representative of the media, the DOJ, Agri-fishery sector representative. Any government officer or employee who violates the mandatory destruction of agricultural products shall suffer the penalty of life imprisonment. What to do with goods seized? Locally - sourced agricultural products subject to the crimes of hoarding, profiteering, and cartel shall be donated by the Council to the KADIWA or succeeding similar program of the DA for sale in its markets, the profits of which shall be used in support of its programs and projects for small farmers and fisherfolks. Properties used in the commission of the crimes of economic sabotage such as but not limited to vehicles, vessels, aircrafts, storage areas, warehouses, boxes, cases, trunks and other containers of whatever character confiscated, seized or surrendered in favor of the government, to be auctioned off or declared for the official use of Council, with the Special Team of Prosecutors and the Enforcement Group, monetary rewards and other incentives to informers, among others. DEFINITION OF THE CRIMES In Agri smuggling as proposed in the bill, mere possession or presence of any of listed Agri products in any BOC-controlled port, fish port, fish landing site, resort, airport or warehouse, cold storage, vessel and other storage area, shall constitute prima facie evidence or violation. The crimes of agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and cartel as economic sabotage are committed when the value of each agricultural and fishery product subject of the crime is at least P1,000,000.00, using the Daily Price Index, under Section 19 of this Act, computed at the time the crime was committed. Aside from agricultural smuggling, several measures are proposed to include hoarding, profiteering, cartel, and other market abuses as punishable acts. Agricultural hoarding is committed by undue accumulation and unreasonable refusal in the face of the existing shortage of products, artificial or real by person or combination of persons to dispose of, sell or distribute such products to the general public. There shall be prima facie evidence of hoarding when a person has stocks of said products thirty percent (30%) higher than his usual inventory. The determination of the person's usual inventory shall be reckoned from the third month immediately preceding the discovery of the excess stock in case the person has been engaged in the business for at least three (3) months; it shall be reckoned from the time he started his business. The proposed law defines profiteering as used in this Act is the sale or offering for sale of the agricultural products at a price grossly in excess of their true worth, as indicated in the Daily Price Index, in the face of existing shortage or emergency, artificial or real. There shall be prima facie evidence ("sapat ng dahilan") of profiteering whenever a product being sold has - no price tag or misrepresented as to its weight or measurement; adulterated or diluted; or whether a person raises the price of any of the product being sold by more than ten percent (10%) of its price, using the Daily Price Index. Cartel as a crime as used in this Act is committed by any combination of or agreement between two or more persons engaged in the production, manufacture, processing, storage, supply, distribution, marketing, sale or disposition of any agricultural and fishery products designed to artificially and unreasonably increase or manipulate its price, involving the agricultural products referred to. This also includes parallel pricing where multiple sellers or traders offer the same or similar product with similar price points leaving the consumer with no choice except to buy the same. Sa mga naka listang mga halimbawang na naunang nabangit, ito ay "prima facie" ng pag labag at mag bibigay ng karapatan sa mga authorize na miembro o grupo ng bumubuo ng enforcement group para makapasok sa lugar kung saan ang mga agricultural products ay makikita, kumpiskahin ang mga ito at arestuhin ang mga taong nasa lugar ng "krimen." The measure also increases the jail term for smugglers to 30-40 years, as well as the fine twice the fair value and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other unpaid charges of smuggled items. It also prohibited for farmers and fisherfolks cooperatives given grants by government in the form of cold storages, warehouses and similar facilities intended for their exclusive use are rented out or made available for the use in any way by non-members, such as traders and other private businesses. The proposed penalties are: Life imprisonment for any person who commits or aids in the commission of any of the prohibited acts enumerated. If a government officer or employee is the offender of the crime, aids in the commission of the crime, or prevents the filing of the case or its prosecution, or the actual arrest of the suspect, the penalty is also life imprisonment and in addition to his/her perpetual disqualification from holding public office, exercise the right to vote, participate in any public election and forfeiture of his/her employment monetary and financial benefits. The prima facie violation of any of the crimes as economic sabotage herein and the possession of any agricultural products as its threshold amount under section 4 of this act, shall be considered evidence of strong guilt, which renders the offense non-bailable. If the offender is a juridical person, the criminal liability shall attach to the president, the chief operating officer, manager or any officer who participated in the decision that led to the commission of the prohibited act; Any person found guilty under this act, shall be perpetually and absolutely disqualified to engage in any business involving importation, transportation, storage, and domestic trade of agricultural products. Mr. President, my esteemed colleagues For these reasons, I urge you to join me in enacting this measure. Thank you, Mr. President. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The Armenian armed forces units from the positions in the direction of Jil settlement of the Chambarak region using small arms subjected to fire the Azerbaijan Army positions stationed in the direction of Novoivanovka settlement of the Gadabay region on September 11, at 13:30 (GMT+4), Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. "The Azerbaijan Army Units took retaliatory measures in the mentioned direction," the ministry said. Every household has that box, under the stairs or in the garage, filled with a tangle of cables and a mishmash of charging plugs. This mess of copper and plastic is the final resting place for wires and old phones that have not been used for years. Many cables lie abandoned for so long their original use has been forgotten. Yet the wires remain, just in case someone, one day, can remember what they were used for. Apples new phone will be unveiled on Wednesday morning. Credit: Bloomberg Those boxes could be about to get even more cluttered. On Wednesday morning AEST, Apple will reveal its new smartphone line-up, launching the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. The phones will, undoubtedly, be hailed by Apple as faster, smarter and more powerful than its previous generation. But one update to the new phones was beyond Apples control. The US tech company will be changing its Lightning charging wire and port a technology unique to its devices to another type of cable, known as USB-C. Hazel Walgar stands on a sandy escarpment hemmed by one of the last intact arid-zone estuaries in the world. Ningaloo (Nyinggulu) reef dangles at her fingertips. Ngarri Yinhaya Baiyungu, she says. Welcome to the traditional lands of the Baiyungu people. Were speaking to the spirits and letting them know were taking you fellas on country, just having a look, not to harm but to protect us. Unscrolled, right in front of us, an insanely gorgeous fringing reef quivers with life for 300 kilometres along Western Australias coral coastline. Were proud to share this place with the world, says Hazel, words voiced as a representative of the oldest Indigenous civilisation with connection to country spanning tens of thousands of years. A smooth-faced border officer at the glossy Samarkand International airport was scrutinising my passport. Standing in his booth, wearing an oversized uniform, he inspected my photograph and asked where I was staying. He had already checked all of its 60-plus stamps and visas, and studied each of the security holograms, foil inlays and perforations; and he was now holding it up to a lamp, examining the watermarks on every page much to the quiet, shuffling irritation of the long line of Uzbek citizens behind me. Finally, he waved me through. Registan, an old public square in the heart of the ancient city of Samarkand. Credit: iStock I offered another European passenger a weak smile as I passed her. After similar scrutiny, her passport had been rejected until it could be seen by a senior official. But it wasnt Soviet-style bureaucracy slowing things down it was naivety. The entirely redeveloped airport opened only in March 2022, and the young border officer had no idea if her document was genuine, having never seen a Norwegian passport before. Home to some of the finest examples of 14th to 20th century Central Asian architecture, Samarkand is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Uzbekistan and among the most ancient in Central Asia, dating back to 1500 BC. Renowned for its craft production, it was one of the most important stops on the legendary Silk Road, a 6500-kilometre jumble of trade routes that crossed Eurasia from as early as the 2nd century running from the far east of present-day China to western Turkey along which silks, spices and jade were transported. Attracting merchants from far and wide, Samarkand is recognised by UNESCO as having been a crossroads of world cultures for more than two millennia. And then came the late 19th century. The Soviets invaded controlling the country until 1991 after which Uzbekistan spent several decades under the isolationist rule of President Islam Karimov, notorious for human rights abuses and enforcing slave labour in the countrys ubiquitous cotton fields. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said of the declarations anaemic paragraphs on the war in Ukraine: I think its an extraordinarily strong statement from the world at this G20 meeting. Said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: I think that a healthy solution has been found in the declaration regarding the need to strive for a clear and equitable balance of interests. The same words, with vastly different interpretations of a war that has killed nearly half a million people. How could this be? Only with a statement that offends no one and says nothing. Joe Biden arrives to board Air Force One on his way to New Delhi. Credit: AP US President Joe Bidens team spent much of their time reassuring reporters that the G20 mattered, according to those aboard Air Force One. We have consciously sought to make this G20 as inclusive and broad-based as possible, said Indias external affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who defended the summit as an economic gathering, not a security meeting. This is one declaration without a single footnote and without any chairs summary, added Indian G20 representative Shri Amitabh Kant. This is a complete statement with 100 per cent unanimity. Loading To get to their final state of harmony, there were two days of wreath laying, tree saplings, and aphorisms of one earth, one family, one future as the leader of one of its largest members faces an international arrest warrant for alleged crimes in Ukraine. (Vladimir Putin skipped the summit, but Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would be welcome when the G20 is hosted in Brazil next year). Jawaharlal Nehru University foreign affairs expert Bali Deepak said India managed to convince G20 members, including Russia, to sign a statement that condemned its war on Ukraine without naming it. There are strong words inside, including todays era must not be of war and territorial integrity and sovereignty have to be respected, he said. People say that it is slightly diluted, but perhaps it depends on how you read it. Everyone is happy because, in reality, the annual pageant has become a vehicle for each leader to further their own image as an international statesman or woman for domestic political gain. I think every country does it, said Deepak. But perhaps no nation has been as brazen in this act of deception as the host India. The G20 was the launch of Modis campaign for next years election. G20 year of Indias rise was beamed across the countrys TV networks throughout the event. It put Modi domestically as well as internationally on a very high stage, said Deepak. Modi invested a lot of political capital in conducting the G20. Kant, a senior civil servant who once lamented that India was too much of a democracy, told the G20 press conference that Modis intervention saved negotiations over the final declaration. I really feel that in the end, the issue was clenched, because of the leadership of the prime minister because eventually, we had to say that the leader wants it, and this has to be delivered, he said. India is now campaigning to overturn Greeces claim to being the worlds oldest democracy by rebranding itself as Bharat. But the government is centralising power around Modi, fuelling rising nationalism and maintaining ongoing restrictions on freedom of the press. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov represented his president Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in India. Credit: TASS/Sipa USA US reporters had to wait until they left India for a press conference with Biden. Modi did not take any questions. He never does. London: The University of Wollongong is opening Australias first university campus in India, saying the precinct will give Indians who cant afford to live overseas a shot at obtaining a prized Australian degree at half the price. UOWs Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Frino said that he had long wanted to open a campus in India but could not do so because of restrictions on foreign unis. An artists impression of GIFT city in India, which will host a University of Wollongong campus. Its a country where weve got enormous engagement, weve been waiting to enter for many years, Frino said. The wait ended when the government of India changed the laws to allow top-ranked institutions to open foreign campuses at the futuristic GIFT City in the western Indian state of Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hanoi: Joe Biden said China was becoming too weak to invade Taiwan, blaming the slowing economy on helping to reduce the threat of a full-scale attack. Despite Beijings bellicose rhetoric and manoeuvres in the South China Sea, Biden said the slowdown would affect Beijings ability to seize control of Taiwan over which it has claimed sovereignty for decades. I dont think this is going to cause China to invade Taiwan, Biden said in Hanoi on the second stop of his trip to Asia. As a matter of fact, the opposite. It probably doesnt have the same capacity that it had before. Washington: The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $US6 billion ($9.3 billion) in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of US sanctions. In addition, as part of the deal, the administration has agreed to release five Iranian citizens held in the United States. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state. Credit: Bloomberg Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed off on the sanctions waivers late last week, a month after US and Iranian officials said an agreement in principle was in place. Congress was not informed of the waiver decision until Monday (Tuesday AEST), according to the notification, which was obtained by The Associated Press. The outlines of the deal had been previously announced and the waiver was expected. But the notification marked the first time the administration said it was releasing five Iranian prisoners as part of the deal. The prisoners have not been named. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The Ambassador of Argentina to Azerbaijan Mariangeles Bellushi was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic on September 11, 2023, the ministry told Trend. During the meeting, the ambassador was handed a protest note of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry in connection with the biased statements of Argentinean President Alberto Fernandez against Azerbaijan during the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 10, 2023. It was noted that distortion of realities in the region on the basis of slanderous campaign conducted by Armenia against Azerbaijan, voicing unfounded statements using terminology directed against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan are regrettable. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. A meeting has been held between the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan - Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijani Army, Colonel-General Karim Valiyev, who is on a visit to Turkiye, and his counterpart, General of the Army Metin Gurak, Trend reports. The national anthems of both countries were performed, and Valiyev greeted the guard of honor. Then Gurak and Valiyev held one-on-one and expanded meetings. Previously, Gurak visited Azerbaijan in the end of August. This was his first official visit to the country. During that visit, he noted the importance of the joint events planned to be held in 2024 with the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish servicemen. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. High 47F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low around 30F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Armenian illegal armed formations on the territory of Azerbaijan [which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Russian leaders], where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed [under the trilateral statement], attempted to commit a terrorist act against the Azerbaijani army personnel on combat duty in the direction of the Khojavand district, using a kamikaze dog, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense. "The illegal armed formations attached a remotely controlled improvised explosive device to a dog and forced it to move towards our positions. Thanks to the vigilance of our military personnel, the detonation of the explosive device was prevented," the ministry said. "We strongly condemn this provocation. Such actions are in violation of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons," the ministry noted. "The use of animals with the intent to commit murder is an immoral act, and we consider it a terrorist act," added the ministry. Aditya-L1 successfully undergoes third Earth-bound manoeuvre BENGALURU : ADITYA-L1 spacecraft, Indias first space-based mission to study the Sun, successfully underwent its third Earth-bound manoeuvre in the early hours of Sunday, ISRO said. The space agencys Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) carried out the operation. The third Earth-bound manoeuvre (EBN#3) is performed successfully from ISTRAC, Bengaluru. ISROs ground stations at Mauritius, Bengaluru, SDSC-SHAR and Port Blair tracked the satellite during this operation, the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO) said in a post on social media platform X. The new orbit attained is 296 km x 71767 km, it said, adding the next manoeuvre is scheduled on September 15, around 2 am. Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space-based observatory that will study the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), which is located roughly 1.5 million km from the Earth. The first and second Earth-bound manoeuvres were successfully performed on September 3 and 5, respectively. The spacecraft will undergo one more Earth-bound orbital manoeuvres before it is placed in the transfer orbit towards the Lagrange point L1. The manoeuvres are required to be performed during the spacecrafts 16-day journey around the Earth, during which it will gain the velocity necessary for its onward journey to L1. ISROs Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) had on September 2 successfully launched Aditya-L1 from the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at the intended orbit at the L1 point after about 127 days, the space agency had said soon after the launch. According to ISRO, a spacecraft placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. This will provide a greater advantage of observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real-time. Aditya-L1 carries seven scientific payloads developed indigenously by the ISRO and national research laboratories, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune. The payloads will observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun -- the corona -- using electromagnetic, particle and magnetic field detectors. 29th AGM of Dharampeth Mahila Co-op Society held Business Bureau The 29th annual general meeting (AGM) of The Dharampeth Mahila Multi State Co-operative Society Limited was held at Amrut Bhawan, North Ambazari Road in the city on Sunday in presence of a large number of members of the society. At the outset, Director of the society Anagha Vivek Vaidya gave the report for the last financial year. President of the Dharampeth Mahila Multi State Co-operative Society Limited Nilima Kishor Bawane highlighted that the society has posted a business mix of Rs 1,995 crore in the fiscal and profit of Rs 6.64 crore. She also announced the dividend of 8.50 per cent to the members of the society. She also said that the society is offering additional interest of 0.25 per cent to senior citizens above 75 years of age to mark the Amrut Mahotsav. Sarika Pendse, presented the agenda before the AGM which was accepted by all. The society also felicitated meritorious students who scored above 90 per cent marks in 10th and 12th standards. Anagha Muley, Director of the society, proposed the formal vote of thanks while Anagha Vidya, Vrunda Shende, Deepali Ghonge and others were also present. 3 hardcore Naxals arrested in Groli Gadchiroli Correspondent In two separate operations, as many as three hardcore Maoists were arrested by the police in the past two days. Their names are Saraju alias Chotu Mahaka (28), Madhu alias Anu Maharu Kumoti (23), both native of village Halwer in Bhamragad taluka of Gadchiroli district, and Ashok Lala Talandi (30), resident of Pasewada in Kudaru taluka of Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh. Based on the intelligence input received from the reliable source, an anti-Naxal operation was conducted in the jurisdiction of AOP Tadgaon by C-60 squad of the Gadchiroli Police. During the search operation, they arrested the two Maoists Sarju and Madhu in connection with crime registered at Police Station Bhamaragad, which involved Sections 435, 395, 143, 148, 149, 120 (B), 341, 506, 407 of IPC, Sections 5/28 Indian Arms Act 1959 and Section 135 of MPA. The court has granted 3-days PCR to the Naxals in this offence. On February 28, 2023, Maoists had burnt the mixer and JCB of a contractor working at the bridge near Visamundi. Saraju was recruited as a member with Gatta LOS in 2010 and worked until 2018. He was involved in Rengewahi, Nargunda, Kunjemarka, Mardahur encounters and murder of two innocent people. Maoist Madhu was recruited as a member with Bhamragad LOS in 2015 and worked until 2017. He was involved in Muttemkuhi, Daraba, Kundum encounter and murder of two innocent persons. Along with this on September 9, 2023, based on the intelligence input received from the reliable source, Maoist named Ashok Lala Talandi, who was hiding in the forest area of Kiyar under the jurisdiction of AOP Nargunda under Sub division Bhamragad, was also arrested by the police. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The supply of drinking water to the population in Azerbaijan's Ismayilli will be improved, Trend reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures to improve the provision of drinking water to the population in the Ismayilli district. According to the decree, in order to improve the drinking water supply to the population of 11,000 people living in the villages of Ivanovka, Ushtal, Galagah, Soltankend, Hajihatamli, Rushan, Vang, Mollaisagli, and Mujuhaftaran of Ismayilli district, from the reserve provided in the state budget of Azerbaijan for 2023, the fund of the President of Azerbaijan "Azersu" JSC under the State Agency of Water Resources of Azerbaijan allocated 12 million manat ($7.1 million). The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been instructed to provide financing in the amount specified in Part 1 of this decree. The Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been instructed to provide in the distribution of expenditures of state investments in the draft state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2024 the necessary financial resources to complete the reconstruction of the main water pipeline specified in Part 1 of this decree. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been instructed to resolve issues arising from this decree. Another jolt to BJP, senior former legislator Girija Sharma joins Congress in State By Bhavana Aparajita' Shukla Giving a jolt to the ruling BJP in the State, veteran BJP leader and two-time former MLA Girija Shankar Sharma joined the Congress on Sunday. As The Hitavada had reported the news More Switchover impending.. on September 9, the story mentioned that Giriraj Sharma is in touch with the Congress leaders and on Sunday another prominent BJP leader entered the Congress fold. He joined the Congress in presence of Congress State President and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Along with Sharma, hundreds of his supporters also left the ruling saffron party and joined the opposition. Giriraj Sharma belongs to a family dedicated to BJP for decades. Girija Shankar Sharma and his younger brother Sitasaran Sharma have won Hoshangabad Assembly seat (formerly Itarsi seat) seven times in a row for the BJP since 1990 to 2018. He had won the seat in 2003 and 2008. Sitasaran Sharma won the seat five times. Sitasaran Sharma holds the State Assembly speakers post earlier. When the elections are just two months away, Sharmas decision has surprised many. On September 1, Sharma resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress. While resigning from the party, Sharma accused BJP leaders saying after new leaders joined the party the loyal workers of the party are being ignored. He also ensured that BJP candidates do not win from the seat, as the return of the present government is not in the States larger interest. Since 1990, Sharma familys influence in Hoshangabad region can be seen. With this switchover, around four constituencys fall under this division may get impacted. On Sunday, after performing Maa Narmada puja, Sharma started for Bhopal. Pradesh Congress Chief Kamal Nath welcomed the BJP leaders into the Congress fold and gave them membership of the party in Bhopal. Responding to The Hitavadas question about switchover, BJP leader said, People come and go during elections and in a democracy, everyone has the right to make their own decisions. With this more than 10 BJP leaders, including four senior and strong leaders have joined the Congress party in a couple of months. At the same time, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has made it clear saying, Many BJP leaders are in touch with me. Be it Scindia supporters or other leaders of the BJP, they will get entry into the Congress only if our local organisation agrees. Another jolt to BJP, senior leader Girija Sharma joins Cong By Bhavana Aparajita' Shukla Giving a jolt to the ruling BJP in the State, veteran BJP leader and two-time former MLA Girija Shankar Sharma joined the Congress on Sunday. As The Hitavada had reported the news More Switchover impending.. on September 9, the story mentioned that Giriraj Sharma is in touch with the Congress leaders and on Sunday another prominent BJP leader entered the Congress fold. He joined the Congress in presence of Congress State President and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Along with Sharma, hundreds of his supporters also left the ruling saffron party and joined the opposition. Giriraj Sharma belongs to a family dedicated to BJP for decades. Girija Shankar Sharma and his younger brother Sitasaran Sharma have won Hoshangabad Assembly seat (formerly Itarsi seat) seven times in a row for the BJP since 1990 to 2018. He had won the seat in 2003 and 2008. Sitasaran Sharma won the seat five times. Sitasaran Sharma holds the State Assembly speakers post earlier. When the elections are just two months away, Sharmas decision has surprised many. On September 1, Sharma resigned from the BJP and joined the Congress. While resigning from the party, Sharma accused BJP leaders saying after new leaders joined the party the loyal workers of the party are being ignored. He also ensured that BJP candidates do not win from the seat, as the return of the present government is not in the States larger interest. Since 1990, Sharma familys influence in Hoshangabad region can be seen. With this switchover, around four constituencys fall under this division may get impacted. On Sunday, after performing Maa Narmada puja, Sharma started for Bhopal. Pradesh Congress Chief Kamal Nath welcomed the BJP leaders into the Congress fold and gave them membership of the party in Bhopal. Responding to The Hitavadas question about switchover, BJP leader said, People come and go during elections and in a democracy, everyone has the right to make their own decisions. With this more than 10 BJP leaders, including four senior and strong leaders have joined the Congress party in a couple of months. At the same time, former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has made it clear saying, Many BJP leaders are in touch with me. Be it Scindia supporters or other leaders of the BJP, they will get entry into the Congress only if our local organisation agrees. Eight tiger cubs dead in nine months, highest in 3 yrs By Kaushik Bhattacharya Maharashtra has witnessed eight tiger cub deaths in last nine months of 2023, which is the highest in last three years. All the eight tiger cub deaths took place in Chandrapur and Nagpur Forest Divisions, revealed the tiger mortality data of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The population of big cats is on the rise in the country. The latest count puts the number of tigers in the State at 350, compared to 287 in 2018. However, the mortality has also increased in last four years in the State. According to NTCA, in 2023, total 33 tigers, including 8 cubs, 4 sub-adults, and 21 adult deaths were recorded in the last nine months which is the highest in three years. In 2022, total 28 tigers died, of which 7 were cubs, 3 were sub-adults and remaining were adults. Similarly, in 2021, the toll was 27 which included 5 cubs, 3 sub adults, and remaining were adult tigers. Maharashtra, which has six Tiger Reserves, witnessed all the tiger deaths in Vidarbha region only in last three years. Out of eight tiger cub deaths this year, five cubs died in September itself. In this infant mortality list, four cubs were from Chandrapur, one was from Brahmapuri and three were from Pench Tiger Reserve. Scientific studies have shown that, under natural conditions, infant mortality is very high in tigers and other large carnivores. Up to 40-60% of cubs born will die due to natural reasons in the first 15 months. Even the Forest Department considers the high mortality of tiger cubs as natural. Though the monitoring of tiger population is very good in Reserve Forests of Maharashtra, there is an utmost need to enhance extensive monitoring in territorial areas too, Ajinkya Bhatkar, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Nagpur told The Hitavada. It is right that infant mortality in tigers is mostly because of natural reasons, but there should be a study to explore other reasons also for such deaths by experts, he added. Like Tiger Reserves, department should install camera traps in territorial areas to monitor the tiger movement. It will also help to curb the deaths due to electrocution that mostly takes place in territorial areas, Bhatkar added. State Government should also form a separate fund for wildlife management in territorial area to strengthen monitoring and other activities for wildlife conservation, Bhatkar explained. FRESH RESOLVE FAR beyond the normal definition of diplomatic success goes the success of putting together a consensus New Delhi Declaration to mark the G-20 leaders summit even though complex issues such as Russia-Ukraine conflict confronted the grouping most menacingly. And the success of Indian diplomacy lay in its ability to go around the issue without actually dodging it. The Indian diplomats were able to convince the leaders of G-20 member-nations and other world bodies about the utility of putting on record a clear message that the current era was not of war, but of the implementation of a shared vision of peace and tranquility -- which in other words meant respecting of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries by one another without exception. On issues like handling of climate change or global food and energy security, there were differences of opinion on approach. But the Indian diplomats were able to find common ground for all to stand upon. The New Delhi Declaration, thus, would be known as a unique document that highlights all global issues with an amazing clarity of purpose, thanks, of course, to the mature Indian diplomacy. India led the process from the front and ensured that the New Delhi Declaration had its imprint well etched on it. The issues, however, were not of establishing any position of primacy for India; it was of establishing a global voice of sanity over the voice of brazenness and disrespect for the opinion of others. Though various global joint statements in the past did hammer out in the end generally acceptable drafts, the story of the New Delhi Declaration was altogether different -- in the sense some members were unwilling to give up their strong political positions. Obviously, India followed the principle of patience and persistence while discussing in advance the content of what was to be called the New Delhi Declaration. Led by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the Indian diplomatic team allowed the other member-nations to vent their steam out. What remained to be achieved thereafter was the culmination of the exercise finding appropriate expression to the common sentiment of a war-free, environmentally clean world, technologically driven world that stood on the foundation of shared vision to sort out common problems before humanity. Since it is basically an economic forum whose member-nations collectively control 85% of the worlds Gross domestic Product (GDP), the G-20s economic concerns were writ large on the entire summit. Those concerns included funding climate change operations around the globe, universal education, gender equality, eradication of poverty ...! As it led the process of negotiations on the joint declaration, India had a major task as the leader -- to build consensus on all issues so that the world does not get a narrative from a fragmented grouping. In this task, India succeeded tremendously. One of the greatest addition of value of the G-20 Summit was the inclusion of the African Union as a full member. This idea was basically driven by India (since Africa is a region of its larger concerns driven by aggressive policies of China in the poverty-stricken continent with a lot of potential for economic upliftment). Indias inclusive diplomacy was visible in the recent BRICS Summit, too. But the obvious outcome of this inclusion in the New Delhi Declaration was the references to eradication of poverty globally, health-for-all thought-process, and appropriate use of technology to counter the forces inimical to preservation and conservation of environment -- that needed trillions of dollars as essential cost. So persuasive was the Indian approach and so logically undeniable that other member-nations were happy to agree with India on all such issues when the New Delhi Declaration was being finalised. This effectiveness of approach helped India establish its global thought-leadership on most of the critical issues that the international community faced. At a time when the world faced the issue of serious trust deficit as Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi put it, the Indian diplomacy was able to build an atmosphere of consensus that gave a clear message of building of collective confidence and trust. By no means was that a small achievement -- for India and the expanded G-20 grouping (which may become G-21 in the succeeding times -- thanks to the inclusion of African Union with full membership). Global documents generally are dry documents devoid of emotional quotient. The New Delhi Declaration appeared to have proved itself to be a different exercise. For, it included strong references to issues such as gender equality in totally different terms. It recognises the plight of women and girls as victims of climate change that impacts them far more negatively than it does on men and boys. This consideration could be cited as a good example of human-centric approach highlighted by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi in his statements before and during the G-20 Summit. The New Delhi Declaration, thus, addresses issues of political, cultural, environmental and human concerns and paves the way forward for a more livable world -- in tune with the theme Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam which in other words advocates One Earth One Family One Future. In the nutshell, it can be said safely that the New Delhi Declaration has the potential to prove itself as a forerunner of all similar exercises in future where common concerns will be dealt with a greater sense of responsibility towards a shared future for all. In international diplomacy, it may go down as a document to be emulated on all counts. Historians of the future will also mark it as a document with a distinctive Indian signature on it -- thanks to the wonderful inclusiveness that is an integral part of Indian culture. India hands over G20 presidency gavel to Brazil NEW DELHI : Modi proposes a virtual G20 session around end of November Makes strong pitch for UNSC expansion, reforms in global institutions AS CURTAINS came down on the G20 Summit on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a virtual session of the bloc around the end of November to take stock of the suggestions and decisions made at the leaders summit. At the concluding session, Modi handed over the gavel and offered best wishes to Brazil for the next presidency. Brazil will officially take over the mantle of the presidency of the elite grouping on December 1 this year. Modi also made a strong pitch for expansion of the UN Security Council and reforms in all global institutions, asserting that they should reflect the worlds new realities as it is natures law that those who dont change with times, lose relevance. Echoing Modis pitch at an earlier session for reforms in global institutions, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said the UN Security Council needs new developing countries as permanent and non-permanent members to regain political strength. We want greater representation for emerging countries at the World Bank and the IMF, he said. Speaking at the One Future session during the G20 Summit, Modi made a fresh push for reforms in global institutions, including the United Nations. In order to take the world towards a better future, it is necessary that the global systems are according to the present realities. Today, the United Nations Security Council is also an example of this. When the UN was established, the world was completely different from what it is today. At that time there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200, Modi said. Despite this, the number of permanent members in the UNSC remains the same. The world has since changed a lot in every aspect. Be it transport, communication, health and education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should reflect in our new global structure, he said. The UNSC has five permanent members - the US, China, France, Britain and Russia. He noted that many regional groupings have emerged and proved effective in the last many years and said that it calls for reflection. Pitching for reforms, he said that is why a historic initiative was made on Saturday by making the African Union a member of the G20. Similarly, we also need to expand the mandate of multilateral development banks. Our decisions in this direction should be immediate and effective, the Prime Minister said. Later, at the concluding session, Prime Minister Modi extended full support to Brazil and expressed confidence that the Brazilian presidency of the G20 will take forward the shared goals of the bloc. India passes the gavel to Brazil. We have unwavering faith that they will lead with dedication, vision and will further global unity as well as prosperity, Modi said. Modi also proposed a virtual G20 session by November-end to take stock of the suggestions and decisions made at the Leaders Summit. In the last two days, you have put forward your views, given suggestions and a number of proposals have been put forward. It is our responsibility that the suggestions that have come forth are closely looked upon as to how they can be speeded up, Modi said. One can achieve success in multiple businesses simultaneously: Kusumgar Business Bureau Well-known businessman Nikhil Kusumgar, while addressing the session organised here by Vidarbha Management Association (VMA) on Sunday said that one can achieve success in multiple businesses simultaneously with proper planning. he also said that by developing a well-organised system complementing the nature of business, the entrepreneurs can run the business smoothly. Additional businesses can also be considered at the same time, he added. He shared his story and spoke about his 40 years of professional journey and also gave many useful tips to the professionals. Kusumgar said that, I had planned to become a Chartered Accountant. So I went to Mumbai for education, but in 1995, during the days of my final exam, my father suffered a heart attack and I had to return. This incident became the turning point of my life. We had an ancestral business of selling bicycles. I had worked as a distributor of Hero Motocorp for two years. After returning to Nagpur, I had to focus on business. Then I started gaining more and more interest in the business and learnt my many lessons, he said. He further said that, every business has a certain arena. Difficulties began to arise when the business of selling Hero-puck had started. Vehicles were sold with the help of a finance company. Although the experience was not good, the idea of starting a finance company came from this experience only. I started different businesses including a hospital. Always be careful that starting a new business does not disturb the existing work, he added. Vidarbha Management Association is a Nagpur-based organization which meets every Sunday at 10:30 AM. It is dedicated to impart learnings related to Management and Leadership Skills to its Members. VMA is a non-profit organisation and is currently in its 19th year of operation. PM conveys to Trudeau strong concerns over anti-India activities in Canada NEW DELHI : PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau Indias strong concerns about the continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada that were promoting secessionism, inciting violence against its diplomats and threatening the Indian community there. In his talks with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi also mentioned that a relationship based on mutual respect and trust is essential for the progress of the India-Canada relationship, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Prime Minister highlighted that India-Canada relations are anchored in shared democratic values, respect for rule of law and strong people-to-people ties, it said. He conveyed our strong concerns about continuing anti-India activities of extremist elements in Canada. They are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises, and threatening the Indian community in Canada and their places of worship, it said. The nexus of such forces with organised crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats, the MEA said in a statement. Asked about Indias concerns over the increasing activities of the Khalistani elements in Canada, Trudeau said at a press conference that his country will always defend freedom of peaceful protest but at the same time asserted that it will always prevent violence and push back against hatred. Canada will always defend freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, and freedom of peaceful protest and it is extremely important to us, he said. At the same time, we are always there to prevent violence and to push back against hatred. I think on the issue of the community, it is important to remember that the actions of the few do not represent the entire community or Canada, Trudeau said. The Canadian Prime Minister said, India is an important partner of Canada in a range of sectors. India is an extraordinarily important economy in the world and an important partner to Canada on everything from fighting climate change to creating growth and prosperity for the citizens, he said. The Canadian Prime Minister said both sides will continue to look at expanding existing cooperation. In a post on X, Modi said he and Trudeau discussed the full range of India-Canada ties across different sectors. Sunak, wife Akshata perform puja at Akshardham temple NEW DELHI, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty spent 45 minutes at the Akshardham Temple here on Sunday morning, offering prayers and learning about its architecture and history, according to temple management officials. They reached the temple dedicated to Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, early morning and walked barefoot from the reception area to the main temple complex -- a distance of about 150 metres. Sunak, who was dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blue trousers, and his wife, who paired a beige kurta with a bright pink dupatta and loose pants, were accorded a traditional welcome at the temple. Sunak and his wife spent about 45 minutes at the Akshardham temple and offered prayers. They were gifted a marble elephant and a marble peacock besides a special replica of Akshardham, a senior temple management official told PTI. It rained but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife graciously offered prayers at our temple and it is a matter of great honour for us to have hosted them at this revered temple, he said. BARDA, Azerbaijan, September 11. A food cargo from the Russian Red Cross Society is still waiting for passage to Khankendi, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The cargo was to be delivered by the Aghdam-Khankendi road to the Armenian residents in Karabakh. For the second day, a heavy truck is waiting in Bard. Separatists in Karabakh are the reason for the delay in delivery. According to other information, such a delay arose as a result of pressure from the International Committee of the Red Cross and the West on the Russian Red Cross Society. According to available information, a food cargo of the International Committee of the Red Cross is waiting on the territory of Armenia, near the Lachin border checkpoint. Despite the fact that the Azerbaijani side is ready to ensure its passage across the border in accordance with its legislation, the separatists do not want to accept this cargo either, since in this case the cargo of the International Committee of the Red Cross will have to enter the Aghdam road towards Askeran, and they are against it. The separatists' behavior is obviously completely inadequate. They do not intend to accept cargo from either Russia or the International Committee of the Red Cross. At the initiative of the Russian government and in accordance with the memorandum of cooperation between the Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society and the Russian Red Cross Society, the food cargo and other cargo were sent by the Russian Red Cross Society to meet the food needs of the Armenian residents living in the Karabakh Economic Region of Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Romania does not recognize the so-called "presidential elections" held in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania said, Trend reports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders and advocates for a political settlement of all issues in the region in accordance with the principles of international law, the statement said. Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn the so-called "elections". As noted in the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the holding of the so-called "elections" once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime created by it, which has taken steps to preserve the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, on the contrary, have taken the path of provocations and escalating the situation. Lennox International Inc. (NYSE:LII Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Hold from the fourteen brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $319.23. A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Lennox International from $375.00 to $400.00 in a report on Friday, July 28th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Lennox International from a c rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Lennox International from $355.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, July 28th. Royal Bank of Canada started coverage on shares of Lennox International in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. They set a sector perform rating and a $391.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Lennox International from $314.00 to $355.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Get Lennox International alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Lennox International Lennox International Stock Performance Shares of LII opened at $387.24 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.06. The stock has a market cap of $13.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.00, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a 50-day moving average of $355.34 and a two-hundred day moving average of $301.80. Lennox International has a 12-month low of $202.97 and a 12-month high of $389.99. Lennox International (NYSE:LII Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The construction company reported $6.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.21 by $0.94. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.38 billion. Lennox International had a net margin of 11.49% and a negative return on equity of 390.97%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $5.00 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Lennox International will post 16.67 EPS for the current fiscal year. Lennox International Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.14%. Lennox Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 28.41%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Lennox International news, CAO Chris Kosel sold 602 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $372.98, for a total transaction of $224,533.96. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 2,046 shares in the company, valued at $763,117.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 2.80% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in LII. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Lennox International by 55.0% during the first quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 110,763 shares of the construction companys stock worth $27,613,000 after purchasing an additional 39,312 shares in the last quarter. Forsta AP Fonden acquired a new position in shares of Lennox International during the first quarter worth $7,739,000. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Lennox International by 5.1% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 515,049 shares of the construction companys stock worth $167,691,000 after purchasing an additional 24,870 shares in the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc raised its holdings in Lennox International by 4.0% in the first quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 636,200 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $159,067,000 after acquiring an additional 24,536 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank acquired a new stake in Lennox International in the second quarter valued at $55,070,000. 67.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Lennox International (Get Free Report Lennox International Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and markets a range of products for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Residential Heating & Cooling, Commercial Heating & Cooling, and Refrigeration. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lennox International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennox International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clough Capital Partners L P raised its stake in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 37.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,320 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,620 shares during the quarter. Clough Capital Partners L Ps holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $4,574,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Oxler Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,050 shares of the companys stock worth $2,078,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 774 shares of the companys stock valued at $266,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Cora Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.8% during the 1st quarter. Cora Capital Advisors LLC now owns 956 shares of the companys stock worth $328,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC raised its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Sittner & Nelson LLC now owns 1,003 shares of the companys stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Forte Capital LLC ADV grew its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.9% during the first quarter. Forte Capital LLC ADV now owns 715 shares of the companys stock worth $246,000 after acquiring an additional 27 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance NYSE LLY opened at $589.00 on Monday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $499.40 and its 200-day simple moving average is $429.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $559.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 81.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.32. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1-year low of $296.32 and a 1-year high of $589.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $8.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th were issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.77%. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 62.87%. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Johna Norton sold 1,647 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.29, for a total value of $731,745.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,111,094.69. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 591 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total transaction of $275,772.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 101,028,219 shares in the company, valued at $47,141,787,549.78. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Johna Norton sold 1,647 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.29, for a total value of $731,745.63. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 31,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,111,094.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,038,161 shares of company stock worth $21,108,177,335 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Berenberg Bank upped their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $630.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Credit Suisse Group upped their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $615.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $532.78. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on LLY About Eli Lilly and Company (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. It offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; and Jardiance, Trajenta, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clough Capital Partners L P grew its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 85.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 159,855 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 73,885 shares during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson accounts for 2.7% of Clough Capital Partners L Ps holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Clough Capital Partners L Ps holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $24,778,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bradley Mark J. increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 13.2% in the first quarter. Bradley Mark J. now owns 32,948 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,107,000 after acquiring an additional 3,850 shares during the last quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 32.2% in the 1st quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 1,701 shares of the companys stock valued at $264,000 after buying an additional 414 shares during the last quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 107.1% in the first quarter. Boothbay Fund Management LLC now owns 2,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $402,000 after buying an additional 39,291 shares in the last quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. increased its holdings in Johnson & Johnson by 0.7% during the first quarter. Williams Jones Wealth Management LLC. now owns 953,162 shares of the companys stock worth $147,740,000 after buying an additional 7,077 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fundsmith Investment Services LTD. lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 1.7% in the first quarter. Fundsmith Investment Services LTD. now owns 78,010 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,092,000 after acquiring an additional 1,278 shares during the last quarter. 68.40% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on JNJ. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $165.00 to $175.00 in a report on Friday, July 21st. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Johnson & Johnson from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Johnson & Johnson from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $215.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $187.00 to $172.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $170.65. Johnson & Johnson Price Performance Shares of NYSE:JNJ opened at $160.95 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $418.30 billion, a PE ratio of 32.50, a PEG ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $166.11 and a 200-day moving average of $161.55. Johnson & Johnson has a 12 month low of $150.11 and a 12 month high of $181.04. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $2.80 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.62 by $0.18. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 36.72% and a net margin of 13.35%. The company had revenue of $25.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $24.63 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.59 EPS. Johnson & Johnsons revenue was up 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 7th. Investors of record on Monday, August 28th were paid a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 25th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 96.36%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider William Hait sold 14,698 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total transaction of $2,528,056.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 87,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,092,484. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider William Hait sold 14,698 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.00, for a total transaction of $2,528,056.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 87,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,092,484. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Peter Fasolo sold 20,000 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.32, for a total transaction of $3,406,400.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 102,696 shares in the company, valued at $17,491,182.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Johnson & Johnson Profile (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson, together with its subsidiaries, researches, develops, manufactures, and sells various products in the healthcare field worldwide. The company's Consumer Health segment provides skin health/beauty products under the AVEENO, CLEAN & CLEAR, DR. CI:LABO, NEUTROGENA, and OGX brands; baby care products under the JOHNSON'S and AVEENO Baby brands; oral care products under the LISTERINE brand; TYLENOL acetaminophen products; SUDAFED cold, flu, and allergy products; BENADRYL and ZYRTEC allergy products; MOTRIN IB ibuprofen products; NICORETTE smoking cessation products; and PEPCID acid reflux products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Weik Capital Management reduced its position in The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 42.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,188 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 2,337 shares during the quarter. Weik Capital Managements holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $546,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Travelers Companies during the first quarter worth $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 28.8% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,084,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,210,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 40.6% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,420,000 after buying an additional 14,873 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in Travelers Companies by 5.0% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $4,952,000 after acquiring an additional 1,286 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.12% of the companys stock. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Activity at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, July 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $175.05, for a total transaction of $1,750,500.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,464,704. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders. Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.5 % Travelers Companies stock opened at $159.89 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $36.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.03, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 0.60. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $149.65 and a 1 year high of $194.51. The firms 50 day moving average price is $167.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $172.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($1.99). Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 10.75% and a net margin of 5.77%. The company had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.97 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.57 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 12.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.50%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 42.60%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have commented on TRV. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Friday, July 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $194.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Travelers Companies from $183.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Travelers Companies from C$183.00 to C$185.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Travelers Companies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $196.08. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Travelers Companies About Travelers Companies (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Baku Rabbi Zamir Isayev called on the Jews who still live in Armenia to leave the country, Trend reports. In his video message on Facebook, Zamir Isaev, who is the initiator of the campaign of the rabbis of Europe and America against the use of the Holocaust theme and the demonization of Azerbaijan by Armenian propaganda, notes that recently he has been contacted by several Jews who live in Yerevan, who are under enormous pressure. "They are threatened in connection with the initiative of the rabbis of Europe, America, Israel, as well as Muslim countries, who opposed the use of the terminology of the Holocaust by Armenian propaganda. I was given a request to stop the protest of rabbis around the world, which began after my video message. I cannot do this. And I cannot help but be indignant when the memory of the Holocaust, the tragedy of our people, is used for their own political purposes by the Armenian leadership. I appeal to those few Jews who still live in Armenia to leave this country, because you cannot live in a country where you are threatened only because other Jews in other countries have a different opinion. If in Armenia they think that you are responsible for my words, if you have to answer for my words, leave this country! If you are forced to advocate the use of the memory of the Holocaust for vile political purposes, leave there," he said. The rabbi advises to go to a country where a Jew will not be touched for the words of his fellow believer. Better come to Azerbaijan, where Jews are treated like brothers! Those who want can contact me via Facebook, and I publicly pledge that you will be welcomed here, welcomed, given Azerbaijani citizenship, and, of course, provided your safety. Even in Israel they say that Azerbaijan is one of the safest places for Jews to live. Don't wait for someone in Armenia to decide to take out their hatred on you! I know that individual Jews in Yerevan are already under pressure to they came out in support of Armenia, but it will already be like a declaration of love, but with a knife at the throat! If at least one of your parents is Jewish, you have a birth certificate issued before 1991, contact me, I will help you move to Azerbaijan," he concluded. Meanwhile, the leading rabbis of France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK have signed an appeal among almost a hundred European Jewish spiritual authorities who spoke out against the methods of Armenian propaganda and the demonization of Azerbaijan. Shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE:ZTO Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Buy by the four brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $34.60. A number of analysts recently weighed in on ZTO shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from $39.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from $36.50 to $30.00 in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price objective on shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) from $36.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Get ZTO Express (Cayman) alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on ZTO Express (Cayman) ZTO Express (Cayman) Trading Up 0.8 % Institutional Investors Weigh In On ZTO Express (Cayman) Shares of NYSE:ZTO opened at $24.48 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.12, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.06. ZTO Express has a 1-year low of $16.27 and a 1-year high of $30.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.32. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $25.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $26.71. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ZTO. Serenity Capital Management PTE. LTD. purchased a new stake in ZTO Express (Cayman) in the 4th quarter worth approximately $179,049,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 164.7% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 7,164,746 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $179,692,000 after buying an additional 4,457,822 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 63.9% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,599,212 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $139,980,000 after buying an additional 2,182,319 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in ZTO Express (Cayman) by 10.0% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 19,764,920 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $566,463,000 after buying an additional 1,796,713 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of ZTO Express (Cayman) by 124.3% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,187,970 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $85,661,000 after purchasing an additional 1,766,746 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 41.68% of the companys stock. About ZTO Express (Cayman) (Get Free Report ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc provides express delivery and other value-added logistics services in the People's Republic of China. It offers freight forwarding services; and delivery services for e-commerce and traditional merchants, and other express service users. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for ZTO Express (Cayman) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ZTO Express (Cayman) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. That release could not be found. The Yenagoa Coordinator of the New Generation Youths Comrade Odede Precious has raised alarm over what he describes as the silence concerning the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) slots allocated to Bayelsa State by the Federal Government. Recall that at the start of the year, the Federal Government launched the NG CARES which was to disburse 3.2 Million Naira to about three thousand beneficiaries per state. It is understood that state governments took charge of the disbursements. The beneficiaries were those whose businesses were negatively impacted by COVID-19 in the local government areas across the three senatorial districts of each State. Many states, including Edo state, has unveiled and credited beneficiaries with the grant, Comrade Odede wonders why one is yet to know what has become of Bayelsa's mandatory slots. 'According to the program as announced by the Federal Government, at least three thousand Bayelsans are to get 3.2 million naira each. I have read where other states have been disbursing so I am curious, what has happened to that of Bayelsa' 'The state government should at least explain to us because people are asking questions in the streets, people are genuinely concerned' 'This grant, when released, will help in alleviating poverty and hardship in the state. The government should please look into it and act accordingly' The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, on Sunday has disclosed that the 36 states of the federation received about N1.51tn, or 34.5 per cent of the total N4.37tn shared by the three tiers of the government between January and June 2023. This was disclosed in its second quarter 2023 Federation Account Statutory Revenue Allocations Report released in Abuja. According to the report, the states received about N817.79bn from the N2.32tn total distributable allocation in the first quarter, and N688.2bn of the N2.04tn allocation in the second quarter. The report further noted that despite the decline in the overall allocation, the share of the states allocations exceeded that of the Federal Government, when the 13 per cent derivation revenue was added. Different from the share of the statutory allocations, the report also disclosed that the nine oil-producing states, namely Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers all received an additional allocations as their share of the 13 per cent derivation revenue to bring their total receipts to about N869.09bn. The never-ending manner with which public office holders appoint assistants to handle information/media responsibilities have become canonical proof that proper information management is the life wire of every business. Recently, as soon as the President and governors across the country are inaugurated, journalists are always among the first set of appointments because of the important role the spokesmen and women are expected to play in providing necessary information about the new administrations. In similar vein, during the military era, such was the culture but in most cases, limited to the appointment of journalists as Minister for information, at the federal levels, and Commissioners for information (state levels) and Chief Press Secretaries at both levels. But today, exciting progress is being made in this direction. As we now have not Minister for information, Commissioners for information and Chief Press Secretaries but Senior Special Assistant (Media), Senior Special Assistant Media (Technical), Special Assistant (Media), Special Assistant (information gathering), Special Assistant (Print Media) and Special Assistant (Electronic Media), in most of the government offices at both Federal and state levels. In concept and reality, the shift has without any shadow of the doubt gained momentum. And its obvious that media practice in this democratic era can no longer be seen in such a simple and unitary manner, the way it was before May 1999. However, in discussing the obligations and usefulness of Media Assistants proliferation in our democratic space, two sets of reactions come into view. To some, the development looks good in words but useless in action. Aside from shooting up the cost of governance, it has in their views, evidently manifested that such appointments were never targeted at improving information flow between the government and the governed, but a ploy to settle political jobbers-as Nigerians have in recent years witnessed appointments into such office people with neither interest in or minimum prerequisite to function in that capacity. Acting on the basis of the above assumptions, its not by any means surprising that the second group-which, of course, constitutes a greater number; argued that Media Assistant in their estimation is but mere robber stamped positions used to falsely launder the image of public officers without recourse to, or adherence with the ethos of the media profession. In fact, the best-known example and by far the most serious logic, employed by the group to drive their argument home is that; when these so-called media assistants are faced with embarrassing facts about their principals, instead of admitting their bosss wrong-doing as expected of a well-trained information manager, they fall back on data that is hardly objective, generate inferences that can never be described as explicit. And the conclusion they reach is usually self-serving. Though I sympathize with the awkward position in which these men and women (media assistants) are placed, I cannot disagree with the position canvassed. Particularly, when one remembers that power, in the consideration of an average public officeholder in Nigeria is nothing but an opportunity to protect personal interest, as against what is obtainable in developed countries where power is a vehicle for effecting political, social, economic and cultural changes in the country. Deeply troubling to this piece is media Assistants non recognition of their position as a public relation function that requires analyzing trends, predicting their consequences, and counseling political office holders. Similar to this particular is their non understanding that they are no longer newsroom bosses who cannot be questioned by reporters, but public servants that must be patient to listen to information-seeking publics who want explanation and justification for every action and purposes of the Government. Substantially, away from the fact that every society/profession needs some shared values to hold it together, an important distinction to make is that the concerns of this piece in absolute terms are whether and to what extent has the media assistants attitude helped the nation; deepen information dissemination, enrich democracy and promotes peace and unity among Nigerians of different culture, ethnicity, culture and religion?; how far such positions have helped inculcate and reinforce positive political, cultural, social attitudes among the citizenries-as well as create a mood in which people become keen to acquire, skills and disciplines of developed nations? Clearly, having seen this controversy from both sides, I truly believe that there are countless numbers of reasons why media assistants position in most public offices appear both unnecessary and unproductive. But, perhaps, understandably, the major one centres on the fact that communication from public officials/offices are self-undermining and often always reputed for encouraging complacency as constituents perceive issues raised by the government as already being handled or the priority often always not in conformity with the will/opinion of the people on the action later taken. Also as a sidelight, if an effort is dedicated to understanding the basic reasons why the existing system is currently accepted and its fundamental assumptions not challenged? More critical questions will emerge. For instance; are the media Assistants in the first place aware that; every decision they make while discharging their responsibility require value Judgment? Are they truly aware that different decisions bring different results; that all decisions have consequences that are direct and indirect, intended and unintended, short term and long term? Are they conscious that their decisions affect others; that those decisions may influence thousands of peoples opinions on a political issue? Do the Media Assistants have the philosophy to challenge the nations political and economic logic, and capacity to pursue the theory of governance in order to effectively inform their principals? Finding answers to these questions will have far-reaching implications on both the public officials and the entire Nigerians. As it is laced with the capacity to compel public office holders, engineer socioeconomic prosperity that will be people-purposed while propelling the masses to work together for the greater good. To get started beginning with the last question, it is a pedestrian knowledge that most of these appointees instead of telling their principals what the real issues are or encourage them to keep promises that gave them victory, curtail the challenges confronting the people and promote consensus politics, they (media Assistants) encourage divisiveness, uphold autocratic tendencies, endorse/promote media trial of political opponents. And in most cases become propagandists using radio, television and the internet as outlets to relentlessly false feed Nigerians. Lamentably, in these failures, there are silent points they failed to remember. Most profound of those points is the time honoured saying that the viability of democracy depends upon openness, reliability, appropriateness, responsiveness, and a two-way nature of the communication environment; that democracy depends upon the regular sending and the receiving of objective signals; that the function of the media is very high? It is almost holy. It ought to serve as a forum for the people, for it is through the media that the people may know freely what is going on. And to misstate or suppress the news is a breach of trust. Finally, aside from recognizing that their job goes beyond responding to enquiries and issuing statements, to teaching their Principals to speak and interface with their constituents, one urgent skill government media handlers must internalize is the teachings by Chris Argyric, Professor emeritus, Havard Graduate School of Education. The erudite scholar is of the views that media aides can intelligently criticize their Bosses by doing these three things; one, criticize in ways that are valid-but prevents their Bosses from deciding for themselves whether their claim to validity is correct; Two, by not including the data that Bosses could use to decide for themselves whether the illustration was valid or not; and, by placing their conclusion in such that disguises their logical implications. Jerome-Mario is the programme coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA). He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374 . Reports have emerged that the Niger republics junta have started deploying military personnel along its border with neighbouring country, Benin, ahead of possible military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. The development was disclosed by a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama. It could be recalled that ECOWAS had threatened a possible military action against the junta who seized power in Niger and suspended the constitution. Last month, ECOWAS ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. The order followed the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup after its extraordinary meeting in Abuja. However, the regional blocs army is yet to invade Niger. Makama on his social media platform X, on Monday, posted a video that showed Nigers military were deploying at Beninese border in preparation against the military intervention by the ECOWAS. Niger deploys Military to the Niger- Beninese Border amidst eminent Military intervention plans of ECOWAS, he posted. It was learnt that the video was showing movement of military vehicles in a convoy as they were being hailed by the people. Nigeria's unenviable trend of extra-judicial killings rather than rescind, appears on the rise with two reported mortalities in Lagos State alone within two weeks. The two murders were allegedly at the country's infamous but ubiquitous security checkpoints. The first casualty involving one Mr. Adeniyi Sanni, occured on 5th August 2023 and barely twelve days later, one Mr. Yusuf Lawal also, fell a victim. Although every life matters, the Late Mr. Sanni as a staff to Senator Solomon Olamilekun Adeola, is relatively a high profile victim - a fact that prior to his murder, must have been confirmed by his assailants. Yet, he was allegedly executed summarily by soldiers manning a security checkpoint. If being in the corridors of power conferred no immunity on him, it means no one is safe from suspected trigger happy Nigerian security agents. In fact, the situation is very scary and portends grave risk! Even if you could invest on a bulletproof car, in a ruse, security checks could be used to lure you out of relative safety for a mortal harm. Worse, a month after the sad incident, identities of Mr. Sanni's killers like those of most past victims of suspected extra-judicial killing, have been shrudded in mystery - anonymity on which criminality and all crimes thrive. In fact, criminals including rogue security agents, treasure situations enabling crime and denial or escape. That criminal edge or cover conferred by all bureaucracies, is the Achilles heel of Nigeria's bureaucratic approach to internal law and order maintenance; thin on intelligence-led policing and brute force driven - a panic or uncoordinated response to apparent loss of monopoly of violence to criminals who wield sophisticated weapons as national security agents. This does not only confer cover for extra-judicial killings readily blamed on criminals but fuels an illusion of more guns, greater national security that is putting a big gun in the hands of every security agent. Ultimately, the illusion that national security is all about a mounting armoury of guns, is fueling a dangerous inter-agency rivalry as staffers of otherwise diverse security agencies seem to believe that no agency's role is specialized and that they can dabble and double-cross themselves. A recent corroboration is a physical combat between prison warders and staffers of the DSS over custody of Mr. Godwin Emefiele - the immediate past governor of the central bank. In fact, it is not uncommon to sight personnel from supposedly diverse branches of the nation's security architecture including the customs, immigration, drug law enforcement agency, etc. who should patrol or stay at international entry points and borders, mounting multiple security checkpoints which although parallel in outlook, are opaque in activities, right in city centres. For example, it was right inside high-brow Ikeja that soldiers reportedly ordered the Late Mr. Sanni to furnish documentary proofs of ownership of the car he drove. By the way, is that an army's duty with neither curfew nor state of emergency declared? Yet, for the same purpose and on the same route, the police, road safety corps, VIO, customs, etc. would usually take turns to check that same car. On that, no agency could be more culpable than the nation's road safety corps that should be patrolling highways to guarantee motorists' safety. In fact, they are on record as gunning for guns. And like me, you may wonder; to do what? Kill motorists for whom they are supposed to facilitate safe motoring? Neither are Nigeria's streets lacking security cameras in the day and pitch dark at night with no streetlights, diminish risks faced by motorists at the country's security checkpoints. Hence a criminal anonimity for rogue security agents known to audaciously threaten wasting suspects' lives with neither trails for their arraignment nor consequences. Their sense of no culpability for committing heinous crimes including homicide is what security measures should take away and instill a sense of consequences. And residents of Nigeria have a right to expect the Tinubu administration to rise to the challenge because security is the very essence of governance. In fact, the indirect violence on a Senator should be one attack too many and a wake-up call to address Nigeria's worsening security now the proverbial stone which hauled into a crowded marketplace, is not selective as to its target and victim. However, private security measures are the last layer of every national security architecture. For example, given Nigeria's peculiar violent crime rate at night with neither streetlights nor security cameras, the two victims under reference ought to have realized the risk of driving new cars at odd times - early hours of the day by one of the victims and at dusk, by the other. That is part of security awareness and much cheaper than Senator Adeola commendably adopting the children of his late staff whose family, friends have similarly raised N55m. If that is good luck, you might not be that lucky. Specifically, Nigerian motorists should join others in countries where although security agents' brutality is not pronounced, they deploy security video cameras in their cars to deter impunity by security agents. The security camera popular as dash cam (dashboard camera), is capable of a discreet or secret 360 degree surveillance of both the interior and exterior of a car, even at night or under poor lighting. Not only that the camera does both audio and video coverage of threats facing a motorist, it sends feeds real-time to your prior specified vested interests (acquaintances including organizations) to mobilize to your rescue. As well, a permanent record of a security breach is simultaneously created in a cloud storage for a post-incident advocacy or judicial process. Those two foolproof capabilities - immediacy and permanency of reportage, counter brute force - the known nemesis of technology. It means hard evidence of any brutality would already have gone viral and recorded permanently in a cloud storage before any violent attempt to tamper with functionality of the gadget - a fact not obviated even if an entire car to which the device is deployed were to be destroyed like the two victims' new cars still missing! That is quite unlike smart phones not known to covertly transmit videos real-time nor would assailants or the typical Nigerian security agents knowingly allow you to record their excesses even as they themselves do not commit to wearing body cameras like in the civilised world. Yet, besides its security value, the dash cam validates car accident insurance claims and debunks false traffic offence charges. With the huge advantages of the dash cam, murderers in last months' suspected extra-judicial killings could not have been at large several weeks after their heinous acts. If the culprits are rogue security agents, their agencies would have since given them up hastily to face the music as otherwise, the 2020 EndSars and the July 2023 France riots combined, could be a child's play. Needless to add that unlike what is filtering into our ears, there would have been no absurd allusions to persons in army uniform audaciously mounting checkpoints right inside Nigeria's economic nerve-centre - Lagos State. Otherwise, the national security agencies are indicting themselves as clueless and the country's days are numbered. Agreed; the dash cam might be neither a silver bullet nor a panacea but it would substantially deter violent criminals and rogue security agents on Nigerian highways. After all, no one would allow a piece of technology indict and keep him or her behind bars for life or face capital punishment. Forget about boasts of damning the consequences. Even Yevgeny Prigozhin with a bravado fed by his escapades in Ukraine, could not carry through his threat to invade Moscow and die a hero if need be. Rather, midway, courage failed him - only to retreat and died unsung. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Hungary considers the so-called presidential elections in Azerbaijans Karabakh illegitimate, Mate Paczolay, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said, Trend reports. Hungary stands up for the respect of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We urge for a peaceful settlement of the conflict as soon as possible, he said. Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn the so-called "elections". As noted in the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the holding of the so-called "elections" once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime created by it, which has taken steps to preserve the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, on the contrary, have taken the path of provocations and escalating the situation. Police hunting cable thief near Phuket airport control tower PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong has ordered Sakhu Police Chief Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul to expedite the investigation into power and communication cables being cut and stolen from along the road near the aircraft control tower beside Phuket International Airport. tourismtransportSafetypolice By The Phuket News Monday 11 September 2023 10:59 AM Col Salan had met with key figures in the area, including Phongchai Munrin, Director of the Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre, Phuket Provincial Police reported in a statement posted online late yesterday (Sept 10). At the meeting it became apparent that the power cables were stolen sometime at night on Aug 25, and the criminals returned to break in and cut communication cables connected to Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre sometime at night on Aug 30. The total damage was given as B50,172.30. Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre did not report any effect on their ability to safely perform their function in guiding aircraft taking off and landing at Phuket airport. Further, a formal complaint about the theft was not filed with the Sakhu Police until last Thursday (Sept 7), Phuket Provincial Police reported. The formal complaint was filed only after photos of a notice asking people to not steal cables from the area were posted across social media and through local Thai-language news platforms, Phuket Provincial Police added in their statement. Regardless, Sakhu Police Chief Pol Col Salan was ordered to collect evidence and follow up to quickly arrest the culprits and prosecute them. At the meeting with key local figures, Col Salan set up a rapid mobile team to identify immediately when an incident is reported or a suspicious person is found, and to increase the frequency of patrols in the area, Phuket Provincial Police said. Officers are to inspect the operating status of CCTV cameras along the roads leading to the Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre, and to coordinate with local community leaders and air traffic control officials (Aerothai Phuket) to keep an eye out to help prevent any further thefts. Phuket Provincial Police said their were now in the process of tracking down the thieves. We are accelerating the process. If there is progress or the criminal is arrested and prosecuted, we will inform you at the next opportunity, the statement concluded. Russian MMA fighter Khusein, twin brother arrested for kidnap, torture, extortion in Phuket PHUKET: Well-known MMA fighter Khusein Askhabov and his twin brother Khasan have been arrested in connection with three Kazakh nationals forcing their way into an Italian mans villa at a resort in Cherng Talay and holding him bound and gagged while beating him for information in an hours-long ordeal that ended with the three men flying out of Phuket to Dubai after robbing the Italian man of more than B12 million in personal belongings. By The Phuket News Monday 11 September 2023 06:58 PM The report signed by Cherng Talay Police Chief Pol Col Chalermchai Hersawat last Tuesday confirming the arrests of 28-year-old Russian twin brothers Khusein and Khasan Askhabov. Photo: Supplied The report signed by Cherng Talay Police Chief Pol Col Chalermchai Hersawat last Tuesday confirming the arrests of 28-year-old Russian twin brothers Khusein and Khasan Askhabov. Photo: Supplied Hotel CCTV security cameras recorded the man making his way to freedom after escaping his villa still bound and gagged. Image: Screenshot The Italian man still bound and gagged when resort staff found him. Photo: Supplied The arrests were confirmed by a report of the incident by Cherng Talay Police Superintendent Pol Col Chalermchai Hersawat last Tuesday (Sept 5). The report was recorded on a form marked Form for reporting serious and shocking incidents and reasons that must be reported urgently that was addressed to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol, and all the senior ranking officers down the chain of command to Region 8 Police, Phuket Provincial Police and even the Phuket Governor and Thalang District Chief. Of note, so far police or any other officials in Phuket have yet to publicly recognise the incident, despite a press conference last Friday (Sept 8) that was held specifically to assure the public that law-enforcement in Phuket was dealing with any aspects of criminal activity by Russians in Phuket. The press conference was held in response to a report by Al Jazeera, reporting already long well known problems of Russians working illegally, and the arrival of violent crime by Russian nationals on the island, including the threat of gangland violence rearing its head on the streets, such as when a Kazakh national opened fire four times in broad daylight on 44-year-old Russian businessman Dmitry Aleynikov outside a cafe in Boat Avenue on June 7. The report issued by Cherng Talay Police Chief Pol Col Chalermchai last Tuesday confirmed the arrests of 28-year-old Russian twin brothers Khasan Askhabov and Khusein Askhabpov (the report used the different spelling of the brothers family name, but clearly marked the brothers as twins). Born in Grozny, Chechnya, Khusein Askhabov is well known as MMA fighter Nohcho. Although ESPN still lists Khusein as fighting out of Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, he is now understood to be training at a Muay Thai camp in Cherng Talay. Khusein and his brother Khasan were arrested on Tuesday (Sept 5), Col Chalermchai confirmed. The report did not mark where the twins were arrested, but noted they were taken into custody under arrest warrants No. 479/2566 and No 480/2566, issued by Phuket Provincial Court on Monday (Sept 4). The report confirmed the arrests were made with the intent of prosecuting the brothers with the act of robbery done with cruelty to the extent that others receive it and endangering the body or mind through torture", charges which fall under the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act B.E. 2565 (2022), which covers three significant offences including torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment as well as enforced disappearance. The report marked that the arrests followed an investigation launched after a formal complaint of the incident was received on Monday (Sept 4). The report did not mark details of the ordeal, but did confirm the theft of: One Rolex Daytona watch valued at about B2,476,500 One Patek Philippe Nautilus watch valued at about B3,805,250 One GRAFF watch valued at about B1,600,200 One Macbook, a new iPhone 13 and a new iPhone 14, and a pair of sunglasses Also listed as stolen were the Italian mans passport, his ADIB bank (Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank) debit card as well as passwords for accessing his telephones, safe and computers. The Phuket News was told that the three men also stole 40,000 euros in cash (about B1,523mn) from the safe plus 16,000 euros (about B609,578) was stolen in Dubai by use of the stolen debit card, which was known only after the incident had been reported to police. A source close to the Italian man told The Phuket News that the ordeal began when three men entered the Italian mans villa at the well-known resort through a side door and grabbed him while he was still asleep in the bedroom at about 11pm last Sunday night (Sept 3). The three, which the Italian man said he had never seen before, dragged him out of the bedroom then bound, gagged and blindfolded him. His assailants then received a phone call from a person orchestrating the attack, through which the three men asked for information, including the location of a drive containing a ledger of cryptocurrency, which the Italian men denied he had. The first beating began, lasting some 30 minutes, which ended with another phone call to the three attackers, relaying further instructions. The ordeal continued through the night, with the Italian man suffering multiple contusions to his face and body from the beatings. The three men eventually fled the villa, leaving the Italian man bound and gagged. CCTV security footage from the resort showed the Italian man finally making his escape, rolling down a pathway still bound and gagged but no long blindfolded towards the resorts motorbike parking area at 4:48pm the next day (Monday, Sept 4). The three attackers were later identified and confirmed as clearing Immigration at Phuket International Airport at 6:58am last Monday (Sept 4). The three men boarded Flight EK397 from Phuket to Dubai, and are now believed to have returned to Kazakhstan The Italian man said he had first met the Askhabov brothers at a beach cafe in Cherng Talay about a year ago. They had become acquaintances over the past year. However, he had never seen the three Kazakh attackers before the ordeal. 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. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, September 11. Azerbaijan was visited by 16,163 tourists from Turkmenistan from January through August this year, Trend reports. As per data provided by Azerbaijan's State Tourism Agency, these figures are more than 3.2 times higher than the value of the same period last year (5,016 people). In particular, 2,525 tourists from Turkmenistan visited Azerbaijan in August 2023, which is 76 percent more than in the same month of 2022 (1,433). Furthermore, over 1.34 million citizens of foreign countries visited Azerbaijan in the first eight months of this year. Meanwhile, 82,186 tourists from Central Asian countries visited Azerbaijan from January through August 2023, which is 11 percent more than the same period last year (73,823 tourists). At a time when the demand for revival of trams on previously operational lines is growing louder, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has recommended closure of some more routes to the state Transport Department. According to the mayor of KMC, Firhad Hakim, a few roads in Kolkata are in very dangerous condition. Citing examples, the mayor noted that that the stretch in front of Kalighat Bridge is in bad shape. A meeting of the KMC with the state Transport Department was also said to have taken place. There are a few roads in the city that are in a very dangerous state due to tram lines that are almost non-existent. Trams will never run on those lines. The routes like those in Kalighat and parts of Kidderpore at Diamond Harbour Road and Rabindra Sarani in Chitpore are in very poor condition. The tram lines at some of the places are in dangerous condition. People including bike riders are falling off their vehicles and that could result in a major accident. We had tried to remove the tram lines from there and made efforts to repair the roads properly. However, one person, in the name of heritage, has gone to the high court and an order has come that tram lines cannot be removed. We have said that while we are keeping four routes operational, the state Transport Department does not want to run the remaining lines and hence should be removed. Advertisement The mayor further added: I hope the honourable court gives its verdict soon, otherwise some people could lose their life. As the court has said not to do anything to those stretches, we are not carrying out work on those roads. As the Transport Department is a party to the case, we have given our suggestion to the department. But as we are not getting the date of hearing, there are fears for the lives of people. What we want is, considering the importance of the matter, the court does something about it. Whatever be the verdict of the honourable court, but as the roads are lying in battered condition, these are posing risks to the lives of people. The Indian automotive industry in August rolled out about 23.85 lakh vehicles comprising passenger carriers, three/two wheelers and quadricycles, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). While the domestic vehicle sales went up last month as compared to corresponding period previous year, the exports have come down. According to SIAM, during August 2023, the domestic sales of passenger carriers (cars, utility vehicles, vans), three wheelers, two wheelers and quadricycles) stood at about 19.45 lakh units up from about 18.77 lakh units sold during August 2022. Advertisement As regards to exports, the industry shipped out about 3.80 lakh units last month, down from about 4.02 lakh units exported during August 2022. During the period April-August 2023, the total exports of vehicles stood at about 17.86 lakh units down from 22.58 lakh units shipped out during April-August 2022. Last month saw the highest ever August month sales for passenger vehicles and three-wheelers, while two-wheeler sales remained at levels similar to a year ago. We have also observed good growth in commercial vehicle segment in August 2023. Based on the performance of last month, we are even more optimistic for demand to pick-up during the festive season, enabled by positive economic outlook and the revival of monsoon after a deficit in August, said SIAM President Vinod Aggarwal. Some 3.59 lakh units of passenger vehicles were sold in the month of August, with a growth of 9.40 per cent compared to August 2022. Three-wheelers also reported a significant growth of 68.79 per cent, posting sales of about 0.65 lakh units in August 2023. Some 15.67 lakh Two-Wheelers were sold last month in the country, with a growth of 0.59 per cent compared to August 2022, said Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM about last month sales. Thousands of Telugu Desam Party workers on Monday took to streets in protest against the arrest of their party chief and former state chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case. The TDP has called a statewide bandh demanding the release of its leader. The former Andhra Pradesh CM was arrested from Nandyal district on September 9 in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam. Following his arrest, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada sent Naidu to14-day judicial custody till September 23. His party TDP has said that it will challenge the arrest in the High Court and seek bail. Naidu has been lodged in Rajahmundry Central jail. The former Andhra CM and now prisoner number 7691 has been allotted an upper block in Sneha Wing of the jail. His son Nara Lokesh and other party leaders also reached the central jail to meet him. Advertisement Meanwhile, heavy security arrangements have been made in view of the Bandh and section 144 has been imposed in a number sensitive areas. The police have also detained several TDP workers who raised slogans against the Jagan Mohan Reddy government and demanded his release. #WATCH | Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh: TDP workers hold protest against the arrest and judicial custody of former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu. Former CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/IHOILhp2g3 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Before being taken into custody, Naidu told reporters that he didnt commit any corruption and the Corruption Investigation Department officers arrest him without any evidence. The TDP has alleged political vendetta behind his arrest. I did not commit any malpractice or corruption. CID arrested me without any proper information and I asked them to show the evidence but they refused to show and attached my name to the FIR without my role, Naidu said. The case in which Naidu was arrested pertains to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crore. According to CID sources, serious irregularities were found during an investigation and most of the money advanced by the government was diverted to shell companies through fake invoices, with no actual delivery or sale of the items mentioned in the invoices. In its remand report, the CID has said that according to the investigation so far, the total amount spent by private entities on six skill development clusters is sourced exclusively from funds advanced by the Government of AP and AP Skill Development Center, totalling Rs 371 crores. In a frontal attack on the Opposition, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said here on Monday that on the one hand Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tarnishes Indias image abroad, while on the other, Opposition leaders are defaming the Sanatan Dharma and Hindu religion in the country. Addressing media persons there during the ruling BJPs ongoing Jan Ashirwad Yatra in the Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, the Union minister alleged that Kamal Nath discontinued all the welfare schemes for the poor and backward classes and halted the development of MP when he became the chief minister of the state. He alleged that the INDIA alliance formed by the Opposition parties is, in fact, a Ghamandiya (arrogant) Alliance whose leaders make derogatory remarks against the Sanatan Dharma on a regular basis. Advertisement Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, he said under his leadership, India hosted the most successful G-20 Summit in New Delhi. Mr Thakur said the world is today looking up to India to lead the way. The Union minister said Madhya Pradesh, which used to be a BIMARU state, is now a developed state and ranks number one in the country in several fields. The state is presently the leading state in wheat export, implementation of the PM Swanidhi scheme, the Ayushman yojana, rural roads quality, and various other sectors. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and members of his delegation were forced to stay in India for another day after his official aircraft developed a technical snag, according to a statement from Canada PMs office. The technical snag, officials said, could not be fixed overnight forcing the Canadian prime minister and his delegation extends their New Delhi stay. According to reports, the delegation was informed about the technical snag in the aircraft upon their departure for the airport. These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternative arrangements are made, it added. The aircraft carrying Canadian PM has been identified as an Airbus and reportedly said to have faced similar issues in the past as well. The aircraft is operated by Canadian Air Force. Advertisement Trudeau had arrived in India on Friday to attend the New Delhi G20 Summit, which was held between September 9 and 10. After attending the G20 India Summit, Trudeau was scheduled to return home on Sunday. Interestingly, the extended stay has come at a time when Trudeau was severally criticized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of Khalistani extremists. During a brief discussion with Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, PM Modi asked his Canadian counterpart to act against extremist elements in Canada that are promoting secessionism and inciting violence against Indian diplomats, damaging diplomatic premises and threatening the Indian community and their places of worship. The nexus of such forces with organised crime, drug syndicates and human trafficking should be a concern for Canada as well. It is essential for the two countries to cooperate in dealing with such threats, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement. Responding to the Prime Minister, Trudeau said that while Canada will defend freedom of expression, it wont allow violence and hatred. He further said that actions of few dont represent the entire community or Canada. In a letter to the Moroccan Prime Minister, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama extended his condolences and said he was saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the country leading to the deaths of over 2,100 people and injuring thousands others. I offer my condolences to Your Excellency, the families of those who have lost loved ones and pray for all those affected by this great tragedy, he wrote. I am aware that your government is doing everything it can to provide support to help the rescue and relief efforts in the quake zones. It is also heartening that the international community is sending aid following the earthquake. Advertisement As a token of my solidarity with the people of Morocco affected by this tragedy, I have asked the Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama to make a donation towards the rescue and relief efforts, he added. At least 2,122 people have been killed and 2,421 injured as a result of the massive 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck central Morocco on the night of September 8. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful completion of the G20 Summit and termed the summit as a milestone for the world. In a series of posts on social media, the chief minister praised the way the prime minister organised this grand event. He wrote in his first post using #G20, The G20 summit, which has successfully concluded under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has moved forward strongly towards achieving its targeted objectives. This summit will prove to be a milestone in the realization of One Earth-One Family-One Future sentiment. In his second post, CM Yogi expressed his gratitude to the member countries. The unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Leaders Declaration by G20 members under Indias chairmanship is historic. I convey my gratitude to all G20 members along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for these efforts made in the spirit of cooperation for a prosperous future, he wrote. Advertisement In the third post, the CM expressed happiness over the African Union being made a permanent member of G20 due to Indias efforts at the summit. He wrote, The mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become a beacon of light for humanity. The permanent membership of G20 achieved by the African Union due to the special efforts of India is the result of this all-inclusive spirit. He further wrote that permanent solutions to many problems like food, water, education, medicine, terrorism, unstable economy, unrest, and distrust are also inherent in this mantra. All nations will have to imbibe the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and move forward with a human-centric approach to the welfare of the world, he stated. N Chandrababu Naidus incarceration is not just about corruption or making political gains ahead of elections. For the YSRCP and state Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, its all about getting even with the TDP supremo than anything else. Today, the ruling YSRCP ensured that the #KhaidiNo7691 trended on microblogging site X since the morning after the TDP chief was lodged in Rajahmundry Central jail at 1 am following his remand in police custody by the Anti Corruption Bureau court in connection with the Skill development scam. For years, TDP leaders, including N Chandrababu Naidu, taunted the YSRCP president and AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as Khaidi 6093 after he spent 16 months in Chanchalguda jail in Hyderabad between May 2012 and September 2013 in connection with the disproportionate assets case. Advertisement The CBI had accused the YSRCP chief of amassing crores of rupees by way of investments in the businesses run by him from individuals and firms in quid pro quo deals for the favours they received from him while his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy was the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 till his death in 2009. Jagan Mohan has always maintained that the several cases lodged against him were due to political vendetta by the Congress government for staking claim to his fathers legacy. However, even in the Assembly during TDP reign and during various political programmes, TDP leaders and Chandrababu Naidu himself took digs referring to him as Khaidi 6093. In a public meeting in Amaravati on 1 January 2020, six months after Jagan was elected chief minister, Naidu asked the people to Google Khaidi 6093 and wondered if they were ashamed of their leader. Yesterday, while the TDP supremo was remanded to jail custody after the ACB courts verdict, there were celebrations in the YSRCP camp, and minister Roja posted photographs of celebrating Naidus arrest at her residence. Today morning, the YSRCP put up a flex purportedly of the TDP founder and legendary Telugu actor of yesteryear NT Rama Rao thanking Jagan for the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu who had tormented him by organising a coup in the party. The flex also mentioned Raos son Harikrishna alleging that his death was used by Naidu for political gains. YSRCP leader Lakshmi Parvati, who was the second wife of NTR, visited NTR Ghat to pay homage to him saying he would now rest in peace. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud, on Monday, held the first Leaders Meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council and identified several initiatives to take the partnership to the next level. The prime minister said he had very productive talks with the Saudi leader. We reviewed our trade ties and are confident that the commercial linkages between our nations will grow even further in the times to come. The scope for cooperation in grid connectivity, renewable energy, food security, semiconductors, and supply chains is immense, he said. Mr Modi said the two countries Strategic Partnership Council was set up during his visit to Saudi Arabia four years ago and since then it has contributed to the growth of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Advertisement Saudi Arabia is today one of Indias most important strategic partners and as two of the large and fast-growing economies of the world, their cooperation can contribute significantly to peace and stability in the region, the Prime Minister said. The Strategic Partnership Council discussed a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation, including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others. During the talks, the two prime ministers reviewed various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership. Mr Modi thanked the Crown Prince for his contribution to the success of the G20 Summit. Mr. Modi said yesterday a decision has been taken to start a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia, and Europe. He said this corridor will not only connect the two countries but also help in providing economic growth and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe. Under the leadership of the Crown Prince and Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth, Mr Modi said. The Crown Prince said there was no disagreement at all during the history of the India-Saudi Arabia relationship, and there is cooperation to build the future of the countries and create opportunities. He said today, both nations are working on future opportunities. He congratulated Mr. Modi on the management of the G-20 Summit and the initiatives achieved, including the Economic Corridor linking the Middle East, India, and Europe. After the Council meeting, the two leaders signed the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council. The Crown Prince is on a three-day state visit to India and was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt on Monday morning. President Droupadi Murmu and the prime minister welcomed him. Mr Modi tweeted: India looks forward to deepening ties with Saudi Arabia across a wide range of sectors. The two countries signed as many as eight agreements during the state visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday. Among them, the two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy. The MoU will support Indias efforts for energy transition and transformation of the global energy system towards combating climate change. According to the MoU, the two countries will cooperate in renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Hydrogen, Electricity and Grid Interconnection between the two countries, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Strategic Petroleum Reserves and Energy Security. India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties. India is the second largest trade partner for Saudi Arabia, whereas Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth largest trading partner. During the Financial Year 2022-23, bilateral trade between them was valued at over 52 billion dollars. Saudi direct investments in India amount to over three billion dollars. Energy cooperation forms a central pillar of the Indo-Saudi bilateral ties. Saudi Arabia is a key partner for India for ensuring energy security. It remained Indias third-largest crude and petroleum products The statement from the Government Stratcom confirmed that the flight to Munich taken by the Prime Minister was a commercial one, associated with a private visit. Furthermore, it emphasized that neither the Prime Minister's travel nor any related expenses were funded from the state budget.According to them, channel TV Pirveli deliberately disseminated false information with the aim of misleading the public."We would like to respond to the disinformation story about Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili's trip to the USA, which was broadcast by TV Pirveli. The TV company deliberately spread false information aimed at misleading the public.To ensure the public is well-informed, it has been repeatedly clarified that the flight on which the Prime Minister traveled to Munich was a commercial one. Moreover, it has been emphasized that the Prime Minister's travel expenses, as well as any related expenses, were not covered by the state budget during this private visit.However, despite these clarifications, the story asserted that the said flight was financed from the state budget.Anzor Chubinidze, the head of the Special Service of State Protection, had explained prior to the story's broadcast that the flight in question was commercial, and no reimbursement was made from the budget. Unfortunately, this crucial information was intentionally omitted in the broadcast story with the intention of misleading the public," reads the Government's Stratcom statement.Mamuka Mdinaradze, the chairman of the Georgian Dream, told reporters that if a 'fair' decision is made, Georgia will undoubtedly be granted candidate status and will continue its path towards Europe.In his statement, he emphasized that Georgia deserves to be granted the status of a candidate for EU membership, highlighting the noticeable progress the country has made. He also pointed out that Georgia should have received this status last year."Georgia deserved this status last year as well. Let's not forget that another CIS country obtained the same status. Given this context, it's impossible to overlook Georgia's genuine progress, fail to acknowledge it, or assess it incorrectly. Therefore, if the professor provides a fair evaluation of the student, then the student will receive a well-deserved grade and advance to the next course. Similarly, Georgia should receive the candidate status by the end of this year. However, if there is a political decision influenced by other, non-objective factors-which I won't elaborate on-we may once again face our country's oppression," stated Mdinaradze.According to Mdinaradze, Georgia is unquestionably progressing towards European integration, and if a just decision is made, Georgia will certainly attain candidate status. He stated that the government is requesting fairness from the EU while making a decision on this matter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Another group of former IDPs sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku has arrived in Azerbaijan's Fuzuli city, Trend reports. At this stage, another 24 families (92 people) returned to the city of Fuzuli. Thus, until today, a permanent settlement in Fuzuli City has been provided for 119 families, or 441 people. In accordance with the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Fuzuli continues. As a result of the victory achieved by the valiant Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the President, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, opportunities have been created for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of internally displaced persons to their native lands after 30 years. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation, and paid tribute to the martyrs' memory. On September 12 and 13, the Jaipur Literature Festival is scheduled to take place in New York once more. In 2020, the Jaipur Literature Festival expanded internationally for the first time by presenting online editions of JLF from other countries. Following two virtual editions, the JLF New Yorks inaugural event was hosted in hybrid mode in association with the Asia Society and the Consulate General of India, New York. Before the forthcoming American version of the literary festival, JLF International released a teaser including clips from the previous editions events. Advertisement Madhur Jaffery, a cuisine and travel writer, will speak with Sanjoy Roy, the managing director of Teamwork Arts, on the opening day of JLF New York 2023. Between 12:15 and 1:15 PM, Madhur Jaffrey: A Life in Food will be discussed at the National Arts Club. Ms Jaffery is also an actress, with roles in films like this years And Just Like That and Merchant-Ivorys critically acclaimed Shakespeare-Wallah. She will speak about her experiences as an actress and a chef during the programme. The Paradoxes of India, a major JLF New York event, will feature a discussion between Seema Sirohi and Thiruvananthapurams Shashi Tharoor, a member of parliament. The discussion will centre on discussions of ideas, philosophies, and ideologies in India and will take place on September 13 from 6:30 to 7:15 PM. The registration for JLF New York is open at https://jlflitfest.org/. The American literation of Jaipur Literature will spend two days in New York before travelling to Houston on September 16 and Colorado on September 22. US President Joe Biden has said that he raised the issues of human rights and freedom of press during his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Summit which was held under Indias presidency in New Delhi from September 9-10. I raised the importance of respecting human rights, the vital role of civil society, and a free press and building a strong and prosperous country with Mr Modi. We got a lot of important work done, the US president said during a press conference in Vietnam. Notebly, Biden left for Vietnam after concluding the G20 Summit in New Delhi. He didnt hold a press conference in India and only statements were released. Advertisement Congress takes a dig at PM Modi Reacting to Bidens presser and his remarks in Vietnam, the Opposition Congress took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not holding a press conference. Mr. Modi saying to Mr. Biden Na Press Conference karoonga, Na karne doonga has had no impact. Mr. Biden is saying the same things in Vietnam which he said to Mr. Modis face in India on respecting human rights, the role of civil society and free press, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter. Mr. Modi saying to Mr. Biden Na Press Conference karoonga, Na karne doonga has had no impact. Mr. Biden is saying the same things in Vietnam which he said to Mr. Modis face in India on respecting human rights, the role of civil society and free press. pic.twitter.com/08WthcKdUC Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) September 10, 2023 Earlier, the Congress leader had alleged that Indian government didnt allow reporters to ask questions from PM Modi and Biden after their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 India Summit despite multiple requests. President Bidens team says despite multiple requests India has not allowed media to ask questions of him and Prime Minister Modi after their bilateral meeting. President Biden will now take questions in Vietnam on Sept 11th from the media accompanying him. Not surprising at all. This is how democracy is done Modi-style! he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Breaking his silence on the monthly pay-off allegation against his daughter, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday completely denied the charges levelled against Veena Vijayan. In his reply to the allegation raised by Congress member Mathew Kuzhalnadan in the Assembly under Rule 285, Chief Minister Vijayan said that his daughters firm Exalogic Solutions received money from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) for the professional service delivered to them. Calling these payments as monthly pay-off reflects the peculiar mindset of some people. He said that it was a deal between two companies and the campaigns against it are false. Advertisement He said that the money was received by his daughters company as per the legal contract after observing tax-related formalities like Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) and Goods and Services Tax (GST). Exalogic Solutions in its IT return has recorded it, he added. Mathew Kuzhalnadan, who raised the issue of the Chief Ministers silence on the matter in the Assembly, termed the latters response as a misleading statement. He said that he will not give up the matter and will seek the opposition leaders nod to pursue it further. He added that he would not allow the CM to escape from the charges. Earlier, Mathew Kuzhalnadan questioned the Chief Ministers silence on the allegations involving his daughter Veena Vijayan and her firm. It was the CPI-M state secretariat who responded to allegations against Veena Vijayan and her firm which received Rs 1.72 crore from a firm involved in sand mining at Alappuzha coastal area. The CPI-M had to say whether it had become a party standing as a guard to a family involved in extortion, he said. The New Delhi bench of the Income Tax Interim Settlement Board (ITISB) has found that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter received Rs 1.72 crore from CMRL for consultancy services that were never provided. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Monday, visited Radha Soami Satsang Beas in Amritsar and met the sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at his residence. Praising Radha Soami Satsang Beas for its commitment to the principles of the oneness of humanity, the CM commended the exceptional services carried out by the organisation in serving society. During his visit, he also went around the ashram and was particularly impressed by the cleanliness and sanitation facilities, stating that the organisations efforts align with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which emphasises genuine service to humanity. Khattar also visited the library within the ashram and suggested that it should include literature that promotes unity and the philosophy of oneness. The CM said the Haryana government has initiated the Sant Mahapurush Vichar Samman Evam Prasar Yojana to propagate the teachings of great saints to the youth, a unique endeavor in the country. He said that the governments collaboration with saints in the campaign to make Haryana addiction-free. The countrys top political leaders visit the sect headquarters from time to time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Radha Soami Satsang in November last year and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited in March this year. The sect has a large number of followers across the country. Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) is an international spiritual organisation guided by fundamental spiritual beliefs. It was founded in 1891 in India and the organisation has gradually expanded its reach to other countries. Today, the Satsang conducts gatherings in over 90 countries worldwide and operates as a non-profit organisation dedicated to the welfare of society. At the heart of the RSSB teachings is a belief that there is a spiritual purpose to human life. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti on Monday slammed the BJP government for lifting additional duty on the import of apple and other fruits from America that would badly hit the Kashmiri growers. They urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the decision. Congress Working Committee (CWC) Member Ghulam Ahmad Mir also averred that lifting additional duties shall lead to economic distress, huge losses to J&K and Himachal fruit industry. The decision of the government to withdraw additional duties that were levied in 2019 has coincided with the visit of US President Joe Biden to New Delhi to participate in the G20 summit. Advertisement PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X: GOIs decision to remove additional duties on apples, walnuts and almonds will have a devastating effect on local growers in J&K already grappling with huge losses. Mir urged the Centre to revisit the decision in the larger interests of growers. Adding that post 2019, Kashmir fruit industry is confronted with losses, Mir said there was need for a special bailout package for the growers to overcome the economic crisis instead the decision regarding lifting import duties on American products shall create more problems for the growers and market as well. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed dismay over removal of additional duties on Apple, walnuts, and almond imports from the USA, saying the measure will directly hit the interests of the horticulture industry in Kashmir. The quantum of cheap apples and dry fruits entering India from the US will eat into the market share of the Kashmiri produce as a result of which the growers will suffer huge economic losses. The local fruit industry is already facing stiff challenges due to the weather vagaries, road blockages, dearth of cold storage facilities, escalating production cost and much more, he said. The industry is no longer delivering good returns, making the business unviable for as the imported fruits will see for a much cheaper price. The horticulture sector in Kashmir has already lost momentum due to the failure of the government to address concerns of the growers. The decision will further push them to the wall, added Omar. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Monday that his government would examine and take requisite action on any request by the Congress-led opposition UDF for a probe into the alleged criminal conspiracy to implicate Oommen Chandy in sexual harassment. Responding to an adjournment motion moved by Congress MLA Shafi Parambil over the CBI findings absolving the former chief minister of the charge of sexual harassment levelled by a woman complainant, the chief minister said his government would consider a probe into the alleged criminal conspiracy against Oommen Chandy in the solar case. He said while there was no material before the government to order a probe on its own, if the Opposition provides one, it would be considered. Advertisement He said that the Opposition was making strange allegations that are not related to the facts on the solar issue. The government has not yet officially received the CBI report and therefore, it was not in a position to comment on it or take any action based on it. Moving an adjournment motion, Shafi Parambil wanted those who hounded Oommen Chandy over the complaint by the woman complainant to apologise in the wake of the CBI findings. Those who hunted down an honest public servant by using fake letters should apologise. The solar case is a political disaster. Despite knowing that he was innocent, Oommen Chandy was brutally hunted down, he said. Participating in the discussion, Opposition leader VD Satheesan called Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan prime accused in what he called a criminal conspiracy to target Chandy in the sexual scandal. He said the ruling party worked hard to crucify Oommen Chandy. Satheesan also accused the ruling front of buying forged letters from the complainant woman in order to humiliate their opponents in front of the people. They carried out an investigation for five years without gathering any evidence. Ahead of elections, the case was transferred to the CBI, he said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which probed the sexual harassment case, reportedly found that there was an intricate plot aimed at implicating Chandy in the case. The CBI, in its report submitted to the court the other day, giving clean-chit to Chandy in the case, has reportedly stated that a ruling front MLA and his aide conspired to name the senior Congress leader in the case. The CBI points out that the womans letter initially does not contain Chandys name. The Central probe agency found that the name of Chandy was interpolated into the letter later. The ruling front MLA got possession of the letter through his aide. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, who is on a three-day state visit to India, Monday held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. A high level delegation from respective countries also accompanied the two leaders during their meeting. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were also present in the meeting. The Crown Prince had arrived in India on Saturday and stayed back after attending the 18th G20 Summit in the national capital over the weekend. During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed wide range of issues, including trade, defence and the mega India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. Prior to their bilateral meeting, officials of Saudi Arabian and Indian government met in Delhi signed several MoUs. Following the bilateral meeting, the two leaders will co-chair the First Leaders Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and review the progress made under the two Ministerial Committees of the Strategic Partnership Council the, according to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs. Advertisement PM Modi and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince will discuss all aspects of bilateral relations, including political, security, defence, trade and economic, cultural and people-to-people ties. Both the leaders will also discuss the regional and international issues of mutual interest. Bilateral significant after India-Middle East-Europe corridor announcement The bilateral is significant after PM Modi announced a mega India-Middle East-Europe railways and shipping corridor. The ambitious project is being considered a game changer in bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and India. The corridor is believed to be the brain child of the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Modi. The US and Europe also joined hands in a bid to counter Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Ceremonial Reception for Saudi Crown Prince Earlier in the day, His Royal Highness was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he also inspected a combined defence services Guard of Honour. The Saudi Arabian Crown Prince was received by President Dropoudi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Speaking to reporters at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, he said, Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries. Saudi Arabias Crown Prince is also scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu before his departure to Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince arrived in India on Saturday to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi. All India Congress Committee General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh from Tuesday to meet the disaster-affected families and take stock of the damage caused by the rain fury in July. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu will receive Priyanka Gandhi at Chandigarh before proceeding to visit Kullu and Mandi districts by chopper. They will be joined by Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee President and MP Pratibha Singh and Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh. Advertisement Priyanka will go to Manali and also meet the flood-affected families. In the afternoon, she will proceed to Solan and the Shimla district. So far, the death toll due to the rain fury since the onset of the monsoon on 24 June till date has reached 426, while 427 have been injured. A total of 39 persons have gone missing including six in road accidents, five drowning, eight in landslides, 20 in floods and one due to unknown reasons. There were 165 landslides and 72 flash flood incidents. During the period 2,575 houses have been fully damaged and 10,965 have been partially damaged while 318 shops and 5,797 cowsheds have also been damaged. Northern Army Commander Lt General Upendra Dwivedi on Monday said that self-reliance in defence equipment production is the first step for India to become a global leader. Lt General Dwivedi was speaking to media persons at the opening of 3-day long North Tech Symposium hosted by IIT-Jammu. As many as 190 industry partners, 40 innovation displays and 38 start-ups are participating in the mega event in which indigenously manufactured weapons and gadgets have been displayed. Lt Governor of Ladakh Brigadier (Dr) BD Mishra (Retd) visited the symposium. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Army Chief General Manoj Pande will be among the dignitaries to attend the North Tech Symposium. Advertisement Referring to the latest technological gadgets being produced within the country, the Army commander said that the equipment is divided into five parts. Survivability of protection, mobility, surveillance and communication, infrastructural development and fire power are the key areas focused in the North Tech. On drone challenges at the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), Lt. General Dwivedi said counter drone equipment has been inducted and is being upgraded from time to time. With each passing day, technology along the LoC and also the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China is improving. He said the Army is always operationally prepared on the LoC and LAC to meet any challenge and asserted that they would not allow anyone to come on the Indian side. Asserting that the situation in Ladakh was normal, he said, As an army commander of the Northern Command, whatever I am guarding is our area and I will not allow anyone to come on the Indian side. He said that nearly 200 terrorists were waiting across the LoC in Pakistan to infiltrate but our alert troops are deployed at the borders and we are determined to eliminate them there itself, he said. Meanwhile, Lt Governor of Ladakh, Brigadier Mishra said that not an inch of Indian land has been occupied by China in the region. I will not comment on what Rahul Gandhi has said but I can comment on what I have seen on the ground. The fact is that not a single inch of land has been occupied, he said. Lt General MV Suchindera Kumar, Vice Chief of Army Staff, was the chief guest. He remarked, More than an honour, its a moment of immense pride for me to witness the harmonious blend of the Army, Academia, and Industry. In an era where technology knows no boundaries, it is imperative that we recognize the essence of cooperation and collaboration. The symposium stands as a luminous example of the synergy that can be harnessed, emphasised Lt Gen Kumar. This platform will serve as a launchpad for numerous startups and industries to illuminate their products and ideas. The primary objective of the symposium is to enrich the participants technological knowledge, with a collective endeavour to seek solutions that not only bolster national security but also address environmental concerns, he added. Prof Anurag Misra, Dean, IIT-Jammu, said that our commitment extends to research in defence technology, aiming to enhance the lives of our valiant soldiers. The establishment of the Centre for Strategy and Sustainable Infrastructure exemplifies our dedication to interdisciplinary research. He said that collaboration is our ethos, and together, we shall forge innovative solutions. NTS23 is an opportunity to strengthen our ties with the Army and Industry, contributing to our nations welfare. It signifies a milestone in the collaboration between industry, the Army, and academia. SP Shukla, President of the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM), said that 75 percent of Army products now bear the Make in India emblem. Amid the standoff between India and China, Secretary Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs, Atal Dulloo on Monday visited Pangong Lake area, specifically to the border villages to assess the progress of the vibrant villages in the union territory of Ladakh. Accompanied by Manoj Singh Rawat, ADG, ITBP, senior security officers, and civil administrators from the UT Administration, Dulloo visited the villages of Chushul, Maan, Merak, Urgo, and Tangtse on 9 September, said an official spokesman on Monday. Dulloo engaged in discussions with members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), local residents, and ITBP personnel at a community hall. Advertisement The people highlighted several pressing demands, including the installation of mobile connectivity towers to address the absence of internet facilities, which directly impacts the local education system. Additionally, requests for a dedicated block for Chushul, solar-powered housing, hand pumps, and guesthouses were put forth. The locals also emphasized the need for the area to be declared an international border, enabling their children to access employment opportunities in border-related sectors. Dulloo listened to these demands and assured the community that their concerns would be promptly conveyed to the relevant authorities for resolution. He further instructed security forces to maintain close communication with the local population and civil administration. Subsequently, Dulloo visited the villages of Maan, Merak, Urgo, and Tangtse, where he interacted with the residents. He emphasized the priority placed on the vibrant village program by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aiming to provide essential infrastructure in these border villages. The villagers expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his special attention to the border areas of UT Ladakh. They reiterated the need for internet connectivity, development of tourist destinations, and land allocation for the construction of rest houses to support their livelihoods, as there are limited avenues for earning a living in the region. Residents of the Changthang area also raised concerns about construction restrictions imposed by the Wildlife Act, hampering economic activities such as the establishment of resorts, restaurants, and eateries. Dulloo assured them that their demands would be taken up with the relevant authorities for resolution, highlighting the governments commitment to addressing the needs and aspirations of the people living in these border areas. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Turkiye's leading online trading platform - 'Hepsiburada' may start working in Azerbaijan, the CEO of Hepsiburada, Nilhan Onal Gokchetekin said, Trend reports. He noted that research attracting regional countries such as Azerbaijan and Israel have now begun. "We have started to provide services in different languages and in different currencies. We will make a serious contribution to Turkiye's exports in the coming years. We are working on cooperation and partnership with regions with which we have cultural and historical ties. As a company, we strive to invest in innovative technologies that determine the direction of digitalization of trade," he said. Hepsiburada.com is a Turkish e-commerce company that has been working since 1998. The company was selected as Turkey's most popular brand in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and E-commerce Site of the Year in 2013. The company allows suppliers to make sales on the platform. Although 'Hepsiburada' also sells products, most of the products are from suppliers rather than 'Hepsiburada' itself. Data for the end of 2022 shows the platform had over 80,000 merchants. The global media has hailed the successful G20 Summit in New Delhi under Indias Presidency, which was marked by 100 per cent consensus on the New Delhi Declaration. The New Delhi Declaration was adopted by G20 leaders on Saturday, the first day of the Summit. The two-day Summit was held at the state-of-the-art Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre at Pragati Maidan here. The Washington Post has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi in addressing global concerns and receiving 100 per cent consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The Posts lead story is titled, India forges compromise among divided world powers at the G20 summit in a diplomatic win for Modi. Advertisement Dubai based media organisation, Gulf News emphasised on the aspect of how the 18th G20 Summit shaped the world in harmony and diversity and shared their story with the headline, 18th G20 Summit: Shaping a world of diversity and harmony. Australian news outlet ABC News, however, saw the Delhi declaration as being watered down in its language on the conflict in Ukraine. ABC News wrote Anthony Albanese hails watered down agreement as G20 summit wraps. Albanese on Saturday termed the G20 Summit hosted by Prime Minister Modi as successful and also stated that the New Delhi Summit was followed by a good bilateral discussion between the two leaders. As the G20 Summit culminated with productive initiatives, British daily broadsheet, The Telegraph spoke about Indias move to become the highlight of the New World Order. Their story read: Why India is poised to become the centre of the New World Order. At the G20 Summit, Indias Presidency gave importance to global multi stakeholder collaboration as a means to tackle common challenges like the climate crisis and shows the path of global harmony and green finance. Qatar based Al Jazeera highlighted that Russia had applauded the balanced declaration as the G20 Summit successfully came to an end. Russia praises balanced declaration as summit concludes, said Al Jazeera. South China Morning Post story reads: US, Russia praise G20 summit declaration as India meeting closes. US President Joe Biden on Sunday had said that this years G20 summit has proved that the Group can still drive solutions to the most pressing issues of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict. Taking to X, the US President said, At a moment when the global economy is suffering from the overlapping shocks of the climate crisis, fragility, and conflict, this years Summit proved that the G20 can still drive solutions to our most pressing issues. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday described the New Delhi G20 Summit as a milestone and said the active role of the Indian Presidency has genuinely consolidated the G20 countries from the Global South for the first time in history. Earlier, Chief Coordinator of Indias G20 Presidency, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the G20 Summit has provided India with an opportunity to showcase its diversity, legacy and digital public infrastructure. In the ever-evolving landscape of finance and technology, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a disruptive force. The IMF emphasises the importance of a global, coordinated, consistent and comprehensive regulatory framework to provide order, consumer confidence and a secure environment for innovation within the crypto ecosystem. Over a decade since the inception of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies have transcended their niche origins to become a mainstream phenomenon. While they offer exciting opportunities for innovation and investment, they also present significant challenges. It is now clear that the path forward must involve regulation, rather than an outright ban, which would prove difficult to enforce. Cryptocurrencies, with their decentralised nature and borderless capabilities, have garnered immense popularity among investors, businesses, and individuals worldwide. They serve as a hedge against traditional financial systems, offering an alternative store of value and a means of conducting cross-border transactions without cumbersome intermediaries. However, the very features that make cryptocurrencies attractive also make them a breeding ground for illicit activities such as money laundering and tax evasion. The call for regulation is not a cry for stifling innovation but rather a pragmatic recognition of the need to strike a balance between innovation and security. Regulation can provide a structured framework within which cryptocurrencies can flourish, ensuring their legitimacy and mitigating the risks associated with their use. Cryptocurrency markets are notorious for their volatility. Regulation can enforce standards that protect investors from scams, fraudulent schemes and market manipulation. This will instil confidence among users, both retail and institutional, fostering a healthier crypto ecosystem. The opaque nature of cryptocurrency transactions has long been a concern for regulators. Regulation can mandate transparency, including reporting requirements, to track and trace illicit activities, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the financial system. Cryptocurrency transactions often escape the tax net due to their pseudonymous nature. Advertisement Regulatory oversight can ensure that individuals and businesses pay their fair share of taxes, contributing to government revenues. Cryptocurrencies wild price swings can have ripple effects on the broader financial system. Regulation can introduce mechanisms to minimise systemic risks, stabilise the markets and protect investors from excessive losses. Rather than stifling innovation, regulation can provide clear boundaries within which innovation can thrive. The alternative to regulation is a blanket ban on cryptocurrencies. While this may seem like a straightforward solution, it is far from practical. Cryptocurrencies operate across a global network of nodes and miners. Banning them would require coordinated efforts on a global scale, which is challenging given the differing regulatory priorities and approaches of countries. Advanced users can easily bypass restrictions using privacy-focused technologies. A ban would drive cryptocurrency innovation underground or offshore, potentially depriving nations of the economic benefits and technological advancements associated with the the blockchain industry. Banning cryptocurrencies could push their use into the shadows, where they may be used for illegal activities with even less oversight. Coinciding with Vishwakarma Jayanthi on 17 September this year, the government of India is launching its PM Vishwakarma scheme as if to satiate this divine architect and craftsman deity. The boon, the quid pro quo, the government seeks from this God, looks to be the bountiful votes to the ruling party from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), who constitute about 52 per cent of the population, in the coming elections to five state assemblies ~ Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana ~ toward this year-end and to the Lok Sabha later. The realization of the desire will depend on to what extent the target groups will receive or at least perceive to receive the benefits; the second is always more important to the politicians because it is this perception that they think generates the votes for them. More so, since the scheme is slated to be implemented over five years 2023-24 to 2027- 28 and the list of categories of eligible trades is stated to be expanded, the hopes and expectations, but not the actual benefits, will be tangible before the elections. The peoples trust in the scheme is important to the party in power for the time being. Advertisement A closer look at the so far available details of the scheme suggests that it is unlikely to yield much benefit neither in quantitative nor in qualitative terms; not significant enough to woo voters from the target groups despite the hype being created to raise hopes of the entire OBC Community. Before going into the micro details of the scheme, let us first look at the macro factors to see how big or small is the scheme. The five-year outlay for the scheme is only Rs.13,000 crore which means Rs.2,600 crore per year in the entire country both in rural and urban areas. So, it is too small a sum compared to the size of the OBC class. The scheme covers eighteen trades: 1. Carpenter (Suthar); 2. Boat Maker; 3. Armourer; 4. Blacksmith (Lohar); 5. Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; 6. Locksmith; 7. Goldsmith (Sonar); 8. Potter (Kumhaar); 9. Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver), Stone breaker; 10. Cobbler (Charmkar) / Shoesmith/ Footwear artisan; 11. Mason (Rajmistri); 12. Basket/ Mat/ Broom Maker/Coir Weaver; 13. Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); 14. Barber (Naai); 15. Garland maker (Malakaar); 16. Washerman (Dhobi); 17.Tailor (Darzi); and 18. Fishing Net Maker. These are the initially identified trades and more traditional ones are supposed to be included later. The Prime Minister said in his Independence Day speech a couple of days before the cabinets approval of the scheme that, In the days to come, we will launch a scheme on Vishwakarma Jayanti, benefiting individuals skilled in traditional craftsmanship, particularly from the OBC community. Weavers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, laundry workers, barbers, and such families will be empowered through the Vishwakarma Yojana, which will begin with an allocation of around Rs 13-15 thousand crore. But we do not see weavers in the initial trades list. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says that the scheme is going to benefit 30 lakh families in all and five lakh families in the first year. This itself shows that the outlay is thinly spread. After all, poor spending cannot generate incommensurably high results leading to providing succor to the beleaguered OBCs in the country. Furthermore, the proposed number of people to be covered is less than half of the official estimate of 70 lac artisan families in the country. If the unofficial figure of 20 crore is taken, the coverage would be a mere 3.5 per cent of artisans. That means only 3.5 per cent, if at all, will be happy with the scheme while the left out 96.5 per cent will be unhappy. Now, the micro details: the identified will get skill development training for 4-5 days with a stipend of Rs 500 per day. They will get another Rs 15,000 for the purchase of contemporary tools. Then, they will be given a PM Vishwakarma certificate and an ID card. They get a total subsidized loan of Rs 2 lakhs on cheap interest of 5 per cent; we do not yet know if any principal subsidy will be given in addition to the interest subsidy. This loan will not be given all at a time; Rs 1 lakh will be given first and another Rs 1 lakh depending on successful performance, regular repayment, etc., of the first tranche. The beneficiaries are also assured of getting marketing support and incentives for digital transactions. The government has rightly identified the importance of the sector and the need to support the large section of the people depending on it for their livelihoods. However, it has grossly failed to identify and provide the right solution to the challenges the sector faces. True, Indias handlooms and handicrafts sectors are the second largest employment providers after agriculture in the country. The handloom industry is the largest cottage industry in the country with 23.77 lakh looms. Undoubtedly a large number of people are in the handloom sector with a total of handloom worker households pegged at 31,44,839 as per the fourth handloom census (2019- 20). Their incomes are too meager for sustenance; 67.1 per cent of the weaver households get less than Rs 5,000 a month and another 26.2 per cent get incomes between Rs.5000 and Rs 10,000 and only 1.2 per cent get above Rs 20,000. Yet, handlooms and handicrafts are fetching good foreign exchange to the nation. For instance, man-made textiles exports in 2021-22 were worth $6.3 billion and the handicrafts were worth $2.1 billion. The continuance of the guru-shishya tradition the government wants may appear a good idea on the face of it. But the government is unable to accept its impracticality for the simple reason that the products from artisans and cottage industries cannot compete in price and quality with those coming from modern industry. If a large number of people are continuing and depending on these traditional occupations it is not because of the love for it nor the lure of income they can generate. It is just because they are not able to find alternative employment. Every parent in these occupations wants their children to have a modern education, and skills and be the part of modern economy and earn decent incomes. They do not want their children to feel it their destiny (karma) to lead a life with low incomes and no modern education. The peripheral support without getting into root causes are unlikely to yield any tangible results. If such schemes work, the earlier schemes and initiatives like handlooms and handicrafts development programmes, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission the Skill India Mission and the like would have worked well and would have obviated the need for another programme like this (The writer is a development economist and commentator on economic and social affairs) In the ever-evolving landscape of global diplomacy, subtle shifts and nuanced expressions of support can sometimes carry the weight of profound significance. Such is the case with President Joe Bidens recent reaffirmation of the United States commitment to Indias quest for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In a joint statement issued by the White House during his visit to New Delhi, Mr Biden declared his unwavering support for Indias permanent membership in a reformed UNSC. This declaration marks a major milestone for India in its relentless pursuit of a seat at the most influential table in global governance. The United Nations, established in the aftermath of the Second World War, has long been hailed as the beacon of hope for a peaceful and cooperative world order. The UNSC, as its principal organ, bears the crucial responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Composed of five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members, it has often been criticised for its outdated structure that fails to represent the geopolitical realities of the 21st century. Mr Bidens endorsement of India as a permanent UNSC member is a testament to the USAs recognition of Indias growing stature on the world stage. India, the worlds largest democracy and a burgeoning economic powerhouse, has consistently played a constructive role in international affairs. Its commitment to peacekeeping missions, engagement in climate change negotiations and its role in providing affordable healthcare solutions during the Covid-19 pandemic, underscore its dedication to global well-being. However, Indias journey towards a permanent seat at the UNSC has been an arduous one. The quest began in the early years of independence, and successive Indian leaders have tirelessly advocated for reforming the UNSC to reflect the contemporary geopolitical landscape. Mr Bidens vocal support serves as a powerful affirmation of Indias legitimate aspirations. The significance of this endorsement extends beyond Indias national interests. It represents a broader acknowledgment that the UNSC needs a facelift to address the complex challenges of the 21st century effectively. Mr Bidens call for expanding both permanent and non-permanent seats in the UNSC demonstrates his commitment to making the body more inclusive and responsive to contemporary global challenges. Moreover, Mr Bidens endorsement is not a standalone statement but a part of his administrations broader vision for global governance. It aligns with his emphasis on strengthening international institutions, revitalising alliances and promoting multilateralism. Advertisement This approach stands in stark contrast to the isolationist tendencies witnessed in recent years, reaffirming the USAs commitment to collaborative global problem-solving. Indias journey towards a permanent UNSC seat will, undoubtedly, still face hurdles and diplomatic complexities, as any significant reform in international institutions often does. However, Mr Bidens unequivocal support sends a clear signal to the global community that the USA stands with India in its quest for a more equitable and representative world order. Are we moving into an escalating phase towards war? With war returning to Europe with armed conflict in Ukraine, coups in Niger, Central Africa, amidst the hottest July in recorded history, the heating of climate and war is becoming a toxic mix. The US Director of National Intelligences 2021 report on Global Trends 2040 gloomily assessed the prospects as follows: In coming years and decades, the world will face more intense and cascading global challenges ranging from disease to climate change to the disruptions from new technologies and financial crises. These challenges will repeatedly test the resilience and adaptability of communities, states, and the international system, often exceeding the capacity of existing systems and models. This looming disequilibrium between existing and future challenges and the ability of institutions and systems to respond is likely to grow and produce greater contestation at every level. In short, we have not figured out how to deal with these intermingled poly-crises and reconcile them peacefully. Each trend causes fragmentation as resources and effects are unevenly distributed, requiring hard choices and trade-offs which are not easy to resolve. Ukraine is a moral tragedy, whereby no one wants to take tough decisions for peace, preferring to wage war in which hundreds of thousands have died, millions have migrated and the unspoken outcome is nuclear. At the heart of global tensions is the refusal of the West to accommodate the interests of the Rest, preferring a policy of containment. Advertisement The recent BRICS summit only accentuated the growing divide between a rich West that is mostly white (except Japan) and the Rest. Both sides are enlarging themselves NATO moving eastwards to the Pacific, whilst BRICS added six new members, Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Together, BRICS will account for 29 per cent of world GDP and 46.1 per cent of world population, versus 51.2 per cent of world GDP for NATO plus Japan, which accounts for 13.6 per cent of world population. BRICS today also accounts for 40.8 per cent of the worlds oil and gas reserves, compared with 13.4/12.8 per cent for NATO/G7. BRICS is also more inclusive, as Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and UAE are not members of G20. BRICS is defined by its political and cultural diversity, and more important is not a military alliance. The group represents poorer but nonwhite states, many former colonies, who will not accept a NATO/G7 bunch of aging rich whites still trying to preach democracy and their rulesbased order. They know that the Rest has to accept that the West is number one, and any challenger will be considered an existential threat, whether it is China, India, Russia or Islam. If G7 truly believes in democracy (one person or state one vote), then the present voting rights in the IMF or World Bank would be dominated by the Rest. No, we cant have that, can we? The really interesting point is that BRICS members are almost all excolonies or countries that historically experienced invasions from NATO members, including Japan. The peace-loving Japan is discharging its Fukushima radio-active water into the Pacific in a gesture of goodwill towards neighbours. If the water is non-radioactive and safe, why dont they simply pump the waters into Japanese soil instead? No one knows what the long-term implications are on marine life in the Pacific. Small incidents like the Fukushima nuclear waste water hurting a crowded world describes what Austrian Professor Friedrich Glasl considered in his nine-stage Conflict Escalation model. Glasl observed that conflicts arise in all organizations that evolve in three stages with three levels win-win; win-lose; and lose-lose. In the win-win stage, level one is tension and hardening of views. Level two is debates and disagreements; but level three moves to actions and not just words. In stage two of win-lose for both parties, level four sees each party trying to get into coalitions, seeking allies to bolster their arguments and bargaining positioning. Level five involves action that causes the other side to lose face. Level six then goes into actual strategies and threats, where the other side is seen as opponent, rival or enemy. Level seven deteriorates into the lose-lose phase, because one side thinks that its limited action will cause the other side to lose more. But this only invites tit-for-tat retaliation. Level eight attacks each others vital functions until the other fragments, surrenders or collapses. Level nine is nuclear Mutually Assured Destruction, where everyone loses. Glasl recognizes that the Ukraine war is fought at three entangled levels US versus Russia (global); Russia versus Ukraine (regional); and within Ukraine, Russian-speaking versus non-Russian Ukrainian (local) conflicts. All proxy wars end up with the proxies being totally devastated or crippled. This is not about the pride of Great Powers, but the survival of all. The Glasl model suggests that escalation can be reversed, provided both sides can find windows of opportunity to de-escalate, moving away from military action to diplomacy. The Ukraine war teaches the fundamental lesson that we must always look at the current situation from the other sides perspective. Ukraine supporters see a violation of sovereignty as the absolute principle that they must defend to the death (many Ukrainians so far). The Russians argue that they are fighting for the existence of Russia as a sovereign state. Westward NATO movement reminds them that Russia was invaded twice in history by Western Europe Napoleon and then Nazi Germany. As the last two World Wars demonstrated, wars have an entangled logic of rationality and emotion, with small incidents like the assassination of Austrian Duke Ferdinand leading to rapid mobilization and war. The Second World War was about Nazi Germany seeking revenge from the last defeat. It is easier to enter into war and far more difficult to get out of it. Peace can only come when leaders come to their senses and realise that war can only lead to more war. In todays nuclear age, conventional warfare will inevitably lead to destruction of all. Leaders will have to climb down diplomatically for peace, or face collapse of everything economically, politically and existentially. There is no victory from nuclear war. Not even a return to status quo. Which is why peace is the only real option. (The writer is a former central banker who writes on global issues from an Asian perspective.) Special to ANN. Apple is holding its next big event, dubbed Wonderlust, on September 12 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, to launch the iPhone 15 series, iOS 17, Apple Watch, and other products. At the event, it is expected that the tech giant, for the first time, will launch the iPhone 15 lineup with a USB-C port instead of Apples proprietary Lightning connector, reports The Verge. Along with this, Apple might announce the release dates for iOS 17 and watchOS 10 during its upcoming event. Advertisement Although reports claim that the USB-C port will be available on all iPhone 15 models, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that only the Pro and Pro Max will benefit from faster data transfer rates. Both premium models will have at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the base iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will have USB 2.0 ports. Some Apple iPhone 15 models are likely to support charging up to 35W which will offer faster charging speeds. In addition, supply chain analyst Ross Young predicted last year that all models of the iPhone 15 would include the Dynamic Island. The iPhone 15 lineup is also expected to get an ultra-wideband chip as well. Moreover, the report said that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to feature a titanium frame, slimmer bezels, and a more easily repairable aluminium chassis, similar to the iPhone 14. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max might also have a faster A17 chip built using the 3nm process, whereas the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will most likely include the A16 chip included in the iPhone 14 Pro. In addition to the iPhone 15, Apple is expected to unveil its latest smartwatch lineup with few major changes so far. The premium Apple Watch Ultra will reportedly retain its 49mm size and come with a new darker titanium case. But as per rumours the Watch Series 9 will come with an updated S9 processor, the report mentioned. The iPhone 15 isnt the only Apple device thats expected to get the USB-C treatment. According to Bloombergs Mark Gurman, Apple plans on releasing a pair of AirPods Pro with USB-C during the event. Kuo predicted in 2022 that Apple would release AirPods with a USB-C charging case this year. Aside from the new case, its unclear whether Apple will make any significant changes to the AirPods themselves. There are a few other things Apple is rumoured to be working on that will most likely not be revealed at the iPhone 15 event. This includes new Macs and iPads, which Apple usually announces in October, the report stated. A recent Twitter post caused quite a stir in the online world, claiming to reveal the name of Elon Musk and Grimes third child. Initially, the post mentioned the childs name as Techno Mechanicus, but Musk himself stepped in to clarify that its actually Tau Techno Mechanicus. This revelation comes from an advanced copy of an upcoming biography about Musk, which was obtained by the Los Angeles Times. According to the biography, the couple welcomed their third child via surrogate back in June 2022. It seems that Musk and Grimes have a knack for unique and meaningful names for their offspring. As with their first two children, the name appears to be a fusion of their shared interests. Musk even provided an explanation for the name Tau Techno Mechanicus, saying, Circumference/Diameter. Advertisement In mathematical terms, Tau represents the ratio between the circumference and radius of a circle. Elon Musk, aged 52, and Grimes, 35, are already proud parents to two other children: a son named X A-12, who is three years old, and a daughter named Exa Dark Siderl, who just turned one. Their daughter was also born via surrogate in December 2021. The couple, whose real name is Claire Boucher, had been together for about three years before they decided to part ways in March 2022. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Grimes hinted at their desire for a larger family, saying, Weve always wanted at least three or four. Musks children other than Tau Techno Mechanicus: Elon Musks expanding family includes his three children with Grimes, bringing the total to 11 children. The billionaire entrepreneur, who has been through three divorces, welcomed his first child with his first wife, author Justine Wilson. Tragically, their child passed away at just 10 weeks old. The former couple later had twins in 2004 and triplets in 2006. Musk also fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, a high-ranking executive at his company Neuralink. In a surprising twist, it was revealed through court documents in July 2022 that Musk had fathered twins with Shivon Zilis, who serves as the director of operations and special projects at Neuralink. These twins were born just weeks before Musk and Grimes welcomed their second child via surrogate in December. Shivron Zilis, a worker at Elon Musks business Neuralink with whom he shares twins, claimed that the billionaire only wants intelligent individuals to become parents. She revealed this in a passage from Elon Musks planned autobiography that The New York Times (NYT) had access to. A few days ago, it was made public that Musks 11th kid was given the name Techno Mechanicus. The childs full name, Tau, was revealed in Walter Isaacsons upcoming biography of the computer billionaire. It will be available on September 12. According to Zilis, who is quoted in the book, He really wants smart people to have kids. According to NYT, Isaacson claimed in the book that the richest guy in the world offered to be her sperm donor so that the kids would have a better chance at life. Musk frequently discusses his views on reproduction, saying that population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming on X (previously Twitter). Advertisement He posted a retweet last month that emphasized the ongoing demographic catastrophe. The article noted that while populations in the US and Japan have declined, fertility rates have significantly decreased in China, Singapore, the UK, and South Korea. According to the article, one of the biggest challenges to civilisation is population decline. Adding Yes to the tweet, Elon Musk retweeted it. Musk stated in a post in July of last year that he is making every effort to help the underpopulation crisis. A month later, Musk and his ex-girlfriend Grimes secretly had their third kid. In addition, he is a father to the six kids he has with Justine Wilson, a Canadian author who was his ex-wife. He had his first son, Nevada Alexander, in 2002, but he passed away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) at the age of 10 weeks, according to an article in People magazine. Grindr, the popular queer dating app, has undergone a significant staff reduction, with nearly half of its workforce departing following the termination of its remote work policy. On August 4th, Grindr introduced a return-to-office mandate, offering employees two choices: either move to one of the newly designated hub cities, such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Washington, DC, to work in person twice a week with their teams, or leave the company with severance. This decision was met with mixed reactions. Out of Grindrs 178 employees, approximately 80 opted not to relocate, resulting in their resignation. This move followed the launch of a union campaign in July by around 100 Grindr employees who sought to protect their fellow workers amidst the industry-wide layoffs in the tech sector. Advertisement The Communications Workers of America (CWA) criticized Grindrs response, stating, Rather than recognize the union, the company issued a new return-to-office policy requiring staff to relocate or quit. The CWA has taken legal action against Grindr by filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, signaling its commitment to stand up to the tech company. What do Grindr staff say? Erick Cortez, a Knowledge Specialist and member of Grindr United-CWA, expressed disappointment, stating that it was unimaginably disappointing that dozens of their colleagues had to leave their jobs because Grindr management did not want to sit down with workers and respect their right to organize. He mentioned that Grindr had chosen to establish itself as union-busters by hiring Littler Mendelson, enforcing a retaliatory RTO mandate, and silencing workers through unlawful severance agreements. Cortez observed that these decisions had left Grindr dangerously understaffed and had raised questions about the safety, security, and stability of the app for users. He concluded that the organization aimed to silence workers. They also deterred them from exercising their right to organize, regardless of the expense. In the wake of Chinese threat to all its bordering nations including Vietnam, US President Joe Biden made a bold statement by visiting Vietnam. Notably, China has been trying to push its boundaries. Biden will hold talks on trade and closer diplomatic relations. As Biden stepped into Vietnam, it is a different world from when the two countries were at war in 1969. Advertisement Biden is supposed to meet the senior-most leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam the political organisation that was once an enemy and is expected to sign agreements that will take the US-Vietnam relations to a new height. This visit is a remarkable step in the strengthening of our diplomatic ties, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said ahead of the visit. It reflects the leading role that Vietnam will play in our growing network of partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, Sullivan said. He said that both nations had struggled to move past the painful shared legacy of the conflict, which claimed the lives of millions of Vietnamese and 58,000 US servicemen. While trade and diplomatic ties will be the main topics of the meeting between Biden and Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is the most influential person in Vietnam, Washington also has its sights set on China, which is increasingly flexing its economic and military muscles in the Asia Pacific region. China will be closely observing Bidens visit as well, attempting to determine whether Vietnams warming up to the US undermines Beijings sway in Hanoi or changes Beijings strategic objectives with its southern neighbour. According to Le Hong Hiep, senior fellow and coordinator of the Vietnam Studies Programme at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, Vietnam and the US have already signed a comprehensive partnership, and speculation has focused on the elevation of relations to the highest level of a comprehensive strategic partnership the most senior level in Vietnams diplomatic hierarchy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The pilots of the Azerbaijani Air Forces carried out training flights, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan told Trend. In accordance with the plan, take-off and landing tasks, complex aerobatic maneuvers at low and medium altitudes, determining the coordinates of ground targets belonging to a conditional enemy, conducting aerial reconnaissance, as well as other activities, were carried out with high professionalism. The training to improve combat skills and the professionalism of military pilots is continuing. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean are all set to meet once again. According to South Korean broadcaster YTN, which cited an unnamed senior government source, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have left for Russia in preparation for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Kim is apparently travelling on a special train towards North Koreas northeastern border in preparation for the meeting, which might happen as soon as Tuesday. The broadcaster had stated that the meeting might happen on Wednesday. Earlier, the Russian news agency Interfax had reported that Kim Jong Un was expected to visit the Far East in the days to come. Advertisement The foreign and unification ministries of South Korea stated that they had no information to share. No one from the National Intelligence Service was available for comment. If the trip is confirmed, Kim would be travelling for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak and her first international trip in more than four years. His final international journey of the year was to Vladivostok, where he met with Putin for the first time following the breakdown of nuclear disarmament negotiations between North Korea and the former US president Donald Trump. In a laid-back showdown at a serene holiday retreat in northern Montenegro, seven contestants are currently battling it out for the esteemed title of the Montenegros laziest citizens. This quirky contest has made waves, particularly since it surpassed last years record by a landslide. This unique competition draws inspiration from the age-old stereotype associated with Montenegrins, one that is depicted humorously in the form of the Montenegrin Commandments. These whimsical commandments are often in the souvenirs, playfully exaggerating the Montenegrin way of life, characterized by leisure and relaxation. Last year, the lying-down record was an astonishing 117 hours, set during the contest in the picturesque village of Donja Brezna. However, this years event has already entered its 20th day. And the remaining contestants show no signs of throwing in the towel; they are firm enough to push the limits. Advertisement What can Montenegros Laziest Citizens do? Whats intriguing is that contestants are not just in their mats. They can eat, drink, read, and even use their cell phones and laptops, all while remaining in a horizontal position. To ensure fairness, they can attend to personal needs every 8 hours. The inception of this offbeat competition traces back 12 years ago when it came out as a lighthearted jab at the misconception that Montenegrins are inherently indolent. Radonja Blagojevic, the brains behind this event and the owner of the resort, believes it is a playful way to challenge stereotypes. Montenegro itself is a nation between the west-central Balkans, at the southern fringes of the Dinaric Alps. Bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the southwest and sharing boundaries with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania, it occupies a unique position in this enchanting region. As the contest marches on, Montenegros reputation for relaxation and leisure is once again in the spotlight, reminding everyone that sometimes, a little rest can go a long way. After widespread devastation, rescue mission in Morocco has intensified and search for survivors have increased after Fridays deadly earthquake that claimed more than 2000 lives. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake destroyed entire communities in the Atlas Mountains slopes 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, a popular tourist destination. The epicentre was noted at 72 kilometres west of Marrakesh, a major economic centre. According to official numbers reworked late on Sunday, the largest earthquake to ever hit the country of North Africa resulted in at least 2,122 fatalities and more than 2,400 injuries, many of them critically, prompting the first foreign rescuers to fly in to assist. Both survivors and the bodies of the deceased were sought by civilian rescuers and Moroccan military personnel. Advertisement A magnitude 4.5 aftershock struck the same area on Sunday. Nearly every building in the mountain village of Tafeghaghte, which is 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Marrakesh, has been destroyed due to the quake. According to reports Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the loss of lives in the quake. As the G20 Summit culminates, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls the visit to India important and shared some glimpses of his two-day visit on social media. Sharing the video on his social media X, he stated, An important trip to India for the G20, delivering for the UK on the world stage. In the video message, he highlighted Russian President Putins absence in the G20 Summit, and said that Isolation is the policy that Vladimir Putin has chosen. Advertisement Global issues matter. They impact all of us. We saw that during Covid and we have seen the devastating consequences of Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, both on the Ukrainian people and the rise in global energy prices. But we are under no illusion these issues cant be solved in isolation. Isolation is the policy that Vladimir Putin has chosen, ripping up the Black Sea Grain Deal, which has provided a lifeline for millions, the message said. Along with the videos of his meeting PM Modi, he added that although Putin was not there at the G20 to face the world but we were there to address some of the biggest issues in the world. Putin wasnt at the G20 to face the world. But we were, working with our allies, our partners from around the world to address some of the biggest challenges that we face. Stabilising the global economy, isolating Putin and strengthening our international relationships. And by doing that, delivering the jobs, growth and security that the British public rightly expect from their Prime Minister, he added in the video. An important trip to India for the G20, delivering for the UK on the world stage pic.twitter.com/H3MvrCJ7zg Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 11, 2023 The video shared on his social media also showed the moments of joy he shared with other world leaders. He further shared a glimpse of his meetings held with global leaders. Sunak departed on Sunday after attending a successful G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi. Sunak who arrived in the national capital on Friday, accompanied by wife Akshata Murty also offered prayers at the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple before paying his respects to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. Earlier on Friday, Sunak had in an interaction with ANI called himself a proud Hindu and said he wished to visit the Mandir during his stay in the capital. During the G20 Summit, the UK PM has called on leaders to work together ahead of the COP28 Summit this December to both reduce their countries own carbon emissions and support vulnerable economies to deal with the consequences of climate change. The UK has led international efforts to help developing countries tackle climate change, including by pledging to spend 11.6 billion pounds on international climate finance between 2021 and 2026. In a significant announcement, the UK PM also announced a USD 2 billion to the UN-backed Green Climate Fund the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change. In response to the changing times, we are giving our relationships a new dimension, Prime Minister Modi remarked during the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council meeting. Saudi Arabia is one of Indias most significant strategic allies. We have identified a number of opportunities to advance our strong collaboration. India has a lot to gain from Saudi Arabia. During a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Hyderabad House, PM Modi said, I once again thank His Royal Highness for his contribution to the success of the G20 Summit. Advertisement We have identified a number of opportunities to advance our strong collaboration. India has a lot to gain from Saudi Arabia. During a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at Hyderabad House, PM Modi said, I once again thank His Royal Highness for his contribution to the success of the G20 Summit. The Saudi Crown Prince flew into Delhi on Friday for a three-day stay and continued on for his state visit after the G20 Summit. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stated, There has never been any quarrel in the history of our relationship (between Saudi Arabia and India), but there is cooperation to develop the future of our nation and generate chances. We are focusing on potential future opportunities today. He further noted, I congratulate you on the management of the G 20 Summit and the initiatives achieved, including the Economic Corridor linking the Middle East, India and Europe which requires that we work diligently in order to create it into reality. Quick to respond was the MEA. It tweeted,Transforming India-Saudi Arabian ties!, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and PM Modi met separately. The two leaders talked about how to better realise the potential of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership while reviewing the many facets of bilateral ties. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia, held a formal reception earlier that day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the nations capital. During the occasion, he also spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and other ministers. The bilateral relations were significantly boosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modis trips to Saudi Arabia, first in 2016 and then again in 2019, as well as by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans trip to India in the same year. Pakistan accuses Taliban administration of encroaching on its territory through the construction of an unlawful structure. This allegation has sparked tensions between the two nations, leading to the closure of the critical Torkham border crossing, which serves as a major transit point for trade and travel. The conflict escalated when Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces engaged in indiscriminate firing at each other, resulting in the shutdown of the busy border crossing last Wednesday, as reported by local officials. Situated along the Grand Trunk Road on the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Torkham border crossing is a vital link connecting Afghanistans Nangarhar province with Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. It serves as a crucial hub for the transportation, shipping, and receiving of goods between the two countries. Advertisement In response to the closure, the Afghan Taliban expressed dissatisfaction, foreseeing significant losses for businesses affected by the halt in trade. Taliban accuses Pakistan: Amidst the tension, the Taliban government accused Pakistani security forces of opening fire on its troops while they were engaged in repairing an old security post. The Taliban asserted that Islamabads actions were causing delays and obstacles in reopening the transit point. Tragically, the exchange of fire led to the loss of two Taliban guards lives. The situation has left thousands of travelers and numerous trucks laden with goods stranded in the border region, causing significant disruptions in cross-border commerce. Furthermore, reports from local media have indicated that the Taliban-led government is deeply concerned and harbors a sense of mistrust regarding the Pakistani governments decision to halt the movement of hundreds of containers filled with Afghan goods at the Karachi post. These recent events underscore the delicate nature of the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides leveling accusations and expressing frustration over the border dispute and its repercussions on trade and regional stability. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The families who returned to Azerbaijans Fuzuli received the keys to the apartments, Trend reports. Another group of former internally displaced persons arrived in the city of Fuzuli on September 11. In general, 24 more families (92 people) have been relocated to Fuzuli. A total of 119 families (441 people) have been provided with permanent residence in restored houses in Fuzuli. Eldar Seyidov, an employee of the Special Representative Office of the President of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region, and Natig Huseynov, director of the Repatriation Department of the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, handed over the keys to the families who returned to their native lands. As a result of the victory won by the valiant Azerbaijani army under the leadership of President, Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, opportunities have been created for the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons to their native lands after 30 years. Residents of Fuzuli expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for comprehensive state care, as well as to the valiant Azerbaijani army that liberated the country's lands from occupation and honored the memory of martyrs. Peter Gay is a Sun Chronicle columnist and executive director of North Attleborough Community Television Inc. North TV. Reach him at pgay@northtv.net . Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. A police investigation has revealed the staff of a cruise boat introduced in Ayodhya with much fanfare is deliberately trying to defame it and thus the city. On Sunday, an application was given to the Nayaghat police station by Mohit Kalra, who described himself as a member of the Jatayu cruise boat team. His application read that in the wee hours of Sunday, he was standing ashore near the boat. Three others were also around him. I thought they were there to look at the boat, Kalra wrote. He then went to the cruise booking office on the ghat and soon after heard some noise. He ran out in the direction of the boat and saw that while one man was standing outside, two others were inside the boat. Upon being questioned by Kalra, an argument ensued. In the meanwhile, the two men from inside came out with a bag. When questioned by Kalra about what was in the bag and why they had entered the boat, a scuffle ensued. They allegedly also threatened him to dare try to run the boat on the river Sarayu. Upon entering the boat, Kalra noticed that the engine pipe had been cut off. From the pilots cabin, a tablet, a calculator, compass and Rs 2,000 among other things were missing. The Jatayu cruise boat, named after a demi-god who appears as a vulture in the Ramayan, fought valiantly with Ravan when he was taking away the abducted Sita on his chariot. He survived only to tell Ram and Lakshman about the fight and then died. A quick police investigation into the complaint revealed that the police complaint was a deliberate attempt to malign the image of the city. CCTV footage revealed that members of the cruise boat team had been captured having an argument between 12 and 12.30 a.m. on the night that the robbery had allegedly occurred. At the time of the filing of the report, it was not clear what action, if any, would be taken against the team members. The cruise boat, which was to be inaugurated on Friday, has received immense criticism on several grounds. It will kill the livelihood of small boat owners, the pollution caused by the diesel fumes, and danger to aquatic life among others are some of the objections raised. No one is willing to voice this as it is among the many plans announced by the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath for Ayodhya. One saint said, From Varanasi, we have heard that people drink and smoke on the cruise boats. That is not what you do on our holy rivers. Pilgrimages are being converted to just tourism. For now, though, the launch of the Jatayu cruise is stalled as it failed a trial run. It went straight into a pillar. Made in Dubai, the boat can hold about 100 people at a time. It will run from Guptar ghat (in Ayodhya cantonment) to Ayodhya city, covering a distance of 18 kilometres. The per-person fare is Rs 300. Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was brought to Rajahmundry Central Prison, East Godavari, in the early hours of Monday after a 200km journey from Vijayawada. The Vijayawada court, which remanded the 73-year-old in judicial custody for 14 days in a multi-crore corruption case, granted him amenities including home-cooked food, medication and a special room. Naidu who has Z-plus category security protestion was given separate accommodation because of purported threat to his life. He was housed in the upper block of the jail's Sneha wing. Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, who is TDP general secretary, followed the former CM to the prison gates and waited outside for some time before leaving. The judge, while ordering judicial custody, said 24 hours were not enough to complete the investigation into Naidu's involvement in Skill Development Corporation scam case. The TDP chief was arrested in a pre-dawn operation on Saturday at Nandyala by CID officers from a marriage hall outside which his caravan was parked. Following his arrest, TDP has called for a statewide bandh. Police security was beefed up at the jail and the East Godavari district police have imposed prohibitory orders in Rajahmundry. The Chhattisgarh government has issued directives for strict implementation of no government jobs rule for convicts and accused in cases of crime against women, especially sexual harassment and rape. The state general administration department has written to all heads of government departments, chairperson of state revenue board, divisional commissioners and district collectors to implement the provisions of Chhattisgarh Civil Services Rules, 1961, in this regard. The directives come two days after the opposition BJP submitted a memorandum to Governor Biswabhushan Harichandan on Saturday, seeking action against the incompetent Congress government for failing to curb crime against women and minor girls. A delegation of BJP leaders led by the party's state chief Arun Sao had met the governor and submitted a memorandum, alleging that the Congress government had looted the natural resources of the state, indulged in corruption, and had not shown any concern about the deteriorating law and order situation. The opposition party also alleged that Congress leaders themselves were involved in heinous crimes. They had cited examples of alleged rape of a teacher in Jashpur district on Teachers Day (September 5) and the rape of a five-year-old girl in a government-run residential school in Sukma district in July. Recent gang-rape of a young girl near the capital Raipur was also taken up. The BJP claimed that more than 6,000 cases of rape were reported in the state during the Congress rule. Ex-chief minister Raman Singh had told media persons that his party had requested the governor to seek a reply from the state government on the issue of rising number of crimes against women and the issues of corruption. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, however, claimed the crime rate had declined in the state compared to the tenure of previous BJP government and was far lower than that in many BJP ruled states. He suggested that the BJP leaders should instead meet the governor of violence-hit Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey, who was formerly governor of Chhattisgarh as the north-eastern state was burning for the past four months. However, on Monday, the state GAD came out with a communique, mentioning the sub-rule 4 of the rule 6 of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Rule which prohibits recruitment of convicts in cases of crime against women for government jobs. As for the accused whose cases were in trial in court, the recruitment process was to be kept pending till the final outcome of the case. In this context, the GAD department asked all concerned to strictly ensure barring of such aspirants who face charges of moral turpitude such as sexual harassment, rape and others under sections 354, 376 (a), (b) and (c), 509, 493, 496, 498 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, from government job recruitments, till their the trial of their cases was complete. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have just got a chance to consider the sensitivities in India over the threats playing out on Canadian soil by pro-Khalistan elements as he was forced to extend his stay in the country owing to a technical failure in his aircraft. The anti-India referendum in Surrey, where Khalistani separatist and founder of the banned Sikh for Justice Gurpatwant Pannun was seen inciting the crowd on September 10, has come as rude reminder and proof of anti-India rallies being allowed on Canadian soil. Government sources pointed out that the evidence was direct and did not require New Delhi to hand over piles of documentary proof to raise the issue that has the potential of becoming a thorn in the ties, if left unaddressed. Trudeaus isolation on the issue has become more stark after the G20 summit where the UKyet another hotbed for pro-Khalistani sympathiserswhich witnessed recent incidents of attack on Indian flag on its soil, has assured New Delhi of strict action against the threats posed by the extremists. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not mince words when he said there will be zero tolerance to Khalistani elements, as the country does not accept any forms of extremism. Security officials said Trudeau is expected to find it increasingly hard to side step the issue as one that involves freedom of speech and human rights while going forward. The G20 countries have flagged the issue of terrorism, small arms, terror safe havens in the Leaders Declarationa win for India which has been facing cross-border and trans-national threats from pro-Khalistani groups operating on Canadian soil backed by the Pakistans ISI. The attempts to fuel unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab by Khalistani operatives sitting in Canada and supported by Pakistan sending small arms and light weapons through drones into Indian territory, are an ugly demonstration of the incitement being spread by likes of Pannun, security officials pointed out, as images of him being escorted by a team of security guards in Surrey were splashed on social media. It has also come as a grim reminder of the Canadian government dragging its feet on the pending demands by India on the extradition of at least half a dozen gangsters hiding on its soil. These include Satwinder Singh alias Goldy Brar, the alleged mastermind of Sidhu Moosewala murder in 2022. Brar has a lookout circular and red corner notice against him. India has also sought extradition of Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala, allegedly involved in targeted killings at the behest of Surrey-based Hardeep Singh Nijjar, self styled chief of Khalistan Tiger Force who died in June. Dalla is learnt to hold permanent residency in Canada where he is allegedly running an extortion racket using his contacts in Punjab and sending money to gangsters and terror operatives. Ramandeep Singh alias Raman Judge, another aide of Dalla, runs a similar gangster ring from Canadian soil, according to investigators who revealed that both have lookout circulars and red notices against them. The list is longer. Charanjit Singh alias Rinku Randhawa, Gurpinder Singh alias Baba Dallaanother gangster involved in murder and extortion cases in Punjaband Sukhdul Singh alias Sukhu Duneke, also known to be in Canada, have figured in the lists handed over by India to the Canadian authorities. The Punjab police is also on the lookout for Lakhbir Landa, accused in terror attack on Punjab intelligence headquarters in Mohali in 2022 where rocket propelled grenade was used. He is also known to be in Canada and alleged to have links with Pakistan ISI and Harwinder Singh Rinda, a pro-Khalistani terrorist based in Pakistan, who is also using local associates to stir trouble in Punjab. As Trudeau spends an extra few hours on Indian soil, all eyes are on the pro-Khalistani activities on Canadian soil where an approximate 5000-7000 people turned up for the anti-India gathering in Surrey. This was the same event earlier scheduled to be held at a government school but the permission was later revoked. The crowd may have thinned after the intervention of Indian agencies, but the activities have surely not gone unnoticed by New Delhi which feels more action needs to be done by the last guest leaving. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the Centre on Monday for reducing import duties on fruits from other countries, arguing that it would harm the interests of fruit growers in the country. Abdullah expressed his concerns in Srinagar saying, "The decision to reduce duty on fruit imports will adversely affect our fruit growers, especially those from mountainous areas like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. I don't understand the rationale behind making Americans and others happy with such actions." He urged the government to prioritise the interests of its people. "If the government isn't thinking about the people of Kashmir, they should at least consider the people of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh," he said. Abdullah emphasised that there is no need to import apples, walnuts, and almonds from other countries into India because the domestic produce is of high quality. He suggested that the government might have taken these decisions to appease outsiders. He expressed hope that the government would reconsider its decision and provide relief to the growers. Abdullah questioned the wisdom of hosting the G20 event in India when such decisions negatively impact local interests, stating, "Instead of trying to please G20 countries, the government should prioritise the welfare of its own people. G20 is over; now it's time to focus on our people and their welfare." The former chief minister highlighted the lack of coordination between the government and the growers, stating that the government seems disconnected from the common people and their needs. He called upon the Lieutenant Governor to convene a meeting with fruit growers and engage with them directly. Abdullah emphasised that it's essential to listen to the concerns of common growers and address their grievances promptly. In a notable shift, Sweden has chosen to reintroduce conventional teaching methods, focusing on printed books, quiet reading, and handwriting practice, while reducing the emphasis on tablets and online research in its schools. This change comes in response to growing concerns among politicians and experts regarding the potential decline in essential skills caused by the country's hyper-digitalized approach to education, including the early introduction of tablets in nursery schools. Swedish Minister for Schools, Lotta Edholm, who assumed office less than a year ago, emerged as a prominent critic of the all-encompassing adoption of technology in education. She firmly believes that "Sweden's students need more textbooks" and emphasised the significance of physical books in student learning. The government's recent statement revealed its intent to reverse the National Agency for Education's decision to make digital devices mandatory in preschools and ultimately eliminate digital learning for children under six years of age. Sweden's shift towards traditional teaching methods represents a significant departure from its tech-centric approach to education. While the move has generated diverse opinions, it underscores the ongoing debate over the role of technology in modern classrooms and the importance of maintaining a balance between digital tools and traditional teaching practices. While Swedish students still rank above the European average for reading ability, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) highlighted a concerning decline in Sweden's fourth-grade reading levels between 2016 and 2021. Although Swedish fourth graders maintained a competitive position globally, this decline raised alarms. Meanwhile, countries like Singapore and England saw improvements or minor declines, respectively, during the same period. Experts argue that factors contributing to learning deficits in Sweden might include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a growing number of immigrant students with Swedish as a second language. However, excessive screen time during school lessons is also considered a key factor, with the Karolinska Institute asserting that digital tools impair rather than enhance student learning. They advocate for a return to traditional methods centered around printed textbooks and teacher expertise. UNESCO, in a recent report, issued a compelling call for the appropriate use of technology in education. While urging countries to improve internet connectivity in schools, UNESCO stressed that technology should complement, not replace, in-person, teacher-led instruction. The shared goal remains providing quality education for all. The debate over online instruction extends beyond Sweden, with countries like Poland providing laptops to fourth-grade students and the United States addressing the digital divide. In Germany, the state of digitalization in schools varies among its regions, with concerns about future job market competitiveness. Sweden's bold move away from tech-heavy schools | Shutterstock To counter the decline in fourth-grade reading performance, the Swedish government has committed significant resources, investing 685 million kronor in book purchases for schools in 2023, with further annual allocations planned for 2024 and 2025. This investment aims to accelerate the reintroduction of textbooks into Swedish schools. While the Swedish government's move to revert to traditional teaching methods has garnered attention, not all experts are convinced that it exclusively benefits students. Some view criticism of technology as a way for conservative politicians to signal their commitment to traditional values. Neil Selwyn, a professor of education at Monash University, underscores the complexity of factors in education, suggesting that technology is just one part of the equation. (With inputs from AP) Moscow on Monday confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is making an official visit to Russia on President Vladimir Putins invitation. Reportedly, the leaders would meet in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. Kremlin said, At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of the State Affairs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un will make an official visit to Russia in the next few days. However, South Korean media reported that Kim had already departed on a train to Russia. The train likely left the North Korean capital of Pyongyang on Sunday evening and Kim-Putin meeting is possible as early as Tuesday, The Guardian reported. Kim last visited Russia in 2019, at Vladivostok, for their first talks ever. Reportedly, Russia aims to procure military equipment from North Korea in exchange for technology and food aid. United States National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said recently that Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu travelled to Pyongyang last month and tried to persuade North Korea to sell artillery ammunition to Russia. Russia is seeking to procure artillery shells and antitank missiles from North Korea. Meanwhile, the North Korean leader is hoping Moscow will provide them with technology for satellites and nuclear-powered submarines. Kim is also reportedly trying to strike a food deal with Russia following reports of chronic food shortages and malnutrition among children in North Korea. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Azerbaijan and Israel have signed a roadmap on cooperation in the field of agriculture for 20232025, Trend reports. According to the Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry, Minister Majnun Mammadov held a meeting with an Israeli delegation headed by Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Avi Dichter. During the meeting, it was noted that cooperation between the two countries in all areas is developing dynamically. The parties expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the agricultural sector. Issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel in the agricultural sector, increasing trade turnover in the field of agriculture, transfer of the most modern technologies in the field of animal husbandry and seed production, expansion of cooperation in the field of agricultural research and experimental programs, and Israeli experience in the field of land reclamation were discussed. In addition, the sides discussed other issues of mutual interest. The Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel signed a "Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture", as well as a "Roadmap for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture for 2023-2025". The declaration reflects the intention to develop cooperation in these areas. In order to ensure the effective implementation of activities in this area, it is planned to create a joint working group. King Charles III of England, sent a congratulatory message to North Korea's Kim Jong Un on the 75th anniversary of the country's founding. As the people of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea celebrate their National Day, I send my good wishes for the future, read the message, North Koreas state-run news agency KCNA reported. Queen Elizabeth II, too, sent a similar message to North Korea in 2021. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said that it was standard practice for national days across the world and has been done before. In September 2022, the UK sent an invite to North Korea to send a representative for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. Kim reportedly received messages from leaders of several nations including Singapore, Nepal, Bahrain and Mozambique for the 75th anniversary of the country's founding. King of Sweden Carl Gustaf also sent a congratulatory message to Kim. It read, On the occasion of the Anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) I wish to convey to Your Excellency my best wishes for the future and for the welfare of the people of the (DPRK). The country, which has been under the rule of the Kim family for about seven decades, marked the anniversary with a paramilitary parade, attended by Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae. Kim also received congratulatory letters from Chinas Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin. Industrial workers too marched down Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang as part of the parade, KCNA reported. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, and visiting members of the Russian Army Academic Ensemble Alexandrov attended the event. Putin, in his letter, wrote that relations between the two countries have invariably developed on the principle of friendship, good neighbourliness and mutual respect, adding that he believes they will expand the bilateral ties in all respects in a planned way by pooling efforts. In his letter, Xi indicated that China was keen to deepen the working-level cooperation and promote relations between China and North Korea. Moroccan interior ministry has said that the death toll in the deadly earthquake that measured 6.8 on the Richter scale has gone up to 2,497. The death toll as of September 10 was 2,000. The North African country was struck by the earthquake at 11 pm local time; the epicentre was about 75 km southeast of Marrakech and had a depth of 18.5 kilometres. Sustainable destruction was reported in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Even as several foreign teams arrive in the country, local rescue teams continue to search for missing people trapped under the rubble. The country has so far accepted offers of assistance from Spain, the UK, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The government has opened a special account, that will receive donations for quake victims with the treasury and the Bank of Morocco. According to Morocco's National Geophysical Institute, the quake was the strongest to hit the North African country in the last century. About 300,000 people have been affected by the quake. Most of the destruction and deaths were in Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains-- steep, winding roads became clogged with rubble, AFP reported. Army units were deployed on Monday along roads leading from Amizmiz to help clear routes, while, tourists and residents are lining up to donate blood. The last time an earthquake of similar proportions hit Morocco was one measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hitting Agadir in 1960. It killed at least 12,000 people. Russian President Vladimir Putin may have ditched this year's G20 Summit, but will attend next year's scheduled in Brazil? If he does, will Brazil arrest the Russian leader, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant? Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has passed the buck to the judiciary, saying it would be "up to Brazil's judiciary to decide whether Putin would be arrested." "If Putin decides to join (next year's summit), it is the judiciary's power to decide (on a possible arrest) and not my government," Lula told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. His statement comes just after he said in an interview that there was "no way Putin would be arrested" if he attended the summit in Rio de Janeiro. However, Lula made his stance clear on the ICC, stating that there was a need to review the country's accession to the ICC when nations like the U.S., China and India had not done so. Brazil is a signatory to the Rome Statute that led to the founding of the ICC. "I want to know why the U.S., India and China didn't sign the ICC treaty and why our country signed it," Lula said. The ICC arrest warrant was issued against Putin in March, accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine, a claim Russia denies. The last two G20 Summits, held in Bali and New Delhi, were represented by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. "If Putin decides to join (next year's summit), it is the judiciary's power to decide (on a possible arrest) and not my government," Lula said. Brazil officially will take over the mantle of the G20 presidency on December 1 and the next Summit is scheduled to be held at the popular seaside resort city of Rio de Janeiro in November 2024. Meanwhile, the Brazilian president also praised India for the successful organisation of the Summit. "I would like to congratulate India for organising the Summit exceptionally well. We have received great warmth from the Indian people. Brazil has the conditions to be the host country of G20 next year. We want to use many cities in Brazil to organise a great number of events there," he said. The President added that he hoped the Ukraine war would end by the time Brazil hosts the Summit next year. He said he was aware of why Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend the Summit. "But I will invite them and I hope that they will come to Brazil and participate in the Summit. I hope that when we open the Summit in Brazil, I hope there is no more war and we are back to normal times..." He said he would put the inequality issue as the core issue for the next G20 process for discussion. "There's a lot of inequality in the world. We have few with a lot and many with very few resources. And so we have to build an understanding that the world needs more balance in terms of the wealth distribution that is being produced, so that we do not have to sleep every day to knowing that there's 730 million people that are in hunger. And so this is a very extremely important there's a lot of sensitivity," Lula added. Kolkata, Sep 11 (PTI) Diversified city-based conglomerate ITC Limited Monday announced its entry in the dairy business in Jharkhand with the launch of various products under its 'Aashirvaad Svasti' brand. The company will offer a slew of dairy products like milk, curd, paneer, lassi and `mishti doi' (sweet curd) to the consumers of the state, a company statement said. Sanjay Singal, ITC chief operating officer (dairy and beverages), said the company has expanded its milk-based offerings to Jharkhand after establishing a strong brand presence in Bihar and West Bengal. "The dairy products offered by the company are differentiated and innovative and have become an established brand in these two states within a short span of five years," he said in the statement. The Aashirvaad Svasti dairy products will be available across 2000 general and modern trade outlets across Jharkhand, it added. New Delhi (India), September 11: Bageshwar Baba, aka Dhirendra Krishna Shastri; one of the most followed Indian gurus of current times; recently visited Nepal to address its people. During this visit, Baba met with Swami Anand Arun, the founder of the Osho Tapoban International commune in Kathmandu, a disciple of Osho and the leading man behind the continued success of the Neo Sannyas and Osho movement across Nepal. During this meeting, Swami Anand Arun gifted Baba with multiple Osho books and discourses by Osho Rajneesh. Baba also invited Swami Anand Arun to Chitwan to accompany him in his tours, where they spent a couple days together, discussing the Osho movement and human consciousness at length. Bageshwar Baba has spoken very highly of the Osho movement and Osho Rajneesh. Amongst which, Baba has stated that Osho Rajneesh faced many challenges and disrespect for taking the world by storm with his revolutionary methods and meditation techniques. Baba, himself from Madhya Pradesh like Osho, also added that he is inspired by the courage with which Rajneesh Osho continued his movement to success, despite the challenges faced by him from the world over. Post meeting with Swami Anand Arun, Bageshwar Baba, a new age, young guru that millions follow, listens to Osho discourses and reads Osho books everyday. Baba has further stated in his talks in Nepal, that there are two great saints to walk the journey of evolving human consciousness at large. One is Gorakhnath and the other is Osho Rajneesh. The Osho movement was at its peak between 1970 and 1990, before Osho Rajneesh left his body. The movement is unique in its approach as it highlights that one need not renounce the material world to attain god consciousness. Osho Rajneesh was a controversial figure during his time, and continues to be, because of his bold discourses connecting sex with spirituality, and for his RE-introduction of traditional Sannyas as Neo Sannyas, which does not require a Sannyasin to renounce the world. Rajneesh also refuted the existence of God, stating that, there is no God, only godliness. This was to imply that there is no god to be found outside of the self. However, calling himself Bhagwan, Rajneesh proclaimed that each one of us can attain god consciousness within the self. This, for the time, was a huge shock for the blind faith believers of God in India and the world over. The Osho movement attracted thousands of devotees and followers from around the world, both at his Poona Ashram as well as the lavish Rajneeshpuram in the state of Oregon. Bageshwar Baba, spoke in support of the bold and courageous approach taken by Osho Rajneesh, to expand his movement. Baba has mentioned to Swami Anand Arun, aapke saath toh janam janam ka rishta hai (we have a relationship over many lifetimes). Baba has also promised to RE-visit Nepal within the next three months and has expressed his desire to stay at the Osho Tapoban International commune in Kathmandu during the visit. With leading traditional Indian gurus like Murari Bapu and Bageshwar Baba recognizing and supporting the Osho and Neo Sannyas movement in Nepal, it maybe time to reopen the chapters of the movement and Osho Rajneesh himself in India too. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's departure from the national capital has been delayed due to technical issues in his aircraft and a ferry plane is expected to arrive on Monday to fly him back, according to a source. A ferry aircraft is expected to land at the Delhi airport at around 10 pm, the source in the know said on Monday. Specific details could not be ascertained. A query sent to the Canadian Prime Minister's office seeking comments about the ferry aircraft remained unanswered. Trudeau, who arrived in the national capital on Friday, was to return on Sunday after the G20 Summit. However, his departure has been delayed due to technical issues in the aircraft. Canada's CTV News reported that the prime minister and his delegation are stranded in Delhi due to a technical issue with the aircraft and that they are likely to depart on Tuesday morning. "Upon our departure for the airport, we were made aware by the Canadian Armed Forces that CFC001 was experiencing technical issues," the channel quoted the statement from the prime minister's office as saying. "These issues are not fixable overnight, our delegation will be staying in India until alternate arrangements are made," CTV News channel had said on Sunday quoting a statement from Trudeau's office. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) The CBI has registered an FIR against a Mumbai-based company, PAL Trading, for allegedly siphoning off money loaned from the State Bank of India through 17 shell companies, causing a loss of Rs 24 crore to the bank, officials said Monday. The CBI has booked the company and its directors Rinku Patodia and Anita Patodia on a complaint from the State Bank of India giving details of the modus operandi detected during a forensic audit of the company dealing in fabrics. The bank had sanctioned credit facilities of Rs 22 crore in 2007 to the company based at Goregaon East which resulted in the outstanding of Rs 24.20 crore on the date of non-performing assets on December 27, 2012. During the forensic audit of the company, it surfaced that the company misappropriated and diverted loan funds to real estate companies of relatives of the Patodias using 17 shell companies. The term shell company refers to a company without active business operation or significant assets, which in some cases are used for illegal purposes such as tax evasion, money laundering, obscuring ownership, benami properties, etc. The company allegedly opened 28 letters of credit of Rs 25 lakh each from the bank between December 2011 and February 2012, which were devolved by the shell companies, which indicates that misappropriation of funds with dishonest intention was carried out in a "systematic and planned manner", the FIR alleged. A letter of credit is a guarantee given by a lender bank on behalf of its customer that it will make the payment in case of default. "It has been alleged that the company had opened accounts with other banks, ICICI Bank, through which it had started realizing and routing its sale proceeds (not routing sale proceeds through the cash credit account maintained with complainant bank) while misrepresenting to State Bank of India with dishonest intention that it was facing cash crunch and required overdrawing and made the bank to release further funds in the form of overdrawing," the FIR has alleged. The CBI alleged that systemic diversion of funds and the false representation to the bank that it was facing a cash crunch show dishonest intention on the part of the company and its management. Mumbai, Sep 11 (PTI) Equity benchmark indices extended their rally for the seventh day running on Monday as investors continued to remain optimistic about the domestic markets. Buying in index majors Reliance Industries and Tata Consultancy Services also added to the winning momentum in equities. The 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 293.7 points to 66,892.61 in early trade. The Nifty advanced 95 points to 19,914.95. Among the Sensex firms, HCL Technologies, Maruti, State Bank of India, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Wipro, Nestle, Reliance Industries, Larsen & Toubro and UltraTech Cement were the major gainers. IndusInd Bank and Bharti Airtel were the laggards. In Asian markets, Shanghai quoted with gains while Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong traded lower. The US markets ended in the positive territory on Friday. Global oil benchmark Brent crude declined 0.18 per cent to USD 90.49 a barrel. The BSE benchmark had jumped 333.35 points or 0.50 per cent to finish at 66,598.91 on Friday. The broader Nifty advanced 92.90 points or 0.47 per cent to settle at 19,819.95. "The G20 Delhi declaration and Indias diplomatic triumph can trigger continuation of the positive market mood and momentum," said V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. In the present favourable market mood, Nifty is likely to make another attempt at a record high trying to conquer the psychological mark of 20,000, Vijayakumar said adding that however, investors have to be cautious since fundamentals do not support a sustained rise above 20,000. "The market is ignoring worries arising out of crude at USD 90 a barrel," he added. Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 224.22 crore on Friday, according to exchange data. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) The Indian Navy has joined hands with a cab aggregator service with an aim to provide reliable, convenient, safe and economical mobility solutions for personal travel and commute of naval personnel and families across the country, officials said on Monday. The Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uber in the presence of Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and senior officials of the company. "The MoU with Uber aims to provide reliable, convenient, safe and economical mobility solutions for personal travel and commute of Naval personnel and families across the country," a senior official said. Uber will extend several benefits to Indian Navy's personnel and their families, including a personalised profile on the Uber app; premier executive cab category "providing surge price protection during peak office hours"; availability of top-rated drivers; zero cancellation fee on all its rides and a 24x7 premium business support, the official said. "This MoU aligns with Chief of Naval Staff's vision of 'happy personnel' under 'SHIPS FIRST' and is a maiden initiative in the armed forces. It is also in furtherance of Government of India's 'Digital India' vision of embracing technology for transformative change," he added. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) Popular Irish music group Westlife is set to enthrall fans in India as the band travels to the country for its much-anticipated "The Wild Dreams" Tour this November. The global best selling pop band, consisting of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, will perform live in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi as part of the India leg of the "The Wild Dreams" Tour. The show is brought to India by BookMyShow Live. The tour will kick-off at the Members Enclosure, RWITC, Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai on November 24, followed by Embassy International Riding School Ground, Bengaluru on November 25 and culminate at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on November 26, 2023. "India has always held a special place in our hearts. We are so excited to share The Wild Dreams tour with all of our fans in India. Get ready for an unforgettable night of music and memories with us!" Westlife said in a statement. During the concerts, the group is expected to perform their greatest hits including "Swear It Again", "If I Let You Go", "Uptown Girl" and "Hello My Love" as well as fresh pop anthems such as "Star Light" and "Alone Together" from the 2021 special-edition studio album "Wild Dreams", released to critical acclaim. The global pop sensation kicked off the tour in 2022 performing across the UK, including a sold-out headline show at London's iconic Wembley Stadium. This year, the tour has travelled across a few more cities in Europe, the UK as well as USA and will soon go to China, the Middle East and South Africa. Mumbai, Sep 11 (PTI) Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar were among the film personalities who hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful presidency of G20, calling it a moment of "honour and pride" for every Indian. The G20 Summit came to an end on Sunday. The grouping of emerging and developed economies adopted the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration through consensus and included the African Union as a permanent member of the bloc. In a post on X, megastar Bachchan said the successful summit for India was a "Quantum leap into the forefront of the World !!" Highlighting the theme of India's G20 presidency, 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth, One Family, One Future', Shah Rukh in a post on X said India will prosper in "oneness" and not isolation under PM Modi's leadership. "Congratulations to Hon. PM @narendramodi ji for the success of India's G20 Presidency and for fostering unity between nations for a better future for the people of the world. "It has brought in a sense of honour and pride into the hearts of every Indian. Sir, under your leadership, we will prosper not in isolation but in Oneness. One Earth, One Family, One Future..." the actor wrote on the microblogging site, formerly called Twitter. Actor Akshay Kumar also reiterated the "One Earth, One Family, One future" sentiment in his post. "One Earth, One Family, One future. What a splendid way to mark a historic #G20Summit. Bharats leadership has proved that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is the reality of the new world order. "As proud Indians, we hold our heads high today. Thank you Modi jithanks everyone who made us feel on top of the world. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat. Bollywood star Ajay Devgn congratulated the PM and everyone involved in making the G20 summit a success. "...Especially our honourable prime minister @narendramodi. Your leadership was and will be an essential part of bringing the message of One Earth, One Family, One Future together," he wrote. Actor Anil Kapoor said India's leadership at the G20 Summit has been a tremendous success. "... I'd like to congratulate H'ble PM @narendramodi ji for his tireless efforts in pursuit of a brighter future for people worldwide!," he wrote with the hashtag Proud Indian. Sanjay Dutt called India's G20 Presidency a "reflection of our commitment to global harmony and progress". "Heartfelt thanks to Hon. PM @narendramodi ji for leading the way. The world stands united, and India is at its forefront," he said. Mumbai, Sep 11 (PTI) Bollywood actor-producer Anil Kapoor on Monday said he will be attending the world premiere of his upcoming production Thank You For Coming at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Billed as a coming-of-age comedy, the film follows the story of Kanika Kapoor, played by Bhumi Pednekar, a single girl in her 30s, and her quest for true love and pleasure. The film is directed by Karan Boolani from a script penned by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh. The gala premier of the movie is scheduled to take place on September 15 at Roy Thompson Hall. I've been wanting to attend TIFF ever since Slumdog Millionaire! That year, I travelled to all the festivals from BFI at London to Cannes and everything in between. The only festival I couldn't attend then was TIFF and that was because my visa didn't arrive in time for me to be there. So, TIFF has been on my bucket list ever since! "I may not have been able to attend the festival then as part of the movie, but this year I get to be there in the capacity of a producer. Thank You For Coming has so much heart, soul and sass, and I'm grateful to be a part of its showcase on such a hallowed platform, Kapoor said in a statement. The cast of the movie including actors Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila and Shibani Bedi will attend the festival, along with producers Ektaa R Kapoor and director Karan Boolani. Produced by Balaji Telefilms Limited and Anil Kapoor Film Communication Network Pvt. Ltd, Thank You For Coming will release theatrically worldwide on October 6. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) A rare autographed manuscript by renowned physicist Albert Einstein explaining the development of his famous contributions to science -- theories of special relativity (1905) and general relativity (1915) -- is set to go under the hammer at Christie's '20th/21st Century Art Evening Sale' on September 23. The auction, expected to fetch around USD 980,000 1,400,000 (Rs 8.13-11.61 crore), will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. The manuscript, first published in a special supplement to the New York Times on 3 February 1929, is written in German. Einstein had been commissioned to explain the development of his two most famous contributions to science: the theories of special relativity (1905) and general relativity (1915). "We are delighted to bring this important manuscript by the renowned scientist Albert Einstein to our Shanghai saleroom for the very first time. Given Einstein's historical links with Shanghai, alongside the significant interest from Chinese collectors in scientific artifacts, our Shanghai saleroom is a fitting context in which to present this unique manuscript. "We look forward to exciting global collectors and science enthusiasts with this remarkable piece of history, inextricably connected with Einstein's groundbreaking contributions," said Georgina Hilton, head of Classic Art, Christie's Asia Pacific in a statement. The 14-page manuscript holds tremendous significance as it recounts the history behind the discovery of relativity, explains its working, and looks to the possibility of completing the cycle of relativity in a 'unified field theory'. It includes two equations and a diagram illustrating the structure of the spacetime continuum, along with two pages of scientific formulae. Islamabad, Sep 11 (PTI) Pakistan on Monday accused Afghanistan of "unprovoked and indiscriminate" firing leading to the closure of a key border crossing, and said such attacks embolden terrorists who already have sanctuaries in the Taliban-led nation. Torkham border crossing -- the main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan -- was closed on Wednesday last week after security forces from both countries exchanged fire. The incident forced hundreds of vehicles laden with goods to line up and people scrambling to cross over. The two sides have failed to sort out differences over the construction initiated by the Taliban government on the border. In a statement issued on Monday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan cannot accept the construction of any structure by the interim Afghan government inside its territory since it violates its sovereignty. The spokesperson said on September 6, instead of a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistan military posts, damaging the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal and putting the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk, when they were stopped from erecting such unlawful structures. Such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances. The unprovoked firing by Afghan border security forces invariably emboldens the terrorist elements. These elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan as confirmed by the UN Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report, Baloch said. According to a report in The Express Tribune newspaper, disputes linked to the 2,600 km border have been a bone of contention between Pakistan and Afghanistan for decades. The crossing has been closed several times in recent years, including a closure in February that saw thousands of trucks laden with goods stranded on each side of the border for days. The Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan has continued to exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue in the face of persistent unwarranted provocations by Afghan troops deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. For the last several decades, Pakistan has facilitated Afghan transit trade and will continue to do so. However, Pakistan cannot allow the misuse of the transit trade agreement. We expect the Afghan interim authorities to be mindful of Pakistans concerns, respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan and ensure that the Afghan territory is not used as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan, she said. Abuja (Nigeria), Sep 11 (AP) The death toll in the boat accident in north-central Nigeria's Niger State has risen to 28, emergency services said Monday, as communities mobilized in support of an intensified search for dozens still missing after the passenger boat capsized. The boat capsized along the Niger River on Sunday morning with more than 100 villagers, mostly women and children, aboard. They were traveling to their farmlands in the Gbajibo community, located 251 kilometres (156 miles) from the state capital Minna, the closest source of emergency response. It took several hours before help could reach the community because of its remote location, and villagers nearby were on the lookout for bodies floating on the river, Niger State Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ibrahim Audu told The Associated Press. Divers recovered four more bodies from the river by Monday morning with at least 40 passengers believed to be still missing, Audu said. Thirty had been rescued. Instruction has been passed across all the communities surrounding that place so that some of them will watch out (for bodies), he said. Niger Gov. Mohammed Umaru Bago described the accident as shocking and sorrowful and directed the state emergency services to assist those affected, according to a statement issued by his office. He reiterated the importance of using life jackets and avoiding overcrowded boats. Concerns remained about the regular and deadly boat accidents in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country where a number of remote and riverine communities do not have access to good roads, leaving rivers as the only available means of transportation. It is still not clear what caused the latest accident but emergency services personnel said it could be as a result of overloading, the condition of the boat or a hindrance of the boat's movement along the water. (AP) FZH Hanoi, Sep 11 (AP) President Joe Biden was wrapping up a visit to Vietnam on Monday, meeting with Vietnamese government officials and business leaders and spotlighting new deals and partnerships between the two countries. He'll also visit a Hanoi memorial honouring his late friend and colleague Sen. John McCain, who was held for more than five years as a prisoner during the Vietnam War. Biden met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who also accompanied Biden to a quick drop by at a meeting of business leaders. Biden also sat down with President Vo Van Thuong, who hosted the US president for a formal state luncheon. Biden spoke about strengthening Vietnam's semiconductor industry and his administration's commitment to an open Pacific. My message today is quite simple. Let's keep it up," Biden told the CEOs. We need to develop and drive our collaboration, We need to forge new partnerships. The prime minister also stressed the need to improve cooperation and said the sky is the limit for the expanding US-Vietnam relationship. We truly wish to receive strong political commitment from the US government including you, Mr President, who has had great affection for Vietnam," the prime minister said. Highlights of the major deals announced by the White House during Biden's first-ever visit to Vietnam include US-based Boeing's USD 7.5 billion deal with Vietnam Airlines to buy about 50 aircraft and Arizona-based Amkor Technology's plans for a USD 1.6 billion factory in Bac Ninh Province. The White House also said the administration would help build Vietnamese capacity to fight regional and international transnational crime, including targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. China has been locked in long-running territorial conflicts with Vietnam, along with the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as Beijing claims waters in the other nations' exclusive economic zone. Biden arrived in Vietnam on Sunday and met with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Trong formally announced Vietnam had elevated the US to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. Biden said the shift demonstrated how far bilateral relations had evolved from the bitter past of the Vietnam War. At the same time, Biden insisted that his roughly 24-hour visit was not about trying to start a cold war with China but was part of a broader effort to improve global stability by building relationships throughout Asia, including with Vietnam, at a time of tensions with Beijing. Biden was ending the trip at the John Sidney McCain III Memorial near where, as a 31-year-old Navy lieutenant commander, his Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down by the North Vietnamese. McCain parachuted out of the plane and landed in a lake in Hanoi, North Vietnam. He broke both arms and a leg in the fall, was dragged from the water by an angry crowd, and was beaten and bayoneted. The harrowing 1967 incident began a more than five-year ordeal that became the defining moment for the future Republican senator from Arizona and two-time presidential candidate. After six weeks in the hospital, McCain, who had lost about one-third of his weight, was transferred to a prison cell. After a brief time with cellmates, McCain, the son and grandson of four-star admirals, began two years in solitary confinement in a 10-by-10 foot (3-by-3 metre) room. At one point, McCain's captors asked if he wanted to go home, but it was a trick question. The US military's code of conduct required prisoners to be released in the order they were detained. The North Vietnamese wanted to make a show of releasing McCain early as his father assumed command over the Pacific. McCain refused. For four days after he refused release, McCain was beaten every two to three hours by 10 guards. Filled with thoughts of suicide, McCain broke and agreed to sign an anti-US propaganda statement confessing to black crimes. He later wrote: I had learned what we all learned over there: Every man has his breaking point. I had reached mine. It was the last time McCain would break. He refused to sign any other statements or meet with visiting American anti-war activists. Eventually, McCain was removed from solitary confinement and mingled with other US prisoners of war. He was released on March 14, 1973. McCain returned home, retired from the Navy in 1981, moved to Arizona and launched a political career. He was elected to the House in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986, where he and Biden were colleagues. Despite his experience in Vietnam, McCain became was a strong advocate of restoring diplomatic relations with the country that had so badly mistreated him. He sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 and 2008, failing to capture it both times. He died of brain cancer in 2018. Biden delivered an emotional eulogy at McCain's funeral in Arizona. On the way back to Washington, Biden was stopping at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to address service members, first responders and their families to mark the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. (AP) FZH Ranchi, Sep 11 (PTI) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha patriarch and former chief minister Shibu Soren was admitted to Sir Gangaram Hospital in New Delhi following health complications, an official said. His son and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren accompanied the 79-year-old to the hospital, the official added. The chief minister later returned to Ranchi from where he was to fly to Hazaribag to attend a function but could not do so after his helicopter developed a technical snag, officials said. On Saturday, the chief minister had attended the dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on the occasion of the G20 summit. After attending the dinner, he had posted on X, "Today evening, I had pleasure to attend the G20India2023 official dinner hosted by Hon'ble @rasthtrapatibhavan President Smt Droupadi Murmu Ji. Also had the opportunity to meet with Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and other dignitaries on the occasion." He had also shared a picture with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Earlier this year, the JMM Supremo was admitted to a private hospital here after he complained of breathing problems. "Respected Baba was little unwell after which he was admitted to Medanta Hospital, Ranchi. He is undergoing treatment under the supervision of specialist doctors," Soren had then written on Twitter and shared a picture of his father. Shibu Soren, fondly called 'Guruji', served as Jharkhand chief minister thrice between 2005 and 2010. He was a Lok Sabha member for eight terms and is now a Rajya Sabha MP. The tribal leader, who was a key figure in the movement for creation of Jharkhand, was in the Union cabinet from October 2004 to March 2005. Kohima, Sep 11 (PTI) The Nagaland assembly on Monday opposed the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and implementation of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act and sought protection under the 16-Point Agreement and Article 371A. All parties including the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), BJP, NCP, NPP, LJP (Ram Vilas), Naga Peoples Front (NPF), RPI (Athawale), JD(U) and Independents discussed the issues on the first day of the monsoon session. NPF MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu said Nagas have special protection under Article 371A and therefore there was a need to discuss the UCC and Forest Conservation Amendment Act. "Article 371A clearly states that no act of Parliament shall apply to the State of Nagaland in respect of the religious or social practices of the Nagas, its customary laws and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary laws and ownership and transfer of land and its resources unless the state assembly so decides," he said and proposed that the House pass a resolution rejecting the UCC and the forest Act. Nagaland BJP president and cabinet minister Temjen Imna Along assured they would stand together with the resolution adopted by the assembly on both the issues. Deputy leader of NCP legislature party P Longon and NPP legislature party leader Nuklutoshi Longkumer also said the two laws cannot be applicable in Nagaland. Making the concluding remarks on both the discussions, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said Nagaland is the only state to have joined the Indian Union with the signing of a political agreement 16 Point Agreement and also insertion of Article 371A in the Constitution of India. He expressed optimism that the Centre will not dishonor its own agreement nor would it overlook the Constitutional provisions given to the Nagas. Rio informed the House the state cabinet has already submitted a representation to the 22nd Law Commission to exempt the state from UCC. The CM said the cabinet held meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and he assured to look into it. Rio, however, said with the state government being an ally of ruling NDA at the Centre, it cannot go against the policies and decisions implemented by the central government. The CM suggested that the House can pass a resolution appealing to the Centre to totally exempt Nagaland from the purview of UCC and Forest Conservation Amendment Act. Subsequently, Speaker Sharingain Longkumer informed that separate resolutions on both the issues will be brought for consideration on Tuesday. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary, saying his unwavering dedication to social reform and upliftment of the marginalised continues to inspire us. Bhave was an ardent Gandhian who had launched the Bhoodan Movement, a voluntary land reform campaign. In a post on X, Modi said, "Paying homage to Acharya Vinoba Bhave on his birth anniversary. His unwavering dedication to social reform and upliftment of the marginalised continues to inspire us." "May his legacy of selflessness and unity guide humanity for centuries to come," the prime minister said. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) The BJP on Monday attacked the Congress, alleging that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had "given away" the UN Security Council's permanent seat to China "on a platter". On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a renewed push for expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and reforms in all global institutions to reflect the world's "new realities", as the G20 Summit drew to a close with the US, Russia and France praising the meeting's outcomes under Indian presidency. "Today, while India, under the leadership of PM Modi is shaping the world, and the world is backing the country's bid for a permanent UNSC seat, which Nehru gave away to China on a platter...The unpatriotic deeds of the Gandhi family haunt our history, to date," the BJP said in a post on X. The UNSC has five permanent members -- the US, China, France, Britain and Russia. Making a fresh pitch for expansion of the UNSC and reforms in global institutions, Modi had also said that in order to take the world towards a better future, it is necessary that the global systems are according to the present realities. "Today, the United Nations Security Council is also an example of this. When the UN was established, the world was completely different from what it is today. At that time, there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200," Modi had said. "Despite this, the number of permanent members in the UNSC remains the same. The world has since changed a lot in every aspect. Be it transport, communication, health and education, every sector has been transformed. These new realities should reflect in our new global structure," he had said. A day after Prime Minister Modi's renewed push for expansion of the UNSC, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday echoed similar views and called for reform of the powerful UN body to reflect contemporary realities. Brazil is the next chair of the G20 bloc. The president also said that his country wants the equality issue to be the "core issue" during its presidency. On Sunday at a press briefing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye would be "proud" if a country like India becomes a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). At the same time, Erdogan had said all non-P5 members should have an opportunity to become members of the Security Council by rotation. In a joint statement on Friday, US President Biden had lauded India's G20 Presidency for further "demonstrating" how the G20 as a forum is delivering important outcomes. Continuing to share the view that global governance must be more inclusive and representative, President Biden reaffirmed his support for a reformed UNSC with India as a permanent member, the joint statement said. India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, saying it rightly deserved a place as a permanent member of the United Nations. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Russia is considering the possibility of using territories of Azerbaijan, Armenia to send gas to Iran, Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov said at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Trend reports. "We're exploring the option of delivering electricity through Azerbaijan to Armenia, from there to Iran and possibly further to other countries," he noted, adding that this is about energy supplies of 300 MW. According to the minister, Moscow is negotiating with Tehran and Baku to initially utilize existing infrastructure. Previously, the Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian announced that Iran will soon begin exchanging electricity with Russia through the territory of Azerbaijan. He added that the electrical grids had been synchronized at one stage, but relay protections needed to be coordinated. Work is underway on the project to create a North-South energy corridor between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia, with the goal of synchronizing the electrical grids of these three countries. Amritsar, Sep 11 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday visited Radha Soami Satsang at Beas, nearly 45 km from here, and met the sect chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon at his residence, sources said. The two discussed various issues. The chief minister reached around 10 am and will also have lunch with Dhillon before leaving, they said. Khattar also visited the 'langar' (community kitchen) and other important sites, including the library of the Radha Soami sect headquarters. The country's top political leaders visit the sect headquarters from time to time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Radha Soami Satsang in November last year and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had visited in March this year. The sect has a large number of followers across the country. Lucknow, Sep 11 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government will launch a special campaign next month to screen and test inmates of all the 74 jails of the state for tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted diseases, officials said. The 'Integrated STI, HIV, TB and Hepatitis (ISHTH) campaign in Prisons and Other Closed Settings' will be run by the Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). According to the Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, there are about 1.16 lakh prisoners in the 74 jails of which, 65 per cent are undertrials and about 35 per cent have been convicted. At present, 1,550 of them are HIV positive, 440 have tuberculosis, 174 are infected with hepatitis C and 56 have hepatitis B, officials said, adding that they are being treated free of cost in the jails. Speaking about the campaign, which is likely to begin on October 15, Additional Project Director of UP State AIDS Control Society, Hiralal, said nodal officers will be appointed to arrange for all the tests and medicines for the infected inmates. "A special screening campaign to screen and test for tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B and C and sexually transmitted infections in jails across the state will be started in October," Additional Project Director, UP State AIDS Control Society, Hiralal, told PTI on Sunday. "Doctors and paramedical staff have been trained technically and practically for this purpose. In line with the Centre's pledge to make the country TB-free by 2025, UP will soon start intensive screening and testing of jail inmates for TB from next month," he added. In 2016, through a special campaign with the joint efforts of the State Prison Department and Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, HIV testing of 89,905 prisoners in 69 jails of the state was done. Out of which 470 prisoners were identified as HIV positive and arrangements were made for their treatment, he said. The department lays greater emphasis on HIV testing because the immunity of infected patients is very low and they are more likely to suffer from tuberculosis, he added. "In the 2023 campaign, nodal officers have been designated by coordinating with the State Tuberculosis Department, Communicable Disease Department, and Women Welfare Department," Hiralal said. Joint director of State AIDS Control Society Ramesh Srivastava said as part of the campaign, teams will visit jails in all districts of the state and examine the prisoners there. "Those with HIV, TB, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections will be separated and their designated nodal officers will arrange for all tests and medicines for them for free," he told PTI. The campaign will be monitored and reviewed by the State Prison Department, Uttar Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, Tuberculosis Department and Communicable Disease Department, he said. According to Srivastava, 30 to 40 per cent of tuberculosis cases are either detected late or are not detected at all and these infections continue to spread as one patient suffering from tuberculosis can infect 10 to 15 people in a year. "Therefore, we are also emphasising that even if a prisoner is released from jail and goes home, he should get his treatment done at the nearest health centre, so that he does not infect his family members and people around him," he said. Apart from the jails, there are plans to cover women's shelter homes and juvenile homes under the campaign, Hiralal said. "It is proposed to get about 1.16 lakh prisoners tested during the campaign starting in October. Apart from this, women and children living in shelters and juvenile homes will also be examined," he said. State Tuberculosis Officer Shailendra Bhatnagar said TB weakens the immunity and makes the individual susceptible to other infections. The situation gets compounded when it comes to jail inmates. "As soon as a case of tuberculosis is confirmed inside a jail, treatment has to start immediately," he asserted. Bhatnagar said from January to December 2022, nearly 5.24 lakh tuberculosis patients were found in Uttar Pradesh and they are being treated. Till August 2023, about 4 lakh patients have been identified and their treatment has been started. "We are making efforts to eliminate this disease from the state by 2025," he said. Taking about the care being provided to jail inmates suffering from tuberculosis, Senior Superintendent of Bareilly District Jail, Vipin Mishra told PTI, "They are given one egg daily so that they get adequate protein. They are also given seasonal fruits and get examined by the jail doctors from time to time. All the tests and medicines are free." Mishra said at present there are two tuberculosis patients and 30 HIV-infected patients in Bareilly District Jail. New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the Centre on a plea by academician Ashok Swain challenging an order by which his Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card was cancelled. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to the Central government, through the ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs, on the petition and granted four weeks time to file reply. The court listed the matter for further hearing on November 9, after the petitioner's counsel submitted that Swain's 78-year-old mother, who lives in India, is unwell and he is the only son and has not been able to visit India in the past three years. His counsel said there is an extreme urgency for him to visit India and attend to his ailing mother. Swain, a resident of Sweden, approached the high court against the July 30 order cancelling his OCI card, saying a non-speaking order was passed. "Although, it is the alleged case of the respondent (Centre) that the petitioner (Swain) was blacklisted for anti-India activities for allegedly spreading detrimental propaganda through his writings and speeches in various public forums; the impugned order is bereft of any particular incidence/ tweet/ writing or reason which remotely demonstrates the contention of the respondent no.3 (Embassy of India to Sweden and Latvia) that the petitioner is allegedly carrying out detrimental propaganda on public forums," the plea, filed through advocates Aadil Singh Boparai, Srishti Khanna and Sadiq Noor, said. It said the July 30 order does not pass the muster of a well-reasoned/detailed order as it fails to disclose any material that justifies cancellation of the petitioner's OCI card. Swain said being an academician, he analyses and criticises certain policies of the present government and he cannot be made to suffer for his views on the policies of the government. "As a scholar it is his role in the society to discuss and critique the policies of government through his work. The petitioner cannot be witch-hunted for his views on the political dispensation of the current government or their policies. "Criticism of certain policies of the government would not amount to being an inflammatory speech or an anti-India activity," the petition said. Swain, Professor and head of department at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University in Sweden, had earlier also approached the high court challenging cancellation of his OCI card through the February 8, 2022 order of the Central government. The high court, on July 10, had set aside the government's order, saying it does not give any reasons and it "hardly gave any indication of application of mind". "Other than repeating the Section (under which the OCI card was cancelled) as a mantra, no reason is given in the order as to why the registration of the petitioner as a OCI card holder has been revoked," the high court had said. It had directed the Centre to pass a detailed order within three weeks giving reasons for exercising its powers under the Citizenship Act, 1955. The petition said despite such specific and unequivocal directions of the high court to pass a detailed order, authorities have padded the July 30 order in a callous manner by merely para-phrasing the provisions of law. It said the order is "ex-facie illegal, arbitrary and non-est in law" and has been passed without any application of judicial mind. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 52F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 38F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu came under fire from chareidim after making a stunning statement, claiming that Hakadosh Baruch Hu has not always protected us. Netanyahu made the comment while issuing a warning to Jews planning to go to Uman for Rosh Hashana. Israeli citizens who are traveling to Ukraine need to act responsibly regarding their trips at this time, Netanyahu said. Hakadosh Baruch Hu has not always protected us, not in Europe nor Ukraine, he added. It must be understood that in the State of Israel, when missiles fall on us, citizens enter shelters and there is protection. There, there are no shelters and no protection. The Shas party issued a statement condemning Netanyahus remark. Hashem always protected the Jewish people during persecution, this is the reason that the Jewish nation is the only one which has miraculously survived for thousands of years, the Shas party said. Of course, the condition for divine providence is adherence to faith and observance. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Senate Democrats are voicing their unease over President Joe Bidens declining poll numbers, describing the situation as concerning and frustrating, and many believe that even a change in White House messaging may not be enough to alter voters perceptions before the 2024 election. The primary concern for Democrats is President Bidens age, as it appears to negatively impact how voters perceive his presidency and hampers enthusiasm for his potential 2024 reelection bid. At 80 years old, the President faces the challenge of convincing the public of his vitality and effectiveness. Senator Jon Tester emphasized the significance of the Presidents polling numbers, stating, You got to be concerned about those poll numbers, you just do. Theres plenty of time to get them back up. Whether he can or not, I just dont know, but you got to be concerned. During the August recess, an anonymous Democratic senator reported encountering deep apathy among constituents regarding Bidens potential reelection. The senator noted that polling data reflected this sentiment, saying, Theres just no enthusiasm. It does pretty much come down to Well, hes done a pretty good job, but hes just too old.' Despite calls from their younger constituents for fresh faces in leadership, Democratic senators dismiss the possibility of Biden facing significant competition for their partys presidential nomination. Instead, they are banking on the likelihood of Republicans nominating former President Donald Trump, whom they view as a candidate Biden could defeat, despite his weak poll numbers. A CNN/SSRS poll conducted from August 25 to 31 revealed that President Bidens job approval rating stands at 39 percent, with 67 percent of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters favoring someone other than Biden as the Democratic Partys presidential nominee in 2024. The poll also showed that 58 percent of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Biden, while nearly three-quarters express concerns about his age. While acknowledging the impact of Bidens age on public perception, Senator John Hickenlooper argued it was unfair, saying, The age factor shouldnt sour anyone unless they are seeing results that are not up to what their expectations are. Another anonymous Democratic senator noted that Biden had achieved more than many politicians half his age, and predicted that as the presidential race progresses, his numbers would improve when compared to Trump, who is seen as the likely GOP nominee. Some Democrats expressed frustration with the White Houses economic messaging, which has struggled to resonate with the public. Senator Richard Blumenthal stressed the need for stronger messaging and more aggressive campaigning, despite the early stage of the election cycle. A recent Wall Street Journal poll of registered voters found that 24 percent ranked the economy as their top issue, with only 37 percent viewing it as excellent or good. Additionally, 73 percent of voters believe Biden is too old to seek a second term. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) President Joe Biden made headlines during an international press conference in Hanoi, where he referred to climate change deniers as a diminishing group of lying dog-faced pony soldiers. The presidents remarks came as he wrapped up his visit to the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, and diplomatic meetings with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Vietnam. During the press conference, President Biden fielded questions from a group of handpicked reporters who fed their questions to the president beforehand. When Aurelia End, AFP White House Correspondent, raised a question about climate change and the lack of consensus on phasing out fossil fuels at the G20 summit, the president provided an extensive response that concluded with his colorful expression. Ends question touched upon the United States warning about the inability to meet the Paris Agreements goals without the reduction of fossil fuel use and the absence of an agreement on this issue at the G20 summit. President Bidens response included the following statement: But all kidding aside so, theres we have I think the other thing thats dawning on people many of you who are e- foreign policy experts have been engaged for a long time. Did you ever think youd be sitting at a G20 conference where everyone was preoccupied with the notion of global warming? Not a joke. Did you ever think that? And theres a my my brother loves having theres famous lines from movies that he always quotes. You know, its and one one of them is theres theres a movie about John Wayne. Hes an Indian scout. And theyre trying to get the Ap- I think it was the Apache one one of the great tribes of America back on the reservation. And hes standing with a Union so- so hes theyre all on their and theyre on their horses in their saddles. And theres three or four Indians in headdresses, and the Union soldiers and the Union soldiers are basically saying to the Indians, Come with me, well take care of you. Well everything will be good. And the Indian scou- the Indian looks at John Wayne and points to the Union soldier and says, Hes a lying, dog-faced pony soldier. Well, theres a lot of lying, dog-faced pony soldiers out there about about global warming, but not anymore. All of a sudden, theyre all realizing its a problem. And theres nothing like seeing the light. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Vice President Kamala Harris found herself in a candid exchange with CBS anchor Margaret Brennan during an interview in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of her visit to the ASEAN Summit. In a clip previewed on CBS Mornings, Brennan asked Harris about President Joe Bidens age and if she was prepared to assume the role of commander in chief. Initially, the clip raised eyebrows as it appeared to be edited improperly, with a brief snippet missing from the context of Brennans question. However, CBS later released a more extended version of the exchange, acknowledging the earlier error in editing. During the interview, Brennan referred to polling data indicating concerns within the Democratic Party regarding President Bidens age, with two-thirds of Democrats reportedly expressing doubts about his ability to run for a second term. Brennan inquired if Vice President Harris was prepared to take on the responsibilities of commander in chief. Harris responded confidently, saying, Yes, I am, if necessary. But Joe Biden is going to be fine. She went on to highlight President Bidens leadership, emphasizing the impact of his administration on American infrastructure, citing investments in roads, bridges, high-speed internet, and addressing issues like lead pipes. Brennan then posed the question, Are you taking the threat of a second Trump presidency seriously enough? The Vice President, momentarily stunned by the query, responded with, I dont understand the question. Brennan continued by referencing Harriss dismissal of some Republican criticism and highlighting the former president as the front-runner for the Republican nomination. Harris remained resolute in her response, stating, We will win reelection. There is too much at stake, and the American people know it. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Former President George W. Bush outlines for the first time in a new documentary how events unfolded for him following the 9-11 attacks. In the National Geographic Channel special, George W. Bush: The 9-11 Interview, the former President talks about the chaotic moments after the attacks and the reasoning behind decisions he made that day. Bush reflects on being told about the attacks while visiting schoolchildren in Florida and the difficulty in getting accurate information in what he calls the fog of war. He also talks about returning to the White House to address Americans in the hours after the terrorist attacks. Fearing a possible psychological boost for al-Qaeda, Bush said he, quote, damn sure wasnt going to give it from a bunker in Nebraska. The former President recalls the emotional visit to Ground Zero just three days after the World Trade Center Towers were destroyed. He describes a palpable bloodlust among workers in the ruins who were encouraging him to retaliate against those behind the attacks. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 11. Kazakhstan's KazTransOil increased the volume of Kazakh oil exports to the port of Baku by 12 times from January thorough August of 2023, a source at the company told Trend. Thus, the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil from the port of Aktau for export from January thorough August of this year amounted to 2.164 million tons, which is 759,000 tons, or 54 percent more compared to the same period last year. Oil exported from the port of Aktau was produced from the Tengiz field (520,000 tons), from the Dunga field (252,000 tons), from the fields of the Buzachi Peninsula (1.385 million tons) and from the Kashagan field (7,000 tons). The increase in the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau is due to an increase in the volume of raw materials shipped towards the port of Baku, from 69,000 tons to 838,000 tons, which is 12 times more than in the same period in 2022. In addition, in the reporting period, 1.327 million tons of oil were shipped from the port of Aktau towards the port of Makhachkala. In 2022, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered to increase the volume of oil transportation along the Trans-Caspian corridor. Following this, Kazakh KazMunayGas and Azerbaijan's SOCAR signed an agreement providing for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil per year from the Tengiz field in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Previously, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said that, deliveries via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline from Kazakhstan will amount to 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023. "Every month, Azerbaijan receives from 12 to 14 tankers transporting Kazakh oil. This is a satisfactory development. The initial agreement between the parties provided for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil this year. However, given that deliveries began in April this year, we will be able to transport 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023," he said. Edmund Glazer even laughed quietly. He was a calming, logical man, a problem solver, an unassuming gentleman for whom swearing was anathema. Even though he was the youngest of four siblings who were raised in Zambia and South Africa, with his ability to untangle life knots so adroitly, he was the familys go-to guy. Tell me more, he would say, gently touching the other persons arm. What can I do to help? Whenever he visited his sister, Beatrice Sandler, and her daughters, he would immediately stock their refrigerator with groceries and throw out the stale goods from his previous visit. He and his wife, Candy, had recently moved into a house outside Boston. He would eagerly call his sister, hold up the phone and say exultantly, Can you hear that babbling brook? In their dream house, Mr. Glazer, 41, fancied himself a handyman, and would take his young son, Nathan, on forays to Home Depot, hunting for the one tool that would improve his hapless skills. If he was less than dazzling with wood, Mr. Glazer was a Mr. Fix-it at his company, MRV Communications, where he had risen to chief financial officer. On the evening of Sept. 10, he got a call from MRVs home office in Los Angeles, asking for his help on a major project. In his obliging way, Mr. Glazer boarded Flight 11 the next morning. Edmund Glazer, 41, was vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer at MRV Communications, a Chatsworth, Calif.-based telecommunications company. On Tuesday, Glazer was on his way to the headquarters from his home in Wellesley, Mass. He called me to let me know that he had made it on the plane, said his wife, Candy. He said they were about to take off and he had to turn off the cell phone. Im assuming nothing was going on then, because he sounded normal. We said our byes and he said he would call me when he got there [Los Angeles]. Born in Zambia, Glazer moved to Los Angeles when he was 17 to attend the University of Southern California. Everyone knows the U.S. has the best universities and he decided he wanted to study here, said Candy Glazer. He liked it so much he decided to stay. Profile courtesy of Chicago Tribune Profile published in the NYT on June 2, 2002. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) When the terror attack occurred, Avremel was fifty-five; his friend Ed, a quadriplegic, was forty-two. Both worked at Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield as program analysts on the 27th floor of One World Trade Center. By Chavie Zelmanowitz (sister-in-law), as told to Bayla Sheva Brenner On the morning of 9/11, Avremel davened in the same shul with my husband, Yankel, which was unusual. Usually, whenever they said goodbye, they would shake hands. That morning, however, Avremel came toward Yankel and hugged him tightly before he left for work. While driving home after taking me to work, Yankel heard that something had happened at the World Trade Center. He tried to call Avremel. I also tried. We couldnt get through. Then Avremel called Yankel. He said, Im here with Ed. Were waiting for help and then were going to leave. Yankel called me and said, I heard from Avremelhes going to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I got a phone call from Avremel. I asked, Where are you calling from? I thought you were on your way home. He reassured me that the air was clear where they were, on the 27th floor. Im waiting here with Ed for someone to come help. He said that Ed wanted to wait for a medical team, because in the past when people lifted him improperly, his bones would break. Edward Beyea, who became disabled after a diving accident at age twenty-one, was a large man. He used a wheelchair with all kinds of contraptions. He had no arm or leg function, and operated his computer with a mouth stick. An aide accompanied him at all times. The normal routine was that the aide would bring him to work, set him up in his cubicle, and go up to the 43rd floor to the cafeteria. Thats where she was when the plane hit. There was water coming down, things were falling, smoke was filling the room. She immediately ran back down the staircase to the 27th floor and found the two of them together. Avremel assured her that he would stay with Ed and that she should leave. She barely made it out. Avremel is responsible for her survival. Avremel told me, The fireman is here and he wants me to move to another area. That was the last we heard from him. No one had any idea that the buildings were going to go down. He didnt stay to die; he stayed to help. That was his intention. Avremel and Ed had worked together for twelve years. They traded books and tapes and played chess together. Avremel was a master carpenter; he built Ed a cigar stand and a book stand so that he would be able to read in bed. He used to visit Ed during his numerous hospitalizations. It was a friendship that culminated with this extraordinary act. Initially our son-in-law made up a flyer; everyone was posting flyers for missing relatives. The flyer mentioned that Avremel was together with a quadriplegic friend. Immediately, we were bombarded by reporters. They wanted to hear details of the story. We were interviewed on a few news programs, at one point three in one day. A week after 9/11, our rav told us it was time to sit shivah. Rescuers were not finding anyone alive any longer. We knew Avremel had been in the building at the time. It was time to make a decision. By Yankel (Jack) Zelmanowitz (brother), as told to Bayla Sheva Brenner Avremel lived with us. When my parents went to Eretz Yisrael in 1973, just before the Yom Kippur War, he moved in. I was his big brother; Im twelve and a half years older. We were very close. I took him into the textile business with me, and then he learned programming. He was really a wonderful human being. He had a lot of friends. Always friendly, always doing maasim tovim, favors for people, giving tzedakah, going to shiurim; everybody liked him. He was a simple guy who never looked for praise. His death made such a roshem, such an impression on people. Letters came in from people all over the world. A woman in Canada contacted us. She has a son with cerebral palsy who was fifteen-years-old at the time. She worried about him going into the workforce. I hope I meet someone like Abe, her son said. That week, when President Bush spoke, he mentioned Avremel. He said: We are here in the middle hour of our grief. So many have suffered so great a loss, and today we express our nations sorrow. . . . We have seen our national character in eloquent acts of sacrifice. Inside the World Trade Center, one man who could have saved himself stayed until the end at the side of his quadriplegic friend. My son, Chaim Shaul, was there when the president came the week of 9/11 to visit Ground Zero. He was told to stay behind to tell the story to the president. He called us and asked what he should do since it was erev Shabbos and time was short. We said, Stay as long as you can, leaving yourself enough time to get home for Shabbos. In the end, he had to leave before speaking with the president. We received a phone call from the presidents staff. Were looking for your son to meet the president, they said. On the first anniversary of 9/11, all of the victims families were at Ground Zero. The president spent time mingling with the families and made special time for us. He is a person with a heart; he is very compassionate. He didnt know what to do for us. Avremels actions that day are what defined him. He lived his entire life that way, always caring about people, always anticipating peoples needs. You wouldnt have to ask Avremel for something; hed understand that it had to be done and hed go and do it. This was who he was. He was an extremely devoted son; his kibbud av vaeim was extraordinary. He never married or had children, but our children and grandchildren are following in his footsteps in their gemilut chasadim. How proud he would be to know that. We were called upon to speak about Avremel very oftenat shuls, dinners, et cetera. A library at a nearby yeshivah was dedicated to him. We were constantly on call; that helped us get through the initial period. In August 2002, the police came to our home to inform us that they had identified Avremels remains. We were able to have a kevurah. He had always wanted to be buried in Israel; we asked someone to arrange for a plot on Har Zeisim. When we got there, we were amazed that he had found a plot available right at the foot of our parents graves. In 2006, a street was dedicated to Avremel. The street, on the corner of East 35th Street and Kings Highway [in Brooklyn], our corner, was renamed Abe (Avremel) Zelmanowitz Way. One of the speakers at the dedication, Rabbi Shlomo Zucker, said it is so fitting that the street is called way rather than lane, drive, or street, because Avremel showed us the way to live, the way a person should conduct his life, and how he should interact with Hashem and his fellow man. That is his legacy. He led by example. We have letters from people he worked with. One of his colleagues wrote, We knew he was a religious man, but he never preached. He was always aware, thinking ahead, thinking of others. The effect that Avremel continues to have is amazing. After I heard the news about Bin Laden, I wanted to go down to Ground Zero. It was a relief; we felt a need to share it with those who had lost family members, to be close to them. While we were on the train to Manhattan, my son called us. He said he just got a call from NBC News. They wanted to interview us, find out about our feelings. Avremels story is out there. While at Ground Zero, we must have given twelve or fifteen interviews. Reporters from all over sought us out, wanting to hear the story. We told them the story of Avremel. We always try to point out that it was an Orthodox Jew and a non-Jewish friend and this is what Avremel did because of his friendship. The Shabbos before 9/11, Avremel had gone to a shiur. He was a very reserved person. He wasnt pushy in any way. When the rav started to speak about Kiddush Hashem, Avremel interrupted him and said, How could an ordinary person make a Kiddush Hashem? He got an answer but wasnt satisfied. Avremel interrupted him another time; again, the rav gave him an answer. Then he asked a third time. It wasnt like Avremel to do that. Three days later, he got his answer. Every rav has told us the same thing: its an obligation to perpetuate Avremels story. No matter how painful it is for us, we do it lshem Shamayim. I feel it is our responsibility to perpetuate his Kiddush Hashem. Chavie and Yankel Zelmanowitz live in Brooklyn, New York. Excerpted from Jewish Action, fall 2011 The following are excerpts of a Wall Street Journal article, and re-posted from the YWN archives: FIVE FLOORS ABOVE, Shimmy Biegeleisen phoned his wife from his office at money-management firm Fiduciary Trust International Inc. Theres been an explosion next door, the 42-year-old vice president said. Dont worry. Im OK. After a few minutes, Mr. Biegeleisen grabbed his black canvas bag, walked past a cluster of cubicles and headed toward the stairwell. But when he reached the doorway a step behind a project manager who worked for him he stopped, leaned his big body against the open metal door and rummaged through his bag. Whatever youre looking for, its not important, the manager told her boss. Please come. She started down the stairs. THE WORD FIDUCIARY filled the caller-ID panel on the kitchen phone in the Biegeleisen home in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Miriam Biegeleisen knew it was her husband calling again from his office. I love you, he told her. He hadnt made it to the stairs when the wings of the second jet ripped diagonally through the south tower just four floors below Mr. Biegeleisens cubicle. Fire engulfed the towers stairwells. Mr. Biegeleisen was trapped. Mrs. Biegeleisen handed the phone to Dovid Langer, a friend who volunteered for an ambulance service and had run over when he heard that ambulances had been dispatched to the towers. Dovid, Mr. Biegeleisen told him, take care of Miriam and take care of my children. Mr. Langer heard a recording in the background saying over and over that the building was secure and that people should stay put. (A Port Authority spokesman said, We are not aware of any recorded announcement made by building management.) Mr. Biegeleisen continued: Dovid, Im not coming out of this. Mr. Langer connected Mr. Biegeleisen to Gary Gelbfish, a vascular surgeon and friend who was watching the towers burn on TV. Im having difficulty breathing, Mr. Biegeleisen told him. Black smoke was filling the room. Youve got to do two things, the doctor said. Stay low to the ground. And do you have a towel or a rag? Put water on it and put it over your mouth. Twin Mr. Biegeleisen walked past three cubicles to the water cooler. He wet a towel and raised it to his mouth. Then he walked back to his desk and lay down on the slate blue carpet in his black suede shoes, black pants, oxford shirt and black felt yarmulke. Mr. Biegeleisen was a Chassid, a devoted follower of the Belzer Rebbe, the leader of a rabbinic dynasty that dates to 1815. Is there a sprinkler? Dr. Gelbfish asked. Mr. Biegeleisen looked up but couldnt see through the smoke. He and the five colleagues trapped alongside him decided to try to get to the roof. Mr. Biegeleisen hung up the phone. THE PHONE RANG in the Biegeleisen home. Again, FIDUCIARY flashed on the display. The intense heat had kept Shimmy Biegeleisen from reaching the roof. We couldnt even go into the hallway, he said into the phone. The Biegeleisen home was filling with worried friends and neighbors. Women clustered in the living room, trying to calm Mrs. Biegeleisen. Men paced in the kitchen, taking turns speaking to her husband. One phoned 911. They waited while Mr. Biegeleisen tried again to reach the roof. He didnt make it. At 9:45, he phoned home again. Promise me youll look after Miriam, he told one of his friends. Tell Miriam I love her. Lying on the floor beneath photographs of his five children that sat atop his filing cabinet, he now spoke of them and gave instructions for handling his finances. Mr. Biegeleisen and his 19-year-old son Mordechai were supposed to travel in five days to Jerusalem to spend the Jewish new year with the Belzer Chassidim and meet with the Belzer Rebbe. Mr. Biegeleisen made the trip every few years at Rosh Hashanah. Most inspiring to him was the second night of the holiday, when the Rebbe read aloud the 24th Psalm. Now, in a voice hoarse with smoke, Mr. Biegeleisen began to recite that psalm in Hebrew over the phone: Of David a Psalm. The Lords is the earth and its fullness The friend on the phone began to shake. He handed the phone to another friend, who urged Mr. Biegeleisen to break a window. You can get some air and go to the roof, the friend said. Mr. Biegeleisen called out to a colleague. Lets go! Lets break the window! At 9:59, the two men hauled a filing cabinet to the window. Im looking out the window now, Mr. Biegeleisen said into the phone. Then he screamed: Oh God! The line went dead. SEVEN DAYS AFTER her husbands phone line went dead, Miriam Biegeleisen stood in synagogue on Rosh Hashanah murmuring a prayer about God and fate: How many will pass from the earth and how many will be created. Who will live and who will die. Who by water and who by fire. By tradition, she and her family would have begun their shiva, the weeklong mourning period for her husband, the day after his death. But no body had been found, and the Biegeleisens for days had held on to hope that Shimmy was alive. Now Shimmys father decided that they were ready to mourn. Before they could, it had to be established that Mrs. Biegeleisen wasnt an agunah. In Jewish law, an agunah is a woman who is separated from her husband and cannot remarry, either because he wont grant her a divorce or because it isnt known whether he is alive or dead. With no trace of a body, a rabbinic court must rule whether death can be assumed. Minutes after Rosh Hashanah ended, Mr. Biegeleisens father phoned Efraim Fishel Hershkowitz in Brooklyn. The 76-year-old rabbi said he would convene with two other rabbis to decide the case at once. He asked that the men who had spoken to Mr. Biegeleisen on the day he disappeared come to the rabbis home. He also wanted a tape of the 911 call. THREE RABBIS and six of Shimmy Biegeleisens friends gathered at the home of Rabbi Hershkowitz on Thursday, Sept. 20. It was the Fast of Gedalia, so the men sat down at the dining-room table with empty stomachs. The rabbis wore the long ear-locks, long black coats and wide-brim velvet hats of their European predecessors. One of them opened a copy of the Yiddish newspaper Blat to a sequence of photographs of the towers end. In Yiddish, the rabbis discussed various logistics of the case: the floors the planes hit, how and when the buildings fell, the intensity of the fire, where Mr. Biegeleisen lay, what he said on the phone. They spoke with Mr. Biegeleisens friends about the phone call and about Mr. Biegeleisen then asked them to wait outside. The rabbis deliberated for 10 minutes. Caller-ID repeatedly placed Mr. Biegeleisen at his Fiduciary office. The building fell at the precise moment Mr. Biegeleisen screamed. Mr. Biegeleisens relationship with the Belzer Rebbe attested to his character. They cited a case, in a 16th-century book of Jewish law, of a furnace of fire from which there is no escape. Mr. Biegeleisens was just such a case, they said. His death could be assumed. Mrs. Biegeleisen was not an agunah. The mourning could begin. One of the rabbis went to the Biegeleisen home. He took a razor from his pocket and made cuts in the clothing of the male mourners on the left for Mr. Biegeleisens three sons, on the right for his brother and father. Mrs. Biegeleisen, standing by the kitchen, said, Is the psak [ruling] final? It was. Its over, she thought. Shimmy is not coming back. AN ORTHODOX JEWISH woman came to the Biegeleisen home on Sunday, Sept. 23, the fourth day of shiva. Mrs. Biegeleisen, following Jewish law, sat on a low, hard chair. She didnt know the woman visitor, who said, My husband was also there. Mrs. Biegeleisen understood that the woman had not yet been allowed to mourn. She was as yet an agunah. For Mrs. Biegeleisen, knowing that she could remarry was hardly a comfort. Its not something Im thinking of, she said, her covered hair and engagement ring evidence of her 20 years of marriage. When you live with only one person, its all you know. SHIMMY BIEGELEISENS FAMILY had almost finished mourning him when the phone rang. On the line was the Belzer Rebbe, Issachar Dov Rokeach, calling from Jerusalem. Mr. Biegeleisens wife, five children, parents, brother and sister scurried upstairs to a closed room. They encircled a phone and put it on speaker. The 53-year-old Rebbe spoke quietly in Yiddish. He asked for the men and boys, one by one, and recited to each the Hebrew verse traditionally spoken to mourners: May the Omnipresent console you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. Finished, the Rebbe said, There are no words. A dial tone reverberated in the room as the family echoed him, over and over: There are no words. There are no words. There are no words. Yechi Zichro Boruch. Two foreign aid workers were reportedly killed in eastern Ukraine on Sunday as Russian shelling hit a van carrying a team of four working with a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization, while dozens of Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. The four volunteers from the Road to Relief group, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organization said on its Instagram page. Road to Relief said that Anthony Ihnat of Canada died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously wounded, it said. Road to Relief added that it couldnt trace the whereabouts of the vans fourth passenger, Emma Igual, a Spanish national who was the organizations director. Hours later, Spains acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Spanish media that authorities in Madrid had received verbal confirmation of the 32-year-old Iguals death. The volunteers were on their way to assess the needs of civilians on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Road to Relief said, in reference to the eastern town that saw the wars longest and bloodiest battle before falling to Moscow in May. Ukrainian forces have held on to Bakhmuts western suburbs and are pushing a counteroffensive in the area. Also on Sunday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched dozens of drones at Kyiv and the surrounding region early in the morning, wounding at least five civilians. Ukraines air force later said it had brought down 26 out of a total of 33 drones. The head of Kyivs military administration, Serhii Popko, reported that debris from Iranian-made Shahed drones fell in several districts of the city and wounded at least one civilian. Popko said there was no risk to the persons life, and added that most of the wreckage fell in open ground, although one high-rise apartment was damaged. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko later confirmed that one civilian was wounded in the citys historic center and received help on the spot. The governor of the Kyiv region, which surrounds but doesnt include the capital, also reported that the drone strike wounded four people across the province, one of whom had to be hospitalized. In a Facebook post, Gov. Ruslan Kravchenko said that the drones damaged an infrastructure facility as well as civilian buildings including homes and stores, a hospital, a rehabilitation center, a school and a kindergarten. Russias Defense Ministry said in the early hours of Sunday that Moscows forces earlier destroyed three U.S.-supplied speedboats carrying Ukrainian soldiers that had been traveling toward Russian-occupied Crimea. The claim couldnt be independently verified. Earlier on Sunday, the ministry said in a separate statement that Russian air defenses shot down eight Ukrainian drones targeting Crimea, as well as another that flew over the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine. On Aug. 24, Ukrainian military intelligence said that its special forces landed in Crimea, which Moscow illegally took from Ukraine in 2014, and raised the Ukrainian flag along the peninsulas western shore before leaving without casualties. Ukrainian army representatives on Sunday reported further small gains near Robotyne in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where Kyiv has mounted a counteroffensive, days after Russian-installed authorities acknowledged that Russian forces had left the village. Oleksandr Shtupun, a press officer for Ukraines Tauride Defense Forces, said on Ukrainian TV that Kyivs troops had retaken a further 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles) near Rabotyne, and that heavy fighting is ongoing. The Russians are clinging to every meter of our Ukrainian land however, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are trying to make it as difficult as possible to supply the Russian army, and in certain areas this is bearing fruit, Shtupun said, without giving details. Hours later, Ukraines General Staff said in the latest of its Facebook updates that its forces had partial success near Robotyne as well as Klishchiivka, a village 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) southwest of Bakhmut, dislodging Russian troops from their positions. It gave no further details, and the claim could not be verified. A Washington-based think tank late on Saturday assessed, citing geolocated footage, that Russian forces had captured territory between Robotyne and two nearby villages: Verbove, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) east, and Novoprokopivka, 5 kilometers (3 miles) to the south. The Institute for the Study of War also said in the latest of daily updates that Ukrainian forces had advanced along the border between the Zaporizhzhia region and the Donetsk province farther east, near Novomaiorske village. It acknowledged earlier Ukrainian claims of advances south of Klischiivka, but gave no evidence to support them. (AP) Michael White had only recently arrived in a grim Iranian jail when a curious fellow prisoner, an English-speaking Iranian, approached him in the courtyard for a conversation. The American did not reveal much at first, but it was the beginning of an unlikely friendship between White, a Navy veteran imprisoned on spying charges he says were unfounded, and Mahdi Vatankhah, a young Iranian political activist whose positions on social issues had drawn his governments ire. As the men connected behind bars over a shared interest in politics and human rights, they developed a bond that proved vital for both. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring inside a Los Angeles airport, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. He risked his life to get the information out for me when I was in the prison in Iran. He really, really did, White said in an interview alongside Vatankhah. I told him I would do everything I could in my power to get him here because I felt, one, that would be for his safety in his own life. And also I felt he could be a great contributing member of society here. This year, White received permission for Vatankhah to live temporarily in the U.S. under a government program known as humanitarian parole, which allows people in for urgent humanitarian reasons or if there is a significant public benefit. Vatankhah told AP he had dreamed about coming to the U.S. ever since he could remember. When he landed, It was like the best moment of my life. My whole life changed. White, 50, a Southern California native who spent 13 years in the Navy, was arrested in Iran in 2018 after traveling to the country to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman he met online. He was jailed on various charges, including espionage accusations that he calls bogus, as well as allegations of insulting Irans supreme leader. He endured what he says was torture and sexual abuse, an ordeal he documented in a handwritten diary that he secretly maintained behind bars, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in what the U.S. government has said was a wrongful detention. Vatankhah, now 24, said he had been in and out of prison since he was a teenager because of his involvement in left-leaning causes and vocal criticism of the Iranian government, including through protests, social media posts and university newspaper pieces. He met White in 2018 after one such arrest when Vatankhah faced accusations of spreading propaganda against Tehrans government. Though Vatankhah was later released, he was arrested again, this time winding up in the same cell as White in Irans Mashhad prison. During the course of their friendship, Vatankhah helped White navigate his imprisonment and better understand the judicial system, functioning as an interpreter to help him communicate with guards and other inmates. In early 2020, while Vatankhah was out on furlough, he also became a vital conduit to the outside world for White. Using contact information White had given him, Vatankhah got in touch with Jonathan Franks, a consultant in the U.S. for families of American hostages and detainees who was working on Whites case and later helped spearhead the humanitarian parole process for Vatankhah. He also spoke with Whites mother and smuggled out letters White had written. The detailed information about White, his status and his health he suffered from cancer and COVID-19 in prison came at a crucial time, providing a proof-of-life of sorts at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran due to a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who led the expeditionary Quds Force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. White was released in a June 2020 prisoner swap, exchanged for an American-Iranian physician imprisoned in the U.S. for violating American sanctions laws. Vatankhah, released the same year, made his way to Turkey. White argued in his March application on Vatankhahs behalf that his friend met the criteria for humanitarian parole because, despite having relocated to Turkey, he was continuing to face harassment on account of his political viewpoints. Vatankhah wrote in his own petition that the situation was unsafe for him in Turkey. He noted that Turkish police had raided his home and that he remained at risk of deportation to Iran. Paris Etemadi Scott, a California lawyer who has worked with White and Vatankhah and filed the humanitarian parole application on the Iranians behalf, said Vatankhahs assistance to an American a veteran, no less enhanced the legitimacy and urgency of his petition because it added to the potential that Vatankhah could face imminent harm. While many applicants do not have significant supporting documentation, Mahdi had this amazing amount of evidence to show that he was in fact incarcerated over and over again, she said. A State Department spokesman said in a statement that the office of the departments special presidential envoy for hostage affairs had worked hard to secure Whites release in 2020, and after learning of Vatankhahs case, worked hand-in-hand with multiple partners in the U.S. government, including the White House National Security Council and Department of Homeland Security, to ensure his arrival in the U.S. Vatankhah is now living in San Diego, where White is from. Vatankhah said his humanitarian parole is good for one year, but he already has applied for asylum, which would allow him to remain in the U.S. Hes obtained a work permit and found work as a caregiver. Hes also enjoying freedom to share his political views freely without fear of retribution. I like to express my ideas here where I can. I can continue to use my freedom to talk against the Iranian regime. (AP) President Joe Biden said Sunday his visit to Vietnam to showcase stronger ties with Hanoi was not about trying to start a cold war with China, but rather was part of a broader effort to provide global stability by building U.S. relationships throughout Asia at a time of tensions with Beijing. Its not about containing China, Biden said at a news conference in Vietnams capital after attending the Group of 20 summit in India. Its about having a stable base. The American president came to Hanoi as Vietnam was elevating the United States to its highest diplomatic status, comprehensive strategic partner. That is evidence of how far the relationship has evolved from what Biden referred to as the bitter past of the Vietnam War. The expanded partnership reflects a broader effort across Asia to counter Chinas influence. Biden has said Vietnam wants to flex a degree of independence, and U.S. companies are seeking an alternative to imports from Chinese factories. He is pursuing possible allies while also trying to soothe tensions with China. I think we think too much in cold war terms, Biden said at his news conference. Its not about that. Its about generating economic growth and stability in all parts of the world. And thats what were trying to do. He added: We have an opportunity to strengthen alliances around the world to maintain stability. Thats what this trip is all about. Biden opened his news conference by saying he had traveled around the world in five days, from Washington to New Delhi and now Hanoi, showcasing efforts by his administration to forge alliances. The president will stop in Alaska on the way home Monday to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. In response to one question, Biden told reporters he had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while in India. The contact is the highest-level interaction between U.S. and Chinese officials since Biden and Chinas president, Xi Jinping, held talks at last years G20 in Indonesia. Xi skipped the India talks and sent Li in his place. We talked about stability. It wasnt confrontational at all, Biden said. The exchange, between G20 sessions Saturday, was brief, according to a senior Biden administration official. It was not clear who approached whom, but Biden was interested in seeing Li and underscoring his desire to stabilize the up-and-down relationship between the two countries, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Biden went into meetings with Vietnams leaders after his arrival in the country. He welcomed the new partnership and said he hoped for progress on climate, the economy and other issues during his 24-hour stop in Hanoi. We can trace a 50-year arc of progress between our nations from conflict to normalization to this new elevated status, Biden said with Nguyen Phu Trong, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, at party headquarters. Biden has described himself as being part of the Vietnam generation although he did not serve in a war. He was given five draft deferments and was exempted from military service because he had asthma as a teenager. Biden called Vietnam a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community. He noted that veterans such as John Kerry, his climate czar, and the late John McCain, a Vietnam POW and Republican senator from Arizona, found ways to build a relationship with Vietnam after the war. Both men saw so clearly, as I and so many others did, how much we had to gain by working together to overcome a bitter past, he said. Trong pledged that his country will work hard to implement the agreement. Only then can we say it is a success, he pledged. Biden described the U.S. and Vietnam as critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time. Neither leader specifically discussed how Chinas economic and geopolitical rise had contributed to their countries expanded partnership, yet it was hard to explain the mutual embrace without Beijings growing influence. Vietnam previously bestowed the same level of relations on China and Russia. Elevating the U.S. suggests that Vietnam wants to hedge its friendships as U.S. and European companies look for alternatives to Chinese factories. With Chinas economic slowdown and Xis consolidation of political power, Biden sees an opportunity to bring more nations, including Vietnam and Cambodia, into Americas orbit. Biden was welcomed upon his arrival in Vietnam with a pomp-filled ceremony outside the mustard-colored Presidential Palace. Schoolchildren lined the steps and waved American and Vietnam flags. Biden watched from an elevated review stand as high-stepping members of the military marched past. Biden and Trong both expressed happiness over seeing each other again after last meeting some eight years ago in Washington. Biden was vice president at that time. Trong had some flattering words for Biden, who is running for reelection next year and faces persistent questions at home about his age. You have nary aged a day, and I would say you look even better than before, Trong said. I would say every feature of you, Mr. President, is complimenting your image. Biden chuckled at that. But the packed schedule and jet lag appeared to take a toll on the 80-year-old president, who wrapped up his news conference saying Im going to go to bed. Jon Finer, Bidens principal deputy national security adviser, addressed reports that Vietnam was pursuing a deal to buy weapons from Russia, even as Hanoi is seeking stronger relations with the U.S. Finer acknowledged Vietnams lengthy military relationship with Russia. He said the U.S. continues to work with Vietnam and other countries that have similar ties to Russia to try to limit their interactions with Moscow, which Washington accuses of committing war crimes and violating international law with its aggression in Ukraine. U.S. trade with Vietnam has already accelerated but there are limits to how much further it can grow without improvements to the countrys infrastructure, its workers skills and its governance. Nor has increased trade automatically put the Vietnamese economy on an upward trajectory. U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that the CEOs she talks with rank Vietnam highly as a place to diversify supply chains that, before the coronavirus pandemic, had been overly dependent on China. American imports of Vietnamese goods have nearly doubled since 2019 to $127 billion annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But it is unlikely that Vietnam, with its population of 100 million, can match the scale of Chinese manufacturing. In 2022, China, with 1.4 billion people, exported four times as many goods to the U.S. as did Vietnam. (AP) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak chastised Chinas premier on Sunday for unacceptable interference in British democracy, after a newspaper reported that a researcher in Parliament was arrested earlier this year on suspicion of spying for Beijing. Sunak said he raised the issue with Premier Li Qiang when the two met at a Group of 20 summit in India. He told British broadcasters in New Delhi that hed expressed my very strong concerns about any interference in our parliamentary democracy, which is obviously unacceptable. The two men met after the Metropolitan Police force confirmed that a man in his 20s and a man in his 30s were arrested in March under the Official Secrets Act. Neither has been charged and both were bailed until October pending further inquiries. A Chinese Embassy statement called the allegations completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander. China urges relevant parties in the U.K. to stop their anti-China political manipulation, the statement said. The Sunday Times reported that the younger man was a parliamentary researcher who worked with senior lawmakers from the governing Conservatives, including Alicia Kearns, who now heads the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, and her predecessor in that role, Tom Tugendhat, who is now security minister. The newspaper said the suspect held a pass that allows full access to the Parliament buildings, issued to lawmakers, staff and journalists after security vetting. Tensions between Britain and China have risen in recent years over accusations of economic subterfuge, human rights abuses and Beijings crackdown on civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Britains Conservatives are divided on how tough a line to take with Beijing and on how much access Chinese firms should have to the U.K. economy. More hawkish Tories want Beijing declared a threat, but Sunak has referred to Chinas growing power as a challenge. Former U.K. Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said news of the March arrests gives the lie to the governments attempt not to see China as a systemic threat. U.K. spy services have sounded ever-louder warnings about Beijings covert activities. In November, the head of the MI5 domestic intelligence agency, Ken McCallum, said the activities of the Chinese Communist Party pose the most game-changing strategic challenge to the U.K. Foreign intelligence chief Richard Moore of MI6 said in July that China was his agencys single most important strategic focus. In January 2022, MI5 issued a rare public alert, saying a London-based lawyer was trying to covertly interfere in U.K. politics on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. It alleged attorney Christine Lee was acting in coordination with the Chinese ruling partys United Front Work Department, an organization known to exert Chinese influence abroad. An opposition Labour Party lawmaker, Barry Gardiner, received more than 500,000 pounds ($685,000) from Lee between 2015 and 2020, mostly for office costs, and her son worked in Gardiners office. Lee and the Chinese government both deny wrongdoing. China has repeatedly criticized what it calls British interference in its internal affairs and denied meddling in the politics of foreign nations. Sunak and Li met days after Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Beijing, the highest-level trip by a British politician to China for several years. Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend the G20 meeting in India. Sunak defended his approach of cautious engagement, saying, Theres no point carping from the sidelines Id rather be in there directly expressing my concerns, and thats what I did today. (AP) It seems like there really are no limits to the left-wing incitement against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the right-wing government. A left-wing protester on Motzei Shabbos conveyed his wishes for the deaths of Netanyahu and his wife, and the crowd actually cheered in approval. A video of the protest, which took place outside the studio of Channel 14 News, was posted by one of the channels reporters. In the video, the protester can be heard saying: I hope that the health of the couple, one who was recently hospitalized in the surgical department [Sara Netanyahu was briefly hospitalized over the weekend], and the other suffering from dehydration and hospitalized in the Tel Hashomer Heart Institute we hope to see them next year in the cemetery. Netanyahu addressed the rampant incitement against him and the government at the Cabinet meeting on Sunday. A prominent activist in the left-wing protests calls government ministers Nazis. Another prominent activist wrote on Twitter to the government ministers, You are worse than the Nazis. Just a few hours after these appalling statements, and at last nights left-wing protest in Modiin, the protesters called for the deaths of my wife and I. You should be in the cemetery already next year.' Netanyahu criticized the opposition leaders, saying, So far, none of the opposition leaders have seen fit to condemn these serious incidents. I call on them to do so and to join us in calming the tensions among the people. I expect law enforcement agencies to act vigorously against incitement and hold those who incite accountable. Almost nothing significant has been done so far against this blatant incitement. Freedom to protest is not freedom to incite. If we act together with the right spirit and refuse to allow this extremism, I believe we will indeed achieve a better and sweeter year. And thats what I wish for all the citizens of Israel. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) The head of Israels Mossad spy agency on Sunday said that Israel is prepared to strike in the heart of Tehran to track down the perpetrators of what he said were over two dozen Iranian attempts to hit Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. Speaking at a security conference, David Barnea said that Israel and its allies had foiled 27 attacks over the past year in Europe, Africa, southeast Asia and South America. The plots being pursued by these teams were orchestrated, masterminded and directed by Iran, Barnea told the conference at Reichman University. He added that as we speak Iran is trying to carry out additional attacks. Our message is loud and clear and determined, he said. Make no mistake, those of you who decided to dispatch the teams. Be assured that we will get to you, and justice will be done for all to see. This has been proven in the past, and in the future, we will ramp it up to the next level. Barnea said Israel would go after the agents involved in the plots as well as the commanders who sent them. These prices will be exacted deep inside Iran, in the heart of Tehran, he said. (AP) Sponsored Content As we approach Rosh Hashanah and Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, our prayers ar imbued with appeals to the One Above that we be remembered for life. Traditionally, Jews donate charity to the plethora of wonderful, life-saving causes that exist throughout the Jewish world, in order to tip the scales, merit a favorable judgement and be inscribed, middah kneged middah, in the Book of Life. Yet the question remains: Can any organization promise that their efforts will indeed guarantee a life saved? EFRAT can. Every year in Israel, over 35,000 babies are tragically lost to the Jewish people. In an overwhelming majority of cases, these losses are linked to desperate financial struggles that leave expectant mothers feeling alone and with no viable options. And contrary to popular belief, these are not only women on the fringes some come from within our very own communities. Its painful to think how many lives (and how much heartache!) could be saved, if only the expectant mothers would receive the support they need. EFRATs mission is to provide that support and enable these women to choose life, alleviating the emotional toll and lifelong regrets that may come otherwise. Every dollar donated to EFRAT directly aids a woman facing dire financial stress, giving her the confidence and resources she needs to welcome a new life into the world. With nearly 50 years of dedicated service, EFRAT has empowered approximately 85,000 women to bring the children they longed for into the world. Throughout the decades, EFRAT has been endorsed by all Gedolei Yisrael, past and present, including Rav Elyashiv, Harav Ovadia Yosef and Harav Mordechai Eliyahu, ztl, and, lbcl, Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Harav Asher Weiss, shlita. While there are other organizations that provide various forms of support to expectant mothers, EFRAT directly prevents the loss of life through comprehensive, wraparound services. These include providing essential baby items such as cribs, strollers, and layettes, as well as ongoing support like monthly supplies of diapers, wipes, and formula for the first two years. Additionally, women benefit from EFRATs vocational programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, as well as the Bayit Chama sanctuary where they can seek refuge and emotional healing. The effectiveness of EFRATs work is underscored by its remarkable efficiency. The organization has streamlined its operations to the extent that the total cost to save one life, including all forms of support offered, is only $1,500. Your generosity could be the lifeline that changes a womans story from one of despair to one of hope and joy, reinforcing the sanctity of life that is so precious to us, especially at this time of year. Rabbi David BenSoussan, a Rosh Kollel in Lakewood, remarked, On the threshold of the Yamim Noraim, when we seek to increase our merit, there is no doubt that saving the lives of babies, as EFRAT does so efficiently, will help us to save our own lives nefesh tachat nefesh. However, EFRAT doesnt just save babies, but the entire family, helping them make the best decision and providing long-term support. For more information about how you can save a life guaranteed! please contact us at [email protected] and visit www.cribefrat.org Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services. The company offers its products and services for facilities maintenance and municipalities, such as office complexes, apartment complexes, government, hospitals, data centers, parks and recreation departments, schools and universities, shopping centers, pavement/kerb repairs, and golf course maintenance; construction of airports, highways and bridges, office buildings, data centers, schools and universities, shopping centers, residential, remodeling, manufacturing plants, and green energy plants; emergency response for fire, hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, winter, storms, residential and health emergencies, alternative care facilities, points of distribution, and mobile testing facilities; and entertainment and special events, including national events, concerts, sporting events, film and telvision production, theme parks, festivals farmers' markets, local 5k runs, and cycle races. It operates 1,094 stores in the United States, 119 stores in Canada, and 185 stores in the United Kingdom under the Sunbelt Rentals brand. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Parkland Corporation operates food and convenience stores in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company's Canada segment owns, supplies, and supports a coast-to-coast network of retail gas stations, electronic vehicle charging stations, frozen food retail locations, convenience stores, cardlock sites, bulk fuel, propane, heating oil, lubricants, and other related services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers; transports and distributes fuel through ships, rail, and highway carriers; and stores fuel in terminals and other owned and leased facilities, as well as engages in the low-carbon activities. This segment sells its products under the M&M Food Market, On the Run / Marche Express, Ultramar, Esso, Chevron, Pioneer, Fas Gas Plus, Bluewave Energy, Pipeline Commercial, Columbia Fuels, and Sparlings Propane brand names. Its international segment operates and services various retail service stations under the Sol, Esso, Mobil, Shell, and Texaco brand names; and owns the Sol Shop, a convenience store, as well as sells refined crude oil to commercial, industrial, and aviation businesses. The company's USA Segment delivers fuel, lubricants, and other related products to commercial and wholesale customers; operates a network of retail fuel and convenience stores under the On the Run, Arco, Cenex, Chevron, Conoco, Exxon, and other brands, as well as cardlocks under various brands; and operates terminals, storage facilities and trucks, contracts with pipeline, storage facilities, and third-party carriers to support its network. Its Refining segment refines fuel products, such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel; co-processes bio-feedstocks and blends low-carbon-intensity fuels with gasoline and diesel to produce greener fuels. The company was formerly known as Parkland Fuel Corporation and changed its name to Parkland Corporation in May 2020. Parkland Corporation was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface. Read More Phreesia, Inc. provides an integrated SaaS-based software and payment platform for the healthcare industry in the United States and Canada. Its Phreesia Platform offers access solutions that offers appointment scheduling system for online appointments, reminders, and referral tracking; registration solution to automate patient self-registration; revenue cycle solution, which offer insurance-verification processes, point-of-sale payments applications, post-visit payment collection, and flexible payment options; and network connect solution to deliver clinically relevant content to patients. The company deploys its platform in a range of modalities, such as Phreesia Mobile, a patients' mobile device; Phreesia Dashboard, a web-based dashboard for healthcare services clients; PhreesiaPads, a self-service intake tablets; and Arrivals Kiosks, an on-site kiosks. It serves patients; single-specialty practices, multi-specialty groups, and health systems; and pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. Radian Group Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mortgage and real estate services business in the United States. The company operates through Mortgage and Homegenius segments. The Mortgage segment offers credit-related insurance coverage primarily through private mortgage insurance on residential first-lien mortgage loans, as well as other credit risk management, contract underwriting solutions. This segment primarily serves mortgage originators, such as mortgage banks, commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, and community banks. The Homegenius segment offers title services, including a suite of insurance and non-insurance title, tax and title data, centralized recording, document retrieval and default curative title services, and deed and property reports, as well as closing and settlement services comprising electronic execution and traditional signing services; real estate valuation products and services; and asset management services, as well as a suite of real estate technology products and services to facilitate real estate transactions, such as software as a service solutions. This segment serves consumers, mortgage lenders, mortgage and real estate investors, government-sponsored enterprises, and real estate brokers and agents. Radian Group Inc. was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Matador Resources Company, an independent energy company, engages in the exploration, development, production, and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It operates through two segments, Exploration and Production; and Midstream. The company primarily holds interests in the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. It also operates the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas; and the Haynesville shale and Cotton Valley plays in Northwest Louisiana. In addition, the company conducts midstream operations in support of its exploration, development, and production operations. Further, it provides natural gas processing and oil transportation services; and oil, natural gas, and produced water gathering services, as well as produced water disposal services to third parties. The company was formerly known as Matador Holdco, Inc. and changed its name to Matador Resources Company in August 2011. Matador Resources Company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Moncler S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, designs, produces, and distributes clothing and related accessories for men, women, and children under the Moncler and Stone Island brand names. Its product portfolio includes footwear products; leather goods, such as bags, backpacks, and accessories; and sunglasses and eyeglasses under the Moncler Lunettes brand. The company also offers perfume for men and women. It operates directly operated stores and wholesale shop-in-shops. The company also sells its products through moncler.com, an online store. It serves in Italy, other European countries, Japan, the rest of Asia, and the Americas. Moncler S.p.A. was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy. 3 hours ago Exxon Mobil or Chevron? Which is the better buy? The answer to whether Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM) or Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is a better buy is relative. Exxon was clearly the better buy for investors before the Q3 results were released, but now that those results are in, the tables have turned. While the 2 reported roughly in alignment with each other and analysts targets, there is something wrong with Chevron. Chevrons results highlight why it acquired Hess Corporation and catalyzed a buying opportunity for investors. The takeaway is that Chevron has some hurdles to Read Article At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14 to 16. Xinhua News Agency: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14 to 16. Could you share the program of the visit? How does China see the current China-Cambodia relations? What do you expect from the visit? Mao Ning: At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14 to 16. President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will hold talks and meet with him respectively. This is the first official visit by Prime Minister Hun Manet after he took office. It shows the great importance the new Cambodian government attaches to China-Cambodia relations. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the China-Cambodia Friendship Year. China hopes to, through this visit, chart the course for the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries in the next stage. In particular, we hope to deliver on the cooperation initiatives such as the industrial development corridor and the fish and rice corridor at an early date, and jointly usher in a new era of building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future. ITV News: You will have seen the reports about the arrest of two men, British men, accused of spying on behalf of China in the UK. I would like to ask for your response to those arrests and whether you have been in contact with the British government about this. Mao Ning: The allegation that China spies on the UK is entirely groundless. China firmly opposes that. We urge the UK to stop spreading disinformation and stop political manipulation and malicious slander against China. China Daily: Could you share more about Premier Li Qiangs attendance at the recent leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation in Jakarta? Mao Ning: Premier Li Qiang attended the 26th China-ASEAN Summit, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit and the 18th East Asia Summit in Jakarta on September 6 and 7. It was the first time for the Premier of Chinas new government to attend the leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation. Fruitful outcomes were achieved mainly in the following aspects. First, political consensus was deepened. Faced with increasing uncertainties in the international and regional landscape, Premier Li took stock of the development progress in East Asia over the past decades and stressed that development doesnt come easy, openness is essential, and peace must be cherished. Bearing in mind the overall interests of peace and development in East Asia, he called for efforts to strengthen solidarity, unlock potential, rise above disruptions, safeguard the open and inclusive regional environment, and jointly foster an epicentrum of growth. Premier Lis views have a lot in common with those of other leaders of regional countries. Its generally stressed at the meetings that stability and peace is the key to prosperity, mutual trust and dialogue needs to be enhanced, ASEAN centrality consolidated, regional economic integration advanced, and determined steps taken to turn the vision of an epicentrum of growth into reality. Second, cooperation highlights were identified. A total of eight outcome documents were adopted at the three meetings, to which China contributed 39 cooperation initiatives. Apart from deepening cooperation in traditional fields including trade, connectivity, finance and food security, the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Summit adopted for the first time ever a statement on electric vehicle cooperation. Regional countries reached more consensus on grasping opportunities presented by the new round of technological and industrial revolution, fostering new growth points, and increasing East Asias overall competitiveness in emerging sectors. It was announced at the China-ASEAN Summit that the year 2024 will be the China-ASEAN Year of People-to-People Exchanges and all agreed to resume and expand cross-border travel at an early date and promote exchanges across the board. Third, the right direction was upheld. At the initiative of Indonesia, this years chair, the East Asia Summit adopted a statement on economic growth. China actively supported and constructively participated in the consultations and contributed to the final adoption of the statement. The adoption of the leaders statement at this years summit sends out a united message of focusing on development and gives a strong boost to the momentum of the summit. Certain countries attempted to hype up geopolitical issues, which proved to be unpopular and found little support. Our position was widely commended by ASEAN countries. Overall, the meetings were held in a positive atmosphere, cemented the platform role of the East Asia cooperation mechanisms, and contributed strongly to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Sky News: Another question please about the two people arrested in the UK on suspicion of spying for China. We know that the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak raised this issue in his meeting with Premier Li at the G20 yesterday. Are you able to offer more information about what was said in that meeting? And does China deny trying to exert influence on the British political system? Mao Ning: Ive made clear Chinas position on this issue just now. Leaders of China and the UK met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit and exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. We hope that the UK side will stop political hype-up, uphold the spirit of mutual respect and equality, and move forward China-UK relations in a constructive manner. China News Service: What does China think of the G20 Summit in New Delhi and its outcomes? Mao Ning: China has always attached importance to and actively supported the work of the G20 and believes that its important for G20 to stand in solidarity and cooperate to address various risks and challenges in the world economy and development. During his attendance at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, Premier Li Qiang elaborated on Chinas views and propositions on G20 cooperation, calling on all parties to stick to the original aspiration of solidarity and cooperation, live up to the responsibility for peace and development as required by our times, and be partners in promoting the world economic recovery, open cooperation and global sustainable development. The summit adopted a leaders declaration, which reflects Chinas proposition and states that the G20 would act in concrete ways through partnerships, sending a positive signal of the G20 working together to tackle global challenges and promote world economic recovery and global development. In the process of preparing for this New Delhi summit, China played a constructive role and always supported the summit in attaching importance to the concerns of developing countries and reaching fruitful outcomes in support of common development. EFE: I would like to inquire about the upcoming visit of President Nicolas Maduro to Beijing. Do you have any information about when Maduro is expected to arrive in Beijing and if there are any scheduled meetings with Chinese leaders? Mao Ning: We announced President Maduros visit to China a few days ago. For more details about the program, we will release information in a timely manner. Please stay tuned. AFP: US President Joe Biden said that he met Chinese Premier at the G20 summit and discussed stability with him. Can you confirm that? And if so, can you tell us more about the talks between the American President and Chinese Premier? Mao Ning: On the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Premier Li Qiang had brief conversations with leaders of other countries including US President Joe Biden at the venue. During the brief conversation with President Biden, Premier Li stressed that Chinas development is an opportunity, not a challenge, to the US and the two countries should step up exchanges. President Biden said that the US hopes to see Chinas economy growing and will not hurt its growth. CCTV: Recently, mine-clearing cooperation has been officially included in the List of Chinas Cooperation Initiatives for the ASEAN Related Summits. Could you share some details? Mao Ning: Mines and explosive remnants of war continue to threaten regional peace and civilian lives and stand in the way of sustainable development. The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper issued by the Chinese government in February this year identifies international cooperation and assistance on demining as a priority. At present, ASEAN countries including Cambodia and Laos are still not completely free from the threat of land mines. As ASEANs good neighbor, good brother and good partner, China continues to provide assistance on mine clearance to relevant ASEAN countries. On September 6, the Chinese task force participating in the Pure Homeland-2023 multinational joint demining operation arrived in Cambodia. On September 7, the second High-Level Regional Dialogue on Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Resource Mobilization in ASEAN Mine/ERW Action was held in Nanjing, and China and ASEAN signed an assistance and cooperation agreement. On September 8, a China-supported training session on mine-clearing skills for personnel from Cambodia and Laos was successfully completed in Nanjing. All this is part of Chinas latest measures to implement the outcomes of the leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation. China will continue to follow the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, further step up mine clearance cooperation with relevant regions and countries and help more parts of the world to free themselves from the threat of land mines. Reuters: Does China support the lack of direct criticism of Russia in the G20 statement? And does China think the softer G20 language would help in ending the conflict in Ukraine? Mao Ning: Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. The G20 leaders declaration is the result of consensus through consultation and reflects the common understanding of all members. The New Delhi Summit reaffirms that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, not a platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues. We always believe that the key to the final resolution of the Ukraine crisis lies in discarding the Cold War mentality, attaching importance to and respecting all sides legitimate security concerns, and seeking a political solution through dialogue and negotiation. China will stay committed to promoting peace talks and work together with the international community for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. TV Tokyo: Italy intends to withdraw from the Belt and Road Initiative. Did this come up when Premier Li Qiang met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni? Mao Ning: On September 9, Premier Li Qiang met with Italian Prime Minister Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. They exchanged views on important issues in bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in joint pursuit of prosperity and development. Ten years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, more than 150 countries and cooperation partners in a wide range of areas have joined the initiative, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people of participating countries. It serves the interests of all partner countries to further tap into its potential for cooperation. Reuters: US President Biden said during his visit to Viet Nam that he does not think China will invade Taiwan given the economic challenges that may reduce Chinas capacity. What is the ministrys response to this? The US and Viet Nam have also upgraded their diplomatic ties and signed deals on semiconductors and minerals. How does the ministry respond to these developments? Mao Ning: To answer your first question, Taiwan is part of China. The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves. It shall be decided by the Chinese and brooks no foreign interference. As to your second question, Viet Nam has stressed on multiple occasions that growing the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is its diplomatic priority and a top priority in the countrys foreign affairs. It is our view that the development of bilateral relations should not target any third party or harm regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. We ask the US to respect regional countries shared aspiration for stability, cooperation and development, abide by basic norms governing international relations, discard the hegemonic and Cold War mentality when dealing with relations with Asian countries. The Paper: According to reports, Malis government announced in a statement on September 8 that two terrorist attacks happened in the north of the country, causing many civilian casualties. Malis government declared a national mourning. What is Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China firmly opposes all forms of terrorist acts. We mourn for the innocent victims in the attacks in Mali and offer our sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones. Reuters: The Italian Prime Minister said the country intends to leave the Belt and Road Initiative and that Italys relations with China was more than just the BRI. Does China agree with Italys view of both countries ties? Mao Ning: China and Italy are both ancient civilizations on either end of the ancient Silk Road. We can further deepen practical cooperation in various fields and work for further growth of our comprehensive strategic partnership. Peoples Daily: On September 8 local time, a 7-magnitude earthquake hit Marrakech, Morocco. According to Moroccos Interior Ministry, at least 2,122 were killed and 2,421 injured by the earthquake. Moroccos royal palace on September 9 declared three days of national mourning. Is China prepared to provide disaster relief support to Morocco? Mao Ning: China is following closely the devastating earthquake in Morocco. President Xi Jinping has sent a message of sympathy to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, expressing deep condolences over the victims and sincere sympathies to the families of the victims and the injured. He also expressed his belief that the people of Morocco will overcome the impact of the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date. To help Morocco respond to this devastating earthquake, the Red Cross Society of China has announced that it will provide the Moroccan Red Crescent with emergency humanitarian assistance of USD 200,000 in cash. The China International Development Cooperation Agency also announced that it stands ready to provide emergency humanitarian assistance based on the need of those hit by the disaster. China stands ready to continue to provide help to Morocco in light of its need to the best of our capability. Reuters: A follow-up to the question about the Italian Prime Ministers comments. Does China agree with Italys assessment that the relationship is more than its membership in the BRI? And also does China think any exit by Italy would impact the reputation of the BRI? Mao Ning: I have answered a related question. We believe that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which was proposed 10 years ago, has grown into a very attractive international public good. More than 150 countries have already joined the BRI, which has brought tangible benefits to people of participating countries. Its in the interest of all BRI partners to further unleash its potential for cooperation. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 11. Kazakhstan and Turkiye plan to expand supplies via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route - the so-called Middle Corridor, Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu said, Trend reports. He made the remark, following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, who is on an official visit to Astana. "We have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to increase transportation by fully utilizing the potential of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor," he said. Nurtleu noted that, as part of diversification of transit routes, the sides are considering the possibility of using the Kazakhstan-TurkmenistanIranTurkiye railway. The Middle Corridor is a transportation and trade route that connects Asia and Europe, passing through several countries in the region. It is an alternative route to the traditional Northern Corridor and Southern Corridor. The route starts in China and crosses Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. It then passes through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor offers a land route that connects the eastern parts of Asia, including China, with Europe, bypassing the longer maritime routes. Laurentian Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services to personal, business, and institutional customers in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Personal Banking, Commercial Banking, and Capital Markets. The Personal Banking segment offers financial services, such as financial advisory services to financial intermediaries; and operates digital direct-to-customer platform to retail clients. The Commercial Banking segment provides financial services, including commercial banking, real estate financing, and equipment and inventory financing to business clients. The Capital Markets segment offers a range of services, such as research, market analysis, and advisory services; corporate underwriting services for debt and equity; and administrative services. The company was founded in 1846 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Greenhill & Co., Inc., an independent investment bank, provides financial and strategic advisory services to corporations, partnerships, institutional investors, and governments worldwide. The company offers advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, private capital raising, and other similar transactions. It also advises clients on strategic matters, including activist shareholder defense, special committee projects, licensing deals, and joint ventures; and valuation, negotiation tactics, industry dynamics, structuring alternatives, and timing and pricing of transactions, as well as financing alternatives. In addition, the company provides restructuring advisory services to debtors, creditors, governments, and other stakeholders, and acquirers of distressed companies and assets; and advice on valuation, debt capacity, liability management, restructuring and financing alternatives, capital structures, and M&A in both in-court and out-of-court processes. Further, it advises on private placements of debt and structured equity, refinancing of existing debt facilities, negotiating the modification, and amendment of covenants, as well as acts as an independent advisor. Additionally, the company offers financial advisory services to pension funds, endowments, and other institutional investors on transactions involving alternative assets; and advice to alternative asset fund sponsors for private capital raising, financing, restructuring, liquidity options, valuation, and related services. The company was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York, New York. SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale distribution of landscape supplies in the United States and Canada. The company provides a selection of approximately 155,000 stock keeping units, including irrigation supplies, which comprise controllers, valves, sprinkler heads, and irrigation pipes; fertilizer, grass seed, and ice melt products; control products, such as herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, and other pesticides; landscape accessories that include mulches, soil amendments, drainage pipes, tools, and sods; nursery goods, which consist of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, ornamental, shade, evergreen trees, field grown and container-grown nursery stock, roses, perennials, annuals, bulbs, and plant species; hardscapes, such as pavers, natural stones, blocks, and other durable materials; and outdoor lighting products that include lighting fixtures, LED lamps, wires, transformers, and accessories. It also offers consultative services consisting of assistance with irrigation network design, commercial project planning, generation of sales leads, business operations, product support services, and a series of technical and business management seminars; and distributes branded products of third parties. The company offers its products under the LESCO, SiteOne Green Tech, and Pro-Trade brand names. It markets its products primarily to residential and commercial landscape professionals who specialize in the design, installation, and maintenance of lawns, gardens, golf courses, and other outdoor spaces through branch network and direct distribution. As of January 1, 2023, the company had approximately 630 branches in 45 U.S. States and six Canadian provinces. SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Roswell, Georgia. The following companies are subsidiares of Novartis: 1 A Pharma GmbH, Abadia Retuerta S.A, Admune Therapeutics, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications, Advanced Accelerator Applications International SA, Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A., Advanced Accelerator Applications S.r.l., Advanced Accelerator Applications USA Inc., Aeropharm GmbH, Alcon, Alcon Couvreur NV, Amblyotech, Amblyotech Inc., Arctos Medical, Arctos Medical AG, Australia Pty Ltd, Beijing Novartis Pharma Co. Ltd., BioMedical Research Co. Ltd., CELLforCURE, Cadent Therapeutics, Cadent Therapeutics Cambridge, Cellerys, Cellerys AG, CellforCure, Chiron Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Japan Limited, Co. Ltd, CoStim Pharmaceuticals, CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Coalesce Product Development Limited, Corthera, Development Co. Ltd., EBEWE Pharma Ges.m.b.H Nfg. KG, Encore Vision, Endocyte, Endocyte Inc., Eon Labs Inc., Farmanova Saglik Hizmetleri Ltd, Fougera Pharmaceuticals, Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc, Gyroscope Therapeutics, HEXAL AG, Hexal, IDB Holland BV, Iberica S.L.U., Ilaclari Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, JSC Sandoz, Japat AG, Kedalion Therapeutics Inc., Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Lek S.A., Manufacturing Pte Ltd , Navigate BioPharma Services Inc, Neutec Pharma Limited, Novartis (Hellas) S.A.C.I., Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Novartis (Taiwan) Co. Ltd, Novartis (Thailand) Limited, Novartis Argentina S.A., Novartis Australia Pty Ltd, Novartis Austria GmbH, Novartis Biociencias S.A., Novartis Biosciences Peru S.A., Novartis Bioventures AG, Novartis Business Services GmbH, Novartis Capital Corporation, Novartis Chile S.A., Novartis Corporation, Novartis Corporation Sdn. Bhd., Novartis Deutschland GmbH, Novartis Ecuador S.A., Novartis Farma S.p.A., Novartis Farma Produtos Farmaceuticos S.A., Novartis Farmaceutica S.A, Novartis Farmaceutica S.A. de C.V., Novartis Finance Corporation, Novartis Finance S.A., Novartis Finance Services Ltd, Novartis Finland Oy Espoo, Novartis Gene Therapies, Novartis Gene Therapies EU Limited, Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., Novartis Grimsby Limited, Novartis Groupe France S.A., Novartis Healthcare A/S, Novartis Healthcare Philippines Inc., Novartis Healthcare Private Limited, Novartis Holding AG, Novartis Hungary Healthcare Limited Liability Company, Novartis India Limited, Novartis Inflammasome Research, Novartis Integrated Services Limited, Novartis International AG, Novartis International Pharmaceutical Investment AG, Novartis Investment Ltd, Novartis Investments S.a r.l., Novartis Ireland Limited, Novartis Israel Ltd, Novartis Korea Ltd., Novartis Middle East FZE, Novartis Netherlands B.V., Novartis Neva LLC, Novartis New Zealand Ltd, Novartis Norge AS, Novartis Ophthalmics AG, Novartis Optogenetics Research Inc., Novartis Overseas Investments AG, Novartis Pharma (Logistics) Inc., Novartis Pharma (Pakistan) Limited, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Pharma B.V. , Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma GmbH, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma LLC, Novartis Pharma Maroc SA, Novartis Pharma NV, Novartis Pharma Produktions GmbH, Novartis Pharma S.A.E., Novartis Pharma S.A.S., Novartis Pharma Schweiz AG, Novartis Pharma Schweizerhalle AG, Novartis Pharma Services AG, Novartis Pharma Services Romania S.R.L., Novartis Pharma Stein AG, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Limited, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited, Novartis Poland Sp. z o.o., Novartis Portugal S.G.P.S. Lda., Novartis Ringaskiddy Limited, Novartis Saglik Gida ve Tarim Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S, Novartis Saudi Ltd., Novartis Securities Investment Ltd, Novartis Services Inc., Novartis Slovakia s.r.o., Novartis South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Novartis Sverige AB, Novartis UK Limited, Novartis US Foundation, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Inc, Novartis Vietnam Company Limited, Novartis de Colombia S.A., Novartis de Venezuela S.A., Novartis s.r.o., Oriel Therapeutics Inc., PT. Novartis Indonesia, Protez Pharmaceuticals, Pte Ltd, Research Inc, Salutas Pharma GmbH, Sandoz A/S, Sandoz AG, Sandoz B.V., Sandoz Canada Inc., Sandoz Egypt Pharma S.A.E., Sandoz Farmaceutica S.A., Sandoz Farmaceutica Lda., Sandoz GmbH, Sandoz Hungary Limited Liability Company, Sandoz Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Sandoz Inc, Sandoz Industrial Products S.A, Sandoz International GmbH, Sandoz K.K., Sandoz Limited, Sandoz Manufacturing Inc., Sandoz NV, Sandoz Pharma K.K, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals AG, Sandoz Pharmaceuticals d.d., Sandoz Philippines Corporation, Sandoz Polska Sp. z o.o. , Sandoz Private Limited, Sandoz Pty Ltd, Sandoz S.A. de C.V, Sandoz S.A.S., Sandoz S.R.L., Sandoz S.p.A., Sandoz South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Sandoz Ukraine LLC, Sandoz d.o.o. farmaceutska industrija, Sandoz do Brasil Industria Farmaceutica Ltda, Sandoz s.r.o., Selexys Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Shanghai Novartis Trading Ltd., Societe par actions SANDOZ, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, The Medicines Company, The Medicines Company, Triangle International Reinsurance Limited, Trinity River Insurance Co Ltd, Vedere Bio, Vedere Bio ll, Xiidra, Ziarco, and Ziarco Group Limited. Read More Capital One Financial Corporation was founded in 1988 with the goal of revolutionizing the credit card industry. The companys ground-breaking services were data-driven, opened the doors of credit to millions of people, and today Capital One is one of the worlds largest banks. The companys commitment to connecting people with responsible credit helped to rank it 10th in the US in regard to total assets and 72nd globally. The company has nearly $400 billion in assets in late 2022 and operated a network of subsidiary institutions including Capital One bank. Capital One Financial Corporation is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and operates a network of branches and offices throughout the US, Canada, and the UK. Capital One Financial Corporation is the holding company for Capital One Bank (USA), National Association; and Capital One, National Association, which provides various financial products and services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Capital One Financial Corporation operates in three segments: Credit Card, Consumer Banking, and Commercial Banking. The Credit Card segment operates a wide range of revolving consumer credit cards while the Consumer Banking segment offers a range of traditional banking and investment products including auto and home loans, savings, and certificates of deposit. The Commercial segment offers business accounts, financing, commercial and multifamily real estate, and commercial and industrial loans. In the US, the company serves its clients through digital channels, branches, cafes, and other distribution channels located in New York, Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and California. Digital services include online accounts, account services, loan applications, and investments. Among the many features of banking with Capital One are fee-free checking accounts, cloud-based financial tracking services, and Capital One Cafes. The company operates more than 40 cafes across the US where anyone, not just account holders, can get a coffee or snack as well as improve their financial education. The cafes are equipped with ample public space, nooks for private work, and even event space for meetings. Capital One continues to advance the digital financial industry to this day. The company was among the first to move its operations to the cloud, doing so in 2012, and it is now developing machine learning, open source, and cloud technology applications to help detect and prevent fraud, secure accounts, and improve banking services. Capital One is committed to aiding the worlds fight against climate change. To that end, it is pursuing several avenues that include influencing its value chain, fostering a sustainable office culture that is in sync with its surroundings, promoting and financing sustainable energy projects, and transparency in regard to its climate goals. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. provides alternative asset management services. Its renewable power and transition business includes the ownership, operation, and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy transition power generating assets. The company's infrastructure business engages in the ownership, operation, and development of utilities, transport, midstream, data and sustainable resource assets. In addition, its private equity business offers business, infrastructure, and industrials services; and real estate business, which includes core investments, and transitional and development investments. Further, the company engages in the residential development business including homebuilding, and condominium and land development. The company was incorporated in 2022 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The following companies are subsidiares of Newmont: AC40689 Limited, Administradora de Negocios Mineros S.A. de C.V., Australian Capital Territory, Battle Mountain Resources Inc., Cayman Pampas Ltd., Con Exploration Ltd., Datawave Sciences Inc., Dawn Mining Company LLC, ELLC Grazing Membership LLC, EMH (BVI) Inc., Elko Land and Livestock Company, Empresa Minera Maria SRL, Fronteer Development (USA) LLC, Fronteer Development LLC, Fronteer Royalty LLC, GCGC LLC, GMK Investments Pty Ltd, Galore Creek Mining Corporation, Galore Creek Partnership, Glamis Rand Mining Company, Gold S.p.A., Goldcorp (Barbados) Inc., Goldcorp America Holdings Inc., Goldcorp Aureus Inc., Goldcorp Aurum Argentum Inc., Goldcorp Canada Ltd., Goldcorp Capital Corporation, Goldcorp Exeter Ltd., Goldcorp Faja de Plata S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp General Holdings Ltd., Goldcorp Global Services Inc., Goldcorp Holdings Europe B.V., Goldcorp Holdings GmbH, Goldcorp Inc., Goldcorp Insurance Company Inc., Goldcorp Internacional S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp Kaminak Ltd., Goldcorp Latin America Finance Limited, Goldcorp MC Holding S.p.A., Goldcorp Penasquito S.A. de C.V., Goldcorp Porcupine Nominee Ltd., Goldcorp Red Lake Nominee Ltd., Goldcorp Stratum Inc., Goldcorp Tesoro Inc., Goldcorp Trading GmbH, Goldcorp USA Holdings Ltd., Goldcorp USA Inc., Goldcorp USA Services Inc., Goldfields Power Pty Ltd, Hemlo Gold Mines (Ghana) Limited, Holdco S.p.A., Honduras Holdings Ltd., Hospah Holdings Company, Idarado Mining Company, International Mineral Finance S.AR.L., MMC Acquisition Limited, Mexicana Resources Inc., Minera Alumbrera Ltd., Minera BMG, Minera Choluteca S.A. de C.V., Minera Faja de Plata S.A. de C.V., Minera Los Tapados S.A., Minera Newmont (Chile) Limitada, Minera Penasquito S.A. de C.V., Minera Yanacocha S.R.L., Miramar Gold Corporation, Miramar HBG Inc., Miramar Northern Mining Ltd., Montana Exploradora de Guatemala S.A. de C.V., Moydow Limited, Musto Explorations (Bermuda) Ltd., N.I. Limited, NP Kalgoorlie Pty Ltd, NVL (USA) Limited, NVL Haiti Limited S.A., NVL PNG Limited, NVL Solomon Islands Limited, Nevada Eagle Resources LLC, Nevada Gold Mines LLC, New Verde Mines LLC, Newmont (Guyana) Incorporated, Newmont AP Power Pty Ltd, Newmont Australia Investment Limited, Newmont Boddington Pty Ltd, Newmont Bolivia Limited, Newmont CC&V Mining Corporation, Newmont Canada Corporation, Newmont Canada Holdings ULC, Newmont Capital Limited, Newmont Capital Pty Ltd, Newmont Colombia S.A.S., Newmont Euronimba B.V., Newmont FH B.V., Newmont GTR LLC, Newmont Galore Creek Holdings Corporation, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Newmont Gold Company, Newmont Gold Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Australia Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Boddington Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Exploration Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Integrated Services Inc., Newmont Goldcorp Red Lake Holdings Ltd., Newmont Goldcorp Services Pty Ltd, Newmont Goldcorp Tanami Pty Ltd, Newmont Golden Ridge Limited, Newmont Holdings ULC, Newmont Indonesia Investment Limited, Newmont Indonesia LLC, Newmont International Exploration Pty Ltd, Newmont International Group BV, Newmont International Services Limited, Newmont Investment Holdings LLC, Newmont Landco Pty Ltd, Newmont Latin America Limited, Newmont McCoy Cove Limited, Newmont Mineral Holdings B.V., Newmont Mines Limited, Newmont Mining Finance Pty Ltd, Newmont Mining Holdings Pty Ltd, Newmont NGL Holdings Pty Ltd, Newmont Nevada Energy Investment LLC, Newmont North America Exploration Limited, Newmont Nusa Tenggara Holdings B.V., Newmont Overseas Exploration Limited, Newmont Pacific Energy Pty Ltd, Newmont Peru Limited, Newmont Power Pty Ltd, Newmont Realty Company, Newmont Second Capital Corporation, Newmont Suriname LLC, Newmont Technologies Limited, Newmont USA Limited, Newmont Ventures Limited, Newmont Woodcutters Pty Ltd, Newmont Yandal Operations Pty Ltd, Newmont de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Normandy Company (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Normandy Overseas Holding Company Sdn Bhd, Nusa Tenggara Partnership B.V., Orcana Resources Inc., Oroplata S.A., PT Newmont Minahasa Raya, Pequop Exploration LLC, Peridot S.A., Pittston Nevada Gold Company Ltd., Pueblo Viejo Dominicana Corporation, Red Lake Gold Mine Services Ltd., Resurrection Mining Company, Saddleback Investments Pty Ltd, San Juan Basin Holdings Company, Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation, Sermineros de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Sermineros de Mexico S.A. de C.V. <0.0010% Sermineros Zacatecas S.A. de C.V., Sociedad Contractual Minera El Morro, Suriname Gold Project CV, Takari Mining SAS, Talapoosa Mining Inc., The LeClair Consolidated Mines Company, The Matoa Gold Mining Company, US Mineral Company Inc., Vol Mines Limited, and West Pequop Project LLC. Read More Agree Realty (NYSE:ADC) pays an annual dividend of $2.92 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 5.37%. ADC has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The company has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 170.76%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, ADC will have a dividend payout ratio of 71.57% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for ADC. Zymeworks Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes biotherapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The company's lead product candidates include Zanidatamab, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) that is in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of biliary tract, gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas, breast, colorectal, and endometrial cancers; and zanidatamab zovodotin, a HER2 -targeted antibody-drug conjugate that is in Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of advanced or metastatic HER2-expressing tumors. It also develops a pipeline of preclinical product candidates and discovery-stage programs in oncology, including immuno-oncology agents and other therapeutic areas. The company has strategic partnerships and collaborations with BeiGene, Ltd.; Celgene Corporation; Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC; GlaxoSmithKline Intellectual Property Development Limited; Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.; Janssen Biotech, Inc.; LEO Pharma A/S; Iconic Therapeutics, Inc.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Research GmbH; and Atreca, Inc. Zymeworks Inc. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 20 states in the United States and the District of Columbia. In addition, the company is involved in the electricity generation, wholesale energy purchases and sales, commodity risk management, fuel production, and fuel logistics management activities. It serves approximately 3.5 million customers with a generation capacity of approximately 37,000 megawatts with a portfolio of natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. The company was formerly known as Vistra Energy Corp. and changed its name to Vistra Corp. in July 2020. Vistra Corp. was founded in 1882 and is based in Irving, Texas. Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. 1 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Douglas Elliman in the last year. There are currently 1 hold rating for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" DOUG shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in DOUG, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View DOUG analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks. The following companies are subsidiares of Pentair: ACP Pleatco Blocker Corp., APEL International LLC, Air Capital Filtration LLC, Aplex Industries Inc., Aquion, Aquion (Xi'an) Water Treatment Equipment Co. Ltd., Aquion Hong Kong Limited, Aquion Inc., Be the Change Labs Inc., Bylin Engineered Systems Inc, Century Mfg. Co., Clean Process Technologies, ClearWater Tech L.L.C., ETE Coliban Pty Limited, Enviro Water Solutions LLC, Erico Global, Everpure Japan Kabushiki Kaisha, Filter-Medic LLC, FilterDeal LLC, FilterSoft LLC, Fleck Controls Inc., Goyen Controls Co. Pty. Limited, Goyen Valve LLC, Greenspan Environmental Technology Pty Ltd, Guardian Filtration Products LLC, Haffmans B.V., Haffmans North America Inc., Hawley Group Canada Limited, Hypro EU Limited, Jung Pumpen GmbH, Ken's Beverage, Lincoln Automotive Company, MECAIR S.r.L., Manitowoc Ice, McNeil (Ohio) Corporation, Milperra Developments Pty Limited, Milton Acquisition ULC, Mobile Pool Builder Inc., Moraine Properties LLC, Nijhuis Pompen B.V., Nuheat, PES Pty Ltd, PFAM Inc., PTG Accessories Corp., Panthro Acquisition Co., Pelican Holding Corporation, Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems Inc., Pentair Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pentair Canada Inc., Pentair Clean Process Technologies India Private Limited, Pentair Commercial Services LLC, Pentair Denmark Holding ApS, Pentair Federal Pump LLC, Pentair Filtration Sales & Service Company LLC, Pentair Filtration Solutions LLC, Pentair Finance Group GmbH, Pentair Finance S.a.r.l., Pentair Finance Switzerland GmbH, Pentair Flow Control International Pty Limited, Pentair Flow Services AG, Pentair Flow Technologies LLC, Pentair Flow Technologies Pacific Pty Ltd, Pentair Flow Technologies de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Pentair France SARL, Pentair Germany GmbH, Pentair Global Holdings B.V., Pentair Global S.a.r.l., Pentair Group (Thailand) Limited, Pentair Holdings Inc., Pentair Holdings S.a.r.l., Pentair Housing Inc., Pentair Housing LP, Pentair Inc., Pentair International (UK) Ltd, Pentair International Holding S.a.r.l., Pentair International Sarl, Pentair Investments Switzerland GmbH, Pentair Ireland Limited, Pentair Janus Holding LLC, Pentair Janus Holdings, Pentair Kenya Limited, Pentair Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Pentair Management Company, Pentair Manufacturing Belgium BV, Pentair Manufacturing Italy S.r.L., Pentair Middle East FZE, Pentair Nanosoft US Holdings LLC, Pentair Netherlands Euro Finance B.V., Pentair Netherlands Finance B.V., Pentair Netherlands Holding B.V., Pentair Pacific Rim (Water) Limited, Pentair Pacific Rim Limited, Pentair Philippines Inc., Pentair Pleatco Acquisition LLC, Pentair Residential Filtration LLC, Pentair Sales LLC, Pentair Sudmo GmbH, Pentair Tamimi LLC, Pentair Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Pentair Transport Inc., Pentair UK Holdings Limited, Pentair US LLC 1, Pentair US LLC 2, Pentair US LP, Pentair Valves & Controls del Uruguay S.A., Pentair Water (Suzhou) Company Ltd., Pentair Water Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pentair Water Australia Pty Ltd, Pentair Water Belgium BV, Pentair Water Brazil LLC, Pentair Water France SAS, Pentair Water Group Inc., Pentair Water Holdings LLC, Pentair Water India Private Limited, Pentair Water Italy S.r.l., Pentair Water LLC, Pentair Water Latinamerica S.A., Pentair Water Operations Australia Pty Ltd, Pentair Water Polska Sp.zoo, Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc., Pentair Water Proces Technologie Holding B.V., Pentair Water Process Technology B.V., Pentair Water Purification Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Pentair Water Spain S.L., Pentair Water Treatment (OH) Company, Pentair Water Treatment Company, Pentair Water Treatment Private Limited, Pentair Water do Brasil Ltda., Pentair Water-Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Penwald Insurance Company, Pigeon Point Systems Inc., Pleatco, Pleatco Holdings LLC, Pleatco Intermediate Holdings LLC, Pleatco LLC, Pleatco Mexican Holding Company LLC, Pleatco Mexicana S. De R.L. De C.V., Plymouth Products Inc., Porous Media Corp., Procam Controls Inc., Rocean, Seneca Enterprises Co., Shupeco LLC, Sta-Rite Industries LLC, Sta-Rite de Mexico S.A. de C.V., TVS Filters Acquisition LLC, Tupelo Real Estate LLC, Tyco Flow Control, U.S. Milton Holdings Inc., Union Engineering (NingBo) Co. Ltd., Union Engineering A/S, Union Engineering Holding LLC, Union Engineering Latam Ltda, Union Engineering North America LLC, Urban Organics Pentair Group LLC, Urban Organics Schmidt Real Estate Group LLC, Urban Organics St. Paul LLC, Water Ingenuity Holdings Corp., Webster Electric Company LLC, X-Flow B.V., and delMAC Filters LLC. Read More Salesforce, Inc. is a cloud-based SaaS company founded by former Oracle exec Marc Benioff in 1999. Mr. Benioff founded the company with 3 partners who will remain active in management until nearly 2020. Larry Elison, a co-founder of Oracle, is a noteworthy early investor who helped propel the company to its success. The company is a leader in CRM or customer relationship management and is largely responsible for the proliferation of digitized CRM solutions that is ongoing today. The company was not immune to the DotCom bubble bursting and had to cut back its workforce and plans but the event is nothing but a blip on the radar now. Even then, the company could sustain a hyper-growth rate that saw revenue skyrocket from $0 in 1999 to over $100 million by the end of 2003. The company held its IPO in 2004 and raised $110 million. The hypergrowth continued until 2014 driven by the growing recognition among C-suite executives that digital CRM was the path to accelerated revenue and earnings growth. The company made multiple small acquisitions in the period leading up to 2014, but it was then that investment in other technology accelerated. Total spending in 2016 topped $5 billion and led to the acquisition of Slack in 2020. The company was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, instantly becoming the largest technology company in the index. The Slack acquisition came under some criticism due to the elevated cost the company paid. The track record of growth that includes sustained sequential growth through the end of 2022 put an end to the criticism. Today, Salesforce.com provides customer relationship management technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. It is the 1st cloud stock to reach $1 billion in revenue, hitting that target in 2009. It is the worlds largest enterprise-level software provider and the 61st-largest company by market cap. In regards to US businesses, it is ranked 136th on the Forbes Fortune 500 list for 2022 when revenue topped $7.7 billion. The company offers its services via the Customer 360 platform. The platform is designed to deliver connected experiences for a business's customers in a way that delivers sales. Revenue is generated in 2 channels that include Sales and Service. The Sales offering stores data, monitors leads and tracks traffic progression through the sales funnel. It can forecast and provide other analytics as well as deliver quotes, contracts and invoices. The Service segment allows companies to provide personalized services and support at scale. Scale is the fundamental quality that drives Salesfoce.coms success because it has been able to scale and aid its clients when they scale. Among Services many offerings is the ability to create apps with a drag-and-drop builder tool. This segment also includes Slack which permits easy communication among business associates. Salesforce.com Ventures is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Salesforce.com. It is in business to invest in start-up and early growth phase businesses and has invested more than $5 billion since 2009. Colliers International Group Inc. provides commercial real estate professional and investment management services to corporate and institutional clients in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers transaction brokerage services, including sales, leasing, and debt finance services, as well as landlord and tenant representation services; capital markets and investment services; and mortgage investment banking services. The company provides outsourcing and advisory services, such as corporate and workplace solutions; occupier; engineering and design, appraisal and valuation, and loan services; workplace strategy; property marketing; and research services. It also offers property management services comprising building operations and maintenance, facilities management, lease administration, property accounting and financial reporting, contract management and, construction management; and project management services, which include bid document review, construction monitoring and delivery management, contract administration and integrated cost control, development management, facility and engineering functionality, milestone and performance monitoring, quality assurance, risk management and strategic project consulting. In addition, the company provides investment management services that consists of asset management and investor advisory services. The company was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Atmos Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated natural gas distribution, and pipeline and storage businesses in the United States. It operates through two segments, Distribution, and Pipeline and Storage. The Distribution segment is involved in the regulated natural gas distribution and related sales operations in eight states. This segment distributes natural gas to approximately 3.3 million residential, commercial, public authority, and industrial customers. As of September 30, 2022, it owned 73,243 miles of underground distribution and transmission mains. The Pipeline and Storage segment engages in the pipeline and storage operations. This segment transports natural gas for third parties and manages five underground storage reservoirs in Texas; and provides ancillary services customary to the pipeline industry, including parking arrangements, lending, and inventory sales. As of September 30, 2022, it owned 5,652 miles of gas transmission lines. Atmos Energy Corporation was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February, 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.56. The real estate investment trust had revenue of $506.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $433.39 million. Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 41.53% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 20.69%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 18.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.91 EPS. Read the conference call transcript. iShares Global Energy ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global Energy Sector Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global Energy Sector Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the S&P Global 1200 Index, and measures the performance of companies that S&P deems to be part of the energy sector of the economy. Component companies include oil equipment and services, oil exploration and production, and oil refinery, oil storage and transportation, and coal and uranium mining companies. The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. Due to the use of representative sampling, the Fund may or may not hold all of the securities that are included in the Index. The Funds investment advisor is BlackRock Fund Advisors, which is indirectly owned by BlackRock, Inc. Procore Technologies, Inc. provides a cloud-based construction management platform and related software products in the United States and internationally. The company's platform enables owners, general and specialty contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on construction projects. It offers Preconstruction that facilitates collaboration between internal and external stakeholders during the planning, budgeting, estimating, bidding, and partner selection phase of a construction project; and Project Management, which enables real-time collaboration, information storage, design, BIM model clash detection, and regulation compliance for teams on the jobsite and in the back office. The company also provides workforce management that helps contractors to schedule, track, and forecast labor productivity, enhance time management, communication with workforces, and manage profitability on construction projects; and Financial Management, which provides customers with visibility into the financial health of their individual construction projects and portfolios, as well as facilitates untethered access to financial data, linking the field, and the office in real-time. It serves owners, general contractors, and specialty contractors operating in the commercial, residential, industrial, and infrastructure segments of the construction industry. The company allow users to access its products on computers, smartphones, and tablets through any web browser or from its mobile application available for iOS and Android platforms through its direct sales team. Procore Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Carpinteria, California. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 11. Kazakhstan and Turkiye announced the launch of new flights after a meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye Hakan Fidan, Trend reports. "The frequency of our flights has increased from 40 to 93. Flights on the routes Astana-Ankara and Almaty-Ankara have been opened. We are considering launching flights connecting other big cities as well. At present, we are considering the possibilities of establishing air links with Aktau and Shymkent", Murat Nurtleu said. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan has introduced an "open sky" regime for foreign air carriers on November 1, 2019. The regime considers improving freight transportation for air carriers in 11 airports in the country: Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Karaganda, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Taraz, Petropavlovsk, and Semey. At the beginning of 2023, the "open sky" regime was extended for 5 years. Transport infrastructure development is one of the key priorities of the Kazakh government. The government is actively working to boost its transport and logistics potential. Kazakhstans role as one of the key components of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also known as the Middle Corridor, requires the Central Asian nation to significantly improve transport infrastructure. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB) pays an annual dividend of $6.60 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.06%. AVB has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The company does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio is 100.46%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, AVB will have a dividend payout ratio of 59.30% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for AVB. Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors. It also offers various laminated, coated, and printed packaging structures that are produced from its CUK, CRB, and SBS, as well as other grades of paperboards that are purchased from third-party suppliers; designs and manufactures specialized packaging machines that package bottles and cans, and non-beverage consumer products; and installs its packaging machines at customer plants and provides support, service, and performance monitoring of the machines. The company markets its products primarily through sales offices and broker arrangements with third parties in the United States, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Graphic Packaging Holding Company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 12. Kazakhstan intends to intensify cooperation with countries that are opening new markets for Kazakh products, including China, Iran, and Afghanistan, Trend reports. The progress of work and steps taken in this direction were discussed by Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin with the heads of government agencies and national companies. The main emphasis was on cooperation with China. So, the recent trip of the Deputy Prime Minister to China opens up broad prospects for the creation of high-tech industries in Kazakhstan. Heads of Chenese companies, the world's largest leaders in the fields of metal processing, e-commerce, construction, the production of new materials and technologies, and the agro-industrial complex, showed interest in strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan. The meeting also discussed an action plan to bring trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Iran to $3 billion. The draft document contains 30 events focused on the development of infrastructure projects in the agro-industrial complex, transport and logistics, and oil and gas. The draft document is under consideration by the Iranian side. This Account has been suspended. An Irish man is attempting to set a new Guinness World Record travelling between the northernmost and southernmost points of Ireland using an unusual method of transport. Eamonn Keaveney's record attempt is currently underway as he makes his way from Mizen to Malin Head on a unicycle. He set off from Mizen Head in Cork earlier yesterday (September 10) with the hopes of reaching Malin Head in Donegal by September 15. He will travel through Macroom, Sixmilebridge, Claremorris, Bundoran, and Derry. Eamonn's endeavour aims to raise awareness and donations for the Simon Community, which helps homeless people all across the country. It's not the first time he has fundraised or attempted to set a record; he previously walked around Ireland barefoot and subsequently set the record for the Longest Barefoot Journey, and in 2018 he climbed the highest peaks in Ireland in 10 days (also barefoot). Eamonn is chronicling his journey on the Facebook page 'One Wheel, One Way' (click here), where updates on his progress are posted regularly. An Irish nurses group is calling on the HSE to tackle hospital overcrowding due to concern regarding the number of children on trolleys at emergency departments. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called on the HSE to convene an urgent meeting of the Emergency Department Taskforce to discuss solutions ahead of the difficult winter months. At time of publication, five hundred and twenty six patients, including 7 children, were admitted to hospital without a bed today (September 11). The rising number of children under the age of sixteen on trolleys "is becoming a matter of huge concern" for members, according to the INMO. INMO General Secretary, Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said, "Over 64 children have been on trolleys so far this month, with schools only back in earnest in the last week. Parents are sending their children to already overcrowded hospitals as a last resort as care options are not available in the community." Approximately 3,335 patients have been placed on trolleys, chairs or other "inappropriate bed spaces" so far in September, a situation the General Secretary called "perilous". She said, "It is unacceptable that we are seeing such high levels of overcrowding before the usual onslaught of winter viruses and respiratory illnesses." She continued: "As Co-Chair of the Emergency Department Taskforce, I am calling on the HSE to convene an urgent meeting of the Taskforce this week to discuss what measures are going to be taken on a week-by-week basis from now until the end of the year so we do not see a repeat of the trolley figures we saw earlier this year where all overcrowding records were broken. "The Minister for Health has indicated that he will attend the Taskforce. The HSE should not delay in getting all stakeholders around the table to come up with short, medium and long-term solutions to what is now a year-round crisis. "Nurses are once again finding themselves of having to apologise to patients and their families because of the state of hospital overcrowding. This is unacceptable. It is time for the health service and individual hospitals to be upfront with the public about the staffing and capacity shortfalls in our hospitals." University Hospital Limerick is by far the most overcrowded hospital nationwide today, with 115 patients waiting without beds. Fifty patients are waiting at Sligo University Hospital with 37 at University Hospital Galway. Just four hospitals nationwide are free from overcrowding today, including University Hospital Waterford, Beaumont, Connolly, and Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore. Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said he will reflect on issues raised by the Irish Farmers Association as the organisation stages a large protest outside the annual Fianna Fail think-in. More than a hundred farmers set up a picket and beeped tractor horns outside the Horse And Jockey hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary. Others held banners and flags during the IFA demonstration over a range of issues including frustration in relation to the EU cut in Irelands nitrates derogation limit and the plan to delay payments to farmers in 2023. The planned limit is to reduce to 220kg of organic nitrogen per hectare. Crowd gathering here now. pic.twitter.com/XEHcldItqb Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) September 11, 2023 The organisation also highlighted concerns with the design of the latest suckler scheme, issues in the sheep sector, and the destruction of tillage through the Common Agriculture Policy (Cap). Mr Martin and and Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue were heckled by farmers as they attempted to engage with IFA representatives outside the hotel. The Fianna Fail agriculture minister agreed to take a delegation from the IFA into a meeting with his party leader, Mr Martin. Mr McConalogue told the crowd: I engage with farmers all the time, I travel the country I visited every mart in the country. He added: We are doing our very best on all issues. IFA president Tim Cullinan agreed to the meeting but told the minister: Were at a point of no more negotiations until youre willing to put the real issues back on the table. Up and running in Horse and Jockey for the @fiannafailparty think in. @joemag talking to farmers about the issues that need to be addressed. pic.twitter.com/UogAdJppj6 Irish Farmers' Association (@IFAmedia) September 11, 2023 Mr Cullinan called on Mr Conalogue to get European Commission officials to visit Irish farms and consider the IFAs proposals for the sector. He said: Theres so many serious issues here. People have told me this morning they have been waiting for payments, that is a huge concern. And the other one, obviously, is the nitrates derogation. Remember where you are, here this morning, youre in the Golden Vale, the heart of farming in Ireland. By God, Im telling you, minister, were not going to lose the dairy industry, were not going to lose the beef industry or sheep industry or the tillage sector. After the meeting which caused a slight delay to the start of Fianna Fail event, Mr Martin described the talks as constructive. He said: We listened carefully to all of the opinions from people representing different aspects of farming. Mr Martin said the dairy sector will bear the brunt of the Commissions decision to reduce the derogation. There is a clear challenge in terms of water quality and obviously the big challenge will be leading into 2026, where we will be seeking a retention of the derogation at 220. An IFA spokesman said: We had a robust exchange with the Tanaiste. He agreed to reflect on the issues we raised. IFA President Tim Cullinan said there was still an opportunity to make a case for keeping the derogation at its current level to the European Commission in person. He said: Farmers are of the view that the derogation suits the Government agenda as it reduces cow numbers by the back door. Mr Cullinan said the Government has an ideology of reducing production. He said: They keep talking about schemes to support farmers, but most of it goes on compliance costs, with little or no money funding ending up with farm families. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are sacrificing farmers to stay in power. They need to stand up for farmers and rural Ireland. Mr Martin confirmed he would reflect on the meeting, adding: We will see what we can do to alleviate pressure on certain farmers. September 11, 2023 Owolabi Salis discusses the legal system as intricate and complex. It ensures order, justice, and protection for all. Knowing its details is essential to comprehend the strict laws that manage our lives. Several branches of law cross in the lawful structure. Criminal law takes care of offenses against the state or society. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or entities. Administrative law rules administrative agencies' actions. Constitutional law focuses on understanding and applying the Constitution. Understanding The Legal System To understand the lawful system, dive into its definition, purpose, key components, and importance in society. Unpacking the essentials of the proper structure gives you a comprehensive insight into how it operates and affects our lives. Pay attention to each sub-section's significance as we navigate this complex and vital aspect of our society. Definition And Purpose Of The Legal System The proper structure refers to a framework of laws and regulations that govern a society, ensuring order and justice. It sets rules, resolves conflicts, and maintains social harmony. Guidelines for behavior and consequences for wrongdoing are provided, upholding fairness and protecting individual rights. Various institutions, such as courts, legislatures, and law enforcement agencies, work together within the lawful structure. Courts interpret laws and adjudicate disputes, while legislatures create or amend laws based on societal needs. Law enforcement agencies investigate, apprehend, and maintain public safety. The lawful structure also allows individuals to seek redressal for grievances through due process. It sets forth fair trial procedures, evidence collection, and presenting arguments before an impartial judge or jury. This ensures justice and protects people from arbitrary actions by those in power. Key Components Of The Legal System Legislation is essential in the lawful structure, setting out the rules we must follow. It's made by bodies such as parliaments and congresses. It covers criminal offenses, contracts, property, and more. The judiciary is the guardian of the law. It has different levels of courts, from local to supreme. Judges make decisions based on existing statutes, and appellate courts review findings and create precedents. Law enforcement agencies, like the police, ensure laws are followed and the public is safe. They investigate crimes, arrest suspects, and get evidence. Proper professionals are essential, too. Lawyers provide advice and represent clients in court. Judges need lawyers to make persuasive arguments with appropriate procedures. Importance Of The Proper System In Society The lawful structure is essential to society that upholds justice and order. It provides a way to resolve disputes, enforce laws, and protect individual rights. Without it, chaos would be the norm. The lawful structure acts as a leader in ensuring social harmony. It sets the rules for how individuals and institutions can coexist peacefully by resolving conflicts fairly and unbiasedly. This means that everyone is treated equally under the law. The lawful structure also serves as a deterrent. Knowing wrongdoings' consequences discourages people from committing crimes, protecting innocent people, and advancing the community. Additionally, it safeguards fundamental rights and freedoms. It defends citizens from abuse of power by government entities or private individuals and organizations. This is done through constitutional provisions and statutes that protect freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and privacy. Unpacking The Essentials To better understand the essentials of the lawful structure, dive into the overview of the court structure, roles/responsibilities of legal professionals, lawful procedures/processes, and the importance of valid research/analysis. This comprehensive exploration uncovers the foundational knowledge needed to navigate and comprehend the intricate workings of the proper landscape. Overview Of The Court System The court structure is a complex, valid institution network ensuring justice is served. It has various levels, from local courts to the highest in the land. Each court has its jurisdiction and deals with particular cases. It's vital to upholding the rule of law and maintaining social order. It provides a fair and impartial platform for resolving disputes and enforcing regulations. Judges apply valid principles to decide guilt or innocence and hand down sentences. There are specialized courts, too. These include family courts, criminal courts, and civil courts. Family courts deal with divorce, child custody, and domestic abuse. Criminal courts handle crimes against individuals or society. Civil courts address disputes between people or organizations about money or property. Roles And Responsibilities Of Critical Legal Professionals Legal professionals are a vital part of our lawful structure. They uphold justice, ensure fairness at trials, and give expert advice. Lawyers act as advocates for their clients, speaking up in court. Judges interpret and use the law to make vital decisions that affect people's lives. Law enforcement officers enforce the law and keep the public safe. All of these professionals work together to make sure the justice structure works. Proper professionals use special skills and knowledge. Lawyers must know the law, study cases, and analyze documents. They give lawful advice, settle disputes between parties, and represent their clients. Judges must be unbiased and make judgments based on evidence. They interpret the law and apply it fairly for justice. Legal Procedures And Processes Legal procedures must be followed precisely. Guidelines provide a roadmap for lawyers and those involved. The process comprises stages: pleadings, discovery, trial, and appeals. These help to reach truth and justice. Pleadings let parties state their case. Discovery allows them to get evidence. The practice offers a chance to present arguments and assess witness statements. Appeals give a way to review a court's decision. Importance Of Legal Research And Analysis Legal research and analysis are excellent aids for lawyers and practitioners when making decisions. By researching and analyzing, professionals can gain an in-depth understanding of a case or lawful issue. Analysis is the next step. It means looking closely at the gathered information. This includes searching for patterns, inconsistencies, and gaps in the existing knowledge. Analyzing different perspectives and considering counterarguments or weaknesses can help strengthen the case. Challenges And Reforms In The Legal System To navigate the challenges and foster improvement in the proper system, delve into the sub-sections exploring common challenges faced, proposed reforms, and the impact of technology. Gain insights into the dynamic landscape of the valid realm, from addressing systemic issues to embracing technological advancements. Common Challenges Faced By The Legal System The valid structure has issues that need reforms for fair, efficient justice. Ensuring everyone has access to justice, reducing case backlogs, and tackling inequalities are all important. Empowering judicial institutions and improving valid education can help with these issues. Also, using technology to streamline court processes and be more transparent can make changes. Recently, there have been more calls for valid method reforms. One challenge is to use tech while still having due process. Digitalization can make things more accessible and cost-effective. But, it could also cause a digital divide and cybersecurity threats. That could stop equal access to justice. Proposed Reforms And Improvements The proper method needs reform. Many efforts are being made to tackle the issues that slow it down. Here are some proposed changes that could help: Include Tech: Technology advancements can boost the proper method, such as electronic filing, digital courtrooms, and online dispute resolution. Technology advancements can boost the proper method, such as electronic filing, digital courtrooms, and online dispute resolution. Specialized Courts: Establish courts for specific areas, like IP, cybercrimes, and commercial cases. This will bring quicker decisions with experts in the field. Legal Aid Reforms: Improve valid aid by giving more funds pro bono services and simplifying the application process. Improve valid aid by giving more funds pro bono services and simplifying the application process. Simplify Procedures: Make legislation more explicit, document formats standardized, and better case management systems. Alternative dispute resolution methods, like mediation and arbitration, are also growing. This can solve disputes outside the court method and reduce its load. Reforming the proper method needs collaboration between stakeholders - lawmakers, judges, lawyers, and tech experts. By working together, the issues can be overcome. Impact Of Technology On The Valid System Tech has revolutionized the valid method. It impacts every part - from case mgmt to courtroom processes. Tech has increased efficiency and accuracy by automating mundane tasks and improving data analysis. Digital platforms have made valid info accessible, empowering individuals to navigate it. Advancements in AI and machine learning have significantly impacted the valid sector. These technologies analyze data fast, helping lawyers with research, predicting outcomes, and creating strategies. Plus, with the rise of remote work, tech enables communication and collaboration between valid professionals, regardless of location. Another unique application of tech in law is VR and AR tools. These immersive technologies recreate crime scenes and visualize info during court proceedings. Presenting evidence this way enhances comprehension and increases the chance of fair trials. [September 11, 2023] EdgeConneX Enters the Malaysia Market with Plans for Several Data Centers in Three Markets Offering Nearly 300 MWs of Capacity Tweet With data centers planned in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Bukit Jalil, and Cyberjaya, the new facilities will offer customers highly proximate, scalable, and high-power designs to meet any requirement HERNDON, Va., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EdgeConneX, the pioneer in global Hyperlocal to Hyperscale Data Center Solutions announces its entrance into the Malaysian market with plans to build highly proximate and high-power data centers that will deliver nearly 300 MWs of capacity combined. Located in critical locations across Malaysia, the new EdgeConneX data centers in Kuala Lumpur's Central Business District, Bukit Jalil, and Cyberjaya offer customers the ability to design highly customized configurations to meet any requirement. As one of Asia's strongest economies, Malaysia is set to continue its rise with significant infrastructure and information technology investments, partly driven by increased digitalization and the adoption of advanced technologies such as cloud computing and AI. Ths high-tech growth is aided by the country's dense network connectivity, available and scale power, multiple port cities, and connections to 22 submarine cables that provide low-latency access to other countries across the globe. EdgeConneX Managing Director for APAC, Kelvin Fong, notes, "The high demand for scalable, high-capacity infrastructure across the Asia Pacific region fuels EdgeConneX expansion into Malaysia. Our Malaysian data center footprint will contribute to the nation's digital economy, vibrant tech ecosystem, and passion for progress, fostering increased innovation and collaborative partnerships. We look forward to continued and shared success in the region and supporting our customer's capacity expansions into Malaysia." Structure Research's Head of Research, Jabez Tan, noted, "The Malaysia market is attractive because of its proximity to the Singapore connectivity ecosystem. In addition, the ability to access the densely aggregated set of submarine cables will allow companies across Malaysia to connect to the rest of the APAC region from a single location. Being in such proximity eliminates performance degradation for a large cross-section of the workloads today." Malaysia Data Center Details: Kuala Lumpur Central Business District (CBD): Marked by an excellent central location, the data center will be built within the downtown business district of Malaysia's modern capital, Kuala Lumpur . Offering 19 MW IT Load capacity, this facility will provide customers ample opportunity for customized, build-to-suit configurations and highly proximate, low latency solutions to the capital city. Marked by an excellent central location, the data center will be built within the downtown business district of modern capital, . Offering 19 MW IT Load capacity, this facility will provide customers ample opportunity for customized, build-to-suit configurations and highly proximate, low latency solutions to the capital city. Bukit Jalil: As a prosperous suburb of greater Kuala Lumpur , Bukit Jalil is home to several educational, technological, and medical institutions. With nearly 70 MWs IT Load capacity, this EdgeConneX site is a greenfield build in the MRANTI technology park, offering ample power to address hyperscale and large-scale cloud or AI deployments. As a prosperous suburb of greater , Bukit Jalil is home to several educational, technological, and medical institutions. With nearly 70 MWs IT Load capacity, this EdgeConneX site is a greenfield build in the MRANTI technology park, offering ample power to address hyperscale and large-scale cloud or AI deployments. Cyberjaya: Located in a region focused on research and development in knowledge-based industries, Cyberjaya is home to several high-tech science parks near Malaysia's government seat. The EdgeConneX data center campus will have over 200 MWs of capacity and consist of nine buildings spread over 30 acres, providing the scalable capacity and power to meet a whole array of customer requirements in the future. For more information, please visit www.edgeconnex.com. Follow EdgeConneX latest news and developments: EdgeConneX PR & News: https://www.edgeconnex.com/company/news-and-pr/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/edgeconnex EdgeConneX YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeljpfTV9c-dEfKFl2bVVSg About EdgeConneX Backed by EQT Infrastructure, part of the global investment organization EQT, EdgeConneX provides a full range of sustainable data center solutions worldwide. We work closely with our customers to offer choices in location, scale, and type of facility, from Hyperlocal to Hyperscale. EdgeConneX is a global leader in anytime, anywhere, and any scale data center services for a diverse portfolio of industries, including Content, Cloud, Networks, Gaming, Automotive, SaaS, IoT, HPC, Security, and more. With a mission predicated on taking care of our customers, our people, and our planet, EdgeConneX strives to Empower Your Edge. For more information, please visit edgeconnex.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/edgeconnex-enters-the-malaysia-market-with-plans-for-several-data-centers-in-three-markets-offering-nearly-300-mws-of-capacity-301922812.html SOURCE EdgeConneX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Study Validates Lunit AI as a Game-Changer, Poised to Replace One Human Reader in Breast Cancer Screening Tweet - Lunit's collaborative study supports AI as a viable alternative to one human reader in Europe's double reading system - published in The Lancet Digital Health SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunit (KRX:328130.KQ), a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for cancer diagnostics and therapeutics, is spearheading a transformative change in breast cancer screening, bolstered by groundbreaking findings from a prospective study led by Dr. Fredrik Strand at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, involving over 50,000 women. Utilizing Lunit INSIGHT MMG, an FDA-cleared and CE-marked AI solution for mammography analysis, this research backs AI's potential to replace one human reader under Europe's double reading guideline and underscores its capacity to alleviate the strain on radiologists. "While double readings by two radiologists have been established as the common practice across Europe and Australia, many countries are experiencing great difficulties due to the shortage of radiologists," explained Dr. Strand, breast radiologist and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet. "This prospective study lays the groundwork for the widespread adoption of AI in breast cancer screening by filling the role of one radiologist, which in turn can reduce medical costs and lead to healthcare reimbursement." Conducted from April 1, 2021, to June 9, 2022, this study meticulously analyzed 55,581 breast cancer screening cases in real-world clinical settings. The analysis introduced three independent readers: Radiologist 1, Radiologist 2, and Lunit INSIGHT MMG, nabling meticulous comparisons. The outcomes were transformative: Lunit INSIGHT MMG, collaborating with a single radiologist, exhibited a superior Cancer Detection Rate (CDR) of 4.3 per 1000, surpassing the traditional two-radiologist approach with a CDR of 4.1 per 1000. The study also showed a significant decline in recall rates (RR) with AI, both in collaboration with one radiologist (RR 2.8, 4.44% decrease) and when operating independently (RR 1.55, 47.1% decrease), compared to the double reading system (RR 2.93). Building upon these findings, Lunit forged a pioneering partnership with Capio S:t Goran Hospital, Sweden's largest private hospital and a part of the Ramsay Sante group, earlier this year. Based on the contract, Lunit has integrated Lunit INSIGHT MMG, marking the first-ever actual implementation where AI replaces one of the two human readers in breast cancer screening. The hospital currently employs Lunit INSIGHT MMG to analyze more than 180,000 mammograms annually, significantly contributing to Sweden's national breast screening program. "This innovative step to becoming the world's first breast center using AI as an independent reader, allows radiologists to be less burdened from the excessive amount of reading, enabling them to focus on more advanced diagnostics and ensuring shorter waiting times for patients," said Dr. Karin Dembrower, Senior Physician of Capio S:t Goran Hospital Mammography Clinic. "In the short term, we anticipate detecting more cancers; in the long term, we envision a decrease in interval cancers and the detection of smaller tumors. We are excited to conduct further studies to explore these possibilities." Recently published in The Lancet Digital Health, study results and the implementation story will also be presented at the forthcoming EUSOBI 2023 (European Society of Breast Imaging 2023) conference in Valencia, Spain, from September 28 to September 30. "This study signifies a milestone in healthcare, ushering in an era where AI seamlessly complements and elevates the standards of breast cancer screening. AI is redefining cancer screening standards," said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. "Our collaboration with Capio S:t Goran Hospital is pivotal in addressing the radiologist shortage and revolutionizing mammography analysis. It reinforces Lunit's dedication to forming similar alliances with European medical institutions to enhance patient experiences and optimize operational efficiency." About Lunit Lunit is a deep learning-based medical AI company on a mission to conquer cancer. Our focus is on developing AI solutions for precision diagnostics and therapeutics, ensuring the right diagnosis, and treatment, at the right cost for each patient. Lunit is devoted to developing advanced medical image analytics and AI-based biomarkers via cutting-edge technology. Founded in 2013, Lunit has been acknowledged around the world for its advanced, state-of-the-art technology and its application in medical images. Its technology has been recognized at international AI competitions, surpassing giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. As a medical AI company grounded on clinical evidence, the company's findings are presented in major peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Network Open, and global conferences, including ASCO and AACR. After receiving FDA clearance and the CE Mark, our flagship Lunit INSIGHT suite is clinically used in approximately 2,000+ hospitals and medical institutions across 40+ countries. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, with offices and representatives worldwide. For more information, please visit lunit.io View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-validates-lunit-ai-as-a-game-changer-poised-to-replace-one-human-reader-in-breast-cancer-screening-301923259.html SOURCE Lunit [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 10, 2023] United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Joint National Security Mission Atlas V delivers high priority mission directly to Geosynchronous Orbit CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla., Sept. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) lifted off on Sept.10 at 8:47 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. To date, ULA has launched 157 times with 100 percent mission success. "We're grateful for the opportunity to continue to build on a legacy of outstanding teamwork and collaboration with our national security partners," said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. "We specialize in complex high-energy orbits and the team is proud to have launched this mission direct to geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) to meet our nation's space protection needs." SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 was ULA's 98th launch for national security and was the final NRO launch aboard an Atlas V rocket as ULA transitions future missions to the next generation Vulcan rocket that will offer unprecedented flexibility in a single system with streamlined operations and greater affordability. ULA's next launch is the Amazon Project Kuiper Protoflight mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. About United Launch Alliance Leveraging a legacy of 100 percent mission success launching more than 155 missions to explore, protect and enhance our world, ULA is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider with world-leading reliability, schedule confidence, and mission optimization. We deliver value unmatched by any launch services company in the industry, a tireless drive to improve, and commitment to the extraordinary. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com and join the conversation on social media @ulalaunch. Photos available on the ULA Flickr page. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-joint-national-security-mission-301922719.html SOURCE United Launch Alliance [September 10, 2023] A new meta? $BLUI & Gramps Take the Memecoin Community by Storm! Tweet LONDON, UK , Sept. 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On a seemingly ordinary Thursday, 6th September, the memecoin community was introduced to a new concept. ReMeLife, a project deeply rooted in social impact, did the unexpected. Spearheaded by its founder Simon Hooper, now affectionately known in the memecoin space as "GRAMPS", ReMeLife launched $BLUI, a meme token with a twist. With no flashy marketing campaigns, no tax, and a fair launch strategy, $BLUI, with its quirky branding and strange mascot quietly went live at 09:30 BST. Crypto enthusiasts, always on the lookout for the next big thing on UniSwap, stumbled upon this new token. Intrigued by the unique memecoin and its 67 year old, mission-driven founder, word spread rapidly. In a whirlwind 8 hours, $BLUI skyrocketed from a modest 10k market cap to an astounding $3m on its launch day! Dominating the number 1 spot on 'Dex Tools' with impressive volume, GRAMPS and $BLUI were the talk of the town, proving that even in the volatile world of crypto, genuine intent and a mission for social good can create waves. The transparent launch strategy has gained some attention, some are calling this a new meta with their community growing quickly, now standing at over 3,000 supporters that have found the doxxed founder and social good mission to be a refreshing narrative in a space filled with mistrust. So, let's dive deeper into what we have found in the world of $BLUI and discover the vision behind this sensational launch. BLUI's Mission: From Babazadeh to Earth and supporting ReMeLife BLUI's origins are as intriguing as its mission. The tokens mascot Blui claims to have come from the planet Babazadeh on a mission to bring Earth to its senses and provide tools for achieving equality. BLUI believes that Earth is on the verge of a significant transformation but needs a little help to realize its full potential. The first acton on BLUI's agenda is to support ReMeLife, a social impact project. ReMeLife is the new-look for a company that was once called RemindMeCare, a suite of care apps active in a number of UK care homes, these apps included personal profiles, trivia, facetime and much more. With the advent of blockchain, the founder Simon(Gramps!) realized that it was now possible for interactions within the apps to provide crypto-rewards. Which means that ReMeLife can effect change in the community that it serves, incentivising carers and families to provide better interaction, thus, care-to-earn. BLUI Token: The Meme with a Purpose BLUI isn't just another meme coin; it's a Utility Club Token with a real social purpose. While BLUI offers all the excitement and volatility of a meme token, it also serves a greater cause. Holding BLUI tokens gives users access to discounted pre-sale purchases of $REME, the native utility token of ReMeLife. REME tokens are at the heart of the ReMeLife ecosystem, enabling users to earn rewards for care actions, monetize personal networks, and participate in DeFi staking opportunities. The BLUI token will play a vital role in raising both community and funds for the Phase 2 build, and completion of ReMeLife. Granting $BLUI holders preferential access to trade $BLUI for $REME tokens at a discount. BLUI NFT Collection and VIP Club To celebrate its mission and introduce its friends from Babazadeh, BLUI is launching the BLUI NFT Collection. These NFTs will eventually offer identity verification and online security but also serve as a fun incentive for holders to meet the creatures of Babazadeh and own these new creatures as NFTs. Furthermore, BLUI token holders automatically gain access to the Blui VIP Club, which comes with privileges such as first choices of NFTs, discounted REME purchases, airdrops, and exclusive merchandise offers. It's a club for those who believe in the power of crypto to drive social progress. Tokenomics and Distribution Name: BLUI Coin Symbol: BLUI Total Supply: 1 Quadrillion BLUI Exchange Launch: Uniswap V2 Initial Distribution: 70% allocated to the liquidity pool on Uniswap for purchasers, members, and investors 30% allocated to Treasury for Team and Project use (with 10% of the Treasury locked for charities) As BLUI continues on its journey, they invite everyone, from crypto-veterans to newcomers, to join in its mission to bring equality and inclusivity to the Web3 era. Whether you're a meme enthusiast or a blockchain believer, BLUI welcomes you to a journey of positive social impact. For more information and to dig deeper into ReMeLife, visit the BLUI project website and follow BLUI on Twitter and join the Telegram community. Disclaimer Meme coins are speculative and risky investments and may experience high volatility, market manipulation, and scams. Potential investors are advised to exercise caution and conduct thorough research before participating in the BLUI token ecosystem. This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Simon Hooper Blui Support at blui.io [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The unwritten agreement between Iran and the US regarding the exchange of prisoners and the unblocking of Iran's frozen assets abroad, as well as Iran's sale of a certain level of crude oil, is not in Iran's long-term interests, said Iranian analyst Kurush Ahmadi, Trend reports. Of course, having such an unwritten agreement is better than nothing for Iran in the current situation. Iran needs to define a long-term strategy for its nuclear program, which has caused many problems, and reach a lasting agreement in this direction, he noted. Ahmadi also said that this informal deal wont solve the global challenges, the many hurdles to the countrys economic growth, and the future uncertainty and mistrust. He added that this deal will likely last until at least November 2024 (reference to US presidential election, which takes place early November). According to Iranian analysts, Iran needs to have a solid and lasting plan to fully improve its ties with the world. Otherwise, it will have no choice but to face one crisis after another. Ahmadi stressed that Irans economic ties with other countries are hampered by banking sanctions, including SWIFT, and other limits on its oil sales. Iran has no choice but to purchase substandard products and comply with their rules from its oil clients. In August 2023, an indirect agreement was reached between Iran and the United States with the mediation of Qatar. Based on the agreement, five US citizens detained in Iran were released. Iran's frozen assets in abroad have been released. On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany), and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. In discussions, Iran is mainly trying to achieve the abolition of sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, the removal of its funds frozen abroad, and the abolition of the restriction on the export of crude oil. In return, the US and Western countries want Iran not to acquire an atomic bomb, to keep its nuclear program under control, and to reduce the level of uranium enrichment. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur [September 10, 2023] CJ Japan to Showcase New Food and Nutrition Solutions at Hi Japan 2023 Tweet The food and nutrition solution company demonstrates fermentation-based organic ingredient solutions TOKYO, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CJ Japan, the Japanese business headquarters of the global leading fermentation-based ingredients and solutions manufacturer CJ Food & Nutrition Tech (CJ FNT), will showcase its new innovative technologies and products at Hi Japan 2023: Annual health ingredients exhibition in Tokyo, Japan. The event will take place in Tokyo Bigsight Exhibition Center in October 4-6. At booth #1-334, CJ Japan will showcase CJ FNT's differentiated "Nrich" brand products and technologies through applications to various food samples in two categories: Premium Taste Solutions and Premium Nutrition Solutions. Through these application zones, CJ Japan plans to demonstrate the value it delivers to customers as a total solution provider in the global food & nutrition markets. In the Premium Taste Solutions zone, CJ Japan will feature its market-leading taste solutions including TateNrich. Visitors can also explore other natural replacement solutions for sodium reduction, phosphate replacement and plant-based taste in this zone. And the company will also present newly launched nutrition solution brands such as WellNrich and ActiveNrich in the form of gummy supplements in the Premium Natural Nutrition Solutions zone. These gummies are made of organic mineral and antioxidant ingredient solutions. This zone also exhibits the plant based, food-grade amino acid brand AMINATURE. "We believe Hi Japan 2023 will be a great platform for industry professionals to learn about our unique brand values and technologies," said Lance Choi, Head of CJ FNT. "To be at the forefront of innovation and become the No. 1 global solution provider in the food & nutrition industries, CJ FNT will continue to make strategic investments in R&D in new areas, including alternative and cultured protein." CJ FNT continues to introduce next-generation ingredients with its strong brand and product portfolios ranging from taste (TasteNrich, and FlavorNrich) to nutrition solutions (WellNrich, ActiveNrich, and AMINATURE). The company continues to discover the optimal natural solutions that can replace additives used to enhance the taste, aroma, texture, and nutrition of food while also embodying the principles of clean label, safety, non-GMO, and sustainability. About CJ Food & Nutrition Tech (CJ FNT) CJ Food&Nutrition Tech (CJ FNT) is CJ CheilJedang's newly established business unit tasked with leading innovations and enhancing wellness in the food and nutritional ingredient market by synergizing CJ's top-notch food and bio business capabilities. With premium brands for food & nutrition ingredient solutions, CJ FNT leads the trends for natural and plant-based products with more than 200 R&D experts. It understands customer needs for increased efficiency and meeting sustainability market trends. Pursuing to grow with clients, partner companies and the health community, CJ FNT envisions becoming the "global total solution provider" enabling healthier and sustainable lifestyle based on cutting edge R&D infrastructure. For more information, visit www.cjfnt.net About CJ Japan CJ Japan is the Japanese headquarters of CJ Food & Nutrition Tech. It is located in Tokyo and staffed with food and nutrition experts. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cj-japan-to-showcase-new-food-and-nutrition-solutions-at-hi-japan-2023-301917251.html SOURCE CJ Food&Nutrition Tech [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 10, 2023] Toyota Boshoku ASIA has signed a contract with Comarch for the implementation of e-invoicing in Thailand Tweet BANGKOK, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Comarch will support Toyota Boshoku Asia to set up an e-invoicing solution in preparing, delivering and storing digital documents, with digital signature for tax invoice and receipt complying with Thailand's Revenue Department conditions and requirements. "We are delighted that Toyota Boshoku Asia has chosen Comarch as its e-invoicing service provider in Thailand, which allows us to expand our business in Asia and sectors in which Comarch operate. We strongly believe that our international experience in e-invoicing for over 20 years, in combination with our strong focus on the quality of the data exchange, will make us a successful long-term partner" says Jakub Frankiewicz, Consulting Director at Comarch "We selected Comarch as the service provider because of their extensive expertise in data exchange solutions and their overall competence in e-invoicing compliance, combined with the opportunity to accomplish all our business requirements flexibly" says Pathaveeroje Chaemchaeng, IT Manager at oyota Boshoku Asia "We are pleased and honored to strengthen our partnership with Toyota Boshoku Asia. This partnership will enable Comarch to apply our advanced e-invoicing expertise and further expand our customer base in the ASIA region. Customers like these contribute to the strength of our success and growth" says Vince Cirillo, Business Solution Manager at Comarch About Toyota Boshoku Toyota Boshoku Group, one of the world's premium interior systems suppliers and filter manufacturers, develops and produces interior components and unit components for the automotive industry. The main office of Toyota Boshoku Corporation is based in Kariya City, Japan. The wholly owned subsidiary, Toyota Boshoku Asia (TBAS), and its affiliates employ over 11,000 team members in about 20 locations throughout Thailand, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, Laos and Pakistan. TBAS group is a premier manufacturer of automotive interior systems, which include seats, door trims, headliners, substrate, and carpet in addition to air and oil filters for a variety of customers. For more information about the seamless transition to e-invoicing, register for our webinar. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/toyota-boshoku-asia-has-signed-a-contract-with-comarch-for-the-implementation-of-e-invoicing-in-thailand-301922801.html SOURCE Comarch [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Seamless Data Pathways and Optimized Solar Tracking Delivered by Tightly Integrated Control Solution Tweet Innovative solar-thermal technology relies on Logix controllers and FactoryTalk View visualization software to deliver optimized heat generation, supply, and storage. BRUSSELS, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced that its seamlessly integrated hardware and software control solutions are proving pivotal to the success of a new form of carbon-free heat supply and storage. The solar-capture technology, developed by Danish Company Heliac A/S, uses steerable arrays of Fresnel lenses to concentrate incoming sunlight onto receivers placed behind each panel. The heat generated at each receiver raises the temperature of water flowing through the system by about 1 to 2C, and once the desired temperature is reached, the heat is delivered to where the end-user needs it. A typical system comprises 144 panels, with each panel assembly using an Allen-Bradley Micro800 PLC controlled dual-axis tracking system to dynamically follow the sun to help ensure optimized solar capture. All panels are interconnected via several kilometers of water pipes, while the Micro800 PLCs all feed into a single Allen-Bradley CompactLogix programmable automation controller (PAC), which in turn supplies the operational data for the FactoryTalk View display. "Innovative sustainability solutions come in all shapes and sizes, and not all of them require complex control solutions," explains Asa Arvidsson, regional vice-president, sales, North EMEA, at Rockwell Automation. "In Heliac's application the combination of our low- and mid-range controllers along with FactoryTalk View has delivered an ideal best-fit architecture for both control and operational data collection. We look forward to delivering further support as this new idea gains traction." "As well as carbon-free heat generation, our approach to solar energy capture goes one step further due to its use of less-polluting water, as opposed to more traditional oil-based systems," says Christian Del Mastro, commercial manager at Heliac A/S. "Our lead engineer's previous experience with Rockwell Automation hardware has been bolstered by support from the company's Danish distributor, Wexoe, resulting in a control solution that does exactly what we need, backed by the peace of mind that wider global support will be available as we look to grow our geographical user base." About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 28,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com. About Heliac A/S Founded in 2014, Heliac A/S develops and distributes high-efficiency thermal solutions to process industries worldwide. Its proven and patented technologies offer a truly automated and flexible high-temperature solar solution, which drastically reduces the costs and carbon footprint of thermal heating. Its solar fields require a minimum of space and are simple to install and decommission, without harm to natural surroundings. RockStore, its heat storage solution, is a viable game-changer set to release the full potential of solar thermal and power to heat. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2198796/Heliac_O7A2079.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1981317/Rockwell_Automation_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/seamless-data-pathways-and-optimized-solar-tracking-delivered-by-tightly-integrated-control-solution-301914902.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] New tech roles reinforce West Midlands' world-class innovation strengths ahead of global Birmingham Tech Week event Tweet Innovative Swiss digital can printing company, NOMOQ, announces plans to create 40 high-tech jobs at new Leamington Spa base. International tech businesses invited to attend Birmingham Tech Week 2023 the UK's largest regional tech festival. Dedicated "Global West Midlands" day to showcase region's tech sectors through a prestigious lineup of speakers, emerging tech demonstrations, and fringe events. BIRMINGHAM, England, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Switzerland-based digital can printing company, NOMOQ, is set to create 40 new jobs in Leamington Spa, ahead of a dedicated event to be hosted by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), as part of the official Birmingham Tech Week 2023 programme. The investment reinforces the region's world-class tech sector and innovation ecosystem, set to be showcased throughout "Global West Midlands: The Tech That Makes Tomorrow Work". "Global West Midlands" will take place on Wednesday 18th October at the Bond Studios, at the heart of Birmingham's Creative Quarter. The event will see Birmingham Tech Week pivot towards a global audience for the first time, as WMGC actively targets overseas firms looking to nurture new innovations in the UK. With existing offices in Switzerland and Germany, NOMOQ creates high-quality, fully recyclable digitally printed cans, offering low production costs and quick turnaround of creative designs. The business' new team includes appointments across senior management, machine operation, graphic design, logistics and administration. Its choice of Leamington Spa for its first-ever UK site will support the company's future growth plans and vision to become the UK's market leader. Throughout its "Global West Midlands" event, WMGC will demonstrate the unique strengths of the UK's fastest growing regional tech cluster, currently valued at 15.3bn. As well as being a UK leader in emerging tech, with the largest spread of emerging technologies, the West Midlands is a hotbed of specialist skills and was recently crowned the best-connected UK region by independent telecoms analyst, Umlaut. The event programme will consist of exprt panel discussions, engaging content and emerging tech demonstrations, covering six key areas where the region is globally competitive. These are: Advanced Technologies Future Mobility & Battery Tech CleanTech CreaTech ProfTech MedTech Industry-leading experts already confirmed to speak during the day include Jason Daniels, Chief Digital Officer at Fujitsu UK; Marc Manns, Global Head of Connected Car at Tata Technologies; Sarah Walker, Managing Director (Large Enterprise) and Adele Every, Managing Director for Public Sector at Cisco; Dr. Zoe Webster, AI Director and Lisa Perkins, Director (Research & Innovation) at BT; Emma Haynes, Partnerships Director at the Solihull-based UK Telecoms Lab and Colin Tucker, Chair of Novocomms and former CTO at Orange. Other Global West Midlands activity during Birmingham Tech Week include a series of sector-focused events, covering creative & digital technologies, data-driven healthcare, BPFS, future mobility and visitor economy and West Midlands tours for international delegations, including Central Europe and USA. During the 2022/23 financial year, tech and digital represented the sector attracting the most FDI into the West Midlands, resulting in 17 new projects. Following the recently agreed Deeper Devolution Deal, the region's drive to attract more tech led FDI into the region will be supported by WMGC's co-development of an international strategy, along with the UK Government's Department for Business and Trade. As the region's official investment promotion agency, WMGC provides investors into the West Midlands with a bespoke package of support, enabling them to unlock new opportunities and realise their growth ambitions. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: "A year on from welcoming the world to our region for the spectacular Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, it's wonderful to have a new opportunity to showcase to the global business community all that we have to offer. "Our flair for innovation is a part of our heritage and is very much in the DNA of local people right across our region. We're also home to the UK's fastest growing tech sector. It's great to see our strengths being recognised by ambitious global players like NOMOQ. "Birmingham Tech Week has an increasingly global reach and I look forward to what will no doubt be an inspirational series of events generating deals, connections, and opportunities that will benefit us all in the months and years ahead." Neil Rami, CEO of the West Midlands Growth Company, commented: "We're looking forward to welcoming the international community to the region for Global West Midlands, which will demonstrate how our tech sector is spearheading developments with the potential to transform the global economy. With a unique combination of world-class R&D assets, specialist talent and public sector support, the West Midlands is already a destination of choice for global tech heavyweights from Tata Technologies to Siemens. Our upcoming international strategy will allow us to take that potential to the next level." Peter Stein, CEO of NOMOQ, said: "We're excited to welcome our new UK team to the NOMOQ family as we target further growth. Leamington Spa in the West Midlands is the ideal site for us and we're proud to be investing in the region and importantly, bringing jobs to the area. "Our team are prepped and ready to go! We're looking forward to providing more drinks producers with high quality cans, digitally printed with millions of colours and shades with no minimum order quantity which supports tight cash flows, storage limitations or stunning special projects." West Midlands Growth Company The West Midlands Growth Company helps the region make its mark nationally and internationally. Its primary purpose is to attract investment, jobs, visitors and businesses to the West Midlands. The West Midlands Growth Company focuses on the WMCA geography of Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and Warwickshire, and the Black Country. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2205400/West_Midlands_Growth_Company.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/new-tech-roles-reinforce-west-midlands-world-class-innovation-strengths-ahead-of-global-birmingham-tech-week-event-301922168.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] FXGT.COM BRINGS SMARTER TRADING TO ASIA Tweet JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In the highly competitive Forex market in Asia where everyone is looking for the next trendsetter, FXGT.com is leading the way in smarter trading. Recently awarded '2023 Broker of the Year' by AtoZ Markets, FXGT.com is making a big difference as a renowned platform that is revolutionizing the trading experience in Asia. FXGT.com has recently rebranded with a vivid new identity, featuring an all-new user-friendly website that reflects the broker's expanded mission to innovate, inspire, and enhance the trader experience. CMO Constantinos Pavlides said 'We are proud to reveal our refreshed brand, which signals an important milestone in our evolution as an innovative broker in Asia'. FXGT.com's 'Any Trade, Any Strategy' positioning gives traders the freedom to choose their own path and future. FXGT.com's 1st Official Trading Competition Indonesia. The broker is running its first ever trading competition in South East Asia, with a prize pool of $35,000. Traders from Asia will compete against each other for a chance to be one of the 50 winners, who will reach the highest Return on Investment (ROI) and Profit and Loss (PnL) ranking. The prize pool will be distributed and directly credited to the live trading accounts of the winners as balance. Registrations opens 4th to 18th September>. Competition runs 20th September to 10th October. Trust and Security FXGT.com is a fully regulated broker licensed by the FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority), VFSC (Vanuatu Financial Services Commission), as well as the CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission). As an award-winning online forex and CFD broker, FXGT.com brings greater confidence and credibility to the industry. The brand is trusted by thousands of clients globally, with a reputation for ensuring strong protection and security of funds by keeping clients' funds separate. The Ultimate Trading Choice FXGT.com sets the standard for smarter trading by offering a wide choice of five different accounts, each suited to the specific needs of different trader types and styles. Their 'ECN' account is ideal for trading with raw spreads across all asset classes, whilst their 'PRO' account meets the needs of the most demanding traders who look for ultra-low spreads, with zero commission and swap fees. The 'Mini' account is ideal for new traders looking to trade with micro lots, and the 'Standard+' is made for those looking to trade a variety of assets with great promotions and rewards. Seamless Trading Experience FXGT.com provides traders with a wide range of instruments, alongside superior trading conditions, market research tools for informed insights, plus bonuses to boost their trades. They are continuously enhancing their product offering, with a comprehensive resource center, real-time economic calendar, informative eBooks, and a detailed traders' glossary. Seize the Trading Opportunities Traders can trade smarter than ever before, with FXGT.com presenting greater market opportunities in forex, CFDs, metals, stocks, indices and energies.Trading Platform Flexibility FXGT.com provides fast, reliable execution on both MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, so traders can enjoy flexibility and a choice of how to access the world markets. MT4 is one of the most popular trading platforms in the world, with a user-friendly interface that is suited to traders of all experience levels, while MT5 features enhanced order execution speeds, advanced back testing capabilities, and greater market depth. Smart Tools FXGT.com offers traders with an innovative MT5 Advanced Trader Toolkit, featuring analysis, execution, and utility tools designed to optimize traders' strategies. The Toolkit allows Asian traders to trade smarter and with greater efficiency, from managing risk to maximizing potential profits. For more information on our outstanding platform please visit: FXGT.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/fxgtcom-brings-smarter-trading-to-asia-301923042.html SOURCE FXGT.COM [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] ATFX's MT4 Trading Volume Ranked Fifth Globally in the Second Quarter Tweet KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia , Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Finance Magnates released its industry report for the second quarter of 2023. With a remarkable quarterly total trading volume exceeding $531 billion, ATFX has firmly secured the fifth position globally. Breaking down the growth in various data points, in comparison to the first quarter of 2023, ATFX saw a trading volume growth of 12.19% and a growth of 3.05% in active accounts during the second quarter. Concurrently, compared to the first quarter of 2023, the brand also exhibited growth in various contract categories, specifically a currency pair trading volume increase of 8.6%; a 38.5% increase in energy CFD trading volume; and a 30.7% increase in index CFD trading volume. Furthermore, ATFX has consistently maintained a position in the top ten globally for 12 consecutive quarters, showcasing significant progress in user activity and trading volume across multiple CFD products. During the past second quarter, ATFX expanded its business landscape through the acqusition of Rakuten Securities Australia (RSA), extending its commercial reach. The brand's influence and appeal were further enhanced through a cooperative agreement with Ashur Bank, enabling entry into the Iraqi market. This expansion of the business landscape has translated into increased customer support, trading volume, and active accounts. Looking ahead, the global team will remain committed to the company's mission and vision, continuing to sprint along this path. Through tangible actions, they will strive to create better services, fostering mutual integration and collaborative progress with clients, ultimately achieving even better results. ATFX ATFX is an award-winning currency pairs/CFD broker with a global presence offering customer support in over 15 languages. With over 300 tradable financial assets, including currency pairs, precious metals, energy, indices, and shares traded as CFDs, ATFX is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in the United Arab Emirates, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC, through acquisition of RSA). (ATFX Website: https://www.atfx.com) View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/atfxs-mt4-trading-volume-ranked-fifth-globally-in-the-second-quarter-301922967.html SOURCE ATFX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] RAKBANK cooperates with UnionPay to drive contactless mobile payments in UAE Tweet ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RAKBANK and UnionPay International have announced their cooperation to drive contactless mobile payments in UAE. RAKBANK has enabled all their terminals for accepting UnionPay contactless payments where card holders can use their mobile wallet, like ApplePay, and mobile banking APP or contactless cards. The partnership will significantly increase the acceptance touch points across the region and make United Arab Emirates as the first major market outside Mainland China which is completely contactless ready. The contactless payment solution is aimed at UnionPay cardholders visiting UAE as well as UnionPay cardholders living in the UAE. They can now enjoy cost effective, secure, and seamless payment experience at the point of acceptance. RAKBANK, one of the leading acquirers in the UAE, through this partnership has integrated with UnionPay's robust network and advanced payment technology to provide UnionPay card payment acceptance to RAKBANK's merchants. This partnership will also contribute towards the vision of UAE to become the first cashless society in the region and enhance frictionless payment experience in the country. This tap and go payment experience will also empower the merchants of RAKBANK to accept cards not only issued from China, but also from a growing network of 75+ countries where UnionPay has established a strong card issuance business. UnionPay is the largest payment scheme in the world with its acceptance network spread across 180+ countries. Shehzad Hameed, MD of Retail Banking at RAKBANK commented: "At RAKBANK, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. This partnership with UnionPay aligns perfectly with our mission to provide a seamless customer experience. We understad the importance of a secure and user-friendly payment option, and through this collaboration, we aim to offer our customers unrivaled convenience and peace of mind. This strategic partnership represents a significant step forward in the financial services industry in the UAE, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of this digital evolution. We look forward to the successful implementation of contactless payment services in collaboration with UnionPay and anticipate the positive impact it will have on our customers' daily lives." James Yang, General Manager of UnionPay International Middle East commented: "UnionPay International is excited to partner with RAKBANK in revolutionizing the innovative payments in the UAE and we strongly believe that contactless payment experience will support the local businesses to scale up their business by opening their doors to cardholders from 75+ countries and the largest segment of customers traveling from China. The contactless payment experience for Chinese customers will give them a feel of making payments like they do in their home country using mobile banking app, ApplePay, Samsung Pay, Huawei Pay, Mi Pay and physical UnionPay contactless payment cards. We are confident that this new solution will open up some new categories of merchants who are willing to accept UnionPay cards in the country in a secure, faster and seamless payment experience." About UnionPay International UnionPay International (UPI) is focused on the growth and support of UnionPay's global business. In partnership with more than 2500 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card acceptance in 181 countries and regions with issuance in 79 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants. The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (P.S.C) RAKBANK, also known as The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (P.S.C), is one of the UAE's most dynamic financial institutions. Founded in 1976, it underwent a major transformation in 2001 as it rebranded into RAKBANK and shifted its focus from purely corporate to retail and small business banking. In addition to offering a wide range of Personal Banking services, the Bank increased its lending in the traditional SME, Commercial, and Corporate segment in recent years. The Bank also offers Islamic Banking solutions, via RAKislamic, throughout its branches and its Telephone and Digital Banking channels. RAKBANK is a public joint stock company headquartered in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). For more information, please visit www.rakbank.ae or contact the Call Centre on +9714 213 0000. Alternatively, you can connect with RAKBANK via twitter.com/rakbanklive and facebook.com/rakbank. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206846/DSCF6163.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rakbank-cooperates-with-unionpay-to-drive-contactless-mobile-payments-in-uae-301923273.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Nurses Whose Managers Prioritize Career Development Are 10X More Likely to Stay in Their Jobs Tweet TEMECULA, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new study by Perceptyx, the leading employee listening and manager effectiveness platform, has uncovered the best strategies for retaining nurses amid a well-documented exodus of healthcare workers. Nurses with managers who support their development are 10.6X more likely to stay in their job. Career and personal development is also highly related to intention to stay. Nurses who have opportunities for learning in their roles (e.g. upskilling) are 7.3X more likely (and those who have greater career opportunities are 6.2X more likely) to stay with their organizations in the near term. But retention strategy does not come in a one-size-fits-all form. The survey of 1,600 healthcare providers (combined with 3.65 million respondents in Perceptyxs healthcare industry benchmark database) found that doctors and nurses diverge when asked about the top reasons they decide to stay at their employers. Rather than focusing on support and career development as reasons they would stay, doctors prioritize autonomy and impact as key drivers of their intention to stay. Doctors, who believe that leadership listens to them, are 3X more likely and those with confidence in their senior leadership are 6X more likely to intend to stay with the organization. Another key factor is believing that their organization seeks their input on important issues (2.6X more likely). Healthcare institutions are grappling with a multifaceted staffing crisis caused by a variety of drivers across different roles, said Emily Killham, Director of Research & Insights. Though these role-based nuances have been identified in the research for some time, they are even mor prominent as staffing challenges have increased. Healthcare organizations must ensure they are prepared to address these concerns, role by role, if they want to retain their top talent. Research shows that healthcare professionals experience higher levels of stress compared to other industries, often resulting in decreased job satisfaction, compromised mental health, and attrition. Understanding and acting on all aspects of well-being physical, emotional, and mental will help avoid some of the worst impacts of the current staffing crisis. Attrition finally slows There is a bit of good news for healthcare organizations: attrition for doctors and nurses is finally declining when compared to the spike seen immediately following the pandemic. While a majority of nurses (55%) and nearly half of physicians (45%) have considered leaving their jobs since the onset of the pandemic 15-20% even said they would leave the industry altogether the 2023 numbers have declined. About 33% of nurses now want to leave their jobs (25% of doctors), with 12% considering leaving the industry (10% for doctors). The lower attrition numbers are encouraging, but there is still a long way to go, and health systems are challenged to do more with less. Weve heard loud and clear (both in the research and through our healthcare partners) that nurses want more career development opportunities, and sometimes will leave to find them elsewhere when they dont see them at their current jobs,, said Ellen Lovell, senior consultant, healthcare, at Perceptyx. That means organizations need to ask some urgent questions: How do we create, improve, and increase access to our upskilling programs? How do we improve internal ambassador and mentoring programs to make sure staff feels supported? The full report, State of the Healthcare Employee Experience 2023 , is available now for download. About Perceptyx Since its founding in 2003, Perceptyx has been redefining the employee insights industry, delivering enterprise-level employee listening and people analytics to more than 600 customers, including one-third of the Fortune 100. With an unrivaled technology platform and a tailor-made, flexible approach, the Perceptyx platform makes it easy for managers, HR executives and business leaders to discover insights deep within large and complex organizations, driving meaningful action to improve business outcomes. Driven by a deep intellectual curiosity and a culture of innovation, Perceptyx is challenging the status quo to help people and organizations see the way forward. Media Contact: Josh Green Firebrand Communications [email protected] 415 848 9175 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] INNOVAQOR, INC. PROVIDES UPDATE AND CONFIRMS DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRODUCT Tweet WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InnovaQor, Inc. (OTC: INQR) Chief Executive Officer, Darrell Peterson recently joined Stock Day host Matthew Dunehoo to provide an update and confirm the development of a new product, Curallo. Dunehoo began the interview by asking Peterson to remind his listeners about what InnovaQor does. Peterson provided a brief summary of the healthcare specific software solutions the Company offers, and reminded the audience that these software solutions are fully developed, proven and are marketed by the Company as a SAAS business model. Dunehoo then asked Peterson to describe the Companys plan to build revenues. Peterson explained that the majority of current revenues were generated from sales of the EHR product in the substance abuse sector and from the provision of IT services. He voiced his belief that the Medical Mime EHR product was better than most of the competition and offered the fasted route to increased, profitable revenues. He further explained that the cost basis could support a multiple of the current number of customers and confirmed the focus on adding new customers. He went on to say that other Company products would receive an increased focus on marketing and would add value to the new platform the Company was building. Dunehoo went on to ask Peterson for more information on this new product that had also been mentioned in recent filings and press releases. Peterson stated that this was probably the most exciting thing that InnovaQor was working on and went on to describe Curallo, a new Medical Professionals Communication Platform solely for the healthcare sector. He further explained that Curallo has been in development since April and that a demonstration should be available in the next few weeks. He stated that Curallo would have a number of free and subscription features but would start with a peer to peer communication platform for healthcare professionals and then expand to offer interactive services for live conferences and training, and include recruitment matching for short and longer term needs in the healthcare sector. He finishe by confirming that a new website for Curallo had been launched at www.curallo.com to invite input from prospective users and to provide updates on the status of the project. Dunehoo finished the interview by asking Peterson what message he would like the listeners to take away from todays show. Peterson responded by confirming that InnovaQor had a significant foundation to build from and repeated his belief that Curallo could create an opportunity for unlimited growth over the next few years. He ended the interview by confirming the Companys ambition to list on a recognized stock exchange at some time in the future. To hear Darrell Petersons entire interview follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8364992-innovaqor-inc-inqr-is-featured-on-the-stock-day-podcast For further information on InnovaQor, Inc., please visit www.innovaqor.com About InnovaQor, Inc. InnovaQor delivers innovative technology and software solutions for the medical sector and intends to build a communication platform specifically for the medical sector, which will facilitate communication and collaboration between peers and allow the addition of revenue generating bolt on offers, including existing solutions and a new recruitment matching product for the healthcare sector. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in the Company's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Contact: Gerard Dab 561 421 1905 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] DEEPX Charts Path to a Limitless Open Edge AI Ecosystem with New AI Dev Kits that Break GPU Boundaries Tweet CEO Lokwon Kim discloses plans to integrate industry-leading open-source hardware into the company's Edge AI technology roadmap at AI Hardware & Edge AI Summit. SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DEEPX, a leading AI semiconductor technology company makes significant advancements towards creating an expansive Edge AI ecosystem by introducing innovative Edge AI Development Kits that transcend the limitations of GPUs. The company, known for its pioneering work in artificial intelligence semiconductors for Edge devices, is gearing up to participate in the AI Hardware & Edge AI Summit in Silicon Valley, set to run from September 12th to 14th. At this prestigious event, DEEPX's CEO Lokwon Kim will share the stage with luminaries like Professor Andrew Ng of Landing AI and Tenstorrent CEO Jim Keller. More than 100 major tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, will converge to discuss the latest trends and insights in AI hardware and edge AI. DEEPX is poised to unveil five cutting-edge technologies, encompassing support for the latest AI algorithms, GPU-level AI precision, unmatched power-to-performance efficiency, comprehensive solutions for diverse Edge AI applicatons, and a commanding cost competitiveness in manufacturing units. Live demonstrations at the DEEPX booth will be a highlight, featuring AI algorithms running on DEEPX's Neural Processing Unit (NPU) within a compact camera module, tailor-made for applications in smart cameras, mobility solutions, robotics, and home appliances. Furthermore, AI algorithms will be showcased running on robots through DEEPX's DX-M1 M.2 module connected to the Orange Pi open embedded platform. On the second day of the summit, Wed., Sept. 13 at 3:20 p.m. PT, DEEPX's CEO Lokwon Kim will present a visionary perspective on "Edge AI technology for everyone, everywhere." The presentation will underscore the company's mission of establishing a boundless Edge AI ecosystem, propelled by the formidable AI computing power offered through DEEPX's AI Application Development Kit. An exciting development in the pipeline also involves DEEPX's roadmap for compatibility testing of its products with Open Source Hardware (OSHW), including industry leading embedded boards like Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, LattePanda, NXP boards, and more. These products will be distributed as part of DEEPX's AI Application Development Kit program, aimed at empowering academia and the broader public with the ability to seamlessly implement AI on various embedded systems. This initiative aligns with DEEPX's overarching vision of "AI technology for everyone, everywhere." In addition, DEEPX is forging strategic partnerships with module and IT system OEMs across the globe. These collaborations aim to integrate DEEPX's products into various embedded systems, with plans to expand the range of open-source hardware products compatible with DEEPX's offerings in the future. About DEEPX DEEPX is a leading AI semiconductor technology company dedicated to driving innovation in the rapidly evolving edge AI landscape. With their state-of-the-art AI chip product line, DEEPX aims to revolutionize industries such as robotics, smart cities, surveillance, and more. Through technological excellence, strategic collaborations, and a global outlook, DEEPX is committed to establishing the industry standard for AI semiconductors worldwide. For media inquiries, please contact: Lisa Warren-Plungy: [email protected] Headquarters: Ella Lee: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deepx-charts-path-to-a-limitless-open-edge-ai-ecosystem-with-new-ai-dev-kits-that-break-gpu-boundaries-301923063.html SOURCE DEEPX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Iran hopes that cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear program will continue without any political pressure from third parties, Spokesman for Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on Sept. 11, Trend reports. Currently, cooperation between Iran and IAEA on the nuclear program continues. A meeting of the Board of Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency will be held today. The meeting will include hearings on Iran's nuclear activities, the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and control issues, the spokesman added. Iran states that it cooperates with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in only two frameworks: the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and the safeguards rules. On January 16, 2016, Iran's nuclear program triggered the creation of the JCPOA between Iran and the P5+1 group (US, Russia, China, UK, France, and Germany). In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and imposed sanctions on Iran in November of the same year. To preserve the agreements reached as part of the JCPOA, the European signatories of the deal started in January 2019 and a financial mechanism for maintaining trade with Iran called INSTEX was formed. On May 8, 2019, Iran announced ceasing to fulfill its commitments regarding the sale of over 300 kilograms of uranium, as stated in the deal, basing its decision on the other signatories that have not fulfilled their obligations. On July 7, Iran announced that it would not be fulfilling its commitments regarding the enrichment of uranium at 3.67 percent and the reconstruction of the Arak Heavy Water Reactor Facility as stated in the deal. On September 5 of the same year, Iran announced its commitment to enrich uranium using next-generation centrifuges and not mix it with the enriched uranium residues as part of the third step of reducing commitments in the JCPOA. On November 5, 2019, Iran announced that it had taken the fourth step in connection with reducing its commitments to the nuclear agreement. So, uranium gas is being pumped to the centrifuges at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. On January 5, 2020, Iran took the last fifth step in reducing the number of its commitments within the JCPOA. On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. In discussions on nuclear program, Iran is mainly trying to achieve the abolition of sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, the removal of its funds frozen abroad, and the abolition of the restriction on the export of crude oil. In return, the US and Western countries want Iran not to acquire an atomic bomb, to keep its nuclear program under control, and to reduce the level of uranium enrichment. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur [September 11, 2023] Ojjo Solar Foundations Surpass 4-Gigawatt Milestone for Constructed and Committed Projects Tweet Ojjo's utility-scale Earth Truss Foundation eliminates predrill, minimizes subsurface risk, and reduces site grading to save millions in solar project budgets SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ojjo, Inc., the leading provider of next-generation solar foundations, has surpassed the 4-gigawatt (GW) milestone for projects completed and committed for its proprietary Earth Truss foundation system. Spanning over 10 utility-scale projects throughout California, Texas, and the Southwestern United States, the over one million foundations specified into Ojjo's constructed and committed projects support enough clean solar generation to power over 700,000 American households. By bringing together sophisticated product engineering and advanced automation for installation, Ojjo's system provides an optimized approach for large-scale solar developers and EPCs, mitigating costly and disruptive construction operations such as predrill, pile remediation, and site grading. Ojjo's foundations have already been selected and are in operation on projects installed or owned by some of the largest names in solar, including: Arevon Energy, Inc., Avantus, Burns & McDonnell, Kiewit, NextEra Energy, Inc., Primergy Solar, LLC , Primoris Renewable Energy, SB Energy Global, LLC, Signal Energy, TotalEnergies, and 174 Power Global. "We're proud to have reached this milestone so quickly. It's a testament to the innovative spirit and hard work of our team, coupled with the industry's need for advanced, cost-effective, purpose-built solar foundations," said Mike Miskovsky, Chairman and CEO of Ojjo. "Successive wins on massive projects underscore Ojjo's growing momentum as we continue to unlock demand and improve the economics for gigawatts of utility-scale solar systems across the U.S." About Ojjo Ojjo is the industry leader in developing and manufacturing next-generation utility-scale solar foundations. Ojjo's patented approach combines novel hardware, the Earth Truss, with an innovative drilling machine, the Truss Driver. The Earth Truss is one of the fastest-to-install solar foundations in the industry, typically requiring significantly less steel volume and labor than a conventional pile system. Founded in 2018 by solar innovation veterans from Zep Solar and Tesla, Ojjo holds more than 300 domestic and international patents related to its system. With its 11-Gigawatt (GW) active project pipeline, Ojjo is rapidly becoming a preferred solution for leading utility-scale projects. To date, Ojjo has been chosen in over 4 GWs of solar projects, including Gemini, the nation's largest stand-alone solar plus storage project to reach completion, and has over 45 GWs of opportunities across its overall North American pipeline. For more information, visit: www.ojjo.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ojjo-solar-foundations-surpass-4-gigawatt-milestone-for-constructed-and-committed-projects-301923263.html SOURCE Ojjo [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Discovery of ancient 'Horn Chamber' reveals ritual performed at enigmatic stone structures of north-west Arabia Tweet - Two recently published studies detail nature and significance of apparent ceremonial offerings in mustatils, Neolithic structures where deposits of horns and skull parts suggest a sophisticated expression of deeply rooted beliefs - Research is supported by Royal Commission for AlUla as part of globally significant fieldwork - Inaugural AlUla World Archaeology Summit to gather a wide range of leaders starting Sept 13 ALULA, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Results of two recent archaeological excavations supported by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) demonstrate that the Neolithic inhabitants of north-west Arabia conducted "complex and sophisticated ritual practices" in the late 6th millennium BCE. The unprecedented findings open unsuspected horizons for a broader understanding of the social, cultural and spiritual background of the ancient peoples of north-west Arabia. Researchers emphasise the probable communal character of the ritual and the possibility that people journeyed specifically to prehistoric stone structures known as mustatils to undertake the ritual, which would represent one of the earliest known pilgrimage traditions. Further, greater representation of domestic species among the animal offerings confirms the pastoral nomadic nature of the community, whose members may have built the mustatils as a form of social bonding and/or a marker of territory. Mustatils are large-scale, open-air rectangular structures with low stone walls. Through aerial surveys, researchers have identified more than 1,600 of them across north Arabia. Though the structures' function was at first unknown, excavations since 2018 have pointed to a ritual significance and provided increasing insights into the practice. Results of the two studies have been peer-reviewed and recently published. The study led by Dr Wael Abu-Azizeh of the Archeorient Laboratory and France's Lyon 2 University appears in the book "Revealing Cultural Landscapes in North-West Arabia," edited by a team of experts led by Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology at RCU. The study led by Dr Melissa Kennedy of Australia's University of Sydney appeared in the journal PLoS One in March. Abu-Azizeh study In 2018 Dr Abu-Azizeh began an excavation on behalf of Oxford Archaeology that unearthed the "Horn Chamber" in a mustatil at site IDIHA-0000687 north-east of AlUla dating to circa 5300-5000 BCE. The chamber measures 3.25m by 0.8m and is at the western end of a mustatil measuring 40x12 metres smaller than most mustatils. Inside the "Horn Chamber" he and his team made an exceptional discovery of horns and skull fragments, densely packed into a layer 20 to 30cm deep that covered the floor of the chamber. This, they write, is "a unique and unprecedented assemblage in the context of north Arabian Neolithic." About 95% of the horns and skull fragments were from domestic species goat, sheep and cattle with the rest from wild species including gazelle, Nubian ibex and aurochs (a now-extinct ancestor of domestic cattle). Beneath the assemblage was a thin bedding of twigs that in preparation for the ritual had been placed on the chamber's sandstone surface. The researchers conclude that the horns and skull fragments were probably deposited during a single ceremony. In a tentative reconstruction of the ritual, they propose that pastoral nomads gathered and bore the offerings as part of the ritual performance. To reach the solemn space of the small Horn Chamber they entered one by one through a narrow doorway and small antechamber with hearths to present this trohy on behalf of their social group. The collective hoard of enshrined offerings expressed a cohesive identity for the wider social group. The researchers write: "By the quantity of remains, the diversity of species represented, and the unusual state of preservation, this assemblage constitutes a unique and unprecedented discovery in the archaeological record of the region. This deposit is interpreted as a testimony of complex and sophisticated ritual practices" Kennedy study In 2019, the second study, by a team led by Dr Kennedy, then of the University of Western Australia, began excavation of a mustatil deep within dense sandstone canyons east of AlUla, at site IDIHA-0008222. Like Abu-Azizeh's team, they found a chamber containing horns and skull parts that dated to circa 5200-5000 BCE, though not in as great a quantity. There are further differences: these bones appeared to have been deposited in three or four phases over a generation or two, rather than all at once. Most of the horns and skull parts were from cattle, and several from goats. The researchers write that this finding is "amongst the earliest attestation of domestic cattle and goat in northern Arabia." At the centre of the shrine is an upright stone that is believed to have served as the focal point for the ritual. Most of the horns and skull parts were deposited around this standing stone, which stood 0.8m high. The researchers interpret this stone as being a betyl, "a mediator between humankind and the divine, acting as a proxy or a manifestation of an unknown Neolithic deity/deities or religious idea, to which the faunal elements were deposited as votive offerings." This would constitute one of the earliest known betyls in the Arabian Peninsula. The researchers further note that the repeated used of the shrine over a period of years "represents one of the earliest examples of 'pilgrimage' or shrine revisiting currently identified in the Arabian Peninsula." Intriguingly, they hypothesise that the placement of the mustatils might have had an ecological basis. The Arabian climate was growing more arid in the Middle Holocene Period; varying micro-climates made mobility essential and herding viable. The ritual might have been intended to ensure fertility and the continuity of rains, with the mustatils themselves possibly located near water sources such as wadis. This, the writers say, is a key avenue for future research. Dr Rebecca Foote, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research at RCU, said: "RCU has embarked on one of the largest archaeological research programmes worldwide. Across AlUla and Khaybar, 12 current surveys, excavations and specialist projects are deepening our understanding of the past environment, land use, and human occupation of the region. Rich cultural landscapes are being revealed, including funerary avenues, mustatils, ancient cities, inscriptions in 10 languages, rock art and complex agricultural practices. AlUla is a leading hub of archaeological activity, a standing that will be enhanced by the inaugural AlUla World Archaeology Summit." AlUla World Archaeology Summit AlUla's position as a hub of archaeological activity will continue to expand, as RCU will host the inaugural AlUla World Archaeology Summit taking place from Sept 13-15, 2023. The Summit is a platform for advancing archaeology and cultural heritage management in their interface with other disciplines. This gathering of leaders from academia, government, non-government organizations, industry, and young people representing the next generation of archaeologists will not only enrich the archaeological community and help protect shared history but also open up a larger reflection of what and how archaeology, and more broadly cultural heritage, can contribute to transformational changes in society. For more on the summit, go to https://www.worldarchaeologysummit.com. About the Royal Commission for AlUla The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU's long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area's natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 programme. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206896/Royal_Commission_AlUla_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206897/Royal_Commission_AlUla_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206898/Royal_Commission_AlUla_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2206899/Royal_Commission_AlUla_4.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/discovery-of-ancient-horn-chamber-reveals-ritual-performed-at-enigmatic-stone-structures-of-north-west-arabia-301923375.html SOURCE The Royal Commission for AlUla [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action Announces Fifth Annual Honor the Harvest Forum Tweet U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) announced its fifth annual Honor the Harvest Forum. The multi-day convening on a local ranch will bring together leaders from across the food and agriculture value chain to hold a dialogue centered on co-creating sustainable food systems of the future. Honor the Harvest is designed to connect executive leaders and agricultural producers to generate new ideas, partnerships, and actions to advance sustainable food, fuel, and fiber across the value chain. Attendees will consider the future of agriculture and hear from panelists on the following topics: The future of U.S. agriculture Scientific evidence supporting the transition to a carbon negative agriculture sector Accelerating climate-smart agriculture through investment Supporting a life cycle of engagement for our next generation of farmers and ranchers "By bringing together leaders from across the food and ag value chain under one tent, we have the opportunity to collaborate on solutions for the future of U.S. and global agriculture," said USFRA and Dairy Management, Inc. (DMI) Chair Marilyn Hershey. "Overcoming the barriers to adopting climate-smart practices that farmer and ranchers face is possible, but they cannot do it alone. Scientific research shows that the technology and practices needed to reduce agriculture's carbon emissions exist, but investment from financial and food companies is needed for adoption at scale." The three-day event will take place Tues., Sept. 12 through Thurs., Sept. 14 at the G Bar C Ranch in Rosston, Texas. More information about the Forum can be found here. "We look forward to facilitating a discussion on ways to accelerate US agriculture's transition to a net zero future," said Mary Shelman, Founder of the Shelman Group and this year's Forum facilitator. About USFRA U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) is a 501(c)(3) that is comprised of 44 organizations representing more than 1.6 million farmers and ranchers across the country. USFRA cultivates a shared vision of co-creating sustainable food systems and a belief that bold action is needed. USFRA drives a broad range of projects that advance meaningful action and results in the co-creation of solutions for sustainable food production, climate change, and economic sustainability. USFRA is serving as the secretariat for a Decade of Ag, a shared vision for the food and agriculture sector, now endorsed by 160 leaders. Learn more at www.usfarmersandranchers.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911863015/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Axis Communications Expands Its Offering in Key Categories with New Solutions Launched at the 2023 Global Security Exchange Tweet As organizations in every industry seek to gain efficiencies through technology, Axis Communications continues to deliver new solutions with expanded capabilities. In keeping with its proactive approach to product development, the company will launch its latest innovations at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas, September 11-13, including a compact, lightweight body worn camera; a body worn activation kit for auto-recording in stressful situations; a high-frequency radar device for accurate detection, classification and tracking; and a discreet but powerful video intercom with deep learning capabilities. These newest additions to Axis' growing portfolio will be displayed in booth #3233 alongside the company's entire collection of products and solutions launched so far in 2023. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911491122/en/ Axis Communications continues to expand its portfolio of innovative products and solutions with the launch of the AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera, AXIS D2210-VE Security Radar, AXIS I8116-E Network Video Intercom, and AXIS W400 Body Worn Activation Kit during GSX 2023. (Photo: Business Wire) "Axis makes significant investments in R&D to deliver on our promise to innovate for a smarter, safer world. That innovation will be on full display at GSX with every one of our 2023 products featured in our booth," said Fredrik Nilsson, VP Americas, Axis Communications. "All of our solutions are designed with the customer in mind and our latest innovations exemplify this goal, including a body-worn activation kit that provides users with peace of mind in high-stress situations and an intercom with the ability to collect and analyze data all within one compact device. We're pleased to provide our customers with new solutions and excited to launch them at GSX." For those not attending the show, Axis welcomes visitors to demo all their products and solutions at any one of their Axis Experience Centers across the Americas and around the globe, including Dallas, Texas. Axis Communications plans to showcase its latest video, audio, analytics, end-to-end, and other solutions at GSX 2023, with special attention to its new solutions which include: AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera A compact, lightweight body-worn camera The AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera is a lighter, friendlier wearable camera specially designed to protect staff and reduce assaults in organizations in sectors like retail, healthcare, and transportation. With the latest addition, Axis addresses the demand for a wearable camera designed for use cases outside law enforcement. AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera deters, protects, and documents. Wearers and the public will feel they're not alone, which contributes to a sense of well-being and a more peaceful workplace. AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera also offers excellent image and audio quality with exceedingly sharp images and clear audio for forensic uability. Key features include: Compact form factor (85g, 75*55*19 mm) Lightweight with flexible mounting options Open standards for easy integration with your own systems Easy to find and retrieve footage End-to-end encryption Based on open standards, AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera offers easy integration with AXIS Camera Station as well as third-party VMSs. You can store as much footage as you like without compromising image quality and it's easy to find and retrieve footage. The system also features end-to-end encryption. *AXIS W110 Body Worn Camera will be available through Axis distribution channels in Q4 2023. AXIS W400 Body Worn Activation Kit Ability to automatically activate body worn cameras in stressful situations The AXIS W400 Body Worn Activation Kit further expands the Axis wearables product portfolio. AXIS W400 Body Worn Activation Kit automatically activates recording by all body worn cameras in the same system when a lightbar or siren is activated, or a panic button is pressed. In stressful situations, there is always a risk that wearers of body worn cameras might forget to activate recording. AXIS W400 removes this risk, ensuring that footage is always recorded by one or more cameras during an escalated situation thus keeping police departments in compliance with regulations and avoiding liability. When AXIS W400 is integrated into a police car, the system can be automatically triggered when the lightbar or siren is activated. The system can also be connected to a panic button, for example in a retail environment, to activate recordings automatically. Key features include: Automatic recording activation Triggered by I/O Uses Bluetooth Beacons *AXIS W400 Body Worn Activation Kit will be available through Axis distribution channels in Q4 2023. AXIS D2210-VE Security Radar Network-based 60GHz radar for area & traffic monitoring 24/7 The AXIS D2210-VE Security Radar is a high-frequency radar device that can accurately detect, classify, and track humans and vehicles. This powerful device uses advanced radar technology, so it doesn't depend on visibility to detect and track objects ensuring energy cost savings. AXIS D2210-VE Security Radar offers a 95 field of view and can deliver the position of an object for accurate detection 24/7 in various weather and light conditions. It can detect humans at up to 60 m (200 feet) and vehicles up to 90 m (295 feet). Additionally, with road monitoring profile enabled, the detection range for vehicles increases up to 150 m (492 feet). This radar can also be used to trigger events and gather more reliable traffic statistics 24/7. In addition, AXIS Speed Monitor, available as a free download, can efficiently gather actionable data about the monitored road. This compact, network-based device can be used stand-alone for non-visual monitoring. Furthermore, with smart coexistence functionality, it's possible to combine up to eight AXIS D2210-VE Security Radars in close proximity. Additionally, it is possible to expand the installation with up to six AXIS D2110-VE Security Radars and customize the detection area depending on the needs. It should also be noted that radar waves from Axis radar devices are harmless-even with continuous exposure humans can get close to them without any risks. Key features include: Accurately detect, classify, and track objects Monitor vehicle speeds up to 200 km/h (125 mph) Easily connect with PoE-out and edge-to-edge Compact design with a 95 field of view Integrated dynamic LED strip AXIS D2210-VE can be wrapped in colored, non-metallic, non-carbon-based foil to blend seamlessly into various environments or, if desired, to stand out. An integrated dynamic LED strip can be used to warn or notify, or it can be switched off for more discrete monitoring. Edge-to-edge technology makes it possible to connect AXIS D2210-VE to existing installations without an additional license, reducing costs and installation time. Furthermore, PoE-out can power an additional device without an extra cable drop. *AXIS D2210-VE Security Radar will be available through Axis distribution channels in end-September 2023. AXIS I8116-E Network Video Intercom Outdoor-ready intercom with support for advanced analytics The AXIS I8116-E Network Video Intercom is a small and powerful network video intercom offering easy installation in tight spaces. This outdoor-ready device features built-in cybersecurity features and support for advanced analytics based on deep learning. AXIS I8116-E Network Video Intercom offers 5MP video, two-way communication, and remote entry control. With WDR, it provides clarity when there's both dark and light areas in the scene. Measuring only 48 mm (1.89 in.) in width, it offers unlimited mounting options. It's designed to fit on walls, doorframes, mullions, and a flush mounting accessory enables recessed mounting in walls. This powerful intercom makes it possible to enhance door security by controlling locks and adding video surveillance-using just one PoE cable. Featuring a deep learning processing unit, it offers improved processing capabilities. This makes it possible to collect and analyze even more data than before-on the edge. In addition, with support for ACAP version 4, it's possible to add tailor-made applications based on deep learning on the edge available from Axis and our partners. Key features include: Mullion form factor High quality 5 MP video with audio SIP support Support for analytics based on deep learning Built-in cybersecurity features It offers seamless integration with global leading VMS systems, and it supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for IP phone system integration. Furthermore, built-in cybersecurity features help prevent unauthorized access and safeguard the system. For instance, Axis Edge Vault protects the Axis device ID and simplifies authorization of Axis products on the network. *AXIS I8116-E Network Video Intercom is currently available, September 2023. Each of these new solutions will be demoed, along with more of Axis' latest products, at GSX 2023, booth #3233. For further information about Axis Communications and its entire portfolio of intelligent network solutions, please visit www.axis.com or connect with an Axis representative. About Axis Communications Axis enables a smarter and safer world by creating solutions for improving security and business performance. As a network technology company and industry leader, Axis offers solutions in video surveillance, access control, intercom, and audio systems. They are enhanced by intelligent analytics applications and supported by high-quality training. Axis has around 4,000 dedicated employees in over 50 countries and collaborates with technology and system integration partners worldwide to deliver customer solutions. Axis was founded in 1984, and the headquarters are in Lund, Sweden. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911491122/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Wemade onboards Game Developers from Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong for WEMIX PLAY Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading South Korea based blockchain game developer Wemade is onboarding a business simulation game, FPS, and collectible RPG on its global blockchain gaming platform WEMIX PLAY. WEMIX PLAY is Wemades global blockchain gaming platform with more than 9 million cumulative subscribers. Onboarding various game genres for global blockchain gaming platform WEMIX PLAY such as business simulation game, FPS and collectable RPG Continuously expanding the WEMIX ecosystem by working with domestic and international game companies Oil War, developed by a Canadian company MetaSensor Technology Ltd., is a business simulation game. Players can make profit by selling coal or expanding facilities using NFTs. The Killbo, currently being developed by a Singaporean game company The Killbox Foundation, is an FPS game with more than 20 contents such as team combats, bomb defusions, 1v1 arena and more. Players can also choose from more than 100 weapons, 20 characters and various costumes. Amazing Cultivation is a collectible RPG developed by a Hong Kong gaming company, Soul Dragon Limited. A variety of contents like Taoist-based stories, PvP, and team dungeons are available for players to enjoy. Wemade is continuously expanding the WEMIX ecosystem by working with domestic and international game companies and onboarding high-quality games on WEMIX PLAY. The collaborations are in line with Wemades aim to ensure the global competitiveness of WEMIX PLAY, its blockchain gaming platform which boasts of more than 100 onboarded games, by securing diverse gaming partnerships. More information on WEMIX PLAY can be found on the official website at wemixplay.com . About WEMADE A renowned industry leader in game development with over 20 years of experience, Korea-based WEMADE is leading a once-in-a-generation shift as the gaming industry pivots to blockchain technology. Through its WEMIX subsidiary, WEMADE aims to accelerate the mass adoption of blockchain technology by building an experience-based, platform-driven, and service-oriented mega-ecosystem to offer a wide spectrum of intuitive, convenient, and easy-to-use Web3 services. Visit www.wemix.com/communication for more information. Kevin Foo Pr-at-wemix.com [September 11, 2023] Santa Clara University Embarks on a Five-Year Partnership with The Posse Foundation to Recruit 50 Scholars Tweet Santa Clara University (SCU) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with The Posse Foundation, a nationwide college access and youth leadership development program, to offer full-tuition scholarships to select students with diverse backgrounds in/from the Los Angeles area. "The partnership with The Posse Foundation is an important part of our mission-based commitment to facilitating greater social mobility in our world," said President Julie Sullivan. "The Posse program's unique approach to identifying, nurturing, and supporting talented students aligns seamlessly with our Jesuit values of inclusivity and educating 'the whole person.'" Universities Supporting Posse Santa Clara joins 64 other nationally prominent colleges and universities, such as Cornell University, Northwestern University, and University of Michigan, that have partnered with The Posse Foundation. Santa Clara University is the first Jesuit university to become a Posse partner and one of only three universities in California, joining Pomona College and Pepperdine University. "I am thrilled to welcome Santa Clara University, whose vision to educate citizens and leaders of competence, conscience, and compassion, so closely aligns with the Posse mission, as our latest university partner," said Deborah Bial, president and founder of The Posse Foundation. "Together, we are embarking on a journey that will not only transform the lives of these remarkable scholars but also enrich the campus community with their unique perspectives and talents. The future is brighter with partners like Santa Clara University who are dedicated to creating a more inclusive educational landscape." Generous Donor Support Scholarships for the first members of the Los Angeles Posse to attend Santa Clara University are possible thanks to a gift from James (Jim) and Heather Pigott, longtime supporters of The Posse Foundation and parents to two SCU Broncos. "Supporting SCU and the Posse Foundation helps us to invest in the future of individual students and their potential to become leaders in their communities. We are excited to witness the positive impact that this collaboration will have on the lives of these talented scholars and the broader community," said Jim Pigott. "We are grateful for the Pigott family's generosity in making this important partnership possible," said Sullivan, who noted that Santa Clara University will fund student recipients with additional scholarships and donor support. p> The Posse Process In the coming months, the Posse Los Angeles office will work to identify academically qualified students who demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and personal motivation skills. Typically, more than half (57 percent) of the Posse scholars are first-generation, meaning they are the first in their families to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. "Students from L.A. area high schools are not only driven and diverse, but they also dream big," said Eva Blanco Masias, Vice President for Enrollment Management. "Given our commitment to innovation and our location in Silicon Valley, we can be an excellent choice to these bright minds, serving as a conduit and transforming their aspirations into tangible personal and professional growth. It's a win-win." Through a three-part assessment process that includes large group and individual interviews, 10 students will be welcomed into the Bronco community, in fall 2024, as members of the Class of 2028. Following selection, The Posse Foundation leads the students through an eight-month pre-collegiate training program, supports them through all four years of college, and helps them secure competitive internships and leadership-track jobs upon graduation. As part of the partnership, Posse also provides yearly mentorship training for staff leaders and for a Santa Clara faculty member who will meet frequently with the Posse Scholars on campus, both as a group and individually. Since Posse's founding in 1989, more than 12,000 students have been awarded over $2 billion in scholarships from Posse partner colleges and universities. Other SCU Initiatives Santa Clara University is also a founding member of the "California Private College is Possible" initiative, an Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities program that provides students, families, and counselors with easy access to the information and resources necessary when applying to Independent California Colleges and Universities. The program also creates a path for historically underserved students to help them gain access to California's top schools in more significant numbers. Last December, SCU joined the American Talent Initiative, a collective whose members aim to enroll 50,000 additional talented low- and moderate-income students at colleges and universities with strong graduation rates by 2025. About The Posse Foundation Posse was founded in 1989 by Deborah Bial-inspired by a student who said, "I never would've dropped out of college if I'd had my posse with me." The simple idea of sending a group of students together to college so they could "back each other up" became the impetus for a program that today has identified, recruited, and trained more than 12,000 students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential. Since opening its doors 30 years ago, Posse has received many significant acknowledgments. Notably, Bial was awarded a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship in 2007, and in 2010 President Barack Obama honored Posse with a portion of his Nobel Peace Prize grant. To learn more, visit www.possefoundation.org. About Santa Clara University Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley-the world's most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University's stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis. Ranked among the top 15 percent of national universities by U.S. News & World Report, SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1 percent of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. For more information see www.scu.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911875740/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] FPT Announces US Investment, Workforce Development for AI and Semiconductor amid Biden's Vietnam Visit Tweet On the occasion of US President Joe Biden's State Visit to Vietnam, FPT Corporation (FPT) Chairman Truong Gia Binh called for collaboration and state support from Vietnam and US governments in workforce development, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductor industry. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911237469/en/ FPT Chairman joins US President Biden and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Vietnam - US Innovation & Investment Summit on September 11 in Hanoi (Photo: Duong Giang) The statement was delivered at the Vietnam - US Innovation & Investment Summit held on September 11 in Hanoi, with the participation of Vietnam Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dzung, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and both countries' delegations. Participating in the panel discussion as one of Vietnam's representative businesses, FPT Chairman emphasized the company's steadfast commitment to advancing technology and strengthening bilateral ties between Vietnam and the US. FPT's proposal to the US government includes two primary focuses. Firstly, FPT advocates for comprehensive policies from the US government to nurture Vietam's growth as a semiconductor ecosystem. Vietnam's leading corporation also proposes that its government invest in the training of 30,000 to 50,000 semiconductor professionals to meet this sector's increasing demand. Secondly, FPT seeks investment and support for FPT University's initiatives in training engineers specializing in both semiconductor chip design and AI, aiming to bolster the workforce's capabilities in these critical fields. With AI training being a strategic investment of the Corporation, FPT also announces the comprehensive strategic partnership with Landing AI, one of the US's leading Computer Vision Platform and AI Software companies, to accelerate AI integration across its comprehensive educational system, FPT Education. FPT University also recently established its Semiconductor Circuit Faculty, which will provide training programs for undergraduate, college, and postgraduate students starting in 2024. FPT's strategic priorities closely align with critical agreements between the US and Vietnam, with the semiconductor industry and its workforce development as the centerpiece of the action plan unveiled during President Biden's visit. Since establishing its semiconductor subsidiary in 2022, FPT's power management integrated circuits (PMICs) have completed the development phase and proceeded with mass production, with a plan to supply 25 million chips globally in the next two years. FPT entered the American market in 2008 and has become a trusted partner of over 300 clients, including more than 30 companies on the Fortune 500 list. The United States stands as one of FPT's most important overseas markets, boasting the highest profit contribution with a 50% growth rate in 2022. By the end of 2023, FPT anticipates an investment of USD 100 million and a workforce of nearly 1,000 employees in this market. With continuous investments, FPT expects to create 3,000 more jobs by 2028 and reach USD 1 billion in revenue from the US market by 2030. About FPT Corporation FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam. FPT operates in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. During over three decades of development, FPT has constantly provided practical and effective products to millions of people and tens of thousands of business and non-business organizations worldwide, establishing Vietnam's position on the global tech map. Keeping up with the latest market trends and emerging technologies, FPT has developed the Made-by-FPT ecosystem of services, products, solutions and platforms, which enables sustainable growth for organizations and businesses and offers distinctive experiences to customers. In 2022, FPT recorded total revenue of US$1.87 billion and 60,000+ employees. For more information, please visit https://fpt.com.vn/en View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911237469/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and SME Announce New Strategic Partnership in Workforce Development Tweet AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and SME announced a strategic partnership today, making bigger strides together toward solving North America's manufacturing workforce challenges. The two organizations have been longtime collaborators on advancing manufacturing, and this partnership focuses on leveraging the strengths and resources of each organization for the betterment and advancement of the industry through three key areas: workforce development, educational products and services and student events. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911135505/en/ A key cornerstone of this partnership included welcoming Greg Jones, former AMT vice president, Smartforce Development, to the workforce development team of SME as director, strategic programs and partnerships, where he will report to Jeannine Kunz, chief workforce development officer at SME. "Workforce development continues to be one of the most important factors affecting our members and the manufacturing community, so it makes sense to combine our forces in this area to scale solutions," said Douglas K. Woods, president and chief executive officer at AMT. "Greg Jones has dedicated his career to this effort and now joins forces with Jeannine Kunz and her team at SME to accelerate their collective impact." AMT's education products and services will now be owned and operated by SME, which will leverage the existing strength and industry leadership of Tooling U-SME, the organization's workforce development area. The AMT programs migrating to SME include the Certified Manufacturing Technology Sales Engineer (CMTSE) program, the MT Sales Fundamentals program, and additional AMT e-learning products in the area of transformational technologies. They will remain available to AMT members and to the manufacturing community more broadly through Tooling U-SME. Both organizations recognized the opportunity to incorporate AMT's education products and services into the expansive learning and development solutions of Tooling U-SME, which include its powerful learning management system. This provides manufacturers with greater value through one access point to a larger and more integrated solution to meet their needs. "This is a key indicator of our belief that unprecedented collaboration is required at this time to fully address the current and near-term education and workforce development challenges facing manufacturers in North America," Kunz said. "There are a tremendous number of valuable programs happening across the United States, and the more we can amplify, align, and strengthen one another, the more impactful we can be for individuals, educators, employers, and communities." AMT is well known for its expansive IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is held every other year in Chicago and where the Smartforce Student Summit convenes. The Smartforce Student Summit is dedicated to showcasing the manufacturing technology classroom of the future to educators and students through an engaging, hands-on, and memorable experience. Serving over 100,000 students and educators over the years, the Student Summit is designed to inspire students to seek an education pathway in STEM and lead them to a career in manufacturing. The Student Summit aligns strongly to SME's mission as well, and it is no surprise that SME and AMT identified coproducing the Student Summit at IMTS 2024 as anoher important pillar of its announcement to partner in workforce development. "Expanding our existing partnership with AMT on producing the MT Series and Smart Manufacturing Experience events to include collaborating on workforce development is exactly what nonprofits should continuously aim to do when it benefits the industry," said Bob Willig, executive director and chief executive officer at SME. "We are particularly excited to work with AMT on coproducing the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2024 centered around our shared vision for the 'manufacturing technology classroom of the future.'" About AMT Establish in 1902, AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents U.S.-based providers of manufacturing technology - the advanced machinery, devices, and digital equipment that U.S. manufacturing relies on to be productive, innovative, and competitive. Located in McLean, Virginia, near the nation's capital, AMT acts as the industry's voice to speed the pace of innovation, increase global competitiveness, and develop manufacturing's advanced workforce of tomorrow. With extensive expertise in industry data and intelligence, as well as a full complement of international business operations, AMT offers its members an unparalleled level of support. AMT also produces IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the premier manufacturing technology event in North America. AMTonline.org About SME Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. Together we share one common belief: Manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity. SME accelerates new technology adoption and inspires and builds North America's talent and capabilities in order to advance manufacturing as a diverse, thriving and valued ecosystem that drives competitiveness, resiliency and national security. We believe in technology's power and humanity's innovation to advance our society and meet many national challenges. We design new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of innovation and growth. Learn more at SME.org, or follow SME on X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. About Tooling U-SME Tooling U-SME is the manufacturing industry's leading workforce development solution provider. Delivering versatile, competency-based learning and development solutions to the manufacturing community, Tooling U-SME works with thousands of companies, including more than half of all Fortune 500 manufacturers, plus 1,000 educational and workforce institutions across North America. Tooling U-SME partners with customers to build high performers who help their companies drive quality, productivity, innovation and employee satisfaction, as well as with educators to prepare the next-generation workforce with industry-driven curriculum and certification. Visit ToolingU.com to learn more, or follow Tooling U-SME on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. About IMTS IMTS - International Manufacturing Technology Show - The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. IMTS 2024 will run Sept. 9-14. IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. IMTS is recognized as one of the world's preeminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology as well as connecting the industry's supply chain. IMTS attracts visitors from every level of industry and more than 117 countries. IMTS 2022 had 86,307 registrants, 1,212,806 net square feet of exhibit space, 1,602 booths, and 1,816 exhibiting companies. IMTS is owned and produced by AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911135505/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Australia Prime Minister lauds ACEN Australia investments Tweet MANILA, Philippines, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently concluded a bilateral visit to the Philippines last September 8, the first Australian leader to do so in twenty years. The bilateral meeting was highlighted by the signing of a Strategic Partnership with President of the Philippines HE Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The new Strategic Partnership establishes an enduring framework for closer cooperation with the Philippines, one of Australia's key partners in Southeast Asia, based on a strong alignment of strategic interests. The strategic partnership comes on the back of Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which the Prime Minister launched during his recent visit to Jakarta. The strategy encompasses mutual trade and investment opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture and food, education and skills, resources, and the clean energy transition. During an interview, the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "I met Eric Francia, the CEO of ACEN, an energy company focusing on renewables. They currently have 2 billion AUD of investment in Australia. They have a large presence in New England region, in Tasmania, as well as investment coming in Western Australia in the Pilbara." "They expect that investment to increase to 6 billion AUD in three years - a substantial investment in Australian renewables, putting online something like three gigawatts of additional capacity in the Australian energy market. A significant company which is making a difference and wants to make more of a difference" added Prime Minister Albanese. At the sidelines of the Signing Ceremony at Malacanang Palace, the PM briefly met with ACEN President and CEO Eric Francia. Mr. Francia reiterated the company's commitment to expand in Australia: "ACEN fully supports Australia's energy transition, and the company is gearing up to triple its Australia investments in the next three years." Philippine-listed company ACEN Corporation, the renewable energy platform of Ayala Corporation, is a significant participant in the Australian electricity market with over 1000 megawatts of solar capacity in operations and under construction in New South Wales. "ACEN appreciates the government's efforts to augment the much-needed transmission capacity to enable the growth of renewables. Our projects are particularly reliant on the Central West Orana renewable energy zone and the Marinus link transmission projects, among others", Francia added. The Albanese government is currently rolling out the 20 billion AUD Rewiring the Nation Plan to upgrade and modernize the electricity grid and enable significant growth in renewables capacity. Related articles: The PM announced a Strategic Partnership with the Philippines. A stronger partnership between Australia and the Philippines | Prime Minister of Australia The PM discussed Philippine relations, China relations and the G20 at a doorstop. https://canberraiq.com.au/downloads/2023-9-8-6.docx About ACEN ACEN (PSE:ACEN) is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. The company has ~4,500 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, with a renewable share of 98%, which is among the highest in the region. ACEN's aspiration is to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 20 GW of renewables capacity by 2030. ACEN is committed to transition the company's generation portfolio to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and to become a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050. www.acenrenewables.com DISCLAIMER: This disclosure may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors and opportunities that may affect ACEN's plans to complete the transaction/s subject of this disclosure. Each forward-looking statement is made only as of the date of this disclosure. Outcomes of the subject transaction may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this disclosure. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/australia-prime-minister-lauds-acen-australia-investments-301923497.html SOURCE ACEN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Gatik's Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder, Arjun Narang, Honored as a 2023 Automotive News Rising Star Automotive News has named Arjun Narang, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Gatik, a 2023 Rising Star. The prestigious award recognizes innovative and influential leaders in the automotive space who are making significant, industry-defining contributions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911787404/en/ Arjun Narang, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Gatik, honored as a 2023 Automotive News Rising Star. (Photo: Business Wire) Narang, a pioneer in the field of robotics and autonomous vehicles (AVs), was recognized for his leadership role in the development and commercial deployment of Gatik's industry-leading autonomous driving technology, which has been deployed to create a more reliable and efficient supply chain for North America's largest grocers, retailers, distributors, e-commerce platforms, and consumer packaged goods companies. Over the past 12 months, Narang has led Gatik through a period of unparalleled success. In March of this year, Gatik announced a commercial collaboration with Kroger, America's largest grocer. Under the agreement, Gatik's medium-duty autonomous box trucks transport fresh, customer-favorite products from a Kroger Customer Fulfillment Center (CFC) in Dallas, Texas, to multiple retail locations. Earlier this month, Gatik announced a long-term partnership with Tyson Foods, one of the world's largest food companies, to deploy Gatik's autonomous refrigerated box trucks within Tyson's Northwest Arkansas logistics network to build a more responsive and flexible supply chain. Narang's deep technical expertise and innovative leadership approach to solving complex engineering challenges has underpinned Gatik's remarkable progress, and seen the company expand its commercial partnerships to more than 10 Fortune 500 customers including Walmart, Pitney Bowes, Georgia-Pacific, KBX, and Loblaw. "I am deeply honored to receive the 2023 Rising Star award during such a pivotal time in the autonomous transportation industry," said Arjun Narang, Chief Technology Officer and co-founder, Gatik. "This recognition from Automotive News is a testament to Gatik's segment-changing technology, made possible by our entire team's dedication to redefining the logistics landscape with our autonomous middle mile delivery solution. I look forward to continuing our mission to make B2B short-haul logistics safer, more reliable, and more efficient for our customers." As CTO, Narang leads the integration of Gatik's proprietary autonomous driving technology with the most experienced OEMs, technical and maintenance partners from across the globe to safely scale Gatik's autonomous solution. Today, the company works with industry leaders such as Isuzu, Goodyear, Ryder, and Cummins. Earlier this year, Narang led Gatik's partnership with Goodyear to integrate intelligent tires, powered by Goodyear SightLine technology, into Gatik's fleet to enhance vehicle safety and performance, increasing efficiency and value for Gatik's customers in the middle mile market. Narang has spent over a decade working in the robotics and AV space with expertise in perception, sensor fusion-based SLAM, probabilistic modeling and multi-task learning. Prior to co-founding Gatik in 2017, he led research at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, building robots and intelligent systems that are able to operate autonomously in complex and open-ended environments. Narang has made critical research contributions in the field of autonomous systems at Waseda University (Japan), CUNY (USA), and Carnegie Robotics (USA). He earned his M.S. (with a focus on Robotics and AI) from Purdue University and B.E. from BITS Pilani, India. Gatik's approach to structured autonomy has enabled the company to achieve a 100% safety record during autonomous operations across each of its deployment sites in North America. The company focuses exclusively on facilitating frequent, point-to-point deliveries across the middle mile to maximize safety, using proprietary, commercial-grade autonomous technology that is purpose built for B2B short-haul logistics. Under Narang's technical leadership, in 2021, Gatik became the first autonomous trucking company worldwide to remove the safety driver from a commercial delivery route on the middle mile with Walmart. In 2022, Gatik made history once again by successfully launching driverless commercial operations with Loblaw in Canada. Arjun Narang joins his fellow Gatik co-founders as Automotive News award recipients. In 2022, Gatik's Chief Engineer and co-founder, Apeksha Kumavat, was honored as a 2022 Rising Star by Automotive News. In 2021, Gatik's CEO and co-founder, Gautam Narang, was named to Automotive News' All Stars list. The complete 2023 Automotive News Rising Star award list can be found here. About Gatik Gatik, the leader in autonomous middle mile logistics, delivers goods safely and efficiently using its fleet of light and medium duty trucks. The company focuses on short-haul, B2B logistics for Fortune 500 customers including Kroger, Walmart, Tyson Foods, Loblaw, Pitney Bowes, Georgia-Pacific and KBX, and in 2021 became the first company worldwide to operate fully driverless commercial deliveries on the middle mile. Gatik's Class 3 - 7 autonomous box trucks are commercially deployed in multiple markets including Texas, Arkansas and Ontario, Canada. Founded in 2017 by veterans of the autonomous vehicle industry, Gatik partners with industry leaders such as Isuzu, Ryder, Goodyear and Cummins. Gatik was recognized in 2022 as a TIME Best Invention, featured on Fast Company's 2023 list of World's Most Innovative Companies, and named as one of America's Best Startup Employers by Forbes in 2022 and 2023. The company is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For more information, visit www.gatik.ai and follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911787404/en/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Iran does not see any obstacle to the nuclear talks being resumed and be finalized with an agreement, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani said, Trend reports. Bagheri Kani added that the current government of Iran (which has been in power since August 2021) has never closed the way for discussions. The Iranian government strives to ensure the national interest and wants to reach a balanced agreement. In this direction, the government is trying to achieve the cancellation of the sanctions imposed against Iran, the deputy minister added. In discussions on nuclear program, Iran is mainly trying to achieve the abolition of sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, the removal of its funds frozen abroad, and the abolition of the restriction on the export of crude oil. In return, the US and Western countries want Iran not to acquire an atomic bomb, to keep its nuclear program under control, and to reduce the level of uranium enrichment. On May 8, 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the 5+1 group (Russia, China, the UK, France, the US, and Germany) and imposed new sanctions against Iran as of November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports and more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals. The sanctions have resulted in the freezing of Iranian assets abroad. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur [September 11, 2023] Thomas Park Management Welcomes Amy Natoli as Vice President of Operations; Awarded Management for the Brick Companies Office and Retail Portfolio Tweet Thomas Park, a fast-growing full-service real estate firm, is pleased to announce that Amy Natoli has joined the company as Vice President of Operations. In addition, Thomas Park Management has been selected as the exclusive property management firm for four of The Brick Companies class-A commercial assets. Natoli brings over 20 years of experience in property management, leasing, and operations to Thomas Park. In addition to overseeing Thomas Park's property management team, Natoli will spearhead the implementation of strategic growth initiatives for the firm. "Amy is a seasoned professional with a proven track record of delivering exceptional results for property owners and tenants," said Mason Popham, Executive Vice President of Thomas Park. "She has a deep understanding of real estate and property management and can cater to the unique needs of our clients. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to her contributions to our growth and success." Natoli joins Thomas Park from The Brick Companies, where she served in various roles for 20+ years, most recently as Vice President. At The Brick Companies, she was responsible for managing a diverse portfolio f office, retail, industrial, and marina properties across Maryland and Virginia. Natoli also holds CPM and RPA certifications through IREM. She has received several IREM awards including CPM of the Year, President's Award, and Volunteer of the Year. Her industry involvement with IREM includes past and current leadership roles such as Director, Vice Chair, Chairperson, along with past President of the Maryland IREM Chapter. Amy is also focused on professional development, both as an IREM Instructor, and Vice Chair of the region's Education Committee. Thomas Park was also awarded a property management contract from The Brick Companies for four Maryland-based buildings. The portfolio consists of office and retail properties totaling over 300,000 square feet. "We are confident that Thomas Park Management will serve our buildings and tenants in the class A manner they are known for." said Joan Renner, Co-CEO of The Brick Companies. "We look forward to building a fruitful relationship with a great local partner into the future." About Thomas Park Thomas Park is a full service commercial real estate firm offering alternative investment strategies and third party commercial real estate services. Thomas Park Investments (TPI) is one of the fastest growing private equity real estate investment firms on the East Coast, having grown AUM to $300 million in 2.5 years focused exclusively on healthcare real estate. Thomas Park Management (TPM) manages over 8.5 million SF of commercial space along the East Coast and has a 30+ year track record in the commercial real estate industry. For more information, please visit www.thomaspark.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911644933/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Medigene AG to present at the Baader Investment Conference 2023 Planegg/Martinsried, September 11, 2023. Medigene AG (Medigene or the Company, FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard), an immuno-oncology platform company focusing on the discovery and development of T cell immunotherapies for solid tumors, will be presenting at the Baader Investment Conference 2023 in Munich to be held from September 18-21, 2023. Corporate presentation - Baader Investment Conference 2023 https://www.baaderinvestmentconference.com/ Date and time: Monday, September 18, 2023, 2:10 pm 2:50 pm (local time) Location: Sofitel Munich Bayerpost in Munich Speaker: Dr. Selwyn Ho, CEO Members of Medigenes management team will be available for one-on-one meetings at the event. Please contact Julia von Humme of MC Services at [email protected] to schedule a meeting. --- end of press release --- About Medigene AG Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1) is an immuno-oncology platform company dedicated to developing T cell therapies to effectively eliminate cancer. Its end-to-end technology platform is built on multiple proprietary product development and product enhancement technologies and allows Medigene to create best-in-class differentiated, T cell receptor engineered T cell (TCR-T) therapies for multiple solid tumor indications that are optimized for both safety and efficacy. This platform provides product candidates for both its in-house therapeutics pipeline and partnering. For more information, please visit www.medigene.com Medigene Pamela Keck Phone: +49 89 2000 3333 01 Email: [email protected] In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail ( [email protected] ). We will then delete your address from our distribution list. [September 11, 2023] American Water Charitable Foundation Provides $20,000 in Disaster Relief to Support West Virginia American Water Communities Tweet The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., announced today that it is providing a $20,000 disaster relief grant to the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region to support communities impacted by heavy rains and flash floods in the West Virginia American Water footprint. "West Virginia American Water, in collaboration with the American Water Charitable Foundation, is pleased to join the ongoing cleanup efforts across the state of West Virginia to support families and communities impacted by the devastating floods," said Robert Burton, president, West Virginia American Water. "We understand how critical clean, safe drinking water is in our daily lives and in times of emergencies. We hope this contribution can provide some assistance and relief to the residents of these affected communities." The Foundation's Disaster Relief Grant Program is designed to increase the impact of American Water employee donations made in response to natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, fires and other extraordinary disaster events. "The American Water Charitable Foundation is pleased to join the many others who have contributed their time and resources to support those impacted by the floods," said Carrie Williams, president, American Water Charitable Foundation. "We extend our sincere appreciation to the American Red Cross who help make certain charitable dollars get to where they are needed most." American Red Cross Regional Chief Executive, Erica Mani said, "Our local American Red Cross team is so grateful for the generous financial support from the American Water Charitable Foundation and West Virginia American Water that made it possible to help families impacted by the major flooding that swept through our local area last week. Strong community partners like West Virginia American Water fuel the Red Cross mission and ensure we can respond to disaster immediately when people need us most." Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation here. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. About American Water Charitable Foundation The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company's ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf and follow the American Water Charitable Foundation on Facebook. About West Virginia American Water West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 587,000 people. About American Red Cross Central Appalachian Region The American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region delivers services throughout 77 counties in WV, VA, MD, OH and KY. We help our communities prepare for and respond to disasters 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911327042/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] PUSHFOR Enters Into an Option Agreement with Primus Resources on Lithium Project in Western Nevada Tweet Delta, British Columbia, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pushfor Tech Inc. (the Company or Push) (CSE: PUSH) (OTC Pinks: PUSOF) has entered into an option agreement with Primus Resources (Primus), a Nevada-based privately held company, whereby Push has secured the rights to earn a 100% interest in the AT Lithium Project, (the Project). This agreement with Primus provides Push an opportunity to be involved within the active Esmerelda Lithium corridor of Western Nevada with only modest cash expenditures required for the first two years of a six-year option. While the Company plans its review of the Project over the next year or two, it continues to work with its existing technology assets, and its new management team is looking at other acquisitions in various fields, including clean energy and agribusiness, to help drive shareholder value. About the AT Lithium Prospect The AT Property is situated in the Amargosa Valley within Nye County, Nevada. It can be reached by travelling southeast on Hwy 95 from Beatty for 29 miles to Lathrop Wells / Amargosa Valley, then south on Nevada Highway 373 for thirteen miles to the northern boundary of the claim block. The AT Property consists of 131 lode mining claims situated on unencumbered BLM land in the State of Nevada. The AT Property currently encompasses approximately 2,600 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Public Domain. The AT Property was initially identified from information in USGS Professional Paper 918: Lithium in Unconsolidated Sediments and Plants of the Basin and Range Province, Southern California and Nevada (1975). Summary of Terms for the AT Lithium Option Agreement Under the terms of the option agreement, Push will, at its option, make the following cash and share payments and work commitments to Primus if the results of its investigative programs warrant. No shares will be issued until the third year, assuming the Company determines to continue with the option agreement. Term Cash Payments Work Commitments Share Payments At closing $50,000 (paid) n/a 1st Anniversary $40,000 2nd Anniversary $50,000 $75,000 100,000 shares 3rd Anniversary $50,000 $150,000 100,000 shares 4th Anniversary $50,000 $225,000 100,000 shares 5th Anniversary $50,000 $350,000 100,000 shares 6th Anniversary $395,000 Totals $675,000 $800,000 400,000 shares NSR Under the terms of the agreement, Primus will receive a 2.0% Net Smelter Return (NSR) with buydown provisions allowing the Company to purchase one-half of the NSR, representing 1% for $1.5 million. Next Steps at the AT Lithium Prospect Push plans to commence a basic Phase I exploration of its proposed systematic work program at the AT property this fall. The initial exploration will begin with geological mapping, prospecting, soil geochemistry, and possibly some auger drilling. The objective of the work will be to delineate near-term drill targets, with a plan to do follow-up with first-pass RC drilling as soon as permits have been received. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lucky Janda Lucky Janda, CEO & Director [email protected] 1-604-357-4731 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law, including, without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of certain agreements and developments. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions based on several estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include Covid-19 restrictions, market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Companys filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] First Trust Announces Appointment of New Trustee for Funds Tweet The exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and variable insurance funds (collectively, the "Funds") advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. ("FTA") announced the appointment of Ms. Bronwyn Wright as a Trustee of certain of the Funds, effective September 10, 2023. Ms. Wright has been appointed as a Trustee of all Funds except the exchange-traded funds included in the First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund and the First Trust Dynamic Europe Equity Income Fund, a closed-end fund. Ms. Wright has acted as an independent director to a number of Irish collective investment funds since 2009. Ms. Wright is a former Managing Director of Citibank Europe plc and Head of Securities and Fund Services for Citi Ireland. In these positions, she was responsible for the management and strategic direction of Citi Ireland's securities and fund services business which included funds, custody, security finance/lending and global agency and trust. She also had responsibility for leading, managing and growing the Trustee, Custodian and Depositary business in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Jersey and Cayman. The appointment is applicable to all exchange-traded funds, mutual funds and variable insurance funds included in the following trusts: First Trust Series und, First Trust Variable Insurance Trust, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund II, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund III, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund IV, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund V, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VI, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VII, First Trust Exchange-Traded Fund VIII, First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX Fund and First Trust Exchange-Traded AlphaDEX Fund II. In connection with the closed-end funds advised by FTA, Ms. Wright has been appointed as a Class III Trustee of the First Trust Senior Floating Rate Income Fund II, Macquarie/First Trust Global Infrastructure/Utilities Dividend & Income Fund, First Trust Energy Income and Growth Fund, First Trust Enhanced Equity Income Fund, First Trust/abrdn Global Opportunity Income Fund, First Trust Mortgage Income Fund, First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund, First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund, First Trust Energy Infrastructure Fund, First Trust MLP and Energy Income Fund, First Trust Intermediate Duration Preferred & Income Fund, First Trust New Opportunities MLP & Energy Fund and First Trust High Yield Opportunities 2027 Term Fund. Ms. Wright has also been appointed as a member of the Audit Committee, the Valuation Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee for each of the applicable Funds. FTA is a federally registered investment advisor and serves as the Funds' investment advisor. FTA and its affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P. ("FTP"), a FINRA registered broker-dealer, are privately-held companies that provide a variety of investment services. FTA has collective assets under management or supervision of approximately $202 billion as of August 31, 2023 through unit investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds, variable insurance funds and separately managed accounts. FTA is the supervisor of the First Trust unit investment trusts, while FTP is the sponsor. FTP is also a distributor of mutual fund shares and exchange-traded fund creation units. FTA and FTP are based in Wheaton, Illinois. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911267425/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] STEER Announces Senior Management Change Tweet STEER Technologies Inc. ("STEER" or the "Company") (TSXV: STER), (OTCQX: STEEF), an integrated ESG technology platform, today announced a change to its senior management team with Suman Pushparajah having been terminated as the Company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Following his termination, Mr. Pushparajah will continue to serve as a director of the Company. In order to ensure continuity going forward, the Company has appointed Mr. Junaid Razvi, the Company's founder and Chairman of the Board who has remained active in the business since inception, as interim CEO. The Company is commencing a search process to identify a suitable successor to fill the role of CEO on a permanent basis. "STEER's Board of Directors today announced the termination of Suman Pushparajah as the Company's CEO. We felt this was necessary at this time to ensure that the best interests of the Company continue to be pursued and carried out," said Mr. Razvi. About the Company STEER is an integrated ESG technology platform that moves people and delivers things through subscription and on-demand services. The Company's goal is to build a one-of-a-kind ecosystem that aggregates conscientious users, through a series of connected offerings, and enables them to buy, sell, or invest with the same platform, STEER. The Company's offerings generally fall into two categories: subscription-based offerings led by its flagship electric vehicle subscription business, STEER EV, and on-demand services incorporating delivery, B2B marketplace, Delivery-as-a-Service (DaaS) and rideshare businesses. The Company's platform is also powered by EcoCRED, its big data, analytics and machine learning engine which seeks to capture, analyze, parse and report on key data points in ways that measure the Company's impact on carbn reductions and offsets. For more about the Company, visit www.steeresg.com. Junaid Razvi, Chairman of the Board [email protected] STEER 100 Consilium Pl, Unit 400 Scarborough, ON Canada M1H 3E3 www.steeresg.com Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this press release contains forward-looking information, including with respect to the Company's business, operations and condition, management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions, and the company's forward plans to rebrand. This information is based on management's reasonable assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to us and are made as of the date of this press release. Actual results and the timing of events, such as those pertaining to success of the Company's search for a suitable Chief Executive, may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information as a result of various factors. Information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which we operate is forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances. Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. See "Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) for the year ended December 31, 2022 (filed on SEDAR on May 1, 2023) and its interim MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2023 (filed on SEDAR on May 30, 2023) for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements and other risks. Readers are urged to consider the uncertainties, risks and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. We have no intention and undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation and regulatory requirements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911953428/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] Sensor Tower Unveils Key Executive Leadership Changes for Continued Growth Tweet Global market intelligence leader Sensor Tower today announced a series of leadership appointments as the company scales operations to drive future growth and innovation. "Sensor Tower continues to be a leader in market intelligence. Witnessing consistent double-digit growth and strong profitability, our vision is clear: to be the industry standard for market intelligence," expressed Oliver Yeh, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sensor Tower. "To deliver on this vision, we're enhancing our leadership team." Key leadership promotions announced by Sensor Tower today include: Oliver Yeh - Chief Executive Officer Anthony Bartolacci - Chief Strategy Officer - Tom Cui - Chief Operating Officer - William Merchan - Chief Revenue Officer - Casey Ryan - Chief People Officer "Our revamped executive lineup, with Anthony, Tom, William, and Casey in these pivotal roles, underscores our commitment to providing our customers with cutting edge and actionable insights," said Yeh. /p> Concluding, Yeh emphasized, "With these leadership enhancements, and the continued leadership from Mike Bohn as Chief Compliance Officer and Greg Rosen as Chief Product Officer, I'm confident in our capability to deliver unparalleled value to our customers and partners. The future is bright for Sensor Tower and this is just the beginning." About Sensor Tower Sensor Tower is the leading provider of market intelligence and insights for the global app economy. Founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, CA, Sensor Tower provides enterprise-level data on mobile apps and publishers through our Store Intelligence, Ad Intelligence, Usage Intelligence, and App Intelligence platforms, which offer download, revenue, share of voice, and engagement metrics at unparalleled accuracy for the world's most important markets. For more information, please visit www.sensortower.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911706538/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [September 11, 2023] UST and mistEO Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Climate Risk Management in the Insurance and Banking Sectors Tweet Collaboration will streamline climate risks insights, helping organizations incorporate climate resiliency into business strategy MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UST, a leading digital transformation solutions company, and mistEO, a climate fintech company, have announced their strategic partnership to address the pressing need for accurate, localized weather and climate risk data in the insurance and banking industries. With climate-related risks on the rise, insurers and banks face escalating costs due to the absence of reliable, hyper-localized projections. Through this partnership, mistEO will collaborate closely with UST to empower its insurance and banking clients across the US market with invaluable insights into weather and climate risks, specifically in the Property & Casualty (P&C) and Travel Insurance segments. The global surge in extreme weather events and the evolving climate landscape have intensified the challenges insurance and banking companies face in quantifying and managing climate-related risks. Traditionally, the lack of precise, localized weather data has resulted in substantial underwriting uncertainty and inflated insurance premiums. With mistEO's cutting-edge weather analytics and climate modeling expertise, UST aims to bridge the gap between critical data and insurance product development. By leveraging mistEO's ability to predict localized climate events with precision, UST will be able to provide clients with accurate risk assessment models associated with climate events. These cutting-edge models will enable them to make informed decisions and offer tailored insurance products that truly reflect the exposure to weather and climate-related perils, reducing underwriting uncertainty. "This partnership marks an exciting juncture in the weather insurance and climate financing space worldwide. As climate risks continue to reshape business landscapes, there xists immense potential for innovation and adaptation. We are thrilled to join forces with UST to pioneer data-driven solutions that empower businesses to navigate these challenges effectively. Our joint efforts will redefine risk management and lay the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable future," said Samuel John, Chief Executive Officer, mistEO. "UST's strategic partnership with mistEO highlights our longstanding commitment to leading with innovation. With our combined expertise, we will harness the power of disruptive technologies to deliver unparalleled value to our Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance clients. Furthermore, this exciting partnership allows us to provide climate decision intelligence to enhance investment management decisions, lending, and insurance underwriting, as well as provide critical datapoints in assessing ESG strategy and risks. As greater understanding of climate risks becomes integral to business operations, our partnership with mistEO is pivotal to crafting sustainable solutions that allow clients to manage climate risk while simultaneously empowering the industry through transformative technologies," said Maureen Doyle-Spare, General Manager - Financial Services, UST. The UST-mistEO partnership serves as a prominent example of the convergence of technological innovation and environmental consciousness. Together, they are poised to revolutionize the insurance and banking sectors, offering reliable solutions to one of the most pressing challenges of our time. About mistEO mistEO is a climate fintech company providing climate change adaptation know-how and technologies to private enterprises (B2B) and governments (B2G). mistEO's customers manage their climate risks better using the company's platform that orchestrates Spatio-Temporal Analytics, Weather Modelling, Machine Learning and Blockchain and their in-house expertise in Climate Economics and Actuarial Science. For more information visit: https://misteo.co/ Media Contact, MistEO: [email protected] About UST For more than 24 years, UST has worked with the world's best companies to make a real impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Through our nimble approach, we identify their core challenges and craft disruptive solutions that bring their vision to life. With deep domain expertise and a future-proof philosophy, we embed innovation and agility into our clients' organizations, delivering measurable value and lasting change across industries and worldwide. Together, with over 30,000 employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impacttouching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com Media Contacts, UST: Tinu Cherian Abraham +1 (949) 415-9857 Merrick Laravea +1 (949) 416-6212 Neha Misri +91-9284726602 Roshni Das K +91 7736795557 [email protected] Media Contacts, U.S.: S&C PR +1-646.941.9139 [email protected] Makovsky [email protected] Media Contacts, U.K.: FTI Consulting [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ust-and-misteo-forge-strategic-partnership-to-revolutionize-climate-risk-management-in-the-insurance-and-banking-sectors-301923366.html SOURCE UST [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The 87th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) opened on Saturday without the formal inauguration and press conference on Sunday by the prime minister, who has postponed his appearance due to the deadly storm this past week and a state of emergency in several areas. TIF, Greece's annual international trade fair held at the TIF-Helexpo premises, will host nearly 1,500 direct and indirect exhibitors with 18 state participants, three of them for the first time (Moldova, South Korea, and Thailand). Their pavilions will cover the entire floor space of 33,000 square meters. This year the honored country is the Republic of Bulgaria, which has been participating in the fair since its start in 1926. Entrance fees: General, 8 euros. Children 4 or under are admitted for free, children 5-10 pay 5 euros, and a family ticket (up to four members) is 25 euros. People with tickets to the Fair will be able to attend free a concert every night at the YMCA Arch. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou paid a visit to the 87th Thessaloniki International Fair on Monday afternoon, meeting with her Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev at the pavilion of Bulgaria, this year's honoree at the Fair. Bulgaria has been participating in the Fair since it opened in 1926, ANA reports. The two presidents toured the pavilion and were briefed by exhibitors on Bulgarian applications and services, such as the first drone cargo to be produced globally, and innovative applications of information and technology companies. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi has urged Iran to work with the Agency in earnest and in a sustained way towards the fulfillment of the commitments contained in the Joint Statement signed in Tehran on March 4, Trend reports. According to Grossi, the Joint Statement envisaged a process for clarifying safeguards issues and resuming JCPOA-related verification and monitoring activities. However, no further progress has been made in implementing the activities set out in the Joint Statement since then. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has expressed its concern over Irans continued non-compliance with its nuclear-related obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA). In his latest reports to the Board of Governors, the IAEA Director General has highlighted the serious impact of Irans decisions to stop implementing its commitments and to remove the Agencys surveillance and monitoring equipment. According to the report on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), Iran has not provided the Agency with access to sites and locations where nuclear activities may have taken place since February 2021, when it stopped provisionally applying its Additional Protocol. This has prevented the agency from verifying and monitoring Irans nuclear program and ensuring its peaceful nature. The report on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran also reveals that Iran has not resolved several outstanding safeguards issues that stem from its obligations under its CSA. These include providing credible explanations for the presence of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at Varamin and Turquzabad, informing the Agency of the current location(s) of related nuclear material and/or contaminated equipment, resolving the discrepancy in the nuclear material balance evaluation relating to the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), and implementing modified Code 3.1. The IAEA Board of Governors is expected to discuss these reports and adopt a resolution on Irans nuclear program at its meeting on September 1317. The resolution may call on Iran to cooperate fully with the Agency and to reverse its steps away from the JCPOA. It may also express support for the diplomatic efforts to revive the JCPOA and restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program. Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is counting on support from the Greater Toronto Areas Tamil community on Sept. 26. The annual SHN Foundation Tamil Radiothon on East FM 102.7 aims to raise at least $200,000 by stressing the ties between the hospital and the community. Patients, staff and volunteers at SHN will be interviewed during the broadcast from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. As the community continues to rally behind this vital cause, the SHN Foundations Tamil Radiothon exemplifies the strength of unity and the power of philanthropy, community organizers said in a release. It showcases the boundless potential when organizations, individuals and media join forces to create a brighter and healthier future for all. The Canadian Tamils Chamber of Commerce (CTCC) has raised a total of $1 million for the hospital through annual radiothons and walkathons. It launched this years fundraising at an Aug. 24 event in Markham at which Dr. Elan Ampalavanar, SHNs associate medical director of emergency medicine, spoke about the need to enhance the hospitals emergency departments. After many years with overcrowded facilities, the hospital is entering a period of redevelopment and expansion. This will include bigger and better emergency departments at its Centenary and Birchmount campuses, a diagnostic imaging concourse at SHN General, the Bridletowne community hub, and a school for doctors and other health professionals at University of Toronto Scarborough. It could have been a black-and-white kitty curled up in the sun. But its tail was too fluffy, and the pair of stripes curving back over its shoulders were too classy, too elegant somehow. So nope, not a house cat. The creature napping peacefully in the doorway of our shed, left open by mistake the night before, was a skunk. I watched out the window in fascination the best, longest look Ive ever had at this notorious nocturnal neighbour as it shifted about, scratched a bit, then lowered its head and went to sleep. Was it by chance that its white brush-cut hairdo was hidden under its tail, leaving the glossy black fur of its back to absorb the warming rays? This was the first chilly day of late summer. We catch whiffs by night through open windows from time to time, but Id never seen a skunk in the yard before. I went to find my camera and started snapping pictures, taking several when the shed door creaked in a gust of wind, startling the sleeping animal. Eventually I crept out around the back of the car, shooting from different angles. My skunk slept on. And on and on. Trouble came when my husband had to slip into the shed for a box of canning jars for his bumper crop of tomatoes, rattling the aluminum ladder he had to climb. Fortunately, calm and patience got him out again. My own close encounter came when the sun moved west, our visitor woke up in shadow and emerged onto the driveway, irresistible for a full-on photograph. When it stamped its paws and raised its glorious tail, I backed away. As soon as it waddled off around the shed, I quickly closed and bolted the doors, so it wouldnt choose to make itself at home. Imagine my surprise when, watering plants on the front porch two hours later, I glanced down and found a furry black-and-white form curled up in front of the bottom step, dozing on the sun-warmed flagstones! Once again, we were tiptoeing, Dennis and I. Until at dusk, I peeked out once more and found our uncommon guest wide awake and nosing about the lawn, gobbling up grubs and ants and beetles, its white tail tufts, stripes and topknot quite visible in the gloaming. Under the lilacs, along the laneway and across the road it wandered, jumping with alarm when a bicyclist peddled past nearby, then relaxing again. My day with the skunk ended as it disappeared into the cedars, and we havent seen it since. Nature queries can be sent to mcarney1490@gmail.com or 905-725-2116. Doppelganger is the kind of book you underline, fill the margins with exclamation marks out of recognition, and to reinforce the ideas and explanations. Naomi Kleins first big breakthrough book was No Logo in 1999. Less than a decade earlier, Naomi Wolfs breakthrough book was The Beauty Myth. But this was all before social media, or at least just before it became an entrenched part of our daily lives. When the two Naomis became confused on social media one firmly on the left (Klein), the other (Wolf) becoming the poster person for leaving the left for the right, becoming more and more entrenched in conspiracy theories it became a way for Klein to talk about the mirror world we find ourselves in, where conspiracy theories are seen as truth and the truth can be hard to discern. The Star spoke with her about her journey down the rabbit hole and the road shes trying to map to find a way out. You and your publisher have both described this book as your most personal yet. Why did that matter? Why did it need to be personal? It starts quite personally but broadens out from there. It uses a personal experience, and then follows it to explore parts of our world and ideas. I see the book as a deep dive into many of the wild and unsupported conspiracy theories that are marking our time and really coalesced during the pandemic. I think that our world has been reshaped, and there are a lot of us trying to map and figure out what is this place were in now. I think this conspiracy culture these really arent coherent theories as much as it is a kind of flight into all kinds of fantasies, many of which contradict each other I wanted to write from kind of inside the chaos and not put myself outside of it, because Im not outside of it. I think were all impacted by this. In the book, the conflation between you and Naomi Wolf seems a natural metaphor for the mirror world of the web. How long did it take for you to see it that way? And when did you think doing that comparison in the book was a good idea? This is a very different writing process for me. I saw the writing as experimental. Each of my earlier books had like a very clear thesis. One of the things that made it different is that it was a secret book. I had 10 chapters completely written before I told an editor or an agent that it existed, because I wanted an out. Why did you want an out? Because I wanted to be sure. I wrote my way through it. I found a lot out through writing this book. Although the book does put forward arguments in the end about how we should make sense of it, and I do hope that it serves a similar kind of orienting role that my earlier books have done, providing a kind of a map of a moment. But it is more literary in the sense that it uses the figure of the doppelganger to understand everything from personal branding, to the way societies can slip into their evil twins, to the way the Earth can slip into a kind of alter-Earth, which I think were seeing right now in places like, most recently, Maui. Its also firmly set in pop culture. My earliest writing, including in the Toronto Star was where culture and politics meet. I find it really fun to write about films and novels, and to look at what art can teach us about the moment that were in and doppelgangers really lend itself to that. Once I stepped back and got over whatever personal inconvenience there is in being confused with somebody who is doing things that you find pretty embarrassing and dangerous, and had the distance to look at this really rich figure of the doppelganger, which recurs in mythology and in the history of literature and psychoanalysis, and does seem to emerge with greater strength during moments of extreme sort of horror. You mention typing your name into Twitter and it autocompleted with the other Naomis name. If thats what AI is doing, conflating identities, thats pretty scary. I dont see it as just being about me. I think that what happened with my identity confusion is really starting to happen to a great many people. I think were all going to meet our deep fake doppelgangers very soon, if we havent already. And that we really are now in this kind of strange world of doubles. I finished the book when ChatGPT came out and a friend of mine, Molly Crabapple, whos a wonderful visual artist and who Ive collaborated on projects with, sent me a screengrab of a cityscape in the style of Molly Crabapple into a program like DALL-E and it spits out this doppelganger Molly art. Which is an identity-shattering event for an artist because why would anybody want the original? Or maybe fewer people would want the original. Even though, when I started, it felt very specific and niche, the deeper I went the more it felt like, whoa, theres so many parts of this that I think many, many more of us are gonna experience. And were all helping to create these doubles of ourselves. I look at the way we form our own doubles, by creating avatars and personal brands, and the replicas that represent us more and more in the online world. Its not unreal, because things that happen there have very real impacts. But we also know that the avatar, the persona were performing on social media is adjacent to us, but not us. And that sort of proximate version of us that exists in the ether is much easier to confuse with proximate versions of other people. Were all looking at these thumbnail-sized replicas. I know that there are five people named Alex on Twitter who Im constantly confusing I dont know any of these people! I think our brains arent built to be exposed to as many faces as we are exposed to on platforms with names like Facebook. And so its ripe for confusion. And then on top of that, we have these technologies that are built to to create fake replicas. And that is fuelling the sense of vertigo and instability that are the horrors that were not looking at while were looking at reflections of ourselves. I think ultimately the book is about: What are we avoiding as we gaze into these different kinds of mirrors and engage in these different kinds of elaborate abstractions? Because, you know, I do see conspiracy culture as a kind of mass distraction machine. At one point in the book you talk about the idea of self-preservation, how all of the negative news has led to denial. And denial needs a cover story. Conspiracy culture provides that; its about self-preservation, which I think helps explain it, but also allows us a way of empathizing, of understanding. I hope so. We demand the right to not have to look at the reality of our country because its hard. Its very hard to be alive to all of these overlapping emergencies. And I dont think its a coincidence that people are choosing to take flight into fantasy. But what I want to argue is that conspiracy culture is not the only way that you can take flight from reality. You can gaze into your phone forever, you know, you can make your personal brand into your flight into fantasy. You can make your obsession with Barbie into a flight into fantasy. Theres so many ways that I think people who are not them, not crazies can feel smug and superior, because we are the ones living in reality, but I just want to say: are we? I know I spend more time on X (formerly known as Twitter) than I care to admit going down rabbit holes. You mention that you needed help being yanked out of the rabbit holes by your nearest and dearest. How far into them did you go? I had fun writing this book and I think I leaned into the unstable narrator character at the top. One of the things that I was struck by is that the line between investigative journalism and conspiracy theory is never as stable as we might like to think. When I was writing Shock Doctrine, my walls were covered in cue cards, and if somebody walked in and saw my office, it would have looked not dissimilar, as I was keeping track of all of these threads. The difference has to do with a willingness to be changed by our research, to have our theses challenged when the facts change. It has to do with a willingness to hand our material over to fact checkers and lawyers and editors, and to take time to verify. You mentioned toward the end of the book the idea of unselfing. What does that mean? I was stressed as I was exploring these different kinds of doublings, different kinds of doppelgangers, whether its the way we create our personal brands and our avatars, the way we endlessly distract ourselves with the idea that we can fortress and protect ourselves through perfect health and wellness, or protecting our kids and our families. These were all examples of the self just taking up too much space and getting in the way of seeing each other, and seeing our moment in history and seeing the rest of the world. Im not arguing that we ever can truly unself and annihilate our ego, but what having a doppelganger who does things that you find horrifying does is make it very clear that you can do whatever you like to polish your image, but its all for naught if theres somebody out there whos doing what theyre doing and countless numbers of people think that is you. You can either be horrified by that (or release) the grip on the ego. Binary thinking is everywhere and so nuance gets lost in so many discussions. Its either yes or no and everything becomes so reductionist. Why do you think that is? And what has it cost us in terms of trying to understand whats going on around us? I think particularly at the height of the pandemic, there was really a feeling at a lot of news organizations that because misinformation was spreading so virulently, that you didnt want to give any oxygen to anything that was getting traction in the conspiracy world (such as the safety of vaccinations). I think its understandable why some news organizations might not want to fuel it, but I think its a huge mistake not to cover, to bring an us-them or an ideological lens to what you choose to cover because it just drives people further into that world. The other Naomi said no to talking with you for the book. What are you expecting the reaction to be when this comes out? What do you hope will happen? I hope that when the book comes out, and if she chooses to read it, she will see that the book is not about her. I hope her ego allows for her to see that, that she is but a mere literary device to get (into) much broader and much more universal themes and topic. There are ways that I really do try to approach her with empathy. I disagree with her. I think shes part of a network of people who are spreading very dangerous misinformation. At one point, you write, who was I without a story of possible salvation to share? How do you answer that question for yourself? I still think that theres a lot that can be done to reduce the severity of whats coming and to care for one another as we face the worst. Ive been writing for years now about what is happening on our borders as a kind of climate barbarism. That we know on some level, whether people are admitting that this has anything to do with climate or not, that we have entered in a new mass migration and the drivers are multiple. Its poverty, its climate. Thats the fortress mentality, all I need to care about is me, my family, my country, I dont have to care about you. We dont want to reckon with the fact that people are fleeing because of things we have done, as nations and as consumers. We are enmeshed with each other. So what are we going to do about that? I think theres still a story to tell, its not an easy story of salvation, but I dont think it ever was. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Deborah Dundas is the Stars Books editor. She is based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @debdundas BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Azerbaijan has the right to exercise its sovereignty on the Lachin road, Former Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohsen Pakayin said, Trend reports. If Azerbaijan feels any danger, such as arms being sent to Armenian separatists in Karabakh, it can close the Lachin corridor, he noted. In order to prevent the illegal transfer of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military means from Armenia to Armenian armed formations in the territory of Azerbaijan, carried out contrary to the tripartite statement of November 10, 2020, and adequate to the unilateral establishment by Armenia of a border checkpoint at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22, subdivisions of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Republic set up a border checkpoint on the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of Lachin-Khankendi road at 12:00 (GMT+4) on April 23. Ex-ambassador added that although there is an agreement on the opening of the Lachin road, this road belongs to Azerbaijan. According to Pakayin, the recognition of territorial integrity is the main issue for the establishment of a sustainable and fair peace in the South Caucasus. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur Abbas Ganbay Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has reached a new level, said Kazakh Ambassador to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel at a roundtable discussion on "Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan relations: regional cooperation", Azernews reports. "All this is the result of mutual visits of the heads of our states. This trustful dialog at the highest level is the key to the dynamic relations between the two countries. Over the past four months, the Chairman of our Majlis, Prime Minister, Minister of Transportation, and Head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations have visited Azerbaijan from Kazakhstan," he noted. The diplomat emphasized that the trade turnover between the two countries increased to $460 million in 2022, while in the first 6 months of 2023, this figure managed to increase to $300 million. "This is a positive dynamic. We have also started exporting our oil through Azerbaijan via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. We hope that the volume of oil transported in this direction will reach several million tons in the near future," Bayel said. The Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov paid an official visit to Azerbaijan in June of 2023, during which 11 joint documents were signed. These documents included the establishment of a joint enterprise by the railways administrations of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as the establishment of a joint venture for laying a fiber-optic line along the bottom of the Caspian Sea. The two countries have also agreed to increase mutual flights from 32 to 42 per week. This is part of a larger effort to increase the bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In January-May 2023, the commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan rose by 50% compared to the same period in 2022. The two countries have also signed a Comprehensive Program on the Development of Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2022-2026. This program is aimed at deepening the mutual relationship in multiple sectors, including transport, energy, trade, railway, aerospace, digital development, and others. The countries are also focusing on leveraging the Middle Corridor and integrating the Zangazur multi-modal route into it. This is expected to contribute to increasing the bilateral trade turnover, which reached $194 million in the first half of 2022. The two countries are aiming for a trade turnover of $1 billion by the end of 2023. The cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is expected to create important economic opportunities, enabling South Caucasian and Central Asian countries to benefit from China-Europe trade. The Middle Corridor is also expected to facilitate the development and deepening of Trans-Caspian cooperation. The cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan is expected to bring many benefits to the region, and the two countries are committed to deepening their relationship in multiple sectors. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. The assault on Irans diplomatic mission in Paris prompted the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a strongly-worded note of protest to France, Spokesman for Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran on Sept. 11, Trend reports. According to Kanaani, Iran strongly denounces the attack on its diplomatic mission in Paris. The spokesperson added that the assault was a violation of the embassys consular work and the rights of the citizens who sought consular services from the diplomatic mission. Kanani reminded that a few days ago France and the authorities of some European countries were warned about the possibility of an attack on the embassy. The consular department of the Iranian Embassy in Paris was set on fire by an unidentified person who hurled a Molotov cocktail at its back door on September 9, 2023. The next day, the diplomatic mission of the Islamic Republic resumed its normal operations. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur The United Arab Emirates (UAE) lit up two of its most iconic landmarks in the colors of the Moroccan flag on Sunday night in a show of solidarity after a deadly earthquake struck the country. Read More: UAE Rulers Send Condolences to Morocco Over Fatal Earthquake The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and the Adnoc headquarters in Abu Dhabi were both illuminated in red, green, and yellow, the colors of the Moroccan flag. The messages "We stand with Morocco" and "Moroccan people, we are with you" were also displayed on the buildings. pic.twitter.com/SktaVa6iin UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) September 10, 2023 Read More: Eiffel Tower Goes Dark in Solidarity With Morocco Earthquake Victims From the UAE, our deepest condolences to the Moroccan people, read a message displayed on the Adnoc building, in footage shared by Abu Dhabi Media Office. Our thoughts are with Morocco. The death toll from the earthquake in Morocco is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search for survivors. The quake destroyed many buildings in mountain villages and ancient cities, forcing people to flee their homes. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered his condolences to King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the Moroccan people for the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake. He also pledged the UAE's support for Morocco in the relief effort. King Mohammed expressed his appreciation for the gesture. By Jeff Murphy, September 11, 2023 A United States flag was supended from a Warrensburg Fire Department ladder truck, hanging over 2, 977 smaller flags on the University of Central Missouri quadrangle, as the campus community and local first responders honored victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the nation. WARRENSBURG, MO Joined by campus, city and county first responders, members of the University of Central Missouri community today honored 2,977 individuals who lost their lives during the worst terrorist attack on United States soil on Sept. 11, 2001. The Moment of Silence event took place on the west side of the university quadrangle amid rows of small U.S. flags placed on the lawn in memory of each person who perished in that incident, and whom are not forgotten. Today, we remember those lives that were lost and the impact it had on our country, said Courtney Swoboda, director of Military and Veterans Services at UCM. We thank our first responders for their work, dedication and sacrifices. We also remember the impact this day had for our military, along with serving 20 years in Afghanistan, and we thank them for their service and sacrifices. Across the nation today, Sept. 11, 2023,communities and organizations are conducting remembrance ceremonies to honor the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. This historic event involved the destruction of the twin towers that comprised the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York; an attack on the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, D.C.; and a passenger jet crash in a Pennsylvania field. These events were all the result of commercial airplanes that were hijacked by terrorists. While killing and injuring many people, these incidents also prompted safety and security changes nationwide that continue to impact citizens today. During the campus observance, members of the UCM Army ROTC Color Guard presented the U.S. flag and the Missouri state flag at the flagpole at the center of the quadrangle. This was followed by a moment of silence, after which the Warrensburg Fire Department conducted its traditional ringing of the bell activities to honor individuals who lost their lives in 9/11. Doyle Oxley, deputy fire chief for the Warrensburg Fire Department, spoke about the significance of this event, while firefighters, Capt. Ryan Smith, Division Chief Matt Soer, and Sam White conducted the ringing of the bell. In his remarks, Oxley said members of todays fire service are confronted with many dangerous work environments unlike any they have ever faced before. We have been forced to continue to change our strategies and tactics to accomplish our task, he said. Our methods may have changed but our goals remain the same as they were in the past to save lives and protect property, sometimes at a terrible cost, as we all know. This is what we do. This is our chosen profession. This is the tradition of a firefighter. Oxley added that although the fire service is ever changing, it is steeped in 200 years of tradition. This includes the ceremonial ringing of the bell. In the past, as firefighters began their tour of duty, the bell signaled the start of todays shift, Oxley said. Throughout the day and night, each alarm was sounded by the bell, which summoned brave souls to fight fires, and who placed their lives in jeopardy for the good of all citizens. And, when the fire was out, and the alarm was at its end, the bell signaled the completion of that call. When a firefighter died in the line of duty, paying the supreme sacrifice for their, Oxley said the bell rang a mournful toll that solemnly announced the comrades passing. We utilize these traditions as symbols which reflect the honor and respect given to so many who served so well - to symbolize the devotion these brave souls had for their duty, he added. The special signal of three (rings), three times, represents the end of a firefighters duties. It recognizes that they have given their life selflessly for the good of others, and with their task completed, and duties well done, they have met their final alarm and they are going home, Oxley told the gathering. Encouraging those in attendance to never forget the events of 9/11, Swoboda thanked the Warrensburg Fire Department, UCM Army ROTC Fighting Mules Battalion, the universitys DET 440 Air Force ROTC cadets, UCM Public Safety, Warrensburg Police Department, Johnson County Ambulance District, and area veterans and service members who participated in the Patriot Day Moment of Silence event. By Jeff Murphy, September 10, 2023 Celebrating the signing of an agreement making possible the John Hess Endowed Chair in Biology or Chemistry for Student Mentorship at the University of Central Missouri were from left, UCM alumnus Dr. Stephen Lacey, 76; Courtney Goddard, J.D., vice president for university advancement and executive director of the UCM Alumni Foundation; Ann Lacey; John Hess, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology. WARRENSBURG, MO Recognizing the value of strong professor-student relationships, UCM alumnus Dr. Stephen Lacey and his wife, Ann Lacey, Coppell, Texas, are establishing the John Hess Endowed Chair in Biology or Chemistry for Student Mentorship with a $1 million gift to the University of Central Missouri Foundation. An agreement creating this first-ever endowed chair at UCM was signed formally during a ceremony at the W.C. Morris Science Building on Aug. 28. Courtney Goddard, J.D., vice president for university advancement and executive director of the UCM Alumni Foundation, and the Laceys signed the agreement, officially putting in motion this opportunity to honor John Hess, Ph.D., professor emeritus of biology, for his classroom excellence and tireless dedication to the growth and development of students through individualized mentoring. Hess, who taught and mentored Lacey when Lacey was an undergraduate student, retired from UCM in December 2002 after serving the institution for more than 33 years. His professional service as an educator touched the lives of hundreds of students and included instructional responsibility for courses in ecology, genetics, ornithology, herpetology, scientific and technical photography, among many others. Lacey came to UCM in 1972 and graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He continued his education, completing an MD at Washington University in St. Louis in 1981. He served on the faculty at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for 26 years. He concurrently practiced gastroenterology in Southlake, Texas for 25 years. This endowed chair, from my perspective, honors not only the work of John Hess, but also recognizes the relationship between Dr. Hess [and his wife, Regina] and the Laceys, and the relationship between a student and a faculty member, Goddard said. I think that is so important. The ultimate goal of an endowed chair is to enrich the student experience. The agreement notes that transformational mentoring is invaluable for every discipline, but especially important for would-be health professionals and patients they will care for during their entire career. Special professors make these sacrifices to empower the future professional, but also to develop the whole person, helping him or her to deal with the challenges they will encounter by having a breadth of knowledge. Through their gift, the Laceys seek to reward and foster the careers of faculty members in Chemistry and Biology who hold this love of mentoring as powerfully as they do. This passion was praised during the award announcement by UCM President Roger Best, Ph.D., who recognized publicly the donors generosity and the individual whom their gift permanently celebrates. Dr. Hess, from your first day as a faculty member at the university you set an example for what it means to engage with our students, to challenge them and hold them to high standards, to show whats possible for them if they apply themselves, Best said. Steve and Ann, the president added, thank you for sharing your gift to honor Dr. Hess and Steves alma mater, because often the opportunities that students find themselves in not only transform their own lives but transform the communities in which they live and subsequent generations. Thats exactly what your gift is doing for us. It benefits the legacy of Dr. Hess, but it also certainly creates an opportunity for generations of faculty and generations of students to come. Income earned from the endowment will support the positions base salary, office space, clerical assistance, supplies, equipment, travel and other costs as deemed appropriate by Jeff Robertson, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health, Science, and Technology (CHST). The position may be used as a way to honor a distinguished tenured or tenure-track faculty member or to attract a new tenured or tenure-track faculty member to UCM. A committee assigned by the dean will interview and recommend the Dr. John Hess Endowed Chair in Biology or Chemistry, and will submit a recommendation to the dean. The foundation will also accept additional contributions to the fund supporting this unique campus position. Dean Robertson noted that he had the opportunity to spend time with the Laceys with regard to a previous scholarship they established on campus. While doing so, he had the privilege of observing the couples passion for helping students. I want to honor the Laceys for this gift and say thank you. I think we could all learn from them as a university. They are very inspiring mentors to the students and the people they interact with, Robertson told the small gathering of faculty and staff members representing Chemistry and Biology programs at UCM. In his remarks to the gathering, Lacey spoke about an early experience he had on his first day in fourth grade, meeting his teacher, Mrs. Frost, who had a reputation for being tough. While he got off to a rocky start with this teacher, she ignited a passion in him for mathematics, which became a critical branch point in his life. Dr. Hess was the other book end of critical branch points in Laceys academic life. Teachers normally tell us what to see. Great teachers and mentors show us where to look, said Lacey, who decided during his third year of study at UCM to change his major for the ninth time to a program that would prepare him to become a medical doctor. Johns mentoring became the model for me as a medical school professor to be a John Hess kind of professor. His door was open, and his heart was open. Regarding the gift to make possible the endowed chair, Hess stressed the value of providing the financial means for faculty members to be focused on mentoring particularly considering the challenges educators face with other commitments, and financial challenges that come from declining state support for higher education, This endowment helps support learning in the purest sense, he said. The business of mentoring is one on one. It is very important to have that kind of continuing relationship, Hess remarked. To be chosen as a mentor is a terrific honor bestowed upon you by a student, and it is deeply rewarding. Ukrainian aircraft launched 11 strikes on concentrations of enemy personnel and military equipment in the last 24 hours. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a post on Facebook, Ukrinform reports. "Last night, the Russian Federation carried out another missile and air strike against Ukraine. Information about the consequences of this terrorist attack is currently being clarified. More than 30 combat clashes took place over the past 24 hours. The enemy carried out 5 missile strike, 87 airstrikes and 44 MLRS attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian infrastructure. The occupiers also attacked Ukraine with 33 Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones, of which 26 were destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, destruction and damage were caused to more than 100 private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure," the post reads. The following settlements were hit by enemy airstrikes: Kostiantynivka, Sumy region; Vesele, Ohirtseve, Synkivka, Kyslivka and Kotliarivka in the Kharkiv region; Novoselivske, Novoiehorivka and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region; Spirne, Khromove, New York, Avdiivka and Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region; Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region; Burhunka, Kherson region; Pervomaiskyi Island, Zmiinyi Island. About 100 settlements in the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions came under enemy artillery fire. The operational situation in the Volyn and Polissia sectors remains unchanged. In the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, the enemy continues to hold groups of troops covering the state border and conducts active subversive activities in the border areas to prevent the transfer of Ukrainian troops to threatening directions. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational-strategic group in the Bakhmut sector, Ukrainian forces made partial gains near Klishchiivka, Donetsk region, driving the enemy out of their positions and gaining a foothold on the achieved lines. In addition, the occupiers unsuccessfully tried to break through Ukrainian defenses near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Klishchiivka and Kurdiumivka of the Donetsk region. In the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational-strategic group in the Avdiivka, Marinka and Shakhtarske sectors, Ukrainian forces hold the initiative, hold back the enemy, carry out assault operations and retake Ukrainian land meter by meter. Ukrainian defenders are successfully defending outside Keramik, Avdiivka, Sieverne, Marinka and Rivnopol areas of the Donetsk region, where the enemy made about 20 unsuccessful attempts to attack Ukrainian positions in the past 24 hours. All enemy attacks resulted in significant losses in manpower and equipment for the occupiers. In the Melitopol sector, Ukraine's defense forces continue their offensive operation, inflicting significant losses in manpower and equipment on invading troops and consolidating their positions. In the Kherson sector, Ukrainian forces continue to conduct a counter-battery fight, destroying supply depots and inflicting successful damage on the enemy's rear. According to the General Staff, in connection with the catastrophic losses of the occupiers, mass forced mobilization of the population is expected to begin in the near future in Russia and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. According to various estimates, its figure may reach 400,000 to 700,000 people. It is also planned to call up about 40,000 residents of the Chechen Republic, who will probably be used as blocking units behind Russian troops. At the same time, the planned mobilization numbers among the population of Moscow and St. Petersburg remain minimal again. Ordinary citizens - residents of Russian regions, who will be sent to death by Kadyrov's executioners - will once again go to the front as "cannon fodder." Therefore, almost the only way for the Russian military to survive is voluntary surrender to Ukraine's defense forces. "Throughout the day, the aircraft of the Defense Forces carried out 11 strikes on areas where the enemy's personnel and military equipment were concentrated. Units of the rocket forces hit eight artillery pieces of the enemy," the General Staff said. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Some 470,000 hectares have to be examined in accordance with the plan for the demining of agricultural land in areas liberated from Russian invaders and in some other regions. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. The issue concerns territories in the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Kharkiv regions. "More than 1,000 specialists and 17 mechanized demining machines from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, the State Emergency Service, the National Guard, the National Police and mine action operators are involved in fulfilling this task," the post said. According to the report, almost 188,600 hectares of agricultural land have been examined so far, of which 124,017 hectares need to be cleared of mines. As part of the operational response, 76,223 hectares have already been cleared, and more than 7,800 hectares require humanitarian demining measures, which are carried out by mine action operators. As of September 4, some 68,310 hectares of agricultural land were cleared of explosives in the Kherson region, 49 hectares in the Kharkiv region, 8,417 hectares in the Mykolaiv region, 947 hectares in the Kyiv region, and 95 hectares in the Chernihiv region. Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko earlier called on diplomats to help Ukraine realize its ambitious goal of demining 80% of potentially contaminated territories within ten years. Armenia's actions in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region are wrong and cannot be tolerated, President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a press conference following the G20 summit in New Delhi, Trend reports. "I will hold talks with Nikol Pashinyan on this matter. We have no choice but to call for a reduction in tension in the region. The steps taken by Armenia are wrong. During my conversation tomorrow, I will warn Pashinyan and let him know that the so-called "elections" in Karabakh are unacceptable," Erdogan said. On September 9, separatists in Karabakh held elections of the so-called president of the illegal regime. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the international community to strongly condemn the so-called elections. As noted in the statement of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the holding of the so-called elections once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime it created, which has taken steps to maintain the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, but on the contrary, they took the path of provocations and escalating the situation. Ukraines Defense Forces have partially liberated the village of Opytne, which is situated not far from the Donetsk regions Avdiivka. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Defense Deputy Minister Hanna Maliar during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Last week we were moving near Opytne. The Defense Forces recaptured part of that settlement, Maliar told. Additionally, the Armed Forces of Ukraine achieved partial success near the Donetsk regions Novomaiorske. Our Armed Forces are now gaining a foothold within these sectors, Maliar noted. In her words, despite the fact that Russian troops practically destroyed Marinka and Avdiivka in infrastructure terms, they are unable to gain control over these settlements. They have artillery, they have something to shoot with, but they cannot enter these settlements and control them, Maliar added. A reminder that, between February 24, 2022 and September 10, 2023, Russias total combat losses in Ukraine reached about 269,210 troops. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has admitted that he and his team have to be ready for the long war. The relevant statement was made by the Head of State in an interview with The Economist, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. I have to be ready, my team has to be ready for the long war, and emotionally I am ready, Zelensky said. According to the President of Ukraine, he detected a change of mood among some of his international partners. I have this intuition, reading, hearing and seeing their eyes [when they say] well be always with you. But I see that he or she is not here, not with us, Zelensky noted. In his words, this is a bad moment for talks with Russia, as Putin sees the same. Meanwhile, the Russian dictator does not understand that, in the long war, he will lose. Because it does not matter that 60% or 70% [of Russians] support him. No, his economy will lose, Zelensky stressed. Separately, the President of Ukraine noted the countrys support from Western partners. If you are not with Ukraine, you are with Russia, and if you are not with Russia, you are with Ukraine. And if partners do not help us, it means they will help Russia to win. That is it, the Head of State explained. President Zelensky believes that the best way to convince governments is by pushing them via the media. It was public opinion that drove politicians to increase arms supplies to Ukraine in the early days of the war. According to Zelensky, scaling down that help may anger not just Ukrainians but Western voters. They will start asking what the whole effort was for. People will not forgive [their leaders] if they lose Ukraine, Zelensky concluded. A reminder that, in a recent video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that it is necessary to resume the global sanctions pressure on Russia. The Federal Government of Germany instructed Rheinmetall to deliver 40 more Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. The company reported this on its website, Ukrinform saw. The order was placed in August 2023, with its value reported as being in the double-digit million euros, the press release said without specifying the figure. Rheinmetall continues to repair the existing IFVs at full speed so that this new batch of Marders can be delivered to Ukraine by the end of 2023. Read also: First Leopard 1 tanks from three countries arrive in Ukraine Thanks to this order, the total number of Marder vehicles that Rheinmetall will deliver to Ukraine will increase to 80. The company released the first 20 IFVs for Ukraine on the order of the federal government on March 21, 2023. In addition, 20 additional IFVs from Rheinmetall were commissioned in June 2023. The infantry fighting vehicles provided are overhauled Marder 1A3s that Rheinmetall had previously taken from Bundeswehr stocks. In the spring of 2022, Rheinmetall started repairing Marders for Ukraine at its own expense. Work on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle continues at the Rheinmetall plants in Unterluss and Kassel. Up to 10 vehicles can be brought to working condition in a month. The Marder infantry fighting vehicle was developed for the Bundeswehr and is still in use by the German army. It is one of the most tested weapons systems of this kind in the world. Since being conceived, the vehicle was repeatedly modernized and its combat qualities were improved. Photo: Keystone/DPA Units of the Defense Ministrys Main Intelligence Directorate conducted a special raid, as a result of which Ukraine regained control of the so-called "Boiko Rigs - drilling gas and oil extraction platforms located off the coast of occupied Crimea. Thats according to the agencys press service, reports Ukrinform. "A unique operation to regain control over the Boyko Rigs was executed by the units of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In particular, the Petro Hodovalets and Ukraina drilling platforms, as well as the Tavrida and Syvash rigs, were brought back under control," the statement says. As noted, during the operation, the Ukrainian units managed to seize valuable trophies: a stock of NAR-type helicopter munitions (unguided aerial missiles), as well as the Neva radar, which can track maritime navigation in the Black Sea. During one of the phases of the operation, a battle took place between Ukrainian special operations forces manning small boats and a Russian Su-30 fighter jet. As a result of the engagement, the Russian warplane was damaged and forced to retreat. It should be recalled that the so-called Boyko rigs are gas and oil drilling platforms in the Black Sea off the coast of Crimea. Russia occupied them in 2015, and with the beginning of the full-scale invasion used them for military purposes. In particular, as helipads and platforms for radars. Russia is unlikely to be able to provide 46 launchers of the Iskander tactical missile system on the border with Ukraine with enough missiles. Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this on the air of the national telethon 'United News', Ukrinform reported. "The calculations made by Ukrainian intelligence show that Russia will most likely not be able to provide all Iskander systems with a sufficient number of missiles," Ignat said. According to him, this is also evidenced by the fact that Russia has asked some friendly countries for help. As reported, the Russian Federation has deployed 46 launchers of the Iskander tactical missile system along the state border of Ukraine, which are used to strike our country with both ballistic missiles and R-500 cruise missiles, also known as Iskander-K. Iran intends to transfer short- and long-range missiles to Russia in addition to the UAVs that Tehran has been selling to Moscow for the war against Ukraine. This was announced by the director of Israels Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, who spoke at the annual conference of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) at the Reichman University in Herzliya, Ukrinform reports with reference to The Times of Israel. According to the official, previous attempts by Iran to transfer missiles to Russia against the background of the ongoing war were thwarted. I have a feeling that more deals will be foiled soon. Our fear is that the Russians will transfer to the Iranians in return what they lack, advanced weapons that will certainly endanger our peace and maybe even our existence here, Barnea said. As reported by Ukrinform, at the end of August, the representative of Ukraines defense intelligence, Andriy Yusov, stated that the information about the supply of missiles by Iran to the Russians is currently unconfirmed. In July, U.S. State Departments Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said Iran remained one of Russia's mainstays in its war against the Ukrainian people, and that military partnership between the two countries was only getting stronger. The territorial defense forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have received British-made FV432 armored personnel carriers thanks to the Ukrainian World Congress's Unite With Ukraine initiative. The Military Media Center reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "British FV432 armored personnel carriers, as well as trucks and armored vehicles for towing restored for the front, have been handed over to the territorial defense forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the post reads. The vehicles for Ukrainian defenders were purchased by the UWC. The APCs donated by benefactors will additionally be equipped with Ukrainian-made night vision devices. "We continue our cooperation with the Ukrainian World Congress. In total, we have already received 40 vehicles. At the expense of the Ukrainian World Congress, we also receive medical equipment, various forms of clothing, footwear, power stations, and armored vehicles," said Major General Ihor Tantsiura, Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He thanked the UWC for such assistance. "We will use this equipment to transport personnel to the front line so that servicemen are protected," he added. According to UWC President Paul Grod, the Unite With Ukraine platform was created to raise funds and purchase the necessary equipment for Ukrainian defenders: "Currently, the UWC is covering a new need - for reconnaissance drones, armored vehicles. And we are very grateful to all our donors. In more than 60 countries around the world, Ukrainians and Ukraine's friends make donations to strengthen the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We will continue to do so," he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the strengthening of defense support package from Germany, including air defense systems, artillery and other equipment. The relevant statement was made by the Head of State in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The full text of the speech is provided below: I wish you all good health, dear Ukrainians! Today, there is good news: we are preparing to strengthen the package of defense support from Germany. Air defense systems, artillery, equipment. What was agreed upon with Chancellor Scholz. What was discussed today with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Baerbock she was on a visit to Ukraine, I met with her today in Kyiv. It's crucial that partners hear the needs of our state, our soldiers, and the protection of our energy infrastructure. I am confident there will be results.We are also making progress with our other partners, in particular, regarding air defense systems. Additional systems will be in Ukraine. Today, I held several important meetings. First of all, I would like to highlight the meeting with Ukraine's Defense Minister Umerov, First Deputy Minister Pavliuk, and Deputy Prime Minister Fedorov regarding the provision of our soldiers and the transparency of this provision. The specific needs of our combat brigades should be met as quickly as possible, and for this, all accounting should be digitized. In general, there should be much less paperwork in the military, and there should be no difference between what is reported here in the center and what is really needed at the front. The Ministry of Defense is currently relaunching the accounting system, with assistance from the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Today, I also had a meeting with representatives of the law enforcement sector. Obviously, Ukraine needs more progress in protecting the interests of society. In protection from those who prioritize their own wallet above social norms and rules. Above even the war. There will be new steps of the state. And one more thing. Since this morning, various Ukrainian cities and regions have been hit by Russian attacks. Nikopol brutal Russian shelling, artillery. Ochakiv in Mykolaiv region, Kherson, and other cities and villages in Kherson region, Polohy district in Zaporizhzhia region, Donetsk, Pokrovsk district, Bakhmut district, Volnovakha district, and others. Kharkiv region. Chernihiv region. Sumy region. Kryvy Rih a missile strike. Another attack by Shaheds. Even when there is a relative peace and quiet in some parts of our territory, we should always remember our land, our cities, and villages that are almost constantly under fire. And even though today is the 565th day of this war, all of us, each and every one in Ukraine, should remain focused on defending the state just as we did in the early days. Russia does not hope to win. The enemy hopes only that we will not endure. Ukraine must endure. Anything that strengthens us is a priority. And only that is a priority. No weakening! And we won't allow anyone to weaken Ukraine. Glory to all our soldiers! Thank you to everyone who helps! Glory to Ukraine! Photo, video: Office of the President of Ukraine The Security Service of Ukraine has accused former lawmaker Serhii Polishchuk, who is currently out of the country, of high treason and inciting enmity. The SBU reported this via Telegram, Ukrinform saw. The agency says its operatives have collected evidence of high treason on the part of former People's Deputy of Ukraine Serhii Polishchuk, who had regularly visited Moscow before the outset of Russian invasion to participate in TV panel shows run by Russias top propaganda host Olga Skabeeva. During her gigs on her 60 Minutes show, the former MP supported the aggressive policy pursued by the the Kremlin, publicly denied the Ukrainian statehood as such, and spread Russian narratives about the alleged ideological confrontation among Ukrainians. It was established that for the specified stunts he received a significant monetary reward from the Russian side. To disguise transactions, the Russians would pay the former lawmaker through third-country financial institutions. According to available data, the former legislator coordinated his subversive activity with the FSB, and it was from the latter that he received the money. As noted in the Prosecutor General's Office, his public speeches were aimed at destabilizing Ukraine and demoralizing the army. The suspect would segregate Ukrainians according to ideological preferences, inciting enmity. The perpetrator is facing up to 15 years in prison if found guilty in court. Since Polishchuk is hiding from justice abroad, complex measures are being undertaken to ultimately put him on trial and hold accountable. As reported by Ukrinform, the State Bureau of Investigation put another former MP with the OPZZh faction, Vadym Rabinovych, on the wanted list. The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, announced his intention to abandon the use of Russian fuel at the country's only nuclear power plant. Thats according to Bloomberg, Ukrinform reports. Orban unveiled a 15-point plan to strengthen Hungary, which has been in a year-long recession, has an acute labor shortage, and is one of the EU members most dependent on Russian energy. The plan includes an attempt to increase the birth rate, steps to modernize the army, and attempts to replace Russian nuclear fuel with French fuel at the country's only nuclear power plant, the report says. Orban is currently the longest-serving head of government of an EU country and plans to stay in power until 2034, according to local media reports. As reported by Ukrinform, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the U.S. should start negotiations with the Russians and conclude an agreement on the security architecture, in which a place must be found for Ukraine. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Armenia and the US are starting joint exercises, Trend reports. The Eagle Partner-2023 exercises, which will continue until September 20, will be held in Armenia at the Zar training center. Concerned over Armenia conducting joint drills with the US, Russia voiced its worry. According to the Russian side, they would keep an eye on everything. Dmitry Peskov's spokeswoman stated that a careful examination is needed before Armenia decides to conduct military drills with the US. Additionally, a note of protest was just given to Vagharshak Harutyunyan, the Armenian ambassador to Russia. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk has thanked speakers of the parliaments of the Group of Seven countries and the European Parliament for supporting Ukraine. He said this in a post on Facebook, summing up his working visit to Japan where he participated in the G7 Parliamentary Summit, Ukrinform reports. "I thank my colleagues, the speakers of the parliaments of the Group of Seven countries and the European Parliament for their unquestionable support for Ukraine," Stefanchuk wrote. According to him, at each meeting, the speakers talked about Ukraine's defense needs, the speed and volume of weapons supplies, as well as the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia and the importance of holding the Russian Federation accountable for aggression against Ukraine and all crimes committed. In addition, during the meetings and speeches, the issues of the food crisis due the "grain corridor suspension, Russias attacks on the civilian population and civilian infrastructure of Ukraine, and nuclear terrorism on the part of Russia were raised. Following the summit, the participants adopted a declaration expressing unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people. "It is important. It is important to understand and know that there is support for Ukraine. And that the entire democratic and civilized world will be with the Ukrainian people until Victory!" the Verkhovna Rada chairman emphasized. As Ukrinform reported, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk paid a working visit to Tokyo to participate in the G7 Parliamentary Summit. Photo: Facebook / Ruslan Stefanchuk Russia will never be a democratic country and Europe should think about how to stop such an aggressive political regime. Thats according to Radoslaw Sikorski, Member of the European Parliament, Head of the EU-US Delegation, who spoke at an annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy, "The future is being decided in Ukraine", organized by YES in partnership with the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation, Ukrinform reports referring to the YES press service. "My discussions with the Europeans are that there is no need to try to normalize relations with Russia. It will never be democratic, it is rather an invader with a suicide vest on. And in fact, the question is how to stop him, this invader," said Sikorski, according to a report posted in Ukrainian. According to him, despite the fact that Europe perfectly understands the aggressive nature of the Russian regime, there is a different perception of the concept of security in different EU countries. "Security or danger is perceived differently by a Belgian, an Italian, or a Portuguese. This is based on the fact that the foot of a Russian soldier was never set there and never will be. This is where all these positions stem from," explained the head of the EU-US delegation. He added that not all countries on the continent have an effective Plan B in case the hope for the normalization of relations does not materialize. Poland has this Plan B in the form of 2% of GDP, which will be allocated to defense, the MEP stressed. As reported by Ukrinform, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, Boris Johnson, is skeptical about the possibility of reaching a peaceful settlement while Vladimir Putin remains President of Russia. Photo: EPA The global community is working to achieve peace in Ukraine, but understands that it must be a just peace, not a temporary ceasefire, which will later lead to even greater violence. This was stated by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the opening of the 37th Sant'Egidio International Peace Meeting in Berlin on Sunday, reports Ukrinform. The head of state reminded that this is the second such meeting since February 24, 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine and since then every day brought suffering, destruction, and death to Ukrainians. The Ukrainians defend themselves, stand up for themselves and fight for their freedom with amazing courage, the president said. "February 24, 2022 changed everything. With his campaign of destruction, Putin wants to destroy the values on which our common Europe is based: the validity of international law, the recognition of borders, the peaceful coexistence of all people in freedom on this continent. I think that confronting this is one of the lessons for us Europeans from the disaster of World War II. This is a lesson: Never again! noted Steinmeier. He assured that everyone wants this horror to end. "We want peace. First of all, this is what the outraged people in Ukraine want. But this peace must be just. A just peace is more than just the absence of war. It should be a long-term peace, not just a lull in the fighting, which will allow Russia to bring new troops to the front. A ceasefire in itself would only consolidate Russia's illegal occupation of Ukrainian territories," the president of Germany emphasized. He stated that Ukraine is fighting for its territorial integrity, for its freedom, for its democratic future in Europe, against enslavement, terrible injustice, against crimes against defenseless children, women, the elderly, against bomb terror and destruction. "In short: Ukraine is fighting for what every country in the world claims and what is a prerequisite for a just and lasting peace. It is not Ukraine or the countries that support it that are refusing peace. It is Russia that refuses peace. Putin should order his army to pull back and end this war. If Ukraine stops defending itself, it will be the end of Ukraine. And that's why we, the Europeans, and we, the Germans, support Ukraine including with weapons," Steinmeier said, replying to all those who call for an end to the supply of weapons to Ukraine, "so as not to prolong the suffering of people." The head of the German state called it important that at the political level Ukraine's partners think together with Ukraine about what a peaceful solution could look like. Earlier in the day, Steinmeier told the participants of the meeting that "religion should never be an excuse for hatred and violence, ... anyone who, in the name of religion, takes the side of an aggressive warlord who wants to subjugate a peaceful, democratic neighboring country by force; the one who supports it, being the head of the Christian church; anyone who acts in this way fundamentally violates the faith's commandment of peace. In this way, he commented on the position of the Russian Orthodox Church. The international peace meeting of the Christian community of St. Egidio in Berlin called "Dare for Peace" brought together politicians and representatives of various religions who will discuss for three days how to peacefully resolve conflicts and how to develop international cooperation. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other politicians will join the work of the meeting. In a joint statement, Council of Europe President of the Committee of Ministers Krisjanis Karins, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Tiny Kox, and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric strongly condemned Russias sham 'elections' within the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. The relevant statement was published on the website of the Council of Europe, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. We strongly condemn the illegitimate sham elections that took place on 8-10 September 2023 in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, the statement reads. The representatives of the Council of Europe emphasized that the above elections consitute a further illustration of the denial by the Russian Federation of the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Russian authorities decision to organise them is only the latest in a series of illegal and harmful decisions they have taken since the Russian Federation was expelled from our Organisation as a result of its war of aggression against Ukraine. These sham elections can only be considered as null and void under international law, the representatives of the Council of Europe noted. In addition, the Council of Europe reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its international recognised borders. A reminder that, on September 8-10, 2023, Russia held the so-called sham elections to local occupation administrations in the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraines Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as well as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. Ukraines Foreign Affairs Ministry stated earlier that Russias unlawful elections would not have any legal consequences and would not change the status of the Ukrainian territories seized by Russian troops. Ukraine has developed a multi-stage mechanism for the return of Ukrainian children. Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said this at the annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES), Ukrinform reports. "Today, we have developed a mechanism for the return of Ukrainian children, which includes several key stages: development of a mechanism for obtaining lists of children, verification and updating of data, documenting the facts of crimes and identifying new circumstances, psychological rehabilitation of children after return, creation of a special center for rehabilitation, and opening of humanitarian corridors," Lubinets wrote on Telegram. He said these steps were aimed at ensuring the safe return of Ukrainian children. Ukraine's Ombudsman's Office earlier verified dozens of localities in Belarus where Ukrainian children are kept. Lubinets also reported on 386 Ukrainian children who had been adopted in Russia. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Trend reports. Turkish-Armenian relations and regional issues were discussed during the conversation. The Turkish President stressed that the establishment of lasting peace and stability in the region will contribute to the development and well-being of all countries in the region. On Wednesday, September 6, the third Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen took place, where the wife of the President of Ukraine Olena Zelenska came in a restrained but refined image, which was created by the brand GASANOVA. Designer Elvira Gasanova told how the team worked on the First Lady's outfit and what she wanted to convey to the world through clothes. ADVERTISIMENT It was not by chance that the milk color and brooch were chosen, which, by the way, the guests of the Summit have now. Elvira Hasanova told Jet Setter about it (to see the photo, scroll to the end of the page). Olena Zelenska stood out against the background of the guests of the event, who came in different colors. She wore a milk-colored suit consisting of a jacket and a skirt below the knees. "With stylist Natalia Kamenska, we chose milky because it is the color in which Olena Volodymyrivna has already appeared at the two previous Summits. It emphasizes the importance of the event, the beauty of our first lady and her weighty role in this event," the commentary reads. ADVERTISIMENT A gold brooch in the form of a map of Ukraine with all its temporarily occupied territories became an accent on the monochrome jacket. Such a present was given to the guests as well. "We created the first gold brooch in the form of Ukraine for Olena Zelenska almost a year ago. A pebble was placed there, in the place of my native Donetsk. For the summit we offered to make brooches for all the first ladies and gentlemen who became guests of the event. So now they have these brooches. And Sean Penn was wearing it directly during the event, so he performed with it," Elvira Hasanova added. ADVERTISIMENT The outfit for the First Lady of Ukraine was prepared for a week. Most of all time was taken by fitting and their coordination. The brand only emphasized the beauty of Olena Zelenska successful outfit, and the result exceeded the expectations of the designer. Earlier OBOZREVATEL wrote that this year's Summit was unique in that it was first visited by the First Ladies of Serbia and Armenia - countries, with their policies expressing some support for Russia. What they came in - read in our material. East and Southeast Asian drug experts meet to discuss responses to emerging synthetic drug threats Md. Masud Hossain, Director in the Bangladesh Department of Narcotics Control, provides information on drugs seized in Bangladesh that were trafficked from Southeast Asia Manila (Philippines), 31 August 2023 - The synthetic drug market in East and Southeast Asia has expanded and diversified in recent years. While methamphetamine supply remains high, with nearly 151 tons seized in 2022, the market for other synthetic drugs, such as ketamine, has also grown significantly. A record 27.4 tons was seized in the region in 2022, an increase of 167 per cent from the previous year. To respond to the ongoing challenge and evolution in the regional synthetic drug market, the UNODC SMART Forensics Programme held a regional meeting gather experts from law enforcement, public health, and drug forensics from ASEAN member states and the East Asia, including China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, and the World Customs Organizations Regional Intelligence Liaison Office Asia Pacific to share latest developments and discuss strategies to address the drug situation. Representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, India, and the United States also participated as countries that are impacted by the drug situation in East and Southeast Asia. Participants from Japan and Thailand discuss forensic drug analysis The drug situation in the Philippines has exacerbated in recent years and our law enforcement agencies have seized increasing amounts of methamphetamine year on year, predominantly produced from the Golden Triangle. We also have drugs entering the local market from other regions as well, impacting drug use in our country, remarked Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, Chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) of the Philippines. This means that regional and interregional cooperation are more important than ever, as we work together to take the drug problem. Supply reduction has to go hand in hand with prevention and demand reduction. The emergence of new synthetic drug products, such as happy water, which contain multiple substances, and varied synthetic drug tablets containing new psychoactive substances (NPS) have also added complexity to the situation as these multi-substance products pose significant danger to the health and safety of communities. Early warning mechanisms are necessary at the national and regional level so that countries in the region are informed of emerging drug threats and can respond in a timely manner. Meng Xin, Deputy Director, Drug Analysis Division I, of the Chinese National Narcotics Laboratory and Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center sharing information on newly identified new psychoactive substances in China NPS remain a concern in the region with new NPS continuing to emerge despite legal responses, including the recent class scheduling of synthetic cannabinoids in China, noted Meng Xin. It is important to quickly share information on these new substances, as well as share identification methods, to help build the capacity of drug analysis laboratories in the region. Tackling the regional drug problem requires a multidimensional approach, including developing early warning mechanisms, health responses, counternarcotic interventions, and international cooperation throughout East and Southeast Asia. UNODC, through the SMART Forensics Programme, will work together with countries in the region to address the drug problem by providing science-led capacity building, including drug detection, analysis, early warning, and chemical disposal, as well as more rapidly communicate emerging global and regional drug-related threats, said Tun Nae Soe, Interregional Coordinator of the SMART Forensics Programme with UNODC. Click here to learn more about UNODC's Regional Programme for Southeast Asia Click here to learn more about UNODCs work to address drug and precursor challenges in the region Click here to learn more about UNODC's SMART Forensics Programme (@ChaudhryMAli88) RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Sep, 2023 ) :Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) while conducting 11 operations across the country managed to recover over 70 kg drugs and arrested 11 accused, said an ANF Headquarters spokesman here on Monday. He informed that over 600 grams Ice drug concealed in two water coolers was recovered from a parcel reached at a private cargo office in Jhelum. The parcel was sent from Peshawar. 2.2 kg hashish was recovered from a local resident netted from Haq Bahu Hotel in Bhakkar. The spokesman further informed that over 2.5 kg Ice drug was recovered from a passenger's trolley bag at Sialkot Airport. The accused, a resident of Jhelum, was leaving for Bahrain by flight number GF-769. Three suspects were rounded up from a passenger bus near Motorway Toll Plaza Islamabad and drugs were recovered from their possession. 19 heroin-filled capsules were recovered from the possession of an accused, resident of Chiniot. In a joint operation with Punjab Rangers, five accused were netted in Kasur while 7.1 kg heroin was recovered from their possession. A motorcycle was also impounded during the operation. In an operation conducted in Peshawar, 18 ecstasy tablets were recovered from a parcel booked for Murree through a courier office. 200 grams hashish and 400 grams opium were recovered from the possession of an accused, resident of Mastung arrested near Raja Bazar, Gilgit. 10 kg hashish concealed for smuggling was recovered in Bajor area while 10 kg hashish concealed near Sepina Morga border of Khyber area was also recovered. In 10th operation, 24 kg hashish hidden near Mazani area in Gwadar was recovered. The spokesman said that in 11th operation, 15 kg opium hidden near Gardi forest in Chagai area was recovered. Separate cases have been registered against the arrested accused under the Anti-Narcotics Act while further investigations are under process. Wafaqi Mohtasib Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi was re-elected unopposed as President of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) at Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan) on Monday ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Sep, 2023 ):Wafaqi Mohtasib Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi was re-elected unopposed as President of the Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) at Kazan (Republic of Tatarstan) on Monday. The elections to the various positions in the AOA Board of Directors were held in the 17th Meeting of the General Assembly. In addition to the election of Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi as AOA President, the General Assembly elected Heads of Ombudsman Institutions in Azerbaijan, Hong Kong and Iran as Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association respectively. Heads of Ombudsman Institutions in China, Japan, Korea, Tatarstan and Turkiye were elected as members of the Board of Directors, a press release issued by the Ombudsman Office here said. Following his election, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi thanked the General Assembly for expressing confidence and trust in Pakistan's contribution in promoting the cause of ombudsmanship and the ultimate goals of good governance and the rule of law in Asia and beyond. The Asian Ombudsman Association is a major non-political, independent and professional body of international character representing more than two thirds of the world population. Its current membership is 46 ombudsman institutions from the Asian Region. The Association's permanent secretariat is hosted by the Wafaqi Mohtasib Secretariat at Islamabad. The Association was established following the first Asian Ombudsman Conference held on April 15-16, 1996 at Islamabad. The General Assembly meeting was followed by an International Conference on the "Effective Practices of Ombudsman: National Features and Universal Approaches", which was attended by a large number of international delegations and representatives of international bodies, academia and the civil society. In his address to the Conference, Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi highlighted the centrality of ombudsmanship as an effective mechanism for promoting the rule of law, good governance, justice and fair play in the daily life of a common man. He added that the ombudsman institutions constitute a universal fraternity that makes a strong case for grater interaction and mutual cooperation in pursuit of their common goals and aspirations. Wafaqi Mohtasib Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi stated that the ombudsmanship has taken firm roots in Pakistan. The Office of Federal Ombudsman was established on January 24, 1983 and the concept has been replicated in other areas of governance including banking, insurance, taxation and harassment of woman at workplace. Wafaqi Mohtasib Institution over the last forty years has established its credentials as an effective instrument for providing speedy and inexpensive administrative justice to the people against any acts of maladministration by the federal agencies. He added that over 1.8 million households have benefited from the services of this institution since its inception. The number of complaints handled last year was 164,173 while during the first eight months of the current year, the total receipts has touched the figure of 123,519 and is projected to reach 185,533 by the end of the year. Qureshi further stated that the objectives and purposes of the establishment of the ombudsman institutions have a direct bearing on the realization of the overall goals of the promotion and protection of fundamental rights and good governance in all spheres of life. He assured the international partners that Pakistan remained ready to share its experiences and best practices in promoting professionalism in the work of the ombudsman institutions for the benefit of the Asian regional fraternity. The Board of Directors meeting of AOA decided that next meeting of BOD will be held in 2024 at Istanbul (Turkey) while China offered to host the General Assembly and BOD meeting in 2025. USMs Gulf Scholars Program Sets Students Up for Success Mon, 09/11/2023 - 12:51pm | By: Gabriela Shinskie The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) provides students with various opportunities to thrive in the blue economy. The Southern Miss Gulf Scholars Program (GSP) does just that, preparing undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds to create a more resilient and sustainable Gulf Coast. The program launched with seven initial cohorts. To be considered for the program, each student had to be a USM undergraduate, have at least two semesters remaining and have good academic status. Students can choose three different paths within the program called the curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular. The curriculum pathway includes six hours outside of the Gulf Scholars major and requires 12 hours of class work. The co-curricular pathway includes two extracurricular activities along with six hours of class work. The extra-curricular pathway requires a Gulf Impact Project proposal, journals and two experiences. Dr. Rebecca Powell is an associate professor of English and director of the Gulf Scholars Program at the Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach. Her goal is to give students opportunities through place-based courses that benefit the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Scholars Program has a mission to prepare undergraduates to create a better Gulf Coast, Dr. Powell said. Our goal is to make a more just, equitable and livable Gulf Coast. The GSP provides students who want to live in coastal regions the opportunity to learn from researchers, faculty and staff who are striving to make the area a better place to live. We want undergraduates, particularly undergraduates who want to live and stay here on the coast, to start that work, Dr. Powell continued. USM is doing so much work to make the Gulf Coast a better place to live. Ramona Chambers is a USM senior at Gulf Park and majoring in criminal justice. She applied and was accepted into the Gulf Scholars Program in the spring of 2023. Chambers is enjoying her time in the program and sees it as a major networking opportunity. Its a good program and I want to give back to the community and do more, said Chambers. Natalie Santiago is also a USM senior at Gulf Park and has been a part of the program since the spring of 2023, majoring in marine biology. She grew interested in the program after Dr. Powell spoke to her class. Ive really gotten to grow my communications skills, said Santiago. This program really offers students to learn and grow as leaders on the Gulf Coast. Dr. Powell also encourages USM faculty to incorporate place-based experiential courses around the Gulf to give students hands-on work. Many classes are in business and marine biology but are all gulf centered. Each student is paired with a faculty mentor to provide information on graduation, funding opportunities, work-study programs, research and field work. We are also helping them think about the interaction between the environment and its people, said Powell. Dr. Jacob Breland, associate vice president for academic affairs in Coastal Operations, is part of the GSP Advisory Student Support. "The Gulf Scholars program represents an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to helping our students understand issues and address real-world challenges of living in a Gulf zone, said Dr. Breland. I commend Dr. Powell for her leadership in this space and look forward to the next opportunities for students that this will lead. The GSP is funded by the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Scholars Program. Learn more about the Gulf Scholars Program and how it is creating a sustainable Gulf Coast. Everything is perfect in the images of the first ladies: the cut, perfectly outlining the figure, the shade, harmonizing with the color type, and laconic design. Who is behind it? Their stylists. They take into account the mood, the peculiarities of the character of the wives of presidents and, of course, the protocol dress code. ADVERTISIMENT Find out what key features the outfits of Elena Zelenskaya, Queen Letizia and other first ladies have. Thanks to what they became fashion icons? About all this - in the material OBOZREVATEL. 1. Olena Zelenska (first lady of Ukraine since May 20, 2019) The first lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska has a personal stylist Natalia Kamenskaya. She is the founder of the brand Gunia Project, former co-founder and designer of Lake studio. In an exclusive interview for ELLE magazine she told about how she selects images for the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Natalia balances on the edge of classic and modernity, and adds interesting design elements (brooch "Wormwood, Yevshan-Zelye", shirt with embroidered ears, brooch - map of Ukraine or, for example, in the form of a legendary cockerel from Borodyanka). ADVERTISIMENT Zelenska, according to the stylist, communicates with the world through her images, so her clothes are mostly created by Ukrainian designers. "I wanted the closet not to make her anything else, some conventional character, another first lady, only emphasized, continued her," says Kamenskaya. As Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine continues, Natalia chooses a laconic style for her VIP-client: with a restrained cut and color palette. However, still every image of Olena Volodymyrivna emphasizes her strength, reason and intelligence. ADVERTISIMENT Now there are more suits than dresses in the first lady's closet. And Natalia gave a logical explanation for this: "In my opinion, nowadays a suit better conveys the state of a Ukrainian woman. It is like a symbol that we are collected, strong and always ready. And a men's cut pantsuit adds all the more confidence. Why does the First Lady wear suits more and more often? This is a message to the world: Ukraine is fighting. 2. Letizia (Queen Consort of Spain since 2014) ADVERTISIMENT Queen Consort Letizia is one of the most stylish First Ladies in the world. She wears modern suits and midi and maxi length dresses rather than outdated tweed outfits and tone-on-tone gloves at official events. The Queen is also often seen in blouses and culottes or linen shirts and A-silhouette skirts. She complements her looks with hats and shoes with sturdy heels. Letizia's ceremonial outfits are made by little-known Spanish designers, among them Felipe Varela, while for every day Her Majesty buys things in mass-market stores (Uterque, Mango, Zara, Massimo Dutti or Hugo Boss). It is also interesting that she wears her favorite outfits several times, which is not often practiced by first ladies and royalty. ADVERTISIMENT 3. Brigitte Macron (First Lady of France since May 15, 2017) The author of French First Lady Brigitte Mac ron's unique style is Matthew Barthelat Colan. This stylist easily creates unconventional ensembles. For example, Louis Vuitton dresses with Alexandre Vauthier and Balmain jackets. And if the first brand is traditional in the closets of presidents' wives, the last two are favorites of it-girls Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid or, say, Zendaya. ADVERTISIMENT So Brigitte demonstrates that she is not afraid to go against protocol in favor of current innovations in the world of fashion. One of the brightest examples is a dress with black lace embellishment in the chest area, which Madame Macron wore for the UN General Assembly meeting. The base of the closet of the First Lady of France - silhouette skirts with slits, midi-dresses, leather jackets, Slim jeans and sneakers or loafer shoes. Of course, there are also strict suits, dresses of laconic design and jackets made of tweed. 4. Carla Bruni (First Lady of France from 2008 to 2012) Carla Bruni made her first official visit to the palace of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. Then the wife of the 23rd President of France Nicolas Sarkozy showed a gray Dior coat, a hat in tone and black ballet flats. After the tabloids praised the image of the new First Lady, she decided to continue her cooperation with Dior. ADVERTISIMENT The English fashion designer John Galliano, who is the art director of Christian Dior, created for Carla elegant outfits that perfectly outline her figure. During the whole period of Sarkozy's presidency she wore classic suits, dresses and coats of neutral colors. She complemented them with a minimum of jewelry. Simple and tasteful. 5. Michelle Obama (First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017) Michelle Obama did not constrain herself with outdated rules and traditions on clothing style. She wore what suited her. Both democratic J.Crew and extravagant Gucci and Versace Couture. For casual looks Michelle Obama chose affordable brands, including Tracy Reese, Maria Pinto, Alice+Olivia and Zero. The First Lady rarely wore pantsuits. She preferred dresses and blouses with skirts. And for good reason - in them she had a feminine and status look. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier OBOZREVATEL wrote about the most colorful and elegant images of the first ladies of Ukraine. Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will visit China this week and meet with President Xi Jinping, Beijing's foreign ministry announced Monday. "At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang... Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from September 14th to 16th," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement. Hun Manet will also meet and hold talks with Premier Li Qiang and Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji, she told a regular briefing. Hun Manet took over from his father, the country's longtime leader Hun Sen, in August. Phnom Penh became one of China's strongest allies in the region under Hun Sen, who ruled with an iron fist for almost four decades, receiving huge sums of Chinese investment. The visit will be one of Hun Manet's first abroad since becoming prime minister, after he attended the summit of ASEAN leaders in Jakarta last week. "This will be Prime Minister Hun Manet's first official visit since taking office," Mao said Monday. "It reflects the great importance that the new Cambodian government attaches to the development of China-Cambodia relations," she added, noting that 2023 will see the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia. Beijing, Mao said, "looks forward to using this visit to plan for the future comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Cambodia". It hopes to "achieve results as soon as possible, so as to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," she added. In August, Hun Manet met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the capital Phnom Penh, saying on his Telegram channel that the two had "pledged to promote cooperation between the two countries". He also reaffirmed in a Facebook post his government's "unchanged position" towards the issue of Taiwan -- which Beijing claims as part of its territory -- and promised no interference in Chinese national affairs. Wang also met his Cambodian counterpart and reaffirmed Beijing's "unwavering commitment" to respecting Cambodian sovereignty and conveyed China's support for the kingdom, according to a Cambodian foreign ministry statement. His visit followed diplomatic clashes between Beijing and Manila over their claims to the South China Sea. China insisted a Philippine navy vessel grounded on a reef in the Spratly Islands be removed from the hotly contested waters, long a flashpoint between them, after the Philippines accused the China Coast Guard of firing water cannon at boats on a resupply mission last weekend. Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which is in talks with China about a code of conduct in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. The United Nations is growing increasingly alarmed at the rising volume of unregulated chemicals for making methamphetamine headed to Myanmar, the hub of the regions billion-dollar drug trade, and is ramping up efforts to get its neighbors to stem the tide. U.N. staff have been holding meetings and training governments across the region to persuade and teach them how to spot and seize seemingly anodyne shipments of chemicals with legal applications that are likely headed for Myanmars booming meth labs as precursors. Falling street prices for methamphetamine across Southeast Asia and record seizures in recent years suggest the labs are churning out more drugs than ever, much of it headed as far away as Australia and Japan. For many of the chemicals used to make that meth, there [are] no real regulatory measures, Inshik Sim, a research officer for the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, for the Asia-Pacific region, told VOA in recent days. It is quite important to know ... whos the end user for these chemicals, but that is really missing in this region, he said. Some of the chemicals are closely watched. The 1988 U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances lists 33 chemicals commonly used to make methamphetamine and other narcotics. Whenever any one of them crosses international borders, the exporting country must notify the country it is destined for, to help them track the shipment and make sure it ends up where it is supposed to and is not shunted, or diverted, along the way. As those chemicals become harder to source, however, creative chemists working in Myanmars drug labs are learning to make them on their own with other, noncontrolled chemicals not on the list. Sim told VOA the pace at which Myanmars drug gangs are making the switch has picked up in the last few years, judging by the growing number of noncontrolled chemicals suspected of heading for the labs that authorities in the region have been seizing. Out of control As organized crime groups have been trying to circumvent the existing regulatory framework, either at the global level, like [with] the U.N. drug convention, or at the national level, they continuously look for alternative chemical substances, Sim said. Sourcing the controlled chemicals is not easy anymore for those organized crime groups. Thats why theyve been relying increasingly on those noncontrolled chemicals, because its easier for them, he said. According to data compiled by the UNODC, seizures of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and other controlled chemicals popular with Myanmars meth cooks have been suspiciously low in the last few years across the region. Yet in Myanmar itself, local authorities last year seized more than 3 million pseudoephedrine tablets that had arrived in two massive shipments from India. While pseudoephedrine in its raw form is controlled, tablets of it mixed up with other ingredients are not. In its latest annual report on Asias synthetic drugs trade, the UNODC called the growing use of noncontrolled chemicals one of the most serious challenges to efforts to control the flow of precursor chemicals into Myanmar. At the same time, it called the response of regional governments to the problem ineffective, riddled with major gaps in regulation and enforcement. To help fill those gaps, the UNODC has been holding meetings with the pharmaceutical and drug enforcement agencies of a number of countries to highlight the problem and advise them on solutions. It held a meeting on drug precursors in Vietnam late last year, in Malaysia and the Philippines in July, and in Laos last month. Sim said the trafficking of precursor chemicals also featured prominently at a meeting last week on combating the regions drug trade in China with the lower Mekong countries and would likely figure at a regional meeting on the drug trade in India next month. China and India make most of the chemicals ending up in Myanmars meth labs. Part of the challenge, Sim said, is that some officials are focusing on controlled chemicals only, thinking their noncontrolled building blocks, or pre-precursors, are not a problem. We have seen that for many, many, many times, he said. Thats why we try to change their mentality of [how to] look at the chemical issues even if its noncontrolled, you really need to pay attention. Thats our job. Making the list Another part of the job is making it easier for countries to notify each other when chemicals with drug-making potential cross each others borders. The U.N.s International Narcotics Control Board, or INCB, launched an online Pre-Export Notification, or PEN, system for government agencies to report the export of controlled chemicals in 2006, and a light version for noncontrolled chemicals last year. The continued evolution of illicit drug manufacturing and the growing importance of synthetic drugs are at the core of the development of the PEN Online Light system, Antonio Mazzitelli, head of precursors control for the INCB secretariat, told VOA. PEN Online Light offers countries the opportunity for moving towards a more proactive, preventive approach, he said. Yet another approach is to reclassify more precursor chemicals from noncontrolled to controlled. The U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs meets annually to decide whether to add more chemicals to the 1988 convention; it has added 10 in the past eight years. Sim said the drug gangs are learning to substitute and make their own precursors faster than the commission can add them to the list, so it encourages countries to add internationally noncontrolled chemicals to their own national lists. He pointed to Thailand, a popular thoroughfare for the chemicals headed to Myanmars drug labs, as a good example. Thailand added sodium cyanide to its list of controlled chemicals in November. Prin Mekanandha, director of law enforcement at Thailands Office of the Narcotics Control Board, said sodium cyanide is commonly, and legally, used by the countrys gold mines. It can also be used to make meth but is not covered by U.N. convention. Days after Thailand designated sodium cyanide a controlled chemical, it seized 220 tons shipped from China and likely headed for the drug labs. Prin said the delivery would have been enough to make some 4.8 million meth tablets. He agreed that the drug gangs use of noncontrolled chemicals was a growing problem. In the past they didnt use sodium cyanide to produce the methamphetamine, but right now we control the sodium cyanide, Prin told VOA Monday. We have to follow them and [find] the evidence that they use the noncontrolled [chemicals], and then we try to [change] the noncontrolled to controlled, he added. We follow the situation. September 12 will be an important event in the tech industry - Apple will unveil the iPhone 15, updated Apple Watch, AirPods headphones with USB-C and name a release date for new operating systems. Wonderlust is certainly one of the most anticipated presentations of the fall. ADVERTISIMENT The presentation of iPhone 15 will take place on September 12, 2023 at 20:00 Kyiv time. About the expected novelties and possible characteristics of updated gadgets - read in the material OBOZREVATEL. Online broadcast of the presentation Apple Live broadcast from Apple Park in California will be available to everyone on the Apple website and YouTube channel. iPhone 15: what to expect Apple will unveil the iPhone 15, and users are holding their breath ahead of the official announcement of a major update: the promise that the proprietary Lightning will be replaced by a universal USB-C port. For the first time (and finally), the iPhone will have a USB-C port instead of Apple's proprietary Lightning connector. Back in 2022, Apple confirmed that it would switch to USB-C to meet European Union regulations. ADVERTISIMENT And while most users are positive about the upgrade, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo emphasized that only the Pro and Pro Max will benefit from faster data speeds. The expert noted that both premium models will have "at least" USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, with the base iPhone 15 and 15 Plus supporting USB 2.0. In addition, Apple analyst Ross Young reported last year that all iPhone 15 models will come with Dynamic Island. It is highly likely that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will have a titanium frame and aluminum body. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will also get a faster A17 chip built on a 3nm process, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will likely feature the A16 chip included in the iPhone 14 Pro. MacRumors and 9to5Mac are reporting that the premium models could have an action button similar to the one installed on the Apple Watch Ultra. The button is expected to replace the sound switch and allow you to assign shortcuts to various programs. ADVERTISIMENT Rumors of a rebranding of the iPhone 15 Pro Max have been flying around the web, with Apple allegedly wanting to change the name to "Ultra". Chief Apple insider Mark Gurman did not confirm this prediction, saying that the company will keep the Pro Max name. The exclusive iPhone 15 Max is predicted to have a periscopic lens with 6x optical zoom. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives predicts that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will be priced at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. The color changes are also credible. According to 9to5Mac, Apple may replace its gold finish with "gray titanium." The company may also introduce a new dark blue variant. The iPhone 15 Pro will traditionally be available in black and white. The network speculates that the standard iPhone 15 will have black, blue, yellow, white and pink variants. ADVERTISIMENT Apple Watch lineup update About the premium Apple Watch Ultra update, it is known that it will retain its 49mm size and will have a darker titanium case. It is also said that the Watch Series 9 will come with an updated S9 processor. According to Gurman, the S9 chip is based on the A15 processor that Apple introduced in the iPhone 13. This could offer greater efficiency and better battery life compared to its predecessor. In all likelihood, the Apple Watch will feature an ultra-wideband chip, "sensors and internal component upgrades." Other smaller updates expected along with the Watch Series 9 include a pink color option and a magnetic buckle strap. AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case It's not just the iPhone 15 that will get USB-C. According to Gurman, Apple plans to show off USB-C-enabled AirPods Pro during the presentation as well. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, analyst Kuo said that Apple could release fourth-generation AirPods in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025, along with the second-generation AirPods Max. There is also a version that Apple will also release a new pair of cheaper AirPods for $99. More information about iOS 17, macOS Sonoma Apple is expected to announce release dates for iOS 17 and watchOS 10, as well as iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, at the presentation. But beta versions for each of these operating systems can already be tested: iOS 17 will have a number of small but significant updates, including standby mode, voicemail transcription and the Journal app, macOS Sonoma adds widgets, a game mode and profiles in Safari. In iPadOS 17, Apple will add personalized lock screens, interactive widgets, a Health app, support for external webcams and USB cameras. Apple is also launching an update to Stage Manager that finally lets you customize the size and orientation of every window on your screen. And watchOS 10 will include widgets to provide quick access to various programs. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier OBOZREVATEL published preliminary predictions on Apple's new products. Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up to date. A 25-year-old foreign student has been arrested in Norway on suspicion of espionage, including illegal eavesdropping through various technical devices. Norway's domestic security agency, known by its acronym PST, told Norwegian media that the man, who was arrested on Friday, was charged in court on Sunday with espionage and intelligence operations against the Nordic country. The man, whose identity and nationality haven't been disclosed, has pleaded not guilty in initial police questioning. Norwegian authorities haven't said which country the man was allegedly spying for. "We don't quite know what we're facing. We are in a critical, initial and vulnerable phase of the investigation," PST lawyer Thomas Blom was quoted as saying by Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. "He (the suspect) is charged with using technical installations for illegal signal intelligence." Police have seized from the man a number of data-carrying electronic devices, which the PST is now investigating. The suspect is a student, but he's not enrolled at an educational institution in Norway, and he's been living in Norway for a relatively short time, according to PST. Citing the arrest order, NRK said the suspect had allegedly been caught conducting illegal signal surveillance in a rental car near the Norwegian prime minister's office and the defense ministry. According to a court decision, the man has been imprisoned in pretrial custody for four weeks with a ban on receiving letters and visits. Security officials said the suspect wasn't operating alone. In its previous assessments, PST has singled out neighboring Russia, China and North Korea as state actors that pose a significant intelligence threat to Norway, a nation of 5.4 million. Israel's Supreme Court will hear petitions on Tuesday to quash an amendment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition that curbs its very own power, in a historic session that has already inflamed the country's judicial crisis. It is one in a series of appeals that the court will hear throughout September and which go straight to the core of the judicial row that has rocked the country for months, pitting the bench against a government that says it is too interventionist. Reasonableness clause On Sept. 12 for the first time in Israeli history, the entire 15-judge Supreme Court bench will convene to hear appeals by watchdog groups and lawmakers against a Basic Law amendment that curbs some of its own power. The legislation, ratified on July 24, removes one, but not all, of the tools the court has for voiding government and cabinet ministers' decisions or appointments. That tool empowers the court to rule an action is unreasonable. The legislation caused an uproar in Israel with opponents saying it violates Israel's democratic checks and balances and invites abuses of power. Netanyahu says it is a minor fix meant to restore balance between the branches of government by reining in a court that has become over- reaching. Constitutional quagmire The reasonableness amendment is part of Israel's so-called "Basic Laws" that the court so far has refrained from quashing. Striking down a basic law or an amendment to one has been described in Israel as the Supreme Court using a legal doomsday weapon. As Israel has no written constitution, it relies instead on these Basic Laws which enshrine some rights and liberties and establish rules of governance. Their stature exceeds those of regular laws. But Basic Laws can easily be added or amended by a majority in Israel's unicameral parliament, the Knesset, which is largely dominated by coalition governments. For this reason, some legal experts say judicial oversight over Basic Laws is important for preventing abuses of power even if the precise scope of judicial review is ambiguous. What Netanyahu says When asked whether he would abide by a court ruling that quashes the new legislation, Netanyahu has not given the clearest answer, saying that Israeli governments have always respected court rulings, and that the court has always respected the basic laws. In its legal response ahead of Tuesday's hearing, the government argued that the Supreme Court does not have legal authority to review basic laws. Its intervention would breach separation of powers and the rule of law by violating the legislature's authority, the government said, which could lead to anarchy. The court, on its part, has laid some legal groundwork for such judicial review in what it would deem extreme cases. What's next? The judges' ruling could come in weeks or even months. They have more options than just upholding the new legislation or striking it down. The bench could quash part of the law, delay its coming into effect until after the next parliamentary election or find fault in the relatively rushed legislation process and send it back to parliament to fix. Meanwhile, more volatile appeals are scheduled. Judges panel On Sept. 19 the court will hear a request to compel Justice Minister Yariv Levin to convene the committee which selects Israel's judges. The panel has been at the heart of the battle over the judiciary since January when Levin announced the judicial overhaul. His proposal included a change to the makeup of the committee that would give the governing coalition decisive sway in picking the judges. A bill to that effect was promoted in parliament but has not yet been ratified. Meanwhile, Levin, who wants conservative judges appointed to a bench he says is too left-leaning and elitist, has held off on convening the committee. As its fate remains unclear, bench vacancies are not being filled. From mid-October those vacancies will include the chief justice and another Supreme Court justice. Incapacity amendment On Sept. 28 the court will hear challenges to an amendment to a "basic law" that limits conditions for a prime minister to be deemed unfit, or incapacitated, and removed from office. The attorney general has said that Israel's parliament abused its authority by personally tailoring the law to suit Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption he denies and that it should therefore be quashed. The law's proponents say it is meant to safeguard any democratically elected leader from a wrongful ouster. Joint military drills between Armenian and U.S. forces kicked off Monday, the latest sign the Caucasus country is drifting from Moscow's orbit, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine reshapes the post-Soviet space. The exercises come with frustration growing in Armenia that Russia has failed to act as a security guarantor as tensions build with historic rival Azerbaijan backed by Turkey. "Exercise Eagle Partner's opening ceremony has kicked off," U.S. Army Europe and Africa spokesperson told AFP. Armenia's defense ministry said the exercises aim to "increase the level of interoperability" with U.S. forces in international peacekeeping missions. And the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command said around 85 soldiers will train with 175 Armenian troops between 11 and 20 in the Zar and Armavir grounds. It said the drills would help prepare Armenia's 12th Peacekeeping Brigade to meet NATO standards for an evaluation later this year. Moscow, which leads a military alliance that includes Armenia, summoned Armenia's ambassador this week to complain about "unfriendly steps" the country was taking. The ministry said Armenia's envoy was given a "tough" rebuke but stressed the countries "remain allies." "It sounded more like a threat to Yerevan than a description of reality," said independent analyst Gela Vasadze. "In fact, Russian-Armenian relations have reached a strategic impasse," he told AFP. 'Weakened Russia' In Armenia's capital Yerevan, residents expressed frustration over Russia's lack of military and political support as tensions build again with Azerbaijan. Mariam Anahamyan, 27, told AFP that Armenia had made a mistake by "pinning its hopes on the Russians." "So now let's try with the Americans. The consequences may be bad but not trying would be even worse," she said. Arthur Khachaduryan, a 51-year-old security guard, said: "Russia failed to keep its commitments during the war and has even made our situation worse." He was referring to a brief but bloody conflict between the countries in 2020 for control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist region in Azerbaijan. Russia brokered a ceasefire and deployed 2,000 peacekeepers to the Lachin corridor, which connects Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. But Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently said Moscow was either "unable or unwilling" to control the passage. His government says Azerbaijan has closed the road and blockaded the mountainous region, spurring a humanitarian crisis in Armenian-populated towns. Pashinyan also recently claimed that Armenia's historic security reliance on Russia was a "strategic mistake." His wife visited Ukraine last week to deliver aid and attend a conference on mental health. He travelled to Moscow in May for a World War II commemorative parade. Bogged down in its invasion and isolated on the world stage, "weakened Russia is rapidly losing influence in its Soviet-era backyard," said independent analyst Arkady Dubnov. "Armenians are frustrated with Russia, which failed to help them during the Karabakh war and its aftermath," he said, adding that Moscow "also seems to be lacking a clear plan, strategy in the Caucasus." 'New allies' Nagorno-Karabakh was at the centre of two wars between Azerbaijan and Armenia. In the 1990s, Armenia defeated Azerbaijan and took control of the region, along with seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan. Thirty years later, energy-rich Azerbaijan, which built a strong military and secured the backing from Turkey, took revenge. After the 2020 war, Yerevan was forced to cede several territories it had controlled for decades. The European Union and United States have taken a lead role in mediating peace talks but have so far failed to bring about a breakthrough. The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh remains volatile and Armenia has accused Azerbaijan of moving troops near the region recently, raising the spectre of a fresh large-scale conflict. "The Kremlin has no resources neither the will to help Armenia and is letting Azerbaijan and Turkey to pursue their objectives," said analyst Dubnov. "In that situation, Armenia is trying to forge strong new alliances." The president of Chile issued a fervent defense of democracy on Monday, the 50th anniversary of the coup led by General Augusto Pinochet that ushered in a brutal military dictatorship for almost two decades. The problems of democracy must be addressed through more democracy, President Gabriel Boric said at the La Moneda presidential palace, which was bombed by warplanes at the start of the coup half a century ago. "A coup d'etat or the violation of the human rights of those who think differently is never justifiable," Boric said in his address to a nation where a significant number of people, according to numerous polls, believe the 1973 coup was justified, and that Pinochet, who died in 2006, was a good leader who helped to modernize the country. The military regime led by Pinochet violated human rights and brutally persecuted opponents, imprisoning and torturing thousands who were opposed to the regime. It Ieft a toll of 3,200 killed, including 1,469 disappeared. A half-century later, 297 have been convicted of crimes against humanity, and 1,300 cases are ongoing. "It is crucial to clearly state that the coup d'etat cannot be separated from what came afterward. Human rights violations of Chilean men and women began right from the moment of the coup," Boric said, adding later that, "It was a dictatorship until the end." Christopher J. Dodd, U.S. special presidential adviser for the Americas, was leading the U.S. government delegation to Chile, according to the State Department. The U.S. government backed the 1973 coup, and the Chilean government is pushing Washington to declassify documents that could shed light on the era. The date is marked by political polarization between the ruling party and the right-wing opposition, due to their disagreements about the roles they played in the coup. Boric described the atmosphere as "charged," and former President Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010 and 2014-2018) called it "toxic." In Congress, lawmakers shouted at each other over the issue. Those divisions spilled into the streets over the weekend, when a peaceful protest by thousands of Chileans to remember those disappeared and killed by the dictatorship was marred by violence. A small group of masked individuals threw rocks at windows. The violent individuals "tried to break up the protest," Boric, who had joined the protest, wrote on social media. "They broke windows and indiscriminately attacked groups and members of political parties." Boric went on to write that "as president of the Republic, I categorically condemn these acts," adding that their "intolerance and violence shouldn't have a place in democracy." In his speech Monday, Boric emphasized the need to stand up with the victims of the dictatorship and not seek a false equivalence in order to appease those who defend Pinochet's government. "Reconciliation is not achieved through neutrality or distance but by unequivocally standing with those who were victims of the horror. Reconciliation, dear compatriots, does not involve attempting to equate the responsibilities between victims and perpetrators," Boric said. Late last month, Boric unveiled what will effectively be the first state-sponsored plan to try to locate the approximately 1,162 victims of the dictatorship who remain missing, which on Monday he said would be his government's "legacy." "It is time to remedy those absences, correct the shortcomings, and repair the damage in order to project ourselves beyond our pains," he said. In the run-up to the anniversary, Boric promoted an agreement for the protection of democracy and human rights, which was signed by his four predecessors, but none of the three leaders of the opposition adhered to it. More than 1,000 local and international guests took part in Monday's commemoration, including a few presidents from the region. Members of the right-wing opposition, which has been heavily criticized by the president, were notably absent. The guests included Presidents Luis Arce of Bolivia, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay and Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico. There were also Cabinet ministers, lawmakers, representatives of international organizations and human rights groups, among others. The event began with a piano rendition of the national anthem by the renowned musician Valentin Trujillo. Throughout the morning, many placed large flowers at the statue of deposed president Salvador Allende (1970-1973), located on one side of Constitution Square. Authorities in northwestern Pakistan said Monday that a bomb explosion killed at least one soldier and wounded several people, including civilians. The attack targeted the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) convoy in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Area police officer Mohammad Arash Khan told reporters that six FC personnel and two civilians were among the wounded. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it ambushed the convoy with an improvised explosive device. The group, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, has routinely plotted bombings and other terrorist attacks in districts close to or on the nearly 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan, killing hundreds of people, mostly security forces. The Pakistani military has confirmed the death of more than 220 soldiers and officers in nationwide attacks this year. Islamabad says fugitive TTP leaders and fighters orchestrate the violence from their sanctuaries in Afghanistan, and says the Taliban's return to power in the neighboring country in 2021 has emboldened and enabled the TTP to intensify cross-border attacks. Last week, a large group of heavily armed TTP militants assaulted Pakistani security outposts in the northern Chitral district near the Afghan border, killing four soldiers and 12 assailants, according to officials. Taliban rulers in Afghanistan reject the allegations, saying they are not allowing anyone to use their territory against Pakistan or other countries. The TTP leadership has publicly pledged allegiance to Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Afghan Taliban. In its latest report, the United Nations has estimated that at least 4,000 TTP militants are active on Afghan soil. The Islamist Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, when the United States and NATO allies chaotically withdrew all their troops to end nearly two decades of war with the then-Taliban insurgents. Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan border province has recently also experienced an uptick in insurgent violence by separatist ethnic Baluch groups. The Pakistani government has blamed the weapons and gear left by the U.S. military in Afghanistan for the uptick in terrorism. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar told reporters earlier this month that the war equipment had fallen into the hands of TTP and Baluch insurgents, enhancing their capacity to fight the Pakistani state. "There was no equipment left behind by American forces," John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, told reporters last week when asked for his response to the Pakistani assertions. "The equipment that people are saying the Americans left behind, that was equipment that was transferred well in advance of our departure to the [now-defunct] Afghan National Security Forces," Kirby said. "It belonged to the Afghan National Security Forces. They as the Taliban advanced on Kabul and other places throughout the country, they abandoned that equipment, not the United States." A series of coups in Western Africa is putting the unity and capability of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to the test as it seeks to restore civilian rule in countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and Niger. These four nations have joined forces to resist economic sanctions and potential military action by the other 11 countries within the bloc. On July 26, the military junta in Niger placed President Mohamed Bazoum under house arrest, accusing his administration of mismanaging the country's resources and allowing the security situation to deteriorate. In response, ECOWAS imposed trade sanctions on Niger and even threatened military intervention. But the ongoing political and security crises in Niger, as well as in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, are proving to be challenging for the other ECOWAS member countries. Paul Melly, a consulting fellow of the Africa Program at Chatham House, says the coup leaders are not adhering to the established rules and engagement of the regional bloc. "This series of coups, if you like, is a really serious blow to what had been ECOWAS's greatest strength," he said. "And the fact that the military regimes are defying the long-established ECOWAS tradition of collaboration in setting governance rules and in managing crises is a real threat a real challenge to the region's unity." In 2017, ECOWAS garnered praise for its collective military action against Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, forcing him to step down after he lost an election to the current president, Adama Barrow. Francis Mangeni, a regional integration expert, notes that the current situation is quite different, with some coups enjoying apparent support from the people. "Now we're having situations where it's not that clear, where you have the people themselves apparently supporting the coups. So this introduces a certain element of complexity. So in other words, the legitimacy of the constitutionally elected government seems to be in question," Mangeni said. "And this is an interesting thing really to say because if they are constitutional, they are supposed to be legitimate, but apparently the people don't think so." African Union leaders have been slow to condemn heads of state who change constitutions to extend their terms and alter age limits to remain in power. According to experts, the rise of military takeovers in Africa is due to leaders overstaying power, electoral malpractices, and elected leaders' failure to work for the betterment of the citizens. Aware of the challenges, Nigeria's Senate advised President Bola Tinubu, who also heads ECOWAS, to explore alternative approaches to address the crisis in Niger. Melly says that the affected coup countries now treat their crises as internal matters. "The collaborative culture under which essentially all ECOWAS countries accepted that the internal problems of a member state were, in fact, also the business of the whole bloc, that has been seriously eroded, because they are not accepting the concept that ECOWAS as a whole has the right to become involved in managing their crises and moving them back towards constitutional rule. And that's a very big change," Melly said. Mangeni says the region needs the support of other African countries to solve the problems of frequent coups and coup attempts. "We need action at the AU level by the highest political organs of the AU with input from all stakeholders. We need real action to address this problem," Mangeni said. "And this action, as I said, should come from a consultative, inclusive process. And then, we need the goodwill of the international community and all partners. Because, as I said, some of these problems are caused by interference by some of our partners who are pursuing their interests." The African Union has already suspended six countries where military forces seized power from civilians, including the four ECOWAS countries, plus Gabon and Sudan. Marking the 28th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization intervention that stopped a violent conflict in former Yugoslavia, Russias spy chief Sergei Naryshkin held a revisionist forum on August 30 at the Russian Historic Society, which he chairs, in Moscow. Naryshkin, the director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service, claimed that all countries where NATO intervened with peacekeeping missions now have living standards lower than they had prior to those interventions: I want to note that in no country in the world, wherever the forces of the North Atlantic Alliance invaded, neither the elementary order nor the pre-war standard of living of the local population was restored. That is partially false. NATO has conducted military missions in six countries. In four of them, the quality of life and order has improved significantly. Two countries, Libya and Afghanistan remain turbulent. Below is the chronology. Bosnia and Herzegovina For more than three years prior to the NATO intervention in 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina was mired in civil war. A United Nations report at the time described the situation as characterized by widespread and systematic human rights violations against civilian communities, often on the basis of ethnicity. At the request of the United Nations peacekeepers, NATO launched an air campaign it called Operation Deliberate Force on August 30, 1995, to force the Bosnian Serbs to negotiate an end to the civil war. A U.N.-mandated, NATO-led multinational Implementation Force was deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina in December 1995. That was followed by a NATO-led Stabilization Force, which remained in the country until December 2004. In 2022, the Rule of Law Index by the World Justice Project, a Washington-based international civil society watchdog, ranked Bosnia and Herzegovina 52nd out of 140 countries according to criteria that includes government transparency, absence of corruption, fundamental rights, order and stability, and the effectiveness of the justice system. The U.N. Human Development Index (HDI) published in September 2022 rated Bosnia and Herzegovina's HDI as high. Between 2000 and 2021, the countrys HDI value increased by 16.9%, from 0.667 to 0.780. The United Nations defines HDI as a summary measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living. The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, reported in its annual Index of Economic Freedom that over the past 25 years, the level of economic freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina has grown from repressed in 1998 to moderately free in 2023, which is higher than the world average. In December 2022, the European Union (EU) granted Bosnia and Herzegovina EU membership candidate status, based on the countrys record of improvement in the areas of democracy/functionality, the rule of law, fundamental rights and public administration reform. Serbia In March 1999, NATO launched Operation Allied Force, an air campaign aimed at stopping a new wave of ethnic cleansing launched by Serbian forces against Kosovar Albanians. From March 24, 1999, to June 10, 1999, the alliance bombed the logistics of the Yugoslav army located in present-day Serbia and Kosovo. The operation ended in June 1999. In 2022, the World Justice Project ranked Serbia 53rd out of 140 countries on its Rule of Law Index, measuring a countrys level of order and security. After its authoritarian leader Slobodan Milosevic was overthrown in 2000, Serbia introduced a strong reform program covering all areas of the economy while rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by war, and enjoyed periods of high growth as a result, the World Bank Group said in its Serbias Growth Agenda report published in 2020. Average monthly earnings in Serbia increased from $98 in January 2001 to $1,079 in April 2023. Serbias economic freedom level grew from repressed in 2002-2003, to moderately free in 2023 higher than the world average, the Heritage Foundation assessed. Between 1999 and 2021, according to the U.N., Serbias HDI value increased by 18.5%, from 0.677 to 0.802. Serbias HDI in 2021 put the country in the Very High human development category positioning it at 63 out of 191 countries and territories, the U.N. said. The EU granted Serbia membership candidate status in March 2012. In order to become a full member, Serbia must implement reforms, including "strengthening the independence and accountability of the judiciary, public administration, fight against corruption and organized crime. Kosovo A NATO-led, U.N.-mandated peacekeeping force has been in Kosovo since June 1999. That intervention stopped the war between the Kosovo Liberation Army and the Yugoslav Army. The conflict lasted from February 1998 to June 1999 and was accompanied by systematic violations of human rights and ethnic cleansing, which led to a massive refugee crisis: At least 700,000 Kosovar Albanians have become refugees in Albania, Macedonia, and Montenegro. The remaining 275,000 refugees have been displaced to other countries, the U.S. State Department stated in May 1999. In 2022, the Rule of Law Index ranked Kosovo 33rd out of 140 countries for its level of order and security. Kosovo was among the five countries in the world where rule of law improved the most in 2021. Kosovos economic growth in the past decade has outperformed its neighbors and has largely been inclusive, the World Bank stated in April. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a Paris-based intergovernmental organization, said that in Kosovo, sustainable and inclusive economic growth is equitably distributed throughout society and creates opportunities for all," which is essential for reducing poverty. North Macedonia From August 2001 to March 2003, NATO conducted three military interventions in North Macedonia, to disarm ethnic Albanian groups, protect international peace plan monitors, and assist the government in ensuring stability throughout the country." NATOs intervention put an end to intense inter-ethnic clashes between Macedonians and Albanian separatist groups from January to November 2001. Per Encyclopedia Britannica, Macedonia was the poorest of the Yugoslav republics. However, six years after NATOs intervention, independent North Macedonia had a robust economy, which weathered the worldwide economic downturn that began in 2008 better than many other countries. Between 2000 and 2021, according to the U.N., North Macedonias HDI value increased by 14%, from 0.675 to 0.770. North Macedonias HDI in 2021 put the country in the High human development categorypositioning it at 78 out of 191 countries and territories. Afghanistan NATO deployed its forces led by the U.S. to Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Those forces remained in Afghanistan until 2021 under a U.N. mandate "to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security in and around Kabul so that the Afghan Interim Authority, as well as United Nations personnel, can operate in security." From 2000 to 2021, the value of the HDI in Afghanistan, according to the U.N., increased by 42%, from 0.335 to 0.478. Afghanistan's 2021 HDI "put the country in the Low human development categorypositioning it at 180 out of 191 countries and territories." Gross national income per capita on purchasing power parity nearly doubled in Afghanistan, from $985 in 2000 to $1,824 in 2021. Following the withdrawal of the NATO-led military force from Afghanistan in 2021, including the departure of its last contingent 3,500 U.S. troops on August 30, 2021, the Taliban seized power in the country. Since then, the human rights situation in the country, particularly for Afghan women, has sharply deteriorated along with living standards. According to Brown Universitys Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, living standards in Afghanistan were worse in 2022 than before NATOs intervention in 2001. While 62% of Afghans faced food insecurity before 2001, that number reached 92% in 2022. The proportion of children under five years old experiencing acute malnutrition rose from 9% to 50%, and the proportion of Afghans living in poverty rose from 80% to 97%. Libya NATO intervened militarily in the civil war in Libya after the U.N. Security Council in March 2011 adopted Resolution 1973, declaring the protection of civilians as the armed interventions goal. As part of Operation Unified Protector, NATO imposed an arms embargo and created a no-fly zone over Libya to prevent any aircraft from bombing civilian targets. Libyas longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was captured and summarily executed by rebel forces in October 2011 after his convoy was attacked by NATO aircraft. Libya's GDP has fluctuated significantly over the past 13 years, falling during the first civil war in 2011 and the second in 2014-2020. While a ceasefire was signed in October 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe economic recession in the country. According to the World Bank, Libya's GDP in 2022 was $45.75 billion, lower than its 2011 GDP of $48.17 billion. Between 2010 and 2021, according to the U.N., Libyas HDI value decreased by 2.8%, from 0.739 to 0.718. Gross national income per capita on purchasing power fell from $18,663 in 2010 to $15,336 in 2021. In addition, the human rights situation in Libya has not only not improved since before the NATO intervention but, according to international observers, even deteriorated. Migrants and asylum seekers transiting Libya have suffered some of the worst abuses, including being sold into slavery. On September 4, the Afghan news channel TOLOnews quoted Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid insisting that Afghanistans Taliban government only ensures the security of relief groups and does not interfere in their affairs. The comment came in response to rising criticism of the Talibans systematic obstruction of international efforts to deliver aid to the impoverished Afghans. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not interfere in the affairs of any institution to disrupt their work. We and our military are obliged to ensure their security," the Taliban spokesman said. That is false. Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the United Nations and international aid organizations have reported numerous incidents in which Taliban authorities have interfered in the distribution of humanitarian aid in the country. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, in its August 17 report, that the U.N. relief partners in Afghanistan recorded at least 150 incidents in July alone. Ninety-five percent of these incidents have been authored by De-facto Authority (DfA) and its Armed Forces - meaning the Taliban government and military. OCHA said these incidents involved instances of arrests and detention of 7 staff, and destruction or damage to 8 facilities, which led to the suspension of 56 aid programs in July. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) detailed a rapid deterioration of the human rights situation in Afghanistan in its May-June report. On May 1, 2023, two Afghan female INGO [international non-governmental organization] staff were arrested by Taliban police for traveling without a mahram (male guardian), and on June 3, Taliban intelligence detained a midwife on her way to work and questioned her about her INGO employer; she was reportedly threatened with death and resigned from her position as a result. Such incidents are part of a pattern of actions inhibiting the ability of aid organizations to operate in Afghanistan, where an estimated 29.2 million people need humanitarian aid. On December 24, 2022, the Taliban banned female aid workers from working in Afghanistan. The decree specified that any organization found employing women in Afghanistan would have its license revoked. This decree jeopardized the ability of aid organizations to use their labor force. The barring of women humanitarian staff continues to affect the reach of humanitarian assistance to women and children beneficiaries, OCHA report stated in August. Echoing the United Nations, the U.S. governments Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) stated on July 30, in its most recent report to the U.S. Congress: This quarter, Taliban interference with NGO work escalated, leading to a steady decline in humanitarian access in 2023, with a 32% increase in incidents between January and May 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. Such aid interference exacerbates the lack of funding to address Afghanistans humanitarian crisis. The Security Council Report, a New York-based NGO focusing on the United Nations, says in its latest monthly forecast that the 2023 Afghanistan Humanitarian Response Plan remains underfunded and that only 26.8 percent of the $3.2 billion required by the planan amount which was revised down from $4.6 billion in early Junehas been received. It also says there is a divide in the U.N. Security Council over how to deal with Afghanistan. The United States, France and the United Kingdom, among others, argue that Afghanistan must be pressured to adhere to international norms particularly regarding its policies and practices that violate the rights of women and girls, in return for international recognition and aid. China and Russia think the international community should provide aid to Afghanistan without linking it to issues like human rights, and they appear to prefer dialogue and engagement with the Taliban over increased pressure. The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as U.N. Women, reported in July that 18% of organizations conducting humanitarian work in Afghanistan now were fully or partially operating with only men. In any case, with key Security Council members reportedly at odds over aid to Afghanistan, the Taliban aid interference which its spokesman falsely denies is happening will be that much more consequential to Afghans in need. Ukraine belongs in the European Union, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Monday during her visit to Kyiv. But she added that the country needed to do more to fight graft. "Reform results in the areas of judicial reform, and media legislation are already impressive. But there is still a long way to go in the implementation of the anti-oligarch law and the fight against corruption," Baerbock said. Baerbock also said that Germany will provide an additional $21.44 million in humanitarian aid, bringing Berlins additional aid to a total of $408 million this year. The German foreign minister warned that Russia would again target Ukraines energy infrastructure this autumn and winter. "Russia's perfidious goal is to starve the people again this winter and to let them freeze to death," she said. Ukrainian officials have also warned that Russia will likely wage new airstrikes on Ukraines energy facilities and have called for long-range missiles from Western allies. After his meeting with Baerbock, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he requested Taurus cruise missiles from Germany as soon as possible. "You will do it anyway its just a matter of time and I don't understand why we are wasting time," Kuleba said in response to a question at a press conference. Kuleba noted that Ukraine, a major grain producer and exporter, needed more protection for its ports after Russia stepped up airstrikes on grain export infrastructure. He has recently requested ATACMS long-range missiles from Kyiv's allies. Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, said on the Telegram messaging app that discussions on long-range missiles had been "good," and the question of ATACMS was moving forward. But he gave no details. Zelenskyy thanked Baerbock for Germany's support. In an interview with CNN, he said he planned to speak again to U.S. President Joe Biden about providing ATACMS to Ukraine, and that he hoped to receive them in the fall. G20 reaction Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ukraines ambassador to India, expressed skepticism during the G20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend about the tenor of the declaration reached by the group of the 20 richest countries over the war in Ukraine. The G20 declaration highlighted the human suffering the war has caused and called on all states to respect nations sovereignty. It condemned the use of force to grab territory but stopped short of condemning Russia for the war. During a press conference in New Delhi on Monday, Polishchuk pointed out that Zelenskyy was not invited to the summit, despite it being largely dominated by the Ukrainian crisis. We will definitely see how the results of the summit will be implemented in the future. We definitely want to have voices of all of participants of this summit in a support of Ukraine in the next General Assembly, and we will see how they will prove the willingness to stop the war in Ukraine, which has not been initiated and is unprovoked on the Ukrainian side but conducted by Russia, Polishchuk said. U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said Monday that Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and Russian attacks on Ukrainian grain facilities have pushed food prices sky high in many developing countries. Speaking to a session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk said the spike in prices has taken the right to food far out of reach for many people. He specifically highlighted the situation in Somalia, saying the country has long depended on wheat from Ukraine and Russia and that the breakdown of the grain deal was particularly damaging. The Black Sea Grain Initiative allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported via the Black Sea. Russia exited the deal in July, complaining that a parallel deal for removing obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports had not been honored. Ukraines military intelligence said Monday that Ukrainian forces had retaken control of several offshore gas and oil drilling platforms near Crimea. It said on Telegram that the operation included Ukrainian special forces on boats who damaged a Russian Su-30 fighter jet and captured helicopter ammunition and radar equipment. The military said Russia had occupied the platforms since 2015 and had used them for military purposes. Ukraine also said on Monday that its troops had regained more territory on the eastern and southern fronts in the past week of its counteroffensive against Russian forces. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukraine had retaken nearly 2-square-kilometers of land around the eastern city of Bakhmut and that the Ukrainian army had in the past week also recaptured 4.8-square-kilometers in the southern Tavria sector. In her televised comments, Maliar said Ukrainian forces had captured part of the village of Opytne, south of the eastern city of Avdiivka, and had "partial success" near the village of Novomaiorske in the eastern region of Donetsk. Kyiv has retaken a series of villages and settlements during its counteroffensive, but its soldiers have been hampered by vast Russian minefields and trenches. Reuters was not able to verify the reports. Tatiana Vorozhko Koprowicz of VOA's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report from New Delhi. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant accused Iran on Monday of setting up an airport in southern Lebanon to enable attacks against Israel. Israel is troubled by arch-foe Iran's nuclear program, missile buildup and support for militants in the region. The most powerful group, the Lebanese Hezbollah, fought a war with Israel in 2006. But this year, several incidents have taken place along the border, and angry words have been exchanged. In televised remarks to an international security conference hosted by Reichman University, Gallant showed aerial images of what he described as an airport built by Iran with a view to pursuing what he called "terrorist objectives" against Israel. He did not elaborate on these but said the site could accommodate mid-sized aircraft. The location he gave was near the Lebanese village of Birket Jabbour and the city of Jezzine, some 20 kilometers north of the Israeli border town of Metulla. Neither Hezbollah nor Iranian officials had an immediate response to Gallant's remarks. A non-Israeli source with knowledge of the site said it could accommodate large drones some of them weaponized built off Iranian blueprints. The source said drones launched from the site could be used for both internal and external operational activities but added that the nature and direction of the runway suggested the former were more likely. Hezbollah has been investing heavily in drone technology, the source said. Gallant said there was an Iranian effort to create another dangerous front on Israel's border with Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, "through Shiite militias that operate and are based in Iraq." He did not elaborate on the scale or provide further details on how this was being accomplished. Israel is widely believed to have its own nuclear arsenal, although it neither confirms nor denies this. Gallant also mentioned divisions in Israeli society over planned judicial overhaul legislation, which has led to mass demonstrations, and some reservists saying they would refuse call-ups if the legislation passes. "The continuation of the internal struggle is jeopardizing national resilience, the Israel Defense Forces and our ability to provide security to the State of Israel," Gallant said. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on September 11, probably went on a trip to Russian Federation. According to the media, he went to neighboring Russian Federation on his armored train. ADVERTISIMENT The corresponding information was released by the South Korean TV channel YTN. It is stated that the DPRK dictator may meet with his Russian counterpart on September 12, although initially journalists wrote about the 13th. Russia's Interfax news agency reported that Kim Jong-un is expected to visit Russia's Far East "in the coming days." The Kremlin later confirmed to Russian propagandists that Kim Jong-un would visit the country. It said he would make the visit at Putin's invitation in the coming days. No specific date was given. It will be the North Korean leader's first visit abroad in more than four years and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time Kim Jong-un traveled out of North Korea was in 2019 - also to Vladivostok. His meeting with Putin took place then, following the collapse of North Korea's nuclear disarmament talks with former US President Donald Trump. ADVERTISIMENT At the new talks, the key topics are expected to be Russian arms supplies and cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. The BBC recalled: last week the White House said the Russian Federation and the DPRK discussed the transfer of ammunition for the Russian occupiers. "Arms supply talks between Russia and the DPRK are actively progressing. We have information that Kim Jong-un expects these discussions to continue, including diplomatic engagement at the level of Russian leaders," U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said. As OBOZREVATEL wrote: - Tentatively, the aggressor country Russia wants artillery ammunition, missiles to MLRS and other military goods from North Korea. Bloomberg speculated that this would help Moscow continue its war of attrition. - According to media reports, Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin may meet in Vladivostok, Russia, for the Eastern Economic Forum, which will be held from September 10 to 13. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to the United States this month, his office said Sunday, but is not expected to meet with President Joe Biden amid months of tensions. The planned visit would be Netanyahu's first trip to Israel's longtime ally the United States since reelection late last year. The Israeli premier is due to land in San Francisco on September 18 for Silicon Valley meetings, before heading to New York, where he will be attending the United Nations General Assembly, a statement from his office said. A spokesman for Netanyahu said there were no plans for meeting with U.S. officials during the trip, an unusual case for visiting Israeli leaders. Biden has criticized the judicial overhaul Netanyahu's hard-right government is advancing, which critics describe as a threat to democracy in Israel. The U.S. president recently hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely ceremonial role. Netanyahu, however, has yet to be invited to the White House since returning to power in December at the helm of what Biden had described as "one of the most extremist" administrations in Israeli history. In July, the White House said Biden and Netanyahu would "meet in the United States later this year," without providing further details. Malawis president has launched a large-scale crop production initiative known as mega farms, aimed at boosting the countrys agricultural-based economy and help end persistent food shortages. Malawi has long faced food shortages at both national and domestic levels each year. This, despite various efforts to boost agricultural production, including the Targeted Inputs Program, in which farmers buy seed and fertilizer at cheaper prices. According to a report last month from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 4.4 million Malawians, representing 22 percent of the countrys population, are facing food shortages. And the situation is expected to worsen from October to March 2024. Speaking during the televised launch of a mega farm in northern Malawi over the weekend, President Lazarus Chakwera said the program aimed to improve the countrys foreign exchange reserves and make the country food sufficient. This approach is also a game changer for our economy as a whole, because most of our forex revenue comes from farming. But given the forex challenges we have faced in the recent past as a consequence of debt left behind by past administrations, it is clear that our long-term solution has to involve boosting and intensifying agriculture productivity for exports. Minister of Trade and Industry, Simplex Chithyola Banda, said the ministry has already found markets for produce from the mega farms. He said in June of this year, the Malawi government agreed with a foreign bank to build industrial parks in the capital, Lilongwe, and also the commercial capital, Blantyre. The aim of these industrial parks is to engage in agro-processing and value addition. What it means is therefore the mega farms already have the markets to offtake their produce, and this will spell the boom of economic growth in this country, said Banda. Executive director of the Farmers Union of Malawi, Jacob Nyirongo, says he hopes the mega farm program will help solve challenges facing small-scale farmers, like access to markets. "Mega farms can become anchor farms and integrate smallscale farmers in the business model. So, through that integration, small-scale farmers can have access to advisory services. They can have access to credit, But also, they can have access to a market, Nyirongo said. William Chanza, executive director of an independent agricultural policy think tank in Malawi known by the acronym MwAPATA (Malawi Agricultural Policy Advancement and Transformation Agenda), said authorities should make more room for private investors to make the mega farm model sustainable. As also make sure that we address some of the policy barriers to private sector engagement in agriculture, especially market and exported related issues, so that when they invest and produce, they are able to take commodities on the export market, Chanza told VOA. President Chakwera said 800 medium- and large-scale farmers have so far registered to grow various crops in over 63,000 hectares of land to be cultivated during this year's growing season. A Ukrainian composer has been commissioned to write an opera about mothers from that country going into Russia to rescue their forcibly detained children. The Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater said Monday that 42-year-old Maxim Kolomiiets will compose the work to a libretto by George Brant, whose "Grounded," with composer Jeanine Tesori, premieres at the Washington National Opera on October 28 and travels to the Met in autumn 2024. Met general manager Peter Gelb hopes the company can present the new work by 2027 or '28. The story is fictional but based on events in Ukraine and The Hague. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of abducting children from Ukraine. "It will be a story of motherhood and childhood, about this strange, very difficult situation where mothers rescue their children and met with many difficulties," Kolomiiets said in a telephone interview. "For people, for listeners, it will be a good understanding." He was living in Kyiv when the war started last year, then three months later moved to Leipzig, Germany, where he had a project and decided to stay. Gelb said discussions began last fall with Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska when she visited New York and Kolomiiets was picked from among 72 applications after vetting by Met dramaturge Paul Cremo, Gelb and the Met's artistic staff. A story framework has been created. A piano-vocal score and libretto will be written in the next year or two and a workshop prepared. "I felt it was important to have an English-language librettist working with the composer so that story would have the broadest possible audience," Gelb said. Gelb has been an advocate of support for Ukraine, banning Russian star soprano Anna Netrebko from the opera house and assisting Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra tours led by his wife, Canadian-Ukrainian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson. Works in the joint commissioning program can appear at either house. "It's my hope it will end up as a full-blown opera and hopefully on our stage," Gelb said. Many selective universities in the U.S. offer early action, which can boost a students chances of getting in if they apply early. These programs have been criticized, since underprivileged students are often unfamiliar with the deadlines and unable to get their applications in on time. Now, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, plans to only offer the option to students who are the first members of their families to attend college. Liam Knox has more for Inside Higher Ed. (August 2023) More than two decades after al-Qaida operatives slammed passenger jets into New Yorks World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania, Americas war on terror has left the terror group practically impotent, unable to strike the U.S. homeland, according to the latest U.S. intelligence assessment. Al-Qaida is at its historical nadir in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and its revival is unlikely, National Counterterrorism Center Director Christy Abizaid said in a statement marking the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. It has lost target access, leadership talent, group cohesion, rank-and-file commitment, and an accommodating local environment, Abizaid added, calling the degradation of al-Qaida's core an example of what the United States and its allies and partners have achieved in the years since those terrible attacks. The assessment also aligns with previous statements by other top-ranking U.S. officials. In March, the Department of Homeland Securitys counterterrorism coordinator said another September 11th-style attack on the U.S. would be almost inconceivable. And this past June, a senior administration official told VOA that even the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 has failed to rejuvenate the terror group. Al-Qaida simply has not reconstituted a presence in Afghanistan, the official told VOA, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss the latest U.S. intelligence. Only not everyone is as optimistic as the U.S. about the downfall of al-Qaida in Afghanistan. A June report by the United Nations, based on member state intelligence, warned that Afghanistan has again become a haven for al-Qaida, which has expanded its footprint from just several dozen members to as many as 60 senior officials, in addition to some 400 fighters. The U.N. report further warned that al-Qaida has established training camps in at least five provinces and safe houses in another four. U.S. officials who spoke to VOA at the time described the U.N. assessment as out of whack and insisted that the military and intelligence agencies have the right capabilities in place to see any potential al-Qaida revival. Since then, other senior U.S. officials have similarly rejected the idea that al-Qaida, even under the Taliban, has been able to reestablish a foothold. Remember what I said about Afghanistan? I said al-Qaida would not be there. I said it wouldnt be there. I said wed get help from the Taliban," U.S. President Joe Biden said in response to a question on Afghanistan in July. "Whats happening now? Whats going on? Biden said at the time. Read your press. I was right. Some analysts, though, are skeptical of sounding the death knell for al-Qaida in Afghanistan, even if the terror group may not be currently capable of launching the type of spectacular attacks that first gained it notoriety. Even if the threat from al-Qaida now is not as obvious, or not as salient as it once was a decade and a half ago, it hasn't gone away completely, said Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations. Al-Qaida sees its struggle as divinely ordained, as commanded by their deity and therefore, it's not for mere mortal men to lay down their arms and stop fighting, Hoffman told VOA. They now have the opportunity in Afghanistan with the Taliban in power to regroup and rebuild. Retired U.S. General David Petraeus, who served as the commander of U.S. forces in South Asia and then as director of the CIA, likewise told VOA that al-Qaida should not be underestimated. They don't have a kind of international reach yet, similar to what al-Qaida eventually developed, of course, when they carried out the 9/11 attacks, Petraeus said. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't keep a very close eye on them, he said, adding, I'm very confident that we are tracking to the extent that we can. Yet even top U.S. military officials concede the ability to track al-Qaida in Afghanistan, along with its rival, the Islamic State Khorasan Province, is not what it once was. "Our intelligence is degraded," the commander of U.S. Central Command, General Michael Erik Kurilla, told lawmakers in March on the impact of the U.S. withdrawal on counterterrorism efforts. "I believe we can see the broad contours of an attack [plot], he said. Sometimes, we lack the granularity to see the full picture." In her statement marking the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, the National Counterterrorism Centers Abizaid cautioned that despite the progress against al-Qaida and other groups, The threat of terrorism is not gone. Every week, threat-related intelligence lands on my desk, Abizaid said. In the face of a persistent terrorism challenge, the United States Government must sustain a nimble, action-oriented counterterrorism posture, even as other priorities take center stage. VOAs Afghan Service contributed to this report. Pakistan on Monday defended its decision to close the main border crossing with landlocked Afghanistan, saying Taliban authorities were trying to build "unlawful structures" on its territory and "resorted to indiscriminate firing" when challenged. Traffic through the busy historic Torkham transit point for trade and travelers was suspended last Wednesday after border security forces exchanged fire, killing a Taliban guard and a civilian on the Afghan side. "Pakistan cannot accept the construction of any structures by [the Afghan government] inside its territory since these violate its sovereignty," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Monday. She responded to a Taliban Foreign Ministry statement accusing Pakistani forces of opening fire on Afghan forces while they were doing "repair work on an old security post constructed several years ago." Sundays Taliban statement warned that the border closure could "adversely affect" relations between the two countries. "On 6th September, instead of a peaceful resolution, Afghan troops resorted to indiscriminate firing, targeting Pakistan military posts, damaging the infrastructure at the Torkham Border Terminal, and putting the lives of both Pakistani and Afghan civilians at risk when they were stopped from erecting such unlawful structures," said Baloch in a statement. "Such unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on Pakistani border posts cannot be justified under any circumstances," she said. The Torkham standoff has stranded hundreds of trucks transporting commercial goods, mostly Afghan fruits and vegetables, and thousands of travelers on both sides. The nearly 2,600-kilometer has long been a source of bilateral tensions because Afghanistan disputes the century-old British colonial-era demarcation. Islamabad rejects Kabul's objections, saying Pakistan inherited the international border after gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Rising cross-border terror Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baloch suggested Monday that the Torkham gate closure also resulted from the rising cross-border attacks against her country by anti-Pakistan militants sheltering in Afghanistan. She referred to leaders and fighters of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, operating out of Afghan soil. TTP is listed as a global terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations. It is a known offshoot and close ally of the Afghan Taliban. "These elements are enjoying sanctuaries inside Afghanistan, as confirmed by the U.N. Security Council's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team in its latest report, she said. "We expect the Afghan interim authorities to be mindful of Pakistan's concerns, respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan, and ensure that the Afghan territory is not used as a launching pad for terrorist attacks against Pakistan," said Baloch. The U.N. report in question found that TTP has been "gaining momentum in its operations against Pakistan and aspires to regain control of territory within the country. It noted that at least 4,000 TTP operatives are active on Afghan soil and warned the group could become a regional threat if it continues to have safe operating base in Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban deny they allow the use of Afghan soil to threaten Pakistan or other countries, calling TTP-led violence an internal matter for the neighboring country. Pakistani officials and residents said Afghan Taliban fighters also joined TTP in launching last week's massive assault against two security outposts close to the Afghan border in the northern Chitral district. Islamabad claims it has also shared evidence and bodies of several Afghan assailants killed in retaliatory counterterrorism actions by the Pakistani security forces. The Kremlin and Pyongyang said Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia in the coming days at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency said on Monday that its leader will meet and have a talk with Putin during a visit to Russia. South Korean media reported Monday that a special train presumed to be carrying Kim had departed Pyongyang and that a meeting with Putin could take place as early as Tuesday. South Korean officials said they are monitoring closely but did not confirm specific details. The government is concerned about the possibility of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which has been raised recently. Once again, we make it clear that bilateral cooperation should not undermine the international order and peace in the Korean Peninsula, said a spokesperson from the South Korean Ministry of Unification on Monday. The U.S. State Department has not immediately commented on reports that Kim is on his way to Russia for arms deal talks with Putin. A State Department spokesperson told VOA earlier any arms deal between the DPRK and Russia would directly violate a number of U.N. Security Council resolutions. DPRK is the abbreviation for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. We urge the DPRK to cease its arms negotiations with Russia. And we are taking action directly by exposing and sanctioning individuals and entities working to facilitate arms deals between Russia and the DPRK, the State Department spokesperson added. Kims expected meeting with Putin would come days after North Korea marked the country's founding anniversary with a parade of paramilitary groups and diplomatic exchanges on Saturday. Kim has vowed to deepen ties with China and Russia. Media reports in South Korea said North Koreas latest paramilitary parade featured columns of motorcycles with high mobility and anti-tank missile launchers towed by tractors. The North apparently did not display its intercontinental ballistic missiles and other strategic weapons. A spokesperson from South Koreas Ministry of National Defense told reporters in a briefing that intelligence agencies from the United States and South Korea are analyzing related developments, including public reports on North Korea's parade. Our military is constantly monitoring North Korea's weapons development and various provocations under a firm unified defense posture, said the spokesperson. U.S. officials said last week a Kim-Putin meeting was expected to take place this month, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby expressing concerns that North Korea is considering providing military support for Russian forces fighting in Ukraine. A major Russia-North Korea arms deal, in breach of numerous international sanctions, should worry Beijing because association with an emerging pariah state bloc could have negative repercussions for Chinas globalized but struggling economy, according to Leif-Eric Easley, who is a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Kim held his first summit meeting with Putin on April 25, 2019, in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Rescuers in Morocco searched Monday for any remaining survivors from the powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,100 people. The government said search teams from Britain, Spain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were joining the effort to dig through the rubble in villages in the Atlas Mountains. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Friday night, injuring more than 2,400 people in addition to the dead. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech. The United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were affected by the quake, which was the most powerful to hit Morocco in a century. Rescue efforts were slow, and some Moroccans complained on social networks that the government wasnt allowing more rescue workers into the country to help. U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters Sunday that his administration stood ready to provide any necessary assistance to Morocco. Those left homeless by the quakes destruction slept outside for a third consecutive night Sunday. King Mohammed VI ordered three days of national mourning starting Sunday as flags were lowered across the country. The army mobilized specialized search and rescue teams, and the king ordered water, food rations and shelter to be provided to those who lost their homes. The king called for mosques across the kingdom to hold prayers Sunday for the victims, many of whom were buried Saturday amid the frenzy of rescue work nearby. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Leaders of nine small island states turned to the U.N. maritime court on Monday to seek protection of the world's oceans from catastrophic climate change that threatens the very existence of entire countries. The island states are asking the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to determine if carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the oceans can be considered pollution, and if so, what obligations countries have to prevent it. "This is the opening chapter in the struggle to change the conduct of the international community by clarifying the obligation of states to protect the marine environment," said the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne. "The time has come to speak in terms of legally binding obligations rather than empty promises that go unfulfilled," he told the court based in Hamburg, Germany. The joint counsel representing the islands, Catherine Amirfar, said the point was to force countries to implement substantive measures against climate change. "We're here to discuss what are the necessary, concrete, specific steps that they must take as a matter of law, not political discretion. That's key and... a big part of the answer," she told journalists. Ocean ecosystems create half the oxygen humans breathe and limit global warming by absorbing much of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities. But increasing emissions can warm and acidify seawaters, harming marine life. At the heart of the case is the international treaty UNCLOS that binds countries to preventing pollution of the oceans. The U.N. treaty defines pollution as the introduction by humans of "substances or energy into the marine environment" that harms marine life. But it does not spell out carbon emissions as a specific pollutant, and the plaintiffs argue that these emissions should qualify. Beyond 'charity' The push for climate justice won a big boost in March when the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to lay out nations' obligations on protecting the Earth's climate and the legal consequences they face for failing to do so. The ICJ's advice is still pending but the action has opened up a new front to bind countries to pledges on reducing emissions. The move at the U.N. had been led by Vanuatu, one of the island nations that brought Monday's case before the ITLOS. Small islands like Vanuatu are particularly exposed to the impact of global warming, with seawater rises posing an existential threat. "Just a few years this is all we have before the ocean consumes everything my people built across centuries," Tuvalu's Prime Minister Kausea Natano told the court. "If international law has nothing to say about an entire country going underwater... then what purpose does it serve?" he said, pleading for a clear direction from the court. Browne also voiced frustration at the attitude of some major nations when it comes to funding climate change mitigation or prevention. When "large polluters contribute towards various funds, they believe it's an act of charity," he said at a press conference, adding that a successful outcome would tell them that "they have legal obligations". Marine heatwave Concrete measures, according to Vanuatu's attorney-general Arnold Loughman, could include halting deep-sea drilling for oil. "It's time to come up with solutions and ways of stopping these countries from continuing to drill," he said. Across the two-thirds of the planet covered by seas, nearly 60% of surface waters experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2022, according to the annual State of the Climate report led by scientists from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This is 50% more than pre-industrial levels and "the highest in the modern atmospheric record and in paleoclimate records dating back as far as 800,000 years," according to the report, published this month. The world's oceans set a new temperature record in August, with average sea surface temperatures reaching 21C (69.8F) for over a week, according to the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service. The other island states joining the ITLOS case are the Bahamas, Niue, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, while another 34 state parties will participate in the court hearing. A Somali regional parliamentarian was among three people killed in a landmine explosion in the town of El Garas blamed on al-Shabab militants. Local officials say Mohamed Mohamud, known as Mohamed Yare, was killed Monday in the explosion. A local city councilor in the city of Dhusamareb, Abdullahi Ibrahim, and a civilian were also killed, regional Information Minister Abshir Abdi Sheikhow told VOA Somali. The incident happened after they stepped on the landmine planted by the terrorists, and they died there, Sheikhow said. When they [al-Shabab] were leaving the town they planted lots of landmines. The coalition forces conducted mine clearance but these officials took the wrong road and they met the explosion. The officials were accompanying Somali government and local forces who captured the town from al-Shabab early on Monday. We are in a war, we are prepared for that, things like this can happen, Sheikhow said. Sheikhow said Galmudug state leader Ahmed Abdi Karie was not far from the area of the explosion but is unharmed. He said the regions parliament and the cabinet members were released from work so that they can take part in the ongoing offensive against al-Shabab. Immediately after government troops captured El Garas, Karie, Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency chief Mahad Salad, and Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur visited the town, state media reported. On Sunday, Somali government forces repulsed an al-Shabab attack on a key base in the strategic town of Awdhegle in the Shabelle region. The Somali government and al-Shabab each said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. It's unclear if government forces will hold the town or vacate after the operation. In the near future Russia is likely to start mass forced mobilization of the population in the territories temporarily occupied by it. According to various estimates, the Russians may take from 400,000 to 700,000 people to the war. ADVERTISIMENT In addition, they plan to draft about 40 thousand more residents of Chechnya, who will be used as "barrier units" behind the Russian troops. This was reported in the summary of the General staff of the AFU in Facebook on September 11. It is noted that the need for such mass mobilization is caused by the occupiers' catastrophic losses at the front. At the same time, among the population of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the figures for the planned mobilization are again minimal. "Cannon fodder" will once again go to ordinary citizens - residents of Russian regions, who will be pushed to their backs to die by Kadyrov's executioners, the General Staff noted. Therefore, the AFU stressed, the only way for the Russian military to survive is to voluntarily surrender to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. We will remind, earlier it became known that in the Russian Federation officially launch a new wave of so-called partial mobilization. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has already signed a corresponding order, according to which the head of the Russian terrorist agency intends to additionally mobilize 200 thousand more Russians for the war in Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - Russian invaders have taken to "catching" a new batch of cannon fodder to send to the war in Ukraine. In addition to raids directly on the territory of the Russian Federation, there was information about the activation of Russians and in the temporarily occupied territories. - The Russians are planning to mobilize graduates of higher educational institutions in the seized Crimea. They are currently preparing lists for military enlistment offices. The leader in the number of potential draftees is Dzhankoysky district, noted in Atesh. Only verified information we have in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! British foreign minister James Cleverly will travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, where he will press for renewed dialogue on a two-state solution and commit to tackling threats to regional security, including from Iran. On the visit that begins on Monday, Cleverly will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. In a speech at an international security conference on Tuesday, Cleverly will discuss the security challenges facing Israel and the Palestinian territories, as well as the importance of a two-state solution. He will accuse Iran of "enabling terrorism" through its support of the militant groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to a statement. "The U.K. and Israel work closely together to keep our people safe," Cleverly said ahead of his trip. He pledged "to renew our close security partnership, in the face of unacceptable threats from the Iranian regime." He will hold talks with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and attend a demonstration of Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system. During a visit to the Palestinian territories, Cleverly will visit the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank to see Palestinian refugees. Violence in the West Bank has worsened over the past year with frequent Israeli raids and Palestinian street attacks. Prospects of reviving U.S.-brokered peace talks that aimed to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem remain low almost a decade after their collapse. The Palestinians have limited self-rule in the West Bank and remain split between a Western-backed administration and armed Hamas Islamists who reject coexistence with Israel. Many in Israel's current government reject Palestinian statehood. Climate change is sparking human rights emergencies in numerous countries, the U.N. rights chief said Monday, stressing the need to fight the impunity of those who "plunder our environment." Speaking before the United Nations Human Rights Council, Volker Turk pointed to recent examples of the "environmental horror that is our global planetary crisis." He described visiting Basra, Iraq, where date palms once lined canals, but now "drought, searing heat, extreme pollution and fast-depleting supplies of fresh water are creating barren landscapes of rubble and dust." "This spiraling damage is a human rights emergency for Iraq, and many other countries," he said in his address opening the 54th council session in Geneva. "Climate change is pushing millions of people into famine. It is destroying hopes, opportunities, homes and lives. In recent months, urgent warnings have become lethal realities again and again all around the world," Turk said. "We do not need more warnings. The dystopian future is already here. We need urgent action now." Turk was speaking after the G20 at the weekend failed to commit to a phase-out of fossil fuels, something he said was desperately needed. 'Nonchalance' at migrant deaths At a time when the ravages of climate change are forcing more and more people to leave their homes, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said he was "shocked by the nonchalance" seen towards surging numbers of migrant deaths. "It is evident that far more migrants and refugees are dying, unnoticed," he said, pointing to the more than "2,300 people reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year, including the loss of more than 600 lives in a single shipwreck off Greece in June." He also highlighted migrant deaths in the English Channel, the Bay of Bengal, in the Caribbean, along the U.S.-Mexican border, and at the Saudi border, where he said his "office is seeking urgent clarification about allegations of killings and mistreatment." The U.N. rights chief also highlighted a wide range of other concerning situations around the world, including in Russia, Pakistan and the Palestinian territory. On China, he reiterated concerns raised in a report by his office a year ago about the situation in the far-western Xinjiang region, which cited possible crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities. "As my Office highlighted a year ago, the concerns in the Xinjiang ... requires strong remedial action by the authorities," Turk said Monday, also voicing concern at "continued detention of human rights advocates." 'Ecocide' Turk also spoke about the situation in Lebanon, decrying a total lack of accountability for the 2020 Beirut port blast, that killed more than 220 people, urging "an international fact-finding mission to look into human rights violations related to this tragedy." And he mentioned the situation in Iran, one year after the death of Mahsa Amini in custody after her arrest for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women. Turk voiced concern at a bill that would impose harsher penalties for breaching the dress code, and "renewed deployment of the morality police." Climate change and environmental degradation played a role in a number of the rights situations he mentioned, including in Africa's Sahel region. Turk insisted on the need to "counter the impunity of people and businesses who severely plunder our environment", welcoming a proposal to recognize "ecocide" as an international crime. Amid the towering problems facing the world, Turk decried "politics of deception." "Helped by new technologies, lies and disinformation are mass-produced to sow chaos, to confuse, and ultimately to deny reality and ensure no action will be taken that could endanger the interests of entrenched elites," he said. "The most apparent case of this is climate change." Washington expects U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the United States before year-end, whether at next week's U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) or after, the State Department said on Monday. "I'll let the Chinese government speak to whether Wang Yi will or will not attend UNGA next week. But that said, whether it's UNGA or whether it is after UNGA sometime before the end of the year, it is still our expectation that Secretary Blinken will host Foreign Minister Wang Yi here in the United States," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters. The Wall Street Journal, citing people briefed on the matter, reported last week that China is planning to dispatch Vice President Han Zheng to UNGA, instead of sending Wang Yi on a broader U.S. trip as previously signaled. The annual gathering of world leaders comes after U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday expressed disappointment that Chinese President Xi Jinping was not attending an upcoming summit of G20 leaders in India, but added that he was going to "get to see him." Biden did not elaborate, but the next likely opportunity for Biden to hold talks with Xi, as the two countries seek to stabilize troubled relations, is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco in November. China's top security agency has hinted that any meeting between Xi and Biden in San Francisco later this year will depend on the United States "showing sufficient sincerity." "As the president has said, he hopes to meet with President Xi sometime later this fall. We believe there is no substitute for one-on-one conversations at the leader level, so we will continue to work towards the possibility of that," Miller said on Monday. Blinken traveled to Beijing in June, where he met with Wang's predecessor, Qin Gang, in the first visit by the top U.S. diplomat to China in five years. The U.S. State Department said then that they held "candid, substantive, and constructive" talks, and Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions. Blinken subsequently met Wang on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Jakarta in Qin's absence. Three other senior U.S. officials have traveled to China for meetings after Blinken's visit, but Chinese officials have yet to travel to the United States for talks. Wang, 69, served as foreign minister from 2013 to 2022 as ties frayed with the United States to a point that Beijing described as an all-time low. New details have emerged of an apparently imminent prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran, with the U.S. acknowledging for the first time that as part of the deal, it will free five Iranians whose names the Iranian government confirmed to VOA. The U.S. acknowledgment of its agreement to free five Iranians came in a State Department statement sent to VOA late Monday. Hours earlier, Western news agencies reported that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had notified the U.S. Congress of the impending move. The U.S. and Iran already had confirmed on August 10 that under the prisoner deal, Tehran also would release five American citizens whom Washington has said were wrongfully detained by Tehran. As we have said previously, the U.S. has agreed to allow the transfer of funds from South Korea to restricted accounts held in financial institutions in Qatar and the release of five Iranian nationals currently detained in the United States to facilitate the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran, a State Department spokesperson wrote to VOA. Irans U.N. mission in New York confirmed in a message to VOA the names of the five Iranians whose freedom it expects to secure in the prisoner swap. The names were first reported earlier Monday by the Al-Monitor news site. The five Iranian nationals named by Iran include Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, Mehrdad Ansari, Amin Hasanzadeh, Reza Sarhangpour Kafrani and Kambiz Attar Kashani. All five were among the 11 Iranians first identified by VOA in an August 24 report as potential candidates for inclusion in a U.S.-Iran exchange. Asked by VOA to confirm whether the five individuals identified by Iran will be freed, the State Department spokesperson declined to address the issue. All were arrested on federal charges of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran or providing Tehran with other forms of illicit help. There also was no confirmation from the U.S. on when or how the five Americans and five Iranians will be swapped. The State Department spokesperson said the U.S. continues to work for the release of the five American citizens and to monitor their health and welfare closely with the help of its Swiss partners but added: "We have no update to share at this time. Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani as saying Monday that the exchange will happen in the near future. Of the five individuals named by Iran, four are Iranians without U.S. citizenship: Afrasiabi, Ansari, Hasanzadeh and Kafrani. Afrasiabi and Hasanzadeh are permanent U.S. residents, while Ansari and Kafrani have no legal status in the U.S. The fifth Iranian, Kashani, is an Iranian American dual national. Three of the five are on supervised pre-trial release: Afrasiabi, Hasanzadeh and Kafrani. Their inclusion in a prisoner deal would mean that federal charges against them are dropped and they are freed from restrictions on their movements outside of their homes. The other two, Ansari and Kashani, are serving sentences in federal prisons in Louisiana and Michigan, respectively. Their inclusion in the deal would mean being freed several months before concluding their prison terms, which end in December for Ansari and February for Kashani. Speaking to VOA on Monday, Barry Rosen, a former U.S. hostage in Iran, said he expects most of the five Iranians to be freed by the U.S. will not return to Iran as they have significant ties to the U.S. He said an exchange of Iranian and American prisoners on an airport tarmac somewhere in the Middle East would provide Iran with a propaganda boost, but he doubted the U.S. would agree to choreograph the swap in such a way. Critics of the Biden administrations Iran policy told VOA that the agreement to free five Iranians would have negative consequences for the U.S. The Islamic republic will herald this as a significant win for its long-standing policy of seizing Western hostages in return for ransom and the freeing of duly-convicted Iranian nationals, said Andrea Stricker of Washington-based research group Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Rather than facing U.S. penalties or repercussions, the regime will be emboldened to continue abducting innocent people, she added. The Biden administration has rejected critics characterizations of the unfreezing of $6 billion in funds in South Korean banks as a ransom payment. It has said Tehran will regain access to Iranian funds that had been frozen under U.S. sanctions and will be able to access them only via a third party for humanitarian purchases under U.S. supervision. Jason Brodsky, policy director of U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, said he believes the U.S. unfreezing of $6 billion should have been more than enough to secure the release of the Americans held by Iran. The additional release of Iranians charged with U.S. crimes is an attempt by Tehran to create a false equivalence between the justice system in the United States and the injustice system in Iran, Brodsky said. Sina Toosi, a researcher at the Washington-based Center for International Policy and a supporter of the emerging U.S.-Iran deal, reacted positively to Mondays developments in a post on the X social media platform. It is a welcome development that the U.S. and Iran are close to implementing an agreement that will bring some relief to the families of unjustly held prisoners, as well as to millions of Iranians suffering from an economic crisis caused by U.S. sanctions, Toosi wrote. In August, Iran confirmed that it had placed the five American prisoners under house arrest. The U.S. named three of them as Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz but declined to name the other two whose detentions had not previously been confirmed, citing their privacy. Namazi, Shargi, Tahbaz and one of the other U.S. prisoners were moved from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison to house arrest at an undisclosed hotel where they would be held under guard by Iranian officials, human rights lawyer Jared Genser said in a statement August 10. He said the fifth American, a woman, already was under house arrest. U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States has a duty to protect its democracy and urged Americans to come together as the country marked the 22nd anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. "Unity brought Americans together on that painful day 22 years ago. It shouldn't take a national tragedy to remind us of the power of national unity," he said during a ceremony Monday at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska. "We truly honor those we lost on 9/11 by remembering what we can do together," Biden said. The president said he believes the central lesson of September 11 is "that for all our flaws and disagreements, there is nothing we cannot accomplish when we defend with our hearts what makes us unique in the world our democracy." Biden noted that the U.S. intelligence community has recently assessed that the al-Qaida threat from Afghanistan and Pakistan has reached a historic low. "Our longest war is over, but our commitment for preventing another attack on the United States and our people and allies will never, never rest," Biden said. The president said terrorism including political and ideological violence is the opposite of all the Untied States stands for as a nation. During his time in Anchorage, Biden took part in a memorial with members of the military, first responders and their families. His Alaska stop came as he traveled home from an overseas trip that included the G20 summit in India and meetings with leaders in Vietnam. While Monday is the rare 9/11 anniversary without a president appearing at observances at crash sites in New York, Pennsylvania or the Pentagon, it is not without precedent. In 2005, President George W. Bush held an observance on the White House lawn, while in 2015, President Barack Obama participated in a moment of silence at the White House before attending an event honoring the work of the military at nearby Fort Meade. Vice President Kamala Harris attended a ceremony Monday at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York. Al-Qaida terrorists hijacked two commercial jets and crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, causing both buildings to collapse. The Bell of Hope rang out at St. Paul's Chapel in New York Monday to mark the moment at 8:46 a.m. local time when the first of two planes hit the World Trade Center's North Tower. Monday, as in past years, relatives and loved ones read aloud the names of 2,977 victims to the thousands who had gathered on the warm, cloudy morning. First lady Jill Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley all participated Monday in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial, just outside Washington, D.C. The ceremony began with a bell ringing as the names were read of each of the 184 people who died after terrorists crashed a hijacked plane into the building 59 who were on the plane and 125 people in the building. The Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Defense Department. A U.S. flag was draped over the area where the plane hit the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m. local time, just as it was in the days after the attack. In his remarks, Austin said remembering the attacks each year is difficult, and as the years go by, it might feel as if the world is moving on. But he assured the families and loved ones of the victims that the Department of Defense will always remember. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff was in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to lay a wreath at a memorial where United Flight 93 crashed into a field after passengers fought their hijackers. The names of those victims were also read, as a bell rang in remembrance of each. September 11 is a federally recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance in the United States, aiming to transform a day of tragedy into a day of doing good to honor the memories of victims and those who responded to the terror attacks. Several Western democracies, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, have tried to restart diplomatic engagement with China in recent months, sending cabinet members to Beijing for talks with Chinese counterparts while upholding tough stances on areas where disagreements with China remain strong. Analysts say these attempts are necessary to stop the downward spiral in these countries' bilateral relations with China. However, they think it's difficult to achieve any diplomatic breakthrough through these efforts. "In principle, the efforts to [restart engagement with China] is sensible because some level of communication can avoid unintended misunderstanding and miscalculation," Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore (NUS), told VOA in a phone interview. In his view, the larger question for Western democracies is how to balance the efforts to restart engagement with China against the defense of their own interests. "These countries won't return to the engagement phase that they had decades before. There is communication and contact because it's necessary, but there is also a lot more wariness now," Chong said. Australia's recalibration with China Australia is one of the countries that has resumed bilateral engagement with China. In July, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with the top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and the two countries held their first high-level dialogue September 7 in Beijing, addressing topics such as trade, people-to-people links, and security. These efforts have resulted in the lifting of Chinese tariffs on some Australian commodities including coal and barley, and the Australian government expressed optimism about the two sides making more progress in improving the overall trade ties. "The progress we have made in resuming unimpeded trade is good for both countries and we want to see that progress continue," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said after he met with Chinese Premier Li Qiangin Indonesia on September 7. Bilateral diplomatic ties deteriorated after Beijing imposed tariffs on a dozen Australian products as a response to Canberra's call for an investigation into the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. To further stabilize bilateral ties, Albanese confirmed that he would be visiting China later this year. He emphasized that while views between the two countries won't always be aligned, Canberra and Beijing recognize that "dialogue is absolutely critical." While some praised Albanese's decision to visit Beijing, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison cautioned against a "concessional approach" toward restoring ties with China, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Experts say Australia's recent efforts are part of a cautious reengagement where Beijing and Canberra work toward a "gradual increase in contact." It aims at letting both countries look at areas where they agree while continuing to have open channels to address their disagreements. "Australia wants to have a functioning, stable diplomatic relationship with China that doesn't get derailed by differences," Ryan Neelam, director of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Program at Lowy Institute, told VOA in a phone interview. "The Australian government frequently says it seeks to cooperate wherever it can, disagrees where it must, and manages its differences [with China] wisely." Despite efforts to stabilize relations with China, Albanese said he raised human rights cases, including those of two detained Australian citizens, Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, during his conversation with Li, emphasizing that he said Australians want to see Cheng reunited with her children. However, other analysts say there are signs that the Albanese government is trying to avoid displeasing Beijing by holding back on imposing sanctions against Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses in Xinjiang. "In recent months, Canberra has imposed sanctions on Syrian, Iranian, and Russian officials but has not done the same thing with Chinese officials," Benjamin Herscovitch, a research fellow at Australian National University, told VOA in a phone interview. Australian citizens largely support Albanese's efforts to restart engagement with China, with some saying it's essential for Canberra to have open communication with both "friends and enemies." "It's important that the government has those lines of engagement and interaction and I think mistakes get made when parties aren't talking," Matt, a 41-year-old hostel manager in Melbourne, told VOA in an audio message. Others say resuming diplomatic interaction is essential to resolve tough consular cases. "Without a better relationship with China, there will probably be little movement in the case of the detained Australians," Tristan Upton, a 53-year-old engineer in Melbourne, told VOA in a written response. Britain's China policy Britain has also restarted diplomatic engagement with China in recent weeks. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited China late last month, which is the first such trip by a British Foreign Secretary in nearly five years. Despite criticism from some British MPs, Cleverly said London would pursue a pragmatic relationship with China while remaining "clear-eyed" about disagreements, adding that it would be a mistake to isolate Beijing. "The UK was prompted to [restart diplomatic engagement with China] by the Americans, the Australians, and the Europeans who have all done high-level visits and improved relations with China," Jonathan Sullivan, a China specialist at the University of Nottingham, told VOA in a written response. Despite the diplomatic outreach to China, Sullivan thinks these efforts may only signal London's desire to stop the negative spiral. And with the U.K. struggling to cope with a wide range of domestic challenges, including the quick turnovers of prime ministers over the last few years, some experts think London has failed to put forward a set of coherent policies toward China. Observers think the arrest of a parliamentary researcher suspected of spying for China could further increase the pressure on the British government regarding how it handles its relationship with Beijing. Under these circumstances, Sullivan thinks the U.K. should be more consistent with its foreign policy and try to "communicate its position better." A 2022 film highlighting the plight of a person with albinism in Zambia is streaming on Netflix. Can You See Us is based on the true story of a boy who becomes a successful musician despite obstacles caused by his genetic condition. Kathy Short reports from Lusaka. VOA footage by Richard Kille. K9 Sota is a two-year-old British Labrador is trained to locate electronic evidence such as USB drives, cell phones and micro SD cards. She is the first electronic detection K9 in Minnesota. K9 Sota locates evidence by recognizing the odor of triphenylphosphine oxide, or TPPO a chemical coating on all memory storage chips in electronic devices. Grimes has got this baby-announcement thing down. First, literally hide your child from a magazine reporter; next, mention your new child while attacking her ex/co-parent on his own social-media platform? The musician confirmed reports of her third child with Elon Musk in a deleted tweet (sorry, a deleted X) to his biographer Walter Isaacson, writing, tell Elon to let me see my son or plz respond to my lawyer. The revelation came as Isaacson is preparing to publish a biography on Musk, which reports on his third child with Grimes named Techno Mechanicus, or Tau for short. (He joins their first son, X A-12, and daughter, Exa Dark Siderl.) But thats not all the drama. Isaacsons book also mentions two more children that Musk fathered after he offered to be a sperm donor for Shivon Zilis, an executive who works for him at Neuralink. (He really wants smart people to have kids, she said in the biography.) Grimes reportedly didnt know about these children; in her tweet (oh shoot, X), asking Isaacson to tell Shivon to unblock me and said the situation was utterly ripping my family apart. Grimes later returned to Musks Twitter (oh my gosh, so sorry, X) to share that things were now hunky dory. I spoke with Shivon at length finally, she wrote, adding that they respect each other a lot. She also apologized to Isaacson and said she forgives the situation with Zilis and Musks twins. (At the end of the day it all ended up for the best! Zilis replied, calling Grimes a total badass.) Hey, I wud prefer to not breathe any more life into this current press cycle but I want to de-escalate the narrative atm. I spoke with Shivon at length finally, which was long overdue. This wasn't her fault, plz don't be angry at her! We respect each other a lot and we're Grimes (@Grimezsz) September 10, 2023 As for the new kid? I wish I could show u how cute little Techno is but my priority rn is keeping my babies out of the public eye, Grimes added. Unless youre having an argument on your partners social-media platform, of course. At its best, Cages new film works as a parable for acquiescing to other peoples reality a conceit that gets very specific when it comes to him. Photo: A24/B)A24 In the name of Thespis, this was no acting, Nicolas Cage joked after the TIFF premiere of his new film Dream Scenario. I have the life experience. This was an exaggeration. As far as I know, Cage has never suffered the same fate as his Dream Scenario character: Paul Matthews, a frustrated academic who starts inexplicably popping up in strangers dreams. Paul, a perfectly average Mr. Nobody, is not really the star of these dreams. Hes more like a featured extra, looking on silently as the sleepers start floating in air or losing their teeth. This naturally makes him incredibly famous overnight, even though, as he notes, he hasnt actually done anything. But what are deeds compared to renown? Dream Scenario, from Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli, has an obvious debt to the offbeat satire of Charlie Kaufman; you can also see a little bit of Ari Aster, one of the films producers, in its use of darkly comic violence. (Borgli and Aster joined Cage at TIFF, which the actor was permitted to attend after A24, the films distributor, agreed to SAGs interim agreement.) Cage being Cage, even his performance as a normal suburban dad has fascinating undertones. Its full of those weird little tics we do to make each other comfortable, but his reactions are always just a touch too big or too quick, as if Paul learned how to act like a human from studying them in textbooks, rather than being one himself. Paul may claim that hes not responsible for what the imaginary version of himself gets up to, though that doesnt stop him from trying to take advantage of his newfound fame. And as his dream-self begins to take on a more aggressive cast, hes confronted with the unpleasant realization that his public image lives in the minds of other people, completely divorced from his own reality. (The dream appearances may also reflect latent flaws in his personality, his passivity, and his rage.) At its best, Dream Scenario works as a parable for what its like for anyone to live in close proximity to other people: To what extent does being in a society mean acquiescing to others reality just to keep the peace? Still, this general conceit gets very specific when it comes to Nicolas Cage. Countless strangers carrying around an idea of you in their heads this is not dissimilar to what its like being a celebrity. Particularly a celebrity like Cage, who has long existed alongside an internet-created, air-quotes version of himself screaming like a maniac. At the premiere, he compared the films plot to the effect the video Nicolas Cage Losing His Shit, a clip reel that blew up on YouTube in 2010, had on his sense of self. I might have been the first actor who woke up one morning and somebody had put a montage of me freaking out in different movies online, and it went viral around the world. I kept looking at it like, What is happening to me? Thats not how I meant it. It kept growing exponentially, and nothing I could do could stop it, Cage said. Ever since, hes sought to channel the loss of control he felt at that moment into his art. Dream Scenario gave him the opportunity. I thought, Now I can turn this lead into a little bit of gold. Of course, Dream Scenario also works on another level, and this one will likely prove far more controversial. Paul is a college professor, and most of the people we see afflicted by his increasingly menacing dream-self are his own undergraduates. This prompts a lot of dialogue about trauma and lived experience, and unlike, say, in Tar, you do get the sense that Borgli is grinding his own ax about kids today. This wasnt a turn-off for me: The film also laughs at the way cancel-culture outrage becomes grist for the conservative fame economy, and besides, a lot of the jokes in particular, one in which a gym full of students undergo exposure therapy to Pauls physical form are quite funny. But it doesnt work for everyone. Wish I could snip every scattered line suggesting the surreal premise is an allegory for cancel culture, which makes no sense and adds nothing to what is otherwise a warped portrait of middle-age malaise, my colleague Alison Willmore wrote (speaking of culture wars) on Bluesky. And there will be no getting around this angle on the press trail, as Borgli has been open about the fact that the film was inspired by a series of proto-cancel-culture scandals in academia. I was intrigued by these professors who couldnt recognize what they were accused of, he said after the premiere. Crimes that were all fabricated in the minds of others. All this runs the risk of Dream Scenario turning from a satire of the culture wars, into an object of them. Which would be a shame, as it would overshadow one of the most enjoyable performances of Cages late-career renaissance. But that might also be appropriate. Just like a celebritys star image, a film has no value by itself; it only has power once it enters the minds of viewers. In other words, the dream version is the real version. European Union (EU) has banned residents of the terrorist country of Russia from importing cars, smartphones, jewelry, laptops and other things. Russians in social networks threw a tantrum on this issue. ADVERTISIMENT In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry called racism this decision of the European Commission. This was stated by the official representative of the Ministry of foreign Affairs of the occupying country Maria Zakharova. What is known about the EU decision? Russians are now not allowed to import even shampoos into the territory of the bloc. The European Commission confirmed the interpretation of the sanctions legislation against Russia, according to which the entry into the EU countries by passenger cars registered in Russia is considered as prohibited imports, the EC document says. It does not matter whether the vehicle is used for private or commercial purposes, as long as it is registered in Russia, it is subject to sanctions and will be treated as prohibited imports. It is also prohibited to import cosmetics, suitcases, laptops, leather and fur products, semi-precious and precious stones, toilet paper, shampoos and toothpastes. ADVERTISIMENT How did the Russian Federation react? The Russian Embassy in Finland urged Russians to refuse to travel to the neighboring country in their own cars. "In accordance with the clarifications of the European Commission of September 8, import of goods listed from Russia to the European Union is prohibited, regardless of the purpose of their use and the period of stay on the territory of the EU. Given the possible risks, we recommend Russian citizens to refrain from traveling to Finland in cars with Russian registration plates," the Russian embassy advised. The diplomats also noted that those planning to cross the EU border can familiarize themselves with the latest information on restrictions on the website of the Finnish Customs. All current bans are listed, including in Russian. Ordinary Russians reacted very strongly to the bloc's decision. Some citizens of the terrorist country write about "discrimination" in the European Union. ADVERTISIMENT "Europe has finally gone off the rails," writes Russian Natasha. "And I'm sure that all the restrictions are done by our authorities. Finns are simply put in front of the fact. This is another ban that started with the ban on food supplies from Europe in August 2014, with which the president opened a streak of deterioration in the lives of Russians," Russian Tatyana is indignant. "So in shoes made of genuine leather (or also with natural fur), made in Italy, in a sheepskin coat made in Germany, with cream and perfume made in France, with an iPhone and a macbook assembled in China to enter this you will be stripped naked?", - asks the Russian woman Laska. "There's been a deep despair settling in me lately. The world is disgusted with the person I was born to be, and there's nothing I can do about it. A fifth-class citizen. At home in the car, to visit can only be naked with a passport in my teeth. I am terribly angry at this superficiality and populism," says the Russian woman. ADVERTISIMENT As previously reported OBOZREVATEL, Estonia is going to be the first EU country to legalize the confiscation of Russian assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine. The country's government is already ready to approve the relevant bill and send it to Parliament for approval. ADVERTISIMENT Carmen Zilles and Kellie Overbey in No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh. Photo: Maria Baranova For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Thats Romans, chapter 7, verses 18 and 19, King James Version. As sources for titles go, its a pretty weighty one. One could reasonably suppose that a play called No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh might have a kind of Flannery OConnor menace about it an interest in hearts of darkness and touches of evil. But while there is a faint whiff of the sinister around the edges of Christina Masciottis new play, it doesnt intensify into anything substantial enough to resemble a real shadow. Both playwright and director (Rory McGregor) are attempting to add spooky auraand, thereby, thematic heftto this story about an aging Russian immigrant tailor considering what will become of her shop when shes gone. The play, however, asserts its own straightforwardness inside its muddled gothic trappings: Its not really a full-fledged metaphysical drama, but its a decent character study. Our no-nonsense heroine is Agata (Kellie Overbey), who runs a tailor shop in Queens. Born in the Soviet Union (When Russia broken, I lost citizenship, she says bluntly, as she says everything), she found herself in Latvia and then, years later, in alterations at Bloomingdales, and now, after much struggle, behind her own counter in Astoria. Shes a master of her craft, but appreciation for her kind of painstakingly won expertise is fading. Everybody knows dying profession, she huffs to her sweet-natured assistant, Janice (Carmen Zilles). Its dying because its hard way to learn and you have to be creative. People doesnt wanna learn. Now click on internet, make a lot of money. With this you cant just click, you have to work a hundred years. Agatas terse, unsentimental rhythms come from Masciottis own Russian tailor in Astoria. After a long time as a customer, the playwright has said, I approached her about wanting to write a play based on her life. Her immediate response was, I always knew this would happen. She pulled up a stool, and I spent six months by her side. A playwrights dream! And Masciotti has the ear for it. As a woman with piles of hard-earned experience, and as an immigrant and a service worker who has frequently been looked right through, Agata has plenty to say, and Masciotti skillfully renders her distinctive way of saying it. I sometimes found myself thinking of Alex, the criminally charming translator who narrates Jonathan Safran Foers Everything Is Illuminated. The novels vitality comes from Alexs voice, with its buoyancy and confidence, its slightly jangly English and wonky figures of speech. Agata would no doubt class Alex as she does taller menmore stupid. Certain amount proud of themself. For nothing.but her own particular idiom is likewise the bedrock and the delight of her authors story. Its easy to understand why Masciotti was eager to spend six months listening. If a play is for the most part powered by a single and singular voice, then it needs an actor who can provide that engine and Overbey can. She flows through Agatas outpourings of opinion and pronouncement at speed (which is necessary to give them their bite and their humor), and she furrows her brow and hunches her shoulders just the right amount for a woman whos usually bent over a sewing machine. Costume designer Johanna Pans look for hercheap gray polyester slacks, a turtleneck, an old purple fleece vest, sensible shoesalso feels right on: the paradox of a craftsperson who has dedicated her life to the beauty inherent in the most delicate stitch and the most perfect pleat, and also spends less than five minutes dressing herself each day in an outfit from Marshalls. No Good Things catches Agata at a contemplative moment. She senses the end of her career looming, and shed like to pass on her shop to Janice, in whom she sees talent and potential. But poor Janice isnt just talented shes also 30 and single, nervous about those things, and dangerously desperate for affection. As all of that starts to get in the way, and as an unstable ex-lover of Agatas named Vlad (T. Ryder Smith) wanders back into her life to cause havoc, the tailors dreams of leaving a legacy start to slip away. So if shes so vivid, why does the play sink? The problem is mostly an inflated and aesthetically fuzzy sense of its own seriousness. McGregor and his lighting and sound designers, Stacey Derosier and Brian Hickey, intersperse the scenes in the tailor shop with interludes that aspire to strangeness but end up more woo-woo: The space goes purple and shadowy, sliced through by the glow of an LED tube mounted on one wall, murky tones of not-quite-music hanging in the air. Sometimes this atmosphere even bleeds into the start of scenes a gesture that feels more muddy than potent. As the play advances, Vlads appearances become increasingly unhinged, and Agata finds herself more and more trapped in the moody-blue liminal moments. During one, as she speaks to a spectral customer (Jeffrey Brabant and Megan Lomax play various visitors to the shop), she even pauses to gaze balefully out at us and intone: Its hard, it takes so long time. Time, time, and time and time. I dont have. Overbeywhose performance is usually sharpis saddled with the task of putting a pregnant pause between each utterance of the word time. Without venturing too far into spoilerland, it seems fair to point out that the play prefaces itself with the punny but super-serious tagline: An aging Russian tailor must confront the one thing she cant alter her own mortality. Sometimes, weighty implication can feel more heavy-handed than just stating the thing straight out. This is the side effect writing teachers dont mention when they preach show, dont tell. From tagline on down, McGregor and Masciotti seem committed to cranking up the existential heft of their tale. (And then theres that title: Really? No good things? I mean, were not in a Cormac McCarthy novel here.) Crucially, this added solemnity doesnt actually raise the stakes. Why does Agata need to be facing the end of her life for us to care about her? I dont know if it makes me heartless, but none of the plays dancing with death upset me as much as Agatas simple confession to Janice: The rent going up next year and it was extra much before that. In three month my lease is up, I have to decide what to do with this place. The sad incompatibility of Agatas and Janices individual yearnings is the real substance of No Good Things. And when the play floats, its in large part due to the strengths of its two leads. Zilles and Overbey play generously with each other, and Zilles brings a poignant, very believably millennial combination of bighearted hopefulness and crushing anxiety to Janice. For a long time, she seems to be, as Agata notes wryly, No bad words. Everything pinky for you. Pinky beautiful. Then Janice has a panic attack, and Agatas talking her down is one of the high points of the play. It brings Masciotti back to her happy placethe detailed observation of characterand it is at once deeply caring and extremely Russian: Here, she throws a shirt at Janice. Work so you can breathe. No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh is at A.R.T. through September 23. Photo: Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images for Belles Rives Group Quentin Tarantino has announced that his tenth (or 11th, depending on how you count the Kill[s] Bill) film, The Movie Critic, will be his last. Directors dont get better as they get older, Tarantino told Playboy in 2012. Usually the worst films in their filmography are those last four at the end. I am all about my filmography, and one bad film fs up three good ones. I dont want that bad, out-of-touch comedy in my filmography, the movie that makes people think, Oh man, he still thinks its 20 years ago. When directors get out-of-date, its not pretty. Tarantino said the movie went into pre-pre-production in June 2023, though not a lot can happen while SAG-AFTRA remains on strike. Heres everything we know about The Movie Critic including plot hints from Tarantino, casting rumors, and location details. The Titular Movie Critic Works at a Porno Rag Tarantino told Deadline that the lead in his tenth story is based on a real guy. One of Tarantinos jobs as a teen was restocking a pornography-magazine vending machine. Sidestepping the legality of that as a job for a teen, Tarantino says he came to really appreciate the writing of the film critic for a porno rag he doesnt want to name. He wrote about mainstream movies and he was the second-string critic. I think he was a very good critic. He was as cynical as hell. His reviews were a cross between early Howard Stern and what Travis Bickle might be if he were a film critic, he said. He wrote like he was 55 but he was only in his early to mid-30s. He died in his late 30s. It wasnt clear for a while but now Ive done some more research and I think it was it was complications due to alcoholism. Tarantino Cant Go the Brad/Leo Route for the Lead Tarantino says he wants to stay at least somewhat faithful to the life of this anonymous movie critic. That means he cant offer the lead to Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio, as theyre both older than this guy ever got. I havent decided yet but its going to be somebody in the 35 year-old ball park. Itll definitely be a new leading man for me, Tarantino said at Cannes. He also said hed rather not cast a Brit in the role, but other than that hes keeping mum. Rumors are pointing to Paul Walter Hauser, but those remain unconfirmed. Tarantino Is Filming in California Variety reported that The Movie Critic (under the working title #10) got a $20 million tax credit from the state of California. This is hardly surprising, as Tarantino loves L.A. I started directing movies here and it is only fitting that I shoot my final motion picture in the cinema capital of the world, he said in a statement. There is nothing like shooting in my hometown; the crews are the best Ive ever worked with, and the locations are amazing. The producers and I are thrilled to be making #10 in Los Angeles. When Once Upon a Time in Hollywood shot in L.A., entire stretches of Hollywood Boulevard were sent back in time to 1969. So when the Valley starts looking like the 70s, youll know The Movie Critic is about 18 months away from being out. The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon L Ame Perdue Season 1 Episode 1 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Previous Episode Next Episode Photo: Emmanuel Guimier/AMC/B) 2022 AMC Film Holdings LLC. All Rights Reserved. Zut alors! Bibliotheque! How the merde did The Walking Deads grizzliest loner and leather enthusiast Daryl Dixon end up in France? Your guess is as good as mine in AMCs latest spinoff, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, though by the end of the first episode, we can start putting some of the pieces together. With gorgeous, actual European scenery and a fearless approach to silence, this show is off to a good start in my book. Its different! It also introduces a few themes into the Walking Dead canon that pique my interest as a fan of the shows comic book roots and mythology: mutiny and messiah. But first, lets start with the man himself. The last we saw Daryl Dixon, not the first or second person youd pick for a heros journey, was in the series finale of The Walking Dead. He left the Commonwealth searching for Rick, Michonne, and possibly answers about the outside world. Judith told him that he deserved a happy ending. The outside world seems to be all hes found. In true The Walking Dead fashion, the spinoff begins in media res with Daryl on a boat serving as a raft that washes up on the shore in the South of France. He stumbles through an abandoned seaside town, finds a boat with some errant supplies, and within a few hours has a poncho and a fish on a grill while listening to the voice of an Irish survivor whose cassette tapes he found. He doesnt seem all that panicked that hes in a different country. Maybe this has happened to him before in the intervening time between the TWD and now. Perhaps thats just Daryl being Daryl. Before starting his adventure in the great, wide somewhere, he leaves his own message on the cassette tape. I went out looking for something, and all I found was trouble, he says. Thats our first vague clue about how he got to the continent. Next thing we know, hes doing his best Aragorn impression on a Tolkien-esque hike. In the next town he encounters, theres some graffiti that reads pouvoir des vivants pouvoir means power and vivants means the living, but the preposition des here could mean of, from, or even by depending on your intention. Cool slogan! Later, he sees some less empowering graffiti that reads attention affames, (starving) on the side of a building. Eventually, Daryl comes across a woman named Maribelle and her father, Guillaume. Thankfully, she speaks English and seems friendly, and he rambles some kind of dad ramble in the background about the Americans and the French working together in World War II. I like that, even in a post-apocalyptic future filled with zombies, dads are still in the background rambling on about World War II. They offer to travel with him but are soon joined by two soldiers. When one of the armed men threatens Maribelle, Daryl fights back, and he and Maribelle manage to take both of them down. The partnership is short-lived, however, as father and daughter knock Daryl out and grab his supplies when hes barely conscious. They dont kill him, however, because a woman approaches just as hes passing out and takes him back with her. Enter Isabelle: A nun played by Clemence Poesy, who you may recognize from In Bruges or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire but appears to be in depressed Tenet mode in Daryl Dixon. She has been following him and putting up signs that read Dieu Vous Aime, which translates to God Loves You. Isabelle and her fellow nuns cauterize Daryls wound and set him up with a cozy sweater and some adorable suspenders. As Daryl and Isabelle bond over their siblings and their scars, reminding them that the past is real, we learn more about the abbey. The organization is part of a larger group called The Union of Hope (Union de LEspoir). Daryl seems suspicious, and honestly, I would be too. There are so many dystopian groups and fanatics in the TWD universe that you must keep your guard up. The fact that theyre keeping the zombified priest Pere Jean locked up doesnt help their case. However, that doesnt stop him from a bath, a la The Witcher. There are no men at the convent besides a little boy named Laurent, who spots Daryl across the courtyard and immediately starts to imitate him. Then he starts talking to Daryl about math, of all things. Later, Daryl sees Laurent studying poetry with Pere Jean, who the kid says will rise again. The American is ready to go, but Isabelle lays out a proposition. She tells Daryl they have been waiting for him, using a drawing of Daryl that Laurent made three weeks before as evidence. She calls him the Messenger and claims he is destined to deliver Laurent to a base up North because a Buddhist monk called Laurent the messiah. Heavy! Daryl is not having it. As a skeptic, Im on his side, but as a television viewer, I am intrigued. The Walking Dead had plenty of cults and one character named Jesus, but nobody in the Atlanta area ever claimed to be an actual messiah. When the holy mission angle doesnt work, Isabelle tries another approach with Daryl. She reminds him that he could use a French companion to find a port and a boat that would take him back to America. She says Laurent is lonely and needs to be with other children and a father figure, not in the abbey surrounded by nuns. Staying alives more important, Daryl says. I know hes, like, refusing the call hard right now, but hes correct! Meanwhile, more of the military types (Isabelle refers to them as guerriers, a.k.a. warriors) learn about the death of their colleagues from Maribelle and Guillaume and figure out that the man sort-of responsible, Daryl, was taken to the abbey. The guerriers are led by a man named Codron (Romain Levi), whos distraught at the sight of his zombified colleagues. Its sweet, in a dark way. As Daryl leaves the abbey, stocked up on supplies and a few borrowed medieval weapons, the guerriers arrive. While searching for Daryl, the soldiers find Pere Jean and put him down despite the nuns protests. They try to take Laurent back with them, but guess what?! Daryl returns, and a big nuns-versus-soldiers fight breaks out. One detail I really appreciated during this whole to-do was how the abbess recognized the soldier who was ordered to kill the zombie priest. She calls him by his full name, Philippe Poulin, and begs him not to harm the man who once took his confession. What The Walking Dead has always done best, either on the anchor series or in the various spinoffs, is build a sense of community. Little details like that make it so easy to imagine how this French village has sectioned off since the world ended. After the fight, Daryl is left with just Isabelle, Laurent, and another nun called Sylvie, who sings a song for them around the campfire. Daryl agrees to take Laurent on the mission as long as they come too and take him to a port once Laurent is safe. He also reveals to Isabelle the least amount of information about how he arrived in France. I ran into some bad people, he says. They put me on a boat. It didnt go well. Daryl, as ever, is a man of few words. So, Daryl Dixon has a newfound family and a crusade to complete. He also has a new enemy in Codron. But wait! Theres more. At the end of the episode, we check in with some new characters on what we must assume is the boat that charted Daryl across the Atlantic. It is docked in Le Havre, Northern France. The captain is confronted by a woman named Madame Genet, who is not pleased by whatever progress the ships crew is making at whatever theyre supposed to be doing. They talk about prisoners escaping, experiments, and a mutiny. Madame Genet has a doctor give her a report, and the doctor says, Our research is largely destroyed. Whoever did this made a real mess of things for us. So thats obviously Daryl. The captain says he was thrown overboard. Im sorry Did Daryl lead a mutiny on the high seas? What in True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle? No disrespect to the killer nuns and tween messiah, but I want to see that story. Fingers crossed that we get a flashback. These villains are scary, too, and I have honestly no idea what to expect. Maybe its the zombie void in my life, but I have a lot of hope about this show. Unlike The Walking Dead: Dead City, which relied on our knowledge of Maggie and Negans past and plopped them in a new environment that was somehow inexplicably connected to the both of them, Daryl couldnt be farther from his past in Daryl Dixon. Its a good dynamic. Daryls stand-alone episodes on The Walking Dead were always some of my favorites. For a character that really doesnt want to deal with other people, hes endlessly watchable. Un Petit Plus The episode title, Lame Perdue, means the lost soul in French. Im a little upset that while Daryl was knocked out, he saw flashes of Judith and Carol but not his dog named Dog. Naming his dog Dog is my favorite thing about him. Hes basically Breakfast at Tiffanys. (I promise I was attached to Dog as a concept, and a dog before The Walking Dead revealed that his previous owner and I share a name. We dont talk about that Leah.) Im intrigued by the paintings and monuments in the opening credits. The first episode took place primarily in the country. Is Daryl about to get cultured in the city? Stay tuned. The little talk to the hand gesture that Daryl does when Isabelle is telling him about his destiny? Iconique! This level of sass is why Daryl has been a fan-favorite character for over a decade. Qatar plans to invest billions into the UK, with a focus on green energy research & development, the Sunday Times reported on Saturday. The non-profit Qatar Foundation funds the 20-year plan, which will include a partnership with jet-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC for technical expertise. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/qatar-plots-4bn-spree-on-uks-green-tech-jk8jx0wqh Rolls-Royce is set to offer its engineering expertise to researchers and is in "positive dialogue" with Qatar Foundation over a "climate technology centre". Of the GBP4 billion investment planned, GBP1.5 billion will be used to fund the development of new green energy ideas, aiming to create "unicorn" companies worth USD1 billion. Qatar will make its investment announcement in "weeks", the Times said. US President Joe Biden has said that at the G20 summit in India the countries came to an agreement on the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to the US leader, the summit participants called for the establishment of a lasting and just peace. ADVERTISIMENT Biden emphasized that most G20 countries support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. He said this during a briefing at the White House. The US president noted that the issue of the war in Ukraine was raised at the G20 summit. Biden assured that during the discussion there was agreement on the need for a just and lasting peace. "We discussed Russia's brutal and illegal war in Ukraine. And there was enough agreement in the room on the need for a just and lasting peace that upholds the principles of the UN Charter and respects sovereignty and territorial integrity," Biden said. According to the Financial Times, the final statement of the G20 summit in India was a "compromise". The West believes that this decision should help Ukraine's partners convince developing countries to increase pressure on the aggressor country Russia. ADVERTISIMENT Sources in diplomatic circles said that the final statement of the G20 summit creates an opportunity to involve developing countries in pressuring Russia to stop the war. The diplomats emphasized that the negotiating partners would return to their capitals with promises to guarantee the territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the same time, it is noted that it was for such reasons that the USA, European Union countries and other partners of Ukraine agreed to exclude from the final communique a direct condemnation of Russia's aggression. We will remind, the participants of the summit G20 in India released the final declaration on the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The countries urged to stop military destruction and attacks on infrastructure. Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that at present it is not possible to start peace talks with Russia, because it requires a bilateral desire. He emphasized that if Russian President Vladimir Putin shows interest, Ukraine will be ready to join the negotiation process. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a sharp speech to the West at the Yalta European Strategy (YES) forum. He urged to help Ukraine defend itself until its territories are completely liberated and emphasized that peace under the rule of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is impossible. Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Return to school coincides with rise in covid cases. Seven million students will return to the classroom in Italy this week as schools across the country start to reopen after the long summer holidays. The return to school coincides with a recent rise in covid cases in Italy, however the Italian health ministry's director of covid prevention Francesco Vaia said the situation is not a cause for alarm. Vaia told Corriere della Sera on Saturday that the spike had been expected after the summer but noted that the numbers "are very different from previous years." Walter Ricciardi, the former president of the Higher Health Institute (ISS), claimed on Monday that the return to school brings with it a risk of increased covid infections in the classroom. In an interview with La Stampa newspaper, Ricciardi claimed that the health ministry's guidelines for schools are "insufficient" and "based on political rather than scientific criteria". Mario Rusconi, president of the Italian principals' association, told state broadcaster RAI News that many schools will hand out masks and gel "to those who ask", making use of supplies distributed during the "critical phase" of the pandemic. Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (Simit), told news agency Adnkronos that "school has always been a hotbed of viruses" and that he didn't think there was "any harm" in offering masks to students. The obligation for students to wear masks in the classroom ended on 1 September 2022 with the beginning of the 2022-23 academic year. When do Italy's schools reopen? The reopening date of Italy's schools varies according to region, with most schools reopening in this week apart from the autonomous province of Bolzano where lessons resumed last Tuesday. Schools reopen on Monday in Piemonte, Trentino and Valle d'Aosta, while on Tuesday schools reopen in the northern Lombardia region around Milan. Students return to the classroom on Wednesday in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Marche, Sicily, Umbria and Veneto. Schools reopen on Thursday in Calabria, Liguria, Molise, Puglia and Sardinia while students Emilia Romagna, Tuscany and the central Lazio around Rome go back to school on Friday. Christmas holidays will generally be from 23 December to 6 January in all regions of Italy, with Easter holidays from 28 March to 2 April, and the last bell of the academic year set to ring in most regions on 8 June 2024. For official information about the covid-19 situation in Italy see health ministry website. Wine flows freely in Marino near Rome. The 99th edition of the popular Sagra dell'Uva wine festival takes place in the mediaeval town of Marino in the Castelli Romani, about 20km south-east of Rome, from 29 September to 2 October 2023. This lively festival dedicated to grapes and wine began in 1925 and each year draws large crowds eager to see the "miracle" of wine flowing freely from the town's central Fountain of the Four Moors. The 2023 festival includes markets, fairs, exhibitions and live music, with the town festooned with grapes for the duration of the four-day event. The festival also traditionally includes a religious procession and historical re-enactment of the victorious return to Marino of Prince Marcantonio Colonna after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. For full programme details see website. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save MARYLAND Man acquitted of rape in Montgomery Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight UPDATE: The 26-year-old Virginia man charged in this 2019 case later went to trial and was found not guilty, according to court records and officials. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A Virginia man was charged with rape in Montgomery County after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and refusing to let her leave his car, officials said Monday. Police said that the suspect is a ride-share driver but that the woman was not his customer at the time of the alleged rape. Montgomery County police said a 28-year-old woman said she was at a bar in Silver Spring on Aug. 24 when she began to feel nauseated, and a man who was a friend of her friend offered to let her sleep in his Toyota sedan. The woman fell asleep and said she awoke when the man entered the car and raped her, police said. Advertisement The man drove out of the area with the woman still in the car, refusing to let her out, police said. She eventually exited the vehicle on Clarendon Road and screamed for help as the man drove away, police said. Oluwakayode Adewole Adebusuyi, 26, of Fairfax was charged with rape, assault and false imprisonment in the incident, police said. He is incarcerated in Fairfax. Adebusuyi worked for ride-share companies in the region, and police asked anyone with additional information about possible victims to contact them at 240-773-5050. Justin Wm. Moyer Foam container ban is in effect in Annapolis A ban on plastic foam containers aimed at businesses that sell food has taken effect in the state capital. The ban on the material commonly referred to as Styrofoam began Sunday in Annapolis, the Capital Gazette reported. The Maryland General Assembly and the Anne Arundel County Council have passed similar rules that will go into effect next year. Advertisement A city spokeswoman said restaurants and vendors have been alerted twice this year to switch to paper, cardboard or another biodegradable material. Businesses found in violation of the law face fines. Associated Press VIRGINIA Electric shock in McLean injures 3 Three people were hospitalized with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening after being shocked in McLean on Tuesday. First responders were called to the 8200 block of Greensboro Drive about 3:30 p.m., a police spokesman said. The spokesman did not immediately have details about what caused the electric shocks. A Fairfax County police helicopter transported one of the victims to a burn center. Share this article Share Justin Jouvenal Policy aims to halt prison contraband Virginia officials announced a new visitation policy in an attempt to keep drugs and other contraband out of state prisons. Advertisement The policy will require inmates to submit a list of up to 10 visitors that can be changed only twice a year. Currently, inmates can add and remove visitors from their visitation list at any time. Department of Corrections officials say that leads to instances in which someone is hired to bring drugs into a prison by visiting an inmate the visitor doesnt even know. Inmates must submit their lists by Oct. 1. The new policy will go into effect in January. Minors are excluded from the limit. Inmates with more than 10 immediate family members can request an exception. Associated Press THE REGION 7 deadly motorcycle incidents reported It was a deadly Labor Day weekend on the regions roads with at least seven people on motorcycles and the driver of a car killed in a string of unrelated crashes, according to law enforcement authorities. Advertisement In addition, a pedestrian was killed in the Oxon Hill area late Monday, Prince Georges County police said. The fatalities occurred between early Saturday and Monday night, with three motorcycle deaths reported in Virginia and four in Maryland. In one of the incidents, a man was thrown from his motorcycle and then struck by a vehicle that did not remain at the scene, Prince Georges police said. The weekend marks the end of what is typically the deadliest three months of the year on the nations roads the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Peter Hermann and Martin Weil Correction: An earlier version of this story said three people were electrocuted. It has been updated to reflect that they were shocked and survived. Recipes What do you want to cook today? German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock arrived in Kyiv on the morning of September 11. This is her fourth visit to the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. ADVERTISIMENT The head of the diplomatic ministry promised Ukraine continued support on its way to the European Union. This is reported by the publication Tagesschau (to see the photo, scroll to the end of the page). The politician arrived in the capital on a visit that was initially kept secret for security reasons. The German foreign minister promised to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russian occupiers. At the same time, she emphasized that Ukraine should focus on further reforms. Berbock paid special attention to the need to fight corruption in Ukraine. At the same time, the head of the diplomatic department said that Ukraine can rely on Germany for support on the way to the EU. "Ukraine protects the freedom of all of us. Just as Ukraine stands for us, it can also rely on us. Germany will strongly support Ukraine on its path to the European Union," Berbock said. ADVERTISIMENT According to Berbock, Ukraine's performance in judicial reform and media legislation already deserves respect. However, she added that there was still much to be done in implementing the anti-oligarchy law and fighting corruption. We shall remind you that German Foreign Minister Annalena Berbock said that Berlin would continue to help Ukraine, which is fighting Russia's invasion, both at the bilateral level and in international organizations. Earlier, Berbock expressed support for the transfer of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. She said that Berlin "considers all wishes" of Kyiv, and Russia's full-scale invasion shows that "every day counts." ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Berbock believes that the drone strikes on Moscow, which Russia accuses Ukraine of, do not violate international law. After all, it was the Russian Federation attacked Ukraine, and Kyiv has the legal right to defend itself. Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! When Sabrine Maghnie learnt her brother had been critically shot in the same kerbside attack that ended the life and criminal career of standover man Gavin Preston, her first instinct was to rush to his hospital bed. Instead, she was ordered by her mother to stay well away. Understanding what this means could hold a clue for homicide detectives working to identify the masked assailant who on Saturday killed Preston and wounded Abbas Junior Maghnie, known as AJ, as the pair were chatting over coffee and orange juice at a Keilor cafe. A still from CCTV footage shows a killer dressed in black approaching Gavin Preston before he is shot at a cafe. Sabrine Maghnie, one of five children of slain underworld enforcer Nabil Maghnie, is at the centre of a bitter rift within one of Melbournes most prominent crime families. A cause of it appears to be her star-crossed love affair with a member of the Marrogis, a rival criminal clan. Her lover, Jesse Marrogi, enraged Preston, a trusted criminal confidant to her late father, to the point that Preston threatened upon his release from prison to not only beat Marrogi senseless but rape him. We know that Xi Jinping excited a lot of commentary last week when he decided to cancel on the big summits of the Indo-Pacific, but what did he do instead? On Thursday, when the other leaders sat down at the East Asia Summit in Jakarta, Xi was inspecting rice paddies in Heilongjiang province in north-eastern China, the countrys chief source of grain. Illustration by Dionne Gain Credit: While the other leaders discussed the need to maintain peace, accelerate economic growth, and pressure the military junta in Myanmar, Chinas leader offered words of encouragement to the flood-affected north-eastern region but also an instruction: Ensuring the countrys food security should be placed as the top priority, the president told assembled officials. He ordered them to increase production capacity to ensure that the grain production and supply are enough to meet usual demand, and can be used as a reliable supply source during extreme circumstances. What does he mean, extreme circumstances? Xi has elevated the phrase in official discourse, beginning with an important May 30 address to Chinas National Security Commission, his first after cementing a historic third term for himself. In Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk region on Monday morning, September 11, there were explosions during an air alert. The occupiers launched drones and missiles across the city. ADVERTISIMENT As local channels in Telegram reported, the explosions were heard around 4 am. The AFU Air Force warned that the occupiers launched kamikaze attack drones and cruise missiles across the region. "Two groups of Shaheds from the south and east in the direction of Kryvyi Rih", - said in the message. Later, the AF said that Russian troops launched cruise missiles towards Kryvyi. Around 7:40 am explosions were heard in the city again. The head of the military administration of Kryvyi Rih, Oleksandr Vilkul, urged the citizens not to film anything and not to post it on the Internet. Recall that on the morning of September 8, in Kryvyi Rih was recorded hit the police building and more than ten more administrative buildings, a religious building, 17 apartment buildings and 4 private houses, as well as four dozen cars. ADVERTISIMENT As a result of the Russian attack, one person was killed and more than 70 were injured. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, on September 10, Russian troops attacked the center of Kherson. As a result of the attack damaged an educational institution, as well as a store and a transformer substation. Dream Weber Your dream of attending Weber State University can now become a reality. The Dream Weber program provides free tuition and general student fees to students enrolled in 12 semester credits, who qualify for a Pell Grant and whose annual household income is $50,000 or less. The amount awarded varies depending on each applicant's FAFSA, as the Dream Weber program supplements any other aid that is awarded, such as a Pell Grant, Institutional Grants and any other scholarships from generous donors. The purpose of the Dream Weber program is to help you complete a college degree, which will improve your earning potential throughout your life. How to Follow Your Dream (Weber) 1. If you havent already, apply for admission at Weber State. But then come back to this web page and finish the rest of these steps! 2. Starting Sept. 1 every year, you can apply for the Dream Weber scholarship. Priority is given to those who apply by the first Friday in December. Scholarship applications will continue to be accepted and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis until there is no more money left for that given year. Apply in your eWeber portal by using the Specialized Scholarship Application in the Financial Aid and Scholarships app. 3. Complete your FAFSA. Students who complete the FAFSA and submit all documents by the annual priority deadline of April 1 will be notified about eligibility for the Dream Weber program prior to the beginning of the fall semester, but you can apply for Dream Weber any time. 4. Check your email. You will receive an email notifying you that youve been awarded a Dream Weber scholarship. It will detail how to log into the Scholarships app and accept the award. Eligibility You must: Be a legal Utah resident Have a household income of $50,000 or less. Qualify for federal Pell Grant funds Be an undergraduate student with less than 150 credit hours If you do not meet the requirements listed here, you most likely still qualify for some type of scholarship or financial aid. Visit our Financial Aid site for more information. Maintaining Your Scholarship Enroll and maintain a course load of 12 to 18 credit hours each semester at WSU. Attain satisfactory academic standing by maintaining an overall 2.0 grade point average and completing the courses you've enrolled in. Qualify for Federal Pell Grant funds: Apply EACH YEAR for federal financial aid by the annual priority deadline of April 1, though you can apply any time Complete the FAFSA application Complete the WSU scholarship application Complete verification documents (if necessary) Reapply for Dream Weber each year. This is because a new FAFSA is required each year and eligibility is determined from this application. Conditions In occupied Crimea Internet providers denounce the FSB of the Russian Federation on their subscribers. They are ordered to report all cases of use of VPN-services, which allow anonymous connection to the network. ADVERTISIMENT The guerrilla movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars "Atesh" warned about this on September 11. "Our agent from the FSB reports that received an order from his superiors to increase counterintelligence work in the Bakhchisaray district," - said in a message Telegram-channel of the movement. The reason was the "strong pro-Ukrainian stance" of local Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians, Atesh said. In particular, the Bakhchysaray providers Agronet and Komnet were ordered to report all cases of using virtual private networks (VPNs). For this purpose, the operators have been given separate phones for prompt communication with the FSB. "Be careful and remember that freedom will definitely come!" - urged the partisans. ADVERTISIMENT As reported OBOZREVATEL: - Earlier in Atesh warned that in Crimea the enemy is preparing the mobilization of university graduates. Now the passport desks are forming lists for military enlistment offices. - The SBU caught on the hot FSB agent who aimed Russian missiles at the object "Ukrzaliznytsia". The traitor turned out to be a resident of Slavuta in Khmelnitsky region. - In August, British intelligence noted that Moscow has blocked access to VPN networks in a number of Russian regions, which prevent it from establishing full control over information inside the country. Russians are frightened that VPNs allegedly put personal data at risk. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Ukrainian troops continue to conduct defensive operations in the east and offensive operations in the south of Ukraine. Over 30 combat engagements took place yesterday. The defenders are liberating the temporarily occupied territories step by step, destroying the occupiers and consolidating their positions. ADVERTISIMENT In turn, the enemy continues to shell the positions of our troops and the civilian population of Ukraine. This is stated in the summary of the General Staff of the AFU on the morning of September 11. On the night of September 11, the Russian terrorist army launched another missile and air strike on Ukraine. Over the past 24 hours, the aggressor launched 5 missile and 87 air strikes and 44 shellings from multiple rocket launchers on the positions of our troops and civilian objects. As a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, more than 100 private residential houses and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. The occupants are actively using tactical aircraft to shell the border and frontline settlements of Ukraine. Over the past day, Russian terrorists shelled Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions from aircraft. In addition, the invaders once again attacked Zmeinyi Island. About 100 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions came under enemy artillery fire. ADVERTISIMENT The operational situation remains unchanged in the Volyn and Polissya sectors. On the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the enemy continues to hold a group of troops covering the state border, conducting active sabotage activities in the border areas to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia operational and strategic grouping of troops in the Bakhmut sector, the Defense Forces have partially succeeded in the area of Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region, pushing the enemy out of their positions and consolidating their positions, and fierce fighting continues. In addition, the occupiers unsuccessfully tried to break through the Ukrainian defense in the areas of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Klishchiyivka and Kurdyumivka in Donetsk region. ADVERTISIMENT In the area of responsibility of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops in the Avdiivka, Maryinka and Shakhtarsk directions, the Defense Forces are taking the initiative, holding back the enemy, conducting assault operations and winning back our land meter by meter. Our defenders are successfully holding the line in the areas of Keramik, Avdiivka, Severne, Maryinka and Rivne in Donetsk region, where the enemy made about 20 unsuccessful attempts to dislodge our units from their positions over the past day. All enemy attacks resulted in significant losses in manpower and equipment for the occupiers. In the Melitopol direction, the Defense Forces continue the offensive operation, inflict significant losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation troops, and consolidate on the achieved borders. ADVERTISIMENT In the Kherson direction, the defense forces continue to conduct counter-battery combat, destroy supply depots and successfully defeat the enemy's rear. Due to the catastrophic losses of the occupiers, it is expected that in the near future, a massive forced mobilization of the population will begin in the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. According to various estimates, the number of people to be mobilized could range from 400 to 700 thousand. Some documents in this regard have already been posted online. It should be noted that this time it is also planned to conscript about 40 thousand residents of the Chechen Republic, who are likely to be used as "barrier units" behind Russian troops. At the same time, among the population of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the figures for the planned mobilization again remain minimal. Ordinary citizens - residents of Russian regions - will once again be sent to the front as cannon fodder, pushed to their deaths by Kadyrov's executioners. Therefore, the only way for the Russian military to survive is to voluntarily surrender to the Ukrainian Defense Forces. ADVERTISIMENT During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces conducted 11 strikes on the areas where enemy weapons and military equipment were concentrated. Missile troops destroyed 8 enemy artillery units. Earlier it was reported that there are now signs that the Russian occupation army is preparing a large-scale offensive. This is indicated by the concentration of enemy forces and means in the Kupyansk-Liman direction, in the area of Bakhmut, as well as in the Tokmak direction. Recall, the soldiers of the Ukrainian Defense Forces conducted a brilliant operation south of Avdiivka. As a result, the defenders occupied part of the village of Opytnoye, now the fighting continues there. Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! TREXLERTOWN, Pa. - Events marking 22 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks were held throughout our region Monday. Upper and Lower Macungie Township first responders hosted a ceremony at 6 p.m. at Good Will Fire Company. There was a a wreath and bell ceremony, and a fireman involved in search and rescue missions spoke. It's one of many ways local communities are keeping the victims and their families close to their hearts. Navy veteran Dennis Fariello was among those at the Whitehall Mission Barbeque 9/11 remembrance event. "It's very important. We got attacked," said Fariello. "I remember the day it happened, and I couldn't believe it. My jaw dropped. I was heartbroken. I was astounded." At Lehigh University, the Steel Battalion Army ROTC Program held a flag raising ceremony and moment of silence. At Northampton Community College, one professor is a retired NYPD lieutenant. "As head of the NYPD 9/11 World Trade Center Missing Persons Task Force, dozens of agents and countless civilian volunteers joined me in my final call of duty," said Northampton Community College Professor Vertel Martin. "On this day 22 years ago, America changed forever, yet we kept our promise: we will never forget," said Northampton Community College President Dr. David Ruth. In Hunterdon County, New Jersey's State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan was the guest speaker. A bell tolled 16 times for the 16 Hunterdon County residents killed in the attacks. Warren County held a ceremony at the county's memorial Sunday. "Commemoration for the loss of the Twin Towers, Flight 98 and the Pentagon," said Warren County Fire Marshal Chief Joseph Lake Jr. Those services honored the county's four residents killed. Monday morning, Washington Township School District hosted local first responders. The district was chosen as a partner school with the Freedom Flag Foundation. In Phillipsburg, the Mayor, AmeriCorps and Norwescap put up 500 flags in Shappell Park. "In honor of those lost during 911," said Jessica Irish, the AmeriCorps program manager at Norwescap. That fundraiser is still underway. "If you head over to Norwescap.org, under the events section, you can see where we have the link for sponsor a flag," said Irish. Hanover Township is also holding an event at its community center at 5:30 p.m. Monday. HANOVER TWP., Pa - Lehigh Valley International Airport's new concession operator's starting date has been pushed back from Sept. 1 into October. Tailwind Hospitality will take over later than planned from First Class Concessions, which has served the airport for 10 years. First Class agreed to continue until Tailwind is up and running. Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, said in June that LVIA wanted to try something new for the airport bar, food options and gift shop. Serving airport customers is a challenge, Stoudt said, because the flow of customers is dictated by the timing of flights, not by breakfast, lunch and dinner times. Tailwind Hospitality serves more than 35 airports in 23 U.S. states, according to the company's website. Its airport clients are Amarillo, Texas; Erie, Pennsylvania and Hilton Head, South Carolina. Tailwind's presentation included a focus on local offerings such as craft beers and regional favorites in the gift shop. Tailwind will also bring in Which Wich, a sandwich chain. The company started in Aspen, Colorado. Its headquarters is in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority operates LVIA, Queen City Airport in Allentown and Braden Airpark in Forks Township. BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Authorities say a man charged with raping a 9-year-old girl more than a decade ago is behind bars in Northampton County. Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck confirmed that 38-year-old Greivin Venegas-Umana was detained in Panama and returned to Pennsylvania to face charges. Venegas-Umana is charged with rape of a child, indecent assault and related offenses. Court documents state the incident happened in Bethlehem in 2009. Weather Alert Bulletin: ...FREEZE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... ...FROST ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 9 AM EDT THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 26 possible. * WHERE...In New Jersey, Sussex and Warren. In Pennsylvania, Berks, Lehigh and Northampton. * WHEN...From late Wednesday night through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. && Info: Type: Freeze Watch start_time_local: 2023-11-02T00:00:00-04:00 end_time_local: 2023-11-02T10:00:00-04:00 county_name: state: NJ headline: Freeze Watch from THU 12:00 AM EDT until THU 10:00 AM EDT county_fips: category: Met url: urgency: Future severity: Severe certainty: Possible geographicname: Warren County state_name: New Jersey NEW YORK (AP) Americans looked back Monday on 9/11 with moments of silence, tearful words and appeals to teach younger generations about the terror attacks 22 years ago. For those of us who lost people on that day, that day is still happening. Everybody else moves on. And you find a way to go forward, but that day is always happening for you, Edward Edelman said as he arrived at New York's World Trade Center to honor his slain brother-in-law, Daniel McGinley. President Joe Biden, speaking at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, urged Americans to rally around protecting democracy. His visit, en route to Washington from a trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote. We know that on this day, every Americans heart was wounded, Biden said. "Yet every big city, small town, suburb, rural town, tribal community American hands went up, ready to help where they could. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field, in an attack that reshaped American foreign policy and domestic fears. On that day, we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be," Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginias Goochland County, said by phone before the anniversary. The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people has a Sept. 11 memorial and holds two anniversary commemorations, one focused on first responders and another honoring all the victims. At ground zero, Vice President Kamala Harris joined other dignitaries at the ceremony on the National Sept. 11 Memorial plaza. Instead of remarks from political figures, the event features victims reading the names of the dead and delivering brief personal messages. Some included patriotic declarations about American values and thanked first responders and the military. One lauded the Navy SEALs who killed al-Qaida leader and 9/11 plotter Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011. Another appealed for peace and justice. One acknowledged the many lives lost in the post-9/11 War on Terror. And many shared reflections on missing loved ones. Though we never met, I am honored to carry your name and legacy with me, said Manuel Joao DaMota Jr., who was born after his father and namesake died. To Gabrielle Gabrielli, reading names is the biggest honor of my life. She lost her uncle and godfather, Richard Gabrielle. We have to keep the memory of everybody who died alive. This is their legacy, Gabrielli said, heading into the ceremony. Biden, a Democrat, became the first president to commemorate Sept. 11 in the western U.S. He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times, and Obama also visited Fort Meade in Maryland. Warning of a rise in extremism and political violence, Biden told service members and their families that that every generation has to fight to preserve U.S. democracy. "Thats why the terrorists targeted us in the first place our freedom, our openness, our institutions. They failed. But we must remain vigilant, he said. First lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon, where a giant American flag hung over the side of the building. Earlier, bells tolled, and musicians played taps at 9:37 a.m., the time when one of the hijacked jets hit the military headquarters. As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001, but the Defense Department will always remember, Secretary Lloyd Austin said. He deployed to Iraq in the war that followed the attack. Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, laid a wreath at the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where another plane crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Earlier Monday at the memorial, a rabbi from Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, where a gunman killed 11 worshippers in 2018, called for ensuring that younger people know about 9/11. With memory comes responsibility, the determination to share our stories with this next generation, so that through them, our loved ones continue to live, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said. The memorial is offering a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for classroom use. Many Americans did volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Others gathered for anniversary events at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere. In Iowa, a march set off at 9:11 a.m. Monday from suburban Waukee to the state Capitol in Des Moines. In Columbus, Indiana, observances include a remembrance message sent to police, fire and EMS radios. New Jerseys Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, this year made Sept. 11 a holiday for county employees so they could attend commemorations. Pepperdine Universitys campus in Malibu, California, displayed one American flag for each victim, plus the flags of every other country that lost a citizen on 9/11. Reflecting the tragedy's scope, U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis exhorted world nations Monday to counter extremism, build tolerance, "join hands and say never again. Fenton, Missouri, is more than 650 miles (1,050 kilometers) from the attack sites. But the St. Louis suburb, population 4,000, holds an anniversary ceremony at a memorial that includes steel from the World Trade Centers fallen twin towers and a plaque honoring Jessica Leigh Sachs, a 9/11 victim with relatives in town. Were just a little bitty community, Mayor Joe Maurath said ahead of the anniversary, but its important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free. Associated Press journalists Julie Walker and Deepti Hajela in New York; Seung Min Kim in Anchorage, Alaska; Tara Copp in Washington and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc. The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of companies' debt instruments, including corporate loans, which are rated in the lower rating categories of the established rating services (BBB or lower by S&P's or Baa or lower by Moody's) or unrated debt instruments, which are in the judgment of the investment adviser of equivalent quality. It was formerly known as Debt Strategies Fund Inc. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. was formed on March 27, 1998 and is domiciled in the United States. UiPath Inc. is a leading software company specializing in robotic process automation (RPA) technology. Headquartered in New York City, but founded in Bucharest, Romania, UiPath offers a comprehensive platform that automates repetitive tasks and enables businesses to operate more efficiently. The company was founded in 2005 by Romanian entrepreneurs Daniel Dines and Marius Tirca and has since grown to become a significant player in the RPA industry. UiPath has received numerous awards and accolades, including being named a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for RPA Software in 2020. UiPath's executive team is led by Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Daniel Dines, who has been with the company since its inception. Daniel is considered one of the pioneers of robotic process automation, helping start the industry. Mr. Dines contributes to his success in the industry by being relentless and constantly exposing himself to the industry's uncertainties. Other key management team members include Chief Financial Officer Ashim Gupta and Chief Marketing Officer Bobby Patrick. In 2021, UiPath announced that former Microsoft executive Tom Clancy would join as its new Senior Vice President of Learning. UiPath has experienced significant growth in recent years, with revenue increasing exponentially since its inception. The company's net loss has been decreasing yearly. As of January 31, 2021, UiPath has cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments capable of covering liabilities indicating that the company is working to keep control of its debt. UiPath's valuation has fluctuated since its IPO, with the company's market capitalization reaching a high of over $45 billion in May 2021 before falling to around $10 billion in Q4 of 2022. UiPath's price-to-sales ratio is higher than the industry average. Since its IPO in April 2021, UiPath's stock price has been volatile, with shares reaching a high of $90 in May 2021 before dropping to around $10 in November 2022. Since hitting its all-time low price, the stock has rebounded. Trading volume has also been relatively high, with an average of over 6 million shares traded per day. The robotic process automation industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years as businesses seek to automate manual processes and increase efficiency. UiPath competes with several other robotic process automation providers, including Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, and WorkFusion. In addition, the industry is subject to regulatory and political pressures, particularly around data privacy and security. UiPath has identified several critical areas for growth, including expanding its product offerings to include artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities and targeting new industries such as healthcare and financial services. The company has also been actively pursuing acquisitions, with recent purchases including Cloud Elements and ProcessGold. As the robotic process automation industry continues to evolve, UiPath may face challenges from competitors who can offer similar or better technology at a lower cost. In addition, regulatory and political pressures may create uncertainty for the industry, which could impact UiPath's growth prospects. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, energy, and data infrastructure businesses. The Utilities segment operates approximately 2,000 kilometers (km) of natural gas transportation pipelines in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and Minas Gerais; approximately 2,200 km of electricity transmission lines in North and South America; and approximately 6.6 million electricity and natural gas connections and 1.1 million smart meters, as well as operates metallurgical coal export terminals. The Transport segment offers transportation, storage, and handling services for freight, bulk commodities, and passengers through a network of 5,500 km of track network in south of Western Australia; approximately 4,800 km of rail in South America; approximately 4,200 km of motorways in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and India; and 37 port terminals in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Europe. The Energy segment offers natural gas midstream and storage services through approximately 15,000 km of natural gas transmission pipelines; and 600 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage in the United States and Canada. This segment also provides heating and cooling services to customers, and energy solutions, as well as serves approximately 24,900 natural gas, water, and wastewater connections. In addition, the Energy segment provides water heater rental; heating, ventilation, and air conditioner rental; and other home services in Canada and the United States, as well as 270,000 contracted sub-metering services with in Canada. The Data Infrastructure segment offers services and critical infrastructure to the media broadcasting and telecom sectors; and data storage services and infrastructure to enterprise customers. The company was founded in 2007 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. is a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. C3.ai is a leading enterprise software company that offers artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to help organizations optimize their operations and improve decision-making. The company was founded in 2009 by Thomas Siebel, a renowned technology entrepreneur and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. C3.ai provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications designed to help companies across various industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, energy and financial services, harness the power of AI and machine learning to drive digital transformation. C3.ai has a strong leadership team focused on driving innovation and growth. The company's CEO is Thomas Siebel, who has over 40 years of experience in the technology industry and has been recognized as a pioneer in enterprise software. Other key members of the management team include Edward Abbo, President and CTO, who has over 25 years of experience in the software industry and Houman Behzadi, Chief Product Officer, who has over 20 years of experience in software development and engineering. C3.ai went public in December 2020, raising $651 million in its IPO. C3.ai has experienced flat revenue growth over the past few years. C3.ai has maintained a fair profit margin, with a net income close to or exceeding expenses. This has allowed the company to maintain a debt-to-equity ratio of close to 0.00. Overall, C3.ai's valuation metrics suggest that the market has high expectations for the company's future growth potential. C3.ai operates in the AI software market, which is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace in the coming years. The global AI software market is projected to grow from $22.6 billion in 2020 to $126.0 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.2% during the forecast period. C3.ai competes with other AI software companies, such as IBM, Microsoft and Google, but the market is still relatively fragmented, providing significant growth opportunities. C3.ai has several potential growth opportunities in the coming years. One key area of focus is the healthcare industry, where the company's AI solutions can help providers improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. C3.ai has also been expanding into new geographic markets, such as Europe and Asia, which provide significant growth opportunities. In addition, the company has been investing in research and development to enhance its AI technology and develop new applications. Another potential growth opportunity for C3.ai is in the energy industry. The company has partnered with several energy companies, including Shell and Enel, to help them improve their operations and reduce their carbon emissions using AI. As the world continues to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, C3.ai's solutions could be in high demand. C3.ai has been exploring potential acquisitions to expand its offerings and reach new markets. While C3.ai has significant growth opportunities, the company also faces several risks and challenges. One of the biggest challenges is competition from other AI software companies, IBM, Microsoft and Google. These companies have resources and could outcompete C3.ai in specific markets. C3.ai also operates in a highly regulated industry, which could challenge compliance with data privacy and security regulations. The company must ensure its solutions comply with regulations such as the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). In addition, the AI industry is still relatively new, and there is a risk that AI technology may not live up to its hype or that the market may not grow as quickly as anticipated. If this were to happen, C3.ai's growth prospects could be limited. Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers. It also provides trucking services, such as door-to-door services, import and export dray, interline services, and specialized services comprising flatbed trucks, on-deck mobile transport trays, expedited and temperature controlled cargo, and permit/overweight services; and supply chain services. In addition, it serves automotive, coal, fertilizers, temperature controlled cargo, forest products, dimensional, grain, metal and minerals, petroleum and chemicals, and consumer goods applications. Further, the company operates a network of 20,000 route miles of track and shipping Canada and the United States. Canadian National Railway Company was incorporated in 1919 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. CCL Industries Inc. manufactures and sells labels, containers, consumer printable media products, technology driven label solutions, polymer bank note substrates, and specialty films. The company operates through four segments: CCL, Avery, Checkpoint, and Innovia. The CCL segment offers pressure sensitive and specialty extruded film materials for decorative, instructional, functional, and security applications in the consumer packaging, healthcare, chemicals, consumer electronic device, and automotive markets. This segment also provides extruded and laminated plastic tubes, aluminum aerosols and specialty bottles, folded instructional leaflets, precision decorated and die cut components, electronic displays, and other complementary products and services. The Avery segment offers printable media products, including address labels, shipping labels, marketing and product identification labels, business cards, and name badges supported by customized software solutions; and organizational products, such as binders, sheet protectors, indexes and dividers, and writing instruments. This segment also provides direct to consumer digitally imaged media products, such as labels, business cards, name badges, and family oriented identification labels supported by unique Web-enabled e-commerce URLs. The Checkpoint segment provides technology-driven, loss-prevention, inventory management, and labelling solutions, including radio frequency and radio-frequency identification solutions to retail and apparel industries. The Innovia segment offers specialty, high-performance, multi-layer, and surface engineered biaxially oriented polypropylene films for pressure sensitive label materials, flexible packaging, and consumer packaged goods industries. The company operates in Canada, the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand. CCL Industries Inc. was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Propulsion, Parts & Accessories, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, and inboard engines for independent boat builders and governments through marine dealers and distributors, specialty marine retailers, and marine service centers; and propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses. This segment offers its products under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, and Mercury Diesel brands. The Parts & Accessories segment provides engine parts and consumables, electrical products, boat parts and systems, engine oils and lubricants, marine electronics and control systems, instruments, trolling motors, fuel systems, and electrical systems, as well as specialty vehicle, mobile, and transportation aftermarket products for aftermarket retailers, distributors, and distribution businesses, as well for as for the original equipment manufacturers in marine and non-marine markets; and supplies parts and accessories. This segment offers its products under the under the Mercury, Mercury Precision Parts, Quicksilver, and Seachoice brands. The Boat segment provides Sea Ray sport boats and cruisers; Bayliner sport cruisers, runabouts and Heyday wake; Boston Whaler fiberglass offshore boats; Lund fiberglass fishing boats; Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Lowe, Lund, Princecraft aluminum fishing, Veer recreational and fishing, utility, pontoon, and deck boats; and Thunder Jet heavy-gauge aluminum boats, as well as the freedom boat club, dealer services, and technology to the marine industry through dealers and distributors. Brunswick Corporation was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in Mettawa, Illinois. The Franklin FTSE Asia ex Japan ETF (FLAX) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the FTSE Asia ex Japan RIC Capped index. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of large- and mid-cap stocks from developed and emerging Asian countries, excluding Japan. FLAX was launched on Feb 6, 2018 and is managed by Franklin Templeton. Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail. Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories. The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name. Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022. Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG). The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients. iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index Fund seeks to provide long-term capital growth by replicating, to the extent possible, the performance of the S&P/TSX 60 Index through investments in the constituent issuers of such index, net of expenses. The Index is comprised of 60 of the largest (by market capitalization) and liquid securities listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), selected by Standard & Poors (S&P) using its industrial classifications and guidelines for evaluating issuer capitalization, liquidity and fundamentals. The S&P/TSX 60 Index covers approximately 73% of Canadas equity market capitalization. The S&P/TSX 60 Index also represents the Canadian component Standard & Poors flagship S&P Global 1200 Index. The Fund is managed by BlackRock Asset Management Canada Limited. OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE:OUT) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February, 22nd. The financial services provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.30. The financial services provider had revenue of $494.70 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $495.37 million. OUTFRONT Media had a negative trailing twelve-month return on equity of 38.76% and a negative net margin of 22.49%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.65 EPS. Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. distributes industrial motion, power, control, and automation technology solutions in North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. It operates in two segments, Service Center Based Distribution, and Engineered Solutions. The company distributes bearings, power transmission products, engineered fluid power components and systems, specialty flow control solutions, advanced automation products, industrial rubber products, linear motion components, automation solutions, tools, safety products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial and maintenance supplies; and motors, belting, drives, couplings, pumps, hydraulic and pneumatic components, filtration supplies, valves, fittings, process instrumentation, actuators, and hoses, filtration supplies, as well as other related supplies for general operational needs of customers' machinery and equipment. It also operates fabricated rubber shops and service field crews that install, modify, and repair conveyor belts and rubber linings, as well as offer hose assemblies. In addition, the company provides technical support services; engages in the distribution of fluid power and industrial flow control products; advanced automation solutions, including machine vision, robotics, motion control, and smart technologies. It distributes industrial products through a network of service centers. The company serves various industries, including agriculture and food processing, cement, chemicals and petrochemicals, fabricated metals, forest products, industrial machinery and equipment, life sciences, mining, oil and gas, primary metals, technology, transportation, and utilities, as well as government entities. The company was formerly known as Bearings, Inc. and changed its to name to Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. in 1997. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Cushman & Wakefield plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides commercial real estate services under the Cushman & Wakefield brand in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through Americas; Europe, Middle East, and Africa; and Asia Pacific segments. It offers integrated facilities management, project and development, portfolio administration, transaction management, and strategic consulting services; property management services, including client accounting, engineering and operations, lease compliance administration, project and development, and sustainability services; and self-performed facilities services, which include janitorial, maintenance, critical environment management, landscaping, and office services. The company also provides owner representation and tenant representation leasing services; capital market services, including investment sales and equity, and debt and structured financing for real estate purchase and sales transactions; and appraisal management, investment management, valuation advisory, portfolio advisory, diligence advisory, dispute analysis and litigation support, financial reporting, and property and/or portfolio valuation services on real estate debt and equity decisions. Cushman & Wakefield has strategic partnerships with Vanke Service (Hong Kong) Co., Limited. It serves real estate owners and occupiers, such as tenants, investors, and multi-national corporations. The company was founded in 1784 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. ServiceNow, Inc. is a leading provider of cloud-based software solutions that help enterprises streamline their digital workflows. The company aims to enable organizations to digitize and automate their business processes, increasing efficiency and productivity. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, ServiceNow operates globally, serving customers across various industries, including healthcare, finance, technology, and manufacturing. ServiceNow's core product is its platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering, allowing businesses to create custom applications and workflows tailored to their needs. The platform encompasses various modules, including IT Service Management, Human Resources, Customer Service Management, and Security Operations. By leveraging ServiceNow's platform, organizations can automate routine tasks, streamline communication and collaboration and enhance employee and customer experience. The company's target market primarily comprises large enterprises that seek to modernize their operations and enhance digital transformation initiatives. ServiceNow has established a solid customer base, including well-known brands such as Coca-Cola, Siemens, and Visa. Its solutions cater to the needs of diverse organizations, ranging from IT departments seeking efficient incident management to HR departments streamlining employee onboarding processes. ServiceNow boasts a strong, experienced management team that drives the company's success. Led by Chief Executive Officer Bill McDermott, a seasoned technology executive with a proven track record in the industry, the group comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise. ServiceNow has demonstrated impressive financial performance in recent years, reflecting its strong market position and growing customer demand for its products and services. The company has consistently reported robust revenue growth, driven by the increasing adoption of its platform across industries. ServiceNow has maintained healthy profit margins, showcasing its ability to generate investment returns and maintain efficient cost structures. The company's strong financial position has allowed it to invest in research and development, innovation, and strategic acquisitions to drive further growth and market expansion. ServiceNow's valuation metrics reflect the market's recognition of its strong growth potential and position within the industry. The company's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and price-to-book (P/B) ratio are often higher than its industry peers, indicating the market's confidence in ServiceNow's future prospects. The higher P/E ratio suggests that investors are willing to pay a premium for each dollar of earnings the company generates, reflecting expectations of strong future earnings growth. Similarly, the higher P/B ratio indicates that investors value ServiceNow's assets at a higher multiple compared to its book value, emphasizing the company's intangible assets and intellectual property. The factors driving ServiceNow's valuation are its consistent revenue growth, expanding customer base, and market leadership position. The company has successfully established itself as a trusted provider of digital workflow solutions, capturing a significant market share and demonstrating its ability to deliver value to its customers. ServiceNow's focus on innovation and product development has allowed it to stay ahead of competitors and maintain a competitive edge in the industry. ServiceNow operates in the broader enterprise software industry, which is characterized by rapid technological advancements and the increasing adoption of cloud-based solutions. The industry is highly competitive, with several key players vying for market share and constantly innovating to meet evolving customer needs. ServiceNow maintains a competitive advantage through its comprehensive platform and the breadth of its product offerings. The company's focus on delivering solutions that streamline digital workflows across departments positions it well in the market. ServiceNow enables efficient collaboration, automation, and process optimization by providing a unified platform that integrates various organizational functions. The enterprise software industry is also subject to regulatory and political factors that can impact companies operating within it. Changes in data protection regulations or cybersecurity requirements may influence the demand for software solutions, including those offered by ServiceNow. Investors must monitor such developments and assess their potential impact on the company's operations and market position. ServiceNow has several growth opportunities on the horizon. One significant opportunity lies in expanding its product offerings and penetrating new markets. The company can leverage its existing customer base and reputation to introduce new modules or vertical-specific solutions that address specific industry needs. For example, ServiceNow can develop tailored solutions for sectors such as healthcare or manufacturing, enabling it to tap into untapped markets and drive revenue growth. While ServiceNow presents promising growth prospects, it has risks and challenges. One of the key challenges the company may face is intense competition within the enterprise software industry. Competitors, both established players and emerging startups, continuously innovate and introduce new solutions that could potentially erode ServiceNow's market share. To mitigate this risk, ServiceNow must focus on innovation, invest in research and development and ensure its offerings stay ahead of the curve. Another potential risk lies in changes to regulatory or compliance requirements. As a business operating in an increasingly regulated industry, ServiceNow must stay updated with evolving regulations and adapt its solutions to ensure customer compliance. Failure to address regulatory changes adequately could result in reputational damage and loss of customers. Moreover, macroeconomic factors can impact ServiceNow's business. Economic downturns or recessions may lead to reduced spending by enterprises, affecting the demand for software solutions. ServiceNow must remain agile and adaptable to market conditions, continuously demonstrate the value of its offerings and provide cost-effective solutions that align with customers' budgetary constraints. TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services. The Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segment provides digital customer experience and digital-enablement transformation solutions, including artificial intelligence and content management solutions. The company was formerly known as TELUS Communications Inc. and changed its name to TELUS Corporation in February 2005. TELUS Corporation was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. TransAlta Corporation engages in the development, production, and sale of electric energy. It operates through Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, Energy Transition, and Energy Marketing segments. The Hydro segment has a net ownership interest of approximately 922 megawatts (MW) of owned hydro electrical-generating capacity located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. The Wind and Solar segment has a net ownership interest of approximately 1,878 MW of owned wind and solar electrical-generating capacity, as well as battery storage facilities located in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Quebec in Canada; and the states of Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wyoming in the United States. The Gas segment has a net ownership interest of approximately 2,775 MW of owned gas electrical-generating capacity, and facilities located in Alberta and Ontario in Canada; Michigan, the United States; and Western Australia. The Energy Transition segment has a net ownership interest of approximately 671 MW of owned coal electrical-generating capacity, as well as operates the Skookumchuck hydro facility in Centralia; and engages in the highvale mine and the mine reclamation activities. The Energy Marketing segment is involved in the trading of power, natural gas, and environmental products. It serves customers in various industry segments, including commercial real estate, municipal, manufacturing, industrial, hospitality, finance, and oil and gas. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Uber Technologies Inc. is a San Francisco-based company providing mobility, food and package delivery services and freight transport. Uber operates in approximately 10,500 cities in 72 countries. The company sets fares based on local supply and demand at the time of booking and receives a commission from each booking. The company has 131 million monthly active users and 5.4 million active drivers and couriers worldwide. Uber was founded in 2009 by Oscar Salazar Gaitan, Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp and was initially named Ubercab Inc. The idea for Uber came about after Camp and Kalanick spent a pricey $800 hiring a private driver on New Year's Eve, and Camp needed help finding a taxi on a snowy night in Paris. Camp, Oscar Salazar and Conrad Whelan built the prototype for Uber's mobile app, with Kalanick as the chief advisor to the company. Ryan Graves became the first Uber employee in February 2010 and was named CEO in May 2010. In December 2010, Kalanick succeeded Graves as CEO, and Graves became the chief operating officer. Uber's current CEO is Dara Khosrowshahi, who replaced co-founder Travis Kalanick of Uber in August 2017. Uber debuted in San Francisco in 2011, opening its services and mobile app to the public after beta testing in May 2010. Initially, the application hailed black luxury cars, which cost about 1.5 times as much as a regular taxi. In response to San Francisco's taxi operators' objections, the company changed its name from UberCab to Uber in the same year. Uber's early team consisted of talented individuals from various fields, including a computational neuroscientist and a nuclear physicist who worked on enhancing the accuracy of Uber's car arrival predictions beyond what Google APIs offered. In the summer of 2012, Uber rolled out UberX. This budget-friendly alternative permitted drivers to use their cars provided they passed background checks and met insurance, registration and vehicle quality standards. UberX expanded to 35 cities within a few months, demonstrating its popularity among cost-conscious riders. In August 2014, Uber extended its services by introducing Uber Eats, a food delivery platform. It also unveiled a carpooling feature in the San Francisco Bay Area, which soon spread to other cities globally, enabling passengers to share rides and save on fares. Uber has faced legal action in several jurisdictions due to its classification of drivers as gig workers and independent contractors. Ridesharing companies like Uber have disrupted taxicab businesses and allegedly caused increased traffic congestion. Additionally, Uber has been criticized for various unethical practices, such as ignoring local regulations, some of which were revealed by the leak of the Uber Files between 2013 and 2017 under the leadership of Travis Kalanick. In August 2016, DiDi acquired Uber's business operations in China, and in exchange, Uber obtained an 18% equity stake in DiDi. DiDi also pledged to invest $1 billion in Uber as part of the agreement. Later that year, Uber purchased Ottomotto, a startup specializing in developing autonomous trucks. The acquisition was valued at $625 million, and the founder of Ottomotto, Anthony Levandowski, was previously accused of stealing trade secrets from his former employer, Waymo, to establish the company. In the same year, Uber also bought Geometric Intelligence, the cornerstone of "Uber AI," a department dedicated to exploring and researching AI technologies and machine learning. The Uber AI project disappeared in May 2020. Despite the controversies, Uber has committed to carbon neutrality globally by 2040, and by 2030, in most countries, rides will move exclusively to electric vehicles. The company has also formed various partnerships and acquisitions, such as with IT Taxi in Italy, Cornershop for grocery delivery and Postmates for alcohol delivery. Uber continues to expand its services and develop new offerings, such as Uber Works, Uber Green and Uber Eats. The company has recently announced plans to become an emission-free platform and is investing in self-driving cars. Egypts Meteorological Authority (EMA) warned citizens on Sunday that Storm Daniel, which hit the east Mediterranean, will reach Egypt by Monday, accompanied by rains and unstable weather conditions in western parts of the country. According to the EMA, Storm Daniel reached the Libyan coast, bringing heavy rain, record rainfall, thunderstorms, strong winds, and waves exceeding 4 meters high. The EMA added that Storm Daniel will have lost most of its strength by the time it reaches Egypts west coast. It warned, however, that the country would see unstable weather conditions from Monday till Wednesday. The authority further stated that a combination of a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere and a deep low-pressure system over the Mediterranean Sea would precipitate an increased cloud cover, thunderstorms, and moderate to heavy rain. These weather conditions will affect parts of western Egypt, including Salloum, Marsa Matrouh, and Siwa. Light to moderate rain is expected to spread to parts of Alexandria in the evening. On Tuesday, moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms will continue over scattered areas of western Egypt, including the northwestern coast and northern Delta. Light to moderate rain will gradually move inland to affect parts of the southern Delta, the canal cities, and possibly Cairo. On Wednesday, rain will taper off to light to moderate showers over parts of the northern coast, Delta, and the canal cities. Light rain is also expected over parts of the southern Delta, Suez Gulf, and Central Sinai. Strong winds will blow Monday over parts of the northwestern coast, Delta, northern Upper Egypt, Cairo, and the canal cities. These winds could be strong enough to stir up dust and sand. Temperatures will range between 34 and 33 degrees Celsius. The EMA predicted the highest temperature in Cairo on Monday to be 37 degrees Celsius. From Tuesday to the end of the week, temperatures are expected to range between 34 and 33 degrees Celsius. Storm Daniel is a Mediterranean cyclone with hurricane-like characteristics, which formed in the Mediterranean Sea on 5 September 2023. The storm landed in Greece on 6 September, causing floods and damage and killing at least 10 people. Dozens have gone missing. Search Keywords: Short link: Vale S.A., together with its subsidiaries, produces and sells iron ore and iron ore pellets for use as raw materials in steelmaking in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Iron Solutions and Energy Transition Materials segments. The Iron Solutions segment produces and extracts iron ore and pellets, manganese, and other ferrous products; and provides related logistic services. The Energy Transition Materials segment produces and extracts nickel used to produce stainless steel, electric vehicles, and metal alloys; and its by-products, such as gold, silver, cobalt, precious metals, platinum, and others, as well as copper used in the construction sector to produce pipes and electrical wires. The company was formerly known as Companhia Vale do Rio Doce and changed its name to Vale S.A. in May 2009. Vale S.A. was founded in 1942 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments. It provides telecom lifecycle management, mobile and identity management, and digital billing and analytics solutions. The company also offers information technology as a service, including cybersecurity, cloud, network operation, and professional services. WidePoint Corporation was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. 10 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Hudson Pacific Properties in the last year. There are currently 1 sell rating, 4 hold ratings and 5 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "hold" HPP shares. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in HPP, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View HPP analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks. Mylene Mathieu (L) tosses chilies in Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province, Aug. 8, 2023. [Xinhua] NANCHANG, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) On a scenic platform offering panoramic vistas of traditional grey-and-white Chinese buildings nestled among lush trees, Mylene Mathieu, who is from France, extended her arms, grasping a broad bamboo sieve with hands, tossing red chili peppers up and down. Tossing is a procedure aimed at properly drying agricultural products, such as chili, corn, and peanuts, for longer preservation. The common rural practice is also part of Mathieu's myriad countryside experiences on her trip to Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province. Mathieu, who moved to Beijing earlier this year after more than seven years of studying Chinese, shares her daily life experiences on social media, and has gained tens of thousands of followers in just months. Her trip to Huangling turned out to be a unique experience. "This is my first time coming to a Chinese village, and I didn't expect to meet such a beautiful one," Mathieu said. She posted a video about the chili-tossing on her TikTok-like Douyin account, with a Chinese profile name translated as "French wife xiaobengbeng," alluding to her status as the spouse of a Chinese man. Before coming to Huangling, Mathieu did not have high expectations. "I had this image of Chinese rural areas as old and remote," she said. However, upon entering Huangling, she was immediately captivated by the village's blend of ancient charm and modern convenience. Traditional architecture intricately adorned the landscape, and wide, flat stone paths connected every corner of the village. Mathieu was especially impressed with a local light festival showcasing folk customs. "I had only seen light festivals in big cities before, but Huangling combines traditional folk parades with lights, preserving tradition while showcasing the charm of modern technology," she said. This photo shows a light festival held in Huangling Village, Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province, July 9, 2023. [Xinhua] She was also captivated by the village's operating model. Local villagers found meaningful employment within the scenic area, leading to a shared sense of happiness and prosperity. "You can feel their happiness radiating from within. Under the village leadership, everyone shares the consensus to pursue happiness together in this picturesque place," she said. In just a few years, Huangling transformed from a poverty-stricken village into a rural tourism hotspot. Villagers can rake in tourism-related income from sectors such as accommodation, catering, and transportation. The average annual income per villager increased from 3,500 yuan (486.1 U.S. dollars) before tourism development to over 50,000 yuan currently, with some families earning over a million yuan annually through their involvement in the tourism industry. Today, Huangling is gradually gaining global recognition. It had hosted international summits featuring rural tourism and formed alliances with tourist villages from around the world. (Source: Xinhua) Click the photo and watch the video. "I remember when I was still a student, few universities in China had Italian majors, but now many universities offer Italian programs," Chen Ying, an Italian language professor in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, told Xinhua. In Milan, Giovanni Goffredo, a Chinese language teacher has lately shared his observations on the trend of Italians learning Chinese in recent years. They are of the same opinion that language can be a bridge for communication and exchanges between China and Italy in various fields, and over the past years the two languages and cultures have shown increasing appeal for their respective peoples. (Source: Xinhua) The hunters told dispatch there was an elderly woman inside the car that was 800 feet into the drainage area. | Join the next online meeting of the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network to discuss uniting workers for an all-out strike across the auto industry. Register here to attend. Unifor pushes sellout pattern as Monday night strike deadline approaches for 4,300 autoworkers at GM Canada As a 11:59 p.m. strike deadline approaches Monday night, the Unifor bureaucracy is waging a campaign to browbeat 4,300 autoworkers at GM Canada into accepting the sellout pattern agreement which was pushed through last month at Ford in sham vote and over its rejection by skilled trades workers. The latest bargaining update from Unifor President Lana Payne, Unifor GM Master Bargaining Chair Jason Gale and Unifor GM Master Bargaining Vice-Chair Trevor Longpre reiterates the determination of the bureaucracy to drive the pattern home to GM members, despite items of contention which remain with GM. These are said to include the transition of full-time temporary part time workers to permanent positions and quarterly payments for retirees. In a letter to GM skilled trades members posted on Saturday, Payne warned that despite a long standing practice going back to Unifors predecessor the Canadian Auto Workers, their rejection of the deal will not veto ratification. The union also put out a video seeking to sell the deal to younger workers who live paycheck to paycheck, taking advantage of their precariousness, the result of previous Unifor sellouts, to lock workers into yet another pro-corporate contract. The three-year sellout pattern set at Ford, which Unifor has boosted as transformative and life changing, maintains the hated multi-tier wage system, provides for wage increases which fail to make up for high and continued inflation, and does nothing to guarantee jobs in the transition to electric vehicle production. Unifor sabotaged last months impending strike by Ford workers, who had voted by 98 percent to strike. First it announced a 24 hour extension of contract talks, an hour-and-a-half after the supposed strike deadline had passed. This was followed the next day by the announcement of a tentative agreement. In an anti-democratic ratification process workers were kept in the dark on the details of the agreement until they were presented with self-serving highlights at a single online Zoom meeting. During the email ratification vote, registration surreptitiously reopened, with low-paid temporary part time workers encouraged to vote in favour with a $4,000 signing bonus dangled as incentive. The union apparatus plans to carry out this same fraudulent process to ride roughshod over opposition and enact terms at GM and Stellantis which are favourable to management. Despite the union bureaucracys efforts, its sellout pattern faces stiff opposition from the rank and file. It passed with just 54 percent support of those who voted at Ford, and many GM and Stellantis workers have expressed their determination to break the pattern in favour of a better deal and to join their brothers and sisters at the Detroit Three in the United States on strike. At a Unifor Local 444 meeting in Windsor attended by approximately 600 autoworkers last week Stellantis workers took to the floor to denounce the deal as totally inadequate. Autoworkers must heed the lessons from the Unifor sellout at Ford and seize control of the contract struggle through the formation of rank-and-file committees at every plant to return power to the shopfloor. They must turn to their colleagues in the US and Mexico to wage a united North America wide struggle against the transnational Detroit Three which exploit workers for their profits around the globe. Mack Trucks workers reject UAW-backed contract, set to strike Monday Nearly 4,000 Mack Trucks workers in multiple states overwhelmingly voted Sunday to reject a tentative agreement backed by the United Auto Workers. A strike will begin Monday morning. The UAW announced Sunday evening that the agreement had been rejected by a margin of 73 percent no to 27 percent yes. Workers immediately expressed skepticism, saying that opposition to the sellout contract was much higher. The rejection is a rebuke to both Mack Trucks and the UAW apparatus, which conspired behind workers backs and sought to push the agreement through to avoid a strike in the critical trucking industry. The agreement at Mack Trucks had been announced mere minutes before the October 1 expiration of the previous 2019-2023 contract as a way of averting a walkout, which would coincide with the Big Three autoworkers contract struggle, now in its fourth week. This happened even after Mack Trucks workers voted by 98 percent to strike in the event of a contract expiration. We did it. We spread the word and won, said a Mack Trucks worker in Macungie, Pennsylvania in response to the rejection vote. The worker noted the companys effort to dangle a $3,500 signing bonus to coerce financially desperate new hires to accept the agreement had backfired: We are so happy [the contract] didnt pass. We finally got around to the new hires to tell them what we were really losing. We did our jobs as UAW 677 members that have been here and know what we deserve! Expressing the determination to strike, another worker simply stated that the plan is to shut down the plant. Seeking to save face, UAW President Shawn Fain hypocritically declared that he was inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it. The public statement made no reference to the fact that a few days earlier Fain had declared the offer to be a record contract for the Heavy Truck industry. Will Lehman, UAW presidential candidate and a rank-and-file socialist worker from Mack Trucks, denounced Fain for acting like he stands with us after having tried to ram through a pay cut, sellout tentative agreement on the workers at Mack Trucks. Lehman added that the workers who rejected this agreement are on the floor living with the decades of concessionary UAW agreements, and we want to fight. We are throwing Fains agreement in the trash with our vote. The vote followed a mass membership meeting on Saturday, at which workers overwhelmingly opposed the contract. At that meeting, Lehman said, This is the kind of contract that gets negotiated behind closed doors. There needs to be full transparency to all the workers, and as far as the vote count goes that needs to be made transparent to the workers as well. Will Lehman denounces the UAW tentative agreement at Mack Trucks on October 7, 2023 The 4,000 workers at Mack Trucks are determined to reverse UAW-backed concessions. Mack Trucks workers received only a 6 percent raise from 2019 to 2023, as they were forced to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. In that time, inflation skyrocketed by 22 percent, while the new offer increased pay only by 19 percent, by 2028. Prior to the vote, many workers denounced the sub-inflation pay raises, the lack of Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA), attacks on seniority and job security, extensions to the length of the work day, as well as the proposal to extend the life of the contract to five years from the current four. That might be decent if the company paid that much in the first year, said a worker at Mack Trucks in Hagerstown of the 19 percent raise. Other workers stated they voted no simply on principle because of how the offer was being presented, without any details and in a rushed fashion. The amount of profit that the company pumps out of its workforce is enormous. In 2022, Mack Trucks recorded a profit of $11.07 billion, near its 2019 profit levels of $11.11 billion. The massive no vote deals a staggering blow to the phony stand-up strike of Fain and the UAW apparatus. After more than three weeks since the expiration of contracts covering autoworkers in the Big Three, 83 percent of workers remain on the job, and the profits of the auto companies have hardly been impacted. The walkout at Mack, which the UAW apparatus could not prevent, will encourage the growing demands among workers at Ford, GM and Stellantis for an all-out strike. Mack Trucks workers have taken an important first step to taking the fight to the company. However, their struggle still faces danger, as the UAW bureaucracy will attempt to starve and isolate their strike if it is left in their hands. It is necessary that Mack workers join their fellow co-workers who have initiated the Mack Trucks Rank-and-File Committee. A statement released by the committee last week declared that a no vote will send a powerful signal that workers will not accept further concessions under any circumstances and that we are willing to fight for our interests. But if theres going to be a real struggle, it will have to be organized from below Begin forming groups of workers who want to fight and establish rank-and-file committees on each shift, in each department, and in each plant. Mack workers erupt in anger at UAW information sessions For updates and to discuss joining the Mack Workers Rank-and-File Committee, text MACK to (877) 861-4428. Mack Trucks workers erupted in anger at a Saturday afternoon information session held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, hosted by UAW Local 677 to try to ram through a tentative contract that the bureaucracy used to abort a strike one week ago at Mack Truck. Mack workers in Pennsylvania denouncing the UAWs sellout contract at a Local 677 meeting on Saturday, October 7, 2023 About 400 workers from Macks flagship Macungie plant attended the meeting, at which the UAW hoped to present packaged talking points to workers to convince them to vote for a contract that it presents as a record. Workers told the WSWS after that comments from the floor were universally hostile to the contract. At one point, an audience member asked how many in attendance were in favor of the contract. A single hand went upthat is, 1 out of 400. Will Lehman, a rank-and-file socialist worker from the Macungie plant who challenged Fain and other bureaucrats for the UAW presidency last year, spoke from the floor. Lehman condemned the contract, and called for the expansion of the struggle. He that the UAW apparatus seeks to pit workers in one country against another, while workers essentially dont have any differences with each other, no matter if were in the US or if were in Sweden. Were all trying to put food on our plates for our families and roofs over our heads. Were telling you we dont like these decisions that you made for us, another worker said during the meeting. Why cant you fix it? Why cant you go back to them and say, Our membership doesnt like this? And you shouldve known, being at that table. You sat there with us before you became our representative, not liking what people before you did. So, why cant you say, Our membership doesnt like this? The UAW has been backfooted by worker anger against the tentative deal. In scores of communications to the World Socialist Web Site with rank-and-file workers and in social media posts, opposition has been unanimous. Read the full report UAW President Shawn Fain continues phony stand up strike, says no new plants will be struck In a Facebook livestream broadcast Friday afternoon, UAW President Shawn Fain said no new plants would be called out on strike, continuing his phony stand up strike policy that has kept 83 percent of UAW members on the job producing profits for Ford, General Motors and Stellantis. In justifying his decision, Fain cited supposed progress in negotiations. In particular, he touted what he called a historic agreement by General Motors to place its electric vehicle battery plants under the UAW national contract. Fain claimed that a last-minute offer by GM caused the union to cancel a planned strike at the GM Arlington, Texas Assembly Plant. Even as Fain announced progress on the part of GM, workers have reported that all temporary workers the GM Lake Orion Assembly Plant were terminated effective immediately. For the UAW apparatus, the main significance of an agreement to incorporate EV plants in the UAW master agreement is to ensure that workers continue paying dues. It will do nothing to ensure decent wages for the workers in the plants. By saying that this is part of a just transition, Fain implicitly recognized that the UAW agrees that the just transition to EVs will include the massive elimination of jobs. Fain spent most of the livestream trying through means of bombastic rhetoric and vague generalities to answer demands, most clearly articulated by the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committees Network, for an all out strike. Significantly, Fain said nothing about the sellout contract that the UAW is attempting to force through at Mack Trucks this weekend, over mass opposition. The agreement includes a 19 percent wage increase over 5 years (below the level of inflation) without a cost-of-living adjustment and with a longer work day. Posts on Facebook during the livestream gave a glimpse of the growing rank-and-file anger over the refusal of the UAW leadership to wage a real fight against the auto companies. Meanwhile we continue to make cars for those filthy rich folks, one worker wrote. So I guess the companies will all get a pass this week from getting hit with a strike, wrote another. Other commetns included, Way to sell out the workers at Mack Trucks! and Hes playing a game. Just put the plants down and get on with it faster. A worker at the Stellantis Toledo Jeep complex told the World Socialist Web Site. This victory with GM placing their EV manufacturing facilities under the banner of the UAW is a victory for those collecting union dues. He added, Its ironic for a man who makes $300,000 a year, while representing workers who can barely afford to survive, to be wearing a shirt that says Eat The Rich Puncturing Fains claim about the supposed effectiveness of the stand up strike, the Wall Street Journal posted an article yesterday headlined, UAW Strikes Spare Automakers From Financial Painfor Now. It notes that by keeping the vast majority of workers on the job the UAW is protecting its own treasury as well as the profits of management. It cites a Wells Fargo analyst who notes Its creating a lot of headlines. Financially, its not very impactful at all. As UAW reveals efforts to lengthen workday at Mack Trucks, workers voice opposition to sellout contract The tentative agreement announced by the United Auto Workers with Mack Trucks at midnight last Sundayin order to block a strike that was set to begin Mondayfaces massive opposition among workers, teams of World Socialist Web Site reporters found in visits to major plants at Macungie, Pennsylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland. According to carefully selected highlights distributed Monday to workers, the contract includes a 19 percent wage increase over five years without a cost of living adjustment. The raise does not even recoup the 22 percent of real wages lost to inflation over the past three years. All of the other highlights are virtually meaningless, including a $3,500 signing bonus meant as a sweetener to help workers choke down the rotten contract. Gates to the Mack Trucks plant, Macungie, Pennsylvania On Wednesday, a lowlight of the contract, thus far concealed from workers, was revealed. The UAW has agreed to the extension of the workday from eight hours to 8.5 hours at straight time (i.e., without overtime payments) at Local 677 in Macungie, its flagship facility. The UAW openly boasts, on a 15-page document posted to Local 677s web site, that the lengthening of the working day is an aspect of its joint partnership approach with Mack Volvo. The deal, the UAW reports, will allow Mack workers in Macungie to produce 1,600 more trucks per year. Shamelessly voicing managements interests, the UAW wrote that extending the workday would be an innovative approach to be able to help increase market share. That this so-called union is pushing to undermine the eight-hour day is of historic significance. The eight-hour day emerged as the rallying cry of the American working class soon after the Civil War: eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will. The eight-hour day has already become all but a thing of the past throughout much of the auto and auto parts industries, with the support of the UAW bureaucracy. Workers are regularly forced to work 10- or 12-hour shifts, six or seven days a week, just to make ends meet. There is one reason and one reason only that the UAW has agreed to extending the workday at Mack: to line the pockets of the shareholders and executives who control Mack Volvo. Read the full report Mack Workers Rank-and-File Committee: Vote NO on the UAW-Mack sellout contract! The following statement was issued Thursday by the Mack Workers Rank-and-File Committee in response to the UAWs release of highlights of its tentative agreement with Mack Trucks. Brothers and sisters, The so-called highlights of the UAWs agreement with Mack released Wednesday are enough to show us that this contract is a sellout that belongs in the garbage. The Mack Workers Rank-and-File Committee urges the largest possible No vote this Sunday. If we stand together and reject this pro-company contract, we will receive enormous support and solidarity from the 146,000 autoworkers at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis who are also fighting corporate attacks and the sabotage policies of the UAW bureaucracy. It will send a powerful signal that workers will not accept further concessions under any circumstances and that we are willing to fight for our interests. At the same time, we demand that the UAW release the full contract and all memoranda of understanding prior to Sundays vote. If those are the UAWs highlights, then we must know the lowlights. Workers have a right to know every detail of every concession the UAW has agreed, down to the letter. Union officials have no legitimate reason to conceal that information from us. John Deere workers demanded it in 2021, forcing the UAW to release the full contract languagewhich showed it was a total sellout, leading Deere workers to reject it by 90 percent. What concessions do we already know are in the Mack agreement based on the highlights? The contract: Is a five-year deal, rather than four, which would weaken us and divide us from workers at Volvo Trucks/Local 2069 and John Deere, whose contracts expire in 2027. Includes a cut to real wages, with total raises of 19 percent over five years: 10 percent front-loaded the first year, and 9 percent over the following years. Inflation has risen 22 percent over the past three years alone, and our last contract included only a 6 percent raise, meaning we have already suffered a significant cut to the value of our wages. Leaves the tier system in place, only reducing the progression scheme by one year. Does not include COLA, one of our most important demands, given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and the continuing rise in gas, food and housing costs. Adds 30 more minutes to every workday at Macungie at straight time to increase the output of trucks by 1,600 a year. By agreeing to be creative in our joint partnership approach to productivity, the UAW is opening the door to limitless forced overtime and speed-up. And the UAW-Mack bargaining council has the gall to call this a record contract! Anyone who could make such a claim demonstrates that they have nothing but contempt for the basic needs and interests of the rank and file. Read the full statement Its time we stand up: Ford Chicago workers speak from pickets Ford Chicago workers who spoke from the picket lines on the citys Far South Side Saturday voiced their determination to win major improvements to wages, end the tier system, and secure COLA, pensions, shorter working hours, and more. Many also expressed their support for the call by the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network to expand the struggle to an all-out strike across the auto industry. Enough is enough! For an all-out strike of all Big Three autoworkers! The following statement was issued Friday by the Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committee Network: Two weeks into our strike, it is high time for an all-out offensive against the Big Three. In the face of the intransigence of the companies, we must mobilize our full strength. We cannot win this fight if the UAW bureaucracy is keeping one of our handsor, indeed, both handstied behind our backs. The Network of Autoworkers Rank-and-File Committees calls on workers in every plant to demand emergency local meetings to pass resolutions calling for an all-out strike. We must take control of the battle ourselves and transform the UAWs phony stand-up strike into a genuine strike. Every assembly plant, every stamping plant, every engine plant, every parts plantevery work locationmust be on strike if this fight is to succeed. UAW President Fains expansion of the strike on Friday is another stab in the back. Only two plants with a total of 7,000 workers were called out, the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant and the GM Lansing Delta Township Plant. This leaves 83 percent of us standing up on the job, without a contract, vulnerable to victimization, producing inventory and pumping out profits for the auto companies. Every week, Fain provides fewer and fewer details about what is being negotiated behind our backs. We are being told nothing of substance about the core demands of workersa massive increase in wages, the restoration of COLA that fully keeps up with inflation, an end to tiers, the conversion of all current and future temps to full-time workers, full health care and pensions for all, and, perhaps most important, securities against the jobs bloodbath the companies are preparing as part of the EV transition. Instead, we get empty rhetoric and deliberately ineffective action. The media and financial analysts, who calculate the impact of our strike in dollars and cents, are gloating over how it is having next to no impact on corporate profits. An all-out strike cannot be delayed any longer! Every day that the overwhelming majority of Big Three workers stay on the job without a contract, more workers are victimized, and the companies stockpile more and more inventory. Read the full statement Everybody in the Big 3 should shut down: Striking Michigan autoworkers call for expansion of walkout Ford workers who spoke to World Socialist Web Site reporters Tuesday expressed a strong determination to fight. Virtually all workers, full-time and part-time, said they were finding it increasingly hard to survive on already inadequate pay that has been further ravaged by inflation. Workers expressed little enthusiasm for either corporate-controlled party, with many expressing the view that Bidens visit was simply a publicity stunt. Mark, a 26-year veteran worker at Ford Michigan Assembly was on the picket line with his son, also a Ford worker. Mark was not impressed by Bidens visit. You know how it is with politicians, they are just trying to make themselves look good. He said even though he was working at top pay scale, he finds it hard to live. I work full time and Ive worked two jobs for 26 years to take care of my family. I do construction on the side, he said. The last contracts have all been junk, he continued. All you got was a little signing bonus. The WSWS also spoke to two younger Michigan Assembly workers, Matt and Brendon. Neither was impressed with the visit by President Biden. Brendon said, Trump-Biden, that doesnt matter to us. Neither one of them stands for what were out here for. Matt agreed, Its the working class versus the millionaires and billionaires, and they are both for the two parties. We are standing here for the working class, but the politicians are coming just to smile for the cameras. Matt said he had seen what Biden had done to the railroad workers last year and also the sellout contract that had been imposed on oil workers in 2022 just before the start of the Ukraine war. I have friends in the oil industry who lost their jobs after that contract, Brendon said. Both Matt and Brendon said it was hard for young autoworkers to earn enough to support themselves. Matt said he was a third-generation autoworker. Previously working in an auto plant was a great career. But we are now seriously struggling. We dont get good wages. The auto companies are making millions and we are making pennies. I have three kids and a wife and we have just $80 to spend a week on groceries. That will buy just three bags. Many people think we have a good job, but that is not the reality. Unifor violated constitution to ratify Ford Canada contract over rejection by skilled trades workers The World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter has learned that Unifor ratified the tentative agreement with Ford Canada over the rejection by skilled trades workers and in violation of the unions own constitution. The three-year agreement for 5,600 autoworkers was declared ratified on Sunday with a slim 54 percent support. With the contract rammed through online, Unifor is now holding physical meetings to sell the ratification in the face of workers anger and disbelief. Workers at Ford Oakville Assembly were informed at an in-person meeting Monday by Unifor Skilled Trades National Director John Breslin that even though skilled trades who operate under different terms than production workershad rejected the contract, it had still been ratified. What the union basically said is that skilled trades votes dont matter because they were ignored, a Ford autoworker told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter. Unifors constitution was not followed by the national union to push the contract through. Read the full report The origins of the UAWs phony stand up strike policy UAW President Shawn Fain and his supporters have presented his stand up strike policy as a strategic masterstroke, designed to keep the auto bosses off guard and give UAW officials leverage to escalate strikes and ramp up pressure on companies to hand over record contracts. So far, however, the strike has not been a strike at all. Although 97 percent of GM, Stellantis and Ford autoworkers voted to walk out in unison on September 14, Fain has kept almost 90 percent of UAW members on the job, forcing workers to produce vehicles and profits for the auto companies. The stand up strike is based on undermining this power and replacing this elemental weapon of the class struggle with middle class publicity stunts aimed at shifting public opinion, i.e., largely consumers, businesses and politicians, against the targeted corporation. Since first hearing about this, many workers have asked themselves who came up with this nonsense? A series of text messages obtained by the Automotive News from UAW Communications Director and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Jonah Furman provides some hints. In them, Furman says, the UAW is inflicting recurring reputations damage and operational chaos on the Detroit automakers. They can basically price in an all-out strike, Furman claimed, adding, If we can keep them wounded for months, they dont know what to do. First, it is absurd to claim that pinprick strikes are more effective than an all-out strike, which analysts predict would cost the automakers $1 billion in the first 10 days alone. Second, the UAW has given the corporations ample time to stockpile vehicles and shift resources if need be. Most revealing, however, is Furmans reference to creating operational chaos for the companies. Read the in-depth report Inequality driving the working class towards socialism, Will Lehman writes in Newsweek op-ed On Monday, Newsweek published the following op-ed by Will Lehman, a Mack Trucks worker and socialist candidate for UAW president in last years union elections. Will Lehman's op-ed in Newsweek [Photo: Newsweek] On Friday, President Biden spoke from the White House about the autoworkers strike, calling for the car corporations and the United Auto Workers to reach a win-win agreement for workers. Record profits have not been shared fairly, in my view, with those workers, Biden said. Workers deserve a fair share of the benefits they helped create for an enterprise. Bidens remarks raise fundamental questions about the distribution of wealth in the United States. Much more than a contract dispute is involved. Workers wages at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis have declined dramatically over the past 50 years. In 1973, autoworkers received an average hourly wage of $5.54 an hourmore than $38 an hour in todays dollars. If that wage had merely kept up with inflation (setting aside the massive increases in productivity over that time), autoworkers would be making nearly $40 an hour today. But today temporary workers at GM start at $16.67 and top out at $20, half as much as workers five decades ago. Should temps be lucky enough to be given full-time status, their top pay is capped at just over $32 an hour, which it takes eight long years to reach. Another comparison: GM CEO Mary Barra received a $28.9 million compensation package in 2022. She made approximately $2.4 million a month, $550,000 a week, $110,000 a day, or an hourly rate of nearly $13,800. It would take a temporary worker making the maximum $20 an hour almost three years to make as much as Barra does in a single day. The difference between the two, however, is that every penny of Barras pay package is ultimately derived from the value produced by the labor of the working class. Read the full op-ed The Communication Workers Union (CWU) announced in a September 5 letter to branches its full participation in regulator Ofcoms review and consultation into the Universal Service Obligation (USO). Ofcoms position is no mystery regarding the abandoning of Royal Mails statutory obligation to deliver letters to 32 million households across the UK, six days a week at a standard price. The regulator greenlighted the ending of Saturday mail deliveries already in 2020, scrapping the one area in which Royal Mail was meant to provide a public service after privatisation in 2013. Royal Mail statement on Ofcom looking at options for the future of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) which currently requires Royal Mail to deliver letters to all 32 million UK addresses six days a week [Photo: screenshot: International Distributions Services website] The company has already drawn attention to this seal of approval in its press release on the present review which conforms entirely to its business interests. Lindsey Fussell, Ofcoms networks communications group director, stated in 2020 that research showed peoples needs would still be met with the cost reductions estimated at between 125-225 million. CWU leaders Dave Ward and Andy Fureys justification for the unions participation in this rigged process is an insult to all postal workers: We want this review to seek and take on board the views of our members who have witnessed first hand the running down of the USO. We want any outcome to be based not on potential shareholder profit but on the protection of the service, jobs, and future of the company. Their real attitude to the membership and the service was demonstrated by the CWUs ramming through its pro-company agreement on July 11, betraying the year-long struggle mounted by over 100,000 workers. The Business Recovery, Transformation and Growth Agreement (BTRG) is based exclusively on restoring shareholder profit, turning the clock back on postal workers hard-won rights and establishing a new benchmark of exploitation to compete with Amazon as a parcel-led operation. Ward and Fureys cynical claims were met with derision from postal workers on the CWU Facebook page when the announcement was posted: And you as a Union are as complicit as RM [Royal Mail] for allowing this to happen; I have absolutely no faith in the CWU to tie their own shoelaces let alone protect the USO. You jumped into bed with RM over this agreement, in my book youre part of the problem! The CWU adopted the most bureaucratic methods to enforce the sellout, including riding roughshod over a 96 percent renewed strike mandate in February and twice postponing the ballot on the agreement in May to forestall its rejection. Opposition was worn down to the point that a third of members abstained in the final vote, with Ward and Furey denouncing opponents of their surrender document as delusional and making clear they had no Plan B in the event of a majority no vote. Any claim that the yes vote represented a popular endorsement of the agreement has been refuted by the conduct of Ward and Furey since, who have effectively gone to ground. So called engagement with the membership consists of a non-stop barrage of communications based on CWU-RM joint statements over the implementation of the sweatshop charter agreed, overseen through joint union-management working groups. They also include notifications of how the company is pressing ahead with unagreed changes not contained within the BRT&G agreement. These include a redeployment pool in Mail Centres to enforce redundancies and halving the opening hours of 1,200 Customer Service Points. The CWU bureaucracy is trying to evade responsibility for the free rein granted management by its abject betrayal. Just as the sellout agreement was hatched through the state arbitration service ACAS, Ofcom is being used to rationalise Royal Mail and the CWUs ditching of the USO. In a less guarded moment in June, at the height of the browbeating exercise to enforce the BTRG agreement, Ward stated it was time to consider a five-day scenario for mail delivery. Attempts to present the proposal as a way to reduce job losses are obscene. The CWU allowed Royal Mail to implement 10,000 redundancies over the past year even as its members were in dispute with the company. The implication is that as part of the rotten deal the union has agreed behind the backs of workers to an even more extensive jobs cull. Particularly sickening is Ward and Fureys posturing over the deliberate run down of the USO. The precursor to the sellout agreement to end the dispute was a CWU-Royal Mail joint statement in March pledging re-engagement with revisionsthe biggest revision ever in the history of this business, according to the companys Chief Operating Officer Grant McPherson. It is these cost-cutting exercises, removing duties and increasing workloads, which have crashed the USO. Now workers are being made scapegoats. Postal workers have informed the World Socialist Web Site that disciplinary action has been taken against staff unable to complete their unachievable workloads, as parcels are prioritised over letters. The historic decline in letter mail is routinely cited as requiring the reduction of the USO, but Royal Mail has conceded in its own statement on the Ofcom review that postal workers are having to deliver to more addresses: Letter volumes have fallen by more than 60% since their peakfrom 20 billion in 2004/5 to 7 billion a year in 2022/3while the number of addresses has risen by four million in the same period. What matters to Royal Mail is not modernisation but using technology to deepen the exploitation of postal workers while reducing the service in the least profitable side of its operations. At its recent shareholders AGM, Royal Mail Chair Keith Willaims bemoaned the fact that letter delivery only accounted for 30 percent of profits, with the rest from parcels. Royal Mail has already been able to trash its statutory obligation for an extended period. The last time it reached its targets for both first and second-class deliveries in the same year was 2016/17, yet it was only fined 1.5 million by Ofcom in 2019barely a slap on the wrist. The company failed to meet it delivery targets in any post code across the UK this summer, with households in some areas waiting up to two weeks for mail. Research published in June by Citizens Advice showed that 7.3 million households had suffered due to delays, missing health appointments, fines and bills. Profits for Royal Mailnow the UK arm of the transnational International Distribution Services IDShave continued to be siphoned off by investors and equity groups. Multi-billionaire Daniel Kretinsky of Vesa Equity has been paid 100 million in dividends since 2021 by IDS, according to The Times. The CWUs mantra of mutual interest solutions between workers and the company is a fraud. The only shared interests are those between the pro-company union apparatus and the shareholders demanding it police opposition from below. Postal workers should also reject the CWUs attempts to present the right-wing, pro-business Labour Party as a friend. Bristol North West MP Darren Jones was hailed by Ward as a saviour for his performances as chair of the House of Commons business select committee supposedly holding Royal Mail chief executive Simon Thompson to account. Based on postal workers testimony, Jones challenged Thompson at hearings over issues such as prioritisation of parcels over mail, the use of PDA technology to manage performance and threats to sick pay. All of this has in fact been formalised and integrated into the BTRG document which Jones has publicly backed. He was given a standing ovation at the CWU briefing to announce the rotten deal on April 21. The agreement is a prime example of the type of business-government-union collaboration against the working class promoted by party leader Sir Keir Starmer at last years TUC conference: Im not just pro-business, I want to partner with business to drive Britain forward And I will say the same about trade unions to the CBI [Confederation of British Industry]. The union bureaucracy is at one with Labours demands for increased productivity and greater competitiveness for UK corporations, and its hostility to any challenged to the plunder of social wealth by the super rich at workers expense. Jones was recently promoted to Shadow Chief Secretary of the Treasury in Starmers Blairite cabinet reshuffle; he will play a key role in Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves department for continued Tory austerity. The CWU congratulated him on his success. The Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) is advancing a strategy to fight back. The allies of Royal Mail workers are not the accomplices of billionaire shareholders in the Labour and trade union bureaucracy, but postal and logistics workers worldwide engaged in fight against the same corporate race to the bottom. Royal Mail must be nationalised under workers control, its massive profits used to provide decent wages and working conditions and a quality universal delivery service to the public. We encourage all postal workers to attend the next online meeting of the PWRFC on Sunday September 24 at 7pm to discuss the way forward in organising opposition to the sweatshop charter agreed between the CWU and Royal Mail, including the fight for the unconditional reinstatement of all victimised reps and workers against the stitch-up of the Falconer review. Register for the September 24 online meeting of the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee here. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov is paying a working visit to Hungary, Azernews reports, citing a post of X by the Minister. The post reads that as part of the working visit, the Azerbaijani Minister met with Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The meeting discussed the shared perspectives on the extensive collaboration across different sectors between our nations, the initiative aimed atstrengthening trade and economic ties, and the potential for partnering on green energy projects. On Friday night, an earthquake in Morocco hit mountainous areas near the city of Marrakesh, killing at least 2,000 people and injuring more than 2,000. Of the wounded, over 1,400 are in critical condition, according to Moroccos Interior Ministry. Residents flee their homes after an earthquake in Moulay Brahim village, near the epicenter of the earthquake, outside Marrakesh, Morocco, Saturday, September 9, 2023. A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 2,000 people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakesh [AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy] The death toll is tragically expected to rise, as the worst-affected areas are remote mountain villages which rescue teams are struggling to reach due to poor infrastructure and emergency planning. It remains unclear how many more thousands of people may still be buried under the rubble. The epicentre of Fridays earthquake was near Ighil in Al-Haouz Province, roughly 70 kilometres south of Marrakesh, Moroccos fourth-largest city. The 6.8-magnitude quake shook the High Atlas mountain range at a relatively shallow depth of 18.5 kilometres, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was Moroccos deadliest earthquake since 1960, when a magnitude 5.8 quake struck near Agadir, killing at least 12,000 people. UN officials estimate 300,000 people have been impacted by the earthquake. The quake was felt across Morocco including the coastal towns of Imsouane and Essaouira, 180 and 200 km west of Marrakesh; in the capital, Rabat, 350 km north of the epicentre; and in Portugal and Algeria. Most of the deaths were reported in mountainous Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces. According to the Moroccan Interior Ministry, the death toll reached 1,293 in the Al-Haouz region, 452 in the Taroudant region, 191 in the town of Chichaoua, 41 in the Ouarzazate region, 15 in Marrakesh prefecture, 11 in the Azilal province, 5 in the Agadir Ida-Outanane prefecture, 3 in Casablanca province and 1 in the Youssoufia province. The village of Tafeghaghte, 40 miles southwest of Marrakesh, was almost entirely destroyed. Hospitals in Marrakesh are seeing a huge influx of injured people, and authorities are calling on residents to donate blood. The region is located in a well-known earthquake zone and is home to members of Moroccos Amazigh (or Berber) community. Moroccan King Mohamed VIs regime has systematically isolated the region to focus on development projects in large cities such as Marrakesh and repressed the regions inhabitants when they protested against this. Samia Errazzouki, a research fellow studying Morocco at Stanford University, said: This region, outside of any natural disaster and on a normal day, is one of the most difficult regions to get to as the infrastructure is so poor. Roads and access to this region are already difficult, before you compound that with difficulties like rubble or problems with the roads. Its going to take a miracle to get immediate aid there. These regions have historically been hit with earthquakes, but they have also been marginalised. In moments when people requested, demanded aid, infrastructure and development like in the Hirak movement in 2016, those who do so are thrown in jail, she added. On a good day, this region is difficult to access and deprived of basic infrastructure. The hospital system there is abysmal. Anger is mounting over the monarchys slow response to the disaster and the inaction of King Mohammed VI, who was at a residence in France when the quake hit. The Guardian noted, Despite him returning to chair the emergency response meeting, some said vital hours may have been lost due to a need for the palaces approval and control. As the rescue operation is delayed, residents in many villages are using homemade tools or their bare hands to dig the dead from the rubble. The destruction caused by the quake has left many survivors homeless, shortage of water and food, and other necessary aid as many prepare to spend a third night without shelter. From the village of Ait Yahya in Taroudant province, Al Jazeeras Ayman Al Zubair reported: There is an air of sorrow among the people, and they expressed fear [about] when aid will arrive for them. They received some aid in terms of food, but their main demand is a place to stay. The area is also experiencing a shortage of water, and there are dead animals that have not been cremated yet so there are concerns diseases could emerge. A resident from Amizmiz, 55 km south of Marrakesh, told Al Jazeera that all of its inhabitants lost their homes, and that each family is grieving loved ones who died in the quake. We are living in a crisis situation, another Amizmiz resident told Al Jazeera. We ask that King Mohamed VI intervene and send us some help because we are living through a traumatic situation, he said, adding the village lacks electricity, food and other necessary aid. A resident of the village of Moulay Brahim, 36-year-old Yassin Noumghar, said: We lost our houses, we lost people also, and we have slept two days outside. No food. No water. We lost also electricity. We want just for our government to help us. As in the massive February 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, the horrific death toll in the Morocco quake is not primarily a natural disaster, but above all a social disaster rooted in the grotesque social inequality of the capitalist system. With proper, safe building infrastructure, cities can survive even more powerful quakes than the one that struck Morocco on Friday. Only four people died from earthquake damage from the 7.4-magnitude quake in Fukushima in Japan in 2022. Over 50,000 died in Turkey and Syria, and thousands more have now died in Morocco, because state authorities ignore basic safety guidelines, and safe housing and infrastructure is not built. In Morocco, despite recent earthquakes, many buildings and especially rural homes in earthquake zones are not built to withstand such tremors. This was further underscored when hotel managers in Marrakesh, desperate to reassure tourists coming to the city, spoke of the vast difference between the relatively limited quake damage in Marrakesh itself compared to the devastation in nearby villages. Samuel Roure, who presides over the association of guest houses in Marrakesh, told Le Monde: [W]hen I see the images of the earthquake and read about Marrakesh in the media, I dont feel like Im living in the same country. Ive been touring the medina since 7:30 a.m. and, of the 10,000 riads (homes and guest rooms) in the city, barely 50 have collapsed. He added that in Marrakesh, unlike the hard-hit surrounding villages, the infrastructure is intact, the airport is up and running, and so are the telecommunications, water and electricity networks. With massive public works programs focused on creating essential social infrastructure and strengthening homes, humanity could build earthquake-resistant cities worldwide. However, the capitalist system is incapable of allocating the necessary resources for it, as trillions of dollars are instead spent on imperialist wars and bank bailouts for the super-rich. Stopping needless earthquake deaths requires the international working class in struggle against capitalism, fighting to subordinate private profit to essential social needs. On Wednesday, the right-wing Democratic mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, told a town hall meeting that migrants were destroying New York City. For some time Adams has sought to dehumanize the thousands of asylum seekers who are arriving in the city, primarily from the US-Mexico border, however last weeks remarks marked a significant escalation of anti-immigrant rhetoric by the citys Democratic political establishment. Adams comments were followed by a police raid on an immigrant shelter and an announcement of budget cuts to city departments of 15 percent. Adams blamed the cuts on the cost of housing and feeding migrants. New York Mayor Eric Adams, left, is calling on the federal government to declare a national emergency to ease the financial crisis the city is facing as it struggles to accommodate migrants. [AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews] Let me tell you something, New Yorkers, Adams said at the meeting on Manhattans wealthy Upper-West Side. I dont see an ending to this. This issue will destroy New York City. Its going to come to your neighborhoods. He added, All of us are going to be impacted by this. I said it last year when we had 15,000 [migrants]. Im telling you now with 110,000. The city we knew were about to lose. On Friday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) raided a migrant shelter in Brooklyn to confiscate what the NYPD claimed were illegal e-bikes. The journal The City reported: The situation quickly escalated, with officers wielding stun guns and shoving migrants to the ground before leaving with six men in handcuffs and trucks full of confiscated mopeds, according to videos and eyewitness accounts. As men tried to move their mopeds, officers began shoving migrants to the ground and wielding stun guns at the increasingly agitated crowd. Six migrants were arrested and one was reportedly tased. These refugees, many of whom are under a 60-day city order to vacate the shelter, use the e-bikes to earn a living, for the most part as delivery workers. One worker told The City: If we dont work, how will we live? Every one of us has families. In another incident earlier in the week, a retired NYPD detective, working as a guard at a migrant shelter in Manhattan, pulled a handgun on a group of migrants. The far-right has carried out a series of small protests at migrant shelters in Staten Island and at Gracie Mansion in Manhattan, the official residence of the mayor. It has responded with violence to counter-protesters. On Saturday, Adams announced 15 percent cuts in the budgets of city departments, claiming they were made necessary by the cost of housing and feeding migrants. Agencies will be forced to cut costs by 5 percent by November, another 5 percent in January and a further 5 percent in time for the executive budget, which comes due in April, 2024. The executive budget is the spending plan the mayor proposes to the City Council. In a statement, Adams said, New York City cannot bear the burden of this national crisis on our own. But these spending reductions are what will have to happen if we continue on our current course. Adamss remarks were condemned by immigrant, homeless and legal advocacy groups. The comments are uncalled for, Murad Awawdeh, the executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, told the media. Using dangerous language sometimes leads to dangerous acts, and we dont want people put in that situation. In a joint statement, the Coalition for the Homeless and the Legal Aid society said, Mayor Adams remarks that the influx of new arrivals will destroy New York City are reckless and unproductive fear-mongering. His dystopian comments dehumanize and villainize people who fled unimaginable situations in their home countries merely for an opportunity to provide for their families and secure a better life. This dangerous rhetoric is something youd expect from fringe politicians on the far right of the political spectrum. Adams remarks were, indeed, hailed by the far-right. Former Vice President and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination Mike Pence observed on a radio program: Ive got to do a hat tip to the mayor of New York, whos been willing to call out President Joe Biden and his administration for their absolute failure to secure the southern border. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also endorsed Adams remarks and called for passage of legislation that would resume building the wall along the US-Mexican border. Perhaps the most telling praise came Friday from the neo-Nazi online rag Daily Stormer, which called Adams remarks based [courageous], and those of a proudly unfiltered person. The far right did not have to wait until last week to praise Adams. It has been his position that the Biden administration supply aid to New York City to pay for the upkeep of migrants. On August 29, in a meeting with administration officials, he declared: Any plan that states that all migrants must stay in New York City, thats a failed plan. Any plan that does not include stopping the flow at the border is a failed plan. So-called progressive Democratic Party politicians mildly criticized Adams rhetoric while taking care not to attack the reactionary and chauvinist premises that underlay it. Jumaane Williams, the citys public advocate, who is supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), tweeted, We can be clear that NYC cant do this alone, while also being conscious of harmful words. Just one week before, Williams applauded Adams for housing migrants in a tent city in Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, two miles from a grocery store and three miles from the nearest public school. Williams called Adams remarks hyperbole and damaging language on a WNYC talk show on Saturday, while supporting Adams demand for more federal aid. The mayors right, he said. We cant do this by ourselves. He went on to advocate a decompression strategy under which refugees would be removed from New York City and distributed around the country, arguing that New York City has limited land mass. He concluded by saying Adams was not xenophobic, but found himself between a rock and hard place. He then made an appeal to racial politics. DSA City Council Member Tiffany Caban called Adams remarks repugnant MAGA garbage, but could only muster in the way of an alternate policy: Lets drop this demagoguery and invest in welcoming asylum seekers and getting them work. This echoes sections of the corporate elite who see the desperate migrants as a ready source of cheap labor. Democratic congresswoman and DSA member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) tweeted: If we want to reduce the # of asylum seekers in general, we have to make US foreign policy part of this conversation. We must discuss US policy in Latin America, which often goes ignored by politicians & media alike, even though its a major factor. This comes from a politician has who has supported every reactionary element of the Biden administrations foreign policy, from arming Israel to the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Her statement, moreover, accepts the right-wing premise that reducing the number of asylum seekers is worthy goal, not that refugees fleeing poverty and state violence in their home countriesin most cases bound up with US imperialist interventionhave a fundamental democratic right to live and work in the country of their choice without legal restrictions or persecution. None of the representatives of the DSA, like the Democratic Party as a whole, challenge the lying claim that New York City lacks the resources to provide for refugees. The most populous city in the US is the home of Wall Street, the financial center of world capitalism. It is also one of the most economically unequal cities in the world. Half the population is so poorly paid it cannot afford the basic requirements of existenceshelter, food, healthcare. This is in a city that has 113 billionaires and thousands of multimillionaires. A one-bedroom apartment costs nearly $5,000 a month, but tens of thousands of apartments remain unoccupied. Over half of the homeless in the city are native born, not migrants. Adams demonization of migrants will escalate violence by the far right and the NYPD. It will serve to justify a broad-ranging austerity program. It is further proof of the urgent necessity for the working class to break from the Democratic Party and capitalist politics and organize itself as an independent political force, in unity with workers all over the world, in the fight for equality and genuine democracy under socialism. Members of President Volodymyr Zelenskys Servant of the People political party have introduced a draft law intended to crack down on Ukrainian men avoiding conscription into the countrys armed forces through the use of student waivers. As the Kyiv Post reported, men between the ages of 18 and 60 are currently exempt from mobilization if they are enrolled in a higher education course. The proposed law would limit the exemption to men under the age of 30 in order to increase the number of troops available for the armed forces. The authors of the draft law admitted that support for conscription is far from universal throughout the country and that a significant number of individuals of conscription age exploited the current law to evade conscription during mobilization. In their words the practice of evading conscription for military service during mobilization negatively impacts Ukraines national security and defense. It also affects the morale and psychological well-being of military personnel who defend Ukraines independence and territorial integrity with arms in hand. Since the beginning of the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, the number of men aged 30 and over enrolled in higher education skyrocketed as tens of thousands sought to avoid conscription in the NATO-provoked slaughter that has already killed between 350,000 and 400,000 Ukrainian soldiers. According to the Kyiv Post, From 2019 to 2021, around 40,000 male students in Ukraine were aged over 25. After February 2022, this number jumped to 106,000. Such figures clearly contradict the endless pro-war propaganda in the Western press that Ukrainians are united in their support for the war and ready to surrender their lives to retake Ukrainian lands in the east. The introduction of the draft law is also a clear signal by the Zelensky government that it is determined to continue the war, even as its counteroffensive has failed, with over 40,000 lives sacrificed in just a few months. Apart from planning to conscript students over aged 30, the Zelensky government is busy introducing a range of measures to expand its pool of reserves to send to the front. This includes growing demands that those eligible abroad be forced to return to the country. In late August, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced changes to the types of permitted medical exemptions in order to force more sick and disabled men into the armed forces. Under the new regulations, people with clinically cured tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, slowly progressing blood diseases, thyroid gland diseases with minor functional disorders, and those who are HIV-positive but without symptoms are now fit for military service. The expansion of potential recruits comes on the heels of the dismissal of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and his replacement with Rustem Umerov, an investment banker of Crimean Tatar background. Earlier on August 28, Reznikov announced at a press conference that there were no plans for a new wave of general mobilization. According to Reznikov, the government had yet to complete the previous round of mobilization approved by parliament. This means that we do not need to announce a new mobilization to increase the number of troops today, Reznikov stated, directly contradicting comments made by Zelensky just days earlier at the Crimea Platform summit that a new round of mobilization could not be ruled out. To be honest, the military approached me with this, to allow us to mobilize more [people]...; thats all I can tell you for now, Zelensky stated. According to Zelensky, the matter of increased numbers was not an issue that could wait, contrary to what Reznikov suggested. It is necessary as soon as possible to accelerate processes, establish order, and then begin discussions about the need to increase [ranks of the military]how and with whom, Zelensky said. Apart from his well-known involvement in a corruption procurement scandal and the revelation of wide-scale bribery at military recruitment centers in August, the Zelensky government and its NATO backers likely concluded that Reznikov could not be counted on to direct a new round of mobilization and that his continued presence risked a serious backlash from the military, which is desperately seeking fresh recruits to replenish its depleted ranks. Along with the dismissal of Reznikov, on September 1, the leader of Zelenskys party David Arachamia inserted himself into the mobilization question by proposing that Ukrainian law enforcement agencies should demand the extradition of men of military age who had illegally left Ukraine to escape mobilization and prosecute them. According to the Polish conservative outlet Rzeczpospolita, it is estimated that within Poland, a staunch backer of the NATO war in Ukraine against Russia, there are around 80,000 Ukrainian men aged 18-60, who were potentially eligible for military service, who had entered the country since the start of the war and whose whereabouts are currently unknown. In total, over 650,000 men between the ages of 18 and 64 are registered as refugees throughout Europe, according to EU statistics. Since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian State Border Guard has detained 13,600 people trying to cross the border outside of checkpoints, according to spokesman Andriy Demchenko. Another 6,100 have been caught attempting to cross with forged documents. Such official numbers are likely a huge underestimation as they only include those too poor to pay the reported $5,000 to $10,000 bribes necessary to avoid conscription. Just this week, Euronews reported on the well-known secret that tens of thousands of working class Ukrainians would rather be labeled cowards and draft dodgers than die for Zelenskys billionaire oligarch government. Ivan Ishchenko told Euronews that he willingly volunteered to join following the invasion. However, after just a month of combat, he fled and paid $5,000 for a government-plated car to escort him to a forest on the border with Hungary. Before I went to war, I thought I was a superhero. But all heroism ends when people see [war] with their own eyes and realise that they dont belong there, Ishchenko said. I saw someone being shot near his spleen; the pain was crazy. Then I saw a severed head. It all built up. ... I didnt want to see anything else. With emerging reports in the wake of the counteroffensives failure, Western officials now foresee the war continuing well into 2024 and 2025 and are determined to fund the war for as long as it takes. This will force the Zelensky government to ramp up its attacks on draft dodgers and the Ukrainian working class. As the WSWS has repeatedly stated, the international working class alone can end this war on a progressive basis. Last week, President Ranil Wickremesinghes cabinet approved two draft bills that will brutally suppress democratic rights of the people. The first, which is known as the Bill on Security of Online Methods (BSOM), was presented by the Ministry of Public Security; the second measure was the defence ministrys slightly modified new Anti-Terrorism Bill. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, accompanied by heads of the armed forces, at 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo on February 4, 2023. [Photo: Sri Lanka presidents media division] On September 4, Cabinet Minister spokesman Bandula Gunawardena told the media that both bills will be published in the government gazette and subsequently submitted to parliament for approval. When enacted, the measures will give the Wickremesinghe administration dictatorial powers to suppress all anti-government opposition, with the working class its main target. The new bills are a response to growing popular opposition from workers and the poor against the Wickremesinghe governments International Monetary Fund-dictated austerity policies. The measures include the restructuring/privatisation of 430 state enterprises and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs. The government has already enacted drastic funding cuts to public health and education, raised water and electricity charges to unaffordable levels, and imposed huge tax burdens on wage earners. The government fears that these brutal social attacks will produce a mass anti-government explosion like last years AprilJuly popular uprising that ousted then President Gotabhaya Rajapakse. During last years uprising, millions of people shared their views and organised themselves against Rajapakse and his government through social media. This movement, however, was betrayed by the trade union bureaucracies, backed by various pseudo-left groups. While the trade union bureaucracy continues suppressing workers opposition to the government attacks, Wickremesinghe knows he cannot rely solely on this industrial police force, and is determined to arm the state with more dictatorial powers. The government falsely claims that the purpose of the BSOM is to prevent harm to the general public from false information spread over the Internet. Its real aim is to censor all criticism of the government, pro-government elements and the Buddhist religious establishment, and prevent any organised struggle against these entities. According to information provided to the media, the new bill contains a new range of offences. These include: Communication of false statements on incidents within Sri Lanka False defamatory statements Paving the way for riots by provocation without reason Disturbing a religious assembly through false statements Communication of false statements with the sole intention of hurting religious emotions Intentionally defaming by a false statement with the objective of arousing violations of the peace Circulation of false statements with the intention of causing a riot or an offence against the government Communication of statements on incidents to cause harassment Child abuse, fraud and production of bots, or modifying them, to cause an offence. These vague and broadly defined offences will criminalise the sharing or publication of any criticism of the government and anyone who organises protests, demonstrations, strikes or any other actions on social media. Punishments for these offences will be available when the bill is gazetted. In January, President Wickremesinghe announced that his government was preparing new laws to regulate social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. These would be modelled on Singapores Social Media Regulation Act, he said. Singapore, a police state, has a range of draconian laws to gag the media with harsh punishments, including jail and fines up to $US715,000. Security forces assembled near Colombo Campus on March 7, 2023, in response to student protest against governments austerity and attacks on democratic rights. The offences related to religion listed in the BSOM are not to create religious and communal harmony, as claimed by the government, but to further consolidate the Sinhalese-Buddhist hegemony which has been used for decades by Colombos ruling elite to divide the working class. Sri Lankan governments are notorious for their censorious attacks on artists accused of insulting Buddhism. In early 2019, award-winning author Shakthika Sathkumara was arrested and detained for 18 months on bogus claims that one of his short stories, which was published on his Facebook page, had insulted Buddhism. In late May this year, stand-up comic Natasha Edirisooriya was arrested and detained for over one month on similar false charges. Wickremesinghes proposed online security measures will expand these anti-democratic attacks on freedom of expression, taking them to even more vicious levels. The governments Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB), which was first announced in March, was widely condemned in Sri Lanka and internationally, forcing its temporary withdrawal. Last week, the defence ministry declared that it had modified the Bill after considering a wide range of opinion. Fearing mass opposition, the ministry has not yet revealed the new content of the proposed law and what will be a few cosmetic changes. The new Bill, which is being presented as a replacement to the current Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), is not to eradicate terrorism as claimed by the government but to witch-hunt the anti-government fighters and opposition politicians as terrorists. And like the online security bill, its prime target will be the working class and its organisations. The PTA was enacted in 1979 by the then United National Party government in preparation for the anti-Tamil war which it began in 1983. The measure was used to suppress workers and youth across the entire country. According to the ATB, as presented in March, terrorism is defined as: Causing serious damage to any place of public use, a state or governmental facility, any public or private transportation system or any infrastructure facility or environment Causing serious obstruction or damage to or interference with essential services or supplies or with any critical infrastructure or logistic facility associated with any essential service or supply Causing serious risk to the health and safety of the public or a section thereof; being a member of an unlawful assembly for the commission of any act or illegal omission set out in paragraphs above. The ATB also contained additional regulations to suppress freedom of expression. It declared that anyone who publishes or causes to be published a statement, or speaks any word or words, or makes signs or visible representations which is likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public as a direct or indirect encouragement or inducement for them to commit, prepare or instigate the offence of terrorism could be prosecuted for terrorism. Those prosecuted could face capital punishment. Wickremesinghes anti-democratic laws and his rapid bolstering of the state apparatus are in line with the actions of the capitalist ruling elites internationally. Confronted with rising working-class opposition to the attacks on jobs, living conditions and democratic rights, the ruling classes everywhere are moving towards authoritarian forms of rule. The Wickremesinghe governments anti-democratic attacks and its IMF-dictated austerity measures can only be defeated through an independent political movement of the working class, based on a socialist program, rallying the rural poor. Workers need to form their own action committees in all workplaces and major economic centres, and in the rural areas, to take up this fight, independent of the capitalist parties and trade unions. The Socialist Equality Party has called for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of the Working Class and Rural Masses based on the delegates from these action committees as a power centre to prepare a counter offensive against the government. This struggle will provide the means to fight to bring down the Wickremesinghe regime and establish a workers and peasants government to implement socialist policies as part of the struggle for international socialism. Sign up for text message updates on the Detroit Three contract fight by texting AUTO to (866) 847-1086. Stellantis Warren Truck workers leaving after first shift Statements from the United Auto Workers, the Biden administration and the Big Three auto corporations make clear that a massive sellout is being worked out behind the backs of 150,000 autoworkers in the US whose contracts expire Thursday at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Late Monday afternoon, Automotive News reported that the UAW is making major concessions on workers central demands: Days before its threatening to strike the Detroit 3, the UAW has reduced its demand for pay raises over the next four years to the mid-30 percent range, according to people familiar with the offer. The pro-industry publication noted this marks a willingness by the union to compromise on one of its top demands. There is no doubt that the UAW bureaucracy is also planning to betray workers demands for the abolition of tiers, an end to layoffs and plant closures, the restoration of fully funded pensions and cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and the immediate rollover of all temporary part-time (TPT) workers. The latest developments confirm: If these demands are to be won, the rank and file will have to fight for them. In every plant, workers who are prepared to fight for these demands must speak to one another, form rank-and-file committees, and share information and plan common action for when the contract expires. Adopting a wait and see approach would be fatal, because the latest backroom concessions show the bureaucrats cannot be trusted. The UAW bureaucracys moves toward a sellout agreement have produced a wave of enthusiasm in auto corporation boardrooms. Stellantiss Senior Vice President for Human Relations Tobin Williams issued a statement Monday morning saying the company is pleased to report that the Stellantis and UAW subcommittees have reached tentative agreements in a number of important areas, including health and safety and that we are on a good path toward reaching an agreement on economic issues. Williams said he was proud of the UAW bargaining team for their commitment to reaching a fair agreement. If the companies feel they are on a good path, this means the rank and file is being led blindfolded toward disaster. Through the transition to electric vehicles, the auto corporations plan to cut hundreds of thousands of auto jobs in North America, and millions around the world. Entire towns and cities will be devastated, and autoworkers children and grandchildren will be deprived of livelihoods. Biden administration Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo also expressed optimism that workers would not strike when the contract expires Thursday night. He appeared on CNN Monday morning and said it is the belief of the Biden administration that a strike will be averted and a deal imposed that will make sure the companies can continue to grow. He added, We look forward to them reaching a resolution. The UAW bureaucracy has kept rank-and-file workers in the dark and plans to continue doing so. An email sent by the WSWS to Jonah Furman, director of the UAW Communications Department, asking for the details of what the union has already conceded and when UAW members would be informed has gone unanswered. While claiming progress with the corporations, on Monday morning UAW President Shawn Fain abruptly cancelled plans to speak at a national and local bargaining update rally planned for workers in Kokomo, Indiana on September 13. According to a Monday article in the Free Press, when Fains name appeared on a rally leaflet distributed to workers in Kokomo, this alarmed Detroit auto executives, who requested Fain remain in Detroit. Fain dutifully complied, with the Free Press noting, Fain confirmed late Monday morning he is not planning to go to Kokomo to provide bargaining updates to the membership there. New United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain addresses delegates at the union's 2023 Special Bargaining Convention, Monday, March 27, 2023, in Detroit. [AP Photo/Carlos Osorio] Fain spoke for 20 minutes at a Sunday night livestream without providing workers any information about the concessions he was making. He merely acknowledged things are moving in his discussions with the companies. Fain told members they will need to accept the transition to electric vehicles: We have to get behind this, we have to have a planet we can live on. Anyone that doesnt understand where we are in the green economy battle hasnt looked outside recently in my opinion, he said, adding that it has to be a just transition. But the transition to electric vehicles has far less to do with the environment than it does with helping the corporations cut labor costs and increase profits, and Fain is simply parroting the companies green propaganda. The dark reality was revealed in a Wall Street Journal report Sunday noting the Biden administration has reached an agreement with Saudi Arabia to help the Big Three acquire the raw materials for EV batteries by developing mines across Africa. In other words, the just transition Fain and the Big Three are promoting will entail the Saudi monarchy buying African land on behalf of US corporations to destroy the environment and employ child laborers for lithium, cobalt, copper, tantalum and nickel. Fains remarks Sunday came during an event hosted by the UAW and a series of non-profits associated with the Democratic Party. During his remarks, Fain spoke of the contract campaign almost as a done deal, saying he was very proud of the work that so many people have put into this, and our congresspeople that have supported us, like Rashida [Tlaib] and Debbie Dingell and so many of the different reps that weve had out there, Haley Stevens. Theyre in the fight with us. They are there for you, they are in the fight with you, and Im always proud to stand with these reps and leaders, they dont forget their roots, thats what this moment is all about. Fain is trying to pull the wool over workers eyes by praising these corporate politicians. According to Opensecrets.org, Haley Stevens placed third out of 535 members of congress in donations from the auto corporations in the 2022 election cycle. Stevens was elected to Congress after helping lead the Obama-Biden administrations Auto Task Force that oversaw massive job and wage cuts following the 2009 bailouts of the auto industry. Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingellalso singled out for praise by Fainis a former GM executive who received the fourth most in campaign contributions from auto corporations in 2022. Both have received tens of thousands of dollars from the auto companies over the years, and both voted to illegalize a potential strike by 110,000 railroad workers last year, and to enforce a contract the workers had rejected. Rashida Tlaib, long promoted by the UAW bureaucracy, has helped cover up the role the Democratic Party played under Obama when it restructured the auto industry with Stevens help. The corporations and the corporate press are fearful that the rank and file might take matters into their own hands and rebel against the UAW bureaucracy. Expressing these concerns, the Chicago Tribune wrote in an editorial board statement last week: Fains huffing and puffing will be exposed as mere posturing if the Big Three and the union come together and make a deal in the days ahead. But belligerence can have consequences. Given how Fain has raised expectations, unless he can deliver on pie-in-the-sky demands such as a 46% pay hike over the life of the contract, a 32-hour workweek and platinum pension benefits, he will have a hard time winning approval from the members he has so aggressively revved up. Fain only adopted these proposals as a means to prevent an all-out rebellion by rank-and-file workers but never had any intention, let alone strategy, to fight for them. What happens next will be determined by the rank and file, who occupy a critical position in the global supply chain and have immense potential power. This power can be unlocked through the building of rank-and-file committees in each and every workplace so that workers can share information, link up across plants and national borders, and unite in a common struggle for social equality. 25 years ago: Starr report calling for Clintons impeachment made public On September 11, 1998, the full text of Independent Counsel Kenneth Starrs report to Congress was released, calling for the impeachment of President Clinton on 11 counts. The political character of the protracted legal investigation of the White House was clear for all to see. Cover of Starr report Starrs report was not an impartial recounting of the evidence uncovered by a four-year-long, $40 million investigation. It did not make a coherent or convincing legal argument on why the president should be impeached. Instead, it aimed, through a flood of salacious details about Clintons sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, to stampede public opinion and force Clinton to resign. By any objective standard, the Starr report was a politically motivated diatribe, drafted by enemies whose hatred of Clinton knew no bounds. As the Supreme Court correspondent for the New York Times, Linda Greenhouse, noted in her analysis, the Independent Counsels report was a document with an attitude. Greenhouse contrasted it with the report filed by Watergate special prosecutor Leon Jaworski, which consisted of a mass of documents and an index, but provided no analysis and drew no conclusions. It aimed to preempt any serious deliberation and produce a panic-stricken response in Congress, and especially among congressional Democrats. The report began its chronology of events with the filing of a sexual harassment lawsuit by Paula Jones in 1994, followed by the 1997 Supreme Court decision upholding her right to bring the president to trial during his term of office. The bulk of the report concerned Clintons efforts to fight the Jones lawsuit, and eight of the 11 impeachable offenses involved this suit, which had been dismissed as groundless. The other three impeachable offenses involved Clintons legal maneuvers with the Starr investigation itself. These charges were in many ways the most fantastic and reactionary, since they amounted to the claim that any effort by Clinton to defend himself was itself a criminal offense. Starr claimed that Clinton abused his constitutional authority by his conduct between January and August 1998, because he denied his relationship to Monica Lewinsky and fought a series of delaying actions in the courts seeking to block subpoenas of White House aides, attorneys and Secret Service agents. Clintons own paralysis and political cowardice in the face of Starr and his political and media allies, and the prostration of the Democratic Party as a whole, underscored the central lesson of the political crisis: that the defense of democratic rights could not be based on liberalism, the bankruptcy of which Clinton was the foremost representative. 50 years ago: Likud party founded in Israel Menachem Begin On September 13, 1973, the Likud party was founded in Israel. Meaning consolidation in Hebrew, Likud was an alliance of several major right-wing parties formed to control the Knesset (parliament) which had been dominated by the Labor Party since the founding of Israel. The formation of Likud signaled a sharp turn to the right by the Israeli ruling class (paralleling similar political trajectories in the United States and Western Europe later in the 1970s.) The two largest factions involved in founding Likud were the Herut, a far-right Zionist party headed by Menachem Begin, and the Liberal Party led by General Ariel Sharon. These two groups had formed an earlier electoral alliance in 1965 called Gahal. Likud added a number of smaller parties, including the Free Centre, the National List, the Movement for a Greater Israel, and several religious zealot parties. The Liberal Party had been officially founded in 1961. Billing itself as a centrist Zionist party, it represented elements of Israeli capital that favored a secular government based on the unfettered domination of economic life by corporate interests. Initially opposed to the right-wing religious parties, in joining Likud the Liberal leadership made peace with the religious parties whose support was needed to secure control of the Knesset. Herut was a fascistic party that emerged out of the Zionist terrorist organization, the Irgun. Founded in the 1930s, Irgun carried out armed attacks on the British colonial government in Palestine and massacres against Arabs. Irgun had called for the establishment of an Israeli state that included all of Palestine and Jordan. In 1948 it agreed to join the Israeli provisional government and dissolve its militias into the regular army, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). After the formal establishment of the State of Israel, Herut was the political vehicle of the leaders of Irgun. Following the Six-Day War in 1967 the Gahal alliance had entered the Labor Alignment government of Levi Eshkol, securing for Begin a cabinet position as a minister without portfolio. In the 1969 Knesset election Gahal took 26 seats, well short of the 61 seats needed to form a government, and leaving it nominally aligned with the Labor government of Golda Meir. But in 1970 Begin and the Gahal formation left the government, demanding a more aggressive prosecution of the ongoing conflict with Egypt over the Suez Canal. Electoral support for Likuds more militaristic Zionism grew after the October 1973 Yom Kippur War, which saw Israels regional military dominance called into question. In the December 1973 election the new Likud formation jumped to 39 seats, up from the 26 won by Gahal in 1969. Likuds support grew throughout the 1970s. In 1977 it would win 43 seats in the Knesset, giving it enough of a presence to form a coalition government with the National Religious Party, with Begin serving as prime minister. 75 years ago: Indian army secures control of princely Hyderabad On September 13, 1948, the Indian army launched a violent invasion and occupation of Hyderabad. The incursion was directed against the refusal of the princely leader of Hyderabad to join the new Indian state which had been established the year before. The army operation was one of a series of bloody events stemming from the British-orchestrated partition of the Indian subcontinent, following the end of its formal colonial rule in 1947. During its centuries-long domination over the subcontinent, the British had relied upon a host of reactionary and feudalistic forces who continued to rule nominally independent principalities. By the time of the Hyderabad invasion, almost all of the principalities had agreed to incorporation into either India or the Muslim-majority Pakistani state. The leader of Hyderabad, the last in a dynasty of princes, was titled Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII. He was hostile to integration, for fear of losing control over the resources of Hyderabad, the wealthiest state in India. A decade earlier, Time magazine had estimated that he was likely the richest man in the world. Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII Hyderabad maintained an irregular army. It was able to hold out for almost a year, while the attentions of the Indian army were principally directed towards conflict with Pakistan. By mid-1948, however, the dominant sections of the Indian ruling elite had decided to take action. They launched an economic blockade of the princely state. The regime in Hyderabad was beset by internal social opposition and instability. It faced two rebellions, one from a Maoist-inspired peasant movement and another from a radical Muslim militia movement. The Indian armys intervention in September resulted in massive violence, including communal conflicts. While Hyderabad was a Hindu-majority state, it was ruled by a Muslim dynasty. This was exploited by the Indian government to whip up a violent and pogromist atmosphere. Estimates of the death toll during the five-day operation vary from 30,000 to 200,000. 100 years ago: Primo de Rivera seizes power in Spain On September 13, 1923. Captain General Miguel Primo de Rivera overthrew the Liberal government of Manuel Garcia Prieto with military support in Barcelona. He issued a manifesto that stated, Our aim is to open a brief parenthesis in the constitutional life of Spain and to re-establish it as soon as the country offers us men uncontaminated with the vices of political organization, and claimed his takeover was only temporary. Primo de Rivera The general immediately established a directorate of eight military officers, making himself president, and declared martial law. The next day, at his request, King Alfonso XIII dismissed the Cortes (parliament), made Primo de Rivera prime minister, and declared martial law. Primo de Rivera came from an aristocratic family, and, like many professional Spanish soldiers of his era had fought in the brutal colonial Rif War in Morocco against Berber peoples led by Abd el-Krim. While he would continue the war as dictator, in 1923 Primo de Rivera saw that it was tearing at the social fabric of Spain. In August, Spanish soldiers refused to board the ships that were to take them to Morocco, and Barcelona saw mass anti-war demonstrations. Primo de Rivera realized that not only did the working class and peasantry need to be suppressed, but also that the war had to either be stopped or severely modified. He withdrew Spanish troops from scores of forts in the colony and sought French assistance in the war. At home he sought to regulate the class struggle and incorporated the social-democratic trade unions and socialist party (PSOE) into employer-labor committees that he set up in imitation of the corporatist structures created by Benito Mussolini in Italy. He illegalized the anarchist trade unions (CNT), which would not cooperate with him. Marxists, nevertheless, did not characterize his dictatorship as fascist. In response to those that did, Leon Trotsky remarked: Primo de Rivera was an aristocrat. He occupied a high military and bureaucratic post and was chief governor of Catalonia. He accomplished his overthrow with the aid of state and military forces. The dictatorships of Spain and Italy are two totally different forms of dictatorship. It is necessary to distinguish between them. Mussolini had difficulty in reconciling many old military institutions with the fascist militia. This problem did not exist for Primo de Rivera. According to Last Generation, 27 supporters of the climate action group have been placed in preventive detention in Bavaria once again, and the group is taking legal action against this. The arrests are related to the IAA International Motor Show, which took place in Munich September 510. A police officer pushes a man away from a street during a protest march of the climate activist group Last Generation in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, May 31, 2023. [AP Photo/Markus Schreiber] Last Generation, like other activists, had announced protests and actions against the exhibition in advance. Now the climate protesters are being suppressed by the same brutal measures that were used against them in Bavaria in autumn 2022. It became only a matter of time before Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann's (CSU) statement to broadcaster ZDF that preventive detention must remain the absolute exception would prove to be a lie. The World Socialist Web Site and the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) condemn the renewed police terror against the Last Generation. We warned at the time of the earlier attack that the campaign against the climate activists was designed to build up a police state where the security forces put oppositionists in preventive detention and the judiciary punishes legitimate protest with years in prison. The aim is to criminalise and intimidate peaceful protest, civil disobedience and other forms of resistance. The Last Generation activists are currently being held in Munich's Stadelheim prison, as well as in Memmingen, located southwest of the Bavarian state capital. According to the climate protesters, 16 of them would remain in custody until September 10. For the other 11 supporters, the Munich District Court ordered preventive detention until September 30. The human rights organisation Amnesty International described the procedure as inhumane. Preventive detention is made possible by Article 20 of the Bavarian Police Tasks Act (PAG). In no other federal state is the maximum duration of up to two months detention as high as in Bavaria, although such measures have been tightened nationwide in recent years. With a massive expansion of the Bavarian PAG in 2017, it was initially even possible to extend preventive detention indefinitely. After fierce protests, the Bavarian state government rowed back somewhat to the current law in 2021. State Interior Minister Herrmann already threatened preventive detention in the run-up to the IAA: We will not tolerate any criminal offences! Anyone who coerces people in traffic, damages other peoples property or even becomes violent towards other people or obstructs the emergency services must expect consistent intervention by the police. All peaceful demonstrators, on the other hand, were welcome in Munich, Herrmann said cynically. Following the same tune, the Munich police tried to justify their actions against the Last Generation in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying, The aim is not to stop people from protesting, but to prevent announced crimes. It is legally disputed whether the peaceful actions of the Last Generationincluding protesters gluing themselves to the streets or sit-in blockadesconstitute a punishable act (coercion) at all. The Berlin Regional Court recently ruled that a street blockade in the capital did not constitute coercion. Politically, the actions of the Last Generation are harmless and mainly aim to attract as much attention as possible. The activists seek to pressure the the federal government, appealing to it in an effort to force it to act. At the same time, the Last Generation advocates very limited political goals such as speed limits on motorways. In doing so, they do not question the cause of climate changethe capitalist profit system. Nevertheless, the agitation against them by official politics and the media is massive. One main accusation is that the activists were blocking rescue routes and thus endangering human lives, a completely baseless statement in view of the already daily traffic chaos in major German cities. The aim of the ruling class is to create further precedents to criminalise any kind of protest in the futurebe it demonstrations against right-wing extremists or factory occupations by workers. In essence, this course is supported by all bourgeois parties. Significantly, there is a deafening silence on the current measures against the Last Generation from the leading opposition candidates for the Bavarian state elections on October 8. And their criticism of the Bavarian PAG is nothing but hollow phrase-mongering. In the federal states where the Social Democrats (SPD), Left Party and Greens are in government, they are also tightening up police laws and increasing the powers of the security authorities. Their toothless legal manoeuvres in Bavariathe SPD, Greens and Left Party have filed a lawsuit against the PAGcannot hide this fact. The nationwide tightening up of police laws and the renewed preventive detention of Last Generation climate activists in Bavaria are part of the sharp turn to the right by the ruling class. This is currently made particularly clear by the case of Bavarian Deputy Minister-President and Economic Affairs Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) and his extreme right-wing past. Minister-President Markus Soder (Christian Social Union, CSU) is sticking with Aiwanger and seeking a renewed coalition between the two parties after the state elections. The SPD and the Greens are also considering cooperation with the CSU. The election posters put up by the CSU in Bavaria, showing party founder and long-time chairman Franz-Josef Strauss, along with his statement, We want nothing to do with right-wing extremist fools and extremists, could have come from a cabaret. The right-wing extremist tendencies that are now openly revealed by the Aiwanger case are no accident and go back to Strauss himself. Among his speechwriters was Armin Mohler, a leading representative of the New Right. The measures against the Last Generation are reminiscent of the darkest times in German history. Not far from Munich, the Nazis opened the first concentration camp in Dachau in 1933, initially to imprison their political opponents under the pretext of protective custody. It is significant that Bavaria was already at the centre of events at that time, when SS chief and newly appointed Munich police chief Heinrich Himmler announced the new measures in the Bavarian penal system. When Bavarian security forces stormed the homes of leading members of the Last Generation at gunpoint in May, we noted that such scenes were otherwise known mainly from military dictatorships and fascist regimes. We warned: The massive crackdown on climate change activists is a serious warning. It shows how quickly and aggressively the ruling class implements its agenda under conditions of war and the intensification of the international class struggle. The SGP will step up its fight to build an independent mass movement against capitalism, war and dictatorship. We call on workers and youth to defend the climate change activists against state repression. With the new COVID-19 boosters set to be greenlighted for use this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Floridas right-wing surgeon general Dr. Joseph Ladapo advised Floridians to stay clear of the updated mRNA vaccines tailored against the most recent variant to be dominant, Omicron XBB.1.5. Appointed surgeon general two years ago by Floridas fascistic Governor Ron DeSantis, Ladapo has continuously spread flagrant disinformation on virtually every aspect of the pandemic. At a press conference Thursday in Jacksonville alongside DeSantis, Ladapo falsely stated: Theres a new vaccine thats coming around the corner, a new mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, and theres essentially no evidence for it. There has been no clinical trial done in human beings showing it benefits people. Theres been no clinical trial showing that it is a safe product for peopleand not only that, but then there are a lot of red flags. Reiterating a common trope of the far right, Ladapo insisted that the vaccines actually cause cardiac injury in many people. Rather than provide any evidence to substantiate his unproven and misguided claims, Ladapo then urged Floridians not to accept the words of experts in the field but to make their own decisions based on their particular resonance of truth. He summed up by asserting, When they try to convince you to be comfortable and agree with things that dont feel comfortable, that dont feel like things you should agree with, that is a sign, right? Thats a gift. Such platitudes to subjective irrationalism are utterly dangerous and worse from a public figure who has a medical degree. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo gestures as speaks to supporters and members of the media before a bill signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Nov. 18, 2021, in Brandon, Fla. [AP Photo/Chris O'Meara] Firstly, Ladapos comments are those of a con artist and a second-rate shyster with Harvard credentials who is motivated by political interests. He is fully conscious that his recommendation as a physician is harmful and will lead to the certain death of his constituents. There is no objective basis for Ladapos claims, which are in keeping with the rightward trajectory of the entire political apparatus in the US. His position is only a more extreme variation of the anti-public health and anti-scientific approach in the response to the pandemic by the ruling elites that want to ensure nothing encroaches on their ability to amass profits off the backs of workers. The current summer surge that is continuing into the autumn months has seen rates of COVID-19 infection quadruple since late June, while hospitalizations have tripled without any measure being taken by the Biden administration or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to warn the public or call for implementing any measures to mitigate the rising tide of evolving variants. More recently, COVID-19 deaths have also seen an uptick. Ladapo knows full well that his state has been particularly impacted throughout the pandemic and that vulnerable patients in nursing homes are seeing cases climbing again. The current iteration of the COVID-19 boosters was tested on the latest variants and ready for delivery last month, just waiting for authorization by the FDA and the CDC. Both Moderna and Pfizers latest monovalent COVID-19 boosters were reconfigured for the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant and have shown a significant antibody response against the Eris and FLip subvariants that are growing as a percent of sequenced lineages. More recently, Moderna reported that the immune response against the Pirola (BA.2.86) subvariant, which has more than 30 mutations on its spike protein, saw a significant 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies. Given the present surge, one must ask why has there been a delay in delivering these life-saving treatments? As took place with the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines one year ago, once these vaccines have undergone initial safety trials in humans, additional clinical trials are not required. This is consistent with how the FDA modifies vaccines for influenza each year. Safety events are documented and accrued regardless of the iteration of the vaccine and published by the CDC. During the first seven weeks of the rollout of the bivalent boosters last year, from August 31 to October 23, 2022, among persons aged 12 or greater, data were collected on 22.6 million booster doses administered in the United States. The safety data were consistent with safety data they obtained on preauthorization clinical trials of a BA.1 Omicron bivalent booster vaccination. As of July 23, 2023, according to the CDCs Reported Adverse Events, with hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccines administered, anaphylaxis occurred in about five cases per one million vaccine doses given. Multiple studies have yet to demonstrate any unusual patterns in cause of death after vaccination [See Link 1, Link 2, Link 3, and Link 4]. In fact, for those taking vaccinations, all-cause mortality was lower than the expected all-cause mortality rates. As for vaccines causing inflammation of the heart, among persons 5 to 17 years old within 98 days of vaccination, one study found there were potentially 320 such cases out of nearly 7 million vaccine doses. Regarding young people, although the rates with mRNA are higher, they amount to 22.4 excess cases per million with Pfizer and 31.2 excess cases per million with Moderna. Most of these were reported to be transient in nature and were cleared by their physicians for all physical activity. What Ladapo fails to note is that people infected with COVID-19 before receiving the vaccines were on the order of 7 to 11 times more at risk of developing myocarditis within one month. However, after one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, that rate dropped by half. Meanwhile, a report published in Politico in April found that Ladapo had personally altered the results of a state-driven study about COVID-19 vaccines to indicate they posed a significantly higher health risk for young men when in fact the actual results countered his claim. Matt Hitchings, an assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, explained, Whats clear from the previous analysis, and even more clear from Dr. Lapados edits, is that absolutely there was a political motivation behind the final analysis that was produced. Key information was withheld from the public that would have allowed them or other experts to interpret this in context. Another fact that Ladapo fails to mention is that in the first two years of the pandemic, there were approximately 90,000 more deaths in the US due to cardiovascular disease than expected. Although most of these were in people over 65, heart-related deaths among young people have risen by almost 25 percent during the pandemic. Meanwhile, evidence from an Israeli study has shown that the bivalent COVID-19 boosters demonstrated high effectiveness against hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 compared to the monovalent booster in the elderly. The lead author Dr. Ronen Arbel of Clalit Health Services in Tel Aviv told CIDRAP, Infection data since Omicron started is underreported and incomplete. Many infections are asymptomatic. Moreover, even patients with light symptoms may not test for COVID. Therefore, all our studies since 2022 are focused on hospitalizations and mortality outcomes, which are measurable and clinically significant. He concluded, Bivalent mRNA booster vaccination in adults aged 65 or older is an effective and essential tool to reduce their risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. Vaccination remains the primary tool for avoiding severe COVID-19. Florida is home to the second highest number of adults aged 65 and older in the United States, with 4.6 million, representing 21.1 percent of their population, who face the highest risk of complications from COVID-19 infection. Ladapo telling them to forget the vaccines and eat healthier amounts to criminal negligence amid a pandemic that is gaining more momentum each day. High community rates also mean higher hospital-acquired rates of infection, with nearly one in 10 rates of death among this most vulnerable section of the population. In reviewing the anti-vaccine panel convened by Governor DeSantis and headed by Ladapo, the WSWS wrote in December 2022: The anti-vaccine movement that DeSantis [and company] has been courting is based on an anti-scientific perspective hostile to public health. It rejects the understanding of health as a deeply social issue, in which individual health is inseparably connected to community health. The admonishment is equally applicable to the Biden administration and the entire strategy being employed by the ruling elites. While vaccines play a significant role in public health programs, the vaccine-only strategy towards SARS-CoV-2 has proven to be totally bankrupt, as viral evolution continues apace amid ongoing mass infection. It is increasingly clear to principled scientists, workers and anti-COVID advocates that SARS-CoV-2 must be eliminated as a public health threat and is not something that society can or should live with or tolerate. The rapid waning of immunity barely buys sufficient time before the next iteration of the virus finds even more elusive mechanisms that threaten the few defenses that are available in our arsenal. The vaccine-only strategy also injects a pessimism into public consciousness, inculcating the false idea that infections are inevitable and therefore attempting to protect oneself is a lost cause. It is to this effort that the enforcement of the forever COVID policy and rejection of all scientific and sound public health principles is aimed. It raises to the fore the revolutionary implications of calling for the global elimination of the coronavirus and the ending of all human-to-human transmission of this and many other preventable illnesses. The pseudo-left Socialist Alternative organisation is functioning as one of the most aggressive promoters of the Australian Labor governments racialist and pro-business proposal to create an indigenous Voice to parliament. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces date for referendum on The Voice. [Photo: ABC News screenshot] In the lead up to a referendum on October 14 to enshrine the Voice in the Constitution, Socialist Alternatives parochial, state-based electoral front, the Victorian Socialists, have formally endorsed the initiative. Simultaneously with that statement, Socialist Alternatives Red Flag website published a lengthy article last week insisting that the left must do everything it can to ensure a yes vote in the referendum. This is the culmination of a protracted evolution of Socialist Alternatives line. A month after the installation of the Labor government in May, 2022, and Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses election-night pledge to hold a referendum on the Voice, Red Flag published an article headlined: A voice to parliament will do little for Indigenous justice. The article rejected claims that the Voice would do much to combat Indigenous oppressionlet alone begin a process of ending it. It noted numerous examples of Indigenous-controlled bodies doing nothing to mitigate inequality, or even reinforcing it. These institutions, such as land councils and Aboriginal representative bodies, had done nothing to alleviate the horrific social conditions of Aboriginal workers and youth, while feathering the nests of a small indigenous elite. Red Flag warned: The problem with the Voice, though, isnt just that it is inadequate: its establishment can become a barrier to future fights for Indigenous justice. While the Voice to Parliament wont do much for working-class Indigenous people, there is a very real danger that it will help cohere a growing Indigenous elite into a conservatising force in Indigenous politics. As recently as last January, Red Flag branded the Voice as a creation of mainstream neoliberalism and wrote that it was part of the Labor Partys broader strategy to cement itself at the heart of government through an alliance with big business, the mainstream media and socially progressive but wealthy Australians. This was true, as far as it went. Even when issuing these criticisms, however, Red Flags positions dovetailed with the racialism of the Labor government and of the political establishment as a whole. Socialist Alternative has consistently presented the plight of Aboriginal workers and youth as a racial issue. In fact, it is a class question and a product of capitalism. The assault on Aboriginal workers has served for decades as a spearhead of broader attacks on the social rights of the working class. And the Aboriginal population itself, as Socialist Alternative felt compelled to acknowledge less than a year ago, is rent by class divisions between a grasping and parasitic wealthy layer and the broad mass of ordinary people. It is nevertheless striking that, having denounced the Voice as a token measure that could actually deepen the oppression of indigenous people, Socialist Alternative is now among its most enthusiastic proponents. Red Flag has given no explanation for this shift. Nor is it the case that the character of the Voice has altered in the slightest. In fact, its character as a top-down initiative with virtually no grassroots support and as an initiative backed by the most powerful sections of the corporate elite is clearer than ever. This is intensifying a crisis of the Labor government and the political set-up as a whole. The Voice, which Labor had intended to use as a progressive gloss for its pro-business and militarist policies, is now on track to be defeated in the referendum, potentially even posing a question mark over Albaneses future. It is under those conditions that Socialist Alternative, a fake-left party tied to Labor, the unions and the Greens, has leapt to Albaneses defence. In doing so, Socialist Alternative has resorted to the crudest forms of racialism. The headline of the latest Red Flag article is emblematic: Racism and the referendum. Its author, Jordan Humphreys, notes that according to virtually all polling, less than 50 percent of the population is indicating that it will register a yes vote in the referendum. That number has dropped substantially as the campaign has progressed, after some earlier polling indicated majority support. Humphreys explanation is simply that people are racist. He asserts that Part of the explanation for the crisis of the Voice must be the existence of a bedrock of racist attitudes towards Indigenous people within a section of the Australian population. Actually, that is not part of Red Flags explanation, but essentially its entirety. The implications of this assertion are far-reaching. Red Flag is basically suggesting that the majority of the population is inherently and incurably racist and hostile to indigenous people. But it provides no evidence whatsoever to back up this conclusion. Moreover, as Red Flag previously noted, the Voice is being pushed by a neoliberal Labor government. It is backed by the most powerful corporations and businesses, and its primary beneficiaries will be what Socialist Alternative referred to not so long ago as an indigenous elite. Even proponents of the Voice have been forced to acknowledge that support for it is particularly low in the outer suburbs of the major cities, i.e., the key working class areas. By contrast, it appears that the strongest backing for the Voice is in the more affluent inner-city areas. So what is one left with when it comes to Red Flags argument? Essentially, the Labor government, together with the corporations and other capitalist institutions are the anti-racist forces in society. They are valiantly, if imperfectly, waging a campaign against the backwardness of the vast mass of the population. To justify this line, Red Flag is compelled to make a series of contortions bordering on the absurd. It notes that some respondents to a poll on the Voice had said they opposed it because they think it wont make a real difference for ordinary Indigenous people. Red Flag brands this as an ambiguous talking point that right-wingers have taken up at any rate. But it is the same ambiguous talking point that Red Flag itself was advancing at the beginning of the year! Humphreys acknowledges that old-school open hostility towards Indigenous people is relatively marginal, but racist attitudes endure in various forms. His proof is polling about attitudes to changing the date of Australia Day, which currently falls on the anniversary of colonisation. But this is very thin gruel indeed. Many people, no doubt correctly, view the issue of Australia Day as a diversion and an issue that has nothing to do with the difficulties confronting working people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike. Even if the date were changed, Australia Day would remain what it is: a celebration of nationalism and militarism, with no democratic content or even mass popular engagement. Humphreys preoccupation with the right-wing holiday and revamping its image is desperate, but also telling of Socialist Alternatives acceptance of the whole framework of Australian nationalism. Humphreys goes on: Not everyone supporting a No vote is a hardcore racist. There is also a significant section of the population that just doesnt care very much about Indigenous people. But again, this has the character more of an assertion of social prejudice against ordinary people, than an actual argument. All Humphreys can put forward is that this significant section of the population dont have any defence against the more coded arguments presented by the No campaign. Among those arguments, he listed Isnt this proposal really confusing? Arent there some Indigenous people opposing it? How these sentiments would indicate a hostility or an indifference to Aboriginal people, Humphreys doesnt even attempt to explain. To call these arguments left-wing, let alone socialist, would be a travesty. Socialist Alternatives position is a crude defence of the Labor government and of its right-wing Voice initiative. Socialist Alternatives position is not aimed at combatting racism, but the opposite. It is nothing less than an incitement to racial division and one that plays entirely into the hands of the right. To the extent that the right-wing have been able to gain any traction out of the referendum, is a consequence of the reactionary character of the Voice proposal itself. Fortifying and promoting the Voice thus only strengthens the hand of the far-right. Socialist Alternatives tortured explanations for the crisis of the Voice are aimed at covering up the real reason this initiative is in a shambles. First of all, there is widespread and correct skepticism, including among many ordinary indigenous people, that the creation of a new body controlled by the indigenous elite will do anything for working people. Secondly, this healthy sentiment feeds into a massive alienation from the entire political establishment. After decades in which governments, above all those headed by Labor, have presided over cuts to jobs, wages and conditions, and the gutting of social services, millions of people do not think that any of the issues they confront will be resolved through parliament. Labor, together with the corporatised trade unions, has lost any active mass base in the working class. Thirdly, the Voice referendum is being held under conditions of the deepest cost of living crisis in decades. The very same government pushing the Voice has declared that working people must sacrifice through a vast reduction in their social and living standards, while the corporations and the wealthy continue to make a bonanza. The conspiracy of silence which characterises the Yes and No camps of the Voice referendum is also evident in Red Flag. The underlying reason for the attempt to recast the filthy image of Australian capitalism in relation to its brutal and genocidal treatment of the Aboriginal people is to prosecute the war aims of US and Australian imperialism against China. Red Flag quite simply does not mention the war preparations of the Albanese government behind which the Voice is being promoted. Under these conditions of looming war and major social crisis, the related aims of the referendum include to divide the working class along racial lines and divert attention from the essential class issues of militarism and austerity. Socialist Alternatives endorsement of the Voice is essentially an endorsement of the Labor government. It exposes the essence of this organisation. It has nothing to do with socialism or the interests of the working class. Instead, it is a party of the political establishment based in an affluent and grasping section of the upper middle-class, especially ensconced in the trade union bureaucracy, the higher strata of the public sector and academia. The interests of this selfish social layer dovetail closely with those of the indigenous elite. Throughout the entire history of the socialist movement, it has been understood that racism is essentially a class phenomenon. It is deployed by the ruling elite to divide and weaken the working class. That is the aim of both the racialist yes and no camps in the official referendum. The Socialist Equality Party opposes both camps. It has initiated a campaign for an active boycott of the referendum. As a statement on the WSWS last week explained: The Socialist Equality Party calls on workers, students and youth to take up the fight for an active boycott, as the best means to advance the independent interests of the working class in a referendum that has been designed to suppress and bury those interests. An active boycott does not consist simply of an individual informal vote on October 14, but a campaign throughout the working class and among youth. Within the framework of the anti-democratic referendum, this tactic enables workers to differentiate from the divisive racialist politics advanced by both the Yes and No campaigns. Above all, the tactic of an active boycott raises the strategic issues confronting the working class. Chief among them is the burning need to develop an independent political movement of the working class against every faction of the political establishment, all of which are committed to the ruling elites program of war, austerity and an escalating assault on democratic rights. Note: Under conditions of compulsory voting, which makes it a crime to urge a boycott of the vote itself, the SEP calls on workers and youth to register their opposition by casting informal ballots and join our active boycott campaign in the lead-up to October 14, that goes well beyond the individual act of voting. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Suite 906, 185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! It is a pleasure to share this panel with Vice-President Dombrovskis and Deputy Secretary General Lapecorella. Let me begin by thanking the organizers for inviting me to this conference and to your beautiful city, particularly as it celebrates its 700th anniversary this year. I very much look forward to discovering more of the rich history and culture of Vilnius during my stay. I would like to make a few points today. My first point is that in the past few years, we have been living through a trifecta of crises: the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the climate emergency. Throughout these crises, trade has been an important shock absorber and enabler of resilience in the global economy. In short, trade is an essential part of how the world addresses crisis. In the first half of 2020, COVID-19 pandemic sent the world's economy into free fall. In Q2 2020, the value of goods trade fell by 23% and services trade by 30% year-on-year. But trade rebounded strongly after the lockdowns, and by early 2021, global merchandise trade was at all-time highs. Over the course of 2021, merchandise trade grew almost twice as fast as global output, making external demand a key engine of economic recovery for countries around the world. We all remember how export restrictions exacerbated medical supply shortages during the frightening first weeks of the pandemic. But we tend to overlook how trade and cross-border supply chains quickly became a means for ramping up production of and access to personal protective equipment, pulse oximeters, respirators, and eventually vaccines. Of course, it's been much easier in the developed world than in many developing countries, which are still in the throes of the crisis but no matter the level of development, trade has been indispensable to recovery. The billions of COVID-19 vaccine doses that made normal economic life possible again in so many parts of the world were manufactured in supply chains cutting across as many as 19 countries. There is no doubt that without trade, the economic and health recoveries would have been much slower. And more trade is needed to boost that recovery in less developed countries. In 2022, hot on the heels of the pandemic came the war in Ukraine, which has been a shock to the global trading system and the WTO. Ukraine's GDP contracted by almost a third in 2022, and its exports have collapsed due to the disruption of Black Sea shipping. But the economic consequences of the war reverberate far beyond Ukraine's borders. Ukraine and Russia together account for barely 2% of global GDP and only 2.5% of merchandise exports. However, before the war, the two countries exported nearly 12% of food calories traded globally and were among key suppliers of energy, fertilizers, and certain metals. The disruption of shipping in the Black Sea is intensifying the food crisis in many parts of the world. Therefore, it was very disappointing to see the Black Sea Grain Initiative terminated, which is generating instability in markets and threatening the supply of vital humanitarian aid to some of the hardest hit corners of the world. In addition, integrated and diversified international markets are necessary to help countries cope with disruptions in their access to food and energy from their traditional suppliers. Let me give you a few examples. Ethiopia used to source nearly a third of its wheat imports from Ukraine. The war ended those imports, but Ethiopia was able to replace them with wheat from the US and Argentina. By the same token, imports of LNG from the United States, including through the port of Klaipeda have helped Europe adjust to the loss of piped Russian gas. The lesson is clear: with respect to food as well, the free flow of trade is vital to global food security. And then there is climate change, the single biggest existential threat facing humanity. The IPCC's latest Report on climate change mitigation has been seen by many as the last warning before key Paris Agreement goals fall out of our reach. It is now widely recognized that trade is the missing piece of the puzzle in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Trade can help countries reduce emissions by increasing the availability and affordability of environmental goods, services, and technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines. In fact, our research at the WTO shows that reducing tariffs and non-tariff measures on environmental goods could increase exports of such products by 5 percent by 2030 and reduce global emissions by 0.6 per cent. Furthermore, trade helps countries recover from extreme weather events. When crops fail due to drought, heat, cold, or flooding, the ability to switch quickly to imports is vital, without cumbersome procedures at home or restraints imposed by others. Although the evidence of the benefits of trade abounds, we have witnessed in the last couple of years a drive by many to onshore, nearshore, or friend-shore supply chains and sensitive technology. As governments and business seek resiliency in supply chains, we can all certainly understand, to a degree, the push to do business only with friends and neighbours given global uncertainties, even if it increases costs a little or even a lot. But the consequences of taking this too far will be counterproductive less resilience, more vulnerabilities, and greater exposure to shocks. This is especially true given increasingly frequent and more intense natural and man-made disasters extreme weather events and climate change, armed conflicts, and pandemics. Our economists estimate that if the world were to decouple, real GDP loss would be at least 5% on average, and more for developing and least developed countries. And the opportunity cost of decoupling as opposed to further economic liberalization is 8.7% of real income at the global level. By contrast, reinvesting in multilateral trade liberalization can create significant income gains compared to fragmented trade scenarios. Deconcentrated and more diversified global chains, and those that include countries and communities that are now at the margins of the global economy, are key to better resilience, especially in times of crisis. In short, the world needs to re-globalize instead of de-globalizing. At the WTO, we have a vision for such re-globalization: it will be green, digital, services-based, and inclusive. Last year, global trade in services grew by 15 per cent and reached $6.8 trillion, or just over one-fifth of total world trade in both goods and services. We estimate that the share of services in world trade grow further to reach one-third by 2040. The share of Lithuania's GDP covered by services has doubled since 2005, which means there is tremendous potential for more growth. In 2012, digitally delivered services trade constituted 8% of global trade, but today it is 12% and is worth $3.8 trillion. Digital trade has the potential to spur economic growth of smaller economies, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe. Recent research suggests that Lithuania has made significant progress in digitising its economy, with much scope for further work, which would boost innovation and productivity., According to some estimates, digital growth may bring Romania's digital economy to almost 52 billion by 2030, which amounts to 15 percent of the countrys 2021 GDP. Digital trade can also allow more MSMEs, women, and youth to participate more effectively in regional and global trade and make it more inclusive better for them, and better for their economies and societies. It can also be a lifeline for countries affected by natural disasters or conflict, and with limited access to infrastructure. For example, in 2022, IT services was the only growing area of exports of Ukraine, reaching the historic high of $7.34 billion. Technological developments can unlock new opportunities for businesses and individuals around the world. To realize this potential, we need to understand how to harness new technologies so that they translate into job creation and economic growth, as well as help deliver UN Sustainable Development Goals in line with the WTO's stated mission to improve living standards. We also need new rules that would reflect current technological and business realities and address the digital divide faced by developing countries as well as underserved communities within the developed world. Many of our Members are actively working on these questions at the WTO as part of the Joint Initiative on E-Commerce. An open and predictable multilateral trading system, with an effectively functioning WTO as its guardian, are prerequisites for re-globalization. That's why strengthening the WTO and keeping it fit for purpose is so important to economic health and resilience. Last year, we had a very successful Ministerial Conference (MC12), reaching outcomes on pressing issues related to the pandemic response, food security, and extension of the moratorium of customs duties on e-commerce. Most importantly, our Members added a new agreement to the WTO rulebook the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which is the first WTO agreement with environmental sustainability at its core and only our second new multilateral agreement since 1995. We are now actively working to have 2/3 of WTO Members deposit their instruments of acceptance of the Agreement to the WTO so that it can officially enter into force. I would like to thank the EU and its member States, including Lithuania, for being among the first to ratify this historic Agreement and deposit the instrument of acceptance. The MC12 outcomes were achieved in the midst of a war, a global pandemic, and a food crisis. This success shows that consensus is still possible, even at times of deep geopolitical rifts, and that the WTO plays an essential role for its Members. But the WTO must do more. All of our Members agree that we need to reform the WTO across all three of our functions negotiating, monitoring, and particularly dispute settlement, as we approach our 30th anniversary. We need to arrive at a common understanding of what kind of reform we want to achieve and establish a plan to attain it, knowing that different areas of focus will require different action and timetables. Members are actively working on this goal in Geneva. The EU is an active participant, focusing the discussion on reforms to improve the WTO's deliberative function and address trade-related environmental and inclusivity issues, as well as distortions caused by industrial subsidies and other practices. Reform of the dispute settlement function is particularly vital to the future of the WTO. As you may know, our second level of review the Appellate Body is not functioning due to divergent views among our Members about its role. As a result, Members that lose at the initial panel stage can appeal into the void of a non-functioning Appellate Body, resulting in a lack of finality. But to give teeth to the WTO's rulebook, we need strong enforcement tools, making the need for reform even more acute. At MC12, our Members agreed to conduct discussions with the view to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all Members by 2024. Our Members are engaged intensive and promising discussions to this end. All eyes are on our 13th Ministerial Conference, which will take place in February in Abu Dhabi, and we hope that Members can agree on meaningful outcomes in this area. At the same time, our Members continue to use the existing system to enforce the rules and bring about results. For example, the EU has brought a case against China, challenging restrictions imposed by China on Lithuania concerning its recognition of Chinese Taipei, as it is officially named at the WTO. This case is currently pending before a WTO panel. In addition to dispute settlement, at the 13th Ministerial Conference, we need to achieve outcomes in other important areas at our upcoming Ministerial Conference: First and foremost, we need to complete the second wave of negotiations on fisheries subsidies . . Members also need to decide on how to address the treatment of COVID diagnostics and therapeutics under intellectual property rules and on extending the Moratorium on e-commerce duties. under intellectual property rules and on extending the duties. We must also make progress on agriculture, especially issues related to food security . especially issues related to . And finally, we need workable solutions to concerns raised by developing countries, such as addressing the digital divide and the risk that developing countries will be left behind in an industrial or green subsidies race, excluded from supply chains in a push to reshore or friendshore, or relegated to extractive role. I count on the continued active engagement of the European Union and its member States, including Lithuania, in addressing these issues. To conclude, let me leave you with three brief points: The WTO and similar institutions are especially needed in times like these , when the existing global international order is under threat and the temptation for unilateral action is high. , when the existing global international order is under threat and the temptation for unilateral action is high. The WTO remains an important and sometimes the only forum to manage and deescalate economic tensions , such as through negotiations and discussion in our specialized committees/councils. , such as through negotiations and discussion in our specialized committees/councils. Negotiating agreements at the WTO is a long game, and consensus is difficult to achieve, but the results prove its value. The WTO is worth investing in and improving. Please help us make sure it continues to be effective and fit for purpose. This 1707 artwork by Pieter van der Aa depicts The Florida Indians Capture the Shipwrecked Company. Scholars have published a new, expanded narrative of the ordeal of a 17th-century merchant with a big South Florida connection. His name: Jonathan Dickinson. His journal details his October 1696 planned voyage from Jamaica to Philadelphia, cut short by a shipwreck off present-day Hobe Sound thus the state park named for him and followed by a treacherous two-month trek to North Florida. The journal provided the only comprehensive first-hand description of peoples who inhabited Florida for centuries, before they were wiped out mostly, scholars assert, from European disease. But, as the subtitle, "Gods Protecting Providence," suggests, Dickinson's Quaker editors in Philadelphia were more focused on his divine rescue. 'New material' found in 2008 in Philadelphia The discovery of this Jonathan Dickinson manuscript in Philadelphia has provided new details of Floridas early peoples. A recent discovery leaves no doubt that Dickinsons original account was drastically cut, rearranged, and rewritten before it was approved for Quaker consumption, the Florida Historical Society said in a summary of the new volume it has published. That book, titled "Jonathan Dickinsons Journal or Gods Protecting Providence: An Early American Castaway Narrative" was produced by former Indian River Community College professor Jason Daniels and Amy Turner Bushnell, a researcher associated with Brown University in Rhode Island. Its a combined volume of the original journal and a 111-page manuscript Daniels stumbled across around 2008 in Philadelphia. The first edition, from 1699, would be reprinted 16 times in English and three times each in Dutch and German. Bookstores and outlets continue to sell a 1985 abridged version of a 1945 scholarly publication. "We thought: It's been 70 years. It might be time to revisit this, Daniels, now teaching in California, said this summer. Title page of the 1700 edition of Jonathan Dickinsons Journal. Cover of the latest printing of Jonathan Dickinsons Journal which was recently published. Daniels had found the manuscript while researching Dickinson's holdings at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Its title: "Journal of the Travels of several persons their sufferings-being cast away in the gulph among Cannabals of Florida." The 1699 publications full title is a lot longer: "Jonathan Dickenson, Gods Protecting Providence, Mans Surest Help and Defence in Times of the Greatest Difficulty, and most Eminent Danger. Evidenced in the Remarkable Deliverance of divers Persons, from the Devouring Waves of the Sea; amongst which they Suffered Shipwrack: And also, From the cruel Devouring Jawes of the Inhumane Canibals of Florida. Faithfully Related by one of the Persons concerned therein, Jonathan Dickenson." It details a grueling and perilous 230-mile journey by boat and on foot through the open ocean, beaches, jungles, and swamps before the group arrived in St. Augustine. It also covers the ensuing sea voyages to South Carolina and then to Philadelphia. Dickinson delivers more details on the Ais, Hobe and Jeaga people The newly discovered manuscript, Daniels said, is as long as the original, but it covers just the part from Jamaica to St. Augustine, and so has a lot more detail about the early peoples. "Almost everything we know about the Ais, and Hobe, and Jeaga, comes from Dickinson's narrative, and with this new manuscript, we have a little more information than we had, Daniels said. That includes Dickinsons commentary on family and marriage traditions, possessions, and ceremonies. At the time, Europe had gone all-in on the image it had created of native North Americans as bloodthirsty pagan cannibals, Daniels wrote in 2013 in the Florida Historical Quarterly. He said Dickinson glossed over the kindness of Native Americans in the published account in order to highlight his dire circumstances and the glory of Gods deliverance. Dickinson had described the first locals he encountered as naked except for straw coverings, their long hair fastened in back with carved bones. They had held knives to the castaways Dickinson, along with his wife, infant son, two associates, 10 slaves and nine sailors. The chief eventually allowed the party to leave. The Jeaga ordered the party to unlock their chests, trunks, and boxes, Amy Turner Bushnell wrote in 2013 for the magazine of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The chief took the money; the warriors divided the clothes, including some that the party was wearing. Facing deadly threats, sleeping burrowed into the sand The Jeaga hosts warned that people to the north would kill the castaways on sight. At night, the group built fires and burrowed into sand to escape the torment of sand flies and mosquitos. They ran into members of the Santaluces group, armed with bows. Their clothes were torn from them and they were pelted with rocks and fists. They were forced to lie amid garbage and scorpions and spiders. But after an hour, they were given local clothing and a meal and allowed to leave. At the next settlement, that of the Ais, the chief bathed the sunburned feet of Dickinsons wife and offered to take the group to St. Augustine. Later, he brought to them a squad of Spanish soldiers, who the group persuaded to take them to the next town. Their only rations for the two-week trek: a bagful of berries. Amid cold, five members of the group died of exposure in a single day. They finally staggered into the colonial capital, where they received food, clothing, and lodging, then boarded a ship for Charleston, South Carolina, and then another to Philadelphia, their original destination. They arrived in April 1697 some seven months after theyd left Jamaica. I hope, Dickinson concludes, that I with all those of us that have been spared hitherto, shall never be forgetful nor unmindful of the low estate we were brought into; but that we may double our diligence in service there, lord God, is the breathing and earnest desire of my soul. Amen. A historical Marker at Jonathan Dickinson State Park describes the shipwreck that led to the parks name. Jason Daniels More information "Jonathan Dickinsons Journal or Gods Protecting Providence: An Early American Castaway Narrative," Florida Historical Society Press: myfloridahistory.org/fhspress Jonathan Dickinson State Park: 16450 SE Federal Hwy., Hobe Sound 33455. Open 8 a.m. to sunset, year-round. 772-546-2771. floridastateparks.org Retired Palm Beach Post staff writer Eliot Kleinberg produced the "Post Time" and "Florida Time" history columns. He also is published by Florida Historical Society Press. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dickinson journals provide fodder for new account of his Florida trek From left: Marcia Cross, Bryan Batt and Ron Canada in From left: Marcia Cross, Bryan Batt and Ron Canada in "Pay the Writer," now playing off-Broadway in New York. When it comes to his stage and screen work, Bryan Batt has always been eager to plumb the depths of heartbreak and personal conflict. The Louisiana-born actor landed on the prestige television map on Mad Men, playing Stirling Coopers deeply closeted art director, Sal Romano, from 2007 to 2009. This month, hes back on the New York stage in Pay the Writer as Bruston Fischer, a gay literary agent comfortable enough with his true self to crack self-effacing jokes, but who relies on his work and his sense of humor to deflect from his internal struggles. I have a lot of empathy for someone like Bruston, who wants love but has failed in finding it, Batt told HuffPost shortly after Pay the Writer opened off-Broadway last month. I love that hes a gay man of a certain age. The play itself, he added, brings up the issue of great artists and what theyre allowed to get away with. Can you separate the artist from the art and the person from their behavior? Written by Tawni ODell and directed by Karen Carpenter, Pay the Writer takes a behind-the-scenes, warts-and-all look at Brustons decadeslong working relationship with Cyrus Holt (played by Ron Canada), an acclaimed Black author. I love that hes a gay man of a certain age, Batt said of his Pay the Writer character, Bruston Fischer. I love that hes a gay man of a certain age, Batt said of his Pay the Writer character, Bruston Fischer. Faced with a terminal illness, Cyrus is determined to publish one final book and make amends with his two estranged children, Gigi (Danielle J. Simmons) and Leo (Garrett Turner), before its too late. Those plans are complicated by the unexpected arrival of Cyrus ex-wife, Lana (Marcia Cross of Melrose Place and Desperate Housewives). Suddenly, Bruston finds himself at odds with Cyrus loved ones while unwilling to accept his clients impending death. Its an interesting triangle, the agent, the star writer and his ex-wife how it all comes together, Batt said. Brustons very unlucky in love, mainly because he does have a little fire burning for Cyrus. Whether its sexual or not, it is a definite love. The play also raises questions about the intersection of race and queer sexuality, most notably in scenes depicting the early days of Bruston and Cyrus working relationship. With respect to those themes, Batt noted: I dont want to get into anything political, but people just dont know how to behave and talk to each other anymore. The things that are passing for manners and decorum are fading. We need to keep our minds and hearts open to the new generation, what theyre feeling. "Its an interesting triangle, the agent, the star writer and his ex-wife how it all comes together," said Batt (on right, with co-stars Ron Canada and Marcia Cross). In light of his characters experiences in Pay the Writer, Batt recognizes the good fortune hes had when it comes to his love life. He and his husband, Tom Cianfichi, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary next year. The two men have been together for 34 years in total. These days, they split their time between New York and New Orleans. In 2003, they became business partners when they opened Hazelnut, a high-end home decor shop on New Orleans Magazine Street. What began as a creative side hustle has evolved into one of the most freeing things Ive ever done, Batt said. You can become so one-note with show business. It takes over your life and it can become very myopic and its all you talk about. The opportunity presented itself, and I just thought, I need to take a little break. That was 20 years ago, and weve never had a losing year. Batt (left) and husband Tom Cianfichi were married in 2014. Batt (left) and husband Tom Cianfichi were married in 2014. If all goes according to plan, the Big Easy will also be Batts next onstage home. For the past several years, hes been at work on Dear Mr. Williams, a one-man play inspired by his own adolescence. The shows premiere staging took place in Louisiana two years ago, and there are talks to bring it to New York and other cities. Its my story of growing up in New Orleans, my coming-of-age story, Batt explained. Growing up, I did not know any gay people. It was not talked about. The shows title is a reference to author and playwright Tennessee Williams, who wrote The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire, he said. He always had an affinity for the outsider. He always championed the person who wasnt cookie-cutter perfection. He showed us the beautiful undersides, the underbelly. These days, Batts screen career also remains in high gear. Earlier this year, he wrapped shooting on an upcoming film with Bill Irwin and Marisa Tomei, in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Having been attached to Pay the Writer since the plays first reading last year, however, hes hopeful that the dramedy will have a second iteration, possibly on Broadway or in London, after the current run ends Sept. 30. I love doing film and television, Batt said, but the real deal is the stage. Related... Chris Evans reportedly married Alba Baptista in an intimate, star-studded ceremony after nearly two years together. The actors exchanged vows at a private residence in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to multiple news reports. The wedding ceremony was locked down tight with celebrities including John Krasinski, Robert Downey Jr, Jeremy Renner, and Chris Hemsworth in attendance, Page Six reported. Guests were reportedly asked to hand in their phones. The Independent has contacted representatives for Evans and Baptista for comment. The pair first sparked romance rumours when they were spotted walking together in New York last November. They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her, a source told People at the time. Soon afterwards, Evans, 42, made their relationship Instagram-official in January with an edited video montage of them pranking each other on eight separate occasions, delivering jump-scares while doing laundry or just walking past each other. On Valentines Day, the Captain America actor posted a sweet Valentines Day tribute to Baptista, 26, sharing several photographs of the couple, including some taken while hiking and travelling together. Heres everything you need to know about the Portuguese model and actor... Baptista was born on 10 July 1997 to a Brazillian engineer and Portuguese translator in Lisbon, Portugal. She attended a really strict German school that gave us a lot of discipline, the 26-year-old told W magazine during an interview last year. She is fluent in five languages, including English, Portuguese, French, German, and Spanish. You had to be spotless with your languages, she said of the school, very, very on point. Baptista was born in Lisbon, Portugal and began acting at the age of 15 (Getty Images for European Shooti) Baptista knew she wanted to be an actor when she was 15, when she was asked to audition for a short film called Miami. During the casting, she reportedly told Fade To Her, the director [Simao Cayatte] simply asked me existentialist questions because he wanted to understand how [her] mind worked and processed philosophical information. I ended up getting the lead role and absolutely loved the experience, she said, in a separate interview with Glamour magazine. Baptista then began working in the Portuguese film and TV industry, earning roles in telenovelas such as A Impostora as well as series such as Jardins Proibidos and A Criacao. In 2020, she was cast in Netflixs Warrior Nun, in which she played the lead sister whose life is turned upside-down after she wakes up in a morgue with inexplicable superpowers. The show was renewed for a second season, which was released last November by the streaming platform. Baptista also made her American feature film debut with a role in Lesley Manville-starrer Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, which was released last year. She played the role of a top Dior model Natasha, who struggled with the concept of fame, exposition, and beauty, and was a character Baptista said she related to. The actor explained: It was such an easy thing to connect with because I think this industry forces you to categorise yourself into something. It can be hard to maintain your own identity. A voracious reader, Baptista described how she prepared for the role, including reading everything within my reach about the history of Dior, the works of French philosopher Albert Camus, and what was going on in France during the 1950s. She also recalled Manville and Isabelle Hupert, who also starred in the critically-acclaimed film, gave me lessons that Ill carry throughout my whole career. Chris Evans shares photo montage of Alba Baptista on Valentines Day (Chris Evans / Instagram) Baptista also told W: Ive had many moments of sharing my insecurities with Lesley and her being like, Nope, youve got to brighten up. Life is good look at it through this lens instead. Elsewhere, Baptista said The Hunchback of Notre Dame is among her favourite movies and that shes watched the 1996 film probably a 100 times including when shes hungover. It brings me great comfort. And now, every time Im hungover, I watch it, she said. While art is subjective, the purpose of many mediums is to reflect the world around us and inspire important conversations. Film is no exception in this regard, with the silver screen capable of holding a mirror to society as a whole. Acclaimed filmmaker Ava DuVernay s latest movie Origin is no exception in that regard, with the upcoming biological drama telling the real story of Pulitzer Prize winning writer Isabel Wilkerson as she wrote her acclaimed sophomore book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. And DuVernays new drama Origin is a deeply emotional film that left me sobbing in the theater. Were currently in the midst of the Toronto International Film Festival , which is debuting a number of exciting new movies that are headed to either theaters or streaming services. Origin is one of these titles, coming from auteur filmmaker Ava DuVernay, whose last film was A Wrinkle In Time . While that was an adaptation of the novel of the same name, Origin is a real story that takes an almost academic approach to the concepts of classic, bigotry and grief. And it is by far my favorite film I saw while attending TIFF this year. Origin stars King Richard s Aunjanue Ellis (The Help, If Beale Street Could Talk) as writer Isabel Wilkerson. In the wake of Trayvon Martins death , Wilkerson is approached by a colleague to use her detail-oriented journalistic mind to address the 17 year-olds killing, and the national movement that followed. Upon listening to the harrowing 911 calls that preceded his murder, shes inspired to write her second book. But rather than simply addressing racism in the country, she instead does a research-based examination about caste systems in various countries throughout history. In addition to following this deeply emotional look at caste systems and bigotry, theres also a more personal story being told. Because early in the movie Wilkersons husband (played by Jon Benthal) dies, followed by her ailing mother. The themes of systemic and generational pain are weaved effortlessly with the grief of these losses, as her mourning process helps inspire Ellis character to continue working tirelessly on her book. Throughout Origins 130 minute-runtime, we watch as Isabel Wilkerson finds similarities between America's history of bigotry against Black people with the systematic attack on Jewish people during the Holocaust, revealing that the Nazi party inspired its plans for extermination by Jim Crow laws in the states. A third connection is found with the caste system in India and treatment of the Dalit. While the story is indeed dense and literary, Origin is also deeply personal and emotional. Filmmaker Ava DuVernay (see facts about her here) gorgeously directs the project, with moving cinematography and bold visual choices. Case in point: Wilkersons initial grief and depression is visually represented by seeing Aunjanue Ellis laying on the ground, as leaves fall on her in slow motion. We also see vignettes of various individuals who inspired her acclaimed book, including an interracial couple in Nazi Germany, anthropologists Allison and Elizabeth Davis, as well as grueling recreated footage of ships in the slave trade. Ava DuVernay assembled a truly outstanding cast to bring Origin together. Aside from Ellis and Benrthal, the movie also features a gorgeous performance from Niecy Nash, who plays Wilkesons cousin. Other familiar faces include Hamilton s Jasmine Cephas Jones , Nick Offerman, Finn Wittrock, Audra McDonald, Blair Underwood, Victoria Pedretti, and Vera Farmiga. Some of these actors only appear in very brief roles, but that doesn't make them any less powerful. And it just shows how many actors are eager to work with the talents of DuVernay. Origin doesnt currently have a wide theatrical release date. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden 's administration moved Friday to block $7 billion in frozen assets that Afghanistan's central bank held in New York, a first step to split the proceeds in half to benefit relatives of 9/11 victims and Afghans facing a humanitarian crisis after America's military withdrawal. Biden signed an executive order citing emergency economic powers to consolidate the $7 billion in assets that Da Afghanistan Bank held in the U.S. and to require U.S. financial institutions to transfer the funds into an account held at the Federal Reserve Bank. When Kabul fell in August, the Afghan government left behind around $9 billion in reserves across several countries, the majority in the U.S. The Biden administration wants to enable relatives of certain victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks who sued the Taliban to pursue $3.5 billion of the assets. The other $3.5 billion would be used for further humanitarian aid for Afghans as their country faces a collapsing economy, widespread famine and the return of the Taliban's brutal rule after 20 years of U.S. occupation. More: 'They are looking for us to kill us': In hiding from Taliban, Afghans who helped U.S. struggle to escape The unprecedent move comes as Biden faces a continued backlash over his administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last August, which has resulted in new humanitarian strains in the war-torn country. Thousands of U.S.-allied Afghans, including interpreters and Afghan National Army soldiers who teamed with the U.S., have been unable to escape. The transfer of the funds could still be several months away. A federal court in New York will have to first rule on the scope of claims made by 9/11 victims for their compensation, according to a senior Biden administration official, and the court must authorize the use of other funds to benefit the Afghan people. Worshippers pray outside a mosque during the Friday Prayer, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) ORG XMIT: XHM105 The New York Times first reported on Biden's order ahead of the president's signature. The $3.5 billion set aside in a third-party trust fund for the Afghan people will include controls to prevent the money from directly benefiting the Taliban government, the official said. The Taliban has claimed they have a right to the central bank's assets. The aid is in addition to existing federal funds helping Afghanistan, including $516 million since mid-August. More than 150 relatives of 9/11 victims sued a list of targets including the Taliban and al-Qaida nearly 20 years ago for their roles in the terrorist attacks. Although a court found the defendants liable, there was no mechanism to force them to pay damages. After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August, the 9/11 victims' relatives argued they are entitled to funds kept in the central bank. More: Exclusive: 82 lawmakers call on White House to evacuate more Afghans who helped US A report from the United Nations released last week found more than 100 former members of the former Afghan government, its security forces and others who worked with the U.S. have been killed since the Taliban's Aug. 15 takeover. Two-thirds were killed at the hands of the Taliban, despite the militant Islamic group's promise of "amnesty" for Afghans who allied themselves with the U.S. during the war. A humanitarian crisis has engulfed Afghanistan, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres also reported, with 24 million Afghan in need of humanitarian assistance, up from 18 million last year. Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Joe Biden to split frozen Afghanistan funds for 9/11 victims, aid Captain America is a married man. Chris Evans tied the knot with actress Alba Baptista at a private estate in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on Saturday, according to People magazine. Guests included the bride and grooms family, as well as Evans The Avengers co-stars Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner , as well as John Krasinski and wife Emily Blunt . Insiders who spoke to Page Six said the affair was locked down tight, with guests signing NDAs and handing over the phones before the nuptials. Chris Evans attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 24, 2019. Chris Evans attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 24, 2019. Evans and Baptistas relationship first came to light around November 2022, after People reported the pair had been dating for over a year. They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her, a source close to the Gifted actor told the magazine. HuffPost has reached out for Evans and Baptistas reps for comment. Baptista, who hails from Portugal, starred in the Netflix series Warrior Nun from 2020 to 2022. Alba Baptista attends the Miu Miu Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-24 during Paris Fashion Week on March 7. Alba Baptista attends the Miu Miu Womenswear Fall Winter 2023-24 during Paris Fashion Week on March 7. She earned a Shooting Star Award at the 2021 Berlinale and appeared in the chic, historical comedy Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris last year. In an interview for his 2022 Sexiest Man of the Year honors, Evans told People he was excited to have a family sometime down the line. Thats absolutely something I want: wife, kids, building a family, he said. When you read about most of the best artists, whether its actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasnt the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships; the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared. Related... Ashton Kutchers role in a 2001 investigation into the murder of Ashley Ellerin is being dredged up by fans once again amid the backlash the actor is getting following a letter he wrote asking for lighter sentencing for convicted rapist Danny Masterson . Kutcher and his wife, Mila Kunis, who both starred with Masterson in That 70s Show, apologized on September 9 after letters they wrote ahead of Mastersons sentencing were made public. Kunis and Kutcher both praised Masterson, who was convicted of two counts of rape in May, for his exceptional character and Kutcher labeled him a role model. Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison last week. More from SheKnows NASHVILLE, TN JUNE 07: Danny Masterson and Ashton Kutcher pose at Music City Convention Center on June 7, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for CMT) However, as Kutcher continues to face criticism for protecting a convicted rapist from harsh sentencing while also being an advocate for sex trafficking prevention, it is his role in another criminal investigation that is getting called out now. After the letters were made public, one of Mastersons accusers took to her social media with a message for Kutcher. Chrissie Carnell Bixler, who dated Masterson in the late 90s and early 2000s, posted an Instagram story that read: Dear Ashton, I know the secrets your role model keeps for you. Ones that would end you. Did you forget I was there? You were on speaker phone that night you called Danny on February 21, 2001. I hear everything. I heard the plan. In my opinion, youre just as sick as your mentor. Click here to read the full article. Speculation soon began about what Kutcher did on February 21, 2001 and internet users soon noted that that date is the day Ashley Ellerin was tragically murdered. What was Ashton Kutchers role in Ashley Ellerins murder investigation? Kutcher was a witness in the trial of Ellerins murderer and testified that he was scheduled to go on a date with Ellerin on the night of her murder February 21, 2001. In 2019, Kutcher told a jury in the trial of Michael Gargiulo, the man later convicted of Ellerins murder, that he last talked to Ellerin at 8:24 PM to confirm their plans to attend a Grammys after-party together, according to E! News. The actor said he called again at 10:00 PM to say he was on his way over to Ellerins home but she did not answer. Kutcher claimed that at 10:45 PM he arrived she did not come to the door. He claimed he peered into her window and saw what he believed to be a wine stain on her carpet. He believed at that point he had been stood up, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Dan Akemon said in his opening statement at the trial. We believe now the evidence will show that was actually blood, and Ashley had already been murdered. Ellerin, 22, was found dead the following morning by her roommate. Investigators believe she had just gotten out of the shower when Gargiulo stabbed her to death after entering her home. Gargiulo, who has been dubbed The Hollywood Ripper was sentenced to death for the murder of Ellerin and another California woman in 2005. He is awaiting trial for the 1993 murder of a teenage girl in Illinois, per ABC. He was arrested after the attempted murder of another woman in California in 2008. Ellerin and Kutcher met through mutual friends in December 2000. He says he was at Ellerins home for a housewarming weeks before her murder and the two arranged to get dinner and drinks on the night of her murder. Despite admitting that he was initially freaked out after learning of Ellerins death because his fingerprints were on her doorknob, Kutcher was never a suspect in the case and appears to have cooperated with the investigation. Click here to see celebrities who have been accused of sexual assault. Prince Andrew, Chris Noth Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The Dead Don't Hurt has just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival; here's our review. Viggo Mortensen goes west for his sophomore feature as writer/director. As with his directorial debut, Falling (2020), the multihyphenate also stars and supplies the score. Though unconfirmed, you wouldnt put it past him to have actually built the wooden barns his carpenter character assembles with a craftsmans precision in the sparse, barely populated Nevada town of the storys 1860s setting. Its a western with all the trappings youd expect - wide-brimmed hats, swinging saloon doors, six-shooters - plus a degree of sensitivity you wouldnt so readily associate with the genre. This duality is laid bare at the start, when we witness the last gasps of breath of Vicky Krieps Vivienne, whos dreaming of a knight on horseback (a poetic touch that returns, effectively, throughout the film). Meanwhile, a man in a long black coat shoots up the patrons of a bar and the deputy sheriff before fleeing. An absence of justice sees Sheriff Olsen (Mortensen) turn in his badge and leave town with his young son. Both parts comprise an effective opener that does a solid job of getting you invested, before Mortensen takes a more leisurely, dual-timelined approach to lay out the lead-up to and fallout from these incidents. Most of the runtime concerns what came before, as we follow French-Canadian Vivienne from her childhood to her emigration to America. There she meets Danish immigrant Olsen in San Francisco, before they travel together to his spartan homestead in Nevada. Its more of a love story on the range than a revenge western of lawman vs. blackhat. Krieps is excellent as the formidable and resourceful Vivienne, who brings life to Olsens barn, opts to earn money by working at the saloon, and holds down the fort while Olsen, a military veteran, enlists to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Handily, Mortensens tache/beard helps to keep a handle on which timeline were in, as its constantly hopping, piling flashbacks upon flashbacks. Viggo Mortensen This forging of a relationship, and a home, is quietly compelling, and theres a tenderness that prevents things from ever feeling too grim, despite the hardships of this life, and the direction were inevitably heading in. Its also leavened with a few laughs, such as Vivienne chiding Oslen over his pronunciation of omelette, or her visible disappointment when she first sees his no-frills home. The production design and costumes are immaculate, and like the landscapes, beautifully shot by cinematographer Marcel Zyskind. The environment is more than a backdrop; its an essential foundation of the story, enveloping everything. And it looks simply stunning, making you grateful for the slow pace that allows you to soak up the scenery. Some of the dialogue can occasionally feel a little ripe, a bit western 101; that feeling's not eased by the appearance of not one but three supporting players from Deadwood showing up. The aforementioned blackhat, Solly McLeods Weston Jeffries, the son of a prominent corrupt local, is also pretty one-note as a villain. While not ineffective - you certainly root for the varmint to get his due - a modicum of nuance wouldnt have gone amiss. Still, its a welcome spin on the once-dominant genre that now struggles for oxygen. Its also less brutal a viewing experience than Mortensens punishing directorial debut, with plenty of shoots of hope, and an abundance of natural beauty. Olsen - for the short time hes in the post - is an atypical sheriff, exhibiting dignity, quiet authority, and restraint. You get the impression that Mortensen would do a similarly fine job in real life, if he were handed a hat and badge. The Dead Don't Hurt's release date is currently TBC. The rapper known as Desiigner suffered a pair of manic episodes in the run-up to his April arrest for masturbating aboard a commercial flight, and an inadvertent encounter with some laced weed was partially to blame, according to his lawyer. After the onetime Kanye West protege, whose real name is Sidney Royel Selby III, was charged with exposing himselfand much, much morewhile flying Delta Air Lines from Tokyo to Minneapolis, he issued an apology saying he had been hospitalized while overseas but did not say where or why. They gave me meds, and i had to hop on a plane home, Selby wrote. I am ashamed of my actions that happened on that plane. I landed back to the states, and am admitting my self [sic] in a facility to help me. I will be cancelling all of my shows and any obligations until further notice. However, a sentencing memo filed by Ryan Patrick Garry, who has represented the Panda rapper throughout the case, reveals further details about the 26-year-olds mental state in the days prior to the mid-air episode. Selby, who pleaded guilty Sept. 8 to indecent exposure aboard an aircraft, was in the midst of an exhausting music tour, the memo states. On Apr. 12, while in Thailand, a dehydrated and exhausted Selby had a manic episode, which was likely due the stress of the tour and some unknown laced marijuana he smoked the night before, it goes on. During the manic episode, he asked his team to be taken to the hospital. Selby was taken to a local emergency room, where staffers administered IV fluids and three other medications, according to the memo, which says doctors believed Mr. Selby was suffering from, amongst other things, marijuana intoxication and dehydration. Though exhausted, he recovered enough to be able to perform at a concert the next day. After the performance in Thailand, Selby and his crew flew to Tokyo for another concert, the memo continues. At a restaurant in Tokyo, Mr. Selby suffered a similar but milder manic episode, yet he managed to perform that night in Tokyo due to the already booked concert, it says. Mr. Selby was flying home to California on April 17, 2023 when the unfortunate incident in this case took place. It began less than 90 minutes after takeoff, according to a probable cause affidavit filed with the federal complaint against Selby. Thats when a flight attendant walking through the first class cabin noticed Selbys penis was outside his sweatpants. She told him, No, and Selby promptly put his junk away, the affidavit states. Five minutes later, the flight attendant and a colleague both spotted Selby openly masturbating in his seat. One of them again told Selby, No, and he covered his penis, according to the affidavit. But when Selby was caught with his genitalia exposed a third time, the lead flight attendant handed him an FAA violation card, which said his actions were in violation of federal law. Selby apologized and agreed to move to the back of the plane, where two members of his tour staff were sitting and could monitor him. When Selby initially stood up to move seats, a jar of Vaseline dropped in the aisle, the affidavit states. In a subsequent interview with the FBI, Selby said he found one of the flight attendants aboard the plane to be a real great beautiful lady, while lamenting the fact he didnt really get much cootie in Japan. As a result, Selby told agents he was brick hard when he boarded the aircraft, according to the affidavit. He said he didnt think his masturbating distracted the flight attendant he found attractive, but said, instead, I thought I was giving her encouragement, to keep pushing, you know what I mean, to keep striving for it. Selby insisted at the time that he hadnt taken any sort of medication before getting on the flight, only vitamins, and the affidavit says he did not appear [...] to be impaired and gave coherent responses throughout. The charge to which Selby pleaded is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum of 90 days in jail. In their own sentencing memo, prosecutors said they and Selbys team had agreed to a sentence of two years of probation, a fine of $5,000, and 120 hours of community service. His conduct caused negative real-world effects on the flight attendants who witnessed his actions, in their workplace, where they should be kept safe, prosecutors said. Two years of court supervision would give Selby the structure he needs to get well, and deter him from offending again, according to the memo. The sentencing memo filed by Selbys lawyer notes that his client was nominated for a Grammy in 2017, and that he has performed around the world. And, it says, despite having a rocky start to his pretrial release, Mr. Selby has been actively getting the help he needs. Not meaning to, in any way, discount Mr. Selbys acceptance of responsibility, it is certainly mitigating to this case that his dehydration, exhaustion from the music tour and travel, the marijuana he had ingested, and the medication he received and consumed from the Thailand hospital, all in combination, contributed in some way to the poor decisions Mr. Selby made on that airplane, the defense memo states. Selby has tours planned for the remainder of 2023 and into 2024, including dates in Dubai and Kazakhstan, the memo continues, asking the court not to include travel restrictions in the terms of his probation. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Selbys attorney did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment. 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. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. While the Democrats are currently worried about Donald Trump being a little too close for comfort to Joe Biden in the polls, Republicans are focused on one state that will be crucial to the former presidents 2024 campaign. Iowa, where the first caucus will be held, reportedly isnt going so hot right now for Donald Trump. More from SheKnows His campaign staff in Iowa is being called a lean operation with inexperienced workers in roles that should have been filled six to eight months ago, according to an NBC News source. Even though Donald Trumps opponents are trailing him in the polls, they are much better prepared than he is in Iowa. It even has Donald Trump Jr. sounding the alarm bells after he allegedly voiced his concern about the lack of experience of his fathers Iowa state operation. Ivana Trump 's iconic Manhattan townhouse is back on the market with a new selling point. https://t.co/OJH0ArJHcV SheKnows (@SheKnows) September 11, 2023 It apparently has Donald Trumps campaign looking over its shoulder at the nearest competitor, Ron DeSantis. Donald Jr. is worried that they were running from behind in getting things going and that they were giving [Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis too many opportunities, according to a Republican insider. However, Donald Trumps oldest son denied this claim to the media outlet: As usual, this is 100% fake news, in what is likely the last breath from the dying Ron DeSanctimonious campaign. Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America Click here to read the full article. Price: $32.00 $17.37 Buy On Amazon Iowa is a crucial state to win because it creates an inordinate amount of momentum for a 2024 candidate. If Donald Trump appears weak in Iowa, it gives his opponents an opportunity to slide in for the Republican Party nomination. And other campaigns know that the door is open for one of them to win Donald Trumps four indictments create a huge distraction for him as he tries to reclaim the White House. A former Donald Trump adviser warned, They have not settled on an approach that works. What will happen is somebody is going to get surprised. That surprise just might be reserved for Donald Trump. Before you go, click here to see the biggest presidential scandals in US History. Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton Launch Gallery: 29 Books Written by Candidates Running for President In 2024 Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Drew Barrymore has confirmed that her talk show will resume amid the writers' and actors' strikes. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) Drew Barrymore confirmed Sunday that her talk show will resume production amid the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes. And the Writers Guild of America has announced plans to picket outside Monday's taping in New York City. In a statement shared on social media, the actor and daytime TV host took responsibility for the decision to tape and release new episodes of "The Drew Barrymore Show" during the strikes. A spokesperson for CBS Media Ventures, which produces Barrymore's show, clarified Sunday that its on-camera talent "will not be performing any writing work covered by the WGA strike." "I am ... making the choice to come back for the first time in this strike for our show, that may have my name on it but this is bigger than just me," Barrymore said in her statement. "I own this choice. We are in compliance with not discussing or promoting film and television that is struck of any kind." Read more: Citing writers' strike, Drew Barrymore withdraws from live-hosting Sunday's MTV awards Barrymore also pointed out that her program technically never went dark because its last season wrapped before the strikes began. The fourth season of the series is scheduled to premiere Sept. 18. The eastern branch of the WGA called upon its members to demonstrate Monday outside CBS Broadcast Center in New York, where "The Drew Barrymore Show" is taped. Barrymore's program "is a WGA covered, struck show that is planning to return without its writers," the WGA East said Sunday in a statement shared on social media. "The Guild has, and will continue to, picket struck shows that are in production during the strike. Any writing on 'The Drew Barrymore Show' is in violation of WGA rules." Read more: Drew Barrymore is too much and that's just right Certain daytime talk shows that reportedly don't rely heavily on striking writers such as "The View," "Tamron Hall" and "Live With Kelly and Mark" have been taping new episodes during the strikes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Others that do such as "The Kelly Clarkson Show" and "The Jennifer Hudson Show" have been airing reruns during the work stoppages. "We launched live in a global pandemic," Barrymore said in her statement. "Our show was built for sensitive times and has only functioned through what the real world is going through in real time. "I want to be there to provide what writers do so well, which is a way to bring us together or help us make sense of the human experience. I hope for a resolve for everyone as soon as possible. We have navigated difficult times since we first came on air. And so I take a step forward to start season 4 once again with an astute humility." Read more: Writers' strike: What's at stake and how it could disrupt Hollywood Shortly after the WGA walkout went into effect in early May, Barrymore withdrew from hosting the MTV Movie & TV Awards in support of striking writers. "I made a choice to walk away from the MTV, film and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with, which was studios, streamers, film, and television," Barrymore said Sunday. "It was also in the first week of the strike and so I did what I thought was the appropriate thing at the time to stand in solidarity with the writers." On Wednesday, CBS Media Ventures announced that "The Drew Barrymore Show" would return later this month "with a lineup of cutting-edge guests and key influencers." It's worth noting that no Hollywood actors who are also on strike are among the confirmed guests. Sign up for L.A. Goes Out, a weekly newsletter about exploring and experiencing Los Angeles from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Writers Guild of America members and scribes for The Drew Barrymore Show picketed outside CBS Studios in New York on Monday as the daytime talker resumed filming amid the writers and actors strikes. Two audience members, who had signed up for free tickets to the taping, were handed WGA pins by picketers as they walked in the door and say they were asked to leave before the show began because they were wearing the pins. More from The Hollywood Reporter Dominic Turiczek and Cassidy Carter, two New York City-based students, planned to attend the show after signing up free tickets about a week and a half ago, not aware that the strike was going on. As they walked into the building Monday, both were handed buttons from picketers that read Writers Guild on Strike. The two say they were asked to take off the buttons at security, to which Carter complied. Turiczek was still wearing his button as they entered the studio space. He said a crewmember spotted the button and asked them both to leave. It is our policy to welcome everyone to our show tapings. Due to heightened security concerns today, we regret that two audience members were not permitted to attend or were not allowed access. Drew was completely unaware of the incident and we are in the process of reaching out to the affected audience members to offer them new tickets, a spokesperson for The Drew Barrymore Show wrote in a statement to THR. Drew Barrymore audience members Dominic Turiczek and Cassidy Carter in front of CBS Broadcast Center. The two later joined the picket lines outside, donning WGA shirts, as Turiczek said, If they think were part of the strike, we might as well be. Carter added that she had signed up for tickets as a fan of Barrymore but now has been disheartened by the experience. It really has changed my perspective on her and the show in general, Carter said. Ive been completely alarmed and disheartened by this whole process. Barrymore announced her decision Sunday to resume filming the show, saying that the talk show would not use WGA writers and would otherwise be complying with WGA and SAG-AFTRA rules. The Drew Barrymore Show is produced under the Network Television Code which is a separate contract and is not struck. It is permissible work and Drews role as host does not violate the current strike rules, a SAG-AFTRA rep stated. The show has returned without its writers and WGA said it will be picketing outside the show this week, since it is still a struck show. Mondays scheduled show was a repeat airing of the April 11, 2023, episode, which featured Brooke Shields speaking about her biographical documentary Pretty Baby alongside the films executive producer, Ali Wentworth; and Jordan Fisher, who was in the cast of the Broadway musical Sweeney Todd at the time. The three WGA writers, who are all co-head writers on the show, were in attendance at the picket line and said they found out that the show, which has been on hiatus since April, would resume via audience ticket giveaways that were posted on social media. Chelsea White, one of the Drew Barrymore Show writers, was picketing outside the studio on West 57th Street, and said she was surprised and disappointed that the show had resumed. I think in general, this is obviously bigger than us three writers on The Drew Barrymore Show. It is a bummer to hear that the show is going back because it sends a message that union writers are not valuable. And it goes directly against what the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, all the unions are trying to band together to stand up against the greedy studios, White said. White said after The Drew Barrymore Show posted about starting to tape season four, she began receiving texts from friends asking whether this was good or bad news. We figured that we wouldve heard something if it was an interim agreement. I think a lot of people in the public figured that thats probably what the case was, White said. But since the three of us had not heard anything, we were pretty sure that something was up. White said she has not heard from anyone on the show since the announcement that it would resume filming. Liz Koe, another writer on the show, said she saw co-workers go into the building Monday and that theres mutual support between the co-workers and the writers, adding, Its not just three peoples jobs, its everybodys jobs. Drew Barrymore Show writer Liz Koe in front of CBS Broadcast Center. I think its such a complicated issue. I think that Drew cares about the show. She cares about the crew, she cares about us. She cares about everything and I think she made the best decision that she could, given all those things. And I feel like coming out here today is not a personal thing at all, its really the opposite, its a collective thing, Koe said, adding that its the overall fight for a more fair contract. Im disappointed, but I understand that everybody has to do what they feel is best for them, said writer Cristina Kinon. For me and the WGA writers on the show, its important for us to stick with our union. We deserve a fair contract, so we are here today outside. The three Drew writers arrived early Monday and provided coffee for the other WGA picketers who showed up in support. As for whether the three writers will return to the show once the strike is resolved, they say the issue is complicated, adding that they do not know whether there will still be WGA jobs. In April, when we went on hiatus, which was a couple weeks before the strike, at that time it was the idea to return to the show and that was the last conversation that we had with anyone at the show, White said. As for how she feels about it now, she added: Maybe no comment. Sept. 11, 10 a.m. PT This story originally included the names of guests who were listed on The Drew Barrymore Shows website as appearing on Sept. 11. A CBS rep says those guests are from a repeat show airing today. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Walter Isaacson , the author of Elon Musk s upcoming biography, has clarified an excerpted account which said the SpaceX CEO had intentionally deactivated Starlink coverage off the Crimean coast as a Ukrainian attack was about to get underway. The excerpt, published Sept. 7 by the Washington Post, suggested that Musk personally took charge of the situation and instigated a coverage blackout for the contested shoreline. Isaacson now says that the area was not already covered by Starlink, which Musk corroborated on X, posting: nothing was deactivated. But the damage was done. Online, Musk took a thrashing as people read Isaacsons initial writing for several days: Allowing the use of Starlink for the attack, he concluded, could be a disaster for the world, the excerpt continued. Musk secretly told his engineers to turn off coverage within 100 kilometers of the Crimean coast. In a post on X, Musk wrote that Starlink regions in question were not activated. SpaceX did not deactivate anything. The Starlink regions in question were not activated. SpaceX did not deactivate anything. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2023 According to New York Magazine, Musk also texted Isaacson individually about the excerpt. Isaacson then posted to X to clarify on the Starlink issue. The Ukrainians THOUGHT coverage was enabled all the way to Crimea, but it was not, wrote Isaacson. They asked Musk to enable it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet. Musk did not enable it. To clarify on the Starlink issue: the Ukrainians THOUGHT coverage was enabled all the way to Crimea, but it was not. They asked Musk to enable it for their drone sub attack on the Russian fleet. Musk did not enable it, because he thought, probably correctly, that would cause a Walter Isaacson (@WalterIsaacson) September 9, 2023 Musk showed his appreciation for the correction by reposting it saying Much appreciated, Walter. When New York Magazine asked Isaacson about the retraction he said, I realized that I misinterpreted him that night when he told me he was not allowing Starlink to be used during the attack. I thought he had just made that decision, Isaacson continued. In fact, he was simply adhering to a policy he had previously implemented. So I posted a correction. The post Elon Musk Biographer Retracts Account of Starlink Crimean Blackout appeared first on TheWrap. Emily Blunt is making good on her vow to prioritize family over Hollywood for the next year. Blunt and her husband, fellow actor John Krasinski, enjoyed a rare public family outing on Friday with daughters Hazel, 9, and Violet, 6, at the U.S. Open. Out of the foursome, Blunt seemed to be the most engaged in the match. In photos from the event, the Oppenheimer actor could be seen reacting with enthusiasm to the on-court action at New Yorks Arthur Ashe Stadium. Emily Blunt, Hazel, John Krasinski and Violet at the U.S. Open. Emily Blunt, Hazel, John Krasinski and Violet at the U.S. Open. As numerous outlets have pointed out, Blunt and Krasinski have kept their children out of the public eye and off of their social media accounts. The familys appearance at the U.S. Open comes nearly two months after Blunt announced her plan to take a break from acting to alleviate the emotional cost of leaving her children to take on new projects. This year, Im not working, she said during an appearance on Bruce Bozzis iHeart podcast Table for Two in July. I worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is 9, like, were in the last year of single digits. Blunt could be seen reacting to the on-court action at New Yorks Arthur Ashe Stadium with enthusiasm. Blunt could be seen reacting to the on-court action at New Yorks Arthur Ashe Stadium with enthusiasm. I just feel there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when theyre little, she added. And its, Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed? And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones. Blunt had shared similar sentiments in a June interview with Harpers Bazaar UK, noting that Hazel and Violet didnt find her A-list celebrity status particularly interesting. Whats exciting for them is when I can pick them up from school and take them swimming, she said. Weeks before Blunts announcement, Krasinski credited his wife of 13 years with being the hero at home during the rigorous shooting schedule for the Amazon series Jack Ryan, which aired its fourth and final season this summer. The family outing comes about two months after Blunt announced plans to take a break from acting to focus on her children. The family outing comes about two months after Blunt announced plans to take a break from acting to focus on her children. Her support through this show is whats made it possible for me, he told E! News in June. Not only in the logistics of having to travel the world constantly, and being supportive, and making sure my kids didnt abandon me when I had to go to these countries and shoot. Krasinski also acknowledged having taken such inspiration from Blunt as an actor, noting: Shes also done this action stuff way better than I have. So I go back and I watch Edge of Tomorrow and Jungle Cruiseand get more ideas. Related... UPDATED with CDC recommendation: On the heels of the FDA approving the latest fall Covid vaccine yesterday, a Centers For Disease Control and Prevention panel today signed off on the shots. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19 illness this fall and winter, reads an official statement. Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be available later this week. More from Deadline PREVIOUSLY: The FDA today approved the new, fall Covid vaccine targeting omicron descendant XBB.1.5, which in over the summer was the most prevalent strain in the U.S. Last years vaccines targeted the original strain and an earlier omicron version. According to the AP, the new shots could be available as soon as this week. As Covid numbers inch up across the country, U.S. officials are racing to get the new vaccine approved and available. The final step would be approval by the CDC, which is set to issue recommendations tomorrow. One question that has arisen during the process is whether the new shots will protect against the strains that have eclipsed XBB.1.5 in the past month or so. EG.5 is chief among them, which CDC models estimate made up roughly 21% of all cases nationwide on September 2, the most recent week for which there is forecasting. As of that date, XBB.1.5 had quickly shrunk to 3% of all variants. In the Western region comprised of California, Nevada and Arizona, XBB.1.5 made up more than 28% of all cases. See national chart below. The good news is, per AP, that testing suggests the updated vaccine will offer protection good protection against EG.5, since it is genetically similar to a variant used to develop the vaccine. It doesnt look like something thats vastly different from whats already been circulating in the U.S. for the past three to four months, Andrew Pekosz, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health told the New York Times last week. Of more concern is a variant known as BA.2.86. While only a handful of cases have been identified in the U.S., scientists worry about the possibility of rapid spread because it is as heavily mutated from recent versions of the virus as the original Omicron was from the original Covid strain. While BA.2.86 is thought to be more immune evasive, it is not thought to be more communicable. The impacts of that across the country are unclear. Officials are hoping Americans will get the new Covid vaccine in concert with the yearly fall Flu and RSV vaccines to prevent co-outbreaks on infection that could strain local medical systems. RSV, a respiratory virus, is already on the rise in the Southeastern U.S. Per the CDC, Historically, such regional increases have predicted the beginning of RSV season nationally, with increased RSV activity spreading north and west over the following 23 months. RSV can cause severe disease in infants, young children, and older adults. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Tomorrow, Barbie (Warner Bros.) will make its home-viewing debut at $24.99 for rental, $29.99 for digital download, and will presumably sweep all #1 positions for weeks to come. The extent may depend on the as-yet undated PVOD arrivals of Oppenheimer, Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part One, and Sound of Freedom. For now, our usual chart lineup is down one list: Google Play mysteriously has the same films in the same order for more than a week. In that universe, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is still #1 while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem has yet to chart. (It currently is #2 at Vudu, #4 at iTunes.) More from IndieWire Strays Courtesy Universal Pictures Other #1 slots reflect the ways iTunes and Vudu calculate their lists. No Hard Feelings (Sony), which had an early rental price reduction to $5.99 after success at $19.99, is #1 on iTunes, which calculates by transactions. Just-released R-rated comedy Strays (Universal) leads at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. No Hard Feelings is in sixth place at Vudu, behind five higher-priced PVOD titles. Strays is #5 on iTunes, with two other PVOD titles (Indiana Jones and Turtles) doing better there. Disney+ doesnt provide a list of top-viewed movies, but the studio just announced that The Little Mermaid received 16 million views in its first five days (apparently worldwide, though it didnt specify). That would be the most since Hocus Pocus 2, which skipped theaters domestically. The timing of the announcement is curious. Its a strong response that underlines the importance of striking actors and writers finding a way to be compensated for the high level of consumer interest. What qualifies a film as a Netflix original? Woody Woodpecker, now #1 on its movie top 10, was made by Universal, the studio that created the character with animator Walter Lantz in 1940 as a would-be rival to Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny. The Woody cartoon shorts were staples in the 40s, with TV providing them a new lease on life in the late 50s. Since then, the character has lived on most successfully in Brazil. Universals Illumination began developing Woody Woodpecker in 2011, but that never took flight. However, in 2017 Universal International distributed a live-action-animated hybrid that received only VOD release in the U.S. Its still available there for $3.99, but apparently Netflix made many thousands of parents aware of it for the first time. The N attached in its promos conveys that its at least a domestic premiere and exclusive. Its not, but print the legend. Studio releases take up most of its top 10 but the Adam Sandler production, Youre So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, is still #2, a strong showing in its third week. iTunes ranks films daily by number of transactions. These are the listings for Monday, September 11. Distributors listed are current rights owners. Prices for all titles are for rental. As noted above, at least temporarily Google Play isnt providing updated charts. iTunes 1. No Hard Feelings (Sony) $5.99 2. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney) $19.99 3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony) $5.99 4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) $19.99 5. Strays (Universal) $19.99 6. Meg 2: The Trench $19.99 7. Fast X (Universal) $5.99 8. Elemental (Disney) $19.99 9. Asteroid City (Focus) $5.99 10. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) $5.99 Vudu Vudu ranks by revenue, not transactions, elevating premium VOD titles. This list covers September 4-10. 1. Strays (Disney) $19.99 2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount) $19.99 3. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney) $19.99 4. Meg 2: The Trench (WB) $19.99 5. The Last Voyage of the Demeter (Universal) $19.99 6. No Hard Feelings (Sony) $5.99 7. Elemental (Disney) $19.99 8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Sony) $19.99 9. The Boogeyman (Disney) $14.99 10. Insidious: The Red Door (Sony) $19.99 Netflix Movies Most viewed, current ranking on Netflixs daily chart on Monday, September 11. Originals include both Netflix-produced and acquired titles it initially presents in the U.S. Netflix publishes its own weekly top 10 on Tuesdays based on time viewed 1. Woody Woodpecker (Netflix U.S. original) 2. You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitvah (Netflix original) 3. Snitch (2013 theatrical release) 4. Dredd (2012 theatrical release) 5. Basic (2003 theatrical release) 6. The Eagle (2011 theatrical release) 7. Love Again (2023 theatrical release) 8. Dont Worry Darling (2022 theatrical release) 9. Killers (2010 theatrical release) 10. Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America (Netflix original documentary) Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Like many success stories, it all started with a kid and a dream. But this kid's dreams started relatively small and exploded into something bigger. As the son of farmworkers, life didn't start easy for Jose M. Hernandez. When his parents migrated from Michoacan, Mexico, to California in search of the American dream, Hernandez's aspirations moved north also. Hernandez grew up in San Joaquin County and might be one of Stockton's most recognized role models. Decades after the little boy in the field looked up to the moon and set a goal, his story motivates many readers who have read his book, Reaching For The Stars." Now, a movie about his life is headed for Amazon Prime on Sept. 15 directed by Mexican film director and writer Alejandra Marquez Abella. 'Mijo, yes, you can do it' On Aug. 29, applause echoed inside auditorium 13 at the Regal Stockton City Center downtown. Inside, Hernandez, his family, and friends kept their eyes on the big screen as star Michael Pena was launched into orbit. It was a private screening. Some got goosebumps. In an interview with The Record, Hernandez said he hopes the movie becomes an inspirational classic" for other children. It demonstrates that anything is possible with hard work, and education, the willingness to prepare yourself and not give up on yourself, have that perseverance, Hernandez told The Record. Fourteen years ago, Hernandez served as the mission specialist on the STS-128 mission on the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched in August 2009. The purpose of the mission was to deliver equipment to the International Space Station. "A Million Miles Away" special advance screening in Stockton. The movie highlights Hernandez's numerous failed attempts, 11, as he applied and struggled to get into the NASA program. He was accepted after he nailed his 12th application. His wife, Adela Hernandez, whose character is played by actress Rosa Salazar, accompanied Hernandez. Joining them were his parents. The Ticuitaco, Michoacan natives, Julia and Salvador Hernandez, swelled with pride during the movie. Estamos muy orgullosos de el, ("We are very proud of him.") Julia Hernandez told The Record before the movie screening. She had advice for other mothers who may have children with big dreams. Que cuando los ninos le platiquen algo, que pongan atencion en ves de decir 'U no, cuando vas hacer eso?,' (hay que) darles animo, decirles si, mijo, si puedes, she said. ("When the kids share something, pay close attention, and instead of saying, 'No, when are you going to do that?' encourage them and tell them, Mijo, yes, you can do it.) Jose M. Hernandez greeting parents Julia and Salvador Hernandez prior to movie screening. 'Believe' Salvador Hernandez said that when Jose shared he wanted to be an astronaut, he told him he could do anything. Soy el hombre mas feliz de la tierra ahorita, me siento muy agusto y yo deseo que todos los padres lleguen a sentir lo que siento yo ahorita, ("I am the happiest man on Earth right now, I feel at ease and I wish that all parents get to feel what I am feeling right now.") Salvador Hernandez said before the movie aired. He urged parents to follow one rule with their children, "believe." A los padres, que apoyen mucho a sus hijos. Que les den todo el apollo que ellos requieren y hay que creer en ellos, (To the parents, support your children a lot. Give them all the support that they require and believe in them") Salvador said. Hernandez went from working in the fields with his parents to graduating from Franklin High School in Stockton. He moved on to the University of the Pacific, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. Mentions of UOP, Stockton, and the San Joaquin Valley are present throughout the movie. We didn't try to hide the fact that I was from Stockton," Hernandez said. "I'm very proud of being from Stockton. I wanted to make sure that we got our dues in terms of recognition." San Jose area artist gifts Hernandez a painting during KCRA TV News Reporter Leticia Ordaz Q&A after the movie screening. 'Russian it was.' Hernandez's family has always played a big role in his achievements. Adela Hernandez is his champion. The sixth time, when I was basically ready to give it all up, I had a conversation with my wife. She posed a very important question that sort of made me think because I was ready to give up," the astronaut said. "And she asked, 'What do they have that you don't,' meaning those who just got selected. It was a profound question because I had never posed that question to myself." His goals grew, including becoming a pilot, getting scuba certified, and adding a third language, "Russian, it was." Hernandez said this conversation with his wife was one of his favorite scenes from the movie. "The most important part is the message, and that is for the children to know that it doesn't matter where you came from or your status in life," Adela Hernandez told the crowd during an interview after the screening. "If you have a dream, never give up and persevere." Jose M. Hernandez entering auditorium 13 at the Regal Stockton City Center. 'The Stockton story' Aside from family and friends, Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, Supervisor Tom Patti, and Supervisor Miguel Villapudua also attended. "He's an inspiration to our community, to our city. He's an inspiration to the next generation," Lincoln told The Record. "He has an incredible story that is the Stockton story, the San Joaquin County's story of hope and opportunity, perseverance and hard work." Lincoln brought his niece to the movie to be "inspired to pursue and achieve any dreams that she has in her life," he said. She said she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. His message to her was the night's theme: hope, perseverance, and opportunity. "If you apply those things to your life, the sky's the limit," the mayor said. Amazon also presented a $10,000 check to the Reaching for the Stars Foundation before the movie screening. Hernandez's Stockton-based foundation focuses on introducing children to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). He said he is hopeful the foundation will "develop a support network through community engagement." More than an astronaut Hernandez was just 10 years old when he recalls his father making him hold the antenna of their black and white television to improve reception as he watched NASA astronaut Gene Cernan walk on the moon one December night in 1972. A night that inspired him to reach the starts too. Here I am, you know, watching astronaut Gene Cernan on a black and white TV holding the rabbit ear antennas for dear life to improve reception, Hernandez told The Record in 2022. I would get up and go outside and the moon was almost full and I would come back inside and see astronaut Cernan walk on the moon, listen to the reporter still remember his name, Walter Cronkite narrating that moonwalk and that's when it hit me. I said, you know, this is for me, this is what I want to be. His childhood consisted of traveling back and forth from Mexico to California. He worked in the strawberry, lettuce, and grapes fields to name a few from Ontario, Salinas to Stockton. But going to space is not Hernandez's only accomplishment. After graduating from UOP, he went on to the University of California in Santa Barbara on a full scholarship for a Master's in Electrical Engineering and went on to accept a full-time job as a co-op in college in 1987 with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Reaching for the Stars Foundation website states. In the early 90s at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, with a commercial partner, he led to a tool useful in the early detection of breast cancer. The first-ever full-field digital mammography imaging system. When he made it to the stars, he made sure to celebrate his roots by being the first person to speak Spanish in outer space. Hernandez retired from NASA in 2011. In 2012 Hernandez ran for Congress on President Obama recommendation to run but lost his race against Jeff Denham. His legacy will not only continue through this new film but also through his five children, especially his eldest son Julio Hernandez. He recently graduated with an aerospace Ph.D. from Purdue University and aspires to become an astronaut himself. Hernandez currently lives in Manteca and owns a vineyard, Tierra Luna Cellars, where he works alongside his father Salvador. Not only is he back to his roots but is also giving back to the next generation. Hernandez is the founder of Reaching for the Stars Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire youth to find a passion in STEM, establish family support and community engagement. He also serves as a regent on the UC Board. NASAs loss was Stocktons gain," Hernandez said. "I came back to Stockton and have been here ever since." Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: Here's how to watch Stockton astronaut movie 'A Million Miles Away' Artists Kelly Rowland and Goapele, actors Tichina Arnold, Keith Robinson and Tasha Smith and talk show personality Tavis Smiley were among the celebs spotted enjoying a double dose of generational soul at Maxwells Hollywood Bowl: Fireworks Finale concert Saturday evening (Sept. 9). The sold-out show, featuring opening act SiR, was the second in Maxwells three-night stint at the Bowl. Wearing a red suit with a double-breasted jacket adorned with sparkling jewels on one shoulder down to its sleeve, and an ear-to-ear smile, Maxwell told the audience, Thank you for selling out this night, its nuts! Im getting a little less nervous up here. The alcohol is kicking in. But thank you for 27 years. More from Billboard Starting the proceedings with one of his signature gems, Sumthin Sumthin accented by a sexy two-step that had the ladies screaming Maxwell continued to smoothly transport the audience back down a memory lane of hits and fan faves. The setlist included Dancewitme, Fortunate, Off, Fistful of Tears, Lake by the Ocean, a searing cover of the 1977 Heatwave hit Always and Forever, encore closer Whenever Wherever Whatever and Stop the World. The latter was accented by a churchy organ solo and a cheeky ad-lib, Ima tear that ass up tonight, that sparked cheers and applause. But three songs in particular garnered rapturous sing-alongs and further underscored Maxwells still-supple tenor and hypnotizing falsetto: Bad Habits, Pretty Wings and his 1996 hallmark Ascension (Dont Ever Wonder). Referencing the string of oohs in the latter songs intro (What do you know about the oohs?), the Grammy winner soon had the audience matching him ooh for ooh before shifting into full sing-along mode. At one point, just before a dazzling display of fireworks erupted above the Bowls shell, an emotional Maxwell said, This song is as old as some of you in the house tonight. Maxwells simpatico opening act was SiR. Strolling onstage to enthusiastic yells, the Inglewood, Calif., native kept the audience engaged from start to finish with his soulful tenor that carries a pleasing hint of roughness. Sharing relatable stories about love and life, SiR (who possesses sinuous dance moves of his own) kicked off with John Redcorn and then followed with selections from a catalog that includes three studio albums, the most recent being 2019s Chasing Summer. Among the other crowd-pleasers: Nothing Even Matters, Ooh Nah Nah, his latest single Satisfaction, Hair Down and DEvils. Assisting on background vocals: SiRs mother, Jackie Gouche-Farris, whom he introduced and thanked onstage, and whose backup credits include Michael Jackson and Anita Baker. Maxwell wraps his three-night Hollywood Bowl run Sunday night (Sept. 10) with opening act Raveena. The series commenced on Friday (Sept. 8) with Pink Sweat$. Maxwells upcoming performance slate includes a four-night stand (Oct. 11-14) at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. Davina McCall was bored. She was fed up of watching bikini-clad, spray-tanned twentysomethings search for love on reality TV dating shows. She asked: what about single parents searching for a life partner? And then she had an idea: what about commissioning Love Island, but for middle-aged people? The result is My Mum, Your Dad, which is essentially Love Island meets The Parent Trap (with a bit of Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents and Gogglebox mixed in there). The setting, a Sussex country mansion, resembles that of The Traitors. It follows a group of single parents who have been nominated by their grown-up children for what ITV calls a second chance at love. But there is a twist: the parents have no idea that their children will be watching their every move from a surveillance room aka the bunker down the road. There, the incognito group of relationship experts will witness their parents journeys to find love and get an opportunity to play matchmaker as they decide on the romantic fate of their mums and dads. But the series has had an uncertain journey to the screen. Last year, McCall had sent an email to ITV, in the hope that her concept would be a hit with producers. I wrote an email to Amanda [Stavri, commissioning editor of Reality] at ITV like, Hello, Its Davina here, explains the 55-year-old presenter, speaking on a panel at ITVs studios. I said, I think we should do this show, like a Love Island but for mid-lifers. So I wrote out five bios of friends of mine, like one friend who had lost her husband in Afghanistan. I really went to town and I just planted it there. But unbeknown to McCall, someone had beaten her to it; the format for an almost identical show had already aired last year in the US and Australia. I was like, oh f***, says McCall. She was told by ITV that they were looking at another format and would keep her posted. So, she waited. I thought, OK, Ill keep annoying them. Perhaps in an attempt to keep her occupied, ITV sent McCall episodes from My Mum, Your Dad Australia, which she binged in its entirety with her mum. They watched four 90-minute episodes in one sitting. My mum was like, Ive got to go to the loo! We could not stop! she says. As she waited on a response from ITV, a very eager McCall spent months raving about her idea for the series on social media, on a podcast and by telling all of her friends. Eventually, ITV told her that they were launching a new dating show format for middle-aged single parents and wanted her to host it. I really did believe in it so much, says McCall. It made so much sense: mid-life love. Its so important because there are so many people who are second-time rounders, or who have lost someone, or have gone through life unsuccessful [in love]. My Mum, Your Dads lineup of single forty and fiftysomethings are a group of emotionally bruised yet hopeful people. During the first episode, most seem hesitant and shy many of them are grappling with low self-esteem. And almost all of them are absolutely petrified to be entering the world of dating again. For example, we watch postman Rodger, 58, navigate the complexities of meeting someone new after losing his wife to cancer one year before, with the blessing of his daughter, Jess, 28. Safeguarding and welfare officer Sharon, 53, confesses that she has been cheated on her whole life, so she struggles to let her guard down on dates. And decorating company owner Paul, 47, has a tendency to freak out when things get serious. Other parents have just never found the one. But, quite hearteningly, their children are absolutely rooting for them to find a new love. The show is classy. Unlike Love Island, the contestants in My Mum, Your Dad dont line up by a fire pit and get booted out through a public vote. There are no evictions, no hideaways and definitely no nighttime cameras in the bedrooms. Its not even a villa; its a retreat. And most of all, the prize is not a 30,000 cheque or a Pretty Little Thing brand partnership. (Though all the parents are ridiculously pruned and good-looking.) The parents on My Mum, Your Dad (ITV) The prize, really, is love, says McCall, her voice cracking. I just wanted to see mid-life represented in terms of dating because this second-time-round thing often happens in [your] forties and fifties where youve got children and life is complicated. But, more than ever, you feel that you are at a point in your life where you deserve to find love. Its about opening the door and coming home to someone, she says. Its hard to find it [because] were of that generation who are like, [dating] apps are weird. Like, what do you mean youre dating 17 other people?! McCall and the team at ITV were insistent on keeping the show tasteful. The mid-lifers dont parade around in their bikinis or complete challenges where they have to regurgitate food into each others mouths like their younger Love Island counterparts. And the parents arent being watched by cameras once theyre in the bedrooms. McCall says that it was crucial that the emphasis wasnt placed on sexual intimacy but on an emotional connection. It was important that there were no cameras in the bedrooms because, for me, personally speaking, Id rather watch the hint of love, the hint of something coming. A moment of tenderness thats so exciting instead of jumping into shagging, says McCall [Because] once youve seen it, it doesnt mean anything. But it doesnt seem like any of the parents want to leap into bed straight away. When McCall arrives at the retreat on their first day, they all quiver and tense up when she delivers the news that they are to pick someone to go on a date with. We see the adult children cry, debate and cringe as they watch their parents step back into the world of dating McCall says that some of the parents have needed lots of encouragement throughout filming the series, as many of them navigate confidence issues that have built up from past breakups and rejections. The presenter remembers one instance during filming when she had to spontaneously step in, ignoring the producers advice not to intervene. We had one moment where a person was in a proper crisis, she says. They are so lovely and they just couldnt see it for themselves. I had to go in and tell them, We chose you because you are brilliant! Even though there will be no Love Island-style evictions during the series, contestants will inevitably come and go but its up to them to decide when the time is right. Its not like were going to chuck anybody out, but its more of a decision of [if] they dont think theyre going to find love and it might be time to leave, explains McCall. Most of all, though, the show is a testament to the bond that can grow between single parents and their children. Its an unspoken one that sees the children know exactly what type of partner their parent wants and might need. When the children sit down in the bunker in episode one, some instantly know who their parents will be attracted to. We see the adult children cry, debate and cringe as they watch their parents step back into the world of dating, but ultimately, they are determined that their mum or dad will walk away with a new partner. Its so hard for the child because they feel like they cant move on until their parents find love, says McCall, sighing. The kids were extremely fair, magnanimous, calming and thoughtful. Some of them would be quite outspoken and say, No, I disagree I think my parent deserves this!. Well, there has to be some drama it is reality TV after all. My Mum, Your Dad begins on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Monday 11 September Last Night's Look: All the can't-miss looks on your favorite stars from this week's most major events Gotham/WireImage See what your favorite stars stepped out wearing this week, from Salma Hayek's sizzling hot look at the star-packed Kerings Caring for Women Dinner to the latest white gown in Florence Pugh's red carpet outfit rotation. The photo gallery ahead will give you a look at all the can't-miss outfits from the week all in one place. Salma Hayek Gotham/WireImage Salma Hayek was a knockout in ruby at Kerings Caring for Women Dinner in New York City, to which she wore a low-cut sequin Gucci gown, Jennifer Chamandi heels and Boucheron jewels. Florence Pugh Hanna Lassen/Getty Images White gowns have been a staple for Florence Pugh as of late, and for her appearance at Tiffany & Co.s store in Tokyo, she wore a romantic white sheer design. Laura Dern Nina Westervelt/WWD via Getty Images Laura Dern celebrated friend Brooke Shields (and her Previously Owned by Brooke Shields theater event in New York City) wearing a smart black gown and boots. Angela Bassett Bryan Bedder/Getty Images Angela Bassett glittered from top to bottom in a completely sequin metallic suit at the Waldorf Astoria lounge in New York City. Nicole Kidman James Devaney/GC Images Nicole Kidmans look for the Kering Caring for Women Dinner was the gift that kept on giving. The actress teamed her trailing ribbon-adorned confection with high-drama opera gloves and a slicked-back ponytail. Heidi Klum Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Heidi Klum sure wanted to wow the America's Got Talent audience when she stepped out for the live show in this eye-catching beaded mini. Hailey Bieber Hanna Lassen/Getty Images In Tokyo, Hailey Bieber raised a glass to Tiffany & Co. while wearing a glamorous black feathered gown, pointed-toe heels and elegant drop earrings. Jessica Chastain Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Jessica Chastain stole the show at the Toronto Film Festival Memory premiere, clad in a plunging sequin slip and sporting princessy side-swept hair. Kim Kardashian Paul Morigi/Getty Images Kim Kardashian looked pretty in pink at the Caring For Women Dinner. Her curve-hugging gown featured a delicate train and sequins throughout! Karlie Koss Gotham/WireImage Karlie Kloss commanded attention in a tailored power suit and tie at the Kering Dinner. Linda Evangelista Paul Morigi/Getty Images Linda Evangelista, whos been busy promoting her new book, attended the Kering Caring for Women Dinner in a sleek skirt suit, coordinating with her son Augustin James Evangelista, who also wore a suit to the event. Zoe Kravitz Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images Zoe Kravitz who was recently seen enjoying a New York City night out with beau Channing Tatum and their A-lister friends headed to the Caring For Women Dinner clad in a sparkly white floor-sweeping gown. Cardi B Raymond Hall/GC Images Cardi B turned heads after walking out of the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen New York City studio in a sultry turquoise blue gown and voluminous curls. Maya Hawke Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images Maya Hawke channeled Old Hollywood glamour at the Toronto Film Festival, outfitted in a timeless strapless black gown and pointed-toe heels. Charlize Theron Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images Charlize Theron opted for sleek suiting for her appearance at the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund Charity Day in New York City. The standout piece: the blazer constructed with shoulder pads. Ava DuVernay Robin L Marshall/Getty Images At the Toronto Film Festival, Ava DuVernay's Origin premiere look caught our attention with its stunning details, including its eye-catching yellow hue and feather skirt hem. Gemma Arterton Kayla Oaddams/Getty Images Gemma Arterton, clad in black trousers and a white button-up shirt with sheer sleeves, worked the Critic premiere carpet at the Toronto Film Festival. Nicole Kidman Gotham/GC Images Nicole Kidman poses at the US Open. Nicole Kidman cheered during the final US Open match in New York City while wearing a sophisticated light pink pleated button-up dress (with pockets!) and white loafers. Charlize Theron Anna Webber/Getty Images Charlize Theron poses at the US Open. At the Maestro Dobel Tequila US Open event in New York City, Charlize Theron posed in a preppy pleated skirt styled with a sporty ringer T-shirt and chunky sandals. Mindy Kaling Gotham/GC Images Mindy Kaling poses at the US Open. Mindy Kaling, wearing a Ralph Lauren striped shirt, white jeans and heeled sandals, celebrated Coco Gauffs US Open win with a few of her famous friends. Sofia Richie Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Sofia Richie walks down the street in New York. Sofia Richie Grainge whos been taking New York Fashion Week by storm sported a stylish pinstripe shirtdress and suede knee-high boots. Dakota Johnson Frazer Harrison/Getty Images Dakota Johnson poses at the Toronto International Film Festival. In Ontario, Canada, Dakota Johnson brought seaside style to the Daddio Toronto International Film Festival premiere. She complemented her gown, which featured kitschy oceanic motifs, with brown mules. Alexandra Daddario Anna Webber/Getty Images Alexandra Daddario attends the US Open with Maestro Dobel Tequila. Alexandra Daddario leveled up her US Open wristband and hat with a summery halter dress and white sneakers at the Maestro Dobel Tequila event. Nelly Furtado Ryan Emberley/Getty Images Nelly Furtado poses on the red carpet in Toronto. Nelly Furtado and her glittery metallic one-shoulder gown gleamed on the Annual Artists for Peace and Justice Fundraiser red carpet in Toronto. Patricia Arquette Jeremy Chan/Getty Images Patricia Arquette poses on the red carpet at TIFF. Patricia Arquette arrived at Ontarios TIFF Tribute Gala in a timeless floor-length black gown accessorized with minimal, yet eye-catching, jewelry and an ombre green bag. Camila Morrone Jeremy Chan/Getty Images Camila Morrone poses on the red carpet at TIFF. Dressed in a completely opposite color code from her Gonzo Girl costar Patricia Arquette, Camila Morrone arrived at the TIFF Tribute Gala wearing an all-white ensemble featuring a structured gown, pointed-toe shoes and a round clutch. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Neighbors were still searching for survivors buried on the slopes of the High Atlas Mountains, where houses of mud brick, stone and rough wood were cracked open. Mosque minarets were toppled and the historic old city of Marrakech also suffered extensive damage. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN that the U.S. "reached out immediately" to Morocco to help in the rescue effort. "We're ready to go," he said. "We know there is a great urgency to save people and dig under the remains of buildings," said Arnaud Fraisse, founder of Rescuers Without Borders, who had a team stuck in Paris waiting for approval to go to Morocco. "There are people dying under the rubble, and we cannot do anything to save them." The United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake, the country's most powerful in a century. Rescue efforts were slow, and some Moroccans complained on social networks that the government wasn't allowing more rescue workers into the country to help. A magnitude 3.9 aftershock shook Moroccans on Sunday even as rescuers worked to find survivors in the mounds of rubble left in villages from the powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people on Friday night. The earthquake on Friday felled buildings not built to withstand such a mighty force, trapping people in the rubble and sending others fleeing in terror. "We felt a huge shake like it was doomsday," Moulay Brahim resident Ayoub Toudite told The Associated Press. "Ten seconds and everything was gone." Tremors were felt as far away as Huelva and Jaen in southern Spain. The interior ministry said 2,012 people had been killed and 2,059 injured, including 1,404 in critical condition. The U.S. Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech. Those left homeless by the quake's destruction slept outside Saturday in the streets of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in Atlas Mountain towns like Moulay Brahim that were among the hardest hit. King Mohammed VI ordered three days of national mourning starting Sunday as flags were lowered across the country. The army mobilized specialized search and rescue teams, and the king ordered water, food rations and shelter to be provided to those who lost their homes. The king called for mosques across the kingdom to hold prayers Sunday for the victims, many of whom were buried Saturday amid the frenzy of rescue work nearby. Rescues picked through rubble with their bare hands in the village of Amizmiz near the epicenter. Fallen masonry blocked narrow streets. Outside a hospital, around 10 bodies lay covered in blankets as grieving relatives stood nearby. "When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. But my neighbors couldn't," Mohamed Azaw told the Reuters news agency. "Unfortunately, no one was found alive in that family. The father and son were found dead and they are still looking for the mother and the daughter." Rescuers stood atop the pancaked floors of one building in Amizmiz, bits of carpet and furniture protruding from the rubble. A long queue formed outside the only open shop as people sought supplies. Underlining the challenges facing rescuers, fallen boulders blocked a road from Amizmiz to a nearby village. Nearly all the houses in the area of Asni, about 40 kilometers south of Marrakech, were damaged, and villagers were preparing to spend the night outside. Food was in short supply as roofs had collapsed on kitchens, said villager Mohamed Ouhammo. Street camera footage in Marrakech showed the moment the earth began to shake, as men suddenly looked around and jumped up, and others ran for shelter into an alleyway and then fled as dust and debris tumbled around them. The quake was recorded at 18.5 kilometers, a relatively shallow depth and typically more destructive than deeper quakes of the same magnitude. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960, when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Mohammad Kashani is an associate professor of structural and earthquake engineering at the University of Southampton in Britain. Kashani compared scenes of the aftermath to images from Turkey, where a massive earthquake in February left more than 50,000 people dead. "The area is full of old and historical buildings, which are mainly masonry. The collapsed reinforced concrete structures that I saw... were either old or substandard," Kashani said. Every awards season, pundits leave themselves open to late-year breakers. This is where a film not necessarily on anyones radar comes in and walks away with the industrys most coveted prize for best picture. Past examples include Clint Eastwood s 2004 winner Million Dollar Baby. Now, and coming only days after I declared American Fiction from Cord Jefferson my favorite film of TIFF so far, DuVernay cinematically states, Hold my beer with her emotional drama Origin. Within the awards punditry world, its increasingly been agreed upon that director Christopher Nolan is in the pole position to win his first statuette for directing Oppenheimer. However, DuVernay emerges after bowing at Venice, and now at TIFF, as a viable challenger for the crown. In addition, her leading lady Anjanue Ellis-Taylor is a sure-fire contender for best actress. More from Variety While I wiped tears and snot away during the films end credits, I couldnt help but feel I witnessed something exemplary and special I dont see too often. One of the most challenging things to articulate and understand throughout my life is my own identifying and personal relationship with my own ethnicity and race. As a Puerto Rican-Black man, who has felt rejection from white people, and even my own community at times, Origin was a direct hit posing some of the most daunting questions I have in my own life. With an open heart, and some Kleenex tissues, Origin presents itself as a film with enough quality to rival some of this seasons presumed Oscar frontrunners such as Nolans Oppenheimer, Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon and Yorgos Lanthimos Poor Things. A top-to-bottom awards player in multiple categories, it could put Neon in the pole position for this upcoming season. Read: Varietys Awards Circuit for the latest Oscars predictions in all categories. Origin is based upon the Isabel Wilkerson nonfiction book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent. It follows a journalist (Ellis-Taylor) on the journey to write the bestseller, as she grapples with tremendous personal tragedy. During the Q&A, DuVernay answered an audience question regarding about how she took care of her actors on set. She talked about having mental health professionals while shooting who were readily available to the cast and crew. You can feel her care, not only for her actors, but in Wilkersons deeply emotional and resonating story. DuVernay has made history at the Oscars multiple times. For her Martin Luther King Jr. film Selma (2014), she became the first Black woman to direct a movie nominated for best picture. She garnered the same distinction in 2017 with her masterful 13th, becoming the first Black woman nominated for best documentary feature. Origin Like the ideas Wilkerson presents in her book, DuVernay tackles a broad idea of the origins of racism and class in our global community. Topics surrounding social justice and race are often treated like the F word in society, especially in our tumultuous political climate. No matter how many journalists and pundits will write about the films meticulous and non-preachy nature, Academy members often struggle to engage with Black stories tackling topics such as these notably, one that features the murder of Trayvon Martin. Neon and its awards team will need to challenge Hollywood head-on and ensure the right people see this movie. It wont just be about adapted screenplay, as DuVernay makes the most compelling case yet for the Academys Directors Branch to finally nominate its first Black woman. After being snubbed for Selma (although she became the first Black woman to receive a Golden Globe nod), weve seen the branch continuously pass on critically acclaimed and respected filmmakers including Regina King (One Night in Miami) and Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King). Its time to rectify the omission. If its not now, then I fear they will never do it. The drama is brought to life exquisitely by the anchoring performance of Ellis-Taylor. Surpassing her Oscar-nominated work as Venus and Serena Williams fierce mother in King Richard (2021), her internalized and heartbreaking turn stands as the finest of her career. It would be egregious to see any best actress lineup without the inclusion of her powerfully moving performance. In fact, its strong enough to even consider the possibility of following in the footsteps of Halle Berry , the first and only Black woman to win for Monsters Ball (2001). With such a difficult role, that has narration and reaction moments, she navigates it with precision and the utmost skill. Her former King Richard co-star Jon Bernthal has a brief but loving role as Isabels husband Brett. Also effective, and a prospect for best supporting actress is Niecy Nash-Betts as Marion, Isabels cousin, who infuses charming one-line zingers and a needed lens into the characters personal story. Nash-Betts will likely get an added boost in January when she (most likely) wins an Emmy for Netflixs Dahmer. Veteran actress Audra McDonald delivers her second one-scene wonder this year, making the most of her moment in one crucially memorable monologue. The other scene is in George C. Wolfes Rustin with Colman Domingo, which is also screening at TIFF. DuVernay knows how to assemble a team of artisans that are equally worthy of being nominated. Composer Kris Bowers tender music only elevates the movies most emotional scenes while editor Spencer Averick makes every scene feel vital to the story. Whats surprising is the directors choice to recruit Emmy-nominated D.P. Matthew J. Lloyd (Fargo) whose smooth movement and intimate framework stand tall in the adult drama genre this year. I pray the Academy, and the industry, dont shut this film and its artists out, resting on fear of confronting the truth of our society. If anything, it can teach us how to be better to one another. No matter what, this will be a tricky one to steer. 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. All the Light We Cannot See. Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure in episode 101 of All the Light We Cannot See. Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix Aria Mia Loberti as Marie-Laure in 'All the Light We Cannot See' When filmmaker Shawn Levy (The Adam Project, Deadpool 3) met Anthony Doerr , the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See, his perspective on the limited series adaptation instantly changed. A rabid fan (like so many others) of the 2014 World War II-set best-selling novel, Levy and his production company, 21 Laps, had been pursuing the screen rights, which he says were "instantly unavailable." But they had kept tabs on the previous movie version of the novel, and when that didn't come together, he called up Doerr. "Talking to that guy was fascinating," Levy recalls to EW, Zooming in from his New York home in early August. "He's a very warm, enthusiastic man, and he was just so beautifully thrilled to see his story getting another life, this time on screen. What I got from him is that the genesis of this story wasn't blindness, as some people assume, given the title. It was the radio." All the Light We Cannot See tells of the converging paths of Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind French teen who's forced to flee Paris with her father as the Nazis invade, and Werner Pfennig, a German orphan with a natural affinity for radios who's forcibly indoctrinated into the Reich to track down illegal broadcasts. The book, Levy continues, comes from "this notion that the human eye can only see one 10-trillionth of all the light in the universe, and that as humans we're ultimately limited in what we can perceive. But the advent of radio, which was on the one hand a tool of propaganda for the Nazis, was also a way of sharing truth and beauty and information not to mention codes [from those] that believed the world could be better. It was very interesting to me and maybe not what I would've thought quite as much about were it not for conversations with [Doerr]." Levy discusses five key scenes from the novel that he brought to life on screen for the four-part miniseries adaptation (on Netflix Nov. 2) that speak to the heart of this moving story. The model of Paris All the Light We Cannot See Courtesy of Netflix Mark Ruffalo as Daniel LeBlanc and Nell Sutton as young Marie-Laure in 'All the Light We Cannot See' Touch often links to memory in the storytelling of All the Light We Cannot See. In one particular sequence early in the drama, Marie-Laure (Aria Mia Loberti) runs her hands across a wooden model of St. Malo as a means of mapping out the area in her mind. She fled to this oceanside city with her father, Daniel LeBlanc (Mark Ruffalo), and now resides at the home of her uncle, Etienne (Hugh Laurie). Feeling the model triggers a memory of how her dad once built a similar model of Paris for her as a child so that, if they were to ever separate or she were to venture out alone, she could find her way around. The sequence begins with a grown-up Marie-Laure feeling her way through St. Malo as the camera then transitions to the flashback of her younger self (Nell Sutton) learning her way around Paris with her father. "I want to stress that these are not 3D printed," Levy states. "This model of Paris and later the model of St. Malo are arguably the most iconic objects from the novel. So, we had craftsmen in Hungary build both by hand. And if you look at the close-ups, the wood would've had to be sourced from wine crates and discarded trash. So, this is not planks and Balsa wood. This is reclaimed wood that these carpenters honed and edged and hot-glued and turned into these magnificent models. The first time that both Aria and Nell navigated these models with their fingers was goosebumps all around." More than that, Levy considers these wooden models to be "totems of the love and devotion" Daniel feels for his daughter. He built them to foster Marie-Laure's autonomy and independence, regardless of sight. "The father-daughter relationship, more generally, resonated for me powerfully in the book," the filmmaker says. "I knew, especially if I was gonna direct every episode, that the father-daughter connection and love would be at the core of the storytelling." Werner's journey begins All the Light We Cannot See Courtesy of Netflix Louis Hofmann as Werner Pfennig, Ed Skrein as Ed Siedler, and Luna Wedler as Jutta in 'All the Light We Cannot See' The start of Werner's (Louis Hofmann) story is similarly marked by violence. His life is forever altered when Herr Siedler (Ed Skrein), a Nazi official, arrives at the orphanage where he and his sister, Jutta (Luna Wedler), reside. It's the moment that will lead to his induction to an elite, draconian boarding school for Hitler youth where he's brutalized and trained as a Nazi soldier. "I remember that Luna and Louis made clear to Ed that they were comfortable with the physicality of the scene," Levy recalls of filming Siedler's arrival. "The first time that Ed clamps his gloved hand on Luna's mouth when she tries to speak up, the violence of the way he jabs his index finger into the top of Louis' head or yanks him up from that chair, there's a sudden violence to these gestures that are horrifying and important in understanding the true nature of this Siedler character. It was quite remarkable." Siedler remains as complex a character on screen as he is in the source material. He's a relatively low-ranking Nazi official who's valuable in that he delivers young prodigies to indoctrination camps. "Werner is his passport to importance with his Nazi bosses, and that's an interesting dimension," Levy says. Though, the director also makes note of the inner turmoil he feels surrounding Werner, a boy for which he feels paternal in his own way. "What if there's a sudden surge of conscience? You can't do anything about it because it's too late. You've delivered him to the devil," Levy says. "But what if you realize now you've made a terrible, inarguable mistake? What Ed Skrein does in his eyes, clocking that conscience, is quite heartbreaking and a color that I've never seen from that actor." This sequence is one of the few we see of Jutta, but the character's memory is precious to Werner as he embarks on the harsh journey before him. Levy notes, "Long after he is taken away by the Nazis, Jutta remains this fixture in his mind as an expectation that he would fight to preserve his better self in the face of evil and propaganda." The Old Ladies' Resistance Club All the Light We Cannot See Courtesy of Netflix Daniel LeBlanc (Mark Ruffalo) meet the Old Ladies' Resistance Club in 'All the Light We Cannot See' There comes a time when Madame Manec (Marion Bailey), the longtime housekeeper at Etienne's residence in St. Malo, introduces Ruffalo's Daniel to the key figures behind the resistance operation in the French city. He's surprised to find that they are all women of a certain age. Levy remembers the levity that came with filming this scene, partly "because all of the baked goods that the props department brought in were actually as delicious as they look," he says. These women comprise what is referred to as the Old Ladies' Resistance Club. It's the notion that the most overlooked residents of St. Malo are beyond suspicion, able to operate safely in the shadows. They mention how Nazi soldiers will openly tell them secrets when they bring them treats, because they remind them of their moms back home. "I think there's something aspirational about it," Levy remarks. "There's something fun about these old women who so often people in society people don't give a second thought to, but their patriotism remains fierce. Their commitment and ingenuity remains strong." It's a crucial introductory scene because it gets to the root of All the Light We Cannot See: In the face of such dark, depressing material as the Nazis of World War II, there is still light in the form of a group of cheerful older women fighting the good fight, one baked good at a time. "I never wanted to do a pure drama. This is certainly more dramatic than any movie or show I've directed, excluding certain episodes of Stranger Things," Levy says. (The director of films like Free Guy, Real Steel, and Date Night also helmed episodes of Stranger Things, which he executive produces.) "I found the novel profound, but also wildly entertaining. I wanted our series to be both, as well: occasionally funny, specific in its characters, resonant in its themes, and ultimately moving and in some way aspirational, that hope can persist in the face of darkness." Home invasion All the Light We Cannot See Courtesy of Netflix Lars Eidinger as Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel in 'All the Light We Cannot See' Lars Eidinger has Adam Driver to thank for landing the role of Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel, the Nazi officer hellbent on finding a rare jewel with rumored mystic properties. Driver had starred in Levy's 2014 dramedy This Is Where I Leave You, which also featured Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Jane Fonda, and Rose Byrne. The Star Wars and House of Gucci actor remained friends with his filmmaker. "We hang out a few times a year," Levy says. "I was getting ready to make [All the Light We Cannot See], and Adam said to me, 'You need to know this guy, Lars Eidinger. He's doing White Noise with me right now.'" Driver played Jack Gladney, a professor of the self-founded field of "Hitler studies," in the 2022 Noah Baumbach-directed White Noise, which also featured Eidinger as the character Mr. Gray. "No one in the U.S. has heard of him," Levy remarks of the Eidinger. "He's famous in Europe for his avant-garde Hamlet, but this guy is just a beast of an actor. I Zoomed with Lars and he read a scene, and within two lines the decision was made. He was so singular, so strange, so charming, but also scary. It was everything I wanted for Von Rumpel." Those qualities are on display in a sequence that takes place deeper into the miniseries. On his hunt for the Sea of Flames, a cursed diamond last seen in Daniel's possession that's rumored to grant immortality, Von Rumpel tracks down Marie-Laure in Etienne's St. Malo home. She's able to barricade herself in the attic, but the Nazi stalks up the staircase, ready to claim his prey. "Von Rumpel's desperation is ratcheted up as his health degrades," Levy explains. "Lars filmed this scene on his first day. So, his first scene was one of Von Rumpel's last scenes. He came having made choices about Von Rumpel's failing health, and he keyed off of a detail in the book that Von Rumpel has a tumor in his throat. So, Lars made this choice to almost cut off his own air right before I would say action. I would see Lars resisting breath so that by the time I said action, you felt this character's desperation for oxygen. It's uncomfortable to watch. Sometimes it's scary to watch, but that's what makes it perfect for this villain, because he's willing to do anything to get what he thinks could be the object that saves his life." "Don't you want to be alive before you die?" All the Light We Cannot See Courtesy of Netflix Hughe Laurie as Etienne LeBLanc in 'All the Light We Cannot See' About a month before filming began, Levy reread Doerr's novel for what was perhaps the sixth time. What was different with this go-around was he did so with a highlighter. The teleplay by Steven Knight was all written at that time, but there was always an opportunity for last-minute additions. "I highlighted every time there was a description or a line of dialogue that struck me but wasn't in our show, and then Steve and I integrated them into the script before we shot," he says. One of those lines was a widely recognized piece of dialogue from the book. Loberti's Marie-Laure is sitting at the kitchen table in St. Malo, discussing God with Madame Manec. The girl wants to know if humans see the Almighty upon their death. "What if you're blind?" she asks. Madame Manec responds, "I believe that if God wants us to see something, we'll see it." That, Levy points out, "is verbatim from the book." Shortly after, Etienne comes in, wanting to join the resistance efforts, but is paralyzed by agoraphobia. Again, Madame Manec gives a simple but world-shaping piece of advice: "Don't you want to be alive before you die?" "I love the self-loathing that Hugh Laurie conveys, feeling so limited by his trauma," Levy explains of this exchange. "I love Madam Manec's fierce affection for him, trying to provoke him into action. I think Hugh Laurie is the s--- in this show, just so unlike we've ever seen him. And also, I really did make this show as a rabid fan of the book. I love some of the ways in which we diverged from the book, but I also love where I was able to literally integrate the things I loved into the series." "Don't you want to be alive before you die?" has become an uplifting chant for Doerr's work. Many a book club have already unpacked the line since first reading those words. To Levy, it conjures up an image from another show he's currently obsessing over (like the rest of us), FX's The Bear specifically, the close-up shot in season 2 of Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Richie observing a message that reads, "Every second counts." "[It's] this reminder, this theme of we can pass the time that we're on this earth and run out the clock or we can live vigorously," Levy muses. "And that means different things to different people. For some, it's the pursuit of good or it's the pursuit of a goal. For some, it's loving and being loved as much as possible. How we define it is very personal, but this idea of being fully alive while we have the chance is relatable to all humans who have ever lived." All the Light We Cannot See premieres Nov. 2 on Netflix. Make sure to check out EW's Fall TV Preview cover story on Gen V as well as all of our 2023 Fall TV Preview content, releasing through Sept. 21. Related content: Paulina Rodriguez was on her way to California from the Dominican Republic when she said her dog was lost during a layover in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport/Twitter Pet Dog Missing for 3 Weeks in Atlanta Airport Safely Reunited with Owner A pet dog that went missing for three weeks in the Atlanta Airport has been reunited with her owner, according to airport officials. Six-year-old Maias owner, Paulina Rodriguez, was flying from the Dominican Republic to California on Delta Air Lines for a two-week vacation when her dog disappeared on Aug. 18, CNN Travel first reported. After three weeks, an official airport report gave a happy update on the investigation. Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the worlds busiest airport, was recovered on September 9, Atlanta Airport wrote on X (previously known as Twitter). ATLs Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon. Maia, the dog who escaped onto the airfield at the worlds busiest airport, was recovered on September 9. ATLs Operations team found her hiding near the North Cargo facilities. Tired but in apparent good health, she was transported to a vet and is expected to return home soon. pic.twitter.com/eNbM6us1BW Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) September 10, 2023 According to Rodriguez's Instagram, she finally reunited with her pup and was on her way home. During the search, she shared updates on social media about the distressing situation. SHE IS NOT JUST MY DOG. SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND ON EARTH, Rodriguez wrote in an Instagram post at the time Maia was lost. @delta took her away from me even though i kindly asked them she was my emotional support and she was in DISTRESS and she broke her kennel and ran into the airport highway. She has been lost for 72 hours now, Rodriguez added. She is extremely sensible to noise and she must be scared to death. #whereismaia @delta @edbastian @atlairport Her layover included the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, recognized by the Airports Council International as the "busiest airport in the world." Rodriguez told CNN that when she arrived at the airport, she could not enter the U.S. because there were problems with her tourist visa. She said they told her she had to fly back to the Dominican Republic the next day. Robert Alexander/Getty Pet Dog Missing for 3 Weeks in Atlanta Airport Safely Reunited with Owner Related: ASPCA Rescues Over 190 Dogs and Cats Found Living in 'Filthy and Dangerous Conditions' in Louisiana Concerned about Maia, who had "puked with distress and had diarrhea," Rodriguez told the outlet that the airport said "not to worry" because Maia would be in a facility that cared for animals However, Rodriguez said that when she arrived, her dog wasnt there. 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. Related: Husky Dog Shows Tiny 3-Legged Rescue Puppy How to Walk After Amputation Watch! (Exclusive) "For 2 straight days I have not received any information whatsoever on her whereabouts, and just today I received info from Delta that she escaped her kennel on the airport ramp and that airport staff was looking for her," she wrote in a Facebook post on Aug. 21. "Has any shelter near to the Atlanta airport received this dog? Also if anyone has any leads or suggestions on what should I do, I would really appreciate it. I am truly desperate and every minute counts," she added. "To clarify, I am not in Atlanta and I have no way right now to get there, but I have people who will go to the ATL airport in person very soon." A Delta spokesperson told PEOPLE after the incident that the airline was in communication with Rodriguez. Delta people are heartbroken over what this customer and her family are going through, the spokesperson said. Delta remains in contact with her as we continue to keep all eyes and ears open for her dog. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Spike Lee blasted critics who suggested that Do The Right Thing would spark riots when it opened in 1989, while honoring one of the reviewers who came to the films defense. The remarks came as Lee received the Ebert Director Award, named for the late film critic Roger Ebert, at the Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards on Sunday. Your husband got behind me when those mother fkers in the press were saying that Do the Right Thing was going to incite Black people to riot, Lee said, as he accepted his prize from Chaz Ebert , the late critics wife. That this film should not be shown in the United States. More from Variety Lee cited David Denby and Joe Klein as two of the most prominent critical voices against the film, which has gone to be considered one of the greatest films ever made. The pair wrote, Lee recalled, that readers should hope to God that this doesnt open in your neighborhood. He went on to note, The struggle still continues. Its not an even playing field. But were going to keep getting on. The Oscar winner wasnt the only bold-faced name at the dais, even if few could match his passion. Colman Domingo, Vicky Krieps, Patricia Arquette, Pedro Almodovar and Shawn Levy were honored at the Toronto International Film Festival Tribute Awards on Sunday. Domingo, who was recognized with a performer award for his work in the prison drama Sing Sing, remembered a time when he was struggling in his career and complaining to his mother about not getting a break. She advised him to do some volunteer work so he could do something thats not about yourself a bit of advice that shaped his approach to performing. Anything that I do or touch, it really is at the core, he said. If you see me play a villain or you see me play a hero or a Civil Rights leader, its service. Thats what I care about. And Im very particular about what I do and the rooms that Im in and the people that I want to build with. Because I want to love and fall in love with everyone that I work with. I really do. Krieps, who also received a performer award for her performance in the Western love story The Dead Dont Hurt, said, I never know what to think of prizes and awards And then my children told me, Mom, this is cool. Its a trophy. And now I get it. Arquette, the recipient of the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, is at Toronto with her feature directorial debut Gonzo Girl, a drama about a young woman working as the personal assistant to a Hunter S. Thompson-like writer. She admitted that sometimes she was intimidated about making the transition from acting in films like Boyhood and True Romance to directing a low-budget film with a tight shooting schedule. I do know one thing about myself: that I have a killer fing work ethic,, Arquette said. You give me that job. Im going to kick ass with that job the best I can. Almodovar, the recipient of the Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media, made the trip to TIFF with his new short film Strange Way of Life. The Spanish auteur, whose films helped provide a platform for LGBTQ+ talent, was touched to be recognized, not just for his art, but for his advocacy. It is an honor to think that my work has helped people and allowed society to be more fair, permissive, plural and free, he said. Almodovar noted that he was born under the leadership of Francisco Franco, but benefited from getting into the movie business right after the dictator died and democracy was starting to blossom. I am proof the change operating in my country was real, he said. And Levy, a Stranger Things producer and the director of Free Guy and the upcoming Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See, was honored with the Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award. Before he grabbed his prize, he embraced presenter Taika Waititi in a big bear hug and engaged in some light-hearted ribbing. When I heard Taika was going to present this, I figured it was 50-50 whether he would say my name in the speech, anything Ive ever directed. Its a beautiful wild card that you are Taika. Levy acknowledged how lucky he was to make art for a living. Its a privilege to work in a creative field, he said. And to be able to craft narratives that connect with and that are about connections with other humans. The fact that my movies and my shows have resonated for so many around the worldis more than a dream come true, because I never dreamed this. This is more than I dreamed. I just wanted to be able to do this job. ukasz Zal, the Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Cold War and Ida, received the TIFF Variety Artisan Award. Hes in the awards conversation once again for his work on Zone of Interest. I was so privileged to work with such great directors, Zal said, citing collaborators like Jonathan Glazer and Pawe Pawlikowski. I learned so much from them. I learned that there is never a straight and easy way[and] the most beautiful things can happen from a mistake And I learned you should never compromise. Other honorees on Sunday included Carolina Markowicz, who is at the festival with her second feature, Toll. She received the TIFF Emerging Talent Award. TIFF also made news of its own, announcing that it was rechristening its theater, the TIFF Bell Lightbox, as the Viola Desmond Cinema after the Canadian civil and womens rights activist. Shortly before the festival kicked off, Bell Canada, the telecommunications company that had been a long-standing sponsor of TIFF since 1995, announced it was ending its support. The Awards night is TIFFs largest annual fundraiser, raising $1.3 million in 2022. This year, the Tribute Awards gala will support the Viola Desmond Cinema campaign launched through the Every Story Fund in 2022. Past honorees include Oscar winners such as Jessica Chastain, Roger Deakins, Brendan Fraser, Anthony Hopkins, Joaquin Phoenix, Taika Waititi, Michelle Yeoh and Chloe Zhao. 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. Proud New Yorker Spike Lee took time to address the 22nd anniversary of Sept. 11 during a keynote talk at the Toronto Film Festival on Monday. Specifically, Lee recalled he was in Los Angeles on that Tuesday in 2001 and was scrambling to get back to his hometown in crisis to be with his family. More from The Hollywood Reporter The world has changed since that day, Lee said of 9/11 on Monday during a Visionaries session presented by The Hollywood Reporter. Lee began his keynote with a 30-minute episode of NYC Epicenters 9/11 -> 2021 1/2, his 2021 four-part documentary for HBO that filters the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial reckoning of the summer of 2020, the Jan. 6 insurrection and the tragedy of 9/11 through the directors New York city perspective. Theres some rough things youll see. But as a filmmaker, Ive never been one to hide shit. Its not simulated computer stuff. This is real, what happened to, in my opinion dont get mad the greatest city in the world, Lee said in introducing the episode. The solemn screening was timed for the 22nd anniversary of the deadly terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., which came midway through the Toronto Film Festival that year. After the episode ended, Lee returned to the stage for a standing ovation and rapturous applause from industry conference delegates at TIFF. Lee recalled being in L.A. to pitch a movie project and then having to get back to New York via train as no planes were flying. There werent train tickets either, until one suddenly appeared. The pullman porters, they gave me a bunk. And you cant go from L.A. to New York, you have to go through Chicago. They had called ahead so I could have a place to sleep. I got back to New York that Friday, Lee remembered. On Sunday night, Lee received the Ebert Director Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards in Toronto. Lees prolific run of films he has both written and directed began with 1983s Joes Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, and Lee has penned screenplays for films he directed including Shes Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, School Daze, Malcolm X, Red Hook Summer, Chi-Raq, BlacKkKlansman and Da 5 Bloods. He has been nominated for five Oscars and in 2019 won best adapted screenplay alongside Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott for BlacKkKlansman. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. The Bravo reality stars got engaged in August 2022 and planned to tie the knot in Mexico this fall Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke have officially called it quits. After getting engaged in August 2022 and planning to tie the knot this fall in Mexico, PEOPLE can confirm the Summer House stars have called off their engagement and canceled their nuptials. In a letter to family and friends obtained by PEOPLE, Radke, 38, announced the news and apologized for any confusion or inconvenience this may cause. "Words cannot possibly express how difficult the last two weeks have been for Lindsay and I," he wrote. "We are so incredibly sorry to all of our guests for the confusion and lack of communication. We were left trying to figure out how this all exactly happened before we could even have the opportunity to determine the path forward amongst ourselves." "There have been a lot of false narratives and misunderstandings that have made this all the more painful but sadly at this time we are not moving forward with the wedding," Radke continued. "The fact of the matter is Lindsay is devastated and I'm crushed with how all this transpired. I graciously ask for some patience and grace to heal and recover while we navigate this extremely difficult time." Clifton Prescod/Bravo via Getty Acknowledging that their guests' "commitment of money and time was already a lot," Radke noted, "I don't take [this] lightly. We are super grateful for the love and support you have shown us and will do what I can to help with any costs associated with changing plans." Radke then discussed the alternative plans that their loved ones could pursue, including still going to Mexico for a vacation or canceling their reservations altogether, before concluding his note. "I'm sorry again this has become such a mess," he wrote. "Thanks for your unconditional love and support during this tough time. Will be in touch with further updates. With love, Carl" Reps for Radke and Hubbard have not responded to PEOPLE's request for comment. Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard In mid-August, Hubbard celebrated her bridal shower at Cathedrale restaurant in New York City with her costars Amanda Batula, Danielle Olivera, Ciara Miller, Gabby Prescod and Sam Feher in attendance. I have such an amazing group of girlfriends that were not going to let me get away without having a bridal shower, Hubbard told PEOPLE. They've been in my life for such a long time and they've been on this crazy roller coaster of a journey to find love with me right by my side through every single relationship. I feel so lucky and blessed to have the girlfriends that I have and to be able to celebrate the biggest moment of my life with them before that next chapter. It's just such a special treat to be able to do that. Related: 'Summer House' Star Lindsay Hubbard Goes Wedding Dress Shopping Before Nuptials to Carl Radke! (Exclusive) Radke surprised Hubbard, 37, at the end of the shower, later posting on Instagram: "You are going to make such a beautiful bride." Hubbard told PEOPLE at the time she and Radke had been finalizing wedding details. "It's so sweet to see Carl as we keep checking to-dos off of our list and as it's getting closer, she said. We are literally three months away at this point, and it's going to go by so fast. And then next thing you know, I'm going to be walking down the aisle. Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images Carl Radke and Lindsay Hubbard In July, PEOPLE went wedding dress shopping with Hubbard at Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. Really, all I want is for Carl to cry, when I'm walking down the aisle, and get a boner when he sees me at the reception because isn't that what we always want as a bride; cry, and then get a boner, and we're good? she joked. Related: Summer House's Carl Radke Admits 'Deep-Rooted Anger' Has Impacted Guest List for Wedding to Lindsay Hubbard Radke proposed to Hubbard at Southampton's Dune Beach last summer after less than one year of dating while filming Summer House season 7. "I'm really happy with how it turned out," Radke told PEOPLE at the time. "She means everything to me, and I wanted it to be something that was reflective of my love for her and how excited I am to take the next step." Radke popped the question with a Nicole Rose ring featuring a 3.5-carat square brilliant cut cushion with two half-moon diamonds on the side (making the ring 4.02 carats total). "It's a whole lot of love," Hubbard said. "It's very clear, if you look at this finger, that this man loves me so much." Lindsay Hubbard/Instagram Some of the couple's costars thought Hubbard and Radke, who met in 2016 on season 1 of Summer House, got engaged too quickly. "There's no playbook," he said in an confessional interview during season 7. "There's no rules about when you're supposed to get engaged. I'm just going for what feels right in my heart. This is the biggest decision I'll ever make in my life. I just know that I'm happy. I'm in love. I want to take this next step with my best friend. Is it quick? Maybe, but I see a future here, and I want to make that more official." Related: 'Summer House' : Lindsay and Carl's Engagement Ripples in the Group, Making Craig 'Insecure' About Paige Adam Szulewski, Olga Lezhepekova Lindsay Hubbard and Carl Radke's enagement In May 2022, Hubbard shared with fans on Instagram that she had begun the process of freezing her eggs by starting hormone injections. "I finally found a couple of weeks/time to sit still enough in NYC to follow through with the egg freezing process! " Hubbard said. "Right now, I'm on my 3rd day of hormone injections (I started on Friday) and it's really not so bad but I have about another week to go, so we'll see lol!" During the sixth season of Summer House, Hubbard talked about exploring the option. "I've been thinking and talking about freezing my eggs for a while," she shared. "I settled in the past and I was forcing something because I was up against my own timeline. If I could just stop the biological clock and eliminate that as part of my process of choosing a partner, then maybe I can find somebody who is actually meant for me." Hubbard has since praised Radke for being "a rock" during her egg freezing, as well as when she told him she'd had a miscarriage with former Winter House costar Jason Cameron. "He was amazing and so, so sweet. He took me to acupuncture to help relieve any stress and tension ... and took me to my actual procedure, brought me home," she recalled to PEOPLE. "He also booked us a night at the spa after my [egg] retrieval, where he got us massages. He's been extremely, extremely supportive." 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. Summer House can be streamed in full on Peacock. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Teacher opens with text informing the viewers that the film was Inspired by True Events. Most obviously, this refers to the case of Gilad Shalit, an Israel Defense Forces soldier whose imprisonment by Palestinian militants and 2011 release in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners is lightly fictionalized during the movie. But more broadly, it speaks to the films commitment to portraying the struggles of living in Palestine in a time of perpetual strife, where violence and displacement is a constantly looming threat and justice feels constantly out of reach. Although Shalits capture and release inspired the backbone of Farah Nabulsi s debut feature, his counterpart in the film, Nathanial Cohen, is a mere plot device spoken about more than hes glancingly seen. Our protagonist is instead completely fictional Basem ( Saleh Bakri , most recently seen in The Blue Caftan), a Palestinian man who teaches English at a small boys school. At his job hes stern but gentle, guiding shyer students through oral recitations before chewing out the troubled Yacoub (Bakris younger brother Mahmoud) when he hands in a phoned-in assignment. But although he puts on a peaceful and decidedly nonpolitical front, Basem is also a man with deep anger toward the occupation of his country, and the film slowly reveals his ties to the Palestinian political resistance group that have held Cohen in captivity for three years, who eventually charge him with keeping the prisoner at his home. More from IndieWire In brief flashbacks, Basem had a son and wife, but when the film begins hes currently living alone in the same small village as Yacoub and his meek brother Adam (Muhammad Abed El Rahman). Yacoub and Adams father died several years ago, and the two often act as surrogate sons to Basem while he picks up fatherly duties towards them, rallying to support them when their house is abruptly bulldozed by Israeli settlers. He stresses patience toward the hot-headed Yacoub, who has a criminal record looming over him warnings that prove tragically founded when Yacoub confronts settlers burning down the towns olive trees, only to be shot dead in the process. From that inciting incident, The Teacher promises a potentially emotionally devastating story of revenge one that never really manages to take off. Before The Teacher, Nabulsi won a BAFTA and netted an Oscar nom for her debut short, The Present, which, like her debut feature, also starred Bakri, and was shot in Palestinian territory in the West Bank. Nabulsi, who was born and raised in London to parents from Palestine, is clearly passionate about using her work to bring attention to the way Israels violence towards Palestine impacts the every day lives of civilians. But good intentions dont always translate to strong storytelling, and in The Teacher which frequently resembles an elongated short film rather than a fleshed out feature good intentions are pretty much all that show up onscreen. The Teacher TIFF The central dynamic of the film is between Basem and Adam, who is left devastated after Yacoubs death and bitter as it becomes increasingly clear this his murderers are unlikely to receive significant punishment. When Israeli forces looking for Cohen begin searching their neighborhood, Adam discovers Basems double life and forcibly inserts himself in it, hoping to find some sense of justice and purpose. Basem, who clearly sees his own son in the furious Adam, does everything in his power to keep him in line, and the push-pull between the two is the engine for the majority of the films conflict. But the chemistry is off; theres no real sense of shared history between the men, and little real friction or tension results from their arguments. Bakri, a talented actor with perfectly weary eyes, does what he can with the material, but newcomer Rahman struggles to add dimension that simply isnt there in Nabulsis unengaging script, which skates over the particulars of these characters in favor of keeping them as broad, largely forgettable archetypes. In the third act, Adam moves into Basems house, and the resulting domestic activities that bring the two closer together is covered in a quick, rushed montage that pushes their bond further out of the audiences grasp. Other relationships get too much attention, such as Basems romance with Lisa (Imogen Poots). A social worker from Britain assigned to look after Yacoub, Lisa feels like a vestigial character pretty much from the jump, an unnecessary audience surrogate with limited personal investment in the life or death conflict that Basem and Adam are embroiled in. But the film insists on throwing her together in scenes with Basem, as he helps her situate to life in the West Bank and takes her on romantic car rides to sample local cuisine. As gorgeous as Bakri and Poots are onscreen, together they have the spark and chemistry of two coworkers talking one-on-one for the first time at a work dinner, and their inevitable coupling never manages to justify itself as a necessary or even enjoyable part of Basems overall arc. With so much time sucked up by the tacked-on romantic subplot, The Teacher gives short shrift to dynamics that carry much more necessity and weight. Basems backstory is dolled out in a few short perfunctory flashbacks. Also involved in the action is Cohens parents, Simon (Stanley Townsend) and Rachel (Andrea Irvine). American Jews who disapproved of their son running off to join the IDF (an invention for the film; the real Shalit was born and raised in Israel), the two express discomfort and ambivalence about the actions of the Israeli government, though they still partner with them to find their son. In the best scene in the film, Simon and Basem briefly come face-to-face, and their parallel struggles as fathers whose sons have been affected by the conflict comes into focus even as Basem astutely points out how Simons child is given much more humanity and priority than his own. Its a raw moment of emotion that briefly brings the film alive, but doesnt uplift whats surrounding it. In a climate where Palestinian perspectives on the conflict are given limited opportunity for exposure, its difficult not to root for a film like The Teacher which provides a necessary counterbalance. But the movie struggles to translate its noble aims to compelling drama, with any audience investment merely being a byproduct of the inherently high stakes. The films conclusion is a moment that should provoke righteous anger from the audience; thanks to the consistently undercooked end product, its a struggle to feel much of anything at all. Rating: C The Teacher premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Michael Keaton previously said making "Beetlejuice 2" with Tim Burton was "the most fun Ive had working on a movie in I cant tell you how long" Jon Kopaloff/Getty Tim Burton attends the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California Tim Burton is enjoying his time making Beetlejuice 2. While speaking with The Independent, Burton, 65, said his experiences making major studio movies have often left him exhausted, but returning to the undead world of Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice character was a change of pace. Thats why it is hard for me to watch the movies afterwards, because I still feel the emotional whatever of it. I dont get a release from that," Burton said of his past experiences with major studio movies. "But I do enjoy all the people Ive worked with. On this last one, Beetlejuice 2, I really enjoyed it," he added. "I tried to strip everything and go back to the basics of working with good people and actors and puppets. It was kind of like going back to why I liked making movies. Related: Monica Bellucci Confirms Relationship with Her 'Beetlejuice 2' Director Tim Burton: 'I Love Him' Warner Brothers /courtesy Everett Michael Keaton (center) in 'Beetlejuice' Burton told the outlet that the upcoming sequel, expected to release in theaters in September 2024, "is 99 percent done." Filming took place earlier this year outside London and in Vermont before the Screen Actors Guild went on strike in July, shutting down production on major Hollywood movies. I feel grateful we got what we got. Literally, it was a day and a half, Burton told the outlet of finishing the project. We know what we have to do." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Beetlejuice sequel will see Keaton, 72, reprise his titular role, while Winona Ryder also returns to the movie as Lydia Deetz. Monica Bellucci, who is dating Burton, will also appear in the movie alongside Justin Theroux, Willem Dafoe and Wednesday's Jenna Ortega. Catherine O'Hara is also expected to reprise her role from the original 1988 movie. While plot details about the movie remain unclear, Keaton told Empire in June he was excited to reprise one of his iconic '80s roles. "Beetlejuice is the most f---in fun you can have working. Its so fun, its so great. And you know what it is? Were doing it exactly like we did the first movie," he said at the time. Related: Beetlejuice 2: All About the Sequel Starring Michael Keaton and Jenna Ortega Warner Brothers /courtesy Everett Collection Michael Keaton in 'Beetlejuice' "[Burton] and I were talking about it years and years ago, never telling anybody. Weve both said were doing it many times," Keaton added of the movie's decades-long road from conception to production. "We both agreed, if it happens, it has to be done as close to the way we made it the first time," he added. "Making stuff up, making stuff happen, improvising and riffing, but literally handmade stuff like people creating things with their hands and building something." Keaton said, "Its the most fun Ive had working on a movie in I cant tell you how long." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. President Joe Biden marked the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in Alaska on Monday afternoon. "I join you on this solemn day to renew our sacred vow: never forget," Biden said as he spoke to service members, first responders and their families at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. "Each of those precious lives stolen too soon when evil attacked ground zero in New York." Biden said the terrorist attacks, the deadliest ever carried out on U.S. soil, "tested our strength, our resolve and our courage." "But well never forget that when faced with evil and an enemy who sought to tear us apart, we endured," the president said. "We endured." PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Sept. 11, 2023, in Anchorage, Alaska. (Evan Vucci/AP) Biden had been overseas to attend the G20 summit in India and to visit Vietnam in an effort to further shore up U.S. relations with key partners in Asia amid China's rising influence. He departed Vietnam early Monday morning for Anchorage. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his condolences for the "tremendous losses incurred" during the Sept. 11 attacks, and Biden thanked him for expressing "sentiment and concern." MORE: 'No words': 9/11 death toll continues to rise 22 years later Biden has faced some criticism for not participating in traditional ceremonies at the White House, at the Pentagon or in New York, including former Vice President Mike Pence, speaking on the GOP candidate campaign trail in Iowa. "I was very disappointed that President Joe Biden was not at ground zero or the Pentagon or in Shanksville. Look, I know it's been 22 years, but I think these are moments where the leader of this country has the ability to pay a debt of gratitude, to remember those that were lost the day, but also to remember the heroes that were forged that day, and everyday sense for the last 22 years," he said. Biden addressed his visit abroad and stop in Alaska in his remarks, calling such trips "an essential part of how were going to ensure the United States is flanked by the broadest of allies and partners who will stand with us and assure our security, to build a world that is safer for all of our children." "Today of all days, what I am reminded of is that it is not a given," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris represented the administration at the commemoration ceremony at ground zero in lower Manhattan on Monday morning. She was surrounded by local leaders, including Democrats Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others. PHOTO: Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Vice President Kamala Harris, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul attend a ceremony on the 22nd anniversary of the terror attack on the WTC, in New York. Sept. 11, 2023. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images) The process of identifying the lives lost continues decades after two planes hit the World Trade Center. Just last week, two new victims were identified as the 1,648th and 1,649th victim of the 2,753 people killed at the Twin Towers. The New York City Fire Department this week also added 43 names to a memorial wall remembering firefighters, paramedics and civilian support staff members who died from illnesses related to rescue and recovery efforts after the attack. MORE: PHOTOS: Remembering 9/11 The first year of his presidency, Biden visited all three attack sites. Last year, he delivered remarks at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. "While every year we mark this holiday, it is never easy," Biden said. "Anyone here or across the country mourning a lost loved one, all of those who still bear the wounds from that searing September morning, I know how hard it is. "How can we reopen up that wound?" Biden said. "It's like opening a black hole in your chest, sucking you into it again, bringing you back to that moment when you saw the news, the moment you got that phone call. The moment you realized youd never say again, 'See you later mom' or 'talk to you soon, son.'" Biden commemorated the first responders who rushed to ground zero that day, civilians and service members who responded at the Pentagon and the "patriot" passengers on Flight 93 as well as those who later served in Afghanistan and Iraq. PHOTO: American flags fly at half staff around the Washington Monument on the National Mall to mark the 22nd anniversary of the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2023 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Last week, Biden rejected proposed conditions for a plea deal for five Guantanamo Bay detainees for their alleged roles aiding in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On Monday's anniversary, first lady Jill Biden laid a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Arlington and second gentleman Doug Emhoff traveled to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for a memorial observance for Flight 93. Nearly 3,000 people were killed that in a string of coordinated attacks by the terrorist group al-Qaida. Forty individuals died on Flight 93 and 184 lives were lost at the Pentagon. ABC News' Ben Gittleson, Libby Cathey and Will McDuffie contributed to this report. Biden criticized for marking 9/11 anniversary in Alaska originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A 31-year-old woman is clinging to life after being struck by lighting while walking her dog along a Boston beach over the weekend, state police said. The lightning strike took place about 3:35 p.m. Saturday at Savin Hill Beach in Dorchester, the city's largest neighborhood, and critically injured the woman while she walked her dog, Bruce, the Massachusetts State Police reported. According to a press release, the woman, who lives in the neighborhood, was walking along the boardwalk at 3:35 p.m. when she stopped to talk to a 49-year-old woman also walking a dog. While they spoke, troopers wrote, lightning struck the area where they were standing and both women were thrown into the air. The Boston skyline looms over Quincy Bay and Quincy's Houghs Neck in foreground in this view from Great Hill in North Weymouth, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. Tom Gorman/For The Patriot Ledger Qcy Wildartskyline Tg When the bolt struck, troopers said, Bruce got scared and ran off. The 49-year-old woman who spoke with the victim was not struck by lightning, troopers reported, but "was thrown in a different direction by the force of the blast." The extent of her injuries were not provided by troopers but the woman told officers she planned to seek medical treatment. Bruce, local outlet WWLP reported, has since been found. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior correspondent for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dorchester, Boston woman struck by lightning walking near Savin Hill North Korea has unveiled what it claims is a "tactical nuclear attack submarine." State media last Friday said the North completed the sub in Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province over the last four years. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also vowed to develop a nuclear-powered submarine that can stay underwater "for several months" without resurfacing. Kim attended the launch of the sub, named Hero Kim Kun-ok after a North Korean naval officer who fought in the Korean War, on Sept. 6, according to the official [North] Korean Central News Agency. Images suggest it is a modified version of the 1,800-ton Romeo-class sub with a displacement of 3,000 tons. A total of 10 missile launch tubes were seen on its topside deck. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from left) attends the launch of a new submarine in Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province on Sept. 6. /Yonhap But South Korean experts say the design is peculiar and the 10 missile launch tubes are incongruous with its relatively small size. They suggested the North was exaggerating its naval capabilities ahead of its 75th anniversary last Saturday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff here said normally a 3,000-ton submarine would have about six missile launch tubes because it would not be capable of sustaining the thrust from any more. The South Korean Navy's 3,000-ton Dosan Ahn Chang-ho-class submarine has only six missile launch tubes. With a displacement of 18,750 tons, the U.S.' Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine is six times as large as the new North Korean sub but has only 20 to 24 missile launch tubes. "The sub looks top-heavy with its stern bulging as the North added vertical launch tubes to a long and slim Romeo-class submarine," said Moon Keun-sik, a retired submarine captain. "It will have difficulty keeping its balance underwater." Other experts said the design will limit its underwater maneuverability. "The diesel-powered sub will be very noisy," a military officer here said. "That means it can be chased from the moment it leaves port." Kim said the North is also building a nuclear-powered submarine as part of the regime's five defense goals, which include a hypersonic missile and a military spy satellite. With a diesel-powered engine, the new sub will have to surface frequently, but a nuclear-powered sub can stay underwater for three to six months. A new submarine lies at a shipyard in Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province on Sept. 6, in this photo released by the Rodong Sinmun later in the week. Shin Jong-woo at the Korea Defense and Security Forum said, "Provided that it's capable of normal operation, the new sub would be able to attack South Korea from waters in the East Sea. South Korea's current air defense system, which is mainly focused on defense against missiles fired from ground in the North, could be disturbed." Kim In-ae, a spokeswoman for the Unification Ministry here, said, "It's deplorable that the North is continuing to squander its limited resources on developing weapons while impoverishing its people." Madison Kvaltin says she had a job offer as an Emirates flight attendant rescinded. Kvaltin says the offer was taken away when she revealed she'd previously had an eating disorder. The airline is known to have strict requirements including measuring staff's weight and BMI. A prospective flight attendant for Emirates says the airline revoked her job offer after she disclosed her previous struggles with an eating disorder, in a TikTok video posted in August. Madison Kvaltin, who won Miss Universe Canada in 2023, said that during her onboarding for a job at the airline, she was told she didn't meet some of the requirements to fit the role. Kvaltin began the TikTok video by saying: "I am disgusted at what I just went through and the process of being hired to one of the greatest, most prestigious airlines out there." She explained that she endured a "lengthy" application process with Emirates before getting hired, and was going through the onboarding process where she had to submit a series of documents, including what she said was an extensive health screening document. "Then they sent me this extremely detailed and intrusive health document that I had to submit all this information on my personal health and a lot of things that had nothing to do with my ability to complete the job," she said. "And so one of the questions was have you ever struggled with an eating disorder and as many of you may know I'm a pageant girl and all of my philanthropy is about eating disorder awareness as I struggled in my youth with a very severe eating disorder that had me hospitalized for a little while." Kvaltin indicated in the form that she did previously experience an eating disorder, but had recovered and was well. But a few days prior to posting the video she received an email saying she "didn't meet the precondition requirements and they are no longer onboarding me and so in the time the only thing that changed was I indicated that I struggle with an eating disorder." She added: "So I am disgusted that they are discriminating against me for struggling with an eating disorder that has nothing to do with completing the job of being a flight attendant." The video has received nearly 100,000 views and just over 300 comments commending her bravery in being honest about her situation. An Emirates spokesperson told Insider in a statement: "We cannot disclose nor discuss information relating to individual candidates who have applied for roles in our organisation." Emirates is known for having a strict dress code and requirements of its flight attendants. Some former employees told Insider that this extended to measuring the weight and BMI of cabin crew who could be punished with pay cuts and job loss if they were deemed overweight. Kvaltin did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider Make easy pantry swaps for this prized spice. Paprika is a commonly used spice, partly due to its color, but also its inherent versatility. The easiest varieties to find are sweet, hot, and smoked. Your spice cabinet isn't quite complete without it. That said, running out is inevitable and if your pantry is fresh out, what do you do? If what you're making is something that hinges on the spice, like paprikash for example, you may be better off simply going with another dish. But for most other recipes that use much smaller amounts, there are several easy stand-ins for this seasoning. What Is Paprika? Paprika is a spice made from capsicum annuum, the same plant as cayenne pepper, with a shockingly bold red or orange color. This bright color is thanks to carotene, the same pigment that gives carrots their signature hue. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Related: Paprika vs. Smoked Paprika: What's the Difference? Paprika is grown in multiple places, but most famously in Spain and Hungary. The spice plays a key role in much of both cuisines, including dishes like paprikash, goulash, stuffed peppers, chorizo, and traditional Spanish rice. What Does Paprika Taste Like? The flavor of paprika will differ a bit depending on the variety. Paprika is often sold with either sweet, hot, or smoked on the label. Even though each of these paprikas is used to season food, how they show up in that food will be different. With paprika's deep, incredibly recognizable charred bell pepper flavor, it can be difficult to think up a replacement when the stash runs out. Related: Season Your Dishes to Perfection With This Guide to Paprika Best Paprika Substitutes Whether the recipe (or your taste buds) calls for sweet, hot, or smokey may determine your selection. Sometimes the best thing to do is use multiple things; for example, if a recipe calls for hot paprika, you can use an appropriate stand-in for sweet, then add a dash of hot pepper flake for spice. No matter what, when choosing a substitute, take note of heat level, form, color, and smokiness in order to choose the best one for the task. Chili Powder This is one of the best choices to step in for paprika due to its color and earthy flavor. Chili powder is made in the same way paprika is, except it uses some different peppers. Typically a combination of onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, sweet paprika, and oregano, chili powder will contribute nicely to the depth of flavor in a dish without staggering heat. It's a balanced blend that can be used in an equal amount to paprika in marinades, vegetables (like this whole roasted cauliflower), soups, stews, and roasts. Related: 7 Spices for Perking Up Pantry Meals Cayenne Cayenne is an excellent substitute for hot paprika. It'll allow you to keep the spiciness, but it will be slightly stronger in flavor, so use half the amount. To duplicate the taste of paprika more accurately, try adding a little bit of sugar (about 1/2 teaspoon sugar to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne for 1 teaspoon paprika). This will tame the heat a bit but give you the same vivid color. This is great for sweet and spicy desserts, marinades, vegetables, and casseroles. Chipotle Chili Powder This powder is made by grinding chipotle peppers (dried and smoked jalapenos) and will give nearly the same pop of color as paprika. However, it will pack more heat, so like cayenne, drop the amount used by half and try adding a bit of sugar to bring a better balance, leaving you with the mildly sweet, smokey flavor with a bit of heat you're looking for. Aleppo Pepper Powder Aleppo might be a little harder to come by, but if you happen to have some at home or be passing by a specialty market, give it a whirl. The spicy factor will fall somewhere between cayenne and paprika, but you won't really need to worry about detecting that heat too strongly in a recipe. You can use Aleppo pepper powder in anything that calls for paprika, like a baked spiced chicken, but use 1/2 the amount. Red Chili Flakes (Crushed Red Pepper Flakes) Another dried pepper alternative, red chili flakes are coarser and chunkier than the fine powder of paprika, but it will be close in color and flavor. With this one, you'll want to use only of the amount, so you don't bump up the heat too much. Related: How to TasteandAdjust Any Dish Like a Pro Tomato Powder Tomato powder is made from ground, dried tomatoes and is used as a base for tomato paste or sauce. It'll deliver a punch of big tomato flavor, which would be a bit different than paprika's earthy red pepper notes, but just as tasty. Throw equal amounts of this in place of sweet paprika in a BBQ spice rub, sauces, or cooked or deviled eggs. Black Peppercorn If paprika is just being dusted in, try this instead. Freshly ground peppercorns can add a bigger bite than standard ground black pepper. (If you don't have a spice grinder or pepper mill add some to a zip-top bag and crush with a rolling pin.) Hot Sauce You can use hot sauce in place of any type of paprika, depending on the flavor of the hot sauce itself. Like paprika, hot sauces range in flavor from sweeter/tangier to smokier to downright scorching. The added tang from the vinegar within it will be a nice touch. Try it in a rub, marinade, soup, stew, roast, or braise. Start with a few dashes and taste as you go until you're satisfied flavor-wise. Remember, you can always add more, but you can't take away. Caution is key. Chili Sauce Like hot sauce, stick to using chili sauce in stews or sauces, where swapping a powder for liquid won't matter. Used in equal amounts to the amount of paprika called for, this swap brings a nice red color and a touch of heat. Bell Pepper For the overly ambitious, you can make your own paprika by using your oven (or a dehydrator if you have one) to dry out red bell peppers, then add them to a food processor to grind them into a powder. This will be a stark, fresh alternative to paprika, and may make you wish you ran out of paprika more often. If you don't have the time for that or would prefer something less labor-intensive, you can still go the bell pepper route. Just mince the fresh vegetable as fine as you can and cook it down a bit before adding it to your dish. Go with a soup, stew, braise, or roast for this swap. Related: Read the original article on All Recipes. It might be nostalgia, it might be knowing exactly what you're going to get, or it might be that some convenience store food is just that good. Every region has its own local 24-hour grocers, but they all serve the same purpose, which is to provide everything you need and even a few things you don't. By the late 1940s, America had pioneered the concept of the convenience store, and running errands began to demand less and less actual running. Once neighborhood corner stores started popping up, making 20 pit stops for one shopping list became a thing of the past. Considering anything can be ordered with the click of a button today, it's hard to fathom the lengths people used to go to just to get a few things done. It wasn't until the 1920s that you could even grab your provisions and ice under one roof, and that was the dawn of convenience stores. It all started when a bustling neighborhood ice shop started selling essentials, and the quick-service craze began. That small-time ice shop, Southland Ice Dock, went on to become none other than 7-Eleven. Convenience stores are celebrated for being accessible, but not typically for their gourmet cuisine. As it turns out, the non-essential items, like hoagies and cheeseburger bites, are what drive customers into certain quick-service stores nationwide. Convenience stores might just be the best fast food we can get our hands on. Not every convenience store is worth the stop, but these are. Read more: Where To Find The 20 Best Breakfast Sandwiches In America 7-Eleven 7-Eleven exterior storefront - Winhorse/Getty Images 7-Eleven is the convenience store-gas station hybrid that started it all. Not only does it have more locations than any other U.S. retailer, but it was the first one-stop shop to hold the title of convenience store and it kicked off a revolution in corner stores. All thanks to one savvy storefront owner who started selling essentials, 7-Eleven was born. Between Big Gulps and taquitos, the famed quick-service chain has something for everyone. The iconic name is in reference to the original hours 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. but today, many locations don't ever lock the doors. Extended hours aren't the only upgrade the company has seen over the years. A number of 7-Eleven storefronts are undergoing high-end expansions. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement When it comes to 7-Eleven's food, the hot roller grill is where to feast your eyes. If glistening fried snacks like taco rolls and corn dogs catch your attention, then 7-Eleven is probably already a regular haunt. It may not be the best for your digestion, but at least it is easy on the wallet. The only downside is how quickly the hot items sell out, but not to worry, there should always be enough colorful Big Gulps and Slurpees for everyone. The 7-Eleven kitchen also prepares sandwiches, baked goods, and even salads for the refrigerated section, so there's always something tasty on hand. Wawa Wawa exterior sign - Phillyskater/Getty Images There's hometown pride, and then there's Wawa pride. For those on the East Coast, Wawa is a cultural institution. With headquarters in Pennsylvania, the bulk of locations can be found in its home state as well as neighboring New Jersey and Delaware. Wawa was one of the first places to introduce the ease of self-serve kiosks which thrilled those on the go, often to the point of singing the catchy slogan "Gottahava Wawa." Some locals can't get their day started without a Wawa Sizzli breakfast sandwich, and who can blame them? The deli has an extensive sandwich list, all of which can be navigated via touch screen without saying a word, but an Italian hoagie is an old standby. The gas station deli is so popular in Pennsylvania that Frank Reynolds belting out "Go download me a hoagie off the internet" in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" couldn't be in reference to anything other than the famous Wawa. Sandwiches can be customized beyond imagination; packed with thinly sliced ham or crispy fried chicken, served on a soft brioche roll, or grilled to a golden brown. Its lengthy made-to-order menu includes a variety of hot dishes as well like mac and cheese, quesadillas, and chowder, making it nearly impossible to limit yourself to only one meal. Cumberland Farms Cumberland Farms storefront - Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock Cumberland Farms is often hidden away in a Historic New England-style building, making it as welcoming as grandma's house. While they have some super cheap pizza that curbs those late-night cravings, it's all about the slushie corner. Those machines are always churning out new flavors, but the fun lies in combining different flavors to create one new epic concoction. The more flavors added, the less it starts to resemble any notable flavor other than sugary ice, but something about it is addicting and keeps the entire East Coast coming back for more than just gasoline. Cumberland Farms, or Cumby's as the locals will say, is the go-to late-night stop in more suburban New England regions. The convenience store really succeeds in the beverage department, as its coffee is on par with much more expensive coffee chains. For one dollar per (huge) cup, it's totally worth it. In New England, it's common to see most hands holding either an XL Dunkin Donuts coffee or one marked Cumby's. QuikTrip QuikTrip exterior sign - JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock QuickTrip may not look like much, with its minimal sign and unassuming storefront, but behind those doors is an assortment of delicious grub to be discovered. QuikTrip, or QT to those in the know, dominates Oklahoma, Texas, and dozens of nearby regions, with up to 1,000 locations. It has all the basics but ice cream and shakes are what really stand out, plus buttered pretzels sure to make any mouth water. Soft pretzels can be made at home, but it's hard to imagine them ever measuring up to those at QT. Also known for its hot roller grill, QT could go head-to-head with 7-Eleven when it comes to delicious greasy taquitos, but it would be a tough call. QTs are easy to come by in the South, which has encouraged them to become part of the morning routine for endless commuters. Gas station coffee is known to be sub-par, which is somehow part of the charm, but when paired with one of QT's legendary biscuits, it's actually palatable. The chicken and biscuits are another crowd-pleaser, but they hardly ever make it to the afternoon hours. The list goes on and on with QT's made-to-order deli menu, so there's no such thing as a bad order there. Sheetz Sheetz exterior sign - Gsheldon/Getty Images Sheetz is another Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain and one of the most popular. Some may say that Sheetz is Wawa's rival in the crossover locations, while others will chuckle and assure anyone who asks that there is no competition. Sheetz is free to shine on its own in a few states Wawa hasn't touched ground in yet, like Ohio and West Virginia, but people stick to their favorites. While similar to Wawa, as any quick grab-and-go food counter will be, Sheetz has some special treats that even Wawa can't offer. One Sheetz exclusive item is shockingly french fries, and we can't forget mac and cheese bites. They nail it with take-along, picnic-style foods like crisp sandwiches and pretzels aplenty. With flavors from cinnamon to jalapeno, there's a bold flavor for anyone's taste buds. They take it a step further with their pretzel rolls, which can hold just about any sandwich together, but the spicy chicken sandwich won't disappoint. Royal Farms Royal Farms sign and storefront - George Sheldon/Shutterstock Baltimore folks will correct anyone who says Royal Farms with "RoFo," but not without an excited grin stretched across their face. The convenience store's sign boasts its motto of "world famous chicken" and that's the truth. Even the most loyal fried chicken lovers will swear by the crispy, fried perfection that Royal Farms dishes out at all hours of the night. Fried chicken comes in many styles, but somehow Royal Farms, a humble convenience store, does it best. During post-bar hours in Baltimore, you'll find most people rocking a box of chicken rather than a purse. Fried chicken is a way of life in the area, and Royal Farms makes it simple to enjoy by tossing all the necessities in a box; perfectly crispy fried chicken, thick-wedged fries, a buttery dinner roll, and sauces galore. One of the huge perks of grabbing dinner at a convenience store is the laundry list of beverage options. Not to mention the candy, ice cream bars, and salty snacks that'll catch you at the register. Buc-ee's Buc-ee's exterior sign - Joe Hendrickson/Getty Images Texans will go to batty for Buc-ee's, and rightly so. The South has its fair share of gas stations and quick stops, but aside from a few golden gems, it's lacking when it comes to grabbing top-notch food at a moment's notice. This explains why Buc-ee's is such a showstopper, and often the first thing to pop out of a Texan's mouth when fanning over their home state. Despite rows of gas station pumps lining the parking lot, walking into Buc-ee's feels like stepping into a festival. Everyone is greeted with a mish-mosh of enticing smells, making it nearly impossible to pick between the sweet or savory route. This convenience store has one of the largest menus, but more importantly, one of the most unique, and all made fresh in-house. It has dozens of exclusive bites like Puffcorn Pops, Cosmic Pops, and Beaver Nuggets, the undisputed crowd favorite. The famous Beaver Nuggets are magically soft and crunchy corn nuggets coated in a sweet, irresistible brown sugar caramel glaze. They're so adored by the community that the snack has even been blended into a regional craft beer. Anyone who has had them would likely drive hours for Beaver Nuggets, but thankfully they don't have to. The cult following has led to a dedicated online site, Texas Snax, "Where Buc-ee's Lovers Shop". The food is the main attraction, of course, but it's hard to resist the eccentric souvenirs and steadfast Texan pride Buc-ee's has to offer. Casey's General Store Casey's storefront and gas - damann/Shutterstock This Midwestern convenience store stretches down to the south and has plenty of food options to choose from, but the extra cheesy pizza is definitely the draw. Casey's gives gas station pizza an entirely new name, and the Midwest eats it up. Casey's has been a trusted pit stop since 1968, but it really made its mark when word of its piping hot, baked-to-order pizza spread. Today, Casey's has managed to climb the charts and become the fifth-largest pizza chain in the United States. Unlike most gas station bargain pizzas, Casey's best pies are made to start your day, not end it. Egg sandwiches and donut bites are plenty delicious, but nothing seems to satisfy like a breakfast pizza. The classics are loaded with cheesy eggs and bacon or sausage, but there are no restrictions on toppings so the possibilities are endless. Most midwesterners will applaud Casey's for maybe not being the best pizza, but surely being the best pie you can order as you fill up your gas tank. Allsup's Allsup's exterior building - Wikimedia Commons Allsup's is another Southern chain that residents would be lost without. It has that small-town energy despite having over 300 locations in more than a hundred cities, mainly across West Texas and New Mexico. That hometown feel is likely rooted in its humble beginnings, having been founded by husband and wife duo Lonnie and Barbara Allsup in 1956. The camaraderie over Allsup's is understandable given it's one of the few convenient options within smaller regional towns, but it's not just about the limited choices. It's about the meals. 7-Eleven may always be stocked up with spinning taquitos on the grill, but nothing compares to the Tex-Mex delights Allsup's is known for. The hot food corner whips up some of the best chimichurris and outstanding fried burritos that are rather legendary. Apparently, deep-fried burritos were a random act of desperation from a bored sales associate shilling old burritos, but the tasty bites were ultimately Allsup's first step to success. Kwik Trip Kwik Trip exterior sign - Ken Wolter/Shutterstock Not to be confused with QuikTrip, this Wisconsin-based convenience store chain starts with a K and would win in a breakfast sandwich contest. If the differing menus aren't enough to keep things straight, the company has an alternate store name, Kwik Star, in Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota to avoid confusion with nearby QuickTrip locations. With hundreds of locations, staying consistent is no easy feat, but Kwik Trip succeeds. The gas station brand managed to secure a spot on USA Today's Top 10 list, praised by customers for its unmatched snack selection and fresh coffee, but we know the breakfast options are the real reason folks keep coming back. Kwik Trip has a huge made-to-order menu with novelty bites like corn dogs and mac and cheese pizza, but above all, Tornados. They are essentially taquitos and are a popular grab-and-go option with dozens of fillings to choose from, ranging from steak and cheese to French toast. While Kwik Trip offers its Tornados for every meal of the day, the breakfast versions are the way to go, maybe even alongside a signature Kwik Trip waffle bun breakfast sandwich. Maverik Maverik storefront gas station - JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock As one of the few quick-service food leaders in the Western U.S., Maverik really leans into its roots. According to the convenience store's motto, Maverik is "Adventure's First Stop" and boasts itself as more of a club than just a store. The shelves prove so by being stocked with outdoor gear and a huge variety of imported coffee to get things moving. Both the gas station and bold beans "fuel adventure," but the food menu is where the real exploration can begin. Maverik's freshly prepared food brand, BonFire Foods, tastes as if it's been magically infused with flavor. Unwrapping a Bonfire breakfast burrito takes finesse, as it could unleash a tumbling tater tot freefall if not carefully performed. In addition to crispy potatoes and cheese, BonFire burritos can be packed with sausage, ham, or bacon, but there's no need to narrow it down to just one. Stewart's Shops Stewart's Shops storefront - a katz/Shutterstock It's shocking that Stewart's Shops can even dub itself a convenience store when it's churning some of the most delicious ice cream in the U.S. It's a true ice cream parlor, with soda pop and all, gracing upstate New York and surrounding Vermont cities with its precious decor and showstopping sweets. As one would guess from just one step into Stewart's, it is a family-run and has been since 1917. The family behind the convenience store has always aimed to serve the areas that didn't have easy access to the big city, and they ultimately made a name for themselves. The intricate history of Stewart's Shops is part of the charm, providing New York State with decades of cultural significance, but it's the quality that's put the brand in so many stocking rooms. As amazing as the ice cream is, the beverages could be on par. In Stewart's Shops, flavors abound, and that goes for both ice cream, soda, and dairy refreshers. Cream soda and citrus pop are old standbys, but fun creations will always be on the menu. Stewart's promotes itself as the "home of flavors" for a reason. Stewart's Shops satisfies sweet tooths all over the region, but the kitchen's savory options can also please any palate. Nothing compares to the BBQ pulled pork and spicy fried chicken, especially served on their signature butter rolls. The hot dog bar also can't be forgotten. It leaves plenty of room for innovation, with unlimited toppings and condiments are your disposal. High's Dairy Store High's exterior gas sign - Jeramey Lende/Shutterstock High's Dairy Store might be a smaller retailer, but its following would suggest otherwise. As another Maryland and Pennsylvania chain, fried chicken meals are, of course, a hot menu feature. Although, given the name, it is no surprise that ice cream is the main attraction at High's Dairy Store. With 60 locations scattered throughout the Mid-Atlantic, High's has become a household name in the area ever since it was introduced back in 1928. While it may be labeled as a convenience store, High's is all about the best of the best when it comes to ice cream; top quality cream, milk, sugar, you name it. Given the business was once the largest ice cream parlor chain in the world, it seems fitting High's takes such pride in its frozen treats. All slow-churned from scratch, the artisans never stop getting creative with flavors. They mix in anything from crunchy bites like chocolate-covered pretzels to creamy caramels and fresh fruit. For those who prefer to sip their ice cream through a straw, High's milkshake station will be the place to start. The perfectly creamy shakes really hit the spot but, even better, the creations are up to you as the crew is open to mixing and matching any flavors. Read the original article on Tasting Table. If youve been to the airport lately, youve seen firsthand the chaos with air travel. And sometimes that leads to spending more time at the airport, where your chances of getting sick might increase. There is nothing worse than ending up sick on vacation, said Lauren Bryan, an infection preventionist at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Airports are a mixing bowl of people from all over who have brought their germs along for the ride. Although the pandemic has led to more frequent and intensive cleaning procedures in many airports, certain germs are seemingly unavoidable in that environment. But when it comes to the risk of infection, not all areas of the airport are created equal. With the help of experts, we broke down some of the germiest locations and surfaces at airports. Chair Armrests When you get to the airport, its important to locate your departure gate, so you have a sense of where you need to be come boarding time. But if youre trying to cut down on exposure to germs, it may not be the best idea to sit down and wait there for an extended period. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Sites in airports that are frequently touched but not routinely cleaned include the armrests on chairs in the terminal waiting areas, said Kelly Reynolds, a professor and chair of the Community, Environment & Policy Department at the University of Arizona. These can be hot spots for germ transmission. Indeed, a 2018 study from InsuranceQuotes.com found that the chair armrests at the gates were among the dirtiest spots in airports. The online insurance marketplace analyzed samples from six surfaces at three major U.S. airports and found the armrests contained 21,630 colony-forming units that is, viable bacteria and fungal cells per square inch. So consider wiping down the chair and armrest if youd like to sit down or consider standing up and waiting nearby instead. Dont sit on floors, cautioned Kadi Banjoko, an infection preventionist in the clinical epidemiology department at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. They are dirty. The chair armrests at airports can be very germy. damircudic via Getty Images Handrails High-touch areas in airports that are infrequently cleaned include ... the handrails along stairs and escalators and the moving walkways, Bryan noted. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt touch handrails, as falling down the stairs is not a good alternative! She advised generally being mindful of what you touch throughout your time at the airport and on the plane. Always wash your hands, or sanitize when you dont have access to soap and water. Carry hand sanitizer in a place it is easy to access without having to dig through your bag mine dangles from my purse strap, Bryan said. If I am going to be seated somewhere for a while, like on an airplane, I use disinfectant wipes on the armrests of the airplane seat, seat belt clasp and tray table. Touch Screens I think one of the germiest places is the self check-in monitors, Banjoko said. I dont know how often they are wiped down, but people should make sure they use hand sanitizers after touching those screens. According the InsuranceQuotes.com study, these self-serve kiosk screens contain 253,857 CFU per square inch on average. (One screen recorded more than 1 million.) They took the first-place spot for dirtiest airport surfaces tested. Obviously, the numbers can vary based on the airport and the screen in question, and the pandemic response in many places has included more frequent cleanings. But it still doesnt hurt to wash those hands. Security Bins In 2018, researchers from the University of Nottingham and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare published a study about the presence of viruses in airports. They collected surface and air samples around Helsinki Airport and found that the plastic trays and bins in the security area appeared to pose the highest potential risk. Four out of eight samples of the plastic bins contained the rhinovirus or adenovirus, which can cause cold-like symptoms. In 2014, Today correspondent Jeff Rossen and his team took airport and airplane surface samples and found that the TSA bins at U.S. airports were also quite germy. One bin even contained a level of fecal matter that had the potential to make people sick. Likely due to research like this, some airports have started implementing new security bin technology to ensure a cleaner experience. But we still have a long way to go to reach peak cleanliness in that area. Grey tray filled with liquid toiletries in a clear zip top bag, boarding pass and a beige tote bag. A female hand is holding the tray on a roller conveyors table at airport security. Azmanjaka / Getty Images Water Fountains In 2015, the trip calculation service Travel Math sent a microbiologist to five different airports to collect samples for lab testing to determine which surfaces had the highest concentration of bacteria. Their research found that drinking fountain buttons contained an average of 1,240 CFU per square inch the most of any airport surface tested. The InsuranceQuotes.com study detected 19,181 CFU on water fountain buttons on average. A 2012 study of office spaces led by University of Arizona microbiology Professor Charles Gerba similarly found that water fountains can be a germ hot spot, as did earlier research on school drinking fountains from the National Sanitation Foundation. It's important to wash your hands and sanitize throughout your travel journey. SDI Productions via Getty Images Bathroom Surfaces We tend to be on guard about germs and dirtiness when we use public restrooms, but it might be even more vital to do so in airport bathrooms. Airports and airplanes host large numbers of travelers daily, increasing the chance that you will come into contact with someone who is ill and could potentially transmit an infectious disease, Reynolds said. Airport bathrooms are cleaned regularly, but also heavily used. Stall handles, sink faucets and exit panels on the doors frequently test positive for high numbers of disease-causing microbes. Dont skip the hand-washing step, especially if youre planning to eat after your bathroom stop, and refrain from touching your face. Anywhere With Crowds As a general rule, try to avoid crowded areas in airports to protect your health. Germs are spread via contact with others and contaminated surfaces, Reynolds explained. The best defense is to avoid close contact with people, particularly if they exhibit illness symptoms. She also recommended traveling with disinfecting wipes to sanitize surfaces, as well as your personal items like cellphones, which can pick up germs along the journey. Keep washing and sanitizing your hands, especially before you eat, and dont touch your face. Often when we travel, our routines are altered, which may mean less sleep or changing eating habits, which can disrupt immune defenses and make us more vulnerable to microbial infections, Reynolds said. It is important to maintain good sleep and eating habits for maximizing your health and wellness. Making wise decisions protects not only your health, but the health of others. And of course, wear your mask at the airport and on the plane. Prevention of transmission of infectious diseases heavily relies on source control, which means expecting the sick person to use good hygiene sneezing and coughing into their sleeve, using hand sanitizer, etc. Bryan said. I know we are all sick of masks, but if you dont want to become the next host of the virus or bacteria that the passenger next to you is coughing, a mask is your best defensive weapon.This post originally appeared on HuffPost. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Stories change our hearts, expand our worlds, and challenge what was. Storytellers have always threatened those in power, but today the stakes are dire, as book bans and library censures increase across the United States. These authors of some of the most banned books in America are on the front lines. MAX FARAGO Jacqueline Woodson is the author of nearly 40 chapter books, picture books, and novels for young and adult readers. Her 2018 illustrated exploration of diversity in schools, The Day You Begin, and her 2014 YA memoir in verse about growing up in the 1960s and 70s, Brown Girl Dreaming, are just some of her titles that have been subject to bans in Texas and Florida. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "No one has ever been able to take away our folks joy. I find talking about the ridiculousness of the bans sometimes brings laughter, in the ways our people have learned to laugh to keep from crying. We do what we need to do: we resist, we inform, we amplify, we write." MAX FARAGO Ta-Nehisi Coates is the author of Between the World and Me, a letter to his son on the experience and history of being Black in America. Since its publication in 2015, the book has been subject to bans or attempted bans in Texas, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, among other states. "When I heard my book was banned, I felt hopeful? Proud? The people doing this banning are not great people. To resort to such a crude tool shows how very afraid and threatened they are. To quote the late, great June Jordan, I must become a menace to my enemies. MAX FARAGO Nikole Hannah-Jones is the creator of The 1619 Project, which began as a groundbreaking series of articles for The New York Times Magazine that asked readers to rethink the origins of the American Revolution and Black peoples contributions to U.S. history. Since its publication in book form in 2021, The 1619 Project has been subject to bans and attempted bans in at least 14 states. Finding joy in the midst of these book bans is easy because, although the proliferation of these bans reflects a dangerous suppressive and antidemocratic surge across our country, communities and particularly young people are fighting back, are demanding a freedom to read and learn and be uncomfortable. MAX FARAGO Mike Curato's 2020 graphic novel, Flamer, is one of the most banned books of the past year. A semi-autobiographical story about a boy bullied for being gay at Boy Scout camp, the book has been targeted in Missouri, Florida, and Utah. In 2022, a school police officer in Katy, Texas, temporarily removed the book after a parent filed a criminal complaint, despite the fact that a review board had already deemed the book suitable for high school students. "I made Flamer to help kids who feel alienated, isolated, and desperate, and bookbanners want to take that help away. This is all being done in the name of protecting the children, but nothing could be further from the truth.... I find solace in creating new work. MAX FARAGO Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, following her historic address at President Bidens 2021 inauguration, where she read her work The Hill We Climb. A book version of it was targeted by a parent in Miami Lakes, Florida, this past March, though the parents written complaint claimed the poem had been written by Oprah Winfrey. I remind myself of the response of children who still have access to my poetry. Im eternally inspired by the poems they write and what theyve been able to create. I have no doubt the next generation of great literary voices is well on its way." MAX FARAGO Kyle Lukoff is the author of 13 childrens books, including When Aidan Became a Big Brother and Call Me Max. They often feature trans children and have been banned in Texas, Indiana, Virginia, and Florida. In Murray City, Utah, after a child brought Call Me Max to story time in 2021, the school district suspended a program introducing inclusive literature to children. I have never read a book that I was not supposed to. My parents didnt place any restrictions on my reading, and I believe that the experience of not understanding something is just another kind of learning. If I believed that there were books that someone wasnt supposed to read, I would be a fundamentally different person. MAX FARAGO Art Spiegelman is a renowned comic artist. His graphic novel Maus, which explores his parents experiences as Holocaust survivors, has been taught in classrooms across the country since its publication in 1986. It has also frequently been the subject of bans, notably in January 2022, when the McMinn County school board in Tennessee removed the novel from its eighth-grade curriculum. I feel the tendencies brought up by this frantic need to control children's thoughts in ways that seem reprehensible to me, and are indeed an echo of the book burnings of the 1930s in Germany, are unfortunate. MAX FARAGO George M. Johnson is the author of the best-selling memoir-manifesto All Boys Arent Blue, a recollection of their life as a Black, queer youth. During the 20212022 school year, it was banned in no less than 29 school districts. According to the American Library Association, it was also the second-most-challenged book that year. When I heard my book was banned, I laughed. I understood the severity of it, but I just laughed. How dare you ban my story? One thing it has done is activated me in this fight for education and our future. Banning the book wont ban the storyand trust that the story will be told." You Might Also Like It could be a banner and an even better bounce-back year for the restaurant industry. Sales for 2023 are expected to be $997 billion, according to statistics from the National Restaurant Association. Delaware seems to be keeping pace last year the association said the state had 2,144 eating and drinking places and more new places keep coming. Here's a look at some new or new-to-you places that have opened in recent months: 1204 Washington St., Wilmington; 302-427-7477; greatbigjerk.com/wilmington-de Tim Bolt, who runs Great Big Jerk in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, an island-inspired roadside barbecue business off New London Road, has opened a second site in downtown Wilmington. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In May, Bolt took over the former Rosenfeld's Deli location at 12th and Washington streets adjoining the Washington Street Ale House. He offers the same style menu as Landenberg including ribs, jerk chicken, pulled pork, cabbage and carrots, rice and peas, and pimento macaroni and cheese. Bolt was former culinary director for Big Fish Grill on the Wilmington Riverfront and later helped open the former Big Fish restaurant in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, as well as the now-gone Bella Coast on Concord Pike and the Trolley Square Oyster House. In Landenberg, he launched with jerk chicken cooked over charcoal and wood and eventually added barbecue, brisket and ribs. He uses Red Stripe beer in his barbecue sauce. It's a three-day process to make and marinade the jerk chicken. Bolt has a smoker in his Wilmington kitchen. He plans to emphasize lunch in the downtown Wilmington location and offers salad and homemade gelato, he said. Great Big Jerk Wilmington is a new island-inspired barbecue restaurant in Wilmington. Bolt hopes to get a liquor license in about a month. The restaurant has 30 seats inside and there's free parking. The summer has been "a little slower than I expected as a new spot," he said, but he's hoping to see a jump in business into September and as the fall season approaches. "I want to get the word out I'm here. I want people to know I'm open for dinner," Bolt said. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. It is closed on Monday. 200 Concord Ave., Wilmington; troisieme.cafe Also in May, owner James Bradford III opened Troisieme, the French word for third, a coffee shop in Wilmington's Brandywine Village. The site has concrete counters and wood seating as well as outdoor seating. Drinks include lattes, chai, iced coffee, red eyes, matchas and frappes. Pastries come from Sweet Somethings in Wilmington. According to its social media sites, the coffee shop is pet-friendly and offers pup cups and water for furry buddies. The coffee house is open daily. Hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 837 N. Union St., Wilmington; merenguehousebarandrestaurant.com Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki (left) in early August 2023 was joined by Yosmaira Ramos and Wilmington City Council Members Maria Cabrera, Chris Johnson and Yolanda McCoy to celebrate the expanded Merengue House Bar & Restaurant on Union Street. The Dominican restaurant on Wilmington's west side, owned by Yosmaira Ramos, added a nightclub to the site in early August. Merengue is located in the building that had once been the home of the longtime home of the former Pan Tai, the Southeast Asian restaurant that operated for more than 25 years and closed in 2010. The building has housed other establishments over the years. The nightclub is on the restaurant's second floor. Wilmington Mayor Mike Mayor Purzycki gave kudos to Ramos during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is a great example of somebody who looks at a corner that has had issues over the years but still says I can do this,' " Purzycki said. "And we appreciate Yosmairas enthusiasm and energy and welcome her and her team to the growing family of eating and drinking establishments along Union Street. When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate, Ramos said about the addition to her restaurant. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow. I just want to say thank you for all the support that the City and City Council have done, bearing with me. Theyve been with me since day one. Thank you for having patience with me." 139 S. Main St., Suite 101, Newark; cafeneobakery.com Owner Antonios Fessaras in early May opened Cafeneo, a Greek gourmet coffee shop and bakery in Newark. All of the cafe's baked Greek goods are made from scratch, he said, and he has two coffee beverages that are usually only found in Greece. Baked goods include bougatsa (sweet cream pastry), milopita (apple pastry), spanakopita (spinach pie), tiropita (cheese pie) and baklava. "Just like Yia-yia used to make," is the cafe's motto which uses the Greek word for grandmother. Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. 34407 DuPont Blvd., Suite 7, Frankford; firststatecharcuterie.com First State Charcuterie in Frankford had a ribbon-cutting ceremony in mid July. The storefront in Frankford, which specializes in charcuterie boards, boxes, and luxury tablescapes, had a grand opening in mid-July. Boards are made-to-order and incorporate traditional and modern-day designs. Accompaniments include honey, fresh and dried fruits, olives, nuts, mini jam, crackers and disposable utensils. The store also has catering, daily grab-and-go items, artisan food items and gifts. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The business is closed on Sunday and Monday. Contact Patricia Talorico at ptalorico@delawareonline.com and follow her on X (Twitter) @pattytalorico Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter. More Delaware Dining news More new restaurants: Sink your teeth into 7 new, and coming soon, Delaware restaurants and food shops Goodbye to local legend: Helen Achenbach, founder of Delaware's famed Helen's Sausage House, dies at 92 Lambs & Lavender: 'Below Deck' star Chef Ben coming to new Millsboro fall festival This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Wilmington scores new Great Big Jerk & more new Delaware restaurants Tourists visiting Greece are likely to include popular locations like Athens and Mykonos to their travel itinerary. While the former is known for all of its rich history and cultural landmarks, the latter delivers beautiful beaches and a seaside atmosphere. Both places make for a wonderful trip, but they are only two locations in a vast, beautiful country that has so much more to offer its guests. There are a number of stunning cities across Greece that combine the country's deep-rooted history with serene beaches and robust nature and wildlife just waiting to be explored by visitors from all around the world. Pireaus A port city that also happens to the be Greece's third largest by population, Piraeus is home to some of the country's most cherished religious and historical landmarks. Located only 8 kilometers southwest of Athens, visitors can easily check out the Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. Allan Baxter - Getty Images Chania Chania is a harbor city on the northwest coast of Crete where guests can soak in the beauty of a restored lighthouse during the day. In the evening, the Old Venetian Port, which is lined with shops and restaurants, comes to life. Between the charming old world feel and quaint cobblestone streets, you'll never want to leave. Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld - Getty Images Agios Nikolaos Agios Nikolas, located on the coast of Crete, is known for its beautiful beaches, small coves, and serene coastal villas. The fall is particularly special here, as the excellent natural lighting offers the opportunity for guests to snap photos that capture the city's stunning color palette. Smaranda Angelica / 500px - Getty Images Pyrgos A hidden gem located off the beaten path in Santorini, Pyrgos is one of the highest villages on the island of Santorini, offering breathtaking views of Fira and Oia. Only a short bus ride from Fira, Pyrgos is a charming, one-of-a-kind destination with ancient streets bursting with Grecian history. imageBROKER/Michael Runkel - Getty Images Rethymmo Home to vast array of beaches, archaeological sites, and painterly landscapes, Rethymno is known for its historic Rethymno Lighthouse as well as Renaissance and Ottoman architecture alike. Visitors can delight in enjoying a treat at one of the many charming cafes adorning the Old Town district's narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways. Quentin Pelletier / 500px - Getty Images Kastoria Situated along the lake in northwestern is Kastoria, a narrow peninsula city home to more than 60 Byzantine churches. A visit to Kastoria offers stunning views of the Orestiada Lake as well as the tranquil Grammos and Vitsi Mountains. Getty Images Patrias To the west of Athens lies the city of Patras, which contains the Saint Andrew Church and Apollon Municipal Theatre that make up the heart of this bustling port town. Visitors can enjoy the colorful neoclassic mansions, romantic lighthouse, and the Spinney, a pine-tree covered hill just west of the city that offers some of the prettiest views in all of Greece. @ Didier Marti - Getty Images Nafplion A coastal city in the eastern Peloponnese region, Nafplion is home to Turkish fountains, neoclassical mansions and charming cobblestone alleys in the medieval Old Town. Some of the most romantic views can be observed during sunset around the Arvanitia Promenade, where the oft photographed Venetian fortress Bourtzi can be seen lit up at night. Darren Robb - Getty Images Ioannina Ioannina is the capital of Epirus, and it is surrounded by Lake Pamvotida, a beloved hallmark of the city. The city is home to charming cafe-lined streets, the famed Castle of Ioannina, and picturesque landscapes of the mountains surrounding the area. Posnov - Getty Images Volos Volos is a large port city that sits beneath Mt. Pelion. A trip to Volos offers a number of historic churches and industrial buildings to explore, as well as the gorgeous, tree-lined Rigas Feraios Square. The city is best seen on foot or by bike. Cavan Images - Getty Images Mytilene The capital of Lesvos, Mytilene is surrounded by the Aegean Sea. Some of the best views of Mytilene can be found from atop the Mytilene Castle and The Monastery of Saint Raphael. Cafes and shops line Mytilene's Promenade and the stunning sea views paired with locally grown food and wine make this city one not to miss. Michael P. Chapman - Getty Images Arta Located in northwestern Greece in the Epirus region, Arta is most widely recognized for the unmistakeable and stunning Bridge of Arta. Surrounded by mountains, the Arahthos river, and stunning lagoons, Arta has one of the most varied ecosystems in Greece. Westend61 - Getty Images Monemvasia Last but not least, one of the most unique cities in Greece is located quite literally off the beaten path. Monemvasia is an island connected by a single road to the mainland of Peloponnese. Cars aren't allowed beyond the city's entrance, making it a pedestrian-only city that is surrounded by a fortress wall. Monemvasia is home to historic buildings, Byzantine churches and the gorgeous Fortress of Youlas which boasts the greatest views. John Pruess / 500px - Getty Images You Might Also Like A 33-year-old man was struck and killed by a fallen tree while camping in Vermont over the weekend. Massachusetts resident Joshua Przybycien was said to be camping with his fiance on Somerset Road in southern Vermont when the tragic incident took place. Vermont State Police received a call at 1 a.m. on Friday reporting serious injuries after a tree had fallen on the campsite following severe thunderstorms which had swept through New England overnight. They responded to the call and found Przybycien already deceased under the fallen tree. Police haven't given any further details about the incident, but high winds and heavy rain can play a role in felling structurally unsound trees, also known as hazard trees. Though your risk of being hit by a falling tree when you're hiking or camping is statistically low, always check the weather forecast and avoid camping in forested areas during or immediately following stormy weather that includes high winds, heavy rain, snow and ice. Learn more in our article on where not to camp to avoid hazards such as trees, flooding and fire. Reality show stars Dave Sparks and Dave Kiley owe jeans-maker Diesel $11.8 million, according to a New York judge. Ruling on a complaint filed by the Italian fashion brand in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2019, Judge Jennifer Rochon found that Sparks and Kileys Diesel Power Gear and DieselSellerz owe the denim maker damages for trademark infringement. More from Sourcing Journal ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Last year, a New York federal court granted a partial summary judgment on Diesels trademark infringement, unfair competition and dilution claims against Sparks and Kiley, who starred on the Discovery Channel reality series, Diesel Brothers. The complaint was filed in reaction to apparel and other items sold by Diesel Power Gear, as well as its website, which were found to be confusingly similar in light of the way in which the marks are actually displayed in their purchasing context, including [DPGs] use of the marks on its physical storefront and website domains. While the court had ruled that Diesel Power Gear violated Diesels trademark, the amount of its settlement fell far short of the denim makers request. Diesel argued that it was entitled to Diesel Power Gears net sales of $59.1 million, claiming the company hadnt proved any deductible costs or expenses. But Diesel Power Gear countered that its profits from apparel and other gear should be based on a smaller subset of sales and that business expenses should be deducted from that sum. The court ruled that awarding Diesel the full amount of Diesel Power Gears profits would be excessive and instead reduced the net sales by 80 percent, resulting in the total settlement of $11.8 million. In making the judgment, Rochon said there was no evidence of actual consumer confusion between the two brands, and Diesel, which recently named a new North America CEO, did not present direct evidence of the trademark infringement damaging their business. Diesels legal representatives, Epstein Drangel, LLC, declined to comment on the case. While the ruling marks the end of this legal dispute, Diesel is being investigated by a Canadian authority over possible ties to forced labor. Click here to read the full article. If your camera eats first, this Yelp position could be perfect for you. We all know the moment well: you're at a restaurant, caught up in anticipation for a scrumptious meal and as the server sets down the dish in front of you, theres that pause. Whether its you yourself or a friend, we all know (or are!) that person who cant take a bite of their meal until its properly photographed. But now that habit can pay off as Yelp has launched a nationwide search for its first Chief Food Photographer through its Camera Eats First contest. The Chief Food Photographer role will be the authority on all things phone photography, helping Yelps audience discover their next great meal through the perfect shot, the company said in a release obtained by Travel + Leisure. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The selected foodie shutterbug will be asked to photograph delicious dishes and capture content from local hidden gem restaurants across the U.S. for a two-month term from Dec. 1, 2023, to Jan. 31, 2024. During that time, they will visit two restaurants a month and create two blog posts, in addition to capturing social content for Yelps channels. As a reward, Yelp will give the winner $10,000. Getty Images To enter, applicants need to submit up to 10 unique photos of food or restaurants added to Yelps pages, plus a 30- to 60-second video explaining why theyre right for the role. Entries must be received by Oct. 7 and will be judged based on a mix of photography skills and social media reach. More details and the entry form can be accessed here. To give prospective Chief Food Photographers an edge, Tara Lewis, Yelp's trend expert, offered a few tips. Before you get started, make sure to clean your camera lens for sharp, high-quality photos, she said. You dont need any special tools for the job and a clean, lint-free cloth should do the trick. Lewis also added to look for natural light for the most clear, vibrant and appetizing images and to not be afraid to experiment with distance and angles to explore depth, dimension, texture, and atmosphere. Yelp is celebrating the launch of its inaugural Camera Eats First contest by releasing its list of Most Photographed Restaurants of the Year, featuring 25 of the most snapped eateries across the nation. The list ranges from trendy spots like Los Angeles Girl & the Goat and Washington D.C.s LArdente to local favorites like New York Citys Olio e Piu and Nashvilles Hattie Bs Hot Chicken. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Korean builders' overseas construction orders have reached the highest year-to-date level since 2015. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Sunday that Korean builders won $21.9 billion worth of new overseas orders in the first eight months of the year, up 20 percent on-year and the highest since 2015, when they amounted to $33 billion in the same period. It is also the first time in five years that the orders have surpassed $20 billion. The rise is largely attributed to a $5-billion contract signed between Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Saudi Arabia's Aramco in June to build a petrochemical complex in the Middle Eastern country. The Amiral project is the biggest plant order ever won by a Korean company in Saudi Arabia. Korean companies' overseas construction orders reached $71.6 billion in 2010, but they have since been on a downward trend due to intensifying competition with Chinese companies, hovering at around $30 billion each year from 2020 through 2022. The government set this year's target at $35 billion and promised active support for the companies. Elon Musk's biographer set the record straight on whether Errol Musk ever owned an emerald mine. Walter Isaacson spoke to Musk's father Errol, who told him he exchanged a plane for emeralds. Errol never owned a mine, but imported emeralds into South Africa and had them cut in Johannesburg. It's long been speculated that Elon Musk's father, Errol Musk , owned an emerald mine in South Africa or at least had a half-share in a mine. Elon Musk told online portal AskMen in 2014 during a phone interview his father "had a share in an emerald mine in Zambia", an archived version of the article shows. But since then, the X owner has backtracked on that statement by repeatedly denying that his father ever owned an emerald mine. "He didn't own an emerald mine & I worked my way through college, ending up ~$100k in student debt," Elon Musk tweeted in 2019 in response to a user on X, formerly known as Twitter, claiming Errol owned a mine. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In January, Elon Musk said "the fake emerald mine thing is so annoying (sigh)," when his mother, Maye Musk , shared a CBS News article on Twitter that made the same claims. Well, it turns out that Elon Musk was telling the truth. Walter Isaacson revealed in Elon Musk's biography, released this week, that Errol Musk never owned a mine. He wrote that Errol Musk used to own a light plane in the 1980s and sold it to an entrepreneur in 1986 in exchange for some emeralds from a mine the businessman owned in Zambia. Elon Musk's father, 77, told Isaacson the mine was never registered and that he imported raw emeralds and had them cut in Johannesburg. "Many people came to me with stolen parcels," Errol Musk told the writer. "On trips overseas I would sell emeralds to jewelers. It was a cloak-and-dagger thing, because none of it was legal." The biography also said Errol Musk's emerald business eventually caved in during the 1980s and that he subsequently lost his earnings from it. Errol Musk didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Fish and chips are so essential to the U.K.'s food scene that British foodies have colloquial names for the pieces of leftover fish batter. Whether you call them "scraps," "scrumps," or "bits," chances are pretty good that you'll be jazzed to find 'em in the bottom of your basket. Some fish and chip shops even offer baskets of these scraps for free. A classic British fish and chips uses a simple batter of flour, salt, and beer, but its simplicity hasn't stopped foodies nationwide from craving it. According to The National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) via The Yorkshire Post, folks in Yorkshire eat the most batter scraps of any demographic in the United Kingdom. Due to their enduring popularity, some "chippies" (the British name for these establishments) have been starting to put a price on the sought-after morsels, and to-charge or not-to-charge has quickly emerged as the center of heated debate. As Yorkshire foodie Pete Hirst told the Post last year, "[Scraps] are a human being's birthright -- it's like paying for salt and vinegar -- absolute madness." Still, NFFF President Andrew Crook told the outlet that fans shouldn't worry too much: "Some charge a nominal fee, but it's never going to be a big money spinner." Read more: 15 British Baked Sweet Treats You'll Want To Try Fish Fry Fans Run Deep Fish and Chips sign beside a Union Jack flag - Bloomberg/Getty Images Foodies may have some cause to be concerned about the sanctity of their scraps. In May 2022, the Russia-Ukraine crisis drove the price of cooking oil and seafood exports sky-high, which directly impacted U.K. fish-and-chip shops' supplies of sunflower oil, cod, and haddock. Then again, in February 2023, the overseas crisis continued to impact the global seafood industry when the U.S. sanctioned Russian seafood exports, driving prices even higher for American "chippy" fans. Charging for scraps could be a way to offset higher operation and product costs -- but it's highly doubtful that fish and chips are going anywhere. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Originally, the dish was birthed as a cultural culinary fusion, as East End Jews brought the fried fish and Lancashire and Yorkshire brought the chips. Per the lore, folks in the U.K. have been enjoying the dish since the early 1800s. A "fried fish warehouse" is even mentioned in Charles Dickens' 1839 classic "Oliver Twist." Fish and chips swiftly became so popular and inextricably interwoven into Great Britain's zeitgeist that it wasn't rationed during either of the World Wars to boost morale. Then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill called fish and chips "the good companions." High-profile fans range from The Beatles to Alfred Hitchcock and George Orwell. (John Lennon ate his with ketchup.) But, the dish isn't just beloved by native Englishmen. If anything, it seems that despite the external forces threatening the beloved dish, contemporary fans have only strengthened their resolve over time. Modern Love Two foodies enjoying takeaway fish and chips - Solstock/Getty Images Today, the roughly 94,000 square-mile country is home to over 10,000 fish and chip shops. Roughly 382 million baskets are sold in the U.K. every single year -- and that's only counting sales from designated fish and chips shops. The already-high figure becomes even more impressive considering the U.K.'s total population in 2023 is just under 68 million. (That comes out to roughly 5 baskets per every person in the county.) U.K. native Chef Gordon Ramsay names fish and chips his all-time favorite go-to comfort food. The country even hosts the highly prestigious annual National Fish and Chip Awards with strict judging rules, illustrating the dish's position as both accessible pub fare and cuisine to be taken seriously, down to the leftover scrumps. A slew of regional differences has cropped up, as well: Aberdeen eats the most haddock, Glasgow likes theirs with pickled onions, and Manchester prefers gravy and mushy peas. The zeal has stretched across an ocean as global foodies flock to fish and chips restaurants in the U.S., too. Just pop into the cleverly named A Salt and Battery in Manhattan's Greenwich Village on a Saturday at lunchtime and see what we mean. (Whether or not your favorite local chippy will charge you for scraps remains to be seen.) Read the original article on Tasting Table. George Clooney's Italian summers are possibly about to shift in scenery. A source close to the ER star told Page Six that he's quietly selling his iconic villa on Northern Italy's Lake Como for 100 million ($107 million), which is significantly higher than what he purchased it for over a decade ago. Its very quiet. No advertising. No pressjust high net worth [prospective buyers], the insider told the outlet. Known as Villa Oleandra, the estate was reportedly scooped up by George in 2002. Some reports say he shelled out $10 million to buy it from the Heinz family, while others place the price at $7 million. Either way, the potential profit seems vast. When he decided to go all in on it, the 18th-century escape reportedly needed major restoration work. Considering the asking price, it's likely a safe bet the actor had that done. Perhaps it also comes outfitted with furnishings and art included in the sale. GIUSEPPE CACACE - Getty Images This isn't the first time rumors have swirled about his decision to sell. Rumblings of the potential move date back to 2010, when he was reportedly planning to sell because of paparazzi harassment. In 2015, the same concerns arose as he was constantly photographed at the villa shortly after marrying his wife Amal. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement While Lake Como's honorary mayor and most famous resident may be saying goodbye to his beloved Italian sanctuary, the villa has certainly seen its fair share of exciting events over the years. An impressive guest list of notables in Hollywood, politics, and royalty have frequented itincluding Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Barack and Michelle Obama, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry. getty images - Getty Images While the insider didn't share if George plans to relocate within Italy, Page Six was told that Amal prefers to stay at the couple's Domaine du Canadel estate in the Provence region of France. The pair has an extensive real estate portfolio that also includes properties in England, Los Angeles, and New York City. Love knowing what your favorite stars are up to? Same. Lets keep up with them together. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. You Might Also Like Lex Hinkley is a 27-year-old nurse based in San Diego and their frustration with American healthcare recently made waves when they posted a passionate TikTok rant that perfectly sums up everything that's wrong with our system. She starts the video by saying, "It is virtually impossible to be a ethical healthcare worker in this extremely unethical healthcare system. The amount of times I've had to discharge patients back to situations where I knew they weren't going to be able to take care of themselves but I had no other options, is truly too hard to even give a number to. If my career as a healthcare worker has done anything to my worldview or life, it has simply radicalized me further than anyone could believe." Andresr / Getty Images Then they share a really upsetting story that perfectly illustrates how for-profit healthcare puts money over patients' lives and dignity: "I've seen varying levels of this happen at every single hospital I've worked at. I've been a nurse for four years. I've worked in seven states. It is happening everywhere, and if you think your hospital is different, you're fucking wrong. Recently, as of December, hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, came under fire for leaving patients outside on fucking sidewalks ." Roberto Machado Noa / Getty Images She continues, "They do this in front of shelters. They will drop patients off in front of shelters just like this, but sometimes they don't even take them to the shelter. They literally leave them right outside the hospital. This specific patient was left in this condition in 36-degree weather." When the local news outlet WAVE was alerted, it staked out the hospital and observed several more patients being left outside with no resources. One patient's mother told WAVE, "I thought, Theyve dumped my son... My garbage I have to put out to the curb, thats how they dumped my son. Like garbage." It's utterly heartbreaking. Douglas Sacha / Getty Images Las Vegas, When a stabilized ER patient who needs more care is essentially kicked to the curb like this, it's called patient dumping. This practice is not isolated to the Kentucky hospital Lex mentioned. In just a quick Google News search, I found news reports about patient dumping in San Diego Phoenix , and Colorado Springs , Colorado, all within the last year. Patients who are uninsured, low income, or experiencing homelessness are at the highest risk of being dumped. Next, Lex connects the dots between incidents of patient dumping and the gutting of the American social safety net: "When you defund social programs, it all ends up in the ER. When you defund senior care, when you defund psychiatric care, when you defund shelters, whether it's homeless shelters, women's shelters, when you defund the safety nets that our society needs to prevent people from beginning a crisis downward spiral, they end up in the ER." Phil Fisk / Getty Images/Image Source They add, "And simply put, ER workers and hospital workers are already at their fucking wits' end. We cannot act as a catchall for every single issue in society, and yet, we are, here we are doing it. And at the very fucking same time, treating people like literal fucking garbage should never fucking happen." Jgi / Getty Images/Tetra images RF Finally, Lex urges our country to start putting money back into social services: "The only way to fix situations as unethical and disgusting as this from happening is to fund solutions. We need to fund proper safety nets for our society. In this country, if you lose your job, you lose your health insurance, you potentially lose all of your income, which means you're not going to be able to pay rent. Well, then, what happens if you get sick? Do you see what I'm saying? We don't have safety nets for our poor in this country. We have a greased chute, and at the very bottom of that greased chute of poverty is a trip to your local emergency room because everything ends up in the ER, and then we have nowhere to place people." Caiaimage / Getty Images/iStockphoto She continues, "There are solutions for these problems, but they cost money. They cost money. And we as a society, have said that we're A-OK with 400 people having 70% of the nation's wealth while our community members get treated like this." And that's just a sample of what Lex had to say. You can watch the full video here: This embedded content is not available in your region. @travelingnurse / Via tiktok.com In the comments, so many others who work in healthcare chimed in to agree. One person wrote, "This is why so many of us healthcare workers are leaving the field. We just can't take it anymore." Former hospital workers also joined in the conversation. One wrote, "Amen. I'm an RN in Texas and had to leave the hospital setting because of this. Even in a 'nonprofit' hospital system. I can't do it anymore!" Another added, "I don't think some of the nurses where I work understand that who they're voting for is directly impacting their work like this - rn from the south." And others joined the convo to point out how teachers also often find themselves caught in this same bind. One person commented, "I hear similar from teachers. They are the catch all for children, providing food, supplies, clothing, emotional support to kids that go without." Lex told BuzzFeed that people who don't work in healthcare often don't see the difficult situations our system puts people into: "They fail to realize the strain that not providing proper resources for our communities puts on our healthcare system. Emergency rooms are meant for just that emergencies. I have seen lifesaving care be delayed more times than I can count because we were dealing with patients who were not there for true emergency care. But we are the only option they have. And that isn't fair for anyone." They also hope that anyone who was moved by their powerful words will take action to advocate for themselves by protecting the poorest people in their communities. "None of us know what life is going to throw at us, and any of us could be one happenstance away from being in their shoes. Our society gives so much money to the elite class. If we restructured our priorities, no one would need to sleep on the sidewalk," they said. Follow Lex on TikTok and Instagram "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Get your best pink outfit ready. The Barbie movie is about to be available for purchase on select streaming platforms (including Amazon Prime Video and Google Play) on September 12. So, if you haven't made several trips to the theater this summer to see your favorite plastic ladies, it's time for a quick refresher on some of the most important, but lesser known, characters in the film. Sorry, but for right now, Ken is just Ken, and Barbie is just Barbie. If you've already seen the movie, you'll know that Ruth Handler (played by actress Rhea Perlman) is a big part of Barbie's emotional growth and journey. TBH, it makes sense given Ruth's real history with the doll. She was one of the co-founders and former president of the toy company, Mattel, but ended up leaving the company in the 1970s after a financial scandal (more on that later). If you dont know Ruths backstory, its understandable to be kinda confused about why she's such a big deal in the film, the jokes about her IRS dealings, and her heartwrenching cameo. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement You also might just want to know more about Barbie's illustrious inventor, her life, and inspirations for the doll. So, Women's Health has gathered all the information you might want to know about Ruth Handler and where is she now. She was a Polish immigrant. Ruths family was originally from Poland, but her parents moved to Denver, Colorado, when she was a child, according to The Washington Post. She was the youngest of 10 kids. Her dad was a blacksmith, and her mom arrived in the U.S. in the steerage section of a steamship. Ruths moms health was frail, so she was actually raised by her older sister, the Post reported. Jeff Christensen/RETIRED - Getty Images She was married to Elliot Handler . Ruth left Denver to visit Hollywood when she was 19... and she ended up staying there. Her high school boyfriend, Elliot Handler, followed her out west, and the two got married in 1938, the Post says. Together, the two launched a giftware business called "Mattel" (a combination of the names "Matt" and "Elliott") out of their garage. The early Mattel sold things like bowls, mirrors, and clocks made out of plastic. The company reached $2 million in sales in a few years, the Post says. Eventually, the company branched out into toys like ukuleles, toy pianos, and toy planes, according to PBS. She had two kids, Barbara and Ken. Yep, Ruth ended up naming two of her iconic dolls after her kids. However, the similarities between Ruth's children and her dolls end with their names. Barbara Handler has said in the past that she doesn't resemble her namesake in any other way. How did Ruth Handler invent Barbie? The idea for Barbie and Ken stemmed from a family Europe trip in 1956, PBS reported. Barbara, then still a teenager, saw a doll that looked like an adult woman in a store window in Switzerland and was mesmerized. The curvy doll, known as a Bild Lilli doll, was very different from most girls' dolls in the US, which tended to be baby dolls. Ruth quickly got to work. The first Barbie doll hit the market three years later, along with outfits that could be purchased separately. Sales exploded and the company was valued at $10 million when it went public in 1960, per PBS. It took Mattel three years to catch up with demand for Barbie. The company even had to add factory capacity and warehouse space to meet demands, according to CNN. The doll became an archetype for the American woman, according to TIME. She had breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. John Sunderland - Getty Images Ruth wasnt just a pioneer in the toy world. She also launched a line of first-of-its-kind breast prostheses after going through breast cancer and having a mastectomy. The new silicone prosthetics were more lifelike and comfortable for women, and Ruth would travel around selling her product to women like her. When I had my breast removed, it was very tough for me, she told The Times. I was in the public eye; I bought every prosthesis that was on the market, and I had a custom breast made, but wasn't satisfied. In fact, Ruth made sure the prosthetics emulated the feeling of real breasts so much so that she would regularly open her shirt during interviews and ask reporters to feel her breasts to guess which one was real. Her line was affordable (between $98 and $130) and included over 70 different sizes, with right and left breast options. So, what did that joke about Ruth and the IRS refer to? In 1972, Mattel sales started to drop. In February of 1973, the company issued two conflicting reports about earnings within three weeks, per The New York Times. The first report said they would have strong earnings, and the second said the company lost $32.4 million in the fiscal year. Mattel stock tanked and, in October 1975, the Handlers resigned from their positions as co-chairmen of the board. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigated Ruth and other former Mattel executives and alleged that senior management had issued statements that were deliberately false to give an illusion that they had impressive sales growth in 1971, 1972, and 1973. It appears that Mattel's reported pretax income of approximately $34 million for fiscal year 1971 may have been overstated as the result of the misstatement, in the approximate magnitude of $15 million to $20 million, the SEC report said, per The New York Times. In 1978, Ruth and four former Mattel employees were indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for conspiracy, mail fraud, and making false financial statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission, The New York Times reported. Ruth pleaded no contest and received a $57,000 fine and 2,500 community service hours, per People. Ruth is supposed to be a god-like figure in Barbie. If you've already seen the film, you'll know that Ruth and Barbie's connection is intentionally spiritual throughout the film. Greta Gerwig modeled scenes between Barbie and Ruth off of a portrait of God reaching for man in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, per TIME. Lucas Schifres - Getty Images In the film, Ruth also says that Barbie is not meant to be any real woman, but aspirational. You'll have to watch (or rewatch) the movie to see what impact that has on Margot Robbie's Barbie. Is she still alive? Unfortunately, Ruth died in April of 2002 while in the hospital for complications from a colon surgery she'd had three months earlier. The surgery was a result of her colon cancer. She was 85. What was Ruth Handler's net worth? At the time of her death, Ruths net worth was $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. It's unclear what happened to her fortune after she died. Now that you know Ruth's whole back story, you might want to go watch Barbie one more time. You know, just so you can be ~in on the joke~ this time around. Which actress plays Ruth Handler in the movie? Beloved Cheers actress, Rhea Perlman, took on the iconic role of Barbie creator Ruth Handler. She used to be happily married to Danny DeVito but the two separated in 2012, per Today. When does Barbie hit streaming? Barbie is supposed to be available to stream on Max at some time this fall, but no official date has been set. You will also be able to purchase Barbie for $29.99 on select streaming services, and catch Ruth Handler in action starting on September 12. Here's where you can purchase the film so far: Watch Now However you stream, seeing Ruth in the Barbie film will make you want to cry (and also probably call your mom). You Might Also Like Mark Consuelos, 52, has proven himself to be quite the worthy co-host ever since he joined Live alongside his wife, Kelly Ripa, 52. Now, the Zaragoza native has proven himself to be quite the graceful Grand Marshal as well. On Sunday, September 10, Consuelos served as the Grand Marshal for the East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade & Festival, an annual celebration of Mexican culture and history that began in 1946. Ripa, who is always showing her support for her husband (and her family) on social media, celebrated the moment on her Instagram account. Along with a video documenting the day, Ripa wrote: Viva Mexico! [Mexican flag emoji] @Instasuelos was increible today as the Grand Marshal for the #EastLaParade! Feliz #MexicanIndependenceDay. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Although Consuelos was born in Spain, his mother, Camilla, is Italian, while his father, Saul, is Mexican. In the past, the All My Children alum has discussed growing up biracial and how it wasn't always easy. I'm half Mexican, half Italian. So, I was always in this neverland of... I wasn't really 'Mexican enough' [or] I wasn't really 'Italian enough, he told Teen Vogue. It wasn't till I got a little bit older that it really dug in. However, the Riverdale actor looked totally at ease in his Grand Marshal role, and he expressed his gratitude in his own IG post. Had a blast celebrating the best of Mexican culture with you all today, Consuelos wrote. Thank you for having me East LA! Mexican Independence Day takes place on September 16, and this festival acts as a way to kick off the celebrations. According to the official website for the event, the East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade is the oldest and largest Hispanic parade in the United States. Well done, Mark. Kelly Ripas Black Jumpsuit Steals the Show on Generation GapHeres How to Recreate the Look Want all the latest celebrity news sent right to your inbox? Click here. This article originally appeared on Trail Runner A stacked field is scheduled to line up in the competitive field of "hares" at the Run Rabbit Run 100-miler on September 15 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The 105-runner field includes Dave Stevens, Jimmy Elam, Arlen Glick, Georgia Porter, Cat Bradley, Tara Dower, Nicole Bitter, and Sarah Ostaszewski, as well as Trail Runner editor-in-chief Zoe Rom. They'll start at noon and join another 400 runners from the 8 a.m. start of the "tortoise" division on a 106-mile course that features more than 22,000 feet of elevation gain. The only difference is that the hares will be running for a portion of the $75,000 in prize money, which includes $15,000 for the men's and women's winners. Also among the star-studded lineup is Logan Williams, a 28-year-old lawyer from Incline Village, Nevada. In addition to looking for redemption following a 2022 DNF, he's looking to prove to himself that the 100-mile distance is still possible for him. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Back in March, he thought he'd have to swear off the distance for good. A rare autoimmune disease diagnosis in 2021 has, and continues to, cause pain that he feels on a daily basis from tiny tumors that keep developing all over his body. He feels them on every run. But, he keeps running. A chance to escape in nature and his passion for always trying to be better push him out the door each day. He's got talent, too, with notable finishes at Black Canyon 100K, Lake Sonoma 50, Bear 100, and others that earned him multiple sponsorship contracts (Williams currently runs for French Brand Satisfy Running). All the while, he's a law clerk whose week off to race is sandwiched between two complicated murder trials. "For me, this year has been about getting back to why I got into running," Williams said. "Of course I'm going to show up and want to do my best, but I want to show up to events that I've always wanted to do that resonate with me. Remove the community pressure to do things and do this as long as I can." Diagnosis Williams started noticing bumps on his arms and torso in high school. At the time, he, nor his doctors, could explain it. They'd cause some pain from time to time but it was simply written off as muscle tears or some other minor malady. It wasn't until when he was in undergrad and law school that he started developing headaches from the pain. The bumps also started to become more prominent on his body as he picked up trail running after summiting every 14er in Colorado in 2016. Williams had a knack for trail running despite entering the sport later. After several 50 milers over the years, a friend convinced him to run Utah's Wasatch 100 in 2019 only three weeks before the race. He finished ninth in 24:38:26. Three weeks after that, he jumped into the Bear 100, ran it self-supported and finished fifth in 21:35:17. "I remember finishing and being in so much pain," he said. "But I had the biggest smile on my face, and I knew this is what I wanted to do." Hundred milers became his passion. When success continued with a fifth-place finish at Lake Sonoma 50 in 2021 and a ninth-place finish at Black Canyon 100K in 2022, he had acquired a Salomon sponsorship. It was the second career he was starting at the time. He was also beginning his legal career as a law clerk in Reno. However, the bumps continued to form on his body and the pain worsened. After wearing a running pack for years, bumps on his abdomen and ribs made him have to forgo it on runs. After years of putting it off, Williams began visiting specialists to see what was truly causing the bumps and what they were. In 2021, he was diagnosed with Dercum's disease. "Dercum's is a really rare autoimmune disease that manifests itself differently with different people," he said, "For me, it's a buildup of painful tumors along muscle and nerve cells between the layer of muscle and fat. What happens is blood vessels will kind of break off and offshoot and then form a tumor. The tumors are painful in nature." RELATED: Running and Chronic Illness: Between Two Worlds A Bitter Pill to Swallow The fear of the unknown of what's next still exists as Williams adapts to this diagnosis. . Every day is different in terms of pain and how his body holds up. For example, for Run Rabbit Run 2022, Williams realized during training that he could run for about five hours before the sharp pain, burning sensation or crawling feeling began. "It feels like something is being ripped out of you with pliers all over your body," he said. One race day, the pain set in early, at hour three. The pain first forced his pack off. His shirt, causing pain, came off soon after. His tights remained, but also caused pain. Continuing meant another 15 hours of this agony. He finally decided to drop. "One of the harder lessons is that sometimes I can be in the best shape of my life, and be mentally ready, but there are things completely out of my control," Williams said. "Hundreds right now are my favorite business, but as of right now, I'm not planning on doing another 100 for another year or two. That's a bitter pill to swallow." Williams said this in March with surgery on the horizon. It's become an annual procedure to remove some of the tumors. This year, he had eight of the larger ones removed on his abdomen and ribs. They ranged in size from a quarter to a ping pong ball. A delay for the surgery cost him his first race of the year, Val d'Aran by UTMB in Spain in early July. Understanding and coming to terms with Dercum's has been his goal this year. He deleted his social media in December. After years of actively posting about running injuries and Dercum's, he needed a break. He didn't want a distraction. He wanted to be present. "It's largely been a reset year for me mentally," Williams said. "That's lended itself to me being more patient and peaceful with myself. When you know it feels this way, when you know what it is, it becomes just an added layer to the 100-miler puzzle. It's another problem to figure out on the run." This mentality didn't come easy. Williams said he was in a dark place to start the year as the pain never subsides. However, things like the latest surgery and playing around with training and nutrition have made significant differences in his daily life. He started with minimizing his processed sugar intake and being cautious, or even eliminating, most foods and beverages that can cause inflammation. He gave up foods he loved and also tested out gels and liquids. He found Neversecond gels and calorie-dense liquids work best for run fuel. He found new protein and nutritional sources from vegetables, rice, oatmeals, fish, and eggs to replace things like dairy and red meat. He also doubled his water intake to around 1.5 liters per hour. He put the same energy into rest and recovery. "Every run, I'm going to feel this pain," Williams said. "The intensity is largely dependent on what I do during or outside the run. My next run starts the moment the current one ends." The confidence from fueling as well as the success on long runs up to eight hours got him to consider 100 milers again. When someone mentioned Run Rabbit Run this summer, he put his name on the waitlist. "This fear of the unknown was hard for me to come to terms with, and I still struggle with it," he said. "The fear of what's next with Dercum's. That detracts from the moment that is. For me, every run, I try to take in the fact that I'm happy I'm running. A year ago, I didn't know I'd be running today. Going into the 100, I know it's going to hurt. But it's like, holy shit, I get to do this. The body held up this year. We're going to go out and make the most of this one day." Living in the Moment Williams is reluctant to dwell too much on his diagnosis in conversation. He's happy to talk about it now, but it's not the story he wants you to think when you see him. "If Logan wouldn't have told me, I never would've guessed," said Shawn Smith, a friend who lived with Williams in Salt Lake City a few years ago. "He didn't really tell anyone for a long time. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. He wanted to prove he could do these things without sympathy and get through it." Dercum's disease is not an illness you can visibly see, at least not the pain part. Williams hardly shows that side, though those close to him recognize his bad days. Yet, it's Williams who is often looking to help others, as a lawyer and a friend. Running, despite the pain, is his joy. His fiance, Emma Dahl, a pro runner who lives in Sweden, said running, as a sport, is his escape from the disease. It doesn't go away on his runs, but it's the culture, which he writes about for FreeTrail, that brings him the most joy. Dahl says you'll find him at every start line talking to strangers, listening to their stories. "It's kind of what saves him," said Dahl. "His mental strength is his biggest asset. He's definitely the strongest person I've ever met. He already does so many amazing things, and when people hear and know he's in pain doing all this, they gain so much respect for him. It inspires me everyday." That humility comes out in his actions and his words. When asked about how he manages a demanding career, sport, disease, and life, he speaks of others. "You never know what someone else is going through emotionally, physically, or mentally," he said. "Yeah, I have this weird thing going on inside me that can't be explained, but in almost every other facet in life, things aren't bad. I work in the court system and see people going through stuff all the time and not showing it." These are his thoughts as he navigates Dercum's. He isn't sure how or when his disease might worsen. As he said, he isn't sure he'll be running in a year. For now, he just wants to do what he loves. "One of the biggest struggles is this sense that every doctor tells me there's this possibility of being bedridden and giving up running," Williams said. "I don't know how many more of these I get. Sometimes I'm in court all day and think I missed a chance to run. In that thought, I'm doing a disservice. That puts a pressure on me to feel like I have to do these things. I struggle to sit still, but I'm learning to just be in moments." The moment he's excited for most this weekend? "I stopped drinking three months ago for this race," he said. "Everything is going to be hurting anyway after the run no matter what. I'm having a whiskey." A bottle of Willard Full-Proof Barrel Select will be waiting. RELATED: How Mindfulness Can Help Running Performance 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. This article originally appeared on Outside On Tuesday, September 5, a wet-looking hiker entered the frame of a game camera on Dumpling Mountain in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. As a handful of viewers watched on the livestream, he mouthed what appeared to be the word "help." Viewers of the Explore.org camera quickly jumped into action and started posting comments about the man in distress. The comments soon caught the attention of the stream's moderator. "Katmai Law Enforcement Rangers are going to head up the Mountain to check on this visitor," posted a moderator going by the handle GABear. "Hike can take a couple hours at least." Bear Cam saves a hikers life! Today dedicated bear cam fans alerted us to a man in distress on Dumpling Mountain. The heroic rangers @KatmaiNPS sprung into action and mounted a search saving the man. - more details to come. pic.twitter.com/JzgfApK371 -- explore.org (@exploreorg) September 6, 2023 "Explore staff immediately alerted the national park that there might be a man in distress on the mountain," Candice Rusch, the director of new media for Explore.org told Backpacker. "We then pulled clips of the incident from our live stream to send to the park for review." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement In a statement, Explore.org said that while moderators cut the public live feed after becoming aware of the situation, they kept monitoring it and sharing updates with the NPS. "The weather on the mountain that day was poor with extremely limited visibility, strong wind, and rain," the statement read. "The person looked into the camera lens and gave a thumbs down signal. A few minutes later, the person returned to the camera and audibly asked for help." Explore.org is better known for its live cameras in the park's Brooks Falls area, home to the popular Fat Bear Week competition every year. The organization placed the camera on Dumpling Mountain partially to give viewers visual access to the park's grizzly bear population, some of which hibernate near Dumpling Mountain. No one imagined that it could save a life. "Our cameras focus on nature and wildlife," Rusch said. "This is the first time our cameras have been used in a search and rescue operation." The part of the mountain where the man was located is known for its strenuous character. From the nearby campground, the trail to the overlook is 1.5 miles long and it climbs 800 feet in elevation. On the day of the rescue, weather conditions were also less than ideal, featuring 50 feet of visibility, cold and wet conditions. Cell service is not available on the mountain. "Dumpling Mountain is in a remote section of Katmai and this is the first rescue that I've heard of in that area," Peter Christian, public information officer for Katmai, said. A quick response from Explore.org and Katmai National Park officials resulted in a successful rescue, Rusch said, with park officials dispatching a search party just minutes after finding out about the distressed hiker. Within a few hours of his on-camera appearance, the still unidentified hiker was on his way back to safety. 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. In Taiwan, you don't have to go far to find a warm bowl of lu rou fan. The braised pork dish, which translates to "stewed meat rice," is served up at countless restaurants, street vendors, and home kitchens across the East Asian country. Like beef noodle soup, hot pot, xiao long bao soup dumplings, and burrito-shaped fan tuan, the dish is an essential facet of Taiwanese comfort food. Lu rou fan is so central to Taiwanese cuisine, in fact, that the Taipei government launched a campaign claiming ownership over it in 2011. Officials handed out bowl upon bowl of the dish to locals as a way of settling the age-old dispute over whether it originated in Taiwan or Shandong, China. Of course, lu rou fan's intriguing history isn't the only thing that makes it unique; its ingredients are what set it apart from other braised meat dishes around the globe. While variations abound, the dish's standard form calls for minced pork braised in rice wine, soy sauce, water, sugar, and five-spice powder until tender and saucy. However, some Taiwanese chefs divert from that order. Lu rou fan is often served over rice or noodles. Read more: Simple Rice Tricks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner Keep The Skin On Raw pork belly on wooden board - photohwan/Shutterstock No two bowls of lu rou fan are the same, but one universal rule to follow when making the dish at home is to keep the skin on if you're using pork belly. Doing so will lend a satisfying texture and fatty flavor to the final dish. However, northern versions of the dish tend to sway toward ground pork, so you can follow whichever regional variation suits your fancy. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Eric Sze, the chef and owner of buzzy New York City Taiwanese spots 886 and Wenwen, shared his self-described "super traditional" version with Munchies. He starts by blanching the pork belly to help keep its shape to rid it of any bacteria that might be lingering on the surface. While the pork simmers for 30 minutes, he makes dashi and tosses in some dried shitake mushrooms for extra depth. After the pork is cool enough to handle, he cuts it into bite-sized cubes and makes a quick caramel from rock sugar, oil, and hot water. He sears the pork belly in that syrupy liquid to give it a golden hue before transferring it to a plate and dropping chopped scallions, shallots, and ginger into the same pot. Finally, he adds soy sauce, the dashi, and a whole lot of fried shallots, letting everything simmer on the stove for an hour or so. As a final touch, Sze garnishes his lu rou fan with pickled cucumbers. Staking Claim Taiwan street with lanterns - leungchopan/Shutterstock Sze maintains that lu rou fan was invented in Taiwan when the country was under Japanese rule. Others still aren't sure whether the dish got its start in Taiwan or China. According to The Woks of Life, lu rou fan shares many similarities with hong shao rou, a pork belly dish from Shanghai that translates to "red cooked pork." Unlike lu rou fan, however, hong shao rou is made with larger cuts of pork belly and different spices. We obviously know where the Taipei City Government stands. Its decision to give away 1,000 bowls of lu rou fan was a response to a Michelin Green Guide claim that the dish originated in China. "Today we're here to let everyone know that lu rou fan is genuine Taiwanese cuisine, a national delicacy, not a 'Shandong-style' dish," said Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin in a statement at the time. One thing's for certain: lu rou fan is delicious, supremely comforting, and definitely worth making at home. Read the original article on Daily Meal. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." From your very first wedding anniversary, every year together is worth celebrating. But after two decades of marriage, your anniversary is an extra big deal! By now, youve been through some serious ups and downs, experienced joys and tears, and learned to laugh together over your own secret jokes and stories. When searching for the best 20th anniversary gifts, you want to acknowledge this milestone anniversary with something meaningful to celebrate what makes your relationship unique. The traditional 20th anniversary gift is china or porcelain, while the modern 20th anniversary gift is platinum. Or you can opt for a gift that features asters, which are the perennial flowers associated with the 20th anniversary. The colors green or white also are connected with this anniversary, as well as the gemstone emerald. You can use these symbols as ideas for inspiration, or you can opt for a creative gift that reflects the couple's hobbies or tastes. Whether youre looking for your parents, friends, or your own spouse, weve curated gifts at every price point, including many for less than $20. To choose the best gift ever, think about how you and your spouse or the couple enjoy spending time together. Would a grilling gift add fun to cookouts? Or how about date night activities that encourage couples to spend more quality time together? ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement No matter whether you're searching for gifts for the guy who has everything or anniversary gifts for her, weve got ideas for every couple celebrating this milestone together. Date Night Box Subscription Give your significant other the gift of time. This subscription box includes one "date night" box full of activities so you can interact, laugh, and strengthen your bonds with each other. Give one month or make it an ongoing subscription for up to a year. It's way more fun than another night of channel surfing or spending money going out. Shop Now Date Night Box Subscription cratejoy.com $25.00 Cratejoy Live Olive Tree If you're looking for an extra-special way to celebrate your relationship, this olive tree is a creative expression of your love. After all, olive trees can live for hundreds of years! Greenery is right in line with the colors and symbols of a 20th anniversary. And the silvery leaves of this graceful tree add style to any room. Make sure to give it plenty of direct sunlight, or use a grow light. Shop Now Live Olive Tree $79.00 Bloomscape Moroccan Handblown Drinking Glasses, Set of 6 These stunning glasses are handblown in Morocco and make every beverage from orange juice to cocktails more special. They're dishwasher safe and also come in warm amber. Each glass is one-of-a-kind, just like your loved one. These glasses are offered by a woman-owned small business, which curates and sells only handmade products which honor the heritage of the artisans around the world. Shop Now Moroccan Handblown Drinking Glasses, Set of 6 amazon.com $48.99 Verve Culture Glass Baking Dishes, 8-Piece Set China or porcelain is the traditional gift for a 20th anniversary, but this set is a lot more practical and just as pretty. It can withstand temperatures up to 550 degrees. Plus, it's dishwasher, microwave, and freezer-safe. Each dish comes with its own lid for perfect oven to table to leftover storage. They're also lightweight and stackable. Can china do all that? Shop Now Glass Baking Dishes, 8-Piece Set amazon.com $48.42 88 Great Conversation Starters This deck of 88 cards will get couples talking, reminiscing and laughing over their years together. Each card features a question to stimulate conversation, as well as an appropriate Bible verse. RELATED: 40 Inspiring Christian Gifts for Women of Faith Shop Now 88 Great Conversation Starters amazon.com $8.99 White Rose Bush Sure, a bouquet of roses is lovely. But you'll have roses for years when you plant this beautiful rose bush in your yard. It's in line with the white or green color theme associated with 20th anniversaries. Give your new rose full sun (at least six hours of direct sunlight), water well, and let nature do its thing. Shop Now White Rose Bush homedepot.com $44.97 Knock Out Roses Artisan Tortilleria Kit Make your next taco night together extra-special with this tortilleria kit that includes a handmade cast iron tortilla press, recipes, and woven napkin to keep your tortillas warm. It's made in Mexico by local artisans. There's also a gorgeous polished aluminum version if you prefer larger tortillas. Offered by a woman-owned small business, this kit is the perfect gift idea for the couple who loves to cook together and appreciates artisanal products that honor cultures around the world. Shop Now Artisan Tortilleria Kit amazon.com $48.00 Verve Culture Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club Give each other a monthly subscription that teaches you to mix craft cocktails like you've enjoyed at restaurants and bars. Each kit includes everything you need other than the liquor to make a total of 12 drinks from 4 recipes, including syrups, bitters, aromatics and garnishes. RELATED: 25 Best Alcohol Gifts for the Cocktail Connoisseur in Your Life Shop Now Shaker & Spoon Cocktail Club cratejoy.com $49.92 Cratejoy Space-Saving Vacuum Sealer If your significant other loves to cook, this sealer set is a thoughtful idea that will get used every week. It's the gift they probably wouldn't buy themselves, but it's totally useful (and kinda fun, too!). The compact size fits tidily in a kitchen drawer. Your sweetheart can seal meats for marinating before grilling, preserve leftovers, or prepare foods such as ground beef for the freezer so you'll waste less food. RELATED: 50 Cool Kitchen Gadgets Every Smart Home Chef Owns Shop Now Space-Saving Vacuum Sealer amazon.com $145.99 FoodSaver "Let's Have Coffee Together Forever" Spoon Surprise your sweetie with this spoon set next to the coffee maker on the morning of your anniversary. What more do you need to say to remind each other that you're in it for at least another 20 years? Shop Now "Let's Have Coffee Together Forever" Spoon amazon.com $4.99 4-in1 Single-Serve Latte Maker Help your significant other kick the $6+ a pop latte habit at your local coffee shop. This compact unit hardly takes any space on your counter and will quickly become a favorite appliance. The 4-in-1 can make hot or cold lattes and cappuccino in minutes with the built in brewer and frother. Plus, you use your own coffee grounds (no expensive pods necessary!) with the reusable filter. There's even a take-along tumbler so your loved one won't need to stop at the coffee house on the way to work. Save your money for vacay instead! Shop Now 4-in1 Single-Serve Latte Maker walmart.com $119.00 Mr. Coffee "I Still Do" Gift Trinket Tray Remind your loved one that you would still say "I do" today, even after 20 years together! This little ceramic tray which fits the traditional anniversary gift for this milestone is a lovely reminder of your love. Plus, it's handy for storing rings, keys, and other things that so easily get lost. Shop Now "I Still Do" Gift Trinket Tray amazon.com $16.99 Simply Charmed Variegated Pink Lemon Tree Your love is like no other. Why not celebrate it with this unique lemon tree? It also fits the white and green theme. Variegated foliage makes it a handsome houseplant, but the real treat is when it produces lemons. They're yellow and green striped with pink flesh! How cool is that? Shop Now Variegated Pink Lemon Tree bloomscape.com $79.00 Bloomscape Vietnamese Pour Over Coffee Set Treat your spouse to this authentic Vietnamese pour-over style coffee. Offered by a small woman-owned business, this coffee is sustainably-sourced and includes no artificial ingredients only real coffee and spices. If your loved one is adventurous, there are plenty of fun flavors, including lavender, salted caramel, and mint mocha to try, too. Shop Now Vietnamese Pour Over Coffee Set amazon.com $45.00 Copper Cow A Love Journal: 100 Things I Love about You The best gifts are the ones that come from the heart. This little book walks you through 100 reasons you love your spouse, from how you knew it was right to your favorite activity together. We promise your sweetheart will leaf through it again and again. Shop Now A Love Journal: 100 Things I Love about You amazon.com $7.47 Rockridge Press The Unicorn Flowers always are a classic gift, and this beautiful bouquet is on-trend. The company has an extensive selection of arrangements, if you have something else in mind. Theres also a subscription service so you can send your recipient a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly bouquet. Flowers are sourced through Rainforest Alliance-certified farms with sustainable bio-based stem wraps and bags that are completely compostable. Shop Now The Unicorn urbanstems.com $55.00 UrbanStems Personalized Calendar Date Keychain Memorialize your special date with this engraved keychain. It's a fun way to celebrate the day twenty years ago when your life changed for the better! Shop Now Personalized Calendar Date Keychain amazon.com $10.96 OnlyLove Customized Wine Make a bottle of your loved one's favorite wine or Prosecco even more memorable by having it engraved with your names and the date. Choose from white, red, rose, or sparkling for a one-of-a-kind celebratory gift idea! Shop Now Customized Wine $57.95 Williams-Sonoma Mr. Right & Mrs. Always Right Mug Set Give 'em a laugh with this cheeky set! Or maybe it's the perfect gift to give each other to celebrate your sense of humor (which, after all, is one of the reasons you're still in love with each other!). The set also fits the traditional theme gift of china or porcelain for 20th anniversaries. Shop Now Mr. Right & Mrs. Always Right Mug Set amazon.com $24.99 Ranger 2.0 Smokeless Fire Pit If you want to spend more quality time together (and less time on your phones), start a new date night tradition by gathering around the bonfire. This smokeless fire pit offers a unique design that allows fuel to burn more efficiently with less smoke. You can burn firewood or use the pellet adapter for easy-peasy fires, even if you've never built a fire in your life. There's even a Pi Fire Pizza Oven that sits on top of the fire pit to make real wood-fired pizzas! It makes a great gift from a group, too. Shop Now Ranger 2.0 Smokeless Fire Pit amazon.com $264.99 Customized Metal Name Sign Celebrate the founding of your family with this personalized metal sign. You can include your names, monogram, and the year of your marriage. It's available in several different sizes for indoor display. Shop Now Customized Metal Name Sign amazon.com $16.88 Solid Sugar Scrub Gift Set This sugar scrub set, created by a Black-owned business, is a blend of natural ingredients, such as pure cane sugar, shea butter, avocado oil, and fragrant essential oils. It's the perfect pampering gift for your loved one's shower or bath. Shop Now Solid Sugar Scrub Gift Set uncommongoods.com $42.00 Uncommon Goods Aster Flower Necklace Asters may be the birth month flower for September, but they're also associated with 20th wedding anniversaries. Give her this pretty necklace, handmade by a small business in Florida, to commemorate your 20 years together. Shop Now Aster Flower Necklace amazon.com $44.95 Lucina K. 20 Years as Mr. and Mrs. Ornament This pretty ceramic ornament is just right if you want to send a little something to the happy couple. They'll enjoy it on their tree for years, and it fits the traditional theme gift of ceramics for the 20th anniversary. Shop Now 20 Years as Mr. and Mrs. Ornament amazon.com $18.95 Personalized Heart in Heart Sign This personalized canvas wall hanging, made in the USA by a small business, comes in three different sizes. Add the names and wedding date, and it makes a fun gift that's a little bit different from all the rest. Shop Now Personalized Heart in Heart Sign amazon.com $29.87 Bottega Arts Combo Grill Set, 7 Pieces How about a grilling gift to make cookouts more fun and cleaning easier? This set, from a Black-owned business, comes with two mops for slathering on the sauce, sweet BBQ sauce, two scrubbing stones and two handles to hold the stones and protect fingers during post-cookout cleanups. Shop Now Combo Grill Set, 7 Pieces amazon.com $37.11 Better Grillin' Personalized Cake Topper Throwing a small party even just for the two of you? This beautiful cake topper can be customized to include your names or anniversary wishes! Made by a small, woman-owned business, it's a great keepsake, too. Shop Now Personalized Cake Topper amazon.com $16.95 Alexis Mattox Design Glitter Metal Picture Frame Maybe it's not the modern day gift of platinum, but this glitzy frame is close enough! If you haven't had your portraits taken together since your wedding day, it's time to print one of your favorite photos from your phone and get it into this frame! Shop Now Glitter Metal Picture Frame wayfair.com $27.99 Wayfair Mexican Hot Chocolate Mugs, Set of 2 These super-cute rounded mugs feel great in the hand, and they're perfect for snuggling up with your sweetie near a blazing fire. They're handmade in Mexico and offered by a woman-owned business. Add a bag of genuine Oaxacan chocolate discs for the absolute best cocoa you've ever had. Shop Now Mexican Hot Chocolate Mugs, Set of 2 amazon.com $20.00 Verve Culture Heart Link Chain Bracelet This adjustable platinum-look silver drusy bracelet features a dainty heart to celebrate the day you gave your heart. It can be worn alone or layered. Shop Now Heart Link Chain Bracelet amazon.com $68.89 Kendra Scott You Might Also Like North Korean leader Kim Jong-un put his young daughter on prominent display again during a military parade last Saturday marking the 75th anniversary of the regime. Kim Ju-ae sat on the podium next to her father and North Korea's top brass, with Army chief Pak Jong-chon whispering into her ear while groveling on one knee. It is unclear whether the girl, who is only about 10, is being groomed as her father's successor. The massive military parade started at midnight on Saturday at Kim Il-sung Square, the third in a year thick with anniversaries. The official Rodong Sinmun daily and state TV referred to Ju-ae as the "beloved daughter." During a parade in February, she sat behind Kim and next to her mother, Ri Sol-ju, and Workers Party secretaries. "Kim Jong-un also flaunted his status as successor by sitting on the podium next to his father Kim Jong-il at a military parade in 2010, a year before he rose to power," a North Korea watcher said. Passengers on an Air China flight were evacuated upon landing in Singapore after one of the aircrafts engines caught fire, leading to a three-hour closure of Changi Airport on Sunday. Videos on social media showed passengers evacuating the aircraft using the emergency exit slide while dark smoke billowed from the engine that was still on fire. Other images taken inside the plane showed a dark cabin and the aisle blanketed in smoke. All 146 passengers and nine crew members safely evacuated after landing at about 4:15 p.m. local time, according to a statement from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. A fire in the left engine was extinguished about 10 minutes later and nine passengers sustained minor injuries related to smoke inhalation and abrasions during evacuation, it said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Smoke was also detected in the front cargo hold and a lavatory, Changi Airport said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. An image of the plane cabin filled with smoke. - @wenyu_li73777/Twitter Air China said in a statement on Weibo that flight CA403 was traveling from Chinas Chengdu Tianfu Airport to Singapore Changi Airport when smoke appeared in the cabin of the A320neo before landing. The carrier initially determined that the fire was caused by a mechanical failure of the engine, and further investigation is currently underway. Last March, China faced its worst air disaster in more than a decade when a Boeing 737-800 China Eastern Airlines flight carrying 132 people left no survivors when it crashed while en route from Kunming to Guangzhou. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In case you missed it, there were some Pro AV people and places on the move over the past week. Here's some to know. [Sustainability in Pro AV: The Farm Earns SAVe Certification] Daktronics AV Sales Team Welcomes Alex Barrett Headshot of Daktronics Alex Barrett. Building and expanding its focus on the AV market for direct-view LED (dvLED) video displays, Daktronics has hired Alex Barrett as AV channel partner account executive. In this role, Barrett will focus on Daktronics solutions and their integration into government, military, education, sport, retail and transportation applications. He brings nearly a decade of experience to the tech world both with Daktronics and a Software as a Service company before entering this role. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement [New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers Kickoff NFL 2023 Season with Daktronics] Im excited to apply my experience in the Marine Corps with previous roles at Daktronics to bring high resolution LED products to these markets, said Barrett of his new role. There are many applications for the dvLED products we have available and Im looking forward to working with our AV partners to bring these products into the field for their customers. Kyle Walker Named Eastern Regional Sales Manager at Symetrix Symetrix appointed Kyle Walker as Eastern regional sales manager. In his new role, Walker will oversee all of Symetrix representation and sales processes from Maine to Florida, extending across the Midwest to Indiana. Dating back to my early days as a studio engineer, Ive always had a high opinion of Symetrix equipment, Walker said. Im excited to pair my passion for high quality audio with Symetrix equally high-quality products and services, and I am thrilled to be able to share that with my network and beyond. [LG, Userful Unveil Integrated Solutions Bundle] Walker started his career in Pro AV as an account manager and technical liaison for an independent firm in the New York City metro area, representing microphone, loudspeaker, DSP, and assistive listening brands. Prior to Symetrix, he worked at Sennheiser as a national key account manager where he fostered relationships, grew sales, and secured key vendor status with national AV integration companies. Chyron Names Alain Polgar Senior Vice President of Sales for EMEA and APAC Regions Smiling headshot of Chyron's Alain Polgar. Chyron appointed Alain Polgar as the companys senior vice president of sales for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) regions. With decades of experience in senior roles across the broadcast media, technology, and streaming market ecosystem, Polgar comes to this position prepared to lead customer-centric growth and guide the Chyron team in elevating customer satisfaction throughout key markets. Over his 30-year career, Polgar has worked with technology vendors, service companies, system integrators, and streaming and content sales businesses, developing a robust understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these varied players within a rapidly evolving marketplace. He most recently served as head of business development at Pantaflix Technologies and as managing director at mediaSTRAT, where he guided firms in the broadcast media industry looking to expand into new markets and geographies while strengthening their sales organizations and processes. [Diversified, AVIXA Strike Key Three-Year Agreement] Polgar earlier served as director of sales development at Red Bee Media, director of sales DVS EMEA and APAC at Rohde & Schwarz, vice president of international sales at Ascent Media, director of sales EMEA at Pinnacle Systems, vice president of sales and marketing at FAST Multimedia, and managing director of Thomson Broadcast Systems. 3Made AV Becomes New Distributor for PIXERA Dave Vos (left) and Bart Van der Perre of 3Made AV. 3Made AV, a newly established Belgian audiovisual consultancy and distribution company, has become a new distributor for AV Stumpfl PIXERA media server systems in the Benelux region. This partnership allows 3Made AV to expand its services and provide a more comprehensive experience for its clients. The founders, Dave Vos and Bart Van der Perre, bring extensive technical and logistical expertise to 3Made AV, in combination with many years of joint project experience. Leveraging its knowledge and commitment to customer satisfaction, the company aims to offer added value by providing training and comprehensive support for its clients' AV projects. Its highly personal approach is a distinguishing characteristic of 3Made AVs service model, which aims to offer its customers exceptional service tailored to their unique requirements. As a new distributor for the AV Stumpfl PIXERA media server platform, 3Made AV is poised to meet the increasing demand for high-quality audio-visual solutions in the Benelux region. Cinegy Appoints Sergio Alekseev to Sales Division Headshot of Sergio Alekseev. Cinegy GmbH has brought Sergio Alekseev into its growing sales team. He will take responsibility for business development and sales activities in Spain, Latin America and the MENA region. Alekseev was educated in Spain, as well as Germany and now lives in Madrid. His career to date has been within the IT industry, and more recently in IT-empowered media products. Most recently he was regional sales manager for networked broadcast radio and television specialist AEQ. We are very excited to welcome Sergio on board," said Daniella Weigner, CEO of Cinegy. "Drawing on his decade and more of industry sales experience, he is well connected and has the linguistic and cultural skills to broaden our presence in Latin America, as well as serving the Middle East which was his primary territory with his previous employer. His strong technical understanding will help the market use our innovative technologies to achieve their business and creative goals. Were in the middle of hurricane season, which means were used to seeing flooded streets in the news. A small town in Portugal is reporting something similar, but this disaster is entirely man-made. Levira Distillery, a winemaker in Sao Lourenco do Bairro, Portugal, accidentally painted the town red after two tanks of wine burst on Sunday. Almost 600,000 gallons of wine flowed through the streetsto put it in context, thats enough wine to fill an Olympic swimming pool. Verdadeiro rio de vinho em Anadia. Calamidade! pic.twitter.com/LejLz17XuK _o_cabra_da_peste (@nuno_mar) September 11, 2023 The spill rendered the streets unusable to the towns 2,500 residents. Local authorities quickly sprang into action to divert the wine and prevent it from contaminating the nearby Certima River. Volunteer firefighters successfully drained the liquid and transported it to a wastewater treatment plant. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement No residents were injured as a result of the spill, but the municipality of Anadia reports damage to the roads and at least one residential basement close to the winery. People on social media, however, argue that the worst part about the spill is all the wasted wine. One user wrote, "This would have lasted a whole 10 years such a waste." Another lamented, "Good wine down the drain." Levira Distillery took to social media to publicly apologize for the incident. Although the incident did not cause any injuries, we want to express our sincere concern for the damage caused in general, the post reads. The winemakers have also assumed the financial cost for cleanups and repairs, even deploying some of their staff to assist local authorities. You Might Also Like A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas mountains in Morocco on Friday evening, killing at least 2,497 people as of the writing of this story. King Mohammed VI has declared three days of national mourning, as rescue efforts continue in the nation. Around the globe, world leaders and royals have expressed messages of condolences to the Moroccan king. Here, read messages of condolences from monarchs: King Charles III of the United Kingdom On Saturday morning, King Charles wrote, "My wife and I were so deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the devastating loss of life and injuries caused by last night's earthquake in Morocco. We both have countless fond and special memories of our visits to your country and I cannot describe to you the depths of our sadness and sorrow at the suffering of all those affected by this appalling tragedy." ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He continued, "We mourn the many lives cut short and send our heartfelt thoughts and condolences to all those who have lost loved ones. We great admire all those who bravely engaged in the challenging search and rescue efforts. Their selflessness and expertise is truly inspiring. I know that my Government stands ready to support and respond to your needs at the exceptionally difficult time." King Felipe of Spain King Felipe began his message to King Mohammed writing "dear brother." He continued, "I was devastated to receive the news of the violent earthquake that has affected the town of Ighil and the southwest of your country and that has caused a very high number of fatalities and injuries. I wish to inform you, in my name, that the government and the Spanish people, our deepest feeling of pain for the terrible consequences of this disaster as well as our deepest condolences." Felipe added, "The Queen joins me in expressing our sincerest solidarity with the beloved Moroccan people and our support, appreciation, and closeness to the families of the victims in these times of grief and uncertainty, along with our best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery." He signed the note "with great affection and a brotherly hug." Mensaje de Su Majestad el Rey a Su Majestad el Rey de Marruecos. pic.twitter.com/qwMtzpZgVg Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) September 9, 2023 King Philippe of Belgium King Philippe of Belgium wrote to King Mohammed VI directly, saying in part, "I wish to express to Your Majesty and the Moroccan people the solidarity and friendship of the Belgian authorities and people. The Queen and the entire Royal Family join me in expressing to Your Majesty and your family their deep sorrow at the human consequences of this event." Message du Roi a Sa Majeste Mohammed VI suite au terrible tremblement de terre qui a frappe la region de Marrakech. Nos pensees vont aux victimes de cette catastrophe, a leurs proches et a lensemble du peuple marocain. pic.twitter.com/JTFx7fvhiY Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) September 10, 2023 Queen Margrethe of Denmark The Danish queen expressed her condolences to the Moroccan king. "Please accept my sincerest condolences, which I express following the earthquake the struck Morocco on September 8 and the terrible loss of life," she wrote. "I express my deep sympathy for all those affected, as well as for all the Moroccan people." King Abdullah II of Jordan "His Majesty King Abdullah II expresses condolences to King Mohammed VI of #Morocco over the victims of the earthquake, and directs the government to provide all the necessary support for Morocco," the Royal Hashemite Court shared on their social media. His Majesty King Abdullah II expresses condolences to King Mohammed VI of #Morocco over the victims of the earthquake, and directs the government to provide all the necessary support for Morocco#Jordan RHC (@RHCJO) September 9, 2023 On their website, the Court expanded further, "His Majesty King Abdullah II sent a message of condolence to his brother, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco, for the victims of the earthquake, which struck a number of areas in the Al Haouz Province in Morocco, yesterday, Friday." The royal court continued, "His Majesty affirmed that Jordan stands with the brothers in the Kingdom of Morocco in this painful incident, directing the government to provide all necessary assistance. In the telegram, in his name and on behalf of the people and government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Majesty the King expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to the dear Moroccan people, and to the families of the victims of this affliction, and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured." King Harald V of Norway "I was deeply saddened to learn of the earthquake that caused such widespread destruction and claimed so many lives in Morocco," the Norwegian king wrote to King Mohammed VI. "On behalf of myself and the people of Norway, I send you my deepfelt condolences and ask you to convey my condolences and my sympathy to those bereaved, to those otherwise afflicted by this terrible natural disaster, and to the people of the Kingdom of Morocco." You Might Also Like Lakeland PBS, a publicly owned PBS affiliate in Minnesota serving a rural and culturally diverse region, is using a Matrox Monarch EDGE E4 encoder and D4 decoder pair to send recorded content over VPN from its remote studio to its headquarters, which are 100 miles apart. With the Monarch EDGE solution, staff members at headquarters can use their production infrastructure to switch studio productions between the two locations, saving time and money. Lakeland PBS operates two full-power digital television broadcast stations: KAWE at its headquarters in Bemidji and KAWB at its satellite location in Brainerd. When Lakeland PBS produced the live-to-tape show "Lakeland Currents" at its satellite station, staff members from headquarters used to have to travel to the satellite location to record the show and bring the storage drive back to HQ. At about 200 miles and four hours round trip plus production time, it was a costly undertaking. [How NDI 5 Impacts AVoIP Remote Live Production] After determining that PC-based solutions with SDI add-in cards weren't robust enough to traverse its VPN, Lakeland PBS decided on a dedicated SRT hardware encoder to ensure stability for remote deployment. The broadcaster chose the Monarch EDGE solution for consistently rock-solid video transmission with good-quality encoding and latency of less than 250 milliseconds from SDI in to SDI out. It is this high performance that makes the broadcaster's Remote Integration (REMI) workflow possible. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "The other option we tested should have worked, but it just didn't quite work. No matter how low we set the bit rate, the transmission wasn't reliable enough. It's got to work all the time if you're going to do a show with it," said Tom Wild, director of engineering at Lakeland PBS. "Adding this SRT encoder definitely was the secret sauce that made reliable video streams and remote production possible." In the REMI workflow, the remote Monarch EDGE encoder takes three 1080i 60 streams from the station's Panasonic PTZ cameras and transmits the three feeds to headquarters over the VPN as one stream with embedded audio. At HQ, the Monarch EDGE decoder feeds SDI 1080i 59.94 with embedded audio to the station's production switcher. [Cloud-based Remote Production OptimizedHere's How You Can Do It, Too] Besides remote production on the live-to-tape shows, Lakeland PBS can also use the Monarch EDGE solution for other remote production purposes, like live hits for nightly newscasts. The broadcaster also appreciates EDGE's talkback functionality, which makes it possible to do intercom through the same box as the encoding/decoding. That capability to communicate with staff was especially helpful when the station covered live debates. And even on remote productions, an IFB makes it possible for someone at HQ to talk to a host at the satellite station. Thanks to Monarch EDGE, Lakeland PBS has been able to eliminate travel to and from the satellite location, which saves both time and money. Eliminating travel also gives staff a better work-life balance. People can do their work from the headquarters station instead of having to make the long drive. It also alleviates the stress of travel, especially in the middle of a Minnesota winter. Having a reliable encoding solution also makes it possible for Lakeland PBS to produce more local relevant content for more of its viewers, who, unlike with a metropolitan PBS station, are spread out over a large coverage area. [Running from Fears in Pro AV] "We're a pretty small rural PBS station, so every dollar matters. We want to cater to our whole coverage area and make things local and meaningful to our viewers, which can get expensive when our viewing areas are a hundred miles apart," Wild said. "The finances of that being what they are, this technology makes it possible to fulfill that goal. We can say yes to certain shows when we don't have to add another half-day and all the expenses to make it happen." "Many public television stations operate on a shoestring in terms of budget and staff, so they are looking for ways to work more efficiently," said, Wayne Andrews, product manager at Matrox Video. "This deployment at Lakeland PBS shows how such broadcasters can use Matrox Video technology to make the most of their resources while also improving service to their audiences." Samsung HW-S60B: Two-minute review If you're after an all-in-one soundbar solution that sounds great with Samsung smarts, then the HW-S60B is a solid option packaged in a compact and slim design. On its own, it can give your TV's audio a significant step up, boosting its sound and adding features such as Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants as well as more connectivity options like AirPlay 2. With a 5.0 channel surround sound that supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the HW-S60B soundbar works hard to deliver expansive surround sound (albeit digitally). It's great for watching movies and listening to music, but to the more attuned ear you might notice some slight shortcomings (go to the sound quality section for more). It's priced at the lower end of the soundbar price spectrum, but still has loads of premium features. In fact, the HW-S60B could easily rival some of the best soundbars we've reviewed if it weren't for the fact that its biggest selling points are limited to just Samsung TVs from 2022 or newer. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement For Samsung TV owners, though, you'll be able to wirelessly connect it to your set as well as other speakers or subwoofers from the range, which is great if you're already in the Samsung ecosystem. You'll also get access to Q Symphony and SoundFit, which are features seen among the top of the line soundbars in the range that allow you to use and calibrate both your TV's and soundbar's speakers at the same. Losing out on the wireless feature isn't that much of big of a deal when considering its HDMI input and small footprint though. It will sit proudly in front of any media cabinet and won't take up too much space thanks to its slimming dimensions. In a nutshell, the HW-S60B is a small but mighty soundbar that's the ideal companion for Samsung TV owners. Samsung HW-S60B: Price and release date The Samsung S60B soundbar Released in April 2022 $499.99 / 449 / AU$599 Samsung launched the HW-S60B in 2022 as part of its S-series range. The range consists of soundbars with a central console and no subwoofer (also, if you like me are wondering, the H in the the model's name stands for high-end, while the W stands for wireless). It launched at $499.99 in the US, which is in line with similar offerings from competitors like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Bose Smart soundbar 600. But, at the time of writing (September 2023), it is selling for a discounted price of $249.99, down from $349.99. In the UK, it'll set you back 449, while those in Australia can pick it up for AU$599. The HW-S60B replaces the HW-S60A, which was launched in May 2021 for $329 in the US, 399 in the UK and AU$529 in Australia. It has also since been succeeded by the HW-S60C in 2023, which costs the same price at $499.99 / 289.99. Samsung HW-S60B: Specs Samsung HW-S60B: Features The Samsung HW-S60B Wireless Dolby Atmos and Q-Symphony (if you have a Samsung TV) HMDI ARC and optical digital connections Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 and Alexa support Samsung made some great upgrades to its lifestyle soundbar range in 2022, adding premium features like its proprietary SpaceFit Sound, which is a room tuning correction tool, and virtual Dolby Atmos/DTS:X surround sound. This completely elevates the all-in-one solution of the HW-S60B, allowing it to deliver 3D spatial audio formats without wires via a Wi-Fi connection. However, its wireless capabilities, Samsung's Q-Symphony audio format and SpaceFit Sound feature are limited to selected Samsung TVs from 2022. You do see an option to turn on the SpaceFit Sound in the app, although this didn't appear to change much with my non-Samsung TV. Its wireless functionality is also probably the reason why there's only one HDMI port with ARC but sadly no eARC support. You don't completely lose out by not having a Samsung TV though and for the sake of this review, I did not test this model out with one. There's still access to Samsung's own SmartThings control app to easily setup the soundbar and tweak settings, such as switching sound modes from Standard and Music to Game and Adaptive Sound as well as DTS:X (virtual). You can also adjust bass, treble and the channel levels for both centre and side speakers just as easy. In addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and AirPlay 2, I was be able to effortlessly stream music from my phone to the HW-S60B through the app's Tap Sound feature. It also has Spotify Connect, which allowed me to play music from anywhere in my home as long as I was in range. It's these types of connectivity features that I found really neat, as it made transforming my living space a seamless experience. While I'm sure the Alexa support is useful if you have an Alexa-connected device connected to your SmartThings app already, with an iPhone it wasn't a straightforward experience for me and I wasn't able to get it working through the Alexa app. Overall, the HW-S60B is packed with helpful features but the limitations to a Samsung TV lose points for us. Features score: 3.5/5 Samsung HW-S60B: Sound quality The Samsung S60B soundbar Expansive audio but can sound flat and lacks in bass Loud and clear vocals Useful sound modes I tested the HW-S60B in a spacious room with soft furnishings connected to a non-Samsung TV through a HDMI cable to ARC. It was a big step-up from my TV's built-in audio and while the detail in the audio gets a little bit lost by turning the volume up, it had an impressive loud room-filling sound. Given its compact size, I was very impressed with the expansive sound it was able to deliver. It was able to make dialogue expressive and clear. For example, while watching movies with the Voice Enhancement feature and Adaptive Sound mode turned on, it helped to increase the dialogue legibility of the likes of Christopher Nolan's Tenet, which is no small feat. There are some big limitations in bass though, which is to be expected given its small size. These were very noticeable while watching action scenes, such as Top Gun: Maverick's test run training sequence, as it couldn't deliver the full might of the fighter jet's engines firing. Listening to music is where you'll notice this even more though. As a reference track, I've heard Elton John's Rocket Man in million pound Dolby Atmos screening rooms and on premium Bower & Wilkins speakers, so know the incredible dynamic range needed to hit the highs and lows in the song. When I played this on the HW-S60B, I started to notice some limitations. While listening in Music mode, I noticed that it still mainly revealed a compressed dynamic range and sounded a bit flat. The rhythmic bass that I was used to hearing was not there and the treble struggled to reveal the leveled range in the track that builds to the chorus. This wasn't limited to this track either and when compared to the Sonos Beam Gen 2, it was even more noticeable. I tested the different sound performances from the TV but also through Bluetooth for listening to music via Apple Music. I also switched to Spotify while testing the Spotify Connect feature, which worked instantly when connecting via my iPhone. Sound quality score: 3/5 Samsung HW-S60B: Design Samsung HW-S60B A small and slim profile with curved edges Hard, robust-feeling plastic Stylish remote is let down by flimsy buttons Soundbars tend to take on a similar rectangular design and the HW-S60B doesn't stray too far from this, adding in rounded edges to boot. It's slim, sleek and subtle. The HW-S60B is the black model, while the HW-S61B is the white color option. In terms of any other detailing on the soundbar itself, it has a very small Samsung logo (once you get passed the giant sticker on the front of it). It's not the slimmest of Samsung's soundbar range (that'd be the ultra-slim S800B, which comes in at just 38mm), but it's not going to block too much of your TV with a height of just 62mm. I found it very easy to adapt it into my setup. The Samsung HW-S60B has a plastic gridded mesh around the speakers, ditching the fabric mesh that once covered its predecessor's speakers. It's weighty and doesn't feel like it's going to go anywhere, appearing inconspicuous underneath a TV. It has four physical buttons on the top of it. These are dedicated to powering on and off, volume, as well as a connectivity option, which allowed me to pair my phone via Bluetooth, and an option to mute the mic. If you continue holding the connectivity button, you'll also be able to get to Wi-Fi and sound modes. In addition to these controls, you also get a dedicated remote. This gives you quick access to sound modes, tone control, levels, Bluetooth pairing, muting and settings. The option to play and pause is in the middle of a circular directional keypad. It's the only part of the remote that sticks out slightly, aside from the two giant protruding pieces of plastic. They're for volume/channel and bass/treble control. And while being able to adjust these settings quickly is handy, the buttons themselves felt like they were a little too fragile. Apart from the small Samsung logo at the bottom of it, the remote is fairly clear except for a handy reminder that says 'soundbar' on it (just in case you forget which remote is which). Overall, the remote much like the soundbar itself is a good looking slim design. Design score: 4/5 Samsung HW-S60B: Setup and usability The Samsung S60B soundbar Quick and easy setup No HDMI or optical cable included SmartThings app is intuitive and better to use over the remote The HW-S60B's packaging was neat and not too wasteful. Inside you'll find aside from the soundbar itself of course a power cable, remote, AA batteries, wall mounts and a manual, so you'll need your own HDMI and optical cord to get it going still. Of course, if you own a Samsung TV then the lack of an input connection is not an issue as you'll be able to wirelessly tether via Wi-Fi, allowing you to access the Q-Symphony spatial audio and SpaceFit sound features. For the purposes of my testing, I used the HDMI input. It was a quick and easy setup once connected to the TV and to a power source, that was it. I loaded up the SmartThings app to test, which gave me full control to a wide set of controls. Samsung has worked hard to make the HW-S60B easy to use and setup, and it really is painless. The controls are very intuitive both from the physical clicker to your phone's screen to the soundbar itself. Usability is really where the HW-S60B shines. It gives you plenty of options to control for no matter what you're doing. Whether you've just walked into the room and need to quickly turn it down by the soundbar or if you're on your phone. There are some controls that work better than others though. For example, adjusting the bass, treble, volume and channels is much simpler to do in the app, where you get a dial. On the remote, however, it's slightly fiddly as you have to switch the settings around for bass and treble as well as volume and channels using a button that activates a voice to tell you which you're now changing. Overall, the HW-S60B was a walk in the park when it came to functionality and usability. With such a quick and pain-free setup thanks to the SmartThings app, Samsung has made it easy to start instantly playing audio. Setup and usability score: 4/5 Samsung HW-S60B: Value The Samsung S60B soundbar Great value and feaures for Samsung TV owners Soundstage is limited but fair at this level If you own a Samsung TV, then the HW-S60B is going to be the best value option for you as you'll get way more features and usability perks out of it than those without. Although, if you can spend a bit more money then it might be worth looking at the company's Q-series soundbar range instead as you'll find more premium features on offer. On its own, though, the HW-S60B is still a great option for anyone not looking to spend too much money on their first soundbar. Ultimately, it's good value by itself but great value if you already own or plan to buy more Samsung products. Value score: 4/5 Should I buy Samsung's HW-S60B? Samsung HW-S60B Buy it if... Don't buy it if... Also consider How I tested the Samsung HW-S60B Samsung HW-S60B Tested for over two weeks Tested with streaming and the Xbox One Reviewed in a standard living space I tested the Samsung HW-S60B with a Sky Glass TV for more than two weeks. The soundbar was used for watching regular TV as well as for streaming during the evenings. I also connected it to an Xbox One to test it out while gaming and tested the Bluetooth connectivity by streaming music over my iPhone XS. The room that it was used in was of standard size and had soft furnishings throughout, although this wasn't too much of an issue given that the Q Symphony and SoundFit weren't used for this review. Read TechRadar's review guarantee First reviewed September 2023 Selling Sunset's continued success paved the way for equally enticing spin-offsboth those related to The Oppenheim Group brokerage and those that are not. First, there was Selling Tampa centered on Allure Realty. Then we got Selling the OC, which recently dropped its second season on Netflix. Currently, the potential list of upcoming luxury real estate reality show spin-offs includes The O Group's two other offices: in San Diego, California and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The latter was recently featured during the latest season of Selling the OC, which has left viewers wondering: Will there be a Selling Cabo? Here's everything we know about the office and the possibility of another spin-off. Courtesy of Netflix First, When Did The Oppenheim Group Open an Office in Cabo San Lucas? The brokerage announced its Mexico expansion in December 2022. Located in the Hacienda Beach Club, the office overlooks the ocean and the rock formation El Arco. On Instagram , the brokerage stated: "This expansion into Cabo San Lucas is the culmination of an exciting partnership with Diego Sanchez Navarro and Grupo Questro, as we bring to market the Ritz Carlton Residences, the Enclaves, the 1 Homes Residences by 1 Hotels, the Hacienda Beach Club Residences, and billions of dollars in new projects on the best undeveloped land that Cabo has to offer." Who Works at the Cabo San Lucas Office? During Selling the OC (season two, episode six), the cast becomes the first stateside-based Oppenheim Group agents to visit the Cabo office. Jason Oppenheim introduced Alan Fabjan to them as the brokerages partner who "is really running the Cabo office for us." Alen, who has lived in Mexico for more than two decades, is listed as a sales director and broker on the company's website. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Apart from Alen, Jason didnt mention any other agents specifically working from the Cabo office. There seem to be seven or so desks in the main entry area along with a community tablebut the furnishing selection can really mean anything. They could be planning to hire agents, or they already have staffed up, or the desks are there for visiting agents to use. Some could even be for show. What Brought The Oppenheim Group to Cabo? On Selling the OC, Jason told the OC agents that their clients are likely buying in Cabo. "Cabo was selling about $400 to $500 million of real estate in 2020," he said. "This year, so far, they're on pace for over $2 billion in sales." He went on to reveal details about the major project they're working on in the city: a $2 billion, 2,400-acre development on El Tule Beach. The project includes 50 oceanfront homes, each of which is about half an acre. Behind them, on the hillside, will be 300 homesall of which will also have ocean views. Courtesy of Netflix During the show, the OC agents toured two of the villas within the development. One six-bedroom, six-bathroom abode across 6,090 square feet was priced at $27.5 million, while the other 8,200-square-foot villa with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms was priced at $45 million. So, Will There Be a Selling Sunset Spin-off in Cabo? For now, it seems like The O Group's business in Cabo will only be featured through existing spin-offs including Selling the OC and likely Selling Sunset. But we're not ruling out another show down the road. Stay tuned for any updates! Love knowing what your favorite stars are up to? Same. Lets keep up with them together. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram. You Might Also Like Kate Upton is a familiar face in the pages of SI Swimsuit. The model has made appearances in six different annual issues, with photoshoots ranging from a zero gravity experience to a cover in Antarctica. She began her journey with the brand in 2011, posing for photos on the beautiful sand beaches in the Philippines. The now 31-year-old was just 19 when she first posed for the magazine in the Southeast Asian country, earning Rookie of the Year honors for the fabulous photos. Even then, it was a dream come true for the model. During her SI Swimsuit Legends feature in 2014, she took the chance to reflect on that first experience and those following. Sports Illustrated ... was a dream of mine, she said in New York City. When I was able to get into the magazine, it was a really special moment. Though she had appeared in three consecutive SI Swimsuit magazines by the time of the Legends featureincluding covers in both 2012 and 2013she still felt a connection to her debut, which fulfilled a dream and launched her on an incredible journey with the magazine. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Following the Philippines feature and Rookie of the Year honors, the model earned two consecutive spots on the cover (and a third in 2017), making her relationship to SI Swimsuit [mean] even more, she said. Though she expressed gratitude for everything she had been able to do with the brand, she wasnt forgetting her beginningsand neither have we. Below are seven of our favorite photos from her debut in the Philippines. Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Raphael Mazzucco/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! SOUTH BURLINGTON The marshmallows Alexx Shuman has made for a little over four years under the name Nomadic Kitchen have always in her eyes represented her home state of Vermont. As the name suggests, her life has been nomadic since she graduated from South Burlington High School in 2007. From college in New York and Massachusetts to cooking school in Paris and Vermont, from her restaurant stint in Boston to masters-degree studies through a South Carolina college and a crucial three-month stay in Provence, Shuman has been a vagabond most of her adult life. Her marshmallow production, though that roots her in Vermont. I always thought of the business as a homecoming, Shuman said of the enterprise that has its origins at the end of 2018 in her parents kitchen in South Burlington. Alexx Shuman roasts marshmallows Sept. 1, 2023 at her South Burlington business, The Vermont Marshmallow Co. Now, Shuman will pay direct tribute to her home state. On Sept. 7 she changed the name of her ever-growing business from Nomadic Kitchen to The Vermont Marshmallow Co. She plans to ramp up production of and income from the confection she refers to with one of her business slogans as pillowy as heck. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Fresh off a move to a new production facility just up Dorset Street from her high school, Shuman said the Nomadic in the original name no longer applies. She is now based, firmly, in Vermont. The reality is in the past four years, Shuman said, we have become The Vermont Marshmallow Company. Marshmallows roasted Sept. 1, 2023 at The Vermont Marshmallow Co. kitchen in South Burlington. From Le Cordon Bleu to NECI Shuman was raised, as she put it, with baking in her blood. I have a classic Jewish grandmother, she said. I grew up with big, good flavor. Shuman said her mother was also a great cook, and she gravitated toward baking as a hobby. Shuman remembers as a young girl sneaking into the pantry, where she found marshmallows that shed then toast on the stove. After graduating from South Burlington High School, Shumans life zigzagged from her interest in food to other pursuits. She spent her freshman and sophomore years at Bard College in New York state, then left to study cooking at the famed Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris, where she focused on savory rather than sweet foods. Then it was back to New England to complete a degree in art history at Smith College in Massachusetts before attending the New England Culinary Institute, the now-defunct cooking school that began in Montpelier in 1980. She attended NECI with hopes of becoming a pastry chef. Alexx Shuman, founder of The Vermont Marshmallow Co., poses with products she produces at her commercial kitchen in South Burlington. Why switch from savory to sweet? Um I I love sugar, Shuman said in a conversation at her new kitchen in South Burlington, where sandbag-sized satchels of sugar are stationed near her front door. I felt I could access my own creativity in sweet. Shuman made croissants and cakes at NECI but now realizes how often she incorporated marshmallows into her work there. Theres just a level of joy and magic a sweet thing brings out of a person, Shuman said. Its play. Merchandise on display Sept. 1, 2023 at The Vermont Marshmallow Co. in South Burlington. Inspired in the south of France Following NECI, Shuman pursued a career in baking, first at the James Beard-nominated WildFlour Pastry in Charleston, South Carolina, then at chef and TV personality Ming Tsais first restaurant, Blue Ginger, where she worked in the Boston-area eaterys bakery. Shumans professional experience, she said, was a wake-up call to the disheartening reality of the restaurant business. She said the work is grueling, and she always felt in survival mode dealing with bad hours and bad pay. Its a really brutal environment that made me fall out of love with my craft, Shuman said. She left Blue Ginger to work for a food startup in Boston, not on the production side but as a writer promoting the business. She found herself getting further into marketing she even got a masters degree in business administration from the College at Charleston in South Carolina and moved out of the food business to work for a tutoring company. Her corporate life felt more balanced than her restaurant life, but she didnt love it. At the end of her work day, though, she had time and energy to cook, and gravitated gradually back to the food world. She had dreams of writing a cookbook in the south of France, and when she read on a Smith College alumni Facebook page of someone looking for a person to house-sit in Provence she quickly signed up. Bags of marshmallows produced in South Burlington by The Vermont Marshmallow Co. During her three months in France, Shuman traveled by train through Europe and began a food blog she called Nomadic Kitchen, named for her temporary expat lifestyle. Slowly but surely I was like, This matters to me, she said. Shuman returned to the States for the holidays at the end of 2018. She and her mother spent a week making marshmallows in her parents South Burlington kitchen. It was just so fun, Shuman said, as she connected her childhood fondness for marshmallows with everything she learned in culinary school. They made three flavors vanilla, dulce de leche and coffee cardamom, all of which exist in original or modified form in her current company and Shuman added an e-commerce component to her Nomadic Kitchen blog. She hoped shed make $100 in sales from that week of work. Instead, she earned $1,000. She spent 17-hour days baking and hand-crafting labels for mailing packages of marshmallows. Shuman said she never felt more tired, or more satisfied. Alexx Shuman displays roasted marshmallows Sept. 1, 2023 at her South Burlington business, The Vermont Marshmallow Co. Magical marshmallows Business kept growing, to the tune of 100%-increases in sales year by year. She hit six figures in sales soon after the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in early 2020. She sells primarily online businesses such as hers did well when people were housebound in the early days of COVID - but her marshmallows are also carried in about 70 stores in the U.S. and Canada. She has built that fan base in part through an engaging social-media presence, earning The Vermont Marshmallow Co. nearly 8,000 followers on Instagram. The Vermont Marshmallow Co. is the only business in the state dedicated solely to producing marshmallows, according to Shuman. She said her marshmallows attract fans of sweets who are looking for something a little more sophisticated. Theyre definitely textural and flavorful enough that people just eat them out of the bag, she said, while her marshmallows take on a creme-brulee-like, elevated smores quality when toasted. Some customers, she said, like to drop them in cocoa or their morning coffee to add frothiness. This isnt the marshmallow you know, Shuman said, referring to those sometimes-rubbery products commonly found on supermarket shelves. She kept tabs for a while on the number of people who told her I hate marshmallows before becoming regular customers of her business; she stopped counting at 280. A fresh marshmallow, Shuman said, is really a magical thing. Entering the abundant season She worked out of her home kitchen for a while, then leased space in the off-hours at Willows Bagels in Burlington. She had access to only 15 square feet of storage space there, so she kept the bulk of her workplace needs in her car, her parents basement, wherever she could. Commercial-kitchen space is notoriously hard to come by in Vermont, so Shuman jumped at the chance for what she considers a homecoming to her old high-school stomping grounds of Dorset Street, where since June her business has occupied the former Uncle Tonys Pizza location. She and her staff of four part-and full-time employees now have a 1,200-square-foot home base in which to produce up to 1,600 bags of marshmallows (10 marshmallows per bag) each week. The move seemed the perfect time to go ahead with the name change Shuman had long contemplated. The Vermont Marshmallow Co. tells the story of her product better than the more-evocative, less-specific Nomadic Kitchen did. That will be especially important as Shuman, for the first time, will seek stores to carry her product. Theres definitely huge opportunity there, Shuman said, as last year 44% of her sales were through e-commerce while only 25% ware from store sales, primarily independent shops. Another 25% of her sales were at farmers markets and other events, with the remainder coming from weddings and corporate events. (She does not have her own retail shop.) I think its going to make it a lot easier to grow with The Vermont Marshmallow Co. name, Shuman said. Its a name that I feel a lot more confident pitching. The name evokes the freshness and quality of food Vermont is known for. You look at that name and it immediately tells you something about who we are, according to Shuman. Her goals with the expansion include allowing her and her employees to live the lives they want financially while avoiding the stressful pitfalls she endured in the restaurant industry. I want to be a million-dollar company thats operated very leanly, Shuman said. The rebranding - which includes a couple of new flavors, maple chai and spiced pumpkin - comes as The Vermont Marshmallow Co. approaches what Shuman calls its abundant season. Production and sales typically increase from now through the holidays. Shuman has spent the past several weeks poring over a sprawling spreadsheet of tasks, from updating the websites URL to changing the name throughout The Vermont Marshmallow Co. website, from creating new product labels and merchandise to communicating with stores so they can change the name if they mention her product on their own websites. Im definitely going into this abundant season not quite as rested as I would have chosen, Shuman said. Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont Marshmallow Co. plans growth with new kitchen, business name Dotdash Meredith and Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Its even flight attendant-approved. Travel + Leisure / Tyler Roeland If theres one thing I know about packing for vacation, its that Im pretty terrible at it. Im a serial overpacker, and usually end up sitting on top of my luggage while my husband zips it, only to then arrive at the airport and discover Ive maxed out the 50 pound check-in weight limit, which leaves me scrambling to shift things around between bags or pay the fee. My husband, however, always commits to a carry-on suitcase for both long weekend trips and extended vacations, and has been gently trying to change my mindset. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Recently, I traveled to Florida for 10 days, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to take the hint and test Aways The Bigger Carry-On suitcase, which I recently received for this trip. After all, packing for a south Florida trip at the end of August meant needing little more than breezy shorts, tanks, slides, and swimsuits, along with other daily essentials. Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $335 Buy on awaytravel.com I unzipped the brands newly upgraded lined suitcase made with a split construction design, and I was immediately drawn to its unique organizational features most notably that there are just so many pockets. As someone who, admittedly, sections off my food so it doesnt touch on my dinner plate, I appreciated that I could arrange my belongings in separate compartments and pockets in the bags interior. I began packing my more space-consuming items like my sweatshirt, jeans, and daily outfits in the carry-ons larger compartment that doesnt have a mesh zip liner. Instead, this section sits under Aways signature compression detail that pushes clothing down like a vacuum suction storage bag to allow me to fit more. The compression pad even features two mesh zip compartments for storing smaller items like chargers or a tablet. Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $335 Buy on awaytravel.com Once I filled that side, I moved to the other half which is contained with a mesh zip lining, where I stored items like slides, sneakers, and toiletries. The interior also includes a solo hanging pocket for holding the smallest items, but one of my favorite features is the water-resistant laundry bag that hid my dirty clothes while I was away, and stored my still-damp swimsuit that I wore the morning of my return flight. The 22.7-inch bags exterior offers just as much, if not more, convenience as the inside. Its noticeably lightweight, and features 360 degree swivel wheels that glide so smoothly, my kids actually fought over who got to push the bag through the airport. The hardside suitcase is made of an impact-resistant polycarbonate shell that comes with a cleaning sponge to keep it looking like new. It has a top handle and side handle that helped me place it in the overhead storage compartment with ease and an ergonomic trolly handle. I didnt have to worry about the zippers accidentally opening in transit thanks to a TSA-approved locking system, and the color-coordinating luggage tag added a separate simple security touch. Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $335 Buy on awaytravel.com The Bigger Carry-On also received rave reviews from shoppers, with one traveler sharing that it was perfect for 10 days Italy where they traveled to Tuscany, including Rome and Florence and packed five dresses, ball skirt, six pairs of shoes, spare jeans, multiple tees, pool and loungewear, plus all the foundational garments [they] needed. Another reviewer shared that they can fit more when packing with the Away bag, noting that the compression part makes packing that one extra sweater possible, and adding that it rolls like a dream. A third customer, who is a flight attendant, said that the bag never lets [them] down. They like that they can pack everything [they need] to be away for a week, and shared that the ease of the roll and maneuvering of this suitcase is fantastic. Next up in my travel plans is a week-long trip to Costa Rica, so in order to maximize the space and fit as much as possible into the Away Bigger Carry-On, Im grabbing the brands The Insider Packing Cubes, which are available in a set of four or set of six. One shopper said using the cubes made it easier for [them] to pack for a two week trip to Europe with just a carry-on. Away The Insider Packing Cubes Set of Four Away $45 Buy on awaytravel.com Im officially a carry-on convert after using Aways The Bigger Carry-On even for longer vacations. Grab it for your next trip in one of the new fall-ready colors, including the limited-edition high-gloss navy and light purple, which are already selling out quickly. Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $335 Buy on awaytravel.com Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $333 Buy on awaytravel.com Away The Bigger Carry-On Away $335 Buy on awaytravel.com Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and well send you our favorite travel products each week. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Korea will contribute US$300 million to the Green Climate Fund to address climate crises and related initiatives, President Yoon Suk-yeol announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi over the weekend. Yoon also pledged official development assistance of $300 million for Ukraine next year and an additional $2 billion from 2025 onwards. Editors Note: The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. For years, small groups of astronomy enthusiasts have traveled the globe chasing the rare solar eclipse. They have embarked on cruises to the middle of the ocean, taken flights into the eclipses path and even traveled to Antarctica. In August 2017, millions across the US witnessed a total solar eclipse visible from Oregon to South Carolina, with a partial eclipse visible to the rest of the continental US. The interest in astronomical events that this eclipse sparked will likely return with two eclipses visible in the US during the next year the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, and the total eclipse on April 8, 2024. But astro-tourism traveling to national parks, observatories or other natural, dark-sky locations to view astronomical events isnt limited just to chasing eclipses. According to a recent study, 80% of Americans and one-third of the planets population can no longer see the Milky Way from their homes because of light pollution. As a consequence, most people have to travel to witness meteor showers and other common astronomical events. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I am a space scientist with a passion for teaching physics and astronomy and photographing the night sky. Every summer I spend several nights backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, where the skies are sufficiently dark to allow the Milky Way to be seen with the naked eye. My son and I also like to take road trips often along US 395, the Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway that coincide with eclipses and meteor showers. Locals and travelers from around the world gather on Menan Butte to watch the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 in Menan, Idaho. - Natalie Behring/Getty Images Cant-miss astronomical events There are two types of eclipses. Lunar eclipses occur when the full moon passes through Earths shadow. Solar eclipses occur when the new moon briefly blocks the Sun. There are three types of solar eclipses. During a total eclipse, the Moon completely covers the Sun, with totality, or the time during which the Sun is completely eclipsed, lasting as long as seven minutes. During totality, those in the path of the eclipse will see the Suns corona, or its outer atmosphere, behind the Moons silhouette. The Moons orbit around the Earth is an ellipse, so the Moon can appear to be 15% smaller when its at its farthest point from Earth, its apogee, compared with its size when it is at its closest point to Earth, its perigee. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon doesnt cover the entire disk of the Sun, leaving a ring of sunlight around the Moon. Finally, a partial eclipse occurs when the Moon blocks only a part of the Suns disk, as the name implies. A total eclipse is seen from South Mike Sedar Park on August 21, 2017 in Casper, Wyoming. - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; VCG/Getty Images; Lars Baron/Getty Images Meteor showers are a far more common astronomical event than eclipses, and they are visible from any dark-sky location on Earth. Meteor showers occur when Earths orbit around the Sun takes it through the dust left behind by a comet. The Earth sweeps up the dust like a car speeding through a cloud of insects on the highway. Meteor showers are named for the constellations from which the meteors seem to emanate, though its not necessary to stare in that direction to see meteors. The most prominent meteor showers, occurring on approximately the same dates every year, are the Perseids, named for the constellation Perseus and peaking on the night of August 12-13; the Geminids, named for the constellation Gemini, on December 14-15; and the Lyrids, named for the constellation Lyra, on April 21-22. The night sky will be mostly moonless for the first two this year, but a nearly full moon will make the Lyrid shower of 2024 difficult to see. Tips for aspiring astro-tourists One of the most important factors to consider when planning an outing to stargaze or to watch a meteor shower is the phase of the Moon. The full moon rises at about 6 p.m. and sets at 6 a.m., making stargazing all but impossible because of its brightness. For ideal stargazing conditions, the Moon should be below the horizon, and the best viewing conditions are during new moon. You can use a moonrise/moonset calculator to determine the phase of the Moon and its rise and set times for any location on Earth. Another important factor is weather. Amateur astronomers always joke that the sky is cloudy during the most interesting astronomical events. For example, most major cities in the US that are in the path of the April 2024 eclipse have had cloudy skies on April 8 60% of the time since the year 2000. Most Americans live in heavily light-polluted areas. A light pollution map such as lightpollutionmap.info can help identify the nearest dark-sky location, which, in my case, is hours away. These maps often use the Bortle dark-sky scale, which reports 1 for extremely dark skies to 9 for highly light-polluted city centers. Though you may still see the brightest meteors from city suburbs, the darker your sky, the more meteors youll see. In general, expect to see fewer than 25 meteors per hour. To see the complex structure of the Milky Way with the naked eye, look for a location with a Bortle index of 3 or below. Spectators look skyward during a partial eclipse of the sun on August 21, 2017 at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. - Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Its important to arrive at your chosen site early, preferably during daylight hours. Stumbling around in the dark at an unfamiliar site is a recipe for disaster and may also disturb others who are already at the site. Arriving early also gives time for your eyes to adapt to the dark as night falls, as it typically takes 30 minutes or even longer for your eyes to reach their full dark-adapted potential. Make sure to carry a headlamp or flashlight that has a red light setting, as red light doesnt ruin night vision. Avoid using your phone, as even a glance at the screen can ruin your eyes dark adaptation. If youre using a sky-viewing app, switch the app to night mode. Plan ahead if youre thinking of traveling to view one of the eclipses visible in the US next year. If youre in the path of the eclipse, stay put! If youre traveling, staying at the same location overnight before and after the eclipse can help avoid the hours-long traffic jams experienced by eclipse watchers in 2017. Also, you should never look at the Sun directly with the naked eye, even during a total eclipse. Youll need a pair of inexpensive eclipse glasses to watch and fully enjoy the eclipse, but get yours early, as many stores ran out of glasses during the 2017 eclipse. No matter where you travel during the next year, dont forget to look up at night and marvel at the beauty of the night sky away from city lights. Editors Note: For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Why do humans love crunchy food? Scientists say it's partly innate an indicator that what we're eating is fresh. In the case of fresh produce, noisier suggests higher nutrient value, whereas fatty, processed or fried (aka crunchy) food may appeal to us as a proxy for energy density. For me, though, crunchy foods are by far the most fun to eat, and perhaps offer us a momentary reminder to enjoy the present. The crack! then rumbly, deep crunch of a pork cracklin, the airy crispness of a papadum, the delicate shatter of a flaky croissant that gives way to interior chew all seem to call out, "Pay attention! I'm one of the good parts of life!" Related The spontaneous joy of eating at the bar, the last bastion of walk-in dining ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It's in this maudlin spirit that I recall the first time I had quicos, the Spanish version of the corn nut that is my all-time favorite bar snack. My companion and I had ducked into a dark, wood-and-tile bar somewhere in Madrid, Spain, after a long afternoon of art museums and wandering. We ordered a round of crisp Mahou beers, which arrived alongside a little bowl of quicos. I hadn't even drunk half my beer before I polished off those salty fried corn kernels. That guttural crunch! It announced itself with such gratifying force registering a 6.8 on the crunch Richter scale and drowning out all hope of decorous conversation with each handful I took up. Quicos are made from giant Spanish or Peruvian corn kernels (up to an inch across, one supplier claims), which are lighter than other corn varieties. They're soaked in water and fried in oil or toasted, then dusted generously with salt. They make for glorious drinking food light yet satisfying, their salty coating all but begging for another sip of beer. As a raucous sort of snack, I imagine quicos feel most at home in low-lit, casual joints; say a subterranean bar with an old wood bartop, pool table and jukebox. Being roughly the size and shape of a human tooth lends an extra bit of danger to the experience of eating these golden morsels. "Is that my tooth I'm crunching on? Who cares! I live for the now!" We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism Then again, for some delightful reason, quicos are also the staple bar snack at Travelle, a posh lounge on the second floor of Chicago's Langham Hotel, which is housed in a monolithic Mies van der Rohe skyscraper overlooking the Chicago River. Here servers in black and white formal wear masterfully bend to the absurdly low level of the lounge tables to deposit cocktails in delicate Nick and Nora glasses alongside complimentary bowls of quicos. Chomping on them as I observe the haute monde gliding through this place, I become vaguely aware that I might be chewing with my mouth open because I enjoy the extra echo the quicos make when I do so. Should I be embarrassed? Or simply revel in the absurdity of putting the sensory experience of my snack above all else? I choose the latter, and resolve to head to a less formal place, right after they refill my quicos once more, of course. I've lately begun spotting quicos at my local Whole Foods Market too, meaning at long last I can snack loudly on them in the comfort of my apartment at my very own drinks party. I tell myself that one of the little plastic clamshell containers they come in will be plenty for four that I can set out one tiny bowl at a time and maybe even save some for another day. Unfortunately, the group makes quick work of them with the first round of drinks, largely ignoring the also-crunchy, albeit less interesting, carrots and radishes also in residence on the board. Making matters worse, I'm miles behind the others in conversation, as I've been silently fretting over the diminishing quantity of quicos. No matter, I shovel in a mouthful just as one of my companions addresses me. "What was that? I couldn't hear you over my snack." Read more from this author You deserve a fancy fish sandwich Observations from a Chicago Dunkin' Donuts A love letter to all the produce I haven't picked The nourishing joy of simmered whole chicken The Eagles arent the only winning animals in the city of Philadelphia this week. The Philadelphia Zoo recently welcomed home two baby animals who were rescued in the state of Washington over the summer. These two are so precious that we might have to make a trip to the City of Brotherly Love to see them in person. The story, which was shared to the app X by The Associated Press or @AP, explains that these two puma cubs were orphaned. It is believed that their mother was shot by a farmer. Ugh, that breaks our hearts. Take a look at the clip to hear how they're adjusting to their new home. We can't even imagine what these two baby animals were feeling after losing their mother. We'd expect that they were terrified. Thankfully, they were rescued in Kalama, Washington after a landowner contacted the state's Fish and Wildlife Department saying they photographed baby cubs on their trail camera with no signs of a mother. Wildlife experts then cared for these orphaned puma cubs before they got flown to the Philadelphia Zoo. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement These puma cubs are believed to be about 20-21 weeks old. Elbroch, the male cub, was named after one of the country's leading puma experts, Mark Elbroch. The female cub is named Olympia after Washington's capital. The sibling duo is currently receiving care from the zoo's on-site animal hospital and they're expected to make their big debut in the Fall. Rachel Metz, vice president of Animal Well-Being at the zoo, told USA Today, "These animals will serve as ambassadors to educate our guests on the importance of apex predators and the challenges that revolve around humans and our relationships with predators in the wild." Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. READ THE COMMENTS Last week Kourtney Kardashian Barker, who is pregnant with her and rocker husband Travis Barker's first child together, shared that she had undergone "urgent fetal surgery" and credited doctors with "saving our baby's life." The reality star did not share what necessitated the in utero procedure, though fetal surgery is used to treat a number of health conditions. What's it like to be carrying a child who needs fetal surgery? Two families share their emotional experiences, while an expert explains what the procedure entails. What is fetal surgery? Fetal surgery refers to a procedure that is performed on an unborn baby, or fetus, while in utero. Dr. Magdalena Sanz Cortes, a fetal surgeon at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, tells Yahoo Life that fetal surgery is "not that common," but because "indications for surgery are so heterogeneous," or mixed, it's difficult to determine how many patients actually undergo it. The most common reason for fetal surgery is to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, a rare pregnancy condition in which the placenta that identical twins share does not work evenly so that one twin has an excess of fluid and the other doesn't have enough. Without fetal surgery, "babies will die or will have permanent damage," Cortes says. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Another example of a "lifesaving" situation that may involve fetal surgery is fetal anemia, in which a baby desperately requires a blood transfusion in utero. However, there are some fetal interventions that are not considered lifesaving, Cortes notes. Babies diagnosed with spina bifida, for instance, might have in utero surgery to repair their spinal cord. "We're not saving the lives of those babies, but we will hopefully get them a better quality of life, better chances of walking independently when they are older," for instance, she says. "So we use the same term, 'fetal surgery,' but there are different types of indications and different purposes." The criteria for fetal surgery are "minimally restrictive" when a baby's life is on the line. "If it's a lifesaving procedure, basically we just have to do it," Cortes says. "It doesn't matter if the mom has a medical condition, if there's a risk for preterm birth ... If you don't do the surgery, the babies will die." If the situation isn't life-or-death, however, more factors are taken into consideration before surgery can proceed. "We need to make sure that that's a good case that is actually going to benefit from an improvement in the quality of life," she explains, noting that fetal surgery increases the risk of preterm birth. "So in cases of spina bifida, if the mom has a baseline condition, we wouldn't offer it. If the mom has a history of previous preterm birth, we wouldn't offer it. If the baby has multiple other anomalies, same thing we wouldn't do it. ... We need to make sure that this is a good candidate and that we're not going to be doing more harm than good if it's just to improve the quality of life. If it's lifesaving, we go all in and we bring the patient in right away." The surgery itself can also vary. Some lifesaving surgeries are performed using lasers and are thus minimally invasive and require little downtime for patients. Other surgeries can be more complex; an open repair for spina bifida, for example, involves a larger incision that Cortes likens to a C-section. 'I was just in survival mode, doing what I needed to do for my child.' When Alisha Staten was about 19 weeks into her pregnancy, she learned that the baby she was carrying had spina bifida. The first-time mom spent the next few weeks meeting with doctors from Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital and University of Utah Health and having testing done to determine whether she was a good candidate for fetal surgery. "I was just in survival mode, doing what I needed to do for my child," Staten, who is based in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but was treated at the Utah Fetal Center, tells Yahoo Life. On April 6, 2021, exactly 24 weeks and two days into her pregnancy, she underwent the first fetal surgery to be performed in the state of Utah. She and her baby, a girl she and her husband would go on to name Abigail, each had their own team of specialists during the procedure. Doctors used an ultrasound to find out precisely where the baby was positioned, then opened up Staten's uterus and amniotic sac to expose Abigail's spinal cord and perform an open repair. While the baby was otherwise submerged in the womb, with a warm saline solution used to refill the amniotic fluid, her bottom and back were exposed during the surgery. April 6, therefore, has become known as Abigail's "butt birthday." This embedded content is not available in your region. Abigail's actual birthday is May 9, 2021, on Mother's Day. About a week and a half after the surgery, Staten lost her mucus plug the premature rupture of the membrane that Cortes cited as a risk of fetal surgery and began to leak amniotic fluid. She spent the rest of her pregnancy in the hospital. "It was a long healing process, and it was uncomfortable," she says of that time. "There were moments where I was just like, I can't do this anymore. My body cannot do this anymore." Staten held on until week 29 a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and delivered Abigail in an emergency C-section. She was released from the hospital a few days later, while her daughter stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) until July 23 her original due date. This embedded content is not available in your region. Abigail, who has a heart-shaped scar on her back from her fetal surgery, is now 2 1/2 years old. Between having spina bifida and being born prematurely, Staten's daughter has health concerns, such as mobility and bladder control. "There's just some things that we have to adapt for ... but we meet her where she's at and we treat her just like we would a neurotypical 2-and-a-half-year-old," Staten says. "But she's funny, she's charismatic and there's just something about her that attracts people." Fetal surgery, she adds, "turned out to be the best decision" she and her husband have made. "She's happy, she's thriving. Yes, we have our setbacks. However, the fetal surgery has given her so much, and if I had to do it again, I would." 'Anything you can do to save our child, we're in.' The ob-gyn that Samantha and Joey Paris went to see for their anatomy scan last Christmas was an old family friend, so it was easy for the Dallas-based couple to quickly figure out that something was wrong when he looked at the ultrasound. "He's very thorough but jolly and always in good spirits," Joey tells Yahoo Life. "And within minutes of the appointment, his face turned pale white and he took a very calm tone." The ultrasound showed signs of pleural effusion, or a buildup of fluid; his "lungs were totally pancaked and the body was just totally filled with fluid," shares Samantha, who was about 23 weeks into her pregnancy. The baby was diagnosed with hydrops fetalis, a life-threatening issue in which excess fluid can cause heart failure, and Samantha was booked to undergo fetal surgery at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston within days. "They kind of just told us the only option is you can either not do anything, but you'll probably lose the child very quickly or have a stillbirth, or we can do this surgery and have the best chance of saving your child's life," Samantha says. "And we said, 'OK, how soon can you do it?' While it was scary, it was one of those no-brainers to say, 'Anything you can do to save our child, we're in, we'll do it.' It was definitely a whirlwind. And I think before that day I had no idea [fetal surgery] was even a thing." While the couple rave about the hands-on care they received, the situation was touch-and-go. Samantha went into early labor for a few hours after the first surgery to have shunts placed in her baby's chest to relieve the buildup. "We were so stressed ... we were like, 'It's not time for the baby to be born yet, keep the baby in,'" she remembers. Due to complications with the shunts, Samantha had to undergo additional surgeries and had to remain on bed rest temporarily relocating to her parents' house in Houston for the duration of her pregnancy. Samantha visited doctors twice a week and had a total of 61 ultrasounds done. But there were highs, too. Despite the risk of preterm labor, Samantha made it to 39 weeks, vaginally delivering a baby boy. Somehow the couple had managed to keep their child's sex a surprise throughout the process, and they named him Richard Joseph Paris IV, or "Archie" for short. After three days in the NICU, the family returned home to Dallas. Joey and Samantha Paris with son Archie. (Courtesy of the Paris family) Now 4 1/2 months old, Archie recently had his shunts removed and will have routine monitoring for the first few years of his life. Other than that, "he's just living his happy baby life eating and sleeping and pooping like every other baby," says Samantha. "It truly is such a gift and a miracle." MURFREESBORO, Ark. (KARK) A young explorer made a nice discovery at an Arkansas park last Friday. Officials with Arkansas State Parks said 7-year-old Aspen Brown, of Paragould, dug out a 2.95-carat golden brown diamond from Crater of Diamonds State Park during a trip on Sept. 1. The diamond, at 2.95 carats, is the second-largest found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park in 2023. (Arkansas State Parks) In a news release detailing the find, officials with the department said Brown was celebrating her birthday with her dad and grandmother at the park. She got hot and wanted to sit down for a minute, so she walked over to some big rocks by the fence line, her father, Luther Brown, said. Next thing I know, she was running to me, saying Dad! Dad! I found one! ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Powerball: 5 wildly rare occurrences that are more common than winning the jackpot Browns diamond was the second-largest discovered at the park this year, after a 3.29-carat diamond was found in March. But after inspection, a superintendent at the park called Browns diamond one of the most beautiful hes seen in years. The Murfreesboro park is one of the only locations in the world where the public can search for real diamonds. It has a 37-acre field where visitors find and can keep a variety of rocks, minerals and gemstones from the one-time volcanic crater. Park officials state that more than 35,000 diamonds have been found since the state park was established in 1972. According to park officials, a notable find was the 40.23-carat Uncle Sam diamond discovered in 1924. It remains the largest diamond ever unearthed in the United States. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Bedford Township approved the hiring of five part-time firefighters at its most recent board meeting last week. James Floyd, Jacob Hogg, Cody Gerogosian, Albert Peake and Jacob Rowan were approved by the board at the recommendation of Bedford Township Fire Chief Robert Van Klingeren. Both Floyd and Hogg come into the department with firefighting experience and are fully licensed Michigan EMT-B's and Michigan Firefighter I and II certified. Floyd comes over as a firefighter with Erie Township where he was named Firefighter of the Year in 2021. Hogg previously was a firefighter with Belleville Fire. Gerogosian, Peake and Rowan recently completed EMT training and will be sponsored to fire school by the department, Van Klingeren said. All three are Toledo residents. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "When we're bringing them in as EMTs, we have a high level of assurance that we will see them pass out of the fire program," said Van Klingeren. Van Klingeren said that the department, like many other around the state, has been seeing the number of applicants decreasing in recent years. These five new hires are the result of a plan that the department put in place to increase those numbers. "Putting in a little bit of time, a little bit of effort is working for right now," Van Klingeren said. "Hopefully in the next couple weeks we'll present the second part of the plan, but as of right now, that first piece is starting to work. Starting to get people in right from high school, starting to train them, getting them worked up, and then hopefully retaining them for long periods of time." All five applicants were approved to start employment Monday, with Floyd and Hogg moving immediately into scheduled positions with the fire department. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Bedford Township approves hiring of five part-time firefighters Seventeen years ago, an elephant named Zahara was born through artificial insemination. Now, Zahara has made history by giving birth to her baby boy, who was also conceived via artificial insemination, according to the Indianapolis Zoo. This was the first time in history that an elephant born through the procedure delivered a calf also born through the technique, zoo officials said. Her calf, who has yet to be named, was born shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 4, according to a news release from the Indiana zoo. This Labor Day was history-making for the Indianapolis Zoo with first-time elephant mother Zahara bringing a male calf into the world, the zoo said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Zahara delivered the boy after only about 20 minutes of labor, according to the release. He weighed 262 pounds a healthy weight for a newborn African elephant. Zaharas mother Ivory is known for her short labor times, and this baby came quickly as well, Niki Kowalski, assistant curator of elephants, said in the release. About 10 minutes after the strong calf was born, he was standing up on his own, the zoo said. The baby boy is adventurous and playful, Kowalski said in the release. He is very active and curious about all those around him elephant and human alike! Meanwhile, his mom has been a very attentive and gentle mother, and she continues to check on him, according to the zoo. She and her calf have also started figuring out how to successfully nurse. Photos from the zoo show the baby boy staying close to his mom, including when she eats. The newborn calf is the beginning of a third generation in the Indianapolis Zoos elephant herd, adding to a natural and healthy social setting for the elephants, according to the release. The first and second African elephants born through artificial insemination were at the Indianapolis Zoo in 2000. The two species of African elephants the African forest elephant and the African savanna elephant are considered critically endangered and endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The elephants are threatened by poaching and habitat loss. Watch first playtime of baby monkey named for his brightly colored fur at UK zoo Meet the redhead with bedhead. See adorable photos of Orangutan and her newborn girl Baby red pandas make their debut at SC zoo and yes, theyre adorable. Take a look As the search for the convicted-killer-turned-fugitive Danelo Cavalcante entered its 12th day on Monday, Pennsylvania State Police conceded that they no longer have a defined search area to contain himhighlighting a slew of apparent blunders by authorities in recent days. In a press conference Monday, State Police Lt. Colonel George Bivens was pressed to answer questions about his agencys seemingly shaky manhunt. He refused to concede his officers dropped the ball, but admitted there were weaknesses in the latest police perimeter that allowed Cavalcante to wiggle out from under cops noses for a third time. Bivens suggested Cavalcantes most recent breach of the search perimeter, on Saturday, came when the extremely dangerous fugitive possibly used underground tunnels or drains to crawl beneath the 200-plus officers whod secured an area around Pocopson Township. Im aware of the weaknesses that were in there, Bivens said. And I believe he exploited one of those weaknesses. Cops released footage of Danelo Cavalcante recorded by a trail camera during his run from police. Pennsylvania State Police Meanwhile, as the blunders pile up, a report in The New York Times revealed Cavalcante had gone on the run from law enforcement in the past. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement After he was accused of shooting a man dead in his native Brazil, Cavalcante evaded prosecution by disappearing into the Brazilian bush in 2017, the Times reported. Old neighbors told the outlet that Cavalcante was comfortable outdoors, having lived his entire life on ranches in rural regions of the country. When youre used to the ranch, you know how to hide, local resident Raimundo Campos dos Santos said. He spent a lot of time in the bush. Others shared that they were terrified of Cavalcante, with rumors once swirling that he used to keep an arsenal of guns at his ranch. Cavalcante, 34, never faced prosecution in Brazil and escaped the country using a false identity, the Times reported. He eventually found his way to Pennsylvania, though details on his journey to the U.S. remain murky. Then, on Aug. 30, he managed to escape once again by casually crab-walking up two walls of the Chester County Prison40 miles outside Philadelphiawhere he was serving time for murdering his ex-girlfriend. He then sauntered across a rooftop and dropped down into a less-secure area of the prison, where he was able to flee. A tower guard was later fired. Cavalcante has evaded police ever since. Despite being captured on trail-cams, security cameras and doorbell cameras, he has broken through police perimeters three times and has been able to rob homes, steal survival gear, shave, change clothes, steal a van, and drive dozens of miles away. Bivens said hes not certain on what time or how Cavalcante breached the last perimeter over the weekend. Without that information, he said Monday that the manhunt shouldnt be characterized as having failed. I dont know that I would characterize it as a mistake, Bivens said. It was a very difficult place to try and secure. With future perimeters gone, Bivens said investigators have taken a change in direction in how theyll search for Cavalcante. He said he believes Cavalcante is still in Pennsylvania, despite no longer knowing his approximate whereabouts. At the time of his escape, Cavalcante was days away from starting a life sentence for brutally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in 2021. After stabbing her more than 3o times in front of her young children, he booked it out of townmaking it as far as Virginia before he was apprehended and held without bail ahead of trial. Bivens said it remains unclear if Cavalcante received any help from loved ones in each of his three escapes. He revealed on Monday, however, that Cavalcante has been asking for help himselfin one instance using a Ring doorbell camera to ask for help from a former colleague over the weekend. Mugshot for Danelo Cavalcante from his 2021 arrest. Pennsylvania State Police Bivens said Cavalcante had a demeanor that was urgent but friendly in the recorded message, which hasnt been released publicly. It was someone he clearly had not spoken to in some period of time, Bivens said. And so there was a real acquaintance and an effort to get assistance. Bivens said he believes Cavalcante is getting desperate. He added that officers have tried to cut him off from anyone who could help himincluding his sister, who refused to assist police and has since been taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a deportation order. There is now a $25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Cavalcante. Hes about 5 feet tall and weights 120 pounds, with brown eyes and dark, curly hair. Bivens issued a stark warning to anyone tempted to aid Cavalcante in any way, promising repeatedly on Monday that theyd be prosecuted themselves. Were monitoring for any possible help in a variety of ways, Bivens said. If we detect assistance, that will be prosecuted. Im not going to say anything further than that in terms of who may or may not have [assisted], but what I'm going to say is as a warningyou will be prosecuted. 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. Chinese premier calls for strengthening confidence, expectations for future Xinhua) 16:01, September 10, 2023 NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The world is undergoing a difficult period of complex and volatile development, and as the difficulties intensify, there is an increasing need to strengthen confidence and enhance expectations for the future, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. The yearning for a better future has always been the beacon that leads mankind forward, Li said at the third session of the 18th G20 Summit. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Wu Chaolan) Rena Murshud Currently, Armenia in a mood of bellicose jingoism, tries to wage war against Azerbaijan gathering weapons and heavy armored artillery near the border with Azerbaijan. Getting emboldened by its warmongering Western allies and partners, Armenia aims an attack against Azerbaijani territory by targeting the positions of the Azerbaijani army. It should be noted that the weapons provided by India to Armenia in the amount of almost $250 million were transferred on the basis of a military agreement signed between the two countries. At the same time, there is a high probability that the Western side will also supply weapons to Armenia. If so, this could lead to India and the West supporting a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Of course, in response to such an aggression by Armenia and its allies, Azerbaijan has Shusha Declaration in hand to put forward as a countermeasure against Armenia and its allies sponsoring weapons and ammunition. As is known, the Shusha Declaration, signed on June 15, 2021 in the city of Shusha, is an agreement on allied relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye. According to the paragraph regarding the current position of the Declaration, If, in the opinion of one of the parties, there is a threat or an act of aggression from a third state or states against their independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, the inviolability or security of their internationally recognized borders, the parties will hold joint consultations and, in order to eliminate this threat or acts of aggression, carry out initiatives in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and provide each other with the necessary assistance in accordance with the UN Charter. After determining through urgent discussions the volume and form of such possible assistance, a decision will be made to secure defense needs for the adoption of joint measures and coordinated activities will be organized of power-wielding and administrative agencies of the Armed Forces." Thus, it means for Armenia, taking any wrong step against Azerbaijan is also being against Turkiye. However, there another speculation whether it is a bluff by Armenia or a true intention of a bellicose country. The likelihood of a battle is very high. What Armenia is doing is not a bluff, since it has been trying to gain time for 34 months out of a sense of revanchism. Turkish reserve General Yucel Karauz, told this in a comment for AZERNEWS. Trying to gain time, Armenia, as a country that has destroyed 65 of its 100 armies, received weapons and supplies from India and other Western countries, he added. According to the military expert, Armenias goal is to bring the event to a dead end, to make it multifaceted, to include the United States and the European Union in it, to try to find justifications and grounds for the war that will occur at the next stage. The country is also trying to provoke terrorist activity by creating an atmosphere of conflict and acting as the first act of Armenia's two-act play on inviting foreign military forces to the region. This is combined with behavior that will increase political tensions, such as the US military exercises, Iranian statements and the so-called elections in Khankendi. "However, despite all this, the Azerbaijani army is ready for battle as a victorious and powerful army. Because the victorious Commander-in-Chief, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pays attention and care to the formation of the army, both in training and in continuing to create units suitable for combat conditions as well as modernization of weapons and technical services. President Ilham Aliyev set new goals for the creation of an army in the victory parade after the trilateral war between Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia, and also set the goal of switching to the model of the Turkish army. After this, the Azerbaijani army formed into a more effective, more deterrent, more mobile and more suitable organization. And over the past 33 months, the Army has become more combative, applying lessons learned from the last war. After this, Azerbaijan will have no choice but with a strong army and fighting ability to contribute to peace and harmony in this region. The Azerbaijani army is among the leading armies in the world and is considered the most powerful army in the Caucasus," Yucel Karauz emphasized. In conclusion, speaking about the Shusha Declaration, the military expert Yucel Karauz stated that according to the Shusha Declaration, in the event of a war, an attack on the territorial integrity and legitimacy of Azerbaijan will be considered an attack on Turkiye, based on the principle that the security of Ankara passes through Baku, and the security of Baku passes via Ankara. In this context, Turkiye will provide Azerbaijan with all types of material, moral, military and political support in accordance with the current situation and requirements of Azerbaijan. Because this is an issue that will be within the framework of an agreement between two independent states concluded within the framework of international law. In fact, one of Armenias goals is to create a conflict situation here and try to turn this war into a multinational one, in which more than one country will participate, both for itself and for Azerbaijan. Turkiye and Azerbaijan are brotherly countries since the past, and they are strong allies in all spheres," the military expert concluded. North Korea last Friday unveiled what it claims was a "nuclear attack submarine" with 10 missile launch tubes. It is apparently capable of launching mid-range missiles and a nuclear-armed unmanned underwater vehicle. The sub looks like a modified version of an aging vessel, and the claims made for it in the state media did not convince everyone since it is top-heavy and has far too many missile launch tubes for its moderate size. But the problem even if it is capable of firing just one ballistic missile, it poses a serious threat to South Korea's national security. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un set the development of a nuclear-powered submarine as one of the North's major goals in 2021, and he is widely expected to visit Russia to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and extract some kind of technology transfer from him. The best defense against nuclear submarines are nuclear submarines, which are capable of silently monitoring each other under water. South Korea must review its anti-submarine warfare capabilities and consider building its own nuclear-powered submarines, which are not in fact nuclear weapons. The U.S. should not dismiss such prospects as a matter of reflex. COVID-19 is again rearing its ugly head in South Carolina. After remaining relatively quiet this year, hospitalizations from the infamous virus have risen in recent weeks in South Carolina and across the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The latest data shows there were 17,418 COVID-19 hospital admissions in the U.S. through the week ending in Aug. 26, a 15.7% increase from a week earlier. SC COVID hospitalizations According to CDC data, South Carolina had a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout August. Week of Aug. 5: 161 Week of Aug. 12: 246 Week of Aug. 19: 246 Week of Aug. 26: 316 A CDC chart that shows COVID-19 hospitalization rates in South Carolina. On the county level, nearly every county in the state had an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations the week of Aug. 26 compared to the week earlier. For instance, Richland County hospitalizations rose 21.6% week over week. Charleston County had a 54.4% jump in hospitalizations week over week. To view a map that lists COVID hospitalizations for every county, click here. What about a SC shutdown? While COVID is on the rise in South Carolina, there has been no calls for shutdowns or masking mandates. Gov. Henry McMaster spoke on the matter on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement As talks of mask mandates and closures kick up across the country, I can assure the people of South Carolina we will not have mask mandates, we will not close schools, and we will not lock down, McMaster said in a Thursday social media post. As talks of mask mandates and closures kick up across the country, I can assure the people of South Carolina we will not have mask mandates, we will not close schools, and we will not lock down. pic.twitter.com/GlKgy8AhMi Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) September 7, 2023 COVID testing For those wanting a free COVID test in South Carolina, there should be plenty still available. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced in May it had refreshed its stock of iHealth COVID-19 antigen rapid tests. The new kits feature expiration dates good through the start of 2024 and are available for free at most DHEC health clinics. Appointments are unnecessary. Just walk in and ask someone at the front desk for tests. To see which locations have tests near you, click here. At-home COVID-19 test kits are one of the best ways to detect COVID-19 infection early, DHEC states. Test results using the iHealth kit are available within 15 minutes. (NEXSTAR) For nearly a decade, a stunning but destructive invasive species has been spreading throughout the U.S.: the spotted lanternfly. With its dazzling spots and pair of bright red wings, it can be hard not to admire the bug but would you consider eating it? If you arent familiar, the spotted lanternfly is a moth-like insect native to China. It was first detected in the U.S. by a Pennsylvania forester in 2014. While it cant go very far on its own with the help of wind and clear air space, the spotted lanternfly can only travel about a mile under its own steam, Shannon Powers, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture tells Nexstar the invasive species has been found in more than a dozen states. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that includes Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia. This insect is the spotted lanternflys worst enemy ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The spotted lanternfly feasts off of fruit as well as ornamental and woody trees, especially the tree of heaven, a fellow invasive species native to China, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Specifically, the spotted lanternfly feeds on sap from over 70 different plant species, PennState Extension explains. The damage left behind can cause the plant to stress, draining its health and potentially killing it. The insect also poses a threat to the wine industries across many states, like New York and Michigan. If you find an adult spotted lanternfly, like the one pictured below, agriculture officials say to destroy it. To kill the spotted lanternfly, Virginia officials say to squash, stomp, or smash it. If the insect hasnt been detected near you yet, make sure to take a photo of it, record where you saw it, and share that information with agriculture or wildlife officials before killing it. This Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, photo shows a spotted lanternfly at a vineyard in Kutztown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) But what about eating it? While it isnt an outright suggestion, the spotted lanternflies have not proven to be toxic to humans or animals, Powers says. In areas where the lanternfly is native, people have been known to consume them. You may even find yourself eating a spotted lanternfly by-product. As Powers explains, lanternflies largely eat sap, which they then shoot out as what entomologists call honeydew. Its part of the reason why the insects are so destructive that honeydew can coat leaves, like those on grape plants, and block photosynthesis, thereby killing the plants. Bees, however, eat the honeydew, which can create a darker-colored honey. It does have a smokey odor, according to PennState Extension, and is not as sweet as other kinds of honey. It also carries a lingering aftertaste, but Powers says people have eaten this honey with no ill effects. There are other species that will eat the lanternflies as well, Powers notes. Research has found that birds like chickens and cardinals have been spotted eating the spotted lanternfly, Anne Johnson, an entomology doctoral candidate at Pennsylvania State University told WESA. Other insects, including praying mantises, ants, wasps, and spiders, have also been known to feast on the bug. Dont be mesmerized you should kill this dazzling bug There is even one species, known as the wheel bug, that has been known to lay its eggs next to spotted lanternfly egg masses, co-researcher and Penn State entomology professor Kelli Hoover told WESA. The wheel bugs hatch first, then wait for the spotted lanternfly eggs to hatch before devouring them. Still, Powers warns the native species dont appear to eat the spotted lanternfly in the droves that they occur in. For now, officials are still warning that if you see the spotted lanternfly kill it, and if you live in an area where it isnt known to be present, report it to local wildlife officials. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Elon Musk 's brother Kimbal called Amber Heard "toxic" in the biography, out Tuesday Neilson Barnard/Getty; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Amber Heard; Elon Musk Elon Musk and Amber Heard recall details about their relationship in Walter Isaacson's new biography Elon Musk. In the book, out Tuesday, the SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO, 52, and the Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom actress, 37, open up about their romance, with which they went official in April 2017. The pair dated on and off in the months that followed, before breaking up for good in 2018. Isaacson writes of their relationship in the biography's "Rocky Relationships" chapter that Musk first took an interest in the actress after seeing her in 2013's Machete Kills, and that they met when she visited SpaceX a year later. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "I guess I could be called a geek for someone who can also be called a hot chick," Heard said in the book, while Isaacson claimed Musk took her for a ride in a Tesla during that SpaceX visit. Among other tidbits about their dynamic, Isaacson said Musk flew to Australia in April 2017 to visit Heard while she was filming Aquaman, and that she once commissioned a costume to "roleplay" a character Musk said she reminded him of: Mercy, from the video game Overwatch. 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. Media-Mode/Splash News Amber Heard and Elon Musk in Sydney in May 2017 Related: Amber Heard Was 'Just Filling Space' by Dating Elon Musk After Johnny Depp Split, Agent Says Isaacson also gets into some of the more tumultuous moments of Heard and Musk's time together, including a fight they had near the end of their relationship while on vacation in South America in December 2017 with family, including his brother Kimbal Musk. While Heard allegedly admitted to Isaacson that the argument occurred, she also shared photos and videos of their evening afterward with him, which Isaacson said depicted the actress and tech mogul sharing a New Year's Eve kiss. Of their relationship, Musk said in the biography, "It was brutal." For her part, Heard told Isaacson that she still loves her ex "very much," and added: "Elon loves fire, and sometimes it burns him." Craig Barritt/Getty; JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Amber Heard; Elon Musk Kimbal, 50, told Isaacson in the book that he thinks it's "really sad" his brother "falls in love with these people who are really mean to him." "They're beautiful, no question, but they have a very dark side and Elon knows that they're toxic," he continued. Asked by Isaacson why he falls for these types of people, Musk laughed and replied, "Because I'm just a fool for love. I am often a fool, but especially for love." A rep for Heard did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday. Over a year after the breakup, Heard told The Hollywood Reporter in December 2018, "Elon and I had a beautiful relationship, and we have a beautiful friendship now, one that was based on our core values. Intellectual curiosity, ideas and conversation, a shared love for science. We just bonded on a lot of things that speak to who I am on the inside. I have so much respect for him." Elon Musk, out Tuesday, is available for preorder now. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission. Elon Musk and Amber Heard are giving a rare insight into their relationship in a new biography releasing on September 12. In Walter Isaacson s new biography Elon Musk, the exes address their tumultuous on-off relationship which ended in early 2018 a little less than a year after they first went public. More from SheKnows In a chapter titled Rocky Relationships, Isaacson writes that Musk, 52, first took a liking to Heard after watching her 2013 movie Machete Kills. According to People, the biographer says Heard and Musk met the following year when he invited her to SpaceX where he took her for a ride in a Tesla. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement I guess I could be called a geek for someone who can also be called a hot chick, Heard said in the book. Their romantic relationship reportedly didnt begin until years later. Click here to read the full article. Isaacson also details a fight between the couple in December 2017, near the end of their relationship, during a trip to South Africa with family members, including Musks brother Kimbal who is also quoted in the book. Heard admits the argument occurred but also showed Isaacson some more loving photos and videos with Musk from the same trip. In the book, Musk says of their relationship, It was brutal. Meanwhile, Heard says she still loves her ex very much and adds: Elon loves fire, and sometimes it burns him. "Elon Musk" by Walter Isaacson Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson Price: $35 $21.85 Buy Now In the book, Isaacson reveals other tidbits about the romance including a tale about Musk flying to Australia in April 2017 while Heard was filming Aquaman. The book also claims that Heard once commissioned a costume of Mercy from the video game Overwatch so she could roleplay because Musk thought she resembled the character. Elsewhere in the book, Kimbal questions his brothers taste in partners and tells Isaacson its very sad that the Tesla founder falls in love with these people who are really mean to him. He said: Theyre beautiful, no question, but they have a very dark side and Elon knows that theyre toxic. As for Musks thoughts on his relationships, he laughed and told Isaacson, Im just a fool for love. I am often a fool, but especially for love. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The royal couple issued a rare statement last year to address "widespread negative rumors" Prince Daniel of Sweden is shutting down speculation that his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria is on the rocks. On Tuesday, The Times reported that the 49-year-old royal debunked the gossip in a rare interview with SVT, Swedens national public broadcaster. The comments came in the televised special "Prince Daniel 50 years, local outlet Expressen reported, which aired ahead of his 50th birthday on Sept. 15. During the sit down, Daniel spoke about the reports of impending divorce that emerged last year. The couple later made a statement disputing the allegations. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Many friends from across Sweden and overseas have got in touch and things arrived at a certain point where we felt we could no longer accept it, Prince Daniel told SVT, per The Times. I dont think there is any reasonable person who believes in this rumor. Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel of Sweden during a state banquet in Stockholm in 2022. Related: Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar Are All Grown Up at Mom Princess Victoria's Birthday Celebration Crown Princess Victorias husband added that the mean, false rumors created serious consequences for his family. According to the outlet, Stoppa Pressarna alleged that the marriage was in crisis over incredible betrayal in early 2022, and the statement soon came from the Swedish Royal House. Despite the denial, The Times said the celebrity news site has continued to run related reporting, perhaps prompting Prince Daniel to speak out again. Michael Campanella/Getty Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria in 2022. Courtiers shared the original statement on social media in February 2022 along with a formal portrait of Daniel and Victoria. It has come to our attention that there is an ongoing spread of negative rumors regarding our private relationship. Allegations spread about betrayal in the relationship and an impending divorce, the Instagram caption began. Normally we do not comment on rumors and speculation. But in order to protect our family, we wish to make it clear, once and for all, that the rumors that are now being spread are completely unfounded, it continued, signed Victoria and Daniel. Related: Meet the Swedish Royals: A Guide to Sweden's Royal Family Tree Crown Princess Victoria, 46, is the eldest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and the heir apparent to the Swedish throne. She met her husband (born Olaf Daniel Westling) at the gym in 2001, where he was her personal trainer. They dated for eight years before tying the knot on June 19, 2010. The dazzling royal wedding was estimated to cost $2 million and drew royalty including Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Albert of Monaco and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The couple went on to welcome two children Princess Estelle, 11, and Prince Oscar, 7 and marked 13 years of marriage earlier this summer. Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel of Sweden, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar at Victorias birthday celebration in Borgholm in July 2023. 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! In July, the family of four stepped out for Crown Princess Victorias 46th birthday celebration in Borgholm. The festivies were highlighted by a horse-drawn carriage ride, a stop at Solliden Castle and an evening concert at the Borgholm Castle ruins held in Victoria's honor. Prince Daniel was out and about for royal duties the day before the SVT interview aired, visiting businesses and getting to know entrepreneurs in the Gnosjo region. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility has rescinded a 48-hour, precautionary boil advisory that affected more than 1,800 East Side customers. The agency issued the advisory Monday morning after repairs were made to a broken water main along Burkhardt Road. According to EWSU spokeswoman Ella Johnson-Watson, low water pressure readings led the EWSU to warn customers out of an "abundance of caution." The EWSU lifted the boil advisory Wednesday, as planned. EWSU has lifted the precautionary boil advisory on Evansvilles East Side. Track the status of boil advisories and road closures related to water improvements and construction projects anytime on our website. Go to https://t.co/TOy3h86CEe and click Projects & Advisory Map. pic.twitter.com/hyVoO3Mkoq Evansville Water Sewer Utility (@EWSUtility) September 13, 2023 At least 1,866 total customers, including about 1,600 residential customers, were instructed to boil tap water or used bottled water for drinking, cooking, making ice or washing dishes. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement EWSU customers can view up-to-date information about boil advisories and EWSU projects on the agency's website. Johnson-Watson encouraged Evansville residents to regularly check the Project and Advisory Map for water safety updates. Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: EWSU issues water boil warning to more than 1,800 East Side customers The early defense strategies being pursued by former President Trump and his 18 co-defendants in Georgia are quickly complicating prosecutors aim to go to trial next month. District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is attempting to keep all of the co-defendants together for a singular trial beginning Oct. 23, but several legal maneuvers already underway pose deep challenges to Williss goal, which legal experts have called extraordinarily ambitious. So far, five defendants have attempted to move their charges to federal court, two have demanded a speedy trial and a majority have aimed to sever their charges from fellow co-defendants. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee teased last week the difficulties of trying so many people in such a short amount of time. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It just seems a bit unrealistic to think that we can handle all 19 in 40 something days, he said. Trump has looked to delay the trial timelines in all four of his criminal cases. Though the Georgia charges arent subject to a presidential pardon, the recent maneuvering raises the possibility that a trial wont be held until after the November 2024 election. With McAfee expected to soon set a trial date for Trump in Georgia, heres how the defense strategies are playing a role in that timeline: Moves to federal court Five of the 19 co-defendants so far are attempting to move their charges from state court to federal court, a process called removal that could tie up the case for months. The list so far comprises two Trump administration officials: former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark. Three pro-Trump individuals charged with signing documents purporting to be Georgias valid electors are also navigating this maneuver. Trumps attorney has suggested the former president may follow in their footsteps. A federal judge denied Meadowss attempt Friday, but he quickly appealed the ruling to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The judge has not yet ruled on the others requests. McAfee has suggested the removals make it difficult to accomplish Williss goal of trying all the defendants in state court next month. It could potentially even optimistically be a six-month turnaround just for the 11th Circuit to come up with a decision, right? McAfee said at a hearing last week. Yes, sir, responded Deputy District Attorney Will Wooten. Even after the 11th Circuit weighs in, the losing side could prolong the dispute by bringing it to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, state court proceedings can continue. But a defendants removal request must be rejected before a conviction is entered. Some legal experts believe if any one defendants request is successful, the others charges would automatically be moved as well. McAfee at the hearing questioned what would happen if the case is moved after a trial begins. Where does that leave us in the middle of a jury trial? McAfee said. Is double jeopardy attached? Have you now risked your entire prosecution because this case has now been removed to federal court? And weve sworn in a jury that has been presenting evidence against all these other co-defendants. Speedy trial, severance demands Two co-defendants, lawyers Kenneth Chesebro and Sidney Powell , have further complicated the timeline by invoking their right to a speedy trial. A key coordinator of the fake electors plot, Chesebro was the first defendant to request a speedy trial last month, putting his case on an expedited timeline and effectively separating it from the other 18 defendants. Powell, a former Trump-aligned attorney who became a prominent surrogate for the former presidents false election fraud claims, made her request shortly after. Under Georgias speedy trial rules, a case must be tried within the following two court terms, or within about four months, after the right is invoked. The judge set a joint trial for Chesebro and Powell beginning Oct. 23. But Willis faces strong objections from Trumps legal team as well as several other co-defendants in her goal of keeping everyone together. McAfee, the judge, has said he plans to set a schedule after the parties submit a new round of written briefs by Tuesday. But McAfee already said he is very skeptical that Trump and the others should go to trial in October. Its not easy, and weve got, again, less than two months to figure this out. So I think to kind of charge ahead without coming to some thoughts on this very soon might be risky, McAfee said at last weeks hearing. As Chesebro and Powells efforts to speed up their trials progress, other defendants are fighting to ensure their cases arent swept up in the expedited timeline. Trump and six other co-defendants have asked to sever their case from the duo and any others who file similar speedy trial motions. Meadows asked to sever his case from all of his co-defendants. Attorneys for Ray Smith, who was a member of Trumps legal team in Georgia, suggested breaking the 19 defendants into manageable groups, which they signaled would be suggested after discovery in mid-September. Differing motives, dynamics Despite any previous allegiance to the former president, efforts to set a timeline for the sweeping case have laid bare the defendants diverging motives as the case progresses. With each defendant represented by different counsel and each having their own best interest at heart its all but certain the defendants will increasingly butt heads as a trial nears. The defendants unified wall has already started to crumble in pretrial motions and other court filings. In Chesebros efforts to sever his case from Powell, he insisted the pair never met, and never sent emails, called, texted or communicated on social media with each other, rendering it impossible to try their cases together. The actions of Mr. Chesebro and Ms. Powell are akin to oil and water; wholly separate and impossible to mix (into one conspiracy), Chesebros attorney wrote in court filings. A handful of fake electors have started pointing the finger at Trump. Two Georgia Republicans who signed documents falsely stating they were Trump electors have argued that they acted at the direction of the former president a directive that they argued amounted to permission from the federal government to take the steps they did. David Shafer, who served as the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, blamed Trump in a petition to move the Fulton County case to federal court, as well. Mr. Shafer and the other Republican Electors in the 2020 election acted at the direction of the incumbent President and other federal officials, his attorneys wrote in the Aug. 21 court filing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault and are in need of support, please call RAINN's National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (800-656-4673). You can also chat with someone online at https://hotline.rainn.org/online. WASHINGTON Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin granted a pardon on Friday to a man convicted in 2021 on charges related to an incident at a school board meeting that took place after his daughter was sexually assaulted in a bathroom at her high school. Scott Smith was charged with obstruction of justice and disorderly conduct after his confrontation in June 2021 with a community member who allegedly threatened to spread false and malicious information about Smiths business with the intent to damage his reputation, according to the pardon. The incident took place at a Loudoun County School Board meeting about protections for transgender students. Smith is also accused of threatening the police deputies who dragged him away from the event. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Youngkin's pardon said Smith was "publicly and falsely accused of 'domestic terrorism' and 'hate crimes' for attempting to advocate for his daughter." While the obstruction of justice conviction was dismissed on appeal, Smith was set to go to trial later this month for the disorderly conduct conviction. "Scott Smith is a dedicated parent whos faced unwarranted charges in his pursuit to protect his daughter... I am pleased to grant Scott Smith this pardon and help him and his family put this injustice behind them once and for all, Youngkin said in a statement. Smith, thanking Youngkin in a statement for the pardon, wrote that that he "did not intend to speak and did not sign up to speak at the meeting." But he was concerned about what the school board was considering "especially as it pertains to the safety of not only my daughter, but also the children of other parents as well." "When the School Board abruptly ended the meeting, I was confronted and taunted by activists supporting the School Board's bathroom policy," Smith said. "Despite being subjected to this unprovoked confrontation and threats made against me and my family, I was unreasonably restrained by law enforcement, completely violating my constitutional rights." The case became attached to national debates over the rights of transgender students at schools after reports spread that Smith's daughter was assaulted by a boy wearing a skirt. I wasnt even concerned about the fact that it was a boy wearing a skirt in the girls bathroom at the time, Smith previously told the New York Times. Im focused on the fact that my daughter just got raped. The teenager convicted of assaulting Smith's daughter was later found guilty of forcibly touching a classmate at another school he was allowed to attend while awaiting his trial in juvenile court. The northern Virginia school board eventually fired its superintendent after a special grand jury found the official lied about the first sexual assault. The jury also issued a report accusing the school district of repeatedly mishandling the assaults. Contributing: Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Youngkin pardons Scott Smith, whose daughter was sexually assaulted Wetlands are life's incubator. The creatures that depend on wetlands, permanent or temporary, are the foundation upon which higher life forms depend. Without wetlands there would be no us. The majority of the Supreme Court sees these incubators as a nuisance, something to be drained and built upon, the model the human race uses to measure progress. So it was not surprising this spring when the court unraveled decades of law protecting these wetlands. Wetlands now are defined as part of an actual lake or river, much like the cattails on the shallow end of a pond. No longer protected are two-thirds of the nations actual wetlands, which include bogs, fens and marshes, some of them representing delicate ecosystems that have been evolving over the past 12,000 years. Tim Rowland Environmentalists are no strangers to hyperventilation, so the extent to which this represents an actual disaster is subject to debate some states have laws that actually exceed the previous federal protections, and those will remain in place. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement But its serious enough that some environmentalists were hoping the Biden administration would mitigate the ruling by calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to draw up new regs that would kinda-sorta hew to the courts decision, but soften it around the edges so as to keep much of the old protections in place. President Biden did not do so, saying he vehemently disagreed with the decision, but the courts ruling was the courts ruling, and as chief executive under our Constitution it is his duty to obey it. This, it can be assumed, was a message intended less for environmentalists than, say, the legislature of Alabama. The back story goes like this: Over the past two or three decades, far-right positions have strayed further from the political mainstream, just as liberal policies did in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Democrats moderated their policies, and since 1992 they have only lost the presidential popular vote once. Right-wing Republicans have taken a different tact. Instead of moderating their views, they have played a numbers game in state redistricting maps through which 40% of the populace can elect 60% of a states representatives. Or, in red states, where 60% of state voters decide 86% of the states representation courtesy of partisan gerrymandering. Democrats, probably miffed they didnt think of it first, have tried to gerrymander, but they have been about as successful as a one-armed rowboater. And while partisan gerrymandering is one thing, racial gerrymandering is quite another, and Alabama ran afoul of federal election law by dividing voters in Black communities and scattering them among Republican-majority congressional districts, effectively watering down their voice. Alabamas scheme may have been more anti-Democrat than it was anti-Black, but on its face it was a clear violation of the Voting Rights Act, which expressly prohibits such hanky panky intended to dilute the Black vote. The party affiliation of the Black voters is not relevant. And thats the way the federal court ruled, striking down Alabamas redistricting map and ordering a new one be drawn an action that was backed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In response, Alabama came up with a new map that gave Black voters no more chance of electing a representative of their own than did the first plan. The federal judicial panel was agape, noting that not only did the state ignore the courts ruling, it admitted as much. "We are not aware of any other case in which a state legislature faced with a federal court order declaring that its electoral plan unlawfully dilutes minority votes and requiring a plan that provides an additional opportunity district responded with a plan that the state concedes does not provide that district," the panel wrote. This may just be Alabama trying to run out the clock, hoping that by the time the legal process has played out it will be too late to have any effect on the 2024 election. But the elephant in the room is this: How far are we from a day when the far right, which has become more dissatisfied with our Constitutional democracy as the years have gone by, simply ignores a court ruling altogether? It seems at least plausible at this point that Alabama might say to the American judiciary, Thanks for the input, but were going to do it our way. What happens then? Do we call in the U.S. Marshals to physically remove the Alabama delegation from the House? Can you even imagine? Speaking of the wetlands decision, the Biden administration voiced its displeasure but said, due to the sanctity of the courts, it had an obligation to apply this decision. No doubt, the administration hopes Alabama and others on the far right are listening. Tim Rowland is a Herald-Mail columnnist. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Biden's reaction to wetlands ruling a cue for Alabama legislators? Beatriz, the protagonist of the novel Yeguas exhaustas [exhausted mares] knows why her parents never fantasized about her becoming a doctor or an engineer. The only big sociocultural expectation they had of me was that I would do any job that didnt involve cleaning someones toilet, she reflects. In this first-person fiction about the female experience of de-classing, the daughter of a couple from rural Almeria, Spain, who migrated to Castellon (her mother, an orange picker and cleaner; her father, a factory worker), recalls her multiple class epiphanies from her childhood through when she became a writer and high school literature teacher. My life has been full of scenes that have brought me back to the matter of my origins, the fact of being rural and working class, again and again, she says of her experience in the books opening pages. The panic of speaking the Valencian dialect in public while being a Spanish-speaker at home, the complexity of growing up with tapes of Spanish musicians like Camela and Marife de Triana instead of Pink Floyd vinyl records and the reason she wrote Fuco in her notes the first time she heard about Foucault in college the text opportunely weaves these seemingly ordinary and disconnected moments together. Its an exercise in memory that exposes the cracks in the fantasy of social equality and aspirational merit-based middle-class advancement with which the daughters of the cheapest post-Franco labor force were mesmerized. The cover of 'yeguas exhaustas' [exhausted mares].' Pepitas de Calabaza In her early thirties, Beatriz understands that the school affords more vanity than salary, but vanity does not put food on the table. Moreover, even if you get the best grades, there will always be something that gives away your origins, such as the daily act of eating a piece of fruit straight from the edge of the knife and not peeled from a plate. That act always tickled some of her university classmates who boasted multiple cultural references in class and, unlike her, were not the children of day laborers who ate in a hurry, with a knife, using one hand. Those kids from whom she ended up feeling alienated rather than viewing them as equals seemed destined to radiate a naturalness in positioning themselves as someone who possesses and manages culture like they were born for it. The gap in the imaginary There is something of Beatriz in the novels author, Bibiana Collado Cabrera, 38, with whom the protagonist converses in the books final section. I had already done that in poetry books, but I wanted to delve into gender violence, the lack of reciprocation when you do everything that is expected, and the process still renders our genealogy invisible. The gap is not just economic but also in the imaginary: the horizon of expectations, the movies with which we have been raised and the music we listened to at home also makes us feel like we are still at the bottom, she tells EL PAIS over the phone. Collado, the daughter of an orange picker and a tile worker, holds a degree in Hispanic philology and is a high school teacher in Valencia, Spain. She is making her debut in fiction after writing several books of poetry, the most recent of which is Violencia [Violence]. I took the leap because I wanted a fictional pact to play with self-reference, but also to work on it so that it acquired the personal tone it has. The easiest thing to do would have been to become smug and conceited; the difficult thing in writing is to actually make it look easy, she explains of her debut in this format. The disillusioned women of southern Europe A phenomenon among booksellers and book clubs thanks to word of mouth, exhausted mares whose title nods to that mother who has worked her ass off because she knows that a poor man cannot afford to stop working or not work less than a single day of his life. One less poor thing is part of a new literary current, led by authors who seek to expose the traps and disappointments of those who grew up under the ideal of meritocracy and the promise of the social elevator through educational efforts. If Irish bestsellers like Sally Rooney or Naoise Dolan have taken the lead in the class-conscious plot of love, authors from southern Europe have chosen to investigate their disenchantment through family genealogy. Like the Basque Eider Rodriguez in Material de construccion (Construction material), a non-fiction novel as she herself defines it, in which she writes about her own declassification and the shame associated with that process while dissecting the figure of an alcoholic father. In Italy, the trend is similar. Italian author Giulia Caminito. Luca Di Benedetto Claudia Durastantis Strangers I Know tells the survival story of her parents (both mute and of humble origins, like the author) as she interacts with her supposed equals in creative environments. She writes: I keep asking myself how much rent they pay, or what work they do to stay here, in a stubborn resistance that confuses me and is turning me into a different creature, whose voice, way of gesturing and dressing I cannot stand. The heroine of Lake Water Is Never Fresh, the latest novel by Giulia Caminito, a Premio Strega award finalist, is also frustrated at not being able to prosper. This family drama about class immobility was not translated into English in the United States because it challenges the American dream. In it, a mother (Antonia) hopes that her children can overcome their hardships through education, while the daughter (Gaia), remains trapped at a disadvantage without any opportunity for working-class advancement, despite her academic efforts. In an e-mail exchange, Caminito, 35, who was raised in Rome by librarian parents, clarifies that her goal was to render visible the generational disenchantment with institutions and academia as the supposed motors of prosperity. Until my parents generation, studying and going to college meant making a valid investment of time, money and commitment to achieve [positive] results in [ones] work and material conditions. It was an investment in the future, hope for ones own advancement. Objectively, that is no longer the case today, explains the author, who had previously examined the idea of well-being and those who are excluded from enjoying it in her previous novels, La grande A (The Big A) and Un giorno verra (It Will Come Someday). The sad de-classing process Spaniard Alana S. Portero, 45, was also obsessed with writing about the genealogy of class as seen through the eyes of invisible women. She has done just that in La mala costumbre (Bad Custom), her debut novel with which she revolutionized the Frankfurt Book Fair. The book drew inspiration from the anecdotes of her mother, her aunts and neighbors in San Blas, the neighborhood of Madrid where she grew up. They are women I admired, fascinated, from a distance, the ones who tell you [your] origins in a fair story, plainly and sincerely, without embellishment, she says. With her novel, the author wanted to offer a class counter-narrative to all the hyper-masculinized narratives that have ignored the fact that women sustained workers consciousness. They could be in protests and political struggles, but they could do [that] because they took care of their children and provided for them, working in gratuitous conditions, which they never tolerated in their jobs, she adds. Writer Alana S. Portero., in the Retiro park in Madrid in May 2023 MOEH ATITAR According to the Spanish writer, if there is anything that unites this new generation of female authors writing about social inequalities in their fiction, it is the discussion of de-classing approached from the perspective of sadness: We feel that we have been robbed of the story and the possibility of having better memories. We dont say: its a good thing we left the neighborhood. We have left that neighborhood, but to go on to another one. We are not looking for nostalgia, which is reactionary and treacherous; if we tell the story of this evolution, it is from the point of view of grief. The author believes that this new wave of fiction is a reaction to the absence of class perspective in much of the fiction by previous generations of female writers. I dont know about the rest, but I found it lacking in the authors I still revere, such as Carmen Martin Gaite, Carmen Laforet and Rosa Montero. I think Elvira Lindo was one of the few who addressed the class narrative in a less touristy way, she says. She adds that the current change is real: I also notice it in the reception within the cultural sphere itself; there is a change that [makes it] a little less bourgeois. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hurricane Lee is picking up intensity as a Category 3 storm as it whirls across the open Atlantic Ocean, with additional strengthening expected within the coming days. Lee exploded to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours last week before slowing down and reorganizing over the weekend. Just behind Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which is predicted to reach hurricane status by Monday afternoon. Hurricane Lee is moving well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to advisories from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday. Life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Lees historic intensification from an 80 mph Category 1 to a Category 5 with 160 mph winds last week makes it one the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon expected to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis. Key Points Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Tropical Storm Margot predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday How Lee shattered rapid intensification standards Heres how quickly the storm picked up speed Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? 09:00 , Stuti Mishra Lee is going through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, nearing Category 4 strength now after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. National Hurricane Center has said the storm could intensify further on Monday morning, which means it could once again become a Category 5 storm.Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Path of Hurricane Lee: Will it make landfall? 08:04 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is projected to stay in open waters, according to the National Hurricane Center but its impact is being felt in the Caribbean with rainfall and large swells and the same could be experienced in the US East Coast. Lee is expected to take a turn to the north by Wednesday. However, its path after that remained unclear. Here is the projected path of the hurricane: Hurricane Lee, 10 September (NOAA) Hurricane Lee 'growing larger' as US east coast braces for large swells 07:15 , Stuti Mishra The centre of Hurricane Lee is growing in size, the National Hurricane Center has said in its latest advisory, after the storm once again intensified to Category 3 from Category 2 on Sunday night. Lee has hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) from the centre and tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometres). The NHC also said that dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the US East Coast starting on Sunday night and Monday morning, but that the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear. "It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic." the centre said. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 23: Lee Growing Larger But Maximum Sustained Winds Have Not Yet Increased. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Spread Through the Western Atlantic During the Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee unleashes heavy swell on northern Caribbean as it restrengthens over open waters 06:32 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee barrelled over open waters late night just northeast of the Caribbean, unleashing heavy swell on several islands as it regained some strength and expanded in size. Lee has again intensified to a Category 3 storm after reducing to Category 2 earlier on Saturday, but it is not forecast to make landfall and it is staying over open waters. However, its bands brought heavy rains and hazardous beach conditions. The impacted regions include the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Late Sunday, it was centred about 310miles (500kilometres) north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120mph (195kph) and it was moving northwest at 8mph (13kph). We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear, said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters 06:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Forecasters predoct another rapid intensification cycle for Lee 04:00 , Alex Woodward Lee made history last week after it rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 within 24 hours. The hurricane could enter another period of rapid intensification this week after slowing down over the weekend. In the last 12 hours, NHC has recorded a 15 knot increase for #HurricaneLee, confirming that #Lee is steadily re-intensifying. The next 36 hours are looking like medium-low shear so I wouldnt be surprised if we get near a rapid intensification cycle between today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/OYPoaxFCux Kieran Bhatia (@BhatiaKieran) September 10, 2023 East Coast likely to avoid Lee landfall, but hazardous beach conditions are incoming 02:00 , Alex Woodward It appears that Hurricane Lee will likely avoid making any landfall in the US, but life-threatening rip currents and dangerous beaches conditions along the East Coast are expected over the next couple of days. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along much of the US East Coast later today and worsen through this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beach erosion and some coastal flooding is also possible, the center reported. The Category 3 storm is predicted to continue gaining strength as it moves north this week. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Atlantic will see two simultaneous hurricanes this week, forecasters predict Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength on 11 September. Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Tropical Storm Margot is growing stronger and better organized and predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday Sunday 10 September 2023 22:30 , Alex Woodward Just behind Hurricane Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which has grown stronger and better organized over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Margot is expected to continue moving north in the next few days and potentially intensify into a hurricane on Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the storms center, according to the advisory. A forecast model from the National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Margot will intensify into a hurricane on 11 September. (NOAA) Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Sunday 10 September 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward As predicted, Hurricane Lee has intensified into a Category 3 storm after slowing down overnight and into Sunday. Lee is expected to take a slow west-northwestward track in the coming days, passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or two, according to a Sunday afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm has returned to Category 3 strength and additional strengthening is forcast within the next day or so, the NHC is reporting. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and it remains unclear whether the storm will reach the northeastern US coast and Canada or continue spinning into the Atlantic on that western track. It still remains too early to tell, according to forecasters. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Watch: Atlantic storm activity at the peak of hurricane season Sunday 10 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Take a look at the Atlantic activity with Hurricane Lee, Tropical Storm Margot and two disturbances behind them with a chance of developing into storms in the coming days The storms and storms-to-be are taking shape during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. There's no shortage of activity in the Atlantic Basin! Along with named storms Hurricane #Lee and Tropical Storm #Margot, the #NHC is monitoring a pair of disturbances in the Main Development Region that each have a 30% chance of development over the next 7 days. pic.twitter.com/rZpRxTeOmW RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) September 10, 2023 Hurricane Lee is a Category 2 storm, but its still unclear where its headed Sunday 10 September 2023 19:55 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was downgraded to a Category 2 on Sunday, slowing down as it rears northwest along the eastern seaboard. Its expected to strengthen in the coming days, but Lee is not projected to strike land, and there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, for now. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda late next week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf conditions are expected along parts of the East Coast and around the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. But the storm, roughly 270 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, is expected to steer away from Caribbean islands as it makes its northern turn. Why Hurricane Lee has shattered rapid intensification standards Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the one of the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. September 10 is peak hurricane season, as more Atlantic storms are brewing Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Alex Woodward Today is the peak date for the Atlantic hurricane season, and it couldnt come at a more-active time, with Hurricane Lee likely gaining strength as Tropical Storm Margot and two brewing storms pop up behind it. September 10 is basically when you still have low vertical wind shear, plenty of moisture and increasing sea surface temperatures, Colorado State meteorologist Philip Klotzbach told AccuWeather. The increasing vertical wind shear tends to dominate over the continued warming sea surface temperatures as you move later in September. On the heels of #Lee and Margot is #invest97L and its larger relative near Africa. These two should blend in time. Given its the heart of the hurricane season and the entire basin is ripe, this new system may follow a similar path that Lee has traveled thus far. By NEXT pic.twitter.com/O4SitQiZ5x Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 10, 2023 While the climate crisis and warming waters have indicated that hurricane seasons are trending longer than the official six-month window typically observed, that peak date is likely to remain. While Atlantic sea surface temperatures typically continue to warm until late September/early October, vertical wind shear starts to increase relatively quickly in late September, knocking down storm activity, Mr Klotzbach added. A composite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning towards the Caribbean after intensifying into a major storm on 8 September. (via REUTERS) Latest Lee update: Storm to pass well north of Leeward Islands, Virgin Island and Puerto Rico Sunday 10 September 2023 16:32 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to spin outwards as it approaches the eastern seaboard, and the storm is moving well north of the northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the coming days, according to an 11am ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Still, it remains too early to tell what impacts, if any, will be felt along the US East Coast and Canada, especially as the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably as it moves over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the advisory. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 110 mph with higher gusts, and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. Dangerous waves are expected along the East Coast throughout the weekend, with potentially life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf hitting northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 11AM AST Sep 10: #Lee is passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands. Hazardous beach conditions are forecast to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Stay up to date with the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/FSB4BYvbIQ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Latest Lee update: Storm is slowing down and likely regaining strength as it steers north Sunday 10 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward After it was downgraded from a Category 3 storm, Hurricane Lee is predicted to regain strength as it travels along warm Atlantic waters in the coming days. Lee is slowing down as it moves well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine its course and whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center on 10 September. But life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 5 AM AST - Sept 10: #Lee slowing down...Deteriorating seas and beach conditions expected this week for PR/USVI. |#Lee esta desacelerando...Se esperan condiciones maritimas y costeras deterioradas esta semana para PR/USVI.#PRwx #USVIwx pic.twitter.com/WFwxiTULEG NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 10, 2023 Will Lee and Margot collide in the Atlantic? Sunday 10 September 2023 11:00 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that it could mingle or alter Hurricane Lees path, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another any time soon in the Atlantic Ocean. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Sunday 10 September 2023 09:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon likely to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis and warming waters. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Hurricane Lee is pictured by NOAA satellite in the Atlantic Ocean on 8 September. (AP) Why Lee is blowing meteorologists minds before it even makes landfall Sunday 10 September 2023 07:00 , Alex Woodward The first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season didnt stay that way very long, but Hurricane Lees rapid intensification from a Category 1 into a Category 5 within 24 hours from Thursday into Friday is likely a record-breaking event in modern meteorological history. The storm then degraded into a Cat 4 then a Cat 3, though it is likely to gather strength as it moves northeast. Cat 5 storms already are rare, but inreasingly more common, relative to the history books. According to University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy, roughly 4 per cent of named storms in the Atlantic basin have reached that threshold since the early 1920s. Category 5 hurricanes are rare... these are tropical cyclones with 157mph+ sustained winds in the eyewall. Meteorological perfection. What percentage of Atlantic named storms is known to have reached Cat 5 intensity? 1923-2023: 3.8% 1973-2023: 3.5% 1993-2023: 3.6% 2013-2023: 4.5% Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) September 8, 2023 Lees intensification from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds has likely made it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Not only that, for the first time on record, Cat 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. This is one of the most impressive rapid intensification episodes I've ever seen in the Atlantic. Hurricane #Lee went from having no eye this morning to possibly Cat 5 intensity this evening. Absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/49NmtkIJO2 Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 8, 2023 FEMA stocks up food and water for potential Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands response Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Alex Woodward The USS Federal Emergency Management Agency has roughly 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Lee rears eastward as a powerful Category 3 storm that could gain strength over the weekend. The storm is not yet predicted to make landfall, if it does at all, but emergency responders and national weather agencies are keeping a close watch. Roughly 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water are prepared to support the US Virgin Islands, FEMA also announced on Friday. A major wave producer' Sunday 10 September 2023 01:00 , Alex Woodward It still remains far too early to tell what Lee will look like for the East Coast as it creeps along a northeastern track, but forecasters predict high seas and rip currents up and down the Eastern Seaboard. What we are going to see from Lee and were very confident is its going to be a major wave producer, National Hurricane Center director Mike Brennan said in a Friday briefing. On Saturday, large swells battered the northeast Caribbean as Lee churned through open waters hundreds of miles off the northern Leeward Islands, the Associated Press reported. The highest waves recorded by the center were at about 45 and 50 feet, and the highest waves could even be double that, Mr Brennan said. So we could be looking at 80-, 90-foot waves associated with Lee, he added. A satellite image from NOAA shows Category 3 Hurricane Lee in the Atlanic Oean on 9 September. (NOAA/GOES/AFP via Getty Images) How close will Lee get to the US? Saturday 9 September 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward Exactly when or how Lee will travel northeast is still too early to tell. What happens next is up to a combination of atmospheric factors, including an area of high pressure in the Atlantic Ocean and a jet stream to its west. That area of high pressure is likely to play a major role in Lees track, and is expected to keep Lee on its current west-northwestward path over the weekend. That scenario would keep the storm rotating out to sea, or send it closer to Bermuda. The storm is still roughly one week from posing a potential threat to the East Coast of the US, if it poses any at all. Latest Lee advisory: Hurricane expected to pass north of Leeward Islands while generating dangerous waves over weekend Saturday 9 September 2023 22:10 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, still a Category 3 storm, is expected to pass pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico into early next week, according to an afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts, and gradual restrengthening is possible during the next couple of days, the center predicts. Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles and will spread westward to the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda through the weekend. Those swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the report. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along the US East Coast on Sunday and Monday and then worsen through the week. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 18: Lee to Pass Well North of the Leeward Islands During the Next Day Or So. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Develop Around the Western Atlantic Through Next Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Too soon to tell but too soon to rule out significant impacts, forecasters say Saturday 9 September 2023 22:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was significantly disrupted by wind shear within the 24 hours after it accelerated into a Category 5 hurricane, as it then degraded into a Category 4 then Category 3 into Saturday morning. Models are suggesting that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, which could allow Lee to gain more strength as it continues to track east, according to Levi Cowan with Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Regardless of Lees exact intensity, it will be a major hurricane tracking north of the Caribbean and then turning northward over the western Atlantic over the next week, he said. It remains too soon to rule out impacts from Lee as models predict it could track forwards Bermuda, Canada and the northeastern US, he added. Hurricane #Lee has been disrupted significantly by some mid-level wind shear in the past 24 hours, with max winds down to 115 mph after being as high as 160 mph at one point. Models suggest that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, probably allowing Lee to regain strength. pic.twitter.com/vOikNUrYQs Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 9, 2023 Lee shattered rapid intensification standards, a warning of future storms amid growing climate crisis Saturday 9 September 2023 21:02 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. Lee and Margot could mingle in the Atlantic Saturday 9 September 2023 18:57 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that Hurricane Lees path could be changed, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another in the Atlantic. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Watch Lee intensify from Category 1 to Category 5 storm Saturday 9 September 2023 18:04 , Alex Woodward Lee marked the first Category 5 hurricane of this years Atlantic season when it rapidly grew from a Category 1 within 24 hours this week. There have been seven other Cat 5 storms from the Atlantic since 2016, with one Michael making landfall in the US in 2018. Within thouse 24 hours, Hurricane Lee intensified from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds, likely making it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Lee has since diminished to a Cat 3 storm and is expected to maintain its strength over the weekend. #Lee's life story, Chapter 1: From African easterly wave to sudden extreme intensification into a Category 5 #hurricane (wait for it) pic.twitter.com/1EWakTRkBe Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) September 8, 2023 Lee maintaining strength but little change expected on Saturday Saturday 9 September 2023 16:25 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is maintaing strength as a recently downgraded Category 3 storm as it moves across the Atlanta Ocean with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with higher gusts, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Little change in strength is expected today, but gradual restrengthening is forecast to occur on Sunday and Monday, according to the advisory. 11AM AST Sep 9: @NOAA_HurrHunter & @53rdWRS find #Lee maintaining strength this morning. Hazardous beach conditions are expected around the western Atlantic through next week. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest information pic.twitter.com/xXiy8NY8Ux National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Lee is in rare company during an already-historic storm year Saturday 9 September 2023 15:35 , Alex Woodward For the first time on record, Category 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. Lee, which has since downgraded to a Category 3 as it tracks along open Atlantic Ocean, accelerated from Category 1 strength into a Category 5 this week. I think its reasonable to hypothesize that the abnormally warm ocean temperatures around the world made this more likely to happen, University of Miami, hurricane expert Brian McNoldy told The Washington Post. Gives everything a boost. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Way too soon to chart US impacts, if any, but Lee could strengthen as it moves across open ocean Saturday 9 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee ramped up to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours this week, but it has been downgraded to a Category 3 and will likely lose strength over the course of the day as it struggles with wind shear. The National Hurricane Center continues to stress it is still way too soon to know what impacts, if any, the storm could have along the East Coast of the US, and the storm could gain strength as it continues to move with sustained winds at 115 mph as of Saturday morning. Dangerous and life-threatening rip currents are affecting parts of the Leeward Islands, according to NHC. Those conditions are expected to impact parts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Saturday 9 September 2023 11:06 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 10:07 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 09:03 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 05:05 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 04:04 , Louise Boyle Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as forecasters warn too soon to know of US impact next week Saturday 9 September 2023 01:01 , Graeme Massie We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet, so we dont want anyone on the beaches. Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as too soon to know on US impacts next week Ocean warnings Saturday 9 September 2023 00:03 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 23:02 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? FEMA prepared for worst-case scenario in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Thursday evening. The same day, Joe Biden was briefed by the Federal Emergecy Management Agency about its preparations in the event the storms force caused disruptions in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. FEMA said it had prepared approximately 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water for Puerto Rico. Another 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water were made available for the US Virgin Islands. The agency also deployed rapid response teams to both of the US territories in the event the storm turned and threatened the islands. Thankfully, Hurricane Lee did not make landfall on any of the islands and is continuing north along the US east coast. No reason for east coast US residents to be fearful of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 21:40 , Graig Graziosi Jamie Rhome, the director of the National Hurricane Centre, said that right now there is no reason for east coast US residents to fear Hurricane Lees trajectory outside of rip current risks. Theres absolutely no indication in front of us that this is going to be a huge threat to Florida, other than its going to be a huge rip current risk, Mr Rhome told USA Today. Right now, save the rip current risk, which is extreme, theres no reason for people on the East Coast to be fearful. We need them to be informed and aware and check back for details but right now theres no reason other than rip currents for people to be fearful. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification, strengthening from a Category 2 to Category 4 storm in just six hours, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm became a Category 5 hurricane on Thursday night, but has since weakened to a Category 4. Tracking Hurricane Lees evolution Friday 8 September 2023 21:10 , Graig Graziosi Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic Ocean and under went rapid intensification into an extremely dangerous hurricane, eventually reaching Category 5 before it slowed to Category 4 on Friday morning. Tropical Storm Lee was announced by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 5pm (eastern time) on Tuesday. Its wind speeds picked up on Tuesday afternoon and was forecast to become a major hurricane. The depression is forecast to become a major hurricane by this weekend and could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands by that time, NHC reported at the time. READ MORE: Tropical Storm Lee expected to become extremely dangerous hurricane by weekend Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Friday 8 September 2023 20:50 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reached Category 5 on Friday, after rapidly strengthening as it stirred through the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center reported on Thursday. Hurricane Lee began to strengthen over the very warm waters of the Atlantic, growing from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday and by late Thursday night, it had grown to Category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 160mph. By Friday morning, forecasters said Lee could become a monster 180mph storm. The storm reached its peak Thursday night and became to be a vicious hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic before weakening to a Category 4 on Friday morning. READ MORE: Tracking Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 20:30 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee, currently barreling westwards through the Atlantic towards the Caribbean islands, rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Thursday night and it is feared the storm could soon work up to wind speeds of 180mph. It is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week, according to forecasters. After that, however, its path is less clear cut, with different models reaching different verdicts as to precisely how close it could pass along the US East Coast as it steers northwards, already inspiring some premature and slightly hysterical tabloid headlines. More credibly, CBS has warned that Hurricane Lees path might bring it to New York City and the Tri-State Area, reporting that initial forecasts suggested a landfall in the Mid-Atlantic region, and then riding up the coastline towards New York before drifting out to sea. READ MORE: Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? National Hurricane Centre warns of surf, rip currents in the Caribbean, US east coast Friday 8 September 2023 20:07 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre has warned that Hurricane Lee now a Category 4 storm after it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Thursday could produce high surf and life-threatening rip currents in the northeastern Caribbean on Friday and throughout the weekend. The centre also said that rough surf and hazardous ocean conditions were likely along much of the US east coast by Sunday evening. Hurricane Lee is continuing to churn in the Atlantic basin, with spaghetti models predicting a northern track, with a possible threat to New England and Canadas east coast. Hurricane Lee still very powerful despite weakening Friday 8 September 2023 19:30 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre said that Hurricane Lee is still a very powerful storm despite weakening from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm between Thursday night and Friday morning. Although Lees current intensity is lower than the overnight peak, the hurricane remains very powerful, the centre said. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a strong storm into early next week as it continues north through the Atlantic. It is still unclear what impact it might have on the US, but some spaghetti models show the storm on a course for New England and Canadas east coast. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year Friday 8 September 2023 19:10 , Louise Boyle Half the world was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, a new study has found. Over 3.8 billion people suffered extreme temperatures for more than a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, an analysis released on Thursday by the nonprofit Climate Central showed. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people, the study says. Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months, Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said. Stuti Mishra reports Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Hurricane hunter' pilot captures lightning show inside Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi A user on X/Twitter recorded video from the inside of Hurricane Lee, capturing a stunning lightning storm inside the churning storm. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification yesterday, strengthening from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm in just six hours. The storm reached Category 5 on Thursday night before weakening back to a Category 4 on Friday. Nice lighting show in the eye of #HurricaneLee this morning pic.twitter.com/F3Spj54syS FlyAnon (@FlynonymousWX) September 8, 2023 Ocean warnings Friday 8 September 2023 18:38 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 18:05 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 17:33 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Friday 8 September 2023 17:10 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Distant but deadly' Friday 8 September 2023 16:40 , Louise Boyle US forecasters had this warning for Americans on Friday as Category 5 Hurricane Lee roars through the Caribbean. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned and said that beach-goers should be aware of rip currents and powerful waves. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned on Friday (NOAA) Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 16:15 , Louise Boyle The US Air Force Reserves Hurricane Hunters shared dramatic footage from inside Hurricane Lee on Thursday night. The 403rd Wing Reserves posted on X, formerly Twitter, footage of the rotating thick clouds with lightning bursts. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 Hurricane Lee, they wrote. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 #hurricaneLee pic.twitter.com/I9Gmy4sHut Hurricane Hunters (@53rdWRS) September 8, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee make landfall? Friday 8 September 2023 15:43 , Louise Boyle The current forecasts show that Hurricane Lee is not expected to make landfall in the coming days - but that doesnt rule out life-threatening impacts. The storm is forecast to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week. However, it is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda, late next week, according to the National Weather Service. Watch: Hurricane Lee gathering strength in Caribbean waters Friday 8 September 2023 15:27 , Louise Boyle Hurricane Lee has slowed down slightly ahead of its expected turn northward as it moves away from land, the latest forecast shows. The storm, which intensified to a Category 3 storm again as it whirls across the open Atlantic Ocean, is expected to go through additional strengthening within the coming days. Lee exploded to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours last week before slowing down and reorganizing over the weekend. Just behind Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which is predicted to reach hurricane status by Monday afternoon. Hurricane Lee is moving well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to advisories from the National Hurricane Center on Sunday. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Lees historic intensification from an 80 mph Category 1 to a Category 5 with 160 mph winds last week makes it one the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon expected to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis. Key Points Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Tropical Storm Margot predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday How Lee shattered rapid intensification standards Heres how quickly the storm picked up speed Path of Hurricane Margot 07:00 , Stuti Mishra Margot which has strengthened into a hurricane now, is expected to continue to remain in open waters. Heres the path the storm is following: Tropical Storm Margots forecasted path as it picks up speed in the Atlantic (National Hurricane Centre) Margot strengthens into a hurricane 06:24 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot intensified into a hurricane on Monday night with further strengthening forecast during the next 48 hours, the US National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory. The hurricane was located about 1,265 miles (2,035km) northwest of the Cape Verde Islands, packing maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120kph), the Miami-based forecaster said.Margot became a Category 1 storm Monday afternoon and was expected to continue to intensify to become the fifth hurricane of the season. It was forecast to remain over open waters. Tropical storm Margot becomes a hurricane (NOAA) Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown 04:59 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week 04:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season 03:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? 02:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers 01:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Tuesday 12 September 2023 00:00 , Graig Graziosi Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 23:00 , Graig Graziosi Lee went through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, returning to Category 4 strength after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. The National Hurricane Center said the storm would intensify on Monday morning, though it failed to reach a Category 5 storm by Monday evening. Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Hurricane Margot becomes fifth hurricane of the 20223 season Monday 11 September 2023 22:50 , Graig Graziosi The National Weather Service announced that Tropical Storm Margot had been upgraded to a full fledged hurricane on Monday afternoon. Hurricane Margot is the fifth hurricane of the season, and formed not only during the peak of the season but in the immediate wake of Hurricane Lee, which is still churning through the Atlantic off the southeastern coast of the US. Newly formed Hurricane #Margot becomes the fifth hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic Season. https://t.co/0bcEmBeFdb pic.twitter.com/Fc1hphwzr4 National Weather Service (@NWS) September 11, 2023 New Englanders need to be careful as Hurricane Lee heads for the US east coast Monday 11 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi John Cangialosi, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center, said that New Englanders need to be careful if they have any seafaring adventures planned in the coming days. Hurricane Lee may move close to the US northeast coast, bringing with it high waves, dangerous rip currents, and strong winds. Mr Cangialosi told Boston.com that mariners should keep up-to-date with their local weather services before setting out to sea, especially later in the week as the hurricane moves further north. If youre going to go offshore, you need to be careful, Mr Cangialosi said. You need to go now or wait for this to go by. Despite the warnings, researchers have noted that its unclear exactly what effect Hurricane Lee will have on northeastern states by the time it reaches the area. The storm is still gaining strength, but will likely weaken as it hits colder northern waters. Despite its weakening, the storm may still produce high winds within hundreds of miles of its centre. Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 21:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. New England watching Hurricane Lee as flooding, rain soak region Monday 11 September 2023 20:00 , Graig Graziosi New Englanders are watching the current course of Hurricane Lee, as some spaghetti models predict the storm may be on a collision course for the region. Though Hurricane Lee will likely arrive as a weaker storm by the time it reaches the northeast, it will land just on the heels of a wet weekend. Flooding has been reported in Rhode Island and more is forecasted for the region today while Maine experienced heavy rains late Sunday. If the storm does turn into New England and the Canadian east coast, it will at very least bring with it high winds, dangerous rip currents, significant surf, and likely more rain for the region. #HurricaneLee will produce some monster waves (50ft+ near the core). Swells start to arrive Tues-Wed along the SE Coast and work north. Surfers will prob love it, but careful folks. Big time rip current risk! New moon means slightly elevated tides/ coastal flooding/ erosion too. pic.twitter.com/NrPCOLsysT Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) September 8, 2023 Watch: Footage from inside the NOAAs flight into Hurricane Lee Monday 11 September 2023 19:31 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA sent a hurricane hunter aircraft into Hurricane Lee on Sunday night to gather data on the now Category 3 storm churning in the Atlantic. The agency filmed a portion of the flight, which shows the researchers being jostled back and forth by the storms sustained 120mph winds. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a powerful hurricane until midweek, when forecasters believe it will begin to weaken. Watch the flight below: OVER THE ATLANTIC - An inside look at late night storm flying! Last night NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" flew a mission into Hurricane #Lee. Visit https://t.co/3phpgKMZaS for the latest forecast and advisories. Video Credit: Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Rannenberg, NOAA Corps #FlyNOAA pic.twitter.com/feGd7k0UOs NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee generates 15 foot waves Monday 11 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reportedly has generated 15 foot waves as it moves north of the Caribbean and into the waters off the US east coast, according to the Associated Press. High surf and dangerous rip currents have already begun for some southeastern US states as the Category 3 hurricane continues on its trajectory further north. Dangerous rip currents caused by Hurricane Lee begin to affect southeast US Monday 11 September 2023 18:30 , Graig Graziosi Forecasters have warned for days that Hurricane Lee could produce dangerous rip currents on the US east coast, and those predicitions have come to pass. The National Hurricane Centre reported Monday morning that dangerous rip currents which can drag swimmers out to sea have begun in the southeastern US. Dangerous surf and rip currents have begun to affect portions of the southeastern U.S. coast, and these conditions are forecast to spread northward along much of the U.S. East Coast during the next couple of days, the centre warned. Swimmers in southeastern US states should consult their local weather information providers before heading out for a swim over the next few days. 2023 sets the record for number of billion-dollar climate disasters Monday 11 September 2023 18:00 , Graig Graziosi The NOAA has identified 23 seperate climate and weather disasters in 2023 that caused at least a billion dollars in damages, according to the agency. Those events include Hurricane Idalia, which struck Floridas western shoreline near Big Bend in late August, the devastating wildfire on Maui that killed more than 100 people, and a number of lesser reported but still highly damaging weather and climate disasters. Severe storms, tornadoes, and hail blasted the Plains states in the spring, while California saw record breaking floods between January and March. There have been 23 confirmed weather and climate disaster events this year, each with losses exceeding $1bn. These disasters consisted of 18 severe storm events, two flooding events, one tropical cyclone, one winter storm and one wildfire event, the NOAA reports. For this year-to-date period, the first eight months of 2023 rank highest for disaster count, ahead of 2020 with 16 disasters. The total cost of these events exceeds $57.6bn, and they have resulted in 253 direct and indirect fatalities. An NOAA map detailing the 23 climate and weather disasters that caused at least $1bn in damages in 2023 (NOAA) Monday 11 September 2023 17:34 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee is expected to gain strength for the next two days before gradually weakening as the the week wears on, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm is expected to pass near Bermuda on its way north. The centre said the hurricanes impact on the US east coast and Atlantic Canada is still unknown. Some spaghetti models of show Hurricane Lee skirting close to the coast, others place it further out in the Atlantic. Some strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, followed by gradual weakening. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 75 miles (120 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 185 miles (295 km), the National Hurricane Centre said in an 11am EST update. Tropical Storm Margot expected to become a hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Monday 11 September 2023 17:11 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre expects Tropical Storm Margot to strengthen into a hurricane sometime tonight, making it the second storm in as many weeks to spin up in the Atlantic basin. At 900 AM GMT (0900 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Margot was located near latitude 25.3 North, longitude 40.0 West. Margot is moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 km/h), and this general motion is expected to continue during the next several days, the National Hurricane Centre said in an advisory. Forecasters are expecting it to gain strength over the next 48 hours. The storms winds are currently peaking around 65mph (104km/h). READ MORE: Tropical Storm Margot expected to become hurricane tonight as path remains uncertain Hurricane Lees late-week impact on US east coast, Canada, still unknown Monday 11 September 2023 16:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricanes Lees potential late-week impact on the US east coast and Canada is still unknown, according to the National Hurricane Centre. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast and Atlantic Canada late this week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, the centre said on Monday. It did note, however, that high surf and rip currents were still likely along the coast. Heavy rains and high surf possible risk for Bermuda this week Monday 11 September 2023 15:27 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee may bring heavy rains, strong winds, and high surf to Bermuda later this week as it continues its journey through the Atlantic basin and along the US east coast. Lee could bring wind, rainfall, and high surf impacts to Bermuda later this week. Although it is too soon to determine the specific timing and level of those impacts, interests on Bermuda should monitor the latest forecasts for Lee, the National Hurricane Centre said in a report. Hurricane Lee is expected to gradually shift north by the middle of the week. Hurricane Lee: Latest National Hurricane Centre report says storm should begin to swing north by midweek Monday 11 September 2023 14:45 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee continued churning in the Atlantic on Monday after reaching its peak as a Category 5 storm on Thursday. The National Hurricane Centre reports that Hurricane Lee is producing maximum sustained winds of 120mph (195km/h) a Category 3 hurricane and is on a northwesterly trajectory moving at 7mph (11km/h). The centre believes Hurricane Lee will continue taking a "slow" path toward the west-northwest over the next few days before turning gradually north by the middle of the week. The storm is expected to pass well north of the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It is currently approximately 340 miles (545km) north of the Northern Leeward Islands and approximately 650 miles (1045km) south-southeast of Bermuda. Were in the peak of Atlantic hurricane season Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Alex Woodward Sundays climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season with conditions ripe for tropical storms and hurricanes saw considerable action, with a strengthening Category 3 hurricane and soon-to-be hurricane tracking closely together, followed by two brewing systems to their west. The peak date typically sees ocean waters at their highest temperatures, peak intensity in the atmosphere to generate thunderstorms, and shearing winds that can suffocate storms declining to a minimum, which tropical waves that fuel storms in the summer continue well into September. What happens when hurricanes collide? Monday 11 September 2023 13:00 , Stuti Mishra Tropical Storm Margot is expected to reach hurricane status on Monday, raising the prospect of two potentially major hurricanes spinning in the Atlantic simultaneously and in similar paths. That phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center and potentially combine into one major storm. The rare phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. If one hurricane is stronger than the other, the smaller one will orbit it and eventually come crashing into its vortex to be absorbed, according to the NHC. Two storms closer in strength can gravitate towards each other until they reach a common point and merge, or merely spin each other around for a while before shooting off on their own paths, the center explains. Hurricane season, by the numbers Monday 11 September 2023 12:00 , Alex Woodward NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. The season, which officially began on 1 June and will end on 30 November, already has produced 14 storms, including four hurricanes theree of which were Category 3 or higher. Lee is the strongest yet among them. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year, research says Monday 11 September 2023 11:00 , Stuti Mishra Nearly half of the worlds population was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, according to recently published research from Climate Central. More than 3.8 billion people across the world suffered extreme temperatures for over a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, the report found. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people who were exposed to unusually high heat on each day over the period of June to August, the study says. The Independents Stuti Mishra reports: Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Atlantic to see two simultaneous hurricanes as Margot strengthens Monday 11 September 2023 10:00 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength today. Tropical Storm Margot became the 13th named storm after forming on Thursday evening, but it was far out in the Atlantic and posed no threat to land. It was last spotted about 1,185 miles (1,910 kilometres) west-northwest of the Cape Verde Islands late on Sunday night. Its winds stood at 65 mph (100 kph) and it was moving northward at 8 mph (13 kph). Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Can Hurricane Lee become Category 5 again? Monday 11 September 2023 09:00 , Stuti Mishra Lee is going through another phase of intensification over the warm Atlantic waters, nearing Category 4 strength now after it was downgraded to Category 2 on Saturday. National Hurricane Center has said the storm could intensify further on Monday morning, which means it could once again become a Category 5 storm.Last week the storm went from Category 1 to Category 5 within 24 hours. Path of Hurricane Lee: Will it make landfall? Monday 11 September 2023 08:04 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee is projected to stay in open waters, according to the National Hurricane Center but its impact is being felt in the Caribbean with rainfall and large swells and the same could be experienced in the US East Coast. Lee is expected to take a turn to the north by Wednesday. However, its path after that remained unclear. Here is the projected path of the hurricane: Hurricane Lee, 10 September (NOAA) Hurricane Lee 'growing larger' as US east coast braces for large swells Monday 11 September 2023 07:15 , Stuti Mishra The centre of Hurricane Lee is growing in size, the National Hurricane Center has said in its latest advisory, after the storm once again intensified to Category 3 from Category 2 on Sunday night. Lee has hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 75 miles (120 kilometres) from the centre and tropical storm-force winds extending outward up to 175 miles (280 kilometres). The NHC also said that dangerous surf and rip currents were expected to hit most of the US East Coast starting on Sunday night and Monday morning, but that the hurricane's impact beyond that was still unclear. "It is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic." the centre said. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 23: Lee Growing Larger But Maximum Sustained Winds Have Not Yet Increased. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Spread Through the Western Atlantic During the Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 11, 2023 Hurricane Lee unleashes heavy swell on northern Caribbean as it restrengthens over open waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:32 , Stuti Mishra Hurricane Lee barrelled over open waters late night just northeast of the Caribbean, unleashing heavy swell on several islands as it regained some strength and expanded in size. Lee has again intensified to a Category 3 storm after reducing to Category 2 earlier on Saturday, but it is not forecast to make landfall and it is staying over open waters. However, its bands brought heavy rains and hazardous beach conditions. The impacted regions include the Lesser Antilles, the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda. Late Sunday, it was centred about 310miles (500kilometres) north of the northern Leeward Islands. Its maximum sustained winds were clocked at 120mph (195kph) and it was moving northwest at 8mph (13kph). We had the perfection conditions for a hurricane: warm waters and hardly any wind shear, said Lee Ingles, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in San Juan. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Monday 11 September 2023 06:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. The storm is predicted to continue to regain strength after slowing down over the weekend. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification last week. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Forecasters predoct another rapid intensification cycle for Lee Monday 11 September 2023 04:00 , Alex Woodward Lee made history last week after it rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to a Category 5 within 24 hours. The hurricane could enter another period of rapid intensification this week after slowing down over the weekend. In the last 12 hours, NHC has recorded a 15 knot increase for #HurricaneLee, confirming that #Lee is steadily re-intensifying. The next 36 hours are looking like medium-low shear so I wouldnt be surprised if we get near a rapid intensification cycle between today and tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/OYPoaxFCux Kieran Bhatia (@BhatiaKieran) September 10, 2023 East Coast likely to avoid Lee landfall, but hazardous beach conditions are incoming Monday 11 September 2023 02:00 , Alex Woodward It appears that Hurricane Lee will likely avoid making any landfall in the US, but life-threatening rip currents and dangerous beaches conditions along the East Coast are expected over the next couple of days. Dangerous surf and rip currents are expected to begin along much of the US East Coast later today and worsen through this week, according to the National Hurricane Center. Beach erosion and some coastal flooding is also possible, the center reported. The Category 3 storm is predicted to continue gaining strength as it moves north this week. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Atlantic will see two simultaneous hurricanes this week, forecasters predict Monday 11 September 2023 00:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is expected to continue to gain strength as it cruises across the Atlantic Ocean, and just behind it is Tropical Storm Margot, which forecasters predict will reach hurricane strength on 11 September. Its unclear what path they will take in the coming days, and whether they will pose a threat to the East Coast. But they could get close enough for a phenomenon called the Fujiwhara effect, in which two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Tropical Storm Margot is growing stronger and better organized and predicted to turn into a hurricane on Monday Sunday 10 September 2023 22:30 , Alex Woodward Just behind Hurricane Lee is Tropical Storm Margot, which has grown stronger and better organized over the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center. Margot is expected to continue moving north in the next few days and potentially intensify into a hurricane on Monday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 65 mph with higher gusts. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 80 miles from the storms center, according to the advisory. A forecast model from the National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Margot will intensify into a hurricane on 11 September. (NOAA) Latest Lee update: Hurricane restrengthening as Category 3 storm Sunday 10 September 2023 21:50 , Alex Woodward As predicted, Hurricane Lee has intensified into a Category 3 storm after slowing down overnight and into Sunday. Lee is expected to take a slow west-northwestward track in the coming days, passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico during the next day or two, according to a Sunday afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. The storm has returned to Category 3 strength and additional strengthening is forcast within the next day or so, the NHC is reporting. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, and it remains unclear whether the storm will reach the northeastern US coast and Canada or continue spinning into the Atlantic on that western track. It still remains too early to tell, according to forecasters. 5pm AST Sun Sep 10th Key Messages for #Hurricane #Lee. Hazardous beach conditions to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Too soon to know level of impacts for US East coast or Atlantic Canada late this week, so stay tuned for updates. https://t.co/w5INoaj9KX pic.twitter.com/NaXXHp21Mz National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Watch: Atlantic storm activity at the peak of hurricane season Sunday 10 September 2023 20:30 , Alex Woodward Take a look at the Atlantic activity with Hurricane Lee, Tropical Storm Margot and two disturbances behind them with a chance of developing into storms in the coming days The storms and storms-to-be are taking shape during the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA forecasts 12 to 17 total named storms this year, with five to nine of those storms turning into hurricanes, including up to four major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher. There's no shortage of activity in the Atlantic Basin! Along with named storms Hurricane #Lee and Tropical Storm #Margot, the #NHC is monitoring a pair of disturbances in the Main Development Region that each have a 30% chance of development over the next 7 days. pic.twitter.com/rZpRxTeOmW RadarOmega (@RadarOmega) September 10, 2023 Hurricane Lee is a Category 2 storm, but its still unclear where its headed Sunday 10 September 2023 19:55 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was downgraded to a Category 2 on Sunday, slowing down as it rears northwest along the eastern seaboard. Its expected to strengthen in the coming days, but Lee is not projected to strike land, and there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, for now. It remains too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda late next week, especially since the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. Dangerous surf conditions are expected along parts of the East Coast and around the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. But the storm, roughly 270 miles northeast of the northern Leeward Islands, is expected to steer away from Caribbean islands as it makes its northern turn. Why Hurricane Lee has shattered rapid intensification standards Sunday 10 September 2023 18:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the one of the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storms on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. September 10 is peak hurricane season, as more Atlantic storms are brewing Sunday 10 September 2023 17:00 , Alex Woodward Today is the peak date for the Atlantic hurricane season, and it couldnt come at a more-active time, with Hurricane Lee likely gaining strength as Tropical Storm Margot and two brewing storms pop up behind it. September 10 is basically when you still have low vertical wind shear, plenty of moisture and increasing sea surface temperatures, Colorado State meteorologist Philip Klotzbach told AccuWeather. The increasing vertical wind shear tends to dominate over the continued warming sea surface temperatures as you move later in September. On the heels of #Lee and Margot is #invest97L and its larger relative near Africa. These two should blend in time. Given its the heart of the hurricane season and the entire basin is ripe, this new system may follow a similar path that Lee has traveled thus far. By NEXT pic.twitter.com/O4SitQiZ5x Jim Cantore (@JimCantore) September 10, 2023 While the climate crisis and warming waters have indicated that hurricane seasons are trending longer than the official six-month window typically observed, that peak date is likely to remain. While Atlantic sea surface temperatures typically continue to warm until late September/early October, vertical wind shear starts to increase relatively quickly in late September, knocking down storm activity, Mr Klotzbach added. A composite image from NOAA shows Hurricane Lee churning towards the Caribbean after intensifying into a major storm on 8 September. (via REUTERS) Latest Lee update: Storm to pass well north of Leeward Islands, Virgin Island and Puerto Rico Sunday 10 September 2023 16:32 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, now a Category 2 storm, is expected to spin outwards as it approaches the eastern seaboard, and the storm is moving well north of the northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the coming days, according to an 11am ET update from the National Hurricane Center. Still, it remains too early to tell what impacts, if any, will be felt along the US East Coast and Canada, especially as the hurricane is expected to slow down considerably as it moves over the southwestern Atlantic, according to the advisory. Data from a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to nearly 110 mph with higher gusts, and some strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days. Dangerous waves are expected along the East Coast throughout the weekend, with potentially life-threatening rip currents and dangerous surf hitting northern Leeward Island, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico as well as Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 11AM AST Sep 10: #Lee is passing well north of the northern Leeward Islands. Hazardous beach conditions are forecast to spread across the western Atlantic this week. Stay up to date with the latest at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/FSB4BYvbIQ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 10, 2023 Latest Lee update: Storm is slowing down and likely regaining strength as it steers north Sunday 10 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward After it was downgraded from a Category 3 storm, Hurricane Lee is predicted to regain strength as it travels along warm Atlantic waters in the coming days. Lee is slowing down as it moves well north of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the northern Leeward Islands, though it still remains too early to determine its course and whether the northeastern US coast and Canada could see any impacts, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center on 10 September. But life-threatening surf and rip conditions are expected along the East Coast, while dangerous swells generated by the storm are spreading to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. 5 AM AST - Sept 10: #Lee slowing down...Deteriorating seas and beach conditions expected this week for PR/USVI. |#Lee esta desacelerando...Se esperan condiciones maritimas y costeras deterioradas esta semana para PR/USVI.#PRwx #USVIwx pic.twitter.com/WFwxiTULEG NWS San Juan (@NWSSanJuan) September 10, 2023 Will Lee and Margot collide in the Atlantic? Sunday 10 September 2023 11:00 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that it could mingle or alter Hurricane Lees path, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another any time soon in the Atlantic Ocean. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Rapid intensification of storms likely to accelerate with warming waters Sunday 10 September 2023 09:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is in rare company. Only two recorded storms Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and Hurricane Felix in 2007 strengthened faster than Lee over a 24-hour period, as Lee developed from a Cat 1 to a Cat 5 last week before degrading into its current Cat 3 status. Brian McNoldy with the University of Miami told NBC News that the warm conditions in the Atlantic were ripe for the storms rapid intensification. The vertical wind shear was very low and the water temperature under it was very warm, he said, adding that Lee took full advantage of both. Warm waters are a potent fuel for hurricanes to gain strength, a phenomenon likely to accelerate amid a growing climate crisis and warming waters. Last year, Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified over two separate periods before striking Florida. Hurricane Idalia recently strengthened from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 within 24 hours. Its a huge problem, and the past is not a good guide to what we should expect going forward, Jeff Masters, a former hurricane scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told NBC. Hurricane Lee is pictured by NOAA satellite in the Atlantic Ocean on 8 September. (AP) Why Lee is blowing meteorologists minds before it even makes landfall Sunday 10 September 2023 07:00 , Alex Woodward The first Category 5 storm of the Atlantic hurricane season didnt stay that way very long, but Hurricane Lees rapid intensification from a Category 1 into a Category 5 within 24 hours from Thursday into Friday is likely a record-breaking event in modern meteorological history. The storm then degraded into a Cat 4 then a Cat 3, though it is likely to gather strength as it moves northeast. Cat 5 storms already are rare, but inreasingly more common, relative to the history books. According to University of Miami hurricane expert Brian McNoldy, roughly 4 per cent of named storms in the Atlantic basin have reached that threshold since the early 1920s. Category 5 hurricanes are rare... these are tropical cyclones with 157mph+ sustained winds in the eyewall. Meteorological perfection. What percentage of Atlantic named storms is known to have reached Cat 5 intensity? 1923-2023: 3.8% 1973-2023: 3.5% 1993-2023: 3.6% 2013-2023: 4.5% Brian McNoldy (@BMcNoldy) September 8, 2023 Lees intensification from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds has likely made it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Not only that, for the first time on record, Cat 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. This is one of the most impressive rapid intensification episodes I've ever seen in the Atlantic. Hurricane #Lee went from having no eye this morning to possibly Cat 5 intensity this evening. Absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/49NmtkIJO2 Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 8, 2023 FEMA stocks up food and water for potential Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands response Sunday 10 September 2023 03:00 , Alex Woodward The USS Federal Emergency Management Agency has roughly 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water in Puerto Rico as Hurricane Lee rears eastward as a powerful Category 3 storm that could gain strength over the weekend. The storm is not yet predicted to make landfall, if it does at all, but emergency responders and national weather agencies are keeping a close watch. Roughly 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water are prepared to support the US Virgin Islands, FEMA also announced on Friday. A major wave producer' Sunday 10 September 2023 01:00 , Alex Woodward It still remains far too early to tell what Lee will look like for the East Coast as it creeps along a northeastern track, but forecasters predict high seas and rip currents up and down the Eastern Seaboard. What we are going to see from Lee and were very confident is its going to be a major wave producer, National Hurricane Center director Mike Brennan said in a Friday briefing. On Saturday, large swells battered the northeast Caribbean as Lee churned through open waters hundreds of miles off the northern Leeward Islands, the Associated Press reported. The highest waves recorded by the center were at about 45 and 50 feet, and the highest waves could even be double that, Mr Brennan said. So we could be looking at 80-, 90-foot waves associated with Lee, he added. A satellite image from NOAA shows Category 3 Hurricane Lee in the Atlanic Oean on 9 September. (NOAA/GOES/AFP via Getty Images) How close will Lee get to the US? Saturday 9 September 2023 23:00 , Alex Woodward Exactly when or how Lee will travel northeast is still too early to tell. What happens next is up to a combination of atmospheric factors, including an area of high pressure in the Atlantic Ocean and a jet stream to its west. That area of high pressure is likely to play a major role in Lees track, and is expected to keep Lee on its current west-northwestward path over the weekend. That scenario would keep the storm rotating out to sea, or send it closer to Bermuda. The storm is still roughly one week from posing a potential threat to the East Coast of the US, if it poses any at all. Latest Lee advisory: Hurricane expected to pass north of Leeward Islands while generating dangerous waves over weekend Saturday 9 September 2023 22:10 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee, still a Category 3 storm, is expected to pass pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico into early next week, according to an afternoon advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are near 115 mph with higher gusts, and gradual restrengthening is possible during the next couple of days, the center predicts. Swells generated by Lee are affecting portions of the Lesser Antilles and will spread westward to the British and US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas, and Bermuda through the weekend. Those swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, according to the report. Dangerous surf and rip currents are also expected along the US East Coast on Sunday and Monday and then worsen through the week. Hurricane #Lee Advisory 18: Lee to Pass Well North of the Leeward Islands During the Next Day Or So. Hazardous Beach Conditions Expected to Develop Around the Western Atlantic Through Next Week. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Too soon to tell but too soon to rule out significant impacts, forecasters say Saturday 9 September 2023 22:00 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee was significantly disrupted by wind shear within the 24 hours after it accelerated into a Category 5 hurricane, as it then degraded into a Category 4 then Category 3 into Saturday morning. Models are suggesting that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, which could allow Lee to gain more strength as it continues to track east, according to Levi Cowan with Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Regardless of Lees exact intensity, it will be a major hurricane tracking north of the Caribbean and then turning northward over the western Atlantic over the next week, he said. It remains too soon to rule out impacts from Lee as models predict it could track forwards Bermuda, Canada and the northeastern US, he added. Hurricane #Lee has been disrupted significantly by some mid-level wind shear in the past 24 hours, with max winds down to 115 mph after being as high as 160 mph at one point. Models suggest that the shear will subside by Sunday morning, probably allowing Lee to regain strength. pic.twitter.com/vOikNUrYQs Dr. Levi Cowan (@TropicalTidbits) September 9, 2023 Lee shattered rapid intensification standards, a warning of future storms amid growing climate crisis Saturday 9 September 2023 21:02 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lees acceleration from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds within 24 hours has surpassed the standards meteorologists typically associate with rapid intensification, or when winds increase by 35 mph within that same time period. It not only makes Lee the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record, it has set a new threshold that scientists see as a potential harbinger for whats to come as the climate crisis accelerates. This one increased by 80 mph, Marshall Shepherd, director of the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences Program and a past president of the American Meteorological Society told the Associated Press. I cant emphasize this enough we used to have this metric of 35 mph, and heres a storm that did twice that amount and were seeing that happen more frequently. Lee and Margot could mingle in the Atlantic Saturday 9 September 2023 18:57 , Alex Woodward Newly formed Tropical Storm Margot is expected to grow into a hurricane next week, raising the possibility that Hurricane Lees path could be changed, though it is still far too soon to project whether the two major storms could get close to one another in the Atlantic. Such a phenomenon, when two storms rotate around each other and spin in the same direction, is called the Fujiwhara effect. The National Weather Service describes it as an intense dance around their common center. That could then push them both around the Atlantic and alter their paths. The phenomenon occured with hurricanes Hilary and Irwin in the East Pacific in 2017. Watch Lee intensify from Category 1 to Category 5 storm Saturday 9 September 2023 18:04 , Alex Woodward Lee marked the first Category 5 hurricane of this years Atlantic season when it rapidly grew from a Category 1 within 24 hours this week. There have been seven other Cat 5 storms from the Atlantic since 2016, with one Michael making landfall in the US in 2018. Within thouse 24 hours, Hurricane Lee intensified from an 80 mph Cat 1 to a Cat 5 with 160 mph winds, likely making it the fastest-intensifying Atlantic storm on record. Lee has since diminished to a Cat 3 storm and is expected to maintain its strength over the weekend. #Lee's life story, Chapter 1: From African easterly wave to sudden extreme intensification into a Category 5 #hurricane (wait for it) pic.twitter.com/1EWakTRkBe Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) September 8, 2023 Lee maintaining strength but little change expected on Saturday Saturday 9 September 2023 16:25 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee is maintaing strength as a recently downgraded Category 3 storm as it moves across the Atlanta Ocean with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph with higher gusts, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Little change in strength is expected today, but gradual restrengthening is forecast to occur on Sunday and Monday, according to the advisory. 11AM AST Sep 9: @NOAA_HurrHunter & @53rdWRS find #Lee maintaining strength this morning. Hazardous beach conditions are expected around the western Atlantic through next week. Visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest information pic.twitter.com/xXiy8NY8Ux National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Lee is in rare company during an already-historic storm year Saturday 9 September 2023 15:35 , Alex Woodward For the first time on record, Category 5 storms have formed in every tropical ocean basin within one year. Lee, which has since downgraded to a Category 3 as it tracks along open Atlantic Ocean, accelerated from Category 1 strength into a Category 5 this week. I think its reasonable to hypothesize that the abnormally warm ocean temperatures around the world made this more likely to happen, University of Miami, hurricane expert Brian McNoldy told The Washington Post. Gives everything a boost. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Way too soon to chart US impacts, if any, but Lee could strengthen as it moves across open ocean Saturday 9 September 2023 14:30 , Alex Woodward Hurricane Lee ramped up to a Category 5 storm within 24 hours this week, but it has been downgraded to a Category 3 and will likely lose strength over the course of the day as it struggles with wind shear. The National Hurricane Center continues to stress it is still way too soon to know what impacts, if any, the storm could have along the East Coast of the US, and the storm could gain strength as it continues to move with sustained winds at 115 mph as of Saturday morning. Dangerous and life-threatening rip currents are affecting parts of the Leeward Islands, according to NHC. Those conditions are expected to impact parts of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. Saturday, Sept 9th 5 AM AST Key Messages for Hurricane #Lee: It is too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the U.S. East Coast, Atlantic Canada, or Bermuda late next week. Continue to monitor forecasts at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ for the latest. pic.twitter.com/2106DvFQFh National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 9, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Saturday 9 September 2023 11:06 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 10:07 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 09:03 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Lee gains elite status Saturday 9 September 2023 05:05 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Saturday 9 September 2023 04:04 , Louise Boyle Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as forecasters warn too soon to know of US impact next week Saturday 9 September 2023 01:01 , Graeme Massie We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet, so we dont want anyone on the beaches. Hurricane Lee powers through Caribbean as too soon to know on US impacts next week Ocean warnings Saturday 9 September 2023 00:03 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 23:02 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? FEMA prepared for worst-case scenario in Puerto Rico in response to Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 22:00 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Thursday evening. The same day, Joe Biden was briefed by the Federal Emergecy Management Agency about its preparations in the event the storms force caused disruptions in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. FEMA said it had prepared approximately 4.5 million meals and nearly 8.9 million liters of water for Puerto Rico. Another 250,000 meals and more than 600,000 liters of water were made available for the US Virgin Islands. The agency also deployed rapid response teams to both of the US territories in the event the storm turned and threatened the islands. Thankfully, Hurricane Lee did not make landfall on any of the islands and is continuing north along the US east coast. No reason for east coast US residents to be fearful of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 21:40 , Graig Graziosi Jamie Rhome, the director of the National Hurricane Centre, said that right now there is no reason for east coast US residents to fear Hurricane Lees trajectory outside of rip current risks. Theres absolutely no indication in front of us that this is going to be a huge threat to Florida, other than its going to be a huge rip current risk, Mr Rhome told USA Today. Right now, save the rip current risk, which is extreme, theres no reason for people on the East Coast to be fearful. We need them to be informed and aware and check back for details but right now theres no reason other than rip currents for people to be fearful. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification, strengthening from a Category 2 to Category 4 storm in just six hours, according to the National Hurricane Centre. The storm became a Category 5 hurricane on Thursday night, but has since weakened to a Category 4. Tracking Hurricane Lees evolution Friday 8 September 2023 21:10 , Graig Graziosi Tropical Storm Lee formed in the Atlantic Ocean and under went rapid intensification into an extremely dangerous hurricane, eventually reaching Category 5 before it slowed to Category 4 on Friday morning. Tropical Storm Lee was announced by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 5pm (eastern time) on Tuesday. Its wind speeds picked up on Tuesday afternoon and was forecast to become a major hurricane. The depression is forecast to become a major hurricane by this weekend and could bring impacts to the Leeward Islands by that time, NHC reported at the time. READ MORE: Tropical Storm Lee expected to become extremely dangerous hurricane by weekend Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Friday 8 September 2023 20:50 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee reached Category 5 on Friday, after rapidly strengthening as it stirred through the Caribbean, the US National Hurricane Center reported on Thursday. Hurricane Lee began to strengthen over the very warm waters of the Atlantic, growing from a tropical storm into a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday and by late Thursday night, it had grown to Category 5, with maximum sustained winds of 160mph. By Friday morning, forecasters said Lee could become a monster 180mph storm. The storm reached its peak Thursday night and became to be a vicious hurricane over the southwestern Atlantic before weakening to a Category 4 on Friday morning. READ MORE: Tracking Hurricane Lee: What is the path of the monster storm? Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 20:30 , Graig Graziosi Hurricane Lee, currently barreling westwards through the Atlantic towards the Caribbean islands, rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Thursday night and it is feared the storm could soon work up to wind speeds of 180mph. It is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week, according to forecasters. After that, however, its path is less clear cut, with different models reaching different verdicts as to precisely how close it could pass along the US East Coast as it steers northwards, already inspiring some premature and slightly hysterical tabloid headlines. More credibly, CBS has warned that Hurricane Lees path might bring it to New York City and the Tri-State Area, reporting that initial forecasts suggested a landfall in the Mid-Atlantic region, and then riding up the coastline towards New York before drifting out to sea. READ MORE: Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? National Hurricane Centre warns of surf, rip currents in the Caribbean, US east coast Friday 8 September 2023 20:07 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre has warned that Hurricane Lee now a Category 4 storm after it strengthened into a Category 5 storm on Thursday could produce high surf and life-threatening rip currents in the northeastern Caribbean on Friday and throughout the weekend. The centre also said that rough surf and hazardous ocean conditions were likely along much of the US east coast by Sunday evening. Hurricane Lee is continuing to churn in the Atlantic basin, with spaghetti models predicting a northern track, with a possible threat to New England and Canadas east coast. Hurricane Lee still very powerful despite weakening Friday 8 September 2023 19:30 , Graig Graziosi The National Hurricane Centre said that Hurricane Lee is still a very powerful storm despite weakening from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm between Thursday night and Friday morning. Although Lees current intensity is lower than the overnight peak, the hurricane remains very powerful, the centre said. Hurricane Lee is expected to remain a strong storm into early next week as it continues north through the Atlantic. It is still unclear what impact it might have on the US, but some spaghetti models show the storm on a course for New England and Canadas east coast. Half of worlds population suffered under climate crisis-fuelled extreme heat this year Friday 8 September 2023 19:10 , Louise Boyle Half the world was exposed to at least 30 days of extreme heat driven by the climate crisis between June and August, a new study has found. Over 3.8 billion people suffered extreme temperatures for more than a month, while nearly every living human around 98 per cent of the world was exposed to extreme heat at least once between June and August 2023, an analysis released on Thursday by the nonprofit Climate Central showed. The longest duration of extreme temperatures, approximately three months, was experienced by at least 1.5 billion people, the study says. Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months, Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said. Stuti Mishra reports Half of worlds population suffered under extreme heat this summer, study says Hurricane hunter' pilot captures lightning show inside Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 19:00 , Graig Graziosi A user on X/Twitter recorded video from the inside of Hurricane Lee, capturing a stunning lightning storm inside the churning storm. Hurricane Lee underwent rapid intensification yesterday, strengthening from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm in just six hours. The storm reached Category 5 on Thursday night before weakening back to a Category 4 on Friday. Nice lighting show in the eye of #HurricaneLee this morning pic.twitter.com/F3Spj54syS FlyAnon (@FlynonymousWX) September 8, 2023 Ocean warnings Friday 8 September 2023 18:38 , Louise Boyle The National Hurricane Center said that dangerous surf and deadly rip currents will likely hit the northern Leeward Islands later Friday from Hurricane Lee. They would spread to Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos, the Bahamas and Bermuda over the weekend. We will see waves between 10 and 15 feet (3 and 5 meters), so we dont want anyone on the beaches, said Ernesto Morales with the National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The National Hurricane Center said dangerous surf and rip currents were forecast for most of the US East Coast starting Sunday. (AP) Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Friday 8 September 2023 18:05 , Louise Boyle Some forecast models suggest that Hurricane Lee could graze the US East Coast - but the jury is still out. Regardless, dangerous surf and rip currents are expected along most of the US East Coast beginning Sunday, the National Hurricane Center warned. Joe Sommerlad reports Will Hurricane Lee reach New York? Watch: Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 17:33 , Louise Boyle Lee gains elite status Friday 8 September 2023 17:10 , Louise Boyle Lee is expected to keep strengthening and reach winds of up to 180mph (290kph). Only seven Atlantic hurricanes have had winds of that magnitude since 1966, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. Among those was Hurricane Dorian, which pummeled the northern Bahamas in 2019 as a Category 5 storm, hovering over small islands for some two days. The Associated Press Distant but deadly' Friday 8 September 2023 16:40 , Louise Boyle US forecasters had this warning for Americans on Friday as Category 5 Hurricane Lee roars through the Caribbean. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned and said that beach-goers should be aware of rip currents and powerful waves. Distant hurricanes can be deadly, NOAA warned on Friday (NOAA) Inside the eye of Hurricane Lee Friday 8 September 2023 16:15 , Louise Boyle The US Air Force Reserves Hurricane Hunters shared dramatic footage from inside Hurricane Lee on Thursday night. The 403rd Wing Reserves posted on X, formerly Twitter, footage of the rotating thick clouds with lightning bursts. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 Hurricane Lee, they wrote. Heres last nights flight inside the eye of Cat 5 #hurricaneLee pic.twitter.com/I9Gmy4sHut Hurricane Hunters (@53rdWRS) September 8, 2023 Will Hurricane Lee make landfall? Friday 8 September 2023 15:43 , Louise Boyle The current forecasts show that Hurricane Lee is not expected to make landfall in the coming days - but that doesnt rule out life-threatening impacts. The storm is forecast to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week. However, it is way too soon to know what level of impacts, if any, Lee might have along the US East Coast, Atlantic Canada or Bermuda, late next week, according to the National Weather Service. Watch: Hurricane Lee gathering strength in Caribbean waters Friday 8 September 2023 15:27 , Louise Boyle Jessica Rinker and her husband, Joe. Courtesy of Jess Rinker Jess Rinker moved to rural West Virginia in 2019. Her husband was found to have cancer in January 2023. His appointments were 90 minutes away from their house. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jess Rinker . It has been edited for length and clarity. Nature has always been important in my life so important that I've written children's books that are heavily focused on the natural world. My husband, Joe, and I love to hike and be surrounded by mountains. In 2019, we moved from our home in New Jersey to a rural area in West Virginia. Our cabin there became a sanctuary for us. We lived on 8 acres, up a dirt road. We grew our own vegetables and cut trails into the forest. During the winter, we heated using a wood stove. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement It was bliss until Joe was found to have stage 4 esophageal cancer in January 2023. The news came entirely out of the blue he had no risk factors that might explain this. But amid the terror of that diagnosis, I immediately knew we needed to give up our rural home. Joe's appointments were 90 minutes away from our home Our town had a tiny, 25-bed hospital that was about the size of a grocery store. But to get cancer treatment, Joe needed to see doctors who were 90 minutes away. I was terrified of driving through West Virginia's mountain roads in bad weather. Even worse, I worried that if there were a medical emergency at home, no ambulance would be able to get up our dirt road. The medical system can be challenging anywhere. But it's even more so in rural areas. Rural America holds 15% of the population, according to the CDC, but access to doctors is scarce. Specialists like the doctors who would treat Joe's cancer are even less likely to practice in rural regions. After Joe's diagnosis, his doctors said he needed eight weeks of daily radiation. I would need to drive him to and from those appointments, spending three hours each day on mountain roads. It seemed impossible. I was grateful for resources but still overwhelmed Luckily, our friends and family were able to help. They crowdfunded enough money for Joe and me to stay at a hotel near the hospital. I was so grateful. After a long day of radiation, I couldn't imagine Joe needing to endure a mountainous car ride. I knew that many rural Americans who have higher poverty rates than their urban counterparts wouldn't have a network of people with the resources to help them financially. Having access to cancer treatment is a blessing. But people don't realize the effort that it takes to get to treatment. There's the physical toll, of course. There's also a financial toll (payments for gas, hotels, and food) and the time of the caregiver. While I helped Joe through treatment, there was no way I could have held a full-time job. Some days, I didn't know where to find the motivation to keep going. But I knew it had to be done, so I did it. A mentor from Cancer Hope Network , a peer-support community, helped me focus on what was most important, from securing hotel discounts to finding great doctors. That guidance was helpful and grounding when things felt overwhelming. We moved back to New Jersey Even with all our support, it wasn't feasible to stay in West Virginia. I knew that we couldn't spend another winter in the cabin. We would be too far from Joe's care team, and I couldn't physically take care of the homestead chopping wood and cutting fallen trees without Joe's help. So, we moved back to New Jersey into my dad's basement. Leaving our home was another loss, but it's what we need to do to get Joe the best care possible. Luckily, we're very adaptable people. We're taking on this new normal together, even if we don't know what the future will bring. Joe has more good days than bad at this stage. I do, too. We listed our little house in the mountains, but it didn't sell, so now we're renting it out. I still have a pipe dream of being able to keep our sanctuary, but I know that's unlikely. I'm grateful that when rural life was standing in the way of Joe's care, we had the privilege and means to leave. Read the original article on Insider RIYADH (Reuters) - An Israeli delegation on Monday attended a meeting by the United Nations' cultural agency in Riyadh, in another sign that Saudi Arabia is opening up to Israel with Washington pressing for a full normalisation of ties. Three Israeli officials were seen sitting at Israel's chairs of the 45th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, a Reuters witness said. The officials declined to comment when approached by Reuters. Another Israeli official said the delegation included the Foreign Ministry's deputy director-general for international organisations and the ambassador to international organisations in Paris. A delegate from Israel's Education Ministry and the chair of Israel's Antiquities Authority also took part in the gathering, the official said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Saudi government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesperson and UNESCO declined to comment. Public appearances of Israeli officials are rare in Saudi Arabia, a Muslim powerhouse and home to Islam's holiest shrines, but both sides have had covert contacts which were forged partly through shared fears of Iran. Washington has been pressing its traditional ally Riyadh to sign a normalisation deal with Israel, which would be its biggest diplomatic win in the region and following similar agreements with United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco, known as the Abraham Accords. However, Riyadh has so far resisted U.S. pressure and linked the move to the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, along with other demands. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Back in July, 47-year-old Amy Adamson was killed by a grizzly bear on a popular hiking trail near the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Last Saturday, the 10-year-old bear that mauled Adamson was euthanized by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) after it entered a West Yellowstone home through the kitchen window. The bear removed a container of dog food from the occupied home when it entered in the early morning hours of Sept. 2, FWP said in a press release issued yesterday . It's 47-pound male cub also climbed into the home through the kitchen window. "Later that evening, staff from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and local law enforcement captured the cub," the press release states, "and with authorization from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, shot the adult grizzly near the captured cub due to an immediate public safety threat from the bears food-conditioned behavior." The agency then used genetic analysis and "other identifying characteristics" to link the bear to the July 22 mauling of Amy Adamson. Through that same testing they discovered that the adult grizzly was also responsible for biting a hiker on the stomach at Henry's Lake State Park in nearby Idaho in 2020. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Read Next: Elk Hunters Shoot and Kill Charging Grizzly Bear in Self Defense "Both incidents were evaluated carefully at the time and deemed to be defensive responses by the bear," FWP said. "Multiple efforts to trap and remove the bear were made after the fatal attack in July due to the incidents proximity to residences, campgrounds, and high-use OHV trails. These efforts were unsuccessful." The captured cub is being held at an FWP wildlife rehabilitation facility in Helena, Montana and will be transferred to a zoo in the coming weeks, according to the press release. Officer Brandon Haley has been with Louisville Metro Police since 2021. He was shot early morning Thursday, Sept. 7 during a traffic stop. Brandon Haley, the Louisville Metro Police officer shot Sept. 7 in the Chickasaw neighborhood is showing significant progress on his road to recovery, according to an update posted on LMPD's Facebook page. Haley has been off the ventilator since Saturday and can now stand with some assistance. He's also "showing his humor that we all know and love," Haley's family wrote in the update. In the post, Haley's family thanked the community for their support and said they remain focused on "taking his recovery day by day." Four men were arrested near the scene, though none have been charged directly with the shooting. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Here's what we know about what happened. Officer Brandon Haley shot during traffic stop Officer Haley was conducting a traffic stop about 2:30 a.m. Thursday in the 4000 block of West Kentucky Street, as noted by LMPD in a social media post. Shots were fired from a nearby house, according to LMPD. Haley was shot in the torso area, police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a press briefing last week. Another officer, later identified as Colin Billotto, returned fire and was not injured. The SWAT team subsequently responded to the scene. Gov. Andy Beshear sent out a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, to offer prayers for Haley who has been with LMPD since 2021 and his family. LMPD was on the scene near South 40th Street and West Kentucky Street after a Louisville Metro Police Department officer was shot this morning around 2:30 a.m. in the Chickasaw neighborhood. "Kentucky, were hearing reports that an officer was shot this morning in Louisville. Please join Britainy and me in praying for this officer, their loved ones and all of @LMPD," Beshear wrote in the post. Kentucky, were hearing reports that an officer was shot this morning in Louisville. Please join Britainy and me in praying for this officer, their loved ones and all of @LMPD. ^AB Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) September 7, 2023 As of Monday afternoon, Haley remains in critical but stable condition. "We are cautiously optimistic, and LMPD continues to ask for the communitys prayers and support for Officer Haley and his family," Sanders said. "This remains an ongoing investigation." Was anyone arrested in the shooting? According to court records, LMPD officers were called to investigate the shooting of Haley when they discovered multiple shots were fired from a nearby residence. After a search warrant was obtained, officers seized suspected heroin, crystal meth and other controlled substances as well as drug paraphernalia. Investigators also seized nine firearms, two of which were stolen, according to the arrest citation. Four men Jemond Groves Jr., Quantez Porter, Dominique Thompson and Jacquan Ransom have been arrested on a slew of various charges, though none of which are for the shooting. Porter, Thompson and Ransom have been charged with resisting arrest, trafficking a controlled substance and receiving stolen property. Ransom is also charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Thompson is also being charged with tampering with evidence and possessing a handgun by a convicted felon. Groves is facing charges of criminal trespassing, receiving stolen property and possessing a handgun by a convicted felon. The men are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Sept. 18 in Jefferson District Court. Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LMPD Officer Brandon Haley shot in traffic stop: What we know A man convicted of murder in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison was granted a new trial by a Massachusetts judge last week, as the validity of key pieces of evidence used to convict him has been called into question. Now, Thomas Rosa's attorneys are calling on prosecutors to drop charges against him altogether. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Michael Ricciuti issued an order on Wednesday that vacates Rosa's convictions for the 1985 killing of Gwendolyn Taylor, who was 18 years old at the time of her death, court documents show. Rosa has been tried three separate times for the crime and maintained his innocence through the decades. The first trial ended in a hung jury, and a conviction reached in the second was overturned because of egregious conduct by the Massachusetts Commonwealth, his attorneys said. A third trial led to the conviction that was vacated last week. Now 62, Rosa was incarcerated for 34 years. In a statement to CBS News, a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office said, "We assented to the motion for a new trial based upon the relevant information. We are in the process of reviewing the justice's ruling and will make a decision at a future date." Ricciuti's decision came more than three years after his attorneys, Radha Natarajan of the New England Innocence Project and Charlotte Whitmore of the Boston College Innocence Projram, filed a motion seeking a new trial. Rosa was released from prison in October 2020 while the judge considered the motion, the New England Innocence Project said in a news release. In his order, the judge wrote that new DNA evidence "casts doubt regarding the reliability of the eyewitness testimony" in the case, which was a cornerstone of the state's argument. "Under a confluence of evidence analysis, the new DNA evidence and modern eyewitness science warrant a new trial," the decision reads. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Rosa's conviction, the result of the three trials and based on evidence that 'far from overwhelming' ... was based on two eyewitness identifications supported by blood typing, all of which has been called into question," the decision reads, adding, "Because such evidence would be a real factor within jury deliberations, there was a substantial risk of a miscarriage of justice sufficient to grant a new trial." The New England Innocence Project and the Boston College Innocence Program held a news conference Monday outside Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, where attorneys from both organizations called on Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden's office to drop charges against Rosa instead of moving ahead with a fourth trial. "We are hopeful that the District Attorney will now end this nightmare by dismissing all charges against Mr. Rosa," Natajaran said in a statement before the news conference. "There should be no fourth trial for this innocent man." The Massachusetts Commonwealth has allegedly lost evidence from the original crime scene, including the weapon used in Taylor's killing. New DNA testing and analysis cast uncertainty over the forensic blood-typing evidence that prosecutors used to initially convict Rosa during trial, according to his attorneys and court filings. The latest round of testing showed no traces of the victim's DNA on a brown jacket that was taken from Rosa's home during the investigation into Taylor's killing. It became a central piece of evidence in the prosecution's original case against Rosa because two eyewitnesses claimed it was the jacket worn by the killer. When it was originally tested, results showed the victim had the same blood type as the sample taken from the brown jacket. With that, a blood typing test on DNA taken from the victim's body during the initial investigation matched Rosa's blood type, but the more recent round of forensic testing excluded Rosa, as an individual, from the pool of potential DNA matches. Natajaran pointed out at Monday's news conference that "a significant portion of the population has the same blood type" as the DNA sample, "including many people who might be here today." Thomas Rosa's attorney Radha Natarajan speaks at a news conference outside Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston on Sept. 11, 2013. / Credit: New England Innocence Project "The only remaining evidence was the testimony of two eyewitnesses who viewed the perpetrator at night for less than ten seconds under circumstances that we now know, based on numerous exonerations and research, create a high risk of misidentification," the New England Innocence Project said in its earlier release, adding that one eyewitness also "described a scenario where the victim and assailant knew each other, but Mr. Rosa and the victim never knew each other." Rosa's attorneys also said the eyewitnesses' physical descriptions of the killer were inconsistent, and one of the only common physical traits they gave involved a missing tooth or a large gap between the teeth, which he did not have. They acknowledged that criminal cases once relied heavily on eyewitness testimonies, before modern DNA tests were developed, and that current research indicates mistaken witness identifications account for about half of wrongful convictions. Numerous wrongful conviction cases that appear in the National Registry of Exonerations involve mistaken eyewitness identifications. Whitmore said Monday that 36 of those cases happened in Massachusetts, and 22 of the 36 happened in Suffolk County. Last week, Jesse Johnson, a man who was sentenced to death for a 1998 murder in Oregon, walked out of a county jail a free man two years after the state's Court of Appeals reversed his conviction. The Oregon Innocence Project accused the state of committing a "heinous injustice" in its handling of the case. Dog found 3 weeks after escaping at Atlanta airport Fighter pilots recall 9/11 attacks and mission to take down flight 93 American explorer rescued from cave in Turkey A man accused of selling fake Social Security cards in Central Kentucky while being monitored by federal agents has pleaded guilty to federal crimes. Tomas Leal-Paez pleaded guilty to possessing a counterfeit permanent resident card and possessing a counterfeit Social Security card in federal court Friday. Leal-Paez was formerly indicted on four counts of the same charges in June. Leal-Paez sold fake IDs, fake drivers licenses and green cards to undocumented immigrants, primarily from Mexico, according to an affidavit filed into court records. The plea agreement references two transactions in Madison and Fayette counties where Leal-Paez sold permanent resident cards and Social Security cards to confidential informants in January and April 2023. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Federal investigators tracked Leal-Paez since 2019 after they arrested his family member for using the fake documents to obtain employment. Some identification cards were purchased in 2016 three years before the investigation began, according to court documents. Over the course of four years, the FBI used the family member to text, call and set up meetings to exchange documents for money with Leal-Paez, whose true identity was unknown to investigators throughout. Agents were able to determine another phone number Lael-Paez was in contact with to have the cards and documents habitually manufactured. The number belonged to another man readily available to Leal-Paez. Leal-Paez faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 and supervised release for six years. The conviction could affect his immigration status because he is not a citizen of the United States. Leal-Paez is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 11. (KTLA) Detailing his emotions after being trapped for five days at the bottom of a California ravine, Calvin Smith said he kept asking God, Please dont let me die out here. Please dont let me die out here.' Smith, 68, who crashed his truck into a steep ravine last month, recalled the terrifying ordeal to Nexstars KTLA. Calvin said he was driving to his Ridgecrest home on August 29 when his truck suddenly went over an embankment and fell down about 100 feet into a grassy ravine below. He was ejected out of the window during the impact and suffered a broken back and ribs. Unable to move, he lay there, praying he would soon be found. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Escaped murderer has changed appearance, slipped out of search areas: Pennsylvania authorities I was terrified, Calvin recalled. It was ice cold at night and burning hot during the daytime. A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) Calvin Smith, 68, in the hospital recovering after crashing his truck into a steep ravine and surviving five days without food or water. (KTLA) A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) A Southern California man who crashed his truck into a steep ravine recalls the terrifying ordeal and miraculously surviving five days without food or water on Aug. 29, 2023. (Kern County Fire Department) As the days dragged on, he was beginning to lose hope. But suddenly. on the morning of September 2, help had arrived in the form of two dirt bikers. I could hear him yelling for help, said Cory Sizelove, a good Samaritan. Sizelove and a friend happened to be passing by when they heard Calvin yelling for help. The bikers carefully made their way down the ravine and to the wreckage where Calvin was. I just gave him water and tried to shade him from the sun a little bit while [my friend] was on the phone with 911, Sizelove said. Kern County firefighters responded and rescued Calvin, who had been without food and water, from the brush area using a rope and basket system. Sizelove also called Calvins wife, Dee Dee, to let her know her husband was alive and being rescued. Im so grateful, Dee Dee told KTLA. Those five days were the worst days of my life. Im just grateful that I have my husband back. Calvin is a father to 10 children, 44 grandchildren, and over a dozen great-grandchildren. Hes thankful to be alive and able to see his family again. Thank you, Calvin said to everyone who helped him. God bless you guys. Thank you so much for saving my life. Although Calvin said hes still in a lot of pain, hes getting stronger by the day and slowly walking again. He has a long journey to recovery ahead, but hes thankful to be alive and surrounded by loved ones. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Tens of thousands of books have been written about World War II. Every battle has been analyzed, from the battles on the front to actions behind enemy lines, the generals and the political leaders, the resistance and collaborators, not to mention the Holocaust. However, little research has been done whose ambition, in a single volume, has been to cover of the most decisive and catastrophic events not only of the 20th century, but in all of recorded history. Two of the most significant, The Second World War, by the British historian Antony Beevor, and Histoire totale de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale, by the French historian Olivier Wieviorka, which has just been published in France. While different in their approaches, they agree on one crucial point: the conflict did not begin in 1939. Beevor argues, in his 800-page tome that came out a decade ago, that World War II actually began in 1937, when Japan invaded China. Meanwhile, Wieviorka believes that there can be no talk of a global conflict until 1941, with the Japanese attack against Pearl Harbor and the Nazi invasion of the USSR. They are not the only ones. The journalist Manu Leguineche thus began his general history of the conflict, The Years of Infamy: The Second World War began in my town, Guernica. This was stated by the United States ambassador in Madrid, Claude G. Bowers, in 1954 in his book Mission in Spain. For the first time in history, the aerial bombing of a civilian target helped the German air force to test its planes and bombs. Ian Kershaw, one of the great specialists in Nazism, divides his history of the European century into two periods. The first, titled Descent into Hell, covers the period 1914 to 1949, because it considers that in reality there was only one great war in Europe. Furthermore, he proposes that it did not end with Germanys capitulation in 1945, but instead, when the postwar contours became clear in 1949. I had intended to end this first volume in 1945, when the fighting stopped, Kershaw writes. But although hostilities officially ended in Europe in May of that year (they continued until August against Japan), the fateful course that the years 1945-1949 followed was so evidently determined by the war and the reactions to it, that I thought it was justified to look a little further than the time when peace was officially restored on the continent again. Russian soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad, between September 1942 and February 1943. Roger Viollet (Roger Viollet via Getty Images) According to the received chronology, World War II broke out with the Nazi invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939. On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched the full-scale invasion of the USSR, despite having signed a non-aggression pact with Stalin. On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval base in Hawaii, resulting in the United States entering the conflict. On May 8, 1945, the unconditional surrender of Germany took place (in Western countries it is commemorated on the 8th, while in Russia it is celebrated on the 9th, in one of the first signs of the division that was opening up between the former allies). On August 14, 1945, after detonating two atomic bombs (one over Hiroshima and another over Nagasaki), Japan surrendered unconditionally and ended a barbaric conflict in which between 60 and 70 million people died, a macabre balance in which civilians were killed, writes Wieviorka. But in such a brutal and complex conflict, which involved 23 countries and took place on all continents except the Americas (despite the participation of the U.S. and Canada in the war), it is impossible not to debate the widely accepted chronology. Myself and other historians have the feeling that the Sino-Japanese War that began in 1937 and continued until 1945 cannot be ignored, Antony Beevor, the most famous living historian of the conflict, explains. Nor can we ignore the confrontation between the USSR and Japan in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, also known as the Nomonhan Incident, in August 1939, because it changed the course of the war: Japan decided not to invade Siberia, but to attack the American, Dutch, and British territories in Asia. Yang Kyoungjong, a Korean soldier fighting for the German army, captured by the Allies in Normandy in June 1944. National Archives and Records Administration In fact, his book The Second World War begins with an image that unites these multiple conflicts, which the most traditional historiography has treated separately: it shows a Korean soldier who has been taken prisoner by the Allies, shortly after of the June 1944 landings. That fighter, Yang Kyoungjong, was forcibly recruited by the Japanese and sent to Manchuria in 1938. He was later captured by the Soviets in the Battle of Khalkhin Gol, but in 1942 he was forced to fight in Kharkiv, where he was in turn captured by the Nazis. They also forced him to serve in a foreign battalion in charge of the defense of Utah Beach during the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944. He spent time in a prisoner of war camps in the United Kingdom and, when he was released, he immigrated to Illinois in the United States, where he passed away in 1992. Wieviorkas book, a monumental work of almost 1,000 pages, edited in part by Perrin and the French Ministry of Defense, takes another view: the conflict was actually an amalgamation of different wars, but it did not become global until 1941. Historians like to question chronological divisions, even when they seem obvious, Wieviorka, the author of an extensive bibliography on the conflict and a leading expert on the French Resistance, explains. For example, the dates of World War I (did it end in 1918?) or the Cold War (did it start in 1917? 1943? 1945? 1947?) are open to debate. World War II is no exception. Beevors point of view is entirely defensible. For my part, I think we should look at the meaning of words. If we think of the conflict as a world war, which forces the belligerents to connect the different theaters of operations, the war becomes truly global in 1941, with the entry of the United States, Japan, and the Soviet Union into the fray. Russian Tankist celebrate after the Second World War was declared over May 9, 1945, Berlin, Germany. Laski Diffusion (Getty Images) However, Wieviorka does not share Leguineches opinion and that of other historians that the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939, although for certain researchers it began in 1934 in Asturias) was part of that great conflict. Some authors affirm that the Spanish [Civil] War was a dress rehearsal for World War II. I do not share this opinion. It must be admitted that there were a number of harbingers of that conflict, such as the bombing of civilians. But otherwise, I remain skeptical. First, because Asia was not involved in any way, nor was the United States. Second, because the naval component played a limited role. Lastly, and above all, it seems to me that internal issues outweighed the more global issues that characterized World War II. Another great authority on the conflict, Max Hastings, also wrote an overarching history, All Hell Let Loose. The World at War 1939-1945. He does not question the official chronology, but he provides a sentence that sums up the dimension of that cataclysm very well: It was the most colossal and terrible experience that humans have ever lived through, which has always inspired those who have dealt with it, since in our times there is a great humility born of gratitude for not having had to experience anything comparable. The worst thing is not that we still do not know when it started or when it ended, but that for dictators like Vladimir Putin, it can still be used to start a new war. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WLNS) Jim The Shark Dreyer had intended to complete his Silver Sequel swim across Lake Michigan this summer to mark 25 years since his first swim across the Great Lake, but twice lake conditions were a bit too brutal. It was a 25-hour beatdown, but I did not call for rescue, the 60-year-old from Grand Haven said of his Labor Day attempt at the swim, in a news release Sept. 9. Lake Michigan landed a flurry of punches, but I can take a punch and I was still in the fight. Dreyers first attempt this year was on Aug. 1, during which he aborted the quest 10 miles east of Milwaukee when worsening lake conditions had swept him and his escort boat 2.3 miles off course. Kansas Speedway offers more than the 400 Hollywood NASCAR race ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement On his Labor Day attempt, Dreyer set out at about 5 p.m. CT from Milwaukee, with Grand Haven as his intended destination, and without an escort boat. Nearly 30 miles out from Milwaukee and in eight-foot waves, Dreyers team sent out a boat to check on him. Ultimately, Dreyer decided to end his crossing attempt. The route Dreyer swam in worsening Lake Michigan conditions before his rescue Sept. 5. (Image/Jim Dreyer) The consensus was that these were the roughest conditions any of my teams boats could endure, and conditions would get worse, as 10-12 foot waves were forecasted for the next two days, Dreyer said. I was informed that if I turned down this rescue and needed rescue later, it would be left to the U.S. Coast Guard. The boat crew had also discovered that Dreyers supply dinghy, which he was pulling from his waist along with 225 pounds of supplies, had endured about as much as it could and was coming apart at the seams. I am swimming to support the Coast Guards Chief Petty Officers Association, not lean on them for rescue and spend taxpayers money. That is the last thing I wanted to do, Dreyer said. My supply dinghy was on borrowed time, and with worsening conditions for a prolonged period, I was in real danger of losing my supplies. Dreyer was 14.2 miles off the coast of Wisconsin and 18.5 miles off course to the north when his boat crew pulled him from the water. It was about 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Sept. 5, more than 25 hours since he had started out from Milwaukee. Another challenge to Dreyers lake-crossing attempt came when one of Dreyers three battery packs shorted out. That had left him with a lower amount of battery power to continue viewing the swim course on his goggles using Vuzix Smart Swim technology. Sunday morning house fire in east Kansas City displaces family Dreyer is the only person to swim the width of Lake Michigan between Wisconsin and Michigan, having swum from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, to Ludington, Michigan, in 1998. In the 2023 swim, he was attempting to beat his own record by swimming 25 miles further in the route from Milwaukee to Grand Haven. He started beginner swimming lessons at age 32, overcoming a lifelong fear of open water after a childhood near-drowning incident, according to his website. Since then, hes gone on to swim across all five of the Great Lakes. This years attempts are likely not the end for Dreyers Lake Michigan sequel. While I am very disappointed this swim ended as it did, I am more confident than ever that I can do this, Dreyer said in the news release Saturday. I really wanted to get it done this year, but am out of time. I have other plans for 2024, but somehow, I believe I will find a way to juggle everything and get it done. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Naples city officials have narrowed the initial 175 Naples police chief applicants to four with two having ties to the department. The position became available after former Naples Police Chief Tom Weschler stepped down in June. The city has been searching for a new police chief since. The four remaining candidates, Ciro Dominguez, Matthew Fletcher, Jack McNiff, and Kristen Ziman, will attend a meet and greet hosted by city officials at Baker Park on Friday. More: City officials narrow down candidates for Naples police chief Photo of Naples Police Chief Candidate Kristen Ziman Kristen Ziman Ziman was the police chief for the Aurora Police Department in Illinois for five years before leaving to serve as a consultant for the Department of Justice. She's been involved with the Aurora Police Department since 1991. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Ziman to investigate the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, shooting at Robb Elementary School. Ziman is also a consultant, public speaker, trainer, and author. "My specialization in Homeland Security will allow me to embrace technology as a crime-fighting [and] solving tool," Ziman wrote in her application for Naples police chief. "My dedication to the citizens I serve has been based on mutual trust and I want to continue that service at NPD." You can read Ziman's full biography provided by the city of Naples here. Photo of Naples Police Chief Candidate John "Jack" McNiff John "Jack" McNiff McNiff serves as the chief of police at the Wayne Township in New Jersey, where he's worked since 2001. As chief, he managesa multi-million dollar budget and serves more than 56,000 residents. McNiff's resume is lined with awards and certificates ranging from life saving to drug and defensive tactics trainings. He describes himself as a "highly trained threat manager with a background in safety risks, hostage negotiation, and crisis intervention." He has 27 years in law enforcement between the Wayne Township Police Department and the West Caldwell Police Department, in New Jersey. You can read McNiff's full biography provided by the city of Naples here. Photo of Naples Police Chief Candidate Matthew Fletcher Matthew Fletcher Fletcher serves as the interim chief of police at the Naples Police Department, where he's worked since 1990. He's been the assistant chief of police since 2020. Fletcher's entire police career has unfolded in Naples. He started as a police officer in 1990 and worked his way up to assistant chief. During Hurricane Ian last year, Fletcher led police operations. You can read Fletcher's full biography provided by the city of Naples here. Photo of Naples Police Chief Candidate Ciro Dominguez Ciro Dominguez Dominguez served as a colonel at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office based in Tampa, for seven years before retiring. Before he was a colonel, Dominguez served 10 years as the deputy chief of police for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority at the Tampa International Airport. Dominguez has a Naples tie as well, with 10 years as a police sergeant with the local department. Dominguez has 38 years of law enforcement experience which he saids makes him the right fit for Naples police chief. You can read Dominguez's full biography provided by the city of Naples here. Meet and Greet The four candidates will meet the public at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Eva Sudgen-Gomez Center at Baker Park, located at 50 Riverside Circle. Anyone can attend but city officials ask that they RSVP by 3 p.m. Wednesday by emailing Naples Public Outreach Manager Monique Barnhart. Barnhart's email is mbarnhart@naplesgov.com. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples police chief candidate field narrowed to 4 Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University. Grow Your Own grant helps launch five careers in the classroom Robyn Ridgley, associate dean of the College of Education, recently bid farewell to her five-student cohort from the states Grow Your Own program to take the helm of their own classrooms this school year. Each of them worked so very hard to learn as much as they could in their coursework and their school settings, Ridgley said. Many of them were juggling lots of things full-time jobs, family and school. Although it was not easy, they stuck it out and completed the program in the timeframe we planned. Recent graduates of Middle Tennessee State University and members of the Grow Your Own grant cohort, educational assistants who received funding from the Tennessee Department of Education to become licensed special education teachers, along with Robyn Ridgley, third from left, the College of Educations associate dean, take a photo outside the College of Education building on campus in their graduation robes on Aug. 4. Pictured, from left, are Ariel Davie, Bre Clark, Ridgley, Nichelle Shelton, Brittany Jackson and Ruth Gonzalez-Hill. The Tennessee Department of Educations Grow Your Own program provided funding for educational assistants support staff who work alongside a classroom teacher to concurrently complete two-year graduate degrees in special education and earn their teaching license while covering their tuition, textbooks, teacher licensure assessments, and other costs. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Ridgley partnered with Murfreesboro City Schools to select educational assistant candidates who went through MTSUs Master of Education in Special Education program. Candidates Bre Clark, Ariel Davie, Ruth Gonzalez-Hill, Brittany Jackson, and Nichelle Shelton graduated in August and are almost a month into the fall semester now as fully-fledged special education teachers. Gonzalez-Hill said being hired on by the district she had worked in as an assistant for so many years is special. Especially because I was inspired and encouraged by so many of the people that I work with, said the El Paso, Texas, native. Shelton agreed that returning to the district as a teacher to apply her MTSU-acquired knowledge and skills is exciting. I will experience first-day butterflies because I want to do my best and give my students everything they need to succeed in the classroom, said Shelton, a Nashville, Tennessee, resident. Both women said Ridgley was instrumental to their success, helping them with everything from work-life balance to procuring all the right textbooks. Eight students win national competition, attend National Flute Convention Eight students a record number qualified for and attended the prestigious National Flute Association, or NFA, Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, over the summer. I was overjoyed and incredibly proud, said Deanna Little, the students flute studies professor in the School of Music. This is truly a wonderful and special group of students. They work together, help one another, motivate each other, have fun together and they continue to make each other stronger. In return, they give me energy and make my job pure joy! Eight Middle Tennessee State University students were selected to and attended the prestigious National Flute Association Convention this August, a record number of students for Deanna Little, MTSU flute professor. Pictured, back row, from left, are convention attendees and students Italee Philom, Jonathan Oldham, Jakob Young and Sarah Potts; front row, from left, are Olivia Guthier, Alyssa Jones, Katie Beatty and Chelsea Liu in front of Saunders Fine Arts Building on campus. Students Katherine Beatty, Olivia Guthier, Alyssa Jones, Chelsea Liu, Italee Philom, Sarah Potts, Jonathan Oldham, and Jakob Young attended the five-day convention. To qualify, Little said students had to rehearse and record a three-movement accompanied flute solo to submit to the NFA Collegiate Flute Choir Competition for judging, and that around 16 to 24 flutists are selected out of roughly 100 competitors on average each year. Katherine Beatty, a sophomore music industry major from Murfreesboro, said she was euphoric when she learned all eight of the competitors had made it after a lengthy audition process. The prestigious National Flute Association Convention was held this August. It was crazy to comprehend that all of my best friends were going to get to travel to Phoenix together and play our flutes at the national convention, Beatty said. I was and am so proud of us and our accomplishment. Little said the convention is a wonderful opportunity for undergraduates because it exposes students to so much rehearsals, workshops, concert performances, lectures, reading sessions, international peers and instructors, hands-on instrument exhibits, established musicians, and more. The university helped with funding along with the students themselves who used their talents and industriousness to make ends meet. Little said she was extremely grateful for the financial support the group received from MTSU Provost Mark Byrnes, Experiential Learning Program Director Carol Swayze, College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah T. Lyons and the School of Music, but we still needed more. The students organized and rehearsed on their own to perform four benefit concerts this summer (across the state) in Murfreesboro, McMinnville, and Lebanon to raise the rest of the funds. I was proud of them for their commitment to raising money so they all could go together, said Little. MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MTSU Mondays: Growing teacher ranks, students expand musical horizons The Rev. David Wheeler is seen on Sept. 7 at the New Covenant Church in Oklahoma City. Anti-transgender legislation and Christian nationalism. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the U.S. and Canada recently expressed its views on these hot button issues at the denomination's recent General Assembly, approving a statement opposing legislation "harmful" to transgender and "gender-diverse" individuals, while also supporting a statement voicing objections to Christian nationalism. The Rev. David Wheeler, of Oklahoma City, helped draft a resolution titled "Invitation To Oppose Anti-Trans Legislation and Affirm the Dignity of Transgender and Gender-Diverse people." He said Christian denominations have different interpretations on various issues, but he felt it was "a Christian responsibility" to stand up for a group he feels has been singled out for discrimination through anti-transgender legislation passed by numerous state legislatures, including Oklahoma's. "I see Jesus as the ultimate 'includer,' and that was always the movement of the Church. In fact, Christianity includes much of Jewish faith and tradition and Scripture," said Wheeler, senior minister of New Covenant Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 12000 N Rockwell. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement More: Pro-LGBTQ+ Free Mom Hugs Conference will debut in Oklahoma City "That's always been, to me, the trajectory of the Christian faith to draw the circle wide, and not to narrow it." The Rev. Don Heath, co-pastor of Edmond Trinity Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1400 NW 178, was particularly enthusiastic about his denomination's resolution opposing Christian nationalism. In its statement, the denomination defined Christian nationalism as "a cultural framework that fuses a radically exclusionary form of Christian supremacist identity with the political and civic participation of a nations citizens through the appropriation of Christian language and imagery to amass political power." "It's not really Christianity, and it's not really patriotism," said Heath, whose church held a forum in July that addressed the issue. "It's really more of a secular movement to attach the Christian name to a right-wing ideology." Don Heath Heath said the Disciples of Christ General Assembly resolution regarding transgender and gender-diverse individuals was brought up for an emergency vote, meaning it was allowed to be considered even though it came up after the time period for the 2023 proposed resolutions had passed. Heath said he thought Disciples of Christ were alarmed at the numerous anti-trans laws that passed in recent legislative sessions and that's why there was a consensus that the topic needed to be addressed immediately. More: Anti-trans legislation creates more recognition, support for trans Oklahomans In part, the resolution encourages Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada to "uplift religious texts and stand in solidarity with transgender and gender-diverse individuals against harm being done against them often with the misuse of religious texts and symbols." The resolution also called on Disciples of Christ to designate themselves and their spaces as "safe spaces" for transgender and gender-diverse people, and encouraged members of the faith group to educate themselves on pronoun usage and to write their legislatures in support of the transgender and gender-diverse community. The Rev. David Wheeler is seen on Sept. 7 at the New Covenant Church in Oklahoma City. Views differ between Oklahoma groups The faith group was among other denominations who shared views on this topic and other issues through resolutions and statements during meetings held during the summer months. The Disciples of Christs' stance of support for transgender rights is in stark contrast to a resolution approved at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in June. Delegates, called messengers, gathered for the annual meeting of the the nation's largest Protestant faith group where they approved a resolution "Opposing Gender Transitions." The statement did not generate much buzz, perhaps because attention at the time was primarily focused on the denomination's face off with the Rev. Rick Warren over female pastors, along with a task force's report on sex abuse reforms. Also, Southern Baptists have made statements on gender identity and gender transition in the past, notably with a resolution in 2014 and in the denomination's Baptist Faith & Message. While the Southern Baptist Convention's most recent resolution extended the love of Christ and compassion to individuals "experiencing identity or body-related distress and/or those undergoing or who have undergone gender transition interventions," the statement condemned "gender-affirming care and all forms of "gender transition" interventions. "We oppose 'gender transition' interventions as a futile quest to change ones sex and as a direct assault on Gods created order," the resolution stated, while calling on legislatures to reverse laws and policies that support such interventions, undermine parental rights or create "supposed sanctuary jurisdictions" that facilitate those interventions to minors. The Rev. Blake Gideon, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Edmond, said he supported the resolution. "The Bible is clear we are created either male or female. To doubt this is to doubt Gods revealed will," Gideon said. "People who struggle with their identity must look to Christ. He created them, specifically as they are, for His glory. Transgenderism is not only against God, but against the true wellbeing of people. It perverts the family and adds to the moral downgrade of society. Transgenderism is a lie against Gods creative purpose. However, there is tremendous hope in Christ for all who are willing to repent and believe." The Rev. David Wheeler is seen Sept. 7 at the New Covenant Church in Oklahoma City. More: What happened at a church forum that focused on white Christian nationalism? Southern Baptist Convention resolutions, according to the denomination's official website, have "traditionally been defined as an expression of opinion or concern" and is not used to direct an entity of the denomination to specific action "other than to communicate the opinion or concern expressed." The denomination is Oklahoma's largest faith group, with more than 1,700 churches across the state. Similarly, the Rev. Pamela Holt, regional minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, said resolutions approved by delegates at the denomination's recent General Assembly meeting are not binding they are not "edicts" and not every Disciples of Christ church in the state (there are 121 Disciples of Christ houses of worship in Oklahoma) may support these stances. But, she said Disciples of Christ are from diverse backgrounds and they hold that diversity together carefully, with "honesty and transparency and care for everybody on their journey." "So, our General Assembly does not dictate how a church should believe or act but we have overarching suggestions that we try to live into," Holt said. Holt said the resolution opposing Christian nationalism showed that Disciples of Christ know about this issue. "I am super proud of our larger body of church that is aware of and very attentive to the issues surrounding Christian nationalism," she said. Christian national ideology should be called out as heresy, pastor says Heath said a couple of people spoke against the Christian nationalism statement, but when the Disciples of Christ took a voice vote there were only a few scattered "no" votes. In part, the resolution called for the denomination's leaders and members to speak out "boldly" against Christian nationalism "which has taken on more aggressive and overt form" in the U.S. and Canada. "Christian Nationalism promotes, with violent rhetoric and authoritarian approaches to civic life and public policy, an extremist ideology of social hierarchy, including white supremacy, antisemitism (and other forms of religious bigotry), xenophobia, persecution and scapegoating of LGBTQ+ persons, misogyny, and ableism; and ... appropriates the name of Jesus Christ and the language and imagery of scripture to promote this ideology, in direct contradiction to the gospel Jesus preached, a liberative and loving gospel that the Christian Church 26 (Disciples of Christ) cherishes," the statement read. Heath said he felt it was important that his denomination speak out against Christian nationalism ideology because he thinks it may be found in many churches across the country and should be called out as heresy. He said there was a general sense that the resolution would be approved because the recent General Assembly meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, included workshops on identifying Christian nationalism, how to resist and confront it. Also, a dinner at the gathering featuring an author who has written books on the topic, quickly sold out. "There was also lot of interest in it because it's popping up in legislation in the states," he said. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, senior minister of East Sixth Street (Disciples of Christ), 1139 NE 6, also called the ideology heresy. He said it is often difficult to get a resolution before the General Assembly for a vote so he was pleased to see the Christian nationalism statement come up for a vote. "I was glad to see my church church stand up and say this is who we are," he said. "We don't have to hide that or be ashamed we need it on the record that this is who we are and we stand against this." Jackson said he remembered earlier this year, there was a movement to get Disciples of Christ ministers to discuss the Christian issue of Christian nationalism on a Sunday at their churches so that people would be able to "address it as a heresy." Jackson said he had already been talking about the topic. "I was like 'Dude, I just preached about this last week,'" he said. "I mean, this is not a right or left (political) issue. This is a heresy because you are twisting and bending and perverting the Gospel." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) votes to support transgender rights LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Opposition to proposed changes in the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act is being heard on the first day of the Arkansas General Assembly special session. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for the session Friday to address tax cuts, COVID-19 regulations and to make changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. In preparation for the session a draft of the proposed FOIA changes was circulated, showing increased restrictions on what information would be made available. Capitol View: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls for special session On Friday, shortly after the special session was called, Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 1003 were introduced by Sen. Scott Flippo (R-Bull Shoals) and Rep. David Ray (R-Maumelle), respectively. The identical bills contain the same changes seen in the earlier-circulated draft. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Opposition has included the states Freedom of Information Act Task Force, which voted Monday morning to strongly oppose the legislation, as reported by multiple outlets. Lots of chaos this morning over where the bill will be introduced/what committee. @GregLeding telling me Republicans have been trying to determine where itll most likely pass. Its still set to go to state agencies at this point @KARK4News @FOX16News @CapitolViewAR #arpx https://t.co/RfimPf13lW Samantha Boyd (@samanthaboyd98) September 11, 2023 KARK 4/FOX 16 News reporter Samantha Boyd said a nearly-empty senate adjourned at 1 p.m., with most of the Senate Republican Caucus out of the room for a meeting with Sanders. Boyd said Sen. Greg Leding (D-Fayetteville) told her senators were trying to find the right committee to introduce the FOIA bills where they would be more likely to pass. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls for special session on tax cuts, FOIA updates, COVID-19 rules Boyd reported hearing Sen. Bryan King (R-Green Forrest) ask Sen. Pro tempore Bart Hester (R-Cave Springs) So we dont know if we have the votes [for the FOIA changes] before we called the special session, is that whats going on? Roughly 45 minutes after the Monday adjournment, Hester told Boyd Plans for FOI overhaul bill could become clearer later this afternoon. On Friday, shortly after Sanders announcement, the Pulaski County Republicans posted on Facebook a strongly-worded opposition to FOIA changes. This was followed by an equally strong post by the Saline County Republican Committee on Saturday stating its opposition to the proposed legislation. If the proposed legislation is upheld, current FOIA requests, including a court case against the Arkansas State Police, could become moot, as the proposed legislation includes an emergency clause making it retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022. Draft of changes to Arkansas Freedom of Information law shows new limits stretching back to 2022 The Arkansas FOIA was signed into law by Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller in February 1967. The attorney generals website states that the current law is generally considered one of the most open in the country. The tax cuts being discussed during the special session appear to be meeting with more success. The Senate Revenue and Tax Committee passed the proposed legislation Monday after a hearing that included some people speaking against the bill. The special session will continue through Wednesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Bare Hands Brewery proposed to convert the former Gates Service Center building, at 331 W. Wayne St., into a brewery and restaurant by Sept. 1, 2023. As of this week, the building on downtown's southwest side sat mostly empty, with no evident construction occurring. SOUTH BEND After a local brewery missed its Sept. 1 deadline to open a brewpub near Four Winds Field, a city agency will consider legal action on a development agreement that's been delayed for five years. Granger-based Bare Hands Brewery, which was already sued by the city once, was supposed to open a brewery and restaurant in downtown South Bend in 2018, according to an initial agreement. In 2016, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission sold the former Gates Service Center building, at 331 W. Wayne St., to Bare Hands for $1 in exchange for the brewpub. Caleb Bauer, executive director of community investment, said in a statement that the commission will discuss at its Sept. 14 meeting whether to issue Bare Hands a letter of default a claim that the business breached its contract. Since the 2016 agreement, Bauer said, Bare Hands has made "minimal progress" to open its anticipated site within walking distance of South Bend Cubs games. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement This summer: New Indiana law lets South Bend capture $3 million more for stadium, Morris, Century Center The last formal change to the agreement was to give the brewery an additional month to pass a required building inspection earlier this year. Bare Hands passed that inspection by March 1, a city spokeswoman said. Bare Hands did not respond to a phone call or an email requesting comment on Wednesday. On a page of its website, the company continues to advertise a Sept. 1, 2023, opening day for "The South Bend Brewery and Taproom." Speaking to commissioners this February, owner Chris Gerard said, "I understand that you're frustrated that it's taken us this long, and we're going to do our best to finish it by the deadline." In this 2016 photo, Bare Hands Brewery owner Chris Gerard, left, stands with a coworker at the bar inside Bare Hands Brewery in Granger. The city has sued Bare Hands before, when the brewpub missed its 2018 deadline to open. But a nearly two-year dispute ended in January 2020 with the brewery's promise to invest $456,000 in the building and to open a brewery and restaurant within two years. With the upheaval of the pandemic, that deadline was extended two more times to Sept. 1, 2023. Gerard said this February that he had been reluctant to move forward with construction while restaurants across the nation struggled to stay afloat. If the city were to sue Bare Hands, this would be its second lawsuit this year against a business that allegedly failed to honor its agreement with the redevelopment commission. This January, the city sued East Bank developer David Matthews for $7.5 million after he didn't open a full-service grocery store or pharmacy on the ground floor of the high-rise apartment complex he built at 300 E. LaSalle Ave. Lawyers for Matthews filed a motion to dismiss, claiming that the city wrongly asserts he was in "total breach" of the contract despite his completed 144-unit apartment complex. A judge took the matter under advisement this July and has yet to issue a ruling. City officials have said the commission ought to function as a business partner that spends taxpayer money in exchange for economic growth benefiting the public. It's imperative, they say, to reclaim public money when those promises aren't met. Matthews, however, warned of the chilling effect such a stance may have on future businesses looking to invest in the area. He told The Tribune last September that clawing back $7.5 million "for a delay in construction after going through COVID is a terrible message" to other developers. Contact South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at 574-235-6480 or JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Bare Hands Brewery again fails to open South Bend site by deadline HILLSDALE, Mo. A Hillsdale, Missouri, employee was recently arrested after a photojournalist at sister station FOX 2 was run over with the villages top leader in the passenger seat. The incident happened in August as Fox Files investigators were looking into the villages threat to tow multiple cars for code violations. Outrage continues over proposed landfill in south Kansas City After our colleagues injury, FOX 2 made the editorial decision not to air any of the footage from that day until police had the opportunity to investigate. As journalists, we never try to become the story, but what happened is best told chronologically: From how the Fox Files ended up in Hillsdale to the photographer being rushed to the hospital. Orange stickers Donisha Rayner woke up on Aug. 11 to a bright sticker on her car. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Every car on the block had an orange sticker on the car, Rayner said. The Village of Hillsdale threatened to tow her car and several other vehicles in 24 hours for various reasons. Rayners car had the tow warning because she did not have a valid village permit sticker. Man convicted of killing Clinton officer says judges shouldnt hand down death sentences They did this a couple of months ago. They were telling everybody they were going to tow their cars, Rayner said. If you dont have this or that, if someone is visiting you and they dont get a village sticker, theyre going to tow the car. Rayner had seen recent Fox Files investigations into municipalities towing cars for code violations. She thought the Village of Hillsdale had overstepped, so she called FOX 2 for help. Theyre trying to find ways to get money, and this is a way, Rayner said. Rayners vehicle is not the only one that had the sticker. Shavon Kirkman said her mothers truck had a tow warning on it for not having a village permit sticker on the windshield. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Shes going to have her car towed in 24 hours, Kirkman said. We come out of the house, and we see a sticker. My mom is just visiting, thats not even my car. Looking for answers The Fox Files went to Village Hall, wanting answers for Kirkman and Rayner. The doors were locked because of lunch hours, but Hillsdale Police Chief John Bernsen came around the corner and said vehicles may get 24-hour tow warnings for various reasons. Expired temp tags, no village sticker, expired plates, wrong plates, counterfeit tags, all kinds of stuff, Bernsen said. Bernsen said he did not know how many vehicles got the sticker or how many cars had been towed. Mom, stepfather sentenced for helping inmate after Cass County jail escape Dont know. We do it for a long time, been doing it for years, Bernsen said. But, what would the chiefs boss say about the towing of cars? The Fox Files saw Dorothy Moores vehicle parked in front of Village Hall. Moore is the mayor, or her official title, the Chair of the Board of Trustees. Mitch McCoy: Is the mayor here? Chief Bernsen: Shes at her whatcha call it? Her store. Mitch McCoy: But she parks her car here? Chief Bernsen: She was here but she went back to her store. The conversation ended after that, and the chief went back inside Village Hall. Moor inside Village Hall The Fox Files heard Moore, the chiefs boss and the one supposedly at the corner store, inside asking him why FOX 2 was there. The Fox Files knocked on the backdoor, asking the mayor to do an interview, but no response. After waiting about an hour and for the Village Hall to reopen, the Fox Files went inside the main entrance, asking Moore to do an interview. After all, multiple cars could be towed in 24 hours. Judge awards KC family nearly $3M in deadly USPS crash While talking with the village clerk and police chief, Moore went out the backdoor. There she goes, FOX 2 photojournalist Wade Smith said. Moore climbed into the public works truck as the Fox Files tried to ask questions. Mitch McCoy: Mayor, mayor. Why are you avoiding us? People want to know whats going on with these tickets. Mayor? Why are you avoiding us? Moore slid into the passenger seat of the truck while a Hillsdale employee got behind the wheel. As questions were asked, the village worker put the truck into drive and started to drive away. Photographer run over Smith was run over by the trailer attached to the truck, and the camera hit the ground. An accident report obtained by the Fox Files alleges Moore told the Hillsdale employee to drive away. An ambulance took Smith to the hospital for emergency surgery. According to the accident report, Smith had serious injuries to his leg, and the Hillsdale worker saw the photographer on the ground in his rearview mirror, but told police he was unaware the FOX 2 employee had been hit. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox After being contacted by police, driver 1 [Hillsdale employee] and Occupant 1 [Moore] returned to the scene to make voluntary written statements, according to the accident report. The Velda City Police Department was called to investigate the incident because it involved a Hillsdale employee. Velda Citys police chief confirmed the driver, a Hillsdale employee, was arrested earlier this week, but he has been released pending a prosecutors review to decide if charges will be filed. Its FOX 2s policy not to name a person until charges are filed, which is why we have not identified the Hillsdale employee. As for our colleague, hes at home recovering. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Google and Apple are fierce competitors. But a user doing an online search on an iPhone or Mac with Safari (Apples browser) is presented with Google search results because of a long-standing agreement between the two companies. A federal court in Washington D.C. will start hearing arguments in the case on September 12. Justice Department prosecutors have charged Google with illegally exploiting its dominant position in search services. Google will defend itself, stating that the company is being penalized for its success. Google (an Alphabet company), is known for its programmers, engineers and salesforce. But now well see how good its lawyers are. The company recently reached a preliminary agreement to avoid a lawsuit related to monopolistic practices in the Android app store. Its also facing another lawsuit concerning alleged abuse of its power in the digital advertising market. The outcome of the trial commencing this week could have unpredictable consequences and shape precedents for future cases involving internet giants. The Justice Department, in its lawsuit, compared the case to the AT&T breakup in 1974 and the Microsoft case in 1998, which charged the company with abusing the market dominance of its Windows operating system to impose its Internet Explorer browser. The judge initially ruled to split up Microsoft, but after an appeal, the company reached an agreement with the government. Whether the upcoming Google trial will make history like the AT&T and Microsoft anti-trust cases will largely depend on its outcome. The Justice Departments lawsuit against Google alleges that the company illegally stifled competition in the world of online search and is seeking a ruling to end these practices and requiring the company to restructure accordingly. It also calls for the adoption of any additional measures, both temporary and permanent, deemed necessary and appropriate to restore competition in the affected markets. Google has plenty of room to maneuver in this trial. Judge Amit P. Mehta, an Obama appointee, will preside over the case and deliver a verdict that can be appealed in lower courts, as well as the Supreme Court. Currently, the trial is scheduled to last 10 weeks, during which numerous witnesses will be called to testify. Its likely that Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai will also take the stand. The Justice Department charges that Google has used anticompetitive tactics for many years to maintain and extend its monopolies in the markets for general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising. Google has entered into exclusionary agreements, including tying arrangements, and engaged in anticompetitive conduct to lock up distribution channels and block rivals. Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy startup with an innovative way to search the emerging internet. That Google is long gone. The Google of today is a monopoly gatekeeper for the internet, and one of the wealthiest companies on the planet, reads the text of the complaint. The lawsuit was filed in October 2020 during the Trump administration and was later consolidated with lawsuits from other states. Over the past three years, statements have been collected from approximately 150 witnesses, producing a summary that exceeds five million pages. Recently, Google successfully had certain charges dismissed involving its handling of the Android operating system, interactions with mobile phone manufacturers, and promotion of the search engine within the Google Assistant. However, the core of the case remains intact. Google tipped its hand about its defense in a recent blog post by Global Affairs President Kent Walker. As weve said from the beginning, this lawsuit is deeply flawed, said Walker. We plan to demonstrate at trial that our Search distribution agreements reflect choices by browsers and device makers based on the quality of our services and the preferences of consumers. Making it easier for people to get the products they want benefits consumers and is supported by American antitrust law. In sum, people dont use Google because they have to they use it because they want to. The company argues that there are more ways than ever to search for information. You may look for recommendations on TikTok, Reddit or Instagram, find music and podcasts on Spotify, ask ChatGPT a question, or shop on Amazon. In fact, its reported that over 60% of Americans start product searches on Amazon. Walkers lengthy post on Googles blog contains animations showing that its easy to change default search engines: two clicks on Safari desktop and four taps on Safari mobile. Other search engines like Bing and Yahoo! also pay Apple to be featured in Safari, and compete with Google to become the default tool. Apples leaders have said they choose Google because its the best. Importantly, our browser agreements are not exclusive, writes Walker. The Department of Justice maintains that: Largely as a result of Googles exclusionary agreements and anticompetitive conduct, Google in recent years has accounted for nearly 90 percent of all general-search-engine queries in the United States, and almost 95 percent of queries on mobile devices. In January, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced another lawsuit against Google, alleging that the companys plan to assert dominance in online ads has been to neutralize or eliminate rivals through acquisitions. The Federal Governments suit explicitly requested that Googles online advertising business be split up through divestments to promote competition. The case is not expected to go to trial until 2024. The European Union has slapped Google with the three highest fines it has ever imposed: a record $4.4 billion (4.1 billion) fine in 2022 for anti-competitive practices in search services; a $2.57 billion (2.4 billion) fine in 2021 for favoring their own products in Google searches; and a fine of almost $1.6 billion (1.5 billion) in 2019 for abuses in the digital advertising market. All told, the fines amount to over $8.5 billion (8 billion). Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The leader of a North Jersey-based cave rescue group has been rescued from a cave in Turkey nearly two weeks after he fell ill almost a mile underground. The Turkish Caving Federation announced that Mark Dickey, chief of the New Jersey Initial Response Team, was successfully removed from the last cave exit at about 12:37 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Dickey was transported by helicopter to an area hospital for further treatment, said Gretchen Baker, national coordinator for the National Cave Rescue Commission. Dickey is a resident of Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County, New York. "The global cooperation to get Mark out of this very deep cave is amazing," Baker said. "We are so grateful to the Turkish government and all the rescue teams for helping to get our friend to the surface. We know that the challenges of doing a rescue from such a deep location are extremely difficult." Dickey's parents, Debbie and Andy Dickey, released a statement thanking the rescuers, doctors and the international caving community for helping to bring their son to safety. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement "Mark is strong and we believe in his strength, but fully knew that he was in dire need of tremendous and immediate support," the Dickeys said. "We are so very thankful and grateful that the support he needed was given to him and that the first medical rescue team to arrive reached him when they did." Gov. Phil Murphy posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "I am relieved to hear that Mark Dickey has been rescued from the Morca Cave in Turkey. Tammy and I wish Mark a quick recovery and safe trip back home. Thank you to the Turkish Armed Forces and all the first responders for their heroic rescue efforts." What happened? Rescue efforts are ongoing to help Mark Dickey, chief of the New Jersey Initial Response Team, who has been stuck more than 1,000 meters deep in Turkey's Morca cave since falling ill last week. Dickey, 40, was assisting in the cave's exploration Aug. 31 when he suddenly began experiencing "life-threatening" intestinal problems that caused bleeding and vomiting, according to a Facebook post from the NJIRT. He was more than 1,000 meters (about two-thirds of a mile) underground and unable to move under his own power, forcing rescuers to travel about eight hours to reach him. Dickey's condition began to improve late last week after doctors were able to provide him with fresh blood and fluids, the Facebook post said. Crews began to move him toward the surface Saturday afternoon local time. An update at noon eastern time Saturday from Baker listed Dickey's condition as "stable but fragile." A video released Thursday by Turkey's communications directorate showed Dickey in good spirits as he thanked the rescuers for their efforts, but he experienced more health problems shortly afterward, Baker said. How did Dickey's rescue go? An operation is underway to rescue American speleologist Mark Dickey, who became ill while exploring Turkey's Morca cave complex. Carl Heitmeyer, an American who assisted in the rescue, described the cave as "very difficult, deep and muddy," conditions that caused the rescuers' climbing gear to wear out quickly. The Turkish emergency response organization coordinating the rescue has also had to monitor rain and flooding in the area while aiding the response to the earthquake in Morocco over the weekend. Dickey was moved to a temporary camp 700 meters underground at about 8:30 p.m. local time Saturday, where he was "stable and in good condition," Heitmeyer said. Rescuers resumed their ascent with Dickey on Sunday morning, and by Monday, he was less than 300 meters from the surface. He was expected to receive a medical assessment and treatment about 180 meters down before continuing upward. In this screen grab from video, American caver Mark Dickey, 40, talks to camera next to a colleague inside the Morca cave near Anamur, southern Turkey, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. Turkish and international cave rescue experts are working to save an American speleologist trapped at a depth of more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) in a cave in southern Turkey after he became ill. (Turkish Government Directorate of Communications via AP) A GoFundMe created to benefit rescue efforts for Dickey had raised more than $62,000 of its $100,000 goal as of Tuesday afternoon. Groups from Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria and Poland all offered their services at the cave, according to the donation page. Dickey is described in the GoFundMe as "a well-known figure in the international speleological (caving) community" who has taken part in many rescues himself as an instructor with the National Cave Rescue Commission. In 2021, he and a team of cavers saved a dog who had been trapped for five days in a cave in New York's Minnewaska State Park Preserve. Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties. Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Mark Dickey: NJ explorer rescued from Turkey cave after 2 weeks Gridlock between House and Senate leadership continued as the Tennessee legislature began the second week of the special session. The week started much like the last one ended: the House continued passing bills into Monday evening, while the Senate once again adjourned without taking up legislation. Before they left town at an impasse last week, Senators passed just three bills, and a fourth to fund the session, tabling dozens of others and closing committees in an effort to end the session and go home. Several senators communicated last week that they felt showing up for the session at all was a compromise saying that House members are lucky to get the three bills we gave them. Only one bill has been passed by both chambers after more than a week of work: a measure that would require the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations to create a new, updated report on the state of human trafficking in Tennessee. Representatives from the TBI told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that the agency already reports the data to be contained in the new report. The bill is now headed to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Monday evening, after the Senate again adjourned business without considering any legislation, Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, declared the Senate effectively closed. The Senate has completed its business for the extraordinary session, Johnson said. Meanwhile, despite the Senate's ongoing refusal to consider more legislation, the House passed a full calendar of bills on Monday. Moving forward, leadership does not seem willing to consider adjournment without the Senate taking up quite a bit more legislation. Chairmen Lowell Russell looks on after ordering State Troopers escort the crowd out during a subcommittee meeting at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. I'd like to send a clear message to the Senate that we're going to pass legislation over here, Rep. Lowell Russell, R-Vonore, said when presenting a bill to centralize Tennessee's court document systems. If they'd like to keep up, that's fine. The standoff could last a while. Johnson said that he hopes the session does not stretch far into September. I hope that the House will realize that were serious about having conversations about their legislation between now and January, Johnson said. Theres some really good bills that the House has brought forward. We just dont think there is time during a special session which lasts a few days to properly vet those bills. Gov. Lee steps in, with no effect so far Lee on Monday stepped into negotiations for the first time during the special session he called, asking the Senate to take up 12 bills that committees tabled last week, in an effort to broker a compromise with House leadership. Included in the package of 12 are a proposal from House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, to authorize blended sentencing for juvenile offenders that could send 16-year-old defendants to adult prison, a bill to create a centralized court records system to ensure the states background check database remains consistently updated, and a controversial measure to make autopsies of child victims of violent crimes exempt from state public records law. Many of the bills have already passed the House, while others are on the calendar this week. But for the Senate to take up the bills, as Lee is asking, Senate committee chairmen would have to re-open committees. Last week, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, indicated committee chairs are not inclined to do so. After both chambers adjourned for the day, Lee spokesperson Elizabeth Lane Johnson said the governor has been in constant communication with members of the General Assembly, and continues to offer his full support as the session continues. Most recently, our office provided a list of bills to the speakers of both chambers to help facilitate conversations in the days ahead, Johnson said. Senate leaders deny receiving governors list But the governor's message may not have been received. McNally and Leader Johnson both denied having received any communication from the governor regarding the list of 12 bills that Lee backs. We actually found out about the [governors] list on Twitter, McNally said. That was news to us. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, says the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance before session at the State Capitol Building on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Johnson acknowledged that conversations with the House and governors office had occurred over the weekend I think there were some calls from House members to encourage us to take up additional bills, but the Senate has completed its business, he said. Lee's spokesperson said the governor has worked with legislators for months on bills for the session. Lee met with more than 100 lawmakers for coffee at the executive residence, and organized more meetings behind closed doors. Were encouraged that several of the Governors proposals are moving in both chambers, Elizabeth Lane Johnson, the spokesperson, said, without noting three of the governor's bills that senators have scuttled. Throughout the special session that he called, Lee has primarily been in his office at the state Capitol, but has not made his presence publicly felt, communicating in official statements through spokespeople. Lee traveled to Jackson and Dyersburg on Monday, as House and Senate leaders remained at an impasse, and did not mention his efforts when asked about the special session by reporters during an event in Jackson. We see that with both houses, both chambers, theres differences to work through, as there generally are with every session, Lee told reporters Monday. I am very hopeful for what this conversation means to the people of Tennessee because overall it elevates the conversation of public safety. Democrats say they want to work House Minority Leader Karen Camper, D-Memphis, said she anticipates continued conversation between legislative leaders particularly on the spending bill to fund the special session, which each chamber has passed separate versions of. The people still want us to be here, so that we could speak on their behalf, Camper told reporters. Im sure therell be some back and forth on the legislation. As the Senate began its short session on Monday, Sen. Heidi Campbell, D-Nashville, recognized spectators in the gallery, who held signs calling for better gun safety laws. Those in attendance stood as Campbell read the names of the six people who died in the Covenant shooting. We are on track to break a mass shooting record in Tennessee this year. The previous record was 19 weve already had 16 this year, Campbell said. We have a gun problem in this state. It is an emergency. It is a public health emergency. Legislation Gov. Bill Lee is now pushing Melissa Brown in Nashville and Sarah Best in Jackson contributed to this report. Reach reporter Vivian Jones at vjones@tennessean.com or on X or Threads at @Vivian_E_Jones. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN special session: House, Senate deadlocked as Lee tries to intervene Franklin County employs more than 8,200 workers across numerous agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, Children's Services, various courts, engineers, dog catchers and other positions. But how much are they paid, and who are the highest-compensated employees? The Dispatch used state public records law to obtain payroll and salary information that shows each worker's total compensation, including base salary, bonuses, overtime, vacation, sick leave and "other" compensation for calendar year 2022. The top 10 highest-compensated county employees received between $426,750 and $232,376, with four receiving "other" compensation in the six figures. "Other" compensation can involve nearly 50 categories, including longevity and retirement payouts, sick and vacation pay, and even car and phone allowances. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The highest-compensated worker employed by Franklin County last year was Dr. Kent Harshbarger, who was paid $426,750 working as a certified forensic pathologist for the county coroner's office for about four months as a consultant, and the rest of the year as a part-time chief deputy coroner with no health benefits. Another pathologist in the coroner's office, Dr. Erica Armstrong, also made the top 10 pay list at the fifth spot, receiving $258,566, mostly doing contractual work. Their pay is reflective of a national shortage of pathologists to perform autopsies. The second highest-paid county employee in total compensation for 2022 was Jed Morison, the superintendent and CEO for the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who will retire at the end of the year. He was paid last year $283,086, which includes $13,441 in "other" compensation. County Administrator Ken Wilson, who manages county operations and reports directly to the county commissioners, was fourth in total compensation in 2022 at $262,813. The county commissioners at the start of January 2023 agreed to allow Wilson to retire and be immediately rehired, allowing him to also collect his state pension while working, a practice often referred to as "double-dipping." The move is allowed under Ohio law after a governmental body or school district posts a legal notice of its intention to rehire a retired official or employee. Franklin County administrator Kenneth Wilson Executive directors of four departments were among the top 10 highest-compensated county employees in 2022: William Murdock, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, $243,925; Erica Clark Jones, Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board, $243185; Jean Ryan, Columbus-Franklin County Finance Authority, $238,359; and Charles Spinning, Children's Services, $232,376. The other two spots on the total compensation leaders list went to members of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office: Major David Oyer at $277,580, including $114,566 in "other" pay; and Lt. Paul Karl at $245,050, including $115,819 in "other" pay. They are two of the seven employees countywide who made six figures in "other" pay last year, four of whom were on the top 10 total compensation list. The Top 10 in highest overtime pay were all deputies for Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin's office, making between $96,739 and $55,258 in overtime that added around 50% to almost 100% to their regular salary. Just over a third of all county employees received any overtime pay. Despite that, the county generally did a much better job than the city of Columbus at keeping overtime and "other" pay down, based on Dispatch analyses of both governments' payrolls for 2022. While the county paid out $20.3 million in compensation other than regular pay and overtime, that was just a fraction of the $224.54 million in "other" compensation that the city of Columbus paid out in 2022, The Dispatch found in an earlier analysis of city payroll records published in July. That figure was 11 times what the county paid, even though the city has only about a third more total employees at roughly 11,000 total. A majority of those receiving high "other" compensation were deputy chiefs and veteran officers in the Columbus Division of Police who accepted bonuses last year to retire. The county paid out more than $14 million in total overtime pay last year, again modest compared to Columbus, which paid more than $57 million in OT. The median regular salary for all county workers was $48,352, just slightly below the city's $50,464, and less than 14% of county workers made twice that median figure compared to nearly one-third of city workers. That was primarily because some city workers had large overtime and "other" payouts. The three elected county commissioners, President John O'Grady, and board members Kevin Boyce and Erica Crawley, each made a regular salary of $116,293, and received between $100 and $350 in "other" pay. There were eight staff members, including Wilson, working directly for the commissioner's office who made more than the commissioners. By comparison, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is paid about $160,000 a year. (Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the date that Jed Morison is retiring and the spelling of his last name.) wbush@gannett.com @ReporterBush This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Top 10 lists show highest-compensated employed by Franklin County Ukraine appears to be repurposing and using Russian mines against Putin's forces. Video footage appears to show Ukraine dropping TM-62 anti-tank mines on Russian positions. Russian mines have been a significant obstacle to Ukraine's counteroffensive. Ukraine appears to be repurposing Russian anti-tank mines and using drones to drop them on Russian forces. Video footage shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, claims to show a Ukrainian drone dropping a powerful grenade-fused TM-62 anti-tank blast mine on an enemy position. The TM-62M is a Russian high-explosive, anti-vehicle blast landmine that can be laid mechanically or by hand, according to CAT-UXO, a site that collates information on explosive hazards. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The mine can be used against tanks, self-propelled rockets, artillery stands, and armored trucks, per Atlas Internazionale, a defense equipment supplier. They contain about eight kilograms, or around 18 pounds of TNT, enough to cause extensive damage to enemy vehicles that trigger them, per the site. Russia's prolific use of landmines has left Ukraine as the most mined country in the world, with an area the size of Uruguay or Florida now contaminated with mines, shells, and bombs, The Washington Post reported. "The sheer quantity of ordnance in Ukraine is just unprecedented in the last 30 years. There's nothing like it," Greg Crowther, the director of programs for the Mines Advisory Group, told The Post. Approximately 30% of Ukraine's territory has been enveloped by fierce fighting, according to a recent report by GLOBSEC, a think tank based in Slovakia. From the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 to July 2023, the United Nations reported 298 civilian deaths and 632 civilian injuries from military explosives, per The Post. "Russian minefields are a serious obstacle for our troops, but not insurmountable," former Ukrainian minister of defense Oleksii Reznikov told The Guardian. "We have skilled sappers and modern equipment, but they are extremely insufficient for the front that stretches hundreds of kilometers in the east and south of Ukraine," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON (AP) Michael White had only recently arrived in a grim Iranian jail when a curious fellow prisoner, an English-speaking Iranian, approached him in the courtyard for a conversation. The American did not reveal much at first, but it was the beginning of an unlikely friendship between White, a Navy veteran imprisoned on spying charges he says were unfounded, and Mahdi Vatankhah, a young Iranian political activist whose positions on social issues had drawn his governments ire. As the men connected behind bars over a shared interest in politics and human rights, they developed a bond that proved vital for both. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring inside a Los Angeles airport, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement He risked his life to get the information out for me when I was in the prison in Iran. He really, really did, White said in an interview alongside Vatankhah. I told him I would do everything I could in my power to get him here because I felt, one, that would be for his safety in his own life. And I also felt he could get a great contributing member of society here. Michael White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, right, hugs Michaels former fellow prisoner and Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Michael White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, left, shares a light moment with Michaels former fellow prisoner and Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Michael White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, right, shakes hands with Michaels former fellow prisoner and Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Michael White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, right, Michaels former fellow prisoner and Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah, center, and Jonathan Franks, a consultant in the U.S. for families of American hostages and detainees, leave a terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah pauses for photos at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped Michael White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up. Once freed, White did not forget. He pushed successfully this year for Vatankhahs admission to the United States, allowing the men to be reunited last spring, something neither could have envisioned when they first met in prison years earlier. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Jonathan Franks, a consultant in the U.S. for families of American hostages and detainees, exchanges text messages with Michael Whites former fellow prisoner and Iranian political activist Mahdi Vatankhah at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Vatankhah, while in custody and after his release, helped White, a Navy veteran who was jailed in Iran for several years on spying charges, by providing Whites mother with crucial, firsthand accounts about her sons status in prison and by passing along letters White had written while he was locked up.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) This year, White received permission for Vatankhah to live temporarily in the U.S. under a government program known as humanitarian parole, which allows people in for urgent humanitarian reasons or if there is a significant public benefit. Vatankhah told AP he had dreamed about coming to the U.S. ever since he could remember. When he landed, It was like the best moment of my life. My whole life changed. White, 50, a Southern California native who spent 13 years in the Navy, was arrested in Iran in 2018 after traveling to the country to pursue a romantic relationship with a woman he met online. He was jailed on various charges, including espionage accusations that he calls bogus, as well as allegations of insulting Irans supreme leader. He endured what he says was torture and sexual abuse, an ordeal he documented in a handwritten diary that he secretly maintained behind bars, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in what the U.S. government has said was a wrongful detention. Vatankhah, now 24, said he had been in and out of prison since he was a teenager because of his involvement in left-leaning causes and vocal criticism of the Iranian government, including through protests, social media posts and university newspaper pieces. He met White in 2018 after one such arrest when Vatankhah faced accusations of spreading propaganda against Tehrans government. Though Vatankhah was later released, he was arrested again, this time winding up in the same cell as White in Irans Mashhad prison. During the course of their friendship, Vatankhah helped White navigate his imprisonment and better understand the judicial system, functioning as an interpreter to help him communicate with guards and inmates. In early 2020, while Vatankhah was out on furlough, he also became a vital conduit to the outside world for White. Using contact information White had given him, Vatankhah got in touch with Jonathan Franks, a consultant in the U.S. for families of American hostages and detainees who was working on Whites case and later helped spearhead the humanitarian parole process for Vatankhah. He also spoke with Whites mother and smuggled out Whites letters. The detailed information about White, his status and his health he suffered from cancer and COVID-19 in prison came at a crucial time, providing a proof-of-life of sorts at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran due to a U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who led the expeditionary Quds Force of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. White was released in a June 2020 prisoner swap, exchanged for an American-Iranian physician imprisoned in the U.S. for violating American sanctions laws. Vatankhah, released the same year, made his way to Turkey. White argued in his March application on Vatankhahs behalf that his friend met the criteria for humanitarian parole because, despite having relocated to Turkey, he was continuing to face harassment on account of his political viewpoints. Vatankhah wrote in his own petition that the situation was unsafe for him in Turkey. He noted that Turkish police had raided his home and that he remained at risk of deportation to Iran. Paris Etemadi Scott, a California lawyer who has worked with White and Vatankhah and filed the humanitarian parole application on the Iranians behalf, said Vatankhahs assistance to an American a veteran, no less enhanced the legitimacy and urgency of his petition because it added to the potential that Vatankhah could face imminent harm. While many applicants do not have significant supporting documentation, Mahdi had this amazing amount of evidence to show that he was in fact incarcerated over and over again, she said. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it does not discuss individual humanitarian parole cases. A State Department spokesman said in a statement that the office of the departments special presidential envoy for hostage affairs had worked hard to secure Whites release in 2020, and after learning of Vatankhahs case, worked hand-in-hand with multiple partners in the U.S. government to secure the parole. Vatankhah is now living in San Diego, where White is from. Vatankhah said his humanitarian parole is good for one year, but he already has applied for asylum, which would allow him to remain in the U.S. Hes obtained a work permit and has found work as a caregiver. Hes also enjoying the freedom to share his political views freely without fear of retribution. I like to express my ideas here where I can. I can continue to use my freedom to talk against the Iranian regime. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Prince William 'is focused on the legacy of the Earthshot Prize' Educational exposure of ideas, assumptions or hypotheses, based on proven facts" (which need not be strictly current affairs) Value in judgments are excluded, and the text comes close to an opinion article, without judging or making forecasts , just formulating hypotheses, giving motivated explanations and bringing together a variety of data The mothers who search for their children in Mexico are the equivalent of Argentinas Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo these days. Theyve gained relevance as theyve been digging through the earth with their hands. There are thousands of disappeared people in the country, which is dominated by drug traffickers. The painful circumstances of their loved ones particularly their mothers has generated international interest. The tenacity and tears of these iron women has kept the cause alive, against all odds. They beg the government be it this one or the next for pickaxes, shovels and protection. Sometimes, they add their own corpses to the enormous Mexican cemetery. This past Sunday, the biggest political event in the country was the official recognition of the opposition candidate who will contest the presidency in 2024. Senator Xochitl Galvez held a rally with thousands of her supporters at the most emblematic roundabout in the capital: the Angel of Independence. However, the presidential candidate had her fellow politicians stay a few feet away from her she preferred to keep Cecilia Flores close. Flores has been looking for her two missing children for eight years. Her tragedy is enough to illustrate the hardships that countless mothers go through in Mexico. One day, when a hitman pointed a gun at her head and ordered her to kneel, Flores looked into his eyes: If youre going to kill me, shoot me in the face and think of your mother, because the day you disappear, she will be the one looking for you, just as I look for my children. While on stage beside Senator Galvez, Flores wore her usual shirt, which is emblazoned with photographs of Alejandro and Marco Antonio, her missing sons. She is now on the political frontlines. The political space that these women have conquered and the interest that their cause arouses are measured by their presence in the public sphere. They are standing together with the brand new opposition candidate. Two weeks ago, their criticism of the governments search process pushed Karla Quintana, the head of the National Search Commission, to resign, due to discrepancies between her and the Mexican president. The authorities calculate that, every day, some 27 people dont return home in Mexico, while the census counts some 100,000 whose whereabouts are unknown. Searching mothers have had the wisdom to join the media in a fight that requires their voice. Their activism has also conquered cinema and literature, with successful films and books detailing their frantic pilgrimage through offices, mountains, ditches, deserts and garbage dumps. Even the Barbie phenomenon has touched their efforts a searcher Barbie was designed, to make the campaign more visible and generate support from the public. But the most political gesture of recent times has been, without a doubt, the negotiation that some of these mothers have initiated with the drug traffickers, so that they can be allowed to search mass graves without the risk of being murdered in narco-controlled territory. In the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Sonora and Sinaloa, the women asked the drug traffickers for a truce, so that they could dig through the earth. To some extent, they succeeded in these discussions. Mexican political life is already tied to the searching mothers one of the great causes and embarrassments in the country. The incumbent government has had achievements in this field, as finding the disappeared was one of the commitments made by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador when he sought the presidency in 2018. The Ayotzinapa case (the 43 students who disappeared in 2014) despite the setbacks and obstacles throughout the investigations has reported progress, to give just one example. Quintanas resignation, however, has damaged one of the political projects that citizens could identify with. Consequently, the government is ceding ground to the opposition, which is learning how to take advantage of it. The mothers arent going to rest, in Mexico, Argentina, or anywhere else. Politicians are quickly realizing this. The fact that many of the disappeared are underground is a truth that no one can escape from thats why the women use picks and shovels and their nails to dig through clandestine graves. As Flores summarizes: I want to see my children again, even if theyre just a handful of bones. Voters in November could close the only library in Columbia County, the result of a yearlong dispute over the placement of young adult books that address gender, sexuality and race. (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times) President Joe Biden speaks with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who wears the number 45 on the back of his hat in reference to his position as Florida's 45th governor, during a briefing on Hurricane Idalia response and recovery efforts at Suwannee Pineview Elementary School in Live Oak, Fla., on Sept. 2. Originating in South America, the red fire ant is one of the most invasive species in the world and could soon spread across large parts of Europe. Red fire ants cause destruction to infrastructure and farmland, and have a powerful sting. Credit: Jesse Rorabaugh. One of the most invasive species in the world, the red fire ant, has been found in Europe for the first time, after researchers confirmed sightings of the insect in Italy. Native to South America, the red fire ant is notorious for its invasive abilities, having spread to parts of North America, Australia and Asia, aided by human activities such as shipping. Europe had, until recently, evaded its destructive presence, but researchers now fear it could march across much of the continent. There are a vast number of alien ant species currently establishing in Europe, and the absence of this species was kind of a relief, said Mattia Menchetti, study lead author and researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. For decades, scientists have feared that it would arrive. We could not believe our eyes when we saw it. Half of European cities vulnerable to invasion In a new study, published in the journal Current Biology, the researchers describe how they were first alerted to the possible arrival of the species in Europe through photos taken in Sicily. Upon travelling to the region, they took samples and documented evidence of ant activity, allowing them to confirm the first official sightings of red fire ants in Europe. And it wasn't just one or two ants they found many thousands were observed, in a total of 88 nests in a 4.7 hectare region near a river. After speaking to locals, it became apparent that the ants had probably been in residence since at least 2019, as people reported frequent stings from around that time onwards. By analysing the DNA of Sicilian queen ants, the authors concluded the ants probably came from the US or China, although they couldn't narrow down how exactly they arrived in Italy. One of the red fire ant nests found in Sicily. Credit: Institute of Evolutionary Biology. Worryingly, their research found that 7% of Europe is suitable for red fire ants given current environmental conditions a figure which may rise due to climate change. Moreover, they found that 50% of Europe's cities are vulnerable to invasion, particularly those which have large seaports. Why are red fire ants so troublesome? As species go, red fire ants are up there with the toughest, adapted to survive even in severe weather conditions such as drought and flooding. They live in large colonies containing up to 250,000 individuals, making their homes in a wide range of habitats, including urban areas and electrical equipment. Not only do red fire ants cause damage to roads, infrastructure and machinery, they can also harm wildlife and invade farmland. In addition, they are armed with a powerful sting, injecting a venom which can, in some cases, cause anaphylactic shock and subsequent death in humans. Globally, they cause billions of dollars in damage every year and can be very difficult to get rid of. As a result, the researchers hope their study can raise awareness of the potential threats, with plans to initiate citizen science programs to allow targeted eradication efforts. There needs to be more awareness about this problem because the problem is already in Europe, said Menchetti. We need coordinated action, and we need it now. There was a time, between 2005 and 2014, when the current prime minister of India and back then leader of the Indian state of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, was not allowed entry into the United States. Washington barred him under a U.S. rule that prohibits the granting of visas to foreign government officials who promote or are responsible for serious restrictions on religious freedom. The ban on Modi, a Hindu nationalist politician, was invoked in connection with the heavy sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims that ravaged Gujarat in 2002, when the host of the G20 summit in New Delhi was the head of that western Indian state. Since then, much has changed the international climate and Modis political status, more than his convictions and that ban is now a distant memory. India is a more powerful country, and the U.S. now needs it in its struggle with China. Last June, Modi was welcomed for the umpteenth time with the greatest honors in Washington, joining the very select club of leaders who have been able to address the assembled U.S. chambers twice, an honor conferred on figures with the caliber of Churchill and Mandela. These two episodes represent a significant approach towards a highly controversial leader. The 72-year-old Modi, prime minister since 2014 as head of the Hindu nationalist party (BJP), presides over an Indian nation that has recorded economic and geopolitical achievements while enduring as denounced by his critics, supported by a multitude of evidence a democratic deterioration. Modi is a charismatic politician with tremendous ambition: I call on the private sector to also come forward. We have to dominate the world, he said in his speech on the 75th anniversary of Indias independence. Modi presides over a country that has recorded unparalleled growth among major economies over the past two years, achieved a major breakthrough in its lunar program in August, gained increasing influence on the international scene and, according to the World Banks governance indices, has made significant strides in its performance in a number of areas, such as management, regulatory and anti-corruption efficiency. At the G20 summit, the leader chalked up a diplomatic success by reaching a consensus that seemed difficult to achieve. India is undergoing a process of modernization with major structural investments, while reducing poverty levels. The road ahead is vast, as is the delay with respect to its great rival, China, and nothing guarantees that it will be smooth, but there are data that reveal improvements in recent years. Nevertheless, Modi is the subject of extremely serious accusations from the opposition and from the vast majority of experts and think tanks in the democratic sphere of being a leader who advocates an exclusionary and dangerous Hindu nationalist vision, and who directs a political project that deteriorates the quality of Indian democracy in multiple ways. The criticism is based on a wide range of controversial issues. Leading indicators from independent Western think tanks believe the deterioration to be dramatic. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks India 161st out of 180 regarding freedom of the press, a marked decline from the past. Annual studies by Freedom House, The Economist Intelligence Unit and V-Dem all agree that there has been a gradual deterioration. The Indian government believes that these reports are purely judgmental and have no objective value. Troubling facts There are a wide variety of troubling facts. Early in his first term, Modi drove through a law to reform the system for selecting Supreme Court judges, entering an area notoriously sensitive to democratic balances. Years later, he passed a law granting accelerated citizenship status to undocumented migrants of all major religions in the region, all with the exception of Muslims. At the time, the government claimed that it was a measure to protect minorities at risk in neighboring countries. Critics argued that this was a first major breach of the secular and inclusive spirit of the Indian Constitution. This was followed by the adoption of measures that hampered the work of NGOs and the media through inspections and bureaucratic constraints, including those imposed on broadcasters such as the BBC, which had been trying to shed light on the events in Gujarat. The Modi government has resorted to draconian communications shutdowns in the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been deprived of the special status it had enjoyed for decades. The recent sentencing of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison for the alleged slander against Modi was particularly disturbing Gandhi was once stripped of his parliamentary seat. However, the Supreme Court has suspended the sentence. The streets of New Delhi during the days of the recent G20 summit were lined with posters depicting the effigy of the leader together with various political messages associated with the meeting. This scenario though unusual in democracies, common in other types of regimes reflects the extraordinary prominence of Modi, whose popularity is much higher than that of his party. His supporters see him as the initiator of great strides forward for India, of more effective and less corrupt governance. His detractors allege that this popularity is maintained by manipulating the political, judicial and media playing field and dangerously nurturing Hindu identity sentiment through the marginalization of other communities, especially the Muslim one, with more than 200 million citizens. At the New Delhi summit, he presided over the negotiations behind a sign that said Bharat instead of India, the name of the country preferred by Hindu nationalists. This fueled speculation that he will soon launch the offensive to change the name of the country to this name, while the English version of the Constitution now stands as India. This is another likely element of controversy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tanar care sustinea examenul pentru obtinerea permisului de conducere, gasit drogat Un tanar in varsta de 20 de ani, din Cluj, a fost oprit de politistii rutieri in trafic, marti, in timp ce sustinea examenul pentru obtinerea permisului de conducere. Politistii au aflat ca acesta consumase droguri. [citeste mai departe] I believe an administrative reform is also needed in Romania, PM Ciolacu says Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Monday that Romania also needs an administrative reform, starting with localities with up to 1,500-2,000 inhabitants, when asked when the number of schools with toilets in the yard will reach zero. "We hope to finalise it. I think an administrative reform is also needed in Romania, if you want a personal opinion, and it should start with localities that have up to 1,500-2,000 inhabitants. This signal must be given, maybe not from these elections (2024 local election, ed. n.), to future elections, but in Romania an administrative reform is also needed. We Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was in Varna, Bulgaria on Monday, said that the Government could propose new fiscal-budgetary instruments regarding expenses, but emphasized that it is not about new taxes.He mentioned that, although in this period many people "rushed" at the Minister of Finance, - Marcel Ciolacu a subliniat importanta discutarii reformei administrative in spatiul public."Nu va fie frica de reforme, nu veti pierde alegerile daca veti explica oamenilor de ce este nevoie de aceste reforme, atat la nivelul administratiei locale, cat si la nivelul administratiei centrale. Este nevoie - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, leader of the Social Democrats, said on Monday that if Austria votes against Romania's accession to Schengen at the JHA Council in December, he will appeal the decision to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), an approach in which he will want to have the - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu declared, on Tuesday, during a visit to eastern Vrancea county, that there are discussions regarding the possibility of candidacies on joint Social Democratic Party (PSD) - National Liberal Party (PNL) lists for next year's elections.The PSD leader stated that he has - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Tuesday that reports about drones that may have fallen on Romanian territory are not confirmed."At this time, this information is not confirmed. I have the information from the minister of Defense. At this moment, this information is not confirmed," Ciolacu said - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu ordered on Monday a control at national level regarding the fulfillment of the conditions for authorization, operation and exploitation of all fuel storage and sale facilities, LPG included, the government informs in a release.The decision comes as a result of the Crevedia - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu submitted on Monday, in Athens, a European mechanism for managing grain transport and allocating additional funds for the agri-food industry and developing specific infrastructure, the government informs in a press release.The Romanian prime minister participated on - Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday evening told the Romania TV private broadcaster that a reform must be made in the budgetary system, considering, among other things, that our country has the most credit authorising officers in the world - about 16,000, but stressed that "no salary will be cut North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the civil defense military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Sept. 8, 2023. After a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine, Russia needs to replenish its supplies of ammunition for what could be a long war of attrition. Along with ramping up its domestic arms production, Moscow is turning to an old ally with a vast arsenal North Korea. Estimates say the reclusive and isolated Asian country has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give a huge boost to the Russian army. U.S. officials expect North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions transfer with President Vladimir Putin. That would be a remarkable reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when the Soviet Union provided the communist North with weapons and ammunition. We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong-un, said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Shoigu became the first Russian defense chief to visit North Korea since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Images of him at a military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, in July, alongside Kim and the medal-laden North Korean military brass, were a strong sign of a vigorous effort by Moscow to reach out to the North. Shoigu said that joint military drills were possible. Asked about a possible visit by Kim and a deal that would see North Korean arms supplies to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment. But he emphasized that Moscow cherishes ties with Pyongyang, adding: North Korea is our neighbor, and we will further develop our relations without looking back at other countries opinion. Kim made his first visit to Russia in 2019 and held talks with Putin that included pledges of closer cooperation but werent followed by any visible breakthroughs. While the bulk of the Korean Peoples Army arsenals are dated, their enormous size would offer the Russian military a potential key lifeline amid Europes largest land conflict since World War II. Hong Min, an analyst at Seouls Korea Institute for National Unification, said that Russia could seek to establish North Korea as a rear base for its war efforts, providing a major flow of munitions. Russia is hoping that North Korea could swiftly establish support channels to provide it with war materials like ammunition, bombs and other supplies, Hong said. The U.S. said North Korea sold some munitions to Russias private military contractor, Wagner, in November. Both Russian and North Korean officials have denied that Pyongyang has shipped any weapons or munitions to Russia or intends to do so. U.S. officials have cast Moscows reach for North Korean weapons as a reflection of Russian military problems. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the quality of North Korean weapons was an open question. It says a lot that Russia is having to turn to a country like North Korea to seek to bolster its defense capacity in a war that it expected to be over in a week, Sullivan said. Jon Finer, U.S. President Joe Bidens chief deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Sunday that buying weapons from Pyongyang may be the best and may be the only option open to Moscow as it tries to keep its war effort going. Finer made the remarks aboard Bidens flight from India to Vietnam. While Washington has warned Pyongyang against sending weapons to Russia, which would violate a U.N. embargo on any arms shipments to and from North Korea, observers say there is little the U.S. could do in response. They note that Moscow could share advanced nuclear, missile and submarine technology with Pyongyang in exchange for arms supplies, a move that could embolden Kim and raise major threats to regional security. The United States and its allies have limited policy options in addressing this new challenge, the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said in an analysis. While the Norths enormous stockpiles could boost the Russian war effort, Moscow has imported drones from another ally, Iran, that have played a significant role in the fighting. Russia has used Shahed exploding drones to strike Ukraines infrastructure for more than a year. After the initial surprise, Ukrainian air defenses have honed their skills in engaging them. But the cheap and simple drones that have a range exceeding 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) continue to inflict significant damage. Russia reportedly has bought a production license from Iran and built its own factory to assemble the drones and churn out thousands of them a year. Iran is expected to initially provide the materials and technology, with the plant gradually shifting to domestically produced components. Russian arms manufacturers have compensated for at least some of the equipment losses in the conflict and developed some new products, including satellite-guided gliding bombs and other precision weapons, to fight back against Ukraines summer counteroffensive. Early in the war, broad use of drones by Ukraine inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces and played a significant role in Moscows military setbacks. Russian officials acknowledged they hadnt paid enough attention to drones before the war and vowed to fill the gap quickly. One type of mass-produced exploding drone that made a visible impact is the Lancet, capable of lurking over the battlefield before hitting its target. Cheap and compact, it has become prolific, allowing the Russian military to strike Ukrainian tanks and artillery systems on a wide scale. Russia has increasingly used another new asset in recent months: gliding aerial bombs. With a pair of winglets and a satellite navigation module, old Soviet-made bombs have been transformed into highly efficient smart weapons. They have a range of up to 60 kilometers (37 miles) and allow the Russian air force to step up attacks on Ukrainian forces along the front line without putting warplanes at risk. Russia has adapted 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) bombs, using them to fend off the Ukrainian counteroffensive. It has worked to design a similar conversion for a 1,500-kilogram (3,300-pound) bomb, reportedly using it for the first time this month. Transformed into a gliding bomb, it is reportedly precise to five meters (16 feet) and leaves a 15-meter (50-foot) crater a powerful weapon against Ukrainian military assets. Another addition to the Russian arsenal is the Vikhr anti-tank missile used by Russian helicopter gunships. It has an extended range that allows pilots to take out Ukrainian armor while staying out of reach of air defenses, and has seen wide use during the summer. The use of attack aviation has posed a consistent challenge for Ukrainian forces throughout the counteroffensive, the Royal United Services Institute said in an analysis. While developing new munitions, Russian manufacturers also bolstered production of tanks and other weapons, and the military has increasingly tapped its storage bases of thousands of armored vehicles dating to the Cold War. Some have been upgraded with protective shields and other equipment to increase their survivability. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, has said Russia will produce 1,500 battle tanks in 2023. Conveyer belts of our military industrial complex are working in three shifts, and it will produce as many weapons as needed to efficiently protect the fatherland, he said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Explanation for Everything by Hungarian film director Gabor Reisz has won Best Film in the Horizons section at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, the films distributor, Cirko Film said. The film co-written by Eva Schulze is Reiszs third feature. Explanation for Everything will be on general release in Hungary from Oct. 5. Reiszs third film is the story of a young boy navigating the world of school-leaving exams and young love in a divided society. The film was made in cooperation with the Slovak audiovisual fund, and the main roles are played by Gaspar Adonyi-Walsh, Istvan Znamenak, Andras Rusznak and Rebeka Hathazi. An Air Asia flight carrying 168 passengers and six crew members air returned just minutes after taking off from the Cochin International Airport here, airport sources said on Monday. The Kochi-Bengaluru flight, which left for Bengaluru late Sunday night, suffered a technical problem soon after taking off at 11.15 PM. A full emergency was declared at the airport after the flight returned to Kochi due to a suspected hydraulic failure. Also read: Woman Molested On Late-Night Mumbai-Guwahati IndiGo Flight, Man Arrested It landed at the airport safely at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported, sources said. The emergency was withdrawn immediately after the safe landing of the aircraft, they added. Addressing the incident, an Air Asia spokesperson said, "An AIX Connect flight departing from Kochi for Bengaluru, returned back after takeoff due to a minor technical issue. The actions of the crew were in line with the airline protocol of placing safety above all." He added, "We are, meanwhile, making alternate arrangements for the affected guests. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the travel plans." The sacred city of Ayodhya is abuzz with preparations for the momentous Ram Lala Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, an event that holds profound significance for millions of devotees not just in India but across the globe. As Ayodhya, the epicenter of this religious fervor, gears up for this historic celebration, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are leaving no stone unturned to create an atmosphere steeped in the spirit of the Ramayana. This grand ceremony, marking the consecration of the deity Lord Ram, is accompanied by a series of events that encompass a nationwide celebration, the Bajrang Dal's Shourya Yatra, and a plethora of rituals in temples and homes. In this article, we explore the intricate details of this historic occasion. Building the Ramayana Ambiance Across India Leading up to the Ram Lala Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, the VHP and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are working tirelessly to immerse the entire nation in a 'Ramayana-like' aura. This concerted effort aims to ensure that the spirit of Lord Ram's story permeates every corner of India, bringing communities together in celebration and devotion. Bajrang Dal's Shourya Yatra: A Journey of Bravery Anticipating the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the Bajrang Dal, a prominent Hindu youth organization, has launched the Shourya Yatra. This Yatra, symbolizing valor and dedication, is a significant part of the festivities. Beginning on September 30th and concluding on October 15th, this march is set to traverse the entire country, passing through an astonishing 500,000 villages, and igniting the hearts of countless devotees along the way. Nationwide Temple Celebrations On the day of the Pran Pratishtha, the Vishva Hindu Parishad is initiating a grand campaign, encouraging every household to light five lamps. This act symbolizes the divine illumination of Lord Ram's presence and aims to unite millions of homes in a sacred ritual, reinforcing the shared devotion towards Lord Ram. Collaborative Meeting in Ayodhya A pivotal two-day meeting took place in Ayodhya, bringing together key stakeholders, including members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's national executive and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. During this gathering, intensive discussions centered around planning events nationwide and assessing the progress of temple construction at the Ram Janmabhoomi. A Global Festival: Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha Alok Kumar, the International Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, emphasized that the Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha ceremony would be celebrated as a global festival. This transcendent event reaches beyond borders and is expected to draw people from various corners of the world. Anticipation and Hope Bhayya Ji Joshi, the former Chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), shared his optimism about the forthcoming event. He highlighted the eagerness and anticipation that has gripped the entire nation, with countless individuals eagerly looking forward to witnessing this momentous ceremony. Prime Minister's Possible Attendance Kameshwar Chaupal, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, noted that while there has been no official confirmation regarding the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event, discussions have revolved around potential dates. Among these, January 22nd, 2024, has emerged as the most auspicious and widely favored choice. In conclusion, the Ram Lala Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav stands as an unparalleled occasion in the hearts and minds of millions, symbolizing unity, devotion, and the resounding spiritual connection to Lord Ram. The grandeur of the celebration and the nationwide participation attest to the profound impact that this event holds in the tapestry of India's rich cultural and religious heritage. New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron, during a media briefing at the G20 summit, emphasized that the G20 leaders' declaration has "confirmed" Russia's isolation concerning the Ukraine crisis. He also commended India's presidency of the G20 for promoting unity and peace worldwide. Macron also noted that while the G20 is not a platform for political discussions, the majority of its member countries have "condemned" Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "This G20 confirms once again the isolation of Russia. Today, an overwhelming majority of G20 members condemn the war in Ukraine and its impact," President Macron stated. These remarks came a day after the G20 leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi declaration, carefully avoiding direct mention of the Russian invasion of Ukrainea move widely perceived as a concession by Western powers on the conflict. Macron acknowledged India's efforts as the G20 president to convey a message of unity and peace to the world amid Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine. The declaration called for the protection of principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging all states to refrain from the "threat, or use, of force" for territorial acquisition. Furthermore, it expressed the G20's commitment to achieving "just and lasting" peace in Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida added that Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine could potentially disrupt cooperation within the G20 and have a significant impact on the global economy. PM Modi, Macron vow to expand India-France defence ties In a separate development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron reaffirmed their commitment to expanding Indo-French defence ties. During their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit, they pledged to enhance cooperation in the design, development, and production of advanced defence platforms, including for third-party nations in the Indo-Pacific region. The leaders also urged the early finalization of a proposed defence industrial roadmap and acknowledged progress in discussions regarding the Jaitapur nuclear project. They welcomed the engagement of both nations in developing small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced modular reactors (AMRs) technologies, along with the forthcoming declaration of intent in this regard. Macron, highlighting the strength of the India-France relationship, emphasized that it goes beyond bilateral engagement and stressed the importance of countering the "fragmentation" of the world. While specific details were not provided, he mentioned that additional contracts and procurements would follow in the coming months and years. The joint statement issued following their meeting covered various aspects of cooperation, including defence, space, nuclear energy, digital infrastructure, critical technology, climate change, education, and people-to-people contacts. It also highlighted their commitment to working together in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa, encompassing infrastructure, connectivity, energy, biodiversity, sustainability, and industrial projects. The leaders discussed progress in bilateral relations since their previous meeting in July and reaffirmed their commitment to international law, sovereignty, and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. They emphasized the need for India and France to collaborate on addressing regional and global challenges. In a nod to the success of India's Chandrayaan 3 mission, Macron congratulated Prime Minister Modi. They also reviewed the progress made in India-France space cooperation since the first strategic space dialogue held in June 2023. PM Modi and Macron underlined the importance of expanding their collaboration across various domains, including digitalization, science, technology, education, culture, health, and the environment, with a focus on strengthening institutional linkages. In turbulent times reshaping the global order, the leaders reiterated their unwavering commitment to serve as a force for good and uphold the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'"one earth, one family, one future." They highlighted the Indo-French Campus for the Indo-Pacific as a model for enhancing institutional ties in these areas. The G20 summit showcased India's efforts to promote global unity and peace, while simultaneously addressing key defence and strategic partnerships, and underlined the growing isolation of Russia in the context of the Ukraine crisis. New Delhi: India and Saudi Arabia have signed as many as eight agreements during the State visit of Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, said Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. Addressing a press briefing on the State visit of the Saudi Crown Prince, Secretary (CPV and OIA) Ausaf Sayeed said, I am happy to share with you that during this visit as many as eight agreements have been signed. The agreements signed are in the field of energy, in the field of digitalization and electronic manufacturing, and cooperation between Indias Central Vigilance Commission and Saudi Anti-corruption. There was an agreement between the two investment entities, India and Saudi counterparts Exim banks, Small and Medium Enterprises Banks and an agreement on desalination. An agreement was also signed on renewable energy. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud sign the minutes of the first meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council held at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/DB9B3MBZOA ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 One is the field of energy which was signed by the Saudi Minister of Energy and our Minister of New and Renewable Energy, said Sayeed. Then there was an agreement between the agreement in the field of digitalisation and electronic manufacturing between the IT ministries of both sides, he said. Another agreement was between Central Vigilance Commission of India and its counterpart the Saudi Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority. And the fourth agreement was between the National Archives. Then there was an agreement between the two investment entities, that is Invest India on the Indian side and the Ministry of Investment on Saudi side, said Sayeed. There was another agreement between the two EXIM banks and there was also another agreement between the Small and Medium Enterprises Bank banks of two sides, that is SIDBI and the SME Bank of Saudi Arabia, the Secretary said, adding, And the last one was in the field of Desalination. Over two dozen Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Saudi Arabia companies, ranging from Information Technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources, among other sectors. "The Crown Prince congratulated India for a very successful G20 meeting with a lot of major outcomes in the meeting...The two sides expressed their happiness at the launching of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor...PM also congratulated the Kingdom on becoming a full member of the BRICS...," said the MEA Secretary. These MoUs were signed between private companies of both countries, including Serum Institute of India, HP, VFS Global, and ICICI Bank. The signing of the MoUs was facilitated by Invest India and Saudi Arabias investment ministry. The signing of the agreements happened as Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud began his State visit after having participated in the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit on Saturday and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. In a brief statement, Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. "Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries" he said. Earlier today, the Saudi Crown Prince was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremonial welcome was followed by a bilateral between the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. With the launch of its innovative mobile application, which is now accessible to both Android and iPhone users, Matchfinder Matrimony has made a big advancement in a time of quick technical progress. This advancement demonstrates the platform's dedication to streamlining and modernizing the process of making meaningful connections while delivering a fluid and productive user experience. The mobile app developed by Matchfinder Online Services Pvt Ltd. is the result of careful planning and creative design and is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for Android and iPhone users. This calculated action demonstrates Matchfinder's commitment to remaining on top of the ever-changing matrimony industry scene in India. As we launch our mobile app, we are starting a new chapter in our mission to unite people for a marriage. According to Rattaiah, Managing Director of Matchfinder Online Services Private Limited, "We have concentrated on developing an app that not only satisfies the requirements of our users but also facilitates their search for true companionship." An elegant user interface that guarantees simple navigation is at the heart of the matrimony app's design. Users may easily browse through profiles, change preferences, and converse with possible matches because of the simple interface. This user-centered strategy demonstrates Matchfinder's dedication to making connections that have the potential to develop into long-term relationships. The mobile app's emphasis on customization is one of its notable features. Users can limit their possibilities based on particular factors like geography, interests, and values by customizing search parameters. This targeted strategy increases the likelihood of running into profiles that closely match personal interests, thus speeding up the search for a compatible life partner. The real-time chat feature of Matchfinder's matrimony app, however, is what sets it apart from its competitors like BharatMatrimony, Shaadi.com, and Jeevansathi.com. This function offers a platform for quick connection, bridging the gap between virtual encounters and the possibility of real chemistry in a world where time is a valuable resource. Meaningful connections are built on timely talks, and the app makes sure that these connections flourish. Matchfinder Matrimony has taken extensive steps to give consumers access to a secure online environment since privacy and security are still paramount. Users can confidently explore possible matches in an ecosystem where they can be assured that their interactions take place within a secure framework thanks to rigorous verification procedures and regular profile monitoring. Launching the mobile app is a logical next step for Matchfinder, a business that has repeatedly shown its dedication to excellence and innovation in the matrimony industry. This action reflects how matrimony apps have changed traditional matchmaking in the digital age thus establishing Matchfinder as a technology leader in creating sincere connections. The Matchfinder Matrimony mobile app offers a rare opportunity for Android and iPhone users prepared to set out on a journey of genuine relationships. The search for love is no longer limited to chance encounters; it is now made possible by a platform that recognizes and caters to the tastes and needs of each individual. Matchfinder's mobile app is a testament to its commitment to finding genuine profiles in a world driven by technology as it continues to rewrite the story of matchmaking. The app is developed by Matchfinder Online Services Pvt Ltd., which also runs a matrimonial website that has over 5 lakh profiles in its database. The website is well-known for providing economical membership plans starting from Rs.100. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) Sahal Kaushik, a name synonymous with extraordinary achievement, scripted history in 2010 when he shattered age norms and cracked the highly competitive IIT-JEE examination at a tender age of 14. This prodigious feat made him the youngest student in history to achieve this remarkable milestone, securing an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 33. Hailing from Delhi, Sahal embarked on an illustrious academic journey that would redefine conventional notions of learning. Pursuit of Excellence at IIT Kanpur After his triumphant conquest of the IIT-JEE examination, Sahal Kaushik's insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to IIT Kanpur, where he enrolled in the five-year integrated MSc (Physics) program for undergraduates. This step marked the beginning of a journey that would see him scale even greater heights in academia. The Youngest PhD Scholar in the United States While most teenagers were navigating the complexities of high school life, Sahal Kaushik was charting a different course. At the tender age of 19, he achieved a milestone that would reverberate globally. Sahal earned the distinction of becoming the youngest PhD scholar in the United States, setting a precedent for academic excellence. His doctoral pursuits took him to Stony Brook University in New York, where he delved into the intricate world of High Energy Particles, pushing the boundaries of scientific inquiry. Academic Prowess Beyond Borders Sahal's remarkable intellect was not confined to the boundaries of India. He demonstrated his academic prowess by excelling in standardized tests such as the GRE, where he secured an impressive score of 337 out of 340, and the TOEFL, where he achieved 112 out of 120 marks. These accomplishments underscored his global potential and laid the foundation for his international academic sojourn. Venturing Abroad: A Transformative Experience Sahal's decision to pursue his PhD in the United States marked a significant transition in his life. It was the first time he ventured abroad without the accompaniment of his mother, who had been a constant presence during his academic journey at IIT Kanpur. This move allowed Sahal to break free from his introverted shell and emerge as a more outgoing and mature individual, ready to embrace the world of academia on a global scale. A Multifaceted Scholar Sahal Kaushik's brilliance extended beyond the realms of academia. From a young age, he exhibited an exceptional ability to absorb knowledge, memorizing multiplication tables up to a staggering 100. His early reading habits saw him delve into H.G. Wells' 'Time Machine' at the tender age of six. His interests transcended textbooks, encompassing Star Wars games, a love for films, and a penchant for reading. He was an avid follower of pop culture phenomena, avidly enjoying Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings series. Academic Hurdles Overcome While there are no age restrictions for studying at IIT, meeting the educational prerequisites remains essential. Sahal Kaushik, the young prodigy, met this criterion by securing a commendable 78% in Class XII, cementing his eligibility to pursue his dreams at IIT. A Mother's Unwavering Support Behind every extraordinary individual, there is often an unwavering support system. For Sahal Kaushik, this pillar of strength was his mother, Ruchi Kaushik. A doctor-turned-homemaker, she played a pivotal role in nurturing his academic journey, offering relentless support and encouragement. Her influence was instrumental in shaping Sahal's path toward greatness. Sahal Kaushik's journey from IIT-JEE to becoming the youngest PhD scholar in the United States serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring scholars worldwide. His story transcends age barriers and redefines the possibilities of academic excellence, reminding us that with determination and unwavering support, one can achieve greatness regardless of age. New Delhi: Zee Media Corporation, one of India's prominent media conglomerates, has offered heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his dedicated team of ministers and bureaucrats for orchestrating a highly successful G20 Summit in the national capital from September 9 to 10. Following the formal conclusion of the G20 Summit in the national capital, Zee News extended its felicitations to the Prime Minister, to which he responded with gratitude, saying, "Thank You. Thank You." Global Leaders Applaud PM Modi's 'Decisive Leadership,' Support for Global South's Voice India's G20 presidency, marked by substantial accomplishments, garnered praise from world leaders during the two-day summit. They commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "decisive leadership" and his commitment to amplifying the voice of the Global South. Notably, leaders also lauded India's hospitality and the Prime Minister's efficient stewardship of the successful summit. They observed that India's message of 'one earth, one family, one future' strongly resonated with all delegates. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked on the transformative power of PM Modi's digital initiatives and technology, highlighting how they provide essential services to people in remote areas of their respective nations. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised Prime Minister Modi for his outstanding leadership of the G20, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the need to reinforce G20 cooperation built upon the foundation laid by India's presidency. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey expressed gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's hospitality and wished for the summit to bring blessings to "the only world we have." Numerous leaders applauded the Prime Minister for championing the voice of the Global South and welcomed the unanimous decision to include the African Union (AU) as a G20 member. US President Joe Biden acknowledged the significance of the African Union as a critical partner and credited Prime Minister Modi for fostering unity among nations to address shared challenges. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, praised Modi's wisdom in bringing the AU to the G20 table. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked Prime Minister Modi for the summit invitation and for advocating on behalf of the Global South. She commended the G20 theme of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' which upholds the value of all lives and emphasizes cooperation for a better future. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union, expressed gratitude for India's support in their AU candidacy. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa commended India for its role in securing AU membership in the G20, while Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte appreciated India's presidency for placing the Global South at the forefront of the grouping. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva thanked Prime Minister Modi and the Indian people for their competence in organizing the event, emphasizing the significance of Mahatma Gandhi's principles of non-violence. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stressed the importance of accomplishments and Prime Minister Modi's initiative to convene discussions on 'One Future.' Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth praised India's leadership for the "very successful outcome" of the G20 and conveyed deep gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for providing this "exceptional opportunity." The Spanish representative at the summit commended India's excellent leadership and hailed Prime Minister Modi's positive approach, while the Mexican representative lauded the wonderful arrangements for the G20. Oman's representative also expressed appreciation for Indian hospitality. In a post on social media, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF Gita Gopinath, who met Prime Minister Modi at the G20 dinner, congratulated him on presiding over a highly successful G20 summit. She noted that India's message of 'one earth, one family, one future' deeply resonated with all the delegates. World Bank Chief Ajay Banga, speaking with reporters after the summit, commended India's leadership, along with all G20 leaders, for achieving a terrific declaration. SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to busted a terrorist recruitment module in the Baramulla district and arrested three terrorist associates of the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). According to J&K official, the police also recovered incriminating material including three hand grenades and 30 AK-47 live rounds from their possession. Sharing more information, a Baramullah Police spokesman said, On a specific input of terrorist movement in Kreeri area, a joint Naka was established at Chak Tapper by SOG Kreeri, 29 RR and 52 RR." During the naka checking suspicious movement of three persons coming from Chak Tapper towards Kreeri by foot was observed. While seeing the police party and security forces, the said individuals tried to flee from the spot but the alert Naka party apprehended them tactfully. In preliminary questioning, they were identified as Lateef Ahmad Dar and Showkat Ahmad Lone both residents of Baramullah and a woman Ishrat Rasool of Baramulla. During their search, 3 hand grenades and 30 AK-47 live rounds were in their possession. All three individuals were working with the LeT outfit as the Terrorist Associates spokesman said, adding that on further questioning, it came forth that they had identified four youths in the general area of Kreeri and were about to get them active in terrorist ranks in near future. The above three individuals were the masterminds of the recruitment module in the general area of Kreeri and were also in touch with active terrorists Umar Lone and FT Usman. Meanwhile, security forces averted another major tragedy by detecting explosives likely IEDs of Srinagar Baramullah road. A police spokesman said, "A suspicious Substance was detected by a joint team of police and security forces on National highway in Hanjiwera Pattan area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir. Official said that a joint team of Army's 29RR Pattan Police, SSB, detected a Suspicious Bag likely an IED on the Srinagar-Baramulla National highway at Hanjiwera Pattan. Shortly after the detection of the suspicious object, the traffic was halted and the movement of people was restricted, they said however Bomb Disposal Squad was rushed to the spot. An official said the BDS destroyed the suspicious object without causing any harm and traffic was Restored subsequently. Meanwhile, Police have taken cognizance of the incident. this is the second IED destroyed by forces in the last 48 hours on the Srinagar -Baramullah highway. I arrived at a hospital in Bangui and a 25-year-old woman had just died in my colleagues arms from complications following an abortion, says Estelle Pasquier, a researcher with Doctors Without Borders (MSF). This can happen several times a month, but it is a preventable death with the right measures. The doctors there have their hands tied by legal and social impediments, but the vast majority consider that the healthcare in these circumstances is a right for all women because they see the damage wreaked on a daily basis when that right is ignored. What Pasquier is describing prompted a pioneering study, of which she is co-author, on the complications suffered by women after abortion in particularly volatile regions of sub-Saharan Africa, a corner of the world where 70% of deaths related in some way to maternity occur. According to the UN, 800 women die every day on account of pregnancy and childbirth related issues. Complications during an abortion are among the five leading causes of such deaths, but paradoxically it is only in the area of abortion where these deaths could be avoided almost 100%. The study conducted by MSF, Epicentre (MSFs medical research center), the Guttmacher Institute and the NGO Ipas, in collaboration with Nigeria and the Central African Republics Ministries of Health, focused on a hospital in the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, and another in Jigawa State in northern Nigeria. It was clear that serious complications following abortion in these hospitals located in impoverished, volatile and conflict-affected environments were five to seven times more frequent than in African hospitals in more stable environments studied by the World Health Organization (WHO) using similar methodology. Up to seven times more complications! Pasquier tells EL PAIS. We knew that the problem was significant and that there was a lack of data on it due to it being a reality that is often hidden from view, but this result surprised us and convinced us that something must be done. These are places where women die from complications that are perfectly manageable and preventable. An X-ray of this disastrous, complex situation goes beyond the purely medical, and involves legislation that criminalizes abortion, a society that stigmatizes those who resort to it, a lack of education, the absence of information on contraception and reproductive health, a lack of independence preventing women from taking decisions for themselves, poverty, a lack of training for health personnel, and remote circumstances placing hospitals beyond the reach of patients. All these factors exacerbate the situation, according to the study. I was distressed, one patient told the authors of the study after being admitted to Bangui hospital days after trying to terminate her pregnancy at home. Someone showed me how to insert a piece of iron into my vagina. They told me it would dilate my cervix, but it didnt work. They also told me to boil the roots of a plant called kava with sodium carbonate and drink the mixture. After that I did not feel well. I couldnt get out of bed. The pain was intense. The study, titled Abortion-related Morbidity and Mortality in Conflict-affected and fragile settings (AMoCo) relies on the testimonies of more than 1,000 women who suffered abortion-related complications between 2019 and 2021 at the two medical centers. Most of those telling stories of induced abortions explained that they had used dangerous methods to provoke them, such as inserting metal objects or root vegetables into their vaginas, as well as injections, traditional herbs and medication. I tried to abort by myself, but it didnt work, so I had to go to a woman in the neighborhood, says a 27-year-old. She asked me for 15,000 Central African francs [$25] for the abortion, but I only had 13,000, so I gave it to her. She injected me with medicine, dilated my cervix with a cassava root, and the fetus fell out. Then I started having abdominal pains. The UN has set a target of reducing maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 births by 2030. But in Bangui, this seems like an unrealistic goal. With 829 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, the Central African Republic has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. At the hospital in the capital where the study was conducted, admissions for abortion-related complications accounted for 20% of all pregnancy-related admissions. And in a quarter of the cases, the women were minors. They arrive with terrible injuries, including hemorrhages, infections, injuries to the vagina and uterus and sometimes to other organs, Richard Ngbale, professor and obstetrician-gynecologist in Bangui, tells EL PAIS. As a doctor, the hardest thing is that these are often women who came asking for an abortion, and we couldnt do anything for them for legal reasons, then they come back in that state, having done it themselves. Pasquier stresses that the medical personnel who participated in this study had personal experience of the problem. According to Pasquier, When we asked them if they personally knew anyone who had died from complications resulting from abortion, most of them said yes, whereas I, for example, dont know any woman who has died from abortion. Delayed action Ngbale paints a bleak picture of a Central African society that relegates women to an invisible role. They do not know about methods of contraception, he says. They have no resources of their own because they do not work and depend on others to be able to see a doctor. They live far from medical centers and, in many cases, it is the men who decide on whether the pregnancy goes ahead or not. According to the study, only 3% of women surveyed in Jigawa State and 37% of those interviewed in Bangui said they used any contraception before becoming pregnant. A young African woman, seven months pregnant, with a doll in Kenya, in September 2020. MONICAH MWANGI (Reuters) The area of Nigeria focused on by this study is a very poor region, surrounded by pockets of conflict where traditions carry a lot of weight and many women dont go to school. The main obstacles to contraceptive use is rejection of it by husbands and family, ignorance of the chances of becoming pregnant, and religious beliefs, according to the research. Official UN figures state that, across Nigeria, the maternal mortality rate stood at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 births in 2020. The study also highlights the long and difficult journey of these women after abortion, which exacerbates general risks to their health. Half of them took at least two days to see a doctor from the onset of the first symptoms, and some waited up to six. Many want to keep their abortion a secret, states the report. When symptoms deteriorate, they often decide to return to the person who performed the abortion or to untrained people, which further increases the delay in being seen and receiving adequate treatment. According to Ngbale, the priority should be to inform women of their rights and promote their general education. Then we must extend the use of contraception and finally move towards the decriminalization of abortion. Where do we start? says Pasquier. In these fragile contexts, where women are particularly vulnerable, comprehensive care must be put in place to limit their suffering and mortality. We must invest in improving the communities knowledge of contraception and provide safe abortion methods and proper post-abortion care, including primary care. Pasquier welcomes the fact that this study delivered several months ago to the communities concerned and to the respective ministries has already begun to have an impact. For example, in the dissemination of contraception by local authorities and hospitals, she says. Experts hope that the research will also help push forward the practical application of the Maputo Protocol the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa, adopted in 2003 as this should provide the legal framework for African women to claim their right to safe abortion healthcare. Most African countries have ratified it, but its implementation is long overdue in almost all. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Bengaluru: The Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association is holding a strike in Bengaluru on Monday. The federation, which includes unions of bus, auto and taxi drivers, among others, called the strike over the state governments failure to fulfil their demands, including a ban on cab aggregator apps. The strike was declared in protest against the Karnataka governments Shakti scheme that provides women free travel on non-premium government buses. The private transport operators say that the scheme eats into their profit. The protest is expected to affect the transport service in the city. The strike has been called from Sunday midnight to Monday midnight. #WATCH | Karnataka | Private transport unions in Bengaluru hold a strike in Bengaluru demanding the withdrawal of the Congress government's Shakti Yojana (Scheme). The scheme aims to offer free bus rides within the state to women and transgender people. pic.twitter.com/EM6ZoJdVXs ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 However, in the wake of the strike, the Karnataka Transport Department has made arrangements in order to tackle the Bandh called by the private bus, taxi and auto unions. The transport department is preparing to ply a large number of buses on the bandh day. State's Transport Minister Reddy told news agency ANI that he has given instructions for operating buses so that there is no inconvenience to the public. An alternative plan has been made so that there is no problem for the public on Monday. The Transport Minister held a meeting with the Commissioner of the Transport Department and senior police officials. The officials have been instructed to take action to ensure that there is no trouble for the general public and school children on Monday. The transport minister instructed the officials to ply government buses on the routes to schools and colleges in Bengaluru. He also directed that more buses should be arranged near hospitals so that patients do not face any problems. #WATCH | Bengaluru: On 'Bengaluru Bandh' called by Private Transport Association against Karnataka government's Shakti Programme, State Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy says, "The Union is demanding Rs 1,000 crores as compensation...Some issues are in the High Court and Supreme pic.twitter.com/kpoR6c41le ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Traffic police issues advisory for Bengaluru Bandh today Bengaluru traffic police have also issued a traffic advisory for the public to plan accordingly after Karnataka State Private Vehicles Owner Associations call for Bengaluru Bandh on Monday. There might be disruption in the operation of taxis, maxi cabs, private buses and auto rickshaws. Therefore, all road users are advised to use alternative roads and plan their travel accordingly, the advisory stated. As per the advisory, the police have asked the public to avoid KG Road, Sheshadri Road, GT Road and roads around Freedom Park and Majestic Bus stand. Vehicle coming from RR Junction towards Khodays circle: move towards to Krishna floor mill and proceed towards Malleshwaram. Vehicles coming from Goodshed Road proceed towards G T Road via Sangolli Rayanna Circle to reach Okalipuram and proceed towards Sujatha Theatre. Vehicles coming from Ananda Rao Circle should move towards Old JDS office road and reach Sheshadripuram Road. Vehicles coming from Mysuru Bank circle, proceed towards Palace road towards Maharani junction underpass and go towards Basaveshwara circle, the advisory mentioned. A Delhi-based woman has been booked because of her dog creating the ruckus of a flight. Based on Herald Goa's report a complaint has been filed against the woman for endangering her fellow passengers on a Goa-bound Flight. The accused allegedly opened her pet carrier to calm down the dog which was making noise. However, the act did not bode well with the passengers and her co-passengers started panicking. The incident occurred on a Delhi-Goa flight on Saturday. The accused in the incident has been identified as Alisha Adhana who boarded the flight with her family member from Indira Gandhi International Airport, reports Herald Goa. Following the airline's standard protocol, the carrier was kept in the cabin and the cage was not to be opened. Also read: San Francisco-Bound Air India Flight Diverted To Alaska Due To Technical Glitch When the plane took off the uncomfortable canine started making noises. After which, Alisha opened the carrier and put the dog on her lap. Reacting to this her co-passengers objected to the presence of the animal. The incident occurred on an Akasa Air flight and the flight manager filed a complaint after the plane landed at the airport. The woman has been under section 336 of IPC for endangering the lives of crew and fellow passengers. Clarifying the incident, an Akasa Air spokesperson said in a statement, "An incident involving a pet owner occurred on flight QP1378 operating from Delhi to Goa on September 9, 2023. During the flight, the passenger declined to follow established safety protocols by repeatedly removing their pet from its container while the aircraft was in flight. This action not only posed a potential safety risk but also disturbed other passengers and crew members. Our cabin crew requested that the passenger return the pet to its designated container, in accordance with our established pet carriage policy." They added, "Unfortunately, the passenger was uncooperative. According to our process, upon landing our crew reported the incident to the relevant authorities. At Akasa Air, we have well-defined protocols related to the carriage of pets on board to ensure the safety of customers and crew members and have zero-tolerance against uncooperative passenger behaviour." In a similar incident, a couple from New Zealand has filed a complaint against Singapore Airlines asking for refund due to a bad encounter on one of the airline's flights. The couple's flight was made uncomfortable by the dog that was sat next to them in the aircraft's premium economy cabin. Warren Press and Gill were the pair involved in the incident. The pair had just begun their journey from Paris to Singapore when the tragedy occurred. They boarded the 13-hour Singapore Airlines flight for their journey and realized their seatmate was a dog. Gill Press remembered how they were initially startled by the animal's appearance when they first heard its loud snorting sound. She was astonished to learn that the sound was the dog's breathing. Incidents of passengers misbehaving with either crew or co-flyers are cropping up quite too often. Recently, an IndiGo passenger onboard the Mumbai-Guwahati flight, groped a woman passenger sitting next to him. The man was arrested soon after the flights arrival at Guwahati airport after an FIR was lodged for sexual harassment by the female passenger. The woman reveals that her co-flyer groped her, while the lights of the cabin were dimmed. The airline reveals - an FIR was filed against the man, and he was handed over to police in Guwahati. The IndiGo flight - 6E-5319, took off from Mumbai at around 9:00 PM and landed in Guwahati at 12:15 AM. This is the fifth incident of its kind to be reported in a duration of five months. Narrating the incident, the woman passenger shares that she found the male passengers hand on her. Since he was pretending to be asleep, she didnt jump on to any conclusion. However, she observed him only to find out that the man started to touch her inappropriately and groped her. She said that I wanted to shout but I froze. Although, she turned the lights on, called the cabin crew and narrated the incident to them. The man started apologising soon after, the woman revealed. Also Read - New Zealand Couple Seeks Fare Refund After Being Seated Next To 'Farting, Snorting Dog' Also, a couple of days back a 30-year-old Bangladeshi national was arrested here for allegedly sexually harassing a female flight attendant on board a Muscat-Dhaka flight travelling via Mumbai, a police official said on Friday. The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday some time before the Vistara flight was scheduled to land at the Mumbai international airport, he said. "The accused, identified as Mohammed Dulal, who is a Bangladeshi national, was going to Dhaka from Muscat via Mumbai on a Vistara flight. Half an hour before the plane was to land in Mumbai, Dulal got up from his seat, hugged a female flight attendant and tried to kiss her," the official said. He also tried to flash at other cabin crew members and passengers when they tried to intervene, he said. New Delhi: As 'Jawan' is winning hearts the nation over, one of the most stand-out scenes in the film features Deepika Padukone, whose entry in the frame was welcomed by claps and whistles in theatres. In the scene, Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan engage in entertaining banter while going toe-to-toe with a fight sequence. Apart from looking like a desi femme fatale, bringing great stature and commanding the screen with her presence, Deepika also looks like a formidable opponent opposite the charismatic Shah Rukh Khan and holds her own in the scene. It's a testament to Deepika's prowess as a superstar that she effortlessly matches the energy and charisma of the 'King of Bollywood. Among iconic Bollywood pairs that are cherished and celebrated by audiences are Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan, whose on-screen chemistry has enthralled fans in films like 'Om Shanti Om', 'Chennai Express' and 'Pathaan'. The chemistry between Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan has always been a crowd-pleaser, and 'Jawan' is no exception. Their on-screen magic continues to captivate audiences, and their collaborations in 'Pathan' and 'Jawan' this year have only heightened the excitement among fans. Deepika Padukone's special appearance in 'Jawan' is not just an extended cameo; it's a show-stealing moment that reaffirms her status as Bollywoods Numero Uno female superstar. Her electrifying presence, witty banter, and action-packed sequences in the film have left fans eagerly anticipating more collaborations between this iconic pair. In the world of Bollywood, some things never change, and the enchanting and the mesmerising chemistry between Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan is undoubtedly one of them. New Delhi: Yash Raj Films will release the trailer of the anticipated Vicky Kaushal starrer 'The Great Indian Family' (TGIF) on Tuesday (Sept 12). Director Vijay Krishna Acharya reveals, "TGIF is a family entertainer that is aimed at evoking a community watching experience like no other. We are set the release the trailer of the film tomorrow! TGIF is a film about the special, unbreakable bond that family members have for each other in India. Im excited to see the reaction of the people to our trailer. I hope they love it and engage with the film and have a conversation about the message of our movie." Earlier, Vicky had offered a sneak-peak into the eccentricities of his madcap family through a hilarious release date announcement video. This teaser sets the tone for what promises to be a laughter-filled cinematic experience suitable for audiences of all ages. Sharing the video, Vicky wrote in caption, "Ek se badh kar ek, iss parivaar ke rang hai anek. Isiliye toh hum hai - The Great Indian Family. Milte hai on 22nd September! Celebrate #TheGreatIndianFamily with #YRF50 only at a big screen near you!" 'The Great Indian Family' has a power-packed ensemble featuring highly acclaimed actors like Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, Sadiya Siddiqui, Alka Amin, Srishti Dixit, Bhuvan Arora, Ashutosh Ujjwal, Bharti Perwani. It also stars Manushi Chhillar who has been paired opposite Vicky Kaushal. The film is set to release on September 22, 2023. Rajamahendravaram: Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu was lodged at the Central Prison in Rajamahendravaram in the early hours of Monday after a court in Vijayawada sent him to judicial custody for 14 days in a multi-crore corruption case. The former Andhra Praesh chief minister reached the jail after a nearly 200-km journey to Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari district from Vijayawada. "Chandrababu Naidu went in the prison around 1:20 AM," East Godavari district Superintendent of Police P Jagadish was quoted saying by PTI. Home-cooked food, medication and a special room were among the amenities granted by the court to Naidu during his judicial custody. The 73-year-old former chief minister has been provided with a separate accommodation inside the jail in view of the purported threat to his life. He is a Z-plus category security protectee. #WATCH | Andhra Pradesh former CM N Chandrababu Naidu brought to Rajahmundry Central Prison. CM N Chandrababu Naidu was sent to judicial custody till September 23 in a corruption case yesterday. pic.twitter.com/tM3L0dEdw7 ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 Naidu's son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh trailed his father to the prison gates and waited outside for some time before leaving. According to the detention order, the judge highlighted that there are grounds to believe the accusations levelled against Naidu, and 24 hours were not enough to complete the investigation. Naidu was arrested in the Skill Development Corporation scam case following a pre-dawn operation on Saturday at Nandyala, which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping. He was arrested by the CID around 6 AM on Saturday from a marriage hall outside which his caravan was parked. TDP workers had staged protests at several places on Saturday when the 73-year-old leader was being brought to Vijayawada from Nandyal, where he was arrested by the CID and police were taking all precautions to foil any such protests during the journey to Rajahmundry. As a precautionary measure, police have imposed section 144 of CrPC across the state. Arrest Illegal, Political Vendetta By YSR Govt: Naidu The TDP chief himself had made submissions before the judge. He called his arrest illegal and an act of political vendetta by the YSR Congress Party government. Naidu alleged that there is no rule of law in the state as the government is violating the fundamental rights of the citizens. He also submitted to the court that the funds for skill development projects were provided in the state budget for 2015-16 and argued that the budget passed by the Assembly cant be called a criminal act. Appearing for Naidu, senior Supreme Court lawyer Sidharth Luthra argued that the CID did not take permission from the Governor before arresting the Leader of the Opposition. The court did not agree with the argument of Naidus counsel that IPC's Section 409 (Criminal breach of trust by public servant) does not apply in this case. According to the CID, the Rs 371 crore scam took place between 2014 and 2018 when Naidu was Chief Minister. During the course of the investigation, 141 witnesses have been examined so far and their statements were recorded. On verification of the documents and examining the witnesses, investigation disclosed that Naidu orchestrated the deep-rooted conspiracy by playing a key role at various stages in collusion with other accused, with a preconceived plan aimed at siphoning off of the funds released from the public exchequer towards the project, the CID said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud held the first leaders meeting of the India- Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council on Monday and discussed cooperation in areas such as energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare and food security. PM @narendramodi and Crown Prince & PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held the first Leaders Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. Agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and pic.twitter.com/lGjBHs2vD4 Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) September 11, 2023 In his opening remarks, PM Modi said that the talks with the visiting Saudi Arabian leader will provide new energy and direction to ties between the two nations. For India, Saudi Arabia is one of its most important strategic partners. As two large and fast-growing economies of the world, our mutual cooperation is important for peace and stability in the entire region. In our talks, we have identified several initiatives to take our partnership to the next level. Today's talks will provide new energy and direction to our relations. This will provide us inspiration to work together for the welfare of humanity," the PM said. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...For India, Saudi Arabia is one of its most important strategic partners. As two large and fast-growing economies of the world, our mutual cooperation is important for peace and stability in the entire region. In our talks, we have pic.twitter.com/q72iT4rFvU ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2023 PM Modi said that the economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe will provide economic growth and digital connectivity between these regions. He noted that the cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in the economic sector is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region. "Yesterday, we have taken a decision to start a historic economic corridor between India, West Asia and Europe. This corridor will not only connect two countries but also help in providing economic growth, and digital connectivity between Asia, West Asia and Europe. Under your leadership and vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen tremendous economic growth and I congratulate you for that." PM Modi also thanked the visiting leader for Saudi Arabia's contribution to the success of India's G20 Presidency. He lauded the Saudi Arabian Crown Princes commitment or the welfare of Indians residing in Saudi Arabia. Transforming ties! PM @narendramodi and Crown Prince & PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held bilateral talks. The two leaders reviewed the various facets of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further unlock the potential of the pic.twitter.com/uQ2FSzu4yG September 11, 2023 India, the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor during the G20 Summit. PM @narendramodi and Crown Prince & PM of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman held the first Leaders Meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. Agenda included a broad range of areas of bilateral cooperation including energy security, trade and investment, defence and security, healthcare, food security, culture and community welfare issues among others, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X. The Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, who arrived here on a three-day State visit, attended the G20 Summit in the national capital. The Saudi Crown Prince is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers and senior officials. Prior to his meeting with PM Modi, the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. PM Modi and President Droupadi Murmu welcomed the Saudi Arabian leader. The Saudi Crown Prince then inspected a combined defence services Guard of Honour. Mohammed bin Salman congratulated India for a successful G20 presidency. "Well done India, a lot of announcements made that will benefit both our countries, the G20 countries and the whole world. So I want to say to India well done, and we will work to create a future for both countries," he told reporters. Later in the day, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince is scheduled to call on President Droupadi Murmu. India and Saudi Arabia have historically close and friendly relations with extensive people-to-people contacts. The bilateral trade reached an all-time high of USD 52.75 billion in FY 2022-23. Thane: At least seven workers were killed and another injured when the construction lift in a 40-storey building, which is under construction, collapsed on Sunday evening in the Balkum area in Thane city of Maharashtra, officials said. Yasin Tadvi, who heads the disaster management cell of Thane Municipal Corporation, said it was a construction lift and not the regular elevator. "The workers had finished water-proofing work and entered the lift at the 40th floor when the lift came crashing down at around 7:30 pm and landed in P3 (three levels underground in the parking area)," he said. #UPDATE | Thane lift collapse: Death toll rises to seven: Thane Municipal Corporation ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2023 The building is located off the Ghodbunder Road. Prima facie, one of the supporting cables of the construction lift snapped, leading to the incident, he added. After receiving the information, a team of Regional Disaster Management Cell and Fire Brigade personnel rushed to the spot and pulled out the workers from the basement parking. "It was immediately not clear how the lift cable malfunctioned," Tadvi added. The deceased labourers have been identified as Mahendra Choupal (32), Rupesh Kumar Das (21), Harun Sheikh (47), Mithlesh Vishwakarma (35), Kari Das (38), and Navin Vishwakarma. New York: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has hailed the New Delhi Declaration of the G20 members, saying it "undoubtedly" represents "a diplomatic triumph for India". In an exclusive interview with ANI on Sunday, Tharoor said, The Delhi Declaration is undoubtedly a diplomatic triumph for India. It's a good achievement because right until the G20 summit was being convened, the widespread expectation was there would be no agreement and, that, therefore, a joint communique might not be possible, and, that we might have to end up with a chairman's summary." On Saturday, on the opening day of the G20 summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said a consensus had been built on the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration before formally announcing its adoption. Prime Minister Modi, who chaired G20 sessions throughout the day, congratulated the Sherpas and ministers for working towards arriving at a common ground and eventually building a consensus among all G20 members and other stakeholders. Tharoor further praised India for bringing all member states to a consensus on the New Delhi Declaration. The main reason (for lack of a consensus on the statement) was the big gulf between those who wanted a condemnation of the Russian war in Ukraine and those, like Russia and China, who wanted no mention whatsoever of that subject. India was able to find a formula to bridge that gap and that is a significant diplomatic achievement because when there is a Summit without a joint communique, it is always seen as a setback for the chairman, Tharoor added. On the conduct of the G20 summit under Indias presidency, Tharoor said the government actually made it a 'peoples G20', adding that it was also an attempt by the "ruling party" (BJP) to turn the mega huddle of world leaders into an "asset" for themselves. Things that were remarkable about the government's conduct of the presidency was that they did something that no previous G20 presidency has done. They actually made it a nationwide event, with 200 meetings in 58 cities and with a huge amount of action, they converted the G20 into a sort of 'people's G20.' With public events, the university connect programmes, civil societies, all these things were done under our presidency. That is in some ways both a credit to India for taking a message of G20 to the entire people. But it was also an attempt by the ruling party to instrumentalize the G20 as something that would turn out to be an asset for them, Tharoor said. Prime Minister Modi, while announcing the conclusion of the G20 summit on Sunday, proposed to hold a virtual G20 session in November to review the suggestions and proposals made at the premier forum for international economic cooperation. On that, Tharoor said, They have every right to do that, they are the ruling party. Many countries have hosted the G20 event, but never a ruling party has celebrated its leadership in such a way, the whole Vishwaguru concept, the posters of Mr Modi every 50 meters in Delhi. All of these are advertising the G20 as if it was the personal achievement of Mr Modi and the BJP government and that I think has raised some eyebrows. Before declaring that the summit closed, PM Modi handed over the ceremonial gavel of the Group of 20 presidency to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and about 200 meetings related to G20 were organised in 60 cities across the country. Ive only had one job in my entire life: this. We had been promised robots in books and movies, but I didnt see any. I founded iRobot after graduating from MIT with the goal of advancing the robotics industry. He has succeeded, at least to some extent. Colin Angle has been manufacturing robots of all kinds for more than 30 years. His first steps were taken with the Department of Defense, to whom he has sold thousands of robots on caterpillar tracks that deactivate anti-personnel mines. It was his reconnaissance robots that searched the ruins of the Twin Towers for survivors after the 9/11 attacks. But his greatest success came from the popularity of Roomba robot vacuum cleaners. Already a kind of pop icon, they led the way in the domestic robotics market, which according to the engineer will be huge in a few years. The original Roomba algorithm is the same one used by the robots we made for the Pentagon, but with a built-in vacuum cleaner, says Angle. iRobots gadgets come equipped with powerful software and various sensors that allow them to move with reasonable precision. They vacuum and mop efficiently without the need for human intervention. They are able to recognize if we are at home or not (by searching for our devices via Bluetooth), so as to start cleaning when they will not disturb us. The technology has not gone unnoticed among the giants of the sector. In August of last year, Amazon announced its intention to acquire the company. The transaction is still to be approved by the U.S. regulator, which must study whether it violates antitrust laws. This summer, the European Commission opened its own investigation in this regard. We believe that Amazon is focused on a very long-term vision and that this can give iRobot the opportunity to innovate faster than until now, he says. Angle is visiting the offices of EL PAIS in Madrid during his European tour to present the latest Roomba models. Question. What is new about the latest models compared to the previous ones? Answer. We now have the best robot vacuum on the market, the J9+, and the best robot vacuum and mop, the Combo J9+. We have improved it so that the robot is able to clean for 60 days without having to touch it. The same goes for the robot mop: while before the water had to be refilled after every mission, now this is done automatically at the emptying, refilling, and loading dock. The vacuum is now more powerful, and we have a system we call Dirt Detective that allows the robot to clean each room the way you want. One of the first robots to be released by iRobot, the Urbie was designed for military use and rescue missions. Q. What does it mean? A. We have incorporated software that draws a map of the house and the different rooms, and on it you can see what is in each room, how dirty it has been historically and other considerations that help you understand what happens in every corner of your home. For example, the dining room should be cleaned more than the hallway and always after meals, or that it is better to clean the bathroom after the kitchen, and not the other way around. It comes up with specific cleaning plans based on the type of floor and accumulated dirt and predicts priority areas. Q. How do you imagine robotic cleaning in ten years? A. The intelligence that makes this robot great can be applied to more things. Why cant we make other devices in the home understand where they are and what we need? For example, air purifiers are often set to low power because they make a lot of noise, and then they are ineffective. Why cant the appliance know when is a good time to actually work [without disturbing anyone]? Q. Is your idea is to integrate Roomba robots with more home appliances? A. The concept of smart home is very confusing today. There are some good ideas, but the smart home is not very smart. I think the home needs to be thought of more as a robot, as a system. And 10 years from now, iRobot will want to do more than just vacuum and mop floors. Colin Angle poses next to the Roomba Combo J9+, whose new docking station means you only have to change the mopping water and empty the waste tank once every 60 days. Claudio Alvarez Q. Amazon has smart home devices like its Echo voice assistant, Ring doorbells and cameras, and the Astro robot. Would they fit into that plan? A. Amazon has a great catalog, and we have a good product and good technology. The company is very interested in making products that delight customers. They design products for many parts of the home. So, our visions are aligned, yes. Q. Will we end up talking to the vacuum cleaner? A. Of course. Its not something were working on, but Google, Apple, and Amazon are developing conversational models for their smart speakers. Right now it is difficult to guide a Roomba by voice, because you have to give the commands [to Alexa or other assistants] with a very specific syntax, and that can be frustrating. But if we are able to develop a conversational interface where we can say Hey, Roomba, can you go clean the kitchen when Im done eating, and Roomba tells me okay, and the right thing happens, we will open a door to a new style of interaction with technology. Q. The information that Roombas robots collect from homes is highly sensitive. How do you protect that data? Are these vacuum cleaners safe? A. The information collected by the robots does not leave the devices, so the images and plans of the home stay on the vacuum cleaner unless the user says otherwise. The data that is transmitted to the users phone is end-to-end encrypted, so it is not susceptible to being stolen. The next level of security is that the data we keep is stored in a way that is only useful to the robot. That is, if you managed to defeat all our cybersecurity measures and got hold of the plans of a house, you would be disappointed by what you saw: a series of polygonal shapes labeled as kitchen or bedroom, because the robot doesnt care about any other information. We dont store peoples private information because its sensitive, and we dont need it for the robot to function. I would like customers to make their purchasing decisions based on the privacy that products offer. Q. iRobot has access to intimate information about our homes: their physical layout. The rest of the technological companies do not have this data. A. We know that there is a rectangular object called a kitchen in your house, but an online sales portal knows the last 78 things you have bought and can make richer inferences than we can about your behavior. Im not sure we can add much to those predictions with what we know. And I dont want to, either. Our commitment to privacy runs deep. We will never sell customer data, we will make money another way. My long-term vision is to help seniors live more independently. I dont want us to be a data vacuum. Im not interested in that data, actually. My goal is if you bring a Roomba into your life, you will never own a different vacuum. Q. When Amazon announced its intention to acquire iRobot, however, many thought it was going after their data. A. I know. I think Amazon, like the rest of the retailers, has much better ways of obtaining information from users than through our robots. We do not provide them with any tool that improves what they already have in this regard. I dont think they want to buy iRobot because of the data we have, because its irrelevant. Q. Despite the security measures you have described, last year private images of Roomba users taken by their vacuum cleaners circulated on social networks. A. They did not come from consumer robots, but rather a development robot. That could never have happened on an iRobot commercial product. The images belonged to users who were testing models in development and who had signed and consented to iRobot recording and collecting images. They were leaked by workers from an external company [Scale AI] that does image annotation for machine learning models [manually labeling images so that the machine associates a series of pixels with an idea]. It was unfortunate, but it wasnt a consumer issue, but rather a development issue. We terminated our relationship with them and the company is now facing legal challenges. We will make sure it can never happen again. Q. Are you still working with image annotation companies? A. We continue to do a lot of machine vision work, although we have put additional safeguards in place for image annotation work. We are turning to automated tools for annotation, which gives us more control over the process, so we dont have to deal with third parties like before. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Targeting Cookies These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. Such is the state of exception to which Donald Trump has brought the United States, with his four indictments on a total of 91 counts, that even legal debates make for newspaper headlines. The debate, more intense every day, is this time about whether the 14th Amendment to the Constitution holds the answer for those who believe the former presidents role in the siege on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 when he called a rally and encouraged his supporters to march on Congress and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden should be enough to stop him from running in next years elections, in which he is the favorite to win the Republican nomination. The text itself does not forbid a person indicted for a federal crime from being president; nor from running for the White House. Not even if that person is in jail. But the amendment does provide a proviso in Section Three, known as the disqualification clause. It reads: No person shall be [...] president [...] who, having previously taken an oath [...] to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. The amendment also states that Congress can lift the ban if it is supported by two-thirds of each House. Approved in 1868, the most far-reaching effects of the 14th Amendment were to grant citizenship to every person born or naturalized in the United States, including those who had been enslaved, and to guarantee all citizens are treated equally before the law. Section Three was designed to prevent the Confederate rebels, defeated in the Civil War (1861-1865), from reoffending. In the years after peace, known as the Reconstruction era, it was applied in a handful of cases, and then, for more than a century, it was forgotten. Criminal enterprise When Trump was first indicted in April, the experts consulted by this newspaper mentioned Section Three as a distant possibility, arguing it would be almost impossible to apply. But everything seems to have changed since Trumps fourth indictment, in which the former president and 18 of his allies are charged with racketeering to pressure Georgia election officials and alter the result of the 2020 elections. And even more so since the announcement of the publication of a 126-page scientific article in the next issue of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review. Titled The Sweep and Force of Section Three, the legal paper is authored by William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen, two renowned conservative academics, who argue that the disqualification clause is far from being a 19th-century anachronism. They believe there is no doubt that Trumps actions especially how he incited supporters and pressured his vice-president Mike Pence to disrupt the transfer of power fit under the clause. Since then, a large number of lawyers and leading columnists have agreed with the scholars. The former presidents efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and the resulting attack on the U.S. Capitol, place him squarely within the ambit of the disqualification clause, and he is therefore ineligible to serve as president ever again, legal experts Laurence Trib and Michael Luttig wrote in The Atlantic. Last week, a Washington organization called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) decided to go one step further and filed a lawsuit to remove him from the ballot in Coloradot. There is overwhelming evidence that the clause can be triggered in this case, CREW vice president Donald Sherman, one of the lawyers who signed the lawsuit, explained in a telephone interview on Friday. The concept is easy to understand, even if the litigation will not be. We hope that the judge agrees with us, and we are confident of convincing the appellate courts, including the Supreme Court. That wont be easy, either: the Supreme Court has a conservative supermajority of six justices, three of whom were appointed by Trump. The plaintiffs want the matter resolved before the Republican presidential primary, so that voters are not misled into voting for an ineligible person, said Sherman. When asked why the lawsuit was filed in the Democratic-leaning state of Colorado, Sherman said the decision was made due to the fact that they had a group of courageous plaintiffs, four Republicans and two independents, including Norma Anderson, who was the leader of the conservative majority in the state senate. He also pointed out that Trump does not need to be found guilty in order for the nuclear button of the 14th Amendment to be triggered. Cuoy Griffin, leader of Cowboys for Trump, in an image from 2021. Morgan Lee (AP) Similar disqualification cases have also been filed In New Hampshire (where the earliest Republican primaries will take place), New Mexico, Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin. CREW set a precedent last year when they were able to use the clause to disqualify Cuoy Griffin, the founder of the Cowboys for Trump group, from holding public office in New Mexico. The court understood that, since [Griffin] recruited people for the assault on the Capitol, he could not run, even if he did not commit any violent act, nor enter the building that day, said Sherman, adding: It was the first time since the Reconstruction in which Section Three went ahead in a court. The lawyer believes strongly in his crusade, but knowing the American judicial system, it is difficult not to think that his mission is a tough one. Trump is facing four indictments: the Georgia case over election subversion, the Stormy Daniels case over hush money paid during the 2016 election, the Mar-a-Lago case over classified papers and the federal indictment over the January 6 assault on the Capitol. In each of these investigations, Trumps legal team is working hard to delay the proceedings from moving forward a strategy that could hinder the disqualification lawsuits. The legal theory that Section Three can be used to disqualify Trump has been gaining ground among Democrats and Republicans who oppose the former president. But some argue that it is flawed. One of the most vocal critics is Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley, who is a professor at George Washington University. He has called it the most dangerous constitutional theory that has emerged in decades. This 14th Amendment theory is something that good liberals will read to their children at night. It goes something like this: Donald Trump can never be president again, because the 14th Amendment bars those who previously took federal oaths from assuming office if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion, said Turley. With that, and a kiss on the forehead, a progressives child can sleep peacefully through the night. Others, like Russell L. Riley, co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, are more cautious. Riley explained last Friday in an email that he believes there are sound reasons to believe that it [the disqualification clause] would be applicable to Trump and thus render him ineligible for office. Especially given the sentences issued to the January 6 protesters, including the Proud Boys, it is hard not to find that the president was to blame for a real insurrection, consistent with the terms of the 14th amendment. Last week, for example, the groups leader Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence among the hundreds already convicted of participating in the attack on American democracy. All it would take would be for two or three key states to accept this logic to effectively end Trumps candidacy, because it would put an electoral majority out of reach for him. But Riley is still undecided about the wisdom of taking this route. Mainly because so many Republicans seem utterly convinced that deploying the 14th amendment in this instance would be a sign of illegitimate weaponizing of the constitution. So if some states decided, on the basis of this amendment, not to include Trump on the ballot this time, it seems almost certain that their opposite numbers would seek to use this mechanism in a future race to undermine the Democratic candidate, without any real constitutional justification. Thats a recipe for escalation of our political conflicts that in the long run would be detrimental to our democracy. So it may be that the wiser option is not to trigger that mechanism. If the disqualification clause does not move ahead, it would clear the path for Trump to return to the White House, which could also pose a threat to American democracy. All in all, Riley prefers to trust voters than to disqualify the presidential candidate. In the end, that way is probably the healthiest optionbut perhaps also the riskiest. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Azerbaijan Defence Ministry says Armenia spreads disinformation about Azerbaijani Army firing at the Armenian army positions. Thus, the information spread by the other side about the firing of the positions of the Armenian armed forces units located in the direction of the Guneshli settlement by the units of the Azerbaijani Army on September 9 at around 22:50 is completely false, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. "We categorically refute this information spread by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia." Elon Musk tweeted in August 2021 that Walter Isaacson was writing his biography. The deal, as the writer tells it, was that Isaacson would spend two years by Musks side. He would attend all kinds of meetings, have access to his inner circle and many of his texts messages and communications... Essentially, he would become Musks shadow. And the business magnate would not have any control over the book he wrote nor would he be able to read it in advance. Thats how Elon Musk was written a biography of almost 700 pages with no title other than the name of its protagonist, who is the founder of, among other things, the electric car company Tesla and the satellite and rocket company SpaceX, and, since last October, owner of Twitter (now called X). Isaacson spends most of his time at his home in New Orleans, the city where he was born in 1952, but he receives EL PAIS in his spacious and elegant New York apartment, in the most esteemed part of Central Park West. Outside, thousands of people are spending a torrid Labor Day holiday in the park. On the living room table, there is a book that reproduces the manuscript of Albert Einsteins Theory of Relativity and another with the complete paintings and drawings of Leonardo DaVinci the protagonists of two of his monumental biographies. His specialty, or obsession, is The Innovators the title of another one of his books , the people who have changed the world, be they historical figures or contemporary leaders. Isaacson was a journalist (in a way, he still is), editor of Time magazine, president of CNN and head of the Aspen Institute. His most successful biography thus far has been that of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, published just after his death. Elon Musks is set to be another megahit. The books protagonist is either hated or loved there is no inbetween, especially since he bought Twitter. And Isaacson has been privileged to witness his extravagances and geniuses like no one else has. Except for a few excerpts, the publisher has kept the biography secret until the day of its publication: September 12 in the United States. The interview, therefore, takes place without the journalist having been able to read the book in its entirety. Question. You are known as the biographer of geniuses, having published widely-read biographies of Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, Jennifer Doudna, Steve Jobs... Is Elon Musk in the same league? Answer. I think Elon Musk is, along with Steve Jobs and Jennifer Doudna, the most influential innovator of our time. Steve Jobs got us to the digital age, while Jennifer Doudna got us to the age of gene editing. Elon Musk is bringing us into the age of electric vehicles, space travel and artificial intelligence. Q. How does Musks personal life, especially his childhood and relationships, factor into his biography? A. He had a very tough childhood. He learned how to deal with pain, and he learned to love drama that his father instilled in him. He was bullied as a child, and his father sided with the bullies. So, throughout his life Musk has had these dark demons. Sometimes great people have dark demons in their head, and theyre able to channel those demons to become driven. Q. What drives Elon Musks insatiable desire to push the boundaries of technology and explore new frontiers? A. I think there are three big missions that drive him. The first is to turn humans into a multiplanetary species. Secondly, he wants to bring us into the era of electric vehicles and sustainable energy. And third, he wants to make artificial intelligence safe. These are big, epic missions. Sometimes I think hes just fooling himself, as a savior complex or superhero complex, but I do believe hes driven by those missions. Isaacson in his New York apartment. Victor Llorente Q. Some people have said he wants to be a kind of Ironman. A. He told me that he read comics when he was a kid. He said they looked ridiculous because they wore their underwear on the outside and dressed funny, but at least they were trying to save the world. I think that has motivated him. Q. What about his personality? What is the characteristic that stands out the most? A. I think he has multiple personalities, and hell shift between personality to personality. At times, hell be funny. Other times hell be focused. Others, he gets into an engineering mode and has a real feel for how engineering is done. And then there are times he gets into what his girlfriend and others call the demon mode, in which hes just dark and angry and hell be horrible to the people around him. Afterwards, he steps out of that demon mode, and he hardly remembers what he did. His girlfriend Claire Boucher, the artist known as Grimes, says: I dont like being around demon mode. I like being with Elon when he is his other personalities. But she says demon mode is what gets things done. Q. To what extent does money motivate him? A. I dont think he is motivated by money. I think that if youre driven mainly by making money, youre not going to start a rocket company or an electric vehicle company, and youre not going to buy Twitter. I believe hes motivated by these big missions and then along the way, he figures out whats a good money-making strategy to fund those missions. For example, he wants to get humans to Mars, so he needs big rockets. After deciding on that goal, he figured out he could put up hundreds of satellites and recreate the internet in outer space. Thats how hes making his money, but he started SpaceX not to make money but to get to Mars. Q. You have written biographies about historical figures or people who are at the end of their careers. With Elon Musk, his story is very much still unfolding. How did that condition your work? A. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, but after a while I realized that I understood how Musks mind work and what drove him. Therefore, even with all the things hes going to do in the next few years, I think this book helps explain exactly who he is. Q. SpaceX has achieved great success with reusable rockets that launch satellites and then return and recover, but do you think he is serious about the belief that humanity will only survive as a multiplanetary civilization? Is there the slightest chance that there will be one million people living on Mars in 2050, as he claims? A. I dont think that we will get a community on Mars in the next 20 years. But hes the person most likely to get us there at some point. Q. Starlink has raised some concerns about satellite internet access, especially in Ukraine, being in private hands. What do you think? A. I was surprised when the Russians invaded Ukraine that all other satellite companies were blocked by the Russians and not even the U.S. intelligence satellites were working. Only Elon Musks were working. Likewise, just this past week, he brought four astronauts down from the space station, while the U.S. has not been able to send astronauts to and from orbit for the past 12 years. Musk has made these things work, which has made him powerful. In the book, youll read that once he used Starlink and shut it off over Crimea to try to stop a secret attack on Crimea. In that moment, he realized he should not have that much power. So, he created something called Starshield, which he sold to the U.S. military, and theyre the ones who get to decide how to use it. All the stories about him having all this control and not giving it up are incorrect. He did decide to allow the technology to be put in the hands of the U.S. military. Q. When it comes to Elon Musk, you either love him or you hate him. Have you fallen into either of those two groups? A. No. There are so many different versions of Elon Musk some of them are likable, I guess. And some of them make me flinch. But my job is just to tell the stories. Im going to let the reader decide what they think of him, and I assume the reader will figure out that there are certain aspects and personalities of Musk that are totally amazing. And a few aspects that are totally appalling. But when you read the whole story you get to make the judgment about how you feel. Q. Have you formed your own moral judgment about Elon Musk? A. I leave that to the reader; Im just telling the story. When I was growing up, I had an uncle who told me there were two types of people who came out of Louisiana: preachers and storytellers. The world has too many preaches, so Im not here to impose any moral judgment. Im here to give you the story and allow you to figure it out. Q. You say that buying Twitter has been a way for him to become king of the playground. A. As a kid he was bullied and beaten up on the playground all the time. Twitter is the ultimate playground for the world. Its where people come to trade ideas and play and show off. But on Twitter, the clever people get followers, they dont get their head smashed against the steps like Elon did when he was a child. I think whenever he gets into a dark place, it takes him back not only to the playground of his youth where he was beaten up all the time, but also to his father who took the side of the bullies. He gets very dark, but owning Twitter gave him the chance to own the playground. Q. What about his style of management? Can you explain how it clashed with the Twitter culture? A. Hes a very rough manager at times. Twitter was a company that was very pleasant. Everybody nurtured each other. If an employee was feeling bad, they got to take a mental health day. Psychological safety was something people cared about. But Musk doesnt care about that; he believes in being hardcore. He believes in being all in, and he says that a maniacal intensity is whats going to get us ahead. Whether its at SpaceX, Tesla or Twitter, whenever he sees that people arent hardcore in intent, he orders a surge, which means everybody has to work for 24 hours. And hes not empathetic. He doesnt care about making the workers or people around him feel good he cares about the mission. He believes that if youre the type of person who has a lot of empathy and you care a lot about the people right in front of you, it means youre not going to push hard enough to get the mission done. This is not a way I would be. I wasnt that way when I was head of Time magazine, but, in the biography, I tried to describe why its his way. Q. Do you see any sense in the whole cage fight thing with Mark Zuckerberg? Is it a joke? A. Its a total joke. Its a metaphor. Hes not going to go into a cage match to fight with Mark Zuckerberg. He has a schoolboy sense of humor in which he trolls people. And other people dont understand that one of his personalities is just a juvenile joker that plays pranks. Q. You write in your book about Musks meetings and his relationship with Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos. A. The Bill Gates relationship is interesting. Musk admired Bill Gates and the early days of Microsoft. He always used Microsoft rather than open source software, and he admired the fact that Bill Gates was like him very tough, not very empathetic, driven, and fostered an intense work environment. But at a certain point, Gates tried to talk Musk into donating a lot of money to fight climate change. Musk felt that he could do more to fight climate change by keeping his money invested in Tesla, but he agreed to meet with Gates. Then, he asked Gates, are you shorting Tesla stock? Meaning, was he betting against the stock and making money as the stock went down? Gates admitted that he was, and that made Musk think that Gates was an asshole because he was saying he was in favor of fighting climate change but at the same time was undermining investment in Tesla. Months later, Gates tried to get back in touch with Musk and said: Heres a plan for you. Can we talk about it? And all Musk said was: Are you still shorting Tesla? Gates showed the text to his son Rory because they were together at the time, and Rory said: Just say yes, and then change the subject. So, Gates said: Yes, I am. But lets talk about climate change. Musk just wont deal with him for that reason. Q. And what about his relationship with Bezos? A. He competes with Bezos, but he thinks its great that Bezos is building space rockets. I think hes trying to push Bezos to be more competitive. He feels that Bezos spends too much time vacationing and thats why he hasnt been able to get a rocket into orbit, but I actually think that Musk admires him for trying and wishes that Bezos rocket company [Blue Origin] was more successful. Q. How does your book explore Musks views on artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity? A. Early on, that was one of his big three missions: to make artificial intelligence safe for humanity. He read science fiction as a child, so he read Isaac Asimov robot stories and was interested in making sure robots dont harm humanity. Early on, when DeepMind is created, he met with the founders and the investors, and he got very upset that they sold DeepMind to Google because he had always discussed artificial intelligence with [Google co-founder] Larry Page and thought that Larry Page didnt care enough about AI safety. Thats when Musk decided to start OpenAI with Sam Altman. They worked together for a while, but Musk doesnt like sharing power and they ended up splitting. Earlier this year, I got a text message from Musk, saying that we had to talk. I had just spent a week with him in Texas, but I flew back to meet with him. We were at the house of one of his friends, Shivon Zilis, mother of two of his children. She had been working on artificial intelligence because she works at Neuralink, one of Musks companies, which implants chips in the brain so that we can communicate better with computers. Musk feels that by having us tied more closely to our computers, the computers wont go off on their own and try to harm us. We spoke about that for a long time, and thats when he told me he was doing to found xAI, an artificial intelligence company. Q. What does he want to do with it? A. Its got a few components. One is going to do a chatbot, just like OpenAI has. Secondly, xAI is going to be able to write code. Third, he wants to answer big questions the super questions. When he was young, he read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. In that book, there was a computer that was supposed to address the question of life, the universe, and what it all meant. I think he was overly influenced by having read that. And finally, unlike the chatbot that everyone is excited about, Musk believes that what really counts is real-world AI, i.e. machines that can operate in the physical world, such as robots and autonomous cars. Not AI that just gives you an answer to a question. The AI he envisions would be able to process visual things, like streets and factory floors. With self-driving cars, he has all this data, like a billion frames a day that come from Tesla cars. So, he wants to create not just large language model artificial intelligence, but real-world artificial intelligence that can operate in the physical space. Q. To prepare for this interview, I read your books and the excerpts from Musks biography, listened to your lectures and interviews and worked through a couple of weekends. Then, I asked ChatGPT to suggest 20 questions for this interview, and it took less than a minute. And they were pretty good. Is my job at risk? A. I think Musk wants to make sure that we are connected to the machine very closely, so that we bring the creativity, the imagination, and they bring the processing power of the data. Certainly, some jobs will be at risk. Jobs were at risk when they invented automated teller machines (ATMs) and self-pumping gas stations. Jobs will be disrupted, but Musk believes that the combination of human creativity and machine processing power will always be more powerful than machines alone or, for that matter, humans alone. Q. What about your job? In your biographies of Doudna, Jobs and Musk, youve had privileged first-hand access to protagonists that a machine cant have. But will artificial intelligence be able to write a good biography of, say, Nikola Tesla or Isaac Newton that is well written not only in terms of information, but in narrative style and structure? A. I think that artificial intelligence will be able to gather data that has already been created by people, such as facts and information about Isaac Newton. But Id say that certainly for the foreseeable future humans are better at writing narratives that are empathic toward the protagonists personality. I suspect that 10 to 15 years from now, theyll be narrative books written by AI. But one thing I do is gather new information. In other words, no machine has been sitting there next to Starship at 3:00 in the morning while Musk is running around trying to figure out the Raptor engine and Im there taking notes. Therell be a long time before youll have machines that can go out and report and gather new information. That takes the type of the real-world AI that Musk is dreaming about, but we dont have robots that can just go around, observe things and take notes yet. Q. Are you already working on any new projects? What biography would you like to write? A. I tend to go back and forth between living people and people in history. Writing Musks biography was such a roller coaster ride that I said Ill do somebody whos been dead for 200 years. After Steve Jobs, I decided to do somebody who had been dead for 500 years, which is what I did with DaVinci. Its been quite a wild ride with Elon, so I think its time for me to go into the Wayback Machine and do a historical thing. I have 10 ideas in mind, but I havent decided yet. Isaacson, former editor of 'Time' magazine and president of CNN. Victor Llorente Q. Bill Gates appears and reappears in your books, would you like to write a book about him? A. I think there is a grand biography to be done on Bill Gates. Hes been enormously influential. He has two great chapters: one, as a technologist, and two, as a philanthropist. As I said, I think for my next phase, I probably will go back in history. But I do think that Bill Gates is a deeply important and deeply moral player in history. Q. In your last interview with EL PAIS, you said that social media has dynamited democracy. After writing the biography of the Twitter/X owner, do you still think the same? A. Yes, I think that the algorithms of social networks tend to divide us. They tend to play to our angers and resentments rather than bring us together and unite us, and thats a problem for democracy. Its not just simply the people on there saying weird things. As Musk said, we want to have freedom of speech, but not necessarily freedom of reach meaning we dont want to amplify things that will divide us. Now, thats hard to do in the digital age. I worked at CNN and realized that conflict and enraging people got to more viewers. Thats true on the internet and also talk radio. Our technology these days tends to have a tendency to be divisive rather than unifing. I think we can fix that, but I think the business model at the moment is to try to keep peoples attention and keep them engaged. That often means keeping them enraged, not just engaged. Q. Elon Musk presents himself as a free speech absolutist, but he accepts censorship from totalitarian governments. How do you explain this contradiction? A. He has said that he believes in free speech, up to the limit of what the law allows. In different countries, the law allows different things. In the United States, we have a First Amendment, and theres a broader range of free speech thats allowable. In Germany, there are certain things that are not as allowable, such as Holocaust denial. In China, they have very limited free speech. He believes that in any country, the people should be able to decide what the laws are. And if youre in a country where the laws say that you cant deny the Holocaust which is a law that Germany wants to pass he says he will follow the law. However, there are times when I think hes hypocritical: when he talks about free speech but then gets angry and tries to hurt or cut off people who have, for example, threatened to boycott advertisers on Twitter, or when he tries to ban people who showed where his jet was flying. Q. As a former jounalist, Time magazine editor and CNN president, what is your opinion of the media today? A. The media has become too dependent on advertising, which causes news outlets to chase eyeballs in clicks to try to keep people engaged. In the future, when AI needs good data, therell be more value for high-quality information, meaning, the type of things people now pay for. Were seeing people now subscribing to The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New York Times. I think that is good because if you want people to pay for something, its going to have to be high value. I believe that paying for quality content will reduce the amount of divisiveness if youre trying to get a broad audience rather than a passionate narrow audience. At the moment, if you want content from a place that charges, you usually have to subscribe. You cant buy just one article from The New York Times, and thats fine: people subscribe to five or 10 newspapers. But then if you try reading something like a Minneapolis newspaper or the New Orleans paper, youre not going to want to subscribe just to read one article. So, its important to have a way for content creators to be able to sell single articles. What Musk is trying to do with X is turn it into a payments platform as well as social media. That will allow local journalists as well as anybody else to get paid by people just choosing to pay $1 or $2 for something rather than subscribing. Its what Steve Jobs did with music. We have music subscriptions, but initially it was like 99 cents a song. I think that is what will transform journalism: the ability to pay small amounts for single articles or single opinion pieces, or for that matter, short stories or videos. I think that is going to move us a little bit closer to high-value content. Q. Do you think Donald Trump is a risk to democracy? A. Yes. I think that he tried to overturn the last election and that he went way beyond just challenging the results in court and then encouraging people from vice president Pence to the Georgia state officials to do things that undermine the essence of democracy. Q. How can someone who has been indicted four times with dozens of charges be leading in the Republican polls? A. I think its problematic that a large segment of the Republican Party has embraced this person. Elon Musk calls Trump a con artist. I think its part of a pattern were seeing around the world whether it be with Orban in Hungary, Marine Le Pen in France and in many other places where theres an authoritarian, populist sort of right-wing. I think its important to understand what is causing this resentment, whether its in Europe or the United States. Free trade and globalization made a lot of people a lot of money, but it left people behind and feeling resented. We can think immigration is good, but it also threatens peoples livelihoods. Theres also wealth inequality, the unfairness of the system, to what extent is the elite looking down upon or trying to force things on the rest of us... I try to keep an open mind about why these resentments have led to a division in our politics and, for that matter, a division on social media and in talk radio and on cable news. Q. Joe Biden won the election saying he wanted to unify the country, but polarization has grown. Is there any remedy? A. I keep thinking the fever might break, but Joe Biden wont be a unifying figure. I think people have to feel that the system is fair, and its going to take a while to restore that because people feel that the system was rigged against them after the 2008 financial crisis and other things. Theres some truth to that the system was rigged against the ordinary person, so people who believe in democracy have to find ways to restore that trust. Im hopeful that these things come in waves. Weve seen surges of populism before, and I think the fever could break at some point, but it would be useful for a new generation of leaders to come along. Younger leaders who are not as polarized as Donald Trump is. Around America, you can find in many places including my hometown of New Orleans people rise above politics, and they just care about creating a new economy, about helping entrepreneurs. There are creative cities around this country where you dont have that much polarization. Q. Do you think that it is an exaggeration to believe that there will be another civil war? A. Yes. I am a historian, so I can remember the late 1960s, when there wasnt a civil war but a lot of civil unrest in our streets, whether it was in the race riots or the Vietnam War riots. And I can remember the 1950s we just saw the movie Oppenheimer and how there was a fervor that got out of control then. And certainly the real Civil War, which was the bloodiest conflict in our nations history. So, I dont see us being in a civil war yet. Im optimistic that 70% of this country can basically agree on 70% of the issues and totally agree on the fact that we want to keep a constitutional democracy. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KYODO NEWS - Sep 11, 2023 - 21:50 | All, Japan, 3/11 Fukushima About 7,800 tons of treated radioactive water has been discharged into the sea from the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in the first round of disposal as planned, the plant operator said Monday. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. began the discharge of water that, despite concerns voiced by local fishermen and strong opposition from China, contained tritium levels below the prescribed limits. The release, which started on Aug. 24, is carried out under the monitoring of the Japanese government and the International Atomic Energy Agency. As the volume of processed water, a result of cooling melted nuclear fuel, approached the plant's storage capacity limit, TEPCO decided to release approximately 31,200 tons of this water in four rounds during the current fiscal year through March. TEPCO, along with the Environment Ministry, the Fisheries Agency, and the Fukushima prefectural government, has been analyzing tritium levels in the environment around the power plant since the start of the discharge last month, with no abnormalities detected so far. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said at a regular board meeting Monday that recent sea water sampling and analysis have shown tritium levels to be below Japan's limit. He also said that the IAEA will continue independent monitoring of the discharge. TEPCO plans to release another 7,800 tons later this month, at the earliest, pending checks on tritium concentration levels and inspections of water disposal facilities. The disposal of treated water is crucial for decommissioning the nuclear plant, which was severely damaged by a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in 2011, according to TEPCO and the government. In the meantime, China has imposed a blanket import ban on Japanese fishery products in response to the water discharge. The Japanese government has introduced support measures for the fishery industry. The government has been urging China to lift the ban and engage in scientific discussions with experts from both countries, all while assisting the domestic industry in expanding its export destinations beyond China. The treated water was discharged into the ocean 1 kilometer off the plant via an undersea tunnel after undergoing a treatment process in which most radionuclides except tritium have been removed. The remaining tritium is then diluted to one-40th of the concentration permitted under Japanese safety standards. Nuclear power plants worldwide routinely release treated water containing low concentrations of tritium, considered less harmful than other radioactive materials, and other radionuclides into the environment as part of normal operations, according to the IAEA. Related coverage: Residents file suit to halt wastewater release from Fukushima plant FOCUS:Fukushima water discharge unlikely to impact Tokyo-Seoul ties: expert Japan, China spar over import ban after Fukushima water release KYODO NEWS - Sep 11, 2023 - 21:18 | World, All TOKYO - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia "soon" for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korea's state media reported Monday. Kim's visit is at the invitation of Putin, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Sources close to Russian authorities said a train carrying Kim left Pyongyang for Russia and that he and Putin are likely to hold talks on Tuesday evening. The two last held talks in Vladivostok in April 2019. Putin has arrived in Vladivostok to attend a three-day economic forum from Sunday, Tass reported. The sources said Kim, who rarely travels outside his country, will likely stay in Russia through Wednesday. The New York Times reported last week that the two leaders would meet to discuss the possibility of supplying Russia with weapons as well as other military cooperation. This comes as Russia struggles in its invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. The United States has warned North Korea not to provide weapons and ammunition to Russia for use against Ukraine. Related coverage: North Korea's Kim to meet Putin in Russia to talk weapons supply: NYT Russia proposed 3-way drill with North Korea, China: South Korea spy agency U.S. warns North Korea not to supply weapons to Russia for Ukraine war By Miya Tanaka and Toshihide Kochi, KYODO NEWS - Sep 11, 2023 - 17:29 | All, Japan, World The U.S. Marines view deterring China as their key focus and will strive to make sure a conflict in the Indo-Pacific does not "spill over" to Japan, the military branch's top general Eric Smith said Monday, while warning that Beijing's missile capabilities are "significant" and "real." The Marine Corps' No. 2 officer, who has been nominated to become the next commandant, also said in an interview in Tokyo that a littoral regiment being formed in Japan for remote island defense is being designed to provide "advanced maritime domain awareness" to allies and partners, in order to better detect events in surrounding waters. The United States and Japan announced in January that the existing 12th Marine Regiment based in the southern prefecture of Okinawa will be reorganized into the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment by 2025, making it the first MLR to be forward-deployed. The regiments will possess advanced surveillance capabilities and will be armed with long-range fires. Consisting of about 1,800 to 2,000 personnel per unit, they will also be capable of flexibly deploying small groups of marines to remote islands. The forming of the regiments comes amid China's increased military assertiveness around far-flung southwestern Japan islets and Taiwan, which has raised the risk of conflict. Noting that the U.S. National Defense Strategy calls China "the pacing challenge," Smith said the Marines, as outlined in a major force design initiative released in 2020, are shifting their focus from "the counterterrorism time of Iraq and Afghanistan" to becoming an organization "able to deter a peer competitor." Following the establishment of the first-ever MLR in Hawaii last year, Smith said the next two years will be utilized to "learn and make minor adjustments" to the regiment in Hawaii, with any necessary changes then being made to the 12th MLR. "So 2025 is our goal. If it could be faster, it would be wonderful," he said. A contingency over Taiwan could draw the United States and its close ally Japan into a conflict with China. Japan hosts bases that the U.S. military will likely rely on for executing operations, and Okinawa's Yonaguni Island is located only about 110 kilometers from Taiwan. Japan was affected by heightened regional tensions last year when then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, prompting China to stage large-scale military exercises around the self-ruled island that included the firing of ballistic missiles, five of which fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone. "The missile threat from the PRC (People's Republic of China) is significant and growing," Smith said, adding that the firing of missiles into another country's EEZ is "an example of that growing and real threat that everyone should take seriously." Taiwan and mainland China have been separately governed since they split in 1949 due to a civil war. China has since endeavored to bring Taiwan back into its fold, with 2027 seen as the year Beijing may be aiming to ready its military to seize the island. Smith said the Marine Corps' job in the Indo-Pacific is "to prevent a conflict from happening," especially "any conflict that could spill over to Japan because we have a mutual defense treaty with Japan which we take very seriously." Rather than assuming a specific time that a contingency over Taiwan could occur, the acting commandant also said, "As a service chief, my timeline is always tomorrow morning...I don't try to set 27, 28, 29 or 30. I want to be ready faster than I am today." Smith, whose nomination to become the next commandant is pending in the U.S. Senate, has taken over as acting commandant after the retirement of David Berger in July left the military branch without a leader for the first time in over a century. Related coverage: China holds drills near Taiwan following vice pres.'s U.S. stopovers Top U.S. agency in Taiwan voices commitment to island's self-defense Taiwan's Lai says democracy undermined if China meddles in election KYODO NEWS - Sep 12, 2023 - 15:20 | All, Japan Tokyo's education board decided Monday to scrap its gender quota for all admissions of full-time public high school students taking general courses, starting from the 2024 school year. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is the last board in Japan with a quota for ensuring an equal gender ratio. It will start passing individuals based on grades-based ranking only amid criticism that the differing pass mark for men and women is unfair. The capital's education board decided in 2021 to reconsider the use of gender quotas for full-time schools with general courses, introducing its new non-gender-based system in stages in subsequent years. Ten percent of the students enrolled in the 2022 school year and 20 percent of those enrolled in the following year were admitted under the grade ranking system. School years in Japan typically start in April. Except for Tokyo's, all other local school boards had decided by 2021 to no longer require applicants to specify their gender on their admission forms, reflecting a growing awareness of sexual diversity in the country. Many students who were either transgender or nonbinary cited psychological distress when forced to specify a gender they did not identify with. Related coverage: Japan court denies spousal benefits to same-sex couple Tokyo's Shibuya deputy mayor resigns for calling assemblywoman "pig" Japan top court rules against restroom use limit for trans gov't worker Yang Haoran checks a drone in a cotton field in Shawan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 31, 2023. (Xinhua) URUMQI, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- On a farm in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, water from the Tarim River flows through a canal into a pump house, before being distributed to the roots of the crops by a pressurized irrigation system. A new technology in the irrigation system, known as the "smart ball valve," has effectively resolved the challenge of manual operation during the water retrieval process. "A simple click on a smartphone connected to the network will activate the smart ball valve," said Zheng Zhengcheng, the chief consultant of Qingshuihe Farm, located in Heshuo County in Xinjiang. Based on the required water quantity, the valves can be adjusted to various capacity levels, ranging from 40 to 100 percent, added Zheng. Compared to traditional mechanical wells, this irrigation system can save approximately 28 percent of water, about 30 percent of fertilizer, and reduce irrigation time by almost half. Across millions of hectares of farmland in the Tarim River basin, new technologies have been applied to agricultural production, reducing the workload of farmers, conserving water, and improving efficiency. "My wife and I used to manage over 40 mu (about 2.7 hectares) of land, and it consumed a significant amount of water each year," said Ehmet Hemdul, a worker at Qingshuihe Farm. Thanks to new irrigation system, the couple now manages a plot of land 10 times larger, with average water usage cut by more than half. In Weili County, also located in the Tarim River basin, soil moisture meters have been widely installed in cotton fields to inform farmers when irrigation is necessary. "The device can monitor soil moisture and temperature, assisting us in making irrigation decisions throughout the cotton management process," said Ai Haipeng, the manager of a pilot program called "super cotton field," which employs a high level of autonomous technology. During the summer, with the rise in the water level of the Tarim River, workers have increased the intensity of patrols using unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure the safety of the power supply along the river. "We have formed several drone inspection teams to conduct specialized patrols on both sides of the Tarim River," said Wang Zhiliang, a drone operator with the power supply company in Aksu Prefecture, under the State Grid. Drone patrols not only significantly enhance work efficiency but also effectively ensure the safety of the workers, added Wang. Saline-alkali tolerant rice planted in Kashgar of China's Xinjiang has significantly increased the crop yields of local saline-alkali land. #AmazingChina "I believe that the relations between the governments and peoples of China and Venezuela are relations of intimate mutual trust, of true brotherhood," said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in an interview with Xinhua ahead of his state visit to China. #GLOBALink #Exclusive Workers work on the seafood processing production line at Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) FUZHOU, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- In a farm situated in the Pemalang district of Indonesia's Central Java province, prawn larvae have now reached the age of one and a half months. Once four months old, they will undergo processing and be shipped to Fuzhou, capital city of east China's Fujian Province, about 2,000 nautical miles away. Seasoned prawn farmer Joni Setyawan is in charge of the farm. The 66-year-old has nearly four decades of experience in raising Vannamei prawns. Since 2021, he has been working with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd., focusing on prawn cultivation. The farm in Pemalang district covers around 70,000 square meters. Prawns cultivated here undergo preliminary processing such as cleaning, peeling and frozen packaging at a local plant. Thereafter, vessels carrying these seafood products will embark on a journey of approximately 20 days before arriving at Fuzhou Port. "The Vannamei prawns from Indonesia will go through further processing, such as mixing and pounding, and transformed into prawn paste and packaged for quick freezing," said Lin Zhengrong, general manager of Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. Known for its delectable and chewy texture, prawn paste is very popular in the Chinese catering market. Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. has also invested in Vannamei prawn farming in Indonesia, with their farm spanning a vast area of around 4 million square meters. The company established the farm in Indonesia because of the country's warm and humid climate, abundant fisheries resources, short cultivation cycle, and relatively low labor costs. Back in China, the advanced cold chain logistics infrastructure, vast consumer market and mature seafood processing technology can further enhance the value of imported frozen prawn products. Setting up fishery bases in Indonesia has not only increased local employment opportunities but also boosted the income of residents, said Chen Qing'an, the legal representative of the Indonesian subsidiary of Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd., noting that the subsidiary has employed more than 300 local workers. "I had three prawn ponds, but now I oversee a total of 70 ponds of two farms. My monthly income has multiplied and is very stable," said Joni Setyawan, adding that he has supplied about 1,200 tonnes of Vannamei prawns to China over the past year and a half. Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. and Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. are among dozens of food companies operating in Fujian's Yuanhong Investment Zone. The zone represents the Chinese part of the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project jointly undertaken with Indonesia. The Indonesian part involves the Bintan Industrial Estate, the Aviarna Industrial Estate and the Badung Industrial Estate. With the memorandum signed in January 2021, the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project represents a solid step to synergize the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's vision of the Global Maritime Fulcrum. It also serves as an innovative approach to deepening bilateral economic and trade ties, bringing tangible benefits to businesses in both countries. To date, the Chinese park has launched 27 investment projects with a total investment of 55.4 billion yuan (about 7.57 billion U.S. dollars) and 18 trade projects. "The 'Two Countries, Twin Parks' project has benefited enterprises inside the industrial parks, offering more streamlined customs clearance services, saving us a significant amount of time," Lin said. Workers work on the seafood processing production line at Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) Workers work on the sea fish processing production line at Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) Workers work on the seafood processing production line at Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) A worker processes tuna at Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This photo taken on Aug. 24, 2023 shows frozen aquatic products imported from Indonesia at Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This photo taken on Aug. 24, 2023 shows aquatic products on display at Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) Seasoned prawn farmer Joni Setyawan speaks during an interview with Xinhua at a Vannamei prawn farm near Pemalang district of Central Java province, Indonesia, Aug. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Workers work on the sea fish processing production line in the Indonesian subsidiary of Chinese food company Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Semarang, Indonesia, Aug. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Workers work on the prawn processing production line in the Indonesian subsidiary of Chinese food company Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Semarang, Indonesia, Aug. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Chen Qing'an, the legal representative of the Indonesian subsidiary of Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Semarang, Indonesia, Aug. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Workers work on the prawn processing production line in the Indonesian subsidiary of Chinese food company Fujian MiaoTianHui Food Co., Ltd. in Semarang, Indonesia, Aug. 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) Workers work on the seafood processing production line at Fuqing Zhaohua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd. in Fuqing, southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This aerial panoramic photo taken on Aug. 28, 2023 shows a view of a Vannamei prawn farm near Pemalang district of Central Java province, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) A worker checks the condition of prawns at a Vannamei prawn farm near Pemalang district of Central Java province, Indonesia, Aug. 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) This aerial photo taken on Aug. 28, 2023 shows a Vannamei prawn farm near Pemalang district of Central Java province, Indonesia. (Xinhua/Xu Qin) AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Products to be exhibited at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) from Vanuatu embarked on a local transport flight to transit through New Zealand on Monday. The Vanuatu products will join the New Zealand exhibition products and set to sail from New Zealand to east China's Shanghai in mid-September, which marks the first shipment of exhibition products for this year's CIIE, undertaken by COSCO SHIPPING. Vanuatu is an island nation located in the southwestern Pacific, with its economy primarily based on agriculture, fisheries and livestock. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1982, China and Vanuatu have maintained stable and positive economic and trade ties. In 2022, the trade volume between China and Vanuatu reached about 108 million U.S. dollars, representing an 8.97 percent year-on-year increase. The Vanuatu government and local businesses greatly value the CIIE platform and have actively participated in the expo since its inception. According to Joe Pacoa, director of Vanuatu's Department of External Trade, Vanuatu's exhibition products are natural and distinctive. They have received positive feedback from Chinese consumers at previous CIIE expos. Vanuatu's water, kava and noni juice have forayed into the Chinese market. Encouraged by this, Vanuatu will continue to introduce more exhibition products at this year's CIIE, including local jewellery, sea cucumber-based cancer-fighting health products, mineral water, kava-based foods and daily necessities, chocolates, coconut oil, Tamanu oil, as well as traditional local handcrafted items and wood carvings, Pacoa said. With the assistance of COSCO, these unique products will once again bring an exotic island experience to Chinese customers through the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. As an official international shipping service provider for CIIE, COSCO SHIPPING has provided services to the Vanuatu government and participating exhibitors for six consecutive years. In early 2023, a series of extreme natural disasters, including tropical cyclones, significantly affected the production and livelihoods of the people of Vanuatu. To ensure the smooth transportation of local products, Zhou Shuhua, head of the CIIE team at COSCO Shipping Lines (New Zealand), led a team to Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, to work together with the local government and businesses. Pacoa is delighted to have the COSCO team providing comprehensive services to ensure the smooth departure of Vanuatu's exhibition products. The passage of the truck full of food sent by the International Red Cross Society of Russia to Khankendi for Armenian minority in Garabagh is delayed. Although the aid meant for families of Armenian origin living in Khankendi was supposed to pass to Asgaran at around 10 o'clock today, the truck still stopped in Barda district. On the one hand, the non-constructive position of the separatists in Garabagh as the reason for the delay in the movement of the truck is also, according to the information we received from reliable sources, the result of the pressure of the International Maiden's Cross Committee and the West on the Russian Red Cross Society. It should be recalled that, on the initiative of the Russian government, according to the joint cooperation memorandum of the Azerbaijan Red Crescent Society and the Russian Red Cross Society, in order to meet the food needs of the Armenian minority living in the Garabagh economic region of Azerbaijan, a total of one truck cargo of food has been sent by the Russian Red Cross Society. LONDON, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese embassy in Britain on Sunday urged relevant parties in Britain to stop anti-China political manipulation. Responding to a question concerning recent reports by British media about the arrest of two British people on suspicion of providing intelligence to China, a spokesperson for the embassy said, "The claim that China is suspected of 'stealing British intelligence' is completely fabricated and nothing but malicious slander." "We firmly oppose it and urge relevant parties in the UK to stop their anti-China political manipulation and stop putting on such self-staged political farce," the spokesperson said. SHANGHAI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- A C919 plane, a China-developed large passenger aircraft, landed at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Monday, according to the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC). The landing marked the beginning of two weeks of demonstration flights the aircraft model will make across 25 airports in Xinjiang. According to the plan, COMAC will use two C919 aircraft for the demonstration flights, which will take them to Karamay, Yining, Kuqa, Altay and other major airports in Xinjiang. Air travel is the most convenient mode of transport between regions in Xinjiang, which is vast and has complex terrain and numerous civil airports. The C919 demonstration flights will help meet the passenger demand for high-quality air travel and explore a new path for the commercial operation of domestic passenger aircraft, according to COMAC. Enditem SEOUL/MOSCOW, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will soon visit Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday. Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, will meet and have a talk with Putin during the visit, the report added. In a statement on Monday, the Kremlin also said that Putin has invited Kim to visit Russia in the coming days. TEHRAN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Sunday said Iran is ready to help establish strong relations between regional states and the European Union (EU). He made the remarks when meeting with Luigi Di Maio, the EU special representative for the Gulf region, in the Iranian capital of Tehran, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran welcomes any EU initiative to enhance cooperation between the block and regional states. Describing the current circumstances in the region as "a new chapter in preparing the ground for promoting cooperation among regional countries," the Iranian top diplomat underlined his country's proposal to hold a forum for dialogue and cooperation among regional states. The EU representative, for his part, highlighted Iran's "important" regional status, noting that the forum for dialogue and cooperation among regional states is important. He added that the normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia is in the region's interest. During the meeting, the two sides also discussed issues concerning Iran's nuclear development and the removal of sanctions imposed on Iran. SYDNEY, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Waving farewell to a chill winter and welcoming a new spring, the Festival of the Winds returned to Australia's Sydney just in time on Sunday, with many visitors descending on the crescent-shaped Bondi Beach and lost in the allure of kites filling a cloudless azure sky. At Australia's largest kiteflying carnival, a collection of sea life, such as humpback whales, manta rays and octopus, were floating side-by-side on the stable breeze along with mammals like zebras and husky dogs. Penguins no longer waddled in the world of kites but flapped wings for space against falcons, seagulls, rainbow lorikeets, and even an alien. When professional artists took massive pride in showcasing their creative patterns and skills, visitors also found their joy by buying a diamond-shaped kite on site, sending it up high, and then reveling in a cozy vibe along with the sound of ocean waves splashing against the shore. Since its kick-off on Sept. 10, 1978, the Festival of the Winds has marked its 45th anniversary becoming one of the major attractions on Sydney's event calendar. With over four decades slipping by, generations of local Australians grew up visiting the festival as a family tradition, joined by kite lovers from other parts of the world for this annual reunion at Bondi Beach. For many of them, flying or making kites is a hobby that can date back to their childhood but provides enduring delight throughout their lifetime. "I grew up in Bondi here, and I've always been coming to the Festival of the Winds, I guess, since I was born," 31-year-old Australian Janis Lejins told Xinhua. During his childhood, Lejins used to fly the kids' kites. But for this year's event, he tried "something with a little bit more energy" for the first time. Unlike many commonly seen single-thread kites, the one that Lejins brought to the beach is a kitesurfing trainer kite. Carrying a control bar tied with three lines, he made delicate adjustments to keep the kite aloft. When the kite touched the ground, Lejins' father would hold it up and help him with another relaunch. "At the moment, I'm living in Austria, and I came back to visit my parents. My dad, who's a very keen windsurfer, has this kite for kitesurfing," said Lejins. Despite his lack of experience in kitesurfing, Lejins found a similarity between his hobby, paragliding, and his father's. "It's not so bad because it's exactly like a paraglider," he said. For the Aussie born and raised in Bondi, what's incredible about the festival is the whole community comes together. "It's at the end of the winter. So it's the first big event that we have here at Bondi. It's just nice to see all of your family, friends and everyone come from all of Sydney and all around Australia to come and see the kites," said Lejins. "It's not every day that you get to do something like this," he added. Roger Stevens, a Belgian kite artist, set off on his maiden trip to Australia at the age of 58 for a debut at the Festival of the Winds, where four kites jointly designed and hand-made by his wife Karin and him were proudly presented to the coming visitors. Measuring 12 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, their rectangle-shaped artworks featured the same geometric patterns in a modern and abstract style, but each of them showed a different color palette. "I designed kites from the age of 12. I am now 58 years old already," Stevens told Xinhua while looking up at the kites hovering in the air. Speaking of his first introduction to this tethered gliding craft, the Belgian still remembered the defining moment as if a love at first sight. "I met some young people in my hometown when I was walking my dog. I saw, for the first time, kites and I got interested. I asked her for holding them, and I was in love with kites, of course, and never lost it again," said Stevens. In his words, kites conquered the whole heart of the 12-year-old teenager "like a virus." "If you've got a virus, you can't lose it anymore. And my wife got infected too with the same virus for kite flying," he joked. A kite, in the eyes of Stevens, is seen as a canvas and kite-making is a process of matching art with kites. He never took size as his priority but buckled down to the task of expressing art through his flying canvas. Stevens roughly estimated that he had created more than 150 kites. During the couple's ongoing worldwide tour to display their works, some of the kites were given away as gifts to those who kindly hosted them. "We met a lot of people and have a lot of kite friends all over the world," said Stevens. "The making of the kites is the thing that I enjoy most, and of course, flying at kite festivals." Currently working as a public officer, Tony Walker has already spent 30 years in the Australian Kiteflyers Society, a non-profit body responsible for organizing the Festival of the Winds since 1978. "I started in kite flying when I was a kid. We made kites at school, or we made kites during the scouts and the Cub Scouts, and then I just moved on," said Walker. However, the string between Walker and kiteflying wasn't cut off, as he would make kites for his friends at that time when they needed a kite. "I got addicted to kites. I got bigger kites and started playing two-line stunt kites and foil kites. Then I found out about kite festivals, and it just took it to a whole new dimension," he said. For Walker, kite has taken his artistic talent into a medium that he can do, fly and have fun with. "I personally have more than 200 kites that I fly at different times in my van and that all depends on the weather. So, I have a range of light wind kites, medium wind kites, and heavy wind kites. I've always got something to fly no matter what the day and the weather is doing," he noted. "It's an art form and kinetic art that moves. A kite is just the medium you display your art on. So instead of doing a painting that we use or applicate symbol recruiting techniques on and hanging out on a wall in an art gallery, we'll fly it," said Walker. Over the 45 years, Bondi Beach has gone through both great and bad days. "One year, we had 18 inches of hail. We've had tropical downpours, and we've had gales. It's an outdoor event so it's weather-dependent," Walker noted. But the Australian Kiteflyers Society has managed to bring back the Festival of the Winds almost every year, except for one that was missed with the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from the annual event, the society also took little diamond kites into schools, encouraging kids to make kites and do the coloring in their own way. While running the society's stall at the festival, Walker sold more than 100 kites and patiently taught his young customers how to assemble a kite from parts. He felt pleased to see more kids join in as he regarded them as the next generation of kite fliers. "It's fun the kids have. And that's what you'd like to see: get the kids outside experiencing stuff, doing stuff, and off their computer games. It's really good," said Walker. HELSINKI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- David Wu, Visit Finland's director of Greater China, said in a recent written interview with Xinhua that he was excited by China's decision to reopen group tourism to Finland. China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has recently issued a notice allowing nationwide travel agencies and online tourism companies to operate outbound group tours and offer "flight + hotel" packages for Chinese citizens to a third batch of selected countries and regions, including Finland. Wu welcomed this development and said he saw significant potential for collaboration between the two countries in the tourism sector. "China, as the world's second-largest economy, plays a vital role in global tourism development. We wholeheartedly welcome Chinese group tourists to visit Finland in the coming months," Wu said. He noted that Finland is a popular destination for Chinese tourists, especially for winter leisure travelers. The Northern Lights, Santa Claus and the ice hotels have attracted numerous Chinese tourists. Wu said he believes that the future of cooperation between the two countries in tourism and civil aviation, as well as cultural exchanges, looks promising. With the resumption of group tourism, tourism cooperation between Finland and China is expected to become more active, providing more opportunities for mutual visits and enhancing mutual understanding and cultural exchanges between the two nations. To attract more Chinese tourists, Visit Finland plans to increase the visibility of the country's tourist attractions on social media and to promote collaboration between Finnish travel agencies and Chinese tourism trade partners through organized events and exhibitions. Visit Finland is a part of Business Finland, which is the official government agency for trade and investment promotion. COLOMBO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has appointed its first permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The ministry quoted its High Commission in London as saying that Sri Lankan High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena presented credentials to IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim as the permanent representative recently. "Sri Lanka's accreditation to IMO comes at a time when the country is due to assume chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October this year. Being in the center of one of the most vital shipping lanes, Sri Lanka is positioned to be a major maritime hub in the Indian Ocean," said the ministry. Sri Lanka's geographic location and its access to regional markets add immensely to its economic and commercial interests, and the island country remains committed to safe, secure Indian Ocean and sustainable use of its maritime resources, said the ministry. The IMO is a specialized UN agency responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and prevent pollution from ships. Sri Lanka obtained its membership in 1972. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Duarte Pacheco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, held talks with Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Duarte Pacheco in Beijing on Monday, calling for enhanced relations. Zhao said that since its establishment over 130 years ago, the IPU has promoted exchanges and cooperation among parliaments of various countries, enhanced mutual understanding and trust, and provided an important platform for countries to work together to meet challenges. China welcomes the IPU to play a greater role in international affairs, he added. He said the NPC of China supports the IPU in exerting its influence further, in upholding and practicing true multilateralism, in adhering to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and in urging parliaments of countries to strengthen dialogue, build broad consensus and achieve more practical results. China supports the IPU in its efforts to promote sustainable development, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with parliaments of other countries to narrow the North-South development gap and promote common prosperity, Zhao said. "The NPC is ready to work with the IPU and parliaments of other countries to promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all; to promote mutual understanding and amity among people of all countries; and to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for all," he said. Zhao said that China appreciates the IPU's long-standing impartial position on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns, and hopes to enhance friendly relations with the IPU further. Zhao noted that the NPC and the IPU have together held five seminars for parliamentarians from developing countries, saying that China is willing to continue making this platform a success and share experience and seek cooperation with parliamentarians of other countries. He said that the people's congress system in China adheres to the unity of the CPC's leadership, the people as the masters of the state, and the rule of law. The country stands ready to strengthen exchanges with the IPU to exert the functions and roles of legislative bodies in an improved manner. Noting that next year is the 40th anniversary of the NPC joining the IPU, Pacheco said China has been actively supporting the work of the IPU and bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results in many areas, including poverty reduction, the promotion of inclusiveness in the world and the advancement of the sustainable development goals in Africa. It is hoped that the two sides will strengthen exchanges further and push cooperation to a new level, Pacheco added. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Duarte Pacheco at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) BERLIN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Citing the recent increase in COVID-19 infections, doctors in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, are urging the public to voluntarily wear face masks again to protect themselves and others. "As daily life moves more indoors in the autumn and winter, masks may again become medically useful, especially for the protection of vulnerable groups," Frank Bergmann, head of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in the North Rhine region, told the Rheinische Post newspaper on Monday. However, there is no reason for politicians to reintroduce mandatory mask use, Bergmann added. Except the pandemic years between 2020 and 2022, hardly any medical face masks have been seen in everyday life in Germany. It would also be important to offer free COVID-19 testing again to better monitor infections, according to pharmacists. "For many families, it is not financially possible to buy coronavirus tests," Thomas Preis, chair of the North Rhine Chamber of Pharmacists, said. "We continue to see concerning trends for COVID-19 ahead of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere," WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus warned last week, urging people with higher health risks to refresh their vaccinations. Looking to meet seasonal demand, German vaccine manufacturer BioNTech has produced a vaccine adapted to the new variants. It "aims to further improve protection against severe illness and hospitalization," BioNTech Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ugur Sahin said at the end of August. CAIRO, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Egypt said on Sunday that Ethiopia's filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) reservoir without a consensus with Egypt and Sudan, the two downstream countries, is a violation of the Declaration of Principles, a previously signed tripartite deal. On Sunday, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on social media X, formerly known as Twitter, the completion of the fourth and final filling of the GERD reservoir. "This is a violation by Ethiopia of the Declaration of Principles signed by the three sides in 2015," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The Declaration of Principles stipulates that the three countries must agree on the rules for filling and operating the GERD before commencing the filling process, the ministry stressed. It added that taking such unilateral measures constitutes a disregard for the interests and rights of the downstream countries and their water security under the rules of international law. "This move and its negative effects place a burden on the resumed negotiations, which have been set for four months to conclude," the ministry said. On Aug. 28, the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that the latest round of negotiations on the GERD dispute concluded in Cairo with no "tangible results." Ethiopia started filling the dam in 2020 despite the opposition of Egypt and Sudan, which eventually led to the suspension of relevant tripartite negotiations in 2021. Ethiopia started to build the GERD in 2011 and expects the giant hydropower project to generate more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity, but Egypt and Sudan have been worried that it might reduce their proportion of Nile water. Elnur Enveroglu A food truck sent by the Russian Red Cross stopped next to the "Barda" hotel in Azerbaijan's Barda. While this car is supposed to move to Khankendi via Aghdam-Khankendi road, it is still waiting. The remnants of the so-called regime in Garabagh still do not allow a truck full of food to arrive. Although the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appears to allegedly support the issue on the surface, in the background it is artificially obstructing it and putting pressure on the Russian Red Cross Committee. Western circles are also obstructing the transportation of this cargo through the Aghdam-Khankendi road. They apparenty use the ICRC as a tool for this purpose. The selective approach of the ICRC to the issue, the fact that it should be fulfilling its mission and obligations, engaging in violations under the direction of Western circles, acting not as an international humanitarian organization, but as a department of some Western institution, sheds light on all their biased stance. It seems that the ICRC expresses the interests and interests of the West by being involved in geopolitical games, and plays the role of a tool in their hands. It is no exception that the ICRC carries out reconnaissance activities, collects information and transmits it to certain centers. Azerbaijan and the world community have repeatedly witnessed that the vehicles of the ICRC are used for smuggling, and many facts have come to light about it. This is a purposeful activity, and the ICRC itself deliberately created conditions for it. No one can guarantee that weapons and ammunition were not transported in the vehicles of the ICRC before the Lachin State Border checkpoint was established on April 23. The ICRC also demonstrated its biased position with its selfless service to the Armenian side. It should be recalled that during the Patriotic War in 2020, the ICRC engaged in disruptive activities, tried to remove the invading Armenian troops from the siege in Fuzuli, and most importantly, collected intelligence information about the Azerbaijani army. The events clearly show that neither the ICRC nor the Western organizations are interested in restoring peace and security in the region, on the contrary, they intend to intensify provocations by providing comprehensive support to Armenia. Wang Yulong (1st R, 3rd row) and other volunteer teachers pose for a photo with children in Bali, Indonesia, July 28, 2023. (Xinhua) BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- China's "Teacher's Day," celebrated on Sept. 10 every year, holds special meaning for 19-year-old "student teacher" Wang Yulong, who studies at Tsinghua University. Recently he received heartwarming presents from primary school students in Indonesia as a token of their appreciation. "Thank you for everything and welcome you to come back to Bali," read a greeting card written by a child named Ika. Those cards with crooked "Thank-you" notes and photos with innocent smiling faces once again reminded Wang of his time as a volunteer teacher in Bali during this summer holiday, when the kids there were surprised and excited by the science world that he and his partners created with many simple but interesting scientific experiments. "Kids are born with a strong curiosity. I saw their passion for science in their eyes and heard their cheers," Wang recalled, adding that this experience as a volunteer science teacher had given him a profound understanding of the rewarding role of a teacher. Wang is majoring in mechanical engineering at Tsinghua University, one of China's best institutions of higher education. Tsinghua requires its students to conduct in-depth scientific research and also encourages them to offer social services not only for the country but the world, according to Professor Li Yongjian, one of the instructors of the volunteering team. Every year, students and staff members from the university conduct industry research in Singapore and Indonesia. Even as a freshman, Wang got the opportunity to participate in this endeavor, as part of a program named CURES, which stands for culture, university, research, education and sustainability. This year, rather than the customary two-week visits aimed solely at gathering reports from local governments and businesses, the team decided to deepen their understanding of the culture and society of Indonesia through volunteer service. With support from an educational foundation in Bali, the 19-member team chose to volunteer their time by teaching in three public primary schools for over 200 students. Their preparations began two months in advance, involving assessing the needs of local schools, developing teaching plans and conducting training sessions. The team designed nine special courses, including art, Chinese culture, P.E., a paper airplane competition, and most importantly, science. Wang taught science to fourth-grade students, and despite language barriers, he was surprised by the students' kindness and cooperation, as they warmly greeted him during his first class. To capture the attention of the students, he conducted several simple scientific experiments, such as creating a "fruit battery" using a lemon, an LED light, zinc, and copper sheets and wires. Wang shared an amusing teaching memory. "I practiced all the procedures the night before to ensure there were no mistakes. However, I didn't anticipate that Bali's lemons were more sour, so I had to make adjustments by placing the electrodes closer together. Nevertheless, things went smoothly, and I can still vividly recall the moment they surrounded me, laughing and screaming when the light came on." "Later I also taught them how to make 'fruit batteries' with apples, tomatoes and oranges in the same way. I even designed two mistakes to guide them to think independently," Wang added. "Now I know how much care and thought it takes to be a teacher." Besides teaching science, the Tsinghua volunteers also shared details of traditional Chinese cultures, festivals and snacks, like mooncakes, with local kids. Yu Yong Chia, a 35-year-old Indonesian, worked as the guide and translator for the Tsinghua team throughout the journey. "I have been teaching Chinese for 13 years, and I would like to give full marks to these 'student teachers.' They may lack teaching skills, but their sincerity shines through," Chia said. He said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative, in which Indonesia is a participant, and he hopes to see more people-to-people exchanges. Professor Li also expressed his pride in his students. "They are still kids in my eyes, but now they have cultivated a strong sense of responsibility. Nothing makes a teacher happier than witnessing the growth of their students." * Rescuers are racing against time to search for survivors as the death toll surged to at least 2,122 from a deadly earthquake that hit central Morocco two days ago. * In a residential neighborhood in Amizmiz, a small town at the foot of the quake-hit mountain range, Xinhua reporters saw police and local residents digging through the rubble with shovels and even with their bare hands as machines can not pass the narrow alleyways between buildings. * At least 2,122 people have been killed and 2,421 others injured in the earthquake, according to the latest figures released by the Moroccan Interior Ministry Sunday afternoon. * On Saturday, the Red Cross Society of China announced that it would provide the Moroccan Red Crescent with 200,000 dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance for its rescue operations and would follow the relief needs in the country. AMIZMIZ, Morocco, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers are racing against time to search for survivors as the death toll surged to at least 2,122 from a deadly earthquake that hit central Morocco two days ago. They were reportedly struggling to reach the most affected areas, as the epicenter was in the isolated, hard-to-reach Atlas Mountains region and roads leading up there were blocked by fallen boulders. DIGGING WITH BARE HANDS The situation on the ground posed a vast challenge to search and rescue efforts, said Caroline Holt, director of disaster, climate and crises for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Sunday, identifying "getting heavy machinery into those remote areas" as a "priority." Rescuers work near the epicenter of a massive earthquake in Azrou, Morocco, on Sept. 10, 2023. (Photo by Saouri Aissa/Xinhua) In a residential neighborhood in Amizmiz, a small town at the foot of the quake-hit mountain range, Xinhua reporters saw police and local residents digging through the rubble with shovels and even with their bare hands as machines can not pass the narrow alleyways between buildings. Piles of building debris left by the quake were everywhere in Amizmiz as those built with mud bricks could not withstand strong tremors. In the open areas along the main road, makeshift tents were pitched up to shelter local residents, who had spent three nights outdoors for fear of more aftershocks. "We need food and cover, they are the most important for us now," said Amin, a local resident without giving his full name. He added that being stranded outdoors for another night was particularly difficult for the elders and children. Abdessamad el-Gzouli, another local resident, told Xinhua that villagers in the mountain areas suffered more damage and needed more help. "Here in Amizmiz, there are deaths, but not so many. But in the mountainous villages, the houses are not so good, and there could be many, many deaths," he said. "People need to go there, to help them," he said, pointing at the mountains that are hard to reach. HEAVY LOSSES At least 2,122 people have been killed and 2,421 others injured in the earthquake, according to the latest figures released by the Moroccan Interior Ministry Sunday afternoon. Of the death toll, 1,351 deaths were reported in the Al Haouz Province, 492 in Taroudant Province, 201 in Chichaoua, and 17 in Marrakesh, said the ministry. A man walks among the rubble of a destroyed building after a massive earthquake in Tahannaout, Morocco, on Sept. 9, 2023. (Photo by Saouri Aissa/Xinhua) The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit at 11:11 p.m. local time (2211 GMT) on Friday at a depth of 18.5 km, said the United States Geological Survey. Later, Morocco's National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale and a depth of 8 km, a relatively shallow depth. When an earthquake strikes, the shallower the depth is, the more destructive it could be. The earthquake also caused significant damage to many historical sites in the region, including the Tinmel Mosque, a 12th-century mosque located in the village of Tinmel in the High Atlas Mountains. In the old city of Marrakesh, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, some of its historical red walls that encircle the ancient city center, created in the early 12th century, crumbled due to the powerful tremor, while squares and traffic roundabouts were crowded with people seeking refuge. INTERNATIONAL AID The IFRC had previously cautioned that the immediate 24 to 48 hours were crucial for life-saving activities, and it anticipated that assistance might be required for an extended period, potentially spanning months or even years. The global humanitarian network has allocated 1 million Swiss francs (1.12 million U.S. dollars) from its emergency disaster fund to assist the Moroccan Red Crescent in its on-site efforts. Rescuers transfer an injured near the epicenter of a massive earthquake in Azrou, Morocco, on Sept. 10, 2023. (Photo by Saouri Aissa/Xinhua) On Saturday, the Red Cross Society of China announced that it would provide the Moroccan Red Crescent with 200,000 dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance for its rescue operations and would follow the relief needs in the country. China International Development Cooperation Agency spokesperson Xu Wei said on Saturday that China is willing to provide Morocco with emergency humanitarian assistance according to the needs of the disaster-affected people. Fan Xiaosheng, chief of the Chinese medical team to Morocco, told Xinhua that the medical team had called the Moroccan Health Ministry and expressed its willingness to provide necessary medical assistance. "We have experienced orthopedic surgeons in our team. We can be on call any time if Morocco needs our help," Fan said. As of Sunday night, Spain, Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have sent their search and rescue teams to Morocco. Turkiye, Israel and Arab countries including Tunisia, Palestine and Algeria also pledged assistance. (Video reporters: Shuai Anning, Tian Ye, Lu Jiafei, Huo Jing, Wang Dongzhen and Zhao Manjun; video editors: Zhang Yueyuan, Zhao Xiaoqing, Zheng Xin, Zhou Sa'ang and Li Ziwei) A senior executive of a German-funded enterprise has said that his company plans to ramp up investment in the Chinese market after great success has been achieved here over the past three decades. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Fu Yaohui gives a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui gives a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui helps a student comb hair at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui gives a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui teaches a student to read at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (R) helps as a student writes at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (front) prepares for a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui gives a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (R) talks with students and their families at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 8, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui gives a class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (C) talks with a student's parent after class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 5, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (L) and her colleague Meng Fan distribute cakes to students and their families at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 8, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (R) gives a high-five to a student during class at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) Fu Yaohui (back) instructs as students clean their tableware after a meal at Hainan (Haikou) Special School in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, Sept. 6, 2023. Fu Yaohui is a teacher at the special education school in Haikou. Since 2004, Fu has been engaged in special education for students with intellectual disabilities, cultivating their basic skills to adapt to life. Every day, Fu arrives at school early and accompanies the students with patience and encouragement. "I want my students to be self-reliant," she said. In order to achieve this goal, she tries her best to help these children, so that they can succeed in their studies and better integrate into society. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu) SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will soon visit Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday. Kim, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, will meet and have a talk with Putin during the visit, the report added. KHARTOUM, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Sunday denied responsibility for "the killing of 40 civilians" in a market south of the capital Khartoum. The resistance committee of South Khartoum said in a statement earlier on Sunday that "40 civilians were killed in an air strike by the SAF warplanes on a market in Mayo area, south of Khartoum." The committee also published photos showing large numbers of injured and corpses covered with cloths. On the same day, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) also accused the SAF of shelling civilian neighborhoods in the Mayo area. "The SAF carried out aerial bombardments this morning on residents in Mayo neighborhood," the RSF said in a statement, adding dozens of injuries were transferred to the nearby hospital. The SAF, however, rejected the rebel militia's claims as misleading and false, saying it had never targeted any civilian gatherings, according to a statement by its spokesman's office. "The armed forces confirm that they only launch their strikes against rebel gatherings, crowds, sites and bases as legitimate military targets, while fully adhering to international humanitarian law and the rules of engagement as a professional army, far from innocent citizens," said the statement. Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, which have left at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. This aerial photo taken on Sept. 6, 2023 shows the load-transfer yard of Horgos station in Horgos, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains passing Horgos Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has reached 5,156 by the end of August this year, 11.6 percent higher than that of the same period a year earlier, according to statistics released by the local railway authority. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge) China's development presents an opportunity rather than a risk to Europe, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said during the meeting with European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Summit. NEW DELHI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and European leaders engaged in robust discussions on the sidelines of the two-day Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in New Delhi, seeking to promote a steady development of the relationship between the two sides. On Saturday afternoon, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country enjoys a 19-year-old comprehensive strategic partnership with China. Li talked with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the same day, marking their second meeting in about five months. Li's participation in the G20 summit was part of his second foreign trip as China's premier. In June, Li visited Germany and France, which unleashed great potential for stronger China-Europe ties. Shortly after attending the summit's third session Sunday, Li met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which was the first face-to-face talk between a Chinese premier and a British prime minister in nearly five years. Later in the day, Li had his second meeting in about three months with European Council President Charles Michel. Wang Peng, an observer of Europe and a research fellow at the Institute of State Governance, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, stressed that these efforts would bring new energy to China-Europe cooperation and promote global security and economic growth. For Wang, the European Union wants to foster comprehensive cooperation with China yet faces constraints and interference from the United States. Similarly, over the past several years, China-Britain relations have encountered difficulties due to the UK's domestic political obstacles and external interference. Wang added that these factors contributed to the value of China-Europe interactions during the summit. According to an analysis of Chinese media reports of the four meetings, the top three high-frequency words used were "cooperation," "respect" and "disagreements." When meeting with Meloni, Li called on both sides to strengthen cooperation and make good use of such cooperation mechanisms as the Joint Meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee to upgrade the level of bilateral cooperation. Affari Italiani, a website specializing in geopolitical issues, emphasized that nothing should "cast doubt on the level of agreement between Rome and Beijing or the common intention to consolidate and deepen the dialogue on key bilateral and international issues." "Italy knows that it needs to work intensely with China ... We need an instrument to help ties between Italy and China continue to strengthen," Mario Boselli, president of Italy China Council Foundation, has told Xinhua. Li told Michel and Von der Leyen that China's development presents an opportunity rather than a risk to Europe, with Von der Leyen echoing on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "China has a key role to play in our collective efforts to find solutions to global challenges." This photo taken on Sept. 4, 2023 shows the booth of Bosch during the press preview of the 2023 International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich, Germany. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) As for Britain, the Chinese side urged London to maintain cooperation while properly handling disagreements and respecting each other's core interests and major concerns. China is ready to work with Britain to adhere to mutual respect, treat each other as equals, view each other's development objectively, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Britain relations, Li told Sunak. Sunak had sent his Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, to Beijing less than two weeks before meeting with Li. "It is good that this meeting has happened. It has been testing for the prime minister (Sunak) to lead to this event," Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, told Xinhua Sunday. "The British economy is in difficulty. It has very difficult choices to make," he added. "China's premier did not offer inducements. He merely presented the option of choosing the future. The British will have to make their own decision," said Perry. "Although China and Britain have different national conditions and paths of development, they can set aside some of their political and strategic differences and seek more economic and trade cooperation," said Hui Ching, research director at Hong Kong Zhi Ming Institute. Hui said that resolving challenges in China-Britain relations largely depends on whether the British government can effectively counter domestic biases and the extreme mindset of politicians regarding China. "Changing to a globally inclusive approach will not be easy," Perry noted. MACAO, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 31st Macao International Fireworks Display Contest kicked off here on Monday night with shows staged by Australian and Swiss companies. The Australian company Cardile International Fireworks presented a show themed "Thunder of Down Under," showcasing a symphony of music and fireworks effects and creating symbolic illustrations of native Australian flora, fauna, and landscapes in a symphony with iconic Australian pop, rock, and country hits. Themed "Icons of Rock", the fireworks shows presented by the Swiss company La Pirotecnica SAGL projected the story of rock music through vibrant color, patterns and use of creative design combinations. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government tourism office, organizer of the events, said the authority had made active preparations for the fireworks contest after an interruption of three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, expecting residents and visitors to enjoy the shows, and take part in games at fireworks-themed carnivals and markets. Fireworks companies from 10 countries around the world are scheduled to present 10 shows of fireworks and music on the evenings of Sept. 11, 16 and 23, as well as Oct. 1 and 7. LHASA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 academics and government officials gathered on Sunday in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region for the Namjagbarwa forum held in Nyingchi City. Nyingchi is home to the towering Mount Namjagbarwa, which stands at 7,782 meters above sea level. Situated on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as "the roof of the world" and "the water tower of Asia," Tibet plays a pivotal role in ensuring China's environmental security. The Chinese government has consistently attached great importance to eco-environmental protection in Tibet. Tibet's ecosystems are now generally stable. Environmental quality is improving, supported by a green development model, and the protection of eco-environmental rights and interests has been strengthened. Today, Tibet boasts one of the best eco-environments in the world. In November 2021, the regional government made a strategic decision to develop ecological highlands in Tibet and lead the way in building an ecological civilization. During the two-day forum, attendees engaged in discussions regarding the progress, opportunities and challenges associated with this endeavor. Dorji, an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, called for scientific development and utilization of renewable and clean energy to support the goal. "Tibet has abundant clean and renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy and wind energy. These are unique advantages to build the region into a highland of ecological civilization," he said, adding Tibet should accelerate the development of the green energy industry. Tibet is working to develop itself into a national clean energy base. By 2020, clean energy had contributed 89.1 percent of the installed power-generating capacity in the region. Dorji noted that diversified energy sources have changed the production and lifestyle of the locals. "An increasing number of farmers and herdsmen have used electricity produced by renewable energy, instead of burning firewood or cow dung, which can help reduce logging, greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, as well as improve their living standard." He proposed the scientific and rational development of geothermal energy, emphasizing its significant potential, environmental advantages, renewability, safety, stability, high efficiency, affordability, versatility, and ease of use. Geothermal energy, he argued, stands out as one of the most competitive renewable resources due to these attributes. "In addition to electricity generation, geothermal energy can also be used for the development of the health and wellness industry, thereby stimulating tourism, promoting rural revitalization, increasing local employment opportunities and boosting the income of the locals," he told Xinhua. Wang Lei, an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that constant efforts should be made to protect the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with the ultimate goal of making it a national or even international ecological civilization highland. "We need to strike a balance between high-quality development and high-level protection, reduce the ecological impact of resource development on the plateau, and promote Tibet's sustainable economic and social development," Wang added. He also emphasized the necessity of strengthening ecological protection and restoration, with a focus on integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands, sands and glaciers, in an effort to enhance the diversity, stability and sustainability of the plateau's unique ecosystem. Wang also highlighted the important role of technology in supporting the development of the national ecological civilization highlands in Tibet. According to Chen Xinfeng, from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, advancing the development of the nature reserve system based on national parks would play a positive role in the building of a national ecological civilization highland in Tibet. In 2021, China officially designated the first group of five national parks, namely, the Sanjiangyuan National Park, the Giant Panda National Park, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and the Wuyishan National Park. "Significant progress has been achieved in the Tibet region since the Sanjiangyuan National Park was established. The ecosystem in the Yangtze River source areas has been comprehensively strengthened, and local residents have seen a significant increase in their income," Chen noted. The region is now planning to open more national parks, which is expected to add weight to realize the goal of building the region into a national ecological civilization highland, he added. This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2023 shows a flooded area in Larissa area, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. "The state will stand by the side of people with no delays," Mitsotakis said during his second visit to Thessaly region within three days. Procedures for the support of households and businesses will start on Monday and people who saw their homes, farms or fields submerged in mud waters will immediately receive financial aid to cover urgent needs, he said. Further compensations and funding to restore their properties and rebuild destroyed infrastructure will follow, he added. The storm dubbed "Daniel" which swept Greece from Monday and hit hard Thessaly for two days, receded on Thursday evening. Entire villages in some areas can be approached only by boats and helicopters, and dozens of people receive food, water and medicines by drones, Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Sunday. A total of 4,486 people have been evacuated to safety since Tuesday, the Fire Brigade said on Sunday evening. More than 70,000 hectares of land were submerged by water and mud, according to estimates of the National Observatory of Athens. With thousands of farm animals drowned, the protection of public health is a top priority, Mitsotakis said. Authorities advised people to drink only bottled water and avoid contacting dead animals, as crews have started removing them. A large part of cultivations of the Thessaly plain, which is a key agricultural production area for Greece, was also washed away. According to experts and local producers, it will take up to five years to get back to normalcy and grow produce in fertile soil again. This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2023 shows dead sheep in Palamas village of Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) Residents clean up their properties in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece, on Sept. 10, 2023. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2023 shows residents stranded by flood in Larissa area, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) A vehicle of the Fire Brigade tows two boats in Palamas village of Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece, on Sept. 10, 2023. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 10, 2023 shows residents being evacuated by a bulldozer in Larissa area, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) Members of the Fire Brigade evacuate residents with boats in Larissa area, Thessaly region, Greece, on Sept. 10, 2023. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows a shoe in the mud in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows a flooded road in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows flooded houses in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows flooded houses in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows a cow near flooded houses in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 show a destroyed electricity pole in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2023 shows a flooded house in Karditsa, Thessaly region, Greece. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Sunday the first package of relief measures for the flood-stricken regions in central Greece, as the flood-caused death toll increased to 15, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) The head of the European Union Council, Charles Michel, discussed Azerbaijan-Armenia relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the meeting held in India. Charles Michel wrote about this in his account on the "X" social network. "Discussed full spectrum of EU-Turkiye relations, the Black Sea Grain Initiative and regional situation, notably Armenia-Azerbaijan," the post reads. 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, delivers a speech while attending the opening ceremony of the seventh national congress of the China Television Artists Association in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 11, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China Television Artists Association convened its seventh national congress in Beijing on Monday. 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, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. The congress called on TV artists to focus their lens on the people, reflect the changes of the times, and produce more quality TV works. Representatives called for more works presenting fine traditional culture, new ideas and means to suit the development of the internet, as well as further improvements in television art. BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Ling Yanwu, a fugitive suspected of duty crime and economic crime, was captured overseas and repatriated to China on Sept. 7, according to an official statement released Monday. Born in August 1976, Ling was the legal representative of a real estate marketing and planning company based in central China's Hunan Province. Ling is suspected of bribery, abuse of power along with personnel of a state-owned company, conducting fraudulent fund-raising, and refusing to pay labor remuneration. He fled overseas in February 2019. Authorities in charge of handling the case then froze the money he is suspected of gaining illicitly, and carried out international cooperation in law enforcement, resulting in the capture of Ling, the statement read. Ling has severely damaged the interests of the people, roped in and corrupted public servants, and caused the loss of state-owned assets, said an official with the Fugitive Repatriation and Asset Recovery Office of the Central Anti-Corruption Coordination Group. The office will continue to deepen international anti-graft cooperation, maintain a tough position in securing fugitive repatriation and the return of criminal proceeds, and resolutely safeguard the people's immediate interests, according to the official. Enditem Dunhuang, in China's Gansu province, hosted an international seminar on Dunhuang Studies' global significance. The event fostered discussions on the expansion of Dunhuang Studies and the international promotion of Dunhuang culture. Produced by Xinhua Global Service NEW DELHI, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least seven women died and 10 others were injured in a road accident in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu on Monday, a local cop confirmed to Xinhua over phone. The mishap occurred when the victims were sitting by the roadside after the vehicle they traveled in broke down, and the vehicle was hit by another one from behind, resulting in their vehicle falling on them, according to the police. The injured, mainly women, were admitted to a local hospital. All of the victims belonged to the Pernambut town in Vellore district of the state. The accident happened in Tirupattur area on the highway connecting the southern cities of Chennai and Bengaluru, capital of the southern state Karnataka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences in a post on the social media platform X, erstwhile Twitter, over the loss of human lives and announced a monetary compensation of 200,000 Indian Rupees (around 2,411 U.S. dollars) for the families of each of the deceased, and 50,000 Indian Rupees (around 603 dollars) for the injured from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund. BEIJING, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will pay an official visit to China from Sept. 14 to 16, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Monday. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Premier Li Qiang will hold talks with him, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet with him, Mao told a daily press briefing when responding to a question on the visit. This is Prime Minister Hun Manet's first official visit after taking office, which shows that the new Cambodian government attaches great importance to developing China-Cambodia relations, Mao said. Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Cambodia diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Cambodia Friendship, Mao said China looks forward to making a comprehensive plan for China-Cambodia comprehensive strategic cooperation in the coming years through this visit. In particular, China will push forward the implementation of such cooperation initiatives as the "Industrial Development Corridor" and the "Fish and Rice Corridor" as soon as possible, and will build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future for the new era, she added. Smoke rises from Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 10, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. An army statement said the injured soldiers were transferred to nearby hospitals. The Lebanese army responded to the sources of fire, as it had previously warned against any move that could affect army positions. The latest round of armed clashes between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants in the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp broke out on Thursday evening and intensified in the following days, resulting in dozens of injuries over the past three days. Clashes between rival groups often occur in this largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. Between July 29 and Aug. 3, clashes between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants in the camp killed at least 13 people. Smoke rises from Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 10, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Lebanese Army snipers are stationed on the roof of a building overlooking Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 10, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Members of the Lebanese army are on duty at the entrance to Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 11, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Smoke rises from Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 11, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Smoke rises from Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 11, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Smoke rises from Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near the city of Sidon, south Lebanon, on Sept. 11, 2023. Five Lebanese soldiers were injured on Sunday evening after explosives fell on their positions near the Ain Al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp in southern Lebanon as armed clashes intensified between members of the Fatah Movement and Islamic militants. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Caracas, Venezuela, Sept. 5, 2023. China and Venezuela, enjoying friendly ties and sharing "a common destiny," are both committed to peace, development, and cooperation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said. (Photo by Marcos Salgado/Xinhua) CARACAS, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Venezuela, enjoying friendly ties and sharing "a common destiny," are both committed to peace, development, and cooperation, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has said. "Between China and Venezuela, there is an exemplary relationship," Maduro told Xinhua in an exclusive interview ahead of his state visit to China. At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Maduro is on a state visit to China on Sept. 8-14. "I believe the ties between the governments and people of China and Venezuela are ties of mutual trust, true brotherhood, and cooperation for shared development," he said. Describing bilateral ties as fruitful, the president said that Venezuela firmly supports China's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which respects the diversity of a world comprised of different civilizations. "I believe the route President Xi Jinping has proposed is uniting people in all aspects -- economy, trade, culture -- and is laying the foundation to leave behind the old world of colonialism and imperialism," Maduro added. The Venezuelan leader praised China's actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have a lot to thank China for. During the pandemic, had it not been for China, given the blockade against Venezuela by U.S. imperialism, neither medications nor sanitary items would have arrived, nor would the vaccines," he said. China's support for the South American country, he said, has been essential, given Venezuela's strenuous struggle under more than 950 illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western powers. Maduro voiced deep appreciation for the courage and firmness of the Chinese government and the Chinese people in assisting Venezuela in opposing those "illegal and criminal" sanctions. Venezuela has resisted the suppression of U.S. imperialism and shown it is capable of recovering from such onslaughts, said the president. "We have been moving forward in the construction of a new economic model based on productive diversification." Today the international community is facing a historic opportunity to help usher in a multipolar world, where no single country or group dominates, Maduro stressed. Throughout the history of humanity, one empire has replaced another, and one colonial power succeeded another, he said. "It is only now, in the 21st century, after so many centuries of struggles, that we see the prospect of a world free from imperialism or colonialism." Dozens of emerging nations are helping humanity reunite, and regain its right to happiness, equality, freedom, and democracy, he said, hailing China as at the forefront of those efforts. In a message to the Chinese people, Maduro called for building a homeland for all humanity, "where we can meet, recognize each other, and take the path of development, peace, and cooperation." CANBERRA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) continue fighting an out-of-control bushfire that has been burning for a week. The fire, which started on Sept. 4, has burned more than 9,300 square km of land in the Barkly region in the NT outback more than 1,000 km south-east of Darwin. Tony Fuller, the NT chief fire controller, said at a press conference on Sunday that the blaze was roughly four times the size of the Australian Capital Territory. "We've had large fires in the past, but this is the largest one I've had to deal with," he told reporters. A total fire ban was declared across most of the NT in response to the fire on Saturday and the entire territory was declared a fire danger period until the end of February. Firefighting crews have been called in from South Australia and New South Wales to aid authorities with the Barkly fire. Fuller said on Sunday that the fire was not a threat to residential properties, but that pastoral leases in the region, including a cattle station, could be at risk. The Barkly Highway, a major freight route, has been closed and reopened by authorities based on conditions. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Bushfires NT has warned that extreme fire weather exceeding 30 degrees centigrade is forecast to persist for the rest of the week and that smoky conditions in the nearby town of Tennant Creek will continue. Authorities have repeatedly warned that much of Australia is facing catastrophic fire danger in the 2023-2024 season after three years of higher-than-average rainfall increased fuel loads. Fuller on Friday told reporters that the forecast summer conditions in the NT are similar to the 2011-2012 season when 80 percent of the territory was affected by bushfires. Students go to Shuyou Music Workshop in Jiantouzhou Village of Liling City, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge) by Xinhua writers Zhang Ge, Liu Fangzhou CHANGSHA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- On a breezy afternoon, the serene countryside of Jiantouzhou Village in central China's Hunan Province resonated with the harmonious melodies of an extraordinary instrumental ensemble. Children as young as five to late teens take part in this activity, led by their 79-year-old instructor, Li Shuyou. Over the years, this elderly teacher has enlightened the lives of over 200 young individuals, many of whom were initially unfamiliar with musical notation or the intricacies of folk melodies. They are now learning to master traditional Chinese musical instruments such as the pipa, erhu, liuqin and sanxian, under Li's guidance. Previously the chief composer of a local opera troupe, Li has mastery over ten diverse traditional Chinese instruments. Even after retirement, Li has remained unwavering in his dedication to music, shifting his focus towards nurturing the next generation of musicians. According to him, the influence of modern culture limits the evolution of traditional folk instruments significantly. "Although I am retired, I still play instruments in my spare time, and I can let young people know more about folk music and make more people fall in love with it," Li said. Under Li's tutelage, several of his students flourished into professional musicians, their talents finely honed through his expert guidance, and they secured coveted positions in prestigious music universities across China. As the years passed and Li entered the later stages of life, he contemplated reconnecting with his roots. In 2015, at the age of 71, he moved back to Jiantouzhou. Shortly after Li's return to the village, he was drawn to the "left-behind" children whose parents work far away and have left them to live with their grandparents at a very young age. Many of these children were engrossed in the digital world, as their attention was monopolized by mobile phones and video games, leaving little room for human interaction. Moreover, witnessing the unsupervised activities of such children, including instances of them swimming alone in potentially dangerous waters, made Li even more worried and prompted him to take action. Contemplating his role in improving these children's lives, Li thought to himself, "What can I do for these kids?" Inspired by his deep love for music, he devised a thoughtful plan to extend his helping hand. Li resolved to share his musical expertise with these youngsters, and thus, established the "Shuyou Music Workshop" as a free platform for his mission. Initially, parents sent their children to the workshop due to its nurturing environment and the fact that classes were provided free of charge. As time passed, word about the music classes began to spread throughout the village. Gradually, the workshop's reputation soared, and parents, even those residing across the river and beyond the county, warmed up to the idea of enrolling their children. "Li's teaching extended beyond musical theory," said a student named Ding Jiewen. "While explaining the music to us, he would frequently provide vivid examples from daily life." When delving into compositions inspired by nature, Li would vividly describe how certain tunes could mirror the soothing sounds of rain, the gentle rustle of the wind, or the joyful chorus of birdsong. Li recognized the profound connection that rural children could forge between traditional melodies and the natural world. "Now, I consider traditional music to be the hippest, because it is timeless," Ding said, adding that the more she learns about music, the more she can interpret the cultural underpinnings of classic compositions in her own way. "Teaching music to kids is more than just spreading knowledge," Li said. He doesn't just focus on the children's artistic development but also addresses instances of disobedience he observes in their daily lives. For Li, music serves as a bridge to connect with these young minds. The impact of music on these children was multifaceted. Some found solace in it, using it as a remedy for loneliness, while others gained newfound confidence through mastering musical instruments. A few even aspired to become teachers themselves, hoping to share the warmth of music with more people. Li believes that not every kid attending his public classes needs to be a professional musician or step onto a stage. "My deepest hope is simple, for these young souls to grow up happily," Li said, adding that the most rewarding outcome for him is when he sees these youngsters discover their passion for music and exude a positive outlook on life. Approaching 80 in a few months, Li's determination remains unshakable. When asked about his plans for the future, he said: "I will persist until I can't teach anymore." Li's motivation stems from his aspiration to involve more individuals in the realm of rural education and to bring about positive changes by broadening educational prospects in rural areas. "I'm hoping that more 'left-behind' children in the countryside will be cared for through our music workshop." Li Shuyou teaches students music at Shuyou Music Workshop in Jiantouzhou Village of Liling City, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge) This aerial photo taken on Aug. 12, 2023 shows Li Shuyou and students performing an open air ensemble in Jiantouzhou Village of Liling City, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge) CAIRO, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) on Sunday welcomed the admission of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member to the Group of 20 (G20), expressing hope that the pan-Arab organization would enjoy the same status. AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit welcomed in a statement the G20 leaders' decision on AU's entry into the group. On Saturday, G20 members agreed to grant permanent membership to the AU in an effort to make the group more representative. The agreement was reached at the inaugural session of the two-day G20 summit held in New Delhi, India, during the weekend. Aboul-Gheit hailed the decision as a "positive step" that will lead to mutual gains for both sides and contribute to strengthening African countries' role in global economic development. He stressed that this step will enhance Africa's ability to contribute to solving pivotal global issues such as climate change, energy security, food security, and other issues. The AL chief also expressed hope that the Arab League's request to join the G20 would be approved. Qabil Ashirov Armenia continues to hold the civilians as hostages in Garabagh. As is known, after failure to transfer its convoy loaded with unknown products through the Lachin border checkpoint without any inspection, Armenia and its mouthpieces made a big fuss about the humanitarian crisis in Garabagh. However, the same people who cried crocodile tears over the starvation blocked the Aghdam-Khankendi road and have not allowed a convoy loaded with food to go to Khankendi. They explained it that they do not want to take any aid from Azerbaijan. Yesterday, the Russian Red Cross organization sent a humanitarian aid through the Aghdam-Khankendi road and the same forces did not allow the convoy to go to Khankendi either. Despite ICRC and pro-Armenian forces seem to support this initiative, they are doing their best to make it fail. It is clear that ICRC and pro-Armenian groups are not interested in bringing ever-lasting peace to the region. Speaking to Azernews the head of Azerbaijan-based think tank Samir Humbatov told that there two types of approaches on the issue in the West. First, people and institutions that wants to resolve the issue peacefully. Second, some forces and countries tries to maintain constant tension in the region with the help of separatist regime in Garabagh created by Armenia. However, since the UN recognizes Garabagh as the territory of Azerbaijan, the latter ones are also obliged to accept that Garabagh is the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan. Of course, we must not forget the Armenian lobby. Surely, it has an influence here, as well. It is worth noting that some countries such as France is particularly active in this matter. It wants to use the tension in the region to secure its own interests. Now they intend to use the ICRC as a tool, Samir Humbatov said. He noted that here arises a question. Why do they not want to send convoys from the Aghdam-Khankendi road? Because, they did what they wanted. So far this process has been carried out from the Lachin Checkpoint and they have done it illegally. They carried weapons and ammunition, in other words, they did everything that would hinder peace, and carried everything that separatists need. Now Azerbaijan has restored its borders. They can't accept that either. There is a very interesting nuance here. If we take a look at history, we will see that during the Spitak earthquake, it had been decided to cross the border without inspection for quick delivery of goods from abroad. The West used this to transport all kinds of weapons and ammunition and eventually played a special role in the collapse of the USSR. Now it wants to repeat this process in Garabagh. Since the Lachin checkpoint was established, they can no longer transfer any weapons or ammunition from there. Now they are in a deep crisis. It is necessary to carry weapons to the separatists in Garabagh. Azerbaijan does not allow this and keeps control of the process in its own hands, Humbatov said. He pointed out that this, however, does not please some western countries and the forces supporting the separatists in Garabagh. That's why they try to resist. Humbatov noted that the Agdam-Khankendi road, according to the above forces, should not be opened, and cargo should be transported from the Lachin-Khankendi road without any inspection. Azerbaijan has clearly expressed its position that products should be transported to the Khankendi town of Azerbaijan only and only by passing through Agdam. This means that Azerbaijan will control the process. From there, Azerbaijan will know what is going on, and this is actually a very important element for ensuring security in the region. As regards the ICRC and the Western forces trying to aggravate the situation by supporting the separatists in the Garabagh region, I think they should be held responsible for any consequences in the future. However, I believe that the principal and decisive position of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on this matter has not changed and will not change. Even if the West sends the ICRC here as intelligence, whether they want it or not, they will still come to the point and assend what Azerbaijan has said. The last point of this is that they will accept the conditions of Azerbaijan and follow them. Because this is the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan is a state governed by its own internal laws and regulations in its sovereign territory. Therefore, the most important issue here is the fulfillment of the demands set by Azerbaijan, Samir Humbatov concluded. YAOUNDE, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Gunshots and battle shouts interrupted the chill of the wind and the silence in the depth of night in Ouzal, a remote locality in Cameroon's Far North region. It was February 2020 and gunmen had just invaded the village which also hosts internally displaced persons. Terrified, Gilbert Teguele Gazawa and his family made a dash for the mountain for safety. Other villagers followed. When they returned after the raid, they found that the gunmen had looted and then set fire to several homes and a health center. They burned three people alive and abducted six children between three years to five years of age. "They (villagers) were traumatized. They did not know what to do," said 40-year-old Gazawa, traditional leader of Mandoussa locality where Ouzal is located. "They burnt everything and stole all the material we had in stock (in the health center). Two of those who were kidnapped were children of the workers of the hospital. There is no trace of those children till today," added Samuel Baldena, chief of the Integrated Health Center of Ouzal, which was attacked. It was the third attack on the health center in less than three years. Gazawa said that after the incursion, there was a severe lack of essential medical equipment, supplies, and staff in the health center that serves more than 11,000 people in six villages. With support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), reconstruction of the health center began in 2021. Now a refurbished and reequipped health facility stands in place of the rubble. The health center is now structurally sound, much of the equipment and medical supplies reinstated and medications and consultations are provided free of charge. "There is an increase in patient attendance at the health center following ICRC assistance," said Lael Njomou Ndeumen, ICRC health field officer. "We receive 1,100, 1,200 and sometimes 2,000 or 3,000 patients per month especially in August and September when malaria threatens the population," said Baldena. "At first only three of us were working here, but ICRC recruited several personnel. There are 15 of us working here now." A serious problem of traditional midwifery and malnutrition among children and pregnant women emanated even after the hospital was reconstructed. "Many children used to die at birth (due to poor delivery)," said 46-year-old Marie Mbortaye, a mother of 12 who once experienced the pains of miscarriage. She is among several women trained by ICRC to be traditional birth attendants. When your correspondent arrived at the Integrated Health Center of Ouzal, she was helping a pregnant lady in her 30s to deliver her baby. "We advise women to come to the hospital for delivery and sometimes help them to give birth. Things have changed (positively) since the program began in the hospital," Mbortaye said. To solve the malnutrition problem, facilitators trained by ICRC regularly sensitize villagers on the prevention methods. Therapeutic feeding programs and rich food distributions to prevent further malnourishment have allowed malnutrition rates to drop sharply said, Stella Kameni, a nutritionist with ICRC. "The program has reduced mortality rates. Children get sick less and less. Pregnant women who are treated give birth less and less to children with low birth defects ... and give birth to children who are in good health," Kameni said. Despite the legal protections afforded to medical units under international humanitarian law, attacks on health structures are a recurring problem in Cameroon's Far North region where years of fighting between government forces and armed groups have left a devastating toll on civilians, said Ndeumen, the ICRC health field officer. Since 2014, roughly 10 health facilities have been attacked in the region, according to security reports. "We are grateful for the reconstruction of the health center, but only insecurity threatens us now. People are being displaced, even medical workers, we work from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and we have to leave the village to spend the night in the mountain because we are afraid," said Baldena, the chief of the Integrated Health Center of Ouzal. * Having admitted the African Union (AU) as a permanent member, the Group of 20 (G20) took a historical step forward in improving global governance and revitalizing international economic cooperation. * AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki hailed the entry, saying it would amplify the continent's advocacy and contributions to meeting global challenges. * Mathapelo Monaisa, a member of the South African delegation to the G20 summit, appreciated China's role in supporting the AU's entry into the group. "I'm seeing something really great happening." * Many countries welcomed the AU's entry into the G20, stressing their long-time support in bolstering Africa's voice. NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Having admitted the African Union (AU) as a permanent member, the Group of 20 (G20) took a historical step forward in improving global governance and revitalizing international economic cooperation. The expansion, agreed by G20 members on Saturday, gives developing countries a greater voice and more representation. More cooperation and development opportunities will gravitate toward the Global South as China and other major economies have pledged staunch support for the region to shine in the global arena. TAKING THE SEAT Amid cheers and applause from the global leaders in attendance, AU Chairperson, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, assumed his seat representing the 55-member continental body at the inaugural session of the 18th G20 summit held in New Delhi on Saturday. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki hailed the entry, saying it would amplify the continent's advocacy and contributions to meeting global challenges. The G20, founded in 1999 in response to several world economic crises, is a major forum to discuss financial and economic issues. It previously comprised 19 countries plus the European Union (EU). This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2023 shows the buildings of the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) Granting membership to the AU will give it the same status as the EU, up from its previous designation of "invited international organization." Experts said permanent G20 membership signals the rise of the African continent, whose young population of over 1 billion is set to double by 2050 and make up a quarter of the world's total. "This move really boosts the G20's influence on the global economy and underscores its contribution to human social development," said Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative. PAVING THE ROAD Mathapelo Monaisa, a member of the South African delegation to the G20 summit, appreciated China's role in supporting the AU's entry into the group. "I'm seeing something really great happening," Monaisa said. China was the first country to explicitly express its support for the AU's membership of the G20, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Thursday. At the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China would work actively to support the AU's full membership of the bloc. China supports the AU in playing a more significant role in global governance, Mao added. This photo taken on Jan. 11, 2023 shows the headquarters building of the China-aided Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said the move would inject fresh impetus into China-Africa ties. "Through this staunch support, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Africa will be deeper-rooted," he said, noting that China has been the biggest investor and donor to the continent for decades. "China is a friend that Africa can count on. Over the past decade, China has provided a large amount of development assistance to Africa and helped build more than 6,000 km of railway, over 6,000 km of highway, and 80-plus large power facilities on the continent," Xi said at a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in August. Cavince Adhere, a Kenya based international relations scholar, noted that "as a developing country, China has stood with and continues to champion the rights of other developing countries, especially those from the Global South." Adhere said that initiatives launched and proposed by China to support development programs among the emerging economies have proved China is "a leading champion of rights of weak states." "China has always offered respect, appreciation and support for Africa, and the Chinese people have shared weal and woe and mutual assistance with African people," Matthews said. Underscoring China's role in supporting the AU's entry into the group, Matthews said "this move will pave the way and open the doors to new foreign direct investments in economic and infrastructure development in the continent." ANSWERING THE CALL Many countries welcomed the AU's entry into the G20, stressing their long-time support in bolstering Africa's voice. The decision "represents a valuable step for the prevalence of effective multilateralism in international relations," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. A train is seen during a trial running of light rail transit (LRT) system, which was jointly built by Chinese and Egyptian companies, in east of Cairo, Egypt, July 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant based in London, said supporting the AU's inclusion in the G20 is "a matter of both justice and pragmatism." "It reflects the fact that developing countries are no longer content or prepared to be merely 'rule takers' in a so-called 'rules-based international order,' devised and enforced by a handful of Western powers to serve their own narrow interests," said Bennett. "With changes in the world unseen in a century, the G20 can only maintain and enhance its relevance if it is truly representative. This is not possible without proper African representation," he added. Phichaiwongphakdee said AU's inclusion also sets an example for developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to participate more actively in the global economy. "The increasing participation of more developing countries in global governance will be a global development trend." Senegalese sociologist Mamadou Diouf said all developing countries should unite to create economic growth, sustainable development and green economies. "No developing country alone can approach the shift toward sustainable development and emergence without linking up with others," Diouf said. (Video reporters: Wang Huan, Jiang Chao, Lin Ning, Zhang Yichi, Qi Xin, Wang Yuanyuan, Wang Ping, Dai He, Li Zhuoqun, Yan Ran; video editors: Hong Ling, Wei Yin, Zheng Qingbin, Zheng Xin, Jia Xiaotong, Wang Han) ISLAMABAD, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least seven terrorists were killed and six others injured in a clash between security forces and terrorists in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday. An exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists in Ursoon area of Chitral district on Saturday, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Sanitization of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found there, it added. CANBERRA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australian researchers have designed floating sea farms capable of producing freshwater for drinking and agriculture. In a research published on Monday, a team from the Future Industries Institute at the University of South Australia (UniSA) said the self-sustaining solar-driven system could help address a looming global shortage of fresh water. According to the study, the system evaporates seawater and recycles it into freshwater using two chambers; an upper layer similar to a greenhouse and a lower layer to harvest water, which is then condensed and transferred to a plant growth chamber. In a field test, researchers Haolan Xu and Gary Owens successfully used the farm to grow broccoli, lettuce and pak choi crops on seawater surfaces without maintenance or additional irrigation. Xu, who studied at the Nanjing University of Technology and the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences before joining UniSA in 2011, said in a media release issued on Monday that the system has several advantages over other solar sea farm designs. "Other designs have installed evaporators inside the growth chamber which takes up valuable space that could otherwise be used for plant growth. Also, these systems are prone to overheating and crop death," he said. "In our design, the vertical distribution of evaporator and growth chambers decreases the device's overall footprint, maximizing the area for food production. It is fully automated, low cost, and extremely easy to operate, using only solar energy and seawater to produce clean water and grow crops." Owens said in the release that the next step is to scale up the design. "It is not inconceivable that sometime in the future, you might see huge farm biodomes floating on the ocean, or multiple smaller devices deployed over a large sea area," he said. PHNOM PENH, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- As a member of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, China has played a crucial role in safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and pushing for more open and equal global economic governance, Cambodian experts have said. "The political status and economic scale have made China one of the most important actors in the G20," Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, told Xinhua in a recent interview. He said China is vital to connecting developing and developed economies because it is a major link in the global supply chain and value chain. "So, China's economic development and its foreign economic relations are key to the sustainable development, prosperity and stability of the global economy," Matthews said. China, the professor said, is the major driving force for peace, stability, socioeconomic development, and poverty reduction in the region and the wider world. "China has directly invested billions of U.S. dollars in infrastructure development in the G20 and in fellow developing countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI)," he said. Apart from the BRI, he said China is accelerating its unconditional cooperation with the G20 in the transition toward a digital economy and society. "More importantly, China is carrying out extensive international cooperation on technology and innovation and rising above high walls to share technological breakthroughs with the bloc so that entire humanity could reap benefits," he added. Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said China has been promoting multilateralism and free trade in the global economy. "China is a powerful shaper of a new global order, and a new global force of peace, stability, sustainable and inclusive development and prosperity," he told Xinhua. "China has created global non-discriminatory and inclusive platform of cooperation regardless of region, politics, level and stage of development, culture and religion." Thong Mengdavid, a research supervisor at the Phnom Penh-based Asian Vision Institute, said China is considered as an alternative source of economic and reliable partners in regional and global trade. "China has always followed international rules and laws, and upheld the principles of multilateralism," he told Xinhua. China opposes any kind of protectionism and unilateralism, but favors stronger partnerships, open and inclusive development with the G20 and the rest of the world, he said. JAKARTA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Volcanic ashes were thrown as high as 1 km above the peak of Mount Anak Krakatau in Indonesia when it erupted on Monday, according to the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. The eruption occurred at 08:42 a.m. local time and lasted three minutes 28 seconds, with the wind carrying thick gray ashes to the southwest, said Mount Anak Krakatau monitoring post officer Deny Mardiono. Located in the Sunda Strait which separates the islands of Java and Sumatra, the mountain, most of which is under the sea, has been at the third level of danger since April 24 last year. People are not allowed to move into the 5 km radius danger zone from the active crater. LJUBLJANA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Industrial production in Slovenia fell by 6.4 percent year-on-year (YoY) in July, the country's Statistical Office said on Monday. Industrial production has been declining for the ninth consecutive month in the country. Month-on-month, the drop was 2.5 percent in July after a 0.9 percent increase in June. "Compared to July 2022, the value of industrial production ... decreased by 33.8 percent in electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply, by 5.4 percent in manufacturing and by 3.4 percent in mining and quarrying," the office said in a statement. In the first seven months of 2023, industrial output was down 4.2 percent compared to the same period of 2022. According to experts, industrial output is falling due to lower demand from abroad caused partly by the economic slowdown in the European Union (EU), which is among Slovenia's main trading partners. The figures indicate that Slovenia's economic growth this year could be below the government's 1.8 percent target. Last month, the Statistical Office revised down the country's 2022 gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 2.5 percent from its first estimate of 5.4 percent made in February. Industrial output and economic growth this year will also suffer because the country experienced the biggest floods in its history in August. Six people died and tens of thousands of households and companies were affected. According to a government estimate, flood damage could total 5 billion euros (5.36 billion U.S. dollars). SACRAMENTO, United States, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- California lawmakers face strong headwinds to pay cash reparations to descendants of slaves, as the latest poll found that the majority of voters in the Golden State oppose this idea. According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, 59 percent of respondents are against the proposal of making cash payments to descendants of enslaved African Americans currently residing in the state. Furthermore, 44 percent of those voiced strong opposition to the idea. Republicans and conservatives overwhelmingly oppose the proposal, while 65 percent of independents are against it and 22 percent in favor. On the other hand, Democrats and liberals are divided on the issue, with 43 percent in favor and 41 percent against it. "While many can empathize with the plight of Black Americans, not all of these feelings will translate into support for policies that address longstanding racial harms," said Cristina Mora, co-director of the Institute of Governmental Studies, in Sunday's report. "And though this might be an information issue for some groups, the fact that even liberals are divided indicates that campaigns for racial redress will face a steep uphill climb," she said. The poll found the two primary reasons cited for opposing cash reparations: the belief that "it's unfair to ask today's taxpayers to pay for wrongs committed in the past" and "it's not fair to single out one group for reparations when other racial and religious groups have been wronged in the past." California, the most populous state in the United States, is expected to set an example for the nation by compensating the descendants of enslaved African Americans. The state lawmakers created the Reparations Task Force in 2020 to establish a path to reparations. The task force submitted a final report in June with recommendations for offering direct cash payments. According to the report, a 71-year-old Black person who lived all their life in California and can trace his or her lineage back to an enslaved person may be eligible to receive up to 1.2 million U.S. dollars through potential direct cash payments. To become law, the reparations need to be proposed as legislation first, then passed by both chambers and finally signed by the governor. Another survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California in June found that less than half of the respondents held a favorable opinion of the reparations, though majorities supported a formal apology from the state to descendants of slaves. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. state of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano started erupting on Sunday, with lava flows currently confined to the surrounding crater floor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The eruption, the third one of the volcano this year, started at around 3:15 p.m. Sunday local time (0115 GMT Monday), according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. The observatory observed eruptive activity in Kilauea summit webcam images and from field reports indicating that an eruption has commenced in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The eruption was preceded by a period of strong seismicity and rapid uplift of the summit, according to the observatory. The observatory elevated Kilauea's volcano alert level from watch to warning, and its aviation color code from orange to red as the eruption and associated hazards were evaluated. Hawaii County Civil Defense released an alert shortly after the eruption, stating the eruption is confined within the Halemaumau crater at the Kilauea summit, and no communities are threatened at this time. Located in a closed area of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes. The volcano erupted in January and June. Elnur Enveroglu Armenia, which does not hesitate to use all means to further escalate the tension in the region, has tried to implement a cunning plan regarding our southern neighbor, Iran. The fake information that was spread the other day about the alleged gathering of military vehicles by Iran near the Iran-Azerbaijan border was actually part of a provocation-oriented plan directed against Azerbaijan and Iran. However, as usual, the step taken by Armenia failed again. By trying to attract all foreign forces to the region, the Armenian government, this time not only appeared as a spy tool for the West, but also angered Iran. In a nutshell, the information provided by Armenian sources that would harm the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan was successfully refuted by both the local media and the officials of our southern neighbor. Head of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Ahadi, who is on a visit to Baku, stated that the information spread about Iran's alleged gathering of military forces on the border with Azerbaijan is false. "These are just baseless and false news that were published by certain forces aimed at spoiling Iran-Azerbaijani relations. In addition, I want to clarify the news about SEPAH (IRGC). It also has no troops on the border and no reason to conduct joint training. Our only goal and desire is to sign a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. May peace and tranquility come to the South Caucasus. Let there be peace between countries. We hope that the political leadership of the two countries will continue this line and achieve peace sooner," the Iraninan official said. After that, Iran's Vice President Mohammad Jamshidi announced the details of the telephone conversation between Iran's President Ibrahim Raisi and Armenia's Prime Minister. He noted that communicating outside the "3+3" (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Turkiye, Russia and Iran) format in the South Caucasus makes the situation even more difficult. According to M. Jamshidi, cooperating with foreigners, conducting military exercises with them and making suspicious trips make the situation even more difficult. It should be noted that Iran shows that it is aware of various disturbing steps taken by the Armenian side in the region recently. Iran wants regional issues to be resolved by regional countries. The 3+3 format is an initiative put forward by Azerbaijan and supported by Turkey. It is expected that a meeting at the level of MFA heads will be held soon within the framework of this initiative, after which there may be meetings at a higher level. The Iranian president's mention of this format is a reaction to Armenia's attempt to bring forces from outside the region into the region. Armenia thinks that it can deceive everyone by making "complicated moves". It is openly becoming a center of Western intelligence in the region, it is trying to withdraw Russian troops from Armenia, it wants to bring NATO and the EU to the region, it conducts military exercises with the United States, it openly insults Russian officials, etc. But at the same time, it wants support from Iran and Russia. It should be noted that during the visit to Baku, the Iranian military delegation also visited the Military Trophies Park, where the spoils of the defeated Armenia during the Patriotic War, which ended the 30-year occupation of Armenia, are exhibited. The Military Trophies Park is also an exhibition space for the weapons whether covertly or overtly provided by some countries to the invader Armenia for use against Azerbaijan. This park is an example for those states. Even today, there are countries that stand by Armenia, give it weapons, or reproaches it on the face, but support it behind the scenes. Of course, there is plenty of space in the park, and after the next botched operation, a special exhibition could be organized for newer weapons. But one thing must be acknowledged, that Russia and Iran are not so naive as not to understand the essence of Pashinyan's games. The fact that the Armenian ambassador was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time and given a note, and what the Iranian President said in a telephone conversation with Pashinyan about "exercises with foreigners" and "suspicious visits" prove this once again. AlphaTauri is heading to Singapore this week with a "big upgrade" in its crates for its AT04, one directly inspired by the successful aero concept exploited by its sister outfit Red Bull Racing. AlphaTauri is in dire need of a performance boost as the Faenza-based squad lingers dead last in F1's Constructors' standings with just three points, having only scored a trio of P10 finishes year-to-date courtesy of Yuki Tsunoda. But according to AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer, the team is confident that its Singapore update package, one that takes its cue from Red Bull's design philosophy, will yield a step forward for its AT04. "There are no quick gains," Bayer cautioned, speaking to PlanetF1. "I mean, this year, weve seen some amazing changes in the results scheme, when suddenly Aston Martin popped up, and then suddenly McLaren popped up. Read also: "I think thats really down to the fact that they all understood that what Red Bull Racing did in terms of design philosophy is the right one with this new downforce element which everybody is following. "We actually have a big upgrade coming for Singapore, which will follow the same philosophy so everybodys closing in on that and then I think next year will be extremely close." Earlier this year, in the wake of an assessment of AlphaTauri conducted by Red Bull, the energy drink company mulled an outright sale of the team. But Red Bull ultimately opted to hold on to its second franchise in F1 and to elaborate a comprehensive plan to improve its sporting results. And part of the latter will involve more synergies and a closer technical collaboration with Red Bull Racing, as Bayer confirmed. But the team will also maintain a high level of autonomy. "With the cost cap, and the technical regulations, you almost cant be like a sister or brother team you have to be a Formula 1 team," acknowledged the former FIA official. "We need to grow through that process of growing up, going through adolescence, and start walking on our own feet. Obviously not in contradiction with getting support from our family, and I think thats really what were also supposed to achieve. "Thats what we want to achieve, we can still exploit the technical collaboration because we havent done that in the past. "Its well known by now, but, if you think about the importance of the suspension nowadays, and that were not using the suspension which we are allowed to use it simply was a mistake." Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter 120,000 Reasons Calls on White House to Invoke Sanctions; Not Be Complicit in Slow Killing of Innocent Christian Armenians The hearing was live-streamed via the Commission website. Featuring Luis Moreno Ocampo explaining the conditions of genocide according the Genocide Convention The hearing was live-streamed via the Commission website. Featuring Luis Moreno Ocampo explaining the conditions of genocide according the Genocide Convention Photo taken from The Armenian Youth Federations protest in front of the White House demanding action from President Biden. Photo taken from The Armenian Youth Federations protest in front of the White House demanding action from President Biden. 120,000 Reasons Partners 120,000 Reasons Partners This embedded content is not available in your region. On Friday, September 1st, hundreds marched in Washington in solidarity with the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Artsakh suffering from the Azeri blockade. The march, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, started near the Marriott Renaissance D.C. Hotel and ended in front of the White House. WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A coalition of global organizations announced the launch of a campaign dedicated to ending the Azerbaijani blockade of the Armenian territory Artsakh, and ending the genocide of 120,000 Armenians who have been trapped in their own country for more than 260 days without the ability to access food, fuel, medicine and other life-saving necessities. These prominent organizations unite under the banner "120,000 Reasons" to signal to President Joseph Biden and the U.S. Congress that immediate action is needed to end this genocide, allow the delivery of life-sustaining relief and allow Armenians unencumbered access to their country. Without these actions, America could standby and allow the death and displacement of 120,000 Armenian Christians. On Capitol Hill, the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. Congress convened a pivotal hearing to address the genocide perpetrated by Azerbaijan against the ethnic Armenians in Artsakh. The ongoing blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia, which began in December 2022, has severed access by approximately 120,000 Armenian residents in Artsakh to essential goods; including food, electricity, life-saving medication and healthcare. Testifying was former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo. Story continues Normally people believe Genocide requires many persons dying via killings or gas chamber. There are different forms of Genocide. One requires zero victims. Genocide under article II c) requires just creating the conditions to destroy the people . . .. Blocking the Lachin Corridor with the life system for the Nagorno-Karabakh people are exactly the conditions, stated Luis Moreno Ocampo. Any U.S. assistance to President Aliyev and Azerbaijan to enable or facilitate the blockade of the Lachin Corridor or other forms of genocide could be considered complicity in genocide. The hearing was live-streamed via the Commission website. Featuring Luis Moreno Ocampo explaining the conditions of genocide according the Ge Caption: The hearing was live-streamed via the Commission website . Featuring Luis Moreno Ocampo explaining the conditions of genocide according the Genocide Convention. On Friday, September 1st, hundreds marched in Washington in solidarity with the 120,000 ethnic Armenians in Artsakh suffering from the Azeri blockade. The march, organized by the Armenian Youth Federation, started near the Marriott Renaissance D.C. Hotel and ended in front of the White House, where multiple speakers demanded that President Joe Biden honor his commitment to speaking out against and stopping atrocities, and help prevent another genocide from occuring to the Armenian people. Photo taken from The Armenian Youth Federations protest in front of the White House demanding action from President Biden. Caption: Photo taken from The Armenian Youth Federations protest in front of the White House demanding action from President Biden. The 120,000 Reasons campaign stands as a formidable alliance composed of The Armenian National Committee of America , The Armenian Assembly of America and The Philos Project. These organizations stand united by a steadfast commitment to champion human rights at the forefront of foreign policy and call on President Biden to honor his commitment to impose security measures and sanctions on Azerbaijan and to put a stop to the ethnic cleansing. Said James Tufenkian, Founder of 120,000 Reasons. The Philos Project is proud to stand with our coalition partners in condemning Azerbaijans blockade and starvation of the 120,000 Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh, said Robert Nicholson, the President and Executive Director of the Philos Project. We call on Christian leaders across the United States to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters and to call for the harshest possible condemnation of Azerbaijan from President Biden. The Ottoman Empire killed 1.5 million innocent Christians during the Armenian Genocide. It is our duty as Christians and Americans to ensure that Azerbaijan does not finish the job. For nearly a year now, the Lachin Corridor has been illegally blocked by Azerbaijan, depriving the Armenian people of essential supplies, from medication to food and more. This man-made humanitarian crisis in Artsakh is part of a larger campaign to eradicate the Armenian people, Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America. As Armenian organizations throughout the U.S. unite to raise awareness with policy makers in Washington, DC, we continue to sound the alarm about the specter of another Armenian Genocide and the dire situation on the ground in Artsakh that has resulted in senseless deaths due to the Azerbaijani blockade. There are today 120,000 living, breathing reasons that Americans of all faiths and backgrounds are coming together to break Azerbaijans genocidal, nine-month-long blockade of Artsakhs indigenous Christian Armenians, said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of Armenian National Committee of America. The Biden-Harris Administration must be held accountable for its total failure of leadership abandoning at-risk Christians to appease an oil-rich dictatorship. The coalition is on a constant growth trajectory and welcomes organizations to join as campaign partners. Organizations interested in collaborating are encouraged to reach out via email at 1200000reasons@nahigianstrategies.com or visit https://www.120000reasons.org/ . logos of 120,000 Reasons Partners About the Armenian Assembly of America The Armenian Assembly of America, founded in 1972, is the leading non-partisan Armenian-American advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The Armenian Assembly has been instrumental in raising public awareness of Armenian issues, promoting greater Armenian-American engagement in the U.S. democratic process and providing humanitarian support and development programs in Armenia and Artsakh. To learn more: https://www.armenian-assembly.org/artsakhblockade . About The Armenian National Committee of America The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest Armenian American grassroots political organization, dedicated to raising awareness for a free and independent Armenia, influencing U.S. policy on Armenian American concerns and representing the collective Armenian American viewpoint to elected officials. Learn more at anca.org/blockade . About The Philos Project The Philos Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting positive engagement between Christians and the Middle East. Through various initiatives, including educational programs, advocacy efforts and partnerships, the Philos Project seeks to build bridges of understanding, facilitate interfaith dialogue, and advocate for the protection of religious minorities, ultimately striving to contribute to a more peaceful and inclusive Middle East. Learn more at https://philosproject.org/savearmenia/ . Contact: Press@120000Reasons.org Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f9bd8a40-d53e-45f5-a451-a3f88a972b5f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ba1cab6-4686-40e8-9856-240b10bc6717 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ab84b40-a493-436c-b933-07cbc42ddacc A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6907428-ef46-4691-824d-e9b4700ad3a0 In this article, we will look at the 15 highest-paying countries for cyber security experts. If you want to skip our detailed industrial analysis, head straight to the 5 Highest Paying Countries for Cyber Security Experts. Cyber Security Global Market Cybersecurity plays an important role in safeguarding systems, networks, and programs from malicious digital attacks that aim to manipulate, access, or disrupt sensitive information and financial assets. The adoption of cybersecurity solutions has surged across various sectors such as manufacturing, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), and healthcare, and has been driving market expansion. In fact, the global cybersecurity market has seen a massive growth, with a valuation of $153.65 billion in 2022, as reported by Fortune Business Insights, and it is projected to further increase to $424.97 billion by 2030, with a robust CAGR of 13.8% during the forecast period of 2023-2030. There is no doubt that COVID-19 pandemic has been an essential catalyst for cybersecurity growth. While the pandemic caused disruptions in a number of industries, it also accelerated the demand for cybersecurity solutions. With remote work becoming the norm, cyber threats surged, leading to increased investments in security. Healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors witnessed a surge in demand for cybersecurity services as they became prime targets. The Big Names in Cyber Security Now that we have established that the industry of cyber security is growing, we should analyze if the growth is translated in the income statements of the key players of cyber security. In the investor letter of the first quarter of 2023, Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund made the following comment about Cloudflare, Inc (NYSE:NET), one of the biggest cybersecurity companies in the world. We also added to Cloudflare, Inc (NYSE:NET) during the quarter, the leading cloud-based networking and software infrastructure provider. Despite facing a macro-driven elongation of deal cycles, the company reported solid quarterly results with 42% year-over-year revenue growth, while also guiding to 37% growth for 2023. The companys speed of innovation enables it to continuously grow its opportunity set as it adds more products to its platform, solving additional problems for customers from network services to zero-trust. Its scale-based competitive advantages enable it to be the low-cost provider in the industry, while also having significant volumes of data to power its AI models and improve its product over time. Once it gets customers on board, Cloudflare is then able to cross-sell them additional networking and security solutions at high marginal profitability, as they are served on the same underlying infrastructure and thus the company doesnt need to spend once more on customer acquisition. This creates a virtuous cycle that should enable Cloudflare to become an important part of the infrastructure layer of organizations over time, in our view. Story continues Apart from its strong financial standing in the market, Cloudflare Inc (NYSE:NET) has been impressively replacing traditional, cumbersome hardware appliances with a global, cloud-based approach, Cloudflare Inc (NYSE:NET) mitigates DDoS attacks, secures network access, and enforces firewall policies with speed and precision. Their Zero Trust firewall-as-a-service ensures every connection is inspected and secured. Moreover, Cloudflare Inc (NYSE:NET)s extensive network presence allows attacks to be neutralized closer to the source, minimizing latency and ensuring robust protection. By simplifying and unifying network security, Cloudflare Inc (NYSE:NET) empowers organizations to safeguard their data and users and hence, fosters a more secure digital landscape. Similarly, Palo Alto Network, Inc (NASDAQ:PANW) has achieved huge financial success in its second quarter of 2023. Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW) reported remarkable year-over-year growth, with total revenue surging by 26% to reach $1.7 billion, compared to $1.3 billion in the same period in 2022. This growth is also evident by their profitability figures, as reflected in the GAAP net income of $84.2 million, compared to a GAAP net loss of $93.5 million in the previous year. Furthermore, their non-GAAP net income increased to $331.7 million which also indicated a strong financial performance and Palo Alto Network (NASDAQ:PANW)s ability to navigate macroeconomic challenges effectively. Emerging Threats in Cyber Security The rise of automotive hacking in 2023 is a concerning trend in cybersecurity. With modern vehicles becoming increasingly connected, hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to cars. They can manipulate the car's systems, potentially causing accidents by controlling acceleration and brakes remotely. Access to key fobs, smartphones, and USB ports provides avenues for cybercriminals to compromise personal data, from financial information to sensitive documents. Even telematics systems, meant for monitoring and data collection, are susceptible to manipulation. As cars become more technologically advanced, the automotive industry faces an urgent need for robust cybersecurity solutions to protect both vehicles and passengers. On the other hand, ransomware, though not new, is a growing cyber threat with over 120 different variants. Hackers adeptly conceal malicious code, making it an attractive avenue for financial gain. As the pandemic accelerated digitization and remote work, it also allowed ransomware targets to expand. Consequently, attack frequency and ransom demands surged. Extortion attacks involve data theft and encryption which also enables cybercriminals to blackmail organizations into paying ransoms, posing a dual threat to sensitive data and financial stability. Hackers often employ machine learning and dark web sharing to demand untraceable cryptocurrency payments. While hackers have one of the least respected jobs in the world, ethical hacking is one of the most trusted jobs. Owing to these increasing threats in recent times, informational security jobs have become the most needed jobs in America in 2023. Moreover, the highest-paid job in the cyber security field is that of a chief information security officer. While hacking is generally looked down upon for being highly unethical, ethical hackers have one of most respected professions in America. Also check out 12 Most Advanced Countries in Cybersecurity. 15 Highest Paying Countries for Cyber Security Experts Den Rise/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology To list the highest paying countries for cyber security experts, we identified the countries with the highest demand for cyber security experts and then made a list for 25 countries with the highest average salaries for cyber security specialists. Of those 25, the 15 with the highest average salaries were selected and have been ranked. We acquired the data for the average salaries of cyber security specialists for each country from ERI Economic Research Institute. The list is presented in ascending order of high salaries. Here is a list of 15 Highest Paying Countries for Cyber Security Experts 15. United Arab Emirates Average Salary: $96,656 It is no secret that the UAE is home to a large number of high-net-worth individuals, making it one of the most vulnerable countries to cyber criminals. With increasingly sophisticated threats, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is soaring. Roles like CISOs, security managers, architects, engineers, and analysts are in high demand, especially within the finance sector, as protecting customer data becomes paramount more than ever. 14. Singapore Average Salary: $96,794 Singapore's cybersecurity job market is experiencing a huge expansion with increasing demand for experts in the field. Ensign InfoSecurity is one of the largest cybersecurity companies in Asia, with its major headquarters in Singapore. 13. Austria Average Salary: $97,562 Cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand fields in Austria, with the market valued at $626 million in 2022. The increasing cyber breaches and government prioritization are driving this surge. Austria is one of the highest paying countries for cyber security experts. 12. Finland Average Salary: $100,299 Cybersecurity is an important aspect of Finland's foreign and security policy. The country focuses on international cooperation due to the borderless nature of cyber threats. The country also actively participates in international discussions and collaboration, emphasizing values like human rights, freedom of expression, and privacy protection. Finland is one of the highest paying countries for pilots. 11. Australia Average Salary: $100,640 The demand for cybersecurity professionals in Australia is soaring as there is an expected shortage of 30,000 experts in the next four years. Moreover, the sector of cybersecurity is set to grow to $5.8 billion by 2024. Australia is one of the countries with the highest demand for cyber security specialists. 10. Germany Average Salary: $102,181 Becoming a cybersecurity professional in Germany offers promising opportunities as the country has been heavily focusing on digital security. Moreover, the German cybersecurity market, as reported by Mordor Intelligence, is expected to expand from $10.24 billion in 2023 to $17.54 billion by 2028, driven by increasing cyber threats, government investments, and a demand for skilled experts to address evolving challenges. Germany is one of the top-paying countries for cyber security experts. 9. Canada Average Salary: $103,796 In 2020, the estimated ransom demands in Canada totaled $796 million. Hence, the critical role of protecting sensitive information from cyber threats has made cyber security a fundamental aspect of both public and private sectors. As a result, Canada stands as an in-demand country for cyber security professionals to contribute their expertise. 8. Belgium Average Salary: $104,150 Belgium offers great opportunities for cyber security experts owing to the country's high demand for skilled experts in the field. In fact, Belgium has a burgeoning cybersecurity market with an 11.14% CAGR, as they also have increasing cyber threats. Belgium is also one of the highest-paying countries for data scientists. 7. Netherlands Average Salary: $105,963 The Netherlands is a digital gateway to Europe with a strong internet economy. The country also hosts major data centers, an internet exchange, and cybersecurity hubs in The Hague. Moreover, Dutch cybersecurity spending is on the rise, with companies averaging $1.9 million annually. Netherlands is one of the best countries for cybersecurity experts. 6. Norway Average Salary: 109,418 The expanding digital landscape and increased reliance on technology in Norway have intensified cybersecurity threats, driving a rising demand for experts to protect critical systems, data, and infrastructure from cyberattacks and ensure digital resilience. Norway is one of the highest-paying countries for cyber security experts. Click here to see the 5 Highest Paying Countries for Cyber Security Experts. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Highest Paying Countries for Cyber Security Experts is originally published on Insider Monkey. In this article, we are going to discuss the 25 best Bourbon whiskeys under $50. You can skip our detailed analysis of the Bourbon industry in Kentucky, the rise of Bourbon tourism, and the recent acquisitions in the Bourbon industry, and go directly to 10 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50. While theres no definitive date of when Bourbon first began being distilled, historians agree that it started in the 18th century as Scottish and Irish immigrants settled in the New World and brought with them their distilling skills and equipment. Since corn was abundant in America, that was the main grain of choice when it came to distilling. It took until 1964 for the U.S. Congress to officially declare Bourbon a distinctive product of the United States. The Bourbon Industry in Kentucky: Although the popularity of Bourbon, Americas only native spirit, has risen and fallen throughout the past 100 years, it is experiencing a resurgence today like never before in history. Major distilleries have been expanding operations at a feverish pace to keep up with demand, and new craft distilleries are popping up all over the United States. Experts and industry insiders agree that this so-called Bourbon Boom is here to stay, and whiskey lovers around the world wouldnt have it any other way. Kentucky is the birthplace of Bourbon, crafting 95% of the worlds supply. Only the Bluegrass State has the perfect natural mix of climate, corn, and pure limestone water necessary for producing the worlds greatest Bourbon. According to the Kentucky Distillers Association, Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if were looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its signature whiskey. Since 2000, Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 360% thanks, in part, to the premium brands driving the Bourbon boom. Also making history this year, the number of Bourbon barrels aging in Kentucky reached a record 11.4 million thats around two barrels per every Kentucky resident. Story continues If youre also interested in which whiskies are in-demand globally, here are the 25 Most Popular Whiskey Brands in the World. The Rise of Bourbon Tourism: Inspired by the success of California wine country, the KDA founded the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1999. While it launched with less than 10 distilleries, all located within an hours drive of each other, bourbon tourists can now visit 42 distilleries across the state as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. A record 2.1 million tourists made visits in 2022. Spirit companies have invested huge sums into new or expanded visitor centers to play up the industrys heritage and allow guests to soak in the sights and smells of Bourbon-making. During the height of the pandemic, distilleries in the region were closed temporarily to visitors. Some producers eased back into tourism by allowing limited numbers of visitors and once virus restrictions were lifted, Bourbon tourism bounced back with a full resurgence. Research shows that Bourbon tourists tend to be younger, spend between $400 and $1,200 on their trip, travel in large groups, and stay longer than the average visitor to Kentucky. More than 70% of visitors are from outside Kentucky. Recent Acquisitions in the Bourbon Industry: Last month, the brewing giant Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) made its first spirits acquisition with the purchase of Bourbon and rye whiskey producer Blue Run Spirits. The Chicago-based beer company said that the deal marked another step in its evolution into a total beverage company. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The addition of Blue Run expands Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP)s footprint in spirits as it seeks to premiumise its portfolio. Furthermore, Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) has established Coors Spirits Co. to house its existing spirits business, which includes Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon, and future innovation. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), which owns Coors Light and Miller Lite brands, reported record quarterly sales and a big jump in profits last month. The company has also boasted an increase of 28.72% in its stock price since the beginning of the year. Similarly, MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) announced in June that it had acquired Penelope Bourbon in a $215.8 million deal, including incentives. The acquisition will add to MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI)s extensive portfolio of award-winning Bourbon, whiskey and coarse rye, giving it control of one of the most recognizable new brands in the industry. Penelope Bourbon will continue to operate independently from MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) and will maintain its existing team, structure, and production standards. This ensures that Penelopes iconic products can still be enjoyed by whiskey enthusiasts around the world. SouthernSun SMID Cap Strategy initiated a position in MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) in April this year. The investment management firm made the following comments about MGP in its Q2 investment letter: In June of 2023, MGPI announced the acquisition of Penelope Bourbon, adding a popular, growing bourbon brand to the portfolio. This transaction is the first tangible example of how we believe management will leverage its national distribution platform and existing distillation capacity to bring other brands into the fold. We expect acquisitions like this one to be a key element of the future value creation opportunity. MGP Ingredients, Inc. (NASDAQ:MGPI) ranks among the 11 Best Vegan Stocks to Buy Now. With that said, here are the 25 Best Bourbon Brands Under $50. 25 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50 Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com Methodology: To collect data for this article, we referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Mens Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Bourbon Whiskies Under $50. We picked whiskies that appeared at least thrice in these sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two Bourbons had the same score, we ranked them by the price of their 750 ml bottles. We sourced their prices chiefly from Drizly and Breckenridge Distillery. If youre also interested in other popular liquors in the U.S., here are the 20 Most Popular Liquor Brands in America. 25. Rowans Creek Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $49.99 Rowans Creek is another fine offering from the folks at KBD (Kentucky Bourbon Distillers). While thats a nice name, the truth is that this whiskey is sourced from another distillery, as KBD has only recently begun production at their brand new distillery in Bardstown, KY. Rowans Creek ranks among the Best Bourbons Under $100. 24. 1792 Single Barrel Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $47.29 In order to create this unique Limited Edition bourbon, the finest barrels are selected and tasted from the best aging warehouses. Only those barrels deemed exceptional are then bottled individually, one by one. This preserves the distinct character of each barrel. The 1792 brand and distillery have been owned by the Sazerac Company since 2009. 23. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $45.49 A traditional bourbon from an untraditional place, Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch is the original, flagship, and defining product from the Wyoming-based distillery. It is made from Wyoming-grown non-GMO corn, wheat, and malted barley and aged in full-sized oak barrels for at least five years in Kirby, Wyoming. The Wyoming Whiskey brand was acquired by The Macallan parent company Erdington in April this year. 22. Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $42.99 This award-winning, high-rye Bourbon Whiskey is aged for a minimum of three years, in charred, new American oak barrels, and blended to reveal the unique qualities of the Bourbon Whiskey. The Breckenridge Distillery was acquired by Tilray Brands in 2021, in a deal worth $109.2 million. Tilray Brands ranks among the 10 Best Canadian Penny Stocks to Buy Now. 21. Penelope Four Grain Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $39.99 Penelope Bourbon was crafted and created in a classic American tradition to celebrate an impending birth of a child. This is a four grain straight bourbon whiskey uniquely blended from three bourbon mash bills. Each barrel is hand-selected and blended into a single batch for your enjoyment. The Penelope Four Grain is among the Best Bourbons Under $40. 20. Evan Williams Single Barrel Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $32.99 Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only vintage dated single barrel Bourbon on the market. Similar to the way vintage wines are selected, the companys distillers hand-select individual barrels that meet the specifications they've established. Then each bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak, along with the year it was bottled, and the exact barrel number of the single barrel that the Bourbon was drawn from. 19. Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond Insider Monkey Score: 3 Price: $19.99 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond is aged under government supervision and meeting the exact requirements for a Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. It has all the kick you expect, but still goes down smooth. The Even Williams brand is owned by the family-owned Heaven Hill Distillery. With a price tag of $19.99 for a 750 ml bottle, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond is among the Cheapest Bourbons You Can Buy. 18. Makers Mark Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Insider Monkey Score: 4 Price: $49.99 A small-batch, cask-strength Bourbon from Maker's Mark that offers notes of caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, and tobacco on the palate. The Maker's Mark Distillery is the sixth-largest Bourbon distillery in the world. Located in Loretto, Kentucky, the distillery produces 16 brands, labels, and variations of Bourbon. Maker's Mark is owned by Beam Suntory, Inc. 17. Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Insider Monkey Score: 4 Price: $43.99 This truly small-batch Bourbon starts with traditionally grown corn, rye, and malted barley. All of Woodinvilles staple grains are cultivated exclusively for them on the Omlin Family farm in Quincy, Washington. Since 2017 Woodinville has been part of Moet Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of LVMH. The Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey is among the Best Bourbons Under $50 on Reddit. 16. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 4 Price: $39.99 A terrific small-batch Bourbon from Four Roses, and in this case, Small Batch means just that only four casks are used in the construction of each release. Sweet and spicy, with a generous dash of vanilla, this is a treat. Four Roses was acquired by the Japanese Kirin Holdings Company in 2002. For $39.99 a bottle, the Four Roses Small Match is among the best Bourbons for the money. 15. George Dickel 8 Year Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 4 Price: $34.99 Together, George Dickel and Jack Daniels have made it their mission to educate whiskey drinkers that Tennessee whiskey and Bourbon are not the same thing. While this never-ending debate rages on within whiskey circles, Dickel decided to throw a curveball and release a Bourbon. 14. Chattanooga Straight Bourbon Whiskey 111 Proof Insider Monkey Score: 5 Price: $47.49 Handcrafted from a single fermentation in small batches, Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Cask is the unfiltered, barrel strength expression of the distillerys signature Tennessee High Malt. By omitting the traditional filtration process, Cask 111 is able to retain every bit of flavor and complexity from the rich ingredients and long maturation process. 13. New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Insider Monkey Score: 5 Price: $44.99 New Riff Distillings core Bourbon expression is a genuinely high-rye, full bodied whiskey offering savory, spicy character. Building upon Americas 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act already the highest quality standard for aged spirits in the world New Riff Bourbon is Bottled In Bond without chill filtration. The New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon sits among the Best Whiskies Under $50. 12. Russells Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 5 Price: $42.99 Legendary Bourbon-makers Jimmy and Eddie Russell used their vast knowledge to craft this 10-year-old classic. Aged in No. 4 alligator char barrels and bottled at 90 proof, this is the Russells Reserve Bourbon that started it all. In 2009, Wild Turkey and thus Russells Reserve was acquired by the Campari Group, one of the largest companies in global spirits. Since the acquisition, Campari has invested over $300 million into expanding Wild Turkey and Russells Reserves production capacity. 11. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Insider Monkey Score: 5 Price: $34.64 Elijah Craig is credited as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, earning his place in history as the 'Father of Bourbon.' The charred barrel transformed the clear liquid inside into an intense amber whiskey made rich with the flavors of the wood, which we now recognize as Bourbon. Elijah Craig Small Batch is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and then aged for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels. The Elijah Craig Small Batch is among the Best Bourbons Under $50 in 2023. Click to continue reading and see the 10 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 25 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50 is originally published on Insider Monkey. Energy stocks are an essential addition to an investors diversified portfolio. They garner exposure to different market areas and may offer unique opportunities for significant returns. For example, while most stock market sectors struggled during 2022 when the world was getting back on track following the pandemic, the energy sector saw exponential growth. Oil prices rose, and other energy costs skyrocketed, translating into huge returns for shareholders of energy companies. That said, you should avoid the energy companies mentioned below, as they represent the top energy stocks to sell. Investors should focus on holding stock in companies with a much better outlook for the future in hopes of receiving large returns. Enviva (EVA) An image of a hand holding a light bulb wrapped in leaves, surrounded by green energy source icons Source: maeching chaiwongwatthana/Shutterstock Enviva (NYSE:EVA) operates as a sustainable wood bioenergy company. It is the worlds largest supplier of wood pellets, used to substitute coal for energy production. The company produces industrial wood pellets amongst 10 plants across Virginia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. Enviva sells its products to customers in the U.S. Japan and Europe. EVA is also constructing a facility in Alabama, which is expected to increase its production capacity by 18%. InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Since September of last year, the share price for Enviva fell about 86%. Following its earnings release for the first quarter in May, the companys share price fell 67% from $21.35 to $7.01. That was primarily due to the company eliminating its quarterly dividend to retain cash flow for company expenditures from 2023 to 2026. On August 2, Enviva reported its second-quarter earnings for 2023. The numbers showed a 2% increase in net revenue and a net loss of $56 million more than double the loss from 2022. On August 30, the company announced that effective immediately, Glenn Nunziata would take over the role of chief financial officer and executive vice president. Story continues Vermilion Energy (VET) Natural Gas Combined Cycle Power Plant with sunset and light orange. Best natural gas stocks to buy. Source: Rangsarit Chaiyakun / Shutterstock.com Headquartered in Canada, Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET) is an international energy producer focusing on acquiring and developing natural gas and petroleum sites in North America, Europe and Australia. VET also carries working interests in the Provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia. It has a site in Wyoming too. You can also find Vermilion in France, Germany, Netherlands, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia and Ireland. The company also has a 100% working interest in Wandoo Field located off Australias northwest coast. Over the past year, VET fell 43%. On August 2, Vermilion Energy released its earnings results for the second quarter of 2023. Sales for natural gas and petroleum fell by 45%. Net income dropped by 65% compared to the second quarter of 2022. Vermilion repurchased $24 million in shares and reported a dividend of $0.10 per share payable on October 16. The numbers also showed petroleum production dropping 20% compared to last year, and natural gas liquids (NGLs) production fell by 19%. Its overall production of natural gas increased by 18% within the same time period. Tellurian (TELL) a gas pipe with the sun going down in the background, natural Source: Shutterstock Tellurian (NYSE:TELL) is a natural gas company heavily focused on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related infrastructure in Houston, Texas. The company has been constructing a new facility for liquefied natural gas production near Lake Charles, Louisiana. The project is expected to be five different plants, multiple storage tanks and berths spaces to dock ships and 20 trains for the facility. Phase one of the project will start with only two plants and should start production of LNG sometime in 2026 or 2027. On May 10, Tellurian appointed Simon Oxley as the new executive vice president and chief financial officer. In early August, the company reported earnings for the second quarter of 2023. Its net loss expanded from $35 thousand in the second quarter of 2022 to $57 million in Q2 2023. That was partly due to the massive Driftwood LNG project near Lake Charles, Louisiana, I previously mentioned. The company also saw revenue cut in half compared to Q2 of 2022. TELL shares have dropped 70% since September 2022. Its Driftwood LNG project may be an excellent financial decision for the company, but that wont manifest until at least 2027. There is also a chance this venture wont work out, which could leave investors in a terrible position. As of this writing, Noah Bolton did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines. Noah has about a year of freelance writing experience. Hes worked with Investopedia dealing with topics such as the stock market and financial news. More From InvestorPlace The post 3 Energy Stocks to Sell in September Before They Crash & Burn appeared first on InvestorPlace. As per the report by Fortune Business Insights, the global 3D Virtual Fence Market size is projected to reach USD 2,339.9 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period. 3D Virtual Fence Market Forecast, 2023-2030 Pune, India, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global 3D virtual fence market size was valued at USD 700 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 2,339.9 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights displays this information in a research report titled, 3D Virtual Fence Market Forecast, 2023-2030. Similar to a physical fence, a 3D virtual fence is a digital perimeter or boundary created to with the help of 3D technology and widely used in surveillance and security systems. It is also used to control and monitor the movement of people or objects within a defined area. Radars, sensors, and laser scanners are widely used to identify and analyze the movement of objects in the defined area and trigger alarms during security breaches. These aspects are anticipated to fuel the 3D virtual fence market growth. Request a Sample PDF: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/3d-virtual-fence-market-108343 Key Industry Development: Surfcoast Wildlife Rescue received funds from Australias State Budget for 2021-22 to conduct a virtual fencing trial. The technology was put to test on a section of Forest Road near Anglesea, Australia. The budget of the trial was USD 165,000. The technology was also tested in different parts of Australia, including a three-year trial in Tasmania. Discover the Leading Players Featured in the Report: Companies leading the 3D Virtual Fence Market are Controp Precision Technologies, Ltd. (Israel), G&A Surveillance (U.S.), Huper Laboratories Co. Ltd. (Taiwan), LIPS Corporation (Taiwan), CE Info Systems Pvt. Ltd. (MapMyIndia) (India) Key Takeaways Increasing Research in 3D Virtual Fence to Pave Way for Market Growth By Type Analysis: Rising Demand for 3D Virtual Cameras to Improve Border Security Will Strengthen Market Growth Pandemic had Mixed Impact on 3D Virtual Fence Industry Owing to Rising Perimeter Security Concerns 3D Virtual Fence Market Size in Asia Pacific was USD 317.8 Billion in 2022 Story continues Report Scope & Segmentation Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 Forecast Period 2023 to 2030 CAGR 16.4% 2030 Value Projection USD 2,339.9 Million Base Year 2022 3D Virtual Fence Market Size in 2022 USD 700 Million Historical Data for 2019 to 2021 No. of Pages 90 Segments covered Type, Technology, End-user and Geography Browse Complete Report Details: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/3d-virtual-fence-market-108343 Drivers and Restraints: Increasing Government Funding/Grants to Accelerate Market Growth Several government organizations are increasing their investments in 3D virtual fence technology to boost the security of their citizens. Factors, such as rising need for safety measures, growing demand for technologies that detect unauthorized intrusions, and government initiatives to support the development of innovative security systems will improve the market growth. However, high investment in these technologies and lack of availability of skilled experts can hamper the market development. Segmentation By Type 3D Video Motion Detection System 3D Virtual Cameras By Technology Seismic Detector Technology Laser Beam Technology Laser Systems Integration Others By End-user Logistics Agriculture Border Security BFSI Construction Others By Region North America Asia Pacific Regional Insights: Asia Pacific to Dominate Global Market with Thriving Network of Startups Asia Pacific accounted for the largest 3D virtual fence market share in 2022 as countries, such as India and Taiwan, have a strong network of startups that are getting the support of advanced fencing technologies. North America is predicted to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period as governments across the region have implemented various regulations to enhance their perimeter security. Quick Buy - 3D Virtual Fence Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/108343 Competitive Landscape: Key Companies to Introduce Innovative Products and Technologies to Boost Market Presence The markets competitive landscape features well-established as well as emerging companies that are introducing innovations to their products to cater to the demands of different industries. Controp, Huper Laboratories, and LIPS Corporation are providing high-quality upgrades to their virtual fences and focusing on introducing new technologies in this regard as well. FAQs How big is the 3D Virtual Fence Market? 3D Virtual Fence Market size was USD 700 million in 2022. How fast is the 3D Virtual Fence Market growing? The 3D Virtual Fence Market will exhibit a CAGR of 16.4% during the forecast period, 2023-2030 Related Reports: Virtual Sensors Market Size, Share, Growth, Report Analysis 3D Radar Systems Market Size, Industry Share, Trends and Forecast 2030 Video Analytics Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast Global Security Analytics Market Report, Size, Share and Report Analysis About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Attachment 855684128 / iStock.com This fall, Costco shoppers might feel tempted to add just about anything pumpkin-flavored or Halloween-themed to their carts. But which fall items are truly worth the bulk purchase? Costcos Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money Discover: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases GOBankingRates spoke with Julie Ramhold, Consumer Analyst with DealNews.com, to learn more about which fall items shoppers should stock up on now that theyre available at Costco. Chicken Pot Pie It is highly recommended that Costco shoppers get their hands on this comfort food classic once its in stock. Ramhold calls it the best chicken pot pie Ive had. While the price will set shoppers back $4.99 per pound, or about $25-30 per pie, youre getting your moneys worth. The Costco chicken pot pie weighs around five pounds. It feeds a crowd, and its such a perfect fall dish when the days get shorter and colder, said Ramhold. Apple Juice Costco shoppers can buy this tasty beverage year-round, but its especially great to keep on hand in the fall months. Go for the Kirkland Signature brand rather than the name brands your Costco might carry, said Ramhold. Youll get two 1-gallon bottles for around $13.99. Dress up the apple juice with your own spice mix to make cider or enjoy it cold for a quintessential fall flavor you shouldnt pass up. Discover: Are These 8 Costco Items With Cult Followings Worth the Hype (and Money)? Oatmeal Stock up on instant oatmeal or rolled oats during your next Costco trip to warm up your breakfast when the temperatures start to drop. Oatmeal is one of the most inexpensive bulk breakfast options for everyone in the family to enjoy. A 52-count box of Quaker oatmeal with fall flavors like apples and cinnamon, maple and brown sugar, and cinnamon and spice will run about $16, which is 32 cents per package. If you prefer the original stuff so you can customize, you can expect to pay about $14 for a box with two 5-pound bags, said Ramhold. Story continues Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Muffins Shoppers want to make sure one of the items added to their Costco cart this fall is pumpkin-flavored. Ramhold recommends purchasing the Kirkland Signature Pumpkin Muffins. You can get a dozen of them for around $18, said Ramhold, adding that these muffins freeze well and are big enough to split between two people. Allergy Medication With the changing seasons comes seasonal allergies, but fortunately none of your loved ones or yourself needs to struggle with these triggers on their own. Ramhold recommends stocking up on generic versions of Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra, Xyzal and Flonase for a fraction of the cost you would elsewhere. Prices will vary but hands down Kirkland Signature medications are just as good as name brands and the prices are so much better. You can get a years supply of Aller-tec (Costcos generic Zyrtec) for around $14.89, or even less if its on sale. Laura Beck contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Fall Items To Stock Up on and Save Money From Costco LPETTET / iStock.com By now you might already know that Costco is the go-to destination for droves of household essential items; everything from allergy pills to trash bags can be found there for a good price. While you may not immediately think of the mega warehouse club as a must stop spot for grocery items, theres actually several underrated Costco grocery items that are actually worth it. (Hint, hint: Kirkland rules!) I Stopped Shopping at Dollar Tree: Heres Why Learn: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases Lets have a look. Pre-Cooked Kirkland Bacon The price for Kirkland Signature Fully-Cooked Bacon, Hickory Wood Smoked, one pound isnt listed publicly on the site unless youre a member, but meat lovers back this brand. Theres different textures of bacon in the pack and some pieces of bacon have both textures, wrote Natalie on Costcuisine. You get 48 to 50 slices in this package so definitely make room in your freezer for it. Kirkland Signature Maple Syrup This breakfast staple comes in a 33.8-ounce flip-top bottle and contains no added sugar or artificial ingredients which is a definite plus. On top of that, its organic. The jug goes for $14.99. Reviewers seem impressed. The maple syrup from Costco by Kirkland Signature is quite delicious, wrote Natalie on Costcuisine. It has a slight hint of molasses flavor and hints of vanilla and caramel. The syrup is not overly woody tasting and tastes like genuine pure maple syrup. Its super smooth with a bold maple flavor. Beef Meatloaf with Cheddar Mashed Potatoes Its an American staple, and though youll probably save the most if you make this dish from scratch, that takes an awful lot of time and ingredients. Best just get it readymade from Costco. The meatloaf is seasoned well, moist and quite firm, wrote Natalie on Costcuisine. It tastes like its made from lean ground beef and isnt super greasy or oily. The meat seemed to be good quality; we both didnt find any gross bits. The mashed potatoes were really flavorful, rich, creamy, soft and fluffy. Story continues According to Nutritionix, a 6.5-ounce portion of Costco meatloaf contains 331 calories. Kirkland Vodka If youre heading to the liquor store to buy vodka, turn around and head to Costco. You can get a bottle of Kirkland vodka reportedly comparable to Absolut for a steal: 1.75 L for $17.99. Theres been some debate over whether this vodka is sourced from the same company that makes Grey Goose. Turns out this is not true, but its still a good buy especially when considering that the same sized jug of Absolut goes for several bucks more. Kirkland Olive Oil It seems no matter what youre making for dinner (or breakfast or lunch), cooking oils are called for. Its wise to stock up on these at Costco. For example, a two-liter jug of Kirkland Olive Oil costs $18.99. This item is kosher, cold pressed, of Italian origin and produced from Italian-grown olives. Its also cheaper than what you may find at, say, Target. Hidden Gems: Affordable Luxury Goods at Aldi Raos Marinara Sauce Speaking of Italy, have you ever tried Raos Marinara Sauce? Insofar as jarred pasta sauces go, its not cheap, but boy is it tasty. And its really reasonably priced at Costco $11.89 for 2 (28-ounce) jars. Probably the most delicious and flavorful jarred marinara sauce Ive tired, wrote Natalie on CostCuisine. This sauce has no added sugar so its not sweet like other marinara sauces and has tons of flavor from the garlic and herbs in the sauce. Its hearty, salty and tastes really fresh. I would definitely say this tastes very close if not the same as a homemade marinara sauce! More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Underrated Costco Grocery Items That Are Actually Worth It Qabil Ashirov Nikol Pashinyan accuses Russia of not sending the CSTO mission mandate on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border. Even, in an interview with Italian TV, he emphasized that relying on Russia was a strategic mistake. Besides, withdrawal from CSTO has been voiced by Armenian statespersons and public figures. However, on September 10, in an interview with journalists Russian FM Sergey Lavrov noted that at the ministerial level in 2021, they coordinated the CSTO mission mandate on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. He pointed out that everything was endorsed, but in the morning Armenians decided to postpone this topic. So, it seems that Armenia plays a double game with Russia and the West. On the one hand, Yerevan is talking about leaving the CSTO, and on the other hand, Armenia's economy is becoming more and more dependent on Russia. To clarify the crux of the matter, Azernews learned the opinion of Maxime Gauin, Associate Professor at ADA University, and a researcher at the Institute for Development and Diplomacy. Pointing several reasons about Armenia's deep but hidden antipathy towards Russia's influence, he implicated that Nikol Pashinyan has never liked the Russian domination of Armenia, but his margin of initiative in this regard is limited. According Gauin, this domination actually increased further during Pashinyan's rule after his failure in 2020. Another reason is the weakening of Russia, which cannot do what it did in 2020 (massive sending of weapons and ammunition to Armenia) and still less in 2016 (during the Four Days War). Russia cannot support Armenia and the separatists of Khankendi as it did before, because it cannot. A last reason is to play the Western-oriented leadership card in Western countries, the U.S. for example, Maxime Gauin said. As for withdrawal from CSTO, the expert said that Armenia will leave CSTO before the signing of a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and of a normalization agreement with Turkiye. He emphasized that without the Russian guarantee, Armenia is nothing. It is a failed state, which gave a part of its sovereignty to Russia. As you know, Russia controls the airspace of Armenia, a part of its land boundary, the railroads, the pipelines, etc. Russia has a lot of supporters (to use the most polite word) in the Armenian opposition, but also in the Armenian military. No Western power can replace Russia for Armenia now, none wants it actually and Russia would not accept the end of its tutelage on Armenia. Only a drastic change of paradigm, added to the continuous weakening of Russia, will give Armenia the possibility to stop caring about the ire of Moscow (both are needed simultaneously). Then, it will become really independent, Maxime noted. He also touched on the future of Russian-Armenian relations and said that it largely depends on relations of Armenia with its Turkic neighbors. Without peace, the control of Russia can only increase. He emphasized that empty words and symbolic exercises with tiny numbers of soldiers will never change anything in this regard. The contract of renting of the Gyumri Russian base has been extended until 2044. Armenia does not possess the financial capacity to renew its military equipment, which is almost entirely Russian-made. The Indian engineers themselves would be the first to admit that their multiple rocket launcher systems designed in the 1980s and sold to Armenia recently are low-quality weapons, easy to destroy with Turkish or Israeli UAVs. And we saw very recently what the progress of Armenia in the field of the UAVs actually meant when the Azerbaijani army destroyed without difficulty an Armenian station of control of drones. Maxim Gauin said. He added that Armenia cannot show the same attitude towards the West at some point. He noted that Russia uses Armenia for its own purpose to evade the sanctions. Even the growth of the Armenian Gross domestic product last year and this year is mostly due to the use of Armenia by Russia to bypass the international sanctions. What is the importance of the symbolic quantity of humanitarian help recently sent to Ukraine in comparison with the jets given by Armenia in 2022 for the attack against Kyiv? Or, to stick to todays issues, with the key role of Armenia in the survival of the Russian economy as a window to partly evade the sanctions? To give you a striking example, the role of Armenia in the import of Western-made cars increased after September 2022, namely after the clashes at the Armenian-Azerbaijani boundary and the passivity of Russia, busy with the successful Ukrainian counter-offensive, the expert concluded. Company Logo Global Market for Artificial Implants Global Market for Artificial Implants Dublin, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Artificial Implants - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for artificial implants is analyzed extensively, covering various product types including cardiac implants, spinal implants, knee implants, hip implants, dental implants, cochlear implants, and extremities implants. The analysis spans multiple geographic regions including the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Key competitors and market presence are highlighted for each region. The analysis includes recent past, current, and future sales figures in US$ million for the years 2022 through 2030, along with percentage CAGR calculations. Historic sales data from 2014 through 2021 is also considered. The market perspective includes a 16-year breakdown of value sales for the years 2014, 2023, and 2030, encompassing the various product types and geographic regions. The report delves into the competitive landscape and provides insights into the competition within the artificial implants market. Global Artificial Implants Market to Reach $112.7 Billion by 2030 In the changed post COVID-19 business landscape, the global market for Artificial Implants estimated at US$73.5 Billion in the year 2022, is projected to reach a revised size of US$112.7 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% over the analysis period 2022-2030. Cardiac Implants, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record 6.6% CAGR and reach US$52 Billion by the end of the analysis period. Taking into account the ongoing post pandemic recovery, growth in the Spinal Implants segment is readjusted to a revised 5.5% CAGR for the next 8-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $20 Billion, While China is Forecast to Grow at 9.4% CAGR The Artificial Implants market in the U.S. is estimated at US$20 Billion in the year 2022. China, the world's second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$25.4 Billion by the year 2030 trailing a CAGR of 9.4% over the analysis period 2022 to 2030. Story continues Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.7% and 4.5% respectively over the 2022-2030 period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.6% CAGR. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Advanced Materials & Technologies Foster Orthopedic Implants Growth Revision Procedures Buoy Growth in Orthopedic Implants Market Reduced Post-Surgical Complications Drive Hip and Knee Replacements Demand for Premium Implants Continues Gender-Specific Orthopedic Devices Gain Momentum Concerns Regarding Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants Future of Reconstructive Sector Competition in the Orthopedic Implants Market - Largely Stagnant Growing Presence of Mid-Tier Firms & Start-Ups in Spinal Segment Competition Intensifies in the Global Spinal Implant Market Increasing Incidence of Knee/Hip Replacement Surgeries in Developed Nations Technological Advancements Encourage Young Patients to Opt for Surgeries Cementless Procedures Gain Ground Fully Integrated Prosthetic Limbs & Bionic Implants: Future Trend Key Technology Advancements in Spinal Implants Future Materials for Spinal Implants Innovations in Bio-Friendly Orthopedic Implants Biologically-Compatible Implants to Treat Fractured Bones Biomedical Textiles for Orthopedic Implants Biodegradable Magnesium - Future Material for Orthopedic Implants 'Smart' Orthopedic Implants Rising Popularity of Aesthetic & Cosmetic Dentistry to Spur Opportunities for Implants Implant Benefits Lead to Increased Consumer Acceptance Spurt in Dental Tourism Offers Growth Opportunities Dental Implant - A Small Segment in the Tooth Replacement Market Regional Prospects for Dental Implants in a Nutshell Europe Ahead in Dental Implants Emerging Markets to Drive Dental Implants Market Implants to be a Preferred Choice in Tooth Replacement in Future Lower Penetration and Economic Recovery to Drive Future Growth Developed Countries Still Far Off from Market Maturity Penetration Rates Determine Future Growth Prospects Lack of Insurance Coverage - A Growth Deterrent Battle Intensifies between Premium, Value and Discount Implant Brands Technological Advancements Drive Growth of Dental Implants Market Digitalization Trend & CAD/CAM Technology Innovation to Strengthen Market Share of Leading Players Innovation to Further Strengthen the Market Shares of Leading Players Replacements to Drive the Growth of ICDs Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) ICDs in Pediatric Care Show Promise New Generation ICDs Feature Superior Benefits ICD Lead Failure Demands Immediate Attention Regulatory Developments Ensure Greater Device Reliability Market Shapes Up After the Recall Shock Pacemakers Ensure Effective Management of Non-Systolic Heart Failures Decline in Average Selling Price Threat form CRT-D Devices Breathing Disorders in Patients Implanted with Pacemakers: A Cause for Concern Innovations Spark Growth Technologically Advanced Compact Models Hold Growth Potential Remote Monitoring Capabilities Expand Cardiac Pacemaker Applications Advent of Digital Pacemakers Submicrometer CMOS Technologies to Improve Performance of Cardiac Pacemakers Transcatheter Heart Valves Market Poised for Growth Tissue Valves Prevail Over Mechanical Valves Under-Treated Population Spike Potential Destination Therapy - A Potential Opportunity in Ventricular Assist Devices Demographic Factors Drive Demand for Cardiological Devices Alarming Cardiovascular Disease Statistics Spell Opportunity for Cardiac Implants Cochlear Implants Gain Visibility Adoption Still Low for Cochlear Implants Overcoming Social Stigma - Critical to Boost Penetration for Cochlear Implants Researchers Investigate Potential Cochlear Implant Devoid of External Hardware Encouraging Efforts to Achieve Natural Hearing Using Implants Major Advancements in Cochlear Implant Services and Technology Innovative Speech Recognition Materials Enhanced Surgical Techniques Automatic Scene Classification Implants for Single-Sided Deafness Bilateral Cochlear Implantation Dual Microphone Directional Technology Wireless Technology & Signal Processing Algorithms Early Intervention for Congenital Hearing Loss Electroacoustic Stimulation A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Abiomed, Inc. Bicon, LLC Biotronik SE & Co. KG Boston Scientific Corporation Cochlear Limited Dentsply Sirona DePuy Synthes Companies Exactech Inc. GS Medical LLC Institut Straumann AG Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation Japan Medical Dynamic Marketing Inc. Medtronic plc Nobel Biocare Services AG RTI Surgical, Inc. Showa Ika Kohgyo Co., Ltd Smith & Nephew Plc Sonova Holding AG St. Jude Medical, Inc. Stryker Corporation Terumo Corporation TTK Healthcare, Ltd. Wright Medical Group N.V. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/54quus About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 In the wild world of Web3 where trust and credibility are scarce, a projects reputation holds the key to success. Picture last years domino effect from the downfall of Terra to the exposure of FTXs dodgy dealings casting a shadow over the industrys integrity. Add in the U.S. Security and Exchange Commissions crackdown on cryptocurrency, mix it with ever-confusing rapidly evolving technology, and youll see why reputation is like a precious gem. There are three crucial factors to consider when building and shaping your reputation in Web3, this includes transparent communication, engaging the community, and forming key partnerships with industry leaders. Lets break it down. Be transparent Transparent communications in Web3 can be difficult, as some parts of Web3 thrive on anonymity and security. Yet commitment to open and honest communication on public forums is key to reputation building. If your users trust you to tell them what is happening, even when things go awry, youre demonstrating that you are accountable, reliable and responsible. While you dont have to share everything all the time, there are three situations where transparent communication is a must: During a market downturn: Proactively sharing your strategies, risk management plans, and market insights can soothe nerves and build confidence. In times of crisis: Maintaining an honest and open dialogue with stakeholders via X (formerly Twitter), blog posts and public forums, through regular updates, addressing concerns, and offering insights into what happened will enable you to tackle challenges more effectively. Its about nipping problems in the bud before they escalate. When launching a product or offering: When preparing to introduce a product or development, a solid communication plan should outline how youre unveiling the product, why it is important and how you want it to be perceived. The tech does not actually speak for itself and leaving room for interpretation can lead to misunderstandings that can hinder a brands reputation. Story continues Heres an example of why transparent communications are important: When Ledger, the maker of cryptocurrency hardware wallets, announced the launch of Ledger Recovery earlier this year, they failed to clearly outline the details and functionality of the update. This caused confusion surrounding the product and led users to question the security and privacy of their data and even worse, Ledgers entire legacy. Concerns voiced by users and the crypto community on Twitter, as the social media platform X was then known, suggest a perceived misalignment with Ledger and cryptos core principle of security. As a result, Ledger had to spend a lot of time managing the situation by communicating with users, stakeholders and the media, which could have been avoided if theyd had clear communication from the beginning. Engage in productive discourse The crypto industry is a vibrant and interconnected community that thrives on community engagement and interaction. It is the combined power of engaged communities that bolsters the reputation of a project. Ethereum is well known for a highly engaged and passionate community of developers, investors and users. This culture of collaboration and innovation is highlighted through the many key industry conferences that gather the community together such as ETHDenver, EthCC and Devcon. Engagement comes in several forms, but the main ones are conferences, social media forums like X spaces, webinars, podcasts and media publications. The power of consistent and active engagement in Web3 was demonstrated by Binance when the exchange swiftly and succinctly responded to news that they were being sued by the SEC in June, earlier this year. Binance quickly took to X to acknowledge the filing, confirm that the news was true and provide a clear outline of the upcoming changes that would impact the platform. This worked to appease users and prevent a mass outflow. This was not the first instance where Binance excelled in leveraging engagement to navigate challenges. When FTX was exposed last year, Binance was very quick to update its users as well. This adeptness at communication has earned them a reputation for good crisis management. Team up with partners Reputation in Web3 is closely tied to those you choose to associate with. Collaborating with reputable projects, influencers or industry leaders allows individuals to form strategic partnerships that amplify credibility and visibility. The benefits of partnerships include the possibility of joint ventures, co-marketing campaigns and sharing resources. Partners can also provide valuable insights and expertise that will work to enhance the reputation of a company, as they are seen as informed and well-connected participants in the dynamic world of crypto. A good illustration of a mutually beneficial partnership is the alliance between blockchain infrastructure Paxos and the online payment system PayPal. Originating in 2020, Paxos enabled Paypal to directly purchase, hold and sell cryptocurrency from its wallets. A significant milestone occurred in early August this year when they launched a USD stablecoin on PayPal. This was seen as a pivotal moment in crypto history, as Paxos, a regulated company, issued the token, providing holders with greater protection and facilitating the seamless transition between crypto and traditional financial activities. From this partnership, Paxos gained access to a user base of 435 million worldwide and for PayPal, the move established them as strong contenders in the race to onboarding the next billion to Web3. Reputation ultimately builds trust Reputation in Web3 is ultimately about trust in the technology that is truly decentralized. This means that the reputation of a project or the entire Web3 industry shouldnt be at the mercy of the actions of any individual or particular group. Up until now, Web3 projects have generally focused on building the tech more than on maintaining their reputation. But whats the point in having great underlying technology if no one knows about what your project or brand is about? It is time for projects to move into the next phase of building and to start thinking about communicating what they do and explaining why it matters. This is where a well-thought-out strategic communication plan is key to engaging with your community and key partners in the industry. Investing in building a strong communications and marketing team is an under-acknowledged risk management plan. (Bloomberg) -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is putting a potential Hong Kong initial public offering of its Freshippo grocery chain on the backburner amid weak sentiment for consumer stocks, people with knowledge of the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg After early talks to sound out potential investors, the Chinese tech giant concluded it could likely achieve a valuation of around $4 billion for Freshippo in the listing, below its initial expectations, the people said. Thats lower than the $6 billion to $10 billion value the firm was targeting when it considered raising a private funding round at various points last year, the people said. The capital management committee of Alibaba, which is overseeing the breakup of the sprawling company, recently decided to wait for a more favorable market before moving forward with a Freshippo IPO and will prioritize listings of other units, the people said. Alibabas American depositary shares fell as much as 1.4% in New York trading Friday, hitting the lowest intraday level in two weeks. They were down 0.5% at 10:05 a.m. in New York. Any delays could mean Alibaba misses its stated target to float Freshippo by May 2024. To be sure, Freshippo could move forward with its listing plan once Chinas broader retail environment and economy start picking up, improving investor sentiment around the sector, the people said. The company is ready to submit a preliminary prospectus any time, one of the people said. Representatives for Alibaba and Freshippo declined to comment. Freshippo provides a Sams Club-like supermarket experience that includes a dine-in restaurant as well as 30-minute home delivery. It even offers cooked lobsters and grouper freshly chosen from fish tanks in its store. The companys main grocery brand Hema Xiansheng turned profitable in 2022, according to a company website citing an internal memo from Hema Chief Executive Officer Hou Yi. Story continues The unit was set to be among the first Alibaba units to go public after the Chinese tech giant made a surprise announcement in March that it would split up its business. The cloud division, which is among the six main units created via the breakup, is weighing a private round to raise funds from Chinese state-owned enterprises ahead of its listing by introduction in Hong Kong, Bloomberg News has reported. Read More: Alibaba Cloud Eyes State Firms for Up to $3 Billion Funding Started in 2016, Shanghai-headquartered Freshippo had more than 270 self-operated stores across China at the end of March last year, according to its website. It facilitates high-tech automatic order picking that transports goods via conveyors attached to the roof of the store, and uses robots to deliver food for its dine-in customers. --With assistance from Jane Zhang. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Arm Holdings Ltd. is considering raising the price range of its initial public offering after meeting investors for what would be the worlds largest listing this year, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The SoftBank Group Corp.-owned chip designers share sale is about six times subscribed, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. Deliberations are ongoing and no final decision has been made, the people said. Arm filed for its IPO at $47 to $51 a share, which would have valued the company at $54.5 billion at the high end of the range. That was slightly below the $60 billion to $70 billion valuation the company had targeted earlier this year. Its common for companies going public and their investment bankers to try to create positive momentum as they head toward final pricing of an IPO, which is expected for Arm on Wednesday. The stock will start trading the next day. Reuters reported earlier that Arm is discussing the possibility of raising the price range and it could price the offering at the top of the range or even above. A representative for Arm declined to comment. SoftBank shares rose as much as 2.6% and have gained about 15% this year so far. Arm has been looking to raise as much as $4.87 billion, offering 95.5 million American depositary shares at the $47 to $51 range. Any price hike is a sign that theres been strong demand during the roadshow for its stock. Arm said during its investor roadshow that it expects revenue growth of 11% in its current fiscal year and an increase in the mid-20% range in fiscal 2025, boosted by demand for chips to power data centers and artificial intelligence, Bloomberg reported earlier. Story continues At an investor luncheon in New York, Arm Chief Executive Officer Rene Haas said that price increases have provided the company with a larger bump than seen historically, investors who attended the event said. The investors said Haas expects robust growth to continue into the 2026 fiscal year, with high-teen percentage increases in revenue. (Updates with Arms earlier valuation target in third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) so let's look a bit deeper. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Arrow Electronics is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = US$1.8b (US$21b - US$11b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to July 2023). Thus, Arrow Electronics has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Electronic industry average of 13% it's much better. View our latest analysis for Arrow Electronics roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Arrow Electronics compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. How Are Returns Trending? Arrow Electronics has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. Looking at the data, we can see that even though capital employed in the business has remained relatively flat, the ROCE generated has risen by 59% over the last five years. So our take on this is that the business has increased efficiencies to generate these higher returns, all the while not needing to make any additional investments. It's worth looking deeper into this though because while it's great that the business is more efficient, it might also mean that going forward the areas to invest internally for the organic growth are lacking. Story continues On a side note, Arrow Electronics' current liabilities are still rather high at 52% of total assets. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks. The Key Takeaway To bring it all together, Arrow Electronics has done well to increase the returns it's generating from its capital employed. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 65% return over the last five years. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. One more thing, we've spotted 2 warning signs facing Arrow Electronics that you might find interesting. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity. 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. In the last year, multiple insiders have substantially increased their holdings of Aurizon Holdings Limited (ASX:AZJ) stock, indicating that insiders' optimism about the company's prospects has increased. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. See our latest analysis for Aurizon Holdings The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Aurizon Holdings The MD, CEO & Director Andrew Harding made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$884k worth of shares at a price of AU$3.85 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$3.60 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Notably Andrew Harding was also the biggest seller. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid AU$2.1m for 581.99k shares. But insiders sold 459.91k shares worth AU$1.7m. In the last twelve months there was more buying than selling by Aurizon Holdings insiders. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Insiders At Aurizon Holdings Have Bought Stock Recently Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider buying at Aurizon Holdings. Not only was there no selling that we can see, but they collectively bought AU$119k worth of shares. This makes one think the business has some good points. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Aurizon Holdings 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. From our data, it seems that Aurizon Holdings insiders own 0.2% of the company, worth about AU$12m. We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership. So What Does This Data Suggest About Aurizon Holdings Insiders? It is good to see recent purchasing. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Insiders likely see value in Aurizon Holdings shares, given these transactions (along with notable insider ownership of the company). So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Aurizon Holdings (1 can't be ignored) you should be aware of. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. 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. Joe Biden calls himself the most pro-union president in American history. His bet is that what is good for labor unions is good for the nation, and thereby, for his political prospects. Yet we may be approaching a juncture at which unions try to hold a major chunk of the US economy hostage, while demanding pay and perks well beyond what much of working-class America gets. Biden could find that hes bet on a horse many Americans dont want to win. The United Auto Workers (UAW) could go on strike against the three domestic automakers as early as Sept. 14, when their current contract expires. On the eve of the strike, union boss Shawn Fain is trashing General Motors (GM), Ford (F), and Stellantis (STLA) execs for insulting offers, even though UAW members already outearn most blue collar workers, and the gap would widen based on the automaker offers the UAW is laughing off. Tough talk amid contract negotiations is normal, and the two sides could settle, averting a strike. If they dont, the result could be an unwelcome jolt to the economy just as Biden is campaigning for reelection and trying to convince Americans his economic plan is restoring prosperity. A strike could cost billions of dollars in lost output, especially in the swing state of Michigan. If it lasts long enough, it could crimp inventory on dealer lots and send sky-high auto prices even higher. Americans have a shifting view of unions, which complicates Bidens embrace of them. Public approval of unions peaked at 75% in the 1950s, when around 25% of all workers belonged to a union. It fell to a low of 48% in 2009, when many Americans associated unions with the bankruptcies and federal bailouts of GM and Chrysler. Unions didnt cause those bankruptcies, but union perks such as a jobs bank that paid laid-off autoworkers to do nothing highlighted inefficient and sometimes abusive union practices. Several corruption scandals have further dinged unions popularity. Story continues Union membership is now down to just 10.1% of the total workforce, yet unions approval ratings have jumped back to 67%. That probably reflects burgeoning populism in both political parties, with Democrats such as Biden, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren joining Republicans such as Donald Trump in telling voters that the system is rigged against them and that the spoils of capitalism go largely to the rich and well connected. Support for unions is highest among Democrats, but it has risen during the last decade among all groups, including Independents. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) talks to the crowd before President Joe Biden addresses union workers at Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 on Sept. 4, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pa. During his speech, President Biden talked about his record on job creation and support for labor unions. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) [Drop Rick Newman a note, follow him on Twitter, or sign up for his newsletter.] That could change, however, if 146,000 auto workers walk off the job and unions suddenly get deeper scrutiny. Trade expert Clyde Prestowitz, who has advised several presidents, points out that a typical union worker at one of the domestic automakers earns about $37 per hour, or $78,000 per year. The average for all manufacturing workers is about $27 per hour, and that includes around 160,000 non-union workers at US plants run by Tesla (TSLA), Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Volvo, Hyundai and Kia, many in the South. The UAW wants a 46% increase in pay, which would push average annual earnings over $100,000. It also wants a four-day workweek. Who doesnt? But the risk in making such demands is that ordinary people who start paying attention amid a crippling strike may begin to think the UAWs demands are unreasonable, maybe even ridiculous. Biden has dispatched Democratic factotum Gene Sperling to aid in negotiations, but the Biden/Sperling agenda isnt the same as the unions. Biden wants to avert a strike without antagonizing the UAW which is conspicuous, so far, in its lack of a Biden endorsement in the 2024 presidential contest. The UAW, judging by its rhetoric, seems to feel the time is right for a sweetheart deal, given the implied backing of the most pro-union president ever, not to mention chronic worker shortages. The automakers, for their part, may decide they cant afford to take on even higher labor costs and deepen their disadvantage to the non-union shops. Maybe itll all work out, as it did with UPS and its unionized workers over the summer. Even if it does, however, Biden seems to have bought himself more downside than upside. Hes so devoted to the union cause that hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies for green energy, semiconductors, and infrastructure he signed into law during the last three years are contingent on the work being done domestically, by union workers. Yet this outsized focus on the manufacturing sector shortchanges the rest of the economy. Manufacturing today accounts for just 8.3% of employment, down from 30% in 1950. Factory output is much higher than it was in the supposed heyday of manufacturing, in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, because of automation and other efficiencies. But no economist thinks there will ever be a big boom in the portion of workers employed at factories. The service economy accounts for 86% of all jobs today, up from 62% in 1950. Almost all the jobs are in services. Yet Biden never talks about beefing up the service economy. Many service workers endure stagnant wages, declining living standards, and all the other problems that are making Americans gloomy under Biden. Probably way more, in fact, than in manufacturing. Yet Biden isnt addressing any of those folks the way he claims solidarity with blue-collar workers. Why the disconnect? Theres something about the robust ethic of blue-collar work that politicians love to romanticize, plus, its easy to visualize people laying pipe or welding panels onto a chassis along an assembly line. Service work is amorphous, by contrast, given that it includes everybody from janitors to retail clerks to plumbers to nurses to lawyers and accountants and programmers and even CEOs. Some services workers are unionized, but most arent. As far as they know, Bidens paying them no mind whatsoever. The power of the US economy, however, is largely in the service sector, because thats where much of the innovation and wealth creation takes place. Thats not a knock on manufacturing, which also relies on innovation and entrepreneurship to succeed. Its just a statement of the obvious, given that the service sector generates $21 trillion in GDP compared with just $3 trillion for manufacturing. Democrats are puzzled by the apparent contradiction that the Biden economy looks good, statistically, yet Bidens approval rating is so dismal it could tank his reelection. Maybe voters should give Biden more credit for a solid economy. But Biden isnt talking to most voters when he goes around the country bragging about new factories and rebuilt bridges. In fact, hes talking to a small minority of them, and an automaker strike by a portion of those could leave Biden with some awkward explaining to do to everybody else. Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance SWANSEA Even if its no longer home to a Swansea Mall, Swansea Mall Drive is still the address of several destination retail centers though much diminished from the mall's heyday in the 1980s. On the roads west side, the former Swansea Mall is in the midst of a massive redevelopment. The malls ring road and parking lot deteriorated rapidly after the malls closing; they have since been resurfaced, and hundreds of parking spaces restriped. The exterior has received a ground-to-roof makeover. And signage shows the property has been rechristened Swansea Center. On the east side, the development known as Swansea Crossing remains active, though minus several stores and an anchor. Both properties have an abundance of retail space for lease. But what stores will fill it? Lets take a look at whats there now and what we can expect and scroll to the end to voice your opinion about what youd like to see. A sign at the entrance identifies the former Swansea Mall as Swansea Center, and guides customers to the development's few tenants. Who owns the former Swansea Mall? The property is owned and managed by Brady Sullivan Properties of Manchester, New Hampshire. After the malls closure in March 2019, it was acquired for $4.6 million by Dick Anagnost of the Anagnost Cos.; Anagnost and Brady Sullivan are a joint venture. It contains 600,000 square feet of space on 82 acres. What is the plan for the former Swansea Mall? According to Brady Sullivans website, its ultimate goal is to build two apartment buildings on the site containing 142 units, along with commercial, retail and office space, creating a vibrant, experiential lifestyle center. In 2022, the location was going to be known as the Shoppes at Swansea; this has been changed to Swansea Center, using a variation of the malls swan logo. The exterior of the former Swansea Mall has been remodeled. The mixed-use development is known as Swansea Center. What is at Swansea Center now? The tenants at Swansea Center have not changed in the past year. The site contains Prime Storage, a self-storage facility; Crunch Fitness, a gym; Unified2 Global Packaging Group, a manufacturer of packaging products and a subsidiary of the Kraft Group; and His Providence Church, a nondenominational ministry. The remainder is vacant. Story continues Walmart, which abuts Swansea Center to the west, is separately owned. How close are they to completing the project at Swansea Center? Its unclear. The exterior of the property has been revitalized; the level of interior renovation is not known. Brady Sullivan representatives did not immediately return multiple information requests. The two apartment buildings planned for the site would sit at the sites north end, one on either side of the main building. Two areas have been fenced off where the buildings footprints are proposed, but construction has not begun on either building. The former Swansea Mall logo remains on one of the entrances to Swansea Center. What spaces are available at Swansea Center? According to floor plans available from Brady Sullivan, there are 16 commercial vacancies at the property, ranging from about 2,000-square-foot spaces to an 86,000-square-foot major location. What about Swansea Crossing? What is it, and who owns it? The plaza across Swansea Mall Drive from the former mall is owned by Gator Investments of Miami Lakes, Florida. What is located at Swansea Crossing now? What happened to the Regal Cinema there? The shopping center contains several tenants, anchored by Big Lots in the center and Yankee Spirits at the north end. The southern anchor was a Regal Cinema until it closed in October 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the movie theater chain closed more than 500 locations, including Swansea. The spot remains vacant. The former Regal Cinema has been vacant at the Swansea Crossing plaza since 2020. The 40,000-square-foot spot remains for lease. What space is left at Swansea Crossing? Gator Investments website lists five vacancies, including a restaurant space. The former Regal Cinema is the building's largest space, 40,000 square feet. Its unknown if any companies have expressed interest in locating there; a request for information from Gator Investments was not returned. Scan this QR code with your phone to find a survey -- tell us what stores you'd like to see in Swansea. What do you want to see move to Swansea? Dream big (up to 86,000 square feet). Tap or click this link to tell us what youd like to see move to Swansea, or scan this QR code. Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today. This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Poll: Which retail stores should move into former Swansea Mall? mini ev BMW has helped to jump start Britains stalling car industry with a 600m upgrade to its Mini factory in Oxford. The investment in the Cowley plant, confirmed on Monday, will see it retooled to produce electric cars. It ends months of speculation about the future of Mini manufacturing in Britain and takes the total invested in electrifying the UK car industry in recent years to more than 6bn. The Cowley factory will manufacture electric versions of the 3-door Mini Cooper and the new Aceman, a small SUV expected next year. Output will be 100pc electric by 2030. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), hailed the announcement as another vote of confidence for British automotive manufacturing. It came days after Vauxhall owner Stellantis started electric vehicle (EV) production at its Ellesmere Port plant last week, itself the beneficiary of a recent 100m cash injection from its owners. Yet looming post-Brexit EU trade tariffs and questions about British battery manufacturing mean question marks still loom over the auto industry. UK automotive manufacturing faces tough challenges amid the drive to net zero, the resulting shift to EVs and questions about its competitiveness against the likes of China, Germany and the US. British car production is still down 30pc on pre-pandemic levels, thanks to a combination of lockdown policies and shortages of critical components such as computer chips. Figures from the SMMT show how the EV revolution is gathering momentum, however. Between 2018 and 2022 the number of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles built in Britain increased 69pc, rising to a total of 234,066 last year. More than 7,400 electric Minis were registered in the UK last year, making it the sixth best-selling EV in Britain, behind vehicles from Tesla, Kia and Volkswagen. However, the industry risks running up against a blocker in the form of battery supply. The Faraday Institute, which focuses on battery technology research and commercialisation, says Britain needs more than 100 gigawatt-hours of battery supply per year to meet projected EV production demand by 2030. Today, the UK has just 2 gigawatt-hours of EV battery production per year. Story continues Nissan and Tata, the Indian group that owns Jaguar Land Rover, have both announced plans to invest billions of pounds setting up gigafactories in Britain. But far more capacity will be needed. Milan Nedeljkovic, BMWs board member for production, said the parent company of Mini had no plans to set up its own UK battery plant. However, he added: We have to solve this supply issue as well. Nedeljkovic said BMW was working very intensively with our supply base to have the best conditions for our production here in the UK and was open to sourcing batteries from Europe. For the moment, the Oxford Mini plant is relying on Asian suppliers, including two Chinese battery manufacturers. Overshadowing Mondays announcement was a growing political row over the UKs relationship with China, which is the worlds biggest supplier of electric vehicle batteries. The arrest of a suspected spy working for Beijing on the parliamentary estate has sent shockwaves through Westminster. At a press conference at Minis Cowley factory, Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch defended continued business links with China. At the moment China is leading on this technology. We wouldnt be able to get to where we want to get to on net zero by stopping Chinese products, she said. Despite fervent hopes in Whitehall, establishing a financially sustainable electric vehicle supply chain in Britain has so far been a slow and frustrating process. Earlier this year plans to set up a UK gigafactory by Britishvolt fell apart after the company crashed into administration, despite promises of 100m in government support. Acknowledging the Mini factorys century-long presence in Oxford, Nedeljkovic observed that industrial heritage must always play second fiddle to having a profitable business case. Its about how much you can invest and your return on investment, he said. Questions over investment are closely accompanied by scrutiny of government subsidies, which for the EV industry are mostly doled out by the 1bn Automotive Transformation Fund. BMW is believed to have received around 75m of government support for the overhaul of its factory and just how long the Treasury can keep writing cheques is an open question. Darren Jones, the Labour MP and until last week chairman of Parliaments business and trade select committee, has queried the level of handouts given to EV companies. He called for more transparency in July after Jaguar Land Rover unveiled its 4bn EV battery factory, reportedly supported by 500m of taxpayer cash. Last year BMW said it was planning to halt production of new EVs at Cowley because the factory was not geared up for full-scale production of the new technology. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch says the Government is proud to be able to support BMW Groups investment - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Automotive analyst Matthias Schmidt claims BMW was unashamedly playing the subsidy card, which many have done before them. He highlights that both Stellantis and Nissan have received financial backing to support their electric vehicle plants in recent years. Badenoch said the Government was proud to be able to support BMW Groups investment, which will secure high-quality jobs, strengthen our supply chains, and boost Britains economic growth. However, Schmidt predicts Cowleys workforce will shrink, even as a BMW spokesman says the company is not talking about any changes to the number of associates at the Mini factory. Schmidt says: EVs simply require fewer employees [to produce] due to less parts, fewer stations on the production line and a more automated production process. Electric vehicles have no engine and thus fewer moving parts than their conventional counterparts. Fewer parts means fewer people are needed on the production line. Lurking in the background is the question of EU trade tariffs, which are an existential threat to the broader industry. Under current post-Brexit rules set to come into force from January, cars travelling in either direction across the Channel will face a 10pc tariff unless they meet strict rules around the sourcing of local parts. Carmakers have warned the policy could have a devastating effect on trade given supply chains for batteries are nowhere near where they need to be. Manufacturers including BMW have called for a delay to the tariffs introduction. Professor David Bailey, of the University of Birmingham, an expert on automotive tariffs, says he thinks Mondays announcement signals a potential climb-down from Brussels. Theres a lot of pressure on both the UK side, and also on the European side from carmakers on the [EU] Commission to shift on it, he says. He believes it is unlikely BMW would expand in the UK without some knowledge of how the political fights over tariffs are likely to end. There are those who recognise well, actually, this is self defeating because it means 10pc tariffs on imports and exports of EVs between the UK and the EU, he says. Theyll probably just be undercut by the Chinese cars; thatll be counterproductive. In the meantime, uncertainty remains. While BMWs 600m investment in Mini manufacturing is a positive for the UK, the road to industrial success remains a bumpy one. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. Rena Murshud On September 11, 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, went on an official visit to Geneva (Switzerland), Azernews reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. Jeyhun Bayramov plans to speak at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council, and meetings with the heads of a number of international organizations, including the UN Office at Geneva and other specialized agencies during the visit. The Azerbaijani foreign minister also plans to take part in a number of events, including the opening ceremony of the Azerbaijan Hall at the UN Office in Geneva. Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (TSE:BPF.UN), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw its share price hover around a small range of CA$15.72 to CA$16.83 over the last few weeks. But is this actually reflective of the share value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Boston Pizza Royalties Income Funds outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. See our latest analysis for Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund What Is Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund Worth? Good news, investors! Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund is still a bargain right now according to my price multiple model, which compares the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that Boston Pizza Royalties Income Funds ratio of 9.46x is below its peer average of 15.36x, which indicates the stock is trading at a lower price compared to the Hospitality industry. Whats more interesting is that, Boston Pizza Royalties Income Funds share price is quite volatile, which gives us more chances to buy since the share price could sink lower (or rise higher) in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market. Can we expect growth from Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Though in the case of Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund, it is expected to deliver a negative earnings growth of -1.4%, which doesnt help build up its investment thesis. It appears that risk of future uncertainty is high, at least in the near term. Story continues What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? Although BPF.UN is currently trading below the industry PE ratio, the adverse prospect of negative growth brings about some degree of risk. I recommend you think about whether you want to increase your portfolio exposure to BPF.UN, or whether diversifying into another stock may be a better move for your total risk and return. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on BPF.UN for some time, but hesitant on making the leap, I recommend you dig deeper into the stock. Given its current price multiple, now is a great time to make a decision. But keep in mind the risks that come with negative growth prospects in the future. If you'd like to know more about Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund as a business, it's important to be aware of any risks it's facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about. If you are no longer interested in Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Interim interdict prohibits the trophy hunting of African elephants in South Africa CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Humane Society International has learned about a male elephant who was killed in a deeply distressing and tragic trophy hunt at a local game reserve on September 3, 2023, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The elephant suffered through eight gunshots over an extended period of time before finally succumbing to his injuries. Humane Society International Logo This tragic episode contradicts the prevailing South Africa High Court interim interdict, a court order issued after a successful legal challenge brought by Humane Society International/Africa in 2022 against the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and others. The court order explicitly prohibits the allocation of permits for trophy hunting of African elephants, leopard and black rhino in South Africa. The elephant was killed at the Maseke Game Reserve, situated within the Balule Nature Reserve, by a hunting party consisting of a client, a hunting guide, a reserve representative and a backup rifleman. According to a publicly released letter issued by Balule Nature Reserve, the client discharged the initial gunshot, wounding the elephant. The reserve representative and the hunting guide fired subsequent shots to bring the elephant down, however these efforts also proved ineffective. The injured elephant sought to escape into the neighbouring Grietjie Game Reserve, an ecotourism reserve, where trophy hunting is prohibited. The injured animal was followed on foot and a helicopter was called to the scene. The elephant was eventually located and was chased back into Maseke Game Reserve by the helicopter where he was finally killed by more gunfire. It is reported that approximately eight shots were discharged into the elephant before the harrowing ordeal was over. Tony Gerrans, executive director for Humane Society International/Africa said, "We are horrified by this unnecessary tragedy. Given the High Court's interdict prohibiting the permitting of elephant hunts, the letter's conclusion that this hunt was lawful is incorrect. Furthermore, no animal should ever experience the pain and suffering that this elephant endured. The practice of trophy hunting is not only profoundly inhumane, but also poses a grave threat to our biodiversity and tarnishes South Africa's global reputation as a sustainable and responsible tourist destination. To injure, chase and kill any animal in this way, is unacceptable." Story continues Balule Nature Reserve is a member of the Associated Private Nature Reserves, a group of privately owned nature reserves bordering Kruger National Park. Animals can move freely across the borders of neighbouring reserves. Within the APNR there are some reserves that allow trophy hunting and others that do not, which means that protected animals from one reserve, or even the Kruger National Park, could possibly be killed by trophy hunters within another reserve. Sarah Veatch, director of wildlife policy for Humane Society International, said, "This incident is a serious cause for concern beyond South Africa: it calls attention to the rampant mismanagement, lack of oversight, and cruel nature in the global trophy hunting industry. This is a harsh reminder of Cecil the lion's tragedy in Zimbabwe who suffered from arrow wounds for over 10 hours before he was killed by a trophy hunter, and it happens far more often than these two instances. Permit violations and documented instances of suffering like for this elephant and Cecil, are manifestations of the industry's much larger, dangerous culture of wilful disregard for animals and the law." "This incident once again demonstrates the inhumanity of hunting sentient animals merely for bragging rights and to display parts of their bodies as trophies on a wall. Too many endangered and threatened animals continue to suffer and die within so called 'nature conservation reserves' in what is best described as a blood sport, Gerrans continued. "HSI/Africa has challenged the way this horrifying activity is permitted by the government, and we call on all South African wildlife administrators to abide by the High Court order which prohibits the permitting of elephant, leopard and black rhino hunts until such time as the court can rule on the merits of the permitting process." Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breaking-elephant-is-shot-eight-times-during-unlawful-hunt-in-limpopo-province-south-africa-301922734.html SOURCE Humane Society International Bentley Goodrich Brej Kison Multiple attorneys from Bentley Goodrich Kison, in Sarasota, have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Bentley Goodrich Kison is led by managing partner Morgan R. Bentley and partners Brian D. Goodrich and Amanda R. Kison. Bentley was selected for Best Lawyers for his work in commercial litigation and real estate litigation. Goodrich was selected for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for his work in commercial litigation and real estate law. Kison was selected for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for her work in commercial litigation. Caroleen B. Brej was also included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for her work in commercial litigation and real estate law. The law firm focuses on business litigation, real estate litigation and appeals. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review evaluation. 'Best Lawyers' at Icard Merrill Twelve attorneys from Icard Merrill have been recognized in the 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. Shareholder Thomas F. Icard, Jr. was named as the 2024 Construction Lawyer of the Year in Sarasota. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as a "Lawyer of the Year." Icard was previously honored as Sarasota Construction Lawyer of the Year in 2021. Icard Merrill attorneys selected to the 30th edition of Best Lawyers are G. Matthew Brockway (Real Estate), Drew Clayton (Securities Litigation), Thomas F. Icard, Jr. (Construction, Mediation), Robert G. Lyons (Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs), Bianca N. Manos (Family Law), William W. Merrill III (Administrative/Regulatory Law, Land Use and Zoning, Land Use and Zoning Litigation), Robert E. Messick (Real Estate), Alyssa M. Nohren (Real Estate Litigation), Stephen D. Rees, Jr. (Land Use and Zoning) and Jaime L. Wallace (Family Law). Story continues In addition, two of the firms attorneys are included in the fourth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch: Bradley J. Ellis (Construction, Land Use and Zoning) and Jordan J. Riccardi (Real Estate). Best Lawyers was founded more than 40 years ago to recognize excellence in legal practice. Inclusion is based on comprehensive peer-review surveys, which this year comprised more than 16 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys. Lawyers are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. Johnson Fernandez Attorneys hired at Williams Parker Williams Parker, Sarasotas largest law firm, has added two accomplished attorneys to its growing roster. Trevor Johnson began work with the firm in May and Lorenzo Fernandez joined the firm in early July. Johnson has practiced in the trusts and estates, tax and corporate fields since 2018. He is focused primarily on advising owners of closely held businesses on estate and business succession planning, as well as individual and business tax matters. He also has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions and general corporate and transactional matters. Previously, Johnson practiced law at an Am Law 200 law firm. Johnson holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University and a JD from Albany Law School. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from New York Universitys School of Law. Before practicing law, he was a financial adviser for two years. Fernandez comes to Williams Parker after earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida and a JD from Vanderbilt Law School. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law. At Vanderbilt, Fernandez was a Deans Scholar. During his first year, he worked remotely with the U.S. attorneys office for the Southern District of Florida during the summer. Fernandez will practice in the Trusts and Estates Group at Williams Parker. Wilson Partner named to bar committee Michael J. Wilson, partner and president at Williams Parker, has been appointed to serve as director of the Long-Range Planning Committee of the Florida Bar Tax Section for the 2023-2024 year. In this capacity, Wilson will serve on the Florida Bar Tax Sections Directors Committee and the Executive Council. He has previously served in numerous director positions with the Florida Bar Tax Section, including director of federal tax, director of education and director of section administration. As a business and tax lawyer for more than 20 years, Wilson advises clients on business and tax planning and structuring. He handles and helps clients negotiate a wide range of business and corporate transactions and related federal, state and tax international matters. He also serves as outside general counsel to businesses of varying sizes in many different industries. Williams Parker is Sarasotas largest law firm. Shaddy Shaddy joins Engage Sarasota Shumaker lawyer W. Stafford Shaddy is set to expand his community involvement through active participation in Engage Sarasota. Organized by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Engage Sarasota is a nine-month community orientation program for executives and other residents who are eager to establish business and civic relationships, meet area leaders and fast-track their knowledge about the inner workings of greater Sarasota. Stafford is an associate in Shumakers Litigation and Disputes Service Line, where he focuses on representing large financial institutions and high net-worth individuals in securities litigation, regulatory investigations and violations of contractual covenants in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration and in state and federal courts. Moriak New College hires assistant VP New College of Florida has hired Allyce Heflin Moriak as assistant vice president, budget & administration. Moriak is the former chief financial officer for the Florida Department of Commerce and an expert in education policy and funding. She began her role at New College on Aug. 28. Moriak has been involved with the states education policy since 2007, working with legislators and education advocates on funding issues, education technology, state college and university performance funding, and fixed capital outlay funding. She holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees in social work with a focus in social policy and administration. In addition to her expertise in education policy and funding, specifically funding formulas, Moriak has worked extensively with the states Division of Early Learning, the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Board of Governors of the State University System and the State Board of Education. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Turn to Bentley Goodrich Kison for 'The Best Lawyers in America' FILE -- Fast food workers and their supporters march past the California state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Aug. 16, 2022. Most fast food workers in California would get a $20 minimum wage under a new bill introduced in the state Legislature on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. The bill represents an agreement between labor unions and the fast food industry. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Nearly 1 million California workers are poised to win major salary increases after labor unions flexed their collective muscle in the state's Democratic-led Legislature on Monday following a summer of high-profile strikes in the entertainment and hospitality industries. Most of the state's 500,000 fast food workers would be paid at least $20 per hour next year under a new bill aimed at ending a standoff between the industry and labor unions over wages and working conditions. About 455,000 health care workers not doctors and nurses, but the people who do everything else at hospitals, dialysis clinics and other facilities will see their salaries rise to at least $25 per hour over the next 10 years in a separate bill. Both proposals must first pass the state Legislature and be signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom. But the proposals have the blessing of both labor unions and industry groups, clearing the path for passage this week before lawmakers adjourn for the year. An added bonus for voters: The November 2024 ballot will be a little less crowded. The fast food industry has agreed to withdraw its referendum on a fast food law that Newsom signed last year. The bills, both introduced Monday, are just some of the impressive run of results for labor unions in the state Legislature this year. Also on Monday, the state Assembly voted to advance a proposal to give striking workers unemployment benefits a policy change that could eventually benefit Hollywood actors and writers and Los Angeles-area hotel workers who have been on strike for much of this year. I think fast food cooks and cashiers have fundamentally changed the politics of wages in this country and have reshaped what working people believe is possible when they join together and take on corporate power and systemic racism, said Mary Kay Henry, international president of the Service Employees International Union. Californias minimum wage is already among the highest in the country at $15.50 per hour. The fast food bill would increase that minimum wage to $20 per hour for workers at restaurants in California that have at least 60 locations nationwide with an exception for restaurants that make and sell their own bread, like Panera Bread. Story continues The bill will affect about 500,000 fast food workers in California, according to the Service Employees International Union, which has been working to unionize fast food workers in the state. They include Ingrid Vilorio, who works at a Jack In The Box in the San Francisco Bay Area. She said the raise will help her family, who until recently was sharing a house with two other families to afford rent. A lot of us (in the fast-food industry) have to have two jobs to make ends meet. This will give us some breathing space, said Vilorio, who also works as a nanny. The $20 hourly wage would be a starting point. The nine-member Fast Food Council, which would include representatives from the restaurant industry and labor, would have the power to increase that minimum wage each year by up to 3.5% or the change in the U.S. consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, whichever is lower. The wage increase for health care workers is more complicated. Their salaries will rise gradually over the next decade, depending on where they work. Workers for large health care facilities and dialysis clinics will see their pay jump to at least $23 per hour next year, increasing to $25 per hour by 2026. Workers at rural hospitals with lots of Medicaid patients would have their salaries increase to at least $18 per hour next year, with 3.5% increases each year until it reaches $25 per hour in 2033. Workers at community clinics will see their salaries rise to at least $21 per hour in 2024 before peaking at $25 per hour in 2027. Salaries at all other covered health care facilities will increase to at least $21 per hour next year before reaching $25 per hour by 2028. Everyone in the healthcare sector understands that we have a workforce crisis, and that wages are the essential prerequisite for any solution, said Tia Orr, executive director of the Service Employees International Union-California. With this increase, more workers will join and stay in the healthcare workforce, and as a result Californians will be safer and better cared for. It's unusual, but not unprecedented, for states to have minimum wages for specific industries. Minnesota lawmakers created a council to set wages for nursing home workers. In 2021, Colorado announced a $15 minimum wage for direct care workers in home and community-based services. In California, most fast food workers are over 18 and the main providers for their family, according to Enrique Lopezlira, director of the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center's Low Wage Work Program. Just over 75% of health care workers in California are women, and 76% are workers of color, according to a study published earlier this year by the UC Berkely Labor Center. Hospitals support the bill in part because it ensures that wages for health care workers are set by the state, creating greater equity for all of California's health care workforce, said Carmela Coyle, president and CEO of the California Hospital Association. The fast food industry benefits by stopping two proposals they say would have made it much harder for restaurants to operate in California. Labor unions agreed to withdraw a bill that would have held big fast food corporations like McDonald's liable for the misdeeds of their independent franchise operators in the state. And Democrats in the state Legislature agreed to strip funding for the Industrial Welfare Commission, an agency that has the power to set wage and workplace standards for multiple industries. It provides meaningful wage increases for workers, while at the same time eliminates more significant and potentially existential threats, costs and regulatory burdens targeting local restaurants in California, said Matt Haller, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association. ___ Associated Press writer Olga R. Rodriguez contributed from San Francisco. Rationalstat LLC Global consumption of carbide cutting tools is expected to touch US$ 11.3 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of more than 4.8% says RationalStat Wilmington, Delaware, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Carbide Cutting Tools Market was valued at US$ 7.8 billion in 2022 and is predicted to rise at a substantial CAGR of 4.8% between 2023 and 2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview Carbide cutting tools, often known as carbide tools, are a type of cutting tool that is used in a variety of machining processes to cut, shape, or remove material from workpieces. Carbide is a composite material formed mostly of tungsten carbide (WC) particles linked together with a metallic binder, often cobalt (Co). The demand for cutting tools that can consistently give correct results has increased as industries demand more precision and quality in their products. Precision machining is a strength of carbide cutting tools. Carbide cutting tools offer a longer tool life than other materials, reducing downtime for tool replacements and increasing total productivity. The rise of the carbide cutting tool market may be due to their vital role in achieving high-precision machining, enhancing productivity, and assisting in the expansion of numerous sectors. Carbide cutting tools are projected to remain at the forefront of cutting and machining solutions as technology and materials change. According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the global carbide cutting tools market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including type, application and geography/regions (including North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for the global carbide cutting tools market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Units) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc. In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the global carbide cutting tools market. It also includes the industry's current state Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc. Story continues Request A Customization: https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-carbide-cutting-tools-market/ Global Carbide Cutting Tools Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis On the basis of type, groover product category dominated the industry. These tools are frequently used in conjunction with lathes to carve channels on the end of a workpiece or into an existing bore. Groovers are also used for a variety of purposes, such as making recesses for retaining rings and necking workpieces to guarantee a clean fit when joining parts. On the basis of application, in the global carbide cutting tools market, the automobile industry is the largest end-user category. Drilling and fastening tools are the most commonly used tools for tightening fasteners, engine mounting, and other joint repairs. Report Synopsis Report Metrics Details Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 7.8 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 11.4 billion Growth Rate 4.8% Key Market Drivers Availability of Customized Carbide Cutting Tools Ongoing Research and Development Growing Trend Towards Automation and computer Numerical Control Machines Companies Profiled Ingersoll Cutting Tool Company SGS Tool Company Advent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc. Garr Tool Company Mitsubishi Materials Corporation Best Carbide Cutting Tools, Inc. CERATIZIT S.A. PROMAX Tools Rock River Tool, Inc. vHF Camfacture AG Explore more about this report: https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-carbide-cutting-tools-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Competition Analysis and Market Structure These players adopt various strategies in order to reinforce their market share and gain a competitive edge over other competitors in the market. Mergers & acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and product launches are some of the strategies followed by industry players. Some of the key developments in the global carbide cutting tools market include, In July 2021, Sandvik AB agreed to buy a majority stake in Chuzhou Yongpu Carbide Tools Co. Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of premium solid round tools. The transaction includes a call option to acquire the remaining half within three years. Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the global carbide cutting tools market growth include Ingersoll Cutting Tool Company, SGS Tool Company, Advent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., Garr Tool Company, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Best Carbide Cutting Tools, Inc., CERATIZIT S.A., PROMAX Tools, Rock River Tool, Inc., and vHF Camfacture AG, among others. Get A Free Sample: https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-carbide-cutting-tools-market/#tab-ux_global_tab RationalStat has segmented the global carbide cutting tools market based on type, application and region Global Carbide Cutting Tools Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Type Groovers Reamers Milling Cutters Drills Others Global Carbide Cutting Tools Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Application Automotive Electronics & Electrical Aerospace, Marine & Defense Plastics Construction & Mining Others Global Carbide Cutting Tools Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region North America Carbide Cutting Tools Market US Canada Latin America Carbide Cutting Tools Market Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Western Europe Carbide Cutting Tools Market Germany UK France Spain Italy Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Carbide Cutting Tools Market Russia Poland Hungary Other CIS Countries Rest of Eastern Europe Asia Pacific Carbide Cutting Tools Market China Japan India South Korea Australia ASEAN Indonesia Thailand Philippines Vietnam Malaysia Rest of ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Carbide Cutting Tools Market GCC Saudi Arabia (KSA) United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rest of the GCC South Africa Nigeria Turkey Rest of the Middle East & Africa For more information about this report: https://store.rationalstat.com/store/global-carbide-cutting-tools-market/ Key Questions Answered in the Carbide Cutting Tools Report: What will be the market value of the global carbide cutting tools market by 2030? What is the market size of the global carbide cutting tools market? What are the market drivers of the global carbide cutting tools market? What are the key trends in the global carbide cutting tools market? Which is the leading region in the global carbide cutting tools market? What are the major companies operating in the global carbide cutting tools market? What are the market shares by key segments in the global carbide cutting tools market? Explore Our Trending Reports Research Methodology RationalStat has developed a state-of-the-art research methodology to crunch numbers and provide the best possible real-time insights to clients. We combine a varied range of industry experience, data analytics, and experts viewpoint to create a research methodology for market sizing and forecasting. RationalStat combines a mix of secondary sources as well as primary research to assess the market size and develop a forecast. Key steps involved in accurately deriving the market numbers are: Defining the problem by understanding the type of market and data required by the client. Data gathering and collection through relevant paid databases, publicly available sources, company reports, annual reports, surveys, and interviews. Formulating a hypothesis to create market numbers, forecasts, influencing factors, and their relevance. Evaluating and analyzing the data by referring to data sources utilized and leveraged. Validating, interpreting, and finalizing the data by combining the details gathered from primary and secondary sources with the help of experienced analysts. Download Key Insights and Market Data: Raise a Query About RationalStat LLC RationalStat is an end-to-end global market intelligence and consulting company that provides comprehensive market research reports, customized strategy, and consulting studies. The company has sales offices in India, Mexico, and the US to support global and diversified businesses. The company has over 80 consultants and industry experts, developing more than 850 market research and industry reports for its report store annually. RationalStat has strategic partnerships with leading data analytics and consumer research companies to cater to the clients needs. Additional services offered by the company include consumer research, country reports, risk reports, valuations and advisory, financial research, due diligence, procurement and supply chain research, data analytics, and analytical dashboards. Contact RationalStat LLC Kimberly Shaw, Content and Press Manager sales@rationalstat.com US Phone: +1 302 803 5429 UK Phone: +44 203-287-1245 LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest Evan Guido I received an email the other day from a colleague in the financial services industry. After his name were several certifications. I must be getting old, I thought, because I didnt recognize all of them. You can spend most of your career earning certification after certification, as new ones are constantly being introduced. Most of the new programs are focused on niche needs of clients. As you seek advisory help for your finances, it helps to know what the major certifications are and how people who hold these designations can help you. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER: This is probably the best known of financial services certifications. The CFP Board is working hard to prevent the trademarked term from turning into something people use generically, like Kleenex or Realtor, but only those who have completed the coursework from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, passed an exam, and met other criteria can call themselves CFPs. CFPs have knowledge about a broad range of financial topics, such as investing, taxes, retirement planning, estate planning, and insurance. They can help you understand your options to meet certain goals and work with you to develop financial plans. CHARTERED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT: This is an alternative to the CFP provided by the American College of Financial Services. The process of earning a ChFC designation is different from that of a CFP, and theres a fair amount of overlap in the curriculum. According to Indeed, Earning a ChFC may be more beneficial for insurance agents, bankers and estate planners, while earning a CFP may be more beneficial for accountants, investment planners and legal advisors. Some people earn both certifications. CHARTERED FINANCIAL ANALYST: A CFA charterholder has taken coursework and passed tests related to security analysis, portfolio management, economics, and accounting. You often find these folks working in institutional money management, portfolio management, or stock analysis rather than financial planning. But some financial planners are CFAs. Story continues CHARTERED INVESTMENT COUNSELOR: CFA charterholders can earn a CIC from the Investment Council Association for advanced knowledge in portfolio management. Someone with a CIC tends to handle large accounts and oversee funds. CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST: Holders of a CDFA have taken coursework they can use to help couples and their attorneys achieve equitable divorce settlements. This involves knowledge of tax law, asset distribution, and financial planning. CERTIFIED PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR: This certification is focused on knowledge required to serve clients with net a worth above, say, $5 million. At this level, a CPWA brings specialized knowledge of charitable giving, tax strategies, wealth transfers, business transitions, and asset management. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT: A CPA has passed the necessary tests on tax preparation and accounting. CPA holders who want to provide financial planning services can earn a Personal Financial Specialist credential. These are just some of the designations youll see in the financial professional community. They provide you with some assurance of knowledge, for sure. But what they dont provide is a guarantee of good service, wisdom, and judgment. Thats why you should always dig deeper when hiring a financial professional and get recommendations from people you trust. Evan R. Guido is the founder of Aksala Wealth Advisors LLC, a 2018 Forbes Next-Gen Advisors List Member, and Financial Professional at Avantax Investment ServicesSM. Evan heads a team of retirement transition strategists for clients who consider themselves the Millionaire Next Door. He can be reached at 941-500-5122 or eguido@aksalawealth.com. Read more of his insights at heraldtribune.com/business. Securities offered through Avantax Investment ServicesSM, member FINRA, SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Avantax Advisory ServicesSM, insurance services offered through an Avantax-affiliated insurance agency. 6260 Lake Osprey Drive, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: EVAN GUIDO: A quick guide to navigating maze of financial advisors Investors who take an interest in Bridgepoint Group plc (LON:BPT) should definitely note that the Chairman & Managing Partner, William Jackson, recently paid UK1.89 per share to buy UK378k worth of the stock. That's a very decent purchase to our minds and it grew their holding by a solid 39%. See our latest analysis for Bridgepoint Group Bridgepoint Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In fact, the recent purchase by William Jackson was the biggest purchase of Bridgepoint Group shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, at around the current price, which is UK1.91. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. We do always like to see insider buying, but it is worth noting if those purchases were made at well below today's share price, as the discount to value may have narrowed with the rising price. In this case we're pleased to report that the insider bought shares at close to current prices. William Jackson was the only individual insider to buy during the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Bridgepoint Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Does Bridgepoint Group Boast High Insider Ownership? For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. From looking at our data, insiders own UK1.7m worth of Bridgepoint Group stock, about 0.1% of the company. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Bridgepoint Group Tell Us? It is good to see the recent insider purchase. We also take confidence from the longer term picture of insider transactions. On this analysis the only slight negative we see is the fairly low (overall) insider ownership; their transactions suggest that they are quite positive on Bridgepoint Group stock. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Bridgepoint Group you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. 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. From Chicago: The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has launched a joint MBA/MS Biomedical Sciences program, which gives students the opportunity to pursue both a master in biomedical sciences from the University of Chicago and a master of business administration from Chicago Booth. Booth also now offers an MBA concentration in healthcare, designed to equip students with the tools needed to excel in a wide range of in-demand healthcare career paths. Booths newest joint-degree program in biomedical sciences and business is an opportunity for students looking to combine business expertise with foundational knowledge in biomedicine to become leaders and innovators in the healthcare industry. Candidates will take 14 Booth-only courses and LEAD, an experiential leadership development course, as well as six MS-only courses over the span of the two-year program. The enhanced curriculum pairs leadership and management skills with the research, applied and clinical skills needed to transform healthcare. Upon completion of the dual-degree program, graduates will be equipped to enter fields such as biotechnology, policy, government and pharmaceuticals. The MBA/MS Biomedical Sciences program is one of nine joint-degree options available through Chicago Booth and the University of Chicago to students interested in going beyond the MBA to develop specialized expertise and credentials. Booth students can also tailor their MBA experience by taking more specific courses and earning MBA concentrations, which signal to prospective employers that a student has deep knowledge of a particular field, along with relevant analytical skills and tools. Booths new MBA concentration in healthcare one of 14 such concentrations at Booth integrates business and medical points of view on the complex challenges facing the healthcare sector. Read more about the new dual degree here. Read about Booths new healthcare concentration here. Michigan Ross photos Story continues Building real-world expertise: Michigan Ross full-time MBA students share their summer internship experiences From Ann Arbor, Michigan: This summer, Full-Time MBA students at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business tackled internships across industries and across the country. Rising second-year MBA students spent six to 12 weeks at companies all over the world. They tackled real projects, ranging from building models to consulting on supply chain best practices in industries like manufacturing, technology, pharmaceuticals, energy, and more. Summer internships are a unique feature of the Michigan Ross full-time MBA Program, intended to help students network and obtain the real-world experience theyll need to land a job in their dream field. In addition to internships, students also gain hands-on experience in their fields of interest through MAP projects and receive ongoing support through a variety of Career Development Office resources. Read more Megha and Nirav Tolia. Photo by Guy Rogers III, SMU Media & internet pioneers to co-direct SMUs new Spears Institute For Entrepreneurial Leadership From Dallas, Texas: Proven business entrepreneurs and executives Megha Tolia and Nirav Tolia have been named co-founding directors of the William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership in SMUs Cox School of Business. William S. Spears, founder and CEO of Cenergistic, launched the institute in April 2022 with the largest gift by a non-alumnus in the history of SMU. University President R. Gerald Turner announced the Tolias new role Tuesday evening, Sept. 7, at an event hosted by the Spears Institute a moderated conversation with Lorie K. Logan, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Entrepreneurship often starts with a spark, but the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others is key to reaching the finish line, Spears said. I cannot imagine two better people than Megha and Nirav Tolia to inspire excitement on the SMU campus and beyond, focus our students talents and demonstrate what it takes to succeed. Megha Tolia is president and COO of Shondaland, the television production company founded by renowned Hollywood showrunner and storyteller Shonda Rhimes, creator of Greys Anatomy, Scandal, Bridgerton and Inventing Anna. Megha began her career as a brand manager for Neutrogena, spending the last twenty years building and operating mission-driven, consumer-centric, innovative brands. Prior to Shondaland, Megha spent eight years managing several businesses for SC Johnson, including Method, Ecover, Mrs. Meyers and Babyganics. Read more DONT MISS DUKE FUQUAS MBA CLASS OF 2024: DOMESTIC APPS DECLINE, BUT INTERNATIONALS FILL THE GAP and WHARTON MBA CLASS OF 2025: APPS FALL AGAIN, BUT PENN REACHES PARITY FOR A 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR The post Chicago Booth Makes A Big Healthcare Splash Times 2 appeared first on Poets&Quants. China Citic Bank International, a Hong Kong-based mid-tier lender, aims to cut paper usage in its 24 branches and save 1 million pieces of paper next year, according to a senior executive. The bank is joining its bigger peers such as HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China (Hong Kong) in encouraging clients to use its mobile app to handle banking transactions and cut down on the use of paper forms at its branches. The lender, part of China Citic Bank, has allowed customers to open accounts online since 2018 and offered online insurance sales and wealth management in the past few years. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "After the Covid pandemic over the past three years, we found customers generally get used to using mobile phones to handle most of their simple banking transactions," Wendy Yuen Miu-ling, deputy head of the personal and business banking group of the lender, said in a media briefing last week. A man withdraws money from an ATM at China Citic Bank International in Prince Edward, Hong Kong. Photo: Getty Images alt=A man withdraws money from an ATM at China Citic Bank International in Prince Edward, Hong Kong. Photo: Getty Images> "Mobile banking will be our priority of expansion in the next few years. Even when customers go to physical branches, we want to let our staff use the electronic method to serve them instead of filling a lot of paper forms." Citic aims to turn its 24 branches entirely paperless from next year, Yuen said. "We estimate this will help save 1 million pieces of paper every year," she said. "The use of fintech will cut down operating costs for the bank and will enhance the service for customers." As it will promote digital banking, the lender will also close some small branches, although it will also consider opening new ones in future, Yuen said. Story continues "We do not rule out the need for physical branches for customers who need to handle complex transactions such as mortgage loan applications." Citic's efforts show that smaller bankers are catching up in fintech development, said Louis Tse Ming-kwong, managing director of Wealthy Securities. "All the younger customers are now tech-savvy, while the big banks such as HSBC, Standard Chartered and [Bank of China (Hong Kong)] have invested heavily in their digital banking services," Tse said. "The small lenders would not be able to compete if they do not offer more mobile banking services." The trend opens up opportunities for smaller banks that lack a big branch network, he said. "People no longer like to go to branches to queue up for 30 minutes or more to conduct banking transactions," Tse said. "The next battlefield among banks is no longer on their branch network but on their digital banking services. As such, the small banks with a few branches or no branches can still compete with their bigger peers as long as they can offer good mobile banking services." The Hong Kong Monetary Authority since 2017 has encouraged all 160 banks in the city to offer more fintech services to customers, while also issuing licenses for eight 'virtual banks', which have no physical branches. Standard Chartered Bank co-founded one of the virtual banks, Mox, while Bank of China (Hong Kong) partnered with others to create the branchless bank Livi. HSBC said it launched around 350 digital features last year for its wealth-management and personal-banking customers in Hong Kong. The city's biggest lender has 2 million customers who actively use mobile banking, and over 3 million people have downloaded its PayMe app, according to a spokesman. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. China and the European Union have agreed to work towards a successful bilateral summit later this year, which is expected to be preceded by high-level talks over the coming weeks. Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday drew attention to this year's 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Beijing and Brussels, telling European Council President Charles Michel he looked forward to co-chairing the next China-EU summit with Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Li was talking to Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, according to a statement in the official Xinhua agency, as Beijing places a greater emphasis on its relations with Europe amid intensifying tensions with Washington. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. It has urged the 27-member bloc to insist on strategic autonomy in the face of US efforts to create a united front with allies against China. In the meeting with Li, China's No. 2 official, Michel "confirmed the shared interest" in holding the bilateral summit by the end of 2023, according to a readout by the European side. Still, the Belgian stressed the importance of having high-level sectoral dialogues beforehand, including on trade, foreign policy and digital areas. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Both sides underscored the importance of a coming summit. Photo: Xinhua alt=Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets European Council President Charles Michel on the sidelines of the G20 summit. Both sides underscored the importance of a coming summit. Photo: Xinhua> "High-level dialogues have an important role to play in delivering meaningful outcomes for the summit," the EU readout said. Story continues Michel told Li that in particular, the high-level political dialogue was useful and necessary to foster mutual understanding and address the various challenges in the context of bilateral relations, but also more global issues. The last two China-EU summits in 2022 and 2020, both held virtually, failed to produce a joint statement. The South China Morning Post has reported that the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell will visit Beijing in mid-October for the annual strategic dialogue with his counterpart to finalise an agenda for the EU-China summit, which is likely to take place in November. Before that, the bloc's trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis will visit China from September 19 to 24 for talks with top Chinese officials. EU ambassador to Beijing Jorge Toledo said in July that the high-level digital dialogue would also land this month. Li said Beijing was ready to work with the European side to stay committed to their partnership, further strengthen dialogue and exchanges, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and properly handle sensitive issues. "Lying at the opposite ends of Eurasia, there is no geopolitical conflict between China and Europe, let alone a fundamental conflict of interests," he is quoted as saying in the meeting. He added that Beijing welcomed more European businesses to invest and operate in China. In conclusions reached in June, EU leaders committed to reducing the group's dependence on China and "de-risking" from China without decoupling with the world's second largest economy. They characterised Beijing as "simultaneously a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival" and expressed concerns about the situation in the Taiwan Strait. Michel said Brussels would continue ensuring the economic relationship with Beijing was balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial and would continue diversifying where necessary and appropriate, according to the European release. He said the bloc remained committed to the one-China policy while keeping economic ties with Taiwan at the same time. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Ankara and Washington discussed the issue of F-16 fighters. According to sources, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said this at the press conference held after the G20 summit. He said that he discussed the issue of supplying F-16 fighter jets to Turkey with his American colleague Joseph Biden. President Erdogan informed that the meeting took place in informal conditions. "Unfortunately, the F-16 issue is related to Sweden's NATO membership process. We are seriously concerned about this approach. However, unless the Grand National Assembly of Turkey makes such a decision, I cannot say "yes" (to Sweden's NATO membership), Erdogan said. It should be noted that in July 2022, the House of Representatives of the US Congress banned the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, citing the Turkish army's violation of Greek airspace. Chris Emerson Appointed as Chairman of ALL.SPACE, Leading Provider of Fifth-Generation Smart Terminals Chinese stocks have seen the worst selling pressure, indicated by many underweight positions among global funds, according to CLSA, a unit of China's biggest securities firm. An imminent pause in the Federal Reserve's tightening policy is likely to reverse market pessimism. China is still appealing to investors as the cheap valuation and secular growth could provide better returns relative to other equity markets, head of research Shaun Cochran said. It is time for Beijing to address "absolutely reasonable" concerns and real risks in the economy, he added. "For my mind, the bulk of the selling pressure has passed its strongest point because most people are already underweight," he said in a Post interview. "I have never seen investors so negative on the outlook for China. I would rather have my money in a Chinese index than a US index" over the long term, he added. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Shaun Cochran, in his office located at One Pacific Place in Admiralty, Hong Kong, on September 5, 2023. Photo: Jonathan Wong alt=Shaun Cochran, in his office located at One Pacific Place in Admiralty, Hong Kong, on September 5, 2023. Photo: Jonathan Wong> Foreign investors sold about US$600 million worth of onshore stocks last week after another set of weak external trade data and a weakening yuan. They dumped US$12 billion worth of Chinese stocks in August, a record since the Stock Connect inception in 2014, according to official data. "When faced with broad-based pessimism about China, some of which are absolutely reasonable, there are real risks and concerns that China has to address," Cochran said. China's core engines - exports, infrastructure and property - are all reaching "a point of maturity" and the transition to new sources of growth "could be slow and lead to more volatility", he added. Story continues Given the sell-off in recent months, investors will have to assess not only China's fundamental outlook but also whether the downside is in the price. "The single greatest determinant of your returns is the price you pay for what you buy." The MSCI China is now trading at a price-earnings multiple of 10.5 times current earnings, according to data compiled by Goldman Sachs. The PE ratio is the lowest since 2018, and compares with a five-year average of 13.4 times. Stocks in India, the current emerging-market favourite, trade at about 23.8 times. "The market looks forward to this and says, well, India is the next great story of Asia, and in many respects it is absolutely right," Cochran said. "However, India is famous for trading at high multiples, because everyone knows, understands and loves this story." Citic Securities is China's biggest publicly traded securities firm. It bought 19.9 per cent of CLSA in July 2012, and the rest of the firm in July 2013. It has more than 100 research analysts that cover over 1,200 companies in 19 key industry sectors across 13 markets. The group expects to host more than 400 experts at its 30th investment forum this week. Chinese stocks also stand to benefit along with emerging markets from a Fed policy pivot, CLSA said, based on historical trends. The Fed is set to hold the target range for Fed funds rate at 5.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent later this month, with the odds at 92 per cent, according to CME Group. Goldman Sachs predicts no more hikes this year. Mainland stocks rose by 8.9 per cent six months after Fed policy pauses, based on median returns over four such occasions in February 1995, May 2000, February 2006 and December 2018, according to CLSA. Stocks in Hong Kong climbed 7.5 per cent over the same time. Cochran said China does not necessarily need to lead the next emerging-market cycle to participate in it as "we have to separate leadership of a cycle from whether or not something is an attractive investment". China is still a current account surplus economy, which means the massive savings need to find a place to be deployed. "Safe and sophisticated products, fintech, new insurance products - there's all sorts of financial services innovation that can come to compete for that pool of savings," Cochran said. "Healthcare is a massive opportunity for China with its rapidly ageing population. Even the dreaded semiconductor challenge is also an opportunity." This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2023 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2023. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Gas refinery problems have caused pain at the pumps Wholesale gasoline prices in the Midwest are starting to stabilize and relief at gas pumps in Iowa should soon follow, says Patrick De Haan, an analyst with gas price website GasBuddy. De Haan said gasoline prices in Des Moines started dropping slightly on Monday, falling about two-tenths of a cent between midnight and noon. Only two-tenths of a penny, not much to get excited about, but the signal is undeniable, that recovery is starting, he said. Prices at the pump will fall as the wholesale price goes down, but may lag, with some variability from gas station to gas station, he said. Republicans blame Biden policies for higher prices Why the sudden jump in prices near the end of summer, when they usually fall? U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, in a tweet Sunday said President Joe Biden is responsible. "Pres Bidens boneheaded energy policies are to blame," Grassley wrote, pointing to Biden's recent cancellation of oil and gas leases in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge granted during the Trump administration. "Unlike Trump whose policies made us energy independent Biden policies make USA energy dependent = not good for natl security or ur pocketbook." Tweets by ChuckGrassley Grassley's fellow Iowa GOP U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican representing northeastern Iowa, posted similar tweets. Democrats, meanwhile, cited reports that gas prices could rise as Russia and Saudi Arabia announced new production cuts. Analyst: Refinery disruptions the real cause De Haan, however, said interruptions of production at Midwest refineries are the culprit, pointing to recent problems at facilities in Oklahoma and Minnesota and near Chicago. According to AAA Fuel Gauge, the price spikes to $3.90 or more a gallon primarily affected the West and parts of the Midwest, while most of the rest of the nation saw only marginal increases or even declines. Story continues In fact, the website showed the week-over-week increase in Iowa which often has some of the nation's lowest gas prices as being among the largest: almost 40 cents a gallon. Iowa ranked fourth for the highest average gas price $3.94 a gallon among the dozen Midwestern states, trailing North Dakota ($4.01), Minnesota ($3.99) and Illinois ($3.98). Top of the charts was California, at $5.44, but that was only about 8 cents more than in the previous week. Want the lowest possible price? Look to Mississippi, at $3.26, down 3 cents from a week ago. These issues arent affecting everyone at the same time. Its not about oil production because its an issue thats impacting just a few states. Its about refineries being out. And these issues have happened before in the past in other regions, De Haan said. We can have all the crude oil in the world but without refineries, there wont be a single drop of gas produced, he added. Flood of gas coming? Refineries often have contracts to supply finished gasoline products to stations, and when they are not able to because of maintenance issues, they are forced to buy gasoline from other parts of the country in order to fulfill their obligations. Essentially, prices went up because there was not enough supply. So if a refinery got really desperate and raised the amount of money it was willing to pay to another refinery to source gasoline, that unfortunately pushes the entire market up, De Haan said. But that high price ultimately will bring a flood of gas to Iowa, pushing prices back down, he said. When prices skyrocket so much in Iowa, refineries that have access to the Iowa market by pipeline or trucks throw as much gasoline at that market as they can because who wouldnt want to sell into a market that is 75 cents above every other market in the United States? he said. In addition, Friday is when refineries will switch over to producing the less-expensive winter blend of gasoline, formulated to help vehicles start better in the cold. By the time we switch to winter blend on Friday, the wholesale market should very quickly stabilize, De Haan said. How to tell what's behind price increases He said there's a simple trick for anyone wanting to diagnose the cause of a gas price spike. What Americans need to do if they want to be factually correct on why gas prices suddenly exploded is look at the price of oil over last week," he said. "It rose slightly, about 2%, but for the price of gasoline to skyrocket over 10%, that has to tell you something is disconnected here. And what has been disconnected here is the refining situation. De Haan said last weeks announcement about oil and gas leases in Alaska had zero effect. An area of the country thats never produced crude oil not being able to produce crude oil is irrelevant. Its kind of like saying your commute time went up because a highway that was never built but was proposed is now adding 30 minutes to your commute time, he said. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Gas prices won't remain high in Iowa for long, analyst says Vanderbilt University engineering students landed on a potentially transformative solution for remote exploration when they figured out how to affordably energize machines in outer space. With nuclear waste. Now, Zeno Power a rising tech startup born and nurtured in Nashville has dozens of employees and major military contracts to develop their technology to reach unexplored parts of the ocean, space and remote lands on Earth. Solar and battery-powered machines, after all, don't have the endurance to explore permanently shadowed regions of space. Founders Tyler Bernstein, Jonathan Segal and Jake Matthews said the radioactive system is self-sufficient, portable and lightweight enough for transport to go to places too cold, dark and far away for human exploration. "It's impossible to explore the unknown without technology like ours that provides heat and energy for rovers and landers that last years instead of days," said Bernstein, the company's chief executive officer. "What's exciting is what we're going to find out that's unexpected. "What role is the moon going to play as we advance to a multiplanetary species?" Vanderbilt University professor Steven Krahn, left, mentored the three founders of Zeno Power, who met while attending the university. From Krahn's left, hey are Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Segal, Chief Technology Officer Jake Matthews and CEO Tyler Bernstein. Timing is critical for the company's prototype development. On Aug. 23, India's Chandrayaan-3 mission became the first to land on the moon's south pole. The hard-won success intensifies momentum for moon mining and exploration, and Zeno Power hopes to provide fuel for rovers, landers and other equipment. Zeno Power's early success was made possible after Oak Ridge National Laboratory validated the use of its concept in an independent review. It promises to pioneer oceanic and lunar exploration by bringing the power of radioisotopes, previously used exclusively by NASA and the military, to the commercial market. A $30 million Department of Defense contract to provide flight-ready power systems for the U.S. Space Force that was awarded in May was quickly followed by a $15 million NASA contract to build its system for Artemis missions to the moon. Story continues For the startup's founders, the experience of building a rapidly growing, cutting-edge technology company has been a surreal whirlwind. "The highs were very high, and the lows were very low, in the beginning," said Bernstein. "It's exciting, scary, intimidating and overwhelming as an undergraduate trying to work with a nuclear energy company. We've grown and learned to manage our emotions. "There is an immense amount of pressure, but that is what motivates us. We want to keep pushing forward for the team we've built." Deep ocean, space exploration The growing appetite for nuclear energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels makes Zeno Power's venture more marketable, especially because it provides an important use for discarded radioactive metal. "There's a lot about nuclear energy that excites us," Bernstein said. "It's going to play a crucial role in increasing domestic energy supply, propelling humans to space and having reliable operations on the moon." This rendering depicts a moon lander powered by a Zeno Power radioisotope thermal generator. In the background is a lander, also equipped with a Zeno power system. Its power system is fueled by strontium-90, a byproduct of nuclear fission that has been used by the military to power operations in remote areas. "Our initial focus is on remote locations where there isnt a power grid and there is a need for power for extended periods, like Alaska," said Steven Krahn, a former deputy secretary for safety at the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management. He taught Zeno Power's founders and advises them on safety management. "My hope is this incentivizes even more use of the elements that remain in nuclear waste." 'Less flights mean less flights': Why Nashville airport and these airlines are seeing more delays Historically, Krahn added, NASA reserved plutonium-238 an extremely rare and costly isotope for marquee projects, while strontium-90 is a more abundant and available isotope. Zeno Power is developing its prototype in Washington, D.C., and near Seattle close to a strontium-90 storage site. Bernstein said that, beyond engineering their design, they are busy navigating the intense regulatory runway to do the work. "There are multiple components to building hardware in the nuclear arena getting access to fuel and facilities with licenses to handle this material," Bernstein said. "There are regulatory issues to send it to space. There are small risks in all areas, but we have an amazing team with experience with aerospace and nuclear." 'Bridge over startup valley of death' The Wond'ry, Vanderbilt's innovation and design center, guided Zeno Power's founders through development and a rapid scale-up. The center leads the National Science Foundation's Mid-South Innovation Corps Hub, a collaboration of universities and business-incubation initiatives. "The Wond'ry is building a university-fostered model to build a bridge over startup valley of death," said Charleson Bell, director of the Mid-South hub. "Over 70% of companies are not truly solving a customer need. Thats something we work on in the very beginning. The next program is all about building the business and prototyping. Then the next one is the founder program. We have direct access to mentors and curriculum." The center paired Zeno Power with experienced mentors to strategize each step of the way from concept to development. Its leaders hope to help spur innovation across many fields. Other successful graduates of the center include cybersecurity startup Arms Cyber and medical device developer EndoShunt. They work on "soldier-inspired innovations" at Fort Campbell, such as radar-invisible tent poles. Tennessee Titans' value: How Nashville stadium deal plays into team's $4.4 billion valuation David Owens, the executive director of the Wond'ry, said its work with Zeno Power illustrates the region's increasing importance on the national stage. "For a long time we were systematically sending people away," Owens said. "People on the coast got higher wages. We should have been building our own ecosystem, and I think thats whats happening now. Were playing catch-up. Theres so much pent-up demand and a lot of venture capital thats moved to town since COVID." For Bernstein, a Margaret Mead quote on his cellphone lock screen has been a consistent source of inspiration as he leads the ambitious team It reads: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Sandy Mazza can be reached via email at smazza@tennessean.com, by calling 615-726-5962, or on Twitter @SandyMazza. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Department of Defense backs Vanderbilt grads nuclear-satellite startup JPMorgan Chase (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon called a new US proposal requiring banks to bolster their capital buffers "hugely disappointing," warning that it could push more lending into private credit markets and have "unintended consequences" for the US economy. "I would love to know what they really want to accomplish," Dimon said Monday, referring to regulators behind the proposal that was unveiled in July. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) This is not the first time Dimon has been critical of the approach taken by regulators, who proposed stronger capital levels to prevent the type of blowups that roiled the industry in March when three sizable lenders failed and depositors pulled their money from institutions across the country. Dimon, in fact, told analysts in July that nonbank lenders not subject to the same capital rules were already celebrating their competitive advantage by "dancing in the streets." He repeated some of those arguments Monday during a talk at a Barclays conference in New York. JPMorgan, he said, will need "to hold 30% more capital than a European bank" as a result of the rules, which would take until 2028 to be fully implemented. Banks affected by the changes proposed in July will see an aggregate 16% increase in their capital requirements. Regulators say the increase would primarily affect the largest banks and that most have enough capital already to comply. Capital is the buffer banks have to hold to absorb future losses. These changes are part of the US version of an international accord known as Basel III that was developed following the 2008 crisis by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The goal of that committee which was convened by the Bank for International Settlements in Basel, Switzerland was to set global regulatory capital standards so that banks would have enough in reserve to survive crises. The last version of this accord was agreed to in 2017, but plans to roll it out in the US were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues "What was the goddamn point of Basel in the first place?" Dimon said Monday, adding that, "if American banks have to hold 30% more than competitors around the world, that is a huge negative over a long period of time." When asked if he had spoken with regulators about the capital requirement proposal, Dimon jokingly said he had been "on vacation" and "trying to de-aggravate myself from this kind of thing." "I want them to do the right thing. It's just clear to me that they didn't," he added. Dimon also offered some warnings about the direction of the economy. While the health of US consumers and businesses is still "pretty good," Dimon added: "I'm also quite cautious, in case you didn't get it, about the environment. More cautious than other people. I think there's more potential odds of accident of some sort than other people think." Banks also face competition to keep their depositors at a time when customers are seeking out higher yields, which means higher funding costs and tighter profit margins. A key measure of profitability known as net interest income has been eroding at many regional banks. "Bank deposits are going to come down," he said, and net interest income is "going to come down to a different level. We just don't know when." Dimon said JPMorgan Chase is maintaining its expectations for full-year net interest income of $87 billion. JPMorgan's trading business in the third quarter is on pace to be "down 1% or 2%" from the previous quarter and year-ago period while for investment banking "it's something like that." JPMorgan stands to benefit from a new string of initial public offerings starting this week. Along with Goldman Sachs (GS), it is acting as one of the lead bankers for IPOs from chipmaker ARM and grocery e-commerce company Instacart. "My advice to a company, if you can go public," Dimon said. "You want to go public, you need to go public. Don't wait too long ... I think the uncertainties out in front of us are still very large and very dangerous." Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). We'll use ROE to examine Canadian Utilities Limited (TSE:CU), by way of a worked example. Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity. View our latest analysis for Canadian Utilities How Is ROE Calculated? The formula for ROE is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Canadian Utilities is: 9.2% = CA$660m CA$7.2b (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. So, this means that for every CA$1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of CA$0.09. Does Canadian Utilities Have A Good Return On Equity? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. The image below shows that Canadian Utilities has an ROE that is roughly in line with the Integrated Utilities industry average (9.1%). roe So while the ROE is not exceptional, at least its acceptable. Even if the ROE is respectable when compared to the industry, its worth checking if the firm's ROE is being aided by high debt levels. If a company takes on too much debt, it is at higher risk of defaulting on interest payments. Our risks dashboardshould have the 2 risks we have identified for Canadian Utilities. The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. Thus the use of debt can improve ROE, albeit along with extra risk in the case of stormy weather, metaphorically speaking. Story continues Canadian Utilities' Debt And Its 9.2% ROE Canadian Utilities clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.42. With a fairly low ROE, and significant use of debt, it's hard to get excited about this business at the moment. Debt does bring extra risk, so it's only really worthwhile when a company generates some decent returns from it. Conclusion Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. In our books, the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer 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. 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. Zieg has extensive clinical, administrative, technological, and entrepreneurial experience to support new and ongoing initiatives IRVINE, Calif., September 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dr. Dave Zieg has joined Alliant Insurance Services as First Vice President, National Director of Clinical Services within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Colorado, Zieg is an accomplished physician who is board-certified in both family and lifestyle medicine. He has more than two decades of experience in clinical and executive leadership in addition to expertise in health tech, clinical quality, benefits design, direct contracting, employer-sponsored clinics, primary care, occupational medicine, behavioral health, and lifestyle medicine. At Alliant, Zieg will support the continued development of clinical consulting resources. In addition to serving as a subject matter expert for clients, prospects, and internal teams, hell explore opportunities to collaborate on and create new opportunities and solutions that bring additional value to clients. "Throughout his career, Dave has positioned himself as a leader across multiple fields. As a physician, hes had a profound impact on both his patients and the medical industry, and were excited to have his expertise at Alliant," said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. "As the medical industry continues to evolve, Daves experience with new and emerging medical technologies will be invaluable in helping our clients succeed." Throughout his varied career, Zieg served as a Partner and Clinical Services Leader for a consulting firm, leading a team of talented physicians, nurses, and other clinical and non-clinical professionals across the United States. He consulted with jumbo and mid-market employers across all industries on everything related to healthcare, having a special interest in value-based care solutions and quality-driven utilization. Zieg also spent 10 years with a global aerospace, defense, information security, and technology corporation as well as holding academic and hospital system leadership positions. Story continues Prior to joining Alliant, Zieg led the clinical strategy and operations as Chief Medical Officer at a leading consumer digital health company. He received his M.D. from Creighton University and undergraduate degrees from California State University, Fullerton. Zieg can be reached at Dave.Zieg@alliant.com. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nations leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911893908/en/ Contacts Nick Kopinga First Vice President Corporate Marketing and Communications (949) 260-5004 nkopinga@alliant.com OSLO, Norway, September 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, has announced a new PoC contract with a global OEM leveraging its AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform delivering ground breaking user experiences enabling new cohesive interactions across the product lineup. Our AI technologies including ultrasound and sensor fusion expertise combined with our deep understanding of the smartphone, PC and chipset markets, enable Elliptic Labs to deliver compelling user experiences. We are the first to introduce a revolutionary software-only platform that facilitates effortless consumer interactions across a multitude of devices, culminating in a seamless and unparalleled user experience across all scenarios. "Elliptic Labs continues to collaborate and expand our presence with all the leading OEMs. We stand at the brink of a transformative journey where AI, sensing, and device-to-device interoperability transcend data capture, allowing for ubiquitous sensing solutions. At the heart of this transformation lies our AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "The value gained from strategic partnerships between our customers and Elliptic Labs becomes essential for the customer to deliver seamless user experiences while adding stickiness to their ecosystem." The PoC contract represents yet another Laptop expansion across the four globally leading OEMs on top of the 18 laptop models currently launched in the market. Elliptic Labs has achieved a distinct position within the industry, and while continued growth in the smartphone vertical is expected, expansion in the laptop market will be the main driver of Elliptic Labs medium-term exponential revenue growth to NOK 500 million in 2024-25. AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Proximity Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs. Story continues All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations. About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norways Oslo University, the companys patented software uses AI, ultrasound, and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing-, and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly, and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230910386140/en/ Contacts PR Contact: Patrick Tsui pr@ellipticlabs.com Investor Relations: Lars Holmy Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com Elon Musk, the famous entrepreneur and CEO of companies SpaceX and Tesla Inc., is father to 11 children. In June 2022, he posted on X, Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. Population collapse due to low birth rates is a much bigger risk to civilization than global warming. Musk shares five children with his first wife, Justine Wilson. They had twins, Vivian Jenna and Griffin, who are now 19 years old. They also had triplets named Kai, Damian and Sax, born in 2006. Their eldest son Nevada died at 10 weeks old. Dont Miss: In recent years, Musks family has expanded with his ex-girlfriend, the musician Grimes. In Musks new biography written by Walter Isaacson, its revealed that Musk and Grimes welcomed a third child. The childs full name is Techno Mechanicus. He goes by the nickname Tau. They kept Taus existence private until now. This follows the pattern they established with their second child Exa Dark Siderl Musk, who is called Y and was born in 2022. Their first child together X A-12, or simply X, was born in 2020. Musk also volunteered to be a sperm donor for Shivon Zilis, an executive at his company Neuralink Corp. They used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to ensure that the children would have his genetic makeup. According to the biography, Musk expressed a desire for intelligent people to have children. Zilis had twins in 2021 at the same time Grimes was expecting their second child. Despite there being no romantic involvement according to Reuters, Musk reportedly didn't tell Grimes about his involvement in the birth of Ziliss twins. The two mothers dont appear to be on good terms. In a since-deleted post, Grimes alleged that Zilis had blocked her on X. She also claimed that Musk was keeping their son from her. Tell Shivon to unblock me, and tell Elon to let me see my son or plz respond to my lawyer. I have never been allowed to see a photo of these children until this moment, despite the situation utterly ripping my family apart. Story continues There is also mention of a strained relationship between Musk and his daughter Vivian, who is transgender. Vivian petitioned the California court to recognize her new name and gender identity. Court documents indicate that she sought these changes because of her gender identity and her desire to distance herself from her biological father. Read Next: Hedge funds intend to snatch all pre-IPO shares of future AI unicorns before you can. But there is one venture product investing on your behalf . Earn 10x more than your average savings account while saving the planet this company is revolutionizing investments. Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article Elon Musk Is Now The Father To 11 Children After A 3rd Baby With Ex-Girlfriend Grimes Was Announced 'Doing My Best To Help The Underpopulation Crisis' originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Company to showcase industry-leading portfolio of economic and sustainable solutions and product offerings engineered to increase the financial and environmental value of customers energy assets LUGANO, Switzerland & WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., September 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NRGV) ("Energy Vault" or the "Company"), a leader in sustainable, grid-scale energy storage solutions, will be presenting its full suite of sustainable energy storage solutions and products at the RE+ conference in Las Vegas, Nev. from September 12-14, 2023, at The Venetian Convention & Expo Center. Energy Vault representatives will brief RE+ attendees on the Companys transformative energy storage hardware, software and solutions designed to meet customers unique needs for short, long, and ultra-long duration energy storage. "Our goal at Energy Vault is to provide customers with a comprehensive portfolio of energy storage solutions, products and services that are not only sustainable and cost-effective, but are also tailored to meet customers specific needs," said Marco Terruzzin, Chief Commercial and Product Officer, Energy Vault. "Our customer-centric, solutions-based approach to energy storage starts with the problem our customer is trying to solve and then brings together the right components to deliver customized solutions to achieve their goals for renewable energy deployment and decarbonization. This is what sets us apart as leaders in the transition to a renewable world. We look forward to connecting with RE+ attendees this week in Las Vegas and discussing how we can solve their unique challenges." Energy Vaults customer-centric solutions portfolio is built upon a portfolio of proprietary energy storage system technologies, and an open stack energy management software based on the VaultOS (operating system to control/dispatch the Energy Storage Solution), the Vault-Manager (software to minimize maintenance cost) and the Vault-Bidder (AI enabled software to maximize net-revenues). The Company works directly with customers to identify the energy storage hardware systems that will best meet their needs, and then integrates flexible software solutions designed to monitor and control customers specific energy storage systems, minimize maintenance costs, and maximize net revenues. With modern architecture, Energy Vaults tech stack unlocks the value of energy storage solutions by continuously optimizing grid integration as use cases evolve over time. Story continues Hardware Offerings G-VAULT Energy Vaults long duration energy storage hardware solutions, G-VAULT, consists of a proprietary gravity energy technology to deliver long technical life, high round-trip efficiency, low lifetime cost, and no degradation. The Companys EVx Gravity Energy Storage System (GESS), currently being deployed for the first time in Rudong, China, decouples power and energy while maintaining a high round-trip efficiency, without the need for specific topography. The result is a flexible, low-cost, 35-year (or more) infrastructure asset designed for daily bulk energy shifting without any storage medium degradation. B-VAULT Engineered to meet short duration energy storage needs, B-VAULT is a suite of fully integrated Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) designed for reliability, flexibility and availability. Innovative enclosure architecture provides customer optionality with both battery and inverter suppliers, while unique AC-coupled and DC-coupled configurations provide the drop-in flexibility needed for any project. Advanced safety and cybersecurity features combine with native VaultOS EMS integration and competitive project pricing to deliver on customer needs. Energy Vault is currently deploying B-VAULT systems across the United States. H-VAULT For customers ultra-long duration energy storage needs, Energy Vaults H-VAULT system features hybrid configurations leveraging green hydrogen and batteries, to ensure continuity and resilience for backup and Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. By coupling the long duration and fast response capabilities of green hydrogen, fuel cells, and B-VAULT lithium-ion batteries, H-VAULT provides the clean, reliable, cost-effective back-up power that is critical to enable islanded microgrids during transmission outages. Energy Vault is currently deploying H-VAULT in Calistoga, Calif. to energize PG&Es Calistoga microgrid during grid outages. Software Offerings VaultOS Energy Management System (EMS) VaultOS EMS provides real-time monitoring, operational control and optimized dispatch across an array of generation and short to ultra-long duration energy storage assets. The user interface makes it easy for customers to securely manage a single asset, hybrid power plant or fleet of resources at a glance while minimizing operational costs. Vault-Manager the Vault-Manager software constantly monitors energy storage system operations to aid customers in minimizing maintenance costs. Vault-Manager enables customers to optimize the long-term operation of renewable, hybrid and other diverse sites; improve site and portfolio return on investment (ROI); and analyze augmentation and expansion decisions. Vault-Bidder the Vault-Bidder AI-enabled software allows customers to optimize net revenues associated with energy storage and deployment across markets. Vault-Bidder uses artificial intelligence to leverage diverse, live data from directly monitored assets and external drivers to provide dispatch and revenue optimization. Long Term Service Offerings Energy Vault leverages asset and fleet level data to plan ahead to maximize uptime. Targeting maintenance windows least likely to impact revenue potential, Energy Vaults long-term service agreements meet customers where they want to be both now and in the future by recognizing and balancing tradeoffs between cost and levels of risk management. Attendees can learn more about Energy Vaults comprehensive suite of industry-leading product and solution offerings at the RE+ Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. from September 12-14, by requesting a meeting at the following link: https://www.energyvault.com/re2023. For those unable to attend, please contact info@energyvault.com for additional information. About Energy Vault Energy Vault develops and deploys utility-scale energy storage solutions designed to transform the world's approach to sustainable energy storage. The Company's comprehensive offerings include proprietary gravity-based storage, battery storage, and green hydrogen energy storage technologies. Each storage solution is supported by the Companys hardware technology-agnostic energy management system software and integration platform. Unique to the industry, Energy Vaults innovative technology portfolio delivers customized short-and-long-duration energy storage solutions to help utilities, independent power producers, and large industrial energy users significantly reduce levelized energy costs while maintaining power reliability. Utilizing eco-friendly materials with the ability to integrate waste materials for beneficial reuse, Energy Vaults EVx gravity-based energy storage technology is facilitating the shift to a circular economy while accelerating the global clean energy transition for its customers. Please visit www.energyvault.com for more information. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements that reflect the Companys current views with respect to, among other things, the Companys operations and financial performance. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as "anticipate," "expect," "suggest," "plan," "believe," "intend," "project," "forecast," "estimates," "targets," "projections," "should," "could," "would," "may," "might," "will" and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our current expectations, plans and assumptions, which we have made in light of our experience in our industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at the time. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including changes in our strategy, expansion plans, customer opportunities, future operations, future financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects and plans; the uncertainly of our bookings and backlogs equating to future revenue; the lack of assurance that non-binding letters of intent and other indication of interest can result in binding orders or sales; the possibility of our products to be or alleged to be defective or experience other failures; the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model and growth strategy; our ability to develop and maintain our brand and reputation; developments and projections relating to our business, our competitors, and industry; the ability of our suppliers to deliver necessary components or raw materials for construction of our energy storage systems in a timely manner; the impact of health epidemics on our business and the actions we may take in response thereto; our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; expectations regarding the time during which we will be an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; our ability to obtain funding for our operations and future growth; our business, expansion plans and opportunities and other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the SEC, accessible on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date of this press release and is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements included in this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable laws. You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911678591/en/ Contacts Energy Vault Investors energyvaultIR@icrinc.com Media media@energyvault.com Xi calls for stronger military combat readiness Xinhua) 08:02, September 11, 2023 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech when inspecting the 78th Group Army, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang) HARBIN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensively enhancing the troops' combat readiness during an inspection of a group army headquartered in the country's northeast. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when inspecting the 78th Group Army on Friday. Xi met with representatives of the group army and had photos taken with them. He praised the military and armed police forces for their prompt and brave participation in the disaster relief work when floods struck the country's northern and northeastern regions. Xi urged efforts to improve the level of combat preparedness, strengthen the training of key and difficult subjects, and build new combat capabilities. Xi also stressed the importance of strengthening Party building, maintaining a high level of integrity and unity of the armed forces, and ensuring the military stays stable and secure. Zhang Youxia and other senior military officers were present during the inspection. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with representatives of the 78th Group Army during an inspection of the group army, Sept. 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Gang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Rena Murshud The Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudswoman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva, issued a statement regarding the injury of a soldier of the Azerbaijani army, Khayam Eminov, on September 10 in a mine explosion in the Agdam region, Azernews reports. According to the Ombudsman, the mine was planted by a sabotage group of illegal Armenian armed groups. Despite numerous demands, the Armenian side still refuses to hand over accurate maps of minefields to Azerbaijan, Sabina Aliyeva. She emphasized that the international community and influential international organizations do not put adequate pressure on Armenia in this matter. As a result, the Armenian side continues to commit similar provocations, which leads to numerous casualties or injuries, Sabina Aliyeva said. Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG) we really liked what we saw. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on EOG Resources is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.29 = US$11b (US$41b - US$3.7b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). Therefore, EOG Resources has an ROCE of 29%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Oil and Gas industry average of 21%. See our latest analysis for EOG Resources roce In the above chart we have measured EOG Resources' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering EOG Resources here for free. How Are Returns Trending? The trends we've noticed at EOG Resources are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 29%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 36% more capital is being employed now too. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that's common among multi-baggers. In Conclusion... In summary, it's great to see that EOG Resources can compound returns by consistently reinvesting capital at increasing rates of return, because these are some of the key ingredients of those highly sought after multi-baggers. Considering the stock has delivered 38% to its stockholders over the last five years, it may be fair to think that investors aren't fully aware of the promising trends yet. So with that in mind, we think the stock deserves further research. Story continues One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with EOG Resources (including 1 which can't be ignored) . If you want to search for more stocks that have been earning high returns, check out this free list of stocks with solid balance sheets that are also earning high returns on equity. 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. The logo for Goldman Sachs is seen on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City By Saeed Azhar NEW YORK (Reuters) -Goldman Sachs appointed Chief Administrative Officer Ericka Leslie head of operations for global banking and markets, its largest division, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The move reduces the bank's number of executive officers to eight, for now, and leaves just two women in the group. Leslie's previous duties will be divided among other executives, people familiar with the matter said. "Ericka is moving into one of the biggest and most important businesses," a company spokesperson told Reuters. The two women who remain among the executive officers are Chief Accounting officer Sheara Fredman and Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler. The group is led by CEO David Solomon and includes John Waldron, the bank's president, and Denis Coleman, its finance chief. Despite efforts to diversify the management of Wall Street firms, men vastly outnumber women in the top ranks. Citigroup's Jane Fraser is the only woman CEO among the largest U.S. banks, and the short list of candidates for Morgan Stanley's next CEO does not include any women. "Unfortunately, Wall Street boards and executives have not done enough to attract and retain women at banks," said Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, a financial risk consultant at MRV Associates who trains bankers and regulators. "Moreover, they have not been able to mentor them well enough to reach the C-suite." Leslie, who is also co-chair of the partnership committee, joined Goldman as an associate in 1996 and became a partner in 2012. The executive has held various leadership roles, including head of technology for currencies and commodities, and operations for the securities division, according to the Goldman memos. Leslie is replacing Will Bousquette, who has been appointed chief operating officer of the asset and wealth management division, according to another memo by Marc Nachmann, who leads the unit. Story continues "Weve identified growth opportunities and built an organizational structure that will allow us to take advantage of them," Nachmann wrote. The memos did not indicate when the changes would take effect. Bousquette, who joined the firm in 1998 and became a partner in 2014, succeeds Laurence Stein, a 27-year Goldman veteran who plans to retire at the end of the year, the memos said. Goldman Sachs has made a raft of changes since it divided its business into three units last year and scaled back ambitions for its consumer business, which has lost $3 billion in the last three years. It has also been refocusing its wealth business on the super rich, recently striking a deal to sell part of its wealth unit to an independent manager. The Wall Street giant has seen a number of high-profile departures in recent months, including Julian Salisbury, chief investment officer of asset and wealth management, who is joining investment firm Sixth Street. The partner departures are "absolutely typical" and allow the bank to make room for new leaders, Solomon told CNBC in an interview last week. More than 400 people comprise its elite partner ranks. "If the partnership's a certain size and we want to make a certain number of partners, we have to create that amount of movement over the course of every two-year period," he said. Goldman is also gearing up for another round of job cuts for employees who are seen to be underperformers, which could come in October, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters last week, confirming a report in the Financial Times. The bank laid off about 3,200 people earlier this year in its biggest headcount reduction since the 2008 financial crisis. (Reporting by Saeed Azhar; editing by Lananh Nguyen, Megan Davies and Jason Neely) (Amends company identifier to SZUG.DE) By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS (Reuters) -Sugar maker Saint Louis Sucre, owned by Germany's Suedzucker, asked French farmers not to increase their beet output in 2024 to avoid a fall in prices amidst hefty competition from Ukrainian sugar, copies of a letter seen by Reuters show. European sugar prices have hit record highs, well above soaring global markets, due to a sugar deficit in the bloc, linked notably to falling output in France where farmers have been deterred by poor harvests in recent years. But the war in Ukraine has led to large imports of sugar into the bloc, raising fears of a surplus, such as in 2017 after the European Union lifted production quotas, which led to a collapse in prices. "Our ambition to increase surface areas...finds itself in competition within the framework of the EU solidarity effort in favour of Ukraine," Saint-Louis Sucre (SLS) said in a letter dated Sept. 6. "Our objective is to ensure that each ton of sugar produced in France responds perfectly to demand and is valued at best on the European market in order to serve the best possible beet income," it also says. "In this unexpected context, we are counting on you, historic SLS planters, to maintain your 2023 tonnages in 2024," it said. Ukraine's sugar imports into the EU rose to 390,000 tonnes between October 2022 and July 2023, up from 25,000 tons over the same period the previous season, EU data showed. Responding to a request for comment on the letter, a Suedzucker spokesperson said that Ukrainian sugar, which has the potential to disrupt EU markets, should be re-exported to third countries, which are need of food. French farmers are in the process of choosing their crop rotations for next season, with rapeseed sowings already over and wheat due to start later this month. High sugar prices at a time when grain prices have fallen could make farmers favour beets in their rotations, sugar beet growers said. The French sugar beet crop area fell to a 14-year low this year. Story continues European sugar was trading at 915 euros ($983.17) per ton on July 2023, the most recent EU data showed, up 57% on the previous year and twice the price recorded in July 2021. "We must be careful not to fall into the opposite extreme," Franck Sander, chairman of French sugar beet union CGB, told Reuters, warning that a rise in area could make EU prices slump. "A turnaround could happen very quickly, prices could fall 30%, especially since there are large supplies in Ukraine." Saint Louis Sucre closed two factories in 2019 as part of a wider restructuring plan at Suedzucker, Europes largest sugar refiner. It still has two in northern France. The European Union's sugar output is expected to rebound in 2023/24 from the previous year, mainly due to a larger crop in Poland where farmers, attracted by higher prices, had boosted the area sown. ($1 = 0.9307 euros) (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, additional reporting by Nigel Hunt in London and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Sharon Singleton) By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department and a coalition of state attorneys general on Tuesday will begin a blockbuster antitrust trial in Washington, alleging that Alphabet's Google unlawfully abused its dominance in the search-engine market to maintain monopoly power. Here is an explainer on the key issues in the case. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S LEGAL THEORY? The U.S. and its state allies contend Google unlawfully stifled competition by paying billions of dollars to Apple and other business partners to ensure its search engine would be the default on most phones and web browsers. The government's lawsuit, filed in 2020 in federal court, alleges these deals were intended by Google to be "exclusionary," denying rivals access to search queries and clicks, and allowing Google to entrench its market dominance. Google has grabbed a 90% market share in search in the U.S. in recent years, according to government estimates. The government said the browser agreements steering billions of web queries to Google every day have resulted in less choice for consumers and less innovation. WHAT DOES GOOGLE SAY IN ITS DEFENSE? Google sees things much differently. The company, which maintains that it did not violate antitrust law, said in a January court filing that its browser agreements were "legitimate competition" and not "illicit exclusion." The agreements did not prevent rivals from developing their own search engines or stop companies such as Apple and Mozilla from promoting them, Google argues. Rather, the makers of phones and web browsers set Google search as their default because they wanted to deliver the "highest quality" experience for their customers, Google claimed in its January filing. Google also claims mobile users can switch easily if they want to use another search engine. WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY? It's generally not illegal for a business to make an arrangement with one customer that excludes others. Such exclusive deals indeed are common, and they don't garner much regulatory scrutiny when a company lacking market power can't meaningfully affect competition. Story continues But exclusive deals can violate antitrust law if a company is so big or powerful that it prevents rivals from entering the market, and can't prove that its curbs on industry competition are outweighed by a positive effect on consumers. The Justice Department has the burden to show that Google's business deals harmed competition for search. Google will have its own chance at the non-jury trial, after the government makes its case, to argue its deals benefit consumers. WHAT HAPPENS IF GOOGLE LOSES? The U.S. and state allies are not seeking a monetary penalty, but rather an injunction barring Google from continuing the alleged anticompetitive practices. Such an order could have significant business implications for Google. For example, the government said in its lawsuit that the court could break up the company as a fix. More broadly, the Justice Department may argue that it wants to stop Google from leveraging its alleged search monopoly to making exclusive deals in newly emerging markets, including artificial intelligence. The case is widely seen as one of the biggest challenges to tech industry power since the DOJ sued Microsoft in 1998 over its market dominance for personal computers. The trial court in that case found Microsoft unlawfully tried to block rival browser Netscape Navigator. Microsoft later reached a settlement that left the company intact. The Google trial at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is expected to last about 10 weeks. The judge would not be expected to rule until sometime in 2024. WHO IS PRESIDING OVER THE CASE? U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta was appointed to the bench in 2014 by then- President Barack Obama after a career as a private lawyer in Washington. He has overseen several major antitrust disputes. In 2015, Mehta blocked Sysco Corp's $3.5 billion merger with U.S. Foods. Mehta recently presided over the trial of Peter Navarro, the former Donald Trump adviser who was convicted on Sept. 7 of contempt of Congress. Mehta in May sentenced Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to 18 years in prison for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; editing by Amy Stevens and Diane Craft) Ford Motor Co. says it has one eye on the upcoming labor contract expiration and the other eye on its fleet of police vehicles throughout the U.S. that must be maintained without disruption, and Ford negotiators realize the urgency of reaching a tentative deal prior to the 11:59 p.m. deadline Thursday. Keeping emergency vehicles running is essential for the company that dominated 53% of the law enforcement vehicle market in 2022, and Ford said it alerted early the UAW about needing to maintain a parts depot in case of a strike for this purpose. Police, first responders and the emergency and utility services teams who serve this country rely upon Ford trucks and vans for their mission-critical work," Ted Cannis, CEO of Ford Pro, told the Detroit Free Press in a statement Monday. "We have an obligation to them and to those whom they serve to ensure these vehicles are ready when duty calls with parts and depot operations. While Ford sells fewer police vehicles than years past, the Ford Police Interceptor Utility remains the country's bestselling police vehicle and it outsold all other police vehicles combined, according to Catherine Hargett, Ford spokeswoman. The Ford Police Interceptor SUV. There are approximately 350,000 Ford Pro up-fitted vehicles in service supporting police, fire and utility and emergency services, Jessica Enoch, Ford spokeswoman, told the Free Press. And this is why salaried workers may be called into action to fill parts orders at warehouses if contract talks collapse, the company said. Fain referred to this scenario during a recent Facebook live discussion as making a plan to use scabs. More: New 2021 Ford F-150 Police Responder reaches 120 mph, more control when cornering More: New York City just spent $11.5M on 184 Mustang Mach-E GT SUVs Behind the scenes, Ford competitors have watched the 120-year-old Dearborn automaker, which employs the most hourly autoworkers in the industry with about 57,000, move the fastest on submitting counterproposals. Fain has criticized Ford's proposals but also publicly praised the responsiveness. Story continues Difference between Ford proposals, so far Here's a comparison between the contract offer put forth Aug. 29 and its sweetened offer to the UAW on Sept. 7: A 5% general wage increase the first year is now 6% A $5,500 contract ratification bonus, which would go to both permanent and temporary employees for the first time ever, is now $6,500. A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) bonus of $6,000 the first year and $2,000 each year of the contract after that for a total of $12,000 changes to a COLA formula that replaces bonus payments. A 3% performance bonus lump sum the second year is unchanged. A 4% general wage increase the third year is unchanged. A 3% performance bonus lump sum the fourth year of a four-year contract is unchanged. Contract talks continue, developing yet another version, Ford said. 'Better than ... Tesla and foreign automakers' in U.S. The Dearborn automaker began by offering $92,000 in wages and bonuses, plus $17,500 in health care coverage and $20,500 in additional benefits for a value of $130,000, up from $112,000 in 2022, the company said. UAW-represented employees would continue paying an average of just 3% of health care, mostly co-pays for drugs and doctor visits, which is among the lowest employee costs in the nation and well below the 30% average in the transportation sector. Plus, Ford contributes 6.4% of employee base wages plus $1 per hour worked, up to $2,080 regardless of whether the employee contributes, to their 401(k) program. "Full-time permanent Ford employees at the top wage rate could be paid $98,000 from wages, cost-of-living adjustment bonus, ratification bonus, profit sharing and overtime in the first year alone," Farley said in a statement Aug. 31. "Overall, this offer is significantly better than what we estimate workers earn at Tesla and foreign automakers operating in the U.S." Ford has formed two auto businesses, Ford Blue and Ford Model e, that are separate divisions but work together to execute the Ford+ plan. Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue, speaks while Ford CEO Jim Farley (left) and Doug Field, chief EV and digital systems officer for Ford Model e, listen. They're seen here during a webcast on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Dearborn. The status of the latest Ford counterproposal is pending, after both sides met Sunday. Ford negotiators in the room included Kevin Legel and Bryce Currie, Ford labor affairs vice presidents; John Lawler, chief financial officer, and Kumar Galhotra, president of Ford Blue. Auto execs, UAW committed to 24/7 negotiations now Early Monday, a number of Detroit Three executives said they were alarmed to see a union flyer that promoted UAW President Shawn Fain attending solidarity rallies in Kokomo, Indiana, on the eve of the contract deadline. Fain confirmed Monday he is not going. Fain said in a statement Monday, "We are ready to negotiate in Detroit 24/7, just as we have been for the past seven weeks since we gave them our Members Demands. Despite receiving no response for over a month, when the CEOs are ready to make a serious offer we'll be there, day or night. Its unfortunate the companies have waited until the last moments to get focused on the needs of 150,000 autoworkers, our families, and our communities. A factory worker admits to anxiety We are 3 days away from the expiration of the current UAW contract. Quite a bit of thoughts/feelings are running through my head. Lots of anxiety and stress," a longtime UAW member at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville wrote to the Detroit Free Press on Monday. He asked not to be identified because he doesn't want to anger management. Kentucky Truck builds the Super Duty pickup, a product that's essential to the company's profits. "We had a meeting at our local yesterday going over strike benefits, strike assignments, what to do at 11:59 pm on Thursday if we walk out, etc. They didnt give us much information because everything is still up in the air, the Kentucky plant worker said. I think you should expect a fired up crowd of people. Some really angry at the company. Others like myself kind of 50/50 on the whole thing. Mr. Fain has most people I have talked to extremely united. Its a weird thing because its against the companies not necessarily management at each location. Like, I like my current supervisor so it isnt anything against him. More: UAW President Shawn Fain trashes new Ford, GM, Stellantis contract proposals More: UAW rally flyer sparks concern among Detroit 3 executives amid looming strike deadline Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. Read more of her stories here. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford's cop cars will create headache if UAW strike happens Forward Solutions HERSHEY, Pa., Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward Solutions, a leading provider of outsources sales and marketing, is excited to announce the successful merger of George W. Mouk & Associates and Avision. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step towards enhancing service offerings and increasing market presence. George W. Mouk & Associates has been a leader in the foodservice and janitorial channel, serving customers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, West Tennessee, Southern Alabama, and the Florida panhandle since 1970. Lee Mouk, President of George W. Mouk & Associates, shared his anticipation about this merger, stating, "I look forward to being part of a team of professional sales reps and the increased ability to serve our manufacturer and distributor partners." This strategic merger leverages the combined knowledge, resources, and relationships of both teams to provide enhanced services, streamlined solutions, and a broader product portfolio. John Shoffner, President of Avision, expressed his enthusiasm about this partnership, stating, "George W. Mouk & Associates bring decades of experience in the foodservice and janitorial markets with great relationships and a tremendous track record of success. I am thrilled to have them as part of our team." Clients of both George W. Mouk & Associates and Avision can expect a seamless transition as the two entities integrate their strengths. Clients, partners, and stakeholders can anticipate continued dedication to excellence, backed by the unmatched expertise that George W. Mouk & Associates brings to the table. With a shared vision of excellence, this merger is set to create new avenues for growth and collaboration within the foodservice and janitorial sectors. About Forward Solutions Forward Solutions serves as the parent company of a diverse group of B2B manufacturer representatives and consulting divisions, dedicated to facilitating the growth of clients in rapidly evolving markets. With a seasoned team of experts spanning business strategy, business intelligence, human resources, IT, marketing, and finance, Forward Solutions provides comprehensive support to each division, empowering them to concentrate on driving sales expansion. Their portfolio encompasses prominent entities including Avision, Curate, Integrated Access Corporation, OneSolution, RelyPak, and StruXur within the manufacturer representative groups. Additionally, they provide Allynt Solutions and C3Team as consulting services, tailored to serve manufacturers, distributors, and end users. Story continues About George W. Mouk & Associates: George W. Mouk & Associates is a respected name in the foodservice and janitorial markets, recognized for its decades of experience, strong relationships, and exceptional track record of success. George W. Mouk & Associates merger with Avision signifies a new chapter of collaboration and growth within the industry. About Avision Team: With 35+ years as the premier Manufacturer Representative Group in the U.S., Avision specializes in connecting world-class manufacturers with the best distributors to reach the ideal end user. From janitorial, facility, cleaning, restaurant, and foodservice supplies, Avision makes it easy for manufacturers and distributors to grow and sell faster while providing end users with the best products and industry innovations they need. With 8 offices nationwide and a team of 120 experts, Avision proudly serves more than 100,000 clients across the United States. Contact: Gina Tsiropoulos 678-389-7126 Forward-Solutions.com gina.tsiropoulos@forward-solutions.com Fortune Business Insights Key companies covered in fumigant products market are AMVAC Chemical Corporation (U.S.), Arkema (France), Detia Degesch GmbH (Germany), Ecotec Fumigation (Argentina), Intech Organics Ltd (India), LANXESS AG (Germany), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Draslovka Services Group (Australia), S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC. (U.S.), Ensystex Australasia Pty Ltd (Australia) and many more. Fumigant Products Market Fumigant Products Market Pune, India, Sept. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global fumigant products market size was valued at USD 4.87 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 5.13 billion in 2023 to USD 7.66 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.89% during the forecast period. Fortune Business Insights provide this information in its report titled Fumigant Products Market, 2023-2030. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/fumigation-products-market-103209 Fumigants are volatile or toxic, poisonous substances and when inhaled, produce lethal gases. Fumigants kill insects, nematodes, and pests that destroy stored foods, seeds, clothing, nursery stock, and human dwellings. Fumigation is also applied on nursery stocks, and major fumigants used to treat nursery stock or stored products include naphthalene, methyl bromide, hydrogen cyanide, and nicotine List of Key Players Mentioned in the Fumigant Products Market Report: AMVAC Chemical Corporation (U.S.) Arkema (France) Detia Degesch GmbH (Germany) Ecotec Fumigation (Argentina) Intech Organics Ltd (India) LANXESS AG (Germany) Solvay S.A. (Belgium) Draslovka Services Group (Australia) S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC. (U.S.) Ensystex Australasia Pty Ltd (Australia) COVID-19 Impact: COVID-19 Pandemic Moderately Impacted Fumigant Products to Push the Market Growth Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, crop protection companies have witnessed significant challenges in fulfilling the growing demand for storing grains and food commodities and food products free from pests and insects. However, the closure of the number of manufacturing facilities gave rise to the outbreak of insects, rodents, and pests, which created a substantial demand for fumigants. Story continues The disturbances and disruptions caused by COVID-19 have decreased the sale and demand for fumigants, pesticides, and insecticides from local or international suppliers to the farm level in reduced outputs during the pandemic. Leading Players Featured in the Research Report: Companies leading in fumigant products market are AMVAC Chemical Corporation (U.S.), Arkema (France), Detia Degesch GmbH (Germany), Ecotec Fumigation (Argentina), Intech Organics Ltd (India), LANXESS AG (Germany), Solvay S.A. (Belgium), Draslovka Services Group (Australia), S.C. JOHNSON & SON, INC. (U.S.), Ensystex Australasia Pty Ltd (Australia) and many more Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Attribute Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 5.89% 2030 Value Projection USD 7.66 billion Market Size in 2023 USD 5.13 billion Historical Data 2019-2021 No. of Pages 165 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type By Form By Application By Region Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa Fumigant Products Market Growth Drivers Increased Application of Fumigation Services in Residential Areas Boosts the Market Growth Surge in Pest Infestation due to Climate Change Fuels the Adoption of Fumigants Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/fumigation-products-market-103209 Segments: Phosphine Segment Holds the Largest Share due to its Effectiveness On the basis of type, the demand for phosphine fumigants of stored products in pest control over the last decades is due to its relatively low cost, ease of application in several different storage structures, effectiveness against major pesticides, and acceptance in all markets. Fumigants commercial formulations are available in solid tablets, sachets, blankets, and cylindered gas. After fumigation, phosphine also breaks down, making its atmosphere safe than methyl bromide. It has the lowest density, similar to air, so phosphine fumigants disperse faster. Solid Segment to Hold Larger Share Owing to its Ease of Application Based on the form, the market is segmented into solid, liquid, and gas. The solid segment is set to have a significant market share owing to its increasing rate of adoption and its easy application. Industrial & Commercial Segment to Grow Due to Higher Adoption of Fumigant Products to Propel Market Growth According to application, the industrial & commercial segment is estimated to have the largest share. Industrial & commercial fumigation includes railcars, sea containers, ship-holds, tarps and bunkers, bins and silos, elevators, trailers, trucks, vaults, vans, chambers, tarpaulin-covered commodities, and others. Hence, increasing demand and growth in industrial and commercial sectors are making key players sign contracts, mergers, and acquisitions to expand their market share. Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. Report Coverage: This report covers the synopsis of the market consisting of market analysis, COVID-19 impact, segmentation, drivers, regional insights, competitive landscape, and presence of key players in the market. Get a Quote Now: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/fumigation-products-market-103209 Drivers and Restraints: Growing Application of Fumigation Services in Residential Areas Fuels the Market Growth The worlds population is highly concentrated in urban cities and metropolitan cities. Pests are anticipated to spread more rapidly in urban areas as buildings and apartments are densely located. Due to the busy lifestyle, the time to keep residential and working spaces pest-free has been reduced. This major factor has increased demand for pest control services, including fumigation to maintain residential areas and public health. Fumigant emissions cause inhalation of these chemicals, which impacts people working and living close to the applications sites. Fumigant emissions adversely impact health, such as dizziness, coughing, muscular twitching, respiratory tract irritation, and shortness of breath, thereby restraining the market growth Regional Insights: Increasing Demand for Residential Fumigation to Uplift the Asia Pacific Market Growth Asia Pacific is estimated to hold the largest fumigant products market share. Asia Pacific holds the biggest percentage of the global population. The areas that are densely populated are more prone to pest infestation, thereby growing the demand for residential fumigation. North America holds a significant share of the global market. Due to the increasing number of farm yields, the region of North America, which includes Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, is anticipated to show rapid market revenue growth during the forecast period. The major factor fueling the North America fumigant products market growth is increasing number of residential areas where pest control is required. Competitive Landscape: Innovative Launch Operations by Key Players to Boost Market Growth Players in the market have launched new techniques to boost market growth with their solutions and elevate the competition in the market. It includes launching new patterns such as investments and new and advanced products. Companies have been applying new plans, such as partnerships and mergers, to support their position in the market. Key Industry Development: May 2021 Detia Degesch GmbH (DDG) acquired Universal Fumigation Services Ltd. (UFS) based in Canada. It is one of the significant companies in the field of stored product pest protection emphasizing mainly on ship fumigation. With this acquisition, DDG strengthened its ongoing efforts for positive growth in the North America market. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/fumigation-products-market-103209 Detailed Table of Contents: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Market Trends Key Insights Overview of the Parent/Related Markets Supply Chain Analysis Regulatory Framework Recent Industry Developments - Policies, Partnerships, New Product Launches, and Mergers & Acquisitions Analysis related to COVID-19 Global Fumigant Products Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type (By Value) Phosphine Sulfuryl Fluoride Methyl Bromide Others By Form (By Value) Solid Liquid Gas By Application (By Value) Commercial & Industrial Agriculture Residential By Region (By Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa North America Fumigant Products Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type (Value) Phosphine Sulfuryl Fluoride Methyl Bromide Others By Form (Value) Solid Liquid Gas By Application (Value) Commercial & Industrial Agriculture Residential By Country (Value) U.S Canada Mexico TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/fumigation-products-market-103209 Read Related Insights: Biofumigation Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030 Grain Fumigants Market Size, Share & Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2030 Soil Sterilizers Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis and Regional Forecast, 2023-2030 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Attachment YakobchukOlena / Getty Images/iStockphoto Taking a vacation abroad often requires careful financial planning and budgeting. Unfortunately, that budget can get derailed if you fall victim to a scam. Know: 7 Frugal Habits That Arent Actually Good for Your Finances Find Out: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS The next time youre on vacation, be on the lookout for these common travel scams so that you know what to avoid. Gift Scams In some popular tourist areas, vendors will give you a gift but then demand payment. One well-known example of this is the friendship bracelet scam, which is common in the Montmartre area of Paris. Street vendors will approach and tie a bracelet around your wrist, claiming its a gift or tradition. Once its on, they demand payment, said Justin Albertynas, travel industry expert and CEO of the hotel booking site Ratepunk. To avoid this scam firmly say no thank you and keep walking, Albertynas said. Dont let them begin tying the bracelet. Be Aware: 4 Red Flags as You Check Your Bank Statements Every Month Taxi Scams This scam involves taxi drivers who refuse to turn on the meter and quote an above-market flat rate for the ride. Albertynas said that this scam is particularly common throughout Asia. Always insist on using the meter, he said. If they refuse, find another taxi. Currency Switch Scam If you are exchanging money in a foreign country, watch out for this money scam. Albertynas said that he has encountered this scam in Southeast Asia in particular. When you hand a larger note, the person might quickly switch it with a smaller note, insisting you gave them the wrong amount, he said. To avoid this scam always be attentive during money exchanges. Confirm the denominations out loud when handing money over. Photo Favor Scam If a seemingly friendly local offers to take your photo at a popular attraction, be wary. Once you hand over your camera, they demand money to give it back, Albertynas said of this scam, which is rampant near tourist attractions in Rome. Story continues Politely decline offers from strangers to take your photo or ask someone whom you approached first, Albertynas said. Fake Police Officer Scam In this scam, criminals impersonate police officers, often approaching tourists on the street or at popular tourist attractions, said Edmund Jenkins, travel expert at Time To Backpack. They claim to be conducting random checks or investigations and ask to see your passport or wallet. They may accuse you of a fictitious offense and demand a fine or bribe, threatening arrest if you refuse. While this can be a scary situation, its best to remain calm. Jenkins recommends asking for identification and if they refuse, calmly walk away, as this is a strong sign that they are not really police officers. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Gift Scams, Taxi Scams and More Travel Scams Tourists Need To Be Aware Of Goldman Sachs (GS) is handing new responsibilities to some longtime insiders as the Wall Street giant navigates a series of challenges. One member of the firms top management committee, Ericka Leslie, will step down as the firm's chief administrative officer to become chief operating officer of Goldmans global banking and markets division. That division is the largest at Goldman, housing investment banking as well as trading operations. The executive who previously held that role, Will Bousquette, will become chief operating officer of the banks asset and wealth management division. Bousquette is succeeding 27-year Goldman veteran Laurence Stein, who will retire at the end of the year. Goldman is turning to two veteran company figures for these new roles following a series of high-profile executive departures this year, including Julian Salisbury, who was chief investment officer of asset and wealth management, and Dina Powell McCormick, who was head of the bank's sovereign business. McCormick left to join BDT & MSD Partners, which is run by co-CEO Gregg Lemkau, yet another ex-Goldman exec. Lemkau previously was in charge of investment banking for Goldman. Bousquette, the new COO of asset and wealth management, joined Goldman in 1998. Leslie, the new COO of global banking and marrkets, joined the firm in 1996. Leslie will now report to the firms three co-heads of global banking and markets, Ashok Varadhan, Dan Dees, and Jim Esposito. It's possible that the chief administrative officer role she held will reemerge in the future, but the bank has no plans to fill it in the short term, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. The reorganization comes amid scrutiny of CEO David Solomon, who is under pressure to improve Goldman's results after reporting the firm's lowest quarterly profits in three years. David Solomon, Goldman's CEO. (Lucy Nicholson/REUTERS) He is wrestling with everything from job cuts and a two-year-long investment banking slump to reports of partner unrest and questions about his leadership style. Story continues Goldman has already announced at least 3,200 layoffs this year and plans to cut expenses, including compensation, by $1 billion over the next two years. Goldman's stock rose slightly Monday morning. It's down 5% since the beginning of January. Under Solomon, the bank is attempting a tricky retreat from a costly push into consumer lending while it waits out a tepid period of dealmaking in investment banking. It does, however, stand to benefit from a new string of initial public offerings starting this week. It is acting as one of the lead bankers for IPOs from chipmaker ARM and grocery e-commerce company Instacart. Solomon said in a Friday interview with Yahoo Finance that if the IPOs go well, it could create a "virtuous cycle" that attracts other companies still waiting on the sidelines. "Obviously an environment with more capital markets activity is a good environment for Goldman Sachs," he said. Solomon said the firm is now emphasizing its principal businesses of investment banking, markets, and wealth management. "That's where the lion's share of the firm's focus is at this point in time, he said Friday. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Abbas Ganbay Negotiations of the trilateral working group on unblocking transport links in the South Caucasus continue, but the aggravation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has a negative impact on this activity. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told reporters on the margins of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF), Azernews reports, citing EEF. "Of course, any aggravations always have a negative impact on our work, hold back, delay, and time passes before we come back again, sit down, and start working further," he said, answering a relevant question. - Negotiations have not been suspended, they are continuing." According to Overchuk, the next meeting of Deputy Prime Ministers of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on unblocking transport links in the region will take place when conditions are ripe for it. Earlier, the deputy prime minister, following the results of the last meeting of the working group, noted significant progress in agreeing to unblock transport communications between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The 2020 so-called Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement, signed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, and the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, ended all hostilities in the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh" region from 00:00, 10 November 2020 Moscow time. In 2021, an Armenian-Azerbaijani-Russian commission was formed to work on implementing the unblocking of transport routes promised in the ceasefire statement. The opening of these routes could have a beneficial effect on the economies of the South Caucasus, and journey times have decreased along this route with the advent of block trains. In February 2021, Azerbaijan announced it was starting reconstruction of the 108-kilometer (67-mile) section of the railway from the town of Horadiz to the border with Armenia. The leaders agreed on the need to proceed with unblocking the transport links and the Deputy Prime Ministers will take this work forward. The sides agreed to continue working within the trilateral working group and teams led by the Foreign Ministers will take forward the process of establishing transport and economic ties in the region in the coming weeks. The EU will take forward with both parties the work of the Economic Advisory Group, which seeks to advance economic development for the benefit of both countries and their populations. To recall, Armenia was holding the so-called elections once again clearly shows that Armenia and the puppet regime created by it, which have taken steps to maintain the status quo and continue its occupation policy, are not really interested in the peace process, on the contrary, have taken the path of provocation and escalating the situation. Armenia should stop its futile attempts to deceive its people and the international community, put an end to the claims against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, constructively participate in the normalization process, and comply with its international obligations. The only way to achieve peace and stability in the region is the unconditional and complete withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan and the disbandment of the puppet regime. Grant Cardone Grant Cardone believes that investing in income-producing real estate is one of the best ways to build wealth, and he practices what he preaches. He currently owns and operates a portfolio of over $4 billion in multifamily properties. Im a Real Estate Agent: These Will Be the Best States To Buy Property in the Next 5 Years Know: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Of course, some real estate investments will pay off more than others. In addition to being selective about the types of properties you purchase, where you purchase also matters. Here are the six cities where Cardone said he would purchase investment properties right now plus, where he would avoid. Miami Cardone, who will be hosting the 10X Your Business summit Sept. 15-17, said that Miami is a smart place to buy property right now. Almost any major city in Florida is going to win over the next decade, he told GOBankingRates. Austin Austin is going to go from a couple of million people to probably 10 million people in the next 20 years, Cardone said. Its going to explode. More: 15 Cheapest, Safest Places To Live in the US Atlanta Atlantas going to be a major city, probably the size of Houston, over the next 10 years, Cardone said. Houston Cardone also sees Houston as a great place to invest in real estate right now. Dallas Dallas is going to be a megawatt city of jobs and employment, Cardone said. Chicago Chicago will never die, Cardone said. [It will] probably end up being as big as New York City at some point. These are just great investments. Where To Avoid Cardone said to concentrate on buying in areas where population and employment are expected to boom, and avoid areas that are swinging in the opposite direction. I would avoid all cities that have negative job growth, he said. I dont want to offend my friends in the state of Louisiana, but Id leave that alone. Memphis, Tennessee, [also] no. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Grant Cardone Reveals 6 Cities He Would Buy Investment Property in Right Now (and Where He Would Avoid) Erin Silk is president and CEO for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. Over the past several years, not only has our region drawn thousands of new residents and many out-of-town businesses, but it is expanding support for local companies, created right here, to further spread their wings. In particular, North Port, which this year Quicken Loans named the second-fastest growing city in the nation, is an ongoing example of a truly burgeoning area amid Sarasota Countys strong economy. Whats the key indicator of our regions continued prosperity? Collaboration. The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County has always believed in the incredible influence of public/private partnerships. When local government, businesses and organizations, and higher education work together, the community experiences powerful transformations that shape our economy for today and tomorrow. Partnerships are not only crucial in diversifying our regions industry sectors, but also in the EDCs current initiative to expand light industrial and business park opportunities for existing and relocating businesses. And that takes us to North Port. In close collaboration with the City of North Port Economic Development Division and private property owners, the EDC submitted a proposal in July to Florida Power and Light's Florida First Sites program for the North Port Innovation Corridor a cutting edge nerve center of prospective business park development along I-75 at Toledo Blade Boulevard. The plan opens 515 strategically located acres of land, including flexible zoning that allows 600,000 square feet of light industrial development and 800,000 square feet of business park office, which are expected to support over 1,900 new jobs. Were thrilled to announce that it was one of only 10 projects recently accepted to the highly competitive statewide FPL program, which is awarded in conjunction with Global Location Strategies an acclaimed site selection and economic development firm for manufacturing and industrial companies. The Innovation Corridor will receive a site readiness evaluation and marketing campaign, placing national attention on Sarasota County and North Port once again. Having already hosted one site selection team, what was once a forward-thinking vision for job creation is now on the cusp of coming to fruition. Story continues This collaboration to establish roughly 1.4 million square feet of job-creating space is intended to address the needs of the community as a whole. At the EDC, our team is working diligently to support the citys commitment to diversifying its industries and expanding high-paying job opportunities. But these 515 acres are just a piece of the incredible progress that has been put in motion. The city of North Port moved forward in March with the extension of utilities along Toledo Blade Boulevard., heading north past I-75, part of a grant from the State of Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Expected to be completed in the coming months, the infrastructure for water and sewer systems will not only extend to the Innovation Corridor but also help the surrounding area moving land already zoned for business park and jobs-generating uses closer to shovel-ready development. Bottom line: Dont take your eyes off North Port. Further economic development that benefits everyone, from longtime locals to new residents, is on the horizon. Progress and prosperity, both now and for the future, take partnership and were fortunate to share that spirit in Sarasota County, evidence of whats to come. Erin Silk is president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: ERIN SILK: For economic progress, dont take your eyes off North Port J.M. Smucker said it will purchase snack company Hostess for $5.6 billion, as the jelly giant seeks to expand its product offerings with iconic snacks such as Twinkies and Ho Hos, the company said in a statement on Monday. "With this acquisition, we are adding an iconic sweet snacking platform to drive continued growth," J.M. Smucker CEO Mark Smucker said in the statement. Hostess Brands struggled for years and nearly vanished before it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in early 2012. Workers blamed the troubles on years of mismanagement and a failure to invest in brands to keep up with changing tastes. The Lenexa, Kansas, company said at the time that it was weighed down by higher pension and medical costs than its competitors, whose employees weren't unionized. Hostess reemerged in 2013 with a far less costly operating structure than its predecessor company and was no longer unionized. But, it wasn't long before the company declared bankruptcy again in 2016. J. M. Smucker said it will pay $34.25 per share to Hostess shareholders as part of the cash and stock transaction. The boards of both companies unanimously approved the deal. Associated Press contributed reporting. This is a developing story. UPI/Shutterstock / UPI/Shutterstock With just a few days remaining to stop a strike against the Big Three automakers Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis negotiations seem at a stalemate. New Car Market: Ford, Tesla Drop Prices by Up To 20% Thanks To Millions of Unwanted EVs Learn: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS If there is no deal reached, more than 140,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members could go on strike, triggering significant consequences for the economy and consumers. After refusing to bargain in good faith for the past six weeks, only after having federal labor board charges filed against them, GM has come to the table with an insulting proposal that doesnt come close to an equitable agreement for Americas autoworkers, UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement released following GMs Sept, 7 proposal. GM either doesnt care or isnt listening when we say we need economic justice at GM by 11:59pm on September 14th. The clock is ticking. Stop wasting our members time. Tick tock. According to an analysis by consulting firm Anderson Economic Group (AEG), a strike on all three automakers by 143,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) members could result in a total economic loss of more than $5 billion after 10 full days. Impact on Consumers AEG also noted that while vehicle inventory was slowly trending upward to reach 162,000 units in June, it is still well below September 2019s 649,000 units. In turn, a strike could have negative effects for consumers as it could boost prices. Consumer and dealer losses are typically somewhat insulated in the event of a very short strike, Tyler Theile, vice president at AEG, said in the analysis. However, with current inventories hovering around only 55 days, the industry looks different than it did in during the last UAW strike. She added that automakers now have about one-fifth of the inventory that was on-hand in 2019, so a strike in current conditions would likely affect dealers and customers much sooner. Story continues Yet, as The Washington Post explained, a short strike wouldnt raise prices for most vehicles, partly because there are plenty of non-UAW-produced vehicles on the market, including Teslas, Hondas, Toyotas and other brands. Its a different story for some popular models that are already in relatively short supply, however, such as GMs Tahoe and Yukon SUVs. More Bang for Your Buck: These 20 Cars Will Last You Twice as Long as the Average Vehicle Pat Ryan, chief executive of CoPilot, tols The Washington Post that these could become scarcer if a strike drags on, which could end up costing consumers more if dealers charge more than the sticker price, according to a car-shopping app that tracks dealers inventory and pricing. Selection is going to get worse, prices are going to get higher if there is a strike, but its going to be focused on the most popular brands and models. Its not going to be everywhere, Ryan said. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Joe Biden May Not Be Able to Prevent an Auto Strike: Heres How a Strike Could Impact Your Wallet a lawsuit in the housing market depicted by a gavel and a tiny model home The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) does not have broad authority to take on banking practices it sees as discriminatory, according to a new ruling from a federal judge, providing a victory for financial interest groups that challenged the Bureau. The suit was filed against the CFPB nearly a year ago by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Bankers Association (ABA) and other state-affiliated financial interest groups in the Eastern District of Texas. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker, appointed by President Donald Trump to the bench in 2019, ruled that the DoddFrank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the 2010 law that gave rise to the CFPB, treats discrimination and fairness as separate concepts and bars the CFPB from enforcing an anti-discrimination policy against the plaintiffs. The CFPB said it is exploring options for a potential appeal, according to Reuters. Federal law prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and practices (UDAAP) that cause consumers substantial and unavoidable harm, the CFPB said in a statement to the outlet. In our view, it is common sense that discrimination can meet that standard, regardless of whether it affects people due to their race, their national origin or the exercise of their religious liberties, the agency told Reuters. The ABA released a statement in support of the ruling. While ABA repudiates discrimination of any kind, it argued in the case that the bureaus [UDAAP] authority cannot be used to extend the fair lending laws beyond the bounds set by Congress, the ABA said in the statement. ABA President Rob Nichols added that it is hopeful the Bureau takes a lesson from this ruling. We strongly support the fair enforcement of nondiscrimination laws, but the bureaus extraordinary expansion of its regulatory reach crossed the line, Nichols said. We hope this ruling sends a clear message to the bureau and all federal regulators that they must operate within the boundaries set by Congress. The CFPB detailed in March of 2022 that it would take a closer look at the impacts of discrimination under its UDAAP authority as part of a broader anti-discrimination mandate detailed by the Biden administration. It has yet to bring any enforcement action related to its interpretation of that authority but in June said it was looking into potential discriminatory conduct. ANKARA, Turkey (AP) A major rescue operation in Turkeys Taurus Mountains succeeded in bringing out an American researcher who fell seriously ill nine days ago at a depth of some 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) from the entrance of one of the worlds deepest caves. An experienced cave rescuer himself, Mark Dickey was assisted by teams of international rescuers who by Monday had gotten him to 100 meters (some 330 feet) from the surface. They brought him out early Tuesday. Heres what to know about the caver and the rescue operation: WHAT HAPPENED? Dickey, a 40-year-old accomplished cave explorer from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, was 1,040 meters (3,412 feet) from the entrance of the Morca Cave on an expedition, when he became stricken with severe stomach bleeding Sept. 2. There were several people with him, including three other Americans, on the mission to map the 1,276-meter (4,186-foot) deep cave system for the Anatolian Speleology Group Association. With his condition perilous, doctors, paramedics and experienced cavers from Turkey and across Europe rushed to his rescue. One Hungarian doctor went down to treat Dickey at his location as early as Sept. 3. Doctors administered IV fluids and 4 liters (1 gallon) of blood while he was still inside the cave to stabilize his condition and pave the way for his rescue. Teams comprised of a doctor and three to four other rescuers took turns staying by his side at all times. The European Association of Cave Rescuers described Dickey as a highly trained caver and a cave rescuer himself and well-known cave researcher, or speleologist. He is the secretary of the associations medical committee. Mark is the guy that should be on that rescue mission thats leading and consulting, and for him to be the one that needs to be rescued is kind of a tragedy in and of itself, said Justin Hanley, a 28-year-old firefighter from near Dallas, Texas, who had met Dickey during a cave rescue course the researcher taught in Hungary and Croatia. Story continues WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES OF THE RESCUE? The Morca Cave in southern Turkeys Taurus Mountains is the countrys third deepest, a very complex system with many vertical shafts and a few horizontal sections. The biggest challenges the rescuers faced were the steep vertical sections and navigating through mud and water at low temperatures in the horizontal sections. There was also the psychological strain of being inside a dark, damp cave for extended periods, experts said. Temporary medical camps were set up along the tunnel to provide assistance and resting spots as Dickey was gradually extracted. The tunnel also needed to be re-equipped with new ropes and a communication line had to be drawn. Some narrow cave passages had to be widened as Dickey was being moved up on a stretcher. Gretchen Baker, the national coordinator for the U.S.-based National Cave Rescue Commission, who has known Dickey for more than 10 years, said before the mission was completed that his experience as a rescuer was a benefit. Because of his experience teaching and doing these rescues, he understands exactly what is ahead of him, Baker said, adding that while it isnt easy to be tied to the stretcher, Dickey personally knew some of the rescuers from Europe. WHAT WAS THE PROGRESS? After the initial treatment deep underground, doctors gave the go-ahead for the operation to begin to bring Dickey to surface Saturday, after they assessed he was well enough to be moved. The American was first lifted from his location to a camp 700 meters from the surface and then to the 500 meters level. The operation involved stops so that Dickey could recuperate at several medical camps that had been set up along the way. The Italian National Alpine and Speleological Rescue said Monday that Dickey recognized some sections of the cave and reacted positively, understanding that he was getting closer to the exit. The Speleological Federation of Turkey said Dickey reached the 100-meter mark Monday evening after taking a rest at a temporary camp at 180 meters. Then it announced that Dickey had been removed from the last exit of the cave at 12:37 a.m. Tuesday WHO WERE THE RESCUERS? Some 190 personnel from Turkey and eight other countries Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Poland, Albania and the United States assisted in the rescue. More than 150 of them are experts in the field of search and rescue. Last week, Dickey thanked the caving community and the Turkish government for their efforts in a video message from inside the cave. The caving world is a really tight-knit group and its amazing to see how many people have responded on the surface, Dickey said. I do know that the quick response of the Turkish government to get the medical supplies that I need, in my opinion, saved my life. I was very close to the edge. ___ Associated Press journalists Robert Badendieck and Ayse Wieting in Istanbul, Cinar Kiper in Bodrum, Turkey, Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, and Patricia Thomas in Rome contributed to this report. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has declared that it does not recognize the so-called "elections" held by separatists in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily located, and called on the world community to take effective measures to prevent Armenia from taking destructive steps, Azernews reports, citing the OIC statement. "The so-called "elections" held in the internationally recognized Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, is a new manifestation of unilateral attempts to legitimize the current situation in the region, which is contrary to international law. This step is a gross violation of international law, including UN Security Council resolutions, OIC resolutions and OSCE principles. The General Secretariat of the OIC considers these "elections" held at a time when Azerbaijan and Armenia are trying to continue peace talks, as a step that harms the negotiations. The OIC General Secretariat does not recognize these illegitimate elections, which include a violation of Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "He calls on the UN and the international community not to recognize these elections and to take effective measures to prevent Armenia from taking steps that endanger the fragile normalization efforts in the region," the Organization noted. Taking place at the Shilla Hotel in central Seoul, the sixth annual Korea Blockchain Weeks main two-day conference, Impact, hosted 263 different blockchain companies, attracting over 6,000 participants eager to learn about the industrys ups and downs in a year dominated by bear market sentiment. Much of the 85 panel discussions focused on differences in the regulatory environments of the U.S. traditionally the largest single crypto market and source of much of the industrys funding and Asia, where various jurisdictions including South Korea and Japan are creating a more crypto-friendly environment for developers and investors alike. Caroline Pham, a commissioner at U.S. regulator the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said during her fireside chat at KBW that she sees a unified approach between policymakers, regulators and the private sector in Asia that encourages innovation. I think its funny that in the United States we have been so used to some of the tremendous successes that weve had in the tech sector that we take it for granted, Pham said. Its like everything (in Asia) is 10 years ahead of where we are in the U.S. That is less related to technical skill or knowledge, she said, but because theres an openness to technology and to changing things. US scrutiny Another U.S. regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has stepped up scrutiny of the crypto industry this year based on the claim that most cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin are securities. This logic has guided the agencys lawsuits against a number of digital asset firms including software developer Ripple Labs, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global and Paxos Trust, the issuer of the Binance USD (BUSD) stablecoin. Most of the SECs lawsuits are yet to be settled as the cryptos-as-securities claim is disputed by the companies involved. In July, the U.S. court ruled that programmatic sales of Ripples XRP token do not qualify as securities offerings. The SEC filed an appeal against the ruling the following month, which Ripple then asked the court to deny. Story continues Such delays in establishing crypto rules may hinder industry growth, former White House cybersecurity director Carole House said during a talk about the regulatory landscapes of the U.S. and Asia. House warned that overly harsh regulation of the crypto industry could stifle blockchain innovation in the U.S. In contrast, Konstantin Richter, the CEO and founder of California-based blockchain infrastructure company Blockdaemon, said regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. is a long-term positive for the industry, despite current difficulties. Ultimately, all the legal travails that we have here are going to lead to clarity, which is really all we want, Richter said in a video interview prior to the event. Eastward movement While opinions varied on U.S. crypto regulation, most conference participants agreed that the Asia region is taking significant regulatory strides. I really do think that the Asia-Pacific has been a powerhouse driver, House said, highlighting that Japans regulatory framework has contributed to the global standard for anti-money laundering in crypto. Sam Seo, the representative director of Klaytn Foundation, the public blockchain platform from the leading South Korean mobile platform Kakao, said he foresees a wave of companies moving to Asia to take advantage of the favorable conditions. Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss brothers, announced in June that it is growing its headcount in Singapore to operate as a hub for expansion in the Asia-Pacific. Seo cited Klaytns new partnership with Luxembourg-based asset tokenization platform Tokeny as another example. Sam Seo, Representative Director at Klaytn Foundation. Image: Forkast [Tokeny has] been operating their business for quite a long time, but they were mostly focused in the U.S. market or the Europe market. They are now looking at the Asia market, said Seo, adding that he believes this is the beginning of a bigger trend. Dominic Jang, head of business development at Singapore-based blockchain game platform Oasys, said industry movement eastward to Asia is particularly apparent in the Web3 gaming sector. Were seeing more and more U.S. companies doing blockchain gaming seeking [the Asian market], Jang said, adding that Asian audiences provide a growth market missing in the U.S. due to unfavorable regulations. Regulatory clarity Ryo Matsubara, a Japanese national and director of Oasys, said that regulatory clarity plays a big role in attracting business to Asia, citing the regulatory situation in Japan as an example. He said that after the high profile hacks of the Mt.Gox and Coincheck crypto exchanges in 2014 and 2018 respectively, Japanese regulators established a strict set of criteria for cryptocurrencies. Under Japanese rules, crypto is crypto, not a security, Matusbara said. So making the [clear] definition of crypto is very important. kbw In the case of South Korea, the countrys top financial regulator, the Financial Services Commission, announced a bill in July to amend securities regulations in a way that accommodates security token offerings, or STOs. While the bill has not yet received approval by legislators, major financial institutions are already looking to expand into the digital asset industry. On Aug. 30, South Koreas financial leaders Woori Bank, Samsung Securities and SK Securities formed an alliance for cooperation on developing security tokens. Hong Kong also successfully rolled out its own crypto licensing regime earlier this year, positioning itself as a digital asset regulatory sandbox for China. In Southeast Asia, Singapore and Thailand ramped up crypto user protection regulations in July. Singapore now mandates that crypto firms must hold customer assets in third-party trusts, while Thai authorities introduced bans on crypto lending and staking services. Despite the tightening of restrictions, the new rules are seen as necessary for industry growth in the two countries. Move over, USA? While SEC boss Gary Genslers term ends in June 2026, he has been on the end of calls to resign from U.S. crypto advocates who consider him hostile to the industry. #FireGaryGensler was trending on X, formerly Twitter, on Aug. 30 after a U.S. district court ruled against the SECs denial of Grayscale Investments Bitcoin exchange-traded fund proposal on the grounds it was arbitrary. His voice is quite the opposite to that of Web3 and crypto projects, Seo said, adding that Genslers words have a big impact on the industry and its perception among the public. Asias chance of challenging the U.S. to become the center of the crypto world therefore depends on who will be the successor to Gensler at the SEC, Seo said. If the current period of regulatory scrutiny continues much longer, he added, it could drive the nations talent to look for friendlier locations in Asia or Europe. The Klaytn director concluded by saying that blockchain innovation is key to Asias success. While U.S. financial markets are strong, he said, Asia is far more populous and can take the reins as the worlds leader in Web3 if it finds the right ways to put blockchain tech to use. September is traditionally known to be a challenging month for the stock market, with historical data showing it is usually the worst month of the year for stocks. However, when considering year-to-date activity, J.P. Morgans Global Investment Strategist, Madison Faller, points out that this may not be the case this year. A closer look shows that in the 10 times since 1950 that the S&P 500 has been up at least 10% year-to-date and its been down in August (just like this year), September has been higher 8 of those times with a median return of +2.6%, Faller explained. But its not only for September that Faller has an upbeat outlook. On whether the markets can see out the rest of the year on a positive note, the strategist also makes some reassuring noises. Can 2023 still finish strong? Faller asks, We think so, she rhetorically answers. While there are still things we dont know, the read across the key players the Fed, Wall Street, Main Street and the C-Suite suggests that the outlook feels brighter today than it did a year ago. So, with that positive outlook in tow, the question is, which equities should investors be loading up on at present? The JPMorgan analysts have been busy seeking out those names and have homed in on two they think make good additions to a portfolio in this environment. And they are not alone, according to TipRanks database, both are also rated as Strong Buys by the analyst consensus. Lets see why they are drawing plaudits across the board. Establishment Labs (ESTA) For our first JPMorgan-backed stock, well look at a company that has been making a name for itself in the global breast augmentation and reconstruction industry. Establishment Labs is a medical tech firm specializing in advanced breast aesthetics and reconstruction technologies. The companys core offering is its breast implant brand, Motiva, which includes three products: Ergonomix, Motiva Round, and the Anatomical TruFixation implant. Additionally, the company touts its Motiva Flora tissue expander as being the sole regulatory-approved expander in the world, employed to enhance results in breast reconstruction procedures performed after breast cancer treatment. Story continues This year, the company also added to the product line its Mia Femtech product, which offers a minimally invasive experience where a breast can be shaped in a 15-minute process without requiring general anesthesia. The companys portfolio helped generate revenues of $48.6 million in Q2, amounting to an 18% year-over-year increase while beating the forecast by $1.23 million. Likewise on the bottom-line, EPS of -$0.65 came in $0.06 better-than-expected. It should also be noted that, so far, the companys products lack presence in two of the largest augmentation and reconstruction markets, although that could all be about to change. ESTA is targeting a Q4 approval and launch of Motiva in China while it also confirmed on the Q2 earnings call that the FDA had given it an investigational device exemption, so a US launch could be imminent too. This partly informs JPMorgan analyst Allen Gongs bullish thesis. He states, With a unique offering already enabling meaningful share capture against entrenched players in the companys current markets, we see multiple paths to growth with major near-term catalysts like: (1) the impending launch of Motiva in the US and China, two of the largest markets by volume and dollars for breast augmentation and reconstruction; and (2) the ongoing launch of Mia Femtech, a minimally invasive offering that significantly shortens both procedure and recovery time at a significant mix premium, writes Gong. With multiple shots on goal to support 30%+ revenue growth in the coming years and potential profitability within the same time-frame, we like the setup for ESTA at todays valuation. Accordingly, Gong rates ESTA shares an Overweight (i.e. Buy) while his $75 price target makes room for 12-month returns of ~39%. (To watch Gongs track record, click here) Overall, 4 other analysts have recently chimed in with ESTA reviews, and like Gong, they are all positive, naturally making the consensus view here a Strong Buy. The average target is more bullish than Gong will allow; at $95.2, the figure implies investors could be recording gains of 76% a year from now. (See ESTA stock forecast) Remitly Global (RELY) For our next JPM pick, well switch lanes and turn to an entirely different industry. Remitly Global is a leading financial tech company that provides international money transfer services to individuals and businesses around the world. Founded in 2011, the company has rapidly grown to become a trusted player in the global remittance industry. Remitlys mission is to make the process of sending and receiving money across borders faster, more affordable, and more convenient, particularly for immigrant communities and individuals who rely on remittances as a crucial lifeline. Its user-friendly digital platform and mobile app offer its customers a seamless and secure way to send funds to more than 150 countries. It has been a good year for the stock so far. RELY shares have gained 118% year-to-date, thanks in part to strong results, including those from the most recently reported quarter 2Q23. Boosted by active customers rising 47% from the same period a year ago and Send volume increasing by 38%, revenue climbed by 48.8% (51% FXN) to reach $234 million, coming in above the Streets call by $18.21 million. At the other end of the scale, EPS of -$0.11 beat the analysts forecast by $0.05. The outlook was also strong, with revenue for the year now expected in the range between $915 million to $925 million (amounting to 40% to 42% y/y growth), up from the prior $875 million to $895 million range. For JPMorgans Tien-tsin Huang, the strong metrics on display required a tweak to his RELY model, and a good one at that. FXN revenue growth impressively stayed above the 50% level for the second consecutive qtr., decelerating only 2ppt sequentially to +51% for 2Q , exceeding our 38% est., similar in magnitude to last quarter, the analyst explained. Were raising our estimates to assume 42% revenue growth in FY23 (a touch above guidance), making it a top grower in our coverage, and we continue to recommend RELY as our favorite small-cap growth idea. These comments underpin Huangs Overweight (i.e. Buy) rating while his $34 price target suggests the shares will push 35% higher in the months ahead. (To watch Huangs track record, click here) Looking at the consensus breakdown, the rest of the Street agrees with Huangs assessment. With 6 Buys and no Holds or Sells, the word on the Street is that RELY is a Strong Buy. The $28.40 average price target implies shares could further climb ~14% in the next year. (See RELY stock forecast) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. Logitech International S.A. (VTX:LOGN) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 27th of September to $1.06. This will take the dividend yield to an attractive 1.7%, providing a nice boost to shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Logitech International Logitech International's Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. Based on the last payment, Logitech International was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business. Over the next year, EPS is forecast to expand by 67.5%. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 35%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Logitech International Has A Solid Track Record The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. Since 2013, the annual payment back then was $0.22, compared to the most recent full-year payment of $1.19. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 18% per annum over that time. It is good to see that there has been strong dividend growth, and that there haven't been any cuts for a long time. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow Some investors will be chomping at the bit to buy some of the company's stock based on its dividend history. Logitech International has impressed us by growing EPS at 10% per year over the past five years. Earnings are on the uptrend, and it is only paying a small portion of those earnings to shareholders. Logitech International Looks Like A Great Dividend Stock In summary, it is always positive to see the dividend being increased, and we are particularly pleased with its overall sustainability. Earnings are easily covering distributions, and the company is generating plenty of cash. All in all, this checks a lot of the boxes we look for when choosing an income stock. It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for Logitech International that you should be aware of before investing. If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of high yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Right now is among the best times ever to get a new job. That's the result of the latest wage growth data from the Atlanta Federal Reserve. In it, they find that the last 12 months have been among the strongest ever for people who change jobs, with the wage benefits of changing jobs roughly double the usual rate. For workers who want to boost their lifetime incomes, not to mention their retirement accounts, the 2023 labor market offers some of the best opportunities in a long time. Here's what's going on. Talk to a financial advisor today to plan to maximize your income and retirement. Job-Hopping and Lifetime Income A well-known feature of the labor market is that it tends to reward people who change jobs. This has been studied and documented for decades, since researchers first started to notice the trend. In 1992, for example, Harvard's Quarterly Journal of Economics published a paper finding that changing jobs accounts for at least one-third of a worker's early-career wage growth. "Job changing is a critical component of workers movement toward the stable employment relations of mature careers it is the principal method by which workers at the present time improve their condition on their own initiative." The Atlanta Federal Reserve has been tracking this phenomenon for almost as long, posting monthly wage data since 1998. In almost all months for the past 25 years, their data shows people who switch jobs have higher wage growth than people who stay in the same position. The only significant exceptions have been in the wake of recessions, which tend to create a short-term preference for stability. (This was not true of the historically strong post-Covid recovery.) And, critically, this wage growth is cumulative. A worker who changes jobs and receives a 5% raise has increased their earning power. By changing jobs later on, they might receive another 5% raise and another after that, ending up 15.7% ahead of where they started. Each raise compounds the value of the last one. In this way, changing jobs can increase a worker's lifetime income considerably. Story continues Right Now, Job Switchers Do Better Than Ever What has changed, according to Federal Reserve data, is the extent of this phenomenon. Historically, job-switchers have tended to gain an advantage of between 0.5 and 1 points over whose who stay put. For example, in January, 2017, job-stayers had an average wage growth of 3.2% compared with wage growth of 4.1% for job switchers. In the past two years, and especially the past 12 months, that advantage has doubled. In June, 2023, wages grew by an average 5.5% for workers who stayed put. Those who switched jobs averaged a 7.3% raise. In April, 2023 those numbers were 5.6% and 7.6%, respectively, and 5.5% for job-stayers vs. 7.7% for job switchers in January, 2023. This trend has been broadly true since early 2022. In 2020 and 2021, job switchers maintained their advantage of approximately 1 point over job stayers. Then, about two years ago, changing jobs began to build real momentum, to the current significant advantage. A financial advisor can you project the outcome of different income scenarios. What You Do Matters That said, there are some details in the data. Specifically, the less you earn the less this works. The current labor market has rewarded some of the traditionally forgotten sectors of the economy. In the post-pandemic recovery low-wage workers have seen some of the highest income gains of any group. The causes of this remain debated, with theories that include pandemic-related disruptions, the Trump and Biden Administrations' stimulus bills, and the Biden Administration's economic plans. But historically that has not been true. The practice of changing jobs to increase lifetime income is known as a "job ladder." In the metaphor of economics, workers climb the rungs to achieve cumulative gains as they go. As the St. Louis Federal Reserve found when they studied the impact of job switching for male workers, ordinarily this doesn't apply to low-earners. While low-income workers are more likely to switch jobs, they wrote, that rarely translates to wage growth and momentum. Instead, it's often the result of extended unemployment, which tends to depress lifetime earnings. Across most income levels, they found, "[a]verage annual earnings growth for job stayers is surprisingly similar whereas for job switchers, it rises almost linearly from 0% for the bottom earners to around 3% for those in the 65th percentile." For the bottom 40% of earners, switching jobs tends to harm their wage growth compared with stability. After that, the more someone earns the more they tend to gain from switching jobs. That's particularly true of salaried workers, who tend to gain about three times the boost of wage earners when they change jobs. This finding echoes that of research published by McKinsey & Company, in which they found that job switchers see the most wage gains in the context of skill development. "[J]ob moves involving salary increases required a greater stretch in skills on average than other moves. Incremental moves with largely overlapping skill requirements don't pack the same punch. Going to another company to perform largely the same tasks may yield a pay bump in the short term but not real growth over the longer term." Switching Jobs To Boost Your Retirement So, what does all of this say about your retirement? Long-term, the takeaway is this: One of the very best ways to boost your retirement savings is to keep up the momentum in your career. Each time you change jobs, you have the opportunity to negotiate for more money, creating a cumulative effect that helps grow your income again and again. This will give you ever-more flexibility to contribute to your retirement account. With more lifetime earnings, you can dedicate more money to a 401(k), IRA or other self-funded accounts. Higher earnings also mean higher employer contributions, since those are based on a percentage of your income. Future raises will also be based on your income, creating a compounding effect that boosts your ability to save for retirement over the long run. But it's also important to remember that this is not just about volatility. The income gains of a new job are generally pegged to growing your skills and climbing the job ladder. To boost your income and savings, focus on generating new skills and think in terms of a career rather than a job. Workers who tend to move laterally between one similarly-situated positions tend not to capture much, if any, of the job-switching gains. Or, as McKinsey put it, "[w]hen someone has learned all they can from one employer, they should not only go; they should boldly go in search of learning opportunities elsewhere." Income Boosting Tips Just like it's good to think about your job in terms of a career, it's helpful to think about your income in terms of net worth. And you can do a lot to increase your net worth. A financial advisor can help you build a comprehensive retirement plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Photo credit: iStock/PonyWang The post Maxing Out Your Income: Data Suggests Changing Jobs to Retire Sooner appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. ejs9 / Getty Images/iStockphoto The cost of housing has long been a key economic indicator, reflecting not only the state of the real estate market but also the financial well-being of everyday Americans. In this article, we delve into the evolving landscape of rental costs across the United States over the past five years. GOBankingRates used Apartment List rental data to find the change in rent on the national, regional and state levels over the last five years. See: 5 Reasons the Housing Market is Reversing Find Out: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS From the affordability of the Midwest to the high-rent districts of the Northeast and the Western states, average rent prices have increased everywhere. Join us as we uncover the trends and shifts in the housing market, shedding light on how much the average American now spends on rent compared to a half-decade ago. For this piece, GOBankingRates used ApartmentList rental data to find the change in rent on the national, regional and state levels over the last five years. In August 2018, the average rent nationwide was $1,099. Over the five-year period, it increased by almost 25%. The national average rent is now $1,371. Heres a closer look at some of the other changes. The Midwest Has the Lowest Average Rents In August 2018, rent was $872, $227 less than the national average. Now in August 2023, rent is $1,074, a 23% increase. That averages out to a modest 4.6% rent increase per year. This was the region with the lowest increase overall, and the only region with an increase of less than 25%. The Midwest is the least expensive part of the U.S. to live in, just like it was in 2018. Indiana was the worst offender in the Midwest. Rents there increased by almost 34%. Minnesota saw very little increase, with rents only going from $1,016 to $1,114, a close to 10% increase. Out of the whole country, North Dakota is the least expensive state to live in. Rent there is only $880, and it only increased by 4% over the five-year period. Rents in Iowa and South Dakota have likewise managed to stay under $1,000. Story continues See: 10 Affordable U.S. Small Towns With a Great Quality of Life The Northeast Has the Highest Average Rents Back in August 2018, the monthly rent in the Northeast stood at $1,240, surpassing the national average by $141. Fast forward to August 2023, and the rent has climbed to $1,590, marking a substantial 28% increase. Rent in the Northeast is now $219 more than the national average. In 2018, the Northeast was the most expensive part of the U.S. to live in, and that continues to be the case today. Of these four regions, the Northeast experienced the worst rental increase overall. Delaware was the biggest offender here, with an increase of 47%. Maine and New Hampshire were also big contributing factors, with increases of 43% and 41%, respectively. Washington, D.C. has one of the highest rents in the country, at $1,901, but that only increased by almost 5% over the last five years. The Souths Rental Landscape In August 2018, rent in the South was $1,032, $67 less than the national average. Now in August 2023, rent is $1,313, a 27% increase, but thats still just a little lower than the national average of $1,371. Rent in Florida increased by almost 37% over this period, from $1,232 to $1,687. South Carolina, Mississippi and Arkansas all increased by more than 34% each. Rents increased the least in Louisiana, where they only went up by 14%. Despite increases, West Virginia and Kentuckys rents have stayed under $1,000. The Most Expensive States Are Out West In 2018, the average rent in the Western U.S. was $1,178, which was $79 higher than the national average. However, come August 2023, rent here has surged to $1,496, representing a significant increase of 27%. California and Hawaii have the highest overall rents in the country, at $1,958 and $2,418, respectively. But they saw smaller increases compared to the nation as a whole. California went up by almost 17%, and Hawaii went up by about 19%. New Mexico saw the biggest jump across the whole nation. Rents there went from $843 to $1,295, a staggering 54% increase. Arizona also contributed greatly to increases in this region, with a 45% increase. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Heres How Much the Average American Spends on Rent Now Compared to 5 Years Ago Photronics Inc (NASDAQ:PLAB) has recently been in the spotlight, drawing interest from investors and financial analysts due to its robust financial stance. With shares currently priced at 20, Photronics Inc has witnessed a surge of 0% over a period, marked against a three-month change of -12.12%. A thorough analysis, underlined by the GuruFocus Score Rating, suggests that Photronics Inc is well-positioned for substantial growth in the near future. Photronics Inc (PLAB): A Deep Dive into Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths What Is the GF Score? The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Each one of these components is ranked and the ranks also have positive correlation with the long term performances of stocks. The GF score is calculated using the five key aspects of analysis. Through backtesting, we know that each of these key aspects has a different impact on the stock price performance. Thus, they are weighted differently when calculating the total score. With a high financial strength rank and profitability rank, and a slightly lower GF Value rank and momentum rank, GuruFocus assigned Photronics Inc the GF Score of 92 out of 100, which signals the highest outperformance potential. Understanding Photronics Inc Business Photronics Inc is a U.S.-based company that is principally engaged in manufacturing photomasks. The photomasks are photographic quartz plates that contain microscopic images of electronic circuits that are used as a component in the manufacture of integrated circuits and flat-panel displays. The company's assets are located in Taiwan, Korea, and the United States. It generates revenue worldwide, including in the United States, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, China, and elsewhere in Asia, with Taiwan contributing the majority of total revenue. Story continues Photronics Inc (PLAB): A Deep Dive into Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths Financial Strength Breakdown According to the Financial Strength rating, Photronics Inc's robust balance sheet exhibits resilience against financial volatility, reflecting prudent management of capital structure. The Interest Coverage ratio for Photronics Inc stands impressively at 365.89, underscoring its strong capability to cover its interest obligations. This robust financial position resonates with the wisdom of legendary investor Benjamin Graham, who favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least 5. With an Altman Z-Score of 5.08, Photronics Inc exhibits a strong defense against financial distress, highlighting its robust financial stability. With a favorable Debt-to-Revenue ratio of 0.03, Photronics Inc's strategic handling of debt solidifies its financial health. Profitability Rank Breakdown The Profitability Rank shows Photronics Inc's impressive standing among its peers in generating profit. Photronics Inc Operating Margin has increased (109.58%) over the past five years, as shown by the following data: 2018: 12.26; 2019: 9.47; 2020: 10.49; 2021: 14.25; 2022: 25.70; . Furthermore, Alphabet's Gross Margin has seen a consistent rise over the past five years, as evidenced by the data: 2018: 24.57; 2019: 21.94; 2020: 22.09; 2021: 25.17; 2022: 35.68; . This trend underscores the company's growing proficiency in transforming revenue into profit. The Piotroski F-Score confirms Photronics Inc's solid financial situation based on Joseph Piotroski's nine-point scale, which measures a company's profitability, funding and operating efficiency. Growth Rank Breakdown Ranked highly in Growth, Photronics Inc demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its business. The company's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate is 19.2%, which outperforms better than 67.21% of 863 companies in the Semiconductors industry Moreover, Photronics Inc has seen a robust increase in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past few years. Specifically, the three-year growth rate stands at 38.7, and the rate over the past five years is 22.3. This trend accentuates the company's continued capability to drive growth. Photronics Inc (PLAB): A Deep Dive into Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths Next Steps Given the company's strong financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GuruFocus Score Rating highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential outperformance. This makes Photronics Inc a compelling investment opportunity for those seeking robust returns. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Long-established in the Interactive Media industry, Playtika Holding Corp (NASDAQ:PLTK) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a surge of 6.5%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of -11.37%. However, fresh insights from the GuruFocus Score Rating hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Playtika Holding Corp. Playtika Holding Corp (PLTK): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Playtika Holding Corp the GF Score of 67 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Playtika Holding Corp: A Snapshot Playtika Holding Corp, with a market cap of $3.66 billion, is primarily engaged in developing mobile games. Some of its games include Board Kings, House of Fun, Poker Heat, Slotomania, and Bingo Blitz. The company has built live game operations services and a proprietary technology platform to support its portfolio of games. It primarily derives revenue from the sale of virtual items associated with online games. Geographically, the group has a business presence in the USA, EMEA, APAC and Other regions of which key revenue is derived from the USA. It offers both Mobile and Web-based platforms. Story continues Playtika Holding Corp (PLTK): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Breakdown Playtika Holding Corp's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company has an interest coverage ratio of 3.91, which positions it worse than 89.7% of 330 companies in the Interactive Media industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. It's worth noting that the esteemed investor Benjamin Graham typically favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least five. The company's Altman Z-Score is just 2.09, which is below the safe threshold of 2.99. Although this does not imply immediate danger of financial distress, the stock may face some financial struggles if the Altman Z-score drops below 1.81. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.38 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. Conclusion Considering the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GuruFocus Score Rating highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While Playtika Holding Corp has shown some promising signs, its financial health and growth potential raise concerns about its ability to outperform in the future. As value investors, it's crucial to consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article first appeared on GuruFocus. By Stephen Nellis (Reuters) -Qualcomm said on Monday it had signed a deal with Apple to supply 5G chips until at least 2026, at a time when the iPhone maker faces increased challenges in China and looks to reinforce its supply chains elsewhere. The deal extends a relationship worth billions of dollars to Qualcomm for at least three years beyond what was expected and indicates Apple is not rushing out its own modem, despite moving all its computers to processing chips of its own design. Qualcomm shares were up 4% in early afternoon trade. The company is the leading designer of modem chips that connect phones to mobile data networks. Apple shares rose 0.5%. San Diego, California-based Qualcomm previously signed a chip supply deal with Apple in 2019, after the two companies settled a protracted legal battle. That supply agreement ends this year, meaning that the iPhones that Apple is expected to announce on Tuesday would be the last phone debut under that deal. Under the accord announced Monday, Qualcomm said it will supply Apple with chips for phones that will come out each year until 2026. Qualcomm did not disclose the value of the deal, saying only that the terms are "similar" to its previous agreement. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a research note on Aug. 3, UBS analysts estimated that Qualcomm sold $7.26 billion of chips to Apple in 2022. Qualcomm also said a patent licensing deal it signed with Apple in 2019 remains in place. That deal expires in 2025, but the companies have an option to extend it for two years. "At a time when Apple is running into increasing challenges in China, reinforcing its supply chains elsewhere is a priority, and it appears the company is rolling back or at least delaying plans to go at it alone in more areas with its own chip production," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. Apple is working on its own modem technology and spent $1 billion to buy Intel's modem unit in 2019. Apple has not said how quickly it plans to ramp up the use of its own chips. Story continues Qualcomm said on Monday its financial projections will assume that only a fifth of Apple's iPhones will use its chips by 2026. However, Qualcomm made a similar projection about its business with Apple in 2021 that turned out to be overly conservative, with iPhone 14 models released last year all using Qualcomm modems. And last year, Qualcomm Chief Financial Officer Akash Palkhiwala updated his predictions for the 2023 iPhones that will be released this week, saying he expected the "vast majority" of them to include Qualcomm modems. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Miral Fahmy, David Holmes and Richard Chang) ADELAIDE, Australia, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Globally, one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage, which is generally defined as the loss of an intrauterine pregnancy before viability. This equates to an estimated 23 million miscarriages every year, or over 40 miscarriages per minute. (PRNewsfoto/Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction) The physical effects of miscarriage including bleeding, pain and infection along with its psychological impacts can be profound, especially in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss. Furthermore, the cost of miscarriage for individuals and health care systems is enormous. Arri Coomarasamy, Professor of Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine at the University of Birmingham, leads an acclaimed team of scientists and doctors researching the causes of and treatments for miscarriage. In a keynote presentation to the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) 2023 Congress in Adelaide, Professor Coomarasamy explained new lines of research that could reduce the incidence of miscarriage. Risk factors for miscarriage include very young or older female age (younger than 20 years and older than 35 years), older male age (older than 40 years), very low or very high body-mass index, previous miscarriages, smoking, alcohol, stress, air pollution and exposure to pesticides. Professor Coomarasamy said the prevalence and effects of miscarriage were not fully understood by many women, and its impacts were not adequately recognised among health care providers, policy makers and funding bodies. He emphasised the need for more effective gathering and reporting of data to facilitate comparison of miscarriage rates among countries, and the importance of accelerating research to improve patient care and policy development. "We need to encourage and improve public and private investment in pregnancy research while developing a culture of offering participation in research to pregnant women," he said. "In many cases, miscarriage is not inevitable. Indeed, there are a number of treatment options that can reduce the occurrence of a miscarriage, for example progesterone treatment in high-risk women, heparin in women with antiphospholipid syndrome, and thyroxine to those with underactive thyroid disease. Story continues "However, many miscarriages remain unexplained and there is an urgent need to research the aetiology of miscarriage comprehensively. "For example, we need to better understand the role of the lining of the womb (endometrium) on miscarriage, the effect of the community of bacteria ('microbiome') in the vagina on miscarriage risk, and the effect of man's sperm, for example sperm DNA fragmentation level, on miscarriage risk. "These new lines of investigations are likely to help us to better understand the causes of miscarriage, and perhaps more importantly, give new therapeutic options to reduce the risk of miscarriage." Meanwhile, Professor Coomarasamy today outlined some lifestyle factors that could help prevent miscarriage including: having a high intake of fruits and vegetables, which is linked with a 60 per cent relative reduction in the odds of miscarriage; women who smoke have a 17 per cent higher risk of miscarriage when compared with women who do not smoke; women who consume alcohol have 19 per cent higher odds of miscarriage compared with those who abstain; high intake of caffeine is also associated with an increase in foetal growth restriction and stillbirth; sleep dysfunction such as short duration of sleep (i.e., less than 6 hours of sleep) are very strongly linked to miscarriage. Sleep dysfunction is also linked to several other complications such as preterm births, pregnancy-related diabetes (gestational diabetes), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and perinatal depression; and persistent stress affects bodily hormonal (endocrine) and immune functions which, in turn, are closely linked to pregnancy outcomes. Professor Coomarasamy is Director of the UK-based pregnancy research and support body, Tommy's National Centre for Miscarriage Research, and Joint Director of the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Global Women's Health. He said valuable information could be found through the Tommy's Miscarriage Support Tool at www.miscarriagetool.tommys.org Global leaders in assisted reproduction have gathered for the ASPIRE 2023 Congress at the Adelaide Convention Centre. ASPIRE, which embraces more than 20 countries throughout the Asia Pacific and beyond, is dedicated to improving access to and quality of services for the one in six couples striving to achieve parenthood. INTERVIEW: Professor Arri Coomarasamy is available for interview at the ASPIRE Congress. To arrange, please contact Trevor Gill, ASPIRE Media Relations Telephone 61 418 821948 or email lighthousepr@adelaide.on.net Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/can-we-really-make-a-difference-in-reducing-the-heartbreak-of-millions-of-miscarriages-each-year-301923045.html SOURCE Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Silver X Mining Corp. (TSXV:AGX)(OTCQB:AGXPF)(F:AGX) ("Silver X" or the "Company"), a rapidly expanding silver developer and producer in Central Peru, is pleased to announce today its CEO, Jose Garcia, will be participating in the following upcoming investor conferences: 35TH ANNUAL GOLD FORUM AMERICAS 2023 Denver, Colorado September 17-20, 2023 Silver X Presentation: September 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM MT at Broadmoor Hall C NEW ORLEANS INVESTMENT CONFERENCE New Orleans, Louisiana November 1-4, 2023 Silver X Booth: #231 SWISS MINING INSTITUTE Zurich, Switzerland November 29-30, 2023 Silver X Presentation: November 30, 2023 at 9:45 AM CET For more information about the conferences or to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with Silver X management, please contact the Company's investor relations team at ir@silverxmining.com. Silver X engages IR Labs Inc. to provide Investor Relations Services The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into an investor relations agreement with IR Labs Inc. ("irlabs"). Pursuant to the agreement with irlabs dated September 3rd, 2023, irlabs has agreed to provide investor relations and communications services to the Company with a primary focus on developing and managing an investor relations and communications. Pursuant to the agreement with irlabs dated September 3rd, 2023, irlabs has agreed to provide investor relations and communications services to the Company in exchange for a monthly fee of CAD$8,500. The services include developing and managing an investor relations and communications program, including stakeholder relations. The term of the agreement is for a period of 6 months ending February 29, 2024. Either party may terminate the agreement by providing the other party with 60-days prior written notice before the end of the 6-month term. The agreement remains subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. The contact person, address, email, and telephone number for irlabs are as follows: Alyssa Barry (Principal and Co-Founder), 400-22 E 5th Ave., Vancouver, BC, V5T 1G8, alyssa@irlabs.ca, 1-833-947-5227. Story continues "We are excited to work with irlabs, one of Canada's leading investor relations firms, to further engage with the investment community and ensure that we are effectively communicating our story to investors," said Jose M. Garcia, CEO of Silver X. "The investor relations team that has been assembled includes Paola Ricardo, who speaks Spanish, which we believe is critical with our core operations being in Peru. We believe irlabs will assist in providing investors with greater visibility on our progress." Alyssa Barry, irlabs Principal and Co-founder, comments, "We are very pleased to be supporting Silver X in its pursuit to be a premier silver company. We look forward to meeting current and potential investors to delve into discussions about Silver X's projects, pipeline and growth potential." About Silver X Mining Corp. Silver X is a rapidly expanding silver developer and producer. The Company owns the +20,000-hectare Nueva Recuperada Silver District in Central Peru and produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc from the district's Tangana Mining Unit. Our mission is to be a premier silver company delivering outstanding value to all stakeholders and we aim to achieve this by consolidating and developing undervalued assets, creating value by adding resources and increasing production while aspiring to social and environmental excellence. For more information visit our website at www.silverxmining.com. On Behalf of the Board Jose M. Garcia President, CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Sebastian Wahl Vice President, Corporate Development +1 647 259 6901 x 101 s.wahl@silverxmining.com Paola Ricardo Investor Relations ir@silverxmining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). 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 acts, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". All information contained in this press release, other than statements of current and historical fact, is forward looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may include, without limitation, exploration plans, results of operations, expected performance at the Project, the ability of the new zones at the Project to feed production at the Company's Nueva Recuperada Plant in the near term, the Company's belief that the Tangana system will provide considerable resource expansion potential, that the Company will be able to mine the Tangana Mining Unit in an economic manner, and the expected financial performance of the Company, exploration plans and expected exploration results at the Lily 19 Concession and the Ccasahuasi Concession. The following are some of the assumptions upon which forward-looking information is based: that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; demand for, and stable or improving price for the commodities we produce; receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, permits and renewals in a timely manner; that the Company will not experience any material accident, labour dispute or failure of plant or equipment or other material disruption in the Company's operations at the Project and Nueva Recuperada Plant; the availability of financing for operations and development; the Company's ability to procure equipment and operating supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that the estimates of the resources at the Project and the geological, operational and price assumptions on which these and the Company's operations are based are within reasonable bounds of accuracy (including with respect to size, grade and recovery); the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel and directors; and the ability of management to execute strategic goals. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to those risks described in the Company's annual and interim MD&As and in its public documents filed on www.sedar.com from time to time. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Silver X Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/782424/silver-x-mining-to-present-at-upcoming-investor-conferences The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan condemned the so-called 'elections' held by the separatis regime in the Garabagh economic region of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, with reference to the Ministry's official website. "Pakistan considers Garabagh to be the sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the attempt of the illegally established regime to hold so-called "elections" is legally and morally condemned. Such an attempt is also a gross violation of the UN Charter and the principles of existing international law," the ministry's press secretary said while answering a question about the so-called "elections" held in Azerbaijan. Sintana Energy Inc. Provides Update on Upcoming Communications and Investor Relations Initiatives MIAMI, September 11, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--I Squared Capital, a leading global infrastructure investment manager, announced today that it has divested Energuate, its electricity distribution asset in Guatemala and a subsidiary of Inkia Energy, a leading power platform across Latin America, to Threelands Energy Ltd. Energuate is the largest privately-owned electricity distribution company in Central America, serving nearly 12 million beneficial users across over 100,000 square kilometers. The company plays an integral role in supporting the Government of Guatemalas Rural Electrification Program, which focuses on last-mile electrification of under-resourced communities in rural areas of the country. The company is also engaged in the development of Guatemalas transmission system through a comprehensive investment plan carried by its electricity transmission subsidiary. Under I Squareds ownership, the companys customer base increased from 1.7 million to 2.3 million complemented with significant growth in per capita consumption, and executed a robust operational improvement plan, including a reduction in electricity losses, enhancement of collection initiatives and other network efficiencies. The companys performance also improved markedly across several quality-of-service metrics, including increased customer satisfaction rates. "We are pleased to have supported Energuates growth into a more efficient enterprise," said Gautam Bhandari, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of I Squared Capital. "In partnership with Inkia Energy, we executed a value creation strategy informed by the expertise and experience from across our power portfolio, which drove significant growth across the business. We are confident that Energuate is well-positioned for continued growth." Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal advisor and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as financial advisor to Inkia Energy and I Squared Capital. Threelands Energy Ltd was represented by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as lead legal advisor and Inverlink as financial advisor. Story continues About I Squared Capital I Squared Capital is an independent global infrastructure manager with over $37 billion in assets under management focused on investing in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Headquartered in Miami, the firm has more than 215 professionals across its offices in Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Taipei, and Sydney. I Squared Capital has invested in a diverse portfolio of 72 companies in 59 countries with over 27,000 employees across the utilities, energy, digital infrastructure, transport, environmental infrastructure, and social infrastructure sectors providing essential services to millions of people around the world. About Inkia Energy Nautilus Energy Holdings and Partners LLC (commercially known as Inkia Energy) is an international company focused on the electric power sector, specifically on generation and distribution. Inkia is based in Latin America with operations in Argentina, Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Guatemala, totaling more than 3.4 gigawatts of installed capacity and more than 2.3 million clients served through its distribution business. Inkia focuses on Latin American markets that have higher rates of growth of gross domestic product, as well as lower base levels of overall and per capita energy consumption compared to developed markets. No discussion with respect to specific companies should be considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular investment. The companies discussed do not represent all past investments. It should not be assumed that any of the investments discussed were or will be profitable, or that recommendations or decisions made in the future will be profitable. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230911535344/en/ Contacts Brunswick Group Clare Pickett +1 (347) 477 7475 isquared@brunswickgroup.com Long-established in the Banks industry, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (NYSE:SMFG) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a surge of 6.25%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 20.25%. However, fresh insights from the GuruFocus Score Rating hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc the GF Score of 52 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc: A Snapshot Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is roughly tied with Mizuho Financial Group for the status of Japan's second-largest bank after Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. As of March 2023, its market share of domestic loans was 7.1%, compared with 8.1% for MUFG. It has a larger consumer finance business than the other two megabanks, owning 100% of the Promise business and SMBC Card. It also controls one of Japan's largest leasing companies and SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the top five aircraft lessors globally. In securities, its SMBC Nikko unit is Japan's third-largest retail broker, although SMFG has lagged somewhat in institutional securities business and asset management. Story continues Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Breakdown Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 2.27, which is worse than 86.84% of 1330 companies in the Banks industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 8, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 87.87% of 1311 companies in the Banks industry. Tillinghast said in his book Big Money Think's Small: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing that a high debt-to-Ebitda ratio can be a red flag unless tangible assets cover the debt. Profitability Breakdown Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc's low Profitability rank can also raise warning signals. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. Lastly, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GuruFocus Score Rating highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. It's crucial for investors to consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Without question, Southwest Florida has taken a hit on the affordability meter since coronavirus struck and spurred a migration to the more open spaces of the Peninsula. But despite those higher prices, it found a No. 23 perch in brand new rankings of the best places to retire by WalletHub, a personal finance company. Specifically Cape Coral attained that spot in the study of 180 of the largest cities, which didn't include any of the smaller destinations in Lee or Collier counties. What Florida cities did better than SWFL on retirement rankings? That's still in the bottom half of the Sunshine State pack, with Tampa grabbing the nation's No. 1, followed by No. 3 Fort Lauderdale, No. 4 Orlando, No. 5 Miami and No. 12 St. Petersburg. What helps put them ahead of Southwest Florida, according to WalletHub? Yep, more affordable on most counts except Lauderdale and The 305 (Miami), which crushed in the Activities category that includes museums, theaters, art galleries, music venues and other entertainment, all per capita. A view from the most expensive home for sale in Cape Coral at 2620 S.E. 26th Place for $7.6 million. How much higher are the newest housing median prices in SW Florida? In the newest data, Cape Coral's median housing price reached $405,000 in July, a 1.3% jump over the previous month and well above its highs at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, according to the Lee County-based Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association. Royal Palm's overall for its region that includes Fort Myers, Babcock Ranch and other communities came in at $370,000. Its stats put Fort Myers Beach at $699,000, the town's highest point since Hurricane Ian's Sept. 28 destruction. Look for more on the island later in this column. Homes with the Naples Area Board of Realtors, known as NABOR, continue to set the pace on a wider scale at $595,000. Agents say there's no sign that those will plunge, even with sales tailing off in Southwest Florida by 12 to 15% as compared to a year ago. "Activity for our area has flatlined compared to last year, but it is still trending higher than before the pandemic, said Molly Lane, senior vice president at William Raveis Real Estate. While there might be fewer homes to show buyers right now, a significant number of sales are still occurring, and theres nothing to indicate that home prices will drop suddenly. Story continues 5820 Harbor Preserve What Sunshine State destinations couldn't keep up with Cape Coral? Despite Cape's pricing, it finished ahead of Pembroke Pines, Jacksonville, Port St Lucie, Hialeah and Tallahassee in that order, among the rest of the Florida communities in WalletHub findings of best places to retire. Cape's WalletHub success comes largely in the form of quality of life, second in Florida, and by rolling into third in the United States on its percentage of 65 and older population, behind only Pearl City, Hawaii and Scottsdale, Arizona. In the Know: August 2023 rendering for new Neptune Resort that had been destroyed by 2022's Hurricane Ian. And the flattening of parts of Southwest Florida by Hurricane Ian may have led a few to have second-thoughts but long-term, it hasn't slowed too many investments, as you've read for the past year in this column. "COVID-19 caused many people to reevaluate city life, making Florida a destination for those previously living in metropolitan areas like New York and Chicago," said Jeannine Stetson, senior vice president at Naples Trust Company, who touts how Florida ranks 48th in the nation on state tax collections of $2,264 per capita. "Later, Hurricane Ian caused others to pause their plans to move to the Sunshine State. There will always be factors that create an ebb and flow." So what was the only non-Florida city on WalletHub's overall Top 5 best places to retire? Indeed, at No. 2 was Scottsdale, which received a higher mark in health care than all the Peninsula's cities. In the Know: Myerside inn designs next to Fort Myers Beach library for project coordinated by The Neighborhood Company. What two hotels are headed soon to the FM Beach town staff, council? Representing two high-profile Fort Myers Beach projects where vintage hotels sat, Southwest Florida-based The Neighborhood Company is on the verge of moving its plans forward to the town. "We are looking to likely submit end of September, early October," Neighborhood V.P. Ken Gallander told me this past week of the Myerside resort redevelopment. It's "very difficult to schedule out a start date, but perhaps construction starting within 16 to 18 months and completion another 18 to 24 months." In the Know: Myerside inn designs next to Fort Myers Beach library for project coordinated by The Neighborhood Company. Its number of floors and height for the 42-unit edifice would vary, based on architectural designs for 145 School St., next to the Public Library and near Beach Elementary. "One to three stories of lodging units, depends on the portion of the structure, over the ground level of commercial," Gallander said. "Overall height is four stories and approximately 45 feet from grade/ground to top of the highest roof." On a similar timeframe is its 71-unit Neptune inn redo about 1,500 feet away, with a hopeful debut by 2026 at 2310 Estero Blvd. Neighborhood is "planning on submitting toward end of September," Gallander said.. "Were excited to keep the momentum going to help Fort Myers Beach get some projects approved and out of the ground." In the Know: One of the 7-Eleven stores on Fort Myers Beach damaged by Hurricane Ian, as pictured Oct. 19, 2022. What would the reopening of 7-Eleven stores mean to FMB residents? That enthusiasm includes involvement with JR Evans Engineering and other entities on a few Beach 7-Elevens, which would be welcomed in a major way by islanders. "The availability of those (types of) stores and their attendant products and services would do a great deal more to restore normalcy in the day-to-day lives of my family and neighbors," long-time Fort Myers Beach reader Ed Lombard told us. With factors such as underground gas tanks or other challenges left by Ian, permitting records show those don't come together as easily as one would think with 2,400 square feet or so. Besides approval for signs or other minor steps, at least a couple of them have been largely stalled since April. But Tuesday Wilson's Petroleum Equipment, which also specializes in electrical work, was at the 7120 Estero Blvd. southside site after getting town paperwork straightened out that day, public records show. In the Know: Another massive SWFL island hits market; and your questions on U-Pick farms and FM Beach What Fort Myers Beach resort just hit the market again for $30 million? The old Lahaina Inn Resort at 5600 Estero Blvd. is among the latest Ian wreckage to hit the market. Or in this case, re-hit the market. Selling for $30 million, the 2.6 acres includes 360 feet of Gulf of Mexico frontage, according to brokers, LSI Cos. Built more than four decades ago with interval ownership in mind, the property featured 37 accommodations ranging from efficiencies to three bedrooms in various two-story structures to go with a pair of swimming pools, records show. Storm scare: For SWFL, Idalia was no Ian as residents clean up after their latest hurricane encounter In the Know: Lahaina inn interval ownership plans on Fort Myers Beach from 1980 Lee County public records. What happened to previous Southwest Florida resort deal on the Beach? After Ian hammered the complex, owners decided Thanksgiving weekend against rebuilding, which was estimated to cost more than $30 million, according to summaries of board meetings and owner communications viewed by In the Know. A 75% yes vote would have been required by the owners, who were holding their latest meeting a couple of days ago at the Bonita Springs Public Library. By January, the property was under contract with condominium builders, Dublin Real Estate Investment Group, which is currently constructing its centerpiece of Gulfside Twelve condos on part of the sands that had held the Carousel Inn 3,500 feet away. However, the agreement was dropped over the summer after Dublin proposed a hotel concept that would involve current owners as fellow investors and would mean delayed payouts until after the new resort was completed. Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who grew up in Southwest Florida, writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Cape Coral ranked among best places to retire: WalletHub study One of the most consequential antitrust trials in decades begins Tuesday as federal and state prosecutors try to prove that Google (GOOG, GOOGL) illegally stifled competition in the world of online search. A lot is on the line for both sides. The lawsuit against Google is a supreme test for the US government, which is trying to use a 133-year-old law to rein in several of the countrys most dominant tech giants. For Google, it is a threat to a core profit engine that sits at the heart of a trillion-dollar empire amassed over the last quarter century. That drama will unfold over the next nine weeks before federal district Judge Amit Mehta in the US District Court for the District of Columbia; he will decide whether Google broke the law and what any consequences might be for the company. It could also involve testimony from Google CEO Sundar Pichai and other well-known tech executives. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet. (Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images) The case closely resembles the government's attempts to rein in Microsoft (MSFT) during the late 1990s, when the US alleged that the tech giant boxed out rivals by making its browser the default on its dominant Windows operating system. It resulted in a settlement that opened the door to broader competition in the internet browser software market. That 2001 pact which required Microsoft to design its Windows operating system to interoperate with competing browsers created an opportunity for Google, then a startup formed by Stanford students Sergey Brin and Larry Page, to begin its period of meteoric growth in the 2000s. Google founders Sergey Brin, left, and Larry Page, right, in 2004. They started the company in 1998. (Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images) The government now argues Google broke the law as it became the dominant way most people searched for information on the web, abusing its power through contracts that secured its search engine as the default on computers and mobile devices. With that scale, the government claims, Google created nearly insurmountable barriers to the search market and then used that monopoly to build a lucrative advertising business. The government says the company's conduct harmed consumers by reducing the quality and choice of search services, impeding innovation, and driving up the cost of advertising. Story continues One key way it did this, the government alleges, was by paying various companies to make Google the default choice on their devices, including Apples iPhones and computers. That made it more challenging for consumers to find other search engines. Prosecutors cite an agreement between Apple (AAPL) and Google in which Apple must make Googles search engine the default for Safari and use Google for its voice-activated assistant service Siri. In exchange for the placement, according to government prosecutors, Google pays Apple through an ad revenue-sharing agreement that nets Apple $8 billion-$12 billion. That revenue accounted for 15% to 20% of Apples worldwide net income the year prior to the Justice Department's suit. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, left, sits next to Apple CEO Tim Cook, right, at the White House in June. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) The government also cites similar search default agreements Google has with device manufacturers that license its Android operating system, including LG, Motorola, and Samsung, and contracts for default status with US wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon as well as browser developers Apple Safari and Mozilla Firefox. Google's core defense is that the company does provide consumers with choices; they are able to choose different search engines by changing their default settings. The company also says it faces plenty of competition from browsers created by Microsoft and Apple that are free to choose alternate search services and notes that Apple's mobile operating system iOS, unlike Android, is a closed system that isn't licensable to other device manufacturers. Google's current dominance in search and search advertising is unquestioned. As of July 2023, Google's search engine was responsible for returning roughly 89% of all US general search engine queries across computer and mobile devices. Google was used on 95% of all US mobile device queries, according to Statista. The next largest competitors, Microsofts Bing and Yahoo Search (an affiliate of Yahoo Finance), hold 6.4% and 2.3% shares, respectively. Google, according to government prosecutors, also controls more than 70% of the markets for search advertising and search engine text advertising. 'That Google is long gone' The case against Google began under the Trump administration with an October 2020 lawsuit focused on its alleged abuse of online search and continued under the Biden administration. "Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy start-up with an innovative way to search the emerging internet," the Justice Department said in its suit. "That Google is long gone." A group of 38 state attorneys general also filed suit that year, making similar allegations about Googles abuse of search as well as search advertising. The state case is consolidated with the Justice Department's case and will be heard at the same time starting this week before Mehta, the federal district judge overseeing the trial. Some of the Justice Department and state claims have already been dismissed by Mehta. The Google antitrust case that begins Tuesday will be overseen by federal district judge Amit Mehta, pictured here when he was an attorney speaking before the state Supreme Court in New York. (Stan Honda/Pool Photo via AP, File) Google faces other legal challenges from the US and other states. The Justice Department and a group of state attorneys general filed a separate suit in federal district court in Virginia earlier this year targeting Googles monopoly in the market for online advertising technology that is used to sell, buy, and broker advertising space online. Another group of state attorneys general that sued Google in 2021 for alleged violations of antitrust law targeted Google's dominance in mobile app store distribution and in-app payments, via Google Play. Google and those states said Tuesday they had reached a tentative settlement in the mobile app store case and would disclose its terms next month. 'A last resort, not a first resort' US prosecutors face a major hurdle in the antitrust trial that starts Tuesday: the presumption that lower, even free, prices are a consumer advantage and not necessarily anticompetitive. Consumers don't pay Google to search for information on the web. "The fact that Big Tech's effect is to offer these services for free, then it makes it harder to challenge," Rutgers Law School professor Michael Carrier said. However, advertisers do pay for Google's services and could be a strong focus for prosecutors. Antitrust law has evolved over the past decade, he said, to allow judges to consider multiple sides of a market. The judge could theoretically order a break up of the company, but Carrier considers that "a last resort, not the first resort" to remedy antitrust violations. "The agencies might have a goal of breaking up these companies, but that's hard to do," Carrier said. What is more likely, Carrier added, is that business practices could change if the judge sides with the government's arguments. "If you look at what's at issue in the Google trial, it's focused on these exclusive deals with browsers or OEMs, and even if Google is found to violate antitrust law that would mean an end to those deals, not a break up of Google." Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TotalEnergies has completed the building of 1 megawatt-peak (MWp) Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System at two production sites of PREMO Vietnam Co. Ltd in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam. Headquartered in Spain, PREMO is a leading provider of electromagnetic motion tracking sensing solutions and designs. This PV system will power about 25% of the facilities with renewable energy. With over 1,700 of modules installed, the PV system will generate approximately 1,350 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually. PREMO Vietnam will achieve cost savings for the facilities and reduce the company's carbon footprint by about 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to planting over 15,000 trees. Under the agreement, TotalEnergies fully funded, installed the solar system and will operate it while PREMO Vietnam will only purchase the electricity produced for 20 years, avoiding any upfront costs. Image: site of PREMO Vietnam where the solar rooftop is installed by TotalEnergies "Sustainability is one of our main objectives, green energy being a top priority for us. Therefore, we are pleased to partner with TotalEnergies, a company that we consider a key partner for our green strategy in Vietnam" said Andres Garcia, Country Manager of PREMO Vietnam Co. Ltd. "We are pleased to support PREMO Vietnam in taking an important step towards achieving their long-term sustainability goals. As a leading solar service provider for commercial and industrial businesses, TotalEnergies is committed to helping customers like PREMO Vietnam reduce both their energy costs and carbon footprint," said Elodie Renaud, Director of TotalEnergies Renewables Distributed Generation Asia. TotalEnergies and renewables electricity As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a portfolio of activities in electricity and renewables. At the end of Q2 2023, TotalEnergies' gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity was 19 GW. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW of gross production capacity from renewable sources and storage by 2025, and then 100 GW by 2030 with the objective of being among the world's top 5 producers of electricity from wind and solar energy. https://renewables.totalenergies.com/en Story continues About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, cleaner, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people. Twitter @TotalEnergies LinkedIn TotalEnergies Facebook TotalEnergies Instagram TotalEnergies TotalEnergies Contacts Media Relations: contact.solar.asia@totalenergies.com About PREMO PREMO is a Spain-based company engaged in the development, manufacture, and sale of electronic components with special focus on the growing market of H&EV, and market segments including automotive, telecommunications, and industrial electronics. 1200 employees at over 8 design and production locations and an extensive sales network let PREMO have a global presence to meet country specific needs. 58 years being a preferred supplier because of our strong commitment to business excellence, engineering support, reliable delivery and the quality of our products. About PREMO Vietnam Contacts Media Relations: info@grupopremo.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/premo-group https://www.facebook.com/premogroup https://www.youtube.com/user/PREMOGroup https://www.grupopremo.com/en/ Cautionary Note TotalEnergies The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Premo TotalEnergies Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/totalenergies-completes-rooftop-solar-installation-for-premo-vietnam-co-ltd-a-global-leader-in-innovative-magnetics-301922792.html SOURCE TotalEnergies Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. So when we looked at Franco-Nevada (TSE:FNV) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Franco-Nevada: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.11 = US$746m (US$6.9b - US$56m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). Thus, Franco-Nevada has an ROCE of 11%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 2.5% generated by the Metals and Mining industry. See our latest analysis for Franco-Nevada roce In the above chart we have measured Franco-Nevada's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. The Trend Of ROCE The trends we've noticed at Franco-Nevada are quite reassuring. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 11%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 44%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Franco-Nevada thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital. The Bottom Line In summary, it's great to see that Franco-Nevada can compound returns by consistently reinvesting capital at increasing rates of return, because these are some of the key ingredients of those highly sought after multi-baggers. Since the stock has returned a staggering 141% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence. Story continues On the other side of ROCE, we have to consider valuation. That's why we have a FREE intrinsic value estimation on our platform that is definitely worth checking out. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity. 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. Union Pacific expects to respond this week to the Federal Railroad Administration about safety defects found during recent focused inspections. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Western U.S. Class I railroad Union Pacific expects to respond swiftly to recent remarks by the head of the Federal Railroad Administration that UP has made poor efforts to ensure the safety of its rolling stock, including using locomotives with safety defects and being unwilling to address those defects. UPs actions are in response to a letter that FRA Administrator Amit Bose sent Friday to UP CEO Jim Vena, President Beth Whited and Executive Vice President of Operations Eric Gehringer on safety defects found during focused inspections in July and August. The letter also asked whether recent furloughs had any impact on safety at UP. I am writing this letter to express serious concern about specific and significant risk to rail safety on the Union Pacific (UP). The compliance of the rolling stock (freight cars and locomotives) on the UP network is poor and UP was unwilling or unable to take steps to improve the condition of their equipment, the letter said. UP (NYSE: UNP) told FreightWaves that it takes safety seriously and will respond to FRA this week. Union Pacific will never compromise on the safety of our employees. Safety is always our first priority, and we are reviewing and will address the concerns raised by the FRA, UP said. There is no correlation between recent furloughs and Union Pacifics ability to address mechanical repairs. We have the appropriate staffing for all crafts, and always leave a buffer to allow for the natural ebb and flow nature of our business. Finally, we have worked for years with FRA inspectors and respect the work they do. We have the same goal safety. Boses letter didnt elaborate on what prompted the focused inspections, nor did it detail what defects were found during the inspections and whether the defects were major or minor. The letter referred to focused inspections of UPs mechanical operations and rolling stock that occurred in July and August, but it didnt elaborate on when and where exactly those inspections occurred other than that the results showed a defect ratio of 19.93% for UPs freight cars and 72.69% for its locomotives. Those figures are twice the national average, Bose said. Story continues The letter also referred to recent furloughs of 94 locomotive craft employees, including 44 railway carmen, and questioned whether the furloughs were related to the condition of the rolling stock. This begs the question was UPs failure to act to improve the condition of their rolling stock during FRAs focused inspection a result of not having the personnel to make the necessary repairs, because of the recent furloughs? Bose said. The letter did highlight one focused inspection that occurred at UPs East Departure Yard in North Platte, Nebraska. FRAs inspectors there determined that the car defect ratio was 22%, and the agency said in the letter that UP managers asked FRA inspectors to leave the yard amid disruptions to UPs operations because of the inspections. But with fewer qualified mechanical inspectors (QMI) to inspect locomotives and cars, FRA expresses a genuine and urgent concern that compliance with Federal Regulations will continue to decline, Bose said. He also asked UPs leadership to provide plans of how UP expects to address mechanical safety issues systemwide. UP has said the furloughs were due to slumping rail volumes and decreases in market demand. UP told FreightWaves Monday that it is also unsure how FRA calculated its defect ratios when other related safety data doesnt raise flags. According to FRA, the focused inspections that occurred over the summer were a type of inspection performed routinely. These types of inspections are generally centered on a single discipline, such as track, mechanical equipment, operating practices or signals, and the focused inspections may just hone in on one part of the railroad, such as a specific geographic territory, or it might be systemwide. The focused inspections might be triggered by data trends identified by FRA, such as an increase in defects or violations, and their intent is to assess and bring a railroad into full compliance with FRA regulations. Receiving copies of Boses letter were Surface Transportation Board Chairman Marty Oberman and officials of six railroad unions, including unions with members who were furloughed. Both Oberman and the unions have put pressure on UP in recent years over possible correlations between reductions in employee head count and deteriorating rail service. FRA and the U.S. Department of Transportation have also been under pressure to take a more proactive stance to bolster rail safety following the Feb. 3 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio. Subscribe to FreightWaves e-newsletters and get the latest insights on freight right in your inbox. Click here for more FreightWaves articles by Joanna Marsh. Related links: The post Union Pacific expects to respond quickly to safety concerns raised by FRA appeared first on FreightWaves. Long-established in the Oil & Gas industry, Clean Energy Fuels Corp (NASDAQ:CLNE) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a surge of 10.34%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 10.98%. However, fresh insights from the GuruFocus Score Rating hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. Unraveling the Future of Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Decoding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Clean Energy Fuels Corp the GF Score of 61 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Understanding Clean Energy Fuels Corp's Business Clean Energy Fuels Corp is a natural gas marketer and retailer operating in the United States and Canada. The company supplies compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, and renewable natural gas as an alternative fuel for vehicles. The majority of revenue is generated within the U.S. and mostly consists of compressed natural gas. The company operates by purchasing natural gas from local utilities; compressing, cooling, or liquefying it at company-owned plants; and selling natural gas products through company-owned or customer-owned fueling stations. The company also builds, operates, and maintains natural gas fueling stations for customers. The company's target markets include heavy-duty trucking, airports, public transit, institutional energy users, and government fleets. Story continues Unraveling the Future of Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Profitability Breakdown Clean Energy Fuels Corp's low Profitability rank can also raise warning signals. Clean Energy Fuels Corp's Operating Margin has declined over the past five years ((-1,060.61%)), as shown by the following data: 2018: 1.28; 2019: 2.58; 2020: -3.39; 2021: -37.18; 2022: -12.31. Additionally, Clean Energy Fuels Corp's Gross Margin has also declined over the past five years, as evidenced by the data: 2018: 23.57; 2019: 23.93; 2020: 20.10; 2021: -2.01; 2022: 13.74. This trend underscores the company's struggles to convert its revenue into profits. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where Clean Energy Fuels Corp seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. Lastly, Clean Energy Fuels Corp predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Unraveling the Future of Clean Energy Fuels Corp (CLNE): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GuruFocus Score Rating highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. It's crucial for investors to consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan thanked the countries and organizations that condemned the so-called elections in Garabagh. According to Azernews, Aykhan Hajizadeh, the head of the press service department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wrote about this in his account on the "X" social network. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Organization of Turkic States, the European External Action Service, the Ambassador of Great Britain to Azerbaijan, we appreciate your position on condemning the illegal "elections" held in the Garabagh region", - the Foreign Ministry official wrote in the post. An in-depth look at Petronas Gas Bhd's dividend history, yield, growth, and sustainability Petronas Gas Bhd (PNAGF) recently announced a dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on 2023-09-22, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-09-11. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's deep dive into Petronas Gas Bhd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. Understanding Petronas Gas Bhd's Business Model Petronas Gas Bhd is a Malaysian gas infrastructure and utilities company of which Malaysia's nationalized oil corporation, PETRONAS, holds a majority interest. Petronas Gas segments its primary operations into Gas Processing, Gas Transportation, Utilities, and Regasification businesses. While each of these contributes significantly to the company's total revenue, its Utilities and Gas Processing units combine to generate the majority. In Gas Processing, Petronas Gas receives processing fees under multi-year contracts by processing natural gas piped offshore for its parent company, PETRONAS. The Gas Transportation business encompasses the transmission of offshore natural gas through pipelines to customers in Malaysia and Singapore under multi-year agreements with PETRONAS. Unveiling Petronas Gas Bhd's Dividend Landscape: A Comprehensive Analysis A Glimpse at Petronas Gas Bhd's Dividend History Petronas Gas Bhd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2018. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Unveiling Petronas Gas Bhd's Dividend Landscape: A Comprehensive Analysis Breaking Down Petronas Gas Bhd's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Petronas Gas Bhd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 4.48% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 4.46%. This suggests an expectation of decrease dividend payments over the next 12 months. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate increased to 1.60% per year. And over the past decade, Petronas Gas Bhd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at 4.30%. Based on Petronas Gas Bhd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Petronas Gas Bhd stock as of today is approximately 4.85%. Story continues Unveiling Petronas Gas Bhd's Dividend Landscape: A Comprehensive Analysis Assessing Dividend Sustainability: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, Petronas Gas Bhd's dividend payout ratio is 0.81, which may suggest that the company's dividend may not be sustainable. Petronas Gas Bhd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Petronas Gas Bhd's profitability 8 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Future Growth Prospects To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Petronas Gas Bhd's growth rank of 8 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Petronas Gas Bhd's revenue has increased by approximately 4.10% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 68.46% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Petronas Gas Bhd's earnings increased by approximately -5.20% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 70.67% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of -0.20%, which underperforms than approximately 66.27% of global competitors. Conclusion While Petronas Gas Bhd has demonstrated a consistent dividend payment record, the sustainability of its dividends is a topic of concern due to its high payout ratio. Despite this, the company's strong profitability rank and good growth trajectory offer a positive outlook. However, the company's underperformance in revenue and EPS growth relative to its global competitors may require further scrutiny. In conclusion, investors should consider these factors carefully when making decisions about Petronas Gas Bhd's dividends. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. With a daily gain of 2.63% and a 3-month gain of 14.74%, PulteGroup Inc (NYSE:PHM) has an Earnings Per Share (EPS) (EPS) of 12.1. These figures lead us to question: is the stock fairly valued? This article offers a valuation analysis of PulteGroup, encouraging readers to delve into the details of the company's financial performance. Company Overview PulteGroup Inc is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States, operating in 42 markets across 24 states. The company primarily builds single-family detached homes (85% of unit sales) and offers products to entry-level, move-up, and active-adult buyers. PulteGroup also provides homebuyers with mortgage financing and title agency services through its financial services segment. The company, headquartered in Atlanta, has a current stock price of $82.85 and a GF Value of $77.22, indicating a fair valuation. Unveiling PulteGroup (PHM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Understanding the GF Value The GF Value represents the intrinsic value of a stock, derived from an exclusive method that considers historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past returns and growth, and future business performance estimates. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value at which the stock should be traded. Based on these factors, PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) appears to be fairly valued. The GF Value estimates the stock's fair value at $77.22. If the stock's share price is significantly above the GF Value Line, the stock may be overvalued and have poor future returns. Conversely, if the stock's share price is significantly below the GF Value Line, the stock may be undervalued and have high future returns. With its current price of $82.85 per share and a market cap of $18.20 billion, PulteGroup's stock seems to be fairly valued. As PulteGroup is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth. Story continues Unveiling PulteGroup (PHM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Financial Strength Investing in companies with low financial strength could result in permanent capital loss. Therefore, investors must carefully review a company's financial strength before deciding whether to buy shares. PulteGroup has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.74, ranking better than 54.72% of 106 companies in the Homebuilding & Construction industry. Based on this, GuruFocus ranks PulteGroup's financial strength as 9 out of 10, suggesting a strong balance sheet. Unveiling PulteGroup (PHM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Profitability and Growth Investing in profitable companies is less risky, especially those that have demonstrated consistent profitability over the long term. PulteGroup has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $16.90 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $12.1. Its operating margin is 21.38%, which ranks better than 88.99% of 109 companies in the Homebuilding & Construction industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks the profitability of PulteGroup at 10 out of 10, indicating strong profitability. Growth is probably one of the most important factors in the valuation of a company. PulteGroup's 3-year average revenue growth rate is better than 84.31% of 102 companies in the Homebuilding & Construction industry. PulteGroup's 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 43.2%, which ranks better than 78.72% of 94 companies in the Homebuilding & Construction industry. ROIC vs WACC Another method of determining the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital to the weighted average cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. When the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it implies the company is creating value for shareholders. For the past 12 months, PulteGroup's return on invested capital is 23.94, and its cost of capital is 9.77. Unveiling PulteGroup (PHM)'s Value: Is It Really Priced Right? A Comprehensive Guide Conclusion In conclusion, the stock of PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM) appears to be fairly valued. The company's financial condition is strong, and its profitability is robust. Its growth ranks better than 78.72% of 94 companies in the Homebuilding & Construction industry. To learn more about PulteGroup stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here. To find out the high-quality companies that may deliver above-average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. A Comprehensive Review of the Telecommunication Giant's Dividend History, Yield, Growth, and Future Prospects Telekom Malaysia Bhd (MYTEF) recently announced a dividend of $0.1 per share, payable on 2023-09-29, with the ex-dividend date set for 2023-09-11. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's deep dive into Telekom Malaysia Bhd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability. Understanding Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Business Telekom Malaysia Bhd is a triple-play telecommunications company. It generates revenue from the provision of fixed-line voice services, data, and broadband, and multimedia services to businesses and individual households, and consumers. Broadband and multimedia services are the majority of company revenue. Data is composed of products such as Ethernet and Internet protocol services. Additionally, the company's voice product generates revenue from providing business and residential telephony services. The company owns telecommunications infrastructure. Its segments include Unifi; TM ONE; TM Global; and Shared Services/Others. It generates the vast majority of its revenue in Malaysia. Unveiling Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Dividend Performance and Sustainability Tracing Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Dividend History Telekom Malaysia Bhd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2020. Dividends are currently distributed on a bi-annually basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends. Unveiling Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Dividend Performance and Sustainability Deciphering Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Dividend Yield and Growth As of today, Telekom Malaysia Bhd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.39% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 3.53%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months. Story continues Over the past three years, Telekom Malaysia Bhd's annual dividend growth rate was 95.70%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 2.50% per year. And over the past decade, Telekom Malaysia Bhd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at -8.50%. Based on Telekom Malaysia Bhd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Telekom Malaysia Bhd stock as of today is approximately 3.84%. Unveiling Telekom Malaysia Bhd's Dividend Performance and Sustainability Assessing Dividend Sustainability: Payout Ratio and Profitability To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-06-30, Telekom Malaysia Bhd's dividend payout ratio is 0.48. Telekom Malaysia Bhd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Telekom Malaysia Bhd's profitability 7 out of 10 as of 2023-06-30, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability. Future Prospects: Growth Metrics To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Telekom Malaysia Bhd's growth rank of 7 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors. Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Telekom Malaysia Bhd's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Telekom Malaysia Bhd's revenue has increased by approximately 1.70% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 56.61% of global competitors. The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Telekom Malaysia Bhd's earnings increased by approximately 21.60% per year on average, a rate that underperforms than approximately 27.96% of global competitors. Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 21.10%, underperforms than approximately 23.81% of global competitors. Wrapping Up In conclusion, Telekom Malaysia Bhd has demonstrated a strong dividend performance with a consistent payment record and promising yield. However, its dividend growth rate has seen a decrease over the decade. The company's payout ratio and profitability rank indicate a sustainable dividend, backed by robust earnings. Despite underperforming in some growth metrics, the company's overall growth rank suggests a good future outlook. Thus, Telekom Malaysia Bhd presents an intriguing case for investors seeking dividend-paying stocks. GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. By Nandita Bose, Francesco Guarascio and Trevor Hunnicutt HANOI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Sunday secured deals with Vietnam on semiconductors and minerals as the strategic Southeast Asian nation lifted Washington to Hanoi's highest diplomatic status alongside China and Russia. The U.S. has been pushing for the upgrade for months as it sees the manufacturing dynamo as a key country in its strategy to secure global supply chains from China-related risks. A half-century after a lengthy and brutal Cold War-era conflict, Biden arrived in Hanoi to a ceremony organised by the ruling Communist Party that included school children waving American flags and honour guards carrying bayoneted rifles. Biden noted the strides that had been taken toward improved ties. "We can trace a 50-year arc of progress between our nations, from conflict to normalization, to this new elevated status," he said. The partnership with Vietnam is part of the Biden administration's push "to demonstrate to our our Indo-Pacific partners and to the world, the United States is a Pacific nation and we're not going anywhere," Biden told reporters after the meeting in Hanoi. Vietnam is navigating frosty relations between Washington and Beijing as the tech and textile exporter seeks its own foothold in the international competition to be a low-cost manufacturing hub. Top Chinese officials, possibly including President Xi Jinping, are expected to visit Vietnam in the coming days or weeks, officials and diplomats said, as Hanoi seeks to maintain good relations with all super powers. Biden also said in Hanoi he had talked with Xi's deputy at the G20, and that the two talked about stability. Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 79, remarked on the 80-year-old U.S. president's appearance inside party headquarters, saying "You have nary aged a day and I would say you look even better than before." Story continues RUSSIAN ARMS TALKS Vietnam's longstanding relationship with Russia faces tests over the war in Ukraine, including talks with Moscow over a new arms supply deal that could trigger U.S. sanctions. Reuters has seen documents describing talks for a credit facility that Russia would extend to Vietnam to buy heavy weaponry, including anti-ship missiles, antisubmarine aircraft and helicopters, antiaircraft missile systems and fighter jets. One of them, a letter sent in May by Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the Russian government, showed interest in the possible new deal. A Vietnamese military officer confirmed the authenticity of the letter and the talks for a new $8 billion credit facility to buy heavy weaponry. A spokesperson for Vietnam's foreign ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the documents, which show Moscow pushing for months for a loan deal that would bypass Western sanctions on Moscow. Hanoi is in similar talks with multiple arms suppliers, including the United States. In recent weeks, Vietnam has engaged in several high-level defence meetings with top Russian officials. The U.S.- Vietnam upgrade will include a security dimension, Jon Finer, the U.S. principal deputy national security adviser, told reporters on Sunday, while on the plane with Biden to Vietnam from a Group of 20 summit in India. He said he had no arms deals to announce at this stage but stressed that the U.S. and its partners could offer Vietnam help to diversify away from Russian military supplies, an offer which he said Vietnam was receptive to. That would help Vietnam reduce military reliance on Moscow, "a relationship we think they are increasingly uncomfortable with," Finer said. CHIPS, RARE EARTHS Biden's visit comes as bilateral trade and investment ties are growing and a long-simmering territorial dispute between Vietnam and China heats up in the South China Sea. Vietnam Airlines is expected to sign an initial agreement to buy about 50 Boeing (BA.N) 737 Max jets in a deal valued at $10 billion, timed to the trip. Highlighting Vietnam's growing importance as a "friendshoring" destination for U.S. technology companies, executives from Google, Intel, Amkor, Marvell, GlobalFoundries and Boeing are expected to meet on Monday with Vietnamese tech executives and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Hanoi. Still, semiconductors are the centrepiece of an action plan adopted during Biden's visit, U.S. officials said. Besides possible announcements by U.S. corporations, it is unclear what else the the partnership could mean. The US government has $100 million a year for five years available under the CHIPS Act to support semiconductor supply chains globally. A large part of it could go to Vietnam, officials said. More support to train skilled workers is also part of the deal, as Vietnam faces a major shortage of engineers in the chips sector. Another key issue is strengthening supply chains of critical minerals, especially rare earths, of which Vietnam has the world's largest deposits after China, according to U.S. estimates, officials said. Two people familiar with the plans said an agreement on rare earths was expected during Biden's visit, which ends on Monday when he flies back to America. Details, however, are scant. Past attempts by U.S. companies to partner with Vietnamese rare earth firms have not succeeded, according to a person involved in one recent plan. Human rights remain a controversial issue, with U.S. officials regularly criticising Hanoi for jailing activists and limiting freedom of expression. Vietnam may show goodwill, with diplomats suggesting activists could be freed. (Reporting by Nandita Bose, Francesco Guarascio, Trevor Hunnicutt, Khanh Vu; Editing by Heather Timmons, Chizu Nomiyama, William Mallard, Christina Fincher and Cynthia Osterman) - Represents one of the largest self-storage M&A transactions ever in Japan - Transaction consolidates StorHub's position as a leading self-storage player in Japan and it further reinforces StorHub's position as the largest pan-Asia self-storage platform with a strong and growing presence in seven key markets SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- StorHub Group (StorHub or the Company), Asia's leading self-storage platform, announced today that it has completed a 100% share capital acquisition of Storage PLUS Corp., a premium self-storage provider in Japan with a longstanding track record, from Ichigo Inc. Following the transaction, StorHub will become one of the largest self-storage operators in Japan, with approximately 390 stores that are owned, leased and managed, and it also reaffirms StorHub's position as the largest pan-Asia self-storage platform with a strong and growing presence in seven key markets. StorHub Self Storage, 615 Lorong Toa Payoh Singapore 319516 StorHub, founded in 2003 in Singapore, is a pioneer in Asia's self-storage industry. While StorHub initially focused on building a market leading presence in the Singapore market, the Company has accelerated its growth over the past four years since Warburg Pincus' acquisition. Over that period, the Company has acquired and developed approximately 440 stores, becoming Asia's leading self-storage platform with facilities spanning over 6.4 million square feet of GFA and more than 70,000 storage units across Australia, Greater China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. In achieving its outsized growth, StorHub has focused on corporate M&A in addition to organic growth. In 2020, StorHub entered the Japan market through the acquisition of Tokyo Reise Box, one of the oldest self-storage operators in Japan (which was later rebranded as ROOT StorHub). Today, ROOT StorHub is one of the leading self-storage operators in Japan. The addition of Storage PLUS, which is also a leading self-storage operator in Japan, with approximately 100,000 square feet of GFA, is expected to deliver significant scale for the StorHub business in Japan. Story continues Mike Hagbeck, CEO of StorHub, said, "We are pleased to welcome the Storage PLUS team to the StorHub Group. Storage PLUS is an industry leader in Japan with a long track record of outperformance. This strategic move is set to accelerate our platform growth in Japan. In recent years, the Japan market has witnessed robust growth in self-storage demand. We are excited about the opportunities to bring our 20 years of experience and expertise in self-storage to a broader range of customers across the market." Since its acquisition of StorHub from CapitaLand in 2019, Warburg Pincus quickly relaunched the business as a pan-regional Asia focused platform. Over the past few years, Warburg Pincus has played a critical role in driving the growth and expansion of StorHub across the region. The platform aims to amass a high-quality portfolio of up to US$5bn of assets via organic and M&A growth in the coming years with the plan of an eventual IPO. Li Fan, Managing Director of Warburg Pincus and Board Director of StorHub, said, "We have continued to see strong underlying demand for self-storage driven by continued urbanization, rising housing prices in Asia's metropolitan areas and the de-cluttering of apartments due to hybrid work post pandemic. We believe Asia's self-storage industry is approaching an inflection point and is poised for accelerated growth in the coming years. StorHub is well-positioned with a best-in-class management team and an unmatched value proposition to capture the tremendous growth opportunities ahead." Dan Morisaku, Head of Business Promotion, said: "StorHub is a leading self-storage platform in Asia, with strong backing from Warburg Pincus and a deeply experienced management team. Following a strategic review process, we believe StorHub is the ideal partner to lead the next phase of growth of Storage PLUS and deliver greater value to our customers." About StorHub StorHub is a leading self-storage platform in Asia with operations across key gateway cities in the Asia Pacific region. Founded in Singapore in 2003, StorHub currently owns and manages facilities spanning over 6.4 million square feet of GFA and more than 70,000 storage units across key markets in Australia, Greater China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. StorHub offers individuals and businesses a range of reliable and secure storage solutions to resolve storage challenges at home or work. For more information, please visit https://www.storhub.com About Storage PLUS Storage PLUS is one of the leading self-storage operators in Japan. Storage PLUS was acquired by Ichigo Inc. in 2017 and has since doubled in size from 16 stores to 35 stores, achieving occupancy of over 90% by digitizing Storage PLUS's processes and strengthening its sales and marketing activities. For more information, please visit https://www.storageplus.co.jp/. StorHub Self Storage Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/warburg-pincus-backed-storhub-completes-acquisition-of-storage-plus-in-japan-301922824.html SOURCE StorHub Management Pte. Ltd. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / September 11, 2023 / Aflac Incorporated Photo: Daniel Teague and brother, Austin, get a taste of astronaut life during their trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Originally published on Aflac Newsroom Six-year-old Daniel Teague loves everything about outer space and has his sights set on becoming an astronaut. He is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia but will not let that slow him down in his pursuit to blast off to the stars in a few years. In the meantime, Daniel and his family recently visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida to learn what it takes to be an astronaut, thanks to Aflac and Make-A-Wish South Carolina. Getting ready for takeoff On Aug. 1, Aflac granted Daniel's wish at a surprise celebration hosted at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Gen. Charles "Charlie" Duke, a retired S.C. astronaut, who walked the surface of the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972, shared a special video message to get Daniel ready for takeoff. Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits, helped deliver Daniel's wish and give him a few travel essentials - Aflac luggage, an Aflac plush duck, packing cubes, a water bottle and a blanket. "Making this wish come true for Daniel is another way for Aflac to celebrate his strength and courage - and to give him extra joy and hope," said Ruff. "Aflac is happy to work with Make-A-Wish South Carolina, as we continue our 28-year commitment to supporting children with cancer, their families and health care teams." Make-A-Wish South Carolina grants wishes that bring hope, joy and support to local children with critical illnesses. Since 2018, Aflac has donated nearly $50,000 to grant seven wishes. AGC2300900 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Aflac Incorporated Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/aflac-incorporated Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Aflac Incorporated View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/782718/a-wish-upon-a-star--in-outer-space It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad (KLSE:YSPSAH). 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. See our latest analysis for Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad How Quickly Is Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad Increasing Earnings Per Share? If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS) outcomes. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad managed to grow EPS by 10% per year, over three years. That growth rate is fairly good, assuming the company can keep it up. Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The good news is that Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 3.1 percentage points to 15%, over the last year. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of RM346m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength. Story continues Are Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So those who are interested in Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad will be delighted to know that insiders have shown their belief, holding a large proportion of the company's shares. To be exact, company insiders hold 67% of the company, so their decisions have a significant impact on their investments. This should be seen as a good thing, as it means insiders have a personal interest in delivering the best outcomes for shareholders. In terms of absolute value, insiders have RM230m invested in the business, at the current share price. That's nothing to sneeze at! While it's always good to see some strong conviction in the company from insiders through heavy investment, it's also important for shareholders to ask if management compensation policies are reasonable. Our quick analysis into CEO remuneration would seem to indicate they are. For companies with market capitalisations under RM937m, like Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad, the median CEO pay is around RM520k. The CEO of Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad was paid just RM98k in total compensation for the year ending December 2022. This total may indicate that the CEO is sacrificing take home pay for performance-based benefits, ensuring that their motivations are synonymous with strong company results. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally. Does Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? As previously touched on, Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad is a growing business, which is encouraging. Earnings growth might be the main attraction for Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad, but the fun does not stop there. Boasting both modest CEO pay and considerable insider ownership, you'd argue this one is worthy of the watchlist, at least. Still, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Y.S.P. Southeast Asia Holding Berhad. There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access 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. 1200x700_mortgage tech_08 A renter in Seattle last week filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against 18 property management companies, along with property management company software Yardi Systems Inc., accusing them of violating antitrust laws. The plaintiff is accusing the defendants of having orchestrated a nationwide scheme to illegally drive rent growth to unprecedented levels during the pandemic. By outsourcing the management of rental pricing to RENTmaximiser, Yardis rent-setting tool, property management companies failed in complying with the antitrust laws, according to the lawsuit. By 2013, the software was used to price 8 million residential units, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued. RENTmaximizer effectively outsources the management of rental pricing from a landlord to Yardi itself, which then implements higher prices collectively across a group of landlords, the lawsuit alleged. Defendants who agree to use RENTmaximizer understand that its purpose is to foil the operation of the competitive market. This new case is only the latest class action lawsuit filed by a renter who alleges that a rent-setting algorithm helped illegally drive rent growth. It comes on the heels of another case in Tennessee, in which a group of renters accused rental tech firm RealPage of organizing a cartel involving some of the countrys biggest landlords. Additionally, the use of this software prevented landlords from courting would-be renters through the use of different discounts, said the lawsuit. For instance, landlords sometimes offer move-in deals or compete on prices but the use of Yardis algorithmic pricing tool disrupted that practice, claimed the attorneys. RENTmaximizer contributed to the rise of higher prices collectively across a group of landlords, hence eliminating the discounts that could have occurred in a competitive market, the lawsuit stated. Yardi marketed its tools to rental companies as a method to beat the market and maximize profits. Meanwhile, it advertised to renters that RENTmaximizer was giving them complete visibility into the market, and provided them with property performance benchmarking,the lawsuit stated. Overall, the rate of rent growth has fallen back toward historical norms after nearly two years of historically high growth. The Western Azerbaijan Community called on the international community to strongly condemn the "election" provocation in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. "Recently, Armenia, which has concentrated manpower and military equipment near the conventional border with Azerbaijan, resorted to another provocation. The holding of a so-called "presidential elections" by the scum of the illegal regime created and still supported by Armenia in the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan makes the situation in the region even more tense. The Western Azerbaijan Community calls on the international community to strongly condemn this "election" provocation. In this regard, the Prime Minister of Armenia's phone calls to world leaders and the statement that "we are ready for urgent negotiations with Azerbaijan" are insincere. If Nikol Pashinyan is really interested in peace, then the remnants of the Armenian armed forces should be removed from the territory of Azerbaijan, illegal armed groups should be disarmed, and contacts should be started with the Western Azerbaijani community regarding their return," the community said. This collection includes a photo from each day of from Jan. 1 to Sept. 10, 2023. See the rest of the year's photos here. A growing list of indicators warns of a looming recession. Meanwhile, the Colorado AFL-CIO applauds those politicians causing the dilemma. Consider a few top concerns that emerge from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Business Leaders Survey, released last week: Sixty percent say Colorado's economy is "on the wrong track," compared to 53% last year. Forty one percent of business leaders plan to increase employees this year compared to 48% in 2022. Demand for employees is dropping, with positions difficult to fill down from 66% in 2022 to 48% this year. The greatest barriers for attracting and retaining talent are the cost of living and housing attainability, all driven up by regulation on development and building including mouse protection and a defects liability scheme crafted to benefit predatory lawyers. Only 15% of business leaders have "no hesitancy" continuing to invest in Colorado, meaning 85% are hesitant. Respondents identified regulatory costs as the top barrier to investing more in Colorado. Two-thirds of business leaders say other states impose lower business costs than Colorados. Forty six percent of respondents plan future investments out of state, to avoid Colorados excessive costs. Other troubling data abounds. State demographers find Colorados population growth has reached its lowest rate in 33 years, with people leaving for other states with lower taxes, fees and less regulation. Sure, fewer migrants mean less competition for campsites. It also means our state is less attractive and successful and less supportive of high-wage jobs. "That should really be a wakeup call," said Pat McFerron, president of the Cole Hargrave Snodgrass and Associates firm which conducted the business leaders poll. "Colorado is at risk of people leaving the state because of the regulatory environment. That would be the top issue and concern here." It results from sustained one-party control of Colorado government every statewide office and legislative leadership slot. With this unchecked power, a Democratic Party long dominated by rational moderates has become a boastfully radical juggernaut. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis knows the pitfalls of excessive regulation. By seeking the approval of ignorant revolutionaries, hes the adult version of a good kid coopted by bullies. Despite a high economic acumen, and top-tier business leadership skills, Polis refuses to stand up against ignorance and extremism. He appeases politicians he should lead through education, admonition, reward and veto. As rudderless governance makes Colorado less business friendly, the AFL-CIO gives thanks. It derides anyone in power who fights the anti-business agenda, putting politics above good jobs and the interests of workers. The 130,000-member union conglomerate recently scored all 100 Colorado legislators on their regulatory performances in 2023, rating each on how they voted on 12 anti-business regulation bills. Those who supported the bills received grades of A+. Those who opposed the regulations all 36 legislative Republicans, received Fs. Democrats received 100% of the 36 A+ grades, comprising a whos who of meddling authoritarians. The score card is a union boss campaign flier saying Democrats (donors) good, Republicans bad all without regard for the anti-employment results. Colorado has long provided an enviable setting for doing business in a free frontier blessed with awe-inspiring natural assets. It should remain the perfect place to start, relocate or expand a business. In 2023, under one-party rule, we showcase the forcible suppression of success. Colorados first huge, wooden troll made its home in Breckenridge a resort destination that welcomed the attraction in 2018. The states second troll has recently appeared in a less likely, less busy place. In the mountains west of Colorado Springs, the historic gold camp of Victor was perfect for artist Thomas Dambos imagination to go wild. The Danish sculptor spent the summer building his next troll close to one of the towns mining headframes from the late 1800s, beside an old blacksmith shop. Dambo and volunteers worked here just as pioneers did during the Pikes Peak gold rush, amid open, rolling fields and wood and iron structures lending a timeless feel. To be here is to be living in a cowboy movie, Dambo told The Gazette. Also, being a little like a gold digger. Its the perfect spot. Say hello to Rita, the 119th member of Dambos global troll family. She is found atop a scenic perch, moving a pile of rock in search of something shiny. Following Gold Camp District Impact Groups request to Dambo, a once-quiet trailhead has turned pretty busy. Still, we had no problem parking on a recent Saturday morning. We started from the Little Grouse Mountain trailhead detailed on the impact groups website. Its a short, uphill walk that shouldnt be much trouble for families. Visitors can also drive up the hill, parking at the lot beside the headframe standing for the once-mighty American Eagles Mine. A trail sneaks behind the structure, ahead to Rita. Youve surely heard about the troll they tend to go viral in Colorado but you might not be aware of the sweeping view here. The Sangre de Cristo range and 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks scrape the sky in the distance. Trip log: 1.4 miles round trip from lower trailhead (out and back), 268 feet elevation gain Getting there: Gold Camp District Impact Group recommends following AllTrails directions to Little Grouse Mountain trailhead. Drive through Victor, continuing west on Colorado 67 toward Cripple Creek. Just past the Newmont mining facility, see the parking lot on the left. FYI: More information at gcdig.org/findingtrolls. SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE Veterans, first responders, residents and active-duty troops marked the 22nd anniversary of 9/11 by hiking Pikes Peak, climbing stairs at Weidner Field, laying wreaths and pausing to remember where they were when planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. During one of the larger memorials on Monday, community and military leaders gathered outside Fort Carson's Gate 1 in front of a twisted beam from the towers to remember the nearly 3,000 people who died on 9/11 and those killed in the Global War on Terror that followed. Col. Buddy Ferris, 4th Infantry Division deputy commander, who lost a college friend in the collapse of the towers, called on the community to remember not only the tragedy, but the nation's resilience and those who answered the call to serve after the terrorist attacks. "Our challenge today is to ensure we never forget those that perished, but also to remember how we responded, how we came together as a community and as a country," he said. For retired Gen. John Hyten, the response started Sept. 12, 2001, when he returned to the Pentagon as a colonel on a bus loaded with soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen. The bus stopped in the middle of the highway and the group walked to the Pentagon where firefighters were still putting out the fire. They knew on that day the country was going to war. "We were somehow going to make this country safe," he said. In the post-9/11 conflict spanning two decades, there have been notable wins, such as the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida, and the death of his successor Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022, Hyten said. Navy SEALS took out bin Laden and al-Zawahiri was killed in a U.S. drone strike. While terrorism remains a threat, the military is also working to deter violence from Russia and China. "It's a dangerous world. But I always hope and pray that deterrence holds, that peace flourishes, that war can be averted," said Hyten, former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. At other memorials in Colorado Springs, participants stretched themselves physically and mirrored the challenges of 9/11. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. On Sunday, a contingent of veterans hiked 13-plus miles, via Barr Trail, up Pikes Peak. The vets were members of the local chapter of Team Red, White and Blue, a national nonprofit that focuses on the physical and mental well-being of former service members. Its a long hike, said board member Shana Ferguson. But it was a good opportunity to be together with fellow veterans and continue to remember the horrible events that day, and the friends and fellow service members we lost. About a dozen veterans from the nonprofit made the hike, many of them carrying American flags. Ferguson, a former Marine who was completing a deployment to the Middle East when the 9/11 attacks took place, said the hike was physically taxing, but also cathartic. The physical exertion is appropriate, I think, for this kind of remembrance, Ferguson said. It was a tragic day, of course, but there were also amazing acts of valor and heroism, and it is important that we commemorate those, too. On Monday, several dozen local firefighters gathered at Weidner Field for the seventh annual 9/11 stair climb, coordinated by the Carson Firefighters Association, Southern El Paso County Professional Firefighters and Fountain Local Union 4369. Firefighters, first responders and civilians alike were invited to attend. We asked civilians to carry some sort of load to mirror the load the New York City firefighters carried that day, said Kenneth Bower, president of the Carson Firefighters Association. But thats optional. What matters most is the climb itself. Beginning at 8:46 a.m. the time the first hijacked airplane struck the World Trade Center participants walked single file up and down the stadium stairs as emergency calls from the day of the attacks played across the sound system. The group most of whom were dressed in full firefighting gear did eight laps around the arena. People never want to forget what happened that day. So in any way that we can, we honor their sacrifice by suffering a little, Bower said. All firefighters were touched by this attack, even those of us who were thousands of miles away, because we lost 343 of our brothers and sisters that day. This year, the stair climb also honored Fountain police Officer Julian Becerra, who died in February of injuries suffered in the line of duty. Two CFA board members were part of the response team when Becerra fell from a bridge while chasing a suspect, officials said. Because he was a first responder who died in the line of duty, it felt appropriate to honor him as well, Bower said. Late Monday afternoon, Tejon Street bore little resemblance to the bustling thoroughfare residents are used to seeing, with few cars or pedestrians on the street, after an underground fire caused a power outage that affected hundreds of Colorado Springs Utilities customers in the downtown area. Just after 2:30 a.m., firefighters received calls reporting an underground fire shooting flames up through manholes on Kiowa Street, between Tejon Street and Nevada Avenue. "The nature of this particular incident is fairly unique in that the point of failure had a cascading effect 'down the line' that created a very visual scene in the downtown area," said Steve Berry, a spokesman with Colorado Springs Utilities. "Normally, a failure on an underground system isnt quite as dramatic." The explosion even blew the cover of one manhole into the air, though the manholes "actually did their job" by relieving pressure to avoid pavement and system collapse, said Colorado Springs Fire Department spokesperson Ashley Franco. While the fire's cause is still under investigation, officials said they believe "equipment failure" in an underground electrical vault to be the culprit. CSFD Lt. Aaron McConnellogue said the worst of the fire came in the alleyway between Nevada and Tejon. Out of caution, Utilities continued to keep power off in several downtown blocks, and did not have a timeline as to when it would be fully restored. Jay Anderson, a spokesperson with CSU, on Monday afternoon said that as crews investigate the fire, they will assess where to restore power incrementally. "We're going to bring back power as it's safe to do so, but only in the areas that we've isolated away (from the incident)," Anderson said. "We need to understand what damage was done." About 280 metered properties were initially affected by the outage, but as of 8 p.m. that number had been reduced to 150, according to CSU spokeswoman Jane Zook. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Kevin Megyeri, owner of downtown restaurants Bambino's Urban Pizza and Skirted Heifer, said the outage is affecting the operations of many eateries who receive food deliveries on Mondays and Tuesdays. Megyeri said a rented flatbed refrigeration unit is keeping his food stores afloat for now, but that he's worried about how more than a day's closure could affect his 55 employees. "Today's going to be a hard one for us, and if it lasts longer than today, it's going to get rough really quickly," he said. "Restaurants survive on slim, slim profit margins so we can't afford a whole bunch of down time." Megyeri said he offered space on the refrigeration unit to nearby restaurants on his block, but many others could be scrambling to save food. "Just right in this (area) I've really tried to take care of (people)," Megyeri said. "You gotta look out for your neighbors." Hope Cunningham, manager of Solar Roast Coffee, said the majority of her shops refrigerated goods would have to be thrown out. I had to dump a bunch of milk this morning, Cunningham said. If this power stays out, Im going to have to throw out a bunch of inventory and start over tomorrow. At about 3:30 p.m., power was restored on Tejon between Pikes Peak Avenue and East Kiowa Street. I got a call at about 4 this morning telling me the power was out, said Amy, a manager at Einstein Bros. Bagels on the corner of Tejon and Kiowa. We had to throw some stuff out earlier, but now the powers back on and our freezer is working, so we should be good for the most part. I just hope the power stays on. Evacuations were limited to the Mountain Metro Transit bus location at the corner of Kiowa and Nevada along with the Lofts apartments. Three people were evacuated due to carbon monoxide concerns, but have since been allowed to return home. The Gazette office, located at 30 E. Pikes Peak Ave., will remain closed until power is restored. Gazette reporter O'Dell Isaac contributed to this story. Power outages and evacuations followed an underground fire in downtown Colorado Springs that sent flames shooting up through manholes early Monday morning. Firefighters were called to 101 Kiowa Street just before 2:30 a.m. on reports of a fire underneath the street, according to Gazette news partner KKTV. The caller told dispatchers flames could be seen shooting out of a manhole. When our crews first arrived, they found fire coming out of multiple manholes, coming up approximately 10 feet in the air, getting close and impinging on the buildings there, said CSFD Lt. Aaron McConnellogue. Though tricky, firefighters were successfully able to keep the fire from spreading to those buildings, which included residences, restaurants and other businesses. The fire is believed to be in underground electrical vaults, not the sewer system, KKTV reported. Power remained out at 8:45 a.m. in the areas south of Platte to Pikes Peak in between Tejon and Weber, Colorado Springs Utilities said on social media, with no estimated time of power restoration. "We are still evaluating the full extent of the outage. We'll work as quickly and safely as possible to get all customers restored," Utilities said on X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly before 8 a.m. Traffic signals also were out and to be treated as four-way stops. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. No reason to suspect anything other than equipment failure is responsible for the explosion as of this time, a spokesperson with Utilities said. Evacuations were minimal with only the Mountain Metro Transit downtown location at the corner of Kiowa and Nevada along with the Lofts apartments evacuated. The force of the blaze blew at least one of the manhole covers in the air, as well as chunks of a vault itself. We did have with one of the vaults, so its in the alleyway in between Nevada and Tejon that runs that alleyway right there where we had multiple manholes with fire coming through those there, blew the cover off and looked like it blew some of that underground vault up in the air there. Firefighters got the upper hand on the blaze early on, and the fire was deemed under control before 4:30 a.m., KKTV reported. Its impacts would be felt for hours beyond that, McConnellogue said, telling reporters that several streets in the surrounding area would be closed for a while, while buildings in close proximity to the fire were cleared out due to a carbon monoxide risk. #trafficadvisory Please avoid Kiowa Street between Tejon and Nevada Avenues as crews work to safely and quickly restore power to downtown customers. Treat all dark intersections as 4-way stops. Colorado Springs Utilities (@CSUtilities) September 11, 2023 The Gazette office, located at 30 E. Pikes Peak Ave., will remain closed until power is restored. The systematic, deliberate murder of about 6 million European Jews by Nazi Germany known as the Holocaust did not take place suddenly, or all at once. Years before the killing began, there were warning signs. In 1932, when Adolf Hitler was still a political candidate, American journalist Dorothy Thompson interviewed him and reported in Cosmopolitan magazine that he held Jews responsible for all of Germanys problems. Shortly after Hitler became chancellor in 1933, several antisemitic laws were enacted, and Thompson was expelled from the country. In 1942, a member of the World Jewish Congress sent a telegram from Switzerland to the governments of Great Britain and the U.S. warning of a Nazi plan to kill millions of European Jews. Thinking the telegram was merely hearsay, members of the U.S. State Department initially tried to block it from its intended recipient, but the message eventually led to increased public awareness and reaction, according to the Holocaust Museums website. Pikes Peak Library District is hosting Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibit chronicling the U.S.s relationship to one of the largest mass killings in history. The display is set to visit 50 libraries across the U.S. one in each state. Teona Shainidze-Krebs, PPLDs chief librarian and CEO, said on Saturday that while the Holocaust began roughly 80 years ago, it raises questions that are still relevant today. What is the relationship between knowledge and action? Shainidze-Krebs asked. How do we balance humanitarian concerns with political realities? And what are the pressures and motivations that influence individual behavior? Todd Hennessy, president of Colorado Holocaust Educators, said the exhibits arrival in Colorado could not have been more timely. In 2020, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law House Bill 20-1336, making Holocaust and genocide education a requirement for high school graduation. The law went into effect in July. From an educational standpoint, from a classroom standpoint, this is the best time possible to have this exhibit here, Hennessy said. These exhibits are absolutely essential for the educational process. Hennessy pointed out that the Holocaust has been taught in Colorado schools for decades. I grew up on the Western Slope in the 1980s, and we learned about the Holocaust then, he said. What this mandate has done is bring it to the forefront and make it apparent how important this truly is. The exhibit is a comprehensive visual study of the years leading up to the Holocaust, what Americans leaders may have known beforehand, and the events that resulted in U.S. involvement in World War II. It is designed to elicit strong feelings, and it asks tough questions, but officials said the answers are not as simple as they might seem. At the time of the Holocaust, the U.S. was still reeling from the longest and most devastating economic downturn in its history, and the nations leaders had legitimate reasons for being reluctant to get involved in a crisis thousands of miles from its own troubled shores. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Americans and the Holocaust website also notes that the U.S., on its own, could not have stopped the mass killing even if leaders had acted sooner. This history is not easy, Hennessy said. This history is complex. One factor that makes the Holocaust unique among historical events is that certain factions claim that the death tolls are exaggerated, or that the mass killing never took place, Hennessy said. People dont deny that the Industrial Revolution took place, he said. People dont deny that the stock market crash in the '20s took place. But people deny that the Holocaust happened. The evidence is astronomical that it did take place. And most of the evidence was provided by the perpetrators. Senior Librarian Melissa Mitchell, who spearheaded the campaign to bring the display to Colorado Springs, said many European Jews attempted to flee to the U.S., sparking an immigration debate that mirrors todays national discourse. This exhibit shows that immigration has always been a hot topic in the U.S., Mitchell said. What we are seeing now is not new. The exhibit will be at the East Library through Oct. 11 and is free of charge, officials said. Several school tours, workshops and other activities are scheduled during the coming weeks. Mitchell and Hennessy said that while discussions about the Holocaust are uncomfortable, it is important to understand its place in history and the shadow it continues to cast. The Holocaust did not begin with the concentration camps. It didnt begin with the gas chambers, Hennessy said. It starts with singling people out, and with the promotion of an us vs. them mentality. That still happens today. If we continue to ignore that, if we continue to allow politics to make that mainstream and acceptable, we run the risk of going down that same path. Parts of the exhibit are definitely disturbing, Mitchell said. But we need to remember (the Holocaust) and acknowledge it so it doesnt happen again. Two Las Animas County deputies accused of using excessive force during a traffic stop are no longer employed by the Sherriff's Office, a county spokesperson told The Gazette on Monday. Former Las Animas County sheriff's Deputy Mikhail Noel and Lt. Henry Trujillo face a lawsuit alleging that they unlawfully arrested and assaulted Kenneth Espinoza of Colorado and then made false claims about the incident. Dep. Mikhail Noel and Lt. Henry Trujillo were terminated from employment on August 25, 2023. Due to pending litigation, no further information will be released, the Sheriff's Office told Gazette news partner KKTV. The lawsuit alleges that Noel and Trujillo tased Espinoza and pointed their guns at him during a traffic stop on Nov. 29, 2022, in Trinidad while Espinoza was waiting in his truck for his son. The lawsuit alleges that Espinoza broke no laws, did not resist arrest, that Trujillo and Noel used unreasonable force with Espinoza during the interaction and that the pair lied about the incident to the Sheriff's Office. "Defendants Trujillo and Noel violently and without justification assaulted Mr. Espinoza on November 29th, 2022. Mr. Espinoza was simply an innocent bystander, waiting for his son while a traffic stop was conducted," the lawsuit states. "There was no real or apparent threat to the officers. Both Defendants escalated and caused this situation, acted violently and unlawfully, and then wrote minimized and/or falsified statements as to what occurred during the encounter with Mr. Espinoza." Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A statement from Espinoza's attorneys on Monday said the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office recommended a criminal investigation against Trujillo and Noel after reviewing the incident. KKTV released the body camera footage of the incident earlier this year. Court records show that the lawsuit against Trujillo and Noel remains active in federal court. By News Centre Azerbaijan and Turkiye coordinate issues of mutual interest in all directions, including in the diplomatic field, and take steps in accordance with each other's interests. This manifests itself more prominently in regional issues, which are quite sensitive at the moment. The behind-the-scenes issue of the telephone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan once again confirms how well-founded the Azerbaijan-Turkiye brotherhood is. According to the information obtained from diplomatic sources, during the last three days, the office of the Prime Minister of Armenia made serious efforts for a telephone conversation between Pashinyan and Erdogan. The Turkish side appealed to the Azerbaijani side in accordance with fraternal relations, during the telephone conversation between President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish leader Erdogan, this point was discussed, along with other issues, and Azerbaijan's position was studied. As always, the leadership of Azerbaijan showed constructiveness and openness to dialogue and did not object to the contact between the leaders of Turkiye and Armenia. With this step, Turkiye has demonstrated that it attaches great importance to fraternal relations and deeply respects the interests of Azerbaijan. The obtained information also stated that the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations should be carried out parallel and synchronously with the process of normalizing Azerbaijan-Armenian relations. Azerbaijan and Turkiye have a common position on this issue. Armenia should also understand that the problems of the region can be solved only with the countries of the region. It is impossible to achieve any result by making trips outside the region, addressing appeals, calling the leaders of individual countries and establishing reconciliation. For this, the 3+3 format offered by Azerbaijan is the most acceptable platform, and it is necessary to try to solve the issues in this framework. On September 10, at around 1:30 p.m., a military serviceman of the Azerbaijan Army Eminov Khayyam son of Mahal was injured by an anti-personnel mine planted by the intelligence-sabotage group of illegal Armenian armed groups for the purpose of sabotage on the way to the security of our units in the territory of Aghdam district, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry After providing first aid, our wounded serviceman was immediately evacuated to a military medical facility. There is no danger to his life. At present, the demining work is being carried out by the engineering-fortification units. Recently, remnants of the Armenian armed groups in the Garabagh economic region and illegal Armenian armed formations are observed massively laying of new mines in our territories, thus continuing the policy of mine terrorism against Azerbaijan. It took 30 years So the city has decided to eliminate left turns at Platte and Nevada. My response: what took so long? I moved here in 1991. My job did not start for two weeks, so I spent this time walking and driving around town. One of the first things that struck me was that intersection. I immediately realized that allowing any left turns there was a horrible idea. So it is about time the city finally wised up. It only took 30 years. The other thing I noticed right away was that Powers Boulevard needed to become a freeway spur, like I-225 in Denver. Oh, that didnt happen either. Way too late for that now. Jerry Butenhoff Colorado Springs This is not hazing, its training I read the article in the Gazette about the DOD making changes at the academy and I am appalled that the new cadets are complaining about having to crawl through the mud, getting yelled at and that feel like they are in a prison. Give me a break this is a military academy not a civilian university. Are these latest cadets so spoiled and think that they are so special that they cant handle getting dirty and getting yelled at. The real world doesnt care how special you or your parents think your are. How do you expect to lead soldiers into battle if you dont like dirt. The DOD is doing you a great disservice by making it easier for you and putting you in harms way by not making this experience harder and tougher. Are you even being taught that you have each others backs or will you just save yourself and leave the others behind? I believe that if you are ever in a war zone and get captured you wont survive a day because you were not given the opportunity to experience hardships and given examples of what it is like to be a POW. This is not hazing, this is training. I think the biographies of former POWS should be required reading. Many have said the training they received at the academies helped them through their POW experience. Many Vietnam POWS were held for up to eight years. Could any of todays graduates survive this. I think not. The story of AFA graduate Lance Sijan should be read by all. Im beginning to think that Academy graduates are wimps. I used to be proud of the Academy and its cadets but have that opinion no longer. Pam Devereux Colorado Springs Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Judges not adhering to the laws Once again, the Gazette brings an issue to light that would otherwise be swept under the rug; today, it was regarding Colorados State Judges not adhering to the laws that require them to file financial disclosures. Community members might begin to ask themselves why. Why are the officials not taking this issue seriously? Why are our judges not adhering to the laws? And what are the judges that are refusing to disclose financials, hiding? Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct states that judges must file public disclosures annually. Furthermore, it says that a judge should hold oneself to high standards of conduct to preserve the judiciarys integrity. How are the citizens of Colorado supposed to have trust and respect in our judicial system when our judges do not feel the need to conform to the laws? The people need to have confidence in our government officials so that our community may be strong. If there is nothing to hide, file the disclosures. My hope is that the judges will indeed make this a matter of importance in the future so that they do not lose the communities trust. Falisha Dawson Colorado Springs UAWs exorbitant demands I hate unions. Theyre kind of like HOAs, a small group of people want to tell me what to do with my property. In the same way, unions want to tell businesses how to spend their money on their workers. Originally, unions were about working conditions and worker safety, good things to work out. Today, they want outrageous wages and safety nets like CEOs. The UAW wants a 46% wage increase, 40-hour pay for a 32-hour work week, and old-style lifetime pensions for new hires. Greedy much? What fantasy world do these union leaders live in? Is it the job of unions to request the outrageous and impossible in hopes of getting the okay and good for now? As it is, weve got more than enough vehicles available that no one can afford to buy anyway. A couple years off from car making could make the UAW think twice about their exorbitant demands. Letem strike! Joseph Ford Colorado Springs Double standard of justice I am appalled with the sentences being handed out to people from January 6. It was not insurrection, at best it was a protest that got out of hand. The sentences are way out of the spectrum of fair punishments. One man received 22 years, and he was not even there. Murderers, child molesters, and rapists get less punishment than the people who were expressing their frustrations with a questionable election. I would like to know why all the people who protested by burning businesses, looting, burning cars, beating people, spitting in police officers faces, pelting police officers with rocks and frozen bottles of water, and many other atrocities, were not held accountable. What about people who threatened Supreme Court justices, including Chuck Schumer. Where is justice being enforced for them? How about when protestors got out of hand at the White House and President Donald Trump and his family had to be taken to safety....where was the outrage? The double standard of justice is so obvious in the United States now. Real criminals literally get away with murder and a plethora of crimes without consequence. Shame on the judges and corrupt legal representatives who took oaths to uphold the constitution and laws of our country. America, wake up! Look around at the unfairness around us. Just remember, it could happen to any of us. Theresa Brown Colorado Springs The federal appeals court based in Denver convened its annual conference last week, featuring an appearance from a U.S. Supreme Court justice, panels about criminal sentencing and election law, and private discussions between judges at all levels of the federal system. In even-numbered years, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, which has jurisdiction over federal appeals in Colorado and five neighboring states, holds a gathering of lawyers and judges in Colorado Springs. This year, the court hosted its judges-only meeting from Sept. 6-8 in Santa Fe, N.M. The 10th Circuit declined to allow Colorado Politics to attend the 2023 conference. However, the chair of the conference's programming committee, Judge Veronica S. Rossman of Colorado, agreed to speak with Colorado Politics on the record afterward about the event. As with the previous year's gathering, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch joined the conference and participated in an interview. According to Rossman, he did not address current controversies surrounding the nation's highest court. "His introductory remarks were really focused on his time on the circuit," said Rossman. Gorsuch, a 2017 appointee of Donald Trump, was a 10th Circuit judge until his elevation. Rossman said Gorsuch was interviewed by Jeffrey Rosen, a professor at The George Washington University Law School and leader of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Gorsuch is also an honorary co-chair of the center's board of trustees, along with retired Justice Stephen G. Breyer. "His discussion with Jeff was entirely about the initiatives that the National Constitution Center was putting forth on civics education," Rossman explained. Neither Rosen nor a Supreme Court spokesperson immediately responded to emails seeking comment. Gorsuch's reported lack of commentary about revelations of his colleagues' entanglements with wealthy individuals and declining public approval of the Supreme Court stood in contrast to the more explicit comments other justices have made at recent circuit court conferences. Earlier this month, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh told a conference of the Sixth Circuit that he hopes "some concrete steps" will occur soon on Supreme Court ethics reform. Justice Elena Kagan in August voiced her view at a Ninth Circuit conference that Congress may regulate certain aspects of the Supreme Court a counterpoint to Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s blunt rejection of Congress's regulatory authority, which he expressed to The Wall Street Journal. Rossman, a 2021 appointee of President Joe Biden to the 10th Circuit, told Colorado Politics that no financial sources from outside the judiciary supported the conference. She said the first half of the three-day gathering involved business meetings between various groups of federal judges, along with an executive session to discuss judicial matters. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. "I don't feel comfortable sharing the subjects of the individual judicial business meetings," she said. Unlike the larger conferences in Colorado Springs that lawyers also attend, the odd-year judges' events focus on discussions of regional and national issues that affect the work of judges. They are a "means of bringing judges together so they can talk on their own and exchange ideas and think creatively and broadly about the judicial endeavor," she said. Shon Hopwood, a formerly incarcerated man and now a professor at Georgetown Law, spoke about criminal sentencing and sentencing reform at the federal level, as well as "the need for second chances in our criminal justice system," said Rossman. There was a panel discussion about the work of the Supreme Court, featuring former 10th Circuit Judges Robert H. Henry and Michael W. McConnell, UC Berkeley law dean Erwin Chemerinsky, and Supreme Court litigator Erin Murphy. Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich of Colorado moderated a panel about election law featuring three academics. Although the 10th Circuit does not often weigh in on such cases, the Supreme Court has taken up issues this past term involving the drawing of congressional districts and the role of the judiciary in reviewing states' election protocols. "It is certainly on the radar for everyone," Rossman said. "Federal judges not just appellate judges, but district judges in the 10th Circuit need to be thinking about how to understand the recent Supreme Court jurisprudence and to anticipate there might be cases concerning election law issues in their courts." Finally, the conference featured a panel discussion about managing stress and self-care. "We talk about access to justice, we think about people being able to come to the courts," explained Rossman. "But it also means the judge who presides needs to be present, accessible and ready to serve the public. I thought that was a really important point." The heads of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts and the Federal Judicial Center were also in attendance to provide a national update on judicial budget issues and "educational initiatives." Rossman said she is still reflecting on what she learned, but she appreciated the collegiality the judges from across the circuit showed. "For me, I'm still fairly new and there were a lot of new judges there," she said. "Some folks hadn't been there for more than three years. It reinforced how privileged I am to serve on the federal courts with the dedicated judicial officers from around the 10th Circuit." The conference took place at the La Fonda on the Plaza hotel. In addition to Rossman, circuit judges Tymkovich and Joel M. Carson III of New Mexico served on the programming committee, as did U.S. District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang of Colorado, U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura Fashing of New Mexico and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael E. Romero of Colorado. The near future of school busing is murky as state leaders push for investment in electric transportation, attempting to accelerate the transition from noisier, dirtier diesel engines. Even as some school districts buy in early, others say too many outside variables leave electric options out of reach today. Gov. Jared Polis on Sept. 1 announced 13 school districts and charter schools would receive a collective $24 million in state and federal funding to support their shifts to cleaner vehicles by way of the Colorado Electric School Bus Grant Program. Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 was the only Pikes Peak region beneficiary to make this years inaugural recipient list. The district will use its grant of up to $375,000 toward purchasing a second electric bus. The bus should begin routes sometime between spring and the start of next school year, according to D-8 Director of Transportation Robert Leach. Theres obviously the safety and environmental impact benefits of having the electric bus. Having a quieter bus also helps with student management issues. Kids don't have to yell over a diesel-powered engine, Leach said. That's been the big concern is just providing a safer, cleaner ride for students. Ground-level ozone is the Front Range's most pressing air quality concern, according to the Regional Air Quality Council. Ozone is formed largely by human-caused emissions from diesel and gas-powered vehicles. In October, D-8 became the first school district in El Paso County to purchase an electric bus when it added Bus E-1 to its fleet. The move was part of a pilot program to examine potential benefits and cost effectiveness versus conventional diesel-powered vehicles. The program also supports the districts Clean Air Initiative, designed to reduce Fountain-Fort Carsons carbon footprint by examining its daily operations and making adjustments. So far, the findings have been positive, Leach said. E-1 has never been in the shop and has had little wear and tear on its brakes because the bus regenerates itself when slowing down, Leach said. He estimates an 80-90% reduction in parts and maintenance fees. The energy it takes to charge is also cheaper than gas, district spokesperson Christy McGee said, and there are reports that electric buses are half as expensive to run per mile than their diesel counterparts. Those numbers have not yet been actualized as they are still collecting data on the recent fleet addition, she added. It doesnt make sense for districts to buy new diesel buses knowing they would be stuck with them and their high costs, Polis said during the Sept. 1 grant recipient announcement. I expect this transition is rapidly catching on. We are accelerating it with these grants. In one, two or three years, it really doesnt make sense for any district to provide a diesel bus. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. But other school districts caution the transition to electric transportation isnt quite so cut and dried. In Lewis-Palmer School District 38, spokesperson Mark Belcher said several factors prevent attempts at shifting energy sources. The district also feels there is much research left to do and evaluation left to conduct to ensure electric buses are a viable option for safe, reliable transportation. District 38 is certainly open to and actively investigating the feasibility of electric fleet vehicles, and where grants exist for districts our size, they undoubtedly make decisions easier. At this time, however, electric (busing) is still a relatively new concept for school districts, Belcher said in a written statement. In District 38, we have a geographically wide and diverse district with severe weather at various times. Additionally, we do not currently have the infrastructure to power electric vehicles, another great expense. Colorado Springs School District 11s transportation team has had ongoing discussions about deploying electric buses, but cost is a large prohibitor, according to spokesperson Devra Ashby. Whereas a diesel bus costs about $140,000, electric buses nearly triple that price, with D-11 receiving vendor estimates around $400,000. Accompanying chargers add $20,000 for each bus. Whats more, electric buses have about 3% loss of range per year, Ashby said. Leach concedes the upfront price for electric buses can be a challenge, but initial studies suggest costs will break even within six to 10 years. Grants ease or even eliminate the added financial burden. D-8 was already preparing to retire an old bus and purchase a new one in its stead, Leach said. With the grants support, he projects the district will spend less on the purchase of an electric bus than it would have on a diesel-powered bus, although it is not yet clear how funds will be distributed. Money will also support the disposal of a diesel bus and training of technicians to work on high-voltage vehicles. It made great financial sense to go after this grant, Leach said. It would be very challenging for districts to go to electric without the grant. The D-11 facilities team spoke with Colorado Springs Utilities about power grid infrastructure as it eyed potential grants, according to Ashby. It was told the grid is not yet able to accommodate an entire D-11 fleet of electric vehicles, suggesting a total shift to the clean energy source could be a ways down the road. We dont know the true forecast for home-based chargers or, in this case, a school-based charging network for school buses. Theres a lot of unknowns right now that we do our best to forecast in the end, Colorado Springs Utilities spokesperson Steve Berry said. Its one of those things where the true demand is a little uncertain as it pertains to electric vehicles here locally, and then what the demands on the grid would be as a result. We are taking every step that we can conceivably take now to prepare our grid for that kind of future. Even so, conversations continue in school districts across the region as they prepare for what is likely an inevitable shift, however near or far that shift might be. Districts arent the sole decision-makers when it comes to shifting a fleets fuel source, either, with partnerships and understanding needing to be forged between utility providers, repair technicians and beyond, Belcher said. Still, District 38 sees that electric (busing) is very much so in the future of our region and state, and we will monitor opportunities for grants for (busing), as well as grants for infrastructure like charging stations, moving forward. Criminal defendants may validly enter into a specific type of guilty plea, even if they insist they are innocent and no strong evidence of guilt supports the plea, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday. More than five decades ago, in the case of North Carolina v. Alford, the nation's highest court upheld the constitutionality of a guilty plea in which defendants proclaim their innocence, but nonetheless decide it is in their interest to take a plea deal. According to one 2004 dataset, 6.5% of defendants incarcerated for state offenses entered "Alford pleas." The question before the state Supreme Court was whether judges must find evidence of guilt exists for the offense in question before they can accept an Alford plea. The answer was no. Instead, a defendant's Alford plea, like other guilty pleas, must only be free from coercion and made with an understanding of the consequences. "Although a finding of strong evidence of actual guilt can show that an Alford plea comports with due process, it is not a constitutional prerequisite for every such plea," wrote Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright in the Sept. 11 opinion. Delano Marco Medina appealed his case to the Supreme Court after entering an Alford plea in Lake County for the offense of felony menacing. Medina's attorney at the time said Medina did not believe in his "heart of hearts" that he committed the crime, but the guilty plea was designed to dismiss several other felony cases against Medina and impose a relatively light sentence on him. Only later, when there was allegedly new evidence of Medina's innocence of the menacing offense, did he seek to withdraw his plea. He argued the trial judge improperly allowed him to proceed with his Alford plea, despite the requirement in Colorado's criminal rules that guilty pleas have a "factual basis" meaning evidence of guilt. Although Medina acknowledged he made the Alford plea voluntarily, "Mr. Medina continued to say, 'I am innocent.' This shows he is not understanding what is going on," attorney Krista A. Schelhaas argued to the Supreme Court earlier this year. The Court of Appeals previously examined whether Medina's plea was knowing, voluntary and intelligent, which is a requirement of due process. A three-judge panel looked to the original Alford decision, which involved a defendant who pleaded guilty to murder while maintaining his innocence because a guilty verdict at trial could have resulted in the death penalty. The panel determined Alford did not contain a constitutional requirement for strong evidence of guilt. While courts across the country have disagreed about whether a factual basis for an Alford plea is necessary, the panel declined to impose such a requirement in Colorado. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Even if Medina pleaded guilty to an offense he did not commit, wrote Judge Sueanna P. Johnson, he did so to purposefully receive a "very generous" plea deal that resulted in dismissal of his other criminal cases in which Medina did not dispute he was guilty. On appeal to the state Supreme Court, the justices recognized the safeguard that comes from convicting defendants only when there are facts suggesting their guilt. "The defendant doesnt have to admit guilt, but the whole point of saying theres some factual basis is to ensure we dont enter a judgment of conviction against an innocent person," said Justice Richard L. Gabriel. Alford pleas can be controversial. In a 2003 article, law professor Albert W. Alschuler argued there can "hardly be a clearer violation of due process than sending someone to prison who has neither been found guilty nor admitted his guilt." Similarly, law professor Bryan Ward has observed that Alford pleas provide a "false sense of security," especially for those convicted of sex offenses who typically must take responsibility for their actions to receive treatment. The state Supreme Court ultimately decided there is no constitutional requirement for a judge to find evidence of guilt before accepting an Alford plea. Boatright noted such evidence can be one way but not the only way for judges to determine a defendant has voluntarily entered a guilty plea with knowledge of the consequences. "While a defendants choice to plead guilty may be influenced by the factual basis for the charge, it may equally be influenced by other considerations," Boatright explained. In Medina's case, he chose to plead guilty to a crime he believed he was innocent of, in exchange for one year in prison and the dismissal of other charges he acknowledged he was guilty of. In doing so, Medina gave up his right to have a judge find that evidence of his guilt existed, and he indicated he understood what was happening. "So long as the defendants choice to plead guilty is voluntary, knowing, and intelligent, the Constitutions mandate is met," Boatright concluded. The case is Medina v. People. Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government. The state Supreme Court is waiting to take action on a proposed racial bias rule until next year, most likely, while the judiciary's coordinator for diversity efforts has departed for the executive branch. Racial bias rule awaits action In February, the Colorado Supreme Court held a public hearing about a proposed change to the rules of criminal jury selection. In short, the rule would make it harder for prosecutors to remove people of color from jury pools for reasons that, while not explicitly racial, have historically correlated with race. Prosecutors opposed the draft rule, while defense attorneys and some trial judges spoke in favor of it. Since then, 200 days have passed the longest period of inaction after a public hearing in recent history. Colorado Politics reported that prosecutors and defense attorneys were intrigued, but they hoped the delay was indicative of careful consideration of a difficult subject. Quickly, the court disclosed an email that Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr., the liaison to the criminal rules committee, wrote in June explaining that the Supreme Court has decided to wait to act on the rule change until it resolves three pending appeals dealing with racial bias in jury selection. That means we likely won't see any new rule until 2024. Public defender Joyce Akhahenda, who is in favor of the rule, did not see a need to put the cases before the proposal. "I hope that the delay to wait on these decisions is not indicative of a negative response because there is still a need for the proposed rule change," she said. Judicial diversity Sumi Lee, the head of judicial diversity outreach for Colorado, stepped down last month to join the administration of Gov. Jared Polis. Lee's position was established by the legislature in 2019 and she has coordinated various efforts to increase the diversity of candidates applying for state judgeships. Sumi did a monumental job in launching this program at Judicial. ... Her outreach and educational efforts have highlighted judgeship opportunities for a broader range of applicants across the state, and her work has inspired a whole generation of law students to consider a career on the bench. We are grateful to Sumi for her extraordinary contributions, and we look forward to building on the solid foundation she has created for us in this position. Justice Monica M. Marquez "We've witnessed remarkable progress, and her legacy will continue to inspire us as we work towards a more representative and equitable judiciary." Deborah Yim, president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado The Judicial Department has not yet posted a job announcement for Lee's position. Heard on appeal The Supreme Court will hear an appeal out of Weld County in which the jury instructions deviated from the offense prosecutors charged originally, and also an El Paso County case that may require dismissal of the criminal charges due to the prosecution's delay. The state's Court of Appeals decided a former judge's admitted racial bias did not affect her ruling in a Hispanic man's case, but that allegations of racism in a government office that represents children were "disturbing." A man challenged the dismissal of his defamation suit against a reporter, as well as the constitutionality of a law designed to protect the freedom of the press. The Court of Appeals found no "lucid reasoning" to his arguments. A Montrose County judge declined to appoint counsel for a woman before terminating her legal rights over her child. But that was a mistake because she never gave up her right to representation, the Court of Appeals concluded. Yet again, an Adams County judge's attempt to explain reasonable doubt in plain English prompted the Court of Appeals to reverse a defendant's convictions. The court also chastised a Jefferson County judge for suggesting that jurors be considerate of courthouse staff who needed to stick around for their after-hours deliberations. In federal news The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit declined to let a new Colorado law increasing the firearm purchasing age take effect while the state appeals a trial judge's injunction. A man incarcerated in the El Paso County jail can't sue over lax COVID-19 protocols because he didn't specifically follow the jail's policy for reporting problems. A pair of trial judges seemed to misunderstand that evidence of potential innocence emerged after a man's murder trial, not during it. The 10th Circuit returned the case to the trial court for evaluation of the man's innocence claim. Two months after the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a Christian web designer in 303 Creative v. Elenis, the 10th Circuit sent the case back to the trial court to implement the justices' decision. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Colorado's federal trial court saw a record acquittal rate in criminal prosecutions last year, as well as an increase in the time it took for civil cases to reach a jury trial. Some judges cautioned, however, that parties are not taking advantage of opportunities to go to trial sooner. A federal judge partially dismissed a man's lawsuit that seeks to hold Denver police and Denver Health liable for allegedly beating and forcibly X-raying him. Calling it the "epitome of the typical race discrimination case," a federal judge allowed a Hispanic man to proceed with his lawsuit against two state troopers who allegedly profiled and arrested him without probable cause of a crime. An autistic student at the University of Northern Colorado asked a judge to reinstate him for the 2023-2024 school year, alleging the university failed to accommodate his disability before disciplining him. A judge declined to take immediate action. A judge dismissed the religious discrimination lawsuit brought by a former Douglas County schools administrator, who claimed he was terminated after he raised his religious beliefs on a staff-wide email list. A Denver firefighter trainee did not show how her race, sex or disability were the cause of her termination, a judge concluded. A judge told a trio of Gunnison landlords to their faces that they need to start complying with the anti-discrimination measures they agreed to three years ago, or else "punishments are going to start." Jury Appreciation Day This year, the General Assembly enacted a bill establishing Jury Appreciation Day, a commemorative holiday intended to recognize jury service. Attorney Brad Ross-Shannon spoke to Colorado Politics about the holiday and the critiques raised by some lawmakers. Here is an excerpt: Colorado Politics: So the bill did not have unanimous support. Some lawmakers pointed out that juries are an imperfect mechanism of deciding cases, one that both contains and reflects society's biases. In particular, at a committee hearing, Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, described the "racial justice implications" of jury service and the "black box of unelected, unaccountable, uncorrectable secrecy" that happens in jury deliberations. Should people be thinking about that aspect of jury service as well on Jury Appreciation Day? Brad Ross-Shannon: The whole idea of Jury Appreciation Day was to recognize the difficult job that jurors do. In terms of those comments, it was something we had not addressed, not really contemplated. While our jury system is not perfect, jurors generally get it right and they treat people whatever race, gender, standing they have in the community they treat people fairly. And that's what we wanted to recognize, and really have state officials recognize that we appreciate the job that they do. CP: Do you have any suggestions for how to improve jury service for the people who get called to do it? And also improving jury outcomes, meaning the delivery of justice? BRS: It's the best system in the world and we've had discussion amongst (American Board of Trial Advocates) members that jurors are really, to use one person's term, the best "BS barometers" around. We're all human beings, so there's always going to be potentially an anomaly of a jury verdict, but it is the best system because with six people on a civil jury or 12 people on a criminal jury, you really get rid of agendas that any single individual may have, whether consciously or subconsciously. Vacancies and appointments Applications are due by Sept. 29 for those wishing to succeed Judges John Daniel Dailey and David Furman on the 22-member Court of Appeals. Dailey has served for 23 years and Furman has been on the court for 18. Both are retiring. Also, applications are due by Oct. 4 for a vacancy in the First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties) caused by the retirement of District Court Judge Randall C. Arp. Finally, applications are due by Sept. 29 to succeed District Court Judge Thomas K. Kane in the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties). Kane is retiring after nearly 30 years on the bench. Miscellaneous proceedings Six Colorado voters have sued the secretary of state, seeking to block Donald Trump from appearing on future ballots due to his alleged role in stoking the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. A Colorado Springs man and two groups are suing the city to block new housing for homeless adults from being built. Denver's city council approved a nearly $5 million settlement in response to a lawsuit alleging police selectively enforced the city's temporary curfew against racial justice protesters in 2020. Weeks after The Denver Gazette reported that dozens of judges had not filed financial disclosures for one or more years as state law requires, seven trial judges have still not corrected their mistake. The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday rejected a lower court decision that would have potentially deterred lawyers from disseminating information to the public about class action lawsuits. Although lawyers generally enjoy immunity from defamation claims if they are speaking about their own litigation, the state's Court of Appeals previously identified an exception to that shield. Specifically, the court believed that when attorneys are publicizing a class action case affecting a group of injured plaintiffs, they can be sued for their inflammatory statements if they can actually figure out who belongs in the group without needing to turn to the media. But Justice Richard L. Gabriel, in the Supreme Court's Sept. 11 opinion, rebuffed the Court of Appeals' interpretation as "unworkable." Moreover, the appellate court ignored the fact that, even if the lawyers representing a class of nail technicians could identify everyone who belonged in the plaintiffs' group through employment records, such documentation was not available at the very beginning of the case. "Accordingly, early outreach through the press can benefit a class action regardless of whether it will ultimately be 'easy' to ascertain the class members from the employers records and documents that will be produced later," Gabriel wrote. In evaluating the case, the justices heard arguments about the consequences of allowing lawyers themselves to be sued for damaging statements they make when publicizing class action lawsuits. On the one hand, permitting defamation claims to proceed could discourage lawyers from making false accusations in the first place. On the other hand, it might cause attorneys to think twice before speaking publicly thereby decreasing the opportunity for injured plaintiffs to learn that someone is advocating for them. "Today, the Colorado Supreme Court recognized that publicity is essential to the work of effective public interest lawyers who are educating the community about their legal rights, and that lawyers and our clients should not fear being sued in retaliation for speaking truthfully about their cases," said Mari Newman, one of the defendants. In the appeal before the Supreme Court, the law firms of Towards Justice and Killmer, Lane & Newman filed a class action lawsuit in 2018, claiming Ella Bliss Beauty Bar failed to pay its nail technicians for required custodial work. During a press conference, one of the attorneys, Newman, said that nail technicians had to clean the businesses "for no pay whatsoever" and that Ella Bliss would "pick and choose and only pay for the hours they feel like paying." A press release also stated Ella Bliss "forced" technicians to work for no pay. While the law firms were litigating the class action in federal court, Ella Bliss filed a defamation lawsuit against them in state court. The law firms defended their initial statements to the media as an attempt to reach potential nail technicians in the class and to educate the public about its legal rights. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals subsequently ruled that Newman's statements and part of the press release were not shielded from a defamation claim. Because the lawsuit alleged the number of nail technicians in the class was "easily ascertainable" by looking at Ella Bliss' records, the appellate panel agreed it was unnecessary to try and alert potential plaintiffs through reputation-damaging comments to the media. "Said differently, according to the attorneys, their purpose in speaking with the press and issuing the press release was to reach nail technicians who had worked for the employer," wrote then-Chief Judge Steve Bernard. "Yet the complaint in the federal lawsuit undermines the need to engage in that form of communication." On appeal to the Supreme Court, legal aid organizations, the ACLU of Colorado and multiple media entities backed the plaintiffs' attorneys, warning the Court of Appeals' newfound exception to immunity could affect the public's ability to receive information about noteworthy litigation. At oral arguments, the justices appeared skeptical that Newman's inflammatory statements fell outside of the "litigation privilege" in the first place. The privilege prevents attorneys from being sued for defamation when they speak about a lawsuit. "There is something odd about the idea that simply by reiterating what is said in the complaint," said Justice Melissa Hart, "you could be subject to a defamation lawsuit." The court ultimately decided that Newman's statements were related to the class action lawsuit and were shielded by the litigation privilege. As for the exception the Court of Appeals created for certain class action lawsuits, Gabriel called it "unworkable in practice" and an unwarranted limitation on the shield from defamation. He cautioned, however, that lawyers cannot make damaging, false statements without any consequence. Gabriel cited the recent case of Jenna Ellis, an attorney with former President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign, who made public misrepresentations about a "stolen" election. Colorado's presiding disciplinary judge approved a public censure of Ellis in March. Lawyers "may face sanctions or disciplinary action for violations of applicable court rules and rules of professional conduct in connection with their public statements," Gabriel warned. Attorneys for Ella Bliss did not respond to a request for comment. The case is Killmer Lane & Newman, LLP et al. v. BKP, Inc. et al. Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional comments. The 3rd meeting of the Joint Commission on cooperation in the military field between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran ended, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijan Defence Ministry. At the meeting held in the International Military Cooperation Department, the results of the negotiations were discussed and the sides once again exchanged views on expanding relations in several areas of cooperation in the military sphere. In his closing speech, the head of the delegation of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Major General Mohammad Ahadi noted that some forces are attempting to undermine the current friendly and neighborly relations between the countries by spreading unfounded and false information in recent days and in this regard stressed the importance of mutual visits and working meetings. At the meeting of the Joint Commission, the implemented measures were highly appreciated, and a good basis for the development of cooperation between the countries at the bilateral, regional and international levels was emphasized. In the end, the final protocol of the meeting was signed. Maverik will stay, Kum & Go will leave and Good 2 Go has arrived as part of big changes to Colorado Springs convenience store landscape. Utah-based Maverik completed its purchase last month of Kum & Go of Iowa, the two chains recently announced. As a result, 120 to 140 Kum & Go stores in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming will be re-branded as Maveriks starting in January, Maverik said. Kum & Go has 86 stores in Colorado, and online checks show about 25 of them are in Colorado Springs, Fountain and Monument. Maverik, meanwhile, has 29 stores in Colorado and four in the Springs area. Maverik and Kum & Go, both longtime, family-owned convenience store chains, announced their merger in April, but it was unknown at the time what that might mean for stores in markets such as Colorado Springs. As they await their rebranding, all Springs-area Kum & Go stores will remain open, a Maverik spokeswoman said via email. Meanwhile, Maverik has sold three of its local stores to Good 2 Go, an Idaho-based convenience store chain thats entering the Colorado Springs market. Those Maverik locations at 711 E. Fillmore St. and 7491 Black Forest Road in Colorado Springs and 6180 Timber Rail Point in Fountain already have been converted to Good 2 Go stores, with new signs and banners heralding the change. Each of those Maverik stores was a short distance from a Kum & Go location; in the case of the Maverik on Fillmore, it was across the street from Kum & Go. The purchase of these Maverik stores was a special circumstance and we expect that any future Good 2 Go growth in the Colorado Springs market would come from new Good 2 Go stores, Caleb Shiley, a Good 2 Go spokesman, said via email. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. He didnt say how many total stores Good 2 Go envisions for the Springs market. We think our Colorado Springs friends (we call our customers friends) will love what Good 2 Go Stores has to offer and we will continue to look for growth opportunities in the future, Shiley added. Good 2 Go liked the areas where its new stores are located in Colorado Springs and Fountain, Shiley said. The teams in our stores are fun and the friends (customers) that shop our stores are just as fun, he said. These are vibrant, growing neighborhoods with lots of personality and that fits well with who we are. In addition to buying three stores in the Springs and Fountain, Good 2 Go has purchased six more in the Denver area, Utah and Wyoming, Shiley said. Like restaurants and retailers, competition is fierce among brick-and-mortar convenience store chains. 7-Eleven long has dominated the Colorado Springs market, along with Circle K, Loaf N Jug and several independents, among others. Kum & Go opened its first Springs store in 2012, and Maverik followed five years later. Since then, other chains that have expanded locally include Murphy Express and United Pacific. QuikTrip, based in Tulsa, Okla., now is expanding to the area with a location in Monument and three more planned in Colorado Springs. Convenience stores sell gas, hot and cold food, snacks, coffee, soft drinks, cigarettes, lottery tickets and many other items for on-the-go customers who want to make a quick purchase and get on their way to work or home. Some chains also have ratcheted up the convenience store experience in recent years. Kum & Go and Maverik have built stores of roughly 5,000 square feet, which are much larger than older 7-Elevens. Kum & Go, Quik Trip and others, meanwhile, have on-site kitchens that prepare fresh food such as pizza and breakfast sandwiches. The 2024 legislative session is likely to see lawmakers trying to figure out how to protect Colorado wetlands following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that applied a more stringent test on what should be considered one. A panel of legislators last month heard pleas from municipal and state officials to come up with a policy to continue to protect the state's wetlands in light of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case that redefined the terms by which a body of water can get protection under the Environmental Protection Agency's "Waters of the United States" rule. They said half of Colorado wetlands meaning nearly a million acres could lose protection and that any state action should provide clarity to water users and businesses, particularly when it comes to permitting. The panel also deliberated practical questions, such as which agency should be in charge of any new permitting program. The high court in May ruled, 9-0, in favor of the Sacketts, an Idaho couple who, in 2004, bought land on which they wanted to build a home. The parcel was located about 300 feet from Priest Lake, one of the state's largest. They began backfilling the lot with dirt and gravel, which earned them the attention of the EPA. The agency said the land contained a protected wetland and blocked that development, in part because the Sacketts did not obtain a permit for dredging and filling from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages wetlands. The Sacketts sued, a process that took more than 14 years to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The majority opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, relied on a 2006 opinion in Rapanos v. United States written by Justice Antonin Scalia. That opinion held "any wetland that does not connect at its surface to another body of federally protected water doesnt merit the same degree of protection." So, why do wetlands matter? Alex Funk, director of water resources & senior counsel for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, offered an answer at the Colorado General Assembly's Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee meeting in August, held during the Colorado Water Congress conference. Funk said almost 90% of fish and wildlife in Colorado rely on the state's wetlands at some point during their lifecycle. That includes species such as the Gunnison sage grouse, greenback cutthroat trout and migratory birds, he said. These ecosystems are also crucial to the state's economy, Funk said, they also provide other benefits, such as filtering pollutants from drinking water or regulating sedimentation that may otherwise clog up infrastructure and reservoirs. One major effect of the Sackett decision is on what's known as the 404 permitting system, which is under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Funk explained. Those permits are used for dredging a river for navigation purposes or filling in wetlands for construction, as was the case with the Sacketts. The court's decision, Funk said, created a narrow definition of "adjacent" that means the wetlands are virtually indistinguishable from a permanent body of water. That's the premise under which the Sacketts sued the EPA, that a road divided the wetlands on their property from a lake, meaning those wetlands were not adjacent. The decision will have significant repercussions on water quality and flood control throughout the United States, Funk said, noting early estimates saying that that 50% of the nation's wetlands will no longer have federal protection some 60 million acres of wetlands. Colorado has about 1.8 million acres of wetlands, and what Sackett means for Colorado is that 50% will lose their protection, according to Aaron Citron of the Nature Conservancy. "Wetlands really are the kidneys of our state water system and we want to make sure they remain healthy," Citron told the committee. That will require Colorado to take its own action decoupled from any action by the federal government to provide certainty to water users, he said. Fort Collins Mayor Jeni James Arndt, a former state representative, talked to the committee about how Sackett could affect her community and noted the federal funding available from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. She said construction projects funded by the act are on the way, such as for more water storage, Front Range Rail or other projects. She told committee members she hopes at least one or two of them would be enticed to come up with legislation: "I just can't overestimate the importance of a thorough, reasonable permitting program that allows permits and protects the environment." The state's next steps also need to consider "environmental justice," according to Breanna Gonzalez, the Colorado field coordinator for Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting and the Outdoors, which is affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation. The Sackett decision will significantly affect Colorado's cultural identity as it relates to hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities pursuits deeply intertwined with state heritage and economy, Gonzalez said. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Fishing, in particular, is a cornerstone of tradition and recreation for local economies, with wetlands supporting ecosystems that sustain fish and wildlife, she said. Such activities play a pivotal role in conservation efforts, added Gonzalez, who asked lawmakers to come up with policies that will confront "environmental injustice" and shield communities from flooding and wildfires, another benefit wetlands provide since they absorb excessive rainfall and snowmelt. Sen. Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, raised a practical question about just where that permitting process would be housed: the Department of Natural Resources or the Department of Public Health and Environment. Arndt replied that would be a choice for lawmakers. Last March, Gov. Jared Polis, in anticipation of the Sackett decision and new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency, set up a task force, managed by the public health department, that is taking comments through the fall on the policy that could be in front of lawmakers next year. Gabe Racz, an attorney with Vranesh and Raisch who is a member of that task force, told lawmakers the state's Water Quality Control Act prohibits the discharge of a pollutant to state waters, as well as authorizes a discharge permit program. But that act does not cover a state dredge and fill permit program, relying on the Army Corps of Engineers for that over the decades. "If Colorado wants to control its water future, then conversations among water users and environmental interests are really a key in order to develop a program that is appropriate for Colorado," Racz said. That policy should be clear on which waters fall under its scope, with a clear list of waters where permits are not required and activities that are not subject to regulation. "This is a lesson from the federal program where ambiguity has been costly, both in terms of environmental protection" and for projects that see delays, which run up costs, he said. A Colorado dredge and fill program should also continue to recognize that projects that operate under a 404 permit are in compliance, he added. "While Colorado statute is clear that we can be reactive and protect our wetlands and streams if they're damaged by dredge and fill activity, our statute does not give Colorado's state government the ability to issue permits" for that activity, said Tricia Oeth, director of environmental health and protection at the state's public health agency. The agency has come up with a temporary policy to protect the status quo, she said, but it only allows the state to respond after damage has occurred to a water body and that policy also doesn't provide certainty or a clear pathway for doing business. "Businesses need certainty in a permitting program," she told lawmakers. To Pelton's question about who is in charge, Oeth said a variety of state agencies are working together, including the departments of natural resources and agriculture. The input they're hearing from groups is to come up with a clear program scope and requirements, and to avoid permitting delays, Oeth said. "We're going to need to be creative here in Colorado to address both of those concerns," she said. Also on the list is the importance of protecting streams and avoiding unintended effects to stream restoration projects, she said. "We do not anticipate proposing anything more onerous than what exists today," Oeth told the committee. "We're looking to protect waters the same way they've been protected since" the 1980s, she said. House Minority Leader Mike Lynch addressed the elephant in the room: Is the public health agency the right home for the policy? "There's absolutely a role for a number of agencies," said Oeth, who also added that the number of permits annually requested would be around 15, as compared to 200 issued every year under other water quality programs. However, she also pointed out that her agency has permitting programs that are similar, such as for construction stormwater. There's expertise that the agency would bring, but that folks are willing to have the conversation about just where that dredge and fill permitting program would be housed. On 7 September 2023, Topchubashov Center hosted a panel at the 32nd Economic Forum in Karpacz, Poland, Azernews reports, citing the Forum. The panel entitled "Human Rights Situation in Iran: The Case of Ethnic Azerbaijanis" gathered several experts from all over the world. In his opening speech, Director of Topchubashov Center Rusif Huseynov, who was moderating the event, explained that the discrimination against Azerbaijanis in Iran is usually an understudied and under-discussed topic, despite their size as the biggest ethnic minority (15-30 million people, according to different estimates) and this panel was to pave way for more discussion in this direction. In his turn, Ramin Jabbarli, a researcher at the University of Washington (Seattle, United States), explained how the discriminatory attitude of different governments in Iran toward the South Azerbaijanis had been conducted over the decades: the Persianization policy, change of toponyms, lack of education in mother tongue, and economic discrimination. Turkan Bozkurt, a researcher at the University of Toronto (Canada), focused on the gender aspects of ethnic group rights in Iran, whose theocracy is known for gender apartheid and misogynistic politics. In this context, ethnic Azerbaijani women in Iran not only face discrimination based on their gender but also their ethnicity. Ms. Bozkurt referred to her human rights reports, which collected extensive data on the females arrested, tortured, and murdered during the months-long Mahsa Amini protests and mentioned influential Azerbaijani women such as Hadis Najafi and Elnaz Rekabi, who had become the icons of those protests. Joseph Epstein, Legislative Fellow, Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) (Washington, DC, United States) who had lately penned a Newsweek article about the gradual disappearance of Lake Urmia, once one of the biggest saltwater lakes, explained why this ecological catastrophe was important to discuss. According to him, the situation around the aforementioned water basin is not only an environmental issue but it might have bigger implications: political, economic, and demographic. If the water level in the lake, which is located in an Azerbaijani-populated province, continues to shrink at this pace, it may cause the second-biggest displacement of population in history. While discussing the lack of interest in the South Azerbaijan cause in the United States, Mr. Epstein suggested the Azerbaijani diaspora become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. The last panelist Dr. Hay Eytan Cohen Yanarocak, a researcher at Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University (Tel-Aviv, Israel) focused more on the geopolitical weight of the South Azerbaijan issue in the Middle Eastern and Caucasus context. According to him, this topic is among the factors that shape Tehran's foreign policy in the direct neighborhood, including an assertive and sometimes unfriendly attitude toward its northern neighbor Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as its geopolitical alignments, such as the partnership with Armenia, again built against Azerbaijan. The panel concluded with a discussion of the lack of interest in the South Azerbaijan cause in the United States, and how the Azerbaijani diaspora could become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. The 32nd Economic Forum, held in Karpacz, Poland, is a traditional forum for thousands of experts. This year's theme is New Values for the Old Continent Europe on the Threshold of Change. The region of Lower Silesia, where the forum is held, is located about 300 km from Warsaw, Berlin, or Prague and is perfectly connected. It is a land of diversity, with amazing mountains, mysterious undergrounds, the Piast Castles Trail, the Land of Extinct Volcanoes, Milicz Ponds, and the Lower Silesian Beer and Wine Trail. The Economic Forum is also known for awarding prizes for the Man of the Year, the Company of the Year, and the Non-governmental Organization of the Year. Over the years, many prominent persons in European politics and economy have been honored with the title of the Economic Forum Man of the Year. The panel at the 32nd Economic Forum in Karpacz provided an important platform for discussing the discrimination against Azerbaijanis in Iran and its impact on Iran's foreign policy. The panelists discussed the domestic ethnic tensions and the regime`s discriminatory policies against the ethnic groups, most of all the Azerbaijanis, amid the Mahsa Amini protests and Tehran's assertive foreign policy. The discussion also highlighted the need for the Azerbaijani diaspora to become more organized to be able to influence American political circles. JOHNSTON Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation today granting a temporary 30-day weight limit exemption for trucks operating on Iowa roads to support the haul of this years crop during harvest. The proclamation will be effective immediately. The proclamation increases the weight allowable for shipment of corn, soybeans, hay, straw, and stover, by 12.5% per axle (up to a maximum of 90,000 pounds) without the need for an oversize/overweight permit. The proclamation applies to loads transported on all highways within Iowa, excluding the federal interstate system. Trucks cannot exceed the trucks regular maximum by more than 12.5% per axle and must obey the posted limits on all roads and bridges. On behalf of Iowas farmers, we extend our gratitude to Governor Reynolds for approval of this proclamation as it is a tremendous help for Iowas corn farmers, said Iowa Corn Growers Association President Jolene Riessen, a farmer from Ida Grove. With the extended weight, a 500-acre Iowa corn farmer would require 12 fewer truckloads and a 1,000-acre Iowa Corn farmer would require 25 fewer truckloads, which is both a time saver and a fuel saver. The proclamation directs the Iowa Department of Transportation to monitor the operation of the proclamation and assure the publics safety by facilitating the movement of the trucks involved. Farmers who are transporting grain are also required to follow their vehicle safety standards on axle weights. The exemption will be granted for 30 days beginning Sept. 11 to Oct. 11. 1. Create a repository of impactful stories. In my opinion, one of the most important elements of preparing for an MBA/PGP interview is building a collection of solid formative experiences and stories. 2. Know what, when, and how much you should say While most interviewers will have read your resume before or during the interview (but dont assume), they will see the interview primarily as an opportunity to find out something "extra" about you, such as your interpersonal skills, motivation, maturity, and ability to work in a team. It is important to watch for subtle cues from your interviewer, such as signs of boredom or a desire for more precise answers. Recognizing these cues in time and adjusting your communication style is a skill that develops with experience and increased self-awareness. Whenever I prepare applicants for interviews, I have them recall the best narratives they definitely need to cover, even if they have to take the lead and steer the conversation in the direction they want to go. 3. Research your interviewer if you can In the business world, you will often conduct background research on potential business partners or clients you want to meet and convince of your proposals. An MBA interview is no different. 4. Be prepared for the most obvious questions. 5. Ask questions during the interview. If the interviewer is a former student, try to engage them with a reflection on their journey at B-School. Also, learn from the wisdom of this person who has walked the same path you hope to walk Here are a few examples of questions you could ask- What would you have done differently if you could change one thing about your MBA experience? How would you describe your experience at the "ABC School" and what is your most important takeaway from the MBA experience at the School? What advice would you give to a prospective "ABC school" student? Speaking about the "XYZ(specific) diversity and inclusion initiatives" at the program, what are some possible areas where I could help advance DEI initiatives? (Shows that you are seriously looking for areas of improvement that you can contribute to) I am very interested in the opportunity to contribute my learnings from the "XYZ" industry to the case collection or repository. What opportunities do students have to participate in designing case studies as part of the curriculum? (Indicates that you are willing to contribute with your expertise) I recently heard that ABC Business School has improved its national ranking, and I am incredibly impressed. What specific initiatives or programs do you think contributed to this ranking improvement? I am very interested in learning more about recent developments. Speak with us if you are looking for a detailed and comprehensive interview preparation experience. Aanchal Sahni MBAGuideConsulting The Danville Police Department hosted its third annual 5K with 5-0 on Saturday morning. Were doing it to build positive relationships with the community," Ashtyn Foddrell, community relations liaison with the department, told the Register & Bee. It also promotes health and wellness. This year, they decided to hold the race around Sept. 11 to focus on first responders. Along the course, the 65 runners were greeted with police vehicles, fire trucks and the Danville Life Saving Crew. Foddrell was pleased with the turnout this year, exceeding the entires of 60 from last year. With AU's entry, G20 broadens cooperation, development opportunities in Global South Xinhua) 08:12, September 11, 2023 NEW DELHI, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Having admitted the African Union (AU) as a permanent member, the Group of 20 (G20) took a historical step forward in improving global governance and revitalizing international economic cooperation. The expansion, agreed by G20 members on Saturday, gives developing countries a greater voice and more representation. More cooperation and development opportunities will gravitate toward the Global South as China and other major economies have pledged staunch support for the region to shine in the global arena. TAKING THE SEAT Amid cheers and applause from the global leaders in attendance, AU Chairperson, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, assumed his seat representing the 55-member continental body at the inaugural session of the 18th G20 summit held in New Delhi on Saturday. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki hailed the entry, saying it would amplify the continent's advocacy and contributions to meeting global challenges. The G20, founded in 1999 in response to several world economic crises, is a major forum to discuss financial and economic issues. It previously comprised 19 countries plus the European Union (EU). This photo taken on Sept. 9, 2023 shows the buildings of the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) Granting membership to the AU will give it the same status as the EU, up from its previous designation of "invited international organization." Experts said permanent G20 membership signals the rise of the African continent, whose young population of over 1 billion is set to double by 2050 and make up a quarter of the world's total. "This move really boosts the G20's influence on the global economy and underscores its contribution to human social development," said Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative. PAVING THE ROAD Mathapelo Monaisa, a member of the South African delegation to the G20 summit, appreciated China's role in supporting the AU's entry into the group. "I'm seeing something really great happening," Monaisa said. China was the first country to explicitly express its support for the AU's membership of the G20, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Thursday. At the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China would work actively to support the AU's full membership of the bloc. China supports the AU in playing a more significant role in global governance, Mao added. This photo taken on Jan. 11, 2023 shows the headquarters building of the China-aided Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said the move would inject fresh impetus into China-Africa ties. "Through this staunch support, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Africa will be deeper-rooted," he said, noting that China has been the biggest investor and donor to the continent for decades. "China is a friend that Africa can count on. Over the past decade, China has provided a large amount of development assistance to Africa and helped build more than 6,000 km of railway, over 6,000 km of highway, and 80-plus large power facilities on the continent," Xi said at a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in August. Cavince Adhere, a Kenya based international relations scholar, noted that "as a developing country, China has stood with and continues to champion the rights of other developing countries, especially those from the Global South." Adhere said that initiatives launched and proposed by China to support development programs among the emerging economies have proved China is "a leading champion of rights of weak states." "China has always offered respect, appreciation and support for Africa, and the Chinese people have shared weal and woe and mutual assistance with African people," Matthews said. Underscoring China's role in supporting the AU's entry into the group, Matthews said "this move will pave the way and open the doors to new foreign direct investments in economic and infrastructure development in the continent." ANSWERING THE CALL Many countries welcomed the AU's entry into the G20, stressing their long-time support in bolstering Africa's voice. The decision "represents a valuable step for the prevalence of effective multilateralism in international relations," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. A train is seen during a trial running of light rail transit (LRT) system, which was jointly built by Chinese and Egyptian companies, in east of Cairo, Egypt, July 3, 2022. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai) Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant based in London, said supporting the AU's inclusion in the G20 is "a matter of both justice and pragmatism." "It reflects the fact that developing countries are no longer content or prepared to be merely 'rule takers' in a so-called 'rules-based international order,' devised and enforced by a handful of Western powers to serve their own narrow interests," said Bennett. "With changes in the world unseen in a century, the G20 can only maintain and enhance its relevance if it is truly representative. This is not possible without proper African representation," he added. Phichaiwongphakdee said AU's inclusion also sets an example for developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region to participate more actively in the global economy. "The increasing participation of more developing countries in global governance will be a global development trend." Senegalese sociologist Mamadou Diouf said all developing countries should unite to create economic growth, sustainable development and green economies. "No developing country alone can approach the shift toward sustainable development and emergence without linking up with others," Diouf said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Rena Murshud A delegation led by the Azerbaijani Parliament's Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova has arrived in Sofia on an official visit, Azernews reports citing the parliament's press and public relations department. The delegation includes the MPs - Head of the Working Group on Inter-Parliamentary Relations with Bulgaria Rauf Aliyev, Agil Mammadov, Anatoly Rafaelov, the Chief of the Parliament's Staff Farid Hajiyev, and other officials. Then the delegation was welcomed by Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Filiz Hyusmenova, the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Azerbaijan Hamid Hamid, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Bulgaria Huseyn Huseynov, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ruslan Stoyanov, and other officials at Sofia International Airport. During the visit, a series of meetings between the Chairman of Azerbaijan's Parliament and the leadership of Bulgaria are planned. Bilateral relations exist between the two countries in political, socio-economic, cultural, and other spheres. Cooperation is carried out in such areas as transport and transit of goods, tourism, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, science and high technologies, education, military equipment, and others. "At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric, I am representing Luxembourg today, on 11 September 2023, at the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the military coup in Chile." MAEE (fr. l. to r.) Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs; Gabriel Boric, President of the Republic of Chile This coup d'etat against the democratically elected President Allende ended in enormous suffering, torture and the disappearance of thousands of Chileans. The coup brought to power the dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who imposed a military dictatorship on the Chilean people from 1973 to 1990. In 2023, this commemoration will coincide with the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, has just mentioned it. At a time when the world is facing flagrant violations of international law, as well as anti-democratic pressures on every continent, the defence of the universal rules of democracy is as important as ever. Disrespect for a nation's sovereignty, and the violent overthrow of a government, always have an adverse impact on the observance of human rights and the interests of the people. May today's commemoration in Santiago inspire the world to recognise and accept that only respect for the rule of law and human rights will make it a better and fairer place. Press release by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs EDEN RiverFest attendees will not only be able to view some top-notch clogging, but they will also have the opportunity to learn some new moves and dance themselves. Zeb Ross and the J Creek Cloggers will perform Saturday from 4 to 5:30 p.m., with their performance including square dance routines, line dancing, audience participation broom dance, a brief educational talk, and member Zeb Ross trying to dance with a bottle on his head. Zeb and the group sprung to fame in March of last year when videos were posted on TikTok and Instagram. One video of Zeb dancing, posted by Eggs Tyrone using Im a Thug by Trick Daddy as the accompanying music, has garnered more than a billion views worldwide. A machinist working full-time by trade, Zeb, who is married with one child, became interested in music and dance at a young age after watching his mother dance. Zeb always has said he started dancing, while I was in Mamas stomach as I clogged during my whole pregnancy, Kim Ross said. I taught him flat-footing and buck dancing, as well as exposed him to blue grass and old-timey music. Kim formed the J Creek Cloggers in 2009 seeking to preserve freestyle square dance, flat-footing and buck dancing. Freestyle dance means that our dance movements are different some buck dance and some flat-foot but our rhythmic timing stays in beat while we dance, said Kim. The team now has 25 members, ranging in age from 12 to 78 years old, and they perform across the United States. We love interacting with people and educating on the history and different dance styles, as well as involving the audience in some of our routines, Ross said. Explaining the difference between tap dancing and clogging, Ross said the taps on her teams shoes are not solid fused taps but are a buck tap/jingle tap. With flat-footing, we keep our feet no more than 2 inches off the floor with very little upper body movement, and with buck dancing, it is more of an exaggerated dance, which includes heel ticks, back steps, etcetera, Ross said. The J Creek Cloggers do not wear a set uniform, with each woman wearing a different type of skirt or dress, as well as crinoline. A native of Southwest Virginia, home to Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Family, Ross was introduced to clogging by her father, Fred Campbell, an old style flat-footer. I still dance at the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, when I visit family, she said. Preservation of freestyle square dance, buck dancing and flat-footing are the reasons behind why I started the team. This will be J Creek Cloggers first time performing at RiverFest, and Kim and Jebb Ross are both excited to visit Rockingham County. It will be a fun-filled day of laughing, clapping and dancing, Kim Ross said. Jebb looks forward to sharing his love of dance with the community. Dancing is my happy place and preserving an art that was starting to fade away has been a goal of mine, he said. If I can put a smile on someones face doing what I love, then I know I have accomplished something. Apollo Clinic, one of the leading chains of multi-specialty clinics in India, recently partnered with Fix Health, a healthcare company that specializes in providing AI-assisted physiotherapy. Through this partnership, the clinic chain is bringing care from the top experts across India to a patients home via in-clinic, at-home & online care. The AI ensures precision in tracking the movements of an individual. The technology platform opens access to physiotherapy beyond regular clinic hours opening it from 6 am to 9 pm every day.Apollo Clinic is also conducting regular camps across its societies & clinics of AI-based posture assessment tests that have been developed by the Fix Healths team of engineers from IIT Bombay & BITS Pilani. Patients visiting the clinics have to simply pose in 2 positions while an expert, using a mobile phone captures the patients posture & movement through the Fix Health app. The app then automatically assesses the postural health status of the patient using AI & delivers the report on WhatsApp in less than 1 minute. Apollo Clinic has already used Fix Health for posture & ergonomic assessment of corporate desk job workers where more than 25% have been found to have forward neck posture by 11 degrees - thus showing potential early risk of neck & back pain.With the help of Fix Healths network of 70+ physiotherapists, Apollo Clinic is providing physiotherapy services for 250+ conditions & 10+ treatment areas including back-neck pain, shoulder-knee pain, post-operative rehabilitation, adult & pediatric neurology rehabilitation along with pre & post pregnancy care. Apollo Fix Healths pain-relief services have been research-proven & include a detailed consultation followed by a personalized treatment program from the repository of 6000+ exercises. It can be availed by patients from their mobiles now.Speaking on the partnership, Sushant Kinra, Head, Primary Care, Apollo Health & Lifestyle said, At Apollo Clinics, we always look to pioneer the latest technological developments to help our patients. With increasing long sitting jobs & sedentary lifestyle, we have witnessed muscle & joint pains to be tops conditions faced by Indians. The role of physiotherapy is vital even for neurological rehabilitation, pre-post pregnancy cases as well as in elderly population. Our vision is to make physiotherapy accessible & affordable every Indian. Fix Health is a unique startup that combines their physiotherapy experience of 34 years with the cutting edge AI tools to advance physiotherapy services to new heights. We see tremendous potential for it in the future and look forward to using them for several physiotherapy-related services. A ringing bell echoed through the Montana state Capitol Monday honoring those who died in the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The event hosted by the attorney general's office was a remembrance of the events of the terrorist attack 22 years ago. Speakers included Helena fire Chief Jon Campbell, Maj. Gen. John P. Hronek and Attorney General Austin Knudsen. Montana Highway Patrol trooper Alicia Bragg rang the bell and "Taps" was played by a lone trumpet with honor guards from MHP and the Montana Fireman's Association saluting the American flag. On Sept. 11, 2001, airline hijackings and suicide attacks were committed by 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al-Qaida against targets in the United States that included the World Trade Center's twin towers in New York and the Pentagon. A hijacked airliner crashed in Pennsylvania when passengers fought with terrorists to retake the plane. Some 2,996 people died. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history. DECATUR Jim Taylor retired in 1993 from Caterpillar. Hes been working ever since. Ive been involved in so many things over the years, said Taylor, 81. But if somebody doesnt ask me about it, I dont remember doing it. When Taylor learned he was one of two recipients of the Decatur Trades and Labor Assemblys Lifetime Achievement Awards, the news was a surprise, he said. I had no idea I was getting it, he said. But I just do it because it comes from the heart. Lloyd Holman was just as shocked as his friend. I knew Jimmy was getting one. Hes been at this a little longer than I have, he said. Nobody deserves it more than he does. The trades and labor union is one of the most important aspects of the retirees lives, they said. Except my family, Taylor said. Ive been in the union long enough, I know what it does for families. For those who do not favor the unions, Taylor and Holman believe the people are not familiar with their importance to the community. They dont understand what the union is all about, Taylor said. They take care of the people that go to work everyday and go home to their family. Taylor learned early how the unions work with the employees. They want the companies to respect and support the employees, he said. Safety is the most important aspect of a job, they said. And in all aspects of your life, Holman added. Make sure youre informed, so you make sound decisions instead of shooting from the hip and making a mess. According to Amy Rueff, resource director for the Illinois AFL-CIO and treasurer of the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly, both men received their awards because of their work with the unions. The two of them are just such unique retirees in that they are so active in our labor council and the labor movement, she said. Although retired, Holman and Taylor continue to work with the union members as well as with the community. Both men have been instrumental in awarding scholarships to union members and their families through the Michael E. Shampine Memorial Scholarship, Rueff said. Theyre always there speaking up for people, she said. #TogetherDecatur Do you know a person or of a story that exemplifies the best of Decatur? Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983 or dbeckett@herald-review.com. Also on the list of community achievements include other scholarships, charities, the Workers Memorial Monument, located on the corner of the Macon County Courthouse lawn and organizing the Labor Day Picnic. Although the men support union events, they will admit they fight for all the workers of the community. According to Holman, the Workers Memorial Monument was designed to raise awareness of safety in the workplace. The employer and the employee both hold responsibility and reliability to make sure everybody goes home in the same shape they came to work in, he said. I dealt with that for years in the railroad industry. Holman retired in 2006. And Ive been working with the Workers Memorial since 1991, he said. When a project needs to be accomplished Holman is often the guy contacted first. Some people say I have a fantastic memory, he said. No, I just write myself notes all the time. Taylor admits he loses track of the various activities he has been a part of in Decatur, Macon County and the unions. Ive got a list of things Ive done for the union and the community, but I couldnt tell you what one of them was. Taylor's effort recently earned him Decatur's Citizen of the Year honors. The two men began working together when Holman was able to join Taylor on the Workers Memorial Monument years ago. He was willing to help me with it, Taylor said. Without him I dont know what would have happened, because I couldnt get anybody else in the trades interested in it. The monument is one of the accomplishments Taylor shows pride in. I go by it about every day and look at it, he said. Remember Decatur's Union Bus Depot? A look back at our transportation history MORE COVERAGE: DECATUR Five people remained hospitalized Monday after an explosion at an Archer Daniels Midland Co. soybean processing facility that shook nearby houses on the city's east side and sent smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters rushed to the scene on Sunday evening to find numerous injured workers scattered amid a scene of blasted debris and burning buildings, the Decatur Fire Department said. In a statement, ADM said there was an explosion at 7:11 p.m. Sunday at the company's East Plant, 4666 Faries Parkway. "Five employees remain in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries, and our priority is providing our injured colleagues and their families support," a company spokesperson said. The East Plant, which produces soybean oil and white flake for soybean protein production, remained out of operation on Monday, as did the adjacent corn processing plant. Firefighters said they counted eight injured workers in all as they arrived just after 7 p.m. Six were taken from the scene by ambulance, and four Medivac helicopters were used to airlift the injured to trauma centers. In a statement, Decatur Memorial Hospital said it treated five patients from the blast. Four were transferred to Springfield Memorial Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, and one patient was transferred to a hospital in Indiana. The worker who was taken to Indiana was identified in online postings by his family as Yoan Heredia of Tuscola. His sister-in-law, Halle Mann, said he was being treated at a trauma burn unit in Indianapolis. He has second and third degree burns on his hands and his whole face, she said. Hes going to be intubated for a few days. After the explosion, Heredia was rushed to Decatur Memorial Hospital, and he was in Indianapolis by midnight, she said. By Monday afternoon, he was being eased off of the sedation medication. Hes been intubated from all the swelling, Mann said. But hes recently been nodding yes and no to questions. Mann created a GoFundMe online fundraiser (bit.ly/herediafamily) to help with expenses for the family. Heredia and his wife, Whitney, have two young children. But my sister just wants to make sure that prayers go out to all the employees and their families involved, Mann said. None of the official statements about the explosion identified the victims or the nature of their injuries. According to the fire department's statement, the first engine company to arrive at the west side of the blast area was faced with debris scattered over a wide area. The fires were burning in an approximately 10 story building with adjoining buildings to the north and south. The building to the west of this area also suffered severe damage. Rail cars hindered initial fire suppression efforts and were moved to provide access to the fire building. The first engine company to arrive on the east side of the blast area was confronted with several injured workers. They worked with ambulances on scene to treat the injured workers. ADM provided a drone with thermal imaging capabilities which helped fire crews identify and attack fire hot spots, the statement added. Once exterior fires were contained, we were able to send crews into the buildings with ADM personnel to extinguish remaining fires inside the structures. Due to the extensive damage, this was a long and slow process. The statement said no firefighters were injured during Sundays operations but fire crews were still on scene Monday and are currently working with ADM personnel to verify all fires are out. Ladder trucks were used to assess the extent of the damage on the west side of the exploded building and flow water into the areas on fire and prevent flames from spreading. Engine 5 utilized their aerial waterway to extinguish visible fire on the east side of the building, the statement said. Large, suspended pieces of building material presented a hazard to personnel, so the area was roped off to prevent access to these areas. At the height of the fire, the statement said firefighters deployed five engine companies and two truck companies for a total of 33 firefighters on scene. Additional firefighters were called in to staff reserve apparatus and cover other calls within the city. This is the third fire this year at ADM's Decatur plant. In April, three workers were injured following an apparent dust explosion in one of the grain elevators at the company's West Plant. Two weeks ago, emergency crews responded to a fire in the feed house of the company's East Plant. Two firefighters were hospitalized after battling the blaze. Photos: Crews respond after explosion at ADM East Plant MACON Macon County Sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a wild bobcat that was hit by a vehicle Sunday afternoon. According to the sheriff's press release, deputies were dispatched to a single motor vehicle accident at 2:24 p.m. Sunday in the intersection of U.S. 51 and Walker Road between Macon and Moweaqua. "The vehicle had collided with a bobcat that had abruptly ran out in the roadway in front of the vehicle," the press release stated. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was contacted. Staff found the bobcat was critically injured and had to be euthanized at the scene. The bobcat was determined to be a young adult female weighing approximately 16 pounds. Macon County Animal Control staff collected the bobcat carcass and took it to their center for a humane disposal. "The Macon County Sheriffs Office wants to advise motorists of the rare presence of bobcats in Macon County for which they may not be used to seeing," the sheriff's department stated. DECATUR Richland Community College has called a remote learning day due to the explosion at Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s east plant on Sunday. Richland's campus is near the east plant, and the college's announcement said the closing of campus was to decrease traffic in the area and to ensure the safety of first responders and emergency personnel working at ADM. Clinicals and other activities that take place off campus will continue as scheduled. Heartland Tech Academy, which is on the grounds of Richland, is closed today. Decatur students should report to their high schools if they are in the morning tech academy classes, and if they are in afternoon classes, they will be dismissed for the day shortly after noon. BIG STONE GAP, Va. Assisting other small businesses with their digital production and marketing needs is the primary goal of Just Adventure Productions LLC, a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital matching grant. Justin Falin officially opened the business which provides full-service videography, drone videography, and social media marketing in December 2022. Expansion plans for the future include web design, mobile apps and social media training services, according to a written statement. VCEDA was pleased to assist Just Adventure Productions, LLC with a seed capital grant, said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. The business projects up to four full-time and two part-time employees within five years. Currently, the business employs one full-time and one part-time employee and has worked with several small businesses in Wise County and the Town of Big Stone Gap. We have a vision to become the premiere digital media production and marketing agency in the region, Falin said. Our goals are to be a reliable and reputable business that becomes integral in aiding the digital marketing success of residents and businesses in Southwest Virginia. Just Adventure Productions provides a full range of consulting under one roof and is intended to propel businesses into the digital age of media and marketing, Falin said. We work with businesses, organizations and individuals of all types to tell their story, showcase testimonials, showcase products and services, recruit new talent or supporters, highlight a competitive edge and more. Falin, who is also completing his senior year at the University of Tennessee majoring in mass communications, is a member of the Wedding and Event Videographers Association International and is completing the criteria to receive the WEVA International Merited Professional Videographer certification. His videography career began as an idea from a friend to document their fishing adventures during the pandemic. He became interested in how to grow his social media followings through engagement, interaction and responsive analytics and as his social media following began to grow, he began getting requests from other businesses to help with their digital content and promotions. With four years of production experience, he decided to form his own company. Tabitha Hibbitts Grieger is the social media consultant for Just Adventure Productions, bringing more than 20 years of small business experience in addition to experience in the corporate setting, political campaigns and state government, Falin said. The VCEDA grant, Falin said, definitely helped us a lot. The equipment used is expensive and without the grant, I would have had to go in debt to purchase the additional right equipment we needed. I had already invested about $20,000 in getting things up and running so this grant really helped. We hope to be hiring some more people on our production crew in the near future. Falin indicated he will primarily focus on business customers in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Falin worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) in developing his application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Wise County Industrial Development Authority. BRISTOL, Tenn. Tennessee High Schools Viking Academy at Friendship Career Center recently received $10,000 from the Advance Bristol Foundation. Funds will be dedicated to support the Ready Workforce Institute, a program that is preparing students for success in the workforce, according to a written statement. With an initial investment from Advance Bristol, the Ready Workforce Institute program began in January 2023 with six students and grew to 26 by the end of the semester. Students work each Friday at job placements in local businesses. The job placements are on a four-week rotation and students get paid at the end of each four-week placement for the days worked. The program kicked off this week for the fall semester with seven businesses at 10 locations and 13 students. The Advance Bristol Foundation is pleased to be able to make this donation on behalf of members of our organization who recognize the importance of the Ready Workforce Institute and the Viking Academy, said David Wagner, chairman of Advance Bristol Foundation. As many of our local employers struggle to find qualified labor, we feel a great need to support these young individuals in their transition into the labor force by providing them basic skills and training needed to make them employable coming out of high school. The program also includes feedback from managers at the businesses, helping students reflect and establish goals for their next placement. The institute has two goals, to educate students about the job opportunities in the community and to make good employees of Viking Academy students as they prepare to enter the workforce. We are forever grateful for Advance Bristols support of Ready Workforce Institute, said Ann Oakley, Viking Academy career counselor. Having them in our corner bolstered our confidence to move forward with this innovative plan, and we are so glad we did. From raising funds for us to having our students working in their businesses, Advance Bristol has been a true supporter. Organizers look to build on previous success. This additional investment in our students will allow them to continue to develop their employability skills, learn about local industry, and explore their career interests in the most authentic way possible, added Kelly Vance, Tennessee High assistant principal and Viking Academy administrator. The Ready Workforce Institute is a bold and innovative program that could potentially change the way students prepare for the workforce. It gives students practical work experience and the opportunity to learn important life skills that they can apply in their future careers. The program also helps local businesses find good employees while allowing them to invest in their communities. As the program continues to grow, Viking Academy is also looking for additional funding partners to help pay students. On September 11, around 08:30, the illegal Armenian armed groups in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed, tried to commit a terrorist act against the servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army on combat duty in the direction of Khojavend district, using a dog as an assassin, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Thus, the illegal Armenian armed groups attached a remote-controlled improvised explosive device to the dog and forced it to move in the direction of Azerbaijani positions. As a result of the vigilance of Azerbaijani military personnel, the attempt of the Armenian armed forces to increase the scale of the act of terror sabotage and to cause more injuries to the personnel was prevented. "We strongly condemn this provocation as an act contrary to the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Mine Traps and Other Devices of the Convention on Prohibitions and Restrictions on the Use of Certain Types of Conventional Weapons. The use of animals for conspiracy is an immoral act and we consider it an act of terrorism," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said. BRISTOL, Tenn. Carrying cards containing the names of people who died in New York City on Sept. 11, Eleanor Spruill and numerous other local residents donated blood Monday in their honor. Spruill, a Bristol, Tennessee resident, attended the Marsh Regional Blood Centers 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive, which was held in a parking lot outside of the Bristol Dragway. Im a return donor, said Spruill, wearing a previous years blood drive T-shirt and holding cards with the names of three men who died in the terrorist attack. These gentlemen were killed on 9/11. I donate in their honor. Spruill, who is married to a veteran of the Vietnam War, said she believes it is always important to donate. If you donate on 9/11, or any time youre eligible, it is very, very important, Spruill said. The names of Gerald Thomas Atwood, 38; John Bentley Works, 36; and Sean Patrick Tallon, 26, were printed on the three cards. The three men died as a result of the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Remember, lets not forget, Spruill said. Spruill said donating blood is an easy process. The hardest part is having to endure a prick to the finger, she said. Marsh Regional has it set up, so you just flow through it, she said. They are really friendly and there are great snacks at the end. Just before noon, Steffanie Sukel, director of Marsh Regional, said the days turnout had been great. A lot of people have been coming out, a lot of people that remember that tragic day, she said. Donors spotted under the tents Monday included first responders from the Bristol Tennessee Fire Department, health professionals in scrubs, military veterans and other local residents in everyday attire. The goal Monday was to collect more than 200 units of blood, Sukel said. Each person typically donates one pint of blood, which can save up to three lives and takes less than an hour, according to Marsh Regional. Unfortunately, you never know when something is going to happen that will require a large amount of blood or a small amount of blood, Sukel said. Unless it affects you personally, sometimes you dont know about it. Its so important to have that inventory on our shelves. The blood center, which is part of the Ballad Health system, uses about 120-150 units of blood every day. Each blood drive, such as the annual 9/11 event at Bristol, is a huge, huge impact. Donors on Monday were provided with special name cards, such as the ones Spruill carried as she boarded the donation bus, to honor those who lost their lives. Afterwards donors were also given a snack and a special edition T-shirt. The first 150 donors were also given a special swag bag. In the weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, people wanted to help in whatever way they could, so they came out in droves to give blood, Sukel said. We wanted to honor that selflessness, so we began the 9/11 Memorial Blood Drive to give our community members the chance to continue the legacy of saving lives through blood donation. This is an annual drive that really lets the generosity and heroism of our region shine. Marsh Regional supplies blood to 21 regional medical facilities, all regional cancer centers and five air rescue bases in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky. Marsh Regionals blood supply remains at critical levels for all blood types, driving an urgent need for blood and blood product donations in the region, according to a news release from Marsh. Products such as platelets arent collected on mobile units, but donors can make an appointment at any Marsh Regional blood donation center. To give blood, donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health, the news release states. People with a cold, sore throat, fever, flu or fever blisters or those who are taking antibiotics are not eligible to donate. Donors should eat a well-balanced meal before giving blood, the release states. Those who were unable to attend Mondays drive can visit marshblood.com or call 423-408-7500 for information on future events or schedule an appointment in Bristol, Kingsport, or Johnson City. A federal District Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. over the administration and pricing of its retirement plan offerings. The lawsuit was filed Nov. 18 by former employee Harvey Davis in the federal Middle District of N.C. Old Dominion filed its dismissal request in February, saying Davis lacked standing to file the lawsuit. Judge Thomas Schroeder ruled Thursday that Davis lacked standing in his dismissal. The lawsuit, however, can be refiled. Old Dominion could not be immediately reached for comment on the dismissal. Old Dominion has described the lawsuit as one of more than 250 cookie-cutter class actions filed in the last three years against large 401(k) plan sponsors. These lawsuits assert hindsight-based imprudence claims against plan fiduciaries associated with the amount of third-party administrative fees the plan paid, the costs of the plans various investments, and/or the performance of certain funds. According to court filings, Davis was an employee from 1989 until Jan. 31, 2021. Davis filed the suit on behalf of the Old Dominion 401(k) Retirement Plan. It covers the time period of Nov. 18, 2016, to the present. The 401(k) plan held $2.02 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2021. According to the dismissal, Davis alleges that he was injured by Old Dominions mismanagement of the plan, paying excessive recordkeeping and administrative costs associated with the plan and investing in the imprudent investment options offered by the plan, which are the subject of this lawsuit. But, he provides no factual allegation of what those costs and investments were. Instead, on its face, the complaint contains no factual support for the conclusory allegations that he personally invested in any of the imprudent investment options, nor that he suffered any other type of specific financial loss. Davis requested class-action status that could cover as many as 24,033 plan participants. Old Dominion listed having on average 22,438 full-time employees as of June 30. Background Davis accuses the company of breaching its fiduciary duties of prudence in violation of the (federal) Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Great-West Financial Retirement Plan Services LLC, an affiliate of Empower Financial, is the plans recordkeeper. Specifically, the lawsuit claims the company has allowed the plan to charge excessive fees on investments. According to the lawsuit, the expense ratio was typically about one-tenth of a percent higher than similar options within the same fund. Defendant selected and retained for the plan high-priced investments when the identical investment were available to the plan at a fraction of the cost, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims the higher fees caused the plan and its participants to wrongfully lose roughly $3 million in retirement savings over the course of the relevant time period. Old Dominion said that based on non-specific allegations, plaintiffs demand that the court unlock the door to multi-million dollar class-action discovery, hoping that defendants will waive the white flag of settlement rather than bear the financial burden of litigation. Old Dominion said in its response that Davis never invested in any of the challenged funds and alleges no plan-wide mismanagement. Because Davis never invested in the challenged funds, the value of his individual account will not fluctuate one cent whether he wins or loses this case. Therefore, plaintiff has no concrete stake in this lawsuit. The fact that other plan participants may have invested in the challenged funds and sustained alleged injuries to their individual accounts is irrelevant. Schroeder ruled that Old Dominion has met its burden of showing that Davis was not individually harmed, and therefore lacks standing on the face of the complaint to proceed in this case. A review of the records offered by Old Dominion, which may be considered at this stage given the jurisdictional nature of this issue, supports its claim that Davis did not, in fact, invest in any of the challenged funds. Zoho for Startups already operating in India, Middle East, Africa, Brazil and Indonesia is now open to Australian startups. The program provides access to Zoho's suite of more than 55 apps with up to $5,550 in Zoho Wallet credits to explore the paid versions for 360 days. Zoho for Startups is open to businesses that have never had a paid Zoho subscription and have never received Zoho Wallet credits, or that are part of a participating incubator, accelerator, co-working space provider or similar operation. The $5,500 offer comprises $3,500 in startup credits plus a further $2,000 if the company chooses Zoho for email hosting (although that $2,000 cannot be used to pay for Zoho Workplace or Zoho Mail). Zoho for Startups also provides eligible Australian startups with consultation and support, as well as customised workshops. The program has already helped 12,000 startups in India, and 2,000 in the Middle East and Africa.. "Australia has a thriving startup ecosystem, and being able to cater for that through the local launch of Zoho for Startups is incredibly exciting," said Zoho for Startups global head Kuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy. "Zoho for Startups exists to solve one of the most common challenges early-stage startups encounter: not investing time in researching SaaS tools. By design, startups are built to scale quickly. When they evolve from an idea or concept to a functioning business, founders and decision makers are easily distracted by funding, infrastructure, mentors, hiring, go-to market strategy and more. "However, Zoho for Startups is the foundation that underpins that, providing them with not only the software, but the agility, contingency and scalability that are vital in startup environments. Ultimately, SaaS adoption must be viewed as a long-term investment, through a lens of 'can we scale using our software? And how do those solutions interact with each other?'. Through Zoho for Startups, we help founders and decision makers plan, optimise and develop a holistic view of their SaaS adoption." She added "Zoho for Startups has been customised and personalised to Australia, and as Zoho continues its sizeable growth in Australia, we intend to grow the Zoho for Startups program too. "Australia has a rapidly growing startup ecosystem, especially in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. The country offers a supportive environment for startups, with various government initiatives, incubators, accelerators, and funding opportunities available. Bringing Zoho for Startups to a country that wholeheartedly supports and champions entrepreneurship, endeavour and innovation is a proud moment for Zoho and a commitment we take very seriously." In related news, Zoho claims to be the first bootstrapped SaaS company to reach 100 million global users. Telstra has confirmed it is poised to acquire Melbourne-based cloud specialist company Versent. Last week, the telecommunications company responded to an AFR column claiming that the two were in discussions and that the bid to acquire Versent was worth $400 million. The column added investment bank Goldman Sachs has been marketing the company's sale. "Telstra confirms it is participating in the process. References to the value of the offer are speculative. There is no certainty a transaction involving Telstra will eventuate, should a transaction be finalised Telstra will update the market accordingly," wrote Telstra in its ANX announcement. The acquisition sees Telstra leaning towards the IT services space. According to reports, Versent was looking for potential suitors when sale documents were revealed last May. According to the AFR column, Versent, which was established by former National Australia Bank technology executives, has increased its revenue by 35% over the past five years. It has generated $150 million and is expected that its revenue will hit $300 million within three years due to its market share and Southeast Asian expansion, according to a sale flyer sent to prospective buyers by Goldman earlier this year. Versent's trajectory shows no sign of stopping since its inception. Versent's Stax business signed a multi-million agreement with AWS to aid its global expansion. Versent services companies Transurban and Seek, and government organisations and other blue-chip corporates including Colonial First State. But Telstra isn't the only one interested in snapping up the cloud company. The column claims two Indian IT companies, WiPro and HCLTech, are also eyeing to acquire Versent. Marking the first full of its T25 strategy, Telstra recorded financial growth in FY23. Telstra CEO Vicki Brady claimed Telstra's digital infrastructure business InfraCo was seeing strong customer demand shaped by the shift to the cloud and rapid AI adoption driving data centre and edge requirements, along with needs for domestic fibre and undersea cable. The competition watchdog, the ACCC, is encouraging businesses to review their standard form contracts and remove or amend any unfair contract terms before new penalties take effect. From 9 November, changes to the Australian Consumer Law will prohibit businesses from proposing, using, or relying on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts with consumers and small businesses. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says the changes will allow Courts to impose substantial penalties on businesses and individuals who include unfair terms in their standard form contracts - and currently, a Court can only declare specific terms of a contract unfair and therefore void. The changes to the unfair contract terms laws should motivate businesses to take steps to ensure their standard form contracts are fair, including by removing or amending concerning terms, ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said. There was previously little motivation for businesses to comply with the law, despite the ACCCs compliance and enforcement actions. We strongly urge businesses to review their contracts now to ensure they comply. The ACCC notes that standard form contracts provide a cost-effective way for many businesses to contract with significant volumes of consumer or small business customers. However, these contracts are largely imposed on a take it or leave it basis and are usually drafted to the advantage of the party offering them. The test for whether a contract term is unfair has not changed. However, businesses now could potentially face substantial penalties for contravening the law. This will better protect consumers and small businesses who have limited bargaining power, expertise, and ability to negotiate or assess standard form contracts, Mick Keogh said. While some of the changes wont apply to contracts until they are renewed, or a new contract is entered into, businesses should be proactive in reviewing their standard form contracts now. The ACCC lists tips for businesses to consider when reviewing their contracts, including: Consider both points of view: if you think a term is necessary to protect your businesss legitimate interest, consider the term from the other partys point of view. Include counter-balancing terms: check that your contract has appropriate counter-balancing terms. For example, if you consider that your business reasonably needs the ability to unilaterally change the product or service being provided under the contract, does the contract also allow your customers to exit the contract without penalty when this occurs? Avoid broad terms: dont have terms that are as broad as possible. Make sure terms are only as broad as reasonably necessary to protect your businesss legitimate interests. Meet your obligations under the Australian Consumer Law: dont have terms that seek to avoid your businesss obligations under the Australian Consumer Law. For example, dont include terms that seek to limit your customers consumer guarantees rights, or terms that seek to disclaim any representations your business may have made outside of the contract. Be clear: Use clear and simple language in your contracts. Be transparent: ensure key terms are clearly drawn to the attention of your customers during the sign-up process, and any renewal process. The ACCC notes that changes will also expand the coverage of the unfair contract term laws to apply to more small business contracts than before - and the threshold for small business contracts will increase to apply to small business that employ fewer than 100 persons or have an annual turnover of less than $10 million. Other key changes include the removal of the contract value threshold and clarifying other aspects of the laws, such as more clearly defining standard form contracts'. Businesses can view information about changes to the unfair contract terms laws on the ACCCs website. The ACCC notes that it has been advocating for the introduction of penalties to unfair contract terms for many years. "This includes in our submission to the Government review of the unfair contract terms protections in 2018, and in a submission to the regulation impact assessment process in 2020 about proposed enhancements to the unfair contract terms provisions. Additionally, one of the key recommendations of the ACCCs 2020 Perishable Goods Inquiry was to introduce penalties for unfair contract terms, and this has also been a key recommendation throughout the ACCCs digital platform services inquiry. Recent ACCC actions in relation to unfair contract terms include: In 2023, suppliers in the fertiliser industry agreed to amend their contracts following an ACCC investigation into unfair contract terms. In 2022, Fowler Homes Pty Ltd provided a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC, admitting that its standard home building contract contained unfair contract terms. In 2022, the Federal Court declared that 38 contract terms used in contracts entered into by Fujifilm Business Innovation Australia or Fujifilm Leasing Australia (together, Fuji) with many thousands of small businesses were unfair, following court action by the ACCC. Funeral service providers Parkside Funerals and Bowra & ODea each provided the ACCC with a court-enforceable undertaking, committing to remove potential unfair terms from their funeral services contracts, among other commitments. The maximum financial penalties for businesses under the new unfair contract terms law are the greatest of: $50,000,000; three times the value of the "reasonably attributable" benefit obtained from the conduct, if the court can determine this; or if a court cannot determine the benefit, 30 per cent of adjusted turnover during the breach period. The maximum penalty for an individual is $2.5 million. The changes will apply to: Standard form contracts made or renewed on or after 9 November 2023. A term of a contract that is varied or added on or after 9 November 2023. However, where a term of a contract is varied or added on or after 9 November 2023, the changes relevant to deciding whether a contract is a standard form contract apply to the whole contract. COMPANY NEWS: Mantel Groups premier Google Cloud solutions brand, Kasna, has taken out top honours, receiving two 2023 Google Cloud Partner Awards - Google Cloud Sales Partner of the Year for Australia and Google Cloud Services Partner of the Year for New Zealand. The awards recognise Google Cloud partners who have demonstrated innovative thinking, outstanding customer service, and best-in-class use of its products and solutions. Kasna was the only partner in those categories to receive accolades in Australia and New Zealand. Kasna was commended for effectively tapping into Google Clouds growing market share and delivering to its customers a range of solutions aligned to Cloud Native computing, Data and AI, and Open Source. Google Clouds partner awards recognize the significant impact and customer success that our partners have driven over the past year," said Kevin Ichhpurani, Corporate Vice President, Global Ecosystem and Channels at Google Cloud. "We're delighted to recognize Kasna as a 2023 Google Cloud Partner Award winner, and look forward to a continued strong partnership in support of our mutual customers. Simon Poulton, Kasna chief executive, said, Our goal is always to be a step ahead and think outside the box. This award is the result of a fearless team prepared to commit to delivering exceptional and unique solutions for our customers. It is also a credit to incredible customers who have put faith in our ability to deliver and bravely challenged the status quo in technology to deliver better solutions to their respective businesses. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Google Cloud for recognising and supporting our partnership. It is through their collaboration and support that we can continue to provide unmatched services to our clients. Mantel Group is an IT consultancy specialising in technology transformation services across key domains including data, digital, security and all of the major cloud services. We leverage the scale of Mantel Group to collaborate closely with a network of specialist teams, delivering unique and customised solutions to address our clients business challenges. Our seamless approach enables successful business and technology outcomes across multiple industries. Kasna helps businesses solve challenges and transform with Google Cloud. Our unique Pursuit Model ensures a trusted partnership, delivering tailored Google Cloud capabilities. COMPANY NEWS: Great Place to Work Australia recognises companies who excel in building a people-first culture and who have an unwavering commitment to their people, purpose and values Prospa, is Australias leading online small business lender, has been ranked as one of Australias Best Workplaces for 2023. Collated by Great Place To Work, a global authority on workplace culture, the annual list recognises companies who demonstrate unwavering commitment to improving the employee experience and are pushing boundaries when it comes to workplace policies. The Great Place to Work Trust Index Survey collates confidential quantitative and qualitative feedback from employees on their companys culture by responding to 60 statements on a 5-point scale and answering two open-ended questions. Collectively, these statements describe a great employee experience, defined by high levels of trust, respect, credibility, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. Were proud to receive this recognition and humbled by the support from our employees. It is, after all, our people who make Prospa a great place to work by bringing their full and authentic selves to work every day. When your purpose underpins what you do and the decisions that you make, it ener gises your employees, inspires bigger and bolder thinking at every level and translates to great experiences for your customers. It is our purpose, values and team spirit that powers the great work we do to unleash the potential of every small business, said Greg Moshal, co-founder and CEO at Prospa. Over the last 12 months, Prospa has made targeted and strategic investments to pioneer new ways of working and build an exceptional employee experience. This includes rolling out a new value-led Performance and Growth Framework, where employees are equally evaluated on performance outcomes and values during annual performance reviews. This industry-leading framework ensures that Prospa can support the growth of its people, while continuing to build a high-performing organisation. The work Prospa has done to ensure its values are embedded across the organisation at all levels is reflected in its most recent Great Place to Work employee survey. Almost all (97%) of employees understand Prospa values and what they look like in action. This bold way of assessing performance means that how employees got to results matters just as much as what results they have achieved, said Elise Ward, Chief People Officer, Prospa. Its part of our strategy, to ensure our values are embedded across everything we do and lived every day. Its not about paying lip service; values are our secret sauce that allows us to build high performing teams, attract the best talent and deliver customer experiences that genuinely make a positive difference in their lives. Elise Ward, Chief People Officer, Prospa Prospa is also committed to building a real, inclusive and equitable workplace, through its robust benchmarking process, its parental leave policies, employee wellbeing benefits and two-way feedback loops across the organisation. The company regularly hosts Ask-Me-Anything with executive leaders, to give employees opportunities to share their ideas and perspectives on the business strategy. The company provides a range of learning and development opportunities, including its Life & Learning Allowance, where employees can invest $1750 annually to develop new skills, improve personal wellbeing or build community connection. In its first year, the Life & Learning Allowance saw 70% utilisation across the organisation. Employees can also build new skills through the Prospa Academy, regular Hackathon events and Learning Week, where over 26 sessions were hosted in one week. In addition to ranking on Australias Best Place to Work List, Prospa also received its 2023 certification as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand, having been formally certified since 2019. To earn a Great Place to Work certification, companies are scored against global standards and benchmarks for employee experience, to prove they are delivering an overwhelmingly positive employee experience. We congratulate the 90 companies on this List and they are indeed Best Workplaces, as validated by the voices of their employees. In todays talent market businesses need to put their best foot forward to showcase their great workplace culture to retain high performing employees for the years to come. Companies who have made it onto this years Best Workplaces list are a testament to consistently improving and maintaining their great workplace culture practices. said Mr Roland Wee, Managing Director of Great Place To Work Australia and New Zealand. Amperity, the leading enterprise customer data platform (CDP) for consumer brands, today announced Virgin Atlantic as a new customer for its critical data foundation. Amperity will help unify, manage, and activate all of the travel companys digital and transactional customer data, to deliver personalised customer experiences and drive revenue growth. Virgin Atlantic looks after a vast amount of customer data generated from digital touchpoints and offline transactions throughout the customer journey. As part of its ongoing data transformation, the travel company will use the CDP to create a personalised ecosystem and improve the digital experience. Amperity offers a sophisticated, AI-powered platform to create unified customer profiles, harness data to help acquire new customers, deepen existing loyalty relationships, build a community, and support the best possible customer experiences across the end-to-end journey. Tom Barber, Head of Data at Virgin Atlantic, said: When it comes to innovating for our customers, Virgin Atlantic never stands still. Were building a digital core at the heart of our business so that our customers benefit from a seamless shop, book and service experience for our flights and holidays, with an innate understanding of their preferences across the end-to-end journey. Were excited to adopt Amperity to help us get to know our customers better than ever, supporting personalised and meaningful content and experiences at every touchpoint, with the advantage of consistent and secure first-party data and customer segmentation. Amperity's platform uses patented machine learning algorithms to deliver industry-leading identity resolution, audience segmentation, and predictive analytics, which allows Virgin Atlantic to create the most relevant content and communications for each customer. Today, customer data is at the heart of any ambitious organisation, especially one that aspires to make every interaction feel more like it is a one-to-one experience versus a one-to-many approach, said Barry Padgett, CEO at Amperity. By tapping into Amperity, the platform for customer data, Virgin Atlantic will be able to take advantage of patented identity resolution, with strict governance and activation capabilities that will make experiences even more connected and relevant." To learn how other brands like Virgin Atlantic are partnering with Amperity, visit https://amperity.com/customers. About Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core, with a purpose to ensure everyone can take on the world. In 2022, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britains only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the sixth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs more than 7,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 31 destinations across four continents. Virgin Atlantic recently continued its expansion in the US, launching new routes to Austin, Texas and Tampa, Florida. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. In February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Virgin Atlantic joined SkyTeam in March 2023 as the global airline alliances first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliances transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester Airport. Virgin Atlantic has been pioneering sustainability leadership for more than 15 years, with a commitment to achieving 10% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050. The airline operates one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the skies and has reduced its absolute carbon emissions by 35% over the last decade. In October 2022, Virgin Atlantic welcomed the first of 16 A330-900neos to the fleet, continuing its transformation towards 100% next-generation aircraft by 2027. In late 2023, Virgin Atlantic will be leading an industry consortium to deliver the first 100% SAF flight across the transatlantic, demonstrating that 100% SAF can be used safely as a drop in fuel in existing infrastructure, engines and airframes. For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic. About Amperity Amperity delivers the data confidence brands need to unlock growth by truly knowing their customers. With Amperity, brands can build a first-party data foundation to fuel customer acquisition and retention, personalise experiences that build loyalty, and manage privacy compliance. Using patented AI and ML methods, Amperity stitches together all customer interactions to build a unified view that seamlessly connects to marketing and technology tools. More than 400 brands worldwide rely on Amperity to turn data into business value, including Alaska Airlines, DICKS Sporting Goods, Endeavour Drinks, Planet Fitness, Seattle Sounders FC, Under Armour and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. For more information, visit amperity.com or follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. BLUETTI POWER WEEK: In today's world, electricity fuels every aspect of our lives, from home to off-grid adventures. However, high energy costs can put a significant dent in our wallets. The upcoming BLUETTI Power Week sale in September is the best time to score affordable power solutions that optimize power consumption and revolutionize your energy experience. Reducing Power Bills According to VOA news, Australians are paying some of the worlds highest power prices. Sharp increases in power prices are making a cost-of-living crisis even worse. While with the BLUETTI AC300, you could still live comfortably without paying high electric bills. Modular in design, the AC300 is a 15-outlet, 3,000W inverter that could power nearly anything plugged in, from refrigerators to microwaves to air conditioners. The real magic happens when it teams up with one to four 3,072Wh B300 batteries, creating a scalable capacity of up to 12,288Wh. This flexibility allows you to tailor your power system precisely to your needs. The AC300 supports solar charging of up to 2,400W and integrates seamlessly with existing or new solar setups, such as the BLUETTI PV350 folding panels. By storing excess solar energy during the day and using it during peak hours or at night, this system could greatly slash your energy costs while promoting a greener lifestyle. If you already have an AC300 system and are looking for an upgrade to meet your growing power needs. Choose the BLUETTI AC500+B300S, a 5,000W modular power system with a flexible capacity of up to 18,432Wh and 3,000W solar charging. When you order an AC500+B300S combo during this promotion, you'll receive a complimentary $499 trolley, making it easier than ever to transport and enjoy your newfound power potential. If you need a mobile power supply, the all-in-one EP500Pro is your best choice. It comes with a 5,120Wh LiFePO battery pack and a 3,000W pure sine wave AC inverter. Despite its heavy weight, it rolls easily to wherever power is needed, thanks to its four sleek wheels on the bottom. This 15-outlet power station could power anything from fridges to circular saws and lawnmowers. Offering a rapid 5,400W dual AC+PV charging option, it can be swiftly replenished by the day and capitalize on low power prices. As dusk falls, it taps into the reservoir of stored free or inexpensive power to power your home, effectively reducing your energy expenses. In times of extended outages, its generous capacity ensures your home remains illuminated and connected. For those with modest power needs and a limited budget, the 2,000W EP500 is an excellent choice. Sharing the capacity and wheeled design of its sibling, the EP500Pro, it's a versatile powerhouse that can easily power a variety of appliances. What's more, its 1,800W AC+PV dual charging capability also offers a way to save on your energy bills. Elevating Off-Grid Living Embarking on an off-grid journey or living far from the grid? BLUETTI has your back with the AC200P, a robust generator delivering 2,000W of continuous power and 4,800W of starting power. This powerhouse fuels an impressive range of appliances, from RV heaters to water pumps, microwaves, and even your RV, as it has a 12V/25A RV outlet. Its versatile array of 13 outlets includes two AC ports, five USB ports, four 12V DC ports, and two wireless charging pads, offering a one-stop charging haven for all your needs. The 2,000Wh power beast supports fast 700W solar charging and can top up in 3.5 to 4 hours. Connecting it to solar panels, youll get an endless energy supply wherever at any time. As its capacity is expandable to 6,096Wh with two B230 expansion batteries, the AC200P can evolve alongside your growing energy needs. For a more compact yet potent option, consider the AC180, a versatile generator tailored for mobility. Weighing about 16.4kg, it easily fits in the trunk of your car, ready to hit the road. It can dish out 1,800W of power and increase to 2,700W in power lifting mode, to run resistive devices such as dryers and electric kettles. Its fast 1,440W AC charging enables an 80% recharge in just 45 minutes. You can easily feed it up during your pit stops. When coupled with solar panels, such as the BLUETTI PV350 folding panels, the AC180 could support a maximum solar input of 500W, and be fully charged in as little as 2 hours. This 1,152Wh power station offers a greener and quieter alternative to traditional gas generators when venturing outdoors. Although the AC200P and AC180 aren't included in the Power Week sale, they have the best prices now. Energizing Your Outdoor Adventures Its time for outdoor escapades, be it hiking, fishing, camping, rafting, or capturing scenic vistas with your camera or drone. For those looking for a rugged power solution, the dust and water-resistant (IP65-rated) AC60 is a true marvel. At approximately 9.1kg, the AC60 offers 600W of power and 403Wh of capacity, expandable to 2,015Wh with two B80 battery packs. With 7 versatile outlets, it can power a range of devices such as ice makers, refrigerators, phones, laptops, and more. Given BLUETTI Turbo Charging technology, you can charge the AC60 in just 1 hour using 600W AC charging. Powered by a LiFePO4 battery for a long battery life of over 3,000 cycles, and backed by BLUETTI's industry-leading 6-year warranty, the AC60 will keep you charged outdoors, rain or shine, for years to come. 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The piece, written by the co-author of a new book, "Why Empires Fall: Rome, America, and the Future of the West," shows that the cottage industry in comparisons between the United States and Rome is as robust as ever. It is an irresistible temptation to superimpose the history of Rome and especially its decline and fall an enduring subject of fascination on our own experience and future. Both conservatives and progressives are prone to their own versions of this narrative, tending to emphasize either moral decline or imperial overstretch respectively. But the most important thing to know about us and our supposed imperial forebear is that we aren't Rome and aren't experiencing any of the most direct, spectacular causes of its fall. It's become fashionable among some scholars to argue there was no fall. There were no barbarian invasions. There was no material decline. Nothing to see here simply evolutionary change. It is true that Rome's fall a long, messy process didn't unfold with the pleasing cinematic simplicity the popular imagination might believe; the extent of the barbarian population transfers have been exaggerated; and the eastern half of the empire lived on for another 1,000 years. Still, the Western Roman Empire unquestionably fell, with disastrous consequences for a long time. It's just that dragging us into it is wildly off base. Rome tore itself apart with constant assassinations, usurpations and civil wars. It weakened itself economically and militarily while confronting challenges from armed bands on its borders it became incapable of handling as it steadily lost its territory and tax base to barbarian groups. Is this happening to America? Well, an armed contingent of Quebecers isn't (like the Visigoths in Rome) wandering throughout the United States, fighting periodic battles with the US military and seeking subsidies from the US Senate before besieging and eventually sacking Washington, DC. Migrants to the United States don't settle en masse in national groupings led by military leaders seeking power and preferment. They disperse throughout the country and take illegal jobs as busboys and the like. US presidents have to worry about declining poll numbers, a recalcitrant congressional opposition and re-election campaigns. They don't, like Roman emperors, need to think all the time about potential assassination and armed usurpers. They don't need to worry that if they assign a general to take over, say, CENTCOM, he will use the position to muster the troops and resources to challenge for power himself. They don't need to consider the positioning of military forces with an eye to checking internal enemies. Jan. 6 was disgraceful day but a blip hardly worth mentioning relative to the perpetual, large-scale internal disorder in imperial Rome. The 1st Infantry Division isn't marching on Washington, DC, from Fort Riley, Kansas, and fighting a pitched battle with the 4th Marine Division devastating to the countryside somewhere in Ohio. None of this is to deny the United States and the West may have entered a period of what will ultimately prove to be terminal decline or that rivals, most notably China, are on the rise. It is to say that unless our representative democracy degenerates into an unelected dictatorship with no reliable means of succession and Canada and Mexico begin to eat away at our territory, the story of our decline is not going to track closely with that of Rome, a vastly different polity, at a different time. By all means, study the history of Rome for its own sake and for the insights it affords into human nature and the roots of the Western world. But the moral of the story needn't be about 21st-century America. (COMMENT, BELOW) Mastercard has joined forces with the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), a renowned training and development organisation, to drive financial inclusion in Bahrain and the wider region. Under the multi-faceted partnership, the BIBF will work with Mastercard Academy, a leading provider of world-class training solutions in the payments space, to design and deliver customised and scalable digital and physical learning courses. The two parties will also explore opportunities to support relevant industry events by providing subject matter expert speakers and panelists with the aim of showcasing their thought leadership. In addition, Mastercard will leverage its resources, assets and partners to assist the BIBF in engaging Bahrains community with a focus on several target segments, such as students and entrepreneurs. Building synergies In line with its dedication to excellence, the BIBF is keen to build synergies with leading organisations around the world to expand its learning offerings across all major business disciplines and strengthen its capabilities to develop human capital. Our latest collaboration with Mastercard will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambition of becoming the global partner of choice for professional education in the payments industry. We look forward to benefiting from the companys rich know-how in this field, said Dr Ahmed AlShaikh, CEO, BIBF. Since its inception in 1981, the BIBF has grown from training 450 applicants a year, primarily within the banking industry, to 20,000 participants from all sectors of the economy. The institute has qualified over 360,000 learners in the last four decades. At Mastercard, we are committed to contributing to the growth of Bahrains digital economy. With its decades-long legacy and a strong footprint across the local landscape and beyond, BIBF is our ideal partner in boosting financial inclusion in the country and the wider region. Through our collaboration, we seek to leverage our expertise and market knowledge to provide comprehensive financial education that will enhance financial inclusion and unlock greater prosperity for individuals and businesses, said Driss Belemlih, Executive Vice President & Customer Delivery Lead, EEMEA, Mastercard. Sustainable finance The BIBFs Acting Head of Banking & Finance, Bassam Kazerooni, stated: The financial industry is evolving at a rapid speed; demand for sustainable and socially responsible practices and business is rising on both an individual and an institutional level. As the training arm of the Central Bank of Bahrain, the BIBF is committed to developing human capital in Bahrain and the region, in the area of sustainable finance as an instrument to achieving the kingdoms vision to ensure the sustainability of the overall development process in many fields. With access to over 200 experts from across Mastercards global network, Mastercard Academy provides the companys customers and partners with professional insights, skills and knowledge. Its faculty possesses unparalleled knowledge of the latest trends in the payments industry.-- TradeArabia News Service Assorted Trumpophobes are abusing the Constitution to deny Americans the right to vote for or against DJT for president. Specifically, Section Three of the 14th Amendment disqualifies from high office certain individuals who "shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the [U.S. Constitution], or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." This legal theory might make sense if Trump had been imprisoned for insurrection or rebellion. It might hold water, if he had been convicted of insurrection or rebellion. This boomlet even might boast a thimble full of steam, if the Justice Department, a state attorney general, or some county prosecutor had indicted him for insurrection or rebellion. Unfortunately for Trump haters, this never happened. In a bizarre and totally unprecedented action, Democrats waited until after Trump departed the White House to try him for "incitement of insurrection." His second impeachment trial resembled an employer firing an employee after he left the company. The House's "incitement" accusation already was one step short of insurrection, akin to telling someone to torch a house rather than personally lobbing a Molotov cocktail onto its front porch. Regardless, 43 U.S. senators found Trump not guilty, while 57 disagreed 10 shy of conviction. So, the Senate acquitted Trump of insurrection. Moreover, the 14th Amendment's 1868 insurrection language is tied to the Civil War. It was designed to keep Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and other Confederates out of Congress and the White House. Trump's detractors cannot escape these facts: He never served the Confederacy and was born 81 years after the North defeated the South in 1865. Trump's persecutors also refuse to acknowledge what he told supporters at a January 6, 2021 rally: "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." This was no rebel yell. Trump's foes retort that he told protesters, "Fight like hell." Alleged translation: "Smash into the U.S. Capitol, hijack the Electoral College, and make me President for Life." To call this argument flaccid overstates its potency. Democrats regularly say "fight like hell." Consider: On June 25, 2020, Joe Biden promised American families that he would "fight like hell to make sure they get the healthcare they need." "We will file lawsuits, pass legislation in the House & fight like hell," against alleged GOP voter suppression, impeachment manager Congressman Ted Lieu (D California) declared via Twitter on June 9, 2020. Impeachment manager Congressman Eric Swalwell (D California) told CNN's then-anchor Don Lemon on March 18, 2019: "I'll fight like hell to make sure we see this report" by Robert Mueller on Russiagate. Trump's lawyers turned the Democrats' "fight like hell" argument into a pants-wetting laughing stock by showing at his Senate trial a nearly 10-minute long video of top Democrats using "fighting words." President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and a parade of Democrat senators and House members say, "fight," "fight back," "fight on," and yes "fight like hell" at least (by my count) 281 separate times. "Fight like hell" is routine political rhetoric. This cliche is as innocent as "Remember to vote" and "G od Bless America." If Trump really wanted an insurrection, he would not have authorized 10,000 National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. on January 6. Trump's enemies want Americans to believe that he ordered unarmed insurrectionists to storm the Capitol after he greenlighted 10,000 GIs with automatic rifles to crush their rebellion. How idiotic do Democrats think Americans are? Alas, the U.S. House's then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D California) and Mayor Muriel Bowser (D Washington, D.C.) rebuffed the protection that Trump approved. Trump offered to encircle the Capitol with troops. Pelosi and Bowser stopped him. And now Trump's tormentors blame him for insurrection? This claim is flimsier than a Kleenex in a hurricane. Democrat liars relentlessly call themselves democracy's stalwart defenders. If so, why not simply run against Donald J. Trump? Why bar him from ballots rather than let voters choose the Democrats' vision or his? Democrats, more evil than ever, understand that fascism is easier than democracy. Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. I'm just back from a theater vacation in London and a week in Scotland, which were meant to help me recoup from a strenuous work trip to Ukraine. Things didn't exactly work out that way. The first London play I attended was Patriots, a powerful drama about Vladimir Putin's revenge on the onetime godfather of 1990s Russian politics, Boris Berezovsky, who had facilitated Putin's rise to power. I interviewed Berezovsky in the mid-1990s at the Davos World Economic Forum, when he was at the peak of his power, and considered himself superior to Putin. He bragged that he and fellow Russian big business oligarchs were the robber barons who would bring their country into the modern age as the Rockefellers and Carnegies did in America's 19th century. Putin never forgave Berezovsky's superiority complex. The Russian tycoon was found hanged on March 23, 2013, while living in forced exile in Britain. (The coroner was unable to conclude whether he committed suicide or was strangled.) On Aug. 23, three days after I saw Patriots (on a day I also took in the violent power struggles of Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Globe Theatre), current events forced visions of Putin's vendettas back onto my mind. That was the day the private plane of onetime Putin pal and Wagner private militia commander Yevgeny Prigozhin exploded in midair over Russia. Wagner won the only substantial victory for Moscow in Ukraine, and Prigozhin was hailed as a hero. But the plane explosion came two months after Prigozhin organized a brief, unsuccessful mutiny against Putin's military chiefs, whom he believed were doing a bad job in Ukraine. The militia leader apparently thought he was too important to be murdered. Both Berezovsky and Prigozhin badly misread Putin. So, I fear, does the White House. Indeed, these two oligarchs' fates provide a flashing red-light warning about the incoherent U.S. strategy toward Ukraine, and the apparent White House failure to fully grasp what Putin is up to. Three points in particular come to mind. First, Putin holds his grudges and will continue to seek revenge for what he regards as humiliation. Berezovsky made the mistake of underestimating Putin's determination to destroy those who challenged or betrayed him no matter how long it took. Prigozhin misconstrued the Kremlin leader's initial indecision after the mutiny as weakness. But Putin used the next weeks to remove the mutineer's control of his Wagner militia then played on Prigozhin's inflated ego to make him think he was impervious to assassination. Wrong. In the case of Washington and the West, Putin made clear in his 2007 Munich speech that he fully blames them for the tragedy of the dissolution of the Soviet empire the ultimate humiliation. He wants Washington's recognition of his right to rebuild that empire under Moscow's domination, with Ukraine as its heartland. He will not give up this aspiration unless he is militarily defeated. Any U.S. or European misperception that Putin is willing to negotiate a compromise that recognizes Ukraine as a viable state is self-delusion as deep as that which doomed Berezovsky and Prigozhin. Putin would only use negotiations with Kyiv as he has done before as an opportunity to rebuild his forces and restart the war. Second, Putin plays a poor hand well, preying on Western weaknesses. With Berezovsky and Prigozhin, he played on their inflated egos, as he did with former President Donald Trump and will do again if Trump wins in 2024. With the Biden administration, Putin has cleverly played on its fear he will use nuclear weapons if Ukraine crosses his redlines. The goal is to persuade the West that it's too dangerous to give Ukraine the weapons it needs to retake Crimea, and actually defeat Russia. Yet no matter how many redlines have been crossed, Putin refrains from using nukes. That is because he knows that will hurt him more than help him, losing the support of China and finally making him an international pariah. His major concern is keeping power, not committing political suicide. Russia's nukes are only valuable so long as Putin doesn't use them, and the Kremlin can tout them as a potent threat. If the West continues to be intimidated by this threat, he will use it again and again, including against Western European nations. Who would then believe that NATO would go to war to save Estonia, or Finland? Third, and most importantly, Putin is counting on Western nations to be as shortsighted about his intentions as were the two dead oligarchs. He is playing for time. Just as he patiently waited to move against Berezovsky and Prigozhin, a long war plays to Putin's advantage. He knows manpower is precious to Ukraine, but he cares not how many men he loses, and is hoping for more weapons from North Korea. He hopes to wait out the West's patience with supporting Ukraine financially and militarily. He is clearly hoping for a Trump victory that leads to a complete aid cutoff to Kyiv. The White House, to Putin's probable delight, seems glued to a strategy that guarantees a long war, which Ukraine may not be able to sustain. The Biden team hoped the current Ukrainian counterinsurgency would do enough damage in a short time to bring Putin to the negotiation table (a useless proposition unless the Russians are clearly defeated). Yet Biden continues to refuse or delay the key systems long range ATACMS missiles and F-16 warplanes that would make faster Ukrainian progress possible. It refuses to recognize that only NATO membership for Ukraine will stop Putin's dreams of empire. The longer the White House fails to recognize the Kremlin's goals and help Ukraine defeat them, the bigger the risk to Kyiv, to NATO, and to the West. President Biden must stop misreading Putin before it is too late. (COMMENT, BELOW) Trudy Rubin Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) Previously: 08/18/23: With new weapons slow to arrive from NATO allies, Ukraine surprises Putin with sea drones 08/09/23: Lessons from a military funeral in Ukraine 07/28/23: As Russian missiles again rain down on Odesa, Putin sneers at the UN and NATO allies 07/24/23: Putin is playing a game of food blackmail. The West can't let him win 07/19/23: Can Ukraine win the war against Russia? I'm traveling there to find out 07/17/23: From hell to Harvard: One Ukrainian's escape and how you can help fulfill her dreams 07/11/23: At the NATO summit in Vilnius: Will Biden seize or squander the chance to end Putin's war on Ukraine? 04/21/23: The Pentagon documents leak will embolden Putin as he tries to outlast Ukraine 03/22/23: The Russian attack on a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone underlines why we must help Ukraine win 03/15/23: Will the White House have the courage to propel a Ukrainian victory this year? 02/21/23: On the first anniversary of Putin's invasion, Ukraine fights on for its independence and for the security of the West 02/17/23: A former Pakistani leader's death, and his wise peace plan that failed 02/09/23: Earthquakes killed nearly 12,000 people this week. Three men are partly to blame 01/24/23: As Russia murders civilians in Dnipro, why won't NATO send weapons that could end the war? 12/28/22: What Zelensky worried about when he addressed a cheering Congress 12/13/22: The US-China conflict to watch is the Chip War --- which centers on Taiwan 09/14/22: Ukraine scores sudden breakthrough that should energize Western support 09/09/22: Queen Elizabeth's death deprives Britain and the world of a rock of stability 09/08/22: After Gorbachev's death, Putin wants the world to know he is the 'anti-Gorbi' 08/26/22: 6 months after Russia's war vs. Ukraine began, the West still won't give Kiev the weapons to win 08/15/22: Ukraine's civilian volunteers work to give aid and rebuild, even as Russia continues to bomb them 08/08/22: A trip near the front lines finds Ukrainian troops ready for a battle that could decide the war 06/13/22: The critical battles for Ukraine and for America are being fought right here, right now 05/02/22: Save Odesa to save the world from hunger and high food prices 05/02/22: Bloodless Ukrainian War, not utopian fantasy says one-time largest foreign investor in Russia 04/11/22: The only way to end Putin's war crimes 03/28/22: Don't let Putin's nuclear and chemical threats stop us from giving Ukraine what it needs 03/24/22: An elegy for Mariupol, where I walked six weeks ago. Now razed by Russian bombs 03/18/22: Zelensky's brilliant speech should impel Biden and Congress to protect Ukrainian skies 03/11/22: Mariupol's bombed maternity hospital exemplifies why NATO should protect Ukraine's skies 03/10/22: No 'no-fly zone'? Then NATO must find another way to protect Ukraine's skies 03/07/22: The third World War has already started in Ukraine. Europe and the US should wake up 03/04/22:Putin must be stopped from turning Kiev into Aleppo 03/02/22:Why is Belarus helping Russia invade Ukraine? An explainer on the latest in the conflict 02/25/22: What the UN should finally do about Russia 02/24/22: Why Putin's Ukraine aggression will change the world --- an explainer on how we got here 02/10/22: Ukrainian civilians train for war with cardboard guns: 'We are scared but we are ready 01/13/22:Putin wants to reestablish the Russian empire. Can NATO stop him without war? 12/10/21: Can Biden and NATO prevent Putin from invading Ukraine? Summit puts it to the test 12/02/21: Boris Johnson stirs up new Irish Troubles for his own personal political gains 11/22/21: Xi Jinping thinks America is on the rocks. Is he correct? 08/18/21: President Biden, get our Afghan allies on evacuation planes 08/18/21:The horror of Afghan women abandoned by Biden's troop pullout 08/09/21:China is pushing a big COVID-19 lie that makes a new pandemic harder to prevent 05/27/21: Punish Belarus leader for Ryanair hijacking before air piracy becomes dictators' new tool 04/14/21: Can Beethoven temper the political tensions between US and China? 06/01/20: US must stand with Hong Kong against Beijing's efforts to crush its freedoms 05/20/20: COVID-19 offers a chance to halt Iran's hostage diplomacy 05/21/14: Newscycle spurs visit to country my family fled 04/21/14: Blind to Putin's strategy? 12/24/13: Obama's Syrian indifference has led to more death and destruction. Meet some real heroes 12/13/13: Where liberals have come to love the military 12/09/13: The China strategy 11/05/13: Return to Iraq is worth a close look 10/01/13: Obama's call to Iran: Who was really on the line? 09/11/13: How Obama got Syria so wrong 07/24/13: It's time for Obama to tell Putin 'nyet' 05/15/13: What Russia gave Kerry on Syria --- very little Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. I mentioned that on his long-running Radio Derb John Derbyshire drew his listeners' attention to an observation of yours truly: I can't improve on Steyn nobody can so I'll just quote him from that piece. I always feel Derb thinks I'm a bit of a pantywaist on the hardcore issues, but in today's America even a reasonably sentient pantywaist should be able to get to the nub of the issue. Here's the bit Derb quoted: So two years later the American Right still talks about the justice system and the election campaign as if either term means what it does in functioning societies. As I said above, I don't intend to comment on this week's Trump indictment either, nor do I wish to talk about who would make the best president, who has the best platform, who has the skill-set to implement the platform ... That would be all well and good if we were in, say, France, but, when the dirty stinking rotten corrupt U.S. justice system is criminalizing political opposition, there's no point pretending this is a normal situation, right? "There's no point pretending this is a normal situation, right?" And yet at least three-quarters of the candidates in that Republican debate insisted on doing just that: This is just a normal quadrennial election in the greatest country in the history of countries where we're renowned around the planet for our uniquely peaceful "peaceful transfer of power", etc, etc. Sorry, I don't buy that - and evidently nor does the GOP base. Which is why Trump has a forty-point lead over his nearest rival, and Nikki Haley's alleged triumph on stage in that debate has seen her numbers soar to - stand well back! - 6.1 per cent. The avowedly normal vice-president, senator and three governors nipping at her heels can barely muster ten per cent between them. There don't seem to be a lot of takers for "pretending this is normal". John Derbyshire quoted me in the context of the latest sentences on the January 6th "insurrectionists". Dominic Pezzola broke a window at the Capitol and was given ten years; the government had asked for twenty. Joseph Biggs moved a crowd-control barrier and was sentenced to seventeen years; the government had wanted him banged up for thirty-three. So the prosecutors and the judges seem to have reached a cozy understanding that, whatever sentence the former demand, the Court will be totally reasonable and cut in half. You want another? The feds demanded thirty years for Zachary Rehl; the judge gave him fifteen. And this is after two-and-a-half years in gaol awaiting their "constitutional right" (don't wave that constitution at me!) to a speedy trial. Oops, wait, I spoke too soon. The US Attorney wanted thirty-three years for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, but this time the judge decided to up it to two-thirds of the feds' demand: twenty-two years. For a guy who wasn't in Washington on January 6th. All this of course in an ugly and violent land where actual career criminals who like to beat up disabled women with their own canes have the run of the playground. And with the connivance and support of the Democrat Party, even when very occasionally it all goes wrong for one of their own. Oh, well. Mr Tarrio is a Proud Boy. I'm not really a Proud Boys type, if only because their founder, Gavin McInnes, has been >a bit of an arse about me re Cockwombling Cary Katz and the CRTV cases. Still, I'm all about first principles - and a decade for breaking a window is not, even by lousy American standards, the verdict of a "justice" system. Ah, but these Proud Boys are easy to demonize, aren't they? So what about Florida gran'ma Connie Meggs? She spent twenty minutes wandering around inside "the People's House" on J6, and, after two-and-a-half years under house arrest in the Sunshine State, has now been sentenced to fifteen months in gaol. If you're thinking about running for president and are foolish enough to put on retainer one of those top-dollar GOP consultants from the Dole/McCain/Romney campaigns, they'll advise you not to harp on (as Trump does) about all this 2020 stuff because elections are about the future. Unfortunately, those sentences are your future - in a land where political opposition is criminalized, and every organ of the state from the justice department to the revenue agency is weaponized against its perceived enemies. They're happening now for a reason. Fifteen years ago, I sat in a Chicago courtroom watching a parade of Conrad Black's former board members and business partners testify against him. It seemed an obvious racket even to a Canadian not then as acquainted as I have since become with the ways of the dirty stinking rotten corrupt US justice system. The glamorous names on my old boss's board - former governors and ambassadors, etc - had all been sent so-called "Wells letters" warning that the SEC was thinking about opening an investigation into them. That can seriously unravel your world: for one thing, you won't be able to sit on any more boards, which is what ex-ambassadors and ex-governors do. So, amazingly, the A-list bigshots all decided to become prosecution witnesses against Lord Black - and whaddayaknow, the SEC just quietly went away. Conrad's longtime Number Two, David Radler, did his own deal with the US Attorney allowing him to serve a significantly reduced sentence in Canada, at a "gaol" that offers amateur theatre and horse-riding lessons. When defence counsel questioned Radler on the attractions outlined in the glossy brochure, the judge interjected, "Wait a minute - the prison has a brochure?" It's a sick, evil racket that's now being applied to the government's political opposition. Leaning on the Number Two to sing like a canary? You could ask Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows about that. Headline from Vanity Fair: Sad! Donald Trump's Coconspirators Have Started Throwing Him Under the Bus Oh my, you do surprise me! Why do you think they indict eighteen "co-conspirators"? Because, in the craphole of American "justice", that's how you build your witness list. Sure, my old telly chum Jenna Ellis (whose indictment is especially outrageous) is young enough to have a sporting chance of getting out of the big house while still just about middle-aged, but, if Rudy Giuliani gets what that Proud Boy gets, he won't be out till he's 101. That tends to concentrate the mind. (By the way, for the benefit of His Majesty's Governments in London and Canberra, this is why neither Julian Assange nor anyone else should be extradited to the United States. After eleven years in the dank toilet of the District of Columbia Superior Court over a 270-word National Review post, that is one thing I know.) It would be different if there were still any such thing as equality before the law. When a mob stormed the Capitol, you'll recall, Nancy Pelosi hailed it as an "impressive show of democracy in action". But that was the Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, and the mob was on her side. It's different when it's her window getting broken. Like I said: There's no point pretending this is normal, right? And yet a vast swathe of Conservative, Inc insists on doing just that. One can see the attractions of a "return to normalcy" (to borrow Warren Harding's campaign slogan), but the conditions do not exist. The GOP bigshots assure us that, if the knuckle-dragging rubes insist on nominating Trump, he will be wiped out in the general. There isn't actually a lot of evidence for that - right now, the RealClearPolitics poll of polls has Biden up a whopping ... 0.4 per cent. For purposes of comparison, at this point in the last cycle, ABC/Washington Post had the basement boy with a 15-point lead - 55-40. Four years later, The Wall Street Journal has Trump and Biden tied, CNN has Trump up one, Emerson Trump up two, Leger/New York Post Trump up three ... These are not the polls of a surefire loser. Don't get me wrong. If those numbers hold up on Election Day, then Biden wins ...because of the usual "malfunctions" in Maricopa County, Fulton County and the otherwise obscure half-dozen jurisdictions one hears about only every other November late on Tuesday night. But you'd have to have an awful lot of faith to believe that, if only you eschewed Trump and nominated Tim Scott or Nikki Haley, Maricopa's voting machines would decide to play nice... [UPDATE! It turns out that Fulton County grand jury recommended charges against former GOP senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue - oh, and Lindsey Graham! Senator Graham was so busy demanding "boots on the ground" in Hoogivsastan he failed to hear the boots approaching his own front door.] Since I've brought up Conrad Black's case, here is something from Lord Black's latest column: The theory that any so-called fresh Democratic face would make short work of Mr. Trump in an election is just another anti-Trump fable, like the widely agreed-upon lie most recently respectabilized by the distinguished political organizer and commentator Karl Rove in the Wall Street Journal on August 31, that President Trump's concerns about the 2020 election have been fairly adjudicated. Mr. Rove knows as well as anyone that the judiciary at all levels declined in 2020 to judge on the merits all 19 of the constitutional challenges to the changes in voting and vote-counting rules supposedly to accommodate Covid voting and that created millions of unsolicited mail-in ballots, about which concerns were raised that they were not verifiably cast by the people who ostensibly filled them out. Long ago, I chanced to call on Conrad Black just as he was taking a call from Karl Rove. I doubt Mr Rove would take a call from Lord Black today. But Conrad is quite right on the above. So what's the point of pretending this is normal? The house arrests, solitary confinements, lack of any meaningful "speedy trials", and eventual decade-long sentences for window-breaking suggest the one-party state is not yet done with you. Unless you're a billionaire, sticking with Trump will wipe out your savings and take your home - as the newly convicted Peter Navarro and many others can testify. And yet the base is sticking with him. Which Trump are these guys backing? The Escalator Man of 2015 pledging to build the wall and stick it to China and end the endless unwon wars? Or the Trump of 2020, high on his own celebrity and waging such an inept re-election campaign that, at the height of the BLM riots, he was boasting about all the black men he's freeing from prison? Or is it the post-presidential Trump, bragging at rallies and oblivious to the silence and then the boos that he's the guy who came up with those fabulous Covid vaccines? How about none of the above? Maybe half the country - or, to be more precise, forty-six per cent of registered voters - thinks the real problem is that the system no longer provides for any meaningful course correction. You can vote for an end to open borders, but you won't get it. You can vote to bring home the jobs that got shipped to China, but China owns all the politicians, all the "big guys" with the "ten per cent". You can vote against two-decade wars that end with the world's hyperpower losing to goatherds with fertiliser, but back at the Pentagon they just take a twenty-minute tea-break, throw a dart in the map, and start it all up somewhere else. The Trump presidency was undone by Joe Biden's signing pen about ten minutes after inauguration. But that wasn't enough for the Uniparty. Like Oliver Cromwell, he has to be dug up and beheaded, over and over and over, and all his allies too, from Giuliani to that Florida grandmother - until you guys get the message. Why pretend that's "normal" and meekly fall in line and move on to Nikki Haley? Even if you're going to lose, you might as well take a stand with Trump against the "normalization" of a system determined to criminalize you. You can't have "normal" politics in a country where one side gets endlessly indicted and the other never is (notwithstanding the latest fake-o headlines about the not-so-Special Counsel promising to throw the book at Hunter on gun charges). America is dying before your eyes. Why pretend that's normal? SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Since so much of what happens in our lives seems to have no reason or logic, and therefore goes unexplained, it is important, in my opinion, to have a solid foundation in religion (Jewish in my case) which although cannot fully explain everything, does at least offer purpose and meaning to our existence with the understanding that G od is behind it. Belief in this is necessary, especially when things go horribly wrong. In the last five to ten years my wife has been afflicted with so much that I find myself (in spite of my faith) thinking how unfair it is. Why, G od? Why so much pain and misery on her? She has done nothing to deserve all this. It isn't fair. She has undergone so many health problems in her life, I couldn't begin to list them all. Just in the last few years she has suffered from peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, hepatitis, chronic gastritis, heart attack, and fainting spells. Five years ago she lost most of her vision. Her eyesight continues to get progressively worse with each passing day. The year 2017 was the big one. She would be 75 years old that year and to celebrate I wanted to take her on a Mississippi paddleboat cruise which was her longtime dream vacation. It never happened. That was the year that everything caved in on her. The first thing that hit her was a mysterious skin rash that came out of nowhere. Little by little it crept all over her body and the itching drove her nuts. The rash was bright red and in parts blistered. She saw every kind of doctor you might imagine; dermatologists, allergists, infectious disease specialists, we went to them all. No solutions. Finally the condition got so bad that her primary care doctor had to hospitalize her. She was put on an IV and given high doses of antibiotics. They did skin biopsies. They experimented with taking her off various medications that she'd been on, thinking that maybe one of those was causing the rash. Some years before she was diagnosed with having diabetes type 2 and was taking pills to control it. While in the hospital they took her off the pills and put her on direct insulin. From that point on she would have to administer insulin injections into her belly every morning. Finally the rash subsided and slowly disappeared. No one has been able to tell us how or why it came about. A mystery. She left the hospital thankful that the ordeal was over. She looked forward to her paddle wheel adventure in the fall and we began preparing for it. Then, literally just days before the cruise, she came down with an extreme case of hepatitis. Again, out of nowhere. Hepatitis is contagious and given her distress and the severity of the disease, our doctor could not allow her to take that cruise. That was the end of her dream vacation but not the end of her maladies. Eventually she got through the hepatitis but that's when things got worse. She awoke one morning in early November complaining that she had a strange black spot in her left eye. It was obvious that this was serious so we took her to her eye doctor right away. After examining her he realized that although he was an optical surgeon, she had something that was way beyond his pay grade. He made a phone call and told us to hurry over to an eye specialist in neuro-ophthalmology. We drove over to the eye center and got the bad news. She had suffered what they called "a stroke" in the optic nerve of her eye. Nothing she had done, or could have avoided. Just one of those things, we were told. A few days later it happened to her other eye. Same thing, optic nerve stroke. Very unusual, we were told, for this to occur in both eyes. The medical term is AION (anterior ischemic optic neuropathy). There is no cure. She agreed to undergo a research trial, however, with the slight possibility of improving things a bit. It was a gamble but one we decided might be worth a try. She an entire year going through testing, injections, drops, and more testing. In the end, it was all for nothing. Although she is not in total blackness, her sight is gone beyond repair. If lucky she can just make out shadows. Light is a source of discomfort for her, not offering increased visibility, only glaring irritation. Once an avid book reader, crossword puzzle player, cook, seamstress, and caretaker of my house and of me, she is now dependent on Braille audio books and listening to TV, radio, or my reading. And then this past May she developed a digestive problem that has, after numerous testing of upper and lower GI regions, turned out to be chronic gastritis. Something else that appears to have no cure. But it gets better. Literally at the same time, she suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. She needed to have bypass surgery, but because her veins and arteries are too small it couldn't be done. About all they can do for her is ply her with pills which she takes at four intervals throughout the day. During this time she has had three separate fainting spells, which, thankfully, she was able to snap out of and come to in a relatively quick time. I want so very much to help her, but I feel so inadequate. I do what I can but it isn't anywhere enough. I know that many people have horrible physical disabilities that they and their families must deal with. My sympathies and understanding are with them. However, the realization that we're not alone, that others have health problems which are as bad or worse than ours does not give me solace, sorry to say. I wish it did. The good news is we're managing. We have each other, and that means a lot. We are immensely grateful for that. My faith in my G od is as strong as it ever was. I just can't help thinking that what has happened to Jane isn't fair. Although she has managed to keep a good attitude throughout it all, she has had more than her share of pain, heartache, and disappointment. She has cried enough. No, it really isn't fair. Not at all fair. I would very much like to tell Him that. (COMMENT, BELOW) MONDAY, Sept. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with hepatitis C should consider being vaccinated again for hepatitis B, because their immune response to the initial shot may be inadequate, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School urge those who have hepatitis C to be checked for hepatitis B immune protection. If none is present, they should get the vaccine again after treating hepatitis C. Previous research had shown that individuals with hepatitis C infection had a lower response to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. This study has broad implications for public health in hepatitis-infected individuals, Dr. Jose Debes, an associate professor in the schools of medicine and public health, said in a university news release. It is known that the hepatitis B vaccine is not as effective in those with hepatitis C. What was not known until now is that after treating hepatitis C the hepatitis B vaccine seems to be more effective in this population. This is important, as many of these individuals are still at risk for hepatitis B infection. A blood-borne virus causes hepatitis C, leading to inflammation of the liver. About 58 million people worldwide have the condition, with 1.5 million new infections each year. No effective vaccine exists for hepatitis C. Hepatitis B is a liver infection that can be prevented with the HBV vaccine. To study the impact of the hepatitis B vaccine on these hepatitis C patients, researchers worked with 34 patients who previously did not respond to the HBV vaccine. They were tested for hepatitis B antibodies. The study found that after treatment of their hepatitis C, this group had an improved response to revaccination against hepatitis B. Having both hepatitis B and C together raises the risk of severe issues like liver cirrhosis or cancer. Getting both infections is common and risky in certain areas. More research is needed in a larger group to assess the best time for re-vaccination and further understand the involved immune pathways, the authors said. Study findings were recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. More information The World Health Organization has more on hepatitis. SOURCE: University of Minnesota Medical School, news release, Sept. 7, 2023 Seven-time American Ninja Warrior competitor Maggi Thorne is no stranger to flying on Southwest Airlines, now traveling the country as a motivational speaker, but something unexpected happened on a recent flight. On a midday Southwest flight from Omaha, Nebraska, to Orlando, Florida, she says she was shamed for her outfit by a flight attendant and told she might have to cover up. The flight attendant told her she, didnt think I was appropriately dressed, Thorne said. Thorne posted the story to X, formerly known as Twitter, last week with a photo of her outfit: an athleisure crop top and loose, high-waisted pants. Thorne refused to cover up and reported the incident to another flight attendant after looking for and failing to find a passenger dress code policy. Thorne also said she messaged a friend, who happens to be a Southwest flight attendant, and asked her if she was aware of any such policy, to which her friend responded no. Initially, the second flight attendant said there was a policy for appropriate dress, but the situation diffused and Thorne was able to travel to her destination uninterrupted. Other similar incidents involving Southwest have been reported in the past. Melinna Bobadilla claimed last summer that she was removed from a flight for defending a young woman being shamed and harassed by an employee for wearing a tank top that was deemed too revealing, she said in a viral Twitter thread that has since been made private. In October 2020, Chicago woman Kayla Eubanks said she was stopped from boarding her flight for her attire and that, after demanding to see the policy that allowed that, the gate agent could not find the policy but would not relent until the flight captain loaned her a T-shirt. The Independent reported on the event, which was also posted to X. There are more, and the vast majority of incidents like Thornes happen to women. While other airlines have come under fire for attire-related incidents, notably American, United and Alaska Airlines, Southwest appears to make headlines most often for its interpretation of appropriate attire. Chris Perry, a representative for Southwest, said in an email that Southwest does not have a customer dress code policy. However, Southwests guide to traveling on a guest pass states travelers should dress to impress. While Southwests dress code is relaxed and casual, you will be expected to present a clean, well-groomed and tasteful appearance. Additionally, the airlines ticket contract its so-called contract of carriage that defines terms of use for flying on a plane specifies that the carrier may, in its sole discretion, refuse to transport, or may remove from an aircraft at any point, any passenger. Engaging in lewd, obscene or patently offensive behavior, including wearing clothes that are lewd, obscene, or patently offensive. Other airlines have similar clauses in their ticket fine print. Delta may refuse to transport passengers when the passengers conduct, attire, hygiene or odor creates an unreasonable risk of offense or annoyance to other passengers. United singles out passengers who are barefoot, not properly clothed, or whose clothing is lewd, obscene or offensive. Americans contract says, Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing arent allowed. The vaguely worded policies leave much room for interpretation. In the case of Southwest, Perry said: Our employees are responsible for following our contract of carriage. Many have responded to these incidents on social media and beyond, calling out the disproportionate effect attire policies seem to have on women. Incidents such as what happened to Thorne are rare in the grand scheme of things, but they are not without a lasting impact. (I felt) shamed, embarrassed, Thorne said. I was definitely singled out, so I was frustrated. She also took issue with the fact that the flight attendant did this in front of other passengers and not in private: It wasnt discreet. Southwest has filed a formal complaint with senior leadership on Thornes behalf, but there is no specific policy on recourse for passengers like Thorne who feel they have been unfairly judged for their dress. Southwests contract of carriage says, A passenger who is so refused or removed is without further recourse to the carrier for any damages claimed by passenger, including the refund value of any unused portion of their ticket, and may be liable to carrier for costs and damages. In the case of Eubanks, whose Twitter post received over 40,000 likes, Southwest refunded her fare as a gesture of goodwill, according to The Independent. I havent previously had any issues, Thorne said. I was in disbelief. Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Top 10 safest airlines to fly on right now Hawaiian Airlines Delta Airlines Alaska Airlines American Airlines United Airlines International: Qatar Airways International: Qantas Airways International: Etihad Airways International: Air New Zealand International: Singapore Airlines Safest low-cost airlines in 2023 MORE COVERAGE: DECATUR Five people remained hospitalized Monday after an explosion at an Archer Daniels Midland Co. soybean processing facility that shook nearby houses on the city's east side and sent smoke billowing into the sky. Firefighters rushed to the scene on Sunday evening to find numerous injured workers scattered amid a scene of blasted debris and burning buildings, the Decatur Fire Department said. In a statement, ADM said there was an explosion at 7:11 p.m. Sunday at the company's East Plant, 4666 Faries Parkway. "Five employees remain in the hospital receiving treatment for their injuries, and our priority is providing our injured colleagues and their families support," a company spokesperson said. The East Plant, which produces soybean oil and white flake for soybean protein production, remained out of operation on Monday, as did the adjacent corn processing plant. Firefighters said they counted eight injured workers in all as they arrived just after 7 p.m. Six were taken from the scene by ambulance, and four Medivac helicopters were used to airlift the injured to trauma centers. In a statement, Decatur Memorial Hospital said it treated five patients from the blast. Four were transferred to Springfield Memorial Hospital, a Level 1 trauma center, and one patient was transferred to a hospital in Indiana. The worker who was taken to Indiana was identified in online postings by his family as Yoan Heredia of Tuscola. His sister-in-law, Halle Mann, said he was being treated at a trauma burn unit in Indianapolis. He has second and third degree burns on his hands and his whole face, she said. Hes going to be intubated for a few days. After the explosion, Heredia was rushed to Decatur Memorial Hospital, and he was in Indianapolis by midnight, she said. By Monday afternoon, he was being eased off of the sedation medication. Hes been intubated from all the swelling, Mann said. But hes recently been nodding yes and no to questions. Mann created a GoFundMe online fundraiser (bit.ly/herediafamily) to help with expenses for the family. Heredia and his wife, Whitney, have two young children. But my sister just wants to make sure that prayers go out to all the employees and their families involved, Mann said. None of the official statements about the explosion identified the victims or the nature of their injuries. According to the fire department's statement, the first engine company to arrive at the west side of the blast area was faced with debris scattered over a wide area. The fires were burning in an approximately 10 story building with adjoining buildings to the north and south. The building to the west of this area also suffered severe damage. Rail cars hindered initial fire suppression efforts and were moved to provide access to the fire building. The first engine company to arrive on the east side of the blast area was confronted with several injured workers. They worked with ambulances on scene to treat the injured workers. ADM provided a drone with thermal imaging capabilities which helped fire crews identify and attack fire hot spots, the statement added. Once exterior fires were contained, we were able to send crews into the buildings with ADM personnel to extinguish remaining fires inside the structures. Due to the extensive damage, this was a long and slow process. The statement said no firefighters were injured during Sundays operations but fire crews were still on scene Monday and are currently working with ADM personnel to verify all fires are out. Ladder trucks were used to assess the extent of the damage on the west side of the exploded building and flow water into the areas on fire and prevent flames from spreading. Engine 5 utilized their aerial waterway to extinguish visible fire on the east side of the building, the statement said. Large, suspended pieces of building material presented a hazard to personnel, so the area was roped off to prevent access to these areas. At the height of the fire, the statement said firefighters deployed five engine companies and two truck companies for a total of 33 firefighters on scene. Additional firefighters were called in to staff reserve apparatus and cover other calls within the city. This is the third fire this year at ADM's Decatur plant. In April, three workers were injured following an apparent dust explosion in one of the grain elevators at the company's West Plant. Two weeks ago, emergency crews responded to a fire in the feed house of the company's East Plant. Two firefighters were hospitalized after battling the blaze. Photos: Crews respond after explosion at ADM East Plant 091023-dec-loc-adm_01.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_14.JPG 091123-dec-loc-admfire 091023-dec-loc-adm_02.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_03.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_04.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_05.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_06.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_07.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_08.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_09.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_10.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_11.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_12.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_13.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_15.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_16.JPG 091023-dec-loc-adm_17.JPG MORE COVERAGE: DECATUR U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, called for an "expedited" but "thorough" investigation of the Sunday evening blast that sent a half-dozen workers at Archer Daniels Midland's East processing plant to the hospital. Budzinski, speaking Monday afternoon with Herald & Review via telephone from Washington, vowed "to be a partner on the ground in this situation" as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency that sets and enforces workplace safety standards, conducts an investigation of the incident. "My office this morning has been in touch with both the Department of Labor and OSHA offering to be of any assistance, but also supporting the investigation because I think we need answers to what happened last night," Budzinski said. ADM's hulking Decatur operation is entirely within Budzinski's congressional district. She said the agribusiness giant "did the right thing" in shutting down its East Plant as well as its adjacent corn processing plant immediately after the blast took place. "We need everything to kind of shut down until we can get answers to these questions because, again, an investigation is really critically important to better understand," Budzinski said. "And an investigation by OSHA is going to talk to all of the players, both the workers working in the facilities, but obviously ADM (and) the Decatur Fire Department." "We want to make sure this is comprehensive so that we can really get the real answers so this never happens again," Budzinski said. But she added that while pushing for answers, she will also be "making sure that we're doing that in a timely way." This is an acknowledgement of the pivotal role ADM plays as one of the world's largest food processing companies. It's Decatur manufacturing plant houses its North American headquarters and is the single largest location and employee base across its global footprint. A prolonged disruption of the plant's processing operations could have a ripple effect on commodity markets just weeks before farmers are set to harvest their crops. Still, she said that she "would want to make sure... that it was safe for workers to go back in... before anything were to reopen." Budzinski said she's spoken with ADM officials as well as representatives of Teamsters Local 916, which represents some of the company's Decatur workforce. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, who represents the nearby 15th Congressional District, tweeted Sunday night that she was monitoring the situation and asked for prayers for ADM employees and first responders at the scene. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth tweeted that her "thoughts are with the families impacted" while wishing those "injured a swift recovery." Gov. J.B. Pritzker said his office was in touch with Archer Daniels Midland Co. and pledged state support after an explosion that left an unknown number of workers injured Sunday night. "Our hearts are with the families of those affected by the explosion in Decatur last night," the governor wrote in a post on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter. "My administration is in touch with those at ADM and have offered state support in any way we can." Close People look at the damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant on Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. A flock of birds fills the sky in front of the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. This cropped image shows the Archer Daniels Midland Co. facility on Decatur's east side Monday, the day after an explosion that injured eight workers. This cropped image shows the Archer Daniels Midland Co. facility on Decatur's east side Monday. Photos: Cleanup continues after explosion at ADM in Decatur People look at the damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant on Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. A flock of birds fills the sky in front of the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. Damage to the Archer Daniel Midland Co. East Plant is seen Monday morning in Decatur after an explosion the previous night. This cropped image shows the Archer Daniels Midland Co. facility on Decatur's east side Monday, the day after an explosion that injured eight workers. This cropped image shows the Archer Daniels Midland Co. facility on Decatur's east side Monday. The Triads first Champion apparel retail store has set a new opening date of Sept. 16 at Thruway Shopping Center. Champion, one of HanesBrands Inc.s top-two basic apparel brands, is taking the place of BohoBlu, a family owned womens apparel store that exited in late May. The store will carry Champion-branded apparel only. It will be one of three Champion retail stores in North Carolina the others in Nags Head and Smithfield and the first not located in an outlet mall. A grand-opening event is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 242 S. Stratford Road in Winston-Salem. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature screen printing and tie dye stations purchase required an afternoon fashion show and hourly raffles and chances to win prizes. HanesBrands has 44 Champion-only stores nationwide, compared with 173 One Hanes Place stores that feature most, if not all, of the companys brands. A N.C. House bill that would de-annex three tracts from the Village of Clemmons had the Senate members named Thursday for its concurrence committee. It is expected that the committee will remove Clemmons from House Bill 5 since the House rejected by a 102-0 vote on July 14 a fast-track Senate attempt to allow the de-annexation. The initial version of HB5 filed by Erin Pare, R-Wake, addresses a de-annexation request in Fuquay-Varina. The House committee conferees are Pare and John Bradford III, R-Mecklenburg. The Senate conferees are Bill Rabon, R-New Hanover, and Timothy Moffitt, R-Henderson. Rep. Pare expects that the Clemmons language will be removed from the bill, Sarah Wetherby, a spokeswoman for Pare, said Aug. 15. HB5 was changed June 27 by Jarvis to insert language that would serve to de-annex 1520, 1526 and 1532 Lewisville-Clemmons Road. The three properties are owned by Lindsay Vogler Jr. and Robert Vogler. The 1520 tract of 0.35 acres has Mad Greek Grill as a tenant, while the 1526 tract is 0.97 acres and the 1532 tract is 0.43 acres and contains a 1,508-square-foot residence. Rep. Jeff Zenger, R-Forsyth, said July 12 the Senate changes should not be accepted for two primary reasons: an out-of-county legislator Sen. Steve Jarvis, R-Davidson submitted the amendment to HB5; and protests from the property owners and the eight mayors in Forsyth. Jarvis has not responded to requests for comment on his involvement with the HB5 amendment. Zenger told the House that the Clemmons de-annex language was not popular with his constituents. He said he had spoken to all the players involved and expects (the Clemmons de-annex language) to be removed and for Rep. Erin Pares bill to advance. It is typical for legislators to approve most local bills with little, if any, scrutiny. The Voglers sent a letter to the Forsyth legislative delegation saying they are 100% opposed to our propertys inclusion in this bill. Emirates Development Bank (EDB), in collaboration with Make it in the Emirates initiative by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), has hosted EDB Connect Dubai edition. This is the first in a new series of forums aimed at fostering collaboration between government entities and private sector companies to drive UAE's national economic growth and diversification. Held under the theme "Financing for Development: Enabling Dubai's D33 Ambitions", the one-day event brought together government representatives, industry stakeholders and prominent business leaders from the banking sector to discuss the latest industry trends and opportunities undertaken for sustainable economic development in Dubai. Technology adoption Omar Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: "The success of our strategic partnership can be clearly seen in the increased levels of technology adoption and industrial development we witness across the Emirates today. In terms of manufacturing, we are becoming more productive, more sustainable, and more competitive. In fact, just last year, the industrial sector contributed more than AED180 billion ($49 billion) to GDP, with industrial exports reaching AED174 billion. This remarkable growth story is something to be celebrated. Ahmed Mohamed Al Naqbi, Chief Executive Officer of EDB, said: "As the key financial engine for economic development and industrial advancement in the UAE, we are committed to supporting Dubai Economic Agendas (D33) aim of positioning the emirate as one of the top three global cities in the world. EDB Connect is an ongoing series that engages with key players of the economic diversification efforts in the UAE, most of which are EDBs strategic partners who collectively contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development in the UAE. The series will be organised regularly across the seven emirates to ensure key stakeholders from all over UAE gather to discuss this common goal. Multi-stakeholder dialogue The first edition of EDB Connect provided a platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue addressing challenges and strategic solutions to advance long-term sustainable transformation projects, in line with Dubai's economic ambitions. As the key financial engine for the economic diversification of the UAE, this reflects our shared mission to consolidate Dubai's position as a global business and investment hub. Through knowledge exchange platforms such as the EDB Connect series, we will continue to drive innovation in finance, foster partnerships and empower SMEs to collectively contribute to the UAE's sustainable development," Al Naqbi added. Observing the vital role of industrial development in accelerating Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) goals, Al Suwaidi emphasised the importance of the Make it in the Emirates initiative in driving national manufacturing capabilities. He requested a proactive response from private sector companies in Dubai to enable industrial growth in line with emirate's economic vision. Collaborative approach "Under the Make it in the Emirates campaign, the ministry is attracting local and international industrialists, innovators, and investors to the UAE to benefit from our competitive advantages and to join our industrial journey. The initiative has been well-received by the industrial community. MoIAT will continue working with its strategic partners in support of national and local economic objectives. Together, we must continue to forge the financial incentives and enablers that attract investors and empower industrialists. This collaborative approach is how we can fully realise our potential as a smart and sustainable industrial powerhouse," Al Suwaidi said in his keynote address. EDB's CEO highlighted the key features of Dubai Economic Agenda, which aims to double the size of Dubais economy to AED32 trillion over the next decade, and the role of flexible financing in driving investments for sustainable growth. "Dubai Economic Agenda includes 100 transformational projects, with the first package for the next decade including doubling the size of foreign trade to AED25 trillion and plans to connect Dubai with 400 new cities around the world through trade corridors. Todays panels and interactive sessions offered the chance to share knowledge, create new ways of thinking and generate different approaches to creating a world-class economy," he added. The event included three focused sessions featuring representatives from government and private businesses, free zones and banks. The first panel discussion centered around finding concrete measures to scale up financing to support sustainable development investments. Participants acknowledged the financing challenges SMEs and foreign investors face in setting up and running a business in Dubai as well as the various ways their organisations troubleshoot these issues and highlighted the importance of collaboration between entities in doing so. Key participation The session featured key representatives from the government and private sectors including Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President, Industrial Leasing, Tecom Group, Hamed Ahli, Head of Meydan Free Zone, Khalid Al Ali, Regional Director Africa Global Markets Sector at Dubai Chambers and Karolos Travassaros, Transformation Advisor, EDB. They discussed the need to promote private and public sector collaboration in governance, finance, science and technology. Solutions to improve the bankability of sustainable industrial projects to attract more investment and improve allocation of capital to finance Dubai's future development projects were also discussed. The second panel discussion focused on the impact of public private partnerships on economic growth. Panellists discussed approaches and strategies required to ensure resources and finance under PPP models are used more efficiently. On the panel were Amal Al Ahmadi, Head of Agricultural Research Section at Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Daniel Callaghan, Senior Vice President- Dubai Silicon Oasis Marketing and Business Growth at Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), Hamad Al Sayegh, Head of Strategic Accounts at JAFZA and Abdalla Ahmed Al Aboodi, SVP Project & Corporate Finance Wholesale & Institutional Banking, EDB. Public private partnership Together they discussed public private partnership opportunities in areas such as sustainability, food security, artificial intelligence and biotech as well as establishing synergies in knowledge externalities with the private sector. Another highlight of the EDB Connect Dubai Edition was an interactive session bringing together senior leaders from leading banks and FinTech companies in Dubai to discuss the role of banks in catalysing SME's growth. Speakers included Manu Anand, Senior Vice President, Senior Product Owner Business Banking at Mashreq Bank, Anshuman Shankar, Head of Commercial Banking at Commercial Bank of Dubai, Marwan Hachem, Founder & Group CEO at YAP, Peter Tavener, Co-founder, CFO & COO at Beehive, Bill Crawley, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Trade Capital Partners and Shaker Zainal, Chief Business Officer at EDB. Participants reaffirmed their resolve to continue to scale up efforts in support of SMEs and startups and discussed strategies to help SMEs overcome financing challenges and build winning business cases that attract investment. Seamless onboarding They also highlighted their endeavours to enable a seamless onboarding process for businesses as well as their efforts in employing risk-sharing solutions to address the financing gap. The event concluded with an appreciation award ceremony, where EDB presented its strategic partners in Dubai with trophies in recognition of their efforts towards the UAE's sustainable development and Dubai's D33 economic agenda.-- TradeArabia News Service A Winston-Salem man was killed early Monday morning during an argument at the apartment complex off Burke Village Lane. Winston-Salem police responded at 1 a.m. to reports of a shooting in the 1100 block of Burke Village Lane. Officers found Gevontae Daeron Morrison, 26, at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound. Morrison, who lived at Ferrell Court, died at the scene. Morrisons death is the 36th homicide of 2023, compared with 26 homicides during this same time period in 2022. Police believe that Morrison was arguing outside the apartment complex with unknown individuals. Police said Morrison was walking to his car after the argument when someone shot at him multiple times before fleeing the area. Police said that multiple witnesses refused to cooperate with the officers on the scene. Anyone with information regarding this incident can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. The Monday morning homicide follows the fatal stabbing of a Winston-Salem man Friday night during a fight in the citys northeastern section. Police responded at 10:33 p.m. to the 200 block of Moses Lucas Court on a reported vehicle crash, police said. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Dymar Tavion Singletary, 24, of Harrison Avenue, and Dasean Latrell Thomas, 25, of White Rock Road, suffering from stab wounds to their upper torsos, police said. Singletary and Thomas were inside a vehicle that was involved in a crash in the parking lot, police said. The two men were taken to a local hospital, where Singletary died from his injuries, police said. Thomas was listed in stable condition at the hospital. Investigators determined that a fight happened in the parking lot of Kensington Village apartments involving Thomas and another person, police said. During the fight, Thomas and Singletary were stabbed with a knife, police said. Thomas and Singletary then got in a vehicle in the parking lot, with Thomas in the drivers seat. The vehicle then struck a pedestrian in the parking lot, police said. That person was trapped underneath Thomas vehicle until emergency responders arrived on the scene, police said. The pedestrian was taken to a local hospital and was listed in stable condition. Police didnt identify that person. Four Triad counties Alamance, Davidson, Guilford and Randolph will again be part of the Robin Sage training exercise for U.S. Special Forces candidates. The 2023 version of the U.S. militarys premiere unconventional warfare exercise will take place beginning Friday and running through Sept. 28 in 26 N.C. counties. Robin Sage exercises have occurred at least annually since 1974. A portion will involve Carter County in Tennessee, which is near Boone and Blowing Rock. The exercise typically involves about 40 cadets and serves as the final test of more than a years training for Special Forces soldiers. For this exercise, the participants are students at the U.S. Armys Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School based out of Fort Liberty. Cadets are placed in an environment of political instability characterized by armed conflict, requiring soldiers to analyze and solve problems to meet the challenges of this real-world training. These military members act as realistic opposing forces and guerrilla freedom fighters, also known as Pinelands resistance movement, and play a critical role in the training exercise. To add realism to the exercise, civilian volunteers throughout the state act as role players. Army officials said that participation by these volunteers is crucial to the success of this training, and past trainees attest to the realism they add to the exercise. Military service members from units across Fort Liberty support the exercise. All Robin Sage movements and events have been coordinated with public safety officials in the counties hosting the training. Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares. Controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to persons or property. Residents with concerns should contact local law enforcement officials, who will immediately contact exercise control officials. Potential Special Forces students will wear a distinctive orange or brown armband when in contact with civilians. Training areas and vehicles used during exercises are clearly labeled. The suspect in the rape of a 77-year-old woman near downtown Winston-Salem on Sunday is back behind bars on a $1 million bond less than a month after being in prison. Bryon Shane Martin, 47, is being held in the Forsyth County Jail on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree robbery in the attack on the victim shortly after Shabbytiques store opened at 831 Reynolda Road at about 12:30 p.m., the Winston-Salem Police Department said. The suspect reportedly threatened the employee with a hammer and forced her to have intercourse. Martin was located less than two hours later on nearby Canal Street with the help of a K9 team. The victim and suspect were not known to one another this was a random act of violence, police said in a news release. The suspect has a criminal record spanning more than three decades. Martin was released Aug. 18 from the Piedmont Correctional Institution in Salisbury. He was given a four-year prison sentence in 2018 for burning a public building in Stokes County. Martin was released in 2022, but ended up behind bars again in January of this year after violating parole, records show. Martin was just 16 at the time of his first conviction for felony assault with a deadly weapon and vehicle theft in Forsyth County in 1992. He since has had four convictions for assaulting a female and one for second-degree kidnapping. Martin also has multiple past convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny. Other incidents Sundays attack was the third by a male on a female in the downtown area in the last three weeks. Dylan Cody Smyers, 19, is charged with first-degree kidnapping after allegedly grabbing a women while she was out for a run on Salem Avenue Aug. 23. Smyers was given a $750,000 bond after telling investigators hed planned to have sex with the woman. The victim told investigators that Smyers pulled her from the sidewalk along Salem Avenue, where the street crosses under Hamilton Bridge on the edge of the downtown district. The suspect repeatedly told the woman to come with me as the two struggled, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill said in a bond hearing Aug. 31. ONeill told the county superior court that while the woman managed to escape and call police, Smyers later told investigators he was going to have sex with her. Less than a week after the runner was assaulted, another woman was a victim of downtown violence. Jemmond Tremmal Washington, 33, of Winston-Salem is charged with attempted robbery with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking the woman with a knife in the 500 block of Vine Street around 1 p.m. on Aug. 29 The victim suffered minor injuries, authorities said. When asked about safety in the downtown area, the Winston-Salem Police Department said Monday it has increased the number of officers on foot and patrolling in vehicles during high-volume periods. The departments Downtown Bar Patrol also monitors popular nightspots during peak hours, the department added. We have implemented many different avenues to keep our community safe, said Assistant Chief Katie Allen of WSPDs Field Services Bureau. We aim to ensure the citizens of Winston-Salem feel safe and comfortable while participating in activities downtown. We always encourage individuals if they see something to say something. TAFEGHAGHTE, Morocco His dead relatives have been dug out and buried, but the remnants of Musa Bouissirfane's former life are still trapped under rubble and dust in the ruins of the Moroccan village of Tafeghaghte. "It's incredibly challenging to lose your entire family and all your possessions," Bouissirfane said as tears welled in his eyes in the community less than a two-hour drive from Marrakech. "We have lost everything our homes, our livestock and all our possessions." Less than a week ago, he was excited about his daughter starting second grade. Now he's mourning her death. Far from ambulances and authorities, villagers could not retrieve her body for more than 14 hours, until Saturday afternoon. The earthquake also killed Bouissirfane's mother and father and a niece. His wife is hospitalized in an intensive care unit. The toll of the massive earthquake that killed more than 2,800 people was on stark display Monday in remote villages such as Tafeghaghte, where more than half of the 160 inhabitants are thought to have died, including the four in Bouissirfane's family. Bouissirfane joined with other survivors as they worked to clear debris and recover the dead. Bulldozers dug through dust and rubble hoping to find a body. The air in parts of the village was filled with the stench of dead cattle. People warned each other not to walk near the few buildings that remained standing because they looked like they could topple at any moment. "God save us," said Khadija Babamou, a resident of nearby Amizmiz who came to Tafeghaghte to check on relatives. As her eyes panned around the remnants of the village, she covered her mouth and began to cry while gripping her sister. Also Monday, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch met with King Mohammed VI and gave his first public remarks since the earthquake. The prime minister said the North African country was committed to funding rebuilding. Although Tafeghaghte received food and water, it needs much more. "Residents lack the means to purchase even a single brick," said Bouissirfane, who is living in a tent and has only the change in his pocket. The efforts in Tafeghaghte mirrored those happening across the disaster zone as Moroccan soldiers, nongovernmental organizations and other teams arrived to assist with rescue efforts and immediate needs. So far, Moroccan officials have accepted government aid from approved non-governmental organizations and just four countries: Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Officials say they want to avoid a lack of coordination that "would be counterproductive." That approach differs from the one taken by the government in Turkey, which made an international appeal for help in the hours following a massive quake earlier this year. The leader of one of several rescue teams waiting across Europe said Moroccan authorities may remember the chaos that unfolded after a smaller quake in 2004, when international teams overwhelmed the airport and the damaged roads into the hardest hit areas. Rescuers Without Borders' founder Arnaud Fraisse told The Associated Press he would withdraw the organization's offer to send nine people to Morocco because "our role is not to find bodies." Homes crumbled into dust and debris, choking out the air pockets that might allow some people to survive for days under rubble. "People are generally suffocated by the dust," Fraisse said. The United Nations estimates that 300,000 people were affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake, which was made more dangerous by its relatively shallow depth. Most of the destruction and deaths were in Al Haouz province in the High Atlas Mountains, where steep and winding roads became clogged with rubble leaving villagers to fend for themselves. Ibrahim Wahdouch lost two young daughters and two other family members. He said Tafeghaghte resembled a war zone: "There's not shooting but look around." Those left homeless or fearing more aftershocks slept outside in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in devastated towns like Moulay Brahim. State news agency MAP reported that bulldozers and other equipment are being used to clear routes. Tourists and residents lined up to give blood. More help could have quickly poured into Morocco with the government's permission. Fraisse said about 100 rescue teams with roughly 3,000 rescuers in total are registered with the U.N. to help. "It's their responsibility. They can do what they want," Fraisse said, referring to Moroccan authorities. "They didn't call. So today we think it's no longer necessary for us to go there, because we won't do effective work." A Spanish search-and-rescue team arrived in Marrakech and headed to the rural town of Talat N'Yaaqoub, according to Spain's emergency military unit. Britain sent a 60-person search team with four dogs, medical staff, listening devices and concrete-cutting gear. France, which has many ties to Morocco and at least four of its citizens among the dead, said Moroccan authorities are evaluating proposals on a case-by-case basis. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said Morocco is "the master of its choices, which must be respected." She announced $5.4 million in emergency funds for Moroccan and international nongovernmental groups rushing to help survivors. French towns and cities offered more than $2.1 million in aid, and popular performers are collecting donations. Nearly all the dead have already been buried, the government reported. More than 2,500 people were injured. A look at global humanitarian efforts in the face of earthquakes over the past 22 years A look at global humanitarian efforts in the face of earthquakes over the last 20 years January 2001: India December 2003: Iran October 2005: Pakistan May 2006: Indonesia May 2008: China January 2010: Haiti April 2015: Nepal WAHOO, Neb. With its wood-paneled walls, pictures of sunflowers and small-town atmosphere, the Branding Iron Cafe could be the set for a Hallmark movie. Customers sit on wooden benches at the counter, drinking coffee from white ceramic cups, while cowboys herd cattle in Western movies on a flat-screen TV. Menus list classic, home-style fare like hamburgers, hot beef sandwiches, and bacon and eggs. A display case holds cellophane-wrapped cinnamon rolls and chocolate cake. The tall, white building that houses the cafe was a horse and mule barn in the 1930s and still sits on the property of Wahoo Livestock Sales. Since becoming a cafe, generations of families have brought their children here to eat breakfast before going to cattle sales. Its also a place where city dwellers come to get a taste of an earlier era and take in the country decor. Many appreciate the agricultural setting. You have breakfast with the cows, cafe owner Lee Maly said. Theres cow sales here every Friday, so theres usually cows out here in the pens on the weekends. People from Lincoln and Omaha come out here, and they think its quaint. Even more people have come to the cafe this year through the Nebraska Passport tourism program, which annually highlights 70 parks, stores, eateries and other attractions across the state. When tourists visit a locale, they get a stamp in their Passport booklets and receive prizes after visiting a certain number of places. Maly estimates the Passport program has brought 20 or 30 new people a day. Visitors tell her they like they the homey decor, classic, comfort foods and homemade desserts. For Maly, cafe ownership has been a longtime dream. She was a teenager when she started cooking for her family. She later cooked for her five kids and spouse. When she was 40, Maly went to culinary school at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, earning an associates degree in hospitality in 2010. By then, shed already met her husband, Mike, and they married in 2013. He owned Malys Landing, a bar in Wahoo, for 20 years and she helped him run it for about half that time. When he decided to retire, they sold the bar. Then Tyler Sudik, who owns Wahoo Livestock Sales, asked whether shed be interested in running the cafe, because the woman operating what was called the Stockyard Cafe wanted to retire. Maly accepted the offer. It was a perfect opportunity, Maly said. I was doing what I have always wanted to do, and I dont have to drive out of town to do it. It was like it was meant to be. She made upgrades to the cafe cleaning and repainting, putting in new flooring and equipment. The guys from the sale barn wanted me to display their brands on the wall and name it, the Branding Iron, so I did, she said, pointing to a wooden wall hanging emblazoned with cattle brands. Maly opened the Branding Iron in November 2019. Customers Brian and Christi Pearson of Mead, who came with their 1-year-old daughter, Lilly, have their own memories. They formerly patronized Malys Landing, which offered karaoke. Thats a big part of how we got together and got married, Brian said. Weve loved Lee for years. We love coming here to support Lee and it helps that the food is amazing, too. Christi said she always gets the eggs, hash browns and toast. Brian likes The Cure, which starts with hash browns and then can be topped with all types of omelet fare such as ham, bacon, a variety of vegetables, sausage gravy, cheese and eggs. Its served with a side of toast. We are comfort breakfast food and classic, diner-style lunches like reubens, patty melts, hot beef and burgers, Maly said. We try to do the classics very well. We dont try to snazzy them up and make them gourmet just good, old, downhome, breakfast food. But Maly says the cafes appeal isnt just the food. You step back in time, where things are peaceful and not part of the crazy world, Maly said. Its like the good, old days. Were striving for that feeling of no worries and remembering the past. As the Omaha public school district resorts to reassigning special needs students to different schools, Nebraska lawmakers are concerned that a lack of a clear plan to resolve the districts staffing shortages means theres no end in sight. Members of the Legislatures Education Committee grilled three OPS officials Friday for more than an hour about the districts staffing struggles, mainly focusing on the districts recent decision to reassign students at three North Omaha schools due to a lack of special education teachers. OPS, the largest school district in the state, has employed several measures to recruit more staff, but the depth of the nationwide teacher shortage has proved to be a challenge. I dont think theres an easy answer, said Charles Wakefield, chief operations and talent officer for OPS. The teacher shortages are nothing new for OPS, particularly among special education staff. But the issue has worsened in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it reached a new height at the start of the current school year. Just before the school year began, the district notified roughly 140 families with special needs students at three of its elementary schools that the schools didnt have special education teachers, leaving those families with the choice of transferring their student to a different school, or keeping them at a school without special education services. Spencer Head, president of the OPS school board, said this affected about 137 students. Then, earlier this week, news broke that OPS was switching roughly 1,200 students to virtual speech therapy options due to a lack of speech language pathologists across the district. Head said OPS has a higher-than-average amount of special needs students, accounting for about 21% of the districts roughly 52,000 students. Along with that, the district has also struggled with vacancies in its special education department, with 133 unfilled special education classroom teachers as of this year, he said. This combination has resulted in increasing caseloads for teachers, which, in turn, adds pressure to existing teachers and often contributes to burnout and more resignations, Head said. Five years ago, he said an average OPS special education teacher had 21 students. This school year, he said the average is up to 31 students. Resignations were the reason for the lack of special education staff at the three OPS elementary schools, Wakefield said. At the end of last school year, he said, four of the five teachers across the three schools resigned for varying reasons. While OPS worked to recruit new staff over the summer, the district was unsuccessful. Several committee members pressed OPS about why it didnt reassign teachers to fill the open posts at those three schools, rather than forcing students to transfer. Wakefield said the district was concerned about the ripple effects that would have on other students. Almost every school in the district has a teacher shortage, he said, and moving teachers would just exacerbate the problem at those schools and take educators away from students theyve built relationships with. Teachers also have the right to choose where they want to work, Head added. There was concern that transferring staff to different schools could lead to further resignations. State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, a member of the Education Committee, said he expects more drastic measures in the districts future if nothing changes. He said hes spoken with special education teachers within his legislative district, which is in OPSs boundaries, and they shared that their main concerns are low pay and high amounts of paperwork in their positions. Head said if resignations continue, the board may consider offering to reassign students to different schools again. However, he said they consider each school individually, so that all depends on the severity of the issues faced at each school. Reassigning students is not a desired outcome, he said. We absolutely hated moving those students, he said. OPS has taken several measures to recruit more special education staff, including easing barriers for qualified applicants and increasing salaries, Wakefield said. The problem is there isnt enough qualified teachers to fill those positions, he said, citing a drop in teaching degrees sought by college students. We scavenge everywhere we can but no matter how much money we actually contract, weve got to have the people to do it, Wakefield said. This problem isnt unique to OPS. Jack Moles, executive director of the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association, said rural districts also struggle with staffing shortages. Of 71 open positions posted across 56 districts, Moles said there were just 77 applications submitted. Many districts reported they didnt receive any qualified applicants, he said. The Legislature stepped in this year and passed multiple bills intended to support education, including easing the burden of special education funding on districts by mandating that 80% of that funding must be covered through state or federal sources. Lawmakers also passed multiple bills aimed at addressing the teacher shortage. While those bills were helpful, Head said they didnt do a lot to aid OPS with its special education problem. Unfortunately, he said much of the power to change things lies with the federal government. Theres not a lot that the State Legislature can do, Head said. Head and Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, another committee member, both expressed disappointment that no members of the Nebraska Department of Education were present at Fridays hearing. Head said OPS sent a laundry list of ideas to the department for ways it could help, most of which were focused on easing barriers to obtaining special education certification. Wayne also expressed interest in focusing on the education department for solutions. He said lawmakers could look into ways they can allow the department to intervene more rapidly when such issues arise. Photos: Inside the new Standing Bear High School in southeast Lincoln Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Standing Bear Highschool, 7.21 Covered swine barns dot the landscape near Platte Center, where tens of thousands of hogs are raised. Many of these barns are owned by a local boy who grew up a few miles from here, built his small family farm into a global pork empire and then became governor. Gov. Jim Pillens hog operations bring jobs and prosperity to this area near his hometown. They also may bring risk to Platte Centers drinking water. The town had to dig a new well three years ago, after another well recorded nitrate at nearly 12 parts per million. Thats higher than the level the federal government says is safe to drink. High nitrate has been linked to a variety of health conditions, including cancer in children. Nebraska has the highest pediatric cancer rate west of Pennsylvania. Counties with higher nitrate levels often have higher rates of pediatric cancer, a recent University of Nebraska Medical Center study shows. Andrew Greisen, Platte Centers water operator, says the area surrounding the town has seen several cancer cases this year. Prostate cancer, breast cancer and brain cancer, just everything, he said. I just think it's got to be the food we're eating or the water we're drinking. Greisen is now working with Natural Resources District experts as they map nitrate inside Platte Center-area aquifers studying where it may be flowing from. One potential culprit: The nitrogen fertilizer applied for decades to corn fields surrounding this small town. Another: The Platte Center West hog farm. The farm, 6 miles northwest of town, recorded a 61-parts-per-million nitrate level six times above the legal drinking water limit in a monitoring well last year. Another nearby hog farm, Janssen Platte Center Nursery, has shown strong elevated nitrates and chloride levels, according to a recent Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy groundwater review. Both these hog farms are registered to an owner at 4438 Old Mill Court in Columbus, the headquarters of Pillen Family Farms. Greisen suspects most nitrate comes from fertilizer dumped on cornfields long ago. He also said that theres a good possibility that hog farms with high nitrate readings affect the areas water quality. It throws a red flag, it really does, he said. Since 1993, Pillen and his family have owned or operated at least 108 livestock facilities mostly hog barns across Nebraska, according to permitting records. Only 27 of these facilities are required by the state to have monitoring wells installed on them. Sixteen of those 27 have recorded nitrate levels higher than 50 parts per million at least once since monitoring began, according to a Flatwater Free Press review. A few have violated the states livestock waste control rules. They have housed more hogs than permitted, the state alleged, failed to report spills and submitted groundwater test results late all of which could increase nitrate risks, research shows. Pillen is far from the only big hog producer facing these issues. In many places, concentrated livestock operations contribute to nitrate pollution, the research noted. To be clear: No one is directly drinking from these monitoring wells on Pillen hog farms. But some of that nitrate will move along with groundwater, experts say, potentially contributing to Nebraskas nitrate problem and posing a risk to residents. Nebraskas governor didnt respond to interview requests from Flatwater Free Press and Investigate Midwest about his hog operations. In a December 2022 interview with the Nebraska Examiner, Pillen portrayed nitrate pollution as a problem largely stemming from the past. And if there are a few silly things going on, its easy to be able to identify that and granularly fix that, he said. A spokesperson for the governor directed all questions to Pillen Family Farms. Pillen Family Farms co-CEO Sarah Pillen, the governors daughter, emailed a statement in response to an interview request, noting the company employs a 17-member team who work to protect Nebraskas groundwater. The company, she wrote, has always placed a strong commitment on being positive environmental stewards of the land. She and other Pillen Family Farms executives did not respond to questions about high nitrate detected on specific hog farms, potential causes of high readings and the companys remediation efforts. Many Pillen hog barns have few to no known nitrate issues, data show. Other Pillen hog barns look much like the hundreds of other pig farms spread across Nebraska, which tend to show at least slightly elevated nitrate levels at some points. Still other Pillen operations, like a Holt County hog farm, have recorded nitrate levels higher than Chris Jones, a former University of Iowa water researcher, says hes ever seen. The Holt County farm, called CRB Finish, recorded a reading of 445 parts per million in 2016. If you've got a monitoring well that's 400 parts per million and there's drinking water wells in the area, that should be a 911, Jones said. Another expert, Rebecca Muenich of the University of Arkansas, said its a huge, huge, huge human health concern if nitrate near this level makes it into nearby drinking wells. Thats water that you can sell as fertilizer for sure, said Muenich, who specializes in analyzing water quality data near livestock facilities. The nitrate levels in that Holt County hog farm monitoring well have dropped markedly since 2020, dipping to near zero in November 2022. Many other livestock facilities tied to Pillen Family Farms continue to show flashing nitrate warning signs. Nine different hog farms that the state lists as being Pillen-affiliated reported nitrate higher than 70 parts per million this year, according to a Flatwater Free Press review of groundwater reports. Two of those are near Platte Center. The 355-person village Platte Center is surrounded by nearly 50 livestock facilities within a 5-mile radius, including feedlots and hog barns. The three that have monitoring wells on site, including one not owned by Pillen Family Farms, all show significantly elevated nitrate levels. The town recently drilled a new, deeper well thats currently delivering clean water. The price tag: roughly $500,000. The state footed nearly half the bill. Greisen is worried about Platte Centers future. One municipal well in the nearby village of Lindsay has regularly violated the safe drinking water standard since 2010. Greisen wonders: Is more polluted water coming Platte Centers way? A nitrate mystery Sometimes called liquid gold, hog manure contains much nitrogen matter, which converts to nitrate when exposed to oxygen. Nitrate is great fertilizer for crops. But it can also easily find its way into groundwater, which supplies drinking water to 85% of Nebraskans. Experts say monitoring wells on hog farms sometimes detect nitrate plumes generated decades ago. They could detect nitrate from fertilizer, since many hog farms are near cornfields. But sometimes hog operations are the direct source of nitrate, depending on how they store feed, manage wastewater and apply manure to surrounding land, experts say. Thats why the NDEE often requires multiple-well monitoring programs at least one well upstream that indicates background contaminant levels, and two downstream. High nitrate readings in a downstream well can indicate that the feedlot or hog barn has released large amounts of nitrogen into the aquifer, said Dan Snow, director of the University of Nebraska Water Sciences Laboratory. Snow said spiking nitrate and ammonia at CRB Finish, the Pillen hog farm in Holt County, suggests there were multiple leaks in the wastewater distribution system. It appeared a spill allowed the ammonia and other contaminants to flow directly into the aquifer, he told the Flatwater Free Press after reviewing monitoring data. Pillen Family Farms executives didnt respond to Flatwater Free Press emails asking about the potential cause of high nitrate there. Holt Countys sandy soil means that nitrate can get quickly washed into the water table, Snow said. Maybe having animal feeding operations in that part of the state is not a good idea, just because it's much easier to contaminate the local groundwater, he said. Hog manure is often applied to nearby fields to avoid transportation costs, thus exposing nearby water to contamination risks, said Muenich, the University of Arkansas water expert. ... It can be accidental application or deliberate; it doesn't matter, Snow said. If it's at the surface and the plant doesn't use it, it can eventually end up at the water table. State regulators point out that livestock facilities like the Pillen Family Farms hog barns must sit at least 100 feet from existing domestic wells and 1,000 feet from municipal wells. Some animal feeding operations are also asked to monitor nearby drinking wells, said Carla Felix, NDEE spokesperson, in an email. No hog barn is known to have contaminated a rural residents drinking water, Felix said. NDEE is not aware of any documented incidences where a private well was impacted by a (Livestock Waste Control Facility), she wrote. And she noted that any investigation isnt guaranteed to identify the source of high nitrate for a simple reason: Groundwater moves. Jones, the Iowa water expert, suspects that any mystery about high nitrate isnt one regulators are clamoring to solve. The uncertainty about individual operations the industry uses that to avoid responsibility and make the case that it can't be regulated, he said. Problems in Hastings In 2006, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife employee reported that workers at a Hastings-area hog farm were pumping hog waste onto a nearby federal wetlands area. In a separate incident, state regulators alleged, farm employees used a PVC pipe to drain a storage pit into a freshwater channel. The operation near Hastings, named Inland Foods, eventually entered a court-ordered agreement with state regulators and paid a civil penalty. Inland Foods is one of a dozen Pillen Family Farms livestock operations that have violated state regulations in the past three decades, NDEE documents show. Current executives at Pillen Family Farms didnt respond when asked about specific violations of state rules. In a statement, Sarah Pillen touted the companys general environmental protection measures, describing them as far beyond regulatory requirements. The company works closely with state regulators, she said. In the companys history, she said, it has never had a permit revoked. In 2011, state regulators recommended the installation of monitoring wells on the Hastings-area farm. The nitrate readings came back high. An inspection then suggested the hog farm violated state rules by housing more hogs than allowed. High nitrate on site has continued. A downstream monitoring well detected a level of 77.8 parts per million in May. A 2021 NDEE report concluded that this facility is impacting groundwater quality with a depth to water of 85-100 feet. Marty Stange, Hastings environmental supervisor, said high nitrate levels may not reflect the hog farms manure management. Local construction projects might have altered groundwater flow, he said. The Flatwater Free Press found no public record suggesting that NDEE further investigated or acted on its 2021 report. An NDEE spokesperson declined to specifically discuss the Inland Foods hog farm. Generally, the NDEE can order livestock operations it believes is impacting groundwater to increase monitoring, plant trees or relocate lagoons, Felix said. State rules require hog barns to document where manure is applied. This is meant to prevent overapplication, when leached nitrate can kill fish, cause algae bloom and threaten drinking water. But Anthony Schutz, a UNL law professor and board member of the Lower Platte South NRD, said such paperwork doesnt guarantee good stewardship. Its nearly impossible for NDEE inspectors to watch every acre. You keep a bunch of records. You do a bunch of monitoring. You follow all of the rules that are in the permit. But it turns out the rules in the permit don't actually require you to not pollute. And so you wind up with where we are today, said Schutz. Some Nebraskans, including grassroots organizers and those who farm near large livestock operations, say the state needs to hold these operations more accountable. As governor, Pillen could strengthen rules and stop the bleeding, said Graham Christensen, an Oakland-area farmer who focuses on regenerative agriculture and runs a consulting firm. He could tap into federal funding to promote farming practices that can reduce nitrate leaching, such as planting cover crops, Christensen said. He could step up state regulations such as requiring buffer strips when manure is applied. He's ignoring the issue. Hes not wanting to meet with anybody on this thing. He's not publicly addressing our concerns, Christensen said. But many others inside Nebraskas ag industry are dubious of increased regulation. Osceola farmer Kevin Peterson owns a 4,800-head hog farm and serves on the state Environmental Quality Council, a board that adopts some NDEE regulations. He thinks the current regulations, and a heavy emphasis on education, are working as intended. After all, overapplying manure is expensive, he said. And Nebraska farmers are increasingly heeding the nitrate problem and taking voluntary action to address it, Peterson said. It's a lot easier to envision a robber baron sitting in the office twisting his evil mustache and thinking about how they could destroy the environment in order to make an extra penny, said Peterson. I've yet to run into any of those folks I do not think Governor Pillen is one of those. Theres little debate on one point: The state regulatory framework over hog barns like Jim Pillens hasnt changed much since Pillen became governor. This April, the NDEE published a letter to Nebraskans concerned about the feedlots, hog barns and chicken farms that surround small towns like Platte Center. The document summarized the agencys response to 11 different points of concern over water quality and waste control, after some commenters said the agency didnt adequately address concerns raised in the rule-making process. Theres a spot in the document where the NDEE listed any changes it has made in the permit rules in response to these concerns. In all 11 areas where potential change could occur, the state agency responded with a single word. None. Sky Chadde, of Investigate Midwest, contributed to this story. Investigate Midwest is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that covers the agriculture industry. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Photos: The business of governing in Nebraska in 2023 The Legislature has hired an outside attorney to help lawmakers navigate the wake of an attorney general's opinion that said offices charged with performing oversight on the state's child welfare and corrections systems are unconstitutional. The move to hire external legal counsel was made days after the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Correctional Services shut off access to the Office of Inspectors General. The offices, created by the Legislature to provide oversight as well as investigate complaints and allegations of wrongdoing, were blasted as unconstitutional in an Aug. 16 opinion from Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers. In the 38-page opinion, Hilgers said the inspectors' general had "untrammeled power to impede, control and access" information from the executive branch of state government, which he alleged violated the separation of powers clause in the Nebraska State Constitution. While court rulings going back decades have said the attorney general's opinions are "entitled to substantial weight," justices have noted that those opinions are not equal to a decision by the judiciary or the state's highest court. Still, the state's child welfare and corrections systems blocked the inspectors general's access to an online case management system hours after the AG's opinion was issued, and a week later told employees to defer any request from the legislative-created offices to liaisons. On Sept. 1, Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, the chair of the Executive Board, told his colleagues in an email he had had "numerous conversations" with senators expressing "serious concerns" about the impact of Hilgers' opinion, specifically how the inspectors general and the state's Ombudsman's office could continue their work. "While we continue to monitor the short-term impacts, we recognize the long-term goal of introducing legislation in January that will retain a robust system of legislative oversight while addressing the constitutional issues that were raised in the opinion," Briese wrote. The Executive Board, Briese added, hired Marnie Jensen, a partner at Husch Blackwell, to represent the Legislature "in matters related to the Attorney General's Opinion" moving forward. In a statement on Monday, Speaker John Arch said Jensen would aid the Legislature as it seeks to navigate the implications of the attorney general's opinion. "Impartial outside legal counsel will help the Executive Board and the members of the Legislature to better understand the arguments outlined in the opinion," Arch said. Jensen, who joined the law firm with offices in Omaha and Lincoln in 2013, previously represented the Health and Human Services Committee during a 2021 special investigation into the state's contract with Saint Francis Ministries, which performed child welfare services in Douglas and Sarpy counties. She was also a part of state Sen. Julie Slama's legal team in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Republican candidate for governor Charles Herbster. The Trump ally and donor sued Slama after she and seven other women accused Herbster of groping them. Slama later filed a counterclaim alleging sexual battery. Both complaints were dismissed in Gage County District Court in October 2022. Another attorney representing Slama in the case Dave Lopez, a former deputy solicitor general and assistant attorney general who also worked for Husch Blackwell is now chief of staff for Gov. Jim Pillen. The hiring of outside counsel is not unusual at least in recent years nor does it signal the Legislature plans to file a lawsuit against the executive branch. In 2021, Jensen ultimately helped the Health and Human Services Committee examine the process that led the state to contract with Saint Francis, which had underbid the total cost of the services Nebraska was seeking. The Legislature also retained outside counsel in 2022 to investigate allegations of former state Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte, who was accused of acting inappropriately toward staff members. "This is not an uncommon action to be taken on the part of the Legislature," Briese said. "The hiring of legal counsel is not in anticipation of anything particular, but from my perspective, it's simply another logical step in the process of working toward an amicable solution." Briese said changes to the statutes authorizing the offices of inspector general in the 2024 legislative session "will undoubtedly be necessary," but he added legislative reports from 2011 and 2014 that found deficiencies in both the child welfare and corrections systems had led the Legislature to create the offices charged with oversight and investigation. "These reports highlight the reasons why these offices were created and the important role they were designed to play in ensuring legislative oversight of both the child welfare and corrections systems," Briese wrote. The Executive Board was also seeking legal advice on how to ensure the inspectors general "can carry out their legal responsibilities in the short term and also help us craft a constitutionally sound long-term solution," according to Arch. That was necessary to provide legislative oversight for the important state services of child welfare and corrections, he added. Top Journal Star photos for August 2023 RACINE Gateway Technical College has received $5,000 from a rock bands foundation to help pay for student training in the schools advanced manufacturing program. This is the fifth straight year that GTC has been awarded a Metallica All Within My Hands Foundation scholarship. Gateway is honored and excited to continue working with Metallicas All Within My Hands Foundation to provide educational opportunities for students in our community, Matt Janisin, Gateway executive vice president of academic affairs, said in a news release. The influence and recognition of the Metallica brand helps us engage students and provides a platform to showcase technical programs that lead to great careers. The scholarship is designed to support students and highlight the importance of career and technical education. Gateway is one of 42 community colleges across the country that received funding this year. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative assemblage of the nations best community colleges, creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices, Peter Delgrosso, All Within My Hands executive director, said in a news release. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately, the impact is felt locally and nationally as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill in-demand technical positions. What's behind the growing number of manufacturing jobs? is the US entering a new era for domestic manufacturing? Manufacturing jobs exceed pre-COVID levels Federal auto bailout and post-recession recovery Pandemic relief legislation Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and CHIPS and Science Act The King Salman Park Foundation has joined hands with Saudi developer Naif Al Rajhi Investment Company for the launch of its new mixed-use real estate development project at a total investment of SAR4 billion ($1.1 billion). Spread over a 290,000-sq-m area within the Park premises, the project will boast over 1,500 residential units that will include Salmani-style apartments and townhouses overlooking the park, along with 140,000 sq m of gross leasable areas for offices and retail, hotels, schools, and several educational, health, sports, recreational and social facilities. According to the Foundation, the office spaces will feature central Grade A and flexible office options, fully blended within residential plots, while the hospitality offerings will cater to business tenants and park visitors. Retail space will be distributed throughout the public realm, covering the essential needs of residents, it stated. Unveiling the project, the Foundation said it has launched the King Salman Park Real Estate Development Fund that will focus on the development of the first real estate investment in plots of land in the park. This was the first public-private partnership project managed and funded entirely by the private sector. Saudi Fransi Capital is the fund manager, while King Salman Park Investment and Real Estate Development Company is the master developer, and Naif Al-Rajhi Investment Company is the real estate developer and master lessee of the project. The Foundation launched the King Salman Park Real Estate Development Fund that will focus on the development of the first real estate investment in plots of land in the park. The fund's working mechanism is a model of cooperation between public and private entities, with the latter responsible for managing and financing the fund. It focuses on the development of the first real estate investment in plots of land in the park. This partnership is unique, linking key partners and the fund's capital structure to create an innovative risk and reward proposition for both equity and debt stakeholders, balancing the King Salman Park project's long-term and projected capital returns with a consistent and regular income flow in the short and long term, said a top official. "This partnership represents a major milestone for us," remarked George Tanasijevich, the CEO of King Salman Park Foundation. "We are thrilled to launch this unique collaboration and excited to work alongside our partners and investors and all those involved in making our ambitious vision a reality. The creation of the fund is a sign of our ongoing commitment to creating a world-class destination that will enrich the lives of residents and visitors alike, and build a legacy of urban regeneration project for generations to come," stated Tanasijevich. King Salman Park, one of Riyadhs four mega projects launched by Saudi King Salman in 2019, covers 16.7 sq km in a strategic location connected to several main roads, and linked to Riyadh Metro and the Riyadh Bus station network, making it easily accessible. It is one of the world's most ambitious and transformative urban regeneration projects, harmoniously bringing together people, nature and a city, a green oasis in the heart of Riyadh that supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to create a vibrant and healthy society. The park will also support Riyadh's global profile, contributing to making it one of the worlds most liveable cities. "We believe it will attract more businesses and residents to Riyadh, contributing to the citys overall growth and to the realization of the Saudi Vision 2030," he added. According to him, the investment fund will undertake the development of the first real estate investment site in King Salman Park, covering more than 290,000 sq m area. The project site is in the early stages, in district-one of King Salman Park, west of the Visitor Pavilion, south of the Royal Arts Complex and east of King Abdulaziz Road, it stated. Saudi Fransi Capital CEO Salam Alkhunaizi said: "We are privileged to be part of the iconic King Salman Park project through the launch of this fund. We are hoping to provide a pioneering model on how public-private partnerships can work profitably and effectively for all, especially in implementing and managing a huge and exceptional project such as King Salman Park." Group Chairman and CEO Naif Saleh Al Rajhi, expressing confidence in the success of the project, said: "Our partners are unified in vision and objectives which starts with our belief and commitment to Vision 2030 and trickles down to the smallest details of our work including design and planning till execution." Foundation's Investment and Partnership Attractions Executive Director Fawaz Almalik said: "Our new innovative structuring investment fund offers a unique opportunity for investors to participate in the King Salman Park Project, which will deliver attractive returns for our investors, achieve financial sustainability for the project, while also driving positive social and economic impact for Riyadh and Saudi Arabia." King Salman Park will become a unique destination for citizens, residents and tourists by offering new lifestyles that enhance the quality of life and enable visitors to engage in new experiences and live unforgettable moments, he added.-TradeArabia News Service RACINE For three decades, one organization in Racine has dedicated itself to advocating for justice. The Racine Interfaith Coalition, made up of a variety of faith-based communities, is celebrating its 30th year as a nonprofit organization. The group was started in 1993 by 10 congregations and has grown to 28. Tammy Hayward and Linda Boyle serve as co-presidents of RIC. Boyle joined the organization 17 years ago, and Wayward was a member of one of the original churches that started RIC. The congregations recognized we needed somebody to speak for justice in the community, Wayward said. Things were going on that needed to be addressed in a way that spoke to congregations, not just law enforcement. Wayward said the original congregations reached out to Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope and Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, organizations with similar goals, to help establish the Racine Interfaith Coalition. While RIC has its origins in religion, anyone is welcome to join the coalition. RIC has several task forces that focus on issues such as immigration, the environment and the legal system. The organization also performs voter outreach through its Turn Up The Vote program. RIC is launching a new task force Tuesday to help undocumented people gain U.S. citizenship. The group plans to work with community organizations and attorneys to help those who want to remain in the country legally complete immigration forms. The coalition also holds prayer vigils for the victims of violent crimes. The vigils were started because an RIC member thought that no death should go unmarked. The goal of the gatherings is to recognize victims and to re-sanctify the ground where the crimes took place. No one should die in our community in the street and it only get one line in the paper and thats it, Hayward said. The community needs to respond to that. Sometimes weve had 200 people there, sometimes weve had half a dozen. It doesnt matter. We are taking note of that fact that this persons life is gone, and it affects our community in some way. An anniversary celebration is scheduled for Thursday at Infusinos, 3225 Rapids Drive. The event will feature community members and representatives from WISDOM, RICs state organization. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased at ricracine.org/30-year. 'Ramadan Camp' reaches Muslim children across the globe 1. Yes. If KHA cant continue to run it, the city should step in. Its a necessary asset to the area. 2. Yes. The city already uses it as a warming and cooling center. It would be a smart move. 3. No. It may be in the citys interest to help subsidize insurance for the center, but nothing more. 4. No. The city doesnt need the added burden of staffing and insuring the center. Its a bad idea. 5. Unsure. It may be seem like a good idea, but other options should be explored as well. Vote View Results ANDERSON, S.C. A microphone in hand, Sen. Tim Scott left the podium at a recent barbecue event in South Carolina and made his way through tables draped in red, white and blue as attendees finished plates of pulled pork and baked beans. As he talked about his campaign, Scott passed Casey DeSantis, the first lady of Florida, who looked ahead at the empty stage from which she would soon speak. She was there in place of her husband, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was overseeing the response to Hurricane Idalia. Several hours earlier, former Gov. Nikki Haley packed an event hall about 130 miles to the northeast. An overflow crowd spilled out into the back hallways, with some people having to watch her remarks on a video monitor. The flurry of activity showed the priority these three campaigns are placing on South Carolina, where the Republican primary is traditionally the last chance for many White House hopefuls to break through before Super Tuesday. If former President Donald Trump maintains his front-runner status here and in the other early voting states, his path to the GOP nomination may be nearly impossible to stop. In all but one primary since 1980, the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to be the partys nominee. Both in the state and nationally, Trump is far ahead in the Republican field. Battling for a distant second place are the two home-state candidates Scott and Haley and DeSantis. A July poll from Fox Business found that Scott, Haley and DeSantis each drew double digits, but Trump still led by more than 30 points. Scott and Haley face added pressure given the traditional expectation for a presidential candidate to win their home state. But they may also splinter any traditional home turf edge in South Carolina, which could allow DeSantis to relegate them to a potentially embarrassing third or even fourth place. In a split vote like this, you cant help but think that Donald Trump has the natural advantage over everybody else because he just has to win one more vote than second place, said Dave Wilson, a conservative political strategist in the state. Several voters considering their options variously praised and criticized the three second-place contenders, reflecting how splintered the field is. Weve got a lot of good ones, said Debra Donnan, a 52-year-old former postal worker from the city of Laurens. I dont exactly know. Im just watching and learning. Donnan said she thinks both Trump and DeSantis have a great shot, but that Scott does, too. Dont discount him, she said of Scott. He is a great American. He is very strong in his belief system, and he is not a wimpy person. Haley, meanwhile, drew praise from Irene Gatton, a 78-year-old retired nurse, as very down to earth and intelligent. South Carolinas institutional support is behind Trump. Hes locked up endorsements from Sen. Lindsey Graham and Gov. Henry McMaster, who was lieutenant governor before Trump picked Haley as his United Nations ambassador something Trump has claimed McMaster asked him to do. On the July 4 weekend, Trump drew a massive crowd of tens of thousands to tiny Pickens, South Carolina, a feat no other candidate has matched. He has done far fewer events overall and skipped the first presidential debate, a decision criticized by voters at other candidates events. But Trump remains the top political figure in the party and has kept a strong standing with Republicans, even as he faces four criminal indictments. Speaking at the Faith & Freedom BBQ last week in South Carolinas Upstate region invited to speak not as a White House hopeful but as a sitting home state senator Scott said his campaign was focusing on restoring hope, creating opportunity and protecting the America we all love." He said that includes supporting law enforcement, finishing the U.S.-Mexico border wall and giving parents more choices in their childrens education. He was followed by Casey DeSantis. From Florida where he remained, in lieu of delivering the keynote address as had been planned, to help his state prepare for Hurricane Idalia Ron DeSantis recorded a three-minute introduction video that got roars from the crowd. Casey DeSantis gave familiar one-liners about her children and raising a family in the Florida governors mansion. But she also hit hard at President Joe Biden. She pledged that her husband would be a president who helps the children in the White House with homework instead of cocaine. That was a reference to the drugs found earlier this year in the White House, as well as the public substance abuse struggles of Bidens son, Hunter. Haley didnt appear at the barbecue but instead packed an earlier event in Indian Land, a small community near Charlotte, North Carolina. She seemed to be in an especially good mood as she spoke, buoyed by her first debate performance, in which she sharply criticized rival Vivek Ramaswamy on foreign policy and pointedly noted on an otherwise all-male stage that if you want something done, ask a woman. At her town hall, she went after Ramaswamy again with a double-edged Southerner's barb that drew appreciative laughter: Bless his heart. I know I wear a skirt, she said. But yall see me at work. If you say something that is totally off the wall, Im going to call you out on it every single time. Peter Barca, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, handed out food with the Kenosha Meals on Wheels crew Monday morning, part of statewide 9/11 observances. Event organizers with Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, which operates the Meals on Wheels program, emphasized the importance of unity and community on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Barca said his visit was part of Gov. Tony Evers day of caring, which had administration members involved in activities across the state. Evers signed an executive order declaring Monday a state Day of Service and Remembrance. As Barca explained, 9/11 is such a poignant day, itll live forever in our memories. I appreciate the Governors idea to give back. A former KAFASI board member himself, Barca said he has always respected the work that it and other nonprofits do in Kenosha. He praised the nonprofits and volunteers who help serve their community. Their strength in Kenosha was one of many things that makes our community stand out. I really wanted to serve locally, Barca said. Ive always admired the people who run the Meals on Wheels program KAFASI Executive Director Ronald Tatum said 9/11 brought communities together. On its anniversary, he wanted to celebrate the volunteers who regularly serve their community and keep programs such as Meals on Wheels running. The community work was also to honor those killed during the attacks as part of National Service Day. Its very important for us to never forget, Tatum said. We have a responsibility to do as much as we can to keep these families in our hearts. Tatum said they were excited to have Barca, a Kenosha native, taking part in the event. For Peter to come out says a lot about this day and his passion, Tatum said. April Guenther, KAFASI director of senior services, praised the volunteers who donate their time. The organization is always looking for volunteers and drivers, she said. This service day is so, so important. Service is giving back in many ways, Guenther said. Kuwait Financial Centre Markaz has sold an industrial property in South Venlo, The Netherlands, delivering a double-digit return to the investors despite strong economic headwinds. The International Real Estate department of Markaz completed the development, leasing, and sale of the property spanning 21,500 sq m, generating a net IRR of 11.9% and a net ROI multiple of 1.35 times. Our success results from well-researched and meticulous selection of the market, product type, and partner, and the excellence in project execution and monitoring, said the asset management and investment banking institution in the MENA region. The project started in December 2020 and is strategically located in Venlo, The Netherlands, a key industrial hub in Europe bordering Germany with access to one of the largest metropolitan regions of the continent, North Rhine Westphalia. Markazs investment involved acquiring and developing a land parcel into a Class-A industrial facility. Commenting on the exit announcement, Sami Shabshab, Managing Director, Mar-Gulf, the real estate arm of Markaz in the US, said: This marks our 86th international real estate project worldwide; our focus remains on diversification as we seek new opportunities in the United States and Europe that align with our investment strategies. Our philosophy is and continues to be sector and strategy agnostic under which we identify and source opportunities depending on market trends and timing. Sadon Al-Sabt, Senior Vice President, International Real estate at Markaz, stated: We take pride in Markazs second successful exit in 2023 despite the challenging economic circumstances globally, and our seventh exit in Europe over the past four years. The project underlines our commitment to seizing promising real estate opportunities. We aim to expand our investment portfolio by remaining selective in the real estate asset class and judiciously selecting project partners with an innate competitive edge. Over the past 18 months, Markaz has invested around $145 million across multiple sectors, such as multifamily, industrial, and senior housing, through equity and mezzanine debt. Most recently, during the first half of 2023, Markaz made its first investment development financing through mezzanine debt, partnering with a renowned international real estate developer. TradeArabia News Service Hyundai Motor's plant in St. Petersburg, Russia / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor By Ko Dong-hwan Hyundai Motor saw its sales plunge to an all-time low in Russia last month, according to the Association of European Business (AEB), Sunday. The association said Hyundai Motor sold only six vehicles in August, which accounts for 0.01 percent of the Russian market share, down 99.9 percent from 2,982 cars a year earlier. "I'm not quite sure if the company managed to sell even six," an automobile industry official said. "It is virtually kicking the dirt there." The carmaker sold 1,605 cars in Russia during the first eight months this year, a 96.5 percent-drop from the same period last year. The largely botched business this year allowed the company just 0.4 percent of the Russian market share. Hyundai's lackluster performance is as dramatic as its former prominence in the market before the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in February last year. With its factory in St. Petersburg the only one in Russia pipelining 220,000 vehicles each year, including popular models like Solaris and Creta, its market share in the country used to be top over all. But the invasion upended business for Hyundai's Russian office. While rival foreign brands there vacated the country, Hyundai remained and kept producing cars until July 2022. At the end of that year, the company had sold 45,000 cars. Since 2012, the company sold over 200,000 cars annually. Hyundai's Russian factory finally gave up and ceased manufacturing operations this year. "Sales in Russia have discontinued for over a year since the Russian invasion because the St. Petersburg factory stopped operating," the official said. "And there was almost no one the company could sell its cars to." Observers said the plant saw its business losses snowball to almost 500 billion won ($374 million) since the invasion. In its shoes, Russian brand LADA and Chinese brands GWM claimed greater market shares. The La Crosse Area Development Corp. recently completed a new mural in the entrance of the Coulee Region Business Center at 1100 Kane St. LADCO partnered with local UW-La Crosse art student Evelyn Van Ess this summer to create a mural celebrating the benefits of our areas small businesses including current and former CRBC entrepreneurs. Evelyn Van Ess spent the summer working to create a mural representing the areas local small businesses and featuring startups located within the CRBC. The new mural at the Coulee Region Business Center is a beautiful and vibrant reminder of how important small businesses are to our local economy, said Tim Kabat, LADCOs executive director. Evelyn stated that the beauty of our area and the iconic businesses here was an important inspiration for my work at the center. The mural is available for the public to view 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Amid a nationwide rise in deaths by suicide, Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) are recognizing Suicide Prevention Month by raising awareness of available resources and important actions all Wisconsinites can take to promote hope, offer support, and save lives. This comes as data indicate that, for a second consecutive year, more than 900 Wisconsinites died by suicide in 2022. In 2021, 905 people died by suicide, and while data from 2022 is not yet complete, it is estimated at least 912 deaths occurred by suicide last year. This is the first time the state has seen that number of suicide deaths in consecutive years. Earlier this year, in recognition of the troubling statistics seen over the past few years regarding mental health and the growing demand for mental and behavioral health services providers have seen across the state, Evers declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health, calling mental and behavioral health a burgeoning crisis affecting the state and Wisconsins kids, families and workforce.(tncms-asset)4549c47e-2b01-5fa9-9458-771bbfc2d446[0](/tncms-asset) I declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health because we cannot overstate the profound impact the past few years have had on our kids, families, and communities, and we know that Wisconsinites across our state are struggling perhaps now more than ever, Evers said Sept. 6. My administration and I remain committed to reducing stigma around the mental health challenges so many are facing, expanding access to affordable mental and behavioral healthcare, supporting prevention and crisis services, and creating a healthier, safer state for every Wisconsinite. Its so important that we raise awareness and continue talking about this important issue so that folks know they are not alone and that help and support are available.(tncms-asset)ab91134c-a64b-11ed-951e-13bfb1d85165[1](/tncms-asset) These numbers show too many of our fellow Wisconsinites are in pain, and we must call attention to available suicide prevention resources, said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. We know preventing suicide and promoting mental well-being is not just about one program or strategy alone. During Governor Evers Year of Mental Health, we are doubling down on our work to create communities across our state where everyone has the resources, support and connections they need to be their healthiest. Many factors contribute to suicide risk, including health challenges, job loss, bullying, and social isolation. These can be magnified by community issues like historical trauma and discrimination and societal issues like feelings of shame associated with seeking help and easy access to lethal means such as guns and medications. As part of a statewide approach to reduce suicide and promote well-being, DHS has joined a nationwide push to reduce suicides among high-risk populations by 10% over the next five years. This Centers of Disease Control and Prevention effort (cdc.gov/suicide/programs/csp/index.html) aims to support states in identifying populations most at-risk and establishing prevention partnerships across multiple sectors. In Wisconsin, the program is focused on reducing suicide among men 25 and older who live in rural areas and reducing self-harm among adolescents ages 10-19. In addition, DHS has funded efforts to ensure people have access to support during a crisis through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (dhs.wisconsin.gov/crisis/988.htm) and coordinated partnerships aimed at increasing access to mental health services, reducing stigma, and building resilience are underway. DHS is committed to using a variety of strategies and tactics to reduce suicide in the state, which includes actions that individuals can take. Every Wisconsin resident has an opportunity to contribute by spreading the word about 988, volunteering locally, or promoting compassion in your home, work, and community. People can also be there for a friend, family member, co-worker, or neighbor in crisis by taking the five action steps (bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence): Asking the question, Are you thinking about suicide? communicates that youre open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Be there. This could mean being physically present for someone, speaking with them on the phone, or any other way that shows support for the person at risk. Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Keep them safe. Reducing a suicidal persons access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference. Help them connect. Helping someone with thoughts of suicide connect with ongoing supports can help them establish a safety net for those moments they find themselves in a crisis. These supports could be a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional. Follow-up. After your initial contact with a person experiencing thoughts of suicide, and after youve connected them with the immediate support systems they need, make sure to follow-up with them to see how theyre doing. Anyone in need of support can call, text, or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at all hours of the day or night to talk with a trained counselor about any challenge or concern. This service is free and confidential. Find more information about suicide prevention and mental health resources on the DHS website at dhs.wisconsin.gov/prevent-suicide/index.htm. (tncms-asset)9e0ee5aa-0902-11ed-ab79-eb5f0a529241[2](/tncms-asset) The Fontana Public Library has announced its slate of upcoming September programs. On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the librarys Adult Program Series will host the Genealogy 101: Finding Your Ancestors presentation by the Walworth County Genealogical Society, Inc. (WCGS) beginning at 1 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room at Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Dr. (State Hwy. 67) in Fontana. New to family history and ancestry research? Wanting to build a family tree but dont know where to begin? Hoping to brush up on some basic genealogical research skills? This free program is open to anyone with an interest in genealogy, with a goal of providing attendees with steps to genealogical research success. A couple of people have expressed an interest in knowing more about how to begin their family search by checking into genealogy, said Fontana Public Library Adult Program Coordinator Sally Lee. I like to choose topics that are interesting to me and Ive always wanted to delve into my genealogy ... Members of the Walworth County Genealogical Society will speak on how to begin a search for ones ancestors and how to keep records of those findings. And on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m., Geneva Lakes Libraries Fontana Public Library, Barrett Memorial Library and the Lake Geneva Public Library will collaboratively be sponsoring another free BadgerTalks series program on the Black Hawk War of April 6-Aug. 27, 1832. Free and open to the public, the program will be held at The Ridge Hotel, W4240 State Hwy. 50 in the Town of Geneva, west of Lake Geneva. The featured BadgerTalks presenter is John W. Hall, the Ambrose-Hesseltine Professor of U.S. Military History with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of History. Outside of Wisconsin, the Black Hawk War is best know as the conflict in which Abraham Lincoln earned his limited military experience. Within Wisconsin, the Black Hawk War is somewhat better known, if only because its namesake and his Sauk tribe are memorialized by parks, towns, inns and roads throughout the state. But what was the war actually over and what did it mean? Hall will explore the colonial roots of a war far more significant than most realize, one that settled at last a 200-year contest for control of the region by great powers, both Indian and European. It sounds like a really interesting program, said Fontana Public Library Director Walter Burkhalter. It should be of interest to people, since there are local ties to the Black Hawk Wars. Currently on sabbatical for the Fall 2023 semester, Hall is an award-winning professor and the author of Uncommon Defense: Indian Allies in the Black Hawk War, published by Harvard University Press in 2009. A military historian broadly interested in the ways in which societies have organized violence to pursue and defend their interests, Hall is especially interested in the ethnohistorical study of military conflict and cooperation between the Native peoples of North America and European colonial powers, with a more general interest in Native American and early American history with particular emphasis on the Revolutionary Era and the Early Republic. Within the field of military history, Halls research has focused on small wars involving irregular forces and U.S. defense policy. He is currently working on a military history of Indian Removal in the southeastern United States. A past president of the Society for Military History, Hall is also a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel with past assignments as a historian to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The upcoming Sept. 26 BadgerTalks presentation will be the third to date collaboratively hosted by Geneva Lake Libraries, with Burkhalter calling past BadgerTalks programs lake ice seasonality and climate change at the Fontana Public Library in July, and dementia at The Ridge Hotel in August pretty well attended and outstanding in quality. We hope to continue doing them, her said. The prospects are pretty good for us to continue ... to do more of them. Learn more The Fontana Public Library is located at 166 2nd Ave. in Fontana, off Valley View Drive (State Hwy. 67). Library hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and Satursdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on the Fontana Public Library and its programs, visit fontana.lib.wi.us or call 262-275-5107. The Delavan-based nonprofit Walworth County Genealogical Society is an affiliate member of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society. For more information, visit walworthcgs.com, follow the WCGS at facebook.com/wcwgs or call 262-723-9150. UW-Madisons BadgerTalks program (https://badgertalks.wisc.edu) reflects the tradition of the Wisconsin Idea to extend the resources of the university to citizens of the state. BadgerTalks connects faculty and staff from hundreds of different disciplines with communities throughout the state to spark conversations on important topics, engage residents on critical issues, and share the latest UW research. BadgerTalks is a privately funded program connected to the Office of State Relations and housed under UW Connects statewide outreach. More than 200 BadgerTalks are hosted around the state each year, featuring faculty and staff with expertise in a variety of disciplines. Talk topics range from cutting edge discoveries to happiness in the workplace and everything in between. Professional, community and civic organizations, as well as schools, are invited to request a UW-Madison speaker. IN 16 PHOTOS: Fontana Elementary School presents "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" - April 14.15, 2023 "Somewhere, over the rainbow..." Uncle Henry and Aunt Em on their Kansas farm Miss Almira Gulch comes to take away canine Toto and have him destroyed Dorothy Gale consults with psychic reader Professor Marvel The Mayor of Oz "Tot Munchkins" sing and dance in Fontana Elementary School's April 14-15 production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Scarecrow, Tin Man and Dorothy in the April 14-15 Fontana Elementary School production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Jitterbugs swarm in Nikko, leader of the Winged Monkeys "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog, too!" Things look bleak for Dorothy Gale in the dungeon of the Wicked Witch's castle as time runs out Arrival at Emerald City The Wizard of Oz (Alex Cudnik) in the April 14-15, 2023 production of "The Wizard of Oz: Junior Edition" Glinda, the Good Witch of the North "There's no place like home..." Dorothy awakens back in Kansas, surrounded by concerned family and friends BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, the UAEs premier engineering university and the international arm of BITS Pilani, has announced the opening of its Centre for Higher Education. This initiative is designed to empower students by offering essential guidance and support for their higher education aspirations. The centre was inaugurated by Prof V Ramgopal Rao, the Group Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, who flew in for the 20th Convocation Ceremony and the opening of this centre. The centre is poised to become a pivotal resource, offering guidance and knowledge. It will serve as a central hub for a range of activities, including Higher Education Counselling, Graduate Admission Guidance and on-campus GRE and GMAT preparation sessions. ScorePlus Education These offerings have been made possible through a strategic collaboration with ScorePlus Education, the official partner of Princeton Review, renowned for its expertise in test preparation and admissions counselling, catering to students at all academic levels. At the Convocation Ceremony, 294 students from various academic backgrounds received their degrees. Additionally, the event featured the recognition of accomplished alumnus Rakesh Kapoor, former CEO of Reckitt, with the prestigious BITS Ratna award. This honour celebrates his exceptional contributions to the corporate world, BITS Pilani, and society, notably through philanthropic endeavours. Guests included Dr Arshi Ayub Mohamed, CEO of Trust With Trade Group and Senior Advisor to Royal Family Offices, UAE, and Dr Naji Al Mahdi, CEO of National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE). Also, in attendance were Directors from BITS Pilani Indian campuses in Pilani and Goa, along with the Director of BITS Pilani Dubai Campus, Prof Srinivasan Madapusi, faculty and staff, graduating students and their families, industry partners and alumni. Knowledge-based economy Dr Mohamed said: "I congratulate BITS Pilani Dubai Campus for pioneering the engineering and technology education and amplifying the vision of the UAE towards creating a Competitive Knowledge-Based Economy." The top academic performers were honoured with prestigious Chancellor's medals. Awardees included Joint First, Gold Medal Winners Kiranbaskar Velmurugan and Anushka Sivakumar, Second Prize Silver Medal Winner Meetansh Gupta, and Joint Bronze Medal Winners Kshitiz Bansal and Asmi Sriwastawa. The Directors All Round Achievement Medal was jointly awarded to Adhav Kumaravel and Tanushree Jain. Prof Rao emphasised the importance of students staying attuned to global trends and discovering their roles in the society. He commended BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus, for providing a robust foundation to guide students along the right path. Student excellence Prof Madapusi said: "I take immense pride in the remarkable achievements of our students and their unwavering commitment to acquiring knowledge. Student excellence has consistently defined BITS, and I wholeheartedly congratulate the Class of 2023, offering my best wishes for their future endeavours." In his valedictory speech, Dr Al Mahdi emphasised the significance of students maintaining their resilience in the face of our ever-evolving world.-- TradeArabia News Service G20 Statement on the Black Sea Grain Deal Sept. 10, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)The G20 statement, issued after the summit in New Delhi yesterday, expressed appreciation for the efforts of Turkiye to revive the two memorandums that made up the Black Sea Grain Initiative and call for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa.... In this context, emphasizing the importance of sustaining food and energy security, we called for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. We also expressed deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians thereby exacerbating existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities and hindering an effective humanitarian response. the statement added. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that at the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged for the G20 leaders to meet some of Russias demands, in order to revive the grain deal. According to Bloombergs account, Turkiye was asking world leaders to facilitate insurance of Russian food and fertilizer exports by Lloyds of London, and to reconnect Moscow to the SWIFT system for international payments, according to three Turkish officials familiar with the discussions. Turkiye told its counterparts that the way to revive the deal is to ease some sanctions, which Moscow says prevent it from importing agricultural equipment, such as tractors or spare parts, the Turkish officials said. The U.S. and its allies dismiss Russias claims that the limits are restricting Moscows farm exports, and have, so far, resisted calls to ease the sanctions. In Moscow, the Kremlin stood firm on Russias conditions for re-entering the grain deal. The Westerners are said to supposedly be ready to promise SWIFT access to a subsidiary of Rosselkhozbank [Russian Agricultural Bank], spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a Sept. 8 Reuters report describing the content of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres proposals for restoring the deal. The agreements say that access to SWIFT should be granted to Rosselkhozbank itself and not its subsidiary, Peskov told journalists. The sides need to go back to the basics of those agreements that were struck from the outset, he said, and that Russia was promised that they would be fulfilled long ago. Moscow is prepared to return to the deal, once these conditions are met, Peskov said. We believe we have a right ... to wait until [our conditions] are met, he said, insisting: All the conditions are well known. They do not need any distortions or interpretations. They are absolutely clear and all of this is absolutely realistic. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 Prometheus Defies the Olympians: In the Shadow of 9/11, at the Dawn of a New Paradigm Sept. 10, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Imitation is the best form of flattery, it is said. It helps, however, to have, at the least, an actual idea of what you are attempting to imitate. A word to the wise, and a warning to the unwise: The creatures of Prometheus cannot be cloned. The Anglo-Americans, having flunked LaRouche Physical Economy several times over the past decades; having, as their erstwhile leadership, if only temporarily, and nominally, Joe Biden, a fulsome, well-documented plagiarist; and having his even-more-inept State Department minions represent to other nations a United States policy-posture that is self-contradicting at best, and self-destructive at worst, have now, been forced to come up with something we can sell, getting themselves into a fine mess which they will probably refuse to understand. The White House September 9 official memorandum reads, the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the Republic of India, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian Republic, and the United States of America (the Participants) commit to work together to establish the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). The IMEC is expected to stimulate economic development through enhanced connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe. The IMEC will be comprised of two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe. It will include a railway that, upon completion, will provide a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network to supplement existing maritime and road transport routesenabling goods and services to transit to, from, and between India, the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Europe. In an initial reaction from EIRs Hussein Askary, it is observed that China is already running the Piraeus Port with great success (plus building railways to Serbia and Hungary), Haifa Port, and is involved in the Saudi Land-Bridge project, Emirates rail project, and ports in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. So, if there are new American and European investments, they would benefit China.... In any case, why would anyone who is sane think this is an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative? The sane path forward for the United States was well-detailed on Saturday, September 9, contained in the very title of the Schiller Institute Conference: Let Us Join Hands with the Global Majority To Create a New Chapter in World History! You cant just plagiarize something like the Belt and Road, take it out for a spin, and expect serious people to take you seriously. Ten years of the September 2013 Belt and Road Initiative, replete with subsequent bilateral and multinational discussions, agreements and treaties, were preceded by twenty years of dialogue, mostly designed and led by Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche, on behalf of her then-incarcerated husband, Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr., the worlds leading physical economist. You would think somebody in Washington might ask us about this! Russias leading economist, Sergey Glazyev, the Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics in the Eurasian Economic Commission, the executive body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has a real regard for the worth of the ideas of LaRouche. He notes in his recent blog, that another interesting digest, founded by the legendary thinker Lyndon LaRouche ... contains a very interesting article about another economic catastrophe in Argentina, caused by the same monetary policy pursued by the Bank of Russia under the methodological guidance of the IMF. The Saturday Schiller conference, in the assessment of various of its participants and those who attended, reached a new level of discussion, evaluation and conceptualization on matters pertaining to the creation of a new security and development architecture. (Speeches from Panel 2 of that conference, A New Paradigm in the History of Mankind Is Taking Shape appear in the body of todays briefing. The transcript of all of Panel 1 appeared in yesterdays briefing.) We are now inventing a new platform for a competent political deliberative process, in which the system of conferences originally designed by LaRouche as a new form of organization, a perpetual and ubiquitous international laboratory of ideas, fosters a characteristic daily habit and practice of self-government on the part of citizens throughout the planet as a whole. That, and not party politics, is the preferred form of political practice of the immediate future. On Sunday, the Schiller Institute held its annual Never Forget: 9/11 Memorial Concert. That concert, performed by the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus, with Asiana Sinfonia & the Bergen Symphony Orchestra, was, in a sense, the third panel of the weekend. Hundreds of people gathered in a mood of commemoration and celebration. More will be reported about it tomorrow. In the week before the opening of the United Nations session, the words of JFKs 1963 speech to the General Assembly of the UN were quoted in remarks that opened the conferencethat section in which he proposed that the two mortal, thermonuclear adversaries, the Soviet Union and the United States, would jointly go to the Moon: Space offers no problems of sovereignty; by resolution of this Assembly, the members of the United Nations have foresworn any claim to territorial rights in outer space or on celestial bodies, and declared that international law and the United Nations Charter will apply. Why, therefore, should mans first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition? Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction, and expenditure? Surely we should explore whether the scientists and astronauts of our two countriesindeed of all the worldcannot work together in the conquest of space, sending some day in this decade to the Moon not the representatives of a single nation, but the representatives of all of our countries. The proposed BRICS joint committee on space discovery and mission coordination is a first topic of international deliberation, against the tide of thermonuclear war, in which all nations, and individuals in all nations, can participate, organize symposia, and strengthen the dialogue that the weekend conference has begun. On 8 September Panamas security (Minseg) minister,, and the head of immigration,, announced new measures to address irregular migration through the Darien Gap, a roadless expanse of jungle on Panamas border with Colombia. End of preview - This article contains approximately 399 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 9 September the Colombian government published its new counternarcotics strategy, with Presidentcalling on Latin American nations to re-think the militarised war on drugs. End of preview - This article contains approximately 597 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 10 September the two-day G20 leaders summit in India, the current holder of the groups rotating presidency, ended with a joint declaration that reflected India and Brazils reluctance to criticise Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. End of preview - This article contains approximately 394 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 10 September the right-of-centre opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) and allied parties won the gubernatorial elections in Argentinas north-eastern province of Santa Fe at a canter. End of preview - This article contains approximately 347 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Ecuador is increasingly at the meeting point of two worldwide trades: bananas and cocaine. The South American country is the world's largest exporter of bananas with about 6.5 million metric tons a year. Its neighbors, Peru and Colombia, are the worlds largest cocaine producers. Drug traffickers find containers filled with bananas the perfect vehicle to smuggle their product. Drug trafficking has since brought extreme violence across this once-peaceful nation. Shootings, murders, kidnappings and extortions have become part of daily life. That is especially true in the Pacific port city and banana-shipping center of Guayaquil. The country was shocked when Fernando Villavicencio, a presidential candidate known for his tough position on organized crime, was shot to death on August 9. He had accused the Ecuadorian Los Choneros criminal group and its imprisoned leader of threatening him and his campaign team days before the killing. In addition to being close to cocaine production, drug smugglers from Mexico, Colombia and the Balkans in Europe have also set up operations in Ecuador. That is because the country uses the U.S. dollar; its laws and institutions are weak; and criminal groups like Los Choneros are ready to work. A record 2,304 metric tons of cocaine was produced in 2021 around the world, mostly in Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. That year, nearly a third of the cocaine seized by officials in Western and Central Europe came from Ecuador, two times the amount reported in 2018, found a United Nations report. Large drug seizures have become more common within the past month. European officials have made record-setting seizures after inspecting containers carrying bananas from Ecuador. Officials on August 25 announced Spains biggest cocaine seizure yet: 9.5 metric tons hidden among boxes of bananas from Ecuador in a refrigerated container. Dutch officials also made their countrys largest-ever cocaine seizure last month nearly 8 metric tons in a container of Ecuadorian bananas. Officials in Greece and Italy also announced seizures of cocaine hidden in Ecuadorian bananas this year. Knowingly or not, banana growers, exporters, shipping companies, port operators, private security companies, customs agents, agriculture officials, police, and buyers can be used by drug traffickers. Some traffickers have created false companies to look like real banana exporters. Others have taken control of legal businesses, including plantations. They have found companies willing to cooperate in trafficking. They have also paid off, threatened or kidnapped truck drivers and other workers to help get cocaine into shipments. Violent deaths in Ecuador have doubled from 2021 to 2022, when 4,600 died, the most ever recorded in a year. The country is likely to break the yearly record again, with 3,568 violent deaths recorded in the first half of 2023. In Guayaquil, people live in fear. No more than 30 percent of containers are currently inspected at Ecuadorian ports. President Guillermo Lassos government says it wants to use scanners on entire containers. Twelve of those machines were supposed to be operating already but that has not happened yet, said National Police General Pablo Ramirez. He is Ecuadors national director of anti-drug investigations. Jose Hidalgo is director of the Association of Banana Exporters of Ecuador. He said the industry is more vulnerable to trafficking than other export products because of the number of containers that it uses. He explained that exporters spend about $100 million yearly on security measures. That includes surveillance cameras at plantations, GPS monitoring of trucks, and the identification of land routes that require police patrols to keep criminals away. Still, some exporters have been accused of being involved in trafficking cocaine. The organization behind the cocaine seizure in Spain operated through a banana exporting company in Machala, a city south of Guayaquil. After this story was published in The Associated Press, agriculture and customs officials in Ecuador announced in a statement that they had removed a government-run banana export database. It removed information on export companies considered to be false or incomplete. It also canceled permits of plantations covering 16,000 hectares found to be nonexistent. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. ___________________________________________________ Words in This Story smuggle v. to move from one country into another illegally and secretly extort v. to get from a person by the use of force or threats institution n. an established organization refrigerate adj. to put or keep in a refrigerator in order to make it cold or keep it fresh customs n. an action or way of behaving that is usual and traditional among the people in a particular group or place scanner n. a device that reads or copies information or images into a computer vulnerable adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally surveillance n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime monitor v. a device that is used for showing, watching, or listening to something Israeli scientists say they have created a model of a human embryo from stem cells in a laboratory. The embryo model created without using sperm, eggs or a uterus is designed to support research on early human development. Only stem cells were used in the process. Stem cells are simple cells in the body that can develop into one of many specialized cells. Researchers say the embryo models cannot grow into babies. But they are complete enough to provide information about what happens in the embryo during a pregnancy. The use of embryo models permits scientists to carry out research without the ethical concerns linked to experiments using real embryos. Several international research teams have been working separately on studies involving human embryo models. Scientists from the United States, Britain and China published their research results on the subject in recent months. The Israeli researchers say their embryo model looks similar to a real human embryo at day 14. At this point, the embryo model has begun building inner structures. But it has not yet developed enough to start forming body organs, the team said. The scientists recently reported their results in a study in the publication Nature. They also shared their research with scientists during a June meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research in Boston, Massachusetts. The Israeli team noted that their current research is still a long way from being able to create a full embryo in the lab. Jacob Hanna was the team leader on the research. He told the Reuters news agency, "The question is, when does an embryo model become considered an embryo? When that happens, we know the regulations. At the moment we are really, really far off from that point." But the researchers said the work could open the door to new ways to study early human development. For example, the embryo models could test the effect of drugs on pregnancies. They could also help scientists better understand miscarriages and genetic diseases. And they might one day be used to grow transplant tissues and organs. Hanna noted that the models are not exactly like human embryos. "There are differences from human embryos, but still, this is the first time, if you open an atlas or a textbook, you can say - yeah I can really see the similarity between them," he said. Hanna said his team took stem cells produced from adult human skin cells, as well as others, and let them develop in the lab. The researchers then reverted the cells to an early state, with the possibility that they could develop into different kinds of cells. The team then genetically changed the cells in an effort to get them to start developing into something that looks and behaves like a real human embryo. However, the researchers said their creation is not an actual or synthetic embryo. Instead, it is considered a model that shows how a real embryo works. Hanna said the process was able to start effective structure development. But he added that the farthest we could get is day 14 in human embryo development." Hanna said the teams next goal will be to extend model development to 21 days and also reach a success rate of at least 50 percent. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story uterus n. (medical) a term for the organ in a woman that holds the baby during pregnancy; womb ethical adj. relating to what is right or wrong regulation n. an official rule that controls how something is done miscarriage n. a situation in which a baby is born too early and dies because it has not developed enough to survive transplant v. to perform a medical operation in which an organ or other part that has been removed from the body of one person is put into the body of another person atlas n. a book of maps revert v. to go back to the way something was before synthetic adj. a group of products made from artificial substances, often copying a natural product Rescue workers continue to search the wreckage of a large earthquake that struck Morocco Friday. Officials say almost 2,500 were killed in the quake, but that they expect that number will rise. On Monday, Moroccos state news agency reported almost 2,500 others are injured. And, it reported more injured people continue to arrive at hospitals. Moroccan soldiers, doctors and other aid teams are still making their way to the Al Haouz area high in the Atlas mountains, the epicenter of the earthquake. The area is about 70 kilometers from the city of Marrakech. The United Nations said the magnitude 6.8 earthquake affected 300,000 people. The damage was great because the starting point of the shaking was not far below the ground. The U.S. Geological Survey said it was the strongest quake to strike the North African nation since 1900. And, it is reported to be countrys deadliest since 1960, when at least 12,000 people were killed in and near the city of Agadir. Offers of help So far, Morocco has accepted assistance from four countries Spain, Qatar, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Other nations have offered help, as well. But, the Moroccan government says it wants to avoid a counterproductive lack of coordination by accepting help from too many countries. One survivor, Salah Ancheu, called the earthquake a catastrophe even as a truckload of soldiers arrived in Amizmiz to help. We dont know what the future is. The aid remains insufficient, the 28-year-old said. Mountainside homes and the tower of the local mosque fell down. Groups from the Moroccan army left Monday from Amizmiz to move into the small mountain villages. Heavy equipment was sent to clear the roads and both visitors and residents lined up to give blood. Some news reports said villagers wept as they saw dead bodies being carried through the streets. A number of nations said they were ready, but not yet permitted to send help. The group Rescuers Without Borders said about 100 teams, totaling 3,500 rescuers, are prepared to help. France said four of its citizens died. It has offered assistance but has not been given permission to send rescuers. In the Czech Republic, 70 rescuers are waiting at an airport for permission to enter Morocco. In Germany, a rescue team of 50 was sent home after waiting at an airport. A spokesperson from the German foreign ministry said Moroccos refusal of aid from some nations should not be seen as political. Im sure they have thought very carefully about which forces can be deployed and how they can get there, the spokesperson said. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said France has offered more than $5 million in support. She said Moroccos decision on that offer is its own to make and must be respected. People sleeping outside Many people continue to sleep outside, fearing smaller earthquakes that often follow a major one. In the village of Imgdal, women and children gathered outside and some kept warm around an open fire on Monday morning. In another village, Tafeghaghte, Hamid ben Henna said his 8-year-old son died in the quake. He had gone to another room while the family was sharing a meal Friday. The rest of the family survived. On a road near the town of Adassil, close to the center of the quake, one rescue worker was trying to clear the rocks that were preventing vehicles from getting by. He said other roads were in bad shape. Were trying to open them, too, said Ayman Koait. People said they dug through the rubble of their homes looking for relatives. They also moved rocks and walls looking for important items. Many of the homes are made from wood, rock, and mud, which made them fall easily when the ground started shaking. One military worker said it is difficult to pull people out alive because the walls turned to rubble and did not leave any space for air. UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, said many historic buildings in both Marrakech and the areas closer to the center of the earthquake were damaged. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by The Associated Press and Reuters. ____________________________________________________ Words in This Story epicentern. the strongest location of an earthquake magnituden. a numerical measurement of the strength of an earthquake counterproductiveadj. not helpful; working against an end result coordinationn. the act of working together catastrophen. a bad event; a disaster insufficientadj. not enough NORTH PLATTE The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a death Friday at Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area in Hitchcock County. About 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nebraska Game and Parks requested assistance from NSP at the scene of a missing person and boat. A Ford F-150 pickup and empty boat trailer had been located unoccupied at a boat ramp. Game and Parks officers located the boat, which was also unoccupied, out on the lake. Officers then used sonar equipment and identified what was suspected to be a body underwater near the boat ramp. The Imperial Search and Rescue dive team was called in and recovered the body of the boats owner. The deceased has been identified as Michael Harrison, 68, of Goodland, Kansas. Hitchcock County has requested that the Nebraska State Patrol investigate the death. Pending a scheduled autopsy, foul play is not suspected at this time. The investigation is ongoing. The Hitchcock County Sheriffs Office and Trenton Fire Department also assisted on the scene. The Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders Summit in New Delhi has made a commitment to ensure the success of the World Trade Organisations 13th Ministerial Conference, which the UAE will host next year. We commit to work constructively to ensure positive outcomes at the WTOs Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13), said the New Delhi Declaration adopted by the G20 Summit, a WAM report said. The foremost deliberation body of the WTO, which meets once every two years, will be coming to Abu Dhabi in February 2024, placing the UAE at the heart of the conversations that will shape the immediate future of global trade. 164 countries to gather in Abu Dhabi The UAE will welcome the leadership of the WTOs 164 member states to the MC13 in Abu Dhabi, just after hosting the COP28, the UN Climate Conference in Dubai in November this year with the participation of all UN member states, international organisations, and other global stakeholders. COP28 has made a landmark decision to include trade as a thematic day at the Dubai conference. The previous WTO conference, MC12, reached landmark multinational agreements on issues such as pandemic preparedness, intellectual property rights, the removal of food export prohibitions and fisheries subsidies, in what has become known as The Geneva Package. MC13 is now the opportunity to finally introduce impactful reform to the WTO itself and usher in a new wave of measures that will safeguard the future of the body as a credible custodian of the multilateral trading system. MC13 comes at a critical time for world trade, and the conference will build on the outcomes of MC12, review the performance of the multilateral trading system, make decisions on the future work of the WTO, and set up the roadmap for MC14. Al Zeyoudi as chair The General Council of the WTO recently elected Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, as Chair of the MC13. Al Zeyoudi participated in the G20 Trade and Investment Ministerial Meeting (TIMM) in Jaipur, India, late last month, which made a slate of proposals to advance global trade and ensure it continues to deliver long-term growth and economic development for all nations. The meeting adopted the key resolutions developed during the year by the trade and investment working group, which centred on five priority issues: Trade for Growth & Prosperity; Resilient Trade and Global Value Chains (GVCs); Integrating MSMEs into World Trade; Logistics for Trade; and World Trade Organisation (WTO) Reform. These resolutions were presented to the G20 Leaders Summit and considered for the New Delhi Declaration adopted by the Summit. G20 reiterates inclusive WTO The declaration reaffirmed that a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO at its core, is indispensable. We will support policies that enable trade and investment to serve as an engine of growth and prosperity for all. The declaration renewed the G20s commitment to ensure a level-playing field and fair competition by discouraging protectionism and market distorting practices, to build a favourable trade and investment environment for all. We reiterate the need to pursue WTO reform to improve all its functions through an inclusive member-driven process and remain committed to conducting discussions with a view to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024. MC13 to address hunger, food security A top WTO official said last week that MC13 in Abu Dhabi will provide a unique opportunity to ensure that trade contributes to strengthening global food security. WTOs Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam noted MC13 can be a defining moment for a more food secure and sustainable future and urged WTO members to work together to overcome the stalemate in agriculture negotiations. Trade can, and must, help us respond to the food security and sustainable development challenges we face, and the time is now.'' Climate disasters, the Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts, and economic downturns, he added, have undermined a decade of progress in combatting malnutrition in the world. Hunger is on rise The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, led by Dr QU Dongyu, estimates that up to783 million people faced hunger in 2022. And despite historic progress in China hunger is still on the rise throughout Africa, Western Asia and the Caribbean. Heavy rain in Hong Kong and southern China overnight flooded city streets and some subway stations, with hundreds evacuated and two deaths reported in Hong Kong. Hong Kong authorities said during a joint news conference Friday that the extreme weather was expected to last until at least midnight, with widespread flooding and heavy disruptions to public transport in multiple districts. An official from the Hong Kong observatory said the city had recorded over 600mm of rain so far a quarter of the citys average annual rainfall. The Hong Kong Observatory said it recorded 158.1 millimeters (6.2 inches) of rain in the hour between 11 p.m. Thursday and midnight, the highest recording for a single hour since records began in 1884. Hong Kong police said that two bodies were found floating in waters in different parts of the city. The citys fire services department said it had evacuated 110 people and assisted 20 injured people. The citys response to the rain and floods has drawn criticism from residents online, who questioned the authorities preparedness for such an emergency. Hong Kongs No. 2 official, Eric Chan, said that the predictability of rainfall cannot be compared with that of a typhoon. He said that various departments in Hong Kong had been working overnight to tackle the situation. Videos circulating on social media show flooded streets in Hong Kong and nearby Guangdong province, with vehicles driving through the water and rescue teams using rafts to navigate the streets. Water rushed down the stairs and escalators of a flooded subway station in Hong Kong, and cars were caught in muddy water on flooded streets, including in the cross-harbor tunnel that connects Hong Kong Island with Kowloon. The heavy downpours led Hong Kong and the mainland city of Shenzhen to close schools, and nonessential workers in Hong Kong were urged to stay home Friday. Most bus services in Hong Kong were halted. The Hong Kong stock exchange also did not open Friday. On the mainland, more than 11,000 people were evacuated from water-logged areas in Meizhou, a city in Guangdong province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Trains and flights were suspended in Guangdong and several landslides blocked roads the report said. Shenzhens total rainfall was 469 millimeters (18.4 inches) the heaviest rainfall since Shenzhen started meteorological records in 1952, CCTV said. Beijing issued a flood disaster warning for several districts of the Chinese capital, forecasting heavy rainfall through Saturday night. The city observatory attributed Fridays rain to a trough of low pressure associated with the remnants of a recent typhoon. ZEN SOO, HONG KONG , MDT/AP The United States is in a state of shock after a day of attacks which have left thousands dead and New Yorks World Trade Center destroyed. The Pentagon was also severely damaged by one of the three civilian airliners which hijackers turned into flying bombs. A fourth plane crashed in a field near Pittsburgh. A state of emergency has been declared in Washington D.C. and the US has closed its airspace and its borders with Mexico and Canada. American forces are on one of their highest states of alert and the Pentagon has deployed a naval battle group off the countrys east coast to bolster air defences. American Airlines Flight 11 was hijacked at 0825 Eastern Daylight Time (1225 GMT) and 18 minutes later crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. United Airlines Flight 175 which had been hijacked within minutes of the first plane was flown into the south tower at 0903 EDT (1303 GMT) causing another devastating explosion. The second crash was captured live on news cameras trained on the burning north tower. At 0940 EDT (1340 GMT) a third hijacked airliner American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the side of the Pentagon in Washington. An hour after the Boeing 767 slammed into the south tower of the World Trade Center the 110-storey building collapsed. The north tower followed minutes later, compounding the destruction and loss of life. Witnesses reported seeing people jumping from the towers just before they collapsed. President Bush was reading to pupils at a Florida school when his chief of staff whispered news of the attacks to him. He was flown to the US Strategic Command Centre at Nebraska where the countrys nuclear weapons are controlled but is now on his way back to Washington. He is expected to address the nation later this evening. New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said the final number of dead may be more than any of us can bear. Courtesy BBC News In context The final number of people killed in the suicide attacks on 11 September was about 3,000. It took almost nine months to clear the millions of tons of rubble at Ground Zero where the World Trade Center had stood. The biggest criminal investigation in history quickly identified the hijackers, and linked them to al-Qaeda the Islamic militant group set up by Osama Bin Laden. President Bush declared a worldwide war on terror, and on 8 October the United States and Britain hit targets in Afghanistan, where Bin Laden was believed to be hiding. The regime in Afghanistan fell quickly in the face of American military might, but Osama Bin Laden remained at large for years. President Bush extended his global campaign against terror to Iraq in March 2003, when a coalition dominated by US and UK forces invaded. The exhibition by the first two teams participating in the 31st Macao International Fireworks Display Contest has been postponed from last Saturday to tonight due to weather conditions, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) announced. The postponement was related to the heavy rainfall conditions that affected Macau over the whole weekend, which made it unsuitable for both the performance and public attendance. The pyrotechnic performances of Australia and Switzerland will now take place at the same time (9 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.) tonight. The contest will then continue as originally planned, with performances on September 16 and 23 and October 1 and 7. The Australian company Cardile International Fireworks will present a firework show named Thunder of Down Under. The fireworks will create symbolic illustrations of native Australian flora, fauna, and landscapes. The performance will be accompanied by iconic Australian pop, rock, and country hits. Themed Icons of Rock, the fireworks show presented by the Swiss company La Pirotecnica SAGL will project the story of rock music through vibrant color, patterns, and use of creative design combinations. RM A delegation from the Greater Bay Area 5G Industry Alliance visited the University of Macau (UM) in a bid to further advance the research on 5G communication technology in the GBA. The two parties discussed creating a 5G+ ecosystem and promoting the continuous and steady development of industry-academia collaboration. The delegation included more than 30 representatives from the alliance and corporate executives from CTM, Bank of China (Hong Kong), China Mobile Hong Kong, Alibaba Cloud, Huawei, and Multibyte Info, among others. The two parties expressed their views on topics such as improving the 5G+ industry chain in the GBA and the Internet of Things. Related Visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday pledged $21.7 billion in new Chinese investment in Indonesia to strengthen the countries economic and political ties, an official said. Li arrived in Jakarta on Tuesday to attend the three-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and meet with Indonesian leaders. President Joko Widodo hosted Li at the colonial-style Merdeka palace in Jakarta on Friday and discussed ways to expand trade and investment. He sought Chinas help in plans to move Indonesias capital from congested and polluted Jakarta on the main island of Java to Nusantara on Borneo island. After the meeting, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi announced the new Chinese investment pledge, which follows a previous $44.89 billion investment commitment made when Widodo met Chinese President Xi Jinping in July. Details of the new investment werent announced. Marsudi said Widodo asked China, Indonesias largest trade and investment partner, to realize these commitments immediately and urged it to explore investment in other sectors, such as maritime and fisheries. The two leaders also oversaw the signing of six agreements on e-commerce, support for enterprises, industrial cooperation, agriculture, fisheries and science and technology, Marsudi said. On Wednesday, Li took a test ride on Indonesias new $7.3 billion high-speed rail line, which was funded largely with Chinese loans. It connects Jakarta and Bandung, the heavily populated capital of West Java province, and is part of Chinas Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Commercial service on Southeast Asias first high-speed railway is to begin on Oct. 1 and will cut travel time between the cities from the current three hours to about 40 minutes. Indonesia wants a larger role in supplying nickel and other raw materials for Chinas fast-growing electric car makers. Nickel smelting plants in Indonesia are part of Chinas Belt and Road transnational development program. Indonesia and China are both members of the Group of 20 major developed and emerging economies. The two leaders were to leave Jakarta on Friday afternoon for New Delhi to attend the G20 summit. NINIEK KARMINI, JAKARTA, MDT/AP Japans prime minister said that Chinas blanket ban on Japanese seafood in reaction to the release of treated radioactive water from a tsunami-ravaged nuclear power plant contrasts starkly with broad understanding shown by many other members of the international community. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on Japans northeastern coast started releasing treated and diluted radioactive wastewater in late August into the Pacific Ocean. The release has been opposed by the Japanese fishing community, which is worried about the reputation of the fish it catches. China immediately banned all Japanese seafood. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters Wednesday in Jakarta, Indonesia, after a session attended by leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as South Korea and China, that the treated water release is conducted under international safety standards and with the help of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He said Japan has broadly gained understanding from the international community, and that in sharp contrast, Chinas blanket ban on Japanese seafood stuck out. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant suffered major damage from a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Kishida said he approached Chinese Premier Li Qiang during a break and explained to him Japans effort in the treated water discharge. It was the first in-person, high-level contact between the two countries since the discharge began Aug. 24. Kishida said he reiterated Japans scientific handling of the Fukushima Daiichi treated water release, stressing the importance of a scientific approach and release of accurate information. Kishida declined to comment on Lis response. Chinese authorities, as they imposed the seafood ban, said they would dynamically adjust relevant regulatory measures as appropriate to prevent the risks of nuclear-contaminated water discharge to the health and food safety of our country. China is the largest destination for Japanese seafood exports, even though that is a small part of overall trade, and Japanese exporters were hit hard by the ban. Hours later in Japan, U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, where Ambassador Rahm Emanuel was serving vegetables and fruits from Fukushima and fish caught off the coast of neighboring Miyagi prefecture, to support Japan. I just view it as another way of the communist party of China putting the falsity out there, trying to divide, and its just an unfair position that they have and a false position that they have from the rest of the worlds stance, said McCarthy, criticizing Chinas ban on Japanese seafood. McCarthy said he set up a bipartisan committee to study how China influences industries around the world when he became House Speaker, and has seen China try to dominate and control a number of industries, while dumping falsities on others and watching the same situation happen here. So what you have to do is wake up to that day, stand together, stand with your friend, do it based upon science as well, something that China does not do, McCarthy said, noting Chinas lack of transparency during the COVID pandemic. The U.S. Embassy is also working with Japans government to find new export destinations in the United States, as well as other countries for scallop processing that Japanese exporters used to conduct in China. Japanese officials have said they plan to cultivate new export destinations in Taiwan, the United States, Europe, the Middle East and some southeast Asian countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore. MARI YAMAGUCHI, TOKYO, MDT/AP An assistant prosecutor general and a lawyer are among four suspects recently accused of bribery, the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) has announced. The MP did not disclose when the four suspects were charged. In a statement, the MP said that a lawsuit had been filed against the four suspects. The case is now under the judicial authority of the Court of Second Instance (TSI), the MP added. According to the MP, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) have completed an investigation and has issued a report. The investigation concerned an assistant prosecutor general surnamed Kong. In response, the MP initiated his own investigation on the matter. Kong, the MP said, was on unpaid leave during the investigation. All suspects are currently in custody. The MPs investigations revealed that Kong had formed a criminal group with a lawyer surnamed Kuan, as well as two other people surnamed Choi and Ng. The MP alleged that Kong was accepting bribes in exchange for obstructing justice. Charges of passive corruption for an illegal act, personal favoritism carried out by a public service employee, abuse of power, violation of judicial secrecy and malfeasance were pressed against Kong, the MP noted. The MPs statement did not mention the full name of the prosecutor. On the MPs website, it is noted that Assistant Prosecutor General Kong Chi has been on unpaid leave since Feb. 7, 2022. Kongs unpaid leave was set to last two years and end on Feb. 6, 2024. The latest list of prosecutors on the MP website shows no other prosecutor with the same surname, as of yesterday. In the statement, the MP emphasized that justice would be sought for this case, in which a prosecutor conducted themselves in a way that damages the reputation of the Special Administrative Region and the judiciary. The public hospitals Department of Psychiatry has diagnosed a total of 200 residents in 2022 with common mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and others. Although, according to the Health Bureau (SSM), the figure was similar to the annual average of past years, Caritas noted that as of August this year, its Life Hotline had received nearly 6,947 calls and online requests seeking assistance 527 callers were suffering from depression, and 179 were on the verge of committing suicide due to depression. The government is appealing to people with emotional problems to seek professional support as soon as possible. According to SSM, it currently has 15 psychiatric specialist and 26 psychotherapists at the public hospital, which it believes is enough to cope with demand. Chau Pui Leng, director of the Center of Psychopedagogical Support and Special Education of the Education and Youth Development Bureau, said, for schools, we have trained teachers to skillfully identify students in need. It is also easy for parents to notice the need of their children through interacting with them. Speaking to TDM, Lei Seng Hang, chairman of a psychological association, said that the pandemic has caused more residents to suffer from anxiety or depression. The causes of depression are relatively complex and may be related to factors such as genetics, psychological qualities, or environment. Lei encouraged residents who show symptoms such as loss of appetite, changes in sleeping conditions, lack of motivation for life, or refusal to contact the outside world to seek for professional help. Earlier this year, a local survey shows that a number of teenagers seeking mental health services remains steady this year, with 35% of middle school students still suffering from severe anxiety. Also, lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinho has said in his latest written inquiry that healthcare for workplace mental health is becoming critical in Macau for a variety of reasons. He called on government to implement more and better specific measures to combat mental health issues among the working population, and also called on the government to exert additional efforts to destigmatize mental health issues. The Social Welfare Bureau encourages residents to be conscious of their psychological and emotional state as well as that of their friends and relatives. If in need, residents can call Caritas Life Hope hotline (28525222) or the IAS counseling hotline (28261126). For two decades, Victory Homes of Wisconsin has helped homeowners across Dane, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Washington and Ozaukee counties make their real estate dreams into reality. As Victory Homes reaches its 20th anniversary, the companys success can be attributed to a roster of talented designers and architects, relationships forged with real estate agents and developers and an ability to meet deadlines. But one tenet of the business stands above the rest: an unwavering commitment to the client. We take the time to listen and engage with our clients, making sure we truly understand their aspirations for their dream home, said David Roembke, partner and vice president of sales and marketing at Victory Homes of Wisconsin. We then work closely with them throughout the entire process, offering our expertise and suggestions where necessary, while always respecting their vision. Our reputation for excellence, dedication and attention to detail is a testament to the exceptional service we provide. A proven track record Victory Homes was founded in 2003 with aims on making a positive impact on Southeastern Wisconsins home-building industry. The companys goal was to change the way homeowners thought about the building process. Within six months of its existence, Victory was constructing custom homes that met the industrys highest standards. Since the companys inception, Victory has taken an innovative approach to home building. Each project is done right, with quality materials and experienced contractors. In addition to the exquisite craftsmanship, Victory Homes specializes in meeting the needs of the modern homebuyer. That means constructing homes with extraordinary designs and layouts and exceptional custom features. To give prospective homeowners an idea of the options, Victory offers walk-in models near Madison and Milwaukee. Rather than simply browsing floor plans or looking at static images, visitors can physically walk through a model home designed to highlight the possibilities and features of each design. 20 years of collaboration Model homes offer a glimpse of what Victory Homes is capable of, but to the enterprising minds that run the company, imagination is the only limit. Homebuyers can opt to build based on the home plans Victory offers or commission a completely custom product. Either way, the company has two decades of experience putting the homeowners needs first. Those needs begin with zeroing in on a homeowners desired geography. Having spent a generation in the industry, Victorys team is replete with experienced real estate professionals who have extensive knowledge of the local market and deep familiarity with the different neighborhoods in Dane County. Once land is secured, the collaboration between Victory and the client is only beginning. From the ownership level down, Victorys entire team engages in the home-building process. For 20 years, Roembke said, Victory has made the homebuilding process seamless by working with their clients at each stage. We prioritize communication throughout the entire process, Roembke said. We firmly believe that open, honest and regular communication between our team and clients is crucial for a successful custom home build. We strive to understand our clients' vision, needs and desires, and we keep them informed every step of the way. Our long-standing history as a company means that we bring a wealth of experience, expertise and creativity to every project, he said. We are passionate about building homes that not only meet but exceed our clients' visions, maintaining the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction. Click here to learn how Victory Homes can help you build your dream home. This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display. Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com. The UAE will work alongside the governments of Saudi Arabia, the Member States of the European Union, India and the US on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which will boost trade and slash shipping costs. The announcement was made in the presence of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the 18th G20 Heads of State and Government Summit held in New Delhi, India, where the UAE is participating as a guest of honour, a WAM report said. Creating the corridor aims to significantly enhance connectivity and integration between participating countries and will comprise two different pathways the east corridor connecting India to the Arabian Gulf and the northern corridor connecting the Arabian Gulf to Europe. Ship-to-rail transit corridors The cross-border ship-to-rail transit corridors will reduce shipping costs across the network and facilitate trade in goods and services to, from, and between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and Europe. Participants will also assess the potential of electricity and clean hydrogen exports to enhance regional supply chains and connectivity as part of joint efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions and integrate environmental conservation in the initiative. The UAEs cooperation on this initiative reflects the countrys efforts to strengthen its international partnerships and contribute towards a sustainable future, particularly in advance of its hosting of the upcoming COP28 climate conference in November. Participants are looking forward to working together to establish coordinating bodies that will address a range of technical, financial, legal, and regulatory affairs. In the coming period, participants will also meet to advance the design and implementation of the transit network.-- TradeArabia News Service CINCINNATI Brynn Schulte nearly died twice when she was a baby, at one point needing emergency surgery for massive bleeding in her brain. No one knew what was wrong until a test that looked at her full genetic blueprint found a rare bleeding disorder called factor XIII deficiency an early diagnosis that saved her life. "You have this hopeless feeling when you don't really know what's going on," said her father, Mike Schulte. "Casting a wide net really made a world of difference figuring this out quickly and getting her the right care that she needed almost immediately." Brynn, now 4, got the genetic testing as part of a clinical trial, the results of which were published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "Whole genome" tests are nearly twice as good as narrower tests at unearthing genetic abnormalities that can cause disease in infants the study found 49% of abnormalities, compared to 27% with more commonly used tests targeting particular types of genetic diseases. Whole genome tests could solve the problem of doing several narrowly targeted tests on babies, which still might not find the disorder. Experts caution there are some issues, because labs vary in how they interpret results, and whole genome tests are costlier and less likely to be covered by insurance. But researchers envision that whole genome tests eventually will be used for millions of hospitalized babies with confounding, sometimes life-threatening conditions. According to the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute, around 350 million people worldwide live with rare disorders, and about 80% of the more than 7,000 conditions are genetic. "I've been doing clinical trials of babies for over 40 years," said study author Dr. Jon Davis, chief of newborn medicine at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. "It's not often that you can do something that you feel is going to really change the world and change clinical practice for everyone." 'A memory I'll never erase' The night after Brynn was born, her mother Lindsay noticed her skin was gray, her breathing labored. Blood had pooled beneath Brynn's scalp, causing two bulges on her head. Doctors transferred her to the neonatal intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, where she got blood transfusions and tests for different bleeding problems. She improved and went home only to wind up back in the hospital when she was about a month old for a massive brain bleed. A doctor warned she likely wouldn't make it. A pastor prayed with the family. After her surgery, Brynn stayed in the NICU for two months. At various points, doctors thought she might have a vascular problem or a mass in her liver. "Everybody was very unsettled because nobody knew what the heck was going on," Lindsay Schulte recalled. "I don't think we slept. I mean, watching your child nearly die in front of your eyes twice is a memory I'll never erase." Then the Schultes learned about the clinical trial, which involved 400 hospitalized infants. Brynn and both parents got the whole genome testing. The diagnosis came in less than a week: She had the rare bleeding disorder, which affects an estimated 1 in 2 million to 1 in 3 million live births, and another condition causing a severe reaction to certain anesthesia drugs. Doctors said that diagnosis would likely have been delayed or even missed with multiple narrower tests. Many babies in the trial had genetic variants that narrower tests just couldn't detect, said Dr. Jill Maron, a study author and chief of pediatrics at Women & Infants Hospital in Rhode Island. That's because targeted tests cover maybe 1,700 out of 20,000 genes, so whole genome testing simply "captures more things," said Dr. Paul Kruszka of GeneDx, a company that provides whole genome testing but wasn't involved in the study. Another child in the clinical trial, 2-year-old Cash Denaro of Oceanside, California, was found to have a genetic condition called Noonan syndrome, which involves heart defects, developmental delays and other problems. His mom, Amanda Denaro, said that with the diagnosis, "we know what they think he may be delayed on, so we can work on these more not just kind of push it under the rug." Whole genome testing Broader access to full genome tests is necessary if more kids are going to be helped, experts like Maron said. Full genome tests generally cost about three times more than narrower tests, she said, and aren't covered by Medicaid in most states. Then there's the question of interpreting test results: More than 40% of the time in the study, labs found the same genetic variant, but one considered it the cause of disease while the other saw it as insignificant. Philip Brooks at the National Institutes of Health, which helped pay for the research, said it "remains a topic to be addressed." One reason for the differing interpretations is that science is moving so quickly linking genes to disorders and there isn't a comprehensive international system where doctors can check for the latest information, said Mara Aspinall, who teaches biomedical diagnostics at Arizona State University. She was not involved in the study. Despite such hurdles, some kids are already benefitting from whole genome testing. It made all the difference in ensuring Brynn got the right treatment so she could thrive, said Dr. Cristina Tarango, her hematologist at Cincinnati Children's. Today, Brynn lives like any active preschooler except for regular infusions of factor XIII replacement. On a recent morning, Lindsay Schulte put "Sleeping Beauty" on the television and laid Brynn on a blanket on the kitchen counter. A visiting nurse took blood from a port implanted in her chest and Schulte slowly administered the medication through a syringe. Like usual, Brynn chose the bandage to put over her port one featuring a cat from her favorite show. "All done!" her mom chirped, and soon Brynn was running barefoot across a couch, gleefully chasing her older brother. WASHINGTON The Environmental Protection Agency is delaying plans to tighten air quality standards for ground-level ozone better known as smog despite a recommendation by a scientific advisory panel to lower air pollution limits to protect public health. The decision by EPA Administrator Michael Regan means that one of the agency's most important air quality regulations will not be updated until well after the 2024 presidential election. "I have decided that the best path forward is to initiate a new statutory review of the ozone (standard) and the underlying air quality criteria,'' Regan wrote in a letter to the EPA advisory panel last month. The letter cites "several issues" raised by the panel in a recent report that "warrant additional evaluation and review." The review, which will last at least two years, will "ensure that air quality standards reflect the latest science in order to best protect people from pollution," Regan said. Regan's decision avoids an election year battle with industry groups and Republicans who have complained about what they consider overly intrusive EPA rules on power plants, refineries, automobiles and other polluters. The delay marks the second time in 12 years that a Democratic administration has put off a new ozone standard prior to an election year. President Barack Obama shut down plans to tighten ozone standards in 2011, leading to a four-year delay before the standards were updated in 2015. Paul Billings, senior vice president of the American Lung Association, called the EPA's decision "profoundly disappointing" and a missed opportunity to protect public health and promote environmental justice. A recent report by the lung association showed that minority communities bear a disproportionate burden from ground-level ozone, which occurs when air pollution from cars, power plants and other sources mixes with sunlight. The problem is particularly acute in urban areas. Billings called the ozone rule "the public health cornerstone of the Clean Air Act," adding that "millions of people will breathe dirty air for many more years" as a result of the delay. An increased number of asthma attacks, sick days and even premature death are likely to occur, he and other public health advocates said. Raul Garcia, vice president of policy and legislation for Earthjustice, called the delay "shameful" and unjustified. "The science tells us we are long overdue," Garcia said. Democratic lawmakers also were disappointed. "Inaction threatens public health and puts those with underlying conditions such as asthma or lung disease at an elevated risk," said Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. He and 51 other Democrats had urged swift action on a new rule. "Unfortunately we've seen the process for updating the ozone standards repeatedly swept up in political games that risk lives," the lawmakers said in an Aug. 7 letter to the EPA. Conor Bernstein, a spokesman for the National Mining Association, applauded the EPA's decision "not to race ahead with an unnecessary revision of the ozone standards," which have not been changed since 2015. The current standard was reaffirmed in December 2020 under then-President Donald Trump, a Republican. Bernstein, whose members produce coal and other fossil fuels, urged officials to reconsider other regulations that he said target coalfired power plants and endanger reliability of the electric grid. "It's clear and deeply alarming that EPA (does not) understand the cumulative impact its rules will have on the grid and the nation's severely stressed power supply," he said. A spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute, the top lobbying group for the oil and gas industry, said current ozone limits are among the most stringent in the world. "Any tightening of the standard could impact energy costs, threaten U.S. energy security and impact businesses and American consumers," spokeswoman Andrea Woods said in an email. Panel recommendations The EPA's decision comes after two advisory panels the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council urged the agency to lower the current ozone standard of 70 parts per billion. "Based on the scientific evidence currently available, it is concluded that the level of the current standard is not protective with an adequate margin of safety," the EPA panel said in a June report. A limit of 55 to 60 parts per billion "is more likely to be protective and to provide an adequate margin of safety," the panel said. The agency will convene workshops next spring to gather information and will release a review plan for action in late 2024, he said. A final decision could be years away. INDIA | NEW DELHI NEW DELHI G20 leaders paid their respects to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi as their summit came to a close Sunday, a day after the group added a new member and reached agreement on a range of issues but softened language on Russia's war in Ukraine. The Group of 20 rich and developing nations welcomed the African Union as a member part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to uplift the Global South. And host India was also able to get the disparate group to sign off on a final statement despite pointed disagreements among powerful members, mostly centered on the European conflict. India also unveiled an ambitious plan with the United States, the European Union and others to build a rail and shipping corridor linking it with the Middle East and Europe in a bid to strengthen economic growth and political cooperation. With those major agenda items taken care of, the leaders shook hands Sunday and posed for photos with Modi at the Rajghat memorial site in New Delhi. Each received a shawl made of khadi, a handspun fabric that was promoted by Gandhi during India's independence movement against the British. Some leaders including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and last year's G20 host President Joko Widodo of Indonesia walked to the memorial barefoot in a customary show of respect. U.S. President Joe Biden and others wore slippers as they walked over wet ground spotted with puddles from heavy rain. The leaders stood before wreaths placed around the memorial, which features an eternal flame and was draped with orange and yellow marigold garlands. The one reserved for Modi identified him as prime minister of "Bharat" an ancient Sanskrit name championed by his Hindu nationalist supporters that shot to prominence as the summit approached. Earlier in the day, Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy separately took time to visit and offer prayers at the Akshardham Temple, one of Delhi's most prominent Hindu houses of worship. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took over the G20 rotating presidency at the summit's end. He hopes to rebuild Brazil's standing after a period of international isolation under far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil, home to the majority of the Amazon rainforest, will likely use its presidency to advocate for increased funds for environmental preservation, said Laerte Apolinario Junior, a professor of international relations at the Pontifical Catholic University of Sao Paulo. Lula has sought to move beyond the disputes over Ukraine, telling Indian news site First-post that the G20 wasn't the appropriate forum to discuss the war. Brazil has proposed mediating in the conflict, but those efforts have largely been rebuffed, and its refusal to arm Ukraine has sparked criticism from Western countries. A former Monroe County sheriffs detective faces a criminal charge stemming from the death of a K-9 unit under his supervision. Alexander E. Maas, 29, of Tomah, was charged in Monroe County Circuit Court with a single misdemeanor count of mistreatment of an animal. According to the criminal complaint, Maas left the dog inside his squad car with the windows closed May 10 from noon to 4 p.m. on a day when the temperature reached 81 degrees. The vehicle had been parked in the garage bay of the Sheriffs Office in Sparta. The complaint says a sheriffs captain received a frantic call around 4 p.m. from Maas, who said the dog was experiencing a medical emergency. When the captain arrived, he observed the dog was unresponsive and was being held by Maas under a water faucet. The captain reported the dog was hot to the touch, had a red tongue and was taking rapid, shallow breaths. Maas reportedly told the captain the dog had been in the vehicle for three hours. The dog was transported to a local veterinary clinic, where the dogs temperature was reported to be 107 degrees. The dog was euthanized after a veterinarian determined its kidneys were irreparably damaged due to heat stress. Investigators reviewed video which reportedly shows Maas arriving with the squad car and letting the dog out at 11:58 a.m. Two minutes later, he put the dog back into the squad car and remained inside the courthouse until 3:56 p.m. Investigators contacted numerous people who were recorded walking past the vehicle during that time. None recalled if the engine was running or if the windows were down. The dogs remains were transported May 23 to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which confirmed the diagnosis in Sparta. Maas was contacted by investigators May 26. He declined to say anything on advice from his attorney, according to court records. He was placed on administrative leave after the dogs death and later resigned from the force. The charge against Maas carries a maximum nine-month jail sentence and a $10,000 fine. His initial court appearance is set for Oct. 9. Sept. 15 is National Online Learning Day, which celebrates how technology has changed the way we learn and gain new skills. According to a 2023 article by Forbes, about 30 percent of all postsecondary U.S. degree seekers studied exclusively online in 2021. More colleges across the country have online degree programs that allow students to earn a bachelors degree without setting foot on campus. This is great news for busy adult learners. As a returning adult student myself, Ive earned degrees both in person and online. Here are three things to think about if youre considering an online degree. How does online school work? Typically, online courses come in one of two formats: synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous courses meet at a regular, scheduled time. In a synchronous class, you may have live online lectures with opportunities to ask questions and interact with classmates. These courses are a good option for students who prefer routine and want to connect with other students and instructors in real time. Asynchronous courses have no live elements or set meeting times. You dont have to attend class at a regular time every week. Asynchronous courses can be a convenient option for adult learners going back to school while juggling other responsibilities. Staying on top of deadlines is crucial in these self-paced courses. As youre comparing programs, its helpful to know how you learn best. Do you need a regular class schedule to stay on track, or can you complete coursework independently? Ask questions to make sure the program is a good fit for you. How do I pay for it? Many adult learners are unaware of the options they have for funding online degree programs. Contrary to popular belief, adult students qualify for federal financial aid, which can include grants, scholarships, work-study programs and low-interest student loans. To learn more about federal aid, visit studentaid.gov. Even if you dont qualify for federal aid, dont be discouraged. Universities, companies and local organizations can be another source of scholarships and grants. Your employer may even offer an employee tuition assistance program. To maximize your chances of securing funds, do your research, ask questions and be mindful of scholarship deadlines. How hard is it? A typical misconception is that earning an online degree is easier than completing an in-person program. This is not true. Accredited online programs usually require the same number of credits to graduate as in-person programs. For example, students pursuing a bachelors degree through UW-Madison Online have to complete an average of 120 credits. A reputable online program will be just as rigorous as an in-person program. To set yourself up for success, you should expect to work just as hard as any other college student. Earning a degree online is a big undertaking, but knowing your learning style, researching funding options and having realistic expectations will help you achieve your dream. Make sure to reach out to support staff early on and get your questions answered. Were here to help. Cheering spectators had taken over the roof of the Monona Terrace before dawn on Sunday morning. Below them on the banks of Law Park, about 1,500 athletes plunged into the waters of Lake Monona for the first leg of Ironman Wisconsin. Before them lay a grueling 140.6-mile triathlon course that snakes throughout the lake and Downtown to more rural corners of Dane County. The Ironman is a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. But with throngs of people shouting encouragement, the athletes were never truly alone on the journey. Sarah Moss, who has traveled as far as western Australia to conquer an Ironman course, turned out with others to support their friend, Hunter Johnston. Johnston, of Chicago, turned 50 on Sunday and spent his birthday competing in his fifth Ironman event. Johnston spent the previous evening with an Ironman-themed birthday cake complete with a cyclist, the waves of the lake and a bucket of victory beer on top. Its about finding that your body is capable of more than you think, Moss said of the event. For us, race day is a celebration of the training. Thats the hardest part. Moss, her friends and dozens of others spent the late morning along Mid Town Road, which features a tough hill that competitors must climb twice on the 112-mile bike course. The first pass at the hill comes about 50 miles into the biking leg of the course. But on each side of the slope, spectators ran alongside them and cheered the riders on with bells and signs. Here are the best times for the 2023 Ironman Wisconsin MEN Overall: Matt Jackson - 9:12:58 18-24: Jacob Weller - 10:34:47 25-29: Daniel Moore - 9:52:09 30-34: Jackson 35-39: Elliot Kawaoka - 9:28:39 40-44: J.I. Castro - 9:35:17 45-49: James Harrington - 9:22:27 50-54: Phillip Stalley - 10:32:02 55-59: Gary Thiel 10:59:09 60-64: Jeffery Warshaw - 11:00:30 65-69: Tim Brown - 11:48:13 70-74: Greg Rosin - 13:44:39 75-79: John Little - 15:22:07 WOMEN Overall: Becca Kawaoka - 10:06:16 18-24: Elizabeth Keen - 11:45:06 25-29: Steph Hunter - 11:42:45 30-34: Kawaoka 35-39: Rachel Burke - 11:50:42 40-44: Christina Case - 10:29:36 45-49: Amy Hite - 11:18:00 50-54: Karen Snyder - 11:35:31 55-59: Nancy Agrillo - 11:57:00 60-64: Jennifer Sereno - 12:40:27 65-69: Gigi Boswell - 14:08:41 Glenda Adams, dressed in an Energizer Bunny outfit, came out to the course on Sunday to cheer on friends. Adams finished the half-length course, 70.3 miles, on Saturday. They always need help making it up this hill, said Adams, who finished the states Ironman course eight years ago for the first time. Plenty of others were in creative costumes along the hill on Sunday. John Cirves dressed up as Super Mario Bros. character Toad, complete with a hanging mystery box, famous from games like Mario Kart. Cirves, who has completed in three Ironman courses, first built the box for a different endurance event but wanted to go the extra mile with his outfit this year. I figured I should probably up my game and have a costume to go with it, Cirves said. Conditions on Sunday were sunny, with temperatures in the 70s, far from the mid-50s and constant rain that competitors braved last year. Some signs even made reference to last years poor conditions, with one quipping Arent you glad you didnt do this last year? With AC/DC blasting from nearby speakers, retired firefighter Dale Emmerich ran up the hill alongside as many cyclists as he could. Emmerich frequents the event in a cancer-awareness-themed firemans outfit and truck. Theres a ton of people who do the Ironman that are on a cancer journey, Emmerich said. Were here to support them. I help them up the hill, and they help me. Photos: Scenes from the 140.6 miles of Ironman Wisconsin It took more than a year and a half and three tries, but Richie Luke now has a working freezer from Sears and hopes that this one is free of defects. Luke, of Lyndon Station, said he purchased the upright Kenmore freezer from the now-shuttered Sears in Reedsburg and soon discovered there was a gap in the door seal that allowed air to get into the unit. Food inside stayed frozen, but condensation was forming because of the gap and the freezer was constantly running, he said. At the time he emailed SOS on July 23, he said Sears had replaced the freezer but the replacement also had a faulty door seal, and he couldnt get a second replacement because the model had since been discontinued. I keep getting told Im approved for a replacement, which I bought the extended warranty so I know Im approved, and Ill be contacted by phone and email to pick a freezer for equal value, said Luke, 44. Again, Ive been hearing that for about five months with no results and have made dozens of calls to them. SOS emailed Dana Shoulders, manager of escalated and media complaints at Sears parent company Transformco, on July 25, and Shoulders said that as long as Luke was on the level, it shouldnt be too hard to assist him. The next day, she and Luke were in touch via email and Luke was picking out a freezer. He has been authorized since the beginning of May, Shoulders emailed SOS, but I think the issue may have been there wasnt something comparable in the price range they gave him (which was what he paid for his current model). I increased the amount and gave two very fair suggestions on replacements that would be fully covered. Luke had paid more than $650 for the original freezer, but Shoulders said she was willing to go as high as $999.99 for a replacement, because the retailers current freezer selection was limited. Ultimately, Luke found one he liked from Frigidaire that retailed for $674.99. He said it was delivered on Aug. 26 and, for now at least, appears to be working just fine. Send us an SOS Since September 2007, SOS has helped save Wisconsin State Journal readers more than $229,233.65 and solved hundreds of problems. You can send an SOS using any of these methods: Email: sos@madison.com Online form: http://go.madison.com/sendSOS Phone: 608-252-6198 Mail: SOS, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8058, Madison, WI 53708 Health care delivery systems in Wisconsin and across the nation are changing and rapidly, in many cases. Recovery from the COVID-19 emergency, higher costs and workforce concerns are among issues compelling medical systems and hospitals to merge with or acquire other systems. The trick is changing while not sacrificing quality, which Wisconsins 34 health systems and 158 hospitals appear to be doing thus far. Consolidation has been apparent in Wisconsin health care in recent years, with mergers or acquisitions involving such familiar names as Froedtert Health, ThedaCare, Gundersen Health System, Bellin Health, Advocate Aurora Health, Atrium Health, Marshfield Clinic and Duluth-based Essentia Health. Its only human nature to wonder if such mergers can ensure quality care or just lead to bigger over better. A recent report from The Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency that oversees major parts of health care delivery in the United States, suggests better is still the case in Wisconsin. Thats a selling point for people who live here and those who might consider moving to the state. The CMS scores most hospitals each year through a five-star rating system that captures 46 measures across five major categories: mortality, safety of care, readmissions, patient experience, and timely and effective care. Wisconsin ranked among the nations top four states with Utah, South Dakota and Montana. Better than three out of four Wisconsin hospitals of all sizes (77%) scored at the five-star or four-state level, which was a 15% improvement over 2022. Nationwide, 16% of all hospitals received a five-star rating from CMS and 26% earned a four-star rating. In Wisconsin, those figures were 38% and 39%, respectively. Among its Midwest neighbors, Wisconsin stood out with 29 hospitals earning five stars. Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, all much larger states, stood at 26, 14 and 21, respectively. Minnesota (16 five-star hospitals) and Indiana (14) have roughly the same number of people as Wisconsin, and Iowa recorded eight five-star ranked hospitals. Its true many people rank the quality of care they receive in a hyper-personal way. If a doctor, nurse or clinician fixes what ails them, people tend to give good marks. If the health problem persists without a good explanation as to why, a more critical view emerges. Right or wrong, thats human nature. Thats why data points help tell a better story. They encompass larger populations, examine relative differences between states and health systems, and consider other measurable factors. The CMS rating is one among many, but it coincided with findings released in March 2023 through Taking the Pulse: How Quality Health Care Builds a Better Economy. Produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council using two-dozen sources, that report examined mortality tied to health care, Medicare 30-readmissions, hospitals penalized for rules and regulatory infractions, and average hospital length of stay. It also reported Wisconsin ranked among the top 11 states overall based on data from the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The report also looked at various cost metrics, and Wisconsin health care ranked in the middle to slightly above average. What are possible reasons why Wisconsin hospital quality stands out statistically among the states? Rural Wisconsin hospitals are alive and mostly well, which isnt the case in some states. Strong partnerships exist between higher education institutions and delivery systems. Thats evident at private and public colleges and universities that are working to produce skilled workers to meet industry standards. Wisconsin has a world-class medical industry that provides innovative products and services, both near and far. Epic Systems, Promega, Exact Sciences, Accuray and others are examples. In the case of Epic, its birth and growth in Wisconsin has led to a greater penetration of digital health tools for home-state patients and providers alike. The Wisconsin Hospital Association, which represents most hospitals in the state, has operated its voluntary CheckPoint quality reporting system for nearly 20 years. Its publicly available at https://www.wha.org/Quality-Patient-Safety/CheckPoint Change is rippling through Wisconsin health care administration and delivery at a pace not seen in years, but there are data-driven reasons to believe quality wont suffer as a result. The Wisconsin Supreme Court should prohibit the Legislature from impeaching liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz because removing her from office would invalidate the constitutional rights of the Wisconsinites who voted for her, a lawsuit filed Monday states. The lawsuit, which three Protasiewicz voters filed directly with the Supreme Court, also states the Assembly doesnt have the authority under the state Constitution to impeach the liberal justice. The lawsuit follows Republican legislators threats to impeach Protasiewicz over her possibly presiding over two redistricting lawsuits despite calling the current legislative maps rigged. The Supreme Court hasnt accepted the cases yet, nor has Protasiewicz decided whether shell recuse herself from the lawsuits. Republicans say Protasiewicz must recuse herself from the cases challenging the current maps as unconstitutional because she prejudged them. Democrats say her comments werent illegal and that impeaching her would nullify an election. The votes of over one million Wisconsinites are about to be assigned to the dustbin of history by an Un-American, anti-democratic powerplay by the Wisconsin state legislature that is designed to and will simultaneously destroy judicial independence and the right of voters to effectuate political change in Wisconsin, Tim Burns, a liberal former Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, states in the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks an emergency order to prevent any impeachment proceedings against Protasiewicz. It argues the public will be irreparably harmed unless the court acts. It also seeks a permanent order preventing the Assembly from impeaching Protasiewicz over statements she made during her campaign. The lawsuit alleges Assembly lawmakers would be acting outside of the powers the Constitution granted them if they impeached her. To act outside of a grant of power is to usurp the power of the people who granted the legislature such power, the lawsuit states. It is for this reason that the Court must act to protect these precious rights. The Assembly can impeach an official with a majority vote based on specific reasons: corrupt conduct in office or for the commission of a crime or misdemeanor, according to a Wisconsin Legislative Council memo. But Protasiewiczs statements dont fall into those categories, the lawsuit states. The conduct of Justice Protasiewicz cannot be in any sense historically deemed as corrupt, the lawsuit states. Justices routinely do not recuse themselves from issues upon which they have expressed clear points of view or in the context of previous donors to their campaigns appearing before them as litigants. Spokespeople for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit states that impeaching Protasiewicz would encourage the Assembly to impeach other civil officers and take away voters rights to select Wisconsin Supreme Court justices. This harm would grow exponentially, irrevocably fracturing our governments constitutional framework, the balance of power and our citizens right to vote, the lawsuit states. The harm to our state and our way of life cannot be overstated. More than 50 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed during the India-Saudi Investment Forum, held in New Delhi on Monday coinciding with a state visit to India from HRH the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The visit follows the G20 leaders meeting, where the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was announced. The forum brought together policy makers, business leaders and innovators from both countries. The landmark agreements covered sectors including ICT, entrepreneurship, chemicals, energy and advanced manufacturing. These include: An MoU between Al Jomaih Energy and Water and Avaada Energy Private Limited for collaboration for EPC and co-development of solar, wind, hybrid and battery energy storage solution projects in Middle East; A definitive agreement with the goal of establishing Petromin Express service centres in HPCL-operated fuel stations throughout India, between Petromin and HPCL; An MoU to cooperate in energy technology between Desert Technologies and Goldi Solar; An MoU in human resources between ARCO and Indian Personal Export Promotion Council and the Association of Overseas Recruiting Agents; An MoU in agribusiness between Alshalan Co and DD International and AMDD Foods, for the former to acquire a stake in both companies. OFFICE IN INDIA Further to the agreements signed today, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia is in the process of opening a country office in India to streamline the process for Indian companies to invest in Saudi Arabia, while the establishment of an agreement between both nations is underway to build a bridge for venture capital and funding for startups, said the statement. The India-Saudi Investment Forum was attended by Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia; Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India; and Nivruti Rai, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India. Presentations were delivered by Invest Saudi, the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, the Economic Zones and Cities Authority, Invest India and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, among others at the forum. Meanwhile, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced at the G20 summit involves collaboration between the US, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the EU. The agreement is being hailed as transformative for regional investment. Minister Al-Falih said: We are very proud to be partners with India and hopefully seen here as contributors to this great success. We are blessed by many things in Saudi Arabia and India. I think one of the most important blessings we have is two of the worlds most energetic, effective, and visionary leaders. It is because we realised that going forward, the centre of gravity of the global economy has already moved to the global south. India and Saudi Arabia share deep diplomatic and economic ties. The India-Saudi investment forum is a continuation of a relationship that is underlined by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visits to the Kingdom in 2016 and 2019 and HRH the Crown Princes trip to India in 2019. In terms of trade with Saudi Arabia, India ranks second in terms of the volume of trade in 2022, amounting to SR196.7 billion and recording a growth rate of 51% compared to 2021. There are also more than 3,000 Indian firms with a foreign investment licence in Saudi Arabia. - TradeArabia News Service MOROCCO | EARTHQUAKE AMIZMIZ, Morocco People in Morocco slept in the streets of Marrakech for a third straight night as soldiers and international aid teams in trucks and helicopters began to fan into remote mountain towns hit hardest by a historic earthquake. The disaster killed more than 2,100 people a number that is expected to rise and the United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were affected by Friday night's magnitude 6.8 quake. Amid offers from several countries, including the United States and France, Moroccan officials said Sunday that they are accepting international aid from just four countries: Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. "The Moroccan authorities have carefully assessed the needs on the ground, bearing in mind that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. While some foreign search-and-rescue teams arrived on Sunday as an aftershock rattled Moroccans already in mourning and shock, other aid teams poised to deploy grew frustrated waiting for the government to officially request assistance. "We know there is a great urgency to save people and dig under the remains of buildings," said Arnaud Fraisse, founder of Rescuers Without Borders, who had a team stuck in Paris waiting for the green light. "There are people dying under the rubble, and we cannot do anything to save them." Help was slow to arrive in Amizmiz, where a whole chunk of the town of orange and red sandstone brick homes carved into a mountainside appeared to be missing. A mosque's minaret had collapsed. "It's a catastrophe,'' said villager Salah Ancheu, 28. "We don't know what the future is. The aid remains insufficient." Residents swept rubble off the main road into town and people cheered when trucks full of soldiers arrived. But they pleaded for more help. "There aren't ambulances, there aren't police, at least for right now," Ancheu said, speaking about many parts of the region on Sunday morning. Those left homeless or fearing more aftershocks slept outside Saturday, in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in hard-hit Atlas Mountain towns like Moulay Brahim. Both there and Help was slow to arrive in Amizmiz, where a whole chunk of the town of orange and red sandstone brick homes carved into a mountainside appeared to be missing. A mosque's minaret had collapsed. "It's a catastrophe,'' said villager Salah Ancheu, 28. "We don't know what the future is. The aid remains insufficient." Residents swept rubble off the main road into town and people cheered when trucks full of soldiers arrived. But they pleaded for more help. "There aren't ambulances, there aren't police, at least for right now," Ancheu said, speaking about many parts of the region on Sunday morning. Those left homeless or fearing more aftershocks slept outside Saturday, in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in hard-hit Atlas Mountain towns like Moulay Brahim. Both there and in Amizmiz, residents worried most about the damage in hard-to-reach communities. The worst destruction was in rural communities that rely on unpaved roads that snake up the mountainous terrain covered by fallen rocks. Those areas were shaken anew Sunday by a magnitude 3.9 aftershock, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It wasn't immediately clear if it caused more damage or casualties, but it was likely strong enough to rattle nerves in areas where damage has left buildings unstable and residents feared aftershocks. In a region where many build bricks out of mud, Friday's earthquake toppled buildings not strong enough to withstand such a mighty temblor, trapping people in the rubble and sending others fleeing in terror. A total of 2,122 people were confirmed dead and at least 2,421 others were injured. GOODHUE, Minnesota As Goodhue Police Chief Josh Smith struggled this summer to fill vacancies in his small department, he warned the town's City Council that unless pay and benefits improved, finding new officers would never happen. When nothing changed, Smith quit. So did his few remaining officers, leading the Minnesota town of 1,300 residents to shutter its police force in late August. America is in the midst of a police officer shortage that many in law enforcement blame on the two-fold morale hit of 2020 the coronavirus pandemic and criticism of police that boiled over with the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. From Minnesota to Maine, Ohio to Texas, small towns unable to fill jobs are eliminating their police departments and turning over police work to their county sheriff, a neighboring town or state police. The trend isn't altogether new. At least 521 U.S. towns and cities with populations of 1,000 to 200,000 disbanded policing between 1972 and 2017, according to a peer-reviewed 2022 paper by Rice University Professor of Economics Richard T. Boylan. In the past two years, at least 12 small towns have dissolved their departments. Goodhue County is now under contract for law enforcement duties in the town of Goodhue, even as Sheriff Marty Kelly tries to fill four vacancies in his own department. He said he has around 10 applicants for those jobs. By comparison, one open position in 2019 drew 35 applicants, he said. Kelly knows that to get to full staffing, he'll have to hire new deputies away from other towns or counties creating vacancies in other places that will struggle to fill them. "It's scary," Kelly said. "We are robbing Peter to pay Paul. And we're not alone." At the heart of the problem is the exodus from law enforcement. Officer resignations were up 47% last year compared to 2019 the year before the pandemic and Floyd's killing and retirements are up 19%. That's all according to a survey of nearly 200 police agencies by the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington, DC.-based think tank. Though the survey represents only agencies affiliated with PERF, a fraction of the more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide and is not representative of all departments, it's one of the few efforts to examine police hiring and retention and compare it with the time before Floyd's killing. Compounding the exodus of veteran officers, young people are increasingly unwilling to go through the months of training necessary to become a police officer, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. "Fewer people are applying to be police officers, and more officers are retiring or resigning at a tremendous rate," Wexler said. "There's a shortage of police officers across the country." Agencies of all sizes are struggling to fill open positions. But the problem is especially dire in smaller communities that can't match the pay and incentives offered by bigger places. Disbanding departments Another Minnesota town, Morris, dissolved its police department last year after continued departures of officers. The town of 5,100 residents was down to two officers at the time. In Maine, the town of Limestone disbanded its police department in March. Neighboring Van Buren did the same two years earlier. Generally, crime rates were unchanged in towns that dropped their departments, the Rice University study found. Leaders of several towns said they've been happy with the change. Town leaders in Washburn, Illinois, dissolved their department in 2021 and let the county take over law enforcement duties for its 1,100 residents. "You really can't tell much of any difference," Mayor Steve Forney said. "The sheriff's department is very responsive. I like it. I was always one who was very hesitant to go this direction, but I feel it's working for us." Lott, Texas, a town of about 700 residents, disbanded its department last year. Mayor Sue Tacker said the town was going broke and couldn't afford to pay two officers and two other employees. With county deputies now patrolling Lott, the crime rate remains low and response times have been good, Tacker said. She believes residents are OK with the change. "I haven't had any griping or fussing," Tacker said. 'Zero incentive' Goodhue occupies about one square mile of land 65 miles south of Minneapolis. It's made up of tidy homes with a few small businesses a bakery, a florist, a cafe, a supermarket, a taxidermist most of them in brick storefronts in the small downtown area. The town struggled for years to recruit and retain officers. The City Council had boosted pay by 5% earlier this year and gave Smith a $13,000 raise. It wasn't enough. Smith told the City Council at a meeting on July 26 that it was virtually impossible to attract applicants for a job starting at $22 an hour. That's about $10 per hour less than Goodhue County deputies earn. "There's zero incentive to come out here to a small town," Smith said. Goodhue resident Ron Goebel, a retired accountant, said he believes the sheriff's department will do a good job, but fears the loss of the police department is another challenge for Goodhue and towns like it across the nation. "As you lose your schools, you lose your businesses and you lose your police force, how much longer can the town actually be viable as a town?" Goebel asked. Q: Can we measure air pollution from satellites? Answer: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates weather satellites with instruments capable of locating fires and determining fire characteristics such as size and intensity. These satellites also are critical to observing and monitoring smoke from those fires. NASA recently launched a new satellite instrument to monitor air pollution. The Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution, or TEMPO, was launched into geostationary orbit on April 6, 2023. TEMPO measurements join an international satellite constellation of observations that will track pollution around the globe. The instrument measures sunlight reflected off Earth's surface and solar energy scattered by clouds and the atmosphere. Gases in the atmosphere absorb sunlight at particular wavelengths, and the measured color spectra is used to determine the concentrations of several gases in the air, including nitrogen dioxide. TEMPO is the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants hourly and at high spatial resolution of 4 square miles. Observations of nitrogen dioxide concentration at this temporal and spatial detail will enable scientists to study rush hour pollution and the movement of pollution from forest fires. It can also help measure nitrogen dioxide released when the application of fertilizer on farms is followed by rainfall. TEMPO data will help scientists evaluate the health impacts of pollutants and aid in the creation of air pollution maps at the neighborhood scale, improving understanding of disparities in air quality within a community. NASA will share the data with other agencies that monitor and forecast air quality, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scientists at the University of Wisconsin's Space Science and Engineering Center are members of NASA's TEMPO science team and will monitor the presence of air pollutants over North America to help improve air quality forecasts. Steve Ackerman and Jonathan Martin, professors in the UWMadison department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, are guests on WHA radio (970 AM) at 11:45 a.m. the last Monday of each month. send them your questions at stevea@ssec.wisc.edu or jemarti1@wisc.edu. EDITORIAL Rep. Travis Tranel's constituents in Grant County helped elect Janet Protasiewicz to the Wisconsin Supreme Court last spring with 51% of the county's vote. Rep. Jon Plumer's Assembly district runs through Columbia County, which favored Protasiewicz with 55% of its ballots. Rep. Todd Novak represents most of Lafayette and Iowa counties, which backed Protasiewicz with 59% of their vote. Are these three Republican lawmakers and their conservative colleagues who control the state Assembly really going to rush into impeachment proceedings against Justice Protasiewicz, seeking to overturn the will of the voters? We sure hope not. If they do, they'll face the wrath of these very same voters for blatantly reversing the voice of the people. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, recently threatened to impeach Justice Protasiewicz, an experienced Milwaukee County judge and prosecutor, before she had even heard a single high-court case. Vos' intimidating talk of taking her down is wildly irresponsible, undemocratic and comes off as desperate. Elections have consequences. And Protasiewicz just won hers by more than 10 percentage points statewide over former Justice Dan Kelly, whom Vos and other fixtures of the Republican establishment supported. Vos is threatening impeachment if Protasiewicz doesn't recuse herself from cases involving Vos' gerrymandered maps for Assembly and Senate voting districts. Vos knows those maps help him keep his GOP majority and stay in power. While the two major parties collected similar numbers of votes statewide in the fall 2022 election, the Republican-controlled Legislature nonetheless maintained huge majorities of 64-35 in the Assembly and 21-11 in Senate. Gerrymandering is the main reason why. Following the 2020 census, Vos and Co. spent millions of tax dollars on a team of lawyers, political strategists and sophisticated computer software to draw the lines of legislative districts to his partisan advantage and then to defend them in court. Now he's lawyering up again at taxpayer expense to fight still more legal challenges. The Supreme Court's 4-3 conservative majority had pretty much allowed Republicans to shape districts however they pleased. But Protasiewicz's victory in the April 4 election shifts control of the court to liberal-leaning justices. So Vos the longest-serving speaker in state history is running scared. Liberal groups already have filed two lawsuits challenging Vos' maps, and Protasiewicz could be the deciding vote striking them down. Vos claims Protasiewicz must recuse herself from any cases involving his maps because she called them "unfair" and "rigged" during her recent campaign. We agree Protasiewicz discussed political issues more than she should have. Judicial candidates should strive to be independent arbiters of the law and not to give the impression they are prejudging cases that might come before them. But the gerrymandered legislative maps are indeed unfair and rigged. Protasiewicz shouldn't be impeached for speaking the truth. Moreover, she didn't weigh into specifics. If fact, she has said less about redistricting cases than any other member of the court. That's because all of the incumbents have had to rule on cases challenging the maps in the past. Nothing is wrong with that. Their jobs as high-court justices required it. If Vos is seriously concerned about politics affecting our courts, he should stop threatening judges and instead support clear rules for when justices should leave a case because of a conflict, either real or perceived. Currently, individual justices decide for themselves if they can be fair an incredibly loose standard. Vos points to Protasiewicz getting millions in campaign donations from the Democratic Party, which is true. But conservative members of the court have benefited from millions in support from the Republican Party and its backers. The only ways to fix the influence of money on judicial campaigns is to limit contributions or appoint judges based on merit. Vos has opposed both solutions in the past. Republicans aren't the only ones who gerrymander. Democrats have rigged voting maps in states such as Illinois and Maryland where they hold power. It doesn't matter which party does it, it's wrong and should stop. That's why the Wisconsin State Journal editorial board has long favored the Iowa model for nonpartisan restricting. In Iowa, a state agency insulated from politics draws the lines to account for population changes. It does so with instructions to keep districts as compact as possible while ignoring past voting results and the impact on incumbents. The result in Iowa has been fair, neat-looking maps that follow the lines of municipal boundaries rather than carving up communities into odd shapes for political advantage. Iowa voters enjoy more competition for legislative seats and avoid wasting millions of tax dollars on court fights. The answer to gerrymandered maps in Wisconsin isn't impeachment, as Tranel, Plumer and Novak should know. It's a fair system like Iowa's, which all three have voiced support for in the past. So have 63% of respondents (including 62% of Republicans) in a Marquette Law School poll. Only a quarter of those surveyed said the politicians should control the process. Tranel, Plumer, Novak and others should tell Vos to drop the impeachment talk and support a real solution that Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly support. TOYS The company sold balls that could bounce over houses, flying discs that looked like UFOs, flexible foam boards for beach acrobatics and a slippery water slide that somehow worked on lawns. But for one 11-year-old boy, playing with these toys was not enough. He needed to know more. When school was out, Todd Richards and a friend would bike over to the Wham-O factory in Pasadena, California, which churned out those toys and a lot more. There, he went on dumpster-dive treasure hunts. "We'd find all kinds of cool stuff ," Richards said. "Once in a while we'd see if we could sneak inside the building, and the security guys would be chasing us back outside." These days, Richards is still going to the Wham-O building, which is now in Carson, California, but he no longer has to sneak inside the place. Richards is president of the 75-year-old company's U.S. operations, a fact that he sometimes still finds a bit hard to believe. "You've got to be kidding me," was Richards' initial response when he was offered the post in 2015 as new owners were preparing to take over. "I've been playing with Frisbees, and I've been using their boogie boards my whole life. They told me I was the perfect guy for it." But what Richards could not have known at the time was just how difficult his dream job would be. After five domestic and foreign ownership changes since the company's 1948 beginnings, Wham-O had become a shell of its old self. Wham-O salespeople couldn't get meetings with buyers because their company was considered old news. And even when stores wanted Wham-O toys on their shelves, they too often simply weren't delivered, Richards said. Now, after rebuilding relationships, fixing its supply chain and reconnecting with retailers, Wham-O is making a push for relevance in its 75th year. "What was unique about Wham-O is that we made products that became toy categories of their own. We want to do that again," Richards said. The Fun Factory It all began when boyhood friends and USC graduates Richard Knerr and Arthur "Spud" Melin began making wooden slingshots in Knerr's parents' South Pasadena garage, naming the company after the sound the projectile made when it hit its target, according to the company's online "Fun Facts about Wham-O." The Wham-O factory wasn't run like a traditional business, said Chuck Knerr, Richard Knerr's son. The place was part clubhouse, part serious science, and employees needed to stay alert, lest they get whacked by something flying across the aisles. Chuck Knerr, his sisters and friends frequently visited the factory and even sat in on business meetings. Children were integral because they helped test products and sell them through word of mouth, he said. "They called it the Fun Factory. My dad and his partner, Spud, really were still children themselves in many respects," Knerr said. "They played with everything they made, and that was part of why they were good at it." Low prices were a big factor in the company's success, said toy designer Tim Walsh, who wrote "Super Book," about Wham-O's history. "Just a buck would get you a Super Ball, which was a big deal when I was a kid," said Walsh, whose book details some of the oddities Wham-O peddled over the years, including a $179 "patio style bomb fallout shelter cover" made of concrete and reinforced steel that came with the Cold War sales pitch: "40 Million May Die. How About You." It was a flop, maybe because folks just couldn't see trusting a toy company for their Armageddon protection. "They were constantly looking for the next big thing," Walsh said. "Man, there are some really lame things that didn't work, but the hits afforded them the luxury of trying to do other things." Testing new ideas There's still a taste of experimentation and the be-wary-of-flying-objects feel, particularly in the office of product development chief David Huang, which looks like a combination of a design studio and cluttered toy store. It's Huang's job to convince retailers that Wham-O has innovations on the way and isn't just pushing its legacy stuff . He searches through shelves of toys for a prototype that will be released in the coming months: a line dubbed Fundamentals, including one that is part excavation toy and part puzzle, designed to present children with a mystery. Best of all, no parental involvement is required. "Their kids are using it and the parents know, for the next two hours, they have a little break," Huang said. Another in the works is the Slip 'N Slide that doesn't require water, in a nod to California's tendency to drought. "Without water, you slide as easily as with a regular version, but with water it's 30% more slippery," Huang said, keeping mum on exactly how a water slide without water works. "We're not going to stop selling our older Slip 'N Slides, but we have to offer alternatives to people that use less water." A collaboration with toy maker Jazwares is creating pet toys such as balls, discs, tug toys and plush and other items. The toys have been picked up by PetSmart and are available elsewhere online. Richards said he's been encouraging a return to the early days when scientists, chemists and regular people would come to the Fun Factory to present their ideas. The Slip 'N Slide was invented by an upholsterer who came up with the idea of a slide for lawns using streams of water across a long Naugahyde (now vinyl) strip. A more recent brainstorm came from an Ohio father trying to find something simple and inexpensive to entertain his two daughters. The result: the Wham-O Foam Party, released in 2020, which comes with a bucket, nontoxic solution and the label's promise of "up to 1.5 hours of foamy fun" with a bit of water added. "We probably entertain eight to 10 product submissions a month," Richards said. "We get unsolicited phone calls, emails, and we've literally had people just show up and knock on our door." In December, Wham-O took a page from the founders' adventurous product development playbook when it unveiled the Zectron electric bike, which the company says can travel up to 150 miles per charge (with an optional external battery pack) and fold up small enough to fit in a car trunk. The company is launching the bike through Indiegogo, where it starts at about $1,200. Another new approach in the works: a collaboration slated for next year called the Studio Frisbee Collection, featuring the work of notable and up-and-coming artists on the ever-popular flying discs. "Maybe we'll be able to tap into that whole collectors group movement, the people who like to collect all of these different artists in sneaker collaborations," marketing manager Jessica Wyner said. "It's a chance to build a whole new audience with millennials." Wham-O employs about 50 people at its Carson offices and warehouse. Products are manufactured in Asia. "Our bestseller ever for sure is our Ultimate Frisbee," he said. "Our Wave Rider Slip 'N Slide? We sell every piece we make. Our classic Hula Hoop? Again, every one we make is sold. "We talk about this all of the time," Richards said. "Knerr and Melin had this kind of magic, the two of them working together. "We want to bring some of that magic back." IRONMAN WISCONSIN | 'A CELEBRATION' Cheering spectators had taken over the roof of the Monona Terrace before dawn on Sunday morning. Below them on the banks of Law Park, about 1,500 athletes plunged into the waters of Lake Monona for the first leg of Ironman Wisconsin. Before them lay a grueling 140.6-mile triathlon course that snakes throughout the lake and Downtown to more rural corners of Dane County. The Ironman is a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2mile run. But with throngs of people shouting encouragement, the athletes were never truly alone on the journey. Sarah Moss, who has traveled as far as western Australia to conquer an Ironman course, turned out with others to support their friend, Hunter Johnston. Johnston, of Chicago, turned 50 on Sunday and spent his birthday competing in his fifth Ironman event. Johnston spent the previous evening with an Ironman-themed birthday cake complete with a cyclist, the waves of the lake and a bucket of victory beer on top. "It's about finding that your body is capable of more than you think," Moss said of the event. "For us, race day is a celebration of the training. That's the hardest part." Moss, her friends and dozens of others spent the late morning along Mid Town Road, which features a tough hill that competitors must climb twice on the 112-mile bike course. The first pass at the hill comes about 50 miles into the biking leg of the course. But on each side of the slope, spectators ran alongside them and cheered the riders on with bells and signs. Glenda Adams, dressed in an Energizer Bunny outfit, came out to the course on Sunday to cheer on friends. Adams finished the half-length course, 70.3 miles, on Saturday. "They always need help making it up this hill," said Adams, who finished the state's Ironman course eight years ago for the first time. Plenty of others were in creative costumes along the hill on Sunday. John Cirves dressed up as Super Mario Bros. character Toad, complete with a hanging mystery box, famous from games like Mario Kart. Cirves, who has completed in three Ironman courses, first built the box for a different endurance event but wanted to go the extra mile with his outfit this year. "I figured I should probably up my game and have a costume to go with it," Cirves said. Conditions on Sunday were sunny, with temperatures in the 70s, far from the mid-50s and constant rain that competitors braved last year. Some signs even made reference to last year's poor conditions, with one quipping "Aren't you glad you didn't do this last year?" With AC/DC blasting from nearby speakers, retired firefighter Dale Emmerich ran up the hill alongside as many cyclists as he could. Emmerich frequents the event in a cancer-awareness-themed fireman's outfit and truck. "There's a ton of people who do the Ironman that are on a cancer journey," Emmerich said. "We're here to support them. I help them up the hill, and they help me." Best Times for the 2023 Ironman Wisconsin MEN Overall: Matt Jackson9:12:58 18-24: Jacob Weller10:34:47 25-29: Daniel Moore9:52:09 30-34: Jackson 35-39: Elliot Kawaoka9:28:39 40-44: J.I. Castro9:35:17 45-49: James Harrington9:22:27 50-54: Phillip Stalley10:32:02 55-59: Gary Thiel 10:59:09 60-64: Jeffery Warshaw11:00:30 65-69: Tim brown11:48:13 70-74: Greg rosin13:44:39 75-79: John little 15:22:07 WOMEN Overall: Becca Kawaoka10:06:16 18-24: Elizabeth Keen 11:45:06 25-29: Steph Hunter11:42:45 30-34: Kawaoka 35-39: Rachel burke11:50:42 40-44: Christina case 10:29:36 45-49: Amy Hite 11:18:00 50-54: Karen Snyder11:35:31 55-59: Nancy agrillo11:57:00 60-64: Jennifer Sereno12:40:27 65-69: Gigi Boswell 14:08:41 TWIN FALLS Havent stopped by the Magic Valley Mall in awhile? It might be time. The Twin Falls Zoological Center has officially opened to the public after two years of rumors floating throughout the valley of a zoo attraction at the Twin Falls mall. Since its opened, I wake up and Im like, Is this real? Joshua Dowding, the zoos director, told the Times-News. Its finally happening. Dowding started an exotic animal rescue in 2018, taking in animals that couldnt be kept, were confiscated or surrendered and, eventually, began hosting public education shows. People were so intrigued that they started to ask when they could see the animals randomly throughout the week, leading Dowding to open his home in Buhl for visitors. At some point, someone who had come to see the animals suggested we try the mall, Dowding recalled. I was like, Thats the craziest idea, but it was such a unique idea that I walked in with the manager and made a business plan work. If you go WHAT: Twin Falls Zoological Center Twin Falls Zoological Center WHERE: Magic Valley Mall, Twin Falls Magic Valley Mall, Twin Falls PHONE: 208-732-2702 208-732-2702 HOURS: Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ADMISSION PRICES: Adult (ages 13 and up), $12.48; Child (ages 4 and up), $10.40; Children (3 and under), free; Senior (age 55 and up), $10.40; Military (with ID), $10.40. Adult (ages 13 and up), $12.48; Child (ages 4 and up), $10.40; Children (3 and under), free; Senior (age 55 and up), $10.40; Military (with ID), $10.40. SEASON PASSES: Dual adult, $104; Family, $156; Individual adult, $78; VIP, $208. The Twin Falls Zoo currently has primarily reptiles, different species of tortoises from Sub Saharan Africa, snakes, and lizards. And with his involvement with Idaho Fish and Game the past couple of years, Dowding was able to bring in alligators, an African crested porcupine, chinchillas and macaws. Our mission is to make sure that people know that our natural world is amazing and its worth protecting, Dowding said. A lot of times, were so unplugged from that because of technology and videos, and we just dont think about it. In time, Dowding told the Times-News he hopes to bring additional animals to the zoo to provide a new experience for even return visitors. Im hoping to get an armadillo in here sometime in the future and we may expand our fish and add another saltwater exhibit in our gift shop area, but Im not sure yet, Dowding said. Some of these animals are also up for adoption so with spaces opening up, well keep bringing in animals. The zoo was funded 30% from outside sources, with the rest funded by Dowdings own income through his work as a plumber. The Times-News added the incorrect time for their celebration of the new place on the previous edition. The Twin Falls Zoological Center confirmed the grand opening will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 30. For more information, go online to twinfallszoo.com. Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Kuna man killed in I-84 crash in Jerome County A 64-year-old Kuna man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Saturday morning on Interstate 84 in Jerome County. The man was driving westbound in a 2021 Freightliner semi and pulling a single trailer when he collided with the guardrail and overturned, according to Idaho State Police. He died at the scene. The right lane and frontage road were temporarily blocked for emergency services and recovery of the vehicle. Idaho State Police is investigating the incident. DAV to hold veterans benefits seminar in Twin FallsDisabled American Veterans, a nonprofit charity that provides lifetime support for veterans of all generations and their families, will hold a veterans benefits seminar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the County West Building, 650 Addison Ave. W. in Twin Falls. The informational seminar, staffed by DAV national service officers, will provide professional support throughout the claims and appeals process. Veterans should bring identification, their Social Security number and any other pertinent documentation regarding their military service. DAV membership is not required. To learn more about DAV, go online to DAV.org. Also: Gov. Brad Little has proclaimed this week (Sept. 10-16) as Idaho School Zone Safety Week . Every year, a new batch of kids is heading to school for the first time, but the primary responsibility falls on drivers to keep them safe, Matthew Conde, public affairs director for AAA Idaho, said in a news release. We plead with drivers to slow down and watch for children in residential neighborhoods and school zones. In some cases, it may faster for drivers to take a different route altogether. Idaho has the third-highest rate of DUI arrests nationally, behind only South Dakota and North Dakota, according to a new study from Marketwatch Guides. Texas ranked first for most DUI fatalities and arrests, in total. To read the full report, go online to https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/insurance-services/dui-vs-dwi/ . The Episcopal Church of the Ascension , located at 371 Eastland Dr. N. in Twin Falls, will host a Blessing of the Animals event on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 3-4 p.m. Food Producers of Idaho honors 6 local families Six Magic Valley farm and ranch families were honored by the Food Producers of Idaho at the Twin Falls County Fair as part of the organizations annual Featured Farm Family program. The 2023 honorees: Don and Dianna Gaalswyk (White Harvest Farms, Buhl); Michael and Vicki Guerry (Guerry, Inc., Castleford); Rylee and Madison Reynolds (Reynolds Farm, Castleford); Travis and Jill Mai (5 Mai Farms, Filer); Jeff and Shawna Volle (Volle Farms, Filer); and Brian and Andrea Huettig (Huettig Farms, Hazelton). Families are selected based on a series of criteria, including arm stewardship of natural resources, economic impact on the local community, innovative farming techniques, and community involvement. The program has recognized 38 local families since its inception in 2015, according to a news release. Times-News Burley Public Library gets $500K gift for expansion The Idaho Commission for Libraries awarded $500,000 to the Burley Public Library on Wednesday through its Facilities Improvement Grant program. The funding will be used to help pay for a planned 1,900-square-foot expansion of the library, plus the remodeling of 600 square feet of existing space, according to an ICfL news release. The project will bring the library up to building code, plus create a flexible-use community meeting space and two private study/telehealth rooms. The ICfL is awarding more than $3.25 million to 15 public libraries across Idaho with funding made available through the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Capital Projects Fund. For more about the FIG program, go online to https://libraries.idaho.gov/facilities-capital-improvements/. Rupert hospital to host annual Teddy Bear Clinic Minidoka Memorial Hospital in Rupert will host its fourth annual Teddy Bear Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. The outdoor event on the front lawn of the hospital, located at 1224 8th St., is designed to teach young people that doctors and hospitals arent scary and are there to help them when needed, according to a news release. Children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal for a wellness check. An adoption center will be open for children who do not have a stuffed animal. Hospital employees will focus on teaching children how to become Hand Washing Heroes and helping them learn how to use the Cough Pocket, the release said. The event will also include tours of the hospital and Life Flight helicopter. Also: The Minidoka County Historical Society and Museum will host its monthly community night at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21. Dan Davidson, manager of the Minidoka Irrigation District since 2012 and past president of the Idaho Water Users Association, will be the featured speaker. For more information, call the museum at 208-436-0336. The Mt. Harrison Quilt Guild will meet at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Burley First Presbyterian Church, 2100 Burton Ave. Beginning, intermediate and advanced quilters are all welcome. The Voice Political movements are reliant on plenty of raw, flammable material, but they can start small at, lets say, a dinner where two people talk about whats wrong and how to fix it. Such a dinner can matter in hindsight if it leads enough people to follow up. It may have happened in Idaho on the evening of Aug. 18, when two Idaho Republicans named Patrick Whalen and Treg Bernt sat down to dine and discuss. Quote The mainstream Republicans (as Ill call them) have been caught behind the curve, but they may be starting to catch up. The account comes from Whelan of Kootenai County, a veteran of inter-party political battles over the last decade; he ran and lost a legislative primary in 2014. Kootenai County Republicans essentially (with recognition that the full story is riotously complex) fall into two main groups: Those who support the official county party organization (led for some years now by Brent Regan), the chaotic governing board of North Idaho College, and the ideological Idaho Freedom Foundation; and, on the other side, those who do not, and consider themselves to be the real Republicans. In their telling, the local (and much of the state) GOP has been taken over by extremists, wreckers and often people from outside the area. The now-dominant Regan group considers itself the true conservatives and real Republicans, with the suggestion that others are not real Republicans and should be driven out of the party. This second group has won out, to date, in large part because they out-organized their opposition. Theyre strongest in the Panhandle but the two sides can be found, in conflict, in most parts of Idaho. The mainstream Republicans (as Ill call them) have been caught behind the curve, but they may be starting to catch up. For some years theyve been working on building a counter-organization to try to take back (not an unreasonable way to put it since many in their ranks are former elected officials) the Republican organization, and elective spots. The most recent iteration is the North Idaho Republicans, and Whalen was one of its founders. At dinner on Aug. 18, he had plenty to discuss with Bernt, a state senator from Meridian. Whalen described him: You would recognize him he is just the kind of stable, reasonable and intelligent Republican that is no longer welcome by todays Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. He added, As a North Idaho resident, I am far more used to hearing from our legislators conspiracy theories and the tearing down of institutions like [North Idaho College] and the libraries. Idaho really does have some positive Republican leaders. Part of their discussion concerned a group Bernt has joined: Main Street Idaho, Republican legislators non-Regan-style. Some 25 of them (Senate President Pro Tem Chuck Winder was one) signed a letter on Aug. 29, calling simply for a willingness to disagree without going to war: Our founding fathers set the example of leading through disagreement and conflict. Its what the vast majority of Idahoans expect and want from their elected leaders, too! We can deliver this kind of leadership in Idaho, but it will require us to engage more with those who may not see issues the way we see them. No longer can we retreat to the safety of our political tribes. The group has started a blog, offered positions on a number of issues including fentanyl, farming, taxes, and immigration, and has launched a series of podcasts in which various of the groups members talk about issues (andgasp) how things work, in an educational approach rather than the flinging of red meat to the base. Both groups, those Whalen and Bernt have joined, appear to be trying to restore more civility and inclusiveness in Idaho Republican politics. But can it work? It might if they can work together, and bring in additional people of like minds. Circle back to the dinner. The next day, reflecting on it, Whalen wrote, We all need to work together to restore the Idaho Republican Party to its former stature and elect positive-minded leaders who will work on Idahos real problems and reject calls to Christian nationalism and white supremacy. The opportunity is there. Well see before long if they exploit it. Li urges G20 to strengthen coordination 08:31, September 11, 2023 By CAO DESHENG in New Delhi, India ( China Daily Premier Li Qiang addresses the 18th G20 Summit on Saturday in New Delhi, India. [Photo/Xinhua] Premier Li Qiang has called on Group of 20 countries to adhere to solidarity and cooperation, and strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies to deliver confidence in and impetus for economic growth. Li made the statement while attending the two-day 18th G20 Summit, which concluded on Sunday in the Indian capital, New Delhi. The summit was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, which holds the rotating presidency of the G20 this year. Leaders and representatives from G20 members as well as those of invited countries and international organizations attended the meeting. The premier noted at the inaugural meeting of the summit on Saturday that the destiny of humanity is interdependent, and countries should respect one another, seek common ground while shelving differences and live together in peace. In the face of major crises and common challenges, no one can prosper alone, and only unity and cooperation can lead humanity to the right path, he said. Li urged the G20 members to adhere to the group's original aspiration of unity and cooperation, shoulder the responsibility of peace and development and effectively strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies to boost the confidence in and momentum of global economic growth. "We need to firmly promote economic globalization and jointly safeguard the stable and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, working as partners in promoting global openness and cooperation," Li said. "We need to collectively safeguard the green home of the Earth, promote green and low-carbon development, protect the marine ecological environment and work as partners in promoting global sustainable development," he added. Li emphasized the need to resort to unity rather than division, cooperation rather than confrontation, and inclusiveness rather than exclusion. China will unswervingly deepen reform and expand opening-up to promote high-quality development and advance Chinese-style modernization, he said. The premier assured the leaders at the meeting that China enjoys bright development prospects and will inject more impetus into global economic recovery and sustainable development. "We are willing to join hands with all parties to make greater efforts and contributions for our common Earth, common home and common future of humanity," he said. While addressing the third phase of the summit on Sunday, Li said the most pressing issue at present is development. G20 members should put development at the center of macro policy coordination, establish more pragmatic cooperation mechanisms and take practical actions to support developing countries in better addressing development challenges such as poverty reduction, financing, climate change, and food and energy security. During the summit, the African Union was made a permanent member of the G20. In addition, the summit adopted the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, in which the leaders highlighted the role of the G20 as the premier global forum for international economic cooperation, called for its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, and pledged to act in concrete ways through partnerships. The leaders committed to accelerating strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, speeding up the full and effective implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and stepping up actions to address development and climate challenges. They vowed to "improve access to medical countermeasures and facilitate more supplies and production capacities in developing countries to prepare better for future health emergencies". They also pledged to "promote resilient growth by urgently and effectively addressing debt vulnerabilities in developing countries" and "scale up financing from all sources for accelerating progress on" the Sustainable Development Goals. The next G20 Summit will be held in Brazil next year, according to the leaders' declaration. Li concluded his six-day overseas trip, which took him to Indonesia and India, and flew back to Beijing late on Sunday. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi), one of Indias leading technical education and research institution, is expected to open its first international campus in Abu Dhabi in 2024. On the sidelines of the Emirates News Agencys (WAM) visit to IIT Delhis campus, Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, said the institution has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) the with Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and Indias Ministry of Education during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UAE last June. He stressed that the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi reflects the shared vision of the two countries in focusing on areas of educational excellence, innovation, knowledge exchange and investment in human capital. All academic matters Banerjee explained that the institution will handle all academic matters in its new Abu Dhabi branch, including curriculums, labs, and research initiatives, in addition to participating in infrastructure planning, especially digital infrastructure, in cooperation with partners in ADEK and other relevant entities. The Director of IIT-Delhi stated that the Abu Dhabi branch will provide an added value to the research and innovation sector in the emirate, adding that it will benefit from cooperation opportunities with institutions such as the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), and Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to provide integrated programmes and advanced research. He further said that some of the areas targeted by the institute's branch in Abu Dhabi in the first phase include computer science, artificial intelligence, energy and sustainability, health care, in addition to research programmes.--TradeArabia News Service The Khoffee Group Corp. brought back the operations of Arabica in the Philippines with the opening of its newest store in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The Japanese coffee shops newest branch is located at Mitsukoshi BGC in Taguig. Arabica Philippines and The Khoffee Group chief operations officer Koko Tamura said the global coffee brand always admired Filipino baristas because of their eagerness to learn and naturally warm and friendly personality. Tamura said Arabica wanted to continuously develop the Filipino baristas potential to become global coffee ambassadors by supporting and encouraging them to join international competitions. Given Arabicas devotion to excellence, Filipino baristas undergo a month-long rigorous training process. Local baristas have regular evaluations to maintain excellent performance standards. They also go through an auditing process even after store operations begin, The local baristas in our roster right now is our pioneer team. If they want to grow and climb up the ladder to become future supervisors, store managers and champion baristas, we will support them every step of the way. Kenneth Shoji, the founder of Arabica, is a firm believer of investing in people and empowering them to reach their full potential, Tamura said. Renowned Arabica global barista Kobe Lee also underlined the integration of the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, emphasizing continuous improvement in their approach, Like our founder would always say: Kaizen your daily. In everything you do, apply the concept of Kaizen. For example, youre doing your 1000th cup but its the customers first cup. If your 1000th cup is not as good as your other cups, the customer trying it for the first time will not come back. So improve and better yourself daily so you can achieve anything, Lee said. Arabicas dedication to developing Filipino baristas skills and providing them with opportunities to compete globally reflects its commitment to providing quality coffee and excellent customer service. The companys focus on local baristas growth and development sets it apart from its competitors and reinforces its position as a global coffee brand with a local heart. Nestle Philippines Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding with online platforms and brand owners, industry associations and chambers of commerce to support brand rights protection against counterfeit products. The worlds largest food and beverage company joins the long list of multinational brand partners and dominant e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee and Zalora in championing consumer protection under the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines. Nestles long-standing presence in the country has led our brands to become kasambuhays or trusted companions in the lives of the Filipino families. Our participation in this MOU is not just our commitment in cracking down on counterfeits; it honors the trust that Filipinos place in our brands, that we will always do better, and we are here to uphold our legacy in becoming the countrys Kasambuhay for good, said NPI chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki. The MOU formalizes enhanced collaboration across different industries, together with a general process on limiting the access of counterfeit products in the market, by generating and streamlining takedown notices and procedures against digital sellers who take advantage of consumers and sell fake goods. NPI said it looks forward to a dynamic exchange and review of the MOUs implementation to ensure consumer protection in e-commerce marketplaces, as it reassures digital shoppers that its household brands are original and of the highest quality when purchased online. We share the goal of ensuring the protection of consumers against counterfeit or fake goods especially in online marketplaces. May this pave the way for better collaboration and the formation of best practices across different industries in ensuring consumer protection, said IPOPHL director-general Rowel Barba. NPI general counsel Krisma Guyala said Nestle is fully committed to asserting proactive and preventive measures versus counterfeit products. The engagement of public and private stakeholders in taking proactive steps to resist counterfeiters is truly valuable. Ultimately, we want the consumers to benefit. They deserve only authentic quality products in exchange for their hard-earned money, she said. Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prodded former President Rodrigo Duterte to be active again in politics, Senator Christopher Go disclosed on Monday. Arroyos photo with Duterte made the rounds on social media two days after she also posted a photo of her with former Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday. I recently had a social dinner with former Vice President Leni Robredo and mutual friends from Bicol, she said in a statement. We chatted about Bicol politics, Arroyo added. For his part, Go said the convincing took place somewhere in Metro Manila during an informal meeting between the two former Presidents. The senator posted on his Facebook account a photo of the meeting between Arroyo and Duterte, which was also attended by Dutertes former Executive Secretary Samuel Medialdea, and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Go declined to provide other details on the talks but said Arroyo invited Duterte to the informal gathering. The senator said he accompanied Duterte for his medical check-up and then to the meeting with Arroyo. Since former President Duterte seldom goes to Manila these days, the meeting with Arroyo was made in time for his check-up, he said. He said Sotto also wanted to personally see Duterte so he attended the simple get-together. It was a simple get-together and happy reunion among leaders who served the country in different positions and capacities during the past administrations. They reminisced those times when they worked together in the government, Go said. Last month, speculations that Duterte might be tapped as special envoy to China swirled after he flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping as old friends. During their meeting, Xi asked Duterte to continue promoting friendly cooperation between the two countries. However, Dutertes former spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said the former President is not interested in serving as special envoy to China. First of all, there is no need for that. He is a former president. He is enjoying his retirement. Let us leave him alone, Panelo said. Even if he [Duterte] is not being told to do so, he is doing his part. His [recent] visit to China expands and deepens [our] relationship with China, Panelo added. The dictatorship triggered the biggest migratory movement in Chilean history MOSCOWThe Luna-25 probe, Russias first Moon mission in almost 50 years, has crashed on the Earths natural satellite after an unspecified incident during pre-landing maneuvers, the Russian space agency Roscosmos said. The crash comes almost a year and a half into Russias Ukraine offensive that has seen Moscow isolated, with punishing sanctions that have affected its space industry. The failed mission comes as several companies and nations have entered a Moon race, and put a spotlight on the Russian space sectors troubles from corruption to lack of innovation and partnerships. Communication with Luna-25 was lost at 2:57 pm (7:57 August 19 Manila time) o SANTIAGO, Chile In the basement of the presidential palace in Chiles capital, Patricia Herrera was detained and tortured for months before being sent into exile. It was early in a military dictatorship that would kill or cause the disappearance of thousands of people. Fifty years after the US-backed coup that snuffed out Chiles democracy, the wounds from all that suffering are still raw. Torment As she returned from class at the university, Herrera was detained by officers in plain clothes because she was a woman and a socialist. She was 19. Herrera was taken, blindfolded, to the basement of La Moneda, as the presidential palace is called. It was then also known as El Hoyo, or the pit, as it was one of the first detention and torture centers set up by General Augusto Pinochets new regime after the ouster of Socialist president Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. Allende committed suicide rather than be captured. From the very first night we got there, there was sexual humiliation. At first I thought it was just the guard who was overdoing it with me. I did not think it was an established thing that women had to suffer sexual, in addition to political, violence, said Herrera, now 68 and a historian. Herrera was held for 14 months at the palace and in two other buildings in Santiago that were converted into torture centers by the Pinochet regime. She was then sent into an exile that would last 15 years, first in France and then in Cuba. Two commissions created to study the dictatorship concluded that at least 38,254 people were tortured under the Pinochet regime, which lasted until 1990. The basement in the presidential palace where Herrera was held was also known as Cuartel, or barracks, N1 and is now used as office space. People taken there blindfolded could identify it because of its curved wall. On August 30 of this year, the current president, Gabriel Boric, had a plaque installed in the basement space to mark the horrors endured by around 30 people who were held there. We want to put up a marker for everyone to see, Herrera said, that here, in the political heart of the nation, there was a torture center. Disappearance Agents of the dictatorship killed 1,747 people, and detained and made another 1,469 disappear, according to an official government tally. While 307 of the disappeared have since been identified, the other 1,162 remain missing. Fifty years later, their families still wonder where they are. In 1974, when Pinochets police detained a man named Luis Mahuida a 23-year-old university student active in leftist politics and the father of two young daughters they also brought an abrupt end to the childhood of his sister Marialina Gonzalez, who was then nine years old. Their mother, Elsa Esquivel, spent all her time looking for her son; it was a full-time occupation. Marialina Gonzalez looked after her brothers daughters, who were three and 11 months old when he vanished. I stopped playing with dolls. My nieces were dolls for me, said Gonzalez. She never finished her education. She went to hundreds of places asking for her brother. Gonzalez even staged a hunger strike and recalls being arrested several times while taking part in protest marches in honor of missing people. She regrets the childhood she never had. I was not capable of saying: Stop, let me be. I want to go out dancing. I want to have friends. I kept quiet, she said. Now 59, she dedicates herself to caring for her elderly mother and expects to carry suffering with her into her own old age. There is no closure just because my brother is still missing. There will be no closure. Exile The dictatorship triggered the biggest migratory movement in Chilean history. Just over 200,000 people went into exile, according to the non-governmental Chilean Human Rights Commission. Employees of the Allende government, union leaders, workers, students and farmers left the country, taking their families with them. Sweden, Mexico, Argentina, France and Venezuela were the main recipient countries. Most of the exiles were able to return home starting September 1, 1988, when the regime issued a decree allowing them back, a year and a half before the dictatorship ended. A communist activist named Shaira Sepulveda was tortured in secret prisons called Villa Grimaldi and Cuatro Alamos. After her release she left in 1976 for France, along with her husband at that time. She left relatives and friends in Santiago. My family was here, my sister, my parents. But what really hurt was having to go to a country where you are a nobody, Sepulveda recalls. She returned to Chile 17 years later with two children, but again her family was broken apart. The eldest child could not adapt to life in Chile and returned to Europe. I am an old woman, so my grandchildren there will barely know me, said Sepulveda, who is 74. Mapua University, one of the top engineering and technological schools in the Philippines, and Cisco have agreed to collaborate to create the Philippines first-ever digital university. As part of the collaboration, Cisco will deploy state-of-the-art technology to transform the universitys traditional classrooms to optimize hybrid learning. The initiative is part of Ciscos Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in the Philippines, UGNAYAN 2030. Cisco will provide Mapua University with a full range of purpose-built artificial intelligence (AI)-powered collaboration tools, including the Cisco Webex Meeting Suite, Webex Boards, and devices, and Meraki Wireless and Smart Cameras, to help create inclusive and engaging learning experiences in hybrid classrooms. To harness the full potential of the digital classroom experience, Mapua and Cisco have developed a training curriculum for teachers that focuses on blended, hybrid learning. A specialized training program will be rolled out to ensure that teachers and students are taught to effectively use Cisco devices and solutions so they can communicate, collaborate and learn effectively from anywhere. The Journey Towards a Modernized Campus Mapua has also set its sights on achieving several other key milestones as part of its comprehensive approach to creating a modernized campus. This includes making education accessible across borders by offering fully online Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Mapua will support upskilling and micro-credential initiatives through online courses in accredited learning and certification platforms. This builds on the universitys standing as one of the largest partners for the Cisco Networking Academy in the Philippines. The university hopes to meet its goal of building students for the world by delivering global and digital educational offerings through modernizing its digital infrastructure and retrofitting its classrooms with state-of-the-art Cisco technology. This includes: Cisco Collaboration: As part of the universitys plan to deliver courses through a combination of face-to-face, in-class synchronous and in-class recorded asynchronous sessions, Ciscos Webex Suite will provide the full breadth of calling, live and pre-recorded meetings, and messaging on one seamless platform. Instructors will have the option to leverage the platforms AI-powered noise cancellation capabilities to ensure all Mapua students have a consistent learning experience. AI-powered People Insights function on Webex will also offer detailed, personal insights that remain private to each student on their study patterns and focus time goals to give them more control of their schedules. Cisco Devices: Cisco Webex boards will enable students and teachers to join video-first meetings, use digital whiteboards, annotate on shared content, and leverage real-time translation and transcriptions. This will enable more interactive and engaging learning experiences so Mapua students can collaborate on projects, share ideas and get instructor feedback in real time, in physical classrooms or virtually. Advanced AI features like facial recognition for in-meeting name labels and a digital assistant that provides for a zero-touch, voice-controlled meeting experience, coupled with its high-quality camera and audio intelligence, will allow students to meet virtually and collaborate regardless of where they are, and deliver similar experiences for all students irrespective of their location. Meraki Wireless and Meraki Smart Camera: Meraki cloud-managed smart cameras configured to work seamlessly with underlying wireless connectivity will help provide instructors with real-time information, including the number of students in each classroom at a given time. They can also act as a CCTV camera, allowing the university to keep students safe by streaming video footage on a web-based dashboard. Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mapua University, emphasized the pivotal role of partnerships with private organizations such as Cisco in driving innovation in education, saying: The pandemic has revealed the power of hybrid learning in keeping students and teachers connected from anywhere and at any time. But these experiences are only possible with the right connectivity, collaboration and right level of cyber security. Cisco has been a trusted advisor and partner in empowering our flexible, hybrid learning journey. I am confident that this partnership will transform the learning experience Mapua University will offer its students moving forward. Mapua University has a huge opportunity to shape the future of education by driving hybrid learning in the Philippines. It has many merits, from improving access for students to helping them achieve better learning outcomes with greater flexibility to learning at their own pace and taking a more personalized learning approach. I am excited to accelerate our digital transformation roadmap with the partnership with Cisco to pilot the countrys first-ever digital classrooms, Dr. Maestrecampo concluded. Zaza Soriano-Nicart, Cisco Philippines Managing Director, said: The future of education is changing, as hybrid learning opens opportunities to increase access and drive continuity of engagement. Technology has been a huge enabler in building the bridge to learning without boundaries. Through our CDA program, Cisco is proud and thrilled to be a part of Mapua Universitys transformative journey to bring students together in immersive and engaging ways and empower them to learn not just within the confines of a classroom but their homes and anywhere in between. Spotsylvania students who wish to go by a nickname not commonly associated with the name on their official record must submit a form signed by their parent or guardian. The form is to be used in accordance with a new policy adopted last month by the School Board. The policy, titled Ensuring Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students, is based on model policies governing the treatment of transgender students that were released in July by the Virginia Department of Education under the direction of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Spotsylvanias policy requires school personnel to refer to a student only by the name appearing on the students official record, or by any nickname commonly associated with the name that appears in the students official record. In order to use any other name, the school must have a signed form in the students record. The Free LanceStar obtained a copy of the form, which asks for the students preferred name and for the parent or guardian to select from a list of gender identifications and pronouns. The list of gender identifications includes male, female, trans male to female, trans female to male and other. The use of historically shortened names or associated nicknames, i.e. Joseph to Joe, Jennifer to Jen, Charles to Chip, Elizabeth to Beth does not require the signed form. In addition to authorizing nicknames, parents and guardians must sign and submit the form in order for their student to be allowed to use a non-gendered, single-user restroom. The form is also required in order for a student to be able to use the bathroom, locker room or other intimate space associated with the students preferred gender identification. The following language is included in this section of the form: I have attached documentation from a physician indicating a change of gender for my child on the basis of clinical diagnosis. A man was charged after police say they found him driving a stolen vehicle Thursday. Jay Dee Cooke III, 45, of Marion, was charged with felony larceny of a motor vehicle, felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle, felony extortion and two counts of misdemeanor larceny, according to a press release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. The charges came after deputies took a report Thursday of a vehicle stolen from Antioch Road in Morganton, the release said. Within an hour of speaking to the reporting party, investigators found the vehicle traveling on U.S. 70 in Hildebran and initiated a traffic stop, the release said. Cooke was taken into custody and the vehicle was processed and returned to its owner, the release said. He has previous convictions of intimidating witnesses, possession with intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance and manufacturing a controlled substance, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. Cooke was held under a $21,000 secured bond and was due to appear in court Monday. Two men were arrested after deputies followed them in a stolen car to the Burke County Jail last month. Dusty Eugene Hicks, 39, of Morganton, was charged with felony common law/armed robbery and possession of stolen goods along with three misdemeanor counts of failure to appear, according to a news release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. Also charged was Terry Leon Holland Jr., 35, who was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in prison or jail and misdemeanor resisting arrest and failure to appear on a trespassing charge, the release said. Charges against the two came after deputies received a call around 3:30 p.m. Aug. 31 for a stolen vehicle. The reporting party told deputies Hicks was in possession of the vehicle but did not have permission to operate it and refused to return it to the owner, the release said. It was only an hour later that detectives with BCSOs criminal investigations and narcotics division saw a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle, contacted patrol deputies to confirm warrants had been issued for Hicks and followed the vehicle, the release said. Detectives followed the vehicle from Enola Road onto Government Drive where they initiated a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Burke County Jail, the release said. Hicks was taken into custody without incident, the release said. But Holland, a passenger in the vehicle, got out of the vehicle during the investigation and fled in the jail wearing a backpack, according to the release. Deputies found Holland in the jail trying to bond an inmate out, the release said. Holland already had outstanding warrants for resisting arrest and failure to appear on a trespassing charge. When deputies searched him, they found he had brought methamphetamine inside the jail with him, adding to the charges against him, the release said. More methamphetamine was found in the stolen vehicle, and the investigation is ongoing, the release said. Hicks has previous convictions of interfering with an electronic monitoring device, larceny of a motor vehicle, felony breaking and entering, obtaining property by false pretenses and possession of stolen goods, according to records from the North Carolina Division of Adult Corrections. Holland did not appear to have any convictions in North Carolina. Hicks was held under a $75,000 secured bond, while Holland was held under a $15,000 secured bond. Hicks is due in court Sept. 21, and Holland is due in court Sept. 22. HENDERSONVILLE U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) is accepting United States service academy nomination applications from current high school seniors in North Carolinas 11th Congressional District. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Edwards can nominate applicants who legally reside within the boundaries of the 11th Congressional District of North Carolina to attend one of the five U.S. service academies, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination, but Edwards will recommend interested applicants on a case-by-case basis, according to a news release. Im honored to have a role in nominating the best and brightest students from western North Carolina for appointments to our nations service academies, said Edwards. As school is back in session, I encourage any high school senior who is up for this challenge and aspiring to pursue a meaningful and rewarding career to apply. Accepted students will develop leadership and character traits that will prepare them to achieve excellence in any military and civilian role. The deadline to apply for a nomination from Edwards is Monday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m. For more information, visit edwards.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. In addition, Edwards Carolina Cruiser will visit Old Fort on Tuesday. To give you greater access to your federal government, Im excited to announce that my mobile office, the Carolina Cruiser, will be by the Old Fort Train Depot, 25 W. Main St., Old Fort, NC on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 9:30-11 a.m., said Edwards in a news release. My staff will be parked outside with the Carolina Cruiser ready to meet with constituents and assist with casework. I hope you can stop by to share your thoughts on issues that matter to you or ask for assistance with federal agencies. GREENSBORO A 17-year-old student tried to enter Western Guilford High School in Greensboro on Monday with two guns in their bag, but got flagged by the school's weapons scanner, according to Greensboro police. Monday was the first day back to classes for Western Guilford High School and most other Guilford County schools. "The student did not make it through the security line," the school district said in a statement. "No one was threatened or harmed." According to Greensboro police, a weapons scanner at the school flagged a possible firearm inside a student's backpack during morning arrival on Monday. While a school administrator was looking inside the bag, the student grabbed it and ran, according to police. The Western Guilford High School Resource Officer chased the student, who attempted to get rid of the guns once they were outside, police said. When the officer caught the student, the 17-year-old no longer had the guns, police said. Greensboro Police said they used a police dog to locate the two firearms on the grounds outside the school. Both had been reported stolen, police said. The student was also found to have marijuana in their possession, police said. Police said they charged the student with two counts of possession of a stolen firearm. The students was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon; weapons violation on school property; possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana; and resisting, delaying or obstructing a law enforcement officer, police said. A juvenile court counselor was contacted and secure custody was approved, according to police. Guilford County Schools said in its statement that it is also investigating the incident. The district's discipline regulation calls for any student found to have brought a firearm to campus to be recommended for a 365-day suspension. That's in line with state and federal law. "We encourage families to have conversations with students and each other about the severity of children gaining access to weapons and the consequences they face if they are found on educational property," Guilford County Schools said as part of the statement. "We also want to remind families and students to say something if you see something suspicious and only share information you can personally verify." The touch-free body scanners, which are meant to detect hidden guns, were installed in entrances to Guilford's traditional high schools at the start of last school year and were recently added at district middle schools for the start of this school year. Of the four firearms recovered last school year on Guilford County Schools campuses, two were found via screeners at the high schools. The two other concealed guns were caught after alert staff instigated conversations with students, Mike Richey, the assistant superintendent of school safety and emergency management, told school board members this summer. About 360 tourism companies from nearly 60 countries will present their products and services at ITB China 2023 that will be held under the anchor theme Crossing Barriers, Connecting Markets, from September 12-14 in the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. Companies will have a chance to meet with more than 700 selected top Chinese buyers at the event. ITB China Conference will line up more than 70 outstanding speakers covering 30 thought-provoking topics. New modules on the upgraded ITB China App are available to optimise networking. Chinas premier B2B travel trade show is set to play a crucial role in reconnecting global travel suppliers with the resurgent Chinese market, forging a collective path forward for the industry. To meet the needs of the industry over the past few challenging years, we have remained very active in China, developing various event formats and maintaining our commitment to fostering links between the overseas and Chinese travel markets. Now, we are here to get the industry back on track, supporting our global partners to forward their business relationships, and to facilitate invaluable cooperation within the Chinese travel industry, said David Axiotis, General Manager of Messe Berlin (Shanghai). Key highlights On day one, a CEO seminar has been scheduled where 20 senior executives from China's leading outbound and inbound travel companies will set the tone for in-depth discussions on "The Impact of Global Relations and the Economic Situation on China's Inbound and Outbound Tourism Market". Visitors to ITB China 2023 can look forward to an exciting array of products and services from almost 60 different countries. A wide variety of markets across Europe and the Americas are represented at ITB China. ITB China continues to strengthen its alliances with key partners. This year, Saudi Arabia will make its debut on the showfloor as the Official Partner Destination. Reinforcing its strategic partnership with ITB China for the third time is Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as the Official Partner Hotel. Trip.com Group has reaffirmed its strong commitment to ITB China 2023 as the Official Travel Service Partner. And Maldives, the Official Island Travel Partner, is set to transform its prime themed travel destination into one of the show's standout highlights. ITB China Conference is the prestigious ITB China Startup Award ceremony, set to take place on the afternoon of the second day of the conference. This event recognises innovative products and solutions that are driving positive transformations within the tourism industry. The six exceptional nominees for the award are: Shanghai LeChuan Information Technology, Baifan Travel, CBD Technology Foundation, HUIYI Technology, Nearfar and Centific. ITB China attendees can download the ITB China App and have all the information they need at their fingertips. Visitors can browse the full list of exhibitors, check out live-published photos of the event, as well as the agenda of the ITB China Conference. All content sessions will be made available online on demand for global audiences to follow. In addition, to facilitate further communication and generate more business opportunities, e-business card exchange and instant text messaging functions will be available during and after the event. TradeArabia News Service Following the unprecedented earthquake that shook Morocco last Friday Sept.8, the Kingdoms authorities, under the directives of King Mohammed VI, adopted an efficient approach and exemplary coordination in responding to the disaster and to the relief offers proposed by scores of sisterly and friendly countries In this vein, Morocco has accepted aid from Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates to help with quake rescue efforts, according to a statement from Moroccos Interior Ministry. Specialized search and rescue teams have entered into field communications with their Moroccan counterparts on Sunday, September 10. This assistance was exclusively focused on search and rescue operations for victims through specialized and autonomous teams. These units, dispatched as reinforcements, closely cooperate with local teams, pooling their efforts to address any specific needs. The announcement follows a high-level meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI to address the situation. During this session, the King expressed expressed the deepest gratitude of the Moroccan Kingdom to friendly and sisterly countries that have shown solidarity with the Moroccan people, many of which have conveyed their willingness to provide assistance during this exceptional period. The Interior Ministrys statement said Moroccan authorities conducted a precise assessment of the needs on the ground, taking into account that a lack of coordination in such situations would lead to adverse outcomes. At least 2497 people were killed and 2465 were wounded, in the powerful earthquake that rocked Moroccos central province of Al Haouz late on Friday evening, according to an updated Interior ministry toll issued this Monday morning. In these moments of deep distress, where nature has demonstrated its devastating force, Morocco wasted no time in responding to the tragedy, implementing a strategy in line with international standards to manage this unprecedented crisis. The crucial initial steps were rapidly put in place, enabling effective coordination among the various stakeholders on the ground. Responding promptly to these critical moments, Moroccan authorities initiated a series of measures according to the ongoing situation and specific needs on the ground to ensure controlled crisis management. This proactive strategy led to a responsive and efficient response, emphasizing rigorous organization and harmonious coordination of relief efforts. In the face of the unique geographical challenges posed by the disaster-stricken area, Moroccan authorities first carried out preliminary road clearance operations to ensure the successful delivery of aid. The key objective was to ensure that any international assistance that would come into play would be well-organized and articulated to prevent confusion. The best assistance is certainly not massive but rather useful, effective, and well-coordinated. The public authorities are continuing their efforts to speed up rescue operations, evacuate and provide care for the injured, and mobilize all necessary resources to respond to the repercussions of this painful tragedy. Ethiopia has announced on Sunday September 10 that it has filled its Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile, which has been the source of a long-running water dispute with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. The announcement came just a fortnight after the three countries resumed negotiations, after a lengthy break, on an agreement that takes account of the water needs of all three. In a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, Cairo denounced Ethiopias announcement that it would no longer fill the large Renaissance Dam on the Nile, and criticized the move as illegal and unilateral. The filling of the Renaissance Dam reservoir without agreement with the two downstream countries (Egypt and Sudan) is () illegal, and will weigh on the negotiations between the three countries, interrupted since April 2021, and which resumed on August 27, the ministry said. The head of the Sudanese Army, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane, lashed out at the African Union on September 10. He said he could do without its help in the conflict, which has already claimed nearly 7,500 lives in almost five months. Relations between the Army and the African Union (AU) became strained after a meeting last week between the chairman of its Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) political advisor, Youssef Ezzat. On Monday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry described the meeting as a dangerous precedent. The pan-African organization should not give space to rebel movements or terrorist militias, it added on its Facebook page, in apparent reference to the RSF, which General Burhane disbanded this week. And on Saturday, General Burhane asserted that he doesnt need help from the AU if the pan-African organization didnt change its approach, according to a statement published on the armys Facebook page. He also lashed out at the East African regional bloc, IGAD, after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Kenya, which chairs the organization, for supporting the RSF. On Thursday September 7, the AU Commission issued a statement affirming its commitment to dialogue with all parties, an identical approach to that adopted by other international players who have attempted mediation, and which has not given rise to reservations on the part of Sudanese players. Sudan was suspended from the AU following the 2021 putsch led by general Burhane, who was then allied with Daglo before becoming his enemy. While widely criticized by other African nations and in the West, the recent coup in Gabon has now finally received a nod of approval, when it was tagged as a good coup by a West African financial executive. The Gabon coup faces intense international scrutiny, with even the West African bloc ECOWAS considering military intervention if the coup leaders fail to restore a democratic government in due course. But this did not prevent Sanjeev Gupta, a senior executive from the African Finance Corporation (AFC), to assert that since the 30 August coup in Gabon and the eighth rebellion in West and Central Africa since 2020 was executed peacefully and with society and business operating as usual, it appeared to be a good coup. Gupta also noted last week that economic activities in the Central African state have hardly been affected, and business is going on as though the region didnt just experience a major political shift. However, the same body had a conflicting opinion on the matter in an email to Bloomberg, where Samaila Zubairu, the CEO of the AFC, a major financial institution with a large exposure to Gabon, relayed that the AFC has halted a project in a state where it has made investments. The rise of the juntas in Africa is very worrying, especially with the seeming appeal of the changes to the mass populace, Samaila Zubairu said. Aptly entitled Deterring Would-Be Putschists in Africa is Getting Harder, a recent analysis in The Economist points out that Africas young democrats often employ only black humor at the frequent sight on TV of uniformed men announcing that they have overthrown the government. It blames Russia, hypocrisy and pragmatism for the fact that the African Unions no coup policy instituted in 2000, which was based on the threat of swift suspension from African institutions, isolation and sanctions as deterrent against potential coups seems to no longer work as originally envisioned. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The U.S. government's 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is expanding its reach to help more people. The crisis line has now launched services in American Sign Language (ASL) to help callers who are deaf or hard of hearing. The ASL services were launched on Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Individuals across America who use ASL as their primary language can now readily access the support they need during a mental health crisis," Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in an agency news release. "With the introduction of 988 ASL services, we are taking a significant stride forward in providing inclusive and accessible support for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community." The services use a videophone device that transmits video and audio. It can be reached by clicking "ASL Now" on 988lifeline.org. Callers can alternatively call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) but will soon also be able to directly dial to 988 by videophone. "After years of advocacy to ensure that 988 is available to everyone not only through voice calls, but also texting and video for sign language users, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is thrilled that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is now available to use through video calls in sign language," said NAD CEO Howard A. Rosenblum. "We encourage anyone going through a crisis or thinking about suicide to contact 988 in any way preferredvoice, text, or sign language." The new move is part of an ongoing effort by the HHS's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to add accessibility to behavioral health care. An earlier update added Spanish-speaking services by text and chat. "We're talking about mental health in a way that we have not historically talked about it," said Monica Johnson, director of the 988 & Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating office at SAMHSA. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched last year for anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress or contemplating suicide. It is an evolution from the former National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Making it possible to reach help by dialing only three digits was meant to make it easier to remember. The lifeline is a network of 200-plus local call centers, with an investment of nearly $1 billion by the Biden administration. Funds go directly to states, territories and tries to fund crisis counselors, according to HHS. This past year, the lifeline has taken about 5 million calls, texts and online chat messages. Still, more work to publicize the new service may be needed: About 82% of 2,000 people polled by the National Alliance on Mental Illness in a poll released in July said they had not heard of the lifeline. More information: The National Institute of Mental Health has more on suicide prevention. Copyright 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A fluorescent image of glioblastoma cells (green) scattered among health brain tissue (blue). Credit: The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). The discovery of a previously unknown molecular target has inspired what may become a therapeutic breakthrough for people with glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive brain cancer. When people hear the word "cancer" they often picture a single mass, but glioblastoma cells are also highly invasive and spread quickly from the central mass, making it very difficult to fully eradicate. Even with current treatments such as temozolomide, the standard chemotherapy approved to treat glioblastoma, temozolomide-resistant tumors recur in more than 50% of patients with less than 1% surviving 10 years after diagnosis. In a study published in Nature Cancer, a research team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) showcased a new potential treatment approach for glioblastoma called a designer peptide, which targets a protein-protein interaction in the glioblastoma cells. "By uncovering the role of a previously unknown protein-protein interaction in glioblastoma, we were able to develop a designer peptide which possesses robust therapeutic efficacy in treating all major types of glioblastoma in preclinical models," says Dr. Xi Huang, a Senior Scientist in the Developmental & Stem Cell Biology program. "This could form the basis of next generation glioblastoma therapy." Protein-protein interaction holds key to glioblastoma aggression The development of the designer peptide began when Huang and first author Dr. Weifan Dong discovered that two proteins called EAG2 and Kv2, both highly present in glioblastoma cells, were interacting where cancerous cells meet with healthy brain tissue. "We examined these two proteins closely and found that when they interacted they created a potassium channel complex that is fundamental to the aggressive nature of the cancer," says Dong, a former Ph.D. student and current post-doctoral fellow in the Huang Lab. "What's amazing is that this EAG2-Kv2 potassium channel complex appears to form only in glioblastoma cells, not healthy cells." Excited by their findings, Huang's team began investigating this specific interaction as a potential target for glioblastoma treatment. They determined that EAG2-Kv2 interaction is required for neurons to communicate with glioblastoma cells, facilitating tumor growth, invasion and chemoresistance. The designer peptide prevents the protein-protein interaction from occurring, slowing growth and deterring the cancer from spreading into surrounding cells. In preclinical models, the designer peptide also resulted in the death of glioblastoma cells across all subtypes of glioblastoma. "Even tumors that had developed resistance to temozolomide responded to the designer peptide," says Dong. "But we did not observe any side effects, likely due to the EAG2-Kv2 interaction only seeming to be present in cancerous cells." Building a next-generation treatment Over the course of the eight-year study the research team garnered important insights and support from leaders across the SickKids community, from Dr. Lu-Yang Wang, Senior Scientist in the Neurosciences & Mental Health program, to Dr. Roman Melnyk, Senior Scientist in the Molecular Medicine program and Co-Director of SPARC Drug Discovery, and Dr. Peter Dirks, Senior Scientist in the Developmental & Stem Cell Biology program. Huang's designer peptide discovery has been protected by the filing of a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application. The team plans to complete preclinical studies and advance this designer peptide into clinical trials as soon as possible. "Our study has benefited tremendously from the vibrant research community at SickKids," says Huang, who also holds Canada Research Chair in Cancer Biophysics. "We are continuing to work closely with other scientists and industry partners to fully unlock the potential of the designer peptide and move our research from the lab into the hands of people who need it most." More information: A designer peptide against the EAG2Kv2 potassium channel targets the interaction of cancer cells and neurons to treat glioblastoma, Nature Cancer (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00626-8 Journal information: Nature Cancer This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain How can positive experiences seem like the opposite for some? A doctoral student in Mississippi State University's Clinical Psychology program believes this phenomenon is true, and his recent research is featured in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry. Michael R. Gallagher's article "A network analytic investigation of avoidance, dampening, and devaluation of positivity" focuses on how behaviors related to processing positive experiences may play a role in the development and maintenance of depression. The article, to be released in a December edition of the journal, is part of his overall study of "reward devaluation theory," an outlook that suggests how individuals valueor devaluepositive experiences may be integral in understanding depression. "Imagine someone with depression is viewing a prospective new relationship or job that would be perceived as exciting or positive to most people," Gallagher said. "However, given that the individual has past negative experiencessuch as getting excited and letting oneself enter a new relationship only to be heartbroken or starting a new job only to get fired immediatelythe individual no longer values or approaches these seemingly positive experiences because they learned that whenever they allow themselves to experience happiness or positivity, it is met with a negative outcome." The Scranton, Pennsylvania, native said, "The positive experiences become a signal of danger." Gallagher's study into reward devaluation theory could help researchers better understand the thoughts and behaviors that drive positivity avoidance and develop effective treatments to help depressed individuals. More information: Michael R. Gallagher et al, A network analytic investigation of avoidance, dampening, and devaluation of positivity, Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2023.101870 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain New research suggests that hospital electronic health records (EHRs) that are difficult to use are also less likely to catch medical errors that could harm patients. As clinicians navigate EHR systems, alerts, reminders, and clinical guidelines pop up to steer decision making. Yet a common complaint is that these notifications are distracting rather than helpful. These frustrations could signal that built-in safety mechanisms similarly suffer from suboptimal design, suggests the new study. Researchers found that EHR systems rated as being difficult to operate did not perform well in safety tests. "Poor usability of EHRs is the number one complaint of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and most health care professionals," says David Classen, M.D., the study's corresponding author and a professor of internal medicine at University of Utah Health. "This correlates with poor performance in terms of safety." Classen likens the situation to the software problems that led to two deadly Boeing 737 MAX airplane crashes in 2018 and 2019. In both cases, pilots struggling to use the system foretold deeper safety issues. "Our findings suggest that we need to improve EHR systems to make them both easier to use and safer," Classen says. He collaborated on the study with senior author David Bates, M.D., at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and scientists at University of California San Diego Health; KLAS Enterprises, LLC; and University of California, San Francisco. The research appears in the September 11 issue of JAMA Network Open. Experts estimate that as many as 400,000 people are injured each year from medical errors that occur in hospitals. Medical professionals predicted that widespread use of EHRs would mitigate the problem. But research published by Classen, Bates and colleagues in 2020 showed that EHRs failed to reliably detect medical errors that could harm patients, including dangerous drug interactions. Additional reports have indicated that poorly designed EHRs could be a contributing factor. To investigate further, the research team studied EHR systems in 112 U.S. hospitals. They compared results from an EHR experience survey taken by 5,689 clinicians with outcomes from an EHR safety evaluation tool. The Leapfrog CPOE EHR safety test examines whether medication orders that could potentially harm a patient properly triggers alert systems. The study found that user experience strongly correlated with EHR safety. When users rated EHRs poorly, they said the systems were difficult to operate, hard to learn, slow, or inefficient. In cases where clinicians experienced those troubles, those EHR systems were less likely to flag drug-drug interactions, a patient's allergies to drugs, duplicate orders, excessive dosing or other harmful medication errors. One explanation behind the link is a lack of quality control, Classen explains. Individual hospitals modify EHR operability to meet their specific needs. Some of these changes may be at the expense of safety. What's more, despite the fact that there are many EHR systems, currently there are no standards for usability and safety. "Hospitals and health systems have spent more than $100 billion on EHRs over the last decade, and most believe that these systems are completely safe and usable but that is not necessarily the case," Classen says. "Hospitals should annually perform a safety check on their system to assure it is safe." Improving EHR systems in the long term may need a different approach, Classen explains. Just as the Federal Aviation Administration, airline manufacturers, and airlines jointly monitor and improve airline software, a similar collaborative effort with EHR vendors, hospitals and clinicians may be what's needed to optimize EHR software for user satisfaction, safety performance and to ultimately reduce medical errors. More information: David C. Classen et al, Inpatient EHR User Experience and Hospital EHR Safety Performance, JAMA Network Open (2023). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.33152 Journal information: JAMA Network Open This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (A) Boxplot of the relative concentration of 10 differential metabolites in AA individuals divided by cancer cases and healthy controls. (B) Boxplot of the relative concentration of six differential metabolites in NHW individuals divided by cancer cases and healthy controls. The relative contribution of each feature towards the accuracy of predicting cancer cases is reported as mean Gini (A,B). The percentage of importance or relative influence that each feature contributes to the model are shown in the figure. (C) Heatmap showing metabolite levels in AA cases vs controls and NHW cases vs controls. Credit: Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39215-1 New research has found the most common form of breast cancer presents differing metabolic signatures in the blood of African American women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer compared with non-Hispanic white women. The scientists also identified a proteinnegative elongation factor complex Ethat was linked with higher mortality rates among African American women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The findings, published online by Scientific Reports, may help explain some of the molecular processes driving higher rates of the diseaseespecially more aggressive forms of itin African American women. ER-positive breast cancer accounts for about 70%-80% of all breast cancer cases, and African American women are 40% more likely to die from it than white women, said Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, a professor of nutritional sciences and of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-author of the paper. Ashlie Santaliz-Casiano, a then-graduate student at the university, was the first author of the study. Madak-Erdogan, the corresponding author, oversaw the project along with Jonna Frasor, a professor of physiology and biophysics at the U. of I. Chicago; and Dr. Kent F. Hoskins, a professor of medicine in the UIC College of Medicine and director of the UIC Familial Breast Cancer Program. Researchers at Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northeastern University were partners on the project. "Overall, we are pretty good at managing the disease, early diagnosing cases with mammography and treating them with drugs that were developed several decades ago," Madak-Erdogan said. "Although the tumors are often caught at earlier stages, patients from lower-income neighborhoods such as Chicago's South Side are more likely to have poor outcomes. That suggests there are some biological factors driving these differing effects," she said. The study population included African American women and non-Hispanic white women ages 20-79 who were recruited at three hospitals in the Chicago area in 201819. The team collected blood samples from 102 patients who were newly diagnosed with ER-positive breast cancer in stages 13, and 148 healthy women served as the control group. The samples were collected from control group participants at the time they enrolled in the study and from the patients with ER-positive breast cancer prior to breast surgery or other cancer treatment. "The participants were matched on characteristics such as similar tumor types, similar body mass indices or other factors so we could examine the effects of their neighborhoods and economic backgrounds," Madak-Erdogan said. The team analyzed 83 metabolites in the women's blood and found that African American women with ER-positive breast cancer had decreased circulating levels of amino acidsincluding the antioxidant methioninecompared with women in the healthy control group. Conversely, non-Hispanic white patients with the disease had significantly higher levels of fatty acids compared with African American women and those in the healthy control group. The team hypothesized that methionine might be needed in greater volume to support increased DNA methylationa mechanism that controls which genes get expressedin African American patients with the disease, Madak-Erdogan said. Hypermethylation is a possible biological mechanism that might explain poorer disease outcomes in African American women, she said. Aberrant hypermethylation in DNA can occur in the promoter and enhancer regions of cancer-related genes, including tumor suppressors, silencing their expression. "Using the Pan-Cancer Atlas, a database of 33,000 tumors classified by genetic similarity maintained by the Cancer Genome Atlas Program, we mapped the metabolites to epigenetic regulatory systems," said Santaliz-Casiano, currently a postdoctoral researcher at the National Cancer Institute in the National Institutes of Health. "We identified 291 genes associated with methylation activities that were expressed at higher rates15 of them at statistically significant levelsin African American women with ER-positive breast cancer." Poorer survival rates among African American women with the diseasebut not non-Hispanic white womenwere associated with higher expression of the gene NELFE, a protein complex that regulates enzymes involved in transcriptional activities for downstream target genes, she said. Tumor cells utilize amino acids as alternative fuels and as precursors for processes such as DNA synthesis, constructing new blood vessels and promoting tumor cells' rapid growth and proliferation. In a previous study, published in the journal Cancer Research in 2019, a group led by Madak-Erdogan found that higher blood levels of free fatty acids "rewired" cancer cells' metabolism, activating pathways that promoted tumor growth and proliferation in postmenopausal obesity-related cancer. The current study extends that work by identifying key differences by race: While higher fatty acid levels are good predictors of ER-positive breast cancer in non-Hispanic white women, higher amino acid levels are better predictors of the disease in African American women. "These metabolic differences might suggest that there would be different screening strategies that could identify worse types of breast cancers," Madak-Erdogan said. "These assays might enable earlier diagnosis based on patients' blood. I imagine that it would not be difficult to design a cost-effective blood test for this purpose. "The current standard screening is mammography, but it requires costly, dedicated equipment, as well as technicians and other trained professionals. If we could come up with a test to diagnose breast cancers earlier, especially those with potentially worse outcomes, that might be useful in clinics with limited resources." More information: Ashlie Santaliz-Casiano et al, Identification of metabolic pathways contributing to ER+ breast cancer disparities using a machine-learning pipeline, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39215-1 Journal information: Scientific Reports , Cancer Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain For patients with chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), newer drugs like biologics can be very effectivebut also very expensive. As a result, many insurance companies have limited access to these medicationsand physicians and families are forced to jump through hoops to obtain coverage. According to a recent story from ProPublica, insurance companies sometimes have their physicians reject claims without even reading them. To address these challenges, Athos Bousvaros, MD, MPH, vice chair of clinical operations in Boston Children's Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, is calling for changeand providing specialists with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly difficult approval process. The study is published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition. A snapshot of what's happening In a recent paper, Bousvaros and his colleague Stacy Kahn, MD, detail how complicated the approval and denial process has become for certain drugs. They point out that the market is largely dominated by three specialty pharmacy companies, and those three companies hold about 80% of the entire insurance industry market. Therefore, if a physician fills out the paperwork for one of these three big-box insurance companies but doesn't prescribe the medication exactly according to FDA guidelines, they're instantly denied. (It is unclear if the pharmacy benefit manager is denying medication after a proper medical review or if the denial is happening through software.) These denials pose a particular challenge in pediatric medicine because many of the medications used to treat the same illnesses in adults are not yet FDA-approved for use in children and are prescribed "off-label." "Two immediate problems emerge here," explains Bousvaros. "The first is that your patient won't get the medication they need to treat their illness. The second is that there is now a lot more paperwork for the provider, which means less time is being spent with patients." So, what can be done if the prescription you write for your patient is denied? What you can do now While these challenges show no signs of going away, Bousvaros recommends three ways that pediatric specialists can help patients access the medications they need. Draw on resources. If you work within a larger hospital or health system, you may have access to resources for insurance denials. For example, Boston Children's has a dedicated team that assists with prior authorizations for physicians, limiting the amount of time spent away from patient care. Perfect your letter writing. In another paper by Bousvaros and Kahn, they share specifics of how to write a letter of medical necessity. The goal of a letter of medical necessity is to make the case for why a patient will benefit from the drug being prescribed. "It can be really emotionally taxing to write these letters, but they are absolutely crucial to get right when you're fighting for your patient," says Bousvaros. Take a stand. Bousvaros encourages physicians to advocate for their patients. At Boston Children's, for example, there has been great success in advocating for patients to gain access to rare services by treating payors as partners. "We also encourage specialists to collaborate with professional and patient organizations to initiate additional advocacy efforts so that our patients get the treatments they need," he says. "Advocacy is incredibly important if we want to make any improvements to this process in the future." More information: Stacy A. Kahn et al, Denials, Dilly-dallying, and Despair: Navigating the Insurance Labyrinth to Obtain Medically Necessary Medications for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients, Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition (2022). DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000003564 Journal information: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition More than 50 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements were signed during the India-Saudi Investment Forum, held in New Delhi covering sectors including energy, chemicals and advanced manufacturing. The forum coincides with a state visit to India from HRH the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following follows the G20 leaders meeting, where the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was announced. The forum brought together policy makers, business leaders and innovators from both countries. The landmark agreements covered sectors including ICT, entrepreneurship, chemicals, energy and advanced manufacturing. These include: An MoU between Al Jomaih Energy and Water and Avaada Energy Private Limited for collaboration for EPC and co-development of solar, wind, hybrid and battery energy storage solution projects in Middle East; A definitive agreement with the goal of establishing Petromin Express service centres in HPCL-operated fuel stations throughout India, between Petromin and HPCL; An MoU to cooperate in energy technology between Desert Technologies and Goldi Solar; An MoU in human resources between ARCO and Indian Personal Export Promotion Council and the Association of Overseas Recruiting Agents; An MoU in agribusiness between Alshalan Co and DD International and AMDD Foods, for the former to acquire a stake in both companies. OFFICE IN INDIA Further to the agreements signed today, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia is in the process of opening a country office in India to streamline the process for Indian companies to invest in Saudi Arabia, while the establishment of an agreement between both nations is underway to build a bridge for venture capital and funding for startups, said the statement. The India-Saudi Investment Forum was attended by Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia; Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry of India; and Nivruti Rai, Managing Director and CEO of Invest India. Presentations were delivered by Invest Saudi, the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative, the Economic Zones and Cities Authority, Invest India and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, among others at the forum. Meanwhile, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced at the G20 summit involves collaboration between the US, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the EU. The agreement is being hailed as transformative for regional investment. Minister Al-Falih said: We are very proud to be partners with India and hopefully seen here as contributors to this great success. We are blessed by many things in Saudi Arabia and India. I think one of the most important blessings we have is two of the worlds most energetic, effective, and visionary leaders. It is because we realised that going forward, the centre of gravity of the global economy has already moved to the global south. India and Saudi Arabia share deep diplomatic and economic ties. The India-Saudi investment forum is a continuation of a relationship that is underlined by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visits to the Kingdom in 2016 and 2019 and HRH the Crown Princes trip to India in 2019. In terms of trade with Saudi Arabia, India ranks second in terms of the volume of trade in 2022, amounting to SR196.7 billion and recording a growth rate of 51% compared to 2021. There are also more than 3,000 Indian firms with a foreign investment licence in Saudi Arabia. - TradeArabia News Service This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: (From left) Yu-Shien Sung, doctoral student in the Tomat Lab, and University of Arizona Cancer Center member Elisa Tomat, PhD, are studying an iron-targeting molecule that may lead to the development of new anticancer drugs. Credit: University of Arizona Health Sciences Researchers at the University of Arizona Cancer Center discovered a new class of iron-targeting compounds that hamper the proliferation of cultured malignant cells in a laboratory setting. The results of the study were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. "Cancer cells are what we call 'addicted' to iron, and so we are making compounds that are able to interfere with the availability of iron in cancer cells," said Elisa Tomat, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the UArizona College of Science and member of the UArizona Cancer Center. The discovery could lead to the development of broad-spectrum, anticancer drugs that target iron metabolism. The team has been working with Tech Launch Arizona, the university's commercialization arm, with the goal of licensing the technology to a company that will move it into the marketplace. A patent application is pending. Iron is the most abundant transition metal in the human body and, according to Tomat, plays a crucial role in tumor progression and metastasis. Cancer cells rely on several iron-dependent processes to sustain their rapid proliferation rates and therefore have a higher demand for this element compared with normal cells. Tomat said the research team's challenge was capturing iron within malignant cells yet keeping it available to the rest of the body. To do so, they targeted intracellular iron with compounds that are activated only after cellular uptake. Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02033 "As chemists, we can design and synthesize molecules that are able to bind iron only under certain conditions and not throughout the body," Tomat said. "We've been working on various approaches toward this type of chemistry; we call these prochelator approaches because the chelator is the compound that binds the metal ion. The prochelator is the compound we designed to become activated only upon undergoing a certain reaction that occurs in cells." The research was inspired by a "common reagent," a compound that is employed in laboratories worldwide to assess the ability of drug candidates to inhibit the proliferation of cultured mammalian cells. "Because iron is such a fundamental player that is important in many cancer types, and this high demand for iron is a general characteristic of malignancy, I've been interested in this strategy for a number of years," said Tomat, who has been exploring iron chelators and their role in tumor progression for more than 10 years. "We're excited about this new strategy because we think this class of molecules can be further modified to optimize the properties and improve the antiproliferative activity and really become a way for us to impact the iron availability in malignant cells and halt cancer growth." Tomat's co-authors include former postdoctoral associate Zoufeng Xu, Ph.D., and doctoral student Yu-Shien Sung. More information: Zoufeng Xu et al, Design of Tetrazolium Cations for the Release of Antiproliferative Formazan Chelators in Mammalian Cells, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c02033 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Prevalence of K13 and key drug-resistance mutations in Ethiopia. a, Spatial distribution of K13 622I mutation at the district (pie charts) and regional (bar plot) levels. Colors indicate mutation status and pie chart size is proportional to sample size per district. The black triangle indicates the location where K13 622I mutation was reported previously. b, Prevalence of non-synonymous mutations across the K13 gene, colored according to WHO ACT resistance marker category. K13 gene annotation shows 1350 amino-acid residues in the poorly conserved Plasmodium-specific region and 350726 residues in the beta propeller domain where validated resistance mutations are located. c, Prevalence of mutations across four key P. falciparum genes (colors) associated with commonly used antimalarial drugs. Credit: Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01461-4 Scientists have detected new strains of malaria-causing parasites in Ethiopia that are both resistant to current treatments and escape detection by common diagnostic testsa development that could increase cases and deaths from malaria and make eliminating the persistent disease an even greater challenge. The authors detailed their findings from a genomic surveillance study in Nature Microbiology. Already, scientists had found in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda strains of the parasite that causes malaria that were resistant to most available antimalarial drugs; and separately, malaria parasites resistant to diagnostic tests had emerged in the Horn of Africa. Those parasites have been spreading independently of one another, but the new study is the first published report to confirm the prevalence of this type of double-resistant malaria strain, said study author Jeffrey Bailey, an associate professor of translational research and pathology and laboratory medicine at Brown University. "Now we're essentially seeing the worst-case scenario: parasites with the mutation that make them resistant to treatment have also picked up the chromosomal deletions that make them invisible to the diagnostic tests," Bailey said. "This means that it will be harder to detect people who are infected, and then when infected people are treated with antimalarial drugs, that may not work to stop them from spreading the disease." The standard method to diagnose malaria in Africa is through rapid diagnostic tests that detect specific parasite proteins in the blood that are highly expressed. The tests can confirm malaria even if the patient is asymptomatic. The parasites lacking the genes for these proteins have evolved to be invisible to the tests. The first-line malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization is a combination therapy involving artemisinin-based drug compounds, which tend to be very effective in preventing death and reducing transmission. The mutations now detected in Africa provide resistance to artemisinin. Bailey's research team at Brown, in close collaboration with the researchers from the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducted a comparative genomic analysis of malaria-parasite samples with the deleted protein-expressing genes that had been collected across three regions of Ethiopia. Led by Bailey, co-director of the Ph.D. program at Brown's Center for Computational Molecular Biology, the scientists used molecular sequencing to assess the prevalence of mutations that confer resistance to artemisinin. Abebe Fola, a postdoctoral researcher in Bailey's lab, was instrumental in this work and is the first author of the paper. They found that 8.2% of drug-resistant parasites also carried the deletions of the protein-expressing gene that made them detectable by the diagnostic tests. In Ethiopia, the overall incidence of malaria is low, but the disease remains endemic in 75% of the country, with 65% of the population at risk. More than 5 million episodes of malaria occur each year. The Ethiopian government set a goal for malaria elimination by 2030, and prompt diagnosis and treatment with effective drugs is a cornerstone of the malaria elimination program. "The spread of these parasites will certainly make eliminating malaria in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa more difficult and will likely lead to increased cases and deaths," Bailey said. The scientists concluded that close monitoring of the spread of combined drug- and diagnostic-resistant parasites is needed, noting that improved understanding of how these mutations emerge, interact and spread is critical to the success of future malaria control and elimination efforts across Africa. In addition, Bailey said, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies, in addition to artemisinin, to treat malaria as well as vaccines to prevent and slow the spread of the disease. The ability to conduct genomic surveillance to monitor mutations while looking for new ones has greatly advanced over the last decade, Bailey said, with the emergence and refinement of next-generation sequencing. His lab at Brown has pioneered high-throughput techniques to sequence many genes at once, and has been collaborating on projects like the current study with research teams at other universities as well as health agencies in countries such as Uganda. While the analysis for this study was conducted at Brown, Bailey and others on the research team are working on building the capacity for genomic surveillance in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa. More information: Abebe A. Fola et al, Plasmodium falciparum resistant to artemisinin and diagnostics have emerged in Ethiopia, Nature Microbiology (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01461-4 Journal information: Nature Microbiology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Shemente Jones knew something wasn't right. Her back hurt. She felt pain during sex. She said she kept telling her doctor something was wrong. Her doctor told her, "Just wash your underwear in Dreft," Jones said, referring to a brand of detergent. Within months of that 2016 appointment, Jones, who lives in a suburb of Jackson, Mississippi, was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. She underwent a hysterectomy then weeks of radiation therapy. "I ended up fine," said Jones, now 43. "But what about all the other women?" The question is especially pertinent in Jones' home state, which had the nation's second-highest age-adjusted cervical cancer mortality rate, 3.4 deaths per 100,000 women and girls annually from 2016 through 2020, behind only Oklahoma, according to National Cancer Institute data. And, for non-Hispanic Black women such as Jones, the rates in the state are even higher3.7 deaths per 100,000 people. This all translates to about 50 avoidable deaths of Mississippi women from cervical cancer each year in this largely rural state. Health care experts said such a high death rate from a cancer that is preventable, detectable, and successfully treatable when found early is a warning sign about the general state of health care in Mississippi. "They desperately need help there," said Otis Brawley, a professor of oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and an expert on health disparities. "Political leadership is incredibly important in turning this around, and in Mississippi, the political leadership don't give a damn." Despite the beauty of Mississippi, from the rolling hills of the Natchez Trace to white-sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, and the cultural renown of its famous musicians and storytellers, the state's reputation is marred by its high rates of poverty. People who live there are accustomed to being the butt of jokes, but it hurts. "Often Mississippi gets represented poorly," said Mildred Ridgway, an OB-GYN at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Recently the state has reeled from crisis after crisis. As recently as March, tornadoes and other severe weather killed more than two dozen people and caused extensive damage. Last year, the water in Jackson, the state capital, was undrinkable for months because of treatment plant failures. On just about any measure of health, Mississippi ranks near or at the bottom. Nationally, an estimated 10% of people under 65 lack health insurance, but in Mississippi it is about 14%. Deaths from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other illnesses are among the highest per capita in the country. The high rates of poverty contribute to the high cervical cancer mortality, health experts said. About 19% of Mississippiansnearly 1 in 5live in poverty, while nationally it is about 13%. "If I had to pinpoint what that's from, it's from lack of education," said Ridgway, referring to a lack of knowledge about regular cervical cancer screening, which the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends every three years for women 21 to 65. But it likely goes far beyond that, many health experts said. Doctors may be less likely to stress preventive care to less educated women and women of color, studies suggest. "There's a big difference in the quality of care," said Rajesh Balkrishnan, a professor of public health at the University of Virginia who has extensively studied oncology care in Appalachia and other underserved areas. In her case, Jones said, she could not get her doctor's office to return her calls in a timely manner. She was concerned about her symptoms. "I felt I wasn't listened to. I called her more than she called me," Jones said of her doctor. "I was going to my appointments, and I was ignored." And getting access to any carelet alone quality, culturally competent care from providers who acknowledge a patient's heritage, beliefs, and values during treatmentmay be difficult. Most of the state's 82 counties are rural. The average travel distance to a grocery store is 30 miles, and half the population lives in a county that is considered medically underserved, said Letitia Thompson, a vice president in Mississippi for the American Cancer Society. Low-income rural residents often lack reliable transportation, she said, and even if they own a vehicle, they lack gas money. They often can't findor pay forsomeone to take care of their children so they can go to the doctor. Women with low-paying jobs often lack the time to drive to a clinic in a distant town, or the ability to take off from work without losing pay. "Women who work and take care of children often have a huge burden of responsibility," Ridgway said. "They don't have time or the money." Many also don't have insurance. While the Affordable Care Act has lowered the uninsured rate in Mississippi, an estimated additional 88,000 Mississippians could have coverage through Medicaid if the state expanded eligibility for the federal-state insurance program for low-income Americans. But the state is one of 10 that have not agreed to expand coverage to more adults. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican up for reelection this year, is opposed to expansion. His Democratic challenger, Brandon Presley, a second cousin of the music legend Elvis, favors it. Polls show Presley lagging Reeves. Without expansion of Medicaid, people who have low incomes are often left to decide between forgoing insurance and purchasing a policy through the Affordable Care Act marketplace if they cannot get insurance through employment. Even if they qualify for subsidized marketplace plans, they may face high deductibles or copayments for visits, health experts said. That often means going to the doctor only when sick. Preventive care becomes a luxury. "You save your health care dollars for when you are sick or your kids are sick," said Thompson, of the American Cancer Society. But regular medical care can make all the difference with cervical cancer. Pap tests have long helped detect abnormal cervical cells that could turn malignant. Brawley said the test is "one of the best" cancer screening tests because of its accuracy. In 2006, vaccines to prevent cervical cancer were first approved by the FDA. The vaccines guard against the common sexually transmitted infection called the human papillomavirus, which causes nearly all cervical cancers. The HPV vaccine is most effective when administered before a person has become sexually active; the federal recommendation is to get the shots by age 12. Only a handful of places in the U.S.including Hawaii, Rhode Island, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbiarequire the vaccines to attend school. California has pending legislation that initially would have required that middle schoolers get the shots, but the bill has since been watered down to recommend them instead. Mississippi does not require the vaccine, and the state has had the lowest share of fully vaccinated teens by a large margin for years. Fewer than 39% of teens there were up to date on HPV vaccination as of 2022, according to the CDC, compared with an estimated 63% nationally. Thompson said she thinks many parents are hesitant to have their children vaccinated because they believe it would encourage sexual activity. "This is an anti-cancer vaccine," Thompson said. Krista Guynes, director of the women's health program at the Mississippi State Department of Health, said the state has several efforts underway to better inform women about the need for screening. It also has clinics for uninsured women. In partnership with the National Cancer Institute and University of Mississippi Medical Center, she said, the health department is conducting a study to evaluate risk and look for new biomarkers in women undergoing screening for cervical cancer. As for Jones, she considers herself lucky to have survived stage 3 cancer. "I would just like to say to every woman, 'Get the vaccine.' The vaccine will make the difference, so they won't have to be told, 'I'm sorry, you have cancer.'" 2023 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Trinity's School of Medicine have investigated how patient and informal caregiver reciprocal support in specialist palliative care impacts on patient and caregiver decision making for care. Their findings indicate that both obligation to each other and feeling constrained by one another can limit patient and caregiver open disclosure in decision making. The study is published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. The team's previous research informed them that patient and caregiver can reciprocate in supporting one another. This current research now gives fresh insight into the area of decision-making in palliative care that had not previously been understood, and ties in with national palliative care week: September 10th to 16th 2023. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary care approach focused on alleviating symptom distress for people living with life-limiting progressive conditions, and their families. Patients with advanced illness not only depend on health care professional support; they also rely heavily on family to take on caregiving roles. Family caregivers are often involved in the decision-making process for treatment and care. Understanding how supportive behaviors between patients and informal (usually family) caregivers impacts on treatment decision-making is necessary to facilitate effective communication between patients and their caregivers, and in turn, optimize care outcomes for both the patient and caregiver. Researchers now believe the impact of mutual obligation on patient and caregiver decision-making needs to be considered when designing interventions for patient care in palliative care settings. The study involved in-depth qualitative interviews on the topic with patients with advanced illness and their caregivers. All participants were recruited from a large regional specialist palliative care service in Ireland. Key findings Although the patient and caregiver in palliative care can be mutually supportive, how they support one another can have negative connotations for both the patient and caregiver when faced with decisions about care. Mutual support between the patient and caregiver was underpinned by mutual obligation. For caregivers, obligation to the patient was explained by having little choice but to assume a caregiving role and feeling constrained in a caregiving role. For patients, obligation to their caregiver centered on feeling obliged to accept assistance from their caregiver and feeling constrained in a care recipient role. Caregivers who felt obliged to care reported difficulty in discussing the patient's preferences for care with the patient as well as their own wishes for patient care. Some caregivers struggled to engage in conversations with the patient about treatment options. Caregivers who felt most obliged to care reported the most distress in their role, feeling burdened and under strain. Caregivers who felt supported by the patient, by their own choice and obligation, were more likely to be invited into the decision-making process for care. Where the caregiver did not feel forced into caregiving and the patient did not feel inhibited by their reliance on the caregiver, open communication about the needs and preferences for care were far more likely. Dr. Geraldine Foley, assistant professor in occupational therapy at Trinity, primary investigator and corresponding author of the study, said, "The findings from our study pinpoint key dimensions to the patient and caregiver relationship for decision-making in palliative care that we had not fully appreciated prior to conducting the study. We found that caregivers who felt obliged to care had difficulty communicating with the patient about the patient's preferences, and that patients who felt obliged to accept assistance tended to minimize caregiver involvement in decision making." "However, caregivers who assumed caregiving on their own accord and patients who did not feel constrained in care recipient role, were much more open in their communication with each another and trusting of one another." In considering the potential clinical impact of their findings, Dr. Foley said, "These findings highlight the importance for health care professionals to help the caregiver cope with loss of control and choice in a caregiving role. This includes increasing the level of support available to caregivers but also helping caregivers process and deal with loss of control and choice in a caregiver role. "Supporting the patient should involve as appropriate open communication between the patient and caregiver because open communication between the patient and caregiver appears to have a positive outcome for the patient as well as the caregiver." More information: Rachel McCauley et al, Patient and Caregiver Reciprocal Support: Impact on Decision Making in Specialist Palliative Care, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.08.002 Journal information: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In this photo provided by the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Adam Friedman, a dermatologist, teaches AAD Pathways Career Prep students about common dermatologic procedures like biopsies and sutures during a hands-on bioskills workshop offered in collaboration with Nth Dimensions at the George Washington University Student Center in Washington on July 14, 2023. Credit: Joshua Lee Reed/AAD via AP Dr. Starling Tolliver knew she wanted to become a doctor. Yet, as a Black girl growing up in Akron, Ohio, it was a dream that felt out of reach. She rarely saw doctors who looked like her. As a child, she experienced severe hair loss, and struggled to find a dermatologist who could help. Tolliver made a pact with two childhood best friends to become doctors who would care for Black and underserved communities like their own. Now 30, she is in her final year of dermatology residency at Wayne State University in Detroit. She plans to spend her career caring for the body's largest organ, where differences in melanin give humans the skin colors underpinning the construct of race. In dermatology, only 3% of U.S. doctors are Black. Despite her success, the girls' pact remains unfulfilled. While her friend Charmaine became a nurse, Maria, who wanted to become a pediatrician, was killed in their hometown at the age of 19. Her friend's death only strengthened her resolve. "I'm going to continue to go on this path of medicine," Tolliver said. "Not only for myself, but for Maria, and to potentially help others in the future from similar backgrounds as mine know that they can do it as well." Dr. Starling Tolliver, a dermatology resident at Wayne State University, works at Wayne Health in Dearborn, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya But more than two months after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, concerns have arisen that a path into medicine may become much harder for students of color. Heightening the alarm: the medical field's reckoning with longstanding health inequities. Black Americans represent 13% of the U.S. population, yet just 6% of U.S. physicians are Black. Increasing representation among doctors is one solution experts believe could help disrupt health inequities. The disparities stretch from birth to death, often beginning before Black babies take their first breath, a recent Associated Press series showed. Over and over, patients said their concerns were brushed aside or ignored, in part because of unchecked bias and racism within the medical system and a lack of representative care. A UCLA study found the percentage of Black doctors had increased just 4% from 1900 to 2018. But the affirmative action ruling dealt a "serious blow" to the medical field's goals of improving that figure, the American Medical Association said, by prohibiting medical schools from considering race among many factors in admissions. The ruling, the AMA said, "will reverse gains made in the battle against health inequities." The consequences could affect Black health for generations to come, said Dr. Uche Blackstock, a New York emergency room physician and author of "LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine." In this photo provided by the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Ginette Okoye, a dermatologist, guides AAD Pathways Career Prep students through common dermatologic procedures during a hands-on bioskills workshop, at the George Washington University Student Center in Washington on July 14, 2023. Credit: Joshua Lee Reed/AAD via AP "It's really about holding these larger organizations, institutions accountable and saying: 'Right now, we're in a crisisa crisis of humanity,'" Blackstock said. With affirmative action off the table at predominantly white institutions, historically Black colleges and universities may see an increase in applications, said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. The college, which typically has 115 openings for new medical students, receives between 7,000 and 9,000 applications per year, a number Rice said she believes will increase in light of the Supreme Court ruling. HBCUs have long served as a direct pipeline of Black doctors. Experts say diversity is especially needed within specialty medicine. In dermatology, just 65 of the 796 applicants for residencies in 2020 were Black, data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows. Only 39 were Latino. For a field focusing on the skin, the unequal access among patients of color is stark: Patients of color are half as likely as white patients to see a dermatologist for the same conditions. The consequences can be devastating. In this photo provided by the American Academy of Dermatology, AAD Pathways Career Prep students Sydney Sharpe and Dandelion Risch practice common dermatologic procedures like biopsies and sutures during a hands-on bioskills workshop offered in collaboration with Nth Dimensions at the George Washington University Student Center in Washington on July 14, 2023. Credit: Joshua Lee Reed/AAD via AP "The skin is a window to the rest of your health," said Dr. Ginette Okoye, professor and chair of dermatology at Howard University, who is a programming lead for the American Academy of Dermatology's Pathways program. "If you have kidney disease, if you have cancer, sometimes those clues show up on the skin first. We are able to preemptively diagnose cancer sometimes just by the way a specific rash shows up on the skin," Okoye said. "That's pretty impactful." Black men are more likely to die of melanoma, compared with men of other races, according to a study co-authored last month by dermatologist Dr. Ashley Wysong in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. They also are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when the condition is more difficult to treat. Melanoma is the most invasive and serious form of skin cancer. The reasons for the different cancer rates are unclear, and more research is needed to understand in particular how economic and social conditions impact the cancer rates, Wysong said. The study found survival rates in men with melanoma were highest among white men, 75%, while the survival rates were lowest among Black men at only 52%. "As medical professionals, any time we see disparities in care or outcomes of any kind, we have to look at the systems in which we are delivering care and we have to look at ways that we are falling short," Wysong said. Without affirmative action as a tool, career programs focused on engaging people of color could grow in importance. Dr. Starling Tolliver, a dermatology resident at Wayne State University poses at Wayne Health in Dearborn, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya For instance, the Pathways initiative engages students from Black, Latino and Indigenous communities from high school through medical school. The program starts with building interest in dermatology as a career and continues to scholarships, workshops and mentorship programs. The goal: Increase the number of underrepresented dermatology residents from about 100 in 2022 to 250 by 2027, and grow the share of dermatology faculty who are members of color by 2%. Tolliver credits her success in becoming a dermatologist in part to a scholarship she received through Ohio State University's Young Scholars Program, which helps talented, first-generation Ohio students with financial need. The scholarship helped pave the way for medical school, but her involvement in the Pathways residency program also was central. Azariah Providence, a 17-year-old rising high school senior who lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands, participated in the high school Pathways program last month. She wants to become a dermatologist because of her own scalp psoriasis diagnosis, which is a skin disease causing a rash with itchy, scaly patches. Her condition hampered her self-esteem as a 9-year-old girl. The dermatologist she saw, one of very few on the island, prescribed medication causing Providence's skin to burn and her hair to fall out. "It was a difficult experience because as a little girl, your hair is very important to you," Providence recalled. "After going through that, I wanted to help little girls who have similar conditions that I have. I want to be that person for them that I didn't have when I was younger." Dr. Starling Tolliver, a dermatology resident at Wayne State University poses at Wayne Health in Dearborn, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya In this photo provided by the American Academy of Dermatology, Dakota Sutton and AAD Pathways Derm Career Prep students engage with instructor Jaracus Copes, right, at the George Washington University Student Center in Washington on July 14, 2023. Credit: Joshua Lee Reed/AAD via AP Providence, who would be a first-generation medical student, said the program exposed her to college students and doctors of color, something she had never before seen. "I think it's important for more Black people to get into the field of dermatology for the simple reason that some conditions may appear differently on Black skin," Providence said. "I want to enter the field so that people who look like me can have their skin understood and fully studied so that when they come to get diagnosed, it's a correct diagnosis and they could get the correct treatment." Dermatology also is working to diversify its textbooks to help improve the spectrum of skin colors so doctors can be better equipped to diagnose and provide equitable care, said Dr. Adam Friedman, chair of dermatology at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. But targeted programs to diversify the pipeline of talent are crucial for the future of medicine, Friedman said. As Tolliver prepares to leave residency, she hopes to be one of the people pushing for better outcomes, especially for Black women. "Our patients are looking for us, and that kind of pushed forward my love for this field," Tolliver said. "And that really has been my goal ongoing from when I was a little girl: for Black women to see the beauty of themselves, within themselves." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Rapid GS workflow and summary of genetic diagnoses. (A) Rapid GS workflow and time intervals, created with BioRender.com. (B) Genetic diagnoses arranged by age at seizure onset. Each square represents an infant who received a genetic diagnosis. The affected gene or genomic region is denoted in the square. The infant with a diagnostic SCN2A variant and seizure onset in the second month of life classified as self-limited neonatal epilepsy was born prematurely and was younger than 44 weeks postmenstrual age at seizure onset. (C) Types of variants in diagnostic cases. Data are n (%) of 46 total variants. (D) Mode of inheritance of variants in diagnostic cases. Data are n (%) of 43 total diagnoses. GS=genome sequencing. DEE=developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Credit: The Lancet Neurology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00246-6 Treating children with epilepsy has traditionally been a matter of trial and error, trying different drugs one after the other. In the one-third of patients for whom the drugs do not work and seizures continue, doctors consider brain surgeryif it can be done safely. Early in her career, Ann Poduri, MD, MPH, who directs the Neurogenetics and Epilepsy Genetics programs at Boston Children's Hospital, wondered: What could be learned from the brain tissue removed during surgery? Could it yield a better genetic understanding of epilepsy? "If we could know what caused epilepsy for these individuals, maybe we could actually treat them with science on our side," she says. When Poduri was in medical school in the late 1990s, only three or four epilepsy-related genes were known. Today, through work in her own lab and many others, that's swelled to more than 800. A genetic diagnosis can mean a change in a child's medications, better planning for the future, and guidance for family members who may share the same genetic variant. Occasionally, it can spark the use or development of new epilepsy medicationswith the help of Poduri's zebrafish modelsadding to an arsenal that's changed little in more than 20 years. Poduri's passions also lie in making genetic diagnoses accessible to families routinely, with as little delay as possible. "Early diagnosis means children don't have to keep having MRIs and spinal taps," she says. "With a genetic diagnosis, whether it's good news or bad news, families can have closure and certainty, and important decisions can be made." Whole-genome sequencing for infant seizures? A new study published in The Lancet Neurologythe first of its kindtakes a bold step in that direction. Through the International Precision Child Health Partnership (IPCHiP) co-founded by Boston Children's in 2021, researchers at Boston Children's and other centers in Australia, England, and Canada performed rapid whole-genome sequencing of DNA from 100 infants with new-onset epilepsy and, in most cases, their parents. This approach isn't the norm today clinically. "A typical scenario for a baby with epilepsy is a short clinic or hospital visit that doesn't include discussion of possible genetic causes or how to test for them," Poduri says. "When an infant is on multiple medications, having seizures, and not meeting developmental milestones, there are so many acute issues to be addressed that there's often no time to get to genetics. And most centers don't have genetic counselors or other professionals who can navigate genetic testing for families." Whole-genome sequencing is also not the norm in the clinic. Typically used only in a research setting, it is more expensive than whole-exome sequencing, which looks only at the DNA sequences, or genetic material, that code for proteins. But it can solve more cases, identifying mutations in regulatory elements and duplications and deletions in the genome that can also cause disease. "We wanted to provide evidence that rapid genome sequencing really does have a clinical impact," says Alissa D'Gama, MD, Ph.D., a clinical fellow in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine who is in Poduri's lab and is first author on the study. "Sometimes it can happen in an intensive care setting, but not a lot of payers will pay for rapid testing in outpatient or other inpatient settings. We hope our work will influence future policy decisions." Making the case for rapid whole-genome sequencing Of the 100 infants in the study, whole-genome sequencing provided diagnostic information for 43, usually within two to three weeks of enrolling in the study. The median time from an infant developing seizures to getting a sequencing result was 37 days. Diagnostic sequencing results influenced treatment decisions in 24 of the 43 infants (56%), pointed to potential precision therapies for 49%, and provided new prognostic information for 86%. In 28% of cases, the diagnosis had health implications for parents or led to other family members being tested. Overall, sequencing was clinically useful for 55% of the entire cohort, whether families received a diagnosis or not, and whether the prognosis was good or poor. The study also showed that rapid whole-genome sequencing is feasible in multiple care settings. Diagnostic yields were 30% for infants seen in the outpatient setting, 44% for infants admitted to non-intensive inpatient care, and 71% for infants in intensive care. "Prior studies of rapid sequencing have primarily enrolled from intensive care settings and haven't focused on a specific disease cohort," notes D'Gama. From discovery to implementation Poduri and D'Gama hope their findings will help make whole genome sequencing routine for infants with epilepsy. "The barriers to precise diagnosis and precision treatment are no longer scientific knowledge barriers," Poduri says. "We want to make the so-called 'impractical' practical and accessible for all children with epilepsy." She and her team are educating clinicians and payers about the value of epilepsy genomics, working through professional epilepsy and neurology societies. They are also looking to partner with neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the community and provide genomics services to clinics with underrepresented populations. "If patients can't get to us, what if we try to get to them? What if we go to other locations and provide translators?" Poduri says. "We have eager young people ready to go out and carry this forward. It takes a whole health system to come together and say, 'Let's make this available to our patients.'" More information: Alissa M D'Gama et al, Evaluation of the feasibility, diagnostic yield, and clinical utility of rapid genome sequencing in infantile epilepsy (Gene-STEPS): an international, multicentre, pilot cohort study, The Lancet Neurology (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00246-6 Ministers Harris and Collins welcome study which reveals vast majority of people want to learn a new skill in near future Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins today welcomed new research which revealed nine out of ten people want to learn a new skill in the near future. The EU Year of Skills was launched in Ireland by Ministers Harris and Collins in May with a call to action for everyone in the country to put skills at the centre for this year and to take the opportunity to learn a new skill. Speaking today, Minister Harris said: We have an incredibly educated and highly skilled population in Ireland, but we can no longer treat knowledge as a fixed asset nor can we assume that what we learned in three or four years of study is sufficient to last a lifetime. Today is about telling people of all ages and all backgrounds that there are countless opportunities available in this country to learn a new skill. The world is changing at a rapid pace and it means skills have a shorter shelf life than ever before. So yes, Im determined to drive the skills agenda in order to help support the economy, and what the research carried out last week by Amarach also shows is that the benefits of lifelong learning go well beyond a monetary value. Learning a new skill, pursuing a passion, or taking on a course you always wanted to do improves for your self-confidence and mental well-being. So today I am again issuing a rallying call for us to this year collectively rise to the challenge of arming ourselves with new skills, for everyone to take advantage of all the opportunities available, and help drive both our economy and societal wellbeing. The launch of the EU Year of Skills in May coincided with the publication of the OECD Ireland Skills Strategy Report, which found participation in lifelong learning here, while above the EU average, falls far behind the top performers. However, research carried out by Amarach in the past week, found that while almost half of people reported learning a new skill since the beginning of the year, almost 9 out of ten would like to learn one in the near future. Some of the keys findings of the research included: Of those who have recently learned a new skill, 90% said it improved their mental health and made them feel more confident, while 62% said they did it to develop themselves as a person. Almost one in four people are only slightly confident they have the skills to advance in their current jobs, and only one in five are very confident they have the skills for the job they want in the next five years. Self-development is the main motivation for learning a new skill (62%), followed by interest in the subject (45%), and to improve health and wellbeing (39%). Just over half (55%) have made new friends on a course, and a similar number (51%) said it inspired their friends and family to learn new skills. For almost two-fifths (39%), leaning a new skill has enabled them to earn more money. Minister Collins said: Funding is available to support a wide range of upskilling and reskilling initiatives that meet the demands of a changing world, address skills shortages and contribute to the digital and green economy. We have also seen what learning a new skill can do for someones confidence and feeling of self-worth. So if its reskilling for a new career, upskilling for your current role, or simply pursuing a hobby that you were always passionate about, I would encourage everyone to take on a fresh challenge this year. Part and full time courses are available through ETBs across Ireland, while Skillnet Ireland programmes are developed by business, for business, with over 23,500 companies of all sizes benefitting from upskilling programmes each year. Nessa White, Executive Director of Transformation at SOLAS, the Further Education & Training Authority, said: Learning a new skill is easier than you think. The benefits of lifelong learning are endless, with the FET sector playing a crucial role in equipping learners with the skills to reach their full potential. There have never been more opportunities for upskilling and reskilling with smart, flexible Further Education and Training (FET) courses available in every county in Ireland, delivered by a network of 16 Education and Training Boards, and by eCollege, the national online learning service. FET is for everyone. It is available in every community in Ireland, and offers every individual, regardless of any previous level of education, a pathway to take them as far as they want to go. During European Year of Skills 2023, we encourage everyone to take a look at the opportunities to learn a new skill in their local community." Skillnet Ireland Chief Executive Paul Healy said: At Skillnet Ireland we are partnering with businesses to bring solutions to the skills gaps they experience, and in areas that are vital for every firm, such as innovation, digitalisation, and the green transition. This is driving business success but also allowing employers to cater for the individual needs of their people, giving them an opportunity to attain 21st century skills and to build career paths. For more information on courses and supports available, go to Gov.ie/skills. ENDS NOTES TO THE EDITOR Amarach Research Amarach was commissioned by the Department to carry out a nationwide online survey of 1,100 adults over the age of 18 examining attitudes to upskilling, reskilling and learning new skills. The survey was carried out over two days on September 4th and 5th and asked ten questions around the reasons people chose to learn a new, whether they were planning to learn a new skill, the motivation behind learning a new skill, and what the benefits of learning a new skill have been to them. OECD Skills Strategy Project for Ireland This project was led in Ireland by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in partnership with the OECD. The project took the form of extensive policy analysis by the OECD and extensive stakeholder engagement on skills issues facing Ireland. There were four policy Priority Areas of the project: securing balance in skills through a responsive and diversified supply of skills fostering greater participation in lifelong learning in and outside of the workplace strengthening the governance across a joined-up skills ecosystem leveraging skills to drive innovation and strengthen the performance of firm The project has been concluded with publication of the OECD report. EU Year of Skills 2023 The European Year of Skills was announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union address in 2022, calling on Member States to take a renewed priority focus on upskilling, reskilling and continuous learning. The Year of Skills is a EU-wide initiative to ensure that people get the right skills for quality jobs and to help companies, in particular small and medium enterprises, address skills shortages. The particular emphasis of the Year of Skills is on lifelong learning, by fostering easier recognition of qualifications across borders, by bringing organisations and people together to share their experiences and insights, and setting out how EU initiatives and funding possibilities can help. In Ireland, the broad work of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and partners will be recognised and encompassed in the Year of Skills, with a focus on raising awareness, engagement and uptake in continuous learning for all. Lifelong learning Lifelong learning is measured by the participation of the adult population (25-64 year-olds) engaging in education and training in the last four weeks. Eurostat measured this in Ireland as nearly 14% in 2021. Top EU performers, Sweden and Finland, had rates of nearly 35% and 31% respectively. Contact Information Press Office press@dfheris.gov.ie Tanaiste Micheal Martin announces 2 million in emergency humanitarian assistance following the devastating earthquake in Morocco Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheal Martin TD, has announced a contribution of 2 million of Irish Aid support to the people of Morocco who are experiencing a humanitarian crisis following the devastating earthquake of September 9. This funding will support the work of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) who are a pivotal part of the local response. The 2 million allocation will support immediate and urgent humanitarian needs on the ground. The funds will support local communities most affected through the provision of emergency shelter, clean drinking water and food, mobile health care including psychological support, and hygiene centres through support of the local response by the Moroccan Red Crescent. Approximately 300,000 people have already been directly affected by the earthquake, with over 2,100 deaths and 2,400 injuries. There are concerns that these numbers will continue to grow in the coming days. Evacuations are underway and it is expected that thousands will be temporarily displaced in the region. This support is in addition to prepositioned funding of 2.4m already provided to the IFRC by Ireland this year as part of a three-year MOU, which allows the Federation to respond immediately when a disaster strikes. The IFRC immediately disbursed 1 million over the weekend to support the operations of the Moroccan Red Crescent Society (MRCS) who were providing medical assistance, and supporting evacuation and coordination efforts. Announcing the funding this morning, the Tanaiste said: I was shocked and saddened to learn of this devastating earthquake. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones, the injured and emergency responders. The destruction, particularly in remote areas, will place extraordinary pressure on vulnerable groups and pose significant challenges to rescuers. Ireland stands in solidarity with the people of Morocco and will provide immediate emergency humanitarian assistance. Funding from Ireland will support a locally led response and provide assistance to those most impacted by this disaster. Minister for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD, said: This funding will play an important role in the rebuilding of lives and communities in Morocco following the devastating earthquake. Ireland has a proud record of responding quickly to support partners around the world when disasters strike. Our thoughts are with all the families who have lost loved ones. This humanitarian funding is a sign of Irelands support and solidarity with them at this time. Notes for Editors Irish Aid, the Governments programme for overseas development, is an integral part of the Department of Foreign Affairs. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the worlds largest humanitarian network. Their secretariat supports local Red Cross and Red Crescent action in more than 191 countries, bringing together almost 15 million volunteers for the good of humanity. In addition to supporting direct crisis responses as they arise, Ireland also provides annual core funding for the IFRC and funding for its pooled Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). In 2023, a three year MOU was signed committing Ireland to providing a minimum of 2.4 million split evenly between core and DREF funding for the 2023-2025 period. The Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) is the quickest, most efficient and most transparent way of getting funding directly to local humanitarian actorsboth before and immediately after a crisis hits. The DREF is a central pot of money through which we can release funds rapidly to Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies for early action and immediate disaster response. Ireland has also supported the IFRC to respond to individual emergencies through direct funding totalling 10m in 2023, and including the Turkiye Earthquake appeal, Pakistan floods appeal and the Ukraine response. ENDS The G20 leaders agreed to accelerate efforts to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, aligning with recommendations from the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) on how the world can move in line with the Paris Agreement targets, said a report. In a declaration adopted on Saturday, the Group cites a joint report between Irena and India's G20 Presidency, titled "Low-Cost Financing for Energy Transitions", which estimates a need for over $4 trillion in annual investments by 2030. According to Irenas World Energy Transitions Outlook 2023, released earlier this year in June, the world needs to triple global renewable power capacity to just over 11.000 GW by 2030 to maintain the possibility of limiting global warming to 1.5C. The agreement taken by G20 supports this objective. Irena Director-General Francesco La Camera said: "The adoption of a renewable energy target aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement is a significant milestone for the energy transition. Over the past decade, thanks to rapidly falling costs, renewable energy has emerged as the most cost-effective energy solution for meeting the growing needs of global populations while simultaneously combating climate change." "Irena is proud to have played a role in the G20's decision to adopt this target. We will maintain close collaboration with our member countries to deliver on this ambition," he added. La Camera stressed the importance of building on this political momentum as the world prepares for COP28, emphasising that an ambitious action agenda that is inclusive of both developed and developing countries at COP28 will be essential to addressing the climate challenge. Irenas 'Low-Cost Financing for Energy Transitions' report, developed in close collaboration with Indias Ministry of New and Renewable Energy provides a toolbox to increase the availability of low-cost capital in G20 countries and beyond. DEER LODGE The Sun Mountain Lumber sawmill in Deer Lodge buzzes each week through about 2 million board feet of logs. Sun Mountains process extracts everything but the high-pitched whine of the saws. It harvests lumber, sawdust, chips and planer shavings. Some of the byproduct material ends up as a component in Starbucks coffee cups and other food-grade products. Other byproducts supply the fuel to heat the mills lumber-drying kiln and the mill itself. Computer scanning guides bandsaws and circular saws to maximize how many sticks of lumber each log yields. The sawmill relies primarily on Douglas fir but also processes lodgepole pine. Some bandsaw blades are 38 feet long and cost about $1,000 each new. Sun Mountain specializes in two-by-fours and two-by-sixes of varied lengths, with 9 feet being the bread-and-butter product during an era of 10-foot ceilings. The sawmill also uses finger-jointing techniques to produce much longer lumber that is resistant to warping in hot and humid places such as Texas. The whole process operates at an impressive speed. Logs get de-barked, cut to length, sawn into dimensional lumber and planed. The lumber is dried in a kiln, sorted by grades and stacked for shipping to customers. Sun Mountain Lumber operates the sawmill and has its own logging crews and logging trucks through Sun Mountain Logging to augment timber delivered by independent loggers. The company employs about 200 people and is a significant economic presence in Deer Lodge, Powell County and the region, according to Jordan Green, chief administrative officer for the city of Deer Lodge. Sun Mountain Lumber is the largest lumber mill in Montana and is one of the states last remaining mills, Green said. As such, it is a key employer both in the city of Deer Lodge and in our region. Having such a steady source of employment for Deer Lodge residents is an incredible benefit to our community, and the periphery economic benefits to the city, state and even nation are far-reaching. Sean Steinebach, outreach forester for Sun Mountain, said working in the wood products industry is a Montana heritage occupation, like mining and ranching. These are important jobs, he said. And logging can play a role in forest fuels reduction, a forest management approach some say can reduce the severity of wildfires. Green agreed. The mill provides high-quality Rocky Mountain-grown timber products across the country, he said. Its forestry service helps with fuel mitigation in Montanas forests, which improves the states ecological and recreational well-being. Steinebach said litigation about timber sales can create situations where the mill has to travel long distances to find logs. Its a struggle, he said. Finding raw materials is one of our major issues. Were very dependent on federal lands. Wages at Sun Mountain Lumber start at $19 an hour, and the sawmill fully pays medical and dental insurance costs. But, like many other contemporary employers, Sun Mountain Lumber faces challenges at times to hire workers. Sun Mountain superintendent Nelson Bohrer said the companys contract to employ pre-release inmates from Butte has been a positive arrangement. Some have stayed on after release and become full-fledged, responsible employees, Bohrer said. Sun Mountain Lumber, owned by Sherm Anderson, and R-Y Timber announced in June plans by Sun Mountain to buy R-Y Timber in Livingston. The transaction has been described as a win-win for both Deer Lodge and Livingston. Steinebach said there is a signed purchase agreement. There is work left to do on the facility to make it operational, he said. We do not have a hard date of operations starting back up, but hopefully soon. Meanwhile, Green described the important economic contributions of the Deer Lodge mill. The philanthropic efforts of Sun Mountain Lumber and its owners have an incredible impact on our community that cannot be overstated, Green said. Sun Mountain Lumbers employment opportunities, cash and material donations to businesses and organizations in the community, and partnership on a variety of projects make the mill a vital facet of Deer Lodges successes. SAWTOOTH NATIONAL FOREST NEAR KETCHUM Rich Bauer still remembers the moment he first set eyes on the Beaver Creek Fire, a mega wildfire that aggressively torched close to 115,000 acres west of Hailey and Ketchum 10 years ago. I was coming back from the Braun Brothers Reunion in Mackay, and I could see this massive header, said Bauer, who was captain of Wood River Fire and Rescue at the time. I was like, Uh oh, were gonna be in trouble pretty soon. The wildfire, which would become the valleys largest blaze in recorded history, had been sparked by lightning a few days prior, late in the evening of Aug. 7, about 13 miles southwest of Hailey in the Beaver Creek drainage. It would not be fully contained until Aug. 31. I got back into town and we immediately started ramping up resources from Hailey and Ketchum, Bauer said. While local crews responded quickly to the Beaver Creek Fire, federal resources were stretched thin by two other major wildfires in the state the Pony and Elk complexes and were slow to arrive. Quote There was definitely some pretty significant fear of the unknown out there. It was scary, no doubt about it Im not gonna lie. Rich Bauer Still, nearly a week after the Beaver Creek Fire ignited, it had burned less than 35,000 acres and remained a seemingly safe distance from Hailey and the Wood River Valley. Smoke was the primary concern more irritating than threatening. Meanwhile, the Elk and Pony complexes had jointly consumed over 240,000 acres with no sign of slowing. That would all change with frightening suddenness. Driven by heavy, hot, erratic winds out of the south and west, the fire exploded on Aug. 16, when it made aggressive runs into several drainages that spill into the Wood River Valley, like Deer Creek and Greenhorn Gulch. The first big day for the valley was when the fire burned into Greenhorn Gulch, said Bauer, now chief of the North Blaine County Fire District and assistant chief of the Sun Valley Fire Department. That was the most intense day of wildland firefighting that Ive had in my 20-plus year career. A rural spur-canyon situated between Hailey and Ketchum on the west side of the Wood River Valley, Greenhorn Gulch became a scene of apocalyptic fire behavior and heroic firefighting efforts. By early afternoon on Aug. 16, the fire had crested the headwaters of Greenhorn Gulch from the south and west and was racing toward dozens of homes and Highway 75 the main artery of the valley. Bauer and a strike team of dozens of mostly local firefighters raced up the gulch in a frantic effort to save as many homes as possible. We had probably 10 to 12 engines out there protecting structures, Bauer said. We knew that it was going to blow up and be intense. The fire burned so fast, and hot, that flames could be measured in the hundreds of feet as they torched the tinder-dry slopes. There was definitely some pretty significant fear of the unknown out there, Bauer said. It was scary, no doubt about it Im not gonna lie. But once the fire got there, the fear eased a bit and we focused on what we needed to do. Fighting flames, saving homes In the chaotic sky above the firefighters, a fleet of helicopters rotated out of the gulch at low elevations. In precise unison, the helicopters sucked water out of ponds on the valley floor and flew back into the heart of the blaze, engulfed by thick black smoke and just out of reach of violent orange flames. Meanwhile, a DC-10 Air Tanker flew dangerously low and slow to strategically drop massive loads of fire retardant on the flames, homes and fleet of firefighters. That was crazy, Bauer said about the jets, known as VLATs, short for very large air tankers. Those things fly at such a slow speed they are really riding the razors edge. They saved a lot of homes. By this time, much of the west side of the valley was under a mandatory evacuation order. Once the fire began to charge down Greenhorn Gulch, many areas on the east side of the valley also received evacuation orders. Still, a crowd of fleeing locals gathered at the base of Greenhorn on the shoulder of the highway to observe the monstrous blaze, circling helicopters and low-flying tanker jets. Most were convinced Greenhorn had been a complete loss, and that no homes survived. In the end, firefighters pulled off a veritable miracle, saving all but one home located at the base of Imperial Gulch in the Greenhorn subdivision. The fire burned down Imperial with incredible intensity, Bauer said. To lose only one home with such an intense fire was unbelievable it really speaks to the passion of our local crews. It was a huge, huge accomplishment for the local and federal firefighters everybody just came together and did an exceptional job. Once the fire front passed through Greenhorn drainage, Bauer quickly caught his breath and glanced around the charred, smoking landscape before moving on to other areas along the fires front. It was like nothing Ive ever seen, he said. It was very, very surreal almost like a movie set. By that evening, the fire had grown by tens of thousands of acres tripling in size to 92,754 acres in less than 60 hours. And it wasnt done. Nearly 700 firefighters had been assigned to the fire by this point, with hundreds more on order. Eventually, over 1,100 firefighters would work on the blaze. With the fire shifting in intensity further north near Ketchum, some west Hailey residents were returning to their homes as mandatory evacuation orders lifted. That would end up being a bit premature. Don McQuary, who lived on West Croy Street in Hailey, was awakened in the middle of the night by his buzzing cellphone. It was a text from a friend of mine who worked at 911 dispatch, McQuary said. It simply said, If youre home, leave now! McQuary jumped out of bed, raced to his window, peeled back the shades and saw flames running down the slope of Carbonate Mountain, which looms above Hailey on the edge of the valley. I was like, Oh (expletive)! McQuary recounted. I grabbed my dog and got out. The fire behavior had taken everyone, including the firefighters, by surprise. It takes very unique fire conditions to have a fire back down the hill like that, Bauer said about the flames on Carbonate Mountain. Firefighters managed to repel the fires run toward Hailey, but flames lingered in the steep chutes below Carbonate ridge for days. When McQuary returned home a couple days later, he said there were chunks of burned sage a couple inches thick laying on his lawn. They had been carried there by the wind, which is nuts, he added. Saved by a scar? Back up north near Ketchum, firefighters were getting some much needed help from oddly enough a previous wildfire. Quote It takes about seven to 10 years for root systems to start rotting out after a wildfire. Thats a lot of what were seeing and dealing with now especially after heavy winters and big wind events, which we experienced this year. Sara Gress Six years earlier, the Castle Rock Fire burned over 48,000 acres west of Ketchum. The two fires shared some similarities. Both were ignited by lightning strikes in August following meager winters and hot, dry, windy summers. And they both threatened the valley and Bald Mountain, the Sun Valley ski resort, from the west. Castle Rock, the origin of the fire, is located about 11 miles west of Ketchum in the Warm Springs drainage. Some of the scar from the Castle Rock Fire stopped the Beaver Fire from its northward direction, Bauer said. The Beaver Fire never really threatened Baldy because of the scar. Not only did the old burn not contain enough fuel to drive the fire into Ketchum and the ski hill affectionately known as Baldy it allowed firefighters to post-up within the burn in the Warm Springs drainage to attack the new blaze. That is what really set us up for success, Bauer said. While the Beaver Creek Fire did most of its damage prior to Aug. 18, having burned about 100,000 acres in 11 days, it would burn an additional 15,000 acres before it was done. Residents who had fled the flames and smoke reacted with shock and horror as they returned to the valley. But that was countered by gratitude. Homemade signs thanking firefighters for their courageous efforts and for saving the community lined the length of the valley. Bauer said that was a special feeling in such a tight-knit valley where seemingly everyone knows everyone. It was phenomenal, Bauer said. Were incredibly grateful to be able to serve this community, and to have the community be so grateful for our response. Clearing trails, one branch at a time As the smoke began to lift, an alien landscape was slowly unveiled. Wispy swirls of ashen dust lifted just long enough to reveal black, barren hillsides, smoking stumps and charred soil. Burned, felled trees collected in huge snags like a spilled box of matches. In the less intense areas of the fire, stands of torched Douglas fir and lodgepole pine stood defiant, like a beaten but stoic army of charcoal soldiers. A series of heavy rainstorms in early September complicated matters, triggering massive slides in the burn that slammed into homes and buried roads and trails under tons of mud, ash and splintered timber. These conditions would spur a multi-year effort to rehabilitate the forests trails and road system. The Wood River Trail Coalition, based in Hailey, was central in that effort. Officially partnered with the Sawtooth National Forest, WRTC has annually assembled a crew of about 250 volunteers to help rehabilitate and reroute trails on the forest since the fire. It was a really big push up until a few years ago, said Sara Gress, executive director of the WRTC. There was a lot of great community engagement it was awesome. While Gress said the majority of the trail reroutes have been completed, a new issue has emerged over the past few years within the burn: Falling trees. It takes about seven to 10 years for root systems to start rotting out after a wildfire, said Gress, who used to work for the Ketchum Ranger District. Thats a lot of what were seeing and dealing with now especially after heavy winters and big wind events, which we experienced this year. This spring, several trails in the burn were choked with clusters of deadfall tangles that had been carried to valley bottoms by massive winter avalanches, blocking access to the forest for sheep herders and recreational users alike. John Reagle, who manages a crew of about a dozen volunteer dirt bikers that clears trails in the area, first dealt with this issue after insects like the mountain pine beetle started sinking their teeth into the forests lodgepole pine stands a couple decades ago. But nothing has compared to what hes seen this year. Its been massive, said Reagle, who is 72 years old and still rides his dirt bike daily in the summer and skis every day in the winter. Ive cleared more than 600 trees this season. Quote We are still dealing with the after-effects of this fire and will be for some time. And thats OK fire is part of the ecosystem. It is natural. Nelson Mills Equipped with a chainsaw that he keeps mounted on his dirt bike with a 20-year-old homemade rack, Reagle and a loose affiliation of about a dozen other volunteer dirt bikers begin work every season as soon as the snow melts in the south valley. From there, they follow the thaw north chainsaws always affixed to their bikes. Since the fire, he said he and his crew, who are partially reimbursed by the WRTC and the forest service for their saws and fuel, have cleared well over 3,000 fallen trees from trails in the burn over the past 10 years. And he doesnt believe theyre out of the woods yet. I think were still in the throes of it, he said. There are a lot of trees that will keep coming down in the next few years. Were seeing slides come down and bury the trails with debris below slopes that have never slid. Reagle said he never rides without his chainsaw mounted to his bike, as trees are constantly falling throughout the forest and blocking trails. Well head out for the day and cut a trail and keep riding, Reagle said. Then when were coming out, we sometimes have to cut again as more trees fell during our ride. Its not all doom and gloom Between falling trees, insect infestation, disease and chunks of forest that are ripe to burn following nearly 100 years of fire suppression, the Sawtooth National Forest is facing a number of challenges. But its not all doom and gloom, said Nelson Mills, a forester in the Sawtooth National Forests Ketchum Ranger District and the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. After all, wildfire is a natural and necessary ingredient for a healthy forest, and the charred, seemingly lifeless soil responded the year after the fire with tremendously vibrant green growth. We are still dealing with the after-effects of this fire and will be for some time, he said. And thats OK fire is part of the ecosystem. It is natural. What wasnt natural was wildfire policy and management over the past century, when fire was treated like an invading army. Following the infamous 1910 fires, which ravaged over 3 million acres of forest in northern Idaho and western Montana and were likened to hell on earth, the Forest Service enacted what was known as the 10 a.m. policy. This unrealistic, dangerous and misguided new order demanded that all wildfires had to be extinguished by 10 a.m. the day after detection. Over the coming decades, this fire-suppressing policy also fueled tremendous unbalance in the forest, particularly in terms of age diversity among tree species. In other words, the forest was old. We know now with science that they should not have done it the way they did, Mills said. But when they did it, in their minds they thought it was the right thing to do. It is a part of our history. As a result of that war-like fire suppression policy, most forests in the West skipped burn cycles, creating unbalanced, non-diverse tree stands that have become more susceptible to not only future mega-fires, but insects and disease. A warming planet is not helping matters. Climate change and fire suppression have really exacerbated our insect and disease outbreaks, said Mills. When you have a forest that should have naturally burned but it skipped a burn cycle that forest will go through a disturbance cycle. Locally, the impact of insects and disease can be seen forest wide, not just in the burn. Beginning in the late 1990s, the mountain pine beetle ravaged lodgepole pine stands in the Sawtooth Valley and Stanley Basin. By 2010, the insects had killed 60-80 percent of mature lodgepole pine in those areas of the forest, Mills said. Battling the beetle Following the Beaver Creek Fire, another beetle reared its ugly head in the Ketchum Ranger District: The Douglas-fir beetle. This invasion became particularly problematic, and visible, on Bald Mountain. Since firefighters were able to prevent both the Castle Rock Fire and the Beaver Fire from reaching the ski area, Bald Mountain became an island of forest green, Mills said. And that lush, green, unburned timber was a dinner bell for the bark beetle following the Beaver Creek Fire. When youre a living being and your only desire is to eat and mate, youre going to go where the food is, Mills said. And that was on Bald Mountain. It took the bark beetle a few years after the fire to establish themselves on the ski slopes, which are home to mostly Douglas fir trees the bark beetles food source including some pre-settlement, legacy trees that are over 400 years old. Those legacy trees were targeted in particular by the Douglas Fir bark beetle because they are large and have enough food source and surface area for breeding, Mills said. A lot of those legacy trees died, unfortunately. Mills said about 15% of trees on Bald Mountain perished, beginning in 2016 and peaking in 2018-19. As a forester, this was super concerning, Mills said. In response, the forest service began to annually apply anti-bark beetle pheromone to trees on Baldy. Additionally, dwarf mistletoe, a parasitic flowering plant that kills trees by slowly draining them of food and water, is wreaking havoc on Baldy. Roughly 80 percent of trees on the mountain have been at least partially damaged by the parasite, Mills said. In an era of heightened concern and uncertainty exacerbated by climate change, how does the forest service combat such a variety of issues? It is a challenge and something I work at on a daily basis, said Mills, who seems as personally passionate about the forest as he is professionally. The best strategies are over a landscape level increasing age-class diversity among forested stands. Smaller, younger trees do not have the girth to support beetles both as a food source and for mating, Mills said. The more we increase our stand diversity, the better we are at resisting the effects of wildfire, disease and climate change, he added. Managing a new normal Mills said the Sawtooth National Forest has a three-pronged approach to forest management: Improve forest health; reduce hazardous fuels; and restore the forested stands. Some of those goals are achieved through reforestation. Last winter the forest service conducted a post-fire analysis of burned stands, and we found that we have about 40,000 acres that are in need of reforestation across the Sawtooth National Forest, Mills said. This is achieved through planting, seeding, thinning and controlled burns. But one of the greatest allies the forest service has comes from what some would consider an unlikely source. Loggers are a key part we work with them all the time, Mills said. They harvest and we get that valuable forest management restoration product as an end. We couldnt do forest management work without the loggers. These arent logs on trucks, Mills said, referring to large industrial scale logging. They are mostly mom and pop operations. Its all small businesses wives working with their husbands, said Kelly Nichols, a support services specialist with the Sawtooth National Forest. Theyre great. We love seeing them, and they help a ton. Added Mills, Even if wood fiber was obsolete, we would still have the need for timber harvest to help with forest management. Despite all the issues on the Sawtooth National Forest, which Mills said generally isnt in any worse shape than other Western forests, the usage remains high. Visits skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While those numbers have stabilized in the past couple years, Mills doesnt expect the forests popularity to wane. Id say were in a new normal a lot of people know about this place, Mills said, adding that the forest and the SNRA are special. Why would you go to Grand Teton National Park when you can come here? PHOTOS: Beaver Creek Fire, then and now Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Beaver Creek Complex Fire Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking back at the Beaver Creek Fire of 2013 Looking at forest management OLD FORT In Old Fort, hungry patrons can now enjoy some delicious freshly made pizza from a wood-fired oven while sipping on Whaley Farm Brewerys craft beer. Abbiocco Pizzeria is now serving up tasty food from its wood-fired mobile kitchen located at Whaley Farm Brewery, which can be found at 178 Catawba Ave. in Old Fort. Glenn Osterberg Jr. is the owner and chef of this eatery on wheels. Osterberg told The McDowell News that abbiocco is an Italian word which describes how a person feels when theyre so full of good food that the person needs a nap. Osterberg said he hopes his customers will come away feeling full and contented. Hes also happy to have his pizzeria as a partner with Old Forts newest craft brewery. We are trying to uphold the same standards and mimic the qualities that they have in their beers with our pizzas, he told The McDowell News. Were working with local farms. Everything is handmade down to the mozzarella I make daily. Osterberg, 34, is a chef with an extensive and distinguished career in the culinary arts. Chef Glenn Osterbergs main pursuit has always been to show off the beauty of being intentional with simple local ingredients through rustic Italian cooking, reads the biography on his website. His vision is to create an atmosphere where guests can savor food in open air, surrounded by their loved ones, as if they were dining in his families own backyard. Abbioccos mobile kitchen, is used as an extension of his personal home kitchen where you can say hello to him through the open window. With wood-fire and dough being the constant, everything else on the menu is always evolving, drawing seasonal inspiration and showcasing his fresh creative approach to cooking that pairs deliciously with Whaley Farm Brewery beer. He told The McDowell News that hes been doing this for most of his life. Even though he is 34, Osterberg has already amassed 20 years of experience with top-notch restaurants. He has worked for some of the worlds most renowned chefs, including New York City Michelin-starred Ignacio Mattos at Cafe Altro Paradiso and Hugue Dufour at M. Wells as a sous chef, and Lupa Osteria Romana. He has also worked as chef de cuisine for leading North Carolina chefs such as Matthew Kelly at St. James Seafood and John Fleer at Rhubarb, according to his online biography. The menu for his 12-inch pizzas include the Tuscan, which is made of speck (Italian ham), parmesan, tomato, arugula pesto, olive oil; the Spud, which is made from potatoes, ricotta, confit garlic, almonds, lemon oil; the Margherita, which has mozzarella, fire roasted tomato sauce, confit garlic, oregano; the Pepper Pig, comprised of guanciale (Italian bacon), tomato sauce, roasted peppers, mozzarella, pecorino cheese; the Classic Specks, made with speck (Italian ham), arugula, tomato sauce, garlic oil, parmesan cheese; and the Funky Olive, which has marinated olives, caramelized onions, wild oregano, pecorino cheese. If you want something sweet, Abbiocco has vanilla bean panna cotta with Black Earth Farm honey. Abbiocco Pizzeria operates at the same time that Whaley Farm Brewery is open. It is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 2-8 p.m. or when it is sold out. It is also open on Saturdays from noon to 8 p.m. or when it is sold out and on Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. or when it is sold out. It is closed Monday through Wednesday. We will be open when Whaley Farm Brewery is open and there will be a two-hour break from 2-4, said Osterberg. He operates the eatery with help from his wife Nicole and two employees. Abbioccos wood-fired oven has a glittery round exterior. At night, the oven is illuminated with a light so it can glitter like a big disco ball, said Osterberg. As for the future, Osterberg said he plans to add a pizza with pepperoni and another made with soppressata, which is an Italian cured meat. He may add sandwiches to the menu. Osterberg said his eatery opened for business on Thursday, Aug. 31, and has been an immediate hit. We have sold out every single day, he added. One customer submitted a rave review on Abbiocco Pizzerias Facebook page. The flavors are perfectly combined for amazing pizzas! wrote Carla Nerber. And the crust was just amazing!!! I cannot wait to be in Old Fort again so I can try the other ones. Oh and the panna cotta...WOW!!! Smooth and the honey sweetened it just right!!!! People are loving it, Osterberg told The McDowell News. People are enjoying it. Weve had a lot of good feedback. People are liking the flavors. And now that the brewery has food, people are excited about that. Osterberg said he is happy to partner with friends Chris and Jessica Whaley of Whaley Farm Brewery and be a part of Old Forts continuing economic growth. Its a good harmonious adventure, he said. Its great to be here. I live in Old Fort and its good to serve my community because I want to be part of that growth. For more information, visit the website www.abbiocconc.com/. It can be found on Instagram or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094357962857. Refused to leave On Sunday, Mervin L. Whirlwind, 42, of Lame Deer had been asked to leave a few Butte establishments, including the Butte Rescue Mission. Each time, he complied after police arrived. Early Monday morning, he was asked several times to leave the Thriftway, 901 E. Front St., but refused. When officers arrived, Whirlwind told them he wanted to go to jail, so he was taken into custody for criminal trespass to property. Criminal contempt Early Monday morning, an officer saw Brett S. Berry, 44, of Butte riding a bicycle near the Silver Bow Homes. The officer yelled at Berry to stop, but he kept going. He was finally apprehended and jailed on a criminal contempt warrant. Officers out on patrol Sunday ran into Tonya S. Ross, 43, of Butte, who had a $1,000 warrant out for her arrest for criminal contempt. She was taken into custody. Spit at officers Police arrived in the 1000 block of Arizona Street on Sunday to investigate a disturbance to find April R. Fotsch, 27, of Butte, who had a criminal contempt warrant out for arrest, near the residence. Fotsch reportedly kicked the windows of the patrol car and spit at some officers at the jail. She was also jailed for resisting arrest and assault with bodily fluid. Broken mirror Brieya B. Gilbert, 23, of Butte was allegedly involved in a Sunday disturbance with a man and woman in the 600 block of West Granite Street. During the disturbance, she reportedly broke a mirror. Gilbert was arrested for criminal mischief and two counts of partner or family member assault. Fentanyl, syringes found On Friday, Butte police assisted Adult Probation & Parole in the arrest of Taija R. Collier, 36, of Butte Collier was arrested in the parking lot of Silver Bow Homes. She allegedly had in her possession suspected fentanyl, tin foil and syringes. She was jailed for criminal possession of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. More reports A rock was thrown through a window of a residence in the 600 block of South Montana Street. While parked at Walmart, the back window of a 2002 Chrysler Sebring was damaged. A man reported that while he was sitting in his car at the Town Pump, 531 S. Montana St., a man came up to his window and accused him of talking to his girlfriend. He then allegedly punched him in the mouth. A man reported that a person he thought was a friend had not yet returned his 2001 four-door Lexus. Clarence Miller wore a prosthetic leg. It weighed something near 25 pounds, with an open harness and a strap extending up over his shoulder to help him disperse the burden. A one-legged man might not be the obvious choice to run a shoe store. But when you consider the discomfort of that wooden leg and how Clarences remaining foot came to bear more than its share of his weight, you can see why a careful, comfortable fit became his lifes work. That work is Millers Boots and Shoes, a historic Butte shop seeking a new owner to keep that legacy alive in the 21st century. Clarence Miller was born in Iowa in 1893 and knew leather his father was a harness maker. He lost his leg two inches below the knee due to an infection when he was 16. It never kept him from doing anything, recalled his daughter, Linda McElroy. If he had a problem, he wouldnt go to a doctor hed just take his leg off and make adjustments. You never knew when you walked in the back room if you were going to find him with a leg or not, added Dan McElroy, her husband. Clarence came to Butte around 1915 and went directly into the mines. He tried to keep his disability a secret, but got fired for it once the boss discovered his leg. Accidents and slips betrayed him, too. I knew I couldnt work in the mines forever, Clarence said. So he ordered up some shoe repair tools. A Butte disaster The tools were in the mail when, on June 8, 1917, Clarence and his brother Elmer showed up to work at the Speculator Mine. I was talking with the shift boss, Jack Hammil, and he had told me that they had just lost a cable worth between $5,000 and $6,000 [worth almost $120,000 today] by its dropping down the shaft. He hadnt much more than told me that when I noticed the smoke and called his attention to it, Clarence told the Butte Miner a few days later. As that expensive cable fell (ironically, it was the last step in installing a fire suppression system), the lead sheathing stripped away and the oil-soaked cloth insulation below it was exposed. As a shift boss examined the damage, the open flame on the carbide lantern lit the cloth on fire. The Granite Mountain-Speculator Mine disaster would claim 168 lives and is still considered the worst hard rock mining disaster in the history of the United States. The fire devoured the oxygen throughout the levels of the mine. Clarence and the foreman knew they had to run, but they couldnt leave their comrades unwarned. There were five men on the south side of the shaft, we were on the north side, and Mr. Hammil and I started to get them out of the danger zone. The gas was so strong, however, that we could not get to them and then we started to warn the other men on the level. With the shaft their means of escape a deadly flue of fire and gas, the only way out of the Speculator was through drifts that intersected with other mines. While his boss ran to warn others, Clarence waited for any others trying to escape, knowing they wouldnt be able to find their way out in the smoke. I waited in the gas for the four men who were on the 2,000 level and if they hadnt come when they did I would have had to leave. The gas was so thick that I couldnt have stood it more than 30 seconds longer, he said. In order to see where we were putting our feet, we had to hold the lamp close to the floor and walk stooped over. Their escape lay behind a pile of rubble and waste rock blocking the tunnel. The men battered the bulkhead with mine timbers until it gave way enough for them to crawl through. The Miller brothers didnt take time to rejoice in their narrow escape from death. They returned to the Badger to try to access the Speculator again at the 1,800-foot and 2,000-foot levels, to rescue the men left behind. The gas drove them back, so they went to the Diamond mine and tried again, and again the gas was too strong. Both brothers were hailed as heroes. It was a terrible tragedy. We didnt realize how bad it was until a few days later, brother Elmer Miller said. Clarence vowed hed never again set foot underground. A few days later, his shoe repair equipment arrived in the mail. In the beginning On June 21, 1917, Clarence opened Millers Boots and Shoes at 419 Arizona St. Why, people were three or four abreast then, Clarence said, describing the cobblestone street where dray horses pulled loads from the warehouse district to Uptown and four railroad depots discharged their passengers within blocks of his shop. Millers has operated continuously since except for three years during World War II. That was when, Clarence said, I went into the Army, and all the help went into the Army. It was the only time the doors have been closed. When Clarence opened his shop in 1917, there were 55 shoe repair businesses in Butte. It was all leather in those days, he told The Standard in 1976. It was so hot [and] dry. [The miners boots] would be soaking wet, and then the heat would get them so hot theyd crack and pop. Leather soles might only last three shifts in the wet, acidic mine environment. In 1932, the business moved one block south to its current location at 301 S. Arizona, a former storeroom for Centennial Brewing. Repairs formed the backbone of the business until experienced help became difficult to find, even as Carl, Clarences son, moved in to help run the family business. When we quit [doing shoe repair], the business was the best it ever was, Carl said in a 1986 interview. For 30 years, our phone number was unlisted because people would just pester you to death with repair requests. Customers boots filled the windows 4 feet deep. You could look in the window and see if your shoes were coming up. But by the 1970s, technology had changed enough that repairs no longer made sense. We learned enough to put a heel on a cowboy boot, Dan McElroy said. I could glue on a sole that was about the limit of our expertise. The construction of shoes [was that they] werent made to be fixed anymore, added Mick Ringsak, the husband of Carls daughter Claire. Mick and Dan partnered in the business after Carls retirement. Mick came along in the late 1970s after he served in the Army. Dan was a Tech graduate, and a mining engineer for the Anaconda Co. until it shut down its Butte operations in 1983. Then my father-in-law made me an offer I couldnt refuse, Dan said. He handled ordering, while Linda managed the accounting, Mick worked the sales floor and Claire filled in anywhere she was needed, though she liked some jobs more than others: When [Linda was] on vacation and I had to take over [accounting] I swore a lot! Together, the four focused on one of Millers original tenets: the cents per mile investment: A shoe that costs more usually lasts longer. Market changes Long-lasting rubber and plastic boots came into regular use in the 1960s, and changes in the methods of cattle raising and leather tanning produced a product inferior to the vat-tanned hides of years before. Leathers not nearly as good as it used to be, Mick said. By the time you wore them two or three years, there wasnt anything worth repairing anymore, Dan said. Millers adapted to selling only new shoes. Cowboy boots, moccasins, pack boots, sneakers, and a full line of horse tack and saddles filled the retail space and worked its way into every corner of the building. The family secured contracts with major employers in the area: Barrett Minerals, the Golden Sunlight mine, the lumber mill in Deer Lodge. Youd get a new contract and 200 guys would come in, and youd see that 70% of the shoes they were wearing were the wrong size, Dan said. By measuring each customer individually and putting them in boots that actually fit their feet, Millers gathered a devoted customer base. But you have to have the inventory, Mick added. We had all kinds of customer loyalty, third- and fourth-generation customers. I bet a third to half of our customers came back to us just because we could get them the right size. We went from miners and logging boots to carrying everything from the first pair of shoes an infant would wear to womens comfort we never did get into high heels, anything like that but sneakers and the like, Dan said. Mick remembered one customer who wore a 14EEE. He was a customer for life because he was used to ordering [shoes] and waiting 8-10 weeks, and he could come to Millers and walk out with a pair or two of shoes. Or three! Dan added. Those customers made it more than just a retail establishment. It wasnt just a store, it was a gathering place, Claire said. The wood stove in the old kitchen always had a pot of coffee on, and a collection of mugs made it clear everyone was welcome to a cup. From veterans to old miners and Butte regulars, anyone could stop in any time for a chat. Clarence worked in the store until he was 88, and with his unusual expertise attracted other residents with wooden limbs who might need a little adjustment or fix. At their own retirement, the Ringsaks and McElroys were most proud of the impeccable customer service reputation Millers carried throughout the western United States. The shoe store, Mick said in a 1986 interview, is the closest thing to a Norman Rockwell hardware store that youll find. A new chapter I was tired of seeing small businesses in Butte close. Those are the words of Luke Davis and his wife, Amanda, who purchased the store from the McElroys and Ringsaks in 2014. It was an opportunity to own my own business. Keeping a family business going, and teach my young kids the work ethic, teach them the right way to run a business. Small businesses are so important for communities like Butte and the surrounding areas, Davis said. Customers still come in from Dillon, Deer Lodge and Helena just like in the early days of the store. Theres not a lot of places that are like this the bigger stores offer some of the same lines but they dont have workers who care about peoples feet, Davis said. Like the Millers, Davis, too, takes pride in his customer service and responsiveness to customer requests. Under his ownership, the store has moved toward brands that feature comfort straight out of the box rather than requiring a break-in period. People can come in with a problem with their feet and you can help them solve a problem or take that pain away. Its really rewarding to do that. He continues to offer safety-toe work boots through the Red Wing lines, but he has also added different insoles and product lines like Goertzen handmade leather bags. Sketchers is a brand I added because so many people asked for it, he said. Birkenstocks, too its done really well. Now, Davis is looking for someone to capitalize on the potential of the Butte landmark while honoring its long tradition. The Davis family has put Millers up for sale as Luke moves to a management position locally. Amanda will continue to teach. We will be staying here in Butte and hopefully continuing to shop at Millers, he said. I would love to see it continue to be here and continue to supply footwear to the community, Davis said. Id love to see it grow. Theres possibility here. Id like to see the good customer service continue. One of the possibilities includes a return to boot repair, an oft-requested service in the area. It would be neat to see someone who could come in and continue thattheres a need for it, Davis said. With over 100 years of service to Butte, Davis wont be closing the store during the transition. After all, Millers is still considered one of the gateway stores in Butte, a unique landmark in a city full of historic places: They stop at Steeles, have a pork chop ... and come in here. So its kind of fun that were one of those places. Jim Sheehan was still a teenager when he first found himself working behind the bar, mixing a variety of drinks and filling mugs with draft beer. It was August 1973 and he was one month shy of his 19th birthday when he was promoted to bartender at the Acoma Lounge & Supper Club. Owned then by Butte businessman Sandy Keith, the place was already familiar to Sheehan. He had been working at the bar and restaurant for a few years already, first as a dishwasher, then a busboy, and later a waiter. And the legal drinking age in Montana was lowered to 18 in 1973. Fifty years have passed and the venue has changed, but Sheehan is still working behind a bar and he doesnt plan on quitting anytime soon. Its not like going to work it never felt like that to me, said Sheehan, who has worked for the past 15 years at Hops Pub & Casino in the Best Western Plus Butte Plaza Inn. Throughout his long career, there was a time or two when customers got a bit rowdy, but for the most part, it's all been good. No one ever got too out of hand, he said. Sheehan laughed sharing a story about one customer he had in the mid-1970s, a Butte firefighter who always brought his dog with him. He always ordered a blended gin gimlet for the dog, Sheehan said. The drink would go in a bowl on the floor for the dog to enjoy. Unfortunately, a customer accidentally kicked the bowl before the dog could imbibe. The firefighter insisted that the clumsy man buy his dog another drink, and the customer grudgingly agreed but he balked at the price. At that time, Sheehan said, a beer was 50 cents and a blended drink was $1.50. It occurred to the man to ask: What the hell is the dog drinking? Friendships A person doesnt work that many years as a bartender and not make friends. One such friend is Dale Jozovich, who likes to stop by Hops occasionally. Admittedly, Jozovich enjoys a glass of wine or two, but he relishes the conversations with Sheehan just as much. Jim knows all the stories and loves to share them, too, Jozovich said. You just cant beat that. Jozovich and Sheehan met in the early 1970s. He admires his friends work ethic and commitment to his family and his community. Jims a sharp guy, very intelligent, Jozovich said. He is just a great person. In 1993, Lyle Nalivka had just started his new job as the War Bonnet Inns general manager. Sheehan was then the motels bar manager. Jim was the first person I met when I moved to Butte, Nalivka said. Now manager of Sparkys Garage, Nalivka and Sheehans friendship has endured. Hes a solid professional and one of the nicest men I know, Nalivka said. An added bonus for Nalivka is the wealth of knowledge Sheehan, a Butte native, has retained about his hometown. If you want to hear a story about Butte, Jims the guy! Nalivka said. For the first 10 years of his bartending career, Sheehan drank, sometimes, he admits, to excess. Back then, he explained, you could drink while on shift. I thought I had the best job going, he said. By his late 20s, Sheehan realized things had to change. His drinking had gotten out of hand. I decided if I liked the job when I was drinking, lets try it sober, Sheehan explained. That was a lot easier said than done. I craved it, he said. I was on the wagon so many times. Sheehan persevered and credits his success to the power of prayer and to evangelist and healer Father Ralph DiOrio, a Roman Catholic priest who was part of the Charismatic Renewal Movement. Believed to have faith-healing powers, Father DiOrio held several services throughout North America and abroad, and encouraged his followers to pray. Sheehan attended several, including one in Butte on Oct. 5, 1985, and continued to pray. One year and one day later, while attending a meeting in Anaconda, other members prayed over Sheehan, and something just clicked. He hasnt had a drink since. I havent had a desire, he said. Not one iota. That's why working behind the bar without his own drink nearby has not been an issue for Sheehan. Instead, he sees bartending as a well-chosen career choice. If I make a mistake, I just start over, he said. Theres no pressure with this job. More importantly, he has been able to provide for his family, including his wife, Kate, and their three children. Sheehans love for his job rubbed off on his younger brother, Dan Sheehan. Decades ago, a young Dan saw his older brother working his magic behind the bar and came to an epiphany of sorts. I decided then and there I wanted to be bartender, said Dan, a bartender of 35 years. I have to blame him for that. While Jim Sheehan still loves his job, he acknowledges that times have changed. Early in his career, most bars had live music every weekend and stayed opened after hours, regardless of the law, just so people could continue listening to the bands. It was crazy, it was fun, he said. According to Sheehan, the whole culture began to change once the poker and keno machines were brought in. Gambling replaced the music, he said. Also gone are the days where everybody knows your name. Add cellphones into the mix, and some of Sheehans current customers just sit and never talk. Theyre too busy looking at their cellphones. I feel like a bump on a log sometimes watching people on their phones, he confessed. They only look up to ask for another drink. Despite these setbacks, the Butte bartender remains grateful for all his customers, regulars and visitors alike. Besides those staying at the motel, theres a really nice local crowd that comes here, too, he said. Dan, also a bartender at Hops, notes his brother is in his element behind the bar. Hes a great all-around guy, said Dan. You cant find anyone better than him. A man posing as a doctor, who allegedly scammed a kidney patient out of Sh1,781,000, was last week charged at the Makadara Law Courts. Stanley Maina Macharia was charged with obtaining money from Daniel Mwangiru Karichu on various dates between July and August this year. He allegedly claimed that he could arrange for Karichus kidney transplant trip, despite being aware that this information was untrue. Macharia is accused of defrauding Karichu while impersonating a medical doctor, which led to a charge of impersonation as per Section 382 of the Penal Code. This charge alleges that he knowingly pretended to be a medical doctor with the intention of defrauding the complainant. Additionally, the suspect faces two charges of forgery, in violation of Section 345 of the Criminal Procedure Code. These charges assert that he forged an affidavit of consent, falsely representing it as genuine documents submitted by both Karichu and his kidney donor. Karichu, who has been grappling with kidney disease for over 15 years, had been advised to undergo a kidney transplant. He was directed to Macharia, who claimed that he was a doctor with influential connections in India. The accused provided a list of various documents that Karichu would require for his medical trip. Karichu was informed that he needed to deposit US$26,500(approx Ksh3, 830,000). Subsequently, he was asked to make an additional payment of US$15,500(Ksh2, 240,400). Karichu began transferring funds to an account provided by Macharia, continuing until he had paid the full amount. However, the court heard that Macharia then began demanding additional payments for expenses that were not initially disclosed to Karichu during their discussions about the treatment cost. Karichu requested that the suspect provide him with some of the documents he had paid for. He received travel documents but upon visiting the Indian Embassy in Nairobi, Karichu discovered that the documents were counterfeit. The patient reported the incident to the DCI offices in Kasarani. Subsequent investigations revealed that Macharia was not a licensed medical doctor. The suspect was arrested at Thika Road Mall, where he had arranged to meet the complainant. Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Hellen Okwany of the Makadara Law Courts, Stanley Maina Macharia denied the charges. He sought lenient bail conditions but Sergeant Marwa submitted an affidavit contesting the bail and bail conditions. He informed the court that Macharia was arrested in the act of defrauding another victim. The detective also noted that the suspect was uncooperative throughout the investigation process and declined to reveal his place of residence, which raised concerns about him being a potential flight risk. The court remanded the accused for a week awaiting a ruling on his bail application President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to achieving self-reliance, emphasizing that his administration will harness the countrys resources to propel its developmental goals. In pursuit of this objective, President Ruto has announced that the Government is intensifying its efforts to combat corruption and address the mismanagement of public resources. We will build Kenya using our taxes. We, therefore, cannot allow resources raised by the people to be embezzled, he said. The Head of State implored Kenyan citizens to aspire to make significant contributions to the countrys development. Ultimately the business of building Kenya belongs to us; the citizens of Kenya. We cannot rely on others, he said. Dr Ruto highlighted the alarming and unsustainable trend where the country dedicates 6 out of every 10 Shillings collected in taxes to service its debt. Ruto made the remarks during an Inter-denomination Church Service, in Laare, Meru County, in the company of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Agriculture Cabinet Mithika Linturi, and Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. President Ruto at the same time affirmed his governments commitment to fostering unity among Kenyans and their leaders to promote development. He called upon leaders to set aside their political disparities and prioritize serving the interests of the people. We do not have the time to engage in quarrels and division. Let us unite and work together to develop our country, he said. The President also said the government is upgrading the equipment of the Police Service to enhance efficiency in the management of the countrys security. He assured residents of Meru County that the Government will act swiftly in combating rising cases of insecurity in the region. The security of our country is non-negotiable, he said. President Ruto additionally urged Kenyans to seize the opportunity presented by the rainy season to engage in tree planting as a means to combat climate change. The President said the government will continue supporting farmers to bolster agricultural productivity. He announced that an allocation of Sh 10 billion has been designated for the Agricultural Finance Corporation to enhance farmers access to credit, thus further supporting the agricultural sector. President William Ruto has declared that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will conduct its party elections in December this year, in preparation for the 2027 General Election. Speaking during the inauguration of a UDA regional office in Nyeri on Saturday, the president said the elections would commence from the grassroots level, aiming to introduce officials who would invigorate the party. While assuring UDA members of a commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, Dr. Ruto said the polls will entrench democracy and eradicate tribal ethnicity in the party. This is the party that runs the government and that is why Im announcing here in Nyeri to all members across the country that the elections will be held in December. We will announce the timetable for the elections. We want to eradicate tribalism and ethnicity from the party and make this a national party that reflects leaders from all tribes in Kenya. We want to unite the country, Ruto said. The owners of the party must decide on who will lead them. We will take the elections at the polling stations at the grassroots because our aim is to ensure that the party is an institution of governance, he added. Ruto encouraged UDA party members to hit the ground running in search of support from fellow members. If you want a leadership position in UDA, start preparing by convincing members to elect you. Any leader aspiring to hold any party position must start socialising with the members since no one will be given the seat on a silver platter, he said. UDAs Secretary-General, Cleophas Malala, said the exercise aims to establish UDA as the largest political party in Kenya, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the Presidents successful re-election in 2027. We want to build this party to be the greatest party in the country so that by 2027, we will just place the portrait of the President on the ballot and have him re-elected. I am appealing to you to register as a member of UDA so that you can participate in this democratic process, said Malala. The UDA Sec-Gen also ruled out the likelihood of entering into a pre-election coalition agreement with other parties for the 2027 elections. Malala said that, out of the 14 political parties that had initially entered into a pact with UDA, seven have already disbanded to join the ruling party. He encouraged the remaining parties to do the same. We want one big united party in Kenya and that is why we urge other parties to fold and join us, Malala said. Edward Muriu, the UDA Secretary for Legal Affairs and Gatanga MP, said elected leaders are welcome to participate in the elections. He clarified that Members of Parliament (MPs) will retain their membership in the National Delegates Council (NDC) by default. Additionally, all seats at the National Executive Council are up for grabs and to be elected, all the 3,600 delegates must vote to elect them, Muriu said. Understanding the realm of possibility, and the risk, of generative AI (GenAI) is critically important for CIOs (Chief Information Officers) who want to start using this technology to gain an advantage for their businesses. The value of GenAI will come as businesses start to apply it on behalf of their customers and employees, writes Wojciech Bajda, Director, Public Sector Middle East and Africa, Amazon Web Services. There are a vast number of enterprise use cases, from product design to customer service to supply chain management and many, many more. New models, chips and developer services in the cloud, like those from AWS, are opening the door to widescale adoption across every industry. Five tips for getting started Get your data house in order GenAI is here, and its poised to have a transformational impact on our world. The potential upsides of leveraging it in your business are too great and the downsides of being a laggard too many not to get started now. But the very beginning of this journey is making sure you have the right data foundations for AI/ML. In order to train quality models, you must start with quality, unified data from your business. For example, Autodesk, a global software company, built a generative design process on AWS to help product designers create thousands of iterations and choose the optimal design. These machine learning models rely on a strong data strategy to user-defined performance characteristics, manufacturing process data, and production volume information. Envision use cases around your own data GenAI could be used to develop predictive models for businesses or to automate content creation. For example, companies could generate financial forecasting and scenario planning to make more informed recommendations for capital expenditures and reserves. Or GenAI might act as an assistant for clinicians to create recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Philips is doing just that. The health technology company will use Amazon Bedrock to develop image processing capabilities and simplify clinical workflows with voice recognition, all using GenAI. Were also seeing AWS customers harness GenAI to optimise product lifecycles, like retail companies looking to more precisely manage inventory placement, out-of-stock issues, deliveries and more or using GenAI to create, optimise and test store layouts. By identifying these scenarios early and exploring the art of the possible with the data you already have, you can ensure your investment in gen AI is both targeted and strategic. Dive into developer productivity benefits GenAI can provide significant benefits for developer productivity. It can be a powerful assistant for repetitive coding tasks like testing and debugging, freeing developers to focus on more complex tasks that require human problem-solving skills. CIOs should work with their development teams to identify areas where GenAI can increase productivity and reduce development time. Take outputs with a grain of salt GenAI is only as good as the data its trained on, and theres always the risk of bias or inaccuracies. Sometimes the output is a hallucination, a response that seems plausible but is in fact made up. So guide your developers, engineers and business users to regard gen AI outputs as directional, not prescriptive. Manage the business expectations about accuracy and consider some of the special challenges surrounding responsible GenAI. These models and systems are still in their early days and theres no replacement for human wisdom, judgment and curation. Think hard about security, legal and compliance As with all technology, security and privacy are paramount, and gen AI introduces new considerations, including around IP. CIOs should work closely with their security, compliance and legal teams to identify and mitigate these risks, ensuring that GenAI is deployed in a secure and responsible manner. Further, scope your plans around compliance and regulations and think carefully about who owns the data youre using. GenAI has the potential to be a transformational technology, tackling interesting problems, augmenting human performance and maximising productivity. Dive in now, experiment with use cases, harness its benefits, and understand the risk, and youll be well-positioned to leverage GenAI for your business. Get hands on with AI If you want to get AI ready now, AWS has launched a 10-min course designed to fill this gap. The course covers GenAI for Executives, providing a high-level perspective of GenAI, where business executive learners will explore challenges and opportunities with this evolving technology. It covers Gen AI concepts and why it can address executives concerns/challenges and help their business growth. It can also help executives better understand the cloud value proposition and expedite their cloud adoption journey accordingly. This course is free and available on AWS Skill Builder and AWSs YouTube channel.--TradeArabia News Service By the Directorate of Criminal Investigations(DCI) DCI Detectives are in hot pursuit of suspected abductors who in a case of teachers-turned-rogue abducted a 9-year-old grade three pupil from a school in Donholm, Nairobi County. The pupils father had gone to fetch his son from school when he found him missing only to be informed that his class teacher one Erick Mosoti, had left the school in the company of the minor Efforts to trace the teacher proved futile only for the father to receive a call from abductors who were demanding a Sh10 Million ransom, prompting the father to make a report at Buruburu police station. A team of detectives drawn from the Nairobi Region Command in collaboration with colleagues from DCI Buruburu launched a thorough operation in Kayole Sabasaba area, leading to the rescue of the minor who had been locked in a room beleived to have been rented by another teacher namely George Odhiambo, who works in the same school with the main suspect. The minor was immediately rescued and taken to hospital for medical checks as the operation continued. After hours of toil and moil, the detectives managed to arrest a suspect namely Fredrick Odhiambo, after he was found making the demands for ransom in exchange for the minors freedom. A motorcycle, mobile phone and other items believed to have been used in the commission of the heartless act, were recovered and kept at exhibits as the operation continues to bring in the other suspects. For decades, the world has made a lot more wine than was needed. Almost everywhere, wine consumption is in decline and now a massive global wine lake has grown to mythic proportions. Many in the industry are using the word crisis, and you can imagine that wineries and grape growers may be putting fresh batteries into their panic buttons. The major problem is that most of the excess wine cant be sold either because its too expensive or too cheap! As the northern hemispheres 2023 harvest begins in earnest, the predicaments facing grape growers may be just the start of a decade of financial catastrophe. One of the worlds experts in the areas of grape supplies, bulk wines, and pricing issues for both has seen this enigma metastasize to the point that drastic measures now seem essential. Joe Ciatti, one of the most knowledgeable people in the world on wine and grape supply, has been immersed in the business for decades. He says the current situation isnt unique; hes seen it before, so hes imperturbable when he hears terms like crisis. But in an interview days ago, Joe said that what wine now faces globally is a potentially disastrous denouement: financial ruin. The only solution he sees to years of wine surpluses and collapsing prices, here and worldwide, is the removal of vineyards. Lots of them. And global climate change isnt a major cause! The areas with two biggest problems in terms of oversupply are Washington (state) and (Californias) Central Valley, Ciatti said. News reports from the Pacific Northwest say Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, by far the largest Washington producer, will reject 45% of the fruit it contracted for this year. That means many Washington grape growers who farmed vineyards at thousands of dollars per acre may fail to recover their costs. And in the Central Valley (growers) may have to pull out 50,000, maybe even 100,000 acres of grapes, said Ciatti. The same is true for the country with the most vineyard acreage, Spain (2.9 million acres). Spain has routinely had annual wine surpluses for decades and its grape acreage remains the same as it was 25 years ago. The most recent news on the surplus front came last week. The French government agreed to add more than $215 million to a European Union subsidy agreement allowing French farmers to destroy wine. That was added to the $172 million in European Union funds to do the same, thus bankrolling the catastrophe. Paying hundreds of millions to annihilate French wine seems wasteful; consumers might wonder why the excess isnt just bottled and sold. There are many reasons why oversupplies cant be salvaged. For one, the wine going to distillers, to be turned into alcohol for use in solvents or biofuels, probably wasnt salable as wine. Its what wed call plonk. Quality French wines come from respected regions. The stuff sent to distilleries likely would have carried the nametag Vin de France equivalent to admitting the wine had zero pedigree and probably wouldve sold for so little that no retailers would want it. All it would do would be to cannibalize pricier wines that made greater profits. Years ago, when financial analysts surveyed the emerging millennial wine buyer category, an early finding was optimistic: millennials said they loved diversity and that theyd accept wines from different grapes, regions and strategies natural, organic, biodynamic, orange wines. Winemakers everywhere anticipated theyd need more wine to satisfy the anticipated demand, so more grapes were planted. Between 2018 and 2022, more wine was made to meet expected demand. It never developed. Analysts didnt yet know the vast new choices millennials would face in their quest for liquid diversity. Their eclecticism led them to new beverages. Today those categories include organic wines, hard ciders and seltzers, craft beers in a dizzying number of styles, the rebirth of the cocktail, and at least a dozen novelty beverages flavor-added water, smoothies, liquid yogurts, flavored coffees, sodas, non-alcoholics, and novel packaging, like canned wines. Meanwhile, many upscale wine producers blithely raised prices on so-called premium brands. Some pricey wines sold to a naive public. Inside the industry, there were lots of guffaws when it was obvious that a category called Sweet Chardonnay became lucrative. But then a few years later, a number of red wine producers, including some high-end, iconic Napa Cabernet makers, made Cabernets that were sweet! Napa Cab purists were aghast, but many sweet reds actually sold. Some of the worlds most iconic red wines also continued to sell, but sales slowed. Wealthy Asian nations (China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Dubai) once were major markets for sales of top-rate Bordeaux and iconic Cabs. When U.S. sales of those wines slumped, the once-reliable Asian markets didnt respond with the same fervor they once showed. In recent years, the three largest European wine-producing nations Spain, Italy and France continued to produce wine at increased amounts. And several other countries (Argentina, Chile, Germany and Portugal) began to add new, higher-end products that added to the worldwide wine glut. (Case in point: Germany has long been known for its great sweet Rieslings, the best of which came from either the Rheingau or the Mosel. A decade ago, Riesling fans began to see two new trends: dry and off-dry Rieslings that not only were great, but unique. And some of the best came from four new German regions that no one paid any attention to before Pfalz, Nahe, Baden and Rheinhessen. Prices for dry German Rieslings now are rising so fast even savvy Germanophiles are shocked.) The West Coast of the United States produces roughly 90% of all the wine made in this country. Most of it is sold nationally through a mandated three-tier system that requires wholesale distribution. In Europe, the situation differs. Ciatti noted that more than 90% of lower-priced French wine sold in England is moderately priced and goes through several large supermarket chains. British supermarket wine buyers say the Brit system works because savvy chain buyers and sellers make deals based on quality and price for wines that arent branded. Brands are less important; one-to-one deals are rampant. Said Ciatti, The three-tier (U.S. wholesale) system is inefficient, yet it protects the wineries to a certain extent, notably with brands that can be created to be sold at varying price points so one company can sell different wines at different prices. Decades ago, a brilliant San Francisco wine marketing strategist, the late Ed Everett, told me of a wine company that sold one brand at $1.99 per bottle, another brand at $2.49 per bottle, another at $2.99, and yet another at $3.49. And how much difference do you think there was between any of those wines? Ed asked, rhetorically. The late Fred Franzia had a knack for creating brands that he could sell through his Bronco Wine Co. at various prices. One was Charles Shaw, colloquially called Two-Buck Chuck, and sold exclusively at Trader Joes stores for $1.99. (It's a bit more now, but not by much.) Ciatti said the three-tier system allowed Franzia to develop numerous brands, some using the names of real people (such as Charles Frank Shaw Jr.) and others that are fanciful (like the fictional Limping Crocodile). Franzia was famous for buying up declining or defunct brands and putting out so many wines its hard to keep track of them. The company now controls 250 brands (!) including Crane Lake, Forest Glen, ForestVille, Sea Ridge, Quail Ridge and Napa Ridge. Almost every wine in the Bronco portfolio sells for between $4 and $8 per bottle. They tend to be found in supermarkets. It was a sound business model years ago, but industry insiders say the company may find itself struggling to keep up. Almost all of its vineyards are in the hot, arid San Joaquin Valley and require irrigation, and water costs more than ever. And alternative crops such as almonds require even more water. Ciatti said that in the last few decades, many retail stores and restaurants (notably, large players) have developed private labels to sell wines that are excess to brands primary labels. Included are such major players as Costco, with its Kirkland line of wines, many of which are excellent values. The size of the worldwide wine glut may be seen at any of the 450-plus Grocery Outlet stores, which exist in seven states (California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New Jersey). Years ago, most Grocery Outlet wines were seen as closeouts. Wineries hated to see their brands on Outlet shelves, often deeply discounted. The main items that GO carried were largely unknown brands, created just for GO, or were private labels. However, in recent years, many existing wineries have tailored their portfolios so several of their wines work specifically at Grocery Outlet, such as Ste. Michelle, Buena Vista, Chateau St. Jean, Robert Mondavi (Woodbridge), 19 Crimes, Sebastiani, and CK Mondavi. The tip-off is that some of these wines might once have carried smaller appellations (Carneros, Russian River Valley, etc.). Many of the more image-conscious brands now at Grocery Outlet stores carry California appellations. In most Grocery Outlet stores, wine sections are at least twice or three times what they were two years ago. Almost all the wines mentioned here sell for well under $10 per bottle, including a recent Ste. Michelle two-pack, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet, for $11.99. Several large wineries seem to have solved most of their marketing problems by maintaining quality and keeping prices moderate. E&J Gallos highly successful, $10-and-under Barefoot brand grew from about 10 million cases a decade ago to an estimated 17 million cases about two years ago, and though it probably declined slightly in volume recently, it continues to be one of the most successful lower-priced brands. Gallo continues to upgrade its image, recently acquiring Rombauer Vineyards, which is famous for its Chardonnay thats a national best-seller. NVC's wine program caters to students both from the Napa Valley and across California, contributing to the work force of Napa's wine industry. See how the college's program guides students from "vineyard to bottle to selling that bottle." By Taguhi Melkonyan The founder of the Lenaslittle-ones page with millions of followers on social networks, who is now a recognized teacher in the USA and whose published short education videos have managed to attract millions of people living in various countries of the world, is an Armenian woman. We are talking about Lena Khachatryan, who lives in the United States, and recently revealed her true nationality to her followers. The Lenaslittle-ones page has more than 1.1 million followers on Tik Tok alone, and some of the videos posted on that platform have around 20 million views. The Armenian teacher knows five languages, organizes the daily life of children with innovative teaching methods, and spreads her experience and skills through videos. In an exclusive interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am, Lena Khachatryan spoke for the first time about her nationality, the reasons for settling in the USA, her family, her huge work with children, her activities in social networks, and some other relevant topics. Many people in Armenia watch your videos, but few know about your being Armenian. Tell us about your lifes path, how did you settle in the USA? Everyone knows me and addresses me as Lena, but few people know that my real name is Yelena. I was born in Yerevan, unfortunately, at the age of 5, my family and I had to move to Europe. I grew up and was educated in Poland, I speak Polish very well, and today I have many followers from Poland itself. It can be said that Poland is my second homeland. I have been living in the United States for 10 years, in Los Angeles, where I found the love of my life. I have a beautiful family and three children. Everyone knows me as a teacher who lives and works in Los Angeles. Today, your education short clips have millions of views on various social network platforms and are loved by children and parents living in various countries of the world. How did you come up with the idea of making such clips? I have been teaching children for many years, I have a kindergarten in Los Angeles, which is intended for children from newborn to five years old. During these years, I tried to do my best to make the children's everyday life unforgettable and to increase their interest and love for learning. My friends often turned to me to find out what methods I use to teach the children that they love attending classes so much. And I started making short videos to share my experience with others. In the process, the number of my followers increased; it turned out that many people teach the same songs, games, and exercises to their pupils. It was very nice to know that even the American teachers conduct their lessons in kindergartens using the same methods. Through these videos, I also try to motivate children, increase their interest in education. Your followers sometimes try to guess your nationality in the comments of the videos, but few of them have realized that you are Armenian. How do your foreign followers react when they find out your nationality? Yes, many still do not know that I am Armenian and still try to guess my nationality. When they asked about it in the comments of the clips at first I was silent. I was interested in people's opinions; many thought I looked like an Arab woman, an Egyptian or a Spaniard. One day I decided to open the secret and tell about my nationality. In my videos, you will notice the flag of Armenia in the background, I often tell my followers or just strangers about Armenia, and I am very happy that through me people can know who an Armenian is, what qualities he/she has, what kind of soul he/she has, etc. In today's world, no one is safe from cyberattacks. Months ago, your Facebook page, which had more than 600,000 followers, was hacked, and you had to open a new page. Did the law enforcement officers manage to find out anything? In general, after that incident, wasn't it difficult to get motivated again and resume activity in the Facebook domain? That incident was terrible, not because I lost a page with hundreds of thousands of followers, but because obscene photos were posted on that page, and children and parents saw it. Unfortunately, no one helped me with that; neither US law enforcement officials nor other officials. During that time, thousands of people called, offered their help, but the relevant institutions did nothing to help me, while I kept repeating that my audience is children and parents and it is necessary to stop the management of the illegal page as soon as possible. It is extremely difficult when a person can work very hard, gather a qualified contingent, put soul and heart into every clip, and in a second it all falls into the water. It took three months before that page was closed. After that incident I was really broken, I didn't want to open a new page and start everything from scratch; but my family convinced me, people following me expressed their support. Now my followers are increasing again, people are finding me again, and I continue to post videos on Facebook, but this time I am trying to be more careful. Those who deal with social networks should be very careful, because no one is safe from such attacks and unpleasant situations. Nowadays, children spend a lot of time in front of a computer, [smart]phone or tablet, and learning in classroom conditions is gradually becoming boring and uninteresting for many. In such a situation, how is it possible to "return" children to real life and teach them new skills? Yes, times have changed; the children's preferences and interests have also changed. For example, in the United States, there comes an age when children cannot continue their education without a computer. My work is with children up to five years old, which is very pleasing to me. How the child spends the first five years of his life is extremely important for the development of the child's life. What I do is very important for the healthy development of the child; singing, reading books, developing games and exercises, etc. I try to teach parents how a child's daily life can be organized without a [smart]phone or computer. But, unfortunately, not every parent has the time or opportunity to personally deal with their child's development, as it was before. Today, children spend 8-10 hours of active time a day in my kindergarten; together we sing, dance, do exercises, train the brain, attention, concentration, etc. Those who read and follow me should realize how important the fact is how we organize the time of children before they turn five years old, how much attention and love we give to children. With your busy schedule, how do you manage to spend time with your family? Isn't it difficult to teach your children Armenian, to preserve our traditions and customs in a foreign land? I have three children. My work schedule is quite tight; I spend my time day and night in the kindergarten. I grew up far from my homeland, in a foreign environment, but my familymy grandmother and grandfatherdid everything for me to remain Armenian. Thanks to them, I still remember Armenian and pass on what I learned to my children. Everything depends on the person, his/her merits, professed values. Even though we live far from the motherland, I teach my children Armenian, I read Armenian books to them, I always cook Armenian dishes, Armenian music plays in my house; that is, the Armenian soul is always present in our house, and that is the most important thing for me. No matter how much a child grows up in a foreign land, [he/she] should feel the Armenian soul and not lose his/her identity. I am looking forward to when I will be visiting Armenia with my family. What are your upcoming projects that you would like to share? There are many projects, unfortunately, time is very short and my schedule is busy. For me, my children are in the first place, whose education I personally take care of. I would like to introduce innovations in classes so that people can see how capable children are at a young age and how much they want to learn. One of my goals is to give an Armenian orientation to my social platform, to inform people about Armenia and Armenians. I have several projects in Armenian that I would like to do as soon as possible. As they say, God willing, I hope to implement at least half of my projects and plans before the new year. Ethnic cleansing in Karabakh received pin-drop silence by American media, US presidential nominee says Armenia economy minister: Trade relations with Russia are very important to us Armenia official: We have certain idea about construction of railway in Meghri sector, we are waiting 74 films to be screened in Armenia during 19th Rolan International Film Festival for Children and Youth Yeraskh steel plant project being implemented, it is being moved, it will be nearby, Armenia economy minister says Azerbaijan pledges guarantees to Karabakh Armenians after its blockade, genocide Karabakh ombudsman: Who needs forums, lengthy speeches if international community fails to prevent genocides? Legislature vice-speaker complains about reduction of programs in Armenia IT sector UNICEF Armenia: Next batch of humanitarian aid sent to Syunik Province Central Bank of Armenia reduces refinancing rate by 0.25 points, sets it at 9.5% Martin Schuepp: Red Cross is helping people left in Karabakh Finance minister: Armenia economic growth potential currently estimated at 5.5% Armenia official: The money we were allocating to Karabakh should be enough to fund all programs Parliament deputy speaker: Armenia has no contender in high tech Newspaper: Karabakh army handed over ammunition not to Azerbaijan, but to Russian side Canada ambassador about sanctions on Azerbaijan: There is also dispute within Armenia regarding them Audi Q6 e-tron launch delayed until at least Spring 2024 Armenia Investigative Committee official: 8 of 16 persons captured by Azerbaijan are Karabakh leadership members 4.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Turkey 14 individuals were tortured, and 64 died on the move from Nagorno Karabakh. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Council of Europe to prepare package of measures in response to refugee influx in Armenia Mher Grigoryan and EU Ambassador exchanged ideas on regional developments Minister of Defence had a meeting with the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of PRC Yeremyan Projects has launched the regional first livestock complex in Tashir community Rights of Karabakhs imprisoned former leadership are protected, Azerbaijan ombudsperson claims Finance ministry: Armenia economic growth target will be maintained at 7% level in 2024 Elnur Mammadov: Most points in peace treaty have been agreed upon by Azerbaijan, Armenia Statement: Alma-Ata Declaration has no mention of former union republics of ex-USSR Dollar drops, euro rises in Armenia Armenia defense sector capital spending planned in amount of around $1.4 billion in 2024 Lawyer: Maestro Sergey Smbatyan is acquitted Premier: Armenia defense spending planned to be increased by 125% in 2024 compared to 2018 Armenia, Ukraine officials underscore Pashinyan-Zelenskyy first meeting ReA15: 300 animation films, 30 guests from 40 countries, around 500 audience; Armenia international festival summed up Russias Makhachkala airport resumes operations Armenia's Pashinyan: There is serious progress in North-South motorway construction Around 12kg narcotics attempted to be smuggled into Armenia from Iran Armenia finance minister: Considerable part of 2.6 billion to be provided by EU is loan Armenia official: We will not increase pensions, minimum wages in 2024 Armenia finance minister: National debt of more than $10 billion is safe Pashinyan: Armenia government expects 7% economic growth in 2023 COAF secures 10M grant to transform education in Armenia's Syunik Province RFE/RL: US supports EU monitoring mission in Armenia, embassy says Hurricane Otis kills at least 48 people in Mexico $135M to be allocated for needs of those forcibly displaced from Karabakh, Armenia PM says Armenia nationals can now open bank accounts in Russia in simplified manner Armenia MFA former spox shares video of Russian peacekeepers withdrawal from Karabakh 202-million-year-old dragonfly fossil discovered in UK Armenia premier: I hope arrangements for opening border with Turkey will be implemented in near future Pashinyan: Current world orders collapse is serious threat to Armenia Armenia labor, social affairs minister is in Iran, memorandum to be signed on highly qualified workforce exchange Armenia PM: 3 main principles of signing peace treaty with Azerbaijan have been agreed upon Armenia defense minister attends Beijing Xiangshan Forum opening ceremony in China (PHOTOS) Biden, Netanyahu discuss ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Gaza Arab, Muslim users of social media unhappy with ongoing supply of oil from Azerbaijan to Israel Attempts are being made to destabilize situation in Russias Dagestan from outside, leader Melikov says 20 people injured, 2 in critical condition after mass riots at Russias Makhachkala airport Kamala Harris: US has no plans of sending combat troops to Israel, Gaza Russia researchers develop water evaluation system using smartphones Russias Makhachkala airport closed until November 6 France releases city electric cars that can be driven without driver's license Thugs attack bus carrying women, children in Russias Makhachkala Anti-Israel protest in Russias Dagestan, crowd storms into Makhachkala airport Slovenia donates 120,000, through Red Cross, to forcibly displaced people from Karabakh Overall 3342 children died in Gaza since start of war Israel bombs areas near Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza Palestinian Red Crescent: Israel demands evacuation of Gaza hospital UN peacekeeper wounded in Lebanese shelling Israel Armenians newspaper: Situation in Israel still difficult Iran President: Zionists were defeated, forced to retreat Death toll of Palestinians in Gaza exceeds 8000 Azerbaijani Defense Minister also visits China Israeli airstrikes on two houses in Gaza kill 13 civilians Israeli army names main priority UN Secretary General criticizes Israel again Building of Jewish cultural center is set on fire in Russia UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting Russian MoD: Crimea was attacked by 36 Ukrainian drones at night Armenian Defence Minister leaves for China Forcibly displaced teachers from Artsakh can continue work in Armenia Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov announced that the Kremlin is negotiating with Tehran and Baku on the possibility of exporting 300 MW of electricity through Azerbaijan to Armenia and then to Iran, using the existing infrastructure, Prime news agency reports. "Now we are just looking at the possibility of supplying electricity through the territory of Azerbaijan to Armenia, from there to Iran and, possibly, to other countries as well. In the first phase, we are reaching an agreement with Tehran and Baku to use the existing infrastructure without new construction," Shulginov noted. He added that all sides of the respective negotiations are interested in this project. Earlier, the Minister of Energy of Russia and the head of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, Almasadam Satkaliyev, signed an agreement to increase the amount of oil transit to 10 million tons per year by the end of 2033. Also, the parties discussed cooperation in electricity. Accordingly, Moscow is ready to implement joint projects in the construction and modernization of energy facilities, as well as production and supply of respective equipment. The Eagle Partner 2023 Armenian-American joint exercise will be held in Armenia, from September 11 to 20. The exercise involves stabilization tasks between conflicting parties during peacekeeping missions, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia had informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. The purpose of the exercise is to increase the level of interoperability of the unit participating in international peacekeeping missions within the framework of peacekeeping operations, to exchange best practices in control and tactical communication, as well as to increase the readiness of the Armenian unit for the planned NATO/PfP Operational Capabilities Concept evaluation. Russia has reacted negatively to these joint military exercises with the American side in Armenia, and expressed "concern" several times over the past week. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) of Armenia also announced the information about the [Azerbaijani military] buildup. And in order to avoid excessive stress, other things, it is desirable to follow the official information, we publicize everything. Arman Sargsyan, Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia, told this to reporters Monday in the National Assembly. Regarding the remark that there are videos showing that Azerbaijan is stockpiling offensive weapons at the border with Armenia, the deputy defense minister said: "I will not say professionally, it is clearly visible there, and it seems that they are artillery means, it is a number of military equipment. It has been talked about; I don't want to talk about it one more time. I will only urge you to follow our information, we regularly provide information immediately in case of certain escalations or up to fire from small firearms. The MoD [of Armenia] naturally takes steps within its authority to not destabilize the situation in the region and in terms of not having any negative impact on the general situation. Our region is such that there is a risk of escalation, but we, as a state, must take steps so that it does not come to escalation, in general, to major military actions." The negotiations of the tripartite working group on unblocking transport connections in Transcaucasia continue, but the aggravation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan has a negative impact on these activities. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk told reporters about this within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum, RIA Novosti reported. "Of course, any escalation always has a negative effect on our work, restrains, slows down our activities, and time passes before we return again, sit down and start working again," said the Russian official, responding to the respective question. He noted that a new meeting between the deputy PMs of Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan (Alexey Overchuk-Mher Grigoryan-Shahin Mustafayev) could take place when the conditions for it are right. "We always maintain working contacts. If the conditions are ripe, we will definitely meet," Overchuk said. The last meeting of the aforesaid tripartite working group was held in early July, during which a common understanding was reached regarding the implementation of concrete steps towards the restoration and organizing of railway communication on the Yeraskh-Julfa-Meghri-Horadiz route. The Russian cargoes have not reached Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) through the city of Askeran. Davit Galstyan, head of the opposition Justice Faction of the Artsakh National Assembly, told Armenian News-NEWS.am about this. Galstyan said that Azerbaijan creates obstacles for goods to reach Artsakh, and, according to him, Azerbaijan violates not only that, but also many other arrangements. "According to Telegram channels, the cargo is now in Barda city [of Azerbaijan]. The fact that Azerbaijan obstructs the resolution of this crisis situation in every possible way indicates that Azerbaijan has not given up its genocidal actions and is taking all its steps in that direction," he said. As per Galstyan, the current situation did not start with the closure of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan and does not end with Azerbaijan violating the arrangements on a regular basis. "Regarding point 6 of the document of November 9, [2020] the negotiations shall proceed in the 3+1 format, where the Artsakh Republic will be represented as a stakeholder and try to settle the issues in that format. Leaving Artsakh alone in front of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem, the authorities of Armenia did not take practical steps," Galstyan said. Referring to the criticism of the agreement given by the Artsakh authorities to open the Akna (Aghdam) road via Azerbaijan, Galstyan said: "If today the [Artsakh] authorities are able to make a decision and announce that they will bear responsibility for their decision, it is welcome. But to present it as the opening of the Aghdam road is a bit exaggerated, as I personally communicated with the people on duty in Askeran; and in general, any Azerbaijani cargo is not acceptable for the Armenian nation, whether it is by a Russian car or an Azerbaijani [one]." Artsakh authorities to allow import of Russian goods through Askeran Minister of High-Tech Industry Robert Khachatryan received the newly appointed Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, the Ministry of High-Tech Industry of Armenia informed on Facebook. Khachatryan presented the main functions of his ministry and the domains being coordinated by this department. Sobhani was informed about the agreements reached with the previous ambassador of Iran and the work done, and the steps towards the formation of cooperation between Armenian and Iranian technological companies. The minister expressed his willingness to make efforts to implement all agreements and form new partnerships. The newly appointed Iranian ambassador, in turn, noted the high level of Armenian-Iranian relations in all domains of mutual interest, and expressed hope that the two countries will be able to form effective cooperation in knowledge-based and technological domains. In this context, the ambassador emphasized that Iran has made major achievements in latest technologies and occupies a high position in the world with its pace of development. According to the ambassador, Iran now has 7,800 knowledge-based companies, 12,000 technology companies, and six science and technology parks with 111,000 employees. Minister Khachatryan noted that the indicators presented by the ambassador are very encouraging, and recalled that he was very impressed by the solutions presented by Iranian companies during the DigiTec Expo 2022 in Yerevan. The parties agreed that in order to increase mutual recognition, it is necessary to more often organize the mutual participation of Iranian and Armenian private companies in exhibitions and other events being held in both countries. In this context, Minister Robert Khachatryan invited Iranian companies to the DigiTec Expo 2023 technology exhibition to be held in October in Armenia, as well as to the ArmHighTech 2024 international defense technology exhibition to be held in March 2024 in Armenia. Russia has been and remains a close ally and partner of Armenia, and it is going to resolve the arising problems with Armenia within the framework of dialogue, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the Russian president, RIA Novosti reported. "No, we [i.e. Russia] remain, have been and, I am convinced, will be a very close ally and partner of Armenia. We may have certain problems that need to be solved, but they need to be resolved within the framework of the dialogue," Peskov said in response to the question of whether Russia was afraid of losing its ally, Armenia. Peskov expressed a conviction that the logic of development and the national interests of both countries dictate the need for further deepening of their cooperation and partnership. And asked whether Russia was readylike beforeto defend Armenia in the event of an attack on its territory, the representative of the Kremlin responded that Russia has relevant obligations within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's press secretary Nazeli Baghdasaryan does not say whether Pashinyan's telephonic conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was held. Baghdasaryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am that a press release is always issued after the official telephone conversations of the Armenian PM. According to Turkish TRT, Turkish President Erdogan had said that he will most likely have a phone talk with Nikol Pashinyan on Monday. "The steps being taken in Karabakh are not correct, they are not acceptable, we do not look at all that positively," Erdogan had stated. The Turkish president, however, did have a telephonic conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart, during which they discussed the developments between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Member of the European Parliament (EP) and of the EP-Armenia Friendship Group, Francois-Xavier Bellamy (France) is convinced that a strong package of sanctions against Azerbaijan will make its President Ilham Aliyev understand that he must stop the aggression against Armenians, Armenpress reported. In an interview with Armenpress in Brussels, the MEP said that Europe must not remain silent and contradict its own principles when human lives are in danger. He said that Azerbaijani President Aliyev needs a reality check to understand that Azerbaijan is the one who needs Europe, and not vice versa. The MEP said EUs policy of urging both Azerbaijan and Armenia to de-escalate instead of calling out Azerbaijan is unacceptable. According to him, putting a sign of equality between the criminal and the victim is unacceptable. Bellamy, who personally visited the entrance to the blocked Lachin corridor, blamed the impunity of the Aliyev regime on the lack of political will. Its because of the lack of political will. Unfortunately, European countries view the situation in a very simple manner. They focus on the Ukraine war, which is certainly the main topic, they forget if we want to be consistent then we cant not impose sanctions against the Aliyev regime, which is guilty of very serious violations of international law. In this case the humanitarian law is violated. Few months ago, I presented amendments to the European Parliament to demand sanctions against Mr. Aliyev, and it was adopted, and now we are waiting for the Commission to finally act, in order for us to be able to take measures. Human lives are in danger today. In the last few days, Armenian soldiers were killed or wounded as a result of an absolutely unprovoked aggression. I repeat, human lives are in danger, and we dont have the right to remain silent, the MEP said when asked why the Aliyev regime isnt being held to account. Calling upon the both sides is unacceptable, he said on the latest EU statement. Viewing both sides on the same level is the same as equating the aggressor, the attackers, the criminal with the victim. Just like we are able to condemn the aggression when Russia is attacking Ukraine, and we are not asking for the two sides to agree, thats how we must clarify that there is only one perpetrator here, who is plotting and bearing the responsibility for the aggression. While on the other side there is a country and innocent people, who wants to live peacefully in its homeland, the MEP said, adding that the reason of the EU not calling out Azerbaijan could be because some European leaders want to avoid disrupting dialogue with one of the parties while mediating. Asked to comment on Azerbaijan snubbing any French mediation involvement because of what Baku describes is the pro-Armenian stance of Paris, the MEP said that Azerbaijan needs a reality check. First of all, Azerbaijan needs a reality check. Today Azerbaijan is speaking about European leaders in a way as if its the one controlling them. But despite what many MEPs believed, Europe doesnt need Azerbaijan, it is Azerbaijan that needs Europe, Francois-Xavier Bellamy said. He added that in case of Europe decisively implementing the first strong package of sanctions, Mr. Aliyev will immediately understand that he must end this all. Asked whether or not the EU labeling Azerbaijan as a reliable energy partner is what was viewed in Baku as a greenlight to do whatever it wants, the MEP said. Certainly. But first of all, this is a lie. What we are buying from Azerbaijan are mostly Russian hydrocarbons, and therefore we are bypassing our own sanctions against Russia, with very concerning double standards. But first of all, the volumes supplied by Azerbaijan are very low, and these volumes will be absolutely unnecessary in the context of the upcoming growth of imports. And it is Mr. Aliyev who must be worried, who must realize that he needs Europe. But the last thing Id want to say is that we very well see dictators like Aliyev are never satisfied with the compromises we are trying to do with them. If tomorrow Azerbaijan takes Karabakh, the next step would be an attack on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, like it did several months earlier. Everyone must understand that by turning a blind eye on Azerbaijans action, they are giving a license and permission to advance, to kill, to violate international law. He added that he hopes that France will introduce a resolution in the UN Security Council. Yes, I hope that these initiatives will be implemented in the UNSC, he said when asked to comment on media reports that France plans to introduce a UNSC resolution. Thats definitely an important lever to act and also to push our American friends to make a decision on a simple and decisive common stance. I believe that important milestones are ahead. But it is horrible that this didnt take place earlier. A UNSC resolution will be needed despite the difficulties with Russia. In any case, nothing stands in Europes way to act now, to impose sanctions. The parliament has a clear position, now the council must be proactive, and France is asking the council for these sanctions to be imposed against the Aliyev regime, the MEP said. The humanitarian cargo sent from Russia has not yet reached Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Two days ago, the Artsakh Information Center reported that Moscow has decided to send humanitarian aid to the Armenians of Artsakh, who are struck by a disaster. According to Artsakh Public Television, the government of Artsakh has decided to accept this humanitarian cargo, but a group of Artsakh residents have decided not to allow any vehicle from Akna (Aghdam) to enter Artsakh capital Stepanakert. And before that, the movement of goods was in fact blocked by Azerbaijan. The aforesaid humanitarian cargo has not reached Akna yet. 00:07 The entire process is being carried out in consonance of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, it said. The civic body's response came a day after the G20 Leaders' Summit concluded in the national capital. "The dogs which were picked up for sterilisation/immunisation/observation are being released in their respective locations from where they were picked," it said in the statement. The civic body countered allegations that arose over the past few days over its handling of the dogs, calling the objections "against public spirit." "Unwarranted allegations/apprehensions just to gain brownie points and serve vested interests goes blatantly against the public spirit. The MCD is conscious of dogs' welfare and requests one and all to avoid shenanigans," it said. The MCD's decision to pick city's stray dogs en masse was challenged before the Delhi high court on Monday, the statement said. It said the writ petition was disposed of with directions that the MCD will conduct itself as per ABC Rules, 2023, which it said it was already bound to do. "It is once again assured, at the cost of repetition, that the entire exercise of lifting and releasing the dogs is being done in compliance of ABC Rules 2023. The MCD being a responsible organisation is sensitive to the cause and doing all the acts as per law," the statement said. Several animal activists had approached the MCD officials in connection with picking up of stray dogs and also submitted a memorandum demanding the stray dogs be sent back to their territories after the G20 summit. The Congress too waded into the controversy calling the act of detaining of dogs an act of cruelty, and posting a video on X which showed stray dogs being pulled by their neck with a leash. "Watch this video to witness the shocking cruelty inflicted upon innocent street dogs by the Modi government in preparation for the G20 summit. Dogs are being dragged by their necks, beaten with sticks and thrown into cages. They are being denied food and water, and they are being subjected to extreme stress and fear," the party wrote in its post earlier. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday said that the dogs picked up for sterilisation, immunisation, and observation are being released in their areas, an official statement said. UNODC says Colombian cocaine production hits record Coca fields in Tumaco in Colombia. Photo: AFP Coca crops in Colombia covered 230,000 hectares (568,000 acres) in 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said on Monday, up 13 percent from 2021 and at its highest level in more than two decades. Also at a more than 20-year high was potential cocaine output, which rose 24 percent to 1,738 metric tonnes. Coca is the chief ingredient in cocaine, whose production has fuelled the Andean country's six-decade armed conflict, which has killed at least 450,000 people. "It is worrying that each year there is an increase in coca crops in the country," said UNODC Regional Director Candice Welsch during a presentation of the report. The uptick was due to an increase in crops in Putumayo province, along the border with Ecuador, Welsch said. Production elsewhere was relatively stable. President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has pledged to shift the focus of the fight against drugs toward public health, instead of what he says is a failed militarised strategy. Petro's government wants to help rural communities voluntarily substitute some 100,000 hectares of coca crops over the next four years, an official told Reuters recently. The president has also promised more social investment in production areas and ruled out a restart to aerial fumigation with herbicide glyphosate. The fall in the annual growth of coca crops to 13 percent from 43 percent in 2021 "gives elements to continue on with this stabilization, and hopefully decreases," Justice Minister Nestor Osuna said at the presentation. The government wants to reduce cultivation areas to 150,000 hectares and production capacity to 900 metric tonnes by 2026, Osuna said. Some 13 percent of Colombia's annual deforestation is linked to illicit crops, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told a drugs conference last week. Last year, Colombia's deforestation hit 1,235 square kilometres, down 29 percent from 2021. A crash in coca prices caused by oversupply and new production in other regions is contributing to food insecurity in Colombia and causing displacement, according to a report by the UN World Food Programme. (AFP) Google is reportedly rolling out an AI-powered Proofread feature within its Gboard keyboard for beta users, enhancing text composition on the fly. This feature is accessible with Gboard version 13.4, currently in beta for Android users. The "Proofread" option is prominently located in the keyboard's toolbar. This functionality leverages generative AI to instantly check text for spelling and grammar errors. When users activate this feature, a pop-up message provides an explanation of the proofreading process. It involves temporarily sending the text to Google for processing to generate grammar and writing suggestions. Users can opt to enable this feature, but it's essential to note that the text being proofread is sent to Google's servers during this process. Tapping the "Proofread" option in Gboard's toolbar initiates text analysis, delivering suggestions for spelling and grammar corrections, including punctuation. Additionally, a "Fix it" button accompanies these suggestions, allowing users to swiftly apply recommended corrections. This AI-powered enhancement aims to improve text accuracy and coherence while composing messages, emails, or any text-based content using Gboard. In a related update, Google is undergoing a rebranding for its Android brand, which includes adopting a new stylization with a capital 'A' for "Android" instead of using all lowercase letters. The iconic bug droid logo is also being transformed into a 3D avatar. This branding update aligns the Android logo more closely with Google's own branding by capitalizing the 'A' and introducing design elements that bring it in line with Google's visual identity. The goal is to create a harmonious visual representation between the Android and Google logos, enhancing their cohesion. These developments underscore Google's commitment to enhancing user experiences across its Android platform and related services, emphasizing both aesthetics and functionality. NewsVoir New Delhi [India], September 11: Infrastructure India plc, an AIM quoted infrastructure fund investing directly into assets in India, is pleased to announce the conditional sale of the Group's interest in 99.99% of Distribution Logistics Infrastructure Private Limited to Pristine Malwa Logistics Park Private Limited. Pristine Malwa is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pristine Logistics and Infraprojects Limited. The DLI Group, along with IIP and Distribution and Logistics Infrastructure India, Mauritius, IIP's wholly-owned subsidiary, have entered into a conditional share purchase and shareholders' agreement with the Pristine Group and certain subsidiaries for the majority acquisition of DLI by Pristine Malwa.The Pristine Group provides end-to-end multi cargo logistics solutions, and services including port handling, road and rail transport, warehousing, shipping, stevedoring, customs handling, and integrated logistics in India and Nepal. The Transaction comprises a share swap and upfront cash consideration, whereby DLI Mauritius, which owns a 99.99% interest in DLI, will receive, in consideration for selling its entire shareholding in DLI, a cash payment of approximately USD 10 million on closing, and up to 33% of Pristine Malwa's issued share capital. The final equity and cash consideration payable to DLI Mauritius is subject to customary adjustments based on the net current assets and indebtedness of DLI on the closing date. The Agreement includes certain conditions precedent to be satisfied by each of DLI Mauritius and Pristine Malwa prior to closing of the Transaction, including consent of DLI India's lenders, certain governmental approvals, mandatory regulatory and tax filings, and certain limited operational processes. Pristine Group requires the consent from the investment committee of their majority shareholder, Global Infrastructure Partners, in order to proceed with closing of the Transaction.The Transaction is also subject to consent from the Group's lenders including GGIC, Ltd., Cedar Valley Financial and IIP Bridge Facility LLC. DLI is a supply chain transportation and container infrastructure company headquartered in Bangalore and Gurgaon with a material presence in central, northern and southern India. DLI provides a broad range of logistics services including rail freight, trucking, handling, customs clearing, and bonded warehousing with terminals located in the strategic locations of Nagpur, Bangalore, Palwal in the National Capital Region, and Chennai. Pristine Malwa is the parent company and 95% shareholder of Sical Logistics Limited, a company listed on the India's National Stock Exchange and the BSE. Pristine Malwa is also engaged in developing and managing private freight terminals in India. Sical provides port handling, road and rail transport, warehousing, shipping, stevedoring, customs handling, trucking, retail logistics, mining, and integrated logistics, with expertise in end-to-end bulk commodity logistics including coal, iron and cement. Following closing of the Transaction, which is expected to occur during Q4 of 2023, the Group shall become a substantial minority shareholder of Pristine Malwa, which will be the holding company of Sical and DLI. Following the acquisition of DLI, the Pristine Group will own and control the Merged Group and have a pan-India footprint, connecting the rail freight across north, south and eastern India, and would have a presence at all significant rail transport and logistics hubs in India.The Merged Group would have the ability to ship both containers and bulk commodities, expanding the scope of the business. Sical and DLI have significant synergies, complementary locations and operational efficiencies, backed by the management knowhow and railway infrastructure of the Pristine Group. Completion of the Transaction would enable the Pristine Group, together with Sical and DLI, to take advantage of several macro-changes in the logistics industry, including: * A shift towards a multimodal freight system from a road-based one, in line with India's goal to reduce logistics costs from 14.4% of its GDP to 10%, and the mission of the Indian railway board to ship 3,000 million tonnes by rail by 2027 (up from 1,418 million tonnes in 2022). * Heavy investments in railways by the Indian Government, expanding India's overburdened rail freight infrastructure and establishing dedicated freight corridors. The Transaction allows the Company to remain invested in the Indian logistics sector through its substantial interest in the Merged Group and realise better value for the Company's shareholders at the time of exit, which is contemplated to be within 24 to 36 months from the date of closing of the Transaction. It also allows the Company to retain a significant indirect interest in DLI, whilst also benefitting from asset diversification through its significant indirect interest in Sical. In addition, the Board expects that by DLI being part of a larger group, it will benefit from economies of scale. The Board believes that the Transaction presents an exciting prospect for DLI with clear synergies and a business combination with considerable reach and scale. Pristine Group, headquartered in Delhi, is engaged in the business of providing end-to-end multi-cargo logistics solutions pivoted around rail terminals and is backed by Global Infrastructure Partners and British International Investment. The Pristine Group currently operates six Inland Container Depots and Private Freight Terminals, with warehousing area of approximately 905,000 square feet. Additional assets include approximately 2,624 domestic standard containers and 395 dwarf containers. Sical operates three container freight stations in southern India, with capacity to handle more than 1.5 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit cargo containers). The Pristine Group has been expanding its presence in India through acquisitions, in the course of which it acquired Sical and has now agreed to acquire DLI. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International Yusuff Ali on Monday said his group is going to set up two large shopping malls in India Ahmedabad and Chennai. Speaking to ANI, Ali said, We are going to construct one of the largest shopping malls in Ahmedabad and Chennai and we are opening our shopping mall in Hyderabad end of this month. Also we are going to different states for shopping malls and food processing. Hyderabad will be the sixth city after Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and Coimbatore where the group has its shopping mall presence. Lulu Group, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been known as a trendsetter in the retail industry in the Middle East and North Africa region. It operates over 250 hypermarkets and supermarkets and is immensely popular with discerning shoppers across the GCC, Egypt, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Speaking on the sidelines of an event where over two dozen Memoranda of Understanding were signed between India and Saudi Arabia companies, ranging from Information Technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, and human resources, among other sectors, he said the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia will increase as it is historical. A lot of liberalization happened and ease of doing business happened A lot of restrictions are removed by the Prime Minister and the government. We are very thankful to him, Ali said. The signing of the MoUs happened as Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud began his State visit after having participated in the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The Saudi Crown Prince arrived in Delhi on a three-day visit on Saturday and stayed back after the G20 Summit for his state visit. So this historical visit has further strengthened the bilateral commercial and the leadership relation, the Lulu Group chief told ANI. On Indias G20 presidency, Ali said, India is a global leader and we should congratulate our prime minister Narendra Modi ji for his hard work and bringing all the leaders here. And India's tradition, India's culture also showed to the great leaders of different countries. Lulu Group employs more than 65,000- plus strong workforce from 42 different nations and has an annual turnover of USD 8 billion globally. (ANI) The mammoth corridor, designed to connect India with West Asia and Europe, promises to revolutionize international trade and cooperation. Union Minister Goyal expressed his optimism about the project, stating, "The potential is immense, it's our moment under the Sun." The India- West Asia-Europe Bridge, often referred to as the "Global Bridge," spans several thousand kilometers, with advanced infrastructure to facilitate the seamless movement of goods, services, and people. "The new bridge that has been created the India-Middle East-West Asia-Europe bridge which will connect large parts of the world will help make logistics more affordable, make it easier to transport goods and services, connect nations for renewable energy grids and for digital connectivity, said Goel. The unveiling of the India-West Asia-Europe Bridge marks a monumental step towards India's vision of becoming a pivotal global trade and connectivity hub. The project, which has been in development for several years, reflects the government's commitment to fostering international cooperation, economic growth, and sustainable development. While the bridge is expected to bring about transformative changes in global logistics and connectivity, it also represents a symbol of unity and collaboration among nations. The coming years will witness this bridge serving as a vital lifeline connecting nations, economies, and people, ushering in a new era of international relations and opportunities. (ANI) Jana Sena Party (JSP) has extended its support to the state bandh called by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) over the arrest of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case. A statement issued by JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, accused the ruling party YSRCP of resorting to anti-social activities in the state. It further alleged that the YSRCP government in the state is harassing the opposition parties. The Janasena Party is expressing solidarity with the State Bandh called by the Telugu Desam Party on Monday (11-09-2023) in protest against the arrest of the Leader of the Opposition and the President of the Telugu Desam Party Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Janasena party has already condemned this arrest which is against the spirit of democracy, the statement said. Further, it said, The ruling party is resorting to public anti-social activities by weakening the systems in the state. The YSRCP government is harassing the opposition parties who speak on the side of the people with cases and arrests by the political party. The statement also urged the JSP workers to participate peacefully in the bandh. Janasena has always protested against these undemocratic acts. I request the ranks of Janasena to participate peacefully in tomorrow's bandh, it added. The Rajamundry Police has also imposed section 144 in the city limits to maintain law and order in the area. Earlier on Sunday morning, Naidu was produced before the ACB court. Chandrababu Naidu was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday in connection to an alleged corruption case. The case pertains to the establishment of clusters of Centers of Excellence (CoEs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh, with a total estimated project value of Rs 3300 crore, as per the officials. The agency officials also claimed that the alleged fraud has caused a huge loss to the state government in excess of Rs 300 crores. As per the CID, the investigation has revealed serious irregularities such as before any expenditure by private entities, the then state government provided an advance of Rs 371 crores, representing the entire 10 per cent commitment by the government. Most of the money advanced by the government was diverted to shell companies through fake invoices, with no actual delivery or sale of the items mentioned in the invoices, CID officials said. In its remand report, the CID has said that according to the investigation so far, the total amount spent by private entities on six skill development clusters is sourced exclusively from funds advanced by the Government of AP and AP Skill Development Center, totalling Rs 371 crores. (ANI) The Baramulla Police in Jammu and Kashmir has busted a terrorist recruitment module in the district and arrested three terrorist associates of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, said an official statement on Sunday. The police have also recovered incriminating materials including three hand grenades and 30 AK-47 live rounds during the operation, the statement said. According to the statement, the arrested accused have been identified as Lateef Ahmad Dar, a resident of Najibhat, Showkat Ahmad Lone and Ishrat Rasool both hailing from Pusnaag. As per the statement, all three individuals were working with the LeT outfit as terrorist associates and during the course of the investigation it was found that they had identified four youths in the general area of Kreeri and were about to get them active in terrorist ranks in the near future. The above three individuals were the masterminds of the recruitment module in the general area of Kreeri and were also in touch with active terrorists Umar Lone and FT Usman, the statement mentioned. A case has been registered under sections UA(P) & Arms Act in Kreeri police station and an investigation into the matter is underway, the statement added. (ANI) The deceased persons have been identified as Mahendra Chaupal (32), Rupesh Kumar Das (21), Haroon Shaikh (47), Mithlesh (35), Karidas (38) and Sunil Kumar Das (21). The seventh deceased has not been identified yet, the officials said. According to the Thane Municipal Corporation officials, there were a total of seven labourers aboard the lift and all of them have been declared dead. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased in the incident. Shocking! The lift accident in Thane is very tragic. I express my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased who lost lives in this accident. Wishing speedy recovery to the injured ones, Fadnavis said in a post on social media platform, X. The lift of a 40-storey building in the Balkum area in Thane collapsed into theunderground 3-storey basement on Sunday evening. According to the police, the incident happened between 5.30 and 6.45 in the building called Runwal Complex in Thane city.The waterproofing work was underway on the roof of the building, the police said. The police said according to the preliminary investigation the accident occurred due to the breaking of the lifts rope. The victim workers were coming down in the lift when the accident happened. Further investigation is going on, the officials added. (ANI) The 'Delhi declaration' adopted during the G20 leaders' summit underligned the significance of the 'Goa Roadmap for Tourism' as a vehicle to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG), said a government release. According to the release, the unanimous endorsement of tourism and culture's pivotal role in sustainable socio-economic development and prosperity is one of the significant milestones achieved during the summit in Delhi. Delhi Declaration provides a new direction with G20 Goa Roadmap outlining the challenges, objectives, opportunities and recommendations for tourism sector to achieve SDGs, it added. "By focusing on the five interconnected priorities identified and endorsed by the G20 Tourism Working Group - Green Tourism, Digitalization, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management - the roadmap offers a comprehensive strategy for nations to align their tourism policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030," it said. GOA Roadmap, the key deliverable of Indias G20 Tourism Track, is a pioneering initiative that provides a blueprint for sustainable global tourism. Goa roadmap, aligned with the theme of Indias G20 Presidency, underscores the role of tourism in society, the economy, and environmental stewardship. In another significant development, the G20 leaders declaration has further noted the launch of the Travel for LiFE initiative, emphasizing its transformative potential in promoting responsible and sustainable tourism. Travel for LiFE program has been inspired by Prime Ministers vision of LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which is extremely relevant for tourism sector. Travel for LiFE nudges all tourists and tourist businesses to take simple actions, which have tremendous signification for environment protection and climate action, the release said. "Ministry of Tourism has aligned its programs and initiatives for promoting sustainable tourism under Travel for LiFE program and the campaign will cover the entire tourism ecosystem, motivating and inspiring all actors to contribute in making tourism sector sustainable and responsible. While recognizing the LiFE actions by tourists, the Ministry will also recognize the tourism businesses as TFL certified based on STCI criteria of the Ministry," the release stated. It will also encourage the tourists and tourism businesses to take a Travel for LiFE pledge, which will reflect their commitment for sustainable practices, it added. The Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), has launched the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard. This pioneering initiative will serve as a global repository, showcasing the best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism practices and policies from G20 nations. It aims to be a comprehensive resource, aiding nations and industry stakeholders in their journey towards achieving the SDGs through tourism. It aims to facilitate the implementation of the GOA Roadmap through education and awareness campaigns to sensitize the State/UT Governments and private stakeholders about incorporating key recommended actions in their operations for the creation of more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism. Further, the Ministry of Tourism is also launching a national competition on Tourism for Tomorrow to identify best practices and case studies aligned with five priorities of G20 Goa roadmap, which have successfully been implemented by States, Destinations and Industry Stakeholders, which can be replicated and scaled up across the country. The competition will be launched on World Tourism Day on September 27. The release further stated that the Ministry of Tourism is championing a future that is greener, cleaner, and harmonious. It is our mission to ensure that growth is not just robust but also just, equitable, and sustainable for every individual, it said. The Tourism ministry also envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE destinations for national and international meetings. "Our commitment is unwavering, and our resolve is strong. We are poised to lead the way in fostering sustainable tourism practices that will echo across the world for years to come," the release said. The G20 Leaders' Summit in Delhi stands as a testament to India's leadership in fostering global unity and collaboration. The summit witnessed the convergence of the world's most influential leaders, united by a shared vision for the future. Their collective commitment to addressing global challenges reaffirms the spirit of global cooperation. (ANI) The postal covers have been releasedto commemorate the Centenary of Chilli Post, brought out by the Department of Posts, as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. The Department of Posts has brought out a compilation on the heroic deeds of Alluri and sacrifices of his lieutenants in the form of monograph covering release of all six special covers and narratives from the family members of Alluri and research scholars through the medium of philately. Col. V Ramulu, Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh Postal Circle, M. Venkateswarlu, Retd. PMG, Visakhapatnam, who was instrumental in bringing out the Monograph and other officers were present on the occasion. Manyam Veerudu Alluri Sitarama Raju fought against the British forces against atrocities meted out to tribal people. He attacked the police stations at Chintapalli, Krishnadevipeta, Rampachodavaram, Addatigala, Annavaram and Rajavommangi and took away arms and ammunition. His unique way of dispatching advance messages to the officials about his intended attack on police stations, through an arrow by tying up message along with bunch of chillies, was popularly called CHILLI POST. Rampa Rebellion led by Alluri with the help of tribal people against the British, started in the year 1922 and ended in 1927 with the martyrdom of Alluri. His heroic deeds and patriotism are still remembered by the people of Andhra Pradesh. (ANI) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday accused the Gandhi family of "working on breaking the country" and urged Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to "give away Gandhi title". He said that the Gandhi family is the "Sardar of Duplicate" and further alleged that they committed "too many scams". "Their first scam started with the title of Gandhi. They did only Parivarvad and worked on breaking the country. I request Rahul Gandhi to give away the Gandhi title," the Assam CM said while addressing the National Executive Meeting of BJP Mahila Morcha in Guwahati. CM Sarma praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'Delhi Declaration' adopted during the G20 leaders' summit in Delhi and said that it happened only because of him. "Kamakhya corridor will come into reality in the next two years. Only because of PM Modi, the Delhi declaration happened amid Ukraine, Russia war. Congress didn't celebrate 25 years, or 50 years of independence of the country. But, Modi ji celebrated 75 years of independence and everyone feels that we are Bharatiya. The great reformer Mahapurusha Sankaradeva wrote about Bharat Bhumi 500 years ago, this is our Bharat Bhumi," Himanta Biswa Sarma said. He further said that PM Modi is working to make Bharat as Viswaguru. "Yesterday when I saw Modi ji talking with global leaders I felt that Bharat has now become Viswaguru. Women are now leading the country. PM Modi gives more focus on Nari Shakti, women empowerment. A few days ago we launched an operation against Child Marriage. Getting married at 9 years and giving birth at 12 years is common in a particular community in Assam. No Hindu endorse casteism, but one Tamil Nadu minister talked against Hindus," the Assam Chief Minister said. He also said that the state government will launch another massive operation against child marriage within the next 10 days. "Mahila Morcha should launch a campaign against child marriage and polygamy across the country. We will bring act against polygamy in December. The nation now again needs Modi ji. We will have to make Modi ji PM for 10 years. Modi government will be formed in Bharat," CM Sarma said. The CM also highlighted that the Northeast has changed in terms of development transformation. "We are trying to make the 40 lakh as Individual entrepreneur. Rs 10,000 will be provided to their bank account, next year and Rs 15,000 from government and Rs 15,000 from bank in next and it will be gone upto Rs 1 lakh. First year we will give 100 percent subsidy to 40 lakh women," Further, he said, "Today's North East has changed in terms of development transformation. 14 years ago North East has completely changed. Out of 25, BJP will win 22 seats in North East." (ANI) Maratha outfits have called for a bandh today in protest against the recent lathi charge by the police in Jalna district against protesters demanding reservation in Maharashtra. The call for a bandh (shutdown) has received widespread support from various political parties. Suhas Desai, the head of the city unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), has voiced his support for the Bandh. Similarly, Pradeep Shinde, the city president of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has also backed the move. The leaders of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Ravindra More, and Avinash Jadhav, also extended their support. Ramesh Ambre, the city chief of Maratha Kranti Morcha, and Vikrant Chavhan, the city unit president of Congress, have also spoken in support of the Bandh. Earlier on September 9, Pimpri Chinchwad city in Maharashtra's Pune district observed a bandh against last week's lathi charge on people agitating in Jalna district demanding reservation for the Maratha community. The bandh was called by the 'Maratha Kranti Morcha.' On September 1, a clash broke out between police and protestors who were demanding reservations for the Maratha community, with police resorting to a lathi charge to disperse the demonstrators. Several Opposition leaders condemned the Eknath Shinde-led state government for the incident. Meanwhile, Manoj Jarange Patil who works as a coordinator for the Maratha Morcha and has been on a hunger strike for the past few weeks for Maratha reservations continued his strike. He has held extensive talks with the Maharashtra government but a breakthrough is yet to be achieved. Jarange Patil has demanded a change in the ordinance issued by the state government regarding Maratha reservations. Their stand is that the fast to death will continue unless the desired change is made in the ordinance. The Ordinance states that the people of Marathwada whose genealogy mentions Kunbi will be given a caste certificate as Kunbi Maratha. However, Manoj Jarange Patil has demanded that the ordinance be changed so that all the Marathas in Maharashtra should be given Kunbi caste certificates as they do not have any genealogy documents. Giving Marathas a Kunbi caste certificate would mean that they would be counted as OBCs and get the same reservation benefits that OBCs get in the state. Meanwhile the state government is convening and all-party meet on Maratha quota in Mumbai today. The all party meeting is aimed at finding a solution to the deadlock. The Shiv Sena faction of Uddhav Thackeray will be represented by senior leader Ambadas Danve, but the Congress is yet to confirm its participation in the meeting.(ANI) According to customs officials, the seizure was made following an intelligence input. The gold bar of 24K purity weighing 209 grams was extracted from paste-like material ingeniously concealed in slippers by a passenger who arrived from Singapore on September 10. Based on intelligence, the AIU, Trichy Airport seized one piece of gold bar of 24K purity weighing 209 grams worth Rs 12.50 lakhs. The Gold bar was extracted from paste-like material ingeniously concealed in slippers by a passenger who arrived from Singapore on September 10, read the official statement from Customs. Earlier, one person was arrested, and over 2.46 kg of foreign-marked gold in the form of gold biscuits and bars were seized from a house in Bhubaneshwar, according to an official statement. Based on inputs, a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) team raided the house, DRI said in a statement on Thursday. (ANI) "The incident took place near Sion Hospital where the car met with an accident and caught fire resulting in the on-the-spot death of two people while three others were seriously injured," the police said. All three injured have been admitted to the Sion Hospital, the police added. According to the officials, there were five people in the car, who belong to the Mankhurd area of Mumbai, and they were all going towards Marine Drive for a party. Earlier, on Wednesday, three people were killed and two were seriously injured after their car collided with a truck in the Palghar district of Maharashtra. The victims were travelling from Mumbai to Gujarat when the driver lost control of the car, resulting in it crossing the divider and colliding with the truck that was coming in the opposite direction, the police said. Three people travelling in the car died on the spot and two seriously injured people were sent for treatment, the police said. (ANI) Police were deployed at the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) Office at Chennai ahead of the BJP siege announcement across Tamil Nadu condemning HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu for participating in the Anti Sanatan conference that was held at Chennai earlier. More than 20 police officers have been deployed and barricades have been placed before the HR & CE Chennai Office, police officials said. This comes after the recent controversy over Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's 'Anti Sanatan' remark. The BJP claimed that Minister Sekar Babu, who heads the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, participated in the conference on Sanatan Dharma, where Udhayanidhi went on an explosive rant, thereby violating his oath of office. The protest will be led by the BJP's state president, K Annamalai. Similar protests will also be held across the state, demanding that the offices of the Hindu Charitable Department be blocked in all the districts of Tamil Nadu. Earlier, a controversy broke out after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi, addressing the 'Santana Abolition Conference' said, "Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality. He also compared Sanatan Dharma to diseases like dengue, malaria, or the Coronavirus and said, "Few things cannot be opposed; those should be abhorred only. We cannot oppose dengue, mosquitoes, malaria, or corona; we have to eradicate them. That's how we eradicate Sanatana. Rather than opposing Sanatana, it should be eradicated." Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department organised a mass marriage event in Chennai, where 20 couples tied the Mangal Sutra knot in a Chennai Marriage hall. All newly married couples were to be given essential things for their livelihood, like vessels, stoves, beds, cots, and stoves, which were given free to them by the Hindu Endowment Department. At the event Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian praised Sekar Babu's handling of the HR&CE minisry " I appreciate our CM who rightly gave the Hindu Endowment department to sekarbabu. Babu is a devotee and he never misses temple devotion and can never been without Kumkum (Sacred holy ash) on his forehead. He will be a great minister in this Hindu Endowment department." The praise from Subramaniam is seen as an endorsement from the State government for a minister facing the ire of Hindu organisations. (ANI) The devotees queued up since early morning to seek blessings at the temple and also participated in the aarti performed on the occasion. The temple is believed to be the first among the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva and is an important pilgrimage and tourist site in Gujarat. According to the Hindu Gujarati calendar, Nija Sawan began on August 17 and its last day will be September 15 this year. Special pujas and rituals are observed on Mondays in the month and are known as 'Shravani Somvar'. (ANI) During a meeting with the Netherlands delegation at Vidhan Soudha in Karnataka on Monday, Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, stated that the state hosts 9 per cent of Dutch investments in India. Shivakumar was addressing the Netherlands delegation, which was headed by Prime Minister Mark Rutte. "Karnataka holds a very strong relationship with Netherlands, and we are keen to strengthen our relationship further. Dutch businesses are among the forerunners of foreign investors in Karnataka," he said. DK Shivakumar said that Karnataka is home to 9 per cent of Dutch investments in India. "We are home to 25 per cent Dutch companies. Karnataka is also home to Global in house Centres of Shell and Philips too," he said. "The Karnataka government has taken several measures to enhance investor friendliness in the state. Karnataka attracted 2nd highest FDI in India in 202223 with a 25 per cent national share. There are more than 200 Duch companies operating in the state, with investments worth over USD 1 billion," he said. Deputy CM Shivakumar said that Karnataka is a top destination for investors and is on the forefront of technological innovation in the country. "With total investments till FY 202223 reaching an impressive figure of Rs 4.67 trillion, Karnataka continues to grow significantly as a result of investor friendly policies and is home to more than 400 MNCs with global R&D centers presence in the State. As on 202223, the State stands 2nd in ranking for investment in the India," he said. He went on to add that Bengaluru like the Silicon Valley has been able to embrace every new wave. "That is why they are two of the worlds biggest growth centres. The cosmopolitan culture, talent pool, a culture of innovation, high risk appetite, human enterprise, are its strengths," Shivakumar said. Stressing that Karnataka has arich tradition of supporting industries across the sectors, Shivakumar said, "We are committed to fostering an environment that is conducive to business growth, innovation, and sustainable development." "We aspire to partner with your country and jointly lead the path to sustainable growth and development. We are eager to know how we can assist you in your future endeavors. Together, we can shape a brighter and more prosperous future," he added. (ANI) Amid the Cauvery-water sharing dispute, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the centre government has not given permission for Mekedatu Project and Tamil Nadu people are creating disputes unnecessarily. In a series of tweets on X, Karnataka CM said The BJP government at the centre has not given permission to the Mekedatu project and Tamil Nadu has no right to bring on dispute this project. 177.25 TMC water allocated to the state should be released to Tamil Nadu in normal years. It is said that in the time of hardship, the Sutra of hardship should be followed. But the people of Tamil Nadu are creating disputes unnecessarily. Siddaramaiah further said that Tamil Nadu BJP leaders should appeal to the Cauvery Water Management Authority to give permission to the Mekedatu project as it is under the central government. The state BJP leaders should appeal to the Cauvery Water Management Authority to give permission to the Mekedatu project as it is under the government at the centre @BJP4India. The state BJP said in the all-party meeting that they will cooperate with the state government on the Cauvery issue, and outside they are doing politics on the same issue, Siddaramaiah added. Karnataka CM also mentioned that the PM has not replied to a meeting of all parties so BJP MPs should get the meeting fixed with the PM. Providing drinking water to the people of Mysore and Bangalore districts is the first priority as per the water policy. In the meantime, the interests of the farmers should be protected. Tamil Nadu has filed a case in the Supreme Court and the government will make the state's stand clear. No one should politicize the welfare of the farmers of the state for any reason. In this matter, the Prime Minister's time has been requested for the meeting of the all-party delegation, but no reply has been received from him, so let the state BJP MPs fix the time for the meeting with the Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah said. Earlier former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said that the Karnataka government needs to be firm in its stand and should stop sharing water with Tamil Nadu. "There is hardly water in the backwaters of Cauvery. I think the govt has to be very firm, stop the water and see that they convince the Supreme Court and explain the pathetic condition of Karnataka and the excess use of water by Tamil Nadu," Bommai said. Earlier the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to Karnataka to release 24,000 cusecs of water daily per day from the reservoirs in Karnataka. Karnataka government also filed an affidavit opposing Tamil Nadus application saying that the application is based on an assumption that this year is the normal rainwater year. The matter has been a controversial issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for decades and they have been locked in battle over the sharing of water from the Cauvery river, which is a major source of irrigation and drinking water for millions of people in the region. The Centre formed the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) on June 2, 1990, to adjudicate disputes between Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry with respect to the water-sharing capacities. (ANI) In the chilly waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, scientists have long speculated that two kinds of sea starscommonly known as starfishfound along the rocky coastlines of Europe and North America may have interbred. Hybrid starfish are already present and prospering along the coasts of New England and the Canadian Maritimes, according to freshly analysed genomic data. A new study, published in the journalMolecular Ecology, presents genomic evidence of hybridization between two closely related species of sea starsAsterias rubens,the common starfish, andAsterias forbesi, known as Forbes sea star. It is the first genome-wide evidence of extensive hybridization in an ecologically important coastal species, said corresponding author Melina Giakoumis, who is a PhD candidate with the Graduate Centers Biology program and associate director of the Institute for Comparative Genomics at the American Museum of Natural History. The biologists set out to find whether the sea stars were crossbreeding in the wild, and if so, what environmental factors influenced its occurrence. The researchers took DNA samples from both species at 33 sites in the North Atlantic and then conducted DNA sequencing that included samples from Asterias amurensis, the Northern Pacific sea star, used as a control group. Through the genomic data,the scientists found that widespread hybridization had occurred between the two species of sea stars from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia. The sea stars were shown to have different environmental preferences: A forbesi has a limited geographic range with adaption to local environments, and A rubens have a wider range that extends all the way to Western Europe. These preferences are also apparent in their genomes, the researchers said. The studys species distribution models accurately predicted hybrid zones to occur where these ranges overlapped the Gulf of Maine being at the centre of hybridization suggesting that environmental selection played an important role in the preservation of hybrid zones. Additionally, the results indicate that A. forbesi has a higher tolerance for warmer temperatures, while A rubens prefers colder habitats, and hybrids are found in areas with temperatures that are tolerable by both species. The study highlights the ecological importance of both sea stars, considered to be keystone species with significant impacts on surrounding marine communities. When theyre removed from their intertidal communitiesthe coastal zones between high and low tidediversity among those entire ecosystems has been shown to collapse, Giakoumis said. Two questions arise from this study, said Michael Hickerson, a biology professor with the CUNY Graduate Center and City College of New York, and Giakoumis advisor. Will the hybrids move to follow the changes in sea surface temperatures accelerate to the point of one species replacing the other? Or will they rescue the two species by being a source of gene combinations that allow greater resilience to climatic changes due to increased adaptive variation? Since sea stars preferentially eat dominant competitors, they provide stability to the ecosystem, the biologist explained. These species are therefore crucial to study for marine conservation, as they have rippling effects throughout the rest of the community. Giakoumis notes that the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than 99 per cent of the global ocean. Our results imply that the distribution of genomic variation in North Atlantic sea stars is influenced by the environment, which will be crucial to consider as the climate changes, she adds. Hybridization is believed to be common in nature, Giakoumis points out, and it has been observed more often as genomic data expands. As the first study to offer genome-wide proof of hybridization in these sea star species, the research supports the work of evolutionary biologists and other scientists who study intertidal ecology, the authors said, with possible implications for wildlife management and protection of intertidal zones in the North Atlantic. (ANI) As the G20 Summit wrapped up on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the New Delhi G20 Leaders Declaration showed that India's presidency was able to table ideas, shape global issues, bridge divides and forge consensus. In a post on X, Jaishankar said that the focus, throughout the Summit, was kept on Global South and the contemporary achievements were highlighted during the two-day long event. "The G20 Summit and its bilateral meetings concluded today in New Delhi. The New Delhi Declaration shows that our Presidency was able to table ideas, shape global issues, bridge divides and forge consensus. We kept the focus on the Global South. We showcased our civilizational heritage even as we highlighted contemporary achievements," Jaishankar posted on X. The External Affairs Minister, as he highlighted the conclusion of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, stated that landmark initiatives like the Global Biofuel Alliance and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). "Key outcomes: Green Development Pact Action Plan on Sustainable Development Goals High-level principles on Anti Corruption Support for Digital Public Infrastructure Reform of Multilateral Development Banks The G20 membership of the African Union was a major achievement. PM @narendramodis vision gave the Summit a clear direction for growth and development in the years ahead," Jaishankar wrote on X. In the G20 declaration adopted on the first day of the G20 summit, the member countries endorsed the G20 Roadmap for Implementing the Recommendations of the G20 Independent Review of MDBs Capital Adequacy Frameworks and called for its ambitious implementation, within MDBs own governance frameworks while safeguarding their long-term financial sustainability, robust credit ratings and preferred creditor status. Jaishankar further praised the African Union's inclusion in the G20 membership and called it a major achievement. "The G20 membership of the African Union was a major achievement," he tweeted.In his opening remarks at the 18th G20 Leaders Summit on Saturday,PM Modiinvited the African Union, represented by Assoumani, to take a seat at the table of G20 leaders as a permanent member. The African Union chairperson expressed his gratitude to the G20 member countries for the historic inclusion of the bloc in the G20 family. Opening up on the moment when Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugged him after formally inducting the African Union into the G20 family, the AU Chairperson said it was an emotional moment for him. "I was about to cry. It was a great emotion for me. Because actually, we thought that there was going to be a debate and then a decision would be taken but at the very beginning of the Summit it was announced that we were a member," he said. Furthermore, Jaishankar added thatPM Modi's vision gave the Summit a clear direction for growth and development in the upcoming years. "PM @narendramodis vision gave the Summit a clear direction for growth and development in the years ahead," Jaishankar tweeted on 'X'. (ANI)